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Tue, 15 February 2022
Cong suspends 5 Meghalaya MLAs
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23:27 Cong suspends 5 Meghalaya MLAs
Taking umbrage at its five MLAs in Meghalaya assembly joining the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-backed Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA), the Congress has suspended them and has given them 10 days time to change their minds, party spokesman said on Tuesday.
All the five MLAs, who joined the MDA last week but did not quit the Congress, were given the letter issued by the party, a senior leader of the party told PTI.
In a twist to the tale they have been invited to a dinner meeting by Mukul Sangma, leader of Trinamool Congress state which was suddenly catapulted as the main opposition in the state after 12 Congress lawmakers switched over to it in November last year.
"The Congress high command has suspended the five MLAs. They were given 10 days time to change their mind and wihdraw their support or else face the music," a senior leader of the party in the state told PTI.
None of the MLAs have responded to the latter as yet but one of them said on condition of anonymity that the party had taken no action with regard to the various grievances of the lawmakers for long.
Suspended CLP leader Ampareen Lyngdoh talking to reporters after attending the Business Advisory Committee meeting, said that Sangma had invited the five MLAs.
To queries whether TMC has invited the five lawmakers to join it, she said, "We don't want to comment at this point of time. But yes just now we have been invited for dinner by Mukul Sangma."
Lyngdoh maintained that going for a dinner with a colleague or a former colleague does not tantamount to any commitment of any kind.
"Like I said we are focusing on the interest of the group of five MLAs. We do not want to divulge anything because right now it is important for us to consider our options ... We are enjoying the freedom and trying to figure out what to do next," she said.
Sangma when asked said that he had invited the five legislators for discussion on issues concerning the people and the state.
There is always a need to discuss and deliberate among colleagues and explore the possibilities of aggregating their potentialities, which is a healthy practice, the former chief minister said.
They (Cong MLAs) are my colleagues for a very long time, not just during this term but even prior to that. We have worked and served together. We were together in CLP and due to the political developments that have unfolded we are separated, but that does not prevent us from getting together and looking at issues before us, he added. -- PTI
23:04 Cops prevent bid to recite Hanuman Chalisa in Taj Mahal
The police in Agra stopped members of right-wing outfits from entering the Taj Mahal premises and reciting 'Hanuman Chalisa' there as a mark of protest over the hijab row that continued to simmer in Karnataka.
The protesters demanded that people be restrained from wearing dresses according to their faith in schools and colleges and sought strict action against those creating ruckus in the name of hijab.
Circle officer, Sadar, Rajeev Kumar said the protesters were stopped from entering the Taj Mahal at Shilpgram parking.
"We have received a memorandum and forward it to the competent authority. The memorandum was presented about the ongoing hijab protest," he said.
Asheesh Arya, the vice-president of Vishwa Hindu Parishad's Braj region said, "We had announced to chant 'Hanuman Chalisa' in the Taj Mahal as we consider it as 'Tejo Mahalay' (Shiva temple) while wearing saffron clothes. But the police stopped us."
"At various points in Agra, workers of VHP, Sewa Bharti and Durga Vahini were stopped by the police. I along with members of Sewa Bharti and Durga Vahini chanted 'Hanuman Chalisa' at Hariparwat police station after being detained by police," he told PTI.
Bhawna Sharma, from 'Sewa Bharti' said, "We wanted to chant 'Hanuman Chalisa' in the Taj Mahal premises peacefully. We told the police that we would buy tickets, but we were stopped ahead of the Taj Mahal at the parking."
"The aim was to register a protest against the ongoing hijab row because schools have a dress code and every student should follow it," she added. -- PTI
22:43 Assam Cong files police complaint against Himanta
The Assam unit of the Congress on Tuesday filed a police complaint against state Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for asking party leader Rahul Gandhi whether the Bharatiya Janata Party ever told him to prove he was Rajiv Gandhi's son.
The party claimed that the BJP leader's statement is against the Indian civilisation and culture.
Assam Congress spokespersons Basanta Kumar Sarma and Bhabani Kalita filed the complaint at Hatigaon police station in Guwahati and urged the officers to register an FIR against the chief minister.
A senior police official said they have received the complaint.
At a rally in poll-bound Uttarakhand on February 11, Sarma attacked Gandhi for demanding proof of the September 2016 surgical strike and questioning the efficacy of the anti-Covid vaccines.
He asked whether the BJP had ever demanded proof of him being the 'son of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi'.
The Assam Congress in a statement also claimed that another complaint that they wanted to file at Dispur police station was not accepted by its in-charge who did not assign any reason.
'This shows what is happening in the state and the CM is using the police as his personal force. Assam Police nowadays do not take responsibility for anyone except the RSS and the BJP,' Congress Senior spokesperson Manjit Mahanta said in the statement.
Complaints are being filed by Congress leaders across several states against the Assam chief minister for the controversial remark.
Several opposition leaders, including chief ministers, also criticised Sarma for it. -- PTI
22:06 Deep Sidhu, accused in Red Fort violence, dead
Punjabi actor Deep Sidhu dies in a road accident near Sonipat in Haryana, confirms Sonipat Police.
Details awaited.
Sidhu was earlier named as an accused in the 2021 Red Fort violence case during farmers' protest. -- ANI
22:03 Mumbai records zero Covid deaths, 235 new cases
Mumbai did not record any fresh death linked to COVID-19 for a second time in 2022 on Tuesday, while 235 more people tested positive for the infection, the city civic body said.
According to a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) bulletin, with new addition, the tally of coronavirus infections in the city jumped to 10,54,477, while the death toll remained unchanged at 16,685.
Earlier on January 2, the metropolis had reported zero fatalities and for a second time this year, no death linked to coronavirus has been reported in the last 24 hours.
A day after the city logged less than 200 COVID-19 cases for the first time since December 13, 2021, the daily count rose marginally to 235.
On Monday, the financial capital had reported 192 COVID-19 cases and two fatalities.
The metropolis remained free of sealed buildings and containment zones for the sixth day in a row and the number of active COVID-19 cases dropped below the 2,500-mark.
The daily positivity rate, or cases detected per 100 tests, of Mumbai stood at 0.92 per cent.
In the last 24 hours, 25,338 COVID-19 tests, around 3,000 less than the previous day, were carried out in the city, taking their cumulative tally to 1,58,60,216, the bulletin said.
With 446 more patients discharged during the day, the number of recovered cases jumped to 10,32,632 and the city's coronavirus recovery rate stood at 98 per cent, it said.
Mumbai now has 2,301 active COVID-19 cases.
The cases doubling rate jumped to 1,813 days, while the growth rate of COVID-19 infections between February 8 and February 14 stood at 0.04 per cent, the BMC said.
The bulletin said 197 of the 235 new patients, or around 84 per cent of the total, were asymptomatic.
In the last 24 hours, only 38 patients were hospitalized and 14 put on oxygen support, it said.
Also, only 972 of the total 36,853 hospital beds earmarked for coronavirus patients are currently occupied in the city, according to the bulletin.
On January 7, 2022, Mumbai had reported the highest-ever 20,971 cases during the third wave which started from December 21, 2021.
Last year, the metropolis had reported the highest 11,163 daily cases on April 4 and most deaths in a day at 90 on May 1 during the second wave of the pandemic. -- PTI
21:41
Taking a swipe over the silence of celebrities over Karnataka hijab row, @churumuri tweets the following:
'Finally--finally!--the good and the great of Karnataka speak up on #HijabRow. Urge @BSBommai to intervene immediately so that state's reputation as a progressive, inclusive land of opportunities is protected. Below is the full text of their letter to the @CMofKarnataka.'
21:21 Bengali singing icon Sandhya Mukherjee dies
Legendary Bengali singer Sandhya Mukherjee, who worked with leading music directors such as S D Burman, Naushad and Salil Chaudhury, died on Tuesday evening following a massive cardiac attack, said an official of the hospital where she was admitted.
Mukherjee was 90.
She left behind a daughter. She was in hospital since the last week of January due to ill health.
She was put on vasopressor support earlier in the day as her blood pressure dropped.
"She suffered a massive heart attack at around 7.30 pm following which she expired," the senior hospital official told PTI.
The singer had tested positive for COVID-19 along with cardiac ailments, multi-organ dysfunction and fracture in the femur bone due to a fall. -- PTI
19:55 Look out notice against former ABG Shipyard CMD
The Central Bureau of Investigation has issued look out notices against Rishi Kamlesh Agarwal, the chairman and managing director of ABG Shipyard, and eight others in a bank fraud case of over Rs 22,842 crore.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the agency said Look Out Circulars (LOCs) against the accused have already been opened by the CBI, while maintaining that the accused have been located in India.
The notices have been issued to prevent the accused from leaving the country, officials said. -- PTI
19:00 Pulwama video: Kashmiri student faces sedition
A case of sedition has been registered against a minor college student from Jammu and Kashmir, studying in Madhya Pradesh's Neemuch city under a central government's scholarship scheme, for allegedly posting an objectionable video regarding the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, an official said on Tuesday.
In the video, shared by the student on WhatsApp and Instagram and which has also surfaced on other social media platforms, he has allegedly termed the Pulwama terror attack, in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed on February 14, 2019, as 'an act of revenge for the Babri demolition and some other incidents', the official said.
The in-charge principal of the Neemuch-based PG College, where the student is enrolled, on Monday came across the objectionable video, which was seen by other pupils as well, and approached the police, Superintendent of Police (SP) Suraj Kumar Verma said.
After taking cognisance of the matter, the Neemuch City Police Station in-charge seized the student's mobile phone and other equipment and they are being examined for any other objectionable contents, he said.
The student is aged below 18 and action is being taken as per law after registering the case under relevant Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections, the SP said.
The police have registered an FIR against the student under 124A (sedition), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups) and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code.
College in-charge principal V K Jain said the student, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir, has been admitted in B.Com First Year under a special scholarship scheme of the central government.
The college management immediately informed the police after it came to know about the objectionable video, he said.
Senior officials of the state Higher Education Department and the district collector were also apprised about the issue, Jain said.
He said there was no tension in the college. -- PTI
17:39 Central agencies being misused to topple Maha govt: Sanjay Raut
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Tuesday said the BJP is using Central agencies to topple Maharashtra government by targeting the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders and their family members.
Addressing a news conference at the Sena Bhavan in Mumbai's Dadar area, Raut said the Aghadi, comprising Sena, NCP and Congress, won't bow before such pressure tactics.
Raut claimed he was contacted by some BJP leaders to shift allegiance and warned he would have to pay a price for not doing so.
"Soon after this, Enforcement Directorate (ED) started targeting people close to me, Raut said. Central agencies are being used to topple the Uddhav Thackeray-led government, but if you think we will budge, that is not possible. We have learnt this from late Balasaheb Thackeray," he said.
"They (ED) are targeting family members of the MVA leaders to defame them," Raut claimed.
There is a conspiracy afoot to topple governments in Maharashtra, West Bengal and Jharkhand, the Rajya Sabha member said. Raut claimed that Neil Somaiya, son of former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya, is a business partner of Rakesh Wadhwan, an accused in the PMC bank fraud.
He said he will submit all the papers in this connection to Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray for appropriate action. Responding to Raut's allegations, BJP leader and former CM Devendra Fadnavis he will respond at an appropriate time. PTI
File pic: MoS Home Ajay Mishra Teni and his son Ashish (behind)
17:36 Lakhimpur Kheri massacre: Minister's son walks free
Ashish Mishra, the son of MoS Home Ajay Mishra Teni and prime accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence walks out of jail after being released on bail.
Mishra's lawyer, Avdesh Kumar Singh, was quoted by news agency ANI as saying the court had demanded two sureties of 3 lakh each but imposed no restrictions on leaving of the city.
Ashish was granted bail last week by the Allahabad High Court, after the lower courts rejected requests.
He had moved the Lucknow bench of the High Court seeking insertion of sections 302 (murder) and 120 B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC that were "inadvertently" not mentioned in the high court order as the jail authorities would not release him due to the omission.
Ukranian civilians get ready for battle
17:13 Russian troops will move back from Ukraine border in military columns
Russian troops have completed their training drills in Belarus, close to neighboring Ukraine, and will begin returning to their places of regular deployment, the Ministry of Defense in Moscow has announced.
This comes amid fears in the West that the exercises could have been a precursor to an invasion.
Major General Igor Konashenkov, the chief spokesperson for the ministry, said the different divisions would be moving separately in military columns.
Russia began conducting the joint Union Resolve drills with Belarus last week, and they are scheduled to last until February 20.
16:55 Dalal Street recoups Monday losses; Sensex surges 1736 points
The Indian stock markets key indices, Sensex and Nifty, surged by more than 3 per cent on Tuesday, recouping almost all the losses incurred in the previous day, amid signs of de-escalation of Russia-Ukraine tensions.
The benchmark Sensex of the BSE surged 1736.21 points or 3.08 per cent to 58,142.05 points. The index had lost 1747.08 points on Monday.
The broader Nifty 50 of the National Stock Exchange closed 509.65 points or 3.03 per cent higher at 17,352.45 points. The Nifty had lost 531.95 points on Monday.
Both the key indices have recouped almost all the losses incurred on Monday.
16:44 Cong calls Ashwani Kumar's resignation 'sad'
Congress party's spokesperson Manish Tewari reacts to his party colleague Ashwani Kumar's resignation from the Congress.
@ManishTewari tweets, "Sad.
We had vigorous differences of opinion but in a very civilised manner. Unfortunate that @DrAshwani_Kumar felt compelled to take this call."
Former Law Minister Ashwani Kumar, who resigned from the Congress on Tuesday in the midst of the election cycle, said the grand old party had lost touch with the ground reality and no longer reflected the national mood.
In a no-holds-barred interview to PTI after quitting the Congress, the 69-year-old former Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab said he had reached his limits of perseverance in the party, which, he said, lacked inspirational leadership and is facing an existential challenge.
He also accused the party of failing to reinvent itself despite its decline.
Expressing anguish over recent controversies over Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose' statue at India Gate and Padma Bhushan award to senior party leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, Kumar said these events betrayed a narrowness of approach not expected of the Congress.
He said the Congress should look inwards instead of finding fault with those quitting it.
16:38 Bua, babua crumbled UP's economy: Amit Shah
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday accused the Samajwadi Party and the BSP of crumbling the economy of Uttar Pradesh and credited Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath with bringing a turnaround in five years in the state.
He also said the 2022 elections are for "strengthening Prime Minister Narendra Modi's hands and for making Yogi chief minister again".
"SP and BSP's 'babua and bua" both had crumbled the economy of such a big state as Uttar Pradesh, the economic system was on the seventh spot in the country which was brought to second spot by Yogiji in five years. Give another chance of five years and it will be taken to the first spot," Shah told an election meeting in Auraiya.
Claiming success on the law and order front under the Yogi Adityanath government, he asked, "Can any mafia trouble you anywhere, can anyone encroach your land, play with the honour of mothers and sisters? Yogi ji has ensured the migration of mafia from Uttar Pradesh."
"Akhilesh Yadav had asked what has happened (during the five years of BJP government), the one who has put yellow spectacles will see everything as pale," he said taking a swipe at the SP chief.
"Yogiji has brought down the dacoity in your time down by by 72 per cent, loot by 62 per cent, murder by 31 per cent and rape by 50 per cent," he said.
Continuing his attack, he said, "During the Akhilesh government, only 'kattas' and sharpnels were made in Uttar Pradesh but now during the BJP government 'goley' (ammunition) are being made here which will be fired at Pakistan. This change has come in five years by the BJP government."
Praising Modi, he said that he has ensured the safety of the country. "When the SP-BSP supported the Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh government, there was intrusion from Pakistan and our soldiers were beheaded but there was no reaction from our 'Mauni Baba', but Modi avenged such misadventures after coming to power, sending a strong message to the world," he asserted.
Exhorting the youth, whom he had earlier addressed as "jigar ke tukde jaiey yuva", he asked whether Kashmir is a part of India and Article 370 should have been abolished or not. -- PTI
16:26 Exports jump 25.28% to $34.5 bn in January
India's exports in January rose 25.28 per cent to USD 34.50 billion on account of healthy performance by sectors such as engineering, petroleum and gems and jewellery, according to data released by the commerce ministry on Tuesday.
However, the trade deficit during the month too widened to 17.42 billion. Imports grew by 23.54 per cent to USD 51.93 billion during the month under review.
16:08 A matter of faith
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra offered prayers at Gurudwara Shri Tibbi Sahib in Ropar earlier today.
15:55 Amul pays tribute to Rocket Boys
The passion, pursuit and privilege of India's two science geniuses, collaborators and friends -- one the father of Indian nuclear programme, another a father of Indian space programme -- Dr Homi Jehangir Bhabha and Dr Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai is explored in the biopic mini-series Rocket Boys.
Read the review here.
15:44 Punjab will burn if you vote AAP: Rahul
Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday asked voters in Punjab not to look at the face of leaders but their actions to understand the "hidden powers" that are at work behind them, as the former Congress president attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal.
Taking on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), he claimed those seeking one chance to form the government will "destroy Punjab" and the state "will burn". Gandhi also targeted former chief minister Amarinder Singh who the Congress leader said was removed by the party last year for hobnobbing with the BJP.
Addressing a poll rally at Rajpura, about 30 km from Chandigarh, for the February 20 Punjab assembly polls, Gandhi again cautioned people against going for any "experiment" in Punjab polls, saying only his party was capable of maintaining peace in the border state.
"The most important thing for Punjab is its peace. This is not a laboratory, not a chemistry lab or any such place where experiments can be done. Punjab is a border and sensitive state and only the Congress party understands Punjab and can maintain peace in the state," he said.
"Those who are making promises to you, saying 'ek baar mauka do', they will destroy Punjab. Punjab will burn, remember my words," he said attacking AAP.
Gandhi said he has been in politics since 2004 and, if any new person comes, that individual says "look he is Modi, Kejriwal, Gandhi, and that new person only sees a face".
"But one who has some experience says there is a face but which force or power is behind it. I am standing here, you ask the question which power is behind him," he said.
"Modi is standing, don't look at his face, but you ask which all hidden powers are behind him and then look at their actions, then you will understand politics," he said.
15:07 Michelin-starred chef Vikas Khanna now a perfumer
A signature 'Made in India' perfume inspired by Indian spices and traditional scents, developed in the country's perfume capital Kannauj was launched in New York, in a first of its kind effort to bring India's traditional fragrance industry to the global stage.
Zighrana, an Indian essence and wellness products company hailing from Kannauj, in collaboration with Michelin-star chef Vikas Khanna has made a foray in the global fragrance industry with the launch of its flagship perfume Vikas Khanna' by Zighrana".
The perfume, which draws inspiration from the world of Indian culinary, a first of its kind, was launched at the Consulate General of India in New York on Monday, as the country commemorates the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav' to mark its 75th year of independence. Interestingly, the perfume was launched on Monday which was celebrated as Valentine's Day.
15:05 Corbevax COVID vaccine is safe, offers high antibody levels
India's homegrown Covid-19 vaccine Corbevax is safe and offers good immunogenicity and higher antibody levels than some other vector vaccines, says Dr N K Arora, Chairman, India's COVID-19 Working group of National Technical Advisory Group on immunisation (NTAGI).
The NTAGI chief's remarks came after the Drugs Controller General of India's Subject Expert Committee (SEC) recommended Emergency Use Authorization to Hyderabad-based pharmaceutical company Biological E's COVID-19 vaccine, Corbevax, for the age group 12 to 18 years subject to certain conditions.
The country's central drug authority is expected to give final approval to Corbevax, which is a two-dose vaccine, soon, sources had said.
In an interview with ANI, Dr N K Arora said, "Protein subunit vaccines are safe vaccines, the immunogenicity is very good and local reactions are also less as compared to some of the other vaccines like vector vaccine or mRNA vaccine. Another very important dimension about this vaccine is that compared to some of the vector vaccines, the antibody levels are much higher."
Dr Arora also said that the Corbevax vaccine worked well on even heterologous groups during clinical trials. he Government of India has placed an order with Hyderabad-based Pharmaceutical company Biological E for five crore doses of 'Corbevax' Covid-19 vaccine with each dose costing Rs 145, said sources.
The Centre had earlier placed an order for 30 crore Corbevax doses on August 21 last year, they added. -- ANI
14:48 Russian forces near Ukraine returning to base
News agency ANI quoting AFP: Russia says some military deployed near Ukraine are returning to their bases. A build-up of Russian forces on the Ukrainian border spurred fears of an invasion.
14:34 MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan Covid positive
Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan tweets that he has tested positive for Covid-19.
New COVID-19 cases in India were recorded below 30,000 after 44 days, taking the virus tally to 4,26,92,943, while the active cases dipped to 4,23,127, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday.
The death toll climbed to 5,09,358 with 347 fresh fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated.
The daily COVID-19 cases have been recorded less than one lakh for nine consecuitive days. The active cases comprise 0.99 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has further improved to 97.82 per cent, the ministry said.
A reduction of 55,755 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. The daily positivity rate was recorded as 2.23 per cent while the weekly positivity rate was 3.63 per cent, according to the ministry.
The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,17,60,458 while the case fatality rate was recorded as 1.19 per cent.
13:57 Congress leadership not inspiring: Ashwani Kumar
Former Law Minister Ashwani Kumar on Tuesday resigned from the Congress, ending his 46-year-long association with the grand old party.
Speaking to news agency ANI after his resignation, Ashwani Kumar said, "It was a painful decision. I thought long and hard and realised the way the internal processes of Congress are in place today, I couldn't continue any longer consistent with my dignity and self-esteem. I thought my shoulders weren't strong enough to carry weight of indifference."
He added, "Congress is not the party that it was. We don't have a transformative and inspiring leadership to lead the party. I have neither quit politics nor public service, I'll continue to discharge my obligations to the nation."
Kumar sent his resignation to Congress President Sonia Gandhi this morning, saying he can best serve national causes outside the party fold.
The resignation comes close on the heels of another party leader R P N Singh quitting the Congress.
13:36 Will win 19 seats with MGP in Goa: TMC
The Trinamool Congress has claimed it will win 12 seats in Goa and its ally Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) will bag seven seats in the 40-member state Assembly.
Polling in all the 40 Assembly constituencies of the coastal state was held on Monday.
The counting of votes will be held on March 10.
Before the polls, the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) had forged an alliance with Goa's oldest regional party MGP.
Talking to PTI after the voting concluded on Monday evening, TMC Goa chief Kiran Kandolkar claimed his party was the only political outfit that gave a tough fight to the ruling BJP in the state.
"The TMC will win at least 12 seats in the state. Our ally MGP will win seven seats," he claimed. Kandolkar said they might fall short of a few seats, as against the majority mark of 21, but expressed confidence that they will be able to prove the majority on the floor of the House.
He dismissed the apprehension that the MGP might part ways with the TMC after the poll results are out.
"The pre-poll alliance between two the parties mandates that the MGP stays with the TMC even after the results are declared," he said.
Kandolkar further said a wrong impression was being created that the TMC will leave Goa after the poll results, and asserted that his party was here to stay.
"I agree that we have no grass-root level workers in Goa at present, but during the campaigning for the elections, we managed to make our presence felt in all the 40 Assembly constituencies," he said.
13:00 Djokovic willing to sacrifice trophies than get vaccinated
The world number one men's tennis player Novak Djokovic has stated that he would rather miss out on future trophies than be forced to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion said that he should not be associated with the anti-vax movement, but added that he supports an individual's freedom to choose. The Serbian was asked if he would sacrifice taking part in competitions such as Wimbledon and the French Open over his stance on the vaccine.
"Yes, that is the price that I'm willing to pay," Djokovic told BBC News.
Last month, Novak Djokovic failed to participate in the Australian Open 2022 as he was deported by the Australian government after a row on his vaccine status. Djokovic had his visa revoked twice when he was eventually deported by the Australian government.
"I was never against vaccination," he added and confirmed that he'd had vaccines as a child. Djokovic further added: "But I've always supported the freedom to choose what you put in your body."
12:56 Man held for raping bedridden granny in Delhi
A sweeper has been arrested for allegedly raping an 87-year-old bedridden woman after breaking into her house in west Delhi's Tilak Nagar, police said on Tuesday.
The accused has been identified as Ankit (30).
He worked in Tilak Nagar's nearby areas, they said. The incident took place on Sunday night when the woman's daughter had gone out to meet a friend, the police said.
In a tweet, the Delhi Police said, "The case of sexual assault of elderly lady in Tilak Nagar has been solved. Culprit in this blind case nabbed within 16 hours. Victim's mobile phone recovered from him. Accused lives in nearby locality and works as a sweeper."
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Prashant Gautam said we received a report on Monday regarding the sexual assault of an elderly woman.
"Soon after receiving the information, we deployed a team and managed to zero in on the accused within 16 hours. The accused was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident," he said.
An investigation is underway to ascertain the exact motive of the accused behind the crime, the police said.
The police had set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the matter. A case has been registered under sections 380 (theft in dwelling house, etc), 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) and 376 (Punishment for rape) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), according to officials.
The elderly woman's family members had alleged that the police delayed action and did not take their complaint, a charge denied by officials.
Police had said that only a complaint of theft was lodged on Sunday night and a case was registered "promptly" on its basis at the Tilak Nagar police station.
On Monday, the complainant alleged that she was also sexually assaulted and the relevant IPC sections were added to the case, they said. According to the woman's family members, the accused broke into the house.
After the elderly woman spotted and questioned him, he said he worked with a gas agency and was called to the house for some work, the police had said.
When the woman tried to raise an alarm as she found him to be suspicious, the accused attacked her, sexually assaulted her and stole her mobile phone, her family members had told the police. After the woman's daughter got back home, she found her injured and approached the police, the family members had said. PTI
Hina Kausar, a student in Shivamogga city
12:37 K'taka: School students wearing hijab skip exams
In Karnataka, schools refuse to blink on the hijab issue. Several students skip Class 10 preparatory exams at the Karnataka Public School in Shivamogga city. Hina Kausar, a student of the school, says, "I was asked to remove hijab before entering the school. I can't do it, so I chose not to appear in the exam."
The Karnataka government on Monday decided to reopen pre-university and degree colleges across the state, that were shut due to hijab row, from February 16.
As protests for and against the hijab intensified in different parts of Karnataka and turned violent in some places, the government had declared a holiday for all high schools and colleges in the state for three days, from February 9, and it was subsequently extended up to February 16.
However, the Karnataka high court, in its interim order pending consideration of all petitions related to the hijab row, last week had requested the state government to reopen educational institutions and restrained all the students from wearing saffron shawls, scarves, hijab and any religious flag within the classroom.
Following the court order, the government had decided to resume classes for high school students up to Class 10 from February 14, and for pre-university and degree colleges thereafter, and accordingly high schools across the state reopened today.
12:05 Ex-Union minister Ashwani Kumar quits Congress
Former Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar resigns from Congress.
In the resignation letter addressed to Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi, Ashwani Kumar writes, "I have concluded that in the present circumstances and consistent with my dignity I can best subserve larger national causes outside the party-fold."
Read the full letter alongside.
12:01 Lalu Prasad Yadav convicted in fodder scam
Fodder scam: RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav convicted of fraudulent withdrawal from Doranda treasury by a CBI Special Court in Ranchi.
A special CBI (Central Investigation Bureau) court delivered its verdict on the biggest fodder scam case in India.
The former Bihar chief minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad, who has already been convicted in four similar cases is one of the main accused in the case.
The Rs 950-crore fodder scam, which rocked the electoral career of the veteran Bihar politician, relates to fraudulent withdrawal of public funds from government treasuries in various districts of erstwhile Bihar against fictitious spends on fodder and other expenses for cattle over a period of several years.
11:55 Voter turnout yesterday in the five-state polls
Polling was held today for all 70 assembly seats in Uttarakhand and 40 constituencies in Goa, as well as for 55 out of 403 seats in Uttar Pradesh, in the second phase of the 2022 Assembly Elections.
11:37 India's advisory to students in Ukraine: LEAVE
The Embassy of India in Kyiv asks Indians, particularly students whose stay is not essential, to leave Ukraine temporarily in view of the uncertainties of the current situation.
The White House on Monday said that America is working closely with its allies, including India on Russia's ongoing threat to Ukraine.
Russia's aggression poses threats not only to Ukraine but to the entire international rules-based order, which has provided a foundation for decades of shared security and prosperity for the region and around the globe.
NDTV reports that new satellite images of Russian deployment around Ukraine's borders show increased military activity in the past 48 hours. The massive build-up comes amid fears that Russia is about to invade Ukraine.
Maxar's high-resolution satellite images filmed over the past 48 hours show a massive build-up of Russian troops in Belarus, Crimea, and western Russia.
The new activity includes the arrival of several large contingents of troops and attack helicopters. The images also show the deployment of ground attack aircraft and fighter-bomb jets at forward locations.
11:32 Many CPI(M) leaders & workers killed in Tripura: Manik Sarkar
Leader of Opposition in Tripura Assembly Manik Sarkar has alleged that many CPI(M) leaders and workers have been murdered in the state in the past four years of the BJP-IPFT rule.
"As many as 24 CPI(M) leaders and workers were murdered in the past four years and justice has not been done to none. The things will not move on in the way they (BJP-IPFT) think," Sarkar said while speaking to reporters at Kamalpur in South Tripura district on Monday.
However, the ruling dispensation strongly denied the allegations of political murders in Tripura after 2018 Assembly elections.
"This was for the first time, no political murder took place after 2018 Assembly elections. Earlier, we used to witness heavy post poll violence," said BJP spokesperson Nabendu Bhattacharjee.
Sharply criticizing the BJP-IPFT government, the former chief minister said an-one sided rule is installed in the state.
"People voices are being throttled. Elections are not taking place in a free and fair manner...," he said.
Sarkar said the people, who had been befooled prior to 2018 Assembly elections have started realizing that they have made a big mistake.
The BJP MLAs, who had deserted the party and joined the Congress have been openly criticizing the BJP led government. Now, they are repenting for joining the saffron party with folding hands, he said in an indirect reference to Sudip Roy Barman and Asish Saha quitting the saffron party and joining the Congress.
"A new storm is hovering in the state. Now, the time has come for an eyeball to eyeball protest to the wrongdoings of the government," he said. PTI
11:07 Covid can be said to be endemic only if...
Unless India sees four weeks of low and stable numbers of COVID-19 cases with only minor fluctuations, the disease cannot be considered to be entering the endemic stage, noted virologist Dr T Jacob John said.
He also said the endemic phase of COVID-19 is expected to last many months and it is " most unlikely" that another variant with higher transmissibility than Omicron and greater virulence than Delta will emerge.
The third wave of COVID-19 in India has been plateauing. The number of cases started declining after January 21, when 3,47,254 infections were reported. As of Tuesday, India's daily COVID-19 cases have remained below one lakh for nine consecutive days. John said the term endemic is meant to qualify a pattern.
"When case numbers in a community are plotted on graphs, the pattern of rise, peak and fall represent epidemic (or outbreak) and case numbers as a horizontal steady state are called endemic. When an epidemic pattern repeats, we call each a wave.
"So unless we see four weeks of low and stable numbers with only minor fluctuations, we cannot call the valley as endemic just as yet," John told PTI.
"Omicron wave is receding so fast that in a few more days we may reach the valley, but we will wait for four weeks to be sure of endemic prevalence," he said.
Asked what can be expected in the coming months, the former director of the Indian Council for Medical Research's Centre of Advanced Research in Virology said it cannot be predicted, but only speculated.
"My intelligent guess: we will slip into an endemic phase for many months without any more waves with Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta or Omicron. It will be most unlikely that yet another variant that will spread faster than Omicron and more efficient in immune evasion that Delta or Omicron will emerge," John said.
"However, just as Omicron surprised us, another weird variant could surprise us yet again," he warned.
He also said that during the endemic phase, some will be infected, sick, hospitalised and even die.
John cautioned that without high vaccination coverage, small waves may recur perhaps once a year or once in a few years, modulated by vaccination coverage in all age groups.
"We have vaccines. For all current vaccines, two doses plus a booster are the minimum schedule. Additional boosters will be decided on future information," he added. -- PTI
11:03 Union Cabinet to meet at PM's residence at 4 pm
Union Cabinet to meet offline at 4 pm today at the Prime Minister's residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. Four major decisions, of which one is political, are expected.
10:41 Suvendu Adhikari is a 'gaddar', says TMC's Kunal Ghosh
Trinamool Congress spokesperson and state general secretary Kunal Ghosh on Monday said that the leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari is a "Gaddar (traitor)".
Speaking to ANI, Ghosh said, "Suvendu Adhikari is a 'Gaddar' and everyone is aware of his arrogant behaviour. People are not protesting against the BJP leaders Dilip Ghosh and Sukanta Majumdar because they are not traitors to their party. It is only because of Suvendu.
"People have seen what is happening so they out of frustration have protested. The way Suvendu is acting now I think recently he has watched Pushpa."
The TMC leader said that the BJP is going everywhere but not facing the public. "As far as moving High Court for the BJP is concerned, they can go anywhere. I think the BJP should move to United Nations because since they are moving to this court, that court, election commission but they are not facing the public. Let them go to the UN and file petitions to send the force from there. Even then the BJP will be defeated badly because they are not facing the public," he said.
Ghosh said that students protested on Monday against the betrayal of Adhikari. -- ANI
Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi
10:38 BJP complains to EC on Cong's communal Punjab polls
Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Monday led a delegation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to the Chief Election Commissioner in the national capital on Monday to complain against the Congress after one of its leaders claimed that a "Hindu can never become Chief Minister of Punjab.
Naqvi said that a Congress leader recently said that a "Hindu can never become Chief Minister of Punjab".
The Minister stated that the statement of the Congress leader amounted to giving communal colour to the Punjab elections.
"Recently, a Congress leader said that a Hindu can never become CM of Punjab. It's an attempt to give a communal colour to the elections. We have filed a complaint in this regard," he said.
He also alleged that in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samajwadi Party and Congress are trying not to let Muslim women vote.
"In Uttar Pradesh, SP, BSP and Congress are trying not to let Muslim women vote. Women are being asked to go to booths in burkha and insist on voting without showing identity," said Naqvi.
Dawood Ibrahim's sister's home
10:23 ED conducts searches in Mumbai in underworld-linked action
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday conducted multiple searches in Mumbai as part of a money laundering probe linked to the operations of the underworld and related property transactions, official sources said.
About ten locations are being covered in Maharashtra's capital city and the action is being conducted under sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
ED officials also visited the residence of Dawood Ibrahim's sister Haseena Parkar in Mumbai.
Some premises linked to a politician are also being covered, they said. The ED action is based on an FIR filed recently by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and some intelligence inputs received by the former agency, they said.
Wanda Sykes
10:20 Wanda Sykes, Amy Schumer and Regina Hall to host Oscars 2022
Wanda Sykes, Amy Schumer and Regina Hall will host the 94th edition of the Academy Awards.
The Oscars are returning to an emcee format for the first time since 2018, reported Deadline.
The news is expected to be announced officially Tuesday on ABC's Good Morning America.
ABC is the broadcast partner for the awards ceremony, which will be held on March 27.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, who is the organiser of the annual honours, declined comment on the host news.
The 2022 Oscars are being produced by Will Packer, whose long list of hit TV and film successes includes Girls Trip, which starred Hall among its ensemble.
With the addition of comedy veterans Sykes and Schumer, it seems the producers are hoping to add some humour to the show.
It is currently unclear how the duties will be distributed among the trio.
Last year's telecast ceremony was the lowest-rated ever, hampered by pandemic constraints and held with reduced capacity at Los Angeles' Union Station instead of its normal home at the Dolby Theatre.
This time Oscars return to full capacity at the Dolby as the latest Omicron variant continues to subside. Last week, it was confirmed that the Academy will not be requiring shots, just a recent negative test, to attend.
Jane Campion's Western The Power of the Dog, a psychological drama set in the director's native New Zealand, is leading the race to the 2022 Oscars with 12 nominations, followed by Denis Villenueve's adaptation of Dune with 10. -- PTI
10:07 We respect religious sentiments: Nitish on hijab row
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has played down the Hijab controversy which has been raging in the country and said that in Bihar this is not an issue as people respect each other's religious sentiments.
Talking with the media, Kumar said, "In Bihar schools, children wear the same type of dress... We respect each other's religious sentiments."
The chief minister also said that the people of the state does not pay attention to such things as Bihar does not interfere with the way of practising one's religion or culture.
"We do not interfere in their way of practising religion or culture. That's why we should not pay attention to such things," he said.
Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that a proper dress code should be followed in schools, adding that he never asked the public or workers in UP to wear saffron, for what they wear is their personal choice.
He had also said that one's personal belief is separate, "but when one talks about institutions, then one has to accept the rules there. In a national context, the Constitution should be followed."
The hijab protests in Karnataka began in January this year when some students of Government Girls PU college in the Udupi district of the state alleged that they had been barred from attending classes.
10:01 India driving force of Quad, says White House
India is a driving force of the Quad and an engine for regional growth, said the White House, days after foreign ministers of the countries, which are part of the grouping, met in Melbourne.
The Quad or Quadrilateral Security Dialogue comprises India, the US, Japan and Australia.
During the Melbourne summit, foreign ministers of the countries had discussed the destabilising role of China in the Indo-Pacific region and Russian aggression in Ukraine.
US Secretary of State Tony Blinken Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar were part of the discussions.
"We recognise that India is a like-minded partner and leader in South Asia and the Indian Ocean, active in and connected to the Southeast Asia, a driving force of the Quad, and an engine for regional growth and development," White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters here.
"It was an opportunity to discuss Russia's ongoing threat to Ukraine. They discussed the threat that Russia's aggression poses not only to Ukraine but to the entire international rules-based order, which has provided a foundation for decades of shared security and prosperity for the region and around the globe," she said about the Melbourne meeting.
"Throughout his meetings with the Quad partners, Secretary Blinken discussed the challenges Russia poses to the rules-based on international order and our readiness to support our European allies," she said.
The US, she said, will continue to build a strategic partnership in which the US and India work together to promote stability in South Asia, collaborate in new domains such as health, space, cyberspace, deepen the economic and technology cooperation, and contribute to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
09:56 India logs less than 30,000 Covid cases after 44 days
New COVID-19 cases in India were recorded below 30,000 after around 44 days, taking the virus tally to 4,26,92,943, while the active cases dipped to 4,23,127, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday.
The death toll climbed to 5,09,358 with 347 fresh fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated.
The daily COVID-19 cases have been recorded less than one lakh for nine consecutive days.
The active cases comprise 0.99 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has further improved to 97.82 per cent, the ministry said.
09:32 No fresh COVID-19 case in Andaman & Nicobar Islands
The Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands did not report any fresh COVID-19 case in the last 24 hours, a health department official said on Tuesday.
The COVID-19 tally in the archipelago remained at 9,981.
Ten more people recovered from COVID-19, taking the total number of recoveries to 9,735, he said.
The union territory now has 117 active COVID-19 cases, the official said.
The COVID-19 death toll remained at 129 as no fresh fatality was reported in the last 24 hours, he said.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands had reported seven new COVID-19 cases and 19 recoveries on Monday.
The administration has so far tested 6,92,131 samples for COVID-19 and the cumulative test positivity rate is 1.44 per cent.
A total of 6,06,234 beneficiaries have been inoculated with COVID-19 vaccine, including 3,01,558 with both doses of the vaccine, the official added. -- PTI
08:59 Ukraine Prez claims Russia will attack on Feb 16
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday announced of Russian invasion on February 16 in his Facebook post.
The announcement comes amid heightened tensions between Ukraine and Russia.
Zelensky in an address to his nation posted on Facebook, "We are told that February 16 will be the day of the attack."
He wrote that Ukraine will hold a Day of Unity on Wednesday. He said the relevant decree has already been signed.
Russia has amassed more than 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border.
The troop build-up had raised concerns among the US and NATO allies that Russia is planning a military incursion.
However, Russia has continually denied having any such plans.
Officials from Ukraine, Russia and NATO nations have engaged in diplomatic discussions for weeks with hopes of easing the tensions in the region, but the conversations did not bear any breakthroughs.
08:41 Ready for any situation: US on Ukraine crisis
The Biden Administration has warned Russia of "severe consequences" in case its forces invade Ukraine and insisted on a diplomatic solution to the issue.
"We are actively working to reach a diplomatic solution to de-escalate the crisis. Over the weekend, as you all know, the President spoke with President Putin, and we remain engaged with the Russian government in full coordination with our allies and partners," White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters.
"The path for diplomacy remains available if Russia chooses to engage constructively," she said.
"However, we are clear-eyed about the prospects of that, given the steps Russia is taking on the ground," she said, as President Joe Biden reached out to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to discuss the situation.
The leaders discussed their recent diplomatic engagements with Ukraine and Russia, said the White House in a readout.
They also reviewed ongoing diplomatic and deterrence efforts in response to Russia's continued military build-up on Ukraine's borders and reaffirmed their support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, it said.
"They discussed efforts to reinforce the defensive posture on NATO's eastern flank and underlined the continued close coordination among allies and partners, including on readiness to impose severe consequences on Russia should it choose further military escalation," the White House said.
During the White House news conference, Jean-Pierre said they are in the window when an invasion could begin at any time. -- PTI
00:56 Govt panel for clearing Corbevax for 12-18-yr-olds
An expert panel of India's central drug authority on Monday recommended granting restricted emergency use authorisation to Biological E's COVID-19 vaccine, Corbevax, for age group 12 to 18 years subject to certain conditions, official sources said.
The government has still not not taken a decision on vaccinating those aged below 15 years.
NITI Aayog member (Health) V K Paul at a press conference recently said that the additional need for vaccination and inclusion of population for vaccination is examined constantly.
The Drugs Controller General Of India (DCGI) has already approved Corbevax, which is India's first indigenously developed RBD protein sub-unit vaccine against COVID-19, for restricted use in emergency situation in adults on December 28.
It has not been included in the country's vaccination drive.
"The Subject Expert Committee (SEC) on COVID-19 of the CDSCO which deliberated on the application recommended granting restricted emergency use authorisation to Biological E's Corbevax for the 12 to less than 18 years age group subject to certain conditions," a source said.
The recommendation has been sent to the DCGI for final approval.
In an application sent to the DCGI on February 9, Srinivas Kosaraju, the head of Quality and Regulatory Affairs of Biological E Limited said the firm had received approval for conducting phase 2/3 clinical study of Corbevax among children and adolescents aged 5-18 years in September.
"Based on the no-objection certificate, Biological E has initiated the clinical study in October 2021 and has evaluated the available safety and immunogenicity results of the ongoing phase 2/3 study which indicated that the vaccine is safe and immunogenic.
"The proposed application is for obtaining permission for restricted use in an emergency situation in adolescents aged 12 to less than 18 years based on interim results (of the ongoing phase 2/3 clinical study) considering the current pandemic and widespread of COVID-19 vaccine in India," Kosaraju had said in the application.
The Corbevax vaccine is administered through intramuscular route with two doses scheduled 28 days apart and is stored at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius and presented as 0.5 ml (single dose) and 5 ml (10 doses) vial pack.
According to the Health Ministry, the company has conducted phase 1/2, 2/3 clinical trials of its COVID-19 vaccine in the country.
Further, it has conducted a phase 3 active comparator clinical trial to evaluate superiority against Covishield vaccine, it said. -- PTI
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