Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], March 5 (ANI): The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday summoned former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti in a money laundering case, an ED official told ANI.
As per the official, Mufti has been asked to appear before the investigating agency on March 15.
In December 2020, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president alleged that several of her peers and family members were being baselessly investigated by Central agencies, and added that if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wanted to fight her they should do so politically.
“The BJP is not fighting me politically. I want to tell the BJP that you have so much power, so many members in parliament, and you form the government. If you want to fight me, do it politically. Not through the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Enforcement Directorate (ED) or the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Put your feet on the ground and fight,” she had said while addressing the media here.
She had also alleged that Central agencies were investigating her father’s tomb. “What will you get from these raids? What do I have? If I had anything you wouldn’t be going to my father’s tomb,” she had said. (ANI)

Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh) [India], March 5 (ANI): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday launched the AP Fact Check website and Twitter account at his camp office in Andhra Pradesh’s Amaravati.
Speaking on the occasion, Reddy said, “Malicious propaganda was being spread in the media and on social media and that the government was condemning this false propaganda as AP fact check platforms with evidence.”
The platform will show how the false campaign has been shown with evidence and will bring the true facts to the people’s attention.
Further speaking on the launch, the CM said, ‘Authorities should also take action against malicious propaganda. We need to identify where this malicious campaign originally started and take legal action.”
“No one has the right to deliberately damage the reputation of an individual, the reputation of a system. No one has the right to corrupt systems with personal intentions. No one should do things that mislead systems,” he added. (ANI)

Mohali (Punjab) [India], March 5 (ANI): Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Friday trashed the Bharatiya Janata Party’s allegation of Congress-ruled states rejecting COVAXIN and termed it ‘a complete lie’ and ‘part of the ruling party’s false and politically motivated propaganda.’
The CM was responding to a question during an informal media interaction after taking the first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine at Civil Hospital in Mohali.
Categorically denying the charge, he slammed the BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra’s claim that Punjab, along with other Opposition-ruled states, had expressed doubts and refused to accept the vaccination.
When asked how he was feeling after the COVID-19 vaccine jab, Singh said, “He was in ‘Chardi Kalan’ and was feeling absolutely fine.”
An official of the Punjab Health Ministry later disclosed that the state had received 1.34 lakh COVAXIN doses, of which 2500 had already been administered.
The CM, in response to another question on the slow pace of vaccination in the state, said the media was contributing to scaring the people. He urged the media to spread awareness about the importance and efficacy of vaccines.
Admitting that COVID cases in Punjab were on the rise, having crossed 1000 after more than a month, Captain said, “It was a matter of concern. Our government was keeping a close watch on the situation.”
He also blamed the casual and carefree attitude of the people of Punjab for the resurgence in cases.
He further appealed to the people to strictly adhere to all COVID-19 safety norms, including wearing masks and social distancing, and not let their guard down. (ANI)

Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], March 5 (ANI): Members of Telangana Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) were detained on Friday during a protest against fee hike in private junior colleges held outside Telangana Intermediate Board in Hyderabad.
BJYM also demanded that the private junior colleges must immediately pay the salaries for the last 10 months to the lecturers of their college.
Arun Kumar, a BJYM member, told reporters, “The intermediate board is ‘working hand in glove’ with the private junior colleges. While people have suffered a lot during the COVID-19 lockdown, these private colleges have hiked the fees of the college. Further, they haven’t even paid the salaries to the lecturers who work in these private junior colleges. During the lockdown, nearly about 6,000 lecturers were forcefully removed from the job.”
“We demand that all the 6000 lecturers, who were removed from the jobs, must immediately be given their jobs back. Further, we demand that all private junior colleges must pay the salaries for the last 10 months to their lecturers.”
Later, police arrived at the protest site and detained BJYM leaders. (ANI)

New Delhi [India], March 5 (ANI): The Defence Minister Rajnath Singh joined the Combined Commanders of the Armed Forces for the Vivechana Sessions at the ongoing Combined Commanders Conference 2021 at Kevadia in Gujarat.
“Raksha Mantri, Shri Rajnath Singh joined the apex level military leadership at the ongoing Combined Commanders’ Conference in Kevadia. Delivering the inaugural address, the Raksha Mantri dwelt on a wide spectrum of issues affecting the defence and security of the Nation,” tweeted Additional Directorate General of Public Information, Indian Army.
According to an official release, soon after arriving at Kevadia, the Defence Minister visited the Statue of Unity to pay his homage to the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel.
Delivering the inaugural address, the Raksha Mantri dwelled on a wide spectrum of issues affecting the defence and security of the Nation.
“He spoke at length on the emerging nature of military threats, the critical role of the Armed Forces in meeting these threats and the anticipated changes in the nature of warfare in the future. Defence Minister expressed his heartfelt appreciation and respect for the selfless courage displayed by the soldiers during the Eastern Ladakh standoff with PLA. Secretaries of Department of Defence, Defence Production, Department of R and D and Financial Advisor Defence Services also shared their thoughts on various relevant aspects with the Combined Commanders,” the release said.
The release said that two Vivechana sessions held over the day in the presence of the Defence Minister deliberated over a wide range of issues, some of them held behind closed doors.
“These deliberations addressed the ongoing modernisation of Armed Forces especially focusing on the creation of integrated Theatre Commands and infusion of modern technology. Issues like morale & motivation and promotion of the spirit of innovation in the Armed Forces witnessed enthusiastic participation with useful feedback and suggestions from the soldiers and younger officers of the three Services,” it added. (ANI)

Ranchi (Jharkhand) [India], March 5 (ANI): The Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) on Friday submitted a report to the Jharkhand High Court, which is hearing the matter of an alleged violation of jail manual by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Lalu Prasad Yadav through video conferencing.
During the hearing today, RIMS submitted a report explaining under what circumstances he was referred to AIIMS Delhi, what tests he underwent and the details of the recommendations of the medical board.
The RIMS director also apologised to the High Court over the delay in submitting the report citing some personal issues.
Meanwhile, Yadav’s lawyer Debarsi Mondal, during the hearing, explained Lalu’s health condition before the court.
The Jharkhand High Court has taken suo moto cognisance in the matter.
Yadav, who has been in prison since December 2017, was sentenced to seven years imprisonment in 2018 under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and seven years under the Prevention of Corruption Act in connection with the fodder scam case.
Notably, both the sentences are being served consecutively.
The case pertains to the fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 3.5 crore from the Dumka treasury by Animal Husbandry Department officials between 1991 and 1996 when Yadav served as the State’s Chief Minister. (ANI)