New Delhi [India], March 8 (ANI): The elite anti-terrorist unit, Valley Quick Action Team (QAT) of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), which operates in Jammu and Kashmir is all set to have women commandos for anti-terror operations. CPRF women warriors are undergoing training and if they are cleared, they will be inducted into the specialised team.
This team of highly trained commandos works with the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police. They are amongst India’s best anti-terror commandos.
Officers like Rahul Mathur who were awarded the Kirti Chakra, 7 time Police Medal for Gallantry (PMG) recipient Naresh Kumar, 4-time gallantry medal awardee Loukrakpam Ibomcha Singh and other brave hearts, all belong to Valley QAT which was awarded 15 gallantry medals last year on Independence Day.
According to the top sources deployed in Jammu and Kashmir, the process for their induction has already begun. The force is shortlisting women personnel who are willing to join the QAT team considering the threat perception.
This year the CRPF had inducted women commandos for its CoBRA team which is engaged in anti-Naxal operations in the Naxalite affected areas.
“We have started the process of inducting women in QAT. We are trying to shortlist women who are keen to work in the QAT, since it deals with anti-terror operations. If we manage to get a sufficient number of women commandos, we will move to the next step. Before joining the QAT, women commandos should be mentally as well as physically ready,” one of the top CRPF officer’s told ANI on condition of anonymity.
Sources said that several CRPF women personnel are already undergoing training and if they manage to pass it, they will be inducted into the QAT.
“We are expecting to have a list of names and details by the third week of March. After that, a meeting will be held to discuss further course of action. We would require top-level approvals as well before going ahead with it,” the officer said.
CRPF has already achieved another milestone last year after the first woman IPS officer was appointed as Inspector General (IG) of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Srinagar sector, one of the terrorist-affected areas in Jammu and Kashmir.
Charu Sinha, IPS officer of the 1996-batch Telangana cadre, is heading the Srinagar sector for CRPF as the Inspector General after dealing with Naxals.
Also last month, CRPF had inducted women commandos into the elite anti-Naxal CoBRA unit. 34 women personnel from the 6 Mahila Battalions of CRPF are under training to join the CoBRA. After pre-induction training of 3 months, they will be sent to Naxalite affected areas.
While talking on the occasion of the Raising Day of 88th Mahila Battalion, Ex-CRPF DG AP Maheshwari had also indicated regarding the introducing of women personnel in the Valley QAT. (ANI)

New Delhi [India], March 8 (ANI): Ahead of upcoming Assembly elections, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will address the national executive meeting of Indian Youth Congress office-bearers in the national capital on Monday.
Taking to Twitter, Youth Congress National President Srinivas B V said: “Indian Youth Congress is all set to organize National Executive meeting 2020-21 at IYC HQ.”
The Election Commission of India on February 26 announced the schedule for upcoming Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Polling will be held between March 27-April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 2. (ANI)

New Delhi [India], March 8 (ANI): Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday appealed to members to be present in the House, observe debates, and enrich their knowledge.
“An in-depth and analytical understanding of each issue makes a real difference in debates. This is possible only through the study of books and journals from time to time. The Parliament Library is completing 100 years this year. It has a huge collection of about 14 lakh books and 100s of journals in all languages. I am told the footfall is not very encouraging. I urge all members to make use of it,” Naidu said.
He further “Going to library is going enhance your knowledge. Attending the session, not missing it, enhances your understanding of parliamentary procedures. I call upon members to make use of the library and please attend parliament.”
The RS Chairman also raised concerns regarding low attendance in Parliament committee meetings and urged members to be present, observe debates and enrich their knowledge.
“Some concerns in respect to the meetings for the committees this year include a decline in the overall attendance this year to 42 per cent from 48 pc last year. There has been an increase in the number of members who have not attended any meetings this year,” Naidu said while addressing members present in the House.
He further said informed that overall attendance from members of all such parties and groups this year declined to 27.60 per cent from 40.5 per cent from last year.
“Low attendance of members in the meetings of the committee remains a major concern. Overall attendance from members of all such parties and groups this year declined to 27.60 per cent from 40.5 pc last year. This needs to be addressed by the concerned parties,” he said.
The Chairman also complimented Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge for assuming the role of the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, after the retirement of Ghulam Nabi Azad in the last session.
“On behalf of the entire House and on my own behalf, I compliment Mallikarjun Kharge Ji on assuming the office of the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha. He is one of the long-serving leaders of the country, with vast legislative and administrative experience,” Naidu said.
The second part of the Budget session of Parliament commenced on Monday with all COVID-19 precautionary measures in place. (ANI)

New Delhi [India], March 8 (ANI): Entry and exit gates of Delhi metro stations from Tikri Kalan to Brigadier Hoshiar Singh on the Green Line section were closed on Monday morning. However, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has not specified the reason for closing the metro stations.
“Security Update: Entry/exit gates of stations from Tikri Kalan to Brigadier Hoshiar Singh on green line are closed,” read a tweet on the official handle of DMRC.
There are three intermediate stations — Tikri Border, Pandit Shree Ram Sharma (Modern Industrial Estate) and Bahadurgarh City — between Tikri Kalan to Brigadier Hoshiar Singh metro stations on the Green Line.

Meanwhile, several women from Punjab reached Tikri on the Delhi-Haryana border to join the ongoing farmers’ protest on the occasion of International Women’s Day.
“We urge the central government to roll back the three black laws,” a woman protester said.
Farmers have been protesting at the borders of the national capital since November 26 last year against the newly enacted farm laws — Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance, and Farm Services Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. (ANI)

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], March 8 (ANI): The higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh received light to moderate snowfall, leading to a dip in temperature of two to four degrees Celsius.
Manmohan Singh, IMD Director of Himachal Pradesh on Monday said that Khadrala, tehsil Rohru received 10 cm snow.
Mandi district will receive heavy rainfall along with thunderstorms in the next 24 hours and a yellow alert has been issued for other places.
Singh further stated that the state will again witness heavy rainfall from March 10.
A fresh western disturbance is very likely to affect the western Himalayan region and the adjoining plains of Northwest India from the night of March 9, said the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The weather forecasting agency further predicted fairly widespread rain and snow along with thunderstorms, lighting, hailstorm over the western Himalayan region during March 10 and 11. (ANI)

New Delhi [India], March 8 (ANI): Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 11 am on Monday following sloganeering by Congress MPs demanding a discussion over the rise in fuel prices.
“Petrol and diesel prices are nearly Rs 100 per litre and Rs 80 per litre respectively. Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) prices have also gone up. Rs 21 lakh crores have been collected by putting excise duty/cess, because of this entire country including farmers are suffering,” Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said.
After slogans were raised, Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairperson M Venkaiah Naidu said: “I don’t want to take any drastic action on the first day.”
Meanwhile, Congress MP Manish Tewari has given Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha over the rise in fuel prices.
The second phase of the Budget session of Parliament commenced today with reconvening of Rajya Sabha in the first half of the day.
The second part of the Budget session of Parliament commenced from today with all COVID-19 precautionary measures in place.
The Rajya Sabha will function from 9 am to 2 pm while Lok Sabha will function between 4 pm to 10 pm. The second part of the session will conclude April 8, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla had informed. (ANI)