Tirunelveli (Tamil Nadu) [India], February 28 (ANI): In a renewed attack on the Centre, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said that the Government of India has turned noble professions like farming, education and healthcare into financial commodities.
During an interaction titled ‘Educators Meet’ at Tirunelveli’s St Xavier College, Gandhi said, “I personally do not believe that education is a financial commodity. I believe that education should be available to everyone.”
Gandhi, who is touring Tamil Nadu for the second day as part of his campaign for the April 6 assembly polls, hit out at the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)-led union government and said, “It is duty of a nation to give education and healthcare to its people. What is happening here is that everything is being seen as a financial commodity,” he remarked.
“Agriculture is being seen as a financial commodity, education is being seen as a financial commodity, healthcare is being seen as a financial commodity. Basically, if you have money, you can get anything. If you do not have money, you get nothing,” the Congress leader said.
Gandhi also took to Twitter to slam the Central government.
“GOI has turned noble professions like farming, education & healthcare into financial commodities for the benefit of a few cronies. We’re fighting this without any anger, hatred or violence. And non-violence always wins,” he tweeted.
This comes ahead of the 234-member Tamil Nadu assembly elections will be held in a single phase on April 6 and the counting of votes will take place on May 2.
The ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) is contesting the polls in a pre-poll alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). MK Stalin’s Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has joined hands with the Congress party.
Actor-turned-politician Kamal Hassan’s party Makkal Neethi Maiam (MNM) is also in the fray this time. (ANI)
.

Rajouri (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], February 28 (ANI): The Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) on Saturday conducted the phase first of objective type written examination for the Class IV posts across the Union Territory.
The examination took place from 12 pm to 2 pm.
Huge gatherings of youth were seen on the first day of examination at different centres in the Rajouri district. All types of arrangements were in place for the smooth conduction of the examination.
“Every job seeker wants a government job. They want to serve in the government sector. There is obvious enthusiasm in the job seekers and parents as well,” Arif Lone, an observer at Government Boys Higher Secondary school examination centre.
“All the COVID-19 protocols have been properly followed and all the teams are meticulously executing their job. We are maintaining total transparency in the examination. The screening system is very strict. Only meritorious aspirants will come out successfully,” he added.
Shafiq Ahmed, Centre Superintendent at Government Boys Higher Secondary school examination centre said the administration has made sure there is no problem with water, electricity, and invigilators at the examination centres.
“Observers, District Magistrate, nodal officer, all teams were there. I would particularly like to thank the district administration for the way they ensured we didn’t have any problem,” he added. (ANI)

New Delhi [India], February 28 (ANI): Delhi Police on Sunday identified two persons allegedly involved in Adarsh Nagar case where a woman was stabbed to death by a chain snatcher while resisting the robbery.
Earlier today, the DCP of Northwest Usha Rangnani had informed that ten police teams have been constituted to probe the case.
A 25-year-old woman was stabbed to death by a snatcher for resisting a robbery bid in the Adarsh Nagar area of the national capital, police said.
The woman was stabbed to death in north-west Delhi’s Adarsh Nagar while trying to resist a snatching bid. She was coming home from a market and was holding her child when the incident occurred.
An FIR has been registered, but no arrest has been made till now. Further investigation of the case is underway, the police said.
This is the second stabbing incident in the last two days.
A 17-year-old boy was admitted to AIIMS Trauma Centre on Friday after being beaten up and stabbed by three boys in the Kalkaji area when he objected to them following his sister and passing indecent remarks. Five persons have been arrested in connection with the incident. (ANI)

Pune (Maharashtra) [India], February 28 (ANI): Three persons including two ex-army personnel have been arrested for allegedly running an Army recruitment racket in Pune, police said.
In a joint operation on Sunday, officials of Military Intelligence of Indian Army and Crime branch unit of Pune city police have busted the racket in Pune who allegedly promised to leak question papers of Indian Army relation recruitment.
Three accused including two ex-army personnel namely Ali Akhtar and Mahendra Sonavane were arrested by police in the case. The third accused has been identified as Azad Khan.
According to a complaint received by the police, the accused were about to leak the exam papers of the Indian Army Relation recruitment exam being held in Pune on Sunday.
The police said that the accused had promised recruitment in the Army to those appearing for exams and had asked them to pay Rs 2 lakhs to Rs 3 lakhs for leaked paper.
The Pune Police said that some candidates had already paid Rs 1 lakh as an advance amount and the remaining Rs 1 lakh was supposed to be paid after the recruitment.
According to the Police, the ex-army men were running the recruitment racket while Azad Khan who was working as a civil defence cook at the Bombay Sappers Unit of the Indian army was coordinating with them.
A case has been registered against all three accused under relevant sections and further investigation is underway. (ANI)

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 28 (India): Ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly Budget session, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Rathod, who is allegedly involved in the death case of 22-year-old girl Pooja Chavan, on Sunday resigned from the post of Maharashtra Forest Minister and demanded a fair investigation in the matter. 

He submitted his resignation to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray during a meeting at the Chief Ministers’ residence where Urban Development and Public Works Minister Eknath Shinde was also present. The meeting lasted for more than two hours.

After submitting his resignation to the Chief Minister, Rathod said, “I have submitted my resignation to chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. The media and others tried to spoil my and my community’s image. I want a fair investigation in this case. They (opposition) are warning us that they won’t allow the budget session to function, I believe in Ambekar’s Constitution. The way the opposition is behaving, I have distanced myself from all this for a fair investigation. Let the police investigate it.”

Rathod also said: “I have tendered my resignation to CM Uddhav as a Minister, not as an MLA.”

On Thursday, former Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis hit out at the state government over Rathod’s alleged involvement in the murder of a woman, saying that the government was more interested in celebrity tweets.

On February 8, Chavan had allegedly jumped off a building in Pune to end her life. Hailing from Parli town in Beed, Pooja had gone to Pune for an English speaking course. A couple of days after her death, some of her audio clips went viral on social media which the opposition took up and pointed fingers at the Maharashtra Forest Minister Sanjay Rathod, demanding an investigation into the case.

The BJP has alleged that Rathod is connected with the mysterious death of the woman in Pune. However, Rathod had denied all allegations.

As per procedure, an accidental death (AD) case was registered with the Wanawadi police station in Pune. No complaint has so far been registered by Chavan’s family. (ANI)

Ludhiana (Punjab) [India], February 28 (ANI): Ludhiana Special Task Force (STF) arrested two persons and seized 2.17 kg heroin from the Sabzi Mandi area on Saturday.
Acting on information, police intercepted a truck near Salem Tabri area in Sabzi Mandi and seized 2 kg and 17 gm of heroin.
Police arrested Kamaljit Singh Kamal and Bhupendra Singh and registered cases against them under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, Surendra Kumar Superintendent of Police (SP) STF Ludhiana told reporters here.
According to police, the accused have brought the heroin from Attari border to hand it over to a person namely Pavan in Ludhiana.
Further investigation is underway. (ANI)