RAJASTHAN FIRST IN THE COUNTRY IN RENEWABLE ENERGY SECTOR: CM

 `87,000 crore worth MoU signed, 8400 people will get employment

 Energy Sectoral Portal launched

Vikas Sharma

Jaipur: CM Ashok Gehlot said on Friday that today global warming and climate change is a matter of concern for the world. “The world is serious about environmental protection. This has increased the importance of renewable energy sources. Due to investment-friendly policies of State govt, Rajasthan is at the first place in India in the renewable energy sector. Investors are coming forward to set up wind power, hybrid plants and green hydrogen projects along with solar power in the State. P10

CAPTAIN MODI GIVES HIS BOWLERS CERTAIN FREEDOM: S JAISHANKAR

New Delhi: EAM S Jaishankar on Friday likened PM Narendra Modi to a cricket captain saying he gave his bowlers freedom while expecting them to take wickets. He said Modi’s knack of taking tough decisions was also on display when India decided to announce the lockdown after the outbreak of Covid. P7

US CAN WORK WITH INDIA TO END RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR: NED PRICE

Washington: US State Dept spokesperson

“To give new heights to tourism in India, we will have to think out of the box and work with a long-term planning,” the PM said.

Ned Price said, “India has the ability we have seen from PM Modi to speak with tremendous moral clarity. When Modi said last year “this is not an era of war”, the world listened as they should because when PM Modi and his country said something to that effect.

Intel officers told me to be careful using phone: RaGa

RAHUL HAS A HABIT OF DEFAMING INDIA IN FOREIGN LANDS, SAYS ANURAG THAKUR

New Delhi: Union Information & Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur while criticising former Congress president Rahul Gandhi over his statement regarding Pegasus, said that Pegasus existed in Gandhi’s heart and mind and it had become his habit to defame India in foreign lands using the foreign media, agencies and friends.

In his speech at Cambridge, Congress leader stirs row with claims that several politicians had Pegasus on their phones Cambridge (ANI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack at the Centre during a lecture at Cambridge University, alleging that an attack has been unleashed on the Indian democracy while also claiming that Israeli spyware Pegasus was being used to snoop into his phone. Rahul claimed that he had been warned by the intelligence officers to be “careful” while speaking on phone as his calls were being recorded. He further said that constraints were being put on the Parliament, press and the Judiciary in the country.

Mamata deals blow to Oppn alliance hopes

Kolkata: In a blow to hopes of a grand Opposition alliance against the BJP at the Centre, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has vowed to go it alone in next year’s Lok Sabha polls. After the ruling TMC lost the Sagardighi bypoll in West Bengal’s Murshidabad, to the Congress, Mamata said the result exposed the “unholy alliance” of BJP, Congress and the CPI(M).

In The Courtyard

POLICY CASE: SISODIA

EXCISE

MOVES

Bail Plea In Trial Court

New Delhi: Former Delhi Minister and AAP leader Manish Sisodia, presently in CBI remand, moved a regular bail petition in a trial court on Friday. He was arrested by the CBI for alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of the excise policy of GNCTD. According to the lawyer concerned, hearing on the bail plea will be held on Saturday.

PAWAN

KHERA’S BAIL EXTENDED TILL 17 SC TO SET UP BENCH FOR HIJAB PLEAS

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday extended till March 17 the interim bail granted to Congress leader Pawan Khera in a case related to alleged objectionable remarks he made against PM Narendra Modi.

`6 cr cash seized from BJP MLA son’s house

Bengaluru (ANI): The anti-corruption wing of Lokayukta on Friday raided the residence of BJP MLA Maadal Virupakshappa’s son Prashant Maadal and recovered Rs 6 crore cash. The search was still on. Earlier on Thursday, Karnataka Lokayukta officers caught Virupakshappa’s son taking a bribe of Rs 40 lakh. According to Lokayukta officails, more than Rs 1.7 crore in cash was found at Prashanth Madal’s office on Thursday. P6

The Lokayukta officials counting the seized cash.

MLA STEPS DOWN AS KSDL CHIEF AFTER RAID

Bengaluru: BJP MLA Madal Virupakshappa on Friday resigned as the chairman of Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited hours after the anti-corruption wing of Lokayukta raided the house of his son Prashant Madal.

New Delhi: In the Hijab row, the Supreme Court on Friday assured the petitioner that it will constitute a bench and hear the plea, seeking to allow female students to appear in the examination wearing Hijab in Karnataka.

Other Top Stories

Conrad Sangma is likely to take oath as the Meghalaya CM on March 7. NPP MLA Prestone Tynsong said that the oath-taking would likely to place on March 7.

The second BJP-led govt is likely to assume office in Tripura on March 8, outgoing CM Manik Saha said on Friday, after submitting his resignation letter to Governor Satyadeo Narain Arya. P7

Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari has urged the Election Commission of India (EC) to derecognise the TMC as a national party.