Shah takes jibe at Cong, JD (Secular) in K’taka

Dhalai (ANI): Highlighting the BJP govt’s development work in poll-bound Tripura, PM Narendra Modi on Saturday said the northeastern state is poised to become the ‘Gateway’ of South Asia.

At a rally in Ambassa, Modi said the BJP govt strives to bring forth the contributions of the tribal people in nation-building through its consistent steps of recognizing their efforts. He said he had promised “HIRA” (Highways, Internet ways, Railways and Air-

“FOES IN KERALA, FRIENDS HERE...”: PM ON LEFT-CONG ways) in Tripura and people could see the delivery of projects. The work of doubling the

Gomati: Coming down heavily on the left parties governing Tripura before the BJP came to power, PM Narendra Modi on Saturday said that previous govts ‘looted’ the State. At a rally here, he said that the govts, which ruled Tripura for years, made the life of people, including the poor and STs miserable.

In The Courtyard

JUDGE RECUSES FROM HEARING JAMIA CASE, CITES ‘PERSONAL REASONS’

New Delhi: A Delhi court judge, who recently discharged student activists Sharjeel Imam and Asif Iqbal Tanha and nine others in the 2019 Jamia Nagar violence case, has recused himself from hearing a similar matter citing “personal reasons”. Additional Sessions Judge Arul Varma was hearing a case regarding the violence in Jamia Nagar in December 2019.

PIL: RENAME PLACES

NAMED AFTER ‘FOREIGN INVADERS’

New Delhi: A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a direction to the Central government to constitute a ‘renaming commission’ to restore the “original” names of ancient historical, cultural and religious places which were “renamed” by foreign invaders.

PHYSIOTHERAPISTS EMERGE AS SYMBOL OF HOPE: PM MODI length of National Highways in Tripura is at a high pace, he said.

New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi on Saturday said that during times of disasters, physiotherapists can play a pivotal role in the rehabilitation of the injured. In his virtual address, the PM emphasized on making the facility of tele-medicine widely available so that people who are affected in disasters are able to get help quickly.

“The work of laying optical fiber in villages is going on in Tripura. In the last eight years, more than three times the optical fiber has been laid in Tripura. Around 5,000 km of new roads were built in Tripura to connect its villages. A new airport was also built in Agartala. Optical fiber and 4G connectivity are being brought to villages. Now, Tripura is becoming global. We are developing waterways to connect the northeast and Tripura with ports. Tripura is poised to become the ‘Gateway’ of South Asia,” he said.

RJD and JMM will contest 2024 LS polls jointly: Tejashwi

NON-PAYMENT OF SALARIES: WAQF’S RESPONSE SOUGHT

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has asked the Delhi Waqf Board to respond to a petition by its employees for payment of salaries and emoluments pending for more than five months. The Delhi Waqf Board Employees Association has contended that employees coming under certain categories have not received their salaries from October last year and are facing “unfathomable financial hardships”.

MOTHER’S ILLICIT AFFAIR: KARNATAKA HC GIVES MINOR’S CUSTODY TO FATHER

Bengaluru: The High Court of Karnataka has upheld the verdict of a Family Court giving the custody rights of a minor child to the father. The woman’s illicit relationship with another man was the reason the father of the child had sought custody of the minor child. A bench of the Karnataka High Court in its recentl judgment observed that the woman “has given more importance to the illicit relationship of hers and has neglected the child.”.

Ranchi (ANI): Bihar

Deputy CM Tejashwi

Yadav on Saturday said that the RJD and JMM will be fighting the 2024 Lok Sabha polls jointly.

Yadav made the announcement after his meeting with the Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren at his residence.

“I met Chief Minister Hemant Soren today and discussed the challenges of the future and also about contesting upcoming Lok Sabha polls together,” Yadav told media.

Yadav also spoke about RJD’s plans of re-

New Delhi (PTI): Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday took a swipe over the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) withdrawing its appeal to celebrate February 14 as ‘Cow Hug Day’, asking whether the govt was “cow-ed” by the jokes made at its expense or was it merely “cow-ardice”. Tharoor’s dig came a day after the AWBI said it has withdrawn the appeal to celebrate February 14 as ‘Cow Hug Day’ following directions from the government amid widespread criticism.

Mangaluru (PTI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday charged that the Congress and the JD(S) believed in 18th century Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan and that the two parties cannot do any good for Karnataka, while hailing the ruling BJP which was inspired by 16th century Tuluva queen of Ullal Rani Abbakka Chowta, for a prosperous rule in the state.

Shah also alleged that the Congress was corrupt and it had used Karnataka as an “Automated Teller Machine (ATM) for the Gandhi family”.

“When I have come here, let me ask you

(people). Should people vote for the JD(S) and Congress who believe in Tipu or the BJP which has faith in Rani Abbakka?” Shah asked people.

The Union Minister for Home and Coopera- tion was in Puttur to celebrate the golden jubilee celebration of the Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Co-operative Limited (CAMPCO) at Puttur in Dakshina Kannada district.

Kharge alleges there’s no freedom of speech inside or outside Parliament

Ranchi (PTI): Hitting out at the BJP-led government at the Centre, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday alleged there was no freedom of speech in the country.

Addressing a rally in Jharkhand’s Sahebganj district, Kharge expressed anguish, claiming that parts of his speech in Parliament were expunged.

“There is neither freedom of speech inside Parliament, nor outside. If someone speaks the truth, writes about it, shows it then they (BJP) send him or her behind the bars,” he alleged while speaking at Gumani Ground in Pakur after launch- ing the party’s 60-day ‘Haath Se Haath Jodo’ mass outreach programme in the state. BJP state president Deepak Prakash, however, termed the viewing the party work in Jharkhand, and said, “We (RJD and JMM) will contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections together. I had planned to come and see the party’s work in Jharkhand. But in between Lalu Prasad ji’s health deteriorated. Lalu Ji’s transplant was successful. He will be coming home today. BJP was removed from power in Bihar and the Mahagathbandhan government was formed. Due to all these issues, Jharkhand could not be visited.”

YOUTH-20 MEET SESSION

Congress’ programme as “drama.”

Kharge said, “I did not use any unparliamentary word or language to describe the prime minister... Atal