NEWS

Sunil Ambekar, all-India publicity in-charge of RSS, on Sunday sought to distance the Sangh from the Panchajanya-Infosys controversy, saying the role of the IT giant in India’s development was critical. Admitting that there could be issues with the portals developed by the company, Ambekar said the magazine was not the official mouthpiece of the RSS and the views should be considered personal.

“As an Indian company, Infosys has made seminal contribution in progress of the country. There might be certain issues with a portal run by Infosys, but the article published by Panchajanya in this context only reflects individual opinion of the author. Panchajanya is not mouthpiece of the RSS and the said article or opinions expressed in it should not be linked with the Sangh,” Ambekar said on Twitter.

It has happened! After the consistent surge in the active Covid-19 cases, India on Saturday crossed the critical 4-lakh mark. While the number of new infections is still at moderate levels, it is the consistency that has sent the alarm bells ringing. Along with this, the crucial R-factor has also breached the existing mark. At 1.17, the R-factor value is much higher than what we saw almost three weeks back when the Centre and other health experts had warned about the impending third wave.

We should also keep in mind other vector-borne diseases and viral infections, and flu which are prevalent at this time of the year. The situation is worrisome in Uttar Pradesh. There is no clarity of the mystery fever, while many maintain that it is dengue.

Amid third COVID-19 wave threat, the Haryana government on Sunday (September 5) extended the lockdown by a fortnight, while allowing the existing relaxations to continue. 

The state government also modified its earlier order of reopening of institutes and ordered the vice-chancellors of residential universities to continue with the online classes till October 15, PTI reported. 

The order by Chief Secretary Vijai Vardhan read, "The Mahamari Alert-Surakshit Haryana is extended for another fortnight, that is from September 6 (5 am onwards) to September 20 (till 5 am), along with guidelines to be implemented during this period issued vide earlier orders."

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya got a major relief in the alleged fake degree case after additional chief judicial magistrate (ACJM), Prayagraj rejected an application demanding a criminal case against him.

ACJM Namrata Singh rejected the application filed by a social activist Diwakar Tripathi under Section 156 (3) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), saying that prima facie no cognizable offence appears to have been committed. The application is rejected, as the same is found to be baseless and groundless, noted Singh.

The complainant had alleged use of fake educational degrees by Maurya for contesting five elections at different places and also obtaining a petrol pump.