22022021-TT-01.qxd 2/21/2021 11:14 PM Page 1 13 chandigarh | gurugram | jalandhar | bathinda | vol.141 no.52 | 12 pages | ~5.00 | regd.no.chd/0006/2021-2023 established in 1881 haryana IAEA CHIEF IN IRAN AHEAD OF SANCTIONS WORLD /thetribunechd CEREAL EXPORTS: FOCUS ON QUALITY, INFRA PUSH INFOCUS ROLL BACK FUEL, LPG PRICE HIKE: SONIA TO PM BACK PAGE /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com monday | 22 february 2021 BJP resolution lauds agri reforms Massive farm rally in Barnala| It’s fight for livelihoods across India: Ugrahan Tribune News Service Chandigarh/Newdelhi, Feb 21 On a day the BJP at its first , meeting of new office-bearers, passed a resolution thanking the PM for reforms in the agriculture sector, farm unions held a massive rally in Barnala on Sunday, a clear indication that the farm stir has not lost steam and that the protesters are prepared for a long haul. At the ‘maha rally’, Sanyukt Kisan Morcha leaders gave a call to Punjabis to reach Delhi in large numbers on February 27 when the agitation completes three months. They appealed to the women to celebrate International Women’s Day (March 8) at Singhu and Tikri. CBI notice to Didi’s kin in coal scam New Delhi, February 21 The CBI on Sunday served a notice in connection with a coal scam to Rujira Naroola, wife of Abhishek Banerjee, TMC MP and nephew of CM Mamata Banerjee. The CBI action, coming close on the heels of summons to Home Minister Amit Shah in a defamation case filed by Abhishek, has invited strong criticism from the TMC. BACK PAGE Farmers and farm workers at a rally against the new agricultural laws in Barnala on Sunday. REUTERS Seating arrangements for the rally were made on a 9 lakh sq ft area. Despite police arrangements for managing traffic, there were massive traffic jams. Joginder Singh Ugra- han called the January 26 incident a government plot. “A group was acting on the directions of the authorities. Its members had raised the Khalistan issue earlier. This stir is about saving livelihoods not only in Punjab but across India,” he stresssed. It was for the first time that Sanyukt Kisan Morcha leaders spoke from the BKU (Ugrahan) dais. Cow science exam put off amid row New Delhi, February 21 The much debated “online exam on cow science” proposed by the Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog, a government body set up to protect cows, will not be held this week. The aayog, which comes under the Ministry of Fisheries and Animal Husbandry, has announced to postpone the online Kamdhenu Gau Vigyan Prachar Prasar Exam and competition, previously NO REASON CITED NOR FRESH DATE ANNOUNCED ■ Five lakh persons had regis- tered for the voluntary online exam on cow science to be held on February 25 ■ The aayog has neither specified any reason for postponing scheduled to be held on February 25. The aayog did not specify any rescheduled date for the exam. The deferment the exam, nor announced a fresh date for the same ■ The subject material posted on the aayog website to help prepare for the exam is said to have triggered a row comes days after the UGC wrote to university vice-chancellors for “wide publicity to continued on page 9 Step up testing, look for mutants, Pb told New Delhi, February 21 With India’s active Covid-19 caseload creeping up slowly, the Centre today wrote to six infection-contributing states, asking them to heighten surveillance in clusters, test more and look for potential mutants. The active cases today rose to 1,45,634, up from 1,37,567 on February 14. The total active cases stand at 1.32 per cent of overall infections and have risen through the week, in a reversal of declining trends in the past. The Centre has written to Maharashtra, Kerala, continued on page 9 Stormy weather in 9 HP dists till Feb 25: MeT Shimla, February 21 Amid the continuing dry spell in most parts of Himachal Pradesh, the local Meteorological Department has issued yellow warning of thunderstorm, hailstorm and lightning in nine of the 12 districts from February 23 to 25. The department has also predicted rain and snow in the higher hills in Himachal Pradesh over the next six days and mid hills for the next five days. INSIDE Get jab or no quarantine leave, Punjab minister warns health employees COVID-19VACCINATION INDIA TOTAL DAY’S COUNT ADVERSE EVENTS 1,10,85,173 4,32,931 0 LOCKDOWN IN AMRAVATI edit: surge in covid cases Ahead of floor test IN BRIEF in Puducherry, 2 Kasganj accused more MLAs quit shot in encounter New Delhi, February 21 Ahead of the floor test on Monday, the Congress-led coalition in Puducherry plunged into further crisis with two more MLAs, one each from the Congress and the DMK, resigning. The Congress government had on February 14 lost majority in the House after legislator A John Kumar quit, reducing the Congress numbers to 10. The DMK with three MLAs and an Independent were part of the Congress-led government. Two Congress MLAs had resigned on January 25 and joined the BJP . continued on page 9 16-hr meet focuses on Gogra & Hot Springs New Delhi, February 21 India and China today announced the successful completion of the disengagement of frontline troops in the Pangong lake area, terming it a significant “step forward”. “This provided a good basis for resolution of other remaining issues along the LAC in the western sector,” a joint statement issued in the evening said. The “western sector” refers to the eastern Ladakh in India-China talks. DEPSANG ISSUE TO BE TAKEN UP LATER The issue of Depsang will be discussed subsequently. Both armies have been stopping each other’s patrols in the area The statement was issued after senior military commanders of both sides conducted a 16-hour meeting to discuss the disengagement of troops from Gogra and Hot Springs along the Line continued on page 9 KASGANJ (UP): The main accused in the murderous attack on two policemen in Kasganj on February 9, was killed in an encounter with the UP Police on Sunday. — IANS Inmate murdered in Sonepat jail SONEPAT: A life-term convict, Jagbir, was reportedly murdered by fellow inmates in the district jail here on Sunday. Jagbir was convicted for killing gangster Butania. INSIDE DJOKOVIC BAGS 9TH AUS OPEN, 18TH SLAM ■ Serbia's Novak Djokovic (33) on Sunday defeated Russia's Daniil Medvedev to win a record-extending ninth Australian Open title ■ With 18 grand slam wins, the world No. 1 is just two short of Swiss great Roger Federer and Spain's Rafael Nadal's record of 20 slam titles MORE ON SPORT
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