24022021-TTB-01.qxd 2/24/2021 12:24 AM Page 1 13 chandigarh | gurugram | jalandhar | bathinda | vol.5 no.54 | 14 pages | ~5.00 | regd.no.chd/0006/2021-2023 established in 1881 NEPAL APEX COURT REINSTATES PARLIAMENT WORLD /thetribunechd RIL TO SPIN OFF OIL-TO-CHEMICALS BIZ INTO SEPARATE ARM BUSINESS FACEBOOK TO RESTORE NEWS CONTENT IN OZ BACK PAGE /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com wednesday | 24 february 2021 Two new variants in Maha, Kerala, Court grants Disha bail, calls but not linked to fresh spike: Govt toolkit proof ‘scanty, sketchy’ Curbs on social gatherings in Pb PMO reviews situation, teams rushed to Punjab, four other states New Delhi, February 23 The government on Tuesday reported two new variants of Covid-19 causing Sars-Cov2 virus in Maharashtra, Kerala and Telangana, but said these did not cause the recent surge in the states. Terming the spike in new cases in Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Chhattisgarh and J&K a “concern”, the Health Ministry said it had sent Central teams in these areas to investigate the cause behind the rising cases. Daily new infections in Punjab have grown from 188 on January 28 to 388 today. continued on page 9 CHANDIGARH: COVID PANGS: Students leave for their respective cities from Pune after the local administration announced partial restrictions. PTI TRADITIONAL DRUGS AT M’RASHTRA PUTS RIDER GLOBAL STAGE ON SALE OF CORONIL Amid Coronil row, PM Modi has backed the traditional drug sector saying it had gained global prominence. The sale of Patanjali’s Coronil tablets, questioned by the IMA, would not be allowed in Maharashtra without “proper certification”, state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said. Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh on Tuesday ordered that indoor gatherings in the state would be restricted to 100 persons and the outdoor ones to 200 from March 1. There would be strict enforcement of mask and social distancing norms, while testing would be ramped to 30,000 samples a day. Chairing a high-level virtual meeting to review Covid situation in the state, the CM authorised the DCs to impose night curfew in hotspots in various areas, if needed. INSIDE CENTRE: SBS NAGAR, KAPURTHALA, MUKTSAR DISTS OF CONCERN New Delhi, February 23 Terming the evidence produced by the Delhi Police as “scanty and sketchy”, a Delhi court today granted bail to climate activist Disha Ravi, arrested for her alleged involvement in sharing on social media a “toolkit” related to the farmers’ protest against Centre’s three farm laws. The court said there was nothing on record to establish any direct link between Disha and pro-Khalistan activists of ‘ Poetic Justice Foundation’ (PJF) and also there was not even an iota of evidence brought connecting the perpetrators of the January 26 violence with the PJF or her. It observed there was nothing on record to suggest the activist subscribed to any secessionist idea and there WHY INVOKE SEDITION Citizens cannot be put behind bars simply for disagreeing with state policies… sedition cannot be invoked to minister to the wounded vanity of the governments. Delhi court ❝ 2 HELD FOR VIOLENCE Disha Ravi at the National Cyber Forensic Lab in New Delhi. REUTERS was absolutely no link established on record between her and banned outfit Sikhs for Justice. Additional Sessions Judge Dharmender Rana, The Delhi Police have arrested from Jammu two accused of violence at the Red Fort during the farmers’ tractor parade on January 26. INSIDE 2 MORE DIE AT DELHI BORDER who granted relief to Ravi on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh and two sureties of like amount, also dismissed the continued on page 9 IN BRIEF JEE (Mains) kicks off in 13 languages NEW DELHI: The JEE (Mains) commenced from Tuesday. This is the first time that the exam is being conducted in 13 languages under the new education policy. — IANS BJP retains six civic bodies in Gujarat NEW DELHI: The BJP on Tuesday Shimla institute fined ~7 lakh Yadava on extension, Vij for new DGP Sidhana addresses rally in for delay in issuing degrees Capt’s village, cops look on Asks Home Secy to send Shimla, February 23 The Himachal Pradesh Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Commission (HPPEIRC) today imposed a penalty of Rs 7 lakh on Heritage Institute of Hotel and Tourism (HIHT) at Sanjauli in Shimla for the delay in the issuance of provisional degrees and detailed mark certificates (DMC) to students. In September 2020, more than 100 students had approached the commission and represented their case alleging they had not continued on page 9 Chandigarh, February 23 A month after the Manohar Lal Khattar government extended Haryana Director General of Police (DGP) Manoj Yadava’s term till “further orders”, Home Minister Anil Vij directed the Home Secretary to send names of seven IPS officers to the UPSC to initiate the process of selection of the new incumbent. panel of names to UPSC Manoj Yadava Anil Vij In a letter to the Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Rajiv Arora, Vij has said a panel of officers who have put in 30 years and have at least 6 months of service left should be sent to the UPSC and the date of vacancy might be considered as March 2. Speaking on phone from continued on page 9 VIJ TAKES ON CM AGAIN INSIDE Bathinda, February 23 Republic Day violence accused Lakha Sidhana, who has been on the run since January 26, addressed a rally at Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh's native Mehraj village here today and gave a call to intensify the farmers’ stir. He remained on the stage for around one hour, but no attempt was made by the police to arrest him. The Delhi Police have announced Rs 1-lakh reward for giving information about him. He dared the police to come and try to arrest any Punjabi youth booked in the R-Day violence case. INSIDE retained power in six municipal corporations, bagging 483 of 576 seats. Polling for Ahmedabad and five other civic bodies was held on February 21. INSIDE Charges framed against Andrabi NEW DELHI: A Delhi court has framed terrorism, sedition and other charges against Kashmiri separatist Aasiya Andrabi and two others for waging war against the government. — PTI