DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 2021 (PAGE 9) PM’s picture excluded from COVID-19 vaccine certificates in poll-bound States NEW DELHI, Mar 11: The Union Health Ministry has applied filters in its Co-Win platform in poll-going states and a union territory to exclude the picture of the Prime Minister from the COVID-19 vaccine certifi- cates, sources said today. In a letter to the Election Commission on March 9, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan is learnt to have said that "tech- nical measures to comply with the directions of EC have been explored promptly." "Necessary filters" in Co-WIN have been applied for the vacci- nation centres situated in the four states of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Union Territory of Puducherry, as suggest- ed by the Commission. Following a complaint by the Trinamool Congress, the Commission had asked the Health Ministry to follow the model code in letter and spirit. It had suggested use of filters in the Co-Win platform to exclude the picture of the Prime Minister in COVID-19 certificates being given to people in the poll-bound states and the UT. Sources aware of the correspondence between the Election Commission and the ministry said the panel has not referred to any individual or personality but had asked the Health Ministry to follow the provisions of the model code in letter and spirit. The poll panel had suggested use of filters to comply with the provisions of the poll code. The model code had come into force in Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry on February 26, the day the EC announced polls in these four States and Union Territory. (PTI) Explosives-laden SUV DIP/J-4728-P/20 Dt. 9-3-2021 Jaish-ul-Hind's Telegram channel ‘created in Tihar’: Police MUMBAI, Mar 11: Telegram messaging app late in the night on February 27. A Telegram channel through The message had also which an organisation named demanded payment in cryptocur- Jaish-ul-Hind had claimed rency and mentioned a link to responsibility for placing an deposit the same. explosives-laden SUV near During the probe, the link industrialist Mukesh Ambani's was found as "not available", due residence here was "created in to which the investigators sus- the Tihar" area of Delhi, a senior pected it to be mischievous, the Mumbai police official said official said. today. On February 28, another mes- The Delhi police has been sage from Jaish-ul-Hind surfaced informed about it, he added. on a social media platform, The police took the help of a claiming that the organisation did private cyber agency to track the not have any role in the incident. location of the phone on which The investigation in the case was the Telegram channel was creat- initially conducted by the Crime ed, the official said. Branch of the Mumbai police. (PTI) During the investigation, the location of the phone was traced After the mysterious death of near Delhi's Tihar Jail, he added. Thane-based auto parts dealer A Mahindra Scorpio car with Mansukh Hiran, who was in pos- gelatin sticks was found parked session of the SUV that was later near "Antilia", the multi-storey found parked outside Ambani's residence of Ambani, in south residence, the probe was trans- Mumbai on February 25. ferred to the Maharashtra Anti- According to police sources, Terrorism Squad (ATS). the Telegram channel was created On Monday, the National on February 26 and the message Investigation Agency (NIA) took claiming responsibility for plac- over the case related to the recov- ing the vehicle outside Ambani's ery of the explosives-laden vehi- residence was posted on the cle. (PTI) US aims at helping India develop its own defence industrial base WASHINGTON, Mar 11: "We are looking to ... Deepen our military-technical coopera- The Biden administration is tion with India that is based on looking at deepening its military providing them arms and equip- and technical cooperation with ment so we can build interopera- India by not only providing it ble forces and capabilities and with arms and equipment, but work with India developing its also helping New Delhi develop own defence industrial base so its own defence industrial base to that India is able to produce allow it to work with the US and equipment to service their needs others around the region, a senior and to be able to work with us Pentagon official has told law- and others around the region," makers. Helvey said. In 2016, the US recognised "We have a unique designa- India as a 'Major Defense Partner' tion with India; it's called a Major under which Washington will Defense Partner," he said, ahead continue to work toward facilitat- of US Defence Secretary Lloyd J ing technology sharing with India Austin's first visit to India from to a level commensurate with that March 19 to 21 that is expected to of its closest allies and partners. focus on ways to maintain a free India is a real partner, a rising and open Indo-Pacific and partner of the United States, strengthen overall defence and Acting Assistant Secretary of security ties. Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Austin said he would be trav- Affairs David Helvey said while elling to India to meet his coun- responding to a question from terpart Rajnath Singh and other Congressman Doug Lamborn senior national security leaders to during a Congressional hearing discuss deepening the US-India on Wednesday on the Indo- Major Defense Partnership and Pacific region by the House advancing cooperation between Armed Services Committee. the two countries. (PTI) Govt failed to implement MSA: Rahul NEW DELHI, Mar 11: "This shows how badly GOI has failed to implement the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Manual Scavenging Act of 2013," today attacked the Government Gandhi tweeted. "Proactive meas- over deaths of 389 people in the ure must be taken to ensure no fur- country while manually cleaning ther indignity to our fellow citi- sewers from 2015 to 2019 and zens and our collective national alleged that it had "failed" to conscience," he said. In a written implement the Manual reply in the Rajya Sabha on Scavenging Act. Wednesday, Minister of State for Gandhi's criticism of the Social Justice and Empowerment Government came after the Social Ramdas Athawale said FIRs have Justice and Empowerment been registered against 266 people Ministry informed the Rajya for engaging people for hazardous Sabha that 389 people died in the cleaning of sewers and septic country while manually cleaning tanks that resulted in fatalities. sewers from 2015 to 2019. (PTI)