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Tag: Uddhav Thackeray

  • Adopt jumbo COVID facilities, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray tells private hospitals

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday asked private hospitals to adopt some of the jumbo COVID-19 treatment facilities set up in the state.

    Speaking at a virtual meeting with representatives of private hospitals etc, the CM said such adoption will help patients get adequate care in terms of doctors and nurses, as well as remove misconceptions, if any, among people about these facilities.

    ALSO READ: Mumbai’s COVID-19 tally crosses 5 lakh-mark with 9,200 fresh cases

    State health minister Rajesh Tope said 80 per cent beds in private hospitals have been taken over by the government and, hence, they should create additional bed capacity.

    Tope also said Remdesivir injections should not be administered to asymptomatic patients.

    Medical Education minister Amit Deshmukh said retired nurses and doctors should be re-deployed for some time to tackle the recent surge in cases, and asked private hospitals to expand their ICU beds and oxygen capacity.

    Thackeray, who also chaired a meet of representatives of the diamond association, urged them to bring about a change in their way of functioning as strict curbs were necessary to break the virus chain.

  • ‘Uddhav held discussions with Opposition before imposing lockdown’: Raut hits back at Fadnavis

    By ANI
    MUMBAI: The Maharashtra Government has held discussions with the Leader of Opposition and other party leaders prior to taking the decision to impose restrictions in the state to curb the spread of COVID-19, said Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut.

    “Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had held discussions with leaders of all parties including the Leader of Opposition before making the decision. The Maharashtra Government has taken the decision for the people’s good. Otherwise, the situation will be more critical. I feel the Prime Minister is also very concerned regarding the surge of COVID cases,” Raut told mediapersons.

    He has further drawn the example of the Gujarat High Court’s recommendation to impose lockdown.

    “In the neighbouring state of Gujarat, the High Court has directed the state government to implement lockdown. It means the High Court also observed that lockdown is pertinent to tackle the situation,” added Raut.

    Raut’s remarks come against the backdrop of Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday wrote a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, requesting him to reconsider restrictions imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

    Fadnavis asked the Chief Minister to discuss these matters with all stratum of society again and impose restrictions so that the lives of commoners are not affected.

    On April 4, the Maharashtra government announced new guidelines under its ‘Break the Chain’ campaign to curb the spread of novel coronavirus infections to remain in force till April 30.

    Maharashtra reported 55,469 new COVID-19 cases and 297 deaths on Tuesday.According to the state health department, 34,256 people have recovered from the disease. The active number of cases in the state stands at 4,72,283. The death toll in the state has gone up to 56,330.

    Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Tuesday informed that of the top 10 districts in the country having the most active COVID-19 cases in the country, seven are from Maharashtra. (ANI)

  • COVID-19: Uddhav urges PM to open vaccination for people above 25 years; fruit vendors, security services exempted in Maharashtra lockdown rules

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to allow people above 25 years of age to receive COVID-19 shots, which he said will protect the young people from the rapid spread of coronavirus at a time when they are stepping outside their homes to earn a livelihood.

    In a letter to the PM, Thackeray also demanded that Maharashtra be provided 1.5 crore additional doses of COVID-19 vaccines, which will enable the state government to complete within three weeks the vaccination of the beneficiaries above 45 years of age in six districts, including Mumbai, reporting a large number of cases.

    Thackeray also apprised the prime minister of the steps being taken by his government to break the transmission chain of the viral infection, said a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).

    Thackeray wrote that the young generation is also getting infected by the virus, and to prevent the spread, people above 25 years be made eligible for vaccination.

    The CM stressed the younger people have to travel in public to earn their livelihood.

    The CMO said PM Modi had accepted Thackeray’s earlier suggestion to allow people above 45 years of age to get vaccinated.

    The chief minister told the PM that his government was transparently handling the pandemic and expanded the vaccination drive, it said.

    ALSO READ | Gujarat to open eight COVID care centres in cities; daily cases in state breach 3000 mark for first time

    OnApril 3, 4.62 lakh people were vaccinated in Maharashtra, where 76.86 lakh people have received the jabs so far.

    “The Centre should provide 1.5 crore additional doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Maharashtra. We will take three weeks to administer the vaccine to age group above 45 years in six districts of Mumbai, Pune, Thane, Nashik, Aurangabad, Nagpur where the spike of cases is the highest,” the letter stated.

    Meanwhile, petrol pumps, government and private security services, and fruit vendors among others have been added to the list of essential services being exempted from the ambit of the strict curbs that came into force in Maharashtra from Monday night, as per the revised guidelines.

    Besides petrol pumps and petroleum-related products, cargo services, data centres, cloud service providers, IT services supporting critical infrastructure and services will also be considered as essential services in addition to the ones mentioned on Sunday when the restrictions were announced.

    The strict curbs, including a curfew from 8 pm till 7 am, and prohibitory orders duringthe daytime on weekdays came into force from Monday in the state.

    The state government had on Sunday announced a weekend lockdown and night curfew during the weekdays from Monday to April 30, in addition to a slew of other restrictions like the closure of private offices, theatres and salons to curb the unprecedented surge in COVID-19 cases.

    The weekend lockdown will start from 8 pm on Fridays and last till 7 am on Mondays.

    Besides, prohibitory orders will be in force during the daytime on weekdays.

    Meanwhile, organisations like the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), offices of the SEBI recognised market infrastructure institutions like stock exchanges, depositors, clearing corporations and intermediaries registered with the SEBI, will be allowed to remain open on all weekdays from 7 am to 8 pm, the guidelines issued on Monday said.

    ALSO READ | SC dismisses plea seeking direction to remove ‘phobia’ of COVID-19 pandemic

    However, all the personnel attending these offices will have to get themselves vaccinated at the earliest.

    Until vaccinated completely, these staffers will be required to carry an RT-PCR negative report, which will remain valid for 15 days.

    This rule will come into effect from April 10.

    In the absence of the COVID-19 negative certificate, the offender will be fined Rs 1,000.

    Other offices that will be allowed to remain open include RBI regulated entities and intermediaries including standalone primary dealers, financial market participants operating in RBI regulated markets, all NBFCs,microfinance institutions etc.

    Offices of advocates,custom house agents, licensed multi-nodal transport operators associated with movement of vaccines, life-saving drugs and pharma products, will also be allowed to function, the guidelines said.

    Any student requiring to attend the examination physically will be allowed to travel to the examination centre or back home after 8 pm or on weekends subject to carrying a valid hall ticket.

    Persons arrivingor departing by trains, buses or flights during the 8 pm to 7 am period or weekends may travel provided they have a valid ticket, the guidelines said.

    On Sunday, the government had announced that except for the essential services shops, medical shops and grocery shops, all other shops, markets and shopping malls will remain shut till April 30.

    It had also announced that all private offices, except in banking, stock market, insurance, pharma, telecommunication and mediclaim sectors, will be shut as part of these restrictions.

    ALSO READ | COVID-19: Indore oxygen firms told to supply to hospitals only; MP’s positivity rate nears 11 per cent

    Work from home is mandatory for private offices, except those in local disaster management, electricity and water supply, the statement had said.

    Government offices, except those departments involved in COVID-19 management, will function at 50 per cent of their capacity, it had added.

    The Mumbai Police on Monday issued prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPC banning the assembly of five or more people at public places in the city from 7 am to 8 pm from Mondays to Fridays till April 30.

    The order also imposed a night curfew on weekdays and a strict lockdown on weekends beginning from 8 pm on Friday till 7 am on Monday.

    The order was issued by Deputy Commissioner of Police (operations) S Chaitanya which will remain in force till April 30 unless withdrawn earlier.

    It stated that a strict lockdown will be enforced during weekends.

    “No person will be allowed to roam outside without a valid reason from 8 pm on Friday till 7 am on Monday,” as per the order.

    The order asked people to adhere to the COVID appropriate behaviour including wearing masks and maintaining social distancing at public places.

    Those found violating the new curbs will be booked under section 188 (disobeying public servant’s order) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) along with the provisions of the Epidemic Diseases Act and the Disaster Management Act, it said.

    Mumbai had reported the highest 11,163 cases in a day on Sunday.

    As on Monday, Mumbai’s caseload stood at 4,62,302.

    Alarmed by the huge rise in cases over the last few days, the state government on Sunday announced a weekend lockdown and night curfew during the weekdays from Monday to April 30, in addition to a slew of other restrictions like the closure of private offices, theatres and salons.

    ALSO READ | COVID-19: Testing rate cranked up in Bihar; violence in Sasaram over closure of coaching institutes

    The weekend lockdown will start from 8 pm on Fridays and last till 7 am on Mondays.

    Besides, prohibitory orders will be in force during the daytime on weekdays, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) had said in a statement.

    Meanwhile, an association of hair-cutting saloons in Aurangabad on Monday opposed the new restrictions imposed by the Maharashtra government to tackle the COVID-19 surge.

    Functionaries of the Maharashtra Nabhik Mahamandal said the state government’s order directing hair-cutting saloons to remain shut till April 30 would severely affect the trade, which already bore the brunt of lack of business during much of 2020 under the coronavirus-induced lockdown.

    In a video, several members of the association were seen burning copies of the government order.

    The Nabhik Mahamandal’s Marathwada president Vishnu Wakhre said a memorandum has been sent to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray demanding financial aid for the sector.

    Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases and the Maharashtra government’s notification on restrictions, weekend lockdown and night curfew to contain it, officials of the renowned Saibaba temple in Shirdi decided to keep it shut from Monday night till further orders.

    As per the Maharashtra government notification, religious places will remain closed due to the rise in COVID- 19 cases, and, therefore, the Saibaba temple will remain closed for devotees from Monday 8 pm till further orders, said Ravindra Thakre, the officiating chief executive officer, Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust.

    However, the daily affairs inside the temple premise will go on asusual, though accommodation and ‘prasadalay’ ( dining hall for devotees) will remain closed, he said.

  • Maharashtra CM urges PM Modi to approve vaccination for all barring age, demands additional 1.5 crore doses

    Express News Service
    MUMBAI: As large number of children and youngsters continue to get infected in the state, Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to allow people above 25 years of age to receive COVID-19 shots. He also demanded 1.5 crore additional doses urgently for six districts.

    In a video conference, the Prime Minister agreed to the demand of  Thackeray to vaccinate everyone below the age of 45 years. “Vaccinating a large number of young people, especially those who work outside their homes, would help to reduce the number of patients. Maharashtra has always been transparent in giving information on the pandemic. We have also increased the number of testing by opening more labs,” Thackeray told PM.

    According to the state public health department’s data, 88,827 children up to 10 years of age had tested positive across the state in the three-month period. The total percentage of children and youth (up to 40 years) infected was around 48 while the percentage of senior citizens (above 60) testing positive was 18 per cent.

    Uddhav Thackeray said that they needed more 1.5 crore additional doses to vaccinate people in three weeks in six most infected patient’s districts. “We are ready to vaccinate everyone under the age of 45 in just three weeks for six most infected districts like Mumbai, Pune, Thane, Nashik, Aurangabad, Nagpur. But needs urgently 1.5 crore additional doses,” Thackeray said.

    “We are taking measures with the determination that every corona patient must be cured. We have put in place some strict restrictions through the Break the Chain campaign to prevent the virus from becoming more harmful than last year. We have taken vaccination very seriously and till April 4, a total of 76.86 lakh people have been vaccinated across the state. On April 3, we vaccinated 4.62 lakh people in the state. We want to vaccinate as many as people but for that the Center should also give extra dose for it,” Thackeray added.

  • COVID-19: Maharashtra may divert all oxygen supply for medical use, says CM Uddhav

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: With Maharashtra recording over half of the daily coronavirus cases in India, the state government is considering diverting all industrial use oxygen supply for medical use, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said on Saturday.

    In an online interaction with newspaper owners, editors and distributors, Thackeray said a decision on imposing stringent measures to tackle the pandemic will be taken soon but did not confirm if there will be a statewide lockdown.

    Maharashtra on Friday reported 47827 new cases, the highest daily rise in around six-and-a-half-months and a chunk of the 89,129 new cases in a day recorded in India.

    With the demand for oxygen surging, the state public health department had last month directed oxygen manufacturers to divert 80 per cent of their stocks for medical use and retain the rest 20 per cent for industrial purposes.

    Thackeray said the state government is considering diverting even that 20 per cent for medical use, because of the surge in cases and the “alarming” situation in the state.

    The daily demand for oxygen in Maharashtra has touched 700 metric tonnes against the state’s production capacity of over 1200 metric tonnes, an official said.

    ​ALSO READ | No dine-in at restaurants as Covid-19 restrictions tightened in Pune

    A notification stating 80 per cent of capping for medical use was issued on Tuesday.

    It said that the rule would apply to all of Maharashtra and stay in force till June 30.

    Thackeray said the state government is increasing testing and also not keeping “even a single positive” case under wraps.

    The government is also considering steps like opening e-ICUs and increased use of telemedicine in these trying times, he said.

    “If there comes a time when someone’s livelihood has to be snatched, there is bound to be anguish.

    But if there is a dilemma on whether to save a life or a job, then it is important to give priority to life,” Thackeray said.

    “We have been telling people since last one year. I feel that if all people, be it private offices or shops, had implemented our directives of staggered duty hours, then maybe the situation would not have reached such an alarming level,” he said.

    The chief minister said office timings should have been divided into 24 hours.

    “If staggered timings had been followed, there would have been less strain on local trains and BEST city buses.

    Unfortunately, this did not happen,” he said.

    “We have also stressed on wearing masks, using hand sanitisers and keeping a safe distance. Even the WHO says so. It says that even a person who has been vaccinated needs to follow these rules,” Thackeray said.

    “So it is not that we did not try. Last year we sent teams to houses. It was possible as there was a lockdown. Even contact tracing of affected persons has become difficult now,” he said.

    Referring to election rallies in some states amid the pandemic, Thackeray said, “In other states, political rallies of thousands and lakhs of people are happening, but the coronavirus cases are more in Maharashtra than these states,” the chief minister said.

    He said the media should make people aware that the fight against coronavirus is not only the responsibility of the government but also of the masses.

    Fear of coronavirus from the minds of people should be replaced by awareness about the pandemic, he added.

    “There should be no politics in this fight against coronavirus,” Thackeray said, in an apparent reference to the claim by BJP leaders over his government’s handling of the pandemic.

    ALSO WATCH:

  • Uddhav lays foundation for Bal Thackeray memorial; BJP, MNS not invited

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday laid the foundation stone of late Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray’s memorial at Dadar in central Mumbai, even as the opposition BJP and the MNS slammed the state government for not inviting their party leaders to the function.

    The event took place in the former official mayoral bungalow near Shivaji Park, where the memorial is proposed to be set up at the cost of Rs 400 crore.

    State Deputy Chief Minister and senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar, Revenue Minister and Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat, among others, were present on the occasion.

    Approval for the project had been given during the tenure of previous chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is now the Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly.

    However, the state government did not invite Fadnavis as well as Uddhav’s cousin and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray for the event citing the spike in COVID-19 cases.

    The BJP and the MNS criticised the Shiv Sena-led dispensation over it.

    “When Fadnavis was the chief minister, he took extra efforts in getting the necessary clearances from the Centre for the memorial. Old mayor’s bungalow is a heritage site, still he helped in obtaining all kinds of nods. Hence, not inviting him to the event shows Shiv Sena’s mean treatment,” BJP’s Pravin Darekar, who is the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council, said.

    MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande said, “If several ministers and their staff can attend the event at the old mayor’s bungalow, then why not invite Raj Thackeray?” “Raj Thackeray had served in the Shiv Sena for many years. He has contributed to that party, but selectively not inviting him is not a healthy way of politics,” he said.

    In the first phase of the memorial construction, Rs 250 crore will be spent on the works like electrification and parking facility.

    The first phase is likely to be completed in 14 months.

    The Shiv Sena is in power in the state with the NCP and the Congress.

    These three parties had joined hands after the 2019 Assembly polls results to keep the BJP way from power.

  • BJP MLA terms Maharashtra govt anti-Hindu over ‘Holika Dahan’ restrictions

    By ANI
    MUMBAI: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Ram Kadam on Sunday slammed Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray government over restrictions on the occasion of ‘Holika Dahan’ amid COVID-19 and asked why the state government is against Hindus.

    Taking to Twitter, the BJP leader said: “According to Thackeray government, you cannot burn Holi outside your houses. If you are found doing so, the Police will take action against it. If the Holi does not burn outside the houses then should it be burnt inside? Have they (government) lost senses? People can understand the restrictions over playing Holi with colours as there will be a crowd.”

    The MLA also said: “But by maintaining social distancing and following the rules, if the Hindu brothers celebrate the festival of ‘Holika Dahan’ then why this government is objecting? At the same time, other religions are allowed for their festivals. Is Covid is a special relative of them or this government’s?”

    “Why Thackray government is against Hindus continuously,” asked the BJP leader.

    Maharashtra reported 35,726 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total number of cases to 26,73,461 in the state, as per the health bulletin on Saturday.

    According to the state health bulletin, as many as 14,523 people recovered in the state from the disease in the said period. With this, the total number of recoveries in Maharashtra goes to 23,14,579 so far.

    However, the active cases of COVID-19 stand at 3,03,475. The state reported 166 deaths yesterday due to COVID-19, taking the cumulative death toll to 54,073. 

  • Police transfer racket: Fadnavis says fact-finding report full of fallacies

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: BJP leader Devendra Fandavis on Friday alleged that the fact-finding report submitted to the Maharashtra government by state chief secretary Sitaram Kunte over the phone-tapping allegations is full of fallacies.

    Kunte had been asked to submit the report into the alleged police transfer racket by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in the wake of Fadnavis’s allegations that the state government suppressed IPS officer Rashmi Shukla’s letter to the then DGP, based on phone intercepts, on a “transfer scam”.

    Kunte’s report said, “Despite stamping the letter as TOP SECRET, Rashmi Shukla seems to have leaked the letter, which is very serious matter. If it is proved, she will be liable for strictest action against her.”

    Talking about it, Fadnavis said on Friday, “The Indian Telegraph Act quoted in the report is presented to public in a manner convenient to the government. The report in itself is full of fallacies. Although there are sufficient provisions to tap the phone calls, the government is not ready to accept it.”

    “The then DGP Subodh Jaiswal had recommended a CID probe (into the alleged transfer scam) based on the conversations among police officials and other persons involved in it. Then why no action was taken on his recommendations?” he asked.

    The Act empowers the official to intercept calls to avoid any possible offence that could happen, he said, adding that the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of the Maharashtra police has all the rights to carry out phone-tapping.

    When asked about the leaking of ‘top secret’ report, the Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly said, “I had only shared a two-page letter (related to Shukla’s letter), whereas it was state minister Nawab Malik who leaked some of its pages. I was even contacted by some journalists after they received the report from Malik.”

    If any action has to be taken, it should be against Malik, he added.

    “I think state ministers Malik or Jitendra Awhad had prepared the report and chief secretary Kunte must have signed it.I have enough proof with me. If there is a legal action, then I will produce it before the court,” he claimed.

    Out of all the names mentioned by Malik citing the list, 12 officials have received the postings as per their request, he claimed.

    Awhad had on Wednesday alleged that Shukla, then Commissioner of Intelligence, sought permission for intercepting the calls of certain persons, but actually the calls of some other persons were tapped.

    In his reaction, Nawab Malik said Fadnavis seemed to be afraid that a “person close to him” would be in trouble as an offence has been registered in the case.

    Amid the controversy over Shukla’s report, an FIR was registered on Friday against an “unidentified person” for leaking confidential documents from the SID.

    “A person close to him (Fadnavis) had tweeted about the report first. Who gave the documents to the person close to Fadnavis? “I can see Devendra-ji is somewhat afraid after the offence has been registered. Legal action will be taken,” the NCP minister said.

    He also took exception to Fadnavis’s comments against the chief secretary “who is an honest officer”.

    Another NCP leader and minister Jitendra Awhad termed Fadnavis’ comments as “ridiculous”.

    By making such a comment, Fadnavis “insulted” Kunte, he said, accusing the BJP of working in a way that demoralises officers.

  • ‘I express regret’: CM Thackeray assures strict action in Mumbai hospital fire, announces aid

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday said strict action will be taken against those found responsible for the fire at a hospital in a Mumbai mall, which resulted in the death of 10 patients.

    Speaking to reporters after visiting the mall, Thackeray apologised to the families of the victims and announced Rs 5 lakh compensation to the kin of each deceased.

    Thackeray said the fire did not break out in the hospital, but at some office or shop situated below it.

    According to officials, the incident occurred in Sunrise Hospital in the Dreams Mall building in Bhandup area shortly after Thursday midnight.

    The hospital is located on the top floor of the four-storeyed mall building and there were 76 patients, most of them being treated for COVID-19, when the fire broke out.

    The chief minister said the state government had last year allowed some hospitals to treat COVID-19 patients given the spread of the disease and the said that the facility in the Bhandup mall was one of them.

    “The permission was to end on March 31. Unfortunately, the fire broke on the first floor of the mall and spread upwards,” he said.

    The chief minister said that efforts were made to rescue all the patients admitted at the hospital.

    However, it took some time to evacuate those who were on ventilators.

    “Unfortunately, they died,” he said.

    “We wake up after such incidents take place and then a probe is carried out. This incident, too, will be investigated. Action will be taken as per law probe against whoever is at fault,” Thackeray added.

    He said that in the recent past he had issued instructions to carry out structural and fire audits of COVID-19 care centres and field hospitals across the state.

    “I had asked (the authorities) to ensure such incidents do not occur. Still, unfortunately, this has taken place….I express regret to those who have lost their kin in the incident,” he said in Marathi.

    Speaking in Hindi, Thackeray later said, “I apologise to the kin of those who died in the incident.” The chief minister said that compensation of Rs 5 lakh will be given to the next kin of each deceased.

  • Anger in Maharashtra Cabinet over phone tapping: Jitendra Awhad

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: The `phone tapping’ by the intelligence department evoked angry reactions in the meeting of the Maharashtra cabinet on Wednesday, housing minister Jitendra Awhad said here.

    The meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

    Speaking to reporters, NCP leader Awhad alleged that then Commissioner of Intelligence Rashmi Shukla intercepted calls without permission from then Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Sitaram Kunte.

    Permission was sought for intercepting the calls of certain persons but actually the calls of some other persons were tapped, he claimed.

    Shukla was not available for comment.

    Awhad, however, said there was no discussion in the cabinet on former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh’s allegations of corruption against Home Minister Anil Deshmukh in a letter to Thackeray.

    BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday met the Union Home Secretary in Delhi and demanded a CBI probe into a purported state intelligence department report on “corruption” in police transfers in Maharashtra.

    He had also claimed to have data of telephone calls intercepted by Shukla in which names of several key police officers figure.

    “There were angry reactions in the Cabinet meeting. Nobody (from among ministers) had hand in the transfers. All the transfers took place through a proper government channel,” he said.

    As much as 90 per cent of transfers which are mentioned in the report never happened, he claimed.

    “Why is the government being defamed (then)? Why even officials are being defamed, as if they owe their posts to recommendations. Police officials should file a defamation case against Shukla,” Awhad said.

    Later he tweeted that some of the “angry” officials named by Shukla in her report on alleged transfer scam will be giving a memorandum to the state government and file a defamation case.

    Two months ago, Shukla had admitted that she made a mistake and the government “forgave” her generously, the minister further claimed.

    “How the government would know then that the report would be used two months later to target it,” Awhad asked.