Union minister for defence Rajnath Singh (PTI photo)

NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday stood by his statement that Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru had wanted to rebuild the Babri mosque with public money, with his office issuing documentary evidence to support his claim, which was rebutted by Congress and other opposition parties.Singh had made the claim while addressing a gathering at Sadhli village in Gujarat’s Vadodara district on Tuesday. Responding to it, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the claim was aimed at diverting attention from real issues that need to be discussed.“Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was truly secular… When Pt Jawaharlal Nehru spoke about spending govt funds on the Babri masjid issue, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel opposed it. At that time, he did not allow the Babri masjid to be built with govt money. Nehru ji raised the question of reconstruction of the Somnath temple… Sardar clarified that the Somnath temple case was different; the public had donated Rs 30 lakh there, a trust had been formed, and not even a single penny of govt money was used. Ram mandir in Ayodhya has not been funded by govt money. The entire cost has been borne by the people of this country,” Singh said.The defence minister drew the information from Inside Story of Sardar Patel (The diary of Maniben Patel 1936-50), a book authored by Prabha Chopra. It was published in 2011 when Congress was in governance, and Nehru Memorial Library has a copy of the book. It is based on the diary of Maniben Patel, the daughter of Sardar Patel. The senior BJP neta’s office shared excerpts of the book to “validate” his claim.Congress, however, termed Rajnath’s claim a “lie” and “WhatsApp university story”, and said he should not tread PM Narendra Modi’s path. “These are all distractions. There are many other real issues that need to be discussed. They create a new distraction every day so that we are unable to discuss the real issues of the people,” Vadra told reporters.Asked about the issue at a press conference, Congress’ media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said, “We would like to tell the defence minister — ‘aap toh aise na the’ (you weren’t like this). We can understand others, the PM is very learned, we can understand him making such statements… show us evidence.” Congress’ whip in Lok Sabha Manickam Tagore said it is very surprising to see Rajnath “running these kinds of fake news factories and WhatsApp university stories”.

Awami Ittehad Party MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid (File photo)

SRINAGAR: North Kashmir’s Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid described himself on Wednesaday as an “MP from Tihar jail” while raising in his Parliament speech the issue of poor internet connectivity in border areas of his constituency.His party, the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), issued a statement here saying Rashid highlighted the “non-existent internet connectivity” in remote areas of his constituency, including Karnah, Machil, Gurez and Uri.“Forget 5G or 4G, even basic mobile towers are missing and there is no network connectivity at all,” the AIP said, quoting Rashid. Rashid also cited the “distressing situation” in Gujjarpati village of Uri, saying he had seen on television in jail that villagers had been appealing to lieutenant-governor Manoj Sinha and chief minister Omar Abdullah for five days to restore phone access. “…But why should border areas in Kupwara and Baramulla suffer,” he said, seeking intervention from the communications minister.An AIP spokesperson said Rashid’s statement in Parliament, “I am an MP from Tihar Jail”, was not a complaint but “a painful truth”. “He was reminding the nation that even while confined, without resources, staff or basic communication facilities, he is still fighting for his people,” the spokesperson said.A Delhi court last week permitted Rashid to attend the entire winter session of Parliament from Dec 1 while remaining in jail. Rashid has been in Tihar jail since Aug 9, 2019 after the NIA arrested him in a terror-funding case registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. His detention came four days after the nullification of Article 370.However, while in jail his political career took a dramatic turn in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, when he contested and won Baramulla by more than 204,000 votes, defeating his nearest rival, National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah. “In J&K, people look for someone who will hold the govt — whether in J&K or at the Centre — accountable. Rashid is doing the same in Parliament,” the AIP said.

NEW DELHI: All India Trinamool Congress MPs held a protest in Parliament complex on Wednesday over pending Central dues across schemes, including the delay in resumption of MGNREGS in the state and release of funds for the same in West Bengal in compliance with Calcutta high court orders.The TMC MPs gathered near Mahatma Gandhi’s statue at Prerna Sthal in Parliament complex, holding banners and placards alleging that Centre owed West Bengal Rs 2 lakh crore in all. In a post on X, TMC said, “Bengal’s rightful money must be returned! The Bangla Birodhi Modi Government has shamelessly blocked Rs 2 lakh crore owed to our people. But today, at the foot of Gandhi’s statue in Parliament, our MPs rose as one, a united roar against injustice.“It added, “Bengal will not bow. Bengal will not stop. And every single rupee that belongs to our people, we will take back.”In Oct, the Supreme Court had dismissed the Central government’s plea to continue holding back the funds, upholding the HC’s directive that while investigations into past irregularities can continue, the scheme cannot be indefinitely stalled.On Tuesday, the govt, in response to a question, informed Parliament that the department of rural development is “currently in the process of reworking and refining the necessary modalities and procedures” to comply with the June-18 HC order.While no timeline was given for release of dues in the reply, minister of state for rural development Kamlesh Paswan, in the written response, said that the total pending liability pertaining to Bengal stands at over Rs 3,000 crore as of Mar 8, 2022. “The admissibility of this liability is subject to verification by the Central government,” he added.The minister further said, “The release of funds to West Bengal under MGNREGS was stopped with effect from March 9, 2022, by invoking the provisions of Section 27 of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005, owing to continued non-compliance with the directives of the Central government by the State.”

In a significant move to strengthen the state’s fight against substance abuse, Punjab’s Health Minister Balbir Singh on Friday launched the Leadership in Mental Health Programme as part of the ongoing anti-drug campaign Yudh Nashian Virudh. This pioneering initiative is the country’s first fellowship programme dedicated to reducing substance use and promoting mental well-being. It is a joint collaboration between the Punjab Health Department, Dr BR Ambedkar Institute of Medical Sciences, Mohali, and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai. Speaking about the initiative, Balbir Singh said the fellowship will bring 35 mental health professionals from across India and abroad to enhance prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation services in all 23 districts of Punjab. “Only a Swasth (healthy) Punjab can be a Rangla Punjab (vibrant Punjab). To counter the rising epidemic of drug abuse, Punjab needs talented and compassionate youth to lead our fight against ignorance, stigma, and apathy,” he added. The two-year fellowship will provide early-career professionals a unique opportunity to work with the Data Intelligence and Technical Support Unit (DITSU), which is at the forefront of the state’s comprehensive response to substance abuse. The fellows will undergo a two-week induction programme by TISS, Mumbai, before being deployed to the field. Emphasising the Punjab government’s commitment to institutionalising mental healthcare, Balbir Singh said, “The launch of the Leadership in Mental Health Programme underscores our focus on ensuring mental wellbeing for every person in Punjab.” “From providing public grounds for physical activities to offering unique fellowships to enhance mental health services, we are working towards providing accessible and compassionate healthcare to the people of Punjab,” Singh said. As part of the implementation, 23 fellows will be posted across Punjab’s 23 districts, 10 fellows will work at five Cluster Resource Centres, and two will be based at the DITSU headquarters in Mohali. Fellows will receive a monthly stipend of Rs 60,000 and benefit from specialised training, mentorship, and hands-on experience in public health infrastructure.

NEW DELHI: India has recorded a sharp rise in seasonal influenza A (H1N1) cases this year even as deaths have dropped to a four-year low, according to data from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). As of September 30, 2025, the country reported 3,320 cases and just 14 deaths — a striking contrast to previous years where fewer infections caused significantly higher mortality.In comparison, 2024 saw 2,041 cases and 347 deaths, 2023 recorded 8,125 cases and 129 deaths, and 2022 logged 1,320 cases and 410 deaths, NCDC’s influenza surveillance shows.Kerala reported the highest deaths in 2025 (8), followed by Maharashtra (3) and one each in Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.Amid rising case numbers, the Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda on Tuesday reviewed national preparedness for the winter influenza season. Officials from NCDC, IDSP and the Health Ministry informed him that surveillance systems show no unusual rise in influenza activity so far and that circulating strains remain the usual seasonal variants — H3N2, Influenza B (Victoria) and a small proportion of H1N1.Nadda directed all states and district hospitals to complete readiness checks within two weeks, asked central hospitals to ensure full preparedness, and instructed that advisories and regular mock drills be conducted as the January–March influenza peak approaches.Experts say the unusual trend of more cases but sharply fewer deaths reflects stronger population immunity, faster diagnosis and improved clinical management since COVID-19.“When the respiratory lining is inflamed due to poor air quality, viruses attach and multiply more easily. Falling temperatures and mucosal irritation are amplifying infection rates,” said Dr Ekta Gupta, Professor of Virology at ILBS, explaining that the post-monsoon rise is expected, but airway irritation increases vulnerability.She attributed the fall in deaths to better diagnostics and treatment readiness. “PCR testing is now widely available, clinicians are more confident in managing respiratory infections, and vaccination uptake among high-risk groups has improved — all of which prevent severe outcomes.”Dr Gupta said the influenza strain in circulation has not changed, and that repeated exposure over years has built population-level immunity, reducing severity.Dr Suranjit Chatterjee, senior consultant, internal medicine, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, said the mismatch between high case numbers and low mortality also reflects better awareness. “People are seeking help earlier, more labs are testing for influenza, and improved treatment facilities and vaccinations in vulnerable groups are preventing deaths,” he said.As winter approaches, public-health experts warn that timely diagnosis and vaccination remain critical, especially for the elderly, pregnant women and those with chronic illnesses.

Representative image (Source: X/@MoHFW_INDIA)

NEW DELHI: The Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), which provides healthcare services to lakhs of government employees, pensioners and their families, is operating with a significant shortage of staff across its allopathic and AYUSH dispensaries, the Union Health Ministry informed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. In a written reply, the government revealed that more than 2,000 posts in allopathic dispensaries and over 100 posts in AYUSH units remain vacant, raising concerns over service delivery in one of the country’s largest healthcare networks.According to the ministry, CGHS allopathic dispensaries have a sanctioned strength of 6,630 posts, but only 4,590 are currently filled, leaving 2,040 posts vacant. The situation is similar in AYUSH facilities, where 107 of the 425 sanctioned posts remain unfilled. The data shows gaps across all levels of staffing. In the crucial Group A category, which includes doctors, 402 allopathy posts and 33 AYUSH posts are lying vacant. Group B non-gazetted positions also show shortages, with 276 allopathic posts vacant. The most acute gaps are in Group C—the largest workforce segment comprising paramedical and support staff—where 1,362 allopathic posts and 74 AYUSH posts are unfilled.The government said that recruitment of doctors is carried out through the Union Public Service Commission’s Combined Medical Services Examination based on vacancies reported by CGHS. Recruitment for Group B and Group C positions is handled by the Staff Selection Commission. However, the reply did not indicate the timeframe within which the pending vacancies would be filled or whether special measures are being planned to speed up hiring.The disclosure comes at a time when CGHS dispensaries in major cities frequently struggle with long queues, limited manpower and rising patient load. The persistent vacancies, especially in frontline and paramedical roles, are expected to intensify pressure on the system unless addressed promptly. For thousands of beneficiaries dependent on CGHS for essential outpatient care and medicines, staffing shortages continue to translate into longer waits and uneven access to services.