News Dabba for 21 February 2025: Five stories for a balanced news diet

Indie Journal brings you the daily updates that the internet is talking about through various news websites. Here's a glance through some of the National and International news updates, from Maharashtra CM’s SIT probe, Railways on high alert for Maha Kumbh, to clashes on NEP. 

BJP MLC first to record statement in CM’s SIT probe: Hindustan Times

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the state government on Thursday recorded the statement of BJP MLC Pravin Darekar, who had demanded a probe into an alleged plot to frame chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde in false cases during the tenure of the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. Hindustan Times reports that the SIT is headed by Joint Commissioner of Police, Law and Order, Satyanarayan Chaudhary. Alleging that the MVA government had targeted Fadnavis, as he had exposed corruption during its tenure, Darekar had claimed that he had sting operation footage aired by some TV channels to support his claims. Read the full report here.

Dharmendra Pradhan hits back at Stalin on NEP, Indian Express reports

Escalating the political row between the Centre and Tamil Nadu over the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Indian Express reports, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan wrote to Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday stating that it was “inappropriate for the State to view NEP 2020 with a myopic vision and spin progressive education reforms into threats to sustain their political narratives”. “The policy does not advocate the imposition of any language. Many non-BJP states have implemented the progressive policies of NEP despite political differences. NEP 2020 aims to broaden the horizon, not narrow them,” Pradhan wrote. The letter comes amid a series of remarks over the past week made by Stalin and Pradhan over Tamil Nadu’s opposition to aspects of the NEP like the three-language formula under which school students are taught three languages. Read the full report here.

Israel claims one of four bodies returned from Gaza not a captive, Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera reports that Israel’s military has claimed one of the four bodies of Israeli captives handed over in Gaza on Thursday is not that of Shiri Bibas, describing the remains as “anonymous” and demanding Hamas return the correct body. The report says Israel is treating false identification of returned body as intentional act by Hamas. Read the full report here.

India Today on Railways on high alert for Maha Kumbh weekend rush

As the Maha Kumbh nears its final phase, devotees continue to arrive in large numbers via road and rail to take a holy dip at Sangam in Prayagraj, India Today reports. The last Amrit Snan will take place on February 26, on the occasion of Mahashivratri. A massive crowd is expected in Prayagraj, with an additional rush anticipated over the preceding weekend. In response, the Railways has ramped up its preparedness and is on high alert. Read the full report here.

Zelensky says Ukraine needs 'reliable and clear' security guarantees to end war, BBC

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he discussed the need for "reliable and clear" security guarantees to end the war during a meeting with Trump's envoy, BBC reports. The pair met in Kyiv, as Ukrainian sources tell the BBC that Keith Kellogg appears increasingly "sidelined" by the Trump administration. In a White House briefing, national security adviser Mike Waltz says Trump is "very frustrated" with Zelensky after he levelled "unacceptable" insults at the US president this week, the report adds. On Wednesday, Trump called Zelensky a "dictator", after his Ukrainian counterpart earlier accused the US leader of "living in a disinformation space" created by Russia. Read the full report here.