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Thu, 06 June 2019
7 TN districts on high alert to prevent Nipah
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23:13 7 TN districts on high alert to prevent Nipah
With one confirmed Nipah case in neighbouring Kerala, Tamil Nadu has stepped up efforts to screen those sick travelling to the State through the border districts and prevent the entry of the virus.
The state is maintaining strict vigil in seven districts on the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border, Tamil Nadu Health Minister Vijaya Bhaskar said Thursday.
The government has taken steps like putting in place more mobile medical teams, screening the sick travelling from Kerala, increased awareness drives, attending queries from people, among others, the minister said.
"The sick travelling from Kerala to TN through Theni, Kanyakumari, Tiruvallur, Tiruppur and Coimbatore will be screened. Awareness drives have been increased," the minister told reporters here, adding that steps have been taken to prevent entry of the potentially deadly virus into the state.
Officials have been instructed to send surveillance reports of fever cases, particularly if there are clusters of cases, to "our control room," he said.
More number of mobile medical teams have been deployed in seven districts bordering Kerala, he added.
According to a senior official in the health department, detailed guidelines and alert on prevention and control of Nipah virus infection has been issued concerned directorates functioning under the department.
Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services has been advised to establish temporary isolation wards and ensure availability of adequate personal protective equipment, drugs and lifesaving equipment like ventilators. -- PTI
23:11 Trump blames India, China for not doing enough on climate change
President Donald Trump has blamed countries like India and China for not doing enough on climate change, labelling them as regions with air that is impossible to breathe while claiming that the US has some of the "cleanest air".
In one of his final interviews before leaving for Ireland at the end of his UK state visit on Wednesday, Trump, who has blamed India and other countries for justifying America's withdrawal from the landmark Paris climate change deal in 2017, said he believes that "there is a change in weather, and I think it changes both ways".
Trump claimed that while the US had "some of the cleanest air", it was other countries that were not doing enough to tackle pollution.
"China, India, Russia, many other nations, they have not very good air, not very good water in the sense of pollution and cleanliness. They don't do the responsibility," he told Britain's ITV channel.
He was replaying his conversation with Prince Charles, an ardent campaigner on climate change issues, and admitted that the Royal did most of the talking during their 90-minute discussion.
Asked if he himself believed in climate change, the US President said he believes it goes "both ways".
"He [Charles] did most of the talking, and he was really into climate change and I think that's great. I believe that there's a change in weather and I think it changes both ways,"
he said.
Trump said he was moved by Prince Charles' "passion for future generations" but stopped short of changing any of his views on climate science. -- PTI
22:36 If Ayushman Bharat so good, why people coming to Delhi for treatment: Jain
Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain Thursday took a fresh dig at the Centre over its health insurance programme Ayushman Bharat, saying if the scheme is so good why people from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh are "forced" to seek treatment in government hospitals here.
His comments came days after Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan wrote to the chief ministers of Delhi, Odisha, Telangana and West Bengal, urging them to join the Centre's flagship health insurance scheme.
"If Ayushman Bharat is so good then why patients from BJP-ruled states of Haryana and UP are not treated through this scheme. Why they are forced to come to Delhi Govt Hospitals for treatment," Jain tweeted.
Vardhan had said that the ultimate beneficiary of this collaboration would be the poor and vulnerable people of the country.
"This scheme (Ayushman Bharat) entails so many conditions, and is discriminatory... Why only a few should avail it, it should be universal. And, this scheme is merely rhetoric ('jumla')... People from UP and Haryana, where this scheme is there, are coming to get treated at Delhi government hospitals," Jain told reporters.
Jain on Tuesday had said the AAP government would not implement Ayushman Bharat scheme in the national capital as the Arvind Kejriwal dispensation seeks to provide equitable treatment to all residents here.
"They are not worried about the poor of UP... 70 per cent of patients coming to this hospital are from Uttar Pradesh," he had said after inspecting GTB Hospital in east Delhi. -- PTI
22:34 Rajnath back on key govt panels
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who was made a member of two key cabinet committees including security, will also chair the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs and be a part of the all-important panel on political affairs, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs takes all important political decisions in the ruling dispensation.
Singh was made a member of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) and the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) earlier and he is now a part of six key panels of the government.
On Wednesday, Singh was also made a member of two new panels set up by the government -- the Cabinet Committee on Investment and Growth and the Cabinet Committee on Employment and Skill Development, to propel growth and investment.
Singh headed the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs in the last government. The panel takes all decisions pertaining to Parliament matters. -- PTI
22:24 Amit Shah to get Vajpayee's residence
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to be allotted late prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's Krishna Menon Marg residence in the central Delhi, government sources said on Thursday.
Vajpayee had moved to the Krishna Menon Marg bunglow in 2004 after his government was voted out, and stayed there with his family for nearly 14 years. His family vacated the house in last November after his death in August.
"The official bungalow of former prime minister on Krishna Menon Marg has been allotted to Union Home Minister Amit Shah," a government source told PTI.
According to sources, Shah, who is also the BJP president, recently visited the house and suggested some changes following which renovation work has started.
"The renovation work should be completed in a month or two," another source said.
Shah, who took charge as a Union minister for the first time earlier this week following a landslide victory of the BJP-led NDA, is currently staying at 11 Akbar Road residence.
When Vajpayee had moved to the Krishna Menon Marg house, he had got the municipal number of the bungalow changed from 8 to 6-A.
After the Modi government came to power in 2014, it was decided that no government bungalow previously occupied by a leader in Delhi would be converted into any memorial after their death.
The government has already built memorial for Vajpayee 'Sadaiv Atal', near the Rashtriya Smriti Sthal, a place designated for last rites of presidents, vice-presidents and prime ministers. -- PTI
22:17 Meet every voter, Pawar tells workers ahead of Maha polls
With the Maharashtra assembly elections nearing, NCP chief Sharad Pawar Thursday urged his party men to visit every voter in their area.
He was speaking at a meeting of the party's leaders and workers from Pimpri, Chinchwad and Bhosari assembly segments in Pune district.
The former Union minister said the workers should not feel dejected by the Lok Sabha polls results, and start preparing for the assembly polls.
The party would give opportunity to young faces in the election, likely to be held in September or October this year, he said.
The NCP could win only five seats, including four in Maharashtra, in the Lok Sabha polls.
"Only 98 days are left for the Assembly polls...So, start working from today itself," an NCP statement quoted Pawar as saying.
Workers should be ready with list of voters in their respective areas and meet each of the electors, he said.
"Keep track of whom you met and whom you could not. Collect information about each family and personally meet the voters. Meet each of the voters by going from house to house. It is not impossible to win the election when you do this," he told the workers.
The NCP, which shared power with the Congress in Maharashtra for 15 years, won 41 seats in the state polls in 2014.
The party contested the 2014 election after severing the ties with the Congress, but is set to contest the coming polls again in alliance with it. -- PTI
22:14 Doval chairs meeting on Kashmir
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval chaired a high-level meeting Thursday to discuss issues concerning Kashmir, including the forthcoming Amarnath Yatra and pending Assembly election, officials said.
The meeting was attended by Vijay Kumar, Advisor to the Jammu and Kashmir Governor, State Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, Director General of CRPF R R Bhatnagar and Director General of Police Dilbag Singh, they said.
This is the first meeting of Doval on Kashmir after assuming the charge of National Security Advisor for a second term on June 2.
During the meeting, the prevailing security situation in Kashmir was reviewed, especially in view of the annual Amarnath Yatra which begins on July 1 this year, they said.
The meeting comes days after the Election Commission made an announcement that polls to the state Assembly will be held after the Amarnath Yatra, they said.
In a statement, the poll panel had said it unanimously decided that "holding of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir shall be considered later in this year".
Rejecting the concerns of security expressed by state officials, the Election Commission was of the view that if the Lok Sabha polls could be held, there should be no issue in holding the elections to the state Assembly.
Jammu and Kashmir does not have an elected dispensation since the PDP-BJP coalition government fell in June 2018.
The state is under the President's rule which will expire on June 19 after which the Centre is likely to extend it by another six months.
While no dates of elections have been announced, officials privy to the development feel that the elections are likely to take place sometime in November this year. -- PTI
21:55 Remove army insignia from Dhoni's gloves: ICC
Mahendra Singh Dhoni sporting an Army insignia on his glove during the India-South Africa clash was well appreciated by his fans but the International Cricket Council on Thursday requested the BCCI to have the badge removed, saying it is against its regulations.
Claire Furlong, ICC General Manager - Strategic Communications, told PTI that the apex body has requested the Indian cricket board to have the sign removed. India's next game is against Australia on Sunday.
"It is against the regulations and we have requested it is removed," Furlong told PTI.
When asked if Dhoni, who is a Honorary Lieutenant Colonel in the Parachute Regiment of Territorial Army, could be penalised for the breach of an ICC regulation, she added: "For first breach no, just a request to remove".
Dhoni's love for the Indian Army is well known. During the opening World Cup fixture against South Africa in Southampton on Wednesday, Dhoni's gloves attracted special attention when the TV cameras zoomed in.
The regimental dagger insignia of the para forces was embossed on his green wicket-keeping gloves.
While there is a possibility that Dhoni may have worn these gloves with the dagger insignia earlier also, it did get a lot of traction on social media with fans loving his unique way of paying tribute to the armed forces. -- PTI
21:37 Modi 2.0 plans to convert 10 ordinances into law
In the first session of the 17th Lok Sabha, the new government plans to convert 10 ordinances, including the one to ban the practice of instant triple talaq, into law, official sources said on Thursday.
The ordinances were issued in February-March this year by the previous government as these could not be converted into Acts of Parliament in the last session of the 16th Lok Sabha.
Since the Narendra Modi government returned to power in the just-held Lok Sabha elections, it has decided to give a fresh push to these proposed laws in the newly-constituted Lok Sabha.
These ordinances will have to be converted into laws within 45 days of the beginning of the session, else they will lapse.
Besides the ordinance on triple talaq, the other ordinances lined up are: the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Ordinance, the Companies (Amendment) Ordinance, the Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Ordinance, the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Ordinance, the Aadhaar and other laws (Amendment) Ordinance, the New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Ordinance, the Homeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Ordinance, the Special Economic Zone (Amendment) Ordinance and the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers' Cadre) Ordinance.
The Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Ordinance allows a committee run the scam-tainted Medical Council of India (MCI).
The Banning of Unregulated Deposit Scheme Ordinance seeks to curb the menace of ponzi schemes and make such unregulated deposit schemes punishable.
The ordinance, the government had said, will help put a check on illicit deposit taking activities such as Saradha scam and Rose Valley chit fund scam in the country that dupe poor and the financially illiterate of their hard earned savings. -- PTI
20:33 PM reconstitutes Niti Aayog; Shah named member
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday approved reconstitution of policy think tank Niti Aayog, renaming Rajiv Kumar as its vice chairman and appointing Home Minister Amit Shah as ex-officio member.
According to official sources, besides Shah, Defence Minister Rajanth Singh, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar will be ex-officio members.
Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, Commerce and Industry and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, Social Justice Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot and Statistics Minister Rao Inderjit Singh will be special invitees to the panel.
The panel's current members V K Saraswat, Ramesh Chand and V K Paul have been repeated. -- PTI
20:09 Sidhu loses key portfolio in tussle with Captain
Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, who is at loggerheads with Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, was Thursday divested of the Local Government department and was given the Power and New and Renewable Energy portfolio in a cabinet reshuffle.
The portfolio rejig took place hours after the first state Cabinet meeting following the Lok Sabha elections.
Singh on Thursday evening rejigged the portfolios of most of his ministers.
Sidhu's tourism and cultural affairs portfolio was also taken away, as per an official statement.
Barring four ministers, there are some changes in the portfolios of all the others as a result of the reallocation.
The chief minister said this will help further streamline the government and bring more transparency and efficiency. PTI
20:05 8 died while collecting 'Himalayan viagra' in Nepal
At least eight people died while collecting rare medicinal fungus Yarsagumba, popularly known as the Himalayan viagra, in Nepal's Dolpa district, police said here Thursday.
Known for its aphrodisiac properties, Yarsagumba is only found in the Himalayan mountains above 10,000 feet.
At least eight people died in the last one week while collecting the unique caterpillar-fungus fusion. While five pluckers died of altitude sickness, two fell off a cliff while plucking the expensive fungus, police said.
A toddler accompanying his mother, who was collecting the herb, also died due to altitude sickness, they said.
Every summer, people come from miles around to search for the precious crop, which sells for over USD 100 a gram across Asia and the US.
The local authorities have set up health camps at various places for facilitating the Yarsagumba collectors. Over a dozen pluckers are receiving treatment in these health camps, officials said.
Yarsagumba is a unique caterpillar-fungus fusion that occurs when parasitic mushroom spores infect and mummify a ghost moth larva living in the soil.
There are more than 70 highland meadows opened for Yarsagumba pickers in Dolpa district, situated 600 km north-west of Kathmandu. -- PTI
19:29 Praful Patel skips ED summons; called again next week
The Enforcement Directorate summoned former civil aviation minister and Nationalist Congress Party leader Praful Patel for questioning next week as he skipped his scheduled appearance before the agency on Thursday owing to some personal commitments, officials said.
They said Patel has been asked to join the probe either on June 10 or 11.
"Due to my prior commitments, I have requested the ED for another date," Patel told reporters.
Patel, 62, has been named in a recent charge sheet filed by the federal agency before a court as a person known to alleged aviation lobbyist Deepak Talwar, arrested by the ED sometime back.
The NCP leader, who was in-charge of the civil aviation ministry between 2004 and 2011, has not been mentioned as an accused in the case.
Sources told PTI that the ED had already questioned a number of people in the senior management of the state-owned airline and the aviation ministry.
Patel was expected to be quizzed about the statements and revelations made by Talwar, they added.
The statement of Patel, a Rajya Sabha MP, will be recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The four-time MP from the Bhandara-Gondia Lok Sabha seat in Maharashtra had earlier told PTI that he would be happy to cooperate with the ED for their understanding of the complexities of the aviation industry. -- PTI
19:23 Modi, Xi to meet next week at SCO summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping next week on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit at Bishkek, the first meeting between the two leaders after the formation of the new government, Indian envoy Vikram Misri announced Thursday.
"In recent years, India and China have been able to build a very mature and stable relationship. The informal summit between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi in Wuhan last year was a milestone and has been instrumental in taking our relations to a new height," Misri said.
The Indian ambassador was speaking after inaugurating India's Synthite Industries' 3rd manufacturing facility at Wucheng county in Dezhou in China's Shandong province.
"It is worth mentioning that last year, our leaders met four times on the sidelines of different multi-lateral meetings. Next week, they are again meeting in Bishkek on the sidelines of the SCO Summit," he said.
The SCO summit is due to be held on June 13-14 in the Kyrgyzstan capital.
The SCO is a China-led 8-member security bloc with India and Pakistan being admitted to the grouping in 2017.
This will be their first meeting after Modi's re-election following the stunning victory of the BJP in the general elections.
Xi extended his "heartfelt congratulations" to Prime Minister Modi for winning the general elections, in a rare gesture of greeting a foreign leader well before the official announcement of the results.
18:39 Those behind Mandsaur firing will be punished: MP CM
On the second anniversary of the Mandsaur police firing, in which six farmers were killed, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath on Thursday said those behind the "barbarous" incident will be punished and asserted
that all false cases against cultivators will be withdrawn.
Nath, whose government announced a mega farm loan waiver after assuming office in December last year, paid tributes to the cultivators who were killed when the police opened fire during an agitation in Mandsaur on June 6, 2017.
The BJP was then in power in the state.
In a tweet, Nath said, "Today is the second anniversary of Mandsaur firing. Tribute to six farmers killed in this barbarous firing. Our government is determined to punish the accused of this firing, to give justice to the victims and to withdraw the false cases registered against the innocent farmers (during protests)."
The firing on the agitating farmers in Mandsaur, the epicentre of agrarian protests in the state, was a key poll issue for the Congress during last years assembly elections.
The farmers were protesting in support of their demands, which included better price for their produce.
On the first anniversary of the firing last year, Congress president Rahul Gandhi had launched his party's campaign for the Madhya Pradesh assembly polls from Mandsaur.
Speaking at a rally, he had announced a "farm loan waiver" within ten days of his party coming to power in the state.
In the November 2018 assembly polls, the Congress wrested power from the BJP in Madhya Pradesh after a gap of 15 years. -- PTI
18:10 Be ready for polls at any time: K'taka CM's son
Indicating 'lack of trust' between the coalition partners, Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil Kumaraswamy, in a viral video, is purportedly seen asking Janata Dal-Secular workers to prepare themselves for the assembly polls.
In the video that has gone viral on social media, he is heard telling his partymen that the elections may come anytime, be it next year or after two or three years.
"We need to start now only. We should not say we will do it later. We have to prepare from the next month onwards. We do not know when it (election) comes, next year, after two years or three years. JD-S leaders should be ready," Nikhil says in the video.
Nikhil, who lost the recent Lok Sabha poll from Mandya to Bharatiya Janata Party-backed independent candidate Sumalatha Ambareesh in a fiercely fought contest, however, said there was no threat to the government and his father will complete the tenure.
"There is no problem to the government. It will complete (its tenure). You get tensed due to reports in media. It is not like that. We know what is there inside (the government). Kumaranna (Kumaraswamy) will run (the government) for the next four years too," he said.
The video of Nikhil speaking to Janata Dal (Secular) workers in Mandya two days ago was first shared by party worker Sunil Gowda Dandiganahalli.
Nikhil's statement comes close on the heels of A H Vishwanath's resignation as state JD-S chief after owning "moral responsibility" for the party's debacle in the Lok Sabha polls and flaying the functioning of the coalition
government.
The Congress is also in turmoil with miffed "sidelined" senior leaders openly slamming the party's state leadership over the poll debacle and functioning of the coalition.
17:47 Jagan reverses Naidu's order, allows CBI in AP
The Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy government on Thursday cancelled a controversial government order issued by the previous Chandrababu Naidu-led dispensation, paving the way for the Central Bureau of Investigation to probe various cases in Andhra Pradesh.
On November 8, 2018, the ruling Telugu Desam Party had issued a government order withdrawing the "general consent" accorded to the CBI to carry out investigations and raids in the state.
"In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946, the government hereby withdraws the general consent accorded (in GO Ms 109) to all the members of the Delhi Special Police Establishment to exercise the powers and jurisdiction under the said Act in the state of Andhra Pradesh," the GO had said.
The then Andhra Pradesh deputy chief minister-home N China Rajappa had said the reason to withdraw the consent was allegations against the top officials of the country's premier investigation agency.
The Andhra Pradesh government bestowed powers upon itself to launch a corruption probe against central government employees as well through the state's Anti-Corruption Bureau.
The YSR Congress Party that assumed power on May 30, issued a fresh order Thursday cancelling the GO 176 issued on November 8.
Based on the directions of Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, Special Chief Secretary Manmohan Singh issued GO 81 to this effect.
"The order issued on November 8, 2018 is hereby cancelled under the provisions of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946," it said.
The CBI will now have all powers to take up corruption and other cases in AP.
The premier investigative agency functions under the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act.
Under Section 6 of the Act, a state government "routinely" grants consent to the CBI for exercising its authority in the state and the AP government, too, had issued relevant orders periodically.
Ever since he snapped ties with the Narendra Modi-led NDA government in March last year, Naidu had been alleging that the Centre was misusing agencies like the CBI to target political opponents. -- PTI
17:09 Mamata signs on poll wizard Prashant Kishor
Political Strategist Prashant Kishor will officially start working with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after one month.
Banerjee, who is still smarting from losing ground to the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls, today met with the strategist Prashant Kishor, whose latest success is Jagan Mohan Reddy's victory in Andhra Pradesh.
After a two-hour meeting in Kolkata, Mamata Banerjee has signed up for Prashant Kishor's election-winning package.
Trinamool Congress has nosedived from 34 to 22 seats in 42-seat Bengal in the parliamentary election. The BJP, which had two, shot up to 18 seats, establishing its growing base in the state.
Prashant Kishor is credited with YSR Congress chief Jagan Reddy's sweep in Andhra Pradesh, where the incumbent Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu's party was voted out of power.
17:05 Azim Premji to retire as executive chairman of Wipro
IT czar Azim Premji will retire as executive chairman of Wipro with effect from July 30, but will continue to serve on the board as non-executive director and founder chairman, the company said in a statement. His son Rishad Premji, chief strategy officer and a board member, will take over as the executive chairman of the company.
"Azim Premji, one of the pioneers of the Indian technology industry and founder of Wipro Limited, will retire as executive chairman upon the completion of his current term on July 30, 2019, after having led the company for 53 years. However, he will continue to serve on the board as non-executive director and founder chairman," Wipro said in a statement announcing the top deck changes.
The board has also announced that chief executive and executive director Abidali Z Neemuchwala will be re-designated as CEO and managing director. "These changes will be effective July 31, 2019, subject to shareholder approval," the company added. PTI
16:59 Stocks plunge despite RBI rate cut, financials under pressure
Equity benchmark indices were dragged down by financial stocks in afternoon trade on Thursday even though the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reduced repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.75 per cent in its second bi-monthly monetary policy meet of fiscal 2019-20.
The BSE S&P Sensex closed 554 points down at 39,529 while the Nifty 50 lost points to 11,844.At the National Stock Exchange, all sectoral indices were in the red. Nifty PSU bank fell 4.9 per cent, private bank 2.3 per cent and financial service 2.3 per cent. -- ANI
16:33 Premji makes way for son as Wipro exec chairman
IT czar Azim Premji will retire as the executive chairman of Wipro and will serve on the company's board as non-executive director and founder chairman, Wipro said in a statement today.
Azim Premji's son Rishad has been appointed as the company's executive chairman, the statement added.
Details soon.
16:28 Yogi to unveil Lord Ram statue in Ayodhya today
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will unveil a 7-foot tall statue of Lord Rama at the Shodh Sansthan museum in Ayodhya on Friday.
The statue fashioned out of a single rosewood block statue is from Karnataka.
Adityanath will also inaugurate the event to celebrate Mahant Nritya Gopal Das.
The chief minister's visit to Ayodhya was announced a day after the Shiv Sena's media cell stated on Wednesday that the party chief, Uddhav Thackeray will visit Ayodha later this month.
Thackeray visited Ayodhya in November last year and asked the central government to announce a date for the construction of Ram temple.
He had assured full support if an ordinance was brought for the purpose. -- ANI
16:08 No Modi-Imran Khan meet at SCO Summit: MEA
MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar says that there will be no meeting between PM Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan at the upcoming SCO Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. "To the best of my knowledge no meeting has been planned between PM Modi and Pakistan PM Imran Khan at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Bishkek," he said.
India has refused talks with Pakistan contending that cross-border terror has to stop before talks can begin. But the buzz that talks would happen at the SCO gained traction when Imran Khan called PM Modi to congratulate him for his landslide victory in the general elections. The foreign ministry said PM Modi had thanked Imran Khan for his phone call and greetings.
On the Pakistan Foreign Secretary's visit to India yesterday, Ravish Kumar said, "It was a personal visit and there was no meeting scheduled with him."
On the Iran oil situation he said there was not much change from earlier, which is that the fundamental principle remains that whatever decision India takes will be based on commercial consideration, energy security and our national interest. "We've sought clarification on reports that controversial elements have been appointed by Pakistan, from a committee associated with this project. We've sought clarification from Pakistan on some of key proposals forwarded in last meetings and are awaiting their response."
File pic.
15:56 I'm sure plane flew into China: Mother of missing AN-32 pilot
"He told me he would come back but it has been four days since I have heard from him," says Saroj Tanwar, mother of Flight Lieutenant Ashish Tanwar, who was flying the AN-32 aircraft which went missing over in Arunachal Pradesh, who is inconsolable.
"I am sure the aircraft has crossed over to China. Why is the government not talking to the neighbouring country to fast-track the operation? The search operation is going on but we have been told that due to bad weather, they could not locate the aircraft. My son told me that he would come back, but it has been four days since I have heard from him," Saroj Tanwar told ANI on Thursday.
Every passing hour the desolated family awaits the news of the recovery of the aircraft. The grief-stricken mother added that she wants to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
"There are over 4 lakh army personnel in the eastern sector. Why can't they deploy them there to look for our son? We suspect that the aircraft has crossed over to China. This must be taken into account. Appropriate manpower must be put into work to find the aircraft," Ashish's paternal uncle, Udayvir Singh, said.
15:34 Numbers gone wrong
During the elections, Congress leader and party strategist Ahmed Patel got fed up of visitors coming to him asking, "What is your prediction for the polls?'. His solution was to keep several slips of paper with a pile of notes on the table. These slips had a ready reckoner of his assessment of seats, and other useful electoral data. The party couldn't even reach his prediction midway.
-- Business Standard
-- Business Standard
15:31 The 'subversives' in the Modi govt
So the subversives are now part of the government. So much was said to revile, run down and generally disrespect Jawaharlal Nehru University as an institution: The place where people supposedly spend more time politicking than studying (and engage in less reputable pursuits, as well). But out of the four member cabinet committee on security, the government's highest policy-making body, two are students of JNU.
S Jaishankar did an MA, MPhil and PhD from the university before he was selected for the foreign services.
Nirmala Sitharaman was also a student there and did a masters in economics. Horror of horrors, not only was she a good student but also took an active part in politics. She was a free thinker, in opposition to the Students Federation of India that is the student wing of the CPI(M). So a university that has given the country its top ministers must be doing something right.
-- Business Standard
15:20 In Telangana, mass defections from Cong to TRS
Desertions from Congress in Telangana appear to be continuing unabated with Tandur MLA Rohith Reddy likely to join the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).
Sources said the Congress MLA will soon resign from the party and meet the Telangana Chief Minister, who heads the TRS, to join the ruling party.
After the Assembly elections in December, as many as 12 Congress MLAs have joined the TRS.
Reddy was suspended from TRS last year after which he joined the Congress. He won the election from Tandur.
15:00 UAVs co-opted for AN-32 hunt
AN-32 search update: Army deploys its UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) to search for the missing AN-32 transport aircraft over Arunachal Pradesh-Assam. IAF's Mi-17 choppers and other aircraft also being used for the operation.
14:47 China green lights 5G rollout amid tensions with US
China on Thursday gave its major state-owned companies the green light to start rolling out 5G services in its efforts to move ahead in the global race for setting up the super-fast telecommunications system, amid simmering tensions with the US over technology and trade.
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on Thursday issued 5G commercial licenses to China Telecom, China Mobile, China Unicom and China Radio and Television. It means those carriers can start rolling out commercial 5G applications. 5G is the next generation cellular technology with download speeds stated to be 10 to 100 times faster than the current 4G LTE networks. -- PTI
14:39 We all know what is problem with SAARC: EAM
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday drew a comparison between the two regional groups of SAARC and BIMSTEC, explaining that the former has "certain problems" while the latter has "possibility".
The newly-minted minister's comment can be seen as a veiled reference to neighbouring Pakistan.
The former diplomat credited the "energy" in BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) as the reason for inviting nation states for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's oath ceremony.
"SAARC has certain problems. I think we all know what it is, even if you were to put terrorism issue aside. There are issues related to connectivity and trade. If you look at why BIMSTEC leaders were invited for the PM's swearing-in because we see energy, mindset and possibility in it," he said at an event in Delhi.
14:05 On Sunil Dutt's birthday...
Sanjay Dutt posts this poignant picture with his father Sunil Dutt and sister Priya, writing, "Happy Birthday Dad. I miss you!"
Actor, politician, humanitarian, Sunil Dutt passed away in 2005, leaving a void that has not been filled for both his family and his fans. He would have been 90 today.
13:47 Rupee pares most early losses post RBI rate cut
The rupee pared most of its early morning losses and was trading marginally down by 5 paise at 69.31 against the American currency, after the Reserve Bank of India cut its repo rate by 0.25 per cent Thursday. The rupee had opened on a weak note at 69.41 at the interbank forex market and then fell further to 69.45 vs the USD.
Following the RBI's Monetary Policy Committee decision, the local currency recovered most of the lost ground. The domestic currency was trading at 69.31 at 1248 hrs, down 5 paise over its last close.
The rupee had settled at 69.26 against the US dollar Tuesday. Indian bonds and Forex markets were closed Wednesday on account of Id-Ul-Fitr. -- PTI
13:42 Day 4: No headway in locating missing IAF plane
The search operations for the Indian Air Force AN-32 transport aircraft, which went missing over Arunachal Pradesh, entered the fourth day on Thursday.
While bad weather conditions on Wednesday had put a halt to the search operations by helicopters, two Sukhoi-30 MKI combat jets and one C 130J aircraft carried out missions to locate the missing plane. Satellites and other assets have also been pressed into service.
The AN-32 aircraft with 13 IAF personnel on board went missing on Monday afternoon. The plane had taken off from Assam's Jorhat and was headed for Mechuka Advance Landing Ground in Arunachal Pradesh.
-- ANI
File pic of an AN-32 aircraft.
13:12 People will beat us if we won't fulfil Ram Temple promise now: Sena
Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut on Thursday said that people will 'beat them with shoes' if they do not fulfil the promise of Ram Temple construction this time.
"In 2014, we promised construction of the Ram temple but we did not accomplish it. The concluded election was also fought in the name of Lord Ram. Before elections, we went to Ayodhya with party chief Uddhav Thackreyji, we have committed ourselves to the construction of the temple and I feel this time around Ram temple's construction will start. Because if we don't, the country will stop trusting us and us with shoes in anger," he said while speaking to ANI.
Raut stated that the temple will be built soon as NDA has a majority in the Lok Sabha with 350 seats."Now BJP has 303 MPs, Shiv Sena has 18, NDA has more than 350, what more is needed to construct the temple?" he asked. -- ANI
12:45 NO charges on RTGS/NEFT transactions: RBI
The Reserve Bank of India Thursday said it has done away with charges on fund transfers through RTGS and NEFT routes to boost digital transactions and asked banks to pass on the benefits to customers.
The Real Time Gross Settlement System (RTGS) is meant for large-value instantaneous fund transfers while the National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) System is used for fund transfers up to Rs 2 lakh.
The country's largest bank SBI charges between Re 1 and Rs 5 for transactions through NEFT and between Rs 5 and Rs 50 for RTGS route.
In its statement on developmental and regulatory policies after the Monetary Policy Committee's meeting, the RBI said it levies minimum charges on banks for transactions routed through RTGS and NEFT system for other fund transfers. Banks, in turn, levy charges on their customers.
In order to provide an impetus to digital funds movement, it has been decided to do away with the charges levied by the RBI for transactions processed in the RTGS and NEFT systems, it said. "Banks will be required, in turn, to pass these benefits to their customers. Instructions to banks in this regard will be issued within a week," the central bank said. -- PTI
12:41 Pragya Thakur briefly hospitalised in Bhopal
Newly-elected Bhopal MP Pragya Singh Thakur, who had been directed to appear before a special court in Mumbai in the Malegaon blast case this week, was hospitalised for a stomach ailment and discharged early Thursday morning. She was hospitalised on Wednesday night and discharged early Thursday morning, her close aide Upma told PTI, adding that she would return to the hospital immediately after attending a programme in Bhopal.
On Monday, special NIA Judge V S Padalkar had rejected her application for exemption from appearance in the court this week, in which she had stated that she has to complete formalities relating to Parliament.
The court has said her presence is necessary at this stage in the case. Thakur has one day left to comply with the directions of the court. Upma said, "She (Pragya Singh) is not well. She was hospitalised last night for medication. She is suffering from some stomach-related ailment and was administered injectable medicines".
"She was discharged from the hospital this morning and is taking part in a programme as pressed by workers, but she will return to the hospital immediately afterwards as she is not well," she said. Thakur defeated Congress stalwart Digvijay Singh from the Bhopal Lok Sabha seat in the general elections. Thakur is an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case.
12:29 Varanasi Mahant sends 'Ramcharitmanas' to Mamata
With West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee going hammer and tongs against those who allegedly bid to vilify her by chanting "Jai Shri Ram", Mahant Balak Das of Varanasi has sent a copy of Shri Ramcharitmanas to her asserting that reading the revered Hindu scripture will definitely purify her mind.
"Her 'Buddhi' might get purified by reading the Ramayana. She is after all those who chant 'Jai Shri Ram' and this shows her mindset. Her hatred towards Ram will one day be the reason for her fall. I have posted a copy of Shri Ramcharitmanas and requested her to read it as it is the only way out to change her mindset, know Lord Ram and purify her mind," said Mahant Balak Das of Patalpuri Temple in Varanasi.
"I am ready to guide and help her in understanding the Ramayana, which is why I have sent her my mobile number along. I will keep sending her copies of Ramayana," he added.
This comes after BJP's pledge to send 10 lakh postcards with 'Jai Shri Ram' written on them to her. On the other hand TMC workers on June 4, have sent 10,000 postcards with Vande Mataram, Jai Hind, and Jai Bangla written on them to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. -- ANI
12:26 RBI cuts rates after normal monsoon forecast
Update on the the RBI's rate cut:
The Reserve Bank Thursday raised the retail inflation forecast marginally to 3-3.1 per cent for the first half of the current fiscal, tracking uptick in food prices - mainly vegetables, albeit expectations of a normal monsoon this year.
In its first bi-monthly policy for FY20 in April, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had forecast the retail inflation to be hovering in the range of 2.9-3 per cent for six months till September.
However, the retail inflation projection for the second half of this fiscal has been cut to 3.4-3.7 per cent as against RBI's previous projection of 3.5-3.8 per cent.
Cutting benchmark lending rates for the third consecutive time, the apex bank slashed the repo rate - the short-term lending rate at which bank borrows from the RBI - by 0.25 per cent to 5.75 per cent in its second bi-monthly policy review of FY20.
"The baseline inflation trajectory for 2019-20 is shaped by several factors. First, the summer pick-up in vegetable prices has been sharper than expected, though this may be accompanied by a correspondingly larger reversal during autumn and winter," RBI said in its second bi-monthly monetary policy statement.
Besides, the more recent information suggests a broad-based pick-up in prices in several food items. This has imparted an upward bias to the near-term trajectory of food inflation, RBI said, adding that crude prices have continued to be volatile.
"Taking into consideration these factors, the impact of recent policy rate cuts and expectations of a normal monsoon in 2019, the path of CPI inflation is revised to 3.0-3.1 per cent for H1:2019-20 and to 3.4-3.7 per cent for H2:2019-20, with risks broadly balanced," RBI said.
-- PTI
12:16 Shah, Doval, Gauba meeting ends
High level meeting on internal security at the Home Ministry has concluded. Home Minister Amit Shah, NSA Ajit Doval and Home Secretary Rajeev Gauba were present at the meeting.
11:55 RBI cuts repo rate to 5.75%
The Reserve Bank of India on Thursday cut the policy repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.75 per cent. This is the third time on the trot in 2019 that the central bank has cut rates to support growth. One basis point equals one hundredth of a percentage point. Repo rate is the interest rate at which the central bank provides liquidity to banks to overcome short-term liquidity mismatches.
The reverse repo rate and bank rate adjusted at 5.50 and 6.0 per cent respectively.
GDP projection has been adjusted to 7.00 % from 7.2 % in earlier projection.
Inflation outlook is at 3.0%-3.1% in the first half of 2019-20 and 3.4%-3.7% in second half of the year.
RBI has decided to do away with charges levied on RTGS and NEFT transactions, banks will be required to pass this benefit to their customers.
11:47
Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath meets PM Modi.
11:39 Nipah virus: Six suspected patients test negative
Six persons admitted to a quarantine facility at the Government Medical College in Kerala's Ernakulam have tested negative for the potentially deadly Nipah virus, a senior Health Ministry official said Thursday.
The condition of the college student, diagnosed with Nipah infection, is stable and a total of 314 persons who were in touch with the infected person have been kept under observation, the official said.
"The blood and serum samples of all six suspected patients have tested negative for Nipah virus infection," the official said.
The Union Health Ministry has deployed a six-member team comprising an epidemiologist to conduct contact tracing for early detection of suspects and review of isolation facilities.
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, who reviewed the public health measures put in place in Kerala on Wednesday, said the situation is under control and people need not panic.
During the review meeting, the Centre also discussed SOPs for quarantine of symptomatic contacts, sample collection or testing and dedicated isolation facility with trained health staff and epidemiological investigation by multi-disciplinary central team to ascertain the possible source of infection and history of exposure.
A designated control room has been established at the district collector's office and an isolation ward established at the Government Medical College Ernakulam, the Health Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. Isolation facilities have also been ensured at medical colleges at Calicut, Thrissur and Kottayam, it said.
All healthcare facilities have been asked to ensure high index of suspicion in cases with similar symptoms and also ensure availability of isolation and emergency management facilities before referral, the ministry said.
According to the WHO, Nipah virus is a newly emerging disease that can be transmitted from its reservoir (natural wildlife host), the flying foxes (fruit bats), to both animals and humans. Symptoms range from asymptomatic infection, acute respiratory infection and encephalitis. Infected people initially develop influenza-like symptoms of fever, headache, vomiting and sore throat. This can be followed by dizziness, drowsiness, altered consciousness, and neurological signs that indicate acute encephalitis. -- PTI
11:26 Govt looks different from inside: Jaishankar
A large majority of people in India have recognised that the country's stature in the world has risen in the last five years, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in Delhi today.
Addressing a gathering at a seminar, Jaishankar said a "global rebalancing" is taking place and the "sharpest manifestation" of that is the rise of China and to an extent, the rise of India as well.
The former foreign secretary took part in the event days after taking charge of the ministry, a rare instance of a career diplomat handling the key portfolio as a minister.
"A large majority of people in India recognised that India's stature in the world has risen in the last five years," Jaishankar said. He said the government has kept alive and perhaps even strengthened expectation of change in India. The government looks different from outside than from inside, Jaishankar, who served as foreign secretary from 2015-18 said.
"We can build a closer region through regional connectivity projects," he added. "If we want to propel economic growth, then there is greater responsibility for Indian foreign policy to focus on external aspect of it," the minister said. There is big responsibility on the External Affairs Ministry to focus on project execution which has strategic significance, he added. -- PTI
11:06 Value every idea: Sitharaman thanks fin experts
The newly-elected Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday expressed gratitude towards scholars, economists and enthusiasts for sharing ideas and thoughts for the Union Budget 2019.
"Grateful for every thought/idea that's being shared by scholars, economists and enthusiasts through print, electronic, and on social media. I read many of them; also, my team carefully collates them for me. Value every bit. Thanks. Please keep them coming. #Budget2019," Sitharaman wrote on her Twitter handle.
Sitharaman took charge of ministries allotted to her on May 30.
She has been roped-in for six Cabinet committees reconstituted by the Centre i.e. Cabinet Committee on Accommodation, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, Cabinet Committee on Security, Cabinet Committee on Investment and Growth, Cabinet Committee on Employment and Skill Development.
Sitharaman, who was the Defence Minister in Modi's previous cabinet, took the charge of Finance Ministry from her predecessor Arun Jaitley who opted out of a role in the central government citing health problems. She is also heading the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
She is the second woman in the country to helm the Finance Ministry, the first one being former prime minister Indira Gandhi. -- ANI
10:21 Rupee slips ahead of RBI policy outcome
The rupee opened on a weak note and declined by 19 paise to 69.45 against the US dollar in opening trade on Thursday, ahead of the Reserve Bank of India's monetary policy decision.
Forex traders said, foreign fund outflows and rising crude oil prices also kept pressure on the Indian rupee.
The RBI's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is slated to announce its bi-monthly policy decision later in the day. The rupee opened weak at 69.41 at the inter-bank forex market and then fell further to 69.45, down 19 paise over its last close.
The rupee had settled at 69.26 against the US dollar on Tuesday.
Indian bonds and Forex markets were closed on Wednesday on account of Id-Ul-Fitr.
Forex traders said a cautious opening in domestic equities weighed on the local unit. Brent crude futures, the global oil benchmark, rose 0.25 per cent to $ 60.78 per barrel.
Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) remained net sellers in the capital markets, pulling out Rs 416.08 crore on Tuesday, as per provisional data.
Domestic bourses opened on a cautious note on Thursday with benchmark indices Sensex trading 85.04 points down at 39,998.50 and Nifty down 42.60 points at 11,979.05. -- PTI
10:18 Seized bombs explode inside Maha Forest Dept office
The office of Maharashtra State Forest Department in Pune got severely damaged after crude bombs seized from poachers exploded inside the office premises on Wednesday morning, police said.
According to police, the seized bombs which went-off were used for poaching wild boars and other wild animals.
The villagers packed bombs in a way that they exploded when a wild animal chewed it leading to the instant death of the mammal.
No causalities were reported.
Around 90 seized crude bombs were stored at the Paud office.
Furniture including chairs and tables inside the office were badly damaged and the closed shutter of the office was hurled several feet away.
The walls of the office also sustained cracks.
According to forest officials, an inquiry would be conducted in the matter. -- ANI
10:01 Markets on cautious note ahead of RBI policy
Domestic equity benchmarks BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty opened on a cautious note on Thursday as investors await Reserve Bank of India's monetary policy decision.
The 30-share index was trading 31.03 points, or 0.08 per cent, lower at 40,052.51, and the broader Nifty slipped 18.20 points, or 0.15 per cent, to 12,003.45.
Top losers in the Sensex pack include Yes Bank, SBI, IndusInd Bank, Bharti Airtel, Vedanta, ICICI Bank, RIL, M&M and HDFC, shedding up to 2.91 per cent.
While, PowerGrid, Bajaj Auto, HUL, Coal India, Asian Paints, HDFC Bank and HCL Tech were trading in the green. Bourses were closed Wednesday on account of Eid-ul-Fitr.
In the previous session on Tuesday, the BSE gauge settled 184.08 points, or 0.46 per cent, lower at 40,083.54.
The broader NSE benchmark fell 66.90 points, or 0.55 per cent, to settle at 12,021.65. According to traders, investors were cautious ahead of the Reserve Bank's policy outcome.
The Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is slated to announce its bi-monthly policy later in the day.
The central bank had cut the short-term lending rate (repo rate) by 25 basis points each in its last two policy reviews. Foreign fund outflow too weighed on market mood here, traders said.
Foreign institutional investors sold equity worth Rs 416.08 crore on Tuesday, and domestic institutional investors offloaded shares to the tune of Rs 355.42 crore, provisional data available with stock exchanges showed.
Elsewhere in Asia, bourses in China, Japan and Korea were trading on a mixed note in their respective early sessions. Bourses on Wall Street too ended in the green on Wednesday.
On the currency front, the rupee depreciated 13 paise to 69.39 against the US dollar.
Brent crude futures, the global oil benchmark, were trading 0.23 per cent higher at 60.77 per barrel. -- PTI
09:28 Praful Patel seeks another date to depose before ED
Former civil aviation minister and Nationalist Congress Party leader Praful Patel on Thursday requested for another date to depose before the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money-laundering probe related to the losses suffered by national carrier Air India as part of an alleged multi-crore-rupee aviation scam, hours ahead of his appearance before the agency.
Patel, 62, has also been named in a recent chargesheet filed by the federal agency before a court as a person known to alleged aviation lobbyist Deepak Talwar.
He was to depose before the agency on Thursday.
The NCP leader, who was in charge of the civil aviation ministry between 2004 and 2011, has not been mentioned as an accused in the case.
"Due to my prior commitments, I have requested ED for another date," Patel said.
The statement of Patel, a Rajya Sabha MP, will be recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Patel had earlier told PTI that he would be happy to cooperate with the ED for their understanding of the complexities of the aviation industry. -- PTI
09:01 Jaitley moving out of govt bungalow, cuts staff
Former Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is vacating the government bungalow, has surrendered his official cars and reduced his security.
He has also returned many of the government officials who were part of his personal staff.
Jaitley is learnt to have asked members of his staff to pay the pending bills of water, electricity and telephone services. He has also stopped 25 daily newspapers.
Jaitley is moving to his own house in South Delhi. His family also wanted him to move out of official bungalow because of his health issues.
Being a Supreme Court lawyer, Jailtley has gone by the apex court ruling that former MPs must vacate their official residences within a month of dissolution of the previous Lok Sabha.
Once he recovers, Jaitley has planned to seek a smaller government accommodation.
He also hopes to rejoin the government by November this year. He wants four months' time to recover from his illness.
08:51 Trump hopeful of deal with N Korea, hints at third summit with Kim
Downplaying North Korea's warning that the United States must change the course of its negotiations before its patience runs out, President Donald Trump on Wednesday was of the view that Pyongyang desires to make a deal with Washington.
"I think they would like to make a deal and we would like to make a deal," Trump told reporters in Dublin, adding that he looks forward to meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un 'at the appropriate time', CNN reports.
On Tuesday, a spokesperson for North Korea's foreign ministry had in a statement urged the US to 'drop its current way of calculation' to keep alive the agreement they reached during their first summit in June last year.
'Whether the June 12 DPRK-US Joint Statement will remain effective or turn out to be a mere blank sheet of paper will now be determined by how the US would respond to our fair and reasonable stand,' Yonhap news agency quoted the spokesperson, as saying.
'The US should duly look back on the past one year and cogitate about which will be a correct strategic choice before it is too late. The US would be well-advised to change its current method of calculation and respond to our request as soon as possible. There is a limit to our patience,' he added.
A similar call by North Korea was made in April when Kim had said that he would wait for Washington's 'courageous decision' until the end of this year.
Talks between the two countries hit a roadblock after the second summit in Vietnam ended abruptly with no joint statement being released.
The two sides reportedly failed to resolve their differences on sanctions waivers.
North Korea has since launched multiple projectiles as a sign of their apparent frustration regarding the stalled talks and continuing sanctions.
Tensions between the two countries briefly heightened recently after the US seized one of its cargo ships on the suspicion of shipping coal and other goods in violation of global sanctions on the regime. -- ANI
08:26 7 more suspected Nipah cases under observation
Seven people suspected of having contracted Nipah virus have been admitted to a hospital in Kochi and the condition of the patient diagnosed with the virus is now stable, Kerala Health Minister K K Shailaja said on Wednesday after a review meeting with officials.
The samples of six patients have been sent to National Institute of Virology in Pune and results will be available by Thursday.
Earlier in the day, Shailaja had informed that five more persons were under observation in the wake of a scare over Nipah virus.
On Tuesday, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan said that the Centre had rushed a team of doctors to Kerala for investigation in the wake of the scare of Nipah virus. -- ANI
00:03 Join Ayushman Bharat: Vardhan urges non-BJP CMs
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has written to the chief ministers of Delhi, Odisha, Telangana and West Bengal, urging them to join the Centre's flagship health insurance scheme, Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), as the ultimate beneficiary of this collaboration will be the poor and vulnerable people of the country.
Vardhan had also spoken to Arvind Kejriwal, Naveen Patnaik and Mamata Banerjee, the respective chief ministers of Delhi, Odisha and West Bengal, and was trying to connect with Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, a statement from the health ministry said.
Taking stock of the situation that the three states and one Union Territory (UT) were yet to join the AB-PMJAY, Vardhan, in his letter to the chief ministers, said, "It is important that the benefits of a visionary scheme like Ayushman Bharat should reach all the deprived and vulnerable people in the country.
"I will make all efforts to convince the remaining states and the UT to bring the benefits of the scheme to their people and ensure that no eligible person is deprived of these benefits."
He said it was due to the transparent processes, ease of access and benefits to a large section of the poor population that 32 states and UTs had accepted the scheme, which was running successfully and providing financial protection to crores of people.
Urging the states to join the scheme, the minister said they would gain in terms of resources, national portability, state-of-the-art technological platforms, implementation systems and world-class analytics systems at no additional cost.
They would also benefit from a well-proven fraud monitoring-and-control system and the exchange of key learnings and best practices of other states towards equitable healthcare, he added.
Vardhan made it clear that financial resources would be made available to the states with adequate flexibility in the spirit of cooperative federalism. -- PTI
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