LIVE! Farmers not leaving protest sites near Delhi: Tikait

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Sun, 04 April 2021

Farmers not leaving protest sites near Delhi: Tikait

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21:54 Farmers not leaving protest sites near Delhi: Tikait

Refuting claims that farmers have left protest sites along the Delhi border, Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Sunday said they had gone to the fields to work and would return when the Central government was "free from West Bengal elections".

Farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, have been protesting at the Delhi border for over 4 months now against the Centre's three agri marketing laws, and have demanded its repeal along with a legal guarantee on the minimum support price mechanism.

Tikait, who reached Gujarat to drum up support for the stir, began his two-day visit by praying at the Ambaji Temple in Banaskantha district and then addressing groups in Ambaji and Palanpur.

He told a gathering that the three laws were enacted to help businessmen and not farmers, and the latter had decided to not move from the protest sites till victory, that is acceptance of all their demands, was achieved.

"All reports that farmers have left the agitation sites are wrong. Farmers come and go. At present, they have gone to work in their fields. We have told them to come back once the government is free from (West) Bengal elections. The entire government is camping in Bengal. Once the government returns, we will start negotiations with it," Tikait claimed.

He said farmers from Gujarat must also join the protest in large numbers so that the country feels confident that cultivators from the state from where some of the big leaders hail, a possible reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, are also against the new laws.

Exhorting farmers from Gujarat to use tractors to protest, Tikait said these vehicles are the "tanks of farmers" and were put to good use in Delhi to remove police barricades.

While former Gujarat chief minister Shankarsinh Vaghela accompanied Tikait in his rally from Ambaji to Palanpur, Congress MLA Geniben Thakor welcomed the BKU leader when he entered the state earlier in the day.

Incidentally, Tikait had taken a swipe at the BJP government in Gujarat earlier in the day by showing his passport to reporters while entering the state after alighting from a train in Abu Road in neighbouring Rajasthan.

Asked about whether he was carrying a COVID-19 negative certificate, which is mandatory while travelling to Gujarat, Tikait showed his passport and said, "I have all the documents with me. This is my passport if it is required to enter Gujarat".

Tikait will visit Sabarmati Ashram on Monday and go to Bardoli on the second day of his Gujarat visit. -- PTI

A day after Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed that there is no COVID in the state and hence no need to wear mask now,the health and family welfare department Sunday issued fresh notifications for

mandatory testing of air and train passengers coming to the state from Mumbai and Bengaluru to check the spread of virus.

Separate orders have been issued for air and train passengers and the rates for COVID testing by the department's Principal Secretary Samir Sinha.

The minister had on Saturday said that there is no COVID in Assam and so there is no need to wear a mask now which triggered widespread criticism.

Subsequently Sarma tweeted, "those who are making fun of my statement on mask, must come to Assam and see how we have contained COVID-19 in comparison to states like Delhi, Kerala and Maharashtra along with an impressive recovery of our economy".

"We will celebrate Bihu also with the same enthusiasm this year", he added.

Bihu, the Assamese new year is falling on April 14.

According to the order issued, all air passengers from Mumbai and Bengaluru disembarking in any airport of Assam will mandatorily need to carry a negative RT-PCR report, conducted within 72 hours prior to undertaking the journey and the test report should be verifiable using QR code or otherwise.

Airlines would allow boarding to only those passengers at Mumbai and Bengaluru who are carrying the negative RT-PCR test report.

Any passenger from these two cities who arrive without satisfactory RT-PCR test report will have to undergo paid COVID-19 testing at the airport and will wait in designated location inside airport premises at his own expense till the test result is available.

If the test is positive, the passenger will have to shift to home isolation or hospital, according to the treatment protocol and this order comes into force from April nine.

All passengers, arriving in trains originating from or transiting through Maharashtra and/or Karnataka will undergo screening for symptoms on arrival in railway stations in Assam.

All symptomatic passengers will undergo COVID-19 test and there will also be random Rapid Antigen Test of passengers from among those found to be asymptomatic.

If the test is positive, the passenger will be shifted to home isolation or hospital, as per treatment protocol and this order comes into force with immediate effect.

Regarding contact tracing of COVID-19 positive patients, an order passed to ensure that at least 20 to 25 contacts should be identified who have been exposed to the infected individual. -- PTI

21:23 Veteran actor Shashikala dies at 88

Veteran actor Shashikala, best known for her supporting roles in 1960s-70s films like Aarti, Gumrah and Chhote Sarkar, passed away on Sunday at the age of 88.

B N Tiwari, president of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees, confirmed the news of her death.

"Shashikala ji has passed away. She was 88. We don't know the exact details of her demise," Tiwari told PTI.

When contacted, filmmaker and president of the Indian Film & Television Directors' Association, Ashoke Pandit said, "Shashikala ji has passed away."

Born in Solapur, Maharashtra, Shashikala Jawalkar started acting on stage at the age of five in her hometown. After her father went bankrupt, she moved to Bombay (now Mumbai) with her family and started to look for work in movies.

She made her first big screen appearance in the 1945 movie Zeenat, directed by legendary actor Noor Jehan's husband Syed Shaukat Hussain Rizvi.

Better known by her first name, Shashikala starred in over a hundred films in her career spanning around six decades.

She went on to play small parts in various films for almost a decade and then got an opportunity to feature in V Shantaram's Teen Batti Char Raasta (1953) and Daku, the 1955 film starring Shammi Kapoor.

Her career breakthrough came in 1959 when she appeared in Bimal Roy's Sujata, one of the early movies in Hindi cinema to explore the issue of casteism.

Based on a Bengali short story of the same name by Subodh Ghosh, Sujata saw Shashikala play the real daughter of the Brahmin family that adopts Nutan's protagonist, an orphan from a low caste.

Shashikala then appeared in Tarachand Barjatya's Aarti (1962), starring Meena Kumari, Ashok Kumar, and Pradeep Kumar in the lead. The film proved to be a stepping stone for Shashikala as she went on to become one of the go-to actors for filmmakers to portray negative parts.

She then appeared in supporting roles in classics like Gumrah (1963), Waqt (1965), Anupama (1966) and Phool Aur Patthar (1966) and returned to playing a vamp in the Shammi Kapoor-Sadhana-starrer Chhote Sarkar (1974).

Later in her career, she switched to character roles appearing in 1980's Khubsoorat, fronted by Rekha, Sunny Deol-led Arjun (1985), Khamosh Nigahen (1986), Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani (1988), Sach (1989), Govinda's Pardesi Babu (1998), Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Baadshah (1999), Karan Johar's directorial Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, musical hit Jhankaar Beats (2003) and Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004) and Padmashree Laloo Prasad Yadav in 2005.

Shashikala switched to television in 2000s and went on to play pivotal parts in serials Apnaapan, Dil Deke Dekho and Son Pari.

She received Padma Shri, the country's fourth highest civilian award, in 2007 for her contribution to the Indian cinema.

In her early 20s, she married Om Prakash Saigal, who belonged to the KL Saigal family, and had two daughters, one of whom later passed away due to cancer.

Personalities like legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar, actor-filmmaker Farhan Akhtar, producer Naved Jafri, Union minister Jitendra Singh and Nationalist Congress Party supremo Sharad Pawar paid rich tributes to the late star. -- PTI

Private offices, except in the banking and insurance sectors, will remain shut in Maharashtra from Monday night when strict restrictions come into force, state Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Sunday.

He said employees of other private offices will be allowed to work from home.

Government offices will function at 50 per cent of their capacity and the rest of the employees will work from home, except the staffers of the essential services related to the pandemic management (who will have to report to work), the minister said.

The state government on Sunday announced a weekend lockdown in the state from 8 pm on Friday to 7 am on Monday to curb the huge surge in COVID-19 cases.

Apart from the weekend lockdown, strict restrictions will come into force from Monday 8 pm onwards under which shopping malls, bars, restaurants, small shops will be open only for take-aways and parcels.

Tope said saloons and beauty parlours will also remain closed in the state.

Public transport will remain functional with restrictions, and autorickshaws and cabs will operate with a limited number of passengers, he added.

Tope said violators will have to pay the fine of Rs 500. -- PTI

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Sunday said all are united in the resolve to combat naxalism and her party's government in Chhattisgarh will continue to provide all assistance to the paramilitary forces in fighting the menace with full rigour.

In a statement, she said the entire country bows before the martyrdom of 22 jawans in a gruesome Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur.

"I pay homage to these jawans who have given their lives, and heartfelt condolences to their families. The nation owes an enormous debt of gratitude to them.

"I fervently hope for the return of our missing soldiers, and look forward to the complete recovery of those injured," Gandhi said.

"We are united in our resolve to combat naxalism. The Chhattisgarh Congress government shall continue to provide all assistance to our central paramilitary forces in fighting naxalism with full rigour," she added.

A group of around 400 Maoists, armed with light machine-guns (LMGs), ambushed security forces deployed on a special operation, killing at least 22 personnel and injuring 30 others, besides decamping with over a dozen sophisticated arms, officials said on Sunday. -- PTI

Mumbai on Sunday reported 11,163 novel coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, its highest single-day spike since the pandemic outbreak in the country.

The total tally of infections in the financial capital of India rose to 4,52,445, the city civic body said.

With 25 patients succumbing to the COVID-19 infection, the death toll mounted to 11,776, according to the health bulletin.

19:32 Ready to quit cinema if...: Kamal Haasan

Actor-turned-politician and Makkal Neethi Maiam founder Kamal Hassan on Sunday said he is ready to quit cinema if it becomes hurdle for his political career, which was meant for serving the people.

"I will finish all my present assignments and quit films, if they become a hurdle to my political career," he told reporters in Coimbatore.

Saying his entry into politics was historic, as he was one among the 30 per cent who remained aloof from politics, he said that late chief minister M G Ramachandran had as MLA acted in many films to propagate his ideals and to achieve his goal of serving people.

However, if cinema was becoming an obstacle, Haasan said he would leave it to serve people, the MNM chief said, adding that many of his fellow candidates were of the opinion that he would disappear from politics and re-enter cinema.

"Let us see who will disappear, which has to be decided by the people," Hassan added.

Claiming that he had received some threats from various quarters, about which he refused to elaborate, the actor-politician said that being an honest party, he has submitted the real expenses incurred during the campaign,

which was lauded by a few elections officials.

Tamil film personalities Radhika Sarathkumar and Suhasini Maniratnam were present during the press meet. -- PTI

A minor broke out at the jumbo COVID care centre (CCC) in suburban Dahisar on Sunday, an official said, adding that nobody was injured as patients were shifted in time to a safe location inside the facility.

The blaze erupted in the section called "Hangar F" of the CCC where 50 patients were lodged and soon spread to "Hangar G" where 49 patients were admitted, the official said.

He said a ward boy noticed the flames and alerted security guards, who in turn called up Fire Brigade.

The flames were put out by Fire personnel after a brief operation, he said.

Prima facie, the short circuit is suspected to be the cause behind the incident.

Meanwhile, all the patients were shifted to the "Hangar C" section of the CCC. -- PTI

18:27 Naxals looted weapons of security personnel

A group of an estimated 400 Maoists, armed with LMGs, had ambushed security forces deployed for a special operation, killing at least 22 personnel and injuring 30 others, besides decamping with over a dozen sophisticated arms, officials said on Sunday.

The contingent of about 1,500 troops was drawn from CRPF'S specialised jungle warfare unit CoBRA, its regular battalions, a unit of its Bastariya battalion, the Chhattisgarh Police affiliated District Reserve Guard (DRG) and others. They had launched a search and destroy operation along the border of Bijapur-Sukma district after they got inputs of Maoists presence in the area.

A siege was laid at the crack of the dawn on Saturday following intelligence inputs that Naxals were undertaking their Tactical Counter Offensive Campaign (TCOC) campaign in the Jagargunda-Jongaguda-Tarrem axis, the officials said, adding the total strength of security personnel for the operation was 790 and the rest were taken as auxiliary and support elements for the long-haul operation.

At least 400 Naxals suspected to be led by the most wanted Maoist commander and leader of the so-called 'People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) battalion no 1-- Hidma-- and his associate Sujatha ambushed the forces in an area that is a strong-hold of the Maoists due to the difficult terrain, large tracts of forests and a smaller number of security forces camps, an officer said.

Out of the total 22 fatalities, the CRPF has lost eight men including seven CoBRA commandos while one jawan is from the Bastariya battalion and the rest are from DRG and Special Task Force. A CRPF Inspector is still missing, they said.

"The Maoists drew the forces into an ambush with heavy gunfire and encircled the security personnel from three sides. A heavy gun-battle ensued in the jungles which are devoid of any foliage at present," a senior official told PTI.

Bullets rained from light machine guns (LMGs) and the Naxals also used low-intensity improvised explosive devices to mount the attack that continued for several hours.

Helicopters, which were requisitioned to evacuate the injured personnel, could make the first landing only after 5 PM after the gunfire had ended.

The security personnel took guard against large trees and kept firing till they ran out of ammunition, he added.

At one location, he added, seven bodies of the troops were recovered and the tree trunks bore bullet shots, indicating that a fierce gun battle took place in the area.

18:02 Maha imposes weekend lockdown, night curfew

The Maharashtra government on Sunday announced a weekend lockdown in the state from 8 pm on Friday to 7 am on Monday in a bid to curb the growing numbers of COVID-19 cases in the state.

Apart from the weekend lockdown, strict restrictions will be in force from Monday 8 pm onwards, Minority Affairs Minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik told reporters after the cabinet meeting.

He said that night curfew will continue and prohibitory orders issued under section 144 will be force during the day time during the week.

"Apart from the weekend lockdown, strict restrictions will be in force from 8 pm tomorrow, under which shopping malls, bars, restaurants,small shops will be open only for take-aways and parcels. Government offices will be allowed to function only at 50 per cent of their capacity," he said.

Industries and production sector, vegetable markets will function with standard operating procedures and construction sites will operate if there is accommodation facility for workers, he added.

Theatres, drama theatres will be shut, while film and television shootings will continue if there is no crowding. Parks and playgrounds will also be closed, he said.

Religious places will have to follow the SoPs, Malik said, adding that that public transport system will remain functional.

Mumbai city guardian minister Aslam Shaikh told reporters that work from home will be encouraged for offices, except for insurance, mediclaim, electricity and civic offices.

Essential services have been exempted from the existing night curfew, he said. -- PTI

16:42 Actor Govinda tests positive for COVID-19

Actor Govinda has tested positive for the novel coronavirus and is under home quarantine, his wife Sunita Ahuja said on Sunday.

The 57-year-old actor has "mild symptoms" and is following necessary protocol.

"He (Govinda) tested positive today morning. His symptoms are absolutely mild. There's nothing to worry about. He is quarantining at home and taking precautions," Sunita told PTI.

Govinda was last seen on the big screen in the 2019 comedy Rangeela Raja.

Earlier in the day, superstar Akshay Kumar and Bandish Bandits actor Ritwik Bhowmik also tested positive for COVID-19.

On Saturday, Mumbai reported 9,108 new cases of coronavirus, the highest spike in a single day. -- PTI

A group of an estimated 400 Maoists had ambushed security personnel who were part of a large contingent deployed for a special operation, leading to the killing of at least 22 personnel and injuries to 30 others, official sources said on Sunday.

They said the contingent of about 1,500 troops drawn from CRPF'S specialised jungle warfare unit CoBRA, some teams from its regular battalions, a unit of its Bastariya battalion, the Chhattisgarh Police affiliated District Reserve Guard and others had launched a search and destroy operation along the border of Bijapur-Sukma district around noon after they got inputs of some Maoists presence in the area.

At least 400 Naxals, an officer said, led by the most wanted Maoist commander and leader of the so-called 'People's Liberation Guerrilla Army battalion no 1'-- Hidma-- and his associate Sujatha are suspected to be behind the Saturday;s ambush that took place in an area that is a strong-hold of the ultras due to the difficult terrain, large tracts of forests and less number of security forces camps.

The Maoists rained bullets from light machine guns and used low-intensity improvised explosive devices to mount the attack that went on till evening.

He said that the Maoists carried their dead, estimated to be about 10-12, on tractor trolleys.

The total approved strength of security forces personnel for the operation was 790 and the rest were taken as auxiliary and support elements for the long haul operation, the sources said.

"Inputs were received that Naxals were undertaking their Tactical Counter Offensive Campaign campaign in the Jagargunda-Jongaguda-Tarrem axis, and hence security forces teams from six camps were deputed to intercept them.

"The Maoists drew the forces into an ambush with heavy gunfire soon after, and helicopter sorties were requisitioned to evacuate the injured personnel," a senior security officer told PTI.

He said the Maoists encircled the security personnel from three sides and a heavy gun-battle ensued in the jungles which are devoid of any foliage at present.

Another officer posted in Chhattisgarh said the operation was being monitored by two Inspector General rank officers of the state police and the Central Reserve Police Force from Jagdalpur in Bastar.

"The rescue choppers could not land in the ambush area around 2 PM when they were sent for a casualty evacuation mission as a heavy exchange of firing was taking place. The helicopter landed only around 5 PM to pick up the casualties," another officer said.

Out of the total 22 fatalities, the CRPF has lost eight men out of which seven are CoBRA commandos while one personnel is from the Bastariya battalion.

A CRPF Inspector is still missing, they said. -- PTI

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said a befitting reply will be given to the Naxal attack in Chhatisgarh at an appropriate time.

He also said search operations are continuing in Chhattisgarh following the encounter.

''As far as the numbers are concerned, both sides have suffered losses and exact casualty figures cannot be ascertained immediately'', Shah said, after cutting short his election campaigning in Assam. The home minister is flying back to Delhi to take stock of the situation.

''Our securitymen have lost their lives, we will not tolerate this bloodshed and a befitting reply will be given at an appropriate time'', he added.

Bodies of 17 of the 18 jawans missing after the encounter were recovered on Sunday, taking the death toll to 22, police said separately.

Shah, addressed his first rally of the day at Sorbhog.

Though he arrived at Sualkuchi, in Jalkubari constituency, to campaign for NEDA convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma, he left the area, without making any speeches to take a chopper back to Guwahati en-route to Delhi on learning of the Naxal attack. -- PTI

Countering opposition claims that the Bharatiya Janata Party, if voted to power in Bengal, will update the National Register of Citizens, thereby "taking away the citizenship rights of people", Kailash Vijayvargiya, the

saffron camp's national general secretary, on Sunday reaffirmed that no such plan is on the radar.

He, however, stated that the party intends to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and provide rights to refugees who fled religious persecution in neighbouring countries and moved to India.

"We are only looking forward to implementing the CAA after the elections, as promised in the manifesto. It is an important issue for us, as we strive to grant citizenship to the persecuted refugees. We do not have any plan of conducting the NRC exercise, even if we win the elections," he said.

According to state BJP sources, the new citizenship law will benefit more than 1.5 crore people in India, including over 72 lakh in West Bengal.

Accusing the TMC of "running a disinformation campaign against the saffron camp, the 64-year-old leader wondered why the ruling party in the state is opposing the CAA, which could be of benefit to many.

Bengal has a sizeable population of Matuas, who had been migrating to the state since the 1950s, primarily due to religious persecution.

The community, with its three million members, influences at least four Lok Sabha seats and 30-40 assembly seats in Nadia, North and South-24 Parganas.

The TMC hopes to politically exploit the confusion over CAA implementation to curry favour with the Matua community, which had voted hands down in favour of the saffron camp in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Training his guns on Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her assertion that the "Election Commission was working at the behest of the BJP", Vijayvargiya, who is also the BJP's Bengal minder, said it was an irony that the TMC boss pointed no finger at the poll panel when her party registered two successive electoral victories.

Contending that Banerjee's "foolish claims" will yield no result, he said the TMC, sensing defeat, is levelling absurd allegations against the saffron party.

"Mamata Banerjee never felt that the EC was acting partially when she won the polls. The irony is that when you were winning the elections, everything seems fine. Once you start sensing defeat, you blame the EC and the electronic voting machines," he said.

Exuding confidence that the BJP will sweep the assembly elections, with more than 200 seats in its kitty, Vijayvargiya also downplayed insinuations that the party could be at a disadvantage for not having projected a chief

ministerial face in Bengal, and said "several leaders are capable of taking the reins of the state" and a decision would be taken only after the polls.

"We are fighting the elections under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. We have never projected a CM face in poll-bound states. For us, ideology is important. Once voted to power, the legislative party in consultation with the top leaders will decide on the CM candidate," he said.

In an interview with PTI, the BJP's Bengal minder further claimed that the people of the state are waiting to witness "ashol poriborton" (real change), as they have long endured infiltration woes, corrupt practices and the politics of appeasement.

The call for "poriborton" was first given by the TMC during the 2011 assembly polls, as it sought to end the 34- year Left rule in the state.

Slamming the Mamata Banerjee camp over its "outsider versus insider" debate, the BJP's chief strategist in Bengal said that the ruling party in the state has nothing better to talk about, given its dismal performance in the last 10 years.

The TMC has branded the BJP as a "party of outsiders" as its top leaders hail from other states.

"The TMC wants to make an emotional appeal with its 'Bengal daughter' campaign. But I don't think Bengal would get swayed away by this. This is 2021, and such issues don't have much of an impact. As the party has no achievement in its bag, it clings to this 'outsider-insider' debate," he said.

Noting that people are fed up with the TMC's "syndicate culture, appeasement politics and politicisation and criminalisation of administration", Vijayvargiya said "corruption has percolated to the grass-roots level, and that has angered the people of the state". -- PTI

In a strongly worded rejoinder to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the Election Commission has rejected her claim about the presence of outsiders at a polling booth in Nandigram as "factually incorrect" and

"devoid of substance".

The EC sent the letter to Banerjee on Saturday in response to a complaint filed by her on April 1, when polling was held in Nandigram, alleging irregularities in the polling process.

In its point-by-point rejoinder, the EC said Banerjee's letter regarding booth capturing and the presence of outsiders at a polling booth in Boyal was "preceded by a massive coverage all over the country... which showed dozens of audio-visual shots of your being in this polling station and literally hurling an avalanche of allegations on some officials working with the government of West Bengal itself, paramilitary forces and eventually the Election Commission".

Citing reports received from the ground, including its observers, the poll body said, "It is self-evident from the perusal of all the reports that the allegations mentioned in your hand-written note are factually incorrect, without any empirical evidence whatsoever and devoid of substance."

The commission said it is a matter of deep regret that a "media narrative was sought to be weaved hour after hour to misguide the biggest stakeholders, which is the voters, by a candidate who also happens to be CM of the state".

At least this should have been appreciated that the "side show" was fraught with immense potential to have an adverse impact on law and order across West Bengal and may be in some other states, it said.

"And all this was being done when the election process was/is on. There could not have been a greater misdemeanour," the letter stated.

Banerjee, who is contesting the polls from Nandigram, had visited a polling booth in Boyal when polling was underway on April 1.

According to Chief Electoral Officer Ariz Aftab, wheelchair-bound Banerjee was stuck in the booth for almost two hours as two groups raised slogans against each other.

A large number of CAPF personnel and senior officers reached there and brought out the chief minister after bringing the situation under control.

Later, Banerjee blamed outsiders for creating trouble.

She also accused the EC of not acting on complaints of alleged irregularities in the polling process in Nandigram lodged by her party, Trinamool Congress. -- PTI

Reliance Industries Ltd and its partner BP Plc of UK have sought bids for sale of 5.5 million standard cubic meters per day of additional natural gas that will be available for sale from their eastern offshore KG-D6 block.

The e-auction is slated for April 23 and the gas supply will start from late April or early May, according to the tender document.

Bidders will have to quote a price linked to Platts JKM (Japan Korea marker), the liquefied natural gas (LNG) benchmark price assessment for spot physical cargoes.

The lowest bid that can be placed is JKM minus USD 0.3 per million British thermal unit. The highest acceptable bid would be JKM plus USD 2.01 per mmBtu.

This is the same benchmark the RIL-BP had used in February to sell out 7.5 mmscmd of gas from the block.

At current price, the lowest price for the 5.5 mmscmd of gas that RIL-BP are auctioning comes to near USD 6.5 per mmBtu. But they will be entitled to a maximum of USD 3.62 per mmBtu ceiling fixed by the government for a six-month period to September 30.

The consortium of RIL and BP Exploration (Alpha) Limited (a unit of BP Plc) "is developing deepwater gas fields viz. the R Cluster (D34), MJ (D55) and Satellites & Other Satellites (D2, D22, D29 and D30) in the KG D6 block," the tender document said.

The gas to be produced from the fields has been granted marketing and pricing freedom but this is subject to a ceiling price that the government fixes every six month. The ceiling price for April 1 to September 30, 2021 is USD 3.62 per mmBtu.

Bidders can seek a supply tenure of 3 to 5 years. The minimum volume one could ask for is 0.01 mmscmd and the maximum could be the full volume on offer.

"A Bidder shall be required to quote the variable denoted as 'V' in USD per mmBtu terms pursuant to the Gas Price formula specified below: Gas Price (in US$/MMBtu (GCV)) shall be = JKM + V," it said.

In the February auction, RIL picked up two-thirds of the 7.5 mmscmd gas sold.� Reliance O2C, an affiliate of RIL, picked up 4.8 mmscmd of gas while state gas utility GAIL (India) Ltd won 0.85 mmscmd of supplies and Shell 0.7 mmscmd.

Adani Total Gas got 0.1 mmscmd, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) 0.2 mmscmd and Torrest Gas 0.02 mmscmd.

Other buyers include IRM Energy (0.1 mmscmd), PIL (0.35 mmscmd) and IGS (0.35 mmscmd).

Sources said the gas was bought at a price of USD 0.18 per mmBtu discount to JKM i.e. price of JKM (minus) USD 0.18 with tenures ranging from 3 to 5 years.

Reliance O2C is the new unit that holds the firm's refinery and petrochemical assets.

The April auction would be the third time RIL-BP conducted an e-bidding process which ran on a dynamic forward auction basis for sale of KG-D6 gas.

In November 2019, 5 mmscmd of natural gas was sold at price in the range of around 8.6 per cent of Brent crude oil for tenure ranging from 2 to 6 years. -- PTI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday expressed grief over the killing of security personnel in an encounter with Naxals in Chhattisgarh.

"My condolences to the families of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in combat in Chhattisgarh," he said on Twitter.

Twenty-two jawans were killed the Naxal attack that took place on Saturday.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the news of martyrdom of 22 jawans is devastating. He also paid homage to their martyrdom and condolences to the family.

"Sadly, Prime Minister and Home Minister Amit Shah are too busy electioneering to take on the menace of Naxalism. TV proclamations ain't enough. We need to put a decisive strategy and blueprint," he said in a tweet.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also saluted the martyrdom of the brave soldiers while fighting the Naxalites in Chhattisgarh.

"The entire country is sad and angry at this incident. The country will always remember the martyrdom of our brave soldiers. May God support the families of the martyred soldiers in this hour of grief and good health to the injured," she said in a tweet in Hindi. -- PTI

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has cut short his schedule on the last day of campaigning for the final phase of the Assam assembly elections and returned to the national capital in view of Chhattisgarh's Bijapur Naxal attack, informed Union Minister and BJP's co-incharge for Assam polls, Jitendra Singh on Sunday.

Singh while speaking to ANI, said, "Union Home Minister Amit Shah has cut short his poll campaign in Assam and is returning to Delhi in view of Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh. He is returning after addressing one out of three rallies he was supposed to address."

Shah was scheduled to address three public rallies in Assam today including one each in Sarbhog, Bhabanipur and Jalukbari.

At least 22 security personal have lost their lives in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur Naxal attack on Saturday. -- ANI

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday wondered whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi is "god or a superhuman" to make claims of a Bharatiya Janata Party triumph in the assembly elections, six phases of which still

remain.

At an election rally in Hooghly district, the Trinamool Congress boss, without naming the Indian Secular Front or its founder Abbas Siddiqui, also said the BJP is giving money "to a person" to eat into minority votes.

"What do you (Modi) think of yourself, are you god or superhuman?" Banerjee said, referring to remarks by the PM at public meetings that he will attend the oath-taking ceremony of the BJP government in Bengal and request it to implement the PM Kisan Nidhi scheme as early as possible.

Modi had also mocked the chief minister on Saturday, referring to some TMC leaders' claim that Banerjee might contest elections from his Lok Sabha seat Varanasi in 2024, saying this proves that Didi has accepted defeat.

The TMC supremo alleged that Modi's recent visit to Bangladesh to commemorate its first prime minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's birth centenary year had led to rioting in the neighouring country.

"There is a new person on the block who is trying to divide minority votes in the state and he is getting money from the BJP for this," Banerjee said in a veiled reference to Siddiqui, whose ISF is fighting the elections in alliance with the CPI-M and the Congress.

"He keeps making communal statements but will not go far," she asserted.

Banerjee also claimed that Home Minister Amit Shah was instructing the Election Commission to transfer police officers in the state. -- PTI

Deepa Chatterjee, the wife of legendary Bengali actor Soumitra Chatterjee, died at a Kolkata hospital on Sunday, her family said.

"Maa breathed her last around 2:55 am. She died of kidney failure," her daughter Poulomi Bose said.

Deepa, 83, was admitted to hospital on March 31.

Soumitra Chatterjee, a multiple award-winning actor, died in November last year following a long battle with various ailments after testing positive for COVID-19.

Deepa, a badminton champion who had also acted in films like Durga and Bilombito Loy, married Soumitra in 1960. -- PTI

As India races to contain the second wave of COVID-19, five states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and West Bengal have carried out over 43 per cent of the total vaccinations in the country, according to the health ministry data.

Of the total 7,59,79,651 vaccinations carried out till now, 3,33,10,437 were carried out in these five states.

Out of the 3,33,10,437 jabs administered in these five states - 2,91,54,577 were first doses and 4155860 were second doses, according to the data till 7 am on Sunday.

In Maharashtra, 73,54,244 vaccinations have been carried out which alone accounts for 9.68 per cent of the total vaccinations in the country.

A total of 69,23,008 vaccinations have been carried out in Gujarat which alone accounts for 9.11 per cent of the total vaccinations in the country.

In Uttar Pradesh, 66,43,096 vaccinations have been carried out which alone accounts for 8.74 per cent of the total vaccinations in the country.

A total of 64,31,601 vaccinations have been carried out in Rajasthan which alone accounts for 8.46 per cent of the total vaccinations in the country.

In West Bengal, 59,58,488 vaccinations have been carried out which alone accounts for 7.84 per cent of the total vaccinations in the country.

Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh are also among states that are reporting high numbers of new COVID-19 cases.

Maharashtra on Saturday reported 49,447 fresh COVID-19 cases, the highest rise in a day so far, taking the tally to 29,53,523 while 277 fatalities pushed the toll to 55,656.

Uttar Pradesh on Saturday reported 14 coronavirus deaths as 3,290 fresh cases surfaced, pushing the state's infection count to 6,25,923.

Officials have said that the high number of vaccinations can be attributed to the high number of cases being reported in some of these states. -- PTI

As many as 17 bodies were found from the site of the gunfight that broke out between security forces and Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region on Saturday.

The death toll increased to 22 after an encounter with Naxals in a forest along the border between Bijapur and Sukma districts in Chhattisgarh.

Maharashtra and Punjab are the two worst hit states in terms of their share in the total number of new cases and fatalities across the country in the last fortnight, according to official documents.

The two states also top the charts among states or Union Territories that have crossed their ever-reported peaks for new cases and are followed by Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat in the top-five, shows a presentation made by the Union Health Ministry during the last review meeting held by the Cabinet Secretary with all states and union territories.

The growth rate of last seven days for daily new cases till March 23 in Maharashtra was 3.6 per cent and in Punjab it was 3.2 per cent.

Maharashtra has added 4,26,108 cases in last two weeks as on March 31, while Punjab has added 35,754 cases in the same period.

Of all deaths which happened during the two weeks period ending March 31, Maharashtra and Punjab together reported around 60 per cent of India's fatalities.

According to the health ministry, 11 states -- Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Chandigarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Haryana -- have been categorised as "states of grave concern" on account of their high and rising daily case and higher daily deaths

They have contributed 90 per cent of COVID cases, 90.5 per cent of deaths in 14 days till March 31, and have crossed or close to crossing their early reported peaks last year, it said.

After detailed and comprehensive review of measures taken by states and UTs, the Cabinet Secretary on April 2 reiterated the necessity of meticulous and hard work regarding stringent enforcement of containment and surveillance measures, in conjunction with ramping up vaccination and strict enforcement of COVID appropriate behaviour.

The states were specifically asked to increase testing continuously to ensure that positivity comes down to 5 per cent or less than that, focus on ensuring RT-PCR tests comprise 70 per cent of total tests, reduce waiting time of test results with regular review with testing labs, use Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) as screening test in densely populated areas and where fresh clusters are emerging and ensure that all symptomatic RAT negatives are mandatorily subjected to RT-PCR tests.

They were also asked to ensure effective and prompt isolation of those infected in institutional facilities (COVID Care Centres) and that patients isolated at home are to be monitored daily.

Isolated infected persons should be transferred immediately to health facilities, if required.

They were asked to ensure that 25 to 30 such close contacts are traced for each infected person.

"Tracing of close contacts and their isolation to be done in 72 hours. Subsequent testing and follow up of all close contacts to be carried out. Setting up of Containment Zones/ Micro Containment Zones to break the chain of transmission" was also stressed.

States were also asked to examine Case Fatality Rate hospital-wise, devise appropriate strategy and mitigate concerns regarding late admission in hospitals and non-adherence to National Clinical Management Protocol. -- PTI

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha visited the SKIMS hospital here on Sunday to enquire about the health of National Conference (NC) president and MP Farooq Abdullah, who is undergoing treatment for COVID-19.

Sinha, who met Abdullah's son and NC vice president Omar Abdullah at the hospital, instructed the doctors at the SKIMS to provide best treatment to the MP from Srinagar.

"In Srinagar, I met Omar Abdullah at SKIMS Hospital, Soura. Enquired about Farooq Sahab's health and instructed the doctors to provide best treatment. I pray for his long and healthy life," the LG's office tweeted.

The LG also offered to shift the senior Abdullah to another facility or hospital for better monitoring and care.

"I have also offered to shift Farooq Sahab, who is admitted at SKIMS, to another facility or hospital for better monitoring and care," the LG's office said.

Omar Abdullah expressed gratitude to Sinha for visiting the hospital and offering to shift his father, and said the NC president is getting the best possible care at the SKIMS.

"Thank you for your visit to enquire after my father @manojsinha_ ji. We are grateful for the offer to shift my father, the doctors & other medical staff at SKIMS Srinagar are amongst the best anywhere & my father is getting the best possible care," he wrote on Twitter.

The 85-year-old NC president tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday. He was kept in home isolation initially, but doctors on Saturday decided to shift him to a hospital for better medical care.

"Based on the advice of doctors to enable them to better monitor my father, he has been admitted to hospital in Srinagar. Our family remains grateful to everyone for their messages of support & their prayers," Omar Abdullah tweeted on Saturday. -- PTI

12:20 Vice Prez Naidu receives COVID-19 booster shot

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu was administered the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine at the AIIMS here on Sunday.

He had received the first shot in Chennai on March 1.

"I appeal to all the eligible people to get themselves vaccinated immediately & everyone to continue to follow all precautions in view of the surge in cases in some parts of the country," the Vice President's Secretariat tweeted, quoting Naidu. -- PTI

Punjab's home department has asked the Uttar Pradesh government to take custody of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari from Rupnagar jail by April 8.

Ansari, who is wanted in various cases in Uttar Pradesh, has been lodged in Rupnagar district jail in connection with an alleged extortion case since January 2019.

In a letter to the Uttar Pradesh Additional Chief Secretary (Home), the home department of Punjab asked for suitable arrangements to be made for the transfer of undertrial prisoner Ansari.

"The said handover is to be made at district jail Rupnagar on/before April 8," the letter stated.

Ansari suffers from certain medical conditions and the same may be kept in mind while making arrangements for his transport from Rupnagar jail to Banda jail in UP, it said.

The Punjab home department referred to the March 26 Supreme Court order that had directed the state government to transfer the MLA from Mau to Uttar Pradesh's Banda jail in two weeks.

Delivering the order, the apex court had also noted that Ansari was allegedly involved in various cases of attempt to murder, murder, cheating and conspiracy apart from offences under the Gangsters Act, lodged in Uttar Pradesh and 10 of these cases are at different stages of trial. -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is holding a high-level meeting to review the COVID-19 situation and vaccination taking place in the country, news agency ANI reported citing sources.

All senior officers including Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary to PM, Health Secretary, Dr Vinod Paul are participating in the meeting.

11:12

Crorepati candidates in Assam elections Phase 3.

11:12

Crorepati candidates in West Bengal elections Phase 3.

11:11

Candidates with criminal records in Phase 3 of West Bengal polls.

10:57 Khattar skips memorial service fearing protests

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday wrote a letter to residents of Anwali village expressing his inability to attend the memorial service of former Independent MLA from Gohana Assembly Kitab Singh Malik, anticipating protest from people with 'vested political interest'.

Malik (84), the two-time MLA from Gohana died on Monday night.

His last rites were performed at his ancestral village Anwali, where his memorial service has also been organised.

Khattar in his letter termed Malik a good politician and condoled his demise.

The chief minister said he wanted to attend the memorial service of the leader but anticipating 'confrontation' at the occasion by people with 'vested political interest' he would not be able to do so.

'It was my wish to visit his (Malik's) native village, Anwali to pay my last tributes, but some parties have adopted the culture of protest in the name of movement from last few days to forward their own vested political interest. In this view, I don't want the memorial meeting of Kitab Singh Malik to get marred by political controversy,' he wrote.

'What is being done in the name of the movement is decidedly for the sake of social unity. It is a dangerous sign,' the chief minister added.

Khattar tweeted the letter and said, 'Humble tribute to the late Kitab Singh Malik ji, beloved of the people who raised the voice of the poor and the lower classes for a lifetime.' -- ANI

India reports 93,249 new COVID-19 cases, 60,048 discharges, and 513 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per the Union health ministry.

Total cases: 1,24,85,509

Total recoveries: 1,16,29,289

Active cases: 6,91,597

Death toll: 1,64,623

Total vaccination: 7,59,79,651 -- ANI

09:32 Akshay Kumar tests positive for COVID-19

Actor Akshay Kumar says he has tested positive for COVID-19.

"I'm under home quarantine and have sought necessary medical care," he says.

More details awaited. -- ANI

The Election Commission has directed the transfer of Superintendent of Police Alipurduar Amitabha Maiti, Deputy Commissioner of Police Chandannagar, Hoogly Tathagata Basu and Deputy SP Industrial Diamond Harbour police District Mithun De with immediate effect.

The Commission in its direction addressed to the Chief Secretary West Bengal stated that Mithun De shall be kept 'Awaiting Posting Orders' while other Officer being transferred out shall not be given any election related posting.

Polling for the first two phases of the West Bengal polls was held on March 27 and April 1 respectively.

The next phase of polling will take place on April 6.

The counting of votes will take place on May 2. -- ANI

Photograph: Uma Shankar Mishra/ANI Photo

08:36 15 jawans missing after Bijapur Naxal encounter

Around 15 security personnel are missing following the encounter with Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Saturday.

"A reinforcement party has rushed to the encounter spot. Bodies of two jawans have been recovered as of now," Chhattisgarh Police sources said.

"23 injured have been admitted to Bijapur hospital and 7 have been admitted to a Raipur hospital," they added.

Five security personnel were killed and about 10 were injured in the encounter with Naxals in jungles near Tarrem in Bijapur district.

"In an encounter in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh, initial reports indicate that three District Reserve Guard (DRG) and two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans have been martyred, one Naxal has also been killed, the encounter is on," the Central Reserve Police Force had said.

On Saturday, Chhattisgarh Director-General of Police DM Awasthi had informed that the gunbattle broke out when a joint team of security forces was out on an anti-Naxal operation.

For the last 10 days, security forces in Chhattisgarh were getting information about the whereabouts of Madvi Hidma, a top Naxal of banned CPI (Maoist) who has been linked to major attacks including the 2013 Jhiram Ghati killings.

Over 30 people including senior leaders of the Chhattisgarh Congress were killed in the Jhiram Ghati Naxal attack in 2013. -- ANI

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