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Tue, 23 March 2021
After son Aaditya, Maha CM's wife tests Covid +ve
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23:13 After son Aaditya, Maha CM's wife tests Covid +ve
After Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray, his mother and chief minister Uddhav Thackeray's wife Rashmi Thackeray too has tested positive for COVID-19, officials said on Tuesday.
The chief minister and his wife had taken a first dose of the vaccine against coronavirus at the government-run J J Hospital in Mumbai on March 11.
"Her COVID-19 test came out positive on Monday night. She has been quarantined at `Varsha', the official residence of the chief minister," said an official.
Aaditya Thackeray, state tourism minister, had disclosed two days ago that he had tested positive for the viral infection.
On Sunday, the state had reported 30,535 COVID-19 cases, the highest rise in a single day so far. -- PTI
22:57 Modi writes to Imran; greets people on Pak Day
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written a letter to his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan extending greetings to people of the country on the occasion of Pakistan Day, people familiar with the development said.
They said it is a routine letter sent every year.
Pakistan celebrates March 23 as Pakistan Day. -- PTI
22:55 Vaccine for all: Registration from April 1
The Centre has written to states and Union Territories to immediately undertake necessary measures to include people aged 45 and above in the COVID-19 vaccination drive and stated that registration on the Co-WiN portal for the same would begin from April 1.
In a letter to chief administrators of all states and Union Territories, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) has been guiding all aspects of the vaccination drive on the basis of available scientific evidence.
"From April 1, there will now be no need for a comorbidity certificate for people aged 45 years to 59 years," he said.
The Union Health secretary said the Co-WIN software is also being suitably modified for doing away with the need for confirmation of comorbidities at the time of online registration and on-site registration or for uploading the comorbidity certificate at the time of vaccination.
The registration on Co-WIN would begin from April 1, Bhushan said, adding the cut-off date is January 1, 1977.
"You are requested to kindly direct the officials concerned to immediately undertake necessary measures for expansion of COVID-19 vaccination drive to include beneficiaries aged 45 and above.
The ministry, in a series of key messages to states, said the time interval between two doses of Covishield vaccine has been extended from the present four to six weeks to four to eight weeks.
Within this extended time interval of four to eight weeks, protection would be greater if vaccine is taken between six to eight weeks, but not beyond the eighth week.
Even if a person is automatically scheduled for the second dose, one is free to choose a day and date according to convenience between the extended period of four to eight weeks, the health ministry said.
It also stressed that there was no shortage of vaccines in the country and that people should not panic unnecessarily.
The government has a well-oiled system that regularly monitors total vaccine allocation, total consumption and balance of vaccine, and need for replenishment, it stated.
"Upon vaccination, you must insist on receiving a hard copy or a digital copy your vaccination certificate. In private hospitals, this has been included in the fees charged from you. You may use your observation period of 30 minutes to ensure that you get the certificate. Do not return home without it!
"If the hospital does not provide a certificate, the beneficiary may lodge a complaint at toll-free number 1075," the ministry said.
The COVID-19 vaccination drive is going on in the country for healthcare workers, frontline workers, senior citizens and those aged 45 to 59 years with specified 20 comorbidities.
Till March 23, as many as 4.85 crore doses of vaccine have been administered to the prioritised groups.
On Tuesday, the government announced that from April 1, all people above 45 years of age will be eligible to get COVID-19 vaccines.
Union minster Prakash Javadekar said now even people without comorbidities who are more that 45 years of age can get inoculated.
In a letter to chief administrators of all states and Union Territories, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) has been guiding all aspects of the vaccination drive on the basis of available scientific evidence.
"From April 1, there will now be no need for a comorbidity certificate for people aged 45 years to 59 years," he said.
The Union Health secretary said the Co-WIN software is also being suitably modified for doing away with the need for confirmation of comorbidities at the time of online registration and on-site registration or for uploading the comorbidity certificate at the time of vaccination.
The registration on Co-WIN would begin from April 1, Bhushan said, adding the cut-off date is January 1, 1977.
"You are requested to kindly direct the officials concerned to immediately undertake necessary measures for expansion of COVID-19 vaccination drive to include beneficiaries aged 45 and above.
"Special focus should be given on optimal utilisation of the capacity of COVID-19 vaccination centres while minimising the wastage of vaccines," Bhushan said in the letter, adding,
"The registration on Co-Win would begin from April 1, 2021."
The ministry, in a series of key messages to states, said the time interval between two doses of Covishield vaccine has been extended from the present four to six weeks to four to eight weeks.
Within this extended time interval of four to eight weeks, protection would be greater if vaccine is taken between six to eight weeks, but not beyond the eighth week.
Even if a person is automatically scheduled for the second dose, one is free to choose a day and date according to convenience between the extended period of four to eight weeks, the health ministry said.
It also stressed that there was no shortage of vaccines in the country and that people should not panic unnecessarily.
The government has a well-oiled system that regularly monitors total vaccine allocation, total consumption and balance of vaccine, and need for replenishment, it stated.
"Upon vaccination, you must insist on receiving a hard copy or a digital copy your vaccination certificate. In private hospitals, this has been included in the fees charged from you. You may use your observation period of 30 minutes to ensure that you get the certificate. Do not return home without it!
"If the hospital does not provide a certificate, the beneficiary may lodge a complaint at toll-free number 1075," the ministry said.
If a beneficiary has taken online appointment for vaccination on CoWIN, then there is no need to take any further appointment at private or public hospitals.
If any hospital does not follow these guidelines of vaccination, then one must lodge a complaint at toll-free number 1075, it said. -- PTI
22:00 Delhi, Mumbai ban public celebrations on Holi
Amid a rise in coronavirus cases, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority on Tuesday ordered that there will be no public celebrations in the national capital during upcoming festivals such Holi and Navaratri.
In Mumbai too, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) denied permissions for a community celebration of Holi this year.
Delhi Chief Secretary Vijay Dev directed authorities to ensure strict compliance of the order.
'All authorities concerned will ensure that public celebrations and gatherings, congregations during upcoming festivals like Holi, Shab-e-Barat, Navaratri etc shall not be allowed in public places/public grounds/public parks/markets/religious places etc in NCT of Delhi,' Dev said in the order.
'Following a surge in COVID-19 cases, the BMC has decided to deny permission for a community celebration of the Holi. Thus, celebrations for Holi and Rangpanchmi will be restricted,' informed a notice by BMC in Marathi.
The festival of Holi will be celebrated on March 28-29 this year.
Delhi reported 1,101 COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, the highest in over three months, while four people succumbed to the disease, the health department said.
It is for the first time since December 24 that the city has recorded more than 1,000 cases in a day.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra reported 28,699 new COVID-19 cases, 13,165 recoveries, and 132 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per the State Health Department today.
With this, the total cases have mounted to 25,33,026 including 22,47,495 total recoveries and 2,30,641 active cases. The death toll has surged to 53,589 including the new deaths. -- PTI/ANI
21:02 India sent out 5.95cr vaccine doses till Mar 17
Over 7.47 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses have been supplied to states and Union Territories so far, while 595.91 lakh have been sent to other countries till March 17, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Tuesday.
External supplies of Made in India COVID-19 vaccines started from January 20.
Supplies have been undertaken in form of grants-in-aid, commercial sales by manufacturers and through vaccine alliance GAVI's COVAX facility, Minister of State for Health Ashwini Choubey said in a written reply.
The GAVI's COVAX facility has more than 190 member nations, including India.
A sub-group of the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 was constituted to consider all matters related to export of COVID-19 vaccines and take necessary decisions keeping mind domestic production and ensuring adequate availability for the national vaccine programme.
This sub-group closely monitors the supplies, Choubey said in response to a question on the extent to which it would be viable to export vaccines to other countries, where India itself needs a huge number of doses for inoculating its own people.
On the policy of preference in case the government decides to export vaccines to other countries, the Union minister said once an epidemic takes the form of a pandemic, its management has to be done keeping the entire globe as a unit and in most circumstances it is not possible to take either states-specific or country-specific approach.
"Hence, export of COVID-19 vaccine which facilitates global action to vaccination is important to simultaneously protect the high-risk population in all the countries of the world, thereby breaking the chain of transmission and minimizing chances of import of COVID-19 cases from foreign countries as well as neighbouring countries to India," Choubey said.
Low and middle-income countries as well as nations with limited access to pharmaceutical technologies are at debilitating disadvantages in dealing with the pandemic.
"To this end, the Government of India has allowed only limited export of vaccines while according highest priority to domestic needs," the minister said. -- PTI
20:20 Maharashtra's Maratha quota valid: Centre to SC
Maharashtra has the legislative competence for granting reservation quota to Marathas and its decision is constitutional as the 102nd amendment does not denude a state of the power to declare its list of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC), the Centre told the Supreme Court on Tuesday.
The 102nd Constitution amendment Act of 2018 inserted Articles 338B, which deals with the structure, duties and powers of the National Commission for Backward Class (NCBC), and 342A dealing with power of the President to notify a particular caste as SEBC as also of Parliament to change the list.
A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan was told by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, that in its view the SEBC Act, 2018, of Maharashtra granting reservation to people of the Maratha community in the state in jobs and admissions is constitutional.
"The Centre is of the view that the Maharashtra SEBC Act is constitutional. We construe Article 342A gives enabling role to Central government to determine the SEBC," Mehta said, adding that the Centre adopts the submissions of Attorney General K K Venugopal and it should be considered as the view of the Union government.
On March 18, the AG had told the top court that the 102nd amendment to the Constitution does not deprive state legislatures to enact laws determining the SEBC and conferring benefits on them.
Mehta said that the Article 342A inserted by the amendment is an enabling provision and does not denudes the states of power to declare SEBC.
The bench however asked Mehta as to why no notification of SEBCs has been issued till date by the Centre under Article 342A as the President in consultation with the governor has to issue the list.
"Will you not make it a dead letter by not issuing the notification for all times to come? Doesn't it means that there is a blank slate as of now?" the bench asked Mehta, to which he replied that the existing list of SEBC continues.
In that case, the existing list of SEBC has to be a part of the Constitution Amendment Act itself, the bench said, adding that it is not clear as of now as to what will be the correct interpretation of Article 342A, and what will be the effect of not having a list.
Mehta said that all these questions will be answered when the top court will consider the petition challenging the validity of 102nd Constitution Amendment.
The bench said it will hear the submission of Mehta again on this aspect when those petitions are considered.
19:47 Scheduled intl flight ban extended till Apr 30
The coronavirus-induced suspension of scheduled international passenger flights has been extended till April 30, Indian aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said on Tuesday.
"However, international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on a case-to-case basis," the DGCA added.
Scheduled international passenger services have been suspended in India since March 23, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
But special international flights have been operating under the Vande Bharat Mission since May and under bilateral 'air bubble' arrangements with selected countries since July.
India has formed air bubble pacts with 27 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Kenya, Bhutan and France.
Under an air bubble pact between two countries, special international flights can be operated by their airlines between their territories.
The DGCA circular also said that the suspension does not affect the operation of international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by it. -- PTI
19:10 BJP will win more than 200 seats in Bengal: Shah
Home Minister Amit Shah said Tuesday the Congress' tie-up with the All India United Democratic Front will be a factor in the Bharatiya Janata Party-led alliance's win in the Assam assembly polls as voters will back the saffron party decisively because its main rival cannot stop the influx of illegal immigrants by joining hands with Badruddin Ajmal, accused by the ruling bloc of protecting infiltrators.
In an interview to PTI, the senior BJP leader also predicted a thumping win for his party in West Bengal, asserting that people there are yearning for a change from the Trinamool Congress' "misrule" and will embrace Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for the state's development.
"We will win more than 200 seats in Bengal and improve our tally in Assam," he said.
Asked about the ground for his confidence about the BJP's big victory in the elections to 294-member West Bengal assembly, Shah said the party has only strengthened its position since the 2019 Lok Sabha polls while the TMC's support base has eroded with a large number of its leaders quitting the organisation. Most of them have joined the BJP.
"We won 18 Lok Sabha seats out of the total 42 in 2019 and lost three by small margins. That too when people had doubts about our victory. Now they have confidence that we can win. People are yearning for a change and are with us," he said.
Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee may not want to see Modi and it is her choice, but people of West Bengal have been displaying their affection for him by coming out in huge numbers to see him, he said, referring to large turnouts in the prime minister's rallies.
Asked about Banerjee's charge of religious polarisation against the BJP, Shah said if raising the issues of people amounts to religious polarisation then this is a "new definition" he has heard.
When her government obstructed Durga Puja and Saraswati Puja processions, was it not polarisation, he asked.
"We are making a positive statement that everyone should observe their festivals. We have no objection if someone is observing Ramzan or Christmas. But you cannot impose restrictions on Durga Puja and Saraswati Puja," he said.
Asked about some incidents of the show of disaffection by party workers over the choice of candidates, he said the BJP will win them over and asserted that this will have no impact on its poll prospects.
The BJP is a disciplined and cadre-based party, he said, asserting that people are behind the party.
The saffron party has been running a high-pitched campaign in the state, seeking to end Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's 10-year-old rule, charging her with running a dispensation tainted with corruption and crime.
On the Assam polls, Shah said its alliance with AIUDF president Ajmal will be a reason for the Congress' downfall.
18:46 NIA offered me bail if I joined RSS, BJP: Akhil Gogoi
Anti-Citizenship Amendment Act activist Akhil Gogoi in a letter from jail on Tuesday alleged physical and mental torture in custody and claimed that he was offered instant bail by NIA interrogators if he joined either the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or the Bharatiya Janata Party.
The letter released by Gogoi's newly floated political outfit Raijor Dal said that the peasant leader was taken to Delhi on December 18, 2019 without the Court's permission.
"At the NIA headquarter, I was lodged in lockup no 1 and was given only one dirty blanket. I slept on the floor in 3-4 degree celsius of temperature," he claimed.
During interrogation, the NIA officials offered him instant bail if he joined the RSS, the letter claimed.
"When I was arguing against the insulting offer, they came out with another proposal of joining the BJP. They said I could contest the assembly against a vacant seat and become a minister," Gogoi claimed.
The RTI activist also alleged that he was offered Rs 20 crore to start an NGO by leaving the peasant body Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti and work against conversion of Assamese people into Christianity.
"When I did not accept any of their proposals, they offered me a meeting with the chief minister and an influential minister of Assam. I turned down that too," Gogoi said.
He alleged that when he accepted none of the NIA offers of the NIA, he was called a "disobedient citizen" as charged in extreme cases.
"I was threatened with dire consequences if I don't accept their proposals. Death threats also came. I was threatened with at least 10 years of imprisonment. With so much physical and mental torture, I became restless on the night of December 20," Ggogi wrote.
He was admitted to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital for treating COVID-19 and remains there for other ailments.
The NIA had arrested him in December:
2019 for his alleged role in violent anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests. -- PTI
18:22 India's count of mutant Covid strains reach 795
The total number of cases with the United Kingdom, South Africa and Brazil variants of SARS-CoV-2 in the country has reached 795, the Union Health Ministry said on Tuesday as India is witnessing a surge in COVID-19 cases.
From 400 cases reported on March 18, the infections by mutant strains have increased to 795 in the country.
Minister of State for Health Ashwini Choubey told Rajya Sabha on March 16 that no case of reinfection by mutant variants of SARS-CoV-2 virus has been reported from India so far.
According to the World Health Organisation, in the three countries where the pandemic is being driven by the variant mutants of SARS-CoV-2 virus, namely the UK, South Africa and Brazil, the South African and Brazilian variants have the potential to reinfect persons who have been previously infected with SARS-CoV-2, he said in a written reply.
A genomic consortium of 10 regional laboratories with the National Center for Disease Control as the apex laboratory was established in December-end for laboratory and epidemiological surveillance of circulating strains of SARS-CoV-2 in the country.
The UK variant of SARS-CoV-2 was first reported in India on December 29.
A total of 40,715 coronavirus infections were reported in a day, taking the nationwide COVID-19 tally to 1,16,86,796, while the number of active cases registered an increased for the 13th day in a row and was recorded at 3,45,377, according to Union health ministry data updated on Tuesday.
In Punjab, 81 per cent of the 401 samples sent by the government for genome sequencing have tested positive for the UK variant of COVID-19, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said, asking the Centre to widen the vaccination net to cover those younger than 60. -- PTI
17:52 AAP MLA Somnath Bharti sentenced to 2 years' jail
A Sessions court upholds the conviction and sentencing order passed by a magistrate, of two years imprisonment to AAP MLA Somnath Bharti in connection with an assault case of AIIMS security guards, while dismissed his appeal partly. Immediately after the passing of the judgement, Somnath Bharti has been taken in Judicial Custody.
A Delhi court on Saturday closed a criminal defamation case against Bharti filed by a woman journalist in 2018 after she accepted his apology before the judge.
17:41 Fadnavis at MHA
BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis arrives at MHA. He had sought time from Union Home Secretary to meet him and hand him over 6.3 GB of data of call recordings and some documents pertaining to alleged transfer posting racket of IPS and non-IPS officers of Maharashtra Police.
17:30 Covid-19: MHA tells states to test-track-treat
The Centre has asked states to strictly enforce test-track-treat protocol to check spread of COVID-19 in view of spike in cases. States are allowed to impose local restrictions based on assessment of situation with a view to contain spread of COVID-19.
Centre asks states to rapidly step up pace of COVID-19 vaccination to cover all priority groups expeditiously.
States where proportion of RT-PCR tests is less should rapidly increase it, Home Ministry says in view of spike in COVID-19 cases.
17:12 Those mocking chaiwala now plucking tea: Rajnath
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday hit out at the Congress, saying that people who had mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi by calling him 'chaiwala' are plucking tea leaves now.
Speaking at a rally in Lumding of Hojai district, Singh said, "Earlier our PM was mocked by being called a 'chaiwala'. Today, the same people are selling and plucking tea leaves."
"The real 'chaiwala' has brought them to tea gardens. But be careful, real and certified 'chaiwala' is with us," he added.
Recently, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra made a visit to the poll-bound state and spent time with tea estate workers at a tea garden in Biswanath district. Dressed in a saree and balancing a basket on her back, the 49-year-old Congress leader was also seen plucking tea leaves.
Congress leader and former party president Rahul Gandhi, also in his recent visit to Assam, promised that his party would provide a daily wage of Rs 365 for tea workers. It is the same amount Bharatiya Janata Party promised to tea workers previously but failed, he claimed.Assam assembly elections will be held in three phases.
16:47 Amit Shah in Medinipur
Union Home Minister Amit Shah holds roadshow in Medinipur, West Bengal ahead of upcoming Assembly Elections.
16:45 Khela happening in Maharashtra too: Prasad
Union Minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad, holds forth on the politics and intrigue in Maharashtra. "A 'khela' is happening in Maharashtra too. I just saw the Maharashtra ATS press conference, where only a statement was was made and no questions were taken...What's happening in Maharashtra is not 'vikas' it is 'vasooli'.
"Who is running the show of Maharashtra? Is it the most confused govt in the history of Maharashtra? What is the political direction of this 'vasooli' Aghadi?
"Sharad Pawar enjoys political credibility but under what compulsion is he defending Anil Deshmukh.
"The only way by which Sharad Pawar Ji's credibility can be restored is by making Anil Deshmukh resign."
Ultratech Cement was the top gainer
16:08 Sensex ends 280 pts higher, Nifty still below 15k
Equity benchmark Sensex jumped 280 points on Tuesday following gains in index majors HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Reliance Industries despite a weak trend in global markets.
The 30-share BSE index ended 280.15 points or 0.56 per cent higher at 50,051.44. The broader NSE Nifty advanced 78.35 points or 0.53 per cent to 14,814.75.
UltraTech Cement was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, rising around 3 per cent, followed by IndusInd Bank, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Titan, Axis Bank, SBI and Maruti. On the other hand, ONGC, PowerGrid, ITC, NTPC, M&M and HDFC were among the laggards.
15:53 795 Covid variant cases in India
The total number of cases with UK, South Africa and Brazil variants of the COVID virus in the country as on date is 795: Ministry of Health.
From April 1, all people above 45 years of age are entitled to get COVID-19 vaccine, Union Minster Prakash Javadekar said on Tuesday.
Briefing reporters on the decisions taken by the Union Cabinet, he said even people without co-morbidity and above the age of 45 years, can get vaccinated.
He requested people entitled to get themselves registered to take the Covid-19 shot.
The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 with healthcare workers getting inoculated and vaccination of the frontline workers started from February 2.
The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination commenced on March 1 for those who are over 60 years of age and for people aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions.
15:42 Don't trust BJP, shows false dreams: Mamata
Hitting out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the West Bengal assembly polls, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday urged people not to trust the BJP alleging it shows "false dreams" and makes "false promises".
Addressing a public meeting at Kashipur, Banerjee said, "They give a big one-page advertisement. We will do this, we will do that. What false dreams you are showing! Have you paid Rs 15 lakh in everyone's account? Do not trust the BJP. They only make false promises. They are a party of traitors and Mir Zafars. They are a party of monsters and bandits. They are not a party of poor people."
Mentioning the welfare schemes for tribals, she said, "In Jharkhand, the BJP government took away land rights from tribals. But our government has restored the land rights of tribals. They broke the idol of Bir Kanhu. They also broke the idol of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar."
The chief minister asserted that her government has reduced unemployment by 50 per cent and will reduce it further by another 50 per cent.
On the water issue, the chief minister said, "The JICA water project is delayed. According to the agreement of the West Bengal Government and Japan, it was to be completed in two years. But there has been a delay from Japan. And, if the JICA water project is completed within a year, then 8 lakh people in five blocks and Purulia municipality area will get water connection by March 2022."
15:22 Covid vaccination for all 45 yrs+ from April 1
The Union Cabinet has given the nod for Covid-19 vaccination for those above 45 without comorbidities from April 1. "It has been decided that from 1st April, the vaccine will open for everybody above 45 years of age. We request that all eligible should immediately register and get vaccinated," Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said.
"As per the advice by scientists and world scientist bodies, 2nd dose can be administered between 4th & 8th week, particularly for Covishield. We appeal that all above 45 years should take the vaccine as early as possible."
So far in India, Covid-19 vaccines could be administered only to those above 60 years of age and those with comorbidities above 45 years.
14:58 130 people still missing in Uttarakhand glacial burst: Govt
As many as 130 people continue to be missing following the February 7 glacial burst in Uttarakhand, which claimed 74 lives, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.
Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has constituted a joint study team of experts from different institutes and organisations of central and state governments to understand the causes of the flash floods in river Rishiganga and Dhauliganga, and to suggest mitigation and preparedness measures to prevent such events.
He said the government of Uttarakhand has also constituted a committee to review the glacial natural lakes and their effects.
"As per information received from the state government of Uttarakhand, 74 bodies have been recovered so far and 130 persons are still reported missing. The state government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the incident," Rai said in a written reply. PTI
14:48 India emerged stronger despite pandemic: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi told BJP MPs on Tuesday that despite facing odds such as tension at borders, cyclones and earthquakes during the coronavirus pandemic, India emerged stronger and the entire world realised its potential, said Union minister Arjun Ram Meghwal.
Addressing the BJP parliamentary party meeting, Modi said he relished all these challenges during the pandemic and the country also overcame them. "Sharing his experiences of the pandemic, Modi told MPs that during the period, the country was not only facing the challenge of the virus, but on others fronts as well. There were tensions on the LAC, cyclones, earthquakes and then there was locust swarm attack but despite all these odds, India emerged stronger and the entire world realised its potential," he said.
Meghwal said the prime minister also mentioned that he has been holding public office for more than two decades, first as the chief minister of a state and now as the prime minister, and he has never taken a day off.
Besides Modi, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also addressed the BJP parliamentary party meeting. Jaishankar asserted that India's stature rose in the world during the pandemic because of its medical diplomacy of providing antibiotics and testing kits to other nations earlier and for its vaccine diplomacy later, Meghwal said.
The external affairs minister also shared details of the Centre's Vande Bharat mission of bringing back stranded Indians from abroad, Meghwal said. Giving a presentation on the Union Budget to the party MPs, Sitharman emphasised that despite the economic impact of coronavirus pandemic the government did not impose any additional tax on the public and came with a comprehensive budget for all, Meghwal said. -- PTI
14:24 Owaisi takes COVID-19 jab, urges people to get vaccinated
After having taken the COVID-19 vaccine, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen Chief and MP Asaduddin Owaisi has appealed to people to come forward and take the vaccine shots.
He further appealed people to not to believe any sort of rumours regarding the vaccination. Owaisi said, "I and my wife took the Covishield vaccine today. The number of corona cases is again increasing. I appeal to the people to take the utmost care and to come forward to take the vaccine shots."
India reported 40,715 new COVID-19 cases, 29,785 recoveries, and 199 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per the Union Health Ministry on Tuesday.
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, as many as 9,67,459 samples were tested on March 22.
A total of 23,54,13,233 samples had been tested up to March 22, ICMR said on Tuesday.
-- ANI
14:12 The scary truth about long-term effects of Covid
Some long-haul COVID-19 patients experience stroke, chest pain, and blood clot-related complications weeks after recovery, according to a review of studies by an interdisciplinary team of more than 30 experts.
The research, published in the journal Nature Medicine, summarised what experts from a wide range of fields, including neurology, cardiology, and nephrology have seen in their own long-haul COVID-19 patients, and also in existing literature.
According to the review authors, including those from Columbia University in the US, chest pain has been reported in up to 20 per cent of COVID-19 survivors two months after recovery from the infection. They said COVID-19 can also unveil previously undetected cases of diabetes, with a fraction of patients also experiencing strokes, blood clots in the lungs, and other complications.
While most people who experience long-term symptoms may have had health issues before contracting the virus, the researchers said these issues can happen to any patient who had COVID-19.
"For example, we've seen young patients without prior medical illness who developed autonomic dysfunction and fast heart rates after COVID-19. It's not just the most vulnerable who have issues after COVID," said Elaine Y. Wan from Columbia University.
According to Wan, patients have reported some of these symptoms even weeks and months after testing positive for the infection, with sudden onset of heart racing, palpitations, and chronic fatigue.
"Arrhythmias can lead to stroke, heart failure, and long-lasting damage to the heart, and that's something that patients may not be aware of," the electrophysiology expert said.
"There really is a post-COVID syndrome and it doesn't always correlate with the severity of the acute COVID infection itself," added Ani Nalbandian, another co-author of the study from Columbia University. The review noted that some patients also complain weeks later of new chest discomfort or difficulty with decision making, memory, and concentration.
"When we think of COVID-19, we think of mostly a respiratory illness. But even after they've recovered from their respiratory illness, they may still have other clinical symptoms due to issues with other organ systems," Wan said. Based on the analysis, the scientists believe care for patients with COVID-19 should not conclude at the time of hospital discharge.
"All of us recognized that there needs to be interdisciplinary care to treat patients longitudinally," Wan added. The researchers believe the need of the hour is for health care systems around the world to establish dedicated COVID-19 clinics. "Clinics could prioritize follow-up care for those at high risk for post-acute COVID-19 and those with the highest burden of persistent symptoms," Nalbandian said.
Punjab CM Amarinder Singh gets vaccinated
14:02 Amarinder asks Centre's nod for vaccinating youth
Punjab CM Amarinder Singh has asked the centre to start vaccinating younger people as 81% new Covid samples in the state turn out to be the UK variant. The Serum Institute of India's Covishield vaccine has proven to be effective against variants. Bharat Biotech has also claimed its vaccine, Covaxin, is effective against all variants. Six states accounted for 80.4 per cent of the daily deaths, with Maharashtra and Punjab each reporting 58 casualties. Kerala and Chhattisgarh followed with 12 deaths each.
Expressing concern over the COVID-19 situation, the chief minister urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to widen the vaccination ambit to cover those younger than 60 as the mutant has been found to be infecting young people more, an official statement quoting him said.
Amarinder Singh also appealed to people to get themselves vaccinated and stressed the need for the Central government to urgently open up vaccination for a larger section of the population. The process needs to be expedited," he said, pointing to the fact that experts had found the existing Covishield vaccine to be equally effective against the UK variant - B.1.1.7. It was essential to vaccinate more and more people to break the chain of transmission, he said.
India has barely managed to vaccinate 4.8 crore doses so far through 7,84,612 sessions, as per the provisional report till Tuesday 7 am. The first dose administration crossed 4 crore mark on Tuesday.
As on day 66 of the vaccination drive (March 22), more than 32 lakh vaccine doses were given. India's cumulative recoveries surged to 1,11,81,253, with 29,785 recoveries being registered in a span of 24 hours. Besides, 199 deaths were reported in a span of 24 hours.
An auto driver in Mumbai uses a loudspeaker to create awareness
13:41 In Surat, 34 autorickshaw drivers found infected in single day
At least 34 auto-rickshaw drivers have tested positive for coronavirus in a single day during a special drive in Gujarat's Surat to identify potential "super-spreaders", an official said on Tuesday.
Surat city is seeing a fresh surge in COVID-19 cases, with 429 new infections being detected on Monday. He said drivers of autorickshaws, vegetable vendors and grocers are being tested on a largescale. They are given health cards if they test negative for coronavirus. "At least 34 auto-rickshaw drivers in the city tested positive for coronavirus (on Monday)," Surat Municipal Commissioner BN Pani told reporters.
He appealed to people to wear face masks especially while travelling in auto-rickshaws. The civic body has begun testing shopkeepers in market areas tobreak the chain of virus transmission. The total case count in Surat city is 45,182 while the tally of recoveries is 42,544. 862 patients have died so far due to COVID-19 disease. PTI
Fadnavis holds up data recordings of conversations
13:14 Fadnavis to meet MHA on IPS 'transfer racket'
Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly and former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has sought time from Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla to meet him and hand him over call recordings and documents pertaining to alleged transfer posting racket of IPS and non-IPS officers of Maharashtra Police.
Addressing the reporters, Fadnavis on Tuesday said, "Commissioner of Intelligence sent a report of intercepted suspicious calls to be involved in transfer racket to DG Maharashtra in August 2020. It was later forwarded to the chief minister who expressed concern but took no action. I have data of 6.3 GB containing all the information."
"When the DG inquired about the report, he got to know that it was sent to the Home Minister (Anil Deshmukh). No action was taken against the people involved but the action was taken against COI Rashmi Shukla who prepared the report. Her promotion was delayed and transferred to a post that did not even exist when she was sent there," he stated.
The former chief minister further said the case should be investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
"These audio recordings are of a very serious nature. I am going to Delhi today to meet the Union Home Secretary and will demand a CBI probe."
Reacting to Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh's video message, the BJP leader said, "As per police records of VIP movements, Anil Deshmukh went to Sahyadri Guest House on February 17 and Mantralaya on February 24. He was in home quarantine from February 15 to 27 but met officers. He was not in isolation. I feel Pawar Sahab was not briefed properly yesterday." -- ANI
13:10 Pawar not briefed properly on Deshmukh: Fadnavis
Former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday claimed that NCP chief Sharad Pawar was not briefed properly on Home Minister Anil Deshmukh's whereabouts after he was tested Covid-19 positive.
The BJP leader, who addressed a press conference in Mumbai, also claimed that the MVA government in the state has not acted on an "incriminating" state intelligence department report containing audio intercepts of large scale corruption in police transfers and postings.
"As per police records of VIP movement, Anil Deshmukh went to Sahyadri Guest House in Mumbai on February 17 and Mantralaya on February 24," said Fadnavis, who is also the leader of Opposition in the state Assembly.
"Deshmukh was in home quarantine from February 15-27 but met officers and was not in isolation. I feel Pawar Sahab was not briefed properly yesterday," Fadnavis said.
Pawar had on Monday told reporters that Deshmukh was recuperating from COVID-19 infection during the period former police commissioner Param Bir Singh has claimed that he was indulging in "extortion activities" through police officers. -- PTI
The PM makes time for tokenism
12:55 Manual scavenging an embarrassment for India, says Jaya Bachchan
Actor-turned-politician Jaya Bachchan on Tuesday said it is a source of embarrassment for all the citizens of India that manual scavenging still exists in the country.
"It is a pity that today we are still talking about deaths due to manual scavenging. I cannot understand why we have not yet been able to provide them with protective gears and why we have not done away with manual scavengers," Bachchan, the Samajwadi Party leader, said while speaking in the Rajya Sabha.
She rued the practice is still going on even as we talk about going to the moon and Mars."We are talking of progress, we are talking about going to the moon and Mars and everywhere and we cannot provide the protective gears. It's an embarrassment for the country and for all of us sitting here," she added.
The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned to August the hearing on a plea filed seeking directions to gauge the number of persons employed either directly or indirectly as manual scavengers and the actual number of deaths since its prohibition in 1993.
A bench of Chief Justice SA Bobde and Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian observed that "it cannot compel people to file their affidavit (replies) on the issue of manual scavenging, and said it will proceed and draw an adverse inference against them". -- PTI
The BJP's Nandigram candidate, Suvendu Adhikari
12:36 Nandigram rape survivors split between didi, dada
Rukmini Mondal and Sikha, neighbours at a tiny hamlet here, have stopped seeing eye to eye ever since they joined rival political parties. What had bound the two all these years was the grief that befell on them following the sexual abuse they faced during the anti-land acquisition movement in Nandigram, and the never-ending wait for justice thereafter.
Political colours have changed in this part of Bengal in the past 14 years, but justice continues to elude the women, who are at the crossroads this time, having reposed faith on two opposing camps, with a hope that their demands would be met.
This obscure Nandigram village that had shaken the base of the mighty Left regime and propelled the TMC to power now stands divided between its "Didi and Dada", as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has locked horns with her protg- turned-adversary and the face of farmers' protest, Suvendu Adhikari, in the constituency - set to go to polls on April 1.
More than 42 people were killed, including 14 who died in the police firing on March 14, 2007, and over 40 women raped during the ten-month-long bloody battle in then-little- known agrarian town.
With battle lines having been redrawn in Nandigram, which stands polarised along political and communal lines, the survivors, despite all differences, are keenly waiting for justice to be served.
"Didi has given us everything -- compensation, jobs and other benefits. But we have one regret that we didn't get justice. We want to see perpetrators languishing behind bars," Sikha told PTI.
Standing in front of a large cut-out of Banerjee, which also had the poll slogan 'Bangla Nijer Meyekei Chai' (Bengal wants its daughter) written on it, 42-year-old Sikha, during a street-corner meeting in Sonachura market, asked people to vote for the TMC and defeat the BJP and 'Mir Jafar' (traitor) Adhikari.
"Suvendu has not just betrayed the TMC but also the people of Nandigram. Some of the perpetrators of violence, who were then with the CPI(M), have now joined the BJP. But Suvendu has turned a blind eye to this, just for political reasons," she said.
Echoing her demand for justice, Mondal, however, wondered why the TMC, despite being in power for ten years, could not do anything to ensure that the culprits get punished. "Can jobs, money or doles compensate me for the honour I have lost? I want justice. I want to see them (perpetrators) in jail. I am hoping that if the BJP is voted to power, there will be fair play," she said.
Showering praise on Adhikari, she said that it was the 50-year-old leader who stood by her, and many more like her through thick and thin. The residents of the discrete village, where at least 30 women had to endure sexual abuse during the unrest, are, nonetheless, sceptical that this could just be another election, before which the parties make tall promises only to end up delivering nothing.
With the TMC supremo and her former lieutenant at each other's throats, Nandigram, often referred to as the cradle of change in Bengal, is once again on the edge. Many rape survivors, disenchanted with the TMC, are yearning for yet another change. "People of Nandigram are not very happy with the TMC. They also have grievances against Mamata di, as she hardly visited the constituency, which once catapulted her to power. But there is also a section, which has a soft corner for Didi," another survivor Rama Das said.
Mocking the TMC's poll slogan 'Bangla nijer meyekei chaye' (Bengal wants its daughter) Shyamali Jana (name changed), another villager, said, "Have they spared a thought for the mothers ad daughters of Nandigram?" Jutikha, whose sister-in-law was raped and their house set on fire, said the scars would not heal if the offenders are not taken to task.
"For 14 years, we were made to feel that we existed just one day in the year -- March 14 (Nandigram Divas). The people of Bengal have forgotten the sacrifices we had made. We were treated as outcasts. Some of our husbands abandoned us. We have to fend for ourselves," Juthika said.
According to Mondal, "none of the senior police officers who opened fire on villagers has been punished". Many political leaders, who were responsible for the atrocities, have crossed over to the TMC or the BJP, she said.
According to a report published in 2015 by Women against Sexual Violence and State Repression (WSS), a nationwide network of women's groups, several rape survivors, following the March 14, 2007 carnage, are fighting social stigmas as they still wait for compensation.
"The women who remained at the forefront of the heroic struggle against forcible land acquisition, despite all forms of atrocity, have today been absolutely edged out of the political space. They are in precarious health condition and have faced social stigma," the report had stated. -- PTI
12:08 It's snowing in Udaypur
Udaypur, not Udaipur, folks. This town is in the Lahaul-Spiti region of Himachal Pradesh. Not the lake-embellished city in Rajasthan, where temperature now is 31C and in a week's time promises to be a blistering 39C.
A body was recovered from Mumbra where Hiran was found dead
12:01 Hiran murder: ATS seizes high-end car from Daman
The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has seized a high-end car from Daman in connection with the Mansukh Hiran murder case, an official said on Tuesday. The Volvo car with the Maharashtra registration number was seized on Monday, the official said, adding there is no clarity so far on who owned this car.
The seized car is kept at the ATS office in Thane neighbouring Mumbai, he said. After arresting two persons on Saturday night in connection with the murder case, the ATS detained a person from Gujarat who had allegedly provided them SIM cards, officials had said, adding they recovered many SIM cards from the person.
The ATS last week arrested suspended policeman Vinayak Shinde and cricket bookie Naresh Gaur in the case.
The SUV with explosives found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's house in Mumbai on February 25 had been allegedly stolen from possession of Hiran, the Thane-based businessman whose body was found in a creek in Mumbra on March 5.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing the case of recovery of the explosives-laden SUV and arrested Mumbai Police officer Sachin Waze, had seized five high-end cars during its probe, including two Mercedes, 1 Prado, the Scorpio which was used to carry explosives, and an Innova car.
The ATS had said that Waze was also a prime accused in the Hiran murder case. The NIA suspects that at least three of the seized five cars were used by Waze, who was posted as Assistant Police Inspector (API) with the Crime Intelligence Unit (API) when arrested on March 13. He was later suspended from service.
On Monday morning, the ATS team took accused Shinde to the residence of Waze in Thane and later to the creek in Mumbra were Hiran's body was found. Though the Hiran murder case was transferred to the NIA on March 20, the ATS is still conducting investigation. The ATS had lodged a murder case under section 302 (punishment for murder), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence or giving false information to screen offender) 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code against unknown persons and on Saturday his murder case have been handed over to National Investigation Agency (NIA) for further probe, official added. -- PTI
11:47 Interest-free loans during moratorium, says SC
The Supreme Court Tuesday directed that no compound or penal interest shall be charged from borrowers for the six-month loan moratorium period, which was announced last year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and the amount already charged shall be refunded, credited or adjusted.
The apex court refused to interfere with the Centre's and Reserve Bank of India (RBI's) decision to not extend the loan moratorium beyond August 31 last year, saying it is a policy decision. A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan said the top court cannot do judicial review of the Centre's financial policy decision unless it is malafide and arbitrary.
The apex court said it cannot interfere with the government's decision to fix priorities for relief during the pandemic which has affected all across the country. The bench said this in its verdict on a batch of pleas filed by various trade associations, including from real estate and power sectors, seeking extension of the loan moratorium period and other reliefs in view of the pandemic.
11:28 Attempts being made to mislead people: Deshmukh
Amid allegations of corruption levelled against him by former Mumbai top cop, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Tuesday released videos on Twitter to defend himself and claimed that attempts are being made to mislead the people by dissemination of incorrect information about him.
The videos were posted in wake of the growing demand for his removal after Param Bir Singh in a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray claimed that the Home Minister wanted police officers to collect Rs 100 crore monthly from bars and hotels.
Param Bir Singh alleged that Anil Deshmukh had called Mumbai police API Sachin Waze around mid-February at the ministers official residence and told him to collect Rs 100 crore a month.
Day after NCP chief Sharad Pawar refuted the allegations and said the claims pertain to a period when Anil Deshmukh was hospitalised, the Maharashtra Home Minister on Tuesday posted two videos, detailing his activities during quarantine.
Anil Deshmukh said he was admitted to a Nagpur hospital between February 5 and February 15 after testing positive for Covid-19 and was being analysed from February 15 to February 27, Pawar had said during the media briefing on Monday.
Insisting that fake news was being propagated against him, Anil Deshmukh in another video said that from February 5 to 15, he was admitted to a hospital in Nagpur after he tested positive for Covid-19. Following his hospital stay, he came to Mumbai on a charter flight.
"There has been much misinformation about me being propagated in the electronic and print media for the last few days. You all know that during the last year amid the Covid-19 situation, I went around the state and met the policemen and encouraged them. I tested positive for Covid-19 on February 5. I was hospitalised from February 5 to 15," Anil Deshmukh said in the video.
"After being discharged from the hospital on February 15, the doctor's advised me to stay in home quarantine for 10 days. So on February 15 itself, I arrived in Mumbai by private plane.
During home quarantine, with my doctors advice, I used to do pranayama in the park every night, Deshmukh said, and added that he attended meetings via video-conferencing when he was in quarantine.
He added officials started visiting him for briefings from March 1 once the assembly session started.
Many are trying to give a false impression to people and thats why I am giving this information, Anil Deshmukh said in the video.
The clarification videos posted by Anil Deshmukh came after the BJP claimed that there was a mismatch in dates and claimed that Maharashtra Home Minister had held a "press conference" on February 15 which contradicted NCP chief Sharad Pawar''s assertion that he was hospitalised then.
10:59 BJP vows to implement CAA in manifesto for Assam
BJP president JP Nadda releases the party's Assam manifesto at an event in Guwahati, says, "It's time to take a big leap in the next five years".
BJP's Assam manifesto has 10 commitments, says JP Nadda while releasing the manifesto.
Here are some of the salient promises:
- Guaranteed NRC
- Mission Brahmaputra
- Delimitation will be speeded up
- CAA will be implemented
10:46 BJP issues whip to MPs to be present in Lok Sabha
The Bharatiya Janata Party has issued a three-line whip to all its members in the Lok Sabha asking them to be present in the House today.
The letter urged the MPs to support the government's stand on very important legislative business which is scheduled to be taken up on Tuesday in the ongoing Session.
"All BJP members in Lok Sabha are hereby informed that some very important legislative business will be taken up for discussion and passing in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, the March 23 2021," read a whip, signed by the party's chief whip Rakesh Singh.
The letter added, "All members of BJP in Lok Sabha are, therefore, requested to be positively present in the House throughout the day on Monday and support the government's stand."
Lined up before the Lok Sabha today for consideration are the Finance Bill 2021 and the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development Bill, 2021.
10:40 India-Pakistan begin Indus water talks
A seven-member Pakistani delegation led by the countrys Indus Commissioner Syed Muhammad Meher Ali Shah began the annual Permanent Indus Commission meeting with his Indian counterpart, an official said.
The Indian delegation is being led by PK Saxena who will be joined by his advisors from the Central Water Commission, the Central Electricity Authority and the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation.
The Indus Water Treaty warrants the two commissioners to meet at least once a year, alternately in India and Pakistan.
However, the last years meeting scheduled to be held New Delhi in March was cancelled, a first since the Treaty came into being, in view of the coronavirus pandemic.
This years meeting will be the first between the two commissioners after the August 2019 nullification of the operative provisions of Article 370 that gave special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The erstwhile state was also carved into two union territories Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir.
India has since cleared several hydropower projects for the region.
10:15 BJP parliamentary party meeting underway
A meeting of the BJP parliamentary party is underway at Parliament premises in the national capital on Tuesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is present at the meeting.
Earlier the parliamentary party meeting was scheduled for March 17 but was cancelled due to the death of Ram Swaroop Sharma, a party MP from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh.
A weekly BJP parliamentary party meeting was held on March 10, which took place after almost a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during the previous meeting, briefed the BJP MPs on the government's plans to celebrate 75 years of the nation's Independence.
-- ANI
09:54 India sees slight dip in Covid cases at 40,715
India reported 40,715 cases of coronavirus disease, lower than infections recorded in the last two days, and 199 related deaths in the last 24 hours, the Union minister of health and family welfare said on Tuesday.
The fresh infections and deaths have pushed the countrys infection tally to over 11.68 million and the death toll has now risen to 160,166. There were 345,377 active cases and 11,181,253 people who have recovered from the viral disease, the health ministrys data updated at 8 am showed.
The Indian Council of Medical Research said 23,54,13,233 samples tested for Covid-19 up to Monday and of these, 967,459 samples were tested the same day.
09:47 TMC seeks EC action against Suvendu for 'harbouring criminals in Nandigram'
Trinamool Congress writes to Election Commission over "harbouring of criminals by Suvendu Adhikari in Nandigram".
"We request you to immediately intervene and direct necessary steps to be taken by police," reads the letter.
09:22 Maha CM favours lockdown in some cities: Tope
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said people must follow COVID-19 safety protocols if the state is avoid another lockdown.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray was of the view that lockdown may become necessary in some cities if the new cases continue climb, Tope told reporters.
At the same time, he also defended the state's response rising cases and pointed out that in terms of cases per million population, many states have fared worse.
"He told me that if the number of daily cases in the state remains in the range of 25,000 30,000 for the next some days, then we will have take some stringent steps. He is of the opinion that if the numbers continue increase, we will have impose lockdown in some cities," the minister said.
"I appeal people respond CM's warning (about possibility of lockdown) positively and follow the COVID-19 protocols such as mask wearing, hand hygiene and physical distancing avoild lockdown," Tope said.
-- PTI
09:04 Madhya Pradesh: 12 women, man killed in auto-bus collision
Twelve women and a man died after the auto-rickshaw carrying them collided with a speeding bus in Old Chawni area in Gwalior Tuesday morning, police said.
The accident happened around 7 am when the women, who were cooks at an 'anganwadi kendra' were returning home after work, Gwalior SP Amit Sanghi said.
While eight women and the auto driver died on the spot, the others succumbed to their injuries in a hospital, he said.
-- PTI
08:38 BJP's Assam manifesto to be released at 10 am
Bharatiya Janata Party national president JP Nadda is all set to release party manifesto for the upcoming Legislative Assembly elections in Assam at 10 am.
According to sources, BJPs poll papers will include a promise on implementation of Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, 10 lakh jobs for youth, dedicated tourist circuit for Barack and Brahmaputra areas and direct benefits transfer in women account through Arunodaya scheme. There could be special focus on protecting linguistic identity of Assam and special incentive for the tea garden workers.
Elections for the 126-seat Assam assembly are scheduled to take place in three phases from March 27 to April 6. The results will be announced on May 2.
In 2016, the BJP scripted history and formed the government for the first time in the state ending Congresss 15-year rule.
07:48 Over 4.72 cr Covid vaccine doses administered
The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has crossed 4.72 crore with 19,65,635 doses being given on Monday, the Union health ministry said.
A total of 4,72,07,134 vaccine doses have been given till 7 pm on Monday, according to a provisional report.
These include 78,30,626 healthcare workers who have taken the first dose and 49,30,888 HCWs who have taken the second dose, 81,72,121 frontline workers who have received the first dose and 27,93,013 FLWs who have taken the second dose.
Besides 1,94,07,739 beneficiaries aged above 60 years and 40,72,747 beneficiaries aged 45 to 60 with specific co-morbidities have been administered the first dose.
"Total 19,65,635 vaccine doses were given till 7 pm on Monday, the sixty-sixth day of the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination. Out of which, 17,55,110 beneficiaries were vaccinated for first dose and 2,10,525�HCWs and FLWs received second dose of vaccine," the ministry said, adding final reports would be completed for the day by late night.
The 17,55,110 beneficiaries include 13,07,614 aged above 60 years and 3,34,367 aged 45-60 with co-morbidities.
The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 with healthcare workers getting inoculated and vaccination of the frontline workers started from February 2.
The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination commenced on March 1 for those who are over 60 years of age and for people aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions.
-- PTI
01:08 Uddhav has no right to continue as CM: Javadekar
Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Monday referred to the Antilia bomb scare case and demanded the resignation of Maharashtra Chief Minister Udhav Thackeray, saying that the world had 'never before' seen a bomb being planted by police.
"Never before had the world seen a bomb being planted by Police. Is this normal? This is an extraordinary issue. The CM has no right to continue in his position. What does it show if his trustworthy personnel plants bomb, as alleged by ATS?" he asked.
Sachin Waze, suspended Assistant Police Inspector, was arrested in connection with the investigation into the recovery of explosives from a car parked near Mukesh Ambani's house in Mumbai on February 25.
He was Assistant Police Inspector in the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) and transferred to the Citizen Facilitation Centre at Mumbai Police Headquarters after his name came up in Mansukh Hiren death case.
He has been sent to NIA custody till March 25, in connection with his alleged role and involvement in placing an explosives-laden vehicle. -- ANI
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