Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday questioned the government on its strategy for making the COVID-19 vaccine available to people, saying he wished it was the subject of the 'Mann ki Baat' programme.  

 

"The question is legitimate, but how long will India wait for the government's answer? Alas, the Covid vaccine access strategy should have been the 'Mann ki baat'," he said in a tweet in Hindi.

Gandhi's tweet came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi aired his monthly 'Mann ki baat' programme on the All India Radio.

Along with his comment, Gandhi shared a news report regarding Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla's tweet in which he asked the government if it had Rs 80,000 crore available to distribute the COVID vaccine to the country's population over the next one year.

"I ask this question, because we need to plan and guide, vaccine manufacturers both in India and overseas to service the needs of our country in terms of procurement and distribution," Poonawalla had asked on Twitter on Saturday.

SII has signed an agreement to manufacture the potential vaccine developed by Jenner Institute of Oxford University in collaboration with British-Swedish pharma company AstraZeneca. -- PTI 

The National Investigation Agency has arrested another person from West Bengal's Murshidabad district for his alleged involvement with a Pakistan-sponsored module of the al-Qaeda, a senior officer said on Sunday.

 

The NIA apprehended Shamim Ansari from his residence at Jalangi on Saturday, he said.

"We have found his involvement with those arrested earlier. We have seized his mobile phone. He is being interrogated," the official said.

The agency had earlier arrested nine people -- six from West Bengal and three from Kerala -- for their association with the Pakistan-sponsored module of the al-Qaeda.

A preliminary investigation suggested that Ansari had earlier gone to Kerala for work and returned to his home town. -- PTI 

Actor Manoj Bajpayee says he wanted to channel the nostalgia and pride of migrants for their home in Bambai Main Ka Ba, his hit Bhojpuri rap highlighting the plight of people who leave their native places to move to big cities in search of employment.

Bajpayee, one of the finest contemporary actors in Hindi cinema with films such as Satya, Gangs of Wasseypur and Aligarh to his credit, said it is sad that migrants' issues are not highlighted enough by news channels. 

The politically-charged song, written by Dr Sagar and directed by Anubhav Sinha, gave Bajpayee the chance to combine the medium of rap with his first language, Bhojpuri, to talk about issues that bother him.

The actor, who hails from Belwa village in West Champaran, Bihar, said he wanted the rap to reflect the pride he has for his birthplace.

"Rap is a great way to protest, to express your anger. I improvised a lot while performing. The most important thing that I tried to bring was that whatever anger you want to show, you also show the pride, the pride of the village I come from," the actor told PTI in a telephonic interview.

Days after the coronavirus-induced lockdown came into effect in March, lakhs of migrants and daily wagers landed on the highways, walking, cycling or hitchhiking to their home states hundreds of kilometers away as living in cities became impossible due to lack of work.

The images of their long walk home in the face of tragedy and death shook the nation and hit the headlines in the national and international media but their issues have now disappeared from the news, something that the actor finds unfortunate.

"It's sad that migrant issues and their problems have been sidelined by the news media. They should talk about it. There should be discussions and debates so that these things don't happen again. 

"Migrants leave their home in search for a better life in the big city but they end up living a pathetic life," Bajpayee said, emphasising the need for job creation in small towns.

The 51-year-old actor said headlines today don't reflect questions related to the growth and the development of the country.

"From 5 o' clock till 10 o' clock, you are reading things and seeing things which are completely not relevant to the country or its growth and development. 

"In the name of journalism, what we are seeing is nothing but a mockery of journalism. I hope we start talking about something that's relevant and matters to the common man," he said.

Bajpayee said he added a tinge of nostalgia in his performance that comes from his love for his birthplace, while a lot of it already existed in Dr Sagar's lyrics, which have been composed by Anurag Saikia and translated into English by senior journalist Sankarshan Thakur.

"I am a proud Bihari, village person and farmer's son. I sincerely feel blessed I was born in that place. I am proud of the culture, language and upbringing that I had. I give a lot of credit for my performances to the place I come from.

"It has contributed a lot in making me the actor and the person I am today. The nostalgia does not just come from the lyrics but also from the way I have performed the song," the National Award winner added.

Asked about the lack of good Bhojpuri content in mainstream media, Bajpayee said he always wanted to do something in the language but actors have to depend on other creative people for such collaborations.

"When Anubhav offered this to me, I immediately said yes. This is my mother tongue, my first language. The response to the song has been encouraging. It gives me hope about future projects."

The actor also believes the grammar of the visual medium is gradually changing with people from small towns and from places like Poorvanchal, UP and Bihar, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh coming to the industry.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a special reference to India's role in the manufacture and access to one of the most promising coronavirus vaccine candidates currently undergoing trials during his address to the United Nations General Assembly.

In reference to the vaccine being worked on by the University of Oxford, Johnson stressed the importance of equitable access of any successful vaccine because the health of every country depends on the whole world having access to a safe and effective vaccine, wherever a breakthrough might occur.

"As I speak there are 100 potential vaccines that are trying to clear the hurdles of safety and efficacy, as if in a giant global steeplechase," Johnson said in a prerecorded speech to the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday.

"The Oxford vaccine is now in Stage 3 of clinical trials, and in case of success AstraZeneca has already begun to manufacture millions of doses, in readiness for rapid distribution, and they have reached agreement with the Serum Institute of India to supply 1 billion doses to low and middle-income countries," he said.

Declaring that "humanity was caught napping" as the pandemic struck and has been "scrabbling to catch up" ever since, Johnson issued a spirited defence of the World Health Organisation as the one body that marshals humanity against the legions of disease and confirmed increased investment that would make the UK the largest state donor to the UN health agency if US President Donald Trump's exit from the multilateral body goes through next year. 

He pushed for greater international collaboration to fight a common enemy such as the virus and urged countries to reach across borders and repair "ugly rifts" and "heal the world".

"And after nine months of fighting COVID-19, the very notion of the international community looks, frankly, pretty tattered. And we know that we simply can't continue in this way. Unless we get our act together," he said.

"That is why we in the UK global Britain are one of the biggest global funders of that organisation, contributing 340 million pounds over the next four years, that's an increase of 30 per cent," Johnson said.

The biggest single donor to the efforts of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness to find a vaccine and contribution of up to 571 million pounds to COVAX, a new initiative designed to distribute a COVID-19 vaccine across the world, were among some of the other UK initiatives Johnson sought to highlight in his address.

He also called for honesty to reach a joint understanding of how the pandemic began and how it was able to spread as a "moral imperative", indicating that he had no intention of finger-pointing at China. -- PTI

Former Union minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Uma Bharti has said that she has tested positive for COVID-19 and has quarantined herself.

 

She requested people who came in her contact to get themselves tested and follow protocols.

Taking to Twitter, Bharti on Saturday night said that she had taken a COVID-19 test as she was suffering from fever, and the report came positive.

She has quarantined herself at a place between Haridwar and Rishikesh in Uttarakhand. -- PTI 

A day after the Shiromani Akali Dal exit the National Democratic Alliance, the Congress on Sunday dared Bharatiya Janata Party allies, the Janata Dal-United, the Lok Janshakti Party and the Jannayak Janata Party to oppose the Centre and not to support the agriculture bills, which it alleged were like cancer and slow poison that will kill farmers and farming.

   

At a joint virtual press conference, Congress' Haryana chief Kumari Selja and Punjab president Sunil Jakhar urged all parties to come together and oppose the farm bills while asking the Centre to take back the legislations, saying these will make farmers "slaves of big businessmen".

 

The two Congress leaders also urged the President not to grant his assent to the bills as farmers are on the roads against them.

 

Selja and Jakhar said NDA allies should support the opposition parties, the same way they extended support against the Land Acquisition Bill, which the BJP-led Union government was forced to withdraw.

 

On the Shiromani Akali Dal's exit from the NDA, Jakhar said the party did not quit the ruling coalition of its own. It was forced to do so by farmers, who made it difficult for the Akalis to enter Punjab without doing so, he said.

Jakhar said the Akalis had only staged a drama of first quitting the Union cabinet and then the alliance as the BJP openly said that they were very much party to the clearing of the bills in the cabinet.

 

"The resignation by the Akali minister was not given but taken by the BJP and the Akali Dal did not quit the NDA of its own but were thrown out," he claimed.

 

The anger of farmers and the arrogance by the BJP has forced the Akalis to buy the permit of entering Punjab by enacting this drama,"Jakhar told reporters.

 

Selja dared the JJP, which shares power with the BJP in Haryana, to quit the alliance and stand with farmers in the state.

 

"The Akalis did a drama and it is time for other parties to think as people are asking questions. Farmers will be made bonded labour under contract farming and after the farm bills are implemented.

 

"We urge the BJP allies to think and stand unitedly with farmers and against the farm Bills. We appeal to all to stand up with the cause of farmers and protest the farm bills," Selja said.

 

Taking on the JJP, she said, "Leaders of the JJP abused the BJP ahead of the elections and after a fractured verdict in Haryana, joined hands with it. Dushyant Chautala should open his eyes and stand with farmers."

 

Jakhar said Devi Lal's soul must be churning in heaven on seeing his descendants support the "anti-farmer" BJP.

 

"The farm Bills are like cancer and its effect will be known later when this cancer will reach terminal stage and no medicine will work. This is like slow poison," he alleged, saying they are aimed at making farmers "slaves of big businessmen".

 

Selja said there are other parties like the Biju Janata Dal, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi and the YSR Congress who have been supporting the BJP when it needed their backing.

 

We want that they should not shut their eyes" and tell the Centre that people will ask questions from them, she said. -- PTI

The southwest monsoon is set to retreat from parts of north India in the next two days, the India Meteorological Department said on Sunday, while data suggests that the rainy season is most likely to end on an above-normal note.

 

Overall, the country has received 9 per cent more rainfall than normal until September 26, according to data.

"Conditions are becoming favourable for withdrawal of monsoon from west Rajasthan and adjoining areas from September 28," the weather department said.

Mahesh Palawat, the vice president of private forecaster Skymet Weather, said rainfall has reduced considerably.

"The withdrawal of monsoon from west Rajasthan is likely to start from tomorrow (Monday). It looks like monsoon will withdraw on an above-normal note," Palawat said.

Rainfall in the range of 96 to 104 per cent of the Long Period Average is considered as 'normal', while precipitation in the range of 104 to 110 per cent of the LPA is 'excess'.

Nine states have received excess rainfall, while 20 states have recorded normal precipitation, the data shows.

The official rainfall season in India is from June 1 to September 30. 

Monsoon arrived over Kerala on June 1, its normal onset date.

June recorded 17 per cent more rainfall, while July saw 10 per cent deficiency. 

However, there was an excess rainfall in August -- the month recorded 27 per cent more rainfall than normal.

Parts of north India -- Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir --- have recorded deficient rainfall. The Union Territory of Ladakh has recorded high deficiency of rainfall this year.

Large parts of the country in west and south India, including Gujarat, Goa, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, have received excess rainfall. Sikkim is the only state to have received large excess rainfall. -- PTI

The Indian Council of Medical Research's second sero-survey shows that Indian population is still far from achieving herd immunity against coronavirus infection, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan said on Sunday while underlining the need for following COVID appropriate behaviour.

 

He also stressed that masks be worn even in places of worship.

During an interaction with his social media followers, the minister said the ICMR is actively researching on reports of COVID-19 reinfection and although the number of such cases is negligible at this moment, the government is fully seized of the importance of the matter, the health ministry said in a statement.

He cautioned that the sero-survey report should not create a sense of complacency among the people.

The first sero-survey of May 2020 had revealed that the nationwide prevalence of novel coronavirus infection was only 0.73 per cent.

"Even the soon to be released second sero-survey indications are that we are far from having achieved any kind of herd immunity which necessitates that all of us should continue following COVID appropriate behaviour," Vardhan said in response to the queries posed by his social media followers on Sunday Samvad' platform.

The health minister also dispelled fears regarding the phased opening of schools, and advised on proper protocol to be followed while visiting salons and hair spas, the ministry said.

He asked everyone to always raise awareness regarding COVID appropriate behavior which he himself does by stopping his car and asking non-compliant people to wear their masks, the statement said.

He re-emphasized on the need for wearing masks even in places of worship.

"The pandemic can only be fought when the government and society work in tandem," he was quoted as saying in the statement.

On the wide usage of investigational therapies such as plasma therapy and Remdesivir drug for combating COVID-19, Vardhan said the government has issued regular advisories regarding their rational usage and private hospitals have also been advised against routine use of these therapies.

The doctors in the states and UTs are being made aware of this through webinars and tele-consultation session of AIIMS, New Delhi, the statement stated.

On emerging evidence that COVID-19 infection not only impacts our lungs, but other organ systems too, especially cardiovascular and renal functions, the minister said the ministry of health has already set up committees of experts to look into these facets of the disease.

"The ICMR is also actively investigating and researching reports of reinfection and although the number of reinfection cases is negligible at this moment, the government is fully seized of the importance of the matter," he said.

Vardhan stated that states/UTs have also been advised to lower the prices of COVID-19 tests. In the early days of the pandemic, as the kits were imported, the price tended to be high. But now, supplies of testing kits have stabilised and domestic production of these kits has commenced, the statement said.

He said his ministry has written to the states and Union territories to engage private laboratories at mutually agreeable lower rates. He said he has spoken personally to several state health ministers regarding reduction in prices of testing in their respective states.

On a question related to 'Atmanirbhar Bharat Yojana', the minister spoke of India's two-pronged strategy of incentivising production and creation of common infrastructure for high-quality medicines and medical devices to make the country self-reliant. He said the government is ensuring that there is import substitution in this sector.

Actress Payal Ghosh on Sunday said she would resort to a hunger strike if no action is taken against filmmaker Anurag Kashyap whom she has accused of raping her seven years ago.

Ghosh told reporters outside Versova police station in Mumbai that Kashyap has not been arrested despite the Mumbai Police registering an FIR against him because he is an "influential person".

The actress and her lawyer Nitin Satpute on Sunday reached the police station demanding a quick probe, six days after she filed an FIR against Kashyap accusing him of raping her at a place on Yari Road in Versova in 2013.

Kashyap had dismissed the allegations as "baseless".

Ghosh said she met senior officials at the police station and threatened to go on a hunger strike "if justice is not delivered to me quickly".

Ghosh also claimed that she faced a threat from Kashyap and his well-wishers.

She said she was asked to come to the police station again on Monday as the investigating officer was not present.

Versova police is probing the case under sections 376 (I) (rape), 354 (outraging modesty of woman), 341 (wrongful restraint) and 342 (wrongful confinement), an official said.

Kashyap's lawyer had earlier tweeted a statement that "my client, Anurag Kashyap, has been deeply pained by the false allegations, these are completely false, malicious and dishonest". -- PTI 

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has paid tributes to the legendary SP Balasubrahmanyam, calling the late singer a modest man despite towering achievements. 

 

Balasubrahmanyam, 74, died on Friday after an over two month-long battle with coronavirus.

Writing on his blog on Saturday, Bachchan said SPB, as he was fondly called, had a "God gifted voice". 

"In the middle of the work schedule, the mind works at a tangent that brings emotion for the departed - SP Balasubrahmanyam the God gifted voice gone silent. And day on day the very special have left us for the heavens and as they would often say 'to a better place.'

"The pandemic claims yet another gem, the voice of great divinity and soul," the actor wrote. 

A six-time National Award winner, Balasubrahmanyam, who had sung over 40,000 songs, was also honoured with Padma Shri in 2001 and Padma Bhushan in 2011. 

Bachchan, 77, posted a photo of the duo from an old event and said he was fortunate to meet the singer. 

"Long years ago at a function I had had the honour of meeting him. A simple, modest human, despite the immense celebrity he was bestowed with."

Balasubrahmanyam was laid to rest at his farmhouse on Saturday with a 24-gun salute by the Tamil Nadu Police. 

Bachchan joined the rest of the Indian film and music industry members, including Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, AR Rahman, Kamal Haasan, Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Ramya Krishnan, and Anil Kapoor in paying rich tributes to Balasubrahmanyam. -- PTI 

Former Jharkhand Congress president Ajoy Kumar Sunday rejoined the party with its chief Sonia Gandhi approving his return to the party fold.

 

"Congress president has approved the proposal for re-joining of Ajoy Kumar, ex-MP and former president of Jharkhand PCC, to the Congress party," said AICC general secretary KC Venguopal.

Kumar announced on Twitter, "Driven by my conscience to speak up against injustice and institutional capture, I've been inspired by Shri Rahul Gandhi and decided to come back to Congress today," 

He also cited a quote of Mahatma Gandhi that "Silence becomes cowardice when occasion demands speaking out the whole truth and acting accordingly."

"Amid a health, farmers, unemployment and economic crisis, it is Shri Rahul Gandhi & Smt. Sonia Gandhi who have been steadfast in their support for the people and idea of India. I really admire this tenacity and they have inspired me to come back to  @INCIndia again," he said in another tweet.

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh welcomed Kumar in the party through a tweet. "You had never actually left as far as I was concerned."

Kumar, a former IPS officer and an MP from Jamshedpur in the 15th Lok Sabha, had quit the party ahead of the Jharkhand assembly elections last year.

He was appointed JPCC president in November 2017, but resigned in August 2019 and joined the Aam Aadmi Party the next month. 

He had then alleged that the local leadership in Jharkhand Congress was corrupt and had compared many of his colleagues as even worse than criminals. -- PTI 

Former Union minister Jaswant Singh was cremated at his farm house in Rajasthan's Jodhpur on Sunday evening.

   

The former Union minister had passed away in New Delhi after a prolonged illness. 

He was 82.

 

His son Manvendra Singh lit the funeral pyre amid chanting of Vedic mantras.   

Singh's family members and relatives were present during the cremation at the farm house located near a civil airport. -- PTI 

Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar met Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray here on Sunday.

The meeting took place a day after former state chief minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis met Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut here, sparking speculation in political circles.

Pawar met Thackeray at the latter's official residence and the meeting lasted for about 40 minutes, sources said.

What transpired during the meeting could not be known immediately.

Sources, however, said the future unlocking process and the COVID-19 situation in the state were some of the issues that were discussed during the meeting.

Fadnavis and Raut had met at a hotel in Mumbai on Saturday. 

Although their meeting triggered speculation, Fadnavis on Sunday asserted that the BJP has no intention of joining hands with the Shiv Sena or to bring down the Uddhav Thackeray-led state government.

Fadnavis also said the meeting was regarding an interview for Shiv Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana'. -- PTI  

Former Bihar director general of police Gupteshwar Pandey has joined Janata Dal-United ahead of Bihar assembly election.

Pandey had hit the headlines recently for his vocal condemnation of the non-cooperation meted out to the Bihar police team that had visited Mumbai to probe the death of Patna-born actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

Former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party has no intention of joining hands with the Shiv Sena or to bring down the Uddhav Thackeray-led state government.

Talking to reporters in Mumbai, Fadnavis claimed people of the state are "unhappy" with the performance of the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government and it "would collapse due to its own inactions".

The senior BJP leader also said his meeting with Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Saturday, which prompted speculation in political circles, was regarding an interview for the Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

The Shiv Sena snapped ties with the BJP last year after the Maharashtra assembly polls over the issue of sharing the chief ministerial post.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led party then joined hands with the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress to form MVA government in the state.

"We have no intention of joining hands with the Shiv Sena or to bring down the government. When it falls on its own, we will see," said Fadnavis, who is the leader of opposition in the state ssembly.

"My meeting with Raut had no political connotations. He asked me for an interview to 'Saamana', to which I agreed. But, I had put my conditions- like the interview should be unedited and I should get to put my own camera during the interview. So we met to discuss its nitty-gritties," he said. -- PTI

The Trinamool Congress has come out in support of the  Shiromani Akali Dal, which quit the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government at the Centre over the three farm bills that were recently passed in Parliament. 

 

In a tweet on Sunday, TMC national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Derek O' Brien offered the party's support to the SAD. 

"We support Sukhbir Singh Badal and Akali Dal's stand with the farmers. Fighting for farmers is part of Trinamool DNA. In 2006, Mamata Banerjee risked her life on a historic 26 day fast for farmers' rights. We oppose #FarmBills2020 as they endanger States' role, MSP, PDS and procurement, he said on Twitter. 

The Shiromani Akali Dal had on Saturday quit the NDA over the farm bills issue. 

The SAD is the third major party to walk out of the BJP-led coalition in the last couple of years. -- PTI

A total of 92,043 people have recuperated from COVID-19 in a span of 24 hours, taking India's total recoveries close to 50 lakhs and exceeding the active cases of coronavirus infection by 39,85,225, the Union health ministry said on Sunday.

 

The single-day recoveries on an average for the last few days have been more than 90,000, the ministry said underlining, "This high rate of daily recoveries has sustained India's leading global position as the country with the maximum number of recovered cases."

A total of 92,043 recoveries have been registered in a span of 24 hours in the country, while 88,600 new infections were recorded during the same period, according to the data updated at 8 am. 

"Maintaining its upward trend, the national recovery rate presently has risen to 82.46 per cent," the ministry highlighted.

As many as 21 states and UTs have reported higher numbers of new recoveries than the new cases, the ministry said.       

A total 76 per cent of the new recovered cases are found in 10 states and UTs -- Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Odisha, Delhi Chhattisgarh, Kerala and West Bengal.

Maharashtra continues to top this list. 

It has alone contributed more than 23,000 followed by Andhra Pradesh with more than more than 9,000 cases, the ministry said.

As India records more recoveries than the new cases, the gap between the recovered cases and active cases is nearly 40 lakh (39,85,225).

"The number of active patients has been below 10 lakh for several successive days. The active caseload is merely 15.96 per cent of the total caseload," the ministry said.

Close, proactive, calibrated and effective coordination between the Centre and states and UT governments has made this sustained high level of single day recoveries possible.

As many as 21 states and UTs have reported higher numbers of new recoveries than the new cases, the ministry said.   

These results have been ensured through sustained, multi-pronged strategies and effective actions, coupled with regular review by the Union Government. Early identification through high countrywide testing, prompt surveillance and tracking supplemented with standardised clinical care have aided these encouraging outcomes, it pointed out. -- PTI

Real estate prices in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh have doubled since the Ram temple 'bhoomi pujan' ceremony with scores of people wishing to own a property in the holy land.

   

Property rates started rising in the district last year after the Supreme Court paved the way for the construction of the temple at the site where devout Hindus believe god Ram was born. And the prices have shot up since the 'bhoomi pujan' ceremony in August this year.

 

What has further contributed to the exponential rise in prices is limited availability of real estate as the government plans to acquire land for infrastructure projects befitting an international tourist destination, said people aware of property-related developments.

 

Property prices went up by 30-40 per cent after the Supreme Court verdict in November last year and have doubled on top of that since the 'bhoomi pujan' ceremony by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 5 this year, they said.

 

In fact, there has been a three-fold increase in property prices in Ayodhya since last year.

 

Land on the outskirts of Ayodhya town, which was available at a rate of Rs 400-500 per square feet last year, is now fetching Rs 1,000-1,500.

 

In the heart of the town, availability of land is limited and the cost ranges between Rs 2,000 and Rs 3,000 per square feet, they said, adding one could easily get land at Rs 1,000 per sq ft in the town before the Supreme Court verdict.

 

Talking to PTI, Professor Vinod Kumar Shrivastava of Awadh University in Ayodhya said, "Property rates are going sky high. We are observing that a lot of people, from big businessmen to commoners, want a land in Ayodhya. Since the court verdict, Ayodhya has seen a real estate boom."

 

However, physical purchase of land in Ayodhya is yet to pick up pace because the government is yet to finalise its infrastructure projects and requirement of land.

The Centre has directed deployment of about 30,000 central security force personnel for the conduct of the three-phase assembly polls in Bihar, officials said on Sunday.

 

The Union home ministry has directed that 300 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces and the Railway Protection Force will be deployed for "area domination to ensure peaceful conduct of assembly polls" in the state.

The maximum 80 companies, as per an official order, will be drawn from the Central Reserve Police Force followed by 70 from the Sashastra Seema Bal, 55 from the Border Security Force, 50 from the Central Industrial Security Force, 30 from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police force  and 15 from the RPF.

A single company of these forces has an operational strength of about 100 personnel.

"A total of 300 companies or about 30,000 personnel of these CAPFs and the RPF have been ordered to be withdrawn immediately from various units including from the borders and training for deployment in Bihar polls," a senior officer said.

Polls for the 243-member Bihar assembly will be held in three phases -- October 28, November 3 and November 7 -- and counting of votes will be held on November 10.

The Election Commission, while announcing the poll schedule for the state on September 25, had said that the electoral exercise will be one of the biggest elections globally to be held during the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic situation.

"Border guarding forces like the ITBP, the BSF and the SSB have also been asked to withdraw their units and send for the Bihar elections pool. Although, the ITBP is heavily committed due to the current situation along the LAC and the BSF against Pakistan on the western front, these forces could not be spared (from doing poll duty) this time," a senior officer privy to the development said. -- PTI

Engaged in a conflict with China for almost five months, the Indian Army's armoured regiments are ready to take on the Chinese Army at altitudes of over 14,500 feet in the area which is the world's highest battlefield for tanks and infantry combat vehicles along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh.

Along with the enemy across the border, the Indian Army is also working on war footing to fight the extremely harsh winters by building new shelters and prefabricated structures for the soldiers.

A visit near the LAC in the Chumar-Demchok area in Eastern Ladakh shows that for countering the Chinese People's Liberation Army's deployment of armoured columns, the Indian Army is battle-ready to face the Chinese Army with its T-90 and T-72 tanks along with the BMP-2 Infantry Combat Vehicles which can operate at temperatures up to minus 40 degree Celsius.

The Eastern Ladakh area witnesses the harshest winters where temperatures normally dip to minus 35 degrees in the night during winters coupled with high-speed freezing winds.

"The Fire and Fury Corps is the only formation of the Indian Army and also in the world to have actually deployed mechanised forces in such harsh terrain. The maintenance of the tanks, infantry combat vehicles and heavy guns is a challenge in this terrain. To ensure crew and equipment readiness, adequate arrangements are in place for both man and machine," Major General Arvind Kapoor told ANI near a tank exercising area.

The capability of Indian tank regiments, like the crossing of rivers and overcoming other obstacles, was on full display in the region where the Indus River flows all along the Eastern Ladakh sector.

"Mechanised infantry is the advanced part of the Indian Army. It has experience of working under any weather condition and any terrain. Due to features like high mobility ammunition and missile storage, it has the capability to fight for a longer duration. The gunner of mechanised infantry is a trained soldier who is capable of firing different kinds of armaments," said a tank soldier deployed at an altitude of 14,700 feet.

The Indian armoured regiments have the capability to reach the LAC within minutes if they are required there and did so recently, when the Chinese activated their tanks after the August 29-30 incidents when India occupied several heights near the southern bank of Pangong lake.

Travellers from Dubai and the United Kingdom were primary sources of COVID-19 importations into India, according to an analytical study done by Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi.

 

According to the research, which has been published in the Journal of Travel Medicine, COVID-19 got induced into Indian states mainly due to international travels.

 

The study has also found that infected cases from Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Andhra Pradesh played less role in spreading the disease outside their communities. Whereas infected people in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir, and Karnataka played a significant role in the local transmission, and some of them caused interstate transfer too.

 

"We tracked the spread of COVID-19 and its diffusion from the global to national level and identified a few super spreaders who played a central role in the transmission of the disease in India. The COVID-19 spread in phase one was traced using the travelling history of the patients, and it was found that most of the transmissions were local," Sarita Azad, Assistant Professor, IIT Mandi, told PTI.

"The research team has used the travel history of infected patients from January to April as the primary data source and a social network was created depicting the spread in the early phase of the pandemic. The research found that the maximum numbers of connections were established from Dubai (144) and the UK ( 64), she added.

Azad explained that statistical metrics calculated from the data revealed that Dubai and the UK played a crucial role in spreading the disease in Indian states and were the primary sources of COVID-19 importations into India.

 

"Dubai's eigenvector centrality was the highest that made it the most influential node. The statistical metrics calculated from the data revealed that Dubai and the UK played a crucial role in spreading the disease in Indian states and were the primary sources of COVID-19 importations into India.

"Based on the modularity class, different clusters were shown to form across Indian states, which demonstrated the formation of a multi-layered social network structure. A significant increase in confirmed cases was reported in states like Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Andhra Pradesh during the first phase of the nationwide lockdown, which spanned from March 25 to April 14," she said.

"The modularity class of states such as Tamil Nadu, Delhi, and Andhra Pradesh was low. Hence, it is likely that infected cases from these states played less of a role in spreading the disease outside their communities. Whereas states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir, and Karnataka played a significant role in the local transmission, and some of them caused interstate transfer too," she added.

Karnataka Congress leader and MLA Dinesh Gundu Rao on Sunday said he has tested positive for COVID-19.

    

"I have tested #Corona positive today. Therefore will be quarantining myself for 10 days. I request all my primary contacts to get themselves checked and take necessary precaution," Rao tweeted.     

The former state Congress President said he was asymptomatic and will recover soon because of the good wishes from every one.

     

Rao had taken part in the proceedings of the monsoon session of the Karnataka assembly till late last night.

     

He was recently appointed as AICC in-charge of Tamil Nadu, Goa and Puducherry. -- PTI 

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday said that he met former Maharashtra chief minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday to discuss certain issues and that both of them could have ideological differences but there was no enmity between the duo.

"I met Devendra Fadnavis yesterday to discuss certain issues. He is a former chief minister. Also, he is the leader of opposition in Maharashtra and Bihar polls in-charge of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Our meeting was fixed as I wanted to take his interview for Saamna. Due to COVID-19 and other reasons, it could not materialise," he said.

"There can be ideological differences but we are not enemies. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray was aware of our meeting. We were not sitting in a bunker it was an open meeting," he added.

The Shiv Sena and the BJP, which contested the 2019 state assembly elections as allies, fell out over power sharing formula, with the Uddhav Thackeray-led party said it was not ready to accept "less than what was agreed" with the BJP.

The Sena formed the government in November last year with the Nationalist Congress Party and Congress as the new alliance partners.

A penalty of Rs 1 lakh each has been imposed on two private hospitals in Navi Mumbai for allegedly violating the COVID-19 protocols and treating patients without authorisation, an official said on Sunday.

Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation spokesperson Mahendra Konde said Criti Care ICU & Super Speciality Hospital in Airoli and Global 5 Health Care (Kunnure Hospital) in Vashi were issued show-cause notices on September 19, but they did not reply to it in the specified period.

Taking serious note of it, NMMC Commissioner Abhijit Bhangar imposed a penalty of Rs 1 lakh each on the hospitals in an order issued on Friday, he said.

Bhangar in his order said the hospitals were admitting and treating COVID-19 patients without authorisation.

Hence, the civic body concluded that there was sufficient ground to initiate action against them for alleged violation of the Acts and guidelines concerned, the commissioner said.

The hospitals have been directed not to admit any COVID-19 patient till further orders, and those currently undergoing treatment there should be treated as per protocols and guidelines of the Indian Council of Medical Research and the Maharashtra government, the order said. 

They should also charge patients as per the government directives, it said, adding that the medical facilties may apply for permission to treat COVID-19 patients in due course.

They have also been asked to strictly comply with the directions, failing which they will face action under provisions of the Epidemic Diseases Act and the Maharashtra COVID-19 Regulations, 2020, the order said.

The NMMC had earlier also taken action against a hospital in Vashi and shut it for a specified period for  violating the official guidelines, but no fine was imposed on it, officials said. -- PTI

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Anil Sarin on Sunday said that Shiromani Akali Dal has quit National Democratic Alliance out of "political compulsions" over the passage of farm bills in the Parliament. 

He further slammed the Opposition for allegedly "misleading" people over the issue of agriculture reform Bills.

"They have come out of the alliance with the NDA due to their political compulsion. They have withdrawn their support because of the present condition of Punjab. I disagree with them that the farm bills were passed all of a sudden and their consent was not taken. It was first discussed by the Cabinet leaders in which Harsimrat Kaur Badal was also present," he said.

"Some of the Opposition party leaders are misleading people on these farm bills. As per these bills, the minimum support price will not be taken away. It will remain the same," Sarin added.

The SAD on Saturday decided to pull out of the BJP-led NDA alliance over "Centre's stubborn refusal to give statutory legislative guarantees to protect assured marketing of farmers crops on MSP". -- ANI

Hailing the passage of farm bills, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that it has empowered farmers and given them freedom to sell their produce.

"Many farmers benefited after fruits, vegetables were brought out of APMC Act in some states a few years ago," the PM said in his 69th episode of 'Mann ki Baat' radio programme.

"Our agriculture sector has shown its prowess during the COVID-19 pandemic. Farmers are playing a major role in building a self-reliant India," Modi said.

Eight of the top 10 valued firms witnessed a combined erosion of Rs 1,57,277.53 crore in market valuation last week, with Reliance Industries Limited emerging as the biggest laggard.

Last week, the Sensex lost 1,457.16 points or 3.83 per cent. Only Infosys and HCL Technologies emerged as gainers among the most valued firms.

The market valuation of Reliance Industries Limited tumbled Rs 70,189.95 crore to Rs 14,88,797.82 crore.

Bharti Airtel's market capitalisation tanked Rs 31,096.67 crore to Rs 2,39,880.86 crore and that of ICICI Bank plummeted by Rs 14,752.95 crore to reach Rs 2,40,329.93 crore.

The market valuation of HDFC declined by Rs 12,737.66 crore to Rs 2,96,339.09 crore and that of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) dived Rs 10,675.53 crore to reach Rs 9,08,940.15 crore.

HDFC Bank witnessed an erosion of Rs 7,286.42 crore to Rs 5,74,614.23 crore and Kotak Mahindra Bank Rs 5,710.01 crore to Rs 2,47,292.12 crore.

Hindustan Unilever Limited's valuation also dropped by Rs 4,828.34 crore to Rs 4,88,179.05 crore.

In contrast, HCL Technologies Limited, the latest entrant in the coveted list of most valuable companies, added Rs 4,450.79 crore to Rs 2,24,555.79 crore in its m-cap.

The valuation of Infosys rose by Rs 3,622.14 crore to Rs 4,30,647.81 crore. In the list of most valuable firms, RIL was at the number one rank followed by TCS, HDFC Bank, HUL, Infosys, HDFC, Kotak Mahindra Bank, ICICI Bank, Airtel and HCL Technologies.   -- PTI

In view of advance arrival of paddy in the state mandis, the Punjab government has ordered to start procurement from September 27, 2020, instead of October 1.

The state government has directed to lift the procured crop within 48-hours.

Divulging details, the Food and Civil Supplies Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu said: "The state government was receiving information regarding the arrival of paddy crop in mandis thus the state had decided to start procurement from September 27, in full pace, instead of October 1, 2020, as announced earlier."

He informed that as many as 4,035 places had been notified as procurement centres across the state in order to protect the farmers, labourers, Arthiyas and those involved in procurement, lifting and transpiration from COVID-19 pandemic in these trying circumstances.

Out of total 4,035 procurement centres, the Minister said, 1,871 were government Mandis while 2,164 were public places and premises of mills, which had been notified as procurement centres to keep the spread of corona at bay.

He further pointed out that the central government had announced the MSP of Rs 1,888 for the A-grade paddy.

The state government had made elaborate arrangements as ensured at the time of wheat procurement so that health protocols especially social distancing could be followed meticulously amid coronavirus situation, he stressed.

In view of COVID-19 outbreak, all concerned authorities involved in the procurement process have been directed to strictly follow the health protocols besides ensuring the availability of soap for washing hands, availability of water and sanitisers having 70 per cent alcohol at the procurement centres.

The Minister further stated that the procurement operations would continue till November 30 and the Punjab Mandi Board would issue passes to farmers through Arthiyas as given at the time of rabi crop with a different colour of passes every day. -- ANI

Mobile phones of actors Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan, Rakul Preet Singh and others, have been seized, a Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) official informed.

"Mobile phones of Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan, Rakul Preet Singh, Karishma Prakash, Simone Khambatta and Jaya Shah have been seized," the NCB official said.

More than 18 people have been arrested so far by the NCB in connection with the Bollywood drug case, Mutha Ashok Jain, Deputy DG, South-Western Region of NCB said on Saturday.

The statements of Karishma Prakash, Sara Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone and Shraddha Kapoor have been recorded, he said.

"The statements of Karishma Prakash, Sara Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone and Shraddha Kapoor have been recorded. Kshitij Prasad has been placed under arrested after questioning. No fresh summon has been issued today. We have arrested more than 18 people," Jain said.

NCB on Saturday arrested Dharma Productions executive producer Kshitij Ravi Prasad in connection with the drug case.

The NCB had launched an investigation into the drugs case after it received official communication from the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which was investigating the money trail related to actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death case. In the investigation, many revelations surfaced including various chats related to drug consumption, procurement, usage and transportation.

The ED had on July 31 registered an Enforcement Case Information Report in the late actor's death case after an FIR was filed by Rajput's father K K Singh against Rhea Chakraborty in Bihar on July 28.

Rajput was found dead at his Mumbai residence on June 14. -- ANI

IMAGE: Actresses Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor and Sara Ali Khan at the NCB office for questioning in a drug probe related to late actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death, in Mumbai, on Saturday. Photograph: PTI Photo

JUST IN: A spike of 88,600 new COVID-19 cases and 1,124 deaths reported in India, in the last 24 hours.

With this, the COVID-19 case tally in India stands at 59,92,533 including 9,56,402 active cases, 49,41,628 cured/discharged/migrated and 94,503 deaths, ministry of health and family welfare said.

Meanwhile, the Indian Council of Medical Research said 7,12,57,836 samples have been tested up to September 26 for COVID-19.

Of these, 9,87,861 samples were tested yesterday, the ICMR said.  -- ANI

Army Hospital Research and Referral, New Delhi, issues a statement on former Union minister Jaswant Singh's death:

'Major Jaswant Singh (retd), former cabinet minister, passed away at 6.55 am today.

'He was admitted on June 25 and was being treated for Sepsis with Multiorgan Dysfunction Syndrome.

'He had a cardiac arrest this morning. His COVID-19 status is negative,' the hospital said.  -- ANI

Former Union Minister Jaswant Singh passed away today.

Condoling his death, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, 'Jaswant Singh Ji served our nation diligently, first as a soldier and later during his long association with politics.'

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also condoled the demise of the former minister.

'Deeply pained by the passing away of veteran BJP leader & former Minister, Shri Jaswant Singh ji. He served the nation in several capacities including the charge of Raksha Mantri. He distinguished himself as an effective Minister and Parliamentarian,' Singh tweeted.

'Shri Jaswant Singh ji would be remembered for his intellectual capabilities and stellar record in service to the nation. He also played a key role in strengthening the BJP in Rajasthan. Condolences to his family and supporters in this sad hour. Om Shanti,' he said in another tweet.   -- ANI

Reacting to the Shiromani Akali Dal quitting the National Democratic Alliance over the farm bills issue, the Congress on Saturday said it was the 'victory' of farmers that the Akali Dal had to bow before their doorstep and break ties with the ruling coalition.

The SAD is the third major party to walk out of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition in the last couple of years.

Reacting to the development, Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala hailed it as a 'victory' of 'farmers-labourers'.

'Supporters of black laws, Akali Dal, had to leave NDA and break ties with the Modi government,' he said.

'They had to bow at the doorstep of farmers-labourers,' Surjewala tweeted, tagging an old clip of Akali Dal leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal defending the farm ordinances in an interview she gave when she was a Union minister.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said, 'Clearly @Akali_Dal_ was left with no choice after @BJP4India exposed that @Officeofssbadal and his SAD were fully party to Anti-Farmer legislations.'

'The end of the coalition is only an outcome of 3 months of deceit...of defending the indefensible and misguiding the Punjab farmer,' he said.

SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal announced the decision to snap ties with the NDA on Saturday night, amid stepped up agitation by farmers in Punjab over the three legislations which were recently passed by Parliament amid Opposition protests.

Badal's wife and SAD leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal had on September 17 quit the Union Cabinet after he strongly opposed the bills in Lok Sabha, claiming these legislations will 'destroy' the agriculture sector in Punjab.   -- PTI