LIVE! 115 people killed in cyclones in 2020: IMD

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Mon, 04 January 2021

115 people killed in cyclones in 2020: IMD

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23:32 India's S-400 deal with Russia may trigger US sanctions: Congressional report

India's multi-billion dollar deal to purchase the Russian-made S-400 air defence system may trigger US sanctions on New Delhi, a US Congressional report has warned.

The Congressional Research Service - an independent and bipartisan research wing of US Congress - in its latest report to Congress, said India is "eager for more technology-sharing and co-production initiatives, while the United States urges more reforms in India's defence offsets policy and higher Foreign Direct Investment caps in its defence sector."

Prepared for the members of the Congress for them to take informed decisions, the report went on to warn that "India's multi-billion dollar deal to purchase the Russian-made S-400 air defence system may trigger US sanctions on India under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act."

The CRS' reports are neither an official report of the US Congress nor reflect the view of Congressmen. They are prepared by independent experts for the lawmakers to take informed decisions.

In October 2018, India had signed a USD 5 billion deal with Russia to buy five units of the S-400 air defence missile systems, despite a warning from the Trump administration that going ahead with the contract may invite US sanctions.

In 2019, India made the first tranche of payment of around USD 800 million to Russia for the missile systems.

The S-400 is known as Russia's most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile defence system.

Last month, Russia had said that implementation of its ongoing defence deals with India including the supply of a batch of S-400 missile systems is advancing well notwithstanding the threat of US sanctions.

-- PTI

23:07 115 people killed in cyclones in 2020: IMD

Cyclones killed 115 people and more than 17,000 livestock in the country in 2020, the India Meteorological Department said on Monday.

Five cyclones formed over the north Indian Ocean -- Amphan (super cyclonic storm), Nivar and Gati (very severe cyclonic storms), Nisarga (severe cyclonic storm), and Burevi (cyclonic storm) -- in 2020.

While Nisarga and Gati formed over the Arabian Sea, the remaining three were over the Bay of Bengal.

Amphan was the most devastating of these cyclones. It formed in the pre-monsoon season and crossed West Bengal coast over the Sundarbans on May 20.

"It claimed 90 lives and about 4,000 livestock, mainly in West Bengal," the IMD said in its State of Climate of India during 2020.

The Severe Cyclonic Storm Nisarga was formed in the monsoon season and crossed Maharashtra coast on June 3. It claimed four lives and 2,000 livestock in Maharashtra.

The remaining three cyclones -- Nivar, Burevi and Gati -- formed during the post-monsoon season.

Nivar crossed Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts and claimed 12 lives and 10,836 livestock in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

Burevi claimed nine lives and 200 livestock in Tamil Nadu.

The Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Gati made landfall over the Somalia coast.

-- PTI

22:32 US 'extremely disappointed' in Assange ruling

The US Justice Department said Monday that it was extremely disappointed in a British judges decision not to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States to face trial for publishing US secrets.

While we are extremely disappointed in the courts ultimate decision, we are gratified that the United States prevailed on every point of law raised, the department said.

It pointed to the judges rejection of Assanges claims that he had been exercising free speech rights when he dumped thousands of leaked classified US military and diplomatic files onto the internet in 2010, and that the US was pursuing a political vendetta because of it.

Instead, the judge ruled that Assanges mental health is fragile and that he would be at significant risk of suicide in an American prison.

The judge said it was not evident that the United States, keeping him jailed while awaiting trial, would be able to ensure his safety in prisons known for harsh conditions.

Assange was indicted for violating the US espionage act in leaking the US files, and for hacking, based on the alleged assistance he provided former military intelligence officer Chelsea Manning in obtaining the documents from secure military computer systems.

But the US case raised free speech issues, with Assange and defenders maintaining that WikiLeaks enjoys the rights of any other media to publish secret materials.

If found guilty on the US charges, he could face spending the rest of his life in prison.

Four people were arrested here on Monday after they waved saffron flags at the Taj Mahal complex, police said.

The CISF personnel deployed at the historic place apprehended them after which they were handed over to police.

Tajganj police station Inspector Umesh Chandra Tripathi said three people waved flags at the Taj Mahal complex under the leadership of right-wing leader Gaurav Thakur.

Police have registered a case against them, he said.

-- PTI

21:52 Mumbai: Dharavi's COVID-19 tally rises by 5

The number of COVID-19 cases in slum-dominated Dharavi in Mumbai increased by five to reach 3,826 on Monday, though the number of active cases stood at 24, an official said.

So far, 3,490 people have been discharged post recovery, he added.

With 6.5 lakh people crammed into an area of 2.5 square kilometres, Dharavi, which got on to the COVID-19 map on April 1 last year, is considered among the densest urban settlements in the world.

-- PTI

21:32 FIR against Sohail, Arbaaz over Covid protocol

The Mumbai civic body has filed an FIR against Sohail Khan, Arbaaz Khan and Sohail's son Nirvaan for violation of Covid protocol.

According to the BMC, they returned from Dubai on December 25 were asked to remain in quarantine in a hotel but they went home.

A Global News executive said the media outlet is taking action but declined to give specifics after a high-profile radio host quit, alleging the false narratives perpetuated by talk radio hosts resulted in an increase in the racist, violent messages she received.

Supriya Dwivedi resigned as co-host of The Morning Show on Global News Radio 640 Toronto in October and worked her last day last week. As previously reported by VICE World News, Dwivedi quit because she alleged her employer refused to do anything about the false narratives about refugees, Muslims, Sikhs, and other targeted groups being spread by her talk radio colleagues. She said when she tried to correct the record on air, she received a deluge of hate, including rape threats directed at her baby.

On Thursday, Ward Smith, senior vice president of Global News, sent out an internal message to staff that referenced VICE World News story and committed to do more to tackle systemic racism.

Read full story HERE

20:42 2020 was 8th warmest year since 1901

The year 2020 was the eight warmest since 1901 but it was "substantially lower" than the highest warming observed in 2016, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Monday.

"During the year, annual mean land surface air temperature averaged over the country was 0.29 degree Celsius above normal (based on the data of 1981-2010)," the IMD said in a statement on Climate of India during 2020.

"The year 2020 was the eighth warmest year on record since nation-wide records commenced in 1901. However, this is substantially lower than the highest warming observed over India during 2016 (+0.71 degree Celsius)," it said.

The five warmest years on record in order were: 2016 (+ 0.71 degree C), 2009 (+0.55 degree C), 2017 (+0.541 degree C), 2010 (+0.539 degrees C), and 2015 (+0.42 degree C).

Twelve out of the 15 warmest years since 1901 were during the last 15 years -- between 2006 and 2020, according to the IMD data.

-- PTI

The Supreme Court will deliver its judgment tomorrow in a batch of petitions challenging the redevelopment of New Delhi's Central Vista area.

The judgment will be rendered by a three-judge Bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari and Sanjiv Khanna.

The Bench had reserved its judgment in the matter on November 5, 2020.

The Central government is proposing redevelopment of the Central Vista area by constructing a new Parliament house, a new residential complex that will house the Prime Minister and the Vice President along with several new office buildings and Central Secretariat to accommodates ministry offices.

The petitioners before the Supreme Court challenged a notification issued by the Delhi Development Authority on December 21, 2019 regarding changes in land use for the redevelopment.

"I am in favour of farmers and want withdrawal of these three farm laws for the sake of the country and farmers. Before the bills came in, they had godowns made. Their political intention is clear and that's why they are not taking it back," West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said.

19:26 China denies coronavirus leaked from Wuhan lab

China on Monday vehemently refuted the US charge that the novel coronavirus was leaked from a bio lab in the country and asserted that the pandemic was likely to have been caused by separate outbreaks in multiple places in the world.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying's remarks came amidst reports that a ten-member team of the World Health Organisation scientists would visit China this month to probe the origin of the coronavirus, which emerged in Wuhan in December 2019.

Beijing is yet to confirm the visit by the WHO team and remained silent about granting permission for it to visit Wuhan city in central China.

"I have no detailed information for you," Hua told a media briefing here when asked about the visit of the WHO team and whether its schedule included a visit to Wuhan.

"China attaches high importance to cooperation with the WHO. We have been providing support and convenience for WHO's work," Hua said.

China has been proactively questioning the widely-held view that the deadly outbreak broke out in a wet market in Wuhan where the live animals are sold. The market remained closed and sealed since early last year.

In May last year, the World Health Assembly - the governing body of the 194-member states of the WHO - approved a resolution to set up an independent inquiry to conduct an "impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation" of the international response as well as that of WHO.

It also asked the WHO to investigate the "source of the virus and the route of introduction to the human population".

"We raced against time and were the first country to report cases to the world," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in interviews to the official media over the weekend.

"More and more research suggests that the pandemic was likely to have been caused by separate outbreaks in multiple places in the world," he said.

"When hit by an unknown coronavirus, China took immediate actions to carry out epidemiological investigation, identify the pathogen and publicise key information including the genome sequencing of the virus. All this sounded alarm bells across the world," Wang said, adding that China "took the most rigorous control measures to fight the virus".

-- PTI

19:15 Jaishankar to fly to Sri Lanka tomorrow

External Affairs Miister S Jaishankar will travel to Sri Lanka on Tuesday on a visit to cement Indias relationship with the island nation.

The external affairs minister is expected to take up the release of Indian fishermen apprehended last month during the visit that is designed to review the developments in bilateral relations between the two neighbours from a strategic and long-term perspective.

Jaishankar had rushed to Colombo within a day of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa taking charge in November 2019, setting the foundation for both countries to reset ties.

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had travelled to New Delhi soon after on his maiden foreign visit. The effort to deepen ties continued in September last when Prime Minister Narendra Modi held the first virtual bilateral summit with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, their first after he began a fresh term as prime minister a month earlier after the Sri Lanka Peoples Front party secured a two-thirds majority in parliamentary polls.

Jaishankar is scheduled to hold discussions with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.

Officials said Jaishankars visit would look at smoothing the rough edges in the relationship between the two countries that has turned complicated over the last decade, mostly on account of Chinas efforts to expand its influence in the Indian Ocean region including Sri Lanka.

Shortly after the seventh round of talks between the farmers and the government ended without a breakthrough, Bharatiya Kisan Union spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said on Monday that until the three contentious farm laws were withdrawn, the protesters wont go home.

Discussion took place on our demands -- repeal of the three laws and MSP... Kanoon wapasi nahi, to ghar wapasi nahi (We will not go home until the laws are withdrawn), he said as quoted by news agency ANI.

Tikaits statement comes after the Centre ruled out any possibility of repealing the laws at the talks, adding that it can look into any clause the farmers had issues with. The Centre was represented by Union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar, Piyush Goyal and Som Prakash.

As the talks between the government and farmers ended on a negative note with no decision reached, Agricultural Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said, "Talks remained inconclusive as union leaders remained stuck on their demand for repeal of three laws."

He added, "Both sides need to make efforts to find solution (Taali dono haath se bajti hai)."

The minister said that the government was hopeful of solution in the January 8 meeting.

Two days after Akhilesh Yadav said he will not get himself injected with a "BJP vaccine" against coronavirus, the Samajwadi Party chief asserted Monday that he had never insulted the scientists who developed it.

Yadav's comment on Saturday that he could not trust a vaccine which would be used by a BJP government had triggered sharp reactions from the ruling party as well as leaders like Omar Abdullah of the National Conference.

The SP chief had tried to make amends on Twitter the same day, saying he was not referring to the scientists.

Questioned again by reporters on his remarks, the SP asked the Centre to tell when the poor people in the state will get the anti-COVID shot and if it will be available free.

"I have never raised any questions on any scientist developing the vaccine or any person helping in making the vaccine. I only raised questions on the BJP as people do not have faith in the party because of the decisions taken by it," he said.

But he appeared to raise doubts again against the vaccines set to be rolled out in the country in the coming days, asking what happened with the Haryana minister who had got himself vaccinated.

"The government hospital could not treat him, so he went to a private hospital to save his life," Yadav said.

The apparent reference was to Haryana's Anil Vij who had tested positive for coronavirus days after taking part in a trial for Bharat Biotech's Covaxin.

-- PTI

The top boss of Bharat Biotech, the Indian pharmaceutical company that has developed the Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin in collaboration with the Indian Council for Medical Research, has slammed the criticism against the indigenous vaccine and its emergency approval.

Covaxin was approved for emergency use by India's Drug Controller General of India on Sunday. The approval has drawn flake due to the absence of phase 3 data of the clinical trials for Covaxin.

Addressing a press conference on Monday, Dr Krishan Ella, Chief Managing Director of Bharat Biotech International Limited hit back at critics and said that the approvals have been granted on the basis of conditions set up by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation 2019.

"The CDSCO guidelines issued in 2019 state: If your platform is proven, safe and phase 1 and 2 data is available then you can license the product," Dr Ella said.

Dr Krishna Ella has claimed that Covaxin was facing flake because there is a tendency to slam Indian companies. "There is a lot of backlash against Indian companies. It is not acceptable to us. I don't know why Indian companies are targeted by everyone in the world," he said.

The deadlock over the repeal of the contentious farm laws persisted today, with the Centre and the farmers unable to come on the same page.

In the seventh round of meeting, the farmers' representatives again refused to accept the option of amendment offered by the government.

Sources said the government is still trying to convince the farmers, who have threatened to hold a rally on Republic Day, January 26, if the government refused to meet their demands.

The two sides have agreed to meet again on January 8.

Zee group founder Subhash Chandra

17:56 Income tax officials raid Zee group

Income tax officials are conducting a search and survey at offices of media firm Zee Group for alleged tax evasion, an official of the tax department said.

The media group has confirmed the development.

In a statement on Monday, a company spokesperson said "officials from the tax department have visited our offices, with certain queries. Our officials are providing all the required information and extending complete cooperation."

Though the spokesperson did not specify whether the survey is only at its offices in Mumbai, the department official cited above said they are searching Zee offices across Mumbai and Delhi.

However, the official refused to share more details.

Zee group founder Subhash Chandra is a member of the Upper House of Parliament. The group has been facing cash flow issues since the past year and been divesting non-core businesses to repay lenders.

-- PTI

17:25 Tamil Nadu allows 100% seating in cinema halls

Ahead of Pongal festival next week, the Tamil Nadu government has allowed increasing the seating capacity of cinemas, theatres and multiplexes from the existing 50% to 100%, but after following all Covid-19 protocols, reports ANI on Twitter.

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange cannot be extradited to the United States, a court in London has ruled.

The judge blocked the request because of concerns over Assange's mental health and risk of suicide in the US.

The 49-year-old is wanted over the publication of thousands of classified documents in 2010 and 2011.

The US claims the leaks broke the law and endangered lives. Assange has fought the extradition and says the case is politically motivated.

The US authorities have said the decision will be appealed.

If convicted in the US, Mr Assange faces a possible penalty of up to 175 years in jail, his lawyers have said. However the US government said the sentence was more likely to be between four and six years.

Mr Assange faces an 18-count indictment from the US government, accusing him of conspiring to hack into US military databases to acquire sensitive secret information relating to the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, which was then published on the Wikileaks website.

He says the information exposed abuses by the US military.

BCCI president and former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who has suffered a "mild" heart attack, is stable and likely to be discharged on Wednesday, hospital authorities said.

A nine-member board of senior doctors discussed Ganguly's condition on Monday and reached a consensus that though necessary, angioplasty can be deferred to a later date as he is stable, Woodlands Hospital MD and CEO Dr Rupali Basu said.

Renowned cardiologists Dr Devi Shetty and Dr R K Panda participated in the meeting through a virtual platform while another expert from the US was part of the discussion over the phone, she said.

"The medical board came to a consensus that deferring angioplasty for now is a safer option as Mr Ganguly is stable, does not have chest pain and is on optimal management," Dr Basu, a member of the board, said.

The cricket great's family members were present during the meeting and were explained about the disease process and further therapeutic plan.

"The angioplasty will take place for sure in a few days or weeks. He will be discharged most probably the day after tomorrow," she said.

Treating doctors will keep a constant vigil on his health condition and take appropriate measures at his home after he is discharged, Dr Basu said.

Dr Devi Shetty is likely to visit Ganguly on Tuesday and sit for another meeting for the next course of treatment, she said.

Forty-eight-year-old Ganguly had earlier undergone angioplasty after suffering a "mild" heart attack on Saturday.

He was diagnosed with three blocked coronary arteries, following which a stent was inserted in one to remove the blockage. -- PTI

Ahead of the next round of talks between the Centre and the agitating farmers, the Congress Monday said it would be a "true test of nationalism", and warned no government can face the wrath of farmers "who believe they are being deceived".

The government will hold the seventh round of talks with the agitating farmers and their leaders at Vigyan Bhawan later in the day.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said on Twitter, "Today is the true test of 'Nationalism'. Will Modi Government act in 'National Interest' or 'Crony Corporate Interest'."

The Congress has been demanding the repeal of the three farm laws whose enactment has triggered a massive protest by farmers.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said those sitting under the dripping tents in the winter rains "are our own fearless farmers and not strangers".

There is nothing more left to be seen as far as the government's "brutality" on farmers is concerned, he alleged, as he shared some pictures of agitating farmers braving the winter chill while protesting at Delhi's borders.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said around 60 farmers have lost their lives in the course of the agitation due to the "government's arrogance".

Sharing a video of the tear gas shells being hurled at them, she asked how the farmers can trust this government.

'On one hand, the government is calling farmers for talks and on the other it is hurling tar gas shells at them in this chilling winter cold. Around 60 farmers have lost their lives due to this arrogant and cruel behaviour of the government. How can farmers trust this cruel government?" She asked in a tweet in Hindi.

Congress leader P Chidambaram cited the words of noted poet Saint Tiruvalluvar who, the Congress leader noted, wrote about 2,000 years ago that "if farmers fold their hands, even a person who has renounced life cannot survive".

"How true it is today. No government can face the wrath of farmers who believe they are being deceived," he said on Twitter. -- PTI

15:15 7th round of farmers-Centre talks underway

The seventh round of talks between protesting farmer unions and three central ministers got underway in New Delhi on Monday afternoon to break the over-a-month-long deadlock on recent farm laws.

Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar, railways, commerce and food minister Piyush Goyal and minister of state for commerce Som Parkash, who is an MP from Punjab, are holding the talks with the representatives of 40 farmer unions at the Vigyan Bhawan.

The meeting began with paying respects to the farmers who lost their lives during the ongoing protest, sources said.

On December 30, the sixth round of talks was held between the government and the farmer unions, where some common ground was reached on two demands -- decriminalisation of stubble-burning and continuation of power subsidies.

However, no breakthrough has been reached so far on the two main demands of the protesting farmers -- a repeal of the three recent farm laws and a legal guarantee to the MSP procurement system.

On Sunday, Tomar met defence minister Rajnath Singh and discussed the government strategy to resolve the current crisis at the earliest, sources said.

Tomar discussed with Singh "all possible options" to find a "middle path" to resolve the crisis, they added.

Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, are protesting at various Delhi borders for over a month against the three laws. They have stayed put despite heavy rains and waterlogging at protest sites over the last couple of days, besides severe cold weather conditions prevailing in and around the national capital. -- PTI

Nepal's former prime minister and chairman of a rival faction of the ruling Nepal Communist Party Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' is travelling to Mumbai for the treatment of his ailing wife.

Prachanda, his wife Sita Dahal and two daughters took a flight to Mumbai via New Delhi from Tribhuvan International Airport on Monday morning.

Prachanda's wife has been suffering from progressive supranuclear palsy, a rare brain disorder which has similar symptoms as Parkinson's disease. She is expected to undergo treatment at NeuroGen Brain and Spine Institute in Mumbai, according to party sources.

Dr Alok Sharma will head the team of doctors for the treatment of Prachanda's wife, according to Prachanda's aides.

Earlier, his wife, who is in 60s, was taken to the United States and Singapore for medical treatment.

Last week, she had been admitted to Mediciti Hospital in Kathmandu following a complication in her health.

The visit comes amid a political crisis in Nepal after Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, known for his pro-Beijing leanings, in a surprise move, recommended dissolving the 275-member House on December 20, amidst a tussle for power with former premier Prachanda.

Acting on Oli's recommendation, President Bidya Devi Bhandari dissolved the House the same day and announced fresh elections on April 30 and May 10, sparking protests from a large section of the NCP led by Prachanda. -- PTI

All educational institutions in Bihar, including schools, colleges and coaching centres, reopened on Monday after a gap of over nine months.

Physical classes were held for students of standards 9-12 in schools and final year students in colleges. The institutions were closed since March 14 due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Wearing of masks, use of hand sanitiser and maintenance of physical distancing have been made mandatory at the educational institutions. Schools have been asked to operate at half the strength to ensure social distancing in

classes.

Attendance, however, remained thin as many parents were apprehensive of sending their wards to the educational institutions till they were vaccinated.

Many students, on the other hand, were enthusiastic about the development.

"I am happy that schools have reopened as students were getting badly affected. Most of the children studying in government schools do not have laptops to carry out online studies. Our syllabus is lagging and we will work hard to cover it," a class 9 student of Patna's Miller High School said.

Another class 11 student said that though COVID-19 fears loom large, studies are equally important and cannot be missed, while assuring that safety protocols will be maintained.

Teachers too seemed happy to be able to take physical classes again.

"It is good that we are getting an opportunity to teach students in physical classrooms. All these months we used to come to schools but did not have teaching work," an educator of Miller High School said.

The attendance of class 11 and 12 students is lesser than that of class 9 and 10 pupils, he said.

Students have to bring consent letters from their guardians to be able to attend the classes, another teacher said.

Many guardians, however, fear that their children might get infected with COVID-19 if they are sent to schools without being vaccinated.

"We will not send our children to schools till they are vaccinated for COVID-19. We cannot take risks despite the precautionary measures being taken by the state government," Rajiv Singh, a resident of Jethiyan village in Gaya district said.

Dharmendra Kumar, a resident of Khijarsarai village in the same district, echoed the demand.

The decision to reopen the educational institutions was taken during a Crisis Management Group meeting on December 18 last year. -- PTI

The income tax department is recording the statement of Robert Vadra in connection with a benami property case, ANI reports quoting sources.

Details soon.

14:16 Britain begins Covid vaccine inoculation

The UK's National Health Service (NHS) on Monday began rolling out the Oxford University vaccine developed by AstraZeneca as protection against COVID-19, with an 82-year-old Oxford-born dialysis patient becoming the first to receive the new jab.

Brian Pinker is among the first to be vaccinated by the Oxford University Hospital's (OUH) chief nurse, hailed as a major milestone in the phased vaccination programme being undertaken by the NHS as the Oxford jab became the second vaccine approved for rollout after the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

A retired maintenance manager who has been having dialysis for kidney disease at the hospital for a number of years, Pinker said he was pleased to be getting protection against the virus, giving him peace of mind as he continues to receive treatment.

"I am so pleased to be getting the Covid-19 vaccine today and really proud that it is one that was invented in Oxford. The nurses, doctors and staff today have all been brilliant and I can now really look forward to celebrating my 48th wedding anniversary with my wife Shirley later this year, he said.

-- Aditi Khanna, PTI

14:01 3 officials held over UP crematorium tragedy

The Ghaziabad Police on Monday arrested three municipal officials over the collapse of a roof at a crematorium in Ghaziabad that claimed 24 lives, even as victims' kin blocked the Delhi-Meerut Highway demanding higher compensation and a government job for each grieving family.

Superintendent of Police (Rural) Iraj Raja said that Muradnagar Nagar Palika Executive Officer Niharika Singh, Junior Engineer Chandra Pal and Supervisor Ashish were arrested this morning.

Police teams are also conducting raids at possible hideouts of contractor Ajay Tyagi to arrest him, Raja said.

Meanwhile, the victims' families and acquaintances blocked the Delhi-Meerut Highway by placing two bodies on the road near the Muradnagar Police Station which led to a massive traffic jam with hundreds of vehicles getting piled up during the morning rush hour.

Police personnel are present at the protest site in adequate number and they are trying to pursue the agitators to lift the blockade and let the traffic resume, officials said.

However, the protesters are insisting the district magistrate be called for a talk with them so that they can register their demands including Rs 20 lakh compensation for each grieving family and a government job for one of their members.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had Sunday announced Rs 2 lakh as financial relief for the families of each man killed.

Twenty-four people, most of them attending a funeral, were killed and 17 others injured when the roof of a shelter at a cremation ground in Muradnagar here collapsed on Sunday.

Officials said construction work, estimated to cost around Rs 55 crore, on the shelter corridor was started two months ago and it was opened for public nearly 15 days ago. -- PTI

Representational image

13:38 Maha: Schools reopen in Aurangabad, 2 teachers test +ve

Schools reopened for classes 9 and 10 in Maharashtra's Aurangabad district on Monday, even as two teachers have tested positive for coronavirus, a civic official said.

There was good response from students in the civic-run schools on the first day, the official said, adding that the exact number of students who attended the classes will be known by evening.

While permitting reopening of schools for Classes 9 and 10, which have been shut since March last year following the outbreak of COVID-19, the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation has made coronavirus test mandatory for teachers.

From December 28 till January 3, 1,358 teachers and other staff of various schools underwent RT-PCR tests. Out of them, two teachers and one staff member have so far tested positive for coronavirus, the official said.

When contacted, the civic body's education officer Ramnath Thore told PTI that they have received good response from students.

"However, some students were sent back home as they didn't have consent of their parents. The students are enthusiastic about coming back to school and we will surely see a rise in the number in the coming days," he said.

Ajay Nilangekar, a senior teacher from a private school here, said students came to attend classes in good numbers in the morning.

"We have almost one-third strength on the first day. The classes will take place for four hours every day. Sanitisation of the premises is done before the school starts and will be done again after the classes are over," he said.

Aparna Jabras, mother of a Class 9 student who is currently attending online classes, said she will wait and watch before taking a decision on whether to send her son to school or not.

"As going to school is optional, my son can attend the classes online," she said.

Anagha Vasekar, whose son is also studying in Class 9 in another private school here, said, "I am ready to send my son to school. The studies have already been hampered a lot, hence I will send him to school."

Till Sunday, the COVID-19 tally in Aurangabad was 45,762, while 1,206 people have so far died due to the disease, as per official figures. -- PTI

India has enough stockpile of the COVID-19 vaccine for inoculation of priority groups, including healthcare workers and frontline workers, in the first phase, Niti Aayog member V K Paul said on Monday.

Paul, who is also the Chairman of National Expert Group On Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 further said the government will soon announce its plans for purchase and distribution of COVID-19 vaccine.

"Our first phase (of vaccination) comprises priority groups with high risk of mortality and our healthcare and frontline workers. For them, we believe, we have enough (COVID-19 vaccine) stockpile," he told PTI in an interview.

India's drug regulator DCGI on Sunday approved the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute, and indigenously developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use in the country, paving the way for a massive inoculation drive.

Paul noted that "three to four months from now, there will be other vaccines and the stockpile will be even bigger. "And more acceleration can be brought about in the vaccination programme," Paul added.

Asked when the government will announce its plans for purchase and distribution of COVID-19 vaccine, he said, "this will follow. Now the essential has taken place, all these steps will be taken."

Asked what would be the single biggest challenge in mass vaccination for COVID-19, Paul noted that the biggest challenge encompasses the huge mobilisation that is required for such an effort.

"Well, the single most important challenge for mass vaccination on such a scale is mobilising beneficiaries on the appointed day and to conduct sessions in smooth, systemic protocols, ensuring COVID-19 appropriate precautions, I think is the single biggest challenge," he observed.

According to Paul, the purpose of vaccination is a staggered ambition and can be seen as hierarchical.

"Ultimately, we would like vaccination to stop, stall and extinguish the pandemic, that is the ultimate purpose," he said adding that for that to be achieved, a herd immunity of about 70 per cent has to be created either through vaccination or by adding those people who have undergone natural infection.

Paul pointed out that for normal life to go on, there should be enough vaccinated people, so that the country's industry, schools, transportation, judicial system and Parliamentary activity go on.

"Even though the virus may be there, the pandemic may not have finished but enough of economic and social life could go on," he emphasised.

Replying to a question that India does not have experience in adult vaccination, the Niti Aayog member noted that countries face new challenges and then they respond on the basis of their intrinsic capability. -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that the world's biggest inoculation drive against coronavirus is set to begin in the country, a day after the drugs regulator approved two vaccines for restricted emergency use.

Lauding the scientists and technicians for the 'Made in India' vaccines, he said the country is proud of them.

"World's biggest COVID-19 vaccination programme set to begin in India. For this, the country is proud of the contributions of its scientists and technicians," Modi said.

Addressing scientists at the National Metrology Conclave, Modi said it must be ensured that 'Made in India' products not only have global demand but also global acceptance.

"Quality is as much important as quantity, our standards should rise with our scale in our quest for Aatmanirbhar Bharat," he said.

India's drugs regulator on Sunday approved Oxford COVID-19 vaccine Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute, and indigenously developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use in the country, paving the way for a massive inoculation drive. -- PTI

Leaders of farmers unions on Monday reiterated that nothing less than the repeal of Central farm laws will be acceptable to them.

Ahead of the seventh round of talks with the Central government over the issue, Bharatiya Kisan Union spokesperson, Rakesh Tikait said, "Many issues are to be discussed today. The government must understand, the farmer has taken this movement to his heart and won't consider less than the repeal of these laws. The government should implement Swaminathan's report and make law on MSP."

Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee's Joint Secretary Sukhwinder S Sabra also threatened to hold a tractor march if the demands of the unions weren't met.

"Our demands are the same as before - repeal the three farm laws and guarantee MSP. If our demands aren't met, then, we will hold tractor march on January 6 and also on January 26," he said.

The meeting between the unions and the Central government is scheduled to take place today. -- ANI

Facing the brunt of farmer's ire over perception of it being a beneficiary of new farm laws, Reliance Industries on Monday said it neither buys foodgrains directly from farmers nor is in the business of contract farming.

In a statement, billionaire Mukesh Ambani's firm said its subsidiary Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited has filed a petition in the Punjab and Haryana high court seeking "the urgent intervention of government authorities to bring a complete stop to the illegal acts of vandalism (of telecom towers) by miscreants."

Reliance said it "has nothing whatsoever to do with the three farm laws currently debated in the country, and in no way benefits from them."

"As such, the sole nefarious purpose of linking the name of Reliance to these laws is to harm our businesses and damage our reputation," it said.

The company said it does not do "corporate or contract farming" and has not bought "any agricultural land, directly or indirectly, in Punjab/Haryana or anywhere else in India, for the purpose of corporate or contract farming."

Its retail unit which sells food grains and staples, fruits and vegetables and items of daily use through its stores, "does not purchase any food grains directly from farmers," the statement said.

"It has never entered into long-term procurement contracts to gain unfair advantage over farmers or sought that its suppliers buy from farmers at less than remunerative prices, nor will it ever do so," it added. -- PTI

BCCI president and former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who underwent angioplasty after a "mild" heart attack, is stable and a medical board will meet on Monday morning to frame the next course of treatment, doctors said.

Forty-eight-year-old Ganguly, who was diagnosed with 'triple vessel disease', slept well on Sunday night and all his parameters are normal at the moment, a bulletin released by the hospital where he is undergoing treatment said.

His blood pressure is 120/80 and oxygen saturation level is 97 per cent, the bulletin said.

"We will conduct echocardiography in the morning to assess his heart function. Doctors are keeping a constant vigil on his health condition and taking appropriate measures from time to time," it said.

The batting great was diagnosed with three blocked coronary arteries on Saturday, following which a stent was inserted in one to remove the blockage.

Triple vessel disease is an extreme form of coronary artery disease developed when the major vessels supplying blood to the heart are damaged mainly because of cholesterol deposits and also due to inflammation. -- PTI

10:57 Hope farmers get justice: Dharmendra

Ahead of the seventh round of talks between the central government and protesting farmer unions, veteran actor and former MP Dharmendra on Monday said he prays with all his heart that the farmers agitating against the three farm laws get justice today.

Braving the cold and rains, thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab and Haryana, are protesting at various borders of the national capital for more than a month against the new agri legislations.

"I hope today my farmer brothers get justice. I pray with all my heart. Every noble soul will get relief," Dharmendra, 84, wrote in Hindi on Twitter.

This is not the first time the screen icon has spoken up in the wake of the farmers crisis.

In December, Dharmendra urged the Centre to find a solution to the protests over the farm laws.

"I am in extreme pain to see the suffering of my farmer brothers. Government should do something fast," he had tweeted.

The government has presented these laws, enacted in September, as major agriculture reforms aimed at helping farmers and increasing their income, but the protesting unions fear that the new legislations has left them at the mercy of big corporates by weakening the MSP and mandi systems.

On Sunday evening, Haryana Police fired teargas canisters to thwart a march of a group of agitating farmers towards Delhi at Masani barrage in Rewari district.

Farmers first broke police barricades put up near Bhudla Sangwari village and then started moving towards Delhi in the evening.

A large number of farmers from Rajasthan, Haryana and some other places have been protesting on the Jaipur-Delhi highway for the past several days. -- PTI

10:49 India records 16,504 new COVID-19 cases

Daily new COVID-19 cases in the country remained below 20,000 for the third consecutive day taking the virus caseload to 1,03,40,469, while the recoveries surged to 99.46 lakh, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Monday.

A total of 16,504 tested positive for coronavirus infection in a day. The death toll increased to 1,49,649 with 214 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 99,46,867 pushing the national recovery rate to 96.19 per cent, while the COVID-19 case fatality rate stands at 1.45 per cent.

The COVID-19 active caseload remained below 3 lakh for the 14th consecutive day.

There are 2,43,953 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country which comprise 2.36 per cent of the total caseload,the data stated.

India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, 17,56,35,761 samples have been tested up to January 3 with 7,35,978 samples being tested on Sunday. -- PTI

Routes connecting Delhi to Ghaziabad and Noida via Ghazipur and Chilla borders remained partially closed on Monday due to the farmers' protest against the Centre's agricultural reforms, the traffic police said.

They advised commuters to take alternative routes for coming to Delhi via Anand Vihar, DND, Bhopra and Loni borders.

Farmers from different states have been camping at various border points of Delhi for 40 days now to demand the repeal of the three farm laws enacted in September and a legal backing for the minimum support price.

The farmers had a difficult morning on Sunday as overnight rains left their tents waterlogged, firewood and blankets soaked, and intensified the cold. However, the farmers have said the weather will not dampen their spirit and they will continue the protest till their demands are met.

Since the farmers arrived at the national capital's borders in late November, the Delhi Traffic Police has been posting alerts on its official Twitter handle to inform commuters about road closures across the city.

In a series of tweets on Monday, the traffic police said Singhu, Auchandi, Piau Maniyari, Saboli and Mangesh borders are closed for traffic movement.

"Please take alternate route via Lampur Safiabad, Palla & Singhu school toll tax borders. Traffic has been diverted from Mukarba & GTK road. Please avoid Outer Ring Road, GTK Road & NH-44," it said.

"The Chilla and Ghazipur borders are closed for traffic coming from Noida & Ghaziabad to Delhi because of farmer protests. Please take alternate route for coming to Delhi via Anand Vihar, DND, Bhopra & Loni Borders," it said.

The traffic police said Tikri and Dhansa borders are also closed for traffic movement.

"Jhatikara Border is open only for LMV (Cars/Light Motor Vehicles), two wheelers and pedestrian movement," it said in another tweet.

According to the traffic police, people travelling to Haryana can take the routes via Jharoda (only single carriageway), Daurala, Kapashera, Badusarai, Rajokri NH-8, Bijwasan/Bajghera, Palam Vihar and Dundahera borders.

However, the two sides remained deadlocked over the main contentious issues of the repeal of the three farm laws and a legal guarantee for MSP.

The seventh round of talks between the government and farmer unions is scheduled to be held later on Monday. -- PTI

10:00 Sensex crosses 48,000 pts in opening trade

Equity benchmark Sensex jumped nearly 300 points in opening trade on Monday, tracking gains in index majors ITC, Infosys and ICICI Bank as investors cheered domestic Covid-19 vaccine approvals.

The 30-share BSE index touched its lifetime intra-day high of 48,168.22 in early trade. It was trading 272.73 points or 0.57 per cent higher at 48,141.71, and the broader NSE Nifty surged 90.90 points or 0.65 per cent to a record high of 14,109.40.

TCS was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, rising around 2 per cent, followed by ONGC, SBI, L&T, Infosys, HCL Tech, ICICI Bank and Axis Bank.

On the other hand, HDFC, Asian Paints and Reliance Industries were among the laggards.

In the previous session, Sensex rose by 117.65 points or 0.25 per cent to close at a fresh lifetime-high of 47,868.98, while Nifty closed at an all-time high of 14,018.50.

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) were net buyers in the capital market as they purchased shares worth Rs 506.21 crore on a net basis on Friday, according to provisional exchange data.

Domestic equities continue to look firm. Strong economic key data in terms of GST collections, power demand and railway freight for December 2020 will continue to offer strength to the market, said Binod Modi Head-Strategy at Reliance Securities.

Additionally, final approval for two Covid-19 vaccines and likely commencement of the inoculation process soon are positive for the markets and economy.

"Positive FPI flows are expected to sustain in subsequent weeks. Further, DIIs turning net buyers on Friday was also a positive indication for the market. 3QFY21 earnings and Union Budget will be crucial events for the market in the near term, which will offer clarity about the sustainability of demand momentum," he stated.

Elsewhere in Asia, bourses in Shanghai, Seoul and Hong Kong were trading on a positive note in mid-session deals, while Tokyo was in the red. Meanwhile, the global oil benchmark, Brent crude futures, were trading 0.98 per cent higher at USD 52.31 per barrel.

The Centre and farm unions protesting against a set of laws will hold their seventh round of negotiations on Monday.

Protesting farmers who have been camping at Delhi borders for the last 39 days braving bone-chilling cold and now rains have threatened to intensify their protest if their two major demands -- repeal of the three new farm laws and legal backing for the minimum support price -- are not accepted by the government in the January 4 meeting.

After five rounds of inconclusive talks, the government and 40 farmer unions reached some common ground during the sixth round of negotiations on December 30 to resolve protesting farmers' concerns over rise in power tariff and penalties for stubble burning, but the two sides remained deadlocked over the main contentious issues of the repeal of the three farm laws and a legal guarantee for MSP.

Thousands of farmers have been protesting at various borders of the national capital for more than a month demanding repeal of the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act.

Enacted in September 2020, the government has presented these laws as major farm reforms and aimed at increasing farmers' income, but protesting farmers have raised concerns that these legislations would weaken the MSP and mandi systems and leave them at the mercy of big corporates.

The government has maintained these apprehensions are misplaced and has ruled out repealing the laws.

While several opposition parties and people from other walks of life have come out in support of the farmers, some farmer groups have also met Agriculture Minister Tomar over the last few weeks to extend their support for the three laws.

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi has been narrowly reelected as the speaker of the US House of Representatives for the 117th Congress.

Pelosi, 80, from the Democratic party, secured 216 votes in a tight contest against Republican Kevin McCarthy, who got support from 209 Congressmen.

According to the House Clerk, a total of 427 votes were cast. One vote went to Senator Tammy Duckworth and one to Congressman Hakeem Jeffries.

Notably, six Democratic lawmakers did not vote for Pelosi, while all the 209 Republicans stood by McCarthy, who is now the House Minority Leader. The Democratic Party has 222 seats in the House.

The US House of Representatives has a strength of 435 voting members and six non-voting members.

Pelosi received two more votes than the 2014 votes, which is the majority of members who participated in the election by voting for someone by name, soon thereafter announced that this is her last term as the House Speaker.

Pelosi has led the House Democrats since 2003. In 2007, she created history by becoming the first women speaker of the House. She was reelected in 2009. She served as the House Minority Leader from 2011 to 2019, when she was elected as the Speaker after Democratic Party gained control of the House.

A strong advocate of human rights issues, a follower of Mahatma Gandhi and a strong supporter of the India-US relationship, Pelosi, in her acceptance speech, said that the new Congress begins during a time of extraordinary difficulty.

"Each of our communities has been drastically affected by the pandemic and economic crisis: 3,50,000 tragic deaths, each one a sadness that we carry in our hearts; over 20 million infections; millions without jobs - a toll almost beyond comprehension," she said.

Pelosi represents the eighth Congressional District of California, which is in and around San Francisco.

The 117th Congress is the most diverse House in American history - with a record-shattering 122 women, 100 years after women won the right to vote, she said.

The House has four Indian-American lawmakers. Ami Bera, being the seniormost of them, who has been reelected for the fifth consecutive term. Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna and Pramila Jayapal have been reelected for third consecutive term. Jayapal is the first-ever Indian American woman elected to the House.

Setting up her priorities for the 117th Congress, Pelosi said that this is the time for the nation to heal, given the sufferings due to the coronavirus pandemic. Our most urgent priority will continue to be defeating coronavirus. -- PTI

09:30 US COVID cases, deaths exaggerated: Trump

United States President Donald Trump on Sunday said that the record-breaking numbers of new COVID-19 cases, nearly 300,000 in the past 24 hours, are exaggerated due to the Centers for Disease Control method of counting.

"The number of cases and deaths of the China Virus is far exaggerated in the United States because of @CDCgov (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)'s ridiculous method of determination compared to other countries, many of whom report, purposely, very inaccurately and low," Trump wrote in a tweet.

The outgoing president added, "'When in doubt, call it Covid.' Fake News!"

Trump in another tweet hit out at the mainstream media for not giving credit to him and his administration rather Dr Anthony Fauci, the US top infectious disease expert is being lauded for handling the pandemic.

"Something how Dr. Fauci is revered by the LameStream Media as such a great professional, having done, they say, such an incredible job, yet he works for me and the Trump Administration, and I am in no way given any credit for my work. Gee, could this just be more Fake News," the President wrote.

The US has the most COVID-19 cases in the world reporting over 20.5 million cases, according to Johns Hopkins University. -- ANI

A pastor was shot dead and two other people were injured on Sunday morning in a shooting at a church in East Texas, authorities said.

The pastor opened a bathroom door inside the Starrville Methodist Church and found a man hiding in there, Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith said in a news conference.

The pastor was armed and drew his weapon, but the suspect was able to take the gun and shoot him, Smith said.

He said one other person was shot and is being treated at a local hospital, while another was injured in a fall.

The suspect may have been hiding in the church, following a shooting incident on Saturday night, authorities believe.

Police had been searching for the man late Saturday in the woods near Winona, following a car chase, Smith said.

The man stole the pastor's vehicle and fled east before being arrested by deputies in nearby Harrison County, he added.

The suspect has a gunshot wound to the hand and is being treated at a Tyler hospital.

Smith declined to identify the pastor, the other people injured or the suspect.

The sheriff said the shooting suspect will likely face a capital murder charge. He did not say why police had initially been looking for the man.

Sunday morning services had not yet started when the shooting took place, the authorities said.

Winona is a small town about 100 miles east of Dallas.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a statement on Sunday about the shooting.

"Our hearts are with the victims and the families of those killed or injured in this terrible tragedy," he said.

"I am grateful for the law enforcement officers who apprehended the suspect, and ask Texans to join Cecilia and me in praying for those affected by this horrific shooting," Abbott said.

An investigation into the incident is underway. -- PTI

The Indian cricket team and its support staff have returned negative in the latest COVID-19 tests conducted here ahead of the third Test against Australia in Sydney, the Board of Control for Cricket in India said on Monday.

The match is due to start on January 7.

"Playing members of the Indian Cricket Team and support staff underwent an RT-PCR Test for COVID-19 on January 3, 2021. All tests have returned negative results," the BCCI said in a short statement.

The statement comes a couple of days after five Indian players -- vice-captain Rohit Sharma, opener Shubman Gill, stumper Rishabh Pant, pacer Navdeep Saini and batsman Prithvi Shaw -- were placed in isolation when a video of them at an indoor restaurant was posted by a fan on Twitter.

Cricket Australia had announced that a joint investigation with the BCCI was on to determine whether it amounted to a breach of bio-security protocol for the series.

The five were, however, allowed to train and travel with the team for the match in Sydney.

The series is currently locked 1-1 after India fought back for an eight-wicket triumph in the Melbourne Test following a humiliating loss in the opener in Adelaide. -- PTI

On the first day of the 117th Congress, a lawmaker has introduced a bill in the US House of Representatives to terminate the designation of Pakistan as a Major non-NATO Ally.

Introduced by Republican Congressman Andy Biggs, the bill removes Pakistan's designation as a major non-NATO ally, a status that allows for various benefits such as access to excess US defense supplies and participation in cooperative defense research and development projects.

The bill also notes that the US President cannot issue a separate designation of Pakistan as a Major NATO ally, unless a presidential certification that Pakistan continues to conduct military operations that are contributing to significantly disrupting the safe haven and freedom of movement of the Haqqani Network in Pakistan.

It also seeks a presidential certification that Pakistan has taken steps to demonstrate its commitment to prevent the Haqqani Network from using any Pakistani territory as a safe haven and that the Pak government actively coordinates with Afghanistan to restrict the movement of militants, such as the Haqqani Network, along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

The bill also asks the president to certify that Pakistan has shown progress in arresting and prosecuting Haqqani Network senior leaders and mid-level operatives.

Pakistan was named a Major non-NATO ally during the Bush Administration in 2004. Currently, there are 17 Major non-NATO ally.

Brazil was the last country to given this designation by President Donald Trump in 2019.

The designation gives the countries to entry into cooperative research and development projects with the Department of Defense (DoD) on a shared-cost basis, participation in certain counter-terrorism initiatives, purchase of depleted uranium anti-tank rounds, priority delivery of military surplus (ranging from rations to ships). -- PTI

08:07 Ganguly under pressure to join politics: CPI-M

Senior Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Ashok Bhattacharya's statement that BCCI president and former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly, who suffered a heart attack and is now hospitalised, was under pressure to join politics created a storm on Sunday.

Speculations were rife that the former batting great will join the Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of the state assembly elections due in April-May this year. But Ganguly himself never made his intentions quite clear about taking the political plunge.

He underwent angioplasty after a "mild" heart attack on Saturday.

He is under treatment in a private hospital in Kolkata.

"Some people wanted to use Ganguly politically. That probably exerted pressure on him. He is not a political element. He should be known as Sourav the sporting icon," Bhattacharya, the BCCI president's longtime family friend, said.

"We should not create pressure on him (for joining politics). I had told Sourav last week he should not join politics and he did not oppose my views," Bhattacharya who visited Ganguly at the hospital said.

Reacting to the former minister's comments, BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said, "Some people see politics in everything due to their sick mindset. Like millions of his fans, we only wish that Sourav recovers fully."

Senior Trinamool Congress leader and state minister Sobhandeb Chatterjee, who also visited the former cricketer at the hospital, said that there had never been any effort to induct Sourav "into our party. We are proud to have him as the icon of sports."

Ganguly's former teammate and state minister Lakshmi Ratan Shukla, TMC MLA and daughter of late BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya, Baishali Dalmiya, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya and several others also visited him.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday visited the hospital to enquire about his health.

Ganguly had met Dhankhar at Raj Bhavan a week back "in a courtesy visit". -- PTI

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