LIVE! Telangana ends lockdown; schools, colleges to reopen

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Sat, 19 June 2021

Telangana ends lockdown; schools, colleges to reopen

Timeline Refresh

20:55 Telangana ends lockdown; schools, colleges to reopen

The National Conference, PDP, Congress and the Communist Party of India-Marxist on Saturday said they will take a call on attending a meeting with the prime minister in Delhi after deliberations within their respective parties.

Fourteen leaders from Jammu and Kashmir have been invited to the meeting that will be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on June 24 to discuss the future course of action for the union territory.

The meeting -- the first such exercise since the Centre announced the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status and its bifurcation into union territories in August 2019 -- is likely to be attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other central leaders.

The PDP will hold a meeting on Sunday to discuss the invitation of the Centre to political parties of Jammu and Kashmir for talks, party president Mehbooba Mufti said on Saturday.

Mehbooba told PTI, "There is no clear-cut agenda about the talks with New Delhi. However, I have asked my party's Political Affairs Committee for a meeting to discuss the same."

The last chief minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, who had an alliance government with the Bharatiya Janata Party from 2016 to 2018, she said that the decision of whether to participate in the talks would be taken by the party.

"There is no agenda for the meeting but I was conveyed that the meeting is being called to review the general situation and how to take the political process forward. There is no clear-cut agenda," Mehbooba said.

A National Conference leader told PTI, "The party president (Farooq Abdullah) received a phone call from Delhi today, inviting him for the meeting with the prime minister on June 24."

He said the party will sit and discuss the invitation to the meeting over the course of the next couple of days.

"To participate or not in the meeting is a matter of discussion. The party leadership will sit soon and discuss the issue. But, at least, there is a realisation in Delhi now and this meeting is a good thing. Dialogue and democracy go hand to hand in Jammu and Kashmir," he said.

The NC leader also said after the meeting of the party, the meeting of the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration is likely to take place to discuss the issue.

The PAGD is an alliance of some parties in Jammu and Kashmir, including the NC and the PDP, that was formed in the aftermath of the Centre's August 2019 decisions.

Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma said its chief G A Mir has also received an invitation for the meeting.

"The party shall take a view on the issue of participation in consultation with senior leadership in a couple of days," Sharma said.

Earlier during the day, Mir said his party had yet not received any invitation from the Centre.

He, however, added such a step, if taken, was welcome as dialogue with stakeholders was the only way forward. -- PTI

20:00 Gujarat govt transfers 77 IAS officers

In a major bureaucratic reshuffle, the Gujarat government on Saturday transferred 77 Indian Administrative Service officers including a principal secretary and several district collectors.

A notification issued by the General Administration Department said that principal secretary of the Education Department (Higher and Technical Education) Anju Sharma was appointed as principal secretary, Labour and Employment.

Vice chairman and MD of the Gujarat State Road Transportation Corporation S J Haider replaced Sharma, it added.

Secretary of Labour and Employment Department Harshad Patel replaced Haider as the new managing director of the GSRTC.

Jamnagar Collector Ravi Shankar was transferred and appointed as chief administrator of the Statue of Unity at Narmada, relieving D A Shah who had an additional charge of the post.

Shankar will also hold an additional charge as joint MD, Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited. the GAD notification stated.

Rajkot, Surat and Vadodara were among the districts which got new Collectors, while new municipal commissioners were appointed for Rajkot, Gandhinagar, Jamnagar and Junagadh.

Ahmedabad District Development Officer (DDO) Arun Mahesh Babu was appointed as Rajkot Collector, relieving Ramya Mohan who was posted as mission director, National Health Mission. -- PTI

The Centre on Saturday asked state governments to register cases and invoke the stringent Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Act, 2020 against those who indulge in assault on doctors and healthcare professionals.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla's letter to States and Union Territories came following several incidents of attack on doctors and healthcare professionals in different parts of the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"You will agree that any incident of threat or assault on doctors or healthcare professionals may dampen their morale and create a sense of insecurity amongst them. This may adversely affect the healthcare response system," Bhalla wrote.

The home secretary said in the present circumstances, it has become imperative that strict action be taken against those who assault healthcare professionals.

"Institutional FIRs should be registered against assaulters and such cases should be fast-tracked. You may also like to invoke provisions of the Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Act, 2020, where applicable," he said.

According to this law, anyone involved in the assault on doctors and healthcare professionals are liable to be punished with imprisonment up to five years, and a fine up to Rs two lakh.

This offence may be compounded by the victim with the permission of the court.

Further, if an act of violence against a healthcare service personnel causes grievous harm, the person committing the offence will be punishable with imprisonment up to seven years and a fine up to Rs five lakh.

These offences will be cognisable and non-bailable.

"I would also like to reiterate that a close watch be kept on any objectionable content in social media which may exacerbate such situations. Concerted efforts should be made through posters in hospitals, social media, etc. to emphasise the valuable contribution being made by doctors and other healthcare personnel in the fight against COVID-19," Bhalla said. -- PTI

The national capital recorded seven deaths due to COVID-19, the lowest since April 1, and 135 fresh cases of coronavirus infection on Saturday, as the positivity rate dipped to 0.18 per cent, according to data shared by the health department in New Delhi.

These new fatalities have pushed the death toll in the city to 24,907.

This is also the first time the daily fatality count has slipped into single-digit since April 1 when the city had recorded nine deaths and 2,790 cases, the data stated.

Delhi had on April 3 recorded 10 deaths due to COVID-19.

On Wednesday, Delhi had recorded 212 cases and 25 deaths, while the positivity rate stood at 0.27 per cent. It had on the previous day registered 228 cases with a 0.32 per cent positivity rate and 12 deaths, according to official figures.

On Thursday, 158 cases with a positivity rate of 0.20 per cent, and 10 deaths were reported, indicating a significant fall in the count of daily fatalities due to coronavirus infection.

On Friday, the cases further dipped to 165 with a positivity rate of 0.22 per cent, while the death count had stood at 14.

On June 14, the city had registered 131 cases and 16 deaths, while on February 22, there were 128 cases of COVID-19, according to official figures. -- PTI

Former Union minister Jitin Prasada, who recently switched from the Congress to the Bharatiya Janata Party, on Saturday met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow and said they discussed issues related to strengthening the organisation.

"I met the chief minister and sought his blessings," said Prasada who arrived in his home state Uttar Pradesh for the first time after joining the BJP on June 9.

A UP government official termed it as a "courtesy meeting".

Prasada said they discussed ways to ensure that the welfare schemes reach the public more effectively and the party organisation is strengthened further "so that the state and the country can be served".

On the decision to join the BJP, Prasada said it is the only party where the people are rewarded for their hard work.

"There is high enthusiasm among my supporters, and this decision was taken keeping in mind public sentiments.

"There is a strong leadership, organisation and a clear-cut direction in the party. The BJP is the only party where policy decisions are made keeping in mind the views and sentiments of the workers and the organisation. It is the only party where on the basis of hardwork people are rewarded," he said.

On June 9, Congress leader Jitin Prasada joined the BJP, seen as an attempt by the ruling party to shore up its caste arithmetic for assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh scheduled for early next year.

The 47-year-old Prasada, who was a minister in the previous UPA government, comes from a well-known Brahmin family of Uttar Pradesh and was serving as the Congress leader in-charge of West Bengal before joining the BJP. -- PTI

Senior PDP leader Sartaj Madni was released after six months of detention on Saturday, hours after his niece and party president Mehbooba Mufti received an invitation from the Centre for talks with Jammu and Kashmir's regional political parties.

Officials said Madni, who was under preventive detention at MLA hostel here, was released on Saturday afternoon.

They said a team of Anantnag police is on its way to Srinagar to take him home.

"The police team will hand him over to his family in the South Kashmir district," the officials added.

The release of Madni comes hours after Mufti received an invitation from the Centre for talks with the Union territory's regional political parties.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to chair a meeting with all political parties from Jammu and Kashmir on June 24 as part of the Centre's initiatives to bolster political processes, including holding assembly elections, in the union territory.

Mufti confirmed that she has received the invitation but said the party's political affairs committee (PAC), of which Madni is also a part, will take a call on whether to participate or not in the Centre's meet. -- PTI

18:38 Modi's aide made UP BJP vice president

The Uttar Pradesh unit of Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday appointed its state MLC A K Sharma, a former IAS officer, as its state vice president.

The announcement of the new appointment was made by the BJP state unit's president Swatantra Dev Singh.

In an official statement, Singh also announced the appointments of Archana Mishra from Lucknow and Amit Valmiki from Bulandshahr as secretaries of the state unit.

BJP MLC A K Sharma is also considered close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Known for delivering time-bound results, Sharma earned Modi's confidence as his secretary during his tenure as the Gujarat chief minister by successfully handling the Vibrant Gujarat campaign to get investments to the state.

He was also handling the MSME (micro, small and medium enterprises) ministry's affairs, a crucial department working under the prime minister's plan for the revival of the economy following the coronavirus-triggered lockdown.

Sharma did his schooling from the Mau district in eastern Uttar Pradesh and post-graduation from Allahabad University. -- PTI

18:23 Milkha Singh cremated with full state honours

Iconic sprinter Milkha Singh was on Saturday cremated with full state honours in Chandigarh, marking the end of an era in which his pioneering accomplishments on the track galvanised a newly-independent India.

Milkha, who was 91, was bid a tearful adieu in the presence of his family members and several dignitaries, including sports minister Kiren Rijiju. 'The Flying Sikh', as he was fondly called, died on Friday night due to COVID-19 related complications.

His son and ace golfer Jeev Milkha Singh lit the funeral pyre.

Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator V P Singh Badnore, Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, Haryana's Sports Minister Sandeep Singh were among the other dignitaries who attended the last rites.

Prof Jagat Ram, Director of PGIMER where Milkha was admitted, was also present.

A police contingent reversed arms and sounded the last post in the sprinter's honour. Milkha was also given a gun salute.

The Punjab government had declared a one-day state mourning and a holiday as a mark of respect to the legend.

Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had earlier in the day said the Punjab government will accord state funeral to Milkha Singh.

Earlier, the funeral procession started from Milkha's Sector 8 residence.

His body was carried in a bedecked vehicle, with common people turning up along the short route to the Sector 25 cremation ground to pay their last respects to the legend.

The Milkha died on Friday night after a month-long battle with COVID-19. He had lost his former national volleyball captain wife Nirmal Kaur to the same ailment on Sunday.

The Padma Shri awardee, who was nicknamed 'The Flying Sikh' for his achievements, is survived by Jeev and three daughters. -- PTI

17:58 Market Watch

A weekly view of the market from Monday, June 14 to Friday, June 18.

A day after four-time Congress MLA Rupjyoti Kurmi announced his plans to join the Bharatiya Janata Party, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday appealed to all opposition legislators to join the ruling party.

Sarma was replying to a question on Kurmi, the Congress' lone legislator from the tea tribe community, who quit the grand old party and resigned from the Assam Legislative Assembly.

The MLA from Upper Assam's Mariani constituency had also announced that he would join the BJP on Monday in the presence of the chief minister.

"What will they do in the opposition benches for five years? I would rather say they should join us. Since we are working for the welfare of people irrespective of caste, creed and religion, I appeal to them (opposition members) to join us and work together for the public," the CM said.

While leaving the party on Friday, Kurmi had attacked the Congress leadership, alleging that the organisation has become "very weak" as the leaders "do not listen to the voice of the grassroots workers".

The assembly election results are a testimony of the fact as the party "failed in all the five states" where the polls were held in March and April, said the MLA from the tea tribe community which plays a decisive role in polls in Upper Assam.

"It appears that the party leadership is not willing to give an opportunity to people from the tea tribe or other marginalised communities but it is seen that people from a particular religious community are given prominence in the party," he said.

Leader of Opposition in the assembly Debabrata Saikia has termed Kurmi's exit as a loss for the party.

Another senior Congress leader Juri Sharma Bordoloi, who was the president of the Guwahati city district Congress and former national office-bearer of Mahila Congress, had also resigned from the party on Friday.

Bordoloi claimed that more than 100 supporters have decided to leave the party with her.

There are speculations that a few more Congress leaders, including an MLA, will quit the party and join the BJP in the next few days. -- PTI

The Government Railway Police in Satna of Madhya Pradesh has apprehended one of the accused involved in allegedly duping a housing society in Mumbai by organising a COVID-19 vaccination camp fraudulently in the name of a private hospital, an official said on Saturday.

The Mumbai police have already arrested four accused in connection with the fraud that took place at Hiranandani Heritage Society in Kandivali area of the city.

Based on inputs, Mohammed Kareem (19), a student of nursing, was detained when he was travelling in a Patna-bound train two days ago, sub-inspector Govind Prasad Tripathi of Satna GRP said.

"We nabbed Kareem from LTT-Patna train. The accused, who hails from Katihar district of Bihar, was handed over to the Kandivali police on Friday," the official said.

In a complaint submitted to the Kandivali police, the Hiranandani Heritage Residents Welfare Association had said that a vaccination camp was arranged by the residential complex on May 30. But later it found that the Co-WIN portal did not have any record of the people who participated and they had received certificates in the name of different hospitals.

The members had also expressed fears that the vaccine administered could be spurious.

According to the police, the vaccination camp was organised in the society's club house and each member had paid Rs 1,260 per vaccine, and the society had collectively paid a total of Rs 4.56 lakh to the camp organisers.

Based on the complaint, an FIR under sections 268 (public nuisance), 270 (malignant act which is likely to spread infection of any disease dangerous to life), 274 (adulteration of drugs), 275 (sale of adulterated drugs), 419 (cheating by personation), 420 (cheating), 465 (forgery) and others, as well as relevant sections of IT Act and Epidemic Diseases Act, was registered.

During the investigation, it came to light that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation had not given permission to organise such a camp and no medical officer was present during the drive. -- PTI

17:09 Will fight for Lakshadweep: Ayesha Sulthana

Filmmaker Ayesha Sulthana, who was booked for sedition in Lakshadweep, on Saturday said she has not done anything against the country so far and would continue her fight till the islanders get justice.

She was talking to the media at the airport in Kochi before leaving to the archipelago to appear before the Kavaratti police for questioning on Sunday in connection with the case.

She said her advocate was also accompanying her and she would cooperate with the police.

"I believe that I will get justice as I have not done anything wrong. My words were wrongly interpreted and I have already mentioned everything in detail in my recent Facebook post," Sulthana said.

On her controversial usage of 'biological weapon' during a television discussion, she said all these controversies had happened based on that particular word.

"I have not done anything against the country. All these have happened over a word I uttered. So, it is my responsibility to prove that I have not done anything wrong. I will continue my fight till my land and people get

justice," she added.

In a relief to Sulthana, the Kerala high court had on Thursday granted her interim anticipatory bail for a week, while reserving orders on her anticipatory bail application.

It had directed her to comply with the notice issued by Kavaratti police to appear before it for interrogation on June 20 in connection with the sedition case.

The allegation is that the filmmaker, while participating in a debate telecast by a Malayalam news channel on June 7, made an assertion that the Centre used 'biological weapon' against the people of Lakshadweep. -- PTI

16:39 UP assault case: SP worker arrested from Delhi

A Samajwadi Party worker was arrested on Saturday for allegedly instigating an elderly Muslim man to claim in a video that he was beaten up by four youths who also chopped his beard and asked him to chant 'Jai Shri Ram' in Loni area of Ghaziabad.

Ummaid Pehelwan Idrisi, who was absconding since Wednesday when an FIR was lodged against him at the Loni Border police station, was nabbed from Delhi on Saturday, a Ghaziabad police official said.

The FIR, filed on the complaint of a policeman, alleged that Idrisi had "unnecessarily" made the video -- in which Abdul Shamad Saifi narrated his purported ordeal -- with an intention to "create social disharmony" and shared it through his Facebook account.

He was booked under IPC sections 153A (promoting enmity between groups on ground of religion, class etc), 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious belief), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 505 (public mischief).

A separate FIR was lodged against him on Thursday evening in Bulandshahr district that charged him and around 100 others with violation of the COVID-19 norms by holding a public gathering on June 16, the officials said.

Bulandshahr resident Saifi, who had made communal allegations in his video on June 14, had earlier on June 7 alleged in a complaint to the Ghaziabad police that he was assaulted by four youths on June 5 after being abducted by them and confined in a room in a secluded field in Ghaziabad's Loni area.

On being asked about Saifi's communal allegations, Ghaziabad's Senior Superintendent of Police Amit Pathak had said earlier that the elderly Muslim man had made no communal allegations in his original complaint.

The SSP had also suspected someone behind instigating Saifi to make communal allegations.

Ghaziabad's SP (Rural) had also said the police had already arrested the main accused Parvez Gurjar for being behind the assault on Saifi. -- PTI

16:11 3rd wave in 6-8 weeks if...: AIIMS chief

If Covid-appropriate behaviour is not followed and crowding not prevented, the next wave of the viral infection can strike the country in the next six to eight weeks, AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria warned on Saturday.

Until a sizeable number of the population are vaccinated, Covid-appropriate behaviour needs to be followed aggressively, he said and stressed on the need for stricter surveillance and area-specific lockdowns in case of a significant surge.

Guleria reiterated that till now, there is no evidence to suggest that children will be affected more in the next wave of the infection.

Earlier, India's epidemiologists had indicated that a third wave of COVID-19 is inevitable and is likely to start from September-October.

India was hit severely by a brutal second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in April and May, claiming a massive number of lives daily, with shortage in oxygen supply at various hospitals adding to the woes.

However, the number of cases have shown a downward trend and the positivity rate too has been shrinking in the last several days. From a daily case count of over 4 lakh, the number of new COVID-19 cases has been hovering around 60,000 in the last couple of days.

"If Covid-appropriate behaviour is not followed, the third wave can happen in six to eight weeks. We need to work aggressively to prevent another large wave till vaccination kicks in," Guleria told PTI.

There needs to be aggressive surveillance strategy in Covid hotspots and lockdowns in case of any significant surge. The moment a significant surge in cases in noted in a particular area and the positivity rate goes beyond 5 per cent, area-specific lockdown and containment measures should be implemented, he said.

With the Chinese Navy getting new port projects in Sri Lanka, a top Indian Navy officer said that it 'could pose a threat' to Indian interests in the region and there is a need to keep a close watch on such activities.

In an interview with ANI, Navy Vice Chief Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar said the Indian Navy is very well prepared to secure the maritime boundaries of the country and there is no way anyone can surprise us.

"If you want to analyse whether it is a threat or not, it is a very difficult question. But the fact that when somebody is external to the region starts showing so much interest even though they might have rational reasons to do so as the majority of their energy sources pass through this region ... Is it a logical thing for nations to do, yes? Could that pose a threat to us, it could. We just need to ensure that it is being closely watched," he said, responding to a query on whether China's getting hold of a new port in Sri Lanka could pose a threat to India.

Asked if the Indian Navy was keeping a close watch on such activities, he said, "Yes, on the entire region."

The Chinese have been making inroads in Sri Lanka where they recently got a reclaimed port city near Colombo. Prior to that, they gained control over the Hambantota port which was built by them.

Responding to a query on whether the Chinese could surprise us through the sea route as they did along the northern waters last year, he said that after the 26/11 attack on Mumbai, India had taken a number of steps like installation of coastal security network and had enhanced surveillance capabilities.

"The chances of we getting surprised in the maritime domain to have reduced... we are much better prepared today than what we were a decade ago," the Vice Admiral said.

He said that the Indian Navy is a capability-driven force and more strength would be added to it in form of new assets in the near future.

Congress workers distribute free ration

15:23 Rahul Gandhi turns 51, decides not to celebrate birthday

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday turned 51 with party leaders and workers wishing him on his birthday, which he has decided not to celebrate in view of the Covid pandemic.

Rahul Gandhi was born to Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi on June 19, 1970, in Delhi.

The Delhi Congress has decided to observe the day as "Sewa Diwas" and is distributing face masks, medicine kits and cooked meals free of cost to the poor in the national capital.

The National Students' Union of India, the Congress' students' wing, is organising a free vaccination camp to mark the occasion, while the Youth Congress is distributing free ration to the needy in Delhi.

Some state Congress committees are observing the day by distributing ration and other essentials at no cost to the poor and the needy.

Wishing their leader, the Congress said on Twitter, "We wish Shri Rahul Gandhi health and happiness on his birthday."

"In view of the second Covid wave and the incredible difficulties people are facing, Mr. Gandhi has chosen not to celebrate his birthday. Instead, he has urged Congress workers to continue their relief work around India," the party said.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Twitter wished the Wayanad MP on his birthday and for good health and happiness.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari tweeted, "Birthday greetings to Shri @RahulGandhi ji. May you be blessed with good health and long life."

Chief ministers M K Stalin (Tamil Nadu), Arvind Kejriwal (Delhi), Hemant Soren (Jharkhand), Conrad Sangma (Meghalaya), Amarinder Singh (Punjab), Ashok Gehlot (Rajasthan) and Bhupesh Baghel (Chhattisgarh) and Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Madhya Pradesh) wished Rahul Gandhi on Twitter. -- PTI

Karnataka and Maharashtra on Saturday decided to have better coordination and communication regarding flood management and water supply in the drought-hit regions of both the states.

Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa and state Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai held a high level meeting with Maharashtra Water Resource Minister Jayant Patil in Bengaluru to resolve the water related issues between the two states.

Addressing reporters after the meet, Yediyurappa said both the states have agreed to share real time data on rainfall and water release from reservoirs both in Krishna and Bhima basin in order to manage the floods effectively.

"We discussed various issues regarding flood management in Krishna and Bheema river basins. It was decided to have better coordination and communication between two states at ministerial level, Secretaries level and at the field level," the CM said.

It was resolved that a technical team will work towards getting four TMC water from Maharashtra and in return release water to the drought hit areas of the western state, the chief minister said.

The two states also agreed to complete the Dudhganga dam project at the earliest and Maharashtra will also fund it.

"Maharashtra will also supply enough funds for the completion of Dudhganga dam," Patil said in the press conference.

Pointing to the shortage of water during April and May in the Krishna basin region, Bommai said since 2013, Maharashtra has been charging money for the release of water to the state.

However, it has been agreed upon that Karnataka will not pay but will supply water to the drought-hit Jath taluk of Maharashtra during the rainy season.

For the past three years, the state has been witnessing flood in Krishna and Bhima rivers following downpour in its catchment areas in Maharashtra. -- PTI

A Delhi court on Saturday took cognisance of the supplementary charge sheet filed against actor-activist Deep Sidhu and others in the Republic Day violence case.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Gajendra Singh Nagar has summoned all the accused through video conferencing on June 29.

Production warrants have been issued against Maninder Singh and Khempreet Singh, who are still in judicial custody.

On January 26, protesting farmers clashed with police during the tractor rally against three farm laws and stormed into the Red Fort injuring scores of policemen.

The police had filed a supplementary charge sheet on June 17. The investigating officer pointed out names of the witnesses who were severely injured or from whom weapon was snatched, in the final report.

The Delhi Police Crime Branch, which is tasked with the investigation, had filed a 3,224 page-long first charge sheet against Sidhu and 15 others on May 17, nearly four months after the violence.

Sidhu, who was accused of being the key conspirator of the violence, was arrested on February 9.

The police had also accused him of fuelling the chaos at the Red fort. -- PTI

The minority affairs ministry will run a campaign from June 21 for creating awareness about vaccination against Covid in rural areas and to dispel apprehensions being spread by "some vested interests" over the inoculation drive in the country, Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Saturday.

As part of the Jaan Hai To Jahaan Hai programme, the minority affairs minister said the ministry along with various socio-educational organisations, NGOs and women self-help groups, will launch the awareness campaign on June 21.

The nationwide awareness campaign will be launched from minority dominated Rampur district of Uttar Pradesh, he said in a statement.

The campaign will be launched to create awareness on coronavirus vaccination in rural and remote areas of the country and also to 'crush and curb the rumours and apprehensions, being spread by some vested interests" regarding the on-going inoculation drive, Naqvi said.

He said various religious leaders, prominent people from social, educational, cultural, medical, science and other fields will send out effective messages to the people to get vaccinated.

Street plays will also be organised across the country as part of the campaign, he said.

Naqvi said that some vested interests are trying to spread rumours and apprehensions regarding vaccination and asserted that such elements are "enemies of the health and well-being" of the people.

"Two made-in-India coronavirus vaccines are the result of the hardwork of our scientists and it has been proved scientifically that these vaccines are absolutely safe and are an effective weapon in the fight against coronavirus," the minister said.

Naqvi said that state Haj Committees, Waqf boards, their associated organisations, Central Waqf Council, Maulana Azad Education Foundation, various social and educational institutions, NGOs, women self-help groups, working under 'Nai Roshni' scheme of the Minority Affairs Ministry, will be part of the awareness campaign. -- PTI

Indian Air Force Chief RKS Bhadauria on Saturday said the induction of 36 Rafale aircraft into the Indian Air Force would take place by 2022.

The IAF is absolutely on target with respect to the Rafale induction plan, he said while responding to a reporters' query on timeline for receiving the 36 fighter jets from France.

"The target is 2022. It is absolutely on target. I mentioned earlier. Except for one or two aircraft, minor delays because of COVID related issues, but, in fact, some deliveries have been ahead of time. So, broadly, we are absolutely on target on the Rafale induction plan," he said.

On the operationalisation plan, you are aware, we are fully operational.. so, in terms of time, we will be absolutely on time," he told reporters after reviewing the Combined Graduation Parade at the Air Force Academy in

Dundigal in Hyderabad.

In 2016, India had signed an inter-governmental agreement with France to procure 36-Rafale jets at a cost Rs 59,000 crore.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had in February said the country would have the entire fleet of the fighter aircraft by April 2022.

Asked for his assessment on the situation in eastern Ladakh on the Indo-China border, the IAF Chief said talks are on between the two sides and the first attempt is to continue with the parleys and carry out the disengagement at the "balance friction points."

"The first attempt is to continue with the talks and do the disengagement at the balance friction points. And, of course, follow it up with de-escalation," he said.

"However, in parallel, the ground realities are being monitored closely. Whatever is the reality across, in terms of current leftover locations, deployments, any changes, that is being monitored closely and whatever actions are required on our part, we are taking, Bhadauria said. -- PTI

More than 2.87 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with states and union territories, and over 52.26 lakh doses will be received by them in the next three days, the Union health ministry said on Saturday.

It said that 28,50,99,130 vaccine doses have been provided to states and UTs so far through the Centre -- free of cost channel -- and through the direct state procurement category.

Of this, the total consumption, including wastage, is 25,63,28,045 doses, the ministry said.

It said 2,87,71,085 vaccine doses are still available with states and UTs to be administered.

"Furthermore, more than 52,26,460 vaccine doses are in the pipeline and will be received by the states/UTs within the next three days," the ministry said. -- PTI

The easing of Covid-related lockdown norms has led to crowding in some markets and other places, the Centre said on Saturday, as it urged states to ensure the "extremely important" five-fold strategy of Covid-appropriate behaviour, test-track-treat and vaccination to prevent the spread of the disease.

In a communication to all states and Union Territories, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla also said that vaccination against COVID-19, in the present scenario, is critical to break the chain of transmission.

Therefore, all state and UT governments should step up the pace of vaccination, to cover maximum number of people in an expeditious manner, he said.

The home secretary said that during the second Covid wave, a significant surge in cases was witnessed in several states and UTs, and many of them imposed restrictions in order to contain the spread of the infection.

"With a decline in the number of active cases, many states and UTs have started relaxing restrictions. I would like to highlight that the decision to impose or ease restrictions has to be taken, based on the assessment of the situation at the ground level," he said.

Bhalla said while the opening up of activities, after decline in cases is essential, states and UTs must ensure that the whole process is "carefully calibrated".

"While opening up, it would be extremely important to follow the five-fold strategy of Covid appropriate behaviour, test-track-treat and vaccination," he said.

The home secretary said regular monitoring of COVID-19 appropriate behaviour is required to prevent relapse.

To reiterate, Covid appropriate behaviour includes mandatory use of masks, hand hygiene, social distancing and also proper ventilation of closed spaces, he said.

"However, easing of restrictions in some states, have led to resumption of crowding of people in markets etc., without adherence to the norms of Covid appropriate behaviour," he said.

It is, therefore essential to ensure that complacency does not set in, and there is no let-up in adhering to Covid appropriate behaviour, while opening up activities, the home secretary said. -- PTI

"It will go away," sprint legend Milkha Singh had told PTI when he first got to know that he had contracted COVID-19, fully confident that his healthy lifestyle and regimented exercise routine would be enough to beat the dreaded virus.

The 91-year-old, who died at Chandigarh's PGIMER hospital on Friday night after battling the infection for a month, was in high spirits when his positive test report came on May 19.

"Yes Bachcha, I tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday (May 19). But I am fine, I have no problem, no fever, no cough. It will go away. My doctor told me I will be alright in three-four days," he had said when PTI rang him up to check whether the buzz on social media about him testing positive for the virus was correct.

A couple of days later, Milkha was hospitalised at Mohali's Fortis hospital as a precautionary measure. While there, he was joined by his former national volleyball captain wife Nirmal Kaur, who died six days ago on Sunday because of COVID complications.

The couple shared a room before Milkha was discharged on the family's request. He was subsequently hospitalised again on June 3 after his oxygen saturation levels dipped, this time at the PGIMER where he battled it out till Friday night.

"Our cook had fever but he concealed it from us. We sent him to his home (native village). After that we thought it's better that all the family members should get COVID-19 tests done," Milkha had said during the May 20 conversation detailing what exactly led to the positive tests.

"I am surprised. How could I get this infection?" he wondered.

At that point Milkha did not feel any symptoms and said that he had even been jogging and exercising.

"I have been keeping indoors except for morning jogging and exercise. I did jogging just yesterday. Don't worry, I am in good spirits," he asserted.

"I have been telling people that doing physical exercise and remaining healthy is very important during this COVID times. I am 91 but I have been doing exercise regularly," he had said.

And it was this lifestyle that he was banking on to recover.

"Though I am surprised to have tested positive, I hope to get over it soon."

His wife had, however, spoken about Milkha complaining of slight weakness before his COVID test was done.

"This was the first time in my life that he had complained of weakness and body ache," Nirmal, who was negative for virus at that time, had said.

The legendary athlete was a four-time Asian Games gold-medallist and the 1958 Commonwealth Games champion but his greatest performance was a near miss, the fourth place finish in the 400m final of the 1960 Rome Olympics.

Howevere, his timing at the Italian capital remained the national record for 38 years and he was bestowed the Padma Shri in 1959.

11:49 Bengal governor meets Amit Shah

West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar meets Union Home Minister Amit Shah at his official residence in Delhi on Saturday at 11 am.

"Governor WB Jagdeep Dhankhar will call on the Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah at his official residence at 11 am today before returning to Kolkata in the afternoon," tweeted Dhankhar's office.

Dhankhar had a meeting with Shah on Thursday as well.

He extended his stay at the national capital for today's meeting with Shah.

Genome sequencing of the samples of four COVID-19 infected lions at the Arignar Anna Zoological Park at Vandalur, near Chennai, has revealed that they belong to Pangolin lineage B.1.617.2 and are Delta variants as per World Health Organisation nomenclature, the park said on Friday.

On May 11, this year, the World Health Organisation classified B.1.617.2 lineage as a variant of concern (VOC), and said it showed evidence of higher transmissibility and reduced neutralization, the zoo's deputy director said.

AAZP sent samples of 11 lions housed in the park to test for SARS CoV-2 four lions on May 24 and seven on May 29 to the ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, Bhopal.

In its communication on June 3, the institute said samples of 9 lions had tested positive for SARS CoV-2. Thereafter the animals have been under active treatment.

The deputy director said in a statement that the Institute shared the results of genome sequencing of the SARS CoV-2 virus that infected the lions following a request from the zoo authorities.

"The director ICAR-NIHSAD informed that the Genome sequencing of four of the samples was done at NIHSAD, Bhopal. Analysis of the sequences shows that all the 4 sequencesbelong to Pangolin lineage B.1.617.2 and are Delta variants as per WHO nomenclature," the release stated.

A nine-year-old lioness Neela and a male lion named Pathbanathan, aged 12 years, succumbed to COVID-19 earlier this month. -- PTI

Milkha Singh, one of independent India's biggest sporting icons, who died of COVID-19 complications, will be cremated here on Saturday evening.

"The cremation will take place at 5 pm today (Saturday)," a spokesperson for the family, said.

The 91-year-old Milkha Singh died on Friday night after a month-long battle with COVID-19.

He had lost his former national volleyball captain wife Nirmal Kaur to the same ailment.

The Padma Shri awardee, who was nicknamed 'The Flying Sikh' for his accomplishments, is survived by his golfer son Jeev Milkha Singh and three daughters.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh condoled his death.

'Upset and saddened to hear of Milkha Singh Ji's demise. It marks the end of an era and India & Punjab are poorer today,' Amarinder Singh said in a tweet.

'My condolences to the bereaved family & millions of fans. The legend of the Flying Sikh will reverberate for generations to come. Rest in peace Sir! Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said India has lost a great athlete.

'Milkha Ji has left us but he will always inspire every Indian to shine for the country. Flying Sikh' will always live in the hearts of the Indians,' Khattar tweeted. -- PTI

India reports 60,753 new COVID-19 cases, 97,743 discharges and 1,647 deaths in last 24 hours, as per health ministry.

Active cases are the lowest after 74 days, while recovery rate increases to 96.16 per cent, the Union health ministry said.

Total cases: 2,98,23,546

Total discharges: 2,86,78,390

Death toll: 3,85,137

Active cases: 7,60,019

Vaccination: 27,23,88,783

The Supreme Court on Friday posted the hearing of a plea of self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, seeking temporary suspension of sentence to pursue medical treatment at an Ayurveda Centre in Uttarakhand, till the reopening of the court after the summer vacation.

A Bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M R Shah later posted the matter for hearing after summer vacation.
Asaram wanted to be treated at Prakash Deep Institute of Ayurveda which is located between Hardwar and Rishikesh in Uttarakhand.

The Rajasthan government has opposed the bail plea of Asaram before the Apex court stating that he wants to change the place of his custody under the guise of seeking medical treatment.

The state has said that Asaram, who had earlier sought bail for allopathic treatment of his ailments, has now prayed to be treated at an Ayurveda centre, only because his earlier round of petitions were not successful.

Dr Manish Singhvi, the senior lawyer appearing for the Rajasthan government, submitted to the apex court on Friday that how can the court will grant bail at this stage.

"How can he (Asaram) be shifted to Uttarakhand," Dr Sighvi told the apex court.

To this, Justice Shah, said, "He (Asaram) can apply for interim bail."

The father of the rape victim in the Asaram case has approached the Supreme Court and opposed his plea for bail.

The plea of victim's father said that Asaram is 'highly influential, politically connected' and has a 'force of millions of blind followers around the country'.

Apprehending that his daughter and his family could be killed by Asaram's followers, the father in his plea stated that the godman has a 'hired killer Kartik Haldar, who killed and attacked eyewitnesses' and confessed to the police that Asaram ordered the killings.

The victim's father has said that during the course of the trial, he and his family members were 'threatened with dire consequences'.

'Bapu is a habitual offender and is facing trial for similar serious offences of rape before the Sessions Court at Gandhinagar, Gujarat and a criminal case before a Metropolitan Magistrate at Jodhpur,' the petition stated.

A Jodhpur court, on April 25, 2018, had sentenced Asaram to life in prison after finding him guilty of raping a teenage girl in his ashram in 2013.

His accomplices Sharad and Shilpi were sentenced to 20 years in jail by the court in the same case for their roles.

He was also convicted in a 2002 rape case and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Asaram is also facing a rape case in Surat in Gujarat. -- ANI

Photograph: Rameshwar Gaur/ANI Photo

09:17 SIT to probe fake Covid testing during Kumbh

The Uttarakhand Police has set up a special investigation team to probe allegations that fake Covid tests were conducted during the Haridwar Kumbh Mela.

One of the world's largest religious gatherings, the Kumbh was held in the state from April 1 to 30, and the notified area for the congregation covered various places in Haridwar, Dehradun and Tehri districts.

The special investigation team (SIT) was constituted by Haridwar Senior Superintendent of Police Senthil Avoodai Krishna Raj S on Friday, a day after a case was registered against Max Corporate Service and private laboratories Dr Lalchandani Lab and Nalwa Laboratories for allegedly conducting the fake Covid tests during the Kumbh.

The SIT has been constituted for a speedy probe, Krishna Raj said. Max Corporate Service and the two other labs have been booked under the Epidemic Act , the Disaster Management Act besides sections 120 B (criminal conspiracy to commit an offence punishable) and 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code. -- PTI

Image only for representation.

08:16 Palestine cancels vaccine deal with Israel

The Palestinian government on Friday announced cancellation of a deal with Israel relating to the supply of around one million doses of Pfizer (COVID-19) vaccine.

The cancellation came after the government found the doses fall short of meeting the technical criteria.

''After the technical teams of the Ministry of Health examined the first batch of the Pfizer vaccines that were received this evening from Israel, estimated at 90,000 doses, it was found that they do not conform to the specifications contained in the agreement, and accordingly, Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh instructed the Minister of Health to cancel the agreement,'' WAFA news reported quoting government spokesman Ibrahim Melhem.

During a joint press conference with Health Minister Mai Alkaila, the official added that the first batch of the cancelled deal were returned to Israel.

Earlier on the day, Health Minister Mai Alkaila said that Palestine had received an offer from Pfizer to urgently obtain about one million Pfizer COVID-19 doses from Israel, provided that the manufacturer, at the end of this year, will hand over the same amount to the Israeli side that was initially supposed to be allocated to Palestine prior to the aforementioned Pfizer offer.

The ceasefire deal, between Israel and Palestine that was reached on May 21, was violated on June 16.

Israel and Hamas concluded 11 days of fighting during which hundreds of rockets were launched from both Israel and Palestine sides.

According to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, 253 Palestinians were killed during the fighting, including 66 children, while 13 Israelis, including a 5-year-old boy and a soldier, were killed. -- ANI

01:27 Monsoon session of Parl to be held: Birla

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday said he believes the monsoon session of the Parliament will be held and all preparations have been made for it.

Speaking to ANI, Om Birla said, "Secretariat employees have been vaccinated and 445 members have got themselves inoculated separately. The remaining members and employees will soon be vaccinated. We are constantly trying to increase the productivity of parliament."

"Even in the last session, we tried to do COVID tests of members. We also insisted that the members get vaccinated. Thankfully the COVID infections are reducing. But, we need to take precautions," said the Lok Sabha Speaker.

Asked whether the Monsoon Session will be held or not, he said the ministerial subcommittee will take the final call for the monsoon session.

"The ministerial subcommittee takes the decision of the monsoon session. But I believe the monsoon session will be held. All the preparations have been taken in Lok Sabha for this purpose," emphasised Birla.

The Lok Sabha Speaker stressed the need for smooth functioning of the House without disruption and sloganeering.

"The House should function without any interruption. Placards and sloganeering need to be minimised. The House is for discussion, debate and argument. And, we are constitutionally making efforts to make it more powerful," said Birla.

The Budget session of parliament this year concluded in April. -- ANI

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