LIVE! 27,126 new coronavirus cases detected in Maha

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Sat, 20 March 2021

27,126 new coronavirus cases detected in Maha

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21:51 27,126 new coronavirus cases detected in Maha

Maharashtra on Saturday reported 27,126 new COVID-19 cases, the highest one-day rise since the outbreak of the pandemic last year, said a health official.

The previous highest one-day figure was 25,833, reported on Thursday.

With this, the state's case tally increased to 24,49,147, while 92 deaths took the fatality count to 53,300, the official said.

The state also discharged 13,588 people from hospitals, taking the total of recoveries to 22,03,553, while active cases stood at 1,91,006.

Pune city recorded highest 3,200 new cases, followed by 2,982 in Mumbai and 2,873 in Nagpur city.

Mumbai's COVID-19 tally increased to 3,58,896 while seven deaths took the fatality count in the country's financial capital to 11,576.

Mumbai division reported 5,697 new cases and 15 deaths, taking the cumulative caseload to 7,88,013 and death toll to 20,043.

With 1,34,025 tests carried out during the day, the state has so far tested 1,82,18,001 samples for coronavirus.

There are 9,18,408 people in home quarantine while 7,953 are in institutional quarantine.

Out of 92 deaths, 56 occurred in the last 48 hours and 26 in the last week. Rest 10 deaths are from the period before the last week.

Maharashtra's COVID-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases: 24,49,147, new cases: 27,126, death toll: 53,300, discharged: 22,03,553, active cases: 1,91,006, people tested so far: 1,82,18,001. -- PTI

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said the doorstep ration delivery scheme of his government will not have any name, a day after the Centre red-flagged 'Mukhya Mantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yojna' scheduled to start from March 25.

"We will accept all the conditions of the Centre but not allow any obstruction in implementation of the scheme," Kejriwal asserted in a press conference.

The Centre on Friday asked the Delhi government not to implement the Mukhya Mantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yojna, saying it is "not permissible" to use subsidised foodgrains allotted under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) for a state scheme.

The chief minister claimed a letter from the Centre on Friday noon informed that the doorstep delivery of ration scheme cannot be named as the Mukhya Mantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yojna.

"Perhaps they had objection over 'Mukhya Mantri' word. We are not doing this to take credit or promote our names. So now the scheme will have no name. There will be a cabinet meeting on Monday and its proposal will be sent to the Centre," he said.

Earlier in the day, the chief minister held a meeting on the issue with minister and officers of the Food and Civil Supplies department.

"I told officials to do away with name of this scheme. It has no name now and it is no longer a scheme. I believe this decision removes whatever objection the Centre had and now they will allow us to implement it," he said.

The ration that earlier was distributed through shops will now be delivered to the doorstep of beneficiaries, said the chief minister.

Kejriwal claimed it was very important for him to ensure ration delivery to the poor people by removing mafia from the public distribution system.

"We dreamt of this scheme for 20-22 years and I was personally preparing for it for last 2-3 years, so our hearts sank after receiving the Centre's objection but now we will not let any obstruction come in its way and accept all their conditions."

He said doorstep delivery of ration was a revolutionary scheme in view of the powerful mafia active in the field and hoped the scheme without any name will satisfy the Centre and it will have no objection now.

"My fight with the ration mafia began about 22 years ago. I used to work with the residents of slums in Nandnagari, Sundarnagari and Seemapuri, where I learnt how the people struggle to get ration."

The ration mafia is very powerful and have strong links and they never wanted this scheme to be implemented, he said.

The Delhi government came up with the idea of home delivery of ration to put a check on the ration mafia and remove problems faced by beneficiaries like waiting in queues, adulteration and shortchanging.

Kejriwal was scheduled to launch the scheme with doorstep delivery of ration to 100 households in northeast Delhi's Seemapuri on March 25.

"We did not bring doorstep delivery of ration to take any credit. I had said this even during the COVID-19 pandemic, all the credit should be with them and all the work and responsibilities should be with us. This is our principle," he stated.

In a letter to the Delhi government on Friday, a Union Food Ministry officer said subsidised foodgrains allocated by the central government for distribution under the NFSA cannot be used for operationalisation of any state specific scheme under different name other than NFSA as the same is not permissible under the Act. -- PTI

Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh denies corruption charges by former Mumbai Police commissioner Param Bir Singh.

Deshmukh said that Param Bir Singh has made false allegations to save and protect himself from legal action.

"Sachin Waze's direct links in Antilia Case & Mansukh Hiran Case are coming forward. Param Bir Singh is afraid that its connections will reach up to him. He has made these false allegations to save & protect himself from legal action," Deshmukh tweeted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday extended his best wishes to his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan for a speedy recovery from COVID-19.

Khan has tested positive for the COVID-19 and is self-isolating at home, his top aide on health announced, two days after he got the first shot of a vaccine.

Modi tweeted his wishes to Khan, "Best wishes to Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI for a speedy recovery from COVID-19."

The West Bengal CID on Saturday took over the investigation into the Nandigram incident in which Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was injured during her election campaign, a senior officer of the agency said.

A team of CID officers will soon be visiting the spot in the Purba Medinipur district and record statements of the witnesses, he said.

A case has already been lodged at the Nandigram police station on the basis of a complaint filed by TMC leader Shiekh Sufiyan over the incident, which happened on March 10, the officer said.

The case has been filed under IPC section 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint) and section 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) against unknown persons, he said.

Banerjee alleged that she was attacked in the Birulia Bazar area, in which she was injured in her left leg, besides hips, arm, chest, neck and shoulder as she fell down.

Following the incident, the Election Commission suspended the chief minister's Director Security Vivek Sahay and Purba Medinipur's Superintendent of Police Pravin Prakash.

Besides, it transferred district magistrate Vibhu Goel to a non-election post, pointing to lapses in Banerjee's security.

The incident became a boiling issue ahead of the elections with Banerjee campaigning on a wheelchair, drawing sharp attacks from the opposition parties, including the BJP that termed it a ploy for "sympathy votes". -- PTI

In a shocking revelation, former Mumbai Police commissioner Param Bir Singh has accused Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh of extortion.

In his letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Singh claimed that Deshmukh had directed suspended API Sachin Waze to collect Rs 100 crore every month from bars restaurants, other establishments.

"The Hon'ble Home Minister expressed to Shri Vaze that he had a target to accumulate Rs. 100 crores a month. For achieving the aforesaid target, the Hon'ble Home Minsiter told Shri Vaze that there are about 1,750 bars, restaurants and other establishments in Mumbai and if a sum of Rs. 2-3 lakhs each was collected from each of them, a monthly collection of Rs. 40-50 crores was achievable. The Hon'ble Home Minister added that the rest of the collection could be made from other sources," he wrote.

Singh said he had also briefed Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, other senior ministers, and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar.

While briefing the ministers, the former Mumbai top cop noticed that some of them were already aware of some aspects mentioned by him.

Read the full text of Param Bir Singh's letter HERE

Mumbai will test people for COVID-19 randomly at crowded places without their consent, the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai said in an order today.

The strict move to test people using the rapid antigen method comes amid Maharashtra reporting a surge in COVID-19 cases.

"Rapid antigen testing (RAT) at crowded places like malls, railway stations (for inbound trains), bus depots, marketplaces, tourist places and government offices shall be done randomly. RAT will be carried out without the consent of citizens who are present at these crowded places," the municipal body said in the order.

"If the citizen refuses to test, it would amount to an offence under the Epidemic Act, 1897. Hence, action shall be initiated against the offender," the order said.

The train stations where mandatory and random RAT will be done are: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Mumbai Central, Dadar Western and Central, Bandra Terminal, Andheri, Borivali and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, Kurla.

The bus depots where RAT will be conducted are Mumbai Central, Parel, Borivali and Kurla.

A target of at least 400 rapid antigen tests has been set in malls, while the target is 1,000 at railway stations.

18:43 Aaditya Thackeray tests positive for COVID-19

Maharashtra trousim minister Aaditya Thackeray tests positive for coronavirus.

"On having mild symptoms of COVID, I had myself tested and I am COVID positive. I request everyone who came in contact with me to get themselves tested," the Shiv Sena leader tweeted.

"I urge everyone to realise that it is extremely important to not let your guard down. Please follow COVID protocols & stay safe," he added.

18:38 Assam poll: Rahul releases Cong manifesto

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday released his party's election manifesto for Assam, making "five guarantees" that included Rs 2,000 per month for every housewife and law to nullify the Citizenship Amendment Act.

Releasing the document Guwahati, Gandhi said his party will protect the idea of Assam that is being "attacked" by the BJP and RSS.

"Though Congress symbol is there in the document, actually it is the people's manifesto. It contains the aspirations of the people of Assam," he said.

In its manifesto, the Congress also promised five lakh government jobs and 200 units of free electricity per month for all, besides hiking the minimum wages of tea garden workers to Rs 365.

Gandhi said Congress guarantees to defend the idea of Assam that contains culture, language, tradition, history and the way of thinking.

"This is our commitment. You are aware that BJP and RSS are attacking the diverse culture of India and Assam. We will defend that," he told reporters. -- PTI

18:12 Happiness index: India ranks 139 out of 149

India has been ranked 139 out of 149 countries in the list of United Nations World Happiness Report 2021 released on Friday which is topped by Finland.

Finland has been ranked as the happiest country in the world. The Nordic nation is followed by Iceland, Denmark, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Sweden, Germany and Norway.

A rising trajectory of daily new cases is visible in eight states and Union Terroritieris, including Delhi and Maharashtra, while Kerala is showing a declining trend, the Union health ministry said on Saturday.

The ministry said Maharashtra, Kerala and Punjab cumulatively account for 76.22 per cent of India's total active caseload, with Maharashtra contributing to 62 per cent of such cases, while Kerala and Punjab account for

8.83 per cent and 5.36 per cent of active cases respectively.

The top five districts in Maharashtra recording the highest number of cases are Pune (37,384), Nagpur (25,861), Mumbai (18,850), Thane (16,735) and Nashik (11,867).

The top five districts in Kerala recording the highest number of cases are Ernakulam (2,673), Pathanamthitta (2,482), Kannur (2,263), Palakkad (2,147) and Thrissur (2,065).

The top five districts in Punjab recording the highest number of cases are Jalandhar (2,131), SAS Nagar (1,868), Patiala (1,685), Ludhiana (1,643) and Hoshiarpur (1,572).

"A rising trajectory of daily new cases is visible in eight states. These are Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka and Haryana. Kerala is showing a consistently declining trend," the

ministry said in a statement.

The ministry further said that five states account for 81.38 per cent of the new deaths. Maharashtra saw the maximum casualties at 70, Punjab followed with 38 daily deaths and Kerala reported 17 deaths in the last 24

hours.

Meanwhile, fifteen states and UTs have not reported any COVID-19 deaths in the last 24 hours. These are Assam, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Sikkim, Ladakh, Manipur, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and

Daman and Diu, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Arunachal Pradesh.

The ministry further said India has scaled a significant peak in its battle against COVID-19 pandemic. The total vaccination coverage has surpassed 4 crore.

"About 4,20,63,392 vaccine doses have been administered through 6,86,469 sessions, as per the provisional report till 7 am today. These include 77,06,839 healthcare workers (HCWs) (first dose), 48,04,285 HCWs

(second dose), 79,57,606 frontline workers (FLWs)�(first dose) and 24,17,077 FLWs (second dose), 32,23,612 beneficiaries aged more than 45 years with specific co-morbidities (first dose) and 1,59,53,973

beneficiaries aged more than 60 years," it said.

As on day 63 of the vaccination drive (March 19), 27,23,575 vaccine doses were given. Eighty per cent of the 27.23 lakh vaccine doses administered in the last 24 hours are from 10 states. -- PTI

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday said that the National Investigation Agency taking over the probe into the death of Thane-based businessman Mansukh Hiran was not a setback to the Mumbai police or the Maharashtra government.

Talking to reporters in Nashik, Raut said, "There was no need for the NIA to take up the probe into the explosives-laden SUV and Mansukh Hiran case. The Anti-Terrorism Squad and Mumbai police were capable of investigating them."

"However, the Centreis looking for opportunities to see how the Maha Vikas Aghadi government can be put in a spot. You can bring the CIA or KGB...It makes no difference. It is not a setback to the Mumbai police of the MVA government," he said.

The NIA has taken over the probe into the death case of Hiran, whose body was found in a Thane creek on March 5, days after a vehicle laden with explosives was found parked near the Mumbai residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani. The SUV was in possession of Hiran. Earlier, the Maharashtra ATS was investigating the case.

The central agency is already probing the case related to the recovery of the explosives-laden SUV and has arrested Mumbai's assistant police inspector Sachin Waze. Hiran's wife has accused Waze of involvement in her husband's suspicious death.

Talking about the transfer of Param Bir Singh from the post of Mumbai police commissioner, Raut said, "Mumbai police has got a new leadership. The reshuffle in the police has been done to rectify the mistakes that may have happened."

Singh, who was under fire for the handling of the Sachin Waze case, was shunted out on Wednesday and senior IPS officer Hemant Nagrale was appointed in his place.

Raut further said that although the number of coronavirus cases in Maharashtra is on the rise, the state government is taking steps to control it.

One of the reasons for the rising infection cases is increase in the number of tests, he said.

"But attempts are being made to corner the state government in COVID-19 management...The numbers are rising, but no help is being provided (by the Centre)," he said.

Targeting the Centre, the Shiv Sena MP said, "Since there are no elections in Maharashtra, no help is being provided to the state...But even if elections are held, the BJP will not will."

The central government should treat all the states equally in terms of providing the vaccines, he added. -- PTI

The Gujarat government has refused sanction to prosecute three accused police officials including IPS officer G L Singhal in the 2004 Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case, the Central Bureau of Investigation told a court in Ahmedabad on Saturday.

The Central Bureau of Investigation had sought permission from the state government to prosecute Singhal, Tarun Barot and Anaju Chaudhary on the direction of special judge V R Raval.

Under section 197 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, sanction is required for prosecuting government servants for anything done in the discharge of official duty.

"The Gujarat government has declined sanction for the prosecution of the three accused. We submitted the letter to the court today," said R C Kodekar, special prosecutor.

Inspector General of Police Singhal, retired police officers Barot and J G Parmar, and Chaudhary have filed applications before the court seeking "dropping of proceedings for want of requisite sanction".

Parmar died during the course of hearing.

In its order in October 2020, the court had observed that the police officers had "acted in their official duties," so the CBI was required to obtain prosecution sanction.

In 2019, the CBI court had dropped proceedings against former police officers D G Vanzara and N K Amin in the case after the state government similarly refused sanction.

In 2018, former in-charge Director General of Police P P Pandey was discharged from the case.

The CBI had named seven police officers -- Pandey, Vanzara, Amin, Singhal, Barot, Parmar and Chaudhary -- as accused in its first charge sheet filed in 2013.

Ishrat Jahan, a 19-year-old woman from Mumbra near Mumbai, was killed alongwith Javed Shaikh alias Pranesh Pillai, Amjadali Akbarali Rana and Zeeshan Johar by Gujarat police in an `encounter' near Ahmedabad on June 15, 2004.

The police claimed the four were terrorists who were planning to assassinate then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

However, a High Court-appointed Special Investigation Team concluded that the encounter was fake, after which the CBI registered a case against police officials. -- PTI

Delhi reported over 800 COVID-19 cases for the first time this year on Saturday as the positivity rate breached the 1 per cent-mark after over two months, while two more fatalities pushed the death toll to 10,955, as per data shared by the health department.

The number of active cases rose to 3,409 from 3,165 a day ago, according to the latest health bulletin.

The new 813 cases pushed the infection tally to 6,47,161, of whom over 6.32 lakh people have recovered till date.

On Friday, the city had recorded 716 cases while the count on Thursday was 607 and 536 on Wednesday.

The two new fatalities took the toll to 10,955, while the positivity rate rose to 1.07 per cent from 0.93 per cent on Friday, the bulletin said.

Delhi had recorded 425 cases on Tuesday. The cases have been steadily rising over the last few days. The positivity rate had been hovering below the 1 per cent-mark for over two months.

A total of 77,888 tests, including 46,292 RT-PCR and 29,596 rapid antigen, were conducted on Friday, while the number of people under home isolation on Saturday rose to 1,722 from 1,624 a day ago, the bulletin said.

Health experts and doctors have attributed this "sudden rise" in COVID-19 cases to people turning complacent, not following COVID-19 appropriate behaviour and "assuming all is well now".

A total of 585 cases were reported on January 1 and 424 on January 3. The daily count had dropped to 306 on January 11 and risen again to 386 on January 12, according to official figures.

The numbers had started to come down in February. On February 26, the month's highest daily count of 256 cases was recorded.

Asserting that the recent rise in COVID-19 cases in the national capital was not a cause for worry, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had said Thursday the city government had directed officials for stricter tracking, tracing and isolation of cases. -- PTI

A strong earthquake struck Saturday off northern Japan, shaking buildings even in Tokyo and triggering a tsunami advisory for a part of the northern coast. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

The US Geological Survey put the strength at magnitude 7.0 and depth at depth of 54 kilometres (33.5 miles). The shaking started just before 6:10 p.m.

Nepal's national drug regulatory authority on Saturday granted emergency use approval to Bharat Biotech's Covaxin, becoming the third country to approve India's indigenously developed COVID-19 vaccine.

A meeting of the drug advisory committee of the Department of Drug Administration decided to issue a conditional emergency use authorisation to India's homegrown government-backed vaccine Covaxin, the third COVID-19 vaccine authorised in the country,The Kathmandu Post reported.

COVAXIN, which demonstrated an interim vaccine efficacy of 81 per cent in the Phase 3 clinical trials India, was approved for emergency use in India in January and Zimbabwe cleared it early this month.

Bharat Biotech had applied for emergency use authorisation for its vaccine in Nepal on January 13. Of the three applications filed on January 13, the department had first granted emergency use authorisation to Oxford-AstraZeneca on January 15.

The AstraZeneca vaccine, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India under the name of Covishiled, was then accordingly brought to the country.

Nepal granted emergency use authorisation to BBIBP-CorV vaccine, developed by China's Sinopharm on February 17.

Emergency use authorisation (EUA) is granted for some drugs and vaccines by authorities during a declared emergency when officials can make a judgment that the drug is worth releasing, even without all the evidence that would fully establish its e?ectiveness and safety.

Such a decision is taken when there's enough evidence to suggest that patients have bene?tted from the drug/vaccine.

Nepal has used one million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines provided by India in January under grant assistance in sync with its 'Neighbourhood First' policy.

It is now also awaiting another consignment of 2 million AstraZeneca vaccines from the Serum Institute of India (SII).

The latest approval comes as authorities in Nepal said they were suspending their vaccination campaign because of a lack of supply.

Nepal has reported 275,750 cases and 3,016 deaths so far, according to government data. -- PTI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party, accusing it of attacking Assam's culture, language, history and brotherhood, and promised to eliminate hatred and bring peace if his party is

voted to power in the state.

Addressing an election rally at Mariani in the Jorhat district, Gandhi alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi works only for the two-three richest industrialists of the country and not for the common people.

"The BJP is attacking Assam's culture, language, history and brotherhood... We will protect you and your culture and identity, eliminate hatred and bring peace. It is your state and it cannot be run from Nagpur," Gandhi told the rally.

Attacking the ruling BJP in Assam, he said the entire state is being "handed over" to "outsiders".

"The government has given Rs 2,000 crore of your money to modernise the Guwahati airport. Now that has been snatched from you and given to Adani. In this way, everything in the country is being given to his (Modi's) two-three richest businessman friends," Gandhi said.

He alleged that the BJP makes different promises at different places but does not fulfil them.

"I never lie. See what I had said before the polls in Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Punjab. I had said that farmers' loans will be waived. Within six hours of forming the government in Chhattisgarh, it was done. Likewise, every promise in other states was fulfilled," he said.

He was campaigning in Mariani, which is going to the polls in the first phase on March 27, in support of sitting three-time heavyweight Congress MLA Rupjyoti Kurmi, who will have a direct contest with BJP nominee Ramani Tanti.

Gandhi said that if the Congress forms government in the state, then a law will be introduced to nullify the CAA, five lakh government jobs will be given, 200 units of electricity will be free for all, housewives will get Rs 2,000

per month and minimum wages of tea garden workers will be raised to Rs 365.

"You are seeing the condition of the country. BJP did demonetisation saying it was a fight against black money. However, it snatched money from you and gave it to two-three big industrialists.

"Then came GST, promising simple tax and benefit for all. Modi brought it with five different taxes and the highest rate is at 28 per cent... Thousands of industries were shut down due to these two decisions. He says something, but does something else," the former Congress president said.

Raising the issue of price rise, he said the BJP government is working for "hum do, humare do (we two, our's two)" while farmers, small businessmen, workers and other people are suffering due to high inflation.

"He (Modi) waived taxes and loans of the two-three industrialists, but he did nothing for you. He even attacked the farmers by bringing in the three farm laws. That is why we have brought the five guarantees for you," Gandhi said while mentioning the party's poll promises.

He said the Congress government, if voted to power, will give incentives to small and mid-sized businesses so that employment can be generated in the private sector as well. -- PTI

In an apparent jibe at the influential Adhikari family of Purba Medinipur district, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said that she was relieved as "Mir Zafars" (traitors) have quit the party ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.

Terming the Bharatiya janata party as a "party of feudal lords", the Trinamool Congress supremo, while addressing an election rally at Khejuri in the district, alleged that the saffron party was more interested in selling the entire country.

"Thank God, the 'Mir Jafars' (traitors) have left (TMC). I am relieved. It has saved us (the party). They never used to allow me to come to Khejuri, Nandigram or Kanthi whenever I wished to visit these places. As if this was their 'zamindari'. Now, nobody can stop me from coming here," Banerjee said.

She alleged that the BJP has stolen several lakhs of crores of rupees from the common people of the country by "selling" the Railways, BSNL and banks.

"The BJP must clear the air over the fate of the demonetisation money and PM cares funds. People want to know," she said.

She urged people to be alert while casting their votes and double-check the EVMs properly.

Using the party's famous 'Khela Hobe' (game is on) slogan, she urged the voters to drive the BJP out of the country.

"Play the game in such a manner that the BJP is driven out of the country," she added.

Banerjee left her Bhowanipore constituency in Kolkat to contest her former lieutenant and BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari in Nandigram seat, where an anti-land acquisition movement catapulted the TMC to power in the state in 2011.

Most members of the Adhikari family, which holds considerable political clout in the district, have either joined the BJP or expressed a desire to join the saffron party. -- PTI

15:58 Pak PM Imran Khan tests positive for COVID-19

Pakistan Prime minister Imran Khan on Saturday tested positive for the COVID-19 and is self-isolating at home, his top aide on health Dr Faisal Sultan said.

Khan, 67, tested positive two days after he received the first shot of vaccination against the coronavirus.

"PM Imran Khan has tested positive for Covid-19 and is self isolating at home," Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Dr Sultan said on Twitter.

Khan was vaccinated as part of the nationwide anti-coronavirus vaccination campaign which is underway in its first phase. -- PTI

15:46 Govt asks CJI Bobde to recommend his successor

With a little over a month left before Chief Justice of India SA Bobde retires, the government has started the process of appointment of next CJI, asking the incumbent to recommend his successor, sources said Saturday.

Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad Friday sent a letter to Justice Bobde, who is set to retire on April 23, seeking his recommendation, the sources said.

As per the Memorandum of Procedure governing the appointment of members of the higher judiciary, "appointment to the office of the Chief Justice of India should be of the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court considered fit to hold the office".

It stipulates that the Law Minister would, at an appropriate time, seek the recommendation of the outgoing Chief Justice of India for the appointment of the next CJI.

Under this process, after receipt of the recommendation of the CJI, the Law Minister puts it before the Prime Minister who advises the President in the matter of appointment.

"Whenever there is any doubt about the fitness of the senior-most Judge to hold the office of the Chief Justice of India, consultation with other Judges...would be made for appointment of the next Chief Justice of India," the document states.

Justice NV Ramana is the senior-most judge in the top court after the CJI.

Born on August 27, 1957, justice Ramana has a tenure till August 26, 2022. -- PTI

15:27 BJP biggest extortionist in the world: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday slammed the Bharatiya Janata party, branding it as the "biggest extortionist" in the world, which should never be allowed to rule the state.

Banerjee, speaking at an election rally at Haldia in East Midnapore district, also accused the saffron party of orchestrating riots, killing people and torturing Dalit girls.

"The BJP is the biggest 'tolabaz' (extortionist) in the world... Just see the amount of money it collected under the PM Cares Fund. If the people of West Bengal want peace and a state free from riots, then the Trinamool Congress is the only option," she asserted.

The eight-phase West Bengal assembly elections will get underway on March 27. -- PTI

The written examinations of HSC (Class 12) and SSC (Class 10) of the Maharashtra education board will be held through offline mode only from the next month, state minister Varsha Gaikwad announced on Saturday.

It means that students will have to physically go to the exam centres to appear for it, the school education minister said.

"The schools of the students will be their exam centres. Apart from the regular three-hour period of the exam, they will get extra half an hour to attempt the questions," she said.

The examination dates have already been announced and practical exams will be held once the written tests are over, Gaikwad added.

The Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exam will be conducted between April 23 and May 21, while the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exam will be held between April 29 and May 20, the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) had announced last month.

These board exams are usually held in February and March, but this year their schedule has been changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. -- PTI

Expressing his views on the exit of Pratap Bhanu Mehta and Arvind Subramanian from the Ashoka University, eminent economist Rahguram Rajan has said free speech is the soul of a great varsity and wondered whether "pressures will go away" by showing a willingness to barter the soul.

Earlier this week, the Sonipat-based Ashoka University -- a leading varsity that offers courses in liberal arts and sciences -- found itself at the centre of a controversy after political commentator Mehta and economist Subramanian resigned.

In a Linkedin post, former Reserve Bank of India governor Rajan said that free speech has suffered a "grievous blow" in India this week as professor Mehta, one of India's finest political scientists, resigned from the Ashoka University.

"The reality is that professor Mehta is a thorn in the side of the establishment. He is no ordinary thorn because he skewers those in government and in high offices like the Supreme Court with vivid prose and thought-provoking arguments," he said.

On the recent developments at the varsity, Rajan -- who is a professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business -- said, "Free speech is the soul of a great university. By compromising on it, the founders have bartered away its soul."

He further said, "And if you show a willingness to barter your soul, is there any chance the pressures will go away? This is indeed a sad development for India," Rajan said.

Mehta's exit from the varsity was followed by professor Arvind Subramanian's resignation.

Rajan also quoted a few lines from Subramanian's resignation letter which said, "That even Ashoka with its private status and backing by private capital can no longer provide a space for academic expression and freedom is ominously disturbing.

"Above all, that the University's commitment to fight for and sustain the Ashoka vision is now open to question makes it difficult for me to continue being part of Ashoka."

Rajan noted that if Ashoka's founders believe "they have compromised with the powers that be in the greater interests of the university, they are wrong".

According to Rajan, it is not that Mehta has much sympathy for the opposition either. "As a true academic, he is an equal opportunity critic. He is, and I hope will continue to be, one of the intellectual leaders of liberalism in India," the former RBI governor said.

Rajan also quoted Mehta from his resignation letter that said, "After a meeting with founders it has become abundantly clear to me that my association with the university may be considered a political liability."

Rajan opined that Mehta and Subramanian's statements suggest that Ashoka's founders have succumbed to outside pressure to get rid of "troublesome" critics. -- PTI

India and the United States on Saturday resolved to further expand their global defence and security cooperation including military-to-military engagement, information sharing, logistics support as both sides vowed to work for a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.

After talks with visiting US Secretary of State Lloyd Austin, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the two sides agreed to pursue enhanced cooperation between Indian military and the US Indo-Pacific Command, Central Command and Africa Command.

"I am happy to inform that I had a comprehensive and fruitful discussion with Secretary Austin and his delegation. We are keen to work together to realise the full potential of the India-US comprehensive global strategic partnership," Singh said in his statement to the media.

Referring to Indo-US foundational agreements on defence ties, he said both sides discussed steps to be taken to realise the full potential of pacts such as LEMOA (Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement), COMCASA (Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement) and BECA (Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement) for mutual benefit.

Singh also said the recent summit of leaders of India, the US, Japan and Australia under the Quad framework emphasised the resolve to maintain a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.

In his comments, Secretary Austin reaffirmed the commitment by the US to a comprehensive and forward-looking defence partnership with India as a "central pillar" of its approach to the region.

He also described the India-US relationship as a "stronghold" of a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

"Singh and I had a very productive discussion...I wanted to convey the Biden-Harris administration's message about our strong commitment to our allies and partners," he said.

Austin, who arrived in India on Friday as part of his three-nation first overseas tour as the US Defence Secretary, also said India is an increasingly important partner in today's rapidly changing international dynamics. -- PTI

Mansukh Hiren

14:08 NIA takes over Mansukh Hiren death case

The National Investigation Agency, which is probing the Antilia security scare incident, has taken over the investigation of the mysterious death of Mansukh Hiren.

Mansukh Hiren was the owner of the vehicle laden with explosives parked outside Mukesh Ambani's residence 'Antilia'.

About 20 gelatin sticks and a threat letter addressed to the Ambani family was recovered from the car, a Scorpio, on February 25.

Days later, the body of Mansukh Hiren was fished out from the Mumbra creek in Thane on March 5.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday launched a frontal attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging her lawmaker nephew Abhishek was the only "single window" in the state without crossing which no work gets done.

He also accused the TMC supremo of presiding over an administration full of 'tolabaj' (extortionists) and corrupt people.

Attending his second rally in the election-bound state in three days, the prime minister alleged Banerjee was engaged in "khela" (game) of appeasement for vote bank politics.

"Industrial units are getting shuttered. You know, a single-window system is created for speedy clearances for industries. In Bengal, too, exists a single window....the single window of 'Bhaipo' (nephew) without crossing which no work gets done," he said without naming Banerjee's nephew and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee.

The BJP has often accused Abhishek of running syndicates that extort money from common people. In local parlance, syndicates refer to gangs run by TMC toughs who sell substandard construction material to people at exorbitant rates.

Rejecting the outsider tag Mamata Banerjee has given to his party, the prime minister said,"The BJP is the only real party of Bengal. Syama Prasad Mookerjee founded Jana Sangh, the BJP's forerunner. He was the son of Bengal."

Ridiculing Banerjee over the "khela hobe" (game will happen) slogan, Modi said "Didir khela shesh hobe, vikas aarambh" (Didi's game will be over and development will start).

Referring to the 'Ayushman Bharat' health insurance scheme, the prime minister said the TMC government has not implemented it as it thought the Centre will get credit for the measure.

"Mamata Didi stands like a wall to block central schemes," he alleged.

He claimed the previous Congress, Left and the current TMC governments had all stalled West Bengal's development. -- PTI

Karnataka born Dattatreya Hosabale was on Saturday elected as the 'Sarkaryawah' (general secretary) of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

He was until now the Sah-Sarakaryavah (joint general secretary) of the Sangh.

The election took place at the two-day annual meeting of the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha, the Sangh's highest decision-making body that began here on Friday.

"Bangaluru : Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha of RSS elected Shri Dattatreya Hosabale as its Sarkaryavah. He was Sah Sarkaryavah of RSS since 2009," RSS tweeted.

Hosabale will replace the 73-year-old Suresh 'Bhaiyyaji' Joshi, who was Sarkaryawah for four terms, with each term having three years.

Sarkaryawah post is considered as Sangh's number 2 in command after Sarsanghchalak (Chief of RSS) which is currently held by Mohan Bhagwat.

Though ABPS is an annual meet held at different places, but every third year it is held at RSS headquarters in Nagpur as election of Sarkaryawah will take place.

However, it was shifted to Bengaluru this time in the wake of surging COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra.

Born in Sorab in Shivamogga, Hosabale, aged 65-years, a post graduate in English literature, has grown in Sangh, which he joined in 1968.

He was initially associated with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, student wing of the RSS, and became an organiser in RSS. -- PTI

Dharavi, the biggest slum in Mumbai, has reported 272 coronavirus cases so far in the month of March as against the entire February's infection count of 168, a rise of 62 per cent, civic officials said on Saturday.

The spike in cases in this slum sprawl, which is spread over 2.5 sq km of area, has set alarm bells ringing for the authorities, although they say that they are better prepared this year to tackle the situation as compared to last

year when the outbreak had started.

The officials said that the number of single-day cases in Dharavi, which had started steadily going up since February, has witnessed a significant jump starting this month.

Till March 19, it has reported 272 cases.

The officials said that the cases being reported now are scattered across the slum and not concentrated in any particular pocket.

Dharavi currently has 72 active COVID-19 cases. Of the total number of 4,133 patients so far, 3,745 have recovered, while 316 have died due to the infection.

Around 6.5 lakh people live in Dharavi, with a population density of 2,27,136 per sq km. Maintaining social distancing there is a tough task, as families of eight to 10 members live in 10x10 hutments and residents have to walk along narrow lanes lined with crowded tenements on either side.

This slum is also home to several small-scale leather, pottery and textile manufacturing units.

The first COVID-19 patient in Dharavi was found on April 1 last year, about 20 days after the city reported its first case. Thereafter, the daily case count in Dharavi kept rising and it was declared as COVID-19 hotspot.

In the first week of May last year, it had reported 94 cases in a single day, its highest daily count. However, the number started going down gradually from the following month.

According to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation officials, the daily number of cases from Dharavi went down significantly from November and it even did not report any case a few days in January and February.

In the last four months, the slum hardly reported any double-digit daily growth in cases.

The highest single-day count during this entire period came on on February 16, when it recorded 16 new cases.

A number of steps, including proactive screening with the assistance of private doctors and community support, the authorities had managed to flatten the curve of viral spread.

Even the World Health Organisation took cognisance of the efforts and praised the "Dharavi pattern". -- PTI

12:08 Stone from Sita temple in Lanka for Ram temple

A stone from Sita Eliya, the place in Sri Lanka where Goddess Sita is believed to have been held captive, will be used in the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and serve as a pillar of strength for India-Lanka ties, the Indian high commission in Colombo said.

The stone is expected to be brought to India by Sri Lankan high commissioner to India Milinda Moragoda.

"A stone from Sita Eliya in #SriLanka for the Ram Temple in #Ayodhya will be a pillar of strength for #India-#SriLanka ties. This stone was received at Mayurapathi Amman Temple by HC-designate of Sri Lanka to India HE Mr Milinda Moragoda in presence of the High Commissioner, the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka tweeted on Thursday.

A temple in Sita Eliya is dedicated to Goddess Sita and is said to mark the place where she was held captive by the Lankan king Ravana and where she regularly prayed to Lord Rama for her rescue.

En route to Hakgala Gardens, the vibrant and colourful temple is known as the Seetha Amman Temple. Found on the top of the rock across a brook are round markings believed to be the footprints of the elephant that belonged to Ravana.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had last year performed the bhoomi pujan' of the Supreme Court-mandated Ram temple in Ayodhya, bringing to fruition the Bharatiya Janata Party's "mandir movement" that defined its politics for three decades and took it to the heights of power. -- PTI

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra has purchased about 1.15 lakh square feet of land about 2-3 km away from Ram Janmabhoomi premises to develop facilities for security forces, devotees and for activities of the trust, an official of the trust said on Saturday.

Trustee Anil Mishra said two plots of land situated in Ram Kot and Tehri Bazaar localities were purchased last week from Harish Kumar Pathak, a resident of Basti district.

The land has been bought at the rate of Rs 690 per square feet, he said.

"We have paid a sum of Rs 8 crore to the owner for the two plots," he said.

A survey is underway of properties adjoining the Ram Janmabhoomi premises for expansion of the temple land and a list is being prepared to ascertain their ownership. These properties include some Muslim houses and mosques.

Ayodhya mayor Rishikesh Upadhyay said the survey is being carried out to find out the owners of these properties. "This will help to find out whether those residing here are tenants or owners of houses," he said.

Trust secretary Champat Rai said the expansion of Ram Janmabhoomi premises will be done with mutual understanding and dialogue.

"We will purchase the land by paying the demanded price or we can give them an alternate land for the resettlement," he said, adding the extension is being done to provide devotees the basic facilities.

In the first week of March, the trust purchased 7,285 square feet land adjacent to the Ram Janmabhoomi premises here, in accordance with its plan to expand the temple complex area to 107 acres from the present 70 acres.

The trust bought the land for Rs 1 crore. -- PTI

As China downplaying the threat of pandemic for several critical weeks, a less commonly known fact is that Chinese authorities deliberately sacrificed health workers to maintain their lies.

According to a report, in Foreign Policy by Annie Sparrow, the Chinese Communist Party's efforts to silence doctors not only fuelled the pandemic but also compromised the world's ability to spot the next one.

The reason for the cover-up is unclear, although it is speculated that some factors may have been a reluctance to cancel political meetings and a fear of public panic.

The authorities, instead of notifying the World Health Organization about the outbreak of pneumonia, decided to censor information and conceal the virus, whilst silencing doctors who tried to warn their colleagues.

To curb panic, hospital leaders refused to authorise masks and personal protective equipment.

According to Foreign Policy, despite growing infections, hospital authorities refused to believe that the spread of the virus among humans was possible or that staff members were infected. These falsehoods eventually influenced the WHO's decision to not immediately declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, which it did for Ebola, Zika and H1N1 virus.

"The delayed understanding of transmission dynamics cost the lives of unknown numbers of health care workers in China, contributed to the deaths of tens of thousands more abroad, and superpowered the pandemic," wrote Sparrow.

By December 27, 2019, Wuhan authorities knew that the virus threat was serious, as several patients without links to the market had been identified, and at least one health care worker had been infected. Doctors understood the threat and tried to warn others, but Chinese authorities stopped them before doing so.

The authorities instead engaged in a pattern of demonstrable lying and covering up, threatening doctors involved in early warnings and restricting information. When China formally acknowledged the outbreak, authorities told the WHO they had no idea what was causing it.

When the WHO asked China to verify the outbreak, Wuhan Public Security Bureau reported it had "taken measures" against eight "law breakers" and warned against "manufacturing, believing, or spreading rumors", instead of replying within 24 hours.

The Chinese government's cover up led WHO experts to make deadly mistakes, notably when on January 5, it passed on its minimal information from Beijing in a post entitled "Pneumonia of Unknown Cause", writes Foreign Policy. -- ANI

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen has decided to field candidates in only 13 seats of poll-bound West Bengal's Murshidabad district.

After bagging a few seats in the Bihar assembly last year, Owaisi's AIMIM has fastened its seat belt for the poll-bound West Bengal.

Elections to the 294-member West Bengal assembly will be held in eight phases starting from March 27 with the final round of voting taking place on April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 2.

The state is likely to witness a triangular contest this time with TMC, Congress-Left alliance, and BJP in the fray.

10:48 Honouring the Fallen

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd James Austin III pays tribute at the National War Memorial.

Photograph: ANI/Twitter

10:32 T S Rawat apologises for ripped jeans comment

Facing flak over his "ripped jeans" comment, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat said he apologises for the remark if it has hurt anybody. But at the same time, he repeated his objection to ripped jeans, saying he has no problem with jeans with but wearing "torn" ones is "not right".

Referring to his remark made earlier this week, Rawat told the media that he had commented that nowadays children bring a costly jean home and then cut it with a scissor.

He had only talked about the environment at home and this applies to him as well, Rawat said.

If we inculcate good values and discipline in children, they will never fail in future, the CM added, stressing that he had made the comment at a programme held to keep the children away from intoxicants and other evils.

Describing himself as a man from a rural background, Rawat on Friday said whenever his pant was torn in schooldays, he feared that his teacher would scold him. Due to discipline and values, we used cover it with a patch, he said.

Tirath Singh Rawat had drawn flak after at an event earlier this week he said youngsters follow strange fashion trends due to a lack of values and consider themselves to be big shots after wearing jeans ripped at the knees. Women also follow such trends.

Rawat then went on to describe the attire of a woman who sat next to him on a flight. He described her as wearing boots, jeans ripped at the knees, bangles in her hands and with two children travelling with her. He also said she runs an NGO, goes out in society and has two children and wondered what values she would give them.

10:00 India records 40,953 new Covid cases in 24 hrs

India recorded 40,953 new Covid-19 cases, the Union ministry of health and family welfares dashboard showed on Saturday morning.

Active caseload, meanwhile, reached 288,394 and 188 more Covid-19 related deaths were recorded during the same period which took the death toll to 159,558.

Recoveries continued to rise, as per the data, as 20,654 patients were discharged in the last 24 hours, taking total recovered cases to 11,107,332.

Globally, the confirmed cases of Covid-19 reached 122,872,379 on Saturday, according to data by worldometer.

India has so far administered 4 crore Covid-19 vaccine doses, crossing a landmark milestone. Of these, 18.6 lakh vaccine jabs were given till 7 pm on Friday.

The total figure includes 76,86,920 healthcare workers who have taken the first dose and 47,69,469 HCWs who have taken the second dose, 79,10,529 frontline workers who have been administered the first dose and 23,16,922 FLWs who have been given the second dose.

The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 with healthcare workers getting inoculated and vaccination of the frontline workers started from February 2.

The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from March 1 for those who are over 60 years of age and for people aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions.

-- PTI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to interact with employees at the IOC Refinery in Assam's Tinsukia on Saturday.

The leader will also address two public meetings -- one in Jorhat at 1 pm and the other in Gohpur at 2.30 pm.

Rahul Gandhi, who is on his two-day visit to Assam will also release the party's manifesto for the poll-bound Assam today at 4.45 pm at Pradesh Congress Committee office.

Congress Spokesperson AICC in-charge of Media for Assam Polls Gourav Vallabh said, "We are giving 'five guarantees' to the people of Assam which are the key points of our manifesto and is agreed by the alliance partners too as a part of Common Minimum Program."

He also mentioned that the manifesto will promise no implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in Assam.

Assembly elections in Assam for 126 seats will be held in three phases starting on March 27. The counting of votes will take place on May 2.

-- ANI

Superspreader events such as weddings appear to have driven the resurgence of Covid-19 in India, according to preliminary assessments by the Union government that has also found people becoming less careful in recent months when the outbreak had receded to its lowest levels after the virus first emerged in India.

On Friday, India recorded more than 40,000 cases the highest since late November. This number is close to four times the roughly 11,000 being recorded on an average every day in the second week of February.

That (role of superspreader events) is what it looks like, as people have become lax in their behaviour. We must understand that there is still a large section of population that is vulnerable, especially in villages. We cannot afford to lower our guard at this stage, and should avoid mass gatherings as it can become superspreading events, said Dr VK Paul, member (health), Niti Aayog.

Also, testing, especially RT-PCR testing has to increase in districts that are reporting high positivity rate, he added.

08:00 BJP manfiesto for WB to be released tomorrow

The Bharatiya Janata Party is set to unveil its manifesto for West Bengal polls tomorrow and is likely to promise to turn around the "corruption-ridden" state through transparent governance aimed at rebranding the state as an investment destination.

The party's 'shankhnad' for elections through its manifesto may have suggestions such as developing international borders to boost markets, promoting vocal for local, revival of industries, reconciling land acquisition policy with the interest of farmers, increasing farmers' income through technology and other models of farming, boosting jute and tea industry, reviving shelved projects and modernisation of police.

In the backdrop of past agitations at Nandigram and Singur, the BJP manifesto is likely to have a promise of doing away with "anti-industry policy of past 34 years of Left Front rule and 10 years of Trinamool Congress rule".

Mizoram has urged the Centre not to deport the 300 Myanmarese who have taken refuge in thenortheastern state after a military coup in the neighbouringcountry last month, an official said on Friday.

A delegation comprising two MPs from the state andrepresentatives of the ruling Mizo National Front had on Thursday met Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai in Delhi and requested him to extend necessary help to the Myanmarese who have crossed over into India due tothe humanitarian crisis, he said.

They said the Myanmarese people who have fled their country had faced atrocities at the hands of the military, which seized power from the civilian government on February 1.

The delegation, comprising Lok Sabha MP C Lalrosanga,Rajya Sabha member K Vanlalvena, MNF leader and state planning board vice chairman H Rammawi and MNF adviser Rosangzuala, said deporting the Myanmarese is not possible till normalcy returns to the Southeast Asian country.

The delegation said India should take a pro-activerole and raise a stronger voice in support of people fightingfor the restoration of democracy in Myanmar.

Vanlalvena had on Tuesday informed the Parliament that 300 Myanmarese, including 150 security personnel, have already crossed over into Mizoram since the coup and 'sending themback now would mean killing them'.

He said deporting the refugees will not go down wellwith the people of Mizoram as the Myanmarese who have soughtshelter in the state also belong to the Mizo tribe.

The Ministry of Home Affairs had on March 10 writtento the chief secretaries of four Myanmar-bordering states Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, asking them to take appropriate action as per the law to check the influx of people from the neighbouring country.

The Home Ministry had also asked the border states toidentify illegal immigrants and take immediate measures todeport them. -- PTI

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