! " B) - !'25*C +*5*C C "#$%&!'()*+ #$#$% +#',-. &#'()* -' ) 8* #%% F= 8 G I F = 6 F 8 = G = 8 6 - 6 = = = -6 3 ;6- - = = 6 F GHF D #E ! EE D =)+ ! ' ,-.-(/ (-- R Q R !" n an unprecedented decision, Ithe Election Commission of he first day of the second India has declared all the booths Tpart of the Budget Session for the first phase of elections in of Parliament was virtually five districts of Bankura, Purulia, washed out due to the uproar day after Union Health Jhargram and East and West created by the Opposition over AMinister Dr Harsh Vardhan Midnapore in West Bengal as fuel price rise. and Delhi Health Minister sensitive. This implies that all the In the Rajya Sabha, while Satyendar Jain talked about 10,228 booths will have at least the Congress wanted a discus- nearing the end of the (Covid- 4-8 Central forces jawans sion right away on the issue, 19) pandemic, the Indian deployed, sources said, adding Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu Medical Association (IMA) has the EC has already banned did not allow and said the mat- cautioned politicians and the “civic volunteers” or “green ter could be raised during Government not to invoke a police” appointed by the State debate on the appropriation Bill $ ! % & ' “false sense of security”. war with confidence. But for Government on a temporary in the coming days. ( $% ! "# ! "# “It is painful to note the India and Argentina, whole basis from manning the polls. In the Lok Sabha, members discussion on endemic Vs pan- world had faced the second The first phase — of the 8- of the Congress, the Shiv Sena, Mallikarjun Kharge raised the demic status of diseases is wave and its much vitreous phase elections — for 10 seats the Indian Union Muslim issue and sought a discussion echoing in the political corri- consequences. will take place on March 27. League gave adjournment on the “burning issue.” dors, however it ought to be “The last one week has Reacting to the EC’s decision to motion notices over the con- “This is very important substantiated by scientific evi- shown 35 to 40 per cent increase deploy Central forces in all the tinuous rise in petrol, diesel issue and it is a burning subject. dence by the World Health in the number of cases from dif- booths, Bengal Minister Tapas and LPG prices. After Speaker Throughout the country, peo- Organisation (WHO) or ICMR ferent parts of the State and even Roy said, “We respect the EC’s Om Birla rejected notices of ple are agitated,” Kharge said. only,” the IMA said. in Capital of India the daily decision… they have the power adjournment motion moved by Petrol prices touched nearly The apex body of the doc- average has risen up from 100 to do so and they are doing Opposition members over the 100 a litre while diesel rates announcement in the Lower tors pointed out that “invasion to 140 patients. “Hence, let us accordingly…but the point is issue, they started raising were more than 80 per litre House. Birla said Lok Sabha of muted virus UK variant, not boast or trumpet ourselves decisions should not be one- slogans. and LPG prices also increased, he Budget Session of members would also sit in gal- South Africa variant and Brazil and indulge in prognosticating sided and favouring any one Birla appealed to protesting he said adding the Government TParliament is likely to be leries, apparently to maintain variant continue to haunt.” the course of this viral disease party.” Meanwhile, more members several times to let had collected 21 lakh crore by cut short and may conclude distancing norms. “While corona pandemic and off guard our preventive Trinamool Congress leaders quit the House function so that putting excise duty and cess on before the first phase of elec- Keeping in mind the social with its disastrous tentacles measures against this dreaded the ruling party either “feeling women members can raise petroleum products. tions on March 27, while the distancing norms due to the and widespread infectivity were disease of this stage,” said the insulted” at not being given a their issues on International He said farmers and peo- two Houses will resume their Covid-19 pandemic, both under control amid spike here association. ticket or getting “inspired” by Women’s Day, but as the din ple were suffering because of normal timing of 11 am Houses were meeting in two and there by the dedicated The IMA , which is an Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s continued around 5.15 pm, he rise in prices but the Chairman onwards from Tuesday, sources ) * ! shifts since the Monson and coordinated services ren- umbrella organisation for pri- leadership ahead of the Assembly adjourned the Lok Sabha till 7 did not allow his notice under said. $ ! + Session, with Rajya Sabha dered timely by Governments vate doctors in the country, also polls. Sonali Guha, former pm. Rule 267 to suspend business Several parties had request- ! "# meeting in the first half of the and private modern medical sought to remind the Bengal Assembly Deputy The Congress made its for the day and discuss the ed that the session, which was day and Lok Sabha in the sec- healthcare providers, the stage Government that good gain of Speaker and a trusted lieutenant intentions clear on disrupting issue. originally scheduled to con- Chairperson M Venkaiah ond half. There was no Winter is not ripe to call it the end of cohesive frontal services of of Chief Minister Mamata the proceedings as soon as the Naidu reiterated that the tinue till April 8, be curtailed Naidu announced the new tim- Session of Parliament due to pandemic or endemic,” the upkeeping physical distance, Banerjee for many decades, on Rajya Sabha met for the first members will get ample oppor- due to the Assembly elections ings for the Upper House this the pandemic. IMA said in a statement here. hand and respiratory hygiene, Monday left the ruling outfit day of the second half of the tunity to put the Government in four States and one Union morning on the first day of the Some Rajya Sabha mem- “The introduction of much masking and the timely sup- along with other outgoing Budget Session. The newly- on the mat on the Territory being held between second part of the Budget bers were sitting in Lok Sabha efficacious and safe corona portive vaccination drive, shall Legislators Dependu Biswas of elected Leader of Opposition issue during the forthcoming March 27 and April 29. Session, Lok Sabha Speaker chambers to adhere to dis- vaccine in our country is a tool not go in vain with this “tussle Basirhat and Jatu Lahiri of and senior Congress leader debates. While Rajya Sabha Om Birla made a similar tancing norms. for us to face this challenging of words”. Howrah. P ith Assembly elections Wless than a year away, the Capt Amarinder Singh-led government in Punjab on ers, having loan up to 2 lakh, price as compensation. Monday presented its last bud- has been provided. A debt In addition, Agriculture get with a total size of 1,68,015 n an attempt to cultivate the amounting to 4,624 crore has Development Bureaus will also crore for 2021-22, making Ifarmers amidst growing already been waived off under be set up at each district head- bulk of its provisions for agri- gloom brought about by the the scheme. Out of these, debt quarter to provide all infor- culture, urban development, Centre’s ‘contentious’ farm laws, relief to 3.19 lakh marginal mation to the farmers under water resources, health and Punjab Finance Minister farmers and 1.26 lakh small one roof. “Initially, it is pro- other sectors. Manpreet Singh Badal on farmers, amounting to posed to set up such Bureaus in Dedicating the State Monday proposed a 25 per cent 2707.12 crore, has been given three districts on a pilot basis Budget to the farmers who are hike in budgetary allocations to members of the Cooperative and thereafter, the programme protesting against the Centre’s for agriculture sector at 6,827 Banks,” he said. would be upscaled in the whole three farm laws, Finance crore, including farm loans For the current fiscal, he state,” he said. Minister Manpreet Singh Badal waiver, power subsidy, announced that the An Agricultural Marketing decided against levying any among others. Government will waive off Innovation Research and fresh taxes. Dedicating the 2021-22 1,186 crore loans of 1.13 lakh Intelligence Centre (AMIRIC) Announcing the next phase Punjab budget to the farmers farmers and 526 crore of will also be established at of the Congress-led and farm labourers, who have landless farm workers in the Kalkal Bhawan, Mohali (SAS Government’s flagship pro- been fighting at Delhi borders next phase during 2021-22, Nagar), to assist the farmers in gramme ‘crop loan waiver for more than 100 days now, “for which necessary allocation fetching better return for agri- scheme’, Badal announced an Manpreet announced that in of 1,712 crore has been culture produce through mar- allocation of 1,712 crore in the current financial year, the proposed”. keting intelligence reports. For which 1,186 crore of 1.13 lakh Government to would waive Making an allocation of this, an amount of 8 crore has farmers and 526 crore of land- 1,186 crore of 1.13 lakh farm- 7,180 crore for free power to been given as a one-time cor- less farm workers will be waived. ers and 526 crore of landless farmers in 2021-22, he said that pus grant. Already, the State farmers in the next phase of its the Government has provided 200 crore has been set Government has given a debt much-touted farm debt waiv- free power to 14.23 lakh farm- aside for crop diversification, relief of 4,624 crore to 5.83 er scheme.