EasternChroniWINDOW TO THE EAST cle WEATHERWATCH IRAN ENVOY DROPS APPEAL TO RBI UNLEASH LIQUIDITY BCCI’S CARAVAN MODEL, Max 33°c jail in Belgium, no prisoner swap support to suppress Covid laxity come under fire Min 26°c seen P 6 turbulence P 9 P 10 Humidity 74% VOL II, ISSUE 211 PUBLISHED SIMULTANEOUSLY FROM SILCHAR GUWAHATI KOLKATA PAGES: 10 epaper at: www.easternchronicle.net PRICE `5 THURSDAY, MAY 6, 2021 SPOTLIGHT Oxygen leaks from tanker enroute to Centre warns of Didi takes oath as CM for Covid facilities MUMBAI: A tanker trans- third consecutive term porting liquid medical ox- ygen (LMO) to COVID-19 AGENCIES facilities 'inevitable' third wave witnessed a KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress leak due to AGENCIES given the higher levels of circu- that the disease is not spreading (TMC) chief overfilling lating virus, but it is not clear on through animals, bot through on Wednesday took oath as the in Mahar- NEW DELHI: The government on what time-scale this phase three human to human transmission. Chief Minister of West Ben- ashtra's Sat- Wednesday said that a third will occur. Union Health Ministry Joint gal for the third consecutive ara district on wave of coronavirus pandem- We should be prepared Secretary Lav Agarwal said that term. She was administered Wednesday, police said. ic was "inevitable", although a for new waves," said K Vijay the foreign aid coming from the oath by Jagdeep The incident took time-frame for it could not be Raghavan, the principal scien- abroad is being monitored by a Dhankhar. place around 6.15 pm on predicted. tific advisor to the Centre. group of senior officials. TMC secured 213 seats in Pune-Bengaluru National In a press briefing by the Member, NITI Ayog, Dr VK "Our technical wing has made the eight-phased Highway in the jurisdiction Ministry of Health Affairs Paul requested "physicians' guidelines to see that what hos- Assembly elections while Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar administers oath to Mamata Banerjee as Chief of the Satara police, when the on Wednesday, officials said and Bihar are among the states fraternity" to come forward pital would the equipment be (BJP) Minister at Raj Bhavan on Wednesday. Photo: Purbadri Das tanker was... Pg 5 the long COVID wave of such that show increasing trend in and provide teleconsultations to suitable for. The equipment is won 77 seats. the situation," she said after tak- third term. Our priority is that "ferocity" that the country was daily cases, it said. people and families at home who being sent to hospitals where an "I thank all the people who ing the oath. we must bring an end to this experiencing currently "was not The government also said are infected with coronavirus. immediate need has been felt," were looking at the Bengal "I will hold a big celebration senseless violence that has affect- Detained separatist predicted". that 24 states and UTs show "The response to the changing he said. elections. Our first priority is once the pandemic is over," she ed society at large. I have every leader Ashraf dies Twelve states, including more than 15 per cent COVID virus remains the same. We need Agarwal also said that 11 tackling COVID-19. Secondly, added. hope that the CM on an urgent Maharashtra, Karnataka, positivity rate. to follow the COVID- appropri- districts in Maharashtra are I urge all political parties to Meanwhile, the Governor basis will take all steps to restore in hospital Kerala and Uttar Pradesh, have From May 1, 6.71 lakh people ate behaviour such as mask, showing continuous decline look around so that violence said that their first priority is rule of law," said Dhankhar. JAMMU: Prominent sepa- more than 1 lakh active COVID in the age group of 18-44 years in distancing, hygiene, no unnec- in COVID cases since the last to be controlled. From today to stop or end the worrisome Mamata became the Chief ratist leader Mohammad cases, the government said. nine states have been adminis- essary meetings and staying at 14 days, while some districts onwards, I am taking law and violence which erupted in the Minister of West Bengal for the Ashraf Sehrai, who was Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil tered the vaccines, it added. home," Dr Paul said. like Satara and Solapur show order into my hands. I will post state after the elections. "I con- first time in 2011 by ending the arrested under the Public Nadu, West Bengal, "Phase three is inevitable In reply to a question, he said a continued increase... Pg 5 the police accordingly to tackle gratulate Mamata Ji on her 34-year-long CPI(M)... Pg 5 Safety Act in July last year, died at a hospital here on Wednesday, officials said. Mamata Banerjee is Nagaland’s six BJP Sehrai, 77, a close confi- CM urges Modi to ensure adequate leader of the country: Local trains suspended, district BJP presidents dant of hardline Hurriyat Kamal Nath Conference leader Syed Ali banks to operate for to be removed Shah Geelani, was incar- supply of vaccines, oxygen cerated at the district jail in INDORE: Veteran Congress lead- KOHIMA: The longstanding Udhampur. Pg 5 AGENCIES er Kamal Nath on Wednesday limited hours issues within the Nagaland FREE VACCINATION AS UNIVERSAL IMMUNIZATION described West Bengal Chief BJP unit reached a new peak KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief ›FOR ALL IN A TRANSPARENT AND TIME-BOUND Minister Mamata Banerjee as AGENCIES that metro rail and state trans- as seven district presidents of Lockdown-like Minister Mamata Banerjee MANNER. AT PRESENT, VACCINE AVAILABILITY IS TOO the "leader of the country" who port services will be curtailed the party sought BJP National wrote to Prime Minister Nar- defeated all her opponents, in- KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief by 50 per cent from Thursday, President JP Nadda’s interven- restrictions in endra Modi on Wednesday INADEQUATE TO PROVIDE TO ELIGIBLE BENEFICIARIES cluding Prime Minister Naren- Minister Mamata Banerjee as part of the newly imposed set tion to be relieved from the re- Sikkim till May 16 requesting him to ensure ad- AND THE DIRECTION 10 dra Modi and Central agencies on Wednesday took stock of of restrictions. sponsibilities as district party equate supply of Covid vac- EXTEND VACCINATION UPTO 18 YEARS PLUS MAKES AN like the CBI and the ED, in the the COVID-19 situation in Banks will be operational presidents. GANGTOK: Lockdown-like re- cines, medical oxygen, and recently-held Assembly elec- the state, shortly after her from 10 am to 2 pm, and gov- Addressing a press confer- strictions were imposed in drugs like Remdesivir and To- UNREALISTIC TO ACHIEVE. SO, THE SUPPLY OF VACCINES tions in West Bengal. swearing-in ceremony, and ernment offices have been told ence, Yanthungo Kikon, pres- Sikkim till May 16 amid a cilizumab to the state. IS THE CORE ISSUE TO ADDRESS NOW, SAYS MAMATA When asked by reporters on announced fresh curbs to com- to make do with 50 per cent ident, BJP Wokha district, surge in COVID-19 cases, as She once again requested the BANERJEE. the possibility of the TMC supre- bat the spread of COVID-19, workforce, Banerjee said at the informed that six district presi- per an official order issued Prime Minister for free Covid mo being pitted against the prime including suspension of local press meet. dents from Phek, Wokha, Peren, on Wednesday. vaccination for all citizens. in a transparent and time-bound to provide to eligible beneficiar- minister in the 2024 train services. The satte administration has Noklak, Tuensang, and Kohima The restrictions, which "Free vaccination as manner. At present, vaccine ies and the Government of India elections, the Madhya Pradesh Banerjee, following a high-lev- also requested private firms to wrote to Nadda with a plea to include the imposition of Universal immunization for all availability is too inadequate direction... Pg 5 Congress... Pg 5 el meeting with top officials, said encourage work... Pg 5 remove them... Pg 5 prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CRPC, will come into effect on Thursday, Bengal Guv urges CM it said. We take oath to protect BJP weathers TMC storm in Rangpo, Melli and Ramam borders will be... Pg 5 democracy, says Nadda north Bengal, maintains 2019 gains to handle law and order AGENCIES her third term. Arunachal Guv AGENCIES AGENCIES seats in Cooch Behar where five "I express hope and expec- expresses concern over people were killed, including KOLKATA: West Bengal Gover- tation that her governess will KOLKATA: BJP president J P KOLKATA: Though the BJP four in firing by CISF personnel, nor Jagdeep Dhankhar sound- according to the constitution spurt in Covid cases Nadda on Wednesday took a failed to dislodge Mamata Ba- during the fourth phase of poll- ed the war bugle on the day and rule of law. India is a great symbolic oath here to protect nerjee from power, the saffron ing, while it bagged four of seven Mamata Banerjee took oath democracy where power ema- ITANAGAR: Expressing con- democracy and “save the peo- party managed to weather the constituencies in Jalpaiguri, for a third term as chief minis- nates from the process of law". cern over the spurt in COV- ple of West Bengal from the TMC storm emerging trium- five of six in Darjeeling and ter and asked her to rise above Dhankhar who in his recent ID-19 cases in Arunachal cycle of political violence." phant in 25 of 42 constituencies whitewashed the ruling party partisan attitude and work for tweets expressed serious con- Pradesh, Governor Brig Nadda, who had attended a in six districts of the region in in Alipurduar district which has The work of the RSS, helped the people of the state. cern over the law-and-order situ- (Retd) Dr B D Mishra on dharna near a Gandhi statue the high- octane assembly elec- five assembly segments. influence tribal communities in He also wanted the chief min- ation in the state and even spoke Wednesday said strength- in the central part of the city BJP national president JP Nadda tions. However, the saffron party northern districts of the state, ister to work hand-in-hand with to Prime Minister Narendra ening of the health infra- on Tuesday, said his party will at Hastings House party office on Nevertheless, the result was emerged victorious from helping the BJP gain popularity the Centre with a new approach Modi on the issue said, "We are structure is the need of the ensure that the entire country Wednesday. Photo: Purbadri Das below BJPs impressive perfor- only one of nine seats in Uttar among people giving the party of “cooperative federalism”. at the moment in a very difficult hour. gets to know about the wide- who were at the receiving end of mance in the 2019 Lok Sabha Dinajpur, and three of six in better results, compared to the Dhankhar who has always crisis. He also urged people to spread violence unleashed in the this brutality… We want to tell polls when the saffron camp was Dakshin Dinajpur. south, Maitra said. been accused by the chief min- "I am getting reports from adopt COVID-19 appropriate state following the declaration of the entire country about this,” ahead in 31 assembly segments The tally of winning seats for The saffron camp has devel- ister and Trinamool congress within and outside the country behaviour... Pg 5 Assembly poll results. Nadda said at a programme in Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, the saffron party in north Bengal oped its organisational strength leaders of being a spokesperson that people are worried. I had ”I will be visiting districts organised by the Saffron camp Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, Uttar looks "reasonable even after the in several north Bengal districts of BJP said after the oath taking words with the chief minister such as North 24 Parganas to at its Hastings office here. The Dinajpur and Dakshin Dinajpur. overall setback", political analyst and grown there organically, ceremony, "I congratulate Chief and she has taken steps. Our first Tea estate in be on the side of our members BJP has claimed... Pg 5 The BJP won seven of nine Subhomay Maitra said. while in the south, Pg 5 Minister Mamata Banerjee for priority is we... Pg 5 Dibrugarh declared containment zone RAIDS AT WEDDING HALLS 3.5 magnitude Mamata appeals to donate GUWAHATI: At least 90 work- earthquake jolts ers and staff members of a Tripura DM moved out of Agartala, tea garden in Assam’s Di- Assam brugarh district tested pos- GUWAHATI: An earthquake of to CM Covid-19 care fund itive for COVID-19, prompt- probe panel reconstituted 3.5 magnitude on the Rich- ing the administration to ter Scale jolted Assam at AGENCIES declare the tea estate as a AGENCIES Agartala to enable an impartial 7.22 pm on Wednesday. containment zone. inquiry in the case. According to the National KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief “The garden hospital and AGARTALA: West Tripura Dis- Yadav is accused of gross Center for Seismology (NCS), Minister Mamata Banerjee the two vacant... Pg 5 trict Magistrate Shailesh Ku- misconduct during the raids the earthquake occurred at a on Wednesday appealed to mar Yadav, who forcefully on April 26, allegedly slapping a depth of 27 km. the people to donate to the CM stopped two wedding ceremo- priest, shoving one of the grooms The epicentre of the earth- Covid care fund to bolster the 5-day total lockdown nies being held in violation of and arresting everyone present quake was located 40 km fight against an invisible ene- in East Khasi Hills the night curfew in place to at the weddings. west of Tezpur in Assam’s my. check the spread of Covid-19, Following the incident, the The tussle during wedding ceremony. Sonitpur district. Hours after taking oath as the SHILLONG: Despite contain- has been transferred to Belo- DM had issued a public apolo- File photo. “Earthquake of Magnitude: Chief Minister of West Bengal ment measures taken by the nia in south Tripura district gy, only to say a day later that like singer Sonu Nigam, BJP’s 3.5, occurred on 05-05-2021, for the third time, Ms Banerjee Meghalaya government to adjoining Bangladesh. he stood by his actions. Chandigarh chapter, Vedic 19:22:12 IST, Lat: 26.68 & Long: swung into action as promised CM Mamata Banerjee at Sambhunath Pandit Hospital in the city on Wednes- day. Photo: Purbadri Das curb the spread second wave The Tripura High Court The video of the incident went Brahman Samaj, and other 92.39, Depth: 27 Km, Location: and announced various meas- of COVID-19, the total num- Wednesday said it was imper- viral on social media, trigger- bodies who called for Yadav’s Sonitpur, Pg 5 ures to contain the spread of Addressing the media here the Coronavirus situation in ber of active cases in the state ative to shift the DM out of ing a backlash from celebrities suspension. Pg 5 Covid-19 in the state. this afternoon after reviewed the state, Pg 5 has breached the 2,000-mark, forcing the government to opt for total lockdown in the HEAD OF COVID-19 TASK FORCE SAYS, East Khasi Hills district. At 80%, AIUDF had the best strike rate Meghalaya chief minis- ter Conrad K Sangma on AGENCIES won nine with a strike rate Nationwide lockdown remains an option Wednesday said that Shillong of 35%. In the last elections, STRIKE RATEAIUDF: has a positivity rate of 17% and GUWAHATI: It was not the BJP, it contested 28 seats and won 80% (CONTESTED AGENCIES same time in addition to this East Khasi Hills is at 12%, forc- but the minority-based All 14. The UPPL contested eight › range of restrictions if any- ing the government to take India United Democratic and won six with a strike rate 20, WON 16,UPPL: 75% NEW DELHI: The Centre on thing more is required, those stricter measures. Pg 5 Front (AIUDF) which had of 75%. In 2016, it contested four (CONTESTED 8, WON 6) Wednesday hinted that a na- options are always being dis- the best strike rate in the As- and drew a blank. BJP: 65.21% (CONTESTED tional lockdown remains an cussed and those decisions, as sam elections. The Congress contested 94 option to control the fierce being required, will be taken,” Nepal's Oli goverment The party contested 20 seats seats and won 29 with a strike 92, WON 60)AGP: 35% second wave of the Covid-19 said Paul. loses majority and won 16 with a strike rate of rate of 31%. In 2016, it contested (CONTESTED 26, WON 9) pandemic, amid a growing He, however, reiterated that 80%. The seats were in Bengali- the Congress-led grand alliance 122 seats and won 26. The BPF BPF: 33% (CONTESTED 12, clamour for tough restric- at the same time, it should be support Muslim majority regions of of 10 Opposition parties which had contested 12 seats and won tions to curb the chain of V K Paul, member of Niti Aayog. remembered that very signifi- Central and Lower Assam and had the AIUDF, the Bodoland four with a strike rate of 33%. WON 4) transmission. guidelines shared by the Union cant guidelines have already the Barak Valley of Southern People’s Front (BPF), the Left The Left contested four seats V K Paul, member (health) government last week, said that been issued to the states. Assam where the party holds and some smaller regional par- and won one with a strike rate seats, we would have won those of Niti Aayog, who also heads the states have already been Paul’s response comes at a sway. In 2016, the AIUDF had ties as components. of 25%. One seat had gone to an as well,” party general secre- the national Covid-19 task force, instructed to impose local time when a number of experts, contested 73 seats and won 13. The BJP won 60 of the 92 Independent candidate. tary, Haidar Hussain Bora told said in response to a question night curfews and restrictions specialists from developed The BJP-Asom Gana seats it contested with a strike For the AIUDF, the sterling The New Indian Express. in a press briefing by the Union in districts with over 10 % test countries and opposition lead- Parishad (AGP)-United rate of 65.21%. In 2016, it had performance has not sunk in According to him, the health ministry that this option positivity rate and more than ers have said that a nationwide People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) won an equal number of seats yet. AIUDF had sought to contest (of a nationwide lockdown), is 60 % occupancy of ICU beds. lockdown may be the only combine had won 75 of the contesting from 84 seats. The “If the Congress had allowed in 26-27 seats but the Congress “being discussed”. “..in that direction there is a option left for India in the wake Full Story on Page 5 state’s 126 seats as against 50 by AGP contested 26 seats and us to contest in five-six more was not ready... Pg 5 Paul, while listing out the clear balanced advisory...at the of a tsunami of... Pg 5