DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021 (PAGE 7) PM Modi pays tributes to Tagore, Himanta Biswa Sarma to be next Assam Hold meetings of parliamentary panels virtually: Gokhale, Maharana Pratap NEW DELHI, May 9: CM, swearing in likely today Congress, TMC to Rajya Sabha chairman Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday paid tributes to GUWAHATI, May 9: Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore on his 160th birth anniversary. NEW DELHI, May 9: Standing Committees are an cases per day for the past two Tagore was born on May 7 but his birthday is celebrated in North East Democratic effective, non-partisan mecha- weeks. The opposition Congress and West Bengal, where he was born and is revered, according to the Alliance (NEDA) convenor nism of Parliament and the tra- "In light of the prevailing TMC have written to presiding traditional Bengali calendar, and this year it falls on Sunday. Himanta Biswa Sarma is all set dition of collective brain- circumstances, I urge your officers of Rajya Sabha and Lok "On Tagore Jayanti, I bow to the great Gurudev Tagore. May to become Assam's next Chief storming in the committees is a good offices to reconsider our Sabha to allow virtual meetings cherished achievement of the request for conducting virtual his exemplary ideals keep giving us strength and inspiration to Minister after being elected of parliamentary standing com- build the India he dreamt of," he said, paying tributes to the man of unanimously as the leader of the parliamentary system. meetings of parliamentary mittees, saying Parliament can- "The meetings of the committees, including depart- many talents. BJP Legislature Party and sub- not be a mute spectator to the Tagore was a playwright, philosopher, composer and poet.He sequently as the NDA Standing Committees at this mentally related standing com- COVID crisis and must give a juncture will provide the nation mittees, consultative commit- had won the Nobel prize for literature. Legislature Party on Sunday, message of solidarity with peo- The Prime Minister also paid tributes to freedom fighter Gopal central observer and Union much required collective initia- tees and select committees," he ple. tive across the party lines. They said. Krishna Gokhale and celebrated warrior king Maharana Pratap, Agricultural Minister Narendra In a letter to Rajya Sabha both of whom were born on this day. Singh Tomar said. are an effective instrument to This is the TMC's third let- Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu, ensure accountability, to pro- ter on the issue, the party said, Gokhale's life was devoted to serving the nation, and it will Ending speculations on who Leader of Opposition vide an institutional platform to adding that the first was sent in always inspire the countrymen, the Prime Minister said. would occupy the top post as Mallikarjun Kharge said parlia- all stakeholders and to collec- July 2020 and the next in Paying tributes to Maharana Pratap, Modi said he brought glory both Sarma and outgoing chief mentary panels can contribute tively explore solutions. August 2020. to India with his valour, boundless courage and battle skills. minister Sarbananda Sonowal Himanta Biswa Sarma displaying victory sign after being to the ongoing endeavours in "It is in this spirit that I The opposition parties had His sacrifice and devotion to the motherland will always be were contenders, the powerful elected as the Legislative Party leader. (UNI) containing the pandemic and urge you to allow the virtual raised a similar demand in July memorable, he said. (PTI) NEDA convenor was elected as leader'', Tomar said. ture party meeting together in providing relief to people. meetings of the Standing last year after the COVID pan- the legislature party leader, a The meeting was held amid the same vehicle. "At this hour of collective Committees," he said in his let- demic outbreak. Both Lok Heinous crime by Center to week after the ruling alliance strict COVID distancing and The outgoing Chief Minister crisis, the Parliament of India ter. Sabha Speaker and Rajya won the assembly elections with safety rules at the BJP's confer- presented him with the tradi- cannot be and must not be a Trinamool Congress' Sabha Chairman had then com- a clear majority for the second ence hall in the Assam tional 'gamosa' and patted him mute spectator. It must give a national spokesperson Derek municated that virtual meetings message of solidarity with the successive term. Legislative assembly, in the on the back before the beaming O'Brien wrote to Naidu and of parliamentary committees export vaccines : Sisodia people, of serious business to Sources said Sarma was presence of central observers duo posed for photographs. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla could not be allowed because NEW DELHI, May 9: likely to meet Governor alleviate their agony and of on the same issue. of the confidentiality clause Tomar and Arun Singh, party's The party's central leader- unity of purpose," he said. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia Sunday attacked Jagadish Mukhi on Sunday national general secretary. ship had summoned Chief "India has reported more and it could only be altered by evening to stake claim for the The senior Congress leader than three lakh new COVID-19 Parliament. (PTI) the Centre over the export of coronavirus vaccines, saying a large A meeting of NDA partners- Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said the Department Related number of lives could have been saved formation of the next govern- BJP, AGP and UPPL- was also and Health Minister Himanta in India if the doses were given to peo- ment. subsequently held and Sarma Biswa Sarma, both contenders ple in the country first. The swearing in of the new was unanimously elected as the for the top post, to New Delhi Country needs breath, not "It's a heinous crime committed by ministry was likely to be held on leader of the NDA Legislature on Saturday for discussions on the Central government to sell vaccines Monday at the Srimanta Party, paving the way for him to the formation of the next gov- to other countries only for its image Sankardeva Kalakshetra. become the next Chief Minister ernment in the state. PM’s residence: Rahul management at a time when people Sarmas name was proposed of the state. The ruling BJP alliance is NEW DELHI, May 9: ambit of "essential services" to the country's medical infra- were dying in our own country," he by the outgoing Chief Minister Earlier in the day, Assam the first non-Congress govern- ensure smooth movement of structure amid the COVID-19 told an online briefing. Sarbananda Sonowal and sec- Chief Minister Sarbananda ment in the state to win the elec- Hitting out at the Centre for labourers during the ongoing pandemic to save people's Citing a newspaper report, Sisodia onded by BJP state party presi- Sonowal tendered his resigna- tions for the second consecutive continuing the construction lockdown in Delhi. lives. said the Centre sold coronavirus vac- dent and Patacharkuchi MLA tion to Governor Jagadish term. work for the Central Vista rede- "The country needs breath, The opposition party has cines to 93 countries of which 60 percent had COVID-19 under Ranjeet Kumar Dass and newly Mukhi who as is tradition, asked Of the 126 assembly seats in velopment project amid the rag- not the prime minister's resi- also criticised the Centre for control, and also where there was no threat of loss of life due to the elected Haflong MLA Nandita him to continue till the forma- Assam, the ruling alliance has ing COVID-19 pandemic, dence," Gandhi said in a tweet, according the construction virus. Garlosa. As no other name was tion of the next government. secured 75 seats with BJP win- Congress leader Rahul Gandhi sharing pictures of people work for the Central Vista proj- A large number of youths in the country perished to the coron- proposed for the top job, Sarma Sarma also called on ning 60 while its alliance part- on Sunday said the country standing in a queue for refill- ect the "essential services" tag avirus in the second wave of the pandemic, he said, adding their has been elected unanimously as Sonowal before the meeting and ners AGP got nine seats and needs breath and not the prime ing oxygen cylinders and the and accused the government of lives could have been saved if the vaccines were given to them the BJP Legislature Party the duo arrived for the legisla- UPPL six. (PTI) minister's residence. construction work for the having its priorities wrong. instead of exporting the doses. The redevelopment project Central Vista project on In another tweet, Gandhi He said the Centre should now ensure that the vaccines manu- of the Central Vista -- the power Rajpath. said the pandemic is spreading factured in the country are provided to the states that are facing a COVID-appropriate behaviour, vaccination corridor of the country -- envis- Amid rising COVID-19 fast in rural areas. shortage. (PTI) ages a new triangular cases, several states have been "After cities, now villages main shields against future waves Parliament building, a common facing a crippling shortage of are also dependent on God," Central Secretariat, the revamp- CRPF orders enquiry against DIG NEW DELHI, May 9: stopped if prescribed guidelines second wave has led to panic oxygen, leaving hospitals and the former Congress president NEW DELHI, May 9: ing of the three-km-long family members of patients tweeted in Hindi. about precautions, surveillance, among people, what is adding to Rajpath from the Rashtrapati With the second wave of the containment, treatment and test- their fear is the constant threat of scrambling to ensure a steady On Sunday, India recorded An enquiry has been ordered against a CRPF deputy inspector COVID-19 pandemic ravaging Bhavan to India Gate and new supply. 4,03,738 fresh COVID-19 general (DIG) posted in Bihar after a lady doctor complained that ing are followed. new mutants of the virus and residences for the prime minis- the country and concerns being "If we take strong measures, how these mutants could poten- Gandhi and his Congress cases that pushed the tally to he allegedly "misbehaved" with him, the paramilitary force said on raised about a possible third ter and the vice president. party have been asking the 2,22,96,414 while 4,092 more Sunday. the third wave may not happen in tially harm them. The government has brought wave, experts caution that the Some experts, however, government to shelve its plans fatalities took the death toll to The doctor is posted with the composite hospital of the Central all places or indeed anywhere at the construction work for the next wave could be less severe if believe that mutations are a on the Central Vista project 2,42,362, according to the Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Muzzaffarpur while the officer, all. It depends on much how ambitious project under the people keep following COVID- common phenomenon, and the and give priority to improving Union health ministry. (PTI) Surinder Prasad, is posted as the Deputy Inspector General of effectively guidance is imple- appropriate behaviour and a large mutations do not generally affect Police (DIG) of the Muzzaffarpur range. mented at the local level in the portion of the population is vacci- the prevention, treatment, or "It is alleged that he (Prasad) made repeated phone calls late in states, districts and cities every- nated. vaccination. Protest amid pandemic: Steadfast farmers the night followed by inappropriate advances at her place of stay where," he said. According to the Union According to experts, in a few 'Every virus, while replicat- reportedly in drunken state. Health Ministry data released on ing in the host's body, mutates. "An enquiry has been ordered to establish the facts and appro- months when the immunity peo- Sunday morning, India recorded ple have developed naturally or The virus is a prolific multiplier, work on immunity, seek Covid vaccination priate action will be taken against the delinquent," a CRPF 4,03,738 fresh COVID-19 cases with the help of vaccination but its replication is error-prone NEW DELHI, May 9: positive for the Covid-19. He "Thankfully, there has been spokesperson said in a statement issued here. in the last 24 hours, pushing the fades, the virus strikes again and and so every copy it makes of has recovered and is now doing no COVID positive case here He added that the force is committed for "creating a safe and country's cumulative tally to the only thing that can stop the itself may not be its exact repli- Desi 'kaadha' and lemonade well. Those who are showing till now. Some people had some secure environment for its women personnel and has a zero toler- 2,22,96,414, while the death toll ca. virus from bouncing back is how have become the most con- symptoms are getting tested for health issues and they have got ance policy for misbehaviour". climbed to 2,42,362 with 4,092 "Any change, minor or people are guarding themselves. sumed beverages among farm- the virus. The farmers at the bor- medication. Protestors are The about 3.25 lakh personnel strong CRPF is the country's daily deaths. major, that occurs in its structure "Early this year, as the new ers protesting against the new der are taking a healthy diet. The drinking 'kaadha' and 'nimbu largest central armed police force (CAPF) and is primarily tasked There has been a sharp surge is known as a mutation. A virus Central agricultural laws at to undertake anti-Naxal and counter-terrorist operations. (PTI) cases receded, people started vaccination process is underway paani' to improve immunity, in infections over the past couple interacting as if there was no undergoes hundreds and thou- three Delhi borders for nearly of months, making the second sands of such mutations," said at a hospital near the border. I several are taking multi-vita- virus. The immunity had already six months now, even as the rag- got my first jab in Punjab. To get mins and zinc pills too," he told wave much worse than the first started declining. They organ- Dr Saumitra Das, Director, ing coronavirus pandemic Centre releases Rs 8,923 one that began in early 2020 and National Institute of Biomedical the next dose, I will go back to PTI. ised mass gatherings, they claims hundreds of lives daily the state," Kulwant said. He said, "If you come to peaked in the last quarter of that stopped wearing masks, giving Genomics (NIBMG ), Kalyani, and leaves thousands sick. year before the tally hit a trough and professor, Indian Institute of At Tikri and Ghazipur, the Ghazipur, you will see how cr to 25 States the opportunity to the virus to They have also added multi- protestors said they have amazingly normal the situation in the first quarter of 2021. strike again," said Dr Anurag Science, Bangalore. vitamin and zinc tablets as sup- NEW DELHI, May 9: demanded for a vaccination here is" despite the situation in Several experts believe that a Agarwal, director, Institute of Experts also said that every plements hoping to improve casual approach that followed the mutation cannot be a cause of facility but the government has Delhi, Ghaziabad and Noida The Finance Ministry on Sunday said it has released Rs 8,923 Genomics and Integral Biology, their immunity against the virus, trough of the first wave could be concern and genome sequencing not responded to their appeal looking so grim because of the crore to 25 states for providing grants to the rural local bodies for New Delhi. but are resolved not to yield yet. They added they are firmly deadly second wave. a possible reason for the pandem- "While we anticipate a third of a virus is done to keep a track various prevention and mitigation measures needed to combat the ground until their demands -- a resolved to stay put at Delhi's Malik said the BKU is also ic raising its head again, though wave, we cannot say when of any mutation that can make a COVID-19 pandemic. repeal of the three contentious borders, and are making helping the oxygen langars, others are also putting the blame exactly it will come or how virus more dangerous. The Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, on farm laws and a new one guar- arrangements to ensure COVID- which provide oxygen cylin- on the new mutants and variants severe it will be. But if people "What concerns us is Saturday released an amount of Rs 8,923.8 crore to 25 states for of the virus being more virulent. anteeing MSP on crops -- are appropriate behaviour among ders to needy COVID patients, keep following COVID-appro- whether a mutation is making it providing grants to the rural local bodies (RLBs). K VijayRaghavan, Principal met. priate behaviour in coming more transmissible, or virulent; crowds. with whatever support the The grants are meant for all the three tiers of Panchayati Raj Scientific Adviser, had said on But, they say, they are open months and we are able to vacci- whether a mutation has the "We demanded the authori- farmers union can extend. Institutions – village, block and district, an official statement said. Wednesday last week that the to COVID-19 vaccine jabs. nate a large number of people, potential to make the existing ties to install a vaccination cen- "We are dealing with the sit- It may be utilised by the RLBs, among other things, for various third wave was inevitable and it Hundreds of farmers, the third wave could be less medicines or vaccines ineffec- tre at Tikri border so that we uation and hoping the govern- prevention and mitigation measures needed to combat the COVID- was necessary to be prepared for chiefly from Punjab, Haryana severe," Dr Agarwal added. tive against the virus. If so, the could get the vaccine but noth- ment would soon make some 19 pandemic, and will augment their resources. new waves, but clarified two days and Uttar Pradesh, continue to While the sudden surge in mutant is classified as a variant ing has happened so far," arrangement to get all farmers As per the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission, later that the "insidious asympto- encamp Singhu, Tikri and the number of cases during the of concern (VoC)," said Dr Das. another farmer leader Buta vaccinated," he said, but added, the 1st instalment of grants was to be released to the states in the matic transmission" can be (PTI) Ghazipur border points of Delhi Singh said, claiming the situa- "that does not mean we are month of June 2021. despite "a few" of them being tion at Tikri "is normal". going away without the Centre However, in view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic situa- Consensus among MLAs that removed after testing positive At Ghazipur on Delhi-Uttar accepting our demands." tion and at the recommendation of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, for COVID-19 and some symp- Pradesh border, not more than Hundreds of farmers have the Ministry of Finance has decided to release the grant in advance tomatic protesters undergoing three farmers stay in bigger been camping at Delhi's bor- of the normal schedule, the ministry added. (PTI) Badals ruling State: Sidhu medication. camps now which used to ders since November 2020 with "There are no such cases of house many more before the their demands that the Farmers' Probe against Deshmukh CHANDIGARH, May 9: control of Mafia Raj #75-25," meetings in the past a few days. coronavirus here at Singhu bor- alleged Sidhu in a tweet on The group of legislators second wave of coronavirus Produce Trade and Commerce Congress leader Navjot Singh der. The farmers are taking care began. (Promotion and Facilitation) Sunday. The Amritsar MLA's reportedly decided to exert pres- Sidhu on Sunday sharpened his of themselves by consuming The Bharatiya Kisan Union Act, 2020, Farmers' consistent frontal attacks come in sure on the Punjab CM to take Chandiwal panel gets attack against his own 'kaadha' (a traditional Indian hot (BKU), which is leading the (Empowerment and Protection) action against those involved in Government in Punjab, alleging beverage mixed with herbs and charge there, recently arranged Agreement on Price Assurance that there is a "consensus" among the desecration of the religious spices to boost immunity) and around 500 cots to ensure and Farm Services Act, 2020 civil court powers legislators that the state is being text. The Congress had in the run- multi-vitamins. The situation at social distancing among the and the Essential Commodities up to the 2017 Assembly polls the border area is normal, as it MUMBAI, May 9: run by the "Badals" instead of farmers when they sleep. (Amendment) Act, 2020 be their own party. promised to take strict action was earlier. There is nothing to Farmer leader Rakesh rolled back and a new law made The Maharashtra Government has delegated powers of a civil Sidhu's fresh salvo against his against the culprits. worry about," said Sukhwinder Tikait, who has got the first to guarantee minimum support courtto Justice Chandiwal committee, set up to conduct a probe own Government has come a day Last month, in a meeting with Singh, a farmer. dose of vaccine, is also on the price for crops. into the corruption allegations levelled by former Mumbai com- after he alleged that it was Chief Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Farmer leader Kulwant ground at Ghazipur leading his However, the government, missioner Param Bir Singh against ex-state home minister Anil Minister Amarinder Singh's at his farm house, several party Singh, who hails from Punjab, supporters, with all of them which has held multiple rounds Deshmukh. "incompetence" that the MLAs had urged him to bring the said a vaccination centre is consuming 'kaadha' three to of formal dialogue with the The one-member committee comprising high court's retired Government was forced to accept culprits to justice expeditiously. being operated at a hospital at four times a day and lemonade protestors, has maintained that judge Kailash Uttamchand Chandiwal was set up on March 30 to the Punjab and Haryana High Congress MLA Pargat Singh, the Singhu border. too, BKU media in-charge the laws are pro-farmer. (PTI) "One of our leaders tested conduct a judicial inquiry into Singh's allegations made in a letter Court order over the 2015 who is close to Navjot Sidhu, had Dharmendra Malik said. to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on March 20. Kotkapura police firing case. then said that he had told the CM Singh wrote the letter after he was shunted from the post of the The Amritsar MLA has been the wake of reports that some that there was a public perception Mumbai police commissioner and appointed as the DG, state Maruti joins hands with two NCR firms to critical of his own government Congress legislators, including that he and the Badals were "hand Home Guards. In a notification issued on May 3, the State ever since the HC quashed an SIT two ministers and Sidhu, held in glove" with each other. (PTI) Government delegated powers of a civil court to the probe com- probe report into the incident, boost production of oxygen generator plants mittee. which had taken place in Punjab's Nearly 4,200 MT of liquid medical Singh alleged that NCP leader Deshmukh had given a target to Faridkot during a protest against NEW DELHI, May 9: Projects. They were flooded vendor, is working with them, some police officers to collect Rs 100 crore per month from bars the desecration of a religious text. with orders but had a capacity to MSI said. and restaurants in Mumbai. Responding to his unrelenting oxygen delivered across India The country's largest car- manufacture only 5-8 plants a The company has been able After formation of the probe committee, Leader of Opposition attack, the Punjab CM had earlier NEW DELHI, May 9: maker Maruti Suzuki India on month. We decided to use our to arrange new sources for in the state Assembly Devendra Fadnavis had criticised the gov- called the Congress leader's out- Sunday said it has joined hands resources to help scale up their Zeolite, an imported and critical ernment and claimed the panel cannot be called a judicial com- bursts "total indiscipline", sug- The Railways has delivered nearly 4,200 tonnes of liquid med- with two NCR-based companies production," it added. material for a pressure swing mission as it was not given powers under the Commission of gesting that he may be leaving for ical oxygen in more than 268 tankers to various states since April to boost their production of PSA The automaker noted that it adsorbtion (PSA) plant which Inquiry Act 1952. He had termed setting up of the committee as the AAP. 19, the national transporter said on Sunday. oxygen generator plants. started talking to the two entities would be now air freighted, it an "eye wash" and wondered how a retired judge could investigate Referring to the Badals, who So far, 68 'Oxygen Express' trains have completed their jour- The auto major said it from May 1 and quickly reached added. charges against an incumbent home minister without any powers. led the previous SAD-BJP coali- neys, it said. realised the critical importance an understanding with them. "Compressors are another of rapidly installing PSA oxygen "While technology, quality important bought-out compo- Deshmukh, who has rejected the allegations against him, tion Government in the state, the Till now, 293 tonnes of liquid medical oxygen (LMO) has been Amritsar MLA alleged that the plants, both to produce life-sav- and performance, as well as all nent. Airox has already reached resigned as home minister on April 5 after the Bombay High unloaded in Maharashtra, 1,230 tonnes in Uttar Pradesh, 271 state bureaucracy and police were tonnes to Madhya Pradesh, 555 tonnes in Haryana, 123 tonnes in ing oxygen as well as reduce the commercial matters, would an output of one PSA plant a day Court directed the CBI to conduct a preliminary enquiry into the "acting" as per their "wishes". Telangana, 40 tonnes in Rajasthan and 1,679 tonnes in Delhi, it immense logistical problems. remain the responsibility of the and this number will be rapidly corruption allegations against him. "Consensus among MLAs, said. The Railways also delivered oxygen to new cities including It was found that these plants two companies, MSIL and its scaled up to 4 per day within The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) subsequently regis- Badal Sarkar is ruling in lieu of Kanpur, which received 80 tonnes on Sunday. are being made by small-scale vendors would use their capabil- May itself. Output in May is tered an FIR against Deshmukh and conducted searches at his Congress Govt ... Bureaucracy "More loaded 'Oxygen Expresses' are expected to start their units with limited resources or ities to rapidly scale up produc- expected to be 50-60 plants," premises in Mumbai and Nagpur. Deshmukh recently moved the and Police act as per wishes of journeys later in the night," the Railways said. ability to scale up production, tion. MSI's involvement would MSI noted. high court seeking to quash the FIR registered against him. Badal Family, more often than The railways started running 'Oxygen Express' trains to trans- MSI said in a statement. be on a no profit basis," it The carmaker noted that He alleged that the FIR was registered with a "biased, dubious listening to our MLAs and Party port liquid medical oxygen last month when the country reported "We located two companies added. SAM Gas Projects was being and ulterior motive at the behest of those having political or other workers. Govt run not for welfare acute shortage of the life-saving gas amid a deadly second in the NCR area, Airox Nigen Airox has its factory in assisted by its vendor JBM. vendetta" against him. (PTI) of the People, but for continuing COVID-19 wave. (PTI) Equipments and SAM Gas Ahmedabad and SKH Metals, a (PTI)