Month: November 2021

The Delhi Government on Friday announced that it will provide free pilgrimage to Sikh and Christian communities to Katarpur Sahib and Velankanni in January.

According to a statement by the Office of the Minister of Revenue, Kartarpur Sahib in the Punjab province of Pakistan and Velankanni in Tamil Nadu were added to the “Mukhyamantri Tirth Yatra Yojna” after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s announcement.
The first batch of passengers to Kartarpur Sahib will leave on January 5, 2022, in a deluxe bus from Delhi and the first train for Velankanni will leave on January 7, 2022.

“Recently, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had gone to Ayodhya and had the privilege of seeing Ram Lalla there. After this, on the orders of the Chief Minister, it was also included in the list of pilgrimages for the elders of Delhi. At the same time, recently, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had announced to include Kartarpur Sahib and Velankanni in this list. After this, the Delhi government has included Kartarpur Sahib and Velankanni in addition to Ayodhya in the Tirth Yojna,” said the statement.

Revenue Minister Shri Kailash Gahlot reviewed the preparations for the launch of Mukhyamantri Tirth Yatra Yojna in a high-level meeting.

“Revenue Minister Shri Kailash Gahlot today reviewed the preparations for the launch of Mukhyamantri Tirth Yatra Yojna as well as flagging off the train on the Delhi-Ayodhya-Delhi route. The first train to Ayodhya is scheduled to be flagged off on December 3,” according to the statement.

Senior officers from Revenue Department, IT Department, Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC), Tirth Yatra Vikas Samiti and Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) were also present during the meeting.

15,000 applicants who had applied for yatra under the scheme in 2019 but could not avail of the facility due to the Covid pandemic would receive SMS informing them about the option of amending their applications for choosing the Delhi-Ayodhya-Delhi route and also uploading fully vaccinated certificates on the e-district portal. The Delhi Government will also provide doctors & Paramedical staff accompanying the Yatris in all trains & buses under the scheme.

“Any person who is a resident of Delhi and has completed the age of 60 years can apply under the scheme (MMTY) irrespective of their financial status. Also, one attendant above the age of 21 years can accompany the Senior Citizens. Anyone fulfilling the eligibility conditions can avail this scheme only once during one’s lifetime,” informed the department’s statement.

Application to avail of the benefits under the scheme can be submitted on the e-District portal of the Delhi Government. The beneficiary would be able to travel through AC 3 Tier and AC 2X2 coaches subject to the availability of the same.

Mukhyamantri Tirth Yatra Yojna was launched by Kejriwal on July 12, 2019. Under the scheme, the Delhi Government offers free travel packages for pilgrimage to senior citizens from the national capital. A total of 1100 residents per assembly constituency can avail of this facility in a year subject to the cap of total 77,000 Yatris per year. Since its formal launch, a total of 35080 beneficiaries have travelled under the scheme, according to the statement. (ANI)

Russian President Vladimir Putin will arrive in New Delhi on December 6 for the annual India-Russia summit.

This will be the first in-person meeting between Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi after their meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Brasilia in November 2019.
During the summit, the leaders will review the state and prospects of bilateral relations between the two nations and will discuss ways to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi announced on Friday.

“Russian President Vladamir Putin will pay an official visit to New Delhi on December 6 for 21st India, Russia annual Summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Bagchi said during a weekly press briefing.

The summit will offer an opportunity to exchange views on regional multilateral and international issues of mutual interests, Bagchi noted.

“The visit will further provide an impetus to India-Russia special and privileged strategic partnership,” Bagchi said.

The last India-Russia annual summit took place in 2019 during the visit of Prime Minister Modi to Vladivostok city in Russia.

The annual summit could not take place in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation. (ANI)

India summoned a senior Pakistani High Commission diplomat on the 26/11 Mumbai attacks anniversary and reiterated its call for an expeditious trial in the terror case.

The Ministry of External Affairs, in a statement issued on Friday, said a note verbale was handed over to the senior diplomat calling on the Government of Pakistan to abide by its commitment to not allow territories under its control for terrorism against India.
“Senior diplomat from the High Commission of Pakistan in India was summoned by the Ministry of External Affairs today. A Note Verbale reiterating India’s call for an expeditious trial in the Mumbai terror attacks case, and calling on the Government of Pakistan to abide by its commitment to not allow territories under its control for terrorism against India was handed over to him, the MEA statement read.

On the 13th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks, the Indian Government and its people somberly remember the victims of this dastardly attack and the valiant security personnel who laid down their lives to protect the people.

According to the MEA, the President, Prime Minister and External Affairs Minister, in separate messages, have expressed their firm solidarity with the families of the victims.

Meanwhile, a solemn memorial event was organised earlier today by the State Government of Maharashtra at the Police Memorial in Mumbai, the release added.

Fourteen other countries lost their nationals in these attacks. Indian Missions in these countries are organizing memorial events remembering the victims, both national and foreign, reminding the world of the continuing global threat of terrorism. Senior government representatives from the host Governments, family members of victims and survivors will be participating in these solemn events, the statement read.

“It is a matter of deep anguish that even after 13 years of this heinous terror attack, the families of 166 victims from 15 countries across the globe still await closure, with Pakistan showing little sincerity in bringing the perpetrators to justice,” it added.

The MEA said that the 26/11 terrorist attack was planned, executed and launched from Pakistani territory. The former Prime Minister of Pakistan had gone on record and admitted that the terrorists were sent from Pakistan’s soil, it added.

“We once again call on the Government of Pakistan to give up double standards and to expeditiously bring the perpetrators of the horrific attack to justice. This is not just a matter of Pakistan’s accountability to the families of the innocent victims who fell to terrorists, but also an international obligation,” the MEA statement said.

The Government of India will continue to make every effort to seek justice for the families of the victims and the martyrs, it said further. (ANI)

Due to continuous and heavy rainfall for the past two days, waterlogging and flood-like situations prevail in coastal and delta districts in Tamil Nadu.

Speaking to ANI, a resident Rajathi requested the MK Stalin government to take immediate steps to clear the waterlogging.
“We are suffering because of water that is logged in our area. Water has entered inside our house. We could not cook and do our basic activities at our home. We saw a few reptiles in the water. Government should take immediate steps to clear this logged water,” Rajathi said.

Nagapattinam and Cuddalore are the most affected districts due to the incessant rain.

Chennai MeT department has given a red alert to all coastal districts till tomorrow and an orange alert to the adjacent districts.

Earlier, the Met department had predicted a fresh spell of rainfall in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal between November 25 and 29.

In view of this, the Union Territory of Puducherry has declared a holiday in all schools and colleges for two days in Puducherry and Karaikal. (ANI)

The new COVID-19 variant B.1.1.529, which is causing an increase in new COVID-19 infections in South Africa, has not been found in India so far, said official sources on Friday.

Newly identified COVID-19 variant — B.1.1.529 — is causing an increase in new COVID-19 infections in South Africa.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for a special meeting to discuss the new Covid variant.

“We don’t know very much about this yet. What we do know is that this variant has a large number of mutations. And the concern is that when you have so many mutations, it can have an impact on how the virus behaves,” Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s the technical lead on Covid-19, said in a briefing. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday remembered the brave hearts who countered the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and the ones who lost their lives.

Addressing the event on Constitution Day in the Central Hall of the Parliament, the Prime Minister said, “While we are commemorating ‘Samvidhan Divas’ today, we must not forget the brave hearts who countered the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and the ones who lost their lives”
He further said that the brave soldiers of the country sacrificed their lives while fighting terrorists.

“Today I bow to those sacrifices too,” said PM Modi.

Today is the 13th anniversary of the Mumbai terror attack that left at least 174 people, including 20 security force personnel and 26 foreign nationals, killed and more than 300 people injured.

The terror attack was carried out by 10 gunmen who were believed to be connected to Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based terrorist organization.

Armed with automatic weapons and hand grenades, the terrorists targeted civilians at numerous sites in the southern part of Mumbai, including the Chhatrapati Shivaji railway station, the popular Leopold Cafe, two hospitals, and a theatre.

While most of the attacks ended within a few hours after they began at around 9.30 p.m. on November 26, the terror continued to unfold at three locations where hostages were taken–the Nariman House, where a Jewish outreach centre was located, and the luxury hotels Oberoi Trident and Taj Mahal Palace and Tower. (ANI)

India reported 10,549 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry said on Friday.

With this, the active cases stand at 1,10,133. The active caseload now accounts for less than 1 per cent of total cases, currently at 0.32 per cent, the lowest since March 2020.
According to the Health Ministry as many as 9,868 patients recovered from the infection in the last 24 hours. With this, the recovery tally in the country has gone up to 3,39,77,830. The recovery rate stands at 98.33 per cent.

As many as 488 people have succumbed to the COVID-19 infection in the country in the last 24 hours.

“Daily positivity rate (0.89 per cent) less than 2 per cent for last 53 days. Weekly positivity rate (0.89 per cent) less than 1 per cent for last 12 days,” the Ministry said.

So far, 63.71 crore total tests have been conducted so far.

120.27 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered so far under Nationwide Vaccination Drive. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday took to Twitter to extend best wishes to citizens on the occasion of Constitution Day.

PM Modi shared a picture of Chairman of the Drafting Committee of Indian Constitution Dr BR Ambedkar’s speech in the Constituent Assembly on November 4, 1948.
“Best wishes to our citizens on Constitution Day. On this special day, sharing a part of Dr Ambedkar’s speech in the Constituent Assembly on 4th November 1948 in which he moved a motion for the adoption of the Draft Constitution as settled by the Drafting Committee,” PM Modi tweeted.

Further, mentioning the teachings of President of Constituent Assembly of India Rajendra Prasad, PM Modi tweeted in Hindi “No matter how beautiful, well-organized and strong any constitution is made, if it is not run by the true, fearless, selfless servants of the country, then the constitution cannot do anything. This spirit of Dr Rajendra Prasad is like a guide.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the distinguished gathering and participate in the programmes that will be organised in the Parliament and Vigyan Bhawan today to celebrate Constitution Day.

Constitution Day is celebrated on November 26 each year to mark the adoption of the Indian Constitution by the Constituent Assembly in 1949. Constitution came into force on January 26, 1950, marking the beginning of a new era in the history of the Indian Republic.

The Constitution Day was first celebrated in 2015 as a mark of tribute to India’s first Law Minister Bhim Rao Ambedkar, who played a pivotal role in the drafting of the document.

The roots of this vision can also be traced back to the “Samvidhan Gaurav Yatra” organised by the then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in 2010.

The Constitution of India, one of the longest written Constitutions of the world, constitutes of a Preamble, 22 parts with 395 articles and eight schedules. (ANI)

UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid on Thursday announced a temporary suspension of flights from six countries after reports emerged that a new COVID variant with more than 30 mutations is spreading in South Africa.

It comes as Variant B.1.1.529 is declared a Variant under Investigation (VuI) by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
“The variant includes a large number of spike protein mutations as well as mutations in other parts of the viral genome. These are potentially biologically significant mutations which may change the behaviour of the virus with regards to vaccines, treatments and transmissibility. More investigation is required,” UK Health Security Agency said in a statement.

Taking to Twitter, Javid said UKHSA is “investigating a new variant and more data is needed but we’re taking precautions now.” “From noon tomorrow six African countries will be added to the red list, flights will be temporarily banned, and UK travellers must quarantine,” he said.

“We are taking precautionary action to protect public health and the progress of our vaccine rollout at a critical moment as we enter winter, and we are monitoring the situation closely,” he added.

This announcement comes after media reports said that a new COVID-19 variant of “serious concern” has been detected in South Africa.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is convening an emergency meeting Friday to discuss the potentially rapidly spreading COVID strain found in South Africa and Botswana, the Financial Times reported, citing sources.

Earlier, UK media reports said that scientists from the UK had warned of the appearance of a coronavirus strain, which contains 32 mutations, in Botswana.

Many of the mutations indicate its high transmissibility and resistance to vaccines, the strain has more changes in the spike protein than all other COVID-19 variants, the Russian news agency reported. The South African National Institute of Infectious Diseases later also confirmed that the new strain had been found in South Africa. (ANI)