Coronavirus not health emergency, total 81 cases in India: Health Ministry

Coronavirus not health emergency, total 81 cases in India: Health Ministry

Officials said so far, India has evacuated 1,031 people, including from Maldives, US, Madagascar and China
Press Trust of India  |  New Delhi
Last Updated at March 13, 2020 18:04 IST
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Lav Agarwal
Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry | Photo: @ANI
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The number of novel coronavirus cases on Friday rose to 81, which include 16 Italians and one Canadian, Health Ministry officials said. Addressing reporters, officials said coronavirus is not a health emergency and that there is no need to panic. Officials said so far, India has evacuated 1,031 people, including from Maldives, US, Madagascar and China.

"An exercise will be undertaken on Saturday to bring back Indian passengers stranded in Iran. Air India will also send a flight to Milan on Saturday to bring back stranded Indians. It will land on Sunday morning at Delhi airport," officials said.


ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE: Several states in shutdown mode, total number of cases 81
Meanwhile, 124 evacuees from Japan, 112 evacuees from China are being discharged from Friday onwards after testing negative for COVID-19, they added.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus can be controlled: Over 68,000 have recovered so far globally
The Centre also decided to allow international traffic only through 19 border checkposts out of 37 and decided to continue suspension of Indo-Bangladesh cross border passenger trains and buses till April 15, or earlier, if so decided.

With the World Health Organisation declaring coronavirus a pandemic, the officials said 42,000 people across the country are under community surveillance.

కరోన ఆ మత ప్రార్ధనల వల్లనే వచ్చినట్లు ఏం ప్రచారం బాబూ!

ఇప్పటికైనా బాధ్యతగా వుందాం!

అక్కడికి భారతదేశం మొతానికి కరోన ఆ మత ప్రార్ధనల వల్లనే వచ్చినట్లు ఏం ప్రచారం బాబూ! మెజారిటీ మీడియా తన రహస్య రాజకీయ అజెండాని పట్టపగ్గాల్లేకుండా బైటపెట్టుకుంటున్నది. ముస్లీంస్ వేలదిమంది యాంటీ-ఎన్నార్సీ ప్రదర్శనల్ని వందలాదిగా నిర్వహించినప్పుడు పట్టించుకోని మీడియా ఒక ప్రార్ధన సమావేశాన్ని తెగ హైలైట్ చేస్తున్నది. "ఇది కరోన సమయం కాబట్టి అంతమంది గుమిగూడటం తప్పు కదా?" అని ప్రశ్నిస్తున్నారా? తప్పు కాదని ఎవరంటారు? కానీ అదొకటే భారతదేశంలో జరిగిన తప్పా? మొత్తం నిర్లక్ష్యపూరిత వాతావరణంలో జరిగిన తప్పే అది.

అంతకంటే ముందుగా మీరేయాల్సిన ప్రశ్నలు కొన్ని వున్నాయి. అసలు కరోన మొదటి స్థాయిలో వున్నప్పుడే తీసుకోవాల్సిన జాగ్రత్తలు తీసుకున్నారా? కేరళలో విదేశాల నుండి వచ్చిన వారు కరోనని మోసుకొచ్చినప్పుడే విదేశాలనుండి వచ్చిన ప్రతి ఒక్కరినీ ఎందుకు క్వారెంటైన్ చేయలేదు? ఏదో తూతూ మంత్రంగా టెంపరేచర్ కొలిచి వదిలేసారు కదా! ఎన్ని లక్షల మంది ఫిబ్రవరి మొదట వారం నుండి విదేశాల నుండి వచ్చారు. ఒక పారసెటమాల్ టాబ్లెట్ వేసుకుంటే దిగిపోయే టెంపరేచర్ని నమ్ముకుంటే ఎలా? రెండవ దశలోకి వచ్చిన తరువాతనే విదేశాల నుండి వచ్చిన వారి వివరాల ప్రకారం వాళ్ల కొసేం దేవులాడటం, అవసరమైన వారిని క్వారంటాఐన్ చేయటం జరిగింది. అందాక ఎందుకండి? ఫిబ్రవరి 24న అహ్మదాబాద్లో లక్షలాదిమందితో ప్రభుత్వ స్పాన్సర్డ్ ప్రోగ్రాం జరిగింది. దానికి ఏం జాగ్రత్తలు తీసుకున్నారు? ఏ కార్యక్రమాలు ఆగిపోయాయి? ఏపీలో మొట్టమొదటి కరోన కేసు బైట పడిన నెల్లూరులోనే మార్చ్ 14 నుండి 16 వరకు త్యాగరాజ ఆరాధనోత్సవాలు జరిగాయి. మరి వాటికి అనుమతి ఎలా లభించింది? అది కూడా ఒక మతానికి సంబంధించిన సంగీత కార్యక్రమమే కదా! విదేశాల నుండి హాజరైన వారు కూడా వుండొచ్చు. అసలు అన్ని వందలమందితో జరిగే కార్యక్రమాన్ని ఎలా అనుమతించారు? దేశ వ్యాప్తంగా ఇలాంటి సామూహిక హాజరు కార్యక్రమాలు ఎన్ని జరిగాయో!

తెలంగాణలో అందరికంటే కొంత ముందే మేలుకొని స్కూళ్లు, కాలేజీలు, సినిమాహాళ్లు మూసేసినప్పటికీ ఏపీలో ఆ తరువాత కొద్ది రోజులకి మాత్రమే మూసేసారు. అసలు ఏపీలో మార్చి మూడో వారంలో స్థానిక సంస్థల ఎలక్షన్లు జరిపించమని ప్రభుత్వమే కోర్టుకి వెళ్లిన పరిస్తితి వుంది. ఊరకే హడావిడి చేయటం మినహ దేశం మొత్తం నిర్లక్ష్యం రాజ్యమేలింది. నాలుగు హితవులు, జాగ్రత్తలు దేశాన్ని ఏం రక్షిస్తాయి భయంకర విపత్తు నుండి? దేశం మొత్తం అవలంభించిన నిర్లక్ష్యంలో నిజాముద్దీన్ మత ప్రార్ధనలు ఒక భాగమే. చైనా అనుభవాన్ని దృష్టిలో పెట్టుకొని అదనపు జాగరూకతతో వుండాల్సిన సందర్భంలో అంతమందితో అన్నాళ్లపాటు ఆ నిజాముద్దీన్ ప్రార్ధన కార్యక్రమం ఎలా జరిగింది? పైగా ఈ ప్రార్ధనల కోసం విదేశాల నుండి 280 మంది యాత్రికులు హాజరైనప్పుడు నిఘా వుండొద్దా?

నిర్లక్ష్యానికి మతం లేదు. ఒక రాజకీయ సన్యాసి లాక్ డౌన్ కి వ్యతిరేకంగా ఒంటిమిట్టలో శ్రీరామ నవమి జరిపించాలని జనాల్ని రెచ్చగొడుతున్నాడు. యూపీలో కూడా ఇలాంటిదే ఏదో దానికి ప్రణాళిక వేసారు. మార్చి 20 వరకు తిరుమల, జగన్నాధ్ ఆలయాలు యథావిధిగా నడిచాయి. ఇంక "రివర్స్ మైగ్రేషన్" సృష్టించిన కలకలం, సృష్టించబోయే సంక్షోభం గురించి చెప్పేదేముంది? తెలంగాణ, ఏపీ ప్రభుత్వాల మధ్య ఆరోగ్యకరమైన సయోధ్య వున్నప్పుడు ఇరు రాష్ట్రాల పెద్దలు ముందుగా మాట్లాడుకొని వుంటే స్వగ్రామాలకు వెళ్లటం కోసం రోజుల తరబడి ఆకలిదప్పులతో పడిగాపులు పడే బాధ తప్పేది కదా. అలా చేయకుండా ఒకరు వేలాదిగా ఎన్నోసీలు ఇచ్చేస్తే మరొకరు ఏమెరగనట్లు సరిహద్దుల్లో అడ్డుకుంటే పరిణామాలేమిటి? అసలు మొత్తం దేశవ్యాప్త నిర్లక్ష్యానికి ఫలితాలేమిటి? ఇప్పటికైనా ప్రభుత్వాలు, ప్రజలు బాధ్యతాయితంగా వుండాలి. ప్రస్తుత పరిస్తితుల్లో నిర్లక్ష్యం అమానవీయ పరిస్తితులకి దారితీస్తుంది.

ఇది మతాల గురించి ఆలోచించాల్సిన సందర్భం కాదు. మతాతీతంగా అందరం ఎదుర్కోవాల్సిన సందర్భం. ఈ దేశంలో అందరూ టాక్సులు కట్టి బతికేవాళ్లే. అందరం భారతీయులమే. ముస్లీంస్ ని టార్గెట్ చేయటం మానేయండి దయచేసి. ఎవరూ కావాలని తమ ప్రాణాలు పోగొట్టుకోవాలనుకోరు. ప్రభుత్వాలకి సహకరిద్దాం, పుకార్లకి కాదు.

మీరూ, మీ లేకి కూతలు కాకపోతే-

1. 13వతేదీ-నిజాముద్దీన్ మర్కాజ్‌లో ప్రార్థనా సమావేశాలు జరిగాయి.
2. 13వతేదీ- కేంద్ర ఆరోగ్యశాఖ "కరోనా హెల్త్ ఎమర్జెన్సీ కాద"ని ప్రకటించింది.
3. 15వతేదీ- నిజాముద్దీన్ సమవేశాలు సమాప్తం.
4. 16వతేదీ- హిందూమహాసభ గోమూత్ర సమావేశం ఏర్పాటు.
5. 16వతేదీ- అన్ని మతసంస్థల్ని మూసివేస్తూ డిల్లీ రాష్ట్ర ప్రభుత్వం నోటిఫికేషన్ జారీ.
6. 17వతేదీ- విదేశాలనుండీ, దేశంలోని పలుప్రాంతాలనుండి 40000వేలకుపైగా తిరుమల సందర్సన.
7. 18వతేదీ- నలభైవేలకి తగ్గని సందర్శుకులు తిరుమలలో దైవ దర్శనం.
8. 19వతేదీ- తిరుమల మూసివేత, ప్రధాని 22వతేదీ జనతా కర్ఫ్యూ కోసం ప్రకటన.
9. 22వతేదీ- జనతాకర్ఫ్యూ అమలు.
10.22వతేదీ- సాయంత్రం 5దాటినప్పటినుండి గుంపులుగా ప్రజలు ర్యాలీలూ, చప్పట్లు, మోతలు.
11.25వతేదీ- ఇండియా లాక్‌డౌన్ ప్రకటన.
12.25వతేదీ- ఉత్తరప్రదేశ్ ముఖ్యమంత్రి రాంలీలా ఉద్యమ కార్యక్రమ నిర్వహణ.
13.30వతేదీ- నిజాముద్దీన్ నుండి తిరిగొచ్చిన 6గురు ముస్లింల మరణం.

నిజానికి, విదేశాల్లో జనాన్ని వూడ్చేసిన మహమ్మారిపట్ల కనీస అప్రమత్తత లేకుండా, విగ్రహాలకూ, యుద్ద సామాగ్రికీ తప్ప విద్య, వైద్యాలకు నిధులు ఖర్చుపెట్టకుండా, వైరస్ వార్తలు వెల్లడైన తర్వాతకూడా 60,000పైగా విదేశాలనుండి తరళివచ్చినవారిని దేశమ్మీదకు వదిలేసి, ఈడబ్బున్నవాళ్ల బాధ్యతారాహిత్య తిరుగుబోతుతనాన్ని కట్టడిచేయకుండా, కనీస వైద్యసదుపాయాలూ, యంత్రాంగాన్ని అప్రమత్తపరచకుండా, ప్రజలని సిద్దపరచకుండా -

ఇప్పుడు కొత్తవాదన సిగ్గులేని మీడీయా ఊదరగొడుతోంది. నోరులేని వలసకూలీలవల్లా, మాట్లాడలేని మైనారిటీలవల్లా, కొరుకుపడని డిల్లీ ప్రభుత్వం వల్ల కరోనా మహమ్మారి కట్టడిలేక విస్తరిచిందని ప్రచారం చేస్తుంది.

The following is a fact check from the wall of Siddharthi Subhas Chandrabose! Eye opener indeed!!!

1. 13వతేదీ-నిజాముద్దీన్ మర్కాజ్‌లో ప్రార్థనా సమావేశాలు జరిగాయి.
2. 13వతేదీ- కేంద్ర ఆరోగ్యశాఖ "కరోనా హెల్త్ ఎమర్జెన్సీ కాద"ని ప్రకటించింది.
3. 15వతేదీ- నిజాముద్దీన్ సమవేశాలు సమాప్తం.
4. 16వతేదీ- హిందూమహాసభ గోమూత్ర సమావేశం ఏర్పాటు.
5. 16వతేదీ- అన్ని మతసంస్థల్ని మూసివేస్తూ డిల్లీ రాష్ట్ర ప్రభుత్వం నోటిఫికేషన్ జారీ.
6. 17వతేదీ- విదేశాలనుండీ, దేశంలోని పలుప్రాంతాలనుండి 4000వేలకుపైగా తిరుమల సందర్సన.
7. 18వతేదీ- నాలుగువేలకి తగ్గని సందర్శుకులు తిరుమలలో దైవ దర్శనం.
8. 19వతేదీ- తిరుమల మూసివేత, ప్రధాని 22వతేదీ జనతా కర్ఫ్యూ కోసం ప్రకటన.
9. 22వతేదీ- జనతాకర్ఫ్యూ అమలు.
10.22వతేదీ- సాయంత్రం 5దాటినప్పటినుండి గుంపులుగా ప్రజలు ర్యాలీలూ, చప్పట్లు, మోతలు.
11.25వతేదీ- ఇండియా లాక్‌డౌన్ ప్రకటన.
12.25వతేదీ- ఉత్తరప్రదేశ్ ముఖ్యమంత్రి రాంలీలా ఉద్యమ కార్యక్రమ నిర్వహణ.
13.30వతేదీ- నిజాముద్దీన్ నుండి తిరిగొచ్చిన 6గురు ముస్లింల మరణం.

Is it true ? Feb,21-23, 2020, Mahashivratri at ISHA,COIMBATORE, 10000 +participated, large no of International Participants as well. No tests like Markaj of Delhi ? Why? just curious ?

Vice president chief guest..

Thousands At Delhi Bus Station Amid COVID-19 Risk, Wait For Ride Home

Thousands At Delhi Bus Station Amid COVID-19 Risk, Wait For Ride Home
With all public transport stopped, many left without food, shelter and income had been forced to undertake journeys for hundreds of kilometres on foot
All IndiaEdited by Chandrashekar Srinivasan (with inputs from ANI)Updated: March 29, 2020 07:42 am IST
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Thousands of migrant workers are waiting at Delhi's Anand Vihar Bus Terminal to be ferried home


71

New Delhi: Amid the chaos, fear and uncertainty spreading across the country because of the COVID-19 outbreak, a distressing narrative emerged from Delhi on Saturday, when thousands of migrant workers, left without jobs, shelter or money after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 21-day nationwide lockdown, crowded into bus terminals around the national capital trying desperately to return to hometowns and villages across the border in Uttar Pradesh.
The centre's "total lockdown", meant to halt the spread of a highly infectious novel coronavirus that transmits rapidly in crowded spaces, had suspended all interstate bus and railway services, leaving migrants and their young families no option but to walk hundreds of kilometres foot in searing heat.

As harrowing stories of men, women and infants undertaking the punishing trek emerged over the past few days, the Uttar Pradesh and Delhi governments responded Saturday by arranging buses to ferry the people home; the UP government said it had organised 1,000 buses and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said 200 DTC buses would also be pressed into service.

On Saturday evening, as the fourth day of the lockdown comes to a close, the sheer scale of the exodus was highlighted in videos shared by news agency ANI and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi,


ANI
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@ANI
#WATCH Huge number of migrant workers at Delhi's Anand Vihar bus terminal, to board buses to their respective home towns and villages; Police is present at the spot

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In the ANI video a massive crowd of men and women, some with face masks and others with handkerchiefs around their noses to protect them from the COVID-19 threat, can been huddled together in queues waiting to board buses at Delhi's Anand Vihar Interstate Bus Terminal.

Delhi Police officers, also wearing masks, can be seen carrying lathis and loudspeakers as they attempt to organise the mass of people. One officer, careful to keep a safe distance between himself and the crowd, waves at a man with a lathi as he tries to control the queue.

"I am a daily wage labourer. There is no work available right now. What else are we supposed to do? No arrangements made by the government have reached us. We are going to our village. If we stay here, we will starve to death," a migrant worker was quoted by ANI.

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Thousands of migrants wait at Delhi's Anand Vihar Bus Terminal

An enormous crowd was also witnessed at Ghazipur, near the border with UP, where people were waiting to board the buses arranged by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's government.

Mr Gandhi's video, shot earlier on Saturday, presented an even more upsetting picture.

In it tens of thousands of migrants can be seen crowding around a handful of Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses. As the video pans to show either side of a pedestrian bridge linking to a nearby metro station, the crowd stretches as far as the eye can see.

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Thousands of migrant workers are waiting at Delhi's Anand Vihar Bus Terminal

A solitary Delhi Police patrol car can be seen on one side of the bridge with around a dozen police officers gathered around. A cacophony of car horns and sirens can be heard in the background as a never-ending line of masked men carrying bags and suitcases shuffle past.

"Out of work and facing an uncertain future, millions of our brothers and sisters are struggling to find their way back home. It is shameful we have allowed any Indian citizen to be treated this way and the government has no contingency plans for this exodus," Mr Gandhi said in his post.


Rahul Gandhi
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@RahulGandhi
Out of work & facing an uncertain future, millions of our brothers & sisters across India are struggling to find their way back home. It’s shameful that we’ve allowed any Indian citizen to be treated this way & that the Govt had no contingency plans in place for this exodus.

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Mr Gandhi had tweeted earlier in the day as well, tweeting: "The government is responsible for this terrible condition. Bringing citizens to such a state is a very big crime".

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Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also tweeted on Saturday evening urging the government to help the gathered migrants. In an earlier video tweet she had reminded the centre that it had sent jumbo jets to bring back Indians stranded abroad.


Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
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@priyankagandhi
प्रजा करे हाहाकार..
जागो हे सरकार #जागो_हे_सरकार #HelpThem #IndiaDeservesBetter

View image on TwitterView image on TwitterView image on TwitterView image on Twitter
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The centre has denied a lack of planning on its behalf had led to this crisis, saying India's response the COVID-19 outbreak was "pre-emptive, pro-active and graded".

Home Minister Amit Shah said the centre was committed to supporting migrant workers and that state governments had been urged to utilise their respective disaster response funds for relief measures and set up relief camps along highways and ensure the mass of migrants did not cross borders.

However, he cautioned governments to build these camps keeping social distancing in mind to avoid the virus spreading. Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy, Manish Sisodia, made the same plea, pointing out that the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi had promised lunch and dinner for four lakh people.

"This (the lockdown) is the only way to control the spread of the virus," Mr Kejriwal said, echoing comments made by Prime Minister Modi.

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Tens of thousands of migrants had gathered at Delhi's Anand Vihar Bus Terminal earlier on Saturday

Meanwhile, it isn't just the UP government that is concerned for migrant workers from its state.

Bihar's Nitish Kumar, Bengal's Mamata Banerjee and Odisha's Naveen Patnaik have all written to their counterparts asking for help in ensuring safety of people from their respective states stuck in others.

There are more than 900 active COVID-19 cases in the country and, as per data from the Health Ministry, at least 19 deaths have been linked to the virus.

Worldwide over five lakh people have been infected and more than 23,000 killed by a viral attack that has long since passed the death toll of the dreaded SARS outbreak that killed 774 people.

With input from ANI

Social Distancing Demo At PM's Cabinet Meet As 3-Week Lockdown Begins

Social Distancing Demo At PM's Cabinet Meet As 3-Week Lockdown Begins
India coronavirus lockdown: Prime Minister Narendra Modi had last evening announced a "total lockdown" across the country, asking people to "forget about stepping out of their homes" for the next three weeks
All IndiaEdited by Deepshikha GhoshUpdated: March 25, 2020 01:08 pm IST
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India coronavirus lockdown: PM Narendra Modi chairs a meeting


14

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet meeting on the first day of the 21-day lockdown to fight coronavirus demonstrated social distancing. In an image circulated on social media, PM Modi was flanked by ministers who sat a safe distance away, and with enough spacing between each in a long, carpeted hall in the Prime Minister's official residence in Delhi.
The Prime Minister had last evening announced a "total lockdown" across the country, asking people to "forget about stepping out of their homes" for the next three weeks. He explained that this period was necessary to break the chain of transmission of coronavirus, which has taken over 14,000 lives across the world.

He also asserted that social distancing was the biggest way to control the spread of the virus.

"Many think social distancing is only for patients. That is wrong. Social distancing is for everyone, even the Prime Minister," said PM Modi in his half-hour address.

Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted, "Social distancing is the need of the hour. We are ensuring it... Are you?"

Social distancing is need of the hour. We are ensuring it... Are you?

Picture from today's cabinet meeting chaired by Hon'ble PM @narendramodi ji.#IndiaFightsCoronapic.twitter.com/Lr76lBgQoa

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) March 25, 2020
Reports suggested the possibility of a video call was discussed but finally, the meeting was held in the conventional way, with post-virus tweaks in the seating arrangement. 

There are over 530 coronavirus cases in India. Nine people have died.

The government's challenge, apart from getting people to follow social distancing and self-isolation, is to ensure the supply of essentials like milk, vegetables, medicines.

UP Officials Seen With Crowd Amid "Janata Curfew". Then A Clarification

UP Officials Seen With Crowd Amid "Janata Curfew". Then A Clarification
As the clip was widely shared on social media - on a day when millions observed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 14-hour self-quarantine call, dubbed as "Janata Curfew", questions were raised about violation of social distancing norms.
All IndiaReported by Alok Pandey, Edited by Swati BhasinUpdated: March 23, 2020 10:57 am IST
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The picture shared by Pilibhit Police was later deleted.


46

Lucknow: A video from Uttar Pradesh's Pilibhit district, about 250 km from Lucknow, has triggered a controversy where a senior police officer can be seen with the district magistrate apparently leading a crowd, ringing bells, clanging steel plates to show support to those providing essential services while the entire country is on a self-quarantine mode over coronavirus.
As the clip was widely shared on social media on a day when millions observed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 14-hour self-quarantine call, dubbed as "Janata Curfew", questions were raised about violation of social distancing norms. The Pilibhit Police later clarified that the officials "did not defy the curfew".

In the clip, Superintendent of Police Abhishek Dikshit is seen blowing a conch shell, District Magistrate Vaibhav Srivastava clangs a steel plate as people around clap, march forward. Some kids are also a part of the crowd. The police had earlier tweeted that these officials were scheduled to take a stock of 14-hour lockdown across the city.


Alok Pandey
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@alok_pandey
 · 16h
Replying to @alok_pandey
Tweet is here - https://twitter.com/pilibhitpolice/status/1241728185055641600?s=21 … https://twitter.com/pilibhitpolice/status/1241728185055641600 …


Alok Pandey
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@alok_pandey
And a video is here ....

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Later, in a tweet, the Pilbhit police clarified that the march was carried out to tell locals to avoid stepping out of their homes. "District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police were not trying to defy curfew. Some people were stepping out of their homes (in the streets) so they had to be told to go back. It was not reasonable to use force. One sided reports were doing rounds," the tweet in Hindi read.


pilibhit police
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@pilibhitpolice
@pilibhitpolice खंडन-DM व SP द्वारा जुलूस नहीं निकाला गया। कुछ जनता चूकि बाहर आ गयी थी अतः भावनात्मक जुड़ाव के द्वारा वहाँ से हटाया गया। चूँकि बल प्रयोग व्यावहारिक नहीं था। मात्र एकतरफ़ा खबर से भ्रामक खबर चलायी गयी है। प्रमाण के रूप में मीडिया बाइट संलग्न है @Uppolice @dgpup

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"People took PM Modi's appeal of clanging utensils, clapping and express solidarity in these times. However, I appeal to all the people to stay inside their homes as public gatherings can increase the possibility of transmission," District Magistrate is heard saying in the video, shared in the post.

On Sunday, people across India - observing the self-curfew call - came out of their balconies in the evening after PM Modi's appeal. While urging for social distancing on Thursday, in a televised address, he had asked citizens to stand at their doors, windows and balconies at 5 pm and clap, clang utensils or ring bells in a show of support to those providing essential services, including doctors.

After the video from Pilibhit was widely shared on social media, the state government in a late-night notice also announced restrictions in the district - part of the nationwide lockdown in battle against COVID-19 that starts today.

Coronavirus has killed seven people in India, infected nearly 400. In UP, 26 cases have been reported.

"Duty-Bound To Support PM": P Chidambaram's Tips To Centre On COVID-19

"Duty-Bound To Support PM": P Chidambaram's Tips To Centre On COVID-19
P Chidambaram says the government should find Rs 5,00,000 crore towards mitigating COVID-19 over the next 6 months.
All IndiaReported by Sunil Prabhu, Edited by Deepshikha GhoshUpdated: March 22, 2020 03:40 pm IST
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'Duty-Bound To Support PM': P Chidambaram's Tips To Centre On COVID-19
P Chidambaram called for a temporary lockdown of all our towns and cities for two-four weeks.




New Delhi: Former union minister P Chidambaram, one of the sharpest critics of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP-led government, has backed the "Janata Curfew" in a column published today in The Indian Express and said he is "duty-bound" to support the PM in the fight against coronavirus or COVID-19.
"I am duty bound to support the PM and I shall do so. In effect, he has asked the people to fight the enemy with moral armaments. I am afraid that the virus is not like Clement Attlee imbued with high moral values. I am pretty certain the PM will be compelled to come back in a few days with tougher social and economic measures," Mr Chidambaram, a senior Congress leader, writes in the column.

"I plead for a temporary lockdown of all our towns and cities for two-four weeks."

The former finance minister has expressed concern about the fallout of coronavirus on the economy. "The PM implied that the current economic slump was triggered by COVID-19; that is not true. The beginning of the decline of the growth rate of GDP pre-dates COVID-19."

Businesses will be affected, Mr Chidambaram points out, factories have laid off workers, casual and temporary jobs have been axed, smaller producers have suffered cash flow problems, raw material supply has been affected and credit has dried up. "All these are the natural consequences of an economy in a rapid decline.  I had blamed the government for its failure to formulate policies and take the right measures to arrest the decline. That criticism remains valid. However, the government cannot be faulted for the outbreak of coronavirus," he says.

"Nonetheless, the government is responsible for managing the economic fallout due to coronavirus. Its first duty is to protect employment and wages."

He suggests that the hand-out under the PM-KISAN scheme be doubled to Rs 12,000. He also says the government should find Rs 5,00,000 crore towards mitigating COVID-19 over the next 6 months. "This is a moral and economic imperative and we must find the money and spend it," Mr Chidambaram writes.

The Congress veteran's views mark a shift from his usual searing takedowns of the Prime Minister and the government on the economy.

Yesterday, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi had said the government seems to have "underutilised our public and private sector capacities" in fighting COVID-19 despite "ample time, early warnings and lessons from other nations".

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been strongly critical of PM Modi. On Saturday, he wrote called coronavirus a "sledgehammer blow to our brittle economy".

He tweeted: "Small & medium businesses & daily wage earners are the worst hit. Clapping won't help them. Only a massive economic package that includes direct cash transfers, tax breaks and a moratorium on loan repayments, will."

"Clapping Will Not Help": Rahul Gandhi On Coronavirus Outbreak

"Clapping Will Not Help": Rahul Gandhi On Coronavirus Outbreak
Coronavirus Outbreak: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the coronavirus outbreak was a serious attack on our fragile economy and took potshots at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for beating of "thalis" in the honour of those working to contain the spread of the virus.
All IndiaPress Trust of IndiaUpdated: March 21, 2020 05:31 pm IST
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'Clapping Will Not Help': Rahul Gandhi On Coronavirus Outbreak
Coronavirus: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said there was a need for a big financial package.


5

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called for immediate steps to revive the country's economy amid the coronavirus pandemic and said there was a need for a big financial package.
He pointed out that the coronavirus outbreak was a serious attack on our fragile economy and took potshots at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for beating of "thalis" in the honour of those working to contain the spread of the virus.

Mr Gandhi said clapping would not help the daily wage workers and small and medium entrepreneurs.

"The coronavirus is a big attack on our fragile economy. Small and medium entrepreneurs and our daily wage workers are the most affected.

"Clapping will not help them. Today there is a need for cash relief and tax sops, besides relief in repayment of loans as part of a big economic package. Take immediate steps," the former Congress chief said in a tweet in Hindi.

"Despite Warnings...": Sonia Gandhi's Message On Coronavirus In India
Coronavirus update: "A comprehensive sector wise relief package needs to be announced forthwith by the government," Sonia Gandhi said
All IndiaReported by Arvind Gunasekar, Edited by Debanish AchomUpdated: March 22, 2020 07:53 am IST
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'Despite Warnings...': Sonia Gandhi's Message On Coronavirus In India
Coronavirus update: "I appeal to all fellow Indians to stay at home," Sonia Gandhi said


33

New Delhi: Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Saturday said the government seems to have "underutilised our public and private sector capacities" in fighting COVID-19, a disease spread by the highly contagious Novel Coronavirus that has consumed several nations within months.
"Testing is the key to prevention. In a nation of 130 crore, only 15,701 samples are reported to have been tested so far. Despite ample time, early warnings and lessons from other nations, we appear to have underutilised our public and private sector capacities. This must change. We must begin by testing all cases under surveillance and expand to all other symptomatic cases and those coming into contact with the ones testing positive," Mrs Gandhi said in a statement.

Coronavirus cases in India crossed the 300-mark, including four who have died, after 47 people tested positive in the global pandemic in various parts of the country.

"A comprehensive sector wise relief package needs to be announced forthwith by the government including necessary tax breaks, interest subvention and deferment of liabilities. For the salaried class, government and the RBI (Reserve Bank of India) must consider a deferment of EMIs," Mrs Gandhi said.

The aviation sector is gasping for air after thousands cancelled their travel plans. Other sectors like tourism and retail are also struggling as lockdown after lockdown have been reported from across the world.

"I appeal to all fellow Indians to stay at home, unless urgency and exigencies demand otherwise. Special care needs to be taken of the elderly and children to keep them insulated. This decision to remain at home will restrict the transmission of this virus. All of us must spread awareness that frequent hand washing, not touching the face and reporting all flu and influenza like conditions to medical help line or a doctor needs to be adhered to," Mrs Gandhi said.

A "janata curfew" or self-imposed quarantine will be observed on Sunday. It was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to prevent the spread of coronavirus.