MHA eeks report from Punjab over security breach during PM Modi's visit

The Union Home Ministry has sought a detailed report from the Punjab government on the security breach during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Ferozepur district of Punjab. Prime Minister's scheduled rally in Ferozepur district was cancelled on Wednesday due to breach in his security. Taking cognisance of the incident, the Ministry has asked the state government to fix responsibility for this lapse and take strict action. It said, the Prime Minister landed at Bathinda yesterday morning from where he was to go to the National Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwala by helicopter.  But due to rain and poor visibility, he waited for about 20 minutes for the weather to clear out.  When the weather didn’t improve, it was decided that he would visit the National Marytrs Memorial via road. He proceeded to travel by road after necessary confirmation of security arrangements by the DGP Punjab Police.The Ministry said around 30 kms away from Memorial, when Mr. Modi convoy reached a flyover, it was found that the road was blocked by some protestors. The Prime Minister was stuck on a flyover for 15 to 20 minutes which was a major lapse in the security.

-The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday held a virtual meeting  to review the poll preparedness for the forthcoming Assembly Elections in Manipur. The meeting was held by Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra in which Election Commissioners Rajiv Kumar and Anup Chandra Pandey were also present. The term of State Assembly in Manipur is to expire on 19th of March and elections are scheduled for 60 Assembly Constituencies. Representatives of various political parties including BJP, Congress, TMC, Left and Naga People's Front attended the meeting through video conferencing. The main issues raised by the political parties included concerns about use of money power, illicit liquor, narcotics drugs and intimidation to influence voters. Political parties requested for strict vigil  on election expenses by candidates to ensure free and fair poll. While expressing concerns about pre-poll violence, the political parties demanded deployment of adequate security forces during the poll process and other relevant measures. The political parties also raised concerns about implementation of strict COVID protocols for safety of everybody. The Commission assured the representatives that it has taken cognizance of suggestions, issues and concerns of the political parties and ECI is committed to conduct free, fair, participative, inclusive, inducement free and COVID safe elections in the state.

-Defense Minister and MP from Lucknow, Rajnath Singh and Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari  laid the foundation stone of Lucknow Kanpur expressway in a function in Lucknow. This 4,200 crore rupees project will reduce travel time between the two cities to barely 40 minutes. The Defence Minister also launched many development projects worth more than rupees 10 thousand crores for his constituency Lucknow today. Speaking on the occasion, Rajnath Singh said that these projects will not only give impetus to development of Lucknow but the whole Uttar Pradesh state. He said that a new era of development has begun in the country in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Talking about the importance of Lucknow Kanpur Expressway, Mr Singh said that it will emerge as an economic corridor and work as backbone for the Lucknow and Kanpur nodes of UP defence corridor.Union Minister Gadkari also launched National Highway projects of 821 kilometres worth 26778 crore rupees in Uttar Pradesh at different places. Mr Gadkari inaugurated and laid foundation of 8 National Highway projects in Kanpur which are being constructed with 14,199 crore rupees. He also laid the foundation stone of Delhi-Amritsar- Katra expressway and national highway Amritsar- Ghoman-Tanda projects through video conferencing.

-In Jammu and Kashmir, more than 30 flights operating from Srinagar International Airport were canceled on the second consecutive day on Wednesday due to poor visibility caused by incessant rain and snowfall.Director Srinagar International Airport, Kuldeep Singh, said  that even those flights from other states that managed to land at the airport, couldn’t take off due to poor visibility.Meanwhile, the upper reaches of the Union Territory continued to receive snowfall while rains lashed the plains.Traffic on Srinagar- Jammu and Srinagar-Leh National Highways has also been suspended.

-Maharashtra government has decided to increase the Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) in the State in the wake of rising COVID-19 cases. State Health Minister Rajesh Tope said, considering the increasing number of cases, RTPCR tests have limitations and it takes more time to receive their report. The Minister was speaking to reporters after the high level meeting of the COVID-19 task force chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.  Tope made it clear that RTPCR test will not be conducted after the concerned person is found positive in RAT. He said, the coronavirus spread can be controlled if the citizens cooperate and come forward for these tests voluntarily. He added that the state government has also decided to reduce the duration of home quarantine to seven days from ten days. It will mandatory for the patient to undergo RTPCR test after seven days. Meanwhile 61 resident doctors from JJ hospital were tested positive. A total of 139 resident doctors have been infected with Covid-19 in the state.