Breaking News on March 12

Jyotiraditya Scindia and Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar at Shivraj Singh Chouhan's residence in Bhopal. 

R. Meenakshi Sundaram, Uttarakhand School Education Secretary: All schools in the state to remain closed till 31st March in view of the Coronavirus Pandemic. Educational institutes where examinations are being held to remain open till the examinations are underway.

Indian Army: Individuals will be transferred from the airport post their initial screening to the quarantine facility. Another batch of 250 people being air evacuated from Iran on 14 March will also be landed and quarantined at the Army facility at Jaisalmer. #CoronaVirus 

Prime Minister's Office: PM Narendra Modi received a telephone call yesterday evening from Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu. The leaders reviewed excellent progress in bilateral relations. They also exchanged views on global situation in context of COVID-19 pandemic.

Amit Shah: There were some social media accounts that started 2 days before violence&were deactivated on 25th. These accounts only functioned to spread hatred. Their owners must be thinking that they are safe but this is digital age,we will find them and present them before law.

Amit Shah: Kisi ki jaan chali gai, koi apaahij hogaya, kisi ka ghar jal gaya, aur kya nijita ki baat karte ho? Police ko yeh adhikaar hona chaiye ki jisne danga kiya hai usko court ke saamne kadha kare, aur kathor se kathor saza di jaye. Humne nijita ka koi bangh nahi kiya hai.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha: Only driving license and voter ID card is being used for face identification (of the culprits involved in Delhi Violence). Aadhar data is not being used for it, as wrongly reported by some sections of media.

Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha: The culprits, they may be of any religion, caste or party, they will not be spared. They will be brought before the law.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah begins speaking on Delhi Riots in Rajya Sabha. 

Rupee sinks to fresh 17-month low of 74.24 against dollar amid market meltdown, continued forex outflows.

Jyotiraditya Scindia, who was inducted in BJP on Wednesday has reached Bhopal. He is being accorded a grand welcome by his supporters.

Madhya Pradesh Congress: Two of our minister Jitu Patwari & Lakhan Singh had gone to Bengaluru. They were assaulted, we have info that our ministers have been arrested. If the police don't take action & release our ministers & MLAs, we will have to take it to the court. #Bhopal

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on the effect of Coronavirus on IPL: "I think it is for the organizers to decide whether to go ahead with it or not. Our advice would be to not do it at this time but if they want to go ahead, it is their decision."

Union Ministry of Civil Aviation Official: As per the Evacuation Plan of Ministry of Civil Aviation, following special flights will operate to evacuate Indians from Iran-
  
1. From Mumbai on 13th March, 12:30 pm 
2. From Delhi on 15th March, 1:40 am 

Govt's immediate concern is to contain and control coronavirus, there is no need to panic: MEA.

RBI says monitoring rapidly evolving global situation in wake of Covid-19 outbreak, slump in oil prices.

Forex reserves at USD 487.24 billion as on March 6, 2020; comfortable to meet any exigency, says RBI.

First sell/buy swap auction involving USD 2 billion on Monday: RBI. 

RBI to undertake 6-month US Dollar sell/buy swaps to provide liquidity to foreign exchange market

Coronavirus: 52 testing centres have been set up, says Health Ministry

Joint Secretary (Health) Lav Agarwal said that three evacuations will be carried out from Iran.

Coronavirus Outbreak: Joint Secretary (Health) Lav Agarwal said that one lakh test kits are available

Coronavirus Outbreak: Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal said that government has taken timely steps.

Any foreign national who intends to travel to India for compelling reason may contact the nearest Indian Mission: Health Ministry

HEALTH MINISTRY: Based on the recommendations of the Committee of Secretaries chaired by Cabinet Secretary, the GoM made some important decisions last evening which are as follows. All existing visas (except diplomatic, official, UN/International Organizations, employment, project visas) stand suspended till 15th April 2020. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on 13th March 2020 at the port of departure. Visa free travel facility granted to OCI card holders is kept in abeyance till 15th April 2020. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on 13thMarch 2020 at the port of departure. OCI card holders already in India can stay in India as long as they want. Visas of all foreigners already in India remain valid and they may contact the nearest FRRO/FRO through e-FRRO module for extension/conversion etc. of their visa or grant of any consular service, if they choose to do so.

On the directions of the PMO India, a GoM was constituted to continuously monitor the situation and evaluate preparedness and formulate measures regarding management of #COVID19 in the country. The GoM has met 6 times so far, guiding, reviewing and monitoring the situation: Health Ministry

Coronavirus Outbreak: Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal said that foreign nationals in India have been allowed to stay in the country

India has always prioritized the safety and welfare of its citizens abroad, and mounted timely evacuation of its citizens from #COVID19 affected countries. So far, the Government of India has evacuated 900 Indian citizens along with 48 belonging to other nationalities like Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, US, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa and Peru. In addition, 83 evacuees from Italy who arrived yesterday have been housed at Manesar facility for quarantine: Health Ministry

Screening at airports was started on 17th January at 3 airports (Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata) which were extended to 4 more airports (Chennai, Cochin, Bengaluru, Hyderabad) on 21st Jan, 2020 and subsequently extended 30 airports. All incoming passengers are being universally screened at the 30 airports: Health Ministry

Measures have been taken by the Central Ministries along with States/UTs in terms of strengthened quarantine facilities, isolation wads, adequate PPEs, trained manpower, rapid response teams etc for management of #COVID19: Health Ministry

Our response was initiated since 8th January much before @WHO declared #COVID19 as a public health emergency on 30th Jan, 2020. States were directed for health sector preparedness on 17th Jan, 2020. Same day, point of entry surveillance was also initiated.

India has taken timely, preventive and preemptive measures for prevention and management of #COVID19. This was possible due to the situation being constantly monitored and reviewed at the highest political and administrative levels led by the PMO India: Health Ministry

One accused Salman has been apprehended in connection with the murder of Intelligence Bureau (IB) official Ankit Sharma

Kapil Sibal, Congress in Rajya Sabha said: "It is clear that police were helping those who were indulging in violence and its result was the death of innocent people, who had nothing to do with the riots."

Sensex at 32,617.47, down by 3079.93 points.

1 more person with travel history to Iran tests positive for coronavirus in Ladakh, number of confirmed cases in UT rises to 3. 

HC asks Delhi Police to file its reply by March 16 on all pleas alleging hate speeches by political figures. HC asks Delhi Police to file its reply by March 16 on all pleas alleging hate speeches by political figures. HC seeks Delhi Police's response on plea alleging hate speeches by Cong's Sonia Gandhi, Salman Khurshid and BJP's Anurag Thakur, Kapil Mishra. 

Pradeep Singh Kharola, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation today chaired a meeting with different Govt agencies and stakeholders to review preparedness for the evacuation of Indian citizens from Iran.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, in Lok Sabha, said: "National Institute of Virology in Pune is our central reference lab. After this we started with 15 labs because this is not a routine test, it can't be tested in every laboratory."

"Even now, despite this being such a big task, activities are being coordinated at 51 laboratories across the country and collection centres at 56 locations," he added. 

The peak of the current outbreak of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in China is over, reports China Xinhua News, quoting a spokesperson of the National Health Commission.

7 people have been arrested, in connection with the death of Delhi Police Head Constable Ratan Lal during clashes over CAA in North East district of Delhi

NCLAT dismisses CAIT's plea against CCI nod to Walmart's USD 16 bn deal to acquire Flipkart

EAM Jaishankar said: "Outbreak of coronavirus matter of concern; we need to respond responsibly."

One of the death-row convicts Pawan, through his Advocate, approaches Delhi HC challenging trial court order which dismissed the application questioning the credibility of the sole witness, claiming that he was a tutored witness and his statement wasn't credible.

Delhi Police PRO MS Randhawa said: "Right now, the law and order situation in Delhi is completely normal. Senior officers are continuously monitoring the situation."

"Till now, we have registered 712 FIRs. More than 200 accused have been arrested. We have received a lot of videos that will help us in the investigation," he added. 

Delhi High Court to centre: "Contact Indian students stranded in Iran in wake of coronavirus outbreak there."

BJP leader Jyotiraditya M Scindia meets Union Minister and party leader Amit Shah. Amit Shah says, "I am sure his induction into the party will further strengthen BJP’s resolve to serve the people of Madhya Pradesh."

SC begins hearing Special Leave Petition filed by Uttar Pradesh Govt challenging the Allahabad High Court’s order directing the concerned authorities to immediately remove the posters of those accused persons allegedly involved in vandalism during the CAA protests in the state.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submits his arguments for Uttar Pradesh government before Supreme Court, he says,  the right to privacy has several dimensions.

"Where is that power," Justice Aniruddha Bose asks Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, about the inherent powers which it (UP govt) had, and it invoked against the alleged arsonists in the protests against CAA in Lucknow.

UP Govt's SLP in SC challenging Allahabad HC’s order directing removal of posters of accused ppl allegedly involved in vandalism during anti-CAA protests in UP: SG Tushar Mehta says a person wielding gun during a protest&allegedly involved in violence,can't claim right to privacy

Rajinikanth greets fans gathered outside his residence. He will address a press conference today. He said: "I have never thought of the Chief Minister's post. I only want a change in politics." Rajinikanth said: "There were two stalwarts in our politics, one was Jayalalithaa and one was Kalaignar. People voted for them but now there is a vacuum. Now, we need to create a new movement to bring change."

BJP leader Jyotiraditya M Scindia meets Defence Minister and party leader Rajnath Singh at his residence.

Supreme Court asks lawyer and petitioner, Mohan Babu Agrawal, to approach the regular bench of the Court to mention his matter on postponement of Indian Premier League due to Coronavirus.

CM Uddhav Thackeray and his son and Minister Aaditya Thackeray pay tribute to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, on Shivaji Jayanti today, at the Shivaji Statue on Western Express Highway in Vile Parle, Mumbai.

NCP leader Nawab Malik said: "We have decided that we will not hold any public rallies or meetings. We appeal to everyone not to hold any large gatherings to prevent spread of Coronavirus. We have to follow the government guidelines."

Delhi Police Special Cell has arrested Popular Front of India (PFI) President Parvez and Secretary Illiyas, in connection with alleged PFI-Shaheen Bagh link

Prem Chand Gupta and Amarendra Dhari Singh to be RJD's Rajya Sabha candidates from Bihar

Sensex opens at 34,472.50, down by 1224.90 points. Nifty at 9,958.70, down by 499.70 points.

 Security outside Prestige Golfshire in Bengaluru, where 19 Madhya Pradesh Congress MLAs, who tendered their resignations on 10th March, are staying.

Oil prices fall more than 2% after Trump coronavirus address.

US President Donald Trump said: "We will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days. The new rules will go into effect Friday at midnight."

Washington DC Health Advisory: DC Health recommends that non-essential mass gatherings, including conferences and conventions, be postponed or cancelled. Mass gatherings are defined as events where 1,000 or more people congregate in a specific location. 

We also recommend that any social, cultural, or entertainment events where large crowds are anticipated be reconsidered by the organizer. This recommendation is in effect through March 31.

Indian Embassy in United States issued an advisory on travel to India, in the wake of CoronaVirus.

PS Chinmoy Biswal has been posted as Deputy Commissioner of Police (Headquarters), IPS Vikram Porwal has been given the charge of special officer to the Delhi Police Commissioner and IPS Manjeet has been appointed as DCP (Metro).

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Land & Building) Mohammad Akhtar Rizvi has been posed as additional DCP of North East Delhi, Jitendra Mani has been appointed as the DCP (Land & Building) and Nishant Gupta has been given the charge of Additional DCP of recruitment.
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