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Help people in need: Akal Takht to outfits

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Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 22

As Covid threat has engulfed the globe, Akal Takht officiating Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh has directed all Sikh organisations and gurdwara management committees to extend a helping hand in this hour of need, irrespective of any discrimination on the basis of caste, creed and race.

Giani Harpreet Singh has called on all gurdwara managements to prepare quarantine wards in the sarais (inns) to meet any emergent situation, arrange langar (food), medical aid and other things as per the situation arising in their respective territories.

Sparing a thought for the Indian students studying abroad who are stuck due to disruption of flights, he emphasised that ‘Guru ghar’ funds could be utilised to accommodate them as per their requirements.

He said for the welfare of all, everyone should observe self-quarantine and follow the advisory issued by the governments and health departments of their respective countries. He cautioned that under the Sikh principles, there could be no space for misconceptions and false notions, as was being circulated on social media.

“Abiding by the Sikh philosophy and keeping faith, every devotee confined in their homes should recite the Gurbani Path and pray for ‘Sarbat da bhalla’ before Akal Purakh. Everyone should refrain from rumours and fallacy. Covid-19 has affected the whole mankind and claimed many lives in various countries”, he said.

Follow govt orders on coronavirus restrictions, says Akal Takht Jathedar

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Covid cases rise to 21, state orders lockdown

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 22

With number of coronavirus patients reaching 21 in the state, the state government on Sunday ordered a lockdown till March 31 as an emergency measure to prevent the spread of Covid.

You can play the most vital role in preventing further transmission of the disease by not stepping out.—Capt Amarinder Singh, CM

However, the essential services will be exempted from the shutdown which will be effective from Monday at 6 am and will remain in force till 9 pm of March 31, a government statement said.

In an official notification, Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh ordered shutdown of all establishments to break the transmission chain of the highly contagious virus.

Chief Minister Amarinder Singh warned of tougher restrictions to check the spread of the deadly infection.

On Sunday, Punjab reported seven more Covid cases, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the state to 21, officials said.

 

The Chief Minister appealed to people to avoid leaving their homes unless there is an acute emergency and asked everyone to follow all health safeguards. “You can play the most vital role in preventing further transmission of the disease by not stepping out,” he appealed to people.

The Chief Secretary said there would be no curfew during the lockdown period, but restrictions under Section 144 of the CrPC would remain imposed, preventing gathering of more than 10 persons at any given time.

Director General of Police Dinkar Gupta said extra forces would be deployed in all districts for strict implementation of restrictions.

A government official said only essential services such as the police, health, power, emergency transport, and shops selling milk, food items and medicines, will remain open. Besides, eggs, poultry feed, media, e-commerce and essential IT services have been brought under the category of essential items and services.


CM hails corporates

  • Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has appreciated the decision of Rajinder Gupta, Chairman, Trident Group, to close down his unit and offer full wages, housing and food to his employees during the lockdown
  • He appealed to other industrialists in the state to follow Gupta’s example. The Sonalika Tractors management also announced to follow the suit

The restrictions…

  • All shops, commercial establishments, offices and factories, workshops and godowns will remain closed
  • Any public gathering of more than 10 persons prohibited
  • All inter-state commercial transport closed
  • Home quarantine for those who returned from abroad on or after March 9

Paramilitary forces suspend troop movement till April 5

Paramilitary forces suspend troop movement till April 5

New Delhi, March 22

The country’s paramilitary forces comprising 10 lakh personnel have ordered immediate suspension of movement of troops for any kind of travel, including leave or routine work, and directed them to ‘’be where they are’’ till April 5 to check Covid-19 outbreak in their ranks, officials said on Sunday.

The forces have also asked all jawans and officers to fill a declaration form to state that none of their family members have travelled to any foreign destination in the recent past and in case someone has, they need to be tested or put into isolation on a case-to-case basis.

Officials said the direction has been issued by the headquarters of the CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP, Sashastra Seema Bal and National Security Guard to ensure prevention of a mass outbreak of the pandemic in these forces that are the “backbone” of country’s internal security. — PTI


Delhi to be locked down till March 31 Borders with Haryana, UP sealed I Kejriwal says raids on against black marketeers

Delhi to be locked down till March 31

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 22

Delhi today joined the list of cities across the country to announce lockdown to check the rapid spread of Covid-19 as it prohibited inter-state travel from neighbouring districts of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh with which it shares the border.

Drawing a lesson from the manner in which countries such as Italy, Iran and China, where it spread swiftly, or nations where early lockdown resulted in preventing the spread, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced lockdown from 6 am on Monday till March 31.

Flanked by Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal at a press conference this evening, the Chief Minister said if the city government did not take tough steps and if the numbers of affected leapt to thousands, the health infrastructure would not be able to deal with it.

The government ordered closure of public transport, including taxis, private buses, auto-rickshaws, while allowing plying of Delhi Transport Corporation buses at 25 per cent strength to cater to the requirement of those on exemption list.

Besides closure of all religious places, the government ordered shutting of private institution or enterprise, while directing payment of salary/wages for the period to employees, permanent or contractual.

Those exempt include police, fire, law and order agencies, hospitals, medical services, magisterial services, stores selling food, milk, groceries, vegetables, service providers such as electricity, water, sanitation, telecom, posts, media, home delivery services by e-commerce platforms, etc.

Restaurants will be allowed to cater to takeaway or delivery services, while construction activity will be banned during the period. The order prohibiting assembly of five or more persons will remain in force.

As for reports of black market/hoarding of masks and sanitisers, the CM said while those indulging in such activities were not only doing an illegal act but also working against humanity in this hour of grave crisis.

The city government, he said, had so far conducted 327 raids and taken action against 437 individuals.


Runaway ambition can be a virus With the lollipop offered to former CJI Gogoi, people must gird themselves for other respected judges succumbing to such temptations, thereby sounding the death-knell of justice in the India of our dreams

Runaway ambition can be a virus

Former CJI Ranjan Gogoi (L) has drawn criticism by accepting RS membership. PTI

Julio Ribeiro

Mumbai wears a deserted look! I was born in this city and have lived here for most of my 91 years. So I should know. During riots when curfew was imposed, one could encounter near-empty or empty streets. The coronavirus, simply the fear of catching it, has made people stay indoors. Though curfew has not been announced!

Many, like my wife and I, have voluntarily chosen quarantine at home. The government ordered schools and colleges to close till March-end. Cinema houses, malls and sports arenas are shut. Then the government’s own offices decided to work with skeleton staff, ensuring that trains and buses ran with only the most intrepid of adventurous commuters. Finally religious services in temples and churches have stopped.

The silver lining is that there is now plenty of time to catch up on my reading. On my 90th birthday last year, close relatives gave me a book each as a gift. I finished reading all except the one gifted by my own brother — Raghuram Rajan’s The Third Pillar. I hope to finish it this week since I have all the time needed to do so!

Incidentally, I take much pride in being the batchmate of Raghuram’s father, Govindrajan, who was the topper of the 1953 IPS batch. He was only 20 when he appeared for the competitive exam. That was allowed in the early 1950s. If he had been 21, he could have competed for the IAS and topped! The IAS topper of 1953 was way behind Govindrajan and the second in our batch, Anand Kumar Verma, who was also 20!

Raghuram’s writings reflect the character of the man. The moral and the ethical matter to him more than position and status. I thought to myself that if he had been by chance the CJI, he would not have ever thought of accepting a Rajya Sabha membership like the recent incumbent of that high office has done, demeaning both himself and the institution thereby. Ambition can also be a virus! And runaway ambition worse than the corona!

Value systems have changed dramatically over the decades post Independence. I have noticed, for instance, that today many IPS entrants are willing to sacrifice their dignity and honour to please political masters at the cost of their fealty to the law and the Constitution and even their own principles! If their own advancement in careers depends on sycophancy, they will go the whole hog at the cost of their own countrymen, who they conveniently forget at such times. And yet these new entrants are certainly more knowledgeable than we ever were and probably even more intelligent!

Justice Gogoi may not have had the intellect of a Vivian Bose or a VR Krishna Iyer, but lawyers who have appeared before him did not complain of a lack of grasp of details or the finer points of law. Where he has now been judged by the common man as wanting is in his value system, which even his own senior ex-colleagues have sadly found wanting.

The present dispensation has gone about systematically eroding our institutions like the police, the bureaucracy and the media. It has succeeded in depriving the Election Commission of the high pedestal on which TN Seshan had placed it. The Army and the judiciary are two institutions left on which hapless citizens rely in times of stress. Alas, they are being relentlessly besieged. With the lollipop offered to former CJI Gogoi, the people must gird themselves for other respected judges succumbing to such temptations, thereby sounding the death-knell of justice in the India of our dreams.

The Congress government was not averse to the temptation to appoint largely pliant judges. At close quarters as Adviser to the Governor of Punjab, I had seen Governor Siddharth Shankar Ray, a successful lawyer from the Calcutta Bar and a known loyalist of the Gandhi clan, nursing the ambitions of local judges and lawyers in the pursuit of a judiciary working in close consort with the executive — a goal set for himself by Justice Gogoi in his new role of a Rajya Sabha MP!

The difference between the present government and the old ‘natural party of governance’ is that the Congress was wary of being found out, whereas the BJP is ready with all guns blazing to defend the indefensible. The BJP has, in fact, perfected to a fine art the practice of justifying all its acts of omission and commission.

And while political machinations continue in their naked pursuit of power, we the people of India are left to suffer injustices for which no remedies will be available in the near future! Unless our Supreme Court and High Court judges start disliking lollipops!


India heads into lockdown; 75 districts with coronavirus cases to be shut till March 31 Only essential services to be allowed; public transport curtailed

India heads into lockdown; 75 districts with coronavirus cases to be shut till March 31

Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 22

Amid tremendous success of the ongoing people’s curfew to battle an evolving COVID-19 pandemic in India, the government on Sunday ordered the lockdown of 75 districts where positive cases of the deadly virus have so far been confirmed.

Also read: Follow govt orders on coronavirus restrictions, says Akal Takht Jathedar

The decision was taken at a high level review meeting held by Cabinet Secretary Rajeev Guaba and Principal Secretary to the PM with the chief secretaries of all states.

All chief secretaries informed the top Central officials that the call of “Janata Curfew” given by PM Narendra Modi had received an overwhelming and spontaneous response.

Also read: Punjab orders state-wide shutdown till March 31 to check spread of coronavirus

“It was agreed that there is an urgent need to extend restrictions on non-essential passenger transport, including inter-state passenger buses, till March 31. Following detailed discussions, the state governments were asked to issue appropriate orders; only essential services to operate in 75 districts which have reported confirmed cases or casualties due to COVID-19,” a statement from the Cabinet Secretary said.

The Centre has also asked states to expand and deepen the lockdown in districts depending on their own assessment of the situation.

Also read: Coronavirus: India observes Janata curfew, millions stay indoors

Several states have already issued orders in this regard, including Rajasthan, Punjab, Chandigarh, and West Bengal.

The meeting took the following decisions: all train services suspended till March 31, except goods trains. All suburban rail services also suspended; all metro services suspended till March 31, but states will issue orders to allow emergency metro services in 75 districts with confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths; inter-state passenger transport to be suspended till March 31.

The lockdown will extend to 75 affected districts immediately, even as people stay home voluntarily responding to the PM’s call to break the chain of transmission of the deadly virus.

Meanwhile, in a significant tweet on Sunday Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said some anti-social elements were using social media to ask people to come out of the houses after 9 pm claiming that the virus threat would be over.

Vardhan said social distancing would be needed for many weeks going forward to battle the growing disease.

“Some anti-social elements are spreading misinformation that after today’s #JantaCurfew ends, the deadly virus will be wished away. They’re exhorting people to come outdoors after 9pm.

“This is false and an attempt to mislead the public. Social distancing must be adopted as a habit,” Vardhan warned people.

Medical experts have been asking the government to go in for a complete lockdown to prevent community transmission of the COVID-19 disease, which is currently restricted to imported cases and their contacts in India.

China has already achieved flattening the transmission curve but through a legally enforced crackdown.

Indian lockdown is a voluntary effort which began with “Janata Curfew” today.

Congress veteran P Chidambaram on Sunday said he was observing the people’s curfew called by PM Narendra Modi strictly.

In a tweet, former minister said, “As desired by the PM, I am observing Janata Curfew strictly.”

The following is the list of districts put under a lockdown:

 

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Coronavirus: ‘Janata Curfew’ gets good response in Punjab; story in pictures Few devotees at Golden Temple

Coronavirus: 'Janata Curfew' gets good response in Punjab; story in pictures

Tribune News Service
Amritsar/Bathinda, March 22

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for ‘Janata curfew’ to prevent coronavirus spread evoked a good response on Sunday in Punjab.

Most of the towns and cities witnessed deserted streets with shops and business establishments closed to mark the pan-India solidarity.

A deserted street in Patiala. Tribune photo

Reports of the shutdown of shops and other establishments were received from the Congress-ruled Punjab’s Ludhiana, Patiala, Amritsar, Bathinda and other places.

With state-run roadways shutting their services, buses were off the roads in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh.

However, the supply of milk was normal.

Nawanshahr witnesses a complete shutdown. Tribune photo. 

In Punjab, all establishments in Nawanshahr and Hoshiarpur districts have been closed while the partial lockdown has been ordered in Jalandhar from 7 a.m. on March 22 up to midnight of March 25 by the government.

Likewise, it has also been advised to close down establishments in the Kapurthala district from March 23 as precautionary measures.

Factories engaged in production of essential items like flour mills, cattle feed, food processing and pharmaceuticals would not be closed by enforcing staggering of workers and other preventive safeguards.

Barely any devotees at Golden Temple

The footfall of devotees at the Golden Temple fell drastically as they observed the curfew. The SGPC had already announced its support for the shutdown.

Only a few staff members have been asked to continue working at the historic gurdwara and others have been granted leave.

The heritage street, leading to the Golden Temple and Jallianwala Bagh, wore a deserted look.

ISBT looked abandoned as buses services have been suspended.

All markets and commercial spaces were closed in the city. Most people abstained from moving out of their houses.

Barring the arrival of two long-distance trains, no train movement took place at the Amritsar Railway station.

The gates of the Durgiana Temple were also closed due to the curfew.

However, daily wagers and small vendors are already facing the heat of the shutdowns as their income came to a nought.

Hari Krishan Sahu, a daily wager, said he was unable to earn any money from the past four days.

A youth from Naushehra Dhalla village said he did not receive any job calls for past one week as traders told him that transactions came to a halt due to fears over coronavirus.

They demanded compensation from the government to support them and their families.

A market in Faridkot. Tribune photo. 

Complete shutdown in Bathinda

Almost all markets in the district witnessed a deserted look with shops and business establishments closed.

With all the buses and train services suspended, both the railway station and the bus stand wore a deserted look, while officials sanitized railway stations, trains and buses.

The residents kept indoors as a precautionary measure and all the major markets Dhobi Bazaar, Post office Bazaar, Sirki Bazaar, Amrik Singh road and others remained closed. Even some medicine and grocery shops remained closed on Sunday in the city.


Coronavirus: Haryana announces lockdown in seven districts

Coronavirus: Haryana announces lockdown in seven districts

Karnal Municipal Corporation santises the bus stand. Tribune photo

Geetanjali Gayatri

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 22

The Haryana government on Sunday announced a lockdown in seven of its 22 districts. Only districts from where Covid-19 cases have been reported so far have been identified for a lockdown, though essential services will continue as usual in these revenue districts.

The lockdown in these districts — Gurugram, Sonepat, Panchkula, Rohtak, Jhajjar, Faridabad and Panipat — comes into effect from 9 pm Sunday till March 31. As many as 6,600 people are under surveillance for coronavirus in Haryana.

Manohar Lal

 

@mlkhattar

 

LIVE : Addressing the people#JantaCurfew#IndiaFightsCorona https://www.pscp.tv/w/cUYA4zFXTEtSQXpaV016UWJ8MVprSnpMV2JxanFLdrUGzJAHemy4uBOuOW0aLef23fN4_bJiKO8_9pmbLKoE 

Manohar Lal @mlkhattar

LIVE : Addressing the people#JantaCurfew#IndiaFightsCorona

pscp.tv

The lockdown will entail suspension of public transport services, including taxis and autos, with the exception of those going to and from hospitals or airports, railway stations and bus terminals.

All shops and commercial establishment will remain closed other than those engaged in providing essential services.

Listed out in the government order, these services include government offices open as per the order of the Chief Secretary, air services, electricity, water, sewerage and municipal services, banks and ATMs, print, electronic and social media, telecom and internet services, postal services, supply chains and related transportation, manufacturing units engaged in production of essential commodities, e-commerce delivery of food, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment.

Hospitals, petrol pumps, LPG and godowns, pharmaceutical units manufacturing masks and sanitisers will also be functional during the lockdown. The units which require continuous process can continue operations after due permission from the Deputy Commissioner.

The order also mentions that all foreign returnees will remain under strict home quarantine for the period decided by the local health authorities.

Meanwhile, Haryana has set up two control rooms to coordinate and monitor all activities for prevention and control of Covid-19.

The control room of the Chief Secretary will have senior IAS officer, TC Gupta, and SS Phulia, besides two HCS officers — Samwarthak Singh and Rohit Yadav. The other control room set up under the Additional CS, Health, includes IAS officer Vikas Gupta.

Also, the state government has assigned the “lockdown” districts to senior officers for regular monitoring. ACS VS Kundu has been assigned Gurugram, Principal Secretary Anand Mohan Sharan has been assigned Sonepat, Vineet Garg gets Panipat, Deepti Umashankar has been assigned Panchkula, D Suresh will look after Rohtak and Jhajjar, while Sanjay Joon has been given Faridabad.

The following order has been issued by the government in this regard:


Coronavirus: Chandigarh announces restrictions till March 31, only essential services to remain open

Coronavirus: Chandigarh announces restrictions till March 31, only essential services to remain open

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 22

The Chandigarh Administration on Sunday issued orders to impose restrictions in the city till March 31 to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

All ‘non-essential establishments’, including offices, schools, colleges, factories and other business establishments in the city will remain closed till March 31. All public transport has also been suspended.

However, essential services including vegetable shops, ration shops, chemists etc shall remain open.

Also read: Coronavirus: Chandigarh observes ‘Janata Curfew’, all main markets shut; story in pictures

Manoj Parida.IAS@ManojPa47203819
 

All ration shops,groceries,vegetable shops,chemists,petrol pump,banks,hospitals,police,power,water supply facilities open.restaurants open for take away food.people can go out individually when needed.borders not sealed

 A statement issued by the UT administration said: “The detailed orders in this regard will be shared shortly. People are advised not to believe in rumors and take all preventive steps as being communicated from time to time. All are also advised to stay indoors and not to come out unless there is urgency.”
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Punjab orders state-wide shutdown till March 31 to check spread of coronavirus Essential services and supplies to continue; not a “curfew”

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The Punjab Chief Minister on Sunday issued orders for shutdown of all non-essential services and businesses with effect from Monday 6 am till March 31 to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Only essential services will be allowed to function. All Deputy Commissioners and SSPs have been directed to issue relevant orders and implement the restrictions immediately, a top government functionary told The Tribune.

Capt.Amarinder Singh

 @capt_amarinder
  

Ordered statewide lock down till 31st March to check spread of

All essential Govt services will continue & shops selling essential items such as milk, food items, medicines, etc will be open.

All DCs & SSPs have been directed to implement the restrictions immediately.

View image on Twitter

On Saturday, seven districts had ordered shutdown till Wednesday. The new order has put in place a shutdown till March 31 all across the state.

ive Updates

  • Nawanshahr reports 7 new coronavirus patients.
  • Total number rises to 14 in the district. One person has died so far.
  • In Gurdaspar, an FIR has been lodged under Section 188 of the CRPC against a man.
  • He had come from Brazil and violated the health department’s quarantine directive.

Only essential services such as the police, health, power, emergency transport, supply of milk, food items, medicines, etc, will continue.

The government has not called it a “curfew”, but a “lockdown”. 

As of now, private transport would be allowed in emergency circumstances, besides essential services. The government is working out the details as well as mode of enforcement to be implemented from 6 am on Monday. (This story will be updated when more clarity is available)

An IANS report said the Chief Minister has announced a relief of Rs 3,000 to each registered construction worker in the state. The money would be transferred to their bank accounts by March 23 in a bid to mitigate the hardships being faced by them.

A sum of Rs 96 crore would be released for this purpose. The Labour Department has been directed by the Chief Minister to take immediate steps to ensure the transfer.

The Chief Minister while appreciating the decision of Rajinder Gupta, Chairman Trident Group, to close down his unit and offer full wages, housing and food to his employees during closure, has appealed to other Industrialists in the state to do the same and set an example for the nation.

The following is text extracted from the government order detailing the restrictions till March 31:

1.   All shops, commercial establishments, offices and factories, workshops, godowns etc. shall close their operations.

2.   No public transport services including operation of taxis/ auto- rickshaws etc. shall be permitted excepttransport of all kinds to and from hospitals, airports, railway stations, bus terminals/ bus stands. Specific routes to be allowed in the districts shall be decided by respective DCs.

3.   Strict home quarantine shall be observed by all foreign returnees (who landed in India on or after 09.03.2020) and their contacts/ other persons at risk as decided by the District Administration.

4.   All such foreign returnees shall also mandatorily contact the District Administration (104/112) and register themselves for home quarantine (as far as possible the COVA Punjab Mobile App)– failing which they shall be liable for legal action.

5.   People are required to stay at home and come out only for essential services and that too one member of a family at a time and strictly following social distancing guidelines issued earlier.

6.   Any gathering of more than 10 persons in public places shall be prohibited.

7.   All inter-state commercial transport shall be closed.

However, these restrictions shall not be applicable on the following essential services:

1.   All the essential commodities and services as defined under the Order No. IFD (1455)-2020/855 of Department of Food and Civil Supplies of 21.03.2020 and their manufacturing,supply chains, required transport andother logistics to ensure their availability.

2.   Public Offices (including officials and employees) tasked withemergency, law and order and essential functions:

a.   DC/SDM/Tehsil & offices subordinate to them

b.   Police.

c.    Health

d.   Urban local bodies

e.   Fire

f.     Defence Establishments and Central Police/ Paramilitary Organizations including NDRF

g.   Any other office as may be notified by the respective DC

3.   Rail & Air Transport

4.   Local Transport (to be regulated by respective DCs)

5.   Electricity, Water and Municipal Services

6.   Banks and ATMs

7.   Print and Electronic Media including social media

8.   Telecom/ Internet and Cableoperators and agencies appointed by them to maintain communication and internet services

9.   Postal services

10.  E-Commerce and its home delivery

11.  Shops of Food, Groceries, Milk, Bread, Fruit, Vegetable, Meat, Fish etc.(including departmental stores and supermarkets)

12.  Fair Price Shops under PDS

13.  Restaurants/ eateries fortake-away or home delivery only (no dine-in shall be permitted)

14.  Hospitals, Chemists including Optical stores and Pharmaceuticals manufacturing

15.  Petrol pumps, LPG gas, Oil agencies, their godowns etc

16.  Production and Manufacturing Units which require continuous process may continue to function, after obtaining permission from respective DC

17.  Other private establishments that support the above services. Any doubt as to whether an establishment is covered under this clause shall be decided by the respective DC.

Further, provided that restrictions/ exclusions as per local requirements may be made within by the respective DCs within the district.

These orders are to be meticulously complied and violations shall be dealt with severely under relevant provision of the IPC.