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This Article is From Feb 07, 2021

Latest News Highlights: Will Not Return Home Till Demands Are Met, Says Farmer Leader Rakesh Tikait

Farmers Chakka Jam: Highways across north India, including the Eastern Peripheral Expressway around Delhi were blocked by farmers protesting against the centre's three farm laws passed in September.

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India News Edited by Swati Sharma

Updated : February 07, 2021 6:00 am IST

Farmers Chakka Jam: Extra security has been deployed and barricades strengthened in Delhi.

New Delhi:

Ten days after unprecedented violence during a farmers' tractor rally marred India's Republic Day celebrations in parts of Delhi, the protesters observed a three-hour chakka jam (road block) across the country amid high alert in the national capital today.

Highways across north India, including the Eastern Peripheral Expressway around Delhi were blocked by farmers protesting against the centre's three farm laws passed in September.

In Bengaluru, 30 people were taken into preventive custody.

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait said Saturday afternoon that farmers will not return home till their demands are met, and will not be pressured into holding talks with the centre.

Meanwhile, India's COVID-19 infection tally climbed to 1,08,14,304 with 11,713 new cases in a day, while 1,05,10,796 people have recuperated so far pushing the national recovery rate to 97.19 per cent on Saturday, according to Union Health Ministry data.

There are 1,48,590 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country which accounts for 1.37 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated.

The total coronavirus cases mounted to 1,08,14,304 and the death count climbed to 1,54,918 with the novel coronavirus virus claiming 95 lives in a span of 24 hours in the country, the data updated at 8 am showed.

The COVID-19 case fatality rate stood at 1.43 per cent.

Here are the Highlights on Farmers' Chakka jam:

Feb 07, 2021 04:42 (IST)

Oxford Covid Vaccine Less Effective Against South African Variant: Study

British drugmaker AstraZeneca said on Saturday its vaccine developed with the University of Oxford appeared to offer only limited protection against mild disease caused by the South African variant of COVID-19, based on early data from a trial.

The study from South Africa's University of the Witwatersrand and Oxford University showed the vaccine had significantly reduced efficacy against the South African variant, according to a Financial Times report published earlier in the day.

Among coronavirus variants currently most concerning for scientists and public health experts are the so-called British, South African and Brazilian variants, which appear to spread more swiftly than others.

"In this small phase I/II trial, early data has shown limited efficacy against mild disease primarily due to the B.1.351 South African variant," an AstraZeneca spokesman said in response to the FT report.

The newspaper said none of the more than 2,000 trial participants had been hospitalised or died.

Feb 07, 2021 02:06 (IST)

French COVID-19 Cases Fall As AstraZeneca Inoculations Start

France on Saturday reported a fall in new COVID-19 infections and in the number of patients being treated in hospital, slightly easing pressure on the health system as the country rolled out shots with a third approved vaccine.

The country registered 20,586 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, down from 22,139 the previous day and marking the third straight daily fall.

Hospitals were treating 27,369 people for the disease, down 245 from the previous day in a fourth consecutive daily fall.

The number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care eased to 3,225, down 20 from the previous day, data showed.

The government has resisted calls from health experts to impose a new national lockdown but the level of new cases per day has remained relatively steady above 20,000.

Feb 07, 2021 00:13 (IST)

Feb 06, 2021 23:49 (IST)

Bengal Reports Only One Fresh Covid Death, Lowest Since April Last Year

West Bengal on Saturday registered only one fresh COVID-19 fatality, the lowest since April last year, a health bulletin said.

The fresh fatality, reported in South 24 Parganas district, pushed the state's coronavirus death count to 10,202, it said.

The state's caseload rose to 5,71,178 as 197 more people tested positive for the infection, it said.

As many as 293 more people were cured of the disease, taking the recovery rate among the coronavirus patients in the state to 97.36 per cent, the bulletin said.

Feb 06, 2021 23:33 (IST)

Over 1 Lakh Vaccinated For COVID-19 In Delhi So Far

The total number of people vaccinated against COVID-19 till date in Delhi, majority of them being healthcare workers, has crossed the one lakh-mark, officials said on Saturday.

On Saturday, over 9,500 beneficiaries were given the shots, including frontline workers. The turnout was about 53 per cent.

"The target was 17,900 and 9,510 people got vaccinated, with AEFI (adverse events following immunisation) in nine persons," a senior official said.

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Feb 06, 2021 23:22 (IST)

Rahul Gandhi To Visit Rajasthan Next Week To Support Protesting Farmers: Ajay Maken

Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi will be on a two-day visit to Rajasthan next week to raise his voice for farmers protesting the new agriculture laws, party general secretary Ajay Maken said on Saturday.

"To fight for farmers' interests, to raise the voice of farmers in the struggle for the repeal of the three back laws, Rahul Gandhi ji will be in Rajasthan on February 12-13," the AICC in-charge of Rajasthan said in a tweet in Hindi.

A ''Kisan Mahapanchayat'' was held in Rajasthan's Dausa on Friday in solidarity with the farmers camping on the borders of Delhi. The resolution passed at the meet reiterated the farmers' demand for the repeal of the three new farm laws.

Feb 06, 2021 22:52 (IST)

Repeal Farm Laws Without Further Delay: Shiromani Akali Dal Chief To Centre

Slamming the the new farm laws, Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Saturday asked the Centre to accept the farmers' demand of repealing the legislations without further delay.

Mr Badal also asked Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar to name one political party which is representative of farmers and has welcomed the three laws, instead of trying to "mislead" people in Parliament by giving the impression that the laws were acceptable to all.

Mr Tomar on Friday had asserted that the government's offer to amend the new farm laws to assuage farmers' sentiments did not mean they had any flaws.

Feb 06, 2021 22:36 (IST)

60 Detained In Delhi For Allegedly Staging Protest In Support Of Farmers

Around 60 people were detained near Shaheedi Park in central Delhi on Saturday for allegedly holding a protest in support of the ''chakka jam'' call given by the farmers agitating against the Centre's new agri laws, police said.

The protesters were from different organisations, they said.

They were detained around 12.30 pm and later released in the evening, police said.

Police said some trade union leaders were also detained on Saturday at some places as a preventive measure.

Feb 06, 2021 22:15 (IST)

Delhi Police Serves Notice To Gurdwara Functionary In UP Over Republic Day Violence

On the lookout for those responsible for the violence at the Red Fort during a farmers' tractor parade on the Republic Day in the national capital, a team of the Delhi Police on Saturday served a notice on a functionary of a gurdwara in Uttar Pradesh's Pilibhit district.

The police team arrived at Puranpur adjoining Shahjahanpur and served notice on granthi Gurtej Singh, asking him to come to Delhi for recording his statement, area SHO Suresh Kumar Singh said over the phone.

The police team served notice on the granthi of a gurdwara in the Ghunghchai chowki area, saying that a tractor from the gurdwara had gone to Delhi, the SHO said. The team later left for Shahjahanpur, he said.

Feb 06, 2021 21:15 (IST)

JMM, Congress Block Highways In Jharkhand In Support Of Farmers' Stir

Activists of the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress and various Left parties on Saturday blocked national highways in various parts of Jharkhand in support of the farmers' agitation.

The normal flow of traffic was disrupted in several areas but no untoward incident was reported.

National highways were blocked at various places in several districts like Palamu, Deoghar, Dhanbad, Hazaribag, Ranchi and Koderma for some time from noon, Inspector General of Police Saket Kumar Singh said.

Feb 06, 2021 20:50 (IST)

Agriculture Minister Had Agreed To Make Amendments To Farm Laws During Talks: Farmers' Union Leader

Feb 06, 2021 20:37 (IST)

PM Modi To Lay Foundation Stone For Key Infrastructure Projects In Bengal Tomorrow

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of key infrastructure projects in Haldia, West Bengal on Sunday at 4:15 PM.

"Tomorrow evening, I would be in Haldia, West Bengal. At a programme there, will dedicate to the nation the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) import terminal built by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL). Will also dedicate to the nation Dobhi-Durgapur Natural Gas Pipeline section of the Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga project," PM Modi said in a tweet in Bengali and English on Saturday.

Feb 06, 2021 20:18 (IST)

People Should Overthrow This "Dictatorial" Government: Maharashtra Congress Leader

Several farmers' groups held a protest in Mumbai on Saturday against the Centre's new agri laws.

Addressing the rally, Maharashtra Congress leader Naseem Khan said the BJP-led Centre, rather than trying to find a solution, was trying to insinuate that the protests underway for several days near Delhi were being backed by Khalistani elements.

People should come together and overthrow this "dictatorial" Union government, Mr Khan added.

Feb 06, 2021 20:07 (IST)

Budget Will Help Realise ''Aatmanirbhar Bharat" Aim: BJP Leader Bhupendra Yadav

The Union Budget 2021-22, which was tabled on February 1, will help achieve the aim of ''Aatmanirbhar Bharat'' and strengthen the agriculture sector, senior BJP leader Bhupendra Yadav said on Saturday.

Mr Yadav met representatives of various trade and social organisations at the BJP's Gujarat state headquarter.

He said the Budget was welcomed by all sectors and it will strengthen the resolve of self-reliant India and create a base for the country's progress.

Feb 06, 2021 19:47 (IST)

Farmers Submit Memoranda Urging Repeal Of Farm Laws In UP

Farmers staged protests in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday against the Centre's three farm laws and handed over memoranda to the respective district authorities demanding its withdrawal.

We did not participate in the "chakka jam" (road blockade) but handed over memoranda to the district magistrates in different districts of the state, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson Alok Verma said.

Feb 06, 2021 19:25 (IST)

56,36,868 Vaccinations Done So Far: Health Ministry

Feb 06, 2021 19:06 (IST)

Over 1 Lakh People Vaccinated In Delhi So Far: Official

The number of people vaccinated against COVID-19 till date in Delhi has crossed the one lakh-mark and the majority of them are healthcare workers, officials said on Saturday.

On Friday, over 9,200 healthcare workers had received COVID-19 vaccine shots in Delhi during the third week of the inoculation drive, registering a turnout of more than 50 per cent.

"The total number of people vaccinated against COVID-19 so far has crossed 1,00,000-mark," a senior official said.

Vaccination of frontline workers has also started, he said.

Feb 06, 2021 19:04 (IST)

States, Union Territories Were Urged To Increase Pace Of Vaccination: Health Ministry

Feb 06, 2021 18:24 (IST)

Restoration Of 4G Internet Services Will Boost Economic Recovery In Jammu And Kashmir: Trade Bodies

Trade bodies and tourism players on Saturday welcomed the restoration of 4G mobile internet services in Jammu and Kashmir, saying it will boost economic recovery in the union territory.

High-speed mobile internet services were restored last midnight in 18 districts. The services were there in two districts - Ganderbal and Udhampur - since August last year.

"It is better late than never. The government has realised how much loss our economy has suffered. This move will give a boost to the economic recovery now," president, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Sheikh Aashiq told news agency PTI.

Feb 06, 2021 18:15 (IST)

Protesting Farmers Make Way For Ambulance On Palwal-Agra Highway

As part of the countrywide ''Chakka Jam'' called by the farmers' union on Saturday, farmers who were blocking Palwal-Agra Highway made way for an ambulance.

The ambulance was stuck in the traffic caused due to blockage of roads and highways.

Karan Singh Dalal, member of the Haryana Legislative Assembly from the Indian National Congress told ANI, "Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is conspiring to destroy the farmers' protest. We all are protesting peacefully here and will continue to do so."

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