Chandigarh, Mar 13 (ANI): Congress leader Deepender Singh Hooda filed nomination for Rajya Sabha seat. Deepender Hooda's father and former chief minister of the state Bhupinder Singh Hooda was also present there. Deepender had been a three-time MP from Rohtak. In 2014, the Congress could manage to retain only the Rohtak seat, losing all other nine Lok Sabha seats from Haryana. Biennial elections for 55 Rajya Sabha seats will take place on March 26.
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), Mar 13 (ANI): Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath on Friday announced that all schools, colleges, technical and vocational education institutes will remain closed till March 22 to prevent spread of deadly coronavirus. Adding to it, he further said, the state government will review the situation on March 22 and will take a decision whether to extend it or not. "The ongoing examinations will continue but the examinations which have not commenced yet have been postponed," he further added. 11 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh.
New Delhi, Mar 13 (ANI): Government issued orders to revoke detention of former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Farooq Abdullah. The leader was put under house arrest, a day before the Centre moved a motion in the parliament to scrap Jammu and Kashmir's special status under Article 370 of Indian Constitution. In September, Abdullah was charged under the Public Safety Act (PSA). Principal Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir, Rohit Kansal tweeted the official letter of the revocation.
Dehradun (Uttarakhand), Mar 13 (ANI): Amid increasing fear of deadly coronavirus, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on Friday announced that the all schools in the state have closed until March 31. Adding to it, he further said, the people do not need to fear as no case of COVID-19 has been reported in the state. "We have issued advisories to all hotels for foreign tourists. All schools have been closed until March 31. Do not fear as no case of Coronavirus has been reported here," said CM Rawat on global pandemic.
New Delhi, Mar 13 (ANI): Union Minister of Food Processing, Harsimrat Kaur Badal suggested that the Parliament session should also be curtailed, in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The Minister and Akali Dal leader said that the government should give it a thought. She said her ministry is trying to convert one to one meetings into online platform.
Jaipur (Rajasthan), Mar 13 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Rajendra Gehlot filed nomination for Rajya Sabha seat at Vidhan Sabha in Jaipur. It is said that Rajendra Gehlot is close to Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. The last date of filing nominations for vacant three seats from Rajasthan is March 13. Biennial elections for 55 Rajya Sabha seats will take place on March 26.
Bhopal (MP), Mar 13 (ANI): Post his meeting with Madhya Pradesh Governor Lalji Tandon, Chief Minister Kamal Nath said that floor test will happen on Governor's address and budget. "It is only possible when 22 MLAs are freed from captivity," said Madhya Pradesh CM.
New Delhi, Mar 13 (ANI): Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that big events, conferences, and sports gatherings like IPL have been banned in Delhi till further notice amid coronavirus. "Social distancing is important to curb the breakout of coronavirus," says Deputy CM. Till March 6, 6 people have been tested positive for Novel Coronavirus.
New Delhi, Mar 13 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Hema Malini urged people to not take the coronavirus lightly. "Everybody should be careful and secure themselves and not travel overseas. It is good that visas have been cancelled. I have seen people joking about it on WhatsApp, like 'corona, marona', it should not be taken lightly," said Actress Hema Malini. Legendary actress-turned-politician also said that she canceled her events and award functions due to the pandemic.
New Delhi, Mar 13 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament said that she has received complaints against some govt health over issuing advisory to people not to touch animals. "This virus can not transmit through animals nor can they have it. I appeal to these departments to not spread lies," she said further.
New Delhi, Mar 13 (ANI): As stock market continues to plunge amid coronavirus outbreak, Chief Economic Advisor K Subramanian on March 13 asserted that all countries, including France, Russia, US, UK, Japan and others have had more than a 20 percent decline in their stock prices and India is actually below them. "Current developments in market are reflections of global factors related to coronavirus episode. All countries, including France, Russia, US, UK, Japan and others have had more than a 20 percent decline in their stock prices and India is actually below them," said Subramanian.
Bhopal (MP), Mar 13 (ANI): Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath showed victory sign as he arrived at Raj Bhawan in Bhopal to meet Governor Lalji Tandon. Though the opposition demands for floor test, Kamal Nath said that they will have to wait.
New Delhi, Mar 13 (ANI): Minister of State (MoS) for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Babul Supriyo opined that sport is very important but it cannot be at the cost of a health scare. "IPL is a sport where people come in huge numbers, so I think and hope that IPL can be postponed," he added. Remaining ODIs of India vs South Africa have already been directed to be played behind closed doors.
Warangal (Telangana), Mar 13 (ANI): One more COVID-19 suspected case came to light in Telangana. The person with symptoms has been kept in an isolation ward in Warangal for further screening and treatment. So far, one positive case has been registered from Telangana while the total number of positive cases in India has jumped to 76. Coronavirus has claimed the life of a 76-year-old man from Karnataka in India.
Kochi (Kerala), Mar 13 (ANI): The Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), which is the government nodal agency for entrepreneurship and incubation activities, has launched two robots developed by startup firm Asimov Robotics to spread awareness about the spread of the virus. At the KSUM's Integrated Startup complex, one robot distributes face masks, sanitizers and napkins for better cough hygiene. The other robot screens detail about the World Health Organisation's campaign to contain the pandemic. It will also clean the doors. A robot is also answering questions about the coronavirus. Asimov is trying to use robots in public places, including airports. There is also an attempt to automate robots by mapping.
New Delhi, Mar 13 (ANI): All Wuhan evacuees were tested negative in coronavirus at Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Chawla quarantine facility camp at Delhi. All 112, including 36 foreign nationals will start leaving the facility from today (March 13). The foreign nationals also thanked Indian government and ITBP for quarantine facility. India reported first death due to coronavirus. A 76-year-old man who died two days ago in Karnataka while being treated for suspected coronavirus has become India's first COVID-19 fatality.
New Delhi, March 13 (ANI): Amid growing cases of deadly coronavirus, BJP MP Sambhaji Chhatrapati distributed hand sanitizers in Parliament premises on March 13. While speaking to ANI, Chhatrapati said, "You give sanitizers to the people. The reason is, it has become pandemic and the only way to stop is to make common man aware of it. So, I appeal to all the leaders that they should not go the public functions, tell everyone to avoid all public gatherings. Hygiene is so much important." Total number of positive cases in India has jumped to 76. The WHO declared coronavirus as pandemic.
Ganderbal (J-K), Mar 13 (ANI): A group of Kashmiri women started their own carpet weaving and embroidery training centre in Jammu and Kashmir's Ganderbal. "The group was started from 10 girls, after that, girls from different age groups started coming here as they are educated but unemployed," said a trainee. The group seeks Government's assistance.
New Delhi, Mar 13 (ANI): Amid Novel Coronavirus situation in the country, locals are taking precautionary measures in Delhi. Delhi Government decided to close down schools, colleges and movie theatres till March 31 as a precautionary measure. Speaking to ANI, a Delhi resident said, "Indian Govt has taken a positive move towards preventing coronavirus." Another local said, "Government took positive step to close schools, colleges and cinema hall till March 31." Confirmed cases in India have surpassed 70, and positive cases in the national capital reached to 6. Indian govt has also recently suspended all existing visas till April 15.
Mumbai, Mar 13 (ANI): The Indian market is facing one of the worst market crashes in the recent times. The Sensex plunged 3090.62 points, at 29,687.52 on March 13. Nifty also tanked 966.10 points. Trading in NIFTY and BSE Sensex stopped due to lower circuit. The market fell over 10 percent in the initial trade. Indian Rupee slipped to 74.43 versus the US Dollar, in initial trade. Market has been witnessing steep decline after WHO declared Novel Coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. On Mar 12, US President Donald Trump banned travel to Europe after which the market crashed heavily. Also, coronavirus is playing a major role in market fluctuation.