YK MYK WEATHER TODAY MAX 25 C MIN 12 C AIR INDIA 'GHAR VAPASI' HAS IMPLICATIONS FOR AVIATION SECTOR OPINION Sky will be clear. KOLKATA THURSDAY, 31 DEC, 2020 PG-12, YEAR—7, ISSUE—224 (RNI NO: WBENG / 2014 / 56803) DEADLINES FOR IT, GST RETURN FILING EXTENDED NEW DELHI: The Centre on Wednesday extended the deadlines for filing 'Income Tax' and 'GST' returns for assessment year 2020-21. According to the Ministry of Finance's Revenue Department, the deadline for filing ITR by those taxpayers whose accounts are to be audited has been extended till February 15, 2021. Besides, the deadline for filing ITR by other taxpayers has been extended till January 10. Accordingly, the timeline for tax audits has also been extended to January 15, 2021. The previous deadline for filing of returns was December 31. WORLD Morning India Rs. 3 AT A GLANCE HINDU TEMPLE DESTROYED, SET ON FIRE BY MOB IN PAKISTAN Govt, farmers agree on 2 out of 4 issues NEW DELHI: The sixth round of meetings between protesting farmers and the government ended after over five hours with the Centre saying that the two sides had reached consensus on two out of four key issues. The next meeting will take place on January 4. Addressing media persons after the meeting with 41 farmer leaders at Vigyan Bhavan here, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said: "Today's talks were held in a very good environment and concluded on a positive note. We have had consensus on two out of the four issues." "Next meeting of government with farmers will take place on January 4." He said that the government and the farmers had reached agreement over the latter's demands to keep farm- ers out of the penal provisions of the Commission for the Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Ordinance, 2020, and to withdraw the Electricity Amendment Bill 2020. "We discussed stubble burning and the government assured the farmers that their concerns will be taken into account. The electricity bill was also discussed... this has not been enacted. Farmers believe that subsidy will be withdrawn (under this)," Tomar said. Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh have been protesting at several borders of the national capital demanding the repealing of the three farm laws. Five rounds of talks earlier between the two sides proved inconclusive. ‘COMMITTEE COULD BE FORMED TO DELIBERATE ON DEMANDS’ Farmers union leaders coming out after meeting with Union Ministers over farm laws, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on Wednesday. ANI CORONA METER INDIA TOTAL CASES: 1,02,51,594 TOTAL DEATH: 148,503 WORLD TOTAL CASES: 82,471,764 TOTAL DEATH: 1,799,999 NEW DELHI: The government told farmer leaders during the meeting on Wednesday that a committee could be formed to deliberate on their demands. During discussions, the government told farmer leaders that a committee could be formed to deliberate on the farmers' demands regarding the three farm laws. A meeting between the Union government and farmer leaders concluded at Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi on Wednesday with Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar stating that a consensus was reached on two out of four issues on the agenda. He also said that the next meeting will be held on January 4. Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and Narendra Singh Tomar had food with farmers leaders during the lunch break The delegation of farmers from several states, who have been protesting at the borders of the national capital for over a month, maintained that they wanted the farm laws taken back. "Our stand is clear that the three farm laws should be taken back," said a farmer leader before making his way to the meeting. Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait was also seen heading to the meeting from the Ghazipur border. CBSE board exams will be held physically, says Nishank INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS TO REMAIN SUSPENDED TILL JAN 31, 2021 NEW DELHI: Centre on Wednesday extended the suspension of scheduled commercial international flight operations to and from India till January 31. "This restriction shall not apply to international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation)," an official statement said on Wednesday. "However, international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on a case to case basis," it added. At present, India has entered into 'Air Bubble' agreements with several countries. This type of arrangement allows nationals of both the countries to travel in either direction. Passenger air services were suspended on March 25 due to the nationwide lockdown to check the spread of Covid-19. 7 UK RETURNEES TEST POSITIVE FOR NEW COVID STRAIN IN KARNATAKA The naming ceremony of 16 ITBP pups was held, in Panchkula on Wednesday. NEW DELHI: Union Education Minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' on Wednesday said that he will announce the exam dates for the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class 10 and Class 12 on December 31 at 6 PM. The Union Education Minister said that CBSE board examination will not be held online and the examination will be held in adherence to Covid-19 protocols. Speaking to ANI, Union Education Minister said that the students were looking forward to the CBSE board exams and during the current pandemic time of difficulty, the dates have been decided on after consulting several parents, teachers and students. "After keeping their suggestions in mind and the cir- cumstances in the future, on the eve of the new year tomorrow, we will announce dates of CBSE board Exam and their confusion will be over," he said. The Union Education Minister said that CBSE board examination will not be held online and examination will be held keeping in mind Covid-19 protocols. "Our communication with other ministries is going on continuously. Covid-19 has spread all over the world. During these difficulties, we have done a lot of work online, but our goal is to reach the last students. The idea is to conduct examinations in the same manner as examinations are conducted earlier, we are not considering to conduct exams online." The Education Minister also said that the examination will be held as per guidelines of Ministry of Home Affairs and Health Ministry. Union Minister said that on the basis of the consultations, the guidelines will be prepared which will further be decided by the Ministry of Home Affairs along with the Ministry of Health. "Ensuring safety of students is our first priority," he said. BENGALURU: Karnataka Health Minister K. Sudhakar on Wednesday confirmed that seven cases of the new coronavirus strain have been reported in the state. "All seven Covid cases had returned from Britain and landed in Karnataka during December. Of the seven cases, three are in Bengaluru and four in Shivamogga district, which is also the home district of Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa," the Minister told the media. According to Sudhakar, three primary contacts of the Shivamogga cases have also tested positive. "Their samples have been sent for testing for the new coronavirus strain. All seven Covid positive patients have been put under home quarantine," he said. The apartment of the three positive patients from one family in Bengaluru has been sealed by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for 14 days. The civic body claimed the action was taken as a precautionary measure and all residents had been advised to stay at home for 14 days. In the wake of the new strain of the coronavirus, Chief Minister Yediyurappa appealed to all the UK returnees in the past two months to get themselves tested. Your voice is a great source of strength, Sen tells CM KOLKATA: Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, in a letter to chief minister Mamata Banerjee, has conveyed his "personal affection and admiration" for finding time to reassure "people under attack". The letter comes two days after Banerjee had written to him with her unstinting support over an allegation by Visva-Bharati that Sen's ancestral home in Santiniketan was illegally occ-upying land. "Your strong voice, along with your full understanding of what is going on, is, for me, a tremendous source of strength," the 1998 Nobel winner, who was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1999, wrote. Visva-Bharati had informed the state govern- Chief minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee visited in Tribal village at Santiniketan, Bolpur on Wednesday. ment that Sen's home, Pratichi, was illegally occupying 13 decimals of land, in addition to the 125 decimals legally leased to his late father, Ashutosh Sen. Banerjee, in her letter, expressed "surprise and anguish over some recent developments" reported in the media over his ancestral links in Santiniketan. "Kindly count me as your sister and friend in your just war against intolerance and totalitarianism. Let us not be daunted by their untrue accusations and unfair attacks. We shall overcome," she wrote in the letter, sent to Pratichi. Banerjee had reacted sharply on Thursday itself to the reports that VisvaBharati had written to the Bengal government on land encroachment, including the alleged "unauthorised" land parcel of 13 dec-imals at Pratichi. "On behalf of Bengal, I apologise to you, Amartya Da, for this," she had said. Sen, in his letter, addressed Banerjee as "Dear Mamata (if I may call you that)", and went on to express his happiness at her "wonderfully supportive letter. I am not only most touched, but also very reassured that despite your busy life you have to lead, you can find time for reassuring people under attack. Your strong voice, along with your full understanding of what is going on, is for me, a tremendous source of strength.... May I send you my deep appreciation of the warmth of your extremely kind letter. I also take the liberty of conveying to you my thanks as well as my personal affection and admiration." When asked about Sen's mail, Banerjee said: "Amartya Sen is Bengal's pride. People like Amartya Sen, and the other Nobel laureates like Abhijit Vinayak Banerjee and Mother Teresa have a standing in society. They are known and respected across the world. What they will say or not say is their choice. My ideology is against the BJP. I can speak against them. Similarly, they can speak against me." Asked whether Sen was being targeted, she said: “Here, everyone is made a target. Curb crowding on NY, check superspreader events: Centre NEW DELHI: Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan has written to all the states and union territories asking them to curb crowding in the wake New Year celebration and keep a strict vigil on all events that could be a potential superspreader, the ministry said on Wednesday. A total of 107 samples have undergone genome sequencing till now, and as many as 20 people who have returned from the UK to India have tested positive for the new 'more infectious' coronavirus strain. On Tuesday, six patients were found to be infected with the mutant virus. These were the first cases to be reported by the country. "The Union Health Secretary has written to all the states to keep a strict vigil on all events that could be potential "superspreader" events, and to curb crowding in the wake of the New Year celebrations and various events associated with it as well as on-going winter season," the ministry said in a statement. The Ministry of Home Affairs has mandated that States and UTs, based on their assessment of the situation, may impose local restrictions with a view to contain the spread of Covid-19, such as night curfew. Drawing attention to this, the Health Secretary has urged the States to promptly assess the local situation and consider imposition of appropriate restrictions on December 30 and 31, 2020 as well as on January 1, 2021. Earlier today, the Centre extended the suspension of flights to and from the United Kingdom till January 7 amid alarm over the new highly contagious strain of the coronavirus. The decision was taken on the recommendations of a Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) headed Gurukul art student paints a year highlighting events on canvas to say goodbye 2020 in Mumbai on Wednesday. by the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) and the National Task Force jointly headed by DG, ICMR and Member (Health), NITI Aayog. "It has also been suggested to Ministry of Civil Aviation that after January 7, 2021, strictly regulated resumption of limited number of flights originating from UK into India may be considered," the statement by the health ministry read. The British Government had recently announced that the newly identified strain of the virus found in their population is up to 70 per cent more transmissible. Pursuant to announcement by British government, Indian government had taken cognisance of the reports of mutant variant and put in place a pro-active and preventive strategy to detect and contain the mutant variant. It included temporary suspension of all flights coming from UK with effect from the midnight of December 23 till 31. From November 25 to December 23 midnight, about 33,000 passengers disembarked at various Indian airports from UK. All these passengers are being tracked and subjected by States and UTs to RT-PCR tests. Notably, the presence of the new UK Variant has already been reported by Denmark, Netherlands, Australia, Italy, Sweden, France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Japan, Lebanon and Singapore. Meanwhile, The Delhi Traffic Police has made elaborate arrangements throughout the city for smooth flow and regulation of traffic on New Year's Eve on Thursday. No vehicle, both private or public transport, shall be allowed to proceed towards Connaught Place post 8 p.m. till the conclusion of New Year celebrations. No vehicle shall be allowed to proceed towards Connaught Place beyond the Mandi House roundabout, the Bengali Market roundabout, the north foot of Ranjit Singh Flyover (Barakhamba RoadTolstoy Marg Crossing, Minto Road-Deen Dayal Upadhaya Marg crossing, Chelmsford Road near Munje Chowk (New Delhi Railway Station), R.K. Ashram MargChitragupta Marg Crossing, Gole Market roundabout, GPO roundabout, Patel Chowk, Kasturba Gandhi Road-Ferozshah Road Crossing, Jai Singh Road-Bangla Sahib Lane, Pachkuian RoadBangla Sahib Lane, Windsor Place roundabout, Buta Singh Marg roundabout and the State Entry Road-New Delhi Railway Station. "No vehicular traffic shall be allowed in inner, middle or outer circle of Connaught Place except for those that are carrying valid passes," Joint Commissioner of Police, Traffic, Manish Kumar Agrawal, said. 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