YK MYK CONGRESS TAKING FULL ADVANTAGE OF DISCOMFORT OF THE BJP GOVERNMENT OPINION Rs. 3 KOLKATA FRIDAY, 7 JANUARY, 2022 PG- 8, YEAR— 8, ISSUE— 227 (RNI NO: WBENG / 2014 / 56803) AT A GLANCE MAMATA TO HAVE VIRTUAL MEETING WITH MODI TODAY HOWRAH: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that she will have a virtual meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday as the number of daily COVID-19 cases in the State has increased to 14,022. Addressing a press conference in Howrah district on Thursday, the Chief Minister said, "The number of daily COVID-19 cases has increased to 14,022 and active cases to 33,042 in the State. I will attend a virtual meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow." Giving details about the COVID19 situation in West Bengal, she asserted to increase the restrictions with the mandatory RTPCR test for inter-State border area movement. "A total of 2,075 COVID19 patients hospitalised here and as many as 403 areas are containment zones. The positivity rate is 23.17 per cent, the fatality rate is 1.18 per cent, and around 19,517 beds are available. The RT-PCR must for inter-State border area movement," she added. Further, the Chief Minister said that the next 15 days are important and the State government will increase COVID-19 restrictions. Ahead of assembly polls, ECI raises election expenditure ceiling for candidates Ahead of crucial assembly elections in five states, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Thursday it has enhanced election expenditure ceiling for candidates in assembly constituencies from the existing Rs20 lakh to Rs28 lakh, and from Rs28 lakh to 40 lakh, in respective states and Union territories. In case of parliamentary constituencies, the limit has been raised from the current Rs54 lakh to Rs75 lakh, and Rs70 lakh to Rs95 lakh, the poll panel informed, adding that these new figures will be applicable in all the upcoming elections. I AM CERTAIN DRAVID MUST HAVE GIVEN HIM A ‘BAMBOO’, SAYS GAVASKAR ON PANT SPORTS Morning India Government could impose stringent restrictions if COVID cases keep rising: Mamata Banerjee MI NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday expressed her concern over the increasing cases of Coronavirus in the State. "If someone in your house is infected with the virus, then the rest of the members should be more careful. The next 15 days are very important," she said. Addressing the people of the State the Chief Minister said that government could impose more stringent restrictions if the cases keep rising. CM Mamata Banerjee advised everyone to be careful and safe without being in panic. The Chief Minister said, "This variant is not that deadly, but it is more infectious. It has grown by leaps and bounds in seven days. Don't be afraid." She also highlighted the current situation of the State with COVID statistics. The Chief Minister said, "In the last few days, 45,417 people have tested positive. Of these, 2,920 have been admitted to hospitals. 194 COVID hospitals have been identified in the State. There are 407 containment zones in the State. There are 30,881 people in home isola- Mamata rebukes brother Rebuking her brother for moving around outside with COVID patients at home, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said that the government might impose stricter rules if the number of COVID cases in the state don't come down. Addressing a press conference, Mamata Banerjee said, "One of my sisters-in-law is COVID infected and her husband is moving around on the road. This cannot continue. I have told him that I don't want to see this. He will have to follow all the COVID rules and cannot behave according to his will". "I am an outspoken person and I shall tell whenever there is anything wrong. Charity begins at home," sharing that she felt deeply offended that someone in her own family was violating COVID rules. tion. The positivity rate in the State is 23.17 per cent. 96.85 per cent of the people have recovered from the virus." Vaccination under the age of 18 has started in this State along with the whole country. Mamata Banerjee said that so India strongly objects to illegal construction of bridge on Pangong Lake by China NEW DELHI: India on Thursday raised strong objection against the illegal construction of a bridge on the Pangong Lake in Eastern Ladakh by China, saying that the government is closely monitoring the entire situation. Talking about reports about a bridge being built by the neighbouring country on the Chinese side of Pangong lake, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "The government has been monitoring this activity closely. This bridge is being constructed in areas that have been under illegal occupation by China for around 60 years now. As you are well aware, India has never accepted such illegal occupation." The official further point- ed out that separately, the government has been taking all necessary steps to ensure that India's security interests are fully protected. As part of these efforts, the government in the last seven years has also significantly increased the budget for development of border infrastructure and completed more roads and bridges than ever before. "These have provided much-needed connectivity to the local population as well as logistical support to the armed forces. The government remains committed to this objective," Bagchi said. It has been found that China has been carrying out construction work for a bridge connecting north and south banks of the Pangong Lake for at least two months now. The bridge will allow the Chinese People's Liberation Army gain quick access to both sides. India had occupied the key heights on the Kailash range on the southern bank in August 2020, giving its troops a strategic advantage as they overlooked the Chinese Moldo garrison. However, with the disengagement in Pangong in February last year, India pulled back from the heights as part of a mutual pullback plan to ease tensions. Further, China implemented its new border law on January 1 that calls for strengthening its border defence, and development of villages and infrastructure near the borders. Trinamool looking to widen alliance network in Goa MI NEWS SERVICE PANAJI: Is the Trinamool Congress in Goa trying to widen its alliance network for the upcoming Goa polls? According to the party's current and only alliance partner, the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), the alliance between the two parties may well see another party sewn in together in a matter of days. MGP MLA and senior party leader Sudin Dhavalikar has claimed that the name of the third alliance partner would be revealed by January 10. "The main thing is, if another party joins us, then we will have to make some adjustments. We want to form a government by keeping the Congress and the BJP aside," Dhavalikar said on Wednesday. "I will not declare the name of the third party. By the 10th (January 10) after the imposition of the code of conduct and when forms are being filled at that time this will be discussed," he also said. Interestingly, Dhavalikar and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Kejriwal had met in July last year at a hotel in Goa. The MGP leader had described the meeting as a "courtesy call" to meet a visiting Chief Minister. The Trinamool and the AAP are going full throttle to make a mark in the electoral politics in Goa ahead of the 2022 Assembly polls. Both parties do not have a single legislator in the outgoing State legislative Assembly. Goa Congress spokesperson joins TMC In a big political move, Goa Pradesh Congress Spokesperson Rakhi Prabhudesai Naik has resigned from the Congress party and pledged her allegiance to the State Trinamool Congress. "All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) Goa Incharge Mahua Moitra presided over the event, and welcomed a diligent people's spokesperson like her, into the party fold," said a press release by TMC on Wednesday. Goa TMC welcomes a fiery advocate like her into the AITC family, and notes that it is with the passion and resolve of women leaders like her that TMC will usher in a 'New Dawn' in Goa, according to the Statement. Speaking to the members of the press, Naik noted that her move had been inspired by a single-minded drive to work for her constituency of Sanguem, as per the press release. "I have decided to join @AITC4Goa TMC only after getting firm assurance from them that there will be no compromise on development of Sanguem and also a commitment from the party to stand by Sanguenkars through thick and thin.", she noted in a tweet. far 10 crore 77 lakh 64 thousand and 7 people have been vaccinated in the State. The first dose has been given to 6 crore 54 lakh 4 thousand 132 people above 18 years. 4 crore 19 lakh 3 thousand 437 people took the second dose. 4 lakh 56 thousand 138 people under 18 have been vaccinated. At the same time, the Chief Minister requested those who have not yet taken any vaccine or have not taken the second dose to get vaccinated. On Thursday, at the State Secretariat Nabanna, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, while directing to strictly follow the Coronavirus protocol, asked the police officers to deal strictly with those who do not wear masks. Along with this, people coming from other states will have RTPCR test at the border. In view of the increasing cases of COVID-19 in West Bengal, the Bengal government has announced a minilockdown and curfew has been imposed at night. Along with this, schools and colleges have also been closed. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the New Year has been a bit tough, although this wave is not fatal. The guidelines of the Government of India are 7 days quarantine. She said that international flights are responsible for this. Those who do not need them will not be admitted to the hospital. Use mask and sanitiser. Use caps. Boys use head guards, don't panic."