Centre

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday said the standard operating procedure to ensure the safety of women at government-run COVID-19 centres will be implemented by March 31. Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis said, “I have been raising this issue since lockdown after receiving a number of complaints of molestation. I even wrote to the Chief Minister four times. But I did not get an answer, forget about action being taken.” Mr. Fadnavis was referring to a molestation in Aurangabad. “We demand to know from the State government when action will be taken,” he said. Mr Pawar said the incident was “unfortunate” and the government has taken “serious cognisance” of it. “A local woman medical officer has conducted primary investigation and prima facie the complaint has been found to be true,” he said. The doctor in question has been suspended. Later, in the Council, Mr. Pawar said the government has ensured all possible funds for COVID-19 centres. “The COVID-19 ... » Learn More about SOP framed for women’s safety in COVID-19 centres: Ajit Pawar

(This story was first published in the Times of India on March 5, 2021) Mumbai: Days ahead of the state budget, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar hinted at some relief in prices of petrol and diesel which have skyrocketed. Pawar said the Centre collects Rs 35.9 per litre of petrol and of this Rs 32.9 is collected as cess , whereas the state government collects Rs 28.9 as a value-added tax. Sources in transport associations say they are hoping the government will reduce taxes and VAT in the state budget. Last year, during the state budget, the government had increased VAT on fuel by Rs1. Pawar also said strict action will be taken against Sharjeel Usmani, a former Aligarh Muslim University student leader, accused of hurting religious sentiments in his speech at the Elgar Parishad. Replying to the discussion on the Governor’s address in the legislative council on Thursday, he said there is no reason to back anyone who poses a threat to national security, ... » Learn More about In Mumbai, Centre collects Rs 32.9 per litre as cess as against the state government’s Rs 28.17 as Vat

Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday acknowledged that consumers have a case for petrol and diesel prices to be brought down but said a reduction in taxes to make that happen should be a joint call of the central and state governments. As much as 60 per cent of the retail price of petrol, which has shot above Rs 100-mark in some places in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra and is at an all-time high elsewhere in the country, is made up of central and state taxes. Taxes make up for about 56 per cent of the record high diesel rates. Sitharaman, who had increased central excise duty on petrol and diesel by a record margin last year to mop up gains arising from international oil prices plunging to a two-decade low, remained non-committal on taking the first step to cut central taxes to give relief to consumers. For consumers, "there is enough case to say that prices should be down, its a burden," she said while interacting with journalists at IWPC. While the burden on the ... » Learn More about Tax cut on petrol, diesel rates should be joint call of Centre, states: Nirmala Sitharaman

Raids by the Income Tax department on film personalities like Anurag Kashyap and Tapsee Pannu were part of the Centre's political vendetta against people who dared to speak out, the Shiv Sena said on Friday. In an editorial in its mouthpiece 'Saamana', the erstwhile ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party questioned if financial transactions of film personalities who openly support the government at the Centre were clean and transparent. Some people have spine and show that they are exactly like the characters they portray on screen, the editorial stated, possibly a reference to Pannu who has played feisty, combative roles in films like 'Pink', Thappad' and 'Badla'. It further said people may not agree with the views of Kashyap, an outspoken filmmaker, but that he had every right to air them. The editorial on Friday also touched upon the recent controversy over legendary personalities tweeting in favour of the Centre after some foreign celebrities commented in support ... » Learn More about Kashyap-Pannu IT raids Centre’s political vendetta: Sena

New Delhi: Calling the inflated fuel price a `dharam sankat` (dilemma) for the government, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said the state and the Centre both earn revenue on petroleum products and both sides should discuss it. "Ideally, it is a matter which both States and Centre should discuss because it`s not just Centre which has duties on petroleum price, States are also charging. When the Centre draws revenue, 41 per cent of it goes to the state. This is a layered issue and therefore I would like both state and central to discuss together," said the Finance Minister while answering a media query during the `Indian Women`s press corps` event. When asked if she had any discussion with states regarding the matter, the Finance Minister said, as of now, she did not have any discussion with any state government.Talking about the Union budget 2021, Sitharaman said the government in the Budget, ensured to divide the stimulus to understand where it should be going. ... » Learn More about Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman calls fuel price hike as ‘dharam sankat’ for Centre

Top court notes no provisions to take action on digital platforms; gives relief to Amazon Prime Video India head NEW DELHI The Supreme Court Friday said the Centre’s guidelines on regulating social media lacks teeth and do not have any provision for taking appropriate action for prosecution or punishment against digital platforms which show inappropriate content or violate the norms. The top court also granted interim protection from arrest to Amazon Prime Video’s India head Aparna Purohit in FIRs lodged over web series Tandav. It asked her to co-operate with the investigation and appear before the Investigating Officer as and when required. A bench comprising justices Ashok Bhushan and RS Reddy also issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government on Purohit’s plea for anticipatory bail in FIRs on Tandav series. A perusal of the Rules indicate that the Rules are more and more in the form of guidelines and have no effective mechanism for either screening or ... » Learn More about Centre’s OTT regulations ‘lack teeth’: SC

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday took a swipe at the Centre over rising inflation in the country, saying that the central government is only pushing the people into the "morass of inflation" to earn tax. "Inflation is a curse. The central government is only pushing the people into the morass of inflation to earn tax," Gandhi tweeted in Hindi. "Raise your voice against the destruction of the country. Join the speak-up against price rise campaign," he added along with a video where people are seen staging protests against rising prices of fuel and LPG . The prices of petrol and diesel have increased sharply over the past few days, with that of petrol touching the 100-rupee mark in some of the cities. Opposition parties have held protests in different parts of the country over the rising prices of fuel. (ANI) ... » Learn More about Centre pushing people into ‘morass of inflation’ to earn tax: Rahul Gandhi

After 10 staff members of Radhakrishnan restaurant in Andheri tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, the restaurant was closed for two days. Speaking to ANI , a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) official said, "10 out of 35 staff members have tested positive at Radhakrishnan restaurant on SV Road, hence it is closed for two days." Follow Mumbai City Latest Updates here "After sanitisation and new staff deployment, the restaurant will be allowed to operate," the official added. The restaurant staff, who tested positive for coronavirus, have been shifted to Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) Jumbo Covid Centre . According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare , Maharashtra has 86,359 active COVID-19 cases, 20,49,484 recoveries and 52,340 deaths so far. Meanwhile, India has a total of 1,76,319 active cases with 1,08,39,894 discharges. The death toll stands at 1,57,548. Untitled Carousel Mumbai: 13 private hospitals join drive, can ... » Learn More about Andheri: 10 restaurant staff test positive for COVID-19

For the past few days, Mira Bhayandar has been witnessing a surge in the number of coronavirus cases, intensifying worries for citizens. On Thursday, as many as 71 persons tested positive, taking the cumulative positive cases in the twin cities to 27,327. Mira Bhayandar has reported over 70 cases in a day after a gap of three months. No new COVID-19 related deaths were reported on Thursday and thus the death toll in the area remained 804. Follow Mumbai City Latest Updates here According to the latest information shared by the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation ( MBMC ), the active cases in the twin-cities have now jumped to 682. Out of the 71 cases reported, 43 were new cases while the rest - 28 - were contacts of people who had tested positive for the virus earlier. While Mira Road, with 46 cases, accounted for the maximum of those cases, Bhayandar East and Bhayandar West had 15 and 10 cases, respectively. The MBMC had sent a total of 1,81,406 swab ... » Learn More about Mira Bhayandar reports over 70 coronavirus cases in a day after three months; active cases jump to 682

MUMBAI : Uber said from Monday it will ferry senior citizens (aged above 60) and those with co-morbidities and above 45 to vaccination centres free of cost. It is offering free rides worth Rs 10 crore across the country for assisting the second phase of the vaccination drive. A senior Uber official told TOI the free rides will continue “till funds get exhausted”. “The management will see its next offering depending on the situation,” the official said, adding that the free rides were part of the aggregator firm’s support to the ministry of health and family welfare (MoHFW), state governments and local NGOs. Riders can avail of it through redeemable promo codes on the mobile app. Prabhjeet Singh, president, Uber India and South Asia, said, “We are providing safe and timely transport options for the most vulnerable sections of our population during Covid-19.” Uber will spread awareness on the vaccine through its app. ... » Learn More about Uber free rides for elderly in second phase