India

Jaipur, May 26 (PTI) Rajasthan BJP president Satish Poonia on Tuesday called upon party workers to highlight the Modi government's achievements in the last one year.

Poonia and party national vice president and Rajasthan in-charge Avinash Rai Khanna addressed BJP state spokespersons and media in-charge of districts through video conference.

Poonia said that in the last one year, the government at the Centre has done many such things which every countryman is proud of.

New Delhi, May 26 (PTI) Fitch Ratings on Tuesday forecast the Indian economy to contract 5 per cent in the current fiscal on account of slump in economic activities following a "very severe" lockdown that has lasted much longer than expected.

In its Global Economic Outlook (GEO) for May, Fitch projected growth to rebound to 9.5 per cent in 2021-22 and an estimated 3.9 per cent growth in 2019-20.

The forecast of 5 per cent contraction is sharp decline from 0.8 per cent growth projected by the global rating agency in late April.

Bengaluru, May 26 (PTI) Temples in Karnataka, closed for over two months due to the COVID-19 induced lockdown, will be opened for public from June 1, making the southern state the first in the country to allow devotees in shrines ever since the curbs kicked in.

The national lockdown enforced by the Centre to stem the spread of Coronavirus since March 25, and in its fourth leg now, is slated till May 31.

Ahmedabad, May 27 (PTI) The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown has severely hit the wedding industry in Gujarat, which has witnessed approximately 30,000 cancellations and postponements in the last two months.

At least 30,000 weddings planned across the state have been called off or postponed in the last two months in light of the ongoing health crisis, said spokesperson of Hotel and Restaurant Association (Gujarat) Abhijit Deshmukh.

New Delhi, May 27 (PTI) The Supreme Court Wednesday asked the Centre to identify private hospitals where COVID-19 infected patients could get treatment for free or at a nominal cost.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde, hearing the matter via video-conferencing, observed that there are private hospitals which have been given land either free of cost or at nominal rates and they should treat coronavirus infected patients for free.

NEW DELHI, May 27 (NNN-UNI) – Around 200,000 people were affected by floods in India’s northeastern state of Assam, officials said today.

The floods hit seven districts in the state, damaging standing crops and disrupting road connectivity.

According to officials, many people have taken shelter inside relief camps at Goalpara and Tinsukia districts.

Authorities have deputed National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams in the affected areas to carry out flood relief and rescue works.

Bhadohi (UP), May 25 (PTI) A case has been registered against an office bearer of the Rashtriya Brahmin Yuvjan Sabha for allegedly making objectionable remarks against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Facebook, police said on Monday.

Acting on a complaint, Ambrish Tiwari, who is the district president of the outfit in Bhadohi, was booked on Sunday, Koirauna police station incharge Sanjay Rai said.

Efforts are on to nab Tiwari and raids are being conducted. The complaint was filed by Aadya Prasad Yadav, a resident of Azamgarh, the officer said.

Guwahati, May 25 (PTI) Veteran Congress leader Tarun Gogoi on Monday condemned the arrest of two Pinjra Tod activists by Delhi Police for anti-CAA protests in the national capital and termed it as "political vendetta".

Natasha Narwal and Devangana Kalita were members of Pinjra Tod, a collective of women students and alumni of colleges across Delhi. They were arrested on Saturday in connection with a protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in Jaffrabad area in February.

Lucknow, May 25 (PTI) Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday asked UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to explain the basis of the statement in which he has reportedly claimed that a large number of workers returning from other states are infected with coronavirus.

The Congress leader also shared a news clip on the CM's statement on her Twitter handle.

KANPUR: Today being the second day of the festival Eid gets at the shadow of lockdown. Limited movement prevails with certain oddities.

The "Eidi" seekers look a little upset with a drop in their collection of the festival gift in the form of new currency notes due to the lockdown.

They rued that the lockdown has a direct impact on the amount. Either they failed to reach their relatives or relatives did not reach them. Some of the near relatives could not turn up owing to the restrictions.