Shobha’s brazen lies a disgrace to Karnataka, says UT Khader

New Delhi, May 1: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Friday issued an order under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 to further extend the lockdown for a further period of two weeks beyond May 4.

The current lockdown period is scheduled to end on May 3.

"After a comprehensive review and in view of the lockdown measures having led to significant gains, the COVID-19 situation in the country, Ministry of Home Affairs issued an order under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, today, to further extend the lockdown for a further period of two weeks beyond May 4, 2020," read the order of the Home Ministry.

In red zones and outside containment zones, certain activities including plying of cycle rickshaws and auto-rickshaws, taxis and cab aggregators, intra-district and inter-district plying of buses and barber shops, spas and salons will be prohibited in addition to those prohibited throughout India.

A limited number of activities will remain prohibited across the country, irrespective of the zone, including travel by air, rail, metro and inter-state movement by road, running of schools, colleges, and other educational and training/coaching institutions, the order said.

This came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with chief ministers of several states last month where some of them suggested extension of lockdown.

Bengaluru, Jun 23: Former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Tuesday demanded that Bengaluru should be put under lockdown for 20 days to contain the spread of coronavirus, the cases of which have risen sharply recently.

 “Stop playing with people's lives. There’s no use in sealing off only some areas. If the people of Bengaluru must live, then a lockdown of at least 20 days is needed. Otherwise, Bengaluru will become another Brazil,” Kumaraswamy said in a tweet. “People’s health is more important, not economy.”

The JD(S) leader was reacting to the BJP government's decision to impose an area-wide lockdown in Chickpet, KR Market, Kalasipalyam and Chamarajpet while streets will be sealed off in VV Puram, Siddapura, Yelahanka, Vidyaranyapura and Chickpet.

Bengaluru has witnessed a huge spike in its Covid-19 tally; the city currently has at least 919 active cases. This has sparked off fears that the contagion might have reached the community.

Kumaraswamy has also demanded welfare measures for the poor. “The poor and the labourers should be given ration immediately. The state’s 50 lakh working class should get ₹5,000 each. The aid already announced by the government hasn’t reached drivers, weavers, Madiwalas and other communities,” he said, adding that mere announcements of a package won’t be enough and “it has to be implemented.”

Mangaluru, Jan 8: No bandh-like situation prevailed in the coastal district of Dakshina Kannada, despite a nationwide strike called by trade union employees. Day-to-day activities are not disturbed, as buses and auto-rickshaws are moving as usual. 

However, in Bunder area, one of the business hubs of Mangaluru city, most of the shops today remained shut. As a result business was partially hit in the coastal city.

In other parts of Mangaluru city business firms, and market places are also open. Schools and colleges have not declared a holiday. government offices are also functioning as usually.

However, branches of many banks, excluding SBI, are closed for customers.

Members of various trade unions took out a rally and staged a protest in front of the Town Hall in Mangaluru.

Along with minimum wages, cancellation of contract labour system, no privatisation, welfare of farmers and other demands were also highlighted by the protestors. 

Slogans were also raised against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and anti-labour policies of his government. 

Members of AITUC, TUCC, AIUTUC, AIDYO, AIBEA, BSNLEU, INTUC, AIIEA, and associations of Anganwadi workers, mid-day meal workers, medical representatives, KSRTC employees, gram panchayat employees, and others took part in the protest.