NEWS

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced on Monday that restrictions imposed in the state to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) are being extended till July 15.

"Public vehicles can operate with 50% passengers but drivers and conductors should be vaccinated. Gyms can also open with 50% capacity between 6am-10am and 4pm-8pm. Salons and beauty parlours can function from 11am-6pm at 50% strength and the entire staff should be vaccinated," Banerjee said at a press conference. The chief minister further said that government and public offices may now allow 50% employees as against the previously announced capacity of 20%, and function from 10am-4pm.

Days after former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said he will take political sanyas (renunciation) if he fails to grant reservation for the OBC community, the Shiv Sena has urged him not to take the "extreme step as talented leaders like him are badly needed on political terrain."

Reacting to Fadnavis's remark, Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut said, "We will not allow Devendra Fadnavis to take sanyas. He is a talented leader. Already there is a dearth of good leaders in the political field, he should not talk about becoming a fakir or take sanyas. It will be an injustice to Maharashtra and BJP if he takes sanyas. He is a fighter...he should cooperate with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. The issue of OBC reservation will be resolved."

Two days after the last date of filing of nomination papers for 75 zila panchayat chairperson posts in Uttar Pradesh, BSP chief Mayawati on Monday said that her party would not contest the elections, alleging “misuse of government machinery” and “fraud” in the ongoing election process. Instead, her party would focus on the next year’s Assembly elections in the state, she added.

“The BSP has taken the decision not to contest the ongoing zila panchayat chairperson elections in Uttar Pradesh… Instead of wasting their time and energy in the Zila panchayat chief polls, party workers have been directed to use their energy in strengthening the organisation and spreading the party’s base of the party among “sarva samaj”, so that in the upcoming Assembly elections, BSP can form the government,” she said.

Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Monday called state governor Jagdeep Dhankhar "a corrupted man", claiming he was yet to be cleared of his links with the 1996 hawala scam and urging the media to check "whether there was a chargesheet or not" (in the case).

Banerjee also charged Dhankhar with trying to "split Bengal", referring to his meetings with "separatist leaders" and BJP leaders demanding a separate state in north Bengal during his Darjeeling visit. She had written thrice to the Centre to "recall Dhankhar", she said, urging Delhi to let go of its "ego" and "consider" her plea.

"He is trying to disturb peace in north Bengal. He called and met separatist leaders. He is urging them to launch protests. Is this a governor's duty?" she said. "He went to Delhi for three days and then to Gurgaon before heading to north Bengal," Banerjee said. "Why did he choose to tour north Bengal suddenly? Who did he meet: BJP MPs, MLAs and block presidents?" she added.