Himachal bans entry of foreign, domestic tourists

Police checkposts at entry points to the state in the border districts have been instructed to check all vehicles, and restrict the entry of tourists.

The Himachal Pradesh government on Thursday banned the entry of all tourists from outside the state – including domestic and foreign tourists – till further notice, in the wake of coronavirus outbreak.

“Keeping in view the emergence of positive cases in all neighbouring states, including a case coming out to be positive at Chandigarh last night, a need is being felt to restrict the entry of tourists (both domestic and foreign nationals) to prevent the import of virus in the state,” an order issued by Additional Chief Secretary (Health) RD Dhiman said.

It added that widespread information, education and communication (IEC) activities must be undertaken within and outside the state to spread these instructions to avoid unnecessary harassment to the people and to ask them to reschedule their visits “after the crisis is over”.

It added that widespread information, education and communication (IEC) activities must be undertaken within and outside the state to spread these instructions to avoid unnecessary harassment to the people and to ask them to reschedule their visits “after the crisis is over”.

Police checkposts at entry points to the state in the border districts have been instructed to check all vehicles, and restrict the entry of tourists.

Reena Bhadalya, a resident of Shimla who was returning from Delhi on Thursday evening, said that she was stopped at a police barricade in Solan and asked to “go back as Shimla is closed”, and only allowed to proceed when officials ascertained she was not a tourist.

Officials said that hotels, guesthouses and homestays across the state have been directed to urge all foreign tourists to leave the state, though no official order has been issued to this effect.

The state government cancelled 31 long-route inter-state buses, mostly Volvo buses operating from Shimla, Dharamshala and Manali to Delhi and Chandigarh. The HRTC also cut short the route of Shimla-Tanakpur bus till Haridwar, and banned the entry of all private tourist buses. All buses and vehicles entering the state are being sanitised and passengers screened before entry, officials said.

Ninety one more people in the state with a travel history to the nations most affected by COVID-19 have been placed under home isolation, taking the total number of those currently isolated to 370, state health department officials said on Thursday.

Till date, no person in the state has been tested positive for the disease.

According to the department, 746 residents/visitors in the state have been placed under surveillance so far. Among these people, 279 people have already completed 28 days of observation while 89 others have left the state. Eight people were tested for the virus after they showed symptoms of the disease, but none of them tested positive.

Alarmed by reports of a positive case in neighbouring Chandigarh, residents of Shimla and other towns enhanced precautionary measures, scrambling to buy sanitisers, masks and stocks of essential commodities.

“Public transport in the entire region is set to be suspended which will affect the supply of several vital items such as milk and milk products, which are largely supplied by Punjab,” said Shimla resident Hemant Kumar. The HP State Rural Livelihood Mission on Thursday started selling masks which are available at its outlet in the Secretariat in Chhota Shimla.

“The triple-layer masks are made by self-help groups out of non-woven cloth, and priced at Rs 12 per piece,” Rural Development Secretary Dr R N Batta said.

“Residents can also place orders for the masks on the mobile number 81948-90099,” he added.

The State Election Commission has withdrawn the model code of conduct and the notified election programme for the conduct of a by-election in a ward of the Chamba Municipal Council, a spokesperson of the Commission said.

In Shimla, DC Amit Kashyap said that people spreading rumours about an impending closure of market-places and lockdown are being traced and will be dealt with strictly.

“If any such action (lockdown) is to be taken, it will be done only after making requisite arrangements for the well-being of the residents and after informing them through official communication in a timely manner,” he said.

India Parliament Extended For Anti-Corruption Bill

The ongoing session of the Indian parliament has been extended by 3 days to provide it time to require up a controversial anti-corruption bill.

The cabinet is because of approve the Lokpal bill that envisages fixing an freelance ombudsman who would have the ability to prosecute politicians and civil servants in the week.

Final choices still got to be created on who comes at intervals the bill's ambit.

Activist Anna Hazare has threatened protests if the bill isn't passed.

Mr Hazare's 12-day anti-corruption quick in August became the main focus of a national campaign and place pressure on the govt to act on the difficulty.

The winter session of parliament was because of shut on Thursday. however currently it'll additionally meet for 3 days between twenty seven and twenty nine December.

Media reports say the Lokpal bill are introduced in parliament on twenty seven December. The house will dialogue 2 bills associated with protection of whistle blowers and creating judges additional accountable.

"The session is being extended to permit for a correct discussion because the opposition isn't agreeable to passing these bills in a very hurry while not finding out them," news channel NDTV quoted Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal as saying.
'Worthless'

Reports said the govt ministers were putting the finishing touches to the Lokpal bill on Tuesday.
Anna Hazare in Bangalore, seventeen Dec Anna Hazare has promised additional protests if the bill doesn't pass

Once introduced in parliament, the bill are mentioned in each homes. Mr Hazare has to this point appeared unimpressed with the govt bill, calling it "worthless and smart for nothing", and vowed to start out a brand new hunger strike from twenty seven December.

There are variations among political parties over who ought to come back beneath the ambit of the proposed anti-corruption ombudsman, notably over lower-level paperwork.

The government seems currently to own conceded that the prime minister ought to come back at intervals the ambit with some conditions, concerning matters of external affairs and national security.

The judiciary and conduct of MPs in parliament won't be included.

The main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a few alternative parties have additionally demanded that the investigative wing of the federal Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) be included.

The CBI can withstand cases assigned to it by the ombudsman.

India has recently been hit by a string of high-profile corruption scandals, badly damaging the government's name.

Among them are an alleged multi-billion dollar telecoms scam, claims of economic malpractice in reference to the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games and allegations that homes supposed for war widows ended up within the hands of civil servants.

A recent survey said corruption in India had price billions of bucks and threatened to derail growth.

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Government still in touch with us: Team Anna

NEW DELHI: a sense of despair was palpable among campaign managers Ana on Monday due to the rapid Gandhi entered its seventh day. Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Kiran Bedi, but relentless in its demand the presentation of the bill Jan Lokpal and approval, the government said no one had contacted.

Referring to talks with Umesh Chandra Sarangi, a senior bureaucrat in Maharashtra, and the spiritual leader Bhaiyyu Maharaj, core group leaders said the talks did not matter because these partners have no mandate from the government.

"Sarangi and Maharaj has no mandate from the Prime Minister. If the government is open to debate, as the prime minister has suggested, should be sent to someone who has a mandate," Sisodia said. He said nobody had approached them so far.

Other members also reiterated that there was no response from the government and even other political parties, at official level. "Many members of parliament (MP) and members of legislative assemblies (MLA) have been saying privately that they support us. It is said that his party is not willing, however. I would ask you to convince his party to go with the mandate from the people, or leave the game, "said Kejriwal. He introduced the Ramlila Maidan big meeting in one of those MLA - Mohammad Asif Khan of Rashtriya Janata Dal - which he had left the party because they supported his bill.

"Many say that the parties do not agree with certain conditions presented by us in January Lokpal Bill. They should come here and talk about the items to the public. If the public supports their point of view, we will remove the stitches," he added. Supporters of the crusade against corruption and gathering outside the homes of political leaders to protest and get support for Bill Lokpal Jan. Social activist Swami Agnivesh said the government had not taken the initiative to hold negotiations. "The government should appoint someone to hold talks with representatives of civil society. We do not know who to talk to and when. There is no offer of negotiations on one side of government."

Social activist Medha Patkar went on to suggest that Chavan Maharashtra CMPrithviraj be sent for negotiations. "There is a minister in the Congress Party is not corrupt Prithviraj Chavan -. If Congress is indeed serious about talks, it should send people like him," he said. Referring to Arundhati Roy's comment that the Ana movement is no different from the Maoist revolution, Patkar said that this is a peaceful protest.

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