LIVE: India will soon emerge as agriculture export hub, says PM Modi

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that India has shown remarkable resilience during the coronavirus pandemic, be it fighting the virus or ensuring economic stability.

Speaking at virtual Global Investor Roundtable, PM Modi said that through this year, as India bravely fought the global pandemic, the world saw India's national character. The world also saw India's true strengths. It has successfully brought out traits that Indians are known for: A sense of responsibility, a spirit of compassion, national unity, the spark of innovation. India has shown remarkable resilience in this pandemic, be it fighting the virus or ensuring economic stability."

The Supreme Court has deferred to November 18 the hearing on a batch of pleas relating to charging of interest on interest by banks on EMIs which were not paid by the borrowers who availed of the RBI loan moratorium scheme in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Maharashtra government has permitted theatres including single-screen, multiplex and drama halls to reopen from today, adding that they could function outside containment zones only.

In another news, Various farmers' outfits protested against the new farm laws of the Centre have announced a nationwide road blockade today.

Stay tuned for the latest news of the day.

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7:54 PM

Punjab govt assured us all blockades will be removed by Friday morning: Rail Board chairman

The Punjab government has assured the railways that all blockades on rail premises by protesters will be cleared by Friday morning, Railway Board Chairman V K Yadav said on Thursday. Of the 31 blockades, 14 have already been removed by Thursday evening, he said.

 

Yadav also said a joint team of state officials as well as the RPF has been formed to conduct ground surveys in order to ascertain if it was safe to run trains.

 

"We have been assured by the Punjab government that all blockades will be removed by Friday morning. Fourteen of 31 blockades have been removed on Thursday. Our maintenance teams are ready, as soon as tracks are under rail control, we will run trains," he said.

 

Train services in Punjab have been suspended since September 24 due farmers' protests over the three farm bills passed in Parliament. While it had resumed for a few days in October, it was suspended again due to concerns over safety and security of train crew members.

7:40 PM

India will soon emerge as agriculture export hub: PM Narendra Modi

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7:15 PM

UGC notifies guidelines for reopening of universities, colleges

The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Thursday notified guidelines for reopening of universities and colleges across the country which have been closed since March in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. For central universities and other centrally funded higher education institutions, the decision for reopening of campuses has been left to the Vice Chancellors and heads. However, for state universities and colleges, the respective state governments will have to take a call, the guidelines said.

 

"For centrally funded higher education institutions, the head should satisfy herself or himself regarding the feasibility of opening of physical classes and decide accordingly," the guidelines said. "For all other institutions including state universities, private universities, and colleges, opening of physical classes to be done as per the decision of the respective state governments," they said.

 

The universities and colleges have been asked to plan the opening of campuses in a phased manner, with such activities that adhere to COVID-19 norms including social distancing, use of face masks and other protective measures.

 

"The universities and colleges shall only be allowed to open if they are outside the containment zones. Further, students and staff living in containment zones will not be allowed to attend the colleges," the guidelines said.

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6:44 PM

Farmers in Punjab, Haryana protest farm laws

Several farmer organisations in Punjab and Haryana on Thursday joined a nationwide protest against the farm laws by blocking national highways and crucial road networks, severely affecting the movement of traffic for four hours from 12 noon. However, there was no report of any violence in both the agrarian states.

 

Angry over three agriculture-related laws passed by the Central government in September, hundreds of farmers blocked the major highways to demand that the laws should be revoked.

 

The protesters also warned to take their protest to Delhi. Heavy police presence was seen at various places in Punjab and Haryana to maintain law and order in view of the protest by farmers. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday led a protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar to get "justice for the poor farmers". He said he was not in Delhi to confront the Centre but to fight for the farmers rights, whose livelihood was at stake due to the new Central farm laws.

6:05 PM

Arnab Goswami challenges arrest, HC to hear interim bail plea tomorrow

The Bombay High Court will on Friday hear an application filed by Republic TV Editor-in- Chief Arnab Goswami seeking interim bail in the 2018 abetment of suicide case in which he has been arrested. Goswami was arrested on Wednesday from his residence at Lower Parel in Mumbai for allegedly abetting the suicide of architect and interior designer Anvay Naik, and was taken to the Alibaug police station in neighbouring Raigad district.

 

He was produced before a magistrate's court which remanded him in judicial custody till November 18.

 

Goswami then moved the HC against the "illegal arrest", sought a stay to the investigation and a direction to the police to release him. He has also sought that the FIR against him be quashed. A division bench of Justices S S Shinde and M S Karnik on Thursday directed Goswami to make the complainant in the case, Akshata Naik, Anvay's wife, a respondent to his plea.

 

"We have to hear all the parties concerned before considering the interim relief sought. We have to also hear the complainant as the family of the deceased has filed a petition here seeking transfer of the probe," the bench said.