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Modi government has been battling coronavirus with proactive steps: Here are the key developments since January

OpIndia Staff
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Modi government has been battling coronavirus with proactive steps: Here are the key developments since January

As the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic has gripped almost the entire world, many countries have taken extreme measures to arrest the spread. The Indian government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had taken pro-active steps to counter the Chinese pandemic.

From screening every passenger entering the country, setting up quarantine facilities to enforcing a nation-wide lockdown, the government has been working on a war-footing. A series of decisions taken by the Modi government has limited the impact of the pandemic in the country.

In a series of tweets, Akhilesh Mishra, CEO of BlueKraft Digital Foundation, explained the detailed break up of Modi government’s pro-active steps to fight the health crisis and presented the details on how the centre swung into action soon after China notified about the Coronavirus infection on January 7.

Here is a timeline of the decisions taken by the government of India to handle the Chinese epidemic COVID-19:

January 7, 2020: China notified the world about COVID-19. The WHO officials announced they had identified a new virus. The novel virus was named 2019-nCoV, identified as belonging to the coronavirus family.

January 8, 2020: The Health Ministry under the Indian government did its first mission meeting to discuss the necessary actions to be taken.

January 17, 2020: The Indian government decided to take pre-emptive steps to limit the pandemic. The Modi government started screening of all passengers arriving from China.

January 25, 2020: Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Modi chaired a high-level review meeting on the instructions of PM. Dedicated teams from central government begin inspection of all airports. Nearly 20,000 incoming travellers from 115 flights at seven airports were screened for the transmission. All state hospitals were put on alert and kept in the loop.

January 27, 2020: The central government had held a cabinet meeting to review preparedness to counter the Chinese pandemic. Health Ministry held a review meeting with all the Principal Secretaries of the state to review the preparedness.

The government of India asked all the airlines to report illness of any passengers on all flights directly or indirectly connected with China.

January 29, 2020: The government of India banned the export of N95 masks and Personal protective equipment (PPE).

January 30, 2020: The first case was confirmed in Kerala’s Thrissur district in a student who had returned home for a vacation from Wuhan University in China. WHO declares Chinese COVID-19 as a health pandemic. Six labs were identified for testing.

January 31, 2020: Quarantine facilities are set up by the Indian government at Manesar and Chawla camp for the people who return from China. Another facility with 50-bed critical care centres was set up at Safdarjung hospital, New Delhi. By the end of January, quarantine facilities were set up and testing labs were identified. 

February 1, 2020: Modi government began evacuation of Indian citizens stuck in China. India evacuates 324 passengers from Wuhan, China using Air India flights.

February 2, 2020: India evacuated remaining 330 Indians and 7 Maldives nationals from Wuhan, China.

February 3, 2020: PM Modi constituted an Empowered Group of Ministers (E-GoM) headed by Health Minister to tackle emerging situations.

The Government of India put up advisory against travel to China and suspends all types of e-Visas given to Chinese passport holders. By the end of February, travel advisories were extended to other places like Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, etc.

February 7, 2020: Health Minister gave a statement in the Parliament: A total of 1,39,539 people returning from 1275 flights were already screened. 150 passengers who were suspected to have carried the symptoms were sent to quarantine facilities. Integrated Disease surveillance network tracking was done for almost 7,000 people. 305 symptomatic travellers referred to isolation centres and being monitored.

February 13, 2020: Health Minister Dr Harshavardhan addressed media on the status, actions that have been taken and the preparedness of all the states, ministries concerned.

February 22, 2020: Modi government issues travel advisory to people visiting Singapore.

February 24, 2020: Vietnam, Nepal, Indonesia, Malaysia added to the screening list

February 26, 2020: Another travel advisory issued by the central government to avoid travel to South Korea, Iran and Italy.

Air India evacuated another batch of 76 Indians and 36 foreigners from Wuhan, China.

March 3, 2020: India’s began its actions to tackle COVID-19. The Modi government introduces universal screening for all incoming passengers at all airports. There were just six reported cases of COVID-19 infections in India by March 3.

Prime Minister in a high-level meeting reviewed the country’s preparedness and interacts with various ministries and state governments.

March 4, 2020: Prime Modi Narendra Modi sends a direct message as he announced that he will not participate in any ‘Holi Milan’ programme as experts have advised reducing mass gatherings to avoid the spread of coronavirus.

March 7, 2020: PM Modi held another review meeting to stake stock of the situation. The government of India issues new quarantine guidelines to all the passengers who had returned to India, asks to self-monitor themselves and follow the recommended DOs and DONTs.

New visa restrictions imposed on visas granted to France, Germany and Italy. Regular visas granted to all foreign nationals who had travelled to these countries also suspended.

March 10, 2020: Indian Air Force evacuated 58 Indian pilgrims from Iran.

March 11, 2010: The Indian government suspended all visas to India except diplomatic visas till 15 April 2020. India also suspended visa-free travel facility for OCI card holder’s till 15 April 2020 and all the Indian nationals coming from COVID-19 hit nations after 15 February needed to be quarantined for 14 days.

Another 44 passengers were evacuated from Iran on 11 March. 83 people were evacuated from Italy by Air India.

March 12, 2020: Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted on urgency and importance of the situation. PM Modi asked the nation to not panic over the coronavirus outbreak. In a social media post, PM Modi urged the nation to ‘say no to panic, say yes to precautions’.

The Prime Minister assures that the government was “fully vigilant about the situation due to COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. Across ministries & states, multiple steps have been proactively taken to ensure the safety of all. These steps are wide-ranging, from the suspension of Visas to augmenting healthcare capacities.”

March 14, 2020: With positive cases still below 100, 52 labs were set up to test the symptomatic patients.

March 15, 2020: Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the leaders of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) member nations connected with each other via video-conference to formulate a strategy to tackle the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in the region. The idea to hold the discussion via video-conference was proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who called on his SAARC contemporaries in this regard on March 14.

Prime Minister Modi, in collaboration with the SAARC, announces to set up COVID-19 Emergency Fund based on voluntary contributions from member countries. India announced US$10 million as its initial contribution to support the initiative.

March 18, 2020: At below 175 cases, India decides to quarantine all passengers travelling from or transitting through four GCC countries -Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, Oman. The government also bans travelling to European Union (EU), EUFTA, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

March 19, 2020: With still less than 200 cases, Indian reacts to the global pandemic in a war mode. Prime Minister Modi addresses the nation in the wake of Wuhan coronavirus epidemic. Prime Minister Modi urged citizens to follow resolve and restraint. He also called for a ‘Janta Curfew’ (public curfew) on March 22.

The government decided to set up a COVID-19 Economic Response Task Force to monitor the economic impact that is being caused due to global pandemic.

All incoming international flights to India stopped after 22nd March. Export of ventilators prohibited.

March 20, 2020: Prime Minister Modi interacted with all the Chief Ministers of all the states, requests for augmenting facilities and greater support to vulnerable sections of the society.

March 21, 2020: The centre puts 75 districts on lock-down. PM Modi interacts with the Pharma industry and urges the industry to work on manufacturing RNA testing kits for COVID-19 on a war footing.

March 22, 2020: Janata Curfew to be followed across the country. The Indian Railways stop all its services across the country, except goods movement from March 22. Metro, inter-state transportation suspended.

India increases its testing capacity now to perform 50,000 tests/week.

March 23, 2020: The centre asks state governments to enforce strict guidelines on lockdown in 75 districts. The government suspends all domestic airlines operation from March 24.

Prime Minister Modi interacts with industry leaders, India Inc and urges to use their CSR funds for humanitarian causes during the Chinese epidemic.

March 24, 2020: PM Modi addressed the nation and announces a nationwide lockdown for 21 days till April 14 to fight the spread of Chinese Coronavirus.

March 26, 2020: The Narendra Modi government announced a massive economic package. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveils a Rs 1.75 lakh-crore welfare stimulus package to the country. Her announcement came as 21-day nationwide lockdown began on Wednesday to curb the spread of highly contagious illness.

March 27, 2020: The Reserve Bank of India came up with a massive relief package. Imposed a moratorium on loan repayments. Eased norms on policy rates, capital loans. Measures were taken to inject liquidity to the tune of Rs 3.74 lakh crore to the economic system.

Whataboutery in the time of virus: This is how Rohini Singh of The Wire has impressed everyone on Twitter

OpIndia Staff
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Whataboutery in the time of virus: This is how Rohini Singh of The Wire has impressed everyone on Twitter

The Internet does not forget. Soon after the coronavirus outbreak, the corporate-hating leftist world of the self-proclaimed ‘liberals’ started questioning the rich and demanded they contribute monetarily and materially to combat the pandemic. It was almost as if the rich Indians, and not China were personally responsible for the Wuhan Coronavirus.

Amidst all this, The Wire’s Rohini Singh has earned herself a fanbase after her whataboutery peaked during the lockdown period.

After every billionaire announced donation, Singh questioned other billionaires about their contribution. The whataboutery continued as those questioned by Singh later announced their contributions. It was almost as if the billionaires were waiting to be questioned by Rohini Singh of The Wire before announcing their donations.

It all started with Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra offering various facilities to the government. Singh immediately questioned the other billionaires.

Soon, as if on cue, Vedanta Group’s Anil Agarwal also pledged Rs 100 crore. Rohini ‘what about’ Singh immediately appreciated him too while questioning the others.

Next day, Mukesh Ambani announced how Reliance was enhancing capacity to produce 1,00,000 face masks per day. Ambani’s move was also welcomed by Singh. But, she’s not yet satisfied.

When Reliance Group offered a dedicated hospital for COVID-19 in Mumbai, Singh pointedly questioned the Ruias, Birlas ‘and gang’ on what are they doing.

Seeing the pattern, in what one could think is a preemptive strike, the Tata Group came forward with the donation even before Singh could question them.

And when Adani Foundation pledged Rs 100 crore to PMCares fund, The Wire’s Rohini Singh promptly appreciated him while continuing to question the Ruias and Jindals.

Jindal’s JSW Group has committed Rs 100 crore to fight the coronavirus, but Rohini is not not impressed with the rich announcing that they are committed certain amount to fight against coronavirus.

Looks like with Rohini, you just can’t win.

However, Singh’s lockdown shenanigans have been a source of amusement for netizens who are mighty impressed. Her ‘what about’ is now a meme.

So much that people have even started predicting what Rohini’s next move would be.

OpIndia team is waiting with bated breath for the Ruias and Birlas to donate so Singh could move on and question other billionaires.

Union Home Ministry takes disciplinary action against 4 Delhi government bureaucrats for ‘dereliction of duty’ in ensuring Coronavirus lockdown

OpIndia Staff
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Union Home Ministry takes disciplinary action against 4 Delhi government bureaucrats for ‘dereliction of duty’ in ensuring Coronavirus lockdown

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has initiated action against four bureaucrats in Delhi for failing to ensure COVID-19 lockdown. Two officers, including Additional Chief Secretary (Transport) and Principal Secretary (Finance), had been suspended with immediate effect. Show-cause notices were also served to the Additional Chief Secretary (Home and Land Buildings) and SDM (Seelampur).

The MHA was quoted as saying, “It has been brought to the notice of the competent authority that the following officers, who were responsible to ensure strict compliance to the instructions issued by Chairperson, National Executive Committee, formed under Disaster Management Act 2005 regarding containment of the spread of COVID-19, have prima facie failed to do so. These officers have failed to ensure public health and safety during the lockdown restrictions to combat COVID-19.”

The punitive action came after a massive crowd of migrant workers flocked to Anand Vihar and “jeopardized the safety of crores of other citizens.”

MHA initiates action against 4 officers for failing to ensure Lockdown
Suspension order against Additional Chief Secretary (Transport Department)

To do away with the migrant workers in the national capital amidst the pandemic, the AAP government earlier allegedly spread the rumour that buses have been waiting at the UP borders to take them to their respective households. This impelled the mass exodus of these migrant labourers, now camping at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border, in an attempt to return to their respective villages.

On Sunday, the Central Government directed the governments of all States and Union Territory administrations to seal their borders in order to restrict the movement of migrant workers during the nationwide lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the wake of Wuhan Coronavirus outbreak.

The States have also been directed to restrict the movement of people across cities and on highways. Only the movement of goods and essential supplies are to be permitted. Migrant workers who have violated lockdown guidelines and travelled to other states are to be kept under quarantine for 14 days in government facilities.

Lucknow lockdown: Crowd gathers to shout communal slogans from rooftops near Dargah, FIR against 18

OpIndia Staff
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Lucknow lockdown: Crowd gathers to shout communal slogans from rooftops near Dargah, FIR against 18

In Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, a Dargah and its nearby buildings in Saadatganj were reportedly being used for provocative sloganeering. As per a report in Live Hindustan, people from a particular community had been gathering in the rooftops near a Dargah and were raising provocative slogans against another community.

The report stated that Saadatganj police has registered an FIR against 1 named and 17 unnamed people for defying lockdown orders and trying to stir up communal tension in the area.

As per the report, ADCP West Vikas Tripathy has stated that such sloganeering could have stirred up communal tension in the area. Inspector in the Saadatganj police station has stated that for the last few days, a particular community used to gather in the rooftops and lanes near the Dargah Hazrat Abbas area and were raising communal slogans. Eventually, this led to sloganeering from another community in the area too.

Apart from the potential communal tension, such mass-sloganeering was also drawing crowds from the adjacent localities creating a potentially dangerous situation in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Police have stated that for the last three days, they have been patrolling in the area and have been appealing to people not to engage in such mass-sloganeering. However, the members of the community were not paying heed to the police’s appeals and were continuing their activities.

Seeing the seriousness of the situation, of a potential communally charged situation amidst the virus outbreak in the city, the police have taken strong steps and have filed an FIR against one Raza Abbas of the Dargah Hazrat Abbas and 17 other persons.

police officials have stated that strict measures will be taken against those who will try to disrupt peace and defy lockdown orders.

After ‘healing’ Coronavirus through television, Christian scamvangelist ‘demands’ God to ‘destroy’ it, declares pandemic ‘finished’. Watch video

OpIndia Staff
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After ‘healing’ Coronavirus through television, Christian scamvangelist ‘demands’ God to ‘destroy’ it, declares pandemic ‘finished’. Watch video

American ‘scamvangelist’ Kenneth Copeland has declared that the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic has been ‘finished’ by God.

Addressing a crowd, Copeland, in the name of Jesus “executes a judgement” on COVID-19. “I execute judgement on you Satan, you destroyer, you killer, you get out. You get off this nation. I demand judgement on you,” Copeland demands.

He further demands a vaccination ‘immediately’. “I call you dark. I call you doggone. You come down and crawl on your belly like God commanded you when he put his foot on your head in the Garden of Eden. IT. IS. FINISHED. IT. IS. OVER. And the United State of America is healed and well again,” Copeland says.

Copeland’s associate on stage claims that the spirit life of COVID-19 has dried out. “It is dead, it is done. It has ceased to exist” he says while Copeland agrees. “It is beginning to shrivel. It is beginning to draw up and shrivel,” Copeland’s associate says. At this, Copeland looks at his watch and announces that exactly at 12 noon on 29th March COVID-19 is destroyed.

“Praise the Lord, Praise God, thank you Jesus,” they shout in unison at having ‘destroyed’ coronavirus.

As per Worldometer, the US has reported 131 new cases between 29th to 30th March 2020.

This is not the first time Copeland has made bizarre claims. Earlier this month, he had claimed to have ‘cured’ coronavirus through television. Copeland was seen asking his viewers to touch the television screen in order to receive the divine treatment.

US-based media reports suggest that Copeland is a scamster who is into ‘magical healing’. He has been accused of lying of sending funds to Haiti after the 2006 earthquake and as anti-vaccine. He has also been spreading misinformation about coronavirus.

Shekhar Gupta’s ThePrint claims govt may extend lockdown, Prasar Bharati terms it fake news

OpIndia Staff
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Shekhar Gupta’s ThePrint claims govt may extend lockdown, Prasar Bharati terms it fake news

On Monday morning, Shekhar Gupta’s ThePrint published an article claiming that an unnamed government official has said that the 3 week lockdown announced from 24th March 2020 may be extended by a week. In fact, ThePrint claims that three unnamed government officials claimed that the migrants leaving their place of work and moving back homes en masse ‘is leading to a rethink regarding the duration’.

However, Prasar Bharati, India’s public broadcaster refuted the claims and clarified that the government has no such plans in motion as of now.

Prasar Bharati said that they got in touch with the cabinet secretary who expressed surprise at such claims. According to Prasar Bharati, there is no such plan of extending the lockdown.

Read: Shekhar Gupta’s The Print publishes article denigrating India’s efforts to curb Coronavirus pandemic: Here’s why it’s completely off the mark

On March 24, Prime Minister Modi addressed the nation and announced a 21-day lockdown to contain the spread of Chinese coronavirus. Prime Minister Modi assured citizens that the government will ensure that emergency services and ration will be stocked up and that the people will not face problems. He appealed to everyone to stay at home and avoid stepping out of the house unnecessarily.

‘Send four samosas please,’ prank caller asks Rampur DM amidst coronavirus outbreak. Here is how he was treated

OpIndia Staff
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‘Send four samosas please,’ prank caller asks Rampur DM amidst coronavirus outbreak. Here is how he was treated

The central and state governments are working hard to ensure that no one is deprived of basic essentials amidst the lockdown owing to Chinese coronavirus. The authorities have set up helpline numbers where those in need could reach out in time of emergency. And while these numbers are to be used only in times of emergencies, some thought of having a bit of fun. You see, an idle mind is devil’s workshop.

A prank caller called up Rampur District Magistrate’s helpline number and requested for four samosas. And while foodies may agree that samosa craving is indeed an emergency, the administration wasn’t too pleased. You see, they are working overtime to ensure the poorest are not left hungry and helpless.

Read: Covidiots: Jalgaon man makes video riding a bike around town during the coronavirus lockdown, gets arrested

Rampur DEO took to Twitter to inform how the administration dealt with the prank call amidst coronavirus emergency.

While the youth was let off with a warning for calling up the control room for non-emergency request, he was asked to clean a drain as part of social service.

King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand goes into isolation with his harem of 20 concubines in Germany, books an entire luxury hotel

OpIndia Staff
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King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand goes into isolation with his harem of 20 concubines in Germany, books an entire luxury hotel

King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand, whose official title is Rama X, has gone into self-isolation in Germany with his harem of 20 concubines, technically making it a not so self-isolation. The 67-year-old King has booked out the entire Grand Hotel Sonnenbichl in Bavaria, with permission from the local council, in order to isolate himself. It’s not clear if King Vajiralongkorn’s wife is with him. Earlier, a royal entourage of 119 members had been sent back to Thailand amid fears that they had contracted the Wuhan Coronavirus.

Guesthouses and hotels had earlier been closed in Germany due to the pandemic but local authorities said that an exception had been made in the case of the Grand Hotel Sonnenbichl because “the guests are a single, homogenous group of people with no fluctuation”. However, the King’s actions have not gone down well with the people of Thailand. Some of them risked breaking the country’s lèse-majesté laws by criticizing him online. As per the law, anyone criticizing the King can be jailed for a period of up to 15 years.

As per reports, a hashtag translating to ‘Why do we need a king’ was trending on Twitter after the news broke out. Activist Somsak Jeamteerasakul, a vocal critic of Thailand’s monarchy, said, “[Vajiralongkorn will] let the Thai people worry about the virus. Even Germany is worried about the virus [but] it’s none of his business.”

King Maha Vajiralongkorn had ascended the throne of Thailand in May 2019, following the death of his father King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Although his father had died in 2016, his coronation was delayed as he had asked for time to mourn before taking the throne. Later the Thai government retroactively declared his reign to have begun on 13 October 2016, the date of his father’s death.

King Maha Vajiralongkorn married his long-time consort in 2019, making her his fourth wife. He has divorced his first three wives. Last year the King had created a sensation by striping his consort of all royal titles accusing her of ‘disloyalty’, who was given the title just a few months ago after he had married his earlier consort.

The Grand Hotel Sonnenbichl in Garmisch-Partenkirchen is located at the foothills of the Alps. The luxury hotel, just minutes from the centre of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, boasts of a history of over a hundred years.

Pakistan heaps praise on China amid Coronavirus pandemic, Imran Khan’s advisor says stranded students in Wuhan grateful to Pakistan for not evacuating them

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan heaps praise on China amid Coronavirus pandemic, Imran Khan’s advisor says stranded students in Wuhan grateful to Pakistan for not evacuating them

Pakistan’s bonhomie with China continues in the wake of the Wuhan Coronavirus pandemic. Special Assistant to Prime Minister Imran Khan on Health Dr Zafar Mirza on Sunday said that the Pakistani students who were left to their own in China by their government are now thanking the Pakistani authorities for not evacuating them. Briefing a team of doctors from China at the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad, Zafar said that it was a tough decision for them but they just followed instructions from the Chinese.

“Today, now that the disease is spreading in Pakistan, the same students are thanking the government for not evacuating them and requesting us to take care of their families in the same way they were looked after by the Chinese government,” Zafar said. He said that when Pakistani President Arif Alvi Umar and their Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi visited China recently, they spoke to the students in Wuhan, the epicenter of the pandemic, through Skype.

“They [students] thanked the president and said that the decision [to not bring them back] was the right thing to do, even though their families were pressuring the government to do so,” Zafar added. He also said, “The world has a lot to learn from China regarding the prevention and control of communicable diseases.”

The Government of Pakistan has proven itself to be thoroughly inept in curbing the pandemic. Even as the virus spread like wildfire, the authorities in the country were busy appeasing Islamic clerics in the country and assuring them that Mosques will not be shut down in the wake of the pandemic. Furthermore, an event organized by the Tableeghi Jamaat near Lahore has ensured that the virus has spread far and wide within the country and even to foreign lands. Indeed, it has become a breeding ground for the crisis.

Pakistan’s profuse praises for the Chinese government is not surprising in the wake of the pandemic is not surprising given their recent antics. The relationship between the two countries has strengthened manifolds as China has been providing economic assistance to the country as part of their efforts towards becoming a global hegemony. Over time, Imran Khan has turned a blind eye to the persecution of Uighur Muslims in China even as he rants and rails for the Ummah for the supposed ‘plight of Muslims’ in India.

UP Govt takes over Jaypee Sports City to house migrants returning from Delhi in quarantine

OpIndia Staff
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UP Govt takes over Jaypee Sports City to house migrants returning from Delhi in quarantine

Uttar Pradesh government has decided to take over the JPSI (Jaypee Sports International Ltd) Sports City in Noida on Yamna Expressway in order to house the migrants fleeing to the state from nearby Delhi. The migrants will be provided with food and shelter in the township. An order for the same has been issued by the District Magistrate of Gautam Buddh Nagar district, asking officials to take over the buildings and other resources in the township.

Source: Shiv Aroor/Twitter

The JPSI sports city was an ambitious sports complex of the Jaypee group that included India’s only Formula-1 track. The project also planned to include a cricket stadium, a hockey area, a sports training academy and infrastructure for other sports. But due to financial troubles, the project could not be concluded, although it had hosted two Formula 1 races in 2011 and 2012.

In December last year, Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) decided to take back 1,000 hectares of land it had leased out to beleaguered Jaypee Group. The YEIDA had taken this decision after the group defaulted on payments for the lease. Moreover, the group also could not complete the residential units, resulting in the money of hundreds of homebuyers who had booked houses in the project stuck.

While the project was planned with 16 real estate projects, 5 of them were completed, and the rest 11 were incomplete. The authority had said that it would take possession of the land and complete the residential units so that they can be handed over to owners.

Later, The National Company Law Tribunal had approved the proposal of state-owned construction firm NBCC (India) Ltd to acquire the debt-ridden township developer Jaypee Infratech Ltd, a subsidiary of Jaypee group. YEIDA has already started the process of auctioning the property to recover its dues. While Jaypee group has filed a petition in Allahabad High Court asking to retain the project, and the case is at the High Court now.

Over the past few days, hundreds and thousands of migrants had gathered at Delhi-UP border in order to travel to their villages and towns in Uttar Pradesh. They were egged on by the Delhi Government and authorities in Delhi who cut off their water and electricity supply. Rumours were also spread that buses were waiting for them at the UP Border ready to drop individuals to their locations.

In a video shared by BJP leader Kapil Mishra, one can hear announcements being made in colonies informing migrants from UP and Bihar that Delhi government-run DTC buses will take them to the Anand Vihar bus terminal. One can hear the person making the announcement saying that from Anand Vihar ISBT, they will be able to get the buses to take them further to UP and Bihar. This, when most of the state governments had already sealed their borders and banned commercial vehicles to ply.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath was reportedly awake late into the night overlooking arrangements for the stranded migrants. The Uttar Pradesh government had later said that these migrant workers will be ferried home to their respective villages free of cost but will be screened for the novel coronavirus first.

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