Daily News - 27 Feb, 2020
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Clearly upset with the extensive confusion over tax and compliance rules, from GST to income taxes, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chided government officials for not communicating concerns of industry leaders and common people to her. Nirmala Sitharaman, at a post-Budget meeting in Guwahati, asked Finance Minister  Himanta Biswa Sarma and other officials to take up the regular inquiry of industrialists and common people on a daily basis. Sitharaman also held an interactive discussion with traders and industry officials where she spoke about giving greater access to credit to self help groups located in remote regions of the northeast. She also spoke MSMEs and said that MSMEs can approach public sector banks for restructuring before 31st December 2020. Bankers have been instructed to provide adequate ATMs in 17 districts of the state to cater to the tea garden areas as per mapping by State Govt., she said.

Rajasthan Royals will be playing two of their home games in Guwahati at Barsapara Stadium in the forthcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Guwahati will make its debut on the upcoming season of the T20 tournament after the IPL governing council granted permission to Rajasthan Royals to host the first two of their seven home games. The Barsapara Stadium will host Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders on April 5 and 9 respectively. Both the games will be played in the evening, starting at 8 p.m., as per a BCCI release and the council’s decision to maintain the 4 PM and 8 PM start times for the afternoon and evening games for the season.

Justice S Muralidhar has been transferred to the Punjab and Haryana High Court after he criticized Delhi police over the ongoing violence in the city. The bench headed by Muralidhar was hearing petitions related to Delhi violence.  The bench had expressed “anguish” over the police’s inaction to register FIRs against those making inflammatory speeches.

Congress delegation led by Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi & Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh met with Ram Nath Kovind, President of India, to present a memorandum on the Delhi violence. “Congress Working Committee believes that Home Minister and Central Government is responsible. Home Minister should tender his resignation with immediate effect,” she told media.  “The President said he will take cognisance of our demands, we feel fairly satisfied,” she said. Dr. Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister of India called Delhi violence a matter of “national shame.” According to latest media reports, Delhi death toll has touched 35. Hundreds have been injured in clashes in north east Delhi.

IAF’s C-17 Globemaster III has  brought back 76 Indians & 36 nationals from 7 countries – Bangladesh, Myanmar, Maldives, China, South Africa, USA and Madagascar, Dr. S. Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of India tweeted through his account. The plane had comprising the crew, medical team & support staff, carrying 15 tonnes of medical supplies departed from Air Force Station, Palam on February 26. In another successful operation, an Air India flight carrying 119 Indians & 5 nationals from Sri Lanka,Nepal, South Africa and Peru, who were quarantined on board luxury cruise ship Diamond Princess in Japan due to COVID-19 also landed in Delhi from Tokyo.

On Thursday Saudi Arabia abruptly stopped travel to the holiest sites in Islam over coronavirus fears, as the Middle East recorded more than 220 confirmed cases. Saudi Arabia halted travel just months before the annual Hajj pilgrimage. They also suspended travel to Prophet Muhammad’s mosque in Medina.The pronouncement specified the level of concern about the outbreak.