India

The police on Sunday clarified that the contentious banner was removed by villagers mid-march after the picture claiming communal tensions went viral on social media.

The Karnataka local police took about 50 coronavirus lockdown violators and made them go through yoga sessions, physical workouts and oath-taking ceremonies in a bid to discourage movement amid the outbreak.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh workers in Rajasthan said they have provided essential services including masks, food kits to over 1.5 lakh families in the state since March 15 amid the lockdown.

Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has directed that no bureaucratic hassles should be allowed to come in the way of any urgent purchases that may be needed in this critical hour.

The state also reported two deaths from Villupuram and Theni districts, taking the total toll to three in the state. The health secretary said researchers have been roped in to study how the disease is playing itself out.

The man, working in the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) of Jangoan, participated in the religious congregation in Delhi on March 15.

All issues related to the ongoing lockdown are being monitored by a 24x7 control room of the Ministry of Home Affairs here, a ministry official said.

In a series of tweets, the Prime Minister's Office said Modi reviewed the countrywide preparedness regarding availability of hospitals, proper isolation and quarantine facilities as well as disease surveillance, testing and critical care training.

London University professor Francis Robinson said the coronavirus outbreak has led to a halt in the Jamaat’s traditional way of functioning and there are elements in India who will seize any excuse to attack Muslims.

There have been concerns that the blackout may impact the electricity grid due sudden drop in peak power demand, which was already down 25 per cent at 125.81 GW on April 2 compared to a year ago.

Sudden drop or increase in electricity demand or supply could result in disturbance in the grid frequency, Maharashtra energy minister Nitin Raut said.

Police on Saturday said they will be arresting second-time prohibitory order violators and copies of their FIRs will be delivered at their homes in a bid to discourage movement and curb the spread of coronavirus.

The two also agreed to maintain a focused channel of communication to explore such synergies during their telephonic conversation, a statement from the Prime Minister's Office in New Delhi said.

IMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday said the "country is not an event management company", drawing flak from Telangana.

Of the 384 cases, 58 had recent foreign travel history and 38 contracted the virus after coming in contact with them, he added.

In a video message, Modi urged people to stay indoors and switch off lights of their homes at 9 PM on Sunday for nine minutes and light up lamps, candles, mobile flashlights to display the nation's collective spirit to defeat coronavirus.