Arif Mohammad Khan. PM Modi, farmer protest, COVID-19, farm law, Narendra Singh Tomar, National Farmers day

23 December 2020

• Farmer bodies urge not to amend new agriculture laws

  Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar said on Tuesday that a section of farmers have urged the government not to amend the new farm laws enacted by the Centre.
  
  Two separate delegations of farmers' representatives under the banners of Indian Farmers Union and Kisan Sangharsh Samiti met Tomar at Krishi Bhawan and extended their support to the government on new farm laws. Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Kailash Choudhary was also present during the meeting.
  
  
  

• Covid test centre opened at Bengaluru airport for fast results

  Amid fears of a new coronavirus strain, a 24x7 RT-PCR test facility has been opened at the Kempegowda international airport here to give result in 15 minutes, an official said on Tuesday.
  
  "The Covid-19 test facility has been set up jointly by the Bengaluru International Airport Ltd (BIAL) consortium and the city-based Auriga Research Ltd for express service to passengers and visitors," said the airport operator in a statement.

• Odisha govt invites suggestions for Budget 2021-22

  The Odisha government on Tuesday invited suggestions from different sections of society for preparation of the Budget 2021-22.
  
  The government sought suggestions from common people, civil society organisations, different advocacy groups and other stakeholders to participate in the Budget-making process. The facility will be available for one month from December 22 to January 21 next year, said an official. The Finance Department has been holding pre-Budget consultations with a cross-section of society.

• Kerala Governor says no to special one-day Kerala Assembly session

  Pinarayi Vijayan government, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Tuesday refused to give his nod to the holding of a special one-day session of the Kerala Legislative Assembly, a day after asking for an explanation for the need to convene the session.
  
  With this, the one-day session scheduled for Wednesday will not take place. This special session was called by the Vijayan government to pass a resolution against the contentious farm laws introduced by the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre.