farmer protest, PM Modi, Cyclone Nivar, Pongal, Nagarjuna Besha, Puri, Biotech, Odisha

27 November 2020

• Farmers allowed to enter Delhi, protest at Burari 

  After hours of confrontation and talks with the farmers the Delhi Police finally on Friday afternoon allowed the farmers to enter Delhi. They will be escorted to Nirankari ground in Burari for carrying on their protests against the Centre's Farm Laws. 

  "After discussion with farmer leaders, the protesting farmers have been permitted inside Delhi to hold a peaceful protest at Nirankari ground in Burari. Delhi Police appeals to them to maintain peace," said Eish Singhal PRO Delhi police. 

• Cyclone Nivar Updates: Nivar weakens into low-pressure area over south Andhra Pradesh

  The very severe cyclonic storm Nivar weakened into a well-marked, low-pressure area over south coastal Andhra Pradesh and adjoining the west-central Bay of Bengal by Friday morning. 

  "The associated cyclonic circulation now extends up to 4.5 km above the mean sea level," a Met official said, adding that it was very likely to move nearly northwards and weaken into the low-pressure area during the next 12 hours. 

  The Met department warned that the Bay of Bengal will be rough along and off the south AP coast during the next 12 hours. Fishermen have been warned against venturing into the sea. 

• Ganga Expressway in UP put on fast track 

  The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has decided to fast track the Ganga Expressway project that will extend from Meerut to Prayagraj. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will lay the foundation stone for the Rs 36,400 crore project in June next year and officials have been asked to speed up the land acquisition process for the same. 

  According to a government order issued by the industry department on Thursday evening, of the total Rs 36,400 crore, an estimated Rs 9,255 crore would be spent on land acquisition, while the construction would be carried out at an estimated cost of over Rs 22,100 crore. 

• PM Modi to visit Bharat Biotech facility in Hyderabad 

  Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting vaccine maker Bharat Biotech's facility here on Saturday as part of his three-city tour to take stock of the Covid-19 vaccine development work in the country. 

  Modi is scheduled to land at the Hakimpet Air Force Station around 4 p.m. and from there he will reach Bharat Biotech's facility at Genome Valley, where the work is underway on Covaxin, India's first indigenous vaccine for coronavirus being developed by the company in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research. 

• Tamil Nadu CM thanks SC for declaring holiday for 2021 Pongal 

  Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K.Palaniswami on Friday welcomed the Supreme Court's decision to declare January 14 and 15, 2021 as a holiday for itself owing to the Pongal festival. In a statement issued here, Palaniswami thanked the apex court for announcing holidays for Tamil's harvest festival. Pongal festival is celebrated to thank rain/sun Gods and farm animals on the first day of Tamil month Thai. 

  For Tamils, the Pongal festivities take place for over four days, the first-day being Bhogi when people burn their old clothes, mats and other items. Homes are painted afresh. 

•   Nagarjuna Besha ritual held at Jagannath temple after 26 yrs 

  After a gap of 26 years, the 'Nagarjuna Besha' ritual of Lord Jagannath and his siblings was held on Friday at the Jagannath temple in the absence of devotees due to Covid-19 pandemic. It was last observed way back in November 1994. 

  Only servitors and temple officials were present when the deities at Jagannath temple were dressed up as warriors in golden attire and adorned with 16 traditional weapons and armours.