Bharat bandh, farmer protest, New Delhi, CAIT, PM Modi, traders, pollution, farmer, COVID-19

8 December 2020

• Bharat Bandh: Life remains normal as UP police detain leaders

  Leaders of farmers organisations, the Samajwadi Party and the Congress were either taken into custody or put under house arrest across Uttar Pradesh to prevent them from holding demonstrations during the Bharat Bandh on Tuesday.

  
  Former minister Arvind Singh Gope of the Samajwadi Party was put under house arrest in Barabanki.

• PM Modi addresses India Mobile Congress 2020

  Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered the inaugural address at the virtual India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2020 today through video conference. The theme for IMC 2020 is "Inclusive Innovation - Smart, Secure, Sustainable”. It aims to align with the Prime Minister’s vision to promote ‘AatmaNirbhar Bharat’, ‘Digital Inclusivity’, and ‘Sustainable development, entrepreneurship & innovation’. It also aims to drive foreign and local investments, encourage R&D in the telecom and emerging technology sectors.

  Addressing the event, the Prime Minister gave a call to work together to make India a global hub for telecom equipment, design, development and manufacturing. He cautioned, due to technological up-gradation, we have a culture of replacing handsets and gadgets frequently. 

• Situation in Delhi peaceful, all major markets open, says police

  The Delhi police on Tuesday said that the situation in Delhi is peaceful and normal life has not been affected by the Bharat Bandh. Senior police officers are patrolling the streets and a constant vigil is being kept at all major points in the capital.
  
  "All the markets are open in Delhi and normal movement of public is seen on the roads and traffic on all major roads is plying smoothly. The situation is peaceful in Delhi and under control" said Special CP Law and Order North, Satish Golcha.

• No effect of 'Bharat Bandh' on trade, says traders' body CAIT

  The general strike -- Bharat Bandh -- called by farmer organisations on Tuesday had no effect on trading activities across the country, said the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT). The farmers from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, who have been agitating over the bills, described them as "black laws" since November 26 at several borders of the national Capital, called for the 'Bharat Bandh' on Tuesday.

  Besides the bandh, there is also a call for no vehicular movement -- Chakka Jam -- across the nation from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  
  
  

• PM Modi congratulates Invest India

  The Prime Minister,  Narendra Modi has greeted  Invest India for winning the 2020 United Nations Investment Promotion Award given by UNCTAD.

  "Congratulations to Invest India for winning the 2020 United Nations Investment Promotion Award given by UNCTAD. This is a testimony to our government’s focus on making India the world’s preferred investment destination & improving ease of doing business", the Prime Minister said. 

• Delhi air quality turning 'severe' again

  Despite negligible stubble burning, there seems to be no respite from the pollution in the national capital as the air quality index inched closer to the "severe" category on Tuesday afternoon.
  

  The city's air quality index stood at 392 micrograms per cubic meter, which is in the "very poor" category. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), 18 out of 36 pollution monitoring station in Delhi showed severe air quality index reading.