Farm law, Farmer protest, PM Modi, Maneka Gandhi, cold waves, New Delhi, Rahul Gandhi, internet 2020, Madhya Pradesh

6 January 2021

• Moderate rain, hailstorm hits parts of Delhi

  The national capital on Wednesday witnessed hail precipitation at several places with light to moderate rainfall in several other parts of the city, the weather officials said.
  
  Delhi on Wednesday witnessed a minimum temperature of 13 degree Celsius, six degrees above the season's average. An India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said that in the last 24 hours Safdarjung observatory recorded 6 mm rainfall.

• Conversation between Maneka Gandhi, businessman goes viral over treatment of animals

  A 4.54 minute audio clip has surfaced on social media sites where BJP Sultanpur MP and former Union minster Maneka Gandhi allegedly threatens Bengaluru businessman, Ramalingam to book him in a sexual harassment case after a news of Ramlingam hitting stray dog with a cricket bat reaches to her.
  
  According to the police, Ramlingam reportedly hit the dog after it bit his daughter two days ago. "This was opposed by his neighbour, Nitin and his friend Malati. This episode led to full blown arguments between residents of Crescent Road Malati. She filed complaint against Ramlingama and Ramlingam too filed case against her. We registered both complaints," a police officer said.

• India suffered longest internet shutdowns in 2020 globally

  India suffered the longest internet shutdowns in 2020 for the second year running globally, bearing the biggest economic impact of $2.8 billion and 8,927 hours lost, affecting 10.3 million users in total, a new report from the UK-based privacy and security research firm Top10VPN has revealed.
  
  As in previous years, India continued to restrict internet access more than any other country -- over 75 times in 2020.
  
  
  

• Farmers leaders in a huddle, discuss future strategy

  The farmers agitation on the borders of the national capital continued for the 41st day on Tuesday. After the ministerial level talks between the farmers leaders and the Central government on Monday failed to reach a consensus, the future strategy of the farmers would be decided at a meeting of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha which is currently underway here.
  
  Harinder Singh Lakhowal, Punjab farmer leader and General Secretary of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), told that the Central government was deliberately trying to stretch the talks with the farmers leaders. After the seventh round of talks remained inconclusive on Monday, the next round of talks has been fixed for January 8.

• Repeal farm laws: Rahul Gandhi

  Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has attacked the government a day after the seventh round of talks with the farmer unions did not achieve any breakthrough.
  
  The eighth round of talks is scheduled for January 8. Rahul Gandhi in a tweet said, "Modi govt's apathy and arrogance have claimed lives of over 60 farmers. Instead of wiping their tears, Government of India is busy attacking them with tear gas. Such brutality, just to promote crony capitalists' business interests. Repeal the anti-farm laws."

• Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh rewarded for completing three out of four reforms

  Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh have become the first group of States to complete three out of the four citizen centric reforms stipulated by the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance. The two States have completed the One Nation, One Ration Card Reforms, Ease of Doing Business Reforms, and Urban Local Bodies Reforms.

  Consequent upon completion of reforms in the three sectors, the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance has decided to provide additional financial assistance amounting to Rs.1004 crore to these States under the newly launched Scheme of “Special Assistance to States for Capital Expenditure”.