Bird Flu, PM Modi, farmer protest, heavy snow, J&K, farm law, AAP, Punjab CM, Dhyan Chand

11 January 2021

• Farmers vandalise Khattar's 'Kisan Mahapanchayat' venue in Karnal

  Hundreds of protesting farmers indulged in vandalism and violence at a 'Kisan Mahapanchayat' event near here on Sunday, just ahead of the arrival of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, forcing authorities to cancel the event.
  
  As the farmers barged into the event venue, they broke through the barricades put up in front of the stage for security, smashed flower pots, tables and chairs put up on stage and nearby area. They also tore the banners and pulled out stringed flowers used to decorate the stage at the venue.

• Bird flu 2021: Centre asks states, UTs to increase surveillance

  The Centre has directed states and union territories across the country to increase surveillance around water bodies, live bird markets, zoos, and poultry farms as well as strengthen biosecurity at poultry farms amid the bird flu scare.
  
  The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying said in a statement on Sunday that the states and UTs have been asked to increase public awareness and prevent the spread of misinformation on the avian influenza or bird flu.

• Punjab CM slams AAP for defrauding farmers

  Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Sunday accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of once again backstabbing and defrauding the agitating Punjab farmers by making hollow claims of providing legal assistance to them to fight cases against actress Kangana Ranaut and certain other BJP leaders, including Union minister Raosaheb Danve.
  
  Reacting to media reports that four of the five petitioners in such cases were active AAP workers, the Chief Minister said it's high time that Arvind Kejriwal and his cronies stop playing their sneaky games for scoring brownie political points.

• K'taka farmers sell paddy to Reliance Retail above MSP

  About 1,100 farmers in Karnataka signed an agreement to sell their paddy directly to Reliance Retail, arm of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), above the minimum support price (MSP) through an agro-based company at Sindhanur in the state's northern region, an official said on Sunday.
  
  "On behalf of 1,100 farmers, who are our company's shareholders, an agreement has been signed on January 6 to sell about 1,000 tonne of their paddy (Sona Masoori rice variety) to Reliance Retail at Rs 1,950 per quintal (100 kg), which is Rs 100 above the MSP of Rs 1,850 per quintal," Swasthya Farmers Producing Company (SFPC) Managing Director V. Mallikarjun said.

• Jammu-Srinagar highway to remain closed on Monday

  he Jammu-Srinagar National Highway will remain closed on Monday due to a sudden damage of a bridge on the road, officials said on Sunday.
  
  "No vehicular movement shall be allowed on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway from Jammu towards Srinagar and vice-versa due to the damage of bridge at Kela Morh, Ramban. There is no optional carriageway available," Traffic police said. The Jammu-Srinagar highway is the main road link connecting Kashmir valley with the rest of the country.

• Why not Bharat Ratna for Dhyan Chand, asks former hockey captain Govinda

  Hockey wizard Dhyan Chand was a "great man, great human being and a great player" and it is a surprise that he has not yet been conferred with the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour, says former India hockey captain B.P. Govinda.
  
  
  "The Bharat Ratna is conferred in recognition of the laurels that people brought to the country and so on and it is based on recommendations and nominations. I say that (when) so many people have recommended (Dhyan Chand's name for the honour) why not give it to Dada?" Govinda, who is remembered as a fiery forward who was part of the India team that won the 1975 World Cup, said. 

• Rapid response team to keep track on death of birds

  The Gurugram animal husbandry and wildlife department has constituted a rapid response team to keep a track on the death of birds across the district, after several bird flu cases were reported at a poultry farm in Panchkula.
  
  The team comprises 12 members. Meanwhile, all the animal hospitals in the district have been instructed to be in constant touch with the poultry farm, officials said on Sunday.