LEAD

In what marks a definite dip in India-UK ties, the government has decided to impose “reciprocal” quarantine conditions on British nationals after the UK refused to reconsider treating fully vaccinated Indians as unvaccinated, allegedly due to issues about the Indian certification process.

Government sources said the ministry of health and family welfare will issue new regulations that will be applicable to all UK nationals arriving in India, regardless of their vaccination status. This comes in the wake of UK’s intransigence despite discussions on technical issues and the British high commissioner to India claiming that there were no issues or doubts over either country’s vaccine certification process.

The Indian decision will include pre-departure Covid-19 RT-PCR test within 72 hours before travel, Covid-19 RT-PCR test on arrival at airport, Covid-19 RT-PCR test on Day 8 after arrival and mandatory quarantine at home or in the destination address for 10 days after arrival in India.

A day after some senior leaders demanded a meeting in the wake of the ongoing Punjab crisis and high-profile exits, the party Thursday said the Congress Working Committee (CWC) will meet "very soon".

Speaking to a news agency, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said party's interim president Sonia Gandhi had indicated last week that a meeting of the CWC would be convened very soon.

On Wednesday, G-23 members -- Kapil Sibal and Ghulam Nabi Azad -- had expressed concerns over what they called "the continuing drift in the party" amid a spate of defections from the party and turmoil in many state units including Punjab. They had also demanded that a meeting of the CWC be convened immediately to discuss the internal crisis.

Struggling to keep its house in order in Punjab, the Congress party was delivered yet another blow as Captain Amarinder Singh met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday. The meeting has further fueled speculation that the BJP might extend an olive branch to the former Punjab chief minister.

In a tweet, Captain Amarinder Singh's aide Raveen Thukral said the veteran Congressman urged Union minister Amit Shah to take urgent measures to end the 10-month deadlock between the central government and farmers protesting against the three farm laws.

Back in Punjab, CM Charanjit Singh Channi held a meeting of his cabinet a day after one minister and at least three functionaries resigned from their posts "in solidarity" with Navjot Singh Sidhu.

The government today extended the countrywide coronavirus containment measures till October end in view of localised spreads of the virus in a few states and the disease continuing to be a public health challenge in India.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, in a communication to chief secretaries of all states and union territories, has cautioned against the possibility of Covid-appropriate behaviour not being adhered to strictly during the upcoming festival, which may lead to a surge in cases again.

Despite a dip in cases of coronavirus, it is critical to enforce guidelines that allow regular festivities in a cautious, safe and Covid-appropriate manner, Bhalla asserted.

Indian farmers opposed to reforms they say threaten their livelihoods renewed their push against the changes with nationwide protests on Monday, a year after laws on the liberalisation of the sector were introduced.

For 10 months, tens of thousands of farmers have camped out on major highways around the capital, New Delhi, to oppose the laws in the longest-running growers` protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.

"Thousands of farmers have spread out to different districts to ensure a complete nationwide strike aimed at reminding the government to repeal the laws introduced to favour large private corporations," Rakesh Tikait, a prominent farmers` leader, told Reuters.