Allahabad HC's caution note over UP polls; PM Modi asks states to ramp up efforts; more

The Allahabad High Court on Thursday urged PM Narendra Modi and the Election Commission of India to postpone the Uttar Pradesh polls in the wake of the Omicron threat. The court also urged the poll body to immediately issue directions to stop political parties from holding rallies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a review meeting to take stock of the preparations to deal with Omicron during which he said that the focus should be on prompt and effective contact tracing, ramping up of testing, accelerating vaccination and strengthening health infrastructure.