Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba on Wednesday chaired a meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) to review preparations for the cyclone over the Comorin and adjoining Lakshadweep Islands.

Cabinet Secretary took stock of the current situation and preparedness for rescue and relief operations and directed that immediate assistance, as required, be provided.

"IMD informed that the Depression that had developed in the Comorin Sea, has now intensified into a Cyclonic storm. It is likely to cross Lakshadweep Islands by noon of October 31, 2019, as a Severe Cyclonic Storm and emerge thereafter into the East Central Arabian Sea.&nbsp;Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, accompanied by winds reaching upto 90 to 100 kmph and tidal waves up to 1 metre, are expected," Union government said in a press statement.

The government said that it was intimated by the Lakshadweep Administration that all necessary preparations have been made by them and fishermen have been recalled to the shore.

People living in the low lying areas have been evacuated to shelter homes and are being provided with food and water. Teams of Coast Guard and Indian Navy are on the standby for any eventuality.

Senior officials of the Ministries of Home, Defence, as well as those from IMD and NDRF, attended the meeting. Senior officers from the UT Administration participated in the meeting through Video Conference.&nbsp;

Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba on Wednesday chaired a meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) to review preparations for the cyclone over the Comorin and adjoining Lakshadweep Islands.

Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba on Wednesday chaired a meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) to review preparations for the cyclone over the Comorin and adjoining Lakshadweep Islands. Cabinet Secretary took stock of the current situation and preparedness for rescue and relief operations and directed that immediate assistance, as required, be provided. "IMD informed that the Depression that had developed in the Comorin Sea, has now intensified into a Cyclonic storm. It is likely to cross Lakshadweep Islands by noon of October 31, 2019, as a Severe Cyclonic Storm and emerge thereafter into the East Central Arabian Sea. Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, accompanied by winds reaching upto 90 to 100 kmph and tidal waves up to 1 metre, are expected," Union government said in a press statement. The government said that it was intimated by the Lakshadweep Administration that all necessary preparations have been made by them and fishermen have been recalled to the shore. People living in the low lying areas have been evacuated to shelter homes and are being provided with food and water. Teams of Coast Guard and Indian Navy are on the standby for any eventuality. Senior officials of the Ministries of Home, Defence, as well as those from IMD and NDRF, attended the meeting. Senior officers from the UT Administration participated in the meeting through Video Conference.

Cabinet Secretary chairs NCMC meet to review preparations for cyclone over Comorin, adjoining Lakshadweep Islands

The Indian government said Friday that there has been no change in its position on the Dalai Lama.&nbsp;

&quot;Government of India&rsquo;s position on His Holiness the Dalai Lama is clear and consistent. He is a revered religious leader and is deeply respected by the people of India. &nbsp;There is no change in that position. His Holiness is accorded all freedom to carry out his religious activities in India,&quot; the Ministry of External Affairs said.&nbsp;

The comments came after a newspaper report Friday saying the government had asked &quot;senior leaders&quot; and &quot;government functionaries&quot; of the Centre and states to stay away from events planned for end-March and early-April to mark the 60 years in exile in India spent by the Dalai Lama and the Tibetans.&nbsp;

The note, the news report said, was sent out by the Cabinet Secretary to the states. It had been preceded by a note from the Foreign Secretary to the Cabinet Secretary.&nbsp;

The reason for the notes from the government, the newspaper report added, was that the government thought this is a &quot;sensitive time&quot; for bilateral relations with China, which views the Dalai Lama as a &quot;splittist&quot;&nbsp;and a &quot;dangerous separatist&quot; aka someone who wants to wishes to see Tibet secede from Tibet.&nbsp;

China had invaded Tibet in 1959, which is when the Dalai Lama had fled the country for India. He currently lives in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh.&nbsp;

The Dalai Lama has also often said that he is not looking for independence from China but for autonomy for Tibet within the country. That is a sentiment not shared by a large proportion of the Tibetans living in exile in India.&nbsp;

The comments came after a newspaper report saying the government had asked senior leaders and government functionaries to stay away from Tibetan events because it (the govt) thinks this is 'sensitive time' for bilateral relations with China

The Indian government said Friday that there has been no change in its position on the Dalai Lama. "Government of India’s position on His Holiness the Dalai Lama is clear and consistent. He is a revered religious leader and is deeply respected by the people of India. There is no change in that position. His Holiness is accorded all freedom to carry out his religious activities in India," the Ministry of External Affairs said. The comments came after a newspaper report Friday saying the government had asked "senior leaders" and "government functionaries" of the Centre and states to stay away from events planned for end-March and early-April to mark the 60 years in exile in India spent by the Dalai Lama and the Tibetans. The note, the news report said, was sent out by the Cabinet Secretary to the states. It had been preceded by a note from the Foreign Secretary to the Cabinet Secretary. The reason for the notes from the government, the newspaper report added, was that the government thought this is a "sensitive time" for bilateral relations with China, which views the Dalai Lama as a "splittist" and a "dangerous separatist" aka someone who wants to wishes to see Tibet secede from Tibet. China had invaded Tibet in 1959, which is when the Dalai Lama had fled the country for India. He currently lives in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh. The Dalai Lama has also often said that he is not looking for independence from China but for autonomy for Tibet within the country. That is a sentiment not shared by a large proportion of the Tibetans living in exile in India.

Indian government says it has not changed its position on the Dalai Lama

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Cabinet Secretary chairs NCMC meet to review preparations for cyclone over Comorin, adjoining Lakshadweep Islands

Indian government says it has not changed its position on the Dalai Lama