UK PM Boris Johnson pays partygate fine, offers full apology'
London(PTI): British Prime Minister Boris Johnson offered a full apology on Tuesday evening after confirming that he had paid the fine imposed on him by Scotland Yard for breach of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, known as the partygate scandal of rule-breaking parties at Downing Street.
"I have paid the fine and I once again offer a full apology," Johnson told reporters from the Chequers prime ministerial retreat in Buckinghamshire.
"I want to be able to get on and deliver the mandate that I have, but also to tackle the problems that the country must face right now," he said, in response to demands for his resignation.
"I believe that it's my job to get on and deliver for the people of this country and that is what I'm going to do," he added.
It has emerged that he had been fined for attending his own birthday party in the Cabinet Room at Downing Street on June 19, 2020, at a time when mixing between households was legally restricted to control the spread of coronavirus.
Johnson defended his actions, saying "in all frankness at that time it did not occur to me that this might have been a breach of the rules" and insisted that he "spoke in completely good faith" when he initially said all government guidelines were followed at Downing Street.
Earlier, the UK Prime Minister's wife, Carrie Johnson, confirmed that she had paid her fine and also apologised.
It is expected that the Johnsons would have most likely been handed a 200 pounds fixed penalty notice each, which is a sanction similar to a parking ticket. Unless it is challenged, there is no court process involved after the fine imposed is paid up.
The Opposition parties have called for his resignation over the fixed penalty notice which proves he broke the law, with some demanding a recall of Parliament from its Easter recess for Boris Johnson to face MPs.
It has also been confirmed that UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak is among over 30 fixed penalty notices issued by the Metropolitan Police earlier on Tuesday. The Indian-origin finance minister is expected to have been fined for the same birthday party for Boris Johnson, organised by his wife Carrie in June 2020.
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Puducherry (PTI): Puducherry experienced heavy rains on Saturday morning prompting the union territory administration to send SMS alerts to around 12 lakh residents cautioning them to remain vigilant as cyclonic storm Fengal is expected to make landfall near here later in the day.
District Collector A Kulothungan told PTI that all necessary steps have been taken to ensure that people remained safe.
"We have evacuated people from low lying areas and shelter homes are ready to accommodate them. Arrangements were also made to supply food packets," he said adding that National Disaster Relief Force from Arakonam has arrived to engage in relief and rehabilitation works.
According to the official, cyclone Fengal was expected to cross the coast in the evening. Control rooms have been opened in the collectorate and also in the line departments.
Toll free numbers 112, 1077 and also WhatsApp number 94889 81070 have been put in place to help people facing crisis to contact for help.
Cyclone Fengal is likely to cross between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram coasts close to Puducherry, official sources said. The government has advised people to stay indoors.
The entire stretch of beach road and also several tourist spots were closed to ensure that there was no movement of the people near the sea shore.
Schools and colleges remained closed today.
