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No, “ch*tiya” Sanjay Raut, comparing roads to women’s cheeks is not ‘respect’

Nirwa Mehta
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No, “ch*tiya” Sanjay Raut, comparing roads to women’s cheeks is not ‘respect’

Nothing like everyday misogyny and sexism to kickstart the week. Apparently, women should take it as a compliment if politicians compare roads to their cheeks. Here is what happened.

Shiv Sena (heh, who else) leader Gulabrao Patil on Sunday challenged now NCP and former BJP leader Eknath Khadse to go towards his house in his constituency in Jalgaon district and if the roads are not like that of Hema Malini’s cheeks, he would resign.

Hema Malini is an actress and also Member of Parliament from Mathura constituency. That her colleague decided to compare roads (rather the smoothness of them, one would believe) to her cheeks, just shows how for some men, a woman, irrespective of her achievements, will never command equal respect only because she is a woman. Patil could have compared the roads near his house to perhaps roads elsewhere like in neighbouring state Gujarat which has phenomenal infrastructure, but no.

It is problematic on multiple levels because even though we have people talking more and more about feminism and everyday sexism at workplace (for elected public representative such as Malini, the likes of Patil would be colleagues and this would fall under workplace harassment), we still have to deal with such jibes.

Not long ago, Rajasthan Minister and a senior Congress leader had decided to refer to roads to Katrina Kaif’s cheeks. In fact, he had first said that the roads should be like Hema Malini’s cheeks, but then said how she has now become old and hence they should be like Katrina Kaif’s cheeks. In 2019, Congress leader PC Sharma compared the roads of Madhya Pradesh with the cheeks of BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya and said the Congress government would make them like the cheeks of Hema Malini. Back in 2005, RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav also gave a similar sexist statement. At the time, he had said that Bihar roads would become as smooth as the cheeks of Hema Malini. 

Malini, perhaps sick and tired of the jibes, seemed to have had enough and finally broke her silence and said how it is not a nice thing to say.

She said that common people making such statements one cannot stop them, but if politicians make such statements it is not in a good taste. “Any women should not be used for saying such things,” she said. And while she did not seek an apology, one would assume that people in power would eventually correct themselves.

One would have thought that after over 15 years, the politicians would have evolved like the rest of humankind and senior leaders of party would come down heavily on such objectification of women. But no.

Shiv Sena MP, ‘Ch*tiya’ Sanjay Raut, defended the statement and said how comparing Hema Malini’s cheeks to road is ‘a respect for her’. He even urged everyone to not take it negatively. He claimed he respects Malini. To make things clear, Sanjay Raut here is referred to as ‘ch*tiya’ because he himself believes that ch*tiya, a term most people find derogatory, means ‘stupid’. So, here is me, just referring to him as ‘stupid’ by calling him ‘ch*tiya’. And since he was upset at an FIR against him for using the word, I will assume that he will not sue me either.

Coming back, such blatant objectification and subsequent brazening it out is just one more example how much harder it is for women, especially in places which is predominantly a ‘men’s world’. BJP MP from Amethi and Union Minister Smriti Irani has also been subjected to relentless sexist behaviour from her colleagues and critics. Just few days back Uttar Pradesh Congress’ official account tweeted a video of a woman hurling sexist abuses to Smriti Irani. That they think it is okay to do it shows how a party whose leader mouths platitudes on women empowerment is so deeply rotten.

Aam Aadmi Party, too, recently launched a sexist attack on Irani and PM Modi.

Sexist image tweeted by AAP

Assam Congress leader Nilamoni Sen Deka, the former state Agriculture minister, reportedly said at a public meeting in Nalbari that many people refer to Smriti Irani as the second wife of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Tehseen Poonawalla’s tweet

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s brother in law, a relative of her husband Robert Vadra, has often gone on sexist and vulgar rampage on Smriti Irani.

Similarly, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has also been on the receiving end of sexist jibes.

And what makes these things worse is that not only the flag bearers of feminism maintain silence on the insult accorded to ‘Sanghis’ (because they believe Sanghis deserve to die anyway), ch*tiya people like Raut even think that such behaviour is compliment.

The woe is women, having to fight with ch*ityas on all fronts.

USA: Police in Fairfax say Muslim girl’s allegations were false, no racial comments were made during fight between 2 students

OpIndia Staff
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USA: Police in Fairfax say Muslim girl’s allegations were false, no racial comments were made during fight between 2 students

On Saturday (December 18), the City of Fairfax Police Department in Virginia released a statement, debunking allegations of hate crime made by a female Muslim student.

In its statement, the cops informed that they were actively investigating a case of assault that took place on December 14 this year at the Fairfax High School. “The police investigation determined the physical altercation between two Fairfax High School students was not a hate crime. The investigation revealed there were no racial comments made by either student,” the cops emphasised.

“The female student confirmed her hijab became partially undone during the altercation, exposing her hair. The female student advised that the information posted on several social media sites, stating that racial comments were used during the altercation were false,” the police statement concluded.

Screengrab of the press release by the Fairfax City police

The Background of the Case

A 16-year-old female black Muslim student in Virginia had alleged that she was called racial slurs and thrashed by two of her male classmates. She had also claimed that her hijab was pulled during the brawl that ensued on December 14, 2021. The girl, who was identified as one Ekran Mohamed had received overwhelming support from 100s of other students.

Screengrab of the tweet by Muslim

Lawyer Abed Ayoub, representing Mohamed, had claimed, “There’s multiple witnesses who can attest to racist and Islamophobic comments and overtures being made immediately prior to the incident into the assault.” He alleged that the girl had spent the evening in a hospital emergency room on the evening of the fight and was forced to serve a suspension in the same room as the accused on the following day.

Ayob alleged that the attack took place during a class exercise. “The group that included the perpetrator were drawing … the symbols of Islam, like the moon and the crescent, and were putting Xs through it.” He claimed that the Muslim girl was grabbed by her neck and scarf when she went to complain about it to the teacher. The lawyer also said that witnesses heard the two accused make ‘racist’ and ‘Islamophobic’ comments.

While speaking about the incident, Ekran Mohamed told WUSA9, “I haven’t been able to eat. Because of the stress and how disgusted I am that I had to go through this where I should feel safe…It is for every Hijabi out there, every Muslim girl and every Muslim person out there. It is a daily thing that we go through.”

She further claimed, “People are trying to cover it up and make it look like an accident.” The City of Fairfax Police Department in Virginia has dismissed her claims that the assault was motivated by hate towards her race or religion.

‘Not in good taste,’ BJP MP Hema Malini hits out on those who compare roads to her cheeks

OpIndia Staff
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‘Not in good taste,’ BJP MP Hema Malini hits out on those who compare roads to her cheeks

BJP MP and actress Hema Malini was once against subjected to sexist comments by an opposition leader. Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra Minister Gulabrao Patil said on December 19 in a statement while challenging another leader that if he proved the roads in his constituency were not like Hema Malini’s cheeks, he would resign.

He said, “My challenge is to the person who has been MLA for 30 years ( Eknath Khadse) to come towards my house (in his constituency, Jalgaon district), if the roads are not like Hema Malini’s cheek, then I will resign.”

‘I don’t think such statements are in good taste’

Hema was asked about her views on the statement made by a reporter. She sarcastically said, “Better I keep my cheeks properly! Safely!” and added, “The trend was started by Lalu Ji some years back. At that time, the roads were so bad. Generally, he would have come up with the statement. But since then, it has become a usual thing for everybody.”

She said, “Everyone is using a similar statement. It is not right. If a common man makes such a statement, no one can do anything. But such statements coming from a member of the Parliament or someone connected to the constituency are not right. I don’t think it is in a good state. No woman should be subjected to such comparisons.”

‘It’s a respect for Hema Malini’

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, while supporting Patil, said that what he had said was ‘a respect for Hema Malini’, and it should not be taken in a negative sense. He said, “This type of comparison has happened earlier too. It’s a respect for Hema Malini. So, don’t see it negatively. Earlier, Lalu Yadav had also given a similar example. We respect Hema Malini.”

‘No… Hema Malini has become old’

Earlier this year, Congress MLA Rajendra Singh Gudha made a sexist jibe. He said the roads in his constituency should be like the cheeks of Katrina Kaif. Gudha was at his assembly constituency Udaipurwati. When the people complained to him about the bad roads, he told NK Joshi, Chief Engineer of Public Works Department, from the stage, that the roads in his village should be made like the cheeks of Hema Malini. Later, he said, “No… Hema Malini has become old” and asked who was famous these days. When the crowd said Katrina Kaif, he said, “Yes, the roads should be like the cheeks of Katrina Kaif.”

Back in 2005, RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav also gave a similar sexist statement. At the time, he had said that Bihar roads would become as smooth as the cheeks of Hema Malini. In 2019, Congress leader PC Sharma compared the roads of Madhya Pradesh with the cheeks of BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya and said the Congress government would make them like the cheeks of Hema Malini.

Kapurthala lynching: How Punjab police did u-turn after a mysterious phone call during the presser, booking dead victim instead of mob

OpIndia Staff
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Kapurthala lynching: How Punjab police did u-turn after a mysterious phone call during the presser, booking dead victim instead of mob

The Punjab police have reportedly taken a u-turn in the investigation of the case in which an unidentified man, was lynched by a mob in Nizampur village in Kapurthala on Sunday morning after being accused of sacrilege. According to a report by the Hindi daily Dainik Bhaskar, Inspector General of Police Gurinder Singh Dhillon and SSP HPS Khakh, had, at first, confirmed that two FIRs had been filed in the case, one of which had been registered against the accused mob. But they quickly changed their stance after they received at least 8 phone calls during the 45 minutes press conference.

Speaking to the press, the IG and SSP had initially said that one FIR, bearing number 305, was registered against the youth who they said went to the Gurudwara with an intention to steal. Second FIR number 306, the police said, was registered against at least 4 known and 100 unknown people for lynching the unidentified youth in Kapurthala. The officers, however, had not revealed the names of the accused against whom FIR 306 was registered arguing it to be a ‘sensitive case’.

As soon as they spoke about the aforementioned two FIRs, their phones started ringing. They received at least eight phone calls within a span of 45 minutes, 5 of which were attended by the IG and 3 by the SSP.

After speaking on the phone, the police officials immediately backtracked, read the Dainik Bhaskar report. Quickly amending their statement, IG Dhillon confirmed to the press that FIR 306 had not been filed only FIR 305 had been registered. Meaning, that there are no FIRs against the people who killed the man, but there is an FIR against the victim of a brutal mob lynching who was beaten to death.

Case registered against deceased victim and not the mob that lynched the youth

IG Dhillon confirmed that a case under Section 295-A (hurting religious sentiments of people) of the IPC on the statement of Gurdwara manager Amarjit Singh has been registered against the youth who was lynched. Dhillon also confirmed that a murder case has not yet been filed against those who beat up the man to death as details were being verified.

“After verifying all facts, an FIR will be registered,” he said.

When asked if the man was killed in the presence of the police, the IG, while referring to injuries to some policemen, said it was an emotive issue and police showed restraint.

He said three cops, including a station house officer, were injured when they were trying to save the man from the unruly mob.

Man lynched in Kapurthala over sacrilege charge was a thief, didn’t find any attempt of sacrilege at the Gurudwara: Punjab Police

It is pertinent to note here, that after initial investigation, Punjab Police had denied the sacrilege angle in the case and revealed that the killed man was a thief who had entered the Gurudwara with the intention of stealing.

Kapurthala SSP Harkamalpreet Khakh said that they didn’t find any attempt of sacrilege at the Gurudwara. The SSP further added that the Guru Granth Sahib is placed at the top floor of the Gurudwara, while the man had entered only the ground floor which has several rooms and where the Sevadars live. He informed that the killed man was wearing the jacket of a Sevadar at the Gurudwara, and probably he had come to steal the jacket only.

He had confirmed that the accused in the case will be booked under murder charges. However, reports suggest that the Punjab police have registered a case against the deceased victim while no case has yet been registered against the accused mob.

Interestingly, in the alleged sacrilege incident that transpired at the Golden Temple on December 18, the Punjab police had also booked the man who was killed on charges of ‘attempt to murder’ (IPC section 307), while no case has been filed against the accused yet.

Uttar Pradesh: Mathura MP Hema Malini bats for Bhavya Mandir, hopes for something on the lines of Shri Kashi Vishwanath Corridor

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Mathura MP Hema Malini bats for Bhavya Mandir, hopes for something on the lines of Shri Kashi Vishwanath Corridor

On December 19, Hema Malini, BJP’s MP from Mathura, said there should be something on the lines of Shri Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in Mathura. She was interacting with media when a reporter asked her views on Shri Krishna Temple in Mathura. Hema Malini said, “Ram Janmbhoomi has been done. Shri Kashi is being developed in such a wonderful way. Naturally, Mathura is important as well. It has to be done. A lot of work has been done, there is no doubt about that. But more can be done.”

She further said, “Krishna is the symbol of love and affection. As MP from his Janmbhoomi, I would like to say there should be a Bhavya Mandir. There is a grand temple. But it can be made much better. Just like PM Modi has developed a corridor in front of Shri Kashi Vishwanath Mandir, something should be developed here.”

Hema Malini said what PM Modi has done was not easy. No one had thought of doing something like that for decades. “It is his farsightedness that made it possible to develop such a corridor. Something on those lines should be developed in Mathura as well,” she said.

Multiple cases were filed to reclaim Mathura Janmbhoomi

In the past few months, the legal fight to reclaim Mathura Janmbhoomi has increased by multiple folds. Cases have been filed in session, and High Courts declare the ‘agreement’ to let the Mosque stand next to Krishna Temple in Mathura null and void.

On December 2, it was reported that the Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Keshav Prasad Maurya, tweeted the preparations of building up a grand temple at Ayodhya and Kashi are on, and Mathura would be next. Maurya’s tweet had come just days after Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha announced that it would install an idol of Lord Krishna at a site within the Shahi Eidgah on December 6. On December 6, 1992, a controversial structure standing on the site of Ram Jamnabhoomi in Ayodhya, often referred to as Babri Masjid, was demolished. In November 2019, Supreme Court ruled in favour of Ram Lalla Virajman and that paved way for the construction of Bhavya Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. However, the plan to instal the idol has been put on hold.

On December 17, reports suggested that a petition was filed in the court to top namaz at the Shahi Eidgah Mosque in Mathura. The petition was filed by Krishna Janmabhoomi Mukti Aandolan Samiti. The application read, “the place where the Mosque had been constructed is a revered site for the Hindus as Lord Krishna was born there. In the year 1669, brutal attacker Aurangzeb got the Mosque built after destroying the temple.”

Notably, earlier in June, Krishna Janmabhumi Mukti Aandolan Samiti had already submitted an application at the Mathura court where it offered the Muslim parties (management committee of the Mosque) a larger piece of land in exchange for demolition of the Shahi Idgah Mosque. The plea said, “There are many stones in which Hindu scriptures are visible, and the Mosque was built after destroying the temple on the orders of Aurangzeb. “

Shri Kashi Vishwanath Corridor

On December 13, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated Shri Kashi Vishwanath Corridor to the public. The temple premises was only 3,000 square feet before the construction. Now because of the corridor, it covers around 5,00,000 square feet of area. Devotees can now directly go to the temple from Ganga ghat. Many ancient temples were discovered during the construction that were earlier hidden due to encroachments. Those temples were also preserved and included in the corridor plan.

Kolkata: BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari protests at EC office, says he was physically stopped by cops from meeting Governor

OpIndia Staff
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Kolkata: BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari protests at EC office, says he was physically stopped by cops from meeting Governor

On Sunday (December 19), BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari held a sit-in protest within the office premises of the State Election Commissioner Office to protest against widespread rigging that took place during the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) polls.

As per reports, Adhikari led a delegation of BJP leaders into the State Election Commissioner Office and demanded repolling in the civic body polls. The BJP leader informed that only 20% of electorates could cast their votes and that over 100 incidents of poll irregularities had taken place.

Suvendu Adhikari said, “Most CCTVs were non-functional with papers and stickers pasted on the camera or their connection points pulled out. The chief minister is turning the state into a dictator-run republic” He had also met State Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar over the matter and urged him to take action in this regard.

In a video shared by ANI, Suvendu Adhikari was seen having a heated discussion with officials inside the premises of the State Election Commissioner Office.

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari stopped from leaving his residence by cops

BJP President JP Nadda tweeted, “It is disappointing that Mamata Banerjee is using police to manhandle senior BJP leader, Suvendu Adhikari while he was visiting State Election Commission. Reports of widespread electoral malpractice in KMC and now the misuse of administration doesn’t augur well for democracy.

The tweet by JP Nadda came at the backdrop of high voltage drama outside the residence of Suvendu Adhikari in Salt Lake. On Sunday evening, the BJP leader held a meeting with other party MLAs at his house. Citing a rule by the Election Commission that non-residents cannot enter Kolkata on polling day, the Bidhannagar police cordoned off the area outside Adhikari’s house and physically stopped him from meeting the Governor at Raj Bhavan.

We cannot allow you to proceed to Kolkata as polling is being held and you are not residents of the metropolis,” a high-ranking police official told Suvendu Adhikari.

Adhikari also alleged he was manhandled by a junior police officer, and that the gates of the MLA hostel in Kolkata were locked till 5 pm, preventing eight BJP legislators from attending a legislature party meeting. Later, he met the Governor and asked him to declare the poll as null and void.

The BJP delegation inside the State Election Commission Office had also submitted documents and footage to the election body. The results of the KMC polls will be released on Tuesday (December 21). Voting took place in 144 wards and 4959 polling booths, amidst reports of assault, fake voting and violence.

Gujarat: Ambaji Mandir administration takes back order banning loudspeaker in hawanshala

OpIndia Staff
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Gujarat: Ambaji Mandir administration takes back order banning loudspeaker in hawanshala

Ambaji administration has withdrawn the order banning loudspeakers in the hawanshala after backlash from the Hindu society. Kutch Sant Samaj President Yogi Devnath had on Saturday taken to Twitter to register protest against the ban of loudspeakers in the temple complex.

Sharing a copy of the letter, he had said that in the Shaktipeeth Ambaji Mandir’s hawanshala, the use of loudspeakers has been banned to curb noise pollution as it was disturbing people nearby. If the order is not withdrawn, all the loudspeakers in all mosques across Gujarat will be brought down, he had said.

The letter, dated December 18, 2021 read that a lot of Yagnik and other religious ceremonies take place in the hawanshala by the devotees where loudspeakers are used. Because of the loudspeakers, the residents of the nearby villages are getting disturbed, the letter said. The letter also read that the loudspeakers is causing hindrance in everyday work of the Ambaji temple office. Hence, from immediate effect, the loudspeakers were banned.

However, following the anger of Hindu society, the temple administration has taken back the controversial order. A report in Divya Bhaskar read that in the Hawanshala, there are 14 spots where hawan/yagna could be carried out. At one go multiple yagnas are being carried out in the premises and their timings also vary. In November 2021, Shri Yagnik Vipra Mandal had submitted a letter stating that because of multiple yagnas going on at same time, there was disturbance in conducting the yagna.

Subsequently, an order was passed on 18th December banning loudspeakers. However, after the outrage when Hindu community said that this is hurting their sentiments, the order banning loudspeakers was withdrawn. To ensure there is no disturbance while doing hawan, it was decided that the volume of speakers be lowered.

Ambaji Shaktipeeth

Ambaji is a pilgrimage place for Hindus in Gujarat’s Banaskantha region and is one of the 51 Shaktipeeths. It is one of the most important and significant Shaktipeeths. Lakhs of pilgrims visit the temple every year and the temple holds particular significance on Poornimas as well as for Navratri.

As per popular legends, the Shaktipeeths came into existence after death of Goddess Sati when out of grief and sorrow Lord Shiva carried Her body and roamed the universe with it. Lord Vishnu, with His Sudarshan Chakra cut the body into parts so that they fall on the earth and people can pray to her. A part of Goddess Sati’s heart fell in Ambaji and that is where the temple is.

Punjab: State govt forms SIT to investigate alleged sacrilege at Golden Temple

OpIndia Staff
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Punjab: State govt forms SIT to investigate alleged sacrilege at Golden Temple

The Congress-led Punjab government has formed a special investigation team (SIT) to investigate the alleged case of attempted sacrilege at Harmandir Sahib Gurudwara (Golden Temple), Amritsar. The incident took place on December 18. The accused was brutally lynched to death by the devotees present on the premises.

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, who also holds the state’s home ministry portfolio, said on December 19 that the identity of the deceased person was yet to be revealed as he was not carrying any identification documents.

Randhawa was in Amritsar on Sunday and held a meeting with the deputy commissioner, the police commissioner and the inspector general of Police along with SSP, Amritsar Rural and other security officials. A meeting with Shri Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) was also held on Sunday to assert the situation. The SIT has been formed under Parminder Singh Bhandal, deputy commissioner of Police (law and order). He has been asked to submit a report within two days.

While interacting with media on Sunday, Randhawa had said that during the initial investigation, it was found that the person had entered the Gurudwara complex at around 11:30 AM and stayed at Akal Takht for hours. “He also slept in front of the Akal Takht for some time,” he added.

A case has been filed under Section 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the Indian Penal Code against the unidentified victim. Sukhchain Singh Gill, Police Commissioner, Amritsar, said that Section 307 for attempted murder had been added to the FIR as the deceased person had picked up a sword placed in front of Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

The attempted sacrilege at Golden Temple

The live coverage video and the CCTV footage of the incident have been making rounds on social media. On Saturday, the man had jumped the railing inside the Akal Takht of the Golden Temple and had picked up the sword. The SGPC task force members and devotees present inside Akal Takht had caught the man.

Reports suggest that he was grabbed by the devotees while being taken to the SGPC office. He was beaten to death before the Police could arrive at the scene. It is unclear if any cases have been registered against those who took the law in hand and brutally lynched a man to death.

CM Channi requested people to maintain peace

Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi visited Golden Temple on Sunday. He alleged that the incident could have taken place in light of the upcoming assembly elections. He said, “I appeal to the Sangat that they should pay special attention to take care of religious places—temples and gurdwaras—and institutions of all religions. People should maintain peace and mutual brotherhood.”

The second incident was reported in Kapurthala in 24 hours

Another case of lynching was reported in the Kapurthala district over the alleged sacrilege of Nishan Sahib at a Gurudwara. Later the Police said no evidence of sacrilege was found, and the accused had come for theft. There too, the accused person was brutally beaten to death by an angry mob. Reports also suggested that the Granthi of the said Gurudwara was in contact with Pakistan’s ISI and had visited Pakistan-based Sikh shrines multiple times over the past few years.

Three children die after consuming cough syrup administered at Mohalla Clinic in Delhi, over a dozen kids hospitalised

OpIndia Staff
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Three children die after consuming cough syrup administered at Mohalla Clinic in Delhi, over a dozen kids hospitalised

16 children were poisoned and admitted to Kalawati Saran Children’s hospital in New Delhi after allegedly consuming a cough syrup which was administered by a mohalla clinic run by the state government, according to TOI report. Among the 16 children hospitalized, three of them died.

Reportedly, an inquiry that was carried out by the central government revealed that the children were poisoned by the drug after the drug was administered to them. The children were admitted to the Kalawati Saran Children’s hospital after they fell ill following the treatment at the mohalla clinic.

Following the incident, the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) of the Union health ministry has asked the Delhi government to send a notification to all dispensaries and mohalla clinics to stop the prescription of the drug to children who are less than four years of age. The drug was a cough suppressant, which is manufactured by a multinational company. The DGHS has also suggested that the drug should be withdrawn in the public interest due to its side effects.

A senior paediatrician said, “This drug is a centrally acting cough suppressant. It causes side-effects such as sedation and, therefore, it is not given to children. However, the side effects cannot be so serious in so many children. It is possible that the drugs were contaminated, or there were other issues. It needs detailed investigation and appropriate action.”

Notably, a mohalla clinic is a facility for providing free primary healthcare to the people of Delhi. The healthcare model was introduced as a flagship initiative of the Arvind Kejriwal government in Delhi undertaken to strengthen the primary healthcare system in the city. According to a senior health official, there were more than 500 mohalla clinics in Delhi. A mohalla clinic consists of a doctor and a midwife-cum-nurse and gives a wide range of diagnostic services and essential medicines free of cost to patients.

2300-year-old Buddhist Temple discovered in Northwest Pakistan by a joint Italian-Pakistani team

OpIndia Staff
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2300-year-old Buddhist Temple discovered in Northwest Pakistan by a joint Italian-Pakistani team

Remains of a 2300 years old Buddhist Temple has been discovered in Northwest Pakistan along with several other Buddhist artefacts by a joint team of Pakistani and Italian archaeologists. Archaeologists from the Italian Archaeological Mission known as the ISMEO have been excavating the ruins of the Bazira city from the Buddhist period in Barikot tehsil of Swat District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, in collaboration with archaeologists from Pakistan. A few days ago, the Italian Mission had also announced the discovery of a Shahi Vishnuite temple in its entirety in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. 

A senior official said, “The Pakistani and Italian archaeologists during joint excavations at a historic site have discovered over 2,300 years old Apsidal temple of the Buddhist period in north-west Pakistan besides recovering other precious artefacts. The temple discovered in Swat is even older than the Temples discovered in Taxila remains of Pakistan.” The temple is said to be the oldest Buddhist temple in Pakistan.

Around 2,700 ancient artefacts from the Buddhist period including coins, rings, pots and writing of the Kharosthi language of the Greece king Menander period were unearthed during the excavation.

Andreas Ferrarese, Italian ambassador to Pakistan informed that archaeological sites in Pakistan were of great significance to different religions of the world.

Notably, Italian archaeologist Luca M. Olivieri had earlier said that a series of robbers’ pits were also explored in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and that the excavations revealed a Buddhist monument that survived the robbers’ vandalism. About another excavation in Barikot which was carried out in November 2021, Olivieri said, “we discovered a row of graves of unknown age and other archaeological features. These graves contain pottery shards and other rare finds which could date back (typologically and preliminarily) to the Indo-Greek and Saka-Parthian period.”

The Italian experts have expressed confidence that more archaeological sites will be discovered in the excavations in historic Bazira city in Swat District. Dr Abdus Samad, the director of museum and archaeology, said that Bazira city in Barikot Swat is older than Taxila remains. PhD students of top Italian Universities and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa archaeology departments were engaged in excavations of those sites.

Dr Samad informed that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has purchased fourteen archaeological sites, where excavation was in progress.

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