Former JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar finally appears to have finally found his voice to speak up regarding the Naxal attack which resulted in the death of 22 Jawans. And in his statement, instead of condemning Maoists in strong terms, he has decided to use the attack to further the political propaganda of opposition parties.
Kanhaiya Kumar remarked that while the son of Home Minister is the BCCI Secretary, the sons of farmers become Jawans. He said that the “shameless” people in power should be asked how many children of ministers join the army.
The controversy ridden CPI leader concluded saying that in such ‘cowardly’ Naxal attacks, it is the blood of the common man that flows. It was quite a shocking message at a moment when the country is mourning the tragic death of the Jawans.
Traditionally, when the nation suffers such a terrible loss, politicians come together to preach unity and solidarity. Such solemn moments demand that the nation stand together as one. For if it isn’t such unfathomable tragedy that could unite us, what else possibly could? Once upon a time, in a distant past, opposition politicians understood this. But no longer.
Now, opposition politicians see every tragedy as an opportunity to cultivate their political fortunes. We saw it in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack and Balakot air strikes, we saw it in the aftermath of the Uri terror attack and the surgical strikes. And we are again seeing this now. This time, from Kanhaiya Kumar.
The CPI leader seeks to perpetuate more divisiveness in the wake of the tragedy and the ‘Us vs Them’ mentality which can be very effective in a Democracy. On this particular occasion, he linked the tragedy to the ongoing protests against the farm laws, which are intended to benefit farmers.
There are major flaws with Kanhaiya’s comments, however. In the BJP, there are a fair few who are associated with the Army. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s brother is in the Army, as is the daughter of the Minister for Education Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank. Apart from that, General VK Singh is the Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways. Thus, his insinuation that Ministers do not have any association with the Army is patently false.
Furthermore, Kanhaiya’s insinuation that Ministers do not have any association with the Army is patently an attack on the very institution of Democracy itself. In our Democracy, the Military is subordinate to the Civilian leadership. And the civilian leadership is elected by the citizens of the country themselves. Therefore, to cast aspersions on the will of the electorate is shameful for any politician that seeks to win the mandate to govern.
But then, Kanhaiya Kumar and his party has been summarily rejected by the electorate. Therefore, he has little patience for their writ. Hence, he is behaving in a manner that any loser does, insinuate that those who have won the trust of the people have done so through a conspiracy.
The background of Kanhaiya Kumar himself leaves much room for questioning. He is from the JNU, an institution which used to witness celebrations after left wing terrorists murdered security personnel in attacks. It is the same institution that saw slogans declaring war against the Indian State from his ideological comrades. It is not much of a surprise then that the Communist leader himself is using the tragedy as platform to overturn his failing political career.
We should also remember that Maoists are the ideological descendants of Communism itself. It is not farfetched to assert that they are ideological brothers of Indian Communists. Thus, Communist leaders such as Kanhaiya should be more careful than anyone else when they point fingers at others in the aftermath of a tragedy perpetrated by left wing terrorists. But then, the Communists of India have a long tradition of such deplorable conduct.
During the 1962 war against China, several Communist leaders backed the enemy against India. The Indian Communists Parties even issued a diktat to their cadres instructing them not to donate blood to the Indian Army. Eight years after the war, the Left Front in West Bengal issued posters that said ‘China’s Chairman is our Chairman’. Kanhaiya Kumar, as the ideological inheritor of such a proud legacy, is standing true by it by preaching divisiveness on such a solemn occasion.
It is bewildering, indeed. Naxalites ambushed and killed nearly two dozen of our Jawans and Kanhaiya here is condemning the leadership in stronger terms than the terrorists themselves. But as has been mentioned above, it is not surprising given the ideological antecedents of the CPI leader.
Indian farmers have rejected such incitement from opposition politicians and they will continue to do so. However, by continuing to embrace such rhetoric, opposition politicians are only demonstrating how little they understand the Indian farmer. Above everything else, the quintessential Indian farmer is patriotic and a fierce nationalist. And love for that nation, that is something which cannot be taken away from him.
It is precisely for this reason that the anti-farm law protests lost all momentum following the Republic Day Riots and the desecration of the Indian Flag.
On Monday, a frenzied mob of students attacked Municipality officials and police personnel for implementing the government’s directive of shutting down private coaching centres in the Gaurakshani locality of the Sasaram district of Bihar.
As per reports, the incident took place on the backdrop of the government’s decision to shut down schools, colleges and private coaching centres till April 11, in light of the rising Coronavirus cases. When the officials from the Municipal Corporation went to implement the Bihar government’s diktat in Gaurakshani locality, they were hounded and chased by a large group of students.
The clash turned ugly so much so that the market had to be closed down. The students broke the vehicle of officer Abhishek Anand. Fortunately, Municipality officials managed to escape unhurt. Several students also burnt down many private and police vehicles. They vandalised 2 police stations, actively participated in arson and damaged government properties. They also managed to enter the District Collectorate, destroyed its shed and lay siege to Sasaram-Ara State Highway.
Unbelievable scenes from Bihar:
Violence breaks out as agitated students attack officials for shutting down coaching centres in Sasaram, Bihar.
Centres were being shut as part of #Covid19 protocols in the wake of rising cases.
Following the attack, a large team of the police force was deployed to bring the law and order situation under control. The cops resorted to lathi-charge and firing tear gas shells to combat the frenzied crowd. The Superintendent of Police and the District Magistrate has taken cognisance of the matter. The police have arrested 9 miscreants so far. While no casualties have been reported so far, three police personnel including the Station-in-charge of Sasaram Nagar Police Station Kamakhya Narayan Singh were injured in stone-pelting.
Officials in Bihar’s Sasaram try to shut down coaching centres, get beaten up by agitated students pic.twitter.com/pgZodQ8PGd
Private coaching centres in Bihar miffed at the government’s decision
The decision of the Bihar government to shut down private coaching centres has drawn the ire of the owners of the institutes. They have argued that if the government could keep malls and cinema halls open, then, they must make such exceptions for coaching centres as well. “With the discontinuation of coaching, the academic future of the students will be destroyed. Right now the examinations are going on. In such a situation, the coaching centres should be allowed to operate by following all precautions,” they remarked.
On Sunday, several coaching institutes announced on Sunday that they would remain operational, in spite of the government’s directives. The Patna administration has clamped down strictly on such centres. District Magistrate of Patna, Chandrasekhar, warned that any institute found violating/defying government orders will have a First Information Report (FIR) registered against them.
India on Sunday crossed the critical mark of 1-lakh fresh Covid-19 cases reported on a single day for the first time since the onset of the pandemic last year. Maharashtra alone accounted for 57,074 new cases, its highest ever single-day spike. This has forced the government of Maharashtra to spring into action to curb the daily rise in Covid-19 cases and intensify the vaccination drive.
The government issued a long list of stringent guidelines late on Sunday to ‘Break the Chain’ (title of their new campaign). Along with night curfews on weekdays, the state will go into complete lockdown on weekends starting Friday 8 pm to Monday morning 7 am.
Maharashtra Lockdown Guidelines 2021:
01. All shops except essential services would remain shut till the end of the month
02. Restaurants will be allowed to operate only for takeaways and deliveries during the day
03. No gathering of five or more will be allowed during the day on weekdays
04. No religious, social, cultural, or political functions of any kind will be allowed
05. Public transport will operate at 50% capacity
06. Autos and taxis will be allowed to ply with just two passengers
07. No standing passengers allowed on buses and local trains
08. Gymnasiums, parlors and salons will remain shut
09. Theatres, cinema halls, malls, gardens and playgrounds will remain shut
10. Private offices other than the ones categorized as ‘essential services’ will have to compulsorily opt for ‘work from home’
Health minister Rajesh Tope said weddings can be held with 50 participants, however, a Rs 10,000 fine will be imposed if the norms are not followed. Also, only 20 people would be allowed to attend a funeral.
While the Maharashtra Chief Minister was insistent on a complete lockdown, the idea was met with stiff opposition from not just the BJP but also other alliance parties of Shiv Sena.
Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar said: “The entire state had opposed a complete lockdown, but health experts cautioned us about the increasing number of Covid cases.”
A statement by NCP leader Nawab Malik, has sent the hospitality industry into a frenzy. After a cabinet meeting, Nawab Malik announced, “Malls, restaurants and bars will remain closed.” He added, only takeaway services will be permitted.
Hospitality industry to take a hit:
The second wave of Covid-19 has made stringent lockdown an inevitable choice for the Maharashtra government. However, the restaurant industry which was just getting back on its feet after suffering heavy losses in the last lockdown and burning capital to revive business despite the loss incurred is expected to take a bad hit again.
As per a report, 20% of the restaurants in multiple states had to shut shop permanently after the first lockdown. With fresh restrictions, the hospitality industry has found itself staring at another lockdown-like situation set to break the back of the business.
Financial Express had reached out to the stakeholders of multiple restaurants and hospitality chains to record their statement on the prevailing condition of the industry. Anees Khan, chef & founder of Mumbai-based Staranise Cafe & Patisserie informed that revenues were down by at least 20% at the last count and walk-ins have declined by over 30% since January, just when the businesses were starting to pick up after the 2020 slump.
AD Singh, founder & MD at Olive Group of Restaurants, which was forced to shut a few outlets last year, said the worst could be ahead. “We are hoping that we do not have to cut more jobs,” he added.
“More than 40% of the restaurants and other hospitality ventures had to shut down post the first lockdown. The proportion of fixed operating expenses by way of rentals, utility expenses and salaries is quite significant and with little or no revenues, it is getting very difficult for restaurants to survive,” informed Kartik Ganesh, brand manager at Pune-based pizzeria Circle Of Crust.
Restaurant owners worried, say businesses may shut down completely
Anurag Katriar, ED & CEO – deGustibus Hospitality P Ltd and the President of National Restaurants Association of India (NRAI) urged the state government to either relook the restrictions imposed on the hospitality sector or shut the F&B industry in the state completely. In a four-tweet-long thread, he said, “we are staring death and need some urgent oxygen. Either allow us to operate normal hours with safeguards & protocols. Or shut us down completely and compensate us, our employees, suppliers & landlords suitably. Dear Govt, u r (you are) a critical stakeholder in our trade and also the sole decision-maker so we leave this to your collective wisdom.”
Dear Maharashtra Govt,
Please shut down the F&B biz in the state completely! This slow death is more excruciating.?
First, u shut us for dinner, which contributes 75% of our revenue. Now u r shutting us down on weekends which contributes 60% of our weekly business. 1/4
Katriar stated that the Maha government’s order to impose a night curfew from 8 pm will badly impact restaurants and eateries because dinner-time is when 75% of the business happens. Further weekends contribute to more than 60% of entire week’s businesses for eateries and restaurants. With night curfew every day, and weekend lockdown, the restaurants may as well shut their business, as the losses incurred will be unsustainable, said the businessman.
On April 5, Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh, got his first shot of Covid-19 vaccine in Lucknow. After the jab, he gave a video byte to news agency ANI in which he thanked the Prime Minister, doctors and frontline workers for their contribution.
Video byte of UP CM Yogi Adityanath on Covid vaccination
He urged people to get the vaccination done and follow the precautions to curb the increasing number of coronavirus cases in the country.
Allegations of using abusive language
A video is being circulated on social media platforms alleging that CM Yogi used abusive language against the journalist taking his byte after the vaccination shot. In the viral video, it was alleged that he used the abusive word towards the end.
Abusive troll Swati Chaturvedi’s tweet
The tweet was shared by various popular trolls on social media.
Twitter user ROFLGandhi_’s tweet
The Wire employee also accused Yogi Adityanath of using abusive word.
The Wire employee’s tweet
Aam Aadmi Party too accused Yogi of using ‘non-sanskari language’.
AAP tweet
A bit rich coming from a party whose MLA was caught giving a call for beheading of Yati Narasinghanand on Saturday.
The video was widely shared by left-leaning journalists, opposition political parties and fake news peddlers.
‘Video is manipulated’ – Government sources
As per the government sources, the last three seconds of the video have been manipulated.
सीएम योगी के आपत्तिजनक शब्द बोलने का मामला। एडिटेड निकला सीएम योगी का Video, वीडियो के आखिरी 3 सेकेंड में जोड़े गए आपत्तिजनक शब्द। @shalabhmani
The state government has already ordered a forensic inquiry in the case. Shalabh Mani Tripathi, information advisor, UP CM, said that a case would be filed against those who are posting the edited video of CM Yogi.
As the country is in the throes of the second wave of coronavirus outbreak, several bollywood personalities, including Alia Bhatt, Akshay Kumar, Vicky Kaushal and Bhumi Pednekar are infected with the Wuhan virus.
The tests were made mandatory in order to stop the inexorable spread of the coronavirus outbreak. Out of more than 100 crew members who tested for the virus, reports of 45 came back positive. Following the positive reports of crew members, the shoot of the movie has been temporarily halted.
The news comes amidst surging coronavirus crisis in Maharashtra, which is clocking almost 50 per cent of the total cases reported in the country. The increasingly grim situation in the state has forced the government to introduce more stringent restrictions to curb the spread.
Actor Akshay Kumar hospitalised after testing positive for COVID-19
Meanwhile, Akshay Kumar has been hospitalised as a precautionary measure after testing positive for coronavirus.
“Thank you everyone for all your warm wishes and prayers, they seem to be working I am doing fine, but as a precautionary measure under medical advice, I have been hospitalised. I hope to be back home soon. Take care,” the actor wrote on Twitter.
Kumar was tested positive for the virus on Sunday. The actor had taken to social media to inform his followers and fans that he had quarantined himself after testing positive for the virus. He had also asked everyone who had come in his contact to get tested for the virus.
On April 4, Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu called Union Minister Piyush Goyal a ‘liar’ and claimed that if his letter to Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh urging online MSP payment gets implemented, small farmers will become the biggest sufferers. While addressing the media in Patiala from his residence, he alleged that Goyal’s action was part of a larger conspiracy.
Sidhu further claimed that the centre was targeting Punjab, and the recent letter by the union minister is was full of lies. He said that Goyal mentioned in the letter that the land record department of Punjab has all the records of the land record holdings, which is incorrect. While citing a national sample survey of 2012-13, Sidhu claimed, “24 per cent of farming is on a contract basis”. According to Sidhu, contract farming happens on an oral contract, and if Goyal’s letter “is implemented in letter and spirit, no farmer will get payment. The small farmer will be the biggest sufferer.”
The centre is indulging in arm-twisting, alleged Sidhu
While accusing the centre of promoting private sector-led by “Ambanis and Adanis”, Sidhu claimed that the move could be termed as “economic blackmail of farmers”.
Central Government is creating “One Nation, Two Markets” promoting Inequality before Law … Contrary to What it says – It does !! Land records demanded from Farmers for selling in APMC Mandis But No documents needed for selling in Private Mandis, What a paradox ?! pic.twitter.com/IUfjawvfaM
He further claimed that the centre is arm-twisting farmers as they are protesting against the Agriculture laws.
All institutions are being used against farmers, alleged Sidhu
Reserve Bank of India has denied extending the cash credit limit to Punjab. Citing the RBI’s move, Sidhu claimed that it is clear all institutions of the country are being used against farmers. “The centre is giving relaxations to private companies to return bank loans, but no such relaxation ever is given to farmers,” he said.
Punjab CM’s letter to Prime Minister
On April 3, in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh sought a continuance of the existing system of payment to farmers via Arhtiyas till a consensus is formed on the issue of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). CM Singh claimed that Arhtiyas are not middlemen as assumed by many, but they are service providers between the farmers and the procurement agencies. He further urged the PM to ensure that the livelihood of the farmers and all others involved so that the procurement of the food grains is not jeopardized.
CM sought a meeting before the “situation gets out of hands”
In his letter, CM Singh sought a meeting with PM Modi to inform him of the concerns of various stakeholders in regard to changing the existing payment system. He urged PM to give time “before the situation gets out of hand”. He further expressed concerns that the Government of India is following a pattern in some of the recent one-sided decisions, which can be asserted as efforts to “rock” the legally sanctioned and well-established institutional and social arrangements through some guidelines and directives.
He said, “While I fully endorse the views that as a society, and a nation we have to continuously evolve and reform, and as the political leadership of the world’s largest democracy, we have to continuously think of improving, but I strongly believe that reforms are most successful and sustainable if carried out through a consultative process with all stakeholders, ensuring ownership of all.”
Union Minister Piyush Goyal’s letter to Punjab CM
On March 27, Union Minister Piyush Goyal wrote to Punjab CM Amarinder Singh and urged him to streamline their procurement and payment procedure in line with GOI guidelines of direct online payment to farmers and compliance with Public Finance Management System (PFMS) since 2018. As of now, Punjab is paying the farmers against the procured produce via arhtiyas. The government of Punjab has yet to integrate its land records with the central procurement portal hence delaying to implementation of the guideline of the central government to pay using DBT to the farmers’ accounts.
Union Minister Piyush Goyal’s Letter to CM Singh
Liquidation of the wheat stock
In his letter to the CM, Union, the minister said that it was brought to his notice that the Reserve Bank of India declined for extension of time for RMS 2018-19, which expired on December 30 2020. As a result, the account of the Government of Punjab has become “out of order” and would be classified as NPA by March 31, 2021. The Government of Punjab had thus requested the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to evacuate 22.32 LMT wheat crop year 2018-19 from Punjab.
Understanding the gravity of the situation, Goyal said that FCI and Railways had accorded overriding priority for evacuation of 2018-19 crop year wheat. The minister that it will mitigate the hardship of people and farmers of Punjab and possibility of a food credit account of Government of Punjab of Rs.89,290 cr. Becoming NPA. The evacuation of the crop is being monitored on a day-to-day basis, the minister added.
The minister further informed the CM that the FCI had already evacuated 18.82 LMT of 2018-19 crop year wheat out of 22.42 LMT that was lying with the State Agencies of Punjab. The remaining 3.60 LMT would be evacuated in the coming days. He said that the centre is doing its bests to ensure that the State of Punjab does not face any financial problem in this regard.
Follow Haryana’s payment system
The Union Minister urged the Punjab government to enable direct online payment to farmers that they had been asking to do since 2018. He said, “In the interest of farmers, GOI has been requesting the State Government of Punjab to streamline their procurement and payment procedure in line with GOI guidelines of direct online payment to farmers and compliance of Public Finance Management System (PFMS), since 2018.” However, the state of Punjab had been seeking an extension on the timelines.
The minister said, “The State Government have time and again sought an extension on these timelines which have been exempted during KMS 2019-20, RMS 2020-21 and KMS 2020-21, but despite giving sufficient time to comply with the guidelines and series of meetings held, State has not implemented these provisions so far.” He said that the Central government has again asked the state to implement DBT WEF the upcoming RMS 2021-22, i.e. April 1, 2021.
Letter to CM to implement DBT system for RMS 2021-22
While addressing the issue of contract farming, Goyal said that the C&MD of FCI had recently visited Punjab and Haryana to assert the preparedness for implementation of the DBT system. He found that Haryana was fully prepared to implement the system by integrating the land records with the e-procurement portal. However, the state of Punjab had not put up the required IT infrastructure in place. “Land records in Punjab are available with the Revenue Department and need to be integrated with the procurement portal, i.e. Anaj Kharid, which can be easily done before the ensuing Rabi season, or at least verification would be required from revenue officials,” he added.
The minister further added that all the major procuring states have already implemented the guidelines. Some states are using biometric authentication of farmers at the time of procurement, making it much easier to track the procurement and initiate payments.
One of the major issues that the Punjab government had raised was that the land in Punjab is being given on lease for tilling by absentee landlords, which may face title ship problem. The minister urged the government to follow the method developed by Haryana in which the details of tenant/sharecropper can be uploaded on the portal with the disclaimer that this would not be a legal document for claiming ownership through tenancy.
Punjab has been delaying DBT to farmers since 2012
Since 2012, the Government of India has been making efforts to initiate Direct Benefit Transfer of MSP to farmers across India. Since NDA come to power in 2014, major steps had been taken in the manner to bring more transparency and accountability to the existing system of MSP payment. MoUs were signed between the state governments and central government where state agencies are marked responsible for ensuring the use of EAT (Expenditure Advance Transfer) module of PFMS (Public Financial Management System) while making the payment.
The e-mode of payment ensures that all stakeholders like farmers, arhtiya and mandi get their payments directly instead of getting through another value chain participant. It ensures transparency without replacing the current APMC system, thus beneficial for everyone involved in the process. However, since 2012, Punjab has been delaying the implementation of DBT in MSP payments.
In 2018, the Department of Expenditure of the Ministry of Finance directed all registered agencies to mandatorily use the EAT module by 15.6.2018. In case the states fail to follow the instructions, no funds would be released for the payments. However, the state of Punjab failed to adhere to the orders and kept asking for an extension. It has to be noted that the government of Punjab was reminded to implement the system by the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, in 2018 and 2019. The state replied that it is not possible to implement the system due to resistance from Arhtiya and APMC Act provision for making payment through Arhtiya.
Major procuring states except Punjab have implemented the system
In January and February 2021, three meetings were held by DFPD with officers of Punjab in which Punjab said that the integration of the Anaaj Kharid portal was still under process. In March 2021, DFPD again wrote to Punjab and informed them that its counterparts, including UP, MP, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu etc, have already implemented the DBT system.
Sources in the government said, “while the central government is trying to free the farmers from Arhtiyas for their survival, Punjab continues to evade the complete implementation of direct online payment to farmers. Land records are available but have not been integrated with the procurement portal for ensuing Rabi season, leaving the farmers at the mercy of Arhtiyas.”
Arhityas were deducting charges from MSP
OpIndia accessed an internal government note that showed in 2020, during the verification process, the central agencies found that Arthiyas were deducting Rs 12 per quintal from MSP payment at the cost of the farmer. It was revised only after vigorous follow up. The note further added, “The GoI stand is that the entire MSP should be transferred to farmers’ account and should not get parked into arthiya’s account. This will empower farmers and ensure transparency.”
Internal note on arhatiyas
The Food Ministry said in the note that a myth had been created that DBT may jeopardize the land title. However, it is not true. Mentioning the software developed by Haryana, the note added that it provides various options like “whether the owner is a tiller, or it is sharecropping or contract farming etc., with a disclaimer that this arrangement is only for the purpose of payment and has no relation to the titleship issue.”
The ministry said, “we need to take a clear position to ensure implementation. In case any waiver is considered again, this issue will get deferred. In the last Kharif Season 2020-21, the total procurement of rice in Punjab was more than the estimated production. This was due to non-verification of farmers and non-linking of their accounts.”
Arthiyas’ stronghold in government functioning
The government of Punjab is trying to publicize that the central government is implementing DBT of MSP to farmers as an arm-twisting tactic against the state and the farmers. However, the process of introducing DBT to pay the farmers against the produce has been in the pipeline since 2012. It is only Punjab among the top states from where the centre procure the maximum food grains that have not implemented the system yet. The delay and regular pressure on the central government to extend the deadline hints towards the stronghold of Arhtiyas in the state government functioning.
The Bombay High Court on Monday ordered a CBI probe into the allegations levelled against Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh based on the petition filed by lawyer Jayshri Patil.
The bench headed by the Chief Justice of Bombay HC instructed the Director of CBI to carry out a preliminary inquiry in pursuant to the law and conclude it within 15 days. Once the preliminary inquiry is complete, the director CBI is at discretion to further course of action, the Chief Justice Dipankar Datta said.
However, the Court observed that since the state has already taken steps for a a probe by a high-level committee into the matter, the CBI need not immediately register an FIR in the case.
The court also disposed of Param Bir Singh’s plea, asking the former top cop to address his grievances regarding his transfer to the appropriate authority.
The Chief Justice Dipankar Datta expressed the court’s dilemma, stating that it is an extraordinary case where the petitioner— Param Bir Singh— has accused HM Anil Deshmukh in his PIL, and has alleged the state police of being biased. Singh had stated this reason for not filing an FIR. The bench said since it is an extraordinary case, a PIL can be maintained.
Senior advocate Vikram Nankani had appeared for Param Bir Singh. Other petitioners were represented by advocates Subhash Jha and Alankar Kirpekar in related petitions asking for probe into corruption allegations against Anil Deshmukh.
Bombay HC pulls up Param Bir Singh for not filing an FIR against HM Anil Deshmukh
Earlier last week, the Bombay HC had reserved its judgment on the maintainability of a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into his letter alleging that State Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had directed suspended assistant police inspector Sachin Vaze to collect ₹100 crore a month from bars and restaurants.
The court had then slammed the former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh, asking him how could an investigation be initiated against Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh without an FIR against him. The court also remarked that Param Bir Singh failed in his duty as a cop for not filing an FIR in the case.
The court had then noted that Param Bir Singh was not “a layman” and added that without an FIR there is no scope of the court to intervene or ask a probe agency to investigate.
On Saturday (April 3), the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has written to all States and Union Territories to not issue new registrations of frontline workers (FLWs) and healthcare workers (HCWs) for Coronavirus vaccination.
In a letter by the Chief Secretary (MoHFW) Rajesh Bhushan, he informed that the vaccination programme for healthcare workers commenced on January 16 this year. This was followed by the inoculation of frontline workers from February 2 onwards. “All efforts have been made in close collaboration with States/UTs to saturate vaccination of HCWs and FLWs,” the letter read.
It further noted, “While tracking the progress, the timeline for completing vaccination of all HCWs and FLWs with 1st dose of COVID-19 vaccine has been extended multiple times and was finally fixed at 25th February 2021 for HCWs and 6 March 2021 for FLWs. Around one month has elapsed since these timelines and ever after starting vaccination of population above 60 years of age, provision was made to register and vaccinate HCWs and FLWs with a view to ensure optimal coverage.”
However, Rajesh Bhushan noted that in some Covid Vaccination Centres, ineligible individuals are being registered and vaccinated as healthcare workers and frontline workers. He added that such a thing is being done in complete violation of the prescribed guidelines. “There have been 24% increase in HCW database in the past few days,” he added.
In his letter, he reiterated that the matter was discussed in detail with state representatives and domain knowledge experts on Saturday. “As per the recommendation of NEGVAC (National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19), it has been decided that no fresh registrations in categories of HCWs and FLWs will be allowed with immediate effect. Registrations of persons aged 45 years and above will continue to be permitted on CoWIN portal,” Rajesh Bhushan pointed out.
Vaccination provisions for registered healthcare workers and frontline workers
The Secretary of Union Health Ministry emphasised that the healthcare workers, and the frontline workers, who have already registered on the CoWIN portal, must be vaccinated at the earliest. “I request you to kindly direct the concerned officials for wider dissemination of this policy decision for compliance. However, universal vaccination of already registered HCWs and FLWs should be ensured at the earliest,” the letter read.
On Saturday, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) stated that a total of 7,44,42,267 Coronavirus vaccine doses have been administered so far. It includes 89.53 lac HCWs (first dose), 53.06 lac HCWs (2nd dose), 96.19 lac FLWs (1st dose) and 40.18 lac FLWs (2nd dose).
In Mankhurd, Mumbai, the Police on Saturday arrested a total of four people for running a baby-selling racket. The incident came to light after the four-month-old daughter of a resident of Mankhurd went missing. The parents then approached the police, alleging that their neighbours Sharmin Khan and her husband Siddhiqe Khan, had kidnapped their four-month-old daughter on Friday, as per a Hindustan Times report.
A police official informed, “On that basis, we questioned Sharmin and Siddique, and we got to know that the child had been handed over to an Antop Hill-based woman named Farzana Sayyed Shaikh. She had given the baby further to one Asha Pawar of Chembur.”
The police arrested Asha Pawar but she had already sold the baby to another woman named Julia Fernandes, a resident of Matunga. Upon interrogation, Fernandes led the police to the infant in Bengaluru.
“The child was reunited with her parents. Sharmeen, Siddique, Farzana and Asha Pawar have been arrested. More arrests are likely in the case,” informed the police official.
The main accused is said to be a woman named Julia Fernandes who is yet to be arrested. Julia had delivered a child 10 days ago. As per reports, Julia had presented the kidnapped infant as her own child to a childless couple from Bengaluru and had claimed that she won’t be able to raise her.
Police had received a tip-off that a child has been sold for Rs 1.5 lakhs to a well-to-do couple in Bengaluru. It is revealed that a lady doctor from Gujarat is also involved in the racket. The doctor and Julia are yet to be arrested.
Julia Fernandes is a repeat offender
The police have informed that the main accused Julia Fernandes was arrested at Wadala in 2017 for allegedly running a baby-selling racket and came out on bail. Julia allegedly sends photos of newborns ‘available for sale’ to clients via WhatsApp.
In 2017, she had confessed to selling six babies together with an accomplice named Huma Dalvi. They had even sent a pregnant teenager to Indonesia to a couple.
Another baby-selling racket was busted by the city crime branch in Mumbai early this year. The 8 accused were into selling newborn babies and sold a girl child for Rs 60,0000 while a baby boy was sold for Rs 1.5 lakhs. The gang had sold four babies in six months, but the police had then suspected a higher number. Their modus operandi was to move around in poor localities, identify pregnant women and convince them to sell their babies in exchange for money.
On Monday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath received the first dose of the Coronavirus vaccine at the Civil Hospital in Lucknow. He said, “I thank PM & Union Health Ministry for making the vaccine available free of cost. I also thank the scientists of the country. The vaccine is completely safe. We all should take it when our turn comes.”
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath receives first dose of COVID-19 vaccine at Civil Hospital, Lucknow pic.twitter.com/8HN7v7NHuD
Yogi Adityanath also appealed to the people to adhere to the Coronavirus guidelines, even after taking the vaccine. “I appeal to the people to take all precautions even after taking the vaccine. The new COVID wave is the result of our complacency in observing COVID appropriate behaviour,” he remarked.
I appeal to the people to take all precautions even after taking the vaccine. The new COVID wave is the result of our complacency in observing COVID appropriate behaviour: UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath pic.twitter.com/LyuBF6Kqfo
How UP government is fighting the Coronavirus pandemic?
On Sunday, the state of Uttar Pradesh reported 4,164 new cases and 31 additional fatalities. The total death toll in UP has now reached 8,881. While the total number of active cases stand at 19,738, a whopping 6, 01,440 Coronavirus patients have recovered from the infection.
In light of the rising cases, the state government had announced the closure of government and private schools for students studying in Classes 1-8 until April 11. The Yogi government has instructed schools to strictly adhere to the Coronavirus protocols for other classes. The Chief Minister has directed officials to increase the number of tests conducted each day.
In a recent order, Chief Secretary Rajendra Kumar Tiwari informed that a 25-metre containment zone, covering 20 houses, would be set up if one Coronavirus case is established. He added that about 60 houses will fall under a 50-metre containment zone if more than one Coronavirus case is detected. Tiwari emphasised that an area will be demarcated as a containment zone for 14 days from the date of collection of samples from the last Coronavirus positive patient.
Maha government orders strict restrictions
On Sunday, Maharashtra reported 29,344 new cases of Coronavirus on Sunday, thereby taking the total number of active cases to 4,31,896. There were 222 fatalities such yesterday and 55, 878 deaths overall.
The Uddhav Thackeray government had ordered the imposition of lockdown in Maharashtra from 8 pm onwards on Monday. In a notification, the state government said that all shops, with the exception of essential services, will remain closed till April end. People can buy non-essential items only on Monday. Restaurants are only allowed takeaways and home delivery will be limited to the day time.
While board exams will be conducted, all schools/college/private tuition classes will remain closed. Moreover, government offices will operate under 50% capacity. “Government and semi-government offices will run with 50% capacity while private offices will have to go for ‘work from home,” the notification readd. All religious, social-political gatherings have also been stopped in the State. The move is expected to cause severe monetary loss for salons, beauty parlours, malls and restaurants.
