How would you like to see India’s GDP grow at double digit rates? Sure, you would love that. Suppose then that India’s (real) GDP growth soars to 10%. Add to that say 4% inflation, leading to nominal GDP growth of 14%. Fantastic! I wish…
Just one catch. In return for this 14% nominal GDP growth, you must agree to the Indian Rupee crashing by 50% against the US Dollar.
How do you like the bargain now?
Of course, such a situation would never present itself in the real world. If India’s economy was chugging along at 10%, the whole world would be at India’s door. The Indian Rupee would rise in value, not fall. On the flip side, if India’s economy was doing horribly, the world would rush for the exit. The Indian Rupee would lose value.
You must have seen the headlines. As the Mint put in “plain facts,” India’s GDP, with a shocking contraction of -23.9% is pretty much at the bottom of the table of emerging economies.
Mint article on Indian economy
So who is doing better than India? Apparently, almost everyone. I suppose this is a good time for all and sundry, from the high brow Kaushik Basu to social media based economist Dhruv Rathee to take potshots at Modi’s India.
Now, here is what is missing from those “plain facts.” Did they mention what happened to the respective emerging market currencies during this same time? Every country reports GDP growth only in its national currency and not in USD.
India’s economy contracted by 23.9%. For comparison, Brazil’s GDP contracted by 11.9% and Russia’s GDP by 8%. So, did they really do better than India?
Absolutely not. Brazil’s GDP contracted by 11.9% in terms of the Brazilian Real (BRL). Russia’s GDP contracted by 8% in terms of the Russian Ruble (RUB). India’s GDP contracted by 23.9% in Indian Rupee terms.
Unless we move to the same unit, we are almost literally comparing apples to oranges to mangoes.
So what happens when we look at the respective contractions in USD terms? Here is the disaster that struck the RUB and the BRL in times of the Wuhan Coronavirus.
USD vs Russian Ruble
From 1 USD = 61.73 RUB at the beginning of the year, the RUB has collapsed to 76.09 to the dollar. That is down by over 23%!
And look at the Brazilian Real (BRL)
USD vs Brazilian Real
From 1 USD = 4.02 BRL at the beginning of the year, the BRL has collapsed to 5.34 to the dollar. That is down by nearly 33%!
And now see the Indian Rupee, almost rock solid.
USD vs INR
Down by barely 4% since the beginning of the year. As it always happens, the US Dollar gains in value during times of global distress. Even though we are facing a once in a century global crisis, the Rupee has barely lost any value.
Does it not make more sense to compare everything in same units? So Brazil lost 11.8% of its apples and India lost 23.9% of its oranges. But the price of apples fell by 33% during the same period, while the price of oranges declined only by 4%. So who really lost more?
A record number of children are not attending school for over 8 months because of closures mandated by governments in an attempt to slow the spread of the Chinese coronavirus. Now, with Assam recording reduced the number of cases, the state health and education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced the reopening of elementary schools in the state from January 1, 2021. Though Assam had allowed resumption of offline classes from Class 7 and above earlier in November, the offline junior classes had not yet started.
In a press conference at Janata Bhawan in Guwahati, Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that since the Covid-19 situation in the state is under control elementary schools will be reopened from the beginning of next year in a staggered manner. The detailed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the same will also be released.
Elementary schools to reopen from January 1, 2021, in a staggered manner. Detailed SOPs (Standard Operating Procedure) will be released: Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam Health Minister pic.twitter.com/w8vYglw1ki
“The Covid-19 situation in Assam is satisfactory and under control. But keeping in mind, the situation in other parts of India and the world, we are on alert. A survey by a weekly magazine has ranked Assam as the best state in Covid-19 management,” Sarma told journalists in Guwahati.
Decreasing coronavirus cases in Assam
Sarma informed that the number of positive cases has continuously gone down in November starting from 325 cases on an average daily in the first week of the month to 158 cases daily in the last week.
“Keeping in view the present situation, we have decided to allow the opening of elementary schools from kindergarten to Class 6 from January 1 and allow residential schools and colleges to allow final year students to stay in hostels from December 15,” he said.
Speaking on the government’s decision to reopen educational institutions the state health and education minister confirmed that the college hostels in the state will reopen from December 15 with several Covid-19 safety guidelines set into place.
The hostels across the state will open with certain limitations for the safety of the students, according to the minister, and only final year students will be allowed to enter the hostels initially to prevent overcrowding. Sarma further stated that some instructions regarding the cleaning and preparing of hostels that were closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic have also been issued to the college and university principals.
All temporary Covid-19 care centres have been shut down due to reducing Covid-19 cases in Assam: Himanta Biswa Sarma
The minister stated that due to reducing cases of COVID-19, all temporary Covid-19 care centres have been shut down in Assam and the covid patients would now be treated in only three hospitals namely, Kalapahar Covid Care Hospital, Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital (MMCH) and Gauhati Medical College & Hospital (GMCH). He confirmed that most new cases being recorded in the state are from outside and said that local transmission in very less in Assam.
Last month the minister had stated that the Covid-19 curve in the state has started to flatten. Nearly 5 per cent dip in the rate of positivity in the past six weeks prompted the Assam health department to make the claim.
Higher classes resumed from November in the state
“In September, our rate of positivity was 8 per cent. Now in the past few days, the average rate of positivity has come down to 3.5 per cent”, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told reporters on October 13. He had also announced to reopen educational institutions for classes seven to the postgraduate level with certain restrictions in place from November 15, 2020. Private schools and coaching centres could reopen from November 2 and must follow the COVID regulations, however, each of them would have to remain in contact with the health department and periodic testing will be conducted in these institutes, Sarma had said.
With the anticipation of Covid vaccination drive to begin sometimes in January, the Assam government has constituted three committees to oversee the entire process. While the state-level task force will make sure the day-to-day activities are executed properly, the district level committee will ascertain that the procedure of vaccination in the district level is carried out unhindered.
Till Sunday, Assam had recorded 2,12,617 Covid-19 cases with 981 deaths. At present, there are 3,350 active cases in the state. The recovery rate is 98 per cent while the death rate is 0.46 per cent.
Taking their freshly ‘secular’ and newly ‘liberal’ image forward, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena has decided to organise an ‘Azaan Recitation Competition’. The announcement was made by Shiv Sena South Mumbai Division head Pandurang Sakpal.
Defending the decision, Shiv Sena division chief Pandurang Sakpal stated that the Azaan recitation competition will be held in line with Bhagavad Gita recitation competition. Slamming the critiques who called Sena’s move as an attempt to cosset Muslim minorities in the state, Sakpal said the decision was taken to encourage Muslim children to recite Azaan.
Speaking about how the idea of holding an Azaan recitation competition crossed his mind, Sakpal said, “I live next to the Bada Kabristan in Marine Lines. That is why I get to hear the Azaan every day. I have found the Azaan to be amazing and pleasing. Whoever hears it once, eagerly waits for the next schedule of Azaan. That is why I came up with the idea of holding Azaan competition for the children of the Muslim community.”
Shiv Sena will reward the winners of Azaan recitation contest: Sakpal
Sakpal also added that rewards will be given to children on the basis of their pronunciation, voice modulation and their recitation. Shiv Sena will bear the cost of the rewards, he said.
“The children of the Muslim community wonderfully recite Azaan. The purpose of keeping this competition is to provide a platform for talented artists. I don’t think such a competition has taken place in the entire country. This is the first experiment and we hope it will get a good response,” Sakpal said.
‘Azaan as important as Maha Aarti’: Shiv Sena functionary
Sakpal also took a dig at those questioning the competition, saying that such people should be ignored like a “rock of salt” and went on to compare Azaan to ‘Maha Aarti’.
“Azaan lasts for only 5 minutes. So, if anyone is bothered by these few minutes, he should be ignored like a rock of salt. The tradition of Azaan is several centuries old. It is not a recent phenomenon. Such protestations should be ignored. Azaan is as important as Maha Aarti. It’s a symbol of love and peace.
It looks like All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Chief Asaduddin Owaisi loves to compare himself to a beautiful woman surrounded by men. Home Minister Amit Shah had recently said that there is an alliance between AIMIM and TRS. In an interview with ABP News, while reacting to HM Shah’s comments, the AIMIM chief said he feels like Laila surrounded by Majnus.
Owaisi on ABP News
‘I feel like Laila,’ said Owaisi
Dekhiye mera haal aisa hai na ke main Laila hun aur mere hazaron Majnu hain. Bihar mein Congress ne keh diya ke main BJP ki B-Team hun. Ab yahan Congress keh rahi hai ke Owaisi nahi hai to humko vote de do. Ab BJP kuch aur keh rahi hai. Mujhe koi fikr nahi hai. Main ek laila hun aur mere chahne wale itne hain ki har koi chahta hai ki mujhe mudda bana kar vote hasil kiya jaye.”
It translates to:
See, my situation is like I am Laila, and there are thousands of Majnu around me. In Bihar, Congress claimed that I am BJP’s B-Team. Now Congress is saying if not Owaisi, vote for them. BJP is saying something else. I don’t care. I am Laila, and there are so many people in love with me that everyone wants to make me a subject and get votes on my name.
Taking a potshot by the comments made by Congress and BJP leaders, Owaisi asserted they are using his name to create political rhetoric and seek votes. He added that while his party is seeking votes on issues that Hyderabad faces, like water supply, drainage, and other civic issues, parties like BJP and Congress are using his names to create controversy. He accused BJP of not helping the residents of Hyderabad when the city was suffering from floods.
Owaisi previously compared himself to ‘Raziya’
During an interview with Aaj Tak. AIMIM Chief Owaisi said that his situation is like “Fas Gai Raziya Gundo Mein.” After winning five seats, he said that he felt like being stuck among goons as BJP calls him anti-national, and Mahagathbandhan is blaming his party for ‘cutting votes’.
Owaisi’s beef biriyani jibe
Asaduddin Owaisi is best known for making provocative statements, especially during the elections. On November 25, he had made ‘beef biryani’ sly on BJP leaders. He said, “It seems like BJP is confused and frustrated. If they are coming to Hyderabad they should have biryani at Alhamdulillah to get their minds straight.” BJP’s Raja Singh had responded to Owaisi’s beef biriyani sly with an offer of pork biriyani.
GHMC elections
The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections are scheduled for December 1. The results will be announced on December 4. Ballot papers will be used in the elections. Several high-profile BJP leaders are campaigning for the candidates in the GHMC elections, including Amit Shah, Tejasvi Surya, MPs Arvind Dharmapuri and G Kishan Reddy among others.
Scott Morrison, Prime Minister of Australia, is asking the Chinese Government to delete a tweet attacking the Australian Defence Force deployed in Afghanistan, saying that it is fake. The PM was referring to a tweet posted the Spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry, Lijian Zhao, who had shared a fake image on his official Twitter account which allegedly showed an Australian soldier slitting the throat of an Afghan child.
“Shocked by murder of Afghan civilians and prisoners by Australian soldiers. We strongly condemn such acts, and call for holding them accountable,” Zhao tweeted. The image showed a soldier in combat uniform beheading a child.
Shocked by murder of Afghan civilians & prisoners by Australian soldiers. We strongly condemn such acts, &call for holding them accountable. pic.twitter.com/GYOaucoL5D
According to the Australian government, the image is fake, and said that it is a digitally morphed photo.
Australian PM Scott Morrison demands apology from China
Reacting to the fake image, Australian PM Scott Morrison demanded an apology from the Chinese government and asked them to delete the “repugnant” image attacking the Australian Defence Forces. Mr Morrison added that the Australian government has formally requested the Chinese government to delete the post and contacted Twitter to have the post removed.
“It is utterly outrageous and cannot be justified on any basis whatsoever, the Chinese government should be really ashamed of this,” Morrison said. “Australia’s seeking an apology from the Chinese Government for this outrageous post,” he added.
The Australian PM also acknowledged the spiralling tensions between the two countries but stated that this is not how it should be dealt with.
The Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne stated that this was the most “egregious” example of social media disinformation she had witnessed in her career and that there was no justification for the tweet posted by the Chinese government. “The Australian Government has called in the Chinese ambassador and sought an apology from the ambassador in relation to this tweet,” she said.
The spat over the fake image between China and Australia comes in the backdrop of increasing animosity between the two countries. Earlier this year, as the coronavirus outbreak that first emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, galloped the world, Australia spearheaded the nations that demanded an impartial inquiry into the origins of the contagion.
A fierce pushback had followed since then from Beijing and its pugnacious diplomats, who have tried to fend off the demands into the investigation of the origins of the coronavirus outbreak by making outrageously misleading claims about the source of infection, intimidating economic punishments and indulging in psychological warfare to coerce and manipulate its detractors.
Ever since Australia demanded an impartial investigation into the origins of the coronavirus which first emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, it has come under the attack from China. From overt economic threats to psychological warfare, Beijing has employed every trick in its playbook to attack Australia. China has also been quietly reducing its imports from Australia, inflicting economic punishments for its defiance to hold Beijing accountable for the coronavirus outbreak.
China’s attack comes in the wake of Australian forces’ war crimes inquiry
The fake image from the Chinese Foreign Ministry came on the heels of a recently published four-year military inquiry report of the Australian forces that brought to light the pervasive culture of the special forces deployed in Afghanistan following the 9/11 attacks in the United States.
The independent inquiry commissioned by the Australian government painted a grim picture of how some of the Australian Armed Forces indulged in wanton violence, killing innocents and prisoners and methodically covering it up.
India too a victim of Chinese propaganda and misinformation
Australia is not the only victim of China’s state sponsored propaganda war. India has also been at the receiving end of the Chinese propaganda machinery. Recently, as WHO geared up to investigate the origins of the coronavirus, Beijing made an absurd and preposterous claim, stating that India was the source of coronavirus pandemic.
In a desperate attempt to shift the blame of coronavirus, Chinese ‘researchers’ from Chinese Academy of Sciences claimed that the pandemic originated in India in summer of 2019.
While Delhi struggles to cope with deteriorating air quality and raging coronavirus pandemic, ruling party Aam Aadmi Party has decided to shift focus to Hyderabad municipal corporation polls. AAP is fielding wives of AAP members, some of whom have contested assembly elections and lost, for these elections. However, since the burqa clad women are hardly recognisable, AAP has decided to put images of their husbands prominently. In a true show of patriarchy, the women’s identity is reduced to being a wife of party member.
Meanwhile, one of the campaign posters of AAP candidate Asra Fatima has gone viral on social media.
As one can see, it takes a bit of an effort to find out that the candidate contesting the elections is one Asra Fatima. It is overshadowed by a big picture of her husband, Mohammad Majid. Majid’s picture is even bigger than party chief Arvind Kejriwal’s. Mohammad Majid had contested 2018 Telangana Assembly elections on AAP ticket. As per his affidavit then, his spouse was a ‘housewife’. Two years later, she is contesting elections.
However, Asra’s campaign poster has gone viral for hilarious reasons. While some could not find her name in the poster, there were quite a few who could not even find her image in the poster. Many thought she is actually a bottle of cola.
Me too feel same , I trying to finding why men name is Fatima ,why AAP using Coco cola ????
Many had too many highly amusing questions related to the poster.
Some other quiz questions: * How many people are in this picture? * What is Mohd Majid holding in his hand? * What is the spelling for Pressure Cooker? * There are two white caps in the picture. What is it that you find below the second white cap? * What does secret ballot mean?
Many also pointed out how this is also a trend in Kerala as well where wives are propped up as candidates and pictures of husbands are more prominently displayed.
And others pointed out how the wife is perhaps the proxy candidate for the husband.
Mohd Majid is the proxy candidate, his wife will remain behind the curtain, even if she wins. Where are woke liberals who want to smash patriarchy ? https://t.co/2cDmgkH6uX
Earlier this year in Delhi Assembly elections, AAP dropped Jitender Singh Tomar and fielded his wife Preeti Tomar in his place. Tomar was disqualified for giving false declarations during 2015 Delhi Assembly polls.
In the same Hyderabad elections, AAP has also fielded one Farheen Begum. Along with the burqa-clad picture of Begum, her husband’s picture appears prominently on the campaign poster.
#AapkaGhmcCorporator Farheen, represented by @MohdAbd66728587, a social worker is in the battle from Rahmath Nagar division, ward number 102, with serial number 9 on the ballot paper & election symbol Letter Box. Post your votes for her. She'd set up Oxygen Testing Centers 4 you. pic.twitter.com/uo2q7qrqGP
In a significant development, a newborn child of a Coronavirus infected mother in Singapore was found to have antibodies against the Coronavirus pandemic, reportedThe Straits Times.
The infant named Aldrin was born on November 7 at National University Hospital (NUH) to 31-year-old Celine Ng-Chan, who had contracted the deadly infection on the 10th week of her pregnancy. However, at the time of birth, the child was not only free of Coronavirus but had also developed antibodies against it. “It’s very interesting. His paediatrician said my Covid-19 antibodies are gone but Aldrin has Covid-19 antibodies. My doctor suspects I have transferred my Covid-19 antibodies to him during my pregnancy,” Celine stated.
She stated that she was not worried about her son as the transmission of the disease from the mother to the foetus was low. Celine had also learnt about another couple Natasha and Pele Ling who had given birth to a healthy child with Coronavirus antibodies. She emphasised, “My pregnancy and birth was smooth sailing despite being diagnosed with Covid-19 in my first trimester, which is the most unstable stage of the pregnancy. I’m very blessed to have Aldrin and he came out very healthy. I feel relieved my Covid-19 journey is finally over now.”
Woman contracted Coronavirus after family trip to Europe
She informed that she had contracted the disease along with her mother and 2-year-old daughter Aldrina, following a family trip to Europe in March. Although her husband and father remained unaffected, her 58-year-old mother Madam Choy Wai Chee had become critical. She was kept on life support for 29 days but successfully overcame the disease. Celine and her daughter were mildly affected by Coronavirus and were discharged after 2.5 weeks in the hospital.
Medical research finds transmission of Coronavirus to infants from infected mothers uncommon
Citing guidelines published by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in the UK, Associate Professor Tan Hak Koon emphasised that the transmission of Coronavirus infection to the foetus from an infected mother is ‘uncommon.’ As per current medical evidence, a newborn child does not catch Coronavirus from an infected mother through breast/bottle feeding, mode of delivery or through sharing of the same room post-delivery.
A spokesperson at National University Hospital (NUH) informed that babies, who were born to infected mothers, were tested comprehensively. He added that all mother-infant pairs have tested negative for Coronavirus so far. It is however unknown as to how many pregnant women have been diagnosed with the deadly Coronavirus in Singapore.
Sitara Parveen, a young Muslim girl hailing from a small town in Bihar, who recently floored the judges of the singing reality show Indian Idol by her electrifying voice, has opened up about the challenges she faced and the societal pressure she had to confront to pursue her passion.
During the recent episode of the singing reality show, Sitara Parveen revealed how the Muslim conservative society she belongs to, ridiculed and discouraged her for following her dreams. She said that she has been learning singing since the age of five but her journey has been very difficult.
Women in our society are looked down upon if they try to excel in any field: Indian Idol contestant Sitara Parveen
Being born into a family with a humble background, she did not have the financial means to follow her passion and to add salt to her injuries, her society did not approve of her learning to sing. Sitara said that women in her society are looked down upon if they try to excel in any field. She was ridiculed by her society for singing. Her parents and brother even faced opposition from their own family members for encouraging Sitara to take up singing, revealed the Indian Idol contestant.
Sitara said that they even kept her visit to Indian Idol 12 audition rounds a secret as everyone in her society would have opposed it. She furthered that to avoid bringing shame to her family, she also keeps her singing lessons a secret and learns for a limited time period.
Muslim actresses who quit the entertainment industry for ‘Islam’
We have reported earlier how Muslim actresses like Sana Khan and ‘Dangal’ fame actress Zaira Wasim have quit Bollywood for Islam. In an Instagram post last month, Sana Khan had revealed that she had decided to quit the entertainment industry as her Faith and her profession were at loggerheads with each other.
However, Sana Khan is not the only Muslim actress to have left the film fraternity to serve ‘Islam’ and abide by the rules of Allah. Last year, ‘Dangal’ and ‘Secret Superstar’ actress Zaira Wasim too had announced her retirement from movies in a letter posted on Instagram. In the six-page letter, she said, “Bollywood took me away from Islam” and cites the interference on her religious practices as the reason for this decision. Ironically, Zaira Wasim’s role in the movie Secret Superstar was of that of a talented teenage singer who faces oppression from her conservative father.
On September 22, the Parliament passed three agriculture laws named Farmer’s Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, The Farmer (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020. The bills were introduced in the Parliament to replace the ordinances passed by the cabinet in the first week of June this year. From day one, the farmers in northern states, specifically in Punjab, are agitating against the new laws. They have blocked railway tracks demanding that the government must revoke the new laws.
The ‘Rail Roko’ protests by the farmers have caused a shortage of commodities, especially coal, in the state, forcing the Congress-led Punjab to buy electricity from other states at a higher price. These laws have led to the departure of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) from NDA, followed by the resignation of Harsimrat Kaur Badal from the post of Union Minister. The separation of the two-decades-old allies BJP and SAD has resulted in an announcement by the BJP that it will contest all 117 seats in the next assembly elections in Punjab.
The misinformation about MSP
The government of India has a provision of Minimum Selling Price (MSP) that defines the minimum price at which the government procures the agricultural produce. Since the bills were passed, opposition parties along with certain media houses and personalities resorted to spreading misinformation regarding the same. They claimed that with these new laws, the government of India is trying to go away with the MSP.
Punjab is among the top producers of wheat and paddy, the two main crops among several others that the government of India procures from the farmers under MSP. The misconception that the government will fade out MSP with these two laws has caused a stir in the Congress-led state. Captain Amrinder Singh-led Congress government in Punjab is supporting the farmers from Punjab while fuelling the misinformation about the laws. The state has already tabled a resolution to oppose center’s agriculture laws.
Attempts by the government to clear the air
As the misinformation started to grow, the government immediately came into action. Several Union Ministers and Prime Minister Narendra Modi came forward to tell the farmers that MSP is not going anywhere.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on several occasions, refuted the claims made by the opposition. On September 20, after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused that the government is fading out MSP, PM Modi said that the arrangement of MSP would continue. “I have said it before, I’m saying it again. MSP system will continue. Government will continue to procure agriculture produce. We are here to serve our farmers. We will do everything possible to support them and ensure a better life for their coming generations,” PM Modi said in a tweet.
In the September 27 episode of Mann Ki Baat, he shared the benefits of Agriculture reforms and how it will help farmers increase income. On September 29, during his address at the inauguration ceremony of Namami Gange projects in Uttarakhand, he said people are misleading the farmers about MSP. “There will not only be MSP in the country but also the freedom for farmers to sell their produce anywhere,” he said.
On September 23, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar gave an interview to ANI in which he said that the government would continue to procure products from the farmers. When he was asked that there are concerns that corporate will exploit farmers, he said that bills passed give MSP guarantee at the time of sowing a crop. Also, as per the law, the contract between the corporate and the farmer will only be for the product and not for the land. This is another misconception being spread about the laws that the farmers’ land will be at stake.
On September 23, while answering the questions on MSP, Textile Minister Smriti Irani said that the government is committed to implementing the Swaminathan Commission Report. By the time bills were passed, the MSP was already announced for 2020-21 in the parliament.
Threats to hold Delhi at ransom
There are videos of farmer union leaders floating on social media where they threaten to hold Delhi at ransom. The President of Bharat Kisan Union (Krantikari) had said that they would block the five entry points to Delhi and continue their ‘protest’. “We’ve decided that we’ll never go to Burari Park as we got proof that it’s an open jail. Delhi Police told Uttarakhand Farmer Association President that they’ll take them to Jantar Mantar but instead locked them at Burari Park”, said Surjeet S Phul, President, BKU Krantikari (Punjab).
In fact, protesting ‘farmers’ have now claimed that they are carrying ration worth four months with them to Delhi. The Aam Aadmi Party led Delhi government has also extended support to the agitating ‘farmers’ in a bid to score a few brownie points.
Why isn’t central govt holding talks with farmers
Amid all the drama that has erupted in Delhi, people have started questioning the government’s intentions. Some are alleging that the government is not interested in listening to the farmers, while others say that the government is suppressing the farmers’ voice. Many also claim that the Central government has not made any effort to reach out to the farmers. However, in reality, the government of India has been trying to have a conversation with the farmers since the beginning.
On October 7, several farmers’ unions rejected the invitation to hold a meeting on October 8 by a secretary-rank officer of the Union Agriculture Department. They said that an officer has no position to tell them if the laws are beneficial for them or not.
On October 7, the farmers rejected Government’s invite to hold meeting over the laws
On October 12, the Center again invited the farmers’ unions to talk hold a meeting on October 14 at the ministry in Delhi. The offer was also rejected by the farmers stating they will only speak to a Union Minister.
The farmers again rejected the offer to hold meeting on October 14 saying they want a Union Minister to hold the meeting
On November 10, the Center obliged their request and asked the farmers to come and meet Agriculture Minister and Railway Minister on November 13. The offer was again rejected by the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC), stating they want an invitation for farmers from pan India as the protests are not subjected to Punjab alone.
On November 10, Union Ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and Piyush Goyal asked Punjab farmers’ unions to come for a meeting
This is when the Punjab farmers were indulging in blocking railway lines in Punjab.
The offer was rejected as the Punjab farmers’ union said the government only invited them and not farmers from other states
The government of India again gave time to the farmers’ bodies to have a conversation with the government on December 3, but the farmers started to march to Delhi much before the set date.
They are demanding that the government talks to them before December 3. Despite the blackmail, Home Minister Amit Shah had said that the government is ready to talk to the farmers, but they have to move to the allotted space at Burari ground. However, the farmers rejected the offer claiming that they have confirmed information that Burari ground is an open jail.
Jyotsna Jose, who was brutally assaulted by a Communist Party of India (Marxist) goon 2 years ago, has been offered a BJP ticket to contest from Balussery Panchayat in the upcoming local body elections.
According to National General Secretary of BJP BL Santosh, Jyotsna Jose is contesting from Balussery Panchayat as a BJP candidate to end the ‘brutal, inhuman communist regime’ in Kerala.
She is Smt Jyotsna Jose . Kicked by a CPM Goon on stomach when she was pregnant . Lost her 4 1/2 months baby . Today she is a @BJP4Keralam candidate from Balussery Panchayath determined to end brutal , inhuman communist regime. pic.twitter.com/MAXMbIlMRc
Kerala woman had to abort child after being kicked by a CPI (M) goon
In February 2018, Jyotsna Jose was attacked by a CPI (M) leader named Thamby, leading to the loss of her child. She was 4.5 months pregnant at that time but had to undergo a forced termination of pregnancy after Thamby kicked her on the stomach. It was later reported that the Kodenchery police had arrested 7 people, including neighbours of the woman, in connection to the incident. Jyotsna had earlier complained of police inaction in the case. “I called the police but they said they don’t have a vehicle to come”, she was heard as saying.
The goons had come to assault her husband over a land dispute. They barged into the house and assaulted the family, including their 5-year-old son. The incident took place at night when one Saithalavi, the mediator in the land dispute, led the mob of 8 people into the house. Reportedly, the woman was tied up by the mother of one of the accused. She narrated that two men had attacked her and it was Thamby who kicked her on the stomach. When she was rushed to the hospital, the doctors informed that there was a blood clot on her placenta, leading to the loss of the child.
Screengrab of the article in India Today
Jyotsna’s husband had stated, “I have registered complaints in two stations with their names. The police had arrested only one culprit. Those men threatened me in public that they will kill me. Now, CPM leaders are asking me to exclude Thamby from my complaint and they will arrange the arrest of others. But I am firm on my decision, I will go forward till I get justice.”
Kerala local body elections
The local body elections in Kerala are scheduled to take place in three phases, on December 8, 10 and 14. The counting of votes will take place on December 16.
