On Tuesday, an armed man reportedly took 20 people hostage after seizing a bus at 9:25 am (local time) in Lutsk, Ukraine. As per the report, the man is in possession of weapons and explosives. The city of Lutsk is 400 km away from the Ukrainian capital Kyiv.
Reportedly, the Ukrainian police have now sealed off the centre of the city. The police officers have been able to establish his identity and are now trying to contact him. As per reports, the man had been disenchanted by the ‘Ukraine’s system’, and he expressed his frustration about the same on social media.
However, the attacker has claimed that he has also seized another bus and taken people hostage. The armed man has also threatened to blow up the bus. “Gunshots have been heard, the bus is damaged”, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was quoted as saying. As per reports, it has not been clear whether any of the hostages are injured. Zelenskiy added that they are trying to solve the crisis with any fatalities.
In a video that has now surfaced online, the attacker has reportedly urged people to not trust the ‘system’ of the country. He goes by the Twitter account Maxim Plohoy and his bio reads, “Author of the book Philosophy of Criminal.” According to his anarchist-like manifesto, he believes that today is ‘anti-system’ day and his death will not prevent the ‘truth’.
Several armoured vehicles have been deployed at the crime scene. Besides, snipers have been positioned at key locations on rofftops.
It seems like Kangana Ranaut’s recent interview with Arnab Goswami on Republic TV is not going to fade away anytime soon. It is creating a massive gap between people in the Hindi film industry. On Tuesday, Ranvir Shorey posted a tweet in which he pointed out that “independent film crusaders” has turned into “mainstream Bollywood flunkies.” Anurag Kashyap, who has been having periodic meltdowns, took the offence on himself and initiated an argument with Ranvir that caught a lot of eyes on social media.
Ranvir, in his tweet on Tuesday, wrote, “So many independent-film-crusaders have turned mainstream-Bollywood-flunkies now. These are the same people who used to rant 24/7 about the “system” for attention before they were given entry into the pearly gates of mainstream Bollywood. #Hypocrisy much?”
So many independent-film-crusaders have turned mainstream-bollywood-flunkies now. These are the same people who used to rant 24/7 about the “system” for attention before they were given entry into the pearly gates of mainstream Bollywood. #Hypocrisy much?
Anurag Kashyap, who attacked Kangana in a series of Tweet hinting that she is being “used”, thought the sly reference of independent film crusaders turning mainstream Bollywood flunkies was on him and threw a fit. He threw an elaborated meltdown and confronted Shorey quoting his tweet. He asked Shorey to tell whom he is referring to. Shorey, who did not take any names in his tweet, asked Anurag ‘try not to be his shrink’ as Kashyap asked him not to mix pain of his past relationship in the debate.
Do you really mean that @RanvirShorey . If you do please explain . Please say exactly what you mean and whose flunky is who? https://t.co/3NiuhFrVj7
I always say what I mean, @anuragkashyap72, you know that. And I don’t think what I’ve said lacks any clarity. It pretty much explains everything. As for taking names, that’s beneath me. I’m not trying to sling mud, but just reminding people where they come from. https://t.co/r4BRBH8Mwo
Shorey mentioned that he had worked even more alone than the director that irked him even further. Anurag responded to him and said, “I operate alone and have always done. I am seeing an old friend disintegrating and getting used and I am talking about that.” He added that he is not defending anyone and no one is paying him.
So let’s talk . Right here. Whose flunky you think I am ? Dont mix the pain of your past relationship with this debate. I will say everything here .. the correction is needed in this industry like every industry . I operate alone .. bolo .
Taking nepotism in the context, Kashyap said that he is one of those artists who had worked with the outsiders the most. He said, “I can see what’s wrong with all that is going on and I see the game being played and people being used. Trust me I am not gutted by what you said, no one could gut me in 27 years.”
Ranvir pointed out Kashyap’s mistake of assuming himself at the centre of “independent film crusader”. He added, “Let me remind you, independent cinema has been and always will be more than you. So you be you, and let others be themselves. Don’t belittle others when they’re crying out.”
I think you’re making the mistake of carrying the mantle of “independent film crusader” all by yourself. Let me remind you, independent cinema has been and always will be more than you. So you be you, and let others be themselves. Don’t belittle others when they’re crying out.
Anurag sarcastically replied that he is sorry to take the tweet on himself and he had misread Ranvir. He said, “Oh so you weren’t talking about me? That’s incredible. Totally my fault that I misread you. Which means my replies were totally unnecessary and unwarranted.” Anurag further cornered Ranvir on his allegation that Kashyap was belittling people and asked him to prove it.
Oh so you weren’t talking about me? That’s incredible . Totally my fault that I misread you . Which means my replies were totally unnecessary and unwarranted . Cool . Coming to belittling – who did I belittle? Exactly ?? I thank no that one is directed at me for sure ?
Ranvir posted a screenshot of his tweet and asked him why he is trying to control people’s narrative. By doing such, he is belittling people. He said, “Everyone has the right to talk about their pain, just like you! And yes, your replies to me were unnecessary. I’m not here to make a spectacle.”
How many people are you belittling when you say they are “distracting or changing the narrative”? Who are you to control the narrative? Everyone has the right to talk about their pain, just like you! And yes, your replies to me were unnecessary. I’m not here to make a spectacle. pic.twitter.com/SUUG1TLC6g
Anurag further tried to poke Ranvir to take names and said that he ‘agree to disagree’ with him as it seems he took Kangana’s outbursts as ‘pain’. Ranvir again pointed out that he is not making any names and he will keep defending everyone’s right to speak their own truth. He said, “Who is to say who is in real pain and who’s an attention seeker? I’m just defending everyone’s right to speak their own truth. Just like you do. You can agree or disagree with.”
Again, I wasn’t mentioning any names, you are. Who is to say who is in real pain and who’s an attention seeker? I’m just defending everyone’s right to speak their own truth. Just like you do. You can agree or disagree.
Ranvir posted the tweet hours after Kashyap posted a thread on Twitter alleging Kangana is being used and no one is trying to control her. Anurag said in his thread that Kangana was once his good friend, but her recent outrage is senseless. Kangana in her reply lashed out at him saying the way Urban Naxals protect terrorists, they now protect movie mafia.
Sharjeel Imam, who was arrested for his seditious statements in the Jamia violence case, has tested positive for Chinese coronavirus reports New18. A Special Cell team of Delhi Police is in Assam where Sharjeel has been kept in jail. The Special Cell team got his coronavirus test as they wanted to bring him back to Delhi. As per the report published in Hari Bhoomi, he has been tested positive, which may delay the process to bring him back for a while.
Sharjeel Imam jailed for his alleged inflammatory speeches during the CAA & NRC protests tests Positive for #Covid19. He will be brought to Delhi from Assam only after he test negative. pic.twitter.com/nzyuVrGjOs
Delhi Police booked Imam under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The Delhi Police recently filed an application in the Saket court for additional time to complete the investigation. The court previously asked the Police to complete the investigation in 90 days. The court granted additional time which was opposed by Sharjeel in the High Court while applying for bail. The High Court categorically denied Imam’s bail application.
Who is Sharjeel Imam
Former student of Jawaharlal University and The Wire columnist, Sharjeel Imam is one of the accused charged for his anti-India speeches during anti-CAA protests that lead to anti-Hindu riots in Delhi. In one of his speeches, he urged his followers to cut northeast states’ connection with the rest of India. He gave controversial statements at Jamia Islamia University and in other parts of the country. According to the police, his speech led to arson in Aligarh.
In an unprecedented move, the Uddhav Thackeray led government in Maharashtra has, in a resolution, approved of giving Rs 50,000 per year to every Bombay High Court judge for buying spectacles. As per the resolution, even the dependant family members of the judges like spouse and children are covered under the scheme. Which means even they are eligible to use this fund on the purchase or maintenance of their spectacles.
Uddhav Thackeray government to spend Rs 33.5 lakh from the state’s exchequers funds annually on spectacles
There are currently 67 sitting judges in the Bombay High Court. Which means that with this decision, the Maharashtra government is set to spend Rs 33.5 lakh from the state’s exchequers funds annually on the judges’ ‘spectacle allowance’.
Elucidating on the high amount allotted by the state government for mere spectacles, Legal Advisor and Joint Secretary, Yogesh Ameta stated that the amount is said to include the recurring expense as well.
The government resolution, signed by Legal Advisor and Joint Secretary Yogesh Ameta was passed on July 10, 2020. According to reports, the proposal was first discussed five to six months ago between the then chief justice and the then chief secretary Ajoy Mehta. After negotiations, the amount of Rs 50,000 was agreed between the parties.
Ajoy Mehta, now an advisor to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and the Legal Advisor and Joint Secretary Yogesh Ameta were unavailable for comments on Tuesday.
At the time when the state of Maharashtra is plagued by the coronavirus outbreak, continuing to account for both the highest fatalities and caseload in the country, this outlandish decision by the Uddhav Thackeray government is sure to raise quite a few eyebrows.
PETA India, in a recent press release, has ‘apologised’ for its recent billboard connecting the Hindu festival of Rakshabandhan with leather consumption. However, in doing so, they have only engaged in more Hinduphobia and the ‘apology’ comes across as a shoddy attempt to further cast aspersions on Hindus criticising them for their selective activism.
PETA India said in the press release that the new billboard will carry the images of the cow and buffalo with the words, “I’m Someone, Not Something. Always Go Leather-Free.” Its prior billboard urged people to go ‘leather-free’ for Rakshabandhan.
PETA campaign on Raksha Bandhan in Ahmedabad draws ire (its first billboard)
The organisation said in its press release, “While PETA India’s first billboard generated tremendous interest in vegan clothing, and brought significant praise, it was also the subject of a misunderstanding from people genuinely confused by the message, thinking PETA India opposed rakhis as being made of leather, although the group never alleged this and the message was not about rakhis at all; and a downright hateful attempt to stir up trouble by those opposed to PETA India’s work to end jallikatu and the lifetime chaining of elephants in temples.”
The press release said further, “PETA India’s original ad resulted in a 530% rise in views of our video expose of leather cruelty than normal; a 1000% rise in views of our meat, egg and dairy industry expose; and a barrage of requests on information for leather-free shopping, but meat-eaters are among those who began creating deliberate confusion on social media, even maliciously attempting to communalise the campaign.”
PETA India new billboard (Image Credit: PETA India)
Thus, in what is supposed to be an apology, PETA India instead claims that there was no fault committed on its part and instead, blamed Hindus for the whole controversy. One needs to ask at this point, if they do not even believe that they have committed any fault, then what is even the apology about? Furthermore, its clarification over the billboard tying Rakshabandhan with leather consumption rings extremely hollow as people on social media had reached only the most obvious conclusion.
Even in its excuse of an ‘apology’, PETA India targeted Hindu traditions and festivals. Recently, it even made an attempt to remove Lakshmi the Elephant from her home at the Manakula Vinayagar Temple permanently, claiming that she was being oppressed at her home. After the intervention of the Chief Minister of Puducherry himself, the Elephant returned to her home recently.
PETA India also attacked Jallikattu in its apology, which was banned for a while due to intervention by animal activists. However, the ban was lifted after governments intervened in the matter. It appears that even after their efforts failed, they have not given up on their delusions of having the Hindu festival banned.
PETA India has also accused Hindus of ‘communalising’ the whole affair when it was the animal activist organisation which communalised the issue with their selective activism. Its conduct in recent times has been extremely callous to put it mildly. They have gone after a columnist in cohorts with Congress supporters and Islamists for criticising their selective activism.
PETA India has also lied outright about not having a foreigner as their Chief Functionary when Ingrid Newkirk held that position as per their own submissions to the Home Ministry. And now, it has come up with a shoddy ‘apology’ where it has engaged in blaming the Hindu community instead of truly apologising to people whose sentiments it has hurt through its selective activism.
The Russians say they already have a vaccine. Yesterday, Oxford University declared that their vaccine has delivered satisfactory results in the first round of trials. For India, the news is no less encouraging. Yesterday at AIIMS Delhi, the ICMR began human trials of Covaxin, India’s candidate for a vaccine against Covid-19.
History will remember these moments. All of humanity, huddled together in anticipation, putting everything in the able hands of scientists.
This brings back memories from last year, when all of India was waiting for a technical triumph in space. For ISRO’s Chandrayaan-2 to deliver the Vikram lander on the surface of the moon. India was up all night to witness history. But it did not happen. So close and yet …
The collective heartbreak was an important lesson. Both success and failure are integral to science. In fact, what makes science great is that it admits both success and failure. Have you ever seen a journalist or political pundit go wrong? Or an opinion poll from Yogendra Yadav? But scientists go wrong all the time. Then, they work hard and figure out what’s right. That’s what makes scientists valuable to the world.
So let’s remember this. While we all hope for success in the vaccine trials, things could go wrong. The scientists might have to start all over again.
So while these trials are going on, can the liberal media please promise to be decent and respectful no matter what the outcome? The last thing we want to see is some liberal screaming at ICMR researchers in the same way as NDTV’s Pallava Bagla yelled at ISRO scientists.
If you want to see the pathetic state of Indian Journalism, watch how the journalist is shouting at an ISRO Scientist during such tension.
Who remembers the face of the mild mannered ISRO scientist, flustered, and stunned? And the fury of Pallava Bagla, loud, arrogant and ignorant?
While Bagla apologized (sort of), the underlying attitude problems in the media remain. Probably because understanding success and failure in science requires a perspective very different from that generally adopted by media.
Here, for instance, is somebody who fails to understand.
Dhume siding with Bagla
Journalists are brought up to believe that things go wrong either because somebody has been paid off or not been paid off. Their minds cannot comprehend a glitch caused by a speck of dust in space, or a single bug in a million lines of code. Or even a simple malfunction.
Even the top media minds cannot understand.
Prannoy Roy defending Pallava Bagla
So Pallava Bagla has done a lot for ISRO by covering it. Presumably, this gave them exposure, which advanced their careers in science. Wait! That’s how careers are made in Bollywood, not science. Sorry Prannoy.
As the human trials of India’s vaccine proceed, we have to be prepared for both success and failure. If we succeed, great. If we fail, we go back to the drawing board and try again.
All we need from liberal media is to be decent and respectful about things they cannot understand. The other day, I saw a liberal celebrity, much revered for her political opinions, tell a smart-ass comedian that she will cure herself with a vaccine if she happens to get the Coronavirus. Then they shared a laugh about gaumutra and the Hindu right. Sit down, both of you. You don’t even understand what a vaccine is.
No, the liberal media doesn’t have to become a cheerleader. You don’t have to run after their car like the NDTV reporter who chased down Rahul Gandhi to ask about the taste of jalebi made from gur. Just maintain a respectful distance from the science and the scientists. And report whatever happens. That will be enough.
On Tuesday, the Uttar Pradesh police have reportedly apprehended eight people in connection to the attack on a local journalist named Vikram Joshi in Vijaynagar area of Ghaziabad. The group of miscreants had fired shots at him on Monday night when Joshi was returning from his sister’s house with his daughters on a motorcycle.
As per report, shots were fired at Joshi after he complained to the police about the harassment meted out to his niece. The journalist came under a volley of bullets, one of which struct the head of the victim. He was then admitted to the Yashoda Hospital in Ghaziabad where his condition was stated a critical. Reportedly, the brazen attack was caught on CCTV camera.
Joshi, a local journalist associated with Jan Sagar Today, was returning from his sister’s house at around 10.30 pm on Monday night when he was attacked. The police have arrested 8 accused named Ravi, Chhotu, Mohit, Dalveer, Akash, Yogendra, Shaquir, and Abhishek. Another accused named Akash Bihari is absconding.
In the viral CCTV video, Joshi is seen being stopped by a group of men. He was then dragged to a nearby car and physically assaulted. While initially, the daughters tried to run away from the miscreants, one of them came to his rescue. Josh’s daughter kept crying and pleading for help.
CCTV footage of journalist Vikram Joshi in UP’s Ghaziabad waylaid by armed assailants, assaulted in the middle of a busy street and shot at in the head. Joshi, in critical condition now, had recently made a police complaint against local goons for harassing her niece. pic.twitter.com/yiCkKJgWQ9
According to Aniket Joshi, the brother of Vikram Joshi, the journalist was attacked for trying to stop the harassment of his niece. Reportedly, Joshi had recently filed a complaint against some local miscreants who were harassing his niece. Reportedly, a case was registered at the Vijayanagar police station, following the complaint of the victim’s brother. He, however, alleged that no arrests were made during that time. He claimed that the same miscreants who harassed his niece had attacked his brother.
As per the New Indian Express report, a local beat in charge named Raghavendra was immediately suspended after the victim’s family alleged that he had ignored their complaints and avoided taking swift action.
Tagore International School in Vasant Vihar, Delhi came under fire recently for hosting a session on gender identity politics in order to brainwash children. Images of the visuals that the children were exposed to has shocked people on social media across the board. The sessions at the school were conducted by Nazariya- Queer Feminist Resource Group (Nazariya QFRG).
Now, another shocking post of Nazariya QFRG has started gaining traction on social media. In the said post, the organisation was advertising a planner/colouring book for students that had the image of a nude woman wearing a dildo, a female sex toy. The colouring book also had the image of a nude woman masturbating on the bottom left corner. And the caption read, “Discount for students Rs.100”.
Screengrab of Nazariya’s facebook post
Given the dangerous activism Nazariya QFRG was engaging in, we decided to investigate its background. And we discovered that these are not fringe elements but are quite mainstream within the domain of LGBT activism. Nazariya QFRG was started by three individuals: Rituparma Borah, Ritambhara Mehta and Purnima Gupta.
According to the wordpress website of the organisation, “Rituparna has also been involved in building Muslim girl’s leadership programme through ICT in Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh). She has also contributed towards Adolescence Education Programme training material published by the National Council on Education, Research and Training (NCERT).” She is also involved with the Delhi Queer Pride.
Ritambhara is a co-director at Nazariya QFRG “responsible for networking, fundraising, programme and organizational development and implementation.” Purnima is a “trainer on issues of gender, caste and sexuality. She also creates training modules, conducts evaluations & research and does advocacy on adult literacy, women’s and gender and sexuality education.”
Ritambhara and Rituparna in a recent interview said, “We conduct workshops in colleges, universities and different organisations on gender, sexuality and LGBTQI+ issues. We have been working with the corporates to sensitise them to sexual harassment in the workplace and promote diversity and inclusion. We also run a helpline, do crisis intervention work, provide free mental health counselling and conduct research and advocacy.” Thus, quite clearly, their problematic activism has raised no eyebrows within the LGBT community.
The Nazariya QFRG members said further, “International NGOS and donors can make funds easily available for small Community Based Organisations. The protocols of many donors are very stringent making it very difficult for small organisations with fewer resources, but greater connection to people who would benefit from funding, to fulfil all the criterions.”
They added, “There are funders who are more focussed on programmes than salaries of people which is also a hindrance to small groups which work with a smaller staff. Reviewing, reducing, dismantling or helping smaller organisations to fulfill these criterions would move money quicker and more easily to the places it can have the biggest impact.”
The further acceptability of Nazariya QFRG in LGBT activist circles became evident when a verified Twitter handle with close to 180,000 followers (as of the time of writing this report) provided them with a platform on social media.
The tweet by Safecity
Members of the Nazariya QFRG has also appeared on television debates of prominent news channels such as India Today as an ‘activist’.
Tweet by India Today, retweeted by Nazariya QFRG
Nazariya QFRG has also been invited to events endorsed by the NITI Aayog.
Unage Credit: @Shampa_Sengupta/Twitter
Thus, quite clearly, Nazariya QFRG is extremely mainstream in the arena of LGBT activism. That its toxic activism and the brainwashing of children has not raised eyebrows yet only further casts aspersions on the nature of such activism. It does not take the IQ of Einstein to realise why exposing adolescents to colouring books with nude women masturbating and wearing sex toys is not conducive to their holistic development.
Furthermore, if information on such matters has to reach children at that age, it is better for society at large if it comes from the immediate near and dear ones of the children and not from strange elements in schools. Nazariya QFRG also showed the photograph of a man with enlarged breasts breastfeeding a baby, which was found disturbing by people across social media.
We have explained in a separate article how gender identity politics harms children irreparably. Governments, both at the state and national level, must take active measures to prevent such activism from gaining ground in India. However, it appears that out of public attention, such entities have been slowly infiltrating our society and brainwashing our children.
The government has a duty to help ordinary people carry on with their lives normally without interference from radical elements who wish to uproot the entire fabric of social organisation root, branch and stem. The influence of such organisations in schools and our education system could very well prove to be catastrophic for our society.
It has been over a month since the death of talented bollywood actor Sushant Singh. A police investigation has been launched to determine the reasons that provoked Sushant to take the extreme step of ending his own life.
Even as an investigation into the death of Sushant Singh Rajput is underway, popular news daily Mid-day peddled an unsubstantiated story, claiming that the Kai Po Che actor was suffering from ‘bipolar disorder’. The article published in the news daily claimed that one of the psychiatrists of a leading hospital contended in his deposition to the police that the actor was suffering from ‘bipolar disorder’.
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness characterised by drastic shifts in mood. The symptoms of the disorder can include an extremely elevated mood called mania. They can also include episodes of depression. Bipolar disorder is also known as bipolar disease or manic depression.
The article published in the Mid-day asserted that one of the three psychiatrists interrogated by the Bandra Police in the case of Sushant Singh Rajput’s suicide has stated that the actor was suffering from ‘bipolar disorder’. A similar claim was also made in an article published by Times Now, where it said that the doctors who were consulted by Sushant stated that he was suffering from ‘bipolar disorder’. Even news reports on DNA and Zee News said that Sushant was afflicted by bipolar disorder and wasn’t taking his medicines regularly.
The article had gone ahead to suggest the deceased actor was not taking his medicines. Citing the Mid-Day report, film editor Apurva Asrani had called out the efforts to tarnish Sushant’s image.
Apurva Asrani’s tweet
However, when Film editor and screenwriter Apurva Asrani questioned the veracity of the claims made in the article, the news daily quietly edited the article and Sushant Singh Rajput’s purported illness was changed to ‘depression’.
Today Mid-Day carried a story claiming a psychiatrist confirmed #SushantSinghRajput had 'bipolar disorder'. After I called out the anonymous source, the article was edited & his illness was changed to 'depression'. Dont let your hate for Kangana allow for a cover up of injustice. pic.twitter.com/9wnJzfiG0T
The Film editor then went on to allege that the hatred for Kangana, who has been vocal in her support for Sushant Singh Rajput and has cast aspersions on some powerful personalities of Bollywood industry for continuing nepotism, is being channelled to cover up an injustice.
Sushant’s death triggers allegations of nepotism, harassment and exploitation in Bollywood
In the wake of Sushant’s demise, a groundswell of opposition had developed against the Bollywood bigwigs, accusing them of abetting his suicide by perpetuating the culture of nepotism and professional harassment of ‘outsiders’ in the industry. A large number of people on social media, aided by the reports of Sushant Singh Rajput being rejected by a number of well-known production houses, firmed up the popular belief that the actor was shunted on account of being an outsider.
This belief unleashed a wave of fury and discontent against ‘bigwigs’ like Mahesh Bhatt, Karan Johar, Yashraj Films and several other prominent individuals of the Bollywood industry, alleging that the culture fostered by them had led Sushant to take away his life.
As the blame of Sushant’s alleged suicide pivoted on Bollywood bigwigs and major movie makers, popular Bollywood critics and starlets came together to patronisingly assert that the Kai Po Che actor was ailing from a mental illness. Bollywood critic Subash K Jha had also penned an article claiming how Sushant, who many believe was bullied and pushed over the edge, was ‘mentally unstable’.
It was also pointed out how the talented actor was hounded with an extremely negative PR machinery that included baseless gossips, allegations and claims made by movie critics and gossip columnists to criticise and defame the actor. Apurva Asrani had earlier also called out movie critic Rajeev Masand for his ‘vicious and cowardly blind items’ against Sushant Rajput.
While it is still early to ascertain the true reasons that pushed Sushant over the edge, efforts were already underway by the media and Bollywood coterie to paint Sushant as a patient of clinical depression and absolve themselves from the collective guilt of his death.
With the coronavirus caseloads in India surging past the 11.5 lakhs mark, the efforts to arrive at a COVID-19 vaccine have accelerated in the country. The indigenously developed vaccine–COVAXIN has entered the critical human trails phase.
12 centres across the country selected for human trials of COVAXIN
About 12 centres across the country have been selected by India’s Premier Medical Research Body, ICMR, where the phase 1 and 2 of the human trials of the vaccine would be conducted. After Haryana’s PGI, human trials of the COVAXIN are all set to start in another Bhubaneswar-based institute.
A special laboratory is set up at the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM(IMS and SUM) Hospital, pursuant to the protocols laid down by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). The human trials of BBV152 COVID Vaccine will begin on Wednesday at the said facility.
The first Human trials of the Bharat Biotech created vaccine had started in AIIMS Patna last week on July 15. 10 volunteers were chose to administer the vaccine. After two weeks, if the vaccine is found safe and efficacious, it will be given to more people.
On Friday last week, the Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij took to Twitter to inform that PGI Rohtak has also started the human trials of the COVAXIN. He claimed that 3 volunteers were given the vaccine and they have responded well to the antidote. He also added that no adverse side effects had been reported on the subjects so far.
In addition, human trials of the vaccine have also begun in Goa at the state’s Redkar Hospital. Goa CM Pramod Sawant informed about the same and congratulated the team for entering a crucial phase in developing the vaccine.
The director of AIIMS, Dr Randeep Guleria, said on Monday that human trials of India’s first indigenously developed coronavirus vaccine has also begun at the All India Institute Of Medical Sciences.
Volunteers to be monitored for the antibody levels in their blood
According to the guidelines set for carrying out human trials, the subjects who are administered the vaccine have to stay in the trial centre for around 2 hours for observation to rule out any possibility of adverse effect or other serious complications.
The volunteers will be given two doses within a gap of 14 days. They will be monitored and kept in touch with the trial centres. If the antibody level in their blood is found to be adequate, they can go for second and third phase of the trials.
COVAXIN expected to be released by August 15
It is pertinent to note that this is the same coronavirus vaccine that the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the apex body for the medical research in the country, had announced earlier of being released for the public use by August 15. However, it is not yet clear whether the vaccines will be ready by then.
Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech successfully developed COVAXIN™ in collaboration with the ICMR and National Institute of Virology (NIV). The SARS-CoV-2 strain was isolated in NIV, Pune and transferred to Bharat Biotech for the effort.
Besides Bharat Biotech’s COVAXIN, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) had permitted another vaccine prepared by ZydusCadila Healthcare Ltd to go in for the first and second phase of human clinical trials.
