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We’re not rich like US, but we’ve Islam: Pakistan PM announces ways to fight Coronavirus

OpIndia Staff
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We’re not rich like US, but we’ve Islam: Pakistan PM announces ways to fight Coronavirus

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, in his address to his nation on Monday, March 30, praised China, the country which unleashed Wuhan coronavirus on rest of the world, for tackling the deadly virus by ‘locking down 2 crore people’.

At around 3 minutes into the video, lying about Prime Minister Modi’s statement apologising to Indians about hardships faced during the lockdown, Khan claims that PM Modi “apologised for announcing lockdown without any preparations.” Truth is that Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to nation did apologise to the country for lockdown, but that was for the hardship it is causing. He, in fact, has been quite unapologetic about the lockdown that was necessary to ensure that the virus does not spread.

Then listing out ways how Pakistan is planning to combat China’s Wuhan coronavirus, Khan says that while Pakistan is not as rich as America, it has its ‘Imaan’ (faith i.e. Islam). He then says that the second strength Pakistan has is ‘youth’. “We have to use these two strengths to fight coronavirus,” he says adding that youth in Pakistan can help fight the virus as the country has a lot of young people.

Khan admits that while the PMO does not have any data regarding the coronavirus but is monitoring the data and asked for a week’s time to announce the future trends of the virus. At around 8 minute 30 seconds into the video, Imran Khan, while addressing the nation, informs them that coronavirus is a threat only for the old and people who are already sick. There is no medical evidence to suggest this. “Of these, only 4-5% people need to be hospitalised. Remaining can be cured by self-quarantine,” Khan informs his citizens. Again, there is no medical evidence to back this claim.

The cricketer turned politician then announces a relief fund to fight coronavirus, just like his Indian counterpart about whom he lied earlier in his speech. “The account details are being flashed on your screen but it will be operational after two days,” he says. Just normal Pakistan things. “No questions will be asked about the money you deposit here. You will also get tax relief on this,” Khan says.

Khan then informs that the poor who need ration amidst probable lockdown, could reach out to the government through Facebook page. “On one side we will have space where people who are sitting in villages and need ration can register themselves there. On other side, those who want to donate can register. We will then do the matchmaking,” Pakistan Prime Minister said. He did not make it clear whether there will be a government website or helpline number for such coordination especially for those who are so poor that they may not be able to afford to be on Facebook.

Delhi Government to ask Police to register FIR against Maulana of Markaz, Nizamuddin, suspected ground zero for hundreds of potential Coronavirus infections

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi Government to ask Police to register FIR against Maulana of Markaz, Nizamuddin, suspected ground zero for hundreds of potential Coronavirus infections

Delhi Government will request Delhi Police to register an FIR against the Maulana of Markaz, Nizamuddin for violating lockdown conditions imposed in the wake of the Wuhan Coronavirus pandemic, it has said. “It has come to our knowledge that administrators of Nizammuddin Markaz violated Coronavirus Lockdown conditions and now several positive cases have been found. Strong action would be taken against those in charge of this establishment,” Delhi Government said.

“Lockdown was imposed in entire India on 24th March and it was the duty of every owner and administrator of every hotel, guesthouse, hostel and similar establishment to maintain social distancing. It looks like social distancing and quarantine protocols was not practiced here,” the Delhi Government said. “By this gross act of negligence, many lives have been endangered. It was the responsibility of every citizen to proactively avoid such gathering of people during the lockdown and this is nothing but a criminal act. After the centre informed us about the first positive patient and requested assistance we moved all symptomatic patients to our medical facilities and as a safety precaution all non symptomatic contacts have been moved to the quarantine centres,” Delhi Government added.

Earlier, it was reported that between three hundred and four hundred people had attended a religious gathering at Markaz and 163 people, likely to be infected with the Chinese Coronavirus, had been admitted to Lok Nayak Hospital, Delhi. In a letter addressed to Delhi ACP Atul Kumar, the Markaz said that they were in compliance with all prohibitory orders issued by the government. “Presently several Indian as well as foreign Tableeghi volunteers belonging to different states of India and different countries remain confined and isolated inside the Markaz,” the letter said.

Dr Mohammad Shoaib, spokesperson of the Nizamuddin Markaz said, “Yesterday, we provided a list of names to the administration of those who had any health issue, including cold and fever. Some of them have been admitted in the hospital on the basis of age and travel history. We don’t have any confirmed COVID-19 case till now.”

Earlier this month, several hundred people from across India and abroad had attended the Islamic religious conference by the “Tableeghi Jamaat” preachers at the Banglewali Masjid, the Mosque near the Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah. Many cases of coronavirus deaths have now been traced to the Muslim event at the Banglewali Mosque which had seen a large gathering. The Mosque is the global centre for the Tablighi network and the origin of the Tablighi Jamaat, as per Wikipedia.

The Tableeghi Jamaat has emerged as a great medium for spreading the virus. Hundreds of people across the world have contracted the virus after attending events organized by the Islamic organization.

Karnataka: People quarantined at home have to send govt their selfies and GPS coordinates every hour, declares state government

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka: People quarantined at home have to send govt their selfies and GPS coordinates every hour, declares state government

The Karnataka Government has announced that every single citizen under home quarantine in the state will have to upload their ‘selfies’ on a government app every hour and failing to do so, teams will reach the homes of such defaulters and they will be liable to be shifted to designated quarantine centers. An exception will be made between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. when people usually sleep. The announcement was made by the state medical education minister Dr. K. Sudhakar.

The people quarantined at their homes will also need to send their GPS coordinates along with their selfies, announced the Karnataka government. “Every selfie sent by home-quarantine persons is seen by a government photo-verification team. So, if wrong photos are sent, defaulters will be shifted to mass quarantine centres,” Sudhakar said in his press release.

The announcement by the Karnataka government comes after numerous people have dodged quarantines at their homes and jeopardized the health of other people. While the move could be seen as a violation of privacy by some, such extraordinary measures have also been taken by Taiwan in order to combat the spread of the pandemic.

BACK AGAIN: After Ramayana and Mahabharata, Indian superhero Shaktimaan set to return on Doordarshan

OpIndia Staff
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BACK AGAIN: After Ramayana and Mahabharata, Indian superhero Shaktimaan set to return on Doordarshan

Doordarshan is all set to re-telecast episodes of India’s superhero Shaktimaan in the wake of the nationwide lockdown featuring Mukesh Khanna in the lead role. The episodes will be one hour long and will be aired at 1 p.m. daily on the DD National Network from the month of April.

Earlier, episodes of the Ramayana and Mahabharata had also started airing to provide people locked up in their homes with some quality wholesome entertainment amidst the nationwide lockdown in the wake of the Wuhan Coronavirus pandemic. The serials based on the great Hindu epics had enjoyed great popularity when they had been aired for the first time. The first episode of the Ramayana had crashed the Doordarshan website on its first day.

Shaktimaan enjoyed immense popularity among children. He is a superhero who gained superhuman powers through meditation and the five elemental objects of nature: Space, Earth, Air, Fire, Water. In everyday life, he disguises his true power under the alter ego of “Pandit Gangadhar Vidhyadhar Mayadhar Omkarnath Shastri”, a photographer for the newspaper Aaj Ki Aawaz. Shaktimaan’s arch nemesis is Tamraj Kilvish, the embodiment of evil and the dark forces that operate in the world. Kilvish’s trademark line is, “Andhera Kaayam Rahe (May Darkness continue to prevail”.

The title track of the show is still sung widely by those who are fans of the show. The lyrics of the track goes, “Adbhut adamya saahas ki pari bhaasha hai, Ye mitati maanavta ki aasha hai. Ye shrishti ki shakti ka vardaan hai, Ye avtar nahi hai ye insaan hai, Shaktimaan Shaktimaan Shaktimaan.”

Aajtak falsely calls food preparation by Jhandewalan Temple Trust and Sewa Bharati volunteers for needy as Kejriwal’s “Community Kitchen”

OpIndia Staff
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Aajtak falsely calls food preparation by Jhandewalan Temple Trust and Sewa Bharati volunteers for needy as Kejriwal’s “Community Kitchen”

Even as Arvind Kejriwal government is in the crosshairs for allegedly facilitating migrant worker’s travel to Uttar Pradesh and creating a law and order situation amidst nationwide lockdown against the Wuhan coronavirus, mainstream media channel AajTak went into raptures about Delhi’s AAP government’s initiatives to feed the needy and underprivileged ones amidst stricture lockdown.

In a report (it has been changed now), AajTak showed video footage and pictures of food preparation, falsely attributing to it to Arvind Kejriwal, claiming that the AAP government had commissioned a “Community Kitchen” in Delhi for providing food daily to about 10,000 hungry and needy people in Delhi. The report extolled Arvind Kejriwal for taking “exceptional measures” to provide food and shelters to the migrant workers in Delhi.

However, the video footage and images shared by AajTak were not from Arvind Kejriwal’s “Community Kitchen”. The photos and video were of the food preparation done by Jhandewalan Temple Trust and members of Sewa Bharati which was to be served to the needy and hungry people amid the coronavirus lockdown in the National Capital.

The Jhandewalan Temple Trust overlooks the Jhandewalan Temple, a Hindu temple in Delhi’s Karolbagh area, dedicated to goddess Aadi Shakti. It is among the oldest temple in Delhi and located on Jhandewalan road. The food was prepared by the volunteers and temple devotees. However, AajTak incorrectly ascribed their charitable activity to Arvind Kejriwal government.

However, after being called out for its false reportage, AajTak promptly rectified its report, giving due credit to the Jhandewalan Temple Trust for feeding 10,000 people per day. The article toned down its flattery for Arvind Kejriwal government, saying that various non-governmental organisations such as temple trusts have stepped up to assist the migrant workers by providing them with food and shelter.

Speaking to OpIndia, one of the full-time members of Sewa Bharati, Bhupendra claimed that the kitchen has been set up since March 22 where daily food for 30,000 people is being prepared. He also issued a clarification claiming that besides Jhandewalan Temple Trust and Sewa Bharati, there is no third party involved in the operation of the kitchen.

Of late, Kejriwal government was under severe criticism for allegedly transporting migrant workers to the Uttar Pradesh border, causing a grave public health crisis as thousands of workers lined up at the border amidst the coronavirus lockdown. The Yogi Adityanath government quickly swung into action, commissioning 1000 buses to take the migrant workers waiting at the border to their respective villages. The Uttar Pradesh government later accused Arvind Kejriwal led AAP government in Delhi of playing petty politics, lying and spreading rumours, risking the lives of migrant workers at the time of a crisis as serious as the Coronavirus pandemic.

‘Bakwas Band Karo​’: CM Yogi Adityanath reprimands Noida DM over Coronavirus preparations, DM transferred after requesting leave

OpIndia Staff
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‘Bakwas Band Karo​’: CM Yogi Adityanath reprimands Noida DM over Coronavirus preparations, DM transferred after requesting leave

In a video that has gone viral on social media, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath can be heard rebuking the District Magistrate strongly over preparation to tackle the Coronavirus outbreak. The rebuke came at a meeting to analyse the increasing COVID-19 cases in the region and the recent migrant crisis at the UP-Delhi border. Yogi told the DM to stop speaking nonsense and not keep on blaming each other. It was all captured on camera.

Yogi told the Noida DM, “Bakwaas band karo apna (Stop speaking nonsense). You have ruined the atmosphere here by doing such nonsense. Instead of fulfilling your responsibilities, you blame each other. And we had issued an alert two months earlier here, for the whole state.” It is not clear what the context of Yogi’s words were and in response to what they were said. But it is quite clear that he was very angry with the person his words were directed at.

As per reports, the Noida DM has now asked for a leave of three months and requested that he be relieved of his duties. In a letter to the General Secretary, B.N. Singh, the DM, has said that he does not wish to continue in the position due to personal reasons. He also requested for someone else to be appointed on his behalf.

Source: Aditya Raj Kaul/Twitter

Meanwhile, Singh has been transferred and Suhas LY will be the new district magistrate of Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary R.K. Tiwari said.

Gautam Budh Nagar has witnessed a spurt in cases and it has the highest number of cases among all regions of the Uttar Pradesh. As per Covid19org, the district had 30 cases as of the time of writing this report. The district has emerged as one of the hotspots for the spread of the virus in the state.

BMC directs dead bodies of Coronavirus patients to be cremated irrespective of religion, circular withdrawn after NCP minister Nawab Malik steps in

OpIndia Staff
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BMC directs dead bodies of Coronavirus patients to be cremated irrespective of religion, circular withdrawn after NCP minister Nawab Malik steps in

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation commissioner Praveen Pardeshi today issued a directive mandating cremation of dead bodies of Coronavirus patients regardless of their religion as one of the containment measures to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus in Mumbai.

In a circular issued regarding the “Disposal of Dead bodies of Covid-19”, the city civic body decreed that all those who have died of COVID-19 will be cremated irrespective of their religion, strongly advising against following the rituals that entail touching of the dead body. The edict read that the order was taken after it was brought to the notice of Commissioner Pardeshi that all the burial grounds in the city were located in highly dense localities with a high risk of contamination of dense community/residential areas in the vicinity.

Notice by Municipal Corporation

In addition, the circular also highlighted that the burial of a body packed in a plastic bag delays early decomposition of the body and poses a threat of further transmission of the virus. The notice called upon the Assistant Commissioners to inform about the same to local leaders, adding that the funeral for the deceased should not involve more than 5 people.

Read: Wuhan coronavirus outbreak: 12 members of Maharashtra family test positive, 4 of them had returned from Haj

It also instructed the hospital authority to inform the local police station before handing over the body to the relatives, contingent upon the confirmation received from the family members of abiding by the above instructions.

The notice also added that if someone is insistent on burying the dead body of a COVID-19 patient, he will be permitted only if the dead body is taken out of the Mumbai city’s jurisdiction in a burial ground and transport and other arrangements are made by the same person, following all the mandated guidelines and advised precautions as given for the disposal of dead bodies of Covid-19 patients.

However, as expected, the circular seem to have been withdrawn after the outrage of ‘secular’ alliances of Shiv Sena in Maharashtra. NCP leader and Minority minister of Maharashtra, Nawab Malik tweeted about the same.

Nawab Malik wrote, “This is to bring to your kind attention that I have spoken to @mybmc Commissioner Mr. Praveen Pardeshi regarding the circular issued by him for cremation of those who have lost their lives due to the #CoronaVirus.”

We will sell it: Watch how some people are hoarding food items to profit amidst the Coronavirus lockdown

OpIndia Staff
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We will sell it: Watch how some people are hoarding food items to profit amidst the Coronavirus lockdown

Although it is early days of the coronavirus outbreak in the country, the crisis has already gotten the worst out of some of the depraved citizens of the society. Seemingly well-to-do people who have sufficient reserves of food and essential items in their homes have shunned any remaining modicum of morality and shamelessly indulged in rampant stockpiling of food and items of daily necessities as the country girds itself to battle the fallout of the nationwide lockdown amidst its fight against the virus.

Several videos are now doing the rounds on the Internet showing how scores of people are exploiting the current lockdown to make a profit out of a tragedy. Despite having an adequate amount of rations stocked up in their houses, they are calling up police and law enforcement officials to procure supplies of free food. In a series of tweets posted by Social Media user, Nandita Thakur, shows how people are amassing free food and essential items from multiple sources, only to rake in money out of it.

In the video, some police officials are seen carrying food to a family, which apparently had no food to eat because of the sweeping lockdown announced in the wake of coronavirus threat. However, when the police officials reach the house to deliver them food, they are astounded to see one of the female members of the family already cooking food. When they probe further about the availability of food, they see sacks of food grains and packets of packaged food stored in what appeared as the kitchen of the house. When asked for whom do they need the extra food for, the family members brazenly respond that they would sell the procured food.

In another video, suspicious police officers find stacks of food grains such as wheat, pulses, rice hidden beneath the bed. According to the police officials, the family had called up 112 emergency number complaining about the unavailability of food due to lockdown. However, when the police officials deliver packets of food to the family, they get suspicious of the family’s claim that they had no food to eat. After fishing around in the house, they find large quantities of wheat flour, rice grains, salt packets and other essential items hidden in various rooms of the house.

While the country prepares itself to battle out the novel coronavirus, some of the immoral members of the society are busing undermining government’s efforts in minimising the impact of lockdown on the vulnerable sections of the society. However, despite having an abundance of food provisions already stocked up in their houses, these people deviously hid those supplies and had no qualms in applying for free food service by the government which was meant explicitly for providing food to the needy and underprivileged sections of the society.

Uttar Pradesh: Here is how you can make a contribution to UP Chief Minister Distress Relief Fund for Wuhan Coronavirus

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Here is how you can make a contribution to UP Chief Minister Distress Relief Fund for Wuhan Coronavirus

India is in the midst of its fight against an intractable contagion that emanated from the Central Chinese city of Wuhan and now threatens to overwhelm the entire country. PM Modi announced an emergency relief fund where people can make a voluntary contribution to support the government’s battle against Coronavirus. Soon thereafter, various chief ministers too announced state relief funds to solicit funds from people to help the victims of the infection.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has started a COVID-19 relief fund under the chief minister’s office. A bank account has been opened where people can make discretionary donation to financially support the Uttar Pradesh government’s efforts in tackling the virus.

Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund: Savings Bank 1378820696, Central Bank of India, CBI Cantt. Road, Lucknow; Branch Code: 281571; IFSC Code: CBIN0281571. Those living abroad can use Swift Code: CBININBBLKO for contributing their part to the UP CM’s fund.

With no vaccine or antidote to the virus yet developed, the most efficacious method to abate the ravaging run of the infection is through exercising social distancing and adhering to strict restrictions. In line with this wisdom, PM Modi last week announced a sweeping lockdown of the entire country for 21 days until April 15 to stave off the crisis presented by the coronavirus. Citizens were advised to stay put where they were and avoid mass gatherings to contain the spread of the disease.

However, on Saturday, another crisis erupted in Delhi when a raft of migrant workers, an overwhelming number of whom come from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, defied lockdown instructions and hoofed it over to the state border with Uttar Pradesh with the aim to leave for the home. It is now being alleged that the Delhi government facilitated the migrant worker’s travel to the state border.

Caught off-guard by the sudden pandemonium at the border where thousands of people congregated, providing a hotbed for coronavirus to proliferate, the UP government quickly swung into action and provided 1000 buses to ferry the stranded migrant workers to their hometowns amidst the palpable threat from coronavirus. Those stuck at the border were also provided with packaged food and drinking water. The buses later left for Kanpur, Ballia, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Azamgarh, Faizabad, Basti, Pratapgarh, Sultanpur, Amethi, Rae Bareli, Gonda, Etawah, Bahraich and Shravasti.

So far, 1150 coronavirus cases have emerged across the country, with Kerala, Maharashtra and Delhi topping the list of states with the maximum number of infections.

You had power to implement lockdown: Arvind Kejriwal faces heat from Centre for facilitating exodus of migrant workers amidst lockdown

OpIndia Staff
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You had power to implement lockdown: Arvind Kejriwal faces heat from Centre for facilitating exodus of migrant workers amidst lockdown

Following a high-level meeting by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Anil Baijal had written a letter to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday evening wherein he slammed the CM for the exodus of migrant workers from Delhi, amidst the coronavirus lockdown, reported Hindustan Times. Baijal blamed the Delhi Government for its failure to provide basic facilities and reassure the migrant workers of their well-being.

The Lieutenant Governor also pointed out that Arvind Kejriwal had all the powers to effectively implement the lockdown in Delhi. As such, it made no sense for the Delhi Government to allow the use of DTDC buses to ferry migrant workers to the Uttar Pradesh border. This defeated the very purpose of the lockdown. Keeping the future in mind, Anil Baijal had also asked the State government to convince migrant workers to shift to government-run shelter homes where food and shelter would be provided.

To do away with the migrant workers in the national capital amidst the pandemic, the AAP government earlier allegedly spread the rumour that buses have been waiting at the UP borders to take them to their respective households. This impelled the mass exodus of these migrant labourers, now camping at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border, in an attempt to return to their respective villages.

On Sunday, the Central Government directed the governments of all States and Union Territory administrations to seal their borders in order to restrict the movement of migrant workers during the nationwide lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the wake of Wuhan Coronavirus outbreak.

The States have also been directed to restrict the movement of people across cities and on highways. Only the movement of goods and essential supplies are to be permitted. Migrant workers who have violated lockdown guidelines and travelled to other states are to be kept under quarantine for 14 days in government facilities.

Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba and Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla briefed the DGPs and Chief Secretaries to make adequate provisions for food and shelter for the migrant workers. Besides, the States had been directed to make timely payment of wages without any cut to the migrant workers at the place of their work.  The same was reiterated by Anil Baijal in his strongly-worded letter to Arvind Kejriwal.

A Home Ministry official said that the exodus of migrant workers may make the nation pay dearly for the violation of lockdown guidelines. He added, “It is going to be a massive exercise… was completely avoidable.”

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has also initiated disciplinary action against four bureaucrats in Delhi for failing to ensure COVID-19 lockdown. Two officers, including Additional Chief Secretary (Transport) and Principal Secretary (Finance), had been suspended with immediate effect. Show-cause notices were also served to the Additional Chief Secretary (Home and Land Buildings) and SDM (Seelampur). The punitive action came after a massive crowd of migrant workers flocked to Anand Vihar and “jeopardized the safety of crores of other citizens”.

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