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Coronavirus fight: RSS Swayamsevaks help create awareness, distribute masks, provide meals and help authorities

OpIndia Staff
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Coronavirus fight: RSS Swayamsevaks help create awareness, distribute masks, provide meals and help authorities

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has stepped in to help local communities and administration to put up a strong fight against the deadly Wuhan coronavirus pandemic. In a video that has now surfaced on Twitter, RSS workers are seen cleaning hospital beds and brooming floors in a bid to help the hospital authorities.

The organisation is focused on the poor and marginalised who lack awareness about the COVID-19 and ways to prevent it. As such, soaps, sanitizers and protective masks were distributed among the masses. Preventive measures were also discussed during the interaction between Swayamsevaks and the local people.

In Odisha and Karnataka, RSS Swayamsevaks have distributed masks and have conducted awareness drives. In Madhya Pradesh, they have sanitised an entire village while in Kerala, Swayamsevaks and Seva Bharti volunteers have been assisting police and fire services in cleaning and disinfection works.

Senior functionaries have revealed that around 70,000 daily shakhas of RSS and its affiliate organisations have been asked to prioritise the fight against COVID-19. Meanwhile, the top brass of the organisation is closely monitoring the situation on the ground.

RSS at work (Picture 1)
RSS at work (Picture 2)

On Thursday, the RSS had lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to contain the transmission of the deadly pathogen through Janata Curfew, a means of social distancing. RSS general secretary Bhaiyyaji Joshi said that the foot soldiers of RSS and their families must make efforts to raise awareness and contribute to the endeavours of the Central and State Governments.

A Delhi unit official of Sewa Bharati was quoted as saying, In Delhi, we have a presence in more than 300 slums. Our volunteers are helping people around by distributing food packets, masks and soaps. While doing this we are ensuring that there is no crowding.”

“Whenever there has been a natural calamity or a disaster, the RSS’ volunteers have always been on the forefront to help society deal with it. We are carrying forward this tradition though this time it appears to be the biggest-ever challenge we have faced as a society”, a functionary said on the condition of anonymity. Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that he would address the people of India about the coronavirus pandemic at 8 p.m.

Coronavirus: AltNews founder, Shekhar Gupta and others spread unverified claims by a fake twitter account

OpIndia Staff
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Coronavirus: AltNews founder, Shekhar Gupta and others spread unverified claims by a fake twitter account

Self-proclaimed fact-checker AltNews founder Pratik Sinha today retweeted a tweet from a fake account, thereby spreading misinformation to millions amidst the Wuhan Coronavirus outbreak.

Pratik Sinha’s retweet.

A Twitter handle named ‘Vikrumaditya’ who identifies himself/herself as Vasundhara Sangwan tweeted an image of a woman wearing a mask. Twitter user Vikrumaditya alias Vasundhara claimed that he/she (in the picture) is wearing the same mask since a week as doctors don’t have enough N95 masks, the masks which are more efficient in preventing the spread of the Wuhan Coronavirus. Please note that Vikrumaditya alias Vasundhara is not wearing an N95 mask in the above image.

The same tweet was retweeted by ThePrint chief and Editors Guild of India head Shekhar Gupta.

Shekhar Gupta’s retweet

Interestingly, the tweet, after it went viral, was deleted. Vikrumaditya alias Vasundhara seems to be a fake account and quite possibly spreading fake news. Soon after deleted the viral tweet, Vikrumaditya alias Vasundhara tweeted a clarification that he/she is not affiliated to any political party or any group.

Vikrumaditya’s tweet giving clarification, now deleted.

“My only concern is that the doctors should have access to proper precautionary gear,” Vikrumaditya alias Vasundhara tweeted. Not only that, the mask the person is wearing is an autoclaved one which is reused only. It is not disposable. However, soon after, he/she deleted this tweet as well. Now, the person has no more tweets on the timeline and he/she has also removed the profile picture and deleted the only two tweets from his profile.

Vikrumaditya’s profile as it stands now.

Amongst other people protestor-turned-politician Shehla Rashid, The Print journalist Jyoti Yadav also follow this Twitter handle which had only two tweets prior to this viral tweet.

Jyoti Yadav, journalist with The Print, whose Chief had already retweeted this archaic account, even reached out to Vikrumaditya alias Vasundhara.

This is where things get interesting. A cached version of the profile shows that the Twitter account went by the name “Vikrumaditya” before he became “Vasundhara” for the viral tweet.

Cached version of Vikrumaditya’s profile

Till some time back, Vasundhara was actually Vikrumaditya, thus helping us make the reasonable conclusion that this account is fake at worst, and at best, its identity is questionable and unverifiable, to say the least.

Essentially, a Twitter account changes gender in the name, uploads an image most possibly taken off the Internet and shares a heartbreaking story of doctors who are struggling without masks as they fight coronavirus and ‘fact-checkers’ without verifying facts amplify the story. Editors Guild of India boss, too, spreads the misinformation to millions. This when the nation is fighting a major pandemic and it is a moral responsibility of every citizen to stay away from rumours and unverified information. However, for the ones with motives, such temptations are hard to resist especially when the false information makes Prime Minister Modi and India look underprepared.

This is not the first time such misinformation has been spread to claim that the Indian government is underprepared. Congress leader Harjit Bhatti, who is a doctor by profession, on Monday took to Twitter to claim that Assam Medical College doctors are given plastic to wear as protective gear as they do not have sufficient PPEs. This tweet, too, was ‘liked’ by AltNews cofounder Mohammad Zubair. However, Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma called out the lies and said that the authorities are directed to take action against Bhatti.

Moreover, spreading rumours and fake news about Wuhan Coronavirus on social media, mainstream media and any other platform is punishable offence and can land one in jail for a period of 6 months.

Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries sets up India’s first dedicated Covid-19 hospital in Mumbai, donates Rs 5 crores to CM’s Relief Fund

OpIndia Staff
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Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries sets up India’s first dedicated Covid-19 hospital in Mumbai, donates Rs 5 crores to CM’s Relief Fund

As India grapples to contain the deadly Covid-19, Mukesh Ambani led Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has come forward to do its bit to help deal with the deadly Coronavirus, which has triggered panic across the country. On Monday, RIL announced that it has set up India’s first COVID-19 dedicated hospital in Mumbai. All beds in this 100 bedded dedicated Covid-19 hospital are equipped with the required infrastructure, bio-medical equipment such as ventilators, pacemakers, dialysis machine and patient monitoring devices.

“Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital in collaboration with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), has set up a dedicated 100 bedded COVID-19 centre at Seven Hills Hospital, Mumbai for patients who test positive for COVID-19,” RIL said in an official statement.

“This first-of-its-kind-in-India centre is fully funded by Reliance Foundation and includes a negative pressure room that helps in preventing cross-contamination and helps control infection. All beds are equipped with the required infrastructure, biomedical equipment such as ventilators, pacemakers, dialysis machines, and patient monitoring devices,” it added.

“Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, a world-class healthcare institution in Mumbai, has also offered to set up special medical facilities to quarantine travellers from notified countries and suspected cases identified through contact tracing,” the statement further said.

RIL, the multinational conglomerate company, has also announced initial support of Rs 5 crores to Maharashtra Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to combat coronavirus spread. The company is enhancing its production capacities to produce 100,000 face-masks per day and a large number of personal protective equipment for the nation’s health workers to equip them further to fight coronavirus.

“RIL has today announced initial support of Rs 5 crores to Maharashtra Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. RIL has deployed the combined strengths of Reliance Foundation, Reliance Retail, Jio, Reliance Life Sciences, Reliance Industries, and all the 6,00,000 members of the Reliance Family to fight against COVID-19. RIL is enhancing its production capacities to produce 100,000 face-masks per day and a large number of personal protective equipment for the nation’s health workers to equip them further to fight coronavirus,” the statement said.

Reliance Foundation also promised to provide free meals to people across various cities in partnership with NGOs.

Moreover, RIL is also helping authorities and working for effective testing of the virus. “RIL has built a fully-equipped isolation facility in Lodhivali, Maharashtra and handed it over to the district authorities. Reliance Life Sciences is importing additional test kits and consumables for effective testing. Our doctors and researchers are also working overtime to find a cure for this deadly virus,” the statement read.

RIL’s Jio is collaborating with Microsoft Teams to support social distancing and its groceries will remain open to provide essential items to people.

“Jio is combining its digital capabilities with Microsoft Teams, the unified communication and collaboration hub for teamwork in Office 365, to enable individuals, students, educational and healthcare institutions to continue their professional lives while still practising social distancing,” the statement said.

“All 736 grocery stores of Reliance Retail across the country will ensure sufficient supply of essentials, including staples, fruits and vegetables, bread, breakfast cereals and other items of daily use so that citizens need not stock up,” it further said. 

Maharashtra has seen a worrying increase in people who are testing positive for the coronavirus. In a span of 72 hours, the number of coronavirus cases across the state went up from 64 to 101.

The Maharashtra government has already ordered a curfew and has given blanket legal immunity to government and police officials to handle the situation. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has already ordered for district borders as well as the state borders to be sealed to combat the virus.

Watch: As Haryana goes into state-wide lockdown, SP tweets video showing ‘full tyari’ of how they plan to enforce the law

OpIndia Staff
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Watch: As Haryana goes into state-wide lockdown, SP tweets video showing ‘full tyari’ of how they plan to enforce the law

The Coronavirus pandemic has triggered panic across the country. The central, as well as the state governments, are working in overdrive to try and contain the spread. For this, the central government has put the entire country under lockdown.

Haryana too, has extended its lockdown to the entire state which will be effective for March 24 midnight. This comes a day after seven districts- Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Panipat, Jhajjar, Rohtak and Panchkula were put under lockdown till March 31.

Police personnel have been deployed in strength to enforce the lockdown after the state government put in place emergency measure to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Following this, Superintendent of Police, Security and Cyber Crime, Haryana, Pankaj Nain, has taken to Twitter to share a hilarious video with a caption: “Preparations in full swing”, to show how the police force is preparing to enforce the state-wide lockdown.

In the video, a police officer is seen spraying disinfectant on police lathis and sanitising both his hands. Since the police are certain that they would need to get tough on people who come out of their homes violating prohibitory orders, the SP disinfects the police batons and his hands to reduce chances of spreading or catching any kind of infection amidst the Coronavirus pandemic.

Haryana has 21 coronavirus positive cases, which includes 14 foreigners. Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar told media persons today: “We had ordered lockdown in seven districts as part of containment measures. We have now decided that in addition, this lockdown will be enforced in the remaining 15 districts of the state also from March 24.”

Haryana government had deployed six IAS officers in the seven districts for planning, coordination and monitoring the implementation of all activities for the prevention and control of COVID-19, in addition to their present duties. 

Police have put up barricades at many places and have been stopping vehicles and sending back many people to their homes after ascertaining that they were out for non-essential work.

Read: “I am the enemy of the society, I won’t stay at home”, Cops publicly shame violators of lockdown amidst coronavirus outbreak

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Haryana government has also deputed 3 IAS officers and 2 HCS officers in the control rooms set-up in Haryana Civil Secretariat and New Haryana Civil Secretariat here.

The total number of COVID-19 cases in the country have risen precipitously. Over 492 cases are reported from across the country, with Maharashtra leading, closely followed by Kerala. As many as 34 cases have been discharged or cured nationally and 9 deaths have been reported so far.

Haryana: 11 Italians quarantined after travelling with a Coronavirus positive patient recover after 20 days treatment, released

OpIndia Staff
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Haryana: 11 Italians quarantined after travelling with a Coronavirus positive patient recover after 20 days treatment, released

Eleven Italian tourists who were amongst the first patients of Wuhan Coronavirus to be admitted in a hospital in Gurugram, Haryana have finally recovered fully after a 20-day extensive treatment and have been discharged and handed over to the Italian Embassy.

Medanta, a super speciality hospital in Gurugram, where these Wuhan Coronavirus cases were admitted, took to Twitter to confirm that 11 out of the 14 Italian patients have recovered and have been discharged. It congratulated Dr Sushila Kataria (Senior Director, Internal Medicine, Medanta Gurugram), Dr Yatin Mehta and the entire team for their relentless efforts.

All 14 patients were above 65 years of age. The 14 patients had to be quarantined because another person they were travelling within Jaipur tested positive for the coronavirus. All these suspected Wuhan Coronavirus cases were admitted to the hospital on March 4.

According to reports, one of the Italians, a 68-year-old man, was discharged from the hospital on March 21 (Saturday) after he tested negative for the Wuhan Coronavirus. The remaining 13 too had tested negative and were kept under observation at the hospital. Out of these, now 11 have been discharged.

A whole floor had been dedicated for the treatment of these Italian patients, confirmed reports. All common entry and exits had been blocked and there is only one entry/exit for medical staff. The area is divided into two — ‘clean’ and ‘infected’. Staff are allowed to enter the ‘infected’ area only after wearing the PPE (personal protective equipment), hand gloves, mask and a hazmat (hazardous materials) suit. One has to keep one’s phones at the ‘clean’ area, change clothes and then step into the ‘infected’ area, confirmed Dr Kataria.

According to the Ministry’s official website, the total number of cases that have till date tested positive are 492 including foreign nationals and 9 deaths. As many as 34 cases have been discharged or cured nationally.

While only Delhi saw no new cases, India saw the highest jump in the number of new cases on 23 March. 99 new cases were reported from the country, with Maharashtra at the top with 23 new cases. The state now has 97 cases, with Kerala at a close second at 95 cases.

Kerala: State-run liquor outlets operate unabated amidst extensive lockdown during the coronavirus outbreak

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala: State-run liquor outlets operate unabated amidst extensive lockdown during the coronavirus outbreak

While the Kerala government announced sweeping restrictions across the state amidst the surging coronavirus outbreak, it has evidently given an exemption to the sale of alcohol by the state-run liquor outlets. The decision to allow the state-run Bevco outlets to continue about their operations without restrictions came on Monday, the day when the state saw a remarkable surge in the number of positive coronavirus cases in the state.

As 28 new coronavirus cases were reported on Monday, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan ordered to shut down all bars and liquor stores across the state. However, the state-run Kerala State Beverages (Manufacturing and Marketing) Corporation Limited (Bevco) liquor outlets were exempted from the restrictions and will remain open, he said.

“Customers cannot sit and drink. The counter sale will be allowed later if needed,” Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.

When asked the rationale behind keeping the state-run liquor shops opened amidst extensive lockdown in the state, Vijayan justified his citizen by citing the decision taken by Dr Amarinder Singh’s Punjab Government which included the supply of “beverages” as essential items, along with groceries, in the view of all-encompassing strictures imposed in the state. This is shocking for a state which is hailed by the leftist and ‘liberals’ as an ideal state who is fighting coronavirus on the front foot.

Read: Shashi Tharoor shares dubious claims hailing Kerala govt from a hoax site, then refuses to delete it because ‘it is viral now’

Highlighting the social habits of residents of Kerala, CM Vijayan said that non-availability of alcohol in the state can have untoward ramifications. “That is our state! Non-availability of alcohol can lead to a lot of social issues in the state and we have seen its consequences in the past,” the CM said.

However, Kerala government’s decision to allow continuing the sale of alcohol through Bevco outlets has received widespread criticism from Congress and citizens of the state despite the advisories issued against public gathering in the view of the rising number of COVID-19 cases across the country. In a desperate bid to contain the spread of the virus, Kerala had announced the closure schools, private offices, malls and cancelled public gatherings along with urging people to push their wedding dates or limit the number of guests.

Kerala is the state with the highest per capita consumption of alcohol. The state has gobbled down liquor worth around Rs 45,000 crore in the three-and-a years of the LDF government till October 2019. A significant chunk of government exchequer comes from the state’s liquor consumption. In 2019, the sale of legal liquor through Bevco outlets increased by 16 per cent as compared to sales in 2018.

Maharashtra: 3 lakh N95 masks seized from the godowns in Andheri and Bhiwandi which were to be sold in black market

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra: 3 lakh N95 masks seized from the godowns in Andheri and Bhiwandi which were to be sold in black market

Amid the scare of the deadly coronavirus epidemic where the state is facing the shortage of masks and other essential commodities, the Maharashtra police seized masks in abundance from the godowns of Andheri and Bhiwandi which is being reported to stored for black marketing. While talking to media, Home Minister of Maharashtra revealed that 25 lakh masks including 3 lakh N95 masks valued at Rs 15 crore were seized from godowns in Andheri and Bhiwandi. The masks were stored for black marketing.

Anil Deshmukh said that 4 arrests have been made in this case so far while two accused have been absconding.

As per reports, Mumbai Crime Branch located seized face masks. Commissioner of Police, Param Bir Singh said that they received information about the stock of huge quantity of masks, which includes 2.75 lakh N95 masks stored for the purpose of Black marketing.

The inspector of Crime Branch Mahesh Desai laid a trap on the information and later arrested four people under relevant sections of the Essential Commodities Act with the seizure 25 lakh pieces of masks out of which 2.75 lakh masks are N95.

Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said, “We are facing a heavy shortage of masks across Maharashtra. This seizure will fulfill the requirement of the state and city as well.” Earlier this month, the the FDA, Maharashtra had raided a factory where fake hand sanitizers were manufactured. As per reports, the ‘sanitizers’ didn’t have proper anti-bacterial particles which make the solution disinfectant. 

Mumbai: Mosque trustees booked for violating government orders proscribing large gathering

OpIndia Staff
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Mumbai: Mosque trustees booked for violating government orders proscribing large gathering

An FIR was filed by the JJ Marg police in Mumbai against trustees of Sunni Shafi Masjid at Temkar street in Nagpada for breaching the government orders forbidding assembly of people amidst the coronavirus outbreak in the country. As many as 150 people had gathered in the mosque to offer namaz prayers on Monday.

According to a police official, they got information on Monday afternoon that about 100-150 were believed to have gathered at the Shafi Masjid to offer namaz prayers in contravention to the orders issued under CrPC section 144 banning assembly of people in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. The orders covered all religious places as well.

A team of police officials led by Assistant Commissioner of Police Avinash Dharmadhikari reached the masjid and dispersed the congregated crowd. Later, an offence was filed against the mosque trustees including Majal Badwan Kuni, under IPC sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and also under other pertinent sections of the Maharashtra Police Act.

ACP Dharmadhikari said that though an FIR has been filed, there have been no arrests in the case so far and a probe t investigate the who matter is ordered.

As a preventive measure to curb the mounting coronavirus cases across the state, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray announced a state-wide strict implementation of curfew. Maharashtra’s capital, Mumbai, had reported 14 new cases of covid19 in the last 24 hours, raising alarm bells for the health authorities who claim such a steady increase in the count of positive coronavirus case can render a grim situation in the state.

In view of this, Uddhav Thackeray exhorted people to take the lockdown in the state as a war against covid-19 seriously, invoking Section 144 of CrPC and suspending all non-essential services in the state till March 31. He warned that people should not be violating the rules by crowding public places.

Watch: ‘Humari Haye Lagegi’, Muslim woman curses cops after being evicted from Shaheen Bagh in the wake of coronavirus outbreak

OpIndia Staff
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Watch: ‘Humari Haye Lagegi’, Muslim woman curses cops after being evicted from Shaheen Bagh in the wake of coronavirus outbreak

After Section 144 was imposed in Delhi in the face of Wuhan Coronavirus outbreak, in the early hours of 24th March, Tuesday, the Delhi Police had first urged the protestors to clear the area and when they had refused to comply, protesters were detained and the area was cleared. In a video shared by News Tak, protestors were seen cursing the cops after they were being taken away.

57 seconds into the video, a man sporting a skull cap could be heard saying, “Aab inki maarji hai jo chaha kar sakta hai…Inka raaj hai aab toh… (They can do whatever they want.. They are at the helm of power)”

At 1:09 seconds, a Muslim woman clad in Burkha and saffron headscarf said, “Dekh lijiye humko pakad kar le jaa rahe hai, inn logo ko haay lagegi (See, they are detaining me… They will get my curse)”

DCP of South East Delhi said, “People at the protest site in Shaheen Bagh were requested today to clear the site as lockdown has been imposed. But after they refused, action was taken against violators as the assembly was unlawful. Protest site has been cleared. Some protestors have been detained”.

The cops also used bulldozers to clear the barricaded tents and stages that had been illegally constructed by the Shaheen Bagh protestors. Disregarding the total lockdown orders, a crowd then gathered at the Shaheen Bagh protest site after the police removed the tent and cleared up the road.

Earlier, in complete disregard to the “Janata Curfew” recommended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday to highlight the significance of home quarantine in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak, a Shaheen Bagh protestor was quoted as saying, “On Sunday, we will sit under small tents. Only two women will sit under each tent and maintain a distance of more than a metre between them.”

In a viral video, one of the Shaheen Bagh protestors could be heard arguing how coronavirus can also happen to those who travel in the metro but no one is asking them to stop. However, everyone wants Shaheen Bagh protests to end. They believe that coronavirus is a ploy by Home Minister Amit Shah and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to get them to end the protests.

Madhya Pradesh crisis: Day after he swore in as Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan wins confidence motion unanimously

OpIndia Staff
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Madhya Pradesh crisis: Day after he swore in as Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan wins confidence motion unanimously

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today won the confidence motion unanimously. Chouhan had last evening swore in as the Chief Minister for the fourth time in presence of MP Governor.

After taking charge as the CM, Chouhan held a high-level meeting with with officials to review the COVID-19 situation and take stock of preparedness. He announced curfew in Bhopal and Jabalpur from Tuesday onward. He also appealed to people to strictly follow the lockdown orders in all 36 districts of Madhya Pradesh.

As per reports, not a single Congress MLA was present in the assembly at the time of voting. Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and independent MLAs voted in favour of the motion.

The Madhya Pradesh government collapsed last week after former CM and senior Congress leader Kamal Nath tendered his resignation. The Congress-led government was pushed to the brink following of former Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia. The resignations of all 22 MLAs in Scindia’s camp had brought down the total strength of the assembly to 206 where the ruling Congress with 92 members and seven allied MLAs. The Congress was at least five short of a simple majority of 104. The opposition BJP with 107 MLAs is three more than the simple majority.

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