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First Indian coronavirus patient recovering and stable, tests show negative results

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First Indian coronavirus patient recovering and stable, tests show negative results

The student from Thrissur who was studying in Wuhan and tested positive for coronavirus is now on the path to recovery. As per the doctors of Thrissur Medical College and Hospital, her fifth sample was tested negative and they are awaiting the sixth report, after which she’ll be eligible to go home.

A senior doctor from Thrissur medical college and hospital said that the doctors are waiting for yet another test result following which she can go home. He said, “We have nursed her back to life. We can say she is completely recovered. To doubly ensure this, we are awaiting another result after which she can go home and can be quarantined there for another two weeks or so”.

Claiming that her medical background helped her to recover, the officials of the health ministry also said that the two other patients were also on the road to recovery. The two others are undergoing treatment in Kasaragod and Alappuzha.

Earlier this month the state of Kerala had declared a novel Coronavirus epidemic as a state calamity after the medical authorities had confirmed three coronavirus cases. Although she assured that the announcement was not to scare people.

At the moment there are around 3,252 people who are under observation, of which 3,218 are under home quarantine. Fifteen students who came back two days ago after being stranded in an airport in China for three days were also discharged from the hospital the very next day after they weren’t showing any sign.

Meanwhile, besides intensifying surveillance at the airports, the central government has temporarily suspended visas for Chinese residents and already evacuated hundreds of Indians from Wuhan.

Glad that India was partitioned. Muslim league would not have allowed Congress government function: Congress leader Natwar Singh

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Glad that India was partitioned. Muslim league would not have allowed Congress government function: Congress leader Natwar Singh

The former Foreign Minister and a towering Congress leader, Natwar Singh, on Sunday, said that he was glad that India’s partition happened as he believed that the Muslim League would not have allowed the undivided country to function and there would have been more “direct action days” if partition had not occurred.


Speaking at the launch of BJP MP MJ Akbar’s new book, ‘Gandhi’s Hinduism: The Struggle Against Jinnah’s Islam’, at Pranab Mukherjee’s residence, Singh said it would have been impossible for the country to function normally if the partition had not taken place. “According to me, I am pleased that India was partitioned. Because if India had not been partitioned we would have witnessed more Direct Action Days — the first we had during Jinnah’s (Muhammad Ali) lifetime was on August 16 (1946) when thousands of Hindus were killed in Kolkata (then Calcutta), and of course then the retaliation took place in Bihar where thousands of Muslims were killed.”

On August 16, 1946, Muhammad Ali Jinnah exhorted his fellow Muslims to observe ‘Direct Action Day’ in support of their demand for a separate nation for Muslims. The call for observing ‘Direct Action Day’ witnessed widespread communal riots between Hindus and Muslims, especially in what was Bengal province of British India, leavings thousands and lakhs perished in the ensuing violence.

Read: One Hundred Years of the end of ‘Khilafat’: How the Gandhi supported movement unleashed the beast of Islamic fanaticism

To reinforce his assertion about Muslim League, Singh cited the example of the Interim Government of India, formed on September 2, 1946, when the Muslim League initially declined to join the cabinet of the council’s vice-president Jawaharlal Nehru, and later participated only to reject all its proposals.

“You can imagine therefore that If the country was not partitioned then, the Muslim League would have laid innumerable impediments for the proper and smooth functioning of the government. The situation of the country would have worsened by the week,” Singh enunciated.

Describing Mahatma Gandhi and Jinnah, Singh called them as two very “great” and “difficult” persons, adding that it would have been very difficult to live with either of the men. “It would have been beyond the bounds of possibility to live with them because Gandhiji observed very high standards and Jinnah”s acerbic temperament certainly would not have allowed us to go along,” the Congress leader said.

Singh also opined that according to him Gandhiji cosseted Jinnah on the persuasion of India’s last Governor-General C Rajagopalachari. “It is my belief that Gandhiji pampered Jinnah. In 1944, Gandhi made 17 visits to Jinnah”s house in Malabar Hill. But not once did Jinnah return his visits,” Singh said.

Amidst Coronavirus outbreak, India revokes export ban to China and sends 2 large medical consignments

OpIndia Staff
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Amidst Coronavirus outbreak, India revokes export ban to China and sends 2 large medical consignments

Setting aside its February 1 order that prevented the export of personal protection equipment, India has decided to export two large consignments of medical clothing to China on an ad hoc basis, amidst the coronavirus outbreak.

An additional 6 such consignments are also in the process of being exported. Earlier, India had sent 40 boxes of protective medical gear in the 2nd Air India flight that evacuated stranded Indian citizens from Wuhan in Hubei.

China has been facing a shortage of personal protective equipment such as masks and gloves ever since the country was hit by the outbreak of deadly novel coronavirus. The disease has claimed close to 900 lives till now. As such, medical workers had become vulnerable to infection.

Chinese importers placed orders to import protective clothing from India but the export was banned without citing a reason. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade notified on February 1 “Exports of all varieties of personal protection equipment including clothing and masks used to protect the wearer from airborne particles and/or any other respiratory masks or any other personal protective clothing (including coveralls and N95 masks)…is hereby prohibited with immediate effect till further orders.”

Read: Fact Check: Did China seek court approval to kill 20,000 coronavirus patients to stop the spread of the infection?

It was perhaps done to keep supplies intact in case the disease spread to India. In meetings chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, the Government decided to waive the ban on a “case by case basis.”

Keeping in mind the situation in Wuhan, the screening committee set up the Union Health Ministry paid heed to the requests of the Chinese importers. The transactions are to be done on a “commercial basis.” China has earlier publicly acknowledged the donation of epidemic prevention supplies made by 21 countries that also includes the likes of Pakistan. However, India was absent from the list.

Having said that, the Indian Embassy in Beijing has reached out to the Chinese government to offer assistance in containing the outbreak of the deadly pathogen. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also written to President Xi Jinping on Sunday to express solidarity with the Chinese people.

Fake currency worth 24 lacs of Pakistan origin caught at Mumbai airport, Crime Branch probing terror funding links

OpIndia Staff
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Fake currency worth 24 lacs of Pakistan origin caught at Mumbai airport, Crime Branch probing terror funding links

Thane resident Javed Ghulam Nabi Sheikh, who flew in to Mumbai from Dubai on Sunday was caught with very high quality Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) worth Rs 23.86 lacs. These fake currencies were in 2000 denomination. During interrogation he revealed that the fake currencies were routed to India from Pakistan via Dubai.

As per reports 36 year old Javed is a resident of Kalwa, Thane. The Crime Branch sleuths were tipped off by the Central Intelligence agency about the possible smuggling of FICN printed in Pakistan into Mumbai via Dubai as a transit point.

During interrogation, the accused accepted that he procured the consignment from a Pakistani in Dubai. The notes were for circulating in Mumbai. “During questioning, he said that he went to Dubai just five days ago, we don’t believe this” Joint Commissioner of Police Santosh Rastogi said.

“An average person will not be able to identify the fake notes. They look genuine. Shaikh walked away at the airport’s security check. He was caught at the bus stop outside international airport”, added JCP Santosh Rastogi. As per reports, the fake currencies checked out on 7 out of 9 security features. Except for optically variable ink ( ink that changes colour while changing angles) and ‘see-through register'(hidden features that are seen only if the note is held against the light) these notes had all other security features.

“The counterfeit currency was stuffed in one of his bags. It took us over an hour to locate it. We identified him because of his white jeans. It was around 9:30 am. He was waiting for a BEST Bus… The notes were scattered into a cushion which was stuffed into a gap between the bag’s wall and cloth liner”, Rastogi added.

He claimed that Shaikh was carrying the notes in a scattered format that made it difficult for machines to detect. The machines can only detect notes who are set as bundles, the edges of the bundles get detected. Shaikh has been booked under IPC sections for common intention, criminal conspiracy, and counterfeiting.

Bengal: Woman accuses TMC politician Shahadat Hossain of abuse, threats of kidnapping and uploading obscene videos

OpIndia Staff
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Bengal: Woman accuses TMC politician Shahadat Hossain of abuse, threats of kidnapping and uploading obscene videos

A woman has accused Trinamool Congress (TMC) politician Shahadat Hossain of harassment. She has alleged that the accused has threatened to abduct and forcibly marry her, reported Zee 24 Bangla.

The incident took place in Belgachia, North Kolkata. The TMC politician has also been accused of sending lewd texts, abusive messages and threatening to upload obscene videos of her on Facebook. Moreover, the accused has also allegedly threatened to kill the woman along with her family members.

The woman has stated in her complaint that Hossain claimed to be a close associate of the Rajya Sabha MP Shantanu Senu. He had also told the victim that the police could not do anything to him.

The woman has filed a complaint against Hossain at the Ultodanga police station. However, no action has been taken against the accused as of yet. As such, the victim and her family are forced to live in fear and panic.

This is not the first time that a TMC politician has been accused of a crime against women. Last week, a primary school teacher by the name of Smriti Kana Das in South Dinajpur district was tied with a rope, dragged and beaten up by a mob that included TMC leader Amal Sarkar for protesting against the forceful takeover of land for road construction.

Delhi elections: Amid tight security EVMs moved to 21 counting centres ahead of results

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi elections: Amid tight security EVMs moved to 21 counting centres ahead of results

Day before the counting to the high octane Delhi assembly elections results are declared, the electronic voting machines (EVMs) were escorted to 21 designated centres amidst high security. Personnel from Delhi police and armed military commandos are part of the multilayer security.

As per reports, these centres will be guarded by at least 200 security personnel until February 11. The number will be doubled on the counting day.

On 8th February, the polling day, 42,000 Delhi Police personnel, along with 190 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) were deployed along with 19000 home guards to assist the forces and maintain law and order in the National Capital Territory of Delhi.

However, ahead of the counting, Aam Aadmi Party has already raised the ‘EVMs are tampered’ bogey. AAP MP Sanjay Singh on Saturday tweeted videos alleging EVMs were being taken for tampering.


Singh had questioned why the EVMs were being taken down from a bus when there were no centres nearby. AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal had also expressed shock at delay in releasing final turnout out voter figure.


Meanwhile, the Election Commission has clarified that the EVMs in Singh’s video were reserved and unused EVMs. Delhi’s Chief Electoral Officer clarified that the returning officers were busy through the night and hence took time to release the final figure of voter turnout. He said that data entry is important for accuracy.

The counting for the Delhi elections will be held on Tuesday, 11th February, 8 AM onward.

Bihar: After shoes in Katihar, Kanhaiya Kumar’s convoy attacked with eggs and engine oil in Jamui

OpIndia Staff
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Bihar: After shoes in Katihar, Kanhaiya Kumar’s convoy attacked with eggs and engine oil in Jamui

The convoy of former Jawaharlal Nehru (JNU) Students’ Union and CPI leader Kanhaiya Kumar came under attack once again. The incident reportedly occurred in Jamui, Bihar, where people threw eggs and engine oil at Kumar’s convoy. Kumar’s convoy was attacked while it was on its way to Aadha from the guest house. This is the second incident within 7 days when Kanhaiya had been attacked.

Kanhaiya, who fought the last year’s General Lok Sabha elections and lost miserably from Bihar’s Begusarai, is on a month-long ‘Jan-Gan-Man Yatra’ against NRC and CAA, during which he is slated to cover all the major cities of Bihar and address about 50 meetings. The one-month journey began on January 30 from Bettiah, Bihar and is expected to end on February 29.

According to the police, Kanhaiya Kumar arrived in Jamui on Sunday for his ‘Jana Gana Mana Yatra’ and addressed a meeting against CAA and NRC in the district. Today when Kanhaiya Kumar’s convoy proceeded and reached Mahisauri bus stand, it was confronted by a group of people shouting slogans against Kanhaiya, throwing eggs and engine oil at his convoy.

Read: JNU Tales: How comrades went from hating Lalu Yadav to worshipping him

A clash allegedly broke out between Kanhaiya Kumar’s supporters and the locals following which the locals started hurling eggs and engine against the Kanhaiya Kumar’s convoy. Reports also claim that Kanhaiya Kumar’s supporters got embroiled in a quarrel with media personnel at the spot. The police and district administration present on the spot tried to defuse the simmering tension and escorted the convoy to safety. Though Kumar suffered no injuries in the scuffle, he accused police of negligence that allowed the situation to worsen.

Earlier last week, shoes and slippers were thrown at Kanhaiya Kumar’s convoy in Katihar while some protesters even pelted stones at his convoy when it was passing through the Supaul district.

Global terror organisations could use vehicle-borne IEDs to attack RSS leaders, offices: Intel inputs

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Global terror organisations could use vehicle-borne IEDs to attack RSS leaders, offices: Intel inputs

An intelligence input by the Intelligence Bureau (IB) has warned leaders and the offices of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as they can be potential targets of global terror organisations, which could use IEDs or vehicle-borne improvised IEDs (VBIEDs) to carry out these attacks.

As reported by news agency ANI, the attacks can take place in Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan as unknown individuals, possibly linked to some global terror groups are planning to target RSS offices/leaders and police stations. As per reports the intelligence bureau has asked all concerned state governments to take appropriate steps to beef up the security of these establishments.

Keeping in view the threat, security has been increased in Maharashtra, Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan, UP and Assam and security of office bearers are also under review.

In January this year, RSS man Varun Bopala was attacked and stabbed after a pro-CAA rally in Bengaluru, Karnataka. 6 SDPI supporters were arrested for the same. They had also planned to attack BJP MP Tejaswi Surya. Varun was attacked because the attackers could not get close to Surya due to the presence of security personnel around him.

Kolkata: Female passenger alleges verbal abuse, deliberate delay and threatening calls by Ola driver

OpIndia Staff
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Kolkata: Female passenger alleges verbal abuse, deliberate delay and threatening calls by Ola driver

On Saturday, a 46-year-old woman was allegedly harassed by her Ola cab driver in Kolkata after a verbal confrontation ensued between the two over burning an incense stick inside the car, reported The Times of India.

As per the report, the woman, a process scientist at a private firm, had boarded a shared Ola cab from BT road around 6 p.m. When she boarded the taxi, one of the co-passengers pointed out the incense stick that was burning beside the steering wheel.

Since she was allergic to the smell, the 46-year-old scientist allegedly requested the driver to extinguish it. The driver was unmoved and instead resorted to verbal abuse. The female rider then threatened to call the cops, following which he put the incense stick out.

There were a total of 3 passengers in the taxi. After the two riders got off near Brabourne Road, the Ola cab driver began his verbal tirade and drove recklessly. This rash driving reportedly resulted in an accident with a bus near Sealdah flyover.

When a traffic police officer stopped the car, the woman reportedly complained about the driver to him. Her efforts were in vain as the cop allowed the driver to go about his business. She rang up the Ola customer care service and lodged a complaint against the driver. The woman was told that the driver’s account was blocked for the day. However, the abusive driver told her that he had a booking at Maniktala.

She recounted, “As I called up the customer care operator again, the driver was asked to drop me and said that he would not receive any passenger for the day.” The woman alleged that the man began driving slowly in a completely different direction from her destination in Prince Anwar Shah road. After sitting through 3 long hours, she was finally dropped at home at around 8:55 pm.

The driver then began demanding an extra ₹100, even though she had already paid the due fare of ₹205. Shaken by the harrowing experience, the woman recalled, ” As I refused to pay him the extra money and walked away, the driver called me from different numbers, asking for the money. There were 56 missed calls.

The female scientist had reported the incident to the Kolkata Traffic Police. But, none from the law enforcement has contacted her as of yet. Ola officials have reportedly informed her that the reckless driver had been de-rostered.

NOT SATIRE: Congress to launch nationwide protests against BJP because SC upheld 2012 decision by Congress-led Uttarakhand govt

OpIndia Staff
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NOT SATIRE: Congress to launch nationwide protests against BJP because SC upheld 2012 decision by Congress-led Uttarakhand govt

A political battle has erupted over the Supreme Court’s verdict that declared that states were not legally bound to provide reservations in jobs to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The verdict also declared that individuals have no fundamental right to claim reservations in promotions.

“There is no doubt that the state government is not bound to make reservations. There is no fundamental right which inheres in an individual to claim reservation in promotions. No mandamus can be issued by the court directing the state government to provide reservations,” said a bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and Hemant Gupta on Friday.

“There is no doubt the state government is not bound to make reservations. There is no fundamental right which inheres in an individual to claim reservation in promotions. No mandamus can be issued by the court directing state governments to provide reservations,” the bench said.

The Supreme Court announced the verdict in a case related to the Uttarakhand Government’s decision in 2012 to not provide reservations in promotions. It was the Congress party which was in power at the time. The Uttarakhand High Court had eventually struck down the notification.

The same was said by the Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thaawar Chand Gehlot in the Lok Sabha on Monday. “The case arose due to Uttarakhand Government’s 2012 decision to not implement reservation in promotions, in the state. In 2012 Congress was in power in Uttarakhand,” he said. Gehlot also made it clear that the Government of India was never a party to the case.


However, when the Union Minister reminded the Congress party that the Supreme Court was upholding a decision taken by their own party when in power, the elected representatives of the party staged a walkout from the Lower House of the Parliament. Even more amusingly, Kapil Sibal had appeared in Court for people seeking promotion against the decision taken by a Congress government. The Congress party is also planning to launch country-wide agitations against the BJP for a decision taken by the Congress government in Uttarakhand in 2012.


Rahul Gandhi, the former president of the Congress party, said, “BJP & RSS’s ideology is against reservations. They never want SC/STs to progress. They’re breaking the institutional structure. I want to tell SC/ST/OBC and Dalits that we’ll never let reservations come to an end no matter how much Modi Ji or Mohan Bhagwat dream of it.”

It is a perplexing series of events that have ensued and is symbolic of the desperation of the Congress party. The Congress government in Uttarakhand in 2012 decides to not provide reservations of the SC/ST communities in promotions. The Uttarakhand High Court strikes it down. Then the matter reaches the Supreme Court where Kapil Sibal, a senior leader of the Congress party, argues against a decision taken by his own party when in power. Then, the Supreme Court decides to uphold the decision taken by the Congress government. And the Congress party blames the BJP for the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the decision taken by its own government in Uttarakhand.

If all of this wasn’t enough, the Congress party plans to launch a nationwide agitation against the BJP because the Supreme Court decided to uphold the Congress government’s decision in Uttarakhand in 2012. Taking many leaps further, Rahul Gandhi, who was recently found having a profound intellectual conversation with a ten-year-old about how the country has changed since she was five years old, says that the Congress party will never let reservations come to an end despite the fact that he was commenting against a Supreme Court’s verdict that upheld a decision taken by a Congress government. If the Congress party wasn’t so hell-bent in spreading anarchy across the country, then all of this would truly have been funny.

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