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Cricket World Cup 2023: Two months to the tournament, schedule not finalised, tickets not on sale, BCCI making a royal mess of organising the showpiece event

Amit Kelkar
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Cricket World Cup 2023: Two months to the tournament, schedule not finalised, tickets not on sale, BCCI making a royal mess of organising the showpiece event

The showpiece event of the cricketing world, the ODI World Cup is set to be hosted by India during the months of October and November this year. The 2023 edition of the tournament is supposed to begin on October 5 at Ahmedabad with a game between defending champions England and New Zealand, and conclude on November 19 at the same venue. However, thanks to BCCI’s excellent organisation, we can’t be sure about the dates and timings of any other match even though the tournament is just 9 weeks away.

The Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) initially announced the schedule for the biggest tournament in the cricketing cycle at the end of June, just over 3 months before the actual tournament. Such a late announcement of the schedule for such a big event has made it really tough for international fans to come to India for the tournament to support their teams. Planning your holidays, plane tickets, hotels, visas etc at such short notice is a nightmare, as anyone who has ever travelled out of one’s country to watch a tournament will tell you. If that wasn’t bad enough, we have now found out that even that schedule isn’t final. So the ones who have managed to sort out their papers and holidays to watch the tournament – losers!

the schedule is apparently set for a change now. 3 cricket boards have written to BCCI to change their schedule due to the lack of a rest period between some of their matches. Reportedly, BCCI has accepted the request and a new schedule is going to be announced. Changing dates for 3 boards will mean changing dates for everyone as well and the entire thing will have to be reworked. Even that may not be the final schedule as some boards may have a problem with the revised schedule as well and we may see further revisions. A problem that could easily have been avoided by preparing a schedule well in advance. BCCI has known for years that they were going to host this tournament, it wasn’t sprung on them at the last minute.

Another reason why the tournament schedule is going to see a change is that BCCI has suddenly discovered that Gujaratis celebrate Navratri with great fervour. The marquee India-Pakistan clash is currently scheduled for October 15 in Ahmedabad when the Navratri celebrations will be going on. To ease the burden on security forces during their busiest period of the year, now that match will have to be moved to a different date, again having a domino effect on the rest of the scheduling and changing it.

Interestingly, BCCI hasn’t yet realised that October and November are the months of smog in Delhi when even normal breathing is difficult and have scheduled 5 matches in Delhi during that period. Either we are going to see yet another change or we are going to see players coughing for 100 overs trying to perform at the top level while struggling for Oxygen. Delhi pollution has stopped a Test match once earlier, maybe it is the time for a One Day International this time.

One good thing that BCCI has done though is that they haven’t sold any tickets yet. Under normal scenarios, this would have been incompetence but now that the schedule isn’t finalised, at least the fans can be grateful that they aren’t left holding tickets for dates when the matches aren’t going to take place.

Reportedly, the tickets are going to go on sale from August 10, less than 8 weeks away from the tournament opener. However, one can’t be certain of that date as well because how can they sell tickets when even the schedule hasn’t been finalised. Even considering August 10, it leaves precious little time for fans to organise everything if they want to follow their team around India watching all their matches. Another interesting thing is that BCCI has announced that e-tickets won’t be accepted at the stadiums and you have to collect physical tickets and then present them at the stadiums. So, you get to risk a stampede twice, once while ticket collection, and the other time at the stadium when verification of physical tickets will slow everything down.

It all comes down to one thing, BCCI doesn’t care about fans and takes them for granted. They are certain that all Indian games will be full house and nobody will come to see other teams play anyway so why bother with anything that can make a fan’s experience more comfortable? The money has already come from the TV rights and sponsors, and the crowd at the stadium is more of a nuisance for BCCI than anything else. As it is, watching a cricket match in India in a stadium is a poor experience and most stadiums are so unwelcoming. Still, the cricket craze in the country means India plays in front of packed houses, at least in ODIs and T20s. The biggest Test series in India’s calendar, Border Gavaskar Trophy with Australia, was played in empty stadiums earlier this year, maybe that is what BCCI wants for World Cup as well looking at the way how difficult they are making it for fans.

RPF Jawan shoots 4 dead onboard Jaipur-Mumbai train: Here is why he went on a rampage

OpIndia Staff
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RPF Jawan shoots 4 dead onboard Jaipur-Mumbai train: Here is why he went on a rampage

On Monday, July 31, a Railway constable went on a shooting spree killing 4 people, including an Assistant Sub-Inspector, in a Jaipur-Mumbai-bound train. The incident happened in coach B5 of the Jaipur-Mumbai Express (12956) while it was running between Bhayander and Mira Road stations.

According to reports, the accused, RPF Constable Chetan Singh, opened fire from his official automatic gun inside the moving train after it crossed Palghar Station at around five in the morning. He first shot his escort duty in charge ASI Tika Ram Meena. Then went to the other bogie and shot three passengers before pulling the chain and jumping out of the train near Dahisar Station, the Chief Public Relations Officer of the railways said. He was caught by police at Mira Road with the help of Government Railway Police and RPF officials.

RPF Constable Chetan Singh opened fire on Jaipur-Mumbai bound train (Source: NDTV)

“Four casualties, including the ASI, have been reported in the firing incident inside the Jaipur-Mumbai Central Superfast Express (12956). The accused has been arrested. DCP North GRP has been informed,” the Railway Protection Force has said.

Chetan Singh, the RPF employee, was said to be upset and mentally disturbed as a result of his recent transfer from Gujarat to Mumbai, according to the investigating team. The new position had upset him because it had caused issues in his family. The attack, which resulted in the deaths of four people, including his superior, is thought to have been motivated by mental tension and rage over the development.

 Government Railway Police and RPF officials arrested the accused RPF official (Source: NDTV)

The bodies of the deceased were sent to Babasaheb Ambedkar Hospital at Kandivali.

The next of kin of the late ASI Tika Ram will receive an ex gratia of Rs 25 lakh. The Railway Surksha Kalyan Nidhi would also provide the grieving family with a sum of Rs 15 lakh.

In addition, the Railway would give the ASI’s family a death cum retirement gratuity (DCRG) of around Rs 15 lakhs in addition to funeral costs.

‘The walls of Gyanvapi are screaming the truth’: CM Yogi says everyone can see that it was a temple

OpIndia Staff
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‘The walls of Gyanvapi are screaming the truth’: CM Yogi says everyone can see that it was a temple

On the 85th episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, UP CM Yogi Adityanath discussed the issue of the Gyanvapi disputed structure and made some significant statements.

In a short clip shared by ANI, UP CM Yogi Adityanath was seen saying that calling the structure a ‘masjid’ is a mistake, because anyone can see that it is not.

“There are idols of Hindu gods and goddesses carved on the walls. There are Trishuls and other Hindu symbols all over it. Anybody who has eyesight can see that. There is a Jyotirling. The walls of the structure are screaming the truth. I think now is the time the Muslim society should come together and acknowledge that historical mistakes have been made, and make amends”.

The short clip shared by ANI also shows the UP CM saying that his state has not witnessed a single riot in the last 6.5 years and despite holding large scale elections at all levels, there have been no law and order issues in the state. He has also discussed the lawlessness seen in West Bengal and says that the Opposition wants the entire country to suffer what Bengal has been suffering.

On the issue of the I.N.D.I.A. alliance, he says that just changing a coat won’t change the past deeds of the Opposition parties.

ANI will stream the entire episode of the Podcast with Smita Prakash at 5 pm today 31st July. It can be watched here.

UK denies visa to kin of Khalistani terrorist Avtar Singh Khanda, SGPC calls it ‘human rights violation’

OpIndia Staff
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UK denies visa to kin of Khalistani terrorist Avtar Singh Khanda, SGPC calls it ‘human rights violation’

On 30th July, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh called out the United Kingdom for denying a visa to Khalistani terrorist Avtar Singh Khanda’s kin to attend his funeral scheduled for 5th August. Reportedly, Khanda’s mother, 65-year-old Charanjit Kaur, and sister, 32-year-old Jaspreet Kaur, had sought a visa to attend the funeral, but the UK embassy denied it.

Khanda was living in the UK under the guise of political asylum. He died on 15th June this year following a brief illness in the Sandwell Hospital in Birmingham.

Khanda was chief of the banned Khalistani organization Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF). He was also an associate of the banned Khalistani terrorist organization Sikhs For Justice (SFK) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannu. He was under Indian intelligence agencies’ radar for his involvement in anti-India activities. He was the main handler of a pro-Khalistani preacher and chief of Waris Punjab De Amritpal Singh, who was arrested for his anti-India activities. Amritpal is currently lodged in an Assam prison. Khanda played a vital role in the formation of Waris Punjab De with Deep Sidhu. However, after Sidhu’s death, Khanda pushed Amritpal’s name to become the organization’s chief.

Initially, Khanda’s mother and sister sought permission from the Indian government to bring his body to India. However, they did not get any response from the Indian mission in the UK. Then they moved to Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking permission to bring Khanda’s body to India for his funeral at Moga, Punjab, where he was born. They also wanted to immerse his ashes in Kiratpur Sahib. However, they did not get any relief. Earlier, Amritpal Singh’s wife Kirandeep Kaur was also stopped at the Amritsar Airport as she tried to go to the UK to allegedly attend Khanda’s funeral.

SGPC came out in support of Khanda’s mother and sister

After the UK embassy denied their visa, Akal Takht Jathedar came out in their support and called the embassy’s action a ‘human rights violation’. In a video message, he said, “It is a matter of distress that they (Avtar Singh Khanda’s kin) have been denied a visa. This is a sheer violation of human rights,” said Takht Jathedar in a video statement. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) and other organisations should make efforts to take up the issue with the UK government and ensure that a visa is issued to his mother and sister.”

Shiromani Akali Dal urged the UK mission to issue a visa

Shiromani Akali Dal’s Delhi unit chief Paramjit Singh Sarna has also supported Khanda’s mother and sister. He has urged British High Commission in India to issue them visas to attend Khanda’s funeral citing universal human rights. He said, “We saw disturbing reports about Khanda’s family being denied UK visas. The British High Commission should honour the international covenant on human rights and let his family attend the rituals and service in the UK.”

UK police not looking into Khanda’s death

Earlier, West Midlands police confirmed that they were not investigating Khanda’s death and deemed it “suspicious”. Speaking to the Times of India, a police spokesperson said, “He [Avtar Singh Khanda] was in hospital when he died. It was not deemed to be suspicious at the hospital, and his death was referred to the coroner. The police were only even made aware of this because of allegations he was poisoned, but he was in hospital for a reason — and that was not poisoning. Our involvement was only because of these allegations. His death is not deemed to be suspicious.”

Kerala police arrest 5 Indian Union Muslim League members over anti-Hindu sloganeering during protest rally on Manipur violence

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala police arrest 5 Indian Union Muslim League members over anti-Hindu sloganeering during protest rally on Manipur violence

On Thursday (27th July), the Kerala Police informed that they booked over 300 persons and arrested five youth wing members of the Indian Union Muslim League for raising anti-India and anti-Hindu slogans during a protest march against Manipur violence in Kasargode.

The rally, where the contentious slogans were raised, was held on 25th July this year. Videos of the rally went viral on social media, wherein the youth wing members were seen raising anti-India and anti-Hindu slogans, including threats to hang Hindus in front of temples and burn them alive.

A First Information Report (FIR) was registered in the matter on 26th July, 2023. As per the FIR accessed by OpIndia, Abdul Salam, Faisal Babu (Youth League Secretary), Azeez Kolathur, Musthafa Thayannur, Kunhammu Kolavayal, Samad Kolavayal, Rafeeque Kothikkal and 300 identifiable persons were booked in the matter by the police under Sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), 143 (unlawful assembly) and 147 (punishment for rioting) and 149 of the Indian Penal Code.

While speaking to Mathrubhumi, an officer of Hosdurg Police Station said the arrested persons include members of the youth wing and its parent organisation. The case was registered on the complaint filed by Vaishak PK, president of BJP’s youth wing Yuvamorcha’s Kanhangad Mandalam.

Anti-India slogans at IUML youth wing rally

On 25th July, IUML’s youth wing members raised anti-India slogans at a rally against Manipur violence. BJP’s IT Cell chief Amit Malviya shared the video of the incident and criticised the Kerala government for its inaction. He reminded me how a 7-year-old boy had raised anti-Hindu slogans last year during a PFI rally in Kerala. “Kerala is now the new pit of rabid radicalisation,” he said.

In the under 30-second video that has gone viral on social media, slogans like ‘Ambalathil Ketti Thooki’ (We will hang you in the temple) and ‘Pachakkittu Kathikkum’ (We will burn you alive) were raised.

The complete slogan was “Without reciting the Ramayana, Will be hanged in Temple, will be burnt unto death”. The slogan meant without allowing to recite Ramayana, Hindus will be hanged in front of Sanctum Santorum. They will be burnt there unto death. Other slogans included ‘Youth League Zindabad’ and ‘Muslim League Zindabad’.

IUML’s top leadership condemned the slogans and claimed the party provided slogans beforehand to the participants and that the anti-India slogans were not part of them.

What earlier governments failed to achieve in 70 years has been done in 9 years: Jyotiraditya Scindia debunks misleading claims of P Chidambaram on ‘airport development’ by Modi govt

OpIndia Staff
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What earlier governments failed to achieve in 70 years has been done in 9 years: Jyotiraditya Scindia debunks misleading claims of P Chidambaram on ‘airport development’ by Modi govt

On Sunday (July 30), BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia slammed veteran Congress MP P Chidambaram for misleading people about the number of airports built and operationalised under the Modi government.

In a tweet (archive), P Chidambaram alleged, “The claims of the government that they had built “74 airports in the last 7 years” are hollow and untrue. Only 11 new airports were built since May 2014 and which are operational. The 74 “airports” include 9 helicopter stations and two waterdromes.”

“The waterdromes closed down soon after the ‘inauguration’! Out of the 74 “airports”, 15 are no longer in use because there are no flights! The BJP-NDA government launched 479 new “routes”. Out of these, 225 are no longer in operation!” he further claimed.

The Congress leader thanked the controversial left-propagandist newspaper for providing him with the information about the airports. “Each scheme of the government can be exposed as partly true and mostly false. Boast and exaggeration are the hallmark of the present government,” P Chidambaram claimed.

Soon after, the Union Minister of Civil Aviation debunked his claims on social media. Jyotiraditya Scindia remarked, “The Govt. under the visionary leadership of PM Modi has “operationalised” 74 airports, some of which had been lying unutilised for decades & were national liabilities, thanks to zero initiative taken by the previous UPA govts! Therefore, the list of 74 includes, both, erstwhile unutilised airports, as well as new airports.”

He emphasised, “The Ministry of Civil Aviation has under the Greenfield Airports Policy 2008, operationalised 12 Airports in the country since 2015. Operations in Hirasar (inaugurated this week) will begin shortly. For your information, only 3 greenfield airports were built in the last 65 years!”

“Operation of a route is completely dependent on market demand (airlines assess the feasibility of operation on a particular route and bid under the scheme). Airport infrastructure can be utilised as and when demand picks up. Also, as airlines create capacities and demand for air travel picks up, many discontinued routes are being bid for again by airlines under new rounds of the UDAN scheme,” he further informed.

Jyotiraditya Scindia stated, “Under the UDAN scheme, 74 Airports/Heliports/Water Aerodromes have been revived/upgraded and operationalised since the inception of the scheme. More than 1.23 crore people and 2.23 lakh flights have flown under the UDAN scheme – the possibility of which was NIL during the UPA regime. And that’s a FACT that can’t be washed away by sensationalist Twitter posts.”

The Union Aviation Minister added that the efforts undertaken by the Modi government demonstrate its commitment to expanding infrastructure, providing accessibility to remote areas and supporting regional development.

“The UDAN scheme is also the sole reason behind the birth of many regional airlines that cater to such routes…These developments have involved incurring unprecedented capital investment – almost Rs 75000 crore in the last 10 years – which is directly linked to the growth of employment in the country and has a deep social impact apart from meeting the growing aspirations of all the strata of the society to undertake air travel, ” he added.

Scinidia concluded, “What earlier governments failed to achieve in 70 years has been achieved in merely 9 years! P Chidambaram ji, clearly, fact-checking is not the current Congress’ strong suit. Desperation for survival and relevance have hit senior discerning leaders such as yourself. Please do not perpetuate half-baked truths!”

Jyotiraditya Scindia hits out at political opportunism of I.N.D.I.A. parties

Hitting out at the opposition’s I.N.D.I.A. alliance, Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said that parties “who used to hate each other” are now coming together “like a family.”

“Under the leadership of PM Modi, the country is touching new heights of development. The ideology of the Bharatiya Janata Party is based on Jan Seva (service of people), Jan Kalyan (upliftment of people), and Gareeb Kalyan (upliftment of the poor). Opposition is upset and that’s why those parties who used to hate each other and couldn’t face each other, are now coming together like a family,” he said while speaking to reporters here on July 27, 2023.

He said the people of the country have faith in PM Modi and the BJP. “I am surprised that the ideology which was rejected by the people of India several times is being touted again and again by the opposition”, said Scidia hitting out at the opposition.

Further, the Union Minister said, “I am confident that the country will elect the BJP again” in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The statement came following the I.N.D.I.A. alliance’s protest in the parliament on July 27 this year.

Punjab: Police arrest three accused in connection with the viral video of two groups fighting in Moga

OpIndia Staff
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Punjab: Police arrest three accused in connection with the viral video of two groups fighting in Moga

On the 30th of July, a disturbing video in which a group of hooligans can be seen brutally beating two men in a busy street went viral over the internet. The violent incident captured on camera took place in Punjab’s Moga, very close to the Moga Traffic Police Station.

Around four to five men can be clearly seen in the viral video publicly beating two men with sticks. The group dragged one of the injured to the streets and relentlessly continues to hit him with sticks.   

According to media reports, nine people have sustained injuries in this incident. Following the violent fight, the injured were taken to a nearby hospital and admitted for treatment. 

As per the information received, the clash took place near a bus stand which is a few meters away from a police station. Despite its close proximity to the police station, the fight is said to have continued for more than 20 minutes, but no police official reached the spot. 

Media reports stated that two groups were involved in this violent incident and it was a result of personal animosity. After launching a probe, the police officials obtained CCTV footage of the incident and started a search operation to nab the culprits involved in the clash. 

The officials stated that the conflict was between the people of two villages in Moga. They added that a group of youth from Lande Ke village attacked individuals from Mourh village. 

SSP J Elanchezhian informed that action has been taken against the accused involved in the clashes captured in the viral video of Moga. Police have registered an FIR in this matter and subsequently arrested three accused.

SHO City Police Station Daljeet Singh said, “The police have detained three persons in the case and are trying to identify others. Soon after getting the information, the police reached the spot, and a probe was initiated. The group from Lande Ke village has attacked another group and 9 injured are under treatment at the hospital. I appeal to the people not to panic in the area as the situation remains controlled.” 

The official Twitter handle of Moga Police shared information about the actions taken so far in this case and the details of the FIR.

India is changing fast and we need to look at ‘Micro Reading’ seriously to develop intellect and making youths job ready

Virender Kapoor
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India is changing fast and we need to look at ‘Micro Reading’ seriously to develop intellect and making youths job ready

“Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot, but make it hot by striking”

William Butler Yeats

There are 95 lack Graduates including 15 lack Engineers passing out every year in India. Around two lakh can crack Civil Services, Bank PO, CDS, CAT/MBA etc. The large chunk of close to 90 lack graduates then have nowhere to go and they have nothing to help them become employable. This goes on year on year. Out of 30 applying for one job only one gets it. Therefore there is a huge number of unemployed graduates and school drop outs.

Even post graduates are finding difficult to crack interviews. There are several PG candidates for one job too!

What is the problem?

Everyone is not cut out to be a topper. An average graduate needs to get a simple average job.

But they are unable to convert interviews to getting a job even as a receptionist or a sales executive.

For instance, if ten people are sitting for an interview or a discussion, all things equal; how do you hit the right chord with the interviewer. It is content, that matters. It is not ‘how you speak’ that matters but ‘what you speak’ matters more.

In fact, much more is needed to develop the intellect of a candidate so that he looks well-informed and actually educated- he has to be seen as ‘first amongst equals’ out of 20 job seekers applying for same post.

There are jobs but you can’t find the right guy!

When I speak to the industry, I am told that ‘you interview 20 candidates and sometimes you cannot get even one who you can hire’. And this is no exaggeration. Today MSME sector is looking for graduates who have some idea of basic human competence, interpersonal skills and values.

Jobseekers don’t have simple, summarized, easy-to-understand books to build intellect at their pace and level. Even to start a small business you must look intelligent and present in front of others confidently! They don’t need high-flying stuff and cannot relate to foreign authors like Stephen Covey, Steve Jobs or Jim Collins. In addition, most of such books are for people who are already working and need to make self-improvement. Secondly, they get intimidated by books that are 350 pages thick and too difficult for them to handle on their own.

As a Director of a Management institute with Symbiosis University for a decade, I had interviewed more than 8000 students. I know exactly what the graduates lack and why they cannot crack a job interview.

What is the solution?

You need simple under 80 pages books on a very broad content continuum covering topics like Patience, applied Leadership, ethos of armed forces, taking initiative, Integrity, Self-esteem Adaptability, Empathy and much more- that is how you will be different and that is what people judging you are looking in you today? There should be self-assessment questions too.

These books can be carried by job seekers as part of portfolio. Interview panel does give some grace to those who read.

These books will help a large cross section of students from schools to colleges and help an individual in School/college debates, group discussions and even informal chats with friends in a cafeteria. Appearing genuinely intellectual, well-read is important. Impressing friends, relatives and everyone who meets you. Being able to impress anyone in the first five minutes of interaction not by looks but with intelligence. Improving your grip on the language, expression and vocabulary. Appearing for a job Interview.       

I would like you to be different and yet be miles ahead from the competition. In fact, there should be no comparison and no competition for you whichever situation you are in -once you read these books.

Reading books is the way to go

There is enough evidence that reading alone can build intellect and confidence. By now people are overwhelmed by online teaching and even videos can’t impact the human brain as leisurely reading. By watching an Olympian swim from outside the pool and learning swimming is not possible!

Researchers in Spain and Israel took a close look at 54 studies comparing digital and print reading. Their 2018 study involved more than 171,000 readers. Comprehension, they found, was better overall when people read print rather than digital texts. The researchers shared the results in Educational Research Review.

Will you learn better from reading on screen or on paper?

Much of what we read on-screen tends to be text messages and social-media posts. They’re usually easy to understand. So, “when people read on-screen, they read faster,” says Alexander at the University of Maryland. “Their eyes scan the pages and the words faster than if they’re reading on a piece of paper. But when reading fast, we may not absorb all the ideas as well.

Patricia Alexander is a psychologist at the University.

India story

We are the fifth largest economy and chugging along fast. We need people who can do simple jobs too besides great scientists and strategists. Rural India is progressing fast and wants to progress faster.

They need content- simple content in regional languages.

India is changing fast and we need to look at ‘Micro Reading’ seriously.

‘God gives the nuts, but he does not crack them.’

                                                                        Franz Kafka

Author is an inspirational Guru who has authored more than 40 books. He has specially written ten micro books for this purpose.

Former West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee facing multiple health issues remains critical, is on a mechanical ventilator

OpIndia Staff
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Former West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee facing multiple health issues remains critical, is on a mechanical ventilator

On 30 July, the second day of hospitalisation, the health condition of Former West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee remained critical. According to the latest health bulletin by Woodlands Multi-speciality Hospital, Bhattacharjee is on mechanical ventilation and his overall clinical status remains critical but stable.

On the 29th of July, the veteran communist leader was admitted to the Woodlands Hospital for facing breathing issues. As per the hospital statement, he was admitted because of a lower respiratory tract infection and Type II respiratory failure. 

The hospital stated that a multidisciplinary team of 11 doctors is closely monitoring his vital signs and overall health.

Besides lower respiratory tract infection and type-II respiratory failure, the former chief minister is also reportedly suffering from kidney-related ailments. He had been a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patient for quite some time.

Those aware of the matter stated that Bhattacharjee was initially placed on non-invasive ventilation. However, due to the increasing criticality, he had to be switched to invasive ventilation late on Saturday night. Additionally, after admission, he was provided continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) support.

His health condition had reportedly been deteriorating over the past few days, but he was not paying heed to the doctor’s advice. He had been refusing to get admitted to the hospital. However, since Saturday afternoon, his condition started deteriorating rapidly, and his oxygen saturation level began to drop significantly.

Subsequently, the team of doctors treating him decided to get him admitted to the hospital without any delay and he was taken to the hospital in a critical care ambulance. 

Leaders from different political parties, including Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, Left Front chairperson Biman Bose, CPI(M) leader Rabin Deb, and the State’s Governor C. V. Ananda Bose, have been visiting the ailing leader since Saturday.

On account of his deteriorating health, he had been away from public life for some time now. In 2015, he stepped down from the CPI(M)’s politburo and the central committee, and in 2018, he relinquished his membership in the state secretariat.

Earlier, in September 2019, he was admitted to the hospital due to breathing problems, and his health showed improvement following medical intervention.

Bhattacharjee (aged 79) served as the Chief Minister of West Bengal from 2000 to 2011. 

Pakistan: At least 40 killed and 200 injured in suicide blast at Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) convention in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan: At least 40 killed and 200 injured in suicide blast at Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) convention in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

At least 40 people died and over 200 were seriously injured in a blast at a Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) convention in the Khar tehsil of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur district on Sunday, 30 July. The blast took place when a convention of the radical Islamic party was going on, where more than 500 members and supporters had gathered in the Khar tensil of the Bajaur district, near the border of Afghanistan.

The explosion caused a by suicide bomber took place at around 4 PM on 30 July. Bajaur official Khan stated that Maulana Ziaullah Jan, a leader of the JUI-F, also died in the blast. According to media reports, a local journalist is one among the 200 injured in the attack. 

Police said the death toll could rise further as many have been taken to the hospital in critical condition. Serious wounded people were being airlifted to Peshawar for better medical care.

“I can confirm that in the hospital we have 39 dead bodies, with 123 wounded that includes 17 patients in a serious condition,” Riaz Anwar, the health minister for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, told AFP.

According to the Bajaur District Health Officer Faisal Kamal, the death toll stands at 45. The officials stated that the injured individuals were taken to the Bajaur District Headquarters Hospital, and those in critical condition were transferred to the Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar by a Pakistan Army helicopter.

A video of the moment the explosion took place at the event has appeared on social media. The blast took place at the middle of the gathering, resulting in high number of casualties.

According to a witness, Rahim Shah, more than 500 people were present at the JUI-F convention when the blast occurred. “We were listening to a bayan [sermon] when a powerful explosion knocked me unconscious,” he said. Till now, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman sought an inquiry into the attack from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the KP government.

Following the incident, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the blast at the JUI-F convention. He said terrorists targeted those who advocated the cause of Islam, the Holy Quran, and Pakistan, as reported by Dawn.

In a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office, Sharif asserted, “Terrorists are enemies of Pakistan and they will be eliminated.” 

Earlier, JUI-F leader Hafiz Hamdullah stated that because of personal commitments, he could not attend the convention that he was supposed to attend. Hamdullah categorically stated that this is not jihad but terrorism and is an attack on humanity. Speaking to Geo News, the JUI-F leader said, “I strongly condemn the blast and want to give a message to the people behind it that this is not jihad but terrorism.”

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)’s official Twitter handle read that Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari condemned the blast and extended condolences to the bereaved. Demanding that terrorists and their planners should be eliminated, he said, “The federal and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments should bring the patrons of terrorists to justice.” 

Former president Asif Ali Zardari categorically stated that terrorists were everyone’s enemies. He asserted that Pakistan has to get rid of the nurseries of terrorism. He stated, “Like Swat, the entire country needs to be cleansed of the nurseries of terrorism.”

Condemning the blast, Jamaat-e-Islami Senator Mushtaq Ahmed alleged that the federal and provincial governments, forces, intelligence agencies, and civil administration have completely failed to protect the people.” Ahmed said, “The return of terrorism proves that the government’s security plan/policy has failed and tribal districts of KP are in the middle of this fire.” 

He also demanded that a joint in-camera session of the Parliament should be called to address the issue of rising terrorism in Pakistan.

For those unversed, Maulana Fazlur Rehman-led Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl is not a fringe outfit. It has been an active player in shaping a Pakistani Army-favoured outcome in the political sphere, for which they have staged multiple long marches throughout the nation and it is a radical orthodox group that has spearheaded many radical Islamists protest. 

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