India’s vaccination drive has been reliant on two ‘Made In India’ vaccines, which are Serum Institute of India’s Covishield and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin. While SII’s Covishield is developed by Oxford AstraZeneca, Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin has been developed indigenously and has been India’s success story in the vaccination drive so far.
Since the Indian government granted approvals to Covaxin, a number of media houses, media persons and politicians have been busy peddling blatant falsehoods and misinformation against the indigenously developed vaccine that has proven its efficacy and is now approved by the WHO too.
Recently, Bharat Biotech had shared a list of recent media reports from Indian media outlets that have spread misinformation, and sometimes blatant lies to create confusion regarding the vaccine. The company ‘fact-checked’ those lies one by one.
‘Fact-check’ by Bharat Biotech
Fake claims and misinformation by Moneycontrol
Bharat Biotech listed an article by Money Control dated 29 December 2021 that claimed Bharat Biotech’s ability to provide vaccine doses for 10 crore Indians in the 15-18 age group is doubtful.
Bharat Biotech stated that they have provided crores of doses in the last 11 months of the vaccination campaign and the vaccination drive for the 15-18 age group will also be carried out through several months.
Another statement in the article claimed that they had a ‘botched up’ attempt to revive the Haskins Veterinary Institute in Gujarat and their tech transfer efforts so far have been unsuccessful.
Bharat Biotech stated that they are carrying out tech transfer projects with 3 companies, one is already manufacturing and the company mentioned by Moneycontrol does not exist.
Further, Moneycontrol had claimed in a misleading statement that Bharat Biotech is one of the few companies that has experience of trials in the ’18 odd’ age group.
Bharat Biotech reminded them that they have been carrying out clinical trials on children in the 2-18 age group.
Fake statements and misinformation by Times of India
In a TOI article dated 25 December 2021, it was claimed that private hospitals in Bengaluru have over 5.5 lakh doses of Covaxin that are ‘expired’.
Bharat Biotech stated that they have data and the current number of ‘expired’ doses stands at less than 1 lakh.
Fact-check by Bharat Biotech
False claims by Deccan Herald
In an article dated 5 January 2022, Deccan Herald had claimed that “the confidence of parents have been shaken by the low sample size of human clinical trials, and the confusion regarding extension of shelf life of the Covaxin doses’.
Bharat Biotech clarified that they have conducted clinical trials on over 26,000 people so far and their findings are published in internationally peer-reviewed journals. Further, the extension of shelf life has been granted by CDSCO in a very transparent manner after data on shelf life was submitted. The company has also communicated the same in the public domain and the government of India has granted shelf life extension to both Covishield and Covaxin based on data submitted by the respective companies.
The DH article further stated a blatant lie claiming that Bharat Biotech has taken back over 90% of the six lakh ‘expired-label’ doses in Bengaluru.
Bharat Biotech stated that the company maintains data on doses supplied and available and Bengaluru’s hospitals did not have six lakh ‘expired-label’ doses. The number was less than 1 lakh.
False claims by The Wire
The Wire, in an article on 29 December 2021 had claimed, “The virologist said currently there is currently no data available on the immune response generated by Covaxin.
Bharat Biotech stated that the data on the immune response generated by Covaxin has been published in several reputed international peer-reviewed journals through 2020 and 2021. The data on booster doses has been submitted to the authorities.
The company stated that the above mentioned false statements by media outlets are just a few examples of the number of false claims and misinformation shared by many publications against their vaccine and company. They have added that they will continue to ‘fact-check’ the false claims.
They requested the media organisations to be responsible in their reportage, adding that news articles on medicine, science, vaccines and pharmaceuticals etc have to be based on actual scientific facts and data, not on ideological, political or financial leanings.
On the 5th of January, a serious and deliberate security breach in Punjab led to the convoy of PM Modi being blocked for over 20 minutes by protestors at a flyover about 30 km away from Hussainiwala. The BKU, which took responsibility for the protests went on the record to confirm that the PM’s route information was leaked, according to Times Now. While the nation was shocked and demanding accountability from the Congress government in Punjab, The Quint wrote an elaborate article downplaying the security lapse and lying in the process.
The Quint published a report, written by its “journalist” Aditya Menon, headlined, “PM Modi’s Punjab Visit Cancelled: 2 Angles to the Fiasco – Security & Politics”.
In the article, Menon lied blatantly to downplay the seemingly deliberate security lapse that led to PM Modi being stuck for 20 minutes not too far away from the Pakistan border.
Aditya Menon, in The Quint article, cited an incident from 2017 to claim that at the time, PM Modi’s convoy was stuck in traffic for 2 hours, however, claims that his life was threatened had not been made. The article was shared on Twitter with this very claim by the author Aditya Menon and the official handle of The Quint.
Tweet by The Quint journalist
Other assorted “liberals” like Rohini Singh also shared the claim to downplay the serious security lapse in the security of the Prime Minister and attempted to shield the Congress government in Punjab.
Tweet by Rohini Singh, The Wire journalist
Rohini Singh, a journalist with The Wire, quoted the tweet by Aditya Menon and said that “Noida channels” were vilifying ordinary citizens by claiming that there was a threat to PM Modi’s life. She said the fact that PM Modi’s convoy was “stuck in Noida for over 2 hours” was a “very important point” and that the rest of the media was trying to showcase “Punjabis as anti-national”.
In the report, The Quint had said that while in 2017, PM Modi was stuck for 2 hours in traffic, nobody had claimed that his life was under threat, thereby insinuating that the media and other citizens raising questions against the Congress government were doing so because they harboured some sort of hatred for Punjabis.
What The Quint had published
Essentially, by picking up this incident and lying about it, Aditya Menon wanted to say that the outrage over PM Modi’s security detail breach was mainly owing to the fact that it happened in Punjab and when something far more serious had happened in Uttar Pradesh, there was no outrage over the security breach.
However, the truth is far from it.
In 2017, PM Modi’s convoy was stuck in traffic only for 2 minutes, not 2 hours as claimed by The Quint.
At that time, Indian Express had reported how two cops had been suspended after a security breach that led to PM Modi being stuck in traffic for 2 minutes.
Indian Express article
The two policemen who were suspended had taken a wrong turn as a result of which PM Modi’s cavalcade had been stuck in traffic for merely two minutes.
There is a fundamental difference between what happened in Noida in 2017 and what happened in Punjab.
In 2017, the security breach was a result of a mistake by the policemen and not because the state government had deliberately failed to clear the route that the PM was taking to travel. In Punjab, however, the situation was extremely different.
Yesterday, it was evident that Punjab police was actively involved in blocking the convoy of PM Modi in Ferozepur as videos had gone viral, in which Punjab police were seen enjoying tea with protestors while the convoy was stuck not so far from them.
Another shocking revelation was made by a local witness who is also one of the so-called farmer protesters which clearly indicates that the agitators blocking the road already knew the route taken by the PM to reach the destination. This is a clear confirmation of the leaking of the sensitive information which was supposed to be limited to none other than the Punjab police and local administration. Moreover, while the Punjab police said that they tried but could not remove the blockade, the protester informed that police didn’t make any attempt in that regard, the protestors were not asked by the cops to clear the route.
On being asked if anyone tried either by talks or force to make the protesters leave the site clear the roads, the protester said, “Had the police even tried to do so, they were well aware what would happen to them. Because we farmers were already outnumbering the police. The number of police force was simply not sufficient to make the farmers move. Earlier, Modi’s fans were also trying to pass from here; but they too were not allowed to. Because we were knowing that if they pass ahead, they will certainly do something. We already knew that Narendra Modi will be passing from here only. We were knowing that he has some rally or program planned ahead in Ferozepur and farmers did not want him to reach there.”
The allegations that the Punjab government deliberate leaked info also stems from the fact that the Punjab CM had held a press conference and made several contradictory statements that showed how he was trying to skirt the issue. Further, the BKU, farmers organisation, had admitted to Times Now that details of the route the PM was taking was leaked to the protestors.
In fact, right before the security breach of the Prime Minister, the protesting farmers were seen attacking buses and BJP workers.
The Quint deliberately ignores the fundamental difference between the 2017 incident and the security breach from yesterday. Further, they blatantly lied about the duration of the security breach in 2017 to prove that 20 minutes was not too long for the cavalcade of the PM to be stuck only a few kilometres away from the Pakistan border because it was stuck for 2 hours in 2017.
The lies peddled by The Quint was pointed out by several Twitter users as soon as it was published.
Activist Anshul Saxena had taken to Twitter to point out how The Quint had lied in their report.
To defend PM's security breach in Punjab, The Quint spread fake news that in 2017, PM's convoy was stuck in traffic for over 2 hours in UP's Noida.
Fact is PM's convoy was stuck in traffic for 2 minutes.
After this, The Quint quietly deleted the tweet where they had shared the report on Twitter.
Deleted tweet by The Quint
The report by The Quint has been updated as well. In the report, they have removed the “2 hours” lie, however, they have retained the comparison they made to the 2017 incident thereby, continuing to peddle their agenda with the false equivalence.
Updated report by The Quint
In comparing the current situation with the 2017 incident, The Quint is only proving that they are trying to shield the Congress government in Punjab but downplaying the security breach itself. Also, The Quint is attempting to insinuate that the government and others questioning this security breach are doing so because they are predisposed against Punjab and the people of Punjab.
Aditya Menon of The Quint had employed exactly the same tactic while defending Sharjeel Imam’s speech, calling to cut off Assam from the rest of India
In 2020, The Quint’s journalist Aditya Menon, infamously known for passing off an image from Syria as from Kashmir, attempted to rationalise Shaheen Bagh mastermind Sharjeel Imam’s secessionist and violent remarks by equating them with the ISI propaganda of blockades imposed in Kashmir by Hindu organisations in 2008.
Watering down Imam’s dangerously secessionist speech, Menon argued that the former JNU student had simply asked for a “chakka jam or a blockade of the highways and railways leading to Assam”. However, in his pursuit to defend Imam, Menon cunningly drew a parallel with the Amarnath agitation in 2008 when Hindu organisations had allegedly blocked Jammu-Srinagar highway. Menon stated that if that wasn’t considered sedition, then Imam’s call to block the roads and railways leading to Assam should not be considered separatist either.
The first one is concerning the distortion of Imam’s incendiary speech. Menon cleverly ignored the reference to “Chicken Neck” that was raised by Imam in his speech. Imam categorically stated that Chicken Neck, a narrow stretch of land of about 22 kilometres located in the Indian state of West Bengal, that connects India’s northeastern states to the rest of India, with the countries of Nepal and Bangladesh lying on either side of the corridor, ‘belongs to the Muslims’ and exhorted them to take hold of the area to cut-off Assam and the North-East from the rest of India.
Basically, the article exonerates Imam of all allegations and mentions that if at all he is guilty of anything, it is just ‘intellectual arrogance’. It adds that the only punishment for that is ‘debate and more debate’.
In this incident, Menon similarly exonerated the protestors of all the violence they had perpetuated, in the past and in the present. He forgets about the 26th January violence, the numerous murders and rapes during the farmers protest and also, the attack on buses and BJP workers on the day that PM Modi’s security detail was breached.
The second aspect is about the false equivalence Menon tries to invoke in order to legitimise Sharjeel’s subversive assertions. The Amarnath blockade, which Menon refers to, in order to justify Sharjeel’s inflammatory remarks, erupted on May 26, 2008, after the central government ordered the transfer of approximately 99 acres of forest land to the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board(SASB) in the main Kashmir valley to set up temporary shelters and facilities for Hindu pilgrims.
The decision was fiercely opposed by Muslims dwellers in the Valley, with organisations such as JKLF spearheading the protests and which saw participation from separatist leaders such as leaders Shabir Ahmad Shah, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Omar Farooq, leaders of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC). Pressurised by Muslim protest, the government revoked the land transfer order.
This did not sit well with the Hindus who felt offended by the government’s back-pedalling. At least 35 Hindu organisations staged a protest along the Jammu Srinagar highway demanding restoration of land to Hindus. Hindu outfits such as Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad protested outside the Kashmir House in Delhi against the revocation order issued by the government.
However, Menon did not feel the need to apprise his readers about the background that led to the protests staged by Hindus. In fact, Menon went ahead to falsely claim that Hindus blocked the Jammu-Srinagar highway, cutting off Kashmir from the rest of India. But, to Menon’s chagrin, this theory of “blockade of Kashmir” is patently false as the Government of India, the Army, the District Administration, SASB unequivocally repudiated the allegations of the blockade and called it a myth.
In fact, no Hindu groups had rejected India’s constitution or praised Jinnah either.
Denying any blockade, the BJP too denounced the theory of blockade as “a lie perpetuated by the ISI”, of which there was no compelling evidence, and asserted that the people of the Valley were being misled with false propaganda, abetting the nefarious designs of separatists.
In the current incident too, Aditya Menon employs the same sophistry where he ignores the difference in context between the 2017 incident and the current security breach in Punjab and lies about the details to exonerate the protestors and the Congress government.
Yesterday, on January 5, reports emerged that Tennis legend Novak Djokovic may be granted a medical exemption by the Australian government to participate in the Australian Open event. Djokovic is yet to be vaccinated against Covid and he had made it clear that he is against the Covid vaccines.
Later, the Australian PM Scott Morrison announced that “Rules are rules, and Djokovic will be sent back home on the next plane”.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison defends decision to cancel the visa of Novak Djokovic: "Rules are rules, and there are no special cases." https://t.co/bAZqli5aLFpic.twitter.com/s7vlsxEsfq
As per the latest reports, Djokovic was held at Melbourne’s Tullamarine airport for several hours, after the Australian government made it clear that his visa will be rejected. Djokovic had landed in Melbourne at 11.30 pm local time from Dubai. He was escorted to an isolation room where he was put under watch by two security personnel.
The 34-year-old was issued a letter by the Australian authorities saying that his visa has been denied and he may be deported.
“The Australian Border Force will continue to ensure that those who arrive at our border comply with our laws and entry requirements. The ABF can confirm that Mr Djokovic failed to provide appropriate evidence to meet the entry requirements to Australia, and his visa has been subsequently cancelled”, the Australian Border Force has stated to the media.
The tennis star may now be moved to a hotel as the formalities are done. The Serbian government has stated that they are taking measures to ensure the ‘best Tennis player in the world’ does not face any harassment.
It is notable here that 17-year-old Indian player Aman Dahiya has also been denied entry in the Australian Open because he is yet to be vaccinated with both doses. Russian player Natalia Vikhlyantseva was denied entry because the Russian Sputnik vaccine is not recognised by the Australian govt.
Prime Minister Modi’s convoy today had a major security breach when he was in Congress-ruled Punjab. In what appears to be a deliberate attempt to put PM Modi’s life at risk, Punjab government allowed ‘protestors’ to block the convoy on a flyover for over 20 minutes about 30 kms away from Hussainiwala.
Not too surprisingly, the Congress workers and leaders rejoiced and celebrated the security breach. Some even were proud of the ‘protestors’ and hailed them for ‘inspiring’ them. These are the leaders and workers of the same political party whose two very prominent leaders were assassinated. Indira Gandhi, a sitting prime minister of the country and her son and then former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, who was out campaigning for elections, were both assassinated.
One would want to assume that at least these people would understand how the security breach of the prime minister is such a sensitive matter. But then, this is the same party that forgot Balwantrai Mehta, then sitting Gujarat Chief Minister whose plane was shot down by Pakistan air force for ‘flying too close to border’.
But I don’t want to talk about them. I want to talk about the people of my country who were shocked and extremely upset and angry at the security breach. And I speak for myself as well as many others that if something like this had happened to Dr Manmohan Singh when he was the Prime Minister, we would have been equally angry and upset. We may not have elected him, but he would still have been our prime minister, albeit reluctantly. We would have been equally angry and upset.
Gujaratis are particularly upset at the events that have unfolded today. See, many people I know are upset with the ruling dispensation. Because they expected a lot more from a party they gave a thumping majority to, twice. Okay, so some promises were not fulfilled and there may be slight resentment amongst them, but in their hearts, Modi is still ‘their man’. And here I say Modi and not Prime Minister Modi. Because the ‘Modi’ has the feeling of ‘apnapan‘, the belonging.
And why not? For two terms straight they sent him to the Centre with full majority. All 26 Lok Sabha seats voted for him. This, despite the 2017 Gujarat Assembly elections which were so neck-to-neck that at some point in time people feared BJP might not cross the majority figure. Despite that, just 18 months later, even those constituencies which voted for Congress sent the son of their soil (rather, sons of the soil as even Amit Shah is equally loved in his home state) to Centre.
It is this unshakable faith in Modi that the Congress party cannot digest. They cannot believe that someone other than The Family has so much reverence. The ones who claim to be flag bearers of democracy regularly insult the same democracy that elected the man twice.
Congress has regularly attacked and insulted Gujaratis. Perhaps it is because the people of Gujarat have consistently voted against Congress in all elections in over two decades? The last time a Congress leader was the Chief Minister of our state was in 1995. An entire generation in Gujarat has grown up in a non-Congress ruled state.
In 2017, when Gujarat was inundated with one of the worst floods, Congress flew its MLAs to a luxury resort in then Congress-ruled Karnataka to ensure Ahmed Patel retains his Rajya Sabha seat. The party gambled away the state to save ONE Rajya Sabha seat. Obviously, in the subsequent state election, BJP returned to power. Sure, BJP is not perfect and has its drawbacks, but when people were drowning, the elected representatives were not having a fun time in luxurious resorts.
When Congress loyalists demand an apology for the 2002 riots, Gujaratis remember how when the state was burning in the riots that followed the burning alive of karsevaks, the neighbouring Congress-ruled states offered no help. Ashok Gehlot, Digvijaya Singh and Vilasrao Deshmukh – they let our state burn. Our people died while your leaders watched – only because they did not want Modi to come on the national stage.
But you know what? Modi put Gujarat on the world map. Vibrant Gujarat investment summits have shown how Gujarat is one of the most preferred investment destinations in India. The infrastructure development in Gujarat is so amazing that businesses are moving here. Roads are so smooth and well connected that it is a way of life and don’t need sexist leaders to compare them to women’s cheeks to prove it.
That Modi is now doing the same on pan India level – ensuring villages are connected with roads, electricity. That there are toilets in homes. That a prime minister of world’s largest democracy had to construct toilets in millions of homes, 70 years after independence, the majority of those years being ruled by Congress, shows how pathetic the top leadership was.
That basic things such as toilet, cooking gas and electricity were never a priority for Congress is not forgotten. Which is why the baba-baby living in their ivory towers are so clueless that for them, toilets and cooking gas as ‘not women empowerment’.
“We were lucky that Modi was Prime Minister during the pandemic otherwise Congress we would have either had a ‘vaccine scam’ or Congress would have put our national assets on mortgage for Pfizer vaccines and way more people would have died,” said my uncle at our recent family gatherings. “2024 maa pan Modi pakko aavshe, (in 2024 also Modi will definitely win)” he said.
Here, let me say it again, Gujaratis usually refer to PM Modi as ‘Modi’ very very fondly. They consider him their ‘son’. An insult to him, a security breach on him which could have put his life in danger has made them so angry. Like it happened to their own son.
Which is why an average Gujarati today is angry. “Kaya modhe aavshe vote maangva (by which right they’ll come to ask for vote),” said a friend when we met over coffee earlier today. “Some days they keep attacking Adani-Ambani for them being Gujarati and other days they call us names for electing Modi. If Gujarat administration catches drug at Mundra port they blame Adani as if he was going to consume those 1000 kg drugs himself. Are these people that stupid that they can’t see the drugs were actually caught before they reach consumers and that is a good thing? Badhane Pappu jeva pappu samajhya chhe (They think everyone is Pappu like their Pappu),” he said.
This is the general sentiment amongst Gujaratis. All the community wants is to live and let live. But then every few months Congress does something that triggers them so much that, well, hell hath no fury like a Gujarati scorned.
If you want to fight him, fight fair and square. And while elections are almost a year away, it seems Gujaratis are in no mood to forget the incident where the life of their beloved son may have been endangered for political gains.
It is now becoming evident that Punjab police was actively involved in blocking the convoy of PM Modi in Ferozepur. As a major update in the security breach of PM Modi that occurred on 5 January 2022 near Hussainiwala in Ferozepur district of Punjab, videos have gone viral, in which Punjab police are seen enjoying tea with protestors while the convoy was stuck not so far from them. It is also clearly seen that some of the so-called protesters were seen running along with the PM’s convoy. This whole incidence is a serious lapse in the security of the most protected office-bearer in the country. The more shocking fact is that the ones who were supposed to draw the safe routes for the convoy were busy in a tea party with the protesters who had blocked the road, most probably with ill intentions of harming the PM.
In an astonishingly dangerous development that happened in Punjab when the PM was heading his way to visit the National Martyr’s Memorial at Hussainiwala in Ferozepur district of Punjab, the roads of his convoy were blocked and the vehicles in the convoy were stuck on a flyover for not less than twenty minutes. Earlier it was planned that after landing at the Bathinda airport, PM Modi would go by helicopter. But due to bad weather, the aerial route was cancelled and the road route was taken by the PM’s convoy after a gap of thirty minutes, during which further security management was ensured by the Punjab police. It is notable that as per VVIP movement protocol, the road route was already planned by SPG and Punjab police well in advance, and Punjab Police was supposed to secure the route after they were informed that the PM is travelling by road.
The Punjab Tea Party
But what was seen at the actual site was far different. When the roads to the convoy were blocked, the police were seen to be busy in a tea party with the so-called farmer protesters. The Punjab police were supposed to ensure safe passage to the convoy in the journey by road route. Instead, they were having sips of hot tea distributed by the agitating farmers. The site of this tea party was not so far from the flyover where the convoy was stuck.
Punjab Police under Congress govt were drinking tea with Protestors who stalled PM Cavalcade instead of Clearing PM’s route putting the Highest Protectee of India at Risk pic.twitter.com/I1K3Pedlq8
Another shocking revelation was made by a local witness who is also one of the so-called farmer protesters which clearly indicates that the agitators blocking the road already knew the route taken by the PM to reach the destination. This is a clear confirmation of the leaking of the sensitive information which was supposed to be limited to none other than the Punjab police and local administration. Moreover, while the Punjab police said that they tried but could not remove the blockade, the protester informed that police didn’t make any attempt in that regard, the protestors were not asked by the cops to clear the route.
On being asked if anyone tried either by talks or force to make the protesters leave the site clear the roads, the protester said, “Had the police even tried to do so, they were well aware what would happen to them. Because we farmers were already outnumbering the police. The number of police force was simply not sufficient to make the farmers move. Earlier, Modi’s fans were also trying to pass from here; but they too were not allowed to. Because we were knowing that if they pass ahead, they will certainly do something. We already knew that Narendra Modi will be passing from here only. We were knowing that he has some rally or program planned ahead in Ferozepur and farmers did not want him to reach there.”
So-called ‘protestor’ says they knew PM Modi would be passing this way. Since #PunjabPolice alone knew of route, this video answers key questions: 1. Who leaked secret info? 2. Why protestors were allowed to come in dangerously close proximity to PM?pic.twitter.com/h4aXAMHDl3
Agitators destroyed buses and attacked BJP workers
Another eyewitness from the flyover where the convoy was stuck informed that it was not as smooth of a protest and roadblock as it appears, rather it is a matter of grave concern and most probably a planned attempt to endanger the PM. He said, “O. P. Soni is deputy chief minister of Punjab. He had passed from the same location, just half an hour before the PM’s convoy reached that place. The protesters and police – both offered him a safe passage. See, a deputy chief minister was given a safe passage because it was his party’s government in Punjab, it was his agitators on the road and it was his police taking care of the things. It was a government-sponsored program. So now we have enough facts and videos to prove that O. P. Soni’s convoy had also passed from the same place, it was given a safe passage while the PM’s convoy was not given a clear safe passage. When the PM’s convoy was turning back, the ambulance and police van also took a U-turn. During the course of this turning, the vehicles in the convoy were stuck for a while in such a way that the car in which the PM was travelling was rendered aside. Looking at this, the protesters passing by had a direct approach in the close vicinity of the PM’s vehicle. This indeed was a serious security issue. The officers of Punjab police present there could make an easy safe passage for the deputy CM just minutes before and now they could not make safe passage for the PM. Is this a lapse in the security or a preplanned effort of causing him any harm?”
This deliberate security breach is nothing but an attempt to assassinate the Prime Minister and the Congress government in Punjab is responsible for it.
Just because the Congress can’t defeat PM Modi politically, they are resorting to unconstitutional means to eliminate him… pic.twitter.com/iExvUJAXwB
Adding to this, he further said that he cannot trust that all this happened so suddenly. He said, “There are all sorts of evidence to prove the fact that the protesters – rather rioters – were present there since 11 AM. They were not at all peaceful protesters. They broke away 30-40 buses. They had beaten 15 party workers. They misbehaved with women. and CM Channi is awarding them the certificates of peace. Today, you can see everything on social media. The videos of the damaged buses are seen.”
The witness underlined that all the violent acts had taken place well before the PM arrived at that place. Punjab police ensuring that the PM passes by the riot-hit site soon after the mishap itself points towards the intentions with which PM Modi was made to stand stuck on a road for not less than twenty minutes like a common man. It is notable that the border is as close as 15 to 20 kilometres from that site.
In the video, it can be seen that protestors were running alongside the PM’s convoy on the adjacent lane, showing how grave the security situation was.
Plan to assassinate the Prime Minister?
Meanwhile the home ministry has asked for a clear explanation from the Punjab police along with fixing the responsibilities. Amidst all these evidence making it clear that how Punjab police imperilled the PM, BJP has said in a press conference that it was a deliberate attempt by the Congress government to cause harm and probably assassinate the Prime Minister. Fortunately, it did not go the way it was intended to.
Home minister Amit Shah called the incident a Congress-made happening, saying that repeated rejections by the people have taken them to the path of insanity. He said that the topmost echelons of the Congress owe an apology to the people of India for what they have done.
Amit Shah further added, “Such dereliction of security procedure in the Prime Minister’s visit is totally unacceptable and accountability will be fixed,” informing that a detailed report has been sought by the ministry.
Questionable role of the Punjab police
As more and more details and witness accounts are coming out, the role of Punjab police is being surrounded by more pointed questions as to why proper care was not taken by them to ensure the safe passage of PM Modi and why the police near the site were busy in a tea party with the protesters. Questions are also raised that who were involved in leaking the particular sensitive information about location and passing route which ensured the imperilment of the highest office bearer in the country.
CM Channi has claimed that he was not knowing where exactly the PM was, while more than many protesters seem to have had this information well in advance. This poses a serious question on the integrity of the Punjab police as there seem to be equally serious loopholes in that organization that imply a mutual pact with the protesters-cum-rioters.
Maharashtra police have taken Kalicharan Maharaj, who was arrested for ‘disrespectful comments on Mahatma Gandhi’, to Maharashtra on transit remand from Chhattisgarh police on 5 January 2022. He will be first taken to Pune and then to Thane on Thursday, where he will be presented before a court in a case booked against him for criticizing Mahatma Gandhi. On 30 December 2021, Hindu religious leader Kalicharan Maharaj, who is well known for his famous reciting of Shiv Tandav Stotra, was arrested by the Chhattisgarh police from Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh. When arrested, he was at Wagheshwar Dham.
Kalicharan Maharaj is now taken to Pune by the Maharashtra police who had sought his transit remand to the Chhattisgarh police. A team of Pune police was stuck in Raipur for two days. The team had sought transit remand of Kalicharan Maharaj in front of the District and Sessions Court. Their request stated that the accused has been booked under serious charges in Maharashtra as well. For interrogation, it is necessary to take him into custody. The court accepted the remand application of the Maharashtra police on 4 January 2022. Maharashtra police, after receiving the order from the court, presented the same to the Raipur central jail and took the transit remand of Kalicharan Maharaj.
Maharashtra police team that constituted of eight members had arrived at Raipur on Sunday. The team first applied before the court for the transit remand on Monday, but the application was dismissed. On Tuesday, the team applied again, responding to which the court has granted them custody. The order also says that Maharashtra police must present Kalicharan Maharaj back in front of the Raipur court before 13 January 2022.
Violation of Protocols while arresting from BJP ruled MP
While the team of Maharashtra police has left Raipur and headed towards Pune, the promptness in following the protocols shown by the police departments of both the states is a reason to raise the eyebrows. It is noted that when the Chhattisgarh police arrested Kalicharan Maharaj, the MP government had alleged that they were not given prior informed about the arrest and hence it is a violation of the protocol. The government of Madhya Pradesh had stated that the arrest of Kalicharan Maharaj from Khajuraho by the Chhattisgarh police was in violation of interstate protocols. Madhya Pradesh DGP was instructed to raise an objection to his Chhattisgarh counterpart on this matter.
#WATCH Raipur Police arrests Kalicharan Maharaj from Madhya Pradesh’s Khajuraho for alleged inflammatory speech derogating Mahatma Gandhi
Prompt compliance when it comes to Congress ruled Maharashtra
In sharp contrast with what happened with the arrest in MP, the Raipur police extended full support and stood by the protocols when it came to deal with the police of another congress ruled state Maharashtra. In order to ensure zero trouble to the Maharashtra police team, the Raipur police had sent two special follow teams up to the border between the two states.
It is noted that the NCP leader and Housing Minister of Maharashtra, Jitendra Awhad had filed a case against Kalicharan Maharaj for criticizing Mahatma Gandhi. Kalicharan Maharaj had made the alleged statements in a Dharm Sansad in Raipur, Chhattisgarh on 26 December 2021. In his comments, Kalicharan Maharaj criticized Gandhi for India’s partition and hailed Nathuram Godse for killing Gandhi. After the video of his speech went viral, Jitendra Awhad approached Naupada police and filed a complaint against Kalicharan Maharaj. A case was filed based on the complaint under Sections 294, 295A, 298, 505(2) and 506(2) of the Indian Penal Code.
The government of Kazakhstan fell today amid violent protests against rising fuel prices. After massive protests stormed the Central Asian nation protesting against the skyrocketing costs of Liquified Petroleum Gas, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a decree accepting the resignation of the Government led by PM Askar Mamin on January 5. A wave of violent agitations has spread across the nation over LPG prices, where hundreds of protesters and cops were injured.
Following the situation, President Tokayev tried to stabilize the situation. He accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Askar Mamin. The resignation decree orders current members of the government to officially hold their posts until a new cabinet is approved. The country’s First Deputy Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov was appointed to serve as acting prime minister in the interim government. Tokayev has imposed an emergency in the capital city of Nur-Sultan, Almaty, and in the Mangystau province until January 19.
The protests started in the country after the government lifted price controls on Liquefied Petroleum Gas at the start of the year. With no govt control over the prices, the LPG prices more than doubled in the oil-producing western province of Mangistau on January 2, which hit the Kazakhs hard suddenly. Reportedly, a large number of people in the country have converted their cars to run on LPG as it is cheaper.
Clashes erupted within a night in the city of Almaty, with protestors marching along roads leading to the city centre. While police tried to control the situation using tear gas and grenades, over 200 people were detained and 100 policemen were injured on late Tuesday. According to the Local media in Kazakhstan, some buildings were put on fire and administrative buildings were being targeted. Kazakhstan’s business lobby group, Atameken reported cases of attacks on banks, stores and restaurants.
President Tokayev ordered the interim govt and provincial governors to reinstate price controls on LPG to end the protests. He also ordered to broaden price control on other petroleum products like gasoline, diesel and other “socially important” consumer goods. The president further ordered the government to develop a personal bankruptcy law and consider freezing prices of utilities, and subsidizing rent payments for poor families.
President Tokayev announced on Twitter that the new government so formed will function with the restricted powers assigned to them and has decided to reduce the price for liquefied gas in the Mangistau region to 50 tenges (Rs. 8.53) per litre.
Правительство в рамках данных ему полномочий в целях обеспечения стабильности в стране приняло решение снизить в Мангистауской области цену за сжиженный газ до 50 тенге за литр.
The President informed that the situation was improving in protest-hit cities and towns, including Almaty and the surrounding province, where the authorities have declared a state of emergency with a curfew and movement restrictions.
Protests are a common sight in the ex-soviet country while it tightly controls its image of political stability for foreign investment. The initial cause of the unrest was a spike in prices for LPG in the rich province of Mangystau. The protestors were also seen hooting “Old Man Out” with a reference to ex-President Nazarbayev who is 81. Nazarbayev chose Tokayev was his successor while he still retain much control over politics in the country.
As the Congress government in Punjab faces mounting pressure over the massive security lapse in PM Modi’s convoy, chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi seems to have tied himself in knots by making a series of contradictory statements following the incident.
After claiming security breach was ‘Kudrati’, CM Channi says there was no security lapse
Earlier today, as reports of a breach in PM Modi’s security emerged, CM Channi tried to abdicate himself from his responsibility of ensuring that the Prime Minister of the country remains safe in a state under his governance. Speaking to the media, CM Channi admitted to a security breach by claiming that it was ‘Kudrati’ or occurred naturally.
Punjab CM Charanjit Channi on the security breach and blockage of road cavalcade of the PM to @CNNnews18: Yeh kudrati hua. (This happened naturally.)
However, within a few hours time, Channi backtracked from his comments, asserting that there was no security lapse in PM Modi’s cavalcade. From ‘Kudarati’, in a matter of a few hours, Channi said the security breach did not exist. As his government started facing criticism for not providing adequate security to the Prime Minister of the country, Channi went on to pass the buck on Prime Minister for the imbroglio.
Punjab CM blames PM Modi for the security lapse even as state CS and DGP did not join PM Modi’s cavalcade
“No security lapse. PM’s road plans were made at the last minute. He was supposed to go by helicopter. I was up late at night overseeing security arrangements for his rally. 70,000 chairs were put up for rally but only 700 people turned up,” Channi said reacting to the incident.
As Channi blamed PM Modi for the melee that was caused during his travel to Ferozpur, it is notable to mention that the Chief Secretary of the state and Police DGP are usually a part of PM’s cavalcade during his visit to states. However, in this case, neither the Chief Secretary nor DGP joined PM Modi’s convoy, further puncturing the claims that security arrangements for PM Modi’s convoy were adequate.
Channi said only 700 people had turned up for PM Modi’s rally but videos on SM show otherwise
After PM Modi cut short his visit due to a security breach, Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi tried to make light of the incident, stating that only 700 people had turned up for PM’s rally whereas arrangements were made for 70,000.
However, videos from the rally which PM Modi was supposed to attend showed thousands of people in attendance, carrying BJP flags and expectantly waiting for the Prime Minister’s arrival. Social media is awash with videos from the venue where PM Modi was expected to deliver a speech. They showed a raft of people who had come to attend PM Modi’s rally, a stark contrast to the claims made by Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi.
Punjab CM Channi has tied himself in knots. First he said 700 people turned up for the rally… Then he said it was kudarti, later he said he was trying to ensure no blockade till 3am… The CS and DGP are part of PM’s cavalcade but in this case, they weren’t… Lies and more lies. pic.twitter.com/g8EnyWVj5I
Punjab govt endangers PM Modi’s security, allows protestors to block his convoy
The contradictory claims made by Channi could be attributed to the utter failure of the Congress government in Punjab to ensure safe passage to PM Modi for his election rally in Ferozpur. In a major lapse and seemingly deliberate act to endanger the Prime Minister’s security, the Punjab government today allowed political protestors to block the Prime Minister’s convoy. As per reports, the PM’s convoy was blocked for over 20 minutes by protestors at a flyover about 30 km away from Hussainiwala.
In a statement, the Home Ministry said that the PM was scheduled to visit the National Martyr’s Memorial in Punjab’s Hussainiwala by helicopter. However due to adverse weather conditions, the helicopter ride was cancelled and the PM chose to go by road, which would take more than 2 hours.
As per protocol, necessary confirmations were done with Punjab DGP and the PM’s convoy started after confirmation for security arrangements was provided by Punjab Police. However, at a flyover about 30 km away from Hussainiwala, the road was found to be blocked by some protestors.
The Prime Minister’s vehicle was struck in the flyover for 15-20 minutes, as per the statement. Calling this a major lapse in the security of the PM, the Home Ministry stated that the PM’s travel plan was communicated well in advance to the state government. The state government is required to make necessary arrangements for security, logistics and also make a contingency plan ready in case of unexpected issues.
The Finance Ministry on Wednesday issued three show-cause notices to Chinese phone maker Xiaomi’s India unit ‘Xiaomi Technology India’ for evading customs duty by way of undervaluation. With notices, the tax authorities are demanding Rs 653 crore in tax from the company. This is after a detailed investigation was initiated by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) against Xiaomi India and its contract manufacturers.
The DRI recovered documents at the premises of Xiaomi India indicating that the company was remitting royalty and license fee to Qualcomm USA and to Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co. Ltd., under contractual obligation. But the same was not reported by the company, evading import duty. “By not adding royalty and licence fee in the transaction value, Xiaomi India was evading customs duty, being the beneficial owner of such imported mobile phones, the parts and components thereof”, the ministry said in its official statement.
Three show cause notices issued to Xiaomi Technology India for demand & recovery of duty amounting to Rs 653 cr for the period 01.04.2017 to 30.06.2020, under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962: Ministry of Finance
The investigation by DRI revealed that Xiaomi India is engaged in the sale of MI brand mobile phones and these mobile phones are either imported by the company or assembled in India by importing components of mobile phones by contract manufacturers of Xiaomi India. “The MI brand mobile phones manufactured by the contract manufacturers are sold exclusively to Xiaomi India, in terms of the contract agreement”, the statement added.
The probe found that while Xiaomi India was paying royalty and licence fees to Qualcomm USA and to Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co. Ltd., China for the components and mobile phones imported to India, the same was not being added to the assessable value of the goods imported by Xiaomi India and its contract manufacturers. This is a violation of Section 14 of the Customs Act, 1962 and Customs valuation (determination of value of imported goods) Rules 2007, the Finance Ministry said.
Therefore, three show cause notices have been issued to M/s Xiaomi Technology India Private Limited for demand and recovery of duty amounting to Rs. 653 crore for the period 01.04.2017 to 30.06.2020, under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962, the ministry informed.
It is said that the key persons of Xiaomi India and its contract manufacturers have confirmed the payments. This is a week after the Income Tax Department had indicated that Chinese mobile phone manufacturers Xiaomi and Oppo might face fines of up to Rs 1,000 crore for violating the law.
The Income Tax Department had conducted searches on leading Chinese mobile companies across the country on December 21. The searches were conducted in offices of Oppo, Xiaomi, and One Plus in Delhi and 11 states including, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Assam, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Bihar, Rajasthan.
The severe search by the Office then had revealed that two major companies have made remittance in the nature of royalty, to and on behalf of its group companies located abroad, which aggregates to more than Rs 5500 crore. “These companies have not complied with the regulatory mandate prescribed under the Income-tax Act, 1961 for disclosure of transactions with associated enterprises. Such lapse makes them liable for penal action under the Income-tax Act, 1961, the quantum of which could be in the range of more than Rs 1000 crore”, the statement had read.
Amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has denied permission for Pongal related cultural functions and gatherings across the state. “All government and private events for ‘Pongal’ harvest celebration and related cultural shows would be postponed”, announced the CM. CM Stalin has also denied permission to devotees in places of worship on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
The Tamil Nadu govt has said that Pongal festivities and cultural festivals in colleges, rallies and religious gatherings will not be allowed.
The decision has been taken after a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister MK Stalin with state health minister Ma Subramanian and other senior health officials. The government has also announced a night curfew starting Thursday to curb the rising number of COVID-19 spread. However, the state is to witness complete lockdown on Sundays with restaurants operating only for takeaways from 7 in the morning to 10 pm.
No permission for Pongal related functions/gatherings. Public transport including bus, suburban trains and Metro to run at 50% seating. No permission to devotees in places of worship on Friday, Saturday and Sundays: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin
The neitizens unhappy with the decision to cancelling Pongal functions have questioned the government about imposing restrictions just ahead of the Hindu festival and not during Christmas or New Year. “Christmas was celebrated in full capacity, no?”, tweeted one of the furious users. Meanwhile, another user indicated that the Tamil Nadu government had done this deliberately now, after allowing the state to celebrate New year and Christmas.
Pongal is the harvest festival of Tamil Nadu that falls usually in the month of January. The uniqueness of the festival reminds of the importance of natural resources, especially when the entire world is battling the environmental change. During the festival, people reject old belongings and welcome new stuff.
While the state has cancelled all government and private events for ‘Pongal’ harvest celebration, Governor RN Ravi has said that the Tamil Nadu government is fully prepared to tackle the COVID and the Omicron variant and the challenges it poses. The state of Tamil Nadu has seen the sharpest rise in COVID-19 infections with 2731 new cases being reported in the last 24 hours. On the status of the Omicron variant, the state has 121 cases with 105 people being discharged, leaving 13 active cases.
