‘Farmer leader’ Yogendra Yadav was interrogated for two hours by the Jhajjar Police on Tuesday in connection to the gang-rape of the 25-year-old ‘activist’ from West Bengal. The victim, who had arrived from West Bengal to Delhi in April to participate in ‘farmer protest’, was allegedly sexually assaulted more than once. She subsequently got diagnosed with Chinese coronavirus and unfortunately succumbed to the virus.
Along with Yadav, Yogita Suhag, another ‘activist’ named in the FIR was also interrogated for three hours. She was questioned about her visit to the poll-bound state of West Bengal and the people who had accompanied her. As per reports, she was also questioned about her return trip as well as the video recording of the victim’s statement which she had made.
As per DSP Pawan, an SIT has been formed and hideouts of the accused, AAP leaders Anil Malik and Anup Singh, are being raided to arrest them at the earliest.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Tuesday issued notices to Yogendra Yadav and BKU Ekta Ugrahan president Joginder Singh Ugrahan as well. The report sought explanation for delay in informing police about the heinous crime when the leaders were aware of the same.
Tikri border gang rape
A woman ‘activist’ from West Bengal who had come to join the ‘farmer protests’ at Tikri border was sexually assaulted allegedly by two AAP leaders. In an FIR filed by her father, Yogendra Yadav knew about the assault but did not approach the police for the same.
The ongoing clashes between Israel and Palestine have now reached the United States as supporters of both Israel and Palestine clashed on the streets of New York City on Tuesday.
According to the reports, Pro-Palestinian supporters marched through New York City, carrying banners condemning Israeli retaliation against Palestinian terror attacks. The Palestinian supporters also gathered near the Israeli consulate in Manhattan and shouted slogans against Israel.
“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” chants echo across the street from the Israeli consulate pic.twitter.com/xilADfWS2L
The pro-Palestinian activists gathered outside the building after calls were made on social media platforms to assemble for “an emergency rally for Palestine”. A handful of pro-Israel activists organized a counter-protest. The pro-Palestine supporters clashed with Israel supporters outside the consulate and attempted to attack each other over the ongoing clashes between Israel and Palestine in the Middle east.
בנתיים במנהטן, הפגנה פרו פלסטינית ונגד ישראל מול הקונסוליה הישראלית. המפגינים החלו לצעוד על רחוב 42 pic.twitter.com/B03wC4a990
— יונה לייבזון yuna leibzon (@YunaLeibzon) May 11, 2021
Following the attacks, the New York police officers attempted to prevent clashes between the two sides. However, the protestors broke free in an attempt to physically assault one another.
As the protests intensified outside the consulate, the staff members at the Israeli consulate in New York City were sent home, fearing for their safety. Similar protests were seen in LA too.
Not just in New York, more than 200 pro-Palestine protestors gathered outside the Israeli Consulate carrying Palestinian flags in Los Angeles too. The protestors carried “Free Palestine” and “We support Palestine” placards and shouted slogans against Israel.
The Israel-Palestine clashes:
The long-standing territorial-control issues between Israel and the pro-Palestinian forces have once again escalated, resulting in large scale violence and attacks. The eviction of illegal Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood in east Jerusalem has now stoked tensions and sparked fresh violence in the region.
Prior to the latest exchange of fire, Israeli police were attacked by Palestinians inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem on Sunday. The Israel police had come under severe attack by Palestinians, who pelted stones and unleashed heavy attacks on them inside the Al-Aqsa compound. More than 21 officers were wounded after attacks by Palestinians during the attacks on Monday.
After the Israeli response, the terror outfit Hamas escalated its attack on Israeli civilians by launching hundreds of rockets against Israel. At least five Israelis have been killed after Hamas launched hundreds of rockets from the Gaza Strip. In response to the rocket attacks, the Israeli army has struck some 140 targets in the coastal enclave after Hamas openly joined Palestinian terrorists to intensify the clashes between the two sides.
Following the attacks, Israel has stepped up its attacks on the Palestinian terror group Hamas inside Gaza Strip. The Israel Defence Forces have carried out airstrikes on targets in Gaza in response to continued attacks by Hamas against Israel. During the retaliatory strikes on Tuesday, several high-profile Hamas terrorists are said to have been killed.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have released a number of videos of its Iron Dome air defence system intercepting the continuous barrage of rockets targetting Tel Aviv and central Israel Tuesday evening.
Former President of the United States Donald Trump has issued a statement on recent attacks on Israel by Palestinians. He called out President Biden for his weakness and lack of support for Israel. Trump said that when he was in office, Israel’s adversaries knew that the US would stand firmly with Israel and take swift action if someone attacks Israel. He added under the Biden administration, the world is getting more violent and unstable as Biden’s lack of support for Israel is leading to new attacks on US’s allies.
Trump said, “When I was in office, we were known as the ‘Peace Presidency’ because Israel’s adversaries knew that the United States stood strongly with Israel and there would be swift retribution if Israel was attacked. Under Biden, the world is getting more violent and more unstable because Biden’s weakness and lack of support for Israel is leading to new attacks on our allies. America must always stand with Israel and make clear that the Palestinians must end the violence, terror, and rocket attacks, and make clear that the US will always strongly support Israel’s right to defend itself.”
Screenshot of Donald Trump’s statement. Source: donaldjtrump.com
Trump mentioned Minnesota Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar in his statement and accused her of being a “crazed anti-American”, who attacks Israel even when they are under terrorist assault. He added, “Unbelievably, Democrats also continue to stand by crazed anti-American Rep. Ilhan Omar, and others, who savagely attack Israel while they are under terrorist assault.”
Trump had taken several steps to ensure support for Israel
The former President had helped to broker the Abraham Accord, which was a first-of-its-kind agreement for diplomatic relations between Israel, the UAE and Bahrain. He also moved the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which was criticized due to the disputed status of the holy city.
The recent escalation is considered to be one of the most intense series of attacks between Israel and Hamas since the 2014 war. It has to be noted that Hamas is a US-designated terrorist organization.
Biden himself has not issued any statement yet on the escalation in Israel. However, Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that Biden had been briefed on the matter. Psaki said that the US Officials have candidly talked to the Israeli leaders about concerns regarding the eviction of Palestinian families in East Jerusalem that has spiked the protests in the last few weeks.
She said, “The President’s support for Israel’s security, for its legitimate right to defend itself and its people is fundamental and will never waiver. We condemn ongoing rocket attacks by Hamas and other terrorist groups, including against Jerusalem. We also condemn extremism that has inflicted violence on both communities.”
“The president’s support for Israel’s security, for its legitimate right to defend itself and its people, is fundamental and will never waver.”
She further added that the President and his administration would continue to pursue conditions for diplomacy, dialogue and de-escalation and protection of civilians “even as we work together with our friends to deter acts of violence and terrorism.”
On May 12, the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) permitted Bharat Biotech to run phase 2 and phase human clinical trials on 2 to 18-year-olds, reported news agency ANI citing sources.
Subject Expert Committee (SEC) gives nod to Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin for phase 2 and 3 human clinical trials on 2 to 18-year-olds: Sources#COVID19pic.twitter.com/0FD1y3IGYh
If the trials of Covaxin proves the efficacy of the vaccine in children, it will boost India’s vaccination drive to eliminate the Covid-19 pandemic from the country. As of now, the vaccine is only permitted for the age groups above 18 years of age.
Presently, there is no vaccine available for Children anywhere in the world. Just a day ago, FDA had approved the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid vaccine to be administered to children between the age of 12 years and 15 years. The permission came after the announcement made by the companies in late March that the two-dose vaccine was found to be 100% effective in a clinical trial of more than 2,000 children.
Covid-19 third wave expected to be dangerous for children claim experts
Experts believe that the third wave will soon hit India. During the third wave, only children under the age of 18 would not have been vaccinated, they may become an easy target for the virus, and the age group under 18 might be most affected during the possible third wave. Cardiologist Dr Raghavendra Parashar, Senior Consultant, Jaipur Golden Hospital, while talking to India Today, said that the behaviour of the virus must be studied, especially in children, to avoid the spread of the infection.
Rumours of Covaxin approval for children 12 and above
A few days back, there were some rumours floating around on social media platforms that PM Modi has approved Covaxin for children above 12 years of age. However, it turned out to be a fake forwarded message. The trials have not been conducted for the vaccine on children; thus, the possibility of such approval was ruled out. Once the trials are done, only then the expert panel of the Government of India would give permission to vaccinate children under 18 years.
Covid-19 in India
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India reported 3,48,389 new cases on May 11, slightly more than the previous day. There are 36,99,661 active cases in the country. 4,198 people have lost their lives due to Covid on Tuesday. 3,55,389 people recovered on May 11, making it the second day in a row with more recoveries than new cases.
Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called up other Muslim leaders to discuss the Israel-Palestine conflict and urged them to take a stand against Israel. As per reports, he spoke to with the rulers of Qatar and Malaysia and also vowed to take a concrete action against Israel. He spoke to the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Malaysian King Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.
On Monday, he also spoke to leaders in Jordan and Kuwait.
Earlier, Erdogan had reportedly sought to intensify the conflict as he promised Palestinian authority as well as Islamic fundamentalist group Hamas that Turkey will put its weight behind the Muslim world to ‘stop Israel’s terrorism and occupation’.
Speaking to Palestine Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh, he condemned the attacks and said he would always be a supporter of Palestine and stand with them. Many Palestinians also believe that Erdogan is their only ‘saviour’.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed their Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi to speak to his counterparts in Turkey and Saudi Arabia to discuss on how to ‘collectively respond’ to Israel. Pakistan has no diplomatic relations with Israel.
Palestinian terrorist organisation Hamas has unleashed massive terror strikes against Israel on Tuesday evening, firing hundreds of rockets inside the country.
On Wednesday, Israel stepped up its attacks on the Palestinian terror group Hamas inside Gaza Strip. The Israel Defence Forces carried out airstrikes on targets in Gaza in response to continued attacks by Hamas against Israel. During the retaliatory strikes on Tuesday, an Israeli airstrike struck a high-rise office and residential building controlled by Hamas.
Earlier on Tuesday, at least five Israelis were killed after Hamas launched hundreds of rockets from the Gaza Strip. In response to the rocket attacks, the Israeli army has struck some 140 targets in the coastal enclave after Hamas openly joined Palestinian terrorists to intensify the clashes between the two sides.
In a statement, Hamas had said that it was “in the process of firing 110 rockets towards the city of Tel Aviv” and 100 rockets towards the southern town of Beersheva, “as reprisal for the restarting of strikes against civilian homes”.
Israel’s Iron Dome defends the country against Hamas rockets
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has also released a video of deploying its Iron Dome air defence system to intercept the continuous barrage of rockets targetting Tel Aviv and central Israel Tuesday evening.
The IDF has posted a series of video of its defence of its country. The IDF posted videos of Iron Dome intercepting a barrage of rockets fired by Hamas.
RAW FOOTAGE: This is the moment the Iron Dome intercepted a barrage of rockets over Tel Aviv and central Israel. pic.twitter.com/8jl8OTgWCl
Here is another video of IDF launching defensive operations against continued attacks by Hamas against Israel.
VIDEO: Dozens of rockets fired from Gaza are intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system over the Tel Aviv metropolitan area. pic.twitter.com/DbKUkpCp6u
The high-tech ‘Iron Dome’ is a short-range air-defence system designed to intercept rockets, artillery, and mortars. The surface-to-air missile system has been deployed by Israel Defence Forces since 2011 and has helped reduce casualties from rocket attacks against Israeli cities. The air-defense system was developed by the Israeli defence firms Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries with support from the US.
The Iron Dome air defence system is considered one of the world’s most advanced, with a reported success rate of more than 90%. However, some rockets have made it through and resulted in deaths in Israel due to the sustained rocket launches by Hamas.
The long-standing territorial-control issues between Israel and the pro-Palestinian forces have once again escalated, resulting in large scale violence and attacks. The eviction of illegal Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood in east Jerusalem has now stoked tensions and sparked fresh violence in the region.
Prior to the latest exchange of fire, Israeli police were attacked by Palestinians inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem. The Israel police had come under severe attack by Palestinians, who pelted stones and unleashed heavy attacks on them inside the Al-Aqsa compound. More than 21 officers were wounded after attacks by Palestinians during the attacks on Monday.
Pakistani actress Veena Malik on Tuesday misattributed a quote to German dictator Adolf Hitler glorifying genocide of Jews as the Israel-Palestine conflict broke out on Friday.
Veena Malik’s tweet (image courtesy @mrandyngo on Twitter)
In a tweet, the reality show turned Twitter troll attributed a quote to Adolf Hitler and quoted ‘I would have killed all the Jews of the world… but I kept some to show the world why I killed them.”
While there is no authenticity whether Hitler said those words, some or the variation of the quote is often used to endorse the Holocaust and/or hatred towards Jews and Israel.
Malik has since been glorifying the attack on Israelis and cheering the death and destruction.
In her subsequent tweets in Urdu, she urged Muslims to not be disheartened and said that if they are truly ‘believers’, then they would be proud.
Veena Malik’s tweets
She further added that those who are fighting have the permission to do so because it is ‘self defence’ and Allah is with them.
The Pakistani actress has time and again cheered, endorsed and hailed violence. She had sort of lost her mind even during the Balakot Air Strike the Indian Air Force carried out against the terror camps in Pakistan.
Veena’s tweet endorsing genocide of the Jews got a lot of criticism, after which she seems to have deleted the tweet. However, she has not yet apologised for the same.
Veena Malik’s Twitter account has been withheld in India owing to a legal demand.
Israel-Palestine conflict
Tensions escalated between Israel and Palestine with both sides ramping up their attacks with rockets and airstrikes. On Tuesday, Hamas fired 137 rockets in just 5 minutes to overwhelm the Iron Dome missile defence system in Israel. From Monday through Tuesday, 630 rockets were fired at Israel of which 200 were intercepted by the Iron Dome. In retaliation, Israel too bombed across Gaza killing 28 and injuring 152 more. The conflict has escalated owing to impending eviction of dozens of Palestinians from East Jerusalem neighbourhood who are set to be evicted from Sheikh Jarrah to be replaced by Jewish Israelis.
The Federal Government had arrested a 38-year-old man in Southern California named Mustafa Qadiri for misusing $5 million of the federal Covid-19 relief funds. Qadri was arrested last week for scheming to defraud the Paycheck Protection Program of the US government. He was slapped with numerous charges of bank fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and money laundering.
Mustafa Qadiri was later released on a $100,000 bond. His trial is scheduled for June 29. He and his lawyer were reportedly unavailable for comment.
According to reports, the accused had fraudulently obtained millions of dollars as a loan under the Paycheck Protection Program of the US government, which the government launched to help small businesses tide over the economic losses caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
After getting the loan amount, Qadiri used it to buy himself luxury cars like a Ferrari, Bentley and a Lamborghini. Besides, he also used a part of the PPP loan on lavish vacations and other personal expenses.
The prosecutors in the court contended that Qadiri submitted fraudulent loan applications to three banks based on companies that were found to be non-existent. Moreover, the papers he submitted included forged bank records, fake tax returns etc.
According to media reports, Qadiri also used someone else’s name, social security number and signature to apply for one of the loans. Following his arrest, authorities had seized the Ferrari, Bentley and Lamborghini cars along with the remaining $2 million from his bank accounts.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has lauded Uttar Pradesh model of door-to-door Covid surveillance on its website and social media pages saying that “Uttar Pradesh going the last mile to stop COVID”. In an article posted on May 7 on its website, the global health body wrote how Yogi Govt has taken proactive steps and complimented them for the same.
WHO quotes UP model of door-to-door Covid surveillance on its website
It praised the Yogi Government’s initiative of house-to-house active case finding of Covid-19 in rural areas to contain Covid-19 by testing people with symptoms, disease management and contact tracing.
In #India‘s ?? most populous state Uttar Pradesh, the state gov. has initiated house-to-house active case finding of #COVID19 in rural areas to contain transmission by testing people with symptoms for rapid isolation, disease management & contact tracing ?https://t.co/pbDi98UByQpic.twitter.com/7H2yXcU0if
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) May 10, 2021
WHO said on Twitter that “the Uttar Pradesh government has deployed 1,41,610 teams and 21,242 supervisors from the state health department to ensure all rural areas are covered with this Covid-19 case finding activity”.
In a drive that kick started on May 5, teams formed by the Yogi Adityanath government are going door to door in rural areas to contain the transmission. “Those who tested positive are isolated and given a medicine kit with advice on disease management. All contacts of those who tested positive are quarantined and tested,” wrote WHO, adding that it is supporting Uttar Pradesh government in training and micro planning.
The global health body said that its field officers are on the ground to monitor and share real-time feedback with the government for immediate corrective action to ensure quality.
“On the inaugural day, the field officers monitored over 2,000 government teams and visited at least 10,000 households. It is also supporting the UP government on the compilation of the final reports”, wrote WHO in its Tweet.
Yogi Govt takes proactive steps to contain Covid in remote hamlets of Uttar Pradesh
The Yogi government, which has taken proactive steps to contain the spread of the deadly pathogen in the state of Uttar Pradesh, started the campaign on May 5 with teams moving across 97,941 villages in 75 districts in Uttar Pradesh. Each monitoring team has been assigned two members who visit homes in these remote villages to test everyone with symptoms of COVID-19 using Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) kits. Those who test positive are being quickly isolated and given a medicine kit with advice on the disease.
The contacts of those who test positive are being quarantined and tested using an RT-PCR at home by a rapid response team.
The Yogi Government has advised the monitoring teams to constantly monitor the system of medical kit distribution and also asked them to provide the name and contact numbers to those receiving the medical kit to ICCC which in turn would revise the list.
The Govt has also asked the teams to make a copy of these names available to the local public representatives through the District Magistrate so that MPs/MLAs can get medical kits and communicate with the people. By doing this, the govt would also be able to cross verify the system. Every person with suspected symptoms must have an antigen test, clarified the state government.
Further, the government in the state has said to have allocated two vans to each block within a district in the state to test people with symptoms. This is being conducted along with routine sample collection and testing in community health centres.
Special arrangements for the health protection of children
The Yogi Government is further ensuring that special arrangements for the health protection of children are made in all districts. For this purpose, the Yogi Govt has instructed his specially formed Team-09, set up to manage Coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh, to prepare pediatric ICUs with a capacity of a minimum of 10-15 beds in all district hospitals and 25-30 beds in medical colleges. The govt instructed that there should be a minimum 100-bed pediatric ICU at Divisional Headquarters and all necessary medical equipment, medicine, etc. should be made available on an urgent basis. Moreover, physicians and other staff should be trained immediately in this regard.
Ventilators and oxygen concentrators should be operational in all districts
The State Government has made all necessary arrangements to ensure that ventilators and oxygen concentrators are provided in all districts. Yogi Adityanath, instructed that ACS Health and the Principal Secretary of Medical Education should ensure that these devices are operational in each case. He asked the authorities to contact the concerned districts and get their problems resolved in this regard.
The CM added that if the ventilators or the oxygen concentrator in any district is not reported to be functional, then the onus of the same would lie on the concerned DM/CMO.
Arrangement of life-saving drugs like Remdesivir
The State Government also instructed that all arrangements should be made to ensure that there is enough supply of life-saving drugs like Remdesivir in the state at all times. He confirmed that in the State Government COVID facilities drugs like Remdesivir was being provided absolutely free. While it is being made available to private hospitals by the DM/CMO as per requirement.
UP Administration has been instructed to ensure that whenever a patient being administered this injection, a doctor should be present there along with the nursing staff.
The govt asked authorities to maintain a detailed record of the demand, supply, and consumption of this life-saving medicine.
State providing vaccine safety cover to all citizens
The Yogi Government informed that to protect the citizens against the Coronavirus, the state government is providing vaccine safety cover to all citizens. It informed that Uttar Pradesh is by far the most vaccinated state in the country with so far 1,39,08,152 doses already administered.
Vaccination of the 18-44 age group is now being conducted in 18 districts. On May 10,50,157 people in this age group were inoculated. Thus, more than 1.66 lakh people aged 18 to 44 have been vaccinated in the state. Vaccine waste is also declining in this age group, currently, it is 0.6 per cent, informed the state administration.
The UP govt further ordered the state administration to speed up the process of selection and appointment of medical/paramedical final year, interns, youth who have completed training, retired experienced people to increase the medical human resources, which the govt believes is paramount to tackle the future challenges. It asked the Minister of Medical Education to undertake a detailed review of this recruitment process.
‘Trace, test, and treat’ mantra yielding positive results
State administration has informed that Covid sample testing work has been going on uninterrupted in the state. In the last 24 hours, 2,33,705 sample tests were conducted, of which 1,10,000 tests were conducted only through RTPCR. So far, 4,34,04,184 crore tests have been conducted in the state. It said that the state is taking action expeditiously as per the mantra of ‘Test, track and treat’.
In the last 24 hours, 20,463 new Covid cases have been confirmed in the state, while 29,358 people have recovered and have been discharged during the same period. The govt said that the COVID situation in the state is satisfactory as new Covid cases are decreasing, while the recovery rate is getting better.
The Administration confirmed that its policy of trace, test, and treat are yielding good result. It said that the active Covid cases which stood at 3,10,783 on April 30, reduced by more than 95,000 as of today due to continuous efforts.
“At present, there are 2,16,057 active Covid cases in the state. The state’s recovery rate is continuously getting better. So far, over 13.13 lakh people have successfully won the battle with Corona”, the Govt informed.
Global tenders issued for the availability of cryogenic tankers
Providing information on how the state government has been battling oxygen crisis in the state, the govt said that global tenders have been issued for the availability of cryogenic tankers. Moreover, with the help of the central government and Reliance Industries, the number of tankers have rapidly increased in the state, which has helped the state to further improve its oxygen supply.
Giving information on how medical oxygen is being efficiently made available to all districts in the state, the Govt informed that in the last 24 hours, 1,011 metric tonnes of oxygen has been distributed in the state. Of this, 632 metric tonnes have been supplied to refillers and 301 metric tonnes to medical colleges.
“Oxygen availability is getting better in larger and higher transition rates districts like Varanasi, Lucknow, Prayagraj, Kanpur. Today a new train of 08 tankers is coming, while Jeevanakshak Express with 10 tankers is parked in Lucknow”, said the state govt asking authorities to properly distribute the procured stock within the district so that none of the areas in the state remains uncovered.
The Govt said that special attention needs to be given to the districts with low infection rates. It asked authorities to make a separate action plan pertaining to the distribution of oxygen supply to all the districts.
Well-being of daily wagers in these testing times paramount
The state asked administration to keep the well-being of street hawkers, vendors, construction workers and labourers are their top priority. It said that since a partial lockdown has been implemented in the state to beat the surge, proper arrangements should be made to take care of these daily wagers.
The state has started more than 350 community eateries in the state and efforts should be made to further increase this number. The state govt has asked the administration to make sure that such community kitchens are operational in every district of the state and to ensure this materialises the Govt suggested that cooperation from private voluntary organizations could be sought.
Cleanliness, medicine, hardness
Following the mantra of ‘cleanliness, medicine, hardness’, a campaign of state-wide sanitation, sanitization is being carried out in the state. The state govt informed that as a part of this initiative sanitation, sanitization, fogging was done in 63080 villages yesterday. It asked authorities to spread awareness and the need for cleanliness and hygiene amongst the citizens and continue to implement the Corona curfew effectively to curtail the spread of the virus.
Other measures
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had previously directed the COVID management team to ensure that the oxygen generated by the sugar mills is supplied to the nearest CHC (Community Health Centre).
All necessary efforts are being made to increase the availability of oxygen. In view of future needs, oxygen plants are being set up in all districts of the state by the central government, state government as well as private sector for the availability of oxygen. Various PSUs are also setting up plants at their level.
Uttar Pradesh CM gets on the ground to boost people’s confidence
Along with various measures, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is making sure to be personally available for his citizens to boost their morale in these testing times. According to reports, Yogi Adityanath himself visited homes of people in Muradabad on May 8 (Saturday) and inquired about their health amid the Chinese coronavirus pandemic.
He also visited Bareilly where he instructed the administration to be prepared for a third wave of the pandemic. He instructed the officers to ensure that the beds and oxygen supply is increased. He said that the third wave of the pandemic could be a reality and hence they should not let their guards down. The UP CM also added that the state government and the central government are working together to deal with the second wave of coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking to the media, Yogi Adityanath informed that in past eight days, over 65,000 active coronavirus cases have been reduced in the state.
The charity commissioner in Ahmedabad, Gujarat has ordered the freezing of the back account of NGO ‘We The People Charitable Trust’, Times of India has reported. The order comes after MLA Jignesh Mevani was collecting funds in its name. A show cause notice has also been issued to the NGO.
The charity commissioner has pointed out that an NGO already existed under the name ‘We The People Charitable Society’ and demanded to know why action should not be taken against the Trust for registering itself under a name very similar to the one that already existed.
The authority said that similar names lead to confusion and the matter has been with in the Emblems & Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950. Jignesh Mevani had sought funds in the name of the Trust for an oxygen pant and oxygen concentrators.
An enquiry revealed the Mevani is not a trustee of the organisation. A reply has been sought from the Trust on whether Mevani was authorised to make such an appeal but a response has not yet been received, as per the report.
Highlighting the fact that many illegalities have been committed in connection with Remdesivir injections and oxygen cylinders, an inspector has been ordered to investigate the documents, reports and resolutions passed by the Trust.
Jignesh Mevani, meanwhile, has alleged political persecution. “The trustees have not yet received any notice and without granting an opportunity of hearing, the bank account was sought to be frozen,” he was quoted in the report as saying. He added, “There is something fundamentally wrong with the intentions of the authority. The trustees are being targeted because they are helping me.”
Earlier, we had reported how fundraisers by the Hemkunt Foundation, Rana Ayyub and Jignesh Mevani were possibly violating FCRA laws in the country.
