Home Blog Page 4260

The irresponsible, vacuous arguments surrounding the vaccination process and the malicious intent behind it

Saket Suryesh
-
0
The irresponsible, vacuous arguments surrounding the vaccination process and the malicious intent behind it

The most disgusting sight I have seen on the news recently is the politicians from the opposition making statements opposing the two vaccines, made in India. First, they doubted the vaccines in terms of efficacy, then they created suspicion in the minds of the common people about the adverse effects of the vaccine.

The elected Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh made a statement that he will not allow Covaxin, the vaccine developed by an Indian Company, Bharat Biotech, supported by ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) and NIV (National Institute of Virology), launched in early July, 2020. Immediately after the announcement was made, the vultures landed on Bharat Biotech in full force. The Print got a PhD student to raise doubts about the claims of the Covaxin being indigenous, all the claims being speculative.

Almost immediately, vaccine hesitancy was promoted by the opposition politicians. Shashi Tharoor went as far as to say that approval to Covaxin was premature and could be ‘dangerous’. No wonder that this obstructed the phase 1 rollout when it was being given to the frontline Corona Warriors and the most vulnerable population. While the Central government continued to write to states, the states with the highest caseload and death counts, kept on attacking the vaccination. Those who visited the vaccination centres around those days would, like me, agree that the centres were mostly vacant and bored paramedics were sitting waiting for the people to come for the vaccination. By the time, a rude jolt woke the states up, and made people suddenly note that these politicians who were gathering thousands of professional protestors around Delhi from Punjab were creating a death zone around Delhi, it was already too late. 

Once the deaths started mounting, first from Maharashtra, then in Delhi and the calamity spread like wildfire across UP, India’s most populous state, those in opposition started ditching their own hesitancy and everyone from Akhilesh Yadav to Rakesh Tikait started taking the vaccine. A horrible trend of oxygen and essential drugs hoarding by the rich and mighty began and philanthropy became a tool for politics. I still wonder as to why those who had oxygen sources with them, did not surrender them to the hospital so that they could give it to their patients without discrimination.

The acute shortage of oxygen killed many by the time we realised that while Delhi CM, Arvind Kejriwal went around flooding the media with advertisements, he did precious little to build a supply chain for oxygen or establish oxygen plants in the city allotted by the Centre. Not to mention, the fake bravado of having ample oxygen in Delhi fell on its fate. When the dust settles, and Cremation pyres run cold, history will not judge these politicians kindly.

In a panic, they started demanding that the Central Government speed up the vaccination process and allow the states to manage it. Rahul Gandhi demanded the decentralisation of the vaccines, and the rest of the opposition followed. Once they realised that at the source itself there is a shortage of vaccines, they once again tried to push the obligation towards the centre. 

This was the result of the delay in ordering with Indian vaccine-makers like Covaxin and SII’s Covishield. Arvind Kejriwal, having withdrawn his obnoxious advertisements during the worst of the pandemic, went back to attacking the Government, after briefly making vague claims of having thought about placing the order, wanting to place the order and about to place the order.

Another absurd government was in Maharashtra, which contributed to 30% or more of overall deaths in India, from a state half the size of Uttar Pradesh. They came out with a ‘global tender’, with totally silly clauses for a penalty, which had all the insane clauses meant to punish the supplier except maybe, public flogging and guillotine. It was a process bound to fail from the word go. While it dawned on them that it was not out of evil intent that the Narendra Modi government proposed phased vaccination, but it was merely conscious of limited sources of medicine. India had exported 6 Crores of Vaccines under global obligations, as was clearly explained by the EAM when he said that we cannot expect Foreign nations to provide us with the know-how and raw material to make vaccines while blocking the vaccines to them. But when passions are running high, politicians who have a lot to hide as far as their own incompetence was concerned, find it easier to create so much noise that no sane question can be asked of them. 

WHO recommended a phased rollout, for unlike Communist China on a long mark, thankfully the world does not measure human life by its productivity and commercial contribution to the society. India followed the COVAX guideline, launching phase 1 of vaccination with a priority group of elders and Covid warriors. The same model is followed by most nations. 

Where do we stand vis-a-vis other Countries?

Even after the worst possible and the most destructive stage of the Pandemic has just settled down, India has seen much lesser deaths, even though, when someone has lost a dear one, like myself, numbers do not matter. The fact remains that my father, who I lost, remained a nationalist till the last and appreciative of the motherland which came from the abject poverty of decades to hold the dying son in comfort, under the Sari, however, torn it might be. He would want to write this so that those who hate India do not get a free run to malign it. The fact that they are now comparing India now to developed nations is in itself illustrative of the fact about how far we have travelled from being a socialist, license-raj nation putting Gold on the mortgage in the 90s to now when we are at the forefront of Global war against this Chinese-Origin Virus. 

The pandemic has been cruel to everyone across the Globe. In sheer numbers, the US has lost 5.85 Lakh people in a Population of 33.3 Crores, Brazil with a population of around 21.26 Crores have lost 4.49 Lakh people, and India with a Population of 137 Crore has lost 3.11 Lakh people. Much has been said about the manipulation in the number of death, but it can be as much be true for Cuomo of New York. Even that accounted for, one must consider the fact that most of the countries with more than India’s fatality numbers have way better healthcare resources, lower population density (an important factor for a highly contagious disease) and an overall population around or less than the population of Uttar Pradesh. 

UK has three approval vaccines-  Pfizer-BioNTech, Oxford-AstraZeneca (Covishield), and Moderna. 

US has approved three vaccines-  Pfizer BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson and Johnson (Janssen)

The Vaccination started in December 2020, announced to the world by President Trump.           

India has approved three vaccines- Covaxin, Covishield and Sputnik

UK has thus far vaccinated 6.2 Crore People. UK started vaccination in December 2020. 

US has vaccinated 28.77 Crore People, having started in December 2020. 

India started vaccination on 16th of January, 2021, and has vaccinated 20 Crore People (Reference: OurWorldInData.org )

Global Availability of Vaccine in H1, 2021 is 7.2 Billion Doses, expected to be scaled up to 15 Billion Doses. 

Both SII and Bharat Biotech were offered additional funding of $400 Mn and 210 Mn respectively by the Government of India to boost production. In addition, local manufacturing tie-ups for Russian approved vaccine, Sputnik V was approved. Current predictions on Vaccine Delivery are as under:

SII: 9.5 Crore 

Bharat Biotech: 6.5 Crore

BiologicalE: 3 Cr

Dr. Reddy: 1.56 Cr

Cadilla: 5 Crore

Gennova: 6 Crore 

This totals up to 32.5 crore doses. Much noise has been created about India suffering due to an acute shortage of vaccine because it is not letting other vaccines in, apart from the three approved ones. Most of the political circus revolves around Pfizer, particularly with AAP leaders having turned shameless lobbyist for the Pharma giant. While they opposed Emergency approvals for Indian manufactured vaccines (on which the Government could anyway have taken action in the event of any disaster arising out of the vaccine’s adverse effect), they are lobbying hard to bring in Pfizer without Bridging trials.

Articles have been written quoting the same person who claimed fear on emergency approval of Covaxin, seeking the demand to drop bridging trials. Bridging trials are meant to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a particular ethnicity. When the strange peak of the pandemic in India happens while countries as indisciplined and as densely populated with even poorer infrastructure are less impacted by the virus whose origin and nature is still confusing people, it is important to do bridging trials, more so when all other Vaccine makers have agreed to it. It seems like the lobbying money spent by Pfizer in India is forcing it to act strangely. And it has been acting strangely in other countries too.

For instance, they sought Military Bases as collateral in Argentina and Africa to protect themselves for future claims against adverse effects and indemnify themselves. They have sought similar indemnity protection in India. Fortunately, the Government has stood unto such bullying even in the face of force brought in by the political opposition in India at their behest. Let us not be fooled by those who are lobbying for Pfizer who are working hard to make us believe that placing an order on Pfizer circumventing all rules will somehow save us all. Let us understand that Australia which has already placed the order on Pfizer for 4 Crore doses is expecting 2 Crore doses post October 2021 and remaining some time in mid-2022. 

We have come this far, we will wade through the darkness and come as a winner. In the second wave, a lot of efforts are being taken by sincere governments, like that of Uttar Pradesh to improve the infrastructure. Steps are also being taken by states who are serious about the matter to ramp up vaccinations by placing orders instead of daydreaming about it like the Delhi Government or trying to threaten the vaccine manufacturer like the Maharashtra Government. The Maharashtra Government went to the town claiming to be the ‘first Municipality in the world’ to float a global tender for vaccine, and put in absurd conditions like – Manufacturer to set up cold storage, No advance payment, fine if they fail to deliver.

In a seller market, plagued with global shortage, it has failed spectacularly as it was expected to and now the states who claimed to be able to do a better job than the Union of India, have come back demanding that the Centre may procure the vaccines. Which is all fine if they do it with some sincerity since as a citizen, we must get the vaccines we need, whether it is provided by the State Government or Centre. The problem here is that while they have pushed the entire envelope of healthcare towards the Narendra Modi government, there is nothing in their own behaviour that tells the citizens that they are prepared to play a constructive role now on, having endangered their citizens once earlier by not deploying the Ventilators sent by Centre under PMCARE, not properly organising the supply chain for Vaccines provide by the centre, by manipulating the media to keep the lid on Maharashtra numbers, by misleading people about oxygen situation in Delhi.

Having organised the death of so many citizens, particularly in Delhi and Maharashtra, they are back to their old devious games. Their only hope is that their collective conspiracy will somehow stick as a stigma on the Seventy Year old man who tirelessly keeps on working to save citizens. In spite of everything, we must thank those who keep the wheels of the economy rolling, oxygen plants being deployed, beds being created and vaccines being rolled out. We must also ask politicians and judiciary alike about the gatherings in the middle of pandemic ostensibly at the behest of farmers who have just received the biggest amounts from the State in recent time for their produce.

We must question the opposition parties who blatantly refused the BJP proposal of virtual rallies during Bihar Elections (Nine Parties oppose Election Commission Plan for Digital campaign in Bihar), we must also question the UP judiciary for forcing the Panchayat elections on the Yogi Government in the middle of a pandemic. We do need a proper supply of medicine, we do need oxygen supply, we do need our loved ones saved. But let us not lose our way in the vacuous arguments about vaccines. 

“Why should we call you Bholu cute bouy?”: Kamaal R Khan responds to Salman Khan’s defamation suit

OpIndia Staff
-
0
“Why should we call you Bholu cute bouy?”: Kamaal R Khan responds to Salman Khan’s defamation suit

Infuriated with having to address Salman Khan as ‘Bholu cute bouy’, Kamaal R Khan in his latest video has lashed out at the Bollywood actor after being sued in a defamation case.

In a rather entertaining review of Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai, ‘film critic’ Kamaal R Khan kept referring to Salman Khan as ‘daadu’ (grandfather) throughout his video. This, along with the fact that KRK quite trashed the film, did not go down well with the actor and served a defamation notice to him.

Kamaal R Khan who first announced to not review Salam Khan movies henceforth has now released an equally funny rebuttal to the lawsuit. 

Kamaal R Khan claims that the actor did not like the fact that his movie, which he thinks was worth a watch, failed miserably because of his terrible review deterring people from watching it. Kamaal also suggested that the 60-year old actor (actual age 55) did not like him being regarded as daadu (grandfather) and hence the case.

To this Kamaal said that just like how the actor felt bad on being called a grandfather, he felt bad when the young actress was made to call him  ‘Bholu cute buoy’ in the movie. He suggested while the actress was forced to call him so as she had bagged the role opposite him, the critics who paid to watch the movie and even wasted time on it are under no compulsion to call him ‘Bholu cute buoy’. 

Kamaal R Khan’s rebuttal to Salman Khan’s defamation case

Kamaal also questioned that when he did not file a case on Salman Khan for making a young girl call him a ‘cute buoy’ hurting his feelings, why did Salman Khan find it necessary to file a case for being regarded as daadu. 

Quoting the much-famed dialogue, Kamaal R Khan in his monologue said, “tumhari feeling tumhari aur humari feeling kuch nahi? (our feelings are worthless?)”, “aapka kutta Tommy aur humara kutta kuch nahi.”

Furthering his point, he said when the actor did not feel ashamed of getting himself called a ‘cute buoy’ why should anyone feel ashamed for calling Salman Khan ‘daadu’.

Kamaal R Khan further suggested that the case will be in his favor where even the judge would request him to review Salman Khan movies with complete honesty.

Bashing the actor for his arrogance, Kamaal R Khan said that he has no personal problem with the actor or his movies but will continue to stand up against his attitude and bad behavior. 

Alleging that because the other film critics are paid and look for an opportunity to interview the actor or get a picture clicked, the reviews by them are mostly in his favor. Showing no interest in the aforementioned, Kamaal R Khan said, “now you know the power of one honest movie review. So much so that you had to call lawyers at home to sue me for an honest review.”

Concluding by saying that nobody can stop the truth or stop him from putting out candid reviews, he said he will continue to do his job and review every movie with utmost honesty. 

Buying vaccines internationally is not like buying ‘off the shelf’ items, Govt talking with foreign vaccine makers: GOI clears vaccine myths

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Buying vaccines internationally is not like buying ‘off the shelf’ items, Govt talking with foreign vaccine makers: GOI clears vaccine myths

Several myths on India’s Covid-19 vaccination program are doing the rounds. These myths are arising due to distorted statements, half-truths and blatant lies.

Member (Health) in NITI Aayog and Chair of the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC), Dr Vinod Paul, have addressed these myths and gives out facts on all these issues.

Here are the myths & facts.

Myth 1: Centre is not doing enough to buy vaccines from abroad

Fact: The Central Government has remained engaged continuously with all the major international vaccine manufacturers right from mid-2020. Multiple rounds of discussions have happened with Pfizer, J&J & Moderna. The government offered all assistance to have them supply and /or manufacture their vaccines in India. However, it is not that their vaccines are available in free supply. We need to understand that buying vaccines internationally is not similar to buying ‘off the shelf’ items. Vaccines are in limited supply globally, and companies have their own priorities, game-plans and compulsions in allocating finite stocks. They also give preference to countries of their origin just as our own vaccine makers have done unhesitatingly for us.

As soon as Pfizer indicated vaccine availability, Central Government and the company are working together for the earliest possible import of the vaccine. As a result of GoI’s efforts, Sputnik vaccine trials got accelerated and with timely approval, Russia has already sent two tranches of vaccines and accomplished tech-transfer to our companies that would start manufacturing very soon. We reiterate our request to all international vaccine makers to come and make in India – for India and for the world.

Myth 2: Centre has not approved vaccines available globally

Fact: The Central Government has proactively eased the entry of vaccines approved by US FDA, EMA, UK’s MHRA and Japan’s PMDA, and WHO’s Emergency Use Listing into India in April. These vaccines will not need to undergo prior bridging trials. The provision has now been further amended to waive off the trial requirement altogether for the well-established vaccines manufactured in other countries. No application of any foreign manufacturer for approval is pending with the drugs controller.

Myth 3: Centre is not doing enough to ramp up domestic production of vaccines

Fact: The Central Government is playing the role of an effective facilitator to enable more companies to produce vaccines from early 2020. There is only 1 Indian company (Bharat Biotech) which has the IP. GoI has ensured that 3 other companies/plants will start production of Covaxin apart from enhancing Bharat Biotech’s own plants, which have increased from 1 to 4. Covaxin production by Bharat Biotech is being increased from under 1 Crore per month to 10 Cr month by October.  Additionally, the three PSUs will together aim to produce upto 4.0 Cr doses by December.

With constant encouragement of the Government, Serum Institute is ramping up Covishield production of 6.5 crore doses per month to 11.0 crore doses per month. GoI is also ensuring in partnership with Russia that Sputnik will be manufactured by 6 companies coordinated by Dr Reddy’s. The Union Government is supporting the efforts of Zydus Cadila, BioE as well Gennova for their respective indigenous vaccines through liberal funding under Covid Suraksha scheme as also the technical support at national laboratories.

The development of Bharat Biotech’s single-dose intranasal vaccine is proceeding well with GoI funding, and it could be a game-changer for the world. The estimate of production of over 200  crore doses by our vaccine industry by the end of 2021 is the result of such efforts and unstinted support and partnership. How many countries can even dream of such an enormous capacity, and that too across conventional as well as cutting-edge DNA and mRNA platforms? GoI and vaccine manufacturers have worked as one Team India in this mission with seamless engagement on daily basis.

Myth 4: Centre should invoke compulsory licensing

Fact: Compulsory Licensing is not a very attractive option since it is not a ‘formula’ that matters, but active partnership, training of human resources, sourcing of raw materials and highest levels of bio-safety labs which are required. Tech transfer is the key and that remains in the hands of the company that has carried out R&D.

Infact, we have gone one step ahead of Compulsory Licensing and are ensuring active partnership between Bharat Biotech & 3 other entities to enhance the production of Covaxin. A similar mechanism is being followed for Sputnik. Think about this: Moderna had said in October 2020 that it will not sue any company which makes its vaccines, but still not one company has done it, which shows licensing is the least of the issues. If vaccine-making was so easy, why would even the developed world be so short of vaccine doses?

Myth 5: Centre has abdicated its responsibility to the states

Fact: The Central Government is doing all the heavy-lifting, from funding vaccine manufacturers to giving them quick approvals to ramping up production to bringing foreign vaccines to India. The vaccine procured by the Centre is supplied wholly to the states for free administration to people. All this is very much in the knowledge of the states.

GoI has merely enabled states to try procuring vaccines on their own, on their explicit requests. The states very well knew the production capacity in the country and what the difficulties are in procuring vaccines directly from abroad. In fact, GoI ran the entire vaccine program from January to April & it was quite well-administrated compared to the situation in May.

But states, who had not even achieved good coverage of healthcare workers and frontline workers in 3 months wanted to open up the process of vaccination and wanted more decentralisation. Health is a state subject & the liberalised vaccine policy was a result of the incessant requests being made by the states to give states more power. The fact that global tenders have not given any results only reaffirms what we have been telling the states from day one: that vaccines are in short supply in the world and it is not easy to procure them at short notice.

Myth 6: Centre is not giving enough vaccines to the states

Fact: Centre is allotting enough vaccines to the states in a transparent manner as per agreed guidelines. In fact, states are also being informed in advance of the vaccine availability. Vaccine availability is going to increase in near future and much more supply would be possible. In the non-GoI channel, states are getting 25% of the doses and private hospitals are getting 25% doses.

However, the hiccups and issues faced by the people in the administration of these 25% doses by the states leave a lot to be desired. The behaviour of some of our leaders, who in spite of full knowledge of the facts on vaccine supply, appear on TV daily and create panic among the people is very unfortunate. This is not the time to play politics. We need everyone to unite in this fight.  

Myth 7: Centre is not taking any step to vaccinate children

Fact: As of now, no country in the world is giving vaccines to children. Also, WHO has no recommendation on vaccinating children. There have been studies about the safety of vaccines in children, which have been encouraging. Trials in children in India are also going to begin soon. However, vaccinating children should not be decided on the basis of panic in Whatsapp groups and because some politicians want to play politics. It has to be a decision taken by our scientists after adequate data is available based on trials.

Kerala govt to spend Rs 98 lakh to renovate CM’s residence, PWD grants project to Uralungal Society without inviting tenders

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Kerala govt to spend Rs 98 lakh to renovate CM’s residence, PWD grants project to Uralungal Society without inviting tenders

The Kerala government has granted permission to renovate Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s residence, the Cliff House. As per reports, Rs.98 lakh have been earmarked for the project. The amount was finalized based on the estimate prepared by the Uralungal Society. The project includes the renovation of restrooms of drivers, gunmen, security guards, and attendants.

No tenders were invited

Normally, Public Works Department (PWD) invites tender for such projects. However, in this case, the renovation project was granted to the society without inviting tenders. When a new government comes to power, ministers often recommend making particular renovations at their residences. Based on their recommendations, PWD invites tenders after preparing the estimates. The excuse of not inviting the tenders often revolves around the urgency of such renovation or construction projects. In such cases, PWD approach accredited contractors.

Vijayan’s previous government also spent public money on renovations

In 2018, an RTI had revealed that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s previous government had spent Rs. 82.35 lakh on renovations of ministers’ residences. At that time, maximum money (Rs. 13,18,937) was spent on the renovation of the Xanadu bungalow where Industries and Sports Minister E P Jayarajan was staying. On CM’s residence Rs.9,56,871 were spent.

Previous governments’ track record was no less

During Oommen Chandy’s tenure, the Kerala government had spent Rs.4.3 crore on renovations. Before that, during the tenure of the V S Achuthanandan government, a controversy had erupted over the tax money spent on the renovation of the ministerial residences. At that time, then-ministers C Divakaran and Kodiyeri Balakrishnan had spent Rs.17 lakh and Rs.11 lakh respectively on the renovation work. They had to stop the renovation due to the controversy.

Kerala CM had urged Union Government to provide the free vaccine.

It has to be noted that Chief Minister Pinarayi has been demanding money from the Centre to provide free vaccines to the residents of Kerala. Though he had promised free vaccines in December, in April, he went back on his promise of making Chinese coronavirus vaccines free in his state. He appealed to the central government to instead foot the bill and make vaccines for those eligible from May 1, 2021, free in his state.

Rahul Gandhi goes to pay homage to Nehru, but a colourful man standing behind him steals the show. Read why and how

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Rahul Gandhi goes to pay homage to Nehru, but a colourful man standing behind him steals the show. Read why and how

Rahul Gandhi along today went to pay homage to his great grandfather, former Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, on his death anniversary. Images of picturesque Shantivan, Nehru’s memorial, sprawling over green expanse where Rahul Gandhi paid his tribute were shared by Congress’ official handle.

Amidst all the lovely, impeccable landscaped lawn, one thing stands out. The gentleman standing right behind Rahul Gandhi.

Man behind Rahul Gandhi

Here is a close up.

Unidentified man behind Rahul Gandhi

The man is wearing a green salwar and a kurta with saffron, white and green colours on it. The kurta has a huge image of Rahul Gandhi printed right on his tummy area. There are two circles on his chest too, which seems to have Sonia and Priyanka Gandhi in one circle and Congress logo in other. While it would have perhaps made sense to have Rahul and Priyanka in each of the concerted circles, the unidentified man had picture of Rahul Gandhi in a bigger size plastered below his chest.

The man is also wearing a mask, but from the image it is not clear whose image is there on it.

Netizens were clearly amused at the strange cricket jersey-like endorsement on this gentleman’s clothes.

Some wondered if the person standing behind him is Rehan Vadra, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s son and Rahul Gandhi’s nephew.

People were left wondering who this ‘fan boy’ was and whether he was part of the ‘toolkit’.

People could not believe Congress rallied someone wearing Rahul Gandhi kurta while he was to pay tributes to his great grandfather.

People also found the positioning of images quite amusing.

Some even played guessing game on who he might be.

Many also pointed out how Congress leaders had issue with picture of PM Modi on the vaccine certificate while they seem to be hiring people as walking advertisements.

The Gandhi siblings have a some of the strangest devoted fans. Uttar Pradesh Congress leader Haseeb Amin have often created some of the most amusing posters with rhymes rooting for Priyanka Gandhi over her brother.

YouTuber ties pet dog with helium balloons to make it ‘fly’, gets arrested for animal cruelty

OpIndia Staff
-
0
YouTuber ties pet dog with helium balloons to make it ‘fly’, gets arrested for animal cruelty

A 32-year-old YouTuber named Gaurav Sharma (Gaurav John, according to a report by India.com) has been arrested after a video of him making his dog float up in the air with the help of helium balloons went viral on social media. The YouTuber has been charged under Sections 188, 269, 34 of the Animal Cruelty Act.

The Malvia Nagar police acted against Gaurav Sharma and his mother after a complaint was filed against the duo. The complaint was filed after the animal welfare organisation People For Animals (PFA) raised the issue.

“YouTuber Gaurav Sharma arrested for cruelty to an animal after he posted a video on social media where he floated up a pet dog in the air by tying hydrogen balloons on its back, risking its life”, ANI quoted DCP South Atul Thakur as saying.

The video where the Youtuber made his dog fly went viral on social media sparking outrage

The YouTuber had uploaded the video of the purported incident on his YouTube channel ‘GauravZone’. In the video, Gaurav Sharma, a resident of Panchsheel Vihar, is seen sitting on the roof of his car. He lifts his pet dog named Dollar, which is tied to several hydrogen balloons and slowly leaves him to float in the air at the count of three.

“The upper body has started flying a little,” Gaurav says as he explains the act, pulling up the string of balloons, further lifting his dog. After a few moments, the dog can be seen suspended in the air as Gaurav along with his mother clap and cheer on.

YouTuber seeks apology after Netizens outrage over the video

After the video went viral on social media, Netizens fumed at the outrageous act and slammed the YouTuber for his insensitivity towards animals. After the outrage, Gaurav Sharma deleted the video and issued an apology saying that he had taken all safety measures. He says that he was influenced by the content posted by foreign YouTubers.

”Before making the video, I had taken all the safety measures. I had said this in the video but did not upload the raw content as it would’ve increased the length of the video. It was a mistake on my part. All I want to say is that I had made the video with all the safety measures… I posted wrong content under the influence of outsiders and it should not have happened,” he said, I apologise if I have hurt anyone’s sentiments. I am an animal lover and treat Dollar like a child”, said Gaurav in his subsequent video, adding: “I won’t try such things again. Those who’re getting influenced by such things, please don’t get influenced”.

Viral video of a woman being gang-raped not related to the Jodhpur suicide case of Nagaland girl. Details

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Viral video of a woman being gang-raped not related to the Jodhpur suicide case of Nagaland girl. Details

On May 26, a viral video started making rounds on social media platforms in which a woman was seen being brutalised, and sexually assaulted by multiple men. The posts suggest that the woman in the video was the late Lovikali Sumi, a Nagaland resident who had committed suicide in Jodhpur, Rajasthan where she worked.

Source: Twitter
Source: Twitter
Source: Twitter

The Jodhpur suicide case

As per reports, a 25-years-old woman from Nagaland committed suicide at Jodhpur on May 23 in her rented room. She was originally from Nuiland, district Dimapur. She was working at ‘Naveen Juice Restaurant.’ As per the post mortem report, her death was due to ‘natural suicide.’

Her mortal remains were buried in Jodhpur itself with the help of “Helping Hands Society.” Robin Hibu, IPS, and Naveen, the owner of the restaurant, bore the expenses and made the burial arrangements. She was buried at the New Christian cemetery in Jodhpur on Sunday evening around 6:30 PM.

Some reports suggest that she was heard arguing with someone over the phone. After that, she locked herself in the room. Someone called the Police, and when she did not open the door, they broke into her room, where she was found hanging. Jodhpur police are conducting an investigation in the case.

What was in the viral video?

The video that surfaced over the social media platforms was widely shared as a video of the deceased girl. In the video, four men were seen raping a woman who appeared to be from the Northeast. There was a woman in the room as well who was helping the men to rape her. She removed the victim’s clothes while the four men forcefully held her on the bed.

As the video was leaked just after the Jodhpur incident, several social media users connected them, assuming the women in both videos were the same. Several vloggers hailing from the Northeast also shared their views on the video on Youtube, assuming it was of the woman who committed suicide in Jodhpur.

The reality of the video

It is true that the incident happened and possibly happened in 2021 itself, as the song in the background of the video was released in January 2021. However, the woman in the video is not late Lovikali Sumi, who committed suicide in Jodhpur. IPS officer and founder of Helping Hands shared the information on Facebook. He said that he showed the video to the family members of the deceased, and they confirmed it was not her.

He said, “We are trying to identify the girl,  also the perpetrators, for further action. The video is not related to the suicide case the late Lovikali Sumi at Jodhpur, the sister of Sumi and the Police have verified the video, it’s not the suicide girl who is in the video. Have already informed Gujarat Police, Mizoram Police and Rajasthan Police. Some miscreants have dubbed it as the same case as the Jodhpur Naga girl suicide case. I have spoken personally to DCP Jodhpur now.”

Facebook post by IPS Robin Hibu

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju confirmed the same and said, “The viral video of a girl from North-East being brutally raped and tortured by four men & 1 woman is not related to Jodhpur suicide case. I had detail discussion with the Police Commissioner of Jodhpur. However, there must be all-out efforts by all State Police to catch the devils.”

According to the North-Eastern Chronicle, the Assam Police and Meghalaya Police started a joint operation to trace the culprits in viral video.

Assam Police has issued photographs of the accused and said, “These images are of 5 culprits who are seen brutally torturing & violating a young girl in a viral video. The time or place of this incident is not clear. Anyone with information regarding this crime or the criminals may please contact us. They will be rewarded handsomely.”

Assam Police further said that it is unclear where and when this incident took place but it is everyone’s duty locate the culprits.

It has to be noted that both the incidents have happened. The investigation agencies are looking into the matters separately. As the gang rape video was recently made viral, it is still unknown when and where it had happened. Once more information comes to light, we will update the story.

New York Times ‘COVID reporter’ wants the world to stop talking about the ‘lab leak theory’ because of its ‘racist roots’, retracts

OpIndia Staff
-
0
New York Times ‘COVID reporter’ wants the world to stop talking about the ‘lab leak theory’ because of its ‘racist roots’, retracts

The COVID-19 pandemic, while claiming millions of lives across the world, has also exposed just how compromised the world media is. Not that the state of the media was not apparent earlier, but the pandemic reporting across the world has probably put the media at its lowest ebb ever. Providing an example of just how tone-deaf the media can be, yesterday, the New York Times ‘COVID-19 reporter’ took to Twitter to say that the world should not talk about the ‘lab leak theory’ as far as COVID is concerned because it has racist roots.

Apoorva Mandavilli, who is a ‘COVID-19 reporter’ with the New York Times took to Twitter and said, “Someday, we will stop talking about the lab leak theory and maybe even admit its racist roots. But alas, that day is not yet here”.

Tweet by NYT journalist

Interestingly, on Sunday (May 23), a former New York Times (NYT) science editor named Nicholas Wade slammed mainstream media publications for falling for Chinese propaganda and ignoring that Covid-19 might have leaked from a laboratory in Wuhan. His remarks came at a time when more scientists are increasingly supporting the theory that the Wuhan Coronavirus was developed in a laboratory.

In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, he lamented that journalists from mainstream media outlets had failed to take off ‘political glasses’ in investigating the origins of the virus. He said, “I think we see a sustained Chinese propaganda effort at work. But, you know, more than that, it was just the blindness, if I could put it that way, of our media — we’re too polarized to see scientific issues for their own sake without putting a political gloss on them.”

“We don’t know for sure: The origin of the virus is just we’ve got these two possible scenarios. But if you look at all the evidence and ask yourself, well, which scenario explains all these facts better on present evidence, it seems, to me at least, that the lab-escape hypothesis explains it a lot better. But it’s a sort of complicated conclusion to arrive at, and I can only assume that the media was blindsided, they didn’t do the work that was necessary,” Wade held the mainstream media journalists accountable.

While the former science editor at New York Times wondered why mainstream media journalists, much like Mandavilli, continue to shield China, even Dr Fauci, USA’s expert on infectious diseases, conceded that he was not convinced that the virus developed naturally and that a thorough investigation must be carried out till the origins of the virus are known. Therefore, even Fauci alluded to the fact that it is possible, maybe even likely, that the COVID-19 virus was developed in a lab.

After the New York Times journalist tweeted, wondering why the world was talking about the ‘racist theory’ that the virus may have leaked from a lab, a theory that now even Fauci is talking about, several individuals reacted to the tweet, prompting the journalist to retract.

She wrote, ‘I deleted my earlier tweets about the origins of the pandemic because they were badly phrased. The origin of the pandemic is an important line of reporting that my colleagues are covering aggressively”.

While the world grapples with a massive pandemic that has been unleashed upon the world by China, the New York Times and several other international papers have been trying their best to shield China from the world demanding accountability. And the reason for it could be rather apparent.

In June 2020, China Daily, a propaganda outlet of the Chinese government, had paid $19 million to American newspapers in advertisement and printing charges in the past 4 years. The story came to light, amidst growing concerns about US dailies giving intellectual cover fire to Beijing.

As per the documents filed by China Daily with the Justice Department, the Communist party mouthpiece had paid over $6 million to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), $4.6 million to the Washington Post, $2,40,000 to Foreign Policy, $50,000 to the New York Times, $34,600 to The Des Moines Register and $76,000 to CQ-Roll Call.

Besides, spending $11 million in advertising on prominent US papers, China Daily shelled out an additional $7.6 million to The Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, The Seattle Times, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Houston Chronicle, and The Boston Globe for printing copies of its own paper. For instance, the Los Angeles Times reportedly received $657,523 for printing services. The Communist party mouthpiece had also spent $2,65,822 on advertising on Twitter.

While Apoorva Mandavilli used ‘political correctness as an excuse to shield China, it is baffling that a COVID reporter, who has presumably seen the havoc that this pandemic has wreaked and the lives it has claimed, wants the world to stop asking questions about the origins of the virus. For any disease to be understood, it has to be understood where that virus originated, and to shield a country from the responsibility of a virus that has claimed millions of lives, can only mean that the journalist or the paper she works for is aiming to spread the propaganda floated by the Chinese Communist Party.

Possible reasons for spread of coronavirus

Several scientists have speculated that the Covid-19 virus jumped from animals, such as bats, to humans. It is also a possibility that there was an intermediate stop to another animal. Similar zoonotic spillover has happened before, for example, in the case of the Ebola outbreak of 2014 in West Africa.

There is another possible pathway that needs to be investigated and that the potential leak from the laboratory. There can be many ways that can lead to such leaks, including improper disposal and a laboratory worker getting infected who may have passed it to others. There are around 11 million people in Wuhan. It is considered to be a significant hub and center for virus studies in China. There are six known facilities with BSL-3 laboratories that handle infectious agents. Several published papers have made it clear that some of the institutes in Wuhan are actively researching coronavirus.

US President Joe Biden shuts down inquiry into possible Wuhan lab origins of Covid that was initiated by Mike Pompeo, cites ‘poor quality’

OpIndia Staff
-
0
US President Joe Biden shuts down inquiry into possible Wuhan lab origins of Covid that was initiated by Mike Pompeo, cites ‘poor quality’

The Joe Biden administration has stopped officials from carrying out an inquiry into a link between the origins of the novel coronavirus and a lab in Wuhan.

According to the reports, President Joe Biden has shut down a clandestine investigation that the US State Department had started to prove the lab-based origins of Covid-19.

During Trump’s presidency, the US State Department had launched the previously undisclosed inquiry to look into the allegations of laboratory origin of Covid-19 in China. However, Biden’s administration has reportedly asked the officials to stop the investigation citing “poor quality work and its politicization, selective use by Trump and his allies to blame the pandemic on China.”

Mike Pompeo, Trump’s secretary of state, had initiated a probe to look into the possibility that the coronavirus pandemic may have started in the Wuhan Institute of Virology and not in nature. However, after Biden took over the administration, his team raised concerns as early as 2021 about draft findings of the probe against China.

Pompeo had repeatedly said that he believed the coronavirus causing the global pandemic has originated in a lab and that the Chinese government was covering up. In April last year, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had accused China of destroying coronavirus samples as part of a cover-up during the early days of the outbreak, thereby “making it impossible to track the disease’s evolution.”

“I am confident that we will find that the evidence that we have seen to date is consistent with a lab leak, and I’m convinced that’s what we’ll see,” Pompeo said.

The possibility that the pandemic began due to a laboratory accident has gained renewed interest recently after a Wall Street Journal report claimed that three workers at the Wuhan lab were hospitalized in November 2019, even before the first cases of Covid-19 were reported.

Biden orders reviews on Covid-lab leak theory

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden has ordered his own investigation to look into the lab-leak theory of Covid-19. President Joe Biden has asked US spy agencies to do a 90-day investigation into whether Covid-19 was released by a Chinese lab. The White House said that it is not ruling out anything, including the deliberate release of the virus by China.

The Biden administration said that US intelligence agencies are considering two likely scenarios, however, they still lack strong confidence in their conclusions. A report has been submitted to Biden, who had asked his team in March to determine whether the novel coronavirus “emerged from human contact with an infected animal or from a laboratory accident,” according to the president’s written statement.

The latest unusual public disclosure about private and inconclusive US intelligence assessments has now sparked a debate about the Biden’s administration’s probe over the origins of novel coronavirus.

Responding to several US investigations into the possible lab leak of Covid-19, the Chinese embassy in the United States on Thursday said that politicizing the issue would hamper investigations into the origins of Covid-19.

The Chinese Embassy in the US said that it supports “a comprehensive study of all early cases of Covid-19 found worldwide and a thorough investigation into some secretive bases and biological laboratories all over the world”.

The Wuhan pandemic has killed more than 3.3 million people worldwide and hit the global economy due to the lockdowns and other restrictions to slow its spread. Even though the origin of the virus remains contested among experts, much evidence suggests that the virus may have been originated from Wuhan. The first known cases emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019.

Mill producing mustard oil for Patanjali in Alwar raided on CM Gehlot’s orders: Report

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Mill producing mustard oil for Patanjali in Alwar raided on CM Gehlot’s orders: Report

As the duel between IMA and founder of Patanjali Ramdev Baba intensifies over the latter’s remark on allopathy, it has now been reported that Alwar collectorate officials have raided Patanjali’s mustard oil manufacturer Singhania oil mill. 

As per a Republic World report, a raid was conducted on the mill on the orders of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. The mill has been sealed after reportedly large quantities of Patanjali’s packing pouches and goods were ‘recovered’ from the site. It is not clear why the unit was raided.

The reason for the raid is unclear, however, the Alwar collectorate has formed an inquiry committee and hinted that the investigation could be given to CB-CID to probe the matter. 

IMA- Ramdev Baba tussle

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) headed by Dr Johnrose Austin Jayalal with Congres leader Dr Navjot Singh Dahiya as the National Vice President has launched a targeted attack on Yog Guru Baba Ramdev since his remarks on allopathy.

The conflict between the two, however, has been fueling since the launch of Coronil advocated by the Union Health Minister. The association since then amidst the pandemic has been running a ‘Say No To Mixopathy’ campaign to restrict the entry of Ayurveda and even made the doctors go on a hunger strike.

IMA has now upped the ante after Baba Ramdev’s statement on allopathy and the allopathic doctors went viral on social media, taking strong objection and issuing letter after letter to ministries and state governments to take stern action against him.

After Baba Ramdev’s rebuttal to their concentrated attack, the IMA has now filed a Rs 1000 crore defamation case over his statements. 

IMA’s constant attacks against Baba Ramdev and his Patanjali organisation has intensified after recent reports of the IMA President’s open endorsement and support for using medical resources to spread Christianity in India were noticed. In several interviews and statements, the IMA President JA Jayalal has been found calling for proselytization, even going to the extent of declaring that the Covid pandemic is an opportunity to make the masses accept Jesus.

1...4,2594,2604,261...7,657Page 4,260 of 7,657