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Under pressure from China, Turkey, Pakistan deport Uyghur Muslims who have taken refuge escaping Chinese atrocities

Shashank Bharadwaj
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Under pressure from China, Turkey, Pakistan deport Uyghur Muslims who have taken refuge escaping Chinese atrocities

As China continues to persecute Uyghur Muslims by locking them inside the “re-education” camps, forcing them to quit Islam in a bid to deradicalise them, the Uyghurs are now fleeing their homeland Xinjiang province, an autonomous territory in northwest China, to seek refuge in Islamic countries in China.

At war with the Uyghurs, China has imprisoned more than a million Uyghurs in detention camps. Beijing has demolished mosques, schools, and cemeteries and separated young children from parents, all to erase the Uyghur culture. There are allegations that women are systematically raped and abused in the so-called “re-education” camps.

The United States of America has accused China of persecuting Uyghurs, terming their atrocities as a “genocide”. Meanwhile, China has imposed more restrictions in Xinjiang, and access to the camps themselves is non-existent. However, amidst all the allegations and denials, the Uyghur Muslims have been at the centre of persecution for decades now and are gradually moving out of their homeland to distant Islamic nations.

Islamic countries prefer Chinese money over Uyghur Muslims

Many Islamic nations accepted Uyghurs initially, expressed their solidarity, and some even condemned China for carrying out atrocities against its Muslim brethren in Xinjiang. Much of the Islamic world become aware of the detention of more than millions of Uyghurs in concentration camps in Xinjiang. However, years later, most of the self-proclaimed vanguards of the Muslim world seems to have dumped the Uyghurs, as they have completely submitted to China’s will.

The Islamic world, which has surrendered itself to the Chinese whims, has maintained a tight lip against China. With no courage to speak against China, the Islamic countries are now throwing the Uyghurs under the bus in exchange for Chinese money. Pakistan and Turkey, which claims to champion the cause of Islam, have failed Uyghurs by not only remaining silent on Chinese belligerence against the Uyghurs but also joined Beijing to perpetrate more terror on them.

Uyghur Muslims, who had escaped Chinese atrocities and sought refuge in these countries hoping that they would be rescued, have been backstabbed by their own. Islamic countries like Pakistan, Turkey, who are now in bed with China, have reportedly turned their back on Uyghurs. Egypt is not far away from these countries either.

Pakistan, a rental state of the Communist Party of China, is under huge pressure due to its relationship with China to act on the Uyghurs who sought refugee in different cities of Pakistan. It is worth mentioning that China is sponsoring the much-hyped CPEC, the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, a $62 billion economic project consisting of multiple loans to be used for infrastructure, power plants, telecommunications, and schools. Even though Pakistan proclaims it to be a Muslim nation, it has remained silent on the Chinese atrocities against Uyghur Muslims owing to its over-dependence on China.

Pakistan has time and again expressed its reluctance to speak on the Uyghur issue or China’s continuing persecution in the Xinjiang region, fearing Chinese backlash. In 2019, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan had said that he was not aware of the Uyghurs’ situation in China. In the same interview, he had described China as a “breath of fresh air” for Pakistan.

To keep China happy, the Pakistani government will do anything China orders them to do, and Uyghurs are suffering so much because of CPEC. The CPEC project and Pakistan’s growing dependence on China have now led Uyghurs to believe that they are not safe in Pakistan.

Pakistani authorities have begun to trace Uyghurs in the country and will be removed from Pakistan. The Pakistani authorities have started collecting biometric data on all Uyghurs living in Pakistan. They have threatened to send them back to China, where their families will be separated and sent to the camps.

“If I don’t help them, who will? I have helped many Uyghur families resolve their issues, and God willing, I will keep doing this in the future, ” Umer Mohammed Khan, an Uyghur activist, said. Umer Mohammed Khan, a school teacher turned activist, runs an underground railroad allowing Uyghurs to escape China. In the past decade, he has helped dozens of families to flee the persecution.

China sees Uyghur immigrants in Pakistan as ‘terrorists’

Lijian Zhao, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad, considers Khan and other Uyghurs in Pakistan as ‘terrorists’. China believes that these Uyghur Muslims are part of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), a separatist group responsible for several violent attacks inside China as the 2005 attack in Urumqi, in the Xinjiang region.

“The East Turkestan Islamic Movement is a terrorist organisation recognised by the UN security council. Their main agenda is to separate Xinjiang from China. We are trying to get the support of other countries to fight this group. I think ETIM’s attempt to separate China, to create trouble for China, is doomed to failure, Zhao, who is the Director of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Information Department in Beijing, said.

The Pakistani police have also broken into Khan’s Uyghur language school in Islamabad and destroyed thousands of dollars worth of computers, textbooks, and other teaching material. “I am no terrorist, but yes, China says I am a terrorist. I have done nothing wrong. I am merely trying to help educate people. Because China fears us, they suppress us,” said Khan.

Khan says that they were teaching around 100 children at the school who were learning the Uyghur language. There is no existence without your mother tongue and culture, and we are facing an existential crisis, and we want to reclaim our identity, says Khan.

A few months later, the police again broke into Khan’s residence. They had detained his elderly father as they could not find Khan. The Pakistani police had attacked Khan’s father, who died shortly after facing trauma. Since this incident, Khan said he has been arrested and beaten numerous times by Pakistani authorities.

“My family members came to me and begged me to stop this work. But I cannot. Helping people is my life’s calling and I must continue,” says Khan.

Turkey deports Uyghur back to Xinjiang

Pakistan is not the only country to silently comply with China’s wishes. In 1952, the then Turkish government offered asylum to Uyghurs fleeing Xinjiang province after China was taken over by the Communist government. Some Uyghur Muslims were offered temporary or permanent residency in Turkey.

However, Turkey, which has been showing all its machismo against the smaller countries in the Middle East, seems to have no courage to raise its voice against the persecution of Uighurs as they depend on China for investment and loans.

In 2009, Turkish dictator Recep Tayyip Erdogan was one of the firsts to call out the Chinese repression of Uyghurs as a “genocide”, prompting an angry response from Beijing. Ten years later, the increasing hostilities with the West has pushed the authoritarian Turkish leader to look up Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping for the global support. Effectively, the geopolitical game has brought a major shift to Ankara’s policy towards Uyghurs and China.

It is worth mentioning that Turkey houses more than 35,000 Uyghurs in its different city. Uyghurs, who share Turkic descent, have found safe haven in Turkish cities and have established themselves for many years. The sudden change in the relationship between China and Turkey has now put Uyghurs living in Turkish cities at risk as it has become much harder for them to get resident permits or citizenship.

It has become challenging for Uyghurs to live in Turkey as they fear they could be deported back to Xinjiang at any moment. To aggravate their fear, China also refused to renew their passports. The Turkish government has made a lacklustre promise to allow them to reside in Turkey without any passport restrictions. However, at the same time, it is also raiding Uyghur homes, arresting hundreds of people, and coordinating deportations with Beijing.

One of the major reasons for this is Turkey’s apparent shift away from its NATO allies and towards Russia and China. The worrisome aspect is that China recently ratified an extradition agreement with Turkey, to what it refers to as a “counterterrorism partnership”. While Uyghurs had no problems in Turkey until three or four years ago, Ankara’s security concerns and stronger ties with Beijing have reversed that trend, leaving them in a precarious situation.

Egypt deports, Saudi and Islamic world maintain silence

Like Turkey, Egypt has detained and deported Uighurs back to China. Since 2017, at least 200 Uyghurs have rounded up in the raids, at the behest of the Chinese Communist Party, and have been sent back to China.

Saudi Arabia, the de-facto leader of the Islamic world, have not uttered a word about the Uyghurs too. In fact, the relationship between Beijing and Riyadh has only strengthened in the last few years. China and Saudi Arabia have signed deals worth billions, and Chinese money has turned Saudi crown prince Mohammad bin Salman into an ally of China.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation – the self-proclaimed protector of the interests of the Muslim world, too has not found any courage to confront China on the state-sponsored genocide of Uyghur Muslims. The fifty-seven member states of the OIC have also remained silent on the issue.

The message seems to be clear – Islamic nations have chosen China’s dirty money over persecuted Uyghur Muslims. The interests of the so-called protectors of the Muslim simply lies with Chinese money and not for their ‘Ummah’.

Pakistan: Job vacancy for sanitary workers only limited to ‘non-Muslims’, discriminatory ad sparks outrage

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan: Job vacancy for sanitary workers only limited to ‘non-Muslims’, discriminatory ad sparks outrage

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan is not new to discriminating against its religious minorities. In a recent advertisement floated by the Health Department in South Karachi district, it was found that the 5 vacant posts of sanitary workers at the SGD Delhi P Colony, SGD Special Leprosy Clinic, and SGD Chakiwara could only be filled by non-Muslims.

In its recruitment notice, the Health Department specified that the sanitary jobs can only be undertaken by non-Muslims aka Hindus and Christians. However, no other job profile called for such an exclusive religious group. Through such an advertisement, the Health Department suggested Muslims are ineligible for ‘dirty work’ and is limited to non-Muslim professionals only.

Karachi Health Department’s advertisement for new recruitments

A similar prejudiced and discriminatory advertisement was floated by the Livestock wing of livestock and fisheries, Government of Sindh. It listed 42 vacancies for sweepers and sanitary workers with the qualification that the candidates must be non-Muslims only.

Government of Sindh’s discriminatory advertisement for new recruitments

It is not a new development and jobs of sanitary workers is often reserved for non-Muslims in the country.

Pakistani Hindus speak out against discriminatory advertisement

After the two contentious advertisements surfaced on social media, Pakistani Hindu rights activists questioned as to why such menial jobs are allocated to non-Muslims specifically.

MBBS student Rekha Maheshwari tweeted, “Keep such discriminatory jobs to yourself. We will work hard day by day to be in great position. So what if we can’t occupy Prime minister and President seat, we are well educated and deserving enough to settle anywhere in this world and we will always strive for a decent living.”

Journalist Veengas lamented, “All citizens are not equal in the state of Pakistan — Sweepers and Sanitary workers jobs Only for Non-Muslims.”

Hindu rights activist Kapil Dev said, “Sanitary jobs are EXCLUSIVELY for Christians & Hindus in Pakistan. This shows govt’s repeated reiteration that majority will do filth, minority will clean that filth. Wese, boht gand kar rahe ho!! We demand equal proportion of #Muslim sweepers, cleaners & sanitary workers.”

Christians, Dalits forced to do manual scavenging work in Pakistan

Only the minuscule Christian community living in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is forced into manual scavenging, reported The New York Times. Municipalities in Pakistan rely heavily on Christians for manual scavenging as Muslims refuse to clean the gutters and the Christian minorities have few other employment options. According to one estimate by the rights group, even though Christians constitute 1.6% of the population, they account for 80% sanitation workers.

The rest 20% comprises of Dalits who constitute the overwhelming majority of Hindus in Pakistan. Illiteracy and lack of alternate sources of income have pushed these Pakistani minorities with no other options but to clean drains clogged with faeces and medical waste to earn a meagre living.

Earlier, a member of the National Lobbying Delegation for Minority Rights (NLDMR), Asif Aqeel, took to Twitter to call out the Pakistani Army’s bias after it had floated a similar discriminatory ad. But in doing so, Aqeel claimed that the manuscripts of the Manusmriti have it that all Christians come from an ‘untouchable class’ and are expected to do such menial jobs. Shockingly, while expressing his disapproval for the Pakistani Army, Asif Aqeel spitefully divulged in insulting the ancient theology of the Hindu religion.

Young boys beaten by IAS Ranbir Sharma speak up, were out visiting ailing grandmother, buying medicines

OpIndia Staff
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Young boys beaten by IAS Ranbir Sharma speak up, were out visiting ailing grandmother, buying medicines

The 23-year-old Aman Mittal who was seen being beaten by the police personnel in the viral video revealed that he had visited his grandmother who is undergoing Covid-19 treatment at a hospital. In a video shared by journalist Aditya Raj Kaul, he reveals how the IAS officer misbehaved with him.

“The doctors had asked to get her blood test done. I went to the lab to get the technician and after fulfilling the requirements as prescribed by the doctor, I was stopped by the police. I parked my bike to the side and went to show the slip. He (IAS Sharma) asked me to go then suddenly snatched my phone and smashed it and slapped me without even seeing the slip.”

After the video of IAS Ranbir Sharma of Surajpur district, Chhattisgarh thrashing a boy went viral on social media, the netizens reacted sharply to the manhandling of common citizens by the bureaucrat.

Shortly after the video went viral, Sharma released an apology video claiming that the boy was misbehaving with the police and also lied when caught flouting the Covid-19 lockdown protocol. However, the two boys who were thrashed by the police on the orders of IAS Sharma spoke to the media about their ordeal.

He added that the Collector then asked the police personnel at the site to beat him up which is evident in the video. 

When asked if he plans to take any action, Mittal said, “If this would have been done by a lower-level officer we could have approached the higher level. But who do we go to when the highest officer of the district himself behaves so.”

13-year-old beaten for stepping out for medical supply

Sahil Gupta, a 13-year-old was thrashed by police on the orders of IAS Ranbir Sharma when he stepped out to get medical supplies.

While interacting with the media, the boy informed that the officer questioned him while he was buying medicines at a medical shop. Despite informing that he had come to purchase medicines, Sharma asked the police to hit him with the stick.

The boy has sustained injuries near his ankle. 

IAS Sharma apologized justifying his actions

The Chhattisgarh IAS officer Ranbir Sharma of Surajpur district apologized on Saturday for slapping a man and smashing his phone on the ground for violating Covid-19 protocols. The officer released a video apologizing for his behavior and citing the reason upon receiving a backlash from netizens after his video misbehaving with the man went viral.

Collector Ranbir Sharma in his video statement claimed that the boy misbehaved with the police. He said, “The boy first said he is going for vaccination, however, he showed a receipt which wasn’t related to vaccination. He then said he is going to meet his grandmother. I slapped him in the heat of the moment.”

In another statement that is being circulated by the Chhattisgarh government to media personnel as damage control, Sharma apologizing for his behavior said, “I never had any intention to disrespect or belittle the person in the video.”

District Collector Sharma removed

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday took to Twitter to inform that he has instructed Ranbir Sharma be removed from his post.

He said that such an act of misbehaving with someone is unacceptable and instructions have been given to remove him with immediate effect.

The viral video

In the video that has now gone viral on social media, the boy can be seen showing some paper to the officer and something on his mobile phone. Soon after the officer snatched the phone from the boy’s hand and smashed it on the ground. 

He then slapped the boy and instructed the police personnel posted at the site to hit him with sticks. Sharma was heard instructing, “maaro ise (hit him).”

Himanta Biswa Sarma flags Twitter’s manipulative labels, but platform’s conduct should concern one and all: Here’s why

K Bhattacharjee
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Himanta Biswa Sarma flags Twitter’s manipulative labels, but platform’s conduct should concern one and all: Here’s why

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has called out Twitter over its recent conduct where the platform labeled tweets by BJP politicians as ‘manipulated media’ without any evidence. He said that it was disconcerting that the platform was effectively taking sides in Indian politics.

Source: Twitter

Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “SM platforms must be transparent on who conducts these so-called fact checks & how they are done. Recently, Twitter applying policies selectively to take sides in India’s politics is disconcerting. Calls into question if they can seek refuge under provision of safe harbour.”

While the Assam Chief Minister is the first to take a strong stand along such lines against Twitter amidst the current conflict with the Indian Government, it is an extremely critical issue that ought to concern every Indian citizen who cares about the sovereignty of our nation.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Indian Government had written to Twitter requesting that the platform remove its ‘manipulated media’ label against a tweet on the Congress toolkit made by BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra. Since then, the tag has surfaced on more tweets by BJP leaders on the toolkit controversy.

The Indian Government accused Twitter of attempting to influence investigations into the matter. However, the platform appears to have paid no heed as the label continues to exist in the said tweets. There was a clash between the government and the social media giant during the ‘farmer protests’ as well when the platform refused to take down tweets peddling dangerous fake news that could jeopardise the law and order situation in the country.

It is a matter of grave concern given the platform’s conduct in recent times. During the campaign for the US Presidential Elections in 2020, Twitter deliberately blocked a news report that portrayed Joe Biden in poor light. The news report was legitimate and reported accurate facts and yet, Twitter banned it anyway because it undermined the chances of their preferred political candidate.

CEO Jack Dorsey has already admitted that Twitter has a left-wing bias. After unfair meddling into the democratic process in the United States, it appears to be doing the same in India. For our country, the concerns are even more serious as it is a foreign-based company and there are enough indications that it is working in concert with the US Government.

In the absence of strong action, it is almost certain that the platform will intensify its efforts against the ruling dispensation. Historically, it has been observed that western businesses use their corporate might to influence domestic policies abroad but of late, with the conduct of social media and other fronts, it has come out into the open.

By 2023, it is only to be expected that Twitter will massively escalate its efforts to topple the NDA Government at the center. Given the manner in which they worked in tandem to throw out Donald Trump from the platform using flimsy excuses, a decision that has irked leaders around the world, the Indian Government should take it for granted that the platform has made up its mind to interfere in the internal politics of India and destabilize our country in the process.

Incidentally, the platform’s overtures towards the Congress party comes only weeks after former Congress president Rahul Gandhi solicited help from the United States in his efforts to defeat the BJP. Joe Biden’s refusal to lift the embargo on the export of vaccine raw materials, the international media’s biased coverage of the crisis in India and its attempt to pinpoint the entire blame on Narendra Modi is further confirmation of a deeper plot against the current ruling dispensation.

Thus, only complaining about the platform’s biased conduct will not help the BJP here. It has to compensated by concrete action. It is the duty of the Indian Government to prevent malicious foreign actors from interfering in the internal matters of India. And while the Prime Minister is embattled from all fronts, it is one avenue that he cannot afford to neglect.

The issue is not merely that of labels here. The primary cause for concern is that a foreign actor is openly choosing sides in Indian politics and is acting in ways that could be construed as attempts to subvert the will of the Indian people. The primary cause for concern is that a western company is attempting to undermine India’s national sovereignty. The Government has to act while it still has time, lest it be too late.

Madhya Pradesh: Honeytrapped by Pakistani agents under promise of marriage, two women, Kauser and Hina, arrested

OpIndia Staff
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Madhya Pradesh: Honeytrapped by Pakistani agents under promise of marriage, two women, Kauser and Hina, arrested

On May 22, Indore Police and military intelligence arrested two sisters identified as Kauser and Hina in Lakshmi Vihar colony, Gawli Palasia near Mhow, Indore district, Madhya Pradesh for suspected links with Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan. One sister is 32 years old, and the other is 28 years old. They have been on Police and military intelligence’s radar following inputs that they were in regular touch with contacts in Pakistan. Different intelligence agencies, including local Police, ATS, IB and military intelligence, are investigating different levels.

They were in contact with ISI and ex-army officer

It was suspected that they were in contact with agents from the other side of the border. It is believed that these contacts were ISI operatives. Some sources told Hindi Daily Patrika that one of the contacts was an ex-army officer. Investigating agencies have recovered electronic devices, including laptop and mobile phones, from the sisters. They were reportedly getting funding from Mauritius.

Fake IDs were used to communicate with ISI

There is an army installation in Mhow. It is one of the largest army establishments in Madhya Pradesh. The sisters were providing sensitive information about army installations in the region to ISI in Pakistan. Some days ago, they were walking on the road while talking to their contacts in Pakistan when Indian intelligence heard their chatter. Since then, they were under intelligence’s radar. News Nation reported that the women were also seen photographing army installations at Mhow. The intelligence agencies targeted them using a fake ID.

Daughters of ex-serviceman, one of the sisters are working as a school teacher while the other has worked with an electricity company in the past. Their father had worked as a security guard at an SBI branch in Mhow. They were using fake IDs on social media platforms to stay in touch with the contacts in Pakistan for over a year.

As per reports, one of the agents in Pakistan had said he would marry the elder sister. The girl also said she wanted to marry the man she came in touch with through social media.

Man from J&K was involved

The Police said that the sisters were employed at different locations over time. They preferred to change jobs after a certain time. They were also in contact with a man hailing from Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district. Reports suggest that the Police and military intelligence also picked him up for interrogation.

Harinarayanchari Mishra, Inspector General of Indore Zone, told The New Indian Express that local Police and Intelligence agencies jointly investigate the case. The investigations agencies have not revealed any information about their contacts in Pakistan.

Lithuania labels China’s treatment of Uyghur Muslims a ‘genocide’ and demands UN probe, quits China’s “17+1” group

OpIndia Staff
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Lithuania labels China’s treatment of Uyghur Muslims a ‘genocide’ and demands UN probe, quits China’s “17+1” group

After the US, Canada and Britain, Lithuania’s parliament on Thursday described China’s treatment meted out to its Uyghur Muslims as “genocide”. Additionally, Lithuania recommended voting to call for a U.N. investigation of forceful detention camps set up by China imprisoning Uyghurs and to ask the European Commission to review relations with Beijing.

Beijing however continues to be in denial of abusing its minorities and has condemned the countries for using the term.

The non-binding resolution which was supported by three-fifths of Lithuanian parliament members called on China to abolish a national security law in Hong Kong. It also demanded to let observers into Tibet and begin talks with its spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

However, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte and Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis did not cast their votes despite being present in the Parliament. 

Dovile Sakaliene, a lawmaker blacklisted by China, said, “We support democracy, as we will never forget the cruel lesson of living under occupation by a Communist regime for 50 years.”

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian in a briefing on Friday firmly opposed the move. He also warned Lithuania to correct its mistakes to avoid harming relations between Lithuania and China.

Lithuania leaves China’s 17+1 cooperation

Along with passing the resolution, Lithuania also left China’s 17+1 cooperation forum with central and eastern European states, calling the group ‘divisive’. The also asked the other European Union members to also leave the group of 27 nations. “Lithuania no longer considers itself a 17+1 format member and does not participate in this initiative,” Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis told Agence France-Presse.

“From our perspective, it is high time for the EU to move from a dividing 16+1 format to a more uniting and therefore much more efficient 27+1. The EU is strongest when all 27 member states act together along with EU institutions,” the foreign minister added.

These are part of several steps that the country has taken in recent months that signify deterioration of its relations with China. Earlier, the country had blocked Chinese investment and announced that it would open a trade office in Taiwan.

Lithuania under Soviet rule

Lithuania suffered repression under the Soviet rule from 1940-1991. The country is now a member of the EU and NATO, and consistently plays a prominent role in advocating tougher Western diplomatic lines towards Russia and Communist countries such as China.

Uyghur detention camps

The Xinjiang autonomous region in China is facing the worst kind of cultural and ethnic genocide. There is a long history of dissonance between the indigenous ethnic Uyghur and Chinese authorities. The Chinese government refuses to categorize Uyghurs as an indigenous population and describe Uyghurs as a regional minority.

China is facing criticism and worldwide condemnation over its unkind and harsh treatment towards the Uyghur Muslims. A Uyghur-Kazakh citizen, Gulbahar Jelilova reported that she was ruthlessly beaten and raped while in custody. Stew Chao, a journalist working with Aljazeera reported that Abduveli Ayup-prominent Uighur writer, activist and Uyghur language defender was put in a detention centre and later brutally tortured.

There is also ample evidence that suggests China is systematically targeting Uyghur Muslims through a state-planned birth control process. Zumrat Dawut and Kalbinur Sidik who survived from Chinese detention camps narrated that Uyghur women who conceive more than three children are forcefully sterilized. Women survivors from these camps narrated that they were beaten, raped, and given mystery injections.

Uyghur Muslim minorities confined in camps were forced to criticize their faith and basic Islamic values. They are forced to recite communist party propaganda and criticize Islam as part of the indoctrination process.

Unfortunately, the Uyghurs of China have found no support from other Islamic and Muslim nations.

Pinarayi Vijayan’s decision to keep minority welfare portfolio with himself to appease Christians angers IUML: Report

OpIndia Staff
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Pinarayi Vijayan’s decision to keep minority welfare portfolio with himself to appease Christians angers IUML: Report

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has decided to keep the minority welfare portfolio with himself, a decision which was likely taken to reach out to the Christian community in the state, The New Indian Express has reported. Christian organisations in the state have been demanding that Vijayan handle the ministry himself.

“It was a long-pending demand of a major section among the minority communities that the chief minister should handle the minority welfare portfolio. We welcome the new decision and express our gratitude to the chief minister,” Kerala Catholics’ Bishops Council (KCBC) spokesperson Fr Jacob Palackapilly said.

Christian groups were not happy with the disbursal of minority welfare funds under KT Jaleel, the previous minority welfare minister in the state. However, Jaleel denied that there was any discrimination in fund allocation under his watch.

“The 80:20 ratio is followed only in state scholarships instituted on the basis of the Paloli committee recommendations to alleviate backwardness of the Muslim community. This is not applicable for any other schemes of the ministry or in the disbursal of Central funds meant for minority welfare,” he told TNIE.

It is also speculated that Vijayan’s move is to thwart BJP’s outreach towards the Christian community. State BJP President P S Sreedharan Pillai had helped organise a meeting between Prime Minister Modi and the head of three prominent Church groups ahead of the elections.

That does not appear to have had any significant impact as the BJP failed to win any seat in the state. However, it appears to have been enough for Pinarayi Vijayan to take effective measures to ward off any threat.

BJP General Secretary in the state, George Kurian, has said, “A mere change of guard does not mean the LDF’s policy towards minorities, especially Christians, has changed. The 80:20 ratio in distribution of welfare funds among Muslim and Christian communities should first be amended.”

Meanwhile, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has claimed that Vijayan’s decision has insulted the Muslim community. Earlier, it was believed that the portfolio would go to V Abdurahiman.

In a first, Uttar Pradesh tests 3 lakh people for Covid in a single day, 4.65 crore tests conducted in total

OpIndia Staff
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In a first, Uttar Pradesh tests 3 lakh people for Covid in a single day, 4.65 crore tests conducted in total

The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath seems to be determined to fight the Covid-19 pandemic in the state and the dedicated, multi-pronged approach of the Uttar Pradesh government to tackle the epidemic has yielded exemplary results in the state.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who is himself is on the front lines, have ensured that the government has created enough medical facilities to overcome the crisis. Yogi Aditayanath, who recently recovered from Covid-19, is personally visiting hospitals and villages to review the healthcare facilities and passing necessary orders.

The Uttar Pradesh government has followed the ‘3T’ formula of tracing, testing and treatment aggressively to tackle the rise in cases in both urban and rural areas. As a result, Uttar Pradesh has become the first state in the country to carry out as many as 3 lakhs Covid tests in a single day. The Uttar Pradesh government has conducted more than 4.65 crore tests since the start of the pandemic, which is the highest in the country. 

The data suggests that nearly 45% of the total tests being done in the state are RT PCR, while 2% are through TruNat method. The remaining are undertaken through rapid antigen kits.

Total number of tests carried out in Uttar Pradesh/ Image Source: Covid19.org

Aggressive testing has been the mainstay of UP’s Covid-19 combat strategy. According to the officials in UP, the state has now created a capacity for undertaking more than 1.5 lakh RT PCR tests per day. More than 65% of the samples collected in the state are from rural areas.

As per data from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Uttar Pradesh accounts for almost 14% of the total tests done in the country. In addition, more than 1 crore Covid-19 tests have been conducted in the UP since April 1 this year.

Uttar Pradesh govt anticipated the second wave, created infrastructure to tackle the pandemic

In anticipation of the second wave, the Chief Minister has instructed officials to be prepared, and arrangements were made to continue aggressive testing to identify hotspots at the earliest. Based on tracing and testing, micro-containment zones were set up to nip the problem in the bud.

Interestingly, despite aggressive testing, Uttar Pradesh has recorded a low number of fresh cases compared to any other states.

Uttar Pradesh has seen only a marginal increase in the cases in the second wave. On Saturday, Uttar Pradesh has recorded as many as 5,964 new cases took the overall tally to 16,65,176 cases. It is important to note that UP is the country’s most populous state, with more than 24 crore people living in 75 districts.

Total number of confirmed cases in Uttar Pradesh/ Image Source: Covid19.org

Considering its huge population, the fresh cases recorded in the state is one of the lowest in the country. Of the total cases, 15,51,716 have recovered, with 17,540 recoveries in the past 24 hours.

Recoveries in UP

The state is now left with under a lakh active cases. Only 94,000 active cases in Uttar Pradesh till Saturday, of which nearly 80,000 are under home isolation. The active case ratio in the state is less than 5.5 per cent, almost half the national average which is at 10 per cent. The active case ratio is the total active cases in the state compared to the total cases recorded.

Total number of active cases in Uttar Pradesh/ Image Source: Covid19.org

The higher active case ratio indicates a well-functioning health care system, particularly the treatment provided to the Covid-19 patients in a particular state. Despite having a larger population, the Uttar Pradesh government has managed to keep its positivity rate low, at the same keeping its active case ratio in check.

According to the state government’s data, the active cases in the state have come down by over 62 per cent since hitting a peak on April 30. The intervention by the state government has led to faster recoveries, outnumbering fresh cases in the last nearly three weeks, and the case positivity rate has dropped to 2.4 per cent. The positivity rate was around 19 per cent during the peak.

Low death rate, faster vaccination in Uttar Pradesh

The number of deaths has recorded a decline after several days with 218 losing lives in the past 24 hours, taking the total to 18,978.

Uttar Pradesh is also at the forefront in terms of vaccinating its people. Till Saturday, the state has vaccinated more than 1.62 crore people across the state. On Saturday alone, Uttar Pradesh vaccinated nearly 2,13,028 people with the two available Indian-made vaccines, which is yet again the highest in the country.

Total number of vaccinated doses in Uttar Pradesh/ Image Source: Covid19.org

The successful strategy of Uttar Pradesh to trace, test and treat, followed by efficient lockdown, have helped in flattening the Covid curve in the state. The government is also providing free ration to nearly 15 crore people of the state and Rs 1,000 as financial aid to lakhs of daily wage earners whose livelihoods have been hit by the pandemic. Besides, the government is also providing free Covid vaccines to all.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath has been the most active CM on ground, and the results are visible

OpIndia Staff
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UP CM Yogi Adityanath has been the most active CM on ground, and the results are visible

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has intensified efforts to contain the Coronavirus pandemic in the State. He has been hitting the ground and visiting rural areas in the state to take stock of the situation.

On Saturday (May 22), journalist Shlipi Sen tweeted that Yogi Adityanath visited a Covid-19 containment zone in Etawah to take stock of the situation.

In a video uploaded by the journalist, the UP CM was seen interacting with people and directing the police officials to ensure that the Coronavirus patients are informed about the post-Covid care. He also inquired whether the supply of medicines is uninterrupted in the containment zone.

On Saturday, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister also visited the Covid Command and Control centre in Kanpur to ensure its smooth functioning.

Yogi Adityanath was also spotted visiting the Covid Command and Control centres in Lucknow and Muzaffarpur on May 21 and May 17 respectively.

The Uttar Pradesh CM had also paid a visit to the Integrated Command and Control Centre in Janpad Aligarh on May 13. He informed that the government is tirelessly working towards the goal of eradicating the deadly virus from the country.

Earlier, the UP CMO had also shared pictures of Yogi Adityanath visiting the Manohar village in Moradabad on May 8. He had also taken stock of the medical kits that were being provided to Coronavirus patients.

While India has been battling the second wave of the pandemic, the Yogi Adityanath government has remained steadfast in its pursuit of containing the deadly virus from the very onset. In a recent order, the UP government directed that oxygen cylinders would be provided to all Covid-19 patients who were undergoing treatment at their homes. This was done to prevent fatalities caused due to the unavailability of oxygen cylinders for critical Coronavirus patients.

After learning that the main hurdle that stood in the way of uninterrupted oxygen supply in the state was the crippling oxygen delivery system, Yogi Adityanath decided to set up oxygen generation plants for the availability of oxygen in all the districts keeping in mind the future needs. The Uttar Pradesh CM has also been stepped up the ante in anticipation of the third wave of the Coronavirus pandemic. Given that the rural areas in the State are susceptible to Covid-19 spread, health workers have been directed to conduct door-to-door testing for early detection.

The Monitoring committees, constituted by Yogi Adityanath govt, are conducting more than one lakh tests in the rural areas of the state everyday. The monitoring committees, comprising of Asha, Anganwadi and ANM had been following the Yogi Adityanath Government’s mantra of ‘test, trace and treat’ against the novel coronavirus religiously. The UP government has recently launched ‘Mera gaon, Corona mukt gaon’ campaign to declare villages free from coronavirus infection.

Uttar Pradesh witnesses decline in active cases, recovery rate shoots high

As of May 23, Uttar Pradesh has recorded 94,482 active cases and a total of 18,978 fatalities. According to covid19india.org, the State is witnessing a decline in confirmed and active cases on a daily basis. While the recovery rate from Covid-19 stands at 93.2%, the case fatality ratio has been around 1.1%.

Screengrab of the linear graph of daily Covid-19 cases

It is due to the mammoth task of mass testing, followed by rampant vaccination that the UP government has been able to trace and isolate Coronavirus-positive patients. The steps taken by Yogi Adityanth in containing the virus is now paying dividends as the second wave eases in the State and the number of active cases declines.

Yogi had recently said that he has instructed the administration to be prepared for third wave as the second wave continues to ease.

Six research scholars from Jamia Millia Islamia University selected under Modi govt’s ‘Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship’ scheme

OpIndia Staff
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Six research scholars from Jamia Millia Islamia University selected under Modi govt’s ‘Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship’ scheme

Six research scholars from the controversial university Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) have been selected by the Modi government for the coveted Prime Minister Research Fellowship (PMRF) under the lateral entry scheme of the December 2020 drive.

In a statement, the Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) University said that the Modi government has selected six students – Fozia Tabasum, Momina, Azra Malik, Firoz Khan, Aaliya Taiyab and Ashi Saif under the PMRF scheme. These students come from different departments, including Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology and Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, the varsity said.

Expressing happiness over the selection of six students, JMI Vice Chancellor Najma Akhtar said that five out of the six research scholars are girl students. He said the selection shows how well they are doing in research.

“I hope this would inspire other students, particularly girl students of the university, to do well in science and research. JMI stands for excellence and strives hard to provide its students with every possible support to achieve great heights,” the Vice-Chancellor said. He also appreciated the efforts of the coordinator PMRF, JMI professor Abdul Quaiyum Ansari for the “great achievement”.

Under the PMRF scheme, the six researchers from JMI will be individually getting a per month fellowship of Rs.70,000 for the first two years, Rs.75,000 for the third year, Rs.80,000 for the fourth and fifth year, respectively.

In addition to the monthly fellowship, each fellow will also get a research grant of Rs.2 lakh per year, i.e., a total of Rs.10 lakh for five years under the PMRF.

Earlier in May 2020, two students from JMI – Marya Khan and Abgeena Shabir, both from the Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (CNN), were selected for the fellowship.

Prime Minister’s Research Fellows (PMRF) Scheme

In order to attract meritorious students into research, the Government of India, in 2018, launched Prime Minister’s Research Fellows (PMRF) Scheme, which offers direct admission to such students in the PhD programmes in IITs, IISERs and IISc.

The scheme aims to attract the talent pool of the country to doctoral (PhD) programmes for carrying out research in cutting-edge science and technology domains, focusing on national priorities.

The institutes which can offer PMRF include all the IITs, all the IISERs, the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru and some of the top Central Universities/NITs that offer science and/or technology degrees.

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