Earlier in the day, it was reported how at least 13 patients died at Vijay Vallabh Covid Care hospital in Virar West, Mumbai after a massive fire broke out in its Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the wee hours of April 23 (Friday). The COVID-19 patients died after inhaling toxic fumes.
‘No National news’: Maharashtra Health Minister on Virar tragedy
Despite the incident that engulfed more than a dozen lives, Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope was heard downplaying the tragic episode by saying that it is “no national news”.
#WATCH Virar fire incident, not national news…says Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope
13 people have lost their lives in a fire incident at Vijay Vallabh COVID care hospital in Maharashtra’s Virar pic.twitter.com/hNZEHIbnLp
Speaking to the media Tope said, “This is no national news. The State govt will provide help to the family of the deceased”. We would provide ex gratia as we provided to kin of deceased in Nasik oxygen leak case, said the State Health Minister.
The Uddhav Thackeray cabinet minister probably tried to insinuate that the tragedy was not big enough to be called national news.
Maharashtra CM’s cover-up during Mumbai’s Bhandup mall’s tragedy
It becomes imperative to note here, that during the last month Mumbai’s Bhandup mall’s tragedy, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray had also tried to cover up the negligence of the state authorities by claiming that “most people” died of COVID-19, not the fire.
BJP leader asks for a probe of safety/fire system in Virar hospital
Meanwhile, former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya has demanded that authorities should check if there was a fire safety audit of the Vijay Vallabh Covid Care hospital in Virar West, Mumbai, where the incident of fire occurred on Friday.
According to reports, after 3 AM, the fire started in the air conditioning unit of the hospital’s ICU, where, as many as 17 patients were being treated for the infection. After the fire broke, the Vasai Virar Corporation fire brigade reached the spot and doused the fire. However, until then, 13 people have lost their lives to the fire.
A renowned Algerian professor has been sentenced to three years in prison for “offending Islam” through his social media posts. Said Djabelkhir (53) was charged earlier this year with “mocking religion and the rituals of Islam” after questioning some hadiths (preachings of the Prophet Muhammad) and rituals in Islam.
The professor was put on trial after seven lawyers and a teacher at the University of Sidi Bel Abbs made complaints against him for ‘disrespecting Islam’. The complainants believed Djabelkheir’s Facebook posts had violated religious Islamic precepts.
The professor, who is currently out on bail, expressed shock at the severity of punishment meted out to him and has vowed to keep fighting for his freedom of thought. Speaking to the French news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) after the verdict, the professor said that he would appeal to the Court of Cassation if necessary. Reportedly, while leaving the courtroom after his harsh sentencing, the professor said that he is a professor and not an Imam, therefore, he has to use reason and critical thought.
It is pertinent to note that Algerian law has a three-to-five-year prison term and or a fine for “anyone who offends the Prophet or denigrates the dogmatic precepts of Islam, whether it be by writings, drawings, a statement or another means”.
“We have the misfortune to be doing research in Algeria”, said the scholar, adding that the fight for freedom of conscience is non-negotiable. “It is a fight which must continue.”
What was the ‘offence’ of the Algerian professor
The scholar, an author of two well-known books on Islam, was called out by the plaintiffs for questioning some hadiths and rituals followed in Islam. Professor Said Djabelkhir had raised objections to the practice of animal sacrifice during the Muslim festival of Eid, which he claimed was a pre-Islamic practice.
The professor also raised objections to the practices of marrying of pre-pubescent girls in some Muslim societies.
He also suggested that parts of the Quran, such as the story of Noah’s Ark, might not be literally true. He worried that many Islamists take everything written in the Quran literally. He said that they are unable to distinguish between “history” and “myth” – such as in the case of the Noah’s Ark story.
Speaking to AFP, professor Djabelkhir said: “Everyone thinks of history with a capital H”. The traditional readings [of the Quran] no longer meet the expectations, needs and questions of modern man”, added the professor.
Algerian professor receives death threats
According to The News Arabs, professor Djabelkhir also received death threats while he was awaiting a verdict in the case.
The professor was first summoned to court on February 25, 2021. A complainant in the case told the judge during the second trial on April 1, 2021, that “Djabelkir’s controversial writings had caused him psychological harm.”
The professor told the judge in his defence his intention was “ijtihad [interpretation] not jihad”. The verdict was then postponed to April 22, when the professor was handed a three-year prison sentence on Thursday.
Professor Djabelkhir had also received death threats in 2019 after he had said that fasting is not essential during Ramzan. Djabelkhir argued that the Ramadan fast is not mandatory and that Muslims have the choice of donating food and money to the poor instead.
“Under normal circumstances, not all of the prophet’s companions fasted… some Muslims fasted and others didn’t. They did this and didn’t criminalise each other,” the scholar said. “The Ramadan fast is not mandatory – it is a choice in Islam because it started like this as is documented in the Quran and Islamic law,” he added.
Blasphemy law in Algeria
More than ninety-nine per cent of Algeria’s population is Sunni Muslim. The Constitution of Algeria declares that Islam is the state religion but Article 36 of the Constitution provides for ‘freedom of belief’. However, despite the provisions of the Constitution, Algeria severely restricts what anyone can say or what anyone can do as a religious practice.
The stringent Algerian law stipulates a three-to-five-year prison term and or a fine for “anyone who offends the Prophet or denigrates the dogmatic precepts of Islam, whether it be by writings, drawings, a statement or another means”.
Delhi’s hospitals are grappling with an oxygen crisis due to high demand all over the country and hindered supplies. The government of India and respective state authorities have been working round the clock to ensure oxygen supply to hospitals for Covid patients in need.
Delhi | An Oxygen carrying vehicle has reached Max Hospital, Saket after the hospital sent an SOS to the government
Another Oxygen carrying vehicle has reached Max Smart Hospital, says DCP South
DCP South Delhi has informed that an oxygen-carrying tanker was sent to Max Hospital, Saket after the Hospital authorities sent out an SOS, another has reached Max Smart Hospital too. The Delhi Police is trying to ensure the delivery of oxygen tankers to other Max hospitals too.
Earlier this morning, Max Hospital had informed that they are running out of oxygen and have oxygen only for an hour or so. They had also stated that they won’t be admitting new patients until oxygen supplies are stabilised. The SOS message said that the hospitals are waiting for supplies from INOX since 1 am in the night. The tweet informing that they won’t be admitting new patients seems to have been deleted. Our efforts to contact the hospital for clarification were not successful.
SOS Tweet by Max Healthcare
It is notable here that Max Hospital has even approached the Delhi High Court citing difficulties in getting oxygen and demanding the government to ensure smooth supplies. The hospital has said in subsequent tweets that they are still in need of more oxygen because the current supplies will last a few hours more at best.
The Delhi Police are working to provide green corridors for oxygen tankers carrying medical oxygen for hospitals. A sharp rise in Covid cases has created a sudden high demand for medical oxygen across the country.
Only two days after spreading misleading news about India exporting 9,300 MT of oxygen and insinuating that the shortage of oxygen in India is due to that fact, Moneycontrol has now resorted to spreading misleading news again, this time about the pricing of COVID-19 vaccinations by Bharat Biotech and Serum Institute.
In a report published on the 21st of April 2021, Moneycontrol headlined their article saying, “COVID-19 vaccines to cost Rs 1,000 in private market, Bharat Biotech wants ‘maximum’ price for Covaxin”.
The insinuation by the headline itself is rather clear. That Bharat Biotech wants a “maximum” price for its COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin, so as to maximise its profits in the middle of a raging pandemic where thousands are losing their lives. In the same headline, Moneycontrol clubs a source-based rumour along with their misleading claim of Bharat Biotech wanting to maximise profit. Moneycontrol in their headline also claims that COVID-19 vaccines are to cost Rs 1,000 in the private market.
The sum total of both these claims was designed to give the impression that in the midst of a pandemic, Bharat Biotech is essentially indulging in vulturism and is trying its best to profit from a tragedy.
However, the truth could be far from it.
In the article by Moneycontrol itself, it is revealed that both these claims were clubbed maliciously to present an extremely skewed picture of reality. The headline and the insinuation it makes needs to be tackled in two separate parts.
Are vaccines to cost Rs 1,000 in the private market as claimed by Moneycontrol in the first part of its headline? One look at the Moneycontrol article itself reveals just how misleading that claim could be, especially in an atmosphere where panic is running high.
In the article itself, it is evident that the price of the vaccine being Rs 1,000 is purely speculative and Moneycontrol had no basis to claim that as a certainty in the article. Further, even the “source” that Moneycontrol spoke to actually says that ‘nothing is concrete’. One then wonders on what basis did Moneycontrol put that claim in their headline.
Article by Moneycontrol
As for the second claim of Bharat Biotech wanting to ‘maximise price’ for Covaxin, the article shows just how malicious that misleading headline is.
This claim is based on a LiveMint report where the statement of Bharat Biotech is published. Moneycontrol too cites the LiveMint report, however, they cherrypicked half the sentence to craft a misleading headline.
Article by Moneycontrol
The Moneycontrol article that quoted LiveMint categorically quoted Dr Krishna Ella, Chairman and Managing Director, Bharat Biotech International Ltd, maker of Covaxin, saying that they would like the maximum price to “recover cost”.
What they also not mention is that the LiveMint report states how Dr Ella said that Bharat Biotech had not asked the government for any money for the trials or any advances for increasing vaccine manufacturing capacity.
It is pertinent to note here that demanding a maximum price for the vaccine just as is, giving the impression that Bharat Biotech was trying to maximise profit and to say that they want the maximum price so they can recover their cost are two extremely different things.
To give a perspective about how a correct headline should have sounded like, one can sample the LiveMint headline.
Headline by LiveMint
Simply put, Moneycontrol wanted to sensationalise their headline to give the impression that Bharat Biotech is profiting off the nation’s misery and death and therefore, hardly bothered about accuracy of the headline itself.
This comes only 2 days after Moneycontrol spread panic with a misleading report regarding the export of oxygen.
Several media outlets had made misleading assertions that India had exported a large quantity of medical oxygen from January 2021 to March 2021. The reports by mainstream media organisations, including Moneycontrol, News 18 and NDTV, suggested that India had exported nearly 9,300 MT of oxygen in the financial year ending 31st March 2021. Some reports also claimed that India exported 9,884 MT of medical oxygen from January 2021 to March 2021. These reports were used and propagated by opposition leaders to attack the Modi govt, accusing the govt of exporting oxygen at a time the country is facing a shortage of the commodity.
The reports of oxygen exports were staunchly refuted by the Indian government, who termed the reports as misleading and asserted that malicious propaganda is being spread regarding the export of oxygen by India during the pandemic. It further slammed the media organisations who peddled the falsehoods, claiming that they had mistaken industrial oxygen for medicinal oxygen.
After the Indian government termed the reports of oxygen exports as misleading, Moneycontrol had deleted its original article and expressed regret for portraying a misleading picture of the industrial oxygen exports from India.
On Thursday (April 22) night, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor took to Twitter to spread fake news about the death of the former BJP Parliamentarian and ex-Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan.
Late Thursday night, Shashi Tharoor took to Twitter and said, “Saddened to learn of the passing of former Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan. I remember many positive interactions with her, including when she and the late Sushma Swaraj asked me to lead a Parliamentary delegation to BRICS in Moscow. My condolences to her family and prayers: Om Shanti.”
Screengrab of the tweet by Shashi Tharoor
Following his tweet, several politicians such as NCP Chief Sharad Pawar and her daughter Supriya Sule joined the bandwagon to mourn the “death” of Sumitra Mahajan. Sharad Pawar wrote, “Saddened to know about the demise of former Lok Sabha Speaker Smt. Sumitra Mahajan. My heartfelt condolences to members of her family. May they gather the strength to bear this inseparable loss.”
Screengrab of the tweet by Sharad Pawar
Supriya Sule also tweeted about the “demise” of the former Lok Sabha speaker.
Screengrab of the tweet by Supriya Sule
Attributing the story to Shashi Tharoor, Hindustan Times also published the news about Mahajan’s “death” on its website.
Screengrab of the article by Hindustan Times
What is the Truth?
Hours after Shashi Tharoor announced the “demise” of the BJP leader, Kailash Vijayvargiya took to Twitter to set the record straight. In a tweet, he said, “Tai Ekdum swast hai. Bhagwan unhe lambi umar de (She is absolutely healthy. Let the Almighty give her a long life.)”
On learning that he had ‘inadvertently’ peddled fake news about Sumitra Mahajan’s death, the Congress leader replied, “Thanks Kailash Vijayvargiya. I have deleted the tweet. I wonder what motivates people to invent and spread such evil news that takes in people. My best wishes for Sumitra Ji’s health and long life.”
Screengrab of the tweet by Kailash Vijayvargiya and Shashi Tharoor
ABP News journalist Vikas Bhadauria informed that Sumitra Mahajan is being treated at the Bombay Hospital in Indore, Maharashtra. Shashi Tharoor responded, “I am relieved if that is so. I received this from what I thought was a reliable source.” He emphasised, “Happy to retract and appalled that anyone would make up such news.”
Screengrab of the response by Shashi Tharoor
Following the dissemination of fake news about his mother’s death by Shashi Tharoor, and other politicians, Mandar Mahajan responded to the controversy on Friday morning. He is the youngest son of Sumitra Mahajan.
In a video shared by Times Now journalist Govind Gurjar, Mahajan could be heard as saying, “My mother is perfectly healthy. The rumours about her demise are absolutely false. Please don’t believe in such rumours. Her COVID-19 report is also negative. I had met her in the evening itself. She is perfectly healthy.”
#Mrs. Sumitra Mahajan (ताई) is all well…It was all unfortunately spread rumour regarding her death on Social media yesterday late evevning…!
— Govind Gurjar गोविंद गुर्जर (@govindtimes) April 23, 2021
Hindustan Times, which had earlier cited Congress leader Shashi Tharoor as their source to claim the death of Sumitra Mahajan, has also apologised for their story. In a statement, it said, “We regret the publishing of this news based on parliamentarian Shashi Tharoor’s tweet concerning Sumitra Mahajan’s health.”
Screengrab of the article by Hindustan Times
It is pertinent to note that the Hindustan Times had simply reported the incident based on the tweet of Congress’ Shashi Tharoor without any independent verification.
Not the first time that fake news about death made the rounds – last time, it was Rajdeep Sardesai
This is not the first time that fake news about a parliamentarians death has made the rounds. Rajdeep Sardesai, who has a history of spreading fake news and rumor-mongering on social media had prematurely announced the demise of former President Pranab Mukherjee last year.
Abhijit Mukherjee, the former president’s son and Sharmistha, his daughter, had tweeted at that time saying that he was alive and was thermodynamically stable. They condemned the behaviour of certain media persons, declaring a person dead even before confirmation from reliable sources. Abhijit stated, “Speculations & fake news being circulated by reputed Journalists on social media clearly reflects that Media in India has become a factory of Fake News.”
Screengrab of the tweet by Rajdeep Sardesai
On being called out on social media, he tweeted, “My deep deep apologies for falling for fake news being circulated on Pranab Mukherjee passing away. I am deeply distraught for falling for this fake news. It was unprofessional of me not to reconfirm it before tweeting. Apologies to all and prayers with the family.”
At least 13 patients have died at Vijay Vallabh Covid Care hospital in Virar West, Mumbai after a massive fire broke out in its Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the wee hours of April 23 (Friday). The Covid-19 patients died after inhaling toxic fumes.
“13 people have died after a fire broke out in the Intensive Care Unit around 3 am today. 21 patients, including those in critical condition, have been shifted to another hospital,” Dr Dilip Shah, official at Vijay Vallabh COVID care hospital, said.
According to reports, after 3 AM, the fire started in the air conditioning unit of the hospital’s ICU, where, as many as 17 patients were being treated for the infection. After the fire broke, the Vasai Virar Corporation fire brigade reached the spot and doused the fire. However, until then, 13 people have lost their lives to the fire.
Name of people who lost their lives in the fire that broke out at Vijay Vallabh Covid Care hospital in Virar West, Mumbai
The authorities shifted the remaining patients to other hospitals. At least 21 patients were moved to nearby hospitals following the fire.
It is being reported that one of the relatives of a deceased created a ruckus and tried to enter the hospital but was stopped by the police.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has ordered an inquiry into the incident.
Oxygen leak from a tanker in Nasik left 24 patients dead
Only two days ago, in another incident, an oxygen tanker leaked while being filled at Dr Zakir Hussain Hospital, Nashik. Ventilators in the hospital were stopped for at least 30 minutes due to the oxygen deprivation caused by the tank leak. Then also 24 people had succumbed to oxygen deprivation.
Fire breaks out at Bhandup mall in Mumbai which had COVID-19 hospital on the top floor
Last month, a massive fire broke out at a mall in Mumbai’s Bhandup area, which also accommodated a COVID-19 hospital, Sunrise Hospital, on its top floor. At the time the fire broke out as many as 76 COVID-19 patients were admitted to the hospital, which was located on the third floor of a mall. 10 people had reportedly died in the incident.
After the incident, the Maharashtra CM had tried to cover up the negligence of the state authorities by claiming that “most people” died of COVID-19, not the fire. He also conceded to granting Sunrise Hospital “temporary permission” in order to operate a COVID-19 Hospital inside a shopping mall.
Amid the ongoing Assembly polls in West Bengal, the Election Commission on Thursday (April 22) banned roadshows and vehicle rallies in the state with immediate effect. Expressing concerns over the COVID-19 guidelines being flouted during the poll campaign in West Bengal, the poll body said that no public meeting having more than 500 people would be allowed in the state.
The EC order said the commission has noted “with anguish” that many political parties and candidates are still not adhering to the prescribed safety norms during the public gatherings, therefore, “permission for roadshow, cycle/bike/vehicle rallies, if granted already, stands withdrawn.”
The Election Commission orders came into force from 7 pm on Thursday.
Permission for roadshow, cycle/bike/vehicle rallies, if granted already, stands withdrawn: Election Commission of India
ECI also notes “with anguish” that many political parties/candidates are not adhering to prescribed safety norms during public gatherings #WestBengalPollspic.twitter.com/2tS9XFzGH5
Prior to this, the Calcutta High Court had warned on the alarming situation saying, “If EC won’t act the court will”.
PM Modi cancels West Bengal poll rallies on 23rd April
Owing to the prevailing COVID-19 situation in the country, PM Narendra Modi had decided not to address election rallies in West Bengal on Friday.
“Tomorrow will be chairing high-level meetings to review the prevailing COVID-19 situation. Due to that, I would not be going to West Bengal,” PM Modi tweeted, effectively ending his campaign in Bengal, which will vote in two more rounds before the election results on May 2.
On the contrary, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee held a huge rally in Dakshin Dinajpur on Thursday. This while, TMC loyalist Derek O’Brien had on April 18 claimed that Mamata Banerjee will not campaign in Kolkata anymore and slashed time for rallies.
New ‘triple mutant variant’ of Covid-19 virus found in West Bengal
Amidst all this, scientists have reported that a new variant of the virus causing Covid-19 has been detected in West Bengal. The ‘triple mutant variant’ (also being referred to as the ‘Bengal strain’ of Covid-19) is reportedly more infectious than other strains. It is the second lineage of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to be identified in India. It is being called ‘B.1.618’, and is mostly circulating in West Bengal. The most recent detection was on March 17.
On Wednesday, Bengal reported 10,784 new coronavirus cases in the state. Total active cases stood at over 63,496.
White people who wish to visit the “George Floyd Square”, the spot where the 46-year old African man died last summer, will now need to follow special instructions when they go there. Matt Finn, national correspondent at Fox News, shared a photograph of a signboard put up at the site.
The George Floyd Square, where the convicted Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on George Floyd and was recorded on video, quickly turned into a memorial for Floyd and was renamed in his memory shortly after his death.
A sign placed at the entrance of the Square welcomes people to a “sacred” space. It is not clear when the signboard was put up.
White people about to enter George Floyd square are given special instructions pic.twitter.com/3gzpwqUmtS
The sign calls upon visitors to “honor the space as a place to connect and grieve as caring humans.” However the sign also includes a special set of instructions for White people. White visitors need to “decenter” and “come to listen, learn, mourn, and witness.”
“Remember you are here to support, not to be supported,” the sign reads. White people are called upon to “contribute to the energy of the space, rather than drain it.” Any “processing” must be brought to “other white folks” so that “BIPOC” (an acronym for “Black and Indigenous people of color”) are not harmed.
If White visitors see other White folks doing “problematic things”, they are encouraged to “speak up with compassion to take the burden (off of) Black folks and our siblings or color whenever appropriate.” White people are then encouraged to “engage rather than escalate so that it can be a learning moment rather than a disruption.”
The Election Commission (EC) today announced new restrictions on electoral campaigning, prohibiting roadshows, pad yatras, and cycle rallies completely; with public meetings allowed for up to 500 people with social distancing.
BREAKING: EC orders curtains on road shows/pad yatras, cycle rallies; public meetings with up to 500 persons allowed with social distancing
The EC also declared that any prior permission given for any roadshow, cycle/bike/vehicle rally, if granted already, stands withdrawn.
Permission for roadshow, cycle/bike/vehicle rallies, if granted already, stands withdrawn: Election Commission of India
ECI also notes “with anguish” that many political parties/candidates are not adhering to prescribed safety norms during public gatherings #WestBengalPollspic.twitter.com/2tS9XFzGH5
The Commission also acknowledged with anguish that many political parties and candidates are not adhering to the safety norms prescribed by the EC during public gatherings, which is making it difficult for the state/district election machinery to enforce the guidelines.
These new norms regarding bike rallies and public gatherings have already gone into effect as of 7 PM today. Incidentally, today Mamata Banerjee held a major rally in Dakshin Dinajpur, whereas PM Modi decided to cancel all rallies in West Bengal tomorrow in order to chair a high-level meeting reviewing the COVID-19 situations.
Sri Nithyananda of Kailasa has banned travelers from India into his fledgling nation amidst the second wave of the Coronavirus pandemic in the country. Travelers from the European Union, Brazil and Malaysia have been barred as well. Sri Nithyananda made the announcement in a video statement.
The self-proclaimed Supreme Pontiff of Hinduism has also passed an executive order issuing Covid-19 guidelines for all Kailasa embassies to follow. The embassies in India, Brazil and Malaysia have been instructed to shut down and members have been directed to quarantine themselves and obey local laws.
Statement by Sri Nithyananda
The European Union was called a country although it is not one. It is a Union of European countries. The order was issued on the 19th of April and are in effect till further notice.
Interpol had issued a Blue Corner Notice in 2020 seeking information about the self-styled godman Nithyananda, who had fled the country the previous year, dodging security agencies after a rape case was filed against him in Karnataka in June 2018.
The Gujarat police had registered an FIR against Nithyananda after two girls went missing from his ashram in Ahmedabad in November 2019. The ‘Swami’ was charged with kidnapping and wrongful confinement of children to make them collect donations from followers to run his ashram in Ahmedabad. Nithyananda was earlier declared wanted by the Gujarat Police.
