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Himanta Biswa Sarma announces free vaccine to all above 18 years, orders 1 crore doses of Covaxin for Assam

OpIndia Staff
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Himanta Biswa Sarma announces free vaccine to all above 18 years, orders 1 crore doses of Covaxin for Assam

The Assam government on Tuesday announced that the state will provide free Covid-19 vaccine for all the beneficiaries from 18 to 45 years of age in the state.

Himanta Biswa Sarma shared through a tweet the order letter sent to Bharat Biotech by the Assam government for 1 crore doses of the Covaxin. 

“Funds collected in Assam Arogya Nidhi last year shall be utilized for procurement of vaccines. Today itself, we’ve placed orders for 1 cr doses with @BharatBiotech,” read his tweet.

The state tested 67,151 samples for Covid-19 on Tuesday, according to the state health department amid the surge in new Covid-19 cases.

With 1300 new coronavirus cases recorded on Monday, the state has issued fresh guidelines which include shutting of non-essential activities at 6 pm, restricting the number of guests at a private function and encouraging adoption of work from home. The guidelines will be in effect till April 30.

Vaccination Drive in India

The state of Assam has administered the first dose of the vaccine to 14,03,293 beneficiaries till date as per the National Health Mission bulletin. 

The Indian government had approved two vaccines- Covishield manufactured by Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin. The administration of both began early this year in the country. The vaccination drive was first opened for healthcare and frontline workers, then for senior citizens who are 60 years and above, and those above 45 years with comorbidities.

In a robust and decisive move to tackle the second wave of coronavirus that has gripped the nation, the central government announced vaccinations for all above 18 years of age as Phase 03 strategy.

One can register for the vaccine with the Arogya Setu app or Co-Win website. As the government is going to allow states and open market sale of the vaccine, more instructions on how you can get the vaccine are expected from the central and state government.

The government will provide support for the manufacturers to ramp up the production and will invite new players at the domestic and international levels.

As of Monday, India has administered a total of 13cr+ doses of Covid-19 vaccine and 17.5M people have been fully vaccinated.

India is running the fastest and largest vaccination drive to battle the coronavirus pandemic.

The curious case of vaccines in Chhattisgarh: Why aren’t we talking about this?

Nirwa Mehta
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The curious case of vaccines in Chhattisgarh: Why aren’t we talking about this?

Chhattisgarh Health Minister and senior Congress leader TS Singh Deo on Tuesday expressed his displeasure at PM Modi’s address to nation on the ongoing COVID situation. PM Modi assured the citizens that there people need not panic and urged state governments that lockdown to curb the pandemic should be the last resort. However, Deo was upset that PM Modi did not speak about vaccine doses that’ll be given to states.

It is imperative to note that the Central government on Monday issued broad guidelines on vaccines as it made them available for all over 18 years of age.

The Centre on Monday announced a slew of changes in the vaccination policies and made provisions for states to purchase the vaccines directly from manufacturers. The Union Govt allowed vaccine manufacturers to sell 50% of their output in open market to states and other private players.

The Centre reiterated that frontline workers and those above age of 45 will be eligible to get the vaccines for free from Centre. The Centre announced that it will allocate vaccines to states from its funds depending on severity of infection and efficiency of state governments in terms of wastage of doses.

Deo is also the one who in February questioned the efficacy of India-made Covaxin vaccines which were then given emergency approval and were being administered to the frontline workers.

TS Singh Deo in February 2021

In February 2021, Deo had said he does not support use of Covaxin, one of the two vaccines which were approved for emergency use then, in Chhattisgarh. Chief Minister Baghel, too, had cast aspersions on the safety of the Covaxin and indulged in fear-mongering. He was recently called out by Union Health Minister Dr Harshvardhan in his letter to former PM Dr Manmohan Singh. Without naming Baghel, Dr Harshvardhan had said, “A sitting Chief Minister of your party created a dubious world record of sorts by being the only head of government directly inciting people against an indigenously developed vaccine.”

Further, in February itself Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel had said that his state government will make the vaccines free for all.

Baghel making vaccines free for all

In February 2021, Baghel had said that the Chhattisgarh government will bear the cost of COVID-19 vaccines in Chhattisgarh even if Centre refuses to do the same. “We don’t have a dearth of funds. We have kept (funds) for it,” he had reportedly said on the floor of state assembly. If the Union government refuses (to provide free vaccine to all), then we would facilitate COVID vaccination of people in the state at our own expenses,” Baghel had said.

It is imperative to not here that when Chhattisgarh was gripped in the second wave of coronavirus infection, Baghel was busy in Assam, campaigning for Congress and predicting his party’s victory. As of now, there are over 5.74 lakh total coronavirus cases in Chhattisgarh, of which 1.25 lakh are active cases. The state has announced a complete lockdown in all 28 districts from Tuesday.

However, the mainstream media has been deafeningly quiet on this.

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath announces free vaccine for all above 18 years

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath announces free vaccine for all above 18 years

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced through a tweet on Tuesday that the Covid-19 vaccines will be administered free of cost to all beneficiaries above the age of 18 in the state.

The announcement came a day after the Centre informed that the coronavirus vaccine will be open to all above 18-years of age from May 01 in the country.

Announcing the state plans, UP CM’s tweet read, “In the Cabinet meeting today, we have decided to administer free vaccines to those above the age of 18 years.”

The state of Uttar Pradesh has been constantly reporting a surge in new Covid-19 cases forcing the government to ramp up all possible health infrastructure. While refusing to impose a lockdown in the state, the CM has given permissions to set up 13 oxygen plants in the state, ensured uninterrupted supply of critical drugs in the state and ordered a strict night curfew in places where more than 500 cases have been reported. 

In an official statement, the CM’s office has informed, “The CM told the PM that the state was working with full devotion to check the spread (of the virus). In addition to ensuring availability of ICU beds and oxygen, the state is working on maximum testing.”

Vaccination Drive in India

The Indian government had approved two vaccines- Covishield manufactured by Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin. The administration of both began early this year in the country. The vaccination drive was first opened for healthcare and frontline workers, then for senior citizens who are 60 years and above, and those above 45 years with comorbidities.

In a robust and decisive move to tackle the second wave of coronavirus that has gripped the nation, the central government announced vaccinations for all above 18 years of age as Phase 03 strategy.

One can register for the vaccine with the Arogya Setu app or Co-Win website. As the government is going to allow states and open market sale of the vaccine, more instructions on how you can get the vaccine are expected from the central and state government.

The government will provide support for the manufacturers to ramp up the production and will invite new players at the domestic and international level.

As of Monday, India has administered a total of 13cr+ doses of Covid-19 vaccine and 17.5M people have been fully vaccinated. 

India is running the fastest and largest vaccination drive to battle the coronavirus pandemic.

Kerala: Pinarayi Vijayan makes a u-turn on vaccines, after promising free vaccines, wants Centre to foot the bill

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala: Pinarayi Vijayan makes a u-turn on vaccines, after promising free vaccines, wants Centre to foot the bill

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi on Tuesday 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. It is imperative to note that health is state subject and respective state governments are responsible for implementing policies framed by Centre.

Vijayan took to Twitter to appeal to Centre to reconsider the vaccine distribution policy. The Centre on Monday announced a slew of changes in the vaccination policies and made provisions for states to purchase the vaccines directly from manufacturers. The Union Govt allowed vaccine manufacturers to sell 50% of their output in open market to states and other private players.

The Centre reiterated that frontline workers and those above age of 45 will be eligible to get the vaccines for free from Centre. The Centre announced that it will allocate vaccines to states from its funds depending on severity of infection and efficiency of state governments in terms of wastage of doses.

Vijayan had in December 2020 announced that vaccines will be free for all in his state.

Kerala announcing free vaccines for all in December

Soon after, the state had its assembly elections. The voting for the same is over and results will be announced on 2nd May 2020

Kerala has allocated Rs 20,000 crore budget for COVID

This development comes despite having allocated Rs 20,000 crore budget to fight the pandemic a year ago.

Kerala allocated Rs 20,000 crore fund to fight pandemic

In March 2020, Kerala had allocated Rs 20,000 funds to fight the Chinese virus pandemic.

Kerala is currently second worst affected state after Maharashtra in terms of total coronavirus cases. The state has registered over 12.72 lakh cases of which over 1.18 lakh cases are currently active. Almost 5,000 people in Kerala have lost their lives to the virus.

As SC hands over Mahabaleshwar temple to a committee, read how Congress fought against BJP’s effort to free Hindu temples, for their wealth

OpIndia Staff
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As SC hands over Mahabaleshwar temple to a committee, read how Congress fought against BJP’s effort to free Hindu temples, for their wealth

On Wednesday last week, the Supreme Court of India handed over the management of Gokarna Mahabaleshwar temple in Karnataka to an oversight committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice BN Srikrishna.

The court was hearing a petition challenging an order by Karnataka High Court which had quashed a state government order handing over the management of the Mahabaleshwar temple at Gokarna to the Ramchandrapura Math in in Hosanagara. Earlier, the Supreme Court had stayed the High Court order handing over the temple management to a committee headed by Justice Sri Krishna.

A three-judge Bench of CJI Bobde, Justice Bopanna and Justice Ramasubramanian said that the Gokarna Mahabaleshwar temple shall function under the oversight committee headed by Justice BN Srikrishna. The bench also said that this will be the modification of all interim orders passed by the apex court.

The court added that the oversight committee will function adhering to all the customs and traditions of the temple. The committee will have the Deputy Commission of the Uttara Kannada district, Superintendent of Police of the same district, Assistant commissioner of Kumta Sub Division, two eminent persons/scholars, and two Upadivantas of Gokarna Temple as members of the committee.

The Mahabaleshwar temple in Gokarna is a very ancient temple dedicated to lord Shiva, which has been mentioned in several Hindu scriptures. The dispute over the management of the temple started in 2008, when the B. S. Yediyurappa led BJP government had decided to remove the temple from govt control, and had handed over the management of the temple to Ramachandrapura Mutt.

The trustees of the temple had opposed the move, and they had filed a petition at the Karnataka High Court asking to revert the state govt order. But in 2010, the High Court had dismissed the petition and refused to transfer the temple from the mutt and appoint a administrator for the temple. The petition was filed by Balachandra Dixit, a trustee whose family had been managing the temple traditionally. The state govt while transferring the temple to the Mutt had said that the temple had seen no development as it was under the management of a single family.

However, things changed after the Congress party came to power in the state in 2013, as it tried it best to bring the temple under the govt’s control. The JD(S)-Congress had termed the handover of the temple to the Mutt by BJP govt as votebank politics and unwarranted, and wanted to revert the decision.

Immediately after coming to power, the K. Siddaramaiah govt had announced his intention to bring back two temples that were denotified by the previous govt, the Udupi Sri Krishna temple and the Gokarna Mahabaleshwar temple. The Congress had alleged that after govt shedding controls, Brahmins had taken over the temples and there were caste discrimination.

Moreover, the government wanted the temple back as it collects a huge amount from devotees. During the hearing in September 2016 of a petition by Samsthana Mahabaleshwara Trust and Balachandra Dixit against the 2008 order, the state govt’s advocate had requested the court, “the Math has funds running into crores of rupees, all of which goes to the Math. Therefore, an order may be passed to give the administration of this temple back to the government.”

In October 2016, the Siddaramaiah government proposes appointing an administrator to the temple, but it was opposed by several communities associated with the temple.

Two years later in 2018, the Karnataka High Court passed an order quashing the 2008 order of the BJP government. The court had ruled that the temple will continue to be listed among notified temples, and had said that the state govt didn’t have the power to remove the temple from the list. The court had also constituted a overseeing committee, headed by the Uttara Kannada Deputy Commissioner, to monitor the daily affairs of the Mahabaleshwar and other allied temples, and had appointed Supreme Court judge B.N. Srikrishna as adviser to the committee.

The Ramachnadrapura Mutt had filed a petition against this high court order at the supreme court, seeking to reinstate the 2008 order of the state govt. However, the apex court has rejected this petition for now in the latest order, and instead transferred the management of the temple to an overseeing committee.

The court commented that all the aspects and arguments presented in the case require detail consideration. It further added that since a final decision is yet to be made on several appeals related to the issue, and therefore it would not be appropriate to reinstate the 2008 decision of the then state govt. The apex court said that it will be in the interest of the temple, devotees and the Mutt to hand over the temple to an independent committee.

PM Modi urges states to refrain from imposing lockdown, only use it as a “last resort” to contain Coronavirus

OpIndia Staff
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PM Modi urges states to refrain from imposing lockdown, only use it as a “last resort” to contain Coronavirus

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation today on the surging COVID-19 cases as India faces a second wave of the pandemic. The PM reassured about the availability of critical medicines and other materials needed to treat the viral infection, and urged state governments to only impose lockdown as a “last resort”, signalling the Central government’s reluctance on imposing lockdowns. “We have to save the country from lockdown”, the PM said.

“I urge states to use lockdown only as a last resort,” PM Modi said in his address to the nation. He added that the state governments should try their best to avoid lockdown, and focus on micro containment zones instead. 

The PM said that the country is fighting a very big war against Coronavirus, as the second wave of the pandemic arrived at the country like a storm while the situation was under control till a few weeks ago. ‘I am fully aware of the pain you have faced, the pain you are facing’, the PM said.

Talking about the challenge faced in many parts of the country in the availability of medical oxygen, the PM said that efforts are being undertaken at various levels to increase the production and supply of oxygen. He informed that initiatives like new oxygen plants in the states, supply of one lakh new cylinders, diverting oxygen used in industrial units for medical use, oxygen rail etc are being undertaken to address the issue.

He said that scientists in the country have developed two vaccines in a very short time by working day and night. India has the cheapest vaccines in the world, and we have vaccines compatible with the cold chain system of the country, the PM said. He further said that India was able to start the world’s largest vaccination program using two made in India vaccines with the help of a team effort, and India was the fastest to administer 10 crore, 11 crore and now 12 crore doses of vaccine.

PM Modi further added that from May 1 onwards, any person over the age of 18 is eligible to get the Coronavirus vaccine. The PM hailed this expansion in the vaccination drive, remarking that half of India’s vaccine production will be handed out to the state governments in order to strengthen the immunization efforts.

The PM also spoke about migrant workers, requesting the state governments to sustain the confidence of migrant workers, and cautioning them to stay where they are, so as to mitigate the spread of Coronavirus in the country.

PM Modi also recognized the role of the private sector in India’s war against COVID-19, pushing for a more proactive relationship in face of the upcoming mass vaccination drive.

West Bengal: Election Commission announces by-poll on Eid, opposition slams poll panel for ‘bias against Muslims’

OpIndia Staff
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West Bengal: Election Commission announces by-poll on Eid, opposition slams poll panel for ‘bias against Muslims’

In West Bengal, the Election Commission announced by-polls to two seats on May 13, 2021, which incidentally is the same day when the Muslim festival Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated across the country. The EC’s decision has left opposition parties including Congress, TMC and the Left extremely miffed who are now doubting EC’s ‘intent’. They have come out to openly slam the poll panel for its decision, accusing it of being biased against Muslim voters, reports Times Now.

These deferred elections are being held because polling to these two seats was postponed following the death of two of the candidates. Incidentally, the Muslim festival Eid ul Fitr is falling on the same day the EC has chosen for the by-polls in the 2 substantially Muslim dominated districts, Samsergang and Jangipur.

Reportedly, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee has written to the poll panel accusing it of forgetting the occasion and being biased against Muslim voters. Besides, the Left, Congress and many Muslim bodies like Bengal Imams Association have also raised their concerns about this matter.

Meanwhile, BJP has hit back saying that holding polls on festivals is not something unusual. The EC has past precedence of holding elections during Hindu festivals like Bihu and Chithirai where nobody took an objection to it, said BJP.

Commenting on oppostion’s hue and cry over EC’s decision, BJP Kolkata Spokesperson Sourav Sikdar said that election is the biggest festival of democracy and the date clash with Eid shouldn’t be made an issue.

To which Congress Leader, Kamru Z Choudhary stated that there’s no opposition to the election date. However, it would have been better if the EC had been more sensitive to the sentiments of a community.

TMC, Cong, Left parties along with other Muslim bodies have appealed to Election Commission to review this decision to hold by-polls on Eid day.

Re-polling in Assam conducted by Election Commission on the last day of Bohag Bihu festival

While opposition parties cry foul it becomes imperative to know that the re-polling in four polling stations under three Assembly constituencies in Assam took place today. The Election Commission had ordered re-polling in these polling stations following irregularities on April 1, the polling day. Incidentally, today is the last day of celebrations of the Rongali or Bohag Bihu festival which commenced on April 14, 2021, in Assam. Bihu is the most important festival of the state.

2019 Tamil Nadu poll date had clashed with the annual Chithirai festival in Madurai

Similarly, in 2019, the annual Chithirai festival in Madurai which had begun on April 7 and ended on April 19 that year, had coincided with the date of polling in Tamil Nadu. The polls were conducted nevertheless. The Election Commission of India had ruled out the possibility of postponing the date of polling in Madurai due to the Chithirai festival. However, owing to the date clash, EC had granted Madurai voters two extra hours to exercise their franchise.

Election Commission declares by-polls to 2 seats in WB after Congress and RSP candidate die of Covid

The Election Commission has declared May 13 as the date of by-poll to Samsergang and Jangipur after Congress’ Samsergang candidate Rezaul Haque and Revolutionary Socialist Party’s (RSP) Jangipur candidate Pradip Kumar Nandi had died due to Covid-19.

The poll panel picked April 29 for Congress’ and RSP’s new candidates to file their nominations. Eventually, it announced that the by-polls to these two seats would be conducted on May 13.

AAP supported farmer protests hampering war against Covid-19, oxygen supplier writes to GOI saying tankers delayed due to roadblocks by protestors

OpIndia Staff
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AAP supported farmer protests hampering war against Covid-19, oxygen supplier writes to GOI saying tankers delayed due to roadblocks by protestors

While the Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has been saying for the last two days that Delhi is facing an acute shortage of oxygen, it has been revealed that the supply of the vital gas has been disrupted by the ongoing farmer protests in and around Delhi, which is being supported by the AAP govt.

On Monday night, the Delhi police had created a green corridor to enable fast transport of oxygen to Sri Action Balaji Hospital in the city, where the oxygen levels had reached a critical point. A dedicated corridor was created by the police for two oxygen tankers carrying 19,500 litres of liquid oxygen from the UP and Haryana borders. While the police had said that the tankers were stuck at the two borders due to ‘traffic jam’, a letter written by the supplier of the oxygen has now revealed the real reason: the tankers were stuck at the farmer protest sites at the border points.

According to a letter sent by Inox Air Products, a supplier of oxygen, to the central govt, they are facing blockages while transporting oxygen from their plants in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to Delhi due to the highway blockades enforced by the protestors. They mentioned the incident yesterday, when the Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute in Paschim Vihar had almost run out of oxygen. According to the company, this happened as the delay of liquid medical oxygen to the hospital was delayed by 2 hours due to the blockade of NH24 on the Delhi-UP border at Ghazipur by the farmers. According to the company, their vehicles are having to travel an additional distance of 100 kms from their unit in Modinagar, Uttar Pradesh to reach hospitals in Delhi.

The letter by Inox Air Products Pvt Ltd further added that its oxygen supply from IOC facilities is also hampered due to the farmer protests. The company has been asked by the union govt to lift liquid oxygen from Indian Oil Corporation’s Panipat unit, but while transporting oxygen from there to Delhi, they are facing delays due to the blockage at the Singhu border.

Due to this situation, the company requested the union govt to extend support for making green corridors for the movement of tankers and trucks carrying oxygen.

‘Won’t interfere in ongoing polls’, Supreme Court junks petition filed by TMC leader seeking 100% VVPAT verification of votes

OpIndia Staff
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‘Won’t interfere in ongoing polls’, Supreme Court junks petition filed by TMC leader seeking 100% VVPAT verification of votes

The Supreme Court of India on Monday dismissed a plea seeking 100 per cent matching of the voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) slips with the electronic voting machines (EVMs) vote count to ensure transparency in the elections. The court said that it will not interfere in the middle of the poll process.

“We are not going to interfere in the middle of the election process,” a bench comprising Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian noted.

“The special leave petition is dismissed. As a sequel to the above, pending interlocutory applications, if any, stand disposed of,” the bench said in its order.

The judgment came in the wake of the ongoing election process in the state of West Bengal. The election process for the other four states has already been over and the counting of the votes for all the seats will be held on May 2.

The plea was filed by Trinamool Congress leader Gopal Seth, who had approached the top court after being rebuffed by the Calcutta High Court.

In the petition to the Supreme Court, the counsel contended that the high court had said that the apex court had earlier passed the order on this. However, the bench of the Supreme Court did not entertain his requests and dismissed the plea.

The Supreme Court in 2019 had rejected a plea filed by several political parties for 50 per cent VVPAT verification during the Lok Sabha elections.

In 2019, the Supreme Court had rejected a plea by several political parties for 50% VVPAT verification during the Lok Sabha elections. However, the top court had then directed the EC to increase random matching of VVPAT slips with EVMs to five polling booths per assembly segment.

After getting vaccinated himself, Rakesh Tikait says the Modi government will be responsible if farmers get COVID-19

OpIndia Staff
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After getting vaccinated himself, Rakesh Tikait says the Modi government will be responsible if farmers get COVID-19

Amidst the alarming surge of COVID-19 cases in Delhi, BKU spokesperson and self-proclaimed ‘farmers’ leader Rakesh Tikait held the central government responsible if farmers protesting at the borders of the national capitals are infected with the coronavirus. Even as Delhi is under a strict 6-day lockdown, Tikait insisted that it cannot be a reason to put the ‘farmers’ protest on hold.

Tikait, who has gotten vaccinated himself, said that it is the central government’s responsibility that farmers protesting along the Delhi borders do not contract the coronavirus.

Speaking with Republic Media Network, Tikait said, “Responsibility lies solely with the government if the farmers get infected with the virus. When the COVID-19 cases are rising across the country, who is responsible for it? Are farmers responsible for that too?”

He further added, “If there is a disease, then the government should ensure treatment for it and build hospitals for it. Politicians are collecting funds for other purposes. They are conducting rallies and contesting elections.”

A couple of days ago, while on his visit to Jammu, Rakesh Tikait had asserted that the ‘farmers’ agitation was not Shaheen Bagh that can be ended in the name of coronavirus.

It is worth noting that Rakesh Tikait, who is spearheading the ‘farmers’ protests and insisting that the protests should not stop because of the coronavirus outbreak, has himself got vaccinated at a hospital near the Delhi-UP border on Tuesday. Tikait took the first dose of coronavirus vaccine at a hospital situated near the Ghazipur border protest site on April 13. 

While the national capital went under a 6-day lockdown, Tikait asserts that farmers, many of whom may not have got vaccinated, persist with their protests along the border, even if that means exposing themselves to the coronavirus that is spreading at an alarming rate, especially in Delhi.

In the meantime, Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan), a Punjab-based farmers group that had demanded the release of suspects in both the Elgar Parishad case and the Delhi riots case, has announced a march to Delhi on April 21 in order to protest against the Farm laws. This march comes at a time when Delhi is going through a surge in Coronavirus cases, with testing facilities getting overwhelmed. Yogendra Yadav, the icchadhari protestor, has now alleged that the Modi government is trying to quell the protest in the name of COVID-19 and that is something he will not let happen.

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