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Food grain smuggling into Punjab to make money out of MSP continues, more than 25,000 bags of wheat smuggled from Bihar seized in Bhatinda

OpIndia Staff
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Food grain smuggling into Punjab to make money out of MSP continues, more than 25,000 bags of wheat smuggled from Bihar seized in Bhatinda

The Bhatinda district authorities in Punjab seized almost 25,000 bags of wheat, weighing 50kg each, on April 9, the day before wheat procurement started in Punjab. While almost 12,000 bags of wheat were recovered from three Bihar trucks that were impounded at the Bathinda grain market (mandi), almost 9000 gunny bags were found on the roadside.

Almost two dozen trucks laden with illegal wheat had reached Bathinda from other states on the night of April 9. While others managed to flee, three trucks were seized by the authorities. Moreover, 9000 bags of wheat were also recovered from the roadside.

Punjab Mandi Board deputy general manager, Ferozepur division, Kuldeep Singh Brar said the three trucks laden with wheat were impounded from the grain market, but a stock of wheat packed in more than 9,000 gunny bags was found on the roadside. He admitted that the drivers did not have a purchase document.

BJP leaders get input of illegal wheat trade in Bhatinda, alert officials

BJP leaders Sukhpal Sra and Sandeep Aggarwal were the first to get inputs about this unauthorised movement of wheat at the local mandi (grain market). On getting the information the BJP leaders reached Bathinda’s grain market where they realised how almost 25 trucks loaded with wheat parked in Dana Mandi had come from Bihar and other states. They reported the matter to the police, which in turn conducted the raid and seized the trucks.

Speaking on this illegal practice, BJP leader Sukhpal Sra said that traders procure consignments of wheat from Bihar at cheaper rates and sell it in Punjab as per MSP.

According to information, wheat is purchased at the rate of Rs 1,100 per quintal in Bihar and other states and sold in Punjab at around Rs 1,925 per quintal as MSP. Even transportation cost is around Rs 225 per quintal and in one truck around 400 quintals of wheat is transported. This means a trader is minting Rs 2 lakh per truck in this illegal business.

Inderjit Singh, a truck driver, said, “I have brought 41 tonnes (380 quintal) of wheat from Darbhanga in Bihar in my truck and I was told to leave it at a chemical factory in Bathinda but when I reached near Bathinda, I was told to reach grain market at Bathinda.”

After the news of the incident spread, the farmers under the banner of BKU Sidhupur had started a protest where wheat was lying dumped at the grain market. The protesters shouted slogans against the Congress government in Punjab. They alleged that the government along with traders is exploiting the farmers by doing this illegal business during the procurement.

SHO, Kotwali police station, Daljit Brar said, “We have received a complaint from market committee Bathinda, in which it was stated that one truck of M/s Babbu Ram Ashok Kumar firm, two trucks of Lakshmi oil chemicals and around 7000-8000 bags of wheat have been lying dumped in open at grain market, which has been brought from the other states so we have seized the stock and registered an FIR against both the firms.”

Farmer protests, MSP, and illegal trade

This wheat from Bihar arriving in Punjab ahead of the official procurement season once again exposes why the middlemen in Punjab are protesting against the farm laws. As the maximum government procurement of food grains like wheat and rice takes place in Punjab, the middlemen take benefit of the system to make quick money. They get food grains at much lower rates from other states, where the public procurement is not as robust as Punjab, and sell them in Mandis in Punjab at MSP, which is often more than the market rate.

This system works because the public procurement system is very weak in states like Bihar and UP. While almost 75% farmers sell their produce to APMCs under MSP, the number is just around 26% in Bihar, UP and Uttarakhand. This means, a large number of farmers are forced to sell their crop in open market, which often pays much less then MSP. As a result, many of them end up selling their food grains to middlemen in Punjab.

If the monopoly of mandis end as per the new farm laws, this practice will be hit badly, as the private players will be able to buy farm products from such states where public procurement is low at present. This will mean that farmers will not be willing to sell to the middlemen. If that happens, the illegal traders will lose a lucrative source of revenue.

Wheat procurement in Punjab

The wheat procurement in Punjab began on April 10. According to reports, procurement agencies and FCI are purchasing the crop at Rs 1,975 per quintal in the current rabi season. In view of the Covid-19 situation, the state had postponed wheat procurement from April 1 to 10. The procurement process will continue till May 31.

‘No difference between Islam and Islamic radicalism, its a danger to all religions’: What Yati Narsinghanand said in a recent interview

OpIndia Staff
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‘No difference between Islam and Islamic radicalism, its a danger to all religions’: What Yati Narsinghanand said in a recent interview

Hindu priest Yati Narsinghanand Saraswat has been facing the ire of Muslim hardliners for his remark on Prophet Mohammad. Innumerable threats have been issued to his life. Despite this, in an interview with GoaChronicle, the Hindu priest did not shy away from presenting his honest views on Islam.

Speaking on the show Truth Matters, Swami Yati, elucidated that Islam is synonymous with radicalism. There is nothing like soft Islam, said the Dasna priest. “There is no difference between Islam and Islamic radicalism. Islam is radical. There is no soft Islam. Islam is about Mohammed’s direction. Muslims must obey and follow Mohammed’s thoughts and teaching. Islam is a danger to all religions in this world. There has been no reformation in Islam for over 1400 years it has become more dangerous today”.

Saying so, Yati Narsinghanand asserted that people must accept this truth as we need to protect our women and children.

Dasna Devi Temple head priest furthered that as a follower of Sanatan Dharma, he was not against any religion per se. He concurred that every person has a right to worship according to his faith. However, what he said was unacceptable to him was being forcibly asked to worship and pay references to another faith that infringes his faith.

“That is why I am raising my voice so that I can protect our Hindu women and children. Our women and children have a right to live and any religion that thinks it can threaten our women and children, rape and sell them, then I will not tolerate it and will continue to raise my voice,” Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati added.

Yati Narsinghanand admitted that he was aware that his life is in danger but he is working for the betterment of Indian society and would continue to do so.

It’s been a while since Muslim hardliners have been protesting against Dasna Devi Temple head priest Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati for his remarks on Prophet Muhammad. Endless calls for the beheading of the priest have been made by several Muslim groups and even mainstream political parties for his alleged ‘blasphemy’.

Republic Day violence: Hours after getting bail, Deep Sidhu gets arrested by Delhi Crime Branch

OpIndia Staff
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Republic Day violence: Hours after getting bail, Deep Sidhu gets arrested by Delhi Crime Branch

Only hours after Delhi Court granted bail to Deep Sidhu in the Republic Day violence case, Delhi Crime Branch has reportedly arrested him again.

Only hours ago, Deep Sidhu had been granted bail by a Delhi Court. Additional Sessions Judge Neelofer Abida Perveen ordered bail to Sidhu subject to his furnishing personal bond with two local sureties in the sum of Rs 30,000 each to the satisfaction of the court.

While granting him bail, the court has asked Deep Sidhu to surrender his passport to IO, mention the mobile number used by him while ensuring that the number is switched on mode throughout with location activated and shared with the IO at all times. 

Actor Deep Sidhu arrested for his role in ginning up riots in New Delhi in the wake of Tractor Rally

On February 9, the special cell of Delhi Police had arrested actor and Khalistani supporter Deep Sidhu for his role in instigating violence and the vandalisation at Red Fort on Republic Day during the farmers’ tractor rally. As per reports, Sidhu was traced by Delhi Police using advanced surveillance technology.

Earlier on February 3, Delhi Police had announced a cash reward of Rs 1 Lakh each for information leading to the arrest of Deep Sidhu, Jugraj Singh, Gurjot Singh and Gurjant Singh, who had gone into hiding following the violence that erupted in New Delhi in the wake of tractor rally on 26 January 2021. A cash reward of Rs 50,000 each for the arrest of Jajbir Singh, Buta Singh, Sukhdev Singh and Iqbal Singh was also announced.

Sidhu had gone into hiding since the day of the Red Fort violence and has been releasing social media videos to blame other ‘farmer leaders’ who have spoken against him. The Khalistani supporters had brutally attacked the security personnel and police officials stationed at Red Fort, they had disrespected India’s national flag by hoisting two other flags with Sikh symbols on the Red Fort. In a video, Khalistani rioters were seen pushing Delhi Police personnel from the top of a high wall, severely injuring hundreds of them.

TMC admits the audio of Mamata Banerjee promising rally of dead bodies is genuine, demands action on BJP for ‘illegal call recording’

OpIndia Staff
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TMC admits the audio of Mamata Banerjee promising rally of dead bodies is genuine, demands action on BJP for ‘illegal call recording’

A day after an audio recording of Mamata Banerjee’s conversation with a TMC had emerged, the party has admitted that the recording is genuine. Today the Trinamool Congress wrote to the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal, alleging that BJP illegally recorded the call of the chief minister.

The letter signed by TMC leaders Yashwant Sinha, Derek O’Brian and Purnendu Basu says that BJP leaders Amit Malviya and Locket Chatterjee had held a press conference on 16th April, where the call recording was released and played. The TMC letter says that BJP illegally recorded the phone call of the CM with TMC worker Partha Pratim Ray, and played the recording out of context.

“The entre exercise by BJP is an illegal act and is a direct assault on legal rights, including the Right to Privacyof Smt. Mamata Banerjee and Partha Pratim Ray”, TMC says. The party claims that the act of recording the call violates the Constitution of India, Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, Information Technology Act, 2000, Indian Penal Code, 1860. However, the party didn’t mention which schedules or sections of the constitution and the mentioned laws are violated by BJP.

TMC said that as the audiotape was released during the elections, they are requesting the election commission to enquire into the matter and take necessary actions on it.

Interestingly, by alleging that BJP has ‘illegally’ recorded the phone call of CM Mamata Banerjee and released the same, TMC has admitted that the audio is genuine, and Mamata Banerjee did made the comments heard in the audio.

Earlier in the day, Mamata Banerjee had also said that she will find out about everyone involved in tapping her phone and order a CBI probe.

The audio came to light yesterday, where the CM was heard talking to TMC leader Partha Pratim Ray on the death of four TMC workers in firing by CISF during the 4th phase of polling in the state.  In the said clip, Mamata Banerjee could be heard threatening to jail central armed forces for gunning down four miscreants from the TMC, who had tried to snatch their weapons. Banerjee was heard telling Roy to organise a political rally with the dead bodies in a bid to stir public sympathy and secure votes amidst the ongoing polls.

“Partha, cast your vote first and then we will sit and decide. I will get everyone arrested, including CRPF. Keep all the dead bodies. We will take out a rally with the corpses. Tomorrow, there will be a rally with the dead bodies. Tell their families that the dead bodies can’t be handed over to them. Everything will be fine. Cast your vote and keep calm. They are doing this so that you cannot cast your vote,” Mamata Banerjee said.

She then inquired about the political affiliation of those who were shot by the CRPF. On learning that the deceased are workers of her own party, Mamata Banerjee advised Partha Pratim Roy to lodge a First Information Report (FIR) with the help of lawyers. “File an FIR. Hire a lawyer and don’t do it yourself. I will tell the family members to file FIR after the election. Even police won’t take any statement of the family members now,” she added.

The TMC supremo also instructed the party worker to create fear by saying that the central forces are trying to implement NPR and build detention camps in the state

Former Indian Express journalist has an ‘Allah’s virus’ moment, thanks God for COVID-19, says pandemic saved Muslims from detention camps

OpIndia Staff
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Former Indian Express journalist has an ‘Allah’s virus’ moment, thanks God for COVID-19, says pandemic saved Muslims from detention camps

Irena Akbar, formerly with the Indian Express, has thanked God for Covid-19 and claimed that if not for the novel Coronavirus, Indian Muslims would have been in detention camps. The comments come a day after liberals online were debating fervently whether they should help a ‘Sanghi’ combat Covid-19.

Irena Akbar said, “If it weren’t for Covid, Indian Muslims would’ve been in detention camps. I’m NOT being grateful for the virus which killed my aunt, sent my dad to the ICU & is causing tragedies across homes. I’m stressing the fact that while fascists were making their plans, God was making His.”

Comments by Irena Akbar
Comments by Irena Akbar

“It’s between the devil & the deep blue sea for IMs. Either die/live in fear of Covid OR die/live in fear of anti-Muslim state violence. At least the former doesn’t specifically target us & the public will eventually question the state. But in latter, the public would rejoice it,” she added.

The tweets in question remind one of the comments made by Rahul Gandhi’s ally Abbas Siddiqui during the advent of the Coronavirus pandemic last year. Abbas Siddiqui had wished for a virus from Allah that killed 50 crore Indians.

There is not an ounce of truth in the comments made by Irena Akbar but they are, quite clearly, engineered towards fearmongering and inciting passions in a time of crisis. There are no detention camps planned to lock Indian Muslims in. Indian Muslims are not victims of an orchestrated campaign of state-sponsored violence. But the ‘journalist’ makes such claims anyway in what appears to be an effort to disguise her happiness at watching people lose their loved ones.

Irena Akbar is known to engage in hateful rhetoric online. In February 2020, she accused Dalits of gang raping and killing Muslims during the Gujarat riots. She has also advanced boycotts of business establishments run by Hindus. During the CAA controversy, she expressed disappointment with Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal for not speaking up for not speaking up for Jamia.

New York Times provides platform to Islamic bigotry, columnist claims onus to convert is on non-Muslims after Hindu boyfriend refuses to convert

K Bhattacharjee
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New York Times provides platform to Islamic bigotry, columnist claims onus to convert is on non-Muslims after Hindu boyfriend refuses to convert

The New York Times on Friday provided platform to Islamic bigotry in a blog where the author narrates her ‘tragic’ love story. It is the story of a son who refused to abandon his parents and and that of a daughter who could not convince her parents to accede to her wish.

The protagonists in the love story were a Hindu man of Indian origin and a Muslim woman with roots in Pakistan. As Ramsey Bolton would say, “If you thought this had a happy ending, you haven’t been paying attention.”

But to be young and feel the pangs of love, many a greater man and woman have fallen for such whims of the heart. And thus, while the world was ending outside amidst the Coronavirus pandemic, the two found love and joy in the confines of their home.

The love story on New York Times

Things were going well and the question of marriage came up. Both were eager to tie the knot and none of them believed it was too soon, which is a bit crazy since the elephant in the room had not been addressed but love is like that.

She told him on their fifth date, “If we decide to be together, you need to understand that the only way forward is for you to convert. It won’t make things easy, but it will make things possible.” The boy, apparently, replied that he was ‘game’.

She claims that he told her, “Sometimes, you are willing to change your whole future for one person.” That should have been the first red flag, the boy appears to have watched too many Karan Johar movies. But, again, love is like that. Things that appear monstrously cringe-worthy from the outside make perfect sense to those in on it.

The second part of the drama ensued after they went home for Thanksgiving. During that period, the author, Myra Farooqi, told her mom that she had met the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.

Farooqi told her mom that the man was not Muslim, not Pakistani and could not speak either Urdu or Hindi. So, naturally, her mother burst into tears. However, Farooqi’s mother recovered from the shock when she told her that the he was willing to convert to Islam. Again, naturally.

The boy, apparently, was jubilant initially but soon turned anxious after realizing that her mother’s approval was predicated entirely on his conversion to Islam. One tends to guess he went to one of those schools where they teach religion does not matter and a world without borders would be utopia.

Ultimately, he found the spine to tell her, “I will never convert to Islam. Not nominally, not religiously.” “Then that’s it,” she replied. And that is where the two star-crossed lovers parted ways.

The son’s U-turn, as it turns out, was inspired by his parents, which once again demonstrates why parents are the greatest thing on this planet. Apparently, when he told his parents that he had decided to abandon his faith over a girl, they broke down into tears and begged him not to give up his identity. Again, naturally.

Farooqi says of the whole affair, “Many people will never understand the requirements of marrying a Muslim. For me, the rules about marriage are stubborn, and the onus of sacrifice lies with the non-Muslim whose family is presumably more open to the possibility of interfaith relationships.”

“Many will say it’s selfish and incongruous that a non-Muslim must convert for a Muslim. To them I would say I cannot defend the arbitrary limitations of Muslim love because I have been broken by them. I lost the man I thought I would love forever,” she adds.

The sense of entitlement here is quite astounding. The confidence with which she says that the onus of conversion lies with the non-Muslim half of the relationship is quite astounding. Even more bizarre is the fact that the New York Times actually published this garbage.

She assumes that non-Muslim families are more open to interfaith relationships. In her case, quite clearly, her boyfriend’s family was not. She does not appreciate once that her boyfriend and his family never insisted on her conversion to Hinduism. But she takes it for granted that the man should convert to Islam.

Quite clearly, in addition to being selfish and incongruous, Farooqi is also narcissistic. The only saving grace is that she makes no effort to defend the bigotry of her family. And being forced to give up on love is punishment enough.

Such incidents do not occur in the United States alone. They happen in India too. Only recently, a Hindu neighbourhood in Delhi was attacked by Islamists because a Muslim woman married a Hindu man out of her own volition.

Not too long ago, ‘JNU scholar’ Shehla Rashid was forced to delete her Facebook account after receiving rape threats from Islamists for saying that Muslim women should be able to marry Hindu men if they so desired. Her post was prompted by the murder of Ankit Saxena by the family of his girlfriend for their relationship.

Even on the face of such unparalleled bigotry, it is Hindus who are demonized for highlighing the issue of ‘Love Jihad’, which is a legitimate cause of concern as the women in such cases are duped by Muslim men faking a Hindu identity or forced to convert, often through physical violence.

Thus, the love story in question is quite astounding. Farooqi says that the onus to convert is on non-Muslims since their families are more open to interfaith relationships. And yet, at the same time, her coreligionists tell us that it is Hindus who are more intolerant of the same. It’s a ‘heads I win, tails you lose’ situation. And arguments are twisted to always favour one side. And that side is not of non-Muslims.

Actor Sonu Sood tests positive for COVID-19, releases statement on Twitter

OpIndia Staff
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Actor Sonu Sood tests positive for COVID-19, releases statement on Twitter

Actor Sonu Sood has tested positive for COVID-19. The actor took to social media websites to announce that he has been infected with the virus.

“COVID-Positive, Mood and Spirit-Super Positive. Hi Everyone, This is to inform you that I have tested positive this morning for COVID 19. As a part of the precautions, I have already quarantined my self & taking utmost care.. But Don’t Worry this gives me ample time to solve your problems. Remember I’m always there for you all,” Sonu Sood tweeted.

Sood has been latest in the list of actors infected with the coronavirus. In the last few days, Kartik Aaryan, Akshay Kumar, Alia Bhatt and others had tested positive for COVID-19.

The development comes days after the actor got vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccine. On April 7, Sood posted on social media websites that he took the vaccine for Covid-19 prevention at a hospital in Amritsar, Punjab. 

The actor had also launched “Sanjeevani: A Shot of Life”, an initiative to encourage people to get vaccinated and raise awareness.

Mumbai mayor Kishori Pednekar blames Kumbh Mela for COVID-19 surge, says returnees will distribute Coronavirus as ‘prasad’

OpIndia Staff
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Mumbai mayor Kishori Pednekar blames Kumbh Mela for COVID-19 surge, says returnees will distribute Coronavirus as ‘prasad’

It appears that Shiv Sena leaders have decided to blame Kumbh Mela for their failures in handling the coronavirus outbreak in Maharashtra. After Sanjay Raut held Kumbh Mela responsible for the surging number of COVID-19 cases in the country, the Mumbai mayor Kishori Pednekar has now slammed the organisation of Kumbh Mela, stating that those returning from the Kumbh Mela will distribute the coronavirus as ‘prasad’. It may be noted that Sanjay Raut had himself held massive rallies and roadshows in Karnataka recently.

“Those returning from Kumbh Mela to their respective states will distribute Corona as ‘prasad’. All these people should be quarantined in their respective states at their own cost. In Mumbai also, we’re thinking of putting them under quarantine on their return,” Pednekar said.

Mumbai mayor compares Kumbh Mela with Markaz Nizamuddin congregation

The Mumbai mayor also compared the Kumbh Mela to the Markaz Nizamuddin event organised by Tablighi Jamaat in Delhi in March 2020 that had quickly become one of the most potent coronavirus hotspots in the country. Ms Pednekar claimed that the Kumbh Mela returnees pose a similar threat as those who returned to Maharashtra after attending the Markaz event.

“I have no idea who has gone there, who is coming back. I have no knowledge about the Kumbh Mela returnees. However, just like the last time when 27 Muslims that had returned from the event(Markaz Nizamuddin) that had happened in Delhi, the people returning from Kumbh Mela also pose a similar threat to the coronavirus outbreak in the state,” Pednekar said.

However, while taking potshots at Kumbh Mela that holds special significance for Hindus and comparing it with Markaz Nizamuddin, Pednekar revealed Maharashtra state’s unpreparedness in dealing with the expanding coronavirus outbreak. Pednekar’s utterances betrayed that the government has no idea how many devotees had attended the Kumbh Mela in Uttarakhand and how they are coming back.

Maharashtra’s mishandling of the second wave of the coronavirus outbreak

Pednekar’s candid admission is a testament to the state’s woefully bungled handling of the coronavirus outbreak. Ever since the threat of the second wave of coronavirus loomed over the country, Maharashtra has been the top contributors to the total number of coronavirus cases in the country, reporting over 60,000 cases on April 16.

The situation is so grim that there are hardly any vacant beds, ventilators, ICU beds available in most cities of the state. The health system is under tremendous pressure as the COVID-19 cases continue to mount. There has been an acute shortage of Remdesivir—a key antiviral drug, and supplemental oxygen in the state. The scarcity of oxygen is particularly serious, given that Uddhav Thackeray asked IAF assistance from PM Modi to airlift oxygen from neighbouring states.

Even testing capabilities are under tremendous strain due to the inexorable rise in the number of coronavirus cases. Many testing centres have been witnessing serpentine queues as people suspected of being infected are lining up to get themselves tested.

This has naturally created a backlog in testing at several laboratories across the state. The spike in Covid-19 cases precipitated by the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic and state guidelines mandating negative RT-PCR tests for those working in public transportation, home delivery services, film shoots, roadside eateries, and other categories have likely played a crucial role in exacerbating the testing backlog in the state.

As the coronavirus crisis in Maharashtra worsens, the state government is busy in organising large-scale rallies. Recently, hours after blaming Kumbh Mela and ‘other states’ for the surge in new coronavirus cases in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut was seen conducting rallies and roadshows in Belagavi in the bordering state of Karnataka for the upcoming bypoll.

Thousands of people were seen attending his rally even as Maharashtra continued to remain the worst hit by the coronavirus outbreak. The election rally saw brazen violations of COVID-19 norms, with people not adhering to the social distancing protocols and mask-wearing mandates.

Panic amid pandemic: Did we get complacent as we thought we got lucky

Nirwa Mehta
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Panic amid pandemic: Did we get complacent as we thought we got lucky

When the Chinese virus hit us last year, the anti-CAA protestors refused to leave the protest site. Before the protests turned into violent anti-Hindu riots, many Islamists were excited at infections in India as it was considered ‘Allah ki NRC‘. The Shaheen Bagh ‘protestors’ who were ‘fighting for their identity’ refused to leave the site. They truly believed Indian government had cooked up Coronavirus pandemic theory to get them to stop protesting. They were protesting against the fast-tracking of Indian citizenship of persecuted religious minorities in three neighbouring Islamic countries, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

Essentially, the protestors thought Indian government ‘made up‘ Coronavirus ‘theory’ so that they can continue their veritable anti-Dalit protests.

Eventually, though, when some of their own started getting unwell some realised it is not a myth.

Then the Tablighi Jamaatis were discovered hiding inside the Nizamuddin Markaz, flouting visa norms. At beginning of pandemic, they accounted to about 60% of initial infections. They spat on doctors, defecated as protests in quarantine centres because they continued to believe Covid is a myth. Calling them out was considered ‘communal’ so everyone then became ‘politically correct’.

Soon, as disease and deaths spread, people got more alert and started washing everything that came inside the house. Vegetables, milk bags, everything was washed thrice before storing or consuming. Everyone stayed at home, followed social distancing norms, avoided unnecessary travels and masked up.

Once things started looking better in September, the country also opened up, and rightly so. One can’t stop economic activities indefinitely.

Then came Bihar assembly elections. Cases were still rising. And who all held massive rallies?

Everyone.

Everyone boasted about the massive rallies of Tejashwi Yadav.

In fact, Congress supporters also claimed the crowd at Modi’s rallies was lesser than that of Tejashwi and Rahul Gandhi’s.

Here is the joint rally of Congress and RJD.

On 23rd October, 2020, there were little less than 7 lakh active cases in India.

No one in Congress-Left ecosystem wanted the rallies to end.

In December when the ‘farmers’ started protesting, rioting and blocking roads at Delhi border, these very politicians encouraged the mass gatherings. Congress and Aam Aadmi Party has been explicitly supporting these massive gatherings. Their leaders have even attended these gatherings and given WiFi, toilets, water and other facilities to these protesting crowds.

Everyone thought coronavirus had ‘gone’. Apparently, the ‘protestors’ were somehow immune to the virus.

On January 31 2021 Prashant Bhushan had declared COVID was virtually dead in India. He wanted students to gather and protest.

At this point one wonders how being a professional protestor in India is such a viable career option.

Speaking of professional protestors, here is what our old friend Yogendra Yadav up to.

Yep, organising massive rallies. On April 14. Today is April 17. On April 14, India registered over 14.5 lakh active coronavirus cases amid an unhinged infection.

So what happened? Is it the massive rallies by BJP, TMC in West Bengal that has led to the spike? Is it the Kumbh at Haridwar? Or is it those ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ protests demanding the beheading of Yati Narasinghanand that has led to the spike? Or have we just become complacent?

Are we as vigilant about social distancing, masking up? Or have people got ‘fed up’ of being ‘caged’ and are just getting fake negative RTPCR so they could vacation in Goa or the mountains? If Modi and Shah’s massive rallies are ‘wrong’, are we to believe TMC and Congress is not holding rallies?

Here is April 14, 2021 rally of Congress’ Rahul Gandhi.

Here is Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee holding a massive rally. Most of it got unnoticed perhaps because everyone was busy appreciating Mamata Banerjee’s flash artwork where she painted burnt toast and something that resembled a virus while on a dharna.

Yes, the coronavirus cases are surging and state administrations are crumbling and health infrastructure is on verge of collapse in many parts of the country, but who is to be blamed? Did we all just get complacent that India ‘got lucky’ and let caution go out of the window which led us to where we are today?

Let us admit, we all got complacent. Some stopped masking up and some leaders even said how the cases are so low, there is no need to mask up. Bad timing since just a week later, the cases were through the roof. We started going out, foreign vacations, big weddings, honeymoons in exotic locations. Which is where they ended up testing positive for coronavirus and well, sent out SOS to Indian govt to bring them back. These could have been delayed by a few more months, maybe? The caution went for a toss.

Maybe the state and central administrations also started taking it lightly like everyone else and did not see the tsunami coming. That since we emerged out of the first wave despite the doomsday predictions, we thought we are over the danger. No one saw the second wave sweep across so rapidly.

As a Gujarati, I am even more baffled to see my state struggle responding to the disaster. We’ve survived 2001 earthquake and 2002 Godhra carnage followed by communal riots. A state which has received nothing but hostility from the Centre when Modi was the chief minister. My state has struggled with drinking water because of protests which stalled the Sardar Sarovar project for years. Gujarat has now built such solid infrastructure that potable drinking water now reaches parched lands of Kutch-Saurashtra.

For a state that has managed to create opportunity out of adversity, I am shocked beyond belief at the long queues at hospitals and people struggling for hospitals. We are the pharma bowl of India and if we did not ramp up our facilities in a year’s time to ensure we are better prepared for second or third waves, who are we to blame but ourselves? And we should. But having said that, it is time to chin up and take it on bravely.

Other state governments can continue with their vasooli, extortion and planting bombs, we can do what we are best at – emerge victorious.

And what could our leaders do? Least they could do is stop social media boasting of massive rallies.

And for the rest of us, mask up, avoid unnecessary travel, get vaccines and monitor your symptoms. COVID is curable but we need to be vigilant.

BTW, I am still COVID positive. So if you are offended with anything I wrote, just get lost.

Members of European Parliament take offence to India giving citizenship to Hindus, wants India to not prosecute Amnesty for FCRA violations

K Bhattacharjee
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Members of European Parliament take offence to India giving citizenship to Hindus, wants India to not prosecute Amnesty for FCRA violations

Members of the European Parliament have expressed ‘concerns’ regarding Indians internal matters while calling for greater ties between the European Union and India. The Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC) has adopted a report that makes a series of comments on the domestic issues of a foreign country.

However, the emphasis of the report was on better ties and a closer relationship with India on account of India’s rising influence in geopolitics. A press release published on the 14th of April, 2021 notes, “The text agreed by MEPs states that while the EU and India, as the world’s two largest democracies, and as strategic partners, share strong political, economic, social and cultural links, bilateral relations have not yet reached their full potential and require increased political engagement.”

The report, according to the press release, “advocates closer value-based trade relations between the EU and India, and the need to work together on reforming the World Trade Organization (WTO).” “Furthermore, the value of sectoral partnerships is emphasised, with regard to support for environmental goals, public health and the fight against COVID-19, private and public investment, connectivity, data protection and digital services,” it added.

At the same time, however, the MEPs called for the European Union to renew its efforts to improve relations between India and Pakistan and said that the EU is closely following the developments in Kashmir. It does not, however, say anything about the abrogation of Article 370 which indicates an acceptance of India’s decision.

The press release said on China, “They also expressed concern at the deteriorating relationship between India and China, and the role of China’s expansive policy and substantial military build-up in the area. MEPs reiterate their support for peaceful dispute resolution, the need for constructive and comprehensive dialogue, and the upholding of international law on the India-China border.”

The controversial part, which Indians will find irksome, is the section on human rights. It says that the MEPs are concerned with ‘deteriorating human rights situation’ in India.

“This includes reports that human rights defenders and journalists in the country lack a safe working environment. There are also concerns about the difficult situation faced by Indian women and minority groups, caste-based discrimination, as well as the closure of Amnesty International’s India offices after its bank accounts were frozen over an alleged violation of India’s Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), a law three UN Special rapporteurs have asked to be amended,” it said.

The press release added further, “The report also voices alarm regarding India’s Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is fundamentally discriminatory in nature against Muslims and dangerously divisive.”

The text was approved with 61 votes in favour, 6 again and 4 abstentions. The comments indicate that while statements will continue to pour in over ‘human rights’ in India, it is unlikely to impact the growing ties between India and the European Union.

Furthermore, it is ironical that MEPs are expressing concern over human rights in India at a time when Covid-19 vaccine production in the country has taken a hit due to an embargo on raw materials required for production by the USA and EU.

Thus, it is quite evident that the European Union, like the USA, cares a lot about human rights, except the human right to life. Despite their sermons on ‘human rights’, it is abundantly clear that it has more to do with posturing for domestic audience than any attempt to coerce India.

Advocating for closer ties with a country while expressing concerns over its human rights situation might appear bizarre on the onset but is the normal course of affairs in international relations. It is why the USA can continue to sermons on human rights even after bombing countries into slavery and plunging an entire region into anarchy through military intervention.

By contrast, the CAA is a humanitarian law that seeks to expedite citizenship rights for religious minorities from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh, three countries where non-Muslims are discriminated against greatly due to their religious beliefs.

With regards to Amnesty, the opposition is more understandable as foreign-funded NGOs often serve as convenient platforms for western countries to meddle in the affairs of a foreign nation. Amnesty, itself, is known to have close ties with the British state, which is no longer a part of the European Union.

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