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Congress govt in Chhattisgarh appears safe with 3/4th majority, but is it really safe? MP-Rajasthan like trouble can brew

If there is one state that Congress can claim to have stable government in the country, it is Chhattisgarh’s Bhupesh Baghel Government with 69 seats. But some recent events in Chhattisgarh and also what has been happening recently in Rajasthan and MP has rung alarm bells in the Congress high command who rushed Digvijay Singh on a swift tour to Raipur. 

Speculations were rife from a long time about sulking of TS Singh Deo, the second-in-command of Congress in Chhattisgarh. It is widely believed that Singh Deo had been promised the CM post under 2.5 years formula of Rahul Gandhi for the second half of Congress term in the state. But after the debacle of 2019 elections and ‘symbolic’ stepping down of Rahul Gandhi, the Baghel – Singh Deo rift has been growing apart. 

In March, the Chief Minister had a meeting on coronavirus pandemic at his residence but TS Singh Deo, who also happens to be the Health Minister was not invited. This was followed by almost competing corona measures between the both. Singh Deo had been sidelined from various projects of which one of the most prominent is the Godhan Yojna where Govt intends to buy cow dung from people and sell back to them as organic manure.

In a separate incident, he expressed anger over alleged lacklustre police handling of an attempted suicide case. Moreover, shock waves were sent when he offered to resign if electoral promises made by his Govt are not fulfilled before the next crop is due. Few days back, he tweeted his displeasure at the pain of the unemployed.

There are other factions too which seem dissatisfied with Bhupesh Baghel Government. Speaker Charandas Mahant is unhappy being ignored and state PCC chief Mohan Markam is openly whining to reporters for removal of bureaucrats of his own government. Home Minister Tamradhwaj Sahu has no say in most matters. The MLAs are complaining about implementation of flagship schemes or roads. In a healthy democracy, there is always room for feedback and criticism but when in happens openly in public with far greater frequency, then the seriousness of dissent should be considered. 

Perhaps to avoid a possible MP-Rajasthan – like situation, Congress has offered to dangle some carrots in the form of posts of 15 Parliamentary Secretary and 32 posts in state-run Boards and Corporations. While this appears to be an appeasement move, BJP has vehemently expressed its opposition and called the move unconstitutional.

Yet the dissatisfaction continues. The disconnect from Delhi does not help. So, when Digvijay Singh had separate meetings with Bhupesh Baghel, TS Singh Deo and Charandas Mahant, it raised eyebrows. Interestingly, Digvijay Singh also had meeting Amit Jogi, son of late Ajit Jogi who had formed a new party JCP, giving ripples to rumours about possible amalgamation of Jogi Congress into its original party. But when you have the problem of plenty, should you really add more power centres?

In spite of running only a few states, the Congress is digging wells for water only when fire is imminent. The central leadership is absent and the state leaders are left to fend for themselves with high level of disconnect with the Central leadership.

Remember the famous series of photographs of Rahul Gandhi with Kamal Nath and Jyotiraditya Scindia and then Gehlot and Sachin Pilot when he seemed to resolve CM question in MP and Rajasthan soon after election results? The next in the series was his picture with Chhattisgarh leaders.

After 2018 state elections, similar pictures of Rahul Gandhi had appeared with Kamal Nath & Jyotiraditya Scindia and Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot

Who knows that photograph series was jinxed?

Brass hijab row: AMU administration issues show-cause notice to Muslim student for making derogatory remarks against non-Muslim female student

Days after a non-Muslim student at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) was targeted and harassed for calling out the objectification of women at the varsity, the AMU administration has finally awakened from slumber. Taking cognizance of the matter after 5 days of social media outrage, the administration has reportedly issued a show-cause notice to a Muslim student named Rahbar Danish for making derogatory remarks against the non-Muslim female student on social media. He had threatened to make her wear ‘brass hijab,’ post the resumption of classes.

As per the report, a police case was registered at the Civil Line police station under relevant sections of the Information Technology Act, 2000, following the complaint of the victim to the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP). A letter was also written to the SSP by Meena Kumari who serves as a member of the Women’s Commission in Uttar Pradesh. Reportedly, the SP (Crime branch) has ordered an investigation into the matter.

In his defence, Danish argued that the word ‘peet ke’ (beating) was changed to ‘peetal ka’ (brass) due to the autocorrect feature in his phone. He stated, “When I saw that (what she had written), I burst out in anger and replied to her comment and asked her about that, but you might find it foul language for which I am ready to apologise.”

Show cause notice issued by Aligarh management

The AMU administration noted that the accused was involved in ‘misconduct’ as stated by the complainant. As such, the administration has directed Danish to submit his reply to the show-cause notice within 3 days, failing which it would be presumed that he has nothing in his defence. Following the expiry of the said three days, disciplinary action will be inititated against him as per the rules of the varsity.

Allegations made by the victim

In her complaint dated July 13, 2020, the female student said that she was attacked by Danish and other fellow students after, in one of her social media posts, she had opined how the girls in the Aligarh Muslim University are forced to cover themselves up in AMU hostels and how women are objectified on the basis of their clothes.

Reacting to her post, the fellow students had threatened her that she would be forced to wear a “hijab made of brass” when the university opened, post lockdown. Her harassers even poked fun at her by telling her that they were not stopping her from even roaming around nude in her hostel if she so wished.

Mocking her by saying “Yeh Sanghi college nahi hain didi” (this is not a Sanghi college), one of the students had attacked her for calling out sexualisation of women in the varsity. Adding that these people have continued to target her and abuse her since the CAA and NRC bill was passed and she spoke in favour of the bills, the complainant urged the Aligarh police to take strict action against her harassers.

Sri Lankan govt launches research to find out ancient aviation technology used by Ravana, seeks relevant material from public

The government of Sri Lanka has issued a newspaper advertisement urging people to share documents, books, and research material regarding Ravana, reported News 18. He was the ruler of the country during the era of Lord Rama. The advertisement was issued by the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation.

Reportedly, the Sri Lankan government wants to conduct in-depth research on Ravana and the aviation history of the country. Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka is starting a research project on “King Ravana and the ancient domination in the aerial routes that is now lost”. As per the report, the Sri Lankan government is of the belief that Ravana flew over 5000 years ago and was the first aviator in the world. The island nation is now eager to discover the methods used to fly in the ancient period. As a first step in the research, the authority has started collecting documents, books and other historical content related to King Ravana.

Shashi Danatunge, the former vice-chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority, informed that the government has ‘irrefutable facts’ to prove that Ravana was the first person to fly an aircraft. “King Ravana was a genius. He was the first person to fly. He was an aviator. This is not mythology; it’s a fact. There needs to be detailed research on this. In the next five years, we will prove this,” he was quoted as saying.

Advertisement by the Sri Lankan government

Sri Lankan government dismisses ‘Indian version’

Unlike India where Ravana is viewed as a tyrant, Sri Lanka hails Ravana as a scholar and a kind ruler. They dismiss the fact that he had abducted Maa Sita and label the claim as the ‘Indian version’ of Ravana. Several Indian scriptures refer to the ruler of Sri Lanka as a ‘Maha Brahmana’ or the great Brahmin.

Recently, the island nation launched a satellite to outer space as a part of its first space mission. The satellite was named as ‘Raavana.’ In a conference last year in Katynayake, archeologists, historians, scientists, aviation experts and geologists concluded that the ‘moble king’ flew from Sri Lanka to India 5,000 years ago.

According to Ramayana, Ravana used an aircraft named Pushpak Vimana, and it was built by Vishwakarma. Ravana had used the aircraft while abducting Sita from Bharat to Lanka, according to the epic.

Varavara Rao is an anti-national and possibly a terrorist

Don’t let liberal media tell you otherwise. This past week you might have seen a clutch of news articles, tweets, reports, etc, crying over some “revolutionary poet” named Varavara Rao.

This guy.

Varavara Rao gets coronavirus

All variations of the same and now very stale theme song. He is old, he is a poet, he is headmaster’s son, he is pregnant, whatever. And Big Bad Modi has put him in jail.

Let me show you who Varavara Rao really is. Here he is, in an old interview to Tehelka.

Varavara Rao says ‘azadi’ only way for Kashmir.

There are five points he makes in that interview.

(1) He says that India is an invader which has occupied Hyderabad state of the erstwhile Nizam.

(2) He says that India is an occupier in Kashmir

(3) He says that the states in the North East are separate nationalities and he wants them to break away from India.

(4) He supports the Naxals in India.

(5) He believes that Kashmir, Hyderabad, North East and Naxals have a “common enemy” in the government that sits in Delhi.

Yeah, that’s gentle Varavara Rao, the apostle of peace, harmony and virtue that we are all supposed to feel sorry for.

Okay, let us assume for a moment that all those liberals beating chests on Varavara Rao right now just happen to be the staunchest supporters of free speech. That they take some kind of high principled stand that democratic India cannot put someone in jail for speech, no matter how outrageous.

Okay, but if they do take this principled stand, why do their articles and tweets and open letters try to hide who Varavara Rao really is? Why do you hide his doings behind calling him “poet” and “activist”? Lay out before the Indian public the reality of what he has said and the causes he supports. And then make a bold moral argument that this anti-national element should be let out of jail on a matter of high principle.

But his cheerleaders don’t do that. They are trying to make an emotional appeal by projecting him as some kind of dear old poet. Why? Tell us who he really is and ask for support. That way people will know the reality of Varavara Rao and the reality of those who support him.

And here is something else his cheerleaders don’t talk about.

Varavara Rao taken into custody over 2005 Naxalite attack on CRPF

Yes, Varavara Rao is not just an anti-national, it is also possible that he is a left wing terrorist. In fact, he is a suspect in a 2005 left wing terror attack on CRPF jawans in Tumkur in Karnataka.

Do you know that 8 CRPF jawans lost their lives in that terror attack? Yeah, Mr. Varavara Rao may well be a prior version of Adil Ahmad Dar, the terrorist who carried out the Pulwama attack.

And the great intellectuals of our country want this anti-national and suspected terrorist to be out of jail.

Again, why are his intellectual cheerleaders being so dodgy in their emotional appeals to the public? Tell us that he is a man who supports breaking India into pieces, that he is a suspect in a terror attack that killed 8 jawans and then ask for him to be freed.

It is tiresome that we even need to keep repeating this. Terrorists have human bodies just like we do. They have a father and a mother, they get old, they can get pregnant, they can catch Coronavirus, anything. None of this is an excuse to forgive them for their anti-national and/or terrorist activities. And there is no excuse for Indian elite to hide the past of Varavara Rao as they make an emotional case for his release before the Indian public.

Assam Floods: 108 animals including 9 rhinos lost lives in Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve

108 wild animals including nine rhinos have died during floods in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve. The authorities are actively working to help as many animals as possible. Recently, an exhausted rhino who strayed on the national Highway was provided cover by the local administration and forest department.

The authorities issued a bulletin on Sunday in which they pointed out that 85 percent area of the park is underwater at present. The park covers around 430 sq km area. There are 223 forest camps inside the park out of which 43 have been flooded, and six out of them have been vacated.

KNPTR officials have confirmed that most of the deaths occurred in the last few days during floods are because of drowning. They have found the carcass of a female rhino on Saturday that died because of drowning in the central range of the park.

60 out of 108 animals that have died lost their lives due to drowning. These animals include 36 hog deer, eight rhinos, three wild buffalo, one python, seven wild boar, two swamp deer, one Sambar and two porcupines. Authorities informed that 15 hog deers died in accidents with vehicles on national highway 37 adjoining to the park. They were trying to cross the highway in an attempt to escape floodwaters.

Fifteen animals who were rescued by the authorities died during treatment at the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) that is located close to the park. 51 animals have been injured due to the floods and one got injured after being hit by a speeding vehicle. The forest officials have rescued 134 animals so far. 110 have already been released into the wild. Eight other animals, including a one-year-old female rhino calf, are getting treatment at CWRC.

P Sivakumar, director KNPTR said, “The animal was exhausted as it was in the water for 3-4 day and we were planning to shift it to the state zoo in Guwahati. But after resting for several hours, it moved back inside. We are keeping a watch on it.” A rhino was found strayed out of the park on Saturday on NH37. The police and forest personnel guarded the animal until it got back on the feet and moved back to the park on Sunday morning.

Annual floods hit Kaziranga which is the most significant habitat of one-horned rhinos. There are 2,400 rhinos and 121 tigers in the National Park. Last year, 200 animals died during the floods including 18 rhinos.

Chinese firms in India to be scrutinised for potential security threats and links with the Chinese Army

Several Chinese companies operating and with investment in India are under the scanner of the Indian government for ties with the the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), reported Times of India. Besides, foreign companies in India with investments from China are also under the watch of the Centre.

Reportedly, fresh Chinese investment in Indian companies including startups will now be scrutinized in detail to ensure that they do not pose any security threat. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance and SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) is planning to impose checks on FII (Foreign institutional investors) from China while ensuring that it does not affect the Indian market sentiment. “The data are being looked at and the two agencies will decide the threshold and the system of reporting and monitoring,” the report stated.

Concerns about Chinese companies in India have deepened, post the violent clash in the Galwan Valley along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on June 15. Moreover, several countries have also raised eyebrows over Huawei and ZTE’s participation in 5G technology. Countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia have banned Huawei from operating in these countries. As per reports, the founder of Huwaei had been involved in PLA’s Engineering Corp. However, the company has maintained that it has no links with the Chinese army.

Indian government scrutinising European companies

The Indian government has raised concerns not only over Huwaei but also foreign investments in Indian startups, a part of China’s ‘military-civil fusion’ policy.  Reportedly, mining, steel, and several Chinese auto companies had links with the PLA in the past. As per the report, the Indian government is also scrutinising ‘overseas entities’ from Europe with investments in Indian companies where the foreign player is controlled by a Chinese company. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal trade is finalising the guidelines which include pegging ‘significant beneficial ownership’ threshold at 10% under the Companies Act.

Centre amends FDI norms

In April, the Ministry of Finance and Industry issued a Press Note 3 wherein it informed that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from countries that share a border with India would only be allowed after Government approval. The new rules implied that government approval would also be required for the transfer of ownership of any existing or future investment in India. The amendment to the extant FDI policy was made in light of the opportunistic investments and acquisitions by Chinese firms. Earlier, investment from China was permitted through the automatic except for certain sectors such as Telecom, Defence etc.

Indian Government bans Chinese apps

Last month, the Indian government had red-flagged usage of 59 China-linked apps, including TikTok as being a threat to national security. The Ministry of Information Technology, invoking its power under section 69A of Information Technology Act, with the relevant provisions of the Information Technology Rules 2009 had ordered a block on the use of 59 apps saying that these apps were “engaged in activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, the security of the state and public order”

Netizens expose PETA India’s hypocrisy over conferring awards on people who have a history of promoting animal slaughter and abuse

PETA India, over the years, has earned itself the reputation of being a hypocrite of the highest order. They have been known to selectively target Hindu traditions and customs with religious zeal while giving other religions a free pass. The few occasions PETA India did manage to raise their voice, they quickly silenced themselves due to rousing opposition.

But now, it appears PETA India has found another target. And it is columnist Shefali Vaidya. The NGO in cohorts with Congress and left-liberal trolls has embarked upon a concerted campaign against the columnist for calling out the hypocrisy of the supposed animal rights organisation with regards to Eid where animals are slaughtered and anti-cow leather campaign in times of Rakshabandhan.

However, the campaign against Shefali Vaidya has backfired on them terribly as netizens used the opportunity to expose their hypocrisy. It soon became evident that PETA India is more concerned about the criticism it faces on social media than actual physical attacks on its workers by Islamist mobs.

One social media user pointed out the time when PETA activists were assaulted by a Muslim mob in Bhopal in 2014 for campaigning for vegetarianism ahead of Bakr-Eid. The Police even registered a case under section 295A against three activists for allegedly outraging the religious sentiments of the Muslim community. For some reason, PETA India has been horribly quiet about this incident.

Others pointed out that three years after Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor was awarded the title of PETA India’s ‘hottest vegetarian celebrity’, the daughter of Bollywood star Anil Kapoor had taken to consuming chicken and fish.

People also pointed out that less than a week after PETA India gifted Shilpa Shetty Kundra the ‘Hero to Animals’ award, the Bollywood actress could be seen on YouTube preparing a Roast Turkey recipe.

Then there was the case of Richa Chadha who PETA India heaped praises on for being ‘kind to animals’ but the actress was one of those individuals who was resolutely against the ‘beef ban’.

The most disingenuous sign of hypocrisy came from PETA India’s endorsement of Sonam Kapoor. While the Bollywood actress was awarded by the supposed animals rights organisation, she endorses products made of 100% animal skin.

Similarly, PETA conferred a ‘Hero to Animals’ award on actress Dia Mirza, who had earlier shared ‘Kachi Yakhni Ki Biryani’ recipe. The biryani is made with mutton.

Thus, while PETA India has initiated a mala fide campaign against columnist Shefali Vaidya, they are quite overeager to overlook the transgressions of the people they have awarded themselves. Quite clearly, for PETA India, actions do not matter, only words do. And as long as individuals pay obeisance to their ideology, they do not require them to follow it up with their actions.

Health authorities express concern over the rise in Ebola cases in Congo, WHO starts vaccination

The Ebola outbreak in the northwest of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is growing. It has now surpassed the previous outbreak in the region that was closed off at 54 cases. 33 people lost their lives in the last outbreak. Till date, the health authorities have found 56 cases in the region and 22 people have already lost their lives. On 16th July World Health Organization (WHO) issued a statement in which they said that the new outbreak is of great concern as the world is already struggling to control the coronavirus pandemic.

Funding issues may cause problem in controlling the epidemic

Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said, “The current Ebola outbreak is running into headwinds because cases are scattered across remote areas in dense rain forests. This makes for a costly response as ensuring that responders and supplies reach affected populations is extremely challenging.” WHO noted in the statement that the organization is facing funds shortfall and have been able to mobilize on $1.75 million, which will last for only a few more weeks.

The current outbreak in DR Congo is the 11th outbreak since Ebola was first identified in 1976. DR Congo officially declared an end to a separate Ebola epidemic on 25th June that had claimed over 2,000 lives. It took health authorities two years to control the epidemic. Health Minister Eteni Longondo said was “the longest, most complex and deadliest” in the country’s history.

Vaccination drive launched

Health authorities have launched a vaccination campaign in the country to combat Ebola. All the affected health zones have been covered by the vaccination. More than 12,000 people have been vaccinated in the six weeks since the outbreak began.

WHO was able to act quickly after learning about the new outbreak. During the previous outbreak in Equateur, it took two weeks for the health officials to start vaccinations that were reduced to four days this time. WHO has roped in locals for the vaccination drive to build trust among the communities. 26 laboratory technicians trained during 2018 outbreak are currently supporting diagnostics.

Different virus strain is a matter of concern

WHO said that the two epidemics do not have a common viral strain that has further made the situation complex. AFP quoted a local official, Moraliste Nembetwa who noted that the infection has spread over several villages. The virus can pass on by contact with the blood, body fluids, or secretions and organs of an infected or recently deceased person. The death rate can range up to 90 percent making it one of the deadliest infections.

Serge Ngalebato, a doctor at the Bikoro hospital, said the country is facing multiple health problems including Ebola epidemic, measles epidemic, new cases of polio and recurring flare-ups of malaria and cholera. DR Congo has reported 8.249 cases of Covid-19 so far, and 193 people have lost their lives to the pandemic.

Rain in Delhi causes a house to collapse and fall into canal water. Watch video

The intense rainfall in Delhi over last few hours have caused more disaster in the national capital. Various parts of Delhi faced waterlogging after the city received heavy rainfall on Sunday.

The rainfall which increased water level in many drains that led to the collapse of several kutcha houses of a slum in Anna Nagar. A video of a house collapsing in the slum area of Anna Nagar near ITO following heavy rainfall went viral on Sunday. The authorities have said that no one was present in the house at the time of the incident.

The centralised Accident and Trauma Services (CATS) and fire engines personnel are present at the spot to carry out the rescue operations.

Reportedly, one person was found dead due to heavy rains flooding key roads in Delhi. A person’s body was found floating in water near the road under the Minto bridge which was heavily flooded. 

Many people were trapped inside a DTC bus under the waterlogged bridge in the Minto road, who were then rescued by the fire department personnel.

The DTC bus passing through the underpass on Minto Road had got stuck after it was flooded due to the heavy rains.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had predicted isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall over parts of northwest India. It had said the monsoon trough will shift northwards, closer to the foothills of the Himalayas during July 19-20. The rains may continue for the next several hours on Sunday, as per the India Meteorological Department.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police has issued an advisory asking bus and auto-rickshaw drivers to avoid traveling through submerged roads as manholes could have been swept away or ditches could have opened up.

After Maharashtra and Punjab, Himachal Pradesh Cyber Crime Police issues warning against malware spreading app TikTok Pro

On Sunday, the Himachal Pradesh Cyber Crime Police Station issued a warning against spam messages associated with “TikTok Pro”, a fake TikTok app that has appeared after the real TikTok app was banned by Indian govt. It is a malware app that can potentially damage the smartphone and steal personal information. The HP Cyber Crime Department, in its advisory, asked people not to click on any link in such malicious messages to download the app. The police said, “If in case you have received any message asking you to download the TikTok Pro app, we recommend you to ignore the same.”

Maharashtra Cyber Crime Department issued a warning for the same app on 8th July. Punjab Police issued a similar warning on 17th July as the residents of the state started to receive messages urging them to download the app. A user who received such message posted a screenshot of the same that read “Enjoy Tiktok Videos and also make Creative Videos again. Now TikTok is only Available in (TikTok Pro). So Download from now,” followed by the link.

The TikTok Pro malware app looks like the TikTok app and asks for permissions such as access to the camera, phone gallery, microphone, and more. With this app, hackers can steal users’ sensitive information from their smartphones.

How to detect a fake app?

Most of the smartphone users in India are not aware of the possible malware attacks and cybersecurity. It is tricky to spot a fake app. The easiest way to spot a fake app is to by checking its availability on the Google Play Store or App Store in case of iOS. If the app is not available on the official app store of the OS, it is better to avoid downloading it.

The users should not click on the app link in messages, WhatsApp forwards, emails or other sources like on social media, especially if they are shortened URLs. Always make sure that the source of the link is authentic. If you are doubtful about the source, go to the App store or developer’s website for an authentic link to the app or software.

India bans 59 Chinese Apps

On 29th June, the Home Ministry announced a ban on 59 Chinese Apps including TikTok, SHAREit, WeChat and many more. The government said that they had received several complaints regarding these apps. They alleged that several reports had suggested the misuse of these apps for stealing and transferring users’ data in an unauthorized manner. It is believed that the violent face-off between India and China in the Galwan valley further triggered the government to take strict action against entities originating from China. Tiktok has also been flagged several times for its vulgar, misleading, Hinduphonic and anti-India content.