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Pakistani citizens call for buying ‘Made in Pakistan’ products amidst economic and political crisis

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistani citizens call for buying ‘Made in Pakistan’ products amidst economic and political crisis

Our neighbouring country Pakistan which grapples with multiple problems including an unprecedented economic crisis accelerated by Chinese coronavirus outbreak, has now given a call for ‘buying locally produced’ goods. Thankfully, no one has publicly urged the Pakistani administration to train more homegrown terrorists, a product the country aces in.

The call to buy ‘Made in Pakistan’ products gained momentum after Pakistan’s science and technology minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain announced that Pakistan has successfully manufactured 8-10 ventilators and is now looking at increasing manufacturing output such that soon enough Pakistan will export ventilators too.

Enthused by the achievement, Pakistani netizens took to Twitter to give a call to buy local products to boost their economy.

In fact, it seems like Pakistani government has also officially asked its citizens to buy more locally produced goods.

Recently, Pakistan even claimed that it has exported ‘Made in Pakistan’ microwave ovens.

Imran Khan supporters also claimed on Twitter that buying locally produced goods will help strengthen Pakistan’s economy.

Amusingly, a Pakistani news channel in the parody nation reported hike in petrol prices as an ‘achievement’ of the Imran Khan government.

The news anchor can be heard saying that all the worries vanished after petrol price hike as ‘petrol had disappeared when it was cheaper’. Price of petrol in Pakistan went from Pakistani Rs 74.52 to Rs 100.10 per litre, an increase of Rs 25.58 per litre. Price of diesel rose from Rs 80.15 to Rs 101.46 per litre, an increase of Rs 21.31 per litre.

Pakistan crisis

These tweets and support for Imran Khan came pouring at a time Khan’s government is on the verge of a collapse amid economic crisis which got worse owing to Chinese coronavirus pandemic. Pakistani ministers and and cabinet members don’t really see eye to eye on several issues. Khan has been accused of breaking his election promises and doing exactly what he had promised to fight at one point in time. After promising to serve the people and not the Pakistani army, Khan replaced all civilians in his government with Army generals and even used relief money to pay his bills.

Recently, Khan also drew flak for feasting on 135 traditional dishes during his visit to Larkana in North-west Sindh where he had gone to review hospitals situation. Amid crippling economic crisis, Khan had an entourage of 37 protocol vehicles. Further, PTI-led coalition ally Balochistan National Party has decided to part ways as Khan government failed to implement accords and breaking of promises to Balochistan people. Khan’s government has 184 seats in the national assembly and with Balochistan National Party withdrawing support, he will be left with 180 members. Khan needs 172 seats to hold on to power.

However, undeterred by the troubles bubbling within, Imran Khan is still dreaming of Pakistan emerging as the next big superpower.

‘They have pulled my ventilator, I am dying’: Hyderabad COVID-19 patient’s viral video alleges hospital negligence

OpIndia Staff
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‘They have pulled my ventilator, I am dying’: Hyderabad COVID-19 patient’s viral video alleges hospital negligence

A video has emerged of a Covid-19 patient who is complaining about no ventilator support and lack of attention in a hospital in Erragadda of Hyderabad. The family shared the video after the 35-year-old patient died on 26th June due to coronavirus infection complications. As per the reports, he was admitted to the government Chest hospital after complaining about a high fever on 24th June.

Man claims hospital negligence in viral video

The incident took place on 26th June, and the video surfaced on social media on Sunday, after which it got viral. In a short selfie video, the man said, “They have removed the ventilator and have not responded to my plea for the last three hours to provide oxygen support. My heart has stopped and only lungs are working, but I am unable to breathe, daddy. Bye daddy. Bye, all. Bye, daddy.”

Hospital denied allegations

Mahboob Khan, superintendent of the Chest Hospital denied the allegations. He said, “The ventilator support was very much there, but the patient was in such a critical stage that he could not feel the oxygen supply.” The man died of heart collapse. There have been some cases in the country where young people between the ages of 25-40 are dying because of Covid-19 infection in the heart. “They are provided oxygen, but they feel it insufficient,” he added.

The hospital superintendent has added that usually, coronavirus patients die due to infections in the lung. But they are seeing a recent phenomenon where many patients, particularly in the 25-40 age group, has been succumbing to the disease due to the infection spreading to the heart. Khan added that patient was already in a critical stage at the time of infection and there was not much they could do.

Ordeal of the grieving father

The father of the deceased said that his son sent the video minutes before dying in the hospital. His last rites were performed on Saturday. He alleged that his son complained in the video that when he asked the hospital about removing the ventilator, the staff said, “you’ve had enough.”

Many cases of negligence and mismanagement on local government’s or hospital’s part have emerged in different parts of the country in the last few months including Delhi, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

While TMC workers pocket compensation amount for Cyclone Amphan, real victims hope for a miracle: Report

OpIndia Staff
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While TMC workers pocket compensation amount for Cyclone Amphan, real victims hope for a miracle: Report

The controversy over the misappropriation of funds, meant for victims of Cyclone Amphan, is unlikely to settle anytime soon in West Bengal. Even though her two-storeyed house has been undamaged, Hamida Bibi Mollah, the president of Mathurapur II Panchayat in Raidighi, has received a total of ₹60,000 as compensation money for cyclone Amphan, reported Anandabazar Patrika. She has also listed her husband and her 17-year-old-son as beneficiaries and thus enmassed a total of ₹60,000 from the West Bengal government.

The West Bengal government had earlier decided to grant ₹20,000 per family whose houses had been destroyed by Cyclone Amphan. Since Hamida included 3 people in the list of victims, she was able to siphon off ₹60,000. She is also a member of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and lives near the Kashinagar junction on Diamond Harbour-Raidighi road. Anandabazar Patrika reported that her name, along with that of her family, had been added to the list of people whose houses were ‘completely damaged’ by Cyclone Amphan.

Hamida’s husband Farooq claimed that their names were submitted by the Panchayat itself. He added that the block administration had decided to pay compensation to one person per family. Highlighting his ‘concern’ for the poor, Farooq emphasised, “Amra sob dik dekha garib manuser kotha veba teen joner nama asha takai ferat diyachi” (We have returned the compensation amount, received in the name of three people, after thinking about the state of the poor people).

Panchayat Head siphoned off money

Sahana Sheikh is the head (pradhan) of the Panchayat that allegedly helped Hamida list herself and her family members amongst the victims of Cyclone Amphan. Just like Hamida, Sheikh also owns a two-storeyed house which has not been affected by the natural disaster. As per the report by Anandabazar Patrika, locals in Srinagar village have claimed that Sahana has fraudulently obtained the compensation amount by listing her husband Nur Mohammad Sheikh, son Farooq, brother-in-law Nuruddin, mother-in-law Nurjahan Sheikh as victims of Cyclone Amphan. Locals alleged that TMC booth Secretary, Ziarul Mollah, and 9 members of the family had also received compensation.

Real victims deprived of Cyclone Amphan compensation

A resident of Eksa Khari Sheikhpara, Alamgir Mollah had been devastated by the havoc wrought by Cyclone Amphan. He and his pregnant wife had been forced to live in a dilapidated tent after their house was destroyed in the calamity. Alamgir conceded that he was left with the ruins of a house, post the disaster. As such, he and his wife had to take refuge in a neighbour’s house. “It is difficult to adjust (in this temporary shed) whenever it rains. What should I do?” he lamented.

The Block Development Officer of Mathurapur II, Rizwan Ahmed informed that the beneficiaries of the compensation amount were being scrutinised, following on-ground inspection of the houses. Alamgir has recently learnt that his name has featured in the list of beneficiaries. Unsure about how many sleepless nights he has to spend under the night sky, in the rainy season, Alamgir asked, “Several people received the money. When will authorities notice the plight of real victims such as me? “

“Corruption is clear as daylight”, alleges BJP

When Anandabazar Patrika tried to reach Sana Sheikh, she did not answer calls or reply to their messages. BJP leader from Raidighi, Palash Rana rebuked, “There is nothing to answer (for Sana Sheikh). Corruption is clear as daylight.” However, TMC leader Shantanu Bapuli defended, “Tarahurai kichu bhul hoyechilo. Oneker takai firiya daowa hoccha (Few errors have been made in a hurry. The compensation among (illegally) received by several people is being returned).”

Son of TMC leader thrashed by locals

On Thursday, Uttam, the son of a Trinamool Congress (TMC) member of Dharmapukuria Panchayat in Bangaon was thrashed by the locals with brooms and sticks, reported Anandabazar Patrika. The incident took place in the Sukpukur area where the locals attacked the house of the TMC leader, following allegations of corruption in the disbursement of relief funds for Cyclone Amphan. Protestors had alleged that even though the house of Gopal Dey did not suffer any damage, yet he was a beneficiary of the relief fund. They demanded that the TMC member has to return the money or pay compensation to all the families in the village. The protestors, comprising mostly of women, informed that Uttam was thrashed by them after they saw him beating his own mother.

TMC leader shamed, made to hold ears in public

In a similar incident this week, TMC leader and panchayat member Swapan Kumar Ghatu was was gheraoed by the residents of Kailashpur village in South 24 Paraganas and held hostage at a local school playground for illegally receiving compensation amount, originally meant for the victims of Cyclone Amphan. The locals had alleged that the TMC politician had siphoned off relief funds by listing his family members as the beneficiaries. Later talking to media, Swapan Kumar Ghatu conceded that there were anomalies in compensation distribution. He said that there were some mistakes in preparing the list of beneficiaries, and he apologised for the same.

Milind Deora disagrees with Rahul Gandhi again, says political mud-slinging over Chinese transgressions exposing divisions in the country

OpIndia Staff
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Milind Deora disagrees with Rahul Gandhi again, says political mud-slinging over Chinese transgressions exposing divisions in the country

A day after NCP supremo Sharad Pawar slammed Rahul Gandhi for attacking the Modi government on the Galwan valley clash with China, now a senior Congress leader has come forward to say that it is wrong to do politics on the issue. Former union minister Milind Deora has expressed displeasure over the political mud-slinging over the clash between Indian and Chinese soldiers that left 20 Indian soldiers dead. While China too has confirmed suffering deaths, they have not disclosed any number, although it is speculated that more than 40 soldiers died in the fight between sides along the LAC in Ladakh that didn’t involve the use of any firearm or explosive.

Milind Deora tweeted, “It’s highly unfortunate that the national discourse surrounding the surge in Chinese transgressions has deteriorated into political mud-slinging. When we should be united in condemning China’s actions & seeking solutions, we are exposing our divisions.”

Although the Congress leader didn’t name anyone, his comments directly hit his own party and his leader, as it is former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and some other Congress leaders who are continuously attacking the union govt over the clash, instead of standing behind the govt which is the norm when faced threats from enemy nations.

This is the second time Deora embarrassed his party in a week. Earlier on Thursday, on the occasion of 45th anniversary of Emergency, he had tweeted, “The Emergency reminds us that democracies, when tested, fight back resiliently. This also applies to political parties. Democratic organisations adapt better & overcome challenges. Democracy is a constant work in progress, requiring commitment, sacrifice & honest introspection.”

In April this year, Milind Deora had publicly disagreed with Rahul Gandhi over fuel price issue. Rahul Gandhi had demanded that govt should pass the benefit of huge fall in crude oil prices to consumers. But Deora had fact-checked him saying that most fall was seen in WTI crude, but India imports Brent crude, prices of which had not fallen that much. He had also said that falling Rupees may offset gains from low oil prices, and as mose vehicles were idle due to the lockdown, consumers won’t benefit even in prices are lowered.

Ever since the clash between Indian and Chinese forces at the Galwan Valley, Rahul Gandhi has been targeting the Modi govt, often with misleading questions and twisting statements govt. In 18th June, he had asked why Indian army was ‘unarmed’, while the fact is that the soldiers of both the sides were armed, but both the sides didn’t use them respecting agreements signed between the two countries during Congress or Congress supported governments in the past. He had also accused that Modi govt has surrendered territory to China, by tweeting that “Narendra Modi Is actually Surender Modi”. This was also a completely wrong accusation, because although China had built a camp on the Indian side along the LAC, Indian soldiers had evicted, which had resulted the deadly clash. PM Modi had said that at present there is no Indian territory under Chinese control, but Rahul Gandhi had twisted that statement also to claim that India has surrendered area to China.

But now it seems many leaders from Congress and its allies are not happy with such attack on the govt on a matter of national security. Yesterday, Sharad Pawar had asked Rahul Gandhi to remember 1962 when Nehru govt had surrendered 45,000 square kilometers of area to China. He added that that Indian soldiers tried to push back Chinese army men when they tried to encroach upon Indian soil, and to say this is the failure of govt or the defence minister isn’t correct. He said that the fact that there was a scuffle means that Indian soldiers were aware of the situation, and they fought back.

West Bengal: BJP district secretary Pabitra Das injured after getting shot in a clash with TMC workers

OpIndia Staff
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West Bengal: BJP district secretary Pabitra Das injured after getting shot in a clash with TMC workers

District secretary of Bhartiya Janta Party in East Midnapore district in West Bengal was shot at Khejuri on Sunday afternoon. As per reports, the incident took place after a clash erupted between BJP workers and supporters of the ruling Trinamool Congress. Pabitra Das, district secretary of BJP, had a narrow escape as the bullet hit his left hand, said police. Other than Das, several BJP workers, including women, were injured in the clash.

During the preliminary investigation, the local police found out that the incident took place when Pabitra Das, along with Bhartiya Janta Party supporters, started protesting against a decision made by the local Trinamool dominant panchayat. It was decided that the trees uprooted in cyclone Amphan will be sold off without floating any tenders. The police officer investigating the case said, “When the BJP activists were staging a demonstration and the supporters of Trinamool Congress assembled there. Shortly, a clash between the two groups broke out.”

During the clash, Das fell on the road and other BJP supporters rushed to help him. They noticed blood oozing out of his wound. He was taken to the local hospital. Many houses were ransacked at Khejuri during the cyclone.

BJP’s Bengal unit president Dilip Ghosh said, “Das is a very active worker of our party. He protested against the illegal act of local panchayat members. The police stood as mute spectators when the supporters of the ruling party unleashed the attack.” He alleged that the supporters of the Trinamool Congress attacked Das and other BJP supporters while the police were present on the scene.

BJP members also alleged that TMC goons not only fired on them, but also lobbed bombs. They alleged that local TMC MLA Ranjit Mandal was present at the spot. Mandal has denied that he was present there. He also denied any link of TMC workers with the incident.

Sisir Adhikary, Trinamool MP in Contai, East Midnapore said that none of the Trinamool supporters were there at the time of the incident.

After the incident, BJP workers blocked the 116B Digha Nandakumar national highway for several hours in protest, which cause a traffic jam in the area.

Attacks on BJP party workers in West Bengal

BJP workers have been attacked and killed on several occasions in West Bengal. In June, BJP leader Sabyasachi Dutta was hackled during a clash between BJP and TMC supporters. BJP woman panchayat candidate and her husband brutally killed in April. Seven houses of Bhartiya Janta Party supporters set on fire in which 20 activists were injured and pregnant wife of a BJP worker suffered miscarriage after being kicked and assaulted allegedly by TMC goons. Two Bhartiya Janta Party offices set on fire in a span of 5 days in January.

Assorted Islamists and Pakistan-based groups blame Indian Army for child killed by terrorists

OpIndia Staff
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Assorted Islamists and Pakistan-based groups blame Indian Army for child killed by terrorists

A minor boy and a CRPF personnel were murdered on the 26th of June by terrorists in Anantnag, Kashmir. Following the murders, the area was cordoned off by the Police and a case was registered in connection with the matter. The minor boy lost his life when a terrorist opened indiscriminate fire at a CRPF patrol. The boy has been identified as Nihan Yawar.

Soon, Kashmiri separatists and Pakistani handles jumped into the scene to claim that the boy was murdered by the Indian Army and not a Kashmiri terrorist as was evidently the case.

The Kashmiri separatists and Pakistani handles used the murder of the minor boy by a Kashmiri terrorist to claim that India was oppressing Kashmiris and assserting that ‘Kashmiri Lives Matter’. They also demanded that international institutions intervene in the matter to deliver Kashmir to Jihadis.

NewsLaundry columnist Sharjeel Usmani had also retweeted the fake news in a bid to propagate it further.
Sharjeel Usmani’s retweet
However, Kashmir Police clarified that the child was killed by the terrorists after they fired upon the CRPF party.

Such blatant fake news is nothing new, Pakistani handles are known to engage in such propaganda in order to further radicalise the youth in Kashmir. Farhan Virk, a self described Pakistani ‘troll’, in a recent documentary had revealed how such propaganda is engineered by trolls in order to further Pakistani national interests.

Virk had also revealed that he had run similar propaganda during the Balakot Airstrikes in order to undermine the extent of damage inflicted by India in response to the Pulwama terror attack. “My ideology is of national interest. To protect your national interest, even if you say something that’s not true, but it influences the people in a positive way, then, I do not consider it propaganda,” he had said.

Lauded for ‘Bhilwara Model’ of Coronavirus control, the city records 15 new cases in a single day after a family invited 250 people for wedding

OpIndia Staff
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Lauded for ‘Bhilwara Model’ of Coronavirus control, the city records 15 new cases in a single day after a family invited 250 people for wedding

Rajasthan government under Congress Party lauded the ‘Bhilwara Model’ for control Covid-19 infection. It was discussed across the country. But now, many lives are in danger in the city after a family invited more than 250 people for a wedding. There have been strict instructions from the central government that more than 50 guests are not allowed for weddings. The marriage took place on 13th June, and later 15 persons who attended the wedding tested positive for coronavirus, including the father of the groom. One patient among 15 tested positive for the infection has died due to complications associated with coronavirus.

The district administration has also imposed a fine of Rs 6,26,600 on the family. They have to deposit the fine in Chief Minister’s Relief Fund in the next three days. As per the reports, Rizul, son of Ghisulal Rathi, had applied for permission for the wedding ceremony. The administration allowed on the condition of not calling more than 50 people. However, as per the reports, more than 250 people attended the wedding, excluding the waiters, photographers, caterers and hotel staff, etc.

While the infected persons have been admitted at hospital, 127 persons who had attended the wedding have been quarantined.

Case registered under Section 51 of the Disaster Management Act

It would have passed the scanner without any problem, but the groom’s father and 14 other attendees were found Covid-19 positive after they started showing symptoms, which included relatives of the groom. One of the infected, the grandfather of the groom, died due to the infection. A case under Section 51 of the Disaster Management Act and other sections of the Indian Penal Code of endangering ordinary people’s lives has been registered against the groom and his family.

District Magistrate Rajendra Bhatt said that not only they invited more than 50 people for the wedding, the regulations to prevent infection like social distancing and wearing masks were also not followed during the ceremonies. The first case of the disease was registered on 19th June, after that administration tested everyone who attended the wedding on 21st.

Russia rejects New York Times report claiming Russia using Taliban to attack US forces, says fake news causing threat to Russians in US and UK

OpIndia Staff
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Russia rejects New York Times report claiming Russia using Taliban to attack US forces, says fake news causing threat to Russians in US and UK

On Friday, Russia slammed the controversial US daily New York Times for peddling fake news against the country after a report by the publication had claimed that Moscow had offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants to kill troops of the US-led coalition in Afghanistan.

The Russian embassy in Washington DC released a statement lashing out the New York Times, calling the accusations against its government as “baseless”.

The “baseless and anonymous accusations,” published by the newspaper, had “already led to direct threats to the life of employees of the Russian Embassies in Washington D.C. and London,” the Russian Embassy in Washington wrote on Twitter. They demanded that US authorities should take effective measures to fulfil their obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961.

New York Times’ report on Russian bounties in Afghanistan

On Friday, the New York Times had come up with a report claiming that the American intelligence officials had concluded that a Russian military intelligence unit secretly offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants for killing coalition forces in Afghanistan, including targeting American troops.

The report said, the United States concluded months ago that the Russian unit, which has been linked to assassination attempts and other covert operations in Europe intended to destabilize the West or take revenge on turncoats, had covertly offered rewards for successful attacks last year.

“Islamist militants, or armed criminal elements closely associated with them, are believed to have collected some bounty money, the officials said. Twenty Americans were killed in combat in Afghanistan in 2019, but it was not clear which killings were under suspicion,” the New York Times report said.

Russian Foreign Ministry takes dig at USA

The Russian Foreign Ministry responded to the New York Times report to refer it to as ‘fake news’. Taking a dig at the United States of America, the Russian Foreign Ministry also said that what else could be expected from the intelligence agency that has failed in Afghanistan for over 20 years.

“We have paid attention to another piece of fake news, launched in the media space by the American intelligence community, about the alleged involvement of Russia’s military intelligence unit in contract killings of US troops in Afghanistan. That unpretentious fake clearly demonstrates low intellectual abilities of US intelligence propagandists who have to invent such nonsense instead of devising something more credible. Nevertheless, what else could be expected from the intelligence agency that has failed miserably in the 20-year-long war in Afghanistan,” the Russian foreign ministry noted.

The Russian Foreign Ministry pointed to US intelligence agencies’ involvement in Afghan drug trafficking.

The Russian Foreign Ministry also said that ‘those actions might stem from the fact that the US intelligence agencies do not like that our and their diplomats have teamed up’ to facilitate the start of peace talks between Kabul and the Taliban.

Russian embassy in India says Indian media shared fake news

The Russian embassy in India also called out media reports in India which had shared the similar news reports that had suggested that Russian spies had offered bounties for Taliban-backed terrorists to killed US troops in Afghanistan.

“The NYTimes article insouciantly shared by some Indian media about Russia allegedly offering bounties to Afghan militants for killing coalition forces is a fake demonstrating low intellectual abilities of US intelligence propagandists,” said Russian Embassy in India.

Some of the Indian news media outlet such as Zee News, NDTV, The Tribune India had reported the NYT report, which has now been refuted by the Russian Embassy.

Islamists cry foul as Naseema Bano, mother of slain Hizbul terrorist Tausif, arrested for terror-related crimes and booked under UAPA

OpIndia Staff
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Islamists cry foul as Naseema Bano, mother of slain Hizbul terrorist Tausif, arrested for terror-related crimes and booked under UAPA

The Jammu & Kashmir Police today arrested Naseema Bano, mother of slain Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Tausif, for her involvement in recruitment and other terror-related activities.

As reported by journalist Aditya Raj Kaul, Bano is also sister of active terrorist Abbas Sheikh. Tausif was a Hizbul Mujahideen commander and was neutralised by the security personnel in 2018. As per reports, Naseema Bano is wife of one Abdul Salam Sheikh and is resident of Rampora Qaimoh. Her house was raided on 20th June, following which she was arrested. An FIR has been registered under sections 13B, 17, 18, 18B, 19 and 39 of the UAPA over her alleged involvement in motivating youth in southern Kulgam to join terrorist ranks.

Terror sympathisers cry foul

Soon after the arrest, terror sympathisers and Islamists took to social media to cry foul and claim that the gun-totting Jihadi is just an innocent woman and ‘deserve our support’.

Islamists and terror sympathisers also voiced their support to Bano. Even her terrorist son was hailed by the radicals.

As per reports, Naseema Bano’s picture with the gun was taken when she had gone to meet her terrorist son Tausif at a hideout South Kashmir. A few weeks after the picture was clicked, her son was neutralised by the armed forces. Besides luring youngsters and recruiting them into terror ranks, Naseema was also involved in arranging arms, ammunition, communication and logistics for terror outfits operating in South Kashmir. 

No community transmission in Delhi, Manish Sisodia’s claim of 5.5 lakh coronavirus in Delhi resulted in fear, exodus: Home Minister Amit Shah

OpIndia Staff
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No community transmission in Delhi, Manish Sisodia’s claim of 5.5 lakh coronavirus in Delhi resulted in fear, exodus: Home Minister Amit Shah

On Sunday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah categorically denied that coronavirus had reached the community transmission stage in the national capital and also refuted the claim of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who had stated that Delhi will record at least 5.5 lakh coronavirus cases by July-end.

Speaking to ANI, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the unverified claims made by the Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi that Delhi will see more than 5 lakh coronavirus cases only resulted in the fear in the minds of the people, who started an exodus from the national capital.

“Around the second week of June, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that by July 31 there will be 5.5 lakh persons infected with the virus. He said that there will be no place left, no beds left and the situation will be difficult. This created a lot of fear in the minds of people in Delhi,” Home Minister Amit Shah said in an interview.

“I do not want to go into whether the estimate was right or wrong. But a situation of fear arose and some people started mulling an exodus (out of Delhi),” he added.

No community transmission in Delhi: Home Minister

Clarifying that there was no community transmission in the national capital, Home Minister Amit Shah said that he had already talked to three senior-most officials – Dr. Paul (from Niti Aayog), ICMR chief Dr. Bhargava and Dr. Guleria (AIIMS New Delhi Director), who assured him that there was no such transmission in the national capital.

“This situation has not come to Delhi. Such a situation appeared because of the total tests done, earlier 30 percent turned out to be positive and that was happening because tests were done at the last moment. Now that we have started doing 20,000 tests on average, this condition is not there. I have held technical discussions on this…today this situation is not there in Delhi. There is no need to fear,” the Home Minister said.

On June 9, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had claimed that the cases in Delhi would rise to 2.5 lakh by July 15 and the government would require 33,000 beds. He had also said that there will be 5.5 lakh cases in the national capital by July-end.

“I can say now with confidence that situation of 5.5 lakh cases will not come on July 31,” Shah said on Sunday.

Prime Minister himself intervened to help Delhi govt: HM Amit Shah

Home Minister Amit Shah also said that after Manish Sisodia made such claims, Prime Minister Modi had himself had asked the Home Ministry to take the responsibility of Delhi, after Delhi government gave up its fight against coronavirus pandemic.

“But after remarks of Manish ji, I felt that the central government should not stay idle. Modi ji has accountability towards the country. PM also told me that the Home Ministry should take the initiative to move forward and help the Delhi government. We are helping Delhi government but for coordination, central government called a meeting,” he said.

The Home Minister added, “We will be in good condition (By July 31st) because we have laid stress on preventive steps including more tests and contact tracing”.

The Union government had stepped in after the spike of coronavirus cases in the national capital. Soon, Home Minister Amit Shah took the charge and held a series meetings to tackle the coronavirus epidemic in the national capital after the Delhi government failed to check the spread of the Chinese pandemic.

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