The Supreme Court of India, while hearing a petition by a parent, told CBSE to consider possibilities to scrap remaining board exam papers of class 10th and 12th. The court suggested allotting marks based on internal assessment.
A three-judge bench, comprising AM Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari, and Sanjeev Khanna, was hearing a petition filed by a parent Amit Bathla, who requested the court to ask CBSE to scrap remaining exams keeping the present situation in mind. The CBSE was to conduct the remaining exams between 1st July and 15th July.
Consider internal assessment for remaining exams, said parents in plea
The plea filed by some parents sought direction from the court to ask CBSE to declare the results based on the exams they have already conducted. In the plea, parents suggested CBSE can consider the internal assessment for the remaining exams. They raised concerns about the safety of lakhs of students who may be exposed to Covid-19 infection if they appear for exams. It can drastically increase the number of Covid-19 cases in India, parents said in the plea.
In the petition, it was mentioned that many professional institutions and schools had cancelled their examinations, including the Delhi University. IITs across the country have also cancelled all the examinations, including the final year because of COVID-19. Maharastra has also cancelled University exams, including final year’s examinations.
Guidelines by the Ministry of Home Affairs will cause trouble for students of the containment zone
The plea mentioned the circular issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on 20th May 2020, in which they said that no examinations could be held in the containment zone. Also, the students who fall in the containment zone will not be allowed to move to another zone to appear in the exams. That means hundreds of students may miss giving their final exams on the set dates. As public transport is not functional in many areas across the country, it is next to impossible for the students to reach the examination center on time. Every parent can’t provide private vehicle so that the students can reach the examination center.
The parents also alleged in the plea that CBSE has already cancelled the exams for class X and class XII in 250 schools situated abroad. They have adopted the criteria of allotting marks based on internal assessment marks or practical exams.
Supreme Court has sought response from CBSE. The next date of hearing is on 23rd June. The CBSE has been asked to file its response by next Tuesday.
On Monday, The Council for Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) had informed the Bombay high court that it has decided not to pressurise ICSE – Class X and ISC – Class XII students to appear for the remaining papers of the board exams
Rafia Naz, a Yoga teacher from Hatia area in Ranchi, Jharkhand who is now a well-known name in the field of Yoga, has been the target of radical members from her own community on multiple occasions for years for merely following her passion. This brave woman, who considers yoga to be beyond religion and has been targeted for daring to teach Yoga despite being a Muslim, has been particularly upset because of the apathy shown towards her by the Jharkhand government. Despite her life being in danger, she has alleged that the JMM/Congress government headed by Hemant Soren has refused to take cognizance of the issue and provide her with any sort of protection or help.
Speaking to OpIndia, Rafia said that she had written a letter to the state government and had visited the Jharkhand Mantralay on June 16 (Tuesday), with an intention to submit her letter and meet the CM and his Principal Secretary Sanjay Kumar to plead to the state government to provide her protection, but Rafia alleged that she was not allowed to enter the premises. “I wanted to bring this matter to their notice by giving a letter to Chief Minister Hemant Soren and his Principal Secretary, but I was driven away from outside the gate,” said Rafia.
Letter written by Rafia to Jharkhand police
Letter written by Rafia to Jharkhand police
Rafia Naz rebukes state goverment for its insensitivity
Rafia said that she clearly stated to the security that she was a Yoga teacher and her life was at threat. She even informed that she had met the CM Hemant Soren and the Principal Secretary earlier and wanted to meet them to give them a letter, but she was not allowed to go inside. The security did not even bother to listen to her properly and asked her to leave. In the given situation, Rafia wondered if her mails will also be acknowledged by the state government or not.
With a heavy heart, Rafia said that she had also gone live on Facebook to narrate her ordeal. How she waited outside the Jharkhand Mantralay for over one and a half hours but was not allowed to meet the CM. Rebuking the state government for its insensitivity, she said that if anything untoward incident happens with her or her family the onus would lie on the state government. Calling out the state government’s hypocrisy Rafia said: “Its shocking how on one hand they speak of protecting women rights and on the other hand they display such impassivity towards a woman in duress”.
Rafia has approached the chief minister, SSP, DIG several times. She has also sent innumerable emails to Chief Minister’s Public Dialogue Center but to no avail. When she approached them through Twitter, the administration deferred the issue by saying that they would look into the matter, but no concrete action has been taken until now, said Rafia.
Police letter a hoax?
As we tried to delve further, we asked her whether she was provided with any kind of security from the state government? Rafia Naz answered that in 2019 she had received a letter from the state police asking her to inform them whenever she needs to go out of her house. The letter read that in such a situation, police would arrange for her security. Now, after the lockdown has been relaxed, Rafia needs to go to give Yoga classes at some orphanage. “Now, when I need protection, no one at the police station or the state administration is willing to hear my plea. Was that letter just a hoax?” asked Rafia, revealing how precarious her situation is.
Letter from the state police received by Rafia Naz in 2019
Rafia Naz more concerned for her family’s protection
Speaking to OpIndia, Rafia said that the threats do not bother her anymore. She has been receiving them for over 3 to 4 years, but what bothers her is the danger looming on her family. Recollecting the unnerving incidents of her past, Rafia said that because of her stand to keep teaching Yoga, even her family attracted the ire of those radicals. They were constantly abused and threatened. Rafia said that now when she is screaming that she needs protection the administration is turning a deaf ear. “Nobody is bothering to listen to me, what would the administration do if something untoward happens with me or my family? If I die, the state administration should be held accountable, I will name everyone before I die, said the Jharkhand girl.
Round the clock security provided by previous government
Rafia furthered that after she was tired of pleading on front of the state government, she approached the ex-CM of Jharkhand, Raghuvar Das. In 2017, Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das had taken cognizance and provided Rafia with 24-hour security, which has recently been withdrawn. “I do not know why it has been removed. At that time, Rapid Action Force (RAF) and CRPF personnel were stationed outside my house”, recollected Naz. With the hope that Das would help her, Rafia approached the ex-CM who she said has given her the assurance that he would help her out.
OpIndia also got in touch with Raghuvar Das. He confirmed that he was approached by Rafia and has assured that action will be taken soon.
Rafia furthered that during the lockdown, she had filed an FIR online against one Najib Raja who had abused her on Facebook. However, Jharkhand police took no action against the accused, said Rafia.
FIR filed against one Najib Raja
Jharkand police apathy
Speaking to OpIndia, Rafia at this point, recollected how she has struggled to get justice for herself and her family but seldom succeeded. She has been advised to stop using a mobile phone or change her number in case she gets threat messages. Whenever she has tried to lodge a complaint with the Jharkhand police, she has received disappointment. If she approached them with a complaint regarding receiving vulgar posts on social media, she was advised by the police to stop using social media. If she approached them with a complaint that stone was pelted at her home, they advised her to change the house.
Rafia Naz goes on to apprise us with a mortifying incident of her past which left her and her family members flustered. She recollected how once her morphed nude pictures were circulated in social media by members of her own community for daring to defy their conservative rationale. She said that despite complaining to authorities and sharing details of like the ID, URL, link, etc., the posts were not blocked.
Even during the lockdown, Rafia said she had to face several hardships but she kept quiet, but now she said she demands justice. The bold teacher, who always considers yoga to be beyond religion, said that she has been facing challenges for many years now, but the insensitivity should by the Jharkhand government has particularly disheartened and demotivated her.
Prime Minister Modi, condoled death of soldiers who were martyred in the Ladakh standoff with Chinese troop and said that the sacrifice of our soldiers will not go in vain. India wants peace but if instigated, India is capable of giving a befitting reply, he said.
PM Modi condoles death of soldiers at Ladakh standoff
#WATCH — I would like to assure the nation that the sacrifice of our jawans will not be in vain. India wants peace but it is capable to give a befitting reply if instigated: PM Narendra Modi #IndiaChinaFaceOffpic.twitter.com/Z0ynT06dSz
“I want to assure the country that the sacrifice of our soldiers will not go in vain. For us, the unity and integrity of India is of utmost importance and no one can stop us from protecting it. No one should have any doubt that India wants peace. But, if instigated, India is ready and capable of giving a befitting reply in any manner,” PM Modi said. On the brave soldiers who lost their lives, PM Modi said that the country will be proud of them that they died while killing the enemy.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh condoles death of soldiers
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday tweeted condolence messages for the martyred soldiers.
The Nation will never forget their bravery and sacrifice. My heart goes out to the families of the fallen soldiers. The nation stand shoulder to shoulder with them in this difficult hour. We are proud of the bravery and courage of India’s breavehearts.
“The nation stand shoulder to shoulder with them in this difficult hour,” Singh tweeted.
Amit Shah condoles death of soldiers in Ladakh standoff
Home Minister Amit Shah today took to Twitter to condole the death of the soldiers at the Ladakh standoff with China.
The pain of losing our brave soldiers while protecting our motherland at Ladakh’s Galwan can not be put in words. Nation salutes our immortal heroes who sacrificed their lives to keep Indian territory safe and secure. Their bravery reflects India’s commitment towards her land.
“Nation salutes our immortal heroes who sacrificed their lives to keep Indian territory safe and secure,” he said.
I bow to the families, who have blessed Indian Army with such great heroes. India will always remain indebted for their supreme sacrifice. Entire nation and Modi government stands firmly with their families in this hour of grief. Praying for the speedy recovery of those injured.
“Entire nation and Modi government stands firmly with their families in this hour of grief. Praying for the speedy recovery of those injured,” HM Amit Shah said.
Ladakh standoff at Galwan Valley
A violent face-off took place between Indian and Chinese troops on the intervening night of 15th and 16th June which led to casualties on both the sides. While India has confirmed 20 casualties, the Chinese authorities have not given official figures. However, it is believed that the casualties of Chinese troops would be above 40.
In a shocking act, a groom killed his nine-year-old brother-in-law and rammed three people with his SUV leaving them severely injured after heated arguments over the food served at the wedding. The incident was reported in Farrukhabad, Uttar Pradesh.
Manoj Kumar was scheduled to marry the daughter of a farmer in the Govindpur village of Shamshabad. As per reports, on Monday night, the groom Manoj Kumar and his friends indulged in a quarrel with the bride’s relatives over the sweets served to them at the wedding ceremony in the Shamshabad area. They were reportedly unhappy over the quality of the food.
Punit, the bride’s brother informed, “They were inebriated when they started arguing. The elders intervened but they fired at my maternal uncle who escaped unhurt.” He alleged that the minor brother of the bride was taken away by the groom and his friends in an SUV while he was serving water to them.
Punit claimed, “While fleeing, they ran their SUV over two women and a teenaged girl, leaving them with serious injuries. We made several calls to Manoj to return along with Pranshu, but he refused. At 3 a.m. the next morning, he left my brother’s body in the village and fled.”
As per reports, the deceased child had strangulation marks on his neck and also had injuries on his face. The victims, Vimla,50, Mithilesh, 35, and Sapna, 17 who was rammed by the groom’s SUV were taken to Lohia hospital in Farrukhabad. The condition of Mithilesh is said to be critical.
The bride’s father Rajpal Jaatav has filed an FIR stating, “Manoj Kumar drove a speeding SUV over people standing on the roadside and injured three women relatives. My nine-year-old son was also killed by the groom and his friends.”
Rajeev Singh Gaur, the Circle officer of Kamayganj said, “Initial investigation suggests that men from both sides were engaged in a heated argument. The groom drove an SUV over three relatives and possibly also the boy. The victim’s body has been sent for post-mortem. The report will tell if the child was run over by a vehicle or was strangled.”
The accused groom and his relatives are absconding and the UP police is searching for them.
With every border skirmish that India gets caught up in, either with China or with Pakistan, several media houses in India transform into the state propaganda arms of the enemy nation. With the recent standoff between India and China at the Galwan Valley in Ladakh, several such elements have come out of the woodworks to act as the official propaganda arms of the Communist state. One of the portals that have taken it upon itself to defend China and ensure that “their version” is propagated in India, is the pretend fact-check website AltNews.
AltNews has mostly be seen as an Islamist propaganda website that often whitewashes the crimes of violent mobs and shields perpetrators who belong to the Muslim community. The running theory was that just as all ‘liberals’, AltNews too harbours a deep-seated hatred for Hindus and considers Islamists as an ally in their crusade against the ‘Kaffirs’. It was often assumed that their hate for Prime Minister Narendra Modi too stems from their hatred for Hindus. However, with the India-China standoff and AltNews’ reportage of it, it is becoming exceedingly clear that their hate for PM Modi and Hindus and gone a step ahead and transformed into unbridled hate for India itself.
The standoff at Galwan Valley between the Indian forces and China resulted in India losing 20 soldiers. As is engrained in India’s ethos, the casualties were claimed and tribute was paid to their valour. However, China refused to claim its dead. Throughout the day when speculations were rife, Chinese propaganda arms went into overdrive to hide the number of casualties on their side. Helping them, was AltNews.
The first ‘fact-check’ by AltNews that furthered the Chinese propaganda
The first article that AltNews published was headlined, “Indian journalists quote Chinese casualties based on unverified source”.
AltNews article defending China
In this article, essentially, AltNews tried to “fact-check” the “rumour” about 5 Chinese soldiers being killed during the standoff with India. The Chief Reporter with Chinese state propaganda channel Global Times had tweeted that 5 Chinese soldiers were killed and 11 were injured during the standoff. This news was then picked up by several Indian journalists and Media houses.
At this point, it is pertinent to note that it was already confirmed that India had lost 3 soldiers in the skirmish including a Commanding Officer of the Battalion.
Now, if the Chief Reporter of Global Times, which is a Chinese state propaganda channel, tweets the number of casualties, it is generally going to be considered to be coming from reliable sources.
It turns out, China was not happy with its journalist going “rogue” and talking about the number of casualties on their side. GlobalTimes tweeted immediately “clarifying” that the portal had not reported any official numbers of casualties on the Chinese side. The Chief reporter of Global Times promptly deleted her tweets and unsurprisingly, blamed Indian Media for their misreporting claiming that her tweet was in turn based on Indian media.
I cited an Indian source of @NewsLineIFE about a physical clash at LAC China-India border yesterday. No confirmation from the official Chinese source regarding casualties yet. It is unprofessional for Indian media to say this is official news from the Chinese side. @IndiaTodaypic.twitter.com/OIGBKq61Gn
Interestingly, it must be noted that the “clarification” by GlobalTimes came only minutes before Wang Wenwen tweeted blaming India media for being irresponsible.
When dealing with Chinese media and journalists, there are certain ground rules that every journalist keeps in mind. Firstly, any information that comes out of China is controlled by the Communist state. There are no ‘independent’ media houses in China. Moreover, on Twitter especially, any Chinese individual or Chinese media company operates with the explicit permission of the government of China since Twitter is banned in China. Of course, many civilians do use other methods to log in, but media and journalists function on social media with the permission of the Chinese government and mostly, at the behest of the Chinese government.
The Chinese authoritarian regime exercised strict control on the flow of information even to its own citizens. So to expect that any information that comes from China will not be a part of the propaganda war is being naive at best, malicious at worst.
In this scenario, what likely happened was that the journalist tweeted initial reports that were being whispered by sources. After she tweeted, she must have received blowback from GlobalTimes, which is the Chinese government propaganda arm and thus, blamed Indian media instead and deleted her tweet.
It is important to note that China has been trying to hide the number of casualties on its side in a bid to ensure that their numbers are not reported as higher than the Indian side.
So at this point of time, for AltNews to “fact-check” and claim that Indian journalists were on the wrong signifies two things:
AltNews was far more inclined to believe the word of GlobalTimes, a Chinese state-controlled media, than its own journalists. Since the Chinese govt was trying its best to hide casualties, it is entirely possible that at initial stages of information flow, the news was that 5 Chinese soldiers were killed and 11 were injured. For AltNews to “fact-check” this essentially does not make sense since it seems to be considering Chinese propaganda as the gospel truth.
AltNews actively helped China in its psychological warfare since the aim of hiding the numbers, to begin with, was to insinuate that it was India that suffered casualties and China did not.
It is pertinent to keep in mind that both journalist Wang Wenwen and Global Times are on Twitter with the explicit sanction of the Chinese government since Twitter is banned in China. Hence, AltNews helped the Communist state of China to spread confusion and further their propaganda at a time when India and China were face-to-face in a violent standoff.
The second ‘fact-check’ by AltNews that furthered the Chinese propaganda
AltNews was so agitated by the news of Chinese casualties, that in the span of just a few hours, they ended up publishing not just one, but two so-called ‘fact-check’ articles that discredited Indians in order to reinforce the Chinese propaganda.
The second article published by AltNews was headlined, “India-China dispute: 43 Chinese soldiers killed? Media outlets and journalists mislead”.
In this article, AltNews cited the tweets by ANI that said that 43 Chinese soldiers were either killed or wounded. Several Indian journalists reported that 43 Chinese soldiers were killed during the clash at Galwan.
AltNews wrote a ‘fact-check” saying that the news of 43 soldiers killed on the Chinese side was ‘fake news’ since the ANI tweet said that the number of casualties was 43, which included dead and injured.
Further, AltNews relied on GlobalTimes to further this ‘fact-check’. Calling the GlobalTimes and its Editor’s tweets as “official information”, the AltNews report said, “The Chinese government has not revealed the number of casualties on their side. The Editor-in-Chief of China-based Global Times tweeted this earlier today. Furthermore, no official figures on the Chinese casualties have been put out by the Indian army as well”.
Firstly, AltNews is being dishonest with its readers when it calls Globaltimes “China-based” giving it far more credibility than it deserves. GlobalTimes is the propaganda arm of the Chinese govt and any experienced journalist would know that China is a master of psychological warfare and any information coming from China is unreliable and strategic propaganda.
The number of dead in China could be 50 or 100 or even 200 and there can be no confirmation on that since China is trying its best to further the perception that the casualties were far more on the Indian side than the Chinese side. AltNews, with this “fact-check”, is merely furthering that propaganda by muddying the waters.
The only ‘fact-check’ that should be done here is about the intention of the Chinese govt being tight-lipped and the propaganda warfare that it is unleashing on India. However, AltNews seems to be actively helping China in muddying the waters and furthering the psychological warfare that is being unleashed by the Communist govt.
Interestingly, there is a dichotomy in the two fact-checks by AltNews. While in the first ‘fact-check’, AltNews brands Indian journalists as liars for trusting the Chief Reporter of GlobalTimes, in the second ‘fact-check’, they cite the Editor of Global Times as an authority that is tweeting the official position of China.
In both these instances, the aim of AltNews seems to be simple – discredit India and give legitimacy to Chinese propaganda.
The extent of propaganda by China that AltNews will be blind to
While India’s official position is that all the activity happened on the Indian side of the border, China has been claiming that it was India that breached the Line of Actual Control and attacked the Chinese soldiers.
The timeline of the conflict that has now emerged proves India’s position.
After the initial talks of disengagement, China came back mid-week to set up a camp on the Indian side. India then proceeded to dismantle that camp and during that, a scuffle had broken out, however, the Chinese soldiers were sent packing to their side after the scuffle. Over the weekend, the Chinese soldiers returned with a larger group of soldiers. Some stone-pelting took place on Sunday, June 14.
According to a report by Defence journalist Shiv Aroor, On Monday (June 15) evening, clashes broke out on a ridgeline with a high drop towards the Galwan river. The clashes escalated rapidly and according to sources, many Indians soldiers fell into the river during the scuffle.
Thereafter, Colonel Santosh Babu of 16 Bihar Regiment went to discuss the situation with the Chinese troops and it is then that he was attacked and severely injured by the Chinese soldiers.
The standoff then continued and according to Aroor, “The Indian troops assaulted the Chinese post with brutal strength and seriously injured nearly 55-56 Chinese solider. Many casualties were inflicted at this point. Sources said there were many fatalities on the Chinese side but there was no confirmation on the exact number“. “Fighting stopped well after midnight. Several bodies of the soldiers were fished from the river, while, many injured succumbed by morning, sources said“.
From the timeline reported by Shiv Aroor, it is evident that it was the Chinese side indulging in provoking Indian side and India was merely defending its own territory.
With the facts of the matter being as clear as day, China continued its propaganda and claimed in a press conference that it was India that attacked China and that the skirmish happened on China’s side of the border.
With the Wuhan Coronavirus fiasco, it was already evident that China does not shy away from misleading the entire world when it comes to their self-interest or their expansionist policies.
For AltNews to now take China’s word as the gospel truth and discredit Indiaa’s version only reeks of their intent.
The intent of AltNews is rather evident even from the words they choose to use while writing the asinine fact-checks.
Introductory paragraph from ‘fact-check’ by AltNews
For AltNews, while Indian officials have “claimed” that it was China that crossed the LAC, China has “blamed” Indian troops. While in isolation, there is nothing wrong with the words used, together, it would seem that AltNews is trying to cast aspersions on India’s position and paint the Chinese position as the gospel truth.
Propaganda website AltNews has been largely peddled as an authentic source of fact-checks by the entire Left cabal. Their articles are peddled by any anti-government, anti-Hindu riffraff that the ecosystem has to offer and they often claim that their method is rather elaborate and authentic. With patrons like Arundhati Roy, who regularly speaks in a language that can only be called one that resonates with Naxals and every element that wishes to tear India apart, AltNews has gained a reputation amongst right-thinking individuals as a mouthpiece of Islamists. The so-called fact-checking website regularly furthers fake news, obfuscates the truth, concocts details to shield Islamists and sometimes, even creates fake news simply to fact check it later.
Further, AltNews uses some standard tools to further their propaganda which invariably goes against the interests of the country. They peddle downright lies, muddle the waters, deliberately mislead, whitewash crimes and doxx anybody who tries to expose their methods. With the India-China standoff and the situation escalating, one can only hope that AltNews finds whatever shred of conscious they have left and not hurt India’s interest to protect those of the nation’s enemies.
A senior government official conversant with the debriefing of survivors at hospitals in Leh revealed that the assault of the Indian soldiers by China’s PLA hit team was premeditated as they had carried iron batons and clubs wrapped in barbed wire to attack the troops of the 16 Bihar Regiment.
As quoted by News18, the official said fierce fistfighting took place at the Galwan river valley for about 8 hours on Monday night as the death squad of PLA armed with weapons hunted down unarmed Indian soldiers and slaughtered them.
The official said that even the Indian soldiers who were at the hillside were systematically chased down by the murderous PLA soldiers armed with crude weapons. Many of the soldiers died after falling into the Galwan river.
The brutal combat between the soldiers of two armies have confirmed to have claimed lives of at least 23 Indian soldiers, including the Commanding Officer of 16 Bihar Regiment, Colonel Santosh Babu and many others, partly also because of the extended exposure to sub-zero temperatures, the Indian Army said on Tuesday.
According to the government source cited in the report, at least two dozen soldiers are critically injured and battling for their lives and more than 110 needed treatment. “The death toll will likely go up,” a military officer familiar with the severity of the carnage said.
The Chinese side have also suffered heavy casualties as Indian soldiers fought back and defended Indian territory. Sources say that as many as 43 have been deemed casualties and the number could be far more, though China is not confirming the numbers.
Skirmish between Indian and Chinese soldiers at Galwan valley
The savage combat between the Indian and Chinese soldiers at the Galwan Valley touched off after Indian troopers under the leadership of Colonel Babu reportedly demolished a Chinese tent erected near a position code-named Patrol Point 14, in the vicinity of the mouth of the Galwan river. The Chinese tent was pulled apart under the disengagement plan agreed after the meeting between Lieutenant General Harinder Singh, who commands the Leh-based XIV Corps, and Major-General Lin Liu, the head of the Xinjiang military district.
However, just in a span of 2 days of the disengagement plan agreed between the two Generals, the PLA constructed a new tent at Patrol Point 14, on a territory claimed by India. As per government sources quoted by media reports, Colonel Babu’s unit was given the responsibility of getting the fresh tent put up by the Chinese removed.
However, the Chinese bailed on the earlier agreed disengagement plan and denied vacating the Patrol Point 14 which resulted in a brawl in which the Chinese tent was incinerated, the government sources claim.
The sources added that the destruction of the Chinese there were some skirmishes between the troops and Sunday and then on Monday night, Chinese soldiers from the PLA had attacked by stealth on Indian troops. As per a report in Navbharat Times, massive rocks and stones were hurled at the Indian side from the ridge above Point 14, sources said.
The killing marks the highest losses of the Indian Army since the Kargil war in 1999 and represent the most fierce border brawl between India and China since 1967, when 88 Indian soldiers and as many as 340 PLA soldiers perished during the clashes near the Nathu La and Cho La passes, the strategic points along India’s eastern border with China.
Chinese casualties in the clashes at Galwan Valley
Though Beijing has been tight-lipped about the casualties endured by the Chinese side in the skirmishes at Galwan Valley, unofficial reports suggest at least 43 Chinese troopers have been killed in the brawl. According to a US intel report, 35 PLA personnel have perished in the border skirmish.
As per the latest reports, a Chinese Commanding Officer was also among those killed. ANI has cited Army sources as saying that casualties on the Chinese side may be significant.
It is notable here that the LAC falls under extremely difficult terrain where maintaining supply lines and provisions are very difficult. While Army sources quoted in media have stated that the casualties may go up, given the harsh conditions and exposure, there are also speculations on whether the hostility between the troops will now escalate further.
Chennai Super Kings, the IPL Franchise, on Wednesday suspended its official team doctor, Dr Madhu Thottappillil, for mocking the Indian soldiers martyred at the Ladakh standoff by hands of Chinese army.
On Tuesday, after the news of the Indian soldiers losing their lives while fighting Chinese forces in Galwan valley, Ladakh broke, when people expressed shock and anger, Dr Madhu Thottappillil, who was the official team doctor of the Chennai Super Kings, joked whether the coffins of the martyred soldiers will come with a “PM CARES” sticker on them.
Tweet by Dr Mathu Thottappillil (image courtesy: @sircaustick on Twitter)
In a bid to make fun of the PM CARES fund which is being utilised to manufacture ventilators amid the Chinese coronavirus outbreak, Thottappillil made the distasteful comment.
Following this, Chennai Super Kings, on Wednesday, regretted the tweet which was in poor taste and said that they have suspended his services.
The Chennai Super Kings Management was not aware of the personal tweet of Dr. Madhu Thottappillil. He has been suspended from his position as the Team Doctor.
Chennai Super Kings regrets his tweet which was without the knowledge of the Management and in bad taste.
“The Chennai Super Kings Management was not aware of the personal tweet of Dr. Madhu Thottappillil. He has been suspended from his position as the Team Doctor. Chennai Super Kings regrets his tweet which was without the knowledge of the Management and in bad taste,” Chennai Super Kings said in a tweet.
Ladakh standoff at Galwan Valley
A violent face-off took place between Indian and Chinese troops on the intervening night of 15th and 16th June which led to casualties on both the sides. While India has confirmed 20 casualties, the Chinese authorities have not given official figures. However, it is believed that the casualties of Chinese troops would be above 40.
Newly-released access-to-information documents have revealed shocking details of how a shipment of deadly pathogens from Canada’s National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg was received by the Wuhan Institute of Virology, months before the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic. It is being reported that the delivery of 15 different lethal pathogens was made in May 2019.
According to a report by CBC News, the scientist who was responsible for exporting the pathogens to China was sacked after an investigation in July last year. Dr Xiangguo Qiu, the person who was allegedly behind this delivery, was terminated from Canada’s only level-4 lab over what the lab called a possible “policy breach”. Earlier it was reported that Canada had dispatched Ebola and Henipah viruses to the Wuhan lab.
The documents show that a total of 15 different virus samples were sent from Canada to the Chinese laboratory, each in two vials. The pathogens were:- Ebola Makona (three different varieties), Mayinga, Kikwit, Ivory Coast, Bundibugyo, Sudan Boniface, Sudan Gulu, MA-Ebov, GP-Ebov, GP-Sudan, Hendra, Nipah Malaysia and Nipah Bangladesh.
The documents accessed by CBC show that Canadian scientists were about the send the virus samples in an incorrect packaging on a commercial Air Canada flight on March 31, 2019. But correct packaging was used only after the Chinese side pointed out that Canadians are using the wrong packaging to ship the deadly pathogens.
Canada denies connection between the virus shipment and coronavirus outbreak
The Canadian Lab has, however, said that the shipments had nothing to do with the coronavirus outbreak and moreover it said that the termination of the Chinese scientist, Dr Xiangguo Qiu from the Winnipeg lab was also not related to the shipment.
The chief of media relations for Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, Eric Morrissette, wrote in an email: “The administrative investigation is not related to the shipment of virus samples to China.
“In response to a request from the Wuhan Institute of Virology for viral samples of Ebola and Henipah viruses, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) sent samples for the purpose of scientific research in 2019.”
Along with PHAC, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has also denied any connections between the pandemic and the virus shipments. There is no evidence linking this shipment to the spread of the coronavirus. Ebola is a filovirus and Henipa is a paramyxovirus; no coronavirus samples were sent.
Despite the Canadian media reports, the Chinese side has also never officially disclosed any information about the alleged virus transfer from Canada.
Despite clarifications, experts are not convinced. Amir Attaran, a law professor and epidemiologist at the University of Ottawa, was quoted by CBC News as saying: “It is suspicious. It is alarming. It is potentially life-threatening.”
Experts displeased by the Canadian Government’s decision to export the pathogens to China
Alarmed by the act, Amir Attaran said that the shipment was sent to the Chinese lab knowing that it has links to the Chinese military: “What we know is that before she was removed, she sent one of the deadliest viruses on Earth, and multiple varieties of it to maximise the genetic diversity and maximise what experimenters in China could do with it, to a laboratory in China that does dangerous gain of function experiments. And that has links to the Chinese military,” Attaran said.
Talking about the “gain of function experiment”, in which a natural pathogen is taken into the lab, made to mutate, and then assessed to see if it has become more deadly or infectious, the law professor furthered: “The Wuhan lab does them and we have now supplied them with Ebola and Nipah viruses. It does not take a genius to understand that this is an unwise decision. I am extremely unhappy to see that the Canadian government shared that genetic material,” said Attaran.
Though the Canadian officials have consistently denied any connections between the COVID-19 pandemic and the virus shipments and stated that there is no evidence linking the shipments to the spread of the coronavirus, given the fact that the pandemic is said to have originated in Wuhan, news of the “policy breach” is a cause of concern. Especially considering that the revelation has come during the time when the diplomatic relationship between China and the West remains volatile.
While America has repeatedly blamed China for its campaign of “disinformation” related to the coronavirus, Tobias Ellwood, an MP of the United Kingdom, in an exclusive interview with Express.co.uk, said: “COVID-19, if it’s done anything, it has woken up the world to this rather aggressive and concerning the objective of China wanting to quietly advance its own influence across the world.”
An ancient temple of Lord Nageswara was unearthed in Penna River near Peramalla Padu village in Chejarla Mandal of Nellore district in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday. The temple was reportedly buried in the sand.
A local said that the temple was well known some two-three generations ago. The temple was filled up with sand almost 80-years ago. As per reports, some villagers took the initiative to find out the temple. It took them one day to discover the pinnacle of the temple.
A resident of Perumallapadu village, Vara Prasad said, “This 200-year-old temple was quite popular among the villagers. The elders of our villagers told us that this shrine was filled with sand 75-80 years ago. Later, those villagers shifted to the other side and the temple was also ruined.”
He added, “Then, one day a man Galipala Sudarsan initiated to bring this temple out. The sanctum sanctorum is much deeper and the area in which it was found is Mukha Mantapam. We are now planning to reconstruct the temple but where it should be made is the dilemma. We have to check the condition and status of Lord Shiva’s Idol. We will seek advice from the elders and the priests.
The efforts are on to bring out the temple from the depth of the river bed.
500-Year old Gopinath temple emerges from the Mahanadi waters
Prior to this, a 500-year-old Gopinath temple emerged from the waters of Mahanadi during an ongoing project by the Mahanadi Valley Heritage Site Documentation Project by INTACH under which the remains of this temple were spotted and documented. The ancient submerged temple was discovered in the Mahanadi upstream from Cuttack.
At one time there were 22 temples at this place and all of them submerged into the river after water levels rose. When the water level is low, you can see the front of the Gopinath temples as it was one of the biggest temples of that time.
1100 year old monolithic Sandstone Shivling unearthed in Vietnam
The Archaeological Survey of India unearthed an 1100-year-old monolithic sandstone Shivling during its conservation project at Vietnam’s Cham temple complex in My Son Sanctuary. The structure dates back to the 9th century.
The 9th-century fully intact Shivling is part of a complex of Hindu temples which were constructed by the Champa Empire between 4th century CE and 13th century CE in My Son sanctuary, in Quảng Nam province, central Vietnam.
India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar who shared the news on Twitter termed it as ‘Reaffirming a civilizational connect’ and applauded the Archeological Survey of India for its efforts.
Electronics giants Samsung and OnePlus have announced that they will produce televisions in India. According to a report published in Economic Times, the two leading international electronics brands have announced that they will start manufacturing most of their television sets in India.
Both companies have partnered with Chinese electronics firm Skyworth that has its manufacturing plant in Hyderabad. Skyworth runs its operations in India as a joint venture with an Indian partner. For the time being, they will produce 32-inch and 43-inch television sets in the Hyderabad plant.
India can potentially become the next manufacturing hub
After the Covid-19 spread that started in China, the supply chain got disrupted for many companies across the world that had their manufacturing plants in China. Many brands have decided to move their plants to other nations. India is one of the leading choices for many brands.
Samsung has announced that it will reduce the number of TVs imported from plants in other countries and manufacture up to 90 percent of all the company sales in India. On the other hand, after the launch of its televisions in India, OnePlus has announced domestic production in the country.
Samsung has announced that it will expand its association with Dixon Technologies to produce smart TV variants from 43-inch to 58-inch in India. As of now, Dixon is already manufacturing 32-inch and 43-inch television sets for the company.
Local manufacturing will help in increasing profits
One of the main advantages these companies will get from manufacturing open cell TV panels in India is the zero duty component. It will help the companies increase their profits, and the Indian customers will eventually benefit from the price too. In 2018, the Korean giant Samsung moved out of its manufacturing unit from India after the government imposed duties on open cell panels. The finished product was being imported from Vietnam through a free trade route. Last year the Indian government decided to reduce the duty and brought it back to zero. OnePlus is currently importing televisions from China.
Leading television brands like LG, Xiaomi, Panasonic, and Sony already have manufacturing plants in India.
