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Government issues safety guidelines to restart factories post lockdown after Styrene gas leak incident in Vishakhapatnam

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Government issues safety guidelines to restart factories post lockdown after Styrene gas leak incident in Vishakhapatnam

Three days after Styrene gas leak in a polystyrene plant in Vishakhapatnam on Thursday killed 11 people and made hundreds of people ill, the govt has issued safety guidelines to be followed while restarting factories after the lockdown. On Sunday, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued guidelines to resume operations in industries, post the nationwide Coronavirus lockdown. The incident at the LG Polymers factory had happened while the plant was trying to restart after being shut for more than a month due to the Coronavirus Lockdown.

The Indian economy had taken a major hit during the lockdown, a crucial step towards ensuring social distancing in public and checking the spread of the Chinese virus. Now the government has decided to slowly relax the restrictions so that the economy can be brought back to the track.

In its official order shared by Union Cabinet Minister, Piyush Goyal, the NDMA has asked all industries to “not try to achieve production targets” but instead focus on ensuring implementation of safety protocols. The order read, “As a result (of the lockdown), some of the manufacturing facilities, pipelines, valves, etc. may have residual chemicals, which may pose risk.”

Generic Safety Protocols

The NDMA has issued generic safety guidelines for industries and workers, as well as specific industry-based protocols such as product storage, manufacturing, and raw material storage. The employers have been advised to make the employees sensitive to abnormal smell, leakage, smoke, and other hazardous signs such that they raise alarm immediately

Industries have been recommended to seek the help of District administration in case of difficulties in managing backward linkages. They have been directed to ensure lockout and tag out procedures on a daily basis, amidst the Coronavirus outbreak. Industries have also been instructed to inspect all equipment during the restart phase.

Industry Specific-Safety Protocols

For industries dealing with the storage of raw materials, they have been advised to check containers, large vessels, pipelines, vaults, and conveyor belts for possible wear and tear during the lockdown. Chemical stability of stored HAZMAT chemicals must be ensured before using it for various processes. Abnormalities such as unfamiliar smell or sound should also be flagged at the earliest.

The NDMA has instructed industries involved in manufacturing processes to run a safety audit before initiating activities. Moreover, equipment such as furnaces, heat exchangers, boilers, pipelines must be checked for possible wear and tear while the functionality of temperature and pressure gauges ought to be tested.

Manufacturing industries have been specifically directed to undergo three crucial tests, namely tightness test, service test, and vacuum hold tests. For industries involved in product storage, the NDMA has advised checking storage facilities for damage.

Safety Guidelines for Workers

Industries must implement a sanitisation routine every 2-3 hours to ensure safety of workers. It is mandatory to check temperature of workers, twice a day. Employees with symptoms of Coronavirus have been barred from working. It is the responsibility of the management to provide sanitisers, personal protective equipment such as masks and glove to the workers.

As per MHA guidelines, administrative and managerial staff should work at 1/3rd capacity. Plus, it must ensured that no equipment used by one worker is shared by the other. Factories also need to provide accomodation to isolate worker, if such a need arose.

Industrial Mishap in Visakhapatnam

The safety protocols outlined by the NDMA come at the backdrop of Styrene gas leak from LG Polymers plant at RR Venkatapuram village in Andhra Pradesh that has affected 5000 people and killed 11. Reportedly, due to the failure of the refrigeration unit, the temperature of the tanks rose. The Styrene started evaporating and its gas built up inside the tank. When the plant prepared to resume operation after relaxations were announced in Coronavirus lockdown, the gas evaporated from the tanks and spread in the atmosphere.

US college apologises after Islamists threaten professor over quiz stating terrorists strive to emulate prophet Muhammad

OpIndia Staff
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US college apologises after Islamists threaten professor over quiz stating terrorists strive to emulate prophet Muhammad

Scottsdale Community College in Arizona, United States of America has apologised over quiz questions where a professor asked multiple choice questions on Islam in a quiz. Screenshots of the quiz questions have gone viral on social media. As per reports, the first question was “Terrorism is ______ in Islam.” The multiple choice options were, “always forbidden”, “Justified within the context of jihad”, “justified under international law” or “always justified”. The correct answer for the quiz was reportedly ‘justified within context of jihad’.

Second question was “Where is terrorism encouraged in Islamic doctrine and law?”. The options were, “terrorism is not encouraged in Islamic doctrine and law”, “the Medina verses”, “the Muhammad verses” and “the Mecca verses.” The correct answer for the quiz was reportedly “the Medina verses”. Reportedly, the Medina verses refer to the portion of the Qur’an traditionally understood as having been revealed later in Muhammad’s prophetic career.

The third question was, “Who do terrorists strive to emulate?” The options for this question were, “Prophet Muhammad”, “Ibn Tamiyyah”, “Saddam Hussein” and “Osama Bin Laden”. The correct answer for this quiz question was reportedly Prophet Muhammad.

Following the questions, the professor who had set the quiz started receiving threats.

Images via frontpagemag.com

As reported by frontpagemag, the professor and the college started receiving threats from those who took an offence to the quiz. After that, the college put up an apology on social media.

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Earlier this week, a student at Scottsdale Community College took a quiz as part of the class coursework. The student expressed concern over the wording of three questions related to Islam on the quiz. SCC senior leadership has reviewed the quiz questions and agrees with the student that the content was inaccurate, inappropriate, and not reflective of the inclusive nature of our college. SCC deeply apologizes to the student and to anyone in the broader community who was offended by the material. SCC Administration has addressed with the instructor the offensive nature of the quiz questions and their contradiction to the college’s values. The instructor will be apologizing to the student shortly, and the student will receive credit for the three questions. The questions will be permanently removed from any future tests. We applaud the student for bringing this to our attention – and encourage any student or employee to speak out. SCC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in our programs or activities. We value inclusiveness because we all benefit by embracing a diversity of voices, viewpoints, and experiences. SCC cultivates success when individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds are respected and empowered to contribute. Chris Haines Interim President Scottsdale Community College

A post shared by Scottsdale Community College (@scottsdalecc) on

The college also said that the above questions will be permanently removed from any future tests.

Kerala professor hand chopped off over exam question

On 4th July 2010, professor TJ Joseph, faculty of the Newmans College at Thodupuzha in Idukki, was attacked by the members of Popular Front of India, a radical Muslim group, alleging that one of his questions in an internal examination paper, which was reportedly set by Joseph, had derogatory remarks on Prophet Mohammed. The Muslim radicals attacked the professor as a punishment for the alleged irreverent reference to Prophet Mohammed in a question paper that he prepared. The professor was returning home along with his family after attending Sunday mass when he was attacked and one of his hands was chopped off by the accused.

For the Malayalam question paper, Joseph had selected a paragraph from a short story by CPI(M) leader PT Kunju Mohammed to test students on punctuation. In the story, a nameless villager questions god. When setting the question, Joseph had named this villager Mohammed. This had created a furore after a newspaper affiliated with the Jamaat-e-Islami sensationalised the issue by equating it with blasphemy.

Of the 31 people nabbed by the NIA in the case, 13 were found guilty and the rest were acquitted.

India’s New Education Policy will be based on Vedic Knowledge combined with Science: HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal

OpIndia Staff
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India’s New Education Policy will be based on Vedic Knowledge combined with Science: HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal

Union Human Resource Development Minister Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ on Saturday said that the country’s new education policy will be based on Vedic knowledge-science as per the vision of Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya.

HRD Minister said this on Saturday while inaugurating the three-day national webinar titled ‘Covid-19: The Mahamana’s Indian vision in global context’ organised by Mahamana Malaviya Mission, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi.

Speaking at the event, Pokhariyal said, “The whole world is looking towards India. At present, the ideas of Mahamana are certainly very important for us. Our cultural heritage is our strength. Based on the vision of Mahamana, we will bring a new education policy that will be based on Vedic knowledge and science. It will come true to Mahamana’s vision and meet his expectations. Ancient knowledge should become part of every discipline”.

He said that we have to combine our ancient knowledge with modern science and technology to move forward in future. The minister noted that the nation needs to act with solidarity in tough times to win the fight against the coronavirus.

Dr Krishn Gopal, the joint general secretary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, said that Mahamana Malviya always emphasised on the pattern of education that should be a blend of worldly knowledge and spiritual wisdom and established BHU on these tenets. 

Read- Congress government in Rajasthan to set up Vedic Shiksha and Sanskar Board: Ashok Gehlot

“Civilization changes after a few years, while the culture is everlasting. Mansahar (Non-vegetarian) food is the root cause of corona pandemic. The carnivore now stands before us in a gruesome form. Mahamana and Gandhi Ji had never accepted non-vegetarianism. We need to follow Vedic culture,” Gopal added.

BHU vice-chancellor Prof Rakesh Bhatnagar presided over the event and highlighted the importance of maintaining hygiene and spreading awareness.

Underlining on Mahamana’s belief of all-round development, Prof Bhatnagar laid emphasis on education and character building and also gave an overview of how teachers are contributing to the fight against coronavirus by facilitating students with online lectures and reading materials.

The webinar witnessed the virtual participation of more than 2000 participants.

Angered by lockdown restrictions, Elon Musk threatens to move Tesla headquarters, factory out of California

OpIndia Staff
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Angered by lockdown restrictions, Elon Musk threatens to move Tesla headquarters, factory out of California

Elon Musk, the chief of Tesla, Inc. – an American electric vehicle and clean energy company, on Saturday threatened to pull his electric car headquarters and manufacturing plant out of California after local authorities refused to grant him the permission to resume production amid coronavirus pandemic.

Taking to Twitter, Elon Musk threatened to sue over Alameda County Health Department coronavirus restrictions which did not allow the Tesla facility from restarting production its factory in Fremont south of San Francisco. The electric-car maker has filed a complaint with the US District Court in San Francisco. 

Irked by the decision of health authorities, Elon Musk lashed out at the California county for blocking Tesla from restarting its operation in its only US car plant in California. Elon Musk also threatened to shift the company’s headquarters to Texas or Nevada, where shelter-in-place rules are less restrictive.

“If we even retain Fremont manufacturing activity at all, it will be dependent on how Tesla is treated in the future,” he tweeted. The San Francisco Bay area facility is currently Tesla’s only US vehicle factory.

Reportedly, Tesla stated that the county’s health order violates due process and “puts businesses deemed critical to the nation’s well-being by the federal and state governments between a rock and a hard place.” Earlier, Tesla had hoped that they could restart the production in its California factory at the beginning of May but was prevented by local authorities.

According to Guardian report, Musk had told employees on Thursday that limited production would restart at Fremont from Friday afternoon. The Tesla California plant was closed on March 23 under a six-county order in the San Francisco area, which has been extended through May 31. Tesla manufactures over 415,000 cars a year at the Fremont facility and moving the entire production facility will be a massive challenge.

Musk also highlighted the company’s operations in China, where the production of electric cars has resumed after the country’s coronavirus lockdown was lifted. “Tesla knows far more about what needs to be done to be safe through our Tesla China factory experience than an (unelected) interim junior official,” he tweeted.

Anti-lockdown protests in USA

Massive protests have continued in the United States, as several people have taken to streets over the past month demanding the withdrawal of lockdown imposed due to coronavirus epidemic.

The Americans have protested on the pretext that the lockdown in the country has curtailed that their constitutional rights and freedom. Several protestors were also frustrated that they could not work as they have lost their jobs due to state lockdowns.  

The protests in the United States seeking withdrawal of lockdown restrictions come despite the country has been devastated by the Chinese epidemic. The cry for the easing of restrictions comes at a time when the US has lost more than 80,000 people to coronavirus. More than 1.3 million people have been affected by the Chinese epidemic in the United States of America.

Previously shunted by Maha Vikas Aghadi, ex-Mumbai Metro chief Ashwini Bhide brought back to handle coronavirus crisis

OpIndia Staff
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Previously shunted by Maha Vikas Aghadi, ex-Mumbai Metro chief Ashwini Bhide brought back to handle coronavirus crisis

Nearly four months after Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government had transferred Ashwini Bhide, the Managing Director (MD) of Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited for taking on Shiv Sena prince Aditya Thackeray over Aarey Metro Rail car shed issue, the Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government has brought back the IAS officer to handle the out-of-control coronavirus crisis in the state.

On Friday, the Maharashtra Government, facing massive criticism over their failure to contain the coronavirus spread in the state, had transferred Brihanmumbai Municipal corporation (BMC) commissioner Pravin Pardeshi. The transfer of BMC commissioner was seen as an act of shifting the blame on the bureaucracy for the misdeeds of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra.

Soon, Pravin Pardeshi was replaced as Mumbai commissioner by Iqbal Chahal. Ashwini Bhide, who was shunted out from Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation for taking on Aaditya Thackeray, was soon appointed as the additional commissioner in the BMC by the Maharashtra government.

Aaditya Thackeray vs Ashwini Bhide

Senior IAS officer Bhide was the former MD of MMRC, who was at the forefront of implementing the Mumbai Metro 3 project. There were reports that Aaditya Thackeray was unhappy over Bhide’s insistence on Aarey Metro Car Shed Project.

The previous state government’s plan to cut about 2,700 trees in Aarey Colony in north Mumbai for car shed of the metro had green activists and citizens’ groups up in the arms including Sena heir-apparent Aaditya Thackeray. However, Bhide as the head of MMRCL had vociferously defended the metro project at Aarey by stating that it was impossible to shift the car shed anywhere else as suggested by Shiv Sena leader Thackeray and few other green activists.

Thackeray had even expressed his anger and annoyance at Bhide for her staunch support of the car shed project. Following the displeasure of Aditya Thackeray, she was removed from the post.

With Maharashtra government facing massive criticism over handling the coronavirus crisis, perhaps Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray seems to have to realised that utilising services of honest, upright officers could save him from further embarrassment.

West Bengal: “No Coronavirus testing, no drinking water”, People quarantined at Asansol ESI Hospital create ruckus

OpIndia Staff
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West Bengal: “No Coronavirus testing, no drinking water”, People quarantined at Asansol ESI Hospital create ruckus

On Saturday, people who were quarantined at the ESI hospital in Asansol in West Bengal reportedly created nuisance due to a lack of water supply in toilets and access to drinking water. People kept under quarantine at the hospital also said that they were not being tested for the Wuhan Coronavirus.

Another person stranded at the quarantine centre complained that 1 litre of water had been provided for 32 people. Pointing out the unhygienic conditions under which they were forced to live, the individual said that the food was transported in dirty vehicles. Another person requested the hospital authorities to get them tested for the Chinese virus. “If found negative, let us go”, the person reiterated. The individual added, “Until we get the report, we won’t eat anything.”

One person named Abdul Karim Hussain said that they were told they will be allowed to go home after the reports of their tests come. But till now even the tests have not been done, so there is no question of getting reports. He said that the toilets don’t have water, and the place from where drinking water can be collected has been kept locked.

Coronavirus in West Bengal

Aa of May 9, 1786 people have tested positive for the Chinese virus in the State of West Bengal. The deplorable conditions of the government-run facilities could be seen in a video shared by Babul Supriyo, BJP MP from Asansol. The man holding the camera highlighted a dead body lying unattended on a bed for over 2-3 hours.

Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT), in a letter to the State Secretary, pointed out the “extremely high mortality rate” of Coronavirus in the State of West Bengal. It attributed the weak surveillance of the government and the low testing conducted in the State as the cause behind the high mortality rate.

While “No non-Muslim slaughterer” Halal is mainstream, police in Chennai arrest Jain Bakery owner for “No Muslim staffs” advertisement

OpIndia Staff
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While “No non-Muslim slaughterer” Halal is mainstream, police in Chennai arrest Jain Bakery owner for “No Muslim staffs” advertisement

At a time when people are outraging over the mainstreaming of the non-inclusive Islamic practice of ‘Halal’, in a shocking act of misuse of law, the Chennai police have arrested an owner of a pure vegetarian Bakery for putting out cautionary information stating that it employed no Muslims to prepare food items.

According to the reports, the owner of Jain Bakeries and Confectioneries in Chennai’s T Nagar had put out an advertisement on Whatsapp pointing out that all their orders are “made by Jains” and no Muslim staff were engaged for the purpose.

The ad by the Bakery

As the post went viral on social media platforms, police arrested Prasanth, the owner of the bakery, and booked him under various sections of the IPC. The shop owner has been booked under sections 153 (provocation to cause riot), 153A, 505 (inciting commission of an offence against another community) and 295A (insult a class of people) IPC.

It may be noted that nowadays many food products are label as Halal certified, which means not only that the products are manufactured according to Islamic practices, but many times it also means that only Muslims are employed in the entire production and packaging chain of such Halal certified products. For example, the guidelines for preparing Halal certified meat make it abundantly clear that only Muslim employees are allowed to participate in the entire process at every stage from slaughtering to packaging, and if any non-Muslim is involved in the process, the product becomes Haram, or not allowed as per Islam.

Scare among public after videos of spitting on food went viral

The shocking arrests of the bakery owner come amidst several incidents of Muslims indulging in the deliberate act of spitting on food items were reported. Many videos exposing Muslim vegetable and fruit-sellers spitting on their produce, presumably to spread coronavirus had gone viral recently.

Just a few days back, an equally appalling incident has come to light from a bakery in Maharashtra’s Amravati. The viral video is from a bakery in the Amravati district of Maharashtra where an individual, Abdul Nazim Sheikh Mahmood (29), was seen slicing the loaves of bread and spitting on them.

Earlier in March, a video of a certain Sheru Miyan, licking the fruits which he displays in a cart for sale went viral on social media. In the video, the fruit vendor in Raisen, Madhya Pradesh, is seen arranging a variety of fruits on his cart, which he parks in the middle of a marketplace.

After videos of such heinous acts by members of the Muslim community being exposed across the country, people were naturally revolted against such incidents, resulting in them being more careful about purchasing goods from unhygienic vendors.

Cremations and burials according to Coronavirus protocol and COVID-19 deaths in hospitals in Delhi far exceed state govt’s numbers: Report

OpIndia Staff
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Cremations and burials according to Coronavirus protocol and COVID-19 deaths in hospitals in Delhi far exceed state govt’s numbers: Report

There is a mismatch between the data provided by the Delhi Government and the actual number of Coronavirus deaths, reported Dainik Bhaskar. While the Government has claimed that only 68 people have died till Saturday, cremations, and burials conducted in accordance with Coronavirus protocols, exceed a whopping 300.

Screengrab of the Dainik Bhaskar report

Patient Deaths

Following the death of a Coronavirus patient, the last rites are performed according to the guidelines issued by the Central Government. According to the report, a total of 314 last rites according to Coronavirus protocol has taken place in Delhi so far. Among them, 225 were Hindu patients, cremation of whom was conducted at Nigam Bodh (153) and Punjabi Bagh (72).

The number of Muslims who were buried until at the ITO Kabristan until Saturday in accordance with the Coronavirus protocol stood at 89. As per the report, 3 Muslims were buried on Saturday itself. The same was confirmed by the Secretary of the Administrative Committee, Hazi Faizuddin. He further informed that the hospital authorities call the Kabristan authorities in advance before bringing the corpse of an infected patient. As such, the workers at the morgue stay prepared.

The same was confirmed by the Chairman of Standing Committee of North MCD, Jayprakash JP. He also informed that MCD is in possession of all such documents. JP also accused the Delhi Government of playing politics over the issue and forging the data. “They must tell the reality to the world and make people aware”, he emphasised.

South MCD Chairman (Standing Committee), Bhupendra Gupta said, “We cremate patients using Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) after Coronavirus patients are brought here to perform their last rites.” He said that the 72 cremations were conducted at the Punjabi Bagh crematorium following all the procedure prescribed for COVID-19 patients.

Charges of Data Manipulation

Not only the numbers of Coronavirus funerals don’t match with official death numbers of the Delhi, the number of deaths at hospitals in Delhi also does not match with the same. According to the report, 18 people had died at AIIMS while 52 people have died at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital coronavirus. The Medical Superintendent of the Ram Manohar Lohia hospital informed that 52 Coronavirus patients have died in the hospital, while around 528 Coronavirus positive patients are admitted to their hospital. On the other hand, 3 people had died at the AIIMS Jhajjar centre, and 15 people had expired at the AIIMS trauma centre.

Allegations of data manipulation over Coronavirus deaths have also surfaced at the Lady Hardinge hospital, Lok Nayak Hospital and Rajiv Gandhi hospital. Sources told Dainik Bhaskar that 47 people have died at Lok Nayak Hospital, 6 people at the Rajiv Gandhi hospital, and 3 people died at Lady Hardinge and Lok Nayak (47). But, the health bulletin of the Delhi Government had cited different numbers. It has claimed only 26 deaths at Lok Nayak hospital, 5 at Rajiv Gandhi hospital, and 0 at Lady Hardinge.

‘No Foul Play’, claims Delhi Government

The Apollo Hospital had, however, ruled out any discrepancies in data. It said that the government’s data matched with their records of 8 Coronavirus deaths. Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain said, “Statistics can’ be hidden. The hospitals have to provide information about Coronvirus patients and their deaths to the State Government. The same is communicated to the Centre.”

Allegations of Coverup against West Bengal Government

The West Bengal Government has been accused of concealing the data on total Coronavirus cases. Highlighting the lack of transparency and vicious attempts to downplay the outbreak of the Chinese virus in the State, the Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) had earlier emphasised on the need for consistent reporting and daily surveillance of patients in hotspots.

IMCT also pointed out the discrepancy in data released by the State Government about the status of the pandemic in the State. At one time, the West Bengal Government put the number of infected patients at 744. However, it stated the figure of 931 infected patients while briefing the Union Health Ministry on the same day.

Journalist Deepak Chaurasia threatened over reporting the Palghar Sadhu lynching and questioning Tablighi Jamaat chief Maulana Saad, files FIRs

OpIndia Staff
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Journalist Deepak Chaurasia threatened over reporting the Palghar Sadhu lynching and questioning Tablighi Jamaat chief Maulana Saad, files FIRs

Journalist Deepak Chaurasia has filed two separate FIRs with Gautam Buddha Nagar over threats he has been receiving for reportage on Palghar Sadhu lynching as well as Tablighi Jamaat chief Maulana Saad. Chaurasia took to microblogging site Twitter to share the copies of the FIRs.

Deepak Chaurasia filed an FIR (image courtesy: screenshot of FIR copy shared by Chaurasia)

In first FIR, Chaurasia talks about incessant threats he has been receiving over phone since past few days. “Most of these threats are from Maharashtra. I have done a few shows on the Palghar Sadhu lynching. My channel News Nation has been trying to highlight the Palghar Sadhu lynching over the past few days. Following this, I have been receiving threatening phone calls and WhatsApp messages,” Chaurasia mentions in his FIR. He further added that ever since he tweeted in support of Republic TV’s Arnab Goswami who was attacked by Youth Congress workers for questioning Sonia Gandhi’s silence, the intensity of threats have increased.

Deepak Chaurasia filed an FIR (image courtesy: screenshot of FIR copy shared by Chaurasia)

In second FIR, Chaurasia says that he has been getting threats because of the reportage of Tablighi Jamaat amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Journalists threatened for questioning Congress and Islamists

Recently, Republic TV chief Arnab Goswami and his wife were attacked by two Youth Congress workers hours after he questioned Sonia Gandhi’s silence over Palghar lynching. Sonia Gandhi’s party, Congress, is currently in power in Maharashtra with Shiv Sena and NCP as alliance partners. Following the criticism, Goswami was attacked by Congress leaders and supporters on social media with some even urging Congress supporters to take to streets to attack Goswami. Later, an FIR was also filed against Goswami wherein Mumbai Police grilled him for over twelve hours for questioning Sonia Gandhi alias Antonia Maino. Similarly, an FIR was recently registered against Zee News’ Sudhir Chaudhary for explaining different types of jihad through a flow chart in his TV show.

Indian Army confronts Chinese troops in Naku La sector of Sikkim, few soldiers injured

OpIndia Staff
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Indian Army confronts Chinese troops in Naku La sector of Sikkim, few soldiers injured

An incident of a face-off between Indian and Chinese soldiers took place along the Sikkim border on Sunday, reports news agency ANI.

According to the reports, the aggressive confrontation by the Chinese forces occurred near the Naku La pass, which is at an altitude of more than 5,000 metres. A few soldiers were injured in the border stand-off as they fought with each other.

A Times Now report pointed out that four Indian soldiers and seven Chinese personnel suffered minor injuries during the confrontation that involved around 150 soldiers. However, the troops disengaged after local level interaction and dialogue between senior personnel.

It should be noted that temporary and short duration face-offs along the Sikkim border occur as the boundary is not resolved. Troops resolve such issues mutually as per established protocols, reported ANI quoting an Army officer.

The confrontation between Indian and Chinese troops comes at the backdrop of the recent visit to the Eastern sector by Indian Army chief General MM Naravane. The Army chief had visited various field formations in Easter India, in including Sukna, Binnaguri, Panagarh and had interacted extensively with the troops deployed on the ground and took stock of the situation along the borders.

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