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Air India may begin operation from mid-May, operations to begin in major cities once lockdown ends: Reports

OpIndia Staff
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Air India may begin operation from mid-May, operations to begin in major cities once lockdown ends: Reports

As India is inching towards normalcy following the relaxations of certain restrictions imposed during the lockdown, preparations are being made to facilitate the movement of people across the country once the coronavirus lockdown ends.

With lockdown is expected to end in next few days, the national carrier Air India (AI) has asked its pilots and cabin crew details to be ready to resume operations once lockdown is over by mid-May this year, reports ANI.

According to an internal mail, accessed by ANI, which was sent to the operation staff, Air India has sought crew availability and details for transport security pass for domestic and international operations.

“Dear All concerned, There is a probability to commence 25 per cent to 30 per cent operations post-lockdown in mid-May 2020. You are requested to ensure and provide the following: Total No. of Cockpit / Cabin Crew residing outside municipal limits of the bases,” the communication read.

Further Air India has also asked the Executive Director (ED) to ensure necessary arrangements and curfew passes for the crew.

“Ensure crew transport for all crew at all stations, domestic as well as International. The data at bullet 1 may be provided on priority, to enable this office to intimate ED (Security) to arrange for their curfew pass,” the AI letter said.

Limited operation of airports in Tier-1 cities: AAI

Meanwhile, the Airport Authority of India has also released a set of guidelines for the resumption of service post-lockdown. The guidelines stated that once restrictions on passenger flights are lifted, airports will facilitate limited domestic and international scheduled flights in phases at 30% capacity to facilitate social distancing.

Further, it added that the flight operations are likely to be scaled up in a gradual manner in the upcoming months. Similarly, airlines are likely to operate between tier-I cities initially.

“Initially it is presumed that airline operations will be limited to Tier-I cities i.e. Metros and some of the state capitals and major Tier-II cities. The flights’ schedule may be cleared on City Pair basis, so the origin and Destination Airports are open fully from lockdown situation,” the standard operating procedure for recommencement of operations at AAI Airports post lockdown read.

The SOP also stated that at initially only one terminal shall be used in airports with more than one terminal. The larger terminal will be reduced to ensure proper sanitation considering the limited availability of material resources. Strict social distancing norms will be introduced inside the planes to ensure space between two passengers.

India has suspended international flights since March 22 while domestic flights were prohibited from March 25. The current lockdown period is scheduled till May 3 for now.

MHA to allow movement of migrants, students, etc

Earlier, the Union Home Ministry had allowed the states to facilitate the movement of people stranded in various states, including migrant labourers. This move will allow students, migrant workers, tourists etc to go to their homes from their current locations.

The order issued by the Home Ministry had guidelines for movement of migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students who are stranded at different places due to the lockdown. The centre had asked the states and union territories to designate nodal authorities and develop standard protocols for sending and receiving such persons. The movement of people will happen only by road.

Persons willing to move will be screened and only those having no symptoms will be allowed to move. Both the sending and receiving states will have to coordinate on the movement, and the states that fall in the route will allow the transit of such buses, the MHA had added in its communique.

This move will bring huge relief for lakhs of people who are stranded in different states due to the lockdown. As migrant workers have no work, and students have no classes to attend, all of them want to go home to be with families. 

Relaxations to certain districts

The government may give relaxations to many districts after May 4 and will issue new guidelines to fight the coronavirus. The Home Ministry has informed regarding the steps that are being considered after the scheduled lifting of the lockdown.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) stated that the fresh guidelines will give considerable relaxations to many districts. The details regarding the relaxations will be “communicated in the days to come”. The MHA held a comprehensive review meeting on the lockdown situation concluding that there have been tremendous gains and improvement in the situation due to lockdown till now. 

Assam: Thousands of pigs die of African Swine Fever, suspected to have come from China, sale of pork banned in 6 affected districts

OpIndia Staff
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Assam: Thousands of pigs die of African Swine Fever, suspected to have come from China, sale of pork banned in 6 affected districts

At a time when the country is battling out the Chinese pandemic coronavirus, the eight north-eastern states are staring at another new threat – African Swine Fever (ASF), which is suspected to be behind the mysterious deaths of thousands of pigs, reports Nagaland Post.

According to the animal resource experts in North East, the highly contagious ASF came to the region from Tibet in China through Arunachal Pradesh. Apart from Assam and Meghalaya, other states governments have also sounded a high alert and asked people, especially owners of piggeries, to refrain from transporting pigs across the states.

Assam Agriculture and Veterinary Minister Atul Bora said that more than 2,260 pigs have died in state’s six districts due to suspected ASF. The authorities have sent samples to the National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal and are waiting for confirmatory reports.

Bora said, “The pigs are dying of a foreign virus and we guess that it may have come from Tibet in China.”

According to animal resource experts, pigs generally are affected by Classical Fever, Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), besides the ASF.

Assam bans pork sale in affected districts, closes slaughter houses

Minister Bora stated that the ASF is being reported in the Dhemaji, Sivsagar, Lakhimpur, Jorhat, Dibrugarh and Biswanath districts. From 1964 on April 25, the death toll has reached 2262 in Assam in just three days.

The state of Assam has now banned the purchase and sale of pigs and pork in the affected districts, closed slaughterhouses and has banned movements from pig farms.

Meghalaya bans transportation of pigs

The Meghalaya government has already banned the transport of pigs from outside the state after the deaths of pigs in some districts of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

On Wednesday, Meghalaya’s Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said that the state issued a notification to ban ferrying of pigs from other states. A notification has been issued to all government and private pig farms and pig owners to take adequate and strict measures for hygiene and bio-security and restrict outsiders’ entry to pig farms.

“We have advised people to consume adequately cooked pork only (above 70 degrees celsius for at least 20 minutes),” the Deputy Chief Minister, who is in charge of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department said.

Tripura, Nagaland on high-alert

Meanwhile, Tripura’s Animal Resources Development Department Director and Additional Secretary Dilip Chakma said that after ASF outbreak in six districts of Assam and nine districts of Arunachal Pradesh, his department has alerted all government and private pig firms and pig owners to take adequate measures to prevent the disease.

Even Nagaland, in view of the reported outbreak of African Swine Fever, the state government has imposed a ban on import of pigs from outside the state with immediate effect. 

Rahul Gandhi attacks North Indian states for taking power away from Panchayats

OpIndia Staff
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Rahul Gandhi attacks North Indian states for taking power away from Panchayats

Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi has said that North Indian states are not empowering people as much as the South Indian states, because the North Indian states believe more in centralisation of power while South Indian states believe in ideas like Panchayati Raj.

The Gandhi family scion made this comment during his interaction with former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan, which was part of his newly announced series of interactions with experts around the coronavirus pandemic. The series is being seen as another coming of age of Rahul Gandhi, post which he will be ready to lead India globally.

“If you look at the southern states, they are doing a better job because they are actually more decentralised. And the northern states are centralising power, and they are taking away power from the panchayats and grassroot organisations,” Rahul Gandhi said during his interaction.

The comment was made after Rahul Gandhi asked Raghuram Rajan if there was a “crisis of centralisation” that was hampering the fight against the virus. Rajan agreed with the need of decentralisation. He also credited Rahul’s father, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi for bringing back Panchayati Raj, which helped in decentralisation of power.

The Panchayati Raj Act

Panchayati Raj Act, which was enacted it via the 73rd Constitutional amendment in 1992, when P.V. Narasimha Rao was the Prime Minister. However, Rajiv Gandhi is widely credited for it, because he had tried to pass such an act earlier but failed.

Congress party has been accused to fan this North vs South debate in India earlier too. The Congress supporting ecosystem has earlier branded North India a burden on South India due to higher population and allegedly lower tax contribution, while a Congress spokesperson had blamed lack of education among North Indians for Narendra Modi coming back to power in 2019.

Apart from the issue of decentralisation, Rahul Gandhi and Raghuram Rajan discussed various other topics too in the half an hour long discussion that included cost of providing relief to the poor, social harmony, and other challenges around fighting the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic.

Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor dies

OpIndia Staff
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Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor dies

Bollywood superstar Rishi Kapoor passed away on Thursday.

Rishi Kapoor was admitted to H N Reliance hospital on Wednesday where he breathed his last.

Rishi Kapoor, the actor

Kapoor was suffering from cancer and was admitted to the hospital after he developed breathing problems. He was undergoing treatment for cancer in the US and had returned to India in September 2019. In February, he was admitted to hospital twice. Kapoor’s death comes a day after Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan breathed his last.

Tributes pour in for Rishi Kapoor

Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan took to Twitter to announce Kapoor’s passing and grieve.

Lyricist Prasoon Joshi too expressed his grief.

Kapoor is survived by his wife Neetu Singh and two children, daughter Riddhima and son Ranbir, who is also an actor.

Uddhav Thackeray calls PM Modi, seeks his help to save his CM post as 6-month tenure nears completion

OpIndia Staff
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Uddhav Thackeray calls PM Modi, seeks his help to save his CM post as 6-month tenure nears completion

As the decision to appoint Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to the legislative council as governor’s nominee still faces uncertainty, the CM reportedly called Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday pleading him to intervene to end the political crisis, reports ANI.

According to the reports, Thackeray spoke to Modi on phone about his nomination to Maharashtra legislative council and sought help to save his government. Pleading for help, Uddhav Thackeray reportedly said that if it does not get nominated to the upper house, he will have to resign from the post of Chief Minister. PM Modi has reportedly stated that he will look into the matter.

Attempts to create political instability in the state: Uddhav

Uddhav Thackeray also said to PM Modi that attempts were being made to create political instability in the state. Earlier, Thackeray could not get elected to the council through biennial polls as the elections were postponed due to coronavirus outbreak. As Thackeray is not an MLA, he will have to gain membership of the legislative council by May 28 in order to save his post.

The telephone call to Prime Minister Modi came after leaders of the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) met Governor BS Koshyari with a fresh cabinet recommendation to nominate Thackeray to the Legislative Council through the governor’s quota. The first recommendation of the state cabinet had been made on April 9.

Maha Vikas Aghadi delegation meets Governor Koshiyari

A delegation of MVA leaders led by deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar met the governor on Tuesday and handed over the cabinet decision’s copy to him. According to one senior cabinet minister privy to the discussion with the state governor, Koshiyari has been non-committal in assuring the ministers of Thackeray’s nomination to the council. 

Thackeray, who is not a member of either house of the state legislature, was sworn in as chief minister on November 28, 2019. He has to become a member of either of the house of the state legislature by May 28 when he completes six months in office. He will cease to the chief minister if he fails to be a member.

‘How troublesome are these Sadhus, just burn and kill them’: Mob in Haryana’s Mewat attacks Mahant Ramdas of Muktidham Ashram

OpIndia Staff
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‘How troublesome are these Sadhus, just burn and kill them’: Mob in Haryana’s Mewat attacks Mahant Ramdas of Muktidham Ashram

Mahant Ramdas of Muktidham Ashram in Haryana’s Mewat was attacked where a mob misbehaved, beat him up and also threatened to kill him. Mewat in Haryana is a hotbed of organised crime, cattle smuggling, illegal Rohingyas and mob violence. Speaking to OpIndia the Hindu organisations which have come out in support of the Mahant said that on April 29, 2020, the culprits made derogatory remarks on religious lines against Mahant Ramdas Maharaj and then threatened to drive away the Sadhus in the area by force.

Police refused to file FIR

When Mahant Ramdas went to the police to file an FIR, the police refused. When OpIndia reached out to the police, Punhana Thana SHO directed us to talk to the headquarters regarding the case. He also claimed that no such incident has taken place. The Hindu organisations are saying that the police are trying to avoid filing an FIR and getting Mahant Ramdas and the accused to talk over it and sort it out.

Complaint letter to Haryana Chief Minister

There is anger amongst people regarding the incident in Punhana as well as neighbouring areas like Pinganwa, Nagina, Firozepur Zirka, Nuh, Faridabad, Palval and Hodal. A complaint has been given to the local city police chowki. Religious and social organisations condemned the incident and demanded a fair probe by the police.

Attack on Mahant Ramdas

Speaking to OpIndia, Mahant Ramdas said that on 28th April, 2020, he was returning home from a nearby medical store. Some men sitting there passed derogatory comments on the religion. “The men said these babas and sadhu-sant have spoilt the environment here. We should drive them away from Punhana. If they don’t get out, then set them on fire and kill them. They are such troublemakers,” Mahant Ramdas explained how the events transpired. He said that when he objected to such comments, the culprits picked up sticks and tried to attack them. Somehow he managed to save himself and get away even as they threatened to kill him.

Hindu organisations demand a fair probe

Mahant Ramdas Maharaj has demanded a fair probe and inquiry in the above incident. When religious and social organisations heard of the incident they gathered at the police station. DSP Ashok Kumar, SHO Ajayveer Bhadana and well as chowki in-charge Jagdish Chand have assured proper investigation into the matter. However, the Hindu organisations say that they too are trying to resolve the matter through talks and not filing an FIR.

According to the Hindu organisations, no police action was taken till 8:30 PM last night. Speaking to OpIndia, the Hindu organisation said that if the police does not take any action by 30th April, they will hold demonstration outside police station.

Third attack on Hindus in a week

Speaking to OpIndia, the local people there said that this is a Muslim dominated area and this was third attack on the Hindus in past one week. Police has also not taken any action against the culprits. Few days back, a mob of 200-300 people gathered and misbehaved with a Hindu resident over his social media post, they said.

Attack on Sadhus

Earlier this month, a mob lynched two Sadhus in Maharashtra’s Palghar even as two policemen stood there as mute spectators. Earlier this week, two Sadhus were found murdered in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr. The accused was found roaming half-naked in an intoxicated condition with a sword in his hand.

Delhi High court adjourns bail plea hearing of anti-CAA shooter Shahrukh Pathan

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi High court adjourns bail plea hearing of anti-CAA shooter Shahrukh Pathan

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday adjourned the hearing of bail plea of Shahrukh Pathan, the anti-CAA agitator who opened fire at police personnel on February 24 after violence broke out in the North-East Delhi areas.

The single-judge bench of Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva adjourned the matter to be heard on May 1. Shah rukh’s advocates Asghar Khan and Abdul Tahir Khan have sought bail quoting overcrowding in jail and his custody that has been prolonged for more than one month.

As per police, Pathan initially kept roaming around in the Delhi before fleeing to Punjab and then Uttar Pradesh’s Shamli, from where he was arrested later.

As per reports, after he branded gun at the police personnel, he went back to his home, saw the flashing pictures of him on television. After that, he changed his attire, drove to Hauz Khas, roamed around the clubs out there, and slept in his car.

Later he went to Shamli in Uttar Pradesh, from there he was taken into custody by Crime Branch of Delhi Police.

During the Delhi riots, a video of a man opening fire at the police, and one policeman bravely standing in his way emerged. The shooter, identified as Shahrukh Pathan. As per reports, he fired 8 bullets at the police personnel during the violence.

Uttar Pradesh: Man leaves for the market to buy vegetables but returns with bride, family denies entry

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Man leaves for the market to buy vegetables but returns with bride, family denies entry

Though the coronavirus lockdown has been a cause of gloom for many people across the country, however, it could not deflate a man determined to get married. In an amusing incident from a village in Uttar Pradesh, a man who was sent by his mother to get vegetables and groceries for the house ended up bringing a bride instead.

The family members were gobsmacked to find that their son had married a girl without informing anybody amidst the coronavirus lockdown. Perturbed with her son’s actions, his mother did not allow the duo to enter their house and instead took them to the police station. She claimed that on the pretext of getting ration from the market, her son got out of the house, only to come back with a bride later.

The priest who got the couple married says will issue a certificate only after lockdown

On Wednesday morning, under the guise of bringing vegetables and groceries, the man left the house for the market. However, the family was taken aback when he returned back with his bride at around 11 am. The family took both of them to the police station where the man claimed that he had gotten married to his lady love in Haridwar three months ago. Lamenting that the lockdown had made impossible for them to secure permission to marry again, the duo reached a temple on Wednesday morning and got married again. The couple has no proof to prove they are married. The priest who got them married has reportedly told them that he can issue a marriage certificate only after the lockdown is lifted.

The couple is currently staying in a rented room

The family of the man remain adamant on not allowing the couple entry to their home. After that, the young man along with his wife went to live in a rented room of an acquaintance. The Sahibabad police too steered clear of messing in the family’s internal affairs. Sahibabad police station in-charge inspector Anil Shahi said that both the married individuals were adults and took the decision of marrying each other on their own accord. The family members were told by the police that they could not turn away the young man just because he got married to a girl of his choice.

Cops and healthcare workers on Coronavirus duty attacked by stone pelters in Kanpur, CM Yogi orders action under Gangster Act and NSA

OpIndia Staff
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Cops and healthcare workers on Coronavirus duty attacked by stone pelters in Kanpur, CM Yogi orders action under Gangster Act and NSA

While the incidents of the attack on police and health workers have been mainstream during the Coronavirus pandemic, in another such incident related to the assault on corona warriors, locals pelted stones on police and health workers in the Chaman Ganj area of Kanpur today. The team of Health workers and police went there to pick up the members of a family infected by the coronavirus for quarantine.

As per reports, the Chaman Ganj area is one of the coronavirus hotspots in the Kanpur as many cases have emerged from this area.

A corona positive case was reported in Jugiana locality in Bajaria. After the report came in, a Health Department team escorted by police went to pick up nine members of his family for quarantine late Wednesday afternoon when the team came under attack. When the team reached the hotspot, about 60-70 people came out on the streets to stop them and later they started pelting stones at the team.

However, no one was seriously injured in the attack so far. The attack on the corona warriors came at a time when the central government has enacted a law to prevent such attacks. The police registered an FIR regarding the incident.

Perpetrators will be booked under Epidemics act and Disaster Management Act-CM Yogi

Responding strictly against the unruly act, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said in a press briefing, “All those who have attacked police and healthcare workers in Kanpur must be identified, tracked and will be booked under Epidemic Diseases Act and Disaster Management Act. Also, strict action will be taken against them as per Gangster Act and National Security Act.”

Yogi Adityanath also asserted that strict action will be taken against them by invoking multiple acts against them. “When the entire country is battling against COVID-19 under supervision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and lakhs of corona warriors are ensuring the safety of people, at this time point attack on these warriors is a challenge to the management. It will not be accepted in any situation,” the chief minister said.

Police have arrested four persons so far in the case and a search is on for the remaining accused. Police officials said that they have identified several persons and actions will be taken against them.

Ordinance to end violence against health workers

Amidst the ongoing assaults on the frontline health workers, policemen during the ongoing coronavirus lockdown, the central government brought in a timely ordinance to deter the unruly mob. The new ordinance has provisions to punish the assaulters with imprisonment from 6 months to 7 years.

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar also said while briefing the media that an amendment will be brought to Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 making such a crime cognizable and non-bailable. The investigation will be done within 30 days and accused could face jail term from 3 months to 5 years with a penalty of Rs 50,000 which could go up to Rs 2 lakh.

Kuwait joins Saudi, Oman and Qatar to denounce anti-India propaganda on social media

OpIndia Staff
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Kuwait joins Saudi, Oman and Qatar to denounce anti-India propaganda on social media

Days after Oman, Saudi Arabia and Qatar rejected the malicious anti-India propaganda peddled by a few social media users, Kuwait has also rallied behind the New Delhi, assuring that they are deeply committed to their friendly ties with India.

“We have seen some references to India in the non-official social media in Kuwait. The government of Kuwait has assured us that they remain deeply committed to friendly relations with India. They have also said that they do not support any interference in internal matters of India,” MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said.

Kuwait’s denunciation of anti-India propaganda on social media came on the heels of the assistance extended by India to the gulf country to tackle the spread of the coronavirus there. On the request of Kuwait, India deployed Rapid Action Team there which rendered valuable medical assistance in testing and treatment of coronavirus patients and training their personnel.

Recently, some suspicious Twitter accounts, along with a few verified accounts, spewed venom against India and raised aspersion on the country’s pluralistic credentials. They asserted that Muslims in India were not treated respectfully after a congregation organised by Tablighi Jamaat, an Islamic seminary, emerged as the most potent coronavirus super-spreader in India.

Calling out the nefarious intentions of miscreants to create fake profiles and sow discord among the communities, the Ambassador of India to Qatar, a few days back had tweeted, cautioning people from getting swayed by the fake accounts that are trying to drive a wedge between India and Gulf countries.

Similarly, a fake Pakistani Twitter account masquerading as a member of Omani royalty was caught peddling India-centric hatred on the social media. The Twitter account which went by the handle @SayyidaMona expressed solidarity with the Muslims in India and claimed that if the Indian government doesn’t stop the persecution of Muslims in India, then 1 million India expatriates living in Oman will be expelled. She also alleged that she would take up the matter with the Sultan of Oman.

Soon, the tweet by fake Twitter account went viral and was shared hundreds of times on Twitter. Later, the Omani princess herself put out a statement stating that the tweet that was going viral in her name did not belong to her. She clarified that neither she or her official Twitter handles had threatened Indians staying in Oman of expulsion.

“Friends, First of all, I thank you for your concern to verify the offensive post published through an account impersonating me, which you are sure that I have no connection with it. With full trust in all of you in strengthening awareness among all regarding such activities, which are not acceptable to the Omani society, I confirm again that my presence in social media is restricted on the following accounts: @hhmonaalsaid and @MonaFahad 13.” Prince Mona clarified.

Responding to Prince Mona’s tweet, the Indian Ambassador to Oman expressed his gratitude for issuing clarification on fake social media posts attributed to her. He also added that India values its friendship with Oman and will continue to bolster it by working closely with the Government and people of Oman.

UAE seeks India’s help to battle the scourge of COVID-19

The United Arab Emirates has requested the Indian Government to send healthcare professionals to fight the spread of the coronavirus in the Gulf country.

According to the sources, two requests have been made by the government of the UAE to India. One of them is to allow the healthcare workers who had travelled to India in the wake of commercial travel suspension to return back to the UAE. The other one is to grant permission to hire and avail the services of doctors and nurses for a shorter duration to overcome the immediate COVID-19 crisis.

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