Home Blog Page 5482

Ashok Gehlot asks Rajeev Chandrasekhar to sack Arnab Goswami, but he should ask Arnab Goswami to sack Arnab Goswami, here is why

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Ashok Gehlot asks Rajeev Chandrasekhar to sack Arnab Goswami, but he should ask Arnab Goswami to sack Arnab Goswami, here is why

Today Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot demanded that Republic Editor in Chief Arnab Goswami should be sacked. Reacting to the firebrand journalist’s comments on Congress president Sonia Gandhi, the veteran Congress leader demanded that Mr Rajeev Chandrasekhar must sack Arnab Goswami immediately.

Gehlot tweeted, “Attack on Mrs Sonia Gandhi by Arnab Goswami is highly condemnable. He has gone insane and crossed all limits, he should be ashamed of himself. I must ask the Editors guild – isn’t this all time low for journalism? Mr Rajeev Chandrasekhar must sack him immediately.”

The Rajasthan CM was reacting to Arnab Goswami slamming Sonia Gandhi for her silence on Palghar lynching of sadhus. Anchoring in a program on Republic network’s Hindi news channel Republic Bharat, Arnab Goswami had said if some Christian religious leader was lunched, Sonia Gandhi from Italy would not have remained silent. He said, ‘now she will send report to Italy, saying I where I have made a government, I got Hindu saints murdered. She will be applauded from Italy. These people should be ashamed of themselves’.

Obviously, Congress leaders are furious with these comments, and as a result the Congress CM demanded that Arnab should be sacked. But Ashok Gehlot forgot one important detail, that only Arnab Goswami can sack Arnab Goswami, and MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar can’t do that.

When Republic TV was launched by Arnab Goswami after quitting Times Now, Asianet News owned by Rajeev Chandrasekhar had partially funded the venture. The Rajya Sabha MP was also a director in the news network.

But in May last year, Arnab Goswami had purchased the shares of his company back from Asianet, becoming the majority shareholder. Chandrasekhar also resigned from the position of director in the company, after he had joined BJP.

At present Arnab Goswami is the Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of the news network, apart from being the majority shareholder. According to a report in February this year, Goswami owns over 82 per cent stake in ARG Outlier Media Pvt L, the firm that owns and operates Republic TV and Republic Bharat channels, apart from its digital properties.

The company had issued a statement regarding the ownership of the company to counter “misleading media reports making false and malafide claims about the exact ownership of the consolidated network.”

With over 82% stack, and as Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief, Arnab Goswami has complete control over the channel, which has become the only major media network fully controlled by a journalist. Although Asianet still remains a minority investor in the company, it is clear that Rajeev Chandrasekhar has not authority to ‘sack Arnab Goswami’. Ashok Gehlot wants Arnab Goswami to be sacked, he should ask Armab Goswami to sack Arnab Goswami, because at present nobody else can sack Arnab Goswami from Republic.

Gehlot questioning Editor’s Guild over the issue also comes a day late, as Goswami had already resigned from the Editor’s Guild yesterday on live TV. He had resigned after slamming Guild president Shekhar Gupta destroying the remaining credibility of the organisation over the issue of Palghar lynching.

Congress leaders, journalists attack Arnab Goswami after he questions Sonia Gandhi’s silence over Palghar mob-lynching of Sadhus

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Congress leaders, journalists attack Arnab Goswami after he questions Sonia Gandhi’s silence over Palghar mob-lynching of Sadhus

Congress leaders and journalists who identify themselves as neutral on Wednesday attacked Arnab Goswami after the Republic TV Editor-in-Chief questioned UPA chairperson and Congress President Sonia Gandhi over her silence on Palghar mob-lynching in which two Hindu Sadhus and a driver were killed by an unruly mob.

Launching an attack against Sonia Gandhi, Arnab Goswami had questioned if she would have maintained the silence she is exhibiting today had Christian padres been killed instead of Hindu sadhus in the horrifying lynching incident in Palghar. However, soon after, Congress leaders and many journalists started abusing Arnab and by extension Prime Minister Modi implying he was responsible for Arnab questioning Sonia Gandhi’s silence.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala then even went on to share a audio-visual clip listing out assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi’s mother in law and husband, respectively, as strange equivalence. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot called Goswami ‘insane’. He also called for BJP MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar to ‘fire’ Goswami from Republic even though he no longer has anything to do with the media house. Congress supporters also seem to have made good use of the lockdown and work from home offered by companies by attempting to make videos and tap in on the YouTube influencer market. Congress handles also came together to prove that Sonia Gandhi is a patriot.

Soon, the journalists and liberal fraternity also joined in in abusing Arnab.

Prior to this, Rohini had also questioned Congress leaders who go to Republic as panelists. Goswami’s former colleague, too, took a dig at him over his on-air resignation from Editors’ Guild earlier this week.

Rajdeep Sardesai had once taken a soft ball interview of Sonia Gandhi where he asked her about Sonia Gandhi’s first meeting with her prospective mother in law Indira Gandhi among other things.

Arnab Goswami on Sonia Gandhi

During the show, Arnab Goswami had referred to Sonia Gandhi by her real name ‘Antonia Maino’ and had cited her Italian origin as he exposed her hypocrisy over the killing of Hindu Sadhus in Maharashtra.

Arnab further alleged that he felt that Sonia Gandhi was deep down happy that Hindu saints have been killed by the frenzied mob in a state that is governed by her party. He also contended that Gandhi would prepare and send a report to Italy saying she had been successful in eliminating Hindu saints in a state where she had formed the government.

However, the Congress leaders, neutral journalists and the secular intelligentsia of the country were aghast and exasperated over Arnab Goswami’s direct attack against Sonia Gandhi.

Watch: Woman driver misbehaves with police, cries when asked for movement pass amid lockdown

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Watch: Woman driver misbehaves with police, cries when asked for movement pass amid lockdown

India has been put under a strict lockdown to contain the scourge of the coronavirus pathogen which has wreaked havoc across the globe. All the states and mostly all the citizens have been complying strictly with the lockdown orders. However, there are few exceptions who are not only roaming around freely risking their lives and of those known to them but are also misbehaving with the police personnel when checked from flouting rules.

A video has surfaced where a young woman driver is seen yelling and misbehaving when her car is intercepted by the cops and she is asked to produce a movement pass.

The movement pass or the curfew pass is being issued by the state governments to regulate the movement of cars amid lockdown orders. It is provided after detailed scrutiny and verification of documents and reasons provided by the citizen on a case by case basis. This is being done to restrict unnecessary travel during the lockdown.

Anger and melodrama

In a video that is now viral on social media, three women are seen travelling in a car with an Uttar Pradesh registration number. The car is intercepted by the police as it tries to pass through a barricaded road. The woman sitting on the driver seat starts yelling at the cop saying “Yeh kya tamasha lagaya hua gain. What nonsense are you doing” (what kind of drama is this)? The woman sitting on the rear seat tries to intervene and explain to the driver, “you’re exaggerating, you are the one who is going on doing this…”, but the woman driver turning a deaf ear towards her friend’s advice continues to shout at the cop.

When the cop asks her to show the movement pass, the woman driver gets into a frenzy and starts throwing the car papers out of the window. “Yeh lijiye papers, yeh lijiye papers ….pareshan karke rakha hua hain”, says the driver. Furious at the cops for doing their duty, the driver steps out of her car and yells at them in her piercing voice. She becomes completely incomprehensible as she continues to shriek in her high pitched voice. The drama reaches a crescendo when she then sits on the road and starts weeping profusely. Her friend, the cops all try to stop her from the melodrama but she refuses to abstain.

The irony here is that despite being the one to break the lockdown rules and misbehave with cops, the woman driver cried as if she was the one who was being harassed.

Prior instances

Last month, a similar video had surfaced from the streets of Kolkata in West Bengal where a young girl was seen yelling and abusing a policeman as he tries to prevent cars from plying on the road during the lockdown.

A Twitter user named ‘Mikku’ going by the handle @effucktivehumor had shared a video where a couple of policemen are seen standing on the road intercepting cars passing by, flouting the lockdown orders. Suddenly a girl comes charging at a policeman and spits on his shirt. She yells at him, claiming that she is unwell, and she needs to go to fetch some medicines.

In the video, at so many occasions, the policeman is heard asking the girl to go back, but the girl does not listen. She continues to yell and abuse the cop. She tells him that he does not deserve to wear the police uniform… in turn, the cop tells her that she doesn’t deserve to be a citizen of the country. The bickering continues, until a man intervenes and yells at the girl and asks her to leave.

India had initially been put under a 21-day lockdown amidst the coronavirus outbreak. On April 14, PM Narendra Modi extended the lockdown by another 19 days, until May 3. This was done as the coronavirus cases in India had seen a sudden surge, which was mainly linked to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation at Banglewaali Masjid in Nizamuddin area.

Nurses who claim they were manhandled by Jamaat patients should show their torn clothes as proof: Tablighi Jamaat spokesperson Mujibur Rehman

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Nurses who claim they were manhandled by Jamaat patients should show their torn clothes as proof: Tablighi Jamaat spokesperson Mujibur Rehman

Casting aspersions on the healthcare workers and nurses who accused the Tablighi Jamaat members at quarantine centres of indulging in assault and sexual harassment, the spokesperson of the Nizamuddin based orthodox Muslim organisation, Mujibur Rehman demanded that they should provide ‘proof’ of the attack carried out by the Jamaat members.

Speaking in a show on India TV, Rehman contested the veracity of the claims of assault made by the healthcare workers against the Tablighi Jamaat members who are quarantined at different facilities across the country following the emergence of Markaz Nizamuddin, the headquarter of Tablighi Jamaat, as one of the most potent clusters of the coronavirus in the country.

In the prelude to the debate organised by the India TV in which Tablighi Jamaat spokesperson Mujibur Rehman was one of the participants, the news channel showed an interview of a nurse from a quarantine facility in Delhi who was subjected to assault by the Tablighi Jamaat members admitted there. The nurse said that all her notions about Muslims and Tablighi Jamaat members being falsely maligned were shattered when she came under the attack by the Jamaat members. She recounted how the delinquents of Tablighi Jamaat tried to assault her and force feed the food meant for them.

“I am not going to trust these folks again. All my illusions about Tablighi Jamaat members have been shattered. They tried to seize hold of me and shove the food meant for them down my throat. I am somehow managed to break free from their grip but then they pulled me from my back, ” the nurse said.

Describing her ordeal, she further added, “I felt extremely terrible that I was subjected to assault by the Jamaat members. What was the need to attack a lady? If they did not like the food, they could have refused to eat it. Why assault me? I was simply doing my duty and providing them with the food which was made available at the quarantine centre. In fact, on several occasions, I paid from my own pocket to fulfil their food demands. Jamaat members from Indonesia requested me for tea. I had bought ingredients and helped them.”

However, the assertions made by the nurse did not sit well with the Tablighi Jamaat spokesperson Mujibur Rehman. Defending the Tablighi Jamaat ruffians, Rehman demanded the India TV anchor to show the nurse’s torn clothes as a proof to her claims of assault by the Tablighi Jamaat members.

“Since your TV reporter is there along with the nurse, why don’t you ask the nurse to show her torn clothes. They did not show her torn clothes. Once they show that, then I will put my point across,” Rehman said.

When called out for his shamelessness by the debate host for asking the assaulted nurse to present her torn apron as a proof of attack, Rehman steadfastly continued defending the Tablighi Jamaat wrongdoers.

Past instances of Tablighi Jamaat members’ unruly behaviour with healthcare professionals

There have been several instances across the country where members of Tablighi Jamaat have assaulted doctors, nurses, ward boys and other healthcare workers involved in treating them. Tablighi Jamaat members accommodated in Diesel Shed Training School Hostel Quarantine Centre and RPF Barrack Quarantine Centre in Delhi were found throwing tantrums and making unreasonable food demands. They also spat all over the quarantine facility and over doctors, nurses and other workers attending to them.

In addition, the Tablighi Jamaat members held up in Ghaziabad hospital had run around naked and made lewd gestures for female staff at the hospital. The Chief Medical Officer of the District MMG  Hospital in Ghaziabad has written a letter to the Ghaziabad police informing about the criminal behaviour of the Jamaatis. Following the harassment of female staff at the hands of Jamaat members, the government had ordered that no female staffers would be assigned to the wards where Jamaat members are being kept.

Tablighi Jamaat members housed at Narela quarantine centre had also created a ruckus at the isolation facility and took a dump in the corridor. An FIR was registered which said when sanitation staff went to clean, two people were found to have done latrine outside room no 212. The camp in-charge said that the Tablighi Jamaat members were imperilling the containment measures through their reckless behaviour.

Indian liberals joining hands with theocratic regimes is a terrifying development for India

Abhishek Banerjee
-
0
Indian liberals joining hands with theocratic regimes is a terrifying development for India

When elections stop giving the results you want, why not turn to fascism? In 2014, the Indian electorate rose in revolt against the old elite. In 2019, they looked the elite in the eye and screamed out their verdict with even greater force.

How do you get back at common people who refuse to vote your way? You find the weakest, most vulnerable and you go after them. It’s the liberal way.

So there are millions of common Indians working in the Gulf. Those are theocratic countries ruled by religious law. Many apply the death penalty for blasphemy, for apostasy, for homosexuality and so on.

But Indians being Indians, they carry within themselves a bit of the democratic spirit wherever they go. A spark of the open minded, free society where they come from. They are used to speaking their mind. Sometimes they forget where they are and commit crimes of speech and thought. It was only a matter of time before Indian liberals realized these people were vulnerable and decided to go after them.

Right now, the Indian liberal corner of social media is on a dangerous power trip. They are scanning the online footprint of common Indians who work in the Middle East, flagging any sign of disobedience to ultra conservative religion. They have become the online eyes and ears of the religious police, which then picks up these hapless victims for prosecution under conservative religious law.

Coming together of liberalism and Islamism

In trying to smear India, liberals had so far used some pretenses, spreading their message to America, Europe, Canada, Australia and the like. In doing so, they could hold up the fig leaf that these are all free societies. They could hide behind noble ideals such as human rights, liberty and free expression.

Not any more. Liberals have crossed the big red line and approached theocratic regimes in the Middle East. The other day, Communist trolls gleefully handed over to prosecution a man who had dared to say that the gleaming skyscrapers of the Middle East were built by the sweat of Indian workers.

The irony is think on that one. Communists on the side of the king and not the worker. By the way, the workers’ strike, the most sacred of all Communist rituals, is illegal in the Middle East.

Transnational loyalty of liberals is a danger to India

What do you make of it when prominent journalists, who publish in mainstream outlets, say openly that India’s internal matters are not internal any more? Instead they are trying to get foreign Islamic governments involved in our affairs. Where does this stop? Now they are approaching theocratic Islamic states to interfere in our politics.

Well, Pakistan is an Islamic state. Will Indian liberals approach them as well for support? Have they already done so? Who is next in line to be approached by Indian liberals against the Indian government? China? North Korea? Territories controlled by ISIS or Taliban or Al-Shabab?

By reaching out to Islamic countries, liberals have dropped all pretense that this is about human rights or free expression. This is now about religion. And tapping into transnational loyalties to impose their will on common Indians.

It will get worse, much worse

Imagine this scenario. An Indian in a Middle Eastern theocracy comes home after a hard day at work and pulls out a chilled beer. The next moment, there is a loud banging on the door. The religious police is here. They have been alerted by Indian liberals who noticed the photo he had casually posted on Facebook. Caught with alcohol, he now faces an uncertain and brutal future. Years or even decades in jail, mutilation, possibly even death.

Tomorrow, these online liberal vigilantes could report an Indian to thIslamists e religious police for being gay. Or perhaps an Indian Muslim, who decides to leave the religion or convert to a different religion. Or perhaps even a single woman, who posted pictures of herself taking a casual walk without a “male guardian.”

At the moment, Indian liberals have started out with reporting thought and speech crimes of a political nature to the religious police. This can only get more intrusive. Online vigilantes will soon prey on anyone who breaks any rules of ultra conservative orthodoxy.

Indians in theocratic countries should observe extreme caution

Life isn’t fair. Despite all our outrage over the hypocrisy of Indian liberalism, we have to accept the bitter reality that they win this round. We know that these theocratic countries aren’t likely to change their ways. There’s no use going against their customs, whether knowingly or otherwise.

So, it is up to Indians working in such places to police themselves and observe extreme caution. They have to give up the freedom to express themselves in thought, speech, sexuality, everything.

For people who are used to liberty, this is not an easy transition. But this is the price we must pay for incorporating undemocratic regimes into the global supply chain. A bit like China. Think of existence in a theocratic Middle Eastern country as a permanent state of mental lockdown.

Depressing, but true.

Remember that this shall pass

If it is any comfort, understand that the power of these theocratic regimes is transient. And soon to be done to dust. Why?

Quite simply, because the world will pass them by. Right now, they have a single resource and they live off those lottery winnings.

But think about it. They must have had that resource for thousands of years. It didn’t bring them any prosperity. Until human knowledge advanced to the point that we figured out how to use that resource. And just like that, human knowledge will move past them, discovering newer and better resources.

These theocratic regimes have not used their windfall gains to invest in the knowledge economy. And sooner or later, nations that do not produce new knowledge will be left nowhere. In the long game, the open mind, which welcomes knowledge, will always win over the closed mind.

Home Minister assures safety to health care professionals amid attacks, Indian Medical Association calls off ‘White Alert’ and ‘Black Day’ protests

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Home Minister assures safety to health care professionals amid attacks, Indian Medical Association calls off ‘White Alert’ and ‘Black Day’ protests

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday assured the health workers of security on behalf of the Central Government amidst the incidents of attack on health workers in several parts of the country. While interacting with a group of doctors and Indian Medical Association (IMA) members through video conferencing, the Home minister appreciated the contribution of health workers in combatting the Wuhan Coronavirus pandemic.

The Indian Medical Association had scheduled a symbolic protest named as ‘White Alert’ against the attacks and assault on health workers today onwards. But the home minister while assuring the security to the health workers appealed to them not to carry forward the symbolic protest. He said, “the government is with doctors”.

Home Minister Amit Shah also tweeted, “Safety and dignity of our doctors at their workplace is non-negotiable. It is our collective responsibility to ensure conducive atmosphere for them at all times.”

After the meeting with the Home Minister, the Indian Medical Associated agreed to withdraw the symbolic ‘White Alert’ protest.

‘White Alert’ protest by Indian Medical Association

Amid the multiple attacks on health workers across the country especially during coronavirus epidemic situation, the IMA had scheduled protests against assaults on doctors and other medical staff while performing duties. The IMA had called for a nationwide symbolic protest and urged the doctors and hospitals across the country to light candles on April 22 as a mark of protest. The IMA is demanding the centre to formulate a law for the protection of Medical professionals from attack on duty.

A notice issued by IMA read as, “If the government fails to enact Central Law on violence against doctors and hospitals even after White Alert, IMA will declare Black Day on April 23. Our legitimate needs for safe workplaces have to be met. Abuse and violence should stop immediately. White Alert to the nation – All doctors and hospitals to light a candle at 9 pm on 22 April, as protest and vigil.” But after the meeting with the home minister, the protest was withdrawn by IMA.

A statement issued by IMA said that the home minister is very much aware and concerned about the attacks, and assured them that the govt is coming out with legislation to address the safety and dignity of doctors and other healthcare workers. Both the home minister and the health minister appealed the IMA to defere the symbolic protest during the meeting. Amit Shah also added that during such a period of global crisis, such protests will send out a bad signal of the unity of our country and damage the image of the country internationally.

Agreeing to the appeal of the union ministers, the IMA decided to withdraw the white alert protest on 22 April and Black day protest on 23 April to maintain unity and integrity of the country.

Assault on health workers

There have been several instances of attacks on health workers especially after the outburst of coronavirus cases due to religious congregation in Nizamuddin Markaz. There have been several reports of an assault on doctors in many areas, mostly in minority dominated areas.

After people who had attended the Tablighi Jamaat in March were quarantined, several members had misbehaved with doctors and others working in quarantine centres. They had spat on doctors, roamed around naked in their wards, and made vulgar comments towards female workers.

Later, healthcare teams visiting various localities in several states for coronavirus survey were attacked by locals. People in those places had resisted being checked by the medical teams, and had attacked them preventing them to transport Coronavirus positive patients or their close contacts to hospitals and quarantine centres. Dozens of such cases of assault on healthcare teams have emerged from several states in the last couple of weeks, where stones were pelted on doctors and police teams accompanying them, and ambulances and police vehicles were damaged by mobs.

Ordinance to end violence against health workers

In a related development, union government today brought an ordinance to end violence against health workers amid the Coronavirus outbreak. The new ordinance has provisions to punish those who attack health workers with jail term and penalty. An amendment in this regard will be brought to the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 making such a crime cognizable and non-bailable. The investigation in such assaults will be completed 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.

Opportunities for the Indian economy after the Coronavirus pandemic

Pradeep Mahaur
-
0
Opportunities for the Indian economy after the Coronavirus pandemic

The world economy is changing and if we can adapt to the changing world after the Coronavirus outbreak, we can be in an advantageous position. Every new change opens up a pitfall for a few while bringing new opportunities for others. India as a country has done good work to develop and strengthen infrastructure. The Coronavirus pandemic is a game-changer which is bound to alter the economic situation of the world. I consider this pandemic as an opportunity for India rather than a setback. Definitely the pandemic has been a big loss for human society but we have to move on and make tough decisions not only to recover but to excel in this changing world.

To understand the actions to be taken we need to first understand the socioeconomic changes bound to transpire after the Pandemic comes under control. Although there will be few hiccups in supply chain reestablishment and that also needs immediate attention but that will be short-lived. So let’s focus on macroeconomic, microeconomic, psychoeconomic and socioeconomic implications post COVID-19 outbreak.

Increasing criticism for China and a potential loss of consumer base

For any economy, the most important part is the faith of its customers but after the Coronavirus pandemic, China has lost the faith of the world where the countries for themselves are helpless at the discretion of China for medical and other supplies. Even the doubt that this virus was cultured in a Wuhan lab will always make the world look at China with suspicious eyes. This is for sure that now the world will be looking at a second option who can work like China in the manufacturing sector. India is already working with most of these international companies for fulfilling their IT and digital requirements. 

Lack of press freedom and transparency

Now the whole world is looking forward to trading with countries which are apparently transparent in their actions rather than a country like China which doesn’t have unchained press/media. It’s not easy to understand the real situation of China by Chinese news agencies. Earlier the world was fighting with closed economies and closed markets so that all global business communities can have equal opportunities in the global marketplace, but now a new requirement has come up which is unchained media. Any country which does not have free news media can be potentially inappropriate to trade with and can prove vulnerable for the trading countries at any point in time. On the other hand, India is a vibrant democracy and it’s really easy to understand India through its news telecasts. I just mean to say that the countries who have less opportunity to hide something will be at advantage. 

The ‘Just In Time’ philosophy will no longer work

The world was talking about ‘Just in Time’ but now they have realized that a substantial amount of inventory is required. Everyone has seen the importance of inventory and pipeline of finished goods. This will again push the global demand of products and industries like pharmaceuticals, Medical equipment, Food Products, Groceries, Sanitizing chemicals and equipment.  Although this requirement will be temporary, it will continue to affect the demand for at least two years which is positive news for countries which were worried about an economic slowdown

Psychology to overcome

The economic slowdown and economic growth both are bound by the psychology of the human population and business communities. When people start thinking that the economy is slowing down they stop investing and spending, this slows down the rotation of money and results in a recession and vice versa.  Most of the countries have faced a big setback due to the coronavirus pandemic and when there is a setback every business will work towards recovering the loss which can be utilized up to a large extent to boost the economy. This will bring a few challenges but big opportunities for countries like India. 

Economic polarisation

There can be no possibility of China becoming a world power but one thing is sure, that China is definitely dreaming for the same. China is able to dream because it is continuously increasing and enhancing its capability to produce everything that has the potential to be sold anywhere in the world. This brings China at an advantageous position and if China and Russia together plan not to accept the US Dollar as a reserve currency then there will be a big change in the world economy because the world cannot avoid China at this moment. This is not my fantasy, even economic analysts like Charles Wallace are speaking on the same lines. After the Coronavirus outbreak, it is an alarm for western countries and the economists of these countries would be thinking on the same lines.

This will definitely bring up India as an option for becoming a manufacturing hub. To utilize this situation we need to compete with China on the lines of cost of production and quality because the world is an open market and political will can influence business up to some extent only.

Now what we need to do? and the answer to this question is present in following points:

Skill Development, labour management and government support

Here I want to start with a question.  what is the use of investing in any scheme which doesn’t uplift people’s lifestyle?  The government should support the change in people’s lives so that they can become self-dependent but schemes like MANREGA are rather focussing to reduce the challenges in people’s life by giving them no opportunity to grow and are making them more dependent on government support. Our focus should always be to bring up beneficiaries of government schemes to become contributors to the economy. We should develop schemes where the Government can provide skilled labour for industries. When we are already paying for the workforce and they are contributing to most of the unproductive work why don’t we provide these labour to industries? The situation of many industrial units is also worrisome because they are getting most of their labour from unorganized labour contractors. We cannot leave our workforce in the hands of unorganized labour contractors. Now the time has come when India should focus on complete labour takeover and industries will have to use the labour provided by the government. 

On the other hand, we are providing support to new manufacturing units in the form of subsidies on loans taken by these companies. Time has come when we should rethink the use of subsidies. The objective of most of these subsidies is to generate employment opportunities. Now, what if the Government starts supporting these industries by providing them with skilled and unskilled labour instead of giving them direct monetary benefits. This can be a big help to the industry during the phase of initial set up. This is also logical because the workforce is directly getting benefited by the same. Later on, after the initial phase, the labour wages have to be deposited to the Government agency and these labour forces continue working for the industry but getting a salary from the government. A complete working plan needs to be developed where all these funds of MANREGA and subsidies can be clubbed up and used for the same purpose. This way the government will actually be paying for employment generation rather than adding money to someone’s p&l. 

Convertible loan Instruments

Banks can launch convertible loan schemes for new industries where banks will have the facility to convert their loan into transferable shares after a certain period of time. This will promote banks to take more risk which is important to boost Indian economy because this way they will be able to recover their NPA from successful ventures and options can be given to these successful ventures to buy back their shares on peariodical basis. 

Banks’ involvement into Business

It is seen that most of the NPA happen not because of the failure in the planning of a venture but due to the change in the plan which is sometimes hidden from the banks. The funds are not actually used for the purpose they were given by banks. If banks have an option to employ an industry expert at their customers’ place, the banks are able to participate in day-to-day activities of the companies. Thus, they will have better control over their invested money. Where every bank can have asset management staff having expertise in certain industry segments monitoring the business and ensuring the minimal possibility of NPA, the industry will also be benefited by an experienced advisory from the banker. These asset managers will not only check but can also be of help when a company needs money for certain requirements and they can facilitate swift short term loans to boost the health of their customers.

Export oriented business

The government should promote export-oriented industries and also monitor the international demand and finding avenues for the consumption of manufactured products. We should be working on this with a very practical approach where we can produce whatever is in demand rather than a scattered approach where the business is started with the fantasies of a business person. If we have experts in government agencies their expertise should be utilized to make successful business people in the country and fulfil the demand of products. Export-oriented industries should be rewarded for their contribution to Indian ‘Balance of payment’ records. 

Conclusion

If a discussion can be started on these lines then we can reach towards taking some concrete step. No doubt in-depth planning is required around this basic theory to convert it into a working plan, but if executed it has the potential to change the future of India and the world.

Modi govt brings an ordinance to end violence against health workers, upto 7 years imprisonment for attackers

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Modi govt brings an ordinance to end violence against health workers, upto 7 years imprisonment for attackers

In a significant measure to stop the attacks against the healthcare workers in the country, Modi Government has brought an 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 has 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.

“Health workers who are trying to save the country from this epidemic are unfortunately facing attacks. No incident of violence or harassment, against them will be tolerated,” Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said while briefing the media. He further added 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.

Union Minister Javadekar further added that the daily health briefings will be now shifted to four days a week. Press releases and cabinet briefings will be on alternate days.

Demand for a special law from IMA

Earlier, Indian Medical Association members had demanded a special central law against violence on doctors, nurses, health care workers and hospitals by an ordinance, and implement it on a priority basis.

Last week, the Resident Doctors Association of AIIMS had also written a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah urging the government to implement the ‘Health Services Personnel and Clinical Establishments (Prohibition of Violence and Damage to Property), Bill’ amidst the ongoing attacks on doctors by unruly patients.

Even some states like Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala had brought in such laws to protect healthcare workers from mob attacks. An ordinance has been brought in and shall be implemented after receiving the President’s sanction.

Violence against healthcare workers, policemen

At a time when frontline workers are risking their lives to limit the spread of the Chinese pandemic, there have been concerted attacks against them by many mobs, many of who refuse to cooperate in the treatment. There have been reports of Tablighi Jamaat members molesting nurses in UP, defecating in corridors in Delhi and even spitting at the healthcare workers. The Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi’s Nizamuddin has emerged as a hot spot contributing to approximately 30% of coronavirus cases in India.

From attacking medical teams, policemen who were searching for Tablighi members who had attended the religious congregation to check them for possible infection, to spiting on doctors at isolation centres, to roaming naked in their ward and making lewd gestures for female staff, the some unruly patients have been displaying extreme crassness.

Delhi: Aviation ministry staffer tested positive for coronavirus, ministry headquarters at Jor Bagh sealed

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Delhi: Aviation ministry staffer tested positive for coronavirus, ministry headquarters at Jor Bagh sealed

After the Rashtrapati Bhawan and Parliament, a staffer from the Aviation ministry has been found positive for the Wuhan coronavirus. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has mentioned in a tweet that the employee had attended office on 15 April 2020 and was found with the infection on 21 April.

The Ministry also stated that all necessary protocols are being stringently followed on the premises. All those employees who came in contact with the coronavirus patient are being asked to go into self-isolation. The Government of Delhi has been apprised of the issue and is taking appropriate action under the protocol.

The Ministry headquarters at the Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan in New Delhi’s Jor bagh will be sealed ‘as per prescribed protocol’, informed Hardeep Singh Puri. Also, those who came in contact with the staffer will be quarantined and tested.

Civil Aviation Minister HS Puri assures all possible asistance

Minister of Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri wrote, “We stand by our colleague at @MoCA_GoI who has tested positive for COVID-19 and have extended all possible medical help and support.

He further said, “Those in contact have also been asked to follow the laid procedures. I wish him strength and speedy recovery.”

Staffers from the Rashtrapati Bhawan and Lok Sabha have also been tested positive

Prior to this, a housekeeping staff of parliament who works in the lower house was tested positive with coronavirus. The staffer was posted at the Lok Sabha secretariat at 36 GRG road.

The man has a wife, three sons and a daughter. His Grandchildren also live with him at his residence in Kali Bari Marg,New Delhi.

Also, The daughter-in-law of a sanitation worker who works in Rashtrapati Bhawan was found coronavirus positive. Given that effect, 125 families associated with Rashtrapati Bhavan were sent to strict self-isolation.

Coronavirus in India

The Wuhan originated coronavirus which affects the respiratory system primarily spreads through droplets generated from an infected person is spreading rapidly across the world. In India, 19984 people have been infected by the Wuhan coronavirus so far. 640 people have died while 3870 people have been recovered and discharged.

The Modi government had implemented a complete lockdown till 14 April but taking into account the current situation because of the religious congregation of Tablighi Jamaat that led to a sudden spike in the total cases, the lockdown has been extended till May 3.

Uttarakhand: Kedarnath temple to open on 29 Apil, only 16 people including chief priest to remain present due to lockdown orders

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Uttarakhand: Kedarnath temple to open on 29 Apil, only 16 people including chief priest to remain present due to lockdown orders

Only 16 people including the chief priest will remain present at the opening ceremony of the sacred portals of Kedarnath Temple on April 29. Darshan for the devotees will not be allowed at the temple as of now, said Mangesh Ghildiyal, the District Magistrate of Rudraprayag.

The board of the temple will open as per the original mahurat (auspicious time) at 6.10 am on April 29, but owing to the novel coronavirus pandemic, only the head priest, Bhimashankar Linga, along with 15 others would be present then at the sacred portal while its gates would remain shut for the devotees. The decision was taken yesterday (April 21) in a meeting with temple committee officials attended by Kedarnath Rawal (head priest) Bhimashankar Linga, Senior Tirth Purohit, Vedpathis and Acharya and other important members of Panchagai Samiti at the Panchkedar Gaddisthal Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath.

Baba Kedar’s convoy will leave the Omkareshwar temple in Ukhimath, the winter home of Lord Kedar, on April 26. The reopening ceremony will be conducted at Kedarnath Temple on April 29 at 6:10 AM.

On the other hand, the reopening date for Badrinath Temple will be May 15, as announced on Monday by the state government authorities, as the Rawal (head priest) of the shrine is still in Kerala due to the ongoing lockdown. As soon as he reaches the state once the lockdown is lifted, he will have to stay under quarantine for two weeks. Hence, the reopening date has been postponed.

1...5,4815,4825,483...7,652Page 5,482 of 7,652