Month: March 2021

In view of the emerging scientific evidence, the interval between two doses of a specific COVID-19 vaccine that is Covishield, has been revisited by the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) and subsequently by National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) in its 20th meeting, informed the Union Health Ministry on Monday.

During this meeting, the recommendation has been revised to provide the second dose of Covishield at an interval of four to eight weeks after the first dose, instead of an earlier practised interval of four to six weeks.
This decision of the revised time interval between two doses is applicable only to Covishield and not to Covaxin, said the ministry.

According to the ministry, in a letter written by the Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan to the Chief Secretaries of States/Union Territories (UTs) today, he has noted that Union Health Ministry has accepted the recommendations of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) and National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) and has thereafter advised the states and UTs to ensure the administration of the second dose of Covishield to beneficiaries within this stipulated time interval of four to eight weeks after the first dose.

The ministry further stated that keeping the existing scientific evidence in view, it appears that protection is enhanced if the second dose of Covishield is administered between six to eight weeks, but not later than the stipulated period of eight weeks.

The Union Health Secretary has urged the states and UTs to instruct the concerned officials accordingly to undertake necessary steps to widely disseminate the message of revised dosing interval amongst programme managers, vaccinators and recipients of the Covishield vaccine and ensure adherence of the revised dosing interval, it said. (ANI)

From launching a scathing attack on the Centre to demonstrating martial art moves, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s campaign for Kerala assembly polls remained a power-packed feat on Monday.

Addressing students in a college in Kochi, Gandhi said, “Government’s primary responsibility is to give jobs to youngsters, not to their own organisations. The LDF government here and the BJP in Delhi have failed miserably. If you are a young person in Kerala, a job is not a reality but a dream.”
He further alleged that the country has been witnessing an economic slowdown due to the rogue policies.

“Due to demonetization and GST, the Indian economy was damaged. It was already weak and after Covid, it collapsed. The government now does not have money so they are forcibly taking money from your pocket to run the government. Fuel prices are rising because of economical mismanagement for the last four-five years. You need a strategy. That is where we are running into a problem. The mismanagement is quite profound. It will be difficult for India to come out of this,” stated Gandhi.

The Congress leader also emphasised on women empowerment.

“Women, they do not understand how their power works and where their power comes from. And that is the whole point of empowerment. Society in India treats you very badly. It insults you every day, it does not let you do what you want. It attacks you. So, you have to get strength from inside. For that, you need to understand the forces hurting you and then position yourself properly,” said Gandhi.

The MP from Wayanad also demonstrated some moves from Aikido, a Japanese martial art form. He showcased how one person can use his or her energy to hold the ground and resist being pushed by several others.

Gandhi has been campaigning extensively in Kerala for the assembly polls. Recently, during his campaigning in Kollam he had taken a dip in the sea with fishermen.

On Tuesday, he will campaign in Pala, Kanjirappally, Piravom, Kunnathunad, Muvattupuzha, Perumbavoor and Angamaly.

Congress is contesting 91 seats in the Assembly polls. The election for 140-member Kerala Assembly will be held on April 6. The counting of votes will take place on May 2. (ANI)

With the aim to expand its territory in South China Sea, Beijing is aggressively building many new villages in disputed borderlands in the Himalayas, according to a report published in The Japan Times.

Brahma Chellaney, professor of strategic studies at the New Delhi-based Center for Policy Research, in an article, titled ‘China’s Himalayan salami tactics’ said, “China is aggressively building many new villages in disputed borderlands to extend or consolidate its control over strategically important areas that India, Bhutan, and Nepal maintain fall within their national boundaries.”
Chellaney wrote that the strategic implications of China’s drive to populate these desolate, uninhabited border areas is its major buildup of new military facilities. The new installations range from electronic warfare stations and air defence sites to underground ammunition depots.

“China’s militarised village-building spree has renewed the regional spotlight on Chinese President Xi Jinping’s expansionist strategy at a time when, despite a recent disengagement in one area, tens of thousands of its troops remain locked in multiple standoffs with Indian forces. Recurrent skirmishing began last May after India discovered to its alarm that Chinese forces had stealthily occupied mountaintops and other strategic vantage points in its northernmost Ladakh borderlands,” he wrote.

He further stated that Xi’s regime advanced its South China Sea expansionism through asymmetrical or hybrid warfare, waged below the threshold of overt armed conflict. This approach blends conventional and irregular tactics with small incremental territorial encroachments (or “salami slicing”), psychological manipulation, disinformation, lawfare, and coercive diplomacy.

The Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post, citing a Chinese government document, recently reported that China intends to build 624 border villages in disputed Himalayan areas.

“In the name of “poverty alleviation,” the Communist Party of China (CPC) is callously uprooting Tibetan nomads and forcing them to settle in artificial new border villages in isolated, high-altitude areas,” Chellaney said while adding that the CPC has also sent ethnic Han Chinese party members to such villages to serve as resident overseers.

By building new border villages and relocating people there, China can now invoke international law in support of its claims. Effective control is the sine qua non of a strong territorial claim in international law. Armed patrols don’t prove effective control, but settlements do, wrote Chellaney.

He added that China’s construction of villages and military facilities in the borderlands threatens to wreak havoc on the ecologically fragile Himalayas, which are the source of Asia’s great rivers. Environmental damage is already apparent on the once-pristine Doklam Plateau, claimed by Bhutan, which China has transformed into a heavily militarized zone since seizing it in 2017. (ANI)

Bollywood star Shraddha Kapoor penned a note of thanks to the team of ‘Chhichhore’ as the late actor Sushant-Singh Rajput co-starrer bagged the Best Film (Hindi) at the 67th National Film Awards on Monday.

The ‘Aashiqui 2’ actor took to Twitter to pen a note of thanks to the producers and the co-stars and congratulated them on achieving the accolade.

She wrote, “Thank you @niteshtiwari22 @nadiadwalagrandson for making me a part of this beautiful film (folded hands emoticon)We miss you @sushantsinghrajput . @fukravarun @naveen.polishetty @tahirrajbhasin @tushar.pandey @saharshkumarshukla. Thank you National award committee (joined hands emoticon). Thank you to the entire team of Chhichhore (black heart emoticon).”

The ‘Baaghi 3’ actor shared a poster of the film that commemorated the big win. It sees a note that read, “Remembering Sushant Singh Rajput.”

“Chhichhore wins best film (Hindi) at the 67th National Film Awards).”

Celebrity followers including the director of SSR’s last film ‘Dil Bechara’ liked the post that garnered more than 4 lakh likes within 37 minutes of being posted.

Bhumi Pednekar also chimed into the comments section and left multiple clapping emoticons.

Film’s producer Sajid Nadiadwala dedicated the award to Sushant. “On the behalf of NGE I dedicate this extremely prestigious award to Sushant Singh Rajput. We can’t get over his loss ever but I sincerely pray that this award gives a little bit of happiness to his family and fans which includes me. And I am tremendously grateful to Nitesh Tiwari for giving us all this very special movie,” he said.

‘Chhichhore’ is a movie full of nostalgia and plays on the themes of friendship and college life.

The film revolves around Anni (played by Sushant) and his college buddies. It showcases how their lives undergo major changes after they all graduate. One part of the film shows the friends in their college and how they strive to win a competition and the second part features them all grown up.

The gang, which gets separated after college, reunites years later in a hospital when one of their friends meets with an accident. The film directed by Nitesh Tiwari, and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala that had hit the big screens on September 6 in 2019, was a blockbuster hit and entered the 100 crore club in mere three weeks.

The 67th edition of the National Film Awards announced the honours to the entertainment industry’s best talent for the year 2019 after getting delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (ANI)

By Gaurav Arora

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Monday defended Anil Deshmukh regarding a complaint by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on allegations of corruption against him, stating that the Maharashtra Home Minister was hospitalised between February 5 to 15.

Addressing media here, Pawar said, “If you see the former Commissioner’s (Param Bir Singh) letter, he mentions that in mid-February, he was informed by certain officers that they got such and such instructions from the Home Minister. From 5th-15th February, Deshmukh was admitted in the hospital because of coronavirus.”

Pawar also displayed a hospital slip which indicated that Deshmukh was in the hospital till February 15.

Pawar said, “So it’s clear Deshmukh was in Nagpur. CP is saying he was briefed the same day by the home minister. The second week of March, Parambir got the information he says. Why was he waiting the whole month to expose it? Yesterday I also suggested some senior officer should probe the case. I think it is clear who murdered (Mansukh) Hiran. In the investigation, it will be clear why they did this.”

He said, “ATS announced that two persons were arrested. ATS investigation is going in the correct direction and to divert the things allegation has been made now. The Truth is coming out now. I am convinced after seeing the document that on a particular day he was in Nagpur.”

The NCP chief was responding to questions over BJP’s Amit Malviya’s tweet that said Deshmukh had held a press conference on February 15, as opposed to the NCP chief’s statement that he was admitted to hospital at the time.

Pawar said, “Don’t want to say anything on this I have the document. The main and important thing is the Antilia case and who murdered. Why you people are diverting the issue.”

Meanwhile, Deshmukh said, “A few journalists were waiting for me at the hospital gate after I got discharged on February 15. I was feeling low and weak so I sat on the chair there and responded to their questions. Then I went straight to my car and went home.”

Singh on Saturday wrote a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, alleging that Deshmukh had indulged in “malpractices” and asked suspended API Sachin Waze to collect Rs 100 crore every month. (ANI)

By Archana Prasad

Faced with rising LPG prices, tea workers of Assam’s Jorhat have urged political parties, contesting assembly elections say with their low wages, they are facing trouble in refilling cylinders due to low wages and are forced to burn firewood again.

Speaking to ANI, Puniaari, a tea worker from Jorhat said, “We can no longer afford gas refills so have switched back to burning wood. We have not use a cylinder gas since the last 10 months as prices are steep and we cannot afford it at all.”

“I don’t know what to demand from political parties, they only does big promises but never fulfils,” she further added.

She also urged the political parties, who voted to power in future to increase their daily wages that will help their livelihood and said, “We don’t even get any subsidy.”

“It’s not easy to cook on “Chulha” we feel irritation in our eyes, I face problem in breathing. Earlier, we use to Cook on gas stove but after hike in the price we have stopped using it at all,” said Lata, another tea worker.

“We can’t afford it now as we get only Rupees 173 rupees after working in tea gardens,” she said asking that tell me how can we afford this costly cylinder?

Another tea worker, Seema said, “Our children get late for schools or tuitions, my husband also get late for work because cooking on hearth takes much time s compared to gas stove.”

“I demand political parties increase our daily wages maybe than can we afford filling up gas cylinders,” she added. (ANI)

Urging people to wear a face mask, and be responsible amid the coronavirus pandemic, Bollywood star Preity Zinta on Monday shared a public service message that had a quirky twist.

The ‘Kya Kehna’ actor hopped on to Instagram to request all to wear a mask. She posted a message that highlighted the symptoms of COVID-19.

It read, “If you have loss of sense of smell, or loss of sense of taste, these are symptoms of COVID-19.”

“Loss of common sense is not a symptom of COVID-19, it is the reason you got the disease,” read the public service message.

It further read:” Wear a Mask. Please.”

The ‘Salaam Namaste’ actor noted in the caption, ” (with two folded hands emoticons) #WEARyourMASK #beresponsible #ting.”

Celebrity followers including filmmaker Mukesh Chhabra and more than 35 thousand fans liked the post on the photo-sharing platform.

By reading the quirky message at the end of the announcement, Zinta’s ‘Koi Mil Gaya’ co-star Hrithik Roshan couldn’t stop himself from laughing and wrote ” Hahahahaha” in the comments section.

Scores of fans also chimed and wrote multiple laughing with teary eyes emoticons in response to the quirky post.

The ‘Mission Kashmir’ star is quite an active media user and keeps on updating fans on her activities by posting pictures and videos.

Earlier, Zinta treated fans with a sneak peek of her workout session as her gym mate Katrina Kaif turned a photographer for the ‘Dil Se’ star. (ANI)

The upcoming assembly election in West Bengal is going to see a tough fight between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the same has been reflected in their party manifestos.

Leaving no areas to attract the attention of the Bengali people, BJP in their manifesto has given a large space to women, announcing that if the BJP comes to power, 33 per cent job reservation will be provided to the women, along with free travelling for them in public transport. It also includes free education from Kindergarten (KG) to Post-Graduation (PG).
The BJP will implement the Ayushman Bharat Scheme and the Pradhan Mantri Kishan Nidhi Scheme which the Mamata Banerjee government has denied implementing in the state. It has also promised the provision of salt at Rs 3 per kg and sugar at Rs 5 per kg.

The BJP has also promised to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the very first year of its Cabinet and has said that would make strong efforts to strengthen border fencing to stop infiltrators, while Rs 10,000 every year for the refugees family for five years will be ensured.

On the other hand, TMC’s poll manifesto focuses on the youth, students and farmers. The party has promised five lakh jobs in a year and financial assistance to the female heads of any family for the general category will be given Rs 6000 per year and Rs 12,000 every yearfor those belonging to the SC/ST community.

For farmers. the party has said that it would increase aid to them from Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000 per acre. The manifesto of TMC also promised credit cards for students to get loan up to Rs 10 lakhs with 4 per cent of interest and Health Scheme Swasthya Saathi to continue providing expense of Rs five lakh for the treatment of families.

Both TMC and BJP have claimed that their manifesto is a development-oriented manifesto for the people. While releasing the ‘Sonar Bangla Sankalp Patra’, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the manifesto was completed after taking in the suggestions from the people of the state.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Locket Chatterjee has praised the party manifesto, saying that it is an eye-catching manifesto and all the sectors have been taken care of, while importance has been given to all sectors, considering the budget.

Whereas TMC leader Sougata Roy on Sunday slammed the BJP, saying it is a jumla-based manifesto and lamented that outsiders are releasing the manifesto of Bengal, which is “sad for Gujarat”.

TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee also slammed the BJP, tweeting that a jumla-laden manifesto for Bengal polls has been released in the hands of a “Gujarati”.

“Absurd how the Tourist Gang released their jumla-laden manifesto for Bengal polls in the hands of a Gujarati! A party that cannot find sufficient candidates for all 294 seats in Bengal is now faltering to find local leadership for such key events!” he tweeted.

Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram also targeted the BJP over the issue of implementing CAA in Bengal in its first cabinet.

“The BJP has revealed its true face in the party’s West Bengal election manifesto. On the first day of government, the BJP will approve the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA),” he tweeted.

“The CAA will divide the country, discriminate against Muslims and deprive millions of Indians of their birthright of citizenship,” he said in another tweet. (ANI)

Shiv Sena MP, Sanjay Raut on Monday has issued a warning to the Opposition over attempts being made to impose President’s rule in Maharashtra following the controversial letter of former Mumbai Police commissioner Param Bir Singh accusing Home Minister Anil Deshmukh of indulging in “malpractices” and asking suspended API Sachin Waze to collect Rs 100 crore every month.

While addressing a press conference in Delhi, Raut said, “If someone is attempting to get President Rule imposed in Maharashtra by misusing central agencies, then I am warning them – you yourself will get burnt in that fire.”
Raut also spoke about the ongoing Antilia bomb scare case’ investigations going on in Maharashtra. He came out in support of NCP Chief Sharad Pawar’s comments made yesterday.

Raut said, “If NCP chief has decided that the allegations should be probed, then what is wrong? Anyone can level any allegation. If people take ministers’ resignation just like that, then it will be difficult to run the government.”

Raut reiterated, “As long as Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is the Chief Minister and in power, the investigation will be fair. The Chief Minister is monitoring the situation closely. Even if something is decided, amongst the three parties, then the Chief Minister will take the final call. The government of Maha Vikas Aghadi will surely complete its full term.”

NCP leader Praful Patel and Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut met National Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar in Delhi earlier today amid allegations by ex-top cop of Mumbai Police.

A day after former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh wrote to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray alleging that Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had indulged in “malpractices” and asked suspended API Sachin Waze to collect Rs 100 crore every month, NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday said that the decision of reinstating Sachin Waze into Mumbai Police was that of Singh and not Thackeray’s and asserted the allegations will have no impact on the Maharashtra government.

These political debates in Maharashtra have sparked after bombs were found in a car near business tycoon Mukesh Ambani’s residence in February 25.

Waze was arrested in connection with the investigation into the recovery of explosives from a car parked near Mukesh Ambani’s house in Mumbai on February 25.

Waze, Assistant Police Inspector in the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU), who was transferred to the Citizen Facilitation Centre at Mumbai Police Headquarters after his name came up in Mansukh Hiren death case, has been sent to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) custody till March 25, in connection with his alleged role and involvement in placing an explosives-laden vehicle. (ANI)