Month: April 2021

76.16% Voting In 4th Phase Of West Bengal Election

By LokMarg

West Bengal on Saturday recorded a voter turnout of 76.16 per cent till 5:30 pm across 44 constituencies in five districts during the fourth phase of the state Assembly polls, according to the Election Commission (EC).

The highest voter turnout so far has been reported in the Cooch Behar district with 79.53 per cent.
The Bhangar constituency has witnessed the highest voting percentage with a turnout of 85.12 per cent till 5.30 pm, followed by Natabari with 84.50 per cent.

The lowest voting percentage has been reported in Behala Purba with 66.23 per cent so far.

Meanwhile, the ruling All India Trinamool Congress on Saturday alleged that Central Forces opened fire twice at polling booths in Cooch Behar where people were casting their votes, killing four party workers.

Addressing a press conference, TMC leader Dola Sen said, “In block 1 of Mathabhanga (Cooch Behar) one TMC worker was killed and three were injured after Central Forces opened fire on them, in Sitalkurchi block, three TMC workers were killed and one was injured.”

She further said Central Forces were doing injustice to the people and they had crossed limits.

This phase of the elections is witnessing an intense battle between 373 candidates in 44 constituencies of the state across five districts — Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, South 24 Parganas, Howrah and Hooghly.

The smallest constituency is Bally with 1,76,001 electorates whereas Chunchura is the biggest constituency with 3,13,701 electorates.

Security has been beefed up in all 44 constituencies with a total of 900 companies of security forces deployed to ensure a peaceful election.

Out of these, 140 companies of central forces are deployed in the nine Assembly seats in Howrah, 175 for Hooghly’s 19 seats, 185 for South 24 Parganas’ 11 seats, 105 in Alipurduar and 188 in the nine seats of Cooch Behar.

Among the 44 constituencies, nine are in Howrah, 10 in Hooghly, 11 in South 24 Parganas, five in Alipurduar and nine in Cooch Behar.

The fifth phase of the Assembly elections will commence on April 17. Counting of votes will take place on May 2. (ANI)

Delhi New Covid cases

Delhi Reports 7,897 New Covid Cases In 24 Hours

By LokMarg

Delhi reported 7,897 new COVID-19 cases and 39 deaths in the last 24 hours.

The city has 28,773 active cases.
According to Delhi Health Department, the total count of cases now stands at 7,14,423 which includes 6,74,415 recoveries and 11,235 deaths.

A total of 77,374 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, including 43,473 RTPCR/CBNAAT/TrueNat tests and 33,901 Rapid antigen tests.

The total tests per million in Delhi stands at 8,12,839. (ANI)

4 Held In Pune For Selling Remdesivir In Black

By LokMarg

Four persons have been arrested in Pune for selling Remdesivir injections in the black market, police said on Saturday.

Three injections were recovered from their possession and police said the accused had already sold 40 injections so far.
“We are probing the presence of other gangs that might be operating in different hospitals”, Krishna Prakash, Police Commissioner, Pimpri Chinchwad told media on Saturday.

The accused have been identified as Aditya Mendargi, Pratap Jadhavar, Ajay Morane and Muralidhar and used to work as ward boys in four different hospitals.

“They used to sell injections 15 to 20 times costlier in the market. There might be other gangs like this one present in other hospitals. We are conducting further investigation and if someone is caught doing such acts then that person won’t be spared,” the Police Commissioner said. (ANI)

AMU Cancels Entrance Exams Due To Covid-19 Surge

By LokMarg

Due to the rising number of Covid-19 cases, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has cancelled entrance examinations for the 2021-2022 session.

The Public Relation Officer, Omar Saleem Peerzada said, “With rising COVID cases, AMU has canceled entrance examinations for session 2021-2022.”
However, a fresh entrance schedule will be uploaded soon by the university authorities on AMU’s official website, he added.

Earlier, the authorities in Gautam Buddh Nagar, Allahabad, Meerut, Noida, and Ghaziabad imposed a night curfew from Thrusday to tackle the infection spread.

Similar restrictions were imposed in Kanpur and the Lucknow Municipal Corporation area on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh has reported 12,787 new COVID19 cases in the last 24 hours, the highest single-day spike in the state since the pandemic began, said state health bulletin. (ANI)

Covid-19: Delhi Asks Hospitals To Deploy MBBS Students

By LokMarg

In order to meet the increased demand for manpower during the ongoing pandemic, all Delhi Government hospitals have been directed to engage fourth and fifth year MBBS students, interns and BDS doctors.

“In view of the surge of COVID pandemic and to meet the demand of increased manpower, the Medical Directors/Medical Superintendents/Directors of all COVID Hospitals of Govt. of NCT of Delhi are authorized to engage 4th & 5th year MBBS students, Interns and BDS pass Doctors as per the provisions of order No. 52 dated 18.11.2020 issued by this Department,” read the order from the Health and Family Welfare department of the Government of NCT of Delhi.
Delhi reported 7,897 new COVID-19 cases and 39 deaths in the last 24 hours.

The city has 28,773 active cases.

According to Delhi Health Department, the total count of cases now stands at 7,14,423 which includes 6,74,415 recoveries and 11,235 deaths.

A total of 77,374 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, including 43,473 RTPCR/CBNAAT/TrueNat tests and 33,901 Rapid antigen tests. The total tests per million in Delhi stands at 8,12,839. (ANI)

Farmers Should Defer Protest, Talk To Centre: Tomar

By LokMarg

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Saturday appealed to protesting farmers at Delhi borders to postpone their protest against the new farm laws in view of the second coronavirus wave and said that government is ready for a discussion.

Speaking to ANI Tomar said, “I had urged union leaders many times to tell children and older people to go back home, in view of Covid-19. Now the second wave has also begun, farmers and their unions should follow Covid protocol. They should postpone the protest and have discussions with us.”
Many farmers’ unions and economists are supporting the Agricultural Bills but some farmers are protesting against the bills, the minister said.

He said that the government had held 11 rounds of talks with protesting farmer unions and that they were ready for more talks.

“The government has offered to discuss problematic areas and make changes in them but farmer unions didn’t accept it and didn’t give a reason. Agitation continues either when the government isn’t ready to talk or when the union doesn’t get favourable response. Here unions decided to continue it anyway,” Tomar said.

Farmers have been protesting at the different border of Delhi since November last year against the three newly enacted farm laws — Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. (ANI)

International Gold Medalist Para Swimmer

‘Quit Self Pity, Learn To Swim Against The Tide’

By LokMarg

His medical document describes him as ‘100% Disabled’, but Shams Aalam (34) has others certificates that title him with international gold medalist para swimmer, world record holder in open sea swimming and TEDx Speaker. His story:

I am delighted to have won two Gold and one Silver medals with a new National record at 20th National Para Swimming Championship held in Bangalore recently. From an international level Karate player in 2010 to a record holder paraplegic swimmer, I have come a long way.

In 2010, I was about to represent my country in Asian Games. But as fate would have it I was diagnosed with a benign tumour. The surgical treatment left my lower body paralytic. I lost all sensation below my chest. I needed two persons to carry me from one place to another. It was sheer trauma; I felt like a helpless infant. But my mother, my sister and their children took care of me through that time.

My doctor assured me that I would be able play sports again and I followed his advice but realized that the recovery was slow. I was worried about my future. I searched and read every article on the internet about paraplegia, its recovery, treatment, alternative medicine.

From a Karate Kid in 2010 to Gold Fish in 2018

It then began to dawn upon me that this was a permanent situation and is not going to change. Once I got my disability certificate in 2012 which said that I am 100 percent disabled, I decided that I need to stop crying and find alternative ways to move ahead in my life. My mother was the main motivating force. She would tell me “If Allah has closed one door for you, it will open 1000 other doors. Keep going.”

My doctor had advised me to take up swimming to regenerate my nerves and I had taken it with utmost seriousness. In 2012 I started participating in national events as a paraplegic swimmer. As my mother had said, a new door opened for me.

In 2016, I won a bronze medal at the 2016 Can-Am Para Swimming Championships in Gatineau, Quebec. In 2017 I covered eight km in open sea in four hours, which is a world record. In 2018, I was selected to represent India in Asian Para Games at 100 meter Butterfly and Freestyle, besides other categories.

ALSO READ: ‘A Woman Footballer Still Freaks People’

My disability changed my vision. I feel there is much to do for the betterment and empowerment of the disabled community in the country, and I have a role in it. I associated myself with many initiatives in this direction. I started Para Sports Association in Mumbai, a body that provides a sports platform to people with disability. I have been working with various universities on accessibility issues and have delivered TEDx talks, most by a disabled person, on various issues.

Since 2019, I have been working with Bal Swavlamban Trust, a corporate social responsibility initiative of Gurgaon-based Hella India Automotive. We aim to produce affordable, accessible customized mobility equipment for the disabled. I use a German wheelchair which is good but also very costly. At Hella, we are trying to reduce the cost of mobility equipment from the current ₹1.5-2 lakh to ₹30,000.

Aalam now guides people with spine injury as a peer mentor

I am also working on the sexuality and disability. These are topics which are never raised because of which women and children often get abused, end up being victims of domestic violence and worse. We are also trying to generate proper data on the spinal injuries, other disabilities.

As a peer mentor I guide people with spinal cord injury on how to live their life post-trauma.  My mantra is: accept the way in whatever way you are. Respect yourself, stop self-pitying and start moving. If you want to achieve something, you will find the way to achieve it – either on your feet or a wheelchair.

As Told To Mamta Sharma

Pakistan Continues To Rely On Loans From China, IMF

By LokMarg

Pakistan is set to address a dozen conditions in six months to meet the USD 6 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme as the debt-ridden country continues to rely heavily on its all-weather friend China, for additional support, according to a media report.

The international lender on Thursday released its staff country report of the USD 6 billion programme, showing that Pakistan’s external financing needs are still largely met by Beijing, The Express Tribune reported.
The report also said that Pakistan’s economic endurance still hinges upon an USD 11 billion continued Chinese lifeline.

According to the IMF, Pakistan’s gross external financing needs — the funds that it needs to pay off foreign loans and finance its imports — amount to USD 27 billion over the next 12 months.

The Pakistani daily said these financing needs will be met by support from China’s USD 10.8 billion, the UAE’s USD 2 billion, the World Bank’s USD 2.8 billion, the G-20’s USD 1.8 billion initiative, the Asian Development Bank’s USD 1.1 billion, and the Islamic Development Bank’s USD 1 billion.

Pakistan authorities have remained engaged with external creditors to secure financing to meet the extended fund facility (EFF) program’s debt sustainability objectives, according to the staff report.

“China has maintained its exposure by renewing (and augmenting) the CYN 30 billion (about USD 4.6 billion) three-year bilateral currency swap (about USD 3 billion at the time of EFF approval), as well as by renewing the maturing commercial loans as part of the program financing assurance commitment, the IMF report said

China has also provided an additional USD 1billion deposit in July 2020, raising the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) deposits to USD 4billion, IMF report added.

In recent years, Chinese loans have fueled a massive buildout of Pakistan’s power generation, financing that has turned a perennial electricity shortfall into a now-massive capacity surplus that the highly indebted nation can increasingly ill-afford, Asia Times reported.

In those debt-rescheduling talks, Pakistani officials are also reportedly asking their Chinese counterparts to decelerate agreed plans to build even more power plants that would add to the overcapacity problem.

Official figures indicate that Pakistan’s total debt servicing liability could surpass USD 14 billion by the end of the year. (ANI)

TMC Asks Shah To Quit After 4 Members Shot Dead

By LokMarg

Condemning the killing of four party workers by Central Forces in Cooch Behar amidst the polling for the fourth phase of West Bengal Assembly elections on Saturday, Trinamool Congress demanded the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah while terming the incident as a conspiracy hatched by the latter.

Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters, TMC MP Sougata Roy said, “The firing took place because common people were resisting the effort by BJP hooligans to disrupt the voting. They are being encouraged by Central Armed Police Force and we feel this is a conspiracy headed by Home Minister, we are demanding his resignation.”
“Why did the Central Armed Police Forces fire? Where do they get this audacity of firing on common voters? That is the main question. This is a part of a conspiracy and we do not think that the Prime Minister is out of this conspiracy. This is an effort to intimidate voters,” added Roy.

The senior leader said TMC workers will hold protests in every block and ward of West Bengal over the firing in Cooch Behar.

Violence erupted at a polling booth in Cooch Behar during the fourth round of polling. Trinamool Congress alleged that Central Forces opened fire twice at polling booths in Cooch Behar where people are casting their votes, killing four party workers.

Official sources in Cooch Behar confirmed the death of four people in the district.

Following the incident, the Election Commission (EC) ordered the adjourning of the poll in PS 126 of Sitalkurchi AC, Cooch Behar based on an interim report from Special Observers. The EC will seek a detailed report from them and the Chief Election Officer by 5 pm on Saturday.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will hold a protest rally in Cooch Behar tomorrow against the firing incident and visit the homes of the deceased.

Addressing a public meeting in Hingalganj, Banerjee said, “CRPF has shot dead four people in Sitalkurchi (Cooch Behar) today. There was another death in the morning. CRPF is not my enemy but there is a conspiracy going around under the instruction of the Home Minister. Today’s incident validates that.”

“CRPF has killed voters standing in the queue. Where do they get so much audacity? BJP knows that they have lost, so they are killing voters and workers,” added the chief minister.

Meanwhile, CRPF clarified that the component was neither deployed at the said booth nor involved in the incident in any way.

Voting for 44 constituencies in West Bengal’s fourth phase Assembly elections began at 7 am on Saturday amid tight security.

This phase of the elections will witness an intense battle between 373 candidates in 44 constituencies of the state across five districts – Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, South 24 Parganas, Howrah and Hooghly. (ANI)

Kejriwal Rules Out Lockdown Amid Covid Surge In Delhi

By LokMarg

Amid a spike in COVID-19 cases in the national capital, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal ruled out the possibilities of a lockdown stating that new restrictions will be implemented soon.

He further said that Delhi currently has seven to 10 ten days of COVID vaccine stock.
Speaking to reporters outside the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital here today, Kejriwal said, “If we are provided with enough vaccine doses, age bar for vaccination is removed and we get approval to open more vaccination centers on a larger scale then we can vaccinate people within 2-3 months in Delhi. Currently, we have vaccines for 7-10 days. There will be no lockdown. New restrictions will be imposed soon.”

He further said that Delhi is witnessing the fourth wave of coronavirus, adding that there is a need to speed up the vaccination process, curb the spread of infection and improve hospital management to curb the spread of infection and control the rising number of cases in the national capital.

The Chief Minister has been reviewing the COVID-19 situation for the past many days. “Today also I held a review meeting at the LNJP hospital. The Delhi government and all the hospitals are going to replicate the level of preparations we had in November last year when infections were increased during the third wave and the doctors, nurses and health professionals had successfully tackled the situation.”

“During the meeting held today, I was updated on the requirements of the hospitals which we shall fulfill. We will not let Delhiites suffer,” he added,

During his visit to the LNJP Hospital, Kejriwal was accompanied by Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Kumar Jain and AAP spokesperson Raghav Chaddha.

Meanwhile, Delhi Reported 8,521 fresh COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, said the Union Health Ministry on Saturday. As many as 39 people succumbed to the disease in the last 24 hours, it said.

Meanwhile, India’s daily new cases continue to rise with 1,45,384 new cases registered in the last 24 hours.

India’s total active caseload has reached 10,46,631. It now comprises 7.93 per cent of the country’s total positive cases. A net incline of 67,023 cases recorded from the total active caseload in the last 24 hours, it said. (ANI)