Month: April 2021

Delhi Metro’s Flying Squads on Wednesday penalised 672 commuters for not wearing a mask properly and violating social distancing norms.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) also urged the commuters to follow the protocols and politely counsel others to do the same.

“To ensure our travel guidelines are being followed, Delhi Metro’s Flying Squads penalised 672 commuters on 7 April 2021 for not wearing a face mask properly and (not) following social distancing. Let us all follow the protocols and politely counsel others to do the same. #CovidIsntOverYet,” DMRC said in a tweet.

Delhi reported 5,506 new Covid-19 cases and 20 deaths on Wednesday. The national capital has 19,455 active cases currently. (ANI)

The controversial blasphemy law in Pakistan, which have long been used to subjugate the minorities in the countries, is now being employed to silence women fighting for their rights.

Recently, two Pakistani courts have asked authorities to register cases against organisers of last month’s Pakistan’s Women’s March for violating blasphemy law, which carries a potential death sentence for anyone who insults Islam.
The Aurat March is an annually-held demonstration, organised in various cities of Pakistan including Lahore, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Karachi, Islamabad and Peshawar to observe International Women’s Day.

A petition seeking to ban the annual gathering has also been lodged with the Islamabad High Court.

The petitioner accused that blasphemous slogans were used during the Women’s March. However, the organisers have clarified that the participants of the march did not raise such slogans and their video was doctored to defame their struggle.

“Pakistan is not a democratic state but a religious state where clerics wield a lot of influence,” Mehdi Hassan, a former chairperson of Pakistan’s Human Rights Commission, told DW.

“Hurling allegations of blasphemy amounts to jeopardizing the lives of people here. We fear that the lives of women activists are in danger because there are so many extremists out there in the streets who could target them at any time. At least seven people have been killed just because of blasphemy allegations. Therefore, it is important that the government provides them [the activists] with protection,” she said.

Lahore-based activist Shazia Khan said friends and relatives have pressured them to maintain a low profile following the accusations and legal cases.

“Hatemongers and misogynistic media personalities have been spewing venom against us, jeopardizing the lives of women in a country where people are killed merely due to false accusations of blasphemy,” said Khan.

Khan believes it is difficult to say who is behind these threats and litigation.

“All the videos and posters have been fabricated or doctored. There is no truth to these accusations,” prominent activist Farzana Bari told DW.

Organizers of the march have also written an open letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan in order to draw his attention to the threats.

This year, even the terrorist group Tehreek Taliban Pakistan publicly threatened the organizers on Twitter, much to the alarm of women’s rights activists.

The tweet said, “Fix your ways. There are still many young Muslims here who know how to protect Islam and the boundaries set by Allah.” (ANI)

After having successfully disengaged with China in the Pangong lake area, Armies of India and China are scheduled to hold the 11th round of Corps Commander-level talks on Friday to discuss disengagement from friction points in Gogra, Hot Springs and Depsang plains in Ladakh.

“Indian and Chinese Army are scheduled to hold the 11th round of Corps Commander-level talks at Chushul in eastern Ladakh tomorrow at 10:30 am to discuss further disengagement from friction points there,” Indian Army sources said.
The two countries have been engaged in a military standoff for almost a year but disengaged from the most contentious Pangong lake area last month after extensive talks at both military and political levels.

The credit for the disengagement was given to all stakeholders by Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane who also talked about the country benefitting from the inputs given by the National Security Advisor Ajit Doval during the crisis.

Earlier, India and China held 10 round of talks at the Corps Commander level to reach the arrangement to disengage from the Pangong lake area. (ANI)

With 1,15,736 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, India recorded its daily highest spike on Wednesday.

With the surge, the total count of cases in India has reached 1,28,01,785. The country reported 630 COVID-related deaths in the last 24 hours, while the active number of cases stands at 8,43,473, the Union Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

As many as 59,856 people recovered from the disease in the last 24 hours. The cumulative death toll has mounted to 1,66,177.

Maharashtra continues to report the highest number of daily cases in the country. The state reported 59,907 new COVID-19 cases and 322 deaths in the last 24 hours.

The cumulative cases in the state now stand at 31,73,261. According to the state government data, the active cases in the state have mounted to 5,01,559.

Out of the new COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra, 10,428 cases were reported in Mumbai. The total count of COVID-19 cases in Mumbai now stands at 4,82,760. Pune district reported 10,907 new COVID-19 cases taking the total count of cases in the city to 6,04,037.

Delhi reported 5,506 new COVID-19 cases and 20 deaths in the last 24 hours. This is the highest single-day spike of coronavirus infections in the national capital this year.

A total of 220 cases were registered in the national capital against the violators of the night curfew guidelines on the first night of curfew which started on Tuesday night from 10 pm and ended at 5 am on Wednesday.

Uttarakhand reported 1,109 new COVID-19 cases including 509 cases in Dehradun and 308 cases in Haridwar, taking the total number of infections to 1,04,711.

The active COVID-19 cases in Madhya Pradesh have gone up to 26,059 with 4,043 new cases recorded today.

Chhattisgarh reported 9,921 new COVID-19 cases, 1,552 recoveries and 53 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the state Health Department.

In view of rising cases of COVID-19, the Chhattisgarh government has decided to declare the Raipur district a containment zone till April 19.

Odisha has reported 791 new COVID-19 cases, 266 recoveries and one death in the last 24 hours.

Amid the increasing number of COVID-19 cases, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Wednesday directed the state health department to ramp up the vaccination drive to meet the target of two lakh doses per day. (ANI)

Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi has written to Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan urging him to release more COVID-19 vaccines for Maharashtra.

Priyanka Chaturvedi also urged the minister to review the stance of ministry and make the vaccine “universally available to those below 45 at least till the age of 18, so they can be vaccinated and resume working safely”.
She said Maharashtra ranks at the top of the table in vaccination and the speed of vaccination and the volume “also means that many districts have run out of vaccine and other districts have stocks that would last only for about 48 hours”.

She said Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a request to supply more doses to Maharashtra.

“With the highest number of vaccine shots administered, we need the Union government to release more vaccines to Maharashtra in time so that we can keep up the Government of India’s drive to safeguard as many citizens as possible,” she said.

The MP said that “vaccine is the basic right of every Indian especially those who are working, and yet are being forced to stay home as they can get infected and unknowingly spread COVID to others in the family”. (ANI)

As many as 220 cases were registered against the violators of the night curfew guidelines on the first night of the curfew which started on Tuesday night from 10 pm and ended at 5 am on Wednesday.

“As many as 842 people were fined for violating the COVID-19 mask rule during the night curfew. Other than this, a case against 220 people registered for violating the night curfew norms,” Delhi Police said in an official statement.
In view of rising Covid-19 cases, night curfew will be in place in the national capital from 10 pm to 5 am till April 30.

As many as 5,100 new Covid-19 cases and 17 related deaths were reported in the last 24 hours on Tuesday. This was the highest single-day spike of coronavirus infections in the national capital this year. (ANI)

By Kamna Hajela

Sandhya Yadav, niece of former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Mulayam Singh Yadav, has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and she has been given a ticket for the upcoming District Panchayat elections.

The BJP released the list of candidates for the District Panchayat member, in which Sandhya has been nominated from Ghiror, Mainpuri from ward number 18.

Sandhya is the daughter of Mulayam Singh’s elder brother Abhairam Yadav and former MP from Badaun Dharmendra Yadav’s elder sister.

Sandhya is a former District Panchayat President of Mainpuri. She was made the District Panchayat president by the Samajwadi Party in 2016, but a family quarrel followed.

She seems to have then taken the support of the BJP, which in turn gave her a ticket without delay. Sandhya filed her nomination on Wednesday. The elections will be held in four phases from April 15 to 29. The results will be announced on May 2. (ANI)

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat has once again made a factually incorrect statement by saying that Kumbh Mela is also held in Varanasi.

Addressing media in Haridwar on Tuesday, Rawat said, “Kumbh takes place in Varanasi as well. He said that Mahakumbh comes in 12 years and is not held every year.
Notably, Kumbh is held periodically at four different locations in India — Nashik, Haridwar, Prayagraj, and Ujjain — every four years.

In normal circumstances, Kumbh continues for nearly four months but this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the duration of the congregation has been curtailed to one month.

The newly appointed Chief Minister had earlier triggered a controversy with his remarks on women wearing ripped jeans and another statement wherein he said that people should have produced more children to get extra ration during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rawat also made a factual error when he said in this speech that “America enslaved India for 200 years”. (ANI)

Veteran actor Kabir Bedi on Wednesday unveiled the book cover of his upcoming autobiography ‘Stories I Must Tell: The Emotional Life of an Actor’ with Salman Khan.

The 75-year-old’s autobiography is scheduled to be published with Westland Publications (an amazon company) on April 19. The book cover was revealed on a leading magazine’s Facebook platform by the ‘Dabangg’ star.

Talking about his book cover, Kabir, known for his baritone voice, regaled all present with the story of Terry O’Neil, Elton John’s photographer, who had taken his picture in the early ’70s, that’s made for an iconic book cover.

In his interaction with Salman, Kabir narrated a series of fascinating anecdotes that he has penned in the book. One of the most memorable anecdotes is the story of him interviewing ‘The Beatles’ which was a turning point in his career, making the shift from a career in ‘All India Radio’ to advertising to theatre and finally foraying into the world of cinema. He also remembered his parents who were remarkable spiritual figures.

When referred to his book as being cinematic, the evergreen star was hopeful that the book would be adapted for the screen or for a wonderful series. The actor talked of his journey in film, television and theatre, and the many ups and downs he has faced in life. Kabir Bedi regaled Salman Khan with stories of Hollywood and his epic series ‘Sandokan’.

Wishing good luck to Bedi for his upcoming book, Salman said, “Your personality as a star and human being is pure, so whatever comes out from this book would be straight from your heart and soul. It is going to be a beautiful read and I wish that a lot of people will learn from your experiences shared.”

Kabir said, “My book is the story of a middle-class boy from Delhi who becomes an international star. It’s also about the successes I’ve seen, the emotional traumas I’ve suffered, how I survived the worst of them and found fulfillment in the end.”

‘Stories I Must Tell: The Emotional Life of an Actor’ is about the highs and lows of Kabir Bedi’s professional and personal life, his tumultuous relationships, including marriage and divorce, why his beliefs have changed, his wrenching setbacks, and his exciting days in India, Europe, and Hollywood, and how he made India proud.

Kabir Bedi went from Bollywood, worked in Hollywood, and become a star in Europe.

Internationally, he was the villain in the James Bond film ‘Octopussy’, and starred in ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ — one of the most-watched series in the world.

In Europe, his ‘Sandokan’ series broke all television viewership records. He has millions of fans and well-wishers across the World. Kabir’s career spans three continents in three mediums: film, television and theatre. He has acted in over 65 Hindi movies. He starred with Michael Caine in Ashanti, and Roddy McDowell in ‘Thief of Baghdad.’

He played the title role in the Italian film ‘The Black Pirate’ (Il Corsaro Nero).

On American television, he has acted in popular series like ‘Highlander’, ‘Murder She Wrote’, ‘Magnum P.I. and Dynasty’, and many HBO mini-series.

On stage, he starred in John Murrell’s ‘TAJ’ at the Luminato Festival in Canada, and M.M Kaye’s Far Pavilions in London’s West End. Kabir lives with his wife Parveen Dusanj, a producer, in Mumbai. He is writing his next book, continues to act, voices ad films and documentaries, and is known for his philanthropic and social causes. (ANI)