Month: July 2021

Indian Boxers Aim To Punch Their Way To Glory In Tokyo

By LokMarg

By Anuj Mishra

With six days to go for the Tokyo Olympics to get underway, athletes across the globe are looking to give finishing touch to their preparations and head for the showpiece event. The Indian contingent is no different as 126 athletes will look to give it their all and bring glory to the country. And the boxers in the contingent are undoubtedly in contention for medals at the Games.

Star boxer Amit Panghal might be entering the Games as the World No.1 boxer in his men’s flyweight (52kg) but six-time world champion pugilist Mary Kom will be leading India’s charge in the upcoming showpiece event.

India last won a medal in boxing in the 2012 London Olympics when Mary Kom clinched a bronze four years after Vijender Singh finished third in the 2008 showpiece event.

Since then, India has not won a medal in the Olympics in the discipline. However, the Asian side did come close to clinching a medal in the 2016 Games before boxer Vikas Krishan Yadav faced defeat in the quarter-finals.

The Indian boxing contingent will depart for Tokyo Olympics from Assisi, Italy on Saturday. The boxers have been training hard for the showpiece event in Italy.

The men’s boxing side comprises number one and Asian Games champion Panghal (52kg), Manish Kaushik (63kg), Vikas Krishan (69kg), Ashish Kumar (75kg), and Satish Kumar (+91kg). The women’s squad includes Mary Kom (51kg), Simranjit Kaur (60kg), Lovlina Borgohain (69kg), and Pooja Rani (75kg).

Mary Kom — India’s biggest medal hope in boxing — is the lone woman boxer in the country to win a gold medal at the Asian Games. Mother of three children, Mary Kom is a legendary figure and central to Indian boxing.

In May 2021, Mary Kom finished her ASBC Asian Boxing Championships campaign with a silver medal after going down fighting against the two-time world champion Nazym Kyzaibay.

It was the second silver for Mary Kom at the Asian Championships who has previously won titles on five occasions — 2003, 2005, 2010, 2012, and 2017 besides silver in 2008.

The decorated Indian boxer is the first amateur Indian athlete to win the Padma Bhushan. She has won 5 gold and two silver medals in Asian Championships and is an eight-time World medallist which includes six gold medals.

In the men’s category, Panghal is India’s biggest medal hope. He might have gone down fighting against the reigning Olympics champion Zoirov Shakhobidin in a hard-fought men’s 52kg final at the 2021 ASBC Asian Boxing Championships, but the Indian boxer is raring to go in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.

“I have noted down few things where I need to improve and it will keep me in good stead going forward. There is scope for improvement, I have been training with my coach, where I lagged behind earlier, that has improved significantly now,” Panghal had told ANI in June 2021.

Meanwhile, boxer Pooja Rani (75kg) has also come to the fore after successfully defending her title at the 2021 Asian Boxing Championships. Pooja had outpunched in-form Mavluda Movlonova to hand India its first gold at the Asian Boxing Championships.

Born in Bhiwani district, Haryana, the 30-year-old, who stamped her authority in the international boxing circuit with a silver Medal at the Asian Championships in 2012, has two Asian Championships gold and one Asian Championships bronze medal under her belt. Pooja also clinched a bronze medal at the Asian Games in 2014.

With all the star boxers looking to peak at the right time, the Indian contingent might record a number of podium finishes in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. But to begin with, they need to focus on the basics and not let the pressure of expectations get to them. (ANI)

Haridwar Police Says Won’t Let Kanwar Yatris In

By LokMarg

After the Uttarakhand government decided to cancel the Kanwar Yatra this year in light of COVID-19, Haridwar police on Saturday said that borders of the state will remain sealed and a Quick Reaction Team (QRT) of the police will also be deployed.

A notice issued by the Haridwar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Senthil Avoodai K Raj S said, “All the boundaries of the district will remain sealed so that the Kanwariyas cannot come to Haridwar. Along with this, QRT of the police will also be deployed.”
He further said that mobile teams of police have also been formed, which will reach the spot as soon as the information is received. “Under no circumstances will Kanwariyas be allowed to come to Haridwar,” he said At the same time, the police have also banned the Kanwar market in Haridwar. “This year there will be no Kanwar market,” SSP said.

Earlier on Wednesday, Haridwar police asked people not to arrive in the district for the yatra, warning that those who try to enter the district, their vehicles will be confiscated and legal action shall be taken against them under the Disaster Management Act for violating the rules.

On Friday, the Supreme Court granted one last opportunity to the Uttar Pradesh government to reconsider its decision of holding “symbolic Kanwar Yatra” amid the COVID-19 pandemic while stressing that the health of the citizens of India and the right to life is paramount.

A Bench headed by Justice Rohinton F Nariman gave an ultimatum to the Uttar Pradesh government to either “reconsider” its decision or the court will pass orders on Monday.

Soon after, Uttar Pradesh Health Minister Jai Pratap Singh on Friday said that the state government will look into the directions issued by the Supreme Court regarding the Kanwar Yatra and is likely to announce its decision by the evening today.

The Kanwar Yatra, in which Shiva devotees from northern states travel on foot or by other means to collect water from River Ganga at Haridwar, Uttarakhand, to offer at Shiva temples in their areas, is set to begin from July 25. (ANI)

Next 100 Days Crucial In Fighting Covid: Health Dept

By LokMarg

By Sahil Pandey

Union Health Ministry in its weekly press conference on Friday cautioned that the next 100 to 125 days are critical in the fight against COVID-19 in India. “Fall in cases has slowed down. It’s a warning signal. Next 100 to 125 days are critical for fight against COVID in India,” says Dr VK Paul, Member-Health, Niti Aayog in a Health Ministry press conference.

Member Health, NITI Aayog shared a study conducted by ICMR that analyses the vaccine effectiveness in police personnel, a high-risk category

The study shows two doses of vaccine were successful in preventing 95 per cent of COVID-19 deaths in the Second Wave

“One dose of vaccine was able to reduce the mortality rate by 82 per cent. Two doses of vaccine were successful in preventing 95 per cent of deaths due to COVID-19 during the second wave,” he said.

“We are moving towards a set target to administer 50 crore doses before July. We are on the path to achieving it. Govt has ordered 66 crore doses of Covishield and Covaxin. Additionally, 22 crore doses will go to the private sector,” he added.

Paul also highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given them a target that there should be no third wave.
Union Health Ministry, Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal said, “Analysis shows a projected decline in the use of face masks as we resume activities. We should incorporate the use of face masks in our lives as a new normal.”

Agarwal noted that daily new cases in the country continue to show a decline during the second wave.
“Average daily new cases declined from 3,87,029 cases between May 5-11 to 40,336 cases between July 14-July 16,” the Joint Secretary said. (ANI)

One of The First Women Flair Bartenders in India

‘Woman In A Bartender’s Role Defies Patriarchy, Misogyny’

By LokMarg

Ami Shroff, 36, one of the first women flair bartenders in India, talks about following her passion, in a male-dominated profession

It was Tom Cruise who got me interested in bartending, at an impressionable age of 13. I watched his movie Cocktail and was star-struck by his ‘flair bartending’ skills. I tried the same tricks by juggling a plastic bottle filled with water. The first time I met an actual flair bartender was in my college, in 2003. After that, the internet helped me know about it all.

I started bartending as a hobby, a fun thing, a new skill to learn. I began working at bars along with a close friend of mine. It was a semi-profession as we were making money and also having fun. I didn’t see it as a career initially. But work brings more work and somewhere along the way I became a career bartender. Today, I have been in my 18th year in the bar industry and I swear it has been an amazing journey.

Flair bartending doesn’t just mean handling liquor selections. It involves: maintaining inventories of various ingredients like juices and sodas fruits and ice cubes, taking care of the hygiene; making sure the stock is correct, not over pouring or under pouring; keeping the counters clean and your machinery (refrigeration, blenders etc) functional.

Next comes your soft skills. A bartender is essentially a people’s person. Hence, the showmanship and salesmanship must blend well – like in a good cocktail. How you communicate, with your guests and your team matters a lot in the din. How comfortable and welcoming you make others feel makes a difference.

And finally, comes your creativity and artistic skills on display. It is this space that one can play, experiment and create one’s own recipes, own ways of presenting and make the whole experience of serving a drink a pleasurable experience. There is more to it but I have listed the majors.

As a female bartender, it has been a mix of good and bad experiences; mostly good, rarely bad. At times, when I did private events at some farm house or a party at an isolated sort of location, one automatically sees one in a vulnerable, insecure situation (who hasn’t heard of Jessica Lal, after all?).

More commonly, you may get stared at for a bit longer than expected or in a manner that you don’t want to be stared at, especially at events where you have more men or only men. This is where you see gender oddity, a lack of comfort. Having a more gender-balanced venue sends better vibes, makes you feel safer and at your creative best.

ALSO READ: ‘An Airplane Knows Not The Gender Of Its Pilot’

Patriarchy, misogyny, sexism, heteropatriarchy are the most major reasons why there is a lack of women in the bar industry. Odd hours, late nights, alcohol, loud merry-making… do not jell with a sanskari woman. Incidentally, I am often referred to as a “bartender with a bindi’. To me, the bindi is just an accessory, part of your jewellery. And it is pretty.

I was once asked if I would like to advise to young women about making their career choice. And I said I don’t want to burden women with more advice than they have already got. Just try things out, girls. Be financially independent, that is most important. Pursue a career that you find fascinating, that makes you curious, makes you want to learn more about it.

Most often you will succeed in a career that you find absorbing and that you are passionate about. That is all that matters and once you choose the path, it is going to get better and better after that. We can’t change the circumstances that we are in and what might stop each person but at least you don’t be the reason that stops you.

As Told To Mamta Sharma

SC Asks UP Govt To Review Decision On Kanwar Yatra

By LokMarg

The Supreme Court on Friday granted one last opportunity to the Uttar Pradesh government to reconsider its decision of holding “symbolic Kanwar Yatra” amid the COVID-19 pandemic while stressing that the health of the citizens of India and the right to life is paramount.

A Bench headed by Justice Rohinton F Nariman gave an ultimatum to the Uttar Pradesh government to either “reconsider” its decision or the court will pass orders on Monday.
“We are of prima facie view that it concerns all of us and is at the heart of the Fundamental Right to Life. The health of citizenry of India and Right to Life is paramount, all other sentiments whether being religious is subservient to this basic fundamental right,” Justice Nariman told counsel appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government.

“State of UP cannot go ahead with this. 100 per cent”, Justice Nariman added.

Senior advocate CS Vaidyanathan appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government told the Bench that authorities will be apprised of the apex court’s views. “We will inform the court as to whether there can be a reconsideration of holding a physical Kanwar Yatra amid COVID-19,” Vaidyanathan said.

During the hearing, Vaidyanathan said, “Total ban is not practical. We have allowed the Kanwar Yatra in a symbolic manner, with a limited number of devotees under stringent conditions.”

“We are only planning to allow only a few people. State Disaster Management Authority deliberated upon this and stated that for compelling religious reasons if someone wants to undertake the Kanwar Yatra, they should seek permission and they should have negative RT-PCR test and be fully vaccinated,” Vaidyanathan said.

Vaidyanathan further added that the Uttar Pradesh government has decided that a total ban will be inappropriate thus the State Disaster Management Authority thought to conduct it in a symbolic manner and an option be given to ‘Kanwariyas’ where Ganga Jal be made available through tankers.

The Counsel appearing for Uttarakhand told the Bench that the State had banned the complete Yatra.

At the outset, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for Centre told the top court that as far as the Kanwar Yatra is concerned, the State Governments “must not” permit movement of ‘Kanwariyas’ for bringing Ganga Jal from Haridwar to the Shiv temples to do ‘Abhishekam’ in the local Shiv Temples view of COVID-19 crisis.

The top court was hearing a case where it took suo motu cognizance of the decision of Uttar Pradesh Govt to allow Kanwar Yatra amid COVID-19 and asked the Centre, UP and Uttarakhand to clarify their stand on the issue.

The Central government also filed an affidavit and said that state governments must not permit the movement of ‘Kanwariyas’, however, considering the age-old customs and religious sentiments attached, States must develop a system to make ‘Ganga Jal’ available through tankers at designated locations.

“Tankers be available at an identified/designated locations so that nearby devotees can collect such ‘Ganga Jal’ and do “ABHISHEK” upon their nearest Shiv temples,” the affidavit stated.

Centre further stated in its affidavit that State governments must ensure that distribution of ‘Ganga Jal’ amongst devotees and rituals to be performed by such devotees in the nearby Siv Temples take place mandatorily ensuring social distancing, wearing masks, and adhering to all steps required during COVID-19 crisis.

The Bench took the suo moto cognizance of the newspaper report that Uttar Pradesh has decided to continue with the Kanwar Yatra despite Uttarakhand cancelling the pilgrimage this year.

Referring to the news report about Uttar Pradesh going ahead with Kanwar Yatra amid pandemic, Justice Nariman had told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that he read “something disturbing” in the newspaper today that the state of UP has chosen to continue with the Kanwar yatra, Uttarakhand with its hindsight of experience has said that there will be no Yatra.

“We wish to know what the stand of the respective governments is. The citizens of India are completely perplexed. They don’t know what is going on…,” The Bench had observed while also referring to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement when he met the North-Eastern Chief Ministers that when people ask about the third wave of the Covid-19 virus striking the citizenry of India, it’s up to us to stop it and we cannot compromise “even a bit”.

It had said that given the disparate political voices, all speaking at the same time, it is important that the relevant Secretary, Centre, respond to the issue.

The Kanwar Yatra, in which Shiva devotees from northern states travel on foot or by other means to collect water from River Ganga at Haridwar, Uttarakhand, to offer at Shiva temples in their areas, is set to begin from July 25. (ANI)

Sonia Yet To Take Decision On Punjab Cong: Rawat

By LokMarg

Congress leader Harish Rawat said on Friday said that party chief Sonia Gandhi is yet to take a decision regarding proposed changes in Punjab Congress.

He made the remarks after a meeting with Sonia Gandhi in which party leader Navjot Singh Sidhu was also present.
“I came here to submit my note to the party president. As soon as I get to know about her decision regarding Punjab Congress, I will let you (media) all know,” Rawat said.

“How can I have any information regarding Punjab when the Congress’ high command yet to take any decision?” he added.

Sidhu met Gandhi amid speculation that he could be appointed Punjab Congress chief.

Congress leadership has been making efforts to find a solution to the rift in the party’s Punjab unit ahead of assembly polls earlier next year. Sidhu has in the past aired his differences with Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh.

The Chief Minister had also met Sonia Gandhi last week. (ANI)

UP Population Control Bill Violates Article 21: Owaisi

By LokMarg

Slamming Uttar Pradesh government over the proposed population control bill, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday pointed out that the Centre in its December 2020 affidavit had stated that due to declining Total Fertility Rate (TFR), there cannot be a two-child policy in the country.

He added the proposed population control bill brought by the Uttar Pradesh government violates Article 21 of the Constitution. Interacting with media persons, Owaisi said, “In December 2020 affidavit, the Modi government had said that due to declining Total Fertility Rate (TFR), there cannot be a two-child policy in the country. The Yogi-led government, on the other hand, is opposing it.”

“This proposal violates Article 21. It will cause harm to the women as 93 per cent of sterilisation happens among women in the country. Women should be given the right to decide,” stated Owaisi.

As per the year 2000 population policy, TFR has reduced from 3.2 per cent to 2.2 per cent in 2018, without incentives, he said, adding that “In December 2020, Centre in an affidavit mentioned that international experience shows that any coercion to have the number of children is counter-productive”.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adtyanath on Sunday unveiled the state’s Population Policy 2021-2030 on the occasion of World Population Day. He had said that every community has been taken care of in Population Policy 2021-2030.

Under the proposed population control bill in the state, any couple who would follow the two-child policy will receive perks from the government.

The state’s Law Commission has released the first draft of the proposed ‘UP Population (Control, Stabilization and Welfare) Bill, 2021’ in the public domain and invited public suggestions by July 19. (ANI)

NCRC Slams Bengal Govt On Post-Poll Violence

By LokMarg

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in its report on the alleged post-election violence in West Bengal submitted to Calcutta High Court states that “Spatio-temporal expanse of violent incidents in the state reflects appalling apathy of the state government towards the plight of victims”.

In the report, the committee said, “This was retributive violence by supporters of the ruling party against supporters of the main opposition party. It resulted in disruption of life and livelihood of thousands of people and their economic strangulation.”
Meanwhile, NHRC has also refuted allegations in a section of the media regarding the leakage of the report relating to the post-poll violence in West Bengal

In a statement, the rights body said that it has shared copies of the said report with the advocates of the concerned parties in this matter in accordance with the directions of the Calcutta High Court.

“The National Human Rights Commission constituted a Committee to enquire into the post-poll violence in West Bengal, as per the directions of the Calcutta High Court. The Committee submitted its report to the Court on July 13, 2021. On the further directions of the Court, the Committee provided a copy of the said report to its Advocate in Calcutta, who shared with the Advocates of all the concerned parties in the related multiple writ petitions,” the statement read.

“The matter being sub -judice, the Committee of the NHRC did not share its report with any entity other than those specified by the Court. Since the report is already available with all the concerned parties as per the directives of the Court, there is no question of leakage at the level of the NHRC. The attribution regarding the alleged leakage of the said Report to the NHRC is absolutely baseless and factually incorrect,” it added. (ANI)

SC To Centre: Why Sedition Law Needed 75 Years Since Freedom

By LokMarg

By Garima Tyagi

The Supreme Court on Thursday questioned the Central government over the requirement of a sedition law even after 75 years of the country’s independence, observing that it was a “colonial law used against freedom fighters”.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana asked why the law can’t be repealed.

“Your government has repealed many stale laws, I do not know why the government is not looking into repealing Section 124A (which deals with the offence of sedition) of the IPC?” CJI Ramana asked Attorney General KK Venugopal.

The Bench further asked, “It is a colonial law. It was meant to suppress the freedom movement and the same law was used by the British against Mahatma Gandhi and Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Is this law still required after 75 years of independence?”

The Chief Justice said that the apex court would look into the plea challenging the Constitutional validity of Section 124A.

“The situation on the ground is grave. If one party does not like what the other is saying, Section 124A is used. It is a serious threat to the functioning of individuals and parties,” the top court observed.

“The use of the sedition law is like giving a saw to a carpenter to cut a piece of wood, and he uses it to cut the entire forest itself,” the court said, adding that it was concerned about the misuse of such laws.

Taking the example of Section 66A, which was struck down by the court but people were arrested, the Bench said, “There is misuse of these provisions, but there is no accountability.”

Attorney General representing the Central government told the Bench that Section 124A need not be struck down and only guidelines needed to be set out so that section meets its legal purpose.

The top court further told Attorney General that the conviction rate under Section 124A is very low.

“Take the 66A IT Act, thousands of cases were registered even after being struck down. If any police wants to fix somebody, it can invoke Section 124A also. Everybody is a little scared when this section is invoked. These are all issues that need to be looked into. Our concern is the misuse of the law and no accountability of the executive,” said the Chief Justice.

Meanwhile, the Bench also issued notice to the Centre on the plea filed by a former army officer challenging the Constitutional validity of the sedition law. It also tagged this plea along with other similar pending pleas.

The Bench observed that the petitioner in this case, had sacrificed his whole life for the country in service and it cannot be said that he is a motivated petition.

The plea, filed by retired Major-General SG Vombatkere challenged the Constitutional validity of the sedition law on the ground that it causes a ‘chilling effect’ on speech and is an unreasonable restriction on free expression, a fundamental right.

He submitted that Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with the offence of sedition, is wholly unconstitutional and should be ‘unequivocally and unambiguously struck down’.

Earlier, a different Bench of the top court had sought a response from the Centre on a plea challenging the Constitutional validity of sedition law, filed by two journalists — Kishorechandra Wangkhemcha and Kanhaiya Lal Shukla — working in Manipur and Chhattisgarh respectively. (ANI)

Cong Peace Formula: Capt To Be CM, Sidhu State Unit Chief

By LokMarg

By Siddharth Sharma

Congress has finally figured out a formula to give recognition and make peace among all major players in the party’s team in Punjab.

As per Harish Rawat, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary in charge of Punjab, Amarinder Singh will continue to remain captain of the team and will be the Chief Ministerial candidate for the party.
“Captain Amarinder Singh has been our CM for the last four-and-a-half years and we will go to the elections with his leadership. Captain (Amarinder Singh) and Sidhu (Navjot Singh) will work together,” said Rawat while talking to ANI.

When asked if Sidhu would be appointed as Punjab Congress chief, Rawat said, “A formula has been made around this. We have also made formula for the Working Presidents.”

A power tussle in Punjab Congress has been going on for almost a month where Sidhu is openly rebelling against the state government by criticising the electricity crisis in the state.

The party leadership had conducted several meetings with state leaders to understand the issues and find a middle ground. Recently, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also assumed the role of a mediator and facilitated a meeting between party leader Navjot Singh Sidhu and Rahul Gandhi.

According to sources, Congress is all set to announce Navjot Singh Sidhu as the new Chief of Punjab Congress Committee (PCC) on Friday.

“Sidhu will be appointed as the new PCC chief along with two working Presidents. Sunil Jakhar, who is currently heading Punjab Congress will be adjusted in AICC,” said sources. (ANI)