Month: September 2021

All Is Not Well In Punjab Congress: Harish Rawat

By LokMarg

Amid the ongoing rift in the Punjab Congress, AICC state in-charge Harish Rawat on Thursday revealed that all is not well in the party but claimed that state Congress is heading towards the ‘all is well’ situation.

“I won’t say all is well, but we are heading towards it. I do not want to hide from you. We are trying to solve the issue,” Rawat told media persons here.
This comes after Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary Pargat Singh on Sunday questioned AICC state in-charge Harish Rawat over the decision that Congress will contest the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections under the leadership of Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.

Singh, who is believed to be close to Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, said, “When all the MLAs had met the three-member Kharge Committee constituted by the party high command in Delhi three months ago, it was decided that the Punjab Assembly elections to be held in 2022 would be fought under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Now, if Harish Rawat is saying that the 2022 Punjab elections will be fought under the leadership of Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, then he should also tell when this decision was taken.”

Rawat, who earlier on Wednesday met Amarinder Singh, said, “Those angry ministers who did not come to meet me, I thank them. The government did some things very well which we could not appreciate. It is due to the Amarinder Singh government that the Bargari case is out of the clutches of the CBI.”

A section of Punjab Congress leaders have raised a banner of revolt against Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and said that a change should be made in the state if needed.

Rawat also rejected the speculation of the reshuffle in the Punjab cabinet.

“There was no talk on the reshuffle topic with Amarinder Singh otherwise we would have shared with you all,” he added.

Rawat had also met Sidhu on Tuesday amid the ongoing turf war in the party’s state unit.

The top leadership of the Congress party has made it clear that Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh will be leading the party in the upcoming state Assembly polls.

Navjot Singh Sidhu was appointed Punjab Congress chief last month amid efforts by the party’s central leadership to end factionalism in the state unit. The assembly elections in Punjab are due early next year. (ANI)

Trucks From Afg To Be X-rayed At Attari Border

By LokMarg

Amid the ongoing situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan, India has installed its first Radiation Detection Equipment (RDE) at Integrated Check Post (ICP) at the Attari Border.

Aditya Mishra, the Chairman of the Land Ports Authority of India, confirmed about the first RDE at the Attari border.
Explaining the concept, Mishra said, “The device is called a full-body truck scanner in which entire trucks pass through. It is basically an X-ray of a truck to detect any smuggling of arms, ammunition, or other illegal articles. It will also catch smuggling of any radioactive materials.”

He added that the machines will help the border guarding forces to detect and deter illicit trafficking or smuggling of radioactive materials across the international border.

Trade with Pakistan is suspended but trucks from Afghanistan via Pakistan are entering the country through the Attari border. Every day, around 30 trucks of dry fruits and fruits from Afghanistan cross the Attari border.

An official said that India has trade via a land route with Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan, Pakistan and Afghanistan (via Pakistan). There is no trade with China through land routes.

Notably, seven more RDEs are also in the pipeline. The Land Ports Authority of India will install these RDEs at the ICPs at Attari (Pakistan border), Petrapole, Dawki, Agartala and Sutarkani (Bangladesh Border), Moreh (Myanmar border) and Raxaul and Jogbani (Nepal border).

A tender for installing RDE at all the remaining ICPs on the borders has now been finally issued by the government a few days back. (ANI)

President Condoles Demise Of Former MP, Chandan Mitra

By LokMarg

President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday expressed condolences on the demise of former MP and veteran journalist Chandan Mitra and said that his demise leaves a void in Indian journalism.

The President said that his stint as a parliamentarian added to his reputation.
In a tweet, the President wrote, “Shri Chandan Mitra was an outstanding journalist and his stint as a parliamentarian added to his reputation. His understanding of Hindi heartland and its history was profound. His demise leaves a void in Indian journalism. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.”

Bharatiya Janata Party National President Jagat Prakash Nadda also felt pained on his demise and said that he will be remembered for his distinguished career in the field of media and service for people.

“Pained to learn about the demise of former MP and senior journalist Shri Chandan Mitra Ji. He will be remembered for his distinguished career in the field of media and service for people. My thoughts and prayers are with his family in this time of grief. Om Shanti,” tweeted Nadda.

Mitra was elected in the Rajya Sabha, as a Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Madhya Pradesh in June 2010.

Former Rajya Sabha MP and senior journalist Chandan Mitra passed away late last night in Delhi, confirmed his son Kushan Mitra. Mitra was an Indian journalist, former editor and managing director of The Pioneer newspaper in Delhi. (ANI)

‘Bigg Boss 13’ Winner Sidharth Shukla Passes Away

By LokMarg

Actor Sidharth Shukla passed away on Thursday. He was 40 when he breathed his last.

Mumbai’s Cooper hospital has confirmed his death to ANI. According to one of the hospital officials, around 9:25 am, he was brought dead to the hospital.
However, the exact reason behind his demise has not been revealed yet. As per several reports, Sidharth died of a heart attack.

The actor last appeared on reality shows ‘Bigg Boss OTT’ and ‘Dance Deewane 3’ with Shehnaaz Gill. The late star rose to fame with the hit TV shows ‘Balika Vadhu’ and ‘Dil Se Dil Tak’.

He also shared screen space with Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan in the 2014 hit film ‘Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania’. The actor was also seen alongside Diljit Dosanjh in the 2018 movie ‘Soorma’.

He recently tasted success with his stint on the reality show ‘Bigg Boss 13’, where he emerged as the winner. The actor’s last screen outing was Ekta Kapoor’s insanely popular show ‘Broken But Beautiful 3’ in which he played the role of Agastya. (ANI)

COVID-19: India Gifts Two Mobile Oxygen Plants To Bangladesh

By LokMarg

India has gifted two mobile medical oxygen plants to Bangladesh to support the country’s fight against COVID-19. The Indian Navy Ship Savitri carrying two plants arrived at Chattogram harbour in Bangladesh on Thursday.
“Working together as close partners INS Savitri arrived at Chattogram harbour on 02 Sep 2021 and was ceremonially received by #Bangladesh authorities.

Ship carries 2 Mobile Oxygen Plants as a gift from people of India to people of Bangladesh to support the fight against #COVID19,” Indian High Commission in Bangladesh tweeted.

INS Savitri left Visakhapatnam on Monday with two 960 LPM Medical Oxygen Plants (MOP), one each for Bangladesh Navy and Dhaka Medical College, and will reach Chittagong on September 2, the ministry of defence had said in a statement.

“India and Bangladesh have a close, long-standing relationship covering a wide spectrum of activities and interactions, which has strengthened over the years. The people of India and Bangladesh also share close cultural bonds and a shared vision of democratic society and a rules-based order,” the statement added.

INS Savitri, is an indigenously built Offshore Patrol Vessel of the Indian Navy under the Eastern Naval Command based at Visakhapatnam.

As part of the Government of India’s vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region), the Indian Navy has been proactively engaging with countries in the region and has been at the forefront of numerous humanitarian missions spanning the entire extent of the Indian Ocean including South/ South East Asia and East Africa.

Earlier, Indian Naval Ship Shakti had transported 100 T of LMO to Colombo, Sri Lanka, whilst INS Airavat is currently on a deployment to South East Asia for trans-shipment of medical aid to Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand. (ANI)

Several Parts Of Delhi Waterlogged After Torrential Rains

By LokMarg

After incessant rains hit the national capital in the early hours of Thursday, several routes were either partially or completely waterlogged causing disruption in traffic movement.

The Delhi Traffic Police informed that the traffic movement is closed at Azad market underpass (both carriageway) due to waterlogging.
Several areas were submerged due to a heavy burst of rain. Roads were waterlogged in the Ring road area as the national capital continued to receive a heavy downpour. Waterlogging was also witnessed near India Gate, Dhaula Kuan, and ITO. The underpass near Palam was also waterlogged in the early hours of Thursday.

Mohit, a Delhiite, who was travelling to go to work got stuck at the underpass as his car stopped functioning.

“My car got stuck here an hour ago. A traffic personnel came a while back and said that he will be sending a crane to move his car, however, I am still waiting,” he told ANI.

Monu Kumar, another local said that two-wheeler stopped several times on his way from Noida to Palam. “It took me at about 3 hours to reach here,” he added.

Meanwhile, India Meteorological Department (IMD) in its latest weather forecast informed that the current spell of rain is likely to stop in the next two hours.

“Current cloud patch is over Delhi, it is moving northward and it will cross Delhi region during next 02 hours. So current spell of rain very likely to stop over entire Delhi during next 02 hours,” said the national forecasting agency in an official statement.

For the second day in a row, people in the national capital woke up to incessant rains.

As per IMD, the cumulative rainfall from August 31, 8.30 am to September 1, 8.30 am in Delhi’s Safdarjung was recorded at 112.1 mm, in Palam it was 71.1 mm, at Lodi road it was 120.2 mm, at Ridge 81.6 mm, and in Ayanagar it was 68.2 mm. (ANI)

India Reports 47,092 New COVID-19 Cases, 509 Deaths

By LokMarg

India reported 47,092 new COVID-19 cases and 509 deaths in the last 24 hours, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Thursday. As many as 35,181 patients recovered across the country from the viral disease in the last 24 hours taking the total recoveries to 3,20,28,825. The current recovery rate is at 97.48 per cent.
With 509 fatalities, the COVID death toll in the country reached 4,39,529.

Notably, of the total new cases recorded in the country, Kerala reported 32,803 new COVID cases and 173 deaths on Wednesday. With the addition of new cases, the active caseload of India reached 3,89,583, which is 1.19 per cent of the total cases. Currently, the daily positivity rate is at 2.80 per cent.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the total number of samples tested till today is 52,31,84,293 crore. Of which, 16,06,785 samples were tested on Wednesday.

Under the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive, India has administered over 66.30 crore vaccine doses so far. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, more than 81 lakh doses were administered in the last 24 hours. (ANI)

Former Hurriyat Leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani Passes Away

By LokMarg

Former Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani passed away at the age of 91, informed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday.

Mufti expressed her condolence over the demise of Geelani in a tweet.

“Saddened by the news of Geelani Sahab’s passing away. We may not have agreed on most things but I respect him for his steadfastness & standing by his beliefs. May Allah Ta’aala grant him Jannat and condolences to his family & well-wishers,” she tweeted.

Geelani had resigned from the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) in June this year.

Born on September 29, 1929, Geelani was recently sent a reminder notice to pay a penalty of Rs 14.4 lakh, which was imposed upon him under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). (ANI)

Taliban Discusses Afg Situation With Dutch Delegates

By LokMarg

Head of Taliban’s political office in Doha Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai on Wednesday met with the Foreign Ministry delegation from the Netherlands in Qatar to discuss the Afghanistan situation.

The duo also discussed matters related to the operation at Hamid Karzai International Airport with emphasis on the travel of Afghans and foreign nationals, Tolo News reported citing Taliban spokesperson Mohammad Naeem.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the Indian ambassador to Qatar Deepak Mittal also met Abbas Stanekzai in Doha.

India and the Taliban held discussions on the safety of Indians in Afghanistan, especially minorities. Indian envoy Mittal also urged the Taliban that Afghan soil should not be used for terror acts against India.

However, informed sources told ANI that establishing contact with the Taliban does not amount to recognising the outfit.

Taliban had also urged countries to reopen their missions; however, Indian missions and consulates remain shut in Afghanistan.

Haqqanis presence in the Taliban’s power structure, dynamics is making India nervous as they share deep linkages with Pakistan’s spy agency ISI, and terror outfits like Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. (ANI)

29% Of Delhi Kids Have Asthma Linked To Air Pollution

By LokMarg

Around 29.3 per cent of children surveyed in Delhi were found to have airflow obstruction or asthma due to air pollution, a survey has claimed.

The study conducted across 12 randomly selected schools in Delhi, Kottayam, and Mysuru to evaluate the lung health status of 3,157 adolescent school children further revealed that air pollution is stunting children’s brains, impacting their neurodevelopment and cognitive ability and can trigger asthma, and childhood cancer.

Lung Care Foundation and Pulmocare Research and Education (PURE) Foundation conducted the study with a primary aim to assess the respiratory health of adolescent school children studying in private schools in Delhi and compared them with relatively cleaner cities in terms of particulate matter air pollution, ie Kottayam in Kerala and Mysuru in Karnataka.

The study revealed that around 29.3 per cent of children from Delhi were found to have airflow obstruction/asthma on spirometry as compared to 22.6 per cent of children in Kottayam and Mysuru.

This difference was despite the fact that two factors associated with childhood asthma, namely family history of asthma and smoker in the family, were more prevalent in Kottayam and Mysuru.

“On spirometry, boys were observed to have a two-fold higher prevalence of asthma than girls. In Delhi, 37.2 per cent of boys had airflow obstruction/ asthma as compared to 19.9 per cent of girls,” it stated.

Further, it was found that among 29.3 per cent of children observed to have asthma on spirometry in Delhi, only 12 per cent reported having been diagnosed with asthma and only 3 per cent used some form of inhalers. In contrast, among the 22.6 per cent of children observed to have asthma on spirometry in Kottayam and Mysuru, 27 per cent reported to have been diagnosed and 8 per cent were using some form of inhalers.

The study also revealed that in Delhi 52.8 per cent of school children reported sneezing, 44.9 per cent reported itchy watery eyes, 38.4 per cent reported significant cough, 33 per cent reported itchy rash, 31.5 per cent reported shortness of breath, 11.2 per cent reported chest tightness, and 8.75 per cent reported eczema.

However, in Kottayam and Mysuru, 39.3 per cent school children reported sneezing, 28.8 per cent reported itchy watery eyes, 18.9 per cent reported significant cough, 12.1 per cent reported itchy rash, 10.8 per cent reported shortness of breath, 4.7 per cent reported chest tightness, and 1.8 per cent reported eczema.

As per the study: Children who have been exposed to high levels of air pollution may be at greater risk for chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease later in life. One reason why children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of air pollution is that they breathe more rapidly than adults and so absorb more pollutants.

“Obese/overweight children had a 79 per cent greater chance of having asthma on spirometry across all three sites combined. This association was 38 per cent higher in Delhi children as compared to their counterparts,” the study read.

Through this study, it was revealed that a significant number of asthmatic children are not diagnosed to have asthma and a vast majority do not receive the right treatment. The figure of which is higher in Delhi as compared to Kottayam and Mysuru.

Dr Arvind Kumar, Founder Trustee Lung Care Foundation and Chairman of the Institute of Chest Surgery, Medanta, Gurugram said, “This study is an eye-opener. It has shown an unacceptably high prevalence of respiratory and allergic symptoms, spirometry-defined asthma, and obesity in Delhi Children. Air Pollution is the probable link with all three. It is high time that the air pollution issue in Delhi and other cities are settled in a systematic manner to save the future of our children.”

Dr Sundeep Salvi, Director, Pulmocare Research and Education (PURE) Foundation, Pune said “This is one of the first studies in India among adolescent school children that have shown a strong association between obesity and asthma, and that air pollution may have a direct link between the two. Breathing polluted air can make children fat and this may increase their risk of developing asthma.” (ANI)