Month: August 2022

Gujarat’s former Chief Minister Shankersinh Vaghela on Sunday announced that he is all set to launch his new party, Prajashakti Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

Speaking to ANI, the former Chief Minister said that the current ruling party is corrupt and incapable hence the party is giving the people of the state an alternative in the upcoming assembly elections.
“People are looking for an alternative. The ‘Maalik’ of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is one, so it makes no difference,” Vaghela said.

Attacking the BJP-led state government in Gujarat, the former CM added that taking away the portfolios from two ministers (Rajendra Desai and Purnesh Modi) does not end corruption.

Asked about his recent meeting with BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, Vaghela said, “We had a good discussion about various parties. After meeting him, I have taken this decision to revive my party as he showed his support towards it and has also mentioned in his tweet.”

Vaghela added that his aim for the forthcoming state assembly elections is to fight for all 182 seats with good leaders.

In response to a question on whether he is in talks with any BJP or Congress politicians about joining the PDP, he stated, “As of now, I have not spoken to anyone about leaving their current party to join mine. If they believe this party has a chance, they will join my party.”

On Sunday, Vaghela made a number of promises to the people, including health insurance worth 12 lakh rupees for families earning up to 12 lakh rupees per annum, free education up to post-graduate level for children of families earning up to 12 lakh rupees, employment for the unemployed and unemployment benefits for those unemployed, waiver of water tax and up to 100 units of free electricity, loan waiver and relief in electricity bills for farmers and new scientific liquor policy.

“I am the only one in favour to lift the ban on alcohol, which will save lives of people who die after drinking spurious liquor.” Lifting the ban will also generate income which can be utilized to give free education to post-graduate-level students of families with lesser income,” he said.

Vaghela after resigning from the post of leader of Opposition in 2017, had also formed a new outfit – Jan Vikalp Morcha which contested but failed to win seats in the 2017 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election. (ANI)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday accused the Telangana government of betraying the trust of the people of the state, while also calling the K Chandrashekar Rao government “anti-farmer”.

The remarks of the Home Minister came at a public meeting during his one-day visit to the state.
“The joining of Rajagopal Reddy in the BJP is the beginning of the uprooting of KCR government. KCR government betrayed the trust of the Telangana people. KCR government is not celebrating Telangana Liberation Day due to fear of Majlis. They promised that they will celebrate Telangana Liberation day in September. However, the KCR government did not fulfil their promise,” he said.

“KCR is denying PM Fasal Beema Yojana to the farmers of the state. He has committed the sin of keeping the farmers away from the Insurance. The KCR government is anti-farmers,” Shah added.

Shah also hit out at KCR over Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project and said that it is the “ATM of KCR’s family”.

“KCR has a big family. But why should the people of Telangana bear its cost? Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project is the ATM of KCR’s family,” he said.

Shah further accused the Telangana government of breaking the promise of selecting a Dalit as the Chief Minister and said that a member from the community will not be selected for the top post if TRS is voted to power.

“They had promised to make Chief Minister from the Dalit community if their government is formed. They have not done so far. If you elect them again, KTR will come in place of KCR, but Dalit won’t come,” Shah said.

“Telangana is yearning for change. People are all set to elect the pro-poor and pro-development BJP government under the guidance of PM @narendramodi Ji,” he tweeted.

Earlier today, Amit Shah visited Sri Ujjaini Mahakali Matha Devasthanam and offered prayers ahead of his public meeting.

Munugodu assembly bypoll comes after sitting Congress MLA Komatireddy Raj Gopal Reddy resigned from his post in the party recently and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. (ANI)

Contributing to the cleanliness of Indore, BJP cabinet minister Tulsi Silawat and Municipal Corporation Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargav along with officials swept the streets of Rajwada, Indore on August 20.

The mayor addressed the reporters and mentioned that the ‘Swachta Mitras’ keep the city clean throughout the year by maintaining cleanliness while performing their job day in and out.

He further said that the Safai Mitras of Indore, who are from the Valmiki community have a holiday each year to worship their deity Goga Dev. On this day all the Safai Mitra take a holiday and hence the entire city is left without getting swept. It is the responsibility of the citizens of Indore to keep the city clean while they are on leave. This drive was started during the term of the previous mayor Malini Gaur. To maintain the tradition set by the previous mayor and set an example we have carried out this cleanliness drive to raise awareness to keep the city clean.

The drive was also attended by Madhya Pradesh Water Resources Minister Tulsi Silawat and other officials with great fervour.

Madhya Pradesh’s Indore was ranked India’s cleanest city for the fifth time in a row by the Centre in November 2021. President Ram Nath Kovind presented the Swachh Survekshan Awards 2021 at New Delhi’s Vigyan Bhawan. (ANI)

Chief Ministers of Assam and Meghalaya on Sunday decided to form three regional-level committees to settle disputes between the states in six border areas. The decision was taken at the Chief Ministers’ level meeting held at Janata Bhawan here on Sunday.

Following a discussion between the two governments, Meghalaya highlighted 12 areas of border disputes with Assam. Meetings and discussions were undertaken to resolve six of the disputed sites in the first phase, leaving the remaining six for the second phase.
As a result of the sequence of talks and actions that were undertaken, an MoU was signed on March 29, 2022, in New Delhi in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, clearing the way for the resolution of the six disputed sites.

The Chief Ministers from both states decided today at the 9th Chief Minister level meeting to form three regional committees to lead the way in resolving the remaining six areas of differences.

The committees will be headed by Cabinet Ministers from each state, as well as members of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), as three of the six contentious sites lie under its jurisdiction.

Within 15 days, both governments will notify regional committees, as members of the committees will iron out differences to identify mutually accepted solutions amicably after thorough visits and conversations with local residents.

As goodwill and confidence-building measures, the Chief Ministers of both the states will also visit the disputed sites and talk to the local people.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that after resolving the six disputed boundaries in the first phase, the remaining boundary disputes will also be solved amicably under his guidance.

Assam Chief Secretary Jishnu Baruah, his Meghalaya counterpart D.P. Wahlang, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Samir Sinha, Principal Secretary to Home and Political Niraj Verma, Secretary Border Protection and Development Prabhati Thaosen, Secretary Home and Political Meghalaya Cyril Diengdoh and other senior officers of both the states were present during the meeting. (ANI)

Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur congratulated Paralympic medalists Sumit Antil and Yogesh Kathuniya for establishing new world records at the recently-concluded Indian Open National Para Athletics Championships 2022 in Bengaluru.

“Congratulations to Paralympic medalists @sumit_javelin & @YogeshKathuniya
for creating a New World Records at the 4th Indian Open National #ParaAthletics Championships 2022. * Javelin throw of 68.62m by Sumit * Discuss throw of 48.34m by Yogesh,” tweeted Thakur.

Indian Paralympics medalists Sumit Antil and Yogesh Kathuniya established new world records in javelin throw and discus throw respectively at the recently-concluded Indian Open National Para Athletics Championships 2022 in Bengaluru.

Sumit threw the javelin to the distance of 68.62 m to establish a new world record in male javelin throw in para-athletics.

On the other hand, Yogesh set a new discus throw world record in the male category in para-athletics. He threw the discus to a distance of 48.34 m to set this new record.

“#BreakingNews #Tokyo2020@Paralympics medalists @sumit_javelin

& @YogeshKathuniya create the New World Record at 4th Indian Open National #ParaAthletics Championships 2022 New Record Sumit – Javelin Throw(M)- 68.62m (WR) Yogesh- Discus Throw(M) – 48.34m (WR),” tweeted SAI Media on Saturday.

The fourth edition of the Indian Open National Para Athletics Championships 2022 was held from August 18 to 19 at Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru. (ANI)

By Shalini Bhardwaj

A proposal is under discussion on naming 23 AIIMS after local heroes, freedom fighters, unsung heroes or historical monuments of the area.

“The Union Health Ministry has drafted a proposal to give specific names to all AIIMS, which include those which are fully functional, partially functional and under construction,” a source told ANI.

All the new AIIMS were requested to suggest three to four names in each category (local heroes, freedom fighters, unsung heroes or historical monuments) along with an explanatory note for the suggested names.

Currently, the various AIIMS set up or being set up under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) are known by the generic name AIIMS, distinguished only by the place of their location.

Suggestion regarding names has been given to AIIMS Bhopal, AIIMS Bhubaneswar, AIIMS Jodhpur, AIIMS Patna, AIIMS Raipur, AIIMS Rishikesh, AIIMS Nagpur, AIIMS Raebareli, and AIIMS Madurai. (ANI)

Indian Army troops on LOC in the Sehar Makri area of town Nowshera shot at and apprehended an intruder who was allegedly coming for a suicide attack.

The intruder identified as Tabarak Husain (26) was at first noticed to be involved in suspicious activity and was confronted by the army troops in the Sehar Makri area of town Nowshera in the Rajouri district of Jammu.
The infiltrator attempted to escape from the army troops but was shot at and intercepted in injured condition, said the Rajouri district police.

The intruder was rushed to the local army establishment for first aid and then was shifted to Army Hospital Rajouri, for further treatment, they added.

According to a police officer he is responding to the treatment well and an investigation of the matter and questioning of the intruder will be conducted accordingly.

The police identified the intruder as Tabarak Husain who was on an alleged suicide mission and this was the second time he was apprehended while crossing the Line of Control (LOC).

“Tabarak Husain’s pubic hairs and armpits are shaved and this is mostly done by terrorists when they are on a suicide attack as seen in the past,” said a police official.

Earlier, on April 25, 2016, two Pakistani intruders were apprehended by Jhangar Batallion, Nowshera Sector. Indian Army troops observed three suspects trying to intrude across the LoC but only two suspects could be apprehended. (ANI)

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday issued a Look Out Circular (LOC) against eight accused – all private persons – in connection with the CBI case against Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and others for alleged irregularities in the excise policy.

A senior CBI official confirmed that there was a total of nine private persons have been named in the FIR. Except for Manoj Rai, ex-vice president of Pernod Ricard, LOC has been issued against all private persons.
The accused who have been put on the list of LOC include Vijay Nair, former CEO of Only Much Louder, an entertainment and event management company, Amandeep Dhal, owner of Brindco Spirits, Sameer Mahendru, owner of Indospirit, Amit Arora, director of Buddy Retail Pvt. Limited, Dinesh Arora of Radha Industries, Sunny Marwah of Mahadev Liquors, a proprietorship firm, Arjun Ramchandra Pillai and Arjun Pandey.

Earlier, in the day Manish Sisodia took a jibe over reports of Look Out Circular (LOC) against him and other accused in the excise policy case, but sources in CBI have clarified that it might be issued soon and that the procedure to do so was underway.

CBI sources later clarified that look out circular is “in process, not issued yet”. It was a procedural matter that takes the due process to be followed before issuing it against any person.

According to sources, during searches conducted at the premises of the accused persons on August 19, two accused were not found at their location and they remained untraceable. Although, summoned have been issued to them to join the investigation into the matter.

Earlier in the day after reports of LOC against him, he tweeted an old video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in which the PM (as Gujarat chief minister) was hitting out at the then Central government and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

He also tweeted that CBI has found nothing during the search at his house.

In LOC, the concerned agencies inform the Bureau of Immigration (BoI) regarding an individual who might leave the country without informing law enforcement agencies. BoI update the list of LOC to its officers at immigration checkpoints at international airports and seaports.

There are certain categories of LOC like where a person is completely banned to go outside the country and in a certain category he can go but have to take permission and inform the concerned law enforcement agency. (ANI)

Medical professional has called “Tomato fever” a misleading colloquial name for hand, foot and mouth Disease.
According to Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, co-chairman of IMA’s National task force on COVID-19 said, “Tomato fever is a misleading colloquial name for hand, foot and mouth disease. This is a mild viral illness commonly affecting young children typically below age 10. It is usually caused by a Coxsackie virus.”

He further explained, “It produces red spots on the skin, and hence someone called it Tomato fever, and the name became popular. But using such terms is misleading because many people mistakenly believe it comes from tomatoes.”

“Past few days some publications started emerging from Kerela regarding a new endemic disease by the name of tomato fever. The community is just recovering from serious Covid therefore very sensitive and receptive to new endemics. Additionally, this type of news creates panic. It’s important to check facts about this disease,” said Dr Dhiren Gupta, Senior Consultant, Sir Gangaram hospital.

“It looks like it’s a form of hand, foot, mouth disease with additional symptoms of joint pains and high-grade fever. Anyway hand foot mouth disease itself is a syndrome which can be caused by different enteroviruses. Symptoms vary from type of virus, age group and immunity status of the patient. In general, it’s not life-threatening in the general population,” he said.

The rash can appear on hands, feet and buttocks and also cause ulcers in the mouth.

This infection can spread from one person to another through contact with an infected person. “It spreads from person to person just like a common cold, through contact with the patient’s secretions including stool, for example during a diaper change in child care facilities,” said Dr Rajeev Jayadevan.

“Hand-washing and basic hygiene measures help prevent it. Only supportive treatment is required. Complications are extremely rare and there is no need to worry,” Dr Rajeev said on prevention.

“Likely this correspondence must be sent for publication in early part June when an epidemic of HFMD was just started and clinicians were not aware about likely epidemic ( all over India this disease is there ) termed this as tomato because of its lesions. In conclusion, there is no need to panic for anyone. More definitive studies are required,” said Dr Dhiren.

Recently, the Lancet study revealed tomato fever flared in India among children. Tomato fever flared in India after Children, aged below 5 years, got infected upon contact with the virus.

“The rare viral infection is in an endemic state and is considered non-life-threatening; however, because of the dreadful experience of the Covid19 pandemic, vigilant management is desirable to prevent further outbreaks,” reads the study. (ANI)

It is the time of the year when India remembers its patriots. Independence Day, when the country broke away from British colonial rule, was on August 15, and it is particularly special this year because it is the 75th year of Indian independence.

Among the names of nationalists that few remember is a Buddhist monk from Ladakh whose role in resisting the attack from Pakistani tribesmen and armed forces in 1948 in the Himalayan heights of Jammu and Kashmir has been mostly forgotten. His name is Kushok Bakula Rinpoche.
Born in a royal family in Ladakh, Kushok Bakula Rinpoche traced his roots to Skyide Nyima-Gon, the first king of Ladakh. He was born in a palace in the Matho region on the outskirts of the capital Leh. As his biographer, and lifelong secretary, Sonam Wangchuk has written in Kushok Bakula: The Architect of Modern Ladakh, the young boy was recognised according to the traditions of Mahayana Buddhism as a reincarnation (the 19th such rebirth) of Arhat Bakula, one of the sixteen original disciples of the Buddha.

Sent to the highest-ranking theological schools in Tibet, Kushok Bakula excelled in every subject, and emerged as a fully ordained monk who could have chosen to stay on in Tibet and reach for the highest positions in its hallowed institutes. Instead, he chose to return to Ladakh to serve its people; and by the time the Pakistani invasions started he was a well-known figure in Ladakh, revered as a scholar, a monk, and a spiritual figure loved and respected by everyone in Ladakh.

When the invasion began from Skardu in the Gilgit-Baltistan area of northern Ladakh, word reached the Rinpoche that the marauders were looking for him too. Instead of fleeing like hundreds of others, Kushok Bakula Rinpoche rallied his people, teaching ordinary people to band together and resist the invasion. In the summer of 1948, on the urging of Kushok Bakula, scores of Ladakhi youth signed on as volunteers to help the Indian army oust the intruders and defend their homeland.

From this volunteer force was born the Nubra Guards (which later became the Ladakh Scouts regiment), an elite mountaineering unit of the Indian army which became the frontline against the attacking forces from Pakistan.

In his book, Wangchuk writes, “These volunteers joined the Indian army and with the assistance of air strikes by the Indian Air Force on Pakistani positions and supply lines, they pushed the raiders back out of the Indus and the Nubra valleys. But it was not easy. There were many casualties, and the medical facilities were minimal. When the situation became particularly desperate, Bakula Rinpoche offered the army a portion of the Pethub monastery to use as a makeshift medical centre for the injured soldiers and civilians. The army accepted the offer with gratitude.”

When the Indian army struggled during this time to find an airstrip to land troops and weapons to fight back, again it was a sandy strip most suitable happened to be land of Kushok Bakula’s Pethub monastery. This, the Rinpoche gave without a second thought – and this is where the Kushok Bakula Rinpoche airport in Leh stands today. It is on this airstrip that military supplies and soldiers of the Gorkha regiment landed to defend Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir against the infiltration. When the first plane landed with soldiers and supplies on the airstrip, it was received by hundreds of ordinary Ladakhis led by Kushok Bakula. Most of these people had never seen an aeroplane before.

After the war, Kushok Bakula Rinpoche was invited to New Delhi and thanked personally for his efforts in saving Ladakh by General K. M. Cariappa, the first commander-in-chief of the Indian army.

It is important to highlight what happened after the war with the volunteers who had answered the call of Kushok Bakula Rinpoche. One of them, Chewang Rinchen, who was the leader of the Nubra Guards, was twice awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, the second highest military award for bravery in India. He rose to become a major and then a colonel in the Ladakh Scouts.

The contribution of Kushok Bakula Rinpoche is rarely remembered in this, the first major war that independent India fought and won. But without the patriotism of this Buddhist monk, India’s northern frontiers may have looked very different.

Disclaimer: The author of this opinion piece is Hindol Sengupta, who is an Indian historian and journalist. (ANI)