June 2023 - Lokmarg - News Views Blogs

Third-Highest Heatwave Conditions In Last 23 Yrs This Summer: IMD

By LokMarg 30th June 2023

India, this year, experienced the third-highest instances of heatwave and severe heatwave conditions in the last 23 years, after 2019 and 2022, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said.

The Met agency said heatwave and severe heatwave conditions this summer were the third-highest after 578 MSD (mean standard deviation) in 2019 and 455 MSD in 2022.
Further, according to the IMD, above-normal heatwave days were observed in the country’s eastern parts, including West Bengal, Odisha, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and the adjoining central parts including eastern Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha and Telangana.

Apart from this, heavy rainfall activity occurred in three to four zones in the month of June, including Assam, south Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the IMD said, adding that Gujarat also experienced heavy rainfall but that was largely on account of severe cyclonic storm ‘Biparjoy’.

Meanwhile, the IMD on Friday said Mumbai, Thane and Palghar in Maharashtra are expected to receive moderate to intense spells of rainfall over the next 3-4 hours.

Earlier, an official statement from the IMD stated, “Due to active monsoon conditions enhanced rainfall activity with heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected at a few places over parts of Konkan and adjoining ghat areas of Madhya Maharashtra during the next 2-3 days.”

Heavy rainfall in the Panna district of Madhya Pradesh over the last three days hit road connectivity while throwing traffic out of gear. Heavy waterlogging was also reported at several government offices, including that of the Home Guard and the Department of Horticulture and Food Processing.

A boat was spotted sailing at a government office after rainwater entered the premises in the Panna district of MP on Thursday.

Meanwhile, parts of the national capital and adjoining areas experienced sharp showers in the wee hours of Friday, with extensive waterlogging reported in some areas.

The IMD forecast more moderate to heavy rainfall in parts of Delhi, UP, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh in the next couple of days.

Earlier, on Thursday, heavy rain lashed several isolated areas of Delhi-NCR, bringing down the minimum temperature to 27.1 degrees Celsius. (ANI)

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Allan Border Reveals He Has Parkinson’s

By LokMarg 30th June 2023

Former Australia captain Allan Border revealed that he has Parkinson’s disease, a progressive nervous system disorder that affects movement.

Border, who turns 68 in July, said he was diagnosed with this disease in 2016.
“I walked into the neurosurgeon’s and he said straight up, ‘I am sorry to tell you but you have got Parkinson’s’. Just the way you walked in. Your arms straight down by your side, hanging not swinging.’ He could just tell,” said Border telling News Corp as quoted by ESPNCricinfo and Sydney Morning Herald.

“I am a pretty private person and I did not want people to feel sorry for me. Whether people care you do not know. But I know there will come a day when people will notice.”

“I get the feeling I am a hell of a lot better off than most. At the moment I am not scared, not about the immediate future anyway. I am 68. If I make 80, that will be a miracle. I have got a doctor friend and I said if I make 80, that will be a miracle.”

“No way am I going to get another 100, that is for sure. I will just slip slowly into the west,” concluded the batter.

Border played 156 Test matches for Aussies between 1978-1994. He scored 11,174 runs at an average of 50.56. He scored 27 centuries and 63 half-centuries in Tests, with the best score of 205.

He also played 273 ODIs, scoring 6,524 runs at an average of 30.62. He scored three centuries and 39 half-centuries, with the best score of 127*.

He also took 39 Test wickets and 73 scalps in the 50-over format with his useful spin bowling.

He also led Australia to their first-ever Cricket World Cup title in 1987. During that tournament, he scored 183 runs in eight matches at an average of over 22 with a fifty. He also took six wickets. (ANI)

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MP: Boat Sailing In Govt Office After Water Enters Premises

By LokMarg 30th June 2023

A boat was spotted sailing in a government office after water entered inside the premises due to heavy rains in Madhya Pradesh’s Panna district on Thursday.

Following the heavy rainfall in the district for the last three days, many road connectivity were affected, there was also water-logging on the premises of the government offices which include Home Guard office and office of Department of Horticulture and Food Processing.

As a result, the boat was seen running in the Home Guard office in the district.

Home Guard Inspector Satyapal Jain told ANI over phone, “There was water-logging in the premises due to heavy rainfall and as soon as the rain subsided, we pumped out the water from the office with the help of a pump.”

Besides, there was heavy rain in the Chhatarpur district as well on Thursday night.

Meanwhile, Sagar Divisional Commissioner Virendra Singh Rawat said that an alert has been issued of heavy rainfall in all the six districts (Sagar, Chhatarpur, Damoh, Panna, Tikamgarh and Niwari) of the division. (ANI)

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Himachal On Alert, 20 Dead Due To Heavy Rain In Six Days

By LokMarg 30th June 2023

The Himachal Pradesh government has put the entire state on alert amid a rain warning. Naresh Chauhan, the Principal Media Advisor to the Chief Minister, said that all the Deputy Commissioners have been put on alert and are prepared to deal with the rain disaster.

So far during the past six days, a loss of Rs. 219.54 crore has been estimated and 20 people have lost their lives. Nearly 30 roads are closed, 88 water supply schemes are hampered and 11 water supply schemes are disrupted in the state.
Since June 24, after the arrival of the monsoon, five houses, 21 cow sheds and two shops were fully damaged, 30 houses were partially damaged, and 352 cattle also died due to floods.

“During the past few days, due to heavy rainfall, 20 people have lost their lives, most of these are road accidents and six cases out of this are drowning. Almost all roads are open, apart from a few rural areas. Those who want to come to Himachal Pradesh are welcome here as everything is open in the state,” said Naresh Chauhan, Principal Media advisor to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhwinder Sukhu.

“There are chances of the flash flood only on rivulets and river banks; an advisory has been issued in this regard. We are well prepared in some parts of the state. Water and electricity supply is hampered and is also being restored. The Chief Minister has directed all the districts to be on alert for the entire monsoon season,” he added.

On Thursday, Shimla Police said that it will deploy guards on the banks of the rivers in the district to prevent drowning cases in the region.

The move came amid a surge in drowning cases due to the ongoing monsoon season and heavy rainfall in the region.

In this regard, Superintendent of Police Shimla District Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi said that along with River Guards near the rivers, signage would be placed which will mention not to go near the banks of the river. (ANI)

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UP’s Khatu Shyam Temple Comes Up With Dress Code For Devotees

By LokMarg 30th June 2023

The Khatu Shyam temple in Uttar Pradesh’s Hapur has come up with a dress code for its devotees. In an order issued by the temple committee, devotees have been requested to wear ‘decent’ clothes to the temple.

“It is a humble request to all women and men to wear decent clothes to the temple. Please have darshan from outside when you come wearing short clothes, half pants, Bermuda, mini skirt, night suit, torn jeans, etc. Please cooperate,” the order mentioned.
The Khatu Shyam temple’s decree came weeks after three major temples under Mahanirvani Akhara in Uttarakhand came up with a dress code for their devotees. The temples include Daksh Prajapati Temple at Kankhal in Haridwar, Neelkanth Mahadev Temple in Pauri district and Tapkeshwar Mahadev Temple in Dehradun.

Earlier in June, Shrimahant Ravindra Puri, Secretary of Mahanirvani Akhara and President of Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad told ANI that women and girls cannot wear short clothes and enter the three temples that come under Mahanirvani Akhara.

“Women and girls cannot enter these three temples wearing short clothes. These three temples come under Mahanirvani Akhara,” Puri had said.

He further said that the Akhara has appealed to the devotees visiting the temple that the temple is a place for introspection and not for entertainment.

“On behalf of Mahanirvani Akhara, an appeal has been made to women and girls that if they are coming for temple worship, then they should wear clothes according to Indian tradition. Only then they will get entry into the temple”, he added.

Shrimant Ravindra Puri had appealed to women as well as their family members to come to the temples only with at least 80 per cent of their body covered. (ANI)

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Miscreants Threaten Sikhs, Forcibly Stop Kirtan At Gurdwara In Pak

By LokMarg 30th June 2023

Miscreants on Thursday forcibly entered the premises of Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Sukkur city of Pakistan’s Sindh province, abusing the priests and forcibly asking them to stop kirtan or religious devotional songs.

Many local Sikhs and Hindus, who were present at the historical Gurdwara, alleged that the miscreants also desecrated the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of the Sikhs.

The miscreants, who were handed over to the police, were released without proper investigation and interrogation, it was alleged.

Ajay Singh, a ragi (devotional singer) at the gurdwara said, “I was singing kirtan when, all of a sudden, the sound of the loudspeaker was reduced. There was chaos in the Gurdwara. I was told that some people were forced to stop singing kirtans.”

He added, “They forced us to stop singing kirtans. Our ancestors have been praying in this gurdwara for the past 100 years. We never caused any discomfort to anyone. Is this how minorities are treated in Pakistan?”

The Sikhs and Hindus hit out at the police for neither registering an FIR in connection with the incident nor arresting the culprits.

The minorities are feeling unsafe in Pakistan. On June 24, a Sikh shopkeeper, Manmohan Singh, was gunned down by armed motorcyclists in the Yakatoot area of Peshawar city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. He was the sole breadwinner of his family.

A day earlier, another Sikh man, Tarlok Singh, was attacked in Peshawar.

United Sikhs, an NGO, condemned the attacks on Sikhs and other minorities in Pakistan, tweeting from its official handle, “UNITED SIKHS along with other Sikh representatives will be meeting with the Pakistan consulate to seek the state department’s intervention on the subject of protecting the rights of minorities in Pakistan.”

It added, “We are appalled by these targeted attacks on Sikh men in Pakistan. These attacks are not only horrific, but they are also a violation of human rights. We call on the Pakistani government to do everything in its power to bring the perpetrators of these attacks to justice”. (ANI)

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Yet Another Wasted Opportunity: India Over Delay In UN Security Council Reforms

By LokMarg 30th June 2023

Terming the UN General Assembly’s decision to roll over the Inter-Governmental Negotiations on Security Council reform to its next session as “yet another wasted opportunity,” India on Thursday (local time) said that the state of affairs is clearly in the interest of those who seek a status quo to keep this process frozen in repetitive cycles.

India’s permanent representative to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj at the 77th session of the UN General Assembly said that the rollover decision of the intergovernmental negotiations simply cannot be reduced to a mindless technical exercise.
The UN General Assembly on Thursday adopted a draft oral decision to continue the intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly that will commence in September. The rollover decision marked the end of the IGN for the current 77th session.

“We have been consistent in our position that the rollover decision of the intergovernmental negotiations simply cannot be reduced to a mindless technical exercise… We were therefore encouraged by your efforts to introduce in the decision a small reflection of this evolution based on your wide-ranging consultations and the recommendation of the Cochairs with regard to Webcasting and the beginning of a digital repository. I must say, though, that even with these so-called changes there has been no breakthrough whatsoever that may be described as progress,” Kamboj said.

“This state of affairs is clearly in the interest of those who seek a status quo to keep this process frozen in repetitive cycles. Thirdly, and finally, President, we see this technical rollover decision as yet another wasted opportunity to instil a breath of life into a process that has shown no signs of life or growth in over four decades,” she added.

Referring to the roll-over decision, Kamboj said that as the only formal General Assembly outcome that emerges from this process each year, it must also evolve and reflect the progress achieved during Member States’ deliberations during the year.

She asserted that as a responsible and constructive member of the United Nations, India will continue to engage in this process alongside the reform-minded partners and persist with the efforts to move from repetitive speeches to text-based negotiations.

“However, for those of us who truly wish to fulfil our leader’s commitments towards an early and comprehensive reform of the United Nations Security Council. Looking beyond the IGN looks increasingly to us as the only viable pathway to a future UN security council that would better reflect the world of today,” she added.

Meanwhile, in his remarks, Csaba Korosi, President of the 77th session of the General Assembly, noted that for the first time in the history of these negotiations, the first segments of the IGN meetings are now webcast and a dedicated website on Security Council reform has been established as a repository for the IGN process. (ANI)

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At This Crucial Juncture, I Will Not Be Resigning: Biren

By LokMarg 30th June 2023

Scotching speculations relating to his resignation, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Friday said he will not resign from his post “at this crucial juncture”.

“At this crucial juncture, I wish to clarify that I will not be resigning from the post of Chief Minister,” the Chief Minister said in a tweet.

The Chief Minister has come under repeated attack from the opposition, particularly the Congress, over the law and order situation in the state. Manipur has witnessed ethnic violence for nearly two months. Congress and some groups in the state have demanded Biren Singh’s resignation.

Earlier today, hundreds of women gathered near the residence of the Manipur Chief Minister to display their support for him. The CM also came outside his residence in Imphal and waved to people.

There were reports that he would meet the state Governor, which led to speculation that he may resign from his post.

Ethnic violence erupted in the State on May 3 after clashes during a rally organised by the All Tribal Students Union (ATSU) to protest against the demand for including Meiteis in the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs). Thousands of people are in relief camps.

Internet services continue to be suspended in the state and a curfew is in force in some areas.

Home Minister Amit Shah had visited the state and announced several measures for the restoration of peace. (ANI)

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Delhi Metro Commuters Can Carry Two Sealed Alcohol Bottles On All Routes

By LokMarg 30th June 2023

Metro users in all Delhi routes will now be able to carry sealed bottles of alcohol at par with the provisions already available on its Airport Express Line.

As per a Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) release, two sealed bottles of alcohol per person are now allowed to be carried on the Delhi Metro.
This decision comes after a committee comprising officials from Central Industrial Security Force (the force responsible for guarding metro facilities) and DMRC reviewed the earlier order. As per an earlier order, carrying alcohol was banned in the metro except on the Airport Express Line.

However, drinking alcohol inside metro premises is strictly prohibited.

“Metro passengers are requested to maintain proper decorum while traveling. In case, any passenger is found behaving in an indecent manner under the influence of alcohol, suitable action shall be taken under the relevant provisions of law,” the DMRC release said. (ANI)

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Asian Kabaddi C’ship 2023: India Defeat Iran In Final

By LokMarg 30th June 2023

India put up a stunning performance to defeat Iran 42-32 in the final of the Asian Kabaddi Championship 2023 at the Dong-Eui Institute of Technology Seokdang Cultural Center in Busan, Republic of Korea, on Friday. This was India’s eighth title in nine editions.

Indian captain Pawan Sehrawat led from the front with a super 10.
In the opening five minutes of the match, the Indian men’s kabaddi team was down to Iran. However, in the 10th minute of play, Iran was forced to go all-out after a few tackle points by the defence and successful raids by Pawan Sehrawat and Aslam Inamdar.

As they gained momentum, the Indian kabaddi team swiftly increased their advantage while putting up an outstanding all-around performance. Iran received a few easy bonus points against India, the reigning champions, but in the 19th minute India inflicted a second all-out on Iran.

India held a 23-11 advantage going into the second half. However, Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh, the captain of Iran, assisted in inflicting the first all-out on India in the 29th minute with a two-point raid and a super raid.

With two minutes remaining, Iran cut the lead to 38-31, causing the game to get tense, but India held on to scrape out a 42-32 victory.

Earlier in the day, India had beaten Hong Kong 64-20 to end the league stage of the tournament undefeated. (ANI)

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