LokMarg, Author at Lokmarg - News Views Blogs

Digivijaya Will File Nomination For Cong Prez Tomorrow

By LokMarg 29th September 2022

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Thursday joined the race for the post of Congress President.

“Today I have come here to collect the nomination form and will possibly file it tomorrow,” Singh said outside his residence here today.
The former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh met with Rahul Gandhi in Kerala at the party’s Bharat Jodo Yatra and had arrived in the national capital late last evening.

Till now, only Shashi Tharoor has declared his candidature for the post.

The filing of nominations for the top Congress post will take place till September 30 and the election will take place on October 17. (ANI)

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Chinese National Shot Dead In Pakistan’s Karachi

By LokMarg 28th September 2022

A Chinese national was killed while two others were injured in Pakistan’s Karachi on Wednesday, local media reported, citing authorities.

Quoting a police official, Dawn newspaper reported that an unidentified man opened fire inside a dental clinic in Karachi’s Saddar area.
SSP South Asad Raza said that one person was killed and two people were injured who were shifted to a hospital for treatment. He confirmed that the three were Chinese people.

Taking to twitter, Pakistan Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah condemned the attack. (ANI)

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PFI Accepts Govt’s Decision: Kerala Party General Secretary

By LokMarg 28th September 2022

Following the ban on the Popular Front of India (PFI), the Kerala state general secretary of the outfit Abdul Sattar on Wednesday said that the organisation has been dissolved.

“All PFI members and the public are informed that the PFI has been dissolved. MHA has issued a notification banning PFI. As law-abiding citizens of our great country, the organization accepts the decision,” said Sattar.
He further said that the Popular Front of India has requested all members to stop their activities.

On Tuesday, the Union home ministry had declared the Popular Front of India (PFI), and its associates or affiliates or fronts, as an unlawful association with immediate effect for five years, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

“PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts operate openly as a socio-economic, educational and political organization but, they have been pursuing a secret agenda to radicalise a particular section of the society working towards undermining the concept of democracy and show sheer disrespect towards the constitutional authority and constitutional set up of the country,” said the government notification.

The notification said PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts have been indulging in unlawful activities, which are prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty and security of the country and have the potential to disturb public peace and communal harmony of the country and support militancy in the country.

Along with PFI, the ban is also imposed on its fronts, including Rehab India Foundation (RIF), Campus Front of India (CFI), All India Imams Council (AIIC), National Confederation of Human Rights Organisation (NCHRO), National Women’s Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation and Rehab Foundation, Kerala, as an “unlawful association”.

The notification clearly mentioned that the ban has been imposed against PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts for “indulging in unlawful activities, which are prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty and security of the country and have the potential of disturbing public peace and communal harmony of the country and supporting militancy in the country.

The Centre issued the ban citing the investigation of its agencies, mentioning “the investigations have established clear linkages between PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts”.

The notification mentions that the criminal activities and brutal murders have been carried out by PFI cadres for the sole objective of “disturbing public peace and tranquility and creating a reign of terror in the public mind”. (ANI)

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Lt General Anil Chauhan (Retd) Appointed As New Chief Of Defence Staff

By LokMarg 28th September 2022

The government on Tuesday appointed Lt General Anil Chauhan (retired) as the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). He had retired as the Eastern Army Commander in May last year and was serving as the Military Advisor to the National Security Council.

This is the first time that a retired officer has been appointed at this position for which a gazette notification was issued to announce the change in rules for the appointment.
In a career spanning over nearly 40 years, Lt Gen Chauhan has held several command, staff and instrumental appointments and had extensive experience in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and northeast India.

He will also function as Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Military Affairs, with effect from the date of his assumption of charge and until further orders, an official release said.

Lt General Anil Chauhan (retired) will be the second CDS of the country after Gen Bipin Rawat who died in a helicopter crash in December last year in Tamil Nadu.

Born on 18th May 1961, Lt Gen Anil Chauhan was commissioned into the 11 Gorkha Rifles of the Indian Army in 1981.

He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.

In the rank of Maj General, the officer had commanded an Infantry Division in the critical Baramula sector in the Northern Command.

Later as Lt General, he commanded a corps in the North East and subsequently went to become the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Command from September 2019 and held the charge until his retirement from the service in May 2021.

In addition to these command appointments, the officer also tenanted important staff appointments including the charge of Director General of Military Operations.

Earlier, the officer had also served as a United Nations mission to Angola.

He superannuated from the Indian Army on 31 May 2021.

Even after his retirement from the Army, he continued to contribute to national security and strategic matters.

For his distinguished and illustrious service in the Army, Lt General Anil Chauhan (retired) was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Sena Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal.

The CDS is the most senior uniformed officer in rank, the first among equals — the only four-star officers in the country are the CDS, the chiefs of the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force.

The post was lying vacant since December 8 last year after the death of General Bipin Rawat.

When General Bipin Rawat was appointed CDS by the Narendra Modi government within six months of coming back to power in 2019, it was hailed as one of the biggest reforms in the higher military structure of the country.

The CDS is also the single point of contact for the government for giving military advice and is the senior-most bureaucrat in the defence ministry which has four major departments.

The appointment comes amid efforts by the government to give a big push to indigenisation in the equipment for defence forces. (ANI)

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No Link Between Heart Dysfunction, COVID Booster In India

By LokMarg 28th September 2022

Clearing the air around the effects of a booster dose of the vaccines, the health experts have said that there is no definite link between heart dysfunction and the precaution doses of the COVID shots.
With social media flooded with questions revolving around the effects of booster dose on the human heart, the experts came out in defence of the vaccines.

According to Dr Vivek Chaturvedi, Professor & HOD, Cardiology, Amrita Hospital, Faridabad, there have been some instances of heart-related issues in the patients after vaccination, however, there is no conclusive evidence to prove this.

“This is a very thorny question because we do see heart attacks happening. Not just attacks, sometimes fluid around the heart, sometimes Arrhythmias of the heart after vaccination. But it is very difficult to confirm this because these were happening in the past also,” he said.

However, Dr Vivek said that COVID can have effects on the heart and the person getting infected with COVID may have a flared heart-related disease.

“Covid can affect the heart in many ways. The most common problem which has been found is that the people who have had heart disease in the past, their heart disease can get flared and aggravated. They can have heart attacks and heart failure and also Arrhythmia. Secondly, people who have not had heart disease but have diabetes, and blood pressure can have a heart attack, and many such cases have come which is precipitated by COVID. Thirdly, even if no heart attack is precipitated, when covid is severe, it is known to cause heart dysfunctions, heart blocks, and different types of rapid heart rate called Arrhythmias,” he said.

When asked about the increase in the deaths due to heart-related issues since the onset of the pandemic, he said, “Yes, this has been a big controversy because a lot of death was occurring at home during covid when it was at its peak because people were afraid to go out but, data that has been carefully analyzed from certain countries has shown that covid definitely had increased the risk for heart attacks.”

Dr Vinayak Agrawal, Director, Non-Invasive Cardiology, Fortis, Gurugram mentioned that the road to recovery of an individual after COVID may differ for different persons, and added that the person who needs to be hospitalised in the ICU with severe lung disease or other infections may need supervised recovery.

“Post COVID infection, the road to recovery or rehabilitation is quite individualistic. For someone, who required hospitalization or ICU care during COVID with significant lung or heart or multisystem involvement, there would obviously be a need for prolonged and supervised gradual recovery or rehab inputs,” he said.

“Since heart involvement may be seen in these mild or asymptomatic cases also, hence if you experience significant fatigue/ weakness, out of proportion breathlessness at rest or walking, chest discomfort on walking or dizziness, then a specialist consult should be sought and further investigations including blood tests like troponin levels, NT proBNP (biomarkers), ECG, 24-hour ECG (Holter), Echocardiogram or cardiac MRI may be done,” he added.

The expert advised the people undergoing recovery not to engage in moderate to strenuous exercises or gym initially for nearly six weeks.

“Go slow, and do not resume moderate to strenuous exercises or gym initially for 4 to 6 weeks post-COVID diagnosis. Patients returning to high-level sports or physically demanding occupations following confirmed heart involvement require 3-6 months or longer period of complete rest. If you continue to experience symptoms after a few weeks, consult your doctor to rule out long covid syndrome,” he said. (ANI)

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Madhya Pradesh Police Detains 30 People Over PFI Links

By LokMarg 28th September 2022

The Madhya Pradesh Police have detained 30 people from 8 districts of the state for alleged links with the banned PFI (Popular Front India), Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narrotam Mishra said.

“Following the arrest of 1 person from Ujjain and 3 from Indore last week we have detained 30 people across 8 districts of the state in connection with PFI links. Their laptops and mobile phones have been seized and further investigation is going on,” Mishra told ANI.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Central government banned the Popular Front of India (PFI), its associates, and affiliates as an unlawful association with immediate effect for a period of five years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) made the announcement through a notification issued late on Tuesday night, declaring “the PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts as an unlawful association with immediate effect”.

Along with PFI, the ban is also imposed on its fronts including Rehab India Foundation (RIF). Campus Front of India (CFI), All India Imams Council (AIIC), National Confederation of Human Rights Organization (NCHRO), National Women’s Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation and Rehab Foundation, Kerala as an “unlawful association”.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. 1967 (37 of 1967), the Central Government hereby declares the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its associates or affiliates or fronts including Rehab India Foundation (RIF).

Campus Front of India (CFI), All India Imams Council (AIIC), National Confederation of Human Rights Organization (NCHRO), National Women’s Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation and Rehab Foundation, Kerala as an ‘unlawful association’,” reads the notification.

“The Central Government hereby directs that this notification shall, subject to any order that may be made under section 4 of the UAPA have effect for a period of five years from the date of its publication in the Office.” The Centre issued the ban citing the investigation of its agencies, mentioning “the investigations have established clear linkages between PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts”.

It is also accused that “some of the PFI’s founding members are the leaders of Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and PFI has linkages with Jamat-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), both of which are proscribed organisations”. “There had been a number of instances of international linkages of PFI with Global Terrorist Groups the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

The PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts have been working covertly to increase radicalization of one community by promoting a sense of insecurity in the country, which is substantiated by the fact that some PFI cadres have joined international terrorist organisations.”

The PFI is involved in several “criminal and terror cases and shows sheer disrespect towards the constitutional authority of the country and with funds and ideological support from outside it has become a major threat to the internal security of the country”, mentioned the notification.

The notification noted that “Rehab India Foundation collects funds through PFI members and some of the members of the PFI are also members of Campus Front of India. Empower India Foundation, Rehab Foundation, Kerala, and the activities of Junior Front. All India Imams Council, National Commission of Human Rights Organization (NCHRO) and National Women’s Front are monitored and coordinated by the PFI leaders”.

It is accused that “the PFI has created the associates or affiliates or fronts with the objective of enhancing its reach among different sections of the society such as youth, students, women, Imams, lawyers or weaker sections of the society with the sole objective of expanding its membership, influence and fundraising capacity”.

The PFI cadres are also accused of their involvement in several terrorist acts and the murder of several persons, including Sanjith (Kerala, November 2021), V-Ramalingam (Tamil Nadu, 2019), Nandu (Kerala, 2021), Abhimanyu (Kerala, 2018), Bibin (Kerala, 2017), Sharath (Kamataka, 2017), R.Rudresh (Kamataka, 2016), Praveen Puyari (Karnataka, 2016), Sasi Kumar (Tamil Nadu, 2016) and Praveen Nettaru (Kamataka 2022).

The notification mentions that the criminal activities and brutal murders have been carried out by PFI cadres with the sole objective of “disturbing public peace and tranquillity and creating a reign of terror in the public mind”.

It also mentioned that there had been a number of instances of “international linkages of PFI with Global Terrorist Groups and some activists of the PFI have joined Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and participated in terror activities in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Some of these PFI cadres linked to ISIS have been killed in these conflict theatres and some have been arrested by State Police and Central Agencies also the PFI has linkages with Jamat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), a proscribed terrorist organization”.

“The Office bearers and cadres of the PFI along with others are conspiring and raising funds from within India and abroad through the banking channels. and the hawala, donations, etc. as part of a well-crafted criminal conspiracy. and then want to transfer, layering and integrate these funds through multiple accounts to project them as legitimate and eventually use these funds to carry out various criminal, unlawful and terrorist activities in India.

“The sources of deposits on behalf of PFI with respect to its several bank accounts were not supported by the financial profiles of the account holders and the activities of PFI were not being carried out as per their declared objectives and therefore, the Income Tax Department cancelled the registration granted to PFI under section 12A or 12AA of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961).

The Income Tax Department also cancelled the registration granted to Rehab India Foundation under section 12A or section 12AA of the Income Tax Act, 1961,” reads the notification.

The State Governments of Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and Gujarat have recommended banning PFI, it also said. (ANI)

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North Korea Fires Ballistic Missile, Ahead of Kamla Harris’ Visit To Demilitarized Zone

By LokMarg 28th September 2022

North Korea fired an apparent ballistic missile on Wednesday evening, just a day ahead of US Vice President Kamla Harris’ visit to Demilitarized Zone dividing South and North Korea.

Notably, this is the second launch from nuclear-armed North Korea in four days, The Japan Times reported.
South Korea’s military also confirmed the launch of an unidentified ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan.

After the missile launch by North Korea, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida issued an instruction where it stated that one needs to dedicate maximum effort to gather and analyze the information and provide the public with speedy and adequate information. The second one was to ensure the safety of aircraft, vessels, and other assets. Lastly, “Take all possible measures for precaution, including readiness for contingencies.”

Earlier, on Sunday, North Korea launched a short-range ballistic missile for its first major weapons test since early June

This apparent missile launch came as US Vice President is all set to visit the Demilitarized Zone dividing South and North Korea on Thursday, Voice Of America reported.

Harris is spending most of this week in South Korea and Japan, two East Asian nations the Biden administration sees as alternative options in the region as China grows bolder.

Harris was among dozens of foreign dignitaries in Tokyo on Tuesday to pay respects to assassinated former Japanese leader Shinzo Abe, who was killed on July 8.

“The alliance between Japan and the United States is a cornerstone of what we believe is integral to peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region,” Harris said. “And this is something we prioritize because we also believe it is in the best interest of the American people in terms of their security and prosperity and we do believe the same for Japanese people,” she added as quoted by Voice of America.

In the last week, Kim Song, North Korea’s ambassador to the United Nations, accused the US of compelling the DPRK to adopt a law on the policy of nuclear forces.

While speaking at UNGA, Kim Song said, “The United States compelled the DPRK to adopt a law on the policy of nuclear forces in defiance of the US hostile hostility.” (ANI)

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Cabinet Approves 4% Hike In DA Of Central Govt Employees

By LokMarg 28th September 2022

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved a proposal to increase the dearness allowance (DA) of the central government employees and pensioners by 4 percent.

This is the second increase in the dearness allowance of central government employees this year. In March 2022, the government announced a 3 percent increase in the DA. That increase was effective from January 1, 2022.
Central government employees, central government pensioners, and family pensioners getting pensions from the central government will benefit from the increase in the DA.

Before the 4 percent increase approved by the union cabinet on Wednesday, the effective DA of central government employees and pensioners stood at 34 percent. Now, this has increased to 38 percent.

The new increase is effective from 1st July 2022.

“Cabinet approves release of additional installment of Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief @ 4 percent to Central Government employees and pensioners, due from 01.07.2022,” PIB tweeted.

Addressing a media briefing after the cabinet meeting, Union minister Anurag Thakur said the Cabinet has also decided to extend the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) for another three months.

The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) scheme was introduced after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. (ANI)

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Let A Woman Decide Whether To Wear A Hijab Or To Take It Off

By LokMarg 28th September 2022

Chandrakanta Khan, a Patna-based social and cultural activist, says the real issue in both Karnataka and Iran is that men want to dictate what a woman should wear

I am not in favour of forcing anyone on what they choose to wear, be it women, men or children. Perhaps children, when they are very small, might have to be told, but the moment they become independent, they have a right to choose how they would like to dress. For me, the right to religion and food, for instance, is a question of personal choice. Nothing should be forced.

In Karnataka, recently, they singled out Muslim schoolgirls, bullied and harassed them, because they were wearing hijab. If a girl is a good student, her capability should be appreciated, why is she being harassed because of wearing a hijab? If you want to hire a teacher, is her education and capability more important, or her faith? The column on religion in application forms should be totally eliminated. Qualifications, honesty and capabilities are most crucial – where does faith come in all this? And how is a compulsory dress code, or religion, important here?

In a society conditioned to be chauvinistic, women are continuously suppressed, for ages. They have been reduced to second class citizens. When women are attacked, hounded or molested, is it because of her clothes? When some men rape a three-year old girl, or an old woman, do they do this act of bestiality because of her dress? They will then say, oh, she went out in the night, hence this happened. I mean what will a mother do if her child is sick in the night and she has to take her all alone to the hospital? Indeed, in a deep and sad manner, our society has failed.

Women are often paid less salary then men. Women are not even allowed to demand equal or more salaries, why? Our society has been conditioned to treat women as inferior beings – this is absolutely wrong and should be challenged.

These days especially, in the current, retrograde, social atmosphere, in WhatsApp etc, there is a new, regressive concept being spread about women in India – that she should be sanskari — a good woman. Perhaps it was one of those fake propaganda stories, but it is symbolic of the times. A school student was asked to write an essay on ‘Ma Ka Aanchal’. So he/she writes that when the mother had an ‘anchal’, one could hide one’s face in it, use it like a towel to wipe one’s face, while she would tie coins in the end of her anchal. The absurd implication behind this sentimentality is that now this kind of a ‘role model mother’ is absent.

ALSO READ: Hijab Ban Is A Toxic Mix of Sexism & Communalism

I mean, a mother who is wearing jeans, she too loves her children. A working mother too loves and takes care of her children. I wear jeans and I love my children. Even a working mother is extremely serious about her children’s education, she knows which chapter is being taught in the classroom, where to follow up from yesterday’s classroom and home work.

In know through experience that in certain schools some teachers tell girls not to sit or play with boys. This is absurd. If this is the kind of upbringing they are giving to our children, what kind of warped creatures do they want to make in the future?

A girl student works diligently, in her studies, goes for higher qualification with her talent and hard work, qualifies in a competition, or gets a professional job – why should she not choose an occupation for herself after all these years of painstaking labour? Why should she be only compelled to marry and ‘take care’ of the household? What is this entrenched stereotype that she has to devote her life to the family – why can’t she nurture her talent and professional expertise? Why can’t she also devote her life to society?

They have imposed a hijab forcibly on women in Iran. They have murdered a young girl. Wearing an outfit is a matter of personal choice. Women have a right to choose their outfits. I fully stand with the protesting women of Iran.

As told to Amit Sengupta

Ms Khan is a member of the Indian People’s Theatre Association, (IPTA), Bihar chapter

Gehlot To Visit Delhi, Meet Sonia

By LokMarg 28th September 2022

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is likely to meet Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi here on Wednesday afternoon following the rebellion by his party lawmakers in the state, in the run-up to the Congress presidential poll.

Rajasthan Minister Pratap Khachariyawas said today that Gehlot who is arriving in the national capital today and will meet Sonia Gandhi.
Congress is currently grappling with the political crisis in the state over leadership change after Gehlot emerged as the top contender in the party’s presidential polls for which the process of the nomination has already begun.

The party had issued notices to three loyalists of Ashok Gehlot over their actions in the political crisis in Rajasthan. However, the chief minister was not named for disciplinary action in the report.

The show cause notices have been issued to Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) Chairman Dharmendra Rathore, the party’s chief whip Mahesh Joshi, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shanti Dhariwal.

AICC in charge Ajay Maken and Mallikarjun Kharge had earlier submitted a written report to Sonia Gandhi that disciplinary action should be taken against the three Gehlot loyalists.

Maken and Kharge, who were appointed observers for the meeting of the Congress Legislature Party had to return from Jaipur after they could not meet MLAs individually to ascertain their views. A “parallel meeting” was held by the loyalists of Ashok Gehlot who are opposed to Sachin Pilot being elevated to the post of the chief minister.

Maken termed the “parallel meeting” as indiscipline and did not agree to other demands of the MLAs and ministers seen close to Gehlot.

On Tuesday, Gehlot held an informal meeting with a few ministers and party MLAs at his residence in Jaipur, sources said.

They said Forest and Environment Minister Sukhram Bishnoi, Minister of State for Home Rajendra Yadav, Minorities Minister Saleh Mohammad, Sports Minister Ashok Chandna, and MLAs Madan Prajapat, Rafiq Khan, Amin Kagzi, Khushveer Jojawar, Amit Chachan, Jagdish Jangid were present in the meeting.

Sachin Pilot, a former Deputy Chief Minister of the State has also come to Delhi.

The nomination process for election to Congress next president will continue till September 30 and the election results will be declared on October 19.

Amid the crisis, some other names, apart from Gehlot, have emerged as possible presidential candidates. (ANI)

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