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At AQI Of 393, Delhi’s Air Quality Dips To Very Poor

By LokMarg 26th November 2023

The air pollution in the National Capital continues to be in the ‘very poor’ category, with an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) recording of 393.

As per the official data recorded at 7:00 am on Sunday, an AQI of 433 was recorded at Ananad Vihar and 434 at Ashok Vihar. Similarly, the AQI at Bawana stood at 437, while Jahangirpuri registered an AQI of 450, all falling into the severe category.

The AQI at the ITO in Delhi was recorded at 382 (very poor), while the IGI airport logged an AQI of 360 (very poor).

The Air Quality Index from 0 to 100 is considered ‘good’, 100 to 200 ‘moderate’, 200 to 300 ‘poor’, 300 to 400 ‘very poor’ and from 400 to 500 or above ‘severe’.

Following a significant improvement in the overall AQI in the national capital last week, the CAQM (Commission for Air Quality Management) revoked the restrictions that were imposed under GRAP 4, permitting trucks and buses except for BS-3 and BS-4 petrol and diesel vehicles to enter the city and lifting the ban on ongoing construction activities.

Restrictions under stages 1 to 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), however, remained in place.

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai conducted a meeting on Friday on increasing pollution in the city.

“Some increase in the pollution of Delhi has been noted. We had a meeting regarding it. The incidents of stubble burning are very few now, and the level of pollution is still increasing. Scientists reported 2-3 factors for this. The first is that vehicle pollution’s contribution is 36 percent. The second factor is biomass burning. We made some major decisions after seeing this, Gopal Rai said.

“To control vehicle pollution, we issued the rules of GRAP 3. To control biomass burning, we have directed the related organisations to monitor this, especially. especially the MCD, Revenue, DDA, and NDMC, are being given this direction for the fires that are breaking out at various places in the parks,” he added. (ANI)

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We Pledge To Continue Fight Against Acts Of Terror: US On 26/11 Anniv

By LokMarg 26th November 2023

On the 15th anniversary of the 26/11 terror attacks, US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, on Sunday paid tributes to the victims at the US Consulate in Mumbai.

The US envoy reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to fight alongside New Delhi against the menace of terrorism.

“Today marks the 15th anniversary of the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai. We honour the memory of the victims lost and pledge to continue to fight against acts of terror together with the Government of India,” Garcetti posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Earlier, Israel envoy Naor Gilon also paid homage to the victims at the Chabad House memorial, which has the names of all victims engraved on its walls.

“15 years since the #MumbaiTerrorAttack #UnitedWeStand. This picture is from the Nariman (Chabad) House rooftop memorial where the names of all #Mumbai2611 victims are engraved. Om Shanti,” Gilon posted on X.

Significantly, six Jews were among the 166 people killed during the attacks.

Recently, Israel officially designated Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), to which the 26/11 attackers belonged. The action has been taken sans any request to that effect by the Union government.

Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also paid his respects to the victims of the 26/11 terror attacks, saying India’s quest to bring the perpetrators of these horrific acts to justice continues.

“It is 15 years today since the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. Our quest to bring those responsible for planning and executing these horrific acts to justice continues,” Jaishankar posted on X (formerly Twitter).

On November 26, 2008, a group of 10 Pakistani terrorists, armed and geared to the teeth, unleashed mayhem on the streets of Mumbai, sending shockwaves across the country and the world.

Targeting several key installations in the country’s commercial capital, including the Taj and Trident hotels and the Chabad House, a Jewish centre, the terrorists took 166 lives as they held the city at ransom over four days.

The attacks also claimed the lives of 18 security personnel and left over 300 injured.

The targets were carefully chosen after being surveyed, for maximum impact. Among the public installations targeted were the Taj and Oberoi Hotels, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, the Jewish centre at Nariman House, and the Leopold Cafe.

Apart from natives, these places are known to be frequented by Europeans, Indians and Jews.

While nine of the LeT terrorists were killed, Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab, the lone surviving Pakistani terrorist from the attacks, was arrested from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station.

In May 2010, Qasab was sentenced to death and was hanged at a maximum security prison in Pune city two years later. (ANI)

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IAF Flies In Critical DRDO Equipment To Uttarkashi

By LokMarg 26th November 2023

The Indian Air Force on Sunday flew in ‘critical DRDO equipment’ in an effort to accelerate the rescue of 41 workers, who are trapped inside the collapsed portion of the under-construction Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi for over two weeks now, the IAF informed through an official release.

“Responding with alacrity to the requirements of the ongoing rescue operation, late last evening the IAF flew in critical DRDO equipment to Dehradun. #HADROps,” the IAF stated in its official release.

Earlier, on Sunday, a plasma-cutting machine was flown to the tunnel site from Hyderabad to cut through the Auger drilling machine and its stuck blades from inside the tunnel.

The process of removing the auger blades from the rubble was underway even before the new machine arrived at the tunnel site in the early hours of Sunday.

Meanwhile, a safety umbrella was thrown around the Silkyara tunnel where 41 workers have been trapped for two weeks now, official sources said, adding that the umbrella ensure the protection of the rescuers.

Also, as part of efforts to relieve the stress and anxiety of the workers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has stepped in to provide them with a landline through which they can talk to their families.

Kundan, a BSNL official, said they are in the process of sending a small landline phone to the stranded workers through the pipeline inserted to bring them out.

“Through this, they will be able to talk directly to their families,” he said.

After a portion of the tunnel caved in on November 12, the debris falling in the 60-metre stretch on the Silkyara side of the tunnel trapped 41 labourers inside the under-construction structure. (ANI)

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As Of Nov 23, There Is No Afghan Diplomat In India

By LokMarg 25th November 2023

The Afghan Embassy has said that there is no diplomat representing Afghanistan in India as of November 23.

“Neighbourhood first policy: We, the former Afghan diplomats want to set the record straight: As of Nov 23, there is no Afghan diplomat representing the former Republic in India. Those with ties to the Taliban are aligning themselves with Taliban and also Delhi’s interests,” as per the Afghan Embassy in India’s official handle on ‘X’.

However, the Ministry of External Affairs has made no comments regarding the closure of the Afghanistan Embassy in India. Moreover, India has not recognised the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.

India has not recognised the Taliban government — which seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021 — and evacuated its own staff from Kabul two years ago. India no longer has a diplomatic presence there. India has said it will follow the lead of the United Nations in deciding whether to recognize the Taliban government.

The Afghan Embassy in New Delhi was run by staff appointed by the previous government of ousted Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, with permission from Indian authorities.

The Afghanistan Embassy recently announced its permanent closure in New Delhi.

Releasing an official statement on the closure of its diplomatic mission in New Delhi, the Afghan Embassy said, “Effective from November 23, 2023, owing to persistent challenges from the Indian government. The decision follows the Embassy’s earlier cessation of operations on September 30, a move made in the hope that the Indian government stance will favourably change to let the mission operate normally.”

The Embassy said it was ‘cognisant’ that some may attempt to characterise this move as an internal conflict, allegedly involving diplomats who switched allegiance to the Taliban, adding “that this decision is a result of broader changes in policy and interests”.

“To the Afghan citizens in India, the Embassy extends its sincere gratitude for their understanding and support throughout our mission’s tenure,” it added.

Despite “limitations in resources and power”, the Afghan Embassy said it has worked “tirelessly for their betterment and in the absence of a legitimate government in Kabul”.

Over the past two years and three months, the Afghan community in India has witnessed a significant decline, with Afghan refugees, students, and traders leaving the country, the Embassy noted in its statement, adding that the number has nearly halved since August 2021, with very limited new visas being issued during this period.

“We assure the Afghan community that the mission operated with transparency, accountability, and a commitment to fair treatment based on the goodwill and interests of Afghanistan considering historic ties and bilateral relations with India,” it added.

“Unfortunately, efforts have been made to tarnish our image and hinder diplomatic efforts in order to justify the presence and work of Taliban-appointed and affiliated diplomats. In the face of these challenges, our committed team worked diligently in the most difficult circumstances, prioritizing the interests of the 40 million Afghans in every possible sphere from securing humanitarian aid and online education scholarships to facilitating ease in trade and advocating for the formation of a broad-based government,” the Afghan Embassy stated further in its statement.

It added that the Afghan Embassy “exerted diplomatic pressure in its power on those who defy the will of the Afghan people by failing to form an inclusive government and denying millions of girls the right to attend school”.

As of now, there are no diplomats from the Afghan Republic in India. Those who served in the national capital have safely reached third countries, the Embassy informed through its release, adding that the only individuals present in India are diplomats affiliated with the Taliban, visibly attending their regular online meetings.

“The diplomats of the Afghan Republic have handed over the mission solely to the Indian government. It now rests upon the Indian government to decide the fate of the mission, whether to maintain its closure or consider alternatives, including the possibility of handing it over to Taliban diplomats. The responsibility of diplomats appointed by the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has officially come to an end. The unfortunate end of the Republic mission marks the conclusion of the Afghan Republic in India,” it added.

“We have considered the historic events and current circumstances carefully in arriving at this conclusion. We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to the people of India for their support and assistance to Afghanistan over the past 22 years. We reiterate our commitment to serving the people of Afghanistan and will continue to explore avenues to support our nation in these challenging times,” the statement concluded.

Notably, the Afghan Embassy announced the closure of its operations on November 1, citing “lack of resources” and “failure to meet Afghanistan’s interests” by the Taliban regime.

The Embassy also made an “unequivocal statement” stating that certain consulates that work on the instructions and funding from Kabul are not in consonance with the objectives of a legitimate or elected government but rather serve the interests of an “illegitimate regime”. (ANI)

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Uttarakashi: Plasma Cutter From Hyderabad Being Flown In

By LokMarg 25th November 2023

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday said a plasma cutter is being flown in from Hyderabad to cut the auger machine that has got stuck in the debris of the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi.

After visiting the site of the tunnel inside which 41 labourers have been trapped after it collapsed since November 12, Dhami said that the auger machine that was involved in drilling through the debris from the Silyara side is expected to be pulled out till tomorrow morning after which manual drilling will begin.

He described the conditions as “very difficult and challenging” and the way the machine which was drilling through the debris and placing pipes for the trapped workers to climb out had got stuck after reaching a certain point.

“Everyone knows that this rescue operation is being done under difficult and challenging circumstances. The machine got stuck after reaching so close…We are expecting that by tomorrow morning this machine will come out, and after that, the operation will move forward manually,” the chief minster said.

“We are working on all the options. A plasma cutter machine has been ordered from Hyderabad to cut the auger machine,” Dhami said.

The heavy duty US-made auger machine had got stuck after reaching a certain point, due to some metal object getting stuck inside it and the drilling operations had to be suspended on Friday evening.

Dhami said that he had spoken to the construction workers who were trapped inside the tunnel and their morale was high.

“I have just spoken to the people inside, Gabbar Singh, Sabha Ahmed and Sharia Mishra. The morale of all of them are absolutely strong. They told me that they were doing fine and were getting food on time. They asked me to take our time and safely take them out from the tunnel,” Dhami said.

“So we are also praying to God that the rescue be completed as soon as possible. At the level of the Government of India, the State Government and all our agencies, all the people are making their full efforts. We are making as many efforts as possible and the Prime Minister is getting progress reports every day. PM Modi is concerned about the situation and the condition of the workers. We are expecting and hoping that the operation is completed as soon as possible,” Chief Minister Dhami said.

Meanwhile, a 12-member team of the Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) is on standby mode to do vertical drilling on the tunnel.

A final decision on the vertical drilling option is likely to be taken by Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) and the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation.

An SJVN official said, “We have given a proposal to the administration to do vertical drilling in 5 to 6 days; our team has done the survey for drilling; and apart from this, their drilling machine has also reached the spot to do the drilling. We are just waiting for the order to come.”

“The vertical drilling will be done from the top of the tunnel and about 85 to 90 metres will have to be drilled, which will take about 5 to 6 days. When drilling from inside the tunnel When the work of building the rescue tunnel gained momentum, the plan of doing vertical drilling was put on hold, but now, due to the hurdles we are facing, we have once again come into standby mode to see if the administration needs vertical drilling. We will start our work immediately after receiving the order,” added the SJVN official

Officials earlier today said that manual drilling will begin soon to cut through the rubble that separates rescuers from the 41 trapped workers.

According to officials, manual drillers will get to work once the US-made, heavy-duty Auger drilling machine is removed from the pipeline through which the trapped workers are to be brought out.

Manual drillers will work to cut through the remaining rubble that separates the rescuers from the workers and enable the insertion of the pipeline through the further few metres that are yet to be covered.

The ongoing operation to rescue workers, who were trapped after a portion of the tunnel collapsed on November 12, entered its 14th day on Saturday.

Success could soon be achieved in taking the Auger driller out of the pipeline, officials informed further, adding that the heavy-duty drillers could now be moved back by 22 metres.

Speaking to ANI, a senior official involved with the rescue operation said manual drilling could start soon.

He added that the remaining debris, extending approximately up to 6 to 9 metres, which stands between the rescuers and the trapped workers, will be removed through manual drilling.

Elaborating on the reasons why the officials involved in the rescue operation have decided to remove the Auger from the pipeline, the senior official told ANI, “While drilling with the US-made Auger machine, if we hit an obstruction every two to three feet, we have to remove it. And, every time we hit an obstruction, we have to roll Auger back 50 metres (up to which the pipeline has been laid). After running repairs, the machine has to be pushed back up to 50 metres, which takes about 5 to 7 hours. This is the reason why the rescue operation is taking longer than it should.”

He informed them further that after drilling up to a further 5 metres, the rescuers will reach the final few metres that separate them from the trapped workers.

However, the officials refrained from quoting a timeframe within which the rescue mission could be completed, saying that they were hopeful of a positive outcome once the manual drilling starts on Saturday.

Earlier, a team of experts, who came to conduct a survey at the tunnel site, informed that there were no heavy objects up to 5 metres inside the tunnel.

The team from Parsan Overseas Pvt Ltd Delhi used the ground-penetrating radar (GPR) technique to examine the rescue tunnel.

Ground Penetrating Radar, also known as GPR, Georadar, Subsurface Interface Radar, or Geo-probing Radar, is a totally non-destructive technique to produce a cross-section profile of the subsurface without any drilling, trenching or ground disturbances.GPR profiles are used for evaluating the location and depth of buried objects and to investigate the presence and continuity of natural subsurface conditions and features.

After examining the rescue tunnel, geophysicist and GPR survey team member B Chendhoor said they were called to the scene after the Auger driller hit an obstruction.

After a portion of the tunnel caved in on November 12, the debris falling in the 60-metre stretch on the Silkyara side of the tunnel trapped 41 labourers inside.

The workers are trapped in a 2 km-built portion, which is complete, including concrete work, which provides them safety. (ANI)

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Rajasthan Records 55.63% Voter Turnout Till 3PM

By LokMarg 25th November 2023

Rajasthan recorded 55.63 per cent polling for 199 assembly constituencies till 3 pm, the Election Commission informed on Saturday.

As per the poll body, Tijara witnessed the highest voter turnout of 69.37 per cent till 3 pm. Tonk recorded 56.83 per cent.

The capital city- Jaipur, recorded 55.75 per cent of voter turnout, while Jaisalmer recorded 63.48 per cent, Jhalawar at 60.47 per cent, Hanumangarh at 61.64 per cent, and 52.23 per cent of electorates cast votes at Jalore till 3 pm.

Earlier Rajasthan recorded 40.27 per cent polling for 199 assembly constituencies till 1.30 pm.

Voting began in Rajasthan at 7 am after days of hectic campaigning by major political parties, including the ruling Congress and BJP.

However, polling for the Karanpur assembly constituency was adjourned following the death of Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar.

Voters can cast their votes until 6 pm. Adequate security arrangements have been made to ensure peaceful and fair elections, the polling officials informed earlier.

A total of 1,02,290 security personnel have been deployed to ensure peaceful voting, an official said. As many as 69,114 police personnel, 32,876 Rajasthan Home Guard, Forest Guard, and RAC personnel, and 700 companies of CAPF have also been deployed to ensure free and fair polling, he added.

The ruling Congress is eyeing another term while the BJP is seeking to replace the Ashok Gehlot government, banking on the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Prominent candidates in the fray include Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, former CM Vasundhara Raje, former Deputy CM Sachin Pilot, Congress national spokesperson Gourav Vallabh, Union Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore, Vishwaraj Singh Mewar, Rajasthan Assembly Speaker CP Joshi, and Rajasthan LoP Rajendra Rathore.

Many rebel candidates of the BJP and Congress withdrew their names after being persuaded to do so. But still, about 45 rebel candidates from both parties are in the fray. These also include MLAs, former MLAs, and party officials.

The counting of votes has been scheduled for December 3.

In 2018, the Congress won 99 seats while the BJP finished a close second at 73. Gehlot took oath as CM with the support of BSP MLAs and Independents. (ANI)

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You Don’t Lose WC Final Because Of Any Single Individual: Sehwag

By LokMarg 25th November 2023

Weighing in on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the India dressing room after skipper and his ‘Men in Blue’ went down to Australia in the World Cup, dashing a billion hopes of a third world crown in the 50-over format, former opener Virender Sehwag on Saturday hailed what he called a ‘rare gesture’ by the country’s most powerful leader to lift the spirits in the change room.

Pictures from the Indian dressing room went viral, showing PM Modi shaking hands with the players and sharing a warm hug with speedster Mohammad Shami, who emerged as the highest wicket-taker in the tournament.

PM Modi commended how the team went 10 matches unbeaten in the tournament before finally coming unstuck in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Speaking to ANI, Sehwag said, “It is very rare for a prime minister to meet players in the dressing room and lift their spirits after a crushing defeat. I have never seen a prime minister taking time out of his busy schedule to lend a shoulder to players heartbroken after a defeat. It was an incredible gesture by Prime Minister Modi to visit the dressing room and boost the morale of the boys. It was a time when the boys needed some hand-holding, a gesture of solidarity and support. In such lows, you need someone to comfort you like family members do. I believe it was a touching gesture that will go a long way to motivating our boys ahead of future engagements, especially multilateral events. It will motivate us to cross the final hurdle next time.”

Amid the uproar around the statements of some Opposition leaders, blaming PM Modi’s attendance in the final for the team’s defeat in the World Cup final, the former India batting stalwart and ICC Hall-of-Famer said, “You don’t lose a World Cup final because of any single individual. Our loss to Australia will spur us to chase glory in the next World Cup final.”

Raising the hackles of the BJP, Congress leader Rahul, addressing a public event in Rajasthan’s Barmer, blamed India’s defeat on PM Modi, calling him a ‘Panauti’ (one who brings bad luck).

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also took a dig at PM Modi, claiming that India would have won had the World Cup final been hosted at Wankhede (the venue for the 2011 World Cup final that India won) or the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, instead of a stadium named after himself.

In the video of PM Modi’s visit to the India dressing room, he was seen holding the hands of skipper Rohit Sharma and batting talisman Virat Kohli, who aggregated the most runs at the event.

PM Modi was heard exhorting them to smile as the country was watching them. “Desh aap ko dekh raha hai (the country is watching you),” PM Modi told Rohit and Virat inside the dressing room.

Scoffing at the Opposition leaders over their remarks, the former India opener said, “Everyone was behind this team when they were doing so well. And, on a rare bad in office, when they lost the final, everyone should have come out in their support instead of making such remarks. There are few PMs or leaders who visit a dressing room after a defeat. Hence, for PM Modi to visit our boys and lift their spirits would serve as an inspiration not just for cricket but also for other sports. It will serve as a huge motivation.”

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri, too, hailed PM Modi’s gesture of visiting the dressing room and catching up with the ‘Men in Blue’.

“I think it’s an outstanding gesture simply because I know what a dressing room feels like and I have been in that dressing room for more than seven years as a coach of India, apart from many years as a cricketer. It is a gut-wrenching feeling and when you are down. When you get someone like the Prime Minister of the country coming and visiting the dressing room, it is something massive because it can lift the spirits of the players. This is no ordinary man walking in. When you have Prime Minister of a country walking into the dressing room, it is special. I know what the players would have felt like, I know what I would have felt like you know if I was a coach of India in that moment,” Shastri said. (ANI)

New Delhi [India], November 25 (ANI): Weighing in on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the India dressing room after skipper and his ‘Men in Blue’ went down to Australia in the World Cup, dashing a billion hopes of a third world crown in the 50-over format, former opener Virender Sehwag on Saturday hailed what he called a ‘rare gesture’ by the country’s most powerful leader to lift the spirits in the change room.