India News
4 cases of China’s BF.7 Covid strain detected in India
As the Covid cases rampantly rise in neighbouring China, the Indian Health Ministry has also taken cognizance of the matter to strategize and implement a plan of action in order to assess the situation following suit in the country as well.
Four cases of Omnicoron subvariant BF.7 were reported in India according to reports. The Chinese strain found in India is reportedly the leading cause for the Covid surge in China. The first case of the BF.7 strain was previously reported in October by the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre.
According to reports, the 2 cases of the BF.7 strain out of the three was reported from Gujarat, whereas one was reported from Odisha. The fourth case’s genesis is yet to be reported. It was also reported that the transmissibility in China had to do with the low immunity in the Chinese population.
As the Covid cases rampantly rise in neighboring China, the Indian Health Ministry has also taken cognizance of the matter to strategize and implement a plan of action in order to assess the situation following suit in the country as well.
In light of China’s Covid surge, The Union Health Ministry also issued standard protocols for the people to follow. Union Health minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who chaired a high-level meeting on Wednesday to strategize a plan of action if the cases rise in the country, tweeted, Covid is not over yet.
He further said that he has directed all officials concerned to be vigil and also instructed them to strengthen the surveillance. The Union Health Minister also said and affirmed that they are prepared to manage any situation if need be, in his Tweet.
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What is current Covid situation in Delhi?
The active case toll on Wednesday in Delhi was recorded at 31 which is two cases more than Tuesday. However, it was reported that 5 were discharged, which is an increase in the recovery rate. The Delhi case load doesn’t suggest a spike as of yet country’s Covid trends.
The most Covid affected states stand to be Kerala and Karnataka where the active caseload is 1,436 and 1,272 respectively. As per for the Recovery rate, both the states despite having a high active Covid toll, the recovery was registered to be 46 for Kerala, whereas for Karnataka, the recovered cases were at 18.
Although the tally of cases is not rampantly growing in India, however, it is important to follow precautionary measures to keep oneself safe from being infected by the Covid virus. The Health Ministry protocol for covid advises the people to wear a mask in crowded areas and to get the booster dose administered.
India News
India’s luxury train Deccan Odyssey makes a comeback, starting services on September 23
The train was inaugurated on September 21 around 1:30 pm at the CST Station in Mumbai but the operation will be starting from Saturday.
India’s luxury train Deccan Odyssey is all set to start its commercial services from September 23. It is a comeback for the Royal Train after 3 years. The operation of this train was stopped in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The train was inaugurated on September 21 around 1:30 pm at the CST Station in Mumbai but the operation will be starting from Saturday.
According to the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) official, notable personalities such as Rahul Narvekar, Deepak Kesarkar, and Girish Mahajan attended the inauguration, with attempts being made to invite Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar as guests of honour.
The official said that after covid, the first seven-day journey, will traverse through royal destinations including Vadodara, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Agra, Sawai Madhopur and culminate in New Delhi.
The MTDC operate the Deccan Odyssey Royal Train. The train provides a luxury service at a cost starting from Rs 6.5 lakh per person. The cost has been revised after the Covid-19 pandemic.
If a passenger books in a group of two people, the charges will cost around Rs 9 lakh for the royal experience.
India News
Indian High Commission, consulates facing threats, Canada’s allegations politically motivated: MEA
Arindam Bagchi further underscored that it is Canada that needs to look into its growing reputation of being a safe haven for terrorists, extremists, and organised crime.
Amidst escalating tension between India and Canada, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi stated that the allegations by Canada seems to be politically motivated, adding that there’s a degree of prejudice. Diplomatic standoff between both the countries broke out after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday claimed that his country’s security agencies were investigating a link between the Indian government and the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Briefing the media regarding the aforesaid allegation, Arindam Bagchi noted that no specific information was shared by Canada on the Nijjar case. He added that the Indian government had shared specific information concerning criminal activities by individuals on Canadian soil but no actions were taken regarding the same.
Arindam Bagchi further underscored that it is Canada that needs to look into its growing reputation of being a safe haven for terrorists, extremists, and organised crime. He asserted that the security situation is owing to the inaction by the Canadian government. He also claimed that there are elements linked to organized crime, terrorists, and extremists who are on a free run and politically condoned.
The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson also claimed that the Indian High Commission and consulates are facing security threats in Canada and therefore cannot process visa applications temporarily. He noted that all categories of visas are suspended and that the issue is not about travel to India but about incitement of violence and inaction by the Canadian government. Those who have valid visas and OCI cards can travel freely, he continued.
He conveyed that the Indian government has informed the Canadian government that there should be parity in strength and rank equivalence in their mutual diplomatic presence. Notably, in a meeting that was held on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed strong concerns about continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada, promoting secessionism and inciting violence against Indian diplomats, damaging diplomatic premises, and threatening the Indian community in Canada and their places of worship.
India News
Women’s Reservation Bill can still be sent to Select Committee for including caste quota: RJD MP Manoj Jha
Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Manoj Jha suggested sending the bill to the Select Committee for including the Schedule Caste, Schedules Tribes, Other Backward Castes in the Bill.
Speaking on the Women’s Reservation Bill in Rajya Sabha, the Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Manoj Jha, said there is still a chance to send the bill to the Select Committee for including the Schedule Caste, Schedules Tribes, Other Backward Castes in the Bill as well.
The Rajya Sabha MP said it would have been a revolutionary step if the 33 percent reservation would not be from the existing quota but it should be a separate quota.
He said the government has created a provision to empower women who come from SC, ST, and OBC communities. There is not much for the welfare of women in the religious text, he added. RJD MP Jha suggested the Modi-led BJP government to take a stand and work for the welfare of the women without any hesitation, he further added.
Speaking on surname privilege, he said people often overlook their privilege. He said his surname is a privilege. He added our surname has afforded us privilege. Consider those surnames that lack such advantages. In this country, a name may hold little significance, but everything lies in the surname, the Rajya Sabha MP said.
Early in the day, he said the government doesn’t have a clear intention on this bill. There’s no road map and this bill is being passed in Lok Sabha. You have rejected and excluded a big population. PM Modi and his team need to understand that the discussion is not happening on the passing of the bill but on OBC. He further raised questions on OBC not being included in the bill. He said government should revise their position once again or else people have other options to change their position and their bill, Manoj Jha said.
Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav has also spoken on the Women’s Reservation Bill and said the reservation should be ensured for backward women and minority women. No one knows when it will be implemented because it will be implemented after the census and delimitation, he added.
