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Finally, PM Modi declares free Covid-19 vaccination from June 21 for 18 and above

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday announced that the Centre will take full control of the Covid-19 vaccination drive from June 21, International Yoga Day. He said vaccines will be given free of cost to state governments which can then pass it on to citizens at health centres.

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Narendra modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday announced that vaccines will be given free of cost to state governments which can then pass it on to citizens 18 years of age and above at health centres. For those who wish to access the vaccine in private hospitals, the government set a price ceiling and a margin ceiling, Modi said.

Addressing the nation in a televised speech at 5 pm on Monday, instead of the 8pm speech, PM Modi said the Centre will take full control of the Covid-19 vaccination drive from June 21, International Yoga Day. He said this was because states were finding it difficult to manage.

The Centre had inoculated people above the age of 45 with free vaccines initially but from May 1, it had allowed state governments to vaccinate the 18-44 age group at a charge. Right from day 1, most states had been calling on Modi to buy vaccines for all eligible citizens across the country, instead of the differential pricing mechanism that had been introduced where the Centre would buy at the least price and the states would get it at a higher mark-up.

Also, state governments like Punjab and Maharashtra had tried to buy vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna but were told the companies will talk only to the Central government. Along with the news of free vaccination, the PM also announced he extension of the PM Garib Kalyan Yojana under which 80 crore poor were getting daily rations free of cost till Diwali this year.

The reason for the course correction is hinting at the situation in Uttar Pradesh. Given the state of the vaccination programme in the key state, which will go to the polls in 2022 and sends the highest number of Lok Sabha MPs, the scheme’s lacklustre performance here will add to the anti-incumbency. It also points to the BJP’s tried and tested method of promising Modi governance and choosing a CM candidate, which in 2017 was Yogi Adityanath, who was chosen after the polls.

It must be remembered that a two-man team of RSS veterans had been to UP to gather inputs on the situation in the state. They had come back with glowing reports from the state but such is politics.

The other thing to note is that the Supreme Court is examining the entire vaccination process including the decisions taken so far. Just last week, a bench of Justice D.Y. Chandrachud,  Justice L. Nageswara Rao and Justice S. Ravindra Bhat had told the Centre that its policy was irrational and arbitrary. It had asked the government to provide complete data on vaccine choices, vaccine procurement and the price difference. The Apex Court had also wanted to know what had happened to the much-vaunted, much-publicised and budgeted Rs 35,000 crore.

PM Modi’s speech came on a day when India witnessed 1,00,636 fresh  Covid-19 cases with 2,427 deaths in the last 4 hours. Only 15.87 lakh samples were tested on Sunday, compared to an average of more than 20 lakh in the last week.

PM Modi said the Covid-19 is the biggest epidemic to struck in the last century, the country has fought bravely and successfully overcome its impact.

Modi began the speech with saying the coronavirus outbreak was the biggest pandemic in the last 100 years. To combat which the government came up with new health infrastructure in the past few months.

Similarly, India has never felt the need for oxygen this much, he said. While condoling the deaths of those who died in the second wave’s worst weeks of April and May, Modi said India has overcome oxygen shortage very fast. He noted that despite vaccination, covid-appropriate behaviour is the only way to fight against Covid.

To save the world, Modi claimed, the country came up with two vaccines, while Covishield was developed in the University of Oxford, UK and was mass-produced in India by the Serum Institute. If the vaccine was not made in India, what would have happened, he said.

Though the PM made some untenable claims on vaccines taking decades to reach the corners of the country, before the coronavirus, it is to be remembered that polio and other diseases were inoculated at birth and none of them were vaccines against pandemics like in this case.

Read Also: AIIMS Delhi to begin screening children aged 2-18 years for Covaxin trials from today

PM Modi also spoke of more vaccines waiting to get clearances to enter the country and spoke of a nasal spray that would kill the virus.

The final nail in today’s announcement tied in with the BJP announcement of free Covid vaccines in Bihar during the campaign for the 2020 Assembly election. Seems Bihar will finally get its free vaccines after this deft somersault, which is good news for all Indians, poor or rich or middle-class.

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DMK leader’s son arrested after car rams family in Krishnagiri, one dead

A 20-year-old son of a DMK leader has been arrested for allegedly driving a car into four members of a family in Krishnagiri, killing assistant labour inspector Sivamoorthy.

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DMK leader

A 20-year-old son of a leader from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has been arrested for allegedly mowing down four members of a family following a heated argument in Tamil Nadu’s Krishnagiri district. One person died in the incident, police said.

The deceased has been identified as Sivamoorthy, an assistant labour inspector and a resident of Krishnagiri. According to the police, the incident occurred outside his residence after the accused, identified as Adithya, objected to a two-wheeler parked on the road.

Police said Adithya was driving the car and began honking as the two-wheeler was blocking the road. Sivamoorthy and his family members reportedly stepped out to move the vehicle. During the exchange that followed, an altercation broke out.

Investigators allege that Adithya then rammed his car into Sivamoorthy, his son Kirubakaran, daughter-in-law Amsavalli and granddaughter Nilani. Sivamoorthy sustained severe injuries and later succumbed. The others were injured in the incident.

Besides Adithya, two of his friends — Rithik Kumar and Harish — who were present in the car at the time, have also been arrested. A case of murder has been registered against the trio and further investigation is underway.

Kirubakaran, recounting the incident, said the family had attempted to move the parked two-wheeler when the accused damaged it. He alleged that the men appeared intoxicated and tried to assault them with a stick before the vehicle was driven into the family.

Amsavalli said they had tried to defuse the situation peacefully but the confrontation turned violent, resulting in her father-in-law’s death and injuries to her child.

A police officer stated that Adithya’s father is a local functionary of the DMK in Krishnagiri district. The victim’s family has demanded strict action in the case.

Reacting to the incident, state BJP chief Nainar Nagendran criticised the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, questioning the state government over the episode and alleging that party functionaries were misusing their influence.

Police said the probe is ongoing.

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Security tightened across Delhi metro stations after bomb threat emails

Delhi is on high alert after bomb threat emails targeted metro stations, the Red Fort and the Assembly. Authorities confirmed the threats were hoaxes but tightened security as a precaution.

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Delhi Metro

Security has been intensified across all metro stations and major installations in the national capital after a series of bomb threat emails were received on Monday. Authorities later confirmed that the threats were hoaxes following detailed inspections by security agencies.

According to officials, several key institutions — including the Delhi Secretariat, Delhi Assembly, the Red Fort and two schools — received threatening emails earlier in the day. Extensive searches were carried out at all the locations mentioned in the messages, but nothing suspicious was found.

A senior police officer said cyber teams are working to trace the origin of the emails. Preliminary findings suggest that the senders may have used Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) in an attempt to conceal their identities and mislead investigators. Officials expressed confidence that those responsible would be identified.

Metro stations under heightened surveillance

Following specific references to metro services in the emails, security arrangements were strengthened across the entire network of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. Additional personnel have been deployed at stations, and anti-sabotage checks are being conducted.

Police said random frisking of passengers and intensified CCTV surveillance are being carried out as part of precautionary measures. Bomb disposal squads and dog squads were stationed at sensitive sites, including the Red Fort, Delhi Secretariat and the Assembly complex.

The threatening emails reportedly included the slogan “Delhi banega Khalistan” and warned of explosions at an Army school, the Assembly and the Red Fort at specific times during the day. Officials stated that all mentioned locations were thoroughly checked and declared safe.

Authorities also coordinated with counterparts in neighbouring states to enhance security at metro stations falling under their jurisdictions.

While no explosives were found, officials said the tightened security arrangements will remain in place as a precaution. Cyber teams continue efforts to trace the IP addresses and identify those behind the threat emails.

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JNU protest turns violent as Left and Right student groups trade charges

A late-night protest at JNU turned violent as Left and ABVP student groups accused each other of stone-throwing and attacks near the East Gate.

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JNU Protest

Tension gripped the campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University in the early hours of Monday after a protest march allegedly spiralled into violence, with rival student groups accusing each other of triggering the unrest.

Students claimed that the incident occurred around 1.30 am when a confrontation broke out during a march called by the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union. The protest, named “Samta Juloos”, was headed towards the East Gate and was organised to demand the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit and the withdrawal of a rustication order.

According to protesters, several students were injured after alleged stone-throwing during the clash. They alleged that the university administration did not intervene during the march and instead permitted members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad to confront demonstrators.

However, the ABVP denied the allegations and countered that Left-affiliated organisations instigated the confrontation and were spreading misinformation about the events.

Left-backed groups, including the All India Students’ Association, claimed that ABVP activists targeted the JNUSU encampment and hurled stones at “unarmed students”, leading to multiple injuries.

Videos shared by students on social media reportedly showed chaotic scenes near the protest site, with members of rival groups engaged in heated exchanges and physical scuffles.

University authorities did not immediately respond to queries regarding the incident. Students said the situation on campus remained tense following the overnight clashes.

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