India News
Finally!! ECI issues Covid warning after polls in 4 states, says won’t hesitate to ban netas, star campaigners
The Commission’s warning comes ahead of the fourth phase of voting in West Bengal on Saturday and after the completion of the polling in Kerala, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
The Election Commission of India on Friday issued a warning to star campaigners and political parties for not following Covid-19 guidelines during campaigning. In a warning letter, the EC asked them to strictly follow the Covid-19 guidelines.
The Commission’s warning comes ahead of the fourth phase of voting in West Bengal on Saturday and after the completion of the polling in Kerala, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
Why has the Election Commission issued the warning?
The Election Commission flagged instances of star campaigners and political leaders not wearing masks while campaigning. The voting in the three states and one Union Territory ended on Tuesday. During campaigning, the massive crowds people have seen in rallies and road shows violating Covid-19 protocols. Even the top leaders and star campaigners were also seen and caught on camera violating Covid protocols. The Commission’s letter pointed out instances of star campaigners and political leaders or candidates not observing Covid-19 protocols, including non-wearing of masks themselves at stage or while campaigning.
What does the Election Commission letter say?
In its letter to all state and national parties, the Commission said it takes serious view of the laxity in maintaining norms, particularly not wearing masks by political leaders on stage and it could ban them from holding rallies in case the situation does not improve.
In cases of breach, the Commission will not hesitate in banning public meetings, rallies and roadshows of the defaulting candidates/star campaigners/political leaders without any further reference. Taking note of the rising number of Covid-19 cases in the country, the poll body reiterated that the use of face masks, hand sanitisers, and thermal scanners was mandatory at all election-related events.
Why has the Centre been silent on rallies and roadshows?
The government blames the resurgence mainly on crowding and not wearing masks while the Centre has been largely silent on political leaders including the Prime Minister greeting lakhs of supporters, most of them not wearing masks, even this week despite the record surge in cases. Election rallies led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and opposition leaders like Mamata Banerjee and Rahul Gandhi, as well as crowded festivals and religious gatherings, have characterized the record resurgence of the new coronavirus strains.
What is the Covid-19 situation in India?
The second surge has already been more powerful than the first, which peaked in September last year with 97,000 cases a day. On Friday, India reported 1,31,968 new infections and 780 deaths, the biggest daily increase in fatalities since mid-October. India’s overall caseload has swelled to 1.3 crore, the third-highest after the United States and Brazil – and total deaths to 1,67,642. India’s total number of infections has inched closer to Brazil’s 1.32 crore. An increasing number of states are imposing localized curbs, including night curfews in mega-cities such as Delhi and Mumbai since another nation-wide lockdown is not in the best interests of the country’s stagnant economy.
Bihar news
Bihar: 2 die, 3 lose eyesight after consuming spurious liquor in Muzaffarpur
Two people died while three people lost their eyesight in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur after consuming spurious liquor, as per the police.
Two people died while three people lost their eyesight in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur after consuming spurious liquor, as per the police.
Police have received information that two people died after their health suddenly deteriorated. In the prima facie inquiry, it has been told that they both had consumed country-made liquor. We have arrested two people. Further probe underway, the Superintendent of Police Abhishek Dixit said after two people died after allegedly consuming spurious liquor in Muzaffarpur.
According to reports, one of the victims, Dharmendra Ram, has revealed that he consumed spurious alcohol after purchasing from Shiv Chandra Paswan, who generally sells adulterated and low-quality liquor, due to which he lost his eyesight.
He started losing his vision after consuming two glasses of low-quality liquor, which cost him Rs 100.
Police, based on the victim’s statement, have arrested two people. One of the arrested persons is a local resident and has been jailed in the past as well in a liquor-related case.
For interrogation, police have also detained accused Shiv Chandra Paswan’s wife and daughter.
Police confirmed that the deaths and loss of eyesight happened due to the consumption of spurious alcohol.
Earlier this year in April, a shocking case was reported from Bihar’e Motihari district where at least 5 people died after consuming illicitly made liquor while twelve others were rushed to a local hospital in critical condition.
The incident was reported from Laxmipur Village of Motihari district in Bihar. The cases of spurious liquor creating hazardous health problems and death of people in Bihar have been in focus for quite some months now. Earlier in January this year it was reported from Siwan that four people died post consuming the spurious liquor after which the Police arrested 16 people who were involved in the storage and trading of alcohol in the state.
Purchase, sale and trade of liquor stands banned in Bihar since April 2016 after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar took this move to impose a complete prohibition on the sale and consumption of alcohol in the state.
India News
Mann Ki Baat: PM Modi says India-Middle East-Europe corridor will become future basis of world trade
The India-Middle East-Europe corridor will become the basis of world trade for hundreds of years to come and history will always remember that the corridor was initiated on Indian soil, said PM Modi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his 105th episode of Mann Ki Baat said that the India-Middle East-Europe corridor will become the basis of world trade for hundreds of years to come and history will always remember that the corridor was initiated on Indian soil.
On September 24 in his monthly Mann Ki Baat, PM Modi also talked about Chandrayaan-3’s success and urged all citizens to participate in the Chandrayaan-3 Mahaquiz, a unique opportunity to learn and celebrate India’s lunar mission. Let’s embark on this cosmic adventure together, he added.
PM Modi said throughout the year, programmes related to G20 were held at numerous universities in the country. Now in this series, another exciting programme is about to take place in Delhi, which is G20 University Connect Programme, he said.
Speaking about World Tourism Day, he said two days from now, 27th September, is World Tourism Day. Some people view tourism just as a means of touring and travelling, but a very big aspect of tourism is related to employment, the Prime Minister further said.
He further talked about temples in Karnataka. PM Modi said a few days ago, that Shantiniketan and the holy Hoysala temple of Karnataka have been declared world heritage sites by UNESCO. He extended his greetings to the countrymen on this feat.
During the G20 Summit in New Delhi, US principal deputy national security advisor Jon Finer announced an unprecedented and ground-breaking infrastructure initiative involving a railway and shipping corridor that will improve trade, energy, and digital connectivity.
Speaking to reporters, Finer drew an indirect but striking comparison between China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the project, saying it will close a significant infrastructure gap and be high-standards, transparent, sustainable, non-coercive and based on the demand signal from the region instead of being an imposition.
BRI is heavily attacked for entangling nations in unmanageable debt, as well as for being opaque, forceful, and sacrificing standards.
Finer claimed that the project is consistent with the greater West Asian agenda of the Joe Biden administration.
India News
Man seeking job in Indian Army attempts to breach PM Modi’s security in Varanasi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s security was breached in Varanasi after a BJP worker jumped in front of PM Modi’s convoy asking for a job in Indian Army.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s security was breached in Varanasi. An Indian Army aspirant jumped in front of PM Modi’s convoy, asking for a job in defence. Later, he was held by the police.
After laying the foundation stone of the International Cricket Stadium on Saturday, PM Modi with CM Yogi attended the evening musical show at Rudraksh International Cooperation and Convention Centre.
From there, PM Modi was travelling to Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport, when the incident took place. A man who tried to breach the Prime Minister’s security has been identified as Krishna Kumar, who hails from Ghazipur, allegedly a BJP worker. He is the son of a senior BJP worker Bharat Kumar.
According to reports, Kumar was frustrated as he failed the medical test after clearing the physical test. Kumar tried many times in the past to get recruited into the Indian Army. He also appealed to many people for help but everything failed.
After all this, he decided to meet the Prime Minister in Varanasi regarding his job in Indian Army. Krishna Kumar was waiting for the PM’s convoy to pass at least for an hour, the moment Modi’s convoy crossed beside Kumar, he jumped carrying a file with him asking for a job in Indian Army.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 23 laid the foundation stone of the International Cricket Stadium in Varanasi’s Ganjari, Uttar Pradesh.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was present for the occasion in Varanasi.
Varanasi, PM Modi’s parliamentary constituency also witnessed big names from the cricket fraternity on the occasion. The names include Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil Dev, Ravi Shastri, Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar, Madan Lal, Gundappa Viswanath, and Gopal Sharma.
PM Modi also inaugurated 16 Atal Awasiya Vidyalaya built across Uttar Pradesh, during the programme.
The Varanasi International Cricket Stadium is a step towards realising PM Modi’s vision to develop a modern and world-class sports infrastructure.
