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SC stays implementation of 3 farm laws

Supreme Court

New Delhi (NVI): The Supreme Court today stayed the implementation of three farm laws until further orders and set up a four-member committee to look into farmers’ grievances regarding new farms laws.

The top court said that the committee will look into the negotiations to end the massive protests over the laws near Delhi borders, going on for over a month now.

The four-membered committee includes Bhupinder Singh Mann of Bhartiya Kisan Union, Anil Ghanwat of Shetkeri Sangthana, Pramod Kumar Joshi and agriculture economist Ashok Gulati.

“We are going to suspend the implementation of the three farm laws until further orders,” said a bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde.

“We are trying to solve the problem in the best way. One of the powers we have is to suspend the legislation,” Bobde said while hearing the petitions against the validity of farm laws, along with the plea to remove protesting farmers.

The top court also issued a notice on the Delhi Police petition seeking to stop the tractor rally planned by farmers on Republic Day.

The court stayed the implementation of the three laws, which include the Farmers’ (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act.

-RJV/ARK

Dynasty politics is cause of social corruption, needs to be rooted out: PM Modi

PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today called upon the youth to root out dynastic political system, saying it is a major cause of social corruption in India.

While addressing the valedictory function of the second National Youth Parliament Festival, the PM said, “Dynasty politics gives rise to incapability and dictatorship in a democratic setup as such people work towards saving the politics of family and family in politics.”

“Today, days of winning election by the crutches of a surname are over still this malaise of dynastic politics is far from over. Political dynasty promotes self and family instead of pushing nation first,” he added.

Today, which is also Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary, PM Modi said that this day gives renewed ‘light’ to the youth of India.

“Swami Vivekananda is an inspiration for everyone one of us. He reminded India of its power. He is connected to everyone of us. Vivekananda had the correct vision for modern India,” Modi said, while addressing the selected candidate of Youth Parliament.

“His views on nationalism and nation-building and his teaching regarding serving the people and serving the world continue to inspire us,” he added.

PM Modi also asked the youth to take advantage of the flexibility and innovative learning format provided by the recent National Education Policy.

We are trying to create an ecosystem in the country, absence of which, often compels the youth to look towards foreign shores, the PM said.

During his address, he exhorted youth to contribute selflessly and constructively in politics and said that today, honest people are getting the opportunity to serve, changing the old notion of politics as a site of unscrupulous activities.

Giving Example of the reconstruction work in the aftermath of Bhuj earthquake, the Prime Minister told the youth that the society that learns to make their own path in calamity, writes its own destiny. Therefore, all of 130 crore Indians are writing their own destiny today.

The Prime Minister said that each and every, effort, innovation, honest pledge by today’s youth is laying a strong foundation for our future.

In addition to this, the first three winners also got the opportunity to express their views before the Prime Minister.

The National Youth Parliament Festival (NYPF) is based on the idea given by the Prime Minister in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ address on December 31, 2017.

Taking inspiration from the idea, the first NYPF was organised from January 12 to February 27, 2019, with the theme ‘Be the Voice of New India and Find solutions and Contribute to Policy’.

The second NYPF was launched on December 23, 2020, through virtual mode. 2.34 lakh youth from across the country participated in the first stage.

It was followed by State Youth Parliaments through the virtual mode from January 1 to 5.

-CHK

Pakistan, China together form ‘potent threat’ to national security: Gen Naravane

New Delhi (NVI): Indian forces would have to be prepared to deal with a “two-front” threat scenario in the wake of increasing cooperation between Pakistan and China as they both form a “potent threat” to the national security, Army Chief General MM Naravane said today.

Naravane said that both Pakistan and China were warming up to each other in both military and non-military sectors. He was indirectly referring to the China-funded CPEC project in Pakistan and military equipment that the country has been receiving from China recently.

“Pakistan and China together form a potent threat, and the threat of collusion cannot be wished away,” he said while addressing a press conference ahead of Army Day.

Apart from that, Gen Naravane said India has maintained a high alert level along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). “We are ready to meet any eventuality, our operational preparedness is of very high order,” he added.

The Army Chief’s remarks came amid the stand-off between Indian and Chinese troops in Eastern Ladakh. Gen Naravane also hoped that an agreement for disengagement and de-escalation would be reached with China soon.

While China continues to deploy thousands of troops along LAC in Ladakh, Pakistan is engaged in regular unprovoked ceasefire violations along LoC, which has led to the loss of lives in border areas.

-ARK

TN: Schools to reopen from Jan 19

Maharashtra
File photo

New Delhi (NVI): Schools in Tamil Nadu will reopen for the students of classes 10 and 12 from January 19, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami announced today.

In a statement issued, Palaniswami said the schools will be reopened only for classes 10 and 12 and instructed to strictly follow standard operating procedures (SOP) after the reopening of schools.

Under the SOPs, each classroom will have 25 students, all students and teachers will have to wear face masks compulsorily inside and outside the school premises.

In addition, hand sanitizers — supplied by the health department to all government schools—shall be provided in all classrooms.

The Chief Minister also said in order to boost the immunity levels, the students attending the classes will be given Vitamin and Zinc tablets by the health department.

He added that the government’s decision comes after 95 per cent of the parents had expressed in favour of reopening of the schools. “The parent’s views were taken on 8 and 9 of this month by the respective schools and a report was submitted to the state government.”

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu coronavirus cases tally stands at 8,26,943, while 12,228 people have succumbed to the deadly virus in the state.

-RJV

Imran Khan In The Dock

Imran Khan
File pic of Imran Khan

COLUMN

By RC Ganjoo

The genocide of 11 persons of the Hazara Shia community on January 3 in Balochistan has further been established that Pakistan’s army and its intelligence agency ISI, with latent and patent support to terrorist groups continue to operate with definite design.

ISIS terrorist group claimed responsibility for the killing of Hazara Shia.

The world community has condemned the gruesome killing of Hazara Shia. The Baloch Republican Party has said that Imran Khan Government is deliberately turning a deaf ear to the voices of Balochs, Hazaras, Sindhis, and minorities.

BRP spokesperson Sher Mohammad Bugti said in a tweet that the latest case of the brutal killing of 11 Hazaras is another testimony to the lawlessness and persecution of minorities in Pakistan. According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, the targeting killing of Shia Hazara is one of the most violent and persistent persecutions on account of religious belief.

Quetta, the capital of Balochistan is called “Hell on Earth”.

Questions have been raised against Pakistan which would remain unanswered. Why political, military and judicial leadership keep watching silently the systematic genocide of minorities there

Why counter-terrorism efforts have never specifically focused on terrorist organisations like as Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP), Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), and Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ)? Why are militant leaders, who openly propagate the killings of Shias, are allowed to actively participate in the public and national discourse?  Why have the madrassas and organisations that actively incite hatred against Shias, been encouraged in Karachi? Why the leaders of such organisations given political protection in Punjab?

The LeJ operating from Afghanistan openly issues death threats to Hazaras through newspaper and describes them as wajib-ul-qatl (deserving of death).

Watching frequent political, religion onslaught on them, Shia Muslims also formed Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) on August 2, 2009 in Islamabad. It is popular among Shia Muslims in the Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, Baluchistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and in PoK. The main purpose of MWM is to speak against the oppression of Pakistan against the Shia community, raise political and religious awareness among Shia, and to revive the teachings of the Quran and Muhammad in the society.

In`2013, MWM was recognised as a political party by Election Commission of Pakistan. Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen was the first religio-political organisation that supported Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in the general elections. They won one seat in GB national assembly, Sunni-based, Pakistan Awami Tehreek, Sunni Ittehad Council and Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan are supporters of Shia based Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen. All of them are on one platform against Pakistani Taliban and its sub-groups Sipah-e-Sahaba and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. WMW vote strength is always in need in support of respective political party to win.

Commenting upon Hazara killing, Rana Iibrar Khalid, a journalist in Islamabad who has been watching Balochistan keenly, told this journalist that ISI and Pak Army has been in addiction of manufacturing political parties or terrorist groups to keep the government in presence always on tenterhook. He said, when Pakistan army started its notorious ‘kill and dump’ policy in Balochistan in 2008, it spotted a Shafiq Mengal and tasked to aid state forces in the abduction of Baloch activists and to create safe passage for Army convoys in remote volatile areas. With the increasing momentum in Baloch struggle, the Pakistani Army responded by arming the local militias and Shafeeq Mengal became a key player.

With the support of ISI and Pak Army, Shafeeq Mengal built relationships with the Afghan Taliban and made himself a known leader of a sectarian outfit, Lashkar i Jhangvi. Under the supervision of ISI, the fighters of so-called Islamic State and sectarian terrorists Lashkar Jhangvi Al-Almi were trained in training camps in Wadh. Everybody knew Shafeeq Mengal who has become a dangerous man for this region, Mir Shafiq Ur Rehman Mengal, popularly known as Shafiq Mengal formed the militant organization Difa-e-Balochistan, which is involved in mass murders.

He contested the Provincial election as an independent candidate and lost. His allies, however, were none other than the National Party (NP) of Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo. Known as a merchant of terror in Balochistan, Shafiq Mengal, has been involved in the killing of Hazara Shia. The nationalist parties in Balochistan wanted his immediate arrest. But he is in hand in glove with Balochistan Chief Minister Jain Kamal Khan 0f Balochistan Awami Party.

State-wise details of Covid-19 cases in India

COVID-19

New Delhi (NVI): The total count of coronavirus cases in India has crossed the 10.47 million-mark and currently stands at 10,479,179 after 12,584 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours, according to the Union Health Ministry data.

The country’s death toll stands at 1,51,327 after 167 new fatalities were reported during the same period.

In worst-affected Maharashtra, the COVID-19 cases increased to 19,71,552 followed by Karnataka with 9,28,055 and Andhra Pradesh with 8,85,037 positive cases.

Total positive cases in States/UTs:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 4,963

Andhra Pradesh- 8,85,037

Arunachal Pradesh- 16,777

Assam- 2,16,635

Bihar- 2,55,932

Chandigarh- 20,342

Chhattisgarh- 2,90,084

Dadra and Nagar Haveli– 3,382

Delhi- 6,30,506

Gujarat- 2,52,559

Goa- 51,891

Haryana– 2,65,199

Himachal Pradesh- 56,521

Jammu and Kashmir- 1,22,651

Jharkhand- 1,16,961

Karnataka- 9,28,055

Kerala- 8,14,258

Ladakh- 9,621

Madhya Pradesh- 2,49,082

Maharashtra- 19,71,552

Manipur- 28,693

Meghalaya- 13,631

Mizoram- 4,299

Nagaland- 11,987

Odisha- 3,32,106

Puducherry- 38,477

Punjab- 1,69,225

Rajasthan- 3,13,425

Sikkim- 5,989

Tamil Nadu- 8,26,943

Telangana- 2,90,309

Tripura- 33,309

Uttarakhand- 93,777

Uttar Pradesh- 5,93,680

West Bengal – 5,61,321

State/UT wise total death toll:

Andaman and Nicobar Islands- 62

Andhra Pradesh- 7,131

Arunachal Pradesh- 56

Assam- 1,064

Bihar- 1,439

Chandigarh- 327

Chhattisgarh- 3,505

Dadra and Nagar Haveli- 2

Delhi- 10,691

Goa- 749

Gujarat- 4,347

Haryana- 2,956

Himachal Pradesh- 961

Jammu and Kashmir- 1,911

Jharkhand- 1,048

Karnataka- 12,144

Kerala- 3,322

Ladakh- 127

Madhya Pradesh- 3,718

Maharashtra- 50,101

Manipur- 365

Meghalaya- 143

Mizoram- 9

Nagaland- 84

Odisha- 1,892

Puducherry- 638

Punjab- 5,447

Rajasthan- 2,736

Sikkim- 129

Tamil Nadu- 12,228

Telangana- 1,568

Tripura- 388

Uttar Pradesh- 8,504

Uttarakhand- 1,578

West Bengal- 9,957

However, a total of 10,111,294 people have been cured and discharged, while the total active cases stands at 2,16,558 in the country.

-CHK

Manipur 4th state to complete ULB reforms, gets nod for Rs 75 cr borrowing

pension
(Representational/file image)

New Delhi (NVI): Manipur has become the fourth state to successfully complete the Urban Local Bodies (ULB) reforms stipulated by the Ministry of Finance and become eligible to get additional financial assistance of Rs 75 crore through Open Market Borrowings.

The northeastern state has now joined the three other states namely Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana, who have successfully completed the reforms.

“On completion of urban local bodies reform, these four states have been granted additional borrowing permission of Rs 7,481 crore,” the Ministry of Finance said in a statement.

Notably, reforms in the Urban Local Bodies and the urban utilities reforms are aimed at financial strengthening of ULBs in the states and to enable them to provide better public health and sanitation services, it added.

Also, economically rejuvenated ULBs will also be able to create good civic infrastructure.

The reforms stipulated by the Department of Expenditure under the Ministry includes the state concerns notifying floor rates of property tax in ULBs which are in consonance with the prevailing circle rates, and floor rates of user charges in respect of the provision of water-supply, drainage and sewerage which reflect current costs/ past inflation, the ministry noted.

Earlier on May 17, 2020, in view of the resource requirement to meet the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the government enhanced the borrowing limit of the states by 2 percent of their Gross States Domestic Product (GSDP).

“Half of this special dispensation was linked to undertaking citizen centric reforms by the states,” the statement said, adding that, the states get permission to raise additional funds equivalent to 0.25 percent of GSDP on completion of reforms in each sector.

The four citizen centric areas identified for reforms were, Implementation of One Nation One Ration Card System, Ease of doing business reform, Urban Local body/ utility reforms and Power Sector reforms.

So far, 10 states have implemented the One Nation One Ration Card System, 7 states have done ease of doing business reforms, and 4 States have done local body reforms, the ministry further said.

The total additional borrowing permission issued to the states who have done the reforms stands at Rs 54,265 crore, it added.

-RJV

WHO team to visit China to trace COVID-19 origins

COVAX
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

New Delhi (NVI): World Health Organization (WHO) director general, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said that an international team of scientists is headed to China to study the origin of the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan.

While addressing a media briefing, the WHO chief said, “We are pleased that an international team of scientists – distinguished experts from ten institutions and countries – are commencing their travel to China to engage in and review scientific research with their Chinese counterparts on the origins of the COVID-19 virus,” WHO quoted in a tweet.

“Studies will begin in Wuhan, China to identify the potential source of infection of the early cases. Scientific evidence will drive hypotheses, which will then be the basis for further, longer-term studies,” Tedros added.

He further stated that, “This is important not just for COVID-19 but for the future of global health security and to manage emerging disease threats with pandemic potential.”

These comments of Tedros came after China announced that the WHO team would arrive in China on Thursday.

Last week, the WHO chief said that he was very disappointed that Beijing had not yet finalized authorizations for the international experts.

“Two of the team members had begun their trip while others could not travel due to a visa clearance issue,” he said.

Earlier, Beijing had said it would give the WHO’s expert team full access to investigate the virus origin, according to media reports.

The organization has been working for months to send a 10-person team of international experts, including epidemiologists and animal health specialists, to China to help probe the origin of the coronavirus pandemic.

-RJV

COVID-19: First consignment of Covishield vaccine reaches Delhi

Covishield vaccine
First consignment of Covishield vaccine has reached Delhi.

New Delhi (NVI): The first SpiceJet flight carrying the Covishield vaccine consignment has reached the national capital today.

The consignment of vaccines left the Serum Institute of India (SII) in the wee hours today ahead of the January 16 nationwide inoculation drive launch, marking a decisive phase in anti-coronavirus fight.

The flight SG8937 departed the Pune airport at 8.05 am landed at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport around 10.15 am.

The consignment consist of 34 boxes and weighs at least 1,088 kg.

“I am happy to share that SpiceJet has carried India’s first consignment of Covid-19 vaccines today [Tuesday]. We will be carrying multiple vaccine consignments to different Indian cities including Guwahati, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bhubaneswar, Bengaluru, Patna and Vijayawada through the day today,” Ajay Singh, chairman and managing director, SpiceJet said.

“Today marks the beginning of a long and decisive phase in India’s fight against the pandemic and SpiceJet is proud to assist in the biggest vaccination drive in the history of mankind,” he said.

To fight against novel coronavirus, the country earlier granted emergency approval to two vaccines — Covishield by Serum Institute of India and Covaxin developed by Bharat Biotech.

In the first phase of the COVID-19 vaccination drive, health workers, both from government and private institutions, will be vaccinated along with sanitation workers, other frontline workers, defence forces, police and other paramilitary forces.

-CHK

IMD predicts cold wave condition in Delhi, Haryana and Punjab

IMD
File photo

New Delhi (NVI): Delhi and the neighbouring areas of Haryana and Punjab will experience cold wave conditions at some places during the next two day, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

According to IMD’s weather bulletin, “Cold wave to severe wave conditions at some or many pockets of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, northwest Uttar Pradesh and north Rajasthan during next 2-3 days.”

The minimum temperature is likely to fall by 2-4 degrees Celsius in the parts of north and northwest India. The sudden dip in temperature is expected due to the prevalence of dry north or northwesterly winds.

The Met department also forecasts that strong surface winds (speed 15-25 kmph) very likely over the plains of northwest India during next 2 days.

Meanwhile, the rainfall with isolated heavy falls, thunderstorm and lightning very likely over Tamil Nadu Puducherry & Karaikal, Kerala & Mahe and Lakshadweep during next 3 days and significant decrease in rainfall activity over these regions thereafter, the IMD’s bulletin said.

This is under the influence of the cyclonic circulation over southwest Bay of Bengal off Sri Lanka coast in lower tropospheric levels.

On the other hand, isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall very likely over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry & Karaikal and Kerala & Mahe on January 12.

Apart from this, the IMD forecast that the maximum and minimum temperatures in Delhi is expected to be around 18 and 7 degrees Celsius respectively. “The temperature in Palam at around 5:30 am was at 6.8 degrees Celcius, while in Safdarjung, it was at 5.8 degrees Celcius,” it added

-RJV

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