Archives for April 2021

Panaji: The Goa Forward Party walked out of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Tuesday, citing “anti-Goan policies” of the BJP-led state government.

However, the move of the GFP, which has 3 MLAs in the 40-member Goa House, will not have any impact on the stability of the Pramod Sawant government in the state since the Vijai Sardesai-led party is not a ruling constituent.

The GFP extended support to the NDA in 2017 to facilitate the formation of the then BJP-led state government under the leadership of Manohar Parrikar.

After Parrikar’s death in 2019, the alliance soured when three GFP ministers were dropped from the Pramod Sawant- led government.

The GFP’s state executive committee and political affairs committee met in Panaji on Tuesday.

Later, GFP president Vijai Sardesai, in a formal letter to senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, conveyed the party’s decision to withdraw from the NDA.

“I write to you today formally declaring the Goa Forward Party’s withdrawal from the National Democratic Alliance. There is no doubt that our relationship with the NDA ended in July 2019, with no room for reconsideration,” Sardesai said in the letter.

He claimed that in the last two years, the BJP has repeatedly introduced “anti-Goan policies” in every session of the state Legislative Assembly.

Since July 2019, the BJP’s Goa leadership has turned its back on the people of the state who looked ahead with hope to the prospect of all-round development, the GFP alleged.

Parrikar’s death brought Goa to despair, ushering in a period of rampant corruption and dishonesty, it said.

The GFP has pointed out the state government’s alleged failure in handling various issues, such as three linear projects, the Mahadayi river water dispute, and other matters.

The Sardesai-led party said it is fully committed to consistently and selflessly work to safeguard, protect and preserve Goa’s culture, people and heritage.

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday paid tribute Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar on his 130th birth anniversary.

“I bow to Bharat Ratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar on AmbedkarJayanti. His struggle to bring the marginalised sections of the society into the mainstream will continue to be an example for every generation,” Prime Minister Modi tweeted in Hindi.

Born on April 14, 1891, Babasaheb Ambedkar was an Indian jurist, economist, politician and social reformer who campaigned against social discrimination towards the untouchables (Dalits) and supported the rights of women and workers. He died on December 6, 1956. He is also known for being the architect of the Indian constitution.

In 1990, Ambedkar was conferred with the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award.

LUCKNOW: Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Wednesday appealed to the government to make arrangements for free food and accommodation for migrant labourers and workers who are planning to return home amid a spike in coronavirus cases.

She also demanded that all the needy and the poor be given COVID-19 vaccine free of cost.

In a statement issued here on B R Ambedkar’s birth anniversary, Mayawati said people are once again planning to return home following the recent spurt in coronavirus cases.

Efforts should be made to stop another exodus of migrant labourers from cities as seen during the coronavirus-induced lockdown last year.

“State governments should make adequate arrangements for food and lodging, otherwise these people may come in the grip of COVID-19 during the exodus. To stop this, the Centre should help the state governments as well.”

“On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Babasaheb, it is requested that the government should announce today itself free vaccination of the poor and the needy in the country,” she said.

She paid tributes to Ambedkar and said this day holds special significance for her party as it was on this day that the BSP was formed to take the mission of Babasaheb forward and fight casteist and narrow mindsets of people.

NEW DELHI: India reported a record single-day rise of 1,84,372 new coronavirus infections pushing the total tally of cases to 1,38,73,825, while the active cases surpassed the 13-lakh mark, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday.

The death toll increased to 1,72,085 with 1,027 daily new fatalities, the highest since October 18, 2020, the data updated at 8 am showed.

Registering a steady increase for the 35th day in a row, the active cases increased to 13,65,704, comprising 9.84 percent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has dropped to 88.92 percent.

The active caseload was at its lowest at 1, 35,926 on February 12 and it was at its highest at 10,17,754 on September 18, 2020.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,23,36,036, while the case fatality rate has further dropped to 1.24 percent, the data stated.

India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5, and 50 lakh on September 16.

It went past  60 lakh on September 28,  70 lakh on  October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20, and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.

LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Uttar Pradesh minister Ashutosh Tandon have tested positive for COVID-19.

In a tweet in Hindi on Wednesday, Yadav said, “My corona test report has come positive. I have isolated myself and started treatment at home itself. People who have come in contact with me in the past few days should get themselves tested. They are requested to stay in isolation for some days.”

Yadav had recently visited Haridwar where the Kumbh Mela is underway and met various religious leaders, including Akhara Parishad chairman Mahant Narendra Giri who had tested positive for COVID-19 earlier.

On reaching Lucknow, Yadav got himself tested on Tuesday.

Uttar Pradesh Urban Development Minister Tandon tweeted, “After observing initial symptoms of corona, I got myself tested, and the report has come positive. On the advice of doctors, I have isolated myself at home. People who have come in contact with me in the past few days should get themselves tested.”