Archives for 2022

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The health department has stepped up surveillance for Nipah virus in the state and has asked hospitals to monitor patients reporting symptoms similar to the viral infection.

 Health Minister Veena George said monitoring will be increased in all districts, even though Nipah cases have been previously reported only in Kozhikode and Ernakulam. 

Vigil against the virus will be carried out with the cooperation of the forest and animal husbandry departments.

The health department will hold a workshop on its Nipah experience at Gender Park in Kozhikode on May 12.

Health workers, scientists from Indian Council of Medical Research, National Institute of Virology, State Institute of Virology, officers from forest and animal husbandry departments will attend.

Nipah virus has a higher mortality rate than other viral infections, even Covid. It is a zoonotic virus, which means it can be transmitted from animals to humans.

It can also be transmitted through contaminated food or directly between people. Nipah infection is considered an emerging infectious disease threat by the World Health Organization.

Nipah outbreak was first reported in Perambra in Kozhikode in May 2018 and later spread to adjoining Malappuram.

Sixteen people died. The outbreak was contained and declared over on June 10, 2018.

The virus was detected again next year in Ernakulam, but none died. The last reported case was in 2021, in a 12-year old boy from Kozhikode who died later. 

Fruit bats are considered the source of Nipah virus, though the health department could not establish the link of transmission from bats to humans.

The National Institute of Virology, Pune, had detected antibodies against Nipah in the samples collected from bats from the surroundings of the victims’ houses.

SHIMLA: Veteran Congress leader and former Union minister Sukh Ram has died, his grandson said on Wednesday.

He was 94.

He had suffered a brain stroke in Manali in Himachal Pradesh on May 4, following which he was admitted at the regional hospital in Mandi.

Later, the Congress leader was airlifted to Delhi and admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for better treatment on May 7.

Sukh Ram’s grandson Aashray Sharma said his body will be kept at Seri Manch in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi for ‘antim darshans’ on Thursday.

“Goodbye grandfather, the phone won’t ring now (alvida dadajee, abhi nahi bajegee phone ki ghanti),” Aashray Sharma said in a Facebook post around 2 am on Wednesday.

However, the post did not mention when Sukh Ram breathed his last.

In another post on Wednesday morning, Aashray Sharma said Sukh Ram’s body will reach his home city Mandi on Wednesday at 6 pm.

His body will be kept at Seri Manch in Mandi for ‘antim darshans’ for the public to pay tributes on Thursday at 11 am, he added.

Aashray Sharma also posted his childhood photo with his grandfather.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on May 7 had provided a state helicopter for airlifting the veteran political leader to Delhi for treatment.

Sukh Ram was the Union minister of state communications (independent charge) from 1993 to 1996.

He was a member of the Lok Sabha from the Mandi constituency.

He won in five assembly elections and was thrice elected to Lok Sabha.

In 2011, Sukh Ram was sentenced to five years imprisonment for corruption when he was communications minister in 1996.

His son Anil Sharma is a BJP MLA from Mandi.

Sukh Ram had represented the Mandi assembly seat from 1963 to 1984.

During his tenure as state animal husbandry minister, he brought cows from Germany which led to the increase in income of farmers.

He was elected to Lok Sabha in 1984 and served as a junior minister in the Rajiv Gandhi government.

Sukh Ram served as minister of state for defence production and supplies, planning and food and civil supplies.

Sukh Ram was the union minister of state (independent charge) holding the communications portfolio from 1993 to 1996.

While Sukh Ram represented the Mandi Lok Sabha constituency, his son Anil Sharma contested and won the assembly seat in 1993.

The Congress leader had won the Mandi Lok Sabha seat in 1996, but he and his son were expelled from the party after the telecom scam.

Subsequently, they floated the Himachal Vikas Congress Party, which entered into a post-poll alliance with the BJP and joined the government.

In 1998, Sukh Ram contested the assembly elections from Mandi Sadar and won by a huge margin.

His son Anil Sharma was elected to Rajya Sabha in 1998.

In the 2003 assembly poll, he retained the Mandi assembly seat but rejoined the Congress in the run-up to the 2004 Lok Sabha polls.

His son Anil Sharma won the Mandi assembly seat in 2007 and 2012 as a Congress candidate.

Prior to the 2017 assembly elections, Sukh Ram joined the BJP along with his son and grandson.

However, Sukh Ram along with his grandson rejoined the Congress right before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections to get a Congress ticket for Aashray Sharam but he could not win.

Sukh Ram was born on July 27, 1927.

His other grandson Aayush Sharma is an actor and married to Bollywood superstar Salman Khan’s sister.

KAMAREDDY/KARIMNAGAR: Advising those accusing Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao of amassing huge assets to first learn about his family background, MAUD Minister KT Rama Rao on Tuesday said that the TRS supremo was born in a rich family and has huge ancestral lands. 

Stating that he would be constructing a school with his own funds in his grandmother’s village, the Minister laid the foundation stone for the school building in Konapur village. The school building would be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 2.50 crore and would be named after Chandrasekhar Rao’s mother Venkatamma Raghava Rao. The school would have 14 classrooms in a double-storeyed building and all facilities. “It will be a model for ot-her schools,” Rama Rao said.

“My grandmother’s native village was Posanpaly where her lands were submerged due to expansion of the village tank. The Nizam government paid compensation of Rs 2.5 lakh for the land. My grandparents then moved to Konapur and later to Chintamadaka village near Siddipet district where they purchased hundreds acres of land. It is where KCR was born. This is the history of the KCR,” Rama Rao said. 

He said that coming from an agricultural background, his father was aware of all issues faced by farmers. “Due to this, KCR has done a lot for farmers and introduced welfare programmes for all the people,” Rama Rao said. He said that was the reason the TRS government was concentrating on strengthening and improving infrastructure and facilities in all government schools under the Mana Ooru, Mana Badi programme.  

KCR’s advice to KTR

When Rama Rao was going about the house once owned by his grandmother, which is now in possession of someone else, he received a telephone call from the Chief Minister who enquired about the situation in the village. 

Chandrasekhar Rao advised Rama Rao to make an announcement with regard to sanctioning village requirements, improving infrastructure facilities and other development works. R&B Minister Vemula Prashanth Reddy, Government Whip Gampa Govardhan, district Collector Jitesh V. Patil, officials and others were present.

New pensions to be sanctioned soon

In Karimnagar, the Minister said that the State government will start sanctioning new pensions soon. 
Speaking after inaugurating two blocks of 2BHK units at Korutlapet in Yellareddipet mandal, he said that those eligible are getting these units without paying a single paisa as bribe. “No other State has such a scheme. Telangana govt has spent Rs 20,000 crore so far to construct about 2.70 lakh 2BHK units,” Rama Rao said. 

HUBBALLI: Pakistan based suspected terrorist at Dharwad jail has begun a hunger strike and developed health issues at the jail. For treatment, he has been shifted to KIMS hospital in Hubballi.

Mohammad Fahad, a Pakistan national, is a suspected member of the banned Al-Badr terror outfit. He entered India with forged documents with the help of a few people in Kerala. 

When the Mysuru police were checking suspects people following intelligence information that Pakistani terrorists are planning terrorist activities in Mysuru, the police arrested Fahad with weapons in 2006.

He was also allegedly involved in a few blast activities and cases booked in Madawala of Bengaluru police station. Under the unlawful activities and in other cases, he was jailed since 2006. In February 2021 he was shifted to Dharwad jail.

Fahad was kept in a separate cell in Dharwad jail as he used to quarrel with other inmates. Demanding the court speed up the hearing of his cases, he began a hunger strike on May 3. The jail officials tried to convince him a lot to end his hunger strike but he didn’t listen.

Dharwad jail superintendent M A Marigowda said on May 5 evening, his health was upset and his sugar level was down. On the advice of the doctor, we shifted him to KIMS hospital.

Before shifting him to the hospital, we informed him about his strike to higher officials, the deputy commissioner, superintendent of police and other officials. With full security he is now getting treatment in KIMS hospital recovering,” he added.

COLOMBO: The Indian High Commission here on Wednesday categorically dismissed speculative media reports about New Delhi sending its troops to Colombo, saying India is fully supportive of Sri Lanka’s democracy, stability and economic recovery.

The whereabouts of Mahinda Rajapaksa has been speculated since his resignation on Monday.

It was reported that Mahinda had left his office-cum-official residence, Temple Trees.

In its first reaction to the situation in Sri Lanka, India on Tuesday said that it is “fully supportive” of the island nation’s democracy, stability and economic recovery.

“The High Commission would like to categorically deny speculative reports in sections of media and social media about #India sending her troops to Sri Lanka. These reports and such views are also not in keeping with the position of the Government of #India,” the Indian mission said on Twitter.

“The Spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs of India clearly stated yesterday that India is fully supportive of Sri Lanka’s democracy, stability and economic recovery,” it said in another tweet.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in New Delhi on Tuesday: “India will always be guided by the best interests of the people of Sri Lanka expressed through democratic processes”.

Mahinda, 76, resigned as prime minister amid unprecedented economic turmoil in the country, hours after his supporters attacked anti-government protesters, prompting authorities to impose a nationwide curfew and deploy Army troops in the capital.

The attack triggered widespread violence against pro-Rajapaksa politicians.

A group of protesters gathered around the Naval base in the eastern port district of Trincomalee, claiming Mahinda had taken refuge there.

Calls for his arrest are increasing for his alleged instigation of a mob which went on to attack anti-government protesters who are calling for the Rajapaksa family, including President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, to resign.

At least 8 people have died while over 250 people have been injured in the clashes which also saw scores of properties belonging to ruling party politicians being set on fire.

President Gotabaya has urged the people to stop “violence and acts of revenge” against fellow citizens and vowed to address the political and economic crisis facing the nation Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since gaining independence from Britain in 1948.

The crisis is caused in part by a lack of foreign currency, which has meant that the country cannot afford to pay for imports of staple foods and fuel, leading to acute shortages and very high prices.

Thousands of demonstrators have hit the streets across Sri Lanka since April 9.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will have talks on Wednesday with the ruling party dissidents and the main Opposition SJB to end the political impasse after the resignation of prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

After nearly two days of political deadlock, the stakeholders are engaged in prolonged talks to try and appoint a successor to Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Mahinda, 76, resigned as prime minister on Monday amid unprecedented economic turmoil in the country, hours after his supporters attacked anti-government protesters, prompting authorities to impose a nationwide curfew and deploy Army troops in the capital.

The attack triggered widespread violence against pro-Rajapaksa politicians.

“We will have more talks today (Wednesday). Hopefully we will see an end (of the political impasse) today,” Anura Yapa, a senior leader of the independent group that had split from the ruling SLPP coalition, told PTI.

The main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), the ruling party dissidents and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa have been holding talks for the last two days without much success, according to sources.

“This is the time for all Sri Lankans to join hands as one, to overcome the economic, social & political challenges. I urge all #Srilankans to reject the subversive attempts to push you towards racial & religious disharmony. Promoting moderation, toleration & coexistence is vital,” the President said on Twitter.

Parliamentary sources said Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeyawardene’s plan to hold a party leaders’ meeting on the reconvening of Parliament before its scheduled date next week has become difficult as parties had raised safety issues in the current volatile situation.

The Speaker would opt for an online meeting.

The main Opposition had handed over a motion of no trust against the government.

But the Speaker said it would be no longer relevant as the government had already stepped down.

The motion to express displeasure on the President has been placed on the order paper but Abeyawardene said it would also be of no use as the President would not be bound by any outcome of it.

Political sources said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa would be having one-to-one meetings with main Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe whose UNP has a solitary seat.

According to the Speaker, the independent group and former president Maithripala Sirisena’s SLFP could both provide external support to Premadasa to be the interim prime minister, and subsequently implement other reforms.

However, indications from the SJB are that Premadasa seeks the President’s resignation for him to agree to be the interim prime minister.

The SJB has only 54 seats in the 225-member assembly and could bank on another 50 plus seats from the dissidents to be in charge of the country’s affairs.

A group of protesters gathered around the Naval base in the eastern port district of Trincomalee, claiming Mahinda had taken refuge there.

Calls for his arrest are increasing for his alleged instigation of a mob which went on to attack anti-government protesters who are calling for the Rajapaksa family, including President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, to resign.

At least 8 people have died while over 250 people have been injured in the clashes which also saw scores of properties belonging to ruling party politicians being set on fire.

President Gotabaya has urged the people to stop “violence and acts of revenge” against fellow citizens and vowed to address the political and economic crisis facing the nation Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since gaining independence from Britain in 1948.

The crisis is caused in part by a lack of foreign currency, which has meant that the country cannot afford to pay for imports of staple foods and fuel, leading to acute shortages and very high prices.

Thousands of demonstrators have hit the streets across Sri Lanka since April 9.

AHMEDABAD: Amid intensified efforts by both BJP and AAP to chip away the tribal vote bank of Congress, the grand old party has found itself mired in confusion after the party’s tribal committee chairman planned a rally on the day Rahul Gandhi attending a tribal event in the state. 

Notably, both events are being held eying the tribal voters. Patel’s rally is being held far from Dahod, in protest against the Par-Tapil-Narmada project. 

With two programmes happening on the same day, a section of party leaders expressed worries about its impact on the voters.

“If the chairman of the tribal committee is working in a different direction, it will send out a wrong message,” a Congress leader said.

“If Rahul is coming, then why there is a need for another programme of the tribal community on the same day,” he wondered.

However, Patel justified the move.

“Our programme was already decided. Earlier, we had to cancel a rally due to another Congress event. Now, if we cancel our programme for the second time, it will have a negative impact,” the tribal leader said.

Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi said Patel’s rally is being organised with the consent of entire leadership.

“Our fight is against the BJP government and to get justice to the tribals. Patel is organising the rally with the consent of the entire Congress.”

AHMEDABAD:  It has sustained life for millennia, but now seeks death. Poignantly, the news comes from Mahatma Gandhi’s hometown, Porbandar. A leader from the local Muslim fishing community has approached the Gujarat High Court seeking permission to undergo euthanasia for himself and 600 members of his people. 

Allarakha Ismailbhai Thimmar from the Gosabara wetlands in Porbandar filed the petition on Thursday, lamenting the fishing community’s deteriorating economic situation. The application, filed on behalf of the Gosabara Muslim Fishermen’s Society, alleged “the government does not provide facilities to people belonging to a particular community.” 

Faced with “political persecution,” the petitioners are seeking to end their life, pending several submissions from the local level to the Governor.  The petitioner’s counsel, Dharmesh Gurjar, says the mooring of boats has been banned at Gosabara port since 2016. “Thimmar and his community are being denied their rights despite having licences.” 

Thimmar alleges that authorities have been “harassing” their families on the basis of religion and claims all facilities are regularly given to Hindu fishermen. The petition said the community has always been “loyal to the nation” and never engaged in “anti-national activities” like smuggling. Instead, they have often “given information to security agencies” on such activities “sponsored by Pakistan and others.” 

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said police are investigating the explosion at the Intelligence Wing headquarters of Punjab Police in Mohali and asserted that anyone trying to disturb peace in the state will not be spared.

“The Punjab Police is investigating the explosion in Mohali. Anybody who tries to spoil the atmosphere in Punjab will not be spared,” said Mann in a tweet in Punjabi.

Mann’s statement comes a day after a rocket-propelled grenade was fired at the third floor of the highly-guarded building in sector 77 in Mohali on Monday night, following which an alert was sounded.

The incident is being seen as a major intelligence failure as the office houses the state counter intelligence wing, special task force and some other units.

No one, however, was injured in the explosion, which political parties termed “disturbing” and “shocking”.

Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha dubbed the incident as an act of cowardice and said strongest possible action will be taken against those who were behind it.

“Explosion in Mohali is an act of cowardice by those powers who want to disrupt the hard-earned peace of the state. Punjab government will not spare those involved and strongest possible action will be taken,” tweeted Chadha, who is a Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab.

Another AAP MP Sandeep Pathak said the attack was despicable.

“Attack at Punjab Police Intelligence Headquarters in Mohali is despicable. I strongly condemn this vicious attack. The incident is being investigated by police, and not a single culprit should be spared,” said Pathak in a tweet.

AAP chief spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang said the perpetrators of the crime will not be spared.

“Blast in Mohali is unfortunate however the situation is under control, matter is being investigated, the perpetrators of the crime will not be spared, nobody will be allowed to fiddle with hard earned peace and harmony. An uneasiness of anti-Punjab forces is understandable,” said Kang in a tweet.