Nasheman

India's largest selling Urdu weekly, now also in English

You are here: Home / 2020 / Archives for December 2020

Archives for December 2020

COVID positive Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Rawat shifted to Dehradun hospital

by

As he had developed mild fever, he was taken for a check-up on Sunday evening to the GDMC where doctors decided to admit him, the official at the Chief Minister’s Office said.

Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh Rawat

DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, who had tested positive for COVID-19 recently, was shifted to the Government Doon Medical College here after developing fever, an official said on Monday.

As he had developed mild fever, he was taken for a check-up on Sunday evening to the GDMC where doctors decided to admit him, the official at the Chief Minister’s Office said.

Rawat is under the observation of a team of doctors, the official said.

The chief minister had tested positive for COVID-19 on December 18 after which he had isolated himself at home.

His wife and daughter had also tested positive.

COVID making itself antibody resistant? India already has 19 variants of corona virus

by

Scientists have analysed over 2,40,000 SARS-COV-2 genome sequences from 133 countries and identified 86 with escape mutants, or variants with genetic changes that make them resistant to antibodies.

NEW DELHI: Like elsewhere, coronavirus is quietly changing in India, making itself resistant to antibodies. As of now, 19 such variants are already present in the country, researchers associated with multiple government institutions have established.

Scientists attached with the CSIR – Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology in Delhi, the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research and Kurnool Medical College, Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, analysed over 2,40,000 SARS-COV-2 genome sequences from 133 countries and identified 86 with escape mutants, or variants with genetic changes that make them resistant to antibodies.

Nineteen of these 86 variants were found in India. An escape mutation is one that allows SARS-COV-2 to evade antibodies specific to the spike protein the virus uses to enter human cells.

All vaccines are designed to generate antibodies against the spike protein to try to block the virus’ entry into cells.

The findings come at a time when the government has decided to accelerate genome sequencing to track changes in the pathogen after a variant of SARS-CoV-2 in the UK had significant structural and behavioural changes, making it 70% more infectious that the original Covid strain.

“There is no need to be alarmed but definitely a need to be cautious,” Vinod Scaria, a scientist with CSIR-IGIB and joint first author of the paper told this newspaper.

“The variations in the virus does not mean that the vaccine will not work against it but is likely to lower its efficacy,” he said.

“During the trials of the vaccine, too, it needs to be analysed whether those who are getting infected are afflicted with the variant virus,” he added.

Scaria said cases of Covid-19 re-infection should also be followed up wi th g enome sequencing.

Waking up to expedite Genome sequencing

Of the more than 1.01 crore Covid-19 positive cases reported in India, only about 6,400 samples have been genome sequenced. In contrast, the UK with 2 million cases has already sequenced 1.57 lakh samples.

Karnataka Cabinet may take up cow slaughter Bill on December 28

by

The state cabinet is expected to take up the controversial Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill 2020 for approval on Monday. 

Cows

BENGALURU : The state cabinet is expected to take up the controversial Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill 2020 for approval on Monday. To ease Bengaluru traffic, the Cabinet ministers may give the nod to the advanced traffic information and management system using the Japanese government grant. 

The other agenda on the list includes the approval for a brand new emergency response system which will be set up at a cost of Rs 35 crore, and the premier BR Ambedkar School of Economics University, which has been delayed raising concerns of academicians. The setting up of University of Horticultural Sciences too may come up for discussion. 

The cabinet is likely to sanction Rs 150 crore to pump 430 million litres of treated sewage water a day from KR Puram, Medahalli and Kadugodi-Whitefield areas to fill up 38 tanks in Hoskote, on the outskirts of Bengaluru. It is expected to take up the issue of greening Nandi Hills and Kemmangundi to make them more picturesque to boost tourism. The hills will be handed over to the Horticulture Department to grow more trees.

The cabinet may approve tightened laws relating to cash transportation under the Karnataka Private Security Agencies Rules 2020. After many cyber crimes, it is expected to take up and approve setting up of a state-of-the-art cyber-forensic laboratories throughout the state under the smart policing project. The issue of appointment of Chairman of State Medical Supplies Corporation after a series of serious allegations about medical supplies too is likely to come up.

Council adjournment likely to be discussed 
The state cabinet is likely to discuss the untimely adjournment of the Legislative Council by Chairman Prathapchandra Shetty that led to ugly scenes on the floor of the House

Not in favour of laws against conversion for marriage: JDU on ‘Love Jihad’

by

The term “love jihad” is used by right-wing activists to refer to the alleged campaign of Muslims forcing Hindu girls to convert in the guise of love.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

PATNA: At a time when BJP ruled states are making legislation against conversion for marriage, the Janata Dal (United), an ally of the saffron party in Bihar, on Sunday asserted that such laws will create social hatred and division in the society which it does not approve of.

“An atmosphere of hatred and division is being created in the society in the name of Love Jihad,” Tyagi told reporters after the party’s national executive meeting here.

The term “love jihad” is used by right-wing activists to refer to the alleged campaign of Muslims forcing Hindu girls to convert in the guise of love.

“Provisions of the Constitution and CrPC give freedom to two adults to choose life partners of their choice irrespective of one’s religion, caste or region,” Tyagi said.

Socialists have upheld the right of adults to marry irrespective of caste and creed since the days of Dr Ram Manohar Lohia, he said.

Lohia was a socialist ideologue.

The Cabinet in BJP governed Madhya Pradesh on Saturday passed a Bill which provides for prison term of up to 10 years and fine of Rs 1 lakh for conversion through marriage or by any other fraudulent means.

The bill in some ways is similar to an Ordinance notified by the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh last month.

In UP, a PIL has been filed in the Allahabad High Court challenging the ordiance, contending that it impinges upon the fundamental right to choice and right to change of faith.

BJP MLA Yatnal hints at ‘historical changes’ in Karnataka after Sankranti

by

print sharing button
BJP MLA Yatnal hints at 'historical changes' in Karnataka after Sankranti

Bengaluru: Amid talks that the Karnataka cabinet expansion or reshuffle is likely next month, senior BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, who had earlier claimed that B S Yediyurappa will not remain Chief Minister for long, on Friday hinted at ‘historical changes’ in the state after Sankranti.

He indicated that ‘Uttarayana’, the period after Sankranti, may prove good for the northern part of the state.

“…whether it will be cabinet expansion or reshuffle or something else…for all these things- there is possibility of historical changes after Makara Sankramana (Sankranti),” the Vijayapura MLA told reporters in that city.

Reiterating that he was not aspiring for any Ministerial post, he said the high command would take a good decision and do justice to Vijayapura district, “as injustice has happened for so long.”

Yatnal had in October claimed that Yediyurappa will not remain CM for long and the high command has decided that his successor will be from the north Karnataka region.

He had even accused the Chief Minister of taking all the development work to his home district of Shivamogga, while taking back funds allocated to MLAs of other constituencies.

Reacting to Yatnal’s comments, Union Minister Sadananda Gowda said the former was just an MLA and does not hold any official party position to speak on such matters.

“When the right people speak on issues at the right forum, it will be meaningful and will earn respect.

Who is Basangouda Patil Yatnal? He is neither the national leader of our party nor its Karnataka unit president. He is not even in a position to speak on such matters.He is just an ordinary MLA,” Gowda said.

The Union Minister said it was not right on the part of Yatnal to issue statements to the media daily and added that if he wished to raise issues, he could speak to the national president, the state president or the CM.

“Making such statements publicly will not do good for his political future,” he said.

There have been speculations in some quarters in recent times that the BJP high command was mulling over a change in leadership, considering Yediyurappa’s age.

However, the state BJP had recently strongly refuted reports about replacing the 77-year-old Lingayat strongman.

Talks about cabinet reshuffle or expansion have resurfaced in BJP circles amid reports that senior party leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to visit the state on January 15 or 16.

Yediyurappa has been waiting for some time now to carry out the cabinet exercise, as he was asked by BJP national president J P Nadda at their November 18 meeting in New Delhi to wait for the clearance from the central leadership.

The cabinet expansion or reshuffle is expected to be a tightrope walk for the Chief Minister, considering that there are too many aspirants, from the party old guard to Congress- JD(S) rebels who are now BJP legislators.

The cabinet currently has 27 members, and seven berths are still vacant.

Didi is denying money transfer to farmers, says PM Modi; Bengal CM hits back

by

The PM said he was surprised that those who ruled Bengal for 30 years before the incumbent TMC government were not agitating for the farmers there.

PM Modi

NEW DELHI:  On a day the government unveiled a massive counter-offensive on the farm laws, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also sought to use the issue of central agri schemes to hit out at Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal in line with the BJP’s build-up of its poll campaign.

Accusing the Mamata government of denying over 70 lakh farmers in West Bengal money transfer under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, the PM said in his speech, “This is central government’s fund. Still, the state government, due to political reason, is not allowing over 70 lakh farmers to get the benefits.”

Earlier, setting up the tone, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar lamented that the Bengal government hasn’t yet submitted the list of beneficiaries for the scheme under which the Centre transfers `6,000 annually in three equal installments into the bank accounts of the farmers. “Bengal is the only state in the country which hasn’t allowed the farmers to avail the benefits,” said Tomar.

Responding to the attacks, Mamata charged Modi with misleading people with half-truths and distorted facts over non-implementation of the scheme in the state. She alleged that instead of proactively working to resolve the issues of the farmers, the PM chose to show his apparent concern for them through a televised address.

Maintaining that she had written two letters to Tomar and had even spoken to him two days ago, the Bengal CM said, “They are refusing to cooperate and are instead indulging in malicious propaganda for political gains.”

Modi also targeted the Left parties, accusing them of instigating the farmers of Punjab. The PM said he was surprised that those who ruled Bengal for 30 years before the incumbent TMC government were not agitating for the farmers there. “They have gone from  West Bengal to Punjab. But they will not stand in solidarity with the farmers of West Bengal,” he said.  

2nd Delhi-Jaipur lane blocked

Farmers camping on the Delhi-Jaipur national highway at Jaisinghpur Khera to protest against the new farm laws on Friday blocked the second carriageway of the national highway after the Haryana Police prevented them from crossing the border.

The farmers have been protesting on the highway at the Shahjahanpur border since December 12. Till now, only one lane of the Jaipur-Delhi highway had remained closed. On Friday, the vehicles were diverted towards Bawal. Protesting farmers had earlier announced that they would start proceeding towards Delhi on Friday, signalling their intent to further escalate the ongoing agitation.

COVID-19 Update India 22,273 new cases reported

by

A total of 251 more deaths and 22,273 new infections were reported in a 24-hour period, the data updated at 8 am showed

India coronavirus

NEW DELHI: India’s daily new COVID-19 fatality count was reported below 300 after over six months, taking the death toll to 1,47,343, while the infection tally rose to 1,01,69,118, according to data updated by the Union Health Ministry on Saturday.

A total of 251 more deaths and 22,273 new infections were reported in a 24-hour period, the data updated at 8 am showed.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 97,40,108, pushing the national recovery rate to 95.78 per cent, while the COVID-19 case fatality rate stands at 1.45 per cent.

The active caseload remained below three lakh for the fifth consecutive day.

There are 2,81,667 active coronavirus infections in the country, constituting 2.77 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated.

India’s COVID-19 infection 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, 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 16,71,59,289 samples have been tested up to December 25, including 8,53,527 on Friday.

The 251 new fatalities include 71 from Maharashtra, 31 from West Bengal and 30 from Delhi.

The total 1,47,343 deaths reported so far in the country include 49,129 from Maharashtra, followed by 12,048 from Tamil Nadu, 12,044 from Karnataka, 10,414 from Delhi, 9,536 from West Bengal, 8,279 from Uttar Pradesh, 7,091 from Andhra Pradesh and 5,269 from Punjab.

The health ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities.

“Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research,” the ministry said on its website, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation.

Sandalwood Drug Case: Ragini Dwivedi shifted to Sanjay Gandhi hospital from parapana Agrahara jail:

by

pramesh Jain

Sandalwood Drug Case: Ragini Dwivedi shifted to Sanjay Gandhi hospital from parapana Agrahara jail:

Kannada film star Ragini Dwivedi arrested in a drug racket linked to kannada film industry has been admitted to  hospital after she complained health complications on Thursday morning.

The CCB officials on September 4th arrested Ragini after several hours of interrogation.

CCB charged her for consuming and peddling drugs with others accused in the case identified as Ravishankar and Viren Khanna.

She tried to get out on bail but in vein.However her associate Sanjjana Galrani also arrested in similar charges managed to get out on bail citing health reasons.

Even Former Minister Roshan Baig arrested by CBI in IMA fraud case and remanded to central prison of Parappana Agrahara prison was granted bail on health reasons.

This could be the reason why Ragini is building evidence to avail bail, sources said .

Rental vehicles selling Fraudster gang busted by Yeshwanthpura police 5 held, Vehicles worth Rs.32 lakhs Recovered:

by

Pramesh Jain

The North Division Police of Yeshwanthpura police on Monday arrested a gang of five who used to take vehicles on rental basis and were selling them after changing the registration numbers.

The accused has been identified as,Arif,26,and his associates as,Koustubh,32 from Belagavi, syed Arman Faris,23,Sulaiman Pasha,23,and Tousif,26 from chandra layout and Chamarajapete

DCP North, Dharmendra Kumar Meena,told reporters,The gang was busted following a complaint filed by Girish,a city based businessman that the accused tried to sell him a SUV for RS.5 lakh with registration documents.

In his complaint Girish said that he met Arif and Koustubh while travelling from Belgaum to city few days ago.

The duo introduced themselves as dealers of second hand vehicles and offered to get him good condition vehicles for cheaper price.

Girish accepted their offer and exchanged the contact details.When on Sunday Arif called Girish stating that he has a fortuner car from Belagavi for Rs five lakh and came in the car to meet.

After test drive girish agreed to buy and asked for vehicle documents.The accused took RS.5,000 towards advance payment and handed him over a photocopies of the documents.

They returned asking Girish to arrange the rest of the amount and left in the car.Girish got the document checked to find it fake and filed a complaint.

Based on the complaint,a team led by,ACP,NT Srinivas Reddy,under the supervision of Yeshwanthpura police inspector Mohammed Mukarram,and his crime staff swung into action and track down Arif,and his associate Koustubh,from Belagavi.

During the course of investigation the accused confessed the crime and based on their statement the team nabbed their associates as,syed Arman faris,Sulaiman Pasha,and Tousif, from chandra layout and Chamarajapete.

A detailed Inquiry revealed that the accused had gone to Goa and taken the SUV on rent.The accused later escaped with SUV and came to Belagavi where they tampered the vehicle number and changed the registration to prepare a set of fake documents.

The accused using similar modus operandi stole 13 bikes from in and around the city and forged the registration numbers to sell.The police have recovered the SUV Fortuner Car and 13 two wheelers worth of Rs.35 Lakhs from them.

Finally Bengaluru Police Commissioner,Kamal Pant,has appreciated Addl CP West,Soumendhu Mukherjee, DCP, North,Dharmendra Kumar Meena, ACP, Yeshwanthpura Sub-Division,NT Srinivas Reddy,PI,Mohammed Mukarram,and his team as,PSI,Vinod Rathod,and crime staff as,Prasanna,Appusabvali, Dayanand,Peerapa and other staff for the commendable job done by them and a suitable reward will be given to the team he added.

KNOW US

GET INVOLVED

PROMOTE

Archives