Archives for January 2021

Earlier, around 2700 migratory birds have been found dead in the Pong Dam Lake in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district.

DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand forest department has deployed drones to keep an eye on migratory birds that flock to the hill state from different parts of the world, including China, Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and many other countries. 

JS Suhag, chief wildlife warden, Uttarakhand, “The drones are helping us in keeping an eye on spots which are important congregation for birds, especially migratory birds. Alert has been issued already to check the spread in the state.”

The drone force is keeping a watch on these avian family members across hotspots in the state including Baigul Dam, Dora Dam, and Sharda Sagar dam in the Terai East forest division of the Western Circle of Uttarakhand. 

The live locations of the birds are being monitored by the drone force and their movement is also being tracked.

The state government’s animal husbandry department has formed rapid response teams (RRTs) across the state to ensure stop the spread of bird flu in around 15000 big, medium and small poultry establishments of the state.

The officials told that the control room has been set up in Dehradun and through email, fax or toll-free number (18001208862) people can inform if they suspect any case of bird flu anywhere in the state. 

The government has also kept medical centers of the state including atleast 80 in Dehradun on high alert in case of spread. 

Earlier last week, the state government had banned interstate export of poultry products and specimen from all the states affected by bird flu. 

Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has warned and has urged to be cautious.

The states from where the transaction of any kind of poultry products has been temporarily halted include Himachal, Rajasthan, Haryana and many others.

With news pouring in from various stages such as Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and others, officials in Uttarakhand took the decision to deal with an outbreak, if any.

Around 2700 migratory birds have been found dead in the Pong Dam Lake in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district. The samples of the dead birds, mostly bar-headed geese, have tested positive for bird flu.

Union leaders insisted they do not want anything less than the repeal of the laws and they are ready to fight till death.

NEW DELHI: The government’s negotiations with farm unions to end over-a-month-long agitation appeared heading nowhere at the eighth round of talks on Friday as the Centre ruled out repealing the three contentious laws claiming nationwide support for reforms while the farmer leaders said they are ready to fight till death and their ‘ghar waapsi’ will happen only after ‘law waapsi’.

The next meeting has been fixed for January 15, amid indications that any headway will now depend on a Supreme Court hearing scheduled for January 11 on a batch of petitions related to the protest.

The farmer groups have also decided to meet on January 11 to decide their next course of action, even as many leaders said they have lost hope now that any resolution could be reached even in the next round of negotiations.

The meeting at Vigyan Bhawan in the heart of the national capital lasted for little over two hours, during which just about one hour of discussions took place, after which union leaders went on a maun vrat (vow of silence) holding placards with ‘Jeetenge Ya Marenge’ (We will win or die) and did not take a lunch break, while the three union ministers left the room for their own internal consultations.

Briefing the media after the talks, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said no decision could be reached as the farmer leaders did not present alternatives to their demand for the repeal of the laws.

He hoped that the unions will come up with alternatives in the next meeting for the consideration of the government.

Union leaders, however, insisted they do not want anything less than the repeal of the laws and they are ready to fight till death.

They also threatened that they are prepared to celebrate Lohri and Baisakhi festivals at their protest sites.

The two harvest-related festivals, one on January 13 and the other on April 13, are celebrated with much fanfare by the farming community in northern India.

The union leaders also said the farmers, thousands of whom are staying put at Delhi borders despite extremely cold weather and heavy rains, will continue with their plan to hold a tractor rally on Republic Day on January 26.

Farmer representatives said the discussions between the two sides were not entirely cordial this time and the pitch was high at times, while emotions ran high outside the venue also.

Woman farmer leader Ravinder Kaur of Jai Kisan Andolan, crying profusely, said many mothers have lost their sons and many daughters have lost their fathers but the government was not ready to budge.

“The government is testing our strength, but we will not bow down. It seems we will have to spend Lohri and Baisakhi festivals here at protest sides,” farmer leader Joginder Singh Ugrahan said, adding that it was unlikely that any resolution can happen in the next round of talks as well.

Another union leader Hannan Mollah said farmers are ready to fight the government till death, but going to court was not an option.

Several leaders said the government suggested at one point that why farmer groups do not become a party in the ongoing case in the Supreme Court.

Tomar, however, said the government did not suggest anything of that sort, though the issue came up because the apex court is already scheduled to hear related matters on January 11.

“We are a democracy and when laws are passed in Parliament, the Supreme Court has the authority to analyse them. Everyone, including the government, is obviously committed to the apex court and its decisions. The government is always committed to any direction given by the Supreme Court,” he said.

Sources said the next date has been decided after keeping in mind the January 11 hearing as the government feels the apex court may look into the legality of the three laws, besides other issues related to farmers’ protests.

During the meeting, prominent farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal had said several Supreme Court orders in the past have declared agriculture a state subject but unions are not keen to take the legal route in the current scenario.

“Ideally, the Centre should not interfere in agriculture matters as various Supreme Court orders have declared farming a state subject. It seems you (the government) do not want to resolve the issue as talks have been happening for so many days. In that case, please give us a clear answer and we will go. Why to waste everyone’s time,” he said.

Another leader said at the meeting, “Our ‘ghar wapsi’ (return to home) can happen only if you do ‘law wapsi’ (repeal of laws).”

All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) member Kavitha Kuruganti, who was also present in the meeting, said the government told unions that it can not and will not repeal these laws.

Later, Rajewal Said that the government suggested to the unions that why don’t they become a party in the ongoing case on three farm laws in the Supreme Court.

“We rejected their suggestion outrightly and said the farmers’ unions didn’t and won’t approach the court. Our sole mission is to get these laws repealed and our agitation will continue till that happens,” he said.

Asked whether there was any progress in talks beyond 50 per cent, Tomar said: “It is stuck at 50 per cent as of now.”

In the sixth round of talks held on December 30 last year, some common ground was reached on two demands — decriminalisation of stubble-burning and continuation of power subsidies — after which Tomar had said that 50 per cent resolution has been reached as two out of four issues got settled.

But the seventh round of talks on January 4 again ended inconclusively as the unions stuck to their demand for a complete repeal of three farm laws, while the government wanted to discuss only “problematic” clauses or other alternatives to end the stalemate.

The government has presented these laws, enacted in September last year, as major agri-market reforms aimed at improving farmers’ income and their lives, but unions have billed them as pro-corporate and against the existing mandi and MSP procurement systems.

Asked if the government is open to giving an option to states for implementing the laws, Tomar said, “Farmers have not given any such proposal. But, the government has time and again said it will consider all alternative proposals.”

On whether the government is giving such a proposal to unions, the minister said it should come from farmer groups.

“Any proposal from me or you do not matter,” Tomar told reporters.

Asked if the government thinks religious leaders like Baba Lakha Singh can mediate with farmers to resolve the issue, Tomar said: “We have not approached anyone directly…Baba Lakha Singhji, a Sikh religious leader, came to meet me as he is pained about farmers protesting in cold weather and he wished for an early resolution.”

“He presented farmers’ issue before me and I told him about the government’s legal stand…I urged him to talk to farmer leaders,” Tomar said.

The minister said the farmers can give their proposals to the government directly or through Baba Lakha Singh.

“We have respect for farmers and for religious leaders. Talks with Baba Lakha Singh happened in a cordial atmosphere. I am hopeful that he must have talked to the people concerned,” he added.

The minister, who was accompanied by Food, Commerce and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash during the talks, said the protesting farmers want the repeal of the laws, but there are many farmers across the country who support these legislations.

The minister said the government is respectfully holding talks with those opposing the laws and is also meeting those who are supporting the reforms.

Asked if the government will invite farm groups supporting the laws in the ninth round of talks, Tomar said there was no such plan as of now but it can be looked into in the future if required.

On whether the government was ready to set up an informal group to create convergence, Tomar did not give a direct reply and said the discussion on many issues take place during meetings.

At the outset, Tomar appealed to unions for discussions on the laws while keeping in mind the interest of farmers of the entire country, but farm leaders reiterated their demand that the new Acts must be withdrawn.

Before the start of the meeting, Tomar had also met senior BJP leader and Home Minister Amit Shah for about an hour.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar also met Shah separately.

Later talking to reporters, Khattar said a solution will definitely be reached through mutual dialogue.

However, Congress came out in support of the Tackeray government, stating that the security cover upgrade or downgrade was based on police report after analysing the situation.

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s decision to scale down the security cover of opposition leaders, while extending it for Maha Vikas Aghadi ministers and leaders, has drawn flak from the BJP, which termed the action as vendetta politics

However, Congress came out in support of the Tackeray government, stating that the security cover upgrade or downgrade was based on police report after analysing the situation.

The grade of security given to former chief minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis was reduced to Y plus escort from Z.

Fadnavis’ wife and daughter’s security cover too witnessed a downgrade. Maharashtra BJP state president, who had been given Y plus security, would have none now.

Meanwhile, MNS chief Raj Thackeray’s cover was brought down to Y plus security from Z.

Shatraghan Sinha found his cover had been upgraded to Y plus escort from Y, while U B Nikam’s Z security was upgraded to Z plus in Mumbai.

Estranged Congress leader Kripashankar Singh’s security cover has been scrapped altogether.

Union minister for state Ramdas Athwale’s security cover has reduced to Y from the earlier Y plus escort, while former governor of Uttar Pradesh Ram Naik, former BJP minister Ashish Shelar and former Sena Minister Deepak Kesarkar’s found their security cover downgraded to Y from Y plus.

The police department also cancelled the security cover extended to several BJP leaders, including Sudhir Mungantiwar, former CM Narayan Rane, BJP MLC Prasad Lad, BJP MLA Ram Kadam, Haribhau Bagade, Rausaheb Danave, BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari, Shobhatai Fadnavis etc.

Maharashtra state legislative council chairman Ramraje Nimbalkar and Maha Vikas Aghadi minister Vijay Wadettiwar have been given Y plus escort security cover in Mumbai.

Besides, Shiv Sena youth leader Varun Sardesai, Sena MLA Vaibhav Naik, Minister Abdul Sattar and Minister Dilip Walse Patil and Sunil Kedar have been also provided with security cover.  

Interestingly, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar’s spouse Sunetra Pawar was given the X security by Uddhav Thackeray government.

Lashing out at the government, the opposition called the action as vendetta politics. However, Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant referred to the action of the Modi government, reducing the security cover of former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka.

“Was it vendetta politics then? Maha Vikas Aghadi is not into vendetta politics. The security was reduced or scrapped or upgraded as per the internal report of the police department,” Sawant added. 

The accused Shankar Tayde (29) and Sagar Patel (19) visited the hotel in Beltarodi area in Nagpur and asked for chicken around 1 AM.

Two men were arrested for allegedly setting a roadside hotel on fire here in Maharashtra in an inebriated condition after its owner refused to serve them chicken in the early hours of Sunday, police said.

The accused Shankar Tayde (29) and Sagar Patel (19) visited the hotel in Beltarodi area and asked for chicken around 1 AM, an official said.

As the hotel owner expressed his inability to oblige, they set the hotel ablaze, he said, adding that nobody was injured in the incident.

The police have registered an offence of murder against her, following a complaint by relatives of the deceased.

NAGPUR: The woman, who was arrested after her boyfriend allegedly died of suffocation after a rope was tied around his neck during sex in Khaperkheda here last week, was sent to police remand till January 13.

The incident took place at a lodge in Khaparkheda area of the city on January 7. The police have registered an offence of murder against her, following a complaint by relatives of the deceased.

The woman was produced before a local court which has sent her to police remand till January 13.

“The man along with a woman booked a room at a lodge on Thursday night to spend time together. After watching a porn clip, the woman tied his hands and legs to a chair with a rope during sex. She allegedly used another rope around his neck,” a police officer had said.

According to police the woman then went to the washroom, just when the chair to which the man was tied, slipped and the rope around his neck got tightened. When the woman returned, she found her partner lying motionless.The woman informed the manager and the man’s body was sent for post-mortem.

A case was registered at Khaparkheda police station and further investigation is on, police said.

We want to enlighten youth about the ideology espoused by Godse and Apte as well as expose those who were actually responsible for country’s partition  in 1947, a Hindu Mahasabha offical said.

BHOPAL: After celebrating the birth anniversary of Nathuram Godse and observing the anniversary of his hanging as Balidan Diwas, saffron outfit All India Hindu Mahasabha has now started Godse Gyanshala at its Gwalior office — to promote the ideology of Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin. 

The development has sparked political controversy with the opposition Congress accusing the ruling BJP of being silent over the issue, 

The Godse Gyanshala (similar to a library) was started at the Hindu Mahasabha state headquarters at Daulatganj area of Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior on Sunday. The Gyanshala was unveiled at the Hindu Mahasabha’s office by garlanding the picture of Nathuram Godse as well as pictures of stalwarts who inspired him. The pictures, included Guru Govind Singh, Maharana Pratap, RSS founder KB Hedgewar, Lala Lajpat Rai, Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya among others. 

“The Gyanshala will not only have pictures of Nathuram Godse, Narayan Apte (Gandhi’s assassins), but also other Hindu nationalists, including Jan Sangh founder member Shyama Prasad Mukerjee. It will infuse spirit of nationalism among our Generation Y and Generation next, ” Hindu Mahasabha national vice president Jaiveer Bhardwaj said. 

‘It’s not only pictures of Hindu nationalists, but also literature in form of books will be kept at the Gyanshala to educate youths about the revolutionary thoughts of both Nathuram Godse and Narayan Apte, besides other nationalist leaders. The books will be unveiled at the Gyanshala on January 23, the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose,” Bhardwaj said.

“We want to enlighten youth about the ideology espoused by Godse and Apte as well as expose those who were actually responsible for country’s partition  in 1947,” he maintained. 

Meanwhile, targeting the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government over the issue, ex minister and senior Congress MLA from Gwalior-Chambal region Dr Govind Singh said ” Presence of BJP government in the state has emboldened those inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s killers.” 

“The CM often boasts about demolition drive against the mafia elements in the state, then how can he then tolerate efforts to glorify Mahatma Gandhi’s assassins, ” Singh said. 

Three years back on November 15, 2017, the Hindu Mahasabha had tried to establish Hutatma Nathuram Godse temple at the same office in Gwalior. The local police, however, had later seized Godse’s bust from the Mahasabha’s office, 

The Hindu Mahasabha office in Gwalior Daulatganj area is important, as both Godse and Apte are believed to have visited it often before Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination.