Srinagar: Authorities on Sunday barred the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from holding a youth convention at its chief Mehbooba Mufti’s residence on the high-profile Gupkar road here citing COVID-19 restrictions and larger security implications , including a threat of car bombs, drawing a strong reaction from her.

Police sealed all roads leading to the PDP president’s ‘Fairview’ residence and journalists were also barred from moving towards the venue in the morning.

Noting that it was a high-security zone and a gathering of at least 1000 people was expected, the police said that it was not advisable to allow such a large flow of people and unchecked vehicles as there are credible inputs of vehicle bound IEDs” being used to target civilians and sensitive installations.

The local administration had advised the PDP to apply for holding this convention in a more open area in view of the COVID-19 and security reasons, a police spokesman said.

The PDP chief, however, said the police’s argument was ridiculous and termed it as an excuse to “sabotage” the event.

The former chief minister of the erstwhile state of J-K charged that the government was looking for new ways to deny rights to the youth of Kashmir and to pull them away from democracy and push them on the path to violence .

In a video message posted on her party’s Twitter handle after the event was barred, the PDP chief said her party will continue the struggle, peacefully and democratically, for J-K’s prosperity, unity, dignity and to resolve the Kashmir issue .

We all have to come together, especially the youth. We have to show them that we are not afraid of them. If we were afraid, then we would also make compromises like other parties,” she said.

She claimed that all other leaders and parties were holding rallies but only PDP was denied permission.

In an order, the Executive Magistrate, First Class, South Srinagar said in view of the report received from the Senior Superintendent of Police and the COVID-19 restrictions in place, it is hereby ordered that the scheduled youth conference that is to be held by PDP at Gupkar is not allowed.”

The magistrate directed the station house officer concerned to “ensure” that no such event takes place “without the permission of the competent authority.”

In a statement, the police spokesman said a gathering of at least 1000 people was expected at the venue and given the prevalent COVID situation and larger security implications resulting from allowing such a large number of people and accompanying cars and vehicles into a high-security zone, it was not advisable to allow such a large flow of people and unchecked vehicles.

The spokesman said there are credible inputs of vehicle-bound IEDs being used to target civilians and high-security installations.

The Gupkar Road houses high-security buildings of various organisations and security-sensitive establishments and intelligence agencies. Allowing a large number of vehicles to be parked in this high-security zone would have jeopardised the security in the area, he said.

He said no such gatherings and amassing of vehicles were allowed on the road earlier as well.

Moreover, no official residence has been known to have hosted large political rallies on Gupkar Road in the recent past.

“Legal orders for necessary restrictions on the convention were passed by the Executive Magistrate, South Srinagar keeping in mind the COVID protocol and security sensitiveness of Gupkar zone, the police spokesman said.

However, addressing a press conference at her residence later, Mufti said the administration was confused and did not know what excuses to make for stopping the party’s convention.

First they gave the excuse of COVID. But, since conventions of other parties were on at various places, they thought this excuse will not work. Also, if this (Gupkar area) is not secure — where Badamibagh Cantonment, VVIP residences, Governor House are located then which place is secure? That is ridiculous, she said.

The PDP president claimed the party had earlier sought permission for the convention at some other place, but there was no response from the administration.

Then we thought that since the other parties were organising it, we will also have it here in an open space… Since this is our residence, there was no need for permission, she said.

She alleged her party workers were roughed up and some of them detained while on their way to the venue.

However, she said, her party “will not surrender”.

How can the LG’s administration be brazen? You make COVID excuses but allow other parties. I cannot understand this. How can they justify this? she said.

Jaipur: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said India is a country of Hindus and not Hindutvadis, who want to be in power in any condition.

He said if there is inflation in the country and there is suffering, then this has been done by Hindutvadis.

“This is a country of Hindus, not Hindutvadis. If there is inflation in the country and there is suffering, then this has been done by Hindutvadis. Hindutvadis want power in any condition,” Rahul said addressing a rally against rising inflation here.

He targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying his friends have “ruined” the country.

“Modi ji and his three-four industrialist friends ruined the country in seven years,”Rahul alleged.

Describing Hindu and Hindutva as two different words, Rahul said just as two living beings cannot have one soul, two words cannot have the same meaning.

A Hindu is one who is not afraid of anyone and embraces everyone, the Congress leader said.

Mahatma Gandhi was a Hindu and Godse was Hindutvadi, the Congress leader said, stressing that a Hindu continuously searches for truth and spends his entire life for the search just like Mahatma Gandhi.

But, in the end, one Hindutvadi fired three bullets in his chest, Rahul said. Hindutvadi spends his entire life for power whether he has to beat of kill someone, he said.

“This is Sattagrah and not Satyagrah,” Rahul said.

“I am Hindu and not Hindutvadi,” he added.

He said, “Hindutvadis have to be ousted once again and the rule of Hindus have to be brought in the country.”

Earlier, speaking at the rally, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra slammed the Modi-led Union government, saying it wants to sell to its industrialist friends whatever her party had built in 70 years.

She alleged that the government is working for select industrialist friends instead of working for the good of people and farmers.

“There are two types of government. The goal of the first type of government is service, dedication and truthfulness to the public and there is a government whose target is lies, greed and loot…The target of the present central government is lies, greed and loot, she alleged.

The Modi government at the Centre repeatedly questions what Congress has done in 70 years. I say leave the talk of 70 years. Tell us what you have done in seven years, she asked.

She said when elections come, BJP leaders talk of China or other countries, casteism and communalism but not about the struggles of the people and asked what the Modi government has done in seven years of its rule.

“It is your responsibility to make the government accountable, it is your responsibility to ask why there is so much inflation,” she said addressing the gathering.

Ahmedabad: Gujarat BJP MLA Asha Patel died on Sunday while undergoing treatment for dengue in a hospital in Ahmedabad, party colleagues informed.

The 44-year-old MLA from Unjha Assembly constituency in Mehsana district died in Zydus hospital where she was on ventilator support after being admitted on Friday evening, they said.

“I inform you with profound sadness that Unjha MLA Asha Patel is no longer with us. She was admitted in Zydus hospital at Ahmedabad for treatment of dengue, but the seriousness of her case was such that despite the best efforts by a team of doctors, she could not be saved,” former deputy chief minister Nitin Patel told reporters.

Her mortal remains will be taken to Unjha and kept in the market yard for the public to pay tribute and her last rites will be held in Siddhpur crematorium on Monday, he added.

In a statement, the Gujarat BJP said Patel was suffering from dengue soon after returning from Delhi and she lost her fight against the ailment on Sunday.

State Assembly Speaker Rajendra Trivedi said Patel suffered from multiple organ failure.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Governor Acharya Devvrat condoled her death.

Patel, who was active in the Patidar stir for quota, was elected as MLA from Unjha for the first time in 2017 on a Congress ticket, but switched over to the ruling BJP in February, 2019 and then won a bypoll.

Mumbai(PTI): Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday said Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have a big challenge before them of reviving their party.

In his weekly column ‘Rohkthok’ in the Sena mouthpiece Saamana, Raut, whose party shares power with the Congress and NCP in Maharashtra, said the Gandhi siblings should take inspiration from Lokmanya Tilak, who had transformed the Congress into a weapon of political revolution.

Raut, who is the executive editor of Saamana, met the two Congress leaders last week in New Delhi.

He said during their meeting, Rahul Gandhi told him the system of creating and building leaders has stopped in the Congress and that the latter never disrespected senior party leaders.

Raut quoted Gandhi as saying that he had requested senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad to take charge of the Congress’ Jammu & Kashmir unit after his Rajya Sabha term expired, but the latter refused.

“He can become the chief minister again after elections. But, he refused saying the Congress didn’t exist there. Azad ji has been the chief minister there and he thinks the Congress doesn’t exist there,” Raut said quoting Rahul Gandhi.

The Sena leader further mentioned that when he pointed out during the conversation that Azad was holding public meetings in Kashmir, Gandhi said “yes…the reasons behind that could be different”.

The former Congress president said the party had given a lot to its elder leaders. They are taking a different stand when the party needs them. “What can I do?” Raut said attributing the comments to Rahul Gandhi.

Raut in his column described Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as different personalities whose styles of functioning were also very different, but said there was a unanimity between them.

”Both have a big challenge of reviving the Congress,” the Rajya Sabha member said.

“If you expect a quick stand from her (Priyanka Gandhi) in any political discussion…she says she will have to discuss with her brother,” Raut said, adding that the discussions between him and Priyanka Gandhi were related to various issues, including those pertaining to the forthcoming Goa and Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections as well as national politics.

The Sena leader said when he raised the issue of MVA leaders in Maharashtra being targeted using central agencies, Priyanka Gandhi said her family was also facing a similar situation.

He quoted her as saying that when she went to Lakhimpur Kheri (after the alleged killing of some farmers a few months back), her husband got “69 notices from the Income Tax (department) in one day”.

Raut said Priyanka Gandhi told him she will not backtrack, and continue to fight.

He also said Rahul Gandhi told him that during Captain Amarinder Singh’s tenure as the chief minister of Punjab, the Congress’s graph declined.

The Sena leader said Gandhi told him that during a poll, Singh had got “only six per cent votes” as CM, while those who were not even in the chief ministerial race got more votes than Singh.

Singh was told implement promises made to the people, but the response was cold, Raut said quoting the former Congress chief.

Further quoting Gandhi from their conversation, Raut said, “He (Singh) was told to do something or else the party will have to take action. The party seniors stood by Singh and told me not to take a stern action against him. If Singh wasn’t changed as the CM, the party would have been finished in Punjab.”

The Congress leader also told that even if West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticises him or the Congress, he will not react to it, Raut said.

Notably, Banerjee during her recent Mumbai visit took a veiled dig at Gandhi, saying one cannot be abroad most of the time.

New Delhi(PTI): Continuing to back the demands of farmers, BJP MP Varun Gandhi has piloted a private member’s bill seeking legal guarantee of MSP with financial outlay of Rs 1 lakh crore.

The bill titled — The Farmers Right To Guaranteed Minimum Support Price Realization Of Agri-Produce Bill, 2021 — aims to provide legally guaranteed minimum support price (MSP) for 22 crops that should be set at a profit margin of 50 per cent over the comprehensive cost of production.

Gandhi has submitted the bill in Parliament but it is yet to be introduced.

MPs can pilot private members’ bill in their personal capacity irrespective of their party affiliations. Since 1952, only about a dozen private members’ bills have been passed.

As per Gandhi’s proposed legislation, any farmer realising a price less than the above declared MSP shall be entitled to a compensation equal to the difference in value between price realised and the guaranteed MSP.

It also proposes that payments should be made directly into the accounts of farmers within two days of the transaction.

The proposed legislation came a week after the central government had introduced a bill to repeal the contentious three farm laws.

The protesting farmers have postponed their stir from the borders of the national capital and started returning home after the Centre assured them of taking back cases, and forming a committee to look into the issue of MSP.

Gandhi, the Pilibhit MP, had been publicly supporting farmers’ and suggesting the government to engage with them.

He was among the first to seek “strict action” against his own party leader and Union Minister Ajay Kumar Mishra for his son’s alleged involvement in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident that left four farmers dead.

A day after the Prime Minister had announced the repeal of three farm laws, Gandhi wrote to Modi that many “innocent lives” could have been saved had the decision been taken earlier.

On the issues related to farmers, Gandhi has been taking a stand in support of farmers that appears to be not in line with the BJP’s official stance.

Giving rationale for the bill, Gandhi said the declaration of guaranteed MSP to farmers shall result in improved farm realisation for potentially 93 million agricultural households, leading to a resurgence in the rural economy.

Mayfield (US)(AP): Kentucky’s governor said at least 70 may have died in the state and the toll was climbing after tornadoes and severe weather ripped through at least five states, leaving widespread devastation.

Gov. Andy Beshear said the twister touched down for more than 200 miles in Kentucky and the death toll could exceed 100 across 10 or more counties.

This has been the most devastating tornado event in our state’s history, Beshear said at a news conference Saturday.

The storms hit a candle factory in Kentucky, an Amazon facility in Illinois and a nursing home in Arkansas. Beshear said about 110 people were in the Mayfield factory when the tornado hit.

By late morning, officials had confirmed 18 deaths. But Beshear said the toll was certain to rise, with at least 10 people feared dead in his state’s Muhlenberg County and an undetermined number in and around the city of Bowling Green.

Kentucky State Police Trooper Sarah Burgess said rescue crews were using heavy equipment to move rubble at the candle factory in western Kentucky. Coroners were called to the scene and bodies were recovered, but she didn’t know how many. She said it could take a day and potentially longer to remove all of the rubble.

Rescue efforts were complicated because Mayfield’s main fire station and emergency services hub were also hit by the tornado, said Jeremy Creason, the city’s fire chief and EMS director.

We have been working tirelessly through the night, he said. We had to at times crawl over casualties to get to live victims to get them out.

Multiple buildings in downtown Mayfield were destroyed. The tornado sheered the roofs off some, downed trees and left debris scattered across a wide area.

President Joe Biden tweeted Saturday that he was briefed on the situation and pledged the affected states would have what they need as the search for survivors and damage assessments continue.”

Kyana Parsons-Perez, an employee at the factory, was trapped under 5 feet (about 1.5 meters) of debris for at least two hours until rescuers managed to free her.

In an interview with NBC’s Today, she said it was the absolutely the most terrifying event she had ever experienced. I did not think I was going to make it at all.

Just before the tornado struck, the building’s lights flickered. She felt a gust of wind, her ears started popping and then, Boom. Everything came down on us. People started screaming, and she heard Hispanic workers praying in Spanish.

Among those who helped rescue the trapped workers were inmates from the nearby Graves County Jail, she said.

They could have used that moment to try to run away or anything, but they did not. They were there, helping us, she said. Elsewhere in Graves County, the landscape was a scene of devastation with uprooted trees, downed utility poles, a store destroyed and homes severely damaged.

At least one person died at an Amazon facility in Edwardsville, Illinois, Police Chief Mike Fillback told reporters Saturday morning. The roof of the building was ripped off and a wall about the length of a football field collapsed.

Two people at the facility were taken to hospitals in St. Louis, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) away, Fillback said. The chief said he did not know their medical conditions. About 30 people who were in the building were taken to the police station for evaluation.

Early Saturday, rescue crews were still sorting through the rubble. Fillback said the process could take several more hours. Cranes and backhoes were brought in to help move debris.

This is a devastating tragedy for our Amazon family and our focus is on supporting our employees and partners,” Amazon spokesperson Richard Rocha said in a written statement.

Workers at a National Weather Service office had to take shelter as a tornado passed near their office in Weldon Spring, Missouri, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) west of St. Louis. One person died and two others were injured in building collapses near the towns of Defiance and New Melle, both just a few miles from the weather service office.

A tornado struck the Monette Manor nursing home in Arkansas on Friday night, killing one and trapping 20 people inside as the building collapsed, Craighead County Judge Marvin Day told The Associated Press.

Five people had serious injuries, and a few others had minor ones, he said. Another person died when the storm hit a Dollar General store in nearby Leachville, Gov. Asa Hutchinson said.

Probably the most remarkable thing is that there’s not a greater loss of life, Hutchinson said after touring the wreckage of the nursing home. It is catastrophic. It’s a total destruction.

Three storm-related deaths were confirmed in Tennessee, said Dean Flener, spokesman for the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency. Two of the deaths occurred in Lake County, and the third was in Obion County both in the northwestern corner of the state.

The storms swept through Bowling Green, Kentucky, near the Tennessee border, tearing roofs off homes and flinging debris into roadways. A GM Corvette Assembly Plant and the nearby Corvette Museum sustained light damage. A semitrailer was overturned and pushed against a building just across the street.

Western Kentucky University’s president said on Twitter that one of its student who lived off-campus was killed. The school called off commencement ceremonies that were planned for Saturday because the campus was without power.

Ronnie Ward, a Bowling Green police spokesman, said in a telephone interview that rescue efforts were hampered by debris strewn across roads. Ward said numerous apartment complexes in Bowling Green had major structural damage, and some factories had collapsed during the storms.

Right now we’re focusing on the citizens, trying to get to everybody that needs us, Ward said. 

New Delhi: With 7,774 people testing positive for coronavirus infection in a day, India’s COVID-19 tally climbed to 3,46,90,510, while the number of active cases declined to 92,281, lowest in 560 days, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.

The death toll mounted to 4,75,434 with the addition of 306 new fatalities, according to the data updated at 8 am. The daily rise in new coronavirus infections has been recorded below 15,000 for the last 45 days now.

The number of active cases has decreased to 92,281, comprising 0.27 per cent of the total infections, the lowest in 560 days, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.36 per cent, the highest since March 2020, the Health Ministry said.

A decrease of 996 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 case count in a span of 24 hours. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 0.65 per cent. It has been less than two per cent for the last 69 days.

The weekly positivity rate was recorded at 0.70 per cent. It has been below one per cent for the last 28 days, according to the Health Ministry.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 34122795, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.37 per cent.

The cumulative doses administered in the country so far under the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive has exceeded 132.93 crore.

India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 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 crore mark on December 19.

India crossed the grim milestone of two crore COVID-19 cases on May 4 and three crore on June 23.