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Third wave: Kerala’s Covid cases double in a week, deaths cross 50,000

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Kerala’s daily Covid case count increased by 100 per cent from last week to 9,000-plus on Tuesday, prompting the state government to take measures to manage the caseload.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala’s daily Covid case count increased by 100 per cent from last week to 9,000-plus on Tuesday, prompting the state government to take measures to manage the caseload.

Health Minister Veena George, who cited “increased interaction” during  Christmas and New Year as the reason for the spike, urged all to exercise caution.

The state had imposed a four-day night curfew to prevent crowding during the New Year fete, yet the number of patients has doubled compared to 10 days ago.

Total deaths crossed the 50,000-mark, with the additional count from the last three months forming 39% of that figure.

“This week has seen more people in the 20-40 age group testing positive,” Veena said. 

Set up at least one CFLTC in every district, says CM

She said the testing strategy is based on Central guidelines.

“The elderly and those with comorbidities should take precaution. They need not come to the health centres for medicines as direction has been issued to give them at the doorsteps of people facing lifestyle diseases. Unnecessary travel also should be avoided,” the minister added.

The minister reviewed the preparedness in various districts and the availability of Covid and non-Covid beds in hospitals, ICUs, ventilators, oxygen plants and medicines.

With cases increasing, the health department reactivated 13 committees to deal with the situation.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan directed the district collectors to set up at least one Covid first-line treatment centre in each district.

The state also requested the Centre to reinstate Covid Brigade to make more health workers available to meet the demand. At present 5.7% of the 44,441 active patients are admitted in hospitals.

Focus on Mumbai civic poll, not BJP: Uddhav to workers

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MUMBAI:  Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday held a meeting of Shiv Sena leaders where he instructed them to focus on the BMC elections in Mumbai. Uddhav has been prioritising execution of Mumbai-centric projects over those in the other parts of the state. Aaditya Thackeray, his son, who is a minister in the state cabinet, has also been giving more preference to Mumbai’s issues. He is also the guardian minister of the Mumbai suburb.

The Mumbai corporation election is scheduled for February 2022. Shiv Sena has been ruling BMC – one of the richest civic bodies – since the past 20 years.  According to Sena sources, Uddhav told leaders that the party should continue to strengthen  local offices and connect  them with people by addressing their issues.

“BJP may be the world’s largest political party in terms of numbers. But Shiv Sena is very strong at the local booth-level that no one has challenged so far. Therefore, more attention needs to be give to local party branches and workers,” said a Sena leader.

I am absolutely fit but can’t risk Siraj as he isn’t ready to play 3rd Test: Virat Kohli

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CAPE TOWN: India captain Virat Kohli on Monday said he will return to the team for the series-deciding third Test against South Africa here as he is “absolutely fit” but ruled out the participation of pacer Mohammed Siraj.

“I am absolutely fit,” Kohli said at the pre-match press conference. However, he added that Siraj will not feature in the game after he suffered a hamstring injury in Johannesburg, where India lost by seven wickets.

“Siraj is obviously recovering from the (hamstring) niggle he had in the last game and at present, I don’t think he is match-ready to take the field in the third Test.

“You cannot obviously risk a guy who is not at 110 per cent as a fast bowler and we know how important that is as the little niggle he had can extend into an injury,” the skipper said.

“Siraj is not up to the mark,” he added.

However, the skipper did not say whether Ishant Sharma will get the nod ahead of Umesh Yadav.

“As I said, we are yet to sit down, myself, the head coach and vice-captain to decide what we want to do about replacement,” he said.

“And I say that because of our bench strength and it’s difficult for us to figure out as everyone is bowling well, batting well, these things become a point of contention and we need to have a healthy discussion on a decision on that and just that everyone feels balanced (okay) about it,” he explained.

“But I am happy being in this position sitting here trying to decide who is going to play rather than having other options,” he added.

Team India will look to bounce back in the third and final Test of the series, which is scheduled to begin here Tuesday.

India kicked off the South Africa tour on a perfect note, crushing the hosts by 113 runs in the series-opener at Centurion. However, the Proteas won the second game to leave the three-match series level at 1-1.

Rijiju flays remarks made against Saina Nehwal, says India proud of her outstanding contributions

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NEW DELHI: Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday slammed actor Siddharth’s remark against badminton player Saina Nehwal, saying such comments show the person’s “ignoble mentality”.

Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s security breach during his recent visit to Punjab, Saina had tweeted, “No nation can claim itself to be safe if the security of its own PM gets compromised. I condemn, in the strongest words possible, the cowardly attack on PM Modi by anarchists.”

In response to this, Siddharth had tweeted, “Subtle cock champion of the world Thank God we have protectors of India (sic).”

Hitting out at Siddharth, Rijiju said India is proud of Nehwal for her outstanding contributions in making India a sporting powerhouse.

“She is a steadfast patriot besides being an Olympic medallist. Making a cheap comment on such an icon personality depicts a person’s ignoble mentality,” he wrote on Twitter.

Following strong criticism on social media for the tweet, Siddharth said that “nothing disrespectful was intended”.

‘Bulli Bai’ app case complainant receives threat calls on her phone, Mumbai cyber cops launch probe

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MUMBAI: Mumbai Police’s cyber department registered a Non-Cognizable (NC) offence against an unidentified person after a complainant in the “Bulli Bai” app case told them that she had received threat calls on her phone, an official said on Monday.

The complainant told the police that the caller threatened her over the phone and asked why she revealed their names and filed FIR against them, the official at the Cyber police station in the Bandra Kurla Complex said.

An NC case was registered against an unidentified person on Saturday, he added.

He said the police are investigating how the caller got the mobile phone number of the complainant.

No FIR was registered and further investigation is underway, the official added.

The case pertains to the creation of the ‘Bulli Bai’ app, which targeted Muslim women by putting up their images online for “auction”.

Mumbai cyber police had arrested Shweta Singh and Mayank Rawal from Uttarakhand and Vishal Kumar Jha from Bengaluru.

The Delhi police’s special cell, which has also registered an FIR in the case, on January 6 arrested one Niraj Bishnoi from Assam.

According to the police, Bishnoi was the main creator of the app.

UP: Man sentenced to 10 years in jail for raping 15-year-old girl, filming act

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SULTANPUR: A court here has sentenced a man to 10 years in prison for raping a minor girl two years ago and filming the act to prevent her from telling anyone about it.

The incident took place under Sangrampur police station area here.

The victim’s mother filed a police complaint alleging that her 15-year-old daughter, a student of Class 10, was forcibly taken to a poultry farm and raped by Suraj Saroj on January 25, 2020.

According to the complainant, Saroj also filmed the act with the help of a partner and threatened the girl with dire consequences if she told anyone about it.

Based on the complaint, a case was registered against Saroj on January 29, 2020, and he was arrested.

Later, the police filed a charge sheet against him.

During the hearing of the case, government advocate C L Dwivedi, appearing for the prosecution, presented five witnesses and other evidence, holding Saroj responsible for raping the girl.

He demanded that Saroj be given the harshest punishment for this heinous crime.

Saroj’s partner, who helped him film the rape of the girl, has not been identified by the police yet.

Champa’s final rites will be conducted with police honours: CM Bommai

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Parmesh S Jain

Chief Minister,Basavaraj Bommai has expressed his grief at the passing away of renowned Kannada litterateur, critic and theater personality Prof.Chandrashekar Patil.

Born in Hattimattur village of Haveri district, he attained fame as a revolutionary writer and fondly called as Champa.

His contribution to Kannada language and Karnataka is immense.He was at the forefront of Gokak and many other movements for the cause of Kannada and Karnataka.

He strongly advocated Kannada to be the medium of instruction in education,Bommai said in his condolence message.

He was a professor of English at Karnataka University, Dharwad and editor of ‘Sankramana’, a Kannada literary publication.

He has also served as the head of Kannada Development Authority and Kannada Sahitya Parishat, Bommai has said.

Champa’s death is an immense loss for the Kannada literary world, Bommai said and has prayed the almighty to give the strength to his family and followers to bear this loss. 

The final rites of renowned Kannada writer and literary critic Prof.Chandrashekar Patil would be held with full police honours, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said. 

Speaking to media persons he said,our popular ‘Champa’ has left us.His writings with independent thought were sharp.He used to hold a mirror to the system through his insightful presentation of the issues.

Champa had served as the All India Kannada Sahitya Parishat and was honoured with Rajyotsava award,Bommai said and recalled that the writer had close association with his family. “

He was close to my father. Champa, who was a guide for me, has left us. It is a big loss for the literary world.”

Bommai prayed to the almighty to give strength to  the family and followers of Champa to bear this loss. 

State government has decided to conduct his final rites with full police honours, Bommai said.  

No Differentiation For Covid Norms Violators, Says CM Bommai

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Parmesh S Jain

Action would be taken against any one who violates the Covid rules.There would be no differentiation in dealing with them,Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said.

Speaking to media persons,he said that,FIR has been registered against 30 members who had participated in Congress padayatra for the Mekedatu project.

Government is concerned about the health of those who are participating in Mekedatu padayatra.

It is the duty of the health department to check the health condition of those who take the long walk, Bommai said and urged the participants to cooperate with the health department to do its duty. 

Whoever violates the Covid rules,whether a common man or a big leader,there is no differentiation.Action will be taken in a uniform way according to the law” Bommai said.

He advocated the need for more intense vigil against the spread of Covid.

The state has registered 12,000 Covid cases yesterday, of which Bengaluru has accounted for about 9000.

Positivity rate in the state has risen to 6.8% and it is 10% in Bengaluru. Karnataka is in the third spot in the country in Covid cases. So more precautionary measures are needed,” he said.

Bringing Karnataka into Covid Protection Ring is the aim of our government.I am confident of achieving it,Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said

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Parmesh S Jain

The Chief Minister in his address after launching the Booster Dose vaccination programme for health workers and senior citizens with comorbidities said, Karnataka has achieved 100% first dose vaccination and 77% second dose vaccination.

We want to reach 80% by end of January and action would be taken to intensify the second dose jabbing. We will achieve the target of bringing Karnataka into the Covid Protection Ring,” he said.

Corona warriors are the real sentinels of the nation :

Corona warriors are the real sentinels of the nation.Just like the soldiers are protecting the country at the borders,the Corona warriors are protecting every family in the country, Bommai said.

Despite facing many challenges in discharging their duties, the Asha workers,doctors and nurses are rendering yeomen service.They are the real guardians of the nation,Bommai said.

“Vaccination is the only way to protect ourselves from Covid. Covid second and third waves intensified due to the laxity on vaccination by some countries.

Western countries have now made vaccination compulsory. India has vaccinated three times more than what USA has achieved.

Even an advanced country like USA has not achieved full vaccination of its population. But India with a population of 130cr has done better.

The vaccine developed in our own country has proved very effective. The credit for this success should go to the leadership of our Prime Minister Modi and Covid frontline workers,” Modi said.

Resistance against any revolutionary decisions and programmes is natural. Vaccination also came under extensive debate with some opposing it.

Covid does not differentiates on caste, he said and urged the people to cooperate with health workers.

Health minister Dr. K Sudhakar and senior officials were present on the occasion.

CM holds meeting with top bureaucrats to tone up administration,Instructs to fix criteria for ranking system to assess performance of departments

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A meeting was held by Chief Minister Basavaraja Bommai today in connection with the reform of the government.

Ministers,as,Dr.K.Sudhakar, Araga Jnanendra, B.A.Basavaraja, Retired Chief Secretary of the Government and Chairman of the Administrative Reform Commission,TM Vijaya Bhaskar, Development Commissioner and Chief Secretary to the Government,Vandita Sharma,Planning Department Additional Chief Secretary,Dr Shalini Rajneesh, DPAR Secretary, Hemalatha, CAUS Department (Administrative Reforms) Munish Mudgal,and others were present.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has instructed the officials to formulate criteria to introduce an annual ranking system to assess the performance of all the departments.

He was speaking at a meeting on administrative reforms at his home office ‘Krishna.’

Civic services should be made easily available to citizens by cutting down the layers of decision making. Petitions from the people should get a response within hours.

Accountability should be fixed at lower and higher levels. Some of the responsibilities of the Revenue department should be delegated to Gram Panchayats, Bommai said.

Joint Secretaries and Deputy Secretaries should be more empowered.Regional Commissioners should manage major irrigation and land acquisition issues.

About 40% of government work would be reduced if the Revenue department is reformed, Bommai opined.

Development projects like irrigation and public works should be completed within a time frame. State is suffering the highest losses due to failure in completing the projects in time, he said.

Bommai wanted change in rules and identify redundant laws, He asked the officials to clear the amount that has piled up in bank accounts due to not utilisation of funds allocated for various projects.

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