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No mass Covid testing in state now, will wait for results of genome sequencing: Maha Health Sec

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ANI
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Maharashtra Health Secretary Sanjay Khandare on Wednesday said that the state would be sending all COVID-19-positive samples to laboratories in Mumbai and Pune and based on their results the state government will decide on Covid norms and added there were no plans to conduct mass testing now.

Khandare’s statement came a day after the Union Health Ministry issued an advisory for states and union territories to track Covid variants through Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) network. Powered By There has been an increase in COVID cases in China, Japan, Brazil and the US among other countries.

Speaking to the media, Maharashtra Health Secretary Sanjay Khandare said, “As per Union health department’s advisory, we will send all the samples for genome sequencing, adding that the samples will be sent to Pune and Mumbai labs.

“Currently, Maharashtra is having around 100 positive cases daily in the State so we will go for genome sequencing of all the positive samples,” Maharashtra Health Secretary told media over the phone.

“Based on the result of genome sequencing and the Union government’s instructions, we will decide Maharashtra’s covid norms,” he added.

On starting random covid testing at railway stations, Airports, etc., the State’s health official said, “We have no plans as of now. We are waiting for further instructions from the Union government on the issue.”

Khandare stressed that vaccinating the State’s population remains a priority. “The vaccination drive in the state is continuing, and we will push the vaccination drive in the state, it is also our priority now,” he said.

“Our health infrastructure is in place and we will activate all Covid-related medical setups if required,” Sanjay said, adding that there are no plans for mass testing as of now.

Earlier on Tuesday, Union Health Ministry requested States and Union Territories to send samples of all COVID-19-positive cases to INSACOG labs to track new variants, if any.

The Health Ministry and INSACOG are keeping a sharp watch on the situation. “In view of the sudden spurt of cases being witnessed in Japan, the United States of America, the Republic of Korea, Brazil and China, it is essential to gear up the whole genome sequencing of positive cases samples to track the variants through SARS-CoV-2 Genome Consortium Network (INSACOG) network,” Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said in a letter addressed to the States and Union Territories on Tuesday.

“All states are requested to ensure that as far as possible samples of all positive cases, on a daily basis, are sent to the designated INSACOG Genome Sequencing Laboratories (IGSLs) that are mapped to the States and UTs,” said Union Health Secretary.

“Such an exercise will enable the timely detection of new variants. If any, circulating in the country and will facilitate the undertaking of requisite public health measures for the same,” added Bhushan.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya held a review meeting with senior officials and experts on the COVID-19 situation in the country today.

Sanjay Raut slams Shinde govt over Gram Panchayat election

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Sanjay Raut | Image : Twitter/@rautsanjay61

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday shared a tweet stating “Why there are false statements made of the gram panchayat results on being ahead of every other party. List of the gram panchayat results and members elected for the same is still pending”.

“Gram panchayat elections are not fought on the basis of the symbol” he added.

Maharashtra’s gram panchayat complete results are not out yet. Sena leader also questioned the Shinde government on being quiet on the issue of the Maharashtra and Karnataka border clash.

While BJP workers are seen sharing posts on social media of their party being ahead and gaining victory with a maximum number of votes for their party.

Recently BJP worker Priti Gandhi shared a tweet on social media that stated “BJP has scored a massive victory in the Gram Panchayat elections and BJP had won maximum seats of 2348 seats”.

“Old pension scheme will put burden of Rs 1.10 lakh cr on exchequer, Maha govt won’t revert to it”, says Dy CM Fadnavis

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PTI
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Maharashtra Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis Old Pension Scheme
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Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said the government will not revert to the old pension scheme as it would put a burden of Rs 1.10 lakh crore on the exchequer and lead to bankruptcy of the state.

Replying to a question in the state Assembly, Fadnavis said the old pension scheme was stopped in 2005. He also lauded the then Congress-Nationalist Congress Party government for taking the decision of stopping the old pension scheme in the interest of the state.

Under the old pension scheme, employees get a defined pension. Under this, an employee is entitled to a 50 percent amount of the last salary drawn as a pension.

However, the pension amount is contributory under the National Pension System, which is in effect since 2004. “The government will not give pensions as per the old scheme. If the old pension scheme is to be implemented, then it will add a burden of Rs 1,10,000 crore and this will lead to bankruptcy of the state. The old pension scheme will not be implemented,” said Fadnavis, who is also the finance minister of Maharashtra.

The Congress-ruled states like Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Himachal Pradesh have announced they would restart the old pension scheme, a move termed as financially not viable by several experts.

The Aam Aadmi Party-ruled Punjab has also returned to the old pension scheme.

China is not prepared for the Covid surge : Reports

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ANI
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Covid-19, India | Image : Representative

Is the Chinese government losing control over COVID-19 management as the cases continue to increase in China? Epidemiologists predict at least three waves of the virus to hit the country during winter.

It is certain that the Chinese government was “under-prepared” as it decided to end its zero-COVID policy abruptly after people held protests across the country, The Hong Kong Post reported. The Chinese government has so far remained silent on the number of deaths.

However, the Chinese authorities have warned of successive waves of COVID infections in the coming months, as cases continue to increase after the lifting of restrictions earlier this month.

Wu Zunyou, the chief epidemiologist at the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, said “the current outbreak would peak this winter and run in three waves for about three months,” The Hong Kong Post reported citing state media report of his speech.

Wu Zunyou made the remarks at a press conference in Beijing. According to Wu, the “first wave would run from now until mid-January. A second wave would likely follow soon after, triggered by the mass travel of hundreds of millions of people across the country for the Lunar New Year starting on 21 January.” He has predicted that China will face a “third wave from late February to mid-March after people returned to work from the holidays,” as per the news report.

The wave is expected to be triggered by the mass travel ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, which falls on January 21 as people travel to their hometowns to celebrate the day.

Notably, the work in hospitals in China has been slowing down as they face twin problems running out of beds due to a large number of patients and health officials getting infected, The Hong Kong Post reported citing western media reports.

Meanwhile, pharmacies are running out of stock due to an increase in demand and have a scant possibility of replenishment.

People are reporting countless cases of COVID-19 around them, despite the official count being around 2,000 a day, The Hong Kong Post reported citing a state media report.

Last week, the national health commission admitted that it was “impossible” to keep track of asymptomatic infections, and it would no longer be counting them.

People are reporting countless cases of COVID-19 around them, despite the official count being around 2,000 a day, The Hong Kong Post reported citing a state media report.

Last week, the national health commission admitted that it was “impossible” to keep track of asymptomatic infections, and it would no longer be counting them.

Experts have predicted a million deaths in the coming months.

According to experts, China is poorly prepared for a drastic exit as the country is facing a shortage of strengthening the elderly vaccination rate, intensive care capacity in hospitals, and stockpiling antiviral medications.

According to the projections by three professors at the University of Hong Kong, a nationwide reopening could lead to up to 684 deaths per million people under the current conditions. As China has a population of 1.4 million people, it would amount to 964,400 deaths.

Sanjay Raut says, “We don’t need anyone’s permission to enter state”over Maharashtra and karnataka border issue

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ANI
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Sanjay Raut,Shiv Sena | Image : Agencies

Amid simmering tension between Karnataka and Maharashtra over the border issue, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday sparked a fresh controversy by saying, “We will enter Karnataka like China has entered the country”.

The senior leader of the party said that he did not need anyone’s “permission” regarding the issue.

“Like China has entered, we will enter (Karnataka). We don’t need anyone’s permission. We want to solve it through a discussion but Karnataka CM is igniting a fire. There is a weak government in Maharashtra and is not taking any stand on it,” Sanjay Raut said.

The leader’s statement has come at a time of heightened tension between Maharashtra and Karnataka over a decades-old border conflict and the issue is listed to the Supreme Court.

However, Eknath Shinde’s government is facing criticism over the issue and an uproar by the opposition in the ongoing winter session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis aligned with CM Shinde’s remarks and said that the government will look into the matter. Tension prevailed in the border areas of Belagavi on the Maharashtra Karnataka border after members of the Maharastra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) and Nationalist Congress Party staged a protest on Monday demanding they be allowed into Belagavi.

Belagavi Police denied permission to MES to conduct its Maha Melava at the Vaccine Depot ground in Tilakwadi and clamped prohibited orders in Tilakwadi Police Station jurisdiction. Section 144 has been imposed in the area and heavy security was deployed at the site of the MES convention which was scheduled to take place on the first day of the Winter Session of the Karnataka Assembly today. The border dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka goes back to the implementation of the State Reorganization Act, of 1956. The then Maharashtra government had demanded the readjustment of its border with Karnataka.

Following this, a four-member committee was formed by both states. The Maharashtra government had expressed willingness to transfer 260 predominantly Kannada-speaking villages, but the proposal was turned down by Karnataka. Both governments later approached the Supreme Court to expedite the matter.

“Silence on matters of serious concern defining feature of this govt’s tenure”, says Cong leader Sonia Gandhi

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PTI
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Congress Sonia Gandhi India China Border Issue Central Government
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Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday hit out at the government for not allowing a discussion on the India-China border issue in Parliament, saying silence on matters of serious concern has become its defining feature.

Addressing party MPs at the general body meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party in the central hall of Parliament, she said when facing a significant national challenge, it has been the tradition in our country to bring Parliament into confidence. A debate can shed light on several critical questions, she said.

“Why is China emboldened to continually attack us? What preparations have been made to repel these attacks, and what more needs to be done? What is the Government’s policy to deter China from future incursions? Given that we continue to have a severe trade deficit with China, importing far more than we export, why is there no economic response to China’s military hostility? What is the government’s diplomatic outreach to the global community,” she asked.

Indian and Chinese troops clashed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh on December 9 and the face-off resulted in “minor injuries to a few personnel from both sides”, according to the Indian Army Noting that a frank discussion strengthens the nation’s response, Gandhi said it is the duty of the government of the day to inform the public and explain its policies and actions.

“This refusal to allow a parliamentary debate on such a matter of grave national concern – shows disrespect for our democracy, and reflects poorly on the Government’s intentions. It demonstrates its inability to bring the nation together. On the contrary, by following divisive policies, by spreading hatred and targeting some sections of our society, the government makes it harder for the country to stand up as one against foreign threats,” she said.

“Such divisions weaken us and make us more vulnerable. At times like this it must be the government’s endeavour and responsibility to unite our people, not divide them as it has been doing these past several years,” Gandhi said at the meeting.

“Unfortunately, silence on matters of serious concern has become the defining feature of this government’s tenure. While blocking debate, the Government is also actively engaged in targeting the opposition and any questioning voices, manipulating the media and undermining the institutions which stand in their way. This is happening not only in the Centre, but also in every state where the ruling party governs,” she charged.

Gandhi also accused the government of making an effort to reduce the standing of the judiciary in the eyes of the public.

“A troubling new development is the calculated attempt underway to delegitimise the judiciary. Ministers and even a high constitutional authority have been enlisted to making speeches attacking the judiciary on various grounds. It is quite clear that this is not an effort to provide reasonable suggestions for improvement. Rather, it is an effort to reduce the standing of the judiciary in the eyes of the public,” the former Congress chief also said.

Congress and other leaders are protesting outside the parliament, demanding discussion on India and China border clash

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PTI
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Sonia Gandhi,Mallikarjun Kharge | Image : Twitter/@INC_Television

Leaders of various opposition parties staged a protest near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the Parliament complex on Wednesday to demand a discussion on the border tensions between India and China.

The protest was led by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, among others, took part in the protest.

A tweet was recently been shared from INC TV stating “Parliament should debate and discuss on the India and China border clash failing to do that will be disrespectful for our democracy”.

MPs of around 12 other opposition parties including CPI, CPI-M, RJD, JDU, Shiv Sena, DMK and NCP also joined the protest and raised slogans against the government.

They said the government will have to answer questions in Parliament on transgressions by China and demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi break his silence on the issue.

Opposition parties have been demanding a discussion on the India-China border tensions and the latest Chinese transgressions since the Winter Session started on December 7.

Several Opposition MPs have given adjournment notices in both Houses of Parliament, seeking a discussion on the issue.

Indian and Chinese troops clashed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh on December 9 and the face-off resulted in ”minor injuries to a few personnel from both sides”, according to the Indian Army.

Taliban announces ban on university education for girls

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ANI
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Afghanistan Taliban ban University Education for Girls
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The Taliban has ordered an indefinite ban on university education for Afghan girls, according to a letter by the Taliban’s higher education minister.

“The Ministry of Higher Education in a letter has ordered the suspension of higher education for female students in Afghanistan until the next announcement,” Afghan news agency said in a tweet.

The Taliban took over Afghanistan in August 2021 and imposed policies severely restricting basic rights–particularly those of women and girls, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW).

The Islamic group dismissed all women from leadership posts in the civil service and prohibited girls in most provinces from attending secondary school. Taliban decrees prohibit women from traveling unless accompanied by a male relative and require women’s faces be covered in public–including women TV newscasters.

On Monday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasised the need for the inclusion of all ethnic groups in the power structures in Afghanistan and said it is important that all ethnic groups are represented. He also stressed the need to ensure human rights in Afghanistan, in particular women and girls’ rights, the right of women to work, the right of girls to attend school at all levels.

“Well, there are several clear things that we believe the Taliban must deliver from the point of view of the interests of the international community and from the point of view of the interests of Afghanistan itself,” the UN chief said at a press conference.

“We have different ethnic groups, and it’s important that all ethnic groups are represented. The second aspect in relation to human rights, in particular women and girls’ rights, the right of women to work, the right of girls to attend school at all levels without discrimination,” he added.

‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ resumes from Haryana’s Nuh

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ANI
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Congress’ ongoing mass movement ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ led by Rahul Gandhi entered Haryana on Wednesday and it resumed from Patan Udaipur village in Nuh district. People in large numbers were seen joining the march holding banners and party flags.

The Yatra will take a break in Ferozepur Jhirka at 10:30 and will move to Bhadas Nagina, the party officials said.

Addressing the gatherings here, Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and other parties and said that the leaders of these parties do not listen to the public.

“Nowadays, there is a gap between the leaders of BJP, Samajwadi Party, and the public. Leaders think that there is no need to listen to the public and give speeches for hours. We have tried to change this in this journey,” Gandhi said before starting the yatra from Nuh.

The foot march observed its last in the Congress-ruled state on Tuesday. Rajasthan was the only Congress-ruled state where the yatra covered around 500 km over 17 days before entering Haryana. Bharat Jodo Yatra will reach the National capital on December 24.

Congress MP and party General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh on Monday tweeted the complete schedule of the BJY’s Delhi leg. It will start from Delhi’s Babarpur Metro station on December 24 at 6 am and will reach Ashram Chowk at 10.30 am.

Congress MP and party General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh on Monday tweeted the complete schedule of the BJY’s Delhi leg. There will be a lunch break at Ashram Chowk and will resume from there at 1.30 pm will go from Mathura Road to India Gate and ITO and will finally reach Red Fort. Yatra will end at Red Fort with the address of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi and other leaders will first go to Rajghat, after that they will also go to Shanti Van, Shakti Sthal and Veer Bhoomi.

After a break of 9 days the yatra will resume. On January 3, the Yatra will start again from Delhi itself.

The Bharat Jodo Yatra, which began on September 7 from Kanyakumari, will cover 3,570 km by next year. It is the longest march on foot by any Indian politician in the history of India, the Congress has claimed. Rahul Gandhi aims to mobilize the party cadre and unite the general public against the alleged “divisive politics in the country”.

So far, the Bharat Jodo Yatra has covered parts of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra, and has now entered Rajasthan. It will end in Kashmir next year.

Opposition seeking my resignation to mask its failure to win Gram Panchayat polls: CM Shinde

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PTI
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Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde Gram Panchayat polls
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Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday said the Opposition was seeking his resignation over the land allotment issue as it wants to mask its failure to win the Gram Panchayat polls.

The Opposition demanded the CM’s resignation after the Bombay High Court ordered the status quo on the decision taken by Shinde as a minister in the erstwhile MVA government of allotting land meant for slum dwellers to private persons.

“They have no right to ask for my resignation. They did not ask for resignation from those who went to jail. This is an attempt to mask their failure in the gram panchayat polls,” Shinde told reporters in the state legislature complex here where the winter session of the legislature is underway.

The HC granted status quo in its recent order on a petition filed by a Nagpur-based social activist alleging the Nagpur Improvement Trust, a local planning authority constituted under the state government’s urban development department, gave away land to politicians and others at meagre rates when Shinde was a minister in the erstwhile Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

Addressing reporters along with Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the “resounding victory” in recently-held gram panchayat polls is the vindication of decisions taken by the Shinde-BJP government.

“The Opposition wanted to hit and run by making allegations against Shinde but the government gave them a befitting reply,” he added.

The ruling BJP on Tuesday claimed a “historic” victory in Gram Panchayat polls, the results of which were declared earlier in the day.

The party claimed to have won 2,482 of 7,582 Gram Panchayats where polling was held on December 18. Similar claims of victory were made by the Shiv Sena faction led by Chief Minister Shinde, Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party, the Congress, and the Shiv Sena (UBT), even though the elections were not contested as per party affiliations.

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