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Delhi HC grants interim protection from arrest to journalist Varun Hiremath in a rape case

April 9, 2021

varun hiremath, varun, hiremath, rape case, high court, delhi high court — Delhi HC grants interim protection from arrest to journalist Varun Hiremath in a rape case 2

The Delhi High Court granted interim protection from arrest to Varun Hiremath a Mumbai-based television journalist in a rape case provided he joins the police investigation.

Justice Mukta Gupta issued notices and sought responses of Delhi Police and the complainant woman on journalist Hiremath’s plea seeking anticipatory bail in the case.

“Petitioner be not arrested till the next date of hearing subject to him joining the investigation as and when directed,” the high court said.

It asked the police to verify the documents to be given by the man and file a status report and listed the matter for further hearing on April 16.

Hiremath, represented through senior advocate Kapil Sibal, has approached the high court after his earlier anticipatory bail plea was dismissed by a trial court here on March 12.

The 22-year-old woman in her complaint alleged she was raped by Hiremath at a five-star hotel in Chanakyapuri on February 20.

The counsel for the 28-year-old man claimed before the court that there had been a history of a previous sexual relationship between the accused and the complainant.

When advocate Siddharth Arora, representing the complainant, urged the court not to grant any protection to Hiremath as he has been on the run for the last 50 days, the high court said if the man has documents to show that the relationship was consensual, let him join the investigation and police will verify it.

Prosecutor Tarang Srivastava accepted notice on behalf of the Delhi Police.

The trial court, while rejecting the journalist’s anticipatory bail plea, had said that consent cannot be implied from the complainant’s previous experiences with the accused and if the woman stated in her evidence before the court that she did not consent, the court shall presume that she did not.

Before the trial court, the man’s counsel had highlighted some WhatsApp and Instagram chats between the accused and the complainant “to show the love and passion between them for each other”.

It had also noted in its order that some WhatsApp chats of the accused and the victim after the alleged offense indicated “towards the feeling of sorry by the accused of his acts”.

It has said the question of consent coupled with the conduct of complainant and accused was a matter of trial and that it was only considering the anticipatory bail plea.

Based on a woman’s complaint, an FIR under IPC sections 376 (punishment of offence of rape), 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement) and 509 (word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) were registered at Chanakyapuri police station.

#MaharashtraNeedsVaccine

Vaidehi Taman

April 8, 2021

covid-19, covid, corona, covid vaccination, vaccine, vaccination, mumbai, rajesh tope, vaccine in mumbai, maharashtra needs vaccines, narendra modi, pm modi, uddhav, modi — Image Courtesy: Reuters

On Thursday, there was uproar on Twitter with the hashtag Maharashtra needs a Vaccine. As the Maharashtra government has announced that the COVID-19 vaccination drive will halt due to the lack of supplies of the vaccine. Hours after Maharashtra, Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh) and Andhra Pradesh revealed that they have sent an SOS alert to the Centre over COVID-19 vaccine scarcity, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan made it clear that there was no dearth of vaccine stock in the country. Whereas the scenario is such that the vaccine centres are shut and people are returning back without getting vaccinated.

Earlier the Central government had promised the states that the Centre will not allow any state to face vaccine scarcity. Maharashtra has 14 lakh vaccine doses that will last for three days. After that, vaccination may come to a standstill. The state needs a stock of 40 lakh vaccine doses per week. Andhra Pradesh has also said that it may run out of vaccine doses very soon.

Adar Poonawalla, chief executive of the Serum Institute of India told one of the leading daily from India that, “The delay is solely dependent on India, and it has nothing to do with the Serum Institute of India. It is to do with the Indian government allowing more doses to the United Kingdom.”

The vaccine program in India has so far been limited to people over the age of 60 and those over the age of 45 with allergies and symptoms.

The Indian government is thought to be considering whether it needs to stockpile more vaccines to expand its program and whether to implement new localised lockdowns.

Meanwhile, Johnson a spokesperson for the Serum Institute of India said that the institute could not comment on the matter. The Indian government did not respond to requests for comment by the time of publication.

The number of new coronavirus cases in India hit a record daily high since the outbreak of the pandemic with over 1.15 lakh new infections being reported in a span of 24 hours, pushing the nationwide Covid-19 tally to 1,28,01,785, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday. The single-day rise in coronavirus cases breached the 1-lakh mark for the second time in three days.

A total of 1,66,177 deaths have been reported so far in the country including 56,330 from Maharashtra, 12,804 from Tamil Nadu, 12,696 from Karnataka, 11,113 from Delhi, 10,355 from West Bengal, 8,924 from Uttar Pradesh and 7,251 from Andhra Pradesh and 7,216 from Punjab.

As the cases of COVID-19 are rising, the vaccine drive has been affected by the shortages in several states and cities including Mumbai. Maharashtra alone accounts for some 55,000 infections. Other states, including Andhra Pradesh, is also running low on shots.

The steep jump in infections from early February, when the country reported around 11,000 daily infections, has forced states to reinstate movement curbs and other restrictions. Maharashtra has halted all non-essential services, ordered private companies to work from home, and shut malls and restaurants through April.

For Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose party is fighting five state elections, the unfolding health crisis may continue to dent his international image after India curbed vaccine exports this month as the second COVID wave mounted. The renewed restrictions are also spurring public anger at the government’s failure to get ahead of the virus despite a months-long lull.

For now, one month of supplies from India’s two approved vaccines only last 17 days at peak demand, without taking the existing inventories into account. Still, medical groups, public health experts and business leaders have called for the government to fully open up the inoculation drive to all age groups as the second wave continues to build. The nation currently only allows people over 45 years of age to get shots. For a country of India’s size and population density movement, curbs are likely to only offer a temporary respite.

COVID-19: Maharashtra’s SOS on vaccines; 26 Mumbai Vaccine Centres closed down

Afternoon Voice

April 8, 2021

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Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope announced that the state may run out of COVID vaccines in three days and that he had asked the centre to send more stocks soonest, with cities like Mumbai forced to shut down vaccination centres or turn away people.

Tope said, “Centre is partial towards Maharashtra, Gujarat has got 1 crore doses and we have got 1 crore doses whereas Maharashtra has double the population of Gujarat. This is not an issue that the Centre and state should fight on. We don’t want to blame anyone.”

While replying to Tope, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said, “Deplorable attempts by some state governments to distract attention from their failures and spread panic among the people”. The “lackadaisical attitude” of the Maharashtra government had singularly bogged down the entire country’s efforts to fight the virus, he said in a furious statement. Harsha Vardhan called them “irresponsible statements” that had the potential to “mislead the public and spread panic”.

Maharashtra’s statements on vaccine shortage were “nothing but an attempt to divert attention from Maharashtra government’s repeated failures to control the spread of pandemic”, Harsh Vardhan said, accusing the state’s leadership of “happily sleeping at the wheels”.

“The inability of the Maharashtra government to act responsibly is beyond comprehension. To spread panic among the people is to compound the folly further,” he added, dismissing talk of vaccine shortage as “baseless”.

The Union Health Minister also ripped into demands by “a section of political leaders” to open up vaccinations to all adults or drastically lower the age bar, pointing out that vaccinations so far had not been optimum.

“Doesn’t it seem evident that these states are trying to divert attention from their poor vaccination efforts by just continuously shifting the goalposts? Politicizing such a public health issue is a damning indictment of certain political leaders who should know better,” said Harsh Vardhan. The lack of effort by Maharashtra “has come to haunt us all”, he said.

Vardhan continued stating, “It is shocking to see how the state Government is putting Maharashtrians in danger by letting people escape institutional quarantine mandate for the sake of their personal Vasuli.”

Shiv Sena’s Priyanka Chaturvedi responded stating, “It kind of saddened me, disturbed me, and also disgusted me at the same time that a letter that was written in good spirit and intent…would hope to get a scientific response… because he is the health minister of the country and not the spokesperson of a political party.”

Chaturvedi further mentioned in her message, “But what he responded with was not just political, but also seeking brownie points by attacking some states.”

Speaking over-vaccination Doctor Mohanti said, “India’s population is 1300 Million, and vaccine production capacity monthly from Serum Institute is 20 million/month. No way could we vaccinate everyone in time. It has to rationalize amongst the vulnerable across the states including healthcare workers.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan is allowed to speak when his handler wants to spread misinformation about COVID spread to get the protesters back in their homes instead on the streets and courts.”

The Health Minister also attacked the Chhattisgarh Congress government, saying it had refused to use Covaxin, and, by its actions, “had the dubious distinction of being perhaps the only government in the world to have incited vaccine hesitancy.”

Once again, the anti-outsider rhetoric flared up

Vaidehi Taman

April 7, 2021

migrant workers, migrants, mumbai, up, bihar, raj thackeray, thackeray, uddhav, uddhav thackeray, migrant labourers, covid-19, corona, covid — Image Courtesy: AP

One more time many migrants leave Mumbai and somehow reach their villages because there is panic among migrant workers in Mumbai after the Maharashtra government announced a fresh lockdown from 8 pm on April 5, 2021, to break the spread of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections in the city. Whereas Raj Thackeray blamed these migrants for the spread of COVID-19.

He said the states the migrant labourers hailed from lacked adequate facilities to test them for coronavirus. Maharashtra is the most industrialised state in India which attracts a large number of workers from other states. The places from where these workers come lacked enough testing facilities. Raj Thackeray said he asked the CM Uddhav Thackeray to allow sportspersons to join the practice sessions and to permit gymnasiums to function with social distancing.

Talking about the new set of restrictions imposed in Maharashtra from Monday night, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president said all shops should be kept open for at least two or three days during this period. As per the curbs announced by the state government on Sunday, except for the essential services shops, medical shops and grocery shops, all other shops, markets and shopping malls will be closed in Maharashtra till April 30.

Shutting down shops, restaurants, markets and private offices as part of its lockdown-style restrictions to battle the second wave of the pandemic, its daily wagers who are worst hit. Many of them are migrants left without money or shelter in this expensive city. Their only option is to make the uncertain journey back to a precarious life in the village.

The announcement includes a total lockdown from 8 pm on Fridays to 7 am on Mondays, a night curfew from 8 pm to 7 am, Section 144 during the day, limits on passengers in taxis and rickshaws, closure of markets except those selling essential goods, malls, cinemas and restaurants and private offices to function from home.

Most migrant workers said business and income had been miserable over the last few months with many workers not getting the same volume of work or earnings as before. The situation this time around would be far shoddier than it was last year. Workers who have returned have hardly been able to make ends meet and have little or no savings.

People from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar migrate to Mumbai for jobs. Not just Mumbai, but I have met people from UP and Bihar in places like Bangalore and Hyderabad too. The dream of getting work and a better life brings people from their native place to these metropolises. The majority of companies offering jobs are located in Mumbai/Pune/ Bangalore.

Why would anyone, after completing his/her education continue living in his/her native place with no or little paying job? And not just the educated class, the people with limited education also find themselves with work in places like Mumbai usually without any bias of caste which is unfortunately rampant in places like UP and Bihar.

People from all strata find themselves and their family much safer in Mumbai than in their native places. Plus, Mumbai is as much a part of India as UP and Bihar. Hence, people are free to go anywhere they deem good for themselves. They are not at fault for the lack of jobs and infrastructure in their native regions. Our leaders should understand that and instead of creating a divide between the locals and the migrants, they should focus on improving on COVID cure infrastructure.

Every citizen of India has the right to live wherever he/she pleases. These two states are heavily populated with very few opportunities, and people migrate out in search of a better life. For the first three decades after independence (and for the hundred years before that), the magnet was Calcutta. That was the business and industrial centre of India, the country’s busiest port, airport, and railway hub.

After lockdown, especially in the recent past Industrial production has stopped, offices are being closed and many people are losing their jobs. In such a scenario people pay the power bills which are again huge. Migrants have various challenges, no job, no money and above all fear of lockdown. And in such crises, politicians like Raj Thackeray blaming them for spreading the coronavirus sounds shameful.

Few Marathi Manoos wanted to become security guards, taxi drivers, waiters, cooks, vegetable vendors and, most crucially, construction workers. Nor did they want to work in the sweatshops of Dharavi, tailoring garments, another sector that provides substantial employment. These were filled by workers from not just Bihar and Uttar Pradesh but also the Northeast.

Most security guards outside buildings are from the North Indian states, working gruelling shifts and often working other jobs. Upscale restaurants have serving staff from the Northeast. At the lower end, any Udupi restaurant owners will admit that the man flipping dosas in the kitchen is from Jharkhand. Bengali speakers are in the garment business and construction workers come from different parts of India. The same goes for taxi drivers and shop assistants. They are the backbone of Mumbai.

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us at feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)

Mumbaikars condemn Raj Thackeray’s attack on migrants; advise him not to take political advantage of the situation

Afternoon Voice

April 7, 2021

raj thackeray, dhadak kamgar union, abhijeet rane, rane, covid-19, corona, migrant workers, migrants, raj, mns chief, maharashtra navnirman sena, covid, migrant workers mumbai, thackeray, uddhav thackeray — Mumbaikars condemn Raj Thackeray’s attack on migrants; advise him not to take political advantage of the situation 12

MNS chief Raj Thackeray sparked controversy stating that the migrant workers from other states were responsible for the rapid spread of coronavirus in Maharashtra. Thackeray said the migrant labourers lacked adequate facilities to test them for coronavirus.

“Maharashtra is the most industrialised state in India which attracts a large number of workers from other states. The places from where these workers come lacked enough testing facilities,” he said while addressing a press conference.

“During the lockdown last year, I had suggested that migrant workers who are returning from their native places should be tested, but it was not done,” Raj Thackeray told reporters.

After this statement of Raj Thackeray, Dhadak Kamgar Union General Secretary Abhijeet Rane has registered a protest against the MNS chief for his highly obnoxious and baseless statement, that due to the influx of workers, labourers and migrant job seekers corona is spreading like a wildfire in Maharashtra.

Abhijeet Rane in his statement has condemned the unverified accusation against workers from other states as causing uncontrollable corona.

Abhijeet Rane, quoting health authorities, questioned the authenticity of Thackeray blaming migrant workers. “According to the Maharashtra government, corona spread is not related to or caused because of migrants but due to negligence of local people and lack of discipline by competent authorities.”

“The Labour department has confirmed that hardly 25 per cent of migrant labourers have returned back and in their home states, corona cases are marginal compared to Maharashtra so chances of migrants spreading corona are very less rather negligible,” Rane added.

Abhijeet Rane has also declared that Dhadak Kamgar Union would be arranging corona test and vaccination camps with cooperation from BMC and the state government.

Rane is likely to lead a delegation to health minister Rajesh Tope to seek his help in organising test and vaccination camps mainly for those migrants who have returned from their home states.

The union leader also expressed concern and worry over reports that fearing an indefinite lockdown against migrants in large numbers are rushing back to their native states leaving industry business into total loss and devastation.

Balvir Vaid, a journalist and Workers Union leader told Afternoon Voice, “Uski Soch Hi Galat Hain” (His mentality is wrong). Raj Thackeray has always blamed North Indians for everything happening around. It seems that he is returned to his anti-migrant agenda in the name of COVID to grab media attention.”

“I believe Mumbai has no existence without the support of migrants; the city is run by them. Coming back to Thackeray’s allegation that migrants are responsible for the rise of COVID-19 in Maharashtra then let me remind Mr Thackeray, that the poor migrants were not the ones who bought the virus, it came with the Indian returning from foreign. So, blaming the migrants for the surge of COVID-19 in Maharashtra is ridiculous,” Vaid added.

Slamming the MNS chief over his remark on migrants, BJP spokesperson Suresh Nakhua said, “India is a democratic country and as per Indian constitution anyone can work anywhere. So, just blaming migrants for the increase in COVID cases is not acceptable at all. Corona has increased in Maharashtra and Mumbai due to the inability of the MVA government and not because of the migrants.”

Pradeep Singh, a media person quoted, “Blaming UP, Bihar people for the surge in COVID-19 cases is unfair. Can Raj Thackeray guarantee if these migrants leave Maharashtra then there will be no cases in Maharashtra? Rather than creating hate among people, Raj Thackeray should start educating people on how to protect themselves from viruses.”

“It’s not that only North Indians are diagnosed with COVID-19; coronavirus does not differentiate between rich or poor, Hindu or Muslim, Marathi or Gujarati. So, I think he should stop doing politics out of such tragedy. We all should come together to combat the virus and get rid of it as soon as possible,” Pradeep further added.

Atul Tiwari, Editor of Voice of Thane Live said, “I think Raj Thackeray showed a mirror to the government of Maharashtra, his statement is the question on Maharashtra government’s testing and controlling capacity of coronavirus.”

Maharashtra Health Minister Tope says, ‘Don’t have enough vaccines, urge Centre for additional doses’

Afternoon Voice

April 7, 2021

rajesh tope, tope, covid vaccine, vaccine doses, centre, covid vaccine doses, health minister rajesh tope — Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope | File Photo

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Wednesday said the state is facing a vaccine shortage and demanded 40 lakh doses every week from the Centre.

The Health Minister was addressing a press meet on the COVID-19 situation in the state.

“We do not have enough vaccine doses at various vaccination centres, and people have to be sent back due to a shortage of doses,” Tope said. Staying short of blaming the Centre, the Minister said that the supply has to be speeded up.

“Currently, we have 14 lakh vaccine doses which will get over in the next three days. We’ve urged for 40 lakhs more vaccine doses per week. I’m not saying that the Center is not giving us vaccines but the speed of delivery of vaccines is slow,” he said.

The Health Minister added that they are working on war footing to increase the number of beds in Pune, Mumbai, Nashik and other parts of the state.

The state has also demanded the inclusion of people of age group 20-40 years into the vaccination process and they must be vaccinated on priority.

“We suspect that there is a new strain that is affecting people in a shorter duration of time. Samples have been sent to National Centre for Disease Control to ascertain this,” Tope further said.

On Wednesday, Maharashtra reported 55,469 new COVID-19 cases and 297 deaths. The active number of cases in the state stands at 4,72,283. The death toll in the state has gone up to 56,330.

RBI holds interest rates amid COVID surge, pledges to buy Rs 1 lakh crore government bonds

Afternoon Voice

April 7, 2021

RBI holds interest rates amid COVID surge, pledges to buy Rs 1 lakh crore government bonds 15

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday kept key interest rates unchanged at record lows while pledging to buy Rs 1 lakh crore of government bonds this quarter to cap borrowing costs in a bid to support an economy facing a resurgence of the pandemic.

In the first monetary policy of the 2021-22 fiscal, the central bank stuck to its accommodative stance as long as necessary, amid concerns of rising infections that could derail the nascent economic recovery.

RBI’s key lending rate, the repo rate, which was cut by a total of 115 basis points last year to soften the blow from the pandemic, will stay at 4 per cent while the reverse repo rate or the central bank’s borrowing rate will be unchanged at 3.35 per cent.

Governor Shaktikanta Das said the six-member monetary policy committee (MPC) voted unanimously ”to continue with the accommodative stance as long as necessary to sustain growth on a durable basis and continue to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the economy while ensuring that inflation remains within the target going forward.”

Just as the economy started to recover after being pummelled by the pandemic and the lockdowns, India is witnessing a record jump in COVID-19 infections, threatening the nascent recovery.

”The recent surge in infections has, however, imparted greater uncertainty to the outlook and needs to be closely watched, especially as localised and regional lockdowns could dampen the recent improvement in demand conditions and delay the return of normalcy,” he said.

The Governor announced a second market G-sec acquisition programme or G-SAP 1.0 wherein RBI committed to open market purchase of government securities.

In April-June, it is committed to buy Rs 1 lakh crore bonds, with first debt purchases starting from April 15.

RBI had bought Rs 3 lakh crore of bonds in the last fiscal (2020-21) and planned similar or more spending in the financial year April 2021 to March 2022.

”We are now better prepared to meet the challenges posed by this resurgence in infections” he added.

While retaining its GDP growth outlook for FY22 at 10.5 per cent after a 7.5 per cent contraction in 2020-21, RBI revised the outlook for inflation, with price rise seen at 5 per cent in the fourth quarter of last fiscal year. It is projected to rise to 5.2 per cent in the first half of the current fiscal.

Das reiterated that the banking system liquidity will continue to remain in surplus even after meeting all requirements of the financial market segments and productive sectors of the economy.

An accommodative stance implies a rate cut in the future if the need arises to support the economy.

This is the fifth time in a row that MPC has decided to keep the policy rate unchanged. RBI had last revised its policy rate on May 22, 2020, in an off-policy cycle to perk up demand by cutting interest rates to a historic low.

He assured that RBI is committed to ensuring ample system liquidity in consonance with the accommodative stance of MPC.

”When I say ample liquidity, I mean a level of liquidity that would keep the system in surplus even after meeting the requirements of all financial market segments and the productive sectors of the economy,” he said.

The Reserve Bank will of course continue to do whatever it takes to preserve financial stability and to insulate domestic financial markets from global spillovers and the consequent volatility, Das added.

To provide additional liquidity to states, RBI has decided to accept the recommendations of an Advisory Committee constituted by it to review the Ways and Means Advance (WMA) limits for State Governments/UTs and other related issues.

Accordingly, it has been decided to enhance the aggregate WMA limit of states and UTs to Rs 47,010 crore, an increase of about 46 per cent from the current limit of Rs 32,225 crore which was fixed in February 2016.

”Further, it has also been decided to continue the enhanced interim WMA limit of Rs 51,560 crore granted by RBI due to the pandemic for a further period of six months i.e. up to September 30, 2021,” he said.

Das further said that to nurture the still-nascent growth impulses, it is felt necessary to support the continued flow of credit to the real economy.

Accordingly, liquidity support of Rs 50,000 crore for fresh lending during 2021-22 will be provided to All India Financial Institutions (AIFIs).

He announced that Rs 25,000 crore will be provided to National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Rs 10,000 crore to National Housing Bank (NHB) and Rs 15,000 crore to Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).

It is to be mentioned here that special refinance facilities of Rs 75,000 crore were provided to AIFIs during April-August 2020.

The central bank also announced relaxation in the period of parking of External Commercial Borrowing (ECB) proceeds in term deposits.

Why is Anil Deshmukh shying away from CBI inquiry?

Vaidehi Taman

April 6, 2021

anil deshmukh, deshmukh, param bir, cbi, cbi inquiry, ncp, ncp leaders, home minister of maharashtra, maharashtra home minister, deshmukh — Why is Anil Deshmukh shying away from CBI inquiry? 17

There was a confidential meeting between NCP leaders and later on with the Shiv Sena leaders. Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari accepting the resignation of Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and handed over the charge of the key department to cabinet minister Dilip Walse Patil of the NCP has not gone well with the Maha Vikas Aghadi government.

Meanwhile, Anil Deshmukh on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court to cancel a preliminary CBI probe into allegations of corruption ordered against him. The Bombay High Court on Monday sought the probe based on charges levelled by former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh. A team of the investigating agency was to reach Mumbai on Tuesday to initiate the process.

The NCP is a key constituent in the Shiv Sena-led MVA government in which the Congress is the third ally. Somehow the saffron loyalist Param Bir Singh switched his loyalties when Deshmukh removed him as CP, in his plea filed on March 25, sought such a probe against Deshmukh who, he claimed, had asked police officers, including suspended cop Sachin Vaze, to extort ₹ 100 crores from bars and restaurants. Vaze has been arrested by the NIA in connection with the probe into the explosive-laden SUV found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence in Mumbai.

Even though the High Court questioned Singh for not filing a case against Deshmukh till then, it said a probe by an independent agency was necessary to “instil public confidence and safeguard the fundamental rights of the citizens”. The High Court had called the situation arising out of Singh’s petition “extraordinary” and “unprecedented”, warranting an independent inquiry.

Within hours of the High Court order on Monday, Deshmukh resigned, citing “moral grounds”. Singh’s petition also accused Deshmukh of corruption in police transfers and postings. Both he and his party, the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party has denied the allegations. They have said that Singh, removed from the Mumbai Commissioner’s post over the alleged mishandling of the Ambani bomb-scare case, was trying to divert attention from his own dealings.

In his letter to Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, Singh wrote, “Sachin Vaze who was heading the Crime Intelligence Unit of the Crime Branch of the Mumbai Police was called by Shri Anil Deshmukh, Hon’ble Home Minister, Maharashtra to his official residence Dyaneshwar several times in last few months and repeatedly instructed to assist in the collection of funds for the Home Minister.”.

The letter continued, “The Hon’ble Home Minister expressed to Vaze that he had a target to accumulate Rs. 100 crores a month. For achieving the aforesaid target Vaze was told that there are about 1,750 bars, restaurants and other establishments in Mumbai and if a sum of Rs. 2-3 lakhs each was collected from each of 3 them, a monthly collection of Rs. 40-50 crores were achievable.”

Singh also mentioned in his letter that a similar demand was made by Anil Deshmukh office to other officials. Singh claims that one Palande, Personal secretary to Deshmukh had called two senior officials one DCP Bhujbal and ACP Sanjay Patil of the Social Service Branch to Deshmukh where they were also given the same targets by Palande. Param Bir writes that the Police officers involved informed him about the demands made by the Home Minister.

He had attached verbatim conversations of his chats with his police officials to show that Deshmukh was demanding money. “Param Bir Singh on (16th March 2021, 4:59 pm) to ACP Patil- Patil how many bars and other establishments did HM sir and Palande mentions to you when you had met them in Feb. And what was the total expected collection they mentioned?”

Further, Param Bir asks Patil whether Vaze had informed him about why he was called. ACP Patil in a message to the then Mumbai CP – ACP Patil (19th March 2021, 9:12 pm): “The purpose of the meeting was, he told me that 1750 establishment in Mumbai, he should collect Rs. 3 lakh per establishment for him also, which will be around 40 to 50 cr.”

Interestingly the former Mumbai CP also claims that the Mumbai Police does not have jurisdiction in the death of Dadra Nagar Haveli MP Mohan Delkar case. Delkar was found dead at a hotel in Mumbai’s Marine Drive, on February 22. However, he was overruled by Deshmukh despite the legal opinion being that the Dadra Nagar Haveli police filed the case.

Param Bir claims that he has been ‘made a scapegoat to divert attention from the actual wrong doers’. Singh also asserted that he has nothing to do with Vaze and has asked the Chief Minister to check Vaze’s and his phone records for the same. The call records and phone data of Shri S’achin Vaze are examined to ascertain the truth of the allegations and for the truth to emerge insofar as his association with political functionaries is concerned.

The opposition took advantage of the entire episode, as they never liked Anil Deshmukh as home minister. Well! Deshmukh should face the investigations and let the truth come out at the same time CBI should take Param Bir Singh in custody and start investigating his political motives.

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us at feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)

Body on Rent for Paint: Tattoos have become the most unique way of political campaign

Afternoon Voice

April 6, 2021

body on rent, body art, political rallies, political rally, body painting, tmc, bjp, west bengal, elections, assam elections, tamil nadu elections, narendra modi, mamata banerjee — Body on Rent for Paint: Tattoos have become the most unique way of political campaign 22

From West Bengal to Tamil Nadu and Assam, you will see many individuals in political rallies with body painting the logo and prominent faces of different political parties. Body painting has become an inevitable segment of political rallies and a very effective medium to impress the voters.

Body painter Dipankar Das from Purba Medinipur, Nandigram told Afternoon Voice, “Body painting is very common during Durga Puja or in the flea market in the form of tiger or cow, depending on the theme. But since a decade body art has been hugely used for political campaigns. Some people rent their body as a canvas for the political drive. Where artwork is painted directly onto the human skin. Unlike tattoos and other forms of body art, body painting is temporary, lasting several hours or sometimes up to a few weeks in the case of ‘henna tattoos’ for about two weeks. It all depends on the requirements of political parties.”

When asked if they paid for the campaign Dipankar said, “Yes they are paid handsomely because they impress people more than the hoardings and poster banners.”

Dipankar charges between Rs. 10000 to 30000 for each body paint. The remuneration depends on the size of the work and artwork. If only plain face painting then the rates are very low. If full-body painting then the rates are different.

Political campaigning agency from New Delhi told Afternoon Voice, under the condition of anonymity that, “The unemployment is a critical issue and that is the reason gathering crowds for political rallies as body and face paint are easily obtainable”. “Youth to old men, rent their bodies for an average of 1000 to 800 per day. The crowd is paid 300 to 500 a day, obviously with food, water and travelling.”

Madhav who gets his body painted in almost all political rallies said, “Hum Hava Dekh Ke Rang Lete Hain”, (we see political wind and accordingly paint our body). If BJP is doing well or paying us well, we will go for them, if Congress pays us well, we switch to them. We use our body for business keeping personal emotions and choices aside.”

He further said, “My entire family is in this business; we have our community who are in demand during elections.”

Shirpat, another Body on Rent artist said, “People click pictures with us, we grab all media attention, even politicians get attracted to us. We feel special and more powerful than the politician. Money is important but this kind of attention creates google records for us.”

“The youth are very hyped up about election campaigns. They are trying to send a message through their tattoos too, they want designs on political subjects, such as Modi on the face, lotus on the body,” tattoo artist Bhadresh said.

After witnessing some young students and professionals getting their bodies painted with tattoos on political agendas, now women have got body paint tattoos featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the famous symbol of BJP. Women are paid higher than men because crowd attracting capacity is an additional advantage.

It makes them feel sexy, empowered. For others, it points to who they walk with. “Most of the times I’m wearing Modi paints on my back and sometimes lotus on my forehead,” said Ratika, who likes body tattoos for fashion.

Ratika said she got into body-paint modelling about eight years ago after attending a hair fashion show with a theme. Some models were painted as animals, others as ringmasters for Peta advertisement. “Wearing body paint is very liberating,” she said.

“It builds a lot of self-confidence and it makes you feel really beautiful. It’s a good confidence-builder, and even though it can be frightening at times, but still, I just find it enough fun and other things don’t matter,” said another model Chandani.

Body art is big business in Indian politics. Thousands of artists and bodies get paid. In India every year there is some or other political event and an ample number of social events, these days no event goes without body paints and tattoo artists.

Panic, pandemic and price rise – Second wave of COVID-19

Vaidehi Taman

April 5, 2021

covid 19 pandemic mumbai — Image Courtesy: Reuters

The pandemic and long lockdowns have pinched the pockets of the common man; above all the price hike in all basic sectors such as grocery, vegetables, commuting from office to home everything has reached a peak when it comes to price rise. Petrol and diesel rates have gone up, so the trucks and transportation, that’s how commodities rates, it’s all interred related. People are frustrated because they have their own challenges on various fronts. Survival needs a proper budget. Lack of job opportunities deducted salaries and dried bank accounts are not allowing them a calm life.

The Indian Railway’s higher fares for short-distance passenger trains are done only to discourage people from travel which is not required. But Railways needs to understand when travel is not needed, why would someone want to travel. Those who have to travel to meet their needs take the burns of these price rises.

With a view to regulate rush at stations and in trains, passenger trains are being charged slightly more fair than pre-Covid times and a close vigil is being kept. The situation is being constantly monitored to ensure restoration of services in keeping with the set of rules necessary to be followed during Covid times. It may be noted that Passenger operations have always been subsidized by railways. Indirectly Indian Railways bears a loss on every journey by a passenger.

The national transporter recently started short-distance passenger trains, like Electric Multiple Units, the fares for which have been now kept on a par with the unreserved class of long-distance mail/express trains for the same distance, as a special provision. During Covid, Indian Railways daunt needless travel with a slightly high fare of short-distance trains.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic the national transporter has been running only special trains. Long-distance passenger trains and even short-distance passenger trains are being operated as special train services. As a special provision in view of the novel coronavirus outbreak, the fares of these trains have been fixed at par with mail and express trains’ absolute ticket price, for the same distance.

Indian Railways had stopped the operations of regular trains since 22 March 2020 and increasing the number of passenger trains. Regularization of the usual passenger train services to the pre-pandemic times is to be considered by Indian Railways, keeping in view a range of factors as well as functioning situation.

Since the pre lockdown announcement, 1,250 mail, express trains and 5,350 suburban train services as well as over 326 number of passenger trains are in operation. The short-distance passenger trains account for less than 3 per cent of the total trains being run. After the introduction of Mail and Express train services, the national transporter is operational to passenger trains, by taking all essential safety measures as well as making additional efforts.

COVID-19 is still around and in fact, in some states, the condition is deteriorating. Visitors and travellers from various states are being subjected to screening in other areas as well as discouraged to travel. The little fare hike is to be seen as a proactive measure of the national transporter to prevent crowding in trains and stop novel coronavirus from spreading. somewhere the government is claiming about price drop in LPG and fuel, on the other hand, there are irregularities in services.

The scared migrants once again leaving Mumbai, Passenger train operations have always been subsidized by Indian Railways. Normally, the national transporter takes a loss on every journey by a railway passenger. Despite the fare hike, Indian Railways still remained a cheaper option to travel for the public. Due to the covid crisis, trains are being operated under the toughest conditions and many trains are being operated in spite of low occupancy. Apart from other classes, the special trains that are being operated by Indian Railways have a large number of 2nd class coaches that have the lowest fare in the reserved category. According to officials, compared to the pre-pandemic unreserved travelling situations, 40 per cent of the railway passengers have travelled in the “2S” class in much better conditions.

No doubt people are feeling the pain of price rise; the government has its own explanation. Indian railway is at loss and above all controlling the pandemic is the biggest challenge. People are prevented by imposing high prices on tickets. Be it UPA and NDA, railway was never in profit-making. When BJP was in opposition Modi post his victory said, ‘bhaiyon petrol ke daam Kam huey, abhi aur kum honge ‘ this was when the price of crude dropped to as low as 40 us$ per barrel and the US $ was around 60.

If the price drop was because of Modi the high price of petroleum that prevails today should also go to his credit. Having said that, the petroleum price is decided by the input cost chiefly crude oil prices and the exchange rate. On top of this, there are Govt taxes. The Govt while crude oil prices were low fixed heavy taxes and filled their coffins. They are retaining the greed of heavy taxes even when crude and exchange rates have gone high.

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