Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday compared the ongoing farmers’ protests against the three new Central agriculture-related laws with the Champaran agitation during the British rule and said every farmer-labourer part of the current movement is a ‘satyagrahi’ and they will take their rights back.
“The country is going to face a Champaran-like tragedy. British were ‘company Bahadur’ back then and now Modi-friends are ‘company Bahadur’,” Gandhi alleged in a tweet in Hindi.
“But, every farmer-labourer of the movement is a ‘satyagrahi’ who will take back their rights,” the former Congress chief said. The Champaran Satyagraha of 1917 was led by Mahatma Gandhi and is considered a historic event in India’s independence movement. It was a farmer’s uprising that took place in the Champaran district of Bihar during the British colonial period when the farmers protested having to grow indigo with barely any payment for it.
देश एक बार फिर चंपारन जैसी त्रासदी झेलने जा रहा है।
तब अंग्रेज कम्पनी बहादुर था, अब मोदी-मित्र कम्पनी बहादुर हैं।
लेकिन आंदोलन का हर एक किसान-मज़दूर सत्याग्रही है जो अपना अधिकार लेकर ही रहेगा।
Congress has been seeking the repeal of the three new farm laws, alleging that they will ruin farming and the farmers. Congress is also supporting the farmers’ agitation against the legislations.
After the sixth round of formal negotiations on Wednesday, the government and farm unions reached some common ground to resolve to protest farmers’ concerns over rising in power tariff and penalties for stubble burning, but the two sides remained deadlocked over the main contentious issues of the repeal of three farm laws and a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP).
Braving the cold, thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab and Haryana, are protesting at various borders of the national capital for more than a month against these laws. The government has presented these laws as major agriculture sector reforms aimed at helping farmers and increasing their income, but the protesting unions fear that the new legislations will leave them at the mercy of big corporates by weakening the MSP and mandi systems.
An official on Friday informed that police have registered offenses against 416 persons for indulging in drunk driving in Thane city of Maharashtra during the New Year celebrations and over 200 of their co-travellers for allowing them to drive under the influence of liquor.
All the accused were booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Motor Vehicles Act.
While speaking on the same DCP (Traffic) Balasaheb Patil said, “A total of 623 persons were found drunk. Of them, 416 were caught driving under the influence of liquor, while the remaining 207 persons were their co-travelers, who were booked for abetting the crime.”
The official further continued stating that over 400 of these cases involved two-wheelers.
As many as 107 of the total number of cases were registered under Narpoli traffic division of Bhiwandi, according to the report.
Amid New Year celebrations, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in Mumbai on Friday has arrested three drug peddlers in Mumbai for allegedly possessing Mephedrone, a synthetic stimulant.
According to an official from the anti-drug agency, the team had conducted raids at two places in Andheri and Kurla areas on New Year’s Eve.
Sameer Wankhede, Zonal Director of the Narcotics Control Bureau while sharing the information in connection with the case said, “All three were presented in the court on Friday.”Further probe related to this matter is underway.
Looking at the reflection on the past 365 days spent locked inside homes, and freaking over those tight uncomfortable suffocating masks. The only buzz word for all is “COVID-19” in 2020. 7 January 2020, WHO is notified of the novel coronavirus, known as 2019-nCoV, in China. Counting on, there are unending complaints, complications, uncertainties, obstacles with all of us. Many of us might have lost our dear and near ones due to the suffering of Covid-19. Few of them have suffered through depression and risk their lives in this lockdown, while others have been waiting badly for things to normalize. We have lost some of the Stars from Bollywood this year – The suicide of Sushant Singh Rajput, the sudden demise of Irrfan Khan due to colon infection, Rishi Kapoor gave up fighting his battle with cancer, Legendary Filmmaker Basu Chatterjee, Veteran Bollywood Choreographer Saroj Khan passed away, Bollywood composer-singer Wajid Khan and many more.
Many might have gone through an economic crisis either due to loss of jobs or reduction of the pay scale. Few have been struggling to find a new job across LinkedIn and the College pass-outs have been in trauma for not being able to get placements when it’s time to repay the loans for graduation/ post-graduation. Businesses have seen a drastic downfall, be it a small start-up or a huge brand. We have seen brands shutting down permanently. The education sector has seen a lot of hassle, with parents not ready to take online classes for kids and refusing to pay the annual fees, and teachers’ experiences pay cut, rendering many jobless too.
When we asked our readers how was the year 2020’s experiences for them here are the opinions:
The famous Indian YouTuber and internet sensation Bhuvan Bam, told Afternoon Vice, “2020 has not been a very easy year with the pandemic, lockdowns, forest fires, mass layoffs and the list goes on. But what has changed for good is the face of humanity. My biggest learning this year was the importance of each and every individual around me; our strength lies in being a part of the community. Sometimes we just need to remind ourselves how important kindness is. All I can resolve to say that 2021 will have better days to see. As for me, I’ll be entering into a newer vertical of entertainment with BBKiVines’ new production Dhindora. I am really excited for the year to come and hope 2021 brings a lot of joy in each of our lives along with a ray of hope to realize our dreams or even spark a new beginning.”
“The very first thing I want to do in 2021 is to travel to different places with my family and friends. Along with this, I want to create a lot more new and meaningful content as it was not possible in this year due to the pandemic. 2021 will be more exciting content-wise as everyone will get to see a lot of ACVHatke concepts. 2020 was a roller coaster ride for everyone but I am grateful that my parents recovered from COVID-19. This lockdown has made me stronger and I have connected with my fans in a better way than before. They have always supported me and helped me overcome my ups and downs,” said Ashish Chanchalani who is a Digital Celebrity and a YouTuber.
Bollywood actress Urvashi Rautela cited, “2020 has actually been one of the best years of my life. In this year we have faced several challenges, adapted new habits, and have overcome them. 2020 has forced us to grow exponentially. So, don’t take that for granted. Happy New Year 2021. ”
Indian Standup Comedian Amit Tandon shared his experience, “The year 2020 was full of opportunities for me. Lockdown encouraged me to focus more on my health, creative skills, and family. Earlier, due to traveling and back-to-back work I was hardly able to focus on things of my interest. I always wanted to do more than just stand-up comedy and this year gave me a chance to explore my limits and test my boundaries. I became more familiar with the technical world because of which I could manage all my shows by myself virtually. Going ahead, in 2021, I am working for an audio show and a few digital series that are written by me. A lot of exploration has happened which I could safely add to my portfolio.”
Sultan movie actor Anant Vidhaat cited, “2020 was a difficult year for everyone all over the world. I have had my share of challenges but it is nothing compared to what people have faced. I acknowledge the fact that I have been privileged enough not to go through the turmoil as many have gone through like migrating or losing loved ones. Our industry has also suffered losses of various kinds. I feel 2020 was an important year to reflect individually and collectively. Just don’t postpone life for tomorrow, and be grateful for what you have. Happy New Year! ”
Dancer and Bollywood actress Seerat Kapoor said, “The year 2020 has taught us that we have the freedom to choose our attitude towards any given set of circumstances and the ability to affect its output. Here’s wishing everyone a walk into 2021 knowing that you can play a much greater role than you thought in shaping your life and improving within. All my love, Happy New year! ”
CEO of a PR agency- The Other Circle Aakansha Gupta, told Afternoon Voice, “The year 2020 has been one of the most challenging years for me as an entrepreneur. However, if there is one lesson that the year 2020 has taught me, it’s oodles of gratitude and I think I am really grateful for all the learnings and difficulties that I have faced at the beginning of COVID 19 lockdown. Also, teamwork and companionship are something that made me feel that one can not climb the mountain alone, we do need a team to make it work. Besides all of this, I think building a network has been one of my key learnings of 2020. With all the learnings and gratitude I am looking forward to welcoming 2021! Happy New Year everyone! ”
Dr. Daljeet Kaur, who is also an actor and IAWA President stated, “During the COVID 19 lockdown, I got an opportunity to connect with the world because I started online pageants and award shows and because of this I have started meeting more and more people across the world. The year 2020 and especially the COVID 19 pandemic has taught us one thing LIVE FOR THE PRESENT, because whatever is going to happen isn’t in our hands. Also, the best part about the lockdown is that I got time to spend with my family and son, I could work from home and connect to many people around the world through zoom meetings and webinars. In fact, I got a chance to increase my business on a large scale during COVID 19 lockdown.”
A resident of Borivali Priti Thakkar said, “There’s nothing happy about 2020 to be talking about considering all memories I have of 2020 is sitting home in lockdown. Hence, 2020 has taught me that we need to value freedom and not undermine it. Pandemic has very well taught me as to what happens when someone takes away your freedom to roam freely.”
“Due to COVID 19 pandemic, not only India but the rest of the other countries have also decided to close schools, colleges and universities. And because of this online teaching has turned up as a massive shock for me. Also, our school started paying 50% of our salaries without giving any prior notice. The work which I had never done before, I did that also in this lockdown period. As a teacher, I knew only schoolwork, but the COVID 19 pandemic had taught me many things including household chores,” said Bano Khan who is a teacher by profession.
Shivani Lokahnde, an HR executive said, ” The year 2020 for me was filled with mixed emotions. The main and most important lesson I have learned is, in order to live a normal happy life one doesn’t need all the luxuries or materialistic things (malls, fancy food). Our life was very much dependent on these things but I have realized basic food, clothing, shelter are only the necessity required. Simple living and great thinking is what takes an hour.”
Brand Strategist, Strategic Consultant and Public Relations Expert from Delhi, Shiv Rajvanshi said, “The year 2020 has proved to be a nightmare for all, I would like to thank wholeheartedly all the warriors who did not back down from risking their lives for us during the pandemic (Covid-19)! On the other hand, the year 2020 has been a game-changer year for me as I took the most important decisions of my career during this epidemic, which I had only dreamed that I would achieve someday. Proved like a boon, as if nature is extending its arms and welcoming my every decision! Right now I am Just looking forward to welcoming 2021.”
The civic body in Mumbai- Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Thursday has allowed food delivery by restaurants and hotels after 11 PM on the night of December 31. On December 23 the state government had announced a night curfew in Maharashtra till January 5 in the backdrop of the new COVID 19 strain, which was first found in the United Kingdom in September.
On Thursday, the BMC took to Twitter and urged the Mumbaikars not to stop the party and stated that restaurants are allowed to home deliver food in the city post 11:00 PM till 1.30 AM. Later the civic body said that the Centre’s COVID-19 prevention norms will have to be followed to ensure Mumbai rings in the New Year 2021 with safety.
“Don’t Stop The Party, Mumbai – Just Take It Indoors After 11:00! Restaurants are allowed to home deliver food in the city post 11:00 pm. COVID-prevention norms will have to be followed to ensure Mumbai rings in the new year with safety,” the BMC tweeted.
Don’t Stop The Party, Mumbai – Just Take It Indoors After 11:00!
Restaurants are allowed to home deliver food in the city post 11:00pm.
COVID-prevention norms will have to be followed to ensure Mumbai rings in the new year with safety.#MyBMCUpdates#NaToCorona#StayHome
This comes following a week after the BMC had banned all celebrations after 11 pm, including on building terraces, disappointing many prospective revelers across the city. Earlier it was also reported that some restaurant owners and hoteliers have urged the government to allow them to open the restaurant after 11 pm on new year’s eve.
To ensure that Mumbaikars follow COVID-19 guidelines on new year’s eve, the Maharashtra government has deployed around 30,000 personnel of the Mumbai Police and several drones on duty.
According to S Chaitanya, spokesperson of the Mumbai Police, “Night curfew to remain in place from 11 pm today to 6 am tomorrow. Section 144 to remain imposed prohibiting the gathering of 5 or more persons. No parties will be allowed in restaurants, pubs, bars, beaches, rooftops, or boats.”
Meanwhile on Wednesday Mumbai reported 714 new coronavirus positive cases and 13 deaths, taking the caseload to 2,92,722 and the fatality
India is home to talented performers and artists from varied fields. Be it Acting, Dancing, or Modelling, the country has an ocean of talented artists. While a few of them manage to garner popularity, there are a few artists whose talent gets unnoticed. To boost and promote artists from across the country, the need for a talent management company comes into the picture. Among many other companies, Toabh Talent Management has built its reputation as a successful name. Founded in 2008, the company has produced many talents who have made their mark in showbiz.
The brainchild behind Toabh is none other than Sangeeta Sikdar Bhatia and Toaney Bhatia who have taken this company to new heights. With expertise in talent management for more than a decade, Sangeeta is leading the company’s talent development and strategy. In the last 10 years, the company has flourished with having more than 50 employees which are now growing at an unprecedented rate. The entrepreneur who hails from a fashion background persuaded her career as a fashion stylist before getting into talent management.
Today Toabh has become a household name in talent management and is the most trusted company in India. Moreover, the company in the last few years has given a new dimension to the talent management business by bringing together different elements of the film, fashion, music, celebrity management, and advertising under the same umbrella. Many celebrities who are now well-known names have had their association with Toabh Talent Management.
The leading ladies from the glamour world including Disha Patani, Nora Fatehi, Warina Hussain, Nataša Stanković, Amyra Dastur, Poulomi Polo Das, Shirley Setia, Sapna Pabbi, Larissa Bonesi, and males like Asim Riaz, Ehan Bhat all have reached the pinnacle of success.
Disha Patani has also shared an image with Sangeeta captioning it, “Can’t get enough of such a loving family and team with mommy daddy” tagging Sangeeta and Toaney. Offering different services to its talents like endorsements, appearances, performances, magazines, fashion events, ad films, and movies;
Toabh has been the ultimate platform for all talented artists. There’s no doubt in the fact that Sangeeta Sikdar Bhatia has changed the fortunes of many celebrities and the company is surely shaping up the careers of many talented artists from across the country and abroad.
I call it Rat year because we were caged in lockdown, we were hiding from social lives. And many people were running towards their states just like the rats of sinking ships. Many got killed without getting hour of death or final rituals. This year we lived like rats, we ate whatever was possible and we lived confined. Entire this year we mostly stayed at home, many youngsters lost their jobs, small ventures got closed, the savings drained, salary cuts and layoffs this year gave us many challenges for survival. Lot of people come on road; their life also changed. Street vendor, businessmen industries, Farmer, etc. had worst time. Farmers didn’t get labor due to pandemic. India’s and other countries’ (those face to this lockdown) GDP declined, economic clashed. The COVID-19 pandemic that infected almost millions of people and killed nearly lakh worldwide till the filing of this story. Economies around the world collapsed, job losses are at a peak and several sectors witnessed a doom. Natural disasters followed in different parts of the globe, leading to further bloodbath. India, for example, witnessed floods, cyclones, earthquakes, and a bloody border confrontation all in the past eight months. India, for example, witnessed floods, cyclones, earthquakes, and a bloody border confrontation all in the past eight months. This rat year is a uniquely bizarre year. The biggest thing that we’ve experienced in this present 21st century is the routine changes. Normally there would be new movie releases every week or month in the cinemas, but those moments are being stopped until these days. The daily routines are also changed; people are forced to wear a mask every time if they go out. Tourism industry, one of the most suffered industry ever in terms of economy.
2020 will most definitely go down in history as it is the year where the whole world is suffering from one pandemic known as Covid-19. The virus has claimed almost 3.4 million lives out of 5.43 million reported cases leading to governments taking control measures like curfews and lockdowns to contain the virus. Still, in the same year, it is seen that 500 million animals die due to bush fire in Australia. To many, this may seem like the most disastrous year, but after in-depth research, it is clear that the world has experienced worse cases before. Conditions like smallpox in (1520) and the Spanish Flu (1920) that claimed about 100 million lives are just but an example of dark days that the world has experienced in the past. Each showed how unprepared the world is to face severe virus attacks and expose negligence by various governments in equipping hospitals with enough tools to test and cure viruses as they surface.
Approaching the end of this troublesome of a year, the Coronavirus was an awful pandemic and it ruined and changed the lives of millions. We are into the closing day of a year that must go down as the worst since Independence, mostly but not only because of Covid-19. India is better placed now than it was half a century ago to deal with multiple simultaneous crises. So while the issues confronting the country go beyond the extreme privations caused by the lockdown, and beyond also the vaccination challenge to tame a deadly virus that has taken a massive toll, the economic damage can be substantially repaired in the next couple of years — the sharp shrinking of the economy for the first time in four decades, the large-scale loss of jobs, the impact on government finances, and the ballooning of public debt. But, to repeat, the blight on the year wasn’t just on account of Covid.
In fact Covid brought to a halt the sustained agitation against a new citizenship law by people who feared the horrors of potential statelessness. As the year draws to a close, farmers in north India have laid siege to Delhi in protest against three new laws to do with agriculture (produce marketing, contract farming, and application of the Essential Commodities Act). In between, there were the first large-scale riots in Delhi after the post-Partition mayhem (1984 was a pogrom, not a riot). The Test cricket team’s performance does not lift the mood, but there is more than cricket on the mind of anyone who values the liberal heart of the Constitution and its guarantees of individual freedoms. The continuing erosion of civil liberty bulwarks comes along with partisan state laws for largely imagined social problems, high-handed executive action at state and central level, and prosecutorial targeting. One could add the messages implicit in the Supreme Court judgment last year in the Ramjanma Bhoomi case, followed this year by the “not guilty” verdict for everyone accused of conspiring to pull down the Babri Masjid. As the country enters the third decade of the century, one thing is clear: Its institutions and instincts, resources and reserves will face tough stress tests. The government can argue with reason that it has dealt proactively with issues and pushed economic reform in the midst of crisis. But the violence in a Karnataka factory by unpaid workers reminds everyone that capitalism functions best with effective regulation and oversight. Meanwhile, the uncompromising stance of agitating farmers who fear the loss of a safety net is reminiscent of the anti-corruption agitation of 2011. The underlying problem was and is lack of trust between the rulers and the ruled. So, it is time the most powerful government of the past three decades reminded itself of the promises it made: Good days, good governance, and progress for everyone.
Nationalist Congress Party leader Eknath Khadse who was summoned by he Enforcement Directorate to appear on Wednesday (December 30) in connection with the investigations into a Pune land deal case, skipped the ED’s visit citing health reasons.
According to the statement issued by the former Bharatiya Janata Party leader, since the past couple of days, he has been suffering from fever, cold, dry cough and other health issues similar to Covid-19 symptoms.
The statement reads, “On the advice of doctors, I have also undergone a Covid-19 test, the report of which is awaited. I have informed the ED of the same and they have permitted me to take rest for 14 days.”
Khadse has assured that soon after his health condition improves, he will report to the ED office and fully cooperate in the probe.
Besides Khadse the ED has also sent a summon to Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut‘s wife Varsha Raut in connection with PMC bank scam case, recently.
On Wednesday, state health minister Rajesh Tope stated that Maharashtra has not recorded any case of the new mutant coronavirus strain that surfaced in the United Kingdom yet.
According to the health minister, “As many as 43 samples of the UK returnees, who tested positive for Covid-19, were sent for genetic analysis. But no sample was tested for the new strain.”
Reportedly, Maharashtra government had banned travel to and from the UK much before the Central government did so. Besides this the stat government also very serious regarding the swab tests of UK returnees and is taking care that no one misses out.
Stating further on new COVID 19 strain Tope said, “In any case, if someone has missed out and we get to know it, we will take a befitting action following the protocol.”
When asked about the precautionary steps taken by the state government for the new coronavirus strain, Tope said that authorities will take care that the Standard operating procedures (SoPs) will be strictly executed by the people. “If necessary, we have asked the local authorities across the state to increase the fine for not following the SoPs,” cited the minister.
The Uddhav Thackeray led government want to achieve the goal of ‘Zero COVID-19’ cases in the state.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday India has recorded 14 fresh cases of new strain of COVID 10, which was first reported in the United Kingdom in September this year. With the addition of 14 new cases the total number of such cases surge to 20 in the country.
According to a circular issued by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday all schools in Mumbai will remain closed till January 15, 2021. This comes following the state’s school education department told local administrations to decide on the matter.
In November this year the civic body had decided to keep all schools in Mumbai closed till December 31. The Maharashtra government had earlier allowed Classes 9 to 12 to reopen from November 23.
“Considering BMC is Mumbai’s local body, we have taken the decision to keep the schools shut. We have also studied the pattern of Covid-19 spread in other parts of the country after schools were reopened, and hence have decided to keep them shut till December 31,” a BMC official had said in November.
Meanwhile, in the last hours Mumbai reported 537 new COVID 19 cases taking the tally to 292,008. The city has record total 11,094 deaths related to Covid-19, according to the government.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday compared the ongoing farmers’ protests against the three new Central agriculture-related laws with the Champaran agitation during the British rule and said every farmer-labourer part of the current movement is a ‘satyagrahi’ and they will take their rights back.
Looking at the reflection on the past 365 days spent locked inside homes, and freaking over those tight uncomfortable suffocating masks. The only buzz word for all is “COVID-19” in 2020. 7 January 2020, WHO is notified of the novel coronavirus, known as 2019-nCoV, in China. Counting on, there are unending complaints, complications, uncertainties, obstacles with all of us. Many of us might have lost our dear and near ones due to the suffering of Covid-19. Few of them have suffered through depression and risk their lives in this lockdown, while others have been waiting badly for things to normalize. We have lost some of the Stars from Bollywood this year – The suicide of Sushant Singh Rajput, the sudden demise of Irrfan Khan due to colon infection, Rishi Kapoor gave up fighting his battle with cancer, Legendary Filmmaker Basu Chatterjee, Veteran Bollywood Choreographer Saroj Khan passed away, Bollywood composer-singer Wajid Khan and many more.