Calling the BJP “garbage of lies” and “biggest curse of the nation”, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday dared the saffron party to arrest her and asserted she will ensure TMC victory in the upcoming elections even from jail. Election to the 294-member West Bengal Assembly is due in April-May.
Accusing the BJP of trying to poach TMC MLAs by attempting to bribe them, Banerjee, without naming anyone, said some people are acting as fence-sitters who are under the illusion that the saffron party might come to power in the state. “The BJP is not a political party but garbage of lies.
Whenever the election arrives, they bring up the issue of Narada (sting operation) and Saradha (scam) to intimidate TMC leaders.
“But let me tell them very clearly, I am not afraid of the BJP or its agencies. If they have the guts, they can arrest me and put me behind the bars. I will fight elections from jail and ensure the victory of the TMC,” Banerjee said in her first major public rally here in post-COVID times.
Referring to the recently-concluded Bihar elections, Banerjee said even RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav has been put behind the bars but still he ensured his party’s good performance.
“Even Lalu Prasad Yadav has been put behind bars but still he has ensured his party’s good performance. The victory of the BJP (in Bihar) is through manipulation and not through popular mandate,” she said.
Lashing out at the BJP for allegedly trying to intimidate and bribe the TMC MLAs, Banerjee said, “Few people are under the illusion that they (BJP) will come to power, so some people are trying to take a chance. But I want to say this clearly, there is neither any chance nor ‘by-chance’ for the BJP to come to power. We will again return to power with a bigger mandate.” The TMC is ruling the state since 2011.
Ahmed Patel, a senior leader of the Indian National Congress party, was considered the most influential person in the party after the Gandhi family. More than anything, a political secretary to the Congress President Sonia Gandhi since 2001 and is widely credited with the party’s performance in 2004 and 2009. Patel had been a crucial adviser of Sonia even before she stepped into politics. It was said that Sonia was only a namesake president while Patel was the actual head of the Congress Working Committee. CWC is the highest executive body of Congress.
Patel’s political journey began when he became the youngest Parliamentarian to win a Lok Sabha seat from Bharuch in Gujarat in 1977, at the age of 26. His victory came against the grain, with the Congress party having been defeated by the Janata Party after Indira Gandhi’s Emergency. All the party’s top leaders, including Gandhi herself, had been defeated. From January to September 1985 Patel was the Parliamentary Secretary to then, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Patel was a trusted aide of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. It was this time he came close to Sonia Gandhi, during the years of Narsimha Rao’s government he batted for the Gandhi family and their position in the Congress Party. After Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination, Ahmed Patel took care of the entire family, whether it was the education of Rahul and Priyanka or any financial matter. He served the family like a loyal servant.
In 1998 Patel played an important role in preparing Sonia to take charge of party affairs and in dethroning Sitaram Kesri to install her as party president. Sonia’s blind trust in Patel is attributed to the fact that he never abused his power, nor sought to use his proximity to the Gandhi clan to further any personal ambition. Everybody in Congress was aware that had more influence than the prime minister, but he never misused that power to seek personal benefits. Another reason for this trust is that when the Congress was at a low decline and everyone else deserted the party, Patel remained steadfastly loyal. As the party continues to lose Assembly elections one after the other, following the drubbing it received in the Lok Sabha polls, everyone in the party has been blaming the top leadership for it. However, Patel has not said a word. It shows how the ebb and flow of electoral politics fails to weaken the strength of the bond shared by Sonia and Patel. A low-profile politician who never accepted any ministerial positions at the centre, He has always preferred to be a backroom strategist, although from joint secretary to Parliamentary secretary and the all-powerful treasurer of Congress.
Rahul Gandhi was of the opinion that Ahmed Patel is responsible for Congress’ decline in the Country. So when Mamta Banerjee offered Ahmed Patel a Rajya Sabha seat from West Bengal. Rahul refused instead elected Pradip Bhattacharya from West Bengal and asked Patel to prove his might by winning in Rajya Sabha from Gujarat. Patel actually need not please junior Gandhi because he was aware of the party’s fate without him. Ahmed Patel has been in the Rajya Sabha for the last 25 years. Having been with the party since Rajiv Gandhi’s time, he is among the top five leaders in the party today. He is the man, the lieutenant for the party. Also, his name has an Ahmed and a Patel in it, which is self-explanatory. But it isn’t just the loss of his long-held seat in the Rajya Sabha but the way he lost it that will be cataclysmic for the Congress.
So, Ahmed Patel finally wins. He would have lost for sure had not the Congress brilliantly pointed out two invalid votes to the election commission. Apparently, two of the rebel Congress MLAs who voted for the BJP candidate showed their ballot papers to Amit Shah, which is illegal because it was supposed to be a secret vote. Since 2014 Congress has seen its low for a long time, but leaders like Patel have proven to be a great support to the family and Congress party. Patel, a staunch loyalist of the Nehru-Gandhi family and Congress Party’s top strategist, passed away at a Gurugram hospital on Wednesday due to multi-organ failure. Patel, 71, was suffering from complications related to Covid-19. Ahmed Patel was the go-to man in the Congress who kept a low profile but quietly wielded power and meticulously executed decisions of the leadership. He served as an effective link between the party and government during the two terms of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) between 2004 and 2014. As political secretary to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, he had access to leadership that no other leader in the party had and worked the channels to work out various issues. His rapport with party leaders across generations came in handy in the role as he efficiently executed decisions while acting as a bridge between the top leadership and party functionaries at various levels. Patel was also the party’s key link with leaders across the political divide. While he played a key role in managing the party’s ties with allies when the United Progressive Alliance governments were in power, he worked equations when the party was not in power to see that Congress remained the principal pole in opposition and worked closely with other parties during joint programmes against the BJP-led government. On the basis of his organisational skills, he was appointed the secretary of the Jawahar Bhawan Trust in 1988. He was asked by Rajiv Gandhi to supervise the construction of Jawahar Bhawan on New Delhi’s Raisina Road, a project which had been stalled for more than a decade. In a record one year, just in time for Jawaharlal Nehru’s birth centenary celebrations, Patel successfully created Jawahar Bhawan. A long-serving member of the Congress Working Committee, he was among those who contested and won elections to the party’s highest decision-making body. Patel had earlier also served as the treasurer of the party when Congress was out of power from 1996-2000. He had also been involved with the work of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation. He was appointed party treasurer in August 2018 ahead of the Lok Sabha elections as Congress faced a fund crunch. The appointment came when Rahul Gandhi was the party president showing his resourcefulness and indispensability to the party. He was unhappy over the letter that a group of 23 Congress leaders wrote to Sonia giving their suggestions for the party’s revamp and instead wanted them to convey their views by meeting her.
During the UPA Government regime between 2004 and 2014, Patel was one of the chief trouble-shooters, coordinators, and translators between the government and party. Patel died on 25 November 2020 due to multiple organ failures stemming from COVID-19. Many Congress veterans died one by one, due to old age. Congress of the New generation needs someone to replace all these guiding figures, or else the demise of Congress is inevitable.
With the demise of veteran leader Ahmed Patel, the Congress has lost ‘Chanakya’. Ahmed Patel also played a major role in establishing the Mahavikas Aghadi in the state. Ahmed Patel was considered as Chanakya of the Congress party. The party had its support on every occasion. He was not only active on the political front, but he was closely associated with many social causes.
“We have benefited a lot from the guidance and experience of Ahmed Patel when the Mahavikas Aghadi government came to power in the state,” CM stated further.
Ahmed Patel is the second senior Congress leader to have died due to COVID-related complications, as his death comes two days after former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi died in Guwahati. Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel, one of Sonia Gandhi’s closest political advisers, died at a Gurgaon hospital this morning. He was 71. The veteran politician had been at Medanta Hospital since his health worsened after a COVID infection.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said Patel was an experienced colleague to whom she “constantly turned for advice and counsel”.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called Patel a “pillar of the Congress party”. “He lived and breathed Congress and stood with the party through its most difficult times. He was a tremendous asset. We will miss him. My love and condolences to Faisal, Mumtaz & the family,” Rahul Gandhi tweeted. On October 1, Patel, while disclosing that he was tested positive for coronavirus, had urged all those who came in contact with him in the past few days to undergo self-isolation.
Messages of condolences and tributes poured in soon after the announcement of Patel’s death. Mourning the death of Patel, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi said she has lost an “irreplaceable comrade, a faithful colleague, and a friend”. “I have lost a colleague, whose entire life was dedicated to the Congress party,” Mrs. Gandhi said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi remembered the seasoned politician, saying “his role in strengthening the Congress Party would always be remembered”. “Saddened by the demise of Ahmed Patel, He spent years in public life, serving society. Known for his sharp mind, his role in strengthening the Congress Party would always be remembered. Spoke to his son Faisal and expressed condolences. May Ahmed Bhai’s soul rest in peace,” PM Modi tweeted.
Patel’s body will be taken to his hometown in Gujarat’s Bharuch where his last rites will be performed tomorrow. The body will be flown to Gujarat in a chartered flight today. Ahmed Patel, also the treasurer of the Congress, had tested positive for the COVID-19 on October 1 and had been admitted to the ICU of Medanta Hospital in Gurgaon on November 15.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray directed to start the further process of the desalination project of converting 200 MLD seawater into potable water at Manor after reviewing it to avoid water cut in Mumbai during the months of May and June. He was speaking at the review meeting at his official residence Varsha bungalow to review this 200 MLD desalination project.
Guardian minister for the Mumbai suburban district Aaditya Thackeray, Mumbai mayor Kishori Pednekar, BMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal, principal secretary to Chief Minister Ajoy Mehta, additional chief secretary Ashish Kumar Singh, principal secretary to chief minister Vikas Kharge, BMC additional commissioner P Velrasu were present.
Chief Minister Thackeray said that after the onset of the Monsoon due to its delay, water cut of 10 to 15 per cent is effected in Mumbai during the months of May and June. He said that if sea water is converted into potable water people of Mumbai would not be troubled with this water cut. He said that many countries have successfully implemented such projects while many others are undertaking such desalination projects. Stating that for a mega-city like Mumbai, such a project would be beneficial, chief minister directed to continue the process for this project.
Stating that Maharashtra has a big coastline, the chief minister said that seawater for this project is available, and if the project is run on solar energy, it would reduce the cost. Pointing out that water quality at Manor was good, he said that infrastructure also can be made available easily. Stating that Government piece of land is available at Manor and road infrastructure is also available he said that urban locality is not in this near vicinity which would result in completing the project without any hurdles and people of Mumbai would receive uninterrupted water supply.
There is a proposal of setting up this project on 25 to 30 acres of land at Manor and it is suitable for capacity enhancement of this 200 MLD project. BMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal in his presentation informed that a period of two and a half to three years would be required to complete this project.
Pratap Sarnaik a prominent among the Shiv Sena leaders who demanded sedition charges against actor Kangana Ranaut for her “Mumbai-PoK” remarks while alleging she felt unsafe in the city because of what she alleged was poor police handling of the Sushant Singh Rajput case. Since Shiv Sena ended its long-term ties with the BJP last year after a dispute over power-sharing in Maharashtra nothing is going well between them. The Sena came to power in the state in an alliance with ideological rivals NCP and Congress. Shiv Sena leader and cabinet minister Pratap Sarnaik’s home and offices in Thane were raided by the Enforcement Directorate. ED also conducted searches at ten other places in Mumbai and Thane with respect to a money laundering case. Shiv Sena believes it’s a political plot to take revenge. As Chairman of Vihang Group Of Companies, he has been involved in many Real Estate projects in Thane City since 1989. Few Residential/ Commercial projects executed are Vihang Shantivan, Vihang Garden, Srushti Complex, Vihang Residency, Vihang Tower, Vihang Vihar, Vihang Park, Raunak Tower, Vihang Arcade & Raunak Arcade. Pratap Sarnaik owns Hotel Vihang’s Inn – a 3-Star business hotel at Thane. The group also owns Vihang’s Palm club which offers a swimming pool, health club, jacuzzi, and squash. Sarnaik is one of the filthy rich politicians of Maharashtra.
Soon after he was appointed one of the main spokespersons, Sarnaik, who also has interests in real estate, had become vocal against the Opposition in the state. He brought in privilege motions against Kangana Ranaut and Arnab Goswami in the previous session of the Assembly. That is the reason Shiv Sena termed the ED’s raids on properties of Pratap Sarnaik as “political vendetta” and said the Maharashtra government or its leaders will not surrender to pressure from anyone. Talking to reporters, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, without naming the BJP, said it should forget the dream of coming to power in Maharashtra for the next 25 years, “no matter how much pressure it exerts or spreads terror through agencies”. “If you have begun today, we know how to end it,”. Both the parties once were in alliance and they turned blind at corruption, In 2015 people elected BJP and Devendra Fadnavis as CM because he came up with Ajit Pawar’s irrigation scam, by calling NCP a national corrupt Party, last year Devendra was at the feet of Pawar & sworn in with him for power. Looking at these double standards BJP looks similar to others; they lost the narrative on Corruption free party. BJP and Shivsena was in alliance for decades, the Shiv Sena, which was earlier a long-term ally of the BJP but snapped ties with it last year over the issue of sharing the chief ministerial post, is in power in Maharashtra along with the NCP and Congress.
Sarnaik is said to have a lot of clout in the Thane region and for long had a rivalry with NCP’s Jitendra Awhad. But after the formation of the MVA government, recently they held a joint press conference over a housing scheme launched by Awhad. Sarnaik is seen as a firebrand politician of the old Shiv Sena mold. He has in the past courted controversy with his less than politically correct statements. Sarnaik has won from Thane multiple times and was rewarded for his loyalty with a cabinet berth. Sarnaik had also been vocal during the Sushant Singh Rajput case defending the allegations made against Sena scion Aaditya Thackeray. He had also asked for a drugs probe against actor Kangana Ranaut for her earlier statements about drug consumption.
As Sarnaik is close to Matoshree, the party may see this as feud politics against him. At present he is a Member of the Legislative Assembly – Ovala-Majiwada (Vidhan Sabha constituency), Communication Leader- Mira Bhayander, Shivsena, Chairman- Vihang Group of Companies, and Founder & President- Sanskruti Yuva Pratishthan.
Pratap Sarnaik was born in a Maharashtra middle-class family in 1964 at Wardha to Indirabai & Baburao Sarnaik. His father Baburao Sarnaik migrated to Mumbai. Pratap Sarnaik attended the Pendharkar College in Dombivli. His fondness for social service made him join the Students Movement during his college days. Pratap Sarnaik started his political career with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). He left the NCP in November 2008 and joined the Shiv Sena. He won the General elections, from Ovala-Majiwada (Vidhan Sabha constituency) as Shiv Sena candidate with 52,373 votes. His two sons, Vihang and Purvesh are key members of Yuva Sena. Younger son Purvesh Sarnaik is Secretary of Yuva Sena and actively involved in its activities and campaigns. His wife Parisha Sarnaik too is a local corporator in Thane Municipal Corporation representing Ward 29. The entire family in politics and they have accumulated wealth. The raid on Sarnaiks comes just a week before the first anniversary of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi on November 28. The ED officials along with the CRPF personnel raided the home and around nine other premises belonging to Sarnaik. Later, his son Vihang was detained for his involvement in money laundering, Benami Transactions, Parking Corrupt/Scam. Pratap Sarnaik stands by his statements on actress Kangana Ranaut.
He earlier accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of colluding with the National Commission for Women (NCW) to push for his arrest. Maharashtra got Mumbai because of the martyrdom of 106 heroes in the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement. If anyone says anything about Mumbai, which we got after shedding the blood of Marathi manus, I will definitely not tolerate it,” he tweeted in Marathi. In another tweet, he said, “The BJP has played a game of arresting me by colluding with the NCW. But no matter how many times I have to go to jail for the pride of Mumbai and Maharashtra, I am ready.” NCW was not assigned against him but finally, he fell into the trap of ED. The ED conducted searches at 10 locations linked to Pratap Sarnaik including his residence and office in Mumbai and Thane, in connection with a money-laundering probe. The raids were conducted at properties owned by promoters of Tops Group, which runs a security services company.
The Government of India bans access to 43 mobile apps including AliExpress, citing that these apps were engaged in activities that are prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India, defense of India, the security of the state, and public order on Tuesday.
The order was issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology under section 69A of the Information Technology Act, based on the comprehensive reports received from the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center, Ministry of Home Affairs.
Here’s the complete list of mobile apps that have been blocked by the Indian government:
AliSuppliers Mobile App
Alibaba Workbench
AliExpress – Smarter Shopping, Better Living
Alipay Cashier
Lalamove India – Delivery App
Drive with Lalamove India
Snack Video
CamCard – Business Card Reader
CamCard – BCR (Western)
Soul- Follow the soul to find you
Chinese Social – Free Online Dating Video App & Chat
Date in Asia – Dating & Chat For Asian Singles
WeDate-Dating App
Free dating app-Singol, start your date!
Adore App
TrulyChinese – Chinese Dating App
TrulyAsian – Asian Dating App
ChinaLove: dating app for Chinese singles
DateMyAge: Chat, Meet, Date Mature Singles Online
AsianDate: find Asian singles
FlirtWish: chat with singles
Guys Only Dating: Gay Chat
Tubit: Live Streams
WeWorkChina
First Love Live- super hot live beauties live online
Rela – Lesbian Social Network
Cashier Wallet
MangoTV
MGTV-HunanTV official TV APP
WeTV – TV version
WeTV – Cdrama, Kdrama&More
WeTV Lite
Lucky Live-Live Video Streaming App
Taobao Live
DingTalk
Identity V
Isoland 2: Ashes of Time
BoxStar (Early Access)
Heroes Evolved
Happy Fish
Jellipop Match-Decorate your dream island！
Munchkin Match: magic home building
Conquista Online II
To recall, the Indian government banned 59 mobile apps in late June 2020 and 118 more apps including PUBG Mobile in early September.
On Tuesday morning the Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out searches at 10 premises in Mumbai including Thane-based Shiv Sena legislator Pratap Sarnaik in connection with a money laundering case.
Sarnaik is the MLA from the Ovala-Majiwada Vidhan Sabha constituency in Thane. Also, he is a Shiv Sena’s Maharashtra Spokesperson and the Communication Leader for the Mira-Bhayandar area. Apart from this Sarnaik is the Chairman of Vihang Group of Companies with interests in varied sectors.
As per the latest report, the search is being conducted by ED and the team against Tops Group (a company in the business of providing security) promoters and related people, including some politicians. Besides Sarnika’s residence, the ED officials said premises linked to MLA’sons, Purvesh, and Vihang, have also been searched.
On ED’s raid at Sarnnaik’s premises, Shiv Sena and the ruling government slammed the Opposition for using Central agencies to pressurize the MVA government and demoralize its leaders.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut cited on this, “We all know that the ED and CBI are being misused, they are puppets in the hands of the Centre. But, we will not bow down before anybody.”
A few weeks back, the Shiv Sena MLA Sarnaik was in the news after demanding that Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut to be booked for sedition for comparing Mumbai to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
World Non-Veg Prevention Day is observed every year on 25 November, the main purpose of celebrating this day is to be sensitive towards animal violence and motivate people towards vegetarianism. The main motive of this day is to develop a civilized, balanced, and non-violent society. From world history till today, great men who have walked on non-violent ideology have been known with great respect. While great men like Lord Mahavira, Mahatma Buddha, and Mahatma Gandhi made India their identity in the world through non-violence, they made people aware of non-violence and vegetarianism. Then why even today, from the country to the world, everywhere from city to village, people’s food is based on meat, due to which millions of innocent animals fall prey to the human diet. Science also says that vegetarianism is the best food to prevent all kinds of diseases, from consuming non-vegetarian food where mental disorders arise. Even in the Corona epidemic, vegetarianism has been accepted as the safest, suitable, and healthy food.
At the time of the Corona catastrophe, the voice of change in the food for the happy life and health of human beings is heard all over the world. The number of people who give up non-vegetarian food is increasing not only in India but in the world. According to a recent survey conducted by global research company Ipsos, 63 % of Indians are now adopting vegetarianism instead of non-vegetarian food. According to news, 1.5 million people in America are vegetarian. 10.5% of the population of the Netherlands was vegetarian ten years ago, while currently, 5% of the people there are vegetarian. According to the well-known Gallup poll, three thousand people are becoming vegetarian every week in England. There are now more than 25 million people who are vegetarian. The shortness of life due to increasing diseases has forced a person to adopt vegetarianism; the truth is that vegetarianism is an advanced lifestyle, safe diet.
Doctors around the world have proved that vegetarian food is the best for good health. A balanced diet consisting of fruits, herbs, vegetables, different types of pulses, seeds and milk products, etc. does not produce any poisonous elements in the food. The main reason for this is that when an animal is killed it becomes a dead substance. This does not apply with vegetables. If a vegetable is cut in half and sowed in the ground, then it will be produced again as a vegetable tree. Because it is a living substance. But this cannot be said for a sheep, lamb, or rooster. Other specific discoveries have also revealed that when an animal is killed, it becomes so frightened that the toxic elements emanating and spread all over its body and those poisonous elements are in the form of flesh. Then after eating the animal flesh the same toxins have been transferred into the body of humans. Our body is not capable of completely removing those poisonous elements. The result is high blood pressure, heart and kidney disease, etc.
Therefore, it is absolutely necessary that in terms of health, we should be completely vegetarian while prohibiting non-vegetarian food. Nature has made man vegetarian by nature. No laborious animal consumes animal flesh, be it horse or camel, bull or elephant. Then why does a human being become non-vegetarian, contrary to his nature; spread fatal diseases and deformities of the world?
Eating meat only for taste is not only violence but also the culmination of the nature of forgiveness. In the ‘Sushruta Samhita: it is written that cooking food is a sacred act like a yajna. A carnivore produces poisonous elements that make a person cruel and violent, reducing his body’s immunity and making him prone to other diseases like blood pressure and heart diseases. ‘Tamsik food’ produces deformities like anger and laziness in the human body. It is also said that the food should be eaten as it is.
Mahatma Gandhi used to say that taste is not in substance, but in man’s own tongue. Far from opposing non-vegetarianism in the country of Gandhi, who controlled the taste of tongues with neem, it is worrisome that in some areas, the emphasis on non-vegetarianism is worrisome, even shameful for the non-violence worshipers. The meat industry has been adopting various tactics to encourage and promote meat-eating. Such mischiefs have been happening in India too. The business people have been undertaking such so-called cruel and religious beliefs taken for granted for their own benefit and also for the promotion and use of meat and eggs.
The poultry industry tried its best to spread its commercial net by promoting eggs as “vegetarian” and “non-living”. But it is an auspicious dialogue that now vegetarianism has started in India, making it a lifestyle of the people is a moral obligation of every enlightened citizen in favour of non-violence and against the ruthless killing of innocent creatures and unborn seedlings for the sake of happiness. It is the first duty of everyone to prepare the public.
Efforts have been made to promote vegetarianism in India, not only in India but the great intellectuals of the world, e.g. Aristotle, Plato, Leonardo Davinci, Shakespeare, Darwin, P. H. Huxley, Emerson, Einstein, George Bernard Shaw, H.G. Wells, Sir Julian Huxley, Leo Tolstoy, Shelly, Russo, etc. were all vegetarians. In terms of human structure, we will see that vegetarian food is our natural food. America’s world-renowned nutritionist Dr. Michael Klepper says that the yellow part of the egg is the largest source of cholesterol and frozen lubricants in the world, which is fatal to health.
Today the biggest problem in the world is to prevent further peace of world peace and violence. There are clouds of violence and terrorism everywhere. If they can be stopped, then only by propelling human nature towards non-violence and vegetarianism. We also have a duty under Article 51A (G) of the Indian Constitution to have mercy on all living beings and remember that if we cannot provide life to someone, then we have no right to take his life. ‘The question is why then we have been undertaking extensive efforts to develop and encourage slaughterhouses here? After all, why have we become so insensitive?
In the last few years, a large number of vegetarians have been seen in western countries ever since new researches have proved that vegetarianism is safer as human food. Not only this, but people have also come to understand that non-vegetarianism is not just the cause of diseases, but are contrary to non-violence, peace, environment, agriculture, morality, and human values. It is also negative for the economy. Modernism has become synonymous in the West. People can be seen taking pride in declaring themselves vegetarian as leaders of this new trend.
The ideology of Western philosophies, which once used to consider meat-eating as the most suitable, has started to turn towards vegetarianism. This should be called a good sign in favour of vegetarianism from many perspectives. Non-vegetarians are the cause of many problems and this is causing tremendous damage to agriculture. In Ayurveda, non-veg has been called the home of diseases. The flag-bearer of agro-culture has always been a driver of many values like non-violence and love. It is important that central and state governments can solve the problem of food grains of the country by closing slaughterhouses, while at the same time they can also solve the problem of water, environment, dwindling livestock, milk, ghee, and fertilizer. The employment that crores of people will get is different. Promoting vegetarianism means enhanced health as well as an improved economy and progressive lifestyle. If we can educate the coming generations about vegetarianism, and tell people about its benefits, and advise them to eat non-vegetarian food, then it will be a real meaning to celebrate World Non-Vegetarian Prevention Day.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of AFTERNOON VOICE and AFTERNOON VOICE does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.
An estimated one crore frontline health workers will receive the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine whenever it becomes available, with around 92 per cent of government hospitals and 55 per cent of private hospitals across all states and UTs providing data identifying the workers, official sources said. Five vaccine candidates are in advanced stages of development in India, out of which four are in Phase II/III and one is in Phase-I/II trials.
States have been asked to accelerate the process of identifying frontline healthcare workers including doctors, MBBS students, nurses, and ASHA workers, etc so that the exercise gets completed in another one week. It has asked states to do planning and mapping of vaccination sessions where healthcare workers will be vaccinated during the 1st phase and mapping human resources across departments that could be deployed for vaccination sessions for verification of beneficiaries, crowd management, and overall coordination.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet with chief ministers and other representatives of states and union territories via video conferencing on Tuesday to discuss the vaccine distribution strategy, sources said. “Around 92 per cent of all government hospitals and 55 per cent of all private hospitals from across all states and UTs have provided data. The rest of the details will come in another week. We have asked the states to accelerate the process,” an official source said. The anti-coronavirus vaccine, once available, would be distributed under a special COVID-19 inoculation programme, using the processes, technology, and network of the existing Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP). It would run parallel to the UIP.
The Centre, with the help of state and UT governments, has started the process of identifying around 30 crore priority beneficiaries who would be given vaccine dose in the initial phase, sources had said. The government has demarcated four categories which include around 1 crore healthcare professionals including doctors, MBBS students, nurses, and ASHA workers, etc, around two crore frontline workers including municipal corporation workers, personnel of the police and armed forces, about 26 crore people aged above 50 and a special category of those below 50 with co-morbidities and requiring specialised care. Health ministry’s existing digital platform eVIN which is being used for the UIP is being enhanced for the COVID-18 vaccine distribution and delivery, through which SMSs would be sent to recipients informing the time, date, and venue to get the shots and digitally connect them and also track them, sources had earlier said.
Each person in the immunisation list would be linked with their Aadhar cards to avoid duplication and to track beneficiaries. However, in case a person doesn’t have an Aadhar card, a government photo identity can be used, the sources said. Five vaccines are under different phases of the clinical trial in India with the Serum Institute of India conducting the phase-3 trial of the Oxford-Astrazeneca COVID-19 vaccine while the indigenously developed Bharat Biotech and ICMR vaccine has already started the phase III clinical trial. Indigenously developed vaccine by Zydus Cadila has completed phase -2 clinical trial in the country. Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories will soon start combined phase 2 and 3 clinical trials of the Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V in India. Biological E. Ltd has started early phase 1 and 2 human trials of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate. Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan had said that a COVID-19 vaccine is likely to be available by the first quarter of 2021.
He had said that the Centre estimates to receive and utilise 40-50 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccine covering around 25 crore people by July next year. “The prioritisation of groups for COVID-19 vaccine shall be based on two key considerations — occupational hazard and risk of exposure to infection, and the risk of developing severe disease and increased mortality,” he had said.
Mumbai’s coronavirus cases see a major prickle; Maharashtra’s deputy CM hinted to take decision on lockdown in 8-10 days during the month of November, the national capital has closed major markets, Delhi recorded 1,759 fatalities till November 21 – around 83 deaths per day. The number of deaths breached the 100-mark four times in the last 10 days. The West Delhi district authorities ordered two evening markets in Nangloi to be shut for violating various COVID-19 safety guidelines on social distancing and wearing of masks. Similarly, Gujarat has imposed night curfew.
Directives issued by Maharashtra government with regard to wearing of masks, maintaining social distancing etc. are being flouted in various public places and markets of Mumbai. In overall public interest, it is hereby the government may order lockdown till 30th November or even more.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray advised the people of the state not to lower their guard against COVID-19 and follow the safety protocols strictly in order to avoid the imposition of another lockdown. He said that although he has been advised to impose a night curfew, he does not believe that anything can be achieved by imposing such restrictions.
We at Afternoon Voice spoke to some business owners, commoners and professionals on their views on the speculated lockdown in the state, here’s what they had to say.
Arun Gowda who runs a restaurant business since 30 years in Vasai said, “The COVID 19 lockdown did affect my business earlier in great extent. My restaurant is on a rental basis, so even though there were lockdown everywhere I had to pay rent every month. Due to which I have suffered a huge loss as there wasn’t any income but there were expenses. Even now after the lockdown has eased out initially it took couple of weeks to get the business back on track. So, if the government will announce lockdown again then it’ll be the same situation where there’ll be losses but no gains.”
Manwin Lamba an Event Planner from Thane said, “As per my thinking, it would be wrong for the businesses. But if the lockdown isn’t imposed the cases won’t be in control and people have started being careless about Covid-19. I have seen myself people not wearing masks and not maintaining social distancing as government has ordered. I think there should be a curfew after evening. So that people stay at home and we atleast have a control over cases and win the fight against the virus. And speaking about Government’s step towards the Virus, I’m in full support. It would affect my work but even we need to think about the City, State or Country.”
Lamba further added saying, “On the other hand if the government planning to re-impose complete lockdown then it would affect the business and I would face a huge loss. I have barely stood up after the pandemic has hit us. And the Government is planning for another one. I would prefer curfew not lockdown.”
“If the government is planning to re-impose the lockdown, then all startups and small businesses are going to shut permanently. As there are many aspects on which a startup company works such as money rolling, holding up on the stocks (perishable and non-perishable), paying the rent, building a position in the market and also some of them already have loans. And because of these above mentioned aspects a startup company is suffering. But the government is also force to impose such steps due to this deadliest virus. However, this is for sure that if second lockdown gets imposed then it will be hard for a startup to survive,” said Amey Borse, runs a startup business in Dhule.
Anvar Daredia who runs a Wholesale and Retail business in Vasai area said, “After a period of success, due to the economic pressure of the demonitization and some other local factors, my business went in decline and when the COVID-19 lockdown came to effect, the chances of the business bouncing back again completely disappeared.”
“Lockdown meant that we will have to find a different line of business entirely as we are the only clothe shop in the middle of a wholesale market in Vasai. As our business was small we had no capital to keep it going through the entire thing. Now injecting more investment into the same line of business, clothing would not be ideal as less people are going out to buy clothes rather people are preferring online orders on such products. And if it is re-imposed again then our old business will be done for good and we will have to start all over again”, added Anvar who is into this clothing business from the last 6 years”, Daredia further added.
Maharashtra reported 5,753 new COVID-19 cases, 4,060 recoveries and 50 deaths on Sunday, taking the total number of cases in the state to 17,80,208. There are 81,512 active cases in the state and 16,51,064 patients have recovered so far. The death toll is at 46,623. Meanwhile, Mumbai alone accounted for 1,135 new COVID-19 cases. The city’s total tally now stands at 2,75,707. Mumbai’s death toll jumped to 10,673 after reporting 19 new fatalities. The city also registered 618 recoveries in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of discharges to 2,52,127. There are currently a total of 9,770 active cases.
India’s coronavirus tally reached 90,95,807 on Sunday after 45,209 new infections were reported in the last 24 hours. The overall cases include 4,40,962 active cases and 85,21,617 recoveries. With 501 new deaths, the death toll in the country mounted to 1,33,227.He said “easing of restrictions has exposed the vulnerable population, such as the elderly and those having comorbidities, to the deadly virus.
Calling the BJP “garbage of lies” and “biggest curse of the nation”, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday dared the saffron party to arrest her and asserted she will ensure TMC victory in the upcoming elections even from jail. Election to the 294-member West Bengal Assembly is due in April-May.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray directed to start the further process of the desalination project of converting 200 MLD seawater into potable water at Manor after reviewing it to avoid water cut in Mumbai during the months of May and June. He was speaking at the review meeting at his official residence Varsha bungalow to review this 200 MLD desalination project.
The Government of India bans access to 43 mobile apps including AliExpress, citing that these apps were engaged in activities that are prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India, defense of India, the security of the state, and public order on Tuesday.
World Non-Veg Prevention Day is observed every year on 25 November, the main purpose of celebrating this day is to be sensitive towards animal violence and motivate people towards vegetarianism. The main motive of this day is to develop a civilized, balanced, and non-violent society. From world history till today, great men who have walked on non-violent ideology have been known with great respect. While great men like Lord Mahavira, Mahatma Buddha, and Mahatma Gandhi made India their identity in the world through non-violence, they made people aware of non-violence and vegetarianism. Then why even today, from the country to the world, everywhere from city to village, people’s food is based on meat, due to which millions of innocent animals fall prey to the human diet. Science also says that vegetarianism is the best food to prevent all kinds of diseases, from consuming non-vegetarian food where mental disorders arise. Even in the Corona epidemic, vegetarianism has been accepted as the safest, suitable, and healthy food.
Mumbai’s coronavirus cases see a major prickle; Maharashtra’s deputy CM hinted to take decision on lockdown in 8-10 days during the month of November, the national capital has closed major markets, Delhi recorded 1,759 fatalities till November 21 – around 83 deaths per day. The number of deaths breached the 100-mark four times in the last 10 days. The West Delhi district authorities ordered two evening markets in Nangloi to be shut for violating various COVID-19 safety guidelines on social distancing and wearing of masks. Similarly, Gujarat has imposed night curfew.