Bakra reached online marketer: Traders feel safe and hassle-free business

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July 24, 2020

There is a huge market for Bakra online, Alnoor Goat Farm & Supplier selling Eid Ka Bakra as small as 5 kg for Rs 12,000/Piece. Jamnapari Goats at Shani Goat Farm Antop Hill, Mumbai sold for Rs 25,000/Piece. Live Goat Meatking Malad East, Mumbai selling an average goat at Rs 6,000/Piece. Male and Female Devnar Goats are for Rs 7,000/ per Piece. But all these traders have gone online.

When we asked Malad based meat trader Akram Shaikh a reason for online trading, he told Afternoon Voice, “Online trading is hassle free, we don’t need a specific place to store our animal, meanwhile they can be where they are raised, and we don’t even need to wait for customers. Online sell becomes easy in such pandemic period.”

Ratan Lal a butcher said, “By selling goats online we can save ourselves from hooligans, there are many protesters and moral custodian groups, they attack us randomly”. Online sales provide us basic safety.

Goat traders from across India who have assembled in Deonar find it difficult to sell their goats due to the online market. However, this year due to the whole confusion over the government’s online-sale of goat’s order, only 70 to 75,000 goats have entered Mumbai. Usually, by this time, three lakh goats would have come to the city. And as the Muslim community is mostly into small trades and crafts, due the lockdown their businesses are shut and there is no income for many people. This has resulted in the poor purchasing power. Despite the fewer number of goats available, there aren’t many buyers. A goat which would have sold for Rs 25,000 is not getting even Rs 20,000.

On the other hand, CM Uddhav Thackrey urged people to avoid slaughtering goats in flats, houses and constricted spaces compromised with hygiene and sanitation. Last year even the court has asked BMC to “strictly and stringently maintain all applicable safety, hygienic and public safety norms and requirements and to move expeditiously against all violations.”

Meanwhile to spread the message of brotherhood, the Muslim wing of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) decided to celebrate the Bakra Eid by cutting a cake with ‘No Bakra Goat’. Revealing the details, Sayeed Hassan Kausar said, Bakra Eid can also be celebrated by cutting a cake, just like people celebrate birth anniversaries, adding the step will spread a message of humanity.

In India, there is no blanket ban on animal sacrifice. There exists, however, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules 2017, notified by the environment ministry, considered highly controversial. Under the Rules, the sale of cattle is banned for slaughter, including for religious purposes. However, goats and poultry are exempted. But the Rules — and the food safety standards — do demand that animals must be slaughtered at registered abattoirs and follow certain guidelines.

Why God chose Goat for sacrifice only he can answer

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Vaidehi Taman

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July 23, 2020

Be it any religion, violence is never necessary but as the customs suggest, it was done in ancient times to show that one is willing to sacrifice his most precious belonging for his God so we can say that was justified in a sense. Coming to the present, I personally believe that if an animal (which isn’t a protected species) is killed, not for fun but for food or any other genuine use in a humane way, is not something condemning. Humans are genetically omnivores and eating meat is not a wrong thing if it isn’t done illegally.

First and most important when you look at scriptures of Islam it says not to eat food that is haram. It says dead meat is haram. So, this condition clearly says not to eat dead meat. No meat is alive to be eaten. It’s always dead meat so I’m not sure how this can be interpreted differently. Why would God want such a thing to be done and it raises the question how can he be merciful if he allows this or wants this in his name? These are the traditions made by humans in the name of GOD or Allah, and in 21st century of India one needs to amend these rigid rules.

Ramzan and Muharram, whether the essence of fasting during Ramzan and sacrifice had been lost? Muslims have made Tamasha (scene) of the rituals. Qurbani means sacrificing something close to your heart and sharing with others. Today, you buy a goat from the market for sacrifice. It is something to think about, it is a matter of common sense, we all should ask ourselves how sacrificing another life earns us any goodwill, not only that but it is important to “understand the meaning of rituals and festivals” or they can be misused. The community has made a mockery of Muharram. It is meant for mourning and they take out processions. Meanwhile if we go in depth, it’s not only Muslims but even Hindu and others who believe in the concept of sacrifice, which is really meaningless. Killing an innocent animal in the name of god, cannot be a holy event and I am sure no god wants lacerates of its own creation by another invention. These are rigid religious beliefs, as many other religious philosophies, if we really keep on debating on right wrong then believe me, we will find everyone wrong and no one right. But religion actually has no conscientious understanding, it’s just a conditioning and one need to go with it.

Moreover, in India, there is no blanket ban on animal sacrifice. There exists, however, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules 2017, notified by the environment ministry, considered highly controversial. Under the Rules, the sale of cattle is banned for slaughter, including for religious purposes. However, goats and poultry are exempted. But the Rules — and the food safety standards — do demand that animals must be slaughtered at registered abattoirs and follow certain guidelines. Yet, as is the case with every rule in India, even these are not followed, especially in the case of most ritualistic animal sacrifices. In 2014, one of the petitions in the Bombay High Court asked for temporary locations for the slaughter of large animals, since the abattoirs are chaotic and unpleasant during the festival. Another petition sought to prevent this because this unhygienic meat would cause problems to people who ate it. While festivals bring all kinds of revelry along with them, the basic values of health, sanitation and hygiene cannot be neglected. The order is to be welcomed as it tries to resolve the issue of hygiene and sanitation — and without affecting the traditional fervor associated with the festival.

Cow and Calf slaughter was recently banned in Maharashtra — a move that took almost two decades to materialize and was initiated during the previous Sena-BJP government. This year there is a lot of confusion over cutting the goats in open space, Eid-ul-Adha is observed on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic lunar calendar. While Muslims all around the world celebrate this day, it has particular significance for the pilgrims performing the hajj in order to understand the context of Eid-ul-Adha, one must describe the Hajj with which it is associated. Over the time, however, the spread of worship across Arabia caused the rituals of hajj to become extremely distorted. With the advent of Islam and Prophet Muhammad, Allah had reinstated Hajj as the fifth pillar of Islam, and described the correct manner in which it was to be performed. In addition to signifying the completion of the hajj, Eid-ul-Adha honors the enormous sacrifice that was to be made by Prophet Abraham. The story narrated behind sacrifice follows as Abraham was ordered by Allah to sacrifice his dearly beloved son, Ismail, as a test of obedience. Abraham willingly submitted to Allah’s command, wherein Allah, by His Mercy, replaced Ismail at the moment of sacrifice with a lamb. Abraham’s selfless act of obedience is honored by the sacrifice of a domestic animal such as a lamb, sheep, cow, or goat, the meat of which is then distributed to relatives, neighbors, and the poor. I mean, why Allah has chosen a poor Goat that only Allah can answer, but in COVID19 pandemic situation mass cuttings should be avoided.

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

‘Voice of dissent cannot be suppressed’, SC during Rajasthan hearing

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Afternoon Voice

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July 23, 2020

The Supreme Court observed out loud that the voice of dissent cannot be suppressed, or else democracy will shut down. It also wanted to know whether there was democracy within the Congress party.

The apex court was hearing a plea by Rajasthan Assembly Speaker C.P. Joshi challenging the Rajasthan High Court decision extending the time for Sachin Pilot and 18 rebel Congress MLAs to reply to the anti-defection notice of July 14.

A bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra and comprising Justices B.R. Gavai and Krishna Murari took up the matter up through video conferencing.

“Voice of dissent cannot be suppressed …then democracy will shut. After all they have been elected by the people. Can they not express their dissent?” Justice Mishra queried senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who is representing Joshi.

Sibal argued that if MLAs want to voice their opinion they should do so before the party.

Sibal denies Joshi issued a whip for the meeting and said “It was only a notice not a whip.”

Justice Mishra asked Sibal isn’t this is a case where party members cannot raise voice against their own party?

Sibal contended before the bench that it is for the Speaker to decide whether not attending meetings outside the House is grounds for disqualification. “But it is about a lot more than not attending a meeting. It is about their anti-party activities,” argued Sibal.

The bench noted that whether a valid Whip can be issued to attend party meeting. “Is Whip valid only for attending Assembly or for a meeting outside?”

Sibal insisted that this is not a Whip, instead it is a notice issued by the Chief Whip of the party.

The bench replied so it’s a request to attend the meeting? If someone doesn’t attend the meeting is it ground for disqualification?

Sibal said: “Neither any court nor any other body can decide that. Your lordships cannot presume that disqualification will be ordered.”

The bench said what Speaker will decide nobody can say. The hearing on the matter will continue.

PM Modi’s Raksha Bandhan gift to Manipur, inaugurates water supply project

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Afternoon Voice

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July 23, 2020

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said he is giving a “Raksha Bandhan gift” to women of Manipur as he laid the foundation stone for water supply project through video conferencing.

“This project will give clean drinking water to Greater Imphal and 1,700 village in Manipur. It will provide a lifeline to these people,” PM Mod said. He added that it will help women in as many as one lakh families in the state,

The prime minister said that the project has been designed with the help of local panchayats and people living here, which he said is a “fine example of decentralisation”.

“The Manipur Water Supply project will also generate employment for thousands of people,” PM Modi said. He also highlighted the fact that work to lay the pipelines was continuing even during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Laying the foundation stone of Manipur Water Supply Project. https://t.co/ndTe5zvhe9

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 23, 2020

“The country did not stop due to Covid-19,” he said.

He also listed the scheme implemented by the Centre to help Manipur and various states during the coronavirus crisis.

“The Northeast is battling twin challenges – Covid-19 and flood. Many people have to leave their homes due to the flood. I assure you that everyone is with you in this difficult time,” said the prime minister.

The fund for the project has been provided by the Centre under ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’ to provide freshwater household tap connections (FHTCs) to 1,185 habitations with 1,42,749 households.

The Manipur Water Supply project, an externally funded project, was designed to provide FHTCs to remaining households in the Greater Imphal Planning area, 25 towns, and for 1,731 rural habitations covering 2,80,756 households in 16 districts of Manipur.

The project is an important component of the efforts of the state government to achieve the goal of ‘Har Ghar Jal’ by 2024. The project outlay is about Rs 3054.58 crore with a loan component funded by the New Development Bank.

Lockdown in Bhopal to be imposed from July 24 to Aug 2, says govt

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Afternoon Voice

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July 23, 2020

Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra on Wednesday said that lockdown will be imposed in Bhopal from July 24 to August 2 in wake of the increasing COVID-19 cases in the city.

“A decision has been taken to implement 10 days lockdown in Bhopal from the night of July 24 to August 2. This decision has been taken in view of the situation of the coronavirus infection in the Madhya Pradesh capital,” Mishra tweeted in Hindi.

According to the Madhya Pradesh Health Department, a total of 4,669 COVID-19 cases have been registered in Bhopal so far.

Mishra said that during the lockdown in the state capital, only essential services be allowed to function.

“During the 10-day lockdown in Bhopal, only medicines, milk, vegetables and government ration shops will remain open. Therefore, all the people of Bhopal are requested to make arrangements for the necessary goods in two days. Like the earlier lockdown for commuters, only e-pass will be allowed,” he wrote in his second tweet.

The Home Minister urged the people not to panic and said the order for the availability of essential items has been issued.

“The lockdown will end on the morning of August 4. There will be the availability of essential goods, directions have been given to provide ration to the poor, so there is no need to panic. We all have to work together to control the coronavirus infection,” he said in a subsequent tweet.

As per the Union Health Ministry, Madhya Pradesh has a total of 24,095 COVID-19 cases.

Maharashtra reports highest-ever spike of 10,576 in 24-hours of Covid-19 cases

By

Afternoon Voice

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July 23, 2020

Maharashtra, COVID-19, Highest Spike, Maharashtra Cases, Coronavirus — Image Courtesy: Reuters

Maharashtra on Wednesday reported its highest-ever spike in COVID-19 cases with 10,576 cases, taking the state tally to 3,37,607.

There are 1,36,980 active cases in the state while 5,552 patients were discharged, taking the number of discharges to 1,87,769.

The number of fatalities due to COVID-19 rose to 12,556 after 280 deaths were reported due to the infection.

The state also reported 302 deaths due to other causes.

As per the bulletin, Mumbai is the worst hit from the infection in the state with 1,04,678 cases and 5,875 deaths. Meanwhile, Pune has a total of 63,351 cases and 1,514 fatalities.

With 37,724 cases and 648 deaths reported in the last 24 hours, the total number of COVID-19 cases in India stands at 11,92,915, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The total number of cases include 4,11,133 active cases, 7,53,050 cured/discharged/migrated and 28,732 deaths, the ministry said.

Social Media users In India needs to be careful

By

Afternoon Voice

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July 22, 2020

As the lockdown relaxed and people are getting back to life, some social elements spreading gossips and forwards to create unrest. There are many table stories and propagandas as the lockdown is coming to an end. We see many circulations on COVID’s misery most of them are proven to be fake. Amid such crises even politicians have not missed the opportunity of taking the situation to a new dimension. The blame game, circulation of videos, and false data, creating fear among people is common practice. Social media platforms have generally taken an aggressive stance toward countering coronavirus misinformation. Many offenses have been registered across the Maharashtra state for misusing the social media posting or sharing messages, videos, or audio. Clips related to rumours and misinformation related to pandemic COVID-19 and also to create a rift among two communities. From WhatsApp to Facebook and Instagram to twitter Maharashtra cyber security cell, sending a strict message, also ensured that objectionable posts were removed from the social media.

The cybersecurity cell has been playing a crucial role in curbing the rumour-mongering, fake news trend, and also spreading hate messages. The cybersecurity cell team has strictly warned the citizens against the misuse of social media in the backdrop of the pandemic Corona spread and also to target different communities holding them responsible for its chain scare.

The Mumbai-based cybersecurity cell was also instrumental in tracing many social media users who were responsible for the mass gathering of the migrant laborers outside the Bandra station last month, WhatsApp users in India may be astonished to learn that there’s more to messaging apps than interactive medium. These days it has become a political propaganda tool for porn sharing groups.

Anything to everything, moral to immoral, and fake to make belief as truth, this one particular app has not only grabbed your time, peace, and attention by making you addicted to it but it has influenced your thought process and also your mindset. It is conditioning you every day against one particular agenda. Educated people falling trap to such things then one can imagine the common man of this country. What are we achieving out of it? No one knows. Similarly, there are many groups in the name of Dalits, Muslims or this party or that party ideology and they just create impression and panic among their community people as if India is not safe for them. They too share photoshopped pictures, videos, fake write-ups and much more to make-believe their point by endorsing one or the other political party and condemning rival party. There are thousands of such groups and people are divided in those groups. The acclimatizing goes on 24/7. They just don’t stop there, the same post is circulated on social media by all the participants and from there it again gets circulated further, this is how we are colluding entire ambiance against our country. Trust me our country knows how to live with diversity, all those who are born on this soil are belong to this nation and this nation belongs to them. There is nothing to feel unsecured or threatened. You have both sides; if some hate you some are there in bulk to hold you. No matter who so ever rules you, they don’t change your life for sure. WhatsApp is probably the best example of the vast potential that messaging apps hold. With over millions of active users, it helps them socialize. But the abuse of such apps needs to be monitored.

Depending on the content spread on social media, which is unfortunately based on falsified information, the opinions are created. The fake information on social media builds fear psychosis among people. In fact, ongoing tension itself was believed to have been sure to result in images of corona dead bodies on road, non-availability of hospital admissions, and much more. Opposition and their supporters making use of social media to tarnish the image of government at the same time create fear in the minds of people. Plus attributed to anti-Hindu and anti-national rant these fake circulations created lots of anxiety among students. There was almost a riot like situation in India but no one took action against the perpetrators, rather action taken on the ones who unmasked the fact, took beatings and attacks. There are many such stories and numerous videos get circulated on WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter allegedly showing whatsoever by conditioning the minds of people. Having investigated the sources of every single video, each could have led to communal tensions, panics and unpleasant incidents. Somehow, the people of the nation have become slaves to smartphones and IT-Cell Propaganda. Social media has been a breeding ground for misinformation since a long time and ironically the seeds of misinformation sown by the so-called responsible people on the root level.

While Facebook and Twitter are highly public spaces where news, photos and videos generally flow freely, WhatsApp is more classified. This app was actually designed to keep people’s information secure and private, so no one is able to access the contents of people’s messages but now this has become a dangerous tool in people’s hands to propagate all that they want. People are afraid bad things will happen if they say something wrong on social media. WhatsApp is a kind of safe place for people and they can discuss more conspiracy things. However, while WhatsApp-spread misinformation has become an increasing concern across the world — along with efforts to debunk it, this is somewhat looming danger. Without facts checking, the users are irresponsibly passing the messages about COVID-19. To maintain peace and to deal with corona pandemic one needs to be smart enough to not get carried away by such schemes.

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

High-tech ‘Smart Helmets’ to screen COVID-19

By

Afternoon Voice

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July 22, 2020

As the COVID-19 cases are on rise in the city, different volunteers and authorities are adopting high-tech “smart helmets” to achieve swiftness in screenings and identify suspected cases in Mumbai’s densely-populated slums. The portable thermos canners — previously deployed in Dubai, Italy and China — enable health workers to record the temperatures of dozens of residents per minute and could emerge as a key weapon in Mumbai’s quest to eradicate the virus from the city of 18 million.

Satish Patil, a medical helper affiliated with the non-profit group Kutumb told AV, “In a slum the population is very huge, it takes hours to screen one side of the favela. Old-style screening methods take a lot of time. Now the smart helmets are making it more convenient”

The helmets were donated to authorities in Mumbai and Pune, which have both been locked in a months-long battle against the pandemic, with cases across India soaring past one million. But with just two helmets in use in each city, the push to identify and isolate infected residents will take a long time.

The imported helmets — which cost around Rs 6,00,000 — are also in high demand in places like Dubai, said Ms Jain, making it very difficult to expand capacity.

“But when you use these helmets, all you have to do is ask people to come out of their homes, face them and you can screen 6,000 people in two-and-a-half hours,” said Neelu Jain, a medical volunteer affiliated with the non-profit group Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana.

COVID-19 warrior Shyam Tidke of Virar told Afternoon Voice, “Such gadgets might be making screening task easy, but it will take ages to reach those things in various corners, people are suffering starvation and life challenges, if we wait for spending 6,00000 we will lose at least 600 people in due process, what we are doing right now can be traditional method, but at least we are able to control the pandemic. Many such products came in the market, this is COVID time business, but no one buys it”.

Kerala HC dismisses plea seeking CBI probe in gold smuggling case, Sprinklr deal, others

By

Afternoon Voice

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July 22, 2020

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition seeking a CBI probe into the gold smuggling case, Sprinklr deal, BevQ app contract, and e-mobility consultancy projects in the state. A division bench comprising Chief Justice S Manikumar and Justice Shaji P Chaly, while dismissing the petition filed by Cherthala resident Michael Varghese through advocate Mathews J Nedumpara, said that an NIA investigation is already underway in the gold smuggling case.

There is no need to intervene in that probe, the bench observed. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, former Principal Secretary to CMO M Sivasankar, and gold smuggling case accused Swapna Suresh were named as respondents in the plea.

On Sprinklr deal, the petition had alleged that some of the respondents were emboldened to carry on abuse of power to make quick money as no criminal case was registered in the matter. “Other scams such as the contract for BevQ app and e-mobility consultancy followed and now the smuggling of 30 kg of gold from UAE to Kerala using diplomatic channel has surfaced,” the petition said while arguing that an effective investigation is required.

Unless an investigation by CBI or even by the NIA, in tandem with the customs and the state police, is conducted, the mafia which is behind the illegal activities will go scot-free and similar offences will be repeated, the plea had said.

ED raids Raj CM Gehlot brother’s house in fertiliser scam; Cong questions timing

By

Afternoon Voice

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July 22, 2020

As the Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out searches on Wednesday at over a dozen locations in Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and West Bengal in the fertiliser scam case, including the house of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s brother Agrasain Gehlot, the congress questioned the timing of the action.

Following the ED raids, the Congress flayed the Modi government and maintained that when the Centre’s attempts to topple the party’s state government failed, the ED had conducted raids, including at the premises of Gehlot’s brother.

“Whenever the BJP is in trouble, when the BJP fails to topple any government, then they take the support of the ED, CBI and the Income Tax,” Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala told reporters in Jaipur.

The ED searches are being carried under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

The ED has filed a case under the PMLA based on a Customs Department complaint and charge sheet in the alleged fertiliser scam case.

A top ED official told a news agency: “The ED is conducting searches at 13 locations across the country — four in Gujarat, six in Rajasthan, two in West Bengal and one in Delhi.”

The official said that the financial probe agency is also carrying out searches at the premises of Agrasain Gehlot, whose firm Anupam Krishi held authorised dealership of Indian Potash Ltd (IPL).

An ED source claimed the company owned by Agrasain Gehlot was involved in exporting Muriate of Potash (MoP) fertiliser, which is banned for exports. MoP is imported by IPL and distributed among farmers at subsidised rates.

The source further said that Agrasain Gehlot is facing a Rs 7 crore Customs penalty in the fertiliser case.

According to the source, Agrasian Gehlot was an authorised dealer for IPL and between 2007-09, his company bought MoP at subsidised rates and instead of distributing to farmers sold it to few other companies, who in turn exported it to Malaysia and Singapore in the guise of industrial salt.

The searches comes in the backdrop of a political crisis in Rajasthan after the rebellion by then Deputy Chief Minister and PCC President Sachin Pilot, who was sacked from these posts on July 14.

The case was unearthed by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence in 2012-13. The BJP had raised the issue in 2017.