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Coronavirus scare: Private schools ask parents to keep their children home if they have a cough or cold

By
Hema Singh
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CoronaViru, china, india, mumbai, virus, disease, china virusAs more cases of the dreaded Coronavirus is reported in India, private schools of Mumbai have started sending notices to parents asking them to take precautionary measures to protect their children from the dreaded virus.

Reportedly, parents are being asked to keep their children home if their wards have cough or fever. The Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), in turn, has appealed to schools to initiate safety measures to create a healthy environment for students.

On Monday, one of the school in Mumbai issued a notice stating, “We request parents not to send their children to school if any of the following symptoms are seen in the child or any adult of the family: Prolonged coughing, cold or running nose, sore throat, fever and difficulty in breathing. Parents should visit the doctor immediately in the above conditions.”

Recently, an 85-year-old man, who returned from Dubai to Jaipur on February 28 tested positive for COVID-19 infection. With this the total cases in the country has reached to 62. On March 10, authorities in Maharashtra said that total fourteen more people tested positive for COVID-19, eight in Kerala and three each in Karnataka and Maharashtra.

State Health Minister Rajesh Tope said, “There are a total of five positive Coronavirus cases in Maharashtra.”

It’s been reported that due to Coronavirus scare, air ticket prices have dropped primarily on account of lesser people travelling even as experts advise to avoid non-essential travel. On this, travels agents have said that people are increasingly opting for cancellations on account of the Coronavirus outbreak. The virus has highly affected the economy on a great extent. Many sports programmes, business events across the globe have either been cancelled or postponed due to the outbreak of Coronavirus.

The dreaded disease has laid thousands dead all across the globe approximately around 3,900 people have died due to this globally affected epidemic.

MMRDA proposes cutting and transplanting of trees programme to Tree Authority

By
Afternoon Voice
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Metro MMRDA tree plantation,Metro, MMRDA, tree plantation,Metro MMRDA tree cutting,tree authority,Metro line 4,Mumbai MetroThe Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has submitted 32 separate proposals to the civic body’s Tree Authority for cutting and transplanting 6,016 trees for different infrastructure projects. A senior officer from the Authority informed the media that 2,326 trees would be axed for Metro 2A (D N Nagar to Dahisar) and 2B (D N Nagar to Mandalay), and 2,022 trees are supposed to be transplanted for the two Metro lines. For Metro 2A, a total of 749 trees will be axed and 781 trees transplanted, while for Metro 2B, a total of 803 trees will be axed and 1,241 transplanted, the official added. The trees are proposed to be removed for construction of the Metro Bhavan and various upcoming Metro lines. As per the proposals, a total of 2,326 trees are likely to be axed while another 3,693 trees proposed to be transplanted. 

Sumaira Abdul Ali Ngo Aawaz to AV, “Every tree that is cut or displaced is loss of habitat for numerous species including birds and animals. MMRDA should plan to minimise such loss of habitat specially in urban areas like Mumbai where the impact of loss of tree cover is felt by so many people. They should also invest in best technologies for transplanting so that the success rate is as high as possible. It is really a tragedy that while investing in technology to build world class Metro systems, we are unable to invest in technology to save our trees through world class transplantation methods which would ensure that our green cover is preserved while building infrastructure.”

For Metro Line 4 (connecting Wadala-Kasarvadavali-Thane) a total of 871 trees will be axed and another 2,265 trees transplanted, he said. Most of these trees fall under the jurisdiction of the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) and Thane Tree Authority, while a few trees fall under the jurisdiction of the BMC.

A senior MMRDA officer said, “These trees will be affected due to the proposed infrastructure projects. The MMRDA had submitted these proposals in 2019, but had failed to get approval from the Tree Authority which has affected the progress of work on different infrastructure projects.”

Elsie Gabriel Founder Young Environmentalists Programme and Mentor Climate Reality project USA said, “A large percentage of trees cannot sustain transplantation particularly huge trees. The success rate is very low, There are hardly any Ficus species like peepal and banyan in the Aarey forests which could see slight chances of survival. The forest department should share the statistics of how many trees in the city have survived the compensatory replantation system?”

She further stated, “Consider the carbon footprints offset during transportation and storage, the cumulative stresses that transplanted trees suffer is not worth it. Right from the time they are cut until they become re- established in a new rebirth soul zone, there is no scientific experts who will take responsibility of transplantation of the cut Aarey trees, are there? Multiple stress factors can mean the difference between survival and death for trees. At each stage of the transplanting process, trees are exposed to mechanical shock and vibration that can further disrupt the root system and cause considerable injury.Where will the trees be replanted? An unprepared, unfertile poor site or inadequate care will lengthen this period. Large trees take longer to recover from transplanting than small trees; approximately 1 year of recovery is needed for each inch of diameter. This is not the season to replant!”

The officer added that the MMRDA has planted more than 50,000 trees on 46 hectares of degraded forest land near Kalyan-Shilphata area, 29 km from Mumbai in compensation.

Demise of Congress means the death of balanced politics in India – Part II

By
Vaidehi Taman
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It is in the interest of time that Congress changes itself to suit the aspirations of the people. Though the party may not completely be eliminated, but it may slowly fade away unless corrective steps are taken. Congress may argue that it was able to capture power in 2004 but there is a lot of difference between the Congress of 2004 and that of 2019; they are two different entities. The Congress of 2004 was not dubbed a corrupt party at that time, Sonia Gandhi being new to politics no negativity, got attached to her. The public did not know her son-in-law’s corruption yet. Her son had just entered politics and his inefficiency was not yet public. Congress was in power in quite a few states. But in 2019, the ball game changed completely. Congress is in power in six states constituting 6 per cent of the country. In many big states, it has been pushed to the margins or has lost relevancy. Above all Congress has to confront Modi-Shah duo who are a formidable opposition. The electoral politics also have changed remarkably putting the onus more on leadership and its strategy. The demanding scenario requiring the leadership to be proactive is too much for the party. However, it is reducing it is apparent.

When we study the history of Congress party, we find that Congress was raised from the ashes only when it had a charismatic leader or a strong wind blew in its favour due to the sympathy factor. The Indian National Congress is a “sinking ship”; many of us have heard that by now. Yet it’s a bit astonishing to think how far the political party has fallen. After all, until recently the history of Congress ran almost in parallel with the history of India itself to an extent where the line between these histories seemed blurred. Leaders of the Congress were the leaders of India and a large part of the Indian Freedom Movement owed its existence to this “grand old party” which was not just a political party, but also an umbrella organisation where different schools of thought used to co-exist together.

From Gandhi to Jinnah, from Nehru to Bose, from Tilak to Gokhale, Congress itself contained people poles apart from each other ideologically. And yet it not only remained as one party, but also went on to define the political system itself in India leading Dr. Rajani Kothari to coin the term “Congress System.” The organisational structure of Congress was so deep-rooted and entrenched that it reached to the grassroots level to the last man as a part of Gandhian idealism.

But Congress couldn’t uphold these ideals of working on the ground for as long as the people of India hoped it would. Much of Congress’ dominance at the center as well as the state level was due to the fact that people voted in the name of the Congress which had won freedom for the country. People felt almost indebted to the party and continued to bring them back to power in the hope that Swarajya (self-rule) would actually be realised on the ground and the days of Ram Rajya (the idyllic rule of Rama) which Gandhi used to mention in his speeches and writings would come. People waited for years, but neither Swarajya nor Ram Rajya came about. Instead, the people realised, nepotism and corruption were increasing day-by-day in the political system. It was not Ram Rajya but the Raaj of one family (the Gandhi family). The family alone accounts for three prime ministers who ruled the country for around 37 years while another 10 years of governance in the 21st century was also largely led by the Gandhi-Nehru dynasty.

Slowly, as disillusionment set in, the Congress system started to deteriorate. Still, it took around a decade for a non-Congress party to come to power in a state. Kerala did the honors when the left was voted to power in the 1957 legislative assembly elections. E.M.S. Namboodripad became the first democratically elected communist leader though Congress was still a huge force to reckon with.

But things were about to change tremendously, especially in the heartlands of India, where people were now looking for an alternative. They were angry with the false promises made by Congress politicians in election after election.

(The latter part of the edit will continue tomorrow)

Also Read: Demise of Congress means the death of balanced politics in India – Part I

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Coronavirus Outbreak: Mumbai Holi fades

By
Afternoon Voice
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Coronavirus Outbreaks Holi Celebration,Coronavirus Outbreaks, Holi Celebration,Coronavirus, Outbreaks, Holi, Celebration

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that he would not participate in any Holi events this year as experts have advised against “mass gatherings to avoid the spread of Coronavirus”, many of his followers decided to go colorless. Twenty-eight new cases of the deadly illness, which emerged in China and spread to over 60 countries in the last two months, have been reported in India in the last three days.

 

Dr Kritika Sabarwal said, “When such horrible cases are around, you never know the source of spreading the virus. One should take extensive precautions. Even my advice is that the people should focus on their health’s safety; they can play Holi within their house with loved ones but not in public places.”

Experts across the World have advised to reduce mass gatherings to avoid the spread of COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. On the other hand, Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s tweeted and informed that he will not play Holi due to Coronavirus.

43 cases of novel Coronavirus infection have been reported in India so far, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan informed the media. Seventeen of 23 Italians who landed in Delhi last month, then travelled to Rajasthan have tested positive. One Indian, who was travelling with them has also tested positive.  Mumbai also has many cases of Coronavirus patients. Experts across Maharashtra too have advised avoiding public gatherings.

Preetesh Gupta a resident of Goregaon said, “We will be within our house with family playing dry colours as a formality.”

Reena, a resident of Dahisar said, “We are avoiding Holi this year. It’s always better to take precautions.”

Event organiser Padma Mittal told AV “We have already informed our customers that there will be no rain dance and pool parties. We are careful about hygiene and don’t want to risk anyone’s life.”

Several RWAs, apartment owners’ associations, traders’ bodies and social groups in Mumbai have already decided to cancel Holi Milan programmes and have requested residents to avoid large gatherings. Many are holding meetings to take a call on cancellation of these events.

There were some voices of displeasure too:

Mamta Mandal, resident of Borivali Mumbai said, “The Prime Minister is saying that he will not celebrate Holi. That doesn’t mean that people won’t celebrate too. The government should have rather taken strict measures to tackle this epidemic.”

Hamid Abdul a trader in Bhindi Bazar told AV “With very less time left for the festival of colours, Mumbai’s big wholesale markets including the ones in Crawford market are quiet even as there is no dearth of colours and pichkaris. The stocks usually arrive at least six-seven months in advance. By November, the market was full, but there are hardly any buyers.”

Amid the growing fear of Coronavirus, Mumbaikar have already shunned Chinese products. Besides toys and crackers, colours and pichkaris from China are hugely popular in Indian markets.

Based on the available data, there is no reason to panic;  28 cases in a country the size of India are not worrying. As for whether schools, public transport etc. are safe, the (Health) Ministry should make recommendations based on the situation. It would be different from state-to-state or city-to-city. Even in China, the graded approach worked. The kind of containment measures put in place in Hubei were not replicated everywhere. People cannot put their lives on hold nor is it necessary. Celebrate Holi, but maybe you should not celebrate it with thousands of people around. Celebrate with close family and friends, avoid big gatherings as far as possible.

Praying for exit of Coronavirus

By
Vaidehi Taman
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The moment Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced his intentions to stay away from ‘Holi Milan’ programmes as ‘experts across the world have advised to reduce mass gatherings to avoid the spread of the COVID-19 novel Coronavirus, many in Mumbai too seems to be thinking on similar lines. Many residents and especially youth are in favour of avoiding bigger get-togethers for the Holi celebrations. In the wake of Coronavirus, the present health scare due to this dreaded disease, it is risky. Followed by Modi’s tweet even Amit Shah also announced about not playing with colors. This perhaps is not the time to have fun when the entire world is worried about Coronavirus. We need to be careful and responsible about others and ourselves too. Let’s stay safe and not play Holi in the usual big gatherings.

In Maharashtra, of the 167 travelers quarantined since January, upon landing at the Mumbai airport, only nine are currently admitted in isolation wards. Testing facilities have been put in place in Mumbai, Nagpur and Pune. There is enough stock of masks. Hotel managements have also been instructed to check if foreign tourists coming to their hotels have undergone thermal screening. When there was an outbreak of swine flu, the dahi handi celebrations were cancelled.

While efforts are on to check and screen 88 people who came in contact with the Delhi man, the growing scare over Coronavirus which has claimed over 3,000 lives, mostly are from China. Families across the financial capital are cutting down on celebrations and cancelling pool parties.

There are many people seen wearing masks in India especially in trains and planes. But no one knows what this virus is all about. Coronavirus affects the respiratory tract in the mammals; it causes all types of the common cold. It causes cold with major symptoms e.g. throat swollen adenoids in humans primarily in the winter. Coronaviruses can cause pneumonia, either direct viral pneumonia or secondary bacterial pneumonia and they can also cause bronchitis either direct viral bronchitis or secondary bacterial bronchitis. The Coronavirus is fairly new that has taken the World by shock. It’s been two months since the outbreak started and it has shown that it isn’t as deadly as the SARS virus. Also, it takes about two weeks before the person infected shows any symptoms. It’s not noticed right away.

Coronaviruses are zoonotic in origin. Both SARS and MERS are classified as zoonotic viral diseases. This means that the first patients who were infected acquired these viruses directly from animals. This was possible because while in the animal host, the virus had acquired a series of genetic mutations that allowed it to infect and multiply inside humans. Snakes have been suggested as a host or intermediate host. In the case of this 2019 Wuhan variant (2019-nCoV) Coronavirus outbreak, reports state that most of the first group of patients hospitalised were workers or customers at a local seafood wholesale market which also sold processed meats and live consumable animals including poultry, donkeys, sheep, pigs, camels, foxes, badgers, bamboo rats, hedgehogs and reptiles. China not only has a culture of eating fresh meat has as many markets and wild animals fairs with various animals. This gives most likely a virus jumping to humans or other animals which can be intermediates. However, since no one has ever reported finding a Coronavirus infecting aquatic animals, it is plausible that the Coronavirus may have originated from other animals sold in that market. The study of the genetic code of 2019-nCoV reveals that the new virus is most closely related to two bat SARS-like Coronavirus samples from China initially suggesting that like SARS and MERS, the bat might also be the origin of 2019-nCoV. The authors further found that the viral RNA coding sequence of 2019-nCoV-spike protein, which forms the “crown” of the virus particle that recognises the receptor on a host cell indicates that the bat virus might have mutated before infecting people. But when the researchers performed a more detailed bioinformatics analysis of the sequence of 2019-nCoV, it suggests that this Coronavirus might come from snakes.

The Wuhan Huanan wholesale seafood market where the Coronavirus outbreak is believed to have started is now closed, making it difficult for greater detailed sampling and study. Also, these reptile-to-bat and then human transfers are NOT definite or independently verified. Searching for the 2019-nCoV sequences in snakes would be the first thing to do. However, since the outbreak, the seafood market has been disinfected and shut down. This makes it challenging to trace the new virus’ source animal. These viruses don’t circulate among only humans but animals instead, they are adapted to animals but not human. When they infect a new species, they may be either too weak (i.e., unable to spread at all) or too aggressive (i.e., unable to spread efficiently). However, if the viral spread continues, viruses causing milder diseases are more favoured until it reaches equilibrium. For example, the Spanish flu was very lethal when initially introduced to human, but eventually became milder seasonal flu strains, contrary to people’s belief, the Spanish flu was never gone as some genetic segments are still circulating. However, we should remain cautious as something unexpected may happen during the adaptation. Because human adapted viruses will be very different from the initial one, anything could happen during such a long evolution path. For example, a mutation that enables the virus to replicate faster or evade the white blood cells better may increase both the infectivity and lethality which is advantageous in the short term. This could probably explain why the death toll of the Spanish flu spiked at the second wave. So even the general trend is becoming better, something nasty can still happen. So what we need is awareness and guidelines on precautions to be taken.

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Is doomsday veering around the Earth?

By
Afternoon Voice
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CoronaViru, china, india, mumbai, virus, disease, china virusWith the novel Coronavirus claiming thousands of lives and still counting, people have started murmuring whether the end of the world is near!

Meanwhile a lot of books on prophecies on the dreaded disease have started doing rounds. Besides that of Nostradamus, two other books passed through my eyes. One is ‘End of Days’ by Sylvia Browne while the second is ‘The Eyes of Darkness’ by Dean Koontz.

In a para Koontz writes, “Wuhan-400 is a perfect weapon. It afflicts only human beings. No other living creature can carry it. And like syphilis, Wuhan-400 can’t survive outside a living human body for longer than a minute.  This means that it can’t permanently contaminate objects or entire places the way anthrax and other virulent microorganisms can. And when the host expires, the Wuhan-400 within him perishes a short while later as soon as the temperature of the affected one drops below eighty-six degrees Farenheit. Do you see the advantage of all this?”

Similarly, the book titled End of Days: Predictions and Prophecies about the End of the World also predicts the global outbreak of Coronavirus. In this Slyvia has thie to say, “a severe pneumonia like illness will spread throughout the globe, attacking the lungs and the bronchial tubes and resisting all known treatments. Almost more baffling than the illness itself will be fact that it will suddenly vanish  as quickly as it arrived, attack again ten years later and then disappear completely.” The book was first published in 2008.

A photo of excerpts from the two book is going viral across social media platforms and is spooky enough to reach for that box of tissues to wipe your sweat.

Way back in 1555, French preacher Nostradamus predicted that humanity would suffer from a serious illness which would be difficult to destroy. The Coronavirus epidemic has spread through China like wildfire, infecting tens of thousands with Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).

Nostradamus predicted a strain of the Coronavirus could kill tens of millions of people from the United States and all over the world.

Staunch followers of Nostradamus are claiming that the prophet had indeed predicted the Coronavirus. In this connection, they point to one of his writings, Century 2:53, which warns, “The great plague of the maritime city will not cease until there be avenged the death. Of the just blood, condemned for a price without crime.” Although landlocked Wuhan is not a “maritime city,” the disease was traced to a seafood market which they believe is enough to prove a link.

All this started when security personnel checked the temperature of passengers in the Wharf at the Yangtze River on January 22, this year in Wuhan. This is when a new infectious Coronavirus known as “2019-nCoV” was discovered in Wuhan as the number of cases rose to over 400 in mainland China. Health officials stepped up efforts to contain the spread of the pneumonia-like disease which medicals experts confirmed can be passed from human to human. The death toll had reached 17 people as the Wuhan government issued regulations today that residents must wear masks in public places. Cases have been reported in other countries including the United States, Thailand, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea.

Twenty-eight fresh cases have been reported in India in three days, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said today. Seventeen of 23 Italians who landed in Delhi last month, then travelled to Rajasthan have tested positive. One Indian, who was travelling with them, has also tested positive. Twenty-eight fresh cases have been reported in India in three days, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said. Seventeen of 23 Italians who landed in Delhi last month, then traveled to Rajasthan have tested positive. One Indian, who was travelling with them, has also tested positive. Mumbai also has many cases of Coronavirus patients. Experts across Maharashtra too have advised to avoid public gatherings.

Meanwhile, the situation in India is very grim for every second man seems to be frightened on this virus. Today anywhere one goes there is a warning on this deadly disease. There are regular information being given on the railway platforms, regular information is being provided in local trains, mobile phones etc.

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.

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Dhobi Ghat fire; Third incident in a week

By
Web Team
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Byculla Fire Dhobighat,Fire in Mumbai, Fire in Dhobighat, Fire in Byculla,Byculla Fire,Dhobighat fire
Image Courtesy: ANI

On Monday, a fire broke out in slums of Dhobi Ghat at Byculla. The blaze was reported early in the morning at around 5:40 am, the fire department said. However, no casualty has been reported yet.

Incidentally, this is the third such incident that has been reported in a week. Similarly, there was a massive fire break-out in a godown at Jogeshwari on Thursday where no casualty was reported. On the same day, Level 1 fire was reported at Borivali.

The year 2019 was the busiest year for the city’s fire brigade having reported highest number of emergencies in the last few years. In December, the fire brigade was busy fighting a fire at Andheri’s Saki Naka in Asalpha. It took 48 hours to douse. Additionally, two people were trapped in the building and lost their lives. Few firefighters too were suffocated while dousing the fire.

Ding dong battle between banks and government

By
Jayanthy Subramaniam
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RBICredibility of rating agencies all over the world is under a cloud, no accountability. Subprime crisis and failure of Lehman brothers are evergreen in our memories.

The Bankers are neither god nor astrologers to predict what will happen in business? Similarly rating agencies are also handicapped for various reasons. Business cycle is also taken into when banks lend and also do a swot analysis. Can anyone on earth could predict crude prices will crash from USD 120 to USD 40. Similar is the case with steel, iron ore, coal, other minerals, commodities.

These in turn impact other industries like shipping mining power generation etc. Bhushan Steel was one of the best managed steel industry. Steel prices crashed they had to shut shop and sell the unit at throwaway price to Tata’s under IBC because they were not in multiple sectors like Tata’s, Birla’s, Adani, Ambani who also were impacted but could survive as a group because they earned in some sectors where the impact is not much. In addition to business cycle the SC judgment in coal scam 2G scam has created several lakhs of NPA in Banks and bankers are blamed.

Recently Harish Salve has agreed with the above analysis. Telecom sector who killed? It is government policies the final nail on their coffin is the SC judgement on AGR. Who killed real estate industry? It is again the demonetisation and govt policy. Third is the atmosphere of accountability at every level with bankers bearing the brunt. Overnight the promoters and bankers are declared as criminals and CBI cases are filed against them. You have all worked in the bank and passed cheques in overdraft accounts of corporates. Have you any time while passing the cheque verify the genuinity of the transaction (related to business of the corporate or ensure end utilisation by verifying the payee details) and whether you have time to verify when it is received in clearing.

Now cheques issued by corporates on their sister concern or associates are treated as diversion of funds and the account is declared as fraud and cases handed over CBI who immediately will see that bankers are arrested and sent behind bars. No businessman is willing to invest his money to start a new industry or increase capacity of existing industry or borrow from bank. This is one of the main reasons for slowdown because even bankers are not ready to lend though people write all theories and bashing bankers.

We have never seen a new loan proposal for setting up industry or expansion of Rs 10 Cr and above. Nobody wants to take a risk in this atmosphere. Let us stop this armchair bashing of bankers based on old stories because banking has changed with lot of checks and balances including sanctions being delegated to Committees at various levels and it is not so easy to make every person on the chain of committees to succumb to a phone call from FM or MD of the bank.

The rating agencies, Auditing firms of CA lobby and above all PSB Boards are equal ingredients to make chemistry. Hence, Finance Minister warns Banks against trusting rates blindly and stress the need for improving branch level connection with clients to break the present stalemate.

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

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Letters to the Editor: 09 March, 2020

By
Web Team
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letters to the editor, afternoon voice,

Festival of colours

Holi is festival of colours and the festival of love. It is an ancient Hindu religious festival, which has become popular with many non-Hindus too taking part in the festivities in many parts of India and around the World.

People celebrate the festival by throwing dry colours and balloons filled with coloured water on each other. It is usually celebrated with families and friends coming together to observe the onset of spring.

The festival has in recent times spread in parts of Australia, Europe and North and South Americas too as a spring celebration of love, frolic and colours.

Holi, the festival of colours, brings joy and fun. However, as we get into the spirit of this festival, it is important to be watchful about your skin and body.

Colours were traditionally made from dried flowers and herbs, but with time, harsh chemicals and dyes have replaced these natural ingredients. Every year during Holi, we hear of people suffering due to the use of colours that contains harmful chemicals.

So please play Holi with caution.

Jubel D’Cruz

 

A step for world peace

It is good to hear that the U.S. recently signed a deal with the Taliban that could pave the way for a full withdrawal of foreign soldiers from Afghanistan over the next 14 months. This is a step towards ending the 18–year ­war in the nation. This should bring peace in Afghanistan opening way for its development. It proved that no one could be defeated by power. All involved parties in the conflict seem to be missing the big picture that is US has lost this war.

Mahmood Qasmi Magdhi

 

Parking protest safely out of sight

Since December 2019, persistent peaceful protests and performances have addressed the commuting public using not just slogans and banners, but art, performance and speeches. It will certainly go down as the most creative and sustained ‘occupation’ since the freedom struggle. But here, we well know, the protesters will largely be speaking to themselves. They will no longer be a reminder to elected representatives and the general public of what is at stake in their opposition to CAA. Such bans, if implemented, will be difficult for any political party to sustain since our noisy republic relies as much on street mobilisations for its political existence as on elections. Above all, it will diminish the dynamic relationship between monumental city architecture and citizens between flesh and stone.

Amjadullah Abuzar Bajpatti

 

Police and its atrocities

There is no doubt that police have played a crucial role in the Delhi riots as it was exposed through the videos that went on viral. But it is regretful that not a single FIR has been filed against the alleged police atrocities in any of the stations in north­east Delhi. I want to say that the first step to bring back normalcy in the area is to ensure the credibility of the police to act in an impartial manner because police were either absent during the riots or were mute spectators to the violence.

M Qasmi Nadwi

 

Ban on protests at Town Hall untenable

The decision of the BJP-controlled Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to impose a blanket ban on protests at the Town Hall is a retrograde step which hits at the very root of the right to expression enshrined in the Constitution. In the post-Independence era, the Town Hall and another popular protest site, Mysore Bank Circle, together emerged as the cradles of democratic participation enabling people from all walks of life to raise their voices against the government of the day and shape the future of the state in many ways. In the recent past, the steps leading to the iconic Town Hall have turned into ground zero for demonstrators both for and against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), more so for the latter. With the anti-CAA protests showing no signs of abating, BBMP’s move is a clear attempt to curb people’s dissent on the issue.

Tarique Anwar Banglore

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

Muslim reservation bill still lingers around

By
Afternoon Voice
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Muslim Reservation, reservation, muslim reservation , maharashtra reservation, nawab malik, mva govt, aarakshan, muslim aarakshan, top story, ncp, congress, shiv sena, maha vikas aghadi, uddhav thackeray, muslims community, scheduled castes, sc, st, obc, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) minister Nawab Malik announced five per cent Muslim quota in the education sector, but soon his statement lingered in political corridors. On contrary Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said, no proposal regarding the same has come before the state government. He cited “No such proposal regarding Muslim reservation has come before the Maharashtra government. We will check its authenticity after it comes to us. We have not taken any decision about the same but some people are already banging their heads on it,” his taunt was for opposition leaders.” The minister was responding to the questions raised by Congress legislator Sharad Ranpise.

Speaking on the subject, Gani Azrekar told AV “Muslims are mere one-seventh the population of India. If you don’t think of that as a minority, please tell us your definition of minority and which dictionary you got it from. The SC/ST/OBC population form the majority of India, might even be 70 per cent Muslim reservation put in cold storage of the total population. And yet they are given reservation because they are socially economically and educationally backward, and are severely underrated. The same is the case with Muslims. Wherever Muslims get a reservation, it is because they are backward not because they are a minority. And even discounting all that, “second-largest majority” doesn’t make much sense.”

However, shortly after Malik’s remarks, senior minister Eknath Shinde said that no such decision has been taken. The senior Sena politician said leaders of the ruling MVA which comprises Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress will take a call on the issue after discussions.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Minister and NCP’s state unit President Jayant Patil said, that issue has not yet come to the government and all three parties in the MVA government will sit together before taking any decision on the same. Earlier, senior Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra Urban Development Minister, Eknath Shinde also stated that no decision has been taken on this issue yet, additionally the MVA government works as per the Common Minimum Programme (CMP). Earlier in 2014, the Congress and NCP government in Maharashtra had issued an ordinance providing 5 per cent reservation to Muslims along with 16 per quota for the Maratha community.

Malik Shaikh told AV “Muslim reservation bill is long pending.  When each government comes to power, it announces something and then the debate gets in cold storage. It’s not because they are Muslims but if the underprivileged Muslims get a reservation, they can display their merit by competing with the mainstream with these benefits that they are getting.”

Navin Bhaven said “The Tamil Nadu government has allotted 3.5 per cent of seats each to Muslims and Christians, thereby altering the OBC reservation to 23per cent from 30 per cent (since it excludes persons belonging to other Backward Castes who are either Muslims or Christians). There is no reservation granted on the basis of religion in the Central educational institutions at the national level, although reservation has been extended to religious minorities in some states.”

Malik, however, reiterated outside the legislature what he had announced inside. “The (Bombay) High Court had approved five per cent reservation (for Muslims) in government education (institutes),” he told reporters. “We will come out with an Act to ensure five per cent reservation in government education. The government will definitely take decision on giving reservation (to Muslims),” the NCP leader added.

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