Monthly Archives: August 2018

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 24

The Supreme Court on Friday stayed coercive action against Republic TV Editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami for three weeks in connection with the multiple FIRs against him for his alleged remarks against Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

The remarks were made during news shows on the recent Palghar mob-lynching of three persons, including two saints in Maharashtra.

A Bench comprising Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice MR Shah, in a hearing conducted through video-conferencing, stayed all FIRs against Goswami, except the one registered at Sadar Police Station in Nagpur.

The Supreme Court transferred the FIR registered at PS Sadar, Nagpur to PS NM Joshi Marg in Mumbai and said it would be investigated along with the FIR lodged by Goswami after the attack on him two days ago.

Read also: ‘Attack’ on Arnab, two arrested

The Supreme Court gave protection from any coercive action, including arrest, to Goswami for three weeks, during which he can seek anticipatory bail either from the trial court or the Bombay High Court.

The Supreme Court also directed the Mumbai Police Commissioner to give protection to the Republic TV office and Goswami.

The top court turned down a request from senior advocate Vivek Tankha, representing Chhatisgarh Government, to restrain Goswami from making comments similar to the ones that led to the registration of the FIRs.

“There should be no restraint on the media. I am averse to imposing any restrictions on the media,” Justice DY Chandrachud said.

Acting on the Republic TV Editor-in-chief’s petition, the Supreme Court also issued notices to the states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Jammu and Kashmir Administration—where multiple FIRs have been lodged against Goswami.

According to the SC order, probe into all cases, except the one lodged in Nagpur and ordered to be transferred to Mumbai, has been stayed. No probe into fresh FIRs arising out of April 21 TV show will be done. The Supreme Court gave time to Goswami to club all FIRs and complaints, bring all of them on record and make the complainants parties to his petition.

Further hearing would take place after eight weeks, said the top court. The Bench asked Arnab Goswami to co-operate with the investigation into the matter.

Mona

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 19

This is for the first time in the 30 years of their marriage that Admiral Sunil Lanba (retd) has got to spend ample time with his wife Reena. They are making the most of this time by doing household chores together, tending to their garden and catching up on reading and television.

“Lockdown was a necessity and I feel proud that we have come together as a nation to follow rules and regulations set by the government. We have been able to flatten the curve together, which is remarkable,” he said.

The day begins with watering plants, forenoon is spent on finishing household chores, evening calls for some time in the garden and the day is pleasantly spent in each other’s company. “I have been on ship for a significant amount of time. It’s only now that we have each other totally,” said Admiral Lanba, who served as the 23rd Chief of the Naval Staff of the Indian Navy.

Work keeps him occupied even during the lockdown. Being the chairman of National Maritime Foundation, he has to address seminars, which is only possible through video-conferencing. In the leisure time, he catches up on his old books and watches television. “PG Wodehouse is out of the bookshelf again. We enjoy watching serials and old Hindi movies and spend a great time with each other,” said the lively decorated Naval officer.

During the lockdown, Admiral Lanba makes sure that he stays connected to his friends and family. “Phone really comes handy here. I chat with my friends, cousins and relatives. My wife and I spend time chatting with our kids. We love to chat with our grandson, who will turn 4 this June.” Amongst the things that he misses are his morning walks and golf time with friends.

He asserted that they needed to be careful even when the restrictions were lifted. “It’s going to be a new normal because till we have vaccine and a cure in hand, the world at large cannot be back to business as earlier. We need to take cautious steps when lockdown is lifted and follow preventive measures so that the disease doesn’t reoccur in our country.”

New Delhi, April 24

Noting that it was “insensitive and inhumane” to freeze dearness allowance, the Congress on Friday said instead of “hurting” the middle-class employees and pensioners, the government should shelve bullet train and Central Vista redevelopment projects to save money for the coronavirus fight.

“It is an insensitive and inhumane decision of the government to cut DA of central employees, pensioners and jawans who are serving the public while fighting coronavirus, instead of suspending the bullet train project and the Central Vista beautification project of lakhs of crores (of rupees),” Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala asked the government to curtail 30 per cent of its own expenses and shelve the Central Vista redevelopment and bullet train projects to save money to be used to fight the COVID-19 outbreak.

The government on Thursday froze inflation-linked allowance for its 1.1 crore employees and pensioners, a move states are likely to replicate, helping save a combined Rs 1.2 lakh crore that could be used to combat the coronavirus crisis.

Surjewala demanded that the government cut its own wasteful expenses by 30 per cent that could yield around Rs 2.5 lakh-crore and take back its decision of freezing the dearness allowance and relief for employees, pensioners and defence personnel.

He also accused the government of “misconceived” priorities and policies and said on one side the Prime Minister is telling states and the private sector not to cut salaries of its employees and on the other, he is himself cutting the salaries of government employees.

“Is this not an indicator to the states and private sector…If this mayhem continues, how will you put money in the hands of people,” he asked.

Surjewala said the government should shelve its Central Vista project of Rs 20,000 crore, of which the Prime Minister held a meeting even yesterday, as well as the Rs 1.10 lakh-crore bullet train project and not cut the money of common people.

“Why are you attacking the incomes of the most vulnerable sections and instead not cutting your own waste expenditure,” he asked.

The Congress has been critical of the government’s decision to freeze the dearness allowance of government employees from January 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021. PTI

A US warship sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait on a “routine” transit for the second time in a month, the US military said on Friday, hours after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused China of taking advantage of the world’s focus on the Covid-19 pandemic to push its territorial ambitions in the South China Sea.

Pompeo’s statement spotlights Beijing’s effort to push the envelope in the South China Sea where its territorial claims conflict with those of Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei.

At a video interaction with ministers of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations grouping to discuss the coronavirus pandemic, Pompeo pointed to China’s announcement of administrative districts over disputed islands and maritime areas in the South China Sea and sinking of a Vietnamese fishing vessel earlier this month.

“Beijing has moved to take advantage of the (Covid-19) distraction,” Pompeo said, accusing China of deploying militarised ships to intimidate others from developing offshore gas and oil projects.

Also Read: Explained: What the South China Sea dispute is all about

China claims almost the entire South China Sea and the islands and reefs that dot it. Earlier this month, Beijing announced setting up two districts to administer islands and reefs of Paracel Islands and the Spratly Islands to strengthen its claim to sovereignty over the area.

India tracks South China Sea developments

There has been no statement from India on recent developments in the South China Sea. Or Pompeo’s latest statement.

But New Delhi has an abiding interest in developments in the region.

For one, because about 55 percent of India’s trade passes through the Strait of Malacca, part of the South China Sea.

India has, on several occasions, called upon all parties to avoid unilateral action that lead to tensions in the region and called for peaceful resolution of disputes without threat of use of force.

Besides, state-run ONGC Videsh is also engaged in oil and gas production in cooperation with Vietnam and is directly impacted by China’s efforts to militarise the South China Sea.

Not just Pompeo

Chinese ships have also been accused of intruding in waters near the Japanese-controlled islets last week when four coast guard vessels sailed through the area for about 90 minutes before leaving. China claims the islets and calls them Diaoyu.

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi picked up the phone this Tuesday to lodge a protest for sending government ships into Japanese territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.

The Philippines also has filed two diplomatic protests with the Chinese Embassy in Manila over violations of international law and Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea.

Stand-off with Malaysia

There has been a standoff between Chinese and Malaysian vessels over Kuala Lumpur’s effort to explore energy blocks in its extended continental shelf. Those waters are also claimed by Vietnam and China, which immediately sent ships to shadow the boat.

According to news agency Bloomberg, the situation took a turn for the worse on April 16 with the arrival of a Chinese surveyor known as the Haiyang Dizhi 8, which last year was engaged in a standoff with Vietnam over offshore energy blocks.

This week, the dispute turned into a five-nation face off involving US and Chinese warships, raising the risk of a direct confrontation as broader tensions grow between the world’s biggest economies, Bloomberg reported.

Medical experts and government officials steering India’s battle against Covid-19 said on Thursday that the country’s prophylactic measures have led to a reduction in the disease’s doubling rate.

Coronavirus disease Covid-19 is infecting more and more states in India every day. The spread of the disease has slowed, but many states are under its grip.

While the total number of Covid-19 positive cases have crossed 23,000-mark, there are four states which have the bulk of these infecte patients.

Here is a list of states with highest number of Covid-19 cases:

1. Maharashtra: With the addition of 778 new Covid-19 cases, Maharashtra recorded the highest 24-hour jump on Thursday. The tally of infected has reached 6,427 in the state, according to state health department data. The Union health ministry has, however confirmed 6,430 Covid-19 positive cases so far.

2. Gujarat: The state has the second-highest number of Covid-19 cases. A total of 2,624 people are said to be suffering here, of which 258 people have been discharged while 112 lost their lives, according to Union Health Ministry data. Nine of the fatalities have been reported since Thursday.

3. Delhi: With 2,376 Covid-19 cases, Delhi is third on the list. Two people have died in the national capital since Thursday; the total number of fatalities here stand at 50, according to the Union Health Ministry.

4. Rajasthan: Rajasthan on Friday morning reported 2,000 cases of the coronavirus disease Covid-19 with 36 new infections, including 13 from Jaipur. The desert state is on the fourth spot in terms of the number of Covid-19 cases in the country after Maharashtra, Gujarat and Delhi. Rajasthan had reported 1000 cases on April 14, taking the Covid-19 tally to 1005.

5. Madhya Pradesh: The state has seen rapid increase in the Covid-19 cases, with Indore emerging as ine of the hotspots in the country. The state has reported 1,699 positive cases of Covid-19 till Friday. Eighty three people have died from Covid-19 here while 203 have recovered, according to the Union Health Ministry.

6. Tamil Nadu: The southern state is close behind Madhya Pradesh in terms of Covid-19 positive cases. Tamil Nadu has reported 1,683 cases till Friday, the Union Health Ministry said. The death toll has reached 20 in the state.

7. Uttar Pradesh: With further increase in numbers, Uttar Pradesh has 1,510 Covid-19 positive cases. While 206 people have recovered from the disease in Uttar Pradesh, 24 have died from the infection here, according to Union Health Ministry.

8. Telangana: Another southern state is fast approaching the 1,000-mark for Covid-19 positive cases. The Covid-19 positive cases have reached 960 in Telangana. Nearly 200 (197 to be exact) have made a recovery from the virus while 24 people have died from Covid-19.

9. Andhra Pradesh: The state has recorded 895 positive Covid-19 patients and 141 cases of recovery. Twenty seven people have died here, as per the latest data from Centre on Friday.

10. Kerala: As per the health ministry, Kerala reported 447 coronavirus cases on Friday. The state has witnessed three deaths due to Covid-19 while 324 people have successfully recovered.

The bridge is located in a region that witnessed a month-long military standoff in 2017 over the Doklam plateau, claimed by China and Bhutan, India’s ally. It was one of the most serious flare-ups since China won a border war with India in 1962.

India has opened a new all-weather access in a disputed part of its border with China to enable faster movement of troops and artillery, another potential irritant in relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

The new bridge, which can take 40 tons of weight, was built in Arunachal Pradesh in India’s remote northeast, a region that’s claimed by China and near the scene of previous clashes. Border intrusions have risen 50% in 2019 compared to the previous year, people with knowledge of the matter said.

”That part of the border has always had a tendency to friction point between India and China. Lack of reliable and all weather connectivity was vulnerability,” said Nitin Gokhale, a New Delhi-based strategic affairs expert. “The new bridge and improved road overcomes that and ensures uninterrupted supply to troops.”

The new access along the border with China comes amid heightened tensions between the two nations after Beijing accused India of blocking its companies in the South Asian nation after New Delhi tightened laws for foreign investors from acquiring local firms. The bridge is located in a region that witnessed a month-long military standoff in 2017 over the Doklam plateau, claimed by China and Bhutan, India’s ally. It was one of the most serious flare-ups since China won a border war with India in 1962.

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to a message requesting comment.

India claims the Chinese army violated the 3,488 kilometer (2,167 miles) long un-demarcated border, parts of which are disputed, over 600 times, the people said, asking not to be identified as the matter is not public.

“India and China have different perceptions of the border,” Indian Army spokesman Aman Anand said on Thursday. “Perceived transgressions are result of the perceived boundary.”

Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is ramping up its infrastructure along the border, which it says isn’t aimed at any particular country, but rather the development of remote border areas. It has completed 74 strategic roads along the eastern border, with plans afoot to finish 20 more by next year, the people said. It will reduce time taken to move and material by half and help 431 villages that lie across the region during the Covid-19 outbreak.

India tweaked its law on foreign investment by making it mandatory for companies from countries that share a land border to acquire local firms only after seeking an approval from the government. The move, which cuts the risk of opportunistic takeovers as the coronavirus outbreak drives down valuations of Indian companies, had so far applied only to FDI from Bangladesh and Pakistan. India shares its land border with seven countries, including China.

The new bridge opened by the India also strides one of the main access routes of the Chinese Army into India from Tibet.

Even as no one is being tested as part of a house-to-house survey to track Covid-19 cases, about 650 persons exhibiting likely symptoms have been identified by the Chandigarh health department, which aims to cover the city’s entire population of around 12 lakh.

About 586 cases are being monitored daily by the medical officer, it has been learnt, as the administration puts the onus of responsibility on the citizens to be forthcoming with their health details.

Till date, a population of 9.92 lakh from 2.53 lakh households has been covered by 1,291 teams.

“It’s a survey, not a screening,” said Dr Sangeeta, who goes by one name, from the department. “The intention is to give people locked down in their homes a sense of comfort that the health department is there for them. Health workers are approaching them at the doorsteps. It’s the social responsibility of the residents to reveal details,” she said.

“No samples are being taken,” she said.

The survey is being conducted on the pattern of pulse polio campaign with the city divided into four zones. Hotspots are covered first, followed by colonies and then sectors.

“About 150 auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs) are deployed in the field, with one ANM and one beldar (local worker) in each team. They have been given a set of questions to ask and it’s the responsibility of the people to come forward and share details if there’s any symptomatic case,” Dr Sangeeta added.

About 650 symptomatic cases have been traced and follow-up of 586 is being done daily by the medical officer of the area. Of the remaining 67, she said either they were not at home or their houses were locked so they were not being tracked.

On the ANMs, Dr G Dewan, director, health services, said, “They are doing a wonderful job and it should be appreciated by city residents. They are not doctors as we cannot employ doctors for field survey. The ANMs are going from house to house to save time and are filling forms only for symptomatic cases. We are following these cases daily.”

The survey is likely to be completed by the weekend. “It’s on the pattern suggested by the Union ministry and we will be putting it forth to see if it can be used in other parts as well,” said Dr Shivani Gupta, World Health Organization consultant, Chandigarh.

Illegal gambling activities and hookah parties organised by well-knit groups amid the ongoing lockdown, not giving two hoots for the social-distancing norms, have emerged as the key reasons behind turning Rajpura into Punjab’s new Covid-19 hotspot.

As many as 18 residents tested positive for the coronavirus on Wednesday alone.

The town, located 26km from the Patiala district headquarters, has reported 30 positive cases so far, with the health department on Thursday collecting 35 more samples from the ‘containment zones’.

“Most of the 18 persons found positive yesterday are contacts of each other. Many of the men are believed to have met at gambling parties recently,” an official said.

Click here for the complete coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic

Patiala senior superintendent of police (SSP) Mandeep Singh Sidhu said, “It came to the fore during investigation that they held frequent get-togethers on a vacant plot near Anaj Mandi. Many residents of the locality confirmed that a group of men would remain there for hours.”

The infection spread after a group of 5-6 men involved in illegal activities like gambling continued to hold get-togethers and arranged liquor and hookah parties on multiple occasions even after the lockdown came into force, another official said.

Police have booked Krishan Kumar and Balraj, who tested positive for the coronavirus a day before, for allegedly endangering the life of fellow residents by violating curfew restrictions. The two travelled outstation before contracting the infection early this week, the SSP added.

A case was registered against them under Sections 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease endangering life), 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others), 271 (disobedience to quarantine rule) and 188 (disobedience to order promulgated by a public servant) of the Indian Penal Code and sections of the Disaster Management Act.

With this, the district’s tally has risen to 49 cases, of which 47 have been reported in the past one week only.

Town declared a buffer zone

In a tweet, Punjab special chief secretary KBS Sidhu said Rajpura town was notified as a ‘buffer zone’ by the district administration.

“Movement from Rajpura to Patiala has been restricted. The result of 40 samples taken from the town on Thursday will come on Friday,” Sidhu tweeted.

The local police on Sunday closed 15 of the total 38 border points leading to Chandigarh after the UT administration declared the entire city a containment zone.

Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Nilambari Jagadale said, “Another 23 points are open for vehicles coming from nearby areas. Police personnel at these checkpoints will thermal scan all commuters entering the city.”

Since Saturday, 2,906 four-wheelers and 2,418 two-wheelers have entered the city from other cities. Among these, 250 four-wheelers and 189 scooterists were denied entry.

POINTS CLOSED

T-point near Punjab and Haryana civil secretariat leading to Nayagaon and Kansal

Togan barrier

Road connecting Maloya with Togan village

Sarangpur barrier

Jayanti Majri

Barrier near IRB Complex road, Sarangpur, towards village Padachh

Road from Manimajra towards Mansa Devi

Road from Mauli Jagran to Sector 17, Panchkula

Road from Mauli Jagran to Sectors 17/18, Panchkula

Road leading to Raipur Kalan

Road near Sectors 52/53

Badheri barrier

Dividing road near Sectors 55/56

Road dividing Sector 48C and D

Road dividing Sector 49C and D