Ex-President Pranab Mukherjee tests positive for Covid-19

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Ex-President Pranab Mukherjee tests positive for Covid-19

Former President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday said that he has tested positive for coronavirus and asked his contacts to self-isolate and get tested for the virus.

“On a visit to the hospital for a separate procedure, I have tested positive for Covid-19 today. I request the people who came in contact with me in the last week, to please self-isolate and get tested for Covid-19,” the former President said in a tweet.

Soon after veteran Congress leader Mukherjee shared the news, wishes for his speedy recovery started pouring in.

Union minister and Lok Janshakti Party leader Ramvilas Paswan tweeted, “I am worried about the news of former President Pranab Mukherjee ji testing positive for Covid-19. I pray to God for your speedy recovery.”

Former Union minister Milind Deora, Delhi Congress chief Chaudhary Anil Kumar and several other leaders also wished for the speedy recovery of Mukherjee.

The news of the former President testing positive for Covid-19 comes on a day when India reported a spike of 62,064 fresh cases on Monday taking the total tally to 2,215,074. With more than 1,000 fatalities in the last 24 hours, 44,386 people have now lost their lives in the fight against the deadly virus in India.

PM inaugurates submarine OFC connectivity to Andaman & Nicobar Islands

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PM inaugurates submarine OFC connectivity to Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated a submarine Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) connecting Chennai and Port Blair, which will enable the delivery of faster and more reliable mobile and landline telecommunication services to the islands, on par with other parts of India.

“This optical fiber cable project is a gift for the people of Andaman before Independence Day. This is a symbol of our commitment to ease of living. Be it online classes, tourism, banking, shopping, or telemedicine, thousands of families in Andaman and Nicobar will now get access,” Modi said.

The Prime Minister said that tourists will also reap huge benefits from this facility as the better net connectivity is the first priority of any tourist destination. “The problem of mobile and Internet connectivity has now been resolved. Apart from this, physical connectivity through road, air, and water is also being strengthened.”

He pointed out that the project will lead to high-speed broadband connectivity, fast and reliable mobile, and landline telecom services, which in turn will give a big boost to the local economy and delivery of e-governance, telemedicine, and the-education services.

The project is funded by the government of India through the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) under the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications.

About 2,300-km long cable has been laid at a cost of about Rs 1,224 crore.

The submarine cable will also connect Port Blair to Swaraj Dweep, Little Andaman, Car Nicobar, Kamorta, Great Nicobar, Long Island, and Rangat.

The foundation stone of this project was laid by the Prime Minister on December 30, 2018, at Port Blair.

The submarine OFC link will deliver a bandwidth of 2×200 Gigabits per second between Chennai and Port Blair, and 2×100 Gbps between Port Blair and other islands.

The provision of reliable, robust, and high-speed telecom and broadband facilities in these islands will be a landmark achievement from the viewpoint of consumers, as well as for strategic and governance reasons.

The 4G mobile services, which were constrained due to limited backhaul bandwidth provided via satellite, will also see a major improvement.

Enhanced telecom and broadband connectivity will boost tourism and employment generation in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and also give an impetus to the economy and thus raise the standards of living of the populace.

Better connectivity will also facilitate the delivery of e-governance services such as telemedicine and tele-education. Small enterprises will benefit from the opportunities in e-commerce, while educational institutions will utilize the enhanced availability of bandwidth for e-learning and knowledge-sharing.

Business Process Outsourcing services and other medium and large enterprises will also reap the benefits of better connectivity.

BJP MP urges Modi to table Population Control Bill in Parliament

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BJP MP urges Modi to table Population Control Bill in Parliament

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Anil Agarwal has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to introduce the Population Control Bill in the next session of the Parliament.

In a letter addressed to Modi, the BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP said “population explosion” needs to be checked, and the only way to make India ‘Atmanirbhar’ or self-reliant to is to introduce the population control law.

“Everyone wants the population control law… be Hindu or Muslim. This law will eliminate most of the country’s problems. China (the world’s most populous country) will soon be left behind by the rate at which the population in India is increasing,” Agarwal told IANS.

“Arable land in the country is also continuously decreasing. If there is no population control law in time, many problems will arise,” the BJP MP said.

The letter addressed to PM Modi reads: “On August 15, 2019, you talked about population control while addressing the country from the Red Fort. The time has now come… I urge you to bring an effective population control bill in the next session of the Parliament.”

Agarwal said Modi stays firm on his promise — whether it is on Triple Talaq, Article 370 or Ram temple.

UP MLA, wife, son booked for grabbing house, threats

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UP MLA, wife, son booked for grabbing house, threats

Gyanpur MLA Vijay Mishra, his wife Ramlali Mishra, and their son Vishnu Mishra have been booked by the district police on charges of grabbing property and intimidation on his relative’s complaint.

It is the second FIR against Mishra within a month. On July 18, he was booked under the Goonda Act for “threatening” a man who bagged a contract for toll collection at the Lalanagar toll plaza on National Highway-2 in Aurai area.

Bhadohi Superintendent of Police RB Singh said: “An FIR naming Mishra, his MLC wife and son was registered by the Gopiganj police under Sections 325, 506, 347, 387 and 449 of the IPC on the complaint of the MLA’s relative Krishna Mohan Tiwari on Friday. On the request of the complainant, who cited a threat to his life, we have provided police security to him.”

Tiwari complained to the police that he owned a house in Dhanapur area under Gopiganj police station jurisdiction in Bhadohi district.

“The MLA has been forcibly living in my house and is now exerting pressure on me to register the property in his name. After I refused to sign the papers, Mishra, who has also taken over my firm, is threatening me with dire consequences,” Tiwari alleged.

The SP said that the Goonda Act case against Mishra is in the District Magistrate’s court for necessary action.

As many as 71 criminal cases are allegedly lodged against Mishra in various districts of the state. Ten of the cases are being heard in a special MP/MLA court, police sources said.

MLA Vijay Mishra had earlier won the Gyanpur seat in three consecutive Assembly polls but was denied ticket by the Samajwadi Party in the 2017 polls. He contested on Nishad Party ticket and won the seat again. He had contested the 2012 Assembly polls from jail.

Meanwhile, talking to reporters, the MLA’s son Vishnu claimed that the relative who had complained against them had borrowed Rs 32 crore from his MLA father.

“He had given us cheques for Rs 27 crore, which bounced. In order not to return our money, he lodged a complaint against us,” he alleged.

Odisha CM approves six new police stations

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Odisha CM approves six new police stations

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday approved rationalization of 905 posts in Odisha police and the creation of six new police stations.

The move is to strengthen 220 police stations and six outposts in 21 police districts, said a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).

The Chief Minister has approved the rationalization for the strengthening of police stations for better crime control and efficient delivery of citizen-centric services, the statement said.

The existing police stations which will be bifurcated creating six new police stations are – Khandagiri police station in Bhubaneswar, Angul Town police station in Angul, Jhasuguda Town police station in Jharsuguda, Bhanjanagar police station in Ganjam, Bhadrak (Rural) police station in Bhadrak and Tihidi police station in Bhadrak.

Earlier, the Chief Minister had directed the Police DG to make more personnel available in police stations by way of rationalization.

“Significant decline in Maoist menace due to strong security response and development activities has enabled the state to rationalize its manpower in the police,” said the CMO.

DGP Abhay said this will help the police in controlling crime and improving service delivery to residents of Odisha.

Sri Lanka’s ruling party wins parliamentary polls

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Sri Lanka’s ruling party wins parliamentary polls

The ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) led by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa won a landslide victory in the August 5 parliamentary election by gaining a majority in the new 225-member parliament, the Election Commission said on Friday.

The SLPP won 145 seats, making it the single largest party to gain a nearly two-thirds majority in Parliament reports Xinhua news agency.

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya or the United People’s Front, led by former presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa was the runner-up by winning 54 seats while the ITAK, a Tamil political party, won 10 seats.

One of Sri Lanka’s oldest political parties, the United National Party, led by former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe did not win any seats.

Rajapaksa will be sworn in as the nation’s new Prime Minister following his party’s victory, likely by the weekend after which a new cabinet will be appointed next week.

According to the country’s constitution, the cabinet will be limited to 30 ministers.

Rajapaksa, in a short statement on his official Twitter account soon after the party’s victory, thanked his voters and expressed gratitude to them for placing their trust in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and himself.

“We will ensure Sri Lanka will not stand disappointed during our tenure,” Rajapaksa said.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in a statement released late on Thursday night said he was confident of establishing a strong parliament following the SLPP’s victory.

Sri Lanka held its parliamentary election on August 5 which was declared as one of the most peaceful elections held in the island country’s political history.

A 71 per cent voter turnout was recorded.

Sri Lanka’s new Parliament will convene on August 20.

It’s jungleraj in UP: Priyanka lashes out at Yogi

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It’s jungleraj in UP: Priyanka lashes out at Yogi

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday wrote to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state, called kidnapping a flourishing industry as such people living under a cloud of fear.

In her letter in Hindi, the in-charge for eastern Uttar Pradesh said: “I have written to you earlier highlighting the issue of law and order situation in the state. And now crimes in broad daylight are being committed creating fear psychosis among people.”

She further said, according to people, kidnapping has turned into an “industry” in the state and murders have become daily affairs. She also pointed out at increase in rape cases

“And all these things highlight that due to some reason the criminals have no fear of law and administration,” she said.

Priyanka Gandhi also highlighted the murder of trader Ram Avtar Sharma in Sambhal district while he was returning from his shop. Sharma was shot dead by two bike-borne men, who fled with Rs 1lakh on Thursday night. “I request to arrest the criminals involved in the killing of Ram Avtar Sharma and offer justice to the family,” she said. Traders are living in an atmosphere of fear, she added.

In a no holds barred tweet some hours back she said: “It’s ‘jungle raj’ in UP. Both crime and Corona is getting out of hand in the state.

“Dharmendra Choudhary was kidnapped eight days back in Bulandshahr. First, he was kidnapped, and then on Friday, his body was recovered.

“Kanpur, Gorakhpur, Bulandshahr — in every case law and order has failed. How long will this government continue to sleep?”

BJP launches protests in Kerala to demand govt’s resignation

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BJP launches protests in Kerala to demand govt’s resignation

The BJP Kerala unit on Saturday launched protest demonstrations across the state to demand Pinarayi Vijayan government’s resignation in the wake of the unearthing of the gold smuggling racket.

BJP national secretary Bhupender Yadav, who launched the protests online from Delhi, alleged that the CMO was “facilitating” the gold smuggling.

These protests will continue till August 18, with all top state BJP leaders observing one-day fasts at the various places during this period.

On Saturday, lone BJP legislator in Kerala Assembly, O. Rajagopal, began his day-long fast at the state party headquarters here.

Yadav said Vijayan will go down in history as the “most corrupt Chief Minister” in the country.

“Vijayan, your time is now up. You will be forced to tell the truth on how the gold smuggling is taking place, as your own office has direct control over it. Look into those who have been arrested — they include Swapna Suresh, who despite no qualifications was given a job in the IT Department headed by Vijayan. You will have to answer,” the BJP leader said in his speech.

State BJP President K. Surendran, participating in the launch of the protest from his home in Kozhikode, said the situation is grave as allegations have now surfaced that the “smuggling of gold going on with the help of Vijayan’s office has terror links too”.

“… news that is now coming out is that the legal brains of the Communist Party of India-Marxist are working hard to save the accused. It’s also now coming out that the Kerala Police is now trying to get the custody of the accused in order to tutor them,” Surendran claimed.

The gold smuggling came to light when Sarith, a former employee of the UAE Consulate here, was arrested by the Customs on July 5 as he was facilitating the smuggling of 30 kg gold in diplomatic baggage to Thiruvananthapuram from Dubai.

HP CM reshuffles Cabinet, allocates portfolios to new Ministers

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HP CM reshuffles Cabinet, allocates portfolios to new Ministers

In a first major reshuffle in his government in two-and-a-half years, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has allocated portfolios to three new Ministers, besides changing those of other ministerial colleagues.

The Chief Minister has retained eight departments, including Finance, Home, Tourism, Excise and Taxation, and Public Works.

Veteran legislators Mahender Singh Thakur and Suresh Bhardwaj were given crucial portfolios, while another senior BJP leader Sarween Chaudhary, the lone woman Minister in the Council of Ministers, was divested of the important Urban Development Department, according to a notification issued on Friday night.

First-time Minister Rajiv Saizal, an Ayurveda doctor by profession, was given the crucial Health and Family Welfare portfolio that was earlier with the Chief Minister.

The Urban Development portfolio has now gone to Suresh Bhardwaj, a legislator from Shimla, who will also hold the charge of Parliamentary Affairs.

Chaudhary will now look after Social Justice and Empowerment, a portfolio she held in the previous BJP government led by Prem Kumar Dhumal.

Jal Shakti Minister Mahender Singh Thakur will continue to hold the existing portfolios.

The Transport Ministry was allocated to Bikram Singh, besides the Industries Department.

Another first-timer Minister Govind Singh Thakur was allocated the Education portfolio.

Ram Lal Markanda was given the charge of the Technical Education Department. The Agriculture Department’s charge, earlier with Markanda, has now been handed over to Virender Kanwar, who will continue to hold the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Departments.

The first Cabinet expansion took place a day earlier when Sukh Ram Chaudhary, Rakesh Pathania, and Rajinder Garg, all first-time Ministers, were inducted.

Chaudhary was given the MPP and Power portfolio, and Pathania allocated the Forest Department. Garg was given the charge of Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Departments.

Cong preferred votes over lives of Muslim women: Smriti

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Cong preferred votes over lives of Muslim women: Smriti

Union Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani on Friday accused the Congress of preferring vote bank over the rights of the Muslim women in the country.

“Congress got an opportunity to rule in favor of the Muslim sisters in the 1980s. But votes were more important for the party than the lives of these women. The real battle was fought by women who approached the courts against the injustice. This day is not only meant for Muslim women but all women who want respect for their gender every day,” Irani said on the Muslim Women Rights Day.

Irani was among the three Union Ministers who addressed Muslim women across the country through videoconference on the first anniversary of the passage of The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019 by Parliament.

The law made the practice of instant Triple Talaq a criminal offense.

She pointed out that though it is generally believed that women came forward to fight for their rights, but the country’s history and its culture and traditions had many examples where men too have been at the vanguard of such battles.

Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said it was an occasion to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi as it was due to him that the Muslim women were rid of the practice of instant divorce. He said that Modi had brought significant changes in the country since 2014.

Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that after the passage of the law, there has been 82 percent decrease in Triple Talaq cases in the country.

The three Ministers interacted with Muslim women in Lucknow, Varanasi, Mumbai and other places, during which the latter shared their experiences vis-a-vis Triple Talaq.

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