India

There are reports in the Indian media that an 'Oxygen Audit Committee' set up by the Supreme Court of India has claimed in its report that the 'Kejriwal government demanded four times more oxygen than it needed' during the second wave of the corona pandemic.

But the Aam Aadmi Party has questioned the very existence of such a report.

According to the news published in the newspapers, the Delhi government actually needed about 289 metric tonnes of oxygen, but about 1,200 metric tonnes of oxygen was demanded by them.

People associated with the Aam Aadmi Party say that this report is not of the Supreme Court panel, but of a sub-panel which has been sent to the main panel and this sub-panel is actually of the Narendra Modi government at the Center. Significantly, there is a BJP government at the Centre.

Aam Aadmi Party's answer

Aam Aadmi Party has strongly denied this news. Aam Aadmi Party leader and Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia told the media that there is no such report.

Manish Sisodia said, "The truth is that there is no such report. BJP is lying. The Supreme Court has formed an oxygen audit committee. We have spoken to many of its members. They say that they have not signed the report yet. If the report is not approved, then where is this report? I challenge you to bring the report which has been approved. Lies abound."

Reports in the media said that the impact of the Kejriwal government's excessive demand was seen in 12 states where many patients lost their lives due to lack of oxygen.

During the second wave of corona epidemic in India, there was a severe shortage of oxygen. Many times there were reports that many patients died overnight due to lack of oxygen.

At that time, the Kejriwal government had demanded oxygen from the central government.

On the basis of this alleged report, many leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party are now besieging Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

India's Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has transferred Rs 9371.17 crore out of the confiscated assets of absconding businessmen Vijay Mallya, Mehul Choksi and Nirav Modi to public sector banks.

Investigating agencies say that the banks have suffered huge losses due to the financial frauds of these businessmen. The ED has attached assets worth a total of Rs 18,170.02 crore of these businessmen.

The statement issued by the ED said, "The ED has not only attached assets worth Rs 18,170.02 crore but also given Rs 9371.17 crore under PMLA to public sector banks and the central government in Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi cases."

The ED says that the property of the three businessmen that has been seized is 80.45 percent of the losses of the banks.

India is trying to bring back three absconding businessmen from abroad. Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi are in UK. In February 2021, Britain's Home Minister Priti Patel signed the order to send Nirav Modi to India.

Similarly, the legal process is going on in Britain to bring back Vijay Mallya. Vijay Mallya is accused of money laundering to the tune of Rs 9,000 crore.

Ahead of the meeting of the leaders of Jammu and Kashmir with Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi on June 24, 2021, Congress leader and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said that restoration of full statehood is the top agenda of this meeting.

On August 5, 2019, the Modi government abolished the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, withdrew full statehood and divided Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories.

Ghulam Nabi Azad has also been invited to this meeting to be held on 24 June 2021. Ghulam Nabi Azad has told the English newspaper Indian Express that the restoration of full statehood is an important issue in this meeting, but whether they will demand the re-implementation of Article 370 or not. Didn't say anything on this.

The Modi government is going to hold such talks for the first time with the leaders of Jammu and Kashmir after the special status of Jammu and Kashmir was abolished on August 5, 2019.

Ghulam Nabi Azad said that the matter of restoration of full statehood was also spoken in the Parliament. Will Ghulam Nabi Azad demand the re-implementation of Article 370 of the Constitution giving special status to Jammu and Kashmir?

In response to this question, he said, "I am talking to the Congress leaders of Jammu and Kashmir in this matter. After that I will take guidance from the party. For this I will talk to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. I will also talk to colleagues who have been directly and indirectly involved in this. It is too early to say anything about this. Yes, I can definitely say that restoration of full state is our top agenda."

In India, former President of Congress Party and Lok Sabha MP Rahul Gandhi fiercely criticized the Modi government at the Center in Zoom press conference on COVID-19 on Tuesday, 22 June 2021.

Rahul said that people will not be saved by shedding tears of the Prime Minister. Rahul said, "If all the families know, then their family members died, there was no Prime Minister. The Prime Minister's tears did not save them. The Prime Minister did not take the need of oxygen seriously. The Prime Minister's priority then was elections but people died."

Rahul Gandhi said that vaccines are being administered in private hospitals with money, but in other countries of the world, vaccines are being administered without money. Rahul said that the whole world has seen the result of Prime Minister's marketing.

The Congress leader said that there is no point in rushing to declare victory in the war against COVID.

Rahul said, "I have been saying for the last one and a half years that COVID will cause great harm to the country. Not only was I warning the government about COVID, but many people were doing it. There is a political reason for the delay in the second dose of the vaccine. There is a shortage of vaccine, so it is being delayed. The Prime Minister has to understand that this is not a political fight. This is a fight against the virus and the whole of India is standing together.

Rahul Gandhi said, "The results of the vaccine should be investigated and if it is felt that it is not right then it should be changed. Those who have lost their families need help.''

On the question of the state of confusion about the vaccine among Muslims and women, Rahul Gandhi said that it can be easily corrected if explained to them clearly. Rahul said that awareness campaign should be run. Rahul was asked a question in this press conference that there are many misconceptions among Muslims and women regarding the vaccine.

Rahul Gandhi said, "When the third wave of Corona comes, then there should be no problems of the second wave so that thousands of lives can be saved. The government should not see any state as a BJP and Congress ruled state in the fight against COVID. If the virus mutates, it will not see it.''

In India, the central government has asked states and union territories to take legal and administrative measures against those institutions that are offering corona vaccination packages in violation of the guidelines issued in the wake of COVID-19.

The Government of India has said that it should be stopped immediately.

On Sunday, 30 May 2021, Manohar Agani, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health of India has written a letter to all states and union territories.

"It has come to the notice of the Ministry of Health that some private hospitals together with hotels are offering COVID vaccination packages," the letter said. This is in violation of the guidelines issued for the National COVID Immunization Program.''

In his letter, Manohar Agani wrote that in addition to government and private corona vaccination centers, corona vaccination is being done at work places and homes for the elderly and disabled.

Apart from this, vaccination in any other place like star hotels is a violation of the guidelines, it should be stopped immediately, he said.

Corona vaccine: 120 million doses available for June 2021, Center told how states get the vaccine?

The Health Ministry of India has stated that about 120 million doses of vaccine will be made available in June 2021 for the corona vaccination campaign across the country.

In a statement issued through the Press Information Bureau, the Union Health Ministry said that 7,94,05,200 doses of the vaccine are available for May 2021.

The statement said that the government of India allocates vaccines to states and union territories based on several parameters.

For example, how much population there is, how much vaccine consumption is there and how much vaccine is being wasted, that is, how much vaccine is not being used.

States have been informed about the availability of the vaccine for June 2021.

Corona: 1,65,553 new cases, 3,460 people lost their lives in 24 hours

In the last 24 hours, there have been 1,65,553 new cases of corona infection in India and 3,460 people have died during this period.

With this, there have been a total of 2,78,94,800 cases of corona virus infection in India, of which 21,14,508 are active cases.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 20,63,839 samples were tested for COVID-19 in the last 24 hours.

A total of 3,25,972 people have died due to COVID-19 and 2,54,54,320 people have recovered after treatment.

So far, a total of 21,20,66,614 people have been vaccinated with the Corona vaccine.

Professor Rizwan Qaiser of Jamia Millia Islamia is no more.

A few days ago he was hospitalised after testing Covid positive. The cause of his death is yet to be known.

Professor Rizwan Qaiser was a known face at university and was seen at times on television show debating on Muslim issues.

His interest was in history of communalism in colonial India; Gandhian politics; history of the Indian National Movement and Muslim identities in Colonial India; Politics of language in colonial and post-colonial India.

Jamia VC Najma's statement on Professor Rizwan Qaiser's demise

Professor Rizwan Qaiser was a much loved teacher of Jamia Millia Islamia.

The students appreciated him not only for his knowledge and teaching skills but also for the ease with he permitted open dialogue with students on various topics.

A learned teacher and a known researcher he was a disciplined human being with firm belief in equity and equality among all citizens. He was also much honoured among teachers and nonteaching staff of the university.

With the untimely death of Professor Rizwan Qaiser, Jamia has lost a gem of a teacher and a sincere support for the administration.

S lrfan Habib (Historian of science and modern political history based in New Delhi) tweeted, ''Extremely shocked to hear that dear friend and historian Rizwan Qaiser of Jamia has succumbed to Covid. Has left behind so many memories, still can't believe that Rizwan is no more. Rest in peace dear friend.''

A look at Professor Rizwan Kaiser's education, research interests, teaching experience, administrative assignments and books.

Education
- Ph.D. in Modern Indian History, Centre for Historical Studies, JNU
- M.Phil. in Modern Indian History, Centre for Historical Studies, JNU
- M.A. in Modern Indian History, Centre for Historical Studies, JNU
- B.A. (Hons.) in History, Bhagalpur University  

Research Interests

History of Communalism in Colonial India; Gandhian Politics; History of the Indian National Movement; Muslim identities in Colonial India; Politics of language incolonial and post-colonial India

Teaching Experience

- 2011- Present: Professor, Department of History and Culture, Jamia Millia Islamia
- 2007-2011: Associate Professor, Department of History and Culture, Jamia Millia Islamia
- 2005-2007: Reader, Department of History and Culture, Jamia Millia Islamia
- 2004-2005: Lecturer (Selection Grade), Department of History  and Culture, Jamia Millia Islamia
- 1994-2004: Lecturer, Department of History and Culture, Jamia Millia Islamia
- 1989-1994: Lecturer (temporary) Department of History and Culture, Jamia Millia Islamia

Administrative Assignments
- 2009-2012:  Elected member of the Academic Council, Jamia Millia Islamia
- 2012-2014:  Honorary Director, Centre for the Study of Comparative Religions and Civilizations
- 2014-2017:  Head, Department of History and Culture, Jamia Millia Islamia

Published Books
- Resisting  Colonialism  and  Communal  Politics:  Maulana  Azad  and  the  Making  of  the  Indian Nation, Manohar, 2011
- Resisting  Colonialism  and  Communal  Politics:  Maulana  Azad  and  the  Making  of  the  Indian Nation,  Manohar, February  2013,  followed  by  a Reprint in 2018
- Congress and Making of the Indian Nation, co-author, (two volumes) Academic Foundation, 2011

Despite launching a large-scale vaccination campaign to fight the corona epidemic, India's GDP for the year 2021 is expected to remain below the level of 2019.

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia Pacific (UNESCAP) has released a report on Tuesday, 30 March 2021.

This report stated that GDP and investment had slowed down even before the onset of the corona epidemic in India.

According to the report, economic constraints were at their peak in the second quarter of 2020 (April to June 2020) due to the complete lockdown imposed to prevent the spread of the corona epidemic.

The economy began to return to moderation after the lockdown was relaxed, but the economy slowed down in the fourth quarter, with an annualized economic growth forecast of near zero.

According to the report of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for the Asia Pacific region, India's economic growth rate is estimated to be seven percent in 2021-22, while in the previous year i.e. 2020-21, due to the corona epidemic and its impact. It is expected to fall by more than 7.7 percent.

Greeting Pakistan Day, a reply letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's letter written to PM Imran Khan has come from Pakistan.

Pakistan's PM Imran Khan wrote in this reply letter on 29 March 2021, "I thank you for the letter sent with the best wishes of Pakistan Day".

PM Imran Khan further wrote, "The people of Pakistan celebrate this day to pay tribute to the foresight and intelligence of their founders who envisaged an independent, sovereign state and where people can live freely and achieve their full potential To achieve it.''

PM Imran Khan wrote, "People of Pakistan also want a peaceful and cooperative relationship with all their neighbors including India. We are convinced that the permanent peace and stability in South Asia is related to the resolution of all issues between India and Pakistan, especially the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.''

Imran Khan wrote, "It is important to create an environment conducive to a positive and result-oriented conversation. On this occasion, I also wish to convey my best wishes to the people of India in the fight against the pandemic of COVID-19.''

What was written in Modi's letter to Imran

Earlier, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, wishing Pakistan Day, that India, as a neighboring country, wants a happy relationship with the people of Pakistan.

In this letter written on 22 March 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote, "To make this possible, an environment free of terrorism and hostility and full of trust and confidence is needed".

At the same time, President of India, Ramnath Kovind, also presented Happy Day of Pakistan in a letter written to the President of Pakistan Arif Alvi.

Narendra Modi wrote this letter to Imran Khan at a time when a new ceasefire has been implemented on the Line of Control between the two countries.

Ceasefire between India and Pakistan

In February 2021, the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) of the two countries issued a joint statement declaring a sudden ceasefire along the Line of Control.

Since then there has been peace against the border on the border and the ceasefire on both sides is being followed in full.

At the same time, an eight-member team of Pakistan for Indus River Water Dialogue, under the leadership of Indus Water Commissioner Syed Mehr-e-Alam, is in New Delhi talks with their counterparts in India. This conversation is taking place after two years.

Recently, Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa had also said in a statement that both countries should forget the old things and move forward.

Chain of wishes

Narendra Modi wrote in his letter that on the occasion of Pakistan Day, he wants to congratulate the people of Pakistan.

Modi, while addressing Imran Khan, wrote that during this difficult time, he wishes him and the people of Pakistan to overcome the challenges of COVID-19.

A few days ago, even when Imran Khan was found infected with Corona virus, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi sent his best wishes for him.

There has also been speculation that a third country may be behind the sudden warmth in the relationship between India and Pakistan in recent months.

Saudi Arabia's Deputy Foreign Minister Adil Al Zubair admitted a few days ago that Saudi Arabia is making efforts to ease tensions between India and Pakistan.

United Arab Emirates Claims

In an interview to Arab News, Adil Al Zubair had said that Saudi Arabia wants peace in the entire region and is making efforts for it.

At the same time, media reports have also claimed to mediate the United Arab Emirates in negotiations between India and Pakistan.

A report by The Hindu said that India and Pakistan negotiated behind the scenes in the mediation of the United Arab Emirates.

However, India or Pakistan have not confirmed this. Analysts are also assuming that the recent events are the result of the activities going on behind the scenes.

Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzamman Khan has expressed displeasure over the violence in the demonstrations against India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bangladesh, saying that "some groups are spreading religious hysteria and destroying government property and the lives of people."

He said on Sunday, March 28, 2021, that violence should be stopped immediately or else the government will have to take strict steps.

There were clashes in Brahmanbaria on Sunday, March 28, 2021 for the third consecutive day against the visit of Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi.

At least 12 people have died in violent demonstrations so far.

Bangladesh home minister said, "For the last three days, some unruly people and groups have been damaging government property in some areas due to religious frenzy."

Those involved in the demonstrations have allegedly damaged the Upazila Parishad, Thana Bhawan, Government Land Office, Police Outpost, Railway Station, the houses of political personalities and the Press Club.

He said, "We are asking the concerned people to stop this kind of damage and any kind of chaos." Otherwise the government will take strong steps to save people's lives and property.''

The radical Islamic organization 'Hifazat-e-Islam' went on strike on Sunday, 28 March 2021, after several demonstrations against the visit of Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi.

The strike led to blockades and clashes in many places, but most violence took place in Brahmanbaria.

Bangladesh's home minister said, "Some selfish people are bringing orphaned children to the streets, and harassing them."

He also said that an atmosphere of tension is being created by spreading rumors and fake news on social media.

Bangladesh Home Minister said, "We think it is going against the country." We are asking you to stop it, otherwise we will take action according to the law.''

He said that the government will take steps to ensure that those who are affected by all this do not face any more trouble.

He said that for three days the legal agencies showed great restraint.

Hifazat-e-Islam denies responsibility for violence

The radical Islamic organization 'Hifazat-e-Islam' has denied the allegations leveled against its supporters in the recent violence.

Hifazat-e-Islam said in a statement that the protesters were attacked by the government people and the police.

The joint general secretary of Hifazat-e-Islam, Naseeruddin Munir, told the BBC that it was not right to accuse his supporters of attacking government buildings.

He said, "There was violence on Betul Mukarram on Friday, 26 March 2021. There was anger among many of our madrasa students after the news spread online.''

"One hour after the prayers, the students started a peaceful march," he said. When they got out of the police station, some boys, who were not students of the madrasa, were miscreants who joined the march. They were throwing bricks at the police station. Bullets were fired from the police.''

"Our students did not attack inside the police station," Hafazat-e-Islam joint general secretary Naseeruddin Munir told the BBC. I can give you 100 percent assurance for this.''

The government has acknowledged the demands of Hifazat-e-Islam many times in the past, including making changes to books and removing idols in Bangladesh.

The Brahminbaria of Bangladesh remained turbulent for the third day on Sunday, 28 March 2021, after the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Officials at the local hospital in Brahmanbaria said that two more people died on Sunday, March 28, 2021.

At least 12 people have been killed in violent protests in Bangladesh for the past three days.

Dr Shaukat Hussain of Brahmanbaria Sadar Hospital told the BBC that two people injured in the clashes during the strike were brought to the hospital who died.

Doctor Shaukat Hussain did not provide any other information other than this.

'Hifazat-e-Islam'

Local correspondents say there have been clashes between supporters of the radical Islamic organization 'Hifazat-e-Islam' and security forces.

Many people have been injured in these clashes.

The strike was called by 'Hifazat-e-Islam' on Sunday, 28 March 2021, after several protests against Narendra Modi's visit to Bangladesh.

Local correspondent Masuk Hriday told the BBC that the supporters of the strike attacked various government establishments, vandalized them and set them on fire.

The attackers allegedly set fire to several government and private buildings, including the Land Office, Public Library and the District Crafts Academy.

Attack on passenger train

Masuk Hriday further said that the protesters also attacked a passenger train, injuring several people.

News agency Reuters reports that hundreds of supporters of 'Hifazat-e-Islam' attacked Hindu temples and a train in eastern Bangladesh on Sunday, 28 March 2021.

Trains to and from Brahmanbaria have been suspended since the incident.

The most violence in Bangladesh has been in Brahmanbaria and Hathazari in Chittagong.

On Saturday, March 27, 2021, at least five protesters were killed in a brawl with police and security forces in Brahmanbaria.

Local journalists reported that the sixth person died on Sunday, March 28, 2021. However, the BBC has not been able to confirm these claims from independent sources.

Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi arrived in Dhaka on Friday, 26 March 2021 to mark the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's independence. There were some Islamic organizations opposing his visit.