NEWS
DIGEST, EVENING
31 March 2020: 5 Shahban 1441: Vol:12, No:169
*Coronavirus
india*
Tablighi Jamaat: Delhi Police registers FIR against Maulana Saad, others
under Epidemic Diseases Act
Delhi Police
Tuesday registered an FIR against Tablighi Jamaat preacher Maulana Saad and
others of members of the outfit under
Section 3 of The Epidemic Diseases Act
(1897) for organising a congregation at Nizamuddin West Markaz amid the
coronavirus outbreak. Delhi CM on Tuesday said 1,548 people were evacuated from
Markaz Tablighi Jamaat over the past 3 days. Of these, 441 were symptomatic of
COVID-19 and have been sent to hospital for testing, while the others have been
quarantined, he added. Meanwhile, Union Ministry of Home Affairs also informed
that the attendees of the Tabligh Jamaat at Nizamuddin Markaz in New Delhi on
March 21 mainly hailed from Central and South-East Asian countries. Markaz at
Banglewali Mosque in Hazrat Nizamuddin in New Delhi. From here, they are
detailed for Chilla activities to different parts of the country,” Ministry
statement said. An estimated 1,746 persons had assembled for Tabligh Jamaat at
Nizamuddin markaz in New Delhi on March 21, out of which 1,530 hailed from
states across India while 216 were foreign nationals. Nationwide
contact-tracing is being undertaken by the authorities to locate the COVID-19
infected cases of the contacts of the people who assembled for the Jamaat at
Nizamuddin West in New Delhi. “Chilla activities in all States are coordinated
by District Coordinators in different Districts, who, in turn, in some States
are supervised by State Amirs. As on March 21, there were about 1,746 persons
staying in Hazrat Nizamuddin Markaz. Of these, 216 were foreigners and 1,530
were Indians,” it added.Ministry also informed that in addition to the
above-mentioned figures, about 824 foreigners had been, as on March 21, doing
Chilla activities in various parts of the country. Home Ministry had previously
dispatched the details of these 824 foreigners with the state police for
identifying them, getting them medically screened and quarantining them.“So
far, about 2,137 such persons have been identified in different States…all
Tabligh Jamaat workers staying at Hazrat Nizamuddin Marka are being medically
screened since March 26. So far 1,203 Tablig Jamaat workers have been medically
screened. 303 of them have symptoms of COVID-19 and were referred to different
hospitals in Delhi. Rest of them have been moved to different quarantine centre
at Narela, Bakkarwala and Sultanpuri. This process will continue throughout
today to move every Tabligh Jamaat worker out of Nizamuddin Markaz,” Home
Ministry informed. Indian express
As on March 21, there were 1746 people including 216 foreigners at Markaz:
MHA
Over 1500 evacuated, 441
hospitalised: Kejriwal seeks action against Markaz organisers
Govt bans issuing tourist visa to foreign Tablighi activists
New Delhi: The
govt today decided not to issue tourist visa to any foreigner who wishes to
visit India and take part in Tablighi Jamaat activities after the
organisation''s headquarters at Nizamuddin area turned out to be a hotspot for
spread of coronavirus, officials said. The decision was taken after it was
found that about 2,100 foreigners have come to India since January 1 and indulged
in Tablighi Jamaat activities in different parts of the country. Ministry of
External Affairs (MEA) has been advised that missions may be requested to
refrain from granting tourist visa to such foreigner who is likely to use it
for Tablighi Jamaat activities, a home ministry official said.The home ministry
told the MEA that it should ensure that details regarding place of stay and
return ticket as well as financial means to defray expenses in India by such
visa applicants must be examined carefully before granting them tourist
visas.While the e-visas are granted by Ministry of Home Affairs, normal tourist
visas are issued by Indian missions following clearance from MHA, said a
government official.In addition, the home ministry told Delhi Police Commissioner
to caution the organisation''s headquarters about the decision and also ensure
that those who are promoting missionary activities and having tourist visa are
treated as visa violators.They must not be allowed to conduct Tablighi Jamaat
activities on tourist visa, the ministry said.PTI
Never violated law, sought help from authorities for vacating premises, didn't
Get Response: Delhi’s Nizamuddin Markaz
New Delhi:
Dismissing reports that quarantine protocols were not practiced at New Delhi’s
Nizamuddin Markaz, mosque administration has clarified that it had tried to
comply with them but a large group of visitors were stuck at the markaz
(centre) as the govt suspended all
passenger train operations across the country till March 31.It also said that
organisation had requested the concerned SDM to issue vehicle passes so that
the stranded guests can go back home, but permission is yet to be granted.In a
press note, Nizamuddin Markaz — Delhi HQRS of Tablighi Jamaat — said after PM
Narendra Modi’s call for ‘Janata curfew’ on March 22, ongoing program was
discontinued. However, as Indian Railways suspended its operations, it had to
accommodate the stranded guests. “Before Janta Curfew could be lifted at 9 PM,
Hon’ble CM of Delhi announced lockdown of Delhi beginning at 6 AM on 23rd March
till 31st March, thereby further diminishing any chances of these visitors
availing road transport for their journey back home. Despite this challenging
situation, with help of Markaz administration, around 1500 visitors left Markaz
Nizamuddin by availing whatever meager transport was available.” The lockdown
was further extended to 3-weeks on March 23. Parts of southeast Nizamuddin West
in Delhi have been put under a strict lockdown after 18 people tested positive
for COVID-19.“On 24th March, suddenly a notice was issued by SHO, P.S. Hazrat
Nizamuddin, seeking closure of Markaz premises. The same was responded on 24th
March, stating that the compliance of directions regarding closure of Markaz is
already underway and around 1500 people had departed the previous day, thus
leaving around 1000 visitors belonging to different states and nationalities in
Markaz. It was also informed that Ld. SDM concerned had been requested to issue
vehicle passes so that the remaining people could be sent back to their native
places outside of Delhi. It is relevant to indicate here that lists of 17
vehicles with registration numbers along with the names of the drivers plus
their license details were submitted to Ld. SDM so that the stranded visitors/ guests
could be ferried towards their destination. The requisite permission is still
awaited,” it further added.It also added that a Tehsildaar along with a medical
team visited Markaz on March 25 to examine the visitors. “It is also being
circulated that certain deaths have occurred due to the same. It is humbly
stated that if the above fact-check could have been done by CMO, authorities
would have apprised him about their visits, deliberations and cooperation
extended by Markaz in order to disperse remaining visitors. During this entire
episode, Markaz Nizamuddin never violated any provision of law, and always
tried to act with compassion and reason towards visitors who came to Delhi from
different states. It did not let them violate the medical guidelines by
thronging ISBTs or roaming on streets,” it said, further offering its premises as
a quarantine facility. indianexpress
Tableeghi Jamat Markaz Had Sought Vehicle Pass from SDM 1 Week Ago to Send
out Stranded Persons, Didn't Get Response
Nizamuddin markaz had sought help from authorities for vacating
premises:letter reveals
Coronavirus India: After Delhi Mosque Event, 7 Deaths, Nationwide Hunt: NNNDTV
Home Ministry to blacklist 800 Tablighi preachers from Indonesia for
violation of visa rules
Union Home
Ministry will blacklist around 800 preachers from Indonesia who came on a
tourist visa and participated in a 3-day religious conference in Delhi this month.A
senior govt official told The Hindu that around 8,000 people from across the
country attended a gathering earlier this month at Alami Markaz Banglewali
Masjid, the headquarters of the Tablighi Jamaat in Nizamuddin area of south
Delhi.Many people from across the country who tested positive for COVID-19 had
attended the conference or were close contacts of the participants, an official
said.India and Indonesia have a liberal visa arrangement and allow tourist visa
on arrival for the citizens.“They came here on a tourist visa but were
participating in religious conferences, this is violation of visa rules. We are
going to blacklist around 800 Indonesian preachers so that in future they are
not able to enter the country,” said the official.The official added that the
preachers then moved in batches to Telangana, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra
Pradesh, Odisha and conducted group meetings in mosques and held several
meetings.“Around 50% of positive cases in Telangana are linked to the meetings
organised by the preachers. Around 350 people from Telangana had also attended
the conference in Delhi,” said the official. Last week, a 65-year-old man in
Srinagar who attended the conference in Delhi died after contracting the virus.the
hindu
Muslims should not be blamed for spread of coronavirus: Omar Abdullah
National
Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said Muslims should not be blamed
for the spread of coronavirus in the country. He was reacting to netizens’
response to reports that several people who tested positive for COVID-19 had
attended a congregation of Tabligh-e-Jamaat, at Nizamuddin in Delhi.“Now
#TablighiJamat will become a convenient excuse for some to vilify Muslims
everywhere as if we created & spread #COVID around the world,” Abdullah
said in a series of tweets.“At first glance it would appear the #TablighiJamat
were nothing if not irresponsible in the way they went about things but that’s
not unique to them. The majority of Muslims in India have heeded government
guidelines and advice the same as anyone else,” he added. Abdullah said those
people who were associating the COVID-19 with the Tabligh-e-Jamaat were more
dangerous than any virus.“People tweeting stuff with hashtags like Tablighi
virus are more dangerous than any virus nature could ever conjure up because
their minds are sick while their bodies may very well be healthy,” he said.PTI
Northeast states urgently call Tablighi Jamaat conference attendees to
report to hospitals
The state govts
in Assam, Manipur and other Northeast states have ‘urgently’ called upon those
people from the region who recently attended a religious congregation at
Nizamuddin in Delhi, to report to nearby govt hospitals immediately, after
reports came in that many people attending the congregation showed COVID-19
positive symptoms. thenewsmill
35 More Test Covid-Positive in Delhi & Andhra After Nizamuddin Event,
Over 1,000 from Telangana Attended
New Delhi: The
headquarters of a religious sect in Delhi’s Nizamuddin area, which has
developed into one of the biggest coronavirus disease (Covid-19) hot spots in
India, was on Tuesday sealed and 800 people moved out in buses were quarantined
in different parts of the city as several more positive cases with links to the
gathering held here in mid-March emerged. Telangana administration is
estimating over 1,000 people from the state might have attended the
congregation, a senior official said, adding search is on to identify people
who came in contact with them.Of 6 people in Telangana, 2 died in Gandhi
Hospital, one each in Apollo Hospital, Global Hospital, in Nizamabad and in
Gadwal. A cleric at the event had died in Srinagar last week. He had also
visited the Deoband seminary in Uttar Pradesh and on his return to Kashmir,
held multiple gatherings.The links to the deaths in Mumbai and Karnataka
emerged on Tuesday as the full scale of the cluster outbreak of coronavirus
became a little clearer.
Coronavirus in UP: 10 foreign Tablighi Jamat members found in Meerut mosque
amid lockdown; 3 locals booked
Meerut: With
coronavirus pandemic gripping India and the world, a tense situation arose when
10 foreign nationals were found at a mosque in Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh
on Sunday night.10 African nationals, who were in India for missionary work as
part of Tablighi Jamat, include five from Sudan, four from Djibouti and one
from Kenya. They were found in a mosque in Mawana town of Meerut district. Panic
gripped local administration after reports emerged that 10 foreign nationals
were residing in Bilal Mosque of Mohalla Hiralal in Mawana. A team of senior
police and health department officials immediately rushed to the mosque to take
stock of the situation."We have checked all 10 foreign nationals for any
symptoms of coronavirus. So far there is nothing to worry as all of them are
normal," said Health Inspector Dr Satish Bhaskar. Meanwhile, Mawana police
have lodged a case against 3 locals including city cleric Moulana Nafees, a
local doctor Naimuddin Saifi. African nationals were residing in the city since
March 17 and did not register themselves with the local police. Police have now
seized the passports of all 10 foreigners.Currently, all 10 Tablighi Jamat
members are under quarantine in the mosque. The mosque has been locked from
outside so as to prevent local Muslims from gathering for prayers and prevent
any possible infection.A local told Times Now that the foreigners could not
inform the local police due to 'Janata curfew' and then subsequent lockdown.
Others claimed that LIU was informed about their stay.On the other hand, City
cleric, Moulana Nafees, said he has nothing to do with this case as he is not
involved in the day-to-day running of Tablighi Jamat.timesnownews
19 foreigners found illegally staying at 2 mosques quarantined; 4
facilitators booked
Coronavirus in India: 22 including 17 foreign nationals arrested in
Jharkhand
Ranchi:Exactly in
a week's gap again, 22 people including 17 foreign nationals from different
countries were arrested in Ranchi's Badi Masjid under Hindpidi police station
limits.In a similar raid, police had detained 11 maulvis from China, Kazakhstan
and Kyrgyzstan hiding in a mosque in Tamad police station area in Jharkhand's
Ranchi. All of them were put under quarantine to contain the spread of
Covid-19.The back to back arrests of foreign nationals has raised many
questions. Police seized the passport and visa of all foreigners and are
investigating into all dimensions. The arrested foreign nationals have been
kept in isolation ward at Khel Gawn stadium under heightened security.Their
swab samples have been collected and sent for testing. Doctors said none of
them have any symptoms of Covid-19. However, one of them is diabetic.Among the
22 detained, 8 are from Malaysia, three from England, two from West Indies, one
each from Holland and Bangladesh, two from Africa, three from Delhi and one
each from Gujarat and Mumbai.Police carried out the recent raid after receiving
input. They had a lead that many foreign citizens are hiding in Badi
Masjid.indiatoday
Mahmood Madani offers premises for isolation centers of 10 thousands
COVID-19 patients
New Delhi: In the
face of growing effects of COVID-19 in country, Jamiat Ulama General Secretary
Maulana Mahmood Madani has written letter to the Prime Minister of India
Narendre Modi in which he offered the premises for isolation and quarantine
centers accommodating upto 10 thousand people. “On a rough estimate we can
voluntarily accommodate up to 10 thousand people. You are requested to please
direct the concerned authorities to let us know of their requirements wherever
and whenever the need might arise,” Madani wrote. Madani in the letter said
“The hope is the key to our victory over the worst and gravest circumstances.
The whole country stands together ready to support and sacrifice.”He wrote that
the organization has activated all its state and district units to offer relief
to the people in need through thousands of locally organized disaster
management and relief committees of civilian volunteers.
Coronavirus in India: First case in Jharkhand takes tally to 1,429, death
toll climbs to 41
New Delhi:
Following the sharpest single-day spike in India, the total number of the novel
coronavirus cases has climbed to 1,429 after over 30 fresh cases were recorded
on Tuesday. The death toll due to Covid-19, meanwhile, has climbed to 41.India
has seen an increase of over 200 cases in a single day while the number of
active cases is around 1,280 with 147 people either been cured or discharged.
Maharashtra has reported the most deaths (10), followed by Gujarat (6), Punjab
(4), Madhya Pradesh (4), Karnataka (3), West Bengal (3), Delhi (2), Kerala (2),
Telangana (2) and Jammu and Kashmir (2). Tamil Nadu, Bihar and Himachal Pradesh
have reported a death each.So far, the highest number of confirmed Covid-19
cases have been reported from Kerala with 234 infections, followed by Maharashtra
at 230 which recorded 10 fresh cases on Tuesday. The number of cases in Delhi,
meanwhile, has gone up to 98.The cases in Karnataka have gone up to 98 till
now, it has increased to 101 in Uttar Pradesh. The number of cases has risen to
77 in Telangana, 73 in Gujarat, 74 in Tamil Nadu while the number of cases in
Rajasthan has climbed to 93. It has risen to 55 in J&K. MP has 66 positive
patients. Punjab has reported 41 cases, while 40 Covid-19 cases have been
detected in Haryana. There are 40 patients in Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal (27),
Bihar (16) and Ladakh (13).Ten cases have been reported from the Andaman and
Nicobar Islands.Chandigarh and Chhattisgarh have recorded 13 cases and 8 cases
respectively, while Uttarakhand has reported seven cases. Goa has reported five
coronavirus cases, while Himachal Pradesh and Odisha have reported three cases
each. Puducherry, Mizoram and Manipur have reported a case each. On Tuesday,
Jharkhand reported its first coronavirus patient -- a Malaysian woman who was
among 24 persons found staying in a mosque in Ranchi. indiatoday
SC’s suggestion to Modi govt: Arrange bhajan, namaz to prevent panic among
migrants
The Supreme Court
on Tuesday asked the Centre to rope in community leaders of various faiths to
conduct 'bhajan-kirtan' and 'namaz' to check panic among migrant workers in
shelter homes amid the coronavirus outbreak.Solicitor General Tushar Mehta,
representing the Centre, cited the Home Secretary and told the court: "As
of 11 a.m. today, no migrant worker is on the road."A bench headed by
Chief Justice S.A. Bobde and Justice L. Nageswara Rao held the hearing through
video conferencing on a plea by advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava seeking
directions to provide food and shelter to migrant workers left helpless after
the imposition of the nationwide lockdown to control the outbreak of
coronavirus.Mehta insisted people have been taken to the nearest available
shelter.The Chief Justice also asked the government to set up an expert
committee within 24 hours.The Centre contended that the menace of fake news was
a biggest challenge. "The country has taken preemptive and proactive
steps. The government will shortly implement a system where panic among migrant
workers is addressed. We have trained counselors at the district mental
programme, we can send them," Mehta said. Chief Justice replied, "We
want to impress upon you that the panic will destroy more lives than the virus.
You need counselors. You can have bhajan, kirtan, namaz or whatever, but you
have to give strength to the people."Mehta replied, "We will mobilize
religious leaders -- maulvis, sadhus -- to counsel the people in the shelter
homes."The bench, emphasizing efforts to control panic, told Centre,
"Ensure trained counselors and community leaders belonging to faiths visit
relief camps and prevent panic." CJI also asked Centre to make
arrangements to provide adequate provisions for drinking water, food, beds and
medicines in shelter homes. "Summer is approaching. There has to be water otherwise
it creates a big problem", he added.The matter has been posted for further
hearing next week.
‘Panic will destroy more lives than virus’: SC tells Centre to counsel
migrants
FIR to be registered against those spreading rumours: MHA
With over 1,200 COVID-19 cases reported in the
country so far, number of hotspots of the disease have increased, the Health
Ministry said Tuesday, while underlining that it is implementing rigorous
contact tracing and cluster containment strategies. Addressing the daily press
conference to provide updates on the COVID-19 situation, Joint Secretary in
Health Ministry Lav Agarwal said 227 cases have been reported in the last 24
hours and he attributed the increase to “lack of people’s support and delay in
timely detection” of the cases.
6 lakh migrants in relief camps
As the national
coronavirus lockdown entered its seventh day, the Home Ministry, in a press
briefing, said over 6 lakh migrant workers have been housed in 61000 relief
camps.
Lockdown: Closure of Karnataka-Kerala Border Creates Humanitarian Crisis,
Causes Death of Patients, Passengers Stranded
NEW DELHI: A
grave humanitarian crisis has developed in Kerala after the closure of
Kerala-Karnataka border by the Karnataka government with a view to contain the
spread of Coronavirus. Karnataka has closed its borders with Kerala on March 22
as also with five other neighbouring states including Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra,
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Goa. A large number of people are also stranded
on the Kerala-Karnataka border as blockade as blockade has affected inter-state
traffic movement.Two persons died and a woman delivered a baby girl on
Karnataka-Kerala border after it was closed denying entry of all vehicles,
including ambulances following lockdown. A 70-year old woman, Pathumi, who was
denied entry into Karnataka even for urgent medical treatment available at the
medical hub of Mangaluru in Karnataka, died on the border near Thapapady on
March 29 . She was staying with her granddaughter at Udyavar village in
Manjeswar Block near Kerala-Karnataka border, as she was unable to go back to
her village due to lockdown.On March 26, Abdul Hameed, an asthama patient from
Thaminadu near Thalapady in Kerala, lost his life after the Karnataka police
refused entry to the ambulance to go to a Mangaluru hospital. On March 27, wife
of a labourer from Bihar delivered her baby in an ambulance after Karnataka
police denied her entry into a Karnataka hospital.
Migrating labourers disrupt production; retailers fear shortage of
essential items
As grocery
stores, across the country, are grappling with panic buying and dwindling
supplies of fresh stocks, the exodus of labourers have added more fuel to the
fire by affecting the entire supply chain of essential commodities, ranging
from wheat flour to pulses and biscuits to edible oils.Majority of grain
markets are shut, oil and rice mills are operating with minimum workforce, and
truck operators are finding it difficult to move fast moving consumer products
(FMCG) across the cities, mostly sealed during the nationwide 21-day lockdown.
If the situation aggravates, the country might witness hoarding of goods and
price rise of several items. Despite the efforts of Central as well as state
governments to ensure proper supply of FMCG and other essential goods, te fear
of COVID-19 pandemic is keeping away the labourers and workers from working in
the mills and factories."The coronavirus fear has affected the production.
Nearly 80 per cent of dal mills are inoperative due to unavailability of labour
and supply of raw material. Though the government has now allowed plying of
trucks, still issues with transportation remains," says Suresh Agarwal, of
All India Dal Mills Association adding, "even as authorities have allowed
truckers to operate, the police of different states, particularly on the
borders creates hindrance in transporting goods."IANS
COVID-19: With No Food or Govt Aid, Loom Workers in Bhiwandi Fear the Worst
Bhiwandi: Each
time someone new walks into the arterial lanes of Kondachiwadi basti at
Bhiwandi, a large number of people immediately swarm around the person. Amid
the commotion, desperate voices can be heard making myriad inquiries, all
seeking the same answer. “Kaha se aaye ho, ration laaye ho kya? Kuch khaane ka
intezaam kar sakte ho kya?” (Where have you come from? Have you got some ration
for us? Can you arrange for some food here?)The concept of “social distancing”
is impractical when food stocks are running low and people are worried about
their future.It has been eight days since Maharashtra govt imposed a complete
lockdown in the state as a precautionary measure to control the spread of the
coronavirus. But this sudden announcement has had the worst impact on migrant
labourers and daily wagers, virtually pushing the over 6 lakh migrant power
loom workers in Bhiwandi towards starvation.“We first listened to the chief
minister and a day later to Prime Minister
and decided to stay back. But now, we are left here with no food or aid
from the government. We will all die of hunger even before the virus catches
us,” says 50-year-old Mohammad Sajjad Ansari, despondently.
'Hunger will kill us before coronavirus', say Rohingya in India
Din Mohammad is
doing everything possible in his power to keep his family and fellow Rohingya
refugees healthy during a 3-week lockdown enforced by the Indian government to
fight the coronavirus.For past week, Mohammad, 59, who lives with his wife and
5 children in Madanpur Khadar refugee camp in the capital, New Delhi, makes
rounds of shanties to ensure people are maintaining social distancing and
keeping their huts made from wood and plastic sheets clean.But he knows these
measures are hard to implement in crowded refugee camps like theirs, where
people live in cramped conditions lacking basic facilities like toilets and
clean water."We are literally sitting on a powder keg," Mohammad
said. "It won't take long before it explodes."Nearly 40,000 Rohingya
Muslim refugees living in various refugee camps across the country fear that a
humanitarian catastrophe looms large over them, as they have been left to fight
the coronavirus pandemic alone. aljazeera
136 million likely to lose job in India, post coronavirus lockdown
One of the
sectors which is going to face severe problems resulting from the 21 day
lockdown, will be the employment sector.According to a report in Livemint, a
human development economist and professor at the Centre for Informal Sector and
Labour Studies in Jawaharlal Nehru University, Santosh Mehrotra has stated that
in his analysis. In a paper co-authored with Jajati K Parida of the department
of economic studies, Central University Punjab (India’s Employment Crisis:
Rising Education Levels And Falling Non-agricultural Job Growth), Mehrotra pegs
the job-share of the informal sector at 90.7% overall and 83.5% in the non-farm
sectors. Most estimates in the paper are based on NSS and PLFS data.According
to this paper, India’s labour force is about 495 million. In the year 2017-18,
around 30 million were unemployed, which implies that 465 million are currently
employed.nationalheraldindia
Sitamarhi man beaten to death for alert on migrants returning to village
without medical test
Patna :A 20-year-old
man in Bihar’s Sitamarhi district was allegedly beaten to death for alerting
the authorities about the return of 2 migrants from Maharashtra without
undergoing any medical test. Police have arrested 2 persons in connection to
the case. The incident took place on Monday evening when Bablu Kumar, a
resident of Madhaul village of Runi Saidpur under Sitamarhi district, called up
a helpline number, saying two villagers – Munna Mahto and Sudhir Kumar – had
returned from Maharashtra without getting any medical test done. A medical team
arrived and conducted tests of the two youths ruling out any symptoms of
Covid-19.His father lodged a case against Munna Mahto, Sudhir Kumar and 5
others and arrested Munna and Sudhir.indianexpress
Domestic abuse cases rise as lockdown turns into captivity for many women
New
Delhi:Domestic violence cases in India have increased since the March 24
lockdown with husbands venting their frustration on wives, who have no escape
from their abusers, say experts. India has been under a three-week lockdown
since March 24 with its 1.3 billion people instructed to stay home in view of
the coronavirus outbreak, which has claimed 32 lives and infected over 1,200
people in the country.The National Commission for Women (NCW), for instance,
received 58 complaints from March 23 to March 30, according to data accessed by
PTI.Many of these complaints have come from north India, particularly Punjab,
said NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma."The number has increased. Men are frustrated
sitting at home and are taking out that frustration on women. This trend is
especially seen in Punjab from where we have received many such
complaints," Sharma told PTI.
Coronavirus: Validity of expired driving licences, vehicle registration
extended till June 30
Ministry of Road
Transport and Highways has extended the validity of documents like driving
licenses, permits and registration that expired since February 1.The ministry
has said the validity of all permits, driving licences and registrations or
other documents which have expired since Feb.1 or will expire by June 30, will
be treated valid until June 30.The ministry informed about the decision in an
advisory to all states and union territories.indiatoday
*Coronavirus
World*
Coronavirus Updates: Global Infections Cross 8 Lakh-mark, Death Toll Inches
towards 38,000
The number of
coronavirus infections around the world today crossed 8 lakh-mark, with
8,00,049 people infected by the deadly virus. According to John Hopkins
Coronavirus Resource Center, 37,878 deaths have so far been reported globally.
Spain has
reported 849 new deaths from the coronavirus, the highest overnight jump since
the start of the pandemic, bringing the total number of fatalities in the
country to 8,189. In United States, further restrictions on movement are being
considered to curb the spread of the virus, with the country now reporting
twice the number of cases as China where the outbreak began late last year.US
has nearly 163,500 confirmed cases, the highest number in the world, and more
than 3,000 deaths.More than a third of the world's population is now under
lockdown as an increasing number of countries implement sweeping measures to
fight the coronavirus pandemic.Before and after satellite images show the
impact of the measures on cities worldwide.The death toll in England from the
coronavirus outbreak rose 29% to 1,651, National Health Service
said."Patients were aged between 19 and 98 years old and all but 28
patients (aged between 19 and 91 years old) had underlying health
conditions," it added.Scotland said 60 people had died as of Tuesday.
Wales said 69 people had died.
Iran Reports 141 New Deaths and 3,111 Fresh Cases
Iran has reported
141 new death and 3,111 new cases of coronavirus, reports The Guardian. The
health ministry of Iran has announced 141 new Coronavirus death in last 24
taking the total number of Coronavirus deaths to 2,898, as many as 3,111 new
cases reported positive in the same period pushing the total number of
infections to 44,606.
China coronavirus toll 170, WHO declares health emergency
WHO has declared
the new coronavirus outbreak a global health emergency after the death toll in
China rose to 170, with more than 7,800 cases confirmed in almost 20
countries."The main reason for this declaration is not because of what is
happening in China, but because of what is happening in other countries,"
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom posted on Twitter, Efe news
reported."Let me be clear: this declaration is not a vote of no confidence
in China. On the contrary, WHO continues to have confidence in China's capacity
to control outbreak."IANS
COVID-19: World economy will go into recession with likely exception of
India, China: UN
https://indianexpress.com/article/coronavirus/un-on-world-recession-covid-19-global-updates-6339841/
The world economy
will go into recession this year with a predicted loss of trillions of dollars
of global income due to the coronavirus pandemic, spelling serious trouble for
developing countries with the likely exception of India and China, according to
a latest UN trade report.With two-thirds of the world’s population living in
developing countries facing unprecedented economic damage from COVID-19 crisis,
UN is calling for a USD 2.5 trillion rescue package for these nations.According
to the new analysis from UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD),UN
trade and development body titled ‘COVID-19 Shock to Developing
Countries:Towards a ‘whatever it takes’ programme for two-thirds of the world’s
population being left behind’, commodity-rich exporting countries will face a
USD 2 trillion to USD 3 trillion drop in investments from overseas in the next
two years. UNCTAD said that in recent days, advanced economies and China have
put together massive government packages which, according to the Group of 20
leading economies (G20), will extend a USD 5 trillion lifeline to their
economies.PTI
*OTHERS*
Muslim leaders express solidarity with Sikhs over gurdwara attack in Kabul
Upset with the
dastardly attack on the Sikh place of worship in Kabul, Muslim clerics,
bureaucrats, academics and editors have joined hands to condemn the incident
and express solidarity with the besieged minority. The joint statement was
signed by, among others, Zafarul Islam Khan, Chairman, Delhi Minorities
Commission; Prof Tahir Mahmood, former Chairman, National Minorities
Commission; Sadatullah Husaini, president, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind; and Maulana
Mahmood Madani, general secretary, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind. It calls the attack on
the gurdwara “murderous”, leading to the “martyrdom of 25 innocent and
blameless Sikh brothers”.Addressed to Sikh brothers and sisters, “specially
Giani Dr Harpreet Singh, Jathedar Akal Takht, Amritsar”, the letter offers
condolences to the bereaved. “We unconditionally condemn this criminal act. On
behalf of the Muslims of India, we offer our condolences to our Sikh brothers
and sisters and to the Sikh leadership and people everywhere. And since the
criminal killers call themselves Muslims, we wish to inform our Sikh brothers
and sisters that these criminals have nothing to do with Islam or Muslims. The
criminals of the ISIS (Daesh), who criminally attacked the Sikh gurdwara in
Kabul, have nothing to do with Islam or Muslims. They, in fact, follow the
ideas of the Khawarij rebels who were never accepted by Muslims and who are
considered by Muslims as rebels and outlaws working against Islam. They, in
terms of their character, plans, words and deeds, serve the enemies of Islam
and humanity and commit everything which is against Islamic teachings and
Muslims.”The signatories, who had earlier, condemned the act in their personal
capacity, assured the Sikhs of solidarity. “If conditions were conducive we
would ourselves have come to Amritsar to convey our sentiments but since the
whole country is going through a lockdown at present, we are conveying our
sentiments to you in writing. We remain your brothers and well-wishers.”The
letter was also signed by Mufti Mukarram, Shahi imam, Fatehpuri Masjid, Delhi;
and Kamal Faruqui, member, All India Muslim Personal Board.frontline
Muslim Leaders Write Joint Condolence Letter to Jathedar Akal Takht,
Condemn Kabul Gurudwara Attack
*WORLD*
Iran says 'terrorist' attack inside Turkey halts natural gas flow
Iran's natural
gas exports to Turkey have stopped after a "terrorist" attack on a
pipeline inside Turkey, an Iranian official told state television."This
morning, terrorists attacked a natural gas pipeline inside Turkey near Iran's
Bazargan border with Turkey ... flow of gas has been halted," said Mehdi
Jamshidi-Dana, director of National Iranian Gas Co on Tuesday."The
pipeline has exploded several times in the past. It is also likely that the PKK
group has carried out the blast," he told Iran's state news agency IRNA,
referring to the outlawed armed group, the Kurdistan Workers Party.Jamshidi-Dana
said "the Turkish border guards have left" because of the coronavirus
outbreak before adding that "we have informed them of the explosion and
are waiting for their response", IRNA reported.
Oil price war: Analysts expect prices to drop further
Top energy
officials in the US and Russia will meet to tackle an historic collapse in
global oil markets.The meeting comes after a dispute over output levels earlier
this month sparked a price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia.Prices have
plunged even further due to the coronavirus pandemic and analysts say there is
little prospect of a recovery any time soon.aljazeera
US extends Iran nuclear cooperation sanctions waivers
United States has
allowed companies from Russia, China and Europe to continue their work at
Iranian nuclear facilities without being subject to American sanctions, the US
State Department announced on Monday.Secretary of State Mike Pompeo signed off
on the waiver extensions but couched the decision as one that continues
restrictions on Iran's atomic work.Current and former officials familiar with
the matter said Pompeo had opposed extending the waivers, which are among the
few remaining components of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal that the administration
had not cancelled.However, the officials told AP that Treasury Secretary Steven
Mnuchin had prevailed in an internal debate on the subject last week.aljazeera
*views,
Articles, FEATURES*
Migrant workers distrust a state that does not take them into
account:Partha Mukhopadhyay
Why selective testing is more suitable for India than WHO’s ‘test, test,
test’ doctrine
How Delhi police continue to torment Muslim survivors of the communal
carnage: Seemi Pasha
Among informal sector workers, Dalits and Adivasis affected worst due to
lockdown [Interview]
Ground Report: Borders Sealed, Migrant Workers Evade Police for Long Walk
Home
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and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:22 PM).
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