Mamata Banerjee
Govt accused of inciting violence
Responding to the alleged attack by Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President JP Nadda’s convoy in Diamond Harbour on Thursday, West Bengal BJP President Dilip Ghosh on Friday said the government in power in the state has adopted violence as a means to stay in power.
“There is no place for such violence in democracy. The government in power has adopted violence as a means of staying in power. It is very difficult to establish peace and conduct a peaceful election in such an atmosphere in West Bengal. It is unfortunate that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee says that nothing happened. Police and media vehicles were damaged. We watched everything on TV but still they are denying it,” Ghosh said while speaking to reporters here. “Mamata Banerjee’s second-in-command Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee says that people’s anger has been expressed. West Bengal Police tweets that nothing has happened. The administration is fast asleep and justice is unattainable in such circumstances,” he added.
Ghosh further said the people of West Bengal want liberation from violence and expressed confidence in the Union government for delivering justice.
“We have written to Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the attack on BJP president JP Nadda. The Union Home Secretary has summoned West Bengal Chief Secretary and Director General of Police (DGP) for assessing the ground situation in West Bengal. The people of West Bengal want liberation from violence and want peace. The Union government is very active, responsible and sensitive. Justice will surely prevail,” he said.
Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Government of India, Debasree Chaudhuri also responded on the attack on Nadda’s convoy and said, “Mamata Banerjee needs to choose her words carefully. Are the Home Minister and Prime Minister of India outsiders? West Bengal is not her private paternal estate but a part of our country.”
Indian Medical Association
Surgery by Ayurveda doctors opposed by medics
Indian Medical Association (IMA) observed a nationwide no-demonstration strike on Friday to oppose the central government’s move to allow Ayurveda doctors to perform surgery. Demanding withdrawal of the notification allowing Ayurveda postgraduates to perform modern medicine surgery, the IMA called for the withdrawal of all non-essential non-COVID services between 6 am and 6 pm today.
Dr Rajan Sharma, national president of IMA, said that allowing Ayurveda postgraduates to perform surgery is a “blatant attempt” to “corrupt” the healthcare system of the country.
“It takes years and years to become a doctor. With mixopaths what are we heading for? It’s a failure when nations compromise with health,” said Dr Sharma.
He stated that the IMA is not against “any sort of pathy”, but the mixing up of disciplines.
“We are not against any sort of pathy be it Ayurveda, Unani, Homeopathy. We are proud of our national heritage and richness but let it coexist with modern medicine. All we demand is not to mix the disciplines. It will also mean the end of pure Ayurveda,” he added.
The IMA reiterated that it has taken 200 years of medical research to reach modern medical capabilities, where medicines are controlled and double controlled and are research-oriented.
Doctors across the country are observing the strike by wearing a black ribbon as a mark of protest while on duty.
Tablighi Jamaat
Delhi HC dismisses plea to transfer case to NIA
The Delhi High Court on Friday dismissed a petition seeking to transfer the case filed against Tablighi Jamaat chief Maulana Saad to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a time-bound manner.
A division bench of Justice Siddharth Mridul and Justice Talwant Singh dismissed the petition after the petitioner sought to withdraw the plea. The court, however, granted liberty to the petitioner to approach the Supreme Court, which is hearing a similar matter. Petitioner Ghanshyam Upadhyay had sought the invocation of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and entrusting to the NIA, investigation in the case pertaining to allegedly organizing a congregation at Tablighi Jamaat with delegates from foreign countries in violation of the orders against large gatherings to contain the spread of coronavirus.
Earlier, Delhi Police had opposed the petition stating that investigation is going on in a fine manner and added that there is no need to transfer the case to another agency.
The plea had also added that it has also been found, from media reports, that Maulana Saad and/or organization has its connection with terrorist organizations like Al-Qaeda.
The case is currently being probed by the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police, which had recently filed several charge sheets in connection with the Jamaat matter involving hundreds of foreign nationals in a trial court. The charge sheets have been filed under relevant sections of the Foreigners Act, 1946, Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, Disaster Management Act, 2005, and Indian Penal Code (IPC). The foreign nationals are being charge sheeted for violation of visa norms.
Earlier, an FIR was registered against Tablighi Jamaat chief and others in connection with the congregation held at Markaz Tablighi Jamaat in the Nizamuddin area of the national capital, which had reportedly become an epicenter for the spread of coronavirus.
J-K tourism
Govt plans International Mountain Day to boost tourism
To boost adventure tourism, the Jammu and Kashmir tourism department celebrated International Mountain Day at the conference hall of the TRC Sport Climbing at Artificial Rock in Nowgam village on Friday.
Speaking to ANI, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Aparna Kumar said, “In March 2020, I had not travelled anywhere. As soon as I got the invitation from the Department of Tourism of Jammu and Kashmir, I did not think twice and came directly here. I wanted to see Kashmir and experience the beauty of the place. I would implore the government of Jammu and Kashmir to encourage tourism and adventure sports. This will also lead towards the path of progress and sustainable development.” She said, “I have come here from Dehradun. I belong to Karnataka. Kashmir is one of the most beautiful places in this country. I request all of you to come here and experience the beauty, magic, grandeur of Kashmir and enjoy the hospitality of Kashmiris.”
Ehsan Ali, an adventure sports enthusiast, said, “Mountain biking just got flagged off. Sports climbing will be flagged off soon. Several seminars and activities are also taking place. These activities by the government should be encouraged. Department of Tourism is particular in this regard. Last year the number of tourists was low, but it has gone up since then.”
Jalal-ud-din Baba, an adventure filmmaker, said, “International Mountain Day should be celebrated. Our livelihoods are dependent on tourism. Till day, I feel that our tourism industry is limited. Very confined. Tourists prefer to travel only from Airport to Srinagar-Dal Lake- Pahalgam-Gulmarg-Sonamarg and back to their homes. This is basic Kashmir. Kashmir is beyond this.”
Rakul Preet’s plea
Delhi HC seeks updated status report
The Delhi High Court on Friday directed Centre to file an updated status report on the plea of Bollywood Actor Rakul Preet Singh, whose name surfaced in a drug case related to the death of Sushant Singh Rajput, seeking directions to ensure that the media does not broadcast or publish any news relating to her in the case.
A single-judge bench of Justice Navin Chawla asked that the News Broadcasters Association’s (NBA) order be placed on record along with an updated status report and listed the matter for further hearing on March 4. Advocate Aman Hingorani, appearing for Rakul Preet Singh, said that the NBA order was uploaded on its website on December 10 and within seven days, they have to be sent to the Central government.
Hingorani added that it is now for the Centre to say what it is doing. “Some channels are not members of the NBA,” he added.
The court was hearing Rakul Preet Singh’s petition alleging that the media has continued their “slander campaign” by not only re-broadcasting and reporting the earlier falsehoods but attributing statements to her during the investigation, which she claimed that she never made to the Narcotics Control Bureau probing the matter.
The petition was filed by advocates Aman Hingorani, Shweta Hingorani, and Himanshu Yadav. It said she will continue to suffer irreparable loss and injury that cannot be compensated in terms of money should such ad-interim direction not be granted.
Sanjjanaa Galrani
HC grants bail to actress in drugs case
The Karnataka High Court on Friday granted bail to actress Sanjjanaa Galrani in connection with a case related to the alleged drug abuse in the Kannada film industry.Galrani was granted bail on a personal bond of Rs 3 lakhs along with two sureties of the like amount. The court has also put conditions on her bail, including that she has to mark her attendance twice every month and has to co-operate with the probe. The High Court also directed her to refrain from tampering with evidence.
The actress, who was arrested in the matter on September 8 by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) of the Bengaluru Police, had moved a fresh bail plea seeking grant of bail on medical grounds.
Earlier, the Karnataka High Court had in November rejected the bail applications of Galrani, Ragini Dwivedi and Prashanth Ranka. Notably, their bail pleas were also rejected by a special (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act) court in Bengaluru before.
Kannada filmmaker Indrajit Lankesh and a few other actors have also been questioned by the CCB in the matter. Notably, Lankesh had revealed information about the alleged drug use in the Kannada film industry.
(with ANI reports)
