Tag: COVID protocols

After ‘Suspending’ Jan Aakrosh Yatra in Rajasthan, BJP Now Says It Will Continue

The party’s general secretary Arun Singh had said the Yatra in Rajasthan was suspended in the wake of rising COVID-19 cases. However, a few hours later, BJP state president Satish Poonia said there was some ‘confusion’ regarding the suspension.

New Delhi: Hours after deciding to suspend its ‘Jan Aakrosh Yatra’ in Rajasthan in view of a rising number of coronavirus cases globally, the Bharatiya Janata Party said it will go ahead with its plan of holding public meetings in assembly constituencies while following the COVID-19 protocols.

With an eye on the assembly polls due next year in Rajasthan, BJP chief J.P. Nadda launched the ‘Jan Aakrosh Yatra’ in the state on December 1.

“The BJP has suspended ‘Jan Aakrosh Yatra’ in Rajasthan in the wake of rising number of COVID-19 cases. For the BJP, people come first before politics. For us the safety of people, their health is priority,” party general secretary Arun Singh said on Thursday, December 22.

He had asked the Congress to do the same with the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’.

However, a few hours later, BJP state president Satish Poonia said there was some confusion regarding the suspension of the yatra. He added that public meetings will continue.

“So far, Jan Aakrosh sabhas have been organised in 41 assembly constituencies. Since there is no advisory of the central and state governments, there was some confusion. The confusion was about suspending yatras but our public meetings will take place,” he said in a video statement in Patna.

Also read: What the Recent Elections Say About Congress, BJP and AAP

On the same day, Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya too raised concerns over the global rise in COVID-19 cases. He advised people to follow precautions, including wearing masks, maintaining social distancing and using hand sanitisers, to prevent the spread of the virus.

The minister said that the airports have also started to conduct random RT-PCR tests on 2% of international passengers in the country on December 22.

Most of the ministers in parliament, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, could also be seen wearing masks.

Separately, health minister Mandaviya had written to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to consider suspending the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ if COVID-19 protocols could not be followed.

The yatra, which started in Kanyakumari on September 7, has covered Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

The yatra is expected to enter Delhi on December 24, Friday.

(With inputs from PTI)

‘Absurd’ Allegation: Calcutta HC Quashes Pandemic-Linked FIR Against Andaman Journalist

Zubair Ahmed had questioned local authorities on their COVID-19 norms and was one of dozens of journalists across the country being prosecuted for their coverage of the government’s handling of the pandemic.

New Delhi: The Calcutta high court has quashed a first information report (FIR) lodged against a freelance journalist in Port Blair who had tweeted last year a question on the bizarre quarantine policy being followed by the local authorities.

The police had accused Zubair Ahmed of spreading false information with intent to obstruct the administration’s efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the islands.

The Calcutta high court observed while disposing of the FIR:

“This court is of the view that allowing the criminal proceeding in terms of the FIR registered against the petitioner would amount to sheer abuse of process of law and misuse of power of the court as the allegation in the FIR appears to be absurd and no prudent person can ever reach a just conclusion that there is sufficient ground for proceeding against the
accused/petitioner.”

The reporter sought quashing of the FIR registered against him on the ground that his tweet did not deserve the case the police registered. His petition further said, “There is no ingredient of sections 188, 269, 270, 505(1)(b) of the Indian Penal Code which can attract the offence alleged in the FIR.”

On April 26, 2020, the Andaman Chronicle, an established local newspaper, carried a news item with the headline, ‘#AndamanFightsCOVID19: Entire Family Put on Home Quarantine After One Calls Up a Relative in Bambooflat’:

“The incident took place yesterday when Shri K.A. Rehman called up his relative who had tested corona positive, over phone. The intention was to enquire about the wellbeing of the victim, a resident of Bambooflat. It was hours after the call was made, the entire family was put on home quarantine by the authorities. The four members include Shri K.A. Rehman (70 years), Smti Rehana Rehman (60 years), Shri K. Abdul Rasheed (32 years) and Smti Saira Banu (29 years). The family is now confused whether calling up their relative was a crime committed or is it that the concerned authorities in Andaman are over concerned about their safety.”

Also read: When a Government Is Hostile to the Press

Following up on this, Ahmed, a reporter based in the islands, posted a question on April 27 for the Andamans administration, whom he tagged, in which he asked why families who merely spoke to COVID-19 patients on the phone were being forced to quarantine:

The police had said the claim Ahmed made was not true; however, no explanation was given for why he was arrested for asking a question.

In 2020, at least 55 journalists across India were arrested, booked or threatened for their coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic and the official response to it.

Centre Asks States to Ensure Lockdown Opening up Is ‘Carefully Calibrated’; No Crowding in Markets

The Centre urged states to ensure the ‘extremely important’ five-fold strategy of COVID-19 appropriate behaviour, test-track-treat and vaccination to prevent the spread of the disease.

New Delhi: The easing of COVID-19 related lockdown norms has led to crowding in some markets and other places, the Centre said on Saturday, as it urged states to ensure the “extremely important” five-fold strategy of COVID-19 appropriate behaviour, test-track-treat and vaccination to prevent the spread of the disease.

In a communication to all states and union territories (UTs), Union home secretary Ajay Bhalla also said that vaccination against COVID-19, in the present scenario, is critical to break the chain of transmission.

Therefore, all state and UT governments should step up the pace of vaccination, to cover maximum number of people in an expeditious manner, he said.

The home secretary said that during the second COVID-19 wave, a significant surge in cases was witnessed in several states and UTs, and many of them imposed restrictions in order to contain the spread of the infection.

“With a decline in the number of active cases, many states and UTs have started relaxing restrictions. I would like to highlight that the decision to impose or ease restrictions has to be taken, based on the assessment of the situation at the ground level,” he said.

Bhalla said while the opening up of activities after decline in cases is essential, states and UTs must ensure that the whole process is “carefully calibrated”.

“While opening up, it would be extremely important to follow the five-fold strategy of COVID-19 appropriate behaviour, test-track-treat and vaccination,” he said.

Watch | How to Prevent or Limit a COVID Third Wave: Johns Hopkins Epidemiologist Explains

The home secretary said regular monitoring of COVID-19 appropriate behaviour is required to prevent relapse.

To reiterate, COVID-19 appropriate behaviour includes mandatory use of masks, hand hygiene, social distancing and also proper ventilation of closed spaces, he said.

“However, easing of restrictions in some states, have led to resumption of crowding of people in markets etc., without adherence to the norms of COVID-19 appropriate behaviour,” he said.

It is, therefore essential to ensure that complacency does not set in, and there is no let-up in adhering to COVID-19 appropriate behaviour, while opening up activities, the home secretary said.

Bhalla said to contain the spread of the infection on a sustainable basis, it is necessary to continue the strategy of test-track-treat. It may especially be ensured that the testing rate does not come down, he said.

Bhalla said as the situation is dynamic, a close watch needs to be kept on early signs of a surge in active cases or high positivity rates.

He said a system should be in place at the micro-level to ensure that whenever cases rise in a smaller place, it gets checked there itself, through local containment measures as per the existing guidelines issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

“I, therefore, urge you to issue directions to district and all other authorities concerned, to keep a close watch on the situation, while activities are opened in a cautious manner, and to scrupulously ensure that there is no complacency in adhering to COVID-19 appropriate behaviour and in the test-track-treat-vaccinate strategy,” Bhalla said in his communication to states and UTs.

Uttarakhand HC Slams State Govt Over Violation of COVID Protocols in Badrinath, Kedarnath

“First we make the mistake of Kumbh Mela, then there is Char Dham. Why do we repeatedly cause embarrassment to ourselves?,” Chief Justice R.S. Chauhan asked.

New Delhi: The Uttarakhand high court on Thursday criticised the state government for not ensuring that COVID-19 protocols are being followed in religious places like Kedarnath and Badrinath, news reports said.

According to Bar and Bench, the court made these observations after it came across videos on social media showing a large number of priests moving around in pilgrimage centres in Badrinath and Kedarnath without wearing masks and social distancing.

A bench of Chief Justice R.S. Chauhan and Justice Alok Verma said that the blatant violation of social distancing norms during these religious gatherings have caused embarrassment to the state.

“First we make the mistake of Kumbh Mela, then there is Char Dham. Why do we repeatedly cause embarrassment to ourselves?,” the chief justice asked, as per the report.

However, a state tourism department representative told the court that for each place of worship, there are earmarks to ensure distancing, to which the court responded saying that there are videos showing violation of COVID-19 norms on social media.

“Nobody is following your earmarks. Please take a chopper to Char Dham, you will find what the reality is. Please take next chopper to Char Dham, go to Kedarnath…” the chief justice said.

Also read: Religious, Political Mass Gatherings Contributed to COVID-19 Resurgence in India: WHO

The court lashed out at the state government saying the government should be asking these questions to the violators instead of the court.

“We cause embarrassment to ourselves. The rest of the country is saying why can’t Uttarakhand learn? I feel embarrassed when colleagues call me and ask what is happening in the state… You can fool the court, but you cannot fool the people, the reality exists out there… you are playing with the lives of millions of people in the country,” the chief justice said.

The matter will be heard on June 9.

The Char Dham yatra which was scheduled to start on May 14 was suspended due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the state. The four pilgrimage sites are Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangotri in Uttarakhand. The government allowed only the priests and related traditional right holders inside the shrines.

Last month, the Uttarakhand high court had asked the state government to come out with standard operating procedures for Char Dham and said that the opening of the four pilgrimages couldn’t be permitted as it would become another hotbed for COVID-19 infections like the Kumbh Mela.

The Kumbh Mela was attended by millions and thousands of cases were recorded as COVID-19 protocols were being openly flouted.

The chief minister himself repeatedly told people that the Kumbh was safe to attend, until it became very clear that was not the case.

How Chhattisgarh Is Deliberately Inviting COVID-19 To Stay Over

The state administration has relaxed due to the continued absence of CM Baghel, who has been busy with electioneering in Assam and Bengal. As a result, COVID cases have surged.

Two spectators from a semi-packed Naya Raipur stadium hosting the Road Safety World Series comprising “legends” from various countries have tested positive for the coronavirus. It seems like a miniscule number but that is because Chhattisgarh had almost stopped testing and suddenly the virus is back.

While Sachin, Lara, Petersen and rest of the legends continue to live in a luxurious bio-bubble in Mayfair, Raipur has recorded more than 300 cases in a day for the first time this year while the daily count in the state is above 800.

By November-December 2020, life had begun to acquire some sort of normalcy in the central Indian state until the government decided to put its guard down and start persuading coronavirus to stay for some more time. By opening cinema halls and starting public transport at full capacity, relaxing mask-wearing norms, and of course, allowing cricket and tennis matches, book and farm produce fairs – it sent a message that business can be conducted as usual.

Also read: India Expected To Review Covishield After Reports of Blood Clots After Vaccination

The state had opened only 12 COVID care centres in Raipur at the peak of the crisis last year of which 11 have been closed down, the indoor stadium had been cordoned off as a COVID centre with an expenditure running into crores but it is now holding the book fair!

If that was not enough, state health minister T.S. Singhdeo kicked up a controversy by issuing a fiat against Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin. The minister said that he would not allow the vaccine in his state because it has not passed the third stage trial. As a result, millions of units of Covaxin are lying in cold storage. Singhdeo has incidentally tested positive for COVID and has announced that he would be vaccinated only after the third stage trial of Covaxin is completed.

“When Test matches are being played to empty stadia and Maharashtra is not allowing any mass activity in its state, the organisers of this Road Safety show matches cleverly shifted the venue to Naya Raipur. Legends like Tendulkar, Pathan and Yuvraj are sending out the wrong signals vis-à-vis fight against coronavirus,” says a doctor at the state-run JNM Medical College, who has been on the frontline of fight against COVID-19.

Also read: Congress Adopting ‘Chhattisgarh Model’ To Regain Power in Assam

The state administration has relaxed due to the continued absence of chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, who has been busy with electioneering in Assam and West Bengal. As a result, COVID cases have surged with doctors suspecting the presence of a new deadlier strain. “The usual 14-day quarantine and medication has now extended to 20-25 days. We now have only about 1,500 beds in major government hospitals in Raipur and already only a third are left,” says a health department official.

Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel. Photo: BhupeshBaghelCG/Facebook

Things are not any better in the neighbouring Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra with Nagpur, 50 kms away from the western border, in a complete lockdown. The chairperson of the MP Mahila Aayog Shobha Ojha from Indore had contracted COVID last year in December and she relates her experience with horror: “I couldn’t breathe, taste or smell anything. I had constant fever and palpitations and survived by God’s grace, so its difficult to understand why things have relaxed so much that we have had to bring back the curfew in Indore.”

She is surprised that new airlines and flights have begun operations to Raipur and Bilaspur from Indore in the last fortnight.

Meanwhile, spirit and alcohol manufacturers are feeling rich once again as the state returns to frequent hand sanitisation measures. They have sold more alcohol to sanitiser makers than they have bottled this year and there is almost no accountability as tonnes have been sprayed all over towns, malls and hospitals. Careless approach has brought back the scourge and next few days can be very testing.

Karnataka HC Calls BJP’s Affidavit Claiming it Has Not Conducted Rally During COVID ‘False’

Following this, the counsel for the BJP informed the court that he would like to withdraw the affidavit and file a fresh one.

New Delhi: The Karnataka high court on Wednesday called the Bharatiya Janata Party’s statement ‘false’ when the party in its affidavit filed before the court said that it has not conducted any public rally during the COVID-19 pandemic times, LiveLaw reported.

This happened after the court warned that there will be action for perjury for making a false statement in the affidavit, the report added.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Abhay S. Oka told the counsel representing the BJP: “A very bold statement to make that this party has not conducted any road shows or gatherings. This is false. You better correct yourself. There are photographs of the events.”

“You (counsel for BJP) better take instruction or else this will be a false statement on oath. Not a single road show or gathering or public rally was held by you? Are you very serious about this statement?” Chief Justice Oka asked, as per the report.

Also read: Where in India’s COVID-19 Response Is the Moral Compass That Guides Governance?

Following this, the counsel for the BJP informed the court that he would like to withdraw the affidavit and file a fresh one.

The bench was hearing a petition filed by an NGO ‘LetzKits Foundation’, which sought action against political parties which held public gatherings in violation of COVID-19 guidelines of wearing of face masks and maintaining social distancing.

The bench also directed the Karnataka government to inform the court if any action has been taken against the violators of the COVID protocols in a Bengaluru rally, demanding reservation for a particular class of society, on February 21, 2021.

The matter will next be heard on March 12.

The Karnataka high court bench also asked political parties to instruct their members to wear face masks and maintain social distancing, LiveLaw has reported.

In its affidavit, the state government said that it never intended to prosecute or imprison persons who were violating COVID-19 norms under the Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Act. It added that a fine of Rs 250/100 would suffice for such offences.

Also read: The Thin Silver Lining of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The LiveLaw report further said that an ordinance will soon be issued amending the existing provisions of the Act, to ensure that the state governments’ policy is accurately reflected in the legal provisions.

Politicians defy COVID protocols

In November last year, the Karnataka high court had asked the state government whether it will take action against member of parliament Tejasvi Surya and other political leaders who have violated COVID-19 norms by not wearing face masks during political rallies.

During the election rallies in Bihar, the first state to go to polls in the middle of the pandemic, the Election Commission had warned political parties of action over violation COVID protocols during campaigning. The large gatherings were being addressed by RJD leader Tejashwi Pratap Yadav and former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Bihar election rally drew thousands of supporters ignoring social distancing rules.

During the launch of fourth phase of Poribortan Yatra, ahead of the West Bengal assembly polls, a huge gathering of BJP supporters, who were standing shoulder-to-shoulder,  is seen in Cooch Behar. Home minister Amit Shah addressed that rally.

In chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s Hooghly rally, a large gathering came to listen to her, without following social distancing norms.

Politicians continued to defy COVID protocols despite evidence by scientists and researchers that large gatherings cause rapid spread of the virus.