Calcutta High Court imposed a complete ban on firecrackers. Image Courtesy – The Economic Times

The Calcutta High Court ordered a complete ban on the sale, purchase, and use of firecrackers during Diwali, Kali Puja, Chhath Puja, Christmas, or New Year’s due to the prevailing Covid-19 situation this year.

A division bench of Calcutta High Court, comprising justices Sabyasachi Bhattacharya and Aniruddha Roy, passed the order on a petition demanding re-imposition of the ban on firecrackers. It was being ordered by the court in 2020.

This order cancels the recent notification by the West Bengal Pollution Control Board that allowed the use of “green” firecrackers for a limited period of time focusing on Diwali and Kali puja. The order has been passed on October 26, 2021. It stated that the air quality in Kolkata and districts were at moderate/satisfactory levels till the third week of October. Even the time to explode the firecrackers was also defined. The Calcutta High Court issued a notification within 24 hours of the notification issued by the West Bengal Pollution Control Board banning all the firecrackers.

Read: Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme becomes superhit of WB projects

So many people have come forward to express their support for the court order. But, at the same time, they regret the enjoyment of the kids. Because kids love fireworks that create multi-colour lightings and coloured torches etc. A woman of 45 expressed her regret for the kids at a popular market area at Kolkata, “Stopping crackers is a good decision, of course, but it would have been nice if we had the kids buy their fireworks and colored torches.” In her words, Diwali has a long-standing relationship with colours, light, and fireworks. A decision that was made all of a sudden is something sad.

 Most of the people applauded the ban to save the deteriorating environment. But, they also objected to the sudden decision. Their opinion was – there was no logic in making such a decision at the eleventh hour. If it had to be banned, it could have been done much earlier. Those who have accumulated their capital and stored goods would not have suffered any loss. Those who were involved in the fireworks business were kicked in the stomach. The decision was made even at times like the lockdown, with a huge financial crisis in the market.

The state government has also issued similar guidelines. As a result, some firecrackers are being sold secretly. But, overall sale of the firecrackers is stopped.

After the ban on firecrackers, there was a mixed reaction among the people of Kolkata. On the whole, the urban people are happy that firecracker has been banned. They think that getting rid of the pain of pollution is a blessing. But even then, there is still regret in the corner of their mind.

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Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme becomes superhit among all the Duare Sarkar projects of West Bengal Government. Image Courtesy – WebExam

The second phase of the state government’s ‘Duare Sarkar’ (Government at your doorstep) project camp has started from Monday. There are about 17,500 camps across the state. The Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme has been super hit on the first day of ‘Duare Sarkar’ (Government at your doorstep) camps.

Around 1.6 million applications have been received across the state for the ‘Duare Sarkar‘ (Government at your doorstep) camp. According to sources, more than 10 lakhs of them have been given land for the Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme. The Chief Minister and the higher officials of Nabanna are happy with the success of the new project.

What is the benefit of the scheme?

The West Bengal government has launched the ‘Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme’ in order to provide minimum income support to the female heads of the family. The WB government is going to provide Rs 500 per month to the families of the general category and Rs 1000 per month to SC/ST families. Around 1.6 crore families of West Bengal will be benefited from this scheme. This particular scheme has been launched to support the monthly average expenditure of a household in the state which is Rs 5249. This financial support will cover 10% to 20% of the monthly expenditure. This amount under this scheme will be directly deposited into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.

Read: Swasthya Sathi Healthcare Scheme is at the top of demand

However, South 24 Parganas is ahead of the rest of the states on the first day in terms of the ‘Duare Sarkar’ application. Around 3 lakh applications have been submitted on the first day of this project in this district.

Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme has become the number one project in all ‘Duare Sarkar’ projects. Near about 1 lakh 71 thousand 633 applications have been submitted in this district. The project ‘Swasthya Sathi’ remains in second place. More than 40 thousand applications have been submitted under this project. The project ‘Caste Certificate’ remained in third place. Around 22 thousand 749 applications have been submitted under this project. The ‘Khadya Sathi Scheme’ remained in fourth place. More than 17 thousand applications have been submitted under this scheme on the first day. In addition, applications have been submitted in this district to get the benefit of multiple projects from 100 days of work.

The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government ensured the distribution and receipt of forms of the Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme in bulk at the Duare Sarkar camps started from August 16, 2021, Monday. The state government made it clear that political interference would not be entertained at the first mega public outreach after Mamata Banerjee returned to power for the third time.

The government officials told that instruction clearly indicated the government’s eagerness to ensure that no political party, including Trinamool Congress, could interfere in the project. The project would be completely operated by government officials.

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Centre exported 9300 MT of Oxygen without thinking about countrymen. Image Courtesy – France 24

Centre exported 9300 metric tonnes of Oxygen in 2021 without even caring for its countrymen. Now the second wave of corona has affected the health system of the entire country. Infections are increasing almost every day. The death procession is also getting longer.

There is a shortage of oxygen in the hospitals. In such a situation, the information raised from the government statistics has raised multiple questions. The question has been raised – “Don’t #IndianLivesMatter?”

In the last few months, huge amounts of oxygen have been exported from India amidst extreme conditions around the world according to official sources. The amount of oxygen that India normally sends abroad has almost doubled in Corona pandemic. About 9300 metric tons of oxygen were exported from India from April last year to January this year. Naturally, the question is, how reasonable is this government’s policy on oxygen?

India has exported 4,500 metric tonnes of oxygen abroad in the fiscal year 2020. And since then the export rate has doubled. Statistics show that India’s oxygen exports increased by 634% between January last year and January 2021. In December alone, 2,193 metric tons of oxygen were exported. The government has not released any information on the export since January.

Read: Russian Vaccine Sputnik V is 91.6% Effective Against COVID-19

Oxygen deficiency has now occurred across the country due to the increase in coronavirus infection. Danger signals have been issued from several states due to lack of oxygen. Many have also sought the help of the center.

Why the central government exported 9300 metric tonnes of Oxygen abroad without caring for its own people and without worrying about future dangers? The question arises – why Centre exported 9300 MT of Oxygen this year where the 2nd wave of coronavirus is infecting people rampantly?

The central government has realized the fact too late. The government has recently announced that oxygen will not be used in industrial activities from April 22. The government also had to face the wrath of the Delhi High Court.

Will the patient who is suffering from a lack of oxygen in the hospital be asked to wait till the 22nd? The question was raised by the high court. Needless to say, the position of the center is not at all transparent regarding the oxygen problem.

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Hathras in UP has shaken the country again with criminal activities. Image Courtesy – Free Press Journal

There were allegations of sexual abuse. After serving three years in prison, the criminal took terrible revenge. The victim shot and killed the girl’s father. Rape and sexual abuse happened one after another at Hathras in Uttar Pradesh. UP has shaken the country with criminal activities.

Why this type of incident happens in UP again and again?

A young man from the village was accused of sexually abusing a young woman in Hathras in the year 2018. His name is Gaurab Sharma. This incident created many waves in the society at that time in Hathras. Policemen arrested Gaurab Sharma and he was taken to court. Gaurab was given rigorous imprisonment in the trial. According to the police, Gaurab was granted bail in the district court yesterday. Then he went straight to the house of the victim.

According to the girl’s family, Gaurab raided their house with the team around 4:30 pm on Monday. Everyone in the family was threatened. The girl’s father came out. Then the trouble started with him. In the midst of the fight, Gaurab pulled out a pistol and fired randomly. The victim’s father was shot and fell down in a bloody situation. Gourab Sharma then fled away.

Read: Law and order situation paralyzed in UP – another rape case in Balrampur

Local people rescued the girl’s father and took him to the hospital. But he died on the way. Hathras police chief Binit Jaiswal said that Gaurav Sharma had been missing since the incident. One of his family members has been arrested. The victim has lodged a written complaint against Gaurab and his family members.

An investigation into the rape of a Dalit girl in Hathras is still under judgement. CBI is still investigating the case. Four youths of the upper-caste have been charged with gang-raping and killing a 20-year-old Dalit girl at Hathras in Uttar Pradesh, on September 14, 2020. The girl died at a Delhi hospital after being hospitalized for several days. But, then the police did not hand over the body to the family and forcibly burnt the body in the dark of night. The protest started throughout the country like a wave of fire. However, the state police of Yogi Adityanath claimed that the body was cremated according to the wishes of the family.

Video Courtesy – YouTube

Four people were charged in the incident in September last year. The CBI filed a charge sheet against the four accused persons. Not only the allegations of gang rape and murder, but the CBI has also filed cases against the accused persons under the Scheduled Castes/Tribes (Prevention of Authorities) Act.

According to the latest news, the main accused Gaurav Sharma is still absconding. One more accused Lalit Sharma has been arrested.

But, the question is arising in the case as the main accused Gaurav Sharma is a member of the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh. It has been observed for a long period that the criminalization of politics has become very much stronger in this state. The people of the country will be watching if the Chief Minister can take stringent action against the accused persons or not.

The post Hathras in UP has shaken the country again with criminal activities appeared first on Bigumbrella written by Shalini Gupta

Hizbul Mujahideen militants failed to create unrest in Pulwama. Image Courtesy – News18

According to the police report, three Hizbul Mujahideen militants were killed in an encounter at Pulwama in south Kashmir on Friday. It was also reported that another group of militants was confined in the Lelhar area of Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir in the evening.

The valley became hot again with the security forces firing on the militants. Two militants have surrendered to security forces in the Lelhar area of Pulwama after hours of clashes. One of the militants was reportedly injured. He has been admitted to the hospital. The militants reportedly had two AK-47s.

According to army sources, the encounter started at 8 pm on Friday. The two militants were then caught after a brief gun battle. However, it was not yet known which militant group they belong to. Security persons are interrogating them. Security forces are patrolling the area to see if there are any other militants hiding.

Meanwhile, three Hizbul Mujahideen militants were reportedly killed in a shootout with security forces at Awantipora in Pulwama on Friday. Vijay Kumar, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jammu and Kashmir, said, “Police, army and CRPF jawans surrounded the militants in Awantipora. They were told to surrender. But the militants did not agree and started throwing grenades. Then the encounter began. All three militants were killed after a brief battle. They are all known to be members of Hizbul Mujahideen”.

Read: Thousands of farmers organizing Rallies to protest against Farm Laws in India

Police identified the dead militants as Waris Hassan, Aarif Bashir, and Ahtishamul Haq. All of them were the residents of Awantipora in Pulwama. Vijay Kumar told that they were a part of the groups that were involved in several terror crimes. He also told that the police once again appealed to the guardians of the local misguided youth to come forward and help the police in returning them back. They were always welcome to return to the mainstream.

The police asked the parents to take note of the activities in their wards. The reason is simple, innocent young people are falling into the traps of anti-national elements by means of social media.

Several opinions of the analysts have pointed to the trend of militancy after the 1990s. The new trend of militancy has changed its pattern with the use of modern technological tools. The wide and clever use of social media tools is observed to cross the geographical boundaries, training of cadres, recruitment models, ideological enticements, inter-group communications, etc. The new trend of militancy includes images and videos. The Hizbul Mujahideen militants are using the technical tools to spread terrorism and maintain prolonged unrest in the Kashmir valley.

The post Hizbul Mujahideen militants failed to create unrest in Pulwama appeared first on Bigumbrella written by Pinaki Krishna Ghosh

Thousands of farmers in Rally to protest against Farm Laws in India. Image Courtesy – National Herald

A tremendous protest against the Farm Laws in India is happening for a couple of months since September 20, 2020. The farm law included 3 bills – (i) Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce Bill 2020, (ii) Farmers Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill 2020, and (iii) Essential Commodities Bill 2020.

These 3 bills were passed by the Parliament within a big drama in the monsoon session. As a result of this, the oldest ally of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) had quit the alliance over the controversial farm bills issue.

Farmers of the country expressed alarm about the farm laws. They alleged that the farm reform bills would break up the minimum support price system, and the total control will be shifted into the hands of big corporate companies.

Thousands of farmers marched on Mumbai in protest against the farm law of the central government. They are coming from 21 districts of Maharashtra. On Saturday, they gathered in Nashik. From there they will cross the 160 km route to Mumbai. They will hold a huge rally at Azad Maidan in the city on Monday. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar will be present there.

Read: Swasthya Sathi Healthcare Scheme is at the top of demand

Various small farmers’ unions have jointly set up a platform called ‘All India Kisan Sabha’. The procession is expected to enter Mumbai by Sunday evening.

A couple of weeks ago, Sharad Pawar praised the farmers in Delhi. He said that the central government would have to suffer the consequences if the agricultural laws were not repealed in line with the demands of the farmers. He also said that the central government should not test the patience of the farmers. Farmers are going to hold a tractor procession in Delhi on January 26, 2021. A rally in support of the farmers and protest against Farm Laws in Delhi would be held in Mumbai earlier this session.

It was learned that a farmer had written a letter to Hiraben Modi, the mother of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He pleaded with Hiraben, who is about 100 years old, to influence her son as a mother. Maybe Narendra Modi’s mind will change after that. He will consider the demands of the farmers with sympathy. The letter was written by Harpreet Singh, a resident of Golu Ka Madh village in Ferozepur district of Punjab.

Harpreet writes that farmers are staying at the Delhi border in extremely unfavourable weather. Many farmers want the controversial laws to be repealed. Farmers satisfy the hunger of the people throughout the country. Many children of their families are guarding the border. The demands of the farmers should be accepted for these reasons.

Harpreet wrote, “I am writing this letter with great sadness. You know, those who feed the whole country are now being forced to live on the streets of Delhi. They are fighting to repeal the three black laws in the bitter cold. Among them are 90-95-year-olds and children. Many have fallen ill with the cold and many have died.”

Harpreet alleged that the ‘black laws’ have been enacted in the interest of Adani, Ambani, and other corporate houses. That is why the farmers have been forced to take part in a peaceful movement.

The post Thousands of farmers organizing Rallies to protest against Farm Laws in India appeared first on Bigumbrella written by Shalini Gupta

NRC – a revolutionary law by Indian government. Image Courtesy – https://www.telegraphindia.com.

The recent political developments in India have created a situation of unrest among the citizens of the country. The present government at the center had promised in its election manifesto that it will solve the citizenship issues prevailing in the country if it voted to power. The government made it back at the center for the second term with a huge mandate under the leadership of Narendra Modi, the present Prime Minister of India.

Fulfilling the promise, the government passed the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in both the houses of the Parliament recently. Due to some of the provisions mentioned in the law have unfavorable guidelines for the people belonging to the Muslim community. Though the experts are of the view that wrong interpretation of the words has caused a misunderstanding among the people. Showing a strong retaliation against the law, massive protests have been launches in multiple states, especially in Assam, Web Bengal and Delhi.   

Read: Paan and Gutkha spit – a big challenge for Swachh Bharat Mission

Before moving into the deep, lets us find out what NRC is all about?

National Register of Citizens is a government record of all the valid and legal citizens of the country. Actually, the new law can be regarded as an amendment to the Citizenship Act that was passed by the government in 1955. The new law has not been implemented in the country except for the state of Assam as this border state of India, which is badly affected by the illegal intrusion from neighboring countries like Bangladesh and Bhutan. The number of such infiltrators is massive. Actually, the Border States in the North-east of India are a soft target for the infiltrators. The number of illegal visitors has crossed a large figure and it is still continuing.

The NRC is nothing but a new law that is sure to prevent this illegal infiltration along with sending back the refugees that reached India during the recent years. According to the Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Amit Shah, the NRC is sure to leave a deep impact on the population reforms. In his speech during the sessions in both the Houses of the Parliament, Amit Shah expressed that the country would overcome the issues due to illegal shelter. He reiterated the firm stands of the Government for implementing the NRC all over the country in due course of time.

Who is the legal citizen of India?

In the view of the Citizenship Act if 1955, every person in India is a citizen of the country who meets the following criteria:

1. Born on or after the January 26, 1950 but before July 01, 1987.

2. Born in India on or after July 01, 1987 but before the commencement of citizenship Amendment Act of 2003 provided their parents had been legal citizens of the country.

3. Born in India on or after the implementation of Citizenship Act of 2003 when both the parents had been the valid citizens of the country.

Read: Triple Talaq – a historic verdict by the Supreme Court of India

Provisions In the new NRC Law:

In his speech during the debate in both the houses of Parliament, the Home Minister said that the Government agrees to give citizenship to all the immigrants who reach the country on or before December 31, 2014. Here it is good to mention that this provision should be implemented to all the Hindu, Sikh, Christians, Buddhists, Jains, and Parsis who reached India from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

The law clearly says that the Muslims should not get the advantages of NRC law who do not meet the criteria. This part of the NRC law is a clear indication that the Muslim immigrants after December 31, 2914 are sure to face the consequences that may even lead to leaving India and going back to their own country.

To be very precise, the present political unrest is caused by those who are illegal immigrants to this country who are afraid of not producing the documents that can prove them as bona fide citizens of the country.

What Are The Documents To Submit For Enrolment In NRC?

This is crucial, at least for those who wish to settle down in India by enrolling in the NRC. The government wishes them to show the following documents:

1. Birth Certificate

2. Document related to land purchase in India

3. Board/University certificates that may qualify them as a citizenship.

4. Documents related to bank accounts, LIC papers, and Post Office records

5. Ration card

6. Electoral Card

7. Refugee registration certificate

8. Permanent residential certificate

9. Any other document that proves his or her claim as a citizen of India.  

What Does the Exclusion From the NRC Mean?

In the opinion of the Government of India, exclusion from the National Citizenship register does not mean declaration as a foreigner. Such people may apply in the foreigner’s tribunals that are formed to listen to these cases and decide them in the light of the evidences produced by the concerned people. They are supposed to get enough opportunities to prove their citizenship claims. The present political unrest in the country is a result of improper or inadequate knowledge of the legalities of the NRC law. People must gather all the related information about the law, and be patient to handle things as and when the situation demands.

The post NRC – a revolutionary law by Indian government appeared first on Bigumbrella written by Amitabh Dasgupta