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New Delhi, Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 12 noon on Wednesday as Opposition parties continued to protest on the <keyword id="17320926" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="manipur-issue" source="Orion">Manipur issue</keyword>. The protests began soon after the House paid tributes to soldiers who had died in the Kargil war. Opposition members sought to raise the issue of violence in <keyword id="6359754" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="manipur" source="Orion">Manipur</keyword> with some displaying placards during Question Hour. Some members were also heard shouting slogans such as 'We want justice'. Speaker Om Birla told the protesting members that all issues can be discussed and urged them to uphold the decorum of the House. He also wondered whether the Opposition did not want to discuss the Manipur issue. Amid the din, three questions and their supplementaries were taken up during Question Hour that lasted less than 20 minutes. As the protests continued, proceedings were adjourned till 12 noon Earlier in the morning, Birla paid tributes to those who died in the Kargil war on the occasion of the 24th Kargil Vijay Diwas. The House also stood in silence briefly as a mark of respect for the departed souls. With the deadlock over the Manipur violence continuing, the 26-member opposition alliance INDIA is planning to submit a notice for a no-confidence motion against the government in Lok Sabha. Parliamentary proceedings have been disrupted since the start of the Monsoon session on July 20 as the Opposition has been demanding a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Manipur violence. Union ministers Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari and Pralhad Joshi were among those present in the House during Question Hour on Wednesday. PTI RAM http://ptinews.com/images/pti.jpg "We bring the World to you" Disclaimer : This e-mail message may contain proprietary, confidential or legally privileged information for the sole use of the person or entity to whom this message was originally addressed. Please delete this e-mail, if it is not meant for you. MIN MIN

Manipur issue: Lok Sabha adjourns amid opposition protests

New Delhi, The Congress on Wednesday gave a notice on moving a <keyword id="394128" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="no-confidence-motion" source="Orion">no-confidence motion</keyword> against the Narendra Modi-led central government in the <keyword id="6355187" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="lok-sabha" source="Orion">Lok Sabha</keyword> over the <keyword id="6359754" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="manipur" source="Orion">Manipur</keyword> issue.Congress deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi will move the motion, party's whip in Lok Sabha Manickam Tagore told PTI. Although the decision to move the no-confidence motion is that of the united opposition, Gogoi, who is an MP from Assam, will move the motion, he said. "The INDIA alliance is together and this is the idea of the INDIA alliance. Congress party's leader will be moving the motion. We feel that it is our duty to use this last weapon to break the arrogance of the government and make them speak on Manipur," Tagore asserted. He said the notice for the motion was submitted in the Speaker's office at 9.20 am on Wednesday. Meanwhile, BRS MP Nama Nageshwar Rao also submitted a notice to move a no-confidence motion against the Union Council of Ministers. The K Chandrashekar Rao-led Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) is not a part of the INDIA alliance. The alliance of 26 opposition parties, INDIA, had decided to move the motion in order to make Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="Orion">Narendra Modi</keyword> speak in Parliament on the Manipur violence, senior leaders of the front said. The Congress earlier also issued a whip in the Lower House of Parliament for its members to be present in its parliamentary office by 10.30 am on Wednesday to "discuss some important issues". Although the no-confidence motion by opposition parties is bound to fail the numbers test, opposition parties argue that they will win the battle of perception by cornering the government on the Manipur issue during the debate. They contend that it is also a strategy to make the prime minister speak in Parliament on the crucial matter even as the government has been insisting that Union Home Minister Amit Shah will reply to the debate on the Manipur situation. Earlier in the day, the opposition parties met at the chamber of the Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge to chalk out the future course of action.

Congress submits notice on bringing no-confidence motion against Modi govt

New Delhi [India], July 20 (ANI): The Monsoon session of <keyword id="6354721" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="parliament" source="Orion">Parliament</keyword> begins on Thursday amidst outrage over the situation in <keyword id="6359754" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="manipur" source="Orion">Manipur</keyword> with the Opposition demanding a statement from the Prime Minister of India. Parliamentary Affairs Minister <keyword id="145705" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="prahlad-joshi" source="Orion">Prahlad Joshi</keyword> has said that 31 bills will be taken up in the monsoon session. Among these include the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023. Other important legislations that are expected to be taken up in the Session are the Bill to replace the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023, promulgated in May this year. The ordinance deals with the control of services in Delhi and was promulgated after the Supreme Court verdict on an appeal by the Delhi government. Parliamentary Affairs Minister yesterday said that 34 parties and 44 leaders participated in the all-party meeting convened by the government for smooth conduct of the monsoon session which will continue to till August 11 and will have 17 sittings. Other Bills on the agenda of the government include Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2019; DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2019; Mediation Bill, 2021; Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill, 2022 ; Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2022; Repealing and Amending Bill, 2022; Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023; Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023; Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Third Amendment) Bill, 2022 (with respect to State of Himachal Pradesh); Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2022 (with respect to State of Chhattisgarh); Postal Services Bill, 2023; National Cooperative University Bill, 2023; and Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment) Bill, 2023. The list also includes International Monetary Fund and Bank Bill, 2023; Provisional Collection of Taxes Bill, 2023 18; the National Dental Commission Bill, 2023; National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill, 2023; Drugs, Medical Devices and Cosmetics Bill, 2023; Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2023; <keyword id="6357972" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="jammu" source="Orion">Jammu</keyword> and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023; Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023; Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023; Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023; Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023. Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2023; National Research Foundation Bill, 2023; Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023; Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023 are also among the 31 bills on the agenda of the government. Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023, was approved by the Union Cabinet earlier this month. This government had withdrawn Personal Data Protection Bill from Parliament in August last and said that it will come up with a fresh bill. Supreme Court had ruled in 2017 that privacy is a fundamental right and the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023, is a crucial pillar of the overarching framework of technology regulations being framed by the Centre. The previous version of the bill had come after an extensive consultation process with a Joint Parliamentary Committee also examining it. The government has held another round of consultations to frame the new bill. The Bill to replace the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023, seeks to establish the National Capital Civil Services Authority, which consists of the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary of Delhi, Principal Home Secretary of Delhi. The Authority will make recommendations to the Lieutenant Governor (LG) regarding transfers and postings of officials and disciplinary matters. While the government is expected to give push to its legislative agenda, the Opposition parties have planned to raise several issues including Manipur violence, railway safety, unemployment, inflation, India-China border standoff and trade imbalance between the two countries. Pralhad Joshi said the government has sought the Opposition's support in the smooth functioning of the Parliament during the Monsoon Session. "The government is ready to discuss all issues in the Monsoon Session. We have appealed to the Opposition parties to support in the smooth functioning of the Parliament," Joshi said after the all-party meeting yesterday. Some of the parties have planned to move an adjournment motion over Manipur violence among other issues on day one of the Parliament's Monsoon Session today. The opposition insisted that the discussion should take place in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Congress on Wednesday said that the party will raise Manipur violence during the session. "Today, in the beginning (of the meeting), I kept my point. Our first issue is the violence in Manipur. Prime Minister should come and answer in Parliament. We will bring adjourment motion over the matter tomorrow," Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Choudhary said after attending the all-party meeting. <keyword id="6355187" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="lok-sabha" source="Orion">Lok Sabha</keyword> Speaker Om Birla also chaired a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee ahead of the session. He said, leaders of all parties have assured cooperation in the proceedings of the House. (ANI)

Parliament Monsoon session begins today; 31 bills likely to be taken up

<ul><li>Tamil Nadu’s Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party has filed a plea with the Supreme Court against the state’s Assembly Speaker, <keyword id="1553209" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="P-Dhanapal">P Dhanapal</keyword>. </li><li>They argue that Dhanapal has been delaying the disqualification of 11 All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) MLAs for over three years now. </li><li>DMK has requested the Supreme Court to use its extraordinary powers under Article 142 as it did to remove Manipur Forest Cabinet Minister T. Shyamkumar from office. </li></ul>The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party in Tamil Nadu has filed a plea with the Supreme Court against the state’s Assembly Speaker, P Dhanapal. They allege that he has been delaying the decision to disqualify 11 All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) ⁠— the ruling party⁠— legislators for over three years now. All this is playing out even as a DMK’s senior leader <keyword id="505450" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="J-Anbazhagan">J Anbazhagan</keyword> succumbed to COVID-19 infection earlier today, on his 62nd birthday. These members of the legislative assembly (MLAs) had previously voted against Edappadi K. Palaniswami, the incumbent Chief Minister, during a ‘no-confidence’ motion in 2017. The plea for their disqualification has been pending since 20 March 2017 and DMK leader R. Sakkarapani said it will likely remain that way until the government completes its term, unless the Supreme Court intervenes. Amit Anand Tiwari, the lead advocate for DMK, told the Supreme Court that even notice to the MLAs was only issued in February 2020, three years after the fact. "Despite that nothing has been done for the last 4 months, whereas the law requires the Speaker to decide a petition from disqualification within an outer limit of three months,” the plea said. Following the example set in Manipur The DMK has requested the Supreme Court to use its extraordinary powers under Article 142. It cited the example of how the legislation was recently used to strip Manipur Forest Cabinet Minister T. Shyamkumar from office and ban him from entering the Assembly after the Speaker continued to delay the decision of his disqualification for defection under the Tenth Schedule. Shyamkumar contested the elections on a Congress ticket and switched sides to favour the BJP after coming to power. According to the DMK, the precedent set by that judgement should also apply to the Tamil Nadu Speaker. The plea seeks direction to hold the “deliberate action” of the Speaker to not disqualify the MLAs as “arbitrary and violative” of fundamental rights. The election heat is building up Tamil Nadu is set for an election in May 2021 and this could be the first political heat in the run-up to it. AIADMK is seen as an ally of Narendra Modi led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) However, in 2019 the DMK claimed victory for the first time in eight years during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections after AIADMK General Secretary and Chief Minister, J. Jayalalitha passed away in 2016. DMK has been busy picking up the pieces after their previous chief M Karunanidhi, passed away in 2018. He ensured a 40/40 win of the DMK-led coalition in 2004 despite AIADMK’s Jayalalitha being at the helm at the time. The current DMK President, MK Stalin is at his strongest since the party lost the Assembly polls in 2016. In his absence, Stalin has been establishing himself as a strong regional leader, leading the charge against the central government on issues like the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), federalism, and the imposition of Hindi in non-Hindi speaking states. This will be the first Assembly election without both Jayalalitha and Karunanidhi.

Tamil Nadu witnesses political drama inspired by a Manipur court verdict⁠— even as senior opposition leader Anbazhagan succumbs to COVID-19

<ul><li>Global technology multinational <keyword id="10863" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="CapGemini">Capgemini</keyword> today partnered with <keyword id="1017386" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Coursera">Coursera</keyword>, an online learning platform to train its employees across verticals. </li><li>These include over 4,000 courses ranging from data science to personal development and business. </li><li>Nearly 25,000 Capgemini employees have signed up on Coursera’s enterprise platform — and they have completed more than 22,000 courses. </li><li>Reskilling employees in the digital space is critical to the IT major as these technologies, including cloud services comprise over 50% of the IT major. </li></ul>Global technology multinational Capgemini today partnered with Coursera, an online learning platform to train its employees across verticals in digital skills and other emerging technologies. These include courses ranging from data science to personal development and business. The partnership, which is aimed at developing skills including professional services, technology consulting, cloud adoption and sales productivity, will give access to over 4,000 courses to the IT employees at Capgemini. These courses have been added to Capgemini’s internal digital learning hub — NEXT — for upskilling employees globally. “We’re delighted to partner with Coursera as we launch NEXT, our new all-employee digital learning hub. This will further support the upskilling needs of all our team members as they design and deliver solutions to help our clients navigate through ever-changing business and people environments,” said <keyword id="9379023" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="stephan-paolini">Stephan Paolini</keyword>, Group Chief Talent &amp; Learning Officer at Capgemini. This comes after nearly 25,000 Capgemini employees enrolled in Coursera for the business module — and they have completed more than 22,000 courses. As work from home becomes the new normal, the company feels that upskilling the employees is the way to enhance employee engagement and adaptability for new business imperatives. “Access to top-quality learning content is more relevant than ever as markets and clients adapt to new challenges emerging from the COVID-19 crisis and its long-term implications on businesses and ways of working,” Capgemini said. Reskilling employees digitally critical for Capgemini Reskilling employees in digital space is critical to the IT major as these technologies, including cloud services comprise over 50% of the group’s activities, with growth exceeding 20% at constant exchange rates. “We have 1,800 certified consultants, while our nearest competitor in India is 500. The focus is on continued skilling. On average, we are reskilling 60,000-plus employees,” Capgemini India CEO Ashwin Yardi earlier <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/capgemini-and-cognizant-plan-to-hire-35000-freshers-in-india/articleshow/74173093.cms">said</a>. With technologies like AI and machine learning taking center stage, most of the IT companies are having to change the ‘job roles’ of their employees too. Capgemini said that it reskilled over 51,000 of its employees in 2019, in emerging technologies like cloud, devOps, and big data. This is yet another initiative taken by the company to reskill its employees to keep up with the pace of digitisation. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/tamil-nadu-witnesses-political-drama-inspired-by-a-manipur-court-verdict-even-as-senior-opposition-leader-anbazhagan-succumbs-to-covid-19/articleshow/76299032.cms">Tamil Nadu witnesses political drama inspired by a Manipur court verdict⁠— even as senior opposition leader Anbazhagan succumbs to COVID-19</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/microsoft-brings-its-venture-fund-m12-to-india-its-fifth-office-in-the-world-is-now-in-bengaluru/articleshow/76297385.cms">Microsoft brings its venture fund M12 to India – its fifth office in the world is now in Bengaluru</a>

Capgemini partners with Coursera to reskill employees in digital technologies — and 25,000 IT employees have already enrolled

<ul><li>Polls open in states of Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh where the <keyword id="602141" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Armed-Forces-Special-Power-Act">Armed Forces Special Power Act</keyword> (<keyword id="60149" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="AFSPA">AFSPA</keyword>) is still enforced. </li><li>The controversial colonial law allows the governed to deploy armed forces in places that they believe are ‘disturbed areas’.</li><li>Congress has promised to amend AFSPA to address international concerns. </li></ul> The colonial law of Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) is still enforced in four states that will be voting today — Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. The controversial law has often been called into question for its human rights violations. But, the Indian National Congress has promised to amend the law should they come into power. <div type="ExtQuote" text="Amend the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 in order to strike a balance between the powers of security forces and the human rights of citizens and to remove immunity for enforced disappearance, sexual violence and torture." auname="Excerpt from Congress Manifesto"></div>

 Earlier this week, AFSPA was withdrawn <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/afspa-withdrawn-partially-from-arunachal-pradesh/articleshow/68687005.cms">partially</a> in the state of Arunachal Pradesh after being in force for 32 years but its still enforced in three districts — Changland, Tirap and Longing. Even Meghalaya was a AFSPA state as recently as last year until it was withdrawn <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/what-is-afspa-and-where-is-it-in-force/article23648102.ece">completely</a>. While <a href="https://swarajyamag.com/politics/why-it-is-necessary-for-afspa-to-continue">supporters</a> of the act cite that AFSPA is just an ‘extraordinary measure’ in the face of ‘extraordinary situations’, critics believe that the act is being <a href="https://amnesty.org.in/news-update/indian-government-must-repeal-afspa/">misused</a> to conduct fake encounters and the sexual exploitation of women. What is AFSPA? AFSPA — enacted by the parliament in 1958 — <a href="http://nagapol.gov.in/PDF/The%20Armed%20Forces%20Special%20Powers%20Act%201958.pdf">gives</a> the central or state government the right to call in the armed forces to help the local authorities in places classified as ‘disturbed areas’. The legal immunity of the act allows security forces to arrest people, search private property, and ban the possession of firearms without warrant is as long as they at least have ‘reasonable suspicion’ that a person is about to commit a cognizable offence. For maintaining public order, AFSPA also allows armed forces to prohibit a gathering of five or more people in an area — even by force. The act itself is from the colonial days and was enacted as a reaction to the Quit India Movement led by Mahatma Gandhi in 1942. The arrest of Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, VB Patel and other activists left the movement leaderless and incidents of violence erupted in different parts of the other. Viceroy Linlithgow used the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Ordinance, 1942 to control the riots. In 1947, the one ordinance was split into 4 smaller ordinances to handle violence resulting from the partition efforts — but it was also repealed within the same year. AFSPA was only brought back in 1958 for Assam and Manipur before gradually encompassing the other seven sister states of the north east as well as Jammu and Kashmir. Issues with AFSPA The argument for enacting AFSPA in India was that it is a more efficient way to handle insurgencies. The powers allotted to armed forces allows them to protect the boundaries of the country. And removing strict law from the picture allows the armed forces to carry out orders unhindered, not to mention to morale boost in bringing the rule of law to ‘disturbed areas’. But AFSPA is <a href="https://www.orfonline.org/research/43363-the-road-to-peace-in-kashmir-public-perception-of-the-contentious-afspa-and-psa/">reportedly</a> exploited by people in the armed forces as well. In the name of national security, incidents of fake encounters, sexual exploitation of women and other human rights violations have been brought to light. ‘ Activists like Irom Sharmila who went on a hunger strike for nine years to protest against AFSPA strongly believe that AFSPA overrides dozens of civil rights including the right to freedom of expression and the right to free association. That being said, if a wrong is committed by anyone in the army under AFSPA, they can be prosecuted in a court of law — but the central government needs to sanction an approval. Amnesty International’s <a href="https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/PK/DevelopmentsInKashmirJune2016ToApril2018.pdf">report</a> calling for the end of AFSPA in Jammu and Kashmir cited 58 case studies where the act was allegedly used in excess by the armed forces. <div type="ExtQuote" text="In responding to demonstrations that started in July 2016, Indian security forces used excessive force that led to unlawful killings and a very high number of injuries. Civil society estimates are that 130 to 145 civilians were killed by security forces between mid-July 2016 and end of March 2018, and 16 to 20 civilians were killed by armed groups in the same period." auname="Amnesty International on the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 in Jammu and Kashmir"></div>

 Many even <a href="https://www.thequint.com/voices/opinion/would-delhi-dither-on-afspa-if-it-had-been-in-force-in-up-bihar-afspa-in-manipur-thangjam-manorama-irom-sharmila">compare</a> the AFSPA to the Rowlatt Act where the British could imprison any citizen on the basis of suspected terrorist activity against British India for up to two years without there necessarily being a trial. <div type="ExtQuote" text="The repeal of this law will not only bring domestic law more in line with international standards, but also send out a powerful message that instead of a military approach the government is committed to respect for the right to life of all people of the country." auname="Christof Heyns, the UN Special Rapporteur Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions"></div>

 The Indian Army, the organisation actually being accused of these acts, has barely come out in the open to express its stance on AFSPA. Essentially, the act is a last resort. The army is only called in once the situation is beyond the capabilities of the civil administration, the police and the central armed police forces. Congress’ promise Congress, in its election manifesto, has said that they will bring amendments to AFSPA should they win the general election. They faced heavy backlash from the opposition <a href="https://www.news18.com/news/politics/revoking-afspa-in-jammu-and-kashmir-is-like-sending-our-soldiers-to-gallows-says-pm-modi-2094245.html">saying</a> that this is an ‘anti-national’ approach and that Congress is compromising on India’s national security. 
 <div type="ExtQuote" text="The government must have the power to protect its armed forces. Only then will they have the morale to fight. Revoking AFSPA would be like sending our soldiers to the gallows. I won’t let this happen." auname="Member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the current Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi"></div>

 Even Arun Jaitley, the current minister of finance and corporate affairs who aligns with the BJP, and Palaniappan Chidambaram, former union minister of finance and member of Congress, exchanged some harsh words on Twitter. <a href="https://twitter.com/PChidambaram_IN/status/1113747990714314752"> <div type="twitter" handle="arunjaitley" handlename="Chowkidar Arun Jaitley" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/378800000828197225/f1d53aeab8f0534c7d73b0fbd5651130_normal.png" favoritecount="10332" retweetcount="4132" status="2019 Congress Manifesto is a Charter to Weaken India. After reading Congress Manifesto my worst fears have come tru… https://t.co/3yTGps3MVa" createdat="1554203974000" id="1113038257279918082"></div>

</a> <div type="twitter" handle="PChidambaram_IN" handlename="P. Chidambaram" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/603422412785328128/9Y6OuwJM_normal.jpg" favoritecount="4221" retweetcount="1432" status="Why has Mr @arunjaitley not answered the questions on withdrawal of AFSPA from Tripura (2015), Meghalaya (2018) and… https://t.co/5K4rV1ViIK" createdat="1554373188000" id="1113747990714314752"></div>

 That being said, multiple observations made different committees, like the Justice Santosh Hegde Committee and the J.S. Verma Committee, have found the AFSPA to be arbitrary and have recommended that it should be repealed. The former even explained that rather than create peace in the north east, AFSPA has widened the divide between the people living in the peripheries of India and the mainland.

A brutal military law is among the core election issues in at least 5 Indian states voting today

Several portions of the maiden <keyword id="20010618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="speech" source="keywords">speech</keyword> of <keyword id="19895780" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rahul-Gandhi" source="keywords">Rahul Gandhi</keyword> as Leader of the Opposition in <keyword id="19895394" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lok-Sabha" source="keywords">Lok Sabha</keyword> targeting the central government over various issues, including <keyword id="20105286" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="minorities" source="keywords">minorities</keyword>, NEET row and Agnipath scheme among others, have been <keyword id="22254289" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="expunged" source="keywords">expunged</keyword> from the records of the Parliament on the orders of the Speaker. The portions expunged include his comments on Hindus, and PM Narendra Modi-BJP-RSS among others. Rahul Gandhi in his speech in Lok Sabha on Monday afternoon, during the debate on the motion of thanks on President Draupadi Murmu's address accused the <keyword id="19894848" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="BJP" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="BJP">BJP</keyword> and RSS of preaching and spreading <keyword id="19972953" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="violence" source="keywords">violence</keyword> and hatred. His remarks drew protests from the Treasury benches. The Bharatiya Janata Party - led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh among others stood up to express their protest and rebut the <keyword id="19895371" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Congress" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Congress" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Congress">Congress</keyword> MP's remarks. The BJP leaders accused the Congress MP "of speaking lies, misleading the House and terming the entire <keyword id="20157361" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hindu-community" source="keywords">Hindu community</keyword> violent". The Congress hit back with counter-allegations against the Modi government. Rahul Gandhi invoked Lord Shiva, Prophet Mohammad, Guru Nanak, Jesus Christ, Lord Budha and Lord Mahavir, saying that he had taken the idea of fearlessness from their teachings. <keyword id="19899320" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="PM-Modi" source="keywords">PM Modi</keyword> slammed Rahul Gandhi during his speech. "Calling the entire Hindu community violent is a very serious matter," the Prime Minister said. Home Minister Amit Shah demanded an apology from Rahul Gandhi. While the BJP held a press conference later to denounce Rahul Gandhi's remarks, Congress also held an evening press conference to slam the ruling party at the Centre. Among the portions of Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha speech that got expunged were his accusations against the BJP, stating that the party was treating minorities unfairly and perpetrating violence. Portions of the Congress MP's remarks on industrialists Adand Ambani and on the Agniveer Scheme were also expunged. Dismissing Rahul Gandhi's claims on violence against minorities, Dilip Mandal a prominent Dalit voice, claimed that the last decade was the "most peaceful time for India since independence" as he compared the governance under the Congress party. "During his address, Rahul Gandhi made an objectionable statement that a lot of atrocities are happening against Muslims and Christians in India. I believe that the numbers don't suggest this. The last 10 years have been the most peaceful time for India after independence if you see the numbers," Dilip Mandal told ANI. "During the Congress regime, so many riots used to happen, if you compare that in the last 10 years, only two major communal riot incidents have happened, Delhi and Manipur. So the scale has reduced...riots don't last long now," he said. Mandal alleged Gandhi's remarks as an attempt "to scare investors" and added that the Congress party is "again trying to appease" Muslims. "This is an attempt to scare the investors and it will affect India. Congress is again trying to appease Muslims. He is thinking of getting the Muslim votes, especially the Muslim votes of Bihar and UP, from SP and RJD," Mandal said.

Portions of Rahul Gandhi's speech in Lok Sabha expunged

New Delhi, Cutting across party lines, <keyword id="48510" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="rajya-sabha" source="Orion">Rajya Sabha</keyword> members on Thursday supported the bill to provide 33 per cent reservation for women in the <keyword id="197797" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="lower-house-of-parliament" source="Orion">Lower House of Parliament</keyword> and state assemblies, even as some opposition members termed it an election gimmick. During the debate in the <keyword id="122785" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="upper-house" source="Orion">Upper House</keyword> on the 128th Constitution Amendment Bill that seeks to reserve a third of seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women, members also highlighted the need to accelerate the process instead of waiting for a fresh census and delimitation exercise. Taking part in the discussion, Elamaram Kareem of CPI(M), while supporting the bill, said the BJP had promised to bring the <keyword id="109340" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="womens-reservation-bill" source="Orion">women's reservation bill</keyword> in 2014 and in 2019 as well but did not take any action. He held the ruling party responsible for women's reservation losing nine years. This is an election gimmick by the BJP after losing elections in Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh, besides facing defeat in the civic polls in Delhi polls, he said. Citing violence against women in strife-torn Manipur and allegations of sexual harassment by women wrestlers, Kareem alleged the government cared little for women. Ram Nath Thakur of the JD(U) questioned the timing of bringing the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam'. Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MP K Keshava Rao stressed the need to accelerate the process for women's reservation and said the 2011 Census could be taken as the benchmark. He urged immediate appointment of the delimitation commission. MDMK's Vaiko also echoed similar sentiments. Saroj Pandey of the BJP said it was unfortunate that questions have been raised on the timing and the intent of bringing the bill. As the country celebrates 'Amrit Kaal', this was the ideal moment for such a legislation, she said. Asom Gana Parishad MP Birendra Prasad Baishya noted that the women's reservation bill has come at a "proper time" after failed attempts in the past. JD(S) leader H D Devegowda also supported the bill and recollected steps taken by him for women's reservation while he was the chief minister of Karnataka and also the prime minister. Manoj Jha of the RJD said demanded that the women's reservation bill be referred to a select committee to consider extending similar benefits to Other Backward Classes. V Vijayasai Reddy (YSRCP) also supported the bill and said the reservation for women must also be extended to Rajya Sabha and state legislative councils. KC Venugopal of the <keyword id="1575" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="congress" source="Orion">Congress</keyword> sought immediate implementation of the legislation. He also sought reservation for the OBC women under the bill. Venugopal claimed the <keyword id="6354477" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="Orion">Narendra Modi</keyword> government did not make any effort to bring the bill in the last nine years and it is due to the political calculations that the government has brought the legislation now. "Life-transforming legislations should come from the heart and not from the head," he said in the Upper House. Rajani Ashokrao Patil of the Congress and Mausam Noor of the <keyword id="26422" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="tmc" source="Orion">TMC</keyword> also supported the bill. Sulata Deo of the BJD, Subhas Chandra Bose Pilli of the YSRCP, Ravichandra Vaddiraju of the BRS and K Ravindra Kumar of the TDP also participated in the discussion. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/motorola-edge-40-neo-launched-in-india-specs-features-and-price/articleshow/103832280.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/motorola-edge-40-neo-launched-in-india-specs-features-and-price/articleshow/103832280.cms" target="_blank">Motorola Edge 40 Neo with with vegan leather back hits the Indian market</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/gadgets/news/amazfit-cheetah-series-smartwatches-with-ai-powered-running-coach-launched-in-india/articleshow/103836676.cms">A smartwatch in India now offers an AI-powered running coach</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/webstories/mohammed-siraj-leads-icc-odi-rankings-kohli-rohit-sharma-and-other-top-ranked-players/slidelist/103828281.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/webstories/mohammed-siraj-leads-icc-odi-rankings-kohli-rohit-sharma-and-other-top-ranked-players/slidelist/103828281.cms" target="_blank">Siraj climbs to No. 1 in ODI ranking ahead of WC: Here are the other Indians in the top-10</a>

Cutting across party lines, Rajya Sabha MPs support women's reservation bill

The ruling <keyword id="14666" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="bjp" source="Orion">BJP</keyword> was ahead of the <keyword id="1575" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="congress" source="Orion">Congress</keyword> in <keyword id="44522" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Uttarakhand" source="Orion">Uttarakhand</keyword> with its party candidates leading in 33 seats on Thursday, according to early trends available. According to data available on the Election Commission website at 10:20 AM am for 56 seats, the Congress was ahead in 18 seats, the BSP in two seats, the Uttarakhand Janekta party and independent in one each. Prominent candidates trailing in their respective seats include Congress veteran Harish Rawat, who was trailing behind Mohan Singh Bisht of the BJP by 2,713 votes in Lalkuan and Subodh Uniyal of the BJP trailing behind Om Gopal Rawat of the Congress in Narendra Nagar. Yashpal Arya, who had returned to the Congress from the BJP ahead of the polls, was also trailing behind BJP's Rajesh Kumar in Bajpur by 18587 votes. Pritam Singh of the Congress was leading in Chakrata by 1805 votes against Ramsharan Nautiyal of the BJP The polling was held in the state on February 14 with more than 65 per cent of the electorate casting their votes. The ruling BJP is seeking a second consecutive term in office this time, something which has never happened in the state's 21-year history. Routed in the 2017 assembly polls with a tally of 11 seats against the BJP's 57, the Congress is trying to stage a comeback. Prominent candidates who contested the polls are Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, his cabinet colleagues Satpal Maharaj, Bansidhar Bhagat, Subodh Uniyal, Arvind Pandey, Dhan Singh Rawat and Rekha Arya, besides state BJP president Madan Kaushik. Important Congress leaders whose fate will be decided include former chief minister Harish Rawat, former minister Yashpal Arya, state Congress president Ganesh Godiyal and Leader of Opposition in the fourth assembly Pritam Singh. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/punjab-chief-minister-charanjit-singh-channi-currently-leading-in-chamkaur-sahib-trailing-in-bhadaur/articleshow/90117150.cms">Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi currently leading in Chamkaur Sahib, trailing in Bhadaur</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/early-trends-bjp-leads-in-up-uttarakhand-manipur-aap-in-punjab-cong-in-goa/articleshow/90116215.cms">Early Trends: BJP leads in UP, Uttarakhand &amp; Manipur; AAP in Punjab; Cong in Goa</a>

Uttarakhand Elections 2022: BJP takes comfortable lead with 33 seats, according to early trends

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)'s <keyword id="101521" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bhagwant-mann" source="Orion">Bhagwant Mann</keyword>, who on Thursday won the Dhuri seat with a margin of 58,206 votes, is set to become Punjab's next chief minister. AAP is heading to a landslide win in the 117-member legislative Assembly by leading at over 90 seats. In his first public address in his home town Sangrur after winning the seat and seeing the meteoric rise of the party, Mann promised to fix unemployment as his first task in office. "No government office in the state will have the photo of the Punjab CM, but will carry a portrait of B.R. Ambedkar." Mann said he will take oath as the Chief Minister in Bhagat Singh's ancestral village Khatkar Kalan and not in Raj Bhawan. "We will ensure that the youth do not have to go abroad... Within a month, you will observe changes," he added. Taking a dig at the opposition leaders, he said, "The elder Badal has lost...Captain (Amarinder Singh) Sahab has also lost. Majithia is also losing. Channi has also lost from both seats." The AAP is leading in 91 of 117 seats in the Punjab Assembly, as per the Election Commission of India (ECI) website at 1.10 p.m. The Congress was leading in 17 seats so far. For the AAP that was banking on 'Hun ek mauka Kejriwal nu (now one chance to Kejriwal)' -- arguably one of the biggest advertisement blitz campaigns -- two-time MP, Mann, took the lead as the chief minister's face. In the 2017 Assembly elections, the AAP had made inroads among Jat Sikhs by emerging as the second largest party with 20 seats, 18 of them in the Malwa region. However, it failed to make a mark in Majha and Doaba regions. Mann held his fort despite Modi wave across the country in 2019 by retaining the Sangrur Lok Sabha seat for the second time in a row. "The fight is not to save some political families but to save Punjab, the farmers, the agriculture, the industry and the youth. Owing to lack of employment and better education infrastructure, our youth is moving abroad," was the common talk of Mann in his folksy style in his elections campaigns. Formerly a popular comedian-actor, Mann, known for his trademark 'basanti' turban, a colour associated with Shaheed Bhagat Singh, has had his fair share of controversies in recent years, especially linked to his drinking habit. In these polls, AAP's vote share is estimated to be close to 42.45 per cent compared to 22.9 per cent of the Congress and 17.9 per cent of the SAD. The meteoric rise of AAP in the 2014 Parliamentary polls and then in the 2017 Assembly elections in Punjab followed by its nosedive owing to 'mass exodus' of its legislators proved a litmus test for the party in the 2022 Assembly polls in the state. Political observers say AAP was seen as the alternative to the traditional parties that had dominated Punjab's electoral space for decades. Learning a harsh lesson from its mistake during the 2017 Assembly polls of not declaring a chief ministerial candidate, this time AAP's CM face Bhagwant Mann was locked in a multi-cornered contest with Congress' 'Aam Aadmi' Charanjit Singh Channi, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Badal, Capt Amarinder Singh, whose new party Punjab Lok Congress is in alliance with the BJP and the Samyukt Samaj Morcha, the fledgling coalition of farm unions. Channi, Sukhbir Badal and Captain Amarinder Singh faced humiliating defeat from their respective seats. In 2017, AAP sought vote in the name of Arvind Kejriwal, and despite him being tagged an outsider, it managed to win 20 seats in the 117-member Punjab Assembly, emerging as the principal opposition party, pushing SAD to the number three position. SEE ALSO <a class="tout-title-link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/hul-future-retail-dr-reddys-bharti-airtel-among-stocks-to-watch-out-for-on-march-10/slidelist/90114443.cms">HUL, Future Retail, Dr Reddy’s, Bharti Airtel among stocks to watch out for on March 10</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/early-trends-bjp-leads-in-up-uttarakhand-manipur-aap-in-punjab-cong-in-goa/articleshow/90116215.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Early Trends: BJP leads in UP, Uttarakhand &amp; Manipur; AAP in Punjab; Cong in Goa</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/india/news/uttarakhand-elections-2022-former-cm-harish-rawat-of-congress-leading-in-lal-kuan-seat/articleshow/90116045.cms">Uttarakhand elections 2022: Former CM Harish Rawat of Congress leading in Lal Kuan seat</a>

AAP's CM candidate Bhagwant Mann wins in Punjab election with whopping margin

<ul><li>A record 75,760 infections were added in a day taking the total <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword> caseload to 33,10,234. The death toll climbed to 60,472 with 1,023 fatalities being reported in 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am showed.</li><li>With a total of 25,23,771 patients having recuperated so far, the recovery rate was recorded at 76.24 per cent while the <keyword id="8763838" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="covid-19">COVID-19</keyword> case fatality rate has declined to 1.83 per cent.</li></ul>Registering over 75,000 COVID-19 cases for the first time in a span of 24 hours, India's virus tally sprinted past 33 lakh on Thursday, while the number of recoveries crossed the 25 lakh mark, according to the Union Health Ministry data. A record 75,760 infections were added in a day taking the total coronavirus caseload to 33,10,234. The death toll climbed to 60,472 with 1,023 fatalities being reported in 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am showed. With a total of 25,23,771 patients having recuperated so far, the recovery rate was recorded at 76.24 per cent while the COVID-19 case fatality rate has declined to 1.83 per cent. There are 7,25,991 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country which comprises 21.93 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated. India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7 and went past 30 lakh on August 23. According to the ICMR, a cumulative total of 3,85,76,510 samples have been tested up to August 26 with 9,24,998 samples being tested on Wednesday. Of the 1,023 fresh deaths, 295 are from Maharashtra, 133 from Karnataka, 118 from Tamil Nadu, 90 from Uttar Pradesh, 81 from Andhra Pradesh, 55 from West Bengal, 41 from Punjab, 19 from Jammu and Kashmir, 17 each from Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Gujarat, 15 from Jharkhand, 14 from Assam, 13 each from Odisha and Kerala, 12 from Rajasthan and 11 each from Bihar and Haryana. Ten fatalities have been reported from Chhattisgarh, eight each from Goa, Puducherry and Telangana, six from Uttarakhand, four from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, two each from Tripura and Himachal Pradesh while Chandigarh, Ladakh and Manipur have registered one fatality each. Of the total 60,472 deaths, Maharashtra has reported the maximum at 23,089 followed by 6,839 in Tamil Nadu, 5,091 in Karnataka, 4,347 in Delhi, 3,541 in Andhra Pradesh, 3,149 in Uttar Pradesh, 2,964 in West Bengal, 2,945 in Gujarat,and 1,282 in Madhya Pradesh. So far, 1,219 people have died of COVID-19 in Punjab, 992 in Rajasthan, 788 in Telangana, 657 in Jammu and Kashmir, 634 in Haryana, 530 in Bihar, 441 in Odisha, 362 in Jharkhand, 274 in Assam, 257 in Kerala and 219 in Uttarakhand. Chhattisgarh has registered 231 deaths, Puducherry 180, Goa 165, Tripura 85, Chandigarh and Andaman and Nicobar Islands 41 each, Himachal Pradesh 32, Ladakh and Manipur 25 each, Nagaland nine, Meghalaya eight, Arunachal Pradesh five, Sikkim three and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu two. The health ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities. "Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research," the ministry said on its website, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/education/news/all-you-need-to-know-about-neet-jee-2020-controversy/articleshow/77733682.cms">NEET-JEE 2020: Mamata Banerjee, Sonia Gandhi and other opposition leaders may approach the Supreme Court to challenge Centre’s decision</a>

India reports 75,760 COVID-19 cases in a day — highest single day spike yet

<ul><li>India has wasted 4.6 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine since the vaccine drive began to April 11. </li><li>Eight states, including Kerala, West Bengal and Goa, reported zero wastage.</li><li>Tamil Nadu, on the other hand, has the highest vaccine waste rate of 12% followed by Haryana at 9%.</li></ul><keyword id="10644234" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Vaccine-wastage">Vaccine wastage</keyword> is lower than it was in March, but it’s still happening at a time when doses are in short supply — and the number of cases across India are surging. India has wasted 4.6 million doses so far since the drive to vaccinate the population kicked off in January, according to data shared by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) in response to a Right to Information (RTI) query. 4.6 million doses are enough to inoculate half of Bangalore. In a smaller city like Chandigarh, those doses are enough to vaccinate every citizen four times over. The RTI filed by Vivek Pandey and reported by <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/coronavirus-huge-vaccine-wastage-by-states-till-april-11-most-in-tamil-nadu-rti-shows-2417643">NDTV</a> also reveals that the state with the highest wastage was Tamil Nadu, followed by Haryana. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Top 5 five Indian states with the highest vaccine wastage" comment="subhead" text="Top 5 five Indian states with the highest vaccine wastage">Top 5 five Indian states with the highest vaccine wastage</cmsannotation> <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; table-layout: fixed; width: 468pt;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">State </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Percentage of vaccine wastage </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Tamil Nadu </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">12% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Haryana </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">9.74% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Punjab </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">8.12% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Manipur </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">7.8% </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Telangana </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">7.55% </td></tr></tbody></table>Source: MoHFW’s response to Vivek Pandey’s RTI via NDTV The list looks very <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/telangana-and-andhra-pradesh-have-the-highest-covid-19-vaccine-wastage-in-india/articleshow/81551251.cms">different from a month ago</a>, when the states with the highest vaccine wastage were Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Jammu and Kashmir. At the time, vaccine wastage in Telangana was as high as 17.6% — higher than Tamil Nadu right now. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Kerala, West Bengal and six other states have no vaccine wastage whatsoever" comment="subhead" text="Kerala, West Bengal and six other states have no vaccine wastage whatsoever">Kerala, West Bengal and six other states have no vaccine wastage whatsoever</cmsannotation> Eight states were also on the opposite side of the scales. Kerala, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Goa, Daman and Diu, Andaman and Nicobar Islands as well as Lakshadweep had ‘zero wastage’. When there’s a vaccine shortage, it goes without saying that responsible use is key to ensuring that not a drop goes wasted. And the zero vaccine wastage rates in states like Kerala and West Bengal show that the task is not impossible. To boost the supply of vaccines in the market, the government has also <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/if-you-are-18-years-or-older-you-can-get-a-covid-19-vaccine-from-may-1/articleshow/82147121.cms">proposed</a> a 50/50 model. This where half of the supply of Covaxin and Covishield will go directly to the central government, whereas the other half will be available in the open market to private hospitals and state governments. International players are also free to join the fray with any ‘ready to use’ vaccines. The imports of these vaccines will go into the non-central government route of procurement. The <keyword id="95879" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Serum-Institute-of-India">Serum Institute of India</keyword> (SII) has <a href="https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/finance/india-to-fund-capacity-boost-at-serum-institute-as-covid-19-vaccines-run-short-source/82144992">reportedly</a> received an advance of ₹3,000 crore from the Indian government to scale up production. Bharat Biotech, which makes Covaxin, has received another ₹1,500 crore. According to Union Health secretary Rajesh Bhushan, the issue isn’t that there is a shortage of vaccines — despite what some states may claim — but the lack of better planning. “We have made available vaccine doses to states and union territories from time to time and as we told you earlier that to bigger states we give supply of four days at once and on fourth and fifth day we replenish the supply. For smaller states, at once we supply 7-8 days vaccine doses and on the seventh or eighth day their supply is replenished," explained Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, last week. 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4.6 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine were wasted in India — enough to vaccinate half of Bangalore

By Rajkumar Leishemba Imphal, May 4 () Several shops, including those of hardware, stationery, apparels, and book stores, reopened here in Manipur's capital on the first day of the third phase of lockdown with humble plastic ropes tied across entrances at many places serving as reminders of social distancing norms. With the state being in the green zone, many shopkeepers here are just happy to reopen after nearly two months of downing shutters, although several of them expressed concerns over supplies of stock in the near term and changed consumer behaviour in a world upended by the coronavirus pandemic in the long term. As for consumers, stepping out after a long period of confinement during the health crisis carries a mixed feeling -- of being able to buy items on shopping list for a while but unable to purchase due to the lockdown and the fear of COVID-19 hanging in the air. "We've not had too many customers so far. It's the first day of opening the shop since we shut it from March 22. Today has been more or less about cleaning and dusting the shop," Gurinder Singh owner of Blue Bell, one of the oldest apparel stores in the city, told . When asked how confident is he of customers coming back in large number after the health crisis blows over, Singh said,"Hopefully in the days to come people will start coming but then this is a problem not just in Manipur but the world over where it has changed so many things. Let's see what future holds." A couple of closed shops away, is Lady Queen which specialises in women's bags and shoes. Its owner Kh Bakim, till around noon has been waiting for the first customer to come after reopening the shop in the morning. "I am aware that customers won't come on the first day since we are not selling essential items. I have come more to do a check on the shop after a long time," he said, in the hope that in the next few days a sense of normalcy could prevail. Few steps ahead at the opposite end of the street at Thangal Bazar here, the entrance to Naman Electricals is blocked by a plastic rope tied across it. "This is for social distancing. We allow customers to enter the shop but this helps in keeping gap between them," the sales person said pointing to the rope. Appreciating the shop's action, N Rajesh who came to buy a part of water pump said,"Since this coronavirus has no medicine, we have to understand that social distancing is the best medicine so far. It is reassuring to see something like this in a shop as we have the fear of this disease on the back of mind while stepping out of home." PC Jain, one of the oldest book stores in the city, too has a plastic rope tied across its entrance for similar purpose. Its owner, Vikash Jain told a lady who came to buy a medical examination entrance test preparation book for her son to come after a week as it was not in stock. "This is the issue. At this point of time due to the lockdown I am not able to give an exact time frame to customers when the books that they want will be available due to transportation problems," he said. As such, he said,"Sales of general books have been on the decline due to the advent of online medium even before the lockdown. What we were mainly selling was academic books but as more schools and colleges are also conducting online classes during the lockdown, we do feel there is a question mark over the future of our business of running a book store." Sharing concerns over supplies, a salesman at KDS Agency, a hardware and electronics store located at Sangakhpam in the outskirts of the city, said,"What we are selling from today is the old stocks that we had before the lockdown. We really don't know how supplies will be when we run out of stocks." Similarly, a sales executive at Mi4, a modern retail outlet dealing with grocery and household items said,"Earlier stocks were sent by the distributor to our store but during the lockdown we have to go ourself to pick up. Supply of items has been an issue." RKL RKL SHW ANUANU

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