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Congress accuses SSI and Bharat Biotech of profiteering from corona vaccine production

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The Commune
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Congress

After doubting the efficacy of the indigenously developed Bharat Biotech Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin, the Indian National Congress is now attacking the vaccine makers Serum Institute of India (SII) and Bharat Biotech, accusing them of profiteering. 

The Congress party has said that both these companies will amass profits as large as ₹1,11,100 crore because of the Government’s modified vaccination policy, reports Hindu Businessline.

Already, Rahul Gandhi has given many serious statements undermining India’s self-reliance, or ‘Atmanirbharta’, when it comes to vaccine production and development.  

The second Covid-19 wave has hit hard on the states led by the Congress government. Now, the Health Ministers from Congress-ruled stated in Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Jharkhand have also accused the vaccine makers. They accused the companies of pushing their own vaccination policy to suit profiteering by the two companies which are producing Covishield and Covaxin COVID-19 vaccines.

Congress party general secretary in-charge of media, Randeep Singh Surjewala has made allegations of profiteering against the two companies by asserting that the Adar Poonawalla-led SII will make a profit of ₹35,350 crore, whilethe Dr. Krishna Ella led Bharat Biotech will be as much as ₹75,750 crore.

Former Union Minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram, who himself is accused of scams, also said that there is a “body of opinion” that the two companies could also make a small profit by pricing their vaccines at ₹150 per dose and that if the same is true, then the two companies will be “profiteering by pricing their vaccines at ₹400-₹1,000 range”.

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Angry Muslim man slits throat of Hindu woman for refusing to marry him

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The Commune
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Muslim man Hindu woman
Featured Image: Police briefing the media after the accused were arrested. Credits: Dainik Jagran

Police in Uttarakhand have arrested three Muslim men in connection with the murder of a Hindu woman. According to the police, the woman had refused to marry one of the accused, who had professed his love for her. Faced with her rejection, the accused killed the woman in her own house.

The victim has been identified as Nidhi alias Hansi, a BBA student, who was residing in Roorkee, Uttarakhand. The accused have been identified as Haidar Ali, Aaris alias Rihan and Shariq.

The arrests come after Dinesh, the victim’s brother, filed a complaint with the police.

According to the police, the three accused had gone to Nidhi’s house on their motorcycles on Saturday. The accused knew that she would be alone at the house at that time. When Nidhi opened the door, the three beat her. The accused then proceeded to slit her throat and kill her. Police say that the murder was premeditated and that the accused had gone to the victim’s house with the intention of killing her.

Hearing her screams, neighbours rushed out of their houses and reached Nidhi’s home. However, the deed had already been done. At the spot, they apprehended Haidar Ali while the other two fled the scene of the crime.

Haidar gave up the names of his accomplices after interrogation by the police. The two absconding accused were arrested by police on Sunday.

Haidar had known Nidhi for the past three years, police said. He had returned from Dubai only last December. He had then tried to get in touch with Nidhi. However, she refused to meet him and rejected his advances. Angered over her rejection, Haidar killed her in broad daylight in her own house.

Last year, on October 26 in a similar case, 21-year old college girl Nikita Tomar was shot dead in broad daylight in Faridabad, near Delhi. The accused was one Taufeeq, who killed her for refusing to marry him.

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UP: Those who horde critical medical supply and spread false rumours will be charged under the NSA Act

By
The Commune
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Yogi Adityanath UP

As more and more people are falling sick due to the second Covid wave, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has issued an instruction to authorities to seize the properties of those spreading rumours and propaganda The Hindu has reported.

As per the new directive, action will be taken against those who spread false rumours and the accused will be charged under the stringent National Security Act (NSA).

Also, for those who are involved in the black marketing of medicines, the NSA laws will be applied to them. So far the UP government has arrested 42 persons and recovered 239 oxygen cylinders and 688 vials of Remdesivir.

The UP CM who was interacting with journalists said that a few ago a private hospital had reported a shortage of oxygen which turned out to be a false claim leading to panic among people.

“Due to such people, fear is increasing among the public. Even those who don’t need it, are worried about oxygen cylinders”, Yogi said.

Yogi also assured the people of Utter Pradesh that there is a sufficient supply of medical oxygen in the state; however, black marketers and hoarders are disturbing the supply along with certain elements who are indulging in rumour mongering and repeatedly pasting the same messages.

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Idol from Muniyappan temple immolated using petrol by mysterious men

By
The Commune
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An incident where the temple idol of the Muniyappan temple was set on fire by unidentified persons in Pennagaram has caused a great stir in the area. Police are searching the web for the unidentified person who set fire to the statue.

Belamalai Muniyappan Temple is located in the Pennagaram area of ​​the Dharmapuri district. Various people from the surrounding area visit this temple regularly. A few days ago, unidentified persons poured petrol to the statue of the deity Pelamalai Muniyappan and set it on fire.

Devotees who came to the temple the next day were shocked to see that the Muniyappan idol had been desecrated. The Hogenakkal police station was immediately informed of the incident. Police rushed to the spot and are investigating the public in the area. The public in the area said that the temple was not properly lit at night and that unidentified persons who used it had come here and set fire to the temple idol.

They have demanded that adequate security be provided for the Belamalai Muniyappan temple and also pressed for punishing the culprits soon.

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Amma Unavagam lends helping hand to destitute during lockdown

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The Commune
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The Tamil Nadu government has imposed new lockdown rules in view of the surge in cases of COVID19. With ‘complete lockdown’ on Sundays even roadside restaurants, tea shops and petty shops were closed with only parcels being delivered only to those who had booked through apps. Earlier, the Amma Unavagams dotting the state had greatly helped the helpless, poor and simple people to get their meals.

In Trichy, Amma Restaurants are operating at 11 locations including Srirangam Amma Mandapam Road, Srirangam Government Hospital Complex, John Bazaar, EP Road, Marakkadai Kuppankulam, Ariyamangalam Jehanathapuram, Kalkandarkottai, Junction Rockins Road, Tennur Anna Nagar Farmers Market, Puthur Evera Road, Uraiyur Road. .

Amma Unavagam serve three meals a day – breakfast, lunch and dinner at subsidized rates. They have been helpful for travellers, migrant workers, poor and other daily wage labourers.

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Ramjanmabhoomi Trust to build oxygen manufacturing facility for COVID patients

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The Commune
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Ram Mandir Ayodhya construction temple chariot

Funds have been allocated for the construction of two oxygen plants on behalf of the Sri Rama Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra.

The body said on its Twitter page that it was planning to set up two oxygen plants at a cost of ₹55 lakh to help corona patients as the second wave of corona spreads rapidly in India.

Earlier, a high-level committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that the country should increase production to a level where there is no shortage of oxygen. He also directed the authorities to ensure an uninterrupted supply of oxygen to various states. The oxygen shortage crisis came after several Delhi hospitals complained about the lack of oxygen to treat corona patients.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has ordered all states not to impose any restrictions on the movement of medical oxygen between states in the event of a shortage. It is also noteworthy that the Ministry of Home Affairs has ordered that no oxygen manufacturer or supplier should be compelled to supply oxygen only to the state hospitals where they are located.

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US forced to reverse its strategic blunder of stopping crucial raw material to manufacture vaccine to India

By
The Commune
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In a major turn of events, the United States has said it will “immediately” make available sources of raw materials required to scale up production of the Covishield coronavirus vaccine.

President Joe Biden’s administration had earlier made it very clear that its priorities are to ensure America first and had denied the crucial raw material to India which is facing a massive second wave infection of Covid-19.

However, this change of heart was due to mounting pressure on the US as other nations such as France, Great Briton, Saudi Arabia, and the European Union had extended help to India. Following this, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan speaking to his Indian counterpart, Ajit Doval, on Sunday (25 April) said his country had “identified supplies of therapeutics, rapid diagnostic test kits, ventilators and PPE suits that will (also) be made immediately available to India”.

President Joe Biden tweeted that US is “determined” to help India in its “time of need”.

The US is also “pursuing options to provide oxygen and related supplies on an urgent basis” to help India overcome a shortage that has endangered the lives of thousands of both Covid-positive patients and those fighting other diseases.

“Just as India sent assistance to the United States as our hospitals were strained early in the pandemic, the United States is determined to help India in its time of need,” the US said.

Richard Haass, President, Council on Foreign Relations, which is an important think-tank in in tweet said, “The US vaccine export ban fails on humanitarian, economic, health, & strategic grounds. The problem in USA is too little demand whereas elsewhere it is too little supply. This counter-productive case of America first-ism needs to go as we help ourselves if we help others”.

 

America which has always prided itself for its humanitarian outreach programs stood exposed as it sat on surplus stockpile of some 30 million doses – of the AstraZeneca-Oxford University drug that the Serum Institute makes in India as Covishield.

It all started when Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the Serum Institute of India in an impassioned tweet asked President Joe Biden to lift an embargo on the export of raw materials to make the vaccine.

However, the fact is that in February the “short-term embargo” on exporting crucial raw material to India to manufacture the vaccine was done at the behest of US pharma giant Pfizer which is eyeing to sell its Covid vaccine in India, the world’s worst-affected country and also the biggest market.

It must also be noted that German Chancellor Angela Merkel had called India has become “too big” of a pharmaceutical producer and that it is now just focused on redirecting its vaccine manufacturing powers to cope with rising infections.

From May 1, India has opened vaccination to everyone over 18 – including 101 crore people in the 18-44 group.

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UK sends medical devices like ventilators and oxygen concentrators to India

By
The Commune
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UK India oxygen
Featured Image: Health workers wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) carry a patient suffering
from the coronavirus disease. Credits: REUTERS

As India battles a severe second wave of coronavirus pandemic, the UK on Sunday announced that it will send life-saving medical equipment including ventilators and oxygen concentrator devices to the country.

The UK High Commission in Delhi said that more than 600 pieces of vital medical equipment will be sent to India to support the country in its fight against COVID-19. It said ventilators and oxygen concentrator devices are due to leave the UK on Sunday and the first shipment is expected to arrive in Delhi early on Tuesday with further consignments reaching later this week.

“We stand side by side with India as a friend and partner during what is a deeply concerning time in the fight against COVID-19,” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said.

“Vital medical equipment, including hundreds of oxygen concentrators and ventilators, is now on its way from the UK to India to support efforts to prevent the tragic loss of life from this terrible virus,” the high commission quoted him as saying.

The high commission said the support follows a request from India and Prime Minister Johnson’s pledge for the UK to do all it can to help the country.

“In total, nine airline container loads of supplies, including 495 oxygen concentrators, 120 non-invasive ventilators and 20 manual ventilators, will be sent to the country this week,” the high commission added.

It said the equipment will be crucial in helping to save the lives of the most vulnerable in India.

“The oxygen concentrators, for example, can extract oxygen from the air in the atmosphere so that it can be provided to patients, taking the strain off hospital oxygen systems and allowing oxygen to be provided in situations where hospital oxygen supplies have run out,” it said.

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US considering virus aid to India, says Biden’s top medical advisor Fauci

By
The Commune
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Anthony Fauci

The Biden administration’s top medical adviser on the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr. Anthony Fauci on Sunday said that the US is actively looking at ways to boost aid to India as it grapples with the surging coronavirus cases.

Dr.Fauci told ABC’s “This Week” show that several measures were being considered, including sending over oxygen supplies, COVID-19 test kits, drug treatments and personal protective equipment.

The outbreak in India adds to the pressure on US President Joe Biden to provide vaccines and aid to other countries. Biden has said that the US won’t begin doing so until it has enough supplies at home.

Fauci said Sunday that the US would review how to help increase India”s vaccine supply, such as by sending them doses or helping them “to essentially make vaccines themselves.”

He said, “Bottom line, it’s a terrible situation that’s going on in India and other lower middle-income countries, and there is more we can do.”

Earlier, Serum Institute of  India (SII) CEO Adar Poonawalla had taken to Twitter on April 16 and requested United States President Joe Biden to lift the embargo of raw material exports from the US. Appealing to POTUS on behalf of the vaccine industry apart from the US, Poonawalla had said that by lifting the embargo, the vaccine production amid the COVID-19 pandemic could be “ramp[ed] up”. The SII CEO had also said that the Biden administration already has the details required to make the move which can contribute to better the situation amid the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic which has rocked several nations, months after it first began.

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Putting into context the rise of the BJP in Kerala

By
The Commune
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Kerala BJP

May 2, the counting day for the polls to the legislative assemblies of Kerala, West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, is around the corner. Among these states, the results of the Kerala polls will be a good indicator of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) success – or lack thereof – in the southern part of India. While Hindutva politics has long resonated with the people of Karnataka, the saffron party’s rhetoric has not translated into electoral victories in the other states south of the Godavari, where regional and Communist parties have ruled the roost for decades, other than the Congress of course.

Pushing through in a tough political landscape as Kerala is not easy, but the BJP is well on its way to do so. While the party has won only one Assembly seat in the state in the past, one little-observed event tells us that the BJP is making headway in Kerala.

In a referendum at the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) held a few months ago, the BJP-affiliated Bharat Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) won enough votes to get recognised for the first time.

Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) connected with the Communist Party of India – Marxist (CPM), lost about ten per cent of its vote share but still managed to retain its decades-old influence. The Congress-affiliated Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) too retained its second spot.

The referendum presents the CPM with a sore question. The CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) has always maintained that there isn’t an anti-incumbency factor in Kerala. But how else would one explain the fact that employees of Kerala’s largest public sector undertaking voted against the incumbent party? It was clear from the referendum that the BMS had eaten into the vote share of the CITU.

In the 2016 Kerala state polls, the BJP had vexed the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) the same way. Of the seven constituencies, where the BJP finished as a runner-up, only four of those seats were won by the UDF while the LDF won the remaining three. In other seats where the BJP significantly increased its vote share, the UDF had lost. Constituencies where the BJP had earlier only garnered 5,000-10,000 votes were now awarding the BJP with 10,000-15,000 votes. These votes going to the BJP were the UDF’s loss.

This phenomenon is repeating this time around as well. However, it is not only the UDF but the LDF as well that is losing votes, as viewed in the context of the recent KSRTC referendum.

Signs pointing to this trend were also visible in the 2020 local body elections in Kerala, where the BJP made substantial advances. In the Kodungallur municipality, the BJP secured 20 wards and the CPM only 11. In Mavelikkara municipality, both parties scored the same number of seats. The BJP also made significant inroads into the LDF bastions of Kilimanur and Attingal in Thiruvananthapuram district.

The LDF is confronted with the uncomfortable truth that its support base has eroded in favour of the BJP.

With the 15 assembly constituencies where the BJP won at least 25 per cent of the votes in 2016 and ten of the forty potential swing constituencies where the party has found favour with the voters, there is a strong case for the BJP wielding a decisive influence in the next Kerala assembly.

This will inevitably show when the results are announced on May 2.

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TheCommune
The Commune is a news and views portal focusing on social and political issues of the southern part of India with a focus on Tamil Nadu.
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