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Google, Microsoft donates several crores towards COVID relief to India

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The Commune
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Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai has announced a relief of  ₹135 crores from Google to India to combat the damage caused by COVID-19. Tweeting about this, he said that this will be given to UNICEF and GiveIndia for mobilizing medical supplies and rations to communities worst affected by the pandemic. He went on to attach a blog link that essayed how Google will help India get back on its feet post the pandemic.

Similarly, Microsoft’s Satya Nadella also voiced his support for India. “I am heartbroken by the current situation in India. I’m grateful the U.S. government is mobilizing to help. Microsoft will continue to use its voice, resources, and technology to aid relief efforts, and support the purchase of critical oxygen concentration devices,” Mr Nadella said in a tweet this morning.

Notably, a majority of Google’s donation is set to go towards public advertising of awareness schemes that the government has been carrying out, other than that which has been given to GiveIndia and UNICEF.

Social media has played a huge role as the second wave is raging throughout the country and people have been consistently sharing stories and messages seeking help in the form of blood donations, oxygen cylinders, hospital admissions, oxygen supplies, medicines, contacts at hospitals, information about the availability of beds, home care, ambulances and food deliveries.

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Muslim man abducts and rapes 12-year old Hindu girl in Pakistan

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The Commune
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Pakistan Hindu

In yet another instance of the brutal persecution of Hindus in Pakistan, a minor Hindu girl was abducted and raped by a 60-year-old Muslim man.

The victim has been identified as 12-year old Rekha, daughter of Roopo Kolhi of Khipro, Sanghar in Pakistan’s Sindh province. Her abductor is allegedly Muhammad Hanif Bozdar, a 60-year old who is already married and has three children.

According to reports, Rekha has already been forcefully been converted to Islam and has married her abductor. Rekha, born in 2009, was studying in class 6 before her abduction.

Pakistani human rights activist Rahat Austin, who is currently on a self-imposed exile in South Korea, points out that the rape of non-Muslim women is “considered a religious obligation” in Pakistan’s society and is carried out with impunity, with no fear of punishment and backlash.

https://twitter.com/johnaustin47/status/1385536417896419332

The abduction, rape, forced conversion and marriage of minor Hindu girls is a frequent occurrence in Muslim-majority Pakistan. Reports show that on average, three non-Muslim girls are abducted in the country everyday. Only a tiny fraction of such cases even get reported. As victims’ families are typically poor and exploited, they often lack the wherewithal and the resources to file a police complaint in Pakistan’s deeply feudal and fanatical society.

In the odd instance when the police and authorities do acknowledge the crime, a set template follows: girls are quickly whisked away to Islamic seminaries like the Sufi Bharchundi dargah run by the notorious Mian Mithoo or to Punjab province (where age of marriage is 16); the terrified girl is made to sign conversion and marriage papers and a court affidavit stating she is acting of her own will; sometimes courts may send the girl to a shelter home, but even there she is not allowed to meet her family and is threatened with dire consequences for herself and her family by abductors; on the day of recording her statement in front of the judge, she is accompanied by gun-toting militias while her parents are kept away.

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Agra hospital accuses tehsildar of obstructing oxygen supplies

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The Commune
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Agra

A private hospital in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, on Monday asked permission from authorities to shut down its COVID-19 treatment facility, accusing a tehsildar of obstructing the supply of oxygen cylinders.

In a letter to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Chauhan Hospital and Eye Care alleged that Tehsildar Preeti Jain had seized 15 of the 30 oxygen-filled cylinders from their facilities and accused her of causing severe hindrances in the day-to-day supply of oxygen required for the hospital.

Relating to this allegation on the tehsildar by the Agra hospital, a video has also surfaced on social media, in which the tehsildar can be seen preventing citizens from directly picking up oxygen cylinders from a plant in the Tedi Bagia area.

“I, along with my family members, touched her feet many times and requested to let us go, but our requests were not heard and we were asked to leave the spot,” said Mohan Verma, a relative of a patient, accusing Preeti Jain of being high-handed in her dealings with the public.

When contacted, Jain said that she was “trying to prevent any panic among the public and avoid damage to the oxygen plant facility”.

“I was asking family members of patients to wait outside the oxygen plant and then they would be given a cylinder. But they did not listen to me and entered the oxygen plant premises,” she said.

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KKR star fast bowler Pat Cummins contributes fifty thousand dollars to PM cares fund

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The Commune
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In a very humane gesture, Australian cricketer, and of the best fast bowlers, Pat Cummins has contributed $50,000 to PM Cares Fund. In a tweet sent out by Cummins from his official handle, he said, “India is a country I have come to love dearly over the years and people here are some of the warmest and kindest I have ever met.”

“As players, we are privileged to have a platform that allows us to reach millions of people that we can use for good. With that in mind, I have made a contribution to the “PM Cares Fund”, specifically to purchase oxygen supplies for India’s hospitals,” said Cummins. “I encourage my fellow IPL players — and anyone else around the world who has been touched by India’s passion and generosity — to contribute. I will kick off with $50,000,” he further said. Cummins, however, said in a statement he posted on Twitter that he has been told that the Indian government “is of the view that playing the IPL while the population is in lockdown provides few hours of joy and respite each day at an otherwise difficult time for the country”.

“As players, we are privileged to have a platform that allows us to reach millions of people that we can use for good. With that in mind, I have made a contribution to the “PM Cares Fund”, specifically to purchase oxygen supplies for India’s hospitals,” said Cummins.

“I encourage my fellow IPL players — and anyone else around the world who has been touched by India’s passion and generosity — to contribute. I will kick off with $50,000,” he further said.

The money given by Cummins is “specifically to purchase oxygen supplies for India’s hospitals”. Cummins is one of the biggest stars in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

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EC ‘singularly responsible’ for second COVID-19 wave in India, says Madras High Court

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The Commune
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Madras HC increased security in court campus after country bombs were exchanged among suspects in the Armstrong murder case. Christian shrine

The Madras High Court on Monday came down hard on the Election Commission (EC) and said that the EC was ‘singularly responsible’ for the second wave of COVID-19 in India. The HC bench further remarked that its officers should probably be booked for murder.

The first bench of Chief Justice Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy made the observation on a public interest writ, seeking for a direction to authorities to ensure fair counting of votes on May 2 in Karur by taking effective steps and proper arrangements with COVID-19 protocols.

Since as many as 77 candidates are contesting in the Karur constituency, it would be very difficult to accommodate their agents in the counting hall. It may affect observance of the protocols, the petitioner alleged.

When the counsel for the EC told the judges that all necessary steps were underway, the bench retorted that by allowing the political parties to take out rallies and meetings, it had paved the way for the resurgence of the second wave of COVID-19, as per PTI.

“Your institution is singularly responsible for the second wave of COVID-19. Your officers should be booked on murder charges probably,” the Madras High Court told the Election Commission, as per Live Law.

The court said that the EC allowing political parties to take out rallies and meetings had led to the spread of the pandemic.

“Were you on another planet when the election rallies were held?”, Chief Justice Banerjee asked, as per Live Law.

The court further warned it would not hesitate to stop the counting of votes on 2 May unless the EC put in place a plan to ensure COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions are followed.

“You have been singularly lacking any kind of exercise of authority. You have not taken measures against political parties holding rallies despite every order of this court saying ‘maintain COVID protocol, maintain COVID protocol’,” the court said, as per Indian Express.

“The situation now is of survival and protection. Everything else comes next”, said Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee.

“Public health is paramount. Distressing that constitutional authorities ought to be reminded. It is only when a citizen survives that he’ll be able to enjoy the rights that a democratic republic guarantees,” the court said, as per NDTV.

India has been struggling to contain the second wave of the coronavirus, with daily cases not only surpassing the 2020 highs, but more than tripling. Across the country, bodies have been piling up in crematoriums and long queues of ambulances seen outside hospitals.

The impact of the pandemic is being felt in the metro cities as well as in smaller towns — with shortages of beds, life-saving drugs and oxygen supplies being reported all over the country.

The high court also observed that the Commission had failed to enforce COVID-19 protocols regarding wearing of facemasks, use of sanitisers and social distancing during the election campaign despite court orders. The case will be heard next on 30 April.

This comes just days after the Calcutta High Court expressed dissatisfaction with the Election Commission of India over enforcement of COVID-19 health safety norms during the ongoing West Bengal Assembly election polls, including campaigning, as per PTI.

In Bengal, where coronavirus cases are exploding and Assembly polls are being held in multiple phases, the EC on 22 April finally banned all roadshows, padayatras and rallies while restricting attendance in public meetings to a maximum of 500 people.

Though no other state has seen as exponential a rise in cases as Bengal, the COVID-19 situation is equally worrying in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam as well as the Union Territory of Puducherry — all of which have seen a spike in cases following campaigning for the Assembly polls.

In Tamil Nadu, the daily cases have jumped from 502 on 1 March to 15,659 on 26 April.

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Drawing teacher in Karnataka makes eco-friendly mask from coconut shell

By
The Commune
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coconut shell mask

At a time when it has been made mandatory by the state machinery for everyone to wear masks in a public area, people have come up with creative ideas for new and fashionable masks to be worn in public. We have heard of masks which match the clothes worn, masks made of jewellery, and masks designed to satiate the style statement of the wearers.

Now, a multi-talented artist has come out with a mask that has been made by using naturally available raw material that also is very strong. Masks made from coconut shells, which have been made on an experimental basis, have attracted the attention of the masses.

Dhananjaya, a painter from Markanja in Sullia taluk of Karnataka’s Dakshina Kannada district, let his imagination run wild and envisioned something unique. By making use of his talent in art, he has shown that it is possible to store the coconut shells in different forms and make masks out of them.

Dhananjaya is a drawing teacher in Vidyarashmi school, Savanur. Using a hacksaw blade, he has carved minute lines and holes in the shell to allow air to move in and out. This is a very delicate work, and Dhananjaya has succeeded in it. He has also brought down the weight of the shell, giving it a beautiful shape by carving it so finely that it snugly fits the face.

As these coconut shells are easily biodegradable, the eco-friendly masks also tackles the concerns that are expressed about the likely damage the piles of used masks might have on the environment.

Dhananjaya says that coconut shell is something that is of immense use for various purposes. He says he has the hobby of crafting different artefacts with coconut shells. He said he has prepared coconut shell mask by putting in a day’s work, which can be used conveniently.

He has already made bangles, pen stand, mobile stand, vermillion box, stand for candles, box to preserve letters, fish shaped art form, pickle container, spoon, jewellery box, finger ring etc. using coconut shells. Through his imagination, he has opened up immense possibilities for the uses of the humble coconut shell.

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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

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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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