I dared to ask Modi tough questions, says Siddiqui

July 30, 2012

Siddique

New Delhi, July 30: A day after the Samajwadi Party disowned him for his interview of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Shahid Siddiqui, Editor of Urdu weekly Nai Duniya, hit back on Sunday, saying the party had shot the messenger.

Defending his decision to interview Mr. Modi, Mr. Siddiqui said he asked the Chief Minister tough questions on his role in the 2002 riots, which none had done so far. “I asked questions which nobody poses to Mr. Modi. People are scared even to see him in the eyes, but I asked him tough questions. So there is no question of my favouring anyone.”

“They have shot the messenger. They are suffering from guilt as they have inducted into the party people like Kalyan Singh and Sakshi Maharaj, who were responsible for the demolition of the Babri Mosque, and still there are such elements there,” Mr. Siddiqui told PTI.

Terming a “white lie” the party’s claim that he was not its member, Mr. Siddiqui, a former Rajya Sabha member, said he was re-inducted into the party by [president] Mulayam Singh Yadav in January and made its spokesperson. “They are telling white lies about my not being a party member. This year, on January 6, Mulayam Singh introduced me to the media as party spokesperson.”

Asked about his future course of action, he said political outfits were “family affairs and have no respect for the freedom of speech, and that is why I will stay away from party politics and continue to write and speak for a secular India.”

Mr. Siddiqui alleged that ever since the SP came back to power in Uttar Pradesh, it had done nothing for Muslims, “and by portraying me as pro-Modi, it is trying to win back the support of the community” to strengthen its vote-bank.


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News Network
April 25,2020

New Delhi, Apr 25: With 1,429 more COVID-19 cases reported in the last 24 hours, India's count of coronavirus cases has reached 24,506, said Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Friday.

Out of these, 18,668 patients are active cases and 5063 cases have been cured, discharged, or migrated.

The death toll stands at 775, with as many as 57 deaths reported in the last 24 hours.

According to the morning update by the ministry, Maharashtra continues to be the worst-hit State with 6,817 cases of which 840 patients have recovered and 301 patients have died.

Gujarat now stands in the second spot with 2,815 cases, of which 265 have recovered and 127 people have died. Meanwhile, Delhi's count stands at 2,514 of which 857 patients have recovered, while 53 patients have lost their lives.

Tamil Nadu's COVID-19 figure stands at 1,755 with 866 patients recovered and 22 fatalities. Rajasthan has reported 2,034 cases of which 230 have recovered and 27 patients are dead.

Madhya Pradesh has reported 1,852 positive cases so far of which 210 patients have recovered and 92 patients have lost their lives due to the virus. In Uttar Pradesh, as many as 1,621 people have confirmed COVID-19, of which 247 recovered and 25 people have succumbed to it.

In Kerala, which reported the country's first COVID-19 case, 450 people have been detected positive for coronavirus.

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News Network
June 15,2020

New Delhi, Jun 15: Two officials working with the Indian High Commission in Islamabad have reportedly gone missing, sources said.

The two officials are untraceable for the last few hours.

Recently news agency reported on how Pakistan 's spy agency ISI has been tailing and harassing Indian officials and also increased their presence at the residence of Acting High Commissioner Gaurav Ahluwalia.

This incident came in the backdrop when two Pakistani officials were caught red-handed and sent back trying to collect classified information and spying in Delhi.

South block is watching the developments closely, the Indian mission has also launched a complaint with local authorities and taken up the matter Pakistan Foreign Ministry.

This incident can cause a further dip in the already tense India-Pakistan relations.

Earlier in the month, India deported two Pakistani officials for espionage activities in India.

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News Network
March 28,2020

Mumbai, Mar 28: Doctors in Mumbai have not been spared by the novel coronavirus. As Mumbai’s count for Covid-19 cases went up to 58, an octogenarian doctor from Saifee Hospital passed away on Friday. He was a suspected case of coronavirus with co-morbid conditions like diabetes and had a pacemaker implanted, said a press release from the state health department.

As per a statement from Saifee Hospital, he underwent a CT scan at Saifee Hospital and was diagnosed positive for Covid-19. The surgeon was transferred to the special isolation facility at PD Hinduja Hospital where he subsequently died. Behranwala’s close relatives had come down from England and were under quarantine.

In a statement, Saifee Hospital, where Behranwala underwent CT scan, said, "All containment and surveillance measures have been implemented to ensure the safety of our staff patients and visitors. Saifee Hospital reiterates that the Hospital is fully operational," said Dr Vernon Desa, Director (Medical governance and clinical compliance) Saifee Hospital.

In the second case, an Andheri-based doctor, aged 53, has been tested positive along with his 43-year-old wife and 20-year-old daughter. The family doesn’t have a travel history. The doctor reportedly came in contact with the virus through a patient. MCGM has taken samples of 60 patients who came in contact with the doctor. "As of now, no patient from his contact has tested positive," Assistant Commissioner, Vishwas Mote.

Another doctor who practiced at Vakola tested positive after he came in contact with a person having travel history to Italy, later tested positive. The doctor has been admitted at Raheja hospital and samples of his close contact have been taken.

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