JD(U) upset over big role for Modi

January 29, 2013

modiNew Delhi, Jan 29: The Janata Dal (U) is upset over the possibility of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) giving Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi a crucial role in national politics.

JD(U) leaders, however, have taken a cautious approach to developments in the BJP including Modi’s meeting with BJP chief Rajnath Singh and the statement of former finance minister Yashwant Sinha supporting Modi as the prime ministerial candidate.

Earlier in the day, Sinha pitched for Modi as the party’s prime ministerial candidate, claiming this will have a huge electoral benefit.

“A debate has been taking place for many days now. When I travel, there is a strong demand from common people and workers that Narendra Modi should be declared as the PM candidate as this will benefit the party.

After careful thought, I have concluded that if BJP declares Modi as its PM candidate, then BJP will benefit hugely in the elections. It will have a big impact on voters. I have no doubt on this,” he said.

“This is not an official reaction of the BJP. This man (Yashwant) himself wanted to be a BJP prime ministerial candidate till last year. Hence, we need not react to such individual comments... there is no need to reiterate our stand every now and then,” said Shivanand Tiwary, JD(U) Rajya Sabha member and party’s national spokesman.

On Sinha’s statement that those who want to leave the NDA can do so, Tiwary said Sinha is not their “adviser”.

“We have not appointed Yashwant as our adviser who will give us unnecessary suggestions about what to do and what not to do.”

But, it has become clear that the recent developments have sparked off a serious debate in the JD(U) for options, if it decides to leave the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Party sources claim that JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had anticipated that Modi would eventually be projected as the most important leader of BJP in 2014 elections. “That is why Nitish Kumar has, of late, abandoned condemning the Congress and the UPA government. After all, we do not have many choices,” a senior party leader told Deccan Herald.

Indications of Nitish going soft towards the Congress also came in during the last meeting of National Development Council when he chose not to attack the UPA government.

There are other indications too. Senior party leader Shivanand Tiwari recently attacked the RSS chief by equating him with Akbaruddin Owaisi.

Party sources said Congress is also reciprocating. They say that a liberal economic package from the Planning Commission for Bihar is in the offing.

“We know that he (Modi) will be at the helm of affairs during 2014 elections even if he is not declared a prime ministerial candidate.

Former finance minister Yashwant Sinha’s view on declaring Modi as the PM?candidate is not an isolated one. So, we will have to look for other options,” said another party functionary.

“BJP cadres across the country are in favour of projecting Modi. The leadership cannot ignore it,” said the JD(U) functionary.

According to party sources, JD(U) chief and NDA convener Sharad Yadav is also not ready to make any compromise on Modi despite the fact that Yadav wants the alliance to continue.

The most important task before JD(U), however, would be to save its coalition government in Bihar which stands on the support of BJP. So, it may, at least for now, avoid any confrontation.

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March 31,2020

New Delhi, Mar 31: India is likely to blacklist about 300 foreigners who came from 16 countries, including Malaysia and Thailand, on tourist visas but attended an Islamic congregation at Nizamuddin here that has become a key source for the spread of coronavirus in the country, officials said on Tuesday.

These foreigners were among around 8,000 people who attended the Tabligh-e-Jamaat at Nizamuddin Markaz facility in March, many of whom have shown symptoms of COVID-19, a Union Home Ministry officlal said.

About 30 of those who attended the Nizamuddin event in mid-March tested positive and at least three have succumbed to the infection in last few days.

"Those who came on tourist visa but attended the Nizamuddin event stands being in our blacklist as they have violated the visa conditions. Tourist visa holders can't attend religious function," a Union Home ministry official said.

If a foreigner is put in the Home ministry's blacklist, he or she can't travel to India in future.

A total of 281 foreigners were found by the police at the Nizamuddin campus in the last two days.

They include 19 people from Nepal, 20 people from Malaysia, one from Afghanistan, 33 from Myanmar, one from Algeria, one from Djibouti, 28 from Kyrgystan, 72 from Indonesia, 7 from Thailand, 34 from Sri Lanka, 19 from Bangladesh, three from England, one from Singapore, four from Fiji, one from France and one from Kuwait.

Most of these foreigners came on a tourist visa, an official said.

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News Network
March 16,2020

Mar 16: A fourth batch of 53 Indians returned to India from Iran on Monday, taking the total number of people evacuated from the coronavirus-hit country to 389.

This comes a day after over 230 Indians were brought back from Iran to New Delhi and quarantined at the Indian Army Wellness Centre in Jaisalmer, the third batch to be evacuated from that country.

"Fourth batch of 53 Indians - 52 students and a teacher - has arrived from Tehran and Shiraz, Iran. With this, a total of 389 Indians have returned to India from Iran. Thank the efforts of the team @India_in_Iran and Iranian authorities," Jaishankar tweeted.

The Indians came in a Mahan Air flight that landed at the Delhi airport at around 3 am, officials said, adding that they were later taken to Jaisalmer in an Air India flight for being quarantined.

The first batch of 58 Indian pilgrims were brought back from Iran last Tuesday and the second group of 44 Indian pilgrim arrived from there on Friday.

Iran is one of the worst-affected countries by the coronavirus outbreak and the government has been working to bring back Indians stranded there. Over 700 people have died from the disease in Iran and nearly 14,000 cases have been detected.

Jaishankar had told Rajya Sabha last week that the government was focusing on evacuating Indians stranded in Iran and Italy as these countries are facing an "extreme situation".

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June 27,2020

Hyderabad, Jun 27: Ahead nurse working with a state-run hospital here died on Friday while undergoing treatment for COVID-19, a hospital official said.

The nurse, who was due to retire this month-end, tested positive about 10 days ago, he said.

The woman, who had been on medical leave for about 20 days, is suspected to have contracted the virus when she attended a private function in a neighbouring district, he said.

She was treated at the hospital for two days after she was found positive for COVID-19.

However, she was shifted to another government hospital as the symptoms continued unabated and sugar levels were high, he said.

The woman, who had comorbidities like diabetes and hypertension, died today.

Meanwhile, about 20 healthcare personnel, including doctors and paramedical staff, have so far tested positive for COVID-19 at the state-run Gandhi hospital, according to a hospital official.

He also said that there are around 50 patients whose family members have not come forward to take them home though the patients can be in home quarantine.

Family members have cited reasons such as residents not allowing a positive patient to return to the villages and presence of children at residences, for not taking them home, he added.

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