BJP using Hinduism as a badge of political identity: Tharoor

August 15, 2014

Shashi TharoorMumbai, Aug 15: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has attacked the BJP-led government at the Centre over the alleged "systematic increase" in cases of communal violence since the party came to power and accused it of using Hinduism as a badge of political identity to fit their "political agenda".

"The communal violence debate in Parliament from the last couple of days was a serious attempt by my party to highlight the fact that in last 11 weeks since they (BJP) have come to power...we have seen a systematic increase in communal violence, an increase in polarisation of communities, particularly acute in places in UP which are going for by-elections. This is clearly a political agenda," he charged.

The Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram was addressing students here yesterday at the student-conference of St Xavier's annual inter-college festival "Malhar".

On performance of the Narendra Modi government, the former Union Minister said it shows that there is minimum governance when it comes to protecting the "aam aadmi" (common man).

"So far judging by what has happened in the last couple of months, judging by the communal riots we have seen rising, and by the silence of the Prime Minister on some very serious and disturbing issues, it really looks like we have minimum governance when it comes to protecting the 'aam aadmi' and maximum government when it comes to consolidating power in one person's hand...That is the worry," he said.

"There is always a political agenda behind saffronisation ...It is to serve the political interest of a particular party and its fellow travellers...I have a problem with people using Hinduism as a badge of political identity. They say vote for us and we will protect you as a Hindu...They (BJP) are trying to create this polarisation," he alleged.

Tharoor also criticised the maiden budget of the NDA government and said allocating Rs 100 crore for women's security means nothing if fundamental issues are not addressed.

"You had those 100 crore sops in the budget.. You can't give a 100 crore for women's security.. There are fundamental issues and challenges of women's security since the tragic rape in Delhi a year and a half ago...We really need to see major steps not a 100 crore allocation," he said.

The story of the next five years is going to be the story of the Modi government failing to live up to the expectations that his campaigns had raised in this country. The expectations are essentially almost magical, he said.

"If you look at the last 10 years (of the UPA rule) about one per cent of the Indian population has been pulled out from below the poverty line every year. That is our achievement," he added.

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News Network
April 2,2020

New Delhi, Apr 2: With 437 new cases reported in the last 24 hours, the tally of COVID-19 positive cases in India shot up to 1,834 on Wednesday night.

The number of deaths in the country due to COVID-19 has risen to 41.

The total number of active cases in the country is 1,649. 143 persons have been cured and discharged from the hospitals. One person has migrated, according to the data provided by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Earlier on Wednesday, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla urged all state governments and Union Territory administrations to ensure the lockdown measures issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs are strictly implemented.

"All the state governments/UT administrations are requested to strictly implement the lockdown measures issued by MHA in the exercise of the powers under Disaster Management Act, 2005 in letter and spirit," Bhalla said.

Prime Minister Modi had earlier announced a 21-day lockdown in the entire country to deal with the spread of coronavirus, saying that "social distancing" is the only option to deal with the disease, which spreads rapidly.

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News Network
May 26,2020

New Delhi. May 26: 6,535 more coronavirus cases have been reported in India in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country to 1,45,380, informed Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Tuesday.

Out of the total, at present, there are 80,722 active cases in the country. So far, 60,490 people have been cured/discharged and 4167 have died due to the lethal infection.

According to the data compiled by the Centre, Maharashtra has so far recorded the maximum number of cases of COVID-19 across the country with 52,667 people.

The tally of cases in Tamil Nadu has risen to 17,082. While Gujarat has recorded 14,460 cases of the infection so far.

There are 14,073 cases of coronavirus in the national capital.

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News Network
June 29,2020

Kolkata, Jun 29: Sweet-loving Bengalis have something to cheer about in COVID-19 time as the West Bengal government decided to come out with a "sandesh" which will contain honey from Sundarbans and increase immunity, an official said on Sunday.

Cotton cheese made from cow milk will be mixed with pure honey from the Sunderbans to prepare the "Arogya Sandesh" which will also have extracts of tulsi leaves, an official of the Animal Resources Development Department said.

No artificial flavours would be added to the sweetmeat which will be available in the department's outlets in the city and neighbouring districts, he said.

The sandesh will boost the immune system as a whole but it is not a COVID-19 antidote, the official said.

Sunderbans Affairs Minister Manturam Pakhira said the honey for making Arogya Sandesh will be collected from beehives in places such as Pirkhali, Jharkhali and other parts of the Sunderbans and it will be stored in a scientific manner.

The sandesh is expected to hit the shelves in another two months and the pricing will be within the reach of the common man, the animal resources development department official said.

Earlier this month, a reputed sweetmeat chain of Kolkata came out with an "Immunity Sandesh" claiming that it contains various herbs and spices such as haldi (turmeric), tulsi, saffron, and cardamom and Himalayan honey, which will boost immunity to fight novel coronavirus.

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