COVID-19 INFECTIONS: INDIA BREACHES 1-LAKH DAILY MARK

India’s daily Covid count scaled a new peak Sunday, with more than 1 lakh cases being reported for the first time ever. The previous high was achieved on September 16 last year, when 97,894 positive cases were reported. The numbers had started sliding after that, and the decline continued for five months before a surge, described as a “second wave”, started.

The 1-lakh mark was breached on the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a review meeting and directed senior officials to send teams comprising public health experts and clinicians to Maharashtra, Punjab and Chhattisgarh, which have emerged as the worst-hit in terms of mortality over the last two weeks.

With Sunday’s addition, at least 1.25 crore people in India have so far been found infected with the disease. More than 7 lakh cases are currently active.

Prime Minister Modi emphasised the urgent need to implement a five-fold strategy with “utmost seriousness” to curb the surge and listed a number of key measures, including the rollout of a special campaign for Covid-appropriate behaviour and a daily analysis of vaccination coverage.

During the meeting, three broad issues were highlighted as the reason for the spike: severe decline in compliance with Covid-appropriate behaviour primarily in terms of masks; pandemic fatigue; and lack of effective implementation of containment measures.

To keep mortality numbers under control, Modi asked officials to ramp up ventilator beds and availability of oxygen, and ensure strict compliance of clinical management protocol for at-home care and in the hospitals.

KEY COVID NUMBERS:

Current Active Cases Countrywide: 7,37,870

New Cases in last 24 hours: 1,03,753

Recovered in last 24 hours: 52,839

Increase in Active cases in last 24 hours: 50,437

No. of deaths in last 24 hours: 477

Most Affected States:

(S. No. / State / No. of Active Cases / New Cases in last 24 Hrs / Deaths in Last 24 Hrs)

1          Maharashtra     4,30,503           /           57,074  /           222

2          Karnataka                     39,092  /           4,553    /           15

3          Chhattisgarh     38,450  /           5,250    /           36

4          Kerala              27,891  /           2,802    /           10

5          Punjab              25,314  /           3,006    /           51

6          Tamil Nadu       21,958  /           3,581    /           14

7          Madhya Pradesh           21,335  /           3,178    /           11

8          Uttar Pradesh   19,738  /           4,136    /           31

9          Gujarat             15,135  /           2,875    /           14

10        Delhi                13,982  /           4,033    /           21

11        Rajasthan                     12,878  /           1,729    /           2

12        Haryana                       12,574  /           1,904    /           7

13        Andhra Pradesh            10,300  /           1,730    /           5

14        West Bengal     10,153  /           1,957    /           4

15        Telangana                    7,923    /           1,321    /           5

16        Jharkhand                    5,244    /           787       /           8

17        JnK                  3,955    /           573       /           3

18        Himachal Pradesh         3,577    /           404       /           10

19        Bihar                3,560    /           864       /           1

20        Chandigarh       3,150    /           341       /           1

21        Uttarakhand      3,017    /           550       /           2

22        Odisha             2,785    /           471       /           1

23        Goa                  2,077    /           265       /           1

24        Puducherry       1,592    /           227       /           NIL

CHHATTISGARH MAOIST ATTACK TOLL MOUNTS TO 22

Police recovered bullet-riddled bodies of 17 jawans in the jungles of Chattisgarh on Sunday, raising to 22 the number of security personnel killed in a fierce gunbattle with Naxals the previous day—the biggest massacre in more than a year that also left 30 injured.

In a major joint offensive, separate joint teams of security forces, comprising over 2,000 personnel, launched an anti-Naxal operation from Bijapur and Sukma districts in the South Bastar forests, considered as a Maoist stronghold, on Friday night.

When the patrolling team was advancing through the forest near Jonaguda, around 500 km from the state capital Raipur, it was ambushed by cadres of PLGA (Peoples’ Liberation Guerilla Army) battalion of Maoists and a gun-battle ensued.

Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday cut short his final leg of campaigning for the third phase of elections in Assam and returned to Delhi in view of the Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma in which 23 security personnel were killed. He held a top-level meeting with senior officers on Bijapur encounter at his residence in Delhi. “Our fight against Naxalites will continue with strength, perseverance and intensity and we will take it to the end,” Shah said during the meeting.

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also expressed grief over the death of the security personnel.

“Sadly, Prime Minister and Home Minister Amit Shah are too busy electioneering to take on the menace of Naxalism. TV proclamations ain’t enough. We need to put a decisive strategy and blueprint,” Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala tweeted.

ELECTION COMMISSION CALLS MAMATA’S CLAIM ON OUTSIDERS FACTUALLY INCORRECT

The Election Commission on Sunday said that West Bengal CM and TMC leader Mamata Banerjee’s claim regarding the presence of outsiders at a Nandigram polling booth was “factually incorrect.” It wrote a strongly worded rejoinder to the CM in response to a complaint filed by her on April 1, alleging irregularities.

In its point-by-point rejoinder, the poll panel said the letter regarding alleged booth-capturing and the presence of outsiders at a polling booth in Boyal was “preceded by a massive coverage all over the country... which showed dozens of audio-visual shots of you being in this polling station and literally hurling an avalanche of allegations on some officials working with the government of West Bengal, paramilitary forces and the Election Commission.”

Citing reports received from the ground, including observers, the EC noted: “It is self-evident from the perusal of reports that the allegations mentioned in your handwritten note are factually incorrect, without any empirical evidence whatsoever and devoid of substance.” The commission said it was a matter of regret that a “media narrative was sought to be weaved hour after hour to misguide the voters”.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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CONSPIRACY BY EX-CROWN PRINCE TO DESTABILISE COUNTRY BUSTED: JORDAN

Jordanian authorities said on Sunday they foiled a “malicious plot” by a former crown prince to destabilise the kingdom with foreign support, contradicting the royal’s claims that he was being punished for speaking out against corruption and incompetence. Faced with rival narratives, the US and Arab governments quickly sided with Jordan’s King Abdullah II, reflecting the country’s strategic importance in a turbulent region.

Domestically, Prince Hamzah’s unprecedented criticism of the ruling class could lend support to growing complaints about poor governance and human rights abuses in Jordan. At the same time, the king’s tough reaction — placing his popular half-brother under house arrest and accusing him of serious crimes — illustrated the limits on public dissent he is willing to tolerate. “The kingdom’s stability and security transcend everything,” said Ayman Safadi, Jordan’s foreign minister and deputy PM, as he accused Hamzah and two senior Jordanian officials of conspiring with foreign elements to destabilise the kingdom. “The plot is totally contained.”

Abdullah and Hamzah are both sons of the late King Hussein. Upon ascending to the throne in 1999, Abdullah named Hamzah as crown prince, only to revoke the title five years later. Hamzah has at times spoken out against government policies, and more recently had forged ties with powerful tribal leaders in a move seen as a threat to the king. In a video message, Hamzah, 41, accused Jordan’s ruling class of corruption and stifling freedom of expression.

The US, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, including the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait all expressed solidarity with the king.

NEPAL OPPN PARTY IN BID TO FORM GOVT, TO ASK OLI TO STEP DOWN

Nepal’s main opposition party Nepali Congress has initiated moves to topple PM K P Sharma Oli and form an alternative government under its leadership with the support of the CPN-Maoist Centre and other parties. The Central Working Committee of the Nepali Congress (NC) on Saturday decided to take the initiative, according to party’s senior leader Prakash Man Singh.

The NC will ask Oli to step down and allow formation of a new government, said Singh. If he does not resign, the NC will move a notrust motion against him in the House of Representatives and take initiative to form a new government to save the democratic achievements of the past, he added. Being the main opposition and also a key partner of framing the Constitution of Nepal in 2015 it is our responsibility to protect democracy, he said. Oli’s dissolution of the House of Representatives in December triggered a political crisis in Nepal.

THE REST

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MAHARSHTRA: MALLS, RESTAURANTS AND THEATRES TO SHUT TILL APRIL 30

The rapid spread of Covid-19 finally forced the Uddhav Thackeray government to announce lockdown-like restrictions across the state from 8pm on Monday. On weekends, a complete lockdown will be imposed.

Maharashtra reported 57,074 new cases Sunday — no other state has ever reported more than 12,000 cases in a day. Pune and Mumbai, the two worst-affected cities, detected 12,472 and 11,206 new cases respectively. Again, no other city has detected more than 8,500 cases in a day.

A state government notification issued late Sunday said all shops except essential services would remain shut till the end of the month, leaving people only Monday to buy non-essential goods this month. Restaurants will be allowed to operate only takeaway and home delivery services during the day hours. All theatres, cinema halls, malls, gardens and playgrounds will remain closed. While night curfew will be imposed everyday from 8pm to 7am, gatherings of five or more persons will be prohibited during the daytime—7am to 8pm— on weekdays.

IS HE GOD OR SUPERHUMAN: MAMATA BANERJEE’S SWIPE AT MODI

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, wondering whether he is “god or a superhuman” to make claims of a BJP triumph in the assembly elections, six phases of which still remain.

At an election rally in Kahanakul Porshura of Hoogly district, the TMC supremo, also slammed Indian Secular Front founder Abbas Siddiqui, although without naming him, accusing him of polarizing voters to win a few seats.

“What do you (Modi) think of yourself, are you a god or superhuman?” Banerjee said, while referring to remarks by the PM at public meetings that he will attend the oath-taking ceremony of the BJP government in Bengal and request it to implement the PM Kisan Nidhi scheme as early as possible. She added, “He (Modi) is threatening to use our officers. This is against the Constitution. The BJP is also using goons and the police to threaten voters.”

Banerjee, in a veiled reference to Siddiqui, whose ISF is fighting the elections in alliance with the CPI(M) and the Congress, said, “He and another party from Hyderabad have a secret connection with the BJP. Beware of them as they are only trying to divide minority votes.”

On Tuesday, when third phase of polling will be under way in West Bengal for 31 seats, PM Narendra Modi will be campaigning in another part of the state for seats that will go to polls in the fourth phase on April 10. On April 1, when the second phase of polling was on in West Bengal for 30 seats, including Nandigram, Modi had addressed election rallies in Joynagar and Uluberia in the state.

Mamata objected to Modi addressing election rallies in another part of the state on the day of polling and demanded that the EC should treat Modi’s programmes in West Bengal on April 1 as a violation of the model code.

CASE AGAINST HAASAN FOR VIOLATING POLL CODE

A case was filed against superstar-turned-politician and Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan in Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore on Sunday for violating the model code of conduct, officials said.

Independent candidate Palanikumar, who is contesting from Coimbatore South constituency where Kamal Haasan is fighting, complained to the police that stage actors dressed as Lord Rama and goddesses performed in front of the Ramar temple at Ramapuram in Coimbatore. A case was registered under Sections 123(3) and 125 of the Representation of People Act. Kamal is engaged in a bitter four-cornered fight in Coimbatore South against BJP women’s wing national president, Vanathi Srinivasan, Congress’ Mayura Jayakumar and Challenger R. Doraisamy of the AMMK.

ABOHAR EKTA RALLY: ‘THIS FIGHT IS NOT ONLY ABOUT FARM LAWS… THIS IS ALSO AGAINST A POLITICAL PARTY’

It was a Kisan Mazdoor Veopari Ekta Rally on Sunday, and the Sanyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) put up a united front of farmers, traders, shopkeepers, ahrtiyas and mazdoors at the grain market of Abohar, in Punjab.

The farmer leaders focused on maintaining unity which was on display on the stage as well. Jagjit Singh Dallewal, president of BKU (Sidhupur) and member of SKM, said, “Now this fight is not only about farm laws, but this fight is also against a political party which is spreading communal thoughts in the country. We are getting united against these thoughts, be it someone from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar or even other states of India.”

He added, “Eh ladai jitte bine sarna nahi. Kai kehde ne vada-ghata kar lo. Le-de ke faisla kar lo. (We cannot do without winning this fight. Many say do something midway or come to a decision by some give and take) but it is not possible. Here give and take means to compromise on the duration for which the government is delaying the farm laws. Repeal is the only way out. Youngsters have to fight this war as we have lived more than half of our life.”

Referring to the General Agreement on Trariffs and Trade (GATT) and later World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreement, he said, “These farm laws cannot be detached from the GATT and WTO agreements. Therefore, we need to go back to the old details and should know how Dr Manmohan Singh and P V Narsimha Rao played roles in these agreements. Every political party played their role. So even if farm laws are repealed, this fight will not be over. This is a fight to take the country out of WTO membership. Only then will we be independent in a true sense.”

Joginder Singh Ugrahan, president of BKU (Ugrahan), said, “Farmer unions may be having ideological differences but on the farm laws, we all are one and at one stage. The same should be the case with farmers, labourers and shopkeepers…Our call to oppose BJP leaders remains the same but peace should be the main mode to protest.”

FIR AGAINST AAP’S AMANATULLAH KHAN FOR ‘THREATENING’ DASNA TEMPLE PRIEST

Delhi Police has registered an FIR against AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan for allegedly threatening Dasna temple’s head priest Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati.

This comes a day after Khan lodged a complaint at Jamia Nagar police station against Saraswati for “hurting religious sentiments” by his comments against the Prophet made at an event in Delhi.

In a video accompanying his tweet on Saturday, the AAP MLA said he had come to file a complaint against Narsinghanand. Khan further said that while his words call for beheading or cutting his tongue off, “we have faith in the Constitution and the law and we hope an FIR will be registered against him and he will be sent to jail”.

On Saturday, police had taken suo motu cognizance and lodged an FIR against Saraswati at Parliament Street police station for allegedly hurting religious sentiments.

Saraswati’s temple in Ghaziabad was in the news last month when a 14-year-old boy who went inside to have water was brutally assaulted by a man who did “sewa” there. While the man was arrested, Saraswati had said he supported his actions.

BOLLYWOOD ACTOR SHASHIKALA PASSES AWAY

Veteran actress Shashikala, who featured in supporting roles in hundreds of Bollywood movies primarily between 1950s and 1980s, died in Mumbai on Sunday. She was 89.

A performer from a young age, she got recognition with films “Sujata”, “Aarti”, “Anupama”, “Phool Aur Patthar”, “Ayi Milan Ki Bela”, “Gumrah”, “Waqt”, “Khubsoorat”, “Teen Bati Char Rasta” and “Chhote Sarkar”. She was seen largely in negative, supportive roles in over a hundred films; taking on a sister’s and later mother’s roles in her career. Fiery and feisty, Shashikala was a household name who played a vamp – an evil sister-in-law or mother-in-law.

She received Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award in 1962 and 1963 for “Aarti” and “Gumrah”. She was a recipient of Padma Shri in 2007 for her contribution to Indian cinema.

SPIRIT OF CRICKET QUESTION AFTER FAKHAR ZAMAN RUN OUT THROUGH 'FAKE FIELDING'

One of the greatest knocks in one-day international history was cruelly ended after Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman was run out in controversial circumstances.

Fakhar played a lone hand as he made 193 in the visitors’ futile pursuit of South Africa’s mammoth score of 6/341, but was chasing the consolation prize of a double century when he was fooled on the first ball of the final over.

In his incredible 155-ball knock that dragged Pakistan to a final score of 9/324, Fakhar hit Lungi Ngidi’s delivery to the long-on fielder and called for two runs.

But as he returned to the striker’s end for the second, Proteas wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock pointed excitedly towards the nonstriker’s end. Fakhar, distracted, turned his head and the moment of hesitation was enough to cost him his wicket as a direct hit broke the stumps in front of de Kock.

Law 41.5.1 states that “it is unfair for any fielder wilfully to attempt, by word or action, to distract, deceive or obstruct either batsman after the striker has received the ball”, meaning the umpires could have awarded five penalty runs to Pakistan if they’d deemed de Kock’s actions to be deliberate deception or “fake fielding”.

Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma appeared to indicate it was a deliberate move. “It was quite clever from Quinny,” Bavuma said. “Maybe some people might criticise it for maybe not being in the spirit of the game. But it was an important wicket for us. Zaman was getting close to our target. Yeah, it was clever from Quinny.

The game’s laws were changed in 2017 to prevent fielders from attempting to deceive batsman while they’re running between wickets. Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne was penalised while playing for Queensland in a one-day game after shaping to throw the ball even though it wasn’t in his hand.

Zaman’s astonishing innings could not prevent South Africa winning the second one-day international by 17 runs in Johannesburg on Sunday. Pakistan seemed to have no chance when they slumped to 7/205 in the 38th over at the Wanderers Stadium before Fakhar launched an assault.With the series leveled at 1-1, Pakistan and South Africa will meet in the deciding encounter in Centurion on Wednesday, April 7.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

There is nothing more inspiring and stimulating than being in the company of optimists. - Thomas Joyce

OFF TRACK

Two postmen had just gotten off their routes for the day when one of the postal workers saw the other step on a snail. "Why did you step on that snail, Tom?!," asked his perplexed co-worker.

"Cause that darn snail's been following me around work all day!"