News Analysis India

Tag: Amit Shah

  • Gehlot dials Shah, PMO over shortage of oxygen, medicines for COVID patients as state records 158 deaths in a day

    By PTI
    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday called Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, principal secretary to prime minister PK Mishra and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval regarding the shortage of oxygen and medicines for COVID-19 patients in the state.

    Gehlot tweeted about this, saying they were requested to provide oxygen and necessary medicines in proportion to the number of active cases, which are rapidly increasing in the state.

    The chief minister said the number of active cases has gone up to 1.70 lakh and reasoned that oxygen and medicines should be allocated to the state in proportion of the active case count as soon as possible so that the public can get relief.

    The state recorded 158 coronavirus-related deaths, the highest so far in a single-day, in the last 24 hours, raising the fatality count to 4,084 on Thursday, while 17,269 fresh cases pushed the infection tally to 5,80,846, according to an official report.

    Chief minister Ashok Gehlot, former Barmer MP Manvendra Singh were among those who tested positive for the infection on Thursday, while Girraj Singh Lotwara, president of Shree Rajput Sabha, died from the coronavirus.

    Jaipur accounted for a maximum of the new new fatalities linked to the virus, registering 32 deaths, followed by 30 in Jodhpur; 12 in Udaipur; 10 each in Sikar and Barmer; eight in Kota; seven in Bikaner and Dungarpur; six in Bhilwara and five in Alwar.

    The remaining deaths were reported from other districts.

    The state capital also registered a maximum of 3,602 fresh COVID-19 cases, followed by Jodhpur which recorded 2,036 new infections.

    A total of 4,07,243 people have recovered from the infection in Rajasthan and the number of active cases stands at 1,69,519, according to the report.

    Coronavirus patients with acute symptoms should be admitted to hospitals while the asymptomatic ones and those with mild traits can be treated at home with their oxygen level monitored regularly, according to a Rajasthan government guideline issued on Friday.

    The guidelines for admission and discharge of COVID-19 patients, prepared after consultation with senior doctors, was issued by Medical Education Secretary Vaibhav Galaria on the instruction of state Health Minister Raghu Sharma.

    Asymptomatic patients or those with mild symptoms can be treated at home and their oxygen level should be monitored regularly through pulse oximeter, Principal of SMS Medical Hospital in Jaipur Dr Sudhir Bhandari was quoted as saying in a release.

    He said if there is a breathing problem, pain in the chest or nausea then the treatment monitored by doctors should be started and if the symptoms are acute, then the patient should be hospitalised.

    If the oxygen level of the patient inhaled in a room is continuously more than 90 per cent or able to arrange oxygen at home and the parameters are improving then the patient can be discharged from the hospital, Bhandari said.

    Negative RTPCR test report is not required for such discharging patients whose parameters are improving, he said.

  • Gujarat: Amit Shah inaugurates PSA oxygen plant in Gandhinagar

    By PTI
    AHMEDABAD: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday inaugurated a 280-liter per minute capacity PSA oxygen plant at a COVID-19-designated hospital at Kolavada in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar Speaking on the occasion, the Union home minister said 11 more such plants will be set up in Gujarat under the Prime Minister’s Citizens Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situation (PM CARES) Fund.

    Shah inaugurated the pressure swing absorption (PSA) oxygen plant at a COVID-19 centre set up at an Ayurvedic hospital at Kolavada, which falls under his Parliamentary constituency of Gandhinagar.

    Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel were also present on the occasion.

    Under the PM Cares Fund, 11 more PSA oxygen plans will come up in Gujarat to meet the growing requirements of oxygen for COVID-19 patients in the state, Shah said, adding that hundreds of such plants will be set up across the country under the fund.

    “At the Kolavada plant, 280 litres of oxygen will be concentrated after drawing from the air and supplied to the patients every minute. An arrangement has been made to ensure that the supply continues to meet the requirements of all 200 patients at the centre (when the facility is at its full capacity),” he said.

    The government has also kept large gas cylinders in reserve in case of emergency, he said.

    At present, 66 patients are being treated at the facility and are on oxygen support.

    “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hundreds of such oxygen plants are being set up across the country under the PM CARES Fund. Gujarat has also received permission to set up 11 plants, which will be functional soon,” the Union home minister said.

    Being an industrial state, Gujarat produces more amount of oxygen compared to other states and has set a beautiful example of supplying the same to them, he said.

    Shah also provided assistance of Rs 10 crore to provide necessary healthcare facilities for people of his Gandhinagar constituency.

    The Chief Minister’s Office stated in a release that the facilities will benefit eight lakh people in rural areas.

    As part of the arrangement, six ambulances, two mobile ICU sand two mobile laboratories have been made available, it was stated.

    According to the release, equipment including Phaco machines, digital X-ray machines, sonography colour machines, oxygen concentrators, binocular microscopes, digital X-ray machines, BiPAP machines and ventilators have also been procured.

    Shah had on Friday held a high-level meeting with Rupani and senior government officials to discuss the COVID-19 situation in Gujarat and also visited a 950-bed facility for coronavirus patients at Ahmedabad’s GMDC ground.

    The facility has been set up by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with the state government.

    Shah also announced that a 1,200-bed hospital for COVID-19 patients will soon come up in Gandhinagar.

    Gujarat on Friday recorded 13,804 COVID-19 cases, with the state’s active caseload crossing the 1-lakh mark to 1,00,128.

    The state’s COVID-19 toll has risen to 6,019.

  • Bengal polls: Illegal immigrants actual outsiders, vote bank for Mamata, says Amit Shah at rally

    By PTI
    HARIRAMPUR: Home Minister Amit Shah Thursday sought to punch a hole in West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s oft-repeated insider-outsider narative, alleging that her “vote bank of illegal immigrants”, on whose support she wants to rule the state, were the actual outsiders.

    Shah also accused Banerjee of having no other agenda apart from hurling abuses at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and him.

    “She dedicates 10 minutes of her speech in every election rally to abusing the PM and myself. I am the country’s home minister, can’t I talk to people? How am I an outsider?” he said at a public meeting in Harirampur constituency in Dakshin Dinajpur district, which goes to polls in the seventh phase on April 26.

    Click here for LIVE updates on Bengal polls 2021

    “I was born in this country and will be cremated on this holy land after my demise. But, your vote bank of illegal immigrants are the outsiders on whose support you want to rule Bengal,” he added.

    Shah claimed “these outsiders” were also the vote banks for the Left and the Congress.

    He said if the BJP is voted to power in West Bengal, it will ensure that nobody can illegally cross into the state through the borders and jeopardize its security.

    Asserting that Banerjee will have to quit after counting votes of the assembly elections on May 2, the home minister said the new BJP government in the state will grant citizenship to refugees.

    He also alleged that North Bengal faced a step- motherly treatment from the Left Front and TMC governments, and assured that steps will be taken for the development of the region once the saffron party forms government.

  • Need strict action against comedian Sunil Pal for ‘obnoxious’ remark: AIIMS doctors to Amit Shah

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The AIIMS Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanding the strictest steps for the “derogatory and obnoxious” comments by comedian Sunil Pal in an entertainment channel against doctors working in COVID management and treatment.

    Terming Pal’s comments “blunt lies”, the doctors’ body said that dissemination of those will be extremely dangerous in these times and relegate the faith of patients in the healthcare system.

    In the letter, the RDA said that frontline healthcare workers and other countrymen are facing the wrath of COVID-19 and everyone is trying their best to alleviate the suffering caused by the recent surge of infections.

    “It breaks the heart of all those who have endeared so much, doctors and non-doctors alike when their intentions are questioned and maleficence is spread by denigrating words. The recent monologue by comedian Sunil Pal circulated on NBT entertainment channel has pinched the weary nerves of all doctors who have jumped back into this war, often selflessly, and is definitely bound to affect their morale and grit,” the RDA said.

    The doctor’s association termed the comedian’s monologue “nefarious, ill-hearted and ill-conceived”. “His blatant accusations of fraudulent deeds of doctors, comparing doctors to evil creatures of the society and spreading lies about COVID-19 when the whole country is fighting against it, is beyond logic,” it said.

    Describing doctors as “soldiers” in this battle against the pandemic, the RDA said, “His action warrant the strongest punishment so that we understand that our country is with us as we face this COVID-19 war. The government should ensure that such provocative videos propagating falsified information should be admonished.”

    “On behalf of the medical fraternity, and all healthcare and frontline workers we demand strongly that strictest steps be taken against his inappropriate conduct at the earliest to prevent unrest amongst doctors and anxiety amongst the affected patients and their family,” the RDA letter stated.

  • Mamata demoralised as BJP much ahead of TMC after five phases of polls: Amit Shah in Bengal rally

    By PTI
    PURBASTHALI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday asserted that the BJP will bag more than 122 of the 180 seats that went to polls in West Bengal in five phases.

    Shah, while addressing a rally here in Purba Bardhaman district, claimed that Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee will have to make an exit after losing the Nandigram seat to the BJP.

    “Didi looks demoralised after five phases of elections as it has been established that the BJP, with more than 122 seats, is much ahead of her.

    “Take it from me, Suvendu Adhikari (BJP candidate) will win the elections from Nandigram,” he stated.

    The home minister further said that Banerjee should be bidden farewell with a huge defeat, one befitting her stature.

    Claiming that illegal immigrants are taking away the benefits meant for the country’s citizens, he said, “People like you and me are second-grade citizens for Didi as we do not add heft to her vote bank.”

  • ‘PM, Home Minister creating differences among people’: Trinamool complains to EC against Modi and Shah

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: A TMC delegation met the Election Commission on Wednesday. The leaders alleged that PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah are creating differences among people of different castes and creed.

    TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee claimed BJP leaders are making provocative statements.

    The delegation comprised MPs Derek O’Brien, Kalyan Banerjee, Pratima Mondal and Santanu Sen.

    “We’re also condemning PM Modi’s way of delivering speeches. It is below the standard of a Prime Minister. It is very unfortunate that the Election Commission has not taken any cognizance of it till now,” they said.

    This comes after EC had barred West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from campaigning for the Assembly elections for a period of 24 hours t till 8 pm on April 13, following her accusations against the Central Armed Police Forces that they are acting at the behest of BJP.

    TMC on Wednesday also wrote a letter to the Election Commission alleging that the poll panel is “malfunctioning” and its state of affairs is “deplorable”.

    In a two-page letter, they accused the Election Commission of having a partisan approach while acting on complaints filed by TMC.

    “During this Assembly election, it is apparent that the Election Commission is acting in a partisan manner, absolutely in favour of the BJP,” the party alleged.

  • Bengal polls: NRC highlight of Didi’s campaign in remaining four phases

    Express News Service
    KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday made it clear that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) will be an issue that she will use against BJP in the remaining four phases of Assembly elections in the state.

    It comes in response to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s claim in Kalimpong on Tuesday that there was no plan to implement NRC as of now.

    The hills of Bengal go to polls in the fifth phase and the huge Gorkha population of the region is apprehensive that NRC can go against them. Calling Shah’s assurance a lie, Mamata the cited the example of Assam, where people have been sent to detention camps over the issue of citizenship.

    “The moment election ended in Assam (earlier this month), the BJP government started issuing notices asking people, who were left out of the list of citizens, why they should not be evicted by implementing the NRC.

    Mamata Banerjee (picture left) meets relatives of those killed in CISF firingin West Bengal’s Sitalkuchi

    “They are issuing detention camp notices. Do not trust them. BJP should be ousted through NRC, NPR and only then, people will be able to stay in the country,’’ she said at a rally in Jalpaiguri.

    Mamata’s comments are aimed at refugee voters who migrated from Bangladesh in large numbers. S he also lashed out at BJP for “bringing outsiders” in the name of elections and spreading Covid-19 in West Bengal.

    A day earlier, Shah had said there was no plan to implement NRC in the region at the moment and even if it is, it would have no impact on Gorkhas.

    This community constitutes a considerable chunk of the electorate in the hills.

    Visiting kin of victims

    Mamata went to Sitalkuchi, after the Election Commission’s 72-hour ban barring political leaders from visiting Cooch Behar district ended. She met family members of the four persons killed in firing by CISF personnel on April 10.

    She also met relatives of a first-time voter, who was shot dead in a separate incident. BJP has claimed he was their supporter and killed by TMC workers.

    Without naming the Election Commission, which barred her from campaigning for 24 hours, Mamata said: “They did not allow me to visit Sitalkuchi for three days. I was not allowed to address rallies for 24 hours. The people of Bengal have witnessed this injustice to me and they will give a befitting reply to it in this election.’’

    The Trinamool Congress chief reiterated that after coming to power in West Bengal, her government will conduct a probe into the killing of the four persons and also the fifth person, who the BJP claims to be their supporter.

  • NRC will not affect Gorkhas, Trinamool misleading them: Amit Shah

    By Express News Service
    KOLKATA:  There is no plan to implement the NRC for now and it will have no impact on Gorkhas even if it is brought in the future, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday. Shah also assured that all cases registered against the Gorkhas during their movement demanding statehood would be withdrawn once the BJP comes to power in West Bengal.   

    At a rally in Kalimpong, Shah hit out at the Trinamool Congress for “creating fear’’ among the people of Darjeeling on the issue of the NRC by misleading them. “The TMC is misleading the people citing the NRC which has not been implemented yet. It is lying about the possible fallout of the NRC on the Gorkhas to create fear among them. There is no plan to implement the NRC now. Whenever it is done, not a single Gorkha will be asked to leave,’’ he assured the poll rally.

    The Congress-Communists-TMC combination did injustice to Gorkhas across the country for years, he asserted. “Gorkhas have a very rich history. Whenever the names of patriotic communities are taken, the names of Gorkhas are taken proudly.”

    The Communists had set the Darjeeling hills on fire in 1986 in which more than 1,200 Gorkhas were killed, he said. “Didi (Mamata) did nothing less. During her tenure, many people were killed and FIR lodged against thousands. Didi has withdrawn FIRs selectively. After the BJP-led government is formed in Bengal, all such FIRs will be withdrawn within a week,’’ he told the rally.

    Shah also promised to ensure the status of scheduled tribe to 11 Gorkha ethnic groups if the BJP is elected to power.  Apart from being the deciding factor in the three hill seats of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong, the Gorkha community has a considerable presence in some of the seats in north Bengal’s Dooars. 

  • TMC, Congress, Left depend on ‘outsiders’; BJP chief minister in Bengal will be ‘son of soil’: Amit Shah 

    By PTI
    NAGRAKATA:  Taking on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her oft-repeated ‘outsider’ barb against him and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and accusing her of lack of knowledge, Union Home Minister Amit Shah Tuesday said that it is the Trinamool Congress, Left and Congress who have to depend on outsiders.

    He said that Banerjee, also Trinamool Congress supremo, terms him and Modi as outsiders but her party depends on votes from illegal immigrants.

    “Am I an outsider? Am I not a citizen of the country? Didi terms the country’s prime minister as an outsider,” Shah told a poll rally at this tea garden town in Dooars area of Jalpaiguri district. Banerjee’s knowledge is “very little”, he said.

    “Let me tell you Didi who are outsiders. The communists have imported their ideology from China and Russia. The leadership of Congress too is from outside – it has come from Italy.

    ALSO READ | Gorkha problem to be fixed after BJP comes to power in Bengal: Amit Shah

    “And the Trinamool Congress’ vote bank is from outside – the illegal immigrants,” the top BJP leader said.

    Shah said he was born in this country and will turn to ashes in this land.

    “So how can I be an outsider?” Banerjee has been almost daily accusing the BJP leadership of being outsiders in West Bengal and bringing in goons from other states for the ongoing assembly elections in the state.

    Shah said the TMC supremo “cannot deceive the people of the state for long” since BJP’s chief minister for West Bengal will be a son of the soil.

    He maintained that Mamata Banerjee, who has been demanding his resignation, will have to go on May 2, the day when the state election result will be declared.

    “This election is not about my resignation, but it is of yours (Banerjee’s).”

    Banerjee had last demanded Shah’s resignation for the firing by central forces at Sitalkuchi in Cooch Behar in which four people were killed in the fourth phase of polling on April 10.

    Shah claimed that the chief minister has not raised the wages of tea garden workers, while she has been regularly abusing Modi “the son of a tea-seller”.

    The union minister said that all refugees will be given citizenship by the BJP and alleged that Banerjee is unwilling to give them the right because she fears that her vote bank will not be happy with that.

    If voted to power BJP will ensure that an AIIMS hospital comes up in north Bengal as the people of the area have to travel to Kolkata for treatment of serious ailments.

    “Modiji has come with 115 schemes for Bengal and Didi has given 115 scams,” Shah said hitting out at teh ruling TMC.

  • Gorkha problem to be fixed after BJP comes to power in Bengal: Amit Shah

    By PTI
    DARJEELING: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday gave assurance that a political solution to the long-drawn “Gorkha problem” in the Hills will be reached once the BJP forms government in West Bengal.

    Shah, during a public meeting here, said that the country’s Constitution is “vast” and has provisions for solving all problems.

    “I promise that a permanent political solution to the Gorkha problem will be reached by the double-engine government of the BJP — one at the Centre and the other in Bengal. You will not have to resort to agitations anymore,” he said.

    The Union minister, however, did not specify which problem he was referring to.

    Gorkhas had long been demanding a separate state, and several movements have been launched by the community over the years, the latest being in 2017.

    Contending that Gorkhas are the pride of India, Shah said that no one cause them any harm.

    “There is no plan to implement NRC for now. Even if the exercise is carried out, Gorkhas need not worry about it,” he asserted.

    Shah also said that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has “put a full stop” on the development work in Darjeeling, a place that the ruling TMC leaders visit at leisure.

    Banerjee has visited Darjeeling numerous times in the recent past, but she did not hold any campaign for the three assembly seats in the region — set to go polls on April 17.

    The top BJP leader claimed that the TMC supremo tried to ruin the cordial relationship that the BJP shared with the Gorkhas by instituting criminal cases against “some”.

    “Didi has got many killed and instituted cases against many.

    The BJP, after coming to power, will give amnesty to all such people,” he said, without naming anyone.

    GJM leader Bimal Gurung, a former ally of BJP, had gone into hiding after several criminal charges were pressed against him for allegedly leading a violent statehood agitation in 2017.

    He resurfaced in October last year and joined hands with the TMC.

    The state administration has now approached the courts of law for withdrawing some of these cases.

    The ruling TMC has left the three Darjeeling constituencies to its allies from the Hills — the two GJM factions led by Gurung and Binay Tamang.

    Both the sparring factions have fielded candidates, who are constesting the elections from the three seats as Independents.