News Analysis India

Tag: Harsh Vardhan

  • Ties with Dhaka deeper than any other strategic partnership: Foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan

    By PTI

    BENGALURU: Foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Saturday said India remains a committed partner in Bangladesh’s economic growth and prosperity, and the relationship between two countries is deeper than any other strategic partnership.

    “Today India-Bangladesh relations have matured over the years, the two pillars of Indian diplomacy- the neighbourhood first and act east- finds expression in our vibrant ties with Bangladesh,” Shringla said.

    In his video address to the Indian Air Force Conclave here, he said India-Bangladesh relationship today in many ways is the continuation of the events that defined the course 50 years ago, during the liberation of that country.

    “Muktijoddhas (freedom fighters of Bangladesh liberation) are still the bridge between our two countries regular exchanges between the security forces of our two countries is a reflection of our shared security considerations. India remains a committed partner in Bangladesh’s economic growth and prosperity, and in their social indicators,” he added.

    The Foreign Secretary was speaking at the ongoing three-day IAF Conclave at Yelahanka Air Force Station here, to commemorate 50-years of victory in the 1971 Indo-Pak war that gave birth to Bangladesh as a country, which is being celebrated this year as ‘Swarnim Vijay Varsh’.

    Highlighting that Bangladesh is India’s biggest development and a largest trading partner in South Asia contributing to economic prosperity and supply chain resilience in the region and beyond, he said comprehensive connectivity is the key to this partnership.

    “India-Bangladesh relations today are deeper than any other strategic partnership, it is a role model to the relationship between two neighbouring countries. The spirit of friendship, understanding and mutual respect engendered during the liberation of Bangladesh still permeates different aspects of the relationship,” he added.

    On the humanitarian, political and diplomatic aspects of the events that led to the liberation of Bangladesh, Shringla said the shared history of sacrifice and courage has shaped the current day’s close and multifaceted partnership between India and that country.

    “1971 was as much a moral and political victory, as it was a decisive military victory for India. We stood on a high moral ground and history proved us right, as the people of Bangladesh vindicated their self respect and honour and fought their war for freedom and human rights,” he said.

    “1971 was indeed a war for justice over cruel tyranny, a quest for hope in the midst of despair, and catharsis achieved through “Dharma Yudha.

    ” Terming the military operation carried out by the Pakistan Army in an effort to curb the Bengali nationalist movement in former East Pakistan in March 1971 as an act of “calculated genoside”, Shringla who had served as Ambassador to Bangladesh, highlighted the massive humanitarian challenge faced by India as millions fled from there and crossed over to escape persecution.

    By the end of 1971, the total number of people seeking refuge in India reached 10 million. He said, “I consider India’s humanitarian response to the refugee issue to be one of the most sophisticated and empathetic in contemporary history.

    ” Pointing at India’s economic situation at that time and its per capita income, which was less than USD 120 a year, he said it was evident that the country could not support 10 million people, but yet it marshalled all its resources. “The monumental challenge that India was facing was well recognised by the international community, yet there was inadequate support from international organisations in real terms.

    Almost the entire burden of supporting the displaced people fell upon the government and people of India,” he said.

    Shringla also listed out the diplomatic outreach launched by India through its diplomats in various capitals and interventions made by the country’s political leadership to highlight the plight of the people of then East Pakistan and draw their attention.

    “India supported the democratic credentials of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (Founding Father of Bangladesh) and Awami League (his political party), as a result a number of countries came forward to support the cause of the people of Bangladesh,” he said.

    Noting that the United Nation’s response on the issue remained “limited” due to disagreement between the great powers during the cold war, he said the UN Security Council did not discuss the matter until December 1971, and when it discussed no consensus emerged, while there was political consensus in India to extend support to the brethren in what is now called Bangladesh.

    “On December 3,1971 India was unwittingly drawn into a war not of its own making on December 6 India extended recognition to Bangladesh, prompting other countries to follow the suit,” the foreign secretary added.

  • Harsh Vardhan’s ‘end-game’ statement was in context of decline in COVID cases at that time: Government

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The statement by the Union Health Minister on March 7 last year that India is in the end-game of the COVID-19 pandemic was in the context of the decrease in cases noted across the country during the period, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar informed Rajya Sabha on Tuesday while replying to a query.

    It, in turn, was expected to boost the morale of the healthcare and frontline workers and to highlight to the community at large that there has to be a continued focus on COVID-appropriate behaviour and use of vaccines, Pawar said in her written reply.

    Pawar was responding to a question on the evidence on the basis of which the then health minister Harsh Vardhan had made the statement.

    Vardhan was recently replaced by Mansukh Mandaviya in a Cabinet rejig.

    In her reply, Pawar said after recording the first peak COVID-19 trajectory in India with 97,894 cases on 17th September, India was recording a sustained and considerable decline in the number of daily new cases.

    India’s active caseload was as low as 1.48 percent of India’s total positive cases.

    Further, the COVID-19 outbreak was contracting since only two states — Kerala and Maharashtra — were accounting for more than 70 percent of total active cases in the country.

    This was further corroborated by the fact that more than 400 districts were reporting less than 10 cases with a test positivity of less than 1 percent which shows that the transmission was limited, the minister said.

    This decline was also evident in terms of test positivity rate which had fallen to less than 5 percent in more than 25 states which indicated that the spread of infection was on the decline.

    “Health Minister’s statement was thus in the context of the decrease in cases being noted across the country during the period. The statement was highlighting the status of cases and the spread of infection during the period. This need not be endorsed or recommended by the National Task Force to begin with.”

    “It, in turn, was expected to boost the morale of the healthcare and frontline workers and to highlight to the community at large that there has to be a continued focus on COVID-appropriate behaviour and use of vaccine,” Pawar said.

    Government gives blueprint on vaccination campaign in India

    The National Empowered Group on Vaccine Administration against COVID-19 is in regular talks with offshore manufacturers, including Moderna, for importing Covid vaccines, but the exact number of doses to be imported and their manner of allocation have not been finalised yet, the government informed Parliament on Tuesday.

    In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar said as on July 16, a total of 2.61 lakh doses of the Sputnik V vaccine have been administered in the country.

    On how the government plans the allocation of the Moderna vaccine and the number of doses to be procured, the minister said, “The NEGVAC (National Empowered Group on Vaccine Administration against COVID-19) is in regular dialogue with offshore COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers including Moderna for import of Covid vaccines. However, the exact number of doses to be imported and their manner of allocation have not been finalised yet.”

    On the current status of the arrival of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines in India, Pawar said the COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Moderna has been approved for restricted use in emergency situation by the Drugs Controller general of India (DCGI), while the one manufactured by Pfizer is not yet approved by the national drugs regulator.

    No doses of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines have so far been received under the US donation programme, the minister said in response to another question, adding that the NEGVAC is deliberating with offshore manufacturers, including Moderna and Pfizer, for the procurement of vaccines.

    It also said that as of July 16, 46 per cent of the total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered to women, which is proportionate to the country’s women population (48 per cent).

    Pawar said one of the reasons for the slight gap in the vaccine coverage of women is that at the beginning of the vaccination drive, pregnancy and lactation were contraindications for inoculation, thereby making the women of child-bearing age ineligible for it.

    Elaborating on the steps taken by the government to motivate women to come forward for vaccination, Pawar said on the basis of a review of the available scientific evidence and a consensus of the stakeholders, the health ministry approved vaccination of lactating women on May 19 and of pregnant women on July 2, which is expected to increase the number of vaccinations amongst women.

    Further, the states have been provided with detailed guidance on preparing a counselling and vaccination plan for pregnant women.

    A communication strategy is in place, which is being implemented across all the states and Union territories with a focus to sustain vaccine confidence, the minister said.

    The government also said that 3.48 lakh vaccine doses, or 0.09 per cent of the total doses administered, have been given to persons without identity cards and that all beneficiaries are registered on the Co-WIN portal.

    Pawar said, “All beneficiaries who have received vaccines in India are registered on Co-WIN portal. Co-WIN portal is single source of truth for vaccination status.”

    “As on 16th July 2021, a total of 3.48 lakh doses (0.09% of the total doses administered) have been administered to persons without identity cards,” she said.

    On the measures that have been taken to enable those without access to digital technology to get vaccinated, the minister said registration and vaccination of such people can be done through walk-in registration at a COVID-19 Vaccination Centre (CVC).

    The government has also allowed registration at Common Service Centres and registration of up to four persons using a single mobile number to facilitate registration of people without mobile phones.

    A detailed SOP has been issued for vaccination of people without prescribed photo ID documents through key facilitators at identified government vaccination centres.

    Till July 17, a total of 48.68 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccines were manufactured in the country, the government informed Parliament on Tuesday.

    It also said the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) under the Ministry of Science and Technology is implementing the “Mission COVID Suraksha – the Indian COVID-19 Vaccine Development Mission”.

    Under the mission, facility augmentation for production of Covaxin is being supported, whereby Bharat Biotech and three public sector enterprises (PSEs) — Haffkine Biopharmaceutical Corporation Limited in Mumbai, Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL) in Hyderabad and Bharat Immunologicals Biologicals Limited (BIBCOL) in Bulandshahr — are being supported.

    Additionally, the technology transfer of Covaxin production to a consortium of partners, including Hester Biosciences and OmniBRx Biotechnologies Private Limited and led by Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC) under the Department of Science and Technology of the Gujarat government, is being facilitated by the DBT.

    “These efforts are expected to enhance the production of Covaxin in the coming months. The Government of India has provided 100 per cent advance payment against supply orders placed with vaccine manufacturers to enable them to utilise these funds for capacity augmentation,” the minister said.

    The government has also provided financial assistance to one of the domestic vaccine manufacturers for “at-risk manufacturing” of COVID-19 vaccines.

    The regulatory norms have also been streamlined for the approval of vaccines in India that have received the Emergency Use License (EUL) by the FDA of the United States, the MHRA of the United Kingdom, the PMDA of Japan or the WHO-EUL.

    “Till 17th July 2021, a total of 48.68 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been manufactured in India,” Pawar said.

    On the precautionary measures that have been taken to combat the third wave of the pandemic, she said the health ministry continues to monitor the COVID-19 trajectory right up to the district level.

    The guiding principle to minimise and avert the risk of future resurgence of cases is the five-fold strategy of test-track-treat-vaccinate and Covid-appropriate behaviour, Pawar added.

    Besides, the states are also being provided with the requisite technical and financial support to prepare for and respond to any exigencies arising out of a rapid spurt in the number of cases, she said.

    In addition, the government has supported the states and Union territories with ventilators, oxygen cylinders, PSA (pressure swing adsorption) plants, drugs and diagnostics as well as financial assistance for augmentation of hospital beds.

    A new scheme — India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package: Phase-II (ERCP-II) — amounting to Rs 23,123 crore has been approved for the 2021-22 financial year, which aims to prevent, detect and respond to the continuing threat posed by COVID-19 and strengthen the national health systems, the minister said.

  • Harsh Vardhan’s departure from cabinet marred with COVID-19 policy failure?

    Express News Service
    The departure of Dr Harshvardhan from the Ministry of Health last week earned him sympathies from the most unusual quarters the leaders belonging to Congress party. Former Union minister Jairam Ramesh in a tweet said the Lok Sabha member from Chandni Chowk had been made a scapegoat for “monumental failures at the highest level nowhere else”.

    The Congress leader also said the former health minister is a “good man”. The head of media cell of Congress party, Randeep Surjewala indirectly defended Vardhan saying the National Disaster Management Authority, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was responsible for the “criminal mismanagement” of Covid-19. These comments obviously were made to embarrass the Prime Minister and not in any genuine sympathy for a ‘good man’ as Ramesh would prefer calling Vardhan.

    These comments may or may not have embarrassed the Prime Minister but must have given a cause for introspection to the former health minister. Vardhan as health minister in Modi 2.0 government has been unduly harsh on the Opposition which was rightly trying to raise the issue of the pandemic. As early as February last year, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had tweeted, “The coronavirus is an extremely serious threat to our people and economy. My sense is the government is not taking this threat seriously.

    Timely action is critical”. To which Vardhan had responded with a comment laced with sarcasm rather than seriousness and sagacity. This year too, when the second wave of coronavirus was peaking, Vardhan did not take kindly to a letter by former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to his successor suggesting a roadmap to fight the pandemic.

    Instead of Modi, it was Vardhan who replied and that too very caustically saying, “History shall be kinder to you Dr Manmohan Singh ji if your offer of ‘constructive cooperation’ and valuable advice was followed by your… leaders as well in such extraordinary times!” What followed in the subsequent days was a government plan to fight the pandemic which drew liberally from the note sent by the economist-statesman to the Prime Minister.

    The agitated and the rude demeanour of Vardhan during the past two years was for sure not in sync with his carefully cultivated image over the past three decades of an affable person. From earning epaulets of ‘Swasth Vardhan’ (one who makes you remain healthy) from former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to being dropped from Narendra Modi government for his failure as health minister has brought Vardhan for once face-to-face with political trough. His political journey so far has been of surfing on a political high-tide with minor setbacks here and there.

    For almost quarter of a century, Vardhan lived with the halo of being the man responsible for eradication of polio from the country. This would now get overshadowed by his ‘failure’ to efficiently handle the scourge of Covid. There could be merit in Jairam Ramesh’s claim of failures at the highest level but it cannot be ignored that Vardhan as the health minister was a crucial clog in the anti-Covid machinery of the central government. If at all he did not have his way in the manner the pandemic was being managed, as is being suggested by the Congress leaders, Vardhan could have flagged it as did his senior Cabinet colleague Nitin Gadkari.

    As health minister and a politician with a credible track record, Vardhan’s word would have carried weight. He, however, chose to be part of the plan which included despicable espousing of medicines from Ramdev’s stable, which were tom-tommed to be cure for the virus. Both the plan and the concoction failed to deliver, and now Vardhan is paying the price for it. There is a saying, you can’t have the cake and eat it too. Harsh Vardhan chose to be part of the plan, defending it stoutly and sometimes rudely in the public domain, so where is the scope for any sympathy on being unseated for the failure of the plan.

    SIDHARTH MISHRAAuthor and president, Centre for Reforms, Development & Justice

  • Major clean up in mega shake-up of Modi’s Cabinet

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  Aiming to do an image makeover and making the party poll ready with ample representation from the weaker sections of the society, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday carried out a major shake-up of his council of ministers. The adverse impact of Covid-19 apparently led to the culling of 12 ministers, including biggles like Dr Harsh Vardhan, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Prakash Javadekar. 

    With the government being hauled over the coals by an aggressive higher judiciary during the Covid second wave, Prasad lost his place in the new Cabinet. The new law minister is Kiren Rijiju, who has been elevated to Cabinet rank.

    Javadekar was seen as not having delivered as the first spokesperson of the Centre in his role as minister for information and broadcasting. The new I&B minister is Anurag Thakur, who has also been given Cabinet rank. Vardhan, in the firing line for not anticipating the Covid second wave, lost his health portfolio to Mansukh Mandaviya, who who had been actively arranging medicines for Covid patients. 

    The axe also fell on Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ (education goes to Dharmendra Pradhan), Sadananda Gowda (chemicals and fertilizers with Mandaviya as added responsibility) and six ministers of states, which included Santosh Kumar Gangwar and Babul Supriyo. 

    Others who were elevated to Cabinet rank were Hardeep Puri, G Kishan Reddy, R K Singh and Puroshottam Rupala. In all, 43 ministers took oath of office. The first was Narayan Rane as Cabinet minister, which indicated the party is not looking to win back the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra, and will go it alone in the next Assembly polls while expanding its support base in the Konkan region. He will hold the MSME portfolio.

    As expected, former CM of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal and the architect of the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh, Jyotiraditya Scindia got Cabinet rank. Scindia is the new minister for civil aviation. Interestingly, his father Madhavrao Scindia had quit as civil aviation minister in 1992 after an aircraft crash.

    BJP’s national general secretary Bhupender Yadav, a key aide of Union home minister Amit Shah, and a protégé of late minister Arun Jaitley, joined the Cabinet. He will hold the environment and labour portfolios. Shah has been given the additional role of running the new ministry of cooperation. 

    Bureaucrat-turned-politician Ashwini Vaishnaw from Odisha also entered the Cabinet. He had earned his spurs in Vajpayee’s PMO. He is the new minister for information technology and railways. A dozen ministers from the Scheduled Castes were also drafted in, including A Narayanswamy (Karnataka), Kaushal Kishore (UP) and L Murugan (Tamil Nadu). With eight ministers hailing from the tribal community, the BJP clearly sought to work out its social engineering with the SCs, STs and Other Backward Castes (OBCs). 

    NDA allies who took their oath included R C P Singh (JD-U) and Pashupati Paras (LJP), both Cabinet rank, and Anupriya Patel of Apna Dal as minister of state. With Gujarat polls due next year, Mandaviya and Puroshottam Rupala, both belonging to the Patidar community, were promoted. Reddy’s elevation was in line with the BJP’s aspirations in Telangana. Adding combative leaders, the PM drafted in Shobha Karandlaje (Karnataka) and Meenakshi Lekhi (Delhi), while Bengal was represented by four new faces. 

    Youngest ever team picked so farWith an average age of 56, the new team is the youngest ever Modi has led so far. The youngest is first time Lok Sabha member from Cooch Behar Nisith Pramanik (35) while the eldest is 69. The other young ministers are Shantanu Thakur (38), Anupriya Patel (40), Bharati Pawar (42) and John Barla (45)

    Seven former babus in Modi’s new teamThe new team has 27 members representing the Other Backward Classes, 12 Scheduled Caste and eight Scheduled Tribe ministers. It also has a Muslim, Christian and Sikh each and two Buddhists. As for professionals, it has three lawyers, six doctors, five engineers and seven former civil servants

    Axed

    D V Sadananda Gowda
    Ravi Shankar Prasad
    Thaawarchand Gehlot
    Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’
    Dr Harsh Vardhan
    Prakash Javadekar
    Santosh Kumar Gangwar
    Babul Supriyo
    Dhotre Sanjay Shamrao
    Rattan Lal Kataria
    Pratap Chandra Sarangi
    Debasree Chaudhuri
    New ministers of state

    Pankaj Choudhary
    Anupriya Singh Patel
    Dr Satya Pal Singh Baghel
    Rajeev Chandrasekhar
    Shobha Karandlaje
    Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma
    Darshana Vikram Jardosh
    Meenakshi Lekhi
    Annpurna Devi
    A Narayanaswamy
    Kaushal Kishore
    Ajay Bhatt
    B L Verma
    Ajay Kumar
    Chauhan Devusinh
    Bhagwanth Khuba
    Kapil Moreshwar Patil
    Pratima Bhoumik
    Dr Subhas Sarkar
    Dr Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad
    Dr Rajkumar Ranjan Singh
    Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar
    Bishweswar Tudu
    Shantanu Thakur
    Dr Munjapara Mahendrabhai
    John Barla
    Dr L Murugan
    Nisith Pramanik

    All you want to know about ministers

    Narayan raneFirst-time Rajya Sabha MP from Maharashtra; six-time MLA and CM for a few months in 1999. Expelled from Shiv Sena in 2005; joined Congress; formed own outfit in 2017 which then merged with BJP

    Sarbananda sonowalA law graduate, he was CM of Assam from 2016-2021; two-time Lok Sabha MP; was minister of state (independent charge) in the Modi government earlier; has been an MLA twice; seen as a major figure 

    Virendra KumarMP from Tikamgarh in Madhya Pradesh; elected to Lok Sabha seven times; a PhD in child labour, he has served as MoS for Women & Child Development and Minority Affairs in the Modi govt in the past

    Jyotiraditya ScindiaFive-time MP, currently Rajya Sabha member; was a minister in the UPA govt; quit Congress and joined BJP last year with 22 MLAs and helped the saffron party regain power in Madhya Pradesh; just reward, it seems

    Ram chandra Prasad SinghAn alumnus of Jawaharlal Nehru University and a retired IAS officer of 1984 batch, he is a Rajya Sabha MP from Bihar; is the president of Janata Dal-United and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s close confidante

    Ashwini VaishnavIs a former IAS officer from Odisha and Rajya Sabha MP; has done MBA from Wharton School, Pennysylvania University and MTech from IIT Kanpur; has held leadership positions in global companies

    Pashupati ParasA Lok Sabha MP from Hajipur in Bihar and brother of the late Ram Vilas Paswan; has been a 7-time MLA; is heading the breakaway faction of LJP following the recent coup against nephew Chirag Paswan

    Bhupendra YadavA lawyer and two-time Rajya Sabha MP from Rajasthan; close to Amit Shah; known for his leadership across various parliamentary committees; played key role in BJP’s accession to power in several states  

    Kiren RijijuA prominent leader of BJP from Northeast (Arunachal); gets a promotion with Cabinet rank; was minister of state for sports and youth affairs earlier; was MoS Home in Modi government’s first term

    RK SinghBureaucrat-turned politician who steered Modi govt’s power sector reforms agenda; two-term Lok Sabha MP from Arrah in Bihar; was MoS for power and renewable energy and skill development earlier

    Hardeep Singh Puri Is Rajya Sabha MP; was a 1974 batch IFS officer and one of India’s top diplomats who held several key positions such as Permanent Represen-tative to UN; was earlier minister for civil aviation, housing and urban affairs 

    Mansukh MandaviyaRajya Sabha MP from Gujarat; was minister of state for port & shipping and chemical & fertilisers; started his political career as member of the BJP’s youth wing; became the youngest MLA in Gujarat in 2002

    G Kishan ReddyMP from Secunderabad, Telangana; was earlier MoS; was earlier a three-time MLA and BJP floor leader in Telangana and undivided Andhra assemblies; was BJP state president in Telangana and undivided Andhra

    Parshottam RupalaA Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat; was earlier minister of state for agriculture and panchayati raj; is known for his humour and oratory skills; the 66-year-old served as a minister in state earlier

    Anurag ThakurIs the youngest from Himachal Pradesh to hold Cabinet rank in Union council of ministers; was earlier minister of state for finance; has served three terms spanning  seven years as BJPs Youth Wing president

    Bhanu Pratap Singh VermaLok Sabha MP from Jalaun in Uttar Pradesh, serving his fifth term in Parliament; in 2001, he became vice-president of the Uttar Pradesh BJP’s SC Morcha and a decade later, he became its president

    Rajeev CHandrasekharRajya Sabha MP from Karnataka; served on various parliamentary committees; has MTech in Computer Science from Illinois Institute of Technology and Advanced Management Program from Harvard University

    Meenakshi LehkiLawyer and two-time Lok Sabha MP from New Delhi; appointed vice-president of BJP’s Mahila Morcha in 2010; her contempt petition had forced Rahul Gandhi to apologise to Supreme Court for ‘Chowkidar Chor Hai’ jibe

    Shobha KarandlajeLok Sabha MP from Udupi Chikmangalur in Karnataka; was an MLA and MLC earlier; is a close associate of Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddiyurappa; was a minister in his cabinet earlier

    Pankaj ChoudharySix-time Lok Sabha MP from Maharajganj in UP; began his political career in 1989-91 as member of Gorakhpur Municipal Corporation, later became deputy mayor; became member of BJP working committee in 1990

    Anupriya patelPresident of BJP’s ally Apna Dal (S) and Lok Sabha MP from Mirzapur, UP; serving her second term; was earlier MoS-health in the Modi government; was a professor before entering politics

    SP Singh baghelLok Sabha member from Agra and serving his fifth term; holds PhD and law degrees; was minister in the Uttar Pradesh government in th past; a prominent SC face in this crucial heartland state; was in SP and  BSP earlier

    Darshana Vikram JArdoshA three-time MP from Gujarat’s Surat; was a corporator earlier and member of the Gujarat Social Welfare Board; an OBC face of the party; has served as a member of different committees of Parliament

    Annpurna DeviFirst-time MP from Kodarma, Jharkhand; was a four-time MLA and also served as a minister in the states of Jharkhand as well as Bihar; she has done Masters in History from the Ranchi University

    A Narayana swamyFirst-time Lok Sabha MP from Chitradurg, Karnataka; was MLA for four terms earlier and minister in the state; SC face of BJP; said to be close to party national general secretary BL Santosh

    Kaushal KishoreThe 61-year-old two-time MP represents Mohanlalganj Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh; belongs to SC (Pasi) community; state chief of BJP’s Scheduled Caste wing; was in Samajwadi Party earlier

    Ajay BhattMP from Nainital, elected first time to Lok Sabha; was a practising lawyer before joining politics; Brahmin face from Kumaon in Uttarakhand; was three-time MLA and Cabinet minister in the hill state

    BL VermaThe 59-year-old is first time Rajya Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh; hails from Badaun district; is prominent OBC face; became UP BJP vice-president in 2018; is in Parliament Committee on Welfare of OBCs

    Ajay Kumar Lok Sabha MP from Khiri constituency in Uttar Pradesh; is the lone Brahmin face from among the ministers appointed from the state; represent Terai region; the 60-year-old former MLA also holds a law degree

    Chauhan Devusinh A two-term Lok Sabha member from Kheda in Gujarat; an OBC, was 2-time MLA earlier; prior to his full-time political career, he has served as an Engineer in All-India Radio; holds a diploma in Electrical Engineering 

    Bhagwanth KhubaElected to Lok Sabha from Bidar in Karnataka for second term; hails from politically dominant Lingayat community; holds BTech degree in Mechanical Engineering; in Parliament’s Standing Committee on Agriculture

    Kapil M PatiLIs Lok Sabha MP from Bhiwandi in Maharashtra, serving his second term; is BJP’s OBC face; shifted to the party from NCP; has been member of standing committee on defence & committee on absence of members from House

    Pratima BhoumikFirst-time MP from Tripura West Lok Sabha seat; the 52-year-old BJP leader is from a humble background and holds a graduate degree in Bio-Science; is the first to be made minister from the state in three decades

    Subhas SarkarIs a first-term Lok Sabha MP from Bankura in West Bengal; is a gynaecologist and board member of AIIMS Kalyani; has been BJP’s organisation man in the state; was made vice-president of West Bengal BJP in 2013 to 2017

    Bhagwat K KaradRajya Sabha MP for Maharashtra, serving his first term; a doctor by profession, runs Dr Karad Multi Specialty Hospital & Research Center in Aurangabad; the 64-year-old has also served as mayor of Aurangabad

    Rajkumar Ranjan SinghIs a first-time MP of the BJP from Inner Manipur Lok Sabha constituency. The 68-year-old Singh was a professor of geography for four decades before becoming a lawmaker; holds MA and PhD degrees

    Shantanu ThakurElected to Lok Sabha from Bongaon constituency of West Bengal; is an influential Matua dharma guru; has been actively involved in spreading Matua culture as a leader of All India Matua Mahasangha

    Bishweswar TuduIs a Lok Sabha MP from Mayurbhanj in Odisha; hails from the Cuttack region; the 56-year-old holds a Diploma in Electrical Engineering,  worked as an engineer in state water resources dept prior to joining politics

    Bharati Pravin PawarIs first-time Lok Sabha MP from Dindori in Maharashtra; holds MBBS degree and was a medical practitioner before joining politics; the 42-year-old also served as member of Nashik Zila Parishad

    Munjapara MahendrabhaiIs Lok Sabha MP from Surendranagar, Gujarat, serving his 1st term; prior to his political career, he had a 3 decades long career as a Cardiologist and Professor of Medicine in Gujarat; is known to be a social worker at heart

    L MuruganPractised law in the Madras High Court for 15 years before joining public life; was Vice Chairman of the National Commission of SCs from 2017 to 2020; he holds a LLM and PhD in Law from Madras University

    John BarlaIs a Lok Sabha MP from Alipurduars, West Bengal, serving his first term; he started off as a tea garden worker at the age of 14 and has worked for the rights of tea garden workers for more than two decades

    Nisith Pramanik He is a Lok Sabha MP from Cooch Behar constituency in West Bengal, serving his first term as a member of Parliament; the 35-year-old has worked as an Assistant Teacher in a Primary School and has a BCA degree

  • No vaccine for virus of ignorance: Harsh Vardhan’s reply to Rahul Gandhi’s tweet on jab shortage

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Friday hit back at Rahul Gandhi for raising questions over the COVID-19 vaccine availability in the country, saying the Congress is in need of a leadership haul.

    Vardhan also said that there is no vaccine for the virus of arrogance and ignorance.

    “Just yesterday, I put out facts on vaccine availability for the month of July. What is @RahulGandhi Ji’s problem ?Does he not read ? Does he not understand ? There is no vaccine for the virus of arrogance and ignorance !! @INCIndia must think of a leadership overhaul !,” Vardhan tweeted.

    Earlier in the day, Gandhi had said in a tweet in Hindi that July has come but vaccines have not.

    Vardhan on Thursday said that various leaders were making “irresponsible statements” about the COVID-19 vaccination drive and requested them to desist from the “shameless urge to play politics” in the midst of a pandemic.

    Taking to Twitter, he urged these leaders to spend “more energy in planning and not in creating panic”.

    “I’m seeing irresponsible statements from various leaders regarding the largest vaccination drive.

    Stating facts so that people can judge intentions of these leaders.

    “After GoI (Government of India) provided 75 per cent of vaccines available for free, vaccination speed picked up and 11. 50 crore doses were given in June,” Vardhan said in a tweet.

    He further said that states have already been informed in advance about vaccine supplies for July.

    “States have already been informed in advance about #COVID19Vaccine supplies for July. This info was shared with states 15 days prior, along with details about day wise supply. total of 12 crore doses shall be made available in July. Pvt hospital supply will be over and above this,” he had said in an another tweet.

    He said if there are issues in states, it shows that they need to plan their vaccination drives better.

    “Intra-state planning and logistics are the responsibility of the states,” he said.

    “If these leaders are aware of these facts and are still making such statements, I consider it most unfortunate. If they don’t know, they need to focus on governance. Will again request state leaders to spend more energies in planning and not in creating panic,” he said in another tweet.

    According to Health Ministry’s inoculation data published at 7 am on Friday the cumulative COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has crossed 34 crore under the Nationwide Vaccination Drive.

  • Some leaders making irresponsible statements about Covid vaccination drive, says Harsh Vardhan

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday alleged that various leaders were making “irresponsible statements” about the COVID-19 vaccination drive and requested them to desist from the “shameless urge to play politics” in the midst of a pandemic.

    Taking to Twitter he urged these leaders to spend “more energy in planning and not in creating panic”.

    “I’m seeing irresponsible statements from various leaders regarding the largest vaccination drive. Stating facts so that people can judge intentions of these leaders.

    “After GoI (Government of India) provided 75 per cent of vaccines available for free, vaccination speed picked up and 11.50 crore doses were given in June,” Vardhan said in a tweet.

    He said if there are issues in states, it shows that they need to plan their vaccination drives better.

    “Intra-state planning and logistics are the responsibility of the states.”

    “If these leaders are aware of these facts and are still making such statements, I consider it most unfortunate. If they don’t know, they need to focus on governance. Will again request state leaders to spend more energies in planning and not in creating panic,” he said in another tweet.

    According to Health Ministry’s inoculation data published at 7 am on Thursday cumulatively 33.

    57 crore vaccine doses have been administered so far under the Nationwide Vaccination Drive.

  • History shall bear witness that when time came, it was doctors who stepped up: Union Minister Harsh Vardhan

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday applauded doctors for going beyond the call of duty to attend to their patients during the COVID-19 pandemic and help the nation overcome its gravest challenge in over a century.

    Addressing a meeting of eminent doctors, professors of medical science and stalwarts of the medical fraternity through a video conference on the occasion of National Doctors’ Day, he condoled the death of doctors due to the pandemic.

    “Normally a day to be celebrated with much vigour and zeal, I can’t help but feel disheartened thinking about the numerous noble souls from our medical fraternity who left for heavenly abode, most of them much before their time.

    “Their loss is deeply unfortunate and yet a matter of immense pride and inspiration for the medical community at large. History shall bear witness that when the time came and humanity needed to be saved, it was the doctors who stepped up to answer the call of duty,” Vardhan was quoted as saying in a Health Ministry statement.

    He said that if it were not for the overzealous compassion of the medical community towards the plight of their fellow citizens, the story of how this pandemic eventually unfolded would have been drastically different and depressing.

    “Many doctors could have opted to stay in the comfort of their homes and see out the pandemic, but not one of you did so. On the contrary, we saw veterans and retired doctors stepping up voluntarily to help in these times of need.

    “We saw enthusiastic medical students, young and barely a few years into their adulthood, well aware of the risks, ready to pick up the mantle to help the nation overcome its gravest challenge in over a century!,” the health ministry said.

    Although the medical profession has been always considered a noble one and indeed many patients consider doctors as no less than god, COVID-19 has made this much more evident, Vardhan said.

    Invoking the Hippocratic Oath, he further said, “Wherever Art of Medicine is loved, there is also a love of humanity — said Hippocrates. It is your spirit of service, combined with your intelligence, that places you in this unique position to save the people of this country from this threat.”

    Advising doctors to minimise risk to their lives, Vardhan enumerated a three-fold action plan for them to defeat COVID-19.

    “One, take care of yourself and follow proper protocols in handling patients. We do not want any of you to be infected.  I personally can’t bear the loss of another corona warrior. Two, we have to fight this virus as well as an infodemic. Many people visit your clinics. They trust you and follow your words. You are not only a doctor but also a role model and guide. Tell the communities the do’s and don’ts to prevent the spread of this virus.

    “Three, stay connected with your peers and with all of us. Be apprised of the diagnostic and treatment protocols and also contribute to it based on your knowledge and experience. What you are doing is both empowering as well as a privilege — people confide in you, trust you with their lives, look up to you,” he said.

    The Union Health Minister also took the occasion to thank the families of doctors and acknowledged the turmoil and dilemma they must have gone through each day.

    “To stay away from family and friends when the world faces an existential threat is no easy task. For them to have a loved one at the forefront of this battle must have been even more daunting,” Vardhan said.

  • Over 40,000 black fungus cases reported in India so far: Harsh Vardhan

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: The country has reported 40,845 cases of mucormycosis or black fungus during the Covid second wave so far, nearly 85% of which have been seen as in coronavirus patients while the fungal disease has already claimed 3,129 lives. 

    These figures were shared by Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan in a meeting of the group of ministers on Covid on Monday. 

    Mucormycosis, a rare fungal disease that has reached epidemic proportions over the last few days, is said to be fuelled by the use of steroids, compromised immunity, and diabetes in Covid patients. The disease has caught attention as it has a high mortality rate and manifests itself severely through stark symptoms on the face, lungs and brain and often requires complicated surgeries.  

    #Imp: #Mucormycosis has claimed 3,129 lives so far while 40,845 cases have been reported, 31,444 rhinocerebral in nature. 85 % of those with the disease had #COVID19 & 64 % had diabetes too. But 32% patients were in 18-45 age group, more than 24 % in 60 plus.@NewIndianXpress
    — Sumi Dutta (@SumiSukanya) June 28, 2021

    The data presented in the Monday meeting showed that while 34,940 patients or 85.5% — out of total diagnosed with black fungus — had Covid, 26,187 or about 64.11% were co-morbid for diabetes. Also, 31,444 of the cases were rhinoorbital in nature meaning the patients had infection in and around the nasal cavity.  

    However, only about 21,523 (52.69%) of those infected were on steroids and the disease distribution age group wise showed that it struck the highest number of people in 45–60-year age group but even younger ones were not spared.

    For instance, 13,083 patients were in the age group 18-45 (32%), 17,464 were in the age group 45-60 (42%) while 10,082 (24%) patients were 60+ years of age. During the meeting, ICMR director general Balram Bhargava underlined that the second wave has still not subsided as 80 districts still have high positivity. The official, therefore, advised against any laxity at this stage while assuring that the existing Covid vaccines have been found effective against the Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta variants.

  • 40,845 cases of black fungus reported in India so far: Health Minister Harsh Vardhan

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: A total of 40,845 cases of black fungus or mucormycosis have been reported in the country so far, of which 31,344 are rhinocerebral in nature, and the death toll from the infections stands at 3,129, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Monday.

    Vardhan, who chaired the 29th meeting of the high-level Group of Ministers (GoM) on COVID-19, apprised the members that of the total numbers, 34,940 patients had Covid (85.5 per cent), 26,187 (about 64.11 per cent) were co-morbid for diabetes, while 21,523 (52.69 per vent) of those infected were on steroids.

    A total of 13,083 patients were in the age group of 18-45 years (32 per cent), 17,464 were in the age group of 45-60 years (42 per cent), while 10,082 (24 per cent) patients were 60-plus years of age, a health ministry statement said.

    Speaking on COVID-19 vaccination drive, Vardhan said, “India has achieved another milestone in COVID-19 vaccination and has overtaken the US in total number of Covid vaccine doses administered so far. The US started vaccinating against Covid from December 14, 2020, whereas the drive was launched in India on January 16.”

    #Imp: #Mucormycosis has claimed 3,129 lives so far while 40,845 cases have been reported, 31,444 rhinocerebral in nature. 85 % of those with the disease had #COVID19 & 64 % had diabetes too. But 32% patients were in 18-45 age group, more than 24 % in 60 plus.@NewIndianXpress
    — Sumi Dutta (@SumiSukanya) June 28, 2021

    Under the new policy of Covid vaccination, the Union government is procuring and supplying (free of cost) 75 per cent of the vaccines being produced by the vaccine manufacturers in the country to states and union territories, he was quoted as saying in the statement.

    Till Monday morning (8 am), 32,36,63,297 vaccine doses have been administered in various categories.

    Vardhan also presented a snapshot of India’s efforts to contain COVID-19.

    In the last 24 hours, India had only 46,148 Covid cases, while the active cases significantly declined to 5,72,994, he said.

    The recovery rate has been steadily increasing and stands at 96.80 per cent as on date and 58,578 recoveries were registered in the last 24 hours.

    Today is the 46th day in succession where our daily recoveries outnumbered new cases.

    Our case fatality rate has been 1.30 per cent, daily positivity rate at 2.94 per cent and weekly positivity rate also stands at 2.94 per cent, which has been consistently below 5 per cent for 21 days now, Vardhan said.

    The GoM strongly reiterated the importance of Covid-appropriate behaviour, the statement said.

    Higher level of continued awareness building through sustained IEC campaigns was highlighted.

    NITI Aayog member (Health) Dr V K Paul emphasised on the benefits of mask wearing and hand hygiene.

    Dr Balram Bhargava, Secretary (Health Research) and Director General (ICMR), also cautioned that the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has still not subsided as 80 districts in the country still have high positivity, the statement said.

    He advised against any laxity at this stage and also explained that vaccines have been found effective against the alpha, beta, gamma and delta variants of COVID-19.

    Dr Sujeet K Singh, Director (National Centre for Disease Control), presented a detailed report on the trajectory of Covid in states and UTs.

    He presented a granular analysis based on epidemiological findings of the trajectory of the pandemic in each state pointing out critical parameters like growth of cases, concentration of cases in particular districts and other trends like fatality and the variants of COVID-19 driving the infection in the affected states, the statement said.

    Active Covid cases continue to be concentrated mainly in Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Odisha, which are reporting growth rate more than the national COVID-19 growth rate, it said.

    While 19 states are reporting fatality figures in single digit (less than 10), four states of Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu are reporting more than 100 deaths daily.

    Neerja Sekhar, Additional Secretary, Information and Broadcasting, apprised the GoM on how issues like vaccine hesitancy are being addressed through different mediums, the statement said.

    Vardhan was joined by Hardeep S Puri, Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri Nityanand Rai, Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs and Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State, Health.

  • Fake vaccination camps: Suvendu Adhikari writes to Harsh Vardhan for CBI probe

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari has sought a probe by the central agencies into fake vaccination drive in the city conducted by a man impersonating as an IAS officer having “influence in the ruling party.”

    The BJP leader made the demand for central probe in a letter written to Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan.

    In his letter, Adhikari alleged that the man, who was arrested after his drive was busted by the police, has “influence in the ruling party”.

    He claimed that Debanjan Deb, the main accused, held illegal vaccination camps in Kasba, Amherst Street and Sonarpur areas under the “watch of the local administration, including police and civic authorities”.

    “Hundreds of people have already been inoculated in these camps. While copies of Aadhaar cards were procured from the recipients in Kasba, none of them received any certificate of vaccination.”

    “The big question is – were these shots really Covishield vaccines as being claimed by the accused? If so, then this raises a big question on pilferage of COVID vaccines from the government stock and this cannot happen without complicity of top civic authorities.”

    “If these were not COVID vaccines, then immediate investigation needs to be done,” Adhikari said in the letter written on Friday.

    The Kolkata Police arrested Deb (28) Wednesday for allegedly posing as an IAS officer and organising a COVID-19 vaccination camp in Kasba area, and formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by the joint police commissioner (Crime).

    The SIT will investigate how the main accused held COVID-19 vaccination camps where around 2000 people were suspected to have been administered fake doses,a senior officer had said.

    Actor and Trinamool Congress MP Mimi Chakraborty, who had taken COVID vaccine shot at one of the camps set up by Deb,was first to raise the alarm as she did not receive the customary SMS that is sent to people after they have taken the jab.

    “Public health frauds like this in the midst of a raging global pandemic are making common people skeptic. I sincerely urge you to order a thorough investigation by concerned central agencies into this vaccination fraud and punish the guilty.”

    “An impartial investigation by the central agencies, undaunted by any pressure from the state’s ruling party or the government, is the need of the hour to restore credibility of the entire COVID vaccination process in West Bengal,” Adhikari wrote to the union health minister.

    The incident triggered a political storm after purported photographs and videos of the arrested person along with several TMC leaders and ministers at various programmes came in the public domain.

    PTI could not independently verify the authenticity of the photographs or videos.

    Adhikari claimed that the main accused held illegal vaccination camps decorated with “trademark blue and white balloons characteristic of the TMC government events”.

    “While Kolkata Police has reportedly started investigating into the fraud, several incriminating photos suggestive of the accused’s influence in the ruling party of West Bengal have come to the fore,” the BJP leader alleged.

    The TMC leadership, however, has denied any involvement in the matter.

    “We are politicians and attend several programmes every day. Many people come to us and click pictures. It is not always possible to ascertain their identity. The allegations against our leaders are baseless and politically motivated,” senior TMC leader and minister Firhad Hakim said.

    After its defeat in the assembly polls, the BJP was looking for an issue to corner the TMC government and is quick to grab it and demanded a CBI probe to look into the matter, Hakim said.

    “If just a photograph proves someone guilty, several BJP leaders should be put behind the bars for having photographed with the scamsters,” senior TMC leader Tapas Ray has said.

    Adhikari on Friday led a BJP delegation to Swasthya Bhawan, the state health department headquarters, and questioned officials how a person impersonating as an IAS officer has been organising vaccination camps remained off the radar of the police and the department for so long.

    He had also claimed that it was a conspiracy of the TMC as the ruling party in West Bengal was trying to tarnish the BJP-led Union government image with a claim that the Centre has provided fake vaccines.

    “We apprehend that the West Bengal government and the ruling party have hatched a larger conspiracy to implicate the Centre.

    They are helping people with disputable identity to organise camps where fake jabs were administered to defame the Narendra Modi regime.

    “If there was any adverse impact on people who were inoculated, the TMC will blame the Centre for providing fake vaccines,” the BJP leader had said.

    According to police officials,Deb allegedly had financially duped several people in Kolkata by impersonating as a joint commissioner of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC).

    On his social media accounts, he had posted several pictures of organising medical camps and participating in government programmes.