India

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 11 (IANS) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is on the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' from Kanniyakumari to Kashmir, was caught in another controversy on Sunday after he skipped a function for inauguration of memorials of two noted Gandhians of Kerala.

Both the Gandhians - Gopinathan Nair and K.E. Maman - are highly respected in the state.

Rahul Gandhi was passing near the Noorul Islam Medical Sciences (NIMS) at Neyyatinkara during his Yatra and the organisers of the Kerala leg of the journey had agreed that he would inaugurate the memorials of the two Gandhians, constructed at the hospital building. The hospital had taken care of both the Gandhians in their medical emergencies.

While Gandhi passed in front of the NIMS hospital, he did not stop to inaugurate the memorials.

This led to controversy as families and friends of both the Gandhians, including the wife of late Gopinathan Nair, were waiting at the hospital premises for the function.

Congress's state unit President K. Sudhakaran later apologised for the goof-up and promised the NIMS Managing Director that a separate function would be organised for the inauguration.

MP Shashi Tharoor criticised Gandhi for skipping the event, saying: "Such things affect the credibility."

--IANS
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Hyderabad, Sep 11 (IANS) It's finally official. Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao will soon launch a national political party.

During a meeting with former Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy here on Sunday, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) President stated that the formation of the national party and formulation of policies will soon take place.

KCR, as Rao is popularly known, has been holding discussions with intellectuals, economists, and experts from various fields to work out an alternative national agenda.

KCR told the Janata Dal-Secular leader that TRS party leaders from the village level, district, and state level Presidents and Secretaries are also adopting resolutions to float a national party.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Sep 11 (IANS) Reacting on the probe order into the alleged irregularities in the procurement of 1,000 low-floor buses by the DTC, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday said that the L-G has ordered an investigation into a matter that has already been investigated several times.

Delhi Lt. Governor V.K. Saxena on Sunday approved the Chief Secretary's proposal to forward the complaint received by the L-G Secretariat into the matter of gross irregularities in the procurement of 1,000 low-floor buses by the DTC to the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Addressing a press briefing, AAP leader Atishi said: "The LG is putting all sorts of pressure on the agencies to anyhow file a case or start investigation against Arvind Kejriwal or any of his ministers. Such was his desperation that the L-G ordered an investigation into a matter which has already been investigated several times."

She further that he has hurled allegations against the government that "we have committed corruption in the purchase of buses but he did not care to check that not even a single bus was purchased".

"If the tender was not issued in the first place and no bus was purchased, I challenge all the BJP spokespersons, ministers and investigation agencies to tell me how is it possible to do a scam in such a scenario?" she asked.

"The L-G and all the investigation agencies had to report to the Prime Minister that they had done something to derail the progressive work being done by Arvind Kejriwal. They were running out of time and the L-G committed a huge blunder by picking up the wrong file and documents to launch an attack," the AAP leader alleged.

"We know that he (L-G) has been forced to hurl false allegations against Arvind Kejriwal but he should at least do his homework before launching an attack," Atishi alleged.

--IANS
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Hyderabad, Sep 11 (IANS) Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and and JD-S leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Sunday discussed the agenda of the national party proposed to be launched by the former.

The Janata Dal-Secular leader met KCR, as the Telangana Rashtra Samiti leader is popularly known, at the latter's official residence and they discussed a wide range of issues relating to national politics during the three-hour long meeting.

KCR told Kumaraswamy that the formation of the national party and formulation of policies will soon take place after continuing discussions with intellectuals, economists, and experts from various fields and reaching a consensus on an alternative national agenda.

According to the Chief Minister's Office, they discussed the threat of a political and governance crisis in the country if the BJP's "destructive political moves are not stopped". They felt that people of the country are waiting for an alternative political platform that will carry on the spirit of the Indian Constitution by integrating all communities irrespective of castes, religions and regions, it said.

The two leaders arrived at a consensus that they should put an end to the BJP rule, which is exploiting emotional issues, and use the upcoming general elections as a platform for that.

Kumaraswamy asserted that the immense experience of KCR, who achieved Telangana state by uniting all sections and moving forward in a democratic and peaceful manner, is required by the country in the present situation.

He felt that KCR should move forward to constitute an alternative front in the national politics and play a key role and assured his full support. He added that the country urgently needs a senior leader like KCR in the wake of the space for an alternative in the current national politics.

Kumaraswamy congratulated KCR saying that the entire country is discussing the development achieved by Telangana in just a span of eight years and the whole nation also wants to have similar development.

The TRS leader stressed the need to collectively thwart the conspiracies to create division among people. The two leaders discussed the "dangerous and selfish political path" adopted by the BJP government at the Centre and its consequences and expressed serious concerns.

They arrived at a consensus that they will protect the country from being pushed into dangerous religious hatred in any situation. In this direction, they stressed the need for unity of all alternative political forces to safeguard the spirit of the country's democratic federalism.

The former Karnataka Chief Minister said that people are waiting for an alternative to the BJP across the country. He urged KCR to foray into national politics and contribute his part for the qualitative progress of the country. He said he would extend full support if a political party is established for that purpose

The two leaders felt that people have come to an opinion that the Congress is not a strong alternative to the BJP and they lost faith in the Congress leadership. They discussed the urgent need for the unity of regional parties so that the spirit of democratic federation will flourish.

KCR told Kumaraswamy that there is increasing pressure on him to enter national politics and lead the country like Telangana. He said that people are extending their support in public meetings everywhere during his district tours with cheers and slogans to fight against the BJP and Modi's anti-people and autocratic attitude.

He asserted that people are completely against the BJP, which is constantly creating problems in Telangana, which is running on the path of progress.

The two leaders condemned the anti-farmer policies adopted by the BJP government at the Centre, which is acting as "an anti-farmer" government and is indulging in conspiracies to undermine domestic agriculture.

--IANS
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Chandigarh, Sep 11 (IANS) In an important development, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has observed that constitutional body, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, "does not possess the power of adjudication and has no authority to issue any mandatory injunction or interim injunction".

Further, Article 338 (5) of the Constitution imposes a duty on the commission to investigate and monitor all matters relating to the safeguards provided for the Scheduled Castes and to conduct inquiries into complaints pertaining to the deprivation of rights and safeguards, observed Justice Vinod S. Bhardwaj, while staying the commission's directive to the local administration to hand over 28 acres of land in Fatehgarh Sahib in Punjab to Nahar Nath.

It has ordered that the possession of the land should remain with petitioner Vikas Nath.

"Article 338 (8) vests powers of Civil Court upon the Commission only for limited purposes. The limited scope of power of a Civil Court vested in the Commission is only for enabling it to secure summoning and enforcement of attendance of any person or requiring discovery and production of documents etc.," the court observed.

After hearing counsel for petitioner Rakesh Chopra, the court stayed the operation of the commission order dated July 26-27. It prima facie agreed with the contention of the petitioner that the powers of the commission are limited.

The high court, while listing the matter for next hearing on November 3, contended that "such order of the commission runs contrary to the Supreme Court judgment".

The commission had ordered that the right of cultivation should be given after handing over the possession of land owned of a 'dera' by the administration to complainant Nahar Nath and adequate security be provided to him.

--IANS
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New York, Sep 11 (IANS) Several drugs used to treat Covid-19 patients -- including remdesivir, dexamethasone, and antibiotics for associated bacterial infections -- persist through wastewater treatment and may occur in waterways at levels high enough to negatively affect aquatic organisms, finds a new study.

According to researcher Heather Preisendanz from Penn State, over-the-counter and prescription-strength pharmaceuticals, including antibiotics and pain relievers, are excreted by humans, and many are known to persist through wastewater treatment plants and into nearby waterways, where they can negatively affect aquatic organisms.

"This knowledge spurred concerns that increased use of pharmaceuticals during the pandemic could also lead to increased concentrations of these drugs in wastewater treatment plant effluent and potentially harm aquatic life," said Preisendanz.

For the study, published in the Journal of Environmental Quality, the team collected weekly influent (incoming) and effluent (outgoing) samples from two wastewater treatment plants in central Pennsylvania between May 2020 and May 2021. One of the sites includes a hospital in its service area.

The researchers analysed the influent at both wastewater treatment plants for the virus SARS-CoV-2, as well as the influent and effluent for a variety of medications that may have been used to treat Covid-19.

In their study, the researchers examined two over-the-counter fever reducer/pain relievers (acetaminophen and naproxen), five antibiotics (ampicillin, doxycycline, ofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, and trimethoprim), two Covid-19 therapeutic agents (remdesivir and dexamethasone, which is used to reduce severe upper respiratory inflammation in patients on ventilators), and hydroxychloroquine, a malaria drug that was ultimately shown in clinical trials to be ineffective for treating Covid-19.

The team found that remdesivir concentrations were correlated with the number of hospitalised Covid-19 patients, while dexamethasone concentrations were associated with the number of hospitalised patients on ventilators.

Specifically, influent to the wastewater treatment plant servicing the hospital had concentrations of remdesivir and dexamethasone of 28 per cent and 31 per cent, respectively, while the average removal efficiencies by the wastewater treatment plant for these drugs were 39 per cent and 56 per cent, respectively.

Hydroxychloroquine was not detected in any of the influent samples collected at either treatment plant.

According to Preisendanz, although risk to aquatic organisms from remdesivir could not be calculated, as no research has yet been done to determine the concentrations that could pose a risk, dexamethasone was detected in quantities that could pose a low acute risk to fish.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Sep 11 (IANS) After the national council meeting of NCP on Sunday, party general secretary Praful Patel said that Sharad Pawar was not a contender for the prime minister's post, and the opposition unity was paramount.

He said Pawar was going to play an important role to bring many forces together.

Patel said, "Sharad Pawar was never and will never be the PM face. He only speaks about the real issues of this country. Some workers of the party expressed their views but Sharad Pawar is not aspiring for the PM post.

"We know our limitations and he is not the opposition's face but will play an important role."

Patel said the NCP was going to play a key role in the upcoming General Elections. But the party's stand was clear that there was a need for the Opposition to unite.

"We were also a part of the UPA government. We don't have any such issue with the Congress," he said.

Sharad Pawar was re-elected as the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President on Saturday unopposed during the party's national executive meeting.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who was in the national capital recently met scores of political leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, NCP leader Sharad Pawar, CPI-M Secretary General Sitaram Yechury, CPI's D. Raja and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Nitish Kumar's purpose of visit was to talk about the opposition unity. He is likely to meet Sonia Gandhi when she returns from abroad. Kumar had also met RJD leader Lalu Prasad and TRS Chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao.A

Nitish Kumar officially denied any prime ministerial ambition, but the political commentators feel that the target is PM's chair. However, the biggest obstacle is the Congress, which is maintaining that being the biggest political formation it's going to the fulcrum of any alliance.

--IANS
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Srinagar, Sep 11 (IANS) Former senior Congress leader, Ghulam Nabi Azad said on Sunday that he has not promised restoration of Article 370 in his new political agenda because he doesn't believe in making false promises.

Addressing a public meeting in north Kashmir's Baramulla town, Azad said, "To restore Article 370 would need around 350 votes in the Lok Sabha and 175 votes in the Rajya Sabha.

"This is a number no political party has or is likely to ever get. The Congress has shrunken to less than 50 seats and if they speak of restoring Article 370, they are making false promises."

He said his political agenda includes restoration of statehood, land and jobs for the locals as these are achievable objectives.

"Some people have blamed me for voting in favour of the Article 370 abrogation motion brought in by the home minister.

"I have voted against the abrogation and these people who have no idea about the working of Parliament are saying that I voted against Article 370," he said.

He said when he was the chief minister of the state, he arrested 13 police personnel for staging a fake encounter in which three persons were killed.

"The arrested persons are in jail for the last 15 years," he said.

He spoke of the developmental works and creation of districts during his tenure as the chief minister.

"Four new districts were created in the Valley and three in the Jammu division during my tenure as the chief minister. I got new medical colleges during that period.

"Whether I get four votes or lakhs of votes during the elections, I will never deceive the people," he assured the public gathering.

This was Azad's first public meeting in Kashmir after he resigned from the basic membership of the Congress party.

--IANS
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Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 11 (IANS) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who has embarked on a the Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir from September 8 has commenced his 19-day Kerala leg from Parassala bordering Tamil Nadu.

The Congress scion reached Parassala on Saturday night and started the journey in the morning. He was accorded a warm welcome with people thronging on both sides of the road to shower petals on him.

Party General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal, who is coordinating the Yatra, and former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh and party general secretary, Digvijaya Singh were walking along with Rahul Gandhi.

Gandhi will be reaching Thiruvananthapuram city on Monday and will address a public meeting there. The Congress leader is covering around 25 km on foot per day.

Kerala Pradesh Congress committee President K. Sudhakaran, Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly and senior Congress leader V.D. Satheeshan, coordinator for the Kerala leg of the Yatra, Kodikkunnil Suresh MP, Thiruvananthapuram District congress president Palode Ravi and senior leader Manacaud Suresh were also present with Rahul Gandhi as he beagn his Kerala leg padyatra.

--IANS
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Kolkata, Sep 11 (IANS) Trinamool Congress's national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee's sister-in-law, Maneka Gambhir, was stopped from travelling abroad on Saturday night following an objection by the Enforcement Directorate.

Gambhir is under probe by the ED in connection with the multi-crore coal scam.

She was supposed to leave for Bangkok on Saturday night, and accordingly she reached the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport. But she was stopped at the immigration department soon after she submitted her ticket and passport at the immigration department.

She was asked to wait for some time and meanwhile the immigration department official contacted ED headquarter in New Delhi. Later Gambhir was denied boarding at the Bangkok- bound flight on grounds that already a lookout notice has been issued against her in a particular case and hence she cannot be allowed to leave the country.

As a supporting document, the immigration department furnished an email printout of a notice from the ED, through which the latter had summoned her to be present at the ED office in Kolkata this week for questioning in a particular case.

To recall, on August 30, the Calcutta High Court, allowed Maneka Gambhir to appear for questioning at the Enforcement Directorate (ED)'s Kolkata office instead of its New Delhi office. The ED had summoned Gambhir at its Delhi office on September 5 for questioning in the coal smuggling scam. However, she had challenged the decision in the high court.

--IANS
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