The Indian Medical Association has been up in arms against Ramdev over his remarks (File)

Patna:

Bihar BJP president Sanjay Jaiswal on Wednesday slammed Baba Ramdev for his recent tirade against the allopathic system of medicine and dubbed the famed Yoga teacher as one who had popularized the ancient discipline like “Coco Cola” but lacked the gravitas of a Yogi.

Mr Jaiswal, a multiple term MP from Pashchim Champaran and a qualified medical practitioner himself, also urged the Indian Medical Association from steering clear of the spat, saying it
was tantamount to frittering away of energies.

“Ramdev is a Yoga guru. Nobody can question his mastery of Yoga. But he is certainly not a Yogi. A Yogi is one who has all his senses and faculties firmly under control”, Mr Jaiswal said in a Facebook post.

“What he has done for Yoga is comparable to what Coco Cola did for beverages. Indians have been, since ages, consuming Shikanji and thandai but after the advent of the soft drink giant, every home seems to be stocked with bottles of Pepsi and Coke”, Mr Jaiswal remarked.

He, however, urged the IMA not to join issue with the Yoga guru and said “we must not fritter away our energies over trivia and concentrate on our noble profession.

“It would be the befitting service to our innumerable colleagues who have lost their lives attending to their duties in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic”.

Ramdev has been in the eye of a storm over a recently released video clip in which he questioned the efficacy of the allopathic medicines in treating the dreaded coronavirus.

Published at Wed, 26 May 2021 20:01:57 +0000

Directed by Alankrita Shrivastava, ”Bombay Begums” released on Netflix on March 8 (File)

Mumbai:

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has written to the Maharashtra home secretary seeking registration of an FIR against the makers of Netflix series ”Bombay Begums” over the alleged inappropriate portrayal of children.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights also sought an action taken report from the Mumbai Police commissioner in the matter within three days.

Directed by Alankrita Shrivastava, ”Bombay Begums” released on Netflix on March 8.

In a letter to Maharashtra Home Ministry’s Additional Chief Secretary Manu Kumar Shrivastva, the NCPCR said the Mumbai police informed the commission that to register an FIR in this matter, they require “permission from higher authorities” as the issue falls in a grey area.

“Since this is a serious issue where police are not following the laid procedure of the land, hence, you are requested to look into this matter and ensure that no further child rights and law of land is violated in this matter. It is also requested that an action taken report maybe furnished to the Commission within three days,” the letter issued on Tuesday said.

In another letter to Mumbai Police Commissioner Hemant Nagrale, the NCPCR asked him to appear before the commission through videoconferencing on May 28 along with the requisite compliance or action taken report in the matter.

Acting on a complaint which alleged that “Bombay Begums” normalises minors indulging in casual sex and drug abuse, the NCPCR had in March asked Netflix to stop streaming the web series.

Published at Wed, 26 May 2021 20:16:45 +0000

Himanta Biswa Sarma said India is typically poised to offer much to the world (File)

Guwahati:

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma congratulated Dr Jubilee Purkayastha, a scientist with the Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences, for her outstanding contributions in the development of an anti-Covid drug.

In a congratulatory letter to Dr Purkayastha on Wednesday, Mr Sarma, said, “Assam is really proud of you for your role in several scientific forums of the country. Your association with DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) and your role as an active member of the team that developed the drug 2-DG is your sacred privilege.”

The Chief Minister said that her initiative will be “very critical in empowering our fight against COVID-19”.

Congratulating Dr Purkayastha on her achievement, the Chief Minister said, “I thank you for your crucial role in research and development and hope that you will continue your services to bring many more laurels to our state.”

The Chief Minister also said that India is blessed with a young population brimming with new ideas, innovations and opportunities. “With its rich human resources, our country is typically poised to offer much to the world. The qualitative changes that our nation has witnessed in the past few years have been really praiseworthy. Innovation will drive our future and we are working dedicatedly to make our country an innovation hub,” he said.

Dr Purkayastha is a native of a nondescript village Mahishashan in South Assam’s Karimganj district.

Published at Wed, 26 May 2021 20:58:34 +0000

Published at Thu, 27 May 2021 00:22:04 +0000

British tourists had been due to be allowed to visit France without restrictions from June 9.

Paris:

France on Wednesday declared a mandatory quarantine period for people coming from Britain, due to the increasing prevalence there of a highly contagious coronavirus variant first detected in India.

France follows Austria, which said on Tuesday it was banning direct flights and tourist visits from Britain, and Germany, which said on Friday that anyone entering from the UK would have to quarantine for two weeks on arrival.

Government spokesman Gabriel Attal said, “(France) will set up compulsory isolation for people coming from the United Kingdom.”

The isolation will need to last seven days, Clement Beaune, France’s junior minister for European Affairs, said on Twitter, adding visitors would also need to present a COVID-19 test carried out less than 48 hours before departure.

The measures are expected to come into force on Monday.

Coronavirus infections in Britain have been rising again, but the overall incidence is still low in a country with one of the world’s fastest vaccine rollouts. The number of hospitalised COVID-19 patients fell last week to its lowest level since September.

Clusters of the B.1.617 India-dominant variant have grown quickly, however, to 3,424 as of last Thursday, up by 2,111 from similar numbers the previous week. The India-dominant variant has been reported in at least 17 countries.

The French government’s announcement will be a blow to parts of the beleaguered tourism industry, which is desperate for a return to normal business ahead of the peak summer season.

“It’s reasonable in terms of saving the French summer but will be very punishing for those regions which depend on British holidaymakers,” said Ge Kusters, owner of Le Paradis campsite in the Dordogne area and president of the regional campsite union.

“More financial support is going to have to follow.”

Published at Thu, 27 May 2021 02:42:04 +0000