The Evening Wrap: Opposition raises multiple issues at all-party meeting ahead of winter session

The joint Opposition Sunday demanded the formal repeal of the three contentious farm laws and a legislation to guarantee Minimum Support Price (MSP), as it raised a host of issues, including price rise and the coronavirus management, at an all-party meeting convened by the government ahead of the winter session of Parliament. Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said around 15 issues were raised during the meeting which was chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. He said the Opposition expected Prime Minister Narendra Modi to head the meeting and address the issues, but he skipped it. The winter session of Parliament starts Monday and will continue till December 23. Leaders of 30 political parties attended the meeting, where they raised various issues, including farmers’ problems, alleged Chinese incursions, Covid preparation and past “mismanagement”, inflation, high fuel prices, unemployment, the state of the economy, and the extension of the BSF’s jurisdiction in border states. The issues of Pegasus spyware and women’s reservation were also raised, with some parties demanding a discussion on them. “The opposition leaders raised a number of issues during the meeting and urged the government to actively do something in this regard. We expected that the prime minister would attend the meeting and answer our issues. But, the PM did not come to the meeting,” Kharge told PTI after the meeting. “We all raised the issue of farmers. The demand of farmers to give MSP legal sanctity as per Swaminathan formula and withdrawing the electricity bill should be taken up on priority basis,” he said. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi said there is no tradition of the prime minister attending the all-party meeting. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh heard the opposition members and said the issues raised by them would be taken up in the business advisory committees of both houses and time would be accorded to them after discussion. Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said the government has brought 26 bills and the opposition seeks to raise around 15-20 issues and there is little time for everything. “We will be striving hard to accommodate the issues during the session,” he said. He said on behalf of the opposition, “We are having a plethora of agendas to be raised, but did not know how much scope and opportunity will be afforded to the opposition parties”. The session will work for 19 days and there will be a serious time constraint in dealing with all these issues, he said. Sources said NC leader Farooq Abdullah raised the issue of Jammu and Kashmir and grant of early statehood there. The TMC also raised the issue of extension of BSF jurisdiction in border states, “usurping the rights of states”. TMC leader Derek O'Brien and Sudip Bandyopadhyay raised around 10 issues at the meeting, which included price rise of essential commodities, unemployment, federal structure being “weakened”, the BSF jurisdiction, the Pegasus snooping row, and bringing a law on MSP. They also demanded the introduction of the women’s reservation bill and a discussion on the COVID situation. They said the government should not “bulldoze” through the bills without scrutiny in future. The BSP raised the issue of Dalit atrocities and reservation in promotions, besides other issues, including the farmers’ agitation and the farm laws. Omicron variant: Operationalise ample testing infrastructure to tackle any surge: Health Ministry Cautioning that overall testing and the proportion of RT-PCR tests have declined in some States, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Sunday directed that “ample testing infrastructure needs to be operationalised to tackle any surge due to Omicron, the mutated COVID virus”. The Ministry has written to the State Governments stating that in the absence of sufficient testing, it is extremely difficult to determine the true level of infection spread. “States must strengthen the testing infrastructure and strictly implement the testing guidelines,” said Bhushan. He said that as a proactive step, the Central Government has already placed countries where this Variant of Concern (VoC) has been found in the category of “at risk” for additional follow up measures of international travellers visiting India. The Ministry also said that in view of the possible threat that this VoC can pose, it is imperative that intensive containment, active surveillance, increased coverage of vaccination and COVID-appropriate behaviour are enforced in the field in a very proactive manner. The Ministry said there is already a reporting mechanism for obtaining travel details of passengers and this should be reviewed and the protocol provided by Health Ministry should be strictly implemented, including testing on disembarkation of international travellers coming from “at risk” countries. “All positive samples for genome sequencing should be sent to INSACOG Labs in a prompt manner.” The Ministry said in all “hotspots”, saturation testing and sending of positive samples quickly for genome sequencing to designated INSACOG labs must be ensured in collaboration with the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). States have also been asked to keep a close check on the emerging trend of cases and the positivity in an area and quickly delineate hotspots for effective containment. Instructing that States should aim at achieving a positivity rate below 5% while focusing on increasing the number of tests and share of RT-PCR tests to aid in early identification, the Ministry said having adequate availability of health facilities is essential to ensure that there are no delays in providing care. The Ministry has also asked States to hold regular peer briefing to help promote COVID appropriate behaviour and vaccination. 13 air passengers in Netherlands found infected with new variant Dutch health authorities said on Sunday they had discovered at least 13 cases of the new Omicron strain among passengers on two flights from South Africa. The infections were found after 61 out of the 600 travellers on the two KLM planes tested positive for COVID-19 on arrival at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport on Friday. It was “not unthinkable” that there were further cases of the infectious Omicron variant in the Netherlands, Health Minister Hugo de Jonge said. “The Omicron variant has so far been identified in 13 of the positive tests. The investigation has not yet been completed. the National Institute for Public Health (RIVM) said in a statement. “The new variant may be found in more test samples.” The 61 COVID-positive passengers are almost all in quarantine at a hotel near Schiphol Airport, while a few have been allowed to go into home quarantine. Passengers who tested negative must also go into isolation at home if remaining in the Netherlands, but others were allowed to continue with their journeys. “We will control whether they keep to those rules,” de Jonge told reporters. The Netherlands is now stepping up testing for travellers from South Africa, Botswana, Malawi, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, in the region where the new variant was first detected. Munawar Faruqui hints at quitting after Bengaluru Police deny permission for show Stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui on November 28 hinted that he may not do any more shows, a day after his scheduled event in Bengaluru was cancelled. Police had “advised” the organisers to call it off, citing possible law and order problems. Earlier, his shows have been cancelled in other cities on similar grounds. City police had said that the organisers of the event, scheduled to be held on November 28 evening, “should cancel the show”, as several groups are opposed to it and this “could create chaos and could disturb the public peace and harmony, which may further lead to law and order problems”. The police issued the letter on November 27 night. Faruqui, who had come to the city for the show, left on November 28 morning after posting a statement on his social media handles, hinting at quitting the space. Lamenting how he was jailed for a joke he did not do, and of 12 shows being cancelled in the last two months because of threats to venue and audience, he wrote: “I think this is the end. My name is Munawar Faruqui and that’s been my time, you guys were a wonderful audience. Goodbye! I am done.” Organisers of the November 28 event said Faruqui felt dejected at how he is being systematically targeted. Faruqui was himself not available for further comment. Faruqui was arrested in Indore in January earlier this year after a Hindutva right wing activist alleged he denigrated Hindu gods. He spent 37 days in jail before the Supreme Court granted him bail. Bengaluru Police cancelling the show comes close on the heels of 12 shows of the comic being similarly cancelled by the police in Maharashtra and Gujarat this month alone, following a campaign by Hindutva right wing organisations calling for a ban on the artiste and threatening protests if his shows are held. The city police move has come under severe criticism by rights activists in the city. “It is sad that a systematic campaign by Hindutva groups has scuttled a comedian, just because of his religion,” said advocate-activist Vinay Sreenivasa. “It is sad to note that a threat of a protest leads to stifling of freedom of expression in this city. Some groups cannot hold the city to ransom. Society needs to stand by the artist,” said human rights advocate B.T. Venkatesh. UPTET cancelled after paper leak, CM Adityanath says NSA will be invoked against culprits The Uttar Pradesh Teacher Eligibility Test (UPTET), scheduled to be held on November 28, was cancelled after a question paper for the exam was leaked, an officer in Lucknow announced shortly before the exam was to begin. The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) arrested 23 people last night using technical and other intelligence from different cities of the State, Additional Director General Law and Order Prashant Kumar said in Lucknow. U.P. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the culprits will be booked under the National Security Act and Gangster Act. He also ordered reconvening of the exam within a month. “A question paper was leaked. I issued an order to cancel the examination and arrest those involved in the entire racket. Instructions were also given to conduct the exam within a month, and that no candidate should be charged additional fee,” he said, addressing a function in Deoria district on November 28. He said orders were given to transport the students back to their home towns in UPSRTC buses free of cost on the basis of their admit cards. “Those who have committed this act should note that cases will be registered against them under the Gangster Act and the National Security Act,” he said. Later in a tweet in Hindi, the CM said properties will be seized by the government of those involved in the leak. Close to 20 lakh candidates were to appear for the Uttar Pradesh Teachers Eligibility Test (UPTET) on November 28. Earlier in the day, the ADG said that those arrested included four from Lucknow and 13 from Prayagraj. “A photocopy of the question paper was obtained from them, which was shared with the government. It came to light that the copy bore the same set of questions as did the official question paper,” he said. “Immediately it was decided by the government that the exam needs to be cancelled and reconvened in the coming one month. “All expenses for the exam will be borne by the government. The candidates will not have to pay the fees or fill the examination form,” he added. The officer said the matter will be probed by the U.P. STF, and people or organisations involved in the leak will not be spared. The question paper of the examination had not reached the examination centres till November 28th morning. Section 144 imposed in Mathura after Hindu Mahasabha threatens to install Lord Krishna idol in mosque The Mathura district administration has imposed prohibitory orders under CrPC section 144 following an announcement by the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha that it will install a Lord Krishna idol at the deity’s “actual birthplace”, which it claims is in a mosque close to a prominent temple. “Nobody will be allowed to disturb the peace and tranquillity in Mathura,” District Magistrate Navneet Singh Chahal said. The clampdown comes even as another right wing organisation, the Narayani Sena, has said it will take out a march from Vishram Ghat to Sri Krishna Janmasthan, demanding the “removal” of the mosque. Section 144 of the CrPC prohibits the assembly of four or more people in an area. Police said they have detained Narayani Sena secretary Amit Mishra in Mathura Kotwali, while the outfit claimed its national president Manish Yadav has been detained in Lucknow. Chahal said he, along with Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Grover, reviewed the security around both the religious places, the Katra Keshav Dev temple and the Shahi Idgah. He said the Hindu Mahasabha had requested permission to install the idol at the mosque but it was turned down. Question of granting permission to any event that may potentially disrupt peace does not arise, Chahal added. Hindu Mahasabha leader Rajyashri Choudhary had earlier said her organisation will install the idol of Lord Krishna in the Shahi Idgah after a “maha jalabhishek” to “purify” the place on December 6. The date marks the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, the site of a temple-mosque dispute, in 1992. The Mahasabha’s threat to perform the ritual inside the Shahi Idgah comes at a time when the local courts are hearing a series of petitions seeking the “removal” of the 17th century mosque. Covid Watch: Numbers and Developments The number of reported coronavirus cases from India stood at 3,45,72,547 at the time of publishing this newsletter, with the death toll at 4,68,554. Evening Wrap will return tomorrow. [logo] The Evening Wrap 29 NOVEMBER 2021 [The Hindu logo] Welcome to the Evening Wrap newsletter, your guide to the day’s biggest stories with concise analysis from The Hindu. [[Arrow]Open in browser]( [[Mail icon]More newsletters]( Opposition raises multiple issues at all-party gathering before Parliament session, PM skips the meeting The joint Opposition Sunday demanded the formal repeal of the three contentious farm laws and a legislation to guarantee Minimum Support Price (MSP), as it raised a host of issues, including price rise and the coronavirus management, at [an all-party meeting convened by the government]( ahead of the winter session of Parliament. Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said around 15 issues were raised during the meeting which was chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. He said the Opposition expected Prime Minister Narendra Modi to head the meeting and address the issues, but he skipped it. The winter session of Parliament starts Monday and will continue till December 23. Leaders of 30 political parties attended the meeting, where they raised various issues, including farmers’ problems, alleged Chinese incursions, Covid preparation and past “mismanagement”, inflation, high fuel prices, unemployment, the state of the economy, and the extension of the BSF’s jurisdiction in border states. The issues of Pegasus spyware and women’s reservation were also raised, with some parties demanding a discussion on them. “The opposition leaders raised a number of issues during the meeting and urged the government to actively do something in this regard. We expected that the prime minister would attend the meeting and answer our issues. But, the PM did not come to the meeting,” Kharge told PTI after the meeting. “We all raised the issue of farmers. The demand of farmers to give MSP legal sanctity as per Swaminathan formula and withdrawing the electricity bill should be taken up on priority basis,” he said. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi said there is no tradition of the prime minister attending the all-party meeting. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh heard the opposition members and said the issues raised by them would be taken up in the business advisory committees of both houses and time would be accorded to them after discussion. Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said the government has brought 26 bills and the opposition seeks to raise around 15-20 issues and there is little time for everything. “We will be striving hard to accommodate the issues during the session,” he said. He said on behalf of the opposition, “We are having a plethora of agendas to be raised, but did not know how much scope and opportunity will be afforded to the opposition parties”. The session will work for 19 days and there will be a serious time constraint in dealing with all these issues, he said. Sources said NC leader Farooq Abdullah raised the issue of Jammu and Kashmir and grant of early statehood there. The TMC also raised the issue of extension of BSF jurisdiction in border states, “usurping the rights of states”. TMC leader Derek O'Brien and Sudip Bandyopadhyay raised around 10 issues at the meeting, which included price rise of essential commodities, unemployment, federal structure being “weakened”, the BSF jurisdiction, the Pegasus snooping row, and bringing a law on MSP. They also demanded the introduction of the women’s reservation bill and a discussion on the COVID situation. They said the government should not “bulldoze” through the bills without scrutiny in future. The BSP raised the issue of Dalit atrocities and reservation in promotions, besides other issues, including the farmers’ agitation and the farm laws. [underlineimg] Omicron variant: Operationalise ample testing infrastructure to tackle any surge: Health Ministry Cautioning that overall testing and the proportion of RT-PCR tests have declined in some States, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Sunday [directed that “ample testing infrastructure needs to be operationalised]( to tackle any surge due to Omicron, the mutated COVID virus”. The Ministry has written to the State Governments stating that in the absence of sufficient testing, it is extremely difficult to determine the true level of infection spread. [A health worker collects swab samples of a vendor for COVID-19 testing at a market in the wake of spike in coronavirus cases, in Jammu on November 28, 2021.]  “States must strengthen the testing infrastructure and strictly implement the testing guidelines,” said Bhushan. He said that as a proactive step, the Central Government has already placed countries where this Variant of Concern (VoC) has been found in the category of “at risk” for additional follow up measures of international travellers visiting India. The Ministry also said that in view of the possible threat that this VoC can pose, it is imperative that intensive containment, active surveillance, increased coverage of vaccination and COVID-appropriate behaviour are enforced in the field in a very proactive manner. The Ministry said there is already a reporting mechanism for obtaining travel details of passengers and this should be reviewed and the protocol provided by Health Ministry should be strictly implemented, including testing on disembarkation of international travellers coming from “at risk” countries. “All positive samples for genome sequencing should be sent to INSACOG Labs in a prompt manner.” The Ministry said in all “hotspots”, saturation testing and sending of positive samples quickly for genome sequencing to designated INSACOG labs must be ensured in collaboration with the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). States have also been asked to keep a close check on the emerging trend of cases and the positivity in an area and quickly delineate hotspots for effective containment. Instructing that States should aim at achieving a positivity rate below 5% while focusing on increasing the number of tests and share of RT-PCR tests to aid in early identification, the Ministry said having adequate availability of health facilities is essential to ensure that there are no delays in providing care. The Ministry has also asked States to hold regular peer briefing to help promote COVID appropriate behaviour and vaccination. [underlineimg] 13 air passengers in Netherlands found infected with new variant Dutch health authorities said on Sunday they had [discovered at least 13 cases of the new Omicron strain]( among passengers on two flights from South Africa. The infections were found after 61 out of the 600 travellers on the two KLM planes tested positive for COVID-19 on arrival at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport on Friday. It was “not unthinkable” that there were further cases of the infectious Omicron variant in the Netherlands, Health Minister Hugo de Jonge said. “The Omicron variant has so far been identified in 13 of the positive tests. The investigation has not yet been completed. the National Institute for Public Health (RIVM) said in a statement. “The new variant may be found in more test samples.” The 61 COVID-positive passengers are almost all in quarantine at a hotel near Schiphol Airport, while a few have been allowed to go into home quarantine. Passengers who tested negative must also go into isolation at home if remaining in the Netherlands, but others were allowed to continue with their journeys. [The Netherlands is now stepping up testing for travellers from South Africa, Botswana, Malawi, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, in the region where the new variant ‘Omicron’ was first detected.]  “We will control whether they keep to those rules,” de Jonge told reporters. The Netherlands is now stepping up testing for travellers from South Africa, Botswana, Malawi, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, in the region where the new variant was first detected. [underlineimg] Munawar Faruqui hints at quitting after Bengaluru Police deny permission for show Stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui on November 28 hinted that he may not do any more shows, a day after [his scheduled event in Bengaluru was cancelled](. Police had “advised” the organisers to call it off, citing possible law and order problems. Earlier, his shows have been cancelled in other cities on similar grounds. City police had said that the organisers of the event, scheduled to be held on November 28 evening, “should cancel the show”, as several groups are opposed to it and this “could create chaos and could disturb the public peace and harmony, which may further lead to law and order problems”. The police issued the letter on November 27 night. Faruqui, who had come to the city for the show, left on November 28 morning after posting a statement on his social media handles, hinting at quitting the space. Lamenting how he was jailed for a joke he did not do, and of 12 shows being cancelled in the last two months because of threats to venue and audience, he wrote: “I think this is the end. My name is Munawar Faruqui and that’s been my time, you guys were a wonderful audience. Goodbye! I am done.” Organisers of the November 28 event said Faruqui felt dejected at how he is being systematically targeted. Faruqui was himself not available for further comment. Faruqui was arrested in Indore in January earlier this year after a Hindutva right wing activist alleged he denigrated Hindu gods. He spent 37 days in jail before the Supreme Court granted him bail. Bengaluru Police cancelling the show comes close on the heels of 12 shows of the comic being similarly cancelled by the police in Maharashtra and Gujarat this month alone, following a campaign by Hindutva right wing organisations calling for a ban on the artiste and threatening protests if his shows are held. The city police move has come under severe criticism by rights activists in the city. “It is sad that a systematic campaign by Hindutva groups has scuttled a comedian, just because of his religion,” said advocate-activist Vinay Sreenivasa. “It is sad to note that a threat of a protest leads to stifling of freedom of expression in this city. Some groups cannot hold the city to ransom. Society needs to stand by the artist,” said human rights advocate B.T. Venkatesh. [underlineimg] UPTET cancelled after paper leak, CM Adityanath says NSA will be invoked against culprits The Uttar Pradesh Teacher Eligibility Test (UPTET), scheduled to be held on November 28, [was cancelled after a question paper for the exam was leaked]( an officer in Lucknow announced shortly before the exam was to begin. The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) arrested 23 people last night using technical and other intelligence from different cities of the State, Additional Director General Law and Order Prashant Kumar said in Lucknow. U.P. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the culprits will be booked under the National Security Act and Gangster Act. He also ordered reconvening of the exam within a month. “A question paper was leaked. I issued an order to cancel the examination and arrest those involved in the entire racket. Instructions were also given to conduct the exam within a month, and that no candidate should be charged additional fee,” he said, addressing a function in Deoria district on November 28. He said orders were given to transport the students back to their home towns in UPSRTC buses free of cost on the basis of their admit cards. “Those who have committed this act should note that cases will be registered against them under the Gangster Act and the National Security Act,” he said. Later in a tweet in Hindi, the CM said properties will be seized by the government of those involved in the leak. Close to 20 lakh candidates were to appear for the Uttar Pradesh Teachers Eligibility Test (UPTET) on November 28. Earlier in the day, the ADG said that those arrested included four from Lucknow and 13 from Prayagraj. “A photocopy of the question paper was obtained from them, which was shared with the government. It came to light that the copy bore the same set of questions as did the official question paper,” he said. “Immediately it was decided by the government that the exam needs to be cancelled and reconvened in the coming one month. “All expenses for the exam will be borne by the government. The candidates will not have to pay the fees or fill the examination form,” he added. The officer said the matter will be probed by the U.P. STF, and people or organisations involved in the leak will not be spared. The question paper of the examination had not reached the examination centres till November 28th morning. [underlineimg] Section 144 imposed in Mathura after Hindu Mahasabha threatens to install Lord Krishna idol in mosque The Mathura district administration has [imposed prohibitory orders under CrPC section 144]( following an announcement by the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha that it will install a Lord Krishna idol at the deity’s “actual birthplace”, which it claims is in a mosque close to a prominent temple. “Nobody will be allowed to disturb the peace and tranquillity in Mathura,” District Magistrate Navneet Singh Chahal said. The clampdown comes even as another right wing organisation, the Narayani Sena, has said it will take out a march from Vishram Ghat to Sri Krishna Janmasthan, demanding the “removal” of the mosque. Section 144 of the CrPC prohibits the assembly of four or more people in an area. Police said they have detained Narayani Sena secretary Amit Mishra in Mathura Kotwali, while the outfit claimed its national president Manish Yadav has been detained in Lucknow. Chahal said he, along with Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Grover, reviewed the security around both the religious places, the Katra Keshav Dev temple and the Shahi Idgah. He said the Hindu Mahasabha had requested permission to install the idol at the mosque but it was turned down. Question of granting permission to any event that may potentially disrupt peace does not arise, Chahal added. Hindu Mahasabha leader Rajyashri Choudhary had earlier said her organisation will install the idol of Lord Krishna in the Shahi Idgah after a “maha jalabhishek” to “purify” the place on December 6. The date marks the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, the site of a temple-mosque dispute, in 1992. The Mahasabha’s threat to perform the ritual inside the Shahi Idgah comes at a time when the local courts are hearing a series of petitions seeking the “removal” of the 17th century mosque. [underlineimg] Covid Watch: Numbers and Developments The [number of reported coronavirus cases from India]( stood at 3,45,72,547 at the time of publishing this newsletter, with the death toll at 4,68,554. [underlineimg] Evening Wrap will return tomorrow.  Today's Top Picks [[Heavy rain may shift to southern Tamil Nadu on November 29] Heavy rain may shift to southern Tamil Nadu on November 29]( [[NDA ally National People’s Party calls for repeal of CAA] NDA ally National People’s Party calls for repeal of CAA]( [[Watch | What happened to Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai?] Watch | What happened to Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai?]( [[‘Croak down’ on mosquitoes, say ecologists: Drop in frog and odonate populations helps these disease-causing insects] ‘Croak down’ on mosquitoes, say ecologists: Drop in frog and odonate populations helps these disease-causing insects]( Copyright @ 2021, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. 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