BJP gave 33 of 68 tickets in Jharkhand polls to members of political families: Congress
Ranchi, Nov 4: Launching a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Pariwarwaad' remark, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate on Monday claimed that the BJP itself indulged in dynastic politics, and gave out tickets for 33 of the 68 seats it is contesting in Jharkhand assembly elections to those belonging to political families.
The BJP is contesting 68 of the 81 assembly seats in the state, leaving the rest for its allies. PM Modi, during an election rally in Garhwa earlier in the day, said that the JMM, Congress and RJD believe in 'Pariwarwaad' (dynastic politics).
Addressing reporters here, Shrinate said, "The BJP in Jharkhand has given 33 out of 68 tickets to those who come from political families. For example, former Union minister Arjun Munda's wife, former Jharkhand CM Raghubar Das's daughter-in-law and Champai Soren's son were given tickets. So, the BJP has no right to say anything about 'Pariwarwaad'."
She also alleged that the central government is sitting over Jharkhand's Rs 1.36 lakh crore dues, which could have accelerated the state's development if released.
She claimed that the alliance government in Jharkhand has worked for all sections of the society and its report card of five years is full of achievements.
"Around 57 lakh women of the state are being given Rs 1,000 under Maiyan Samman Yojana, which will be increased to Rs 2,500 after formation of the alliance government here again," she said.
Shrinate said that around 42 lakh consumers are availing benefits of 200 units of free electricity and their power dues have also been waived. Similarly, farm loans of around 4.5 lakh farmers have been waived.
She said that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge would be in Jharkhand on Tuesday and present the roadmap for Jharkhand's further development.
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2 Indian nationals part of crew of luxury cruise ship that reported hantavirus outbreak
London (PTI): At least two Indian nationals are part of the crew of the Dutch vessel MV Hondius which reported a hantavirus outbreak with five confirmed cases and three deaths so far, according to the BBC.
The luxury cruise ship, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, began its journey on April 1 from Argentina’s Ushuaia and is expected to arrive in Spain’s Canary Islands on May 10.
About 150 passengers and crew from 28 countries were initially aboard the luxury cruise, but dozens disembarked on the island of St Helena on April 24, according to the report.
Of the 28 nationalities onboard, 38 are from the Philippines, 31 from the UK, 23 from the US, 16 from the Netherlands, 14 from Spain, nine from Germany, six from Canada, and two crew members from India, among others, the BBC reported.
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The World Health Organization said on Thursday that five of the eight suspected hantavirus cases had been confirmed.
A 69-year-old Dutch woman, confirmed to have the virus, has died; her Dutch husband and a German woman were also among the fatalities. Their cases are being investigated.
The UN health agency has said the outbreak is not the start of a pandemic.
Maria van Kerkhove, an infectious disease epidemiologist at WHO, told a news briefing that the situation is not the same as six years ago with Covid-19 because hantavirus spreads through “close, intimate contact”.
Van Kerkhove said “this is not Covid, this is not influenza, it spreads very, very differently”. She said authorities had asked “everyone to wear a mask” on board the MV Hondius.
Those in contact with or caring for suspected cases, she added, should “wear a higher level of personal protective equipment”.
Hantavirus typically spreads from rodents - but in the latest outbreak the transmission between people was documented for the first time, the WHO said.
Meanwhile, health authorities are racing to trace dozens of people who have recently disembarked from the Dutch vessel MV Hondius.
Oceanwide Expedition said 29 passengers, of at least 12 different nationalities, had left the MV Hondius in St Helena, the British Overseas Territory.
It also said the body of one deceased person—now known to be a Dutch man - was taken off the vessel.
Seven of those who left the cruise liner were British nationals.
