Don't let your guard down as pandemic isn't over yet: Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar
Bengaluru, Mar 16: Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar on Wednesday cautioned people against letting their guard down against COVID-19 saying that the pandemic is currently under control due to widespread vaccination but not yet over.
"COVID-19 hasn't gone. However, it has been controlled by vaccination. There is a long way to go in controlling COVID-19. Even those who have taken the vaccine should not let their guard down against COVID-19," Sudhakar said after inaugurating the vaccination drive for children aged between 12 and 14 years and booster dose for senior citizens at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee medical institute.
Pointing out that there were apprehensions that a few more waves of COVID-19 may hit the nation, the minister said these potential waves can be mitigated to a large extent by vaccinations.
"Everyone must take precautions by wearing masks and maintaining physical distancing, Sudhakar said.
According to him, over 180 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses have been given across India, including over 10 crore doses in the state, till date.
The minister further said that when children aged from 12 to 14 years take the vaccine, they will gain immunity to fight against COVID-19. He said 20 lakh children in the state will be given the jab.
Sudhakar further pointed out that the COVID-19 vaccinations will be available for children aged from zero to 12 years in the coming days.
He also said the vaccines are being given to people after following due scientific process.
Regarding COVID-19 outbreak in several Chinese cities and other hotspots, Sudhakar said the Centre and state governments are gathering all information from these places to ensure that the country is prepared to fight possible future waves.
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British rulers left India not due to satyagraha but after they saw arms in people's hands: Bihar Guv
Panaji, Dec 20: Bihar Governor Rajendra Arlekar on Friday said British rulers left India not because of 'satyagraha', but when they saw arms in native people's hands and realised that they can go to any extent.
Referring to the Portuguese inquisition of Goa, he said it is time a true perspective about history is brought to light without being afraid of anyone.
Indian Council for Historical Research (ICHR) had set up a narrative that you are born to be slaves and the then government also supported it, Arlekar alleged without naming the Congress-led dispensations.
He was speaking at the "A Brief History of Freedom Struggle in North East of India (1498 to 1947)" book authored by Anandita Singh.
In his half-an-hour-long speech, Arlekar, who hails from Goa, said, "What is Goa inquisition? What is that exactly? If we try to bring it out, then some people in Goa get upset. They feel pain."
"Are we not supposed to tell what your roots are? Some people get upset if we try to tell them from where you belong to, where are your roots. Why should it be?" he said.
We have to speak out without being afraid of anyone, he added.
"Those who invaded us can never be ours. That is why it is necessary to bring out our perspective," he said.
Arlekar, a former Goa legislative assembly speaker, said if people from places like Guwahati are here telling us their history, why don't Goans write the true history of the land.
"The invaders tried to create a narrative. The Indian freedom movement was not without arms. They did not leave India because of 'satyagraha'. But when they saw arms in our hands and they realised that we can go to any extent, then they decided to leave the country," the Bihar governor added.
Arlekar appealed that we should go through the speeches of MPs in the British Parliament during that time, which clearly speaks about the armed struggle.
"They (MPs) have not just mentioned about satyagraha, but were also mentioning about the armed struggle which made Britishers realise that it is time they should leave India," he said.
Satyagraha was a method of peaceful resistance used by Mahatma Gandhi against British rule.
Referring to the Indian history written in books, Arlekar said that the ICHR has set up a narrative that you are born to be slaves.
"Unfortunately, the then government (of the Congress) also supported their narrative. This was a very sad part of the beginning of our Independence," he said.
Arlekar said, "We are being told that Indians are very bad in upkeep of historical evidence. That is not true."
"Our evidence was destroyed by you people. But still we have evidence. We should make it a basis and there is a need to bring out the true history of Goa. In the days to come, the true history of Goa would be revealed," he added.
