Weekly News Highlights: From Tractor rally violence to minor blast near Israel Embassy, everything important from last week

From Tractor rally violence to bomb blast, a week centred at the national capital

 Minor bomb blast near Israeli Embassy

A minor IED bomb went off near the Embassy of Israel on Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road in New Delhi on Friday evening. The explosion shattered the windscreens of few cars parked nearby but, fortunately, no one was injured in the explosion. The blast took place on the day which commemorates 29th anniversary of the official establishment of diplomatic relations of Israel and India.

The minor bomb went off at the VIP location in New Delhi only a few kilometres away from the Beating Retreat ceremony at Vijay Chowk where President Ram Nath Kovind, PM Narendra Modi, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and other prominent people of the country were present. Several media reports suggested that the explosive was kept between the pavement and bushes. Reports also said that ammonium nitrate was used for the explosion and it could be a trial of some bigger conspiracy.

Tractor Rally Violence in New Delhi

Clashes broke out at several locations of New Delhi between farmers and police personnel after protesting farmers’ tractor rally entered the national capital on Republic Day. Farmers’ Union leaders had maintained from the start that the rally will be peaceful but the visuals at some location were saying something else. Delhi police used tear gas and resorted to lathi-charge to control the gathering of protesting farmers who knocked down barricades and other impediments to force their way to the national capital.

Chanting ‘Rang de Basanti’ and ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’, groups of farmers rode tractors, motorbikes, horses to cross borders of New Delhi for their tractor rally against the three contentious farm laws. One group of farmers departed for Delhi much before the scheduled time, causing the disarray. These farmers were allegedly motivated by Deep Sandhu, a Punjabi actor who was linked to BJP leaders Sunny Deol, Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. It was reported that Deep Sandhu influenced one group of farmers to reach Red Fort and hoist Nishan Sahib.

The rally had begun peacefully, but it took a violent turn after farmers broke past the barricades with their tractors at the Delhi Expressway near Pandav Nagar and Karnal bypass to enter New Delhi. Later, clashes between the Delhi police and the farmers broke out near Akshardham, ITO and Chintamani Chowk in Shahdara. Farmers were also seen removing police barricading at Mukarba Chowk as they refused to follow the decided route. Thousands of farmers diverted from agreed routes, hence creating the ruckus.

Farmers’ Union leaders alleged that Delhi police had put barricades even on the decided route which created confusion amongst the huge crowd of farmers. They claimed that more than 90 per cent of the rally was peaceful with a handful of farmers, conspired by the government, resorted to violence.

e-Voter ID launched by Election Commission

Source: Gadgets Now

The Election Commission of India launched digital voter ID cards on the occasion of National Voters’ Day on January 25. The digital card is named e-EPIC (Electronic Electoral Photo Identity Card) and will be available in PDF format to the people. It is just like e-Aadhar with the exception of not being able to be edited.

This facility will be available to all from February 1 with a fee of Rs 25. Anyone can download the PDF version of a Voter ID card from the website of Election Commission of India. One needs to register with e-mail ID or mobile number first. Voters can use the e-EPIC during the upcoming Assembly election in five states – Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Puducherry, Assam and Kerala.

Economic Survey Report 2021

Source: The Hindu

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Economic Survey Report 2021 on January 29 in the Parliament. The Economic Survey, which was prepared by the Chief Economic Adviser Krishnamurthy Venkata Subramanian and his team, details the state of different sectors of the economy as well as reforms that India should consider to increase growth.

The economic survey report said that despite the COVID-19 lockdown, the country’s GDP is expected to see a strong recovery in the 2021-22 financial year. For the current financial year 2020-21, the survey projected a contraction of 7.7 per cent and V-shaped recovery in the next. GDP growth is expected to grow at 11 per cent in FY 2021-22. The GDP had dipped negative 23.9 in the first quarter and a negative 7.5 per cent in the second quarter.

Given the repercussions of COVID-19, healthcare services took a centre stage in the report. This report said that the economy would take two years to reach and go past the pre-pandemic level.

Myntra forced to change its logo

Source: Timesnownews.com

Myntra was forced to change its logo after a Mumbai-based activist filed a complaint with the Mumbai cyber police. She alleged that the Myntra logo resembled a “naked women” and depicted the legs of women. Although Myntra didn’t officially announce or unveil a new logo, it has already started replacing the old logo on its app and website. Reports also said that Myntra has issued printing orders for packaging material with their new logo.