Headlines: India’s Coal Crisis – A Fight Between Centre And States

India’s Coal Crisis – A Fight Between Centre And States

With India gradually moving towards a potential coal crisis, a fight has emerged between centre and states. While states say that the centre does not want to acknowledge that India is facing a coal shortage, the centre is blaming states for the blackouts. Many Chief Ministers have written to PM Modi highlighting concerns over power blackouts. Recently, Union Minister for Power, RK Singh, said: “We have sufficient power available… We are supplying power to the entire country. Whoever wants, give me a requisition, and I will supply them,” However, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has called Mr Singh’s remarks irresponsible and said: “When we had an oxygen crisis, they kept saying there was no such crisis. The coal situation is similar. We have a crisis today,” Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has also written to PM Modi, hinting that the national capital can face a total blackout if coal supplies are not improved. Apart from Delhi CM, Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has also written to PM highlighting the same. Many states have already started resorting to power cuts. Many coal plants in the country have around 8 days worth of coal stock left amid rising demands. The main reason for the sudden coal crisis is high demand and low supply due to power plants not stocking enough.

Covid-Bulletin: India Registers 18,132 New Covid-19 Cases; Recovery Rate At 98.00%

According to the latest data released by the Union Health Ministry, India has recorded 18,132 new covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours. The active caseload of the country currently stands at 2,27,347, constituting 0.67% of the total covid-19 cases reported in the country so far. Meanwhile, daily recoveries continue to outnumber active covid-19 cases, with reporting 21,563 recoveries in the previous 24 hours, taking the total number of recoveries to 3,32,93,478. The daily and weekly positivity rate currently stands at 1.75% and 1.53% respectively. As per the Indian Council of Medical Research, India has conducted 58.36 crore covid-19 tests. On the vaccination front, the country has administered 95.19 crore covid-19 vaccine doses so far under the nationwide vaccination drive.

#Unite2FightCorona#LargestVaccineDrive

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— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) October 11, 2021

Lakhimpur Kheri Violence: MoS Ajay Mishra’s Son Ashish Mishra Sent To 14-Day Judicial Custody

After an intense interrogation by the SIT team over the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, MoS Ajay Mishra’s son Ashish Mishra has been sent to 14-day judicial custody, who has been accused of killing 4 farmers during the Lakhimpur incident. On Saturday night, Ashish was arrested as the SIT found Ashish mysterious about his whereabouts and couldn’t prove why his SUV (Thar) and a Fortuner, that was registered under his friend’s name Ankit Das was moving towards the protest site despite police asking commuters to take another route. An SIT official said: “During questioning, Ashish said he was at a wrestling event in Banbirpur village, 4 km from where the incident took place, and left the spot later to visit a rice mill. But he was not able to give satisfactory answers when he was asked about his location between 2.36pm and 4 pm,” However, the SIT official added: “There is clear evidence that Ashish was not present at the wrestling event at the time of the incident. We need to question him more and take him to the main site (of crime) for investigation. We will seek further remand on Monday,” Meanwhile, Avdhesh Kumar Singh, the counsel of Ashish Mishra, said that they would apply for bail as they have enough evidence that proves Ashish was at the wrestling competition.

Shiv Sena, NCP And Congress Call For Maharashtra Bandh Against Lakhimpur Incident

The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government which is a ruling alliance of the NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena, has called for a Maharashtra Bandh to condemn the Lakhimpur Kheri violence. The taxis and bus services in the state have come to a halt, and large crowds are being witnessed on suburban railway stations. Meanwhile, workers of Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP are meeting people and asking them to express their solidarity with farmers by supporting the Maharashtra Bandh. An APMC market in Pune was closed as the traders of the market decided to observe the bandh. The Lakhimpur Kheri incident took place after 8 people were killed in the area, including 4 farmers. An SIT committee has been formed to investigate the matter.

China Not Agreeing; India-China Military Talks Reaches A Dead-End

On Sunday, military talks took place between India and Chinese military officials over the Ladakh standoff. However, the India-China military talks collapsed after the Indian side said that the Chinese side could not provide any forward-looking proposals and was not agreeable. The Indian Army issued a statement that read: “During the meeting, the Indian side […] made constructive suggestions for resolving the remaining areas, but the Chinese side was not agreeable and also could not provide any forward-looking proposals. The meeting thus did not result in resolution of the remaining areas,” Along with India, the Chinese side also released a remark hinting that the talks have failed, it said: “India insists on unreasonable and unrealistic demands, adding difficulties to the negotiations,” In the latest talks that lasted for 8 and a half hours, the Indian side asked for the early disengagements of Chinese troops in the remaining points in Eastern Ladakh. After the resolution in Gogra, India and China backed down from 6 flashpoints. However, tensions over standoffs in Depsang and Hot Springs continue to remain.

Mumbai Drug Bust Case: Aryan Khan’s Bail Plea To Be Heard Today

After Aryan Khan, Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha’s bail plea was rejected on Friday, citing that the forum of the application was wrong and not maintainable, the 3 accused were sent to the Arthur Road jail. The bail plea of SRK’s son Aryan Khan and the other 2 will be heard today. While Aryan’s lawyer Satish Mahashinde would argue that there were no drugs that were seized from Khan so there can be no case against him, Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, representing the NCB, would continue to ask for the judicial custody of all 3 accused in the case citing the new arrests made in connection with the Mumbai drug bust case. Meanwhile, SRK’s family has been receiving a lot of support and strength from the entire Bollywood fraternity and fans.

New Love Birds In Btown: Rakul Preet Singh And Jackky Bhagnani

Bollywood female actor Rakul Preet Singh recently celebrated her 31st birthday and gave a huge surprise to all her fans. Taking to social media, Rakul Preet Singh posted an adorable picture with actor and producer Jackky Bhagnani, making her relationship public. Rakul wrote: “Thankyouuuu my ! You have been my biggest gift this year ! Thankyou for adding colour to my life , thankyou for making me laugh non stop , thankyou for being you !! here is to making more memories together @jackkybhagnani.” Actor Jackky Bhagnani also took to social media to wish his girlfriend and wrote: “Without you, days don’t seem like days. Without you, eating the most delicious food is no fun. Sending Birthday wishes to the most beautiful soul who means the world to me!!! May your day be as sunny as your smile ,and as beautiful as you are. Happy Birthday my @rakulpreet.”