Issue 342 - 27/03/2020

24 27/03/2020 NEWS LITERATURE POLITICS FASHION ART & CULTURE KIDS RELIGION FILMS
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New Delhi : China has strongly
objected to the reference ’Chinese virus’
used by US President Donald Trump
and many people worldwide, for Covid-
19, arguing that it is stigmatising the
Chinese people. In a statement issued by
spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy
here, Ji Rong said although Wuhan city
in China first reported the outbreak,
there is no evidence that China is the
source of the virus that caused Covid-
19. Trump was the first head of a state to
call Covid-19 as "Chinese virus" arguing
that he wanted to be "accurate"
about the origin of the novel coronavirus
that has caused a global pandemic.
He called it "Chinese virus" after
China blamed American soldiers for
bringing the contagion to Wuhan. The
phrase is now widely being used by
people across several countries on
social media.
The Chinese spokesperson said,
"These arguments ignore the facts and
confuse right and wrong. They are irresponsible
and do nothing to help international
cooperation in epidemic prevention
and control. We are strongly
opposed to these arguments."
The origin of the novel coronavirus
is a matter of science that requires professional
and scientific assessment, she
said. "Research by scientists from the
United States, Europe, China and Japan
as well as the World Health
Organization (WHO) has shown that
there is no certain conclusion as to the
origin of Covid-19."
The US Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) estimates that the
flu season, which began in September
2019 has so far sickened more than 30
million people and killed more than
China objects to ’Chinese virus’
stigmatisation
20,000, Ji Rong said, claiming that CDC
Director Dr Robert Redfield admitted
some were actually COVID-19.
Pointing out that Chinese people are
also victims of the virus, Ji Rong said,
there is a clear consensus by WHO and
the international community that a virus
should not be linked to any specific
country, region or ethnic group and such
stigmatisation should be rejected. The
pandemic of influenza in 2009 originated
in North America, the spokesperson
said adding that WHO didn’t call it
"North American flu". It was eventually
named "Influenza A virus subtype
H1N1". In the fight against COVID-19,
WHO has consistently called on the
international community to respect science
and respond rationally, and all the
governments to educate the public on
correct disease naming. WHO has
stressed that any discriminatory practices
should be condemned, she said.
The use of "China" and "Wuhan" naming
the virus by some media must be
corrected, and the international community
should focus on China’s swift
response to the epidemic rather than
stereotyping the Chinese people, Ji
Rong said. "After the outbreak, in an
open, transparent and responsible manner,
Chinese government has timely
adopted the most comprehensive, rigorous
and thorough measures to control
the epidemic, provided updates to WHO
and international community and shared
experience in diagnosis and treatment,"
the spokesperson said.
"China has neither created the virus
nor intentionally transmitted it. The
so-called ’Chinese virus’ is absolutely
wrong. Those people who are trying
to stigmatise China’s efforts have
ignored the huge sacrifices the
Chinese people made in safeguarding
the health and safety of all mankind,
and vilified China’s significant contributions
to global public health security,"
the spokesperson said. "Their
moves run counter to the WHO’s professional
advice and the expectations
and efforts of the international community
to fight the pandemic together.
We hope some people could heed the
reasonable voice from the international
community and stop making
wrongful remarks that stigmatise
China," she said.
RAHUL pays
condolences to
Kabul Gurudwara
attack victims
New Delhi : Congress leader
Rahul Gandhi here on Wednesday
expressed shock at the terror attack on
a gurudwara in Kabul, which reportedly
claimed 27 lives and left many
injured. He also offered his condolences
to the next of kin of victims.
"I’m shocked by the news of a terror
attack on a Gurudwara in Kabul,
Afghanistan, in which over 27 people
have died. My condolences to the
families of those who have lost their
lives. I pray that the injured make a
speedy recovery," Rahul Gandhi
tweeted. Around 150 people were
offering prayers at the gurudwara in
the Shorbazar area at the time of
attack, which have been claimed by
the Islamic State Khorasan (ISKP).
According to reports, while one
bomber detonated himself at the
entrance, three IS terrorists stormed
the shrine. The security forces rescued
around 80 faithfuls from the gurudwara.
Afghan security forces killed all
the three terrorists in a day-long gunbattle
after which NATO soldiers
helped in the clearance operation.
The Sikhs constitute a minuscule
minority in Afghanistan.
MP writes to Foreign
Secretary about constituents
stranded in INDIA
Pat McFadden, MP for
Wolverhampton South East has
today (25 March) written to Foreign
Secretary Dominic Raab expressing
his concern that a number of his
constituents are unable to return to
Wolverhampton from India.
Wolverhampton has a large population
with family roots in India,
particularly Punjab. At any given
time there will be a significant number
of Wolverhampton South East
residents there on holiday, for business
or visiting relatives. Mr
McFadden s office has received a
large number of calls and emails
from constituents who have relatives
trapped in India because there
are no commercial flights back to
the UK available.
Mr McFadden said The problem
for my constituents is that right
now there are no commercial flights
available back to the UK. Some of
the people stranded there are elderly,
or reliant on limited supplies of
medication, or both. They do not
have the infrastructure to stay there
for weeks or months on end.
It is no good asking people to
book alternative flights when there
are no alternative commercial
flights available. In the absence of
commercial transport, the question
my constituents are understandably
asking is why the Government cannot
charter planes to get people
home?
I appreciate this is a big logistical
exercise but many airlines have
many grounded planes right now
and there are people desperate to
travel. Rescue flights have already
been organised for some parts of the
world. Why not for India too?
Full text of the letter is as follows:
Dear Dominic,
In recent days my office has
received a large number of calls and
emails from constituents who have
relatives trapped in India. As you
will know, Wolverhampton has a
large population with family roots
in India, particularly Punjab. At
any given time there will be a significant
number of our local residents
who are there on holiday, for
business or visiting relatives.
The problem for my constituents
is that right now there are no commercial
flights available back to the
UK. Some of the people stranded
there are elderly, or reliant on limited
supplies of medication, or both.
They do not have the infrastructure
to stay there for weeks or months on
end. It is no good asking people to
book alternative flights when there
are no alternative commercial
flights available.
In the absence of commercial
transport, the question my constituents
are understandably asking
is why the Government cannot
charter planes to get people home?
I appreciate this is a big logistical
exercise but many airlines have
many grounded planes right now
and there are people desperate to
travel. Rescue flights have already
been organised for some parts of the
world. Why not for India too?
This situation is becoming more
desperate by the day. My office has
passed on details of all constituents
in this position to the FCO through
the website provided but more are
contacting us all the time. I would
be very grateful for speedy and
focussed attention to this issue so
that these UK citizens can come
home.
Yours sincerely,
Rt Hon Pat McFadden, MP
Wolverhampton, South East.
Delhi prepared to ensure
essential supplies: Kejriwal
New Delhi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal
on Wednesday said the
city is prepared to
ensure essential supplies
during the 21-day
lockdown, urging people
to avoid panic buying.
Kejriwal, along
with Delhi Lt.
Governor Anil Baijal,
held a digital press
conference, where he listed the updates on Delhi s
efforts to contain the spread of the virus. The Chief
Minister said duty passes will be issued to all those
who are involved in essential services but don t have
formal IDs. He said the government will issue e-Pass
to shopkeepers who provide essential commodities.
After getting the pass, they will be able to open their
shops. The facility to apply online will be provided,
he said. The e-Pass will be for grocery shops, milk
plant workers and others. Kejriwal said once the e-
passes are issued, one can open shop related to essential
commodities.
A helpline number will be activated for that in
few hours. A helpline has been also issued by the
police if the common man feels any issue from them.
Please call 23469536 for reporting against any form
of inconvenience caused by the police.
Baijal said while the government would ensure
effective implementation of the lockdown, it also
wants minimum inconvenience to people.
During the lockdown, we would assure that
essential supplies are maintained, Baijal said.
Kejriwal said the government will ensure that no
one goes to sleep hungry. He said people should try
that they should not step outside the house during the
lockdown. Milk, vegetable, daily use items are
essential and people have to step out to buy and sell
it. There is no need to panic. If we gather in large
number at shops, the purpose of the lockdown will be
defeated. The Prime Minister on Tuesday
announced a 21-day nation-wide lockdown from
Wednesday to check the spread of coronavirus.