Jagannath Yatra: Has social distancing order gone for a toss?

Photo: ANI

With the beginning of the Jagannath Yatra in the Holy town of Puri, the Odisha Government is maintaining strict vigil on Coronavirus guidelines including social distancing. This year, the yatra has been organised under the shadow of the pandemic. It is being held after the Supreme Court revised its decision to give the green signal, albeit precautions.

The apex court on Monday said that each of the three chariots must be pulled or surrounded by not more than 500 people. This included officials and police personnel.  It also asked them to be tested for the pandemic, before they pull chariots. 

The top court also said that the three chariots should be pulled in a one-hour gap while maintaining social-distancing. In keeping with the court's order, the state government has imposed 41-hour curfew in the city. Devotees have been encouraged to watch proceedings through televisions or portals.

The annual Jagannath Yatra holds a significant value for Hindus, not only in India but across the globe. Every year, millions of people reach this holy city to pull chariots. The festival takes place on Assadha Shukla Paksha Duitiya. It begins with Lord Jagannath and his two siblings Balarama and Subhadra visiting their mausi (aunt)'s home at Gundicha Temple, near Balagundi Chhaka.

The local authority must take into account and bring those breaking Supreme Court guidelines to book.  While these devotees might have been tested negative, but any positive case from here may lead to sure in Coronavirus numbers not only in Odisha but the rest of the country as well.

Already one of the priests has been tested positive. He has been kept out of the festival. However, is there any guarantee that nobody, who came in contact within the last few days, was part of this annual ritual?  A video uploaded by ANI also suggests that social distancing advisory is not being carried. Several devotees can be seen not wearing masks too.

Watch this video

The revised order of the Supreme Court is a welcome step. However, it's a task cut-out for the local administration. It won't be easy for it to monitor social distancing with a hawk-eye during each of the three yatras.

I pray that all my concerns turn out to be baseless in the coming weeks. India is a country full of festivals. With this order of the Supreme Court, people may expect to celebrate Janmastami, Ganesh Chaturti, or observe Muharram in August, with precautions.

The Coronavirus continues to loom over in India and the rest of the world. The latest virus figure of 4, 40,215 cases and 14,011 cases till now, suggest not many dips in the number of cured cases in the next two months.

The Naveen Patnaik-led Odisha government should take extra precautions to check the extent of the pandemic in the next few weeks.  The upcoming festivals across the county will depend on the success of the state government on how it manages this festival with minimum Coronavirus spread, if at all.

All said and done, Centre's earlier order that there should be no religious gathering or congregation has gone for a toss. Will it now allow religious gatherings with prescribed norms in religious places? Only time will tell.

India-China standoff: No lip singing, but tough actions needed on the ground

PM Modi in interaction with leaders  of different political parties on Friday.(ANI)

During his virtual meeting with party leaders on Friday evening, PM Narendra Modi surprised many by suggesting that there was no cross-border infiltration by China. With reports of regular conflicts between Indian and Chinese soldiers in recent times in the Line of Actual Control (LAC), this has surprised many.

PM Modi, during his interaction on Friday evening, said as per ANI, "Neither have they intruded into our border nor has any post been taken over by them (China). 20 of our jawans were martyred, but those who dared Bharat Mata, they were taught a lesson".

While several questions on the conflict of statements by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the prime minister was going rounds, the PMO came out with a statement on Saturday saying," The APM (All Party Meeting) was also informed that this time, Chinese forces have come in much larger strength to the LAC and that the Indian response is commensurate. As regards transgression of LAC, it was clearly stated that the violence in Galwan on 15 June arose because Chinese side was seeking to erect structures just across the LAC and refused to desist from such actions."

Every single Indian condole the death of 20 bravehearts of 16 Bihar Regiment and our hearts boil with anger with the way they were killed.

No one questions the velour of armed forces. But the message that has gone to the country is that our stand is different when it comes to Pakistan and China. Apart from our External fairs Minister S Jaishankar calling up his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, nothing substantial was seen on the ground.

It seems the government wants to move ahead just by paying homage to our martyred soldiers. Were the lives of our 20 soldiers less important than 40 jawans who lost their lives in Pulwama attack or 19 jawans in Uri?  In both cases, the Modi government decided to go for a surgical strike and airstrike following terror attacks.

One may agree that war against China is no solution. But at least we can tackle them economically. The government must take steps to reduce trade ties with China. Also, we must stop importing automobile parts, mobiles, toys, and other items from China.

Also, with China regularly violating LAC agreements isn't it time for India to drag China to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), just like it did against Pakistan in Kulbhushan Jadhav case. Surely the tortures that our 20 jawans faced are far beyond imaginable.

Apart from this, it can also ask BRICS nations, of which both countries are part, to put pressure on China to follow LAC agreements. While it has maintained that no third party negotiation required on Kashmir issue against Pakistan, in this case, Russia, being India's close friend can talk to China on its behalf. India's ability on negotiations is beyond doubt, but high time China be made understand they could no more get away with intrusions. Also, with both Russia and China being the permanent United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Russia's talk to China on India's behalf will have its weight.

While one is certain that the Modi Government might have opened back-channel diplomacies, one hope this time China is taught a tough lesson without firing a bullet. Time for PM Modi to show his 56-inch chest continues to remain as strong as ever.

India-China face-off: Steps Modi-Govt may take to tackle Beijing

The Indo-China diplomatic tie is at historic low following a fresh round of tussle between soldiers of both sides in Ladakh on Monday night. While 20 brave soldiers lost their lives, reports suggest that nearly 40 Chinese soldiers were also killed or injured. 

Ever since the 1962 war, the Chinese troops had been frequently crossing the Line of Actual Control. On every occasion, Indian troops warned them for violating border agreements.  These often led to a tussle between both sides

This time, however, the face-off went a bit too far. Initial reports suggested that Colonel Suresh Babu, Commanding Officer of the 16th battalion of Bihar Regiment, and two soldiers lost their lives during the face-off at Galwan Valley. By, late evening on Tuesday, the casualty figure surged to 20.

While the Indian army issued a statement on the same late last evening, China is it to do so. However, one is not surprised at China's attitude given its habit of hiding important informations. The US has put the casualty figure on China's side to 35.

Dragging China to UN

Another war between India and China can hardly be a solution, given that the region has already seen a couple of wars in the last five decades. Given that China is a permanent member of the UN, it will not be easy for India to drag the Communist-led country to the world body on the issue.

However, the Modi Government must take China to the United Nations on Tibet. This will not only take China to back foot but will also increase its problems given that Jinping administration is already in the eye of the storm across the world over the spread of COVID-19.

India must contact Russia, the US, and France (all of whom are UN permanent members) and inform them of China's misdeeds. This will put further pressure on China, given that the US has already announced tough measures against Beijing, accusing it of hiding facts on the ongoing pandemic.

Shut diplomatic ties

India must shut all diplomatic ties with China to put pressure on the country and make them sit on the negotiating table. The prime minister, other ministers and diplomats must not visit China as long as they don't stop laying claims on parts of Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh. It must also as its diplomats from China to return.

Lest we forget that China ditched former PM Jawaharlal Nehru's vision of 'Hindi-Chini  bhai-bhai', we must remember PM Modi also attended an informal summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kerala's Mamallapuram.

One had hope that talks were going on the right direction. With its attest deed of killing our soldiers, China has proved that it still does not value its diplomatic ties with India, even as the relationship between both countries goes back to centuries.

Shun economic ties?

Given that China is India's largest trade partner, the shunning of economic ties with China completely, won't be a good idea. While India must stop purchasing electronic gadgets and toys from China, trade ties on eatable products and medicines must continue.

With the Chinese auto sector among the best in the world, it will not help India to close a trade with China in the Auto industry. Several auto manufacturing companies from China have opened their offices in India, giving employment to locals.

The Conclusion

While tackling China militarily is not a solution, cutting off trade ties entirely with Beijing will hamper India's economy. This is at the time when India is already facing an economic crisis, even before the pandemic.  The only way India can put pressure on China is through diplomatic channels, to put the Jinping administration on the backfoot.