MP CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan said the new Anti-conversion bill has the provision of jail term of up to 10 years and a fine of minimum Rs 50,000.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan said on Saturday that the state cabinet has approved the Dharma Swatantrya (Religious Freedom) Bill 2020, which bars forced conversions.

Chauhan stated, “We will not allow forced conversion of religion by luring, frightening, cheating or misleading a person in Madhya Pradesh. We have strengthened the 1968 law making it more effective and stricter.”

He said the new bill has the provision of jail term of up to 10 years and a fine of minimum Rs 50,000.

Shivraj Singh Chauhan pointed out, “Many instances surfaced where minor girls were converted, married and made to contest Panchayat polls. Very recently, we brought back minor girls from various places. We will not allow this to take place with innocent daughters of the state.”

According to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan’s Office, any marriage conducted with the intention of religious conversion will be considered null. Anyone going through religious conversion willingly as well as the concerned religious leader will have to inform the District Magistrate one month in advance.

The Anti-conversion bill is supposed to be tabled during a three-day session of the Legislative Assembly scheduled to begin on December 28.

The post Anti-Conversion Bill Approved By MP Cabinet says Shivraj Singh Chauhan appeared first on Digpu News Network.

The police said that the militants were appealed to surrender. However, they turned down the appeal and started firing indiscriminately.

Srinagar, J&K —

Two local Al-Badr militants were killed and two Army soldiers were injured in an encounter in Kanigam village of south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Saturday.

An official said that two militants were killed in the gunfight, which was more than 24-hours long. He said that two Army soldiers were also injured yesterday evening as militants tried to break the multi-layer cordon, however the forces again engaged them and killed both the trapped militants in the gunfight.

Earlier, reports said that a joint team of security forces launched a massive cordon and search operation in the Kanigam area. As the joint team of forces approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon the forces, triggering an encounter.

Meanwhile, police in a statement said that “During the wee hours on Saturday, the militants were again appealed to surrender. However, they turned down the appeal and started firing indiscriminately.”

“In the ensuing encounter, two militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. They have been identified as Owais Farooq, resident of Kadlabal Awantipora and Asif Lone, resident of Turkwangam Shopian affiliated with proscribed militant outfit Al-Badr,” he said.

A police spokesperson said, “As per police records, both the slain militants were part of the group involved in several militant activities including attacks on security forces and civilian atrocities. Besides, several terror crime cases were registered against Asif Lone including case FIR No. 98/2020 of PS Zainapora, Kashmir pertaining to attack Army Naka party at Trenz Shopian on 07/12/2020 & FIR No. 153/2020 of PS Zainapora pertaining to pasting of posters whereby general public was threatened to keep away from recently concluded DDC elections.”

He said, “Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other militant crimes.”

The local police said that the last rites of the slain Al-Badr militants shall be performed after conducting their medico-legal formalities at Baramulla and their nearest family members shall be allowed to participate in the last rites.

Also Watch: Captured on Camera: Dramatic surrender of two militants in J&K

**
This story is not for reproduction.

The post Two local Al-Badr militants killed in south Kashmir’s Shopian appeared first on Digpu News Network.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually launched the PMJAY-SEHAT health insurance scheme for the residents of Jammu and Kashmir today.

Asserting that the people of Jammu and Kashmir were deprived of their rights for decades, Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated that Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)-SEHAT, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the UT on Saturday, was another testament of his resolve towards the welfare of the erstwhile state.

“The launch of PMJAY-SEHAT scheme is yet another testament of PM @NarendraModi’s resolve towards the health security and welfare of every person of J&K who remains deprived of their rights for decades,” Shah tweeted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually launched the “SEHAT” health insurance scheme for the residents of Jammu and Kashmir today. The scheme will cover the remaining one crore population, which was not covered under the Ayushman Bharat scheme

Amit Shah said that 229 government and 35 private hospitals have been listed under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, adding that with this, the people of Jammu and Kashmir will be able to avail medical facilities up to Rs 5 lakh free of cost.

“PM Modi wishes to see speedy development in J-K and improvement in the standard of living of people. He presses that democracy should reach the grassroots levels and wishes peace and security for the people of the UT,” Shah said.

The post Amit Shah calls PMJAY-SEHAT another testament for the welfare of Jammu And Kashmir appeared first on Digpu News Network.

A new strain of the COVID-19 was detected in the UK. As per the experts, this strain is more transmissible than other SARS-CoV-2 variants.

At least eight persons who returned from the United Kingdom (UK) to Kerala have tested COVID-19 positive and their swab samples have been sent to National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune for further examination, Health Minister KK Shailaja said on Saturday.

“Research conducted by the Health Department in Kozhikode shows a slight change in the strain of the virus. To be sure, we are conducting this research in all districts of Kerala. This strain is not like the one found in the UK,” Shailaja said in Kannur.

The Health Minister said that there is no need to panic as the death rate in the state due to COVID-19 is still below 0.5 per cent but she added that people need to maintain a strict vigil.

Last week, the new strain of the coronavirus was detected in the UK. As per the experts, this strain is more transmissible than other SARS-CoV-2 variants.

“Due to the local body elections, there was a slight increase in cases and we expected it. The state’s death rate is still below 0.5 per cent,” she said.

A total of 5,397 new COVID-19 cases and 4,506 recoveries were reported in Kerala yesterday.

The post 8 People returning to Kerala from UK test COVID-19 positive appeared first on Digpu News Network.

The regional director of WHO Europe said the new strain of the coronavirus has been detected in eight European countries

The new strain of the coronavirus has been detected in eight European countries, the regional director of WHO Europe said, adding that the World Health Organization (WHO) is continuing to monitor the situation.
While stressing the need to boost the protective measures, Hans Kluge, WHO’s Regional Director for Europe said the new strain seems to be spreading among younger age groups, unlike the previous strains.

“8 countries in the @WHO_Europe region have now identified the new COVID-19 variant VOC-202012/01. It is vital to strengthen existing protective measures: distancing/masks/staying in core support bubbles. WHO is continuing to monitor and will provide updates,” Hans Kluge tweeted.

“The variant also seems to be spreading among younger age groups, unlike previous strains. Vigilance is important while research is ongoing to define its impact,” Kluge said in a subsequent tweet.

Last week, the new strain of the coronavirus was firstly detected in the United Kingdom. As per the experts, this type of infection is more transmissible than other SARS-CoV-2 variants. Following the arrival of the new strain, several countries introduced new travel restrictions.
The WHO on March 11 had declared the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a global pandemic.

According to Johns Hopkins University, 79,712,010 cases and 1,747,790 deaths have been reported globally. The United States continues to the worst affected country by the pandemic, followed by India and Brazil. 

The post The new strain of coronavirus detected in 8 European countries appeared first on Digpu News Network.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said that the government will have to listen to the farmers protesting against the new farm laws.

Rahul Gandhi posted a video of protesting farmers and wrote: “Mitti ka kann kann goonj raha hai, sarkar ko sun na padega—The government will have to listen (to the farmers).” Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury visited Rashtrapati Bhavan on December 24.
Rahul Gandhi submitted the party memorandum having two crore signatures to President Ram Nath Kovind for the repeal of the farm laws, against which farmers are protesting on the Delhi borders since last month.

“I told the President that these farm laws are anti-farmer. The country has seen that farmers have stood up against these laws,” Gandhi had said.
Farmers are protesting at the borders of Delhi since November 26 against the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

The post Rahul Gandhi-Govt will have to listen to protesting farmers appeared first on Digpu News Network.