Trinamul Congress MP Sisir Adhikari removed as DSDA chairman

Biswabrata Goswami

Hummingbird News 

MIDNAPORE, 12 JAN: Veteran Trinamul Congress leader Sisir Adhikari has been removed from the post of chairman of Digha Shankarpur Development Authority (DSDA) by the state government today.

A notification has been issued by the state government reconstituting the DSDA. TMC MLA Akhil Giri has been appointed to the post.

The development assumes significance in the wake of Mr. Adhikari’s son and former Bengal Minister Suvendu Adhikari severing his ties with the TMC and joining the BJP. Sisir Adhikari, MP from Purba Medinipur Kanthi Lok Sabha constituency, however, remains with the TMC. His younger son Dibyendu Adhikari is also a TMC MP from Tamluk constituency in the same district.

A few days ago, the TMC removed Soumendu Adhikari, another member of the Adhikari family, from the post of chairman of board of administrators of Contai Municipality. Following the footsteps of his brother, Mr. Soumendu Adhikari also joined the BJP.

The removal of the veteran Trinamul leader from the post indicates his departure from the State’s ruling party is only a matter of time.

Administrators of Egra and Tamluk Municipalities, who were considered close to the Adhikari family, have also been removed from their posts.

"He did not do anything as the chairman of the DSDA. So he has been removed," Giri told reporters on Tuesday.

Adhikari is at present the district president of the TMC in Purba Medinipur.

Adhikari, however, remained unfazed with the development. "They can do whatever they want. I am not bothered," he said.

Following the development, BJP leader Rahul Sinha said that the decision by West Bengal’s governning party reflected its end in near future.

“TMC’s destruction has already begun and the party itself is doing that with this kind of decision,” the former Bengal BJP president Sinha said.

He asked Sisir Adhikari to follow the footsteps of his sons Suvendu and Soumendu and join the saffron camp. “BJP’s door is open to all. This is not a private limited company. It is people’s party,” he said.

TMC, on the other hand, tried to play down the speculations that Sisir Adhikari would soon switch over to BJP. The West Bengal’s governning party said that it was just a regular replacement, as it happens in any other department from time to time.

Holding breath may increase risk of getting COVID-19 infection : IIT Madras researchers

Biswabrata Goswami

Hummingbird News

CHENNAI, 11 JAN: Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-Madras) researchers have found that the process of virus-laden droplets being transported into deep lung increases with decreasing breathing frequency.

The research team modelled the breathing frequency in a laboratory and found that low breathing frequency increases the time of residence of the virus and therefore it increases chances of deposition and consequently the infection. Also, the multi-scale lung structure has a significant effect on a person’s susceptibility to COVID-19.

The research was led by Prof. Mahesh Panchagnula, Department of Applied Mechanics, IIT Madras, with his research scholars Mr. Arnab Kumar Mallik and Mr. Soumalya Mukherjee, IIT Madras. The findings of this study were published in the international reputed peer-reviewed journal Physics of Fluids.

Elaborating on the need for such research, Prof. Mahesh Panchagnula, Department of Applied Mechanics, IIT Madras, said, “COVID-19 (the disease caused by Coronavirus) has opened a gap in our understanding of deep pulmonological systemic diseases. Our study unravels the mystery behind how particles are transported and deposited in the deep lung. The study demonstrates the physical process by which aerosol particles are transported into the deep generations of the lung.”

Prof. Mahesh V. Panchagnula’s team worked to gain a deeper understanding of how the rate of flow of droplet laden with virus determines the deposition of the virus in the lungs. In their research, the team reported that holding the breath and having low breathing rate can increase chances of virus deposition in the lungs. The study was conducted to pave the way for developing better therapies and drugs for respiratory infections. Previous work from the group has also highlighted the significant variability in aerosol uptake from individual to individual, suggesting a reason why some people are more susceptible to airborne diseases than others.

Airborne infections such as Coronavirus spread immensely through sneezing and coughing as it instantly releases a lot of tiny droplets. The IIT Madras Research team imitated the droplet dynamics in the lung by studying the movement of droplets in the small capillaries which were of a diameter similar to bronchioles. They took water mixed with fluorescent particles and generated aerosols from this liquid using a nebulizer. These fluorescent aerosols were used to track the movement and deposition of particles in the capillaries.

The researchers studied the movement of the fluorescentaerosol particlesin capillaries of size ranging from 0.3 to 2 millimetres which covers the range of bronchiole diameters. They found that the deposition is inversely proportional to the aspect ratio of capillaries, which suggests that the droplets are likely to deposit in longer bronchioles.

The scientists also studied how the ‘Reynolds Number,’ a parameter that quantifies the nature of flow - steady or turbulent, determines the deposition in the capillaries. They found that when the flow of aerosol movement is steady then the particles deposit via the process of diffusion, however, if the flow is turbulent then the particles deposit via the process of impaction.

In future, the team intends to continue this work to understand how the virus-laden droplets are transported into lungs as the process by which the virus is transported from the nasal cavity to the deep lung is still unknown. An understanding of the physics of this phenomenon could be crucial in mitigating the progression of the disease.

Mamata calls BJP "Bharatiya Junk Party" Country starring food crisis because of BJP

Mamata calls BJP "Bharatiya Junk Party"

            Country starring food crisis because of BJP

Biswabrata Goswami

Hummingbird News  

RANAGHAT, 11 JAN: Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee today took a dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), calling it a ‘junk party’ for inducting ‘rotten’ leader from other political outfits.

She said: “BJP is the biggest junk party in the country. It's a dustbin party that is filling up its rank and file with corrupt and rotten leaders from other parties.”

“You must have seen some (TMC) leaders switch over to the BJP. They have done it to protect the public money they had looted. The BJP runs the party like a washing machine, where corrupt leaders turn into saints the moment they join them,” she said while addressing a rally at Habibpur in Ranaghat in Nadia today.

She further said, “When leaders attached with Trinamul are called bad while when they switch to the BJP, they are being treated as good leaders. This is BJP party who inducted the rotten leaders who basically help them to save their money they looted”.

She went on to say, the BJP is either buying leaders by offering money or by intimidating them. They are dreaming to capture Bengal by sheltering all odd people like Abol, Tabol, Ulto, Palta, Landa, Bhanda, Anda, Ganda, Akathya, Kukathya, Akalpaniyo, Kukalpaniyo (Miss Banerjee grimaced). “I say you first control Delhi, then think about Bengal”, Miss Banerjee said.

Referring to the ongoing farmers’ agitation, the Trinamul Congress chief said that India is staring at a food crisis due to the BJP’s ‘adamant’ approach towards the three new farm laws.

“The country is staring at a food crisis. If the BJP continues to remain adamant on the farm laws, there will be a food shortage in our country. The farmers are assets of our country and we should not do anything that goes against their interest,” said Miss Banerjee while addressing the rally ahead of 2021 West Bengal Assembly Elections.

She further sought the immediate withdrawal of the three farm laws, as being demanded by farmers agitating at borders of Delhi.

She further drew a parallel between BJP cadres and US President Donald Trump’s supporters, who forced their way inside the US Capitol recently.

“They (Trump) lost the poll, but they continued shouting they had won the poll. The day the BJP loses elections, its cadre and supporters will behave like that,” claimed Miss Banerjee.

She said, “BJP is claiming that they will make the Bengal as Sonar Bangla. But, what things are left to be developed. We have done a lot for the development of the state. Bengal has already been turned into a Sonar Bangla. So, there is no need to make the Bengal as Sonar Bangla”.

Considering the area dominated by Matua community where her party had lost the election, Miss Banerjee said, “A moya bill has been brought to give citizenship. That bill did not come into effect. The Matuas are all citizens. I informed that. Matuas are being misunderstood. There is no need for a new Moya Bill. The Matuas are already citizens. Is it so easy to take away citizenship?”

“I will not allow NRC-NPR. We will not allow human rights to be violated. This is a policy decision of our government. I have made a board for Matua society. I have given 10 crore rupees. I have made a board for Rajbangshi-Kamatapuri-Namashudras”, Miss Banerjee iterated.

She also criticized Center’s Ayushman scheme saying, “Ayushman gives 60 per cent of the centers in India and the remaining 40 per cent to the states. The government will give 100 out of 100 rupees to the health worker under Swastha Swathi scheme. Now tell me which is better? I myself am a health member. Everyone in your house will get treatment with this card.”

At the end, Miss Banerjee said, “Bengali is always the target of their (BJP) attack. Slander is spreading in the name of this state. I say I will give my head, but I will not let Bengal be sold.”

 

IIT Gandhinagar invites applications for M.Sc in cognitive science with monthly scholarships

Biswabrata Goswami

Hummingbird News  

GANDHINAGAR, 7 January : Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar is inviting applications for its M.Sc. in Cognitive Science. The discipline of Cognitive Science is a steadily growing interdisciplinary field consisting of philosophy, psychology, computer science, neuroscience, and Artificial Intelligence.

Now, more than ever, Cognitive Science is growing as a discipline of utmost importance with applications in every major field. The Institute has a state-of-the-art Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, which conducts high-quality research in the frontier areas of cognitive science on various cutting-edge topics such as perception, curiosity, attention, motor learning, decision making, prosthetics, rehabilitation, robotics, consumer behavior, multisensory perception, music cognition, and tactile perception, among other areas.

Respecting the multidisciplinary spirit,this course offers students the flexibility to tailor the course according to their interests. Students are encouraged to take courses from other disciplines, creating a vibrant learning environment.

The students of M.Sc. in Cognitive Science come from a variety of disciplines ranging from psychology, physics, engineering, life sciences and philosophy, among other fields, creating an atmosphere of curiosity and collaboration throughout the course. This course transcends traditional academic boundaries through rigorous multi-disciplinary coursework, focused faculty-mentored projects, exciting summer internships, and an in-depth dissertation.

The Institute is also calling for applications for the Masters in Society and Culture, a unique program that provides students (from any disciplinary background) breadth and focus in the key disciplines within the Humanities and Social Sciences.Successfully running since 2013, students of the MA programme have made their careers in diverse job sectors ranging from prominent media and communication houses, leading NGOs to doctoral students, currently pursuing their PhDs in the United States and Canada.

The deadline for both M.Sc. (Cognitive Science) and M.A. (Society and Culture) is 31st January 2021. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, both admission tests and interviews for the courses will be conducted online. Applications for these two courses can be obtained from the following link - https://admissions.iitgn.ac.in/loginindex.php

 

Headlines: Covid Vacciination Drive To Begin On 16 Jan, Nadia Conducts D...

Subhendu slams Mamata Banerjee without taking her name for the first time over outsider issue 

Biswabrata Goswami

Hummingbird News  

HALDIA, 15 DEC: The rebel Trinamul Congress leader, Subhendu Adhikari, today, for the first time slammed Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee without mentioning her name over the insider-outsider debate and said those coming from other states cannot be branded as outsiders, echoing the views of the saffron party.

In Jalpaiguri, Miss Banerjee has asked voters to create a mandate against the “outsider” BJP, claiming that the party is trying to destroy the state with their “divisive politics”. The Trinamul Congress supremo further said that both BJP and RSS are “not the real Hindus” as they only spread hatred.

“Despite doing so much for the people in North Bengal, we have not won a single seat from North Bengal. Why? How come BJP, who came from outside, won all the seats? What was our fault in the last 10 years? The RSS and BJP are trying to take control over Bengal for their vested interest. They are not the real Hindus. They are not Ramakrishna or Vivekananda as they only spread hatred,” said Banerjee while addressing a public rally in Jalpaiguri district today.

Adhikari, who resigned from the cabinet last month and relinquished two administrative posts, was addressing the birth anniversary celebrations of freedom fighter Satish Chandra Samanta at Haldia in East Midnapore.

Speaking at the gathering, he said, “I am first an Indian and then a Bengali.”

Referring to the insider-outsider debate triggered by the TMC leadership to counter the BJP in the next assembly polls, Adhikari said, Bengal is very much a part of India and “people coming from other states can’t be treated as outsiders.”

“Satish Chandra Samanta was a stalwart parliamentarian from Midnapore. Even the country’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru used to respect him a lot. Neither Satish Chandra Samanta ever called Nehru an outsider nor did Nehru ever brand him as a non-Hindi speaking MP. There was mutual respect,” he said.

Samanta had quit Bengal Engineering College as a student to participate in the freedom struggle. His leadership qualities came to the forefront during the formation of a parallel government named Tamralipta Jatiya Sarkar (Tamrlipta National Government) in Tamluk during the Quit India Movement. After Independence, Samanta was a Member of Parliament for over three decades. Hitting out at the TMC leadership, Adhikari said, “Why should there be a “by the party, for the party of the party” rule in Bengal? This is democracy. We need to restore the rules as per the Indian Constitution which states “by the people, of the people and for the people”... I am not greedy for posts. All my life, I have worked for the masses.”

Senior TMC leaders said in private that Adhikari is specifically unhappy with Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee and election strategist Prashant Kishor who was roped in by the chief minister after the BJP won 18 of the state’s 42 Lok Sabha seats in 2019.

While speaking at the rally, Adhikari made significant remarks saying, “Those who insulted me will face the same fate as Anil Basu, Benoy Konar and Laxman Seth when people cast their votes in a few months.” The three CPI-M leaders he mentioned faced electoral defeat and disciplinary action as well.

“One must remember that the land agitation at Nandigram was a people’s movement and not that of an individual or any party,” Adhikari said at the programme.

He also said that those trying to malign him will get a befitting reply in the 2021 assembly polls.

“There are few people who are trying to malign me by saying I had yearned for posts. I want to tell them that they will get a befitting reply in the next assembly polls,” he said without naming anyone.

Adhikari also said, “I have been attacked 11 times recently. I want to tell my critics that I have people with me and these people have come for the connection I have with them.”

He further said that repeated attacks on him won’t deter him from taking a stand.

Meanwhile it is hearsay that Adhikari is all se to join the BJP during Union Home minister Amit Shah’s visit to the poll-bound state later this week.

There were strong rumours that he would switch over to the saffron camp ever since he challenged the TMC leadership last month and peace talks failed to bridge the differences.

“Adhikari will announce himself when he will join the BJP. The TMC and Prashant Kishor will soon witness many more joining the saffron camp because of the policies being followed by the ruling party,” said Kanishka Panda, an Adhikari aide who was expelled from the TMC two days ago. He was the TMC’s general secretary in East Midnapore.

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