1 Indian govt has asked airlines not to fly Chinese nationals into the country. This move have been necessitated because of China’s not so subtle move to stop Indians from flying into the country, something that has been tightened by Chinese authorities since November. While flights between two countries are currently suspended, but the Chinese nationals are flying into country via third country with which India has travel bubble. Chinese nationals, living in these bubble countries are also flying here on work and business..During last week Indian authorities have informed – both India and foreign airlines who are flying Chinese nationals into country, not to fly them into the India territory. Presently all foreigners are not been given any tourist visa.
Some of the airlines have asked the Indian authorities to give in writing so that they can quote this while refusing boarding to Chinese citizens. Now what triggered this impasse? It so happened that 20 passengers of an Air India flight from Delhi to Wuhan on 30th Oct tested positive and another 40 had covid antibodies. Hong Kong on the other hand suspends flight of particular carrier for 14 days It has so barred Air India 4 times and Vistara once In another case, almost 1500 seafarers from India are stranded in various Chinese ports, because China is refusing to allow them on shore, or even to change the crew. These people can not even come back to India.
In the end, both Indian and Chinese authorities are refusing to comment on the situation. So no body knows when this impasse is going to end.
2 In has been reported in the media that Mumbai Reality business is having upward swing as many celebrities have started buying properties in the residential sectors. To name a few film stars Hrithik Roshan bought two apartments in western suburbs of Mumbai for Rs 97.5 Cr, Alia Bhatt purchased a house in Bandra(in Mumbai’s western suburb) for Rs 32 Cr. Industrial Motilal Oswal has purchased two duplex apartments in Peddar Road (Sourh Mumbai) for Rs 101 Cr. Amrita Puri and her mother bought a luxury apartment in Malabar Hill (south Mumbai) for Rs 50 Cr. Cricketers Shreyas Iyer bought a flat admeasuring 2600 Sq feet for 11.85 Cr. On top of this list is Industrialist Anurag Jain who has invested Rs 139 Cr in reality.
This is a great sign for the real estate industry, who has almost came to halt during pandemic. This industry was also showing downward trend for last few years.
3 Two days back Sanjay Raut, Rajya Sabha member of Shiv Sena said that as Congress is losing its hold in India politics, therefore it is imperative that Sharad Pawar of NCP should lead United Progressive Alliance (UPA) instead of Rahul or Sonia, as Sharad Pawar is more capable of holding the UPA together and even ask new smaller parties to join the same. Now Ashok Chavan of Congress (ex CM), currently holding portfolio of Public Work, in MVA govt of Maharashtra strongly objected to Raut’s comment and said “,Shiv Sena has no right to speak for UPA, as they are not part of UPA and Congress with NCP are part of MVA this alliance is only for ruling the Maharashtra state, within UPA the leadership of Sonia Gandhi is undisputed and she is instrumental in holding UPA together.” He further added that “ in my opinion Raut’s comments on Gandhi family and UPA is uncalled .” A senior leader of NCP said it was the time that code of conduct was drawn up for the seniors leaders of MVA. We should not comment on the leadership of other parties. Instead we should concentrate on Common Minimum Programme (CMP) for running the alliance govt in Maharashtra.
Sometimes I wonder, If Sanjay Raut is running the Shiv Sena, as he keeps on giving controversial statements through Shiv Sena’s mouthpiece news paper Saamna, which he is editing. OR whatever things Udhav Thackerey wants to speak but can not speak as he is running the Shiv Sena and now he is CM of Maharashtra also, so he using Raut’s shoulder to fire.
Waiting for your feed backs/comments/views
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
28th December 2020-12-2020