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Govt likely to convene closed door meeting on China issue with Opposition parties

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New Delhi, Sep 16: The Union Government has hinted at a closed door meeting with the Opposition parties on the China issue.

Why China’s demands on the border issue are not acceptable to India

The government is considering this meeting, although no final decision has been taken on the matter as yet. The Opposition has accused the government of shying away discussing the issue in Parliament.

On Tuesday, Congress leader, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary questioned the stance of the government on the issue. He said that if the public, news agencies can discuss the issue, then why can't Indian Parliament.

Congress walks out after Govt declines opposition's demand for discussion on India-China tension

On Tuesday Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh made a statement in Parliament on the Indo-China issue.

There was a face-off in Galwan Valley on June 15, in which the Indian forces inflicted heavy casualties on the Chinese forces, Rajnath Singh also said. The indian forces will forcefully counter all Chinese aggressive actions along the border. Since April we have seen an increase in troops and weapon deployment along the LAC in Ladakh, Singh said.

Let no one have any doubt about our capabilities. We want peace and will continue to talk to China. Both sides should respect the Line of Actual Control Singh also said. All mutual agreements must be respected, he also said.

China does not accept customary and peripheral alignment of Sino-India border, Singh also said. There has been a massive build up by the Chinese along the LAC and this has led to several friction points, the Defence Minister also said.

Our Armed Forces will successfully thwart all threats and protect the borders. We should be proud of our forces, he further said.

These are challenging times and in the midst of the pandemic, our soldiers have protected our borders. This is also due to Border Infrastructure Management, Singh also said.

Violent conduct of Chinese troops is a violation of all past agreements. Our troops have done counter deployments in the area to safeguard our borders, the Defence Minister also said.

I have conveyed to the Chinese side that we want a peaceful resolution to the solution. I made it clear that we will not comprise on out territorial integrity. The External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar during the meeting with his counterpart also conveyed the same message, Singh also said.

China has mobilised a huge number of Army battalions and armaments along the LAC and inner areas. There are many friction points in Eastern Ladakh, Gogra, Pangong Lake's north and south banks. The Indian Army has made counter deployments in these areas, Singh also said.

Singh further said that India is ready to peacefully resolve the border standoff with China.

He also said that China is not honouring the customary alignment of the boundary with India. The alignment has not only been defined by treaties, but has been maintained historically. However China believes that the border is not defined.

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Story first published: Wednesday, September 16, 2020, 8:57 [IST]

Govt likely to convene closed door meeting on China issue with Opposition parties

Bihar: ‘Mask safer than face shield’ | Patna News - Times of India

Bihar: ‘Mask safer than face shield’

As coronavirus spreads across India, it's time to mask up and stay safe (Image courtesy: maskindia.com)
PATNA: Face shields cannot be a substitute for masks in blocking viral particles of Covid-19, claims a recent study published in the journal, ‘Physics of Fluids’, established by the American Institute of Physics. It also says a two-layered cloth mask, which covers the chin in addition to the nose and the mouth, provides protection against aerosol transmission.
The study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of face shields, valved masks and cloth face coverings in blocking viral particles.
Indian Academy of Pediatrics-Bihar president Dr Arun Shah told this newspaper that a lot of people preferred face shields to cloth or surgical masks because “they are more comfortable to wear”.
“Safety is more important than comfort. The only advantage of using face shields is that they protect the eyes. The risk of transmission is higher because small virus-laden droplets can pass through them from the sides or the bottom. Hence, those, who are in the vicinity of an infected patient, should wear double-layered masks along with safety goggles,” Dr Shah said.
According to the study, masks act as filters and capture the droplets and particles one expels. If the droplets are 10 microns or less, shields are unable to act as a deterrent. Besides, valved masks can be a concern if the fit is poor.
However, Dr Sanjeev Kumar, nodal officer for Covid-19 at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences-Patna, pointed out that both valved and cloth masks were equally effective in blocking viral particles if worn properly.
“Tight-fitted valved masks are suitable for people who wear glasses as they prevent fogging of the lenses. Similarly, cloth masks should not be loose and cover the chin, nose and mouth,” he added.
Talking about the effectiveness of the widely preferred N95 masks, Dr Samendra Jha, assistant professor at the Patna Medical College and Hospital, said, “Although a valved N95 mask blocks the entry of viral particles from the outside during inhalation, it expels them into the atmosphere when the person wearing the mask exhales. Hence, an infected patient should avoid wearing it.”

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