Hyderabad: As the year 2020 draws to a close, here's a quick roundup of some of the most trending stories that made headlines this year. Although the COVID-19 pandemic dominated the news throughout the year, there were several other major events that took place in India.
PROTEST OVER CITIZENSHIP AMENDMENT ACT
The protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act started in Assam as protesters linked it with the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The protesters opposed the CAA for allowing citizenship to immigrants, who came in after 1971. The focus of the anti-CAA protests later shifted to Delhi, particularly at Shaheen Bagh. Here, the protesters led the agitation against a provision that made Muslims from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan ineligible to acquire citizenship under the CAA.
Although, the protest broke off in the view of the spreading COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent lockdown.
DELHI SEES RIOTS
The intense protests against and in support of the CAA by opposing groups in Delhi turned into communal violence in Northeast Delhi in February.
The clashes between the supporters of the citizenship law and protesters began in the last week of February. It spiralled out of control, leaving at least 53 people dead and around 200 injured. Multiple cases in connection with the Delhi riots are being probed by the Delhi Police, who named former JNU students union leader Umar Khalid and another JNU student Sharjeel Imam as accused.
DELHI ASSEMBLY ELECTION
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal took oath as the Chief Minister of Delhi on February 16, 2020, for the third time at the Ramlila Maidan Ground. Kejriwal was later elected the leader of the legislative party by newly-elected party legislators. The Aam Aadmi Party swept the Delhi Assembly election, bagging 62 out 70 seats and decimating its rivals BJP and Congress. The BJP bagged eight seats, while the Congress failed to open its account.
CORONAVIRUS MAYHEM
COVID-19 pandemic has been the biggest story of the year as it brought the world to a halt. The year saw millions getting affected across the globe by the disease which originated in China late last year. In India too, COVID-19 wreaked havoc and affected the normal lives of the people. It started in March this year when the first phase of the lockdown was imposed by the Centre to check the spread of the disease. The government imposed a nationwide lockdown on March 25 - initially for 21 days - and kept increasing it due to the grim situation. The lockdown remained in place for 75 days. India saw the first relaxation in curbs in the month of June when Unlock 1.0 kicked in. In the following months, the government ordered the phase-wise opening of different sectors of the economy, to help people and businesses but strict measures remained in place in the containment zone. Though the situation has improved, and the country is past the peak of the disease, the vigil is on as the government has warned people not to lower their guard until the vaccine is rolled out.
INDIA-CHINA FACE-OFF AT GALWAN VALLEY
On the evening of June 15, India and China engaged in a face-off at the Galwan Valley in Ladakh which is considered the most deadly clash in the past four decades. Twenty Indian soldiers, including the commanding officer of an infantry battalion, lost their lives in the incident. Even after so many rounds of Corps Commander level talks, the situation continues to remain tense along the Line of Actual Control, with both the Indian and Chinese armies fully deployed in the area.
FOUNDATION OF RAM TEMPLE IN AYODHYA
Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the 'Bhoomi Pujan' and laid the foundation stone for the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on August 5, 2020. According to Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, the Ram Temple in Ayodhya will be built as per India's ancient and traditional construction techniques. The construction of the temple is expected to start in January and will be completed in 36 months. The temple will be around 360 feet in length and 235 feet in width, and each of the three floors will be 20 feet in height. The height of the temple from the ground will be 161 feet. The temple will be made of stone, and around 4 lakh cubic feet of stones will be used. Larsen & Toubro has been given the contract to build the temple while Tata Consulting Engineers (TCE) is a management consultant.
PRANAB MUKHERJEE PASSES AWAY
The 13th President of the country Pranab Mukherjee passed away at the age of 84. He was admitted to the RR Hospital in Delhi after accidentally slipping and falling in his bathroom. He died on August 31, 2020, after swinging between life and death for 21 days. He made a very high point in politics and set a unique example of working in politics, beyond controversies.
SCANDAL OVER SUSHANT SINGH RAJPUT’S DEATH
A major political scandal broke out following the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who was found hanging in his flat in Mumbai in June. After his father approached the Bihar government for registering a case suspecting foul play behind his death, the administrations of Bihar and Maharashtra seemed to be fighting each another. Bihar Police registered an FIR in Sushant Singh Rajput’s death case. When the police officer from the state landed in Mumbai, they were forced into quarantine by the BMC in what the Bihar government said was an act to block the probe into the case. The matter was then transferred to the CBI. Later, it became a battle between actor Kangana Ranaut and the Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government. Meanwhile, Sushant Singh Rajput’s girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty was arrested over illegal drugs issues and spent four weeks in jail. Now, the probe is largely centred on the use of narcotics in Bollywood.
FARMERS' PROTEST OVER NEW FARM LAWS
In the last month of the year, Delhi became the centre-stage of yet another public protest - this time by farmers over the three farm laws brought out first as Ordinance by the government and later enacted by Parliament. The three laws are The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act. Farmers’ unions leading the agitation say these laws will ultimately dismantle the MSP system and make the farmers vulnerable to exploitative corporate market forces. The government dismissed their claims but has failed to convince them that the new farm laws are beneficial reforms. As a result, thousands of farmers continue to stay put at Delhi border points for the last few weeks.
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