Canada on Amit Shah, India's TB elimination deadline, and Olympic funding
Nov 5, 2024
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Shubhajit Roy, Diplomatic Affairs Editor at The Indian Express, delves into the tense relations between India and Canada, sparked by assassination allegations against Amit Shah. Anonna Dutt, also from The Indian Express, discusses alarming trends from the Global TB Report, highlighting India’s battle to eliminate tuberculosis by 2025. Lastly, Mihir Vasavda analyzes the Indian government's reconsideration of its Olympic funding, prompted by underwhelming athletic performances, emphasizing strategies to better support future sporting success.
The diplomatic relationship between India and Canada is strained following serious allegations against Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the assassination of a separatist leader.
India's struggle to eliminate tuberculosis by 2025 is exacerbated by undernutrition and lengthy treatment regimens, highlighting urgent health challenges.
Deep dives
Escalating India-Canada Tensions
Tensions between India and Canada have intensified over allegations of Indian government involvement in the assassination of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nidjar, which has created a significant diplomatic crisis. Initially sparked by Canada’s claims last September, these tensions escalated further when U.S. intelligence indicated the participation of Indian operatives in a similar plot against another pro-Khalistan leader. The situation worsened as Canadian officials implicated Indian Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing him of orchestrating campaigns against separatists in Canada. In response, India vehemently rejected these allegations, labeling them as absurd, and taken significant diplomatic steps, including summoning Canadian representatives to dispute the claims, highlighting the seriousness of this ongoing diplomatic fallout.
Challenges in Tuberculosis Elimination
India is facing significant challenges in meeting its ambitious goal of eliminating tuberculosis (TB) by 2025, as highlighted by the latest World Health Organization report. Although there has been a marginal decline in TB cases, India still accounts for 26% of the global burden of TB, with around 300,000 deaths annually. The report reveals that the country has only achieved a reduction of 18% in cases and 24% in TB-related deaths, falling short of the required targets. Key challenges hindering progress include undernutrition and prolonged treatment regimens, which complicate patient adherence to necessary medication, thereby contributing to the ongoing epidemic of tuberculosis in India.
Reevaluating Olympic Funding in India
In light of underwhelming performances at the Olympics, including only six medals at the recent Paris Games, the Indian government is reassessing its funding strategies for Olympic athletes. Current funding is spread across various schemes, but the government is contemplating a tighter focus on a smaller group of elite athletes deemed most likely to win medals. This potential reduction in beneficiary athletes may lead to resistance from current athletes and administrators; however, the emphasis is on ensuring that available resources are utilized effectively. Experts argue that while targeting funding is crucial, it is equally important to invest in junior programs to cultivate future talent for upcoming Olympics, maintaining support for a broader range of athletes.
First, The Indian Express’ Diplomatic Affairs Editor, Shubhajit Roy, discusses the ongoing tensions between India and Canada and the significance of the allegations against Home Minister Amit Shah.
Next, The Indian Express’ Anonna Dutt shares key highlights from the latest Global TB Report and the challenges India faces in eliminating tuberculosis (11:38).
Finally, The Indian Express’ Mihir Vasavda talks about India’s plans to adjust its Olympic funding scheme following its lackluster performance in Paris (21:26).
Hosted, written and produced by Shashank Bhargava Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
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