4 August 2021
Poverty in India started rising even before the pandemic: In the absence of CES data, the Periodic Labour Force Survey shows a rise in the absolute number of the poor; this is not a result of the pandemic, as poverty rose from 270 million in 2011-12 to 348 million in 2019-20; poverty had been falling for the past few decades, a trend reversed in the past few years
Police brutality: 348 people died, 1,189 tortured in police custody in different parts of country in last three years: Central government informs Lok Sabha
Religion and politics: the Modi government will open the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya to public in 2023, even though construction will continue to 2024; this is to ensure they are able to open it before the elections in 2024
Highhandedness in the Parliament: opposition MP Manoj Jha called to speak, states that 500 farmers died, and he is cut off; MP Ram Gopal Yadav called to speak, states that some MPs have been suspended, and he is cut off; MP Vandana Chavan called to speak, states that bills are being bulldozed, and she is cut off
Covid death underreporting: The number of “excess deaths” registered by the Civil Registration System (CRS) in Maharashtra ever since the COVID-19 pandemic hit (from April 2020 to May 2021), was an estimated 2,12,589 which is about 3 times the official reported figure of 75,877 deaths for the same period