SHEKHAR YADAV

CHENNAI  THURSDAY  APRIL 02, 2020  `7.00  PAGES 16  LATE CITY EDITION

LOCKDOWN LIFT IN SIGHT AS IRCTC OPENS ONLINE RESERVATION SYSTEM TRAVEL SITES RESUME FLIGHT BOOKINGS IRCTC had shut down online booking of rail tickets after PM Narendra ■ “The shutdown is only till April 14 night. Booking can’t be stopped RLY, AIRLINES START BOOKINGS Modi announced a nationwide lockdown on March 24. “As we have clear beyond that,” said an Air India official. In the unlikely event of `3,928 indications from the government the lockdown will not be extended, we further lockdown, passengers can reschedule the trip The move comes after clear indication from the Centre that the have resumed sale of online tickets,” an IRCTC official said, adding that ■ Bookings are also open on private airlines and travel portals COST OF A CHENNAI-DELHI NON-STOP 21-day national lockdown will not be extended beyond April 14 this will help passengers plan their travel in advance such as MakeMyTrip and Yatra from April 15 onwards FLIGHT ON APRIL 15 ON YATRA.COM

CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOGGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ WARANGAL ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI

110 new cases in TN: J&K 1 NIZAMUDDIN VIRUS LOAD 100+ FOREIGN All Delhi returnees 48 UTTARAKHAND DELHI 53 48 ARUNACHAL PRADESH EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Chennai District-wise break-up of 48 UTTAR PRADESH 1 the 110 cases reported A whopping 110 persons tested RAJASTHAN 11 TABLIGHIS IN 81 BIHAR ASSAM 17 positive for COVID-19 on Wednes- Tirunelveli 6 day, taking the total State tally to Coimbatore 28 234. All of them had attended the JHARKHAND 1 Tablighi Jamaat in Delhi earlier Erode 2 MADHYA PRADESH 1 71 WEST BENGAL this month. 1,500 GUJARAT So far, 190 of the total positive Theni 20 PARTICIPATED U.P. BOOKED 101 CHHATTISGARH cases in the State have a direct or Dindigul 17 FIR filed against them for visa violation; indirect connection with the Del- 50 ODISHA hi event. “Of the 110 confirmed Madurai 9 INFECTED Cabinet secretary tells chief secretaries to cases, there is 1 Burmese and 1 Tirupattur 7 252 MAHARASHTRA 1,030 TELANGANA 21 6 trace all who were at Nizamuddin meet Indonesian person,” said Health DEAD Secretary Beela Rajesh. Chengalpet 7 Revenue Secretary J Rad- Sivaganga 5 EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ New Delhi hakrishnan held a press meet ear- 1085 ANDHRA PRADESH 70 UK extends lier in the day and said that the Tuticorin 2 doc work visa ON a day when the Uttar Pradesh police lodged as many as 23 FIRs government estimates 1,122 peo- Tiruvarur 2 1,500 KARNATAKA 1 In a relief to against over 100 foreigners for violating visa rules and participat- ple from here could have attended foreign doctors, ing in Tablighi Jamaat activities, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba the Delhi event. Of them, only Karur 1 PUDUCHERRY 3 including from on Wednesday ordered all authorities to be firm in tracing and India, whose around 711 have returned home. Kanchipuram 2 395 KERALA 1 taking action against the Jamaat workers. The remaining travelled to other Another fatality visas were set CASH FOR Gauba directed the states and Union Ter- 1,103 TAMIL NADU 190 to expire in States. “We have identified 611 of Chennai 1 One fatality was reported POOR SOON ritories to launch on a “war footing” the con- them and quarantined them. A October, the UK tact tracing of all participants of Tablighi Tiruvannamalai 1 from Telangana, taking the has extended With reports of the hundred others are yet to be toll to 41. On the positive Jamaat’s Nizamuddin congregation. He also tracked. They are untraceable. the deadline by poor and called for intensive tracing of all contacts of Class 10, 12 exams IOC tack on purchases side, the count of those who one year vulnerable sections Police are on the lookout for ples so far. More persons could only for 29 subjects IOC has declared force majeure have recovered rose to 144. the participants. them,” he said. test positive when we finish of the society Given the gravity of the situation, Prime “It has been decided that on crude purchases from Saudi However, India registered 437 Wimbledon facing hardships in Beela Rajesh insisted that the checking all of them,” said the the board conduct exams Arabia, Iraq, UAE and Kuwait, new cases of the virus, the cancelled Minister Narendra Modi may also speak to State is still in stage-2 of trans- Health Secretary. highest in a day. It took the accessing the Chief Ministers on Thursday to take them for only main subjects as refinery run rates have been Wimbledon foodgrains, the mission. “It has not gone to “We devised a multi-dimension- that will be required cut down following lockdown total national count to 1,834 organisers on board for the uphill task. stage-3 yet. The entire govern- al plan to reach out to all attend- Cabinet Secretary According to reports, authorities across for promotion and may and oil market crash. A force scrapped the asked states to ment machinery is working day ees of the event, using police, rev- be crucial for higher majeure is an event outside 7 more in Noida hotspot oldest Grand states have identified over 6,000 people who and night to contain the enue officials, and district education,” the CBSE said. reasonable control, which 7 new coronavirus patients in Slam tennis implement the PM attended the Nizamuddin congregation. spread,” she said. She administration,” she Also, all class 1-8 students prevents IOC from performing Gautam Buddh Nagar in the tournament for Garib Kalyan During a video-conference call with Chief said several persons said. to be promoted contract obligations last 24 hours, total cases 45 the first time Yojana within the Secretaries and DGPs of all States and Union who had attended the Meanwhile in Del- next week. “This Territories, the Cabinet Secretary asked State Delhi event have vol- hi, a 36-year-old man will involve large and UT authorities to make sure no religious untarily come for- from Namakkal, who cash transfer to congregation takes place anywhere in the ward for testing after attended the event, beneficiaries,” country. If found, the organisers must be dealt government made an died there allegedly officials said with, with an iron hand. appeal. “They have of a cardiac arrest. The country’s senior most bureaucrat also been coming through Namakkal Collector K ordered registration of cases against foreign Tablighis for viola- the night. Official and Megraj said the deceased tion of visa norms, according to sources. Gauba shared the road- control room phones have got stuck in Delhi unable to map for the intensive contact tracing of Tablighis. “Tracing all been buzzing. The District Collec- return home due to lockdown. He the participants of the Nizamuddin Markaz is the top most prior- tors have been making all neces- is a native of Ramanathapuram. ity, and the state governments must not lose time,” said a senior sary arrangements, sacrificing The Collector insisted that the government official. P5,7,8,9,10,11,12 even their sleep,” she said. man had not died of COVID-19. “So far 1,103 have come for- Officials are struggling to bring S GURUMURTHY WRITES ON TABLIGHI ward. All of them are in hospital the body back due to the lock- Myanmar nationals settled in Hyderabad, who went to Narketpally for religious prayers flouting lockdown restrictions, JAMAAT - ITS OTHER, EVIL SIDE P7 isolation. We have tested 658 sam- down. P3 being taken to a hospital in Hyderabad for coronavirus tests on Wednesday | VINAY MADAPU Centre drops anti-virals from its recommended list

SUMI SUKANYA DUTTA @ New Delhi “no specific antivirals have been in combination with Azithromy- medication came following a proven to be effective as per cur- cin (500 mg once a day for 5 days),” study published in the New Eng- THE Centre has asked doctors rently available data.” said the guideline. “These land Journal, which said the anti- treating severe patients of corona- Earlier it had recom- drugs should be adminis- HIV drug combination did not virus to stop administering anti- mended using the Lopina- tered under close medical work in 199 patients analysed. An- HIV drugs and instead put them vir-Ritonavir combo for supervision, with moni- other study from France said the on a combination of anti-malaria patients with acute res- toring for side effects.” anti-malarial and antibiotic com- drug Hydroxycholoroquine and piratory distress. However, they are not rec- bination helped 78 out of 80 pa- antibiotic Azithromycin. “One of the drug is Hy- ommended for children less tients analysed. There was anoth- In the revised guidelines on the droxychloroquine (Dose 400 than 12 years, pregnant and er independent study from China management of Covid-19 patients, mg twice a day for 1 day followed lactating women. to support Hydroxycholoroquine- the Union health ministry said, by 200 mg twice a day for 4 days) Sources said the revision in Azithromycin combination. Drivers ferrying migrant workers nabbed

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Coimbatore agreed to pay `3,000. lice said. On suspicion, police per- After picking the workers near sonnel on patrol intercepted the COIMBATORE city police on Eachanari, located on the out- lorries at AG Pudur Bypass on Wednesday arrested five north In- skirts of the city, the lorries were Chenngapalli-Walayar stretch of dian lorry drivers who allegedly heading towards Avinashi, during the National Highway and found attempted to transport more than the wee hours of Wednesday, po- more than 200 workers hiding un- 200 migrant workers to their na- der tarpaulins in the carts of the tives states - Rajasthan and Mad- vehicles. hya Pradesh - in violation of cur- Travel under tarpualine Further investigation revealed few norms. On inspection, the police team that the migrant workers, em- According to police, the drivers found more than 200 workers ployed at various places in Polla- QUALITY of five lorries who came to the city hiding under a tarpauline in the chi, Anaimalai and Udumalai, for delivery of consignments alleg- carts of the vehicles. They said gathered at a place frequented by CHECK edly agreed to offer a drop to the the drivers also took `500 as an lorries near Eachanari and struck Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, stranded workers at their respec- advance from the workers the deal with the five lorry during his inspection of Amma canteen at tive states after every person drivers. P4 Foreshore Estate on Wednesday | EXPRESS

EXPRESS READ DOMICILE RULES OPEN J&K TO MIGRANTS ‘Need 4-fold hike in SANA SHAKIL/FAYAZ WANI nition of a J&K resident has been in the region for 10 years. payout to vulnerable’ @ New Delhi/Srinagar altered to include those who have Under the new rules, only low- New Delhi: Over 300 economists lived in the state for 15 years, as ranking positions, such as junior and academics including Abhijit NEARLY eight months after scrap- well as those who studied there for assistant and peon, have been re- Sen, Jean Dreze, Prabhat Patnaik, ping the special status of Jammu at least seven years and ap- served for residents or domiciles Deepak Nayyar, Ajit Ghose, Ashok and Kashmir, the Centre laid down peared for Class 10/12 ex- of J&K with other jobs open Gulati and Meghanad Desai, rules to re-define the domicile sta- ams. The domicile will in- to people from across the among others, have urged the tus of J&K to protect the rights of clude registered migrants, country. The new policy Prime Minister and Chief Ministers locals and give them exclusive their children and chil- was criticised by all par- to take steps to ameliorate the rights in government jobs in the dren of Central govern- ties in J&K, including the impact on the Covid-19 newly created Union Territory. ment officials and children new J&K Apni Party, per- lockdowns on the vulnerable According to a gazette notifica- of officials of Central uni- ceived to be close to the rul- sections by increasing their tion issued by Union Home minis- versities and recognised re- ing dispensation at the Centre. monthly sustenance support to try late on Tuesday night, the defi- search institutes who have served INSULTING, SAY J&K PARTIES: P8 at least `6,000 per family | P10 ALMANAC TODAY MIN MAX Sunrise 06.08 am 0 0 Thursday: 02/04/2020 Year: Shaarvari Panguni: Valar Pirai Chaitra: Shukla 26 C 33 C Sunset 06.25 pm Paksha. Tithi: avami till 26- 43hrs. Nakshatra (Star)– Punarvasu till 19-29 hrs. Moonrise 11.54 am Moon in Mithun till 13- 33hrs. Today is Sri Ram Navami. Rahukaalam: 13:30-15:00 CHENNAI FORECAST Yamagantam: 06:00-07:30 Gulikakalam: 09:00-10:30 WEATHER Mostly sunny Moonset 01.08 am

THURSDAY 02 CHENNAI 02 l04l2020

Mahabalipuram Beach, which used to bustle with activity, near to the Shore Temple has gone completely silent barring the waves that continue to splash the beach unaware of the national lockdown | SHIBA PRASAD SAHU

15-DAY MORATORIUM FOR CYLINDER REFILLS GYM ON ROADS Chennai: The Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), as apt of 500 TN workers stranded in the move to desist customers from panic buying, has decided Sit up and take notice of pandemic, that a customer who gets a refill would not be able to Maharashtra seek EPS help book the next one, for a cops tell virus-masked violators minimum period of 15 days. No wages since lockdown began, also no transport to return home This includes PMUY beneficiaries as well, according T MURUGANANDHAM @ Chennai When a few of us used our mo- resenting Kadayanallur Con- JAYANTHI PAWAR @ Chennai to P Jayadevan, State Head of biles to convey our position to stituency, KAM Abubacker has Indian Oil and State-level OVER 500 people from Tamil the persons we know, the police sent a representation to Chief THE lockdown has brought coordinator for Oil industry in Nadu, who were working with beat us badly. At present 200 Minister Edappadi K out creative sides of many, go- Tamil Nadu & Puducherry. ENS a private company in various workers are here.” Palaniswami seeking his assis- ing by Instagram and Face- parts of Solapur distrct of Ma- Another worker of the same tance to the workers stranded book accounts of the public. harashtra, have sought the company, staying in a different in Maharashtra. Abubacker But the city police have waked SBI STAFF DONATE help of Chief Minister building along with 350 oth- told Express that Chief Secre- an extra mile to ensure that TWO-DAY SALARY Edappadi K Palaniswa- er workers spoke to Ex- tary K Shanmugam and the of- people stay indoors by induc- mi to return home. The press. “We thought the ficials in the Chief Minister’s ing some hilarious methods, Chennai: Around two lakh workers lost their wag- lockdown was only for office had promised to do the while also making people employees of State Bank of es since the lockdown March 24. We had no needful as soon as possible. On aware of the consequences. India have decided to began, and are unable clue it would extend till Monday, Palaniswami brought On Wednesday, Villivak- contribute their two-day salary to return home as April 14,” he said. “We the plight of these workers to kam police inspector Rajeesh towards the PM CARES Fund, there’s no transport. They will be paid only if we the notice of his Maharashtra Babu intercepted a few viola- in the fight against COVID. are currently staying in five re- work daily. If they extend the counterpart Uddhav Thacker- tors on two-wheelers at the Rajnish Kumar, Chairman, SBI lief camps. lockdown, we will starve here. ay via Twitter. Thackeray has Padi flyover. He made them said, “It is a matter of pride for “We walked to the State bor- We appeal to the TN govern- promised help for them and wear ‘Coronavirus masks’, SBI that all our employees der, but we were apprehended ment to rescue us,” he said. Palaniswami thanked him for that were cut in the shape of voluntarily came forward to by the cops and put up in these Meanwhile, IUML MLA rep- the immediate response. the virus, and hung placards pledge their two-day salary to relief camps near Solapur,” around their neck. the PM CARES Fund.” ENS said a worker speaking to Ex- We walked to the State border, but we were apprehended by cops and They were also made to press. “There is no building in put up in relief camps near Solapur. When we used our mobiles to take a pledge saying, “I will convey our position to the persons we know, the police beat us badly sight here. We did not get any not step outside my house. 473 RAIL COACHES TO food till Wednesday evening. A worker You’ll also not go outside.” TURN ISOLATION WARDS This was followed by 10 sit- Chennai: As part of proposal to ups too. convert 5000 sleeper coaches EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Chennai day we have been getting emer- “We have to keep finding in- gency requirement from vari- novative methods for the mes- into isolation wards, Southern Saving lives (Top) Villivakkam police personnel punishing motorists who ventured out on Railway will convert 473 NOW, blood donors want gov- ous hospitals,” says Srivatsa sage to reach people. Most of ernment passes to reach hospi- Vema, a Platelet Club member. the roads violating the lockdown regulations in Chennai on Wednesday; and them do not understand the coaches. The Perambur Loco police checking vehicles that jammed Padi flyover in Chennai | P JAWAHAR Works, Perambur Carriage not so safe tals and make life-saving contri- “There was a need for white seriousness,” said Rajeesh Works and Goldenrock bution. Many donors are blood cell component at a can- Babu, adding that more ideas workshop, Tiruchy, will convert anymore? reluctant to step out due to the cer hospital. When I was taking 38K PUT BEHIND BARS LAST WEEK were being thought about to the coaches into wards. The lockdown, fearing assault by the donor two days ago, we were ensure social distancing. The Chennai city police on railway doctors clarified that police before they can explain stopped by police. We had to 38,387 people arrested Last week, he had worn a Wednesday extended the these coaches may be suitable Blood donors themselves. show the requirement message across TN in the last one week virus-helmet to explain the only to quarantine patients in However, the postponement and call the blood bank people. Section-144 of the CrPC imposed 39, 124 cases of lockdown severity of the pandemic, of States where the outbreak is of non-emergency surgeries After multiple calls they let us in the city by a day till April 15. violation reported which pictures and videos high and faces shortage of seek passes has reduced the blood require- go. So, many hesitate to come Here’s what has happened 28,040 vehicles seized had gone viral on social beds at its hospitals. ENS ment during lockdown. “Every out,” says P Krishna, a donor. so far across the State: `14,47,944 fine imposed media too.

THE PHANTOM Test your number crunching CROSS WORD skill with our unique puzzle PETER VIDAL SU KU 02 nd April : Did you read the news that we have discovered a planet just DO like the Earth, about four million light years away? My problem is what sort of astrology they have with a completely different sky! Not that it matters, of course. We’ll never be able to visit, at least, not without a high-velocity time-machine. And that’s not very likely!

ARIES (Mar 21 - Apr. 20) LIBRA (Sept. 24 - Oct. 23) There are some wonderfully Planetary conditions are powerful planetary turbulent, indicating upsets indicators, most of which in your psychological favour Arien qualities, these being a ‘weather’. The best way in which you can HI AND LOIS mixture of good humour with self- help yourself is to disengage from interest. Suddenly the whole world whatever source of controversy is should look like a reasonably bothering you and take the long-term friendly place, in a strange and view. Also, remember that other people unpredictable sort of a way! might just be right! TAURUS (Apr. 21 - May 21) SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) You may be tempted Warning signals continue in to try your luck, but the fact the financial sectors of your is that gamblers usually lose. solar chart, so you must EVIL Solutions to Yesterday’s puzzle This is why the same planetary factors maintain a proper sense of decorum when that urge you to take a risk, also urge it comes to questions of cash. You are ■ Fill in the grid you to double-check all details. If you better off than most people at the BEETLE BAILEY with digits in such are determined to go ahead, it moment, in the sense that they will be a manner that every may be possible to arrange some more dependent on you than you on them. sort of fall-back position. row, every column SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 - Dec. 22) and every 3X3 box GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) Everything seems to hinge accommodates the Increasingly, this is a around your need for status time for a spot of raw and prestige. The problem is digits 1 to 9, without ambition. What do you that such things have to be earned repeating any. really want do to? Who do you really through consistent and long-term want to be with? Once you have this effort, whereas now you do seem to be ■ Each sudoku has a unique solution that can be little lot figured out you can begin in danger of risking a few short cuts. If reached logically without guessing. to make your dreams come true. you leave out the difficult bits, then it’s You might even emerge much wiser, unlikely that you’ll make the most of if a little bruised! the easy bits! ACROSS DOWN CANCER (June 22 - July 23) CAPRICORN (Dec. 23 - Jan. 20) BLONDIE 1 Play for very little (6) 1 Row about Dr Wood (6) The reason for colleagues’ One important factor in your 4 So slim perhaps and supple (6) 2 Far from pleased, I indulge in abuse (5) off-hand behaviour and chart, I haven’t mentioned so 3 Wash three foreign articles (7) partners’ unsympathetic far this week, concerns 9 Act or dance (7) attitudes is not that they are uncaring. overseas travel, and a certain 10 Many deserve to get 5 Mails re-addressed to the Rather, you should realise that they may adventurous streak in your personality information (5) Mohammedan world (5) be suffering from the weight of their which could see you wandering to a far 11 Don’t go on about me to 6 One doesn’t make a summer drink (7) own emotional burdens, and unable to corner of the globe, or at least developing improve matters (5) 7 A fellow with plenty of time pay full attention to yours. adventurous elements in your daily life. to run a business (6) 12 Get mail sorted in the interval (4,3) LEO (July 24 - Aug. 23) AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 - Feb. 19) 8 Neat and precise form of 13 What electricians look According to a All your instincts and epitaph(4,2,5) strologers, each hunches should prove for in the papers? (7,4) 14 Too good to be true (7) manifestation of life correct, but that’s not a great LOCKHORNS DENNIS THE MENACE 18 Produce I’d demonstrate about (7) 15 Foster child? (7) contains the seeds of its exact opposite. deal of use if other people refuse to 20 Uncommon Elgar variation (5) This was never more true than today, listen or take any notice. In social 16 Added zest in the kitchen (6) so whatever extremes of feeling or engagements, go for change and 22 A sound prison (5) 17 Highly coloured insect experience you hit, realise that excitement: you could be attracted to 23 Partners who dance up seen round a tree (6) things could change at any moment. people who like to take risks. in close formation (7) 19 Dirk upset about a point becomes Every problem presents you with a PISCES (Feb. 20 - Mar 20) 24 Complete exposure? (6) annoyed (5) new opportunity. An unexpected turn of 25 Having a disease lays me out (6) 21 A leg’s broken by hard blows (5) VIRGO (Aug. 24 - Sept. 23) events may come as a Today’s most interesting welcome salvation. Press planetary aspect could have ahead with the very un-Piscean task of YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS an influence that far building up your reputation. Once again, outweighs anything that happens this people at work may be overstepping the Across: 1 Lobelia, 5 Sewed, 8 Sitting pretty, 9 Solve, 10 Leg iron, 11 Schism, 12 Reside, week, propelling you into fighting for mark. But what are you going to do 15 Lenient, 17 Lacks, 19 Caught napping, 20 Sisal, 21 Stepson. your beliefs and principles. Do not shirk about it? If you tell them what you Yesterday’s your duty, but stand up for what you really think then you may not be Down: 1 Lists, 2 Battle honours, 3 Loiters, 4 Angels, 5 Sprig, 6 Water biscuits, 7 Doyenne, know to be right. prepared for the consequences. 11 Splices, 13 Eclipse, 14 Stones, 16 Ethel, 18 Sagan. The PM 2.5 level recorded at Velachery, Chennai, on Wednesday. Nitrogen 54 µg|m3 dioxide level was 2 µg/m3 against the prescribed standard of 80 µg/m3

THURSDAY 03 CHENNAI 02 l04l2020 newindianexpress com Spike in COVID-19 cases: Kovai, southern districts top the list Officials say, total 1,122 people from TN could have attended the Tablighi Jamaat; only 711 have returned to Tamil Nadu of which 611 have been quarantined

Massive spike in Kovai EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE HIGHLIGHTS tined and kept under monitor- event. Administration here has @ Chennai/Coimbatore ing. In Theni, 23 who went to tracked down 25 attendees. Of the 110 cases that tested pos- Of the 110 cases that tested positive on Delhi were tracked down and Only 5 of them tested positive. A total of 1,122 people from Ta- itive on Wednesday, a whopping Wednesday, a whopping 28 are from tested. Of them, 20 have tested Coimbatore mil Nadu could have attended 28 are from Coimbatore. The positive: 3 from Periyakulam, 1 18 cases in northern region the Tablighi Jamaat at the Ni- district now has a total of 34 Out of the 110 cases, 59 are from from Chinnamanur, 1 from Tirupathur, which managed to zammudin Mosque earlier this cases. Barring one, all who southern districts including Madurai, Theni, 2 from Uthamapalayam stay clear so far, recorded 7 cas- month, say State government have tested positive had attend- Theni, Dindigul and Tirunelveli and 13 from Bodi. es in a single day. Authorities officials. Of them, 711 have re- ed the Delhi event -- 20 of them Tirupathur, which managed to stay clear Similarly, in Dindigul offi- of the district, which was turned to Tamil Nadu of which are from Mettupalayam, 5 from so far, recorded 7 cases in a single day cials tracked down 89 persons formed just four months ago, 611 have been identified and Anamalai, and 2 from Pollachi. who attended the event. Of have hit the ground with con- quarantined, said Revenue Sec- The lone person who did not at- 106 others from the district, who them 17 have tested positive. tainment activities. “All seven participated in the Delhi event, have retary J Radhakrishnan on tend the event but tested posi- been tracked Nine from Madurai who attend- are at the Ambur GH,” said Col- Wednesday. tive is the husband of the ed the event tested positive on lector MP Sivanarul, adding A hundred more are to be 29-year-old railway doctor, who Thousands in these parts have been Wednesday, taking the district that all of them attended the tracked down, but they haven’t is currently under treatment at quarantined and kept under monitoring tally to 15. Delhi event. Three under at- come forward yet and the po- the ESI Hospital. She tested Tirunelveli now has 29 posi- tendees are quarantined. lice and revenue officials are on positive earlier this week. ing positive for the virus. Both tive cases as 6 new persons test Tiruvannamalai recorded the lookout for them, he 106 others from the district, of them -- aged 26 and 54 -- had results were confirmed on the second positive case -- a added. who participated in the Delhi attended the Delhi event. They Wednesday. All six of them 43-year-old man -- on Wednes- “Of the total, 411 are current- event, have been tracked down A group of women are seen traveling in a tricycles to get essential commodities at are now in treatment at the IRT came forward voluntarily ask- day. He has been admitted to ly staying in other States and by the officials. As in Chennai, Simmakkal in Madurai on Wednesday | K K SUNDAR Hospital and efforts are on to ing to be tested. “Of the six, one Cheyyar GH. He too went to have not come back here yet. Coimbatore officials have also trace their contacts. patient is from Melapalayam Delhi. Collector KS Kandasamy We spoke to Imams of local started implementing a con- ment of people in Pollachi and event at the Isha Foundation and five others are from rural said 34 people from the district mosques to find out the wherea- tainment plan, wherein they Anamalai has been restricted have been quarantined at the Over half the cases in South parts of Tirunelveli aged be- could have attended the Delhi bouts of the missing 100. They are visiting every house in the as part of the containment centre itself, for the last 60 days. Of the 110 cases, 59 are from tween 33 and 50. All are asymp- event. are strongly advised to come neighbourhood of positive pa- plan. Deputy Director of However, they have not exhib- southern districts including tomatic and being treated at the (With inputs from Erode, Ma- forward and get themselves ad- tients to conduct regular check- Health Services G Ramesh Ku- ited any symptoms so far. Madurai, Theni, Dindigul and GH,” she said. Sivaganga re- durai, Theni, Dindigul, mitted before they affect other,” ups. Pollachi sub-collector R mar said 119 foreigners who at- Meanwhile, the tally in Erode Tirunelveli. Thousands in corded its first five cases today, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Tiru- the officer added. Vaidthyanathan said move- tended the Maha Shivaratri went up to 22 with 2 more test- these parts have been quaran- all of them participants of the pathur, and Tiruvannamalai) CM expresses concern CBSE directs all schools over people’s apathy to promote students from classes I to VIII EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE lighi Jamaat’s conference in @ Chennai Delhi to voluntarily subject EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Chennai themselves to the treatment. CHIEF MINISTER Edappadi If they take treatment at an THE Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on K Palaniswami on Wednesday earlier stage, there are possi- Wednesday, directed schools under it to promote all stu- expressed concern over the bilities for cure, he said. dents studying in Classes 1 to 8. Through a statement, people’s apathy towards the Asked whether the partici- Anurag Tripathi, the secretary of the board, added that State lockdown in force to pre- pants of Maha Shivarathri the board has not taken any decision on the date for con- vent the spread of COVID-19, festival in Isha Yoga Center at ducting public exams for Class 10 and 12 students. despite repeated warnings Coimbatore would be Tripathi said that the decision was taken in consulta- from the State government. screened for COVID-19, tion with the National Council for Education Research “We are implementing Palaniswami said, “If and Training (NCERT), adding that schools that have the lockdown to ensure they have any symp- not completed final examinations for Classes 9 and 11, the prevention of toms, they will be should promote these students as well, on the basis of spread of the corona- screened too. Without school-bases assessments including project work, peri- virus. The public any symptom, we odic tests, term exams, etc. should understand can’t say anything.” He added that it is difficult for the Board to decide and this. But, without do- On whether the lock- MAN’S WAY OR THE HIGHWAY announce the rescheduling of public exams at this ing so, many are loitering down period would be ex- stage, adding that the Board will give 10 days notice to Under the scorching sun, a primate crossing a deserted road near Chennai airport on Wednesday | MARTIN LOUIS around. Till now, the world tended beyond April 14, he all stakeholders before starting the exams. He added has lost over 42,000 lives be- said decision in this regard CBSE will conduct exams only for “29 main subjects that cause of the pandemic. It is could be taken only by the Un- will be required for promotion and maybe crucial for not an issue concerning an ion government. Earlier, he admission in higher education institutions”. individual alone. Only if all visited the Amma canteens at of us act together, we can con- Foreshore Estate and 85-yr-old with no travel history tests +ve tain the disease,” the Chief Kamarajar road in Mylapore, Minister told reporters here. and inspected the quality of NIRUPAMA VISWANATHAN @ Chennai on the private hospital. According someone in that private hospital,” Responding to a question, food being served there. He to civic officials, the chain of a senior corporation official said. he renewed his appeal to also spoke to the visitors AN 85-year-old man residing in events goes like this: The man A total of 29 of his contacts -- those who attended that Tab- about the same. Tiruvanmiyur tested positive for was admitted for a week at the including a cook, a driver, two COVID-19 on Tuesday, and offi- hospital, until March 7. His nurses, his manager and their cials are now trying to find out if daughter-in-law came down on families -- have been home quar- he contracted it from his daugh- March 7, and spent a week with antined after contact-tracing. De- EXPRESS READ ter-in-law, who recently came him. On March 23, he developed spite his cardiac issues, he is cur- ‘Consumption of chicken and eggs safe’ down from the US, or from a pri- symptoms including dry cough, rently stable, said officials. vate hospital where he was under and was brought in for Following this development, cor- Chennai: Putting to rest rumours that consuming eggs and chicken treatment earlier this month for a treatment. poration officials have taken up is unsafe at this time, an animal husbandry department press cardiac issue. The man himself “It’s possible the daughter-in- containment measures in the statement on Wednesday said, “Any such information is false and has no travel history. law was a carrier while she her- area. People living in the area will misleading.” The release added that chicken and egg contain As the daughter-in-law is cur- self had no symptoms. It is also be checked for symptoms once essential proteins which will help boost immunity. ENS rently asymptomatic, the focus is possible he contracted it from every three days, officials said.

TIRUMANGALAM MUNICIPALITY

Roc No: 223/2020/E1 Dated:31.03.2020 Due to the lockdown imposed because of COVID-19 the following corrigendum is issued in continuation of Tender ROC No:223/2020/E1, Dated: 29.01.2020 for Notice inviting request for qualification (RFQ) for construction of New Bus Stand in Tirumangalam Municipality on Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) Basis request for Qualification. Request for Qualification Extension of Submission Date up to 15.05.2020 Critical Dates Tender Reference and Name of Work Particulars Earlier Revised ROC No:223/2020/E1,Dt: 29.01.2020 Pre Bid Meeting Date 26.03.2020 29.04.2020 NAME OF WORK: Document Download/ 15.04.2020 14.05.2020 Tirumangalam Municipality Notice Sale End Date inviting request for qualification (RFQ) 15.04.2020 15.05.2020 for construction of New Bus Stand in Bid Submission 3.00 pm 3.00 pm Tirumangalam Municipality on Design, End Date Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer 16.04.2020 15.05.2020 Bid opening Date (DBFOT) Basis 3.30 pm 3.30 pm Commissioner (i/c), DIPR.1580/Tender/2020 Tirumangalam Municipality. ollowing an appeal by Chief Minister Edappadi `36CR RELIEF Palaniswami to contribute to the Chief Ministers Public elief und in the fight againsat Coronavirus, as on FUND COLLECTED Wednesday, the total contributions stand at 36.3 crore

THURSDAY 04 CHENNAI 02 042020 newindianexpress com HANGING IN ALANE ooed for ausin Cracked eads and snapped strins SI video clip oes viral ayiladuthurai Nariuravas are left without livelihood, food and sanitation during locdown EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE stopped the group and ques- @ Salem tioned them, leading to an ar- Mirant gument. The group allegedly ANTN ERNAND 50,000 narikuravas in Tamil SEVENTEEN people were verbally abused the police- orers put in @Mayiladuthurai usiness is paralysed for narikurava families at Nadu, according to BC, MBC booked for allegedly abusing man and later staged dhar- allavarayanpettai in Mayiladurai | EXPRESS Minorities Welfare Depart- a Sub-Inspector on na. The entire develop- THE nationwide lockdown has ment. There are about 200 peo- Wednesday. ment was video marriae hall hit hard on the livelihood of ple living in Vanjiyur in Naga- On Monday even- recorded, and the vis- narikuravas, who travel from pattinam district as well. ing, the beat police uals have since then CNTINUED RM PAE one place to another selling found 10 people play- gone viral. handmade ornaments such as ing carrom at Moham- The city police reg- ”The drivers also took 500 beads, necklace, etc. Free food, med Pura area in istered case against as advance from the work- education on sanitation and hy- T Ramba, a 22-year-old woman Kitchipalayam, de- 17 people, including ers,” a police official said, giene, livelihood assistance and and second graduate from her spite the govern- The group a former DMK adding that a case has been curfew relief mean nothing to hamlet, said, “We use toilet in a ment’s order impos- allegedly verbally councillor and All registered. them as they are more often left nearby school premises. Now, ing a curfew. On abused the India Majlis-e-Itte- The arrested have been out of the ambit of local body’s the school is closed down and seeing the police, policeman and hadul Muslimeen identified as Rajendrasingh schemes for the needy. a 33-year-old bead seller, said, important time we make most we are forced to defecate in the four people fled the later staged (AIMIM) Salem dis- (40), Prashanth (38), Anilku- The Mayiladuthurai munici- “My 17-year-old daughter and I of the money in a year. We earn open. Our hamlet has also not spot, while the oth- dharna. The entire trict secretary Ibra- mar (28) from New Delhi, In- pality has been providing food make a living by selling beads. about 500 to 1,000 and save been disinfected.” Besides, the ers were brought to development was him, under Sections dharpal Singh (28) and to about 400 - 500 homeless and I earn about 300 to 400 a day them for our future and chil- people also asked the munici- the police station video recorded, 353 (assault or crim- Mukesh Patil (32) from Uttar destitute people. However, by travelling dozens of kilome- dren. We are now crestfallen pality to provide them food. for violating the and the visuals inal force to deter Pradesh. about 400 narikuravars in Pal- tres, before I return at dusk. As about managing the rest of the Mayiladuthurai tahsildar R lockdown. have since then public servant from While, the lorries were lavarayanpettai, situated 5km travel is now restricted, we are year.” Muruganantham told TE, Soon after their gone viral discharge of his seized, the five were later re- from Mayiladuthurai Bus in our settlements for the last T Subramani (60), who has “We have not received any re- detention, 17 people, duty), 143 (Unlawful leased on a station bail. The Stand, have not received have one week.” been in the business for almost quest for food supply from including family assemblyu), and 188 police said that the migrants not received any of that. As all temples have been 40 years now is unable to get those residents. We will discuss members and relatives of the (disobedience to order duly were provided a facility to A few members of the com- closed down, it has been a hard over the hardship he is facing the matter with the Collector six members came to the promulgated by public serv- stay in a marriage hall in munity narrate their suffering time for them. K Sathiyaraj (33) due to the lockdown. and decide about distributing Town police station. ant) of the Indian Penal Code the outskirts of the city. due to the lockdown. S Rathika, said, “Temple festivals are the There are approximately food.” Sub-Inspector Palanisamy (IPC). ’S EEI ES BS I C With the 21-day lockdown in place and people having to change their lifestyles as a result, K E explores at how the political heavyweights in the Tiruchy region are observing the lockdown period, given that they are usually surrounded by people and deal with visitors practically 24 N I spend time talking to my wife, watching TV and on social media : KN Nehru S T I am not going near my grandchildren these days, says Tourism Minister or a politician like KN Nehru, who is always ac- Thirunavurkkarasar, who has As a minister, he has been un- ferent locations in the city. tive and known for not missing been elected several times in able to stay put at home as he Every day, he leaves home at any events in Tiruchy, feels the past three decades, going has been busy overseeing and around 7 am to coordinate pre- helpless. “How could we live without meeting people is coordinating prevention meas- ventive measures. He returns without meeting people” he “terrible experience”. e said, ures. He has been inspecting home at around 2 pm for lunch asked in a dejected tone. “n my 5 years of public life, the work of spraying disinfect- and leaves again by 5 pm. Nehru has contributed 25 this is the first time have ant in the 65 Tiruchy wards Speaking to TE, Natarajan lakh from his MA fund to- confined myself within the city using fire tenders. He took said, “As I have been going out- wards coronavirus prevention four walls of my house. t is part in four meetings with an- side, I have self-quarantined in activities. Through his friends absolutely terrible and do other minister from Tiruchy my house. I am not going near who are attached to the Medi- ehru handing over a letter to not like this.” The day after S Valarmathi the District my grandchildren these days. cal Shop Owners Association district collector S Sivarasu | EXPRESS the curfew was announced Collector and officials of all I have to maintain social dis- in Tiruchy, he managed to pro- on March 2, departments. One of the major tancing at home.” On Tuesday, cure at least 5,000 masks, hand interact with inmates in the Thirunavukkarasar allotted steps taken during these meet- he was spotted driving alone sanitisers and soaps to distrib- daytime. Now, I cannot meet 1.20 crore from his MP fund ings was shutting Gandhi Mar- around city streets in his car ute to people through party and interact with anyone,” he for coronavirus prevention ket to the public and opening Minister ellamandi ataraan overseeing the work of disinfectant spraying in and randomly distributing functionaries. rued. Asked how he was pass- work. e said he is in the vegetable markets at eight dif- iruchy on uesday | M K ASHK KUMAR 100 to homeless people. “The day I distributed these ing time at home, Nehru said, process of sanctioning funds packs was the last time I met “At home, I live with my wife, for a proposal to set up a many of the functionaries in cook, driver and a security of- 100bed coronavirus special After the 21-day lockdown was person. Since then, I have not ficer. I spend time talking to ward in the old government implemented, the first three othimani seen them, but I am in touch my wife and watching TV. So- hospital in Pudukkottai. days were busy for Jothimani interacting with with them over the phone. As cial media on my mobile Apart from this, he has been as she contacted government a coler after the district panchayat presi- phone takes a lion’s share of in telephonic contact with hospital deans and doctors at her discussion dent and all 12 union chairper- my time these days.” the deans of Tiruchy and with the dean primary health centres (PHCs) sons in the district are from Nehru said, “When I am in Pudukkottai medical colleges of arur Medical directly over the phone to College ospital our party, I have been direct- Tiruchy, not even a single day and also local body know their requirements. on uesday ing them to carry out disin- has passed without me visit- representatives to “I spent three full days fecting activities in their re- ing my farmland in my native keep track of MP Jothimani: All | EXPRESS speaking to doctors in govern- spective areas and also told village near algudi. I culti- developments. eyes and ears on ment hospitals and PHCs in all them to maintain social dis- vate bananas there. Due to this n leisure time, the six Assembly segments un- have allotted 1.32 crore to ful- contacted government offi- tancing among people in the lockdown, the price of banan- he reads a book her constituency der my constituency and pre- fil those needs, particularly to cials and instructed them to villages,” he said. as has dropped tremendously. and listens to pared a detailed report on purchase ventilators for the ensure all sanitation workers He added, “Even when I was I am worried I could not visit political their needs. Based on that, I GHs,” she said. Moreover, she have gloves and masks. in Cuddalore jail, I was able to my land for the past few days.” speeches. A NEW WAY O LIE There is light at the end of this tunnel

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Tirupur

IN a first of its kind initiative, the Tirupur district administration has set up a disinfec- T tion tunnel at Thennampalayam market to sanitise people who visit the place and in the process, has grabbed the attention of the en- tire State. People who come to the market are asked to pass through the tunnel where a disinfect- ekates te ant solution (a mixture of chlorhexidine and ra ed te dseto te cetrimide) will be sprayed on them. This is part of the COVID-19 preventive measures taken by the district administration. The system is a brainchild of one E D Venkatesh who owns a water treatment BE’s innovative sprayer company in Tirupur and was inaugurated on The tunnel is Wednesday morning by Collector K created using Vijayakarthikeyan. flexi sheets a smash hit orders spiral Aove n a id prevent Speaking to TNIE, D Venkatesh said, “The people from crowding at which form the COVID-19 scare and the curfew that is im- outer portion, R SIVAKUMAR @ anipet Ranipet, told TNIE. The blow- market places, Madurai posed at present has made the life of a com- er of the sprayer appended at Municipal Corporation has while a pipeline mon man miserable. ast Sunday (March 29), present inside is NECESSITY is the mother of the back of the equipment was started selling ags containing there was huge crowd at Thennampalayam all inventions. The Boilers devised in such a way that it assorted vegetales through used to spray market in Tirupur (South). Most people did disinfectant on Auxilliaries Plant of Bharat generates more speed to throw moile vans in the city not follow social distancing at the market. Heavy Electrical imited the droplets to a farther dis- Sources said that each ag people who The police personnel were unable handle enter it. The (BHE-BAP) of Ranipet has tance, a maximum of 10 me- that costs has around such a huge crowd. As a result, the market come up with an innovative tres, he said. varieties of vegetales creators claim was closed,” he recalled. that effect of technology to spray disinfect- BHE’s executive director C elow children wearing face “This caught my attention as well and I de- ants as part of the efforts to Murthy handed over the equip- masks roaming at annagi the spray lasts cided to resolve the issue with the use of tech- for one hour. The combat the spread of COV- ment to Ranipet district ad- agar in Chennai on uesday nology. It is at that moment, the idea of creat- ID-19. Named BHEMISTER, ministration and it had been | structure is 16 KK SUNDAR ASIN RASAT ing a disinfectant spraying tunnel similar to feet long, 5 feet designed and manufactured in engaged in action at Melv- the ones installed in Europe came to my wide and 6.5 a short period of four days, un- isharam for the last two days. mind,” he added. feet tall and der the corporate social re- With a capacity to pump out EXPRESS READ costs less than 1 sponsibility (CSR) scheme, the 2,000 litres of disinfectant in lakh to be built customised prototype disin- an hour and forty five minutes, hree special flights to take Malasians home C offers part office for and installed. fectant sprayer has been rolled the BHEMISTER is mounted out for mass disinfection on a mini goods vehicle and op- Tiruchy: After a weeklong wait, 186 Malaysians setting up isolation ard activities. erated through electric power. stranded in Tiruchy would go home, thanks to Chennai: CP has expressed its wish A person walking “The fundamental principle Enthused by the capacity of the three flights arranged by their government to convert their party office into a through the of the equipment is water the innovative disinfectant on Tuesday. The Malaysian government has corona isolation ward. CP state disinfectant mixed with sanitiser is atom- sprayer, the district adminis- started its fourday long rescue mission for taking secretary Mutharasan has written spraying tunnel at ized through spray nozzle and tration has sought few more of its citiens affected by the suspension of a letter to commissioner of reater hennampalayam converted into very fine drop- the prototype. The heavy elec- international flight operations in ndia. The ndian government Chennai Corporation in which he said market in irupur lets of liquid,” M Ramakrish- tricals giant is also getting gave them the permission for operating two more special the party is ready to offer two floors city on Wednesday na, Additional General Man- calls from other districts for flights on Thursday April 2 and Saturday April . ENS for the isolation ward. ENS | PRAHU KUMAR ager, Water Systems of BHE, the customised sprayer. Chennai Corpn shifted markets to playgrounds and bus MARKETS termini. On Wednesday they also released list of grocery stores and supermarkets for Manali and Royapuram. SHIFTED For details, Whatsapp respective zonal officers

CHENNAI THURSDAY 05 02 l04l2020

EXPRESS READ Army helps migrant workers in Conoor Andhra govt appeals to Delhi returnees to get tested Chennai: The Madras As many as 24 people who came back and their 47 contacts are now in isolation at a hospital in Visakhapatnam, five persons test positive Regimental Centre, Wellington, Nilgiris, Indian Army undertook ‘Sahayata’ EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE endeavour as part of @Visakhapatnam/ ‘Operation Namaste’, wherein, Vizianagaram / Srikakulam One more TJ 123 quarantined in essential supplies encompassing ready to eat SUDDEN surge in positive and attendee dies meals, dry ration packets, suspect cases of COVID-19, has sanitary items and drinking been due to those who returned at Kurnool Kerala, 140 stuck in water were delivered to from Delhi after attending migrant labourers, daily prayer meeting at Hazrat Niza- wagers in Coonoor. ENS muddin in three districts of GGH various other cities north Andhra. As many as 24 Delhi return- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE SHAN AS @ T’Puram wara. However, none of these CJ urges people to ees and their 47 contacts are @ Kurnool had attended the programme remain indoors now in isolation at Govern- AS many as 263 Tablighi held on March 18, which was ONE more person, who had at- Jamaat (TJ) members from Chennai: Madras HC Chief ment Chest and Communicable meant for prominent TJ fig- tended Tablighi Jamaat at Ni- the state had gone to their na- Justice AP Sahi has said the Diseases Hospital in Vi- ures from Tamil Nadu. zamuddin Markaz, died at the tional headquarters (Markaz) lockdown due to Coronavirus sakhapatnam. Their samples “Out of the 54 persons, 48 re- Government General Hospital at Nizamuddin in New Delhi pandemic is not isolation, but have been sent for test and five turned on March 10 itself by here on Wednesday, taking the from February onwards of an opportunity to train of them tested positive. With air, while the remaining six death roll to two in the district. which 140 are yet to return. At ourselves to remain safe and them the number of cases rose reached on March 12 by train. With the second death, officials the same time, 123 people who experience solitude. In a letter to 11. Reports of others yet to Many of them had underwent Attendees of religious attendees at Hazrat Nizamuddin are brought for COVID-19 in the district are on high alert had been at the Markaz, now titled “The Journey has receive. self-quarantine after their re- tests at Fever hospital on Tuesday in Hyderabad | VINAY MADAPU and admitting people to hospi- considered as a Covid-19 hot Begun”, Sahi said “It costs With the five positive cases turn,” said a TJ source. tal, who have been associated spot, during the first week of nothing to adopt seclusion, are reported in Abid Nagar and Meanwhile, it has emerged with Delhi tourists. Though March have returned to the but an opportunity to train 80 feet road in Akkayyapalem, 15 and later they returned to kakulam district attended the that the 140 people who are yet both the dead tested negative state and are currently under- ourselves to remain safe and NSTL Shanti Nagar, ITI Junc- the city by different modes of religious prayer in NIzamud- to return had left in 14 groups for novel coronavirus, officials going quarantine at their experience solitude.” ENS tion, Kancharapalem and Paat- transport. din in Delhi, officials had iden- to various places in North In- tabhi Gardens in the city peo- The commissioner said peo- tified about five people those are on a special drive to iden- homes, said highly-placed po- dia. These groups had left in ple are worried about their fall ple need not panic and appealed who came to the district by the tify possible contacts, includ- lice sources. January and February and Submit life certificate out and they fear there might to those returned from Delhi to same train and other 13 who ing the family members and Of this 123 people who have they are stranded in various for pension be more cases. City Police Com- come forward voluntarily to went to Nizamuddin on some preparing to collect their sam- returned, 53 are from north- Indian cities, where they are missioner RK Meena said spe- undergo Covid test. The gov- other work. Of the 18 persoons, ples to test for the dreaded ern districts, while 69 hail under quarantine. Of this, Chennai: From now onwards, cial police teams along GVMC ernment will take care of their 13 were identified by the dis- disease. from southern districts. The three groups are in Haryana, those receiving pension from surveillance teams are track- treatment and they need not trict officials and shifted them most number of people hail two in Srinagar, three in Uttar the government must submit ing the Delhi returnees. They fear, he said. to the isolation ward. Twelve from Thiruvananthapuram, Pradesh, one in Andaman, one their life certificate between could trace the returnees as per Meanwhile, two out of three of them tested negative and FACT SHEET Kollam and Pathanamthitta in Punjab, one in Maharash- July, August and September to the list provided by the Central persons who participated in they were discharged, said dis- districts. About 36 people from tra, one in Uttarakhand, one continue receiving it. This government and identified the Tablighi Jamaat in Niza- trict collector J Nivas. Officials these districts had gone to Ni- in Bengaluru and one in Niza- change has been done by as their contacts who travelled muddin from Vizianagaram are on searching to track the zamuddin to attend the func- mudeen. The group stuck in the concerned staff does not along with them in Duranto district tested negative. After remaining five persons in the 400 258 people tions there, including the Nizamudeen has 20 members have to visit every house to and another train. He said they receiving the information, po- district, he said. people from were traced mushawara (meeting) held and they were present at the check the life status. People also shifted the family mem- lice officials identified the Del- According to covid19 nodal Kurnool who from March 7-10. The sources Markaz when the March 18 are hence requested to submit bers of the Delhi returnees to hi returnees and shifted them officer B Jagannadha Rao, Cen- attended confirmed that so far none of event took place. The group, certificates to Pay Officer. ENS quarantine. Search is still go- to the isolated ward in the dis- tral intelligence sent a separate Tablighi the people in home quarantine which is now stuck in Bengal- ing on in Thatichetlapalem, trict hospital in Vizianagaram. list of 18 persons who were Jamaat at 201 people has exhibited any Covid-19 uru, was returning from NAD Kotha Road, Kanchara- Of three one of the three had travelled in the train from Del- Nizamuddin are under symptoms and the Health De- North India when the lock- Solid waste down palem, steel plant and Gollapa- gone to Hyderabad from Niza- hi. Of them 15 persons were Markaz quarantine partment is monitoring the down was announced and they by almost 40% lli areas to trace if there are muddin. He is under treatment tracked from different places in situation keenly. had to suspend their forward any Delhi returnees in the dis- in a hospital in Hyderabad said the district and they were shift- Of the 123 people, their trav- journey. Chennai: As on March 31, the trict. If there are any of their district medical and health of- ed to isolation ward, the nodal el itinerary varied as some Various agencies have solid waste generated in the contacts having symptoms ficer Ramana Kumari. “As officer said. had visited the Markaz before pegged the number of city 3,309 tonnes, almost a 40 such as cold and fever will be there are no positive cases For any assistance call toll- 43 12 the mushawara, while some Keralites, who had attended per cent drop. Corporation immediately shifted to quaran- among Delhi returnees, we did free number (Vizag control people have people had taken part in it. The TJ the March 18 event, at 20, in- officials said the reduction is tine. The Delhi returnees at- not focus on the contacts,” she room): 1800 4250 0002, Srikaku- been kept in travelled sources, meanwhile, clarified cluding one woman from largely due to hotels and tended a religious prayer meet- said. lam (helpline): 9490576658 and home to other that only 54 people from Kera- Pathanapuram in Kollam industries being closed. ENS ing for three days from March Although none from Sri- Vizianagaram: 08922236947 isolation States la had attended the musha- district. 43 new cases in AP takes tally to 87 DMK Three EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE issues legal persons test @Vijayawada IN the biggest surge in the notice to positive in number of COVID-19 cases in the State so far, 43 persons tested positive for coronavi- BJP heads Puducherry rus since Tuesday night, tak- ing the total number of in- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE DEBJANI DUTTA @Puducherry fectees in AP to 87. @ Chennai Among the 43 new cases, Ka- THREE persons from the dapa and West Godavari dis- DMK has issued a legal no- Union Territory, who attend- tricts, which till now had not tice to BJP’s national and Woman police making mask for personnel in Chennai on Wednesday | R SATISH BABU ed the Tablighi Jamaat con- recorded any positive case, state presidents JP Nadda ference in Delhi, have tested accounted for the most num- and L Murugan for allegedly positive for COVID-19. Test ber of cases. Kadapa record- defaming DMK over the do- results of five others are ed 15 positive cases while nation for COVID-19 victims A stitch in time to save awaited. Two of them --aged West Godavari recorded 13 and sought `100 crore to be 51 and 37 -- are from Ari- cases. donated to CM’s Public Re- yankuppam and the third, According to a medical bul- lief Fund. The notices were hundreds of lives 54-year-old, from letin (till 10 am) released by sent following two tweets Thiruvandarkoil. the government on Wednes- posted by the BJP Tamil EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE continue till 5 in the evening. They have been admitted day, apart from 15 and 13 cas- Nadu unit on March 30 and @ Chennai The machines are brought to the isolation ward at In- es in Kadapa and West Goda- A physically challenged person walking for 3 km to collect the pension because of 31, wherein it compared from police quarters,” a senior dira Gandhi Medical Col- vari districts respectively, no transport facility on Wednesday in Visakhapatnam | G SATYANARAYANA DMK’s donation for various IN a bid to battle the COVID-19 police officer told TNIE. So far, lege and Research Institute five positive cases were from issues and Coronavirus pandemic and to ensure protec- they have raw materials to (IGMCRI), which is now an Chittoor district, four from spike in the positive cases. samples of persons who at- measures. tion of their colleagues, a few manufacture 60,000 masks, exclusive COVID-19 treat- Prakasam, two each from On Tuesday, the State record- tended the Tabilghi Jamaat DMK organising secre- women police constables have which will be distributed to the ment hospital. “All of them Nellore and East Godavari ed 21 positive cases. meet in Nizamuddin positive, tary and RS MP RS Bharathi donned a different hat. Armed city police force. are asymptomatic. They re- districts and one each from Meanwhile, the adminis- the state government still sent a legal notice to Nadda with sewing machines, they are “A two-day training was giv- turned home on March 24, Krishna and Visakhapatnam trations of Kadapa and West now does not has the exact and Murugan on Wednes- working to manufacture masks en to manufacture masks,” the and we have started tracing districts. Godavari districts have initi- number of attendees to the day. Bharathi said DMK to ensure cops on duty don’t go officer added. their contacts,” said Since 9 pm on Tuesday, 373 ated containment measures meet. trust has donated `1 crore unprotected. Attached to the Personnel who hold a degree officials. samples were tested of which in the areas around the pa- Sources indicate there for relief of COVID-19 vic- Armed Reserve, these 30 con- in Chemistry are now being One of the patients is a 43 came positive, the bulletin tients’ houses. might be around 700 people tims. Apart from this, all stables, in the past three days, trained by experts to prepare butcher in Ariyankuppam, said. Even as there was a spike who have attended the meet MPs and MLAs of the party have manufactured almost sanitizers, as per the WHO for- and several people could For the second consecutive in the number of cases, and around 85 are yet to be have been asked to donate 5,000 three-layered masks. mula, to be distributed among have purchased from him day, AP witnessed a sudden which was attributed to the traced. one month salary. “They start work at 9 am and the force. suspect officials. These are the first three cases in Pu- ducherry, apart from the one APP TO MONITOR recorded in Mahe region, an PERSONS WITH enclave of Kerala, earlier Ration shops in Kerala to distribute free rice till April 30 this month. The first patient COVID-19 SYMPTOMS has recovered fully, said RELEASED EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE one had to form crowds before daya Anna Yojana will also re- officials. Chennai: The Greater Chennai @T’Puram the ration shops. ceive 30 kg of rice and five kg of In all 21 people from Pu- Corporation on Wednesday On Wednesday, 15 kilograms wheat while those in the prior- ducherry have attended the launched a COVID-19 We had planned to THE free rice distribution initi- of rice were given away to the ity category will receive four kg Tablighi Jamaat meeting, complete the free ated by the state government public till afternoon. of rice and one kg of wheat. out of which 17 are from Pu- monitoring application, distribution of rice through which public can has garnered a massive re- To avoid crowds at retail Families who belong to the sub- ducherry and four from by April 20. sponse with seven and a half outlets as part of the social dis- sidy segment of the non-prior- Karaikal, as per informa- report any symptoms they However, the time may have. The application can has been lakh people availing of the fa- tancing norms, the Civil Sup- ity category will receive at least tion received by the govern- map people having fever extended till April cility till noon on the first day plies Department has stream- 15 kg of grains. Each family ment, Chief Minister V symptoms, those in home 30 for those who alone. To avoid the heavy rush lined distribution of the rice which has seven or more mem- Narayanasamy said. Among quarantine and areas where cannot avail of at these ration outlets, the gov- based on the card number and bers who belong to the non-sub- them 11 stayed back in Del- crowds gather and social the facility within ernment has decided to extend eligibility criteria. Priority sidy segment will receive at hi. The government is tak- the period distancing is not followed. The the rice distribution pro- cardholders (yellow and pink least two kg of grain. ing all measures to prevent public will have to share a P Thilothaman, gramme from April 20 to April cards) collected the rice from Meanwhile, the distribution the spread of the pandemic, photo from their home, Minister for Food 30. morning till noon, while the of the additional five kilogram assured the chief minister. through which GCC will get “We had planned to complete non-priority cardholders (blue of ration announced by the the free distribution of rice by and white cards) availed the fa- Prime Minister will begin on 300 French citizens their geographical location. As to return home more people in the city notify Two security April 20. However, the time has cility in the afternoon. As part April 20. Blue and white ration them, the civic body can find personnel of been extended till April 30 for of the norms, only five persons card holders beneficiaries will The Consulate General of unusual clusters with people Kerala Chief Justice those who cannot avail of the are allowed inside the shop. also get three kg of wheat flour. France in Puducherry and experiencing fever symptoms helping a biker, facility within the period,” said Some of the ration shops dis- Households which have elec- Chennai are sending as or clusters of people in home who spilled his bag Minister for Food and Civil tributed the rice using large tricity connection will receive many as 300 French nation- quarantine. The application of ration rice on Supplies P Thilothaman. He as- PVC pipes where the customers half a litre of kerosene and als, stranded in Chennai fol- can be downloaded from GCC’s Wednesday sured the public that everyone received the rice from one end. those without electricity will lowing the lockdown, back official website. ENS | A SANESH would receive the ration and no Beneficiaries of the Antyo- receive four litres. to France on Wednesday. Desire is the memory of pleasure and fear is the memory of pain. Nisargadatta Both make the mind restless Maharaj CHENNAI THURSDAY 06 02 l04l2020 THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS

INDIAN EXPRESS IS NOT AN OPINION INDUSTRY. IT IS A MISSION. G KRISHNA KUMAR ICT professional and columnist based — Ramnath Goenka in Bengaluru. Views are personal Email: [email protected]

MORE COMMITMENT While remote learning and remote working are a reality now, a big challenge is the speed of FROM PRIVATE internet connectivity across cities and towns SECTOR IS NEEDED s more Covid-19 cases come to the sur- face, our public health system is COVID: NEED FOR strained to breaking point. Doctors in state and municipal hospitals are IMPROVED NET Acomplaining of lack of protective gear and medicines. After a ward boy in a INFRASTRUCTURE private hospital in Patna tested positive for AMIT BANDRE coronavirus, the stepmotherly treatment being accorded to paramedic staff has come rime Minister Narendra positives like reduced traffic are actively involved in bring- nificantly. Reports suggest vid- ranked higher. In fixed line to the fore. Many are forced to work with Modi’s 21-day lockdown notifi- and environmental benefits. ing alignment between indus- eo streaming contributes to broadband, downlink speeds in raincoats as protective gear! The frontline cation to ensure social distanc- Perhaps the government try and government in enabling about 75% of the data con- India are about 39 Mbps com- requires protective gear, testing kits and ing and prevent the spread of should mandate an annual “re- remote working. sumed on Indian mobile net- pared to 203 Mbps in Singapore the coronavirus has resulted in mote working week”. While industries are trying works. In order to reduce the and 103 Mbps in China. ventilators to revive the sick. The Centre businesses and educational in- Over the past 10 years, the to adapt to the changing situa- stress on mobile networks, OTT The current situation should and states are leading the battle, but it is P stitutions shutting down. This tech landscape has significant- tion, universities and educa- players like Netflix, Amazon serve as a warning for the gov- time the private sector mobilised too. means employees and students ly improved for employees to be tional institutions have started Prime, Hotstar among others ernment and telecom sector. In- There has been a steady trickle of com- are dependent on the internet productive irrespective of their virtual classrooms. The con- have agreed to scale down their dia could have been better pre- mitments. The Tata Group has pledged to be productive while staying location. There are many soft- cept of virtual classroom was video streaming from high defi- pared had a rapid fibre optic `1,500 crore to buy protective gear and home. With most people con- ware applications for promot- spearheaded in May 2012 by nition (HD) to standard defini- network been deployed as envi- nected to the web for entertain- ing collaborative working. Or- The current Massachusetts Institute of tion (SD) on mobile networks sioned in the National Digital testing equipment. ITC has set up a con- ment and social networking, ganisations’ ability to accept Technology and Harvard Uni- during the lockdown period. Communications Policy 2018. tingency fund of `150 crore. Reliance In- situation should the data bandwidth required is and promote remote working serve as a versity with the MOOC (mas- While SD consumes about Lack of a strong optical fibre dustries is contributing `500 crore to the huge. Is our internet infra- calls for a shift in mindset. The warning for the sive open online courses) plat- 0.7GB data per hour, HD and 4K network also puts the superfast privately registered PM-CARES Fund. structure good enough to han- present lockdown would test government and form edX, which boasts 2 crore streaming would consume any- 5G network plans in jeopardy. Holistically, the private sector’s contribu- dle the surge? Before we delve the maturity of organisations telecom sector. students globally taking over where between 4 and 10 times The telecom sector’s financial tion so far is just `2,700 crore, a pittance into this, let us understand and employees alike. In addi- India could have 2,200 courses online. Virtual more than SD. BSNL’s work@ stress due to mounting debts how people are gearing up for tion, we could witness a shift classrooms are a boon for the home, a one-month free land- only adds to the woes of telcos compared to the task at hand. The private been better remote working/learning. towards uberisation of the prepared had a educational system in the coun- line broadband connection, is a and their inability to upgrade sector also needs to keep salaries flowing While the concept of work- workforce—freelance work as try, especially during such good initiative to encourage their infrastructure. Govern- to their employees, especially casual rapid fibre optic ing from home or home office (a opposed to permanent jobs. Es- network been shutdowns. In fact, this lock- people to shift from mobile to ments have not been able to re- workers, even where production has term more popular in Europe) sentially, experts are hired on a down should provide a trigger duce the tax and levies on telcos, deployed as landline broadband. has been around for decades, it need basis for specific tasks, for educational institutions to Even if we ignore the current among the highest in the world. stopped. In this regard, L&T setting up a envisioned in the has not gained popularity in In- and they mostly work from re- wholeheartedly support virtu- surge in data consumption as The internet has become a `500 crore fund for paying casual workers National Digital dia, maybe due to lack of trust mote locations. Workforce al classrooms going forward. an aberration and compare In- lifeline for people to be produc- is exemplary. Communications between the employee and the uberisation is gaining popular- Maybe some subjects can be dia’s internet speed with the tive during the lockdown. It is Policy 2018. Lack The lack of resources to fight Covid-19 employer or cultural issues ity across the world. taught exclusively online. rest of the world, the picture is certain that remote working of a strong optical has brought to the fore our woefully inad- where physical presence is giv- In general, firms try to be pre- While remote learning and not pretty. A recent speed test and learning will gain more ac- fibre network also equate outlay on health. The Centre and en importance. There are also pared for emergencies through remote working are a reality report ranks India 128th world- ceptance going forward. While puts the superfast proven benefits when employ- a business continuity plan . All now, the biggest challenge is wide for mobile broadband per- there is no denial that India’s states put together spent a miserable 1% of 5G network plans ees are co-located in an office threats that could disrupt regu- the speed of internet connectiv- formance and 69th for fixed internet access speeds have GDP in the last few years, much lower than in jeopardy the global average of 7.4%. Hopefully the and it fosters camaraderie lar business are determined ity across cities and towns. broadband speeds globally. On improved significantly over the amongst the workforce. In sec- and mock drills conducted to Low/substandard speed inter- mobile broadband ranking, past decade, there is huge scope coronavirus jolt will now ensure more tors like manufacturing, re- check the plan’s effectiveness. net means a poor experience in countries like South Korea, for improvement. The govern- money flows to the health sector. Many in- mote working is impossible. The pandemic has put such downloading/uploading con- UAE and Canada have down- ment and telcos should acceler- ternational corporations are focusing on But in industries where the plans to test. This is by far the tent, and audio/video calls The load speeds between 75-94 Mbps; ate actions towards ensuring direct supply of medical equipment to hot physical infrastructure re- biggest logistical exercise firms poor speed can also be attrib- India is the last amongst BRICS world-class internet speeds spots. Alibaba is sending out 1.1 million quired is a computer and inter- have undertaken for enabling uted to the fact that per house- nations with 11Mbps. It is inter- so that people can be highly testing kits, 6 million masks and 60,000 pro- net connection, remote work- employees to work from home. hold data consumption in cities esting that countries like Sri productive working or learning ing can be enabled. It has other Industry bodies like NASSCOM and towns has increased sig- Lanka, Pakistan and Nepal are remotely. tective suits to Africa. Swiss pharma giant Roche is concentrating on producing 4 lakh testing kits a week to meet demand, and fashion-luxury brand Louis Vuitton has turned to producing sanitisers. Taking Much more potent as a “The good news is most of these ‘Should be avoided for pure cost reasons’ are man-made and can easily be THE greenhouse gas than CO2 a leaf from their international peers, may- addressed through action by Gunnar Luderer and Nico Bauer, climate economists at be Indian companies should divert capac- METHANE Using imaging data gathered by the individual companies, the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, said ity to producing medical essentials. European Space Agency’s Sentinel- governments and regulators,” the study may overestimate the warming impact of LEAKS 5P monitoring mission, the study Antoine Rostand, head of Kayrros, methane leaks. “Still, the annual leakage of 20 Mt of shows more than 100 “high-volume methane from 100 point sources mostly in the energy Methane, a powerful greenhouse an asset observation platform emission events” worldwide from gas that conducted the analysis, told industry is an astonishing loss that is worth further DELAYING OLYMPICS BY gas, is leaking from industry sites at storage and transmission facilities. AFP. While methane only stays in validation,” they told AFP. They said the leaks alone were rates equivalent to the annual carbon These events alone emitted around the atmosphere a fraction of the worth nearly two-thirds of all natural gas use in France emissions of France and Germany A YEAR IS RIGHT CALL 20 million tonnes of methane—the time that CO2 does, over a period every year, with an industry impact of nearly $4.4 billion. combined, a new analysis using short-term equivalent to releasing of decades it is dozens of times “Economists would expect that such leakage would be ow that the new dates for the resched- satellite data showed this week 1.8 billion tonnes of carbon pollution more potent as a greenhouse gas avoided for pure cost reasons,” said Luderer and Bauer uled Tokyo Games are out (July 23- August 8, 2021), let’s get one thing out of the way. The International Olym- MINDSPACE Write to: [email protected] MAILBAG Write to: [email protected] Npic Committee and the local organis- ers have got it spot on. They have given athletes, the international federations and Delhi administration, Jamaat have many questions to answer the other stakeholders 478 days to put new Remembering my This is with reference to Corona Hold China accountable Interest rate cut will affect us plans and processes into place. Postponing spread: Jamaat, Delhi govt are It is unfortunate that China It is shocking that the Centre has the Olympics by just a couple of months both culpable (Apr 1). When the doesn’t seem to have learnt a cut rates of the small savings would not have solved anything as the whole country is under a lock- thing from the pandemic. The scheme. The small savers, who virus shows no signs of slowing down; illustrious grandpa down, the conduct of a congrega- world is still on its knees due to have sacrificed a lot to save their there could easily have been a scenario of tion in Nizamuddin, Delhi, involv- the virus, but the wet market at money using such schemes in the IOC needing to push back the dates am writing this as a tribute to my grandfather, Kuruppath ing nearly 2,000 people including Wuhan, where the entire mess banks, post offices, etc., will earn again. Athletes would have still been forced Kuttikrishna Menon, whose 130th birth anniversary was in foreigners was a great offence. It started, has been opened again. much less by way of interest, February 2020. He was a legal luminary and practised law is baffling how such a large gath- All nations must build pressure which will affect their standard to train while risking their lives and inter- for more than 70 years. He rose to become Advocate General ering was allowed to assemble. on China to hold it accountable for of living. This will further affect national federations would have been of the erstwhile Madras Presidency and even appeared in The police, Delhi administration the virus spread. the country’s economy. left scratching their heads as to how and the Privy Council, London (equivalent to the Supreme and the religious body have many Jishi R, Kollam S Ramakrishnasayee, Chennai where to stage the qualifying events. Fur- I Court during British Rule). He moved to the Kerala High questions to answer. ther, there was no question of moving it Court after the state reorganisation in 1956. O B Nair, Kochi Barbaric act by Pakistan Uncharitable reduction back by a couple of months because Cana- I had the privilege of living with my grandparents till I The report that Pakistan is deny- The sudden reduction in the in- da and Australia had already ruled out got married, since my parents were away in Myanmar. They Damage is already done ing food supplies to its minorities, terest rates of the small saving were very close to me and hence I never missed my parents. What happened at the Tablighi claiming they are for Muslims scheme is quite uncharitable. A sending their athletes to Tokyo this year. My grandfather was a meticulous person and a strict disci- Jamaat headquarters in Delhi is a only, is barbaric. The country majority of those aged 70 and As the Indian Olympic Association presi- plinarian, both in his personal and professional life. To a gross violation of prohibitory or- seems to be under the dominance above rely solely on interest in- dent Narinder Batra said on Monday, the great extent, these qualities influenced me. His was a large ders, amounting to criminal neg- of religious fanatics. Economic come for sustenance. The timing nature of the rescheduling will ensure a family of three boys and five girls, all well settled. We al- ligence. The damage has already sanctions against Pakistan is vital of this exercise is also bad. The level playing field. ways had guests at home and relatives would jokingly com- been done. Now, mitigation efforts for incontrovertible reasons. present government seems to One of the main reasons why athletes ment on our home being ‘free boarding and lodging’. are the only way out. Those re- Thomas K M, Muvattupuzha have not wasted any opportunity My grandfather provided le- sponsible must be brought to to bring down interest rates of had urged the IOC to postpone the event gal aid and monetary assistance book, along with those who didn’t Salute them for selfless service such schemes to try and bring was that sportspersons from several coun- LEGAL LUMINARY during the freedom movement. perform their duties. This is with reference to How them on par with banks. tries were not able to go outside and train. He had helped Shri K P Kesava C G Kuriakose, Kothamangalam shall we respond to the pandemic? R Viswanathan,Chennai This time allows them to rest while the USHA MENON Menon, his close friend, in es- (Apr 1). Prevention is always bet- pandemic rages, they can now also plan Email: [email protected] tablishing Mathrubhumi, a Ma- Bringing bad name to their religion ter than cure. Cultivating aware- their mental and physical conditioning layalam daily. Many prominent The action of the Tablighi Jamaat ness about the disease among the personalities like G Sankara is highly condemnable. Delegates masses will help in prevention. In properly after the threat recedes. Athletes Kurup (first Jnanpith Award winner) and Mannath Pad- from countries with high infec- the end, though there is no cure in are creatures of habit and they cannot manabhan (Nair Leader and social reformer) used to call tion rates were also present in the sight, it is the medical personnel jump straight back into the saddle without on him for legal counselling and social causes. convention. It is against the tenets who serve the afflicted humans first working up their fitness gradually. Many of his juniors became judges in High Courts and of Islam, which insists on obeying risking their lives. We salute them This one-year postponement ensures they the Supreme Court. However, he always preferred to remain the rules of the country where for their selfless service. can follow a set programme, listen to con- a practising lawyer. The Bar Association of Kerala hon- one resides. The irresponsible Chilaka Venkateswarlu, Chennai THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS ditioning experts and plan their exposure oured him for completing 60 years of uninterrupted prac- acts of such people bring a bad tice. He continued his practice till he was 86 years old. He name to the religion they follow. Chairman of the Board: Manoj Kumar Sonthalia Oz PM’s words of appreciation Editor: G S Vasu trips accordingly. spent his retired life in his house at Palakkad. Dr M Haneef, Kottayam It was gratifying to note the words It was not just the athletes. The IOC also I still remember my younger days, playing and enjoying of appreciation from Australian Printed and Published by R K Jhunjhunwala on had to take the plight of international fed- with my cousins in the sprawling garden of his house. All PM Scott Morrison to PM Naren- behalf of Express Publications (Madurai) Private Ltd., A matter of concern at Express Press, ‘Express Gardens’, 29, Second Main erations into consideration. With 47% of his grandchildren used to fondly call him valiachan. The The sudden death of a doctor in dra Modi on his initiatives to con- Road, Ambattur Industrial Estate, Chennai - 600 058. the athletes yet to punch a ticket to the secret of his sound health was regular yoga and physical Assam due to cardiac arrest, alleg- tain the virus. Some have criti- edly due to an anti-malaria drug cised the decision to supply Chennai: Vol. 90, No. 79. Olympics, there is now a proper gap for exercise along with good food habits. His pillar of strength RNI Reg. No. TNENG/ 1002/57. was his wife, Madhavikutty Amma, a pious and noble wom- administered to prevent Covid-19, medical equipment to Serbia, but Phone: 044-23457601, Fax: 044-23457619. them to ensure all remaining qualifying an. He passed away at the ripe old age of 97 and in the philo- is a matter of concern. The use of one must remember that diseases events get completed. There is no need to Copyright: Express Publications (Madurai) Private Ltd., sophical sense, it was anayasena maranam. His only surviv- these drugs for containing the vi- in any part of the world will ulti- All rights reserved. Reproduction in any manner, electronic hurry. It’s why most of the international ing daughter, 91-year-old Padmini Balachandran, is residing rus must be done with caution. mately have an impact on us too. or otherwise, in whole or in part, without prior written federations have supported this decision. in Chennai. Sareena D, Thalassery Girish Thampi, T’puram permission is prohibited. Good to see well known technology leaders EIGNES SEN of India coming together in the fight s many as foreigners were flown to against COVID-19 by encouraging aris and Frankfurt in two different N flights from the Goa international airport innovations. Ravi Shanar Prasad Total ednesday amid the ongoing lockdown A IN

CHENNAI THURSDAY 0 02 042020

RG CID Talihi amaat its other eil side DTR T lobal secrity experts call it the antechamber of fndamentalism, claim it is sed to nrse and indoctrinate terrorists ith medical facilities in ndia stretched due to rising corona cases, here are the states relatively better placed in XCEPT intelligence of- In his analysis titled “Tablighi newspaper reports from the 100, including his friend, the number of doctors available ficials, national securi- Jamaat Jihad’s stealthy Le- 1990s, Raman pointed out that the Thauqeer Ahmed Thajudeen. Sri ty experts and the wary gions” in Middle East uarterly trained cadre of jihadi terrorist Lanka Thowheed Jamaat and O SAES IH HIGHES NO O OCORS among police officials, Jan 8, 2016 Alex Alexiev writes organisations like HuM obtained Tablighi Jamaat have identical PUAB not many Indians would that as 80 per cent of Islamist ex- visas by posing as preachers of goals and their interests con- have heard of the name tremists have come from Tablighi Tablighi Jamaat and went abroad verge. Tamil Nadu Thowheed UA Tablighi Jamaat TJ ranks and the French intelli- to recruit young Muslims for ter- Jamaat is the mentor of Sri Lan- PADSH before the explosive Nizamuddin gence calls TJ the ‘antechamber ror training in Pakistan. Since ka’s National Thowheed Jamaat, AASHA coronavirus episode gave it the of fundamentalism’. In his inves- S GURUMURH millions of TJ proselytisers trav- which delivered the bombs in Sri publicity it studiously avoided. tigative story titled “French Is- The author is a commentator on el around the world, TJ also de- Lanka. There is no Thowheed On the face of it, TJ’s six princi- lamic group offers rich soil for political and economic affairs veloped a large following in Jamaat outside India and Sri UAA ples suggest Islamic piety in its militancy’ in he ew or imes Chechnya and Dagestan areas of Lanka. extreme. But that is merely its April 29, 2005 Craig Smith lists Russia, Somalia and other Afri- cosmetic exterior, inviting the in- acarias Moussaoui charged in the US. Over the years, Pakistan can countries. Raman wrote that Now the lima S BA nocent and idealistic young Mus- the US 9/11 terror; Herve Djamel has come to be known as the glob- intelligence agencies of these And now the climax, for the un- MAHAASHA lims into an ideological line that Loiseau, who died fleeing the 2001 al terror hub. Says Dr Farhan, countries suspected that terror wary. Where was this noble look- ultimately turns them as terror- American bombardment of Tora “Several mainstream Islamist organisations based in Pakistan ing evil born? India. Who found- ADHA Number of doctors ists. The less known and danger- Bora in Afghanistan; Djamel Be- violent non-state actors have tak- were using the cover of TJ ed it? Indian. Name? Maulana AAAA PADSH registered with SMCs ous side of the century-old TJ ghal, an admitted Al-aeda mem- en their roots from TJ’s indoctri- preaching for creating sleeper Mohammed Illyasi. When? In and MCI between began unfolding the world over ber, who was convicted in 2005 for nation and on the platform pro- cells in different countries. As a 1920s. Where is its global head- 2010 and 2018 since 2001, but not in India. plotting to blow up the US Em- vided by TJ missionaries. It is result, TJ was black-listed and its quarters? Nizamuddin West Del- bassy in Paris, as TJ terror activ- the Deobandi ideology of TJ preachers denied visas.” hi! The place of its annual meet AA AMI ADU (Source: National Nursery an gateway to terror ists of French origin. Freth Bur- which provides potential jihad- B Raman, one of the most bril- in which hundreds of Tablighis Health Profile, 2019) “TJ is another system driver and ton and Scott Stewart, writing in ists a crucial link.” liant R&AW officers, passed away from Malaysia, Thailand, Indone- integral element of Islamist Vio- an analysis titled “Tablighi During the 1980s and 1990s, TJ in 2013. sia, China and other coronavirus lent Non-State Actors’ internal Jamaat An Indirect Line to Ter- became the recruiter of Islamist hotspots participated. The out- dynamics; in many cases it has rorism” in the trator lobal n radicals for the Afghan war. Dr In Sri ana too break was astonishingly in con- JEE Advanced, scheduled acted as nursery for indoctrinat- telligence ecurity eely, say Farhan points out that Harkat-ul In a piece titled “The road to Sri trol in India till Nizamuddin ex- on May 17, postponed ing Islamist terrorists,” writes Dr that 12 out of the 14 men arrested Jihad-al-Islami HuJI was Lanka Carnage” on Rediff.com, ploded as a grave and dangerous Farhan ahid, a Pakistani coun- in a pre-emptive raid on a mosque formed by former TJ members the well known security analyst national threat. TJ with its head- Indian Institute of Technology, elhi, the organizing ter terrorism and security ex- in Barcelona for plotting to attack ari Saifullah Akhtar and Fazal Praveen Swami linked Moham- quarters in India now functions institute for oint Entrance Examination or EE pert, in his analysis titled “Tab- targets belonged to TJ, adding ur Rahman Kalil along with oth- mad Muhsin Nilam, a Sri Lan- in some 80 countries with some 80 Advanced—the entrance test for countr’s 2 IITs — lighi Jamaat and its links with that TJ’s name figured in the 2005 ers. From the HuJI platform kan, to ahran Hashim who was million adherents. this year, has postponed the entrance examination terrorism” oreign nalysis London underground bombings emerged other jihadist outfits - responsible for the Colombo In a 173-page paper titled “Tab- due to ongoing COI 1 outbreak. The March 2015 Centre Francais de in which 52 people died and also Harkat-ul-Mujhahideen HuM bombings. Also known as Abu lighi Jamaat Wolf in sheep’s examination was scheduled to be held on May 1. Reserche Sur le Renseignement. in the attempted bombings in Jaish-e-Mohammed JeM, Shuraya, Nilam was killed in skin Sept 9, 2018; released to me- The postponement is on the account of Dr Farhan says, TJ “in a way London, Glasgow and Scotland. Sipah-e-Sahaba SSP and Raqqa, the ISIS capital. Nilam’s dia again after the Nizamuddin advancement of EE Main, scheduled earlier for plays the role of recruiter and Assistant FBI Director US Mi- Lashkar-e-Jhangvi LeJ. story is key to understanding the episode Salah Uddin Shoaib April first week as top ranking students in the test sympathiser for terrorism. TJ’s chael Heimbach says that TJ has All of them stand declared as networks thought to be responsi- Choudhury, a ionist and multi are eligible for EE Advanced. “EE Advanced 2020, congregation allows radical ele- significant presence in the US, terror outfits. ble for the carnage in Colombo. award winning anti-jihadist jour- which was scheduled to be held on May 1, 2020 ments worldwide to meet and dis- and Al-aeda was found to have Swami says that Tablighi Jamaat nalist and a counterterrorism Sunday, thus stands postponed and will be cuss violent activities and pro- recruited TJ adherents New error merhant had begun to grow roots among specialist, unravels the massive rescheduled after EE Main 2020,” said a vide them with the best ork Post Dec 27, 2015. An ndia broad ews ervice re- Sri Lankan Muslims from the following of JT and its terror con- statement from IIT elhi. opportunity to coordinate”. Add- port on April 1, 2020 titled “Tab- early 21st century. Swami says, nections the world over. ing “many of its followers have urne a into terror hu lighi Jamaat shares links with “Educated in Sharia law at Islam- Thousands of TJ teachers from dual and overlapping member- The book titled n he byss terror outfits”, said “As per abad’s International Islamic Uni- within and outside assemble in ship with jihadist groups”, Dr aistan ter the Coup Harper WikiLeaks, some of the 9/11 al- versity, an institution where Osa- India and that is what they did in Farhan cites references and says Collins Publishers India 2000 au- aeda suspects detained by the ma bin Laden’s mentor Abdullah Nizamuddin. Is it just to memo- “TJ has now been considered as thored mainly by Pakistani US in Guantanamo Bay had Azzam once taught, Nilam had rise the six noble principles or as a ‘gateway to terrorism’. scholars, diplomats and writers, stayed in the Tablighi Jamaat encountered with the Tablighi Dr Farhan says “to discuss and says that the largely Barelvi Is- headquarters in Nizamuddin Jamaat. In 2011, when Nilam re- coordinate terror activities”, will error reor in Europe US lamic Pakistan, which accepted West, New Delhi, years ago. Tab- turned to his home in Kandy in never be known in India, as no Dr Farhan says since 2001, traces local variations, including Dar- lighi Jamaat was also suspected Sri Lanka, he first worked as government has the guts to enter of links have been found between gah worship and Sufi traditions, to be involved in the burning of part-time Urdu instructor at Co- any mosque, thanks to the way TJ and Islamists involved in acts had been hijacked by Deobandi 59 Hindu kar sevaks in 2002 in lombo University. When he was secularism is understood in our of terror. Shoe bomber Richard ideology through Tablighi Godhra, Gujarat, which led to principal of a school in Galewala, politics. Reid who attempted a trans-At- Jamaat, the result of which was mass communal rioting in the he played a key role in ahran’s Unless this limit is breached lantic airline bombing 2001, the growth of militancy. Khaled state. According to India’s intel- group. Then, in 2014, feigning to and the menace is outlawed, in- Jose Padilla who tried dirty bomb Ahmed, former diplomat and edi- ligence and security expert, late go on a pilgrimage with his six nocent Muslims attracted by its manufacturing 2002 in New tor of riday imes in Pakistan B Raman, TJ in Pakistan and children, pregnant wife, and age- cosmetic exterior of Koran can- ork city, Barcelona terror plot writes in n he byss “Be- Bangladesh gained adverse atten- ing parents, he took them to Tur- not be saved from becoming car- 2008 and the arrest of American cause of the rise of Deobandi mi- tion for association with Harkat- key and disappeared across the riers of Kalashnikovs and mak- Taliban John Walker in Afghani- litias. the Punjab province is ul-Mujahideen, Harkat-ul-Jihad- border into Syria. He posted in ers and throwers of lethal bombs. stan 2001 were all linked to TJ. rapidly losing its Barelvi temper- al-Islami, Lashkar-e-Toiba, his Facebook post “We will kill Let the courts decide whether Its French Muslim recruits were ament.” What the authors had Jaish-e-Mohammad and mem- every man, woman, child, Shia, TJ’s right to mentor terror in In- found involved in planning at- prophesied came true in the very bers of the International Islamic Sunni, oroastrians, Kurds, dia also constitutes minority tacks by the Portland Seven and next year when Pakistan was Front formed by Osama bin Lad- Christians.” Nilam had recruited right, as is so far being the Lackawanna Six in the US. found involved in 9/11 attack on en in 1998. uoting Pakistani for ISIS 36 Sri Lankans, may be understood.

A student walks with her belongings after completing 1 RIHTS PEA days of uarantine at a facility in rinagar PI orld odies ops arry out raids to nab ablighi head EEPIN THE IEINE at for refuees PSS S SIC New elhi Jamaat head denied the police version and said the preacher A I and mirants DELHI Police on Wednesday con- was at his home. Musharraf Ali operated U initiative ducted raids at various locations Khan, a follower of Jamaat and between March 2 and March 1 to arrest Maulana Saad Kandh- member of the committee said, PSS S SIC New elhi lawi, the head of Tablighi Jamaat “The Maulana is not under- who has been named in an FIR ground or running away from po- FOUR UN bodies have issued along with five others members lice. He is a religious person. He a joint statement urging peo- of the organisation for violating has his residence on the Markaz ple in the world to protect the government directions and hold- campus. He is in self-isolation as tonnes of operated by Air India, 2 rights and health of everyone ing a religious gathering at its lockdown is in force and will by its regional subsidiary to fight the coronavirus pan- headquarters in Nizamuddin surely cooperate with the police.” transported by Alliance Air and 1 by the demic. The statement jointly area of south Delhi. He, however, added that Kandh- these flights Indian Air Force released by the Office of the The probe has been handed lawi might have gone to his rela- ource: Ministry of Ciil Ciation High Commissioner on Hu- over to Crime Branch which is tives’ place in Muzaffarnagar, UP. man Rights, World Health Or- also analysing an audio clip in Saad was booked on Tuesday ganization, United Nations which Saad is allegedly heard them are members of the man- help of the state police being tak- after the police and district ad- Saudi Arabia asks Muslims Human Rights Commission asking people not to fear novel agement committee of Markaz, en. “Investigation is going on and ministration evacuated 2,361 peo- to postpone Haj and the International Organi- coronavirus, calling it a conspir- as the headquarters of the organ- efforts are being made to ascer- ple from the Markaz during a 36- sation on Migration states that acy against Islam. istaion is called. tain whether the voice in the au- hour long operation which Saudi Arabia’s a minister Mohammad Benten has the virus does not discrimi- The others name in the FIR are A Crime Branch officer said dio clips is of Maulana Saad,” continued till early hours of asked Muslims to temporarily postpone the annual nate but refugees, forcibly dis- eeshan, Mufti Shehzad, Moh- raids are being conducted in Del- said a police officer, adding that Wednesday. The building and ad- pilgrimage amid the rising uncertainty arising out placed persons and migrants hammad Saifi, Maulana ounus hi and at other possible hideouts Saad is untraceable. joining areas were sanitised after of the coronavirus pandemic. a is likely to begin are at a heightened risk. and Mohammad Salman. All of in Uttar Pradesh, for which the However, the associates of the the evacuation on Wednesday. in uly this year. “Saudi Arabia is fully ready to “The situation for refugees serve pilgrims and umrah seekers. But under the and migrants held in formal current circumstances, as we are talking about the and informal places of deten- global pandemic... the kingdom is keen to protect tion, in cramped and unsani- Press Counil the health of Muslims and citizens and so we have tary conditions, is particular- Forein donations in PM CARES alloed asked our brother Muslims in all countries to wait ly worrying. Considering the NBA ask media before doing a contracts until the situation is lethal consequences COVID-19 clear,” Mohammad Benten said. The likely outbreak would have, they MEA uneils its stratey to fiht irus to e responsile suspension of a is significant as it serves as a should be released without de- maor revenue generation for the kingdom. lay. Migrant children and their PSS S SIC New elhi the prohibited list. “The guide- bilateral, regional and global lev- NEW DELHI The Press families and those detained lines for the export are clear. el to help chalk out a coordinated Council of India on Wednes- without a sufficient legal basis GIVEN the unprecedented cir- Some items can be exported on a response, and setting up the COV- day issued a statement advis- should be immediately re- cumstances arising out of the case to case basis after clearance ID-19 cell. ing the media “to responsibly Examine bringing back leased,” the statement read. coronavirus pandemic, the Cen- by the Director General of PM Narendra Modi and Ex- ensure dissemination of veri- “While countries are closing tre has agreed to accept foreign Foreign Trade. However, ternal Affairs Minister S fied news on COVID-19 out- Indians stuck in Iran: SC their borders and limiting donations in the PM-CARES the item sent to Serbia Jaishankar have been break, based on the daily bul- The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the cross-border movements, fund, sources said. was not on the prohibited speaking to their coun- letin by the Indian government Centre to examine the possibility of bringing back there are ways to manage bor- On the issue of the foreigners list,” a source said. terparts. There is a meet- in terms of the Hon’ble Su- 250 Indian pilgrims stranded in Iran, who have der restrictions in a manner who attended the Tablighi Sources said a three- ing of the Indo-Pacific preme Court’s order dated tested positive and are yet to be evacuated. The which respects international Jamaat event in New Delhi vio- point focus strategy is be- members on March 20, March 31”. Centre informed the top court that it has already human rights and refugee pro- lating visa norms, sources said ing employed to counter the sources said. Later his week, The National Broadcasters’ facilitated the return of 1,142 Indians, of which 8 tection standards, including that the authorities concerned spread of the virus — taking care commerce ministers of SAARC Association said it was the are pilgrims, under intense operational constraints the principle of non-refoule- will take action if norms were of Indians abroad, efforts on the nations will also meet. duty of all stakeholders to con- after restrictions were imposed for public health ment, through quarantine and flouted. “We will extend all coop- tribute positively. It said mem- reasons in Iran, where it was difficult to organise health checks,” it added. eration that is required,” a source ber broadcasters could consid- transport, accommodation and other logistics. The The UN bodies also urge not in the Ministry of External Af- COID DATAASE er telecasting ‘positive’ steps SC then told the petitioners’ counsel that the to let fear of intolerance to un- fairs said. A COI-1 control room set up by MEA is working round the clock to taken by individuals, govern- matter be left to the government. The next hearing dermine or compromise the Dismissing reports that a pro- address the issues of Indians across the globe. The control room, sources ments and medical personnel in the matter is slated for March 0. effectiveness of the responses hibited PPEs were exported to said, has received a total of ,00 calls and 2,200 emails since it was set up for ‘objective, balanced, accu- of the global pandemic. Serbia, sources said it was not on on March 1. A database is also being created to help find the pandemic. rate’ news. INIA Ma Min Ma Min ESING MED hmedabad 38 21 mbai 34 24 hopal 35 18 anai 34 25 omen researchers at anaras indu aipr 30 17 atna 34 21 niversity have developed a new mritsar 22 15 cknow 37 18 testing method for he PPI I ew elhi 32 17 ort lair 32 24 TONNES olkata 36 24 mphal 31 18 team has patented the method IN A IA rinagar 12 4 handigarh 27 16

CHENNAI THURSDAY 0 02 042020

ANAA CE 22 MARCH Source CPCB RG 23 MARCH CID B 24 MARCH LCDN SAED 25 MARCH 26 MARCH Virtual interactive system for 27 MARCH entre says spike doesnt reflect national 28 MARCH prisoners in Bihar jails trend as most cases related to ablighi Patna To prohibt direct meeting of visitors with 29 MARCH ail inmates, the Bihar prison department has introduced “e-mulakati”e-visitation virtual PSS S SIC New elhi underway where the cases have spiked, Agarwal said. No of cities Cities with Cities with Cities with interaction system. This was done as part of social for which AQI in range AQI in AQI in range distancing measures with a view to reduce mental INDIA registered 376 cases of In a meeting with chief secre- COVID-19 in last 24 hours, with taries and DGPs, Cabinet Secre- data is of Good to Moderate of Poor to stress and worry amongst the prisoners if they available Satisfactory Category Severe remain away from their family members amid the the Centre asserting that the tary Rajiv Gauba emphasised lockdown. Sharing details, Inspector General of numbers do not represent a na- on intensive contact tracing of Police, Prison and Correctional Services, Mithilesh tional trend as the spike is pri- Tablighi Jamat participants. Mishra said that booths have been set up at many marily due to travel by the peo- The states were asked to com- ails to facilitate the interaction of prisoners with ple who had attended the plete the contact tracing process ITIES REATHED EAS their kins though the e-mulakati system introduced Tablighi Jamaat congregation on a war footing, said a govern- in the eastern state. in Delhi. ment statement. “It has been Massive eercise done to collect AI data The official tally of confirmed found that foreigners who had novel coronavirus pa- participated in the Real time air quality data was collected by the Cenntra Pollution tients stands at 1,637 Tablighi Jamat had COntrol Board from air quality stations in 115 cities across the of which 132 have re- violated visa condi- country to assess impact of lockdown period. covered while 38 died. tions. The states were At a press briefing asked to initiate ac- on Wednesday, Lav tion for violation of Agarwal, joint secre- visa condition against tary, Union Ministry S the foreigners and the tay at home lears the air of Health and Family event organisers.” Welfare, said 1,800 Authorities an- ICHA SHAMANew elhi from higher to lower end of cate- industrial areas. Overall, Janata people related to the nounced that the In- gory and 17 cities moving in ‘Sat- Curfew resulted in general im- Tablighi Jamaat were dian Railways is pre- PEOPLE in 85 major cities across isfactory’ category and 07 cities in provement in air quality. shifted to nine hospi- t secy, health paring to set up 3.2 India were able to breathe easy ‘Good’ category. The AI value in “During start of pre lockdown tals and quarantine lakh isolation and during Janata Curfew and nation- coastal areas slightly improved period on March 16, 55 cities were centres. quarantine beds by al-wide lockdown as most of the though not as significantly as not- under ‘Good’ & ‘Satisfactory’ AI “The recent rise in the num- modifying 20,000 coaches. Modi- vehicles remained off road and ed for Indo Gangetic plains,” said categories. As days progressed, ber of cases does not represent fication of 5,000 coaches has be- non-essential industrial units the report. On the day of curfew, the number of cities under these a national trend if compared gun, through which 80,000 new were closed, the Central Pollution Chennai and Mumbai remained categories started to decrease with the previous trends. But as isolation beds are expected. Control Board said in a report. in ‘Satisfactory’ category. A slight with more moving in ‘Moderate’ we all know, naturally cases will “The civil aviation ministry The CPCB report assessed qual- increase in AI value was noted category. The pattern continued grow due to negligence and has launched lifeline flights to ity of air between March 16 and in Chennai on the next day, pos- till March 21, The situation carelessness,” Agarwal, said. transport essential commodi- March 29. It found that most of sibly due to local contribution. changed on March 22. On the day “Our advice is that any kind of ties, PPEs, testing kits, medi- the million plus population cities The positive impact on air qual- of Janata Curfew, 67 cities record- congregation should be avoided. cines and masks. 15.4 tons of showed improvement in air qual- ity was not observed significantly ed ‘Good’ & ‘Satisfactory’ AI val- Social distancing measures medical supplies have already ity levels post Janata curfew on in industrial cities. High AI val- ues,” said the analysis. should be followed by everyone been transported in last five March 22. “Indo Gangetic cities ue was noted in Vapi, Ratlam, The trend has continued, with without failure.” days,” Agarwal said in the showed significant improvement Satna, Singrauli and Chandrapur increasing number of cities re- Twins named after Corona Additional sample testing is press briefing. in AI values with levels moving seemingly due to emissions from cording ‘Good’ AI value. and Covid in Chhattisgarh Raipur In Chhattisgarh state capital, a couple decided to name their twins as Corona and Covid. Lokdon: laourers die of old hile trekkin to home Preeti 2 and her husband inay erma had a torrid time struggling to reach r Bhimrao AA AI Srinagar district. The group decided to mad (22), all from Hinyal village weather conditions, he said. Ambedkar Memorial hospital, where she gave birth take the mountainous route as no in Banihal. Haseeb said a rescue operation to a girl and a boy. “Both the mother and newborn THREE labourers had to pay civilian movement is allowed on “Three labourers reached their was launched by the police when babies are doing fine. A team of doctors and with their life while trekking a the Srinagar-Jammu national village safely while four other news came in that four labourers medical staff performed a Caesarean section on treacherous route through moun- highway in view of the ongoing were stuck at a hill top, Nagiman- were stuck on the hill top. “Our the mother after she complained of labour pain tainous range from south Kash- lockdown to contain COVID-19. du (Hingal top), about 5 km from personnel managed to rescue one and complications,” said Shubhra Singh, a public mir’s Anantnag district in order While the three died of hypo- Dulligam, Banihal,” Senior Su- labourer while three others had relation officer of the Ambedkar hospital. The to reach homes at Banihal in the thermia after being stuck in a perintendent of Police (SSP), died of hypothermia due to the ermas who hail from Uttar Pradesh. “We wished lockdown. hill top due to bad weather on Ramban, Haseeb-ur-Rehman told cold,” the SSP said. “The bodies to ease the people’s anxiety and fear associated The trio was part of a group of Tuesday evening, three others this newspaper. were recovered from the spot.” with these words. Secondly, we would like to make seven labourers who started managed to reach their homes The hill top had received heavy Wednesday was the 14th day of the occasion memorable. So, I and my husband their trek on Tuesday morning and one had to be rescued by the snowfall, leading to a considera- lockdown in Kashmir. The lock- took an instant decision to name our boy and girl from Verinag in Anantnag dis- police. The deceased were identi- ble drop in temperature. Four la- down in Kashmir was imposed on as Covid and Corona,” Preeti said. trict, where they had been work- fied as Ghulam Mohidin (30), bourers could not cross the ter- March 19, a day after the first posi- ing, to reach Banihal in Ramban ubair Ahmad (20) and Reyaz Ah- rain because of extreme bad tive COVID-19 case was reported.

UAAHAD AAAD HIMACHA PADSH AMMU AD ASHMI Any person with There are 16 tribes, Any person who has a The new policy defines First ase aroad: NIA eins documentary proof of residence in Uttarakhand including Kacharis, recognised as “indigenous” and permanent home in HP or is residing in the state for a domicile as a person who has resided in J&K for 15 dating back to 1985. Apart from this, those who have are called “permanent residents.” They are people 20 years or has a permanent home in Himachal but is years, has studied there for seven years, registered 15 years of residency proof in the state such as land who have been living in Nagaland since 1963 living outside on account of his occupation migrants and their children, children of government aul urdara attak proe record, rent proof etc Only “permanent residents” are Government jobs are open for all; officials who have served in J&K for 10 years Government jobs of all categories eligible for state government jobs and scholarships in last year the appointment of 16 persons from Bihar, Under the domicile policy just PSS S SIC New elhi ranging from gazetted officers, Group C and D are educational institutions. No one else, including Nagas Jharkhand, Delhi, Haryana and Punjab for clerical announced, exclusive rights are reserved only for open for all citizens of India. Non-domicile from neighbouring states, get the benefits posts was heavily criticised low-ranking government positions THE National Investigation on candidates have to apply in ‘General’ category Wednesday registered its first They are protected Under Section 118 of The government overseas case and began probing There is no under Article 371A of the constitution, which says no the HP Tenancy and Land Reform Act, 1972, outsiders is working on a policy to give exclusive rights to the terror attack on a gurdwara prohibition on purchase of a property or house or Act of Parliament in respect of ownership/transfer of can purchase only land/property of the HP Urban residents; before the nullification of Article 370, in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul land for residential purpose; but there is cap of 250 land shall apply to the state unless the Nagaland Development Authority, any other land/property outsiders were not permitted to purchase land last month that left 27 people, in- square meters on purchase of agricultural land assembly by a resolution so decides purchase has to cleared by the state cabinet or property cluding an Indian citizen, dead. This is the first case of its kind Afghan ikh men mourn their beloed ones which the agency has registered during a funeral procession in abul AP after the recent amendments in DIABOLICAL INSULTING CALLOUS: PARTIES the NIA Act which empower it to investigation, one Muhsin from investigate terror cases that are Trikkaripur, Kasargod, Kerala Insult to inur AA AISrinagar At a time when all our efforts & J&K Apni Party president Al- series of tweets, claimed the committed at any place outside and others who had joined ISKP, Srinagar maor attention should be focused on taf Bukhari said the order is new law is “part of a diabolical the country against Indian citi- are suspected to have been in- Srinagar mayor unaid POLITICAL parties in Jammu COVID outbreak, the govern- totally unacceptable. Union demographic project that began zens or affecting the interest of volved in the attack. Azim Mattu said the law and Kashmir were united in de- ment slips in a new domicile Home Minister Amit Shah had on August 5 with Article 370 ab- India, the agency said in a Sources said the NIA will im- adds insult to inury of nouncing the new domicile pol- law for J&K. Insult is heaped on assured Bukhari-led delegation rogation”. “Imposing it in times statement. mediately start with the technical the people. “oing away icy and asserted that the Centre injury when we see the law of- that J&K would have a better of a global pandemic reveals a The FIR has been registered part of the investigation as sus- with district and “humiliated, insulted and mar- fers none of the protections that domicile policy than other callous and paranoid mindset under various provisions of the pected suicide attacker Mushin’s ginalised” the people by snatch- had been promised,” tweeted states. Bukhari said the order wilfully violating consent to en- Indian Penal Code and the Unlaw- family had received a message on divisional recruitment is ing everything from them. National Conference leader reflects a casual exercise car- sure subjugation.” ful Activities (Prevention) Act. Telegram from Islamic State, in- an affront to concept of As per the new rules, anyone Omar Abdullah, who was re- ried out at bureaucratic level Ex-BJP ally Sajjad Gani Lone Banned terror group Islamic forming them of his death. affirmative action. The who has stayed over 15 years in leased recently after being de- without taking aspirations and termed the new definition of State Khorasan Province (ISKP), In the wake of Covid-19 out- order seems to be a clear the Union Territory or has stud- tained for over seven months. expectations of the people into domicile as “humiliating and an offshoot of ISIS, had claimed break, there may not be an imme- intent of conveying yet ied for a period of seven years “Even the new party (J&K Apni consideration. “It is totally un- insulting”. J&K National Pan- responsibility for the gurdwara diate foreign travel. A source in another serving of and appeared in class 10th/12th Party) created with Delhi’s acceptable. It is antithesis to thers Party chairman Harshdev attack on March 25. the home ministry said that the humiliation and insult to examination in an educational blessings, whose leaders were what PM and HM promised in Singh said the Centre had inten- About 150 persons were inside investigations will begin from In- K people after what institution in the UT of J&K is lobbying in Delhi for this law, floor of Parliament.” tionally unveiled the domicile the gurudwara when the attack dia. In due process, Afganistan transpired in August 5 now eligible for domicile. have been forced to criticise the Detained PDP chief Mehboo- law knowing fully that the peo- took place. police and authorities would be last year,” he said. “Talk about suspect timing. domicile law.” ba Mufti’s daughter Iltija, in a ple cannot protest now. According to the preliminary contacted.

FAYAZ WANI T Our correspondent in ammu and Kashmir Worried families of prisoners lodged To prevent the spread of COI-1 pandemic, the Srinagar administration has launched in ails outside Kashmir have urged a website to track the people, who have been concealing travel history. The website, the administration either to release which can be accessed on www.talaashsrinagar.in, provides options of “self report” and their kin or shift them to detention “report about others.” On the website, a person has to submit details like name and centres back home. Over 500 contact number. The administration has appealed families, neighbours and people to SRINAAR Kashmiri prisoners, including alert officials about suspected cases through the websiteapp so that necessary politicians, lawyers, civil society measures in interest of public health can be taken by the government. This is being done members, and traders, are detained to ensure that healthcare infrastructure is not overburdened. D in ails outside Kashmir. Most of With the hospitals closing OP service, a group of doctors under the banner of octors them are those, who were detained HC Association of Kashmir AK has launched Android-based mobile app “AK- immediately after the bifurcation of ELPESK” to provide online medical consultation to the people. AK president r K last year. The families are The K igh Court, while hearing a petition, sought information Suhail Naik said about 100 doctors are available via the app to provide consultations. worried that since most ails are from the government on availability of test kits for detection of “octors assess the history of patient and provide them full-fledged treatment,” he said, overcrowded, there is possibility of COI-1 and ventilators in district hospitals. A division bench adding the app has received overwhelming response. octors would be available either infection. They have urged the headed by Chief ustice Gita Mittal issued notice to the Centre and telephonically or through WhatsApp between am and pm for minor ailments and officials to release their kin or shift the K government seeking an action taken report by April . COI-1 related information on the application, “AK-ELPESK”. The mobile them to detention centres in Muhammad Shafi, the petitioner, appealed the C to order the application can be downloaded on mobile phones which, policy makers say, will help in Kashmir, where the families can at government to ensure the supply of medical equipment. providing medical consultation in an instant. least know about their well-being. eiing os ngeles olombo elborne oha oscow GOA bai ew ork EAHER oston ingapore 4 ight Rain H eay Rain stanbl oronto DS Thundershower C ight Cloud S unny ondon Washington

CHENNAI THURSDAY 0 02 042020

A PARIS WASHINTON OHANNESR WAIT CIT SEO NEW OR Afghan govt, Taliban hold Much of the world faces Iran will pay heavy price if US again accused of killing Uproar as Kuwait actress 1000s of Korean workers Amazon fires warehouse talks on prisoner swap food shortage UN WTO it strikes US troops Trump civilians in Somalia strikes calls for ban on expats for US army put on leave worker who led walkout Afghan government The heads of three global President onald Trump warned The US military is facing more A famous Kuwaiti actress has Around 4,000 South Koreans Amazon fired a worker who representatives have met with the agencies FAO, WO and WTO Iran on Wednesday of a “heavy allegations of killing civilians with sparked a furore by calling for working for the US military in their organized a walkout at a New ork Taliban in Kabul for the first time warned on Wednesday of the risk price” if it or its allies in Iraq attack airstrikes in Somalia, and now says expatriates to be expelled from the country were put on unpaid leave warehouse to demand greater to discuss a prisoner swap aimed of a worldwide “food shortage” if US troops stationed there. The US it will address the issue more fully oil-rich nation so that locals can be Wednesday as Seoul and protection against the new at ump-starting a peace process. authorities fail to manage the president also wrote “Upon in upcoming public reports. sure of having a hospital bed if they Washington bicker over funding for coronavirus, saying the employee The two sides met Tuesday and ongoing coronavirus crisis properly. information and belief, Iran or its Amnesty International said in a fall ill with coronavirus. ayat US forces. Washington stations himself flouted distancing rules would meet again Wednesday for Many governments around the proxies are planning a sneak attack new report Wednesday that the US al-Fahad, 1, who is known for 28,500 troops in the country to and put others at risk. New ork further talks being observed by the world have put their populations on US troops andor assets in Iraq.” Africa Command killed two playing a range of roles in Arabic defend it against the nuclear- City Mayor Bill de Blasio ordered International Committee of the on lockdown causing severe slow- It was not clear whether Trump civilians and inured three in two dramas, told a local T station that armed North, but the security the city’s Commission of uman Red Cross, Afghanistan’s Office of downs in international trade and meant Washington actually has airstrikes in February as it strikes foreigners in the country should be allies’ relationship has been Right to investigate whether the the National Security Council said. food supply chains. intelligence of such a plan. back at al-aida-linked al-Shabab. kicked out during the health crisis. strained by US demands. dismissal was retaliatory. DEAD IN EPE S PEDICS GIM LL manity reels as pathogen wreaks havoc across the globe millions of ob losses expected ritain sees people die in one day, taking its total to ,

PARIS

The coronavirus pandemic has E claimed more than 30,000 lives in rump onronts Europe alone, a global tally showed Wednesday, in what the head of the United Nations has he worlds biggest economy, the nited tates, is likely in recession o are described as humanity’s worst apan, ingapore, outh orea and anada here are tentative signs hina ne reality arns crisis since World War II. that is on the recovery path, but how will the rest of the world fare perts Italy and Spain bore the brunt are growing doubtful of the possibility a shaped recovery, when the of the crisis, accounting for economy bounces back after a period of recession e take a look three in every four deaths on the o lakh irus toll continent, as the grim tally hit RAVAGES O HE ANEMIC another milestone even though WASHINTON half of the planet’s population is already under some form of US President Donald Trump lockdown in a battle to halt warned Americans to brace for contagion. a “hell of a bad two weeks” Spain reported a record 864 ahead as the White House pro- A medical worker looks at a Coid1 patient through the window of a train at the deaths in 24 hours, pushing the jected there could be 100,000 to are dAusterlit station in aris on ednesday AP country’s number of fatalities 240,000 deaths in the U.S. from past 9,000. The coronavirus the coronavirus pandemic even The toll is only dwarfed by It- facts and the risk that it contrib- has wiped $12 if current social distancing ana reuests financial trillion off the The MSCI’s 4-nation aly’s, where the virus has killed support from lenders utes to enhanced instability, en- guidelines are maintained. nearly 12,500 people. hanced unrest, and enhanced world’s stock index has fallen more Public health officials stressed Since emerging in China in Colombo Sri Lankan President conflict are things that make us markets than 2 Tuesday that the number could Gotabaya Raapaksa is requesting resident Donald Trump at a briefing December, COVID-19 has spread believe that this is the most chal- be less if people across the coun- about the new coronairus AP across the globe, claiming over that international financial lenging crisis we have faced I HE N HA try bear down on keeping their organisations provide debt 43,000 lives and infecting more since the Second World War.” CORONAVIRUS Economists were initially predicting a recovery distance from one another. Hopkins University. moratorium or debt deferment E SOE than 860,000 people, according to in the second half of 2020, but with the virus “We really believe we can do a The White House figures as- facilities to developing nations ere going to ie anyway an AFP tally. There is no rampaging across the US and Europe, those lot better than that,” said Dr. sume that Americans follow the such as Sri Lanka, which are In a scramble to halt the con- With most business activity guarantee of hopes are dimming Deborah Birx, the coordinator rigorous social-distancing guide- tagion, governments have shut adversely affected due to the grinding to a halt for an undeter- the pandemic of the White House coronavirus lines set out by the Centers for schools, most shops, and ordered new coronavirus. Raapaksa made mined period of time, scenes of dying down in CHINA ON AH O RECOVER task force. That would require Disease Control and Prevention millions of people to work from the request on Wednesday during economic desperation and un- the April-une all Americans to take seriously or the stricter “stay at home” re- a phone discussion with the WO A ump in Chinese factory activity home. rest were emerging in many quarter. If it see chart below despite the their role in preventing the strictions set by many governors Cancellations of key events chief Tedros Adhanom parts of the world. “lasts through spread of disease, she said. across the country. Still, the Ghebreyesus. Raapaksa virus-hit global economy has on the global calendar have In Italy, queues were lengthen- the summer, inected a little hope into markets Added Dr. Anthony Fauci, the White House was not looking at swept both the sports and requested Ghebreyesus to ing at soup kitchens while some then all the government’s top infectious dis- a nationwide order. speak with the lenders. cultural worlds, with the supermarkets were reportedly economic IMAC ON HE US ease expert, “This is a number “We live in a nation that has a Edinburgh arts festival pillaged. Half a million more effects will be Goldman Sachs on Tuesday said the number of that we need to anticipate, but system of federalism, and the the latest to be scrapped. ably has no parallel in people now need help to afford amplified,” umeployed people in the US may grow to 15 we don’t necessarily have to ac- governors get to make the deci- For UN Secretary-Gen- the recent past,” he said. meals, Italy’s biggest union for oseph Stiglitz, cept it as being inevitable.” sions,” Dr. Jerome Adams, the eral Antonio Guterres, the “The combination of the agriculture sector Coldiretti a Nobel of Americans already cannot afford an Trump called it “a matter of surgeon general, told NBC’s “To- extraordinary upheaval the two facts and the risk that said, adding to the 2.7 million al- laureate, told unplanned out-of-pocket expense of life and death” for Americans to day” on Wednesday. “But we’re spurred by the virus presents a it contributes to enhanced insta- ready in need last year. Bloomberg $400, as per Mckinsey Co. heed his administration’s guide- gonna give them the best possi- real danger to the relative peace bility, enhanced unrest, and en- In Tunisia several hundred lines and predicted the country ble guidance we can, and that’s the world has seen over the last protested a week-old lockdown would soon see a “light at the end hanced conflict are things that I to stay at home and to social few decades. make us believe that this is the that has disproportionately hit T of the tunnel” in a pandemic distance.” The disease “represents a most challenging crisis we have the poor. “Never mind coronavi- E that in the United States has in- “This is going to be one of the threat to everybody in the world faced since the Second World rus, we’re going to die anyway! fected about 190,000 people and roughest two or three weeks and... an economic impact that War.” Let us work!” shouted one pro- killed more than 4,000, according we’ve ever had in our country,” will bring a recession that prob- “The combination of the two tester near Tunis. to figures compiled by Johns Trump said. enneth S. Rogoff, an economist at arvard, told the New or Times

60 Russia plane heads to Shia minority CHINA’S MANACTRIN PMI S ith supplies Moscow A Russian military sapeoated in plane carrying medical equipment has departed for Pak for irus the United States, the defence 50 ministry in Moscow said Wednesday, as the Kremlin spread: Panel flexes its soft power amid the Chinas Purchasing coronavirus pandemic. The WASHINTON Managers Index, a key Antonov-124, “with medical irus ‘uncontrollable’ on gauge of factory masks and medical equipment American aircraft carrier A US commission mandated to on board”, left for the US activity, umped to China’s proected monitor international religious overnight, a statement said, Brett Crozier, the captain of the US 40 52.0 from a record low economic growth freedom has expressed concern without providing further nuclear-powered aircraft carrier 5. the month before. rate for 2020, as over reports of a provincial gov- details. Contacted by AFP, the Theodore Roosevelt, told the Any figure above 50 is per research firm ernment in Pakistan targeting defence ministry refused to Pentagon that new coronavirus is considered growth. and “scapegoating” the already TS Lombard provide any further spreading uncontrollably through marginalised Shiite Hazara eth- information on the delivery, his ship and called for immediate HERO’S WECOME help to quarantining its A medical assistance worker from uaian China is greeted by her daughter after nic minority community for the which came after Russian spread of the deadly novel coro- 30 President ladimir Putin spoke 4,000-strong crew. But efense returning home from the coronairus frontline in uhan ubei AP navirus in the country. G F M with US counterpart onald Secretary Mark Esper on Tuesday In uetta, the government has Trump on Monday. ruled out evacuating the ship. completely sealed off two areas of the Hazara community- Haz- ara Town and Marriabad- as part of lockdown in the city, the upert Murdochs ustralian flagship media group ews orp announced United States Commission on In- Putin orks remotely after meetin infeted do ednesday it will stop printing doens of regional newspapers, as the ternational Religious Freedom troubled sector received a fresh blow from a advertising downturn (USCIRF) said in a statement. MOSCOW tial residence in Novo-Ogaryovo The government also forbade outside Moscow. government employees from RUSSIAN leader Vladimir Pu- Putin donned a bright yellow AMERICAS IGGES UISHER travelling into Hazara neighbor- tin has decided to handle his du- hazmat suit for the visit last The largest US newspaper publisher, Gannett, hoods, and reportedly forced ties remotely, the Kremlin said, Tuesday to the hospital. He was said on Monday it was making unspecified Hazara policemen to go on leave after the head of the country’s also seen talking to Protsenko News Corp furloughs and pay cuts for its staff. under suspicion they are infect- main coronavirus hospital test- without any protective gear but said 0 ed by relatives. ed positive following a meeting the Kremlin said there is no rea- regional Social media users have made with the president. son for concern about the presi- papers in the allusions to coronavirus as the Denis Protsenko, who met with dent’s health. states of New 25% ‘Shi’a virus,’ given fears of its Putin last week as the Russian “All of those who were with the South Wales, Gannett said it is cutting spread by pilgrims returning leader visited the Kommunarka president at Kommunarka are ictoria, pay and hours of from Iran, the statement said. hospital in Moscow, said Tues- being tested daily for the coro- ueensland newsroom employees by This isolation and further day he had been infected with navirus,” Peskov added. and South 25 in April, May and stigmatization of the Hazara the coronavirus but was feeling resident Vladimir utin R met with a head of a hospital on Monday AP Almost 70 per cent of Russia’s Australia une because of minority could limit their abil- well. 147 million population has been would cease advertising declines. ity to receive proper medical “The president prefers these told journalists, shortly before “We are taking all precaution- ordered into strict confinement. printing and Executives are getting a care as the coronavirus contin- days to work remotely,” Krem- Putin was due to hold a cabinet ary measures,” he said, adding Russia has so far registered move online pay cut of 25 ues to spread within Pakistan. lin spokesman Dmitry Peskov meeting by videoconference. that Putin was at the presiden- 2,777 cases and 24 deaths. MARKET GOLD SILVER Market 1,203.18 Sensex 28,265.31 24 carat (1 gm) H4,347 Per kg H39,250 Watch 343.95 Nifty 8,253.80 22 carat (1 gm) H4,330 Per gm H39.25 CHENNAI THURSDAY 10 02 l04l2020 DIVING DEMAND ‘More cash transfers, food RBI continues rolling GST COLLECTION out COVID-19 relief rations needed for the poor’ ENS ECONOMIC BUREAU L @ Hyderabad JAYANTA ROY CHOWDHURY well known economist sure that at least 10 kg free ra- BELOW 1L CR @ New Delhi Meghnad Desai, former RBI tions per person per month, THE RBI on Wednesday an- Deputy Governor Rakesh Mo- along with other necessary nounced a slew of measures COVID-19 impact likely to hit collections SOME of India’s top econo- han, former Planning Commis- items, is available for all eligi- to tide over the economic im- harder in the first quarter of the new fiscal mists, civil servants and social sion Member Abhjit Sen, for- ble households.” pact of the Covid-19 pandem- scientists have written a joint mer Chief Economic Advisor The group also estimates ic. First, it gave extra time to letter to Prime Minister Naren- Deepak Nayyar, former Union that some 40-50 million mi- exporters for collecting and ENS ECONOMIC BUREAU @ New Delhi dra Modi as well as to the chief Health Secretary Sujata Rao, grant labourers are currently repatriating payments for ministers of all states asking former Interstate Council unemployed and want to goods and software sold to he economic slowdown and the spread for a series of measures includ- Secretary Amitabh Pan- head back to their villag- overseas buyers. Presently, of COVID-19 related lockdowns took ing `3.6 lakh crore in cash sup- dey and Ajit Ranade, es. It suggests that the these payments are required their toll on Goods and Services Tax port for families who are not in Chief Economist, Adi- Centre and states could to be realised fully and repat- 2020 and will be valid till Sep- GST (GST) collections in March, with the the tax net or have a member tya Birla Group, feels use their facilities to riated to the country within a tember 30, 2020. collection figure slipping below the `1 lakh crore working for the formal sector. more needs to be done. house them without period of 9 months from the The move comes a day after target cut mark at `97,597 crore. GST collections The letter says that the cen- “The direct benefit over-crowding and start date of export. This has now the RBI increased the WMA T in February had stood at `1.06 lakh tral and state governments to- transfers announced was a community feeding been extended to 15 months limit to `70,000 crore for the In February, the finance crore and finance ministry officials say that the gether should immediately step forward, but we need to do programs. from the date of export. central government for the ministry had fall in collections is due to the dip in overall think of ensuring “a minimum more. The Telangana example Among other things, they “The measure will enable July-September quarter, up cut its GST domestic demand. transfer of at least `6,000 per is a good one where the state is also seeks a scheme to compen- exporters to realise their re- from `60,000 crore in the pre- collection However, despite the dip, in the April-March month to each Jan Dhan Yojana trying to reach out on a wider sate unorganised and MSME ceipts, especially from COV- vious quarter. target period of FY20, gross GST collection grew by woman account holder with a scale without excluding any- sector players for wages of con- ID-19 affected countries with- In the same breath, the cen- downwards 3.8 per cent to `12.2 lakh crore compared to the major part borne by the Cen- one,” explained Ravi Srivasta- tract and temporary employees in the extended period, and tral bank has reiterated that it to `11.26 lakh previous year, official data showed, exceeding tral Government over the next va, former Chairman, Centre during the lockdown, besides also provide greater flexibili- wasn’t necessary for banks to crore for the revised target set by the government in Feb- three months.” With 20 crore for Regional Studies, JNU ex gratia payments, to ensure ty to negotiate future export implement counter-cyclical fiscal 2019- ruary. The finance ministry had cut its GST col- estimated beneficiary families Though the centre has prom- that “no needy person or house- contracts with buyers capital buffers (CCyB) 20 from `12.17 lection target downwards to `11.26 lakh crore for 3 months the figure works ised 5 kg of free cereals to the hold remains outside the social abroad,” it said. straight away. The framework lakh crore for fiscal 2019-20 from `12.17 lakh crore. out to `3.6 lakh crore. poor, the group feels that in or- protection net being created to In an effort to manage cash on CCyB was put in place by Of the total `97,597 crore collected, the cen- The government has an- der to ward off hunger “all cope with the current calami- flows, the central bank also the RBI through guidelines is- tral GST (CGST) collections stood at `19,183 nounced some grants including state governments should en- tous conditions.” increased the limit for ad- sued in February 2015, where crore, state GST at `25,601 crore, integrated `2,000 from the PM Kisan vances given to states and un- it advised that CCyB would be GST at `44,508 crore and cess collections at scheme to farmers and a `1,000 Centre and States should ensure a minimum transfer of at least ion territories by 30 per cent activated as and when the cir- `8,306 crore (including `841 crore collected on grant to senior citizens, poor `6,000 per month to each Jan Dhan Yojana woman account holder under Ways and Means Ad- cumstances warranted and with a major part borne by the Centre With most imports), the finance ministry said. widows and poor disabled, etc. vances. The revised limit will that the decision would nor- businesses “The government has settled `19,718 crore to But, the group which includes Group of top economists come into force from April 1, mally be pre-announced. being non- CGST and `14,915 crore to SGST from IGST as operational for regular settlement. In addition, Centre has also a considerable apportioned unsettled balance IGST of `6,000 EXPRESS READ period in March crore on ad-hoc basis in the ratio of 50:50 be- and the tween centre and States/UTs, “ the statement relaxation of COAI U-turn: No emergency spectrum needed SMALL SAVINGS SCHEMES said. The total number of GSTR-3B returns delayed payments filed up to March 31, 2020 is 76.5 lakh, it added. Telecom industry body COAI on Wednesday said that telcos are of the being allowed, Experts claim that the larger impact of the view that there is no need for additional spectrum to maintain stability INTEREST RATES SLASHED the collections COVID-19 outbreak will be visible from April and quality of telecom networks since the recent slew of measures, in the coming onwards. “The GST collections not witnessing including streaming services switching content to SD (standard quarter would a significant dip this month is encouraging, es- definition) and traffic redistribution, has led to reduced pressure on ENS ECONOMIC BUREAU see quite a fall pecially with the numbers expected to reduce network infrastructure. The organisation had written to the @ New Delhi Abhishek Jain, in coming months,” said Abhishek Jain, Tax Department of Telecom earlier seeking emergency spectrum allocations Large-scale cuts a shock to Tax Partner, EY Partner at EY. to alleviate the burden on network infrastructure. SMALL savings deposits will now earn significantly lower senior citizen depositors returns with the Central gov- A look at how various small savings schemes will earn lower interest: ernment sharply reducing interest rates for the entire Interest: Earlier From April 1 (All figures in %) Paytm Money founder MD Pravin Jadhav quits spectrum of small savings schemes late Tuesday. The SUKANYA SAMRIDDHI NATIONAL SAVINGS ACCOUNT SCHEME CERTIFICATE BISMAH MALIK @ Bengaluru Paytm Mall and Paytm Pay- engineering, finance and cus- expand the market for Paytm deep cuts, ranging from 70- ments Bank. Although Paytm tomer care teams. Money, with mutual fund ser- 140 basis points, will come as FOUNDER MD and CEO of declined to comment, sources Paytm Money has played a vices likely to be extended to a shock to senior citizens and Paytm Money Pravin Jadhav said that the management has significant role in helping Pay- the 16 million merchants who others who depend primarily has resigned from his post due already accepted the resigna- tm founder Vijay Shekhar have signed up on the Paytm on income from such fixed 8.4 7.6 7.9 6.8 to growing differences with the tion and will announce a Sharma build up the fi- platform. Paytm Money had re- instruments. company board, sources said. replacement soon. nancial services com- cently received approvals from The new rates will go into Balance after 1 year with Balance after 1 year with Jadhav, who built Paytm’s Jadhav’s resignation pany especially after its SEBI for its stock broking busi- effect for the April-June Rs 1 lakh deposit Rs 1 lakh deposit wealth management arm into comes at a time when e-commerce vertical — ness as well as the go-ahead quarter beginning April 1, India’s leading mutual fund the online investment Paytm Mall — lost out from the Pension Fund Regula- 2020. The move follows the L1,08,400 L1,07,600 L1,07,900 L1,06,800 platform, reportedly quit over and digital payment plat- to e-tailers like Amazon tory and Development Author- RBI decision to cut interest issues related to employee forms in the country is and Flipkart. Sharma’s bet ity (PFRDA) to offer Pension rates by 75 basis points tak- KISAN VIKAS PATRA SR. CITIZENS SAVINGS SCHEME stock options (ESOPs) and gaining traction during the on wealth management has Development Systems. ing the repo rate to 4.4 per (COMPOUNDED QUARTERLY) remuneration. COVID-19 lockdown. On his paid dividends since Paytm However, Paytm has been cent, the lowest since 2004, in Paytm Money is part of Pay- LinkedIn profile, Jadhav Money now claims to have 50 witness to a gradual exodus of an effort to counter the eco- tm parent One97 Communica- claims that he has built Paytm lakh users, with a monthly senior management executives nomic fallout of the coronavi- tions’ growing consumer eco- Money from scratch leading growth of 15-20 per cent. who headed various verticals rus pandemic. 7.6 6.9 8.6 7.4 system, alongside Paytm, product development, design, The company is looking to over the past one year. For the popular Public Provident Fund (PPF), the Balance after 1 year with Rs 1 Balance after 1 year with annual interest rate has been lakh deposit Rs 1 lakh deposit TODAY’S STOCK PICK slashed from 7.9 per cent to CONSOLIDATION 7.1 per cent, while the rates L1,07,600 L1,06,900 L1,08,881.35 L1,07,607.89 Tamil Nadu firms step Current Price for the Sukanya Samriddhi girl-child welfare scheme, Mergers turn PUBLIC PROVIDENT FUND 1-YR POST OFFICE DEPOSIT A1,080.6 rates have been brought (COMPOUNDED QUARTERLY) up assistance in battle down to 7.6 per cent from 8.4 10 PSBs into Target Price per cent. Similarly, rates have been cut for the National Sav- ings Certificate (from 7.9% to 4 large banks RELIANCE IND 7.9 7.1 6.9 5.5 against pandemic A1,820 6.8%), Senior Citizen Savings The company aims for its Scheme (from 8.6% to 7.4%) Balance after 1 year with Balance after 1 year with ENS ECONOMIC BUREAU BINITA JAISWAL @ Chennai Meawhile, commercial vehi- consumer business to contribute and Monthly Income Ac- @ New Delhi cle manufacturer Ashok Ley- 50% of consolidated EBITDA in a count scheme (from 7.6% to Rs 1 lakh deposit Rs 1 lakh deposit FROM spray cannons for disin- land says it is working closely few years. Jio has rolled out new 6.6%). The cut has also been L1,07,900 L1,07,100 L1,07,080.60 L1,05,614.48 TEN public sector banks fectants to power gensets for with the state health depart- tariff plans. While Minimum quite steep for the standard (PSB) on Wednesday merged hospitals treating COVID-19 ment and is supplying protec- Recharge Price plans were hiked Small Savings Time Deposits, to become four large banks, patients, Tamil Nadu-based tive equipment like 3-ply by 32%, the popular monthly with cuts ranging from 100- but this is steeper than an- correct, it is absolutely the bringing down the number companies are contributing in masks, N95 masks, disposable plans witnessed a price hike of 140 basis points. Interest ticipated. May be the move wrong time to do so,” he said. of PSBs to just 12. their own way in the fight gloves, liquid handwash, sani- ~25-30%. The hike in ARPUs rates on small savings indicates that the govern- Experts say that this will The mergers announced against COVID-19. tisers and body suits for health should result in ~H134b/H119b schemes are revised on a ment will drive down deposit reduce the divergence be- last September and cleared TVS Motor Company, for in- service personnel. It is also pro- incremental revenue/EBITDA. quarterly basis, based on the rate further, “ Soumya Kanti tween bank and small sav- by the cabinet last month stance, has made a contribu- viding disinfectants, protective RIL’s target is to become a ‘zero yields of government bonds. Ghose, chief economic advi- ings rates. In comparison, were effected despite banks tion of `5 crore to- chemical guard suits net-debt’ firm in 18 months can Bank fixed deposits are al- sor, SBI said. Senior Con- interest rates on small sav- running low-key operations wards the Tamil Nadu (pant, shirt, and hood) also act as a rerating trigger. ready fetching the lowest gress leader P Chidambaram ings schemes are still higher amidst the pandemic. Chief Minister’s Pub- and chemical protec- —Motilal Oswal Financial Services yields since August 2004, slammed the rate cut de- and give comparatively bet- Under the scheme, Orien- lic Relief Fund to aid tion goggles for sanita- with State Bank of India’s manding a roll-back, saying ter returns to depositors. tal Bank of Commerce the battle against COV- tion staff. Besides this, one-year FD offering an inter- that it comes at the wrong Lower small saving rates also Disclaimer: The views and recom- (OBC) and United Bank of ID-19. This is in addi- it has deployed ten ve- mendations made above are that of est of just 5.2 per cent (6.2% time. “While reducing the in- will also reduce cost of defi- India have been merged into tion to the `25 crore hicles with drivers for the individual analyst or broking com- for senior citizens). terest rate on PPF and small cit financing for the Punjab National Bank. Post- pledged by the compa- use by the health pany, and not that of “The rate cut was expected savings may be technically government. merger, the entity will form ny to the PM’s Relief department. The New Indian Express the second-largest PSB in Fund (PM-CARES). While it generally Other initiatives by the country. Syndicate Bank Alongside these con- takes 6 to 18 Ashok Leyland in- has been merged into Ca- tributions, the Srini- months for cludes the shipping DEMAND GOES AWOL nara Bank, making it the vasan Services Trust developing a new gensets to the Tiruval- fourth-largest public sector (the CSR arm of TVS product, it is lur General Hospital lender. Union Bank’s merger Motors) is making and because of our and the 150-bed special with the Andhra and Corpo- supplying 1 million R&D team, that ward of the Madurai PV sales halved in March, CV sales down 90% ration banks will make it the protective face masks we were able to Medical College. “We make this quality @ New Delhi fifth largest PSB lender, for essential service sanitiser shall work with the ARSHAD KHAN ported a drastic fall in March suspending all operations tem- while Allahabad Bank will providers within the available in just Government at every sales. Hyundai Motor reported porarily,” Kia said. now act as a branch of Indi- state. The trust is also two weeks step and stay support- HIT hard by the nationwide a 41 per cent y-o-y decline in An even bigger slump was an Bank. “It’s a good move deploying vehicles and lockdown to control the spread domestic sales at 26,300 units seen in the sales of commer- C K Ranganathan, ive of all their initia- since it will reduce the num- disinfectants to mu- CavinKare tives in the coming of the COVID-19 pandemic, last month, while Tata Motors’ cial vehicles despite steep dis- ber of branches, improve nicipalities in the state days,” said Balachan- passenger vehicle makers re- PV sales were down 68 per cent counts on BS-IV stocks. Ashok cost efficiency and, most im- while also running dar N V, President – ported a nearly 50 per cent at 5,676 units. New entrant Kia Leyland’s domestic CV sales portantly, the balance sheets factory kitchens at its manu- HR, Ashok Leyland. Mean- drop in March sales numbers Motors too reported total sales stood at just 1,787 units in post mergers are likely to be facturing units in Hosur and while, CavinKare has launched while commercial vehicle of just 8,583 units in March as March — a decline of 91 per strengthened,” Sai Sanjay Padi. The cooked meals are 2ml sanitizer sachets priced at makers reported a whopping against 15,644 units sold in cent year-on-year. Tata Motors Bhattacharyya, former supplied to all essential care `1. “While it generally takes 6 90 per cent drop. February. CV sales were down 87 per cent Managing Director of SBI. workers in the vicinity, from to 18 months for developing a The country’s largest car- “Countries and businesses at 7,123 units compared to the Officials in the Finance police personnel and munici- new product, it is because of maker Maruti Suzuki India across the globe have come to previous year. Ministry officials said these pal staff to healthcare workers. our R&D team, that we were (MSIL) on Wednesday report- the full financial year, MSIL a standstill due to the COV- Going forward, the outbreak banks have already started The trust has also handed over able to make this quality sani- ed a 47.4 per cent year-on-year reported a 18.2 per cent fall in ID-19 epidemic, which has im- coupled with newer emission sending out messages to cus- a vehicle equipped with a dis- tiser available in just two decline in March sales at 76,240 sales at 1,414,346 units, its pacted the automobile indus- norms and a fall in economic tomers informing them of infectant Spray Cannon to the weeks,” said C K Ranganathan, units as buyers stayed away steepest fall in recent times. try as well with production activity is expected to bring the mergers. Corporation of Chennai. chairman, CavinKare. from dealer showrooms. For Other carmakers also re- units, offices and dealerships more trouble for the sector. Premier League clubs have been accused of living in a “moral vacuum”, with players urged to take their share of the financial hit from the coronavirus pandemic as non-playing staff begin to feel Premier League accused the pinch. Last year’s Champions League finalists Tottenham as well as Newcastle and Norwich have faced a backlash for using the British government’s furlough scheme, which will guarantee of ‘moral vacuum’ 80 percent of employees’ income up to a maximum of£2,500 ($3,000) a month.

CHENNAI THURSDAY 11 02 l04l2020 MONEY WORRIES Grandmaster missing other games during lockdown ATREYO MUKHOPADHYAY ton and does swimming. The ties like free-hand exercise, plus (2726 at the moment) for @ Chennai COVID-19 outbreak has yoga in that routine.” over a year, the youngster is stopped all that and he is mak- However, with all that missing out on valuable game & MAKE-BELIEVE THERE was a video on Twitter ing do with the treadmill at stopped, the older of two sib- time. That, however, is far from a couple of days ago where Vid- home. “Since playing chess lings is spending time with his his mind at the moment. “It’s it Gujrathi was seen doing and working on it means I am doctor parents and sister, who hard to complain. It’s a global skipping exercises at home. seated for long periods of time, is also in the medical field. crisis and people are suffering GOLF COURSES Sportspersons are trying all I go for long walks to make up Having travelled extensively on a large scale. Compared to sorts of things in order to for it. That’s not happening from a young age, the 26-year- that, what we chess players are Income drying up with events, Indian maintain basic fitness levels at now. Also, I like playing other old is new to staying at home. going through is very minute,” professionals making alternate plans the time of lockdown. games. Inside our building If pressed, he finds it difficult said Gujrathi. But the chess player was not complex, there is a basketball to remember when he last The Grandmaster is using doing that just for the sake of court and some of the players spent more than five-six days the time to do something he SWAROOP SWAMINATHAN clears sooner rather than it. He was trying to get close to there are semi-professionals. in a month at home. can’t otherwise. That is read- @ Chennai latter.” something he also likes doing. Playing with them is fun. I Tournaments cancelled in ing. Not merely to kill time, but Considering this is the start India No 2 after Viswana- keep myself engaged with oth- Europe and the US, Gujrathi to understand something deep- “I am making do with what I of the PGTI — only three com- than Anand and World No 23, er sports also when I am isn’t sure when he will be play- er. Monk and author Om Swa- have. I am not in Bengaluru petitions have been completed Gujrathi is not all about chess. abroad,” Gujrathi told this ing again. The Chess Olympiad mi and propagators of Japa- any more. I have gone back to — it has compounded mat- He likes working out at the daily. World No 23 Vidit Gujrathi scheduled for August has also nese philosophy on a ‘perfectly my village in Dharmapuri... ters. “Some of the guys who gym and walking. If at home in “It’s not possible to devote a been postponed. There is no imperfect life’ are among his that’s where I am going to be are in the lower half of the Nasik, he plays basketball. lot of time to other sports when that happens, it’s a minimum certainty over the resumption favourites. Heady, but may just till the situation gets better.” leaderboard could suffer be- When in Europe for training or I’m playing tournaments or of six hours of chess every day. of the chess calendar. Having be the right time delve in such Those are the words of C cause of that,” says Udayan competitions, he plays badmin- training in full intensity. When I am trying to include activi- maintained a rating of 2700- stuff. Muniyappa, a regular on the Mane, who won two of those Professional Golf Tour of In- first three tournaments. He dia (PGTI). has already raked in `14.66 TRENDING ONLINE The sub-text behind Muni- lakh as reward for his start yappa’s revealing words to but is mindful of the plight of this daily is this: he can cut other golfers who haven’t back on spending significant- seen similar success in 2020. “Like you said, it’s going to be Innovation in the tough. But then, all of us will have parents’ support during this crucial period... That’s why we even entered the sport times of isolation in the first place.” The 29-year-old, to stay fit, FIROZ MIRZA @ Chennai going on fine until her elder sis- has built a small range in his ter fell ill and was admitted to a garden. “That’s to keep mus- AN empty LPG cylinder, tyres, private hospital. “She became cles loose. Every morning I a stick and resistance bands. weak due to fever and doctors have a hit of close to one hour That’s all India cricketer Pooja asked us to hospitalise her. We to ensure I remain somewhat Vastrakar has at her disposal were worried, especially be- active.” for workouts. Member of the cause of COVID-19 and all that. Another who has been squad which finished runners- I sought permission from auth- mindful of finances is S Chik- up in the ICC Women’s World orities to be with her at night. I karangappa, a well known T20 in Australia, she is stuck at us ed to return home in the mo- Like you said, it’s going to be tough. face on the Tour. “Yes, when home, in the city of Shahdol in r ning for the workout. She is But then, all of us will have parents’ we don’t play you have to keep Madhya Pradesh. al right now and was disch a r- support during this crucial period... that aspect in the back of your Pooja and her teammates re- ged from hospital on Monday.” That’s why we even entered the mind. Saying that, I have cut turned to Mumbai via Dubai on Pooja played only a match in sport in the first place. my expenses almost down to March 10. She joined the Mad- the tri-nation women’s T20 se- Udayan Mane zero since there is no travel. I hya Pradesh girls in Indore a ries, the event which preceded am staying at home.” couple of days later for a do- the World T20, before being The 26-year-old, who was mestic tournament, when the ly if he is in his village. “This No 2 in the PGTI rankings last BCCI suspended all cricket till is not in my control, I have to year, has also built a small further notice. “I returned to make do with what I have.” range on his terrace. Shahdol on March 15 and was Like athletes in other “I am hitting on that range as ked to undergo 14 days of sports, golfers too have felt — I don’t even know if you self-isolation. I completed that the pinch thanks to coronavi- can call it a range — every on March 30 but now I have rus shutting down events left, other day. It is to ensure that I been advised to continue it for right and centre. The 43-year- don’t lose my touch complete- seven more days,” the 20-year- old Muniyappa, for instance, ly. Apart from that, I do vari- old told this daily. has so far earned `1,00,830 ous upper-body exercises to Being in self-isolation doesn’t from three events this year. In keep myself loose.” mean the medium-pacer is ex- previous years, he had earned If the situation with respect empted from doing workouts. “I India medium-pacer Pooja Vastrakar more than that in the first to the pandemic doesn’t im- don’t have fitness equipment at three months. “Whatever I prove, golfers will either have my place. The India team train- ruled out due to hamstring in- have earned, I have put it to go back to their hometown er asked each one of us about jury. The right-arm pacer re- back into the sport. It’s just a like Muniyappa or build small things we have at home, which covered in time and played a matter of biding my time, all ranges like Mane and can be used for workouts. I have warm-up match against the I can hope is that the situation Chikkarangappa. sticks, empty LPG cylinder, West Indies but could not find a tyres and resistance bands. He place in the playing XI during guided me on how to make these the prestigious tournament. HELPING HANDS things useful,” said Pooja. “Our spinners were doing Despite limited resources, good. We didn’t want to tinker AIFF HOCKEY INDIA OTHER NSFs she does physical training in- with the winning combination. The All India Hockey India has The national cluding power exercises at least It was unfortunate that the Football Federation also pledged `25 governing bodies of for two hours every day. She plan didn’t work in the final.” is donating `25 lakh lakh towards the PM athletics, wushu, also practises yoga. Speaking The players might be con- to the PM’s relief CARES Fund. “In handball, swimming on her immediate plan, Pooja fined to home due to the lock- fund. “In wake of the these difficult times, with the Olympic said she wants to regain pace down but they are in touch Covid-19 crisis, AIFF it is the absolute associations of which she lost after a knee sur- with each other over their has pledged to need of the hour to Bihar, Himachal and gery in 2018. “As I am fully fit WhatsApp group. “We usually contribute `25 lakh come together to Gujarat put together now, I will try to hit the pace I don’t discuss cricket in the to the PM Shri help fight the crisis,” `8.75 lakh for the used to bowl at before the sur- group. We try to post light stuff Narendra Modi’s PM HI president Mohd PM CARES Fund to gery. I have to do a few minor to keep everybody entertained. CARES Fund,” said a Mushtaque Ahmad help fight the KEEPING THE FLAME ALIVE adjustments, but I am confident Jemimah Rodrigues and Har- I can do it.” leen Deol are the biggest enter- media release. said in a release. COVID-19 pandemic. A visitor looks at a lantern with the Olympic flame inside, after an official handover ceremony in Fukushima | AP The quarantine period was tainers,” she added.

WATCH HOUR Real Kashmir players stranded, Buttler to auction final La Liga concert raises Asian Youth Games shirt to help hospitals more than a million in China next year

waiting for a flight back home LONDON: England’s Jos Buttler is MADRID: La Liga’s online NEW DELHI: China will host auctioning the shirt he wore in last music festival raised more the third edition of the Asian ASHIM SUNAM @ Bengaluru away from his ill mother. wife, his two-year-old son and year’s dramatic World Cup final than a million euros that will Youth Games in Shantou in “The health of my parents seven-year-old daughter. He is win in support of hospitals be used to buy medical November next year, the To see what India's Olympic- WHEN can we head back and my wife’s parents is a con- in constant touch with his fam- treating the coronavirus. In a social equipment for the fight Olympic Council of Asia said bound boxers like Lovlina home? When will we reunite cern. I am especially very wor- ily while his wife tries to be media video posted on Tuesday, against coronavirus, the on Wednesday. The Chinese Borgohain, Pooja Rani and with our loved ones? How long ried as my mother is undergo- supportive asking Kallum to the 29-year-old said he would be Spanish football league said. city of Wuhan was the Ashish Kumar are doing to keep will we be in India? Ten for- ing chemotherapy too. It is keep the spirits up. posting the jersey, signed by all The funds will be put towards epicentre of the COVID-19 fit in the times of lockdown, go eigners, including coaches, tough,” said David, who even “It is difficult. Being a dad, I members of the World Cup- ventilators, protective suits, pandemic that is still to TNIE videos on YouTube. players and Real Kashmir FC wrote to the British High Com- should have been home, pro- winning squad, on eBay. gloves and masks. sweeping across the world. coach David Robertson’s wife, mission in Delhi, seeking help tecting my children, but I am have been stranded in Srinagar to go back. He has been in- stuck halfway across the world. ever since the lockdown start- formed that the evacuation pro- As a man, you do not show emo- #COVID19 ed. These questions linger on cess will start soon. “We have tions but when you speak to in the minds of nationals from given the passports numbers, your family at this time, it gets the UK, Nigeria, Ivory Coast visas and other details. Yester- hard. I have just got to be strong and Zimbabwe in the club. day, we got an e-mail stating and the time will come when Wimbledon cancelled for first time since WWII “The situation is such that that over the next few days, we will be home. Now, every mi- hardly anyone talks about foot- there will be flights out. We nute feels like an hour and days AFP @ London the momentous decision. and extensive consideration of pected, with the world strug- ball anymore,” said David, who have to sit tight and wait. I am are like weeks,” said Kallum. Wimbledon was due to run all scenarios, we believe that it gling to contain the spread of is from Scotland. He is in Sri- checking my e-mail every two However, these players had WIMBLEDON organisers on for two weeks from June 29, is a measure of this global cri- COVID-19, which has infected nagar with his wife Kym and minutes to see if there is any an experience of a different Wednesday scrapped the old- with Novak Djokovic and Si- sis that it is ultimately the more than 840,000 people son Mason (son). The latter update. Everyone wants to go kind recently. The valley was in est Grand Slam tennis tourna- mona Halep set to defend their right decision to cancel this worldwide and killed over plays for the club. Alongside back home as quickly as possi- a state of lockdown after the sc- ment for the first time since singles titles. year’s Championships.” 40,000. It also prompted the them, the players and support ble. We might be able to rapping of Article 370. The club World War II as the coronavi- But tournament chiefs Halep tweeted her disap- ATP and WTA to cancel the staff are staying in a hotel get back home soon. used the facilities of the ISL rus wreaks further havoc on bowed to the inevitable on pointment. “So sad to hear @ grasscourt swing in the build- owned by the club owner. No The Africans (in the clubs to prepare for the 19-20 I- the global sporting calendar. Wednesday, saying in a state- Wimbledon won’t take place up to Wimbledon, meaning the one is allowed to move in and squad) may take a League season. But when th ey The cancellation of the only ment that they had made the this year,” she said. tennis season will not now re- out of the hotel. Most of longer time,” David eventually got back to Srinagar, grasscourt major at the All decision with “great regret”. “Last year’s final will forev- commence until July 13 at the these players while told this daily. it was tough for them to stay in England Club leaves the sea- All England Club chairman er be one of the happiest days earliest. their time away The situation touch with the outside world. son in disarray, with no tennis Ian Hewitt said the decision of my life! But we are going The US Tennis Association watching movies is no different Though the situation is bet- due to be played until had not been taken lightly. through something bigger responded by saying the US on television and for English ter, video calls cannot be made mid-July. “It has weighed heavily on than tennis and Wimbledon Open was still due to take playing Playsta- winger, Kal- on slow internet speed with 2G “Devastated,” tweeted eight- our minds that the staging of will be back! And it means I place as planned, from August tion. It is a diffi- lum Higgin- resuming in January. There is time champion Roger Federer, The Championships has only have even longer to look for- 31 to September 13. “At this cult time for botham, who no 4G, hence the players have while Serena Williams, who been interrupted previously ward to defending my title.” time the USTA still plans to all, especially is desperate not been able to see their faces has won the tournament seven by world wars,” he said. The decision to cancel the host the US Open as sched- David, who is to meet his of the loved ones via video. times, said she was shocked by “But, following thorough tournament was widely ex- uled,” it said in a statement. David Robertson Elon Musk has announced that he and his companies Adults who work long hours are more likely to have have access to additional FDA-approved ventilators underactive thyroid, according to a study, published in the that can be shipped free of cost to hospitals within Journal of the Endocrine Society, which may lead to better regions where the electric car maker delivers. lifestyle and clinical recommendations for hyperthyroidism.

CHENNAI THURSDAY 12 02 l04l2020 newindianexpress com

BIG SECRET Fujifilm starts Atmospheric escape Scientists believe But they can also create Voyager 2’s 1986 flyby revealed Three decades after is driven by a magnetic fields protect opportunities for escape, how magnetically weird the 60° Voyager 2 passed through planet’s magnetic a planet, fending off like the giant globs cut planet is. Unlike any other Its magnetic field axis points 60° away from that spin anti-flu drug’s Uranus, scientists sifting field, which can the atmosphere- loose from Saturn and planets, Uranus spins almost axis, so as the planet spins, its magnetosphere — the

through the large dataset of both help and stripping blasts of the Jupiter when magnetic URANUS perfectly on its side — completing space carved out by its magnetic field — wobbles like a MYSTERY OF MYSTERY clinical trial found new information IMPORTANCE hinder the process solar wind field lines become tangled a barrel roll once every 17 hours poorly-thrown football Voyager 2 flew through a PROMISING CURE plasmoid, a giant NEW INFO magnetic bubble that may TOKYO: Japan’s Fujifilm has have been whisking Researchers from NASA’s Goddard Space begun clinical trials to test the Uranus’s atmosphere 1977 Flight Center downloaded Voyager 2’s effectiveness of its anti-flu out to space Voyager 2 was magnetometer readings, which monitored the drug Avigan in treating pa- launched by strength and direction of the magnetic fields The study, published in tients with the new coronavi- FILE NASA in 1977, near Uranus as the spacecraft flew by Geophysical Research Letters, rus, after reports of promising to study the raises new questions about They looked at the measurements every two results in China. outer the planet’s one-of-a-kind seconds, and details showed what scientists Trials in China have suggest- planets. It magnetic environment Voyager 2’s hidden had previously missed: an abrupt zigzag in the ed Avigan could play a role in was magnetic field readings that lasted just one shortening the recovery time launched 16 data reveals new info minute of the spacecraft’s 45-hour journey for patients infected with ATMOSPHERE LEAKAGE days before past Uranus coronavirus. Mars used to its twin Planetary Thirty four years ago, NASA’s ambitious “The trial will be conducted be a wet spacecraft, Scientists behind the new research believe the atmospheres all Voyager 2 became the only spacecraft to fly on 100 patients until the end of planet with a Voyager 1 zigzag could be a plasmoid, a type of structure over the solar near Uranus and Neptune. The spacecraft June,” a company spokesman thick revealed Uranus’ two new rings and 11 new that wasn’t understood particularly well at told AFP on Wednesday. “We system are atmosphere. moons. The data that was captured are still the time of the flyby will collect data, analyse them leaking into space. It evolved revealing new information about the planet. and file for approval after that,” WHAT IS PLASMOID he added. Hydrogen over time — 4 We take a look The drug will be adminis- springs from Venus to join the billion years solar wind (the continuous of leakage to Plasmoids are giant bubbles of plasma, or tered for a maximum of 14 days electrified gas, pinch off from the end of a to coronavirus patients be- stream of particles escaping space — to the Sun) planet’s magnetotail — the part of its tween 20 and 74 years old with become the magnetic field blown back by the Sun like a mild pneumonia, the spokes- Jupiter and Saturn also eject dry planet we windsock man said. The study excludes globs of their electrically- see today pregnant women due to side ef- charged air With enough time, escaping plasmoids can fects shown in animal testing. Gina DiBraccio, drain the ions from a planet’s atmosphere, Two trials in China found the Earth’s atmosphere also leaks, space physicist at fundamentally changing its composition. drug shortened recovery time but the effects are tiny on NASA’s Goddard They had been observed at Earth and other for patients, but Fujifilm was human timescales Space Flight Center : NASA RCE planets, but no one had detected plasmoids OU

not involved in those studies. S at Uranus Coming, app that alerts close contacts of Covid-19 carriers FACT OF THE MATTER

TRACKING TOOL measures in place in the coun- behind the project. The Oxford University team cord people’s GPS data as they Pangolin AI classifies try to help control the spread of “The instant mobile app con- has provided UK and European move about their daily lives. LONDON: The UK’s govern- Covid-19. cept is very simple. If you are governments with evidence to This would be supplemented by scales seized skin cancer ment-funded National Health “Our analysis suggests that diagnosed with coronavirus, support the feasibility of devel- users scanning quick response Service (NHS) is looking into almost half of coronavirus the people you’ve recently oping a contact tracing mobile or QR codes posted to public the feasibility of deploying a transmissions occur in come into contact with app that is instant, could be amenities in places where a mobile phone application that the very early phase of will be messaged advis- widely deployed, and should be GPS signal is inadequate, as could be used as a contact-trac- infection, before symp- ing them to isolate. If implemented with appropriate well as Bluetooth signals. ing tool, which alerts users to toms appear, so we need this mobile app is de- ethical considerations. “If we can securely deploy their exposure to coronavirus a fast and effective mo- veloped and deployed It recommends that the mo- this technology, the more peo- carriers. bile app for alerting peo- rapidly, and enough peo- bile application should form ple that opt-in, the faster the The app is being developed ple who have been ex- ple opt-in to use such an part of an integrated coronavi- epidemic will stop, and the by NHSX, the health service’s posed,” said Professor approach, we can slow the rus control strategy that identi- more lives can be saved,” said digital wing, alongside academ- Christophe Fraser from Oxford spread of coronavirus and mit- fies infected people and their Dr David Bonsall, researcher at BIG CATCH DIAGNOSTIC AID ics and industry partners as University’s Big Data Institute, igate against devastating hu- recent person-to-person con- the Nuffield Department of one of the means to help ease Nuffield Department of Medi- man, economic and social im- tacts using digital technology. Medicine and clinician at Ox- alaysian authorities esearchers have devel- the current strict lockdown cine, among the researchers pacts,” he said. The proposed app would re- ford’s John Radcliffe Hospital. Mseized about six Roped an AI system that tonnes of pangolin scales can accurately classify skin and smashed a smuggling disorders, predict malig- syndicate, officials said on nancy, and suggest primary Wednesday, as the country treatment options, an ad- clamps down on rampant vance that may be integrat- wildlife trafficking. The ed with smartphones to act HUBBLE HELPS SPOT pangolin, the world’s most as a diagnostic aid for clini- heavily trafficked mammal, cians. The study, published is believed to have possibly in the Journal of Integra- been a vector in the leap of tive Dermatology, noted that MID-SIZED BLACK HOLE the novel coronavirus from the diagnostic accuracy of animal to human at a mar- dermatologists as well as NASA’s telescope confirms existence; it weighs about 50,000 times ket in China’s Wuhan city. the general public can be the mass of our Sun and is smaller than supermassive black holes Its body parts fetch a high significantly improved by price on the black market using this system. The re- as they are commonly used searchers found that their MISSING LINK Researchers attributed it to a in traditional Chinese med- algorithm could diagnose star being torn apart after com- icine, although scientists 134 skin disorders, and sug- WASHINGTON: Astronomers ing too close to a gravitational- say they have no therapeu- gest primary treatment op- have found the best evidence ly powerful compact object, like tic value. Officials said they tions, render multi-class for a black hole of an elusive a black hole. The X-ray source, had detained two people classification among disor- class known as “intermediate- named 3XMM J215022.4-055108, and the operation had put a ders, and enhance the per- mass,” which betrayed its exist- was not located in a galaxy’s smuggling syndicate out of formance of medical profes- ence by tearing apart a way- centre, where massive black operation. sionals through AI. ward star that passed too close. holes normally would reside. Weighing in at about 50,000 This raised hopes that an times the mass of our Sun, the IMBH was the culprit, the re- black hole is smaller than the A star being torn apart by an IMBH | ESA searchers said. iPhone 9 may come on April 5 supermassive black holes that However, another possible lie at the cores of large galax- and so it is critical to carefully source of the X-ray flare had to TIP OFF ies, but larger than stellar-mass consider and rule out alterna- be ruled out: a neutron star in black holes formed by the col- tive explanations for each can- our own Milky Way galaxy, he Cupertino-based tech giant Apple may launch iPhone lapse of a massive star, the re- didate. That is what Hubble has cooling off after being heated T9 or iPhone SE 2 on April 5 as the image of its protective searchers said. allowed us to do for our candi- to a very high temperature, case has appeared at online retailer Best Buy in the US. Ap- These so-called intermedi- date,” said Dacheng Lin of the they said. ple is yet to officially reveal the launch date of the handset. ate-mass black holes (IMBHs) University of New Hampshire, Deep, high-resolution imag- An image shared by a Best are a long-sought “missing principal investigator of the ing provides strong evidence Buy employee shows an Ur- link” in black hole evolution, study. Lin and his team used that the X-rays emanated not ban Armor Gear case for the according to the results are Hubble Space Telescope to fol- from an isolated source in our new 4.7-inch 2020 iPhone. published in The Astrophysical low up on leads from NASA’s galaxy, but instead in a distant, However, there is no name Journal Letters. Chandra X-ray Observatory dense star cluster on the out- on the case box and these Though there have been a and the European Space Agen- skirts of another galaxy — just cases, among others, are be- few other IMBH candidates, re- cy’s X-ray Multi-Mirror Mis- the type of place astronomers ing sent to retailers, Mac Ru- searchers consider these new sion (XMM-Newton). expected to find an IMBH. mors reported. Additionally, observations the strongest evi- In 2006 these satellites detect- IMBHs have been particular- Best Buy employees have dence yet for mid-sized black ed a powerful flare of X-rays, ly difficult to find because they KEEPING THEM WARM been instructed not to showcase these cases until April 5, holes in the universe. but they could not determine are smaller and less active than An aerial image taken by a drone shows anti-frost candles burning between which indicates that the company could indeed launch the “Intermediate-mass black whether it originated from in- supermassive black holes, the apricot trees in an orchard near Balatonvilagos, Hungary on Tuesday. Candles budget iPhone later this week. holes are very elusive objects, side or outside of our galaxy. researchers said. are used to prevent the trees from being destroyed by the frost | AP

ECONOMIC DISTRESS Coronavirus robs Americans of jobs, many not able to pay their house rent

BILLING TIME have seen their lives turned up- The couple also applied for could need temporary help to were forced to close their doors. bers of layoffs and furloughs, side down by the crisis. deferred and reduced payments pay their monthly housing bill, Tammy Devitoe was laid off mortgage companies are brac- NEW YORK: The coronavirus The decisions they make on for their student loans. which would total about $12 bil- March 12 from her restaurant ing for a wave of missed pay- pandemic took Brittany which bills to pay will provide “We plan to pay our power lion per-month. in Albany, New York, and the ments on April 1. Evictions Brook’s job on March 16, two a clearer picture of the eco- bill and anything necessary The federal government’s un- $250 to $300 of weekly unem- have been temporarily sus- days after it took her husband nomic damage done by Cov- that we can afford, but we will precedented $2.2 trillion aid ployment benefits she expects pended in some areas and there Matthew Whitfield’s, leaving id-19 in a country lacking a uni- not be paying rent, as that package will help ease the eco- to receive will not be nearly are growing calls on social me- the New York couple scram- versal social safety net and would deplete our savings and nomic pain, but the $1,200 enough to pay for her tele- dia for a rent freeze in April. bling as end-of-the-month bills where many workers have little emergency funds within just a checks promised to every phone, electricity, cable, rent Devitoe said her landlord come due. savings to fall back on. few months,” says Brittany, American — and $500 for each and car loan. cannot help because they have On April 1, Brook, who until “We have, for the first time in who lives with Matthew, 33, in child — will not arrive until the She swallowed her pride and bills to pay as well. recently taught music at a pre- our marriage, declined to pay a one-bedroom apartment in second half of April. asked for donations through Cynthia Ryan, who lives in school school, and Whitfield, a our credit card balances, but New York which they rent for In the meantime, a record 3.3 GoFundMe, the online fund- Dallas, said she was told “full now-former waiter and actor, only paid the minimum ... and $1,690 a month. million Americans filed for un- raising platform, where she rent is due regardless of the have to pay the rent and other called to ask for interest for- According to Amherst, a real employment during the week had managed to raise $2,240 by situation right now,” as the bills, as do millions of Ameri- giveness,” 31-year-old Brittany estate analytics and investment A woman hands out free grab-and-go ended March 21, as thousands the morning of March 31. management said they have cans of all social classes who told AFP. firm, 26 per cent of US renters meals for children in Waukee, Iowa | AP of small and large businesses Faced with the massive num- lenders too. READSHAREFOLLOW newindianexpress.com Mail us: [email protected]

02l 04l 2020 THURSDAY

DAY’S DIARY MAKING A MARK PLOT NASA’S TRIBUTE Interview with the Film release The film is especially known for its After discovering a mysterious In honour of the book and movie, 2001: A Space Odyssey, an American groundbreaking special effects and artifact buried beneath the Lunar NASA named a Mars orbiter as makers of ‘Kadar’ science-fiction film, premiered on this day in unconventional narrative. The film was surface, mankind sets off on a 2001 Mars Odyssey. The Apollo 1968 at Washington DC. It set the benchmark directed by Stanley Kubrick & co-written quest to find its origins with help 13’s command module’s call for all subsequent movies in the genre by Kubrick and novelist Arthur C Clarke from supercomputer H.A.L. 9000 sign was also called Odyssey PG 3

SIGHTS OF SILENCE Midway through its first lockdown, the city and its people are slowly getting accustomed to the new norm put in place to combat the pandemic. As once-busy roads remain deserted, cops sport masks, people line up to buy essentials and the smell of disinfectant accompanies you wherever you go, there is no dearth of surreality.

Photos by: Martin Louis, P Jawahar, D Sampathkumar, R Satish Babu

OFF THE FIELD JANANI IYER, ACTOR GV PRAKASH KUMAR, MUSIC WWE NXT BEST OF SERIES A 2019-20 y birthday was on March 31. While I DIRECTOR-ACTOR Live and exclusive only on SONY TEN 1 & Round 21 Napoli vs Juventus SONY TEN 1 & usually celebrate with friends by cut- ’ve been spending the quaran- SONY TEN 1 HD, SONY TEN 3 & SONY TEN SONY TEN 1 HD When: 7.30 pm, today Coping 3 HD (Hindi) When: 5.30 am, today M ting a cake at midnight, this time, due tine time rejuvenating myself. I to the lockdown and social distancing, I have a gym at the basement of NAIL BITING FINISHES none of this was possible. Instead, my my house and this has helped me Engagement is the cornerstone of NAIL BITING FINISHES England vs South Africa 2017- 2nd T20I mom made gulab jamuns at home, and I continue my workout schedule The New Indian Express. We believe South Africa vs India 2018- 3rd T20I SONY SONY SIX & SONY SIX HD cut it with my family, which, I guess, made without a break. As I have already in putting you,the reader, first in SIX & SONY SIX HD When: 9.00 am, today When: 9.00 am, April 3 my birthday very memorable. with the finished composing for all my reporting news that matters to Many compare life in Bigg Boss with the films that are close to a release, you. And we also want to hear from UEFA CHAMPIONS BEST OF UEFA current lockdown. Having been at the Bigg I don’t have the trouble of any you about your problems — erratic LEAGUE FINALS CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Boss house during season 2, I can say it’s impending deadlines now. I power supply, water shortage, very different. More things happen in the will resume any other work Final 2019, SONY TEN 2 & SONY PSG vs Real Madrid SONY TEN 2 & SONY Corona clogged drains, or broken roads. We TEN 2 HD When: 10.00 am, today TEN 2 HD When: 10.00 am, April 3 Bigg Boss house; I find lockdown at home only after the lockdown. I am will raise these issues. Let us join to be very boring. ● Cinema Express using this free period to read I’m looking forward to the release of my a lot and watch films that hands in creating a city that sets a MARCH OF THE BEST OF UEFA next film, Vezham, with Ashok Selvan, have always been on my benchmark for others to follow. CHAMPIONS- SOFIA KENIN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE once the lockdown ends. Meanwhile, I t is often said that sport is wishlist. I have caught some WRITE TO US SONY TEN 1 & SONY TEN 1 HD, SONY TEN 2 PSG vs Real Madrid SONY TEN 2 & SONY have also been working out and selecting a great unifier, but in re- really good films on OTT like & SONY TEN 2 HD When:7.00 pm, today TEN 2 HD When: 10.00 am, April 3 clothes for my online store, Hazel Avenue, cent times, we have found Badhaai Ho, Kumbalangi [email protected] to keep myself engaged. I that something else, in Nights and Virus. What began as fun utter contrast to the hope workouts to keep and joy sport fills lives boredom away with—a pandemic—has a have now become similar unifying effect. Peo- more intense. My ple across the world, borders PRASANNA, ACTOR sister also gives and language differences be always love to spend time with my me company. damned, are talking family. Sneha and I watch a lot of about the same topics: Quar- Ishows together. We are binging on a antine, isolation, privilege, lot including films that we have gratitude, awareness, missed out on. We just finished Spe- healing… cial Ops, and earlier, we were Almost all of us are con- watching She. Also, since I fined to our homes, not have a gym at home, I work knowing how long this lock- out twice a day. I was follow- down will go on for. The ing this routine even before stars of the film industry the lockdown but I agree that have it no different either. having a target for this pe- All the film industries have riod helps as it keeps one come to a standstill. Shoot- focused during this stress- ings have been stalled, re- ful time. We are also plan- leases delayed, opportuni- ning to cook. I am also glad ties have been slipping away, that I am able to spend with some resigning to more time with my pets. catching up on long-pending I had plans to start a pro- rest. duction house earlier but We catch up with a few to now, I don’t know how the know how they are coping economy will be, after the with the lockdown. pandemic ends. Continued on Page 4 READ newindianexpress.com SHARE THURSDAY Mail us: [email protected] www.newindianexpress.com FOLLOW 02l 04l 2020 2

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SHRIMAN SHRIMATI BYOMKESH BAKSHI Keshav Kulkarni is married to Kokila. Their neighbours are The character, Byomkesh Bakshi, initially appeared in the a popular film actress Prema Shalini and her effeminate 1931 story Satyanweshi. It gained pan-India popularity husband Dilruba. Both the men make use of every almost six decades later with a TV series on Doordarshan CLASSIC opportunity to flirt with each others’ wives. with Rajit Kapur portraying Byomkesh. l Cast: Jatin Kanakia, Reema Lagoo, Rakesh Bedi, l Cast: Rajit Kapur and KK Raina Archana Puran Singh l Watch on: DD National l Watch on: DD National

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READ newindianexpress.com SHARE THURSDAY Mail us: [email protected] FEATURES FOLLOW 02l 04l 2020 3 THAT NIGHT, IN THE JUNGLE Kadar, a six-minute short film by The Papyrus Itineraries and Faraway The return to Golden Age Originals, traces the lives of ● Pravin Shanmughanandam the native tribal people consti- tute a key aspect of nature and tribesmen in the wildlife tours organised by The Anamalai Hills tand still. Become aware. Papyrus Itineraries across the Stop and listen more various ranges and habitats of deeply when you are lost. the Anamalai Hills. S Here, everything means Over the years, the indige- something. The rustle of the nous people of Anamalai Hills ● Roshne Balasubramanian leaf, the call of a bird, the break have thrived in remote forest of a branch — they all speak to areas, adapting sustainable The Kadars you. The forest — she’s power- ways and solutions to survive t is 2 am. The darkness of the ful, yet a kind stranger. She in the rainforests without de- night swallows all light, sight don’t fear breathes. Listen.” In the remote stroying the delicate balance and sound; a rustle outside the the wild, they rainforests of Anamalai, ac- that maintains the ecosystem. house wakes Loganathan, and probably fear companied by its native inhab- In conditions that are still in the flickering flame of his them enough itants, the Kadar tribesmen, I primitive and sometimes even torchlight, the Kadar tribesman to respect gained this profound wisdom harsh, the Kadars live in close Isees him — a Komban (a lone male as I walked alongside them and harmony with nature. They tusker elephant), breaking down his them but not saw the forest in a way I have possess unique knowledge door. Under a moonless night, with to harbour never before. Through their about these jungles and the nothing but shadows and the malice or eyes, it made more sense. way of animals that live here, wilderness for company, Loganathan As a naturalist and tour lead- most of which are not given treads the path his ancestors have rage. er, my favourite part of the space, in today’s popular taken from time immemorial — of —Pankaj Singh, rainforest expedition with The culture. member of taking an alternate route when man- Faraway Papyrus Itineraries (a travel After around four years of animal boundaries unintentionally Originals company based out of Pollachi) exploring the dense, bio-di- cross and chaos comes calling. (L-R) Members of Faraway Originals Naveed Mulki, Pankaj Singh, Rishabh Malhotra, Shaktiraj Jadeja is sitting down with the elders verse rich rainforests with Kadar — a gripping narrative of of the Kadar family, sipping on them, I realised that Kadars the conventional wisdom, way of life black tea, listen- have not just sur- of the Kadar tribesmen (the people of ing to stories and vived in these jun- the forest) and their importance in engaging in con- gles, but have the long-term conservation efforts in versations to the thrived. Living the Anamalai Hills, was released sound of the In conditions that among the wild- recently on YouTube and Instagram . crackling fire that are still primitive life, large and Capturing experiences lingers late into and sometimes small, walking the night. Stories even harsh, the through the leech- The six-minute short film, conceived not just of their infested forest by naturalist and wildlife travel op- close encounters Kadars live in floor, braving erator Pravin Shanmuganandham of and brushes with close harmony heavy monsoon The Papyrus Itineraries, took shape elephants, sloth with nature. They downpour for as a result of his inimitable experi- bears and tigers, more than half of ences during his interactions with but also folklore possess unique the year, they pay the tribesmen in the last four years. passed down from knowledge about more attention “Four years ago, I was looking for a their ancestors. these jungles. and continue to trail in the rainforests and found a Stored in their gain wisdom 175-acre coffee estate which the own- memories, is an enormous about the place they live in, for ers had procured and given over tore- treasure trove of wisdom and daily survival. search and conservation . They want- these conversations around the It pained me to think, how ed the native biodiversity to grow flickering fire helped me glean the outside world had consid- back. The owners were okay with insights about their traditional ered such knowledge primitive having trails curated on their land beliefs — that the souls of their and dismissed it, given to sci- but were specific that there was ca- jungle lores,” shares Pravin. Originals made their way to Ana- men of the Anamalai Hills, whom we ancestors reside in the forests, ence and technology. I strongly pacity control. They also wanted a During one such trek, Pravin no- malai Hills. “There was no big crew rely upon to navigate through the the need to coexist peacefully, believe, especially in these financial model to be set in place for ticed that Loganathan had fitted a or lights. We had to trek uphill to un- thick dense jungles, rainforests while familiarising the place they times, honouring and respect- the two Kadar families who were tak- new door to his home. One question derstand the landscape and spend exploring the remote forests, in live in by walking through the ing their conventional wisdom ing care of the estate. This is when I led to another and Pravin recalls how time with Loganathan and his family search of wildlife spectacles and nat- expanse; acceptance of na- and traditional beliefs could be met Loganathan,” shares Pravin. he was surprised by Loganathan’s for them to warm up to the idea of us ural wonders. ture’s authority and their deep the very way of returning to A shy and introverted Loganathan nonchalant response. “He said, ‘One making a film about them. Pankaj “We hope the film will not only res- respect to all life forms. the ‘golden age’ when humani- soon became a part of The Papyrus night, an elephant broke the door. So wrote the script from Loganathan’s onate with nature enthusiasts but When we go into a forest, ty lived in perfect harmony Itineraries’ tours and accompanied we had to change it.’ His narrative got perspective. We tried to recreate the drop a simple message in the hearts there is no designated route with the rest of nature. the travel group into the forest, help- me thinking about how these tribes- incident with certain visual ele- of any viewer too, a plain yet signifi- and we are bound to get lost. (The writer is editor, content ing them understand the jungle and men avoid man-animal conflicts and ments,” he says. cant message from the elders of the These tribesmen know the for- strategist and managing look beyond mediocre forest safaris. co-exist peacefully,” shares Pravin. Hiking, trekking, slipping and slid- jungle in the remote areas of Ana- est like the back of their hand partner of The Pollachi “We wanted the natives to lead the ing the unused terrains of Anamalai malai Hills about how their tradition- — they know how to avoid con- Papyrus (https://thepapyrus. trek, giving not just nature enthusi- Creative process along with Loganathan during his al wisdom can help address the flict and find alternate routes if in/), an online travel portal asts but anyone who was interested a When Pravin came across Faraway outings to collect bamboo and tur- world’s wounds. After all, indigenous an animal is in their path. They where like-minded travel and peek into their life. Soon, we were cu- Originals, a Bengaluru-based produc- meric, Pankaj says, taught him to worldviews around the planet share a are aware of the behaviour of nature enthusiasts come rating around one trek per month — tion company that aims at bringing learn to co-exist. “The Kadars don’t common perspective: the world is the wildlife and the forest. They together, collaborate and we had to park the vehicle at a par- unheard stories of unheard people fear the wild, they probably fear them alive and meaningful and our rela- have a heightened sense of in- contribute towards document- ticular point and walk from there. from all corners of India, he knew enough to respect them but not to har- tionship with the rest of life is one of terpreting the jungle. A wildlife ing, creatively capturing and Everything from sugar, oil to salt had that Loganathan’s story had to be bour malice or rage,” he says. participation, communion and co- tour isn’t just about going into effectively conserving the to be carried. At nights, we used to sit shared with the world through their Kadar, Pravin says, is a result of the creation,” he shares. For details, visit the jungle, it is also about weav- bio-cultural diversity, around a campfire, sip on black tea lens. Pankaj Singh, Shaktiraj Jadeja very urge to highlight the convention- Instagram page pollachipapyrus or ing a narrative. of Pollachi and the and listen to Loganathan narrate along with Naveed Mulki of Faraway al wisdom of these indigenous tribes- farawayoriginals That’s why, we ensure, that Anamalai Hills.)

MOTHERSHIP INDIAN BANK’S MOBILE ATM Because grandmoms knew it all Padmaja Chunduru, MD & CEO of Indian Bank, launched Mobile ATM service at TN Secretariat in the his past week my thoughts things on multiple apps with- presence of S Krishnan, finance have repeatedly turned to MENAKA out really thinking ‘Do I need secretary to the Governement of my maternal grandmoth- RAMAN this?’ The non-stop snacking Tamil Nadu. To serve the people, T er. My most prominent between meals. How easy it is who are at risk of travelling for memories of her feature the @menakaraman to quash the pang of guilt and withdrawal of cash, Indian Bank soft Sungudi saris she wore tell my child, ‘Fine, don’t eat it has taken an initiative to deploy with loose white blouses. Her The writer’s philosophy is: if there’s if you don’t want to.’ And allow besari. The soft veined skin on no blood, don’t call me what is not finished to go into its Mobile ATM. The van carrying her hands that my sister and I the green bin. I think of how an ATM will go around the city and would gently pinch, watching for my mother when she re- we have just taken the food in remain in each area for a specific in fascination as the moulded turned home from school — our lives and the people who period. This will help people to ridge of skin gradually settled soaked poha and jaggery one help put it there for granted. draw money near their houses. down again. day, a fistful of dalia another. This past week, I have been But those are not the things I How each person would eat forced to take a leaf out of my think of this week. I think of well at lunch as there was noth- grandmother’s book. I have put ONE DAY AT A TIME her frugality. A frugality that ing on offer till dinner. thought into meal planning. was not mean or stingy but one I think of these things again Poha and jaggery has supplant- born of the innate belief that and again as we are faced with ed Nutella. Nothing is tipped in iving in Milan, I have been one must only use what one dwindling supplies in the the green bin. in self-quarantine for a needs, not more. For so many supermarket and er- I look nothing like month now. From physi- of our grandparents, hoarding ratic or non-existent my maternal grand- L cally busy weeks and so- Planting positive vibes was anathema. One shelf each delivery services. mother nor have I in- cially active weekends, my in a Godrej bureau for clothes. And we are the herited any of her weekly routine has become made an effort to look at the family, and after dinner, I A kitchen pantry stocked per- lucky ones. traits (those all went more sedentary. bright side — at least from a spend an hour learning Ital- fectly for just the month. The I try to make the to my sister) but My first week in quarantine personal standpoint, and this ian with my friend. ability to use something com- supplies we have at when called upon, I was stressful when I received positive shift has helped me in On weekends, I have pletely and entirely before dis- home last for another like to think that I can nerve-racking messages about battling uncertainty. cooking lessons with my carding it. My mother tells me week or two. Try to be like her in this COVID-19 almost every day. I Having said that, March has landlord, and that’s my of how my grandmother would find tasty things to cook respect. was mentally tired of having been a great time for self-re- absolute favourite since make one matchstick last the with just a few ingredients. Try I need to remember to hold to go through the same conver- flection. So far, in this quaran- a great meal follows it. entire day, from the morning, to explain to my children that on to this feeling, this desire to sation repeatedly — on most tine period, work has been my Things in Milan are not when she lit the lamp in the when those bananas are over economise, to be mindful, to be days, I felt low, and spent my favourite distraction from re- the same, but I’ve never prayer room all the way till the we might not have another doz- more like my grandmother. So evenings looking out the win- ality, and I fully engage in it to been more hopeful evening when she repeated this en on the counter soon, so go that when this is all over, when dow. As days passed, I learnt to lose track of time. Grocery about my future here. action, using it in-between to slow. And we are the lucky we return to stocked supermar- manage that feeling in a pru- shopping is an excuse to catch — Sai Vanjeeswari light the gas to boil milk and ones. ket shelves and express deliver- dent and productive way. up on my physical activity. I (Write to cityex- cook meals. I think of how I have gotten ies, I remember how lucky we Although one side of my have a little plant that I love to [email protected] and I remember hearing of the so used to excess. To abun- are, and to not take that luck head continually piles up with water every day. The evenings tell us how you are simple snacks she would make dance. The mindless order of for granted. questions, I’ve consciously are for conversations with my spending this quarantine) www.cinemaexpress.com www.cinemaexpress.com SHARE ail us chennaicinemadeskgmail.com THURSDAY acebook facebook.compressCinema 02 04 2020 ATEE Twitter pressCinema 4

Ajn hiaaa, aor “I’m learning to play differ- Polakatum Para Para ent songs on the guitar, and trying to upload cover vide- oing wit te orona os. I am also using this time to learn how to play the key- board. Watching a movie a track from (...ontinued from page ) day with my parents has also become a regular habit. This lockdown has given me Baah Nakanan, ireor the time to binge-watch Master released “Usually, with kids in school and wife at work, I binge watch series as I am mostly home alone. oney Heist and I’m trying But considering they are all home now, there’s no way to do that now (laughs). I spend time my hand at a couple of on- olaktum Para Para, the rewriting my drafts, bouncing my script with friends online... What’s new now is an Instagram line games too like ynga supposed intro song of Vi- session I am doing, as part of which I do conference video calls with film person- Poker. I tried P, but jay Sethupathi in aster, Sakhi Agaa, aor alities and go live to clarify doubts on filmmaking. found it to be too difficult. I got fans of the actor cheer- “I am not stepping out of my Just before the lockdown, I posted a picture of me scripting in social media also try and make sure I ing during the audio launch of house at all. I am trying my and someone I knew asked me what software I was using for writing. Another spread aware- the Vijay-starrer. The makers best to do creative things to associate director friend of mine also spoke with me for an hour on writing. ness about released the lyrical video of keep myself busy. I have That’s when I decided that an online session would be helpful. I figured it would the disease this song yesterday. started something called be better to bring in other directors to weigh in as well. I have brought in those and also, The visuals show a scar-faced 21DayChallenge on Insta- like Madhumita (), Ashwin Saravanan (ame ver), Ashwath Marimuthu through my Vijay Sethupathi having a gala gram, where I am sharing (h y adavule), anga (Auto Shankar), antumoote director oopa ao... social media time with his gang and the last pictures of various creative Aspiring filmmakers have thanked me for this initiative, and I feel like I accounts, few seconds of the video also things people are up to. I am have done something worthy. Considering it takes almost half a day to spread feature stills of Vijay. The lyr- trying to take the best of plan these videos, it makes me feel that I have spent the lockdown time positivi- ics and visuals suggest that Vi- whatever people are doing purposefully so far. ty.” jay and Sethupathi’s characters and sharing it with the rest might have a history with their of the world. This is just for paths diverging later in the the purpose of giving some Baaji Mhan, ireor Sn Kihan, or all-time favourite series En- film. positivity and hope for my “I have started writing these shorts called ‘micros’ regularly. I am reliving the life of the tourage. I also liked Netlifx’s Also starring Malavika Mo- fellow countrymen. These times can be scary, confusing and depressing to people, 9s and revisiting the times essiah and Amazon hanan, Andrea, Shanthanu, Ar- In addition, I am doing a and I just wanted to post something that could make people feel gone by. I am trying to learn Prime’s The oys. Besides jun Das, and a host of other ac- lot of workouts at home. I good or introspect. Isn’t it great to offer a few minutes of com- new things and better my- these activities, I am taking tors, the Lokesh am finally cleaning up my fort? This is just my way of offering a few minutes of company self at things I already know. story narrations on Face- Kanagaraj-directorial has mu- make-up kits, and organis- for anyone scrolling through their social media. I am improving the overall Time and looking forward to sic by Anirudh and cinematog- ing my wardrobe. I am It is also for myself, as I am consistently writing everyday. I health and hygiene by work- getting back to work. I think raphy by Sathyan Sooryan. learning a lot of cooking started writing these ‘micros’ only after the lockdown was an- ing out at home and under- I am doing a universal case from my mom. Also, I have nounced. It allows me to be continuously creative in these standing the benefits of eat- study during this lockdown started spending more time times, and motivates me to flex my writing muscle everyday. ing food with less oil, (laughs). in indoor gardening. I am This also gives me an opportunity to tap into a philosophical, following clean cook- I’m looking forward to the doing a lot of reading, and reflective portion of my thoughts that I don’t engage much ing methods and ex- release of my next film, deep thinking. I have also with, usually. ight now, everyone is in a space perimenting with Veham, with Ashok Sel- found the time to dive deep where they are willing to listen and open up. Our different cuisines as van, after the lockdown P G into Netflix. I personally feel reality is in question and that has led to much well. I am watching ends. Meanwhile, I have this is the perfect time for introspection. We are asking the big questions. It old classics of Telu- also been working out and healing and self-contempla- seemed like the best time to share such thoughts. gu cinema and doing selecting clothes for tion. Once you get busy with A lot of people have been forthcoming with an analysis on my online store, your daily lives, it’s difficult their art. This includes everyone from meme how the process Hazel Avenue, to to get such productive ‘me- creators who have made us laugh, to writ- of filmmaking keep myself en- time’. So, maybe, this is na- ers, musicians, and filmmakers. I believe has changed or gaged. What be- ctor amya Pandian, ture’s way of pressing the art and spirituality will be crucial in evolved over gan as fun best known for her role pause bottom, and making helping us get back to normal, or to the years. I like workouts to in aju Murugan’s Na- us go back to our creative even process the change, once all this is watching fun- keep boredom A tional Award-winning roots.” over.” filled stuff away have film oker, has revealed that and I am en- now become she has signed two new Ta- joying binge- more intense. mil films. In a recent Insta- Shia Piganka, aor Mah Bhanaka, ireor watching on- My sister also gram session, the actor an- “As the last few months were hectic for me “I begin my day with workouts: a mix of cardio, line. I gives me nounced that she will be part workwise, the first week of the lockdown weight training and yoga. I then do puja, spend re-watched my company.” of a film produced by Suri- was just about resting it out, spending time time with my family. I catch up with my friends ya’s 2D Entertainment, with my family and dog, reading and watch- on Facetime. I like to spend the day reading or and one bankrolled by ing things. I am a homebody at heart but I listening to my LP records. I have a collection Ahian Daani, aor CV Kumar’s Thiruku- don’t want lethargy to kick in. So I’ve been of some 2 records, as well as countless “I wake up around -. every morning. I try to have at least maran Entertain- doing different workouts and allowing my- DVDs. I’ve been enjoying cleaning and sorting two meals with my family — mostly breakfast and lunch. I read ment. More details self to flow in this free time. I have been them out. I recently re-watched classic films scripts through the day or catch up on more sleep. In the eve- are expected to be watching a mixed bag of things. I watched like Sound of usic, odfather, Satte Pe Satta nings, I play board-games like Ludo, Taboo and Judgement announced by the both seasons of illing ve created by Phoe- and Shaan. In books, I read Arun Shourie’s A with my family. I’ve been watching a lot of shows: Tiger ing respective makers be Waller Bridge, who I absolutely love. I’ve Secular Agenda and Vinod Mehta’s memoir, (on Netflix), Special ps (Hostar) and the last season of illions after the COVID-19 been watching a lot of animation: Stu- ucknow oy. I am a restless person by nature, (Hotstar). I’ll also recommend the Anime series, lockdown ends. dio Ghibli Films on Netflix and a so this lockdown has been an opportunity to y Hero Academia. Cooking is my first love as amya’s last Ta- lovely Japanese Series called id- pause and introspect. I was saddened to see well as a form of meditation. I’ve been trying a mil film was Aan night inner: Tokyo Stories. I the plight of migrant workers across In- lot of healthy recipes: I made mushroom ravi- evathai, which also caught up on some South dia. As filmmakers, we are all contribut- oli, gluten-free pizza, gluten-free pasta and lots was helmed by films on my list like Super e- ing to fight this unexpected crisis. The of eggs. I’ve been posting daily workouts on Thamira and fea- luxe and umbalangi ights. time has come for everyone to unite and Instagram that people can do at home. It’s tured Samuthira- I am currently reading ssays put humanity first.” always easy to follow a regime if someone kani as the male on ove by Alain de Botton gives you written instructions every lead. The actor be- and the screenwriting book day. A woman messaged me saying that came a social media Save The at (by Blake her husband, who hadn’t exercised for sensation after one of Snyder). a year, was inspired by my series to her photoshoots on a I have also been work out.” terrace went viral on doing an online multiple platforms. screenwriting Maani ag, or Incidentally, amya course which has was also recently a been interesting. Be- “I don’t wake up with the alarm anymore. I begin part of a television re- sides that, I’ve been my day by doing yoga and following my workout ality show called ook spending a lot of routine. I then meditate for 15 minutes. This is with omali. time with dad (vet- followed by cooking breakfast and doing chores. 2D Entertainment re- eran actor Sachin The latter takes up most of my time. In the eve- cently distributed Hali- Pilgaonkar). Not nings, I’ll sit by the window and read a book. tha Shameem’s Sillu many people know If not, I’ll have my dinner and watch Karupetti, which won but he is fluent in something. I’ve been catching one film much acclaim, and is Urdu and writes a lot everyday: I saw ontagion, The Plat- also bankrolling Suriya’s of Shayari, so we’ve form, Parasite. There’s also a lot of upcoming film, Soorarai been discussing a lot video-calling that’s happening with Pottru. of that which has been my parents. In all, I am surprising beautiful.” myself with my positivity.”

used at first for the table read- actually conveying more without ings, but slowly they are added words. The same can be said in. A mug here, a bag there. The about the film too. It somehow CIA biggest change, of course, is in conveys more though it eschews the performances. We see the ac- a lot of what makes up a tradi- tors slowly morph into the char- tional film. acters and it is a fascinating in- Another instance of this depar- CC sight into the process of acting. ture from the norm is the cinema- The way the scenes are revisit- tography. The camera often holds (Tomo Kasajima), who asked her ed also mirrors the way memo- still on one actor’s face, even ● Niha nanaandihan to babysit Honoka on a day when ries work. Fluid, ever-changing, when they are not the one speak- there was a typhoon in the area. details coming and going. So the ing. In a subsequent rendition of atsuka Kusano’s omains, Her motive is unclear. But in her whole movie can be seen as Aki the scene, we get only the face of currently streaming on confession, Aki mentions a letter perhaps remembering and trying the one speaking. Or sometimes, MUBI, is a film unlike any she has left for Nodoka, which to come to terms with what hap- it’s someone who is not even in I’ve seen before. Some might only the two of them will under- pened. This would explain the ad- the scene. When the camera pans, N TI I even argue that it is not a film at stand. After reading her state- Domains dition, as the film goes on, of lo- it is not smooth like it would be in all. Aside from the first 15 odd ment and getting her signature, cation shots minus the actors. It a finished movie. Often, it lands minutes, the 15-minute-long film the official asks her what she fortnightly column on what’s good in the is also hinted at by two oft-repeat- off to the side of an actor, on their is made up almost entirely of ta- meant in the letter by “the king- BIEEKL vast ocean of content in the streaming ed scenes that have characters back, in their hair, sometimes it ble readings and rehearsals of dom made with chairs and sheets BINE trying to reconstruct past events. goes out of focus, captures a re- the three main actors. ight at on the day of the typhoon.” Aki platforms around you The first of these is of Aki and flection of itself in a mirror. All the outset, we are introduced to says she cannot explain. When Nodoka talking about their castle of it reminding us that what we almost the full story in the form asked what happened on the day building — Aki helps her friend are watching is all made up, not of a confession of a terrible of the typhoon, she only says it hearsals, which expand upon the their home. remember how they became re- real. And yet, paradoxically, o- crime read back to the protago- was “just a very fulfilling day for sequence of events described in The scenes are not read in ally close after that day though mains remains consistently im- nist Aki Takemoto (Asami them” and goes on to sing a song. Aki’s statement at the start, we chronological order and there is Nodoka had other friends who mersive. Even without the usual Shibuya) by an official (Kenta Once the table readings begin, slowly piece together the story. a lot of repetition as the actors were closer before. The other fea- trappings of cinema, I found my- yu, the only other actor in the we find out that there was anoth- How Aki meets Nodoka, her hus- rehearse the scenes over and over tures Aki, Nodoka, and Naoto self fully invested in these char- film, aside from the aforemen- er day with a typhoon, 22 years band Naoto and daughter Honoka (seemingly on different days). having a conversation at the din- acters, in what was going on in tioned trio). Though this portion ago, when Aki and Nodoka built at their house. How Aki finds that But there are also subtle changes ner table and the two women to- their minds. ather than world- is filmed like a scene in a normal a bedsheet castle and used that what initially seemed like a com- in these repeated revisits. Some- gether recall a childhood visit to building of the physical sort, o- movie, it’s interesting to note that song as a password to their king- fortable home is, in fact, a stifling times in the lines themselves, the school Naoto now works at. mains constructs a psychological this scene too is essentially made dom or domain. Later rehearsals one for Nodoka because of Nao- which change slightly in each This second scene also talks world that is hard to resist. I find up of a reading. reveal that this day is believed by to’s need to maintain it and their readingrehearsal. Scenes are cut about the two women having myself still thinking about Aki Aki has confessed to murdering Aki to be a significant one in her family in a certain way. How Aki off partway in initial readings, their own way of communicating and Nodoka, and will continue to the three-year-old daughter of and Nodoka’s friendship. calls Naoto out for this and how but we are shown more and more without words. Naoto calls it a do so and remember this film for her longtime friend Nodoka Through these readings and re- he, in turn, banishes her from of these later. There are no props “coded circuit” and says they are a long time to come.