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ALAYA F GETS NOSTALGIC SHAH SLAMS MAMATA PROTESTS ROCK RUSSIA Actor Alaya F Sunday got emotional In a stinging attack on WB CM Mamata Banerjee, Thousands of people took to the streets in Russia talking about working on her debut Amit Shah alleged that she is working towards Sunday demanding the release of jailed Oppn leader Alexei Navalny film Jawaani Jaaneman LEISURE | P2 serving her nephew TWO STATES | P7 INTERNATIONAL | P10

VOLUME 10, ISSUE 300 | www.orissapost.com BHUBANESWAR | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1 | 2021 12 PAGES | `4.00 India may lose oilfield to Cairn

PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Under Vedanta, which continues to op- India is a signatory to the New York he govt may offer erate the field on monthly extensions Convention, the award can be enforced New Delhi, Jan 31: The government Tto hand over an till its legal challenge to government con- against Indian assets in numerous ju- may give Cairn Energy one of the sur- oilfield to Cairn in lieu ditions is settled, Rajasthan oilfields risdictions around the world for which rendered oil fields such as Ratna R- of the $1.4 billion it have seen steady decline in output. the necessary preparations have been Series in lieu of the $1.4 billion it has has to pay the “It’s a win-win - the government put in place,” according to the letter, Edinburg based pay to the British firm, helping prevent settles it liability without paying a referring to the 1959 Convention on the company to prevent seizure of foreign assets in case of de- seizure of its foreign single penny or upsetting investor Recognition and Enforcement of fault as well as get an experienced op- assets sentiments by not honouring the ar- Foreign Arbitral Awards. erator in struggling exploration & pro- bitration award through endless legal Cairn Energy has asked the Indian BUDGET 2021 duction (E&P) sector, sources said. airn Energy gave challenges and at the same time get- government for an early indication of Cairn Energy gave India its biggest CIndia its biggest ting back an established exploration implementing the arbitration award, onland oil discovery but exited the onland oil discovery and production (E&P) firm back,” an- well before the announcement of its full Healthcare to get country after it was slapped with but exited the country other source said. No major oil and gas year earnings March 9 for clarity of its `10,247-crore tax demand using a leg- after it was slapped discovery has been made in the past shareholders, according to the letter. ` islation that gave the government the with 10,247-crore tax seven years since the retrospective The tax authorities had in January demand ‘top priority’: Survey power to tax companies retrospec- tax demand was raised. In case the 2014 slapped with an initial assess- tively. The firm has now won an in- The govt’s options of appeal against the arbitration award are limited and it may not have government chooses not to honour ment of unpaid taxes of `10,247 crore ternational arbitration against the the financial bandwidth for such a payout the arbitration award, it risks the over a restructuring carried out in PRESS TRUST OF INDIA “The COVID-19 pandemic tax demand and the government has prospect of its assets in foreign coun- 2006 while preparing for an initial pub- tested the limits of the global been ordered to return the value of knowledge of the development said. cause contractual terms had changed.” tries being seized just like US oil firm lic offering of Cairn India. The tax New Delhi, Jan 31: India’s healthcare system. While shares of Cairn it had sold, dividends “One option is to give Cairn one or The Barmer oilfield in Rajasthan, ConocoPhillips did with Venezuela to authorities in 2015 seized Cairn Energy’s healthcare sector is likely the government's proactive it had seized and tax refund it had more of the oil and gas fields that the which was originally discovered by recoup muti-billion dollar of com- residual shareholding of about 10 per to get the maximum attention measures and the frontline withheld to recover the tax demand. government now owns after they are Cairn Energy, could be another option. pensation awarded in arbitration. cent of Cairn India, then valued at of the government in the workers' tireless efforts have For a government struggling to find surrendered by operators for various Vedanta Ltd, which now operates the field Earlier this month, Cairn Energy’s about $1 billion. The Edinburgh-based upcoming Budget to be un- helped tide the way, the pan- revenue to boost a COVID-19 battered reasons,” one of them said. “The gov- after it bought out Cairn’s Indian sub- chief executive officer Simon Thomson company filed a dispute under the UK- veiled Monday, as it comes in demic has also brought forth economy, options of appeal against the ernment could give the Ratna and R- sidiary a decade back, has so far not wrote to the Indian government that India Investment Treaty and sought in- the face of the country brav- the fragility of the health- arbitration award are limited and it Series oil and gas field in the Arabian agreed to the government conditions for the arbitration ruling is final and ternational arbitration that started ing a once-in-a-century global care system," the survey may not have the financial bandwidth Sea that were taken away from Essar getting an extension of contract be- binding, and failure to comply would later in 2015 for the losses over expro- pandemic, says a survey. stated. for such a payout, two sources with Oil-Premier Oil consortium in 2016 be- yond its original end day of May 2020. breach the international rules. “As priation of its investments in India. The Assocham-Primus On measures which can Partners survey covered strengthen the healthcare more than 550 industry par- and pharma sector, 67.3 per RD VARSITY ticipants, and 39.7 per cent cent respondents expect the IRREGULAR by MANJUL HARSH WINTER respondents said health- allocation of a fund to mod- GIRL’S DEATH care would receive the high- ernise existing primary est priority in terms of re- healthcare infrastructure. source allocation and policy This was followed by an Seized articles support in the Budget. expectation (by 62.9 per cent) Manufacturing emerged that the government should to be sent to as the second key sector ex- increase investments in cre- pected to be in focus, ating new primary health- forensic lab today with 14.7 per cent care infrastructure. respondents ex- With regard to aspira- POST NEWS NETWORK pecting it to receive tions of individual tax- the Finance payers, 79.3 per cent re- Rasulpur, Jan 31: Jajpur police, Minister's attention, spondents said they would investigating mysterious death of followed by like to see a cut in Jharaphula Nayak, have intensi- MSMEs (11.4 personal income Govt values journalists and gives them fied their probe raiding six places per cent), tax rates, espe- preferential treatment... You can check this in the last 24 hours. real estate cially in the by lodging an FIR against one of them SDPO Bijay Kumar Nayak has (10.7 per wake of pres- formed two squads, who have gath- cent) sure on ered vital clues after raiding the and in- their earn- SHORT TAKES places in Jajpur and Bhubaneswar. fras- ings in Various articles used by the ac- tructure the pan- cused and the deceased are being Boats anchored on the frozen Dal Lake in Srinagar, Sunday. The temperatures plummeted to minus 8.8°C, recording the coldest (9.6 per demic-hit Scribe arrested at examined. All the articles seized night after 30 years PTI PHOTO cent). economy. from various places will be sent to Singhu border the forensic laboratory Monday. While the post mortem report is yet New Delhi: A freelance to be made available, efforts are on journalist was arrested from At €555mn, Messi’s deal to nab the associate of the accused. Maoists desperate to regain the Singhu border Sunday for allegedly misbehaving with Police Saturday examined the the police personnel on duty video footage collected from the biggest in sports history at the farmers’ protest site CCTV cameras installed at the there, officials said. A case brick kiln and a plastic factory lost ground in state, say experts was registered against him near Mulapala Chowk at Kuakhia ASSOCIATED PRESS and he has been arrested now, along the National Highway-16. POST NEWS NETWORK ground in Odisha is reflected from a senior police officer said, a The investigating officials again Barcelona, Jan 31: Lionel Messi’s the decreasing number of their of- day after the scribe was examined the CCTV footage Sunday. most recent contract with Barcelona Bhubaneswar, Jan 31: The killing fensive. As per the data available detained. Police had earlier An eight-member team has been set is worth up to 555 million euros ($673 of two innocent villagers in with state police, as many as seven said that they placed up to investigate the case. million) over four seasons, the El Kandhamal by Left Wing Extremists civilians were killed by Maoists in barricades at the border A team of Jajpur police Saturday Mundo newspaper reported Sunday. (LEWs) late Friday night is an in- 2020, while only two security per- following the violence Friday carried out raid at the hotel in The Spanish daily said it had dication of the insurgents’ desper- sonnel were martyred during in to ensure that no one could Khandagiri area in Bhubaneswar access to the document Messi signed ation to gain their lost ground in the FILE PHOTO that period. get through. However, some where the deceased Jharaphula with the Catalan club in 2017, which The leak comes as Barcelona tries wake of losing the support of among The Maoist organisations are Similarly, the Maoists killed 10 people including the journalist and her accused boyfriend Rakesh included fixed incomes and vari- to manage a huge debt prompted the locals as well as the success of also failing miserably in finding civilians and one security person- were trying to remove the Kumar Swain stayed on the night ables that could reach nearly 138 mil- mostly because of the coronavirus the security forces in cutting of new recruits from among the trib- nel in 2019. In 2018, as many as 12 barricades, the police had of January 26. The couple stayed in lion euros ($167 million) each sea- pandemic. The club has been led their supplies. als. The official claimed that out of civilians were killed, while the alleged, adding the scribe also room no. 201 of Sibasai Guest House son. The newspaper said it is the by a caretaker board since presi- According to a top police offi- the total 328 Maoists cadres active number of civilian deaths due to misbehaved with the police personnel there. at Dharma Vihar on the said night. most expensive contract ever paid dent Josep Bartomeu resigned in cial, residents of many villages in in Odisha only 98 belong to the state. LEW insurgency was 17 in 2017. A forensic team accompanying to an athlete. October while facing a no-confi- the Maoist-infested areas have been Meanwhile, sources claimed that Twenty-three persons were killed the special squad of the Kuakhia po- Messi would have to pay about dence motion. New presidential openly supporting the implemen- one of the deceased, Hemanta Patra, by the ultras in 2016. According to Two held for minor lice examined the room and checked half of that amount in taxes in elections are scheduled for March 7. tation of various developmental reportedly arranged funds for the sources, around 362 civilians were the register of the guest house. The Spain. The report said the 33-year- The newspaper also detailed projects by the government in their Maoists under pressure and recently killed by LWEs between 2000 and girl’s gangrape police also collected the CCTV old player has already secured how Messi rewarded the club over areas. They are also offering secu- he had denied helping them further. 2020. On the other hand, as many footage of the guest house and one more than 510 million euros ($619 the years, having helped it win rity to the contractors engaged in Enraged, the Maoists killed Patra. as 224 security personnel and 308 Gopalpur: Police arrested two eatery in Bhubaneswar. million) of the total contract. more than 30 titles. these projects. That the Maoists are losing extremists died in the same period. persons in connection with the gangrape and attempt to murder a seven-year-old girl in Golanthara police limits of Ganjam, Sunday. The accused were identified as Rutu Navalny, Greta, Trump in race for Nobel Peace Prize Behera(30) and Hemant Behera(30) of Solra. The heinous crime was committed Other names are Belarusian activists Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Maria Kolesnikova and Veronika Tsepkalo for their “fight for a fair election and inspiration for peaceful resistance” in Sorala village under Golanthara police limits of REUTERS nominated the eventual laureate front and centre, including a nomi- with nominees including the US- Ganjam district, January 28. every year since 2014, with the ex- nation for the GAVI vaccine alliance. based Committee to Protect The duo has been booked Oslo, Jan 31: Russian dissident ception of 2019, said Henrik Urdal, Other names are Belarusian ac- Journalists; former Charlie Hebdo under various Sections of the Alexei Navalny, the World Health Director of the Peace Research tivists Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, journalist Zineb el Rhazoui; news IPC and Section 6 of the POCSO Organization and climate cam- Institute Oslo. “The pattern from re- Maria Kolesnikova and Veronika website Hong Kong Free Press, the Act. They were produced in paigner Greta Thunberg are among cent years is quite stunning.” Tsepkalo for their “fight for a fair US-based International Fact- court, which remanded them in those nominated for this year’s The Norwegian Nobel Committee, election and inspiration for peace- Checking Network and Paris-based judicial custody. Nobel Peace Prize, all backed by which decides who wins the award, ful resistance”, one nominator, Geir Reporters without Borders (RSF). Norwegian lawmakers who have a does not comment on nominations, Sigbjoern Toskedal, said. Other nominees include former track record of picking the winner. keeping secret for 50 years the Another, Jette Christensen, also US President Donald Trump, NATO

WEATHER Former US President Donald Trump names of nominators and unsuc- named the Hungarian Helsinki and the UN refugee agency y BHUB CTK is also among the nominees. cessful nominees. Committee, a human rights group, (UNHCR). Also on the list is

Thousands of people, from mem- But nominators can choose to re- and IUSTITIA, a group of Polish Aminatou Haidar, for her peaceful

k y m c MAX 28.0° 28.2° bers of Parliaments worldwide to veal their picks. According to a tries. Thunberg was named as one Navalny, nominated by Russian judges defending civil rights. campaigning towards an inde-

TEMP MIN 16.8° 14.5° former winners, are eligible to pro- Reuters survey of Norwegian law- of “the foremost spokespeople in academics, was named for his “ef- “My nomination this year is ... for pendent Western Sahara, the Forecast pose candidates. Nominations, makers, nominees include Thunberg, the fight against the climate cri- forts for a peaceful democratisa- the fight to preserve democracy as International Space Station Humidity 47% 58% Dry weather which close Sunday, do not imply an Navalny, the WHO and its COVAX sis”, with the campaigning group she tion of Russia” by Norwegian for- a form of government in Europe,” and the International Scout Rainfall Nil Nil likely endorsement from the Nobel com- programme to secure fair access to co-founded, Fridays for Future, also mer minister Ola Elvestuen. Christensen said. Freedom of in- Movement. The 2021 laureate will mittee. Norwegian lawmakers have COVID-19 vaccines for poor coun- receiving a nod. The battle against COVID-19 is formation is a recurring theme be announced in October. P2 CHRISSY TEASES NEW HAIR COLOUR SIMON BAKER, REBECCA RIG MONDAY | FEBRUARY 1 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR Model Chrissy Teigen has channelled her inner ANNOUNCE SEPARATION Barbie as she chose to colour her hair pink. Chrissy, Actor Simon Baker, known for his role in the who is married to musician John Legend, posted a show, The Mentality, has announced separation picture on Instagram. In the image, she is seen from wife Rebecca Rig. The duo separated after sporting grey jeans paired with a black crop top and 29 years of marriage. They parted ways quietly

y leisure over jacket. She is seen wearing white stilettos. sometime last year, reports People.com.

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FORTUNE FORECAST Abhay flaunts Alaya F gets nostalgic Kriti hopes for a his ‘experiments with painting’ ARIES over Jawaani Jaaneman ‘time machine’ Mumbai: Actor Abhay Deol has If you're a sporty one, Mumbai: Actress Alaya F Sunday re- flaunted his artistic then today is positively your day! Make the most called working on her debut film Jawaani Mumbai: Bollywood actress Kriti side on social media of it, as an unexpected turn of events may Jaaneman, which released a year ago. Kharbanda is soaking in the sun and and showcased his ex- turn out to your advantage. You're wise “As my debut, I believe Jawaani is hoping for a miracle. periments with paint- and know perfectly well how to blend Jaaneman was the best thing that could have Kriti posted a picture on ing. business and pleasure, says Ganesha. happened to me. This past one year, I’ve re- Instagram, where she is seen Abhay posted a pic- ceived nothing but praises for the film dressed in a white tank top. She ture of his painting and I feel truly blessed. More than just completed her look with mini- on Instagram to show TAURUS being the perfect character that I could essay, mum make-up and hoop ear- it to his fans and fol- I really resonated with the character Tia, rings. lowers. In all probability, the fair as she was just how I am in my actual “Soaking in the sun, hoping “My experiments sex will have a wonderful life,” said Alaya, who plays a teenage for a miracle, a time machine with painting. This time in kitchen and at the dining table, foresees Ganesha. You may daughter who later becomes a mother in maybe?! #sundayfunday from an old #bur- have family friends and close relatives the film. #takemeback,” she wrote lesqueposter. Still in- coming over to your place in the evening. “The entire shoot experience for me as the caption. complete, don’t know if I want to finish it. But shar- Romance will free-flow with your soul mate was just ‘wonderful’ from working with such Talking ing it anyway,” Abhay wrote as the caption. later in the day, says a beaming Ganesha. experienced actors Saif Ali Khan sir and about her The actor keeps sharing glimpses of his artwork Tabu ma’am, who were the perfect guides work, Kriti on social media. that any new talent can ask for and helped was last Abhay’s 1962: The War In The Hills, a series in- GEMINI me throughout the process to getting crit- seen in the spired by true events, is set for launch February Today, you will look more ical acclaim for my performance. I will thriller 26. Directed by Mahesh Manjrekar, the series will presentable than ever, cherish this experience forever,” she drama take viewers back to November 1962, predicts Ganesha. At added. Taish di- to narrate an untold story of val- work, you will employ new business strate- Alaya is keen on getting back on set. rected by our. Abhay plays an army major gies to succeed. By evening, you will give a “I really miss being at a shoot set Bejoy who leads a battalion. IANS demo of your supreme sense for style, right now, and I just can’t wait to Nambiar. especially when it comes to dressing up. bring more such characters to She is the audience,” she said. currently During lockdown, she ded- busy shoot- CANCER icated her time to honing ing for her Your life will spring sur- and improving her next film ti- prises, some good and skills as an actor. She tled 14 Phere. some not so good, says Ganesha. You will has also been read- Directed demonstrate your effectiveness and ing scripts, taking by brilliance at work. In the evening, your master classes Devanshu loved ones will show you their and work- Singh, 14 appreciation for being there for them shops too. Phere is a in the time of need. IANS contempo- rary social comedy film LEO that will see Walk the talk, buddy! Kriti romanc- Well, what it actually ing Vikrant means is that today, Massey. IANS you will be just too good at communicating ideas and expressions. So if you are at work, then look forward to being assigned some investigative job that might just turn out to be quite demanding, says Ganesha. ‘Always nurtured the dream VIRGO A day full of sense and sensibilities in love today. Pessimism will of directing Madhuri Dixit’ knock more than just once throughout the day. But don't let it affect your work, warns Ganesha. At work, you will be the most wanted New Delhi: Actress-director Renuka’s recent directorial many ideas that are forming in trouble-shooter today. Renuka Shahane says Madhuri Tribhanga: Tedhi Medhi Crazy. my head. But once the script is Dixit is like a dream to work with, Asked if they have another proj- done, and I feel that it is worth ap- and would love to direct the ac- ect together, Renuka told IANS: proaching her, I will definitely ap- tress someday. “She (Madhuri) is like a dream to proach her and then we will see if LIBRA The two have co-starred in the work with. She is one of the best that works out,” she added. Today shall be, let's say, Bollywood hit Hum Aapke Hain co-stars I have ever worked with, Renuka had made her directorial different! It promises to Koun..! (1994) and Marathi film and she is such a nice human debut way back in 2009, with the be a resourceful day for you, says Ganesha. Bucket List (2018). They have also being” Marathi film Rita. She returned as Chances are today you may decide to given a glimpse of their friend- “I still feel that most of her tal- a director for the new Hindi film refresh your memory and knowledge by ship on social media. For instance, ent has still not been tapped. I have Tribhanga: Tedhi Medhi Crazy, visiting a museum or a historical place later Madhuri shared best wishes on always nurtured the dream of di- which stars Kajol, Mithila Palkar in the day. But it's not all learning for you. Twitter during the launch of recting her one day. There are and Tanvi Azmi. IANS

SCORPIO You will bank upon instinct, and spur-of-the- SUDOKU moment decisions will post To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, rule all action today, feels PEANUTS CROSSWORD column and box must contain the numbers Ganesha. You will find yourself lacking focus at work and this might cause prob- 0 to 9 and the letters A to E. lems in the days to come.

SAGITTARIUS Ganesha predicts a con- structive and profitable day for all you business tycoons and entrepre- neurs. Loans from financial institutions may be sanctioned sometime later in the day. You will make your sweetheart know just how special and integral he/she is in your life, and that you will always cherish this love. CALVIN AND HOBBES CAPRICORN Your despotic boss will be mighty impressed with your unique talent, and the fact that it con- tributed to the company earning acco- lades, says Ganesha. Colleagues will SOLUTIONS also be supportive of your endeav- ours, and will push you to go ahead with new assignments.

AQUARIUS You take inspiration from Hercules today! Your endurance will see you through adversities, asserts Ganesha. Despite this, your playful BREVITY bantering will cheer your colleagues. You CROSSWORD even manage to please your beloved, and that speaks volumes about you!

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Beating deadlines, with

k y m c whatever is handy, is what you will be focusing on today. No post-lunch sies- ta for you. The later part of the day, relaxing with your sweetheart, ought to make up for

all the running around you had to do earlier, CHECK FOR SOLUTIONS OF THE PUZZLES TOMORROW SUDOKU says Ganesha. COVID-19 TRACKER P3 ANNUAL MEET MONDAY | FEBRUARY 1 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR INFECTED RECOVERED DEAD The annual conference of World 10,32,19,722 7,48,82,771 22,31,236 Indian Institute of Public Administration, Odisha India 1,07,20,971 1,03,93,162 1,54,047 Regional Branch, underway at a downtown Odisha 3,35,072 3,32,103 1,906

hotel in Bhubaneswar, Sunday

k y m c Hope job creation, demand get stimulus: Experts Parties for increased Central assistance to India Inc. has huge POST NEWS NETWORK Besides, there should be measures expectations from the UNION BUDGET 2021-22 to conserve biodiversity and for- Budget 2021-22. The India Bhubaneswar, Jan 31: This year’s est resources and meet the chal- Inc. expects that the annual Union Budget is likely to be land- lenges of climate change. Steps state for Covid crisis Budget would have solid mark in the recent history of India should be taken to clean up the measures to boost demand in in the wake of the Covid-19 pan- river systems across India and pro- POST NEWS NETWORK demic. The people of India as well the market. It is expected that mote green energy.” as the economy are going through Sriram Singh Rattan, an em- Bhubaneswar, Jan 31: The major the Centre will allocate more a very difficult time due to the pan- ployee of a digital media company, political parties from the state have resources to the demic-induced recession. expects some relaxation in the field demanded adequate attention to infrastructure and Many experts are of the opin- of taxation. “Lower tax rates are very the state in the Union Budget 2021 employment-generating ion that the country would take much required as the pandemic which will be presented by Finance sectors to push the demand several years to recover from the dif- and the countrywide lockdown have Minister Nirmala Sitharaman side ficulties caused by the outbreak of broken the backbone of the Indian Monday before the Parliament. MAHADEO JAISWAL| DIRECTOR, novel coronavirus and subsequent economy. The growth projection The Biju Janata Dal (BJD), IIM-SAMBALPUR nationwide lockdown to tackle the doesn’t look encouraging at all. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Different areas in the state The pandemic has given us a virus spread. So, many people ex- There should be lower interest rates the Congress have expressed their struggle to get internet clear picture of the great pect that this year’s Budget would that the Centre will allocate more pect. “The pandemic has given us on education loans. Besides, the expectations from the Budget dur- connectivity. We demand digital division in our country. have the necessary provisions to resources to the infrastructure and a clear picture of the great digital Budget should look into the issues ing their interaction with the media that internet facilities must Covid acted as an eye opener revive the economy and strengthen employment-generating sectors to division in our country. Covid acted of the working class people and the Sunday. be provided across the for us. We have realised that the employment and health sector. push the demand side.” as an eye opener for us. We have re- senior citizens,” he said. BJD leader and minister state to boost its coverage India is ill-prepared for digital This apart, it is expected that the “We hope that the focus would be alised that India is ill-prepared for Sudarshan Chhotray, a social ac- Padmanabha Behera said, Budget would give a big push to on employment generation and put- digital education. The Budget should tivist, said there should be more “Different areas in the state strug- PADMANABHA BEHERA | MINISTER, education. The Budget should COMMERCE & TRANSPORT DEPT the industrial sector, including the ting more money in the hands of have measures to meet that chal- gle to get internet connectivity. We have measures to meet these allocation for the healthcare sec- small and medium scale industries. consumers to boost demand as well lenges in this regard. The education tor in the present scenario. The demand that internet facility must challenges In this context, Orissa POST talks as growth in the country. Besides, sector requires higher investments Centre should allocate at least seven be given to the state to boost its MONA LISA BAL | EDUCATIONIST to people from various walks of life the Centre may allocate funds for to sustain the growth. There should per cent of the GDP to the health sec- coverage. We have demanded that &CHAIRPERSON OF KIIT INTERNATIONAL to know about their expectations Covid vaccination. The Budget may be adequate fund allocation for the tor. Similarly, there should be ade- the state should be aided in SCHOOL from the Budget, which is scheduled give priority on healthcare and implementation of the National quate budgetary allocations for ed- Centrally-sponsored schemes in In addition to giving thrust on to be presented by Finance Minister manufacturing sectors in the wake Education Policy (NEP).” ucation and other social sectors. the ratio of 90:10 so that we can do infrastructure development in Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament of the pandemic. Research and de- Environmentalist and secretary “The Union government should better progress.” health sector, the annual February 1. velopment sector may also witness of Odisha Environmental Society take certain measures to create He also said that Covid-19 is budget should have Director of IIM-Sambalpur, a big push,” Jaiswal added. (OES), Jaya Krushna Panigrahi, confidence among the workers of in- likely to be an issue and part of Odisha has been neglected allocations to deal with Mahadeo Jaiswal, said that the Educationist and Chairperson said, “In addition to giving thrust formal sector and the migrants. the Budget. “We have demanded as- by the Centre. The Odisha pollution issues and India Inc. has huge expectations of KIIT International School, Mona on infrastructure development in The Centre should provide more sistance for Covid-19 management. Chief Minister has been promote non-conventional from the Budget 2021-22. “The India Lisa Bal, said that education is one health sector, the annual budget grants to Odisha to improve the We have to see how much assis- supporting the BJP sources of energy Inc. expects that the annual Budget of the primary sectors for any coun- should have allocations to deal with living standards of people from tance we get from the Centre in government in Parliament JAYA KRUSHNA PANIGRAHI | would have solid measures to boost try and there is huge expectation pollution issues and promote non- economically weaker sections, in- the Budget. We have been badly but in return it has failed to ENVIRONMENTALIST & SECRETARY OF OES demand in the market. It is expected from the Budget 2021-22 in this as- conventional sources of energy. cluding tribals and Dalits,” he said. affected by Covid-19 in the last one get adequate assistance year. We have a lot of ongoing proj- from the Centre ects. We need more assistance from the Centre for the ongoing railway SURESH ROUTRAY | JATNI MLA (CONGRESS) POLITICKLE by MANJUL projects,” he said. Forest officer to get The Congress meanwhile alleged neglect towards the state from the Union government. Congress leader Suresh Routray said, “Odisha has Asia Environmental been neglected by the Centre. The Odisha Chief Minister has been supporting the BJP government in Parliament but in return it has Enforcement Award failed to get adequate assistance The government is likely to Lenka and her team had detained around 28 persons from the Centre. There were tall claims of the Union government re- focus more on the farmers and seized three live Indian pangolins and one dead garding railway development in and help in improving the besides seizing 5kg of pangolin scales between August the state.” He said, “There were GDP of the country which also talks on farmers’ issues. The has been hampered due to 2019 and April 2020 state is struggling in railways, rural the pandemic housing, farming and other sec- PRITHVIRAJ HARICHANDAN | LEADER, BJP POST NEWS NETWORK Interacting with Orissa POST tors. Hope the government can Lenka said, “I’m honoured for this focus on these issues in the Budget.” failed to tap the potentials. The gov- Bhubaneswar, Jan 31: Forest of- recognition. The hard work has The BJP on the other hand ernment is likely to get attention ficer Sasmita Lenka will receive definitely paid off as people are claimed that the Narendra Modi through the Budget especially in the prestigious Asia Environmental more aware about protecting government at the Centre has al- the light of impact of Covid-19 in Enforcement Award under ‘im- wildlife. Time will come when there ways supported the state during the state.” He added that the gov- pact’ and ‘gender leadership’ cat- will be near zero poaching of such Budgets. Party leader Prithviraj ernment is likely to support the egory at a virtual event February wildlife in the state.” Harichandan said, “Odisha has farmers and help in improving 17, official sources said Sunday. Lenka had been serving as the been getting good attention of the the GDP of the country which Being given by the United Nations Athagarh Divisional Forest Narendra Modi government has been hampered due to the Environment Officer (DFO) through Budgets but the state has pandemic. Programme since October in partner- 2018. “During ship with the her tenure, United Lenka and Nations her team had PULSE POLIO DRIVE STARTS ACROSS STATE Development detained Programme, around 28 POST NEWS NETWORK The health secretary and other of- the United persons and We started the Pulse ficials inaugurated the session in the Nations seized three Bhubaneswar, Jan 31: The state Polio drive today across state capital. Different district ad- Office on live Indian Health department Sunday started the state where ministrations and Urban Local Bodies Drugs and its statewide drive for Pulse Polio children below the age of have planned to conduct the drive REPRESENTATIVE PIC pangolins and Crime, the one dead be- vaccination for children below the five years are being smoothly across the state. The officials Secretariat of the Convention on sides seizing 5kg of pangolin age of five. vaccinated. We have have taken onboard the health work- International Trade in Endangered scales between August 2019 and The immunisation drive was planned to cover around 41 ers and grassroots workers like ASHA, Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, April 2020. In December 2019, she seen across the state where a num- lakh kids from across the anganwadi workers, ANM and oth- the International Criminal Police and her team busted an interna- ber of health centres, anganwadi state ers to make the drive a success. Organization and the World tional pangolin smuggling racket centres and other institutions were The Primary Health Centres, BIJAY PANIGRAHI | DIRECTOR, Customs Organization, the Asia by arresting eight suspects and re- roped in to inoculate the kids dur- DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL RESEARCH AND Community Health Centres, Upper Environmental Enforcement covering numerous pangolin ing the special drive. It may be men- Health workers at a vaccination booth TRAINING Primary Health Centres and other Awards publicly recognize and cel- scales. In a general effort to curb tioned here that the government government hospitals were roped ebrate excellence in enforcement smuggling of pangolins in her has suspended the Covid-19 vacci- and Training (DMET) said, “We cover around 41 lakh kids from booths have been organised to give in to vaccinate the kids to ward by government officials and insti- division, Lenka has announced a nation drive for three days in light started the Pulse Polio drive today across the state.” the vaccine. In the next two days our off any threats emanating from tutions or teams combating trans- cash reward of Rs 10, 000 for in- of the polio vaccination drive. across the state where children He also added, “We dedicated the health volunteers will roam around the polio infections. A number boundary environmental crime, formation on pangolin Bijay Panigrahi, Director, below the age of five years are being day (Sunday) exclusively for the the state to get the uncovered kids of kids Sunday were vaccinated including illegal wildlife trade. traffickers,” said a source. Department of Medical Research vaccinated. We have planned to ones coming to the booths. Special vaccinated.” under the drive. CAPTIVATING AUDIENCE IIT-Bhub holds polio drive NCW felicitates state police for in-campus children POST NEWS NETWORK Bhubaneswar, Jan 31: The POST NEWS NETWORK National Commission for Women (NCW) Sunday felicitated the Bhubaneswar, Jan 31: A pulse women COVID Warriors of the polio drive was organised at IIT State Police for their contribution Bhubaneswar for the in-campus in managing the Covid-19 situation children, under five years of age, on the occasion of 29th Annual as a part of National Polio Foundation Day of the Immunisation Programme under Commission. the Ministry of Health, Sunday. The Bargarh Superintendent The pulse polio drive was organised of Police Padmini Sahoo received by the Medical Unit of IIT the memento trophy along with an Bhubaneswar in collaboration with immunisation programme, aimed the time of its inception, IIT appreciation certificate from the the state government. Speaking on at bringing down the number of Bhubaneswar has been consistent Commission on behalf of Odisha the occasion, Prof. R.V. Raja Kumar, polio affected people, has been suc- in its commitment for the wellbeing Police at a special event held at Director, IIT Bhubaneswar appre- cessful across the nation in the re- of its students, workforce and its de- Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi. ciated the initiative by the Medical cent years. He urged the faculty, pendents. “Taking the above into con-

Unit of IIT Bhubaneswar headed by staff members to utilise such im- sideration, we at IIT Bhubaneswar

k y m c Dr M.A. Khan, in collaboration munisation camps organised in- successfully organised this pulse with the state government for or- side the campus including the ones polio drive in the best interest of in ganising a pulse polio drive for the conducted by state government and campus children.” in-campus children of under five non-governmental organisations As many as 40 children aged years of age. to help eradicate polio from the below five were administered the Artistes perform traditional dance at Annapurna Theatre in Puri, Sunday OP PHOTO He further mentioned pulse polio world. He also mentioned that from pulse polio drops inside the campus. P4 MONDAY | FEBRUARY 1 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR downtown

Politics over Mahanadi erupts again FOR A BETTER TOMORROW

k y m c THE BJD REFUTES ALLEGATIONS OF BEING LETHARGIC TOWARDS THE ISSUE AND HOPES FOR A FAVOURABLE JUDGMENT FROM THE TRIBUNAL IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS

POST NEWS NETWORK In the last three years, Session of the Assembly. Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati said, the state government Bhubaneswar, Jan 31: Two months “During the elections, the BJD lead- before the Mahanadi Inter State has forgotten the issue ers used to camp in Delhi and the River Dispute Tribunal will be of Mahanadi. The people BJP was also in the frontline. Due reaching its deadline, without any who used to feel aggrieved to this a tribunal was formed. What conclusive judgment, Opposition on the issue earlier are development has happened there, parties have started to fire salvos now nowhere to be seen people are clueless about this.” against the ruling government in BIJOY MOHAPATRA | LEADER, BJP He also added, “We have debated the state. on the issue in the past in Assembly. Veteran BJP leader Bijoy During the elections, the We have decided to strongly rake up Mohapatra Sunday interacted with BJD leaders used to camp the issue in the Odisha Assembly the media and blamed the state in Delhi and the BJP was during the upcoming session.” government and the BJD to have also in the frontline. Due to The BJD on the other hand tried failed in fighting for the interests this a Tribunal was visions of extension of the Tribunal to refute allegations of lethargy on of people on the issue of Mahanadi formed. What by two more years. The Mahanadi side of the BJD government in the dispute. development has issue was raised because during state and hoped of a judgment from “In the last three years, the state happened there, people the non-monsoon season the state the Tribunal in the next few months. government has forgotten about are clueless about this needed relief due to the alleged ac- Party leader Padmanabha Behera the issue of Mahanadi. The peo- TARA PRASAD BAHINIPATI | tions of Chhattisgarh. There is lack said, “I am of the opinion that the ple who used to feel aggrieved on the CONGRESS MLA of coordination among government judgment of the Mahanadi Tribunal issue earlier are now nowhere to be officials on the issue.” will come in our favour. After get- seen. I believe the state govern- pect that the whole exercise is mov- The Congress party also claimed ting orders from the Tribunal, ment has failed to put their issues ing towards a bad ending,” he said. that it has planned to rake up the Chhattisgarh will definitely release strongly before the Tribunal. I sus- He also added, “There are pro- issue in the upcoming Budget water to the state.” Collector Samarth Verma inspects a cleanliness drive in Baliapanda area of Puri city, Sunday OP PHOTO No COVID-19 death 4 from Raj held for idol theft Cyber fraudsters dupe AROUND 22 ASHTADHATU IDOLS FROM THE DAKSHYA PRAJAPATI TEMPLE ` for 6th day in a row IN BANAPUR AREA WERE STOLEN DEC 22 LAST YR 2 of more than 1 lakh POST NEWS NETWORK portal with her CV if interested State logs 114 new coronavirus cases, tally rises to 3,35,072 POST NEWS NETWORK to get a job. Subsequently, the vic- Bhubaneswar, Jan 31: A person tim registered herself with the Khurda, Jan 31: Banapur police lost around Rs30,000 to the cyber portal by paying Rs1,000. claimed to have arrested four res- fraudsters while trying to recharge Later, the fraudsters asked her idents of Rajasthan in connection his mobile number with Rs 10 add- to pay Rs13,750 for ‘verification of with the stealing of at least 22 octo- on. The victim identified as Eshan documents.’ Numbers vis-à-vis national data alloy (Ashtadhatu) idols from the Acharya of Niladri Vihar area has However, she refused to pay fur- PNN & AGENCIES Dakshya Prajapati temple in lodged a complaint with the ther when the cyber criminals con- Banapur area December 22, last Chandrasekharpur police in this tinued to demand more from money Bhubaneswar, Jan 31: State’s year. regard. her. She also requested them to re- Covid-19 caseload Sunday surged Police have seized at least nine According to sources, he received turn her money. to 3,35,072 after 114 more people idols from accused Mukesh Chandra a call along with a message on his The fraudsters asked her to de- tested positive for the infection, a Meena (44), Kailash Meena (34), mobile phone offering free recharge posit more money in their accounts senior official of the Health and Chhutan (32) and Manoj Kumar of Rs 10. The cyber crooks also for the refund process. In the

Family Welfare (H&FW) depart- FILE PHOTO Meena (30). “Several other idols provided a link on his mobile phone process, she lost more than Rs80,000. ment said. were melted down by the accused. for the recharge. The coastal state’s coronavirus Sundargarh The state has so far All the four accused have been sent He lost around Rs 30,000 while try- Unknown cyber crooks death toll remained at 1,906 as no dist recorded conducted over 77.09 to jail after rejection of their bail ing to recharge through the ad- the highest of lakh sample tests for fresh fatality has been reported pleas by a local court,” said Khurda dress given by the fraudsters. duped another young 21 fresh cases COVID-19 including for last six days, the official added. followed by 22,830 Saturday Superintendent of Police (SP) Ajay Meanwhile, unknown cyber lady of more than The new cases were detected in Bargarh (11) Pratap Swain at a press conference crooks duped another young lady `80,000 on the pretext 19 of the state’s 30 districts, with 68 and Khurda (9) Odisha’s positivity at Banapur police station here of more than Rs 80,000 on the pre- reported from different quaran- stands at 4.35 per cent Saturday. The arrested accused – Mukesh Chandra Meena (44), Kailash Meena (34), text of offering job. The victim of offering job. The tine centres, while the remaining All the accused were earlier Chhutan (32) and Manoj Kumar Meena (30) woman has lodged a complaint 46 are local contact cases. Odisha’s positivity stands at 4.35 per booked in several cases at various with the Sahid Nagar police in this victim woman has Sundargarh district recorded cent, the data released by the H&FW police stations in Rajasthan, po- POLICE CLAIMED THAT ALL At least nine cases were filed regard. lodged a complaint the highest of 21 fresh cases fol- department said. lice said. “At least nine cases were THE FOUR ACCUSED WERE against Manoj while Mukesh was According to the complaint, she INVOLVED IN SEVERAL IDOL lowed by Bargarh (11) and Khurda Meanwhile, as many as 2,08,424 filed against Manoj while Mukesh booked in seven cases. Six cases allegedly received a call from one with the Sahid Nagar THEFT CASES IN VARIOUS were filed against Kailash and four (9). Of the 19 districts, only two healthcare workers have been in- was booked in seven cases. Six STATES job portal few days back. The caller police in this regard districts reported new positive oculated till Saturday. The Covid- cases were filed against Kailash were filed against Chhutan at asked her to register with their cases in double digit. Eleven other 19 vaccination drive across the and four were filed against Chhutan THE ACCUSED USED TO various police stations in Rajasthan districts did not register any new state that remain suspended at various police stations in MOVE FROM ONE PLACE TO AJAY PRATAP SWAIN | positive cases since Saturday. January 31 will continue to be sus- Rajasthan,” Swain added. OTHER IN SEARCH OF WORK SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, KHURDA The official said that Odisha had pended February 1 and February Police claimed that all the four ac- reported one coronavirus death 2 in view of the pulse polio im- cused were involved in several idol THE FOUR ACCUSED WERE WORKING UNDER A PRIVATE CONTRACTOR from Sundargarh district January munization programme across the theft cases in various states. “The ENGAGED IN THE POWER SECTOR IN BANAPUR AREA. THEY HAD 25. There has been no such fatality state, H&FW department sources accused used to move from one PREPARED A BLUEPRINT TO STEAL IDOLS MADE OF OCTO-ALLOY FROM since January 26, said the official. said, adding that the Covid-19 vac- place to other in search of work. THE DAKSHYA PRAJAPATI TEMPLE Apart from the death of 1,906 peo- cination programme will resume They keep track of temples and ple, as many as 53 other Covid-19 February 3. idols while working in a place. The made of octo-alloy from the Dakshya by examining CCTV footage from positive patients had died due to co- India’s Covid-19 tally is at accused have stolen many idols Prajapati temple. a nearby shop,” Swain said. morbidities. 10,746,183 after the Union Health from several temples in various “The gang had stolen at least 22 Initially, police nabbed Kailash Currently, the state has 1,151 ac- Ministry Sunday reported that the states,” Swain said while elaborat- idols from the temple in the late from near Barunei temple. After tive Covid-19 cases, while 3,31,962 country had logged 13,052 new in- ing the modus operandi of the gang. hours of December 22. A case in this interrogating Kailash, police ar- patients have so far recovered from fections in the preceding 24 hours. According to police, the four ac- regard was registered at Banapur rested the three other accused. “All the highly infectious disease. The number of Covid-19 related cused were working under a private police station. A special police team the accused have confessed to the The state has so far conducted fatalities, meanwhile, spiked to contractor engaged in the power sec- led by Balugaon SDPO investigated crime. Now, we are trying to find out over 77.09 lakh sample tests for 154,274 with 127 more people suc- tor in Banapur area. They had pre- into the case. The team found some whether anybody else is involved Covid-19 including 22,830 Saturday. cumbing to the infection. pared a blueprint to steal idols clues with regard to the idol theft in the idol theft case,” Swain added.

WRITER FETED GOVT OFFICIALS’ Brainstorming on enhancing KIDS MUST STUDY IN higher-edu in public varsities GOVT-RUN SCHOOLS

POST NEWS NETWORK oration with the international faculty members and researchers. Bhubaneswar, Jan 31: The Higher The proposal of formation for Education department held a meet- an External Advisory Council for POST NEWS NETWORK ing with Odisha Society of America the universities was well received (OSA) on enhancing the quality of by the minister and the VCs of var- Bhubaneswar, Jan 31: In a let- higher education of public uni- ious universities, starting with in- ter to Chief Minister Naveen versities in the state. clusion of eminent individuals as Patnaik, Sunday, Utkala Bikasha In the meeting, Higher Education Syndicate members. Formation of Juba Parisad demanded that the minister Arun Sahoo addressed a strong Alumni Database for each children of government servants current issues and challenges fac- university is a requirement which and representatives must study ing the state’s higher education was approved by everyone lever- in government schools. ecosystem. Important aspects were aging the forthcoming ‘Mo College’ In a letter, Debiprasad Prusti, discussed such as how the inter- Saswat Mishra said Government of initiative. Higher Education president of the Parisad, said that national community is ready to Odisha is analysing the WiFi broad- Minister Sahoo agreed for a follow the Chief Minister should issue a conduct webinars including top- band availability in the university up meeting to be held quarterly one line order which should con- ics on institutional development campuses which is going to be up- with VCs for exchange and imple- tain that children of all government depending on the need of various graded expeditiously in all campuses. mentation of ideas in the future. servants, from Class IV peon level departments and universities, also As per the possible research collab- Vice Chancellors of several uni- to Chief Secretary-level and all how the universities facilitate the oration, the faculty profiles and their versities of the state and Manas people’s representatives; MLAs, international student and faculty research interests will be clearly Pujari, Registrar, Odisha State Open MPs including all teachers’, must exchange programmes starting placed in the university websites so University, Sambalpur; and Akash read in government schools to Dignitaries including noted poet Ramakanta Rath confer Sachi Routray Saraswat Samman on writer Ram Chandra with US universities. that OSA and Higher Education Dasnayak, Chairperson, Mo College bring a qualitative change in the

Behera (2nd from L) at Sarala Bhawan in Cuttack, Sunday. The award is being given by Sarala Sahitya Sansad OP PHOTO The Higher Education Secretary Committee will facilitate the collab- programme were also present. school education ecosystem.

k y m c P5 MONDAY | FEBRUARY 1 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR state

ROAD SAFETY Maoist killed in gunfight

k y m with forces in Malkangiri c POST NEWS NETWORK Security forces Malkangiri, Jan 31: A Maoist have intensified was Sunday killed inside the combing Kakadapadar forest under Mudulipada police limits of operations in Malkangiri district following an Makadapadar exchange of fire with security forces. forest under The identity of the slain Maoist Mudulipada was yet to be revealed by the police. The police were tipped off that police limits in a the Maoists were convening a meet- bid to flush ing in Makadapadar forest, close to the border with Andhra Pradesh. out ultras Police personnel along with students of Anchalika Vigyan Mahavidyalay take part in an awareness rally on road safety in Aska area of Ganjam, Sunday OP PHOTO Taking the tip-off seriously, a com- bined team of Special Operations was dead and several others suffered trict Friday night, said police Group (SOG) and District Voluntary bullet injuries. The slain Maoist’s sources. Their bodies were found Force (DVF) jawans under the guid- body was recovered from the spot. in two separate places Saturday. Long-awaited Joda flyover project to start soon ance of Malkangiri SP Rishikesh The forces have intensified comb- The Maoists belonging to the D Khilari launched a combing op- ing operation in the forest. Bansadhara-Ghumsar-Nagabali di- POST NEWS NETWORK executive officer of the Joda mu- ect will start from DAV School to eration in the jungle. Meanwhile, it was learnt that none vision left a handwritten note ac- nicipality Suryamani Pattajoshi, Joda Government Hospital. Seeing the forces marching to- including journalists and villagers cusing the two of providing infor- Joda, Jan 31: The long-awaited executive engineer of the Odisha Odisha Bridge Construction wards them, the ultras opened fire. were allowed to go near the forest. mation to police about five of their flyover project proposed in Joda Bridge Construction Corporation Corporation Limited had earlier In retaliation, the joint team too This has happened a day after a colleagues, who were killed in a town of Keonjhar district is going Ajit Kumar Sahu and other offi- floated a tender for its construc- fired at the Maoists. group of armed Maoists allegedly police encounter in September last to start soon, as the ground-laying cials were present. tion. Once completed, the flyover- The gunfight continued for nearly killed two villagers in Kandhamal year. According to the poster, the ceremony for its construction was Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will help in easing traffic snarls about two-three hours till the rebels district, accusing them of being Maoists warned the other inform- held here Sunday. laid the foundation stone of this The 2.875-km-long bridge project routinley affecting people in Joda, turned tail and escaped into the police informers. ers to surrender within 15 days at Champua MLA Minakshi ambitious project November 12, has been estimated at a cost of Rs Jurudi, Bansapani and deep forest. Close inspection of the The incident occurred under the ‘Jan Adalat’, otherwise they will be Mohant, Barbil tehsildar Alok Patel, 2020, through video conferencing. 206.02 crore. The three-laned proj- Bamebari areas. spot revealed that one of the Maoists Belaghara police limits of the dis- sentenced to death. 6 arrested for leopard’s death 10 yrs on, labourers Fake certificate costs woman job after 25 yrs POST NEWS NETWORK Malkangiri Collector Yeddula basis of her husband’s identity. POST NEWS NETWORK Vijay has dismissed Behera from The then Junagarh Tehsildar still wait for wages Malkangiri, Jan 31: Forged cer- had issued her an ST certificate Bhanjanagar, Jan 31: The forest tificate has cost the job of a woman service and directed her to without proper enquiry. Behera department Sunday arrested six MGNREGS SCAM clerk, who had been serving in had secured the government job persons in connection with the Malkangiri district for the last return the salaries and other using the certificate. death of a leopard, which was 25 years. financial benefits that she has It may be noted here that four peo- caught in a trap meant to catch Laxmipriya Behera, a native of received for the last 25 years ple had been arrested eight years wild boars in Kundakhai forest Kalahandi, was dismissed from ago for providing forged HSC, CET, under Buguda forest range in government service after her caste BEd and Plus II certificates in the Ganjam certificate was found to be fake. the last 25 years. A notice to this ef- gation. On the basis of the inves- district. Many teachers were found district. She started her job in 1996 and fect was pasted on her official res- tigation report, the action was to be serving on the basis of forged According to Dr Bhagabati has even got promotions in the last idence. taken against her. certificates. Prasad Das, who performed au- 25 years. An allegation about her caste The probe revealed that Behera, After the forgery came to fore, topsy on the dead animal, the Malkangiri Collector Yeddula certificate was made at with who belongs to Socially and Adibasi Mahasangh and other tribal leopard died due to asphyxiation Vijay has dismissed Behera from Southern Range Revenue Divisional Educationally Backward Classes outfits have demanded that cer- and hunger. The knot of the trap service and directed her to return Commissioner. (SEBC), had married a man of tificates and documents of all of- around the animal’s neck resulted the salaries and other financial A probe was earlier conducted by Scheduled Tribe (ST). Later, she ficials serving in various depart- in asphyxiation. benefits that she has received for the Commissioner into the alle- applied for ST certificate on the ments of the district be verified. The department is yet to reveal the identities of the arrested per- sons. Goods train hits deer The nearby villagers were sur- A REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO prised to see that a leopard got herd, three killed stuck in a trap laid out to capture POST NEWS NETWORK scam. Some influential people are Bargarh youth, sister to wild boars Thursday morning. allegedly creating hurdle in action They immediately informed the Jajpur, Jan 31: MGNREGS is again the guilty. POST NEWS NETWORK forest department. Upon reach- aimed to ensure job opportunities The MGNREGS is significantly ing the spot, forest department for rural workers through various aimed at providing jobs to rural Jagatsinghpur, Jan 31: Three officials launched an operation labour-intensive projects, but the poor though creation of work scope, deer were killed after being run guard India’s borders to free it from the trap. central scheme has been marred at thus keeping poverty at bay. over by a goods train near Gopalpur different places of Jajpur district But scams have defeated the pur- village under Raghunathpur po- POST NEWS NETWORK due to alleged irregularities. Job pose of the scheme in the district, lice limits in Jagatsinghpur district card holders had worked in an it was alleged. Sunday. In this mishap, four deer Bargarh, Jan 31: Prabhat Barik and MGNREGS project 10 years ago in In the PIL, it was stated that the were injured. Rashmita, children of Ratra Barik, Bari block, but their wages have not then sarpanch of Mahakalpada It has been a common practice a resident of Tihikipali under been paid till date, a report said. had issued a work order to Purna for the animals of nearby jungles Bheden block in Bargarh district, According to the report, the scam Chandra Sahu to dig Mo Pokhari to stray into villages in search of have been selected by the Border was reported from Mahakalpada pond under MGNREGS April 4, water and food. The herd com- Security Force and they will soon panchayat under Bari block. 2010. Eleven labourers were en- prising over 10 deer was coming be on duty to guard India’s borders. Irregularities were also allegedly gaged in the work. The project was to the Gopalpur village crossing The two have been on cloud nine committed in an MGNREGS proj- completed June 14, 2010. the railway line at around 9.00 since the news of their selection ect in Siha panchayat under The labourers had given their sig- am. At that time, a goods train was conveyed to them. The siblings During the rescue operation, Barchana block. natures in the muster roll with was also crossing through that had always wanted to serve the Prabhat and his sister admission in Bargarh Panchayat the animal managed to free itself About 10 year ago, a pond was ex- promise of wages to be cleared point. It mowed down three ani- country since childhood. Initially College and did his Plus-II and from the trap. It then mauled Dillip cavated in plot-no-1457(khata-104) within seven days. mals and injured four others. they wanted to join the police force. Rashmita said being graduation. Naik and sneaked into the forest. at Mahakalpada panchayat. Eleven After two years, the labourers After coming to know about the However, they managed to pass the selected to join the BSF Rashmita said as they had a Later, a mobile team from labourers engaged in the project sough information about their mishap, the villagers gathered at selection tests organised by the BSF. is nothing but a blessing childhood desire to join police they Bhanjanagar comprising DFO have not yet received their wages. wages from the Bari block through the spot and immediately informed “I still remember how we would had regularly been exercising and Surya Narayan Behura, ACF One Purna Chandra Sahu on RTI queries. the forest department officials. play by acting as police personnel from God. We got what appearing for various examina- Shankarshan Behera and other of- behalf of the labourers had moved The RTI papers revealed that Later, the forest department of- when we were kids. We had a spe- we had wished for tions and tests. “Our failures in ficials reached the spot. They a PIL (WP©17859/2013) in the Orissa there were no muster roll and ficials reached mishap spot and car- cial liking for police uniforms. And past have made us stronger. We managed to capture the animal High Court in this regard. labourer document for the wage ried out a probe. now we have been selected to join hearing the news,” Rashmita said. had never given up the hope or the after several hours. The HC has recently directed clearance. Later, the Vigilance and An officer from the forest de- the BSF which is nothing but a Rashmita completed her school- attempts,” she said. However, the animal was found the Jajpur Collector to ensure pay- the block administration investi- partment confirmed that the deer blessing from god. He has given us ing at the village school. Then she Prabhat said: “We did not un- dead Friday morning at the time ment of wages to the 11 labourers. gated the issue and detected mis- herd was hit by a goods train. much more than what we had been did her Plus-II from Kadobahal dergo any training or coaching. It when the officials were to release As per guidelines, labourers are appropriation of wages. The BDO Despite measures taken by the wished for. Now we can serve College and Plus-III from Siddharth is our self-confidence that kept us it in the wild. supposed to be paid their wages initiated departmental proceed- forest department and the Mother India. Our parents, family College in Binika. Prabhat, after propelling ahead. At last, our prayers Immediately after the incident, once in a week through their bank ings against the officials involved Railways, cases of elephants, members and friends are elated at passing his class 10 exams, took were answered.” the Principal Chief Conservator accounts. But labourers awaiting in the scam. cows and deer being killed by of Forest ordered a probe into the wages for the last 10 years has Still then, the wages were not trains are quite common. Local matter and directed the Regional raised many eyebrows. It is alleged cleared. The complainant moved the people and animal lovers, mean- Chief Conservator of Forests, that no action was taken against the court in 2013. The BDO could not while, demanded concrete steps RALLY FOR RELIGION STATUS Berhampur to investigate into sarpanch, the VLW and the GRS be contacted over phone for to be taken to avoid such mishaps the incident. who were allegedly involved in the comment. in future. PM all praise for Rourkela girl’s Pattachitra

POST NEWS NETWORK niversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Bhagyashree paid him a Rourkela, Jan 31: Bhagyashree unique tribute done on stone. I Sahu, an Odia engineering stu- wish her all the best for her fu- dent and a Pattachitra artist was ture endeavours.” on cloud nine when Prime Minister Reacting to the PM’s applause, Narendra Modi was all praise for Bhagyashree said, “The moment her artistic creations in his radio Modiji spoke on me it was unbe- talk ‘Mann Ki Baat’ Sunday. lievable. I can’t express my feel- Bhagyashree, a resident of ings. I would like to thank Prime Sector-19 in the Steel City, has done Minister Narendra Modi for recog- Pattachitra on various themes nising me and my art.” using soft stones. She used her Creating a number of arts on skill during the lockdown period various bhesha (appearance) of and created splendid arts on unused Lord Jagannath, Bhagyashreee bottles, fuse electric bulbs and oth- Bhagyashree, a resident of PM said: A few days ago, on the has plans to make more paintings ers glass and plastic materials. Sector-19 in the Steel City, has birth anniversary of Netaji on other Hindu deities like Shiva- “On her way to college, done Pattachitra on various Subhas Chandra Bose, Parbati and Radha-Krishna.

Bhagyashree found these soft themes using soft stones, Bhagyashree paid him a unique She said that she had once vis-

k y m created splendid arts on tribute done on stone. I wish her c stones, she collected and cleaned ited Raghurajpur village in Puri, bottles, fused electric bulbs, all the best for her future them. Later, she painted these glass and plastic materials endeavours famous for Pattachitra. This in- stones in Pattachitra style for two spired her to adopt Pattachita. She hours every day. After painting lockdown, she started painting on Modi said. Wishing her all suc- was doing B Tech in Dhenkanal. At these stones, she started gifting bottles too. And now, she even con- cess, the Prime Minister said, “A leisure, she used to make Activists of Adivasi Sengel Abhiyan stage a demonstration, seeking religion status to Sarna Dharma, a tribal faith, in them to her friends. During the ducts workshops on this art form,” few days ago, on the birth an- Pattachitra. Udala of Mayurbhanj district, Sunday OP PHOTO P6 MONDAY | FEBRUARY 1 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR power post

Watch the too indignantly FOCUS ECONOMY righteous. Before long you will find them committing or

condoning the very offence which

k y m they have so fiercely censured. c

SRI AUROBINDO NOT ON EASY PATH

ndia is poised to grow despite build a surplus and contributed to the pandemic panic shock the country’s non-tax revenue, during a critical financial may be dented due to low-yielding Whither Democracy Iyear when all budget projec- US dollar assets, and also due to tions had gone awry thanks to payment of interest to banks in re- he wounds inflicted on the agitating farmers during their tractor total countrywide shutdown of verse revenue repo. march to the capital on Republic Day are fresh and raw. The country all production, predicts the Its earnings were hit by low-in- T is still unable to come to terms with the monumental assault on the Economic Survey 2020-21. terest rates. This would lead to sacred symbol of the republic, the Tricolour fluttering atop the Red Fort, by Agriculture alone is growing at 3.4 lower dividend payment by the a bunch of criminals masquerading as farmers. It was, in fact, a double as- per cent. RBI, which had squeezed itself in sault since the intention was clearly to sabotage the valiant, peaceful fight Importantly, the survey is pos- paying over Rs 2 lakh to pay divi- of the farmers to stop the government from, as they are convinced, snatch- itive on future real GDP growth for dend during the last two years. ing their livelihood by imposing three contentious farm laws. 2021-22 at 11 per cent despite the The Survey has not taken this as- Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his first Mann Ki Baat address of this economy being in recession lead- pect into its calculations. year rightly regretted “Amidst all this, the country was saddened by the in- ing to GDP contraction of a record While it has laid stress on rais- sult to the Tricolour on January 26.” To this Rakesh Tikait of the Bharatiya (-) 23.9 per cent in April-June and So as imagined it will be a five-year budgetary ing R&D spending to 3 per cent Kisan Union (BKU) has equally rightly responded by urging the government full contraction of 7.7 per cent from 1.5 per cent, noting more than to nab those who insulted the national flag which “the whole nation loves.” during the year. The Survey while process and not a recovery in two years to undo half of it was done by the govern- The government is yet to arrest the main perpetrators of the violence, who praising the lockdown, notes that the pandemic recession. The Fitch Rating ment, it has not taken note of the are known BJP supporters and one of whom was an election agent of a star the economy is technically in a ground reality that most research saffron MP from Punjab. recession due to the severe con- agency earlier had indicated that it would take in academia-related institutions The previous day, the PM had announced in the customary all-party tractions. five years to get to the pre-pandemic level are not in proper direction and meeting before the Budget session that “the government has not closed the This path, with 11 per cent real may be a great waste due to the door” for discussion with the farmers. The farmers’ representatives re- Shivaji Sarkar GDP growth in FY22 would entail lack of a proper methodology. sponded by saying “Farmers are ready to hold talks with the government, a growth of 2.4 per cent over the ity and even if India were to have cies. It avers, “Real GDP is likely The Survey stood by the farm but not at gunpoint.” absolute level of FY20, implying real GDP growth rate as low as 3.8 to contract by 1.5 per cent in 2020- laws and labour codes saying these This only brings things back to square one. For, there have already been THE GROWTH IS that the economy would take two per cent each year from 2022-23 to 21 but is expected to revert to are instruments of growth and interminable rounds of fruitless discussions, with both sides sticking to their years to reach and go past the pre- 2028-29 the country’s debt levels growth terrain next year, when it sustained the view by citing of 21 ground. The government won’t budge from its position of only being TO BE ACHIEVED pandemic level. The Survey also will still come down. Subramanian is likely to grow by 7.2 per cent.” reports since 2001. While the views amenable to some changes in the laws, while the farmers will end their ag- ON SUCH LOW estimates the real GDP to grow further said India has a track The Survey projects that to 11 are fine it has overstressed the itation only if the laws are repealed. at its trend rate of 6.5 per cent in record of having adopted expan- per cent possibly on better data. But benefits of 1991 reforms, often Adding to the complex situation is the zeal of the Delhi and the UP po- BASE THROUGH FY23 and 7 per cent in FY24, aided sionary fiscal policy focused on credit agencies globally keep a tab called Manmohanomics. lice to crack down on the farmers and critics of the government by lodging SPENDING MORE by structural reforms. (The infrastructure spending. on different growth parameters and The nation in the 30th year of lib- spates of FIRs to intimidate them and tar their agitation using the pretext National Statistics Office revised So as imagined it will be a five- even the IMF and World Bank do not eralization needs to have a vocif- of violence and vandalism during the tractor march. The UP administra- AS THERE IS the GDP growth rate for 2020-21 to year budgetary process and not a wish them away. While the Survey erous debate on the “liberaliza- tion is also going out of its way to disrupt the agitation by withdrawing power 4 per cent from 4.2 per cent earlier recovery in two years to undo the extols borrowings, its expectations tion and new economy.” It needs and water facilities from the venues of agitation. Simultaneously, so-called IMPULSE FOR mainly due to contraction in man- pandemic recession. The Fitch are a bit speculative. Usually sov- to study the linkage of present local residents of the areas where the farmers are agitating are now demanding “EXPANSIONARY ufacturing and construction on Rating agency earlier had indi- ereign borrowings lead to inflation farm stress and protests and look clearance of their roads. 28 January.) cated that it would take five years and act as check on growth. Of late, for remedies. Its stress on reforms The whole move, starting from the violence engineered by elements who FISCAL POLICY” The growth is to be achieved to get to the pre-pandemic level. inflation despite some moderation may not be as ideal as the Survey were ostensibly not part of the agitation, is suspect for two reasons. First, on such low base through spend- The Survey severely criticizes has been high, including that of has projected. the agitation has since November 26, 2020, been peaceful. The farmers, old ing more as there is impulse for “ex- Moody’s, S&P as “noisy, opaque food, despite a liberal food dole to over However, it gives a cue to the and young and their womenfolk, have in the process endured severe cold stay- pansionary fiscal policy.” In short, and biased.” It adds that the fiscal 80 crore people. budget proposals, which may have ing in the open air with several of them even dying. Second, right from the the prescription is to follow the policy “must not remain beholden Largely the 2021-22 projections large doses of allocations for var- beginning, the government tried to tarnish the agitation with an orchestrated Hindu Charvak philosophy of re- to such noisy/biased measures are based on “V” shaped recov- ious supposed “development and propaganda that it was backed by Khalistanis with funds and men. It is dif- sorting to high debt and be a spend- and should be guided by consid- ery in the second half on a low-base construction” projects as it bene- ficult to believe that an agitation which had remained peaceful since inception thrift for “a happier life” and po- erations of growth and develop- effect of 2020-21; recovery in pent- fits certain industries. two months ago could suddenly turn violent. On the other hand, the government litical dividend as well. ment rather than be restrained up demand; high liquidity and All in all the Survey is hopeful has been reactive in the whole matter. First, it tried to hide under the cloak It is an indication that the budget by biased subjective sovereign low interest rates driving credit - on the repaying capacity of high of the Supreme Court judges. Then smartly, the SC pushed the dice back to is to have high fiscal deficit, may credits.” -- a measure that is hitting the projected borrowings but also the Delhi police, claiming it was a law and order administrative work. be around 7.5 per cent and likely Western agencies maintain a banking sector; supply side re- indicates many distresses like Without a cover of legality, the police permitted the tractor rally. Interestingly, to resort to tough measures to raise negative view on deficits and high forms through easing of regula- credit delinquency, asset quality amongst many videos doing the social media rounds, there are those show- revenue. It might not be easy on borrowing and the Survey wants tions to increase investment; spend- review of banks, recapitalization ing how the police are allowing a certain number of people to pass through taxes though the room for actu- transparent sovereign methodol- ing on manufacturing (provided and substantial reform of banks. the barricade towards Red Fort. This behavior of the police would seem sus- ally raising it is limited as the in- ogy, as India’s willingness to pay there is demand growth); and spec- This could pose a severe pect when the aftermath happened. dustry is keen on softening of the is unquestionably demonstrated ulative arena of hopes of rise in squeeze on corporate borrowers It is unfortunate the way FIRs with hard sections such as treason are being tax regime even on personal in- through zero sovereign default discretionary consumption of vac- indicating that the optimism on the lodged indiscriminately since the rally against farm leaders who have been come-tax to create an environment history, Subramanian adds. cine roll-out! overall economy may not be as negotiating with the Centre. Of over 40 such leaders, more than 30 have been for increasing purchasing power. A study sponsored by RBI in One major aspect of all these as- easy to achieve. The nation is named by the Delhi Police under the Home Ministry. This only creates the Chief Economic Adviser KV mid-2020 by Survey of Professional pirations is the RBI revenue pay- not on an easy path despite a impression that the government is trying to discredit the farmers’ agitation Subramanian says economic Forecasters is also not very dif- out. The CARE Ratings says that rosy projection. and bulldoze opposition to the farm laws. growth leads to debt sustainabil- ferent from the sovereign agen- the Central Bank’s earnings, which INFA Another matter of concern is a recent report that claims about 100 farm- ers going missing from the day of the tractor rally. This is disconcerting since every day that passes without a search for or trace of them mounts fears of the worst. There could also be a possibility that these farmers are being held hostage to build pressure for negotiation as well as weakening the farmers’ SPECTRUM HUNGER morale. It is known that India has an agriculture based economy. The proof is ob- served annually when, after a good crop, the Sensex goes high and dips after every poor harvest. Notwithstanding our slogan of Jai Jawan Jai Kisan, this severe style of persecution of farmers could lead to a dangerous Prevent the next food crisis now and divisive future for the country. he toxic cocktail of climate a hard sell just now. But preventing International Development livestock healthier, improved house- change, conflict, and Covid- famine and food insecurity is a Association (IDA, the WB’s fund for hold finances, boosted mental WISDOM CORNER T 19 is making itself felt most smart investment for everyone. the poorest countries) committed health, and prevented large-scale intensely in the world’s poorest Still, we must ensure that we $5.3 billion for food security in the displacement. and most vulnerable countries. As are getting the most from every six months between April and The development of effective The constant assertion of belief is an indication of fear. a result, a record 235 million peo- dollar we spend. That is why the October 2020. This sum comprised vaccines means that the world may JIDDU KRISHNAMURTI ple worldwide will need humani- United Nations and the World Bank a mix of short-term Covid-19 re- soon start to see the light at the Find ecstasy in life; the mere sense of living is joy enough. tarian assistance and protection are increasingly investing in an sponses and investments to ad- end of the tunnel. But for many EMILY DICKINSON in 2021 – an increase of 40 per cent anticipatory approach to human- dress the longer-term causes of of the most vulnerable countries, Yesterday is but today’s memory, and tomorrow is today’s dream. Mark Lowcock & from last year. itarian need. It has become ever food insecurity. the crisis will have deep and long- KAHLIL GIBRAN Axel van It can be hard to wrap one’s head clearer that acting early to address In Bangladesh, the WB redi- lasting after-effects – on incomes, around such numbers. But behind humanitarian needs ahead of a rected resources from an existing health, nutrition, education, and Trotsenburg the statistics are individual human crisis is more effective, dignified, project to provide, among other whole economies. lives. For the most vulnerable peo- and cost-efficient than waiting things, cash transfers to 620,000 Swift action can make the hang- WORDSWORTH ple, the pandemic’s secondary ef- until disaster has struck. vulnerable small-scale dairy and over less painful. We need to focus THE NUMBER fects – not the coronavirus itself – For example, in Bangladesh last poultry-farming households. In today on monitoring risks and the OF CHRONICALLY will cause the most damage. And year, the UN and the Red Cross/Red Haiti, where remittances were ex- factors that compound them, and Macaronic the hunger pandemic triggered by Crescent provided vulnerable peo- pected to decrease as a result of emphasize effective early action HUNGRY PEOPLE Covid-19 threatens to be the biggest ple with cash so that they could the pandemic, the IDA provided and long-term investment to avoid f this sounds as though it is connected with Italian pasta, you’re killer. The number of chronically get themselves and their livestock farmers with seeds and fertilizer much larger costs in future. Iright. It was coined in the sixteenth century by the Italian poet INCREASED BY hungry people increased by an es- out of harm’s way before devas- to safeguard future harvests, and Acting now on the danger sig- Teofilo Folengo, in reference to a sort of burlesque verse he invented AN ESTIMATED timated 130 million last year, to tating floods hit. This effort cost half supported small irrigation works. nals is the smart, moral, and cost- in which Italian words were mixed in with Latin ones for comic more than 800 million – about eight as much as picking up the pieces The IDA has also extended its Crisis effective strategy. By working to- effect. He said that he linked the crude hotch-potch of language in 130 MILLION times the total number of Covid-19 afterward would have done, and it Response Window to include $500 gether to save and transform lives, the verse with the homely foodstuff called macaroni, a dish which he LAST YEAR cases to date. helped more people. million in financing dedicated to re- we can free the world’s most vul- described (in Latin, of course) as “pulmentum farina, caseo, botiro Countries affected by conflict We are applying a similar an- sponding during the early stages of nerable people from crippling hunger compaginatum, grossum, rude, et rusticanum” (“a savoury dish and climate change are particu- ticipatory approach to the grow- slow-onset food-security crises and and insecurity and build the foun- bound together with flour, cheese [and] butter, [a dish] which is fat, larly vulnerable to food insecurity. ing hunger pandemic, by taking disease outbreaks. dations of a better future for all. coarse, and rustic”). The word first appeared in English a century Empty stomachs can stunt whole action before food emergencies Likewise, in June 2020, the UN’s later and expanded its scope to refer to any form of verse in which generations. turn into full-blown famines. This Central Emergency Response Fund Mark Lowcock is UN two or more languages were mixed together. A once-famous Moreover, the spectre of multi- involves addressing long-term driv- provided financing to help avert a Under-Secretary-General for American example was the mixed German-English verses of Hans ple famines looms just as govern- ers of food insecurity – including food crisis in Somalia. Acting ahead Humanitarian Affairs and Breitmann’s Ballads by Charles Leland, in which a German immigrant ment budgets are being stretched vulnerability to extreme weather of the triple threat of locusts, floods, Emergency Relief Coordinator. is overwhelmed by mid-nineteenth-century America and speaks in a by efforts to protect populations and pests, low incomes, fragile value and Covid reduced the risk of dis- Axel van Trotsenburg is MD of mixture of German and heavily accented English. Macaronic verse and economies from the pandemic. chains, and conflict – in order to pre- ease outbreaks. By upgrading bore- Operations at World Bank. has a link to the eighteenth-century London dandies who were called International solidarity to help pre- vent new crises down the road. holes early, the UN averted dis- macaronis because they liked foreign food, Italian in particular, as a vent such disasters may look like In line with this goal, the putes related to water sources, kept ©PROJECT SYNDICATE result of experiencing it on the Grand Tour. A certain famous old song also contains the word: “Yankee Doodle went to town, / Riding on a pony, / Stuck a feather in his hat, / And called it macaroni,” but Be on guard A big setback that is linked to the dandy sense, not the verse one. Sir, Beijing’s antics at the LAC have continued unabated. New Delhi has downplayed the Naku Sir, This refers to the news item “Tigress La incident saying there was a minor faceoff that was deftly resolved by Commanders according Sundari’s relocation likely in Feb” published etters to established protocols. Some sources have said the tiff was “more than a minor scuffle.” Did in Orissa POST on 31 January. Tiger census the Chinese side eat the humble pie notwithstanding the nature and magnitude of the scuf- is conducted every four years in India. The fle? Though there was no telltale evidence of skirmishes having taken place, India has not last one was done in 2018. There was a 33 LOL TOL THE EDITOR denied the incident while China has dismissed the whole standoff as “fake news.” Beijing is per cent increase in tiger population in India Readers of Orissa POST worried that back home the PLA will be sneered at if the details of injuries suffered by its (from 2,226 in 2014 to 2,967 in 2018). Madhya Good news & bad news are most welcome to contribute letters personnel fall into the public domain. The Xi Jinping government is steadfast in guarding its Pradesh saw a 71 per cent increase from 308 (200 words), articles and army from brickbats. The PLA is looking to set its roots in Naku La, an area where a fracas to 526, but in Odisha the tiger population columns (between 750-1250 atient: I’m in a hospital! Why am words). Contributors are had erupted between the two sides in May, 2020, just before Galwan, that left scores of soldiers has remained the same at 28. The state gov- PI in here? badly requested to send their from either side injured. The Commander-level talks between the two countries at Moldo, China ernment spent money in bringing two tigers Doctor: You’ve had an accident that we had contact numbers and full has stressed on “early disengagement” while describing the meet as “positive and construc- from MP in 2018. They were released in

involving a bus. to amputate postal address/email ID. They may also tive.” However, going by Naku La, the chance of an early troop pullout may be nothing more Satkosia Tiger Reserve where Mahavir was

k y m send in their valuable comments, opinion c Patient: What happened? both of them. and suggestions, preferably by email, than an illusion. Both countries are adamant that the other side take the early initiative to- killed by poachers and Sundari became vio- Doctor: Well, I’ve got some good news Patient: That’s terrible! What’s the to: [email protected] wards withdrawal. China is, quietly, busy with infrastructural activities along the border. In lent, injured/killed villagers. To protect the and some bad news. Which would you good news? the Aksai Chin region and along the Tibetan border with India, the effects of housing and town- villagers’ lives, Sundari was caged and is like to hear first? Doctor: There’s a guy in the next ward ship creation by Beijing has not been lost on New Delhi. Somehow, peace and tranquillity ap- now being sent back to MP. This is a big set- Patient: Give me the bad news first. who made a very good offer on your B-15, Rasulgarh Industrial Estate, pear to be alien words for Beijing. Its proclivity for provocation is common knowledge. New back for Odisha’s tiger conservation efforts. Doctor: Your legs were injured so slippers. Bhubaneswar-751010 Delhi has to be on its guard. Ganapathi Bhat, AKOLA Gopal Mittal, BHUBANESWAR UTTAR PRADESH WEST BENGAL P7

MONDAY | FEBRUARY 1 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR

k y m Shah, Irani slam Mamata RJD MAY JOIN FORCES c PRESS TRUST OF INDIA WITH TMC IN ELECTION Dumurjala , Jan 31: In a stinging Disgruntled TMC attack on West Bengal Chief leaders join BJP PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Minister Mamata Banerjee, Union Home Minister Amit Shah Sunday NEW DELHI: A day after quitting Kolkata, Jan 31: Bihar's main op- alleged that she is working towards the Trinamool Congress, former position party RJD is in talks with serving her nephew in the state, and West Bengal minister Rajib the Trinamool Congress to fight will have no one by her side by the Banerjee joined the BJP in New the upcoming West Bengal elec- Delhi along with a few other time assembly elections are held. tions together, a senior RJD leader disgruntled leaders of the Noting that the TMC which boasts state’s ruling party in presence said Sunday. of the slogan 'Maa Mati Mansuh' of Union Home Minister Amit RJD principal general secretary (Mother, Land and people) actually Shah. Banerjee and MLAs Prabir Abdul Bari Siddiqui and national indulges in extortion, corruption and Ghosal and Baishali Dalmiya, general secretary Shyam Rajak are appeasement, Shah exuded confi- who was expelled from the TMC in Kolkata to hammer a tie-up with dence of forming the next govern- a few days ago, former Howrah Mamata Banerjee's party for the ment in the state and take it to the Mayor Rathin Chakraborty and Bengal polls. path of development. actor Rudranil Ghosh flew to the "We will be meeting Chief "I want to make it clear that the national capital on a special Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday BJP would come to power in the state plane from Kolkata, and met to fight Bengal elections together," after the elections. While the Modi Accusing the ruling Trinamool Prime Minister Narendra Modi central BJP leaders. They have Rajak told PTI. Banerjee has a West Bengal and strengthen the government is working towards Congress in West Bengal of in- had in June last year launched the joined the BJP, party general Siddiqui and Rajak are meeting cordial relation with secular forces under the leader- 'jan kalyan' (serving people), the dulging in corruption, Union employment scheme for migrant secretary and the party's party leaders in the state ahead of RJD supremo Lalu ship of the TMC chief, he added. Bengal minder Kailash Mamata Banerjee government is Minister Smriti Irani said Sunday workers who had returned to vil- the discussions with Banerjee. Prasad and the party wishes Though not a noticeable player working towards 'bhatija kalyan' that while Prime Minister Narendra lages from cities, during the coro- Vijayvargiya told PTI following RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay in Bengal politics, the RJD, which the meeting. to strengthen her hands in (serving her nephew) in Bengal," Modi provided foodgrains for 80 navirus lockdown, to help them get Tiwary said over the phone from the Bengal polls emerged as the largest party in the Shah said addressing a rally through crore people of the country for jobs near their home and help in de- Patna that the party is exploring the recently concluded Bihar polls and video-conferencing here. eight months during the pandemic, velopment of villages. Claiming that Shramik Special possibility of contesting some seats MRITYUNJAY TIWARY I RJD SPOKESPERSON enjoys considerable support among "Mamata Banerjee should think the rations were looted by the party "The Prime Minister provided Trains arranged by the Centre were on the Bengal-Bihar border. the Muslims besides the Yadavs, why so many TMC leaders are join- in the state. five kg rice and one kg dal for 80 termed 'Corona Express' by Mamata He, however, did not give any and the party wishes to strengthen is eyeing a few seats on the inter- ing the BJP. It is because she has Maintaining that over 50 crore crore people of the country for eight Banerjee, Irani said, “I want to ask numbers on which the party is her hands in the Bengal polls, state border that have a sizeable failed the people of the state. By mandays were created under 'Garib months through 'Pradhan Mantri her whether sons and daughters planning to fight the state elec- Tiwary said. number of Hindi- speaking voters. the time elections arrive, she will Rojgar Yojana' for migrant workers Garib Kalyan Yojana', but in Bengal, from Bengal working in different tions, likely in April-May. The primary objective of the RJD had an MLA in the Bengal be left alone," he said, hinting at returning home, Irani claimed that TMC looted it during the lockdown," parts of the country are consid- Banerjee has a cordial relation RJD is to stop the "communal" BJP assembly between 2006 and 2011 more exodus from the ruling party. "it did not happen in Bengal". she said addressing a BJP rally here. ered viruses by her.” with RJD supremo Lalu Prasad from increasing its influence in during the Left Front rule. Kafeel Khan in list MAGH MELA Farmers ‘deeply of history-sheeters hurt’ by Centre PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers PRESS TRUST OF INDIA (Empowerment and Protection) BAFFLING ARREST Lucknow, Jan 31: Samajwadi Agreement on Price Assurance Gorakhpur , Jan 31: Dr Kafeel Party chief Akhilesh Yadav Sunday and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Khan and 80 others have been in- han was arrested in January said the farmers were deeply hurt Essential Commodities cluded in the list of history-sheeters K2020 after a speech he had by the moves made by the BJP to (Amendment) Act, 2020. in Gorakhpur district of Uttar delivered at the Aligarh Muslim defame them. The protest took a violent turn Pradesh and they will be on the University during the anti- radar of police, officials said. Citizenship (Amendment) Act The farmers are The 81 people have been included (CAA) protests feeling deeply in the list on the instruction of hurt because of llahabad High Court had the moves made by the Senior Superintendent of Police Aquashed Khan’s detention Jogendra Kumar, they said. under the NSA and ordered his BJP to defame them. The The district now has a total of immediate release, saying his BJP has enacted 1,543 history-sheeters, or persons speech at the AMU didn't demonetisation, GST, with a criminal record. promote violence labour laws and farm Kafeel Khan's brother Adeel laws to give benefits only Khan, however, told PTI that the his- of innocent persons is opened, he View of tents placed for devotees on the bank of Ganga river during Magh Mela festival, in Prayagraj, Sunday PTI to the billionaires tory-sheet against the doctor was charged. AKHILESH YADAV I SAMAJWADI opened on June 18, 2020, but the Khan was arrested in January PARTY CHIEF information was given to the media 2020 after a speech he had deliv- on Friday. ered at the Aligarh Muslim In a video message released on University on December 10, 2019 dur- Power employees to strike Feb 3 He also alleged that the BJP has during the farmers' tractor rally on Saturday, Kafeel Khan said, The ing the anti-Citizenship tortured common people. January 26. UP government has opened my (Amendment) Act (CAA) protests. "The farmers are feeling deeply Enacted in September 2020, the history-sheet. They say that they will He was subsequently booked under PRESS TRUST OF INDIA stroying the public sector across the hurt because of the moves made by central government has presented monitor me for life. Good, give two the stringent National Security country, the official said. the BJP to defame them. The BJP these laws as major farm reforms security guards who will keep an Act (NSA). Mathura, Jan 31: Intensifying AIPEF wants the commencement has enacted demonetisation, GST, aimed at increasing farmers' in- eye on me for 24 hours. At least, I In his video message, Khan stir against the Centre's privatisa- of the withdrawal process of pri- labour laws and farm laws to give come, but the protesting farmers will be able to save myself from also said he had written to the tion policy, 15 lakh power employ- vatisation of electricity from the benefits only to the billionaires. have raised concerns that these fake cases. state government requesting it to ees of the country would resort to public sector to private companies The BJP has tortured the common legislations would weaken the min- In Uttar Pradesh, the situation reinstate him at his post in work boycott on February 3, the in states and Union territories with- people," the Samajwadi Party chief imum support price (MSP) and is such that the criminals are not Gorakhpur's Baba Raghav Das All India Power Engineers out further delay, he said. said in a tweet in Hindi. "mandi" (wholesale market) sys- monitored, but the history-sheet (BRD) Medical College. Federation (AIPEF) said. The official said the Federation Thousands of farmers have been tems and leave them at the mercy Prime Minister (Narendra Modi), further be intensified as the steps demands scrapping of the Electricity protesting at Delhi's borders with of big corporations. through a letter, has also been ap- taken by the government in the Bill and standard bidding docu- Haryana and Uttar Pradesh de- The government has main- prised (of this) besides notice served name of reforms had placed power ment for total privatisation of dis- manding the rollback of the tained that these apprehensions on Union and state governments, distribution companies (discoms) tribution of electricity. Farmers' Produce Trade and are misplaced and ruled out a AIPEF Chairman Shailendra Dubey in alarming financial crisis, said the It also urged the government to Commerce (Promotion and repeal of the laws. said Sunday, during a virtual con- AIPEF chairman. re-merge all power utilities in ference. He firmly said the Despite failure of privatisation states with function components Electricity (Amendment) Bill in in Agra, Greater Noida and Orissa, of generation, transmission, and its current form is unacceptable. the government is moving ahead distribution like KSEB Ltd and To build pressure on the gov- without bothering to take feedback HPSEB Ltd. Yogi launches pulse ernment, the Federation earlier of practical aspect from discoms, The Federation official also de- held meetings and has resorted to who are the real sufferers, he added. manded the implementation of old token work boycotts. In the name of reforms, the gov- pension scheme for all power sec- polio programme Unless the government rescinds ernment is serving the interest of tor employees and regularisation its decision, the agitation would the private sector, gradually de- of all contractual workers PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

Lucknow, Jan 31: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath CM face may be an issue for BJP in Bengal Sunday launched the pulse polio pro- gramme in the state by adminis- tering drops to children at a health- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, care facility here and said over the BJP took its tally of seats from 1.10 lakh booths have been set up New Delhi, Jan 31: The BJP’s 2 to 18 and vote share of 17 to 40 per for the vaccination drive. major problem in West Bengal will cent in just four years. A number All the newborns should be taken be its chief ministerial face for the of TMC leaders, including MPs and to booths and administered polio "Under the leadership of Prime 2021 assembly elections, according MLAs have joined the BJP recently. drops so that the state and the coun- Minister Narendra Modi, serious to a new book which also claims Banerjee has been asserting that try remain free of the disease, he said. work has been done to improve the party does not have a leader only the TMC, being a Bengal-based "A little bit of laxity may paral- the health facilities. Two COVID vac- who can match the mass appeal of political party, has the right to rule yse the future of a child... Almost cines have been made in the coun- Mamata Banerjee. the state instead of the Narendra 3.40 crore children in the age try. India has been providing anti- In states like Uttar Pradesh, the Modi-Amit Shah-led BJP. group of 0-5 years in the state are coronavirus vaccines to other BJP achieved success without pro- Pal says there has been a sharp being administered the drops. For nations as the prime minister jecting any chief ministerial can- shift from politics over economic this, more than 1.10 lakh booths strongly believes in 'Vasudhaiva didate but will this be possible in policies and livelihood to identity have been set up," the chief min- Kutumbakam' (world is one family)," West Bengal, journalist Sambit Pal politics in the last decade in ister said. Adityanath said. asks in his book "The Bengal West Bengal. "The World Health Organisation Referring to the health scenario Conundrum: The Rise of the BJP "In 2007-11, people in Bengal were had on March 27, 2014, declared of the state, he said, "From and the Future of the TMC". discussing about rights and livelihood. India polio-free. Even today, three Independence to 2016, there were As West Bengal grapples with tu- The discussion was on the creation countries -- Pakistan, Afghanistan only 12 medical colleges in the multuous times - from the contro- of jobs, farmland acquisition for in- and Nigeria -- are still polio-in- state. In the last four years, work versy surrounding the National dustries and SEZs and investment in fected." is going on to establish 31 new med- Register of Citizens (NRC) to the "The names of former Indian ing his desire to be the chief min- vantage for them," the author claims. the state. In 2019-20, the discussion Hence, despite India being polio- ical colleges in the state. District hos- economic impact of the COVID- cricket captain Sourav Ganguly, isterial candidate," he writes. "While the BJP is all set to take revolves around religious and so- free, the danger of the disease com- pitals have also been expanded." 19 pandemic - on the cusp of this Rajya Sabha member and journal- BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya up the issues of TMC's corruption, cial polarisation and corruption in ing from the polio-infected countries He also said that when the first crucial election, the BJP and the ist Swapan Dasgupta and even a has, however, asserted that the party syndicate raj, bhatija-raj (target- the ruling party," he says. still remains. So, effective imple- COVID-19 case was reported in the

TMC are rolling their dices to win monk of Ramakrishna Mission, would not go to the assembly elec- ing Abhishek Banerjee), Muslim The author claims that even mentation of pulse polio immuni- state, there was no testing facilities.

k y m c the strategic battle. Swami Kripakarananda, have al- tions with any chief ministerial appeasement and Mamata's oppo- though poll strategist Prashant sation programme is necessary, "At present, everyday almost "The BJP's major problem in ready come up in media reports. candidate. sition to NRC-CAA, Mamata Kishor has been trying his best to Adityanath said. 1.75 lakh samples are tested in the Bengal will be the chief ministerial Former governor of Tripura and "The Bengal BJP has no such Banerjee is depending on her fighter revive Mamata's as well as the About the COVID-19 situation, the state. Ventilators have been pro- face for 2021 assembly election. Meghalaya and former BJP state leader who can match the mass image and on rousing the Bengali party's image, "corruption at the pandemic has been effectively cur- vided in every district and training There is already an internal feud on president, Tathagata Roy, also openly leader that Mamata Banerjee is. The sentiment," the book, published by grassroots level could not be erad- tailed in Uttra Pradesh due to ded- has also been imparted to operate this issue," Pal argues. threw his hat in the ring, express- TMC also knows this will be an ad- Bloomsbury India, says. icated completely". icated work done by medical teams. them," the chief minister said. P8 Today, India is undertaking PATNA’S HARDINGE PARK TURNS 105 MONDAY | FEBRUARY 1 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR the world's biggest Covid vaccine programme. Do you know what's a Hardinge Park, Patna's famed garden built in matter of more pride? Along with honour of the viceroy who was instrumental in the biggest vaccine programme, we the creation of Bihar and Orissa as a separate are vaccinating our citizens faster province and which hosted the Prince of Wales a century ago, Sunday completed 105 y than anywhere in the world national years, albeit shorn of its heritage identity

NARENDRA MODI PRIME MINISTER

k y m | c

of the day uote Farm stir: Thousands converge at Ghazipur 26% women cite gender The people of Jammu have a AGENCIES Protesting farmers will honour pay gap in new survey great history INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE of serving the nation the dignity of prime minister, but and sacrificing their New Delhi, Jan 31: Despite an are also committed to protecting lives for the increasing number of barricades, their self-respect, the Tikait broth- New Delhi, Jan 31: In a recent integrity of the thousands of farmers have been ers who are leading the agitation international survey on gender country… every community must converging at Ghazipur on the asserted Sunday, a day after equality opinions and experi- not forget their martyrs and young Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border fol- Narendra Modi said his govern- ences during the Covid-19 pan- generation shall know about their lowing a tearful Bharatiya Kisan ment was just a "phone call away" demic, most (87 per cent) fe- brave stories regarding sacrifices Union leader Rakesh Tikait's im- for talks with the unions. male respondents from India and serving the motherland passioned appeal to protesters to bol- Both Naresh and Rakesh Tikait have said they feel at risk, or

FAROOQ KHAN | JAMMU AND KASHMIR LT ster the stir. said they were open to talks with know someone who feels at GOVERNOR'SADVISOR The tide of the over two-month the government to find a "middle risk, of assault or harassment Representative image protest against the farm laws, which path", which the former suggested in some place or another. In had lost its sheen after the violence could be the BJP government not the same survey, about 26 per the report. in Delhi during the tractors pa- implementing the three laws dur- cent women say they are not Of the 1,003 respondents The central rade on Republic day, appears to ing its tenure. paid as much as their male surveyed, 48 per cent of female government have regained momentum as is ev- Sukhbir Singh Badal presents a sword to Rakesh Tikait PTI PHOTO Rakesh, the younger of the two counterparts. respondents in India state that has no right to ident from the increased number and the national spokesperson for According to India-based they have had their "freedom make farm laws. of tents set up at the protest site. government over the three farm plummeted and many farmers re- the BKU, said a "respectful solu- findings of the report by of movement restricted against The farmer's Many protesters waited for hours laws, met Tikait for around 10 min- Women Deliver and Focus 2030, their will by family members agitation will not turned home. On Wednesday night, tion" should be found to the issue, end till the three to talk to Tikait or take a selfie with utes. Farmers, carrying tricolours the atmosphere was tense at but asserted they will not agree to women in India cited public or (their) partner". new agriculture laws are repealed. him as the farmer leader remained and raising slogans, took out Ghazipur. anything under pressure. places to be the most common As per the report, 60 per cent These farm legislations will only busy meeting his supporters and marches, while a group of youths The Ghaziabad administration Country saddened at insult place where they felt at-risk. women find it acceptable for benefit the capitalists talking to the media. gathered at a spot near the Delhi- issued an "ultimatum" to the pro- to Tricolour: PM "Fifty-five percent of female women to refuse sexual inter- A Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Meerut expressway and danced to testers occupying a stretch of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi respondents feel at risk, or course with their partner; and GURNAM SINGH CHADUNI | HARYANA member said Tikait has been sleep- patriotic songs till the sun went Delhi-Meerut expressway to va- said on Sunday that the country was know someone who feels at 56 per cent find it unaccept- BHARATIYA KISAN UNION (BKU) CHIEF ing only for around three hours a down. The scene was quite differ- cate as the January 26 clashes saddened by the "insult" to the risk, "online", and 40 per cent able to whistle at a woman in day for the last three days. "He had ent just three days ago. painted a not-so-peaceful picture of Tricolour on Republic Day, referring do "in the place where (they) the street, or touch her without complained of blood pressure issues, A day after the Republic Day vi- the peasant community. As security to the religious flag incident at Red work or study". her consent. 35 per cent think The farm laws but is doing fine now," the mem- olence in Delhi, when a section of presence at the site escalated and Fort during the farmers' tractor Twenty-six per cent of fe- it acceptable to share a sexist were ber said. Shiromani Akal Dal chief farmers taking part in the tractor fears grew that the protesters would parade. In his monthly 'Mann ki male respondents in India feel joke about a woman with detrimental to Sukhbir Singh Badal visited the parade broke through barriers, be forcibly evicted, an emotional Baat' broadcast, Modi maintained at risk, or know someone who friends or on social media, the interests of not Ghazipur border to lend his sup- clashed with police and stormed the Tikait broke down while talking to that his government is committed feels at risk, of assault or ha- while 51 per cent find this un- only the farmers but port to the protesting farmers. Badal, rassment in their home," said the whole country Red Fort for a few hours, the farmer reporters. to "modernising" farming and has acceptable. whose party pulled out of the NDA game it seemed to be over. Morale ‘Will honour PM's dignity’: been taking many steps. PRIYANKA GANDHI VADRA | CONGRESS GENERAL SECRETARY Delhi Police covers SHORT TAKES ‘100% occupancy in ‘Make Rahul party chief again’ blast site near Man dies after Delhi Congress chief Chowdhury Anil Kumar moved the resolution, to request Israeli Embassy getting nCoV vax theatres from Feb 1’ Rahul Gandhi to take over as the President of the Congress at the earliest PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Ahmedabad: A 30-year-old PRESS TRUST OF INDIA New Delhi, Jan 31: The Delhi sanitation worker died INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE Police Sunday covered the blast around two hours after being New Delhi, Jan 31: Cinema halls spot near the Israeli Embassy here administered a coronavirus across the country will be per- New Delhi, Jan 31: Ahead of or- with a white-coloured tent to pre- vaccine in Gujarat's Vadodara mitted to operate at 100 per cent ca- ganisational polls in the party vent the site being tampered with on Sunday, following which pacity from February 1 with ad- slated for May, the Delhi Congress as the adjacent road opened for authorities ordered a herence to COVID-19 safety has passed a resolution calling traffic, officials said. postmortem to ascertain the protocols, Union Minister for for Rahul Gandhi to be appointed Sources said probe agencies exact cause of his death, Information and Broadcasting party President. are covering all angles, however, officials said. While the Prakash Javadekar announced development comes days after the Delhi Congress chief they have not identified any family members of the Sunday. Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Chowdhury Anil Kumar moved suspect yet. deceased said they suspect Digital booking of tickets and allowed cinema halls and theatres the resolution, to request Rahul The APJ Abdul Kalam Road, that the COVID-19 vaccine staggered show timings will be en- to operate with more people as per Gandhi to take over as the which was closed for nearly two was the reason behind his couraged, the minister said, re- fresh COVID-19 reopening guide- President of the Congress at the days after the IED blast on Friday, sudden death, officials said leasing a set of the Standard earliest. has been opened for general traf- he might have died due to a lines, to be effective from February heart attack as he had a Operating Procedures (SOPs). 1. Javadekar said he hopes people He said, "Considering the dis- fic now. Police also faced some history of heart disease since "There is good news. In February, will "welcome" this move as the turbed and dangerous political sit- challenges in collecting video 2016 and was not taking people can watch and enjoy films government is working towards uation in the country, Congress footage as most CCTV cameras medicines. Jignesh Solanki in theatres as we are allowing full relaxing several restrictions im- needs a dynamic and powerful in the area were not functional was a sanitation worker at occupancy in all cinema halls. posed due to the abnormal chal- leader like Rahul Gandhi at the boost the confidence and morale of The resolution noted that "the at the time of incident, the the Vadodara Municipal Cinema halls can now open at 100 lenges posed by the coronavirus helm, to lead the party forcefully, the Congress workers. Congress, led by Rahul Gandhi, sources said. Corporation (VMC). He was per cent capacity. We encourage pandemic. "Customers can also to counter the communal, au- The two other resolutions de- had forcefully protested against The said the material used in the vaccinated on Sunday as much online booking (of tickets) buy food and beverage from the thoritarian and undemocratic manded the resignation of Union the anti-farmer laws inside and bomb will be known after the re- morning. However, hours as possible," Javadekar told re- stalls at the theatres and can carry forces, trying to take the country Home Minister Amit Shah and outside Parliament and backed port of the forensic science later, he fainted at home and porters here. it with them inside (the audito- on the path of destruction." The res- Delhi Chief Minister Arvind the farmers' agitation demand- laboratory. was rushed to the SSG "Staggered show timings will be rium). These are all normal things olution said that Rahul Gandhi Kejriwal, for their "mishandling" ing the repeal of the laws which An envelope addressed to the Hospital in the city, where he encouraged so that the entry and but when the situation became ab- has been waging a determined bat- of the farmers' tractor rally and will be ruinous to the farm sector Israeli Embassy and containing a was declared brought dead exit of the crowd can be managed normal due to COVID-19, we had to tle to "expose the misdeeds" of the the resultant violence in Delhi, and in the country, as the laws were note was found at the site of the by doctors, the officials said better. Sanitisation and all COVID- put these restrictions. These re- Modi government, and his lead- alleged Kejriwal was also re- intended to benefit a few rich cor- blast, sources had said. A case has 19 safety protocols must be fol- strictions are on the verge to be ing from the front as the Congress sponsible for the present "state porate friends of the Modi been registered and the Delhi lowed," the minister added. The relaxed," the minister added. President was an urgent need to of ruin" in Delhi. government." Police's Special Cell is investigat- Railway police ing the matter. SI shot at POLIO RAVIVAR Patna: A Government Railway Police Sub-Inspector was GOLDEN HOUR shot at and seriously injured at the Barh railway station in ‘89L kids given polio drops across India’ Bihar's Patna district, police said Sunday. SI Vipin Kumar PRESS TRUST OF INDIA the ministry underlined. Speaking Singh sustains gunshot injury at a function on the eve of the in the chest around midnight New Delhi, Jan 31: Around 89 National Immunization Day, Union Saturday and was under lakh children under five years of age, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan close observation at the as per provisional data, were given had said, “Maintaining a polio-free Patna Medical College and polio drops across the country status for 10 years is a huge ac- Hospital (PMCH). Sunday on the occasion of Polio complishment in the history of National Immunization Day, also public health in India.” known as 'Polio Ravivar', the Union He also highlighted govern- Two Army men health ministry said. The vacci- Representative image ment efforts and actions to nation was done at around 7 lakh railway stations, airports and ferry strengthen routine immuniza- killed in accident booths which were staffed with 12 crossing to vaccinate children in tion to ensure that no child suf- Agra (Uttar Pradesh): Two lakh vaccinators and 1.8 lakh su- transit to ensure no child misses the fers from a vaccine-preventable army men were killed when pervisors. life-saving dose. All measures have disease. President Ram Nath their Scorpio lost control and "The booth activity will be fol- been taken to ensure safety dur- Kovind had launched the National rammed into a divider near lowed by house-to-house surveil- ing the times of COVID-19 pan- Polio Immunisation Day for 2021 milestone 74 on the Yamuna lance (mop-up rounds) over the demic by maintaining coronavirus by administering polio drops to Expressway in Mathura's next two to five days to identify appropriate practices such as pre- children less than five years of Naujheel area Sunday morning. and vaccinate children who missed venting overcrowding at booths, age at Rashtrapati Bhawan The deceased have been getting vaccinated at the booths," maintaining physical distance of January 30. India has been free of identified as Lance Naik the ministry said. two metres, wearing masks, wash- polio for a decade, with the last Pradeep Singh Sardar, 35, Vaccination teams have also ing hands and administering polio case of wild poliovirus reported from Gwalior and Guru Bakshish A couple silhouetted against the setting Sun at Broken bridge, in Chennai PTI PHOTO been deployed at bus terminals, drops in well ventilated settings, January 13, 2011. Singh, 42, from Tarn Taran as per available documents. Woman stabbed 76% students forced to watch tobacco advertisements to death Meerut (Uttar Pradesh): A According to a study conducted by the Ministry of Health, 14.6 per cent of adolescents between the ages of 13 and 15 in India use some form of tobacco woman in Meerut was brutally killed by her nephew INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE Addressing a webinar on 'Tobacco showcased in a place where they said that the Central Government Act is very important to end the after she refused his sexual Freegen: Challenges and Way Ahead' have high visibility. Similarly, 72.32 has made a great effort to remove conspiracies targeting these youth. advances. The woman's body New Delhi, Jan 31: Despite the Dr. Uma Kumar, Professor at AIIMS per cent of these shops display to- the deficiencies in the Tobacco This webinar was organised by was found in her house with ban on advertising of tobacco prod- and head of the Department of bacco products near candies and Control Laws and have proposed SpeakIn. several stab wounds and a ucts in our country, 76 per cent of Rheumatology, said that tobacco sweets to lure children. several amendments in this regard. According to a study conducted

y slit throat, two days ago. school-college students are forced companies that make products like Famous cancer specialist and Police station in-charge, They would help in curbing con- by the Ministry of Health, 14.6

to watch advertisements of tobacco cigarettes and gutka are specifi- Regional Director, HCG Hospital, sumption of tobacco by the youth. per cent of adolescents between

k y m Rishipal Singh, said the police c have arrested the woman's companies. Also, to entice the cally targeting teenagers. Bangalore, Dr. Vishal Rao, said that Youth leader and Maharashtra the ages of 13 and 15 in India use nephew, who is in his B.Com teenagers, these companies show- Citing the latest survey 'Big the chances of addiction in ado- BJP spokesperson Shweta Shalini some form of tobacco. The min- final year. The police said case their products specially be- Tobacco Tiny Target' conducted in Representative image lescence are high. So these compa- said that every day five and a half istry has made the draft amend- that the woman's nephew tween toffee-chocolate, etc. Experts 25 cities of the country, she said nies are specifically targeting them. thousand teenagers in the country ments to the COTPA laws public allegedly demanded sexual caution that it increases the risk of that it has been found that 75.9 per and colleges have not only advertised BJP leader and senior advocate are getting addicted to tobacco prod- recently and has sought feedback favours from her. addiction in adolescents. cent of such shops near schools tobacco products but also they are of Supreme Court Aman Sinha ucts. Amendment of the COTPA from the people. P9 LEOPARD SEEN IN MONDAY | FEBRUARY 1 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR DELHI VILLAGES For the last 35 years under the Congress The Delhi Forest Department has rule, 52 per cent of sounded an alert and is conducting the population in the patrols after a leopard was spotted UT remained below around Najafgarh and Ghumanhera

y national the poverty line villages for two consecutive days,

k y m J P NADDA | BJP PRESIDENT officials said Sunday c

of the day uote Vax diplomacy adds fresh layer to Indo-US ties Sasikala hints at The people AGENCIES made vaccine to inoculate its front- should right line workers amid the surging now decide, New Delhi, Jan 31: India's health Covid-19 pandemic in the country. do we want political battle corporate-driven diplomacy is yielding unexpected Mexico will be importing about agriculture or results with the United States now 870,000 doses of the AstraZeneca agriculture driven joining the United Nations in laud- Covid-19 vaccine from India in by the farmers? This is an ing New Delhi's vaccine heft. On February, Mexican President with AIADMK inescapable question posed to us Friday, the newly-appointed US Andres Manuel Loapez Obrdor right now Secretary of State Antony Blinken, said Friday. India, which has Sasikala was expelled from the party in Sept, 2017 along in a conversation with External emerged as the "pharmacy to the P. SAINATH | NOTED AGRICULTURAL Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, with her nephew TTV Dhinakaran and others by the JOURNALIST world" in the war against Covid- nailed Covid-19 vaccinations as a key 19, had dispatched two million doses general council of the combined AIADMK under the dimension of ties during the Joe of the same Pune-made vaccine to We pity the Biden presidency. Brazil January 22. leadership of Palaniswami BJP's tactics "Warm conversation with This has enabled the Latin who despite Secretary of State @SecBlinken. important role in the production of IndiaNarrative.com reported ear- American country to kick off its PRESS TRUST OF INDIA having their Congratulated him on his ap- generics for use that was a very lier, nearly a dozen vaccines are in inoculation drive at a time when government at the pointment. Look forward to work- important element of democrati- the pipeline in India. The vaccine its Covid-19 death toll has crossed Bangalore, Jan 31: Expelled Centre and in many ing with him again. Agreed that sation of access to medicines all factory of the world is not only de- 214,000 which is the second high- AIADMK leader V K Sasikala was states, have lost we could build further on the solid over the world," Guterres said dur- veloping indigenous vaccines but est in the world after the US. discharged from a hospital here people's trust and hence have to foundation of our partnership. Also ing a media interaction in New also manufacturing vaccines de- Mexico, which has been averaging Sunday after recovering from use Arvind Kejriwal's doctored discussed our efforts at combating York on Friday. veloped by MNCs. The line-up is over 16,000 fresh Covid-19 cases COVID-19, days after she was set free video to save the farm laws the Covid-19 pandemic," tweeted He added: "And we strongly hope such that a series of launches will every day and has lost 1.55 lakh by the prison officials on comple- MANISH SISODIA | DELHI DEPUTY CHIEF MINISTER Jaishankar. The dialogue between that India will have all the instru- take place from India right till the lives to the pandemic, also has an tion of her jail term in a corruption the two top diplomats follows an ments that are necessary to play a end of 2021. India has in the past few agreement with UK pharma giant case, authorities said. unexpected praise about India's major role in making sure that a days supplied millions of Covid-19 AstraZeneca to produce the vaccine Sending a strong signal, Sasikala, The new farm global role in vaccinations by UN global vaccination campaign be- vaccines to countries in South Asia, but this is expected to take more a close aide of late Tamil Nadu laws do not Secretary General Antonio Guterres. comes possible. I think that the pro- South America, Africa, West Asia, time. India has also exported three chief minister J Jayalalithaa, trav- affect the "I would like to say how much we duction capacity of India is one of as well as the Pacific Island states. million doses of its Covid-19 vac- elled in a car that sported the current MSP system count on India. I mean, India has one the best assets the world has today, After Brazil, Mexico has become cine to Saudi Arabia in a rein- AIADMK flag from the hospital, and APMC's Mandis of the most advanced pharmaceu- with the ruling party questioning as well and I hope the world understands the second Latin American coun- forcement of its extended neigh- tical industries. India played a very that it must be fully used." As try that will be getting an India- bourhood doctrine. the propriety of her action when NARENDRA SINGH she had been ousted from the party. V K Sasikala TOMAR | UNION MINISTER The AIADMK has time and again Sonu Sood moves made it clear that the 66- year old adding "I have already told you BUILDING NEST Sasikala would not be taken back that legal fight will continue (to SHORT TAKES and her release would not have retrieve the AIADMK)." SC against HC order any impact on the party, which is The very purpose of floating the keen retain power in the assem- AMMK was to retrieve the R-Day violence: FSL PRESS TRUST OF INDIA bly elections, expected in April- AIADMK in a democratic way and May. It has already declared in- 'Thiyaga Thalaivi Chinnamma' team reaches ITO New Delhi, Jan 31: Actor Sonu cumbent K Palaniswami as the (leader of sacrifices, junior 'Amma') New Delhi: A team of Forensic Sood has moved the Supreme chief ministerial candidate for the would continue legal efforts to win Science Laboratory reached Court challenging the Bombay polls. On Sunday, the AIADMK in back the party, he said. Dhinakaran Delhi's ITO area Sunday, days High Court order which dismissed its twitter handle said the use of its said as per doctors' advice she after the farmers' tractor his appeal against a BMC notice flag by Sasikala was against the would stay back here and take rest parade turned violent, leaving over alleged illegal construction law and quoted senior party leader for a week before returning to 394 security personnel at his residential building in D Jayakumar. "How Sasikala, who Chennai. Political analyst Sumanth injured and one agitator Mumbai's Juhu area. is not even a party member could Raman tweeted "#Sasikala com- dead, officials said. The team Sood's petition stated that his ap- use the party flag? This is against ing out of hospital in a car with an is collecting forensic plication for conversion has been the law," Jayakumar, who is also the AIADMK flag on it seems to be a evidences from the ITO and approved by the Municipal Fisheries Minister, said. clear signal of her intentions. Game nearby areas, they said. A Commissioner subject to Defending Sasikala, Dhinakaran, on." Soon after she was discharged, protestor died near ITO during Maharashtra Coastal Zone who is the general secretary of Sasikala reached a resort near the the violence on Republic Day. Management Authority (MCZMA) Amma Makkal Munnetra scenic Nandi Hill at Devanahalli in permission. Kazhagam floated by him in March, North Bengaluru. Sasikala was It said the high court order dated 2018 as an arrangement to retrieve admitted to the Victoria Hospital No new nCoV January 13, 2021 has been passed the AIADMK, claimed "she (his after she tested positive for COVID- without considering the provi- aunt) is the general secretary of 19 recently while under judicial case in Andamans sions of Section 43 (1) of the the AIADMK." custody. Prison authorities here Port Blair: Picturesque Maharashtra Regional and Town Cases relating to her so-called 'ex- had formally released her on Andaman and Nicobar Islands Planning Act, 1966 and his appli- pulsion' and connected matters January 27 after she completed the have not reported any cation for conversion of residen- were pending before the court in four-year jail term in a `66 crore dis- coronavirus case for the last tial premises into a residential Greater adjutant storks perch on a silk-cotton tree, in Nagaon district PTI PHOTO Tamil Nadu, he told reporters, proportionate assets case. five days notwithstanding a hotel was submitted in 2018 be- steady inflow of tourists into fore the department concerned. the archipelago, health The plea contended that their ap- department officials said JOURNALIST ARREST Sunday. The Union Territory ‘Tejas Mark II to roll out next year’ has not reported any new COVID- 19 case since Tuesday, they said. PRESS TRUST OF INDIA trial of the jet will start in 2023 and The virus caseload in the CONG SLAMS BJP we expect the production to start archipelago remained at 4,994, with only four active cases, a PRESS TRUST OF INDIA truth arrest honest journalists." New Delhi, Jan 31: A more potent somewhere around 2025," Madhavan senior health official said. He also tagged a video purport- version of the indigenous Tejas told PTI. Asked about the weapon New Delhi, Jan 31: The Congress edly showing Punia being held by multi-role combat jet featuring a package for Tejas Mark II, the chief Sunday slammed the BJP-led Centre police at the Singhu border. much powerful engine, greater load- of the state-run aerospace giant over the arrest of a freelance jour- Congress general secretary carrying capability and next-gen- did not give a direct reply and said Naxals kill nalist from the Singhu border with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said jour- eration electronic warfare system it will be decided at a later stage de- ambulance driver plication for conversion, which party leader Rahul Gandhi saying nalists covering the farmers' move- is expected to be rolled out next pending on the requirement and has been approved by the Municipal those who fear truth arrest honest ment are being arrested, cases are year and its first high-speed trials ity, much stronger engine power changing dynamics. Tejas is a sin- Narayanpur: An ambulance Commissioner subject to MCZMA, scribes. being slapped against them and will start in 2023, according to and superior net-centric warfare sys- gle-engine and highly agile multi- driver has been killed by be directed to be decided by au- Mandeep Punia was arrested the internet is being shut down in Chairman and Managing Director tems. With an increase in range role supersonic fighter capable of Naxals in Chhattisgarh's thorities concerned. “The peti- from the Singhu border Sunday many places. of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd R and payload capability, Madhavan operating in high-threat air envi- Narayanpur district over tioners have already stopped the for allegedly misbehaving with Congress' chief spokesperson Madhavan. He said the structural said the new variant will be much ronments. The aircraft, manufac- suspicion of being a police work of internal renovation which the police personnel on duty at Randeep Surjewala, in a tweet in package and related work on the superior to the Tejas Mark-IA, 73 of tured by the HAL, is a potent plat- informer, police said Sunday. require no permission as per the the farmers' protest site there, of- Hindi, addressed PM Modi and Tejas Mark II, which will have an which are being procured by the form for air combat and offensive The incident took place in provisions of Section 43 of ficials said. said by slapping false cases at the array of superior avionics, was Indian Air Force from the HAL air support with reconnaissance Tekanar village Friday ` evening when the victim, Maharashtra Regional and Town A case was registered against BJP's behest against journalists progressing well, and the produc- under a 48,000-crore deal that was and anti-ship operations as its sec- identified as Jairam Usendi Planning Act, 1966, therefore, the him and he has been arrested now, exposing the attack on farmers and tion of the high-performance jet approved by the government ondary roles. The Tejas Mk-IA will (35), went to a local market respondents may kindly be re- a senior police officer said, a day shutting down mobile internet is likely to start around 2025. January 13. be equipped with an active elec- along with his brother, an strained from demolition of the ren- after the scribe was detained. at protest sites, "you will not be Madhavan said the upgraded "Tejas Mark II is likely to roll tronically scanned array radar, be- official said. Usendi's brother ovation work already done in the Reacting to the development, for- able to suppress the farmers' version will have a bigger fuselage, out by August-September of 2022. yond visual range missile, elec- reported the matter to police building,” the plea filed by Sood and mer Congress chief Rahul Gandhi movement and shut out the coun- longer range, better maintainabil- After that, the first flight will take tronic warfare suite and air-to-air Saturday, he said. his wife said. tweeted in Hindi, "Those who fear try's voice". ity, greater load-carrying capabil- some time. The first high-speed refuelling system.

Maoists set farm laws enacted. But the 2020 by the CBI, 196 related to bank Many state governments want to and now holding a series of parleys The CBI showed great alacrity in government saved face by frauds. It meant that the CBI is vaccinate people free of cost if it is to mollify the farmers. Had the completing a probe into the vehicles ablaze promising that these codes would mostly grappling with bank fraud made available to them. Highly government held such talks with Hathras incident in UP where a girl be implemented after framing of cases. The bank fraud cases during placed sources in the government the Opposition leaders before was allegedly raped and murdered. Balaghat (MP): Nearly a rules by the Labour ministry by 2019 were just 91 and these jumped say that India may require 70-80 rushing to pass these acts in a rush The Yogi Adityanath government dozen Maoists set three Kuru consulting trade unions and to 196 in 2020. The amount in bank million doses of vaccines by May- denied these charges saying it was vehicles on fire in the Balaghat in September, the situation would stakeholders. Now 10 of the 13 frauds involved was equally mind- June considering the current pace a conspiracy to destabilise his district of Madhya Pradesh not have passed. The latest Kolumn trade unions have demanded that boggling at `67,319.40 crore which of vaccination. The phase-I of government. The September 2020 which were involved in example of messing up is of giving framing of rules should be put on is three times more than in 2019. vaccination program for 3 crore construction work on a road Emergency Use Authorization incident which rocked the nation hold and fresh discussions take The bank fraud amount was frontline health workers may be as 10 to 12 Maoists were (EUA) to Bharat Biotech's Covaxine was finally entrusted to the CBI. It place in the spirit of "bipartite and `19,830.14 crore in 2019. Of the total complete by March-end, April reportedly involved in the without phase-III trial efficacy data. was felt that the CBI will sit over tripartite consultations." These amount of fraud in CBI cases, middle. The Phase-II to vaccinate incident Sunday. According to There was nothing against Covaxin Hathras case for months or may be included INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, `53,379.38 crore (79.29 per cent) above 50 years people will begin official information, road in the country and people were years. After all, there are many AIUTUC and others opposed the were in 27 FIRs, each with a fraud thereafter. The Centre has so far construction work is on between Double whammy eagerly awaiting the vaccine. The such cases where it continues to process. The Unions alleged that amount of over `500 crore. purchased 16.60 million doses of Devbareilly-Malkua in Lanji Covidshield had been cleared two probe such cases awaiting forensic for government these codes were passed in Covidshield and Covaxin (11 million police station area and this days before and there were 50 evidence, viscera reports etc. Parliament without any discussion from Serum & 5.6 million from BBL). work is being undertaken by he government seems to have Selling vaccines million doses available in stocks. Remember the Sushant Singh with the Central Trade Unions. The a Raipur contractor. put on hold labour code rules as But the Modi government wanted a Rajput case of June 2020 when the T Unions have said these codes to states it is grappling with the farmers' Govt’s communication second vaccine in Covaxin in utter young actor was found hanging in concerned 50 crores workforce. agitation which is threatening to he Centre may consider Vaccine problem secrecy and hurry. It is said that his apartment and the entire world Gambling racket derail reforms of the Modi Tmakers' request to sell directly the Subject Expert Committee of moved. The NCB found no evidence government. The Prime Minister's Bank frauds of to state governments, companies he government is now the Drug Controller General of India against Sushant's live-in partner busted, 70 held Office is working overtime with over `67,300 cr and open market. It may also Tpondering to create a small gave Emergency clearance in a Rhea Chakraborty, the ED was concerned ministries to end the permit the vaccine makers - Pune- group of ministers to improve its sudden U-turn within 36 hours. It forced to eat the humble pie and Chandigarh: The Punjab farmers’ agitation as a new f you thought lockdowns and based Serum Institute of India and communication of serious issues was alleged that the government other agencies went silent. But the Police's Organised Crime situation emerged after January 26 Irestrictions during the year-long Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech engaging the attention of the had rushed into giving preferred CBI is still investigating it and not Control Unit on Sunday busted violence. But major trade unions of sharing why this humongous delay y Covid pandemic prevented Limited (BBL) to even export to people. The government normally treatment violating rules and

a gambling racket active in workers across the country are financial frauds, you will surely be other countries once India's lacks in communicating with the risking lives of people. even after Bihar elections are over.

k y m Mohali district with arrest of upping the ante against in for a shock. If the report of the domestic obligations are met. A people and stakeholders on crucial But hold your breath!! The CBI c 70 people, including 10 implementing four labour codes. Central Bureau of Investigation number of states, institutions and issues, be it implementation of CBI truly independent confirmed in its report that the women, from a marriage The labour laws were passed by the (CBI) for 2020 is any indication, private companies have written to three agriculture related Acts or Hathras girl was raped and palace. The police seized `8.42 Modi government in Parliament bank fraud cases more than the Government to allow them to rushing into decisions and lacking hose doubting the murdered. It came as a huge lakh cash, 47 vehicles, 40 during the Monsoon session in 2019 doubled compared to 2019. Of the buy vaccines directly from the in communication. The government Tindependence of CBI need to setback to the BJP government in liquor bottles, playing cards in a similar fashion as were three 543 total FIRs registered during makers approved by the regulators. realized its folly in farm Acts issue change their opinion, for a change. UP in general and Yogi in particular. and laptops from the spot. President Joe Biden TRUMP LOSES P10 has done really well on IMPEACHMENT LAWYERS MONDAY | FEBRUARY 1 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR progressive priorities, but his Former US President Donald Trump has proposed $1.9 trillion relief parted ways with his lead impeachment package should be between $3 lawyers little more than a week before his and $4 trillion to meet trial, two people familiar with the Americans’ needs situation said Saturday. The change international PRAMILA JAYAPAL | CHAIR OF THE injects fresh uncertainty into the makeup

CONGRESSIONAL PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS, US

k y m and strategy of his defense team c of the day uote Flouting rules, ‘Queen likely to host Biden at Buckingham Palace’ thousands attend China has PRESS TRUST OF INDIA wife Camilla – the Duchess of deployed me The 94-year-old Queen, Cornwall, as well as grandson Prince Jerusalem funeral here to crush London, Jan 31: Britain's Queen who has been based at the Baloch William and wife Kate Middleton – movement and has Elizabeth II is expected to host US her Windsor Castle the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge ASSOCIATED PRESS given me a six- President Joe Biden at Buckingham – under plans being drawn up by month task Palace ahead of the G7 summit home in SE England royal and government officials to ce- Jerusalem, Jan 31: Thousands of scheduled between June 11 and 13, through the lockdown ment the “special relationship” be- ultra-Orthodox Israelis partici- AYMAN BILAL | MAJOR GENERAL, according to a media report Sunday. tween the UK and US. The Queen pated Sunday in the funeral of a PAKISTAN ARMY Indian PM Narendra Modi is also since last year, will be sent the new US President a pri- prominent rabbi in Jerusalem, expected to participate in events hoping to return to her vate message ahead of his inau- flouting the country’s ban on large in the lead up to and during the guration January 20. public gatherings amid the pan- I am summit in the coastal region of London palace and According to royal aides quoted demic. immensely Cornwall after India was invited The funeral procession for Rabbi proud that we get a calendar of by the newspaper, Charles has al- as a guest country to join the Group Meshulam Soloveitchik, who died have brought in this activities going at ready written to Biden to con- new route for Hong of Seven – the UK, Canada, France, gratulate him on his appointment at age 99, wended its way through Kong British Germany, Italy, Japan and the US – Buckingham Palace and is said to be delighted with a the streets of Jerusalem in the National by UK Prime Minister Boris series of executive orders signed latest display of ultra-Orthodox (Overseas)’s to live, work and make Johnson. by the new president which ad- Israelis’ refusal to honour coron- their home in our country. In doing According to ‘The Sunday Times', Foreign, Commonwealth and been based at her Windsor Castle A one-on-one meeting between the dress climate change and the en- avirus restrictions. so we have honoured our profound the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to have a very home in south-east England through monarch and the new US President vironment, overturning many of ties of history and friendship with Development Office (FCDO) is keen strong royal presence before G7 the coronavirus lockdown since is set to be her first significant Donald Trump’s policies. the people of Hong Kong for the royal family to have a strong events, and all senior members of last year, will be hoping to return diplomatic engagement after she During his UK state visit in 2019,

BORIS JOHNSON | PRIME MINISTER, UK presence as part of a pre-summit and the royal family will be part of what to her London palace and get a cal- returns to London. Trump had broken with the tra- post-Brexit charm offensive of happens,” the newspaper quoted a endar of activities going at A so-called “soft power” reception dition of arriving at Buckingham world leaders. senior royal source as saying. Buckingham Palace after a year of in June is expected to include her Palace in a motorcade, choosing to “There is a desire from the The 94-year-old Queen, who has pared-down events. son and heir, Prince Charles, and fly in by helicopter instead. What makes this research unusual is that The phenomenon has under- we looked at very early time points [of mined the country’s aggressive infection], at just WHO experts visit Russia arrests 4,400 during vaccination campaign to bring a one hour after the raging outbreak under control virus infects lung cells. It was scary and threatened to hurt Prime to see that the virus already starts Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in to damage the cells so early during Wuhan wet market March elections. infection wide protests backing Navalny Densely packed throngs of peo- AGENCIES ple gathered outside the rabbi’s ELKE MUHLBERGER | VIROLOGIST, BOSTON UNIVERSITY home in a public rejection of re- Beijing/Wuhan, Jan 31: The ASSOCIATED PRESS strictions on outdoor gatherings WHO experts, probing the origins of more than 10 people. Thousands of the Covid-19, on Sunday visited Moscow, Jan 31: Police detained of black-garbed ultra-Orthodox SHORT TAKES the Huanan Seafood Market in more than 4,400 people across Russia funeral-goers coursed past the Wuhan, where the deadly coron- and blocked off the centre of city’s main entrance toward the avirus was presumably transmit- Moscow on Sunday in a massive cemetery where Soloveitchik was Record rise in ted from animals to humans in the clampdown on protests demand- to be buried. Police officers blocked late 2019 and spiralled into a ing the release of jailed Kremlin intersections to traffic to allow Covid cases pandemic. critic Alexei Navalny. Police also de- participants to pass, but appeared Beijing: China recorded more The wet market was where a va- tained Yulia Navalnaya, the wife of to take no action to prevent the il- than 2,000 new domestic riety of live animals were traded tight security assumed significance Navalny, at the protest in Moscow legal assembly. cases of Covid-19 in January, until it was shut down following as the market was widely presumed Sunday, Navalny’s allies said on Israeli media said Soloveitchik, the highest monthly total fears that the coronavirus had to be the source of the virus though social media. a leading religious scholar who since the tail end of the initial jumped to humans either from bats Chinese official media in recent Thousands of protesters defied headed a number of well-known outbreak in Wuhan in March or pangolins. months questioned the premise. government warnings to rally from seminaries, had recently suffered of last year. The National “Very important site visits today While permitting the 14-mem- Vladivostok to Saint Petersburg in from Covid-19. Health Commission said - a wholesale market first & Huanan ber WHO team of international a second weekend of mass demon- Russian authorities mounted a The 44-year-old Navalny, an Sunday that 2,016 cases were Seafood Market just now. Very in- scientists to study the origin in strations over the arrest of President massive effort to stem the tide anti-corruption investigator who is reported from January 1-30. formative & critical for our joint Wuhan after considerable delay Vladimir Putin's most prominent of demonstrations after tens of Putin’s best-known critic, was Vietnam’s Communist That does not include teams to understand the epidemi- and controversy, China claims that opponent. thousands rallied across arrested January 17 upon returning another 435 infected people ology of COVID as it started to the virus has emerged from vari- Navalny was detained at a the country from Germany who arrived from abroad. The party re-elects spread at the end of 2019,” Peter ous places in the world while it Moscow airport in mid-January tally for January 31 is due to be released Monday. Daszak, a zoologist with the US was the first to report it. after flying back to Russia from Moscow, authorities locked down the AFP journalists saw dozens of chief to lead nation group EcoHealth Alliance and a Although the Huanan seafood Germany where he was recover- centre of the capital Sunday, with protesters detained and taken into member of the WHO team, tweeted market has been sealed off, experts ing from an August poisoning he hundreds of police lining the streets, police vans. US condemns “harsh Sunday. believe that there is still plenty to blames on the Kremlin. central Metro stations closed and tactics.” Several thousand were INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE Norway: 2 killed Though the market remained see and experience there. The 44-year-old anti-corruption the movements of pedestrians re- seen marching throughout the city in avalanche shut and cleaned up after the coro- "(We hope to) understand the campaigner is being held in a stricted. centre, but it was unclear amid the Hanoi, Jan 31: The 13th navirus cases surfaced in Wuhan setting, see the places where cases Moscow detention centre and faces Protesters who had hoped to chaos how many people took part Communist Party of Vietnam Helsinki: Two civilian in December 2019, the visit is still were linked, reconstruct the initial years of potential jail time in sev- gather outside the headquarters in the demonstration. Central Committee (CPVCC) on employees of the Norwegian important to get a feel of what flow event there, search for records of eral different criminal cases, de- of the FSB security service were in- Independent monitor OVD-Info Sunday re-elected incumbent military were killed and a of goods, people were, Daszak was animals, products traded there," spite calls from Western govern- stead scattered to various parts of said at least 4,407 people had been President Nguyen Phu Trong as third one injured in an quoted by CBS news network. Peter Ben Embarek, who leads the ments for his release. the city as organisers made last- detained across the country, after re- the its general secretary for a avalanche on a remote Arctic The visit which took place amid WHO team said. In moves not seen in years in minute changes in locations. porting more than 4,400 detentions. third term. Ocean island inhabited only by soldiers and researchers of the Nordic country. A statement from the ALL ILLUMINATED Norwegian Armed Forces EU in Afghanistan calls said Sunday that the accident took place Saturday afternoon on Jan Mayen for ‘end to violence’ island, located 500 kilometres east of Greenland and 1,000 kilometres west of mainland INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE but political parties in Afghanistan The election took place at the Norway. have to demonstrate how much first meeting of the newly-elected Kabul, Jan 31: The European they are intended to have a pro- 13th CPVCC on Sunday morning Union’s (EU) special envoy to longed peace, Khaama Press re- during the ongoing 13th CPV Germany to Afghanistan, Ronald Kobia, has ported. National Congress scheduled to called for an immediate end to vi- Violent incidents mostly in the run through February 1, Xinhua support Portugal olence in the war-torn country, shape of target killing has been news agency. followed by a ceasefire. on rise over the past couple of The CPVCC’s politburo, secre- Berlin: Austria and Germany Taking to Twitter Saturday, months amid the tough and slow tariat, inspection commission and say they will provide Kobia said: "If some parties don't peace dialogue between negoti- head of the inspection commission medical assistance to Portugal as the country like the term «ceasefire», call it ating teams of the Afghan gov- were also elected at the meeting. struggles with a surge in truce, cessation of hostilities, ernment and Taliban group A total of 1,587 delegates rep- coronavirus cases. Austrian moratorium, silent period. in Doha. resenting over 5.1 million CPV Chancellor Sebastian Kurz Whatever the semantics until it The second round of intra- members are attending the con- said Sunday that the Alpine stops rivers of Afghan blood. You Afghan talks after more than gress which kicked off January 25. nation will receive intensive have an opportunity with new US three weeks of break resumed A press release made public care patients from Portugal, administration to show you -re- January 6 without significant earlier on Saturday read that the without specifying a ally- want peace. Now". progress, reports Xinhua news congress had agreed on adjust- number. Kurz said in a Without naming anyone or party, agency. According to local media ing the agenda of the political tweet that “swift, Crans Montana: People wearing protective face mask walk under snowfall the 2 km long snow-covered Lantern Path he stated there is a good opportu- reports, no official dialogue has event, which will now conclude unbureaucratic help” was (chemin des lanternes) between Lake Moubra and Lake Etang Long amid the Covid-19 pandemic, in the Alpine resort nity with the new US adminis- been held between the two sides February 1, one day earlier than required to save lives, of Crans-Montana, Switzerland AP/PTI tration of President Joe Biden, over the past 10 days. in the original programme. adding that Austria has previously taken in patients from France, Italy and CHINA’S SUBMARINES IN SOUTH CHINA SEA Montenegro.

Israel to provide vax to Palestine ‘One in five sailors suffer from mental health problems’ Jerusalem: Israel Defence A STUDY BY NAVAL MEDICAL UNIVERSITY IN SHANGHAI OF MORE THAN 500 SERVICEMEN AND OFFICERS CLAIMS TO BE THE FIRST Minister Benny Gantz’s office says Israel has agreed to OF ITS KIND TO HIGHLIGHT THE PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS THE TROOPS WORKING IN THE DISPUTED WATERWAY ARE FACING transfer 5,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine to the PRESS TRUST OF INDIA the region. China claims almost all waterway are facing. is dominated by suspicious or per- of the mental health problems, but Palestinians to immunise of the 1.3 million square mile South Based on their answers to a self- secutory content – than the average said the sea's strategic importance front-line medical workers. Beijing, Jan 31: One in five sailors China Sea as its sovereign terri- assessment questionnaire, 21 per for all Chinese military service- to China was likely to be one of the It is the first time that Israel serving with China's submarine tory. China has been building mil- cent of respondents were found to men. The findings suggested the contributing factors. “We specu- has confirmed the transfer force, especially nuclear subs in itary bases on artificial islands in be suffering from some degree of submariners were “at higher risk late that this may be because of, on of vaccines to the the disputed South China Sea, are the region also claimed by Brunei, mental health problems, Hong Kong- of and have more serious psycho- one hand, increasing military ma- Palestinians. Israel has experiencing mental health prob- Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan come under criticism from based South China Morning Post re- logical problems”, the researchers noeuvres in south China in recent

lems, according to a new research. and Vietnam. ported. According to a US said in the report published this years that can involve 60 to 90 days

k y m UN officials and human c rights groups for not China in recent years focussed its A study by Naval Medical Congressional Research Service month in Military Medicine, a jour- of submerged cruising,” the re- providing vaccines to the military deployment in the South University in Shanghai of more report in 2019, China's People's nal produced by the Society of searchers said. Palestinians. Israel says it is China Sea (SCS), which has become than 500 servicemen and officers Liberation Army Navy has about submarines. According to the study, Federal Health Professionals in the On the other hand, the physi- not responsible. Israel is one a new theatre of conflict with fre- claims to be the first of its kind to four ballistic missile submarines, the Chinese submariners also re- United States. cally unfriendly environment of the world's leaders in quent forays by US naval vessels highlight the psychological problems six nuclear-powered attack sub- ported higher indicators of anxiety The study said more research means that submariners are living vaccinating its population. to assert freedom of navigation in the troops working in the disputed marines and 50 diesel electric attack and paranoid ideation – thinking that was needed to understand the causes in an isolated environment.” Education is one of POWER DEMAND TOUCHES ALL-TIME HIGH P11 the primary sectors in MONDAY | FEBRUARY 1 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR any country and there is a huge Power demand touched an all-time high of 189.64 expectancy from Budget 2021 GW Saturday, Power Secretary SN Sahai has said. for reviving the sector after the “Power demand galloping. All India demand: covid-induced challenges that 1,89,644 MW (189.64 GW) at 10.39 hrs today the industry faced in 2020 (January 30) crossed the previous highest all India demand of 1,88,452 MW (188.45 GW) business MONA LISA BAL | CHAIRPERSON,

January 28,” Sahai tweeted

k y m KIIT INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL c of the day uote FIGHTING BACK 19, said PHD Chamber of Commerce ‘India to emerge as and Industry President Sanjay Germany ranks first in India's IER Rank stands Aggarwal. the PHDCCI International The overall performance is pro- More than 200 at second among the Economic Resilience jected at the second position after overseas top-10 leading most resilient economy Rank followed by India economies, indicating Germany in 2021, he added. buyers have and South Korea at India’s real GDP growth rate is already registered strong resilience of the second and third and equal number Indian economy to the projected to be the highest at 11.5 positions, respectively of their daunting pandemic per cent in the year 2021 among after Germany in 2021’ the top-10 leading economies in the representatives in India shall be interacting on virtual India’s real GDP growth rate is projected to be the The merchandise export volume growth is world, according to the industry platform with more than 100 PRESS TRUST OF INDIA according to a report. highest at 11.5 per cent in the year 2021 among the estimated to be the strongest at 14 per cent in body. renowned and big Indian Germany ranks first in the PHD- top-10 leading economies in the world the year 2021 The merchandise export volume companies manufacturing and New Delhi, Jan 31: India will CCI International Economic growth is estimated to be the trading silk and silk blended emerge as the most resilient econ- Resilience (IER) Rank followed by It is based on analysis of five growth rate, current account bal- India's IER Rank stands at sec- strongest at 14 per cent in the year products omy after Germany in 2021 ex- India and South Korea at second and lead macroeconomic indicators re- ance (as percentage of GDP), gen- ond among the top-10 leading 2021, reflecting the great potential

SMRITI IRANI | UNION MINISTER hibiting a strong economic resur- third positions, respectively, ac- flecting a country’s economic per- eral government net lending/bor- economies, indicating strong re- that the economy holds in terms of gence to the global economic turmoil cording to the report released by in- formance including real GDP rowing (as percentage of GDP) and silience of the Indian economy to its international presence, said caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, dustry body PHDCCI. growth rate, merchandise export gross debt-to-GDP ratio. the daunting pandemic of Covid- Aggarwal. One conscious decision HCL made (during lockdown) was that GST revenues touch we will not divert CEA pitches for private our regular RBI likely to maintain status record high of developmental agenda for Covid. HCL Group dedicated another part of the fund `1.20L cr in Jan sector-led bad bank for COVID, which was equally big as much as our CSR quo on interest rate: Experts AGENCIES NIDHI PUNDHIR | DIRECTOR, HCL to deal with NPAs FOUNDATION AGENCIES New Delhi, Jan 31: GST collections for January touched an all-time AGENCIES Mumbai, Jan 31: The Reserve high of about `1.20 lakh crore, the We are Bank of India (RBI) is likely to Finance Ministry said Sunday. New Delhi, Jan 31: Chief looking for maintain a status quo on bench- The ministry said in line with the Economic Adviser KV higher funds mark interest rate in its next mon- trend of recovery in the GST rev- Subramanian has made a strong for the PLI scheme. etary policy meet outcome to be We enues over past five months, the rev- case for setting up of a bad bank led For laptops, servers, announced February 5, four days expect the MPC enues for the month of January by private sector to effectively deal etc, the government after the presentation of the to continue the pause. 2021 are 8 per cent higher than with non-performing assets (NPAs) has just proposed Union Budget 2021-22. The fall in inflation rate that in the same month last year. of the financial sector which may `7,325 crore. I don't think that, for Experts are of the view was mainly due to fall in "The gross GST revenue col- see a surge once regulatory for- PCs , if you relocate and reposition that the RBI will refrain from food prices. The core inflation lected in the month of January bearance to deal with the impact of alacrity in decision making often supply from China or other parts of tinkering with the interest rate has not come down. 2021 till 6 p.m. 31.01.2021 is `1,19,847 Covid-19 is withdrawn. in the public sector is impacted the world, it will be possible with rates and keep the mone- crore, of which CGST is `21,923 The proposal to set up a bad because of the fear of 3Cs, he said. just these kinds of funds. They are Excess liquidity needs to be tary stance accommodative though the CPI inflation dipped crore, SGST is `29,014 crore, IGST bank has been under considera- 3Cs refer to Central Bureau of very insignificant watched. The vaccine at the policy review though availability is not going to in December 2020, the trajectory re- is `60,288 crore (including `27,424 tion of the government for long Investigation (CBI), Central NITIN KUNKOLIENKER | PRESIDENT MAIT , it will take guidance from the impact macro economy mains unpalatable. crore collected on import of goods) and some steps may be announced Vigilance Commission (CVC) and ` budget to be unveiled by immediately "We expect an extended pause and Cess is 8,622 crore (includ- in the Budget 2021-22 to be unveiled Comptroller and Audit General Finance Minister Nirmala for the repo rate, with the stance to ing `883 crore collected on import by Finance Minister Nirmala (CAG). Sitharaman in the Lok Sabha MGOVINDARAOI CEA, BRICKWORK be changed to neutral in the August of goods)," Finance Ministry said Sitharaman Monday in the Lok "So, the bad bank idea itself is ac- SHORT TAKES RATINGS February 1. 2021 policy review or later, once in a statement. Sabha. tually something which is required "We expect the MPC (Monetary would be there is clarity on the durability of Bad bank refers to a financial in- at this point in time, but also de- Fire TV users double Policy Committee) to continue the announced February the economic recovery," she said. stitution which takes over bad as- signing it in the private sector ac- pause. The fall in inflation rate was 5. The current repo rate or rate at Sunil Kumar Sinha, Principal sets of lenders and undertakes res- tually has a lot more possibility in 2020: Amazon mainly due to fall in food prices. The which the RBI lends to banks is 4 Economist and Director Public olution. Lenders have been making for it to be effective," he said. New Delhi: Internet core inflation rate has not come per cent. Finance, India Ratings and Research, a case for setting up a bad bank to The Economic Survey 2017 had streaming device Fire TV down. Excess liquidity needs to be The RBI had last revised its pol- too does not expect any change in ease out pressure of bad loans on proposed this idea, suggesting the users in India doubled watched. The vaccine availability icy rate on May 22, in an off-policy policy rate. them in these difficult times. creation of a bad bank called Public consumption of is not going to impact macro econ- cycle to perk up demand by cut- "Growth needs to be supported The number could be upped "The bad bank will certainly Sector Asset Rehabilitation Agency entertainment content during omy immediately," opined M ting interest rate to a historic low. through the monetary policy and further as more number of GST help in consolidating some of the (PARA) to help tide over the prob- their stay at home in 2020 Govinda Rao, Chief Economic The central bank has cut policy that is the reason the accommoda- sales returns get filed. GST rev- non performing assets. It's impor- lem of stressed assets. with movies, cricket, online Advisor, Brickwork Ratings. rates by 115 basis points since tive stance of RBI will continue," he enues had topped `1 lakh crore tant to also think about imple- Earlier this month, RBI Governor gaming and music gaining The six-member MPC headed February last. said, and added there will be a sta- in nine out of 12 months of 2019- menting the bad bank in the private Shaktikanta Das indicated that the traction, Amazon said in a by RBI Governor is scheduled to On expectations from the MPC, tus quo in the policy rate because the 20 fiscal. However, in the current sector that enables (faster) deci- central bank can consider the idea report Sunday. Over half of meet for three days starting Aditi Nayar, Principal Economist, December number has shown that fiscal, the revenues have taken a sion making," he said. of a bad bank to tackle non-per- Mirzapur season 2 viewers February 3. The resolution meeting ICRA Limited, said that even the CPI has somewhat moderated. hit due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Resolution of bad assets with forming assets (NPAs). finished watching the show within 48 hours of its release, Disney+ Hotstar viewership increased 50 per cent during BIZ BUZZ AUTOMATION IMPACT IPL 2020 and Amazon Prime Music streaming grew more Prices of petrol, diesel remain than 35 per cent on Fire TV Pine Labs launches ‘All Tap’ app Tech M to reduce devices. Bhubaneswar: Pine Labs, a leading merchant commerce platform in Asia, launched All Tap, a feature-rich app that can significantly accelerate digital BPO staff by payments adoption in India. The app is a steady ahead of ‘Budget day’ Westlife to open revolutionary new app for small merchants 5,000 in FY’21 to immediately start accepting digital McDonald's stores payments on their NFC-enabled The petrol and diesel prices Informed sources said that oil PRESS TRUST OF INDIA smartphone without the need of any companies may be building buffers New Delhi: Westlife additional hardware. The ‘tap and pay’ have increased 10 times on the retail price of petrol and Mumbai, Jan 31: Despite rising Development Ltd, which feature within the app is secure and is in January with both auto diesel to prevent any sharp price in- revenues, IT major Tech Mahindra owns Hardcastle certified by PCI Security Standards Council crease if the government decided is set to reduce its business process Restaurants, the master (PCI SSC), RuPay, Visa, Mastercard and Amex. Pine Labs All Tap addresses fuels increasing by to further raise excise duty on the services (BPS) headcount by 5,000 franchisee of McDonald's this key segment especially small merchants, home entrepreneurs, street two products to mobilise additional to 38,000 in FY 2020-21, as a larger restaurants for western and `2.59 and `2.61 per litre vendors, hawkers, cab drivers, and others who are not ready to invest in a revenue. part of the tasks get completed southern India, expects its traditional point-of-sale terminal to accept digital payments. Sanjeev Kumar, respectively during business to return to pre- Crude prices have remained firm through automation and artifi- CTO, Pine Labs said, “With All Tap, we are offering merchants a robust PCI for the last few weeks in wake of uni- cial intelligence. COVID-19 level from the next SSC-compliant Contactless Payments on COTS solution.” the month quarter and continue its lateral production cuts announced Company executives said there expansion journey by adding INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE by Saudi Arabia and a pick-up in is a "non-linearity" between rev- more stores to its network, ‘All-new S60 can now, be booked online’ consumption in all major economies enue growth and overall head- said a company official. The New Delhi, Jan 31: Prices of petrol litre, respectively. globally. count as technology makes it pos- company plans to open 3 new Bhubaneswar: Volvo Car India has opened advance online bookings for the and diesel remained unchanged Though firm global crude and The petrol and diesel prices have sible for a single individual to stores in Q4 and then resume All-New S60. It has set an introductory price of `45.9 lakh (ex-showroom) for a for the fourth consecutive day across product price is the reason for the increased 10 times in January with accomplish multiple tasks. its growth journey. limited number of bookings made online. The car is built on Volvo Cars’ own the metros. In the national capi- increase in retail price of petrol both auto fuels increasing by `2.59 It can be noted that the BPO Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform and has secured a five-star tal, petrol was priced at `86.30 per and diesel, it is interesting to note and `2.61 per litre respectively dur- vertical, which has its genesis in rating from Euro NCAP. The new S60 shares safety technology and litre. In Mumbai, Chennai and that even though crude has been ing the month. the 'call centres' business of the past, MF investment in infotainment system with the top-of-the-line 90 Series cars and award-winning Kolkata, petrol was sold for `92.86, hovering just over $55 a barrel for The last few increases in pump is one of the biggest employment XC60. This makes the new S60 one of the safest cars on the road. The all New `88.82 and `87.69 per litre. Diesel some time now, OMCs have gone in prices in petrol and diesel has taken generators in the technology space, REITs jumps 6-fold S60 come equipped with safety features such as City Safety with Steering prices in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai for both a pause in price of auto fuels its price to record levels across the where Indian executives handle Support, Adaptive Cruise Control, Pilot Assist, Oncoming Mitigation by and Kolkata remained unchanged as well increase in its retail prices country in all major metro cities and a slew of processes for overseas New Delhi: Emerging Braking, Lane Keeping Aid, Driver Alert Control, Speed Alert and many more. ` ` ` ` investment instrument REIT at 76.48, 83.30, 81.71 and 80.08 per on consecutive days. other towns. clients often across time zones. seems to have finally gaining popularity among investors, with mutual funds investing a staggering `3,972 crore in such units in 2020, a six-fold 5G roll out ‘soon’ in India, mass adoption still years away jump from the preceding year. Green Portfolio co- founder Divam Sharma said THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT SELLING TRADITIONAL 5G SPECTRUM IN THE UPCOMING AUCTION THE BIDDING FOR WHICH WILL COMMENCE IN MARCH, that with names like DLF, Brookfield and Godrej in the BUT A TWEAK IN THE NOTICE INVITING APPLICATIONS HAS RAISED HOPE THAT COMPANIES WILL BE ABLE TO LAUNCH 5G EVEN ON EXISTING BANDS process of launching REIT, more interest from MFs in AGENCIES tice time period required for telecom months of 5G rollouts," he said. bands. such offerings is expected in companies to give to make ad- The first quarter of 2020 wit- However, several reports have the coming years. New Delhi, Jan 31: With talks of vancements and upgrades in tech- nessed the launch of the first 5G- suggested that mass adoption of “timely” 5G roll out in India resur- nology from one year to six months. ready smartphone in India. 5G would not be immediate. facing again after a Covid-hit year Telecom major Bharti Airtel At the end of Q3 2020, India’s 5G According to a forecast by GSMA Toyota domestic that delayed spectrum auction, January 28 successfully demon- handsets shipments stood at 1.7 Intelligence, published in October there are hopes that the fifth-gen- strated live 5G service on a use case million, a number which was pro- 2020, 5G connections in India will sales surge 92 pc eration cellular technology could be basis over a commercial network in jected to cross four million by the reach six per cent of total popula- New Delhi: Toyota Kirloskar a reality in the second half of the Hyderabad city over its existing end of 2020, according to tion by 2025 -7.2 crore -- and 93 per Motor (TKM) Sunday year, even though various reports liberalised spectrum in the 1800 Counterpoint. cent by 2040. reported 92 per cent increase suggest that its mass adoption could MHz band through the NSA (non- "So there is an option of using Swedish gear maker Ericsson in in domestic sales at 11,126 still be years away. standalone) network technology - technologies such as dynamic spec- a report in November 2020 said that units in January. The The government is not selling that is, fall back on 4G network. trum sharing (DSS) to use 4G spec- 5G subscriptions in India will sur- company had clocked traditional 5G spectrum in the up- Reliance Industries (RIL) trum for 5G but we expect govern- pass 350 million, accounting for 27

domestic sales at 5,804 units coming auction the bidding for Chairman Mukesh Ambani last ment to auction off 3.5GHz mid per cent of all mobile subscriptions

k y m c in January last year. "2021 which will commence in March, month said that Reliance Jio will pi- band spectrum this year," Shah in 2026. started on a positive note for but a tweak in the notice inviting oneer India's "5G Revolution" in Research at Counterpoint Research, ing average selling price (ASP) of the said. While globally, more than one us and our sales growth applications has raised hope that the second half of 2021. a global industry analysis firm, 5G devices already hitting sub $150 The Telecom Regulatory billion people were estimated to stands testimony to the companies will be able to launch 5G "We should see some soft launches said. or `10,000 mark in markets like Authority of India (Trai) has al- have access to 5G coverage by the same," TKM Senior VP even on existing bands. in the later part of second half this "The device ecosystem is ready China from players such as Realme, ready recommended for the auc- end of 2020, according to the Naveen Soni said. The amendment reduced the no- year," Neil Shah, Vice President of unlike in 4G or 3G era as we are see- Xiaomi and others in just 12-18 tion of spectrum in 3,300-3,600 MHz "Ericsson Mobility Report." P12 MONDAY | FEBRUARY 1 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR sports

INDIA’S TEST BATTING MAINSTAY TALKS ABOUT CHALLENGES HE FACED DOWN UNDER KOHLI HAS NO REAL WEAKNESSES: MOEEN

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k k y y m m c hundreds) in his ‘Player of the rhythm took a little bit of time but Captain’s form c Series’ performance to ensure a his- luckily all went positive in the end,” toric triumph in Australia two Pujara informed. seasons ago. However, consider- “Numbers wise, it may not look ing the ‘extraordinary circum- like a very good series for me, but Pujara reveals stances’ of the recent showdown if you look at the pitches, not many worries England that just went by, he rates his effort runs were scored this time. It was (271 runs at 29.20 and three half more challenging than last time centuries) equally special. without a doubt,” he added. “Both tours have been fantastic The 81-Test veteran said the balls for the team. Personally I did well faced, 928 to 1258 two years ago, on both tours, but mattered more than the circum- SERIES SCORES runs scored, given batting plans stances were the challenging completely dif- Adelaide 43 0 pace attack, nature PRESS TRUST OF INDIA ferent. This time of pitches and bar- Staying inside I was playing Melbourne 17 3 rage of injuries that the bio-bubble New Delhi, Jan 31: There are after a long time, the Indian team suf- and playing times when balls faced matter a almost eight Sydney 50 77 fered through the international lot more than runs scored and the months (due to four games. cricket is not easy. recent tour of Australia was all COVID-19), there Brisbane 25 56 “Very difficult to It puts an immense about that for India’s Test batting were no first class compare both the pressure on the mainstay Cheteshwar Pujara. games also,” tours but this one PRESS TRUST OF INDIA performances within me. I have mind, especially The middle-order batsman Pujara said Sunday before entering is a tad more special considering we little targets I want to achieve first. for those who said he found the ‘strike- the bio-bubble for the upcoming had a weaker team with so many Chennai, Jan 31: England all- I am not too far away from getting like going out rate talk’ overrated. home series against England. youngsters. But I wouldn’t say this rounder Moeen Ali doesn’t know 200 wickets. I have set some tar- regularly Pujara had collected The 31-year-old stood like a rock is the only best series I have been how they are going to tackle Virat gets for me… the first is to get 200 a lot more runs (521 through the series, quite literally a part of,” Pujara pointed out. Kohli in the upcoming Tests against Test wickets,” Moeen said. CHETESHWAR PUJARA at 41.41 strike in the final Test in Brisbane. He “There are times when strike India. He feels the batting maestro The 33-year-old had tested posi- rate and took multiple blows on the body to rate hardly matters. Every batter will be extra motivated to fire after tive for COVID-19 upon England’s three keep a relentless Australian at- has a role to play. The team man- missing his team’s incredible tri- arrival in Sri Lanka. He missed tack at bay. agement completely understands umph in Australia. the two Tests there, which the vis- “It wasn’t easy at all in terms of that. Whether it was Ravi (Shastri) “How do we get him (Kohli) out? preparation. The Australian team bhai (coach) or Vicky (Vikram He’s obviously an amazing player, had a thorough game plan Rathour) bhai (batting coach) or world-class, he’s very motivated to do When you’re for each of us. To get Ajinkya (Rahane), they just told well and I’m sure he’ll be even more playing Test back into me to keep batting the way I bat. The motivated after they did well in cricket, Aussies were not giving anything Australia and he had to leave for the you’re on away. So, it wasn’t that I wasn’t bat- birth of his child,” Moeen told re- top of your ting well but they hardly bowled any porters during a video conference. game in loose balls,” added the rock- “I don’t know how we’re going terms of your solid cricketer. to get him out because I don’t think batting and bowling; your he has any sort of weaknesses. We technique. I don’t think it’s have a good bowling attack, some great when you’re just pace in the line-up, so that we’ll playing white ball cricket Cheteshwar Pujara have to put to use. He’s a great guy and a good friend of mine (both play for RCB in IPL),” added Moeen. itors won for a series sweep. Besides the Tests, India and “I’m all right now. Once I tested England will play three ODIs and positive, I just wanted to get it over five T20Is. Moeen said playing and done with really. It has been Test cricket is his ‘biggest moti- tough but I’m a big believer in ‘after vation’ and he has ‘little targets’, hardship comes ease’. Hopefully which he wants to achieve in the there is ease after this,” said Moeen., upcoming series. who had just five or six net ses- “I still feel I’ve got wickets and sions due to the time he had to runs in me and match-winning spend in quarantine.

T-20 WOMEN’S CRICKET LEAGUE SHORT TAKES Ganguly discharged NO CHANCE OF QUALIFYING FOR ISL PLAY-OFFS Unusual gift Easy victories for Red, Yellow sides from hospital after Agra: Young cricketers like T POST NEWS NETWORK against some very tight bowling successful surgery Natarajan and Mohammed by the Red bowlers. Woman of the Only pride at stake for OFC Siraj have been awarded Bhubaneswar, Jan 31: Odisha match Sonali Hembram (4-0-9-3) PRESS TRUST OF INDIA SUVs for their stellar performances in Australia. Red and Odisha Yellow won their was outstanding with the ball. Only PNN & AGENCIES For the wrestlers in India it is respective matches quite comfort- Rasanara Parwin (42) managed to Kolkata, Jan 31: Indian cricket a different story altogether. ably in the MGM Odisha Women T- offer some resistance. In reply, rid- board chief Sourav Ganguly was Bambolim (Goa), Jan 31: Virtually They have to do with buffalos 20 Cricket League played Sunday. ing on Madhuri Mehta’s unbeaten discharged from hospital Sunday out of contention for a play-off as gifts. Sources said Sunday Both the games were played at the knock of 32, the Reds scored 77 for morning, three days after he un- spot, bottom-placed Odisha FC here that it makes sense to KIIT Stadium here. Odisha Red de- two in 10.3 overs to romp home derwent a fresh round of angio- (OFC) will play for pride when they gift them an endless supply feated Odisha Green by eight wick- comfortably. plasty to clear clogged coronary ar- take on Jamshedpur FC (JFC) in an of protein through buffalo ets with 57 balls to spare. In the In the second game, Purple scored teries, officials said here. The ISL match here Monday. The milk. A decision has been other game played on the day 113 for four in 20 overs. Sarita 48-year-old cricket legend was hos- Kalinga Warriors have won just taken to present the ‘best Odisha Yellow beat Odisha Purple Meher (50 not out) top scored for the pitalised Wednesday for the second one game while losing seven and athlete’ at the National by six wickets with three balls to Purple side. In reply, Odisha Yellow time in a month due to his cardiac are at the bottom of the 11-team Women Wrestling spare. However, in spite of losing scored 115 for four in 19.3 overs to condition. league with eight points. However, Championships here with a their respective games, both the book their spot in the play-offs. Two more stents were implanted they have managed to draw their buffalo worth Rs 1.5 lakh. Green and Purple teams qualified Sangita Khadia (50 not out) and Thursday during the surgery con- last two encounters against Dronacharya awardee for the play-offs along with Odisha Barsa Singh (28) batted well for ducted by a team of doctors, in- better sides. Mahavir Prasad gave the Red and Odisha Violet. the Yellow side. Khadia was ad- cluding noted cardiologist Dr Devi Head coach Stuart Baxter urged information here Sunday and In the first game, Odisha Green judged woman of the match for Shetty and Dr Ashwin Mehta. his side to step up and turn things said a committee has been scored 73 for seven in 20 overs her match-winning innings. “Mr Ganguly is doing fine and around. “At the moment, we need to set up to decide the best wrestler of the event. his heart is as strong as a normal start (turning) those good per- person. He had an uneventful re- formances that ended in a draw to covery and we are hopeful that good performances that result in a within the next couple of days, win,” Baxter said. “We are not talk- Gill blazes track he will be able to return to normal ing about the play-offs till about two Odisha FC head coach Stuart Baxter shouting instructions during a training Coimbatore: Gaurav Gill was life,” a senior doctor of the private to three weeks. We’re talking about session ahead of the game against Jamshedpur PHOTO COURTESY: ODISHA FC in blazing form at the wheels hospital, where he was admitted, getting to the next game. And, hope- of his Mahindra XUV as he said. The former India captain is fully, we will get a victory – that’s what than a difficult game,” said Baxter. ference, from one point to three and navigator Musa Sherif required to follow a strict routine we have been trying to do since the Jamshedpur find themselves in points. We have six massive games showed immense skills and and needs to be on medication for season started,” he added, Sunday. an almost similar situation, though ahead of us but we will take each patience to win Sunday the a few months, he added. The last time the two teams they still have a chance for the play- game at a time starting with Odisha Rally of Coimbatore and The batting great suffered a clashed, they split points in a four- offs. They are currently eighth in FC. We want to try and win that again emerge national mild heart attack earlier this goal thriller. Baxter is anticipat- the table with 15 points. However, game,” Coyle said. champions. Gill had won two month and was diagnosed with ing another tough fixture Monday. they have failed to register a win in “Odisha have some very good legs on tarmac in Itanagar Triple Vessel Disease. “Owen’s (Coyle) team are usually their last five games. They have players. When you look at the for- last month. He came to the Sources said Ganguly has been very competitive. I’v seen them also failed to score in three out of ward players, they are capable of leafy environs of Kethanur – asked to avoid spicy food. Also he play games where they don’t give their last four matches. scoring goals. It will be an exciting 40 km outside this town – Woman of the match Sangita Khadia of Odisha Yellow receiving the cheque will not be able to use the gym- up and they’ve got some good play- “The way for us is to try and win game as both teams would want to where the rally stages were for her match-winning knock Sunday OP PHOTO nasium for a month. ers. So I don’t expect anything less those games which can make a dif- win,” the JFC coach added. situated and showed he was also the king on gravel. There were twists and turns, cars CONVINCING 2-GOAL TRIUMPH FOR NIZAMS kicking up dust which made CHELSEA MANAGER TUCHEL GETS FIRST VICTORY Real Madrid slip the two days of rallying action a joy to watch. “I am extremely happy to win three again in title race rallies in a row and become HFC inch towards national champion for the City lights shine brightly ASSOCIATED PRESS seventh time,” said Gill. AGENCIES Madrid, Jan 31: Thibaut Courtois’ impressive penalty save was not ISL play-off place New development London, Jan 31: Thomas Tuchel enough to keep an error-prone secured his first win Sunday as Real Madrid from stumbling again AGENCIES New Delhi: Spectators might Chelsea manager as his team beat in their Spanish league title de- be allowed in the second India- Burnley 2-0 in the Premier League fence. Madrid lost 1-2 at home to Margao, Jan 31: Hyderabad FC England Test in Chennai after thanks to goals by Cesar Azpilicueta Levante Saturday in a match that (HFC) did their chances of making the central government’s fresh and Marcos Alonso. the defending champions played the Indian Super League (ISL) play- COVID-19 guidelines permitted In an earlier game played with 10 men from the eighth minute offs a world of good with a 2-0 vic- crowd attendance at fifty per Saturday, a ninth-minute goal from when defender Éder Militão was tory over Chennaiyin FC (CFC) at cent of capacity at sporting Brazilian Gabriel Jesus gave sent off. With the score level at 1- the Tilak Maidan Stadium, here venues. But the fresh Home Manchester City a 1-0 win over bot- 1 in the second half, Courtois Sunday. Goals from Fran Sandaza Goalscorer Fran Sandaza celebrates Ministry guidelines on easing tom club Sheffield United. With stopped Roger Martí’s penalty. (28th minute) and Joel Chianese of restrictions on public the win Pep Guardiola’s side ex- However, it was Martí who got (82nd) were enough to secure all the half-hour mark when Sandaza movement have changed the tended their lead at the top of the the winning goal for Levante in the three points for the Nizams and pro- broke the deadlock. After receiving scenario. “There is no time to CRUCIAL STRIKE: Gabriel Jesus (centre) of Manchester City celebrates with allow entry of spectators for table to four points. It got reduced teammates after scoring against Sheffield United 78th minute. pel them to third place on the table. the ball from a throw-in, the Spaniard the first Test starting February to three later in the evening after Despite losing a player, Marco They now have 22 points, just two be- found Joao Victor, who returned

5. But yes, now with fresh second placed Manchester United gle free of two players and pick out many real openings. Asensio put Madrid ahead in the hind ATK Mohun Bagan. the favour with an excellent through y guidelines, there is every drew goalless with Arsenal. Both his unmarked teammate. Incidentally it was the 500th vic- 13th minute when he rifled home Hyderabad made their intentions ball. Sandaza shook off defender

sides have played 20 games. City Sheffield United had arrived at the tory as manager for Guardiola as Toni Kroos’ excellent pass. clear right from the start, winning a Deepak Tangri before slotting the ball

k k y y m m c possibility that second Test c starting February 14 might now have won 12 straight games Etihad on the back off their shock manager. However, Levante took advantage corner in just the fifth minute. They into the back of the net. have spectators as per in all competitions – a club record 2-1 win at Old Trafford against “It was so difficult. We knew it of having the extra man. Levante had two clear chances following the Chennaiyin were unclucky in notification,” an official said. run of victories. Manchester United and delivered an- would be,” said the Spaniard. “It was forward José Morales equalised in corner. However, first Asish Rai and the second half when they hit the The Chepauk has a capacity of Jesus slotted home from close other solid and organised display. amazing after this run of 12 wins the 33rd with an exquisite volley then Mohammed Yasir shot over. bar twice. Hyderabad then sealed the 50,000, so only 25,000 persons range after Ferran Torres took ad- Man City had over 75 per cent in a row, still the players run and to blast a pass from Jorge Miramón Hyderabad kept attacking and game when Chianese latched on to will be allowed. AGENCIES vantage of poor defending to wrig- possession but struggled to create fight like animals,” he added. inside the far post. they got their reward just before a through ball from Victor to score.

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