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JOURNALISM OF COURAGE TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2020, AHMEDABAD, LATECITY, 18 PAGES SINCE 1932 `4.00, WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

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OVER THE HEDGE by Michael Fry &TLewis CROSSWORD 4302 DAYTODAY BYPETERVIDAL

ARIES (Mar 21 -Apr 20) LIBRA (Sep 24 -Oct 23) Mostofwhat At timeslikethese, planetary activity when planetary thereistakes place pressures arefew, in public-reaches of youshould begin to your solar chart, suggesting notice Jupiter’s benevolent that your worldlyambitions movementsinyour emotional should occupyfirstplace. life. Remember,though, that Private concerns maybeput on ‘good luck’ oftenhas strange thebackburner,evenifonly results. Today’s blessings temporarily. Hopefullyfriends might bring tomorrow’s and lovers will wait their turn. problems,soleave nothing to chance. TAURUS (Apr 21 -May 21) Younow have a SCORPIO (Oct 24 -Nov 23) chance to prove Youmay have had to justhow astute, enduresome sortof sympatheticand abreak or CALVIN &HOBBES by BillWatterson self-protectiveyou can be, separation. Don’t althoughnobody should blame other people, and don’t doubt justwhat youhavehad blame yourself, either! Rather, to go through to reachyour trytosee what underlying current stateofself- purpose mayhavebeen knowledge! Onlyyour closest served.Evenanunexpected friendsreallyunderstand rejection could pave the way ACROSS DOWN howyou feel. forsomething muchbetter. 1Book by whichone’s simply 1Diana madlyinthe swim instructed (7) (5) GEMINI (May22-June 21) SAGITTARIUS (Nov 24 -Dec 5When knockedout of course it 2It’s notmade still but it’s still Reassuring 22) should be replaced(5) made (6,7) planetaryaspects Although youstill 8Refusing to compromise Irene 3Oriental up lateperhaps is signifythat you need to choose your can’t sign anyway carriedshoulder high mayprocrastinate wordswith care, (13) (7) to your heart’s desire. In fact, youshould insistontelling the 9New or old slaver 4Mysetsmethodicallyarranged thereisnothing like truth as yousee it. The crux of (5) (6) putting things offuntil the matter is notwhat yousay, 10 Yethestill plays Shylock 5Sortoflead mother will follow tomorrowtorestore your but who yousay it to:some (7) in principle (5) belief thatyou areincontrol people understand you, others 11 Charge backupintime 6Screen an Italian is unable to of your ownlife. Mind you, do not. Youmight have to learn perhaps (6) see (8,5) youcan’tput the inevitable the difficult artofpatience. offforever. 12 Still good advice to the excited 7The morecomplicated MARVIN by Tom Armstrong CAPRICORN (Dec 23 -Jan 20) (6) mathematical proposition CANCER (June 22 -July23) Youmustnot be 15 Jams and preserves (7) The financial drawnintoany (7) 11 Is in the wayofprogress outlook is becoming further unnecessary 17 New bales of fur (7) brighter.The one arguments, (5) 13 Take aliberty? (7) thing youcan be especiallyifyou have no 19 Cheating by giving twocards 14 Remarks players ignoreasthe sureofisthat planets aligned personal emotional interestin instead of one (6-7) team comes in (6) with your solar house of the people with whom you 20 Measures ladder 16 Still producing cheerful tunes moneyare doing their best. disagree. It would be better to (5) (5) Your long-term security is enjoythe littlepleasures that 21 Slight point to one who makes 18 Keen section of the agerange thereforenot at issue, but if arenow coming your way, and advances (7) (5) you’retempted to take arisk leave thoughtlessindividuals youmight want to leave it fora to fend forthemselves. fewdays. SolutionsCrossword4301:Across: 1Slums,8Fandango,9Avail,10Sedative,11 AQUARIUS (Jan 21-Feb 19) Edits,12Lad,16Endive,17Aspire,18Dim,23Group,24Lacrosse,25Sighs,26 LEO (July24-Aug 23) At work it is alla Terriers,27Leash.Down:2Lovedone,3Maintain,4Valeta,5Ideal,6Snail,7Nobel, Youshould, by question of least said, 12Led,13Dam,14Sportive,15Crouches,19Insert,20Flute,21Score,22Toxin. rights, fare better soonest mended. than mostthese One thing youcan days,for youare rely on is that employers or under asortofinfallible colleagueswill eventually celestial protection. The return to the same question, like JUMBLED WORDS DifficultyLevel5s important planetary aspects some sortofbrokenrecord. Instructions aresetting up apattern Whydon’t youtry andlead Givenbelowarefourjumbledwords.Solvethejumblestomakeproperwordsandmovethemto TosolveaSudokupuzzle, extending over twoorthree everyone into the future?

therespectivesquaresbelow.Selectthelettersintheshadedsquaresandjumblethemtoget everydigitfrom1to9 4322 years, so their effectswill notat PISCES (Feb 20 -Mar 20) theanswerforthegivenquip. mustappearineachofthe firstbeobvious. Ifyoufelldownyesterday,____today.-H.G.Wells(5,2) Your romantic feelingsshould nineverticalcolumns,in VIRGO (Aug 24 -Sep 23) nowbeonthe eachoftheninehorizontal Sometimes you upward, optimistic 4323 EPUAS EFNODU rowsandineachofthe have to stand up, be phase of your nineboxes. counted and be true emotional cycle.

SUDOKU to your beliefs. Don’t Youshould thereforepackyour become complacent or social diaryasfull as youcan, TOONS EMPRUP DifficultyLevel imagine that others will step in ready forthe next great to save the day. Only if yourely opportunity.Iknowthat you SUDOKU 1s=Veryeasy;2s=Easy; on your ownskills and talents sometimes needmore 3s=Medium;4s=Hard; can youbesurethat youwill confidence, but youmay just

5s=VeryHard;6s= win through and achieve have to dive intopublic events

ls el .W .G -H y. da to up and st y, da er st ye wn do ll fe ou fy :I er sw An Genius your goals. whether you’reready or not.

SOLUTION

MPER PU E, DU ON ,F OOT SN E, US PA SOLUTION:

Gujarat AgroIndustries Corporation Ltd. GUJARATREGIONALOFFICE (A Government Enterprise) EMPLOYEES' STATEINSURANCE CORPORATION TENDER NOTICE (MinistryofLabour &Employment, Govt. of India) 15 DEC 1987 Panchdeep Bhavan, Ashram Road, Ahmedabad-1. Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation Limited invites on-line tender for Ph.:- 079-27582400/450 Fax:- 079-27540498 Selection of Consulting Agency for setting up of State Project Management Websie: www.esic.nic.in E-mail:- [email protected] Unit (SPMU) under the scheme of PM formalization of Micro Enterprises, Notice Inviting Expression of Interest Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Tender document can be accessed /downloaded from EOI No. :- PMB/SR/ESICs' Own Buildings &Services at Gujarat/ 2020 our website www.gaic.gujarat.gov.in or http://gujagro.nprocure.com from Name of Work:Renovation/ Retrofitting Special Repair Works TAMILNADU NEWSPRINT AND PAPERS LIMITED 15-12-2020 18.00 Hrs onwards.For further information, please keep track (Civil &Electrical) on lump sum agency's service basis under GFR with our website. All tenders will be accepted only through e-tendering LNK Udai Lt SM Dutt TA Satyavir Mondipatti, Manapparai Tk, TrichyDist. -621306, 133 (3) of ESIC's Own buildings &services viz. Hospitals/ Ph: 04332-265102; Email:[email protected] (online tendering) process. In case of queries related to e-tendering, please Narayan Dispensaries/ Offices/ Staff Quarters etc. and its premises situat- coRRIgENDUM contact (n) Code Solutions (www.nprocure.com)toll free No. 18002331010 ed at Gujarat. Tender Exising Revised In fond and ever lasting memory of our heroes, the brave and gallant Descripion or direct No. 079- 40007501 or alternatively you can contact: Additional •The Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) is an soldiers,who made the supreme sacrifice on 15 Dec 1987 No. Due Date Due Date General Manager (M &P&A), Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation Ltd., autonomous body under the aegis of the MinistryofLabour and while fighitng the LTTE in “OP PAWAN”. They laid down their lives 202123 Oxidizing Biocide Programmefor 16.12.2020 28.12.2020 Gujarat State Civil Supply Corporation Administrative Complex Ground Employment, Government of India. The main objectiveofthe in the finest traditions of the VEER RAJPUTSand the Indian Army. 001668 TNPL Unit-IIonPackage cost basis floor,Sector-10/A, Gandhinagar -382010. organization is to provide certain benefits to employees of the Their selfless devotion and supreme sacrifice will always inspier us. Detailed Terms &Conditions, Quantity,Tender Fee, EMD,etc.are Ph. No. 079-23240208. Managing Director covered (under provision of ESI Act) establishment/ factoryin CO anf All Ranks available in thetender documentatour websites: www.tnpl.com / case of sickness,maternity and 'employment injury' and to 170 Fd Regt "VEER RAJPUT" www.tenders.tn.gov.in makeprovision forcertain social benefits etc. DIPR/4655/Tender/2020 TNPL -Maker of bagasse based eco-friendly Paper •ESIC is inviting online "Expression of Interest" bids from Public ANDHRA PRADESH INTEGRATED IRRIGATION AND Sector Undertakings set up by Central /State Government to OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, carryout civil and electrical work or from anyother Central/ R.W.S.&S. DIVISION, NUAPADA. AGRICULTURE TRANSFORMATION PROJECT State Government Organization/ PSU which have been notified (World Bank Aided Project) O-713 1st Corrigendum to Bid Identification No. RWS&S_10/2020-21 by MoUD forsuch purpose as per GFR 133 (3) through EOI. Request for Bids (National Competitive Bidding) Remaining unaltered of all terms and conditions, the following changes are hereby made to Bid Identification No. Details,eligibilitycriteria, schedule and other terms &conditions RWS&S_10/2020-21ofthe Executive engineer,RWS&S Division, Nuapada by virtue of this corrigendum as Tender Notice Nos.25/2020-21 and 26/2020-21, Dt: 08.12.2020 can be viewedand downloaded from https://eprocure.gov.in/epro- mention below: The Superintending Engineer, IrrigationCircle,Ongole,Prakasam cure/app forthe above said worksand can be submitted till As per Original NIT As per Corrigendum District, Pin Code: 523001, AndhraPradesh invites Bids from the 07.01.2021 till 03:00 PM. Date and Time of availability of bid document in the portal: Date and Time of availability of bid document in the portal: intending Bidders for various worksof1)RehabilitationofMondi Katta ESIC reservesthe right to makeany alteration /modification in the 14.12.2020 at 10.00 A.M. 22.12.2020 at 10.00 A.M. Tank -Gadikota CascadeNo.32inGadikota Village in GiddaluruMandal EOI document/s or scrap the tender at anystage without assign- Last date/Time for receipt of bids in the portal: 23.12.2020 up Last date/Time for receipt of bids in the portal: 29.12.2020 up in Prakasam District. Rs.217.90Iakhs, 2) RehabilitationofRalla Vagu to 5.00 P. M. to 5.00 P.M. ing anyreason. Time extension /Clarification /Addendum / Date of Opening of bid: 24.12.2020 at 11.00 A.M. Date of Opening of bid: 30.12.2020 at 11.00 A.M. (Independent) in BurjapalliVillage in Giddaluru Mandal in Prakasam Corrigendum, if any, shall be published in above mentioned web- District - Rs.195.93 lakhs,under “Andhra PradeshIntegrated site only. Sd/- Executive Engineer, Irrigation and Agriculture Transformation Project (APIIATP) -World Additional Commissioner &Regional Director RWSS Division, Nuapada Bank aidedProject” from14.12.2020toDt. 27.01.2021 upto 3.00 PM. Regional Office, Gujarat. OIPR-25043/11/0004/2021 For complete details visit us at: www.apeprocurement.gov.in For queries Contact No.8247500435. DELHI JAL BOARD :GOVT.OFNCT OF DELHI Sd/- Superintending Engineer,Irrigation Circle, Ongole. U. P. RURAL ROAD DEVELOPMENT AGENCY OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER (EAST)-II DIPR No.499PP/CL/ADVT/1/1/2020-21, Dt.14/12/2020 Department of Rural Development, Government of Uttar Pradesh E-BLOCK :PREET VIHAR :DELHI-110092 4&th 5th oor,Ganna Kisan Sansthan Building, New Berry Road, Lucknow GOVT.OFODISHA “STOP CORANA; Wear Mask, Follow Physical Distancing, Maintain Hand Hygiene” Ph. No. 0522-2209450, Mob.: 7311189228, E-mail :[email protected] PRESS NIT No. 22/ E-II (2020-21) OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER RURAL WORKS, CIRCLE, BHAWANIPATNA S. Name of Work Amount Put Tender Earnest Tender ID No. &Date Last Date/ Time of Letter No. :2161 /T-252(FDR) /UPRRDA/2020 Date :14.12.2020 O-712 Bid identification No.:- BPT/Online-05/2020-21 Date:10.12.2020 No. to Tender Processing Money of Release of tender receipt of tender NOTICE INVITING TENDERS FOR ROAD WORKS IN ODISHA Fee in E-Procurement E-Procurement NATIONAL COMPETITIVE BIDDING THROUGH e-Procurement E-Procurement Notice Solution Solution 1. Name of the work : Construction of incomplete Road and Bridges works under State Plan in the District of Nuapada. 2. No.of work : 1No. 1. Construction of 1.00 ML Capacity Under 2,46,02,218.00 1500.00 4,93,000.00 2020_DJB_197453_1 28-Dec-20 Request For Proposal Ground Water Reservoirat Patparganj 11-Dec-2020 02:00 PM 3. Location details : Nuapada District 4. Estimated Cost : As per NIT. NOTICE INVITING ON-LINE OFFERS FOR SETTING UP OF A Industrial Area under DSIIHC (Deposit 06:30 PM work) in (AC-59). East-II 5. Period of completion. : As per NIT. PMU FOR PREPARATION OF DETAILED PROJECT REPORTS, 6. Cost of tender paper : Rs.10,000/- per set. Further details in this regard can be seen at https://govtprocurement.delhi.gov.in 7. Other details. : TENDER DOCUMENT (BOQ), CARRYING OUT THE E-TENDER ISSUED BY PRO (WATER) Sd/- VIJAYSAGAR Availability of tender for online bidding Last date &time for seeking tender clarification Date and time of opening of technical bid PROCESS, QUALITY CHECK OF ROADS PROPOSED TO BE Advt. No. J.S.V.256/2020-21 EX. ENGINEER (EAST)-II From To 17.12.2020 11.00 A.M. 30.12.2020 5.00 P.M. 29.12.2020 31.12.2020 at 11.00 A.M. TAKEN UP FOR UPGRADATION WITH NEW TECHNOLOGIES LIKE

Further details can be seen from the web site "www.tendersorissa.gov.in" FULL DEPTH RECLAMATION AND STABILIZATION UNDER Sd/- Superintending Engineer PMGSY-III. TAMILNADU MEDIcAL SERVIcES coRPoRATIoN LTD. Rural Works, Circle, Bhawanipatna OIPR-25102/11/0005/2021 Uttar Pradesh Rural Roads Development Agency (UPRRDA), No.417, Pantheon Road, Egmore, Chennai-600 008. Phone :28191890 /28190259; Fax: 044 –28190636E-Mail:[email protected] Yeejle mejkeÀej / GOVERNMENT OF INDIA apremier agency of Government of Uttar Pradesh, intends to set up a HejceeCeg Tpee& efJeYeeie / DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY PMU for assisting UPRRDA in preparation of detailed project report, INTERNATIoNAL coMPETITIVE BIDDINg–TENDER EXTENSIoN NoTIcE v³egefkeÌue³ej He̳etue keÀe@cHueskeÌme / NUCLEAR FUEL COMPLEX tender document including BOQ, carrying out the process of e-Tender 1. The Tender due dates are extended as follows: Electrical Projects, 2fnd loor,Sarathi building, ECIL post, Hyderabad-500 062 NOTICE INVITING TENDER and quality checks especially for roads to be taken up for up-gradation 1) Tender No.PKG3/ICB/TNUHP/JICA/C2/USG/TNMSC/ENGG/2020, dt.04.02.2020 - Item rate e-tender in two Part system are invited on behalf of the President of India by Dy Chief Engineer (CED,EP&PD), address mentioned using new technologies like full depth reclamation and stabilization or Ultrasound Machine (5), Ultrasonogram Colour Doppler with 3probes (18) &Portable Ultrasound above Phone No. 040-2718-4380 from eligible contractors for the following works. Sl. No. Tender Name of work Estimated Cost of the tender/ Tender Document Last Date Last Date other such technologies under PMGSY-III. The estimated length of Machine (6) Notice No. Cost (EC) (Rs. transaction fee available on website submission /of roads to be constructed on above technology is 5000 kilometers. On 2) Tender No.PKG6/ICB/TNUHP/JICA/C2/OPE-I/TNMSC/ENGG/2020, dt.04.02.2020 - in Lakhs) www.tenderwizard.com/DAE uploading submission behalf of the Chief Executive Officer,UPRRDA, Lucknow,invited Multipara Monitor (4), Multipara monitor with IBP (4), Multipara monitor with ETCO2 (18), for free view &download (for e-tender) of hard online tenders from the reputed consulting firm/agency/company for the Deibrillator (15), Anesthesia Work Station with monitor (18), Anesthesia Workstation (20), of bids copies said work. The criteria of selection will be Quality cum Cost Based Operation Theatre fracture Table (with ortho attachment,C-arm compatible) (17) &Operation 1E/611/2020 “Providing of Rs 96.5 Lakhs Rs. 5694/- From :15.12.2020 10.02.2021 16.02.2021 Theatre Table (with General Surgery attachment)(10) (two part AC facility to :10.01.2021 @22:00 hrs @14:00 hrs Selection (QCBS) with 70% weightage to Technical Score and 30% e-Tender) forTube weightage to Financial Score. The bid is invited on e-procurement Sl. No. Sale period Submission of Bids opening of Bids Preparation 1Upto 21.12.2020 22.12.2020, 03.00 PM 22.12.2020, 04.00 PM Bay at CFFP" portal https://www.pmgsytendersup.gov.in as per details provided in 2Upto 22.12.2020 23.12.2020, 03.00 PM 23.12.2020, 04.00 PM at NFC the document.The last date for submission of bid will be 10.01.2021. Hyderabad” Date of release of Invitation for RFP through e-procurement: For details visit www.tenders.tn.gov.in and TNMSC website www.tnmsc.tn.gov.in Detailed NIT indicating eligibility criteria, method of participation, fees payable and other details is available on website www.nfc.gov.in. Part-1 of e-Tender will be opened on the same day of date of submission of hard copies at 15.00 hrs. Date for opening Part-2 of tender will be intimated 16.12.2020. DIPR/ 4647 /Tender/2020 general Manager (Equipment) subsequently to the qualified bidders. Chief Executive Ofcer

Ahmedabad DAILY FROM: AHMEDABAD, CHANDIGARH, DELHI, JAIPUR, KOLKATA, LUCKNOW, MUMBAI, NAGPUR, PUNE, VADODARA

JOURNALISM OF COURAGE TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2020, AHMEDABAD, LATE CITY, 18 PAGES SINCE 1932 `4.00, WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM Covid vaccine: states Jharkhand DISINVESTMENT MOVE toldtouse district data CM grants AsAirIndiabids for under-50s with risks approval for probe close,Tatasand Last week,ahigh-levelexpert KAUNAINSHERIFFM groupco-chaired by Dr VKPaul, NEWDELHI,DECEMBER14 Member,NITI Aayog, and Union into fraud Health SecretaryRajesh Bhushan, consortiumled THE CENTRE has asked states to recommendedthree groups to be THE utilise datagenerated at the dis- simultaneouslyvaccinated on trictlevel during screening for priority depending on availabil- SCHOLARSHIP Non-CommunicableDiseases ity of vaccine: 1crore health care SCAM (NCDs)to identify aprioritygroup workers; 2crore frontline work- bystaffinfray that is expected to receive Covid ers, including police and armed vaccinations early next year: forces; and, about 27 croreabove ABHISHEKANGAD those belowthe ageof50with the ageof50and those less than RANCHI,DECEMBER14 Multipleexpressions of interest, says comorbidities, topgovernment 50 years with comorbidities. Police movedincontainers as additional barriers at Delhi’s Singhu border Monday. Abhinav Saha sources told The Indian Express. Under the National CLEARINGTHE wayfor a govt;qualified bidders to be notifiedJan 5 “The basic document will be Programme forPrevention and statewide probebasedonthe the electoral roll, whichwill pro- ControlofCancer,Diabetes, TOMARMEETS FARMERSWHO BACK 3LAWS findings of an investigationby vide states with agedetails of Cardiovascular Diseases and The Indian Express, Jharkhand PRANAVMUKUL beneficiaries. The states will su- Stroke (NPCDCS), launchedin Govt open to talks but not to repeal Chief MinisterHemant Soren NEWDELHI,DECEMBER14 perimpose this basic document October 2010,state governments has “givenhis approval” forthe with the NCDscreenings that aremandatedto undertakepop- state’s Anti-Corruption Bureau IN Aboosttoits effortstodisin- theyhaveconducted.The states ulation-basedscreening at the of laws; farmers hold hunger strike (ACB) to initiateaPreliminary vest stakeinAir India, the Centre can also createtheir ownmech- districtlevel forearly detection Enquiry(PE) into the Pre-Matric said Mondaythat it has received Thesignal anisms, as healthisasubject of of NCDs.Thosewho come to Willing to listen, open fordiscussion,dialogue: Rajnath scholarship scam in whichpoor “multiple expressions of inter- the state,” sources said. CONTINUEDONPAGE4 minority studentswereduped est” forthe debt-laden airline. behindsale knowofdevelopmentsinKrishi by anexus of middlemen, school These include bids from the Tata HARIKISHANSHARMA BUSINESSASUSUAL Bhawan. “The door fortalksisal- authorities,state officials,and Group and aconsortium com- WHILE MEETINGthe NEWDELHI,DECEMBER14 ways open.” bank staff. prisingseveral of the airline’s disinvestment target BY UNNY On Day19ofthe protests, “The CM (as CabinetMinister employees and aUS-basedin- of Rs 2.1lakh crorefor THE NARENDRA MODI-ledgov- leaders of 32 farm unions esca- in charge of Vigilance) has given vestment firm, sources told The 2020-21may be atall ernmentissaidto have takenapo- lated their agitation by observ- his approval forACB to investigate Indian Express. order —just5%has liticalcallnottoyieldto theprotest- ing aday’s hunger strikebegin- the MinistryofMinority Affairs- The deadline forsubmission been achievedsofar — ingfarmers’demandthatthethree ning 8amatthe Singhu border. run Pre-MatricScholarshipScam. of formal bids closed at 5pm asuccessful sale of Air laws be repealed—but is willing The police, meanwhile, put up TheACBwill investigatethe irreg- Mondayand the Government India will send astrong to continue talkswith them. shipping containers using cranes ularities in pre-matric, postma- is expected to notify the quali- messageonthe “A repeal is notpossible; and on NH-44tofirm up the barri- tric,merit-cum-means scholar- fied biddersonJanuary5.This seriousness of the a0-1 binarywill notwork. The cades already fortifiedwith ship schemes and submitits is the Government’ssecondat- government’s strategic government has givenan dumpsters laden with sand and initial report,” the Chief Minister's temptatdisinvesting itsstake sale plan. amendment option. It is also barbed wire to prevent protest- Secretariat said in apress release in the airline afterthe previous willing to changethe wordings ers from enteringDelhi. issuedMonday. move in 2018 endedupwith- of the three laws basedon From the Government's side, It said that Soren has also or- out abid. tion of debt. But this time, it Intern doctors strikeworkdemanding an increase in stipend farmer concerns,” said atop gov- Defence MinisterRajnath Singh dered all Deputy Commissioners “Multiple expressions of in- plans to divest 100per cent of its in VadodaraonMonday. BhupendraRana ernment source who is in the CONTINUEDONPAGE4 to submit areportfollowing terest have been receivedfor equity sharecapital in Air India physical verification of all appli- strategic disinvestment of Air Ltd, whichincludes Air India’s cantsand schools forthe aca- India. The transaction will now shareholding interestof100per Medical interns in Gujarat PM to lay foundation for NATIONAL NETWORK demic year 2020-21. “Wewere move to the second stage,” Tuhin cent in Air India Express and 50 waiting forthe order.Now we KantaPandey, Secretary, per cent in Air India SATS Airport ASSAMSCHOOLSTO will begin the PE intothe scam,” Department of Investment and Services. protest for higher stipend; energy park, interact with sources in the ACBtold The Public AssetManagement, According to sources,the Tata REOPENWITHOUT Indian Express. postedinatweet. Group has submitted an official RESTRICTIONS On Saturday, speaking at The Earlier,the Government had expression of interestfor the air- state govt warns of action Punjabi farmers in Kutch PAGE 14 Indian Express Idea Exchange put up 76 percent stakeinAir line although the bid has not metwith. The stategovernment, districtheadquarters Bhuj and CONTINUEDONPAGE4 India forsalealongwith apor- CONTINUEDONPAGE4 EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE however, directed the medical EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE flytoTent City, thevenue of the AHMEDABAD,DECEMBER14 collegedeans to initiateaction RAJKOT,DECEMBER14 annual Rann UtsavatDhordo againstthe interns who were ab- villagenear Khavda, around80 AN ESTIMATED 2,000 intern sent from duty. PRIME MINISTER Narendra km west of Bhuj. doctors—fifth year MBBS stu- Resident doctors of the med- Modi will interact with farmers “AtDhordo, the Prime Mini- dents—from 14 medical colleges icalcolleges extendedtheir sup- in Kutch, including those from sterwillinteractwithprogressive across Gujarat went on strikeat porttotheinterns,statingthatthey Punjab, during his visit to the farmersofKutchaswellasPunjabi their designatedworkplaces on were raising “a valid concern”. border district on Tuesdaytolay farmersonKutchborder,”anoffi- Monday, seeking ahikeintheir Interns of sixGujarat govern- the foundation stoneofa cial releasefromthe information stipend of Rs 12,800, on par with ment colleges and eight Gujarat 30,000-megawatt (MW) hybrid department of Gujarat govern- that providedbyotherstates. Medical Education and Research renewable energy park, four ment stated on Monday. The internsalsodemanded Society(GMERS)-run medical seawater desalination plants Farmers, largely from Punjab an honorarium forCovid-19 colleges were seen raising slogans and amodern milk processing and Haryana, have been camping duty and calledfor an “indefinite of “forgottencorona warriors” plant of Sarhad Dairy. on Delhi border,demanding the strike” if their demandsare not CONTINUEDONPAGE4 The PM willland in Kutch CONTINUEDONPAGE4

INSIDE LE CARRE, SPY WHO CAME IN FROM COLD TO WRITETHRILLERS, DIES AT 89 PAGES 10, 16

104-yr-old in Assam dies a‘foreigner’, hoping ‘CAA will solve all’

Das and his wife lastweek. Biswa Kalyan Purkayastha

TORAAGARWALA GUWAHATI,DECEMBER14

ABOUT SIX months ago, Nyuti Das remembers her father Chandrahar Das bending over her brother’s phone,his one good eye—and the rest of him —com- pletely absorbed by avideo of a speech of PrimeMinister NarendraModi. Then he looked at Nyuti and said, smiling: “Modi aamar bhogowan (Modiismy god)...Hewill solve everything. The citizenship lawishere. We willall becomeIndian.” On Sundayevening, Chandrahar,104,suffering from aheartdisease, who had spent three months in adetention campfor “foreigners” in Assam twoyearsago,diedinhis son’s run-downcottage in Boraibasti CONTINUEDONPAGE4 Ahmedabad WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM 4 THE SECOND PAGE THEINDIANEXPRESS,TUESDAY,DECEMBER15,2020

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WEB laws can be disastrous Indian Express EXCLUSIVE ★★★★★■4.6 fordairyfarmers VIDEOOFTHEDAY TECHREVIEW NEWEPISODEEVERYDAY INDIAN-AMERICAN ON PHILIPS HTL8162 Today, we take alook at the stringent NASA’S MOON MISSION SOUNDBAR REVIEW anti-slaughter lawthat Karnataka is trying Raja Jon Vurputoor Soundbar on a to implement, and discuss howsuchlaws SCANTHISQRCODETO Chari is agraduateof budget but lacks can impact India’s dairyindustry DOWNLOADTHEAPP the USAF Academy, MIT abit of ‘punch’ FROMPAGEONE

Medical interns arenot native of the state. bowedhis head. “The lawhas “An appeal filedbythe come, it has been nearly ayear, in Gujarat Gujarat government against but what has 'God' done?” she the Gujarat High Courtverdict As Air India bids close, Tatas and would ask him. protest for ordering de-freezing of our Breaking down, Nyuti adds, land records has been awaiting “All he wanted wastodie an higher stipend; judgement,” Lachhman Singh Indian... And we tried, we ran State govt Recurring Brar,one of consortium led by staff in fray from courttocourt, from advo- demand the leaders of Sikh farmers in cates to social workers, submit- Kutchfighting the legal battle, been placedthrough itsaffili- concerns and clients”. their members againstthe this debt to aGovernment- tedall the papers. And justlike warns of action told The Indian Express. ateairlines, VistaraorAirAsia The bid by the consortium move.Inits latestdisinvest- ownedspecial purpose vehicle, that, he’s gone. We arestill ‘for- and “wedon’t want praise, we INCREASEINstipend has SurendraSingh Bhullar,an- India. ATataGroup spokesper- proposes to give 51 per cent ment move,akey changemade Air India Assets Holding eigners’ in the eyes of the law. want raise”. been arecurring de- other Sikh farmer leader,said son declinedcomment. staketothe group of employ- by the Government in terms of CompanyLtd. The entities that The Act(Citizenship Amend- Addressing the media on mand foryears, and has that he had no idea about farm- The other confirmedbid ees involved, whichincludes bidding is that it has allowed have submitted expressions of ment Act) did nothing forus.” the strike, Deputy Chief onlyseen ahigher pitch ers being invited at the PM’s has been placedbyaconsor- some boardmembers among potential investors to bid on the interestneedtosubmit physi- The Modi government has MinisterNitin Patel, who also sincethe Covid-19 pan- event. “I have notbeen invited tium of Air India employees 219staffers, and 49 per cent to basis of enterprise value, effec- cal bids by December 29. repeatedly emphasisedthat the holds the health portfolio, said, demic. Written repre- to the event... Even if theyin- and Interups Inc, according to Interups Inc, whichwill act as tively allowing the bidders to Qualifiedbidders will place CAAismeant to give citizenship “Studentswho have completed sentations were submit- viteus, thereislittle chance of Laxmi Prasad, the chairman of the financial partner. determine the debt levelthey bids on the basis of enterprise to people likeDas, largely (four years of) MBBS do their tedbyinterns to their us getting ahearing. Modi did- the US-basedfirm. On itsweb- The plan to include employ- would want to take on. Air India value and the winning entity Hindu persecuted minorities in internship... Without complet- collegedeans that were n’t listentouswhen he wasthe site, Interups says it “is apub- ees wasput in motion by Air had current liabilities and pro- will be decidedonthe basis of their countries of residence, ing their internship fornine forwardedtostate gov- chief ministerofGujarat... so liclylistedcompanyengagedin India’s commercial director visions, including short-term whoeverquotesthe highesten- who migrated to India. While months, no medical student ernment authorities one cannotexpect him to listen the business of identifying and Meenakshi Mallik,who wrote loans and trade payables, of Rs terprise value. This entity will the Acthas widespread support can be adoctor,evenifthey time and again. to us as the PM,” said Bhullar. investing intobusiness oppor- to nearly 20,000 staffseeking 70,686.6 croreand anet debt of then have to payatleast15per in the Barak Valley, it is opposed have passedMBBS exams. However, no effective Records of Bhullars land in tunities or transactions either participation in the disinvest- Rs 58,255 croreatthe end of cent of the quoted enterprise by other parts of Assam, who Some days ago, some interns written communication Mandvi taluka of Kutchhave directlyoronbehalf of itsstake- ment process. Some employee 2018-19. Thereafter, the Centre value in cash, while the rest can fear that the grant of citizenship made arepresentation and I wasreceivedinreply. been frozen. holders, affiliates, associate unions, however, had advised transferredRs29,464crore of be takenonasdebt. rightsto“outsiders” would asked them to be patient... say- Their demand is largely BhavyaVerma, district de- changethe essential natureof ing the government is busy due to the fact that sev- velopment officer of Kutch, the state. with other works, their con- eral other states have a said his office had no role in as- Govt open to talksbut nottorepeal With the Assam Assembly cerns will be addressedlater... higher payfor interns sembling the delegation of elections drawing near,the BJP Despitethat, theytook aone- and the gaphas onlyin- farmers to meetthe PM. has startedtalking of the CAA sideddecision to declarea creasedwith several “Everything is being handled and AgricultureMinister Government is “ready to hold market and liberal system. If in the living standardoffarm- again. However, as in the case of strike... in my view, this strike states also paying a by the Prime Minister’s Office AgricultureMinister talks”. “Whenevertheir pro- youwant to improvethe con- ers”. “The policy and inten- Das, the changehas largely re- is illegal...” higher honorarium for and my office has no role in it,” NarendraSingh Tomar called posal comes, the Government dition of farmers, then we tion of the Government of mainedonpaper,with even The Deputy CM added, “All Covid-19duty. said Verma. formoretalkstoresolve the will definitelyhold talks,” he needreforms...technological India, behind these laws,are rules of the Actyet to be framed. superintendentshavebeen no- The PM is visiting Kutchto deadlock. Tomar also met said. reforms, economic reforms good. We have held meetings Former Silchar Congress MP tifiedthat interns who arenot laythe foundation stone of Home MinisterAmit Shah for In Gandhinagar,Gujarat, and agricultural reforms.” withfarm unions and triedto SushmitaDev,who visited Das's on duty immediatelybe Karnataka, while AIIMS pays Rs 30,000-MW hybrid renewable the second successive day. Union MinisterofState for Tomar had lastweek met convince them. We wish that familyonMonday, says the Actis markedabsent... Without com- 23,500. Interns have been energy parknear the Indo- Sources said back-channel AgricultureParshottam asimilar delegation from theydiscuss (these laws), justa“tool”. “It’s ameans to an pleting internship, theycannot working relentlesslythrough Pakistanborder near Khavda. talkswereonwith leaders of Rupala ruledout bringing the Uttarakhand as partofthe clause by clause,” he said. end. And the end is polarising appear in post-graduateexams Covid-19...” The park, touted as the largest some of the unions in the Minimum SupportPrice un- Government's outreachto Asked if the Government the Hindu Bengali vote. Even if and cannotberegisteredas “I want to ask the govern- of itskind in the world, will group of 32. “Some leaders der the legal framework,akey farmers from states other will invitethe farmers for the CAAwas in effect, it doesn’t doctors... ultimatelyitistheir ment, especiallythe deputy come up on 72,600hectares of arewilling to understand the demand of farm unions. than Punjab, whichhas moretalks, Tomar said: “Their assurecitizenship to anybody. loss. It is everyone’s right to CM and the health minister— land along the border,and will needfor arriving at amiddle Addressing apress confer- emergedasthe epicentreof programmes aregoing on. Whyhas the BJP nothelpedany makedemands and requests, from crores collected as tax, have ahybrid zone and awind path. Nothaving discussed ence at the stateBJP head- the protests. We arewaiting fortheir re- of the Hindu Bengalis who are but in these tough times of businessmen aregiven money powerzone. possible exit options, theyare quarters Shree Kamalam, In another meeting, Tomar sponse.” still in detention?” Covid-19, it is notacceptable...” within 24 hours under entre- Forthe hybrid parkzone, stuckwith their maximalist Rupalasaid, “When we arethe held discussions with BJP The previous five rounds Sitting Silchar BJP MP Dr The striking interns, how- preneurship schemes... but land has been allotted to Adani position. But asolution may ones who introducedit, it is MPs and MLAs from Haryana of talkshaveremainedincon- Rajdeep Royclaims the process ever,told The Indian Express, can’t theypay Rs 20,000 to in- Green Energy Ltd (19,000 ha), be in the offing,” the source notsomething whichrequires who submitted aletterex- clusive. has got delayeddue to the Covid- “Weare ready to face the con- terns who areproviding med- Sarjan Realities Ltd (Suzlon, said without elaborating. legal support. It is partofthe pressing supportfor the farm The lastscheduledround, 19 pandemic. “I offermycondo- sequences.” ical services? It is ademand 9,500ha), NTPC Ltd (9,500ha), Speaking at aFICCI event, government system that we laws,and raisedanold fault- on December 9, wascan- lences to the bereaved family, Pateladdedthat medical from Congress side that interns Gujarat Industries Power Rajnath Singh said: “The re- created,our Modiji created. line with Punjab: the issue of celledafter ameeting be- what has happenedisveryun- studentsfromforeign coun- who arecurrentlyserving CompanyLtd (4,750 ha) and cent reforms have been un- Thereisnoneedtobring it un- sharingwater from the Satluj tween Shah and representa- fortunate, but this pandemic is tries “payone lakh to intern in should be paid Rs 20,000 as Gujarat StateElectricity dertakenwith the best inter- der legal framework.” Yamuna Link Canal. tivesoffarm unions. notinmyhands... Itoo hoped Gujarat, and aftercompletion stipend...Wewill raise this is- Corporation (6,650 ha). Adani ests of India’s farmers in In aparallel move,Tomar “SYL is the lifeline of The Centrethen extended that the rules and regulation of the same afterayear,acer- sue in Vidhan Sabha budget Green will install capacity of mind... We are, however, al- also metadelegation of the Haryana. Haryana farmers anew setofproposals to re- with regard to the CAAwould tificateisissued... On the other session as well...” 9,500MW; Sarjan Realities, ways willing to listentoour All India Kisan Coordination have been deprivedoftheir solve the crisis, including a have been framedbynow.” hand, we payour interns Rs Meanwhile, Patelsaid, 4,750 MW;GIPCL, 2,375 MW; farmer brothers, allaytheir Committee (AIKCC) from shareof19lakh acre-footof written assurance on contin- He understands the anxiety 12,800per month and provide “Admission processes forNEET GSECL, 3,325 MW;and NTPC, misgivings and provide them Tamil Nadu, Telangana, waterfor the last45years. uation of minimum support of the Hindu Bengali commu- them free accomodation”. (undergraduate)-qualifiedstu- 4,750 MW.The entire23,000 with assurances. Our Maharashtraand Bihar and The significance of waterfor price (MSP)-basedprocure- nity,Roy adds. “I belong to the The Indian Express spoketo dentsare under way... areview ha at the exclusive wind zone Government is always open said “theygavealettersup- irrigation is no less than the ment and parity in transac- same group, my grandfather severalofthe 280 interns from meeting washeld with deans parkhas been allotted to the to discussion and dialogue.” porting the agriculturere- MSP.Therefore, the 19 acre- tions inside and outside migrated from erstwhile East BJ Medical Collegein of medical colleges to review Solar Energy Corporation of Describing agricultureas form laws”. foot of waterthat is the share Agricultural Produce Market Pakistan(nowBangladesh) to Ahmedabad who participated howpost-graduatemedical ex- India (SECI). the “mother sector forall”, Shetkari Sanghatana of Haryana farmers should be Committee (APMC) mandis. India.” in the strikeand 160from ams can be conducted and Modi will also virtuallylay Singh said, “Our produce and leader Gunvant Patil made available from Punjab, But the farm leaders re- Das would tell his children Bhavnagar Government planned, giventheyare serving the foundation stones of the procurement have been plen- Hangargekar,who waspartof so that 19 lakh acres of land in jected these proposals and oftenhow he crossedfromEast Medical Collegewho joinedthe Covid duty...” proposedseawaterdesalina- tiful and our warehouses are the delegation, told The Haryana can be irrigated.The said that theywould escalate PakistantoTripurabecause of protests. He said nearly 6,500med- tion plantstobeset up at full...thereisnoquestion of Indian Express: “Wetold the WaterResource Ministry their protests until the laws the killings there. “This wasin One of the interns said on ical seats(first-year MBBS) in Gundiyali villageinMandvi taking retrograde steps AgricultureMinisterthat we should help in this,” the letter were repealed. the 1950s or '60s,” says son condition of anonymity,“The Gujarat areopen foradmis- taluka of Kutch, Gandhivi- againstour agricultural sec- supportthe three farm laws. said. (WITH KRISHN KAUSHIK GourangaDas. While howDas firstrepresentation wasgiven sions in the newacademic year. Dwarka in Devbhumi Dwarka torever,”hesaid. We have been agitating for Tomar said the newlaws IN NEW DELHI AND PARIMAL made his waytoAssam is un- around 20 days ago... We gave This includes anew govern- district, Sutrapada in Gir Tomar said the the last30years foranopen areaimedat“bringingchange DABHI IN GANDHINAGAR) clear,Gourangasays it wasa written representation twice ment medical collegeinMorbi Somnath district and Ghogha tough journey, with his father and metthe deputy CM... he that has receivedthe central in Bhavnagar district. With earning his living selling moori said, ‘give us time, we will up- health ministry’s nod to start these, the number of desalina- event in Dhordo. The PM and illegallydiverted. Covid vaccine: In February2019, the (puffedrice) ladoos. date’, but we receivednothing.” operations. tion plantsplannedbythe gov- the CM will also reviewthe In severalcases, The Indian CentreinformedParliament Then, one dayinMarch “Wewill continue to strike “The Gujarat government ernment and whose founda- progress of Memorial Park built Express found, studentsand states told to that it had screened1.30 crore 2018,some officials came to work as we feel our demand is had sought permission from tion stones have been laid will in memoryofthe victims of the gullible parentsweregiven a in the 30-plus categoryfor hy- their home, took Das away and valid. AMC juniors (final year the central government to start go up to six. 2001 Kutchearthquake. small portion of the scholar- use district data pertension following which put him in adetention centre MBBS) getRs15,000 as amedical collegeand ahospi- In March 2019,the PM laid This will be PM’s second ship money; in others, they 9.01lakhwereidentifiedas forforeigners in Silchar District monthlystipend and an addi- talatMorbi... Today, central the foundation stone of asea- visit to the venue of the Rann were unaware that bank ac- for under-50s newcases while 22.69 lakh Jail. “Wehad receivedafew no- tional incentive of Rs 500per government officiallywrote waterdesalination plant with Utsav, the annual desertcarni- countshad been setupintheir with risks were under treatment. ticesbut couldn’t make it to the dayfor Covid duty... We de- back, approving a100-seat 100million litres per day val, the previous one to address names to avail the scholarship Similarly,the government said hearings fornumerous rea- mand Rs 1,000 aday of Covid medical collegehere... This year (MLD) capacity at Jodiyain aconference of Director and moneydisbursedwas be- healthcarefacilities undergo it had screened97.78 lakh for sons, the main being that my duty,whichiszeroatpresent... (academic year 2021-22), 100 Jamnagar.However, the plant, Generals of Police in 2015. ing withdrawn. The investiga- “opportunistic screening” for diabetes of which8.90 lakh father wasold and ill,” says We have been on duty since studentswill be admitted whichwas to be setupbyEssel tion also ledtoschools in detection, referral and follow- were newcases and 12.13lakh Gourango. April...,” said aBJMC intern. here... ForAIIMS (Rajkot), land Infraproject Limited of Jharkhand CM neighbouring Bihar,one in up forhypertension, diabetes under treatment. Fororalcan- Das wasgranted bail in June Indian Medical Association has been allocated... and Ibe- Mumbai on public private part- Punjab and another in Assam. and select cancer categoriess. cer,breastcancer and cervical 2018,but the family's case is still Gujarat chapteralso extended lieve and hope that Prime nership basis has since been grants approval The CBI has already initi- So far, official datashow, cancer,itsaid that over 1crore on in court, his children appear- supporttothe intern doctors’ MinisterNarendrabhai Modi shelved. ated aPEintothe scam with 616NCD clinics have been set were screenedofwhich37,768 ing forhearings. “Therewas a demands in twoseparatecom- will laythe foundation stone “It had to be shelvedfor for probe into the agency all settostart itsin- up at the district leveland were newcases and 4,215 un- problem with the authenticity munications —one addressed very soon..,” said Patel. want of CoastalZone fraud vestigation from Bihar's Gaya, 3,827atthe Community der treatment. of the certificateofregistration to the principal health secre- Regulation clearance and the wherethe firstFIR wasregis- Health Centre(CHC) level, 104-yr-old in from Tripura,” says his advocate, tary and the other to health PM to lay contract has been terminated,” event, Soren said that this teredbasedonThe Indian apartfrom175 Cardiac Souman Choudhry, on the delay, ministerNitin Patel. atop functionaryofthe gov- newspaper's investigative se- Express' findings. Police in CareUnits(CCUs) and 214Day Assam dies adding that Das's children Arepresentative of the foundation for ernment confirmedtoThe ries has ledtothe scrutinyof Assam areseparatelyinvesti- CareCentres for would still have to provetheir Junior Doctors’ Association of Indian Express on Monday. various stateschemes and its gating the scam. Chemotherapy. a‘foreigner’, citizenship. BJ Medical Collegesaid, “The energy park, In December 2019,Chief implementation. “I have given The pre-Matric scholarship Besides, as partofthe Das's familybarelyunder- interns have been working MinisterVijay Rupani laid the directions to various depart- scheme, launchedin2008, is Ayushman Bharat initiative, hoping ‘CAA stands the legal jargon, onlythat without fail through this pan- interact with foundation stone of another mentstocheckall state meant to help studentsofmi- states use aCommunity-Based the label of foreigners continues. demic, despitesome of them 100MLD seawaterdesalination schemesand getanupdateon nority communities from fam- Assessment Checklist(CBAC) will solve all’ In his lastfew months, Das testing positive forthe virus Punjabi farmers plant at Dahej. whether or notthe schemes ilies with annual income below foruniversal screening in the had slippedintodeep dementia, and again resuming duty... we The PM will also laythe arereaching the people. We Rs 1lakh. In 2019-20, the 30-plus agecategorytosensi- in Assam’sCachar district — the familysays.Atone level, it areextending our supportto in Kutch foundation stone of Rs129- needtoknowthe status of im- MinistryofMinority Affairs tiseand mobilise the commu- still a“foreigner”. wasarelief. “He would eat, sleep them.” croremodern milk processing plementation,” he said. disbursedRs61crore under nity to avail services forchronic Speaking on the phone and rarely talk.When he did, he Gujarat Congress repeal of farm laws enacted re- plant of the KutchDistrict The Indian Express investi- this scheme to Jharkhand. illnesses at Health and from her home 30 km from would talk about howhis case spokesperson Manish Doshi, cently. As manyas245 Sikh Cooperative Milk Producers gatedentries across six dis- To be eligible, studentsneed Wellness Centres (HWCs). Silchar,inAssam's Hindu would be solvedbecause the said, “Thereare nearly 29 farmers from Punjab and Union Limited,popularly trictsinJharkhand on the to scoreatleast50per cent in The CBAC is designedtocol- Bengali dominated-Barak Modi government would help (medical) colleges, including Haryana who ownland in known as Sarhad Dairyat National Scholarship Portal their class exams. Students lect details of history of symp- Valley, Nyuti remembers the him. We did nothavethe heart government, private and soci- Kutchhavebeen fighting ale- Chandrani villageinAnjar (NSP) and matchedthem with from Class 1to5receive Rs toms and includes familyhistory mild annoyance she felt every to tell him that it had notmoved ety-run, in Gujarat... The galbattle for10years afterthe taluka. The plant will have ca- beneficiarybank accountsin 1,000 per year and studentsof of high blood pressure, diabetes, time her father expressedsuch at all,” Nyuti says. Gujarat government is only stategovernment frozethe pacity to process four lakh the Public Finance Class 6to10receive Rs 10,700 heartdisease and presence of ahope. Or went to the porch of Das wascremated on paying astipend of Rs 12,500 records of their land, stating litres milk per day. Management System (PFMS) ayear if theyare in ahostelor common symptoms forcom- their home, looked across the Sundaynight with onlyhis to the interns. Maximum that theycannotown agricul- Chief MinisterVijay Rupani to find howthe pre-Matric Rs 5,700 ayear if theyare day mon cancers, epilepsy and res- road at Modi’s poster, folded familyinattendance. Gourango stipend of Rs 30,000 is paid by tural land in Gujarat since they will be present during the PM’s scholarshipfundswerebeing scholars. piratorydiseases. his hands in namaskar,and fears onlyworse is ahead.

Ahmedabad WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THEINDIANEXPRESS,TUESDAY,DECEMBER15,2020 5 GUJARAT

1,120 NEW COVID CASES REPORTED BJP leaders hold meet ahead of 60%dropinhospital local body polls EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE admissions:NitinPatel GANDHINAGAR,DECEMBER14 SENIORLEADERSof thestateunit of the BJPonMondayheld a meeting to plan forthe upcom- EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE CASETRACKER ing elections to panchayats, AHMEDABAD,DECEMBER14 municipalities and municipal Places ConfirmedDeaths New cases corporations, at the party’s DEPUTYCHIEF MinisterNitin Ahmedabad 52,855 2,180247 stateheadquarters, Shree PatelonMondaysaid hospitals Amreli 3,586 32 17 Kamalam. The meeting comes acrossthestatehavewitnessedat Anand 2,067 17 15 on the heels of the BJP’s two-day least60per cent drop in newad- Aravalli 1,077255 ‘Chintan Baithak’,abrainstorm- mission of Covid-19patients. ing session. Patel, who holds the health port- Banaskantha 4,333 37 13 ChiefMinisterVijay Rupani, folio,said84percentbedsatded- Bharuch 3,622 18 14 Deputy CM Nitin Patel, party’s icated Covid-19inAhmedabad Bhavnagar 5,618 70 16 stateunit presidentCRPaatil, its hospitalswerealsovacant“owing Botad 9858 2 district presidentsand recently to the effective measures” taken appointed election in-chargesof ChhotaUdepur 850 41 post-Diwali, when the statewit- eachdistrictswerepresent at the nessedaspikeincases. Dahod 2,668 79 Monday’s meet. OnMonday, thestate recorded Dang 144 PartyspokespersonBharat 1,120fresh cases and 11 fatalities, Devbhoomi Dwarka 9,730 55 Pandyasaid the BJP has started while 1,389 patientsweredis- Gandhinagar 7,485102 53 preparation of the upcoming charged. Ahmedabad city re- polls.“Inthemeeting today, Paatil Gir Somnath 2,1902210 portedatleast237 newcasesand ji and CM Rupani have givenguid- sevenfatalities. Jamnagar 9,813 35 35 ance forpreparing forthe polls, “Hospitals, both government Junagadh 4,603 32 20 like(election) tours, campaigning and private,haveseen adropin Kheda 2,5831617 etc. The electionin-chargesof newadmissionsfor(Covid-19)by Kutch 3,5073317 everydistrict have been in- 60 per cent,” the Dy CM said. structed to complete the forma- Mahisagar 1,835 13 6 Patelsaid due to acase surge tion of pagecommittees imme- in cases in Ahmedabad post- Mehsana 6,1583647 diately,”Pandyasaid. Diwali “Covid-19 patients from Morbi 2,903 20 15 Campaigning forthe elec- Ahmedabadhad to be admitted Narmada 1,8241 13 tions, slated to be heldFebruary to Anand and Nadiad hospitals. Navsari 1,5248 3 next year,will be done as per the “However, owing to the effective Covid-19guidelines, he added. Panchmahal 3,730 23 17 measurestaken…(subsequently) 84 percent bedsinCovid-19 Patan 4,011 50 9 hospitals (in Ahmedabad) are Porbandar 1,0404 1 Rs 24.8 lakh IMFL nowvacant.” Rajkot 19,056 193129 Of the 831critical unitbeds Sabarkantha 2,570 13 22 seized, two held requisitioned by the Ahmedabad Surat 46,742 935175 Municipal Corporation (AMC) in Ahmedabad:Atotal of 10,968bot- private hospitals, nearly 52 per Surendranagar 3,245 13 31 tles of illicit IMFL worth cent were vacant until Monday, Tapi 996 62 Rs 24.8 lakh were seizedfroma officials said. Vadodara 22,289 240151 truckonAhmedabad-Vadodara In light of thedropinthe Valsad 1,329 83 Express-way on Monday, police Covid-19 caseloadatAhmedabad said. Apolicepatrol team inter- Other states 1483 CivilHospital,Patel said adecision ceptedthe dumper truckearly hasbeen takentoresume out-pa- Mondaynear an overbridgeon tient department services in the Cumulative Total New Cumulative theexpresswayinAnanddistrict. evening. Due to thepandemic discharge: cases: cases: deaths: Thepoliceseizedthe IMFL andar- and spikeinCovid-19cases, the restedthedriverand helper,both OPD facility waslimited from 8 2,11,603 2,29,083 1,120 4,207 residentsofRajasthan, under the am to 2pmatthe hospital. Prohibition Act. ENS

Ahmedabad WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM 6 GUJARAT THEINDIANEXPRESS,TUESDAY,DECEMBER15,2020 AK Verma appointed NoneedtobringMSPsystem NGT expert member underlegalframework:Rupala

75-times during the firstterm of The MoS Agriculture, EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE the Modi government between though, parriedquestion if why AHMEDABAD,DECEMBER14 GANDHINAGAR,DECEMBER14 2014 and 2019 if,compared to so manyfarmersofPunjab and the figures of Congress-ledUPA- Haryana areprotesting andsaid, RETIRED INDIAN Forest Service UNIONMINISTER of Statefor II tenure. “Theanswer is thereinyour (IFS)officerDrAKVermahasbeen AgricultureParshottam Rupala Congress is alleging that question itself.” appointed as an expertmember on Mondaysaid that the current when he wasthe chief minister Mentioning various initia- of the National Green Tribunal system of Minimum Support of Gujarat, Modi ledapanelof tivesofPMModi likesoil health (NGT)bytheGovernmentof India. Price (MSP) forfarmers in the chief ministers that recom- card, PM Fasal Bima Yojana, de- Verma, who belongs to the countryhas been introducedby Twitter mendedmandatingMSP positing Rs 95,000croreinbank 1986 batchofIFS, retired as the government of Prime Mostofthefarmers through statutoryprovisions. accountsoffarmers, Rupala said Principal ChiefConservator of MinisterNarendraModi as a inthecountryare On this allegation, Rupala that therewas no need forthem ForestsinGujarat in 2019. policydecision on the basis of happywiththenewlaws... said, “Friends in Congress are, as to distrustorsuspect the PM. His appointment with the recommendations of MS per their habit, speaking with- The MoS Agriculturesaid NGTfor four years wascleared by Policesaid the Lok RakshakDal aspirantswho assembledatCentral Vistagarden had no Swaminathan Commission. Manypeoplehavetoldus out thinking... As achief minis- that when thereisadditional the AppointmentsCommittee of permission to stageaprotest and had violated social-distancing norms. Express According to Rupala, therewas inpersonthat ter, he (Modi) did notdemand to farm production, it wasin- the CabinetonDecember 12, no needtobring the same un- implementationofthe give MSP alegal form, but we evitable to discovernew options stated an official release hereon der legal framework since the lawsisintheirinterest.” were demanding to approvethe forits marketing, transport, stor- Monday. government wasgoing to con- — PARSHOTTAM RUPALA recommendations of Dr ageand sale. APhD in TribalDevelopment tinue with it. SWaminathanonMSP... when “In that regard,these three MOS FOR AGRICULTURE Policy,DrVerma has worked 33 56 Lok Rakshak Dal aspirants Addressing apress confer- he (Modi) got achance to sit on amendmentswerepassedby yearswithboththestateandcen- ence at Gujarat BJP headquar- the chair of PM, he approved the the Union government to sup- tral governmentsinvariousad- ters, Shree Kamalam, to spread recommendations of Dr port farmers,” Rupala said, ministrative capacities. detained in Gandhinagar awareness on the farm laws the Congress areputting pres- Swaminathan.” adding private investment has He has expertise in forestry, brought in by the Modi govern- sureonthe government de- Replying to aquestion that been lowest in our agriculture pollutioncontrol,forest conversa- tion (GR) on women’s reserva- and over 50 of us were detained ment at the Centre, Rupala al- manding alegal form to the farmers arealso demandingle- sector. tion, environment management, EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE tion. and forciblytaken to the Sector leged that the Opposition MSP.‘Whyhaveyou notmen- galstatus forMSP,Rupala said, He said some restrictions and coastalzone management. AHMEDABAD,DECEMBER14 Male aspirantsare also de- 7police station. We were letoff Congress did notimplement the tionedthe same in the Bill?’ You “When we arethe ones who in- have been liftedinthe newlaws, He has served as the member manding asimilar number of su- after8pmonSunday.” recommendations of the (Congress) were sitting in the troducedit, it is notsomething likethe one on storageofagri secretaryofGujarat Ecology FIFTY-SIX LOKRakshak Dal pernumeraryposts citing gen- In July, theGandhinagarpo- Swaminathan Commission government when Dr whichrequireslegal support. It commodities, with an intention Commission, and as director of (LRD) aspirantsweredetained der equality and the needto licehad arrested threeLRD aspi- when it wasinpowerand is Swaminathan made the recom- is part of the government sys- to give the benefit of national WorldBank-fundedIntegrated and booked in Gandhinagar on retain the balance of 33 per cent rantsfor allegedlyprovoking nowputting pressureonthe mendations foryour approval. temthatwehavecreated,our and international open markets CoastalZone Management Sundayafter theycongregated women and 67 percent men other aspirantsonsocial media government to give MSP alegal Youdid notrecall Dr Modiji has created.So, we only to Indianfarmers. Project in Gujarat. at the Central Vistagardento candidates in anygovernment regarding the agitation. form. Swaminathan till your govern- will continue it... Thereisno The ministeraccusedthe op- He has also served as amem- press forsupernumeraryposts recruitment. Apolice officer from Thousands of farmers are ment lasted. Youdid notknowif needtobring it under legal position Congress of spreading berofthe central government’s in the recruitment process. On Monday, theLRD Purush Gandhinagar’s sector 7police protestingonthe Delhi border what is MSP and what did Dr framework.” canards that due to the contract consultative committee advising According to police, more Maha Andolan claimed that the station, however, said, “The pro- againstthe three farm laws en- Swaminathan had said,” said Rupala termed the ongoing farming law, farmers’ land will forUnited NationsConvention to than 50 men, all aspiring to join stategovernment wastrying to testers had no permission to acted recentlybythe Rupala. farmers’ protests as inappropri- be usurpedand theywill be ren- Combat Desertification (UNCCD) the LRD, an arm of the Gujarat crushthem withFIRs.Suresh stageaprotestatCentral Vista, Parliament. One of the major de- “Narendrabhai approved the atefor ademocracyand added dered bondedlabour by private and the Commission on Police, had assembledatCentral Gehlot (25),anaspirantwho was moreovertheywerenot follow- mands of the protesting farmers recommendations by Dr thatfarmers should firstwait for companies. Sustainable Development (CSD). Vistagardentoagitate even as detainedaday ago, said, “Wehad ing social-distancing norms.We is to legalise the system of MSP. Swaminathan and started the actual implementationof “One thing is that thereisno theyweredeniedpermission by sought permission from the po- detainedthem and later letthem Rupala said thattodouble awarding MSP by adding 50 per the three legislations. suchwordsuchasland in this the local administration and the lice and the administration to offonSundayevening.” the income of farmers, Modi cent to thecostatpolicy level “Afterthat if the farmers face contract framing (provision),” SGCCI to hold police in viewofthe Covid-19 hold protests at Sector 6 According to police,two FIRs government has takenanum- and thereforeMSP became pop- anyhardships then the govern- Rupala said. He said that the in- outbreak. Satyagrah Chhavni ground or have been lodged at the Sector 7 berofpolicy decisionsto ular amongfarmers…MSP has ment cancertainlyconsider it,” formal system of contract farm- textile expo in The stategovernment had Central Vistagarden in police station and 56 LRD aspi- achieve and one of them wasto become asubject of farmers’ de- he said. ing is already prevailing and that announcedmorethan 2,000su- Gandhinagar from December 12 rantswerebookedunderIPC ensure reasonablecompensa- mand and their benefit ever Claiming that mostofthe the provisions of contract farm- Surat from Jan 9 pernumeraryposts forwomen to December 20 forour de- Sections 269for negligent act tion to farmers fortheir produce. since Narendrabhai took apol- farmers in the countryare inginthe newlaw is to provide in LRD recruitmentinFebruary mands, but were denied. Around likelytospread infection or dis- “Dr Swaminathan had rec- icy decision to awardMSP by ap- happywith the newlaws, alegal backing to that practice this year.The move had followed 10 am Sunday, over 50 of us as- ease,188 fordisobedience to or- ommendedapolicy decision to proving Dr Swaminatha’s rec- Rupala added, “Manypeople so that farmers can do it in abet- EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE astring of protests by women sembledoutside CentralVista dergiven by public servant and decidethe MSP by adding 50 per ommendations,” he added. have told us in person that im- terway.Headdedthat the pro- SURAT,DECEMBER14 from different communities over garden. However, apolice bus relevant sectionsofthe Epidemic cent profit on the costofthe Rupala said that procure- plementation of thelawsisin vision of contract farming is ab- an August2018general resolu- wasalready stationedatthe spot Diseases Act, police said. farmer... At present, friends from ment through MSP has gone up their interest,” Rupala said. solutelyvoluntary. IN Afirstsince the Covid-19out- break,the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Retired forest Industry (SGCCI) will organise a Husband, in-laws of woman SI three-daytextile exhibition in official booked Surat in January. over ‘properties Officials said the physical booked for ‘abetting her suicide’ event —Surat International exceeding income’ Textile Expo (Sitex-2021) —from 2014 andtheyhad afour -year- January9will beheld, strictlyad- EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE PSI AmitaJoshi old son. He said Amita wasmen- Vadodara: TheVadodara unit of hering to Covid norms. SGCCI SURAT,DECEMBER14 allegedly shot herself tallyand physicallyharassedby theAnti-CorruptionBureau(ACB) president DineshNavadia said, her in-laws,who forced her to on Mondaybooked aretired “Afterlockdown began, this is the HUSBAND AND in-laws of a with her service quit her job and getthe docu- deputy conservator of forestsfor firstphysical event we areorgan- woman police sub-inspector revolveronDecember mentsofflat ownedbyher and allegedly amassingpropertiesex- ising... It will be held at the con- (PSI) have been booked forabet- 13,police said acar ownedbyher in herhus- ceeding his income. vention hall in Surat, strictlyfol- ment aftershe allegedly diedby band’s name. Retired official Fazal lowing Covid guidelines. Textile suicide in Surat. The familywas regularly in- Reshamwalawasbookedforhav- machineriessuchasairjetlooms, According to police, PSI Vyas and twosisters —Ankita quiring about her monthlyin- ing “unaccounted” properties waterjetlooms, Rapier looms, cir- AmitaJoshi, serving with Udhna and Manisha —atthe come, demanding ashare, he worthRs1.12crore.According to cular knitting and digital printing police station in Surat, allegedly Mahidharpurapolice station. said in his complaint. theACB,Reshamwalawasprobed machines, will be showcased. firedone round from her serv- Afterthe complaint, Surat police Babubhaialso alleged that forhistransactionsbetweenApril Textilecommissioner Roop Rashi ice revolvertokillherself at her commissioner AjayKumar Vaibhavhad an illicit relation- 2007 and February2016, during Mahapatrawill be the chief police quarters at Falsawadi area Tomar ordered ahigh-level in- ship over whichthe couple used whichhehad disproportionate guest.” in MahidharpuraonDecember quiryintothe incident. to quarrelregularly.Eldestofhis assets worthRs1.12crore in the Sitex Expo-2021chairman 13. Police filedacomplaint un- three children, Babubhai said, form of bank deposits worthRs Himanshu Bodawala said, “For Amitahad been serving with der Indian Penal Code sections Amitawas strong but the ha- 32.25 lakh and immovable and the firsttime, Made-in-Indiaelec- Surat police forfiveyears, while 306(Abetment of Suicide), rassmentwas suchthat she took moveable property worthRs tronic jacquardmachines will be herhusband VaibhavVyasisa 498A (Husband or relative of the extreme step. 83.74lakh. During the period, he exhibited.Velvetmachines will police constable attachedto husband of woman subjecting Mahidharpura police in- had withdrawnoverRs1.1 crore be also be afeature... We areex- Sachin police station. her to cruelty) and 114(Abettor spector RK Dhulia said, “The ac- from his bankaccount. pecting visitors from countries On Monday, Amita’sfather present when offence is com- cusedhad gone underground In arelease, the ACBsaid that suchasVietnam, Bangladesh and Babubhai Joshi, aretired assis- mitted). afterthe complaint wasregis- BOOSTER DOSE Reshamwala’sincomeduringthe Sri Lanka, if Covid situation im- tant sub-inspector hailing from In his complaint, Babubhai tered. We aretrying to gather tenurewas Rs 2.14 croreand the proves... Trade and commerce Amreli, filedacomplaint against said that his daughter Amita evidence. Once we arrest the ac- Police personnel take ayurvedic ‘ukala’ to increaseimmunity againstharmfulviruses, assets were worthRs3.26 crore, consulateofficers from these Vaibhav, his father Jitu alias Joshi got marriedtoVaibhav cused, we will take theirstate- during abandobastatSayajigunj area in VadodaraonMonday. BhupendraRana which he wasunabletoexplain. countries will also be present.” JitendraVyas, his mother Harsha Vyas, anative of Bhavnagar,in mentsand probefurther.” Furtherprobe is underway. ENS BJPand Congress campaigntosave Ahmedabad firm to Minor yet to be traced weeks after she heritage train from stopping service develop gas distribution ‘eloped’; four booked for‘kidnapping’ man from aneighbouring village ter’s mobilephoneorthe ac- network in Tamil Nadu EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE of luring her to elope. cused. EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE AHMEDABAD,DECEMBER14 “On November 26, Ihad gone Apolice officer with Palanpur SURAT,DECEMBER14 to work in anearbyvillageand Talukapolice stationsaid, “After EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE Firm to invest Rs 5,000 NEARLYTHREE weeksafter a my wifehad gone to cut wood. the FIRwas lodged,police started THE BHARATIYAJanataParty AHMEDABAD,DECEMBER14 croretodevelop city minor girl allegedly elopedfrom In the evening, when we re- tracing the phone numbers of the (BJP)and the Congress have avillageinBanaskantha’s turned, we could notfind our girland the accused, but all the startedcampaigns to save the AHMEDABAD-BASED TORRENT gasdistribution Palanpur taluka, the police are daughter.Her birth certificate gadgetsare switchedoff.The case 107-year-old heritagetrain serv- Gas, apartofthe pharma-to-en- networks in Chennai yettotrace her. and Aadhaar cardwerealso has nowbeentransferredtothe ice between BillimorainValsad ergy Torrent Group, Monday and Tiruvallur districts According to police,the class missing. Avillager told us the Deputy Superintendent of Police district and Waghai in Dangs dis- signedamemorandumof under- 12 student went “missing” from next daythat aman from a (SC/ST)office.” trict from shutting down. standing (MoU) with the Tamil her residenceonNovember26 neighbouringvillageusedtoha- Dy SP SC/STcell VK Pandya, The Union Railway ministry Nadu government and pledged Jinal Mehta, the director of the following whichanFIR was rass my daughterwhen she meanwhile, said an investigation recentlyapproved aproposal by to invest Rs 5,000 croretode- company, said, “This investment lodged againstfour persons, in- went to school before lockdown. wasoninthe case and declined the Western Railway to close velop citygas distribution (CGD) of Rs 5,000 crorebyTorrent Gas cluding awoman, on chargesof Iwent to theman’s house but it to comment further. down11 narrowgauge trainserv- networks in Chennai and in development of CGD infra- kidnapping and sections of the waslocked. His neighbour told The police have booked the ices, claiming theywere“uneco- Dangs BJPMLA VijayPatel (in white)submitsamemorandum Tiruvallur districts. structureisexpected to have a ScheduledCaste andScheduled me that the man had eloped four accusedunder Indian Penal nomic”, as ameasure to reduce to ADRM Western Railway, Sumeet Hansrajani, in Dangson An official release issuedby major impact on the socio-eco- Tribe(Prevention of with my daughter with the help Code Sections 363 forkidnap- costs andimprove savings. These Monday. Express the firm states it has been autho- nomicdevelopment of the region Atrocities) Actamong others on of twofriendsand the mother of ping, 366for kidnapping a 11 trains include the five-coach risedbythe Petroleum and by attracting fresh investment in November 30. one of latter,” the girl’s father said woman to compel her marriage, heritagetrain connecting Natural Gas RegulatoryBoard the statewhich requiresthe avail- The girl’s father claimedthat in his complaint. 114for an offence committed Billimoraand Waghai. connecting BillimoratoWaghai is demonstrations at the nine sta- (PNGRB) to provide compressed abilityofnaturalgas asapre-req- the girlwas 17 years old and On Monday, the complainant when abettorpresent and rele- Newlyelected BJP MLAfrom the onlylifeline of the tribal com- tionsof the heritagetrain, starting natural gas(CNG) and pipednat- uisite, improvingthe competi- would become an adult in said it has been nearly three vant sections of the Scheduled Dangs, VijayPatel, submitted a munity people staying Dang. The with Unai on Tuesday. ural gas(PNG) in Chennai and tiveness of existing industries Januarynextyear.Inhis com- weeksbut the police have not Caste andScheduledTribe memorandum to Railway beneficiaries of the train aretrib- Congress MLAfromVansda Tiruvallur districts. using natural gasand increased plaint, he accuseda20-year-old been unable to tracehis daugh- (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. MinisterPiyushGoyal,requesting als from interior areas in Dang dis- seat, Anant Patel, said, “Our Under the MoU,signedatthe savings forfamilies and small nottoscrap the heritagetrain trict who work in towns like protestwillstart from Tuesday... Growth and Investment Conclave businesses usingCNGand natural service but instead upgrade it to Gandevi, Billimoraand Chikhli...” Thereare nine railway stations on in Chennai, Torrent Gas will lay gas. Theinvestmentwill also pro- IIMA team wins championship organisedbyUCL promote tourism. Adding that the train be up- the heritage train routeand we pipelinesand develop other in- vide direct and indirect employ- Accompanied by BJP leaders gradedand utilisedfor tourism, willhold adharnaat everystation frastructure in the twodistricts ment to morethan 5,000people.” IIMA,competedwith students “Wenarroweddownonthe on Mondayafternoon, Patelsub- the memorandum requestedthe over ninedays.Wewillalsomake over3,569 sq km to provide PNG As apart of the firstphase of EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE from severaluniversities,includ- problem relatively sooner, mitted the memorandum ad- Railway Ministrytorestart the representations to theelectedBJP connectionsto residential,indus- the infrastructureroll-out, the AHMEDABAD,DECEMBER14 ing London School of Economics, and spent time in making our dressed to GoyaltoAdditional heritagetrain. MP and MLAofValsadand Dang trial and commercial establish- companyislikelytocommission Universityof Warwick,Stockholm investment product moreviable Divisional Railway Manager VijayPatel said, “Wehave as well as BJP statepresident. We mentsand CNGtovehicles. over 30 CNGstations in Chennai AN INDIAN Instituteof SchoolofEconomics, andKing’s from an investor’s perspective,” (ADRM) Western Railway, made requesttothe Railway au- have alsosoughtsupport fromthe Currently, Torrent Gas sup- andThiruvallurdistrictsinthe last ManagementAhmedabad(IIMA) College London, at the event. Mittalsaid. Mumbai, SumeetHansrajani; thorities and requestedthem to royalfamilyofVadodara.” plies CNGand PNGtoindustries quarterofthe financial year. team wonatwo-stage impactin- At theevent,participantswere CarolineBrady,vice-president area manager,Valsad, Anu Tyagi; rethink the decision of perma- GeneralmanagerofWestern and households in 32 districts Tamil Nadu Chief Minister vestingcompetitionorganisedby asked to develop an innovative, of active equityimpact investing and Divisional Commercial nent closureofthe heritagetrain... Railway,Alok Kansal, is scheduled across theUttarPradesh, Gujarat, Edappadi KPalaniswami alsolaid University College London (UCL). actionable, and strategicinvest- atBlackrock,appreciatedtheIIMA Manager Western Railway,Abhay it is the onlylifeline foralarge to visit Waghai Railway station, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Punjab, the foundation stone of Torrent Aayush Gupta,Arunabh ment product providing maxi- team’sperspectivesandpromised Sanap. The memorandum states, numberoftribals...” on December 19,according to Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Gas’s firstcity gate station at Saxena, Kartik Mittal and Krati mumfinancialandsocialvaluein further engagement with the “The 107-year-old heritagetrain The Congress will hold sources. Puducherry. Nagapattinam digitally. Agarwal,fourMBAstudentsfrom apandemic-affected world. firm’s impact investing division.

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Online e-Tendering Tender Notice No. 14 of 2020-21 On-line tenders are invited by the ExecutiveEngineer,Kheda R. & B. Division, Ayojan BhawanCompound, at Nadiad Phone No.0268- 2566404 and FaxNo. 0268-2563598 for 1No. of Building Work Total amounting to Rs. 698.80 lacs The dates of online download- ing and submission of Tenders through Online e-Tendering system will startfrom the date 28-12-2020 at 12.00 noon on website https://www.nprocure.com/Corrigendum if anywill be published only on the prescribed website https://www.nprocure.com The detailednoticewill be available on http://www.statetenders.com/ website and also on notice board of this division, The bidder is bound to obeythe rules and regulations /instructions of the Government as and when notify by Govt. For anyquery/details,bidder can contact this division office during office hours. INF/Nadi/449/2020

GUJARATTECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY (EstablishedunderGujarat ActNo. 20 of 2007) Gandhinagar-Visat Highway,Chandkheda, Ahmedabad-382424,Gujarat. Web: www.gtu.ac.in E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 079-23267521/570 Facebook/Twitter: /gtuoffice ADMISSION ANNOUNCEMENT FOR VACANT SEATS IN GRADUATESCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES forMBA (INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS) Batch2020-22 Graduate School of Management Studies. GTU announces admission on vacant seats forPost Graduate Course -MBA (International Business) fortheAcademic Ye ar 2020-21. Interested students need to contact Graduate School of Mana ement Studies in working hours from 15th December,2020 to 19th December 2020.Last date of applica- tion is 19th December 2020 (Saturday).For more information please visit ACPC and GSMS website. •Preference will be given to students who have appearedfor CMAT/CAT Exam valid forthis admission. •Fees will be charged at Rs.12,500/- per semester. •Separate Boys &Girls hostel available at GTU Chandkheda Campus. Contact on: Email id: [email protected],Website: http://gsms.gtu.ac.in/Phone No: 079-23267513/534/539/542/554 Place: Ahmedabad S/d Date:14/12/2020 No.INF/ABD/1067/2020 Registrar

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THEINDIANEXPRESS,TUESDAY,DECEMBER15,2020 8 GOVT &POLITICS

SC to see if feasible AFTER ADHIR LETTER SEEKING SHORT SESSION ON FARM PROTESTS, OTHER KEY ISSUES Non-GulfNRIs to examine validity Govt: No winter session due to of Emergency pandemic, Budget session in Jan likelytobefirst the Monsoon Session was is “willing to have the next ses- Delhi” following the declaration MANOJCG slightlydelayed, and washeld in sion of Parliament at the earliest: EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE of theEmergency. NEWDELHI,DECEMBER14 September 2020 due to extraor- it would be appropriatetohave togetpostal NEWDELHI,DECEMBER14 Senior AdvocateSalve said dinarysituation arising out of the Budget Session, 2021in the proclamation constituted a DAYS AFTER Congress leader in Covid-19pandemic,following all January, 2021keeping in mind THE SUPREME CourtonMonday constitutional abuse of power. Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan precautionaryprotocols.... the the unprecedented circum- agreedtoconsider whether it Relief wasnot the issue, he said – Chowdhury, sent aletterto Session proved to be one of the stances createdby Covid-19pan- is “feasible or desirable” to ex- the countrymustknowwhat Speaker Om Birla, urging him to mostproductive sessions of demic.” votingrights amine the validity of the had happenedtothe fundamen- convene ashortwinter session of Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Parliament, with 27 Bills passed When contacted,Chowdhury proclamation of Emergency by talrightsofcitizens. Parliament to discuss issues such Pralhad Joshi by both Houses in 10 continuous said: “I have neversuggestedthat the government of Prime With the Benchappearing as the farmers’ agitation, the gov- sittings.” the session should notbeheld. In ministratively ready”to extendthe MinisterIndiraGandhi45years unconvinced–“we arefinding it ernment on Mondayinformed He wrotethat the winter manystates, Assembly sessions RITIKACHOPRA& ElectronicallyTransmitted Postal agoin1975. difficult to entertain this. What him that floor leaders of various on January28in2018. months are“crucial formanag- arebeing held. Whyshould SHUBHAJITROY BallotSystem(ETPBS) to voters ABenchheadedbyJustice S is nottohappen, happened,” it parties, whom it had consulted, Chowdhuryconfirmedre- ing the pandemic because of re- Parliament enjoythe exemption NEWDELHI,DECEMBER14 abroad forelections next year in KKaulissuednotice to the said –Salve arguedthat “there were in favour of doing away ceiving the letter but said he centspurt in cases during this pe- when, in the same country, Assam,WestBengal,Kerala,Tamil Centreonaplea by a94-year-old arecertain things in history with the session due to the pan- neversuggestedthat the winter riod, particularly in Delhi.” Assemblysessions arebeing THEELECTIONCommission’s(EC) Nadu and Puducherry. woman who submitted that she whichwehavetorevisit and see demic situation. session should notbeheld. He stated,“At present, we are held? It is simplyafig leaf to hide proposal to grant postalvoting Under ETPBS, whichiscur- and her familywerehoundedby if the correct thing wasdone”. In alettertoChowdhury, “Rather,” he told The Indian in the middle of December and a the failures of this government – rightstoNon-Resident Indians rentlyonlyavailabletothoseinthe the authorities during the This wasone suchissue, he said. ParliamentaryAffairs Minister Express, “I suggestedthat the ses- Covid vaccine is expected very the government is hesitant be- (NRIs)mayget implementedfirst defence services, the postalballot Emergency,forcing them to According to the plea, HK Pralhad Joshi statedthat the gov- sion should be held.” soon. In this regard,Ihaveinfor- cause it does notwant to replyto forvotersbasedintheUS,Canada, isdispatchedelectronicallyandre- leave India. Sarin's “customers were from ernment is willing to have the The Congress leader alleged mallycontacted floor leaders of anything in Parliament.” NewZealand, Japan, Australia, turnedviaordinarymail.To extend The petitioner,Dehradun- highstatusfamilies”,and“famous next session of Parliament at the that the government is running various political parties and they He maintainedthat the gov- Germany, FranceandSouthAfrica, this facility to overseas voters, the basedVeraSarin, urgedthe court foreign jewellers suchasHarry “earliest”, and that it would be away from Parliament to evade have expressedtheir concerns ernment is “dithering” on several The Indian Express has learnt. government onlyneeds to amend to declarethe proclamation Winston, Bulgari, Kazanjian... appropriatetohavethe Budget questions on issues suchasthe about the ongoing pandemic and issues, including farmers’ agita- The EC and the Ministryof theConductof ElectionRules1961. “whollyunconstitutional”. were his regular clients”. In the session in January. farmers’ protests. opinedofdoing away with tion, and therefore“theydon’t External Affairs (MEA) held a The proposal comes ayear af- “This plea arises from the pas- early 1960s, Sarin “openedhis The Budget session had be- In the letter to Chowdhury, Winter Session.” want to convene the winter ses- meeting lastweek in whichthe tertheBillthatproposedtoextend sageoftime. It is (counsel forpe- business under the name and gun on January31lastyear,and Joshi wrote: “You areaware that The government, Joshi wrote, sion of Parliament”. latter,sources said, agreedtothe proxyvoting to overseas Indians titioner) Mr Harish Salve’s sub- styleofSarin Gem House in proposal,ontheconditionthatthe lapsedwiththedissolutionof the mission that...wrongs of history Akash Deep, Connaught Place”; Commission should arrangethe 16th Lok Sabha. mustbecorrected...Wewould he wasappointed jewelleryap- British Foreign manpowerneededatthe India Currently, voters residing be disinclinedtoreopen suchas- praiser by the government, and missionsabroadto facilitatepostal abroadcanonlycasttheirvotesin pects. After45years it maynot he evaluated the wealth of royal Secy Raab, voting forNRIs. their respective constituencies. be appropriatetoreopen those houses fortax purposes. The poll panel has also indi- This regulation is seen as restric- issues,” the Bench, also compris- Afterthe declaration of the Jaishankar to cated to the MEA the countries tive as onlyalittle over acrore ing Justices Dinesh Maheshwari Emergency,however, all the whereitwouldliketohavepostal Indians living overseas have reg- and Hrishikesh Roy, said. Sarins'immovable property votingintroducedonapilotbasis. isteredasvoters, the maximum “Wewould, however, be not “came to be seized; the movable meet today Fornow,Gulf countries arenot being from Kerala. disinclinedtosee whether prob- property consisting of artefacts, partofthe proposedpilotgiven AccordingtotheCommission’s ing suchaproclamation after gems, carpets,paintings, tusks, SHUBHAJITROY thereservationsearlierexpressed proposal,any NRIinterestedinvot- suchalong time would be feasi- statues, ivoryworth crores of ru- NEWDELHI,DECEMBER14 by the ministryoverseeking per- ing through the postalballotinan ble or not,” the courtsaid. pees were also seized, and there mission in non-democratic na- election will have to inform the Vera Sarin submitted that her has been no restitution of the BRITISH FOREIGN Secretary tions to facilitatepostalvoting for Returning Officer (RO) at leastfive latehusband HKSarin had lost same till date”, says the plea. DominicRaab,scheduledtoarrive India citizens living there. days afterthe notification of the his “flourishing business of gold Vera and HKSarin were inIndiaforabilateralvisitMonday According to sources, in the election. On receiving suchinfor- arts,gems, artefactsetc. at Karol marriedin1957, and he passed night, will meetExternal Affairs meetingheldlastweekwithMEA, mation, the RO will dispatchthe Bagh as well as at KGMarg, New away in 2000. MinisterSJaishankaronTuesday. theECislearnedtohaveproposed ballotpaper electronically. The twoministers will hold that adesignated officer in the The EC firstbegan to look for talksonbilateral, regional and in- Indianmissiondownloadthebal- options to enable NRIs to vote ternationalissuesof mutualinter- lotpaperonthevoter’sbehalf and from overseas afteritreceived UP ‘love jihad’: 22-yr-old estandareexpectedto reviewef- hand it over.The overseas elector severalrequests,including one fortstoforge a10-year roadmap can then markher preference at from former RajyaSabha MP and tells court she is major, forthe India-UK relationship and the mission, getthe self-declara- industrialistNaveenJindalandthe discuss adefence logistics agree- tion form attestedbythe desig- MinistryofOverseas Affairs, and ment. Raab will also have official nated officers and hand backthe afterthree writ petitions were goes with man’s family meetingswithEnvironmentMin- ballotpaperanddeclarationform filedbyNRIsintheSupremeCourt isterPrakashJavadekarandEduc- in asealedenvelope to the mis- in 2013 and 2014.A12-member Moradabad Mahila District ationMinisterRameshPokhriyal. PROTESTINUP: SP workers protestagainstthe newfarm laws in LucknowonMonday. sion, whichwill then dispatchall committee wasset up afterthe MANISHSAHU Hospital, wherePinki wasexam- Aspartofhisfour-dayvisit,the District unitsofthe SP organisedprotestsand marches in severalparts of Uttar Pradesh. the envelopes to the election offi- 2014 LokSabhaelectionsto study LUCKNOW,DECEMBER14 ined, said the foetus could be British Foreign Secretarywill also Partychief Akhilesh Yadavdid notactively participateinthem. In Lucknowand Hardoi, cer concerned. mainlythree options —voting by seen clearly in her ultrasound re- travelto Bengaluru,wherehewill police usedmild forcetoevict the protesters. Vishal Srivastav AsfirstreportedbyTheIndian post, voting at an Indian mission THE WOMAN who wastaken to portand seemedtobefine. "We meetKarnatakaChief MinisterBS ExpressonDecember1, theECap- abroad and online voting. ashelter home in Moradabad by have decidedtogoinfor a Yediyurappa on December 17. proachedthe LawMinistrylast The committee ruledout on- the Uttar Pradesh Police on Transvaginal Ultrasound Scan to The MinistryofExternal Affa- monthto permitNRIsto casttheir line polling as it felt this could Saturdayafter arresting the man getamoreaccuratecondition of irs said Raab’s visit will “pave the Ex-diplomats: Trudeau’s protest votesoverseasthroughpostalbal- compromise “secrecy of voting”. she waswith under the anti-con- the foetus,” Pathak said. There wayfor further strengthening of lots.TheCommissiontoldthegov- It also shotdownthe proposal to version lawpassedlastmonth, had been reports earlier that the partnership across trade, de- ernment that it had receivedrep- vote at Indian missions abroad as returnedtohis home on Monday. Pinki had sufferedamiscarriage, fence,climate,migrationandmo- remarks made to ‘fan flames’ resentations from the Indian theydonot have adequatere- Pinki wasallowedtoleave after whichwas deniedbyofficials. bility,education, and health sec- diasporaabout facilitating voting sources. In 2015,the panel finally she told amagistratethat she and While Rashid and Saleem torsinthepost-Covid,post-Brexit theIndiangovernmenthas,ingood through postalvotes since travel- recommendedthat NRIs should Rashid Ali, 22, got marriedback continue to be in jail under the context”. The ministry, while an- EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE faith,beenholdingtalksatministe- ling to India forelections wasa be giventhe “additional alterna- in July, and that she was22and Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of nouncingRaab’svisitonMonday, NEWDELHI,DECEMBER14 rial levelwith the representatives “costlyaffair”. tive options of e-postalballotand wanted to go with his family. Unlawful Conversion of Religion said India and the UK have had a of agitating farmers. Theywrote The EC informedthe govern- proxyvoting”, apartfromvoting Speaking to reporters after Ordinance, 2020, the Moradabad strategic partnership since 2004 CANADIAN PRIME Minister thatwhileCanadianinvestmentin mentthatitis“technicallyandad- in person. the arrest of Rashid, on Saturday police said theywould seek le- that has been markedbyregular Justin Trudeau's commentson Indiaiswell-positionedtoscaleup, morning, Pinki, who is three galopinion on Pinki's statement, high-levelexchanges and grow- farmers' agitation in India were "yet the fact remains that notun- months pregnant, had said the including that she wasamajor ing cooperation in diverse areas. "uncalledfor", "disconnected often, bilateral political equations twoofthem were going to get and that the wedding took place Raab’s visit assumes signifi- with ground realities", and develop stress, due to the propen- MP: RSS-affiliate to protest their marriageregisteredwhen before the newlaw waspassed, cance at atime when NewDelhi "served merelytofan the Canada PM Justin Trudeau sity of certain Canadian political the police caught them. Rashid's to decide what to do. One of the has approachedBritish Prime flames", said agroup of former parties and leaders to engagein for MSP procurement today elder brother Saleem, 25, who things theywould look intoisif MinisterBoris Johnson through Indian ambassadors on Monday votebank politics." waswith them wasalso arrested. the conversion followed"legal informalchannelsto bechief gue- in asharplywordedopen letter been protesting on the bound- The letter also condemned Madhya Pradesh were notgiven The police said Pinki had no proof procedures", the police said. st forRepublic Daycelebrations. condemning what theycalled ariesofthe national capitalfor Canada's indifference towards IRAMSIDDIQUE the MSP fortheir cotton and of the marriage, and that they Soon aftershe wasbrought Usually, the invitation forthe "votebank politics in Canada”. morethan twoweeksnow,de- separatistKhalistani elements BHOPAL,DECEMBER14 maize. Severalfarmers who were acting on acomplaint by to the government-run home in parade and confirmation aresea- Interacting with the Sikh manding repeal of the newfarm who "carry out anti-India activi- would otherwise cultivate soy- Pinki's mother that Rashid had Moradabad, Pinki had com- ledbythe end of November,but community lastweek on the laws.Theyalso want anew law ties, from the safetyofCanadian DEMANDINGIMPLEMENTA- abean had takentomaize culti- forciblyconverted and married plainedofpain in the abdomen, with Covid-19disrupting diplo- birth anniversaryofGuru Nanak to guarantee them minimum soil." "They(Khalistanis) arealso TION of the Minimum Support vation this season but were left her daughter. and wasadmitted to Mahila matic calendars,New Delhi had Dev, Trudeauhad said that the supportprice (MSP). radicalising the Canadian youth Price (MSP), the RSS-affiliated in the lurch afterthe government Additional Superintendent of District Hospital. She wasre- sentoutfeelersto Johnsonto know “situation is concerning, and Theletter,signedbyatleast22 with far-reaching consequences, BharatiyaKisan Sangh is all setto did notbegin procurement. Police, Moradabad, VidyaSagar leasedonSundaymorning, but if heiswillingtotraveltoIndiato be we'reall veryworriedabout fam- retired diplomats, including for- whichisbeing ignored at the al- protestontwo highways of the “The farmers will assemble Mishrasaid, “The girlinher in the afternoon, again com- chief guestatthe celebrations. ilyand friends." merIndianHighCommissionerto tarofshort-termpoliticalexpedi- state, with 10,000 farmers, on and submit amemorandum statement before the magistrate plainedofpain and wastaken GiventheCovid-19situationin "Suchblatant interference in Canada Vishnu Prakash, under- ency," the ex-diplomatswrote. Tuesday. StateAgriculture highlighting their demand that said that she wasborn in 1998 backtohospital. On Monday, the UK, it could be difficult forthe India's internal affairs to appease linedthat Trudeau's supportto KhalistanielementsinCanada MinisterKamal Patelwill kickoff the Cotton Corporation of India and that she and Rashid held a Pinki wasbrought before the British PM to commit to an over- asection of the Liberal Party's Indian farmers' demand forMSP controlseveralprominentgurud- hisseriesofmeetingswith farm- should procuretheir crop, even if nikahonJuly24inDehradun.” magistrateinthe morning, but seasengagement.SoDelhiiskeep- voter base is completely unac- contradictsthe stance it took in waras,whichgivesthemaccessto ers to clear “misconceptions” itisataslightlylowerrate.We also Pinki said she had converted and the hearing had to be delayedas ingitsfingerscrossed.If Johnsonis ceptable and cannotbut casta the WTO, whereCanada wasone substantial funds, some of which pertaining to the three farm laws. want that the procurement cen- wanted to return to Rashid's she complainedofuneasiness. able to visit, he will be the sixth long shadowonbilateral rela- of the moststrident critics of areallegedly diverted to electoral The RSS’s farmers’ wing has tres in the region should be in- family, Mishraadded. She wascheckedupand brought British leader to be chief gueston tions," the former diplomats India's MSP system. campaign of politicalparties, es- calledfor the proteststating that creased,”saidMaheshChoudhari, Dr Nirmala Pathak,Acting to courtinthe afternoon for Republic Dayand the firstBritish wrote. Theformerdiplomatssaidthat peciallythe Liberals, said the for- the cotton producing farmers Organisational Secretaryfor MP Chief Medical Superintendent of recording of her statement. PM since John Major in 1993. Severalfarmers' unions have Ottawaconvenientlyignored that mer diplomats. centered in the western partof and Chhattisgarh. Bulletproof car in Vijayvargiya Bengal polls: BJP wants TMC to ‘target’ it, make it main oppn security upgrade Nadda's convoy wasattackedon sition of President's Rule.” from TMC leaders. process, as the battle intensifies. LIZMATHEW theoutskirts of Kolkata. ForBJP,Vijayvargiyasaid, the AfterNadda took over the Five sanghatanmantrishave been Kolkata: Following an attackon NEWDELHI,DECEMBER14 Sources in BJP said the party battle is onlygetting intensified. BJPwantsa‘direct’ party's reins and revamped his appointedinthestate'sfive zones BJP national president JP Nadda’s wantsthe Centretotakeaction “Wehavedecidedtotakeitup battlewithTMC team in severalstates, he did not and thereisconstant communi- convoy on the outskirts of THE CONFRONTATION between againstofficialswhowere seenas withthepeople.We willcontinue E move either VijayvargiyaorShiv cation between the workers and ● Kolkatalastweek,BJP national the BJP-ledCentreand TMC-gov- negligent in the attack. Theysaid ourfight,nomatterhowmuchvi- EXPLAINED Prakash,anRSSpracharakloaned leaders,partyleaderspointedout. general secretaryKailash ernedWestBengalgovernmentis thewidelyheldviewisthatimpo- olence is unleashedonus. After to BJPwhohasbeenthejointgen- BJPnationalsecretariesandUnion Vijayvargiya’s security coverhas likelytointensify in the coming sition of President's Rule forthe Nadda-ji's visit, Home Minister THE POLITICAL battle in West Bengal is nowperceivedas eral secretaryincharge of Bengal. ministers arealso visiting each been upgradedwith the addi- days,with the BJP keen on Chief “collapsing lawand order situa- Amit Shah is coming later this one between the TMC and the BJP.This is exactlywhat the Both have been working in the zoneatleastonceintwoweeksto tion of abullet-resistant car to his MinisterMamataBanerjeetarget- tion” could boomerang, and week(December19-20),andthat BJP wants–tomakeitaTMC versus BJP political battle in stateforlongandplayedkey roles keep this communication chan- convoy.Hewas partofthe con- ingthesaffronparty,andinadver- Banerjeecoulduseitto draw pub- will infuse moreconfidence people's minds and relegatetothe sidelines the other two intheparty'simpressive perform- nel open, theysaid. voy that had come under attack. tentlyhelpingthepartyprojectit- lic sympathy. But theyalso said among the workers,” he said. big players, the LeftFront and the Congress, whichare ex- ance in 2019 General Election, Animesh Biswas, national ex- The Union MinistryofHome self as the main challenger.Party that the “tension” between BJP On demands forPresident's pected to contestthe polls together.The party wanted when it won18of42Lok Sabha ecutive member of Bharatiya Affairs (MHA) has issuedanor- leaders expect this to further di- and TMC should remain, as that Rule, aperson involvedinBJP's MamataBanerjee and her party to target itsleaders to cre- seats. JanataYuvaMorcha, who has der directing the CISF to ensure minish the Congress and the Left could keep the BJP up in the per- electioneering process in West atethe narrative of adirect contest, and the Centre's deci- The party also appointed been camping in Kolkatafor the Vijayvargiyaonlytravels in that Front as potential challengers in ception battle againstthe state's Bengal said, “The Chief Minister sion to replace a“mild” Keshari Nath Tripathi as Governor Arvind Menon and Amit lastfew months, said: “AfterJP vehicle. The CISF has been pro- the narrative before next year's ruling party. willmakeahueandcry(overthat) with Jagdeep Dhankhar,who has been on awarpath with Malaviya, head of itsnational IT Nadda's visit, Amit Shah's visit viding Z-categorysecurity to Assemblypolls. Kailash Vijayvargiya, BJP gen- and could createsympathyin the stategovernment sincetaking charge,isseen as having cell, as co-in charges. With an eye next week will be the biggest Vijayvargiyasince February While the face-offhas been eral secretaryand party's West favourof TMC.SotheBJPdoesnot helpedthat. to keeptheheatonTMC,theparty morale boostfor party workers 2019. high-pitchedsincebefore theLok Bengal in-charge,told The Indian want that drastic step (imposing hasalsogivenafreehandto hard- here.TheTMCleadershipistrying Addressing apublic meeting Sabha polls, with pitchedbattles Express:“Itisanarchy; lawandor- President's Rule) forthe time be- liner Dilip Ghosh, the stateunit to instil fear (among BJP workers) in Mathurapur in South 24 allegedly involvingworkersof the der has completely collapsedin ing. However, we want action to the “fear factor” has also been a where.Ourworkersaregettingat- president,to take onBanerjeeand to jeopardisetheelectoralprocess. Parganas on Monday, twopartiesandaccusationsfrom the state, and the rulingparty has be takenagainstofficials so that hurdlefortheBJPleadershipto ex- tacked and killed,” Vijayvargiya her party aggressively. But by keeping the communica- Vijayvargiyasaid that “it is not bothsidesof beingattackedbythe crossedall limitsofdemocratic the heat is on.” tract full commitmentand hard said. Thepartyhasappointedabat- tionchannelsopenbetweenparty Bengal’s tradition to welcome other,itwas cranked up anotch values and constitutional propri- Other than the absence of a work from the cadre, party lead- Therehavebeen similar alle- tery of lawyers in eachdistrict to workers and senior leaders, we people with stones”. ENS last week when BJP president JP eties. It's the fittestcase forimpo- strongcadretomatchthatof TMC, ers said.“There is violence every- gations againstthe saffron party supportBJP workers in the legal aretrying to keep the morale up.” Ahmedabad Ahmedabad WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THEINDIANEXPRESS,TUESDAY,DECEMBER15,2020

WORDLY WISE Adesk is adangerous place from which to

10 THE EDITORIAL PAGE viewthe world. —JOHN LE CARRÉ The prospects for recovery

§ FOUNDED BY § RAMNATH GOENKA Government cites lackoffiscal space forreluctance BECAUSETHE TRUTH INVOLVES US ALL to provide adequatesupporttoeconomy. Thisisodd TALKING AND LISTENING Jahangir Aziz That’s what PM said wasspirit of democracy.Invoking imaginary‘anti-national gangs’ of farmers undermines that SOMETIMES WE MISS the forest forthe trees, where female employmentismuchhigher lion fewerjobs today. Afterimproving after and at other times the trees themselvesbe- than in manufacturing. the lockdown, the employment rate has come the story. That seems to bethe case with While notavoidable, muchofthe income plateauedsince July, consistent with almost TMAY WELL be that the BJP-ledgovernment at the Centreisfollowing ablowhot India’s 3Q20 GDP print. loss could have been mitigated by budgetary 10 million morerural households seeking and coldstrategy on theongoing farmers’protests on thecapital’soutskirts.While Some have exultedover headline growth income support. But the government chose MGNREGAemploymentper monthsince Union MinisterofState forAgricultureKailash Choudharyreiteratesthat the gov- printing a“better-than-expected”-7.5per nottoprovide this. And this shows up clearly Augustcompared to ayear ago. And herein ernment is keeping itsdoor open forasixth round of talkswith farmers, his boss, cent rate on ayear-agobasis, while others, in- in the 3Q GDP numbers. Governmentcon- lies the “fallacy of composition” or the IUnionAgricultureMinisterNarendraSingh Tomar makes asweepingdenunciation cluding the RBI, have lamentedthat this puts sumption declined22per cent on aquarterly “tragedyof commons”problem.Itmaybera- Indiainits firstever“technical recession”. But basis in 3Q. The government’s unusual reluc- tional foreachfirm to cut backemployment or —the three farm bills arebeingopposedby the same castofcharacters, he says,thatprotested neither inference is meaningful.After clock- tance in providing adequatesupporttothe wages, but if all firms do the same,theyare againstthe abrogation of Article 370, the amendedcitizenship lawand the construction in ing -24per cent the previous quarter, printing economyhas purportedlybeen because of the simplyhurting futureconsumption and, thus, Ayodhya of theRam temple. Union LawMinisterRaviShankar Prasad talksabout the pri- agrowth rate that is one percentagepoint lackoffiscal space. This seems quiteodd. The their ownfuturedemand and profits. macy of dialogue and then invokesthe “tukde tukde gang” and his colleague, PiyushGoyal, higher thanexpected is nothing to write private sector’s excesssavings (savings lessin- Thereisanobvious solution to theprob- who sat at the table in the government-farmer negotiations, alleges the protests arebeing home about and, no, India is notinatechni- vestment) is so large that insteadofborrow- lem, but it is notspending on infrastructure “infiltrated by Leftists and Maoistelements”. It maybethat the labelling is partofthe same calrecession. ing from abroad (running current account projectsorreforms as is widelybelieved. As game-plan as the professedopenness to talk.But the government mustknowthat as it is The National BureauofEconomic deficits) as it usuallydoes, India has been in- long as the pandemic persists,mobility will Research (NBER) in the US defines atechnical Over the last five years,India’s vesting abroad, that is, running current ac- remain limited.Sowhile infrastructurespend- seentodip intoits well-wornplaybook fordealing with dissent, it is shrinking itsown room recession to be one wherethe growth rate is currentaccountdeficit count surpluses. ing and reforms arecritical to sustain formanoeuvrevis-a-vis aprotester whoisdifferent from those it has facedbefore. negative fortwo consecutive quarters. But the averaged 1.6per cent of GDP Over the lastfiveyears, India’s current ac- medium-term growth, neither can boost The farmer,the annadata,isanintimateand resonant figurewho will notbeeasily growth rate is measured on aquarter-over- annually.This turned into a count deficitaveraged1.6percent of GDP an- near-term demand. The pandemic is still not Othered. And so far, theprotest ledbythe Punjab farmer,ismaking itself heardinaway quarter, notyear-ago,basis. Almost all large nually. Thisturnedintoasurplus of 4percent behindusand fornow Indiawill needtohun- surplus of 4per cent of GDP that is restrainedand carefullycalibrated.While the demand maybeall-or-nothing — economies, including China, publish official of GDPin2Q20and JP Morganprojectsitto kerdownaslongasittakes forthe vaccinesto protesting farmers want arepeal of the laws and saytheywill settle fornothing less —the quarterly growth numbers. India’s CSO does- in 2Q20 and JP Morgan average1.6 per cent of GDP this fiscal year. createherdimmunity.Once immunity has n’t. This leavesustoour owndevices. JP Consequently, despite theapparent lack of fis- been achieved, mobility will normaliseand mannerinwhichitisbeingmade is sober.The protesters have kept the peace,and con- projects it to average 1.6per Morgan’s estimates suggestthat on aquar- cent of GDP this fiscal year. calspaceathome, the RBI has been funding therecoverycanbegin in earnest. Whatneeds sciouslyresistedextraneous or extremistagendas. The joint resolution passedby32 terly basis,India’sGDP plunged25percentin other countries’ fiscal deficits. Since April this to be ensured is that the recovery is notham- farmer unions on Saturday, reiterating that their onlyissue is the repeal of farm laws and 2Q20 andrecoveredby21per cent in 3Q20. Consequently,despitethe year,the RBI has bought $70billion of foreign strung by damaged household and SME bal- nothing else, distancing themselvesfromthe BharatiyaKisanUnion (EktaUgrahan), Indiadid notsuffertwo consecutive quarters apparent lack of fiscal space at assets,presumably mostlyUSgovernment ance sheets becauseofthe extendedloss of whose members waved posters demanding the release of activists in theBhima Koregaon of negative growth, and, therefore, it is notin home,the RBI has been bonds. That’s roughly2.7 per cent of GDP.Put wagesand incomes. This requires extensive case on Human RightsDay on December 10,isanillustration of this. Forthe BJP-ledgov- arecession. differently, while the governmenthas limited income supportnow.Itisnot so muchthat it But the astonishing 21 per cent 3Q quar- fundingother countries’ fiscal itssupporttothe domestic economy, it has, will help supportdemand this year,but that it ernment to attempt to taintand tarthis protest, forittosee it through itsadversarialand terly growthis alsonotsomethingoneshould deficits. SinceApril this year, via the RBI, invested almost3per cent of GDP will protect balancesheetsfromthe extensive fetishistic you-are-with-us-or-with-anti-nationals/Leftists lens, is ill-judged. take much comfortin. If the levelofGDP was the RBI has bought $70 in foreign assets justinthe firsthalf of this fis- damagethe pandemic has already signalled What is at stakehereisnot justthe BJP government’s ability to push throughapolicy. 100in1Q, then it fell to 75 in 2Q and recov- billion of foreign assets, cal year! it will likelyleave in itswake. Howthe government handles this agitation will have consequences forreformand change ered to about 92 lastquarter, it is still about 8 Separately, the RBI reportedlastmonth Unliketypical EM crises, the pandemic is presumably mostly US in agricultureand in other sectors as well. Agovernment that has shown formidable skills per cent lowerthan the levelin1Q20. In fact, that profitsofnon-financiallistedfirmssurged notaninstance of afinancial crisis turning into and machineriesofcommunication mustfind the messageand the medium to engage we expectGDP growthinFY22 to recoverto12 government bonds. That’s (35percentin nominal andabout30 percent aneconomic shock.Instead, it is an economic the anxieties and concerns of farmers. Morename-calling is notanoption, nor is blam- per cent from -9 per cent in FY21, which im- roughly 2.7per cent of GDP. in real terms) in 3Q20. We know that wages shockbrought on by aweak public health sys- plies that six quarters from nowitwill still be and profitsmakeupthe bulk of GDP.SoifGDP temthat can turn intoafinancial crisis if the ing it on “too muchdemocracy”. It is time the BJP listenedtoits ownPrime Minister, who Putdifferently,while the about 7per centbelowthe pre-pandemic fell by 7.5per cent and profitsoflistedcom- damage to balancesheets is notlimitedbypol- onlydays ago, remindedthe nationthat democracy is, mostofall, about “kuch kehna, path, or roughly$300-billion-a-year of in- government has limitedits panies increasedby30per cent, it stands to icy.Thegovernment, however, haseschewed kuchsunnana”, talking and listening. That’s the only waytoexpand thetableand give comelossesacross twoyears, comparedto the support to the domestic reason that wages, employment, and earn- going down this path. And it musthavegood both sides the space neededfor an agreement. pre-pandemic path. Imagine the havocthis economy, it has, via the RBI, ings of SMEs plummeted. The Centrefor reasons fordoing so. But, as discussedearlier, can wreak to household and SME balance invested almost 3per cent of Monitoring the Indian Economy’s surveys the lackoffiscal space isn’t one of them. sheets,toincome inequality, to poverty, and suggestthe employment rate is still morethan to women’s employment, since muchofthe GDP in foreign assets just in twopercentagepointsbelowits pre-pan- The writer is Chief Emerging Markets HUNGER ALARM economic shockhas been borne by services, the first half of this fiscalyear! demiclevel,translatingintomorethan10mil- Economist, JP Morgan. Viewsare personal NFHS dataonchild malnourishment presentssobering picture. Governmentmustgobacktodrawing board, plug holes

ARLYDATAFROMthe firstphase of the National FamilyHealth Survey (NFHS) (2015-2019)tellsagrim story. The proportion of stuntedchildren has risen in SURGICAL MIS-STRIKE severalofthe 17 states andfiveUnion territories surveyed,putting India at Erisk of reversing precious gains in child nutrition made over previous decades. Worryingly,that includes richer states likeKerala, Gujarat,Maharashtra,Goa Standards mustnot be loweredtocertify Ayurveda postgraduates surgeons and Himachal Pradesh. The shareofunderweight and wasted children has also gone up in the majority of the states. Between 2005-6 (NFHS-3) and 2015-16(NFHS-4), India had re- markable success in reducing stunting from 48 per cent to 38.4per cent. Notonlyisitex- ShailajaChandra ceptionallyraretosee amajor economyand democracy undoing suchgains, but these fig- ures come aftermassive government programmes that sought to addressissues crucial to ATHREE-DECADE-OLD wrangle betweenthe than question asurgeon’s qualifications. geries under supervision. In over 400Ayurvedic allopathicandAYUSHfraternitieshasbeenres- The statutoryregulatorybody forAYUSH hospitals,itisreportedthat,perhaps,only10have healthandnutrition,from thebig push to endopendefecationby the SwachhBharat Abhiyan urrected following arecent clarification on a education is the Central Council of Indian attachedallopathichospitals.Surgicalskillsareby to access to clean cooking fuel and drinking water. 2016 notification. This time, the clash is not Medicine(CCIM). Over the last20years, it has no means impossible to learnbut theybecome Though moregranular dataisneededtoparse the reasonsfor this unexpectedsetback, abouttheAYUSHpractitioners’rightto treatus- become aclone of the erstwhileMedical difficulttomasterwithout continuoustraining therehavebeen severalindicators of the slowing down of economic growth andemploy- ingallopathicdrugs,buttheir“right”to conduct Council of India. Fordecades, stalwarts of and supervision. Due to the paucity of patients, mentdistress,whichare bound to have an effect on hungerand nutrition. The 2017-18 surgeries. Ayurvedahavelamented that CCIM has only limited scope fortraining and access to gaining NSSO report, forinstance, showedadip in consumption expenditure forthe firsttime in Threeimportantgroupsaffectedby thisor- promotedwhat private college managements hands-onpractice, it is hazardous to allowall decades, but the government eventuallydecidedtowithholdit. But the problem of child der have this to say: TheAyurvedic fraternity demand,propelled, in turn, by students’ need Shalya andShalakyapostgraduates to under- maintainspostgraduatesinShalya andShalakya to earn astableincome as medical profession- take surgical procedures. malnourishment is ahardone preciselybecause it is tangledinseveral deep-rootedprob- (twosurgicalstreamsamong14post-graduate als.Inthis misplacedzealtogivebetterearn- Ironically, even an MS Surgery (allopathy) lems,and is notjustafunction of growth. The gender skew in Indian societies, whichleads courses)aretaughtprocedureslistedinthecur- ings to theAyurvedic vaidyas, CCIM has side- orasurgeonwhohaspassedoneof theworld’s to poor education, lack of reproductive choice and inadequatenutrition from childhood, riculum; that the oldest-known surgical spe- linedmanyskills that Ayurvedacould have toughestexaminations to become afellowof perpetuates avicious legacy of under-nutrition. In recent years, the culturewars over non- cialist was, in fact, an Ayurvedic surgeon/sage included, whichare relevant even today. theRoyalCollegeofSurgeons(FRCS)isnotper- vegetarian food habitshavealsoled severalstatestoknockoff eggs —one of the cheapest Sushrut (600BC) who wrotethe Sushrut Even the Ayurvedic fraternity lamentsthat mitted to conduct even comparatively simple sources of protein forchildren—offmid-daymeal and anganwadi menus. Samhita—aprofoundexpositiononconducting the statutorybody that sets standards for operations liketonsillitis. In the lastthree human surgery whichcontinues to receive Ayurvedic education has subjugated thecur- decades, specialisation has excludedgeneral That these arepre-pandemic figures givesmorereason fordisquiet. The COVID-19out- worldwide acclaim. Surgery waspractisedby riculum to nurturemoreand morereplicas of surgeonsfromperformingwhatwasoncecon- break —and the lockdowntocontain itsspread whichleftmillions stranded andhungry Ayurvedic surgeons long before the advent of Twofacts makethe case for doctors of modern medicine. Thereby, an an- sidered routine. Forexample, onlyanENT sur- —has sent incomes intoatailspin, with the economyyet to recoverfromthe shock.Thepan- westernmedicine. Ayurvedic surgeon-vaidyas cient, time-honouredsystemand itswealth of geoncanperformatonsillectomy. Therefore,to demic has also sharpenedthe edge of all inequalities, and rippedapartfragile welfarenets. Allopaths question the logic of this claim. weak.When it comes to empirical knowledge has been substituted by notify that Ayurvedic postgraduatesinsurgery So, the real-time deprivations of hunger areboundtobefar moreacute, withserious im- CanSushrut’smillennia-oldpre-eminencebe- teachingstudentsto imbibeasmuchallopathy canperformomnibus operations runscounter plicationsfor generations to come —aswell as fornational aspirationsofprosperity.The stow theright to practisemodern surgery?Do surgery, it is not knowledge as possible. Thishas killedthe knowledge,pu- to the norm in India and in other countries. these Ayurvedic surgeons knowthe hidden rity and goodness of classicalAyurveda, which Inperformingsurgery,theonlybenchmark government mustundertakeurgent assessmentsofnutrition status during the pandemic but rigorous training and risksofevery surgical procedureand howto continuous practice which ironically is the Ayurvedainhigh demand in should bethedurationof hands-ontrainingre- and go backtothe drawing boardtoplug the holes. surmountsudden mishaps? Europe, Russiaand America. ceived—counted by surgeries undersupervi- TheMinistryof AYUSHjustifiesitsnotifica- makes forperfection. Until now, the debatewas rivetedon sion,and being judged through external eval- tion on thegroundthat notall vaidyasbut only Allopathic students of Ayurvedicvaidyasusingallopathicdrugstotreat uation. Everysurgeon’s skills and competence LE CARRE’SPEOPLE postgraduates qualifying from twosurgical surgerylearn first by symptoms. But nowithas expandedtoencom- mustbetestedbyapplying exactlythe same streams have been authorisedtoperform se- watching and then passsurgery.And twofactsmakethe case for standards before she/he can operate. This co- lected surgeries. Andnone of this is new. But Ayurvedicsurgeon-vaidyasweak.Whenitcomes nundrum of different standards forsurgical He elevatedthe espionagenovel to literature. His protagonists the mootpointiswho decideswhether performing scores of tosurgery, itisnotknowledgebutrigoroustrain- trainingmustbesolvedbecausepatient safety Ayurvedic surgeons possesssufficient profi- surgeries under supervision. ingandcontinuouspracticewhichmakesforper- is farmoreimportant than the career progres- were all toohuman, andborecostofideologically-drivenbattles ciency to conduct these surgeries safely? By Most Ayurvedic hospitals do fection. Both requireclinical material and most sion of Ayurvedic postgraduates. what standardare their skills judged?Surgical Ayurvedic hospitals do nothaveafraction of the N2011, WHENJohn Le Carre (born David Cornwell), who diedonMondayat89, not have afraction of the proficiencycannotbejudgedby differentstan- surgicalpatientsfoundinallopathicgeneralhos- The writer is former secretary,AYUSH wasnominated forthe Booker Prize, it took just45minutes forhim to issue a dards in one country—particularly whenless- surgical patients found in pitals. Allopathic studentsofsurgery learn first GovernmentofIndia, and healthsecretary, statement saying,“Idonot compete forliteraryprizes and have thereforeasked educated patients would rather save money allopathic general hospitals. by watching and then performing scores of sur- Delhigovernment Iformyname to be withdrawn”. Le Carre’s withdrawal wasasnub to theEnglish literaryworld, whichhad long enforcedacaste system between literaryfiction and genrefiction. Yes, he wroteabout espionage, but he wasnoIan Fleming, and George SmileyisnoJames Bond. Le Carre spent his early career,tillthe phenomenal successofThe Spy Who Came in from DECEMBER 15,1980, FORTY YEARS AGO theCold (1963), as aspy.While he neverbroke the silence that his erstwhileprofession demanded, the air of authenticity in his work is oftenattributed to his days at MI6. What FRESH STIR IN ASSAM As aconcession to neighbouring states, the the next dayitself, December 22. makes his work literarilysignificant arethe themesheexplored.For over 50 years, Le AGITATORS ARE SET to intensify the strug- agitators will permit the transportofply- Carre wroteoffathers and sons (Single&Single), of love and longing (TheNight Manager) gleagainstforeignersinAssam from wood from those areas through Assam. CLAMOUR FOR RAJIV December 18 afterending the 46-day-old LEADERS OF THE Youth Congress (I) made and howthose on the frontlinesofideologically-drivenbattles arethe ones who end up gherao of state legislators. The AASU and MAHARASHTRATALKS fervent appeals to RajivGandhi to join poli- makingthe greatestmoral compromises. AAGSP leadership issuedastatement firmly THE MAHARASHTRA GOVERNMENT agreed tics and “lead them” at afunction held in Afterthe end of the ColdWar,manythought that Le Carre’s best wasbehind him. After rejecting anymovebythe newly-installed to negotiatewith the representativesofthe Delhitomarkthe 34thbirth anniversaryof all, partofwhat made the mild-mannered,portly, cuckold George Smiley,the protago- stategovernment to hold negotiations on the Shetkari Sanghatana, including itsleader, Sanjay Gandhi. PM Indira Gandhi, however, nistofthe Trilogy — Tinker,Tailor, Soldier,Spy;The Honourable Schoolboy and Smiley’s People foreigners’ issue. It said the present govern- Sharad Joshi, on their demands forremuner- turned down theirpleas by denouncing the —soappealingwas the inevitable dissonance between the high-mindedrhetoric of the ment had “neither anyauthority nor wasitin ative prices foragricultural produce. craze forsearching aleader.“All of youare ColdWar and the compromises and costs of fighting it. But Le Carre definitively established aposition” to settle the foreigners’ issue. The Consequently, theShetkari leaders sus- leaders and shoulddevelop the leadership newagitation, starting on Thursday, is ex- pended theiragitation till next Sunday. The withinyou,” she said. The rallywas organ- with AbsoluteFriends, whichdealt with terrorism, and TheConstantGardner (onthe cor- pected to go on till December 30, according government informedthe Sanghatana lead- isedbythe Delhi Pradesh Youth Congress (I). ruptions of the globalpharmaceuticalindustry), that the end of the Cold Warwas not to thetwo organisations. It will take on the ers that it waswilling to hold talkswith them. It wasattendedbymostmembers of Mrs the end of history,and certainlynot of his literature. Perhaps, mostimportantly, in the form of masssatyagrahainfront of theof- Joshi said thatifthe negotiations“fail to con- Gandhi’s cabinet, Haryana Chief Minister ageofultranationalistic pride, his characters establishedfirmly thatpatriotism, in artand fices of the deputy commissioners and sub- cede our demands by next Sunday”, the sec- Bhajan Lal and Youth Congress (I) president in government,isfar morecomplexthan “mycountry, right or wrong”. divisionaland block development officers. ond phase of the agitation would commence Ghulam Nabi Azad, among others. Ahmedabad WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THEINDIANEXPRESS,TUESDAY,DECEMBER15,2020 WHATTHE OTHERS SAY “Whether or not the We st cancurb horrorsagainst UighursinChina,itmust not profitfrom them,nor encourage those whodo. Companies should,likeBarcelona 11 THE IDEAS PAGE forward Antoine Griezmann, looktotheir consciences.” —THEGUARDIAN India and anew tech order Seeds of a

The Bidenpresidency is likelytopromote issue-basedalliances fortransfer of emerging technologies. revolution Delhi mustactively participateinthese coalitions to secureits geopolitical interests Old model of agricultureisadragonthe economy, rural living. Newfarm laws offeraway out

ers. Soon, rest of thecountry’s farmers fol- lowedthe lead of their brethren in Punjab. Aftermorethan 50 years,now therehas been some movement worthappreciating in the farm sector.The lateststeps initiated RAJAMANDALA by the Modi government could again usher in revolutionarychangesinIndia’sagricul- turesector. By CRajaMohan When India openedupits market to the worldin1991, ManmohanSingh bid adieu AS THE US formallydeclares Joe Biden as the Shesh Narayan to JawaharlalNehru’spolicyof economicde- next president, one important legacy from Singh velopmentbasedonsocialisticprinciplesand Donald Trumpislikelytoendure. It is the broughtthecountryonthepathto economic propositionthat“like-mindedcountries” development. At that time, he had talked mustcome together to cope with emerging FARMERSAREPROTESTINGattheDelhibor- about major changes in the farm sector but global challenges, including the governance der.Mostoftheleaders arefromPunjab and could notmove ahead due to coalition poli- of emerging technologies that arereshaping Haryana.Agroupof large landholdingfarm- tics. Today, NarendraModi is also talking relations within and among societies. India ers from western Uttar Pradesh is also part about reforming the agriculturesector.The traditionally reliedonmultilateral approaches of the protests.The farmers aredissenting Congresspartyisagainstthereformsimple- to governadvancedtechnologiesorchoseiso- againstthe three newfarm laws. mented by the Modi government.Thereis lation when the rules did notsuit it. The time Inits2019electionmanifesto,theBJPhad alsoasectionof farmerswhoareopposedto is nowripefor Delhi to consider coalition- promisedtocreateacountrywidemarket for the laws.Althoughthis is political,itisperti- CRSasikumar buildingasamajor tool of itstech-diplomacy. the selling and purchasing of foodgrain and nentto understandthesociologicalandeco- The discourse on technologicalcoalitions includedthe idea of developing trusted Europe and America. Earlier this year,France other agricultural produce. Theselawsare a nomic aspectsbehind farm sector reforms. is nottaking place in apolitical vacuum, but global supplychains that arenot vulnerable and Canada launchedthe Global Partnership cruciallink in thatdirection. Thelatestfarmpolicyreformsof thegov- amidstthe growing apprehensionsabout to Beijing’s weaponisation of economicin- on Artificial Intelligence to promote respon- It would be apttodiscuss the historic ernment arealso calledagrarian transition China’s use of newlyacquired technological terdependence. sible development and use of AI. India was needtohavetheselawsforthebettermentof development and were implemented in muscleinsupportofits expansionistaims. Trumpactively mobilisedUSallies and among the 15 founding members. the farm sector in the country. Forthe rich Europe and the US early on. Today, around Technology issues arenow quitecentral to partners to shun China’s telecom companies Thereare otherinitiativesthat India is not farmers of Punjab, Haryana and western 45 per cent of the country’s workforceisin- the current contestation between the US and in the rollout of 5G or “fifth-generation” wire- yetpartof—forexample, the group calledthe Uttar Pradesh, things aredifferent;but for volved in agriculture.When India attained China. Reducing economicand, especially, less technology and promotedthe idea of a “DigitalNations”thatwasfoundedin2014by croresof smalllandholdersinUttarPradesh, Independence, the contribution of agricul- digital dependence on China has also be- coalitionof “cleannetworks”that would shun Britain, Estonia, Israel, South Koreaand New Bihar,Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, West turetothe country’sGDP washuge, which come an important objective forIndia, as harmfulsoftwareandappsfrom China. Trump Zealand. The group wantstomobilise digital Bengal,Odisha,etc.,itisnowpossibleto feed todayhascomedownto around15 percent. Delhi navigates the deeplytroubledrelation- expandedthe ambitofthe Anglo-American technologies to enhance the quality of lifefor their families. Theold modelhas been adragonthe econ- ship with Beijing. intelligence-sharing alliance calledFiveEyes their citizens. Landholdings in manystateshave omyaswell as the villages. India has figuredquiteprominentlyinthe (US, UK, Canada, Australia and NewZealand) India is also notpartofthe “Artemis shrunk.Ineastern UP,the cultivators are To have asustainable farm economy, US and Western discourse on building new by initiating consultation with Japan and India Accords” that were launchedinOctober by largely marginal farmers now. Generally, about 20 percent of theagriculturework- coalitions to promote andregulateadvanced on addressing the tension between encryp- the Trumpadministration. Theseagreements farmers withless thananacreofarable land forcemustfindbettermeansof employment technologies.Thesizeof India’smarket aswell tion, privacy and lawenforcement. outline aset of principles forthe cooperative areidentified as marginal farmers.Small in cities. Ideally,theyshould be absorbed in as itstechnological capabilities makeitanat- Biden has promisedtoreverse Trump’s and transparent exploration of outer space. It farmers arethose with landholdings be- the industrial sector.Today,India’sservice tractive partner inthe effortto build“technol- decision to walk out of the 2015 Paris Accord is basedonthe recognition that the structure tween 1acreand 2.5 acres. In my village, all sectorisabigemployerandthese20percent ogy coalitions of the capable and willing”. on climatechangeonhis firstday at the White of space activities is undergoing profound thefarmersexcepttwo familiesaremarginal of farmers can be absorbed there. We can- Delhi, whichwas getting drawnintothese House. If global warming demands acollec- transformation and the Outer Space Treaty farmers. It is difficult forafarming familyto notallowsuchahugechunkofthe popula- conversations with Washington during the tive approach, thereare areas whichdemand negotiated in 1967 andthe Moon Treatyof sustainthemselveswithjustanacreofarable tion to be dependent on farming becauseif Trumpterm, must nowget ready to engage adifferent framework.Biden has promised 1979 needtobesupplemented.The founding land. The farmer will have to explore other suchapractice continues, the number of the incoming Biden administration. But is the to rebuild alliances and partnerships with members of the Artemis Accordsare Australia, avenues to improvehis financialposition. poorwillcontinueto rise.Therefore,itistime Biden team interested? On the face of it, the like-mindedcountries in addressing the Canada,Italy, Japan, Luxembourg,UnitedArab AfterIndependence, therewas no con- to develop models of contract farming. It is differences between Trumpand Biden are threatsfromChina. This is wherewemight Emirates, United Kingdom, and the US. creteefforttoupliftthe farm sector foral- anavenuetodevelopanorganisedcorporate real. Trump’scoalition-buildingwas rooted seesome overlap between the strategies of Delhi needs to appreciatethe value of is- mosttwo decades. Afterthe China war, modelofagricultureinthe country. This, in in scepticism about the efficacy of multilat- Trumpand Biden. sue-basedcoalitions in producing morepro- when India wasstanding at the precipice turn, will speedupurbanisation in the vil- eral institutions likethe WorldTrade Trump, forexample, hadinvited India, ductive outcomesinthe technological arena. of economic destruction, Pakistan attacked lagesandthedevelopmentof industriesand Organisation and WorldHealth Organisation Australia and South Koreatothe G-7 summit Suchcoalitions willcomplement India’s tradi- India. Therewas an acutescarcity of food- theservicesectorthere.Thesesectorswillbe in dealing with arising China. Restoring mul- that wastobeheld in the US this year,before tional focuson multilateralism. In the lastfew grain in the country. The then Prime able to absorb the excess workforceinthe tilateralism, on the other hand, is among the pandemic compelledits postponement. years, India has takenthe lead in promoting Minister, LalBahadurShastri, asked his farm sector. Biden’s toppriorities. Themembers of theGroup of Sevenare the the International Solar Alliance and the agriculture minister,CSubramaniam, to do Variousviews arecirculatingwithrespect This difference is likelytobelessimpor- US, Canada, United Kingdom, France, CoalitionforDisasterResilient Infrastructure. something. Subramaniam, with the help to contractfarming,butitisimportantto un- tant when we look at Washington’s longer- Germany, Italyand Japan.Biden’s plans forthe India is also nowamember of the Wassenaar of MSSwaminathan, invited scientist derstand itsstructureand potential. Forin- term record. The US has workedwith multi- G-7 summit areyet to be announced. Biden Arrangement that regulates the flowofdual- Norman Borlaug to India, who had brought stance, if avillagehas athousand farmers ple formatstoachieve itstechnological also promisedtoconvene a“Democracy Biden has promised to use technologies and the Missile Technology arevolutionarychange in the farm sector in who have an acreofarable land, then, objectives. In the nuclear arena, forexample, Summit” early on in histenurethat would deal reverse Trump’sdecision to Control Regime. Mexico with his semi-dwarf varieties of throughcontractfarming,someonecansow the US negotiated arms control agreements with multiple objectives, including the pro- walk out of the 2015 Paris The scopeof technologygovernance is ex- rice and wheat. crops on theentire1,000 acresofland. The with itsmainrival, the SovietUnion,during motion of human rightsand protection of Accord on climate change on panding rapidly. In the digital domain alone, Borlaug analysed the farm sector in landcontinuesto belongto thefarmer,while the Cold War. At thesame time, Washington democracies from newdigital technologies. the emerging issues include cyber-security, Punjaband concludedthat production can ontheotherhand,he/shewillearntheprofit workedinmultilateral forumsto producethe Meanwhile, Britain has been discussing his first dayatthe White righttoprivacy,integrity of political processes, be doubled. But none of the farmers was from the sale of produce generated from Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and exclu- the meritsofa“Democracy Ten” thatbrings House. If global warming contentmoderationon socialmedia,prevent- ready to use hismethods of farming. Then, his/herpartofthelandholding.Thisalsofrees sive groupings like the Nuclear Suppliers India, South Koreaand Australia with the G-7 demands acollective ing tech monopolies,digital tradeand taxa- Subramaniam promisedthe farmers that if him/her to pursue other employment op- Group to regulatethe flows of civilnuclear to buildtelecom productstoreduce the cur- approach, there are areas tion, trans-border dataflows androbotic theyimplementthenewfarmingtechniques, portunities. technology.Inotherwords, theform depends rent global reliance on China. The US strate- weapons. Thereare noagreedanswers within the central government will compensate The Green Revolution changed the face on the function. gic community is debating variations on the whichdemand adifferent or among democraciesonthese difficult is- them.Thisschemewasinitiallyimplemented of India’s agriculturethrough seeds, irriga- Even as he trashedtraditional alliances idea of an alliance betweentechno-democra- framework.Biden has sues. New digitalrules willemerge out of con- in around 150farmholdings with the assis- tion and fertilisers.The next revolution — likethe NorthAtlantic Treaty Organisation, cies —orplural societies with strong techno- promised to rebuild alliances sultation and cooperation among like-minded tance of PunjabAgriculture University, Green Revolution 2.0 —will come through Trumpdevoted muchenergy to theconsol- logical capabilities. and partnerships with like- countries. At this fluid digital moment, Delhi Ludhiana.Thusbeganthe“GreenRevolution”. in-depth research,betterinvestment op- idation of the Quad, or Quadrilateral Security AfterBiden’selection, theEuropean Union can secureits economic, political and security Farm producemorethandoubled, and, sub- portunities and access to the market.The Framework,that brought Australia, India, has offeredtorebuildthe transatlanticalliance minded countries in interests through active participation in the sequently, all the farmers in Punjab and three farm laws arearevolutionarystepin Japan and the US together.Trumpalsosought with aspecial focus on technological cooper- addressing the threats from newtechnology coalitions. Haryana joinedthe programme. The Green that direction. to develop the idea of a“QuadPlus” that ation. Amidstthe growing recognition of the China. This is where we Revolution worked on three fronts—better brought additionalcountries ranging from danger of China-ledglobal regimes on tech- The writer is director,InstituteofSouthAsian seeds, irrigation and optimum use of fertilis- The writer is aformerjournalist BraziltoSouthKorea andVietnam and Israel nology,Brussels has offeredwhat has been might see some overlap Studies, National University of Singaporeand to NewZealand to discuss the coordination described as aonce-in-a-generation oppor- between the strategies of contributing editor on international affairs for of national responses to thepandemic. This tunity to transform the relationship between Trump and Biden. The IndianExpress LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR

WELCOMEDATABASE IDEAS Six months, six crore later THISREFERS TO theeditorial,‘Counting workers in’ (IE, December). Acompre- hensive database of allthose workingin ONLINE the unorganisedsector,not just the Sushant Singh Rajput case wasusedtocreatemass hysteria, amounting to nothing floating population, has long been over- ONLYINTHE EXPRESS due.The pandemic-inducedlockdown in March-April and the consequenttra- ● FROMCOALTO Nalini Singh vails of the migrants has onceagain RENEWABLE: brought the issuecentrestage. A GIREESHSHRIMALIAND SIX MONTHS AGO, on June14, actorSushant the maths: From mid-June to mid-August, Rs 6crore.The costsborne by the AIIMS’foren- and their commanding officer in Galwan, plethoraofgovernment schemes canfa- ABHINAVJINDAL Singh Rajput wasfound dead, hangingfrom about 100personnel eachofthe Mumbai and sics team would add to this estimate. Ladakh. Yetmostofour “patriotic” media con- cilitatethisendeavour givingnot only the ceiling fanofhis bedroom in Mumbai. The Patna police forces were engaged24x7 in their As asearing counterpoint, recallthat the tinuedthesaturationcoverageoftheSSRstory, an identity but also asocialsecurity net ● INVITINGINVESTMENTS: city police quickly(tooquickly?) concluded separate investigations. In July, ateam of about LSRBSc Mathematics (Hons) student anddemotedthetreacheryoftheChinesePLA to this otherwise “faceless” section of GOPALJAIN that he had diedbysuicide. Tearing at this 20 ED personnel wasdetailedtohooverthe AishwaryaReddy committedsuicide because downthenews schedulerun-order,whichad- society. tragedyimmoderately, manyTVchannels and money laundering angle, and in August, the shecould notaffordafunctioning second- mittedly wastheir privileged right. VijaiPant, Hempur www.indianexpress.com social media commentariat piecedtogether NCBdeployedatleast 20 of itspersonnel to hand laptopand internetconnection to con- APIL in the Supreme Courtmightnudge “evidence” and equallyquickly suggestedthat sniff out thedrugs angle. By the time the CBI tinue her studiesonlineathome. CBIto expediteitsreportonSSR’sdeath.Butfor THISREFERSTOthe editorial, ‘Counting SSR’s deathwas afoul murder with the paw- got itsmandate, the mediahad sluiced the Two, despiteSSR’s family’s high-decibel inspiration,theCBIcouldturntotheabruptdis- workers in’ (IE, December). Data is im- marks of topShivSena politicians. country’s attentiontothe “murder theory”. A social media campaign,including regular appearance of Australia’sPrime Minister portant and abetterdatabase always en- hierarchy, deriving sanction from scrip- While this theorywas turning into“fact” CBIofficialadmitted that political and public posts of the sisters’ wedding and birthday Harold Holt 50 years agooverthe Christmas hancesthe quality of work.The contin- tures like Manusmriti.So, if aShudra is rapidly, SSR’sfatherissuedaringingaccusation pressurecausedthe agency to deployadis- videos, the familyhas notdisclosedthe name weekend. The debonair Holtentered the wa- uedlockdowns bring out the poor upsetabout hisdegradedand ostracised inPatnathathissonhadbeenmurderedby the proportionately large and high-powered of the suspect who siphonedoff crores from ters at abeachonthe southernAustralia coast humanresource management in our social status, thereisnoremedy other actor’s live-in girlfriend, actor Rhea team, alsotoallow fordrop-outsdue to SSR’s accounts. Neither hasthe ED so fares- foraswim, with his glamorous girlfriend countryaswellasthe pathetic condi- than leaving the Hindu religion, whichis Chakraborty,who he alleged had helpedher- COVID-19. This eliteteam had investigated tablishedmoney-laundering chargesagainst Marjorie watching himfromthe escarpment, tion of labour.However, thegovern- what BRAmbedkar did in October 14, self to Rs 15 crorefromher partner’s account the VijayMallyaand Augusta Westland cases. Rhea Chakraborty.The familyhas notshared andhewasneverseenagain.Manyconspiracy ment’s decision to work on abetter 1956, by converting to Buddhism. andsalteditawayinherownfamily’saccounts. So, on August 20, when theCBI team swept publiclythe modus operandi or the identity theorieswere advanced,includingthathewas database foremployability of the work- LRMurmu, Delhi The countrywas riveted. An extraordinary intoMumbai,itcomprisedsenior officers of of money-laundering suspects, who must aChineseagentandthathewillinglyentereda forcemay benefit the masses.Moreover, spectacle of knock-down-drag-outfights un- the rank of JointDirector, DIG, ASP,SPetal. have been very closetoSSR since, presum- waiting Chinese submarine with statesecrets, this Aadhaar-linked database will en- THIS REFERS TO the report, ‘Brahmins, foldedbetween the Mumbai and Patna po- About 25 CBI personnel have been engaged ably, they had access to his accounts.And the orthathehadcommittedsuicide.Butaftertwo able the government to createasocial Kshatriyas don’ttakeoffence, why liceforceswhen the latter launchedits own in this casefor thelastfour months. familydoes notappear to have been publicly days of intensivesearches by divers and heli- security architecturefor workers in the Shudras, says PragyaThakur’ (IE, investigation in Mumbai. Chargesofmoney Takentogether,the stateand Central gov- fullyforthcoming on the seemingly cavalier copters,the Australian governmentofficially unorganisedsector. December 14). One does notneedthe laundering anddrug abuse gave atoehold to ernment personnel have devoted nearly 460 manner in whichtheyforwarded aforged ended itssearch, sentits condolencestoMrs Sonit Kumar Goswami, Delhi wisdom of Solomontoanswerwhy a twoDelhi-based central agencies —the person-monthsontheSSR investigation so far. prescription of mind-altering drugs to a Holt,announcedthePM’sdeathandproceeded Shudrahates to be calledso. BJP MP Enforcement Directorateand the Narcotics Since the staffmembers rangefromjoint di- brother theyknewwas in afragile mental with governance. No further enquiries were PRAGYA’SIGNORANCE PragyaThakur Singh could knowthe an- Control Bureau—tojet down to Mumbai. The rectors to head constables,an averagemonthly state. Neither is it clear whyasisterlefthim mounted.Hisbodywasneverfoundandspec- swer justbyputting herself in aShudra’s Supreme Court taskedthe CBI to take over the per person compensation of Rs 1lakh totsup in his apartment in that precariousstate,two ulations continue to this day. THIS REFERSTOthe report, ‘Brahmins, shoes. Clearly,Shudras fear that once case from the Mumbai police, an order which to asalary-plus-DAbill of about Rs 5crore,con- days before hisbody wasfound. Our government agencies would do well Kshatriyas don’ttakeoffence, why theydisclose their identity,theywill not washailed as avictoryfor the Patna police. servatively calculated. Addtothis the costof Three, the “nationalist”media, whichhad to rememberthat speculations have an infi- Shudras, says Pragya Thakur’(IE, be greetedequallyorwith respect by Sixmonthslater,whatisthe tallyinthe logistics support, legal advisors, public prose- blitzedthe SSR “murder” story, has neither nitelife, but probes have afiniteremit, and the December 14). She attributed this to people of other castes. SSR case? Three factsstand out. cutors, banking resources, dataprocessing, apologisednoracknowledgeditsownmotiva- gulf between them is calledcredibility. Shudras’ ignorance of the caste-based TarsemSingh, Mahilpur One, that the SSR investigation has so far translators and other technical staff, andthe tions. Recall thatone dayafter SSR’s death, the costtaxpayers Rs 6crore at theleast. Here is officialexpenditure already incurredisalmost Chinesebrutallykilled20ofourvaliantjawans The writer is asenior journalist

Ahmedabad WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THEINDIANEXPRESS,TUESDAY,DECEMBER15,2020 12 GOVT &POLITICS ForcesfoughtPLAwith ‘Where is the contradiction between utmostbravery:Rajnath DDC and Assembly elections?’

influence over China to an ex- IN JUSTOVER four months since Waving the listinthe public the Commission’s reportis KRISHNKAUSHIK tent that before the1949revo- he took oath as the Lieutenant domain has been selective ready,then it is the job of the NEWDELHI,DECEMBER14 lution, almost80per cent of Governor of the Union Territory and manypoint out it was Election Commission, and the China’s population followed of Jammu and Kashmir on timedwith the DDC elections, Prime Ministerhas said it as well. CHINAINDULGED in “unpro- Buddhism”. August7,MANOJ SINHA has vis- to taint thosebelonging to Whichstate doesn’thavea vokedaggression” in eastern Quoting ChinesethinkerHu ited all 10 districts in Kashmir mainstream political parties. DDC, be it in south India or north. Ladakh but Indian troops Shi, Singhsaid, “India has cul- and six out of 10 in Jammu. His The HighCourtdeliveredthe And Assemblyelections arealso demonstrated “exemplary turallydominatedand con- effort in this period has been to judgmentonOctober 9. It has held. So, whereisthe contradic- courage”and “forcedthem to go trolledChina formorethan ensure that government pro- been very difficult to preparethe tion? Arewescaredanew lead- back”, Defence MinisterRajnath RajnathSingh 2,000 years without sending a grammes and services reach list. This has nothing to do with ership is being created? Singh said on Monday. single soldier across the bor- people withinspecifiedtime the DDC elections. We areimple- Speakingatanevent organ- der”.This statement, he added, limits. Simultaneously, he kick- menting the High Court’s order Over the years,the gulf isedbyFICCI, Singh saidthat be proud of what our forces “underlinesthe fact that India startedthe political process by and as and when lists arecom- between the twodivisions of “the unprovokedaggression on have managed to achieve this as acivilisational state has been facilitating elections to the piled, these arebeing releasedon Kashmir and Jammu, has ourHimalayanfrontiers is are- year.Wheneverthereisasitua- inspiring and influencing the District DevelopmentCouncils the websitewithoutany bias or onlygrown. minder of howthe worldis tion at the LAC, the mostobvi- worldthrough itscultureand (DDCs). He spoketoP prejudice. This will continue. Ithink people mustponder changing,how existing agree- ous outcome is acomparison softpowerfor centuries”. VAIDYANATHAN IYER on a over the reasons forthis. But Ibe- mentsare being challenged, between Indiaand China’s mil- “Due to itslocation, size, rangeofissues from the unrav- All mainstream leaders have lieve thatKashmir and Jammu howpower is being asserted itarystrength.But Idon’twant population and economy,”the eling of the now-annulled such as Farooq have occupied been released butthenthe areour twoeyes. Samaan bhav notjustinthe Himalayasbut to dwell on that. Therecan be a defenceministerstated, India Roshni Acttothe timeline for Abdullah, large tractsofland governmentrestrains seydono kayvikas kayliye across the Indo-Pacific,and how serious debateonwho owns has “alwaysbeen at the strate- Assemblyelections and restora- MehboobaMufti along the same Mehbooba Mufti from humein kaam karna hai aur uncertain the futureofthe re- moremilitary might but when gic forefront of global security”. tion of 4G services. or Sajad Lone? THEEXPRESS lines as thosewho stepping out of her residence dono milkay hee iss UT ko aage gion and worldcould be in this it comes to softpowerthereis “Wehavebeen victims of Ihavemet the have bought a or from holding apress badha saktehai (Wehaveto backdrop”. no scope of ambiguity.India is cross-border terrorism,yet have Basedonyour four months as ex-MLAs and minis- INTERVIEW kanalofland with- conference. Why? work towardsthe development He stated that “there is big faraheadofChina when it fought the scourge alone even L-G, what givesyou ters of mostparties. out knowledge? Thereisnorestraint.Onthe of these tworegions equally, and WITH build-up of armed forces” at the comes to leading the world when there wasnoone to sup- confidence? Ihavenot met Can we equate dayofpolls, will thegovernment theycan take the UT ahead only MANOJ SINHA Line of Actual Control in Ladakh. with ideas.” portusbut later,theyunder- Over the lastfour months, I Farooq Abdullah, wrongdoing by the provide security to her or con- together). Ithink,ifthe adminis- J&K LT GOVERNOR “In thesetesting timesour The Defence Ministersaid stood we were right about am convincedthat people in J&K Mehbooba Mufti twocategories of duct elections? This is India, a tration’s intentions areclear,and forces have shownexemplary the “entireeastAsiafrom Pakistanbeing the fountain- have anew belief…common and Omar Abdullah. people? We have democracy,and freedoms arefor the government is notfavouring courageand remarkable forti- Burma to ThailandtoIndonesia head of terrorism. And now peoplefeel theywillbeheard Ihavespokentwice with Farooq requestedthe High Courtthat all.Hence youcan saywhatever one over the other, then there tude. Theyfought the PLAwith and Malaysia, even Japan, there again our braveforces arethere well, and theywill get Sahab over the phone. Idonot we intend to bring alaw on this youwant. She is aprotectee, an will be no opposition. utmost braveryand forced is ahugeIndian cultural impact in the forefront fighting icy justice…The DC and SPs have have anyhesitation talking with andallow ownership of land to ex-Chief Minister, and she wants them to go back. Thecoming on all these countries” and winds to guardour borders and been directed to meetthe com- anyone. Ihaveheardthem with the latter categorybasedonto- to step out on apolling day. How Union Home MinisterAmit generations of this nationwill “Buddhismhad amonumental to fulfill their responsibility.” mon man from 10.30 am to 11.30 intent, and triedtoimplement day’s prices. The High Courthas can we allowit? We have notre- Shah refers to the am on all days,except their constructive suggestions. to decide. Is this wrong? strainedher from holding apress mainstream political parties Wednesdays and Sundays.Iam conference ever. in the region as ‘Gupkar CDSLAUNCHES FIRST PROJECT 17A STEALTH FRIGATE happythat in about 16 districts, Howhas the Roshni Actand The High Court hasasked the Gang’. Doesn’t it hurtthe about 95 -96 per centsaturation itsannulmentbythe High CBI to look intothe cases. But Therehas been ademand for political process? —onworks suchasupdation of Court unravelled? the UT government is not 4G across the UT.Your This question needs to be put High levels of preparation under ration cards with Aadhaar,Prime The Finance Minister’s keen on that as well. predecessor GCMurmu too to the Home Minister. But all Minister’sAwasYojana,pension, speechof1990said those who We willprovide CBI the nec- said the UT did nothavean mustunderstand that the Home etc—has been achieved... have illegal occupation of gov- essary assistance. But we have objection to restore4G Ministerisalso aleader of a way on land, sea and air: Rawat We have institutionaliseda ernment land will be givenown- requestedthatthe UT govern- services. Whyisitstill not party.Asaleader of aparty,he ‘grievance redressal mecha- ership by paying an appropriate ment be allowedtoconstitutean being restored? has everyrighttoissue apolitical tion in Ladakh and basedonthat nism’,the firstsuchanywhere price. In 2001,2004and 2007, SIT(Special Investigation Team); The issue is with the statement. If leaders in apoliti- EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE thereissome development ac- whichissynchronisedwith the this wasextended.For owner- and letitbemonitored by the Supreme Court. It has been re- calparty can give certain state- KOLKATA,DECEMBER14 tivity whichhas been ongoing in Government of India. ship of land in 2001,the rate pre- High Court. What’s wrong with stored in twodistricts. The gov- ments, then others also have the TibetAutonomousRegion of Complaintsmade by people vailing in 1990 wastaken; in this? ernment has also assured that it freedom to speak their mind. CHIEF OF Defence Staff(CDS) China. Everynationwill con- with the Centreare immediately 2004 too, the rate of 1991 was will be restored graduallyin Constitutional posthum hold General Bipin RawatonMonday tinue to preparefor ensuring its directed to us... fixed. The doctrineortheorybe- The government wantsACB other districts. Giventhe sensi- kar rahein hain, humkoiss say said that “high levels of prepara- security basedontheir strategic hind naturalresources, be it air, to continuewithcases which tivity of the region, and the mat- matlab nahi (I hold a tion areunderwayonland, sea interest. Iwish to assureyou that What wasyour impression water, forests, and government name manygovernment terpending in the Supreme Constitutional post, and Iamnot and air” as “China attemptsto we arefullyprepared forany when youfirsttook charge? land,isthese cannotbeanyone’s officials. Unwillingness to Court, Idonot think Ineedto concernedabout it). Ineednot changethe status quoonLineof eventuality,”hesaid. Iwas abit disappointed.For personal property at whatever hand these cases over to CBI give an opinion on this issue. We comment on this. Actual Control (LAC)along the “P17A ships will be the most example, the number of govern- price. But these can be used for has raisedquestionswhether will move as per the govern- northern border”. GRSEchairmanand MD advancedstate-of-the-art ment employees heremoreor public purposes, or forthe gen- thegovernment wantsto ment’s affidavit in the Supreme With the changeinland laws, The CDS wasspeaking at the Rear Admiral (retd) VK GuidedMissile Frigates, 149-m- less matches that in Bihar.But if eral public. shield these officials. Court. thereisconcernthat people launchofthe firstProject 17A Saxena with CDS Bipin long, with adisplacementofap- youlookatthe populationofthe The High Courthas givenits Thereare just19cases where from outside will come and stealth frigate‘Himgiri’, an ad- Rawatatthe launchin proximately6670Tand having two, thereisahugedifference judgement based on this theory. the Anti Corruption Bureauhas Thereare fears here settle here? dition to the might of the KolkataMonday. Partha Paul an advancedCODOG propulsion (J&K: 1.25 crore, Bihar9.9 crore). Iwelcomeit, andits orders are already filedachargesheetoris Assembly elections will be Thereisnotreatmentfor Indian Navy,built by the system enabling speedofover If youlook at the Budget too, J&K being implemented despitedif- in the process of doing so. put on the backburner after imaginedfears. Give me asingle Garden ReachShipbuilders and 28 knots.These complex has abudget of aboutRs1lakh ficulties. Ibelievethis is the tip of Transferring these to CBI will DDC polls. example of anyoutsider having Engineers Limited (GRSE), in General Rawatsaid the weapon platforms areequipped crore, and is comparable with the iceberg. onlylead to delays.And justice In his August15speechfrom bought landhere. Since August 5, Kolkata. Indian armedforceswill leave no with apowerful weapon and manyother states. Giventhese delayedisjustice denied. And as the RedFort, the Prime Minister 2019,tell me asingle name. I The PSU wasawarded acon- stone unturnedtosafeguard the sensor package capable of neu- statistics, Ifeel resources have But howdoyou differentiate farasthe integrity of the ACBis had talked about it. And every- challengeanyone to name one tract, amounting to over Rs nation againstany eventuality tralising threatsinall three di- notbeen put to good use. between the richand concerned, Iwill sayitwith ut- one knows the fact that the person from outside who has 19,293 crore, forconstruction of and Himgiri will be amajor mensions, air,surface and sub- influential, and poor and mostresponsibility... that none Delimitation Commission is at bought land here. This is baseless. three stealth frigates under boosttonavalprowess. surface,” read astatement Have youmet leadersof landless? should doubt itscredibility. work,not justinJ&K, but four FULLINTERVIEWON Project 17A. “Weare in astandoffsitua- by GRSE. mainstream politicalparties Should we treat those who Northeastern states as well.Once www.indianexpress.com Nath says ready State poll panel seeks Pinarayi explanation BJP on Goa zillapanchayat poll win: to rest; sparks retirement talk over ‘free Covid vaccine’ statement Results show people stand with Modi

Chhindwara: VeteranCongress wouldbedecidedaftergettingthe ernment. The result is aslap on whichcannotbeignored by leaderKamalNathhassaidhewas EXPRESSNEWSERVICE version of the Chief Minister,”he EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE their faces and acertificate of ap- legacypartieslikeBJPorCongress “ready to rest”and nothankering THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, said.Thethree-phasedlocalbody PANAJI,NEWDELHI,DEC14 preciation to BJP.” is the rise of Independentsthis forapoliticalpost,settingoff spec- DECEMBER14 elections endedMonday, with “The resultshows the faith of year —atotal of sevenseatswere ulation that he is hinting at possi- four northern districtsgoing to THE RULINGBJP Monday swept farmers, labourers, merchants, wonbyIndependents. bleretirementfromactive politics. THE KERALAState Election polls in the final phase. The elec- polls to twozilla panchayat bod- women and youth in the leader- GoaCongresspresidentGirish Nath’s comments, made at a Commissionhassoughtanexpla- tionsare beingseenasareferen- ies in Goa, winning 33 of the42 ship of Prime MinisterNarendra Chodankar said a“deep analysis” partyeventonSunday, cameover nation from Chief Minister dum forthe CPI(M)-ledLDF gov- seatscontested. The Congress Modi and Chief Minister Pramod of the resultswillbedone.“We amonth afterthe Congress won PinarayiVijayan over complaints ernmentinKerala,withAssembly wononlyone of the 38 seatsit Sawant,” said CTRavi, national failedtoconvince people that we just9out of 28 Assemblyseatsin thatheviolatedthemodelcodeof polls scheduledfor April-May contested.ApplaudingGoansfor generalsecretaryfor BJPand also arechanging.Theyfeelthatif they MP,where bypolls were heldin conductby sayingthattheCovid- next year. voting amid thepandemic,Chief in-charge of Goa. votetoCongress, then their vote early November. 19 vaccine would be made avail- The resultsofthe local body MinisterPramod Sawant said AddressingthemediainDelhi, will go to BJP as in thepastour Makingamends in his state- ablefreeofcost. elections will be declared “people have shown faith in us”. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra MLAs defected,” he said. ment,the former chiefminister, Vijayanhad made the state- Wednesday.After casting his bal- The victorycomes amid said repeated victories point to Thevoting,whichwasheldon whohadjust 15-month-longstint ment to themedia on Saturday lot, Vijayansaid, “The people are protestsagainstseveralinfrastruc- popular supportfor Prime Minis- December 12,also sawAAP and in the CMO, on Mondaysaid the -- afterthe model code of con- withthis government. The oppo- tureprojectsandpolicydecisions. terModi over ahostofissues, in- regionalparty MGP notmaking daythepeopleof Chhindwara,his duct had come intoplayfor the sition has been spreading lies StateBJP president Sadanand cluding agricultural reforms and muchinroadseither,withMGP native district and constituency, final phase of Kerala’s local body PinarayiVijayan votes during the final stageoflocalbody againstthegovernment.Thehuge Tanavadesaid,“Thereweremany the handlingofthe Covid-19out- winning 4seatsand AAP justone. wishthatheshouldretirefromac- elections. polls in Kannur. Turnout in the thirdphase was78.6%. PTI turnout of voters indicates that agitationswhichwereconstantly break.“Thepoor,ruralregionsand TheoneseattheAAPwoninsouth tive politics, he would callitquits. StateElection Commissioner people arewith this government up on social mediaregarding the farmers form the spine of this Goa is also itsfirstinanelection in “Iamreadyto rest.Ihavespent VBhaskaransaidthecommission andtheywantto registertheirin- power, double tracking and coal country. These resultswould not Goa,wherethelastonemonthhas alot of time (in politics). Idont hasreceivedcomplaintsfromthe Chief Ministerhasto sayontheis- has to explainunder whichcir- dignation againstspreading ca- transportation…all NGOS, politi- have been possible without their seentheArvindKejriwal-ledparty hanker forany postorposition. I OppositionCongressandBJP.“The sue. We have soughtanexplana- cumstanceshehad made the nards againstthe government,” cal parties whichinitiatedthese support," Patrasaid. pushingdebatesinlocalmediaon had enough...”hehad said. PTI Commissionwouldhearwhatthe tion. The Chief Ministerhimself statement.Thenextstepof action the CM said. protests triedtodefame the gov- Another aspect of the polls the promise of free electricity. Lone Congress 2chariots to trace Ram’s route BTC member Assam’s madrasas to become regular schools Education Council (AHSEC); and Hadith, Usul Al Fiqh, Aqua, Tafsir, labus…” in Chhattisgarh during exile to join BJP ABHISHEKSAHA 542Pre-Senior,Senior and Title Hadith and Fariad will be re- As farasSanskrit tolls are GUWAHATI,DECEMBER14 Madrasa and Arabic Collegerun moved—althoughArabic will concerned,the Cabinethas de- EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE Guwahati:Thenewly-electedsole by the StateMadrasa Education continue as alanguage. cidedthat the 97 provincialised RAIPUR,DECEMBER14 Congress member of the THE ASSAM government has ap- Board. The staffwill continue to get tolls will be converted to “Study BodolandTerritorialCouncil(BTC) proved thedroppingofIslamic An official note on thepoints salaries and allowances as be- Centres, research Centres and TWOCHARIOTS, carrying sym- announced on Mondaythathe subjectsfromthe curriculum of approved by the cabinetshowed fore;however, the account head Institutions to study the bolicimagesofRam,Laxmanand would join the BJP and will be a all state-run madrasasand the that the government has de- will changefrom‘Madrasa edu- Certificate/ Diploma/ Degree Sita, were flagged offfrom partoftheBJP-UPPL-GSPcoalition institutions aretobeturnedinto cidedtodissolve the State cation’ to ‘Secondaryeducation’. courses to be startedbyKumar Chhattisgarh’s Koriyaand Sukma The chariotbeing flagged in the newCouncil. regular schools. Also, the govern- Madrassa Education Boardafter “Theposts of teachers whoare Bhaskar Varma Sanskritand districtsonMonday --theday the offinSukma district. SajalSinha, who waselected ment hasapproved converting Himanta BiswaSarma resultsofthe examinationofthe teaching theological subjectsin Ancient StudiesUniversity, Congressgovernmentinthestate from Srirampur on aCongress Sanskrit tolls intocentres for 2021-22 academicyear arean- the provincialisedmadrasa in- Nalbari with effect from completedtwo years. ticket,announcedhis decision to learningofIndian heritage and nounced. stitutions willteachother sub- 1/4/2022”. ThechariotswilltracetheRam Chhattisgarhstate wasat switchovertothesaffronpartyin civilisation. functioning and theywill be con- Thereafter, allrecords, bank jectsavailableintheir schools as “Therewill notbeany fresh VanGamanPath,ortheroutethat Ramaramareaof Sukmadistrict,” the presence of NorthEast “In 1934, when Assam was verted intoinstitutions of gen- accounts andstaff shallbetrans- per their aptitude,” the note said. admissioninthe provincialised Ramtookduringhisexile,andwill an official statementsaid. DemocraticAlliance(NEDA)con- run by Muslim League govern- eral education,” Education ferred to SEBA. The High and Higher Sanskrit tolls from 1/4/2021. coveracollective 1,575km. They Thechariots,termedParyatan venor and Assam Minister ment underSir Syed Sadullah, MinisterHimantaBiswaSarma These institutions will admit SecondaryMadrasas run by Students have to take admission willmeetonDecember 17 at Raths,willcarrythesoilfromeach HimantaBiswaSarmahere. madrasa education wasintro- told reporters on Monday. studentsfromApril next year SEBAwill have ‘madrasa’ in high schools,”the note said. Chandkhuri –consideredthe district they cross, according to Sinhasaidthathehasdecided ducedinthe Assam education Assam currentlyhas two against“relevant courses of droppedfromtheir names and “Weare basicallygoingtorun birthplace of Ram’s mother stategovernment officials. The to jointheBJPintheinterestofthe curriculum..Yesterday our state kinds of state-run madrasas — SCERT,SEBAand AHSEC as ap- function as regular schools. The courses on Indian civilisation [in Kaushalya and the siteofthe only chariot in Koriya wasflagged off developmentof hisconstituency, government in our Cabinet 189High Madrasa and Madrasa plicable fortheir institutions”. note said, “The Fiqh and Aquaid the Sanskrit tolls]…Itwill be dif- Kaushalya temple in theworld. at Harchauka. Simultaneously, in whichborders West Bengal.The meeting has finallydecidedto Higher SecondarySchools run From the Pre-Senior, Senior and subjectsshall be withdrawn ferent from history.The curricu- “Duringthe exile period, Lord Sukma'sRamaram, Municipal coalition strengthwill go up to 23 reform theeducation system under the BoardofSecondary Title Madrasas and Arabic from these schools. However, lum will be preparedfroma RamhadenteredChhattisgarhvia Council chairmanand District in the 40- member council with and makeitsecular.Asaresult Education, Assam (SEBA) and Colleges, subjectslikeHoly Arabic language subjectshall civilisational point of view,” Sitamadi-Harchauka area in Collector flagged offasecond the Sinha’s crossing. PTI all [state-run] madrasa will stop the Assam Higher Secondary Quran, Islamic Studies, Fiqh, continue to be partofsyl- Sarma said. Koriyadistrictand his lastvisit in chariot. Ahmedabad WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM THEINDIANEXPRESS,TUESDAY,DECEMBER15,2020 EXPRESS NETWORK 13

ELGAARPARISHAD CASE Kerala journalist dies after Stan Swamy’s bail Bonusscam: 20heldforprotesting vehicle knocks downscooter local people, remaineduntraced SHAJUPHILIP until latenight. The victim's plea opposed by NIA formerminister’sarrestinGujarat THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, mother,VasanthaKumari,alleged DECEMBER14 thatPradeep had facedthreaton that anysuchtransfershould be (CID) Crime and Railways ar- forfraud andin2018, aTribunal came out in supportofVipul social media. EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE done onlyafter intimating the EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE rested Vipul Chaudharyincon- courtordered Chaudharytopay Chaudharywho wasaminister AJOURNALISTwas killedinahit- Pradeep, who had worked MUMBAI,DECEMBER14 courtand giving Swamyanop- AHMEDABAD,DECEMBER14 nection with an alleged scam of 40% of the cattlefodder scam in his government of the and-runcase in Thiruvanantha- withseveralMalayalamTVchan- portunity to argue in that. Rs 14.8 croredone againstthe amount of Rs 9crore to Amul. RashtriyaJanataParty (RJP). He puram on Monday,with his fam- nels,had been known forseveral ASPECIAL National Investigation Special Public Prosecutor OVER 20 workers of Mehsana 1932 workers of the union who According to Gujarat CID said in avideo message, “I learnt ilysuspectingfoul play. exposes againstthe stategovern- Agency (NIA) courtwill consider Prakash Shetty forNIA,however, Dudhsagar Dairy Cooperative were supposedtoreceive the crime,inorder to paythe Rs 9 on Sundayabout the arrest of According to thepolice, SV mentonhisYouTubechannel.He an application by Elgaar Parishad opposedSwamy’s bail plea along Union were detainedin amount as yearly bonus. crore, Chaudharyand other co- former chairman of Dudhsagar Pradeep,36,whowaseditorialdi- hadrun aseries of reports on the accusedFather Stan Swamy, the with other applications and said Mehsana on Monday afterthey According to afirstinforma- accusedoffice-bearers of Dairyand BJPleaderVipulbhai rector at recentlylaunched goldsmugglingscandal,andother 83-year-old Jesuit priestand the investigation agency has took out arallytostage protest tionreport filedbyGujarat CID Mehsana DudhsagarDairycon- Chaudhary. In that connection,I YouTubechannel Bharatlive,died crimesallegedly involvingpoliti- tribal rightsactivist, seeking takenonlyrelevant data andhas againstthe arrest of former state Crime, apartfromChaudhary, spired and siphonedoff Rs 14.8 spoketoCMVijay Rupani on whenhistwo-wheelerwashitby cians. The Kerala Union of clone copies of dataretrieved givenacopyofthe same to the home ministerand former DudhsagarchairmanAshaThakor, crorefromthe union’s treasury phone on Sundaysaying that the anunidentifiedvehicle.Thepolice WorkingJournalistswrote to Chief from electronic equipment that applicant. Afterthe court asked Dudhsagar Dairychairman vice-chairman Moghji Pateland meant to paybonus to workers. main reason forhis arrest is the formedaspecial team to probe MinisterPinarayiVijayan and wasseizedduring his arrest.This NIA to give acopyofall the data Vipul Chaudharyinanalleged managingdirectorMJBaxiarealso Speaking to TheIndian 2012 case whereVipulbhai pro- the incident, but the vehicle,be- sought acomprehensive probe came aftercounsels represent- it had taken, Shetty sought time bonus scamcase of Rs 14.8 crore. co-accused in the case. Theyhave Express,SSRaghuvanshi, deputy vided cattle fodder to lievedtobeatruckaccording to intoPradeep'sdeath. ing Swamytold the courtthata to take instructions on the extent According to police, over 100 beenbookedundersectionsof the superintendent of police, CID MaharashtraonSharad Pawar’s hugeamount of datawas col- of datarecovered. workers of Mehsana Dudhsagar Preventionofcorruption Actand Crime, who is investigating the request... Irecall it wasPawar lected from him, yetthe amount AdvocatesSudeep Pasbola Cooperative Union triedtostage IndianPenalCodesections409for case said, “Till now, we have ar- who contactedme then asking if of data clonedand providedto and Sharif Shaikh forSwamy aprotest rallyfromthe union of- criminal breachoftrustbypublic rested only one person in this Iknowany co-oprative organisa- himwas only8Terabyte(TB). movedanother application seek- fice to collectorate premises in servant,408forcriminalbreachof case and he has been sent to po- tion in Gujarat that can provide Swamy’s counsel alsoin- ing Swamy’s bag thatwas al- Mehsanatown. Theywerede- trustbyclerk, 120b forcriminal lice remand forfour days. cattle fodder to drought-prone formedthe courtpresidedover legedly seizedbyNIA duringhis tainedand brought to Adivision conspiracy. Further investigation is on.” areas in Maharashtraand Ias- by special judgeDEKothalikar of arrest and also raisedapprehen- police station. Videos of workers As per Gujarat CIDofficials, According to police,asmany sured him it waspossible... and I the replyreceived from the jail sion regarding his possible trans- and sympathisers of Chaudhary Chaudhary, who wasalso former as 30 office-bearers and workers spoketoVipul... Vipul, on my authorities on the possible trans- fertoanother jail. clashing with the police also sur- chief of Gujarat Cooperative Milk of Mehsana Dudhsagar Union best,inaverysystematicman- ferinviewofhis various ailments However, NIA and jail author- facedonsocial media. Marketing Federation (GCMMF) were involved in the bonus ner,through official channels, and age. Swamyhad moveda itiessaidtheydonot have anybag “Theyhad notsought any —also known as Amul —was scam, however, only four names sent the fodder there... Thereis plea seekingopportunitytobe that belongs to Swamyand op- permission from the policeor sackedfromhis postin2014af- have come up till now. no corruption. I’m witness to this heardifadecision is takento posedthe plea. administration regarding the terascam of Rs 22 croresurfaced Mehsana Dudhsagar current and Pawarhas also thanked for transfer himtoany other prison. Swamy’s counsels apprised rallyand we detainedthem as when the GCMMF providedcat- chairman Asha Thakor,who is this... Thereisnoscaminthis Swamyhas been lodged in the courtthat as per replyby theywereviolating social dis- tle fodder to Maharashtrastate also one of the co-accused, de- case... Iamnot awareofthe other TalojaCentral Jail in Navi TalojaJailauthorities,hemayhave tancing norms. No case has been in 2012 without receiving any clinedtocomment. Dudhsagar cases, however, elections aredue Mumbai since his arrest in to beshiftedto abetter-equipped lodged,” said asenior policeof- money. Dairyelections areset to be held in Mehsana Dudhsagar in the October.The courthas askedthe jaildueto hishealthailmentsand ficer at Mehsana police station. An FIR wasthen filedat on January5,2021. next fewweeks... it speaksofgov- authorities to replytothe plea. age. The lawyer said theyshould On Sunday, theGujarat Mehsana BDivision police sta- Meanwhile, former Chief ernment’s vendetta,whichis Swamysubmitted to the court beheardifheislikelytobeshifted. Crime Investigation Department tion in 2014 againstChaudhary MinisterShankersinh Vaghela condemnable.”

INDO-UK VIRTUAL CONFERENCE BEGINS CSIR-NEERI director: Aplanned city is Classifieds PERSONAL well prepared for sustainable development IKirankumar Babulal NOTIFICATION Patel S/O, Babulal REVENUEDEPARTMENT, coverquickly from multiple per requirements, promoting re- niques suchasComputational Patel R/o31,bal- SECRETARIAT, GANDHINAGAR EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE shocksandstressesandmaintain duce, reuse,recycle to decrease Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and mukund Bungalows, (The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, AHMEDABAD,DECEMBER14 acontinuityofservice. the wastegoingtolandfillsites, Weather Research and Near Devasya Rehabilitation &Resettlement Act, 2013 (No. 30 of 2013) Talking about the keychal- anduseof IOT(InternetofThings) Forecasting (WRF)can be used School, nikol, District :Valsad ATHREE-DAY ‘Indo-UK Virtual lenges and opportunities in the forsmartcontrols. to mitigatethe impactsofcli- ahmedabad have No. AM-2020-689-M-LBU-1218-2405-GH Date :24/11/2020 Conference on the 5C’s of Water wayofbuilding resilientcities, he DrKumaralsopointedoutthe matechangeatmicroand meso changed my name Whereas it appears to the Govrenment of Gujarat that the land specified in the Vulnerability:ClimateChange, said, “Traffic jams and vehicular initiativestaken in India for scale. Knowledge canbederived to Kiran Babulal SCHEDULE annexed hereto, is likely to be required to “Construction of R.O.B. in Contaminants, Co-occurrence, pollution, poor urban infrastruc- ClimateResilientCityActionPlans from ancient architectureas Patel for all purposes. place of existing Level Crossing”(hereinafter referred to as “The Requiring Conflicts,andCovid-19’,hostedby ture, urbanheat island effect, (CRCAP) in four citiesofUdaipur, well to reducecarbonfootprints 0040557609-1 Body”) for the public purpose for the purpose of construction of infrastructure theIndianInstituteofTechnology, housing forall, lackofhealthcare Siliguri, Coimbatore, andRajkot. and build resilient structures. project of “Construction of R.O.B. in place of existing Level Crossing”(hereinafter referred to as “The public purpose Project”). Gandhinagar (IITGN), com- facilities,airpollution,heatwaves The CRCAPoutlines potential to We must also lookatnature To advertise in Classified 1. Now whereas, the Government of Gujarat, Revenue Department has, in exer- mencedMonday withmorethan in summer,urban flashfloods in reduce atotal of 17,50,200tonnes againto formulatedevelopmen- Contact cise of the powers conferred, by section-10-A [inserted by section 3ofThe 200participants from India and monsoondueto poordrainagein- of carbondioxideGHGemissions taland mitigation plans,” Dr Ahmedabad - Phone: 079-26872482. Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, abroad. frastructure, sanitation andhy- by 2022-23 in Coimbatore, Kumar said. Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Gujarat Amedment) Act, 2016 (Gjarat Act Discussing environmental gieneatpublicplaces,selectionof 4,39,251tonnesinRajkotand ExpertsfromIndia,Japan,the IMPORTANT No. 12 of 2016)] of The Right to Fair compensation and Transparency in management strategies for asuitable site fordisposal of the 1,54,173 tonnes in Siliguri. USA,andtheUKalsodeliberated Whilst care is taken prior to acceptance of advertising copy,itisnot possible to verify its Land Acquisition, Rehabilation and Resettlement 2013 (30 of 2013) (here- healthyand sustainablecities, Dr hugeamount of solid waste, re- “Itisanurgentneedthatcli- on Covid-19and the participa- contents. The Indian Express (P) Limited cannot be held responsible for such contents, nor inafter referred to as ''The Act'') exempted, in public interest, by Notification Rakesh Kumar,the director of ducingthechancesof fire hazards materesiliency is built-in the tionof waterscientists,environ- for any loss or damage incurred as aresult of transactions with companies, associations or No. AM-2018-768-M-LBU-1218-2405-GH, dated 15/11/2018 published in Councilof ScientificandIndustrial at dumpyards, health hazardfor planning and development of so- mental engineering solutions, individuals advertising in its newspapers or Publications. We therefore recommend that the ExtraordinaryGazette of Gujarat Government Dated: 29/01/2018 the readers make necessaryinquiries before sending any monies or entering into any agreements below mentioned Scheduled area of land, to be acquired for the infrastructure Research -NationalEnvironm-en- ragpickers aresomeofthe chal- ciety.Modern tools and tech- and geogenic concerns of water. with advertisers or otherwise acting on an advertisement in any manner whatsoever. Project of The Construction of R.O.B. in place of existing Level Crossing,from talEngineeringResearch Ins-titute lenges facedbythe cities today.” the application of the provisions of the powers, II and III of The Act, and (CSIR-NEERI), stressedonthe Suggestingsolutionsforthese 2. Now whereas, in exercise of the powers, conferred by sub-section (1) of broader territorial perspective to challenges,headded,“Weshould section-43 of The Act. The Government of Gujarat has appointed, by help cities attain economies of tackle these challengeswith effi- Notification No. AM-2018-35-M-LBU-1218-2405-GH Dated: 09/01/2019, scale,resourcesaccountingandits cient and sustainable solutions The Prant Officer,Valsad as the AdministratorofRehabilitation and management, making urban lo- likeintelligenttransportationsys- Resettlement in respect of the scheduledland to be acquired for construc- cal bodies(ULBs) self-reliant, temusingmass rapid transit sys- tion of the captioned infrastructure project, and strategic mitigating measures for temand car-pooling, work from 3. Now whereas, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of sec- tion 11 of ''The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land climatechange, and efficient ur- home wherever possible, to re- Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (30 of 2013) (here- banmobilityandpublictransport. ducetheneedofvehicles.”Healso inafter referred to as the Act), the Government of Gujarat, has notified, vide “A plannedcityiswell pre- stressedonpromotinggreen their Notification No. AM-2018-35-M-LBU-1218-2405-GH Dated pared forsustainable develop- economyandbuildings,usingre- 09/01/2019 that the said Scheduled land is required for the public purpose ment,” he said. Resilient city,he newables, developingnew specified here above. added,referredtoany urbansys- sewage systemandimprovingex- 4. And whereas, the Government of Gujarat is satisfied after considering the temthat could withstand and re- isting sewerage infrastructureas report made by The District Collector,Valsad under sub-section (2) of sec- tion 15 of the Act, that the said land is needed to be acquired for ''The Pub- lic Purpose Project'' specified in the schedule hereto, and 5. Now therefore, in exercise of the power conferred by sub-section (1) of sec- Speaking up tion 19 of The Act the Government of Gujarat hereby declares that the said scheduled lands is required for the public purpose specified in the schedule on MeToo hereto. 6. In exercise of the power conferred by clause-(g) of section-3 of The Act, the Goverment of Gujarat hereby appoints, Prant Officer,Valsad to perform the platform no SYMBOLIC POSSESSION NOTICE function of aCollector,for all proceeding hereinafter to be carried out under [Under Rule 8(1)] The Act, in respect of the said scheduled lands. crime: Priya Whereas the undersigned being the 7. The Plans of scheduled lands can be inspected at the Office of The authorized officer of Saraswat Co-op. Competent Authority Land Acquisition &Prant Officer,Valsad. Ramani Bank Ltd., under the Securitisation SCHEDULE and Reconstruction of Financial Assets District :Valsad Taluka: Valsad Village: Dugari NewDelhi: JournalistPriya and Enforcement of Security Interest Sr Old CTS Area of the Sr Old CTS Area of the Ramani, facing trial in a (Second) Act, 2002 (Act 54 of 2002) No. Survey/ required no. Survey /required defamationcase filedbyfor- and in exercise of power conferred merUnionministerMJAkbar, under Section 13 (12) read with rule 9 Block No. H.A.Sq.mt. Block No. H.A.Sq.mt. hastoldaDelhicourtthrough of the Security Interest (Enforcement) 11149 0-00-06 34 892/p893/p 943 0-02-24 her lawyer that speaking up Rules 2002 issued demand notice dated 21146 0-00-09 35 1076 0-00-53 on the #MeToo platform was 20.01.2020 calling upon the borrower 3258 1140 0-00-11 36 1080 0-00-07 Mrs. Joshi Ekta Niraj to repay the notacrime and that theseare 41139 0-00-15 37 387 1081 0-00-09 amount mentioned in the notice being “actsofextreme couragethat ` 10,67,625/- (Rupees TenLakhs Sixty 5298 1059 0-00-51 38 1082 0-00-03 requirecelebration”. Seven Thousand Six Hundred Twenty 6922 0-00-05 39 1083 0-00-11 Ramani's lawyer and Five Only) as on 16th January2020 plus 7324 923 0-00-04 40 976 0-00-06 Senior AdvocateRebecca interest thereon within 60 days from the 8924 0-00-03 41 337 982 0-00-05 date of receipt of the said notice. Johnmade the arguments 9925 0-00-05 42 984 0-00-13 The borrower having failed to repay the before Additional Chief 10 892 p1258 0-00-52 43 987 0-00-11 Metropolitan Magistrate amount, notice is hereby given to the 11 891 p1259 0-00-14 44 1093 0-00-56 RavindraPandeyonMonday. borrower and the public in general that the undersigned has taken symbolic 12 1261 0-00-70 45 338 1097 0-00-16 Her argumentscould notbe possession of the property described concludedand will be heard 13 932 0-00-37 46 1101 0-00-05 herein below in exercise of powers 14 934 0-00-58 47 340 1111 0-00-10 on December 18. conferred under Section 13 (4) of the Akbarhas suedRamani said Act read with rule 9ofthe said rules 15 954 0-00-06 48 342 p1115 0-00-92 fordefamation over allega- on this 11 th day of December,2020. 16 256 957 0-00-05 49 342 -0-01-59 tions of sexual misconduct The borrower in particular and the public 17 962 0-00-07 50 343 -0-02-63 and harassment. With sev- in general are hereby cautioned not to 18 963 0-00-06 51 1389 0-00-13 eral other womenmaking deal with the property and any dealings 19 968 0-00-04 52 384 1390 0-00-18 with the property will be subject to similarallegations against 20 969 0-00-04 53 1392 0-00-28 the charge of Saraswat Co-op. Bank him,Akbar hadresignedas Ltd. for total outstanding amount of 21 973 0-00-04 54 1395 0-01-28 MinisterofState forExternal ` 10,67,625/- (Rupees TenLakhs Sixty 22 974 0-00-05 55 1397 0-00-58 Affairs. Seven Thousand Six Hundred Twenty 23 977 0-00-05 56 383 1407 0-00-29 Afterreading through Five Only) as on 16th January, 2020 24 985/a 0-00-24 57 960 0-00-07 with further interest thereon. journalistGhazala Wahab's 25 946 0-00-13 58 259 1012 0-00-02 testimonyinwhichshe ac- Description of the Property 26 947 0-00-08 59 1088 0-00-14 cusedAkbar of sexualha- Registered Equitable mortgage 27 948 0-00-09 60 335 1121 0-01-97 rassment, John told the of 16, Jivan Sadhna Apartment, court, “I am establishing a 28 950 0-00-13 61 1133 0-00-05 Near Maniyasa Society,Opp. 29 953 0-00-06 62 1136 0-00-05 pattern of behaviour. Municipal Garden, Maninagar- 30 325 p1, 989 0-00-24 63 1283 0-00-04 Wahab's statementisnot East, Ahmedabad [Admeasuring 31 325 p2 988/1,988/2 0-00-58 64 1288 0-00-22 hearsay. Shetells us astory. area 38.10 sq. mtrs.] It is directevidence.” 32 1001 0-00-22 65 334 1380 0-00-12 sd/- 1058/a/1, On the #MeToo move- (P. A. DESHMUKH) ment, John told the court, “It AUTHORISED OFFICER 33 387 1058/a/3, 0-00-20 66 1386 0-00-81 wasn't acrime to speak up Saraswat Co-op. Bank Ltd., 1058/a/2/a, on the MeToo platform. Unit No. 10 &11, Shivalik Yash, 1058/a/2/b Theseare acts of extreme 132 Ft. Ring Road, Naranpura, Total:- 0-21-74 couragethat requirecelebra- Ahmedabad-380013 Sd/- tion. These arenot actsfor Tel. No. (079) 27467958 /59 Date : 11.12.2020 (H. J. Rathod) which oneshould face No.INF/Valsad/536/2020 Under SecretarytoGovernment defamation.” Place : Ahmedabad

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BRIEFLY Findings of UP govt opposes ‘Alarming’trendofveryhigh NFHS-5 show population of bail for journalist C-sectionbirths,sayssurvey India stabilising Kappan in top court, EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE mostofthese interventions. PUNE,DECEMBER14 pointsto‘SIMI links’ UDITMISRA,NUSHAIBA Thereare severalreasons why IQBAL&ANURADHA C-section deliveries maybepre- INDIA’S POPULATION is stabilis- Kappan. “Severalincriminating BandaruDattatreya MASCARENHAS ferred.The first, of course, is when ing,asthe totalfertility rate (TFR) EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE evidence have been found from NEWDELHI,PUNE,DEC14 doctors believe thereisathreatto has decreasedacross majority of NEWDELHI,DECEMBER14 the house of the accused the lifeofthe pregnant woman. the states. Of 17 statesanalysed Sidhique Kappan duringsearch TELANGANA DATA FROM the latestNational But it is also afactthat many in the fifthround of National OPPOSINGAplea by theKerala conducted on 11.11.2020.... These Himachal FamilyHealth Survey shows an women ask foritthemselves. FamilyHealth Survey (NFHS), UnionofWorking Journalists documentsdisclosed crucial in- “alarming”trend of very high Dr Bharati Dhorepatil, vice- exceptfor Bihar, Manipur and (KUWJ), whichhas sought re- formation/journeyofthe very Governorunhurt “births deliveredbycaesarean president of theFederation of Meghalaya,all other states have lease of itsmember Siddique formation of PFI as areincarna- section” across moststatesand Obstetric and Gynaecological aTFR of 2.1orless, whichimplies Kappan,the Uttar Pradesh gov- tion of SIMI afterit(SIMI) being inroadmishap Union Territories that were Societies of India, pointed to yet that moststateshaveattained ernment has sought to link him banned, also that the motive and mappedinthe firstphase. another reason. “Marriages are replacement levelfertility,an to thebannedStudents Islamic ideology of both organizations Hyderabad: Himachal Acaesarean delivery (C-sec- happening late. The pelvis can analysis by thePopulation Movement of India (SIMI) and arecorroborative in nature,” the Pradesh Governor tion) is asurgical procedureused getrigid during pregnancy,and Foundation of India (PFI) has has told the Supreme Courtthat stategovernment said. Bandaru Dattatreyahad a to deliverababythrough inci- Doctors sayaC-sectionsurgery can have consequences such due to safer techniquesavailable said. he went to Hathras on the “in- The affidavit stated that “in- lucky escape afterhis car sions in the abdomen and uterus. as anaesthesia complications, blood loss, and infections. File now, thereisalso apressurefrom The firstset of findings from structions of” Delhi riots caseac- vestigation has revealedthat” veeredoffthe road on the According to theWorld families to getaC-section done,” the fifthNFHS, conducted in cusedMdDanish. Kappan and his co-accused national highway on Health Organisation, areason- she said. 2019-20, wasreleased by the In an additional affidavit filed “weremobilizedtowards Monday, policesaid.No able percentageofbirths by C- India’snumbers aremuchhigher J&K it is 41.7 per cent. Adisaggregateddataanalysis MinistryofHealth and Family inthetop court, the stategovern- Hathras upon instructions of Md. one wasinjured in the in- section is between 10-15per than other countries. “At60.7 per “Therehas also been arise in -whichispossible onlywhen WelfareonSaturday. ment also questionedthe bona Danish, who is himself accused cident,whichoccurredat cent. At this levelofuse, C-sec- cent,Telangana has an alarmingly the number of institutional de- moredataisavailable -will also All 17 states have witnessed fides of KUWJ, and accuseditof in the Delhi Riots case”, and that Choutuppal on National tion reduces maternal as well as high proportion of C-section de- liveries,and the fall out could be help understand whether these an increase in the use of modern “tryingto tryingto coverup/hide” “RaufSherief, General Secretary Highway-65 (Hyderabad- newborn mortality rates. liveries compared to global stan- an increase in the C-sections,” Dr deliveries arehappeninginpub- contraceptives of familyplan- Kappan’s “true identity”. of CFI (Campus Front of India) Vijayawada),aseniorpo- However, in India, according dards,” he said. KSJames, director of Mumbai- lic facilities or private facilities ning. The proportion of women It contendedthat thereisa wasfacilitating the movement”. liceofficial said. As per to NFHS-5 datareleasedlast SeveralIndian states already basedInternational Instituteof and whether theyare happening with unmetneedfor family “strong likelihood” that Kappan CFI members Atiqur Rahman preliminaryinformation, week,several states have C-sec- had high levels of C-section de- Population Sciences, said. to economicallypoor women or planninghas declinedinall would go “underground” if (25), Masood Ahmed(26)and the driverlostcontrol of tion between 30-40 per cent. In liveries in NFHS-4(2015-16). According to doctors, aC-sec- better offones or if the ratesare states, exceptMeghalaya and granted bailatthisstage,when Alam (26) were arrested along the car and the vehicle go- Telangana, this number is over Preliminarydatafor the latest tion surgery is abodilyinterven- similaracross the board. AndhraPradesh. Exceptfor investigation is still pending. with Kappan. ing offthe road, the offi- 60 per cent. round —2019-20—shows that tion, and it can have conse- But, regardless of thereasons, Manipur,all stateshavereported Alleging that Kappan is not The stateHome Department cialsaid.The Governor Public healthcareexperts in moststatesthisnumber has quences suchasanaesthesia prima facie, the ratesofC-sec- an increase in users getting in- assisting the investigation,the stated that Rehman wasalso wasonhis wayto suchasSakthivelSelvaraj, gone up further.For instance, in complications,blood loss, infec- tions deliveries in severalstates formation on side effectsofcur- Statesaid he is not“disclosing his wanted in acase registeredat Nalgonda district fora Director,Health Economics, AndhraPradesh it is 42.4 per tions and injurytoother vital areabnormallyhigh. rent contraceptive methods, said social media accounts, pass- Muzaffarnagar station, and that programme, police said, Financing and Policy,atthe Public cent, in Kerala it is 38.9 per cent, structures. Crucially, it is the FULLREPORTON Poonam Muttreja, executive di- wordsand details associated “Danish and Rauf Sheriefwere adding he later continued Health FoundationofIndia, say in Goa it is 39.5 per cent and in mother who bears the risk in www.indianexpress.com rector of PFI. with the same in order to con- continuouslyintouch his journeyinanother ve- ceal his misdeeds”. with...Kappanand other co-ac- hicle. PTI The KUWJ'spetition stated cusedthrough cell phones, that Kappan has morethan 10 whichwererecoveredbypolice Domestic violence cases double in Karnataka years of experience as ajournal- from the vehicle being usedby istand wasonway to Hathras to the accusedonway to Hathras CHHATTISGARH Commission forWomen’s has worked in Telangana for reportonthe alleged gangrape on 05.10.2020”. ESHAROY (NCW) data, the overall com- three years in creating aware- and death of aDalit girlwhen he It stated that Kappan’s co-ac- CoBRAofficer ED NEWDELHI,DECEMBER14 Whythejump plaintsreceivedfromKarnataka ness campaigns on gendervio- waspickedupbyUPPolice in cused“Masoodisbeing funded diesofinjuries have increased. The NCWre- lence, said, “Telangana and MathuraonOctober 5. fromPFIanditsmembersbankac- AIN infiguresisseen fromIEDblast NEARLYAthirdofwomen in ceived311 complaints of vio- Karnataka governmentshave Stating that Kappan “has counts,the otherco-accused four states out of 17 surveyed so PL asgoodnews lence from women in the state had anumber of flagship pro- been found associated with AtiqurRehmanisbeingfundedby farhaveexperienceddomestic E● in 2020; of these, 124cases were grammes on creating awareness Popular Front of India (PFI)”, the Rauf Sherief...who have received Raipur: A36-year-old violence, and in three states the EX that of domestic violence. In con- and have been very active on UP governmentstatedthatPFI crores of funds from various na- CoBRAdeputycomman- numbers reportedhavein- trast, NCWhad received52cases genderissues.” In contrast, she “has been responsible fordis- tionalandinternationalsuspicious dant diedonMonday, a creased, withKarnatakashow- WHILE THE jumpinKarnataka's figures appear alarming, of domestic violence in 2019. said, “In Bihar,for instance, rupting public peace of theState sources”. It said Kappan’s “State dayafter suffering injuries ing adoubling of the number of experts in genderviolence put the increase down to im- “Webelieve thatthe rise in whereIhave worked,while the by provoking class and caste BankofIndiaaccountalsoreflects in an IED blastinSukma cases of domestic violence over proved reporting of domestic violence cases, and therefore cases is becauseofthe social government pushesgender em- conflictswith an intention to de- varioussuspiciouscash deposits district.He wasairliftedto the lastsurvey,according to the “good news’’. Women rarely come out and reportdomestic awareness campaigns run by powerment programmes such stroypublic order and tarnish on numerous occasions, and the Raipur afterthe blaston National FamilyHealthSurvey violence cases, and thus an increasing trend in numbersis our stateoffice(in Karnataka), as banking forwomen,gender the imageofthe Government by same is under investigation”. Sunday, wherehesuc- (NFSH)-5. The datawas released seen as agoodsign. It's states wherethe numbers have re- as well as moreavenues now norms and domestic violence is inciting hatred,contempt and The affidavit said Kappan is cumbed at thehospital. by theUnion Health Ministryon mainedstagnant, or have even shownadecline, that area open forcomplaintstobe rarely discussed.” dishonor to the Government. PFI “closelyassociated and has been BastarIGSundarrajPiden- Saturday. matter of some concern, since it is possible that domestic lodged,suchasthrough social According to NFSH-5, 40.6 has been involvedinanti-na- in frequent connection through tifiedthe deceasedas Domestic violence against violence is notbeingreportedinthose states, according to media,’’ NCWchairperson per cent women in Bihar re- tional activities and keeping social media and telephonic con- Vikas Kumar of the 208 women includebothphysical Ranjana Das from Oxfam. Rekha Sharma said. portedspousal violence (up linkswith terror outfitslikeISIS.” versations with PFI members Battalion. According to the and sexual violence, and the In Telangana, about 36.9per from 43.7 per cent in NFSH-4) “Several cases”are registered holding various portfolios across IG, Kumar sufferedin- states wheremorethan 30 per cent women surveyed reported In Assam, 32 per cent women againstPFI members and ac- thecountry...mostofwhom have juries while trying to dif- cent reportedhaving sufferedvi- dataislikelytobereleased next About11per cent of young facing spousal violence, with reportedexperiencing domestic tivists,who have also been also been executive members of fuse an IED found in a olence by their spouses are summer. women surveyedinthe statere- morerural women reporting vi- violence–upfrom24.5per cent chargesheetedinKerala, Delhi, thebannedTerroristorganization search operation in Karnataka, Telangana, Assam In Karnataka, over 44.4 per portedhaving experiencedsex- olence than their urban counter- in NFHS-4. Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and SIMI. Investigation has also re- KistaramareaofSukma and Bihar.The number of cases cent of both rural and urban ual violence by the ageof18in parts. About 5per cent of the Athirdstate wherethe per- other parts of the country, ac- vealedthat accusedSidhique district. "He wasout with reportedwent up in Karnataka, women surveyed as partof NFHS-5. The corresponding fig- young women surveyed re- centageofcases reportedin- cording to the affidavit, filedby Kappan is notonlyinvolvedin his team and the statepo- Telanganaand Maharashtra. NFHS-5 reported having experi- ures in the 2015-16survey was portedhaving experiencedsex- creasedwas Maharashtra– Special Secretary, (Home), UP. hatchingadesignto commitcog- lice forcenear Kasaram NFHS-4 datawas for2015- encedspousal violence –the fig- 10.3 per cent. ual violence by age18. 25.2% as per NFSH-5, compared It stated that “as per investi- nizable offence to disruptpublic Nala in Kistaramwhen he 16.The next roundofNFSH-5 urewas 20.6 percent in NFHS-4. According to theNational Oxfam's Ranjana Das, who to 21.3% in 2015-16. gation till date, mostmembers orderandpeacebutisalsoamas- encountered apressure of PFI who areex-office-bearers termind having linkswith vari- IED. He sufferedinjuries of “bannedorganization SIMI” ous unfortunateriots,disturbing while trying to diffuse the IIT-M suspends have been in close intimacy with publictranquility nationwide.” bomb,"hesaid.. Kumar's TRACKING INDIA’S COVID CURVE body has been sent to his academic hometown Muzaffarna- CASES: ACTIVECASES:3,52,586 UP Police to seekcustody garinUP. He had been activities after 287 postedinChhattisgarh DAYSSINCE 98,84,100 DEATHS:143,355 100 Covid cases PANDEMIC since 2019 ENS BEGAN TESTS: 15,45,66,990 | RECOVERIES: 9,388,159 of CFI gen secyheldbyED

TAMIL NADU in two weeks CASES DEATHS RECOVERIES TESTS “with adirective to go to Hathras 27,071 33630,695 8,55,157 EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE (UttarPradesh)withadelegation”. ‘Suicidepact’ EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE LUCKNOW,DECEMBER14 Ateequr is one of the four leadstodeath CHENNAI,DECEMBER14 persons, including journalist THE UTTAR Pradesh Policewill Siddique Kappan, who wasar- offiveoffamily IIT-MADRASHAS temporarily seek custody of KA Rauf Sharif, rested by UP Police while they suspendedall academic opera- the national general secretaryof were on their waytoHathras, Villupuram: Acouple in Covid testing in NewDelhi on Monday. Praveen Khanna tions and has shut all labs and li- Campus Front of India (CFI), who whereaDalit woman wasal- their thirties and their braries after104 people on cam- wasarrestedbythe Enforcement legedly gangrapedand mur- three children were found pus tested positive forCovid-19 Directorate(ED) from dered.The police had said they dead in their house at a over the pasttwo weeks--the STATESWITHRISINGACTIVECASES Thiruvananthapuram airport were going to Hathras to disrupt villageinVillupuram on Pune-based Gennova to largest clusterreportedinTamil ACTIVECASES RISEINLASTWEEK last Saturdayinamoneylaun- social harmony. Monday, policesaid. Nadu aftercampuses reopened Uttarakhand 7,256 1,178 dering case. "Sharif has been sent to judi- Preliminaryprobe hint at begin human trials of forfinal-year collegestudents. N/A -- The UP Police, whichwill ap- cial custody by acourt in Kerala. a'suicide pact' and the IIT-M Director Bhaskar N/A --proachaMathuracourttoissue We would seek his production man and woman could Ramamurthi said about 10 per aproduction warrant of Sharif, warrant in connectionwith the have endedtheir livesaf- its Covid vaccine ‘soon’ cent of the institute’s students STATESWHEREACTIVECASESAREDECLINING wantstoquestion him in con- Hathras case," Additional terkilling their two were back in hostels -- mostlyre- ACTIVECASES DECLINEINLASTWEEK nection with the Hathras case. Superintendent of Police (Special daughters, aged seven Singh said. search scholars engaged in lab- Karnataka 17,409 7,972 The ED, whicharrestedSharif TaskForce)RajKumarMishrasaid. and eight, and theirfive- PRABHARAGHAVAN The DCGI, who heads India's oratoryworks along with proj- Delhi 16,785 7,908 in acase of alleged money laun- In the remand report, ED said year-old son, police said. NEWDELHI,DECEMBER14 apexdrug regulator,lastweek ect staffwho assistinresearch Maharashtra74,1045,975 dering related to a2013training the agency has come across huge The bodies have been sent gave Gennovathe green light for projectslabs works. campinKerala, on Sunday said remittance intomultiple ac- to agovernment medical Pune-basedGennova phase 1/2 trials. If successful, the The institute’s management STATESREPORTINGMAXIMUMCASES that Sharifhad transferredfunds counts of Sharif, particularlyin collegehospital herefor Biopharmaceuticals plans to kick vaccine maybethe firstindige- said it has tested408outof atotal ONDEC13 TOTAL to CFI treasurerAteequr Rahman the current year. autopsy by ateam of po- offearly-tomid-stage human nously developedvaccine using of 774studentsstaying in the Kerala 4,9686,69,330 licepersonnel. PTI trials of itsCovid-19vaccine can- mRNAtechnology that could po- campus afterclasses reopened. Maharashtra3,717 18,80,416 didate"soon", enrolling around tentiallyuse India's existing cold According to them,overthe past West Bengal 2,580 5,21,795 WESTBENGAL 620 participantsacross several chain capacity in itsdistribution. twoweeks,104people–students Assam schools to resume sites over the next fewmonths. This is the same platform andcanteenstaff–testedpositive STATESREPORTINGMAXIMUMDEATHS Youthhacks "Wehavestarted the usedbyPfizer/BioNTechand forthe virus, and 26 have been ONDEC13 TOTAL regular classes from Jan 1 stepmotherto processes. We hope to start Moderna and the US National takentohospitals. Maharashtra 72 49,307 phase 1soon. We will present Institutes of Health (NIH) to Twohostels -- Krishnaand West Bengal 47 9,057 porters, "FromJanuary1,all re- deathwithaxe our phase 1datatothe DCGI maketheir vaccine. Preliminary Jamuna, whichreported 22 and ABHISHEKSAHA strictions on schools will be Delhi 33 10,014 (Drug Controller General of information releasedonthe two 20 cases respectively until GUWAHATI,DECEMBER14 withdrawn. Regular classes will Jalpaiguri: Ayouth hacked India), before starting the second vaccines with respect to late Sunday--havebeenshut. An IIT- DataasonDecember13,releasedbyUnionMinistryofHealthandFamilyWelfare,IndianCouncilofMedical begin. Onlymask will be re- Researchandstategovernments.Often,thenumbersreleasedeverydaycontaindatafrompreviousdays his stepmothertodeath phase, and so the timeline forthe stagetrials shows that theyhave Madras officialsaid the disinfec- aswell.Assuch,trendsbasedondailynumbersareonlyindicativeandnotdefinitive The Assam government on quired andsocial distance norms withanaxe in Jalpaiguri trials to be completedwill de- an efficacy of around 94-95 per tion work has been strengthened Mondayannouncedthat start- will be followed. All classes will district on Monday, police pend on these factors," said cent. and thatall the studentshave ing January1,all staterun start, endingthe pattern of stag- said. The incident hap- GennovaCEO Dr SanjaySingh. Gennova's candidate, known been quarantinedintheir rooms. schools will function in aregular geredclasses we were following penedinthe Kranti police "For phase 1, we have got two as HGCO19, is "stable" at 2°C to StateHealth SecretaryJ Pune schools to suspend online waydoing away with Covid-re- till now." station area of Malbazar sites wherewewill be starting 8°C fortwo months, according to Radhakrishnan said,“Since col- lated restrictions imposedasof AdetailedStandard block, they said. There enrolment soon," he said, adding the MinistryofScience and leges have opened, we needto classes over non-payment of fees now. Operating Procedure(SOP) in wasafeud betweenthe that around 120volunteers will Technology.Onthe otherhand, keep an eyeonhostels and mess At present, Classes6and on- this regard is expected soon from woman and her stepson be registeredinthe firstphase at the Pfizer/BioNTechvaccine re- and encourage takeaway food. Pune: Close to 1,000 schoolsin of UnaidedPrivate Schools wardshavebeenfunctioning in the education department. and the killing wasare- twosites -- KEM Hospital, Pune quires deepfreeze technology to Corporationand health officials Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwadare AssociationofMaharashtra astaggered fashion in govern- Sarma said the decision was sult of that, policesaid. An and agovernment hospitalin be stored at around -75°C and areclosely workingwith institu- expected to go on athree-day made the announcement on ment-run schools. As per the an- takenconsidering that Assam’s investigation has begun, Kolhapur. can be kept in 2°C to 8°Crefriger- tions to take preventive steps.” suspension of educational activ- Mondayafternoon, and said the nouncement, classes from nurs- Covid cases have been consider- theysaid. The stepson has "Weare looking at enrolling ated unitsfor up to five days. Studentshavepointed to ity to protestnon-payment of protest is awarning againstabig- erytoClass 6will reopen on ablylow in the recent past. On been arrested,they 500participantsfor phase 2tri- Moderna's candidate can survive overcrowding at the onlycan- fees by majority of students from gershutdown in the coming January1. Monday, the stateregistered146 added. PTI als and this will go intomany in these refrigeratedtempera- teen as areason forthe spikein December 15. months, unless "capable parents" Assam Education Minister cases against28,560 tests, apos- sites. Ihope it will be 6-10sites," tures foruptoamonth. infections. RepresentativesofFederation payup. ENS Himanta BiswaSarma told re- itivity rate of 0.51per cent. Ahmedabad WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

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SIMPLY PUT QUESTION &ANSWER CORONAVIRUS DASHBOARD New evidence why pet cats Farm reforms —inIndia, China (and possibly lions) are so At atime whenfarmers areagitatinginDelhi againstthe newagriculturelawspushedbythe government, vulnerable to coronavirus alook at howChinahad approachedreforms differently—agriculturefirst —and howithelped growth

EIGHTSPECIESANDTHEIRINFECTIONRISK the rural economy, forlivelihood,” the au- UDITMISRA TWOECONOMIES,SIXDECADES thors clarify. Chicken Duck Mouse Rat Pig Dog Ferret Cat Civet NEWDELHI,DECEMBER14 ■China ■ India So what wasthe keydifference between THE ONGOINGfarmer protests in Delhihave the twostrategies? forced the government to rethink itsnew Agriculture,forestry,andfishing,value GDP(constant2010US$)-China.India “The Chinese policymakers firstcreated farm laws by proposing amendments. added(constant2010US$) the incentivesand institutions required by 11.53 tn However, the impasse continues. Forthe the marketeconomyand then, in the mid- 800 793.89 bn 12 mostpart, the protests have been ledby 2.23tn 1980s,theybegan to slowly open up mar- 700 10 Affinity farmers from Punjab and Haryana —which kets,bywithdrawing central planning and NonSusceptible 600 873.35 bn areIncidentally the twostatesthatbenefited 1978: 381.56 bn 8 reducing the scope of procurement while ex- Susceptible 500 the mostunder the previous policy regime. 400 138.55 bn 6 1978: 2.964 panding the role of private trade and mar- Inferred In the contextofIndia’s push forfarm re- 300 119.274bn 293.62 bn tn kets,” the authors find. Billion Trillion 4 200 forms, China presentsastudy in contrast. A 392.24 2 292.24bn “Of course, it is no one’s case thatIndia 2008 paper publishedinEconomic and 100 215.41bn bn couldhavesimplyreplicatedthe China model. HumanAffinityThreshold Political Weeklyunderlineshow different re- 0 0 It is crucial to note that China had more 5 5 5 5 9 9 75 70 60 Source: Centrefor GenomicRegulation form routes —China, unlikeIndia, startedoff 80 favourable initialconditions —evenin1970, 19 197 19 1970 1995 1995 1965 196 201 201 201 201 1985 1985 1990 1990 19 1960 2010 2010 1980 19 2005 2005 2000 with reforms in the agriculture sector —have 2000 China had asignificantedgeoverIndia be it Vulnerability to coronavirus infection, compared to humans. Based ledtodifferent economic trajectories forthe World Bank national accountsdata, and OECD National Accountsdatafiles health, education, moreegalitarian access to on the binding affinity of each species’ ACE2 receptors with SARS- twocountries. land,and growth of thepowersector.And that CoV-2 spikeprotein. Source: Centrefor Genomic Regulation explains “why, despitethe private and eco- What arethe reasons forthe farmer economic aspects. made it morecompetitive.Besides, prosper- nomic restrictions imposed on the Chinese protests in India? ity in agriculture favoured thedevelopment rural population, the countrycould achieve a REPORTS AT various stages during the elling to test this. Theyalso compared There aretwo aspects to the current im- Could things have been different? of adynamic rural non-farm (RNF) sector,re- sustainedgrowth even before the reforms”. pandemichaveshown that domestic the “codon adaptation index” -which passe. One iswhether thesereforms will ben- The Economic and Political Weeklypa- garded as one of the main causes forrapid cats, as well as lions and tigers, can be isameasureofhow efficientlythevirus efit farmers or not. This is aquestion of eco- per of 2008 mentionedearlier —titled‘The povertyreduction in China as it providedad- What arethe takeaways forIndia? infected with the novelcoronavirus. replicates afterenteringthe cell. nomics. The government’s argument is that Dragon and TheElephant: Learning from ditional sources of income outsidefarming,” Seen in thisperspective,the whole issue Newresearch has providedevidence Theyfound that the mostvulnera- opening up the farm sector to marketforces agricultural and rural reforms in China and the authors write. of minimum supportprices (MSPs) is essen- forwhat makes petcatsvulnerable, ble species next to humansare ferrets, will notonlyreduce the stress on itsfinances India’ —byShenggen Fanand Ashok Gulati “The rapid development of the RNF sec- tiallyabout flawedincentives. addingto thefindingsof previousstud- followedbycats,civetsanddogs.These butalsohelpfarmersby makingfarmingmore (both associated with the International Food toralso encouraged the governmenttoex- Notwithstanding the economic logic that ies—and the general un- species tickedbothboxes remunerative.Farmers argue that interaction Policy ResearchInstitute at that time) is pandthe scope of policy changes and put greater playoffreemarkets willimproveout- derstanding—thatfelines —bindingaffinity and withprivate playerswillruinthemfinancially. quiteinstructive. pressureonthe urban economytoreform as comes forfarmers, it is unreasonable to ex- aresusceptible because colon adaptation index. The second aspectismorepolitical and “Despitesimilar trends in the growth well, sincenon-farm enterprisesinrural ar- pectfarmersofPunjabandHaryanato give up their cellular structurefa- BIGCATS: Beforethe relates to howthe concernedlawswereleg- rates, the twocountries have takendifferent eas had become morecompetitive than the on the safetyofMSPs overnight. cilitatescoronavirusinfec- BarcelonaZoolions,seven islated.The government says it has gone reform paths; China startedoff with reforms state-ownedenterprises(SOEs). Reforms of What the government could have done tion. The latestresearch tigersandlionshadtested through the required duediligence before in the agriculturesector and in rural areas, the SOEs,inturn,triggered macroeconomic is to build up the case formarketsground up comesfromtheCentrefor positive at New York's turning itsideas intolaws. Farmers, on the while India startedbyliberalising and reform- reforms, opening up the economyfurther,” andthenallowed farmers the time to adjust Genomic Regulation PAPER Bronx Zoo earlier.Does other hand, stridentlycriticise the lackofde- ing the manufacturing sector.These differ- theywrite. to marketforces. It is also noteworthy that (CRG) headquarteredin the reasonwhy domestic batebeforethe laws enacted. ences have ledtodifferent growth ratesand, Between1978and2002,therate of growth severalother policy choices by the govern- Barcelona —incidentally CLIP cats arevulnerablealso The firstone indicatesadeep-seated mis- moreimportantly, differentrates of poverty inagriculturenearly doubledcomparedto the ment -- providingproduction linked incen- the same city wherefour applytobig cats? trustinthe wayamarket economy functions. reduction,” theywriteatthe startofthe paper. 1966-1977period, and this wasthe main rea- tivestothe manufacturing sector,import zoolions were found pos- NEWRESEARCH “Wehavenot looked Amarket economy essentially refers to asys- son whypoverty in China came down from bans, higher importduties,not joining the itive forcoronavirus last at the genome of big fe- temwherethepricingandsupplyofgoodsand Howdid it helpthatreforms in China 33%ofthe population in 1978 to 3% in 2001. Regional Comprehensive Economic week.The paper is publishedinthe lines,”CRG Director Luis Serrano, sen- servicesarepredominantlydeterminedbythe startedwith the farm sector? In starkcontrast, the twoauthors found Partnership (RCEP) trade pact, goingslowon journal PLOS ComputationalBiology. ior author of the study,said by email, free andvoluntary interactionofpeople and “By making agriculturethe starting point that in India, the mostrapid povertyreduc- the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code imple- THE MECHANISM: The coron- “but Iassumedthat sincecatscan be firmsinthe marketplace. of market-oriented reforms, asector which tion occurredfromthe late1960s to the late mentation —are essentially about shielding avirusinitiatesinfectionusingthespike infected,thereisabig chance that li- The second one reflectsadeepening dis- gave majority of the peopletheir livelihood, 1980s. This was, however, notbecause of re- constituentsfrommarketforces. protein on itssurface. On the surfaceof ons and tigers will as well, since they trustinthewaythegovernmentisfunctioning. Chinacould ensureawidespread distribu- forms,butratherdueto strongpolicysupport Datashows that the bulk of farm produce thehumancellareproteinscalledACE2 will be very close in sequence.” As it turns out, both strains of suspicions tion of gains and build consensus and polit- to agriculture. wastradedprivately even before these laws receptors.Thespikeproteinbindswith PREVIOUSFINDINGS: Earlier this areintertwinedand that is what makes the ical supportfor the continuation of reforms. “India still continueswith statefood pro- came into force. The keyconcern forIndia theACE2receptor, theninvadesthecell year,alargerstudyhad compared the current deadlockaquestion of political econ- Reform of incentivesresulted in greater re- curement and distribution, mainly because shouldbethecreationof incentivesand insti- and goes on to replicate. The same vulnerability of over 400studies (The omyand notjusteconomics. That is whyit turns to thefarmers and in moreefficient re- it is seen as affirmative action forovertwo- tutions foramarket economytofunctionbe- mechanism takesplace in coronavirus Indian Express,September 1). It was is reasonabletoexpect that the eventual so- source allocation, whichinturn strength- thirds of the population, including the poor- cause therein lies the onlysustainable solu- infection of other species, too. basedonananalysis of amino acids in lution would likelyhavebothpolitical and enedthe domestic production base and est, who aredependentonagricultureand tion to allaying deep-setsuspicions. WHAT'S NEW: The newresearch the ACE2 receptor. That one found cats looksattheACE2receptorsof 10 differ- and Siberian tigers at medium risk, entspeciesandcomparestheiraffinity behind humans, some other primate forbindingwiththevirusspikeprotein. species,and dolphins. The researchers usedcomputer mod- KABIRFIRAQUE What’s driving civic movement in Cuba

Thecollective beganatatime when many who were inside, claiming that one of the International. INDIA ACTIVE CASES 352,586 OMMARATHE Cubansweregetting access to the Internetfor protesting members, ajournalist,had broken In many countries,membersofthe Cuban NEWDELHI,DECEMBER14 the firsttime in acountrywherethe govern- Covid-19protocols. These arreststoo were diasporaare holding rallies supporting MSI. ment controls all modes of communication. recordedoncell phones and postedtosocial Facedwithpublicanger,the Cuban gov- 420,000 ACAMPAIGNby artists andactivistsdemand- Thishappenedthankstoa2015 dealbetween media networks.For an hour afterthe raid, ernmentreleasedaprominentpolitical dissi- ing greater freedom of expression in Cuba, a Cuba and the US, one provision of whichwas Facebook,YouTubeand Instagram went down dent, Silverio Portal Contreras, on December countrywhere an authoritarian communist that the Cubanregime shouldallowits peo- all overthe country, as per The Economist. 1. However, it continuestoderide the MSI,call- regime has been ruling foroversix decades, plegreaterInternetfreedoms in exchangefor Aday later,inarare showofdefiance, ing it an agent of “Yankee imperialism”. 409,689 352,586 has been earninginternational attention. opening bilateral relations. around 300protesters,includingMSI support- Twoyearsafteritbeganasaprotest against When the MSI demonstrated outside ersas wellasactivistsfromothermovements, Has greater access to Internetinfluenced 370,000 statecensorship of artistic works, the Cuba’sparliamentagainstDecree349,thegov- demonstrated outside the CultureMinistry, recent activism? Movimiento San Isidro, or the San Isidro ernment,usuallyswiftincrushinganydissent, demanding dialogue with the Vice-Minister, Since December 2018,when Cuba firstal- Movement (MSI), has become aplatform for agreedtosuspendenforcementof thedecree. who subsequentlymet with them forfive lowedaccess to the webonmobile phones, Cubandissidentswithinandoutsidethecoun- hours, surroundedbysecurity forces. itsuse has become morewidespread. The LAST 10 DAYS trytospeak outagainstgovernmentexcesses. Whyare artists protesting again? New York Times reportedthat about two- Dec 4Dec 13 Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz-Canel has It wastriggeredby the arrest of amember Howhas the international community thirds of the population nowenjoys some kind 320,000 brandedthe movement “an imperialistreal- of the MSI, Afro-Cuban rapper Denis Solís, on responded? of Internetaccess, giving them the chance to ity show to destroy ouridentity&subjugate November 9. He livestreamedthe arrest on Days afterSolís’sarrest,USSecretaryofState rallyaround causes using social media. Note:The Dec 13 figureinthisgraph is based on thegovernment updateonDec 14 us again” and calledfor it to be “crushed”. Facebook from his mobile phone, recording a MikePompeo expressedsupportfor the MSI, Local activismthathas sprungupdue to policeofficerentering hishousewithout per- saying,“We urge theCubanregimeto ceaseha- this has already forced the government to What is MovimientoSan Isidro? mission. Twodays later,hewas sentencedto rassment of San IsidroMovement protestors budgeonacouple of occasions. In 2018,the INDIA TOTAL CASES WORLD TOTAL CASES It startedinSeptember 2018,when the eight months in prison for“contempt”, and and to release musician Denis Solís, who was regime had to ease rulesthat would have re- 9,884,100 72,417,335 Cuban government sought to enforceDecree wassent to amaximum-security facility out- unjustlysentencedtoeightmonths in prison. strictedentrepreneursto onelineof business, 349, alaw that would have givenpowers to side Havana, whereheremains incarcerated. Freedom of expression is ahuman right. The aftermembers of the tourism sector threat- Source:MinistryofHealth&family Source:JohnsHopkinsUniversity, the CultureMinistrytorestrictcultural activ- MSI members beganahunger-and-thirst United States stands with Cuba’s people.” enedastrike. In 2019,after authoritiestriedto Welfare,updatedat11pmonDec14 updatedat11pmonDec14 ity that it did notapprove. In protest,artists, strike, andlockedthemselvesinsidetheirSan Afterthe November 26 crackdown,the clampdownonaprivate intranetusedby poets,journalistsand activists gatheredinSan Isidroheadquarters.The strikecontinuedun- Netherlands and the CzechRepublic voiced gamers, calledSNet, dozens gathered in Isidro, aBlack-majority locality that is partof til November 26, whengovernment agents concern forhuman rightsinCuba, as did var- protest. ThegovernmentallowedSNettocon- theOld Havana UNESCOWorld HeritageSite. brokedownthe door and arrested 14 people ious activistrightsgroups, suchasAmnesty tinue, albeit under surveillance. JohnleCarré’slegacy:spieswhowerehumanratherthanglamorous

ance giveslittle clue to hissharp intelligence Schoolboy (1977), APerfect Spy (1986), The directed TheSpy Who Came in from theCold PAROMITACHAKRABARTI and emotional depth. WhileSmileyinves- Tailor of Panama (1996)and The Constant (1965), featuring RichardBurton; The Looking NEWDELHI,DECEMBER14 tigates what appears to be acase of suicide Gardener (2001). In acareer that spanned Glass War (1970), directed by Frank Pierson and the murder of aschoolboyrespectively John le nearly 50 years and 25 books, le Carré’s later andwith AnthonyHopkins,Christopher ASHORT, pudgy,unkempt spyinthe lead in the firsttwo novels, it is with le Carré’s Carré, novelsbecamemorepolitical,offeringveiled Jones and Ralph Richardson in the cast; The might notsound likethe best advertise- thirdand mostwell-known novel, The Spy authorof commentaryonthefalloutsoftheuseof force LittleDrummerGirl (1984),byGeorgeRoy Hill, ment foranespionagenovel, but British who Came in from theCold (1963),that the TheSpy Who to combat insurgency and terrorism, by the and featuring Diane Keaton; Fernando writer John le Carré,who revolutionised the novels move intoanew direction. Came in US and the UK in particular.His bookswere Meirelles's The Constant Gardener (2005),fea- genre, knewwhat he wassigning his read- FollowingWorldWarII,uneasypeacehad from the oftensituated in troubled conflict zones, in- turing Ralph Fiennes; and Tinker Tailor Soldier ers up forwhen he introducedGeorge markedrelationsbetween the US and the Cold,diedon cluding in Chechnya,Rwanda and Israel- Spy (2011), directed by Tomas Alfredson. Smileytothem —adeep dive intothe moral thenSovietUnion,andtheirallies.Espionage Saturday. Palestine.HislastnovelwasAgentRunningin Although he wroteseveral semi-autobi- ambivalence that characterises the world and covert propaganda playedabig role in AP/File the Field,published in October lastyear. ographical accounts in his books,leCarré of secret service. Le Carré, 89, diedon foreignaffairsuntilthefallof theUSSRin1991. wasdismissive of the idea of memoirs and December 12 in Cornwall, UK. CornwellhadhimselfservedintheBritishfor- Resoluteagainstawards autobiographies. “I’m horrifiedatthe notion eignoffice,inMI5 and MI6. In fact, it wasthe JamesBondnovels.LeCarré’sspies—Smiley, pressedtheir emotions to carry out the vi- Throughout his career,leCarré refusedto of autobiography, becauseI’m already con- Early life&works objection of the ForeignOffice to lethim use Alec Leamas who fronts The Spy Who Came sion of governmentsfor what theybelieved allowhis bookstobesentforawards. He was structing the lies Iamgoing to tell,”hefa- Born on October 19,1931, as David John his name forhis writing career,that ledhim infromtheCold,andtheotherswhofollowed would be forthe greater good but often equallyresoluteabout notaccepting state mouslysaid in an interview. But his fictional MooreCornwell, the writer had an unsta- to adoptthe pseudonym John le Carré. —werethe antithesis of Bond, acharacter le turnedout to be notquite—that upended honours. But his contribution, especiallyhis universe offers aglimpse of the truths that ble childhood, especiallyhis father’s fre- Carré termedas“an internationalgangster”. establishedhierarchies and came to be the humanisation of the espionagesystem, did mattered.InanessayinMarch 1992, le Carré quent run-ins with the law, whichgavehim Spies minus the glamour His men spent their livesfightingloneliness, benchmarkofagood espionagenovel. notgounrecognisedbyhis readers or his wrote, "All fictional characters areamal- auniqueunderstandingofhuman nature In The Spy Who Came in from theCold,le bureaucratic redtape and moral dilemmas While ablurb from novelistGraham peers. British novelistPhilip Roth declared gams; all spring from muchdeeper wells and itsfailings. Carréfirstcreatedamurkymoraluniverseof justasany other person, but oftenwith Greenetermedhis1963bookas“thebestspy his autobiographical novel, APerfect Spy,fea- than their apparent counterpartsinlife. All, He wrotehis firstnovel Call forthe Dead British secret service operations that wasfar deeper personaland politicalfallouts. storyIhave ever read”, The Spy Who Came in turing adouble agent, Magnus Pym, as the in the end, likethe poor suspects in my files, in 1961,followedbyAMurder of Quality from the prevalent notion of spying as an act It wasthis worldthathecreated —peo- from theCold wasonlythe starting point of le “bestEnglishnovelsincethe war”. Cinematic arerefitted and remoulded in thewriter's (1962). Here, he introducedSmiley, an un- of glamorousdaredevilryintheserviceof the pledby men who did notalwaysunderstand Carré’s manysuccesses, that include Tinker translations of his novels acquiredidentities imagination,untiltheyare probablycloserto prepossessing man, whose drab appear- nation—anideaestablishedbyIanFleming’s the implications of their actions, who sup- Tailor Soldier Spy (1974), The Honourable of theirown. These include the Martin Ritt- his ownnaturethantoanybody else's."

Ahmedabad WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THEINDIANEXPRESS,TUESDAY,DECEMBER15,2020 16 THE WORLD

TOPOFTHE TREASURY,COMMERCE DEPTSTARGETED WORLD Londontobeonhighestalertasnew Russian hackers coronavirusvariantidentifiedinUK broke into federal agencies: US officials Newvariant found in over 1,000Covid-19cases, likelyassociated with faster spread: minister

ADITIKHANNA DAVIDESANGER JournalistRuhollah LONDON,DECEMBER14 DECEMBER14 Zam wasexecuted by Iran lastweek BRITAIN’S CAPITAL will be THE TRUMP administration ac- placedunder the highestlevel of knowledgedonSundaythathack- coronavirus restrictions from ers acting on behalf of aforeign EUROPE Wednesdayamid a“very sharp” government —almost certainlya France,others spikeinCovid-19cases in Russianintelligence agency, ac- The US Commerce Dept London and itssurrounding ar- Ambrose Dlamini cording to federal and private ex- acknowledgedthat one of withdrawfrom eas and anew variant of coron- perts —broke into arangeofkey itsagencies had been avirus being identifiedasre- government networks,including targeted,withoutnaming it Iranforumover sponsible forthe “fasterspread”, EswatiniPMdies in the Treasuryand Commerce the UK government announced departments,andhadfreeaccess execution of coronavirus ED in Parliament on Monday. to theiremail systems. 2014-15 Paris:FrancesaidonSunday Health SecretaryMatt Johannesburg:The govern- Officials said ahuntwas on to hacklikely itsambassador to Iran Hancocktold MPsinthe House ment of Eswatini has an- determine if other parts of the PLAIN E ● settone would notparticipateinan of Commonsthat“swiftand de- nouncedonTwitterthatPrime governmenthadbeenvictimised EX online business forum in cisive action” wasneededasthe MinisterAmbrose Dlaminihas by what looked to be one of the Tehran this week,ina doubling rate of thedeadlyvirus diedafter testing positive for mostsophisticated,and perhaps IF THE involvementofRussia growing rowbetween Iran has hit justseven days in many Covid-19. The 52-year-old amongthelargest,attacksonfed- behind the latesthacking inci- andEuropean nations over of these areas. Dlamini, who had beenprime eralsystemsinthepastfiveyears. dentisconfirmed,itwouldbe theexecutionof Iraniandis- Tier-3restrictions,thehighest ministersince 2018,an- Severalsaidaseriesof nationalse- the biggestRussian theftofUS sident journalistRuhollah levelinEngland’s three-tier sys- nouncedinNovemberthat he curity-relatedagencies were also government datasincea Zam. Otherenvoys from tem, meananear-complete lock- had tested positive forthe SandraLindsay, anurse at Long IslandJewish MedicalCenter,isinoculatedwith the vaccine affected,though it wasnot clear months-long effort in 2014 Germany, Austriaand Italy down, with people allowedto virus and wasbeing treatedat in NewYorkonMonday. Reuters whether the systems contained and 2015 during whichoper- were also cancelling their meetthose theydonot live with ahospital in neighbouring highlyclassifiedmaterial. ativesinMoscow gainedac- involvementinthe Dec. 14 only in outdoor settings and hos- South Africa.The Eswatinigov- In public, the Trumpadmin- cess to email systems at the event, the Frenchforeign pitalityvenuesdirectedto shutex- ernment said he diedon istration saidlittle aboutthe hack, White House. At thetime, ministrysaidonTwitter.At ceptfortakeawaysanddeliveries. Sundayafternoon. AP US health care workersget whichsuggestedthat while the President Obamadecidednot the foot of itstweet,the “A newvariant of coronavirus government wasworried about to publicly statethat Russia ministryran the hashtag has been identifiedinthe UK, Singapore clears Russian intervention in the 2020 wasresponsible forthe #nobusinessasusual. In a whichmay be associated with election, key agenciesworkingfor breach. Many, including from separatestatement,organ- Pfizer vaccine first shotsofCovid vaccine the faster spread in the southeast the administration —and unre- his ownadministration, now isersofthe Europe-Iran of England,” saidHancock. Singapore:Singaporehas ap- latedto theelection—wereactu- believe that wasamistake business forum said “Wedonot knowtheextentto provedPfizer-BioNTech’snovel on Mondaymorning, shortlybe- thorisationof thePfizer-BioNTech allythe subject of asophisticated and that the lackofaction theywerepostponing the which this is becauseofthe new coronavirus vaccine and ex- THENEWYORKTIMES fore theshotwas giventoSandra vaccineonFridaynight,andasthe attackthat theywereunaware of takenthen emboldened the event. REUTERS variantbutnomatteritscause,we pectstoreceive shotsbyyear- DECEMBER14 Lindsay, acriticalcarenurseatthe US coronavirus death toll ap- until recent weeks. Russianstohackthe have to take swiftanddecisive ac- end, Prime MinisterLee Hsien centre.Stateofficialssaidtheshot proaches 300,000,with asteady The motive forthe attackon Democratic National tion whichunfortunatelyisab- Loong said on Monday, adding THE FIRSTshots were givenin wasthefirsttobegivenoutsideof surge in newcases daily. the Treasuryand Commerce de- Committee duringthe 2016 solutelyessentialtocontrol this that he plannedtobeamong the American mass vaccination avaccinetrialintheUnitedStates. On Sunday night, Trumpsaid partmentsremains elusive,two election campaign, and po- WESTASIA deadlydiseasewhilethevaccineis theearly vaccinerecipients.The campaign on Mondaymorning, Lindsay, who has treated pa- he would delayaplan forsenior people familiar with the matter tentially thenewly discovered Explosives-laden rolledout. We must act nowto city-state of 5.7 millionpeople opening anew chapterinthe tientsthroughout the pandemic, White Housestaffmemberstore- said.Onegovernmentofficialsaid breachonfederal agencies. shiftthecurve,becausewhenthe expectstohaveenoughvac- battle againstthe coronavirus said that she hopedher public ceive the coronavirus vaccine in it wastoo soon to tell howdam- boathitsfuelship virus movesquickly, we must cines foreveryone by thethird pandemic, whichhas killed vaccination would instill confi- the comingdays. agingtherecentattackswere and move quicklytoo,”hesaid. quarterof2021andwillmakeit morepeople in the United States dence that the shots were safe. The shiftcame justhours af- howmuchmaterial waslost. At thetime,theNSArefusedto atSaudiport The ministersaid that ex- free forcitizens and long-term than in anyother country. “I have seen thealternative, ter The NewYorkTimes reported The revelation came lessthan give further details of what SAUDI ARABIA said on perts had identifiedover1,000 residents, Lee said. REUTERS Shortlyafter 9am(local time) and do notwant it foryou,”she that the administration wasrap- aweek afterthe National prompted the urgent warning. Monday that afuel trans- cases with the variant, predom- on Monday, thefirstknown clin- said. “I feel like healing is com- idlyplanning to distributethe Security Agency,whichisre- Shortlyafterward,FireEye,alead- portship anchored at a inantlyinthe south of England. ically authorisedvaccination ing. Ihope this marks the begin- vaccine to itsstaff.“People work- sponsible forbothbreaking into ing cybersecurity firm, an- Jeddah terminal wasat- He addedthat the World other 67 local authorities getting took place in LongIsland Jewish ning of the end of averypainful ing in the WhiteHouse should re- foreign computer networks and nouncedthathackersworkingfor tacked by an explosive- HealthOrganisation had been community testing this week to Medical Center in Queens. The time in our history.” ceive the vaccine somewhat later defending the federal govern- astate had stolensome of its ladenboat, aftershipping notifiedabout the variant and helpareas “move down tiers” pandemic has scarredNew York US President Trumpposted in the program, unless specifically ment’s mostsensitive national prizedtools forfinding vulnera- firm Hafnia said that one of that it wasunlikely to cause a and return closer to normal life. Stateprofoundly, leavingmore on Twitter:“FirstVaccine necessary,”Trumptweeted.“I security systems, issuedawarn- bilities in itsclients’systems, in- itsoil tankers, the BW moreserious disease than other In reference to the Pfizer- than 35,000people dead and se- Administered.Congratulations have asked thatthis adjustment ing that “Russian state-spon- cludingthefederalgovernment’s. Rhine, had been hit by an variantsofthe coronavirus. BioNTechvaccinerolloutcurrently verely weakening the economy. USA! Congratulations WORLD!” be made.Iam notscheduled to sored actors” were exploiting Thatinvestigationalsopointedto- unidentified“external He stressedthat mobile test- underway, Hancocksaid that “I believe this is theweapon The vaccinations startedafter take thevaccine, but lookforward flaws in asystemthat is broadly ward SVR, one of Russia’s leading source”. ASaudi energy ing and communitytesting were thankstoscience “help is on its that will end the war,”Governor the Food and Drug to doing so at the appropriate usedinthe federal government. intelligence agencies. NYT ministryspokesman, in a also being expanded, withan- way”, but “this isn’t over yet”. PTI Andrew Cuomo said at the event Administration’s emergency au- time. Thank you!” statement carriedonstate media, didnot mention the Report: Leak reveals China’s nameofthe vessel oriden- Britain to ease tify who wasbehind the at- Electors meet to choose Biden as next president tack.Hafnia said therewas rules on blood ruling party members work an explosion and afire usual this year because President whilethe BW Rhine was MARKSHERMAN Donald Trumphas refusedto donations by gay, in global firms, consulates dischargingatJeddah port. WASHINGTON,DECEMBER14 concede the election and contin- Theship’screw putoutthe ues to makeunsupported alle- bisexual men The leak has exposeddetails fire andno-one wasin- PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS coast gationsoffraud. NATASHACHAKU of 1.95millionCPCmembersafter jured,itsaid. REUTERS to coastare casting the votesthat Therehavebeenconcerns MELBOURNE,DECEMBER14 being extracted from aShanghai will formallychooseJoe Bidenas aboutsafetyfor the electors, vir- LIVIAALBECK-RIPKA server by whistleblowers. JAPAN the nation’s next president. tually unheardofinprevious DECEMBER14 AMID SIMMERING tensionsbe- An investigation by The In Nevada, the firstbattle- years. In Michigan, lawmakers tween Canberra andBeijing, the Australian has foundthatat Spaceagency ground statewon by Biden that from both parties reportedre- BRITAIN ANNOUNCED on Australian media on Mondayre- least10consulates in the east- confirmsasteroid votedonMonday, Democratic ceiving threats. Mondaythat it would loosen re- portedamajor dataleak con- ern Chinese metropolis electors gave Biden and Vice Legislative offices therewere strictions on blood donation by taining official records likeparty Shanghai have CPCmembers soilisincapsule President-elect Kamala Harris closedMondayoverthreatsof gayand bisexual men beginning position,birthdate,nationalID employedassenior political JAPAN’SSPACEagencysaid the state’s six electoral votes in a Members of Vermont’s Electoral Collegecasttheir votes. AP violence. The 16 electorswereto next year,ashiftinpolicy called number and ethnicity of nearly and government affairs special- Mondayithas confirmed session held via Zoombecause meetinthe Senatechamberina “landmark”bythe government twomillion members of the ists,clerks, economic advisers the presence of blacksoil of the coronavirus pandemic. ceremonyheadedbyand hailedbyactivists who have Communist PartyofChina (CPC) and executive assistants. samples inside acapsule Mondayisthe dayset by law District of Columbia to casttheir over whichVice President Mike Democratic Governor Gretchen longfought rules theydescribed who arepurportedlyliving and It has further revealed79,000 that the spacecraft forthe meeting of the Electoral ballots.The resultswillbesent to Pence will preside. Whitmer.Biden wonthe stateby as discriminatory. working across the world. branches, manyofthem inside Hayabusa2 brought back College. In reality,electors were Washington and talliedina The electors’ votes have 154,000votes, or 2.8 percentage The changewill take effect The dataleak obtainedbyThe companies, universities and from adistant asteroid last meeting in all 50 states and the January6jointsessionof Congress drawnmoreattention than points, over Trump. AP next summer afterthe recom- Australian newspaper has re- even government agencies. week.The pan-shaped mendations of ahealth commit- vealedhow theallegedCPCmem- The leak has allegedthat the capsule, 15 inches in diam- teethat said ablanket ban on sex- bers areemployedwith some of rulingCPC has infiltratedthe eter,was droppedby US sanctions Iran officials over ‘abducted’ FBI agent ually active gayorbisexual men the world’s biggestcorporations Australian, British and US con- Hayabusa2 from space donatingbloodshouldbelifted. intheareasof defence,banksand sulates in Shanghai. ontoaspotinasparsely TheTreasuryDepartmentsaid volvement in what theycalled The government acceptedthese pharmaceutical giants manufac- TheAustralian journalistSharri populated Australian MICHAELCROWLEY in astatementthat it wasimpos- Levinson’s abduction, but they recommendations. turingcoronavirus vaccines. Markson said it was“worthnot- deserton December6.It ar- DECEMBER14 ing sanctions on twoofficials in wouldnotprovidefurtherdetails. “Thislandmarkchangeto Among the companies iden- ingthat there’sno suggestion that rivedinJapan lastTuesday Robert Iran’sInterior Ministry, Levinson, who wouldbe72 blood donation is safeand it will tifiedashaving alleged CPC these members have committed forresearchthatwillhope- THE TRUMP administration an- Levinson Mohammad Baseri and Ahmad years old, disappeared under allowmanymorepeople, who members as their employees are espionage—but the concern is fullyprovide insightsinto nouncedsanctions on two Khazai,whoitsaidwere “involved mysterious circumstances off have previouslybeenexcludedby Boeing and Volkswagen, phar- over whether Australia or these the origins of the solar sys- Iranian officialsfor their involve- in the abduction,detentionand Iran’sKish IslandinMarch 2007. donorselectioncriteria,to take the maceutical giantsPfizer and companies knewofthe CCP temand lifeonEarth. AP ment in the 2007 disappearance the firsttime the US government probabledeath of Levinson”. US The Iranian government has opportunity to help save lives,” AstraZeneca, and financial insti- members and if so have anysteps and presumeddeath of the for- has officiallyimplicated Iran’s officials said theyhad obtained neveradmitted arole in his dis- Britain’s health secretary, Matt tutions including ANZ and HSBC, been takentoprotect their data mer FBI agent Robert Levinson, government in Levinson’s case. newinformationabout their in- appearance. NYT Hancock, said on Monday. NYT according to the reports. and people”. PTI

HIS COLD WAR NOVELS EXPLORED THE MORAL COMPROMISES OF AGENTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE IRON CURTAIN John le Carré, author whoturned the spy novel into high art, is dead at 89

whichGraham Greene called Ledbyhis greatestcreation, love,the lie thatisasortoftruth, 19,1931, hehadaragged,destabi- In his books, the Secret SARAHLYALL “the best spystory Ihaveever the plump, ill-dressed,unhappy, goodmenservingbadcausesand lizingchildhooddominatedby his Intelligence Service, otherwise LONDON,DECEMBER14 read”, the fictional model forthe brilliant, relentless George bad men servinggood.” father,Ronald, an amoral, flam- knownasMI6, wasthe “Circus”, modern British spywas Ian Smiley,leCarré’s spies arelonely, Some critics took le Carré’s boyant, silver-tonguedcon man. agents were “joes,” operations in- JOHN LE Carré, whoseexquis- Fleming’s JamesBond—suave, disillusionedmen whose work messagetobethat the twosys- The boys’mother,Olive (Glassey) volving seduction were “honey- itelynuanced, intricatelyplotted urbane, devotedtoqueen and is drivenbybudget troubles, bu- tems, East and West,weremoral Cornwell, walked out of the fam- traps” and agentsdeeplyembed- ColdWar thrillers elevatedthe country. With his impeccable reaucraticpowerplays and the equivalents,bothequallybad. ilyhouse and intothe arms of an- dedinside the enemy were spynovel to high artbypresent- talentfor getting out of trouble opaquemachinations of politi- But he did notbelieve that. other man whenDavid was5. “moles”, awordheiscredited ing both Western and Soviet while gettingwomen intobed, cians —men who areaslikelyto “Thereisabig difference in David went to Switzerland at with bringing intowide use if not spies as morallycompromised Bond fedthe myth of spying as a be betrayed by colleagues and working forthe West andwork- age16and enrolledatthe inventing it. cogsinarottensystemfullof glamorous, exciting romp. lovers as by the enemy. ing foratotalitarian state,”he University of Bern to study mod- In 2011,anew movie adap- treachery, betrayal and personal Le Carré —the pen name of Smileyhas acounterpartin told an interviewer,referring to ern languages. Therehewas re- tation of his Tinker,Tailor, tragedy, diedonSaturdayin David Cornwell —upendedthat the Russian masterspy Karla, his John le Carre wasthe penname of David Cornwell his ownworkasaspyinthe cruited by aBritish spyworking Soldier,Spy —the firstinthe Cornwall, England. He was89. notionwithbooksthatportrayed opposite in ideology but equal in 1950s and early ’60s. undercoverattheembassy,andso Karla trilogyand the accountof His death wasconfirmedon Britishintelligence operations as almostall else, an opponent he Le Carré refusedtoallowhis his lifeofspying began. Exceptfor Smiley’s painstakingunmask- Sunday by his literaryagency, cesspoolsofambiguity in which studies as intimatelyasalover ning denouement that is as subject is notspying,” Timothy books to be entered forliterary twoyearswhenhetaughtatEton, ing of aKim Philby-esqe Soviet the Curtis BrownGroup. right and wrong aretoo closeto studies his beloved. The end of much abouthuman frailty and GartonAsh wrote in The New prizes.Butmanycriticsconsidered England’s premier secondary mole working at the Circus — BeforeleCarré publishedhis call andinwhichitisrarelyobvi- Smiley’s People,the lastinaseries the deep loss that comes with Yorker in 1999. “It is the endlessly hisbooksliterature of thefirstrank. school,leCarré wasaspy of some brought renewedinterestinle bestselling 1963 novel TheSpy ouswhether the ends,evenifthe known as the Karla Trilogy, winning as it is about anything. deceptive maze of human rela- Born David John Moore kindfor16years,forbothMI6and Carré’s work and sent backlist Who Came in From the Cold, ends areclear,justifythe means. brings them together in astun- “Thematically, le Carré’s true tions:thebetrayalthatisakindof Cornwell in Poole, Dorset, on Oct. itsdomesticcounterpart, MI5. sales soaring. NYT

Ahmedabad WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

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Internationalmarket data till 1900IST PRE-BUDGET CONSULTATIONS NARASAPURA FACTORY VIOLENCE Apple to send extra teams to Divestment,fiscaldeficit,infrapush assessWistron unit damage featureinFMmeetingwithindustry Facility to remain shut until ‘detailedinvestigation’ over AASHISHARYAN NEWDELHI,DECEMBER14 the government’sfiscal position ingMSMEsandIIFCLforfinancing ENSECONOMICBUREAU as well as the policy approachto infrastructure. FOLLOWINGUNRESTat NEWDELHI,DECEMBER14 provide an impetus to theecon- Ficci suggestedthe Budget Wistron’s Narasapuraunit near omythat has been in technical re- mustprioritise growth-oriented Bengaluru, Apple said it will send FINANCE MINISTER Nirmala cession and recordedthe worst measures and fiscal considera- additional teams and auditors to Sitharaman heldher firstpre- contractionin April-Junequarter tions should be secondary, as the the factorytoassess the situation Budgetmeetingwithtopindustri- postthe economic lockdown. needfor further fiscalstimulus re- and extent of damage, and inves- alists on Mondayamid expecta- Contraction has since slowed mains.Itsuggestedascheme like tigatethe conditions that ledto tionsofthe government down with expectationsaposi- MGNREGAfor urbanpoor,higher the workers’outrage. presenting “growth-oriented tive growth in fourth quarter. interestsubvention on housing In response to queries sent by The Wistronfacility in Narasapura nearBengaluru. Reuters Budgetto boosteconomicactivity Along with Finance Minister, loans, and utilising aportion of The IndianExpress,the company recovering from effectsofCovid.” Finance SecretaryAjayBhushan foreign exchangereserves($15or said it had sent teams on the The meetings with industry Pandey, Departmentof Economic $20 billion) forsetting up afund groundandwaslaunchinganim- chamberswillbefollowedbytwo- Affairs SecretaryTarun Bajaj,Chief forlending subsidisedlending to mediate“detailedinvestigationat dayconsultationswithstakehold- Finance MinisterNirmalaSitharaman and other officials during Economic Advisor Krishna- Indian industryataround 6per Wistron’s Narasapura facility”. How worker issues ers of financial sector and capital ameeting with industrialists in New Delhi on Monday. PTI murthySubramanian and other cent fornew projects. “Appleisdedicated to ensur- markets. Aggressivedisinvest- senior officials attendedthe It said the government can ingeveryoneinoursupplychainis ment of state-ownedcompanies, meeting via avideoconference. raise revenuesbypledgingPSU treated with dignity andrespect. led to the violence government reducing itsstake in growth, and alongsidelook at fis- ment should bring down itsstake Sources said therewerelot of shares to theRBI, by issuing long- We have teams on the ground mostpublic sector banks(PSBs) cal management from a3-year inPSBsto below50percentviathe suggestions forsteppingupinfra- term pandemic bonds and ...Weare alsodispatchingaddi- hasbeenproducingiPhoneSE below50per cent, managing the perspective.Aggressive disinvest- market routeoverthe next 12 structureinvestmentsignificantly through aggressive divestment tionalAppleteam members and AASHISHARYAN models since 2017.The flag- fiscal deficit over athree-year pe- ment and monetisation of assets months, exceptfor 3-4large PSBs asithasamassive multipliereffect. and monetisation of non-core auditors to thefacility. Our teams NEWDELHI,DECEMBER14 shipiPhones producedatthe riod were among the suggestion can augment government rev- suchasState Bankof India,Bankof Fundingforthiscouldbefacilitated state-ownedassets. areinclose touchwith the local Narasapura andPeenya units presented by Confederationof enuesatatimewhentaxrevenues Baroda and Union Bank. through aDevelopment Finance Suggesting needfor conver- authoritiesandwe’reofferingour APPLE’SCONTRACTmanufac- arealso exportedtoother IndianIndustry(CII)to theFinance have fallen sharply,”said Uday IndustrychambersCIIandFicci Institution(DFI).CIIsuggestedthat gence in GSTrates, Ficci said: “... fullsupporttotheirinvestigation,” turerWistronIndiahasseena countries across the world. Ministry. Itsuggestedmeasuresto Kotak, president, CII. The Budget alsosuggestedtheneedtostepup DFIs could be establishedonthe The government should consider the companysaidinastatement. riseinits disagreementwitha reduce taxlitigationand pitched proposalsshouldalsoaddresstwo expenditureonhealthcareandin- lines of KfW Germany, Brazil converging the existing band of The Narasapurafacility,lo- sectionof itscontractworkers Whydid the violence start? fortheneedto extendtheVivadse criticalareasof boostingprivate in- frastructuresectors significantly Development Bank,and Korea GSTrates to three, in line with in- cated on theoutskirtsof over alleged non-payment of The violence eruptedon Vishwas tax disputeresolution vestmentsand providing support forasustainablegrowthtrajectory. DevelopmentBank,andthiscould ternational standards. This will Bengaluru,islikelytoremainshut salariesand dues. Saturdaywhensomecontrac- scheme till December 31,2021. foremploymentgeneration. The Union Budget 2021-22, be achievedbyinfusing equity in helpresolveinterpretationissues, until adetailedinvestigation by tualworkersallegednon-pay- “CII has suggestedthat the Stressingtheneedforfinancialsec- whichwill be presented on NABARDforfinancingagriculture reduce complexity and probabil- the stateauthorities as well as What does the ment of regular and Budget proposals shouldfocus on torreforms,Kotaksaidthegovern- February1, will provide clarityon andrural sector,SIDBI forfinanc- ityofdisputes.” Appleiscompleted,sourcesclose Wistronfacility overtime dues. to thedevelopment said. Apple is makefor Apple? The said workers alsolikelytoinvestigate the com- Likeother con- startedpeltingstones plaintsofnon-paymentof duesby tract manufacturers as well as damaged Nov:Wholesale,retail COVID-19 IMPACT OVERALL INCREASE Wistronand whether the com- of Apple, Wistronis some vehicles inside IN GROSS LOANS panyhadviolatedanylabourlaws also involved in pro- the factory. ‘Higher credit loss, provision NBFCs HFCs of the state, sources added. ductionof itsflagshipiPhones. Additionally, according to re- inflation divergeagain 7.63% 2.44% “It will be difficult to put a ThefactoryinNarasapuranear ports,the iPhones manufac- timelineof whetheritwillremain Bengaluru is anew unit from tured at the unit and kept for Wholesale inflation at 9-monthhigh coverage rateslikelyfor NBFCs’ shutfor twodays or one week or whereithadstartedassembly exportwerelootedbywork- of 1.55%; retail inflation eases to 6.93% Hit by thecoronavirus pandemic, non-banking financial whatever,” an Apple executive of the iPhone SE (2020). The ers.WhileWistron said that it companies (NBFCs) areexpecting higher credit loss as well said, asking nottobenamed. originaliPhoneSEwasthefirst had followedall thelawsand whileWPI inflationwas 1.48 per as an increase in provision coverage rates, an EY study said Wistron, acontract manufac- iPhoneto bemadeinIndiaand wassupporting the authori- ENSECONOMICBUREAU cent in October. turer forApple, had startedthe nowthereare fourmodelsbe- ties in their investigation, NEWDELHI,DECEMBER14 The divergence between the RiseinECL NBFCs,including14 NarasapurafacilityinJulyatacost ing producedhere, including Apple said it had “immedi- foodcomponentof wholesaleand 33%allowanceofNBFCs 42housingfinance of Rs 3,000 crore. While the the iPhone11. atelylaunchedadetailedin- RETAIL AND wholesale inflation retailinflationroseto afive-month asonMarch31,2020,against companies(HFCs),whose ECLallowance:Arisewasseen Narasapuraunit has about 2,000 Beside this 43-acre plant, vestigation at Wistron’s continuedtodiverge inNovember. high of 5.5 per cent in November. yearendedMarch31,2019 standalonefinancial inexpectedcreditloss(ECL) regular employees working on Wistronhas another unit in Narasapurafacility”. Wholesaleprice-basedinflation Food items suchasprotein- statementsforFY20were allowanceonstage1andstage2 Apple’s phones and the rest are Peenya,locatedintheoutskirts Fullreport on rateroseto a9-monthhighof 1.55 richitems suchasegg and meat Overallrisein analysedfortheEYstudy assetsby56%,and25%inECL contractual,theoldPeenya unitin of Bengaluru, from whereit www.indianexpress.com per cent in November on costlier witnessedhigh inflation at the 26%provisioncoverage ‘Expectedcreditlossanalysis allowanceonstage3assets employs around 3,500people. manufactureditems,evenasfood wholesale level. At retail level, ofNBFCsasonMarch31, fornon-bankingfinancial Apple also has Foxconn and pricescooled,whileretailinflation however, food inflation easedto 2020,asagainstatFY20-end companies’ Source: EY/PTI Pegatron as major contract man- Rs 7,000croreoverthe next three Pegatron Technology India easedto6.93 per cent on softer 9.43percentinNovemberfrom11 ufacturers formaking of flagship years to expandthe existing unit. Private.PegatronCorporationwill food prices, but remainedabove per cent amonth ago. In WPI, in- Why is it important: NBFCs analyse co-relation of awide range of factors with their default iPhones, iPads and other devices. Apple’s other contract manu- put in the funds raisedfully medium-term target of the RBI. flation in non-food articles was patterns and shortlist the factors relevant to their respective businesses to take into account Foxconn has aunit at facturerPegatronCorporation’s through itsinternal resources as Retail inflation basedonthe higher at 8.43per cent in Novem- the impact of forward-looking information. ECL estimates are then adjusted to consider the Sriperumbudur,intheoutskirtsof board of directors had lastmonth partofits“longterminvestment”, Consumer Price Index(CPI) had ber, while in fuel and powerbas- impact of these short-listedfactors Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The com- approved an investment of Rs the companyhad said, without stood at 7.61 percent in October, ket it was(-) 9.87per cent. panyhas pledged to invest up to 1,099.8 croreinIndia via itsarm elaborating those plans. Jio says peers Ola to invest `2,400 cr to set up ‘Pushing India Wistron claims`437 cr in damages running ‘divisive to surpass campaign’ against theviolence. of production work at thefactory e-scooter factory in Tamil Nadu China in mobile EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE Threeof the police complaints premises since Saturday. it over farm stir BENGALURU,DECEMBER14 have been filedbyemployees of Prashanth TD,asenior execu- “We are excited to worldtosustainable mobility so- the firm itself, while another has tive in the administration depart- NewDelhi:RelianceJiohasalleged ENSECONOMICBUREAU announce our plans to set lutionsacross shared and owned manufacturing’ FOUR SEPARATE policecom- been filedbythe police over an ment at the WistronInfocomm that industry peers Bharti Airtel CHENNAI,DECEMBER14 up the world’s largest mobility,” Ola chairman and plaintshavebeen lodged by the attackonthem when the firstde- facility,statedinone of thecom- andVodafoneIdeaarerunning“vi- groupCEOBhavishAggarwalsaid. Kolar policeoverthe worker ram- ployment reachedthe factory. plaintsthat hundredsofcontrac- ciousand divisive campaign” RIDE-HAILINGPLATFORMOla scooter factory.” Olasaidtheplantwillhelpcut ENSECONOMICBUREAU pageonDecember 12 in the fac- Violence brokeout at the fac- tualworkersat thecompanyand against it and making preposter- said Mondayithas inked an BHAVISH AGGARWAL importdependenceinakeysector NEW DELHI,DECEMBER14 tory of WistronInfocomm torySaturdayfollowing adispute severalunidentifiedpersons ous claims that migrating Jio mo- agreement withthe Tamil Nadu likeelectricvehicles, boostman- Manufacturing India Pvt Ltdin over unpaidwagesbetweencon- were involvedin the violence and CHAIRMAN &GROUP CEO, OLA bile numbers to theirnetworks government to invest Rs 2,400 ufacturing, createjobs and im- INDIA AIMS to replace China as Narasapura, including one by tract workers and officials of the arson that brokeout at the factory would be an act of supportto croreforsettingupitsfirstelectric provetechnicalexpertiseinIndia. the manufacturing hub formo- companyofficials claiming dam- firm resultinginriotingand arson during ashiftchangearound farmers’ protests. scooterfactoryatHosur in the “Weare excited to announce Earlier this year,Ola had an- bile phones and other electronic ages to the tune of Rs 437crore in whichhas forced the suspension 6amonSaturday. The operator in alettertoTrai state. Upon completion, the fac- our plans to setupthe world’s nouncedplanstohireover2,000 equipment by attracting the hassoughtstrictactionagainstthe torywillcreatenearly 10,000jobs largest scooterfactory.Thisisasig- people forits electric business. It major global companies to the twocompanies. Bharti Airteland and will be the world’s largest nificant milestone forOla and a also ropedinGeneral Motorvet- country, Information Tech- Vodafone Idea have termedthe scootermanufacturing facility, proudmomentforourcountryas eran Jose Pinheirotohead its nology MinisterRaviShankar Unpaid bills lead to poor access complaintas“baseless” andre- withaninitialannualcapacityof 2 we rapidlyprogresstowardsreal- global manufacturing and opera- Prasad said on Monday. futed thecharges. PTI millionunits,itsaidinastatement. ising our vision of movingthe tions forits electricbusiness. FE Addressing awebinar at the annual general meeting of in- to electricity &outages: Study dustrybody FICCI, Prasad said BRIEFLY that the newproduction linked customers receivedonaverage Pakistanand South Korea, the re- Health data management policy gets nod incentive(PLI) schemes were ENSECONOMICBUREAU about 17 hours of electricity aday. searchers found this wasindica- pected to actasa“guidance doc- dataretention and archival pol- designedwithanaim to invite NEWDELHI,DECEMBER14 “Moststrikingly, areas that tive of abroader trend,” it added. BurgerKing ENSECONOMICBUREAU ument” across the National icy and anyotherpolicy which all big global players to India, paid moredidn’t necessarilyget The root of the problem may zooms131% NEWDELHI,DECEMBER14 DigitalHealthEcosystem maybeissuedfor theimplemen- and to those who were looking UNPAID ELECTRICITYbills have morepowerelectricity,”statedthe lie in the fact that society “too of- (NDHE), setting out the mini- tation of the NDHM,”statedthe to shifttheir production units ledtopooraccessto electricity,in- Energy Policy Instituteatthe ten”views electricityasarightthat Mumbai: BurgerKing’s THE HEALTH Ministry Monday mum standardfor dataprivacy National Health Authority,which out of China. cluding issues likewidespread Universityof Chicago(EPIC),which doesnotneedtobepaidfor, itsaid. shares, sold at Rs 60 apiece, approved apolicy under the protection. is implementing the scheme. “WewantedIndia to be- outages and rationing of power, conductedthe study in collabora- Theresearchersinvolvedinthe openedwithapremiumof92 National Digital Health Mission “Thispolicyistoberead along The policy wasapproved“af- comethe second largest mobile suggests anew study. tion with the London School of study have suggestedsolutions percentatRs115.35ondebut (NDHM) to protect and manage with, and notincontradiction to, teroveramonth”ofsoliciting manufacturer in the world. The study drawsupon micro- Economics and Political Science spanningremovalofsubsidies,in- andclosedatRs138.40,again personal dataofpatientsusing anyapplicable law, or anyinstru- feedbackfromvariousstake- NowIampushingIndia to sur- datafrompoor,rural or small- and Yale University. troducing consumer incentives of 130.67 per cent. the digitalservices of the scheme. ment having the effect of anylaw holders and the general public, pass China. That’smygoal and I towncommunitiesinBiharwhere “In combining this datawith and changes to thebill collection The healthdatamanagement together with the Blueprint, the according to NHACEO am very clearly definingit,” the link between payment and observationsfromseveralfieldex- process as well as technology- Aonbuys49% policy under the scheme is ex- informationsecuritypolicy, the Dr Indu Bhushan. Prasad said. supply had been severed. In 2017, perimentsincountries likeBrazil, basedreforms likesmartmeters. inMurthyfirm Mumbai:Aonhasre-entered Big Tech turns its lobbyistsloose on Europe, alarming regulators Indianinsuranceintermedi- arymarketbybuying49%in Narayana Murthy’s Anviti listing US officials againstthe eral and state officials accused $23 million, equal to what they captureall the spending on law Despitethe lobbying, the in- Insurance Brokers. ENS ADAMSATARIANO& European policy,according to a Facebook of illegallycrushing haddeclaredforallof 2019 andup firms,academicpartnershipsand dustryhas had fewmajor suc- MATINASTEVIS-GRIDNEFF copy reviewedbyThe NewYork competition. In October,the from€6.8millionin2014,accord- activitiesinindividual countries. cesses. European leaders like NEWYORK,DECEMBER14 Times and confirmedbyGoogle. Justice Departmentaccused ingto TransparencyInternational, While the spending is less Margrethe Vestager,who over- UdayShankar Formanyofficials in Brussels, Google of illegallyprotecting its agroup that monitors EU lobby- than in the United States, the sees digitalpolicy,havecalledthe Ficcipresident ALEAKED document joltedthe the document confirmedwhat monopolyoversearch. ing.Thespendingishelpingtode- growing influence industry is companies threatstodemocracy European Union capital of theyhad long suspected: Google In Europe, the companies are liveraccess; the companies and alarmingEuropeanUnionofficials and anticompetitive andhave NewDelhi: Media executive Brussels in October,laying out in and other American tech giants spending morethan ever,hiring their alliesreported hundredsof who believe that Big Tech is con- takenseveral steps to rein them UdayShankarhastakenover painstakingdetailplansbyGoogle areengaged in abroad lobbying formergovernmentofficials,well- meetings with officialsatthe tributing to aWashingtonization in. Amazon, Apple, Google and asFiccipresidentfor2020-21. to underminenewlegislationthat campaign to stop stronger regu- connectedlawfirmsandconsult- European Commission and the of Brussels, givingmoneyand Facebook either areunder an- could severely damage itsdigital lationagainstthem. ing firms.Theyfundeddozens of European Parliament. connections an upper hand over titrustinvestigationorhaveal- advertising business. AstheEuropeanUnionhasbe- thinktanksandtradeassociations, “Thebudgetsare reallyunri- the public interest. ready been penalizedbillions of GSTNlaunches “Academic allies” would raise comethegloballeaderintech reg- endowedacademic positions at valed—we’veneverseenthiskind Google, Amazon, Apple and dollars.Inrecentyears,theEUhas taxpayerfacility questions about the newrules. ulation,thesecompanieshave in- topuniversities across the conti- of moneybeingspent by compa- Facebook declinedtocomment. adoptedindustry-opposedlaws Googlewould attempt to erode creasingly focused on Brussels in nentandhelpedpublishindustry- niesdirectly,”saidMargaridaSilva, In public statements, all have ex- on issues including privacy and NewDelhi:GSTNetwork said supportwithin the European hopes of choking offevenstiffer Tech giants arefocusedonthe friendlyresearch by other firms. aresearcher at CorporateEurope pressedadesiretoworkwith online copyright. it has launched“communi- Commission to complicatethe rules before they spread. European Union in hopes of Inthefirsthalfof2020,Google, Observatory, agroup that tracks European officials, while voicing But the industrydoes not cationbetween taxpayer” policymaking process. And the Americanlawmakersandregula- chokingoff even stifferrules Facebook,Amazon, Apple and lobbyinginBrussels.Thetotalsare concerns that the proposed laws seem deterred,evenasitfaces featureonits portal. PTI companywouldtry to seeda tors have already become much before theyspread. Reuters Microsoftdeclared spending a probablymuchhigher,shenoted, could harm innovation and the what manybelieve will be its trans-Atlantictradedisputebyen- moreaggressive. Lastweek,fed- combined€19 million, or about because disclosure rules do not European economy. toughestfightyet. NYT Ahmedabad WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THEINDIANEXPRESS,TUESDAY,DECEMBER15,2020 EX-FRANCE MANAGER HOULLIER NO MORE Gerard Houllier,aFrenchman whowon three titles in one seasonasmanagerof English club Liverpoolfollowingadisappointing spell as the coachofFrance's na- tionalteam, has died. He was73. Liverpool and the Frenchfootball federation an- SPORT nouncedthe death Monday. French sports daily L'Equipe said he died at home on 18 AP SundayfollowingheartsurgeryinFrance.

BRIEFLY SHORTSTORIES Australia add

Barcelona-PSG Immersivetales of eagerrookies and established headliners waiting to swallowupTestgloryDownUnder Henriques to rematchhighlightof [] CLRound-of-16draw squad, injured Nyon: Barcelona will face Paris Saint- Abbott ruled out Germain in the Champions League Tinkerman’s big Test round of 16 in arematchoftheir clas- sic encounter at the same stagefour PRESSTRUSTOFINDIA seasons ago. Defending champion SYDNEY,DECEMBER14 Bayern Munichwas paired with Lazio. RAshwin will take at least20wicketsinthe series, says South Africa’s performance analyst Atalantawill host13-time champion ALL-ROUNDER Moises Henriques wason Real Madrid, and Liverpoolisaway Mondayadded to Australia's injury-hitsquad firstagainst Leipzig. Cristiano Ronaldo SRIRAMVEERA Therewillbelotsofdotballsin forthe opening Test againstIndia while pacer will return to his native Portugal with DECEMBER14 Australiabutalsolotsoffoursas Sean Abottwas ruledout of the matchdue Juventus forthe firstleg againstPorto. Aussiescancutorplaythatpick-up to acalf strain. Hereare the other pairings: Borussia “CRICKETISafailure sport,” RAshwin tells flickshotonthelegthattheyalllook Henriques, who had missedthe three- Monchengladbachvs. Manchester agroup of schoolkids hunchedonthe foragainstoff-spinnersastheycan daysecond practice game due to alow-grade City;AtleticoMadrid vs.Chelsea; and ground in Chennai. “Even Sachin Tendulkar hamstring strain, cleared the fitness Test on Sevilla vs BorussiaDortmund.The had just30per cent success rate.” He later trustthebounceandturn.Youhave Mondaytoreturn to theTestsquad aftera roundof16isspread over four mid- correctsitto35. togetitperfectforlongperiodsto gapoffour years. The opening game, aday- weeks. First-leg games arescheduled It’s asobering introduction to theworld succeed,butIthinkAshwinhasthe nighter,begins on December 17 in Adelaide. February16-17and 23-24. of frustrationsbut seems an aptmessage skillandtheheartforit.” "All-rounder Moises Henriques has been to engageapotentialspinner among those addedtoAustralia's squad forthe first 10-year olds. Another video, another kid – PRASANNA AGORAM VodafoneTestagainstIndia afterthe hosts' MessihelpsBarca this one seems even younger,and has the PERFORMANCE ANALYST, SOUTH AFRICA campcontinues to be hit with injury,"are- endlosingstreak ball in his hands when Ashwin questions portincricket.com.au. said. him about his field. The kid shyly states his “Overspin in Australia isn’t going to Abbott became the latestAustralianplayer Barcelona: Facing another setbackin case and moveshis friends. Ashwin probes makethe ball spin as muchasinIndia but to jointhe injury listafter being picking up the an already difficult season, Lionel further,“whichside is tougher to hit?” Off, it will help youbeat the batsmen in the air,” strain during the second warm-up game here Messifoundhis finishing touchto says the cutie and Ashwin pointstothe on- says Agoram. Acrucial element in Australia whichendedinadraw. He is, however, ex- save Barcelona from falling further side and goes,“thenuse one morefielder would be bat-pad catches. The extra pected to be available forthe second Test in behind in the Spanish league. Messi's here,no. If he hitsthrough the offside, you bouncecoupled with the angles will result Melbourne, which begins on December 26. lategoalsecured ahard-fought 1-0 can clap forhim.” in hesitant prods. Abbott, who had takenthree wicketsinIndia's home victory over Levanteon In those twoYouTubevideo chunks, Even his open-chestedrun-up has been firstinnings, will nottravelwith the team to Sundaytoend atwo-game losing morethan anyconversations with adults, tweaked towardsthis effect.Inrecenttimes, Adelaide. "Fastbowler Sean Abbott will not skidfor Barcelona. Messi firedaleft- Ashwin captures the inner worldofaspin- Ashwin has already tinkered with his action travel to Adelaide with Henriques and the re- footedshotoff the farpostand into ner,and in particular his ownart of off-spin. (no longer do his arms kickinasmuchas maining Australia squad members from the nettoget Barcelona's break- In England in 2018 andAustralia in 2019, theyusedto) and his run-up tooisfairly Sydneytoday afterpickingupacalf straininthe through in the 76th minuteafter hestarteddreamilyatEdgbastonandAdelaide, straight as the focus is on loading up in front day-night tour match at the SCG on Saturday." Levantehad withstood the hosts before his body betrayed him. “If Icould, I of his face. That load-up helps him stay up- Henriques last played aTestmorethan with tenacious defending. Barcelona would have pulled my soul out and killedthis rightatrelease whichtogeneratemoreover- four yearsago in Sri Lanka. He made acome- areeighth with nine pointsbehind body,” he told Cricbuzz about that phase. spin. He varies the pace with the revolutions backtothe national set-up afterthree years by the leaders Real Sociedad, whom “He will take 20 wickets in the four Tests on the ball, but also positions his body featuring in the limited-overs seriesagainst theyface on Wednesday. this series,” says Prasanna Agoram, South To be successfulinthe four-Testseries, RAshwin will have to makeAustralian smartlyfor extraeffect. At times, he leans India. He is the secondplayerafter Marcus Africa’s performance analystwho has batsmendrive,feelsSouthAfrica’sperformanceanalyst Prasanna Agoram. File front at release if he wantstobowlslower Harris to be added latetothe Test squad. worked withAshwin in the Indian Premier but doesn’t give toomuchtime in the air to Harris wasincludedinthe squad forthe 10-manJamshedpur League and Tamil Nadu Premier League. the batsman. Or drop his arm sideways a opening Test following aspateofinjuries, in- holdMumbaiCity It wasAustralian spinner Mitchell finger,with the ball claspedbetween these himfeel he can drive but justabout dipping touchtoflatten the trajectory. When he cluding David Warner and opener Will Swepson who nailed Ashwin’ssecret couple twospread-out fingers. Ashwin is different. short. The idealline is fourth stump–nottoo wantsmoreflight, turn, and dip,hewill arch Pucovski being ruledout of the firstgame Bambolim: Aflurry of missed chances of years ago. “The batsmen have to watchhis The middle finger curls in and stretches faroutside offastheywill drill youthrough backafter loading and finish the action in an due to agroin injury. Cameron Green and sawtable-toppers Mumbai City FC hands closelywhichgives them less time to alongside the seam rather than cutting it, the off, and nottoo straight as theycan eas- exaggerated way. Harry Conwayhad sufferedconcussions dur- settle fora1-1 draw against move andtheysortofstayinthe crease abit. whichmeans theball restsonthe knuckle ilyworkyou to thelegside,”says Agoram. “In the Pink-ball Test on aslowAdelaide ing the second warm-up game, while Jamshedpur FC in the HeroIndian It (the watching) cutstheirreaction time and –imparting morerevolutions on the ball. He places trajectoryontop as aspinner track, youmight see him tryevenleg-spin Jackson Birdendedupwithacalf injury. Super League at the GMC Stadium that’s probablyhis biggestasset.” Another Unlikeother off-spinners, Ashwin’s thumb has to beat the batsman in the air in Australia. and carromballs,” Agoram says.“It’s nothis hereonMonday. Owen Coyle's men Australian,batsman Matt Renshaw, detailed tooistuckedinbeside the seam, pointing to- Youcan’t be toofastordropittoo shortin T20 game coming in but it would be acalcu- Starcready to makeamends took the lead through Nerijus Valskis the effectsonthe mind. “Workingout what wardsthe indexfinger,almosttouching it. Australia because youcan be cut or heaved lated move as the pink Kookaburra has a Mitchell Starcsaid he is ready to make (9') before Mumbai hit backthrough he is trying to do is probablythe biggest When he wantstoimpartsidespin to get away as thereisnofear of variable bounce or blackseam whichcan getdifficult to pickin amends forthe previous series, terming it a BartholomewOgbeche (15'). Ared (challenge) and howishetrying to getyou moreturn, his indexfinger does cut that alarming turn, unless thereisgenerous rough lightsinthe lastsession, and can be exploited chance to "rectify"that. Under Kohli's cap- cardfor Aitor Monroy around the half- out, what fields areinplay–the mental side seam. When he wantsoverspin, he cocks it in the second innings. by wristspinners.” taincy,India humbled hosts Australia 2-1 in hour marksaw Jamshedpur reduced is the biggestthing as abatsman.” in, towardshim, beside the seam, likeahook, “Ashwin usuallybowls at 82 kmph and Ashwin's Australia campaign won’t be 2018-19for their firstseries win Down Under to 10 men but some dogged defend- and the extremelysupple wristturns likea it’s quitegoodfor Australia –ifhecan varythe easy.“Can't Bowl toostraight, can’t bowl too afterseventy years of trying. ing and anumber of missedchances ■■■ doorknob to send the ball up and over. pace in the 80s with the occasional quickone wide, got to makethem drive,” Agoram says. "You neverwant to lose aseries andyou forMumbai, sawthe former getaway “He willbowlalot moreoverspin in or areal slowone, and focus on overspin, he “Therewill be lots of dotballs in Australia but certainlynever want to lose one in Australia," with adraw. Mumbai remain on top Ashwin doesn’t place the fingers on the Australia this series, according to me,” says can beat the batsmen in the air,” Agoram says. also lots of fours as Aussies can cut or play Starctold ESPN's The CricketMonthly."India of the table with 13 pointsfromsix ball, he wraps them around. It’s asight to see Agoram.Ashwinwillhave to adapt,andhewill, Ashwin had burnt his fingers on his first that pick-up flickshotonthe leg that theyall were justbetterthan us throughout the matches whileJamshedpur,who have him demonstrating his grip to kids; he as he has the “experience and intelligence”. visit to Australiain2011-12when Michael look foragainstoff-spinnersastheycan trust (2018-19) series with bat and ball. Sure, we sevenpoints, aresixth. On Tuesday, would pick,lift, and fold his fingersintopre- “In Australia, the order of traitsneeded Clarke kept driving him en routetoatriple the bounce and turn. Youhavetoget it per- haven't hidden away from that.Weneeded East Bengal will face Hyderabad. ferred spaces. by aspinner is as follows:Trajectory, length, hundred in Sydney.“He drovemethrough fect forlong periods to succeed,but Ithink to be better in all facets of thegame and this PTI/AP Formostoff-spinners, the indexfinger speed, and line. The ideal length is six me- the covers reallywell,Iwasn’t putting any Ashwin has the skill and the heartfor it. My summer's certainlyachance to rectify that," cutsacross the seam and so does the middle tres from the batsman, full enough to make speedonthe ball and Ikepttossing it up.” betisthat he will take at least20wickets.” the pace ace added. NZ inflict innings defeaton Letter of hope Windies, clinch series 2-0

Bahrain childreaches out to F1champion Hamilton,seekshelpfor release of father ASSOCIATEDPRESS ED WELLINGTON,DECEMBER14 WhyNZwinputs PLAIN E ● pressureonIndia NEW ZEALAND achievedthe firstobjective of EX SHAHIDJUDGE Ramadhan’s father Mohammed, the domestic summer when it sweptthe MUMBAI,DECEMBER14 asecurity guard, wasallegedly West Indies in atwo-testseries to join NEW ZEALAND 2-0 win over West Australia atop worldcricket's test rankings. Indiesmakes them acontender to FORMULA ONE worldchampion Lewis arrested in 2014 forthe death of Afterwinning the firsttestinHamilton by an makethe final of the WorldTest Hamiltonhas been achampion of severalso- apoliceman, and subsequently innings and 134runs, NewZealand wonthe championship and also has them cial,politicalandhumanitariancausesinrecent second at the Basin Reservebyaninnings snapping at India's heels.With times. Ever since he secured hisseventh title sentencedtodeath and 12 runs insidethe firsthour of the fourth cricket series being cancelledbe- lastmonth,makinghimthejoint-recordholder morning on Monday. cause of thepandemic, the percent- withMichael Schumacher,the 35-year-old The West Indies resumedtheir second in- ageofpointswon is the criteria in- BritonhasbeenreceivinglettersfromBahraini issueinsomanyofthe places that we go to is ningsat244-6,trailingNewZealandby 85runs stead of total points. Australia tops citizens seeking his help and influence. aconsistent and amassive problem.Weare afterbeing forced to follow-on 329 behind. with82.2per cent, followedbyIndia However, one particular letter -from11- probablyone of the onlyones that (go) to so Wicketkeeper JoshuadaSilva (57) provided 75 per cent and then NewZealand year-oldAhmedRamadhan askinghim to manydifferent countries and Idothink as a some late resistance, achievingahalfcentury 62.5per cent. NewZealand plays help save his father from adeath sentence - sportweneedtodomore.” inhisdebuttest,beforethetouristswere allout Pakistaninatwo-Testseriesathome, Hamilton claimed, “really(hit) home.” for317, theirhighestinnings total of theseries. starting withaBoxingDay Test.If Formula One’s stance The series win liftedNew Zealand level theysweep that series, the percent- An appeal forhelp In astatement,the F1 claimed it had been with Australia on arating of 116pointsinfirst agepointstable couldlook very dif- BahrainInstituteforRightsandDemocracy vigilantregarding social injustice around the place on the ICC worldteststandings, the first ferent. At thesame time,India will be (BIRD),anadvocacygroupinLondon,saidthat world. “Wehavealways been clear with all time in itshistoryit has achievedthat ranking. playing Australia away from home. the letter,accompanied by adrawn pictureof race promoters and Governmentswith NewZealand also movedpastEnglandinto Australia aretoplaySouth Africa Hamilton’s race car,said: “Lewis, please save whichwedeal worldwide that we take vio- thirdplace in the worldtestchampionship sometime in February afterthe India my father.When Iwas drawing the car,Ifelt lence, abuse of human rightsand repression standings,amorepressing objective as it at- series. Kohli's side will hostEngland hope thatitmight save my father's life.” very seriously.”However, therehavebeen tempts to claim aplace in next year'sfinal at in afour-Test match series on return. “I reallyhope Lewis Hamilton delivers my constant protests by activists ahead of the Lord's. Aclean sweep of Pakistaninatwo-test Which waytheseresultsgowill de- messagesomydad cancomebackhome,” annual Bahrain Grand Prix, seeking the race series starting later this month will give New terminewhichtwo teams makethe Agence France-Presse reported. Ahmed MohammedRamadhan holds his drawing of Lewis Hamilton's racing car to be cancelledinlight of the government’s Zealand achance of competing with Australia final at Lord'snextyear. ENS Ramadhan’s father Mohammed, asecu- withhis appeal forhelp in saving his father from execution. AP/Reuters alleged human rightsviolations. and India foraplace in the June final. rityguard,was allegedlyarrestedin2014for The ICC test championship started last the death of apoliceman, and subsequently Bahrain government’s take year and involves nine teams eachplaying effort theseguyshaveput in time and time sentencedtodeath. Humanrightsgroups, The Bahrain Grand Prix has been aregu- Hamilton’s activism Ever since Bahraini citizens –bothcur- six series forpointsonahome-and-awayba- again over the lastcouple of years," Latham however, have claimedthat confessions that laronthe F1 circuit since the firstracein2004. The Mercedes driverhas been vocalinhis rent and former political prisoners-started sis, with the toptwo meeting in the final. said. "We'vegot another test series starting ledtothe conviction were forced through It’s also the country’s biggestsporting event. supportfor the BlackLives Matter movement to appeal to Hamilton to supporttheir cause, Australia and India aremeeting in afour-test (soon) and so the focus nowwill turn to that." torture. Ahead of the AbuDhabi Grand Prix that gainedsteam in Mayafter the death of the government of the countryhas claimed series starting Thursday. New Zealand is now The secret of New Zealand'ssuccess is an lastweekend, Hamiltonaddressedthe letter Covid interrupts meeting African-American George Floyd at the hands thatitrespects freedom of expression and unbeaten in itslast15testmatches at home, open one. It has an extremelysolid batting at apress conference. Hamilton claimedthat he had hopedto of the police. In fact, Hamilton has also been the right to protest. “Noperson is arrested or giving it one of the mostformidable home lineup, especiallywith Williamson in his reg- “I think the saddestthingfor me was meet Bahrain’s CrownPrince and Prime critical of the F1’s apparent lackofrespon- prosecuted forthe peaceful expression of advantages in worldcricket. "Looking at the ular place in the toporder.But it is the work that thereisayoung man on death rowand MinisterSalmanbin Hamad Al Khalifatoad- siveness whenitcomes to addressing hu- their opinion, and all persons arrested (re- worldtestchampionship, it's nice to getthe of the bowlers whichisthe key ingredient: it’s notclear… when his son writes me a dressthe issueofsocial injustice prevalent in man rightsissues, especially in countries gardless of the charge)benefit from full due full pointsfromthis series," NewZealand NewZealand's four-pronged seam attack, led letter,that reallyhitshome. All livesmatter. thekingdom. whereraces take place. process safeguards, includingthe right to captain TomLatham said. by TimSouthee and TrentBoult and with Ithink there’s definitelyworktobedone He had hopedtoattend the meeting while “Werealisewe’vegot to faceandnotignore representation and the right to fair trial be- Latham took over the captaincy forthe Kyle Jamieson nowakeymember,isrelent- in the background,” he said. in the Middle-Eastern countrythat hosted the human rightsissuesinthe countries that fore Bahrain’s independent judiciary,”read second test from Kane Williamson, who less and givesbatsmen very little respite “I definitelywon’t letitgounnoticed. back-to-back Grand Prix on November 29 and we go to,not just20years, 30 years from now, astatement reportedbyThe Guardian. missedthe test because his wifeisexpecting from pressure. When Iget some time now, Iwilldefinitely December6. but now,”hehad said aftersecuring hissev- The statement also addressedthe claim their firstchild, and NewZealand showed BRIEF SCORES: NewZealand 460 beat tryand speak to those (people) and see However, Hamilton tested positive forthe enth worldtitle afterwinning the Turkish about the use of torture in Ramadhan’s case. depth in itsability to win in Williamson's ab- West Indies131 &(f/0) 317(Campbell 68, howIcan positivelyimpact that(race) coronavirus at thetime, andwas forced to Grand Prix in November.InAbu Dhabi, “Further,the claims of tortureand/or retri- sence. "As farasthe worldrankingsgo, it's Holder 61,daSilva 57,Wagner 3-54, Boult 3- weekend (in future).” miss the second race. Hamiltonadded:“Naturally, thehumanrights bution arecategoricallydenied.” nice to go therebut that's aby-product of the 96) by an innings and 11 runs

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