0    1 B(    *  '* @   & '* @  @ RNI Regn. No. CHHENG/2012/42718, Postal Reg. No. - RYP DN/34/2013-2015 ,-"!,. /0&# 2.&.2&$ 4256 2% 3   $ 1 7(D 43+> $3 (#1 +O( # $3 + +1 (3 " >? >#"3= 2?3+> 2?#2+D=+ =+>(? +(3D DE +7+A ?+>E =( $+> ?3D +>4 +? +# ?+7+? ?+# ?E+2+ 4 +E=++ C>  )+$ ./ ,,  50 C+ D*&   +* *   /1 2%2/3 * /2 1                * = >? it is his problem, not mine,” he that he could not become PM. drawing from forward base at added. He knows that even his shad- Finger 4 to Finger 3? and Why ormer Congress president Pointing out that the troops ow won’t support him & can’t has China not withdrawn from FRahul Gandhi termed are now going to be stationed digest the huge public mandate our territory in Depsang Plains Prime Minister at Finger 3, moving back from to Modi,” Union minister and & Gogra Hot Springs?” Rahul * = >? a “coward” and accused the Finger 4, which is also the BJP leader Pralhad Joshi said. tweeted. Centre of “ceding” Indian ter- Indian territory, Rahul asked, Joshi alleged the former AICC chief spokesman and n a big setback to the ritory to China, inviting a “Why has Modi given up our Congress chief’s “utterances” party general secretary ITrinamool Congress ahead of sharp rebuttal from the territory to the Chinese?” are based on far-fetched pre- Randeep Surjewala said Modi the forthcoming State Government even as the BJP Rahul targeted Rajnath for sumptions and raise “serious Government’s unpardonable, Assembly polls, party MP reminded Rahul that the coun- not speaking in Parliament on doubts on his mental health”. blatant and brazen compromise Dinesh Trivedi on Friday try’s security forces and “nation the “most important strategic “The selective amnesia of “national security” & ’s announced his resignation cannot forgive the Gandhi fam- area — Depsang Plains — which Rahul often displays “territorial integrity” stands from the Rajya Sabha. He said ily for losing 43,000 sq kms of from where China entered”. seems a regular order. exposed. “Prime Minister and he was taking this step as he felt land to China”. Rahul said the “truth is that Denigrating efforts and sacri- Defence Minister have under- helpless to do anything against “The PM is a coward who the Prime Minister has given fices of our security forces, mined the astounding valour the violence taking place in his cannot stand up to the Chinese. ment, the Ministry said the The Congress leader’s away the Indian territory to whom you are placating? Why? and insurmountable grit of State. He is betraying the sacrifice of effective safeguarding of the attack came a day after Union China” and demanded Modi to Because you got some donation our Armed Forces, who faced During the last few weeks, our Army,” Rahul said at a Press country’s national interest and Defence Minister Rajnath answer the nation. for your party? Can’t forget Chinese incursions and aggres- the TMC has been rocked by a ing place in our State. Sitting conference. territory in the Eastern Ladakh Singh announced in Parliament Hitting back at Rahul, the your meeting with the sions with indomitable courage spate of defection. A number of here, I am feeling perplexed as Reacting to the allegation, sector has taken place because that India and China have BJP accused the Congress Chinese?” Joshi said in a social and sacrifice,” he said in a leaders have resigned from the to what should I do,” he added. MoS Home G Kishan Reddy the Government reposed full reached an agreement on dis- leader of “lying left, right and media post. statement. party and joined the BJP. They “I am grateful to my party said that Rahul must “ask his faith in the capabilities of the engagement in the north and centre” and denigrating the Gandhi scion also took to The statement of Defence include Rajib Banerjee, Sovan that it has sent me here, but grandfather (Jawaharlal Nehru) armed forces. south bank of Pangong Lake in country’s security forces. Twitter and sought an expla- Ministry dated February 12, Chaterjee, , now I feel a little suffocated. We about who has given India’s ter- “Those who doubt the eastern Ladakh. “When one does not have nation from the Government of 2021 issued as part of and Laxmi Ratan Shukla. are unable to do anything and ritory to China”, while his achievements made possible by Rahul hit out at the a moral conscience, when one India. “GOI must explain why “Operation Cover-up” has Making the announcement there is atrocity (going on). My Ministerial colleague RK Singh the sacrifices of our military Government questioning why cannot contribute anything our forces are withdrawing uncovered the conspiratorial about quitting the RS mem- voice of conscience is saying termed Rahul’s jibe as imma- personnel are actually disre- Prime Minister Narendra Modi positive, one resorts to lies. from dominant positions in mask of a weak-kneed leader- bership, Trivedi said he was what Swami Vivekananda used ture and unparliamentary. specting them,” the statement has given up the country’s ter- Rahul lied left, right and cen- Kailash Ranges? Why we are ship that India does not resigning after listening to his to say — arise, awake and stop In a strongly-worded state- said. ritory to China. “How he does tre. Perhaps Rahul is depressed ceding our territory & with- deserve. conscience. Saying that he feels not till the goal is reached,” suffocated in the Trivedi said, while announcing House as he is unable to do his resignation from the House.  R    anything against the violence Reacting to the develop- !"#$%& #   $  going on in his State, he added, ment, Bengal Minister Tapas “If you sit here quietly and can- Roy said, “His (Dinesh) status    not do anything, then it is bet- has never been better than ter that you resign from here that of a political go-between ' ! *            and go to the land of Bengal … a Gujarati bania (busi- and be with people.” nessman) as he has acted like Trivedi said the world one.” He added that Trivide’s * 4#?#+7+    looks at India when some- presence in the party had thing happens. “What I mean neither benefited it nor his t least 11 workers were * = >? to say is the way violence is tak- absence will hurt the TMC. Akilled and 36 injured when an explosion ripped through a ongress veteran and a  fireworks factory near Sattur in CGandhi family loyalist % ! this southern district in Tamil Mallikarjun Kharge is all set to Nadu on Friday, Police said. be the leader of Opposition in The explosion occurred when the Rajya Sabha. Congress +,-  "     some chemicals were being president Sonia Gandhi in a let-    mixed to produce fireworks at ter to Rajya Sabha chairman M      the unit in Acchankulam vil- informed him *  '          lage, they said, adding the the party’s decision to replace        injured had been hospitalised. Ghulam Nabi Azad, the out- .%/   !"  #   Prime Minister Narendra going LOP, who retires from  $ &' (    Modi, Tamil Nadu Chief the House on February 15. * = >?            Minister K Palaniswami, Kharge, 78, a Dalit stalwart  * ' Governor             of the Congress, was leader of witter has blocked over 97 and Congress MP Rahul         the party in the 16th Lok       &     P Tper cent of the accounts        Gandhi were among those who Sabha. He was known for    $    (   )    and posts flagged by the IT       condoled the deaths. cracker factory in ensure due medical treatment vociferous opposition of the Ministry for provocative con-   + *    Modi and Palaniswami Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu is to them,” he said. Government and as a promot- * ?+#@= >? “Our scientists are exam- tent and misinformation L   M  &       announced an ex-gratia of 2 saddening.” Posting in his offi- He announced a sum of 3 er of sloganeering and disrup- ining the size of the lake, its around farmers’ protest,  $ &   * lakh each and 3 lakh each to cial Twitter handle, @PMO lakh each to the families of the tion — something he always he debris brought by the periphery and the volume of sources said.  * &    the kin of the deceased from India, he said “in this hour of deceased and 1 lakh to those said the BJP mastered in the Tavalanche in Uttarakhand water it contains to ascertain This followed a meeting     ./'0  &  the Prime Minister’s National grief, my thoughts are with the who had suffered grievous 14th Lok Sabha under then earlier this week has blocked a how big and immediate the between Twitter representa-   1 ( * ' Relief Fund and the Chief bereaved families. I hope those injuries. leaders of Opposition Sushma stream that joins the danger from it is,” Sain told tives and the Information Minister’s Public Relief Fund injured recover soon. The Chief Minister said he Swaraj and . Rishiganga river forming a PTI. Technology Secretary on   respectively. Authorities are working on the has directed expediting the Kharge’s appointment to temporary lake which if According to the report by Wednesday evening where   The factory building was ground to assist those affected: relief work and asked the dis- the key Rajya Sabha post breached can cause further the Wadia Institute of the US-based microblogging !" $    2 damaged badly under the PM @narendramodi.” trict collector Virudhunagar, comes at the cost of Congress damage in the valley, said a Himalayan Geology (WIHG), platform was issued a stern 3  1  " * impact of the explosion and “An ex-gratia of 2 lakh home to the country’s fireworks deputy leader in the house report by the Wadia Institute of an organisation of the warning to comply with local  $        many suffered burns. each has been approved from hub, to console the families of Anand Sharma, who was long Himalayan Geology. Department of Science and laws or be prepared for action. *       &   Palaniswami, in a state- PMNRF for the next of kin of the victims in person. seen as Azad’s natural inheri- According to its director Technology, the assessment The Ministry had ques- 2 4 *    ment, said all the 11 workers those who have lost their lives The collectors concerned tor. Other main contenders for Kalachand Sain, a team of sci- of the actual magnitude of risk tioned Twitter’s delay in tak-  & *   were killed on the spot and that due to a fire in Virudhunagar, should conduct periodic checks the coveted post were Digvijay entists from the institute con- involved due to this impound- ing action on its order to &  ' he has ordered a probe into the Tamil Nadu. 50,000 would be at such units to ensure workers’ Singh and P Chidambaram. ducted an aerial survey of the ment of water requires a block provocative content that incident, while assuring due given to those seriously safety, he said, adding the fac- Sharma and Azad last year upper reaches of the Rishi detailed survey. could impact public law and      legal action. injured,” he said, in tweet, tories should follow due safe- fell out of favour of Sonia Ganga just a day after the “The catastrophic floods order, whereas the American #$%&'  (  )  Several fire fighting units which was also made in Tamil. ty measures in view of the com- after they wrote to her Sunday avalanche and spotted on Sunday also brought sedi- company had been quick to       were deployed to douse the fire Palaniswami, in a state- ing summer season, indicating demanding overhaul of the the new glacial lake there. ments in the Rishi Ganga crack down when a similar    5'/6   *   and take up the rescue opera- ment, said all the 11 victims high temperatures then could party organsation and internal The team took some pho- river. Since the width of the instance occurred at US    **    tions. Earlier, TV visuals were killed on the spot and lead to similar mishaps. elections. tographs of the lake taken river is very less in the upper Capitol Hill.  *   &  *   showed relatives of the victims expressed grief over the deaths. Purohit said he was Kharge is a nine-time from a helicopter. It seems that stretches, the sediments have According to the sources,   7         wailing near the mishap site “I was anguished to know shocked and grieved to hear Karnataka MLA and two-time the recent avalanche has led to blocked a stream forming a Twitter has now complied  $' (      while the injured were rushed that 36 persons have been about the accident and prayed Lok Sabha MP. He lost the its formation in the higher lake which may breach and with the orders and over 97    *   9: to hospitals in ambulances. injured in the explosion and for the early and complete 2019 LS election from stretches of the Rishiganga’s cause further damage in the per cent of the accounts  5';<   *    *   Modi said the “fire at a fire- have directed the officials to recovery of the injured. Gulbarga by over 95,000 votes. catchment area, he said. valley,” he said. flagged have been blocked. 0/0/' / *        '          !"       ** of the party held in September Ministers who owe their posi- ' '  ?+A 2017. TTV Dhinakaran, who tion to Chinnamma, as  *  +# had been authorised by Sasikala is addressed in the  *! t has been four days since VK Sasikala to run the party in her party circle. “She will strike cenically beautiful Mainpat ISasikala, a former aide to late absence had said that the gen- when Palaniswami is down  *  = >? Sstands for the confluence of Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, eral council of the AIADMK and out. If Palaniswami fails to Sargujiha, Bhojpuri and returned to Chennai after serv- could be convened only by the win this Assembly election, we 25-year-old man was Tibetan culture, with its ing a four-year jail term in general secretary and the meet- will not hear of him again,” said Astabbed to death by five Buddhist temples having their Bangalore in connection with ing held in September 2017 was Satyamurti. men following a quarrel at a own identity, Chhattisgarh a disproportionate asset case. illegal. But Kolahala Srenivasan, birthday party in outer Delhi’s Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel The former AIADMK General Sendur Pandian, lawyer of an expert in AIADMK affairs Mangolpuri area. The family of said on Friday. Secretary has not come out of Sasikala, had said that the case since the days of party founder victim Rinku Sharma alleged He was addressing a gath- the palatial house of her niece would be taken up at the ear- MGR, is of the view that he was killed over communal ering after the inauguration of Krishnaveni at T-Nagar in liest to get a court order favour- Sasikala may not succeed in angle as he was involved in col- a three-day ‘Mainpat Mahotsav’ Chennai where she is staying as there was no space for the ing her return as the general her attempts to dethrone lecting funds for the construc- near the Ropkhar reservoir. of now. Mannargudi family in the secretary of the AIADMK. Palaniswamy. tion of the Ram temple in The event will conclude on There is no information of AIADMK. “Once she wins the case, “The Election Ayodhya. Security in the area February 14. her meeting any senior It is learned from sources the AIADMK cadre would Commission of India, Delhi was beefed up as tension pre- On the occasion, Baghel    ing at Sitapur and the Sitapur- AIADMK leaders or persons close to Sasikala that her top come and fall at her feet. High Court and the Supreme vailed. announced 85 acres of land to    Mand diversion canal, an offi- close to the party leadership. priority would be to retrieve the Moreover, Palaniswami is Court in their verdicts have All five accused identified establish the Indira Gandhi       cial communication said. Throughout her 23-hour jour- post of general secretary of the about to face the biggest chal- made it clear that status-quo as Zahid, Mehtab, Danish, National Tribal University     He also blessed 51 couples ney from Bangalore to AIADMK before the Assembly lenge in his life now. The would continue till the Madras Tassudin and Islam, residents Research and Study Centre.  #   married under the Chief Chennai, Sasikala told her election. selection of candidates for the High Court disposes of the of the Mangolapuri, have been A MoU was signed for Minister Kanya Vivah Yojana. cadre about the need to defeat Sasikala’s contention is that upcoming election would be a petition filed by Sasikala. arrested. value addition of Buckwheat   Urban Administration the DMK. The party camp led her removal from the post of tough task for the present When will the court pro- Delhi BJP president Adesh (Tau) flour production. The Minister Dr Shiv Dahariya, by Chief Minister Edappadi general secretary of the leadership of the party,” said nounce the verdict is any- Gupta on Friday met the fam- Chief Minister also launched crore for a Police Mess at School Education Minister Dr Palaniswami has not reacted to AIADMK was against the party Govindarajan Satyamurti, vet- body’s guess. But there is no ily of Rinku Sharma and pro- Sarguja Honey Brand and Mainpat and announced the Premsai Singh Tekam and her call, while D Jayakumar, the constitution. She was axed as eran scribe and commentator. illegality in the removal of vided an assistance of 5 lakh unveiled the annual calendar of construction of roads from Food and Civil Supplies Fisheries Minister and the general secretary of the According to Satyamurti, Sasikala and expulsion of to them. He demanded trial in gauthan. Kardna to Kadnai and Kenapar Minister Amarjeet Bhagat also spokesman of the Tamil Nadu AIADMK in a specially-con- there are many among the Dhinakaran from the party,” a fast-track court. Baghel also sanctioned 1 to Ghogra, a PG college build- addressed the gathering. Government, stressed that vened general council meeting present lot of MLAs and said Srenivasan.  $% !"#$ !$ &!' () $! ' *+,-,*

$   O P P+    O  & $, P -.-- * ?+7+? their mistakes of the past five The Chief Minister also years, AAP continues to blun- termed as ludicrous and futile * ?+7+? February 17. candidates were rejected. Tehsildar of Bhikhiwind in the politics of Delhi CM idiculing Aam Aadmi der its way through Punjab, AAP’s persistent attempt to As per the Punjab A BJP delegation on Tarn Taran district, deliberate- Arvind Kejriwal, who is spend- RParty’s (AAP) ambition to with absolutely no under- mislead the people with lies on head of the Assembly elec- Government’s instructions, 50 Thursday met the governor, ly remained absent from the ing the taxpayers’ money for rule the state as a ‘pipe-dream’, standing or concern about the the issue of the agricultural Ations next year, the Punjab percent reservation has been urging him to issue directions work of municipal elections people’s development,” he said. Punjab Chief Minister Capt problems of its people, he said, reforms committee set up by civic body polls would suggest given for women in municipal for the deployment of para- due to which he had been sus- Amarinder Singh on Friday adding that all they see here “is the Government of India. which way the political wind is elections. military forces in the state in pended with immediate effect. COUNTRY TURN BANK- said that it was ridiculous that another state to rule, another “Show me one piece of blowing. The high decibel cam- There are 20,49,777 male, the view of “deteriorating” law RUPT UNDER MODI a party, that is totally faceless in seat of power”. paper to prove that the Farm paigning for the polls to be held 18,65,354 female and 149 trans- and order situation ahead of the PEOPLE OF PUNJAB GOVT: TEWARI Punjab, should talk of having a “They do not see the pain Laws were even mentioned, on February 14 (Sunday), gender voters, totaling polls. SHOULD GIVE AAP A Addressing Congress grand Chief Ministerial face in and the problems of our peo- leave alone discussed, at the ended on Friday evening with 39,15,280 registered voters in Being held at the time CHANCE TO IMPLEMENT party’s massive rally in support the 2022 Assembly elections. ple,” he said, adding that AAP two meetings of the reforms all the political parties Punjab for these elections. when farmers are agitating DELHI MODEL: SISODIA of party candidates for Mohali “With just a year to go for is an outsider in Punjab and committee held after Punjab making their last ditch effort to For the purpose of con- against the Centre’s three con- AAP’s senior leader and MC elections at Sector 71 the Assembly polls, AAP could will remain so as long as it con- was made a member,” Captain woo the voters. ducting polls, 4,102 polling tentious farm laws since Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Mohali, Congress MP from not find a face from Punjab to tinues to be disconnected from Amarinder challenged AAP, The last day saw Aam booths have been established months now, the BJP candi- Manish Sisodia on Friday Sri Anandpur Sahib Manish campaign in the municipal the state’s ground realities. dubbing it a “party of shame- Aadmi Party’s senior leader and and 18,000 personnel will be dates, along with senior lead- appealed to the people of Tiwari on Friday lambasted the elections and had to drag in The exodus of AAP leaders less liars and cheats, with no Delhi Deputy Chief Minister put on election duty. Around ers and workers are facing Punjab to give a chance to the BJP-led Central Government non-entities from Delhi for and members from the party’s compunction about sacrificing Manish Sisodia campaigning 7,000 Electronic Voting massive protests across the Aam Aadmi Party once and for making the country bank- electioneering! And now they Punjab unit over the past two- the truth to serve their politi- for the party candidates in Machines (EVMs) have been State by the farmers. In fact, they would forget the politics rupt. claim that they’ll find a CM three years is just the tip of an cal purpose”. Amritsar, Punjab Finance arranged for the polling. several BJP candidates have of Congress, BJP and Akalis. “Now there is Rs 18 lakh face that will be the pride of iceberg, and the fact is that they Punjab neither wants nor Minister Manpreet Badal elec- For taking preventive mea- opted to contest polls as “inde- At Amritsar, he said that crore debt on Indian govern- Punjab?” said Capt Amarinder. have no roots here. needs such a party, said the tioneering for Congress candi- sures for COVID-19, Rs 1.65 pendents”. Delhi Chief Minister and ment. The country’s economy “What can a party which The Chief Minister said: Chief Minister, adding that dates in Bathinda mainly to crore has been allocated to pro- In all, 9,222 candidates are AAP”s national convener that grew at eight prevent every sold off the farmers’ interests by “Arvind Kejriwal’s party has no “neither AAP nor its Delhi retain his citadel, Jails Minister vide masks, sanitizers, and in fray, with 30 percent con- Arvind Kejriwal’s government year during Dr Manmohan implementing one of the farm existence outside Delhi, and model of governance is wel- Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa gloves to be used by the staff testing as ‘independents’. A in Delhi had done such welfare Singh as PM has now fallen to laws in Delhi back in will soon be wiped out from come in Punjab, which is far- and Congress MP and former deployed for election duty. total of 2,832 independents works for the people, which the minus 7.7 percent. Modi November know of Punjab’s there too, given their shameless ing better than the national Minister Manish Tewari seek- Besides the ruling are in fray on 2215 wards of 117 Congress and the BJP had Government has dented the ‘aan, baan, and shaan’,” the collusion with the Bharatiya capital on almost every key ing votes for party candidates Congress in the state, AAP, urban local bodies (ULBs) of never imagined. country on socially, politically Chief Minister asked, adding (BJP), at whose index of development.” in Mohali along with local SAD and the BJP are also con- Punjab. While the ruling “Today, the people in Delhi and internationally fronts,” he that AAP neither knows nor behest they have been trying to What Punjab needs is solid MLA and Health Minister testing these polls. Congress party has fielded were provided with better asserted. cares what Punjabiyat is all befool the lakhs of farmers and sincere leadership, not a Balbir Singh Sidhu, among This is the first election in 2,037 candidates on the party health facilities in government Punjab Cabinet Minister about. camping outside their city for party of loud-mouth liars and others. which the SAD and the BJP will symbol, AAP has fielded on hospitals and better education Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa Far from learning from more than two months now.” deceivers, he added. The State Election be contesting separately after 1606, becoming the second in government schools as com- said that people should not Commission has made all nec- the Akalis snapped ties with the party with highest number of pared to the private schools, believe in those who shift loy- essary arrangements to conduct saffron outfit over the farm candidates. SAD has fielded free electricity and water, 24 alties for their personal gains. the polls to elect 400 members laws last year. 1569 candidates on the party hours a day,” he said while “The expectation of commu- for eight municipal corpora- Ahead of the polls, the symbol, with 1,003 by the BJP. appealing to the people to give nity development cannot be tions, 109 municipal councils, Opposition has accused the a chance to AAP once, so that expected from these oppor- and nagar panchayats out of the Congress of “misusing” the ABSENT FROM ELECTION the Delhi model would be tunistic businessmen. These total 9,222 candidates in the government machinery to DUTY: BHIKHIWIND implemented in Punjab. businessmen can’t think of fray. influence the polls, a charge TEHSILDAR SUSPENDED common man’s welfare as they * ?+7+? Haryana State Women panel had taken a “stern “The required election denied by the ruling party. Punjab State Election He said that presently, there would only think of their own Commission Act-2012 to notice” of the Nodeep Kaur’s material and EVMs will be A SAD delegation had on Commission on Friday placed were two types of politics going welfare and their businesses. unjab State Women Nodeep Kaur, a resident of case, seeking a status report handed over to polling parties Tuesday urged Punjab under suspension the services on. “One is the politics of With their money power, they PCommission chairperson Giadarh village in Sri Muktsar from Sonipat Senior on February 13 while voting Governor V P Singh Badnore of Bhikhiwind Tehsildar has Congress, BJP, and Akalis, can only try to buy votes to Manisha Gulati will meet district of Punjab besides Superintendent of Police (SSP) will take place on February 14 to direct the state government with immediate effect for being which are running their busi- come into power,” he added in jailed labour activist Nodeep ensuring the safety and secu- by February 15.“Through a from 8 am to 4 pm,” said the to countermand the civic body absent during the election duty. nesses and filling their coffers a direct attack on former Mayor Kaur in Karnal Jail on rity of the detainee. written communiqué, the SSP election officials adding that polls at all places where nom- Commission spokesperson said with the tax money paid by the and also a candidate Kulwant February 15 (Monday). Spokesperson said that Sonipat has been directed to the counting will take place on ination papers of opposition that Lakhwinder Singh, people. On the other hand, it is Singh. The chairperson had taken HSWC chairperson has direct- get the case of Nodeep Kaur up the matter with Haryana ed the Director General Jails to investigated by a senior offi- counterpart and urged to make all necessary arrange- cer,” PSWC chairperson intervene in the matter, said an ments for the meeting, sched- Manisha Gulati had stated, official spokesperson of the uled at 12 noon on February adding that the SSP has been Commission on Friday. 15, of Punjab State Women’s asked to submit a detailed Acting swiftly, the Commission chairperson and investigation report within Haryana State Women Nodeep Kaur. five days, that is by February Commission (HSWC) has The Director General has 15, 2021. issued written instruction to also been asked to submit the Gulati had said that after Director General, Jails, action taken report in this receiving the police report, the (Haryana) Selvaraj to ensure regard. Commission would immedi- * ?+7+?  &'( legal assistance under Section The development comes a ately take further action in the      3 (10), (1) (f) (k) of the day after the Punjab women matter. ith overall Covid-19 vac- Wcination coverage stand-     ing at just 35 per cent in %)&  $    Chandigarh, Punjab Governor     /     and UT Administrator VP   ) Singh Badnore on Friday   +  directed the officers concerned  ('&   to start an awareness cam-    ,  0) 1  paign to remove hesitancy  23/ from the minds of people     regarding the vaccination. -))) %.) * +? Only 22 per cent benefi-  ,  $   ciaries out of the targeted     tate BJP spokesperson Pratul healthcare and frontline work- SShahdeo retorted to the ers turned up for Covid-19 vac- -$.. * +? improving public-police rela- statement of JPCC president cination in the city on Friday. tionships. Dr. Rameshwar Oraon, saying A total of 643 beneficiaries the city. harkhand on Friday got a While on one hand State that the Congress party always against the target of 2876 were During the review meeting Jregular Director General of got a permanent DGP, in looked at the farmers as vote inoculated at various sites. This on COVID-19 situation in the Police and State election com- another development former bank. It never wanted their eco- included 346 healthcare work- city, Badnore directed that missioner after the gap of near- Chief Secretary Dr Devendra nomic development. Pratul ers against the target of 1777 since 1,21,850 doses of ly a year. Niraj Sinha, a 1987 Kumar Tiwari, who was said that the Congress is today and 297 frontline workers Covishield are available, all batch IPS officer, who was appointed as the new State protesting against the agricul- against the target of 1099. efforts should be made to named as new DGP replacing Election Commissioner of the tural laws and spreading The overall COVID-19 enhance vaccination rating. M V Rao assumed office today State on Tuesday, took charge rumours.The Congress party vaccination coverage stands at All the 14 sites must be fully at the State police headquarters. of office. should be telling the farmers just 35 percent in the city functional and there should be The State home prison and dis- Tiwari, the IAS officer of that why did they talk about while the coverage of health- an IEC campaign to remove aster management department 1986 batch has been appoint- ending the mandis in their care workers stands at 34 per- hesitancy from the minds of on Thursday evening issued a ed for the tenure of three years 2019 election manifesto and the cent. With this, Chandigarh the persons regarding the vac- notification regarding from the date of assuming inter-state trade of agricultur- continues to be in the list of cination, he directed. appointment of Sinha as new charge of office or till the date al produce. worst performing states /UTs in Badnore also requested the police head. Sinha, prior to his he attains the age of 64 years. Pratul said that for the COVID-19 vaccination cover- senior doctors to take a lead in new role was ADGP of the Tiwari taking charge as the first time after independence, age as per the Union Health vaccination. anti-corruption bureau. new State Election the Central government under Ministry. VK Singh, Additional Sinha, talking to media Commissioner said, “Focus the leadership of Prime Till now, only 6600 health- Secretary Textile, deputed by persons after taking his new will be holding the panchay- Minister Narendra Modi is care workers against the target Government of India to mon- role, said that his priority will at election on time. The state trying to double the income of of 19116 and 1529 frontline itor the vaccination in the city be to carry forward the good election commission will talk farmers. Congress is unable to workers against the target of also attended the meeting. works of his predecessors and with government on holding digest this. He said that State 3887 have been inoculated. It was informed that in continue the campaign against panchyat election on time.” president of Congress Dr. Overall 8129 HCWs and FLWs PGIMER, against 10,408 work- Naxalites in the State. The new Sources said that the Rameshwar Oraon ji is base- have been vaccinated against ers registered for vaccination, DGP also said that maintain- three-tier panchayat polls due lessly saying that the MSP will the target of 23003 since the 2,800 health workers have got ing law and order will be the in November-December in be abolished; while the Central launch of vaccination drive in the vaccine. focus of police. Also the police the State were put on hold due government has clarified many force will work towards to Covid 19 pandemic and times that there is no such vacancies at top positions in thing. Pratul said that the State Election Commission. Congress is trying to prove a lie Sources said with appoint- as truth by telling the same lie ment of State Election again and again. Commissioner the process for The BJP leader said that election will gain momen- today there is a trend of bash- tum. ing the private industrial hous- As three tier panchayat es of the country on every issue. bodies are agencies, which Farmers, labourers, the middle execute the developmental class, industry, business world works in the rural areas their all contribute to the progress of role gains importance. The the country. That is why the elected panchayat representa- tradition of marking any one tives are custodians of devel- sector and humiliating it opment funds in rural areas. should end. chhattisgarh 03 RAIPUR | SATURDAY | FEBRUARY 13, 2021 WB to support nutrition-supportive agriculture Lac production gets status of STAFF REPORTER n RAIPUR agriculture practice in C'garh he governments of India Tand Chhattisgarh and the n World Bank on Friday signed STAFF REPORTER RAIPUR a $100 million project to ac production has been develop sustainable produc- Lgiven the status of agricul- tion systems that allow tribal ture practice in Chhattisgarh, households in remote areas enabling the government to of the state to practice provide benefits of short-term round-the-year production agriculture loan and interest of diversified and nutritious subsidy to lac farmers and food. farmers groups. CHIRAAG -- An order this effect has Chhattisgarh Inclusive Rural and Accelerated Agriculture been issued by the Joint Growth -- project will be Secretary in the Department of Agricultural Development, implemented in the southern communication on Friday, it is ing should be given the status tribal-majority region of the Farmers Welfare and noteworthy that there are of agricultural practice so as to state where a large popula- Biotechnology. immense possibilities of lac make it a profitable practice. tion is undernourished and The order states that farm- cultivation in Chhattisgarh. Baghel gave his consent to the poor, a press release said. India is committed to achiev- profitable markets.” project will implement a developing value chains to ers or farmers groups should be Lac has traditionally been suggestion. The project will benefit ing the goal of doubling The loan agreement was series of activities that are cli- ensure that surplus com- given short term agricultural cultivated by the farmers on About 50,000 farmers in over 180,000 households farmer income by 2022. signed by Dr. Mohapatra, mate resilient and profitable. modities reach profitable loan at the prescribed debt safflower, palash and plum Chhattisgarh will directly ben- from about 1,000 villages in CHIRAAG project will lay Junaid Kamal Ahmad, Investments will be made in markets; and in making scale for production and pri- trees. But due to lack of lac pro- efit from this decision. The eight districts of the foundation for a diverse Country Director (India) for water-harvesting structures nutritious food available to mary processing of lac crops duction in a systematic and state now produces 4,500 Chhattisgarh. and nutritive food and World Bank and Bhoskar and irrigation facilities; inte- tribal households. such as safflower, palash and modern way, the farmers do tonnes of lac. Tribal and forest Dr. C. S. Mohapatra, agriculture system, mobilize Vilas Sandipan, Joint grated farming systems The $100 million loan plum. not get the expected benefits in dwellers are engaged in Additional Secretary, smallholders into farmer Secretary, Department of blending crops, fishery and from the International Bank They will also be given lieu of cost. largescale cultivation of lac, Department of Economic producer organizations and Agriculture, Chhattisgarh. livestock production; cli- for Reconstruction and interest subsidy on short-term So, the Forest Department whose production in the state Affairs, Ministry of Finance, increase incomes by To make agriculture mate-smart production tech- Development (IBRD) has a agricultural credit. proposed to Chief Minister will increase up to 10,000 said: “The government of improving their access to nutrition supportive, the nologies and practices; maturity of 17.5 years. According to an official Bhupesh Baghel that lac farm- tonnes. Chhattisgarh to encourage agro, Centre rejects Singh Deo’s forest-based industries: Minister claims, says Covid vaccine safe ing a district level enterprise meeting workshop at the Shankaracharya Cultural Singh Deo against Building in Mahasamund, a press release said. Lakhma said that to Covaxin minus 3rd phase promote industrial invest- ment promotion under Chhattisgarh’s new industrial clinical trial result policy, all development blocks of the state have been RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh He said Chhattisgarh should wait for the third should wait for the third classified into four categories. phase of the clinical trial phase of data from Covaxin. He said it will be a priori- results of Covaxin vaccine Replying to the charge of ty to provide employment to against Covid-19, Health slow rate of vaccination of local labourers in industries. Minister T.S. Singh Deo reit- frontline workers in Lakhma distributed erated on Friday. Chhattisgarh, Singh Deo Community Forest Resources He said this in response said he felt the Central n STAFF REPORTER Kawasi Lakhma on Friday employment without Rights Recognition Cards STAFF REPORTER n and union territories are safe to Union Health Minister Dr Minister did not have access MAHASAMUND said the government's inten- harming the environment. covering an area of 1,335 RAIPUR and immunogenic, he said. Harsh Vardhan’s remark that to the correct data. tion is to encourage more He said this while attend- hectares. He said that Chhattisgarh Covaxin is safe. In Chhattisgarh 71.6 hhattisgarh Commerce agro-based and forest-based nion Health Minister Dr has been able to cover only Harsh Vardhan on Friday Singh Deo told The percent of health workers Cand Industry Minister industries which will increase U 9.55 percent of its 2.09 lakh Pioneer that Dr Harsh have been covered in the 15th episode of Lokvaani on Feb 14 said that Covid vaccines are frontline workers through the safe and their use has been Vardhan in his letter has not first phase of vaccination, he RAIPUR: The 15th episode of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister first dose of the vaccine. He commented on the third said. Frontline workers’ vac- authorized by competent said this coverage needs to be Bhupesh Baghel's monthly radio talk Lokvaani will be aired authorities. phase clinical trial of Covaxin. cination started 4 to 5 days No govt function in on February 14, covering the subject of "Useful improved significantly. The issue remains, he added. back and by Friday we have He rejected the claims of On Thursday, Singh Deo Construction, Public Infrastructure, Your Expectations". Chhattisgarh Health Minister “Is there any relevance vaccinated over 14 precent The radio programme will be aired from all the stations had written to Dr Harsh to the third phase trial or of them. T.S. Singh Deo that some vials Vardhan demanding that Punni Mela this year of All India Radio in Chhattisgarh, FM radio stations and of the vaccine did not carry not? Or approval (for vac- "One issue we face is regional news channels from 10.30 am to 11 am, an official coronavirus vaccine Covaxin cine) can be given without vaccination of paramilitary STAFF REPORTER n expiry dates. should not be supplied to During the Mela, communication said on Friday. “As per New Drugs and third phase trials? If the forces. How they will receive RAIPUR Chhattisgarh. results of phase 1 and 2 are vaccine is yet to be ascer- holy baths will take Clinical Trials Rule, 2019 He reasoned that the clin- his year there will be no gov- under Drug and Cosmetics positive and if there are indi- tained. Will they come to the ical trials of phase-3 of cations its use is safe, then health department or will we ernment-sponsored cultural place on Feb 27, Act 1940 and in light of urgent T Covaxin is yet to be complet- we will start vaccination,” he have to reach their camps?" functions at ‘Maghi Punni Mela’ need due to Covid pandemic March 6 and Mar 11 Central team inspects quality ed and this has led to a sense said. he said. held at Rajim in Chhattisgarh. in the country, Central Drugs of hesitancy in its use. The mela will be held from and called a meeting of Standards & Control February 27 to March 11. Collectors and Organization (CDSCO) head- Religious Trust and Superintendents of Police of of health programmes ed by the Drug Controller Religion Minister Gariaband, Raipur and General of India (DCGI), the Tamradhwaj Sahu on Dhamtari districts. STAFF REPORTER n districts on February 25 and National Regular, has granted Thursday told officials that Facilities like roads, toi- RAIPUR 26, said an official commu- permission to manufacture this has been decided in view lets, power supply, water and nication issued by the two Covid-19 vaccine based of the corona guidelines from sanitation will be provided by team from the Union Chhattisgarh Health and on the prescribed procedure the Central government. the government, he said. AHealth and Family Family Welfare Department. and after due evaluation of However, for the conven- During the Mela, holy Welfare Ministry on Friday The team is monitoring pre-clinical and clinical trial ience of devotees, all arrange- baths will take place on visited Bemetara and Durg the quality of National data,” Dr Harsh Vardhan said ments will be made, he said. February 27, March 6 and districts to inspect the Leprosy Eradication pro- in his letter. Sahu earlier visited Rajim March 11. quality of health services gramme, National Vector Only those Covid-19 vac- extended at district hospi- Borne Disease Control cines that have been granted tals, community health Programme and Integrated permission for restricted use DIRECTORATE OF TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING, INDRAVATI centres, primary health Diseases Surveillance and in emergency situation by the BHAWAN, NAVA RAIPUR ATAL NAGAR RAIPUR (C.G.) centres as well as health and Management programme, DGCI (Covidshield and wellness centres. including the strategic Covaxin) are being used for FORM -X The team will visit approach to Reproductive, Covid-19 vaccination drive in (See Rule14(1)) Mungeli and Jagdalpur on Maternal, New born, Child the country. Notice of Publication of Kota Development Plan (Draft) 2031 February 23 and 24, followed and Adolescent Health Both these vaccines which No.-35 /DP-122 Dated - 03/02/2021 by Bilaspur and Dantewada (RMNCH +A). are being supplied to the states Notice is hereby given that the Draft of Development Plan for Kota Planning Area has been published in accordance with the provision of sub-section (1) of section 18 of the Chhattisgarh Nagar Tatha Gram Nivesh Adhiniyam, 1973 (No. 23 of 1973), a copy there of is available for inspection at,- (1) The Office of Commissioner Bilaspur Division, Bilaspur. (2) The Office of Collector Bilaspur. GOVERNMENT OF CHHATTISGARH, WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT (3) The Office of Joint Director Town And Country Planning, Regional office, OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER Bilaspur. WATER RESOURCES CONSTRUCTION DIVISION, KASDOL (4) The Office of Chief Municipal Officer, Nagar Panchayat, Kota. DISTRICT– BALODABAZAR-BHATAPARA (C.G.) If there be any objection or suggestion with respect to the said draft plan, the same may be submitted in writing to the Office of Town And Country e-PROCUREMENT TENDER NOTICE Planning, Bilaspur before the expiry of thirty days from the date of publication eProcurement Portal: https://eproc.cgstate.gov.in of this Notice in the Chhattisgarh Gazette for due consideration. rd Place : Nagar Panchayat Meeting Hall, Kota, Distt. Bilaspur. (3 Call) Date : 08.02.2021 System Tender No. : 71446/NIT No. : 18/SAC/2020-21, Kasdol, Dated : 09/02/2021 SCHEDULE Online Tenders are Invited for The Following Works up to 26/02/2021 at 17:30 Hour (IST):- a) Existing land use map and narrative report. Name of Work : BALANCE EARTH WORK OF R.B.C. FROM RD 0 TO 1200 M., L.B.C. FROM RD 0 TO 930 M. & ITS b) Narrative report explaining the provision of the draft MINOR FROM RD 0 TO 630 M. AND CONSTRUCTION OF 09 NOS. STRUCTURE & 10 NOS. D.O. development plan supported by maps and charts. OF SARRA TANK SCHEME IN PALARI BLOCK OF BALODABAZAR-BHATAPARA DISTRICT. c) Note indicating phasing of implementation of the draft plan and stating Probable Amount of Contract : Rs. 26.64 Lakhs the manner in which permission to development to be obtained. The details can be viewed and downloaded online directly from the Government of Chhattisgarh Integrated d) Note indicating an appropriate estimate of the cost of land acquistion for e-Procurement Portal (https://eproc.cgstate.gov.in) from Date 16/02/2021 at 17:31 Hours (IST) onwards. public purposes, and the cost of works involved in the implementation plan. NOTE :- All eligible/interested contractors/bidders are mandated to get enrolled on the Integrated e-procurement portal (https://eproc.cgstate.gov.in) and get approval on specific vendor class (Jitendra Kumar Shukla) (I.A.S) from PWD under Centralized Contractor/Supplier Registration in order to download the tender Director documents and participate in the subsequent bidding process. Town And Country Planning EXECUTIVE ENGINEER Indravati Bhawan, Nava Raipur Atal Nagar, Water Resources Construction Division G- 87042/3 Ryp/Dtd 11.2.21 Raipur (C.G.) G- 87034/2 Ryp/Dtd 11.2.21 Kasdol (C.G.) !"#$ !$ &!' () $! ' *+,-,*  $'

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he Centre on Friday $       << Trebuffed the Chhattisgarh Government’s claim that Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin had no  2  expiry date on its vials delivered = and that the jab had not com- should be used expeditiously. healthcare workers for vacci- pleted the third phase trials, The Congress-ruled state * = >? Some covid deaths are nicity, underlying conditions, * = >? nation has to be carried out by hence doubting its efficacy. had been expressing its reser- believed to be due to blood medication history, weight, 20 February. Mop up rounds Countering the inhibitions vations about Covaxin since it atients given preventive clots developing in major veins and smoking status were taken ver 77 lakh beneficiaries for the healthcare workers raised by Chhattisgarh Health received the Emergency Use Pblood thinning drugs (pro- and arteries. Anticoagulants into account. The researchers Ohave been vaccinated in shall be completed to end by Minister TS Singh Deo pub- Authorization(EUA) from phylactic anticoagulants) with- prevent blood clots forming then followed these patients to the country until now, includ- 25 February. licly, Union Health Minister India’s drug regulator on in 24 hours of admission to and have antiviral and poten- see who died or experienced a ing 2,61,309 people who were “For the frontline workers, Harsh Vardhan wrote to him January 3. The vaccine is yet to hospital with Covid-19 are tially anti-inflammatory prop- serious bleeding event within inoculated till 6 pm on Friday, scheduling for vaccination at asking not to sensationalise a complete its third phase of tri- less likely to die compared erties, so might be particular- 30 days of hospital admission. the Union Health Ministry has least once is fixed for 1 March. “non-issue” and divert focus als and is being used in clinical with those who do not receive ly effective in patients with A total of 3,627 (84.4%) of said. talisation reported in the last Mop up round for those who instead to step up measures to trial mode under nationwide them, a study published by The covid-19, but results from pre- patients received prophylactic It said that of the total 24 hours is a case of anaphy- couldn’t be vaccinated for any improve the “abysmally low Covid vaccination drive. British Medical Journal has vious studies have been incon- anticoagulation within 24 77,66,319, 58,65,813 benefi- laxis, which was treated at reason, should be covered lat- vaccination coverage” in the The Union Minister also found. clusive. hours of admission and there ciaries are healthcare workers, Murshidabad Medical College est by 6 March,” said Bhandari. State. pointed out that the state’s per- Clinical trials are now Their findings are based were 622 deaths (14.5%) with- constituting 58.9 per cent of and Hospital in West Bengal Meanwhile, India has Deo had tweeted on formance in vaccination cov- underway to see if prophylac- on data from the United States in 30 days. the target number. As many as and has been since discharged reported 9,309 new Covid-19 Thursday enclosing a letter to erage was way behind schedule. tic anticoagulants could be an Department of Veterans Affairs Death at 30 days was 19,00,506 frontline workers from the hospital,” it added. cases in the last 24 hours, tak- the Centre about concerns of Harsh Vardhan said that effective treatment for covid- for 4,297 patients (average age 14.3% among those who have received anti-Covid jabs The ten States with the ing the cumulative count of the State regarding the incom- while Chhattisgarh has 19. In the meantime, the 68 years; 93% men) admitted received prophylactic antico- so far, that is 21.2 per cent of highest number of vaccina- people infected with the virus plete third phase trials of the “achieved 69.87 per cent cov- researchers say these findings to hospital with covid-19 agulation compared with the government’s target. tions on Friday are: Uttar in the country to 1,08,80,603. vaccine and the absence of erage of its Health Care provide strong real world evi- between 1 March and 31 July 18.7% among those who did In addition to this, the Pradesh (68,135), Besides these new cases, expiration date on its vials Workers by giving them the dence to support their early use 2020. not - a relative risk reduction number of hospitalisations Maharashtra (24,946), 15,858 recoveries were report- delivered. first dose of the vaccine, the among patients in hospital Other potentially impor- as high as 34% and an absolute recorded as part of Covid-19 Madhya Pradesh (21897), ed in the country in the same He had also requested the state has been able to cover only with covid-19. tant factors including age, eth- risk reduction of 4.4%. vaccination is 33, of which, 21 Jammu and Kashmir (17,900), period. union government to halt the 9.55% of its 2,09,512 Front have been discharged from West Bengal (17,609), Gujarat The total count includes supply of Covaxin to Line Workers through the first hospital, two are under treat- (16,069), Karnataka (13,741), 1,35,926 active cases and Chhattisgarh until these issues dose of the vaccine”. Singh Deoji, rather than sen- significantly since adequate Covaxin vial is also complete- ment and 10 deaths were seen. Chhattisgarh (11,988), 1,05,89,230 recoveries, the were addressed. “Ample supplies of vac- sationalising non-issues, kind- quantities of both the vaccines ly unfounded and without basis “Percentage of hospitali- Jharkhand (10,488) and Ministry said adding that the Harsh Vardhan has given a cines have been delivered to ly focus on improving vaccine are available with the State,” as the same is mentioned on sation as against total vacci- Odisha (7,279). Covid-19 death toll has detailed explanation in his let- Chhattisgarh against which coverage in the state,” Harsh said the Union Health Minister the label of vaccine vials,” nations constitutes 0.0004 per The Ministry’s Joint reached 1,55,447 with 87 ter to Deo stating that all vac- coverage of only 9.55% front- Vardhan tweeted in the letter. Vardhan wrote while he cent,” the ministry said. Secretary Mandeep Bhandari deaths in the last 24 hours. cines supplied to states were line workers in the State is a “You would appreciate that “Your concern regarding attached a photo of a vial with “The new event of hospi- said that scheduling for all “safe and immunogenic” and matter of grave concern. Sh. TS this coverage needs to improve unavailability of expiry date on the label. ?+ *&       $         .'G *    O  $ 0 P  ther explained during the meet- (    = >? Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, only if the farmers want to dis- * = >? ings, the benefits including        Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttar cuss this proposal. legal validity pertaining to mid farmers’ protests and Pradesh and West Bengal dis- According to officials, the he Centre on Friday said recently enacted new Farm Amahapanchayats in cussed the farm laws with committee members had ear- Tthat farmers’ unions never laws. However, farmers’ unions  4    Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar committee members through lier earlier interacted with agreed to discuss the farm never agreed to discuss the Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab video conferencing,” the com- representatives of agriculture laws excepting for demanding farm laws excepting for The Congress MP asked to pressurise the Government mittee said. “All the partici- departments’ of 18 states- their repeal. The Centre further demanding their repeal,” * * = >? whether the Indian army will to repeal the farm legisla- pating farmer unions, FPOs Andaman & Nicobar Islands, stated that the National Tomar said. withdraw from heights of tions, the Supreme Court- and farmers gave their Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Highways Authority of India The question was asked by ongress MP Adhir Rahan Kailash range which they had appointed expert committee detailed views and sugges- Dadra and Nagar Haveli and (NHAI) is facing a loss of MP Jharna Das Baidya on the CChowdhury on Friday tactically “seized” during the held another meeting with has held nine round of delib- tions on the three farm laws,” Daman & Diu, , nearly Rs 1.8 crore every day as farmers protests on details of sought in the Lok Sabha a clar- stand-off along the LAC. “Are 12 farmers’ unions and Farm erations with stakeholders the committee added. Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & it has been unable to collect time-bound proposal of gov- ification from the Government we to keep this advantage? Any Produce Organisations’ engaged directly or indirect- All the nine deliberations Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, user fee at the affected public ernment to overcome the on the status of army’s posi- give and take policy,” he asked. (FPOs) and representatives ly in the agriculture sector so were held without participa- Maharashtra, Meghalaya, funded toll plazas due to farm struggle of farmers to get their tioning on Kailash range on the Chowdhury asked what is of 18 State and Union far. The three-member com- tion of the 41 protesting farm- Nagaland, Delhi, Punjab, stirs since November 26. lives back on track. Line of Control in Ladakh bor- the Government’s way to Territories of agriculture mittee has been holding con- ers’ unions. The protesting Sikkim, Tamil Nadu and In a written reply to Rajya In response to an unstarred der following the de-escalation remove China from Depsang ? departments and sought their sultations with stakeholders, farmers under the banner of Uttarakhand on Thursday. Sabha, Union Agriculture question by Lok Sabha MP PC agreement with China. The Congress MP was feedback over the farm legis- both online and in person. Sanyukt Kisan Morcha - has Officials said that State Minister Narendra Singh Gaddigoudar, Union Road Raising the issue during interrupted by Parliamentary lations. In a statement, the com- refused to talk to the com- Government representatives Tomar said on Friday during Transport and Highways the zero hour, Chowdhury Affairs Minister Arjun According to the agricul- mittee said it held its interac- mittee -continue to protest at have hailed the farm laws the 11th round of negotia- Minister stated asked the defence minister to Meghwal who said the Defence ture ministry, they not only tions through video confer- Delhi’s borders - Tikri, Singhu, and also suggested some feed- tions, the government had that some of the public fund- clarify about the status in the Minister has given a statement gave their frank views about encing with farmers, farmer and Ghazipur for over 75 back to improve it. been requesting the agitating ed toll plazas are non-opera- Depsang region where he and the member should be the agrarian laws but also gave unions and farmer producer days. Union Agriculture At present, the talks farmers’ unions to discuss the tional owing to the farm alleged China had moved 18 proud of the country’s defence suggestions to improve the organisations (FPOs). “At Minister Narendra Singh between the Union Farm laws clause by clause in protests. kms inside Indian territory. forces. implementation of the laws. least 12 farm unions and Tomar categorically said that Government and the farmers’ order to resolve their concerns This was the second meeting farmers from Andhra the Union government is unions have come to a stand- on the clauses bothering them. with FPOs. The Committee Pradesh, Bihar, Jammu and ready for another meeting still. “The Government had fur- !"#$ !$ &!' () $! ' *+,-,*  $

   )P         !       !2 1       !"  !  #$ # %  &     +11# remains the focal point of attraction. After returning from work majority of (  *  " he administration in the Union Rohingyas converge at this place to New Delhi: With the Centre # TTerritory of Jammu and Kashmir has unwind and indulge in routine shopping. and Twitter continuing their  * "3>"+(+ Minister Rajib Banerjee who Sabha colleague Kalyan been directed by the Division Bench of There are kiosks where Rohingya youth tussle, Information and last week joined the BJP quit- Banerjee called him a “Gaddar” Jammu and Kashmir High Court to file its settle down, play games on their smart- Broadcasting Minister Prakash ours after senior ting the TMC said more of his (traitor) like those other lead- response within a month listing out mea- phones and indulge in chatting, sipping Javadekar on Friday joined HTrinamool Congress former colleagues would desert ers who left the TMC in the sures taken so far to identify and deport coffee and munching their favorite snacks. India's own micro-blogging leader Dinesh Trivedi quit his the Trinamool Congress State past few months. The Bengal illegal immigrants from Myanmar and Kifayatullah, selling different vari- platform 'Koo', joining several party and Rajya Sabha mem- Parliamentary Affairs ruling outfit has of late been Bangladesh camping in the region. 5            eties of fish, told The Pioneer, “I am sell- Ministers who have already bership alleging oppressive Minister Tapas Roy said plagued by desertions with The directions were passed by the    ing fish outsourced from New Delhi.He created their accounts on it. atmosphere in the organization, “his (Dinesh) status has never senior leaders quitting the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice said I travel on a regular basis to either While Railways and Commerce TMC leaders launched a been better than that of a polit- party one after the other. Pankaj Mithal and first Puisne Judge camping across three dozen locations in Ghazipur mandi in New Delhi or Mumbai Minister was the scathing attack on him for act- ical go-between … a Gujarati The State BJP promptly Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey after hear- and around Jammu and other district to book choicest varieties of fish and sell first Minister from the Modi ing like a “typical Gujarati bania (businessman) as he is he reacted to Trivedi’s resignation ing advocates on behalf of the petitioner headquarters in Jammu and Kashmir. it here. I earn 3000- 4000 on a daily basis cabinet to join the Koo App, middle man” betraying has acted like one,” adding saying the senior leader was an Hunar Gupta who had filed a Public Enterprising youngsters from by selling different varieties of fish.Majority Electronics and information Mamata Banerjee “because the “his presence in the party had asset in any party and will Interest Litigation in the matter. Myanmar have set up different shops sell- of other Rohingyas earn their living by way technology minister Ravi BJP might be giving him neither benefited us nor his accept him if he wanted to join In contrast to this, it is business as ing household items, vegetables, ration, of selling scrap material, working as Shankar Prasad, who too more…” absence will hurt the the saffron outfit. usual in the areas where the majority of and a variety of snacks to tease the taste labourers and laying cables, cleaning lanes joined the platform a few days The attack came amid TMC.”Trivedi has left the party While Bengal BJP presi- these illegal immigrants especially the buds of Burmese nationals living in the and drains under different contractors ago, on Friday thanked his reports that Trivedi was joining not responding to the call of his dent Dilip Ghosh said Trivedi Rohingya population from Myanmar is area. engaged by the Jammu Municipal corpo- followers as his follower count the BJP and might get a nom- “Antar Atma (soul) but Pret was always welcome in his camping in Jammu. A Fish market which is located in the ration. Womenwork in local factories on the new app reached 5 ination in the Upper House Atma (ghost) and he will be party. “He has been an honest According to the Home department temporary Rohingya colony on the out- where dry fruits are segregated, packed and lakh. from Gujarat. rejected by the people in this person, a good man trapped in estimates there are around 8000 Rohingyas skirts of Jammu in Kiryani talab area cleaned inside godowns. Making the announcement Trivedi, a trusted lieutenant State,” Roy who was most vocif- a bad party. He will be always through his Twitter handle, of the Chief Minister, on Friday erous agaisnt the former welcome in the party if he Javadekar said, “I am now on quit his party and resigned his Railway Minister said. decides to do so.” Party’s #Koo also, the #MakeInIndia Upper House membership say- Trinamool MP Kakoli observer for Bengal Kailash      micro-blogging platform. ing he could no longer with- Ghoshdastidar said that Trivedi Vijayvargiya too sounded Follow me @prakashjavadekar stand the muzzling atmos- left the party after a deal with enthusiastic about his joining   ** The number of fatalities Tamil Nadu has 4,285 Covid-19 Chengalpattu registered 45 new on #KooApp.” The application phere (in the TMC) that not the BJP. “He must have been the saffron outfit saying “I ?+@"3? registered in Tamil Nadu dur- patients across the State as on cases. Many districts recorded was launched 10 months ago only choked his voice but also promised more by the BJP and hope he comes and joins us for ing the last 24 hours stood at six Friday while Kerala, which had zero cases of the pandemic on but in the last few weeks it saw did not allow him to work. so he has left the Trinamool,” the bigger cause that we are hile the number of new while 18 persons lost their lives claimed itself to be the global Friday. a massive surge in user base as While former Bengal Dastidar said while her Lok working for.” Wpatients diagnosed with in Kerala due to Coviod-19. leader in Covid-19 manage- While this is being seen as Union ministers and govern- Covid-19 on Friday came down According to a release issued by ment had 63,691 patients suf- a big achievement by the Tamil ment departments have to 483 in Tamil Nadu, neigh- the office of Kerala’s Health fering from the pandemic, said Nadu Government, medical endorsed the homegrown 3  # bouring Kerala is being literal- Minister, death toll is likely to the release from the health fraternity preferred caution. “It microblogging platform amid > ly battered because of the pan- be high as the Government was minister’s office. There are 2.41 can never be due to vaccination a spat with Twitter.    demic. Kerala, which had been expecting some more results lakh persons in Kerala who are as the vaccines are yet to reach “Great to have 5 Lakh fol- declared as a State free of from National Virology under observation. the population,” said Dr C V lowers on Koo- an Indian Covid-19 as on May 8, 2020, Institute at Alappuzha. A release issued by Tamil Krishnaswamy, veteran physi- microblogging platform.   3   diagnosed 5,397 new patients While Tamil Nadu’s death Nadu’s Directorate of Health cian who has been tracking the Thank you everyone for your with the pandemic on Friday toll reached 12,408 mark by said that 142 new patients were pattern of the Covid-19 since it love and support +4"-" (   *   with a Test Positivity Rate of Friday evening, Kerala regis- diagnosed on Friday with was reported first in #VocalForLocal,” the IT min- 2 &  &    >  7.25. tered 3,954 deaths till Friday. Covid-19 while neighbouring India. ister tweeted. PNS $         &   *             (       7$       & *  &    589:       $        *     >   New Delhi/Patna: Bihar is all set Kumar Singh, Principal Shahjahanpur: Two sisters      &    ' to prepare a strategy for climate Secretary to Bihar Government allegedly committed suicide here (     resilient and low carbon devel- Dipak Kumar Singh (IAS) and by consuming poison, following 0     2, *          opment pathway with the sup- UNEP Country Head Atul Bagai a financial dispute. ,     D &     (  *  port of the UN Environment amongst various other repre- The incident took place in *          Programme (UNEP). An MoU sentatives from Centre, United the Tilhar Police circle here. Patna: Following apex court directions, the  ++  “Many of these hotels are unregistered.  *  *   & was signed by the Bihar Nations, External Affairs Nisha, 22, and Gulafsha, 21, Patna High Court on Friday ordered for They should not be taking bookings         *  Government and UNEP on Ministry and Bihar Government consumed a poisonous sub- day-to-day hearings in the Munger firing record 1.5 crore tourists arrived in Goa without registering with the Tourism &     *    Friday. at the UN office in national stance on Wednesday night and case in which a young man was killed in Aby the time coronavirus pandemic Department,” Ajgaonkar said, adding that  *   &    >$ While Union Minister of Capital.Satya S Tripathi, UN were rushed to a government alleged police firing during an idol immer- struck the country, Tourism Minister such bookings were illegal because it did  &  ' State, Environment, Forest and Assistant Secretary-General was hospital in Tilhar where their sion procession at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Manohar Ajgaonkar said on Friday. not bring the government any revenue. (    *   ? & Climate Change Babul Supriyo also present. This UNEP sup- condition started deteriorating. Chowk, a lawyer in the case said. Ajgaonkar said that the figure was “The Tourism Department did not  D      graced the occasion as chief ported initiative by the Additional Superintendent The court directions came after it arrived at following a survey by global con- earn from these bookings. But people  *   &  *    guest on a virtual platform, the Government of Bihar will also of Police (ASP) Sanjiv Bajpai said admitted a criminal writ petition filed by sultancy firm KPMG engaged by the Goa earned money. This is illegal,” Ajgaonkar      "   agreement was reached in pres- pave the way for other States to the sisters were later shifted to the father of deceased Anurag Poddar, aged government for the formulation of a said. &  2   ence of Bihar Dy Chief Minister embark on this journey of cli- the medical college hospital, 18. tourism master plan. Last month, the Goa Assembly had  * *   &    Tarakishore Prasad, State mate resilience and low carbon but died during treatment on The High Court directed the Bihar “KPMG survey said that 1.5 crore debated the tourist figures put forth by the   *' * Environment Minister Neeraj development. PNS Thursday. IANS government to file its reply to the petition tourists came to Goa, both national and state, especially after the pandemic waned by March 1 and thereafter the petitioner international,” Ajgaonkar told a press and travel restrictions were gradually might file his rejoinder by March 9. conference in Panaji. lifted. 6      Advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava said: According to government records, While Chief Minister J &     D* “Earlier, the High Court had refused to Goa's population is around 1.5 million. had said that 40-45 lakh tourists had grant urgent hearing in this case, after The Minister said that Tourism arrived in Goa after the lifting of travel        which the victim's mother filed a petition Department records initially recorded restrictions, Ajgaonkar said in a written  *   +O 4  in the Supreme Coaurt. The apex court around 88 lakh tourist footfalls. But a sub- reply tabled during the session that only ,0 )    asked the High Court on January 25 to sequent survey revealed additional tourists 9.71 lakh tourists had arrived in the state. Amaravati:As many as three former village volunteers, tasked with distributing decide the case within two staying put in unregistered hotels, guest- Goa is regarded as one of the leading New Delhi: Brushing aside the Opposition government services to the people, managed to win the Sarpanch posts in months. Accordingly, the High Court houses and other lodgings operated by beach and nightlife tourism destinations charge that the NDA regime was promoting Visakhapatnam district in the recently concluded first phase of the Panchayat decided on Friday to conduct daily hear- app-based aggregators. in the country. “crony capitalism,” Finance Minister Nirmala polls in Andhra Pradesh.Volunteers won the Sarpanch posts in the Melipaka vil- ings so as to decide it on or before March Sitharaman on Friday took a dig at the Congress lage of Munagapaka Mandalam, Mangalapuram village of Bucchayyapeta 25, 2021.” for favouring a “damaad” (son-in-law). “Who Mandalam and Jamadulapalem of Kashimkota Mandalam. “In the petition listed before the HC, takes Mudra Yojana loans totalling more than Ainampudi Bhaskar Raju won the Sarpanch post in Melipaka, Padmarekha the petitioner has sought a CBI inquiry + #      Rs 27,000 crore? Damaads?” she asked as she in Mangalapuram and Karaka Rajyalakshmi in Jamadulapalem. into his son's murder primarily on the outlined that the Government was committed Incidentally, the volunteers managed to impress upon the villagers through ground that since area police is an accused, ,-!#,   ./ to the welfare of the people. the contact they established with them while delivering government services. investigation must be conducted through Putting a spirited defence of her budget for Across the state, several volunteers took the electoral plunge in the recent some independent agency and not by Fatehpur (Uttar Pradesh): A mother and daughter committed suicide by jumping in front of 2021-22 tabled in Parliament on February one, elections.Similarly, a Russia-educated young doctor contested the Sarpanch elec- police itself,” Srivastava added. a speeding train in Fatehpur district. she said in the Rajya Sabha it has become the tion in Guntur district recently. Commenting on the development, the The incident took place on Thursday and officials said that both the bodies were severed opposition’s habit to constantly accuse the Jada Jitin Dev, who was working as a doctor in Guntur town left his job to youth's father said there was some hope of into pieces after being hit by the train. The police have sent the dismembered bodies for post Centre and spin a false narrative. test his electoral prospects in his village Gopalamvaripalem. getting justice for his deceased son. mortem.The deceased have been identified as Rajrani, 47, wife of Nanbudh and their daughter Replying to a debate on the budget in which This village falls under Chilakaluripeta rural. “Despite specific allegations by the Puja, 18. 48 MPs from difference parties spoke, she said Meanwhile, the state is poised to conduct the rest three phases of elections petitioner that his son was killed by According to circle officer Anshuman Mishra, “The two reached near Bheet Baba Devasthan Budget 2021-22 is the instrument through which in the four-phase Panchayt polls. IANS Munger policemen, not even one person West Cabin area and jumped before a speeding goods train. The two sustained grievous injuries Aatmanirbhar Bharat is to be attained. has been arrested or even named in the and died on the spot. The deceased were natives of Elai village under the Khaga Kotwali police “It's a budget which clearly draws on the FIR. There is virtually no progress in inves- circle.” experience, the administrative capacities and tigation even after a lapse of more than 100 The police said no suicide note has been recovered and they were questioning the family also exposure that the Prime Minister had dur-  # P' (  Q days of the crime. Media reports claim that members to ascertain the cause behind the extreme step. ing his long-elected tenure, both as Chief a few eyewitnesses to the Munger firing are “However, preliminary investigations revealed that the woman, along with her daughter com- Minister and as Prime Minister of this country, *   !  being implicated in false prohibition cases mitted suicide, after her husband Nanbudh rejected her proposal of marrying their daughter to known for his commitment towards develop- and shown as absconders,” Srivastava a man who used to frequent their place. However, further investigations are on and we await ment, growth, and reforms. So these three things Guwahati: To reach out to the people Rakibul Hussain and former minister claimed. IANS the autopsy report to ascertain the exact cause of their death,” said the police officer. IANS are essentially infused in the budget which is before the Assembly elections, the Gautam Bora flagged off the Yatra. now speaking for itself in the sense that it is the Congress in Assam on Friday launched Singh said: “The aim of this Yatra instrument through which Aatmanirbhar Bharat the 'Bus Yatras' named 'Axom Basaon is to listen to every section of the soci- is to be attained,” Sitharaman said. Ahok' (Let's Save Assam). ety -- women, youth, unemployed and On the often repeated charge of crony cap- The party said the Yatra would people from every walk of life. Many italism promoted by the present dispensation, criss-cross the State for two weeks, sections of the society are coming for- the minister said a false narrative was created while meeting the people and dis- ward to share their issues and concerns to say this government “works only for cussing their grievances and other with the Congress party through this cronies.” PNS issues. Yatra.” Assam Pradesh Congress The Congress leader said that the Committee President Ripun Bora said ruling has failed &I    that through the four bus yatras, the on its 2016 electoral promise to protect party leaders would reach out to every the community, identity and honour of  * *&    family across the state to know their Assam. opinion, sufferings and hardships in the State Congress chief Ripun Bora Raipur: The new industrial policy implement- last five years of the BJP's “misrule”. said that the Congress government ed by the State Government under the leader- The Axom Basaon Ahok's first bus under the leadership of former Chief ship of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is yatra began from Bordowa Than, the Minister Tarun Gogoi had worked real- attracting investors. In the last two years, 1207 birthplace of Srimanta Sankardeva, ly hard to bring stability and peace in new industries have been established in the state, the 15the century saint. Assam. “The BJP wants to push Assam a capital investment of 16 thousand 897 crore Lok Sabha MP and Congress into turbulence through their divisive has been made through these industries in the Campaign Committee Chairman, agenda but we will not let it happen,” state, in which more than 22 thousand people Pradyut Bordoloi launched the Yatra the APCC President stated. have got direct employment. Similarly, a total of from Bordowa Than in central Assam's “The people of Assam have been 104 MoUs for mega industrial projects have been Nagaon district. put to torture by the BJP government signed during this period. The proposed total Talking to the media, he said : “We on economic, sociological and envi- capital investment of these units is 42 thousand will reach-out to every household ronment front. We would listen to 714.48 crore, through which about 65 thousand through this yatra and appeal to every everyone through this yatra and ensure people will get employment. person to support Congress party to every section of the society is taken It is noteworthy that in the last two years in save Assam from being destroyed by along the path of peace and prosperi- the state of Chhattisgarh, there has been a rapid the BJP and its cronies. We will inter- ty again,” said Gaurav Gogoi, deputy industrial development. To achieve this growth, act with diverse sections of the society leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha. the state government not only implemented the to understand their issues and prob- Congress Legislature party leader new industrial policy but also included amend- lems.” Debabrata Saikia also launched the sec- ments in this policy as per the requirement of AICC General Secretary and ond yatra from the eastern Assam's his- the investors. The state government imple- party's Assam in-charge Jitendra Singh, toric town of Sivasagar. mented food processing policy along with the Assam Congress President Ripun Bora, The Congress led by Tarun Gogoi establishment of food parks in the development Congress Manifesto Committee governed Assam from 2001 to 2016 blocks of the state and also executed MoU for Chairman Gaurav Gogoi, party's before the BJP came to power five years $                          )      ) 3   this purpose. Publicity Committee Chairman ago. IANS    !"#$ !$ &!' () $! ' *+,-,* $&

1!  1  *  '* @    B(     & '* @  @ %%&$'(#%))(*+ $ '34.12 @      !    ' ;        +          7% 3   $           "% !   ! O       *     .       *    &  7   *      *        9:    S     +       t was heartening to hear      ./'01 "?+ !   Prime Minister Narendra    !   S  +        Modi speak up in Parliament     !+ +     O      Iin defence of wealth creators. This must be as motivational in +   +         boosting the confidence of India  (   O + Inc as was the PM’s catchphrase of       ! !  ! being “Vocal for local” for domes-   P' !' Q   '  tic manufacturers. “The culture of  -    @ S +     abusing the private sector is not acceptable any longer,” Modi said           in his reply on the motion of       "%  +   A   thanks to the President’s address. 7 R#-S    CP    This was indeed a bold rebut-         ;   tal to the “andolan-jeevis” (profes- sional protesters) who continue to    + +   criticise pro-corporate reforms          "Q and resist agri reforms, which       ! /  A  even the US and Canada official-  +    - !   ly asked for through the WTO fora. The Opposition’s objections? +             $5  - That “this Government works %  " +         +    3  " only to benefit the Big Boys”. Let’s '   -   D              put it in perspective: It’s the Big  88= O ;             88  Boys of India Inc, just like the Big Boys who comprise the Internet Government has put in place any social safety net. The increased allocations towards O    S       +  "$    ! Giants of the US, who have had punitive measures as also suc- Government has stretched its Productivity-Linked Incentive +  - -!         " a multiplier effect in creating ceeded in recovering 1,05,773 limits of generating employ- (PLI) schemes in sunrise sec- %D - ; -$6-     -+     jobs, contributing towards the crore of the total 1,72,565 ment through schemes like tors, while allocations towards +     -+              GDP and paying taxes. crore through the IBC route. PMEGP, MNREGA, DDU- Fintech Hubs and Textile Isn’t this the Modi we all voted However, it is imperative GKY and the PM-Mudra Yojna. Parks will bolster job creation. (    "P'  S   0!Q for in 2014? As a contender, he that the Government continues Budget 2021 is infrastruc- But the key lies in speedy  "+ - S    +        E'' !+ promised transformation and to improve the “ease of doing ture-led rather than consump- implementation and ensuring                     more employment avenues for the business” (EoDB) for the “good tion stimulating as “it is esti- that the funds are released and  % + "%(#  !   - D  - aspirational youth. While Modi capitalists”. Budgets 2020 and mated that of the Government fully utilised in time.        !  -  -   "' #    !  combined Hindu cultural nation- 2021 have, through financial spend of 1 on infrastructure, Lastly, with formal jobs alism with economic growth, he and administrative reforms, 2.5 are generated in real econ- shrinking, net new job growth  +    +  + F   3 never built his campaign on a lim- shown the intent to walk the talk D 7>32+> omy”. To fund expenditure has been created by startups. A G       "7+ !;     ited and sectarian ideology, but on eradicating tax terrorism by 1+"(D + instead of raising taxes, the India needs 10 million jobs  +   "% !S  !  -    F      promised universal prosperity. implementing faceless assess- Centre will rely on off-revenue annually, and current esti-    ;    "F +H        !'  Flashback to 2013 when ment and appeals, dispensing $>#D? =(? sources like asset monetisation mates project that it will have Chief Minister Modi hit the with retrospective taxation, and setting a realistic target for 60,000 startups and 100 uni-  +     8:80       " campaign trail to become the decriminalising certain Sections >M#(E + disinvestment of 1,75,000 corns by 2025. The exponen- Prime Minister. What was the under the Companies Act, (D( +(D crore. Therefore, it needs to tial growth of startups can be key differentiator between him improving the ease of filing + +( (? incentivise the private sector to seen by how India scaled up on *2 and the incumbent Congress-led returns and reducing from six bid for loss-making Public substituting imports with man- UPA? That Modi was an able years to three years the period >3=D( 13E Sector Units and encourage its ufacturing: From ventilators, administrator, a business-friend- when tax cases can be reopened. >33"D $3 + participation in infrastructure, PPE kits, masks, sanitisers and ly CM whose Gujarat model Besides improving the for which the Government testing kits, to becoming the sparked hopes of replicating a EoDB parameters, it is equal- >+ $3 has raised capital expenditure vaccine supplier to the world. similar paradigm at the Centre; ly important to lower the cost 3$(+2> + outlays by 34.5 per cent. With multiple reasons for that Modi came unencumbered of doing business. This is As global financial markets economic optimism, we must from the baggage of family, achievable by not only keep- D"$ are flush with liquidity, or “heli- get the “Vocal for local” indus- dynasty or corruption and that he ing the cost of credit low but >3E1(' D3 copter money”, and interest try to thrive. And when we do vowed to shake off the decision- also by lowering electricity and rates are at their lowest, money bag windfall profits, or are jolt- making inertia UPA2 had sunk land rates, and by minimalis- (?D D (? 7?( looks for a place for profitable ed by shocks, the Government to as it was steeped in charges of ing compliance procedures. (1 (3 $3#D 3 and risk-free deployment. So must continue with its sup- corruption and cronyism. As the PM said: “Wealth this is the right time to focus on portive policy and monetary Cut to 2021. It’s time to aban- creators are most needed to +((+(7 attracting long-term debt cap- recalibrations as it has been don the socialist mindset of the redistribute wealth or how else >37(1 2( ital by forming a Development doing through 2020 by intro- 1970s and take pride in wealth will we give jobs?” India has Finance Institution, much ducing mini-budgets. creation. For the “bad capitalists”, only 10 crore labourers in the +(+> needed for long gestation pro- (The writer is an author, the tax evaders and wilful default- organised sector as against 40 jects like infrastructure. columnist and Chairperson, ers of the UPA2 era who contin- crore in the unorganised sector Besides, private growth NCFIL, at Niti Aayog. The ued to ever-green their loans, the where they don’t have access to multipliers will come from views expressed are personal).  # / 01 /# SOUNDBITE       ,)5           *   Sir— Initially, China was against any probe  !"#      into COVID outbreak from its soil. It is   (    " clear that the World Health Organisation’s ** &   * I  *    &  2 '     * 7   I &  '      (WHO’s) recent investigation to find the       origin of Coronavirus was not carried out 2   *   &    (  * ?   7           * ' ?  *      in the best of circumstances which leaves  *  ' a room for doubt.      *    &      * ' (       &                      The timing of the fact-finding mission (* ".6 creates suspicion as it has been carried out     * &&  **  * K" 4&      O       !      as per Chinese convenience, including the  7   ' ( & (   **             !   O     7         investigation itinerary. These look like '    &       7    (   &    "  #    $#$     % & '( only attempts by the WHO to save its face     #  at the global level. Moreover, citing health     &  &     %&'  P  Q                &          &  reasons the team led by the WHO was not      ( !+ %&'  PQ,       given free hand in its fact-finding proceed- '                   "             ings. Had China been truly transparent and   &   **  *  7        &          N         *    '      * ' +            -  O WHO been given a fair opportunity to   I 9$  .0:'    *  & unearth the origin of the Coronavirus at a ( $                    O       &**   *         * *     "8 "6P, =8; ;= time the deadly virus is undergoing muta-     *      &   K7   1 +& ?&           tions across the globe, it would have   * ** *  * &  &     -   ./'01  "     &   &          *  &        placed the world in a safer position. $*  =+  (  &        +   -  China will never reveal the actual inci-  * &       * *     ' (     *      *   ' (   N            dents that have led to the spread of the virus.    *    & &*     O   *   The whole proceedings helped China to ,;" )"-,       !       * &    wash its hands of its sins. The world is fight-      *    -    2+ " ing COVID and countries like India have to social factors like equality, humanity and ties are also expected to increase exorbitant-   * ' I          + put all their weight against it. India and ,above all, democracy is something worthy ly. This will break the back of common peo- other nations should pressure the WHO for *               3  %  of appreciation and emulation by others. ple and land them into the vicious cycle of      *    '  3%! -+ P+   conducting a free and fair investigation to Way to go, indeed! loan and interest repayment. It may lead to find out the truth. To conclude, the so-called charges of unrest in the country and turn the citizens ;-+6   Q!        S      V Nagendra Kumar | Hyderabad lackadaisical attitude and other accusations against the elected Government. K" "      O3%    rampant on the Geneva-based Commission If that happens, it will be against the        "' S -       should be looked into sincerely. Starting interests of the BJP who will lose the next ( *  1+  + 3%!             +    ! Sir —American President Joe Biden and his now, many more good things will emerge elections for sure. Indian economy has been   team have been on an action spree, taking    -    " from the UNHRC with the presence of badly hit by the pandemic; instead of help- D   serious steps to reverse all these ill-con- mature and sincere regimes like the Biden ing the people in such an hour of crisis, the *      ' %          !   (  ceived strategies and policies of his prede- Administration. Biden offers hope to the Government is making things more diffi-                      "%   cessor. No doubt such good deeds need the world and all countries should cooperate cult for its citizens.    '       /        !   media attention apart from deserving with America’s endeavour to maintain The prices of commodities should be 6;4-6 appreciation, the decision to re-engage with peace and prosperity across the globe. reasonable so that even common people K+      -   !  ,          the United Nations Human Rights P Senthil Sarvana Durai | Mumbai with meagre income can afford these and   +         "$  !   Commission (UNHRC) being the latest. lead a peaceful life. It is high time the      Q   +   &     +    P  Q   Here the Biden team’s penchant for a string Government took strong measures to con-       5, ! !5  !56 "#   #78"9#70: of multilateral activities deserves special Sir — The prices of domestic gas, petrol trol the prices, else our country will go back                     !    attention. and diesel have increased under the BJP in time 10-15 years. We are watching   &  Biden is a seasoned politician and his regime at the Centre and have already patiently. #$"%   ' 7      '7! %&'     &    policies show his mature mind, contrary to reached the saturation point for common Bhagwan Thadani | Mumbai  ** '   +  "3 ++   +      Donald Trump who had scattershot poli- people who have already been devastated           "'+ !   cies and was nothing more than a “butt of by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now the  6;-+6 a joke”. Similarly, the Biden team’s attention prices of all essential items and commodi-     2    -    P  Q ( + " --6,-+7+869: "$;+ K  7  !"#$ !$ &!' () $! ' *+,-,* $)

1!  1  *  '* @    B(     & '* @  @ FIRSTCOLUMN ? (+.())/&)) )#*$0 5(*678*$4*(*2      &             *        34 & @A > hatever semblance of democracy Myanmar had, was blown off in a coup d’état by the WArmy on February 1. The erstwhile Burma is again under the shadow of military Government 5.$/$66  10 or Junta. The Army took control of the power cor-                ridors and detained the elected leader, Aung San Suu +   9:     Kyi, President Win Myint and other leaders and % activists.   !   +        "      ./'01  Coup d’état, no matter where, is always bad news for democracy and cause for concern the world over.        0I:      With military generals ruling the roost, people lose    + '    "  ! whatever little control they have over the  + R    S R   S!  Government. Whenever Army, which is neither +-            - D" trained to govern nor sensitive to the people’s aspi- $    '      ration and deamands, takes control, it does what it      " is best trained to do — crush anyone coming in its  !  (      way and rule with an iron fist. However, what hap- pened in Myanmar under the democratic regime was   ./'   "$  3'   no less disturbing. The country’s democratic ' 3''$ $      Government did not help its people in any way. It ( =+D 733         , "3''! + S only perpetrated a reign of terror to which the world + (3 2+           ! turned a blind eye. They might have thought that #22D?' +( democracy will take care of it. Ironically, it didn’t. >+D( (? +1E It tarnished the image of democracy and left peo- 17?( 2 + >((> ple’s faith shaken to the core. Now when country is 3D3#D +23#( under the direct control of the Junta, the army gen- (D +(3D' (? erals would have to act more responsibly. Else, they 2#$$ 34 risk a serious backlash which the military regime 2E (? might not like, nor afford. There are all-round 13+( D( others, the Buddhists who opposed But she failed to practise what she them in anymore, they made it to protests in the country. The army is facing flak from # D 3 13 the army till the late eighties have now read. It was good riddance to bad rub- India and other countries. Human the international community in no less measure. Its (?' (? #(+ turned pro-army in their approach. bish. At least the army might be a lit- rights violations transcend borders well-crafted schism between Buddhists and 17?( 2 + >((> Today many Sanghas defend all the tle conscious about its actions. The and they cannot be brushed aside Rohingyas may not be enough to legitimise it. The army misdoings in Rakhine State. The buffer provided by the democratic arguing that it is an internal affair of protests going on for days have now led to the vir- 13 DD(4 army courting the Buddhists has cost setup is no more there. The Junta some nation. tual siege of the Capital. (3 (? Rohingyas their life and liberty. might be a little more sensitive to the There is another reason that The Army has ruled the country for more than (+(3+> The other fallout of this coup has international community which is Burma would emerge as a better  9: J:       +  50 years after the coup in 1962. Burma attained inde- 311#(E been a shocker for Aung San Suu Kyi. already outraged. It is interesting to country after this coup. It is to do         K:   " pendence in 1948 from the British rule. It is the poor- =?? D For her, it would be an eye-opener, a note how the international commu- with realpolitik. The American and F (           est country in the region. About a quarter of the pop- +>+E time to introspect and ponder over nity is alarmed when the garb of European Union’s (EU) involvement ulation lives in abject poverty. Though it is a resource- 3#(+7' ( D her acts as the Prime Minister. Suu democracy is blown off, no matter is surely going to make a difference   8=   I:  + (D(7 (3  !            +-  rich country, its economy is one of the least devel- Kyi had told Reuters in 2018 that the how flimsy. New Zealand has here. Though China has strategic oped in the world and poverty is rampant, thanks 3( ?3= (? relationship with the military was snapped ties with Myanmar. The US and economic interests, it did not    "        to decades of financial mismanagement and serious 7>32+> “not that bad” and that the Generals has imposed sanctions. However, want a military regime that will make   -+ (    +    !    corruption. Myanmar is ranked 137 in the 311#(E D in her cabinet were “rather sweet”! no one was much concerned during it a pariah. The sanctions would hurt !    (        Corruption Perception Index by the Transparency +>+1 =? Sometimes poetic justice is delivered the ethnic cleansing of Rohingyas, Chinese economic interests and    "F I=3      International among 180 countries. Burma spends (? 7+2 3$ sooner than imagined. It must be except for a few human rights organ- investments. +     !   <0       the lowest percentage of its Gross Domestic Product 13+E D even more disconcerting when it is isations. The US has imposed new sanc-  -   ./'    (GDP) on healthcare. Its standard of healthcare is 2>3= 3$$ 3 delivered by the very set of the peo- An Amnesty International report tions against Myanmar’s top military   " very poor and so is the standard of living. In such 1+(( ?3= ple that she first stood against and noted: “The military committed officials who ordered the coup. US a grim situation, the time-tested formulae of divid- then went on to defend. serious human rights violations, President Joe Biden signed an exec- '        + (  $>1DE' (? #D ing people on religious lines was used by both mil- ?+D +>+E To put things in perspective, including war crimes, in Kachin, utive order that allowed the Treasury + (   +       itary regime and democratic Government. Dividing 13D Aung San Suu Kyi spent good 15 Rakhine, and the Shan States. The Department to also target the spous-     !   81!:::    !<9!::: the people on religious lines not only legitimises the D+(3D years of her life in jail. All her tenure, Government made no progress in es and adult children of those being     !<0!:::, !8<:+ -   ! rule but also diverts the attention of people. The Junta Suu Kyi followed and defended the creating conditions conducive for the sanctioned. Tens of thousands of =:+ - , I::        did that and managed to rule for half a century. army programmes and pogroms. return of the 740,000 Rohingya people took to the streets of Yangon         " Burma has Buddhist majority. The army played The ardent champion of democracy women, men, and children who to join the protests, one of the smart by coaxing the Buddhists and portraying who won the Nobel Peace Prize never fled to Bangladesh beginning in biggest gatherings since the February '         Rohingyas as the enemies of the State. Thaw Bi Ta, put her foot down to stop the army. August 2017.” At that time no one 1 coup.The sanctions name top mil-  ! 5       +     a popular militant Buddhist monk, justifies ethnic Worst, she was a mute spectator to the cared to intervene or put sanctions itary commanders. 0"= -    I -       cleansing and supports army action. He backs even genocide of Rohingya Muslims. She in place. Life went on as the human The move will prevent the gen-       +   "3   the killing and torturing of innocent Rohingyas. He silently witnessed the slaughtering crisis swelled. Rohingyas who erals from accessing more than $1bn   +           !     declared that “true nationalism” lies in the “univer- and mass exodus of the minority. remained in Rakhine State lived in Myanmar Government funds  !      !   +  sal declaration of Buddhist truths,” who he consid- Further, Suu Kyi drew flak for her under apartheid. held in the US. Now, Burmese,  !     +    %;6' ers superior to the Universal Declaration of Human failure to address the country’s eco- Almost a million of Rohingyas including Rohingyas, would have a Rights by United Nations. Thaw Bi Ta is from the nomic and ethnic problems. It was had left their country where they better chance to be heard. The garb   ./'01/ '   +- The writer is a military-patronised Sitagu Sangha. The Sitagu columnist and not expected of someone who spent were disfranchised and stripped of of democracy had done more harm F' !             gives Myanmar military commanders textual jus- documentary 15 years in detention and fought a their basic human rights. Many than good to the country. It is all  + " tifications from the Buddhists scriptures for killing film-maker. long and arduous battle. She is said made it to Bangladesh while other there in front of everyone. Sometimes The views expressed are F                the “non-believers”. personal. to have extensively read Buddhist lit- succumbed to the tedious journey. democracy hurts as it did in  I:        O     Because of the propaganda by Thaw Bi Ta and erature, the religion she was born into. When Bangladesh couldn’t take Myanmar.  L3  !   +  ./'     + O           "$       +  ,! POINTCOUNTERPOINT       ' (         ./'   ! !  -+   "      *         )   ) > '    3''$ $  !   +  -  $ >            *  *        '    (  -   -"     + +      + )    ) $  $   )    *   $   ! -  ' " L(*  L )  *             ) ) )              Xxu†qˆqtywƒ‰xyvy„9ƒuˆysq‰9vwxq„† ‚ys•†ˆ ’ytu‰G„tyqq„ †† ˆ‘„y• sxq„wuxu  „xuwˆ ‘„tq‰“u‚‚q‰y‰† ‚ys•

he last year witnessed a Afghan Government is helpless and the Taliban. If these indi- like the Carter administration; of the UN peacekeeping mis- its own homeland and ordinary lot of developments in and unable to cope with the sit- cations are anything to go by, Pakistan could be in trouble sions as India has gained rep- Afghans from the clutches of TAfghanistan.On uation and is apparently on the the new American dispensation over this stance. Fourth, utation across the world for its the Haqqani network, ISIS and February 29 the Afghan insur- verge of a collapse.The Islamic can follow a three pronged increasing fiscal support for the endeavour to bring peace to others. India needs to also gent group Taliban signed a State of Iraq and the Levant approach—First, recommit US already cash-strapped Afghan war-torn areas, be it during the bring Pakistan to justice, it is peace accord with the United (ISIS) has bolstered its strength troops in massive numbers to Government but, at the same Yugoslavian civil war or in high time that the internation- States (US) Government under and displayed it by striking at eliminate the menace of insur- time, demanding accountabil- war-ravaged Iraq. India needs al community especially China which all American troops will /$**(.+*$79+6 the military and civilian areas gency by the Taliban and ity for the earlier help that they to increase its commitment stop supporting the State spon- have to leave the country by located in the heart of the Haqqani network; at the same received albeit in a surreptitious with respect to troop deploy- sored terrorism and unani- May 2021 and, in return, the Capital Kabul. time the Americans can impart manner. ments to ensure peace in mously impose punitive sanc- Taliban has promised to not The Joe Biden more training to the Afghan This paradigm shift in Afghanistan while not taking tions under the ambit of the allow the South Asian nation to Administration has announced troops and, if necessary, to the America’s Afghan policy pro- sides in the war.India also Financial Action Task Force be used as a safe haven by the a fundamental shift in the pol- ordinary citizens in the non- vides New Delhi an opportuni- needs to change its policy with (FATF). jihadist groups. This agree- icy with respect to Afghanistan. Taliban areas to bolster their ty to change the status quo on regard to the engagement with New Delhi should not ment raised hopes of bringing It looks as if it is trying to defence against the Islamist the ground. Avinash Paliwal in Taliban, instead of recognising waste this opportunity, because permanent peace in the war- change the status quo on the militants. Second, intensify his book “My Enemy’s Enemy” the militants India must provide bringing peace to Afghanistan torn country devastated by sec- ground. The subtle action of reconnaissance warfare against ted by the Pakistani Supreme has argued that since 2001 tacit support allowing the US will not only help India in win- tarian strife, geopolitical tussle reviewing the peace deal in the militants by ordering an Court is a glaring example of India has provided more than to make use of the Logistics ning the great game in the ter- and civil war. However, one year Afghanistan is the sign of a new increase in the number of the travesty of justice on the $3 billion in aid and develop- Exchange Memorandum of ror-ravaged South Asian nation down the line, the hope of the policy. The US is clearly con- drones and other precision part of Pakistan’s judicial sys- mental projects to Afghanistan Agreement (LEMOA) for the but will also brighten New Afghan people to see the light cerned with the deteriorating strikes to eliminate potential tem. The US President has ,as a result of which India has replenishment of its troops. Delhi’s prospects in a country at the end of the tunnel has law and order in the South militant hideouts which can ordered the termination of all earned the goodwill of ordinary India can also conduct a which has vast untapped proved to be a mere façade. The writer is a Asian nation as well as the pose a threat to the arms transfer to Saudi Arabia Afghans. India should not miss few precision strikes against reserves of natural resources . Violence has increased journalist and growing might of the Islamic International Security for its gruesome military cam- the opportunity to change the Islamist militant targets, As Sun Tzu famously observed: manifold, with almost daily columnist. State of ISIS -Khorasan Assistance Force (ISAF) troops. paign in Yemen. This could be situation in its neighbourhood. although it would constitute a “let your plans be dark and bomb blasts, assassinations, The views Province (ISIS-K) which has Third, the fact that the an indication that the US is like- New Delhi needs to take some violation of Afghan sovereign- impenetrable as night, and expressed attacks on military targets and are personal. challenged the legitimacy of killers of the Wall Street jour- ly to base its foreign policy with steps which include deploying ty but India needs to do this in when you move fall like a killing of innocent civilians. The both the Afghan Government nalist Daniel Pearl were acquit- the promotion of human rights troops on the ground as a part the larger context of protecting thunderbolt”. !"#$ !$ &!' () $! ' *+,-,* $

 ;     > 7   38 77' 2<.59 +R : > '  "6+ 1   0   E     *     &  ;  !'     *    *   9 !  :    0/0.   #    & *   $ San Diego: The Biden admin- immigration system,” said Colombo: For the first time, Sri &&        istration on Friday announced Homeland Security Secretary * 2+7"3" Monday, Feb. 15, to respond to Lanka has reported the highly   & * *    & plans for tens of thousands of Alejandro Mayorkas. the proposed law. contagious new variant of the  +  O    *  asylum-seekers waiting in “This latest action is anoth- draft cybersecurity law “It is telling that controlling coronavirus found in the UK,       ' ( # Mexico for their next immi- er step in our commitment to Adue to be implemented in cyberspace is one of the top pri- health authorities said on           gration court hearings to be reform immigration policies Beijing: In an apparent tit for tat Myanmar has raised protests orities of the Myanmar mili- Friday.      K 5// ///   allowed into the United States that do not align with our move, China has banned BBC that it will be used to quash tary, which seized power Dr Chandima Jeewandara, 0'J   K       while their cases proceed. nation’s values.” World News from broadcasting dissent rather than protect through an illegitimate coup Director of immunology and      *   The first of an estimated Homeland Security said in the country for seriously vio- privacy. d’etat only last week,” said Sam molecular medicine of the Sri     &* *  25,000 asylum-seekers in the move “should not be inter- lating its guidelines for report- Human rights advocates Zarifi, the International Jayewardenepra University    O   ' Mexico with active cases will be preted as an opening for peo- ing, China’s television and radio issued statements Friday urging Commission of Jurists’ secre- here, said that the latest variant, "" @ 648" ",+A 2  $ allowed in the United States on ple to migrate irregularly to the regulator has announced. the country’s military leaders to tary general. of B.1.1.7 lineage, is highly       * &  February 19, authorities said. United States.” The move comes a week drop the plan and end internet “The military is used to contagious.  *  *     They plan to start slowly Administration officials after Ofcom, the British media disruptions that have intensi- having total power in It was the third variant of   * *    .   with two border crossings each policy for new arrivals. Since have said repeatedly that the regulator, revoked the license of fied since a Feb. 1 coup. Myanmar, but this time they coronavirus to be detected in       #    processing up to 300 people a then, some asylum-seekers vast majority of people who Chinese state-owned broad- The draft law shows the have to face a population that the country, he said, mention- *    &   day and a third crossing taking picked up at the border have cross the border illegally are caster China Global Television military’s intent to “perma- has access to information and ing four different locations   =  +*  ' fewer. officials declined to been released in the US with quickly expelled under a pub- Network’s (CGTN) to broadcast nently undermine internet can communicate internally from where samples have been +,;+         name them out of fear they notices to appear in court. lic health order in place since in the UK. freedom in the country,” said and externally,” he said. tested positive for the new UK       #   may encourage a rush of peo- Biden is quickly making the pandemic struck in March, China has criticised the Matthew Bugher, head of the The military’s seizure of variant. According to the health  #       *& ple to those locations. good on a campaign promise to but releases of some asylum- BBC for its reporting on the Asia program for the group power and arrest of national authorities, the country is *         The move is a major step end the policy, which the seeking families in Texas and pandemic and the persecution Article 19, which issued a state- leader Aung San Suu Kyi and recording over 800 COVID-19           toward dismantling one of for- Trump administration said was California has worked against of ethnic minority Uighurs in ment condemning the plan other members of her National cases on a daily basis. +      O   mer President Donald Trump’s critical to reversing a surge of that messaging. the restive Xinjiang province and along with the Open Net League for Democracy party In late January, with the     $' most consequential policies to asylum-seekers that peaked in White House press secre- lodged a protest with the British Association and the have sparked massive peaceful receipt of free vaccines from deter asylum-seekers from 2019. But the policy also tary Jen Psaki said Thursday broadcaster. The BBC said it was International Commission of protests across the country, India, the health ministry "- "8.  ?    O coming to the US About 70,000 exposed people to violence in that she was concerned that “disappointed” by China’s deci- Jurists. despite efforts by authorities to launched a vaccination pro- & *       asylum-seekers were enrolled Mexican border cities and limited releases in the U.S. sion to ban it. Internet service providers enforce order by disrupting gramme for the frontline health     O *  $ in “ Remain in Mexico,” offi- made it extremely difficult for May encourage others to cross The Chinese regulator, the and others were given until internet services. workers and the military. PTI  *        *  cially called “Migrant them to find lawyers and com- illegally because “we don’t want National Radio and Television *   &    Protection Protocols,” since it municate with courts about people to put themselves in Administration (NRTA) has  *&        was introduced in January their cases. danger at a time where it is not made the announcement on     *      2019. “As President Biden has the right time to come, because Thursday night on pulling BBC  ' On Biden’s first day in made clear, the US government we have not had time to put in World News off the air in the ""8" +    *  office, the Homeland Security is committed to rebuilding a place a humane and moral country for serious content  (   *  #D Department suspended the safe, orderly, and humane system and process.” AP violation. PTI  *   &   * *                 + *      = Q. >R           (             & ' *** *   +4+ O ?  1    **    ** Washington: Donald Trump will return to seek the presidency          cannot run for the presidency in 2024. !   * &         again and Republicans were “I don’t think he’s going to  ' wrong to support his campaign be in the picture,” she said. * =+D?7(3 ,:"!"- ( O to reverse the 2020 election “I don’t think he can. He’s police treating a fourth-grader  **        results, his former ambassador fallen so far.” like a crime suspect, has           to the UN and a longtime loy- Haley also criticized the he 9-year-old Black girl sat spurred outrage as the latest 1        & alist Nikki Haley said in an Republican Party for supporting Thandcuffed in the backseat example of law enforcement       *   interview published Friday. Trump’s campaign to reverse the of a police car, distraught and mistreatment of Black people.   &*   + Haley, a fervent backer of election, which led to the shock- crying for her father as the As the US undergoes a new  ' the ex-president now on trial in ing January 6 attack on Congress white officers grew increasingly reckoning on police brutality the Senate for encouraging by his supporters. impatient while they tried to and racial injustice in the wake ," "!". 1      insurrection, told Politico “We need to acknowledge wrangle her fully into the vehi- of George Floyd’s death last  +&  *  Magazine that she is “deeply dis- he let us down,” she told Politico. cle. May, the girl’s treatment illus-  O "    turbed” by what has happened “He went down a path he “This is your last chance,” trates how even young children  * &  *  to Trump since his election shouldn’t have, and we should- one officer warned. “Otherwise are not exempt. &      ** &  defeat to Joe Biden. n’t have followed him, and we pepper spray is going in your Research shows Black chil-        ' ( *  “He’s not going to run for shouldn’t have listened to him,” eyeballs.” Less than 90 seconds dren are often viewed as being **   (  2 federal office again,” Haley, who she said. And we can’t let that later, the girl had been sprayed older than they are, and are *        served as Trump’s envoy to the ever happen again.” and was screaming, “Please, more likely to be seen as threat-  +&O "  * United Nations from 2017-2018, Haley confirmed to Politico wipe my eyes! Wipe my eyes, ening or dangerous. Advocates  *  1  7  said. The former South Carolina that she is considering her own please!” have long said that leads to 7    *       +&        governor dismissed speculation run for the presidency in 2024, What started with a report police treating them in ways     * *  &' that, to avenge his defeat and and said she had not spoken to of “family trouble” in Rochester, they wouldn’t dream of treating second impeachment, Trump Trump since January 6. AFP New York, and ended with white children. !"#$ !$ &!' () $! ' *+,-,* 3 $.

     !  1 #4 (  C *       DC  !# ,  --"6"8E"8 + *  +   *   *   & &    > *  =     $  =  ,    :      "7 ?     *     34 2678 .< '' 1 "   13        & '    * '       * *    * &   * = >? March last year following the * = >? language newspapers for “clar-  **           * ' COVID-19 outbreak and ifications related to farm laws ndustrial production grew by remained in the negative zone he Centre has spent over including on myth and realities, *  *    * )  9: I1 per cent in December, till August 2020.With the T7.95 crore in five months etc” for creating awareness ( (      &     *      *  entering the positive territory resumption of economic activ- till January for a publicity cam- among the farmers and other  *      * *     &   after a month gap, mainly due ities, factory output posted paign to bust myths about the stakeholders. *  ( ' 1 * *    &  *     to better performance of the growth of one per cent in new farm laws, Agriculture The Agriculture          &            & manufacturing sector, official September. The IIP had grown Minister Narendra Singh Ministry has incurred an         '(    *     data showed on Friday. by 4.2% in October. In Tomar informed Parliament expenditure of Rs 67,99,750 on  * &       * (   D The manufacturing sector November 2020, the factory on Friday. production of three promo-        &   *   ' 2    * -- which constitutes 77.63 per output contracted by 2.1%, a Out of this, the tional and two educational            &     *     cent of the index of industrial tad higher than the provision- Information and Broadcasting films on the farm laws for its      *        &   ' production (IIP) -- recorded a al estimates of 1.9% decline.The Ministry committed  wider publicity through elec- growth of 1.6 per cent in govt had imposed a lockdown 7,25,57,246 for release of adver- tronic media, social media          C * = >? food basket was 1.89 per cent December 2020, as per the data to contain the spread of tisements between September and webinars. +      * ND   4  * O  &   in January, significantly down released by the National COVID-19 infections on 2020 and January 2021 on Besides, miscellaneous     2 D*   7   ?   3* etail inflation eased to 4.06 from 3.41 per cent in Statistical Office (NSO). March 25, 2020.With the grad- behalf of the Ministry of expenditure of Rs 1,50,568 was 2  ?         ..'/0'0/0.' (   *  Rper cent in January, main- December, revealed the data Mining sector output ual relaxation of restrictions, Agriculture and Farmers incurred on development of   *            *  & ly on account of a decline in released by the National declined by 4.8 per cent in there has been a relative Welfare, he said. creatives for print advertise-  *   *   ' D   &      vegetable prices, as per Statistical Office (NSO). December 2020. However, improvement in the economic Tomar, in a written reply in ment, the minister added. *       *    D D  Government data released on The Reserve Bank, which power generation grew by 5.1 activities by varying degrees as the Rajya Sabha, further said On expenses incurred on   +  D *  "    1' Friday.The inflation based on mainly factors in the retail per cent. well as in data reporting, the the print advertisements have overseas publicity campaign, '7'' D*' Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation while arriving at its The index had grown by Ministry of Statistics and been published through the the minister said there was “nil” was 4.59 per cent in December monetary policy, has been 0.4 per cent in December 2019. Programme Implementation Bureau of Outreach and expenditure as per the infor- * CP F  2/  *    /% ' 2020. asked to keep CPI inflation at The industrial production had said in a statement issued Communication (BOC) in mation received from the  6 :6"     7       >   93=7:  The rate of price rise in the 4 per cent (+,- 2 per cent). had plunged 18.7 per cent in in November. Hindi, English and regional Ministry of External Affairs N1O     1     7        +  (  (  *        J.  *   0/0/      G 50/ *   0< G00 *    *  *    ./ P  L P &     *  ,   $        ,        ;    *   &     $E0/'

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)P * #G    /G  /  Q     ## =  4  O     *      *       *   &   & *' 2 D+"D? D?+1+ he pandemic altered our lives in unexpected ways — redefined CEO, TrulyMadly says and adds, “In the break-up during the COVID-19 pan- Tdating rules, navigated virtual last 12 months, while our overall revenue demic. and socially-distanced dating etiquettes, has grown, in cities like Patna, and adapted different approaches to rela- Bhubaneshwar, Guwahati, Surat, Season of gifts tionships. But what remained constant Gwalior etc we have grown north of 10x. Most of us are planning to pamper was the inherent human need to seek The maximum revenue growth is now and surprise our loved ones with choco- and build meaningful connections. coming from beyond T-1 cities. We have lates, perfumes and flowers. As per a Now that Valentine’s day is almost been observing this trend even before study done by an e-commerce giant, here, people are excited about the the pandemic but reverse migration, due there’s an upsurge in purchase of gift prospect of dating in real life again and to the pandemic, definitely fueled this packages filled with love, chocolates, have taken the next step from just trend.” scented candles, roses and personalised scrolling through various dating apps, gifts. updating their dating profiles to figur- Virtual dating is here to stay ing out new rules of meeting and hang- Recently, a dating app survey Self love ing out. Here are a few key trends: revealed that 40 per cent of single A matchmaking platform conduct- Indians want to opt for virtual dating this ed a survey to understand the sentiment More meaningful connections Valentine’s. People want to feel more around the occasion of Valentine’s Day. As single Indians have now started secure as they are connect- It said that 46 per cent sin- settling into the changing times, they ing with one another. gles feel that one of the also want to stay in touch with the con- They want to have fulfilled most annoying things nections made during the lockdown. conversations that could about Valentine’s Day is “More than one in two chats turned into lead to a new connection being asked about their ctor Parineeti Chopra has often charmed peo- something more meaningful with a large and video calls are proving plan. “Societal pressure Aple with her singing skills whenever she went number of messages being exchanged,” to be a great way to form makes it hard for singles on behind the microphone for films like Meri Pyaari says Samarpita Samaddar, Bumble India these connections. Valentine’s Day. We are Bindu and Kesari. She is now back with her third PR Director. urging people to take the song Matlabi Yariyan – Unplugged for her forth- The pandemic continues to fade the pressure off this day and coming release The Girl On The Train (TGOTT). lines between our digital and physical and meaningful,” she adds. Samarpita. This has led to more virtu- The rise of “New Dawn” discover the joy of love The song is composed by Vipin Patwa and Kumaar lives. Today, it would be hard to deny al communication before the relation- daters and togetherness regardless has written the lyrics for the same. that ‘real life’ is both physical and digi- Slow dating ship is taken offline. A recent internal of the day,” says Adhish The actor says, “I love singing at whatever tal. Rashi Wadhera, Director of As opposed to endless hours of research of a dating Zaveri, Senior Director – opportunity I get. Today, as an actress, I am privi- Communications at Tinder believes swiping, slow dating is the new way to Spike in smaller towns app revealed that Marketing, Shaadi.com. leged that I have the opportunity to have the world that social distancing has helped every- meet engage with people. They now go Since a lot of people went back home one in two people Another dating hear my song. When I had heard this song back in one understand that a connection on ‘pre-dates’ where they use video dates from metros, tier 2 and tier 3 cities have in India are likely app has teamed up London one and half years ago, it was then my direc- formed entirely through digital means to get to know one another before meet- seen a spike in online dating. “At present, to be “New with actor Ananya tor Ribhu (Dasgupta) and I discussed that do a ver- is just as meaningful as one formed in ing in-person. “We are observing India is one of our fastest-growing Dawn Daters” – Panday to encourage sion in my voice.” person. “We can still share how we feel increased usage and extended video chat markets and the rate of growth in people who are singles to move on She adds, “People have given so much love to and who we are, through a screen and times with people in India spending smaller cities is twice the rate of growth newly single from their past rela- Maana Ke Hum Yaar Nahin (Meri Pyaari Bindu) as it’s incredible how quickly happy hours roughly 20 minutes on an average on as compared to bigger cities,” says after expe- tionships and fall more in well as my song from Kesari — Teri Mitti. So, I hope and video dates have become normal video calls or voice chats,” says Rashi. Snehil Khanor, Cofounder & riencing a love with themselves. that the third time also turns out lucky for me.”   1%  O6       P ,    2  ctor Tahir Raj Bhasin     **7.$**Q  #    ! # Arecently dropped his look from his next, Looop Lapeta, <3*(64.2*$ his first film as the romantic lead. We caught up with the actor to decode his ‘pretty out there character’ as he is seen sporting a nose pin and retro sunglasses. Tahir plays the role of Satya in the heist film and has been paired opposite actress Taapsee Pannu. Tahir says, “Satya is an irreverent guy. I’m a risk-chas- ing charmer in the film and I’ve had an incredible time playing him. He’s pretty out there in his optimism and lust for life. I’d describe him as all silver lining and no cloud. He’s a hustler who believes with all his soul that the universe conspires in his favour. The look has him in a loose brown shirt, he dons these retro sunglasses and has a nose piercing. All of these style elements have been cre- ahani Mitra Ki is an adaptation of in the pre-Independence era, it begins ated in sync with his personal- KVijay Tendulkar’s Marathi classic with what appears to be a convention- ity of being the laid back rebel.” Mitrachi Goshta. Director Akash al relationship between a boy and girl Tahir’s look also reveals a Khurana says, “The growing relevance on a college campus. Soon however, a textile mill setting for the film. of its theme, the sensitivity of its char- complicated love triangle develops Ask him about this and he says, acters, and the complexity of its struc- between the diffident Bapu, the head- “The image of Satya’s look is a ture offered a challenge that I couldn’t strong Mitra, and Nama, her love still from a scene that was shot resist. So, after three decades of my first interest. Akash Khurana recalls Dish at an abandoned textile mill for tryst with Tendulkar, it was time to pay TV and D2H Rangmanch Active and the film. For Aakash Bhatia, the my homage to the ‘Master’ again. I have the unease around the play when it was director, the locations are an always held Tendulkar in very high first performed in 1981. He says, “The inherent character in the film. esteem personally, and considered him play deserved to be staged many more They make a visual statement the quintessential Bollywood Bhatia and producers Atul leagues ahead of most Indian play- times than it was for the sheer quali- about the vibe of the story and hero for the first time. He Kasbekar and Tanuj Garg have wrights. Back in 1987, I directed Mat ty of its writing. One of the reasons confides that she has feelings for the themes of sexual orientation were the world. Yes, this particular says, “Playing the quintessen- poured their heart in to cre- Yaad Dila, a Hindi adaptation of why it wasn’t, is because it was writ- other women instead of men. It was subliminal.” location plays a central role in tial Bollywood hero has been atively balance the style and wit Tendulkar’s Ashi Pakhare Yeti. It was the ten before its time and its first staging challenging to unravel the web of It stars Sayalee Phatak, Parna the plot but to know more super exciting. When you grow the hero brings to the script. prolific theatre group Arpana’s first pro- was received with some discomfiture.” chaotic feelings leading to an Pethe, Abhay Mahajan, Om Bhutkar about how and why Satya is up on your dose of Bollywood, Having Taapsee to play oppo- duction and a success.” While directing Kahani Mitra Ki, inevitable tragedy in the narrative, but and Priyanshu Painyuli. The Zee there stay tuned for the release it seems like a familiar territo- site has only made exploring an Mitrachi Goshta is often described he was drawn to the unlikely friend- Akash says, “I had a bunch of actors Theatre’s offering will stream on Dish date. All I can say at this point ry. Satya is the laid-back onscreen romantic chemistry as one of the first modern Indian plays ship between Bapu and Mitra and the that made my task easier. I treated the TV and D2H Rangmanch Active on is that it’ll be a mad ride.” charmer that your parents an incredibly fun and reward- dealing with same-sex relationships. Set upheaval it goes through when Mitra theme like a human love story where February 13 at 2 pm and 6 pm. Tahir is relishing playing warned you about. Aakash ing experience.” !"#$ !$ &!' () $! ' *+,-,* --  00   0 0 #*<&$+()#*:$*' =BBB=     =AB

What fascinated you to be a part of the film Crazy Rich Asians? I heard about Kevin Kwan’s novel by the same name. He stated that his inten- tion of writing the novel was to “introduce a contemporary Asia to a North American audience.” He also claimed that the novel was loosely based on his own childhood in Singapore. I can still recall a few of my friends from Hongkong and Singapore who came to me one fine day and said, ‘Have you read this book? You must really make it into a film’. So, when I read it, I could understand why they said it. It was funny and it was a good take on super-rich people, their lifestyles. What really got me going was when Jon M Chu was attached. I felt that this really needed a director, who understood the culture and also had a very dynamic sense of humour but very grounded in the cultural real- ities of what it takes to be an Asian.

How would you define your character? Eleanor Sung-Young is country. And I think that she How was your meeting with organic, when you step out formidable. Everybody looks is working very hard towards the author of the book, Kevin and you feel the heat, the at her and tremble in their that. Kwan? tropical air, you walk into that shoes. I think she is a protec- We had the privilege of N ?+ + 7+( hawker centre, all the different tive and a very caring mother. What do you think of Jon M meeting the author of the food and smell and when you She is trying her best to be the Chu as the director? book. Kevin was so charming T look at the wedding, the recep- best daughter-in-law, which is It’s been amazing working on sets. On the very first day, tion, the colours, simply never easy, but she is trying to with Jon. I had a great experi- he was just standing at the door =3"7 =(? because you are in a tropical keep the family together ence because he is one of those and I saw him staring and smil- 3' ? D 3 3$ climate, the orchids, all the because she understands what directors who knows what he ing at me and I was thinking colours are real and vivid so this family means. Not just to wants but is also open to listen- maybe I know him from some- (?3D (3D that’s the importance of being themselves but to many other ing and understanding and where and it was Kevin. He here. Even though we have families that depend on them maybe learn something new or told me that it was his dream =?3 "3=D =?+( some of the best set designs and their work. Of course, like have a different take on it. He to see me play the character of ? =+(D 2#( D when you shoot inside the stu- all mothers, she wants her is also surrounded by the most Eleanor Sung-Young, which dio, nothing beats being in a son to be back home. We fantastic producers: Nina came true! He said, “I am lit- +>D3 3 (3 real location, there’s just some- send the kids away so that they Jacobson and John Penotti and erally watching my dream >D(7 + thing about it that is very tan- get a better education but Andrew. It was very important come true.” I thought that was gible, you can put it in your somewhere deep down, we that he is surrounded by peo- so sweet of him. >+7 hands and you can feel it here hope that after they have ple who completely support his (heart). achieved certain things in life, vision. He actually had a very What was your experience D31(?7 =O (Crazy Rich Asians pre- they come home to their fam- strong vision, which is exact- of shooting in Singapore? mieres on Sony PIX on ily and do more for their own ly what this film needed. When you here it is very February 14 at 9 pm.)

A motion poster introduces also to be directed by Vikas in presence but she also has the Kriti in an electrifying avatar as a space that is so new to me.” persona of a superstar. She is Jassi. Sharing the poster, Kriti She added, “I’ve been want- truly ‘the right one’ to star wrote on Instagram, “Meet ing to explore the genre of opposite Tiger as I am confident JASSI! Super duper excited for action since a while now and she will make a perfect action  this one! Teaming up once I’m super excited to do so on heroine. I am extremely excited again with my very special such a massive scale with Pooja and looking forward to working @tigerjackieshroff! Can’t wait Entertainment! Jackky is a very with the two wonderful artistes.” riti Sanon confirmed as the film Heropanti. for the shoot to begin! Lets kill passionate producer and I’m The film is being billed as a Klead actress of the forthcoming Tiger announced on it!” glad to be starting my journey dystopian action thriller, and is action film Ganapath, opposite Instagram: Khatam hua intezaar Talking about the Vikas with them with such a cool slated to go on floors soon. Pre- Tiger Shroff. This is the first time @kritisanon. Super excited to work Bahl directorial, Kriti said, “I’m character.” production work has already the two stars will be seen togeth- with this bundle of talent again thrilled to reunite with Tiger Director Bahl said, “Kriti begun. Ganapath is scheduled to er on screen after their 2014 debut #Ganapath. after about seven years and not only has a riveting screen release in 2022.

fter hosting the Oscars nine times, ABilly Crystal wouldn’t necessarily rule out a tenth. But the 72-year-old actor would prefer some wider attention for his *2326/986$9.76 low-budget indie film, Standing Up, Falling Down. Perhaps even a longshot Academy Awards nomination. (  & *  2>>E ED(+>          &  3*  “If it happened, it would be unbeliev- able. I’m really thrilled just to be in the  &            discussion and not for, ‘Hey, would you host again?’” Crystal said. In the film, released in February 2020, Crystal plays an alcoholic derma- tologist who befriends a down-on-his- luck comedian, played by Ben Schwartz. Crystal also serves as executive produc- er on the film, shot in his childhood hometown of Long Beach, New York. A key scene takes place in the temple where he had his bar mitzvah. After starring in polished Hollywood classics like City Slickers and When Harry Met Sally, Crystal jokes that his lat- est project was a bit more scaled down. O=   “My character, Marty, with no last name, that’s how small the budget was. We couldn’t even afford a last name for him,”   P he said. The Emmy-winning actor spoke about his roots, his history hosting the omposer duo Sachin-Jigar say that they are Oscars, and returning to his hometown Cexploring independent music more deeply, for a film shoot. and hope to come out with great songs through their experimentations. Did being back in Long Beach for With Valentine’s Day just round the corner, Standing Up, Falling Down bring back they have come out with a romantic Gujarati sin- childhood memories? gle, Kehva De. One day when I was in the makeup The song has been penned by Niren Bhatt chair for the film, and I’m sitting in a and sung by Jigar Saraiya. Featuring Jigar and makeshift little space that we had because Lekha Prajapati, Kehva De comes with a sweet there was no dressing rooms, there’s no melody and a lumbering rhythm. doubt we changed in the car. We changed Talking about the release of the single, in the restroom if we were shooting at a Sachin-Jigar said, “When we were composing restaurant or bar. And I’m sitting there erhouse that had no budget for public- And they were joyous and they loved to Throw Momma from the Train. I had if the show can find a way to do it and do this song we wanted to elevate the romance of putting the stuff on my face and the smell ity. laugh and they love to be entertained. earned my spot that I was now a mem- it well and really celebrate the work part it and make it contemporary. This year has given of the makeup and the powder was exact- And I loved entertaining them. And I just ber of the movie industry, you know. So, of it and the entertainment part of it, it’s us the opportunity to explore independent music ly the same as I remember in third grade You’ve done so much in your career, continued that. when I walked out there, I had more cred ok. But I think one of the years I hosted, more deeply and we can only hope that great for the school play. And (I remember) from standup and big movies to direct- as a member of the community. I relished we were in a bad recession and the econ- songs come out of our experimentations.” how excited I was that the parents were ing and Broadway. When did you Did your early penchant for enter- that and I was able to poke fun at it, but omy was terrible. And I said, “This is this “We eagerly await the reactions of listeners out there and that there was an audience, know this is what you wanted to do? taining help lead to hosting so many respect it at the same time. Those first what we want to see, millionaires giving to this song,” they added. you know, on the other side of that cur- When I was 4 or 5, I got up in front Oscars shows? years of doing the show were wonderful- each other gold statues.” So, I think we Recently, they came out with Heera. The tain. I just couldn’t wait to get out there. of the family with my two brothers and Honestly, I didn’t feel that much dif- ly exciting and satisfying. have to really find the right way to do it. video of the soulful number features singer Jigar I’ve been on that hook since I was a kid. we would memorise Carl Reiner and Sid ferent, except the world is watching. Saraiya alongside actress Shriya Pilgaonkar. Caesar and Howie Morris routines and From the time I started, you really have This year the Oscars will probably not If they asked you, would you ever do Directed by Arunima, the video has been shot Your performance is being lauded. then do them. We didn’t think we were to want to be up there and you really have have an audience. Last year, it didn’t have it again? across picturesque locales in the paradise. With awards season coming up, is that stealing. We didn’t know. We just loved to want to be that guy or that person to a host. What are you expecting? Oh, I know you were going to — as Opening up on the song, singer Jigar something you’ve thought about? them so much. And they were such an host the show. Yeah, it’s very tough now. I thought soon as we got there, it got a little chilly Saraiya had shared: “Heera has an entirely dif- I have to admit, it’s very nice to just influence on us. Then I would get up and I put my own stamp on it. And that that they did a very good job with the vir- in here. I don’t know. I don’t know. We’ll ferent ambience of love. With love songs, it has be in the conversation and mentioned. do my own stuff and imitate the relatives was fun. I mean, I had a good time and tual Emmys. Jimmy Kimmel did a won- have to see. I don’t know. I don’t know if been my endeavour to create music that is fresh, Whether that happens or not is such a because their accents were interesting. I needed to relax them as well. And it was derful job. It’s just so awful, the condition they would ask me. That would be a soulful and nostalgic. I am so glad that our idea long shot. But it’s very satisfying, I have The characters were so great. These a step up because I’m at that point when that we’re in. So any kind of entertainment tough, tough thing to consider, but we’ll of a love song has come to fruition so beauti- to say. I just really want people to see the Eastern European and Russian relatives I started in 1990 now, I mean, Harry and that we can bring to people to ease their see. fully through Heera.” movie because the movie’s a little pow- that we had with great faces and sounds. Sally (had) just come out and before that pain is really important. So I think that L  !"#$ !$ &!' () $! ' *+,-,* 8-%

@ 14% ing the first Test, this one will offer SAME PLACE, DIFFERENT 2  :?37 turn earlier than expected. = O &     **A  )#$)%*$#)G+&#'*$; Ravichandran Ashwin will need a lot of support from the other end in terms of both restrictive and * ?+ what’s happening on the outside,” the attacking options. vice-captain, who has scored around A fit-again Axar Patel is the jinkya Rahane had a fair idea 1000 runs in his last 15 long form closest to being a like-for-like Athat a question about his indif- game, said. replacement for an injured Ravindra ferent form would pop up and he It was a different Rahane, some- Jadeja. Patel’s Test debut looks was ready to meet the challenging one who was not ready to take a CHALLENGE imminent as Ashwin will need delivery head on with a never-seen- backward step when faced with dif- someone to hold on at the other end. before aggression. ficult questions. However, one can’t be so sure Skipper Virat Kohli, after the When a scribe asked if the about Kuldeep Yadav, who in his 227-run defeat to England in the drooping shoulders and negative " O  short six-Test career has played opening Test, had vehemently body language in the first Test were some tough games. defended Rahane, who hasn't scored due to a change in captaincy, he was He would fancy his chance for too many runs before or after the far from amused.      being a better attacking option than Melbourne Test against Australia “There are moments when you Washington Sundar. where his hundred enabled India to don’t have that energy but that does-     The 20-year-old Washington draw the series level. n’t mean that it has happened might go on to become a fine all- The form came up again on the because of a change in captaincy. As rounder in the Ravi Shastri mould eve of the second Test against I have said earlier, Virat is our cap-    in the coming years but as of now, England and the man in question referring to his scores of 59 and 115 tain and will remain our captain. he is not good enough to play as a was ready to tackle the issue head on. against the Proteas in that 2019 “If you are trying to dig in and specialist third spinner. “See we are playing at home series. fine some ‘masala’ (controversy), > O    Kuldeep is an excellent attack- after two years. Our last home “It’s all about the team and not unfortunately you will not get it. ing option but the team manage- series, was against South Africa. If the individual and my focus is how Look, body language can be a bit ment’s continued reluctance to play you take (the scores of that series) can I contribute for the team. If you down at times and the wicket was * ?+ him is an indication of lack of faith out, you will find something over take out the last 10-15 Test match- such in the first 2 days, it could be in the Uttar Pradesh wrist spinner’s there,” Rahane answered in third es, you will see some runs over there. because of that. There could be desperate India have decided abilities of late. person with a deadpan expression “I don’t need to think about many reasons.” to go for the jugular by opt- However, it is learnt that look- Aing for a spicy turner against ing at the track, Kuldeep is set to be a well-prepared England side in the inducted into playing XI for this played a single pacer in Zaheer second Test starting on Saturday, particular game. Khan with Ashwin and Pragyan P !    ! well aware that it can boomerang The Indian team management, Ojha opening the bowling. and cost them a spot in the World after a drab first two days at the In both games, it was the rival Test Championship final. Chepauk during the opening game, spinners (Graeme Swann and !    %Q The honeymoon of the had two options going into the sec- Monty Panesar in 2012 and Steve Australian series is over after a ond Test. O’Keefe in 2017) who made the * ?+ sobering 227 run defeat in the first The first option was to leave a most of the conditions and rattled Test which must have shaken a com- liberal sprinkling of grass and then the Indian batsmen in their own ndia vice-captain Ajinkya placent team out of its stupor ahead get tested by Broad, who would have den. IRahane expects the Chepauk of three high stake Test matches. got the SG Test to land on seam and The toss will be very crucial and pitch to offer serious turn from But it is an perfect stage for move around off the pitch. even if turns square, Kohli will look the very first day of the second India’s mercurial skipper Virat The second option, which they to bat first and expect Rohit Sharma Test when his team would bid to Kohli, who loves to bring his A game have taken, is shaving off the grass to go beyond the two or three pret- level the four-match series. to the fore when the chips are down. and very little watering of the pitch, ty shots that he has been managing India lost the first Test by 227 With crowd back inside the leaving it to bake in the sun. so far. runs on a deck that didn’t have heated cauldron ready to egg him The ball will bounce and turn He would have to give the team anything for bowlers while the on, something he thrives on, the and the strip will break much ear- a big hundred which it desperately fresh pitch, with a darker and Indian captain would be eyeing a lier but then India have had needs from him. drier look, promises to be a spin- good slugfest against a very resolute instances where this kind of track Kohli gave a master-class on ners’ paradise in the game start- opposition. India need to win two has back-fired. how to play the reverse swing in the ing Saturday. matches and not lose any of the Rewind to Pune 2017, when first Test but it always takes two to “Yeah, it looks completely Friday. games to make the WTC final. last match’s first innings top wick- “Jofra is a slight setback but Steve Smith punished them on a tango. different. I am sure it will turn “...But yeah we have to forget England will have a new wick- et-taker Dom Bess. hopefully he is fit and ready for the rank turner on the first day. The Whether it’s a Cheteshwar from day 1 but again as I have said what happened in the first Test. etkeeper in Ben Foakes and Stuart Jofra Archer’s elbow injury third Test,” skipper Joe Root said on home team didn’t have a clue that Pujara or an Ajinkya Rahane or a before the first Test match, you We know these conditions really Broad will replace James Anderson might make way for bowling all- the eve of the game. the ball will turn so much. Rishabh Pant, the Indian skipper have to wait and see how it plays well and we have to put our best as part of workload management. rounder Chris Woakes, who is a A look at the newly-laid dark- Or perhaps the best innings ever will need some support to keep his in the first session and take it foot forward tomorrow and yeah Also in the mix is Moeen Ali, a handy batsman apart from being a coloured Chepauk track is an indi- played in India — Kevin Pietersen’s team’s chances alive of booking a from there on,” Rahane said at the that’s it,” Virat Kohli’s deputy known nemesis of India, in place of fine pacer in his own right. cation that unlike the strip used dur- epic 186 in Mumbai in 2012. India flight to London. pre match virtual conference on added. ?D runner up Garbine Muguruza said he had a tear but fought the book, including under- seed Grigor Dimitrov for a Karatsev is making his ibly yet to drop a set as he set who beat 11th seed Denis at the Australian Open. hard to beat America’s Taylor arm serves and tweeners, as he place in the quarter-finals, Grand Slam debut at up a fourth-round meeting Shapovalov 7-5, 7-5, 6-3 in an Williams had 31 unforced Fritz 7-6(1), 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-2 fed off the energy at a boister- with the Bulgarian through Melbourne Park and is incred- with Felix Auger-Aliassime, all-Canadian battle. errors but wore past midnight. ous John Cain Arena, his after Pablo Carreno Busta down the * 9! =  > Djokovic set- favourite court. But he could- retired injured in the second Russian 7-6 2  :?37 up a fourth-round n't sustain the intensity as US set. (7/5), 6-2 in 97 )*+0#&+>? )(@ clash with big-serv- Open champion Thiem, last Earlier, Russian qualifier 2O          =   5/< minutes on Rod ing Raonic after the year's runner-up, found his Aslan Karatsev pulled off a big Laver Arena. 14th seed beat Hungary’s groove with some dominant upset when the world No 114 * ?+"+ century, falling for his career- Naomi Osaka had to deal Marton Fucsovics in four sets. serving to fight back and out- blitzed eighth seed Diego best knock. with a butterfly landing on her Kyrgios produced a virtu- last the 25-year-old 4-6, 4-6, 6- Schwartzmann into submis- hannon Gabriel claimed two Seamer Abu Jayed and left- but was otherwise little both- oso performance in the first 3, 6-4, 6-4. sion 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 with a bar- Swickets and Alzarri Joseph arm spinner Taijul Islam fin- ered as she breezed into the two sets, using every trick in He will now play 18th rage of winners. complemented his brilliant bat- ished with 4-98 and 4-108 last 16 with 6-3, 6-2 victory ting with a prized wicket to put respectively helping Bangladesh over Tunisian 27th seed Ons the West Indies firmly on top dismiss the West Indies on the Jabeur in 1hr 18min to set up in a year after Barcelona man- in the second Test against stroke of the tea break. a showdown with Muguruza, aged the feat in 2009. Bangladesh in Dhaka on Off-spinner Mehidy Hasan * 1>23# who beat Zarina Diyas 6-1, 6- Hansi Flick’s men had Friday. denied Bonner his maiden Test 1 in just 56 minutes. already won the Champions The West Indies reduced century, dismissing him for 90 erena Williams overcame an French Open champion League, Bundesliga, German Bangladesh to 105-4 at stumps off 209 balls after the right-han- Serror-strewn start on Friday to Iga Swiatek, 19, seeded at a Cup, UEFA Super Cup and on the second day after post- with 56-run for the third wick- der resumed on 74. thwart Anastasia Potapova and Grand Slam for the first time, German Super Cup last season. ing 409 runs in their first et before off-spinner Rahkeem Mithun took a good catch set up a blockbuster fourth- beat France’s Fiona Ferro 6-4, “It feels good to have the six innings on the back of half- Cornwall struck. at leg slip as Bonner departed round clash with seventh seed 6-3 to set up a meeting with pack — six titles in a row is centuries from Joshua Da Silva Da Silva took the catch as after hitting seven boundaries, Aryna Sabalenka who thrashed Simona Halep, a 6-1, 6-3 win- something very special for us,” (92), Nkrumah Bonner (90) Mominul fell for 21 runs. securing his second fifty in as American Ann Li 6-3, 6-1, while ner over Russia’s Veronika said Bayern striker Robert and Joseph (82). Joseph dismissed Tamim many innings. 2019 champion Naomi Oska was Kudermetova. Lewandowski, who helped set Mushfiqur Rahim was bat- in the next over for 44 runs to Da Silva brought up his 50 set for a showdown with last year’s up Pavard’s goal. ting on 27 alongside aggravate Bangladesh’s prob- in 86 balls with a reverse sweep THIEM OVERCOMES KYRGIOS “I think this is one of the Mohammad Mithun at the lems. off Mehidy before being Ice-cool Dominic Thiem biggest achievements in football, close, helping Bangladesh pre- Da Silva, Joseph and bowled by Taijul for 92. rallied from two sets down to how we played will be remem- vent further embarrassment Nkrumah Bonner all came Joseph, who batted aggres- tame flamboyant Nick Kyrgios bered for a long time.” after the early damage. close to centuries earlier as the sively followed him soon after- in front of a raucous crowd Since Flick took charge of The hosts still required West Indies dominated wards, nicking Jayed to wick- hours before Melbourne goes Bayern in November 2019, the 104 runs to avoid the follow on. Bangladesh to add 186 runs in etkeeper Liton Das. He struck into coronavirus lockdown European champions have lost Gabriel dismissed opener two sessions they batted before eight fours and five sixes in his while an injured Novak just five games, giving him Soumya Sarkar for a duck in the being all out. 108-ball innings. Djokovic survived a massive more titles than defeats as boss. first over of the innings and then After resuming on 223-5, Jayed and Taijul soon scare against Taylor Fritz in the “I hope there won’t be any removed one-down Najmul Da Silva and Joseph added 118 wrapped up the West Indies third round. defeats in the near future and Hossain for four in the next over. runs for the seventh wicket innings by picking the wickets The defending champion there will be more victories than Tamim Iqbal and Mominul after Bonner missed out on of Jomel Warrican (two) and defeats,” said Flick. “In terms of Haque repaired the damage converting his overnight half- Shannon Gabriel (eight). the title, this was a statement. It’s 1   &   &     amazing what the team was able to do. It was really impres- sive how everyone played.”     (  3 * It meant heartbreak for Tigres, the first Mexican side to * (3"E3 demeaning comments, and what reach the Club World Cup final drove his ouster. as CONCACAF champions. oshiro Mori resigned as the Women are largely absent in Bayern grabbed the winner Ypresident of the Tokyo the boardroom and in top pol- when Joshua Kimmich’s cross — Olympic organizing committee itics in Japan, and Muto intended for Robert on Friday after sexist comments acknowledged that the organiz- Lewandowski — bounced off made last week in which he said ing committee has too few 8 the hands off Tigres goalkeep- women “talk too much.” women in leadership roles, and er Nahuel Guzman and into the The resignation of the for- no women at the vice president path of Pavard on 59 minutes. mer Japanese Prime Minister at level. The goal stood after a an executive board meeting has “For myself in selecting the E lengthy VAR review, while left a mess in its wake. And it president, I don’t think we need Bayern also had a first-half goal comes just over five months to discuss or debate gender,” FG by Kimmich ruled out with before the postponed Olympics Muto said. “We simply need to Lewandowski offside. are to open in the middle of a choose the right person.” * +>+EE+ pandemic with public senti- The front runner is proba- ment overwhelmingly against bly Seiko Hashimoto, the current ayern Munich won the Club $ )       the games. Government Olympic minister BWorld Cup final in Qatar on The executive board did who was also an Bronze medal- Thursday as Benjamin Pavard’s * >33 charge since replacing the not immediately choose a succes- ist in speedskating in the 1992 second-half winner sealed a 1- sacked Frank Lampard, but sor for Mori, which CEO Toshiro Albertville Games. She fits all the 0 victory over Mexico’s Tigres. helsea’s impressive start to the Blues were lucky to escape Muto said would come “as soon bills — female, a former Pavard’s close-range tap-in CThomas Tuchel’s reign con- after a lacklustre first-half dis- as possible” and will be made by Olympian, and she’s been was enough to give European tinued with a 1-0 win at play at Oakwell against the a review committee. He called it around the organizing commit- champions Bayern their sixth Barnsley to move into the FA Championship side. a “single-digit body” made up tee. title within the last 12 months. Cup quarter-finals on Tuchel introduced Reece equally of men and women, Any pick will be tricky. This is the eighth year in a Thursday, while Southampton James as one of two changes at and he repeatedly declined to On Thursday, 84-year-old row that the Champions League put their miserable Premier the break and the right-back give a specific time frame. Saburo Kawabuchi, the former winners have gone on to win the League form behind them to created the winning goal as his Muto also declined to say if head of the governing body of Club World Cup, as Bayern fol- reach the last eight by beating low cross on 64 minutes left Mori’s replacement would be a Japanese football, gave inter- low in the footsteps of last year’s Wolves. Tammy Abraham with a sim- woman. Gender inequality in views and said he had talked champions Liverpool. Tuchel has won four and ple tap-in for his 12th goal of Japan is exactly the issue that was with the 83-year-old Mori and Bayern are the second side drawn one of his five games in the season raised last week by Mori’s was likely to be his successor. to win all six available titles with-