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  Friday. The incident took place anguish at the tragedy.     between Badnapur and “I am shocked at the news n a shocking tragedy, as Karmad stations of Parbhani- of migrant labourers being Imany as 16 migrant workers Manmad section of the Nanded crushed to death by a goods were mowed down by an division of South-Central train. We should be ashamed at     empty freight train while they Railway (SRC). the treatment meted out to the were sleeping on railway tracks “During early hours today builders of our nation. My near Aurangabad in the early after seeing some labourers on condolences to the families of -    hours of Friday. The workers track, loco pilot of goods train those killed and I pray for the were on their way to home tried to stop the train but early recovery of the injured,” State of Madhya Pradesh. eventually hit them between Rahul Gandhi tweeted.   . The deceased were among Badnapur and Karmad sta- 19 migrant workers who had tions in Parbhani-Manmad        gone off to sleep on railway section. Injured have been tracks while they were walking taken to Aurangabad Civil   migrant labourer couple from Jalna to Bhusawal to Hospital. Inquiry has been Acycling home to board a “Shramik Special” train ordered,” the Railway Ministry   Chhattisgarh with their two to return to Madhya Pradesh, tweeted. children was killed after an when the incident took place at “The incident took place   unidentified vehicle hit the around 5.20 am. even as loco pilot of the goods bicycle the family was travel- The 19 workers had slept train honked as soon as he     ling on at Shaheed Path in Golf off on railway tracks as they noticed a group of people City area in Lucknow on were apparently exhausted. Of sleeping on the railway tracks he Supreme Court on Wednesday, police said on        them, 14 workers died on the and also made all efforts to stop TFriday stayed an interim Friday. The children were         spot, while two others suc- the train,” a SRC spokesperson order of the Orissa High Court injured in the accident, they       !    cumbed to injuries at the said. which had asked the State said. "   #$ Aurangabad district civil hos- Voicing anguish over the Government to ensure that all Krishna Sahu, his wife pital. Three others are under- incident, Prime Minister migrants, who are in queue to Pramila and their children Krishna’s brother told going treatment. The workers Narendra Modi tweeted, enter Odisha, should be tested Nikhil and Chandni were trav- police that the family was apparently thought there would “Extremely anguished by the negative of Covid-19 before elling on the bicycle when it cycling to Chhattisgarh as all not be any movement of trains loss of lives due to the rail acci- boarding the conveyance. was hit by an unidentified public transport has been sus- during the lockdown and the dent. Have spoken to Railway The HC, in its interim vehicle. All four of them were pended due to the coron- track was secured. Minister Piyush Goyal and he order on Thursday, had sug- rushed to a hospital where avirus-induced lockdown. The migrant workers used is closely monitoring the situ- gested the State should ensure Pramila succumbed to her Migrant labourers across to work in a steel manufactur- ation. All possible assistance only those tested negative for injuries, they said. the country have been ren- ing company at Jalna. On required is being Covid-19 are allowed to Later, Krishna and his chil- dered jobless due to the lock- Thursday evening, the workers provided.” return. dren were admitted to the down which began on March had set out on foot from Jalna President Ram Nath A bench headed by Justice Trauma Centre of King 25. With no money to pay rent to Bhusawal to board a Kovind and Vice-President M Ashok Bhushan stayed the high George’s Medical University. or buy food, thousands have “Shramik Special” train to Venkaih Naidu mourned death court order, which was chal- Krishna died there during been reaching their native return to their home towns in of the migrant workers. lenged by the Centre, and treatment, they said. The chil- places on foot, bicycles or by       %       %          twin districts of Shahdol and Former Congress presi- issued notice to the concerned dren are stated to be in a sta- taking lift in trucks and other   &  '    "   #$ Umaria in Madhya Pradesh on dent Rahul Gandhi expressed parties on the appeal. ble condition, the police said. vehicles.   !         P      + ,       !                   tancing) practices.” Q, #    - -  -R      According to the Health ith the number of coro- Ministry, 16,540 Covid-19     Wnavirus cases in the patients, which are about 29.36    also taking place. I appeal to country witnessing a sudden per cent of the total cases, have people to stay where they are, he Supreme Court Friday spurt in the past few days and recovered so far, while in the hief Minister Hemant government will Tasked States to consider tally heading towards 60,000 past 24 hours, 1,273 people CSoren today appealed to surely bring them back. They non-direct contact or online marks on Friday, the Union have been cured. people of Jharkhand struck should keep patience and faith,” sales and home delivery of Health Ministry said, “We have “So far, in 216 districts, no outside the State to have he said. liquor during the lockdown to learn to live with the virus.” positive case has been detect- patience as the Government is The CM said that after the period to prevent the spread of The death tally is all set to ed. In 42 districts no new case leaving no stone unturned to influx of people from outside coronavirus on touch 2,000 marks. There was has been detected in the last 28 bring them back home. some COVID cases have come account of crowding at the nearly 3,000 new cases and 94 days, while 29 districts have not Soren said that the State out. “The government is taking shops. deaths during Friday. reported any case in the last 21 Government wants to assure all precautionary measures to A bench of Justices Ashok Some reports said at the days,” the official said. the migrant Jharkhandis safeguard the people of the Bhushan, Sanjay Kishan Kaul current rate of daily growth, the He said 3.2 per cent of the trapped in the lockdown that it the Sahayata App made for the State,” he said. and BR Gavai, hearing the number of cases would rise to total active cases are on oxygen will take some time but all will return of stranded people from “Several people are strand- matter through video confer- 75,000 in five days. If this tra- support, 4.2 per cent in ICUs (                 be brought back to their homes. different states. All the data has ed in Jharkhand also. The gov- encing, disposed of the plea jectory continues beyond that and 1.1 per cent on ventilator.  )  *+      !    "   #$ “Everyone has kept patience in been given to the nodal officers ernment is trying to send them challenging the guidelines period, it could overwhelm Although ’s coron- the disaster, be a little more and they are establishing con- back to their respective states. issued by the Ministry of Home India’s hospital capacity and avirus trajectory has tapered, it patient. Government of nection with nodal officers of We will assess the situation at Affairs (MHA) on May 1, strain an already overburdened continues to be steeper com- #       $ Jharkhand is trying to operate different states for the safe the right time about lockdown allowing sales of liquor through health system. pared to Asian peers such as more number of trains by talk- return of the people of and take decision appropriate- direct contact during the lock- In view of no let-up in Japan and Singapore. ing to other State govern- Jharkhand.” ly,” said the CM while talking down period. cases and new infection being The rise of infections in %% &'  ( ments,” he said. “The people can be to media persons here on “We are not inclined to reported from several pockets, India is now faster than in The CM said, “Several brought back under the norms Friday. entertain this petition filed the Union Health Ministry is neighbours Bangladesh and         crossed the 500 mark even as trains from Gujarat, Andhra advised by the Government of The Chief Minister also under Article 32 of the now in the process of revising Pakistan. 5 — 2 in BSF and CISF and one Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, India like social distancing and expressed grief over the Constitution of India. The peti- the list of Red, Orange and At 19,063, Maharashtra he Central paramilitary CRPF — died of the virus. Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab others. Those trains that have Aurangabad railway accident. tion is dismissed. However, it Green Zones. leads in terms of the number of Tforces on Friday reported With the latest additions of and other states are coming to capacity of 5000 people are fer- He said that the incident is dis- shall be open for the con- Addressing mediapersons, cases, Gujarat has the second nearly 50 new cases of Covid the Covid-19 cases in its ranks, Ranchi. The State Government rying 1100-1200 passengers turbing. “May God grant peace cerned State Government to Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary at most number (7,403), followed infection with the BSF clocking the BSF now has a total of 223 is bringing back people in a due to social distancing. That to the souls of the departed. It consider non-direct sale the Health Ministry, said, “We by Tamil Nadu (6,009) and 30 fresh cases, followed by 12 infected personnel and is by far planned manner. In this con- is why it is taking time. This is painful. The worst effect of including on-line sale/home have to learn to live with the Delhi (5,980) followed by in the ITBP and 3 in CISF. the worst affected paramilitary nection contact is being made process will continue. We have corona and lockout has been on delivery of liquor to facilitate virus. We need to introduce Rajasthan (3,419) and Madhya The total number of infect- force in terms of highest num- with all people who are strand- been getting news of thousands the poor, who are being forced social distancing,” the bench certain behavioural changes to Pradesh (3,341). West Bengal ed personnel in the 10-lakh ber of Covid-19 positive ed. More than 5.5 lakh people of people coming on foot, bicy- to bear it day by day,” he said said. implement these (social dis- reported 1,678 cases. strong paramilitary forces cases. have been registered through cles etc. Several accidents are in a message.     ) &  $  !"  /+!$ +  0  

 # $  $%&    from disease while two persons *$    both from Hindpiri area died '() * 32-year-old cab driver who while battling the disease.     Areached Ranchi from The other positive aspect is     Mumbai driving his taxi was number of districts, which are ver 900 stranded Indians, found corona positive, said free from corona, too has Oincluding medical stu- he Centre on Friday health department officials. increased. Bokaro, Hazaribag, dents, were brought back home Tannounced that the Central Health department Principal Dhanbad, , Simdega in five Air India flights from Board of Secondary Education Secretary, Nitin Madan and Koderma are some districts Singapore, Bangladesh, Abu (CBSE) will hold the remain- Kulkarni said, “The man made which are now corona free. Dhabi, Dubai and some West ing board examinations for 29 the call at toll free number 1950 Ranchi, which is the worst- Asian nations on Friday under subjects for Class X (only for stating that he received a call affected district in Jharkhand, the Vande Bharat Mission. North- East Delhi candidates) from Mumbai where his coro- has reported more than 70 per Several more are expected to and XII students between July na test was conducted that he cent of the Covid-19 cases in arrive late on Friday and 1 and July 15. is corona positive. The team of State, officials said. Saturday morning. 153 passengers, from Riyadh in The announcement was health department officials and         Also, majority of patients According to Ministry of Saudi Arabia, landed in Kerala’s made by HRD Minister police on receiving the call    %      affected with the virus are Civil Aviation, the first flight Kozhikode at around 8.10 pm. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank. reached the man’s house and   "    ,    youngsters or middle aged. As from Singapore landed at the Another flight with around The results of the board exams later took him to Covid 19 cen- cases which were bulletin of health department, many as 60 of the 132 cases in Delhi airport around 11.45 am 200 Indians from Sharjah is are expected in tre at RIMS.” The decline in positive case detected from Palamu had a the total cases in State are 132, Jharkhand are in the age brack- with 234 passengers. Within a expected to arrive in Lucknow August. Meanwhile, for the second especially from Hindpiri the travel history. According to out of which the active cases et of 11 to 30 years and 42 are couple of hours, the second on Saturday. “The students have been consecutive day Ranchi did hotspot of coronavirus is great health department, 21 labour- number is 77. in the age bracket of 31 to 50 special flight with 167 stu- After the returnees reached impatiently waiting for the not report any Covid-19 case on relief for the State government. ers who were put on quarantine Also, 57 patients have years, the NHM report said. At dents arrived at the Srinagar IGI airport, Delhi Chief schedule for pending exams. It Friday. On Friday 957 samples On Thursday too, no positive had escaped from Chhattisgarh recovered and discharged from least nine children, below the airport from Dhaka. The third Minister Arvind Kejriwal said has been decided today that the were tested at four govern- case was detected from and later five of them were the disease, while death figure age of 10 years, have been flight with 177 passengers from all arrangements have been exams will be conducted from ment Covid testing labs and pri- Hindpiri area. On Thursday five found to be corona is three. In State Capital out of infected by the virus in Manama, Bahrain landed in made for the Indians coming July 1 to 15,” Nishank said on vate labs but all the cases were new positive cases were detect- positive. 93 corona cases, the active case Jharkhand so far, the report Kochi. The fourth flight with from other countries. Twitter. found to be negative. ed in Palamu district. The five According to daily health is 61, 30 persons have recovered said.     ! !           

*& social distancing amid the Epidemic Diseases Act. but in the coming days, Covid- will be reported negative of their accommodations, we are Coronavirus scare, any resident “Administration is keeping a 19 may be a big challenge for Sars-Cov-2 virus infection.” also chalking out plans to pro- **,-** found violating lockdown rules close watch on them through us as a large number of people The district administra- vide them employment. ./0 would be booked. regular surveillance by techni- (about 21,000) are returning to tion is working hard on virus Presently, 5133 schemes “Every person, who is cal monitoring including their homes. risk mitigation plans and (including PM Aawas Yojna)     required to observe home quar- mobile location, GPS or live We have to ensure that we regarding the management of are being implemented in var- antine shall strictly observe location, video calls and by remain a zero COVID-19 dis- the people returning in the dis- ious blocks and panchayats iolation of home quaran- the same, failing which they physical verifications,” added trict. The lockdown will con- trict. “Including social dis- across the district and about Vtine norms can land one in would be liable for penal action Kumar. “We prefer the techni- tinue until the government tancing, remote working and to 16000 labourers are working, jail besides sending one to and shifted to government cal method of verification as decides. Our borders will con- ensure the business survival we he said. additional 28 days institution- quarantine,” said Mukesh physical visit and direct contact tinue to remain sealed, said are planning where to keep Aiming to create enor- al quarantine. The administra- Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of police with the persons can Kumar adding “Anyone enter- those people (who returned mous employment opportuni- tion is keeping regular surveil- Bokaro. Violators of ‘home be avoided,” he said. ing the district under special from far-flung states),” he ties about 1,033 new schemes lance by way of physical veri- quarantine guidelines’ would Very soon ‘Arogyam circumstances will have to stay added. have been sanctioned while fication and technical moni- be booked under the relevant Prahari’ (an App) will be The DC urged, “Be safe, guidelines.” in a government quarantine Over 21 thousand migrant 1200 more schemes are in toring. sections of the Indian Penal launched to track such violators stay at home and strictly fol- Though, Bokaro became center. Later they will have live workers are estimated to be pipe-line for approval, said In a bid to better enforce Code and Section 3 of the in the district, he said. lows the home quarantine the zero COVID-19 districts in-home quarantine after they returned in the district. Besides Kumar.            !  " " " R%&    India had a workforce Regular wage/salaried comprise workforce in shaped or slow recovery,     of about 465 million com- employee constitute the informal employment. In rather than a V-shaped or prising the self-employed, lowest proportion in work- total, close to 93 per cent quick recovery, after the regular wage/salaried and force at about 22.8 per cent. workforce is in informal end of the lockdown. DALTONGANJ: There is a silent wish Sources said the lungs of the two makes nasal discharge which is droplet casual workers. They work in both organ- employment. It is a fore- If recession persists, the the two bison that were found dead in bison had marbled appearances, which and again these droplets are equally The self-employed peo- ised and unorganised sec- gone conclusion that major- magnitude of ‘working National Park Betla one on April 29 is a very stunning sign of CBPP and highly infectious and hazardous. ple comprise the highest tors. ity of these workers are poor’ may increase and the and May 4 do not turn out to be a case so all fingers are crossed. Nandkeolyar said park officials are proportion. They consti- These workers earn without any work and incidence of unemploy- of deadly CBPP (Contagious bovine An infected bison with CBPP can keeping a close tab on the herd of bison tute 52.2 per cent of the about Rs. 13,200 in the income consequent to the ment may also rise. The pleuro pneumonia), which in local move unnoticed for three or more adding further, “I have directed them workforce, majority of rural regions and about Rs. severe disruptions in eco- government should try to parlance can be understood as lung weeks before it gets severe and acute not to be any lax in matter of handling which are either petty 17,500 in the urban regions nomic activities after the accelerate the economic plague. breathing troubles as with every res- bison here.” traders or service providers. in a month. But, more than imposition of activities by implementing Sources said all wait is for test piration there comes a grunt sound. The HoFF has conceded our field $   In the rural areas and urban 70 per cent of these work- lockdown. a slew of monetary and fis- report of their samples but meanwhile Sources said an infected bison director PTR Y K Das has dropped a areas these workers earn ers are no better than casu- As there is no sign of cal measures. It is also Head of the Forest Force (HoFF) cum prefers to stand alone under any shed hint to him about bacterial infection o contain the spread of about Rs. 300 and Rs. 500 ally employed. Their slowdown in the spread of imperative for the govern- Principal Chief Conservator of Forest as sun it abhors when it is down with reaching here.Nandkeolyar said all out Tcoronavirus disease respectively in a day. monthly earnings are far the Covid-19, therefore, it is ment to increase the quan- (PCCF) Shashi Nandkeolyar rushed to respiratory failure and bison keeps its efforts would be done to keep wild life 2019 (Covid-19), India is Close to 24.9 percent lower than the permanent expected that many parts of tum of financial assistance National Park Betla to take stock of the head low with back arched. flock healthy and intact. under lockdown since workforce are in casual workers they also do not get the country will remain to the labourforce, because situation here. Amid the COVID -19 Secretary Nature Conservation Srivastava’s worry is enormous and March 25, 2020. In a bid to employment. Majority of any social security benefits under full or partial lock- this will help the labour- pandemic it is a relief that there is so Society D S Srivastava the park man- genuine when he said, “Our state understand the implica- the workers in casual from their employers in down for at least a couple of force to not only cope with far no evidence of CBPP’s transmission agement here needs to be extra alert Jharkhand is the proud owner of bison tions of the great lockdown employment in urban areas case they are retrenched or months more. It is also the crisis but will also help into human beings as it only strikes and vigilant by keeping close moni- and fortunately Palamu tiger reserve on the labourforce of India are migrant workers, laid off. feared that their economic the economy to come out of adult cattle and water buffalos and toring of the bison in herd or walking is the only reserve/ park in the whole one has to peruse the data including ‘circular migrants’ The entire self- conditions are not going to the recession rather quick- yaks. down alone just to keep its every action of the state where are housed around from the Periodic Labour from the rural areas. Their employed, casually improve immediately after ly. The origin of this CBPP is Africa under notice like breathing, eating. 100 bison and if this CBPP breaks out Force Survey 2017-18 earning is about Rs. 260 in employed and more than 70 the end of the lockdown. (The writer is Assistant but now it is a global threat to poor cat- Srivastava said an infected bison here then one will have little time left (PLFS) of the government rural areas and about Rs. per cent of regular Many studies show that the Professor, Xavier Institute tle said a vet doctor C Deb. loses appetite, runs fever, cough and for the bison.” PNS of India. 316 in urban areas in a day. wage/salaried employed economy will witness a U- of Social Service, Ranchi.)  .    .   %#%'    OP       /  '        &%) '  "   36 journalist our search cops entered Garhwa: The second and third to the RIMS, Ranchi. His cousins Kovid-19 tests. Of 396 samples the house only to find the ‘missing’ Covid-19 patients who were infected with Covid-19 were sent, three were positive and 335  ( ('    been making sexual olice in Palamu did a rare kind child fast asleep there in one cor- undergoing treatment at Covid- undergoing treatment at Covid- samples while the results of the advances towards her since Pof rescue of children where one ner of the house with the cell 19 hospital were discharged on 19 hospital Meral. rest 158 are were awaited, CS okaro Thermal police she joined the DAV school, was found sleeping in his own phone on. Friday, while the first Covid-19 Civil Surgeon N K Rajak informed. Bhas recently registered a Swang in October 2017. house while the other had dodged Gupta said it was the cell patient is undergoing treatment said, "Both Kovid-19 patients At the time of discharge of case against the personnel In second week of April his family and had reached Bihar. phone that was on that cops found at RIMS, Ranchi. have been discharged from the both patients from the hospital manager of CCL, Kathara 2018, he asked her to meet On Thursday evening Palamu the child otherwise the child would Both the COVID-19 patient hospital so far. They had under- were given applause and bou- region on charges of sexu- him at CCL guest house, police was approached by a jour- have been found after some more the 12 year old girl and 10 year gone 14 days treatment at the quet by the hospital staff and ally harassing a female office Kathara and he would make nalist complaining his three and a hour of our search. old boy are cousins of the first hospital after testing positive for administrative officials. Both staff of DAV school, Swang, her permanent at DAV half year old son gone missing. Sources said it is believed the Covid-19 patient of the district. the virus. They were discharged were sent to their home by Inspector cum Officer in school. When she had gone SP Ajay Linda said as it is lock- child slept and his cell phone was First Covid-19 patient a 24 year after testing negative for the ambulance in the presence of the Charge Binod Singh said. to meet him at Kathara down this information of a child on. old youth tested positive on virus in two consecutive Deputy Commissioner, Civil The Personnel manag- guest house at 4pm in sec- that too just three and half years Again came a complaint from April 22 and referred and shift- tests." Surgeon, Deputy Development er of the Central Coal ond week of Apri 2018, he old gone missing put us immedi- a family of Parwa where it was said ed to RIMS, Ranchi. His cousins Earlier, 42 people were test- Commissioner and Subdivision /*-*02 Limited (CCL), Kathara allegedly leaned forward to ately on the job and a search a 13 year old boy has been abduct- tested positive on April 29. ed twice on suspicion of getting Officer Garhwa. 3.*-.-/ region has been accused of touch her hand first then began for the child under the ed by the rivals of this family and The youth, who had under in touch with first Kovid-19 “The hospital doctors, nurs- .4*6-*- sexually harassing a class IV personnel manager report- supervision of SDPO Sadar Sandip here again the boy’s cell phone gone an operation to remove patient. After both of their es, health care officials and san- employee of DAV, school, edly gagged her forcibly Kumar Gupta. helped police to crack this manu- kidney stones at Lake View reports came negative, they have itary workers are responsible for  6/   Swang under block took her to his room and Linda said the journalist father factured story of kidnapping. hospital, Ranchi came in the been released from home quar- this feat. And, I would like to of the district in second raped her. told us the child had a cell phone The boy’s cell phone location contact of any Covid-19 patient. antine, CS added. express my gratitude towards he Jamshedpur centre of week of April 2018. The accused also filmed too in his hand. Linda said it was was first found Palamu’s After Covid-19 symptoms his Till May, 07 so far 396 sam- them for that,” DC Harsh TBuilders Association of The police have regis- her in compromising posi- appearing a too bizarre a case as Chhaterpur and then it was Bihar’s throat and nasal swab were sent ples have been sent to RIMS for Mangla said. PNS India (BAI), the apex body of tered a case (49/20) against tions and threatened to lockdown, three and half years and Dehri On Sone around midnight civil engineering construction the personnel manager release the footage on the one cell phone in hand which were last night where Linda said, “I had companies including small, O.P.Singh under section of Internet if she dared to enough to make this missing case to telephone Rohtas SP Satbeer      medium and big contractors, 354A, 354C, 384, 506 and lodge a police complaint all the more enigmatic. Singh, who put his inspector of has asked the State Government 376 of IPC, said Singh. against him, the woman The cell phone which was on police Subodh Kumar on the job to release the pending dues of A senior police officer alleged through FIR. proved too beneficial for us said for this boy.”         road construction contractor at confirmed that the FIR was The victim then rushed Linda as when our technical cell SDPO Gupta said we were in the earliest. BAI ( Jamshedpur registered on May 2, 2020 at out of the guest house and started looking for tower location touch with Dehri On Sone police Ranchi: The Crusher Industry Association of Centre) chairman Surendra Pal the Bokaro Thermal police shouted that she will report it came out to be the journalist’s all night and police there found Bokaro provided 17 tonnes of food grains to the Singh ( Titu) has written to State station. The complainant the matter to the police and house. finally the boy about whom his district administration Bokaro for distribution Chief Minister Hemanrt Soren told the police that person- narrated the episode before Gupta said following this loca- family had trumpeted kidnapping among the needy people to sustain fight effec- to draw his attention over the nel manager had allegedly her parents. tion of tower right in the house of story which proved a big lie. tively against COVID 19. Central President of the plight of contractors amidst the Crusher Industry Association, Daya shankar Rai spread of Coronavirus. provided a truck full of food grains for distrib- The chairman of the asso-    .  ution among the needy to DC Bokaro Mukesh ciation presided over a tele-con- Kumar .The Deputy Commissioner said that in ference of its executive com- /0   % this hour of crisis, the district administration as mittee and said that the con- well as social workers and rich people have con- tractors have long pending dues 1 &  !  tributed significantly in providing help and for works done for road con- assistance to the needy and helpless people. The struction and Buildings and Ranchi: In view to keep our district administration as well as philanthropists Ranjan Mishra, Additional Collector Vijay other segments. CCL families safe from Corona and common people have an important contri- Kumar Gupta, SDO Chas Shashiprakash Singh, Singh said that Builders pandemic and at the same time bution in the war against Covid-19, due to their SDO Bermo, Tenughat Nitish Kumar Singh, Association of India is aware to provide adequate medical cooperation and awareness, may DPRO Rahul Kumar Bharti and from Crusher that the State Government is services to all needy persons the one day be completely free from infection of Industry Association Nirmal Kumar Singh, taking measures to fight Gandhinagar hospital OPD ser- Covid-19 in the coming days. Mohan Jain, Manoj Paswan, Sudhir Kumar COVID 19 but the Government vices are now being delivered During this occasion DDC Bokaro Ravi Singh, etc were present. PNS should also need to understand from Jan Arogya Kendra situat- the difficulties faced by the ed near entry gate of Gandhi contractors as they are also Nagar Colony uninterruptedly . source of employment for sev- All those who wish to seek eral engineers and workers. medical treatment from “The payments are delayed Gandhinagar Hospitals can avail for eight months. This is putting unabated.It is to be noted that pressure on the cash flows of the CCL Gandhinagar Hospital, contractors. These contractors Ranchi and three other central generate several employment hospitals of the Company are opportunities the Government ready to deal with Covid-19 should understand its impor- patients. These hospitals of CCL tance release all the payments,” have beds with assured oxygen said Singh. support, basic life support Another official of the asso- Ambulances with sufficient oxy- ciation said that the contractors gen and other facilities. 12 have invested in upgrading and Covid-19 patients are undergo- buying new machinery for pro- ing treatment at Gandhinagar jects. They are required to pay Central Hospital, Ranchi. the installments and any delay The medical team is work- in clearing the bills is putting a ing hard to overcome the pressure on the contractors as unprecedented crisis due to they are not able to match the Covid-19. Earlier, the CCL cash flows. CMD had expressed deepest The members of BAI also gratitude to the “Corona war- said that that since they were riors”, “frontline workers” and unable to pay monthly instal- other stakeholders, who are ments of their machinery, the directly and indirectly working banks and financial institutions to save the life of affected per- might seize them. sons. PNS

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   givers were much excited on tor Rai Mahimapat Ray himself reaching their home state. A was present at Hatia railway he first train from Tamil middle aged youth who had station looking after the TNadu after the Covid 19 gone to Vellore for his mother arrangements made by district lockdown which chugged from treatment was much excited. administration and social dis- Katpadi station in Vellore town The youth said, “My mother is tancing norms. on Wednesday night carrying chronic heart patient. We had On the initiative of respec- 1200 patients and their care- gone to Vellore on March 21 for tive State governments and givers reached Hatia station on two day treatment and we were Centre, the railway has been Friday. The district adminis- to return back by March 25, but running special trains carrying tration had made elaborate at that time lockdown occurred migrant labourers, students arrangements for arrival of and we were left with no other and patients stranded at dif- patients and caregivers. The alternative but to stay at ferent parts of country. district administration wel- Vellore.” A train from Hyderabad's comed the patients and care- The youth further said Lingampalli, carrying nearly givers by giving flowers. they had a very traumatic 1,200 migrant workers, reached As most of passengers phase as we were unsure when Hatia in Jharkhand on May 1. reaching Haita station where we will return as lockdown was        #  2 '         %  ' '   This was first train to ferry patients and their attendants extended from phase one to .                   "    ,    migrants amid nationwide the district administration had three. The youth thanked the lockdown. made arranged ambulances Hemant Soren government of Covid-19 were allowed to patients from North India for such migrant labourers. In last one week, more and wheelchair. The district and Railways for arranging the travel, said officials of the dis- states including Bihar, The district administration had than 2400 migrant workers, administration appointed vol- train facility. trict administration. Most of Jharkhand, Bengal and Odisha. arranged 57 buses for such patients and students have unteers helped patients in The special train with 22 the patients had gone to As the special train, which migrant labourers. The labour- returned state from across the alighting ambulances who were coaches left Katpadi railway were made by the Tamil Nadu to the Katpadi railway station Christian Medical College, reached Hatia from Katpadi ers were given seats at respec- country. Fifteen trains carrying unable to walk though wheel- junction on Wednesday night government to take the patients in sanitized vehicles. Every Vellore widely known as CMC, also included migrant labour- tive maintaining social dis- migrant labourers and stu- chair. reaching Hatia station on and their attendees from pri- passenger was screened, and Vellore for treatment. The ers, the district administra- tance. dents have reached Jharkhand The patients and their care- Friday morning. Arrangements vate marriage halls and lodges only those with no symptoms CMC Vellore gets maximum tion had even arranged buses The Ranchi deputy collec- and still the process is going on.   ! " #  % #    -   (   ! : 9" ; #  : 9 7 !) & 0('  ( ))  !%  %9*8< ## '      & '  &% %       0 %   ###(% *=8 ( '    0(  % ( ) (  % &%0 ( 0&%% ( 0)1 & being physically present. ollowing instruction given 400   2%"  (( (!  /( 7>' )<   Productivity has been top Fby Jharkhand High Court '' /( 0%0< ' (  9&'%(   0 % 2 - "   notch even while working from (HC), the judicial works start- &'%( /(! /  0%'  +? #0( &)## ) home. Calls with government ed at Ranchi Civil Court on &# ' 0%  % )"   and stakeholders across the Friday with proper care and world are happening on virtu- maintaining social distancing. 9 7:"7:  77$   7  6/   al platforms that has reduced On the first day of the opening travel time and increased the of the Court after lockdown a V Narendran, CEO& man- frequency of meetings. Change total of 50 cases were filed. Taging director, Tata Steel in a positive direction awaits as For hearing of important has said that State Government people will start questioning if and necessary cases following should prevent migration of it is worth investing 4 hours to the directions of Chief Justice workers by thinking on policies also make tomorrow looks for travel for doing things that be Jharkhand HC, Ravi Ranjan, that can bring in investment a brighter, better future and done from home.” Judicial Commissioner and opportunities for the work- represents what Tata Steel will On plans to reach 300 mil- Navneet Kumar directed the ers. He said that migrant work- do in the next 10-15 years. lion metic tons of production, Courts, to bring acceleration in Hearing through JITC app. to expedite the judicial work ers who are returning home Companies that only talk about the CEO said that currently at hearing of the cases to provide Outside the Civil Court and also the disposal of relat- due to lockdown might be their past do not create 100 million metric tons. The earlier justice to poor and premises, thermal scanning ed matters. In the light of this reluctant to go back. So steps future. Thus, there is need of big jump in consumption was needy people. and sensitization work is being directive, work is being done by need to be taken to stop migra- new campaign that goes to come from spending on After receiving the instruc- done by Dalsa after that per- the Civil Court tion. beyond We Also Make Steel infrastructure. Govt. has been tions, at various courts to run mission is being granted to Administration. Narendran was address- and connects with the younger increasing the budget for infra- smoothly, various counters enter the counter. During the filing, Manager ing a TEDxKanke: Webinar generation. Which looks for a structure, but faces the chal- were made on May 8 near the During the filing, the of Civil Court, Manish Kumar  '(0%('  // &( &(%   09 %  ( Series organised by brighter future. It is about lenge of how to spend that entry gates of the Civil Court Chairman of the Bar, Shambhu Singh, DLSA Secretary, #!) ''' )'% # =( ( ?( < ,@,@"  ''' TEDxKanke. It was streamed being structurally and cultur- money amidst the current con- premises, in which fresh filing Agarwal, General Secretary, Abhishek Kumar, PLV of DLSA ' %0 (%  ( % ( ('( /0 %0 /! % ( live on Facebook page ally ready for the future. cerns of fiscal deficits. counters, certified copying Kundan Prakashan, Member and all the officials of the Bar '  ( &0&'  )% 5 %  "  #  (' ''' fb.me/tedxkanke20. The event Organisational restructuring, Narendran answered many counters, bar counters and Secretary, Pawan Ranjan Khatri were present. ' ( 0(0 ( 0%%) ('('<   ( (!) '  ' was moderated by Santosh financial transformation, questions from the audience as notary counters were made. and other officials were present It may be mentioned here ( '!'"  ( '( %  ( '''< ( ( ( #! Sharma. adding agility and innovation well. Among audience, Sunil A help desk has also been at the bar counter and filing that the Jharkhand HC can- (' (0) %( & ('  )'"  ( ' % %< He noted that the govern- to the already existing cul- Barnwal (IAS), Mahesh set up by DLSA. For hearing of and applications were filed by celed the summer vacation. ( (  ( %& ( %( #( &''' % )'(0' ment must continue working ture,” he noted. Poddar, Member of Parliament, various cases, the advocates will the Advocates with their coop- The holiday was scheduled (0) ("  (% % ' %(%  ( ()  ( #( 9 on ease of doing business. Speaking on work from Yashvardhan Jhawar, industri- put their applications in the eration. Filing time has been from May 18 to June 6 in the ( ''' %  ( 0( %< ( '(0%(' ( ( #! India can create opportunity by home in manufacturing sector, alist, Kanishka Poddar, bicycle drop box and after 24 hours it fixed from 8 am to 10 am. High Court. #  ('"  % ' % %# %& 5# ' attracting more investments Narendran noted: “Tata Steel mayor of Ranchi, Rajen has been sanitized, the matter It may be noted that the The High Court has can- (% ( '0  ( %'  () ( '(0%('"  & into the country and opening is operating factories - which Kamani from Jamshedpur also will be given to the Court con- Chief Justice of the Jharkhand celed this holiday by issuing an #A( 0 '% (( // ' () ( (!  &''  ' ( new doors for global supply come under essential services asked question regarding cerned and it will be heard High Court, through a video order. Due to the lockdown, #! (  !% &%0 ( % '0  ''''  '0 & ( chain to shift to India, as well - with minimum number of Industries, development, through video conferencing. conference, instructed the only cases of urgent nature are '(0%(' (   ( (( ((   (  '(() ( as become more self-sufficient. people and keeping all precau- lifestyle, growth and more post There will be three apps for this judge, Ranchi, to follow the being heard in the High Court #" “The philosophy that we tions to prevent people from Covid 19. - Video app, Cisco app and lockdown and social distancing through video conferencing. )       13 / 

   should provide generously spe- Committee under the leader- cial package to backward, weak ship Oraon, has also decided harkhand Pradesh Congress and tribal majority state like that the Congressmen will con- JCommittee (JPCC) on Friday Jharkhand so that it can pro- tinue receive and help migrant demanded that the Central vide assistance to migrant laborers at major stations in the Government should provide laborers coming from outside State by maintaining social special package to backward of the State," said distancing. states like Jharkhand so that the Oraon. The party Spokesman also State Government could give Oraon is also Finance said that people are complain- assistance to migrant labourers Minister in Hemant Soren led ing that the electricity bill is returning from outside to the coalition government in the being sent anonymously, the State during the ongoing lock- State. party has decided that the down caused by the Corona In response to a question complaints will be resolved by virus. laborers trapped in Telangana talking to the concerned offi- Talking to media persons and Karnataka, Oraon said cials. Hitting hard on former JPCC Chief and Food and that both states have been Chief Minister, Babulal Civic Supplies Minister, requested to run new trains to Marandi, Dubey said that Rameshwar Oran said that the bring the migrant laborers of Babulal Marandi's concern economic condition of the Jharkhand. He spoke to the about private schools is only State is deteriorating and rev- Chief Secretary (CS) on the fraud and the loss of education enue collection is negligible due issue, then the CS replied that 1))           4      in Jharkhand started from the to ongoing lockdown. “All trade the State Government is ready "       time of his reign, which con- and business activities are halt- to bring migrant laborers from tinues unabated. ed due to lockdown and the Karnataka and Telangana to laborers trapped inside other side, the details are being Health Minister, Banna financial condition of the State Jharkhand. Jharkhand from one district to collected continuously for the Gupta, Pradip Tulsyan, Rajesh is not so that the State JPCC Spokesperson Alok another, has started working workers trapped outside the Kumar Gupta and Lal Kishore Government is demanding to Kumar Dubey informed the under the leadership of Madan State to bring back them safe- Nath Shahdeo were also pre- the Central Government that it committee, made to sent the Mohan Sharma, while on the ly. The JPCC Relief Monitoring sent on the occasion. ) "      .       )/5$0 *+      "    ,        -   3  

7-)''. the list these women are due for patient complained of delivery by the end of May. He being denied admission -.* also said that as per protocol, by a private hospital was it is the priority of the govern- addressed and the patient "# $7"   ment to provide all necessary was referred to medical facilities related to the RIMS.while there was hen reports of pregnant timely delivery to the pregnant another from the con- Wwomen suffering mis- women. tainment zone in carriages due to lack of ade- “This helpline number has Ranchi- Hindpiri have quate medical facilities owing been started to address all also been received and to the lockdown came to light queries related to health centres the patient was directed earlier this week, the Ranchi where the various tests required to Anjuman Islamia for district administration took during pregnancy can be an ultrasound. stock of the entire situation and availed. A call related to denial “A case from old issued a helpline number for all of ultrasound by a particular Ranchi was also maternity related emergencies. centre was also received which addressed where the In just four days of its being was immediately patient was directed to functional, the number sorted. The nature of maxi- Sadar Hospital, The doc- 9110041397 has received as mum calls have been regarding tors present were asked many as 300 calls from women various inquires,” said District to check the patient on a and their families from the Public Relations Officer priority basis because the State capital and its surround- (DPRO), Prabhat lady was in severe pain ing areas. Shankar. &      %     % )/5$0 *+    and it was an emergency Health, Family Welfare and The DPRO further added      "  situation,” added the offi- Medical Education that calls from various blocks cial. Department Secretary Dr Nitin have also been received with period and the callers are being gency or unavailability of doc- The district administra- Madan Kulkarni informed on questions on which doctor to provided with the same. tors, the person is asked to call tion has however, requested the May 6 that a list of 51,935 preg- visit for a check- op. “The dis- Rumours regarding various again.” residents of Ranchi to use the nant women across the State trict administration has a list of hospitals and nursing homes Calls related to a pregnant number responsibly and not for (   '     %       %4  % /   2. 66  2      has been prepared by the voluntary doctors who are being shut are also being woman suffering from chicken any insignificant   "    ,    Health Department and as per helping during the lockdown addressed. In case of an emer- pox was also received where the inquires.     ! !  (   %%)"" " %' %   " "  %

    ndia has identified four ded- )  7  %    6   )$  %    % Iicated COVID-19 hospitals at as many high-load Covid-19 cities to be a part of “Solidarity”,     sor in the UC College of "Our study indicates that a cated that these nasal symp- O%    3O    3 the World Health Medicine's Department of decreased sense of smell may toms were rare in COVID-19 Organisation’s (WHO) inter- OVID-19 patients show Otolaryngology-Head and be an indicator of patients and these symptoms were national clinical trial to help Closs of the sense of smell, Neck Surgery and an UC early in the disease course as attributed to allergy and not     combat COVID-19. nisms of treatment are simi- find an effective treatment for a symptom which is most like- Health physician specializing well as those who may go on to the novel coronavirus. CSIR Director General lar," Mande said. novel coronavirus. ly to occur by the third day of in diseases of the nose and develop more severe symp- "No one is going to die he Drug Controller Shekhar Mande said that they Phytopharmaceutical is These hospitals are AIIMS infection with the novel virus, sinuses, who was the principal toms, like shortness of breath, because of a loss of the sense TGeneral of India (DGCI) will start the clinical trial essentially a herbal medicine in Jodhpur, Apollo Hospital in according to researchers. investigator of the study. later on.” of smell and it's not the symp- has given green signal to the within a week. extracted from plants. It is a Chennai, B J Medical College Most of these patients are The mean onset for reduc- He cautioned that while tom that will kill anyone," Council for Scientific and In May 2016, Sun Pharma cocktail of different com- and Civil Hospital in also experiencing a loss of the tion or loss in the sense of smell the loss of smell is an indica- said Sedaghat. "However, it is Industrial Research (CSIR) to and International Centre for pounds but has a biological Ahmedabad and Chirayu sense of taste, they said in their was 3.4 days. tor of COVID-19, it's not the important because it helps us conduct clinical trial on drugs Genetic engineering and origin from a plant. In the Medical College and Hospital study after conducting char- The findings have been only factor. "When you start to to identify these COVID-19 - 'favipiravir' and 'phytophar- Biotechnology (ICGEB), United States, the Food and in Bhopal. acteristics and symptoms of published in the journal experience serious symptoms patients as asymptomatic car- maceutical' - to combat coro- Delhi, had signed an exclusive Drug Administration (FDA) Under the trial, the effec- 103 patients who were diag- Otolaryngology-Head and of COVID-19 which include riers so they don't spread the navirus. agreement to develop the terms it botanical, however, in tiveness of four drugs and nosed with COVID-19 over a Neck Surgery. The first author shortness of breath and respi- disease to others. Now we can Favipiravir is a drug which novel botanical drug for treat- India the DCGI calls it phy- standard care on coronavirus six-week period at of the research was Marlene ratory distress, that's when potentially identify them early is commonly used in Japan, ment against dengue. topharmaceutical. patients will be compared. The Kantonsspital Aarau in Aarau, Speth, at the Switzerland hos- you should become alarmed." during the disease to start China and some other coun- According to CSIR scien- Talking about Favipiravir, four-drug regimes that will be Switzerland. pital. The study also found that antiviral medications and ulti- tries, to treat influenza that has tists, the antiviral properties he said it is a safe drug and its tested on Covid-19 patients Patients were asked on "We also found in this younger patients and women mately maximize our ability to a very broad spectrum of RNA of the medicine have been trial is expected to be com- under the Solidarity Trial are - phone how many days they study that the severity of the in the study were also more effectively treat these patients." polymerase. found to be effective against pleted in about one and a half Remdesivir, Lopinavir, had COVID-19 symptoms and loss of smell is correlated with likely to experience a Other co-authors of the The CSIR is also explor- vector-borne dengue disease month. "If the tests are suc- Hydroxychloroquine or also asked to describe the tim- how bad your other COVID- decreased loss of smell, said study included Isabelle ing Cocculus Hirsutus, a as part of the initial stages of cessful with the expected Chloroquine and Interferon. ing and severity of loss or 19 symptoms will be," said Sedaghat. Gengler, UC Department of native herb used by tribes in human trials. results, then this drug will be The international clinical reduced sense of smell along Sedaghat. "If the anosmia, also Also, about 50 per cent of Otolaryngology-Head and the country, as a biological "We are already testing available soon at affordable trial has been launched by the with other symptoms. known as loss of smell, is study patients experienced a Neck Surgery, along with medicine or phytopharma- the efficacy of this medicine prices. A big reason for this is WHO and its partners to help At least 61 per cent of the worse, the patients reported stuffy nose and 35 per cent Thirza Singer-Cornelius, ceutical, which is already against dengue and it is in the that Favipiravir is an old med- find an effective treatment for patients reported reduced or worse shortness of breath and experienced a runny nose. Michael Oberle, and Steffi being tested as medicine for advanced stage in phase-II icine the patent of which has Covid-19. India is among 100 lost sense of smell, said Ahmad more severe fever and cough." Sedaghat said it was important Brockmeier, all from dengue for its efficacy to human trials. The mecha- now expired," he said. other countries participating in Sedaghat, an associate profes- Sedaghat explained that, because previous studies indi- Kantonsspital Aarau. the trial. Chloroquine and hydrox- antiviral properties that was itive in Rajasthan. Interferon “The Solidarity Trial will ychloroquine are very closely manufactured by a US-based beta-1a is used to treat multi- compare four treatment The trial has patients enrolled stages of being approved. The and many more are in the donated by WHO for trial in related and used to treat malar- biotechnology company in ple sclerosis. options against standard of in multiple countries. “Other sites require approval from process of obtaining approval India.” ia and rheumatology condi- 2014, to treat Ebola cases; it was “By enrolling patients in care, to assess their relative drugs can be added based on their institutional ethics com- from their ethics committee,” “All four treatments will be tions respectively. The ICMR also tried in patients of MERS multiple countries, the effectiveness against Covid- emerging evidence,” it says. mittees, and have to be trained said the scientist. tested. Patients who are willing has authorised hydroxychloro- and SARS, both caused by Solidarity trial aims to rapidly 19,” according to the world A scientist from the ICMR and updated with the Drug She said that India will be to participate and provide their quine as prophylaxis (preven- coronaviruses while Lopinavir/ discover whether any of the health agency. said that the research wing Controller General of India testing all the four treatment informed consent will be allot- tive treatment), recommending Ritonavir is a licensed treat- drugs slow disease progression It aims to rapidly discover body plans “to initiate the trial (DCGI) and Clinical Trials options. Remdesivir, which is ted randomly, through a com- it for healthcare workers and ment for HIV. India first used or improve survival. Other whether any of the drugs in the at 20-25 clinical trial sites in Registry-India (CTRI). Some exclusively manufactured by puter programme, to any one those taking care of COVID-19 the Lopinavir/ Ritonavir com- drugs can be added based on trial slows down disease pro- many states across the country”. sites are already registered, Gilead in the US, and of the four treatment options,” patients at home. bination for treatment of an emerging evidence,” as per the gression or improves survival. “These sites are in various some are close to registration, Interferon beta-1a, “have been she added. Remdesivir is a drug with Italian couple who tested pos- WHO website. /.              & (

    stances. His comments come at a requires a ‘psychological often, and as a colleague, not as "It may work for him, but time when states have been change’ among the citizens for a boss. 41    '  (  harting out several sug- when the country is facing demanding a relief and stimu- which Prime Minister He also said massive tran- Cgestions for the Centre, such an unprecedented crisis, lus package to mitigate the Narendra Modi has to take sition was needed and coordi- former Congress chief Rahul we don't need just one strong economic damage caused by lead. nation between the govern- Gandhi on Friday said the PM... we need many, many the most stringent lockdown in "We simply cannot contin- ment and states, and the gov- '     %  )( Government needs to spell out strong leaders, strong CMs the world. India is now in the ue without providing support ernment and the people. a strategy to exit the national (Chief Ministers) and strong third phase of the nationwide to people who are suffering To a question about the     that even before the announce- said. lockdown, immediately DMs (District Magistrates). lockdown, which started on 25 because of the lockdown. A state of migrants stranded by ment of the lockdown by the In his recent talk with the announce a financial package We need a strong patriotic March. lockdown brings a psycholog- the lockdown, either forced to escribing Congress leader Centre on March 24 four states Congress leader, Banerjee had and implement a decentralised Indian leader at the panchay- "The Government’s gen- ical change. It is not an on-off survive without jobs, shelter DRahul Gandhi’s comment -Punjab, Odisha, Telangana, noted that the issues facing approach to deal with the at level, district level, state eral style is to not engage with switch. Currently, the people and food or walking hundreds asking the Modi-Government to Maharashtra- had declared lock- migrants should be handled by socio-economic fallout of the level... we need to tackle the opposition and we have accept- are very scared of this disease, of km with their families, Rahul be “transparent” about its strat- down in their respective States. local authorities, Trivedi said. He covid-19 pandemic. problem and finish it at a local ed that. We are doing what is so we are going to have to make said this was "not the time to egy to counter coronavirus post- "Ever youthful Congress added "It's not time to create Rahul also stated the coun- level, not at the national level," our work. We feel four or five psychological changes in the criticise the Government" on May 17 and “devolve power” to leader who is about to complete controversy directly or indirect- try needed not just a "strong he said. things are immediately needed minds of the people. The gov- the crisis. States as “immature” and “ill- a half century now at least ly. Instead it is time for cooper- PM" but also "strong Chief "We have been 45 days in including a financial package, ernment, if it wants to open up, "Our supply chain and the informed”, the BJP on Friday said should have some wisdom and ation and he should try to fight Ministers". The country would lockdown now and we are we have made a clear frame- has to turn this fear into a sense health system of red, orange that the Prime Minister practicality", Trivedi said refer- the biggest calamity in the lose the coroanavirus fight if it beginning to run in a little bit work for MSMEs and income of confidence," he added. and green is clashing. The Narendra Modi has been taking ring to Rahul’s comment on human history under the able was restricted only to the PM's of problem. There is a very support and suggesting 200 "We are in an emergency migrants and the poor need suggestions from all the Chief transparency and devolution of guidance of our Modi." Office, he said. strong feeling that we need to, days of work under MGN- and idea of injecting a sum of money immediately. The Ministers and quoted Nobel lau- power to the states in respect of BJP spokesman said India is "If we keep this fight only without any delay, get package REGS (Mahatma Gandhi Rs 7500 directly into hands of MSME need money immedi- reate Abhijit Banerjee as prais- devising strategies in respect to the only country where there are in PMO, we will lose; PM for MSMEs (micro, small and Employment Guarantee poor is critical," Rahul said in ately, otherwise the lack of ing the Centre’s direct money the pandemic. attacks on health and security must devolve power," the medium enterprises), get Scheme)," he said. response to question from jobs will become a tsunami," transfer to poor who may be He said the Modi personnel for which the gov- Congress leader said in a video money in the hand of poor Rahul also said states, media. said the Congress leader. facing problems during the Government has been very ernment had to bring an ordi- interaction with the media. Indians and have a strategy for including those ruled by the As far as decentralisation is To another question on ongoing lockdown in the coun- much receptive to suggestions nance to tackle such crimes, he Prime Minister Narendra migrants as well as start prepar- BJP, face financial distress and concerned, Rahul Gandhi said whether his conversations with try. from the opposition but it should said, adding that there is an effort Modi, he said, had a style of ing for exit from lockdown," need immediate central gov- Modi needs to trust state chief Raghuram Rajan, Abhijit Seeking Rahul to act with be constructive and added that to “communalise” the issue, with working and that "may be Rahul Gandhi said in video ernment intervention. He ministers and they should be Banerjee and others were part "wisdom and practicality" and it is very typical and character- international agencies being effective" in other circum- press conference. added that the pandemic able to trust their subordi- of a bigger strategy, Rahul said: "fight the biggest calamity in istic of Gandhi to speak before approached to criticise the cen- nates. He added that the clas- "I speak to a lot of people. A lot human history under the able media without studying facts. tral government. Trivedi was sification of zones (in green, of conversations are interesting. guidance" of Narendra Modi, The Government has apparently referring to the alle- orange and red) too should I thought I would like to give BJP spokesperson and Rajya already announced a relief pack- gations that right-wing activists happen in consultation with a glimpse of these conversa- Sabha member Sudhanshu age of 1.7 lakh crore and has have targeted Muslims for the chief minsters and district tions to the people of India. Trivedi said Government is also ensured money in the hands spread of coronavirus. Congress, magistrates (DMs). There is no other strategy." working in “full harmony” with of the poor through direct ben- he said has no words to offer on For example, the grading of On the possibility of his the States and Prime Minister efit transfer to help them tide this issue. red, orange and green had comeback as president of the has consulted representatives of over difficulties during the coro- Rahul Gandhi had earlier been done at the national level, grand old party, the Gandhi almost all sectors in the country, navirus crisis, he said, respond- said that the Government needs but should have been done at scion ruled out returning as including trade, business, art , ing to Gandhi's demands of a to tell the people about its strat- the level of the DM as they have Congress president, a post he sports or religion. special package and cash trans- egy to open up the country as the most ground information, gave up last year after his party Trevedi said the best exam- fer to the poor. Nobel laureate well as the economy after the he said and advising the PM to was pulverised in the national ple of freedom accorded to Abhijit Banerjee has also praised Covid-19 lockdown ends on talk to Chief Ministers more election. states to act in the pandemic is the direct money transfer, he May 17. 3( # %  ( #%( ')    (# & 0(' “Indian Coal does not unit and CO2 emissions, due     contain any significant per- to 1.5% increase in auxiliary centage of Sulphur which consumption.” he Environment Ministry would warrant setting up of In fact, the Environment Tis reportedly set to issue a FGD equipments involving Ministry’s 2014 notification notification that is likely to do crores of rupees. Also, unlike had put the onus for supply of away with the mandatory use what is being projected, wash- washed coal to thermal power of washed coal in power sta- ing of coal is 100% pro envi- plants on Coal India Limited. tions located beyond 500 KM ronment. The perceived extra Many say that this PSU also from coal supplying mines. If cost of washed coal is com- stands to benefit out of this done, it would not only clear pensated by high heat value notification, as the mandate is the last hurdle in the imple- and lesser freight cost, result- being done away with. mentation of a new technol- ing in eventual benefit,” said It is in public domain ogy called flue gas desulfuri- RK Sachdev, President of Coal that despite its promise a sation (FGD) but also renege Preparation Society of India. decade ago on building wash- on one of its own reforms. R Srikanth, Head of eries while Through a January 2014 Energy and Environment issuing its IPO, CIL has not notification, the Ministry had Research Program at National been able to make more than made it mandatory for use of Institute of Advanced two such facilities. washed coal having ash con- Studies, Bengaluru, who also What worries experts is tent of 34 percent or more for feels washing coal is a better the ramifications this new use in power stations located and globally accepted norm, technology will have on esca- beyond 500 KM from coal says, “To tackle lating costs for consumers. supplying mines. pollution, Environment “Environment Ministry At a time when the coun- Ministry must prioritise high- should re-examine the issues try is reeling under its worst efficiency Electrostatic through consultations with crisis ever, experts question Precipitators (ESPs) with industry and experts, before the wisdom behind this pro- Indiantaking any decision. posed move especially since it technology which can remove Preparation of washed coal is also contrary to the Prime 99.98% of PM pollutants with for use by thermal Minister’s advise that very low increase in tariff. power plants has been part mineral sector should Instead, Environment and and benchmark its operations to Power Ministries are priori- parcel of coal mining international standards. tising expensive and import- industry globally and India is The notification will do ed FGDs.” He further no exception,” added Sachdev. away with globally accepted informed that an MoP order In fact, it best suits Indian process of coal washing and shows only 30% domestic Coal considering the high preparations before despatch content in FGD equipment ash and low Sulphur content to a consumer. which will raise fixed cost per in Indian Coal.  )     ! ! 7"8%7!9 * % " .)    % 9 :;<< 7 #2 !$  ::     TASMAC liquor shops which number of persons afflicted this phenomenon,” said Dr K diagnostic experience said the opened on Thursday after a 45 with the virus in the metropo- Kolandasway, who was the shooting up of the numbers is   % + here was no reprieve for day close down. But tipplers lis 3,043, the highest in the director of public health and a blessing in disguise for the TTamil Nadu from the coro- have been given the liberty to State. The death toll due to the preventive medicine to the people. navirus pandemic ravaging the book their brands by online pandemic reached 40 with Government of Tamil Nadu till “This will help in strength- !$  ::     aircraft with 363 passengers on the medical team posted at rest of the country and the and this would be delivered at three more persons succumb- April 30, 2020. After retirement ening the immunity power of board landed at Kochi and Kochi Airport which resulted world as 600 more persons test- their doorsteps. Thursday and ing on Friday. from the office, Dr the younger as well as older n the 100th day of the Kozhikode airports. All pas- in a few passengers from West ed positive on Friday. This Friday saw unprecedented and Though the number of Kolandaswamy has been work- generations. There is no need Ocoronavirus pandemic sengers are being accommo- Asia jumping the security cor- took the number of coron- uncontrollable crowd in front persons testing positive for ing as advisor to the to be upset or panic because of which fell on Friday, Kerala dated at the quarantine homes don and escaping to Kasargod, avirus patients in the State to of the liquor shops giving a go Covid-19 is increasing by the Government on issues related the present scenario. We have could look back with a sense of arranged by the State the entire scanning and scruti- 6,009, according to the medical by to the norms of social dis- hour, veteran medical doctors to infectious diseases and pan- to observe the cardinal rules of satisfaction to the path it cov- Government for a period of ny operations were foolproof in bulletin released by the depart- tancing and wearing of face and contagious disease spe- demic. the game to tame coronavirus ered during the journey to seven days after which those the State. The State ment of health and family wel- masks. cialists are of the view that there Speaking to The Pioneer and that is to wear the face freedom from the disease. “The who are diagnosed free of Government has arranged fare on Friday evening. As has been the pattern for was no need to panic. “The about the release issued by the mask, wash hands and feet and coronavirus curve has been coronavirus would be allowed quarantine and isolation facil- In a major development, the last one week, Chennai numbers will increase further Government on Friday, Dr of course, maintain the social flattened in the State. The State to go home while those who ities at the international air- the Madras High Court on recorded 399 coronavirus pos- all over the world and Tamil Kolandaswamy, with more than distance,” said Dr had to face two waves of attack test positive would be hospi- ports at Kochi, Kozhikode, Friday ordered the closure of all itive patients making the total Nadu cannot remain outside three decades of research and Kolandaswamy. since January 30, when the first talized. Thiruvananthapuram and case was reported. We have V Muraleedharan, minister Kannur and has finalized an successfully encountered and of state for external affairs, said action plan to ensure that their neutralized the pandemic,” said that all expatriates who are reg- would not be any shortage of 0*       !   5  Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief istered with the ministry would beds and facilities for the Minister on Friday while be brought home as part of the incoming passengers. The addressing the media. Vande Bharat Mission. flights too have been scheduled “Kerala has shown great “A mammoth total of 1.9 in such a way that those who $  P    courage and resolve. Fought lakh names from Kerala have return to the State would not 4     two waves and is ready if there been registered in the portal. face any difficulties for want of is another wave. Years from We will bring back all of them space. Hundreds of doctors   ====> now, we should be able to look and have inducted Air India’s and para medical staff have  6 ers were pacified to stop demon- how to survive with this amount back and take pride in how we fleet for the purpose,” said been deployed in the airports strations. SSP, Shailendra Mishra in our pockets".Few other work-       & responded to this,” Vijayan Muraleedharan. to make Vande Bharat Mission undreds of 'distraught' handled the situation himself by ers claimed, the management *  said in a social media posting Dr B Rajeev, leading a smooth operation. Hworkers engaged by the speaking in local language and paid an equal amount to all the here has been a massive on Friday. Eight of the 14 dis- ayurvedic physician, described The kind of work being put Chenab Textile Mills (CTM) in successfully dispersed the crowd. workers which resulted in fric- Tsurge in the sale of products %  tricts in Kerala have been Kerala’s surveillance mecha- up by P M Basheer, a munici- Kathua district on Friday Large number of workers, tion as those who were working of Khadi and Village Industries  +(,-.)/0 declared as coronavirus free by nism as the secret behind the pal councillor in Perumbavoor blocked the Jammu-Pathankot who hailed from Uttar Pradesh, demanded more wages. SSP, Commission which achieved Thursday evening. successful handling of the coro- speaks volumes about the National Highway and staged Bihar, Chattisgarh, Madhya Shailendra Mishra and Deputy its highest-ever turnover of   102 , Even as the State has effec- navirus pandemic. “Years ago, involvement of a people’s rep- protest demonstrations alleging Pradesh alleged they have been Commissioner Kathua OP 88,887 crore in 2019-20. The   tively controlled the spread of the Government of Kerala had resentative in countering the non-payment of full monthly staying here in the factory Bhagat later directed the Mill turnover of Khadi registered a the contagious disease with a appointed Dr T Jacob John, pandemic. salaries for last two months. premises even during this lock- authorities to follow the guide- growth of 31 per cent from  &  10 surveillance mechanism worth professor of virology, Christian “There are 400 houses in Before stepping out of the down period but they haven't lines issued by the govt and 3215.13 crore in 2018-19, to %  &  emulating by other States, the Medical College, Vellore, as the my ward and I have been premises, agitated workers ran- been given their full salaries. resolve the issue of pending  4211.26 crore in 2019-20. Government of Kerala is chairman of a high power tasked as a nodal officer to sacked offices and pelted stones They charged, despite payment of "The turnover of Village % , // already into another action, committee of doctors to forti- ensure that all senior citizens in on the private security of the tex- appeals made by the PM Modi workers. The workers were also Industries products reached to 1+210, receiving the expatriates from fy the State from contagious the ward got medical care. tile mill. A police gypsy was also not to hold salaries of workers, directed to enroll themselves if 84,675.39 crore in 2019-20,    West Asian countries as part of and infectious diseases. The Similarly, we prepared a list of damaged by the protesters and the management of the Chenab they wished to return home at registering a growth of over 19 the Vande Bharat Mission. As strategy is paying off now people in the ward who were turned upside down to disrupt Textil Mills have not been adher- the special counters inside the per cent from the previous year, .1, ..  part of evacuating the because Prof John has put in put into trouble by the lock- the traffic on the highway. ing to the diktat. mill premises. Meanwhile, a FIR i.e. 2018-19, which was at Keralaites who were held up in place a network of surveil- down which affected their To contain the angry work- Few women workers, with no 121/2020 u/s 71,077 crore," the Khadi and Gulf countries, Air India began lance with which any aberra- livelihood. It was my responsi- ers, police resorted to use of tear- their faces covered with masks, 307,336,427,332,353/188/269/27 Village Industries Commission duction and sales going up by its mission to bring back all tions in the public health would bility to see to it that they and gas shells. Before the situation told TV reporters, they have 0/147 IPC was registered by the (KVIC) stated. nearly 100 per cent in the last those who have registered their be known to the Taluk, District their families get three square went out of control, senior offi- been paid their salaries @ Rs 150 police against the employees KVIC Chairman Vinai five years, it added. names with the ministry of and State level medical frater- meals a day during the ;lock- cers of Kathua police, led by SSP per day. and workers of Chenab Textile Kumar Saxena saidhe was Khadi production since external affairs. nity,” explained Dr Rajeev. out,” said Basheer, an activist of Kathua, Shailendra Mishra "We were handed over a pal- Mills for indulging in violence expecting higher results, but 2015-16 has grown at the aver- Late Thursday night two Except for an oversight by the SDPI. rushed to the spot and the work- try sum, we really don't know and damaging police property. several exhibitions planned in age of 19.45 per cent per the months of February and annum, which was merely 6.25 March were cancelled, and the per cent during the previous year-end clearance sale could government from 2004 to 2014, not take place. KVIC said. #  # $     "As a result of Similarly, khadi''s sale grew Government''s sustained efforts exponentially at the annual  !    went viral, the state government Mumbai Municipal former chief minister United Nations International Commissioner, Brihanmumbai to revive the Khadi industry rate of 27.6 per cent, which carried out a major bureaucratic Commissioner. Devendra Fadnavis. Strategy for Disaster Reduction, Municipal Corporation, and the Prime Minister''s remained as low as 6.65 per mid an unabated increase reshuffle in the state. In two other appointments Known for his administra- Geneva for oversight over Mumbai has been posted as repeated appeals from various cent from 2004-2014. Ain the number of Covid-19 Under the reshuffle, aimed at strengthening the tive prowess, Pardeshi had regional offices of Africa, Asia, Secretary (R&R), Revenue and platforms including his radio According to figures, the triggered deaths and infec- Pardeshi –a 1985 batch IAS BMC set, the state govern- made a mark for himself by Latin America and Europe, Forest Department, address ''Mann ki Baat'', to production of khadi which tions in the metropolis, the officer –was moved out from ment appointed Mrs Ashwini efficiently handling the situa- for policies on mainstreaming Mantralaya, Mumbai. adopt Khadi as a necessity of was pegged at 1,066 crore in Maharashtra Government on his position of Mumbai Bhide, a 1995 batch IAS officer, tion of arising out a massive disaster reduction in develop- Mrs Jayshree Bhoj, a 2003 daily life, the KVIC has been 2015-16, shot up to 2,292.44 Friday shunted out Mumbai Municipal Commissioner and and Sanjeev Jaiswal, a 1996 IAS earthquake at Latur in ment programmes. IAS officer, who was Additional continuously going up the crore in the year 2019-20, reg- Municipal Commissioner posted as Additional Chief officer, as Additional Municipal Marathwada region on Meanwhile, in other Municipal Commissioner, growth trajectory," he said. istering an increase of over 115 Praveen Pardeshi and appoint- Secretary (1), Urban Commissioners in the BMC. September 30, 1993, in which bureaucratic transfers, Manoj Brihanmumbai Municipal While the production of per cent. ed Urban Development Development Department at The two IAS officers will help more than 10,000 people were Saunik, a 1987 IAS officer, Corporation, Mumbai has been khadi, the most eco-friendly The sale of khadi fabric Department's Principal Mantralaya in south Mumbai. Chahal in his task. killed and 30000 others injured. who was earlier working as posted as Managing Director, product of sustainable devel- products increased by 179 per Secretary Iqbal Chahal in his In an apparent effort to The sudden transfer of Among other assignments Additional Chief Secretary, MSSIDC, Mumbai opment, has more than dou- cent from 1,510 crore in 2015 place. bring in some new ideas to deal Pardeshi from the high-profile Pardeshi had handled was a Pubic Works Department, has A 2003 IAS officer, K D bled in the last five years (since -16 to a whopping Rs 4,211.26 A day after a video show- with the worsening Coronavirus Mumbai Municipal senior leadership position he been posted as Additional Nimbalkar – who was working 2015-16), the sales have gone crore in 2019-20. ing at least four bodies wrapped situation in the metropolis, the Commissioner’s post, a post he worked in the United Nations Chief Secretary (Finance), as Secretary (R&R), Revenue up by nearly three times dur- While village industries in black plastic lying on beds state government appointed I S held for one year. Prior to his for seven years in Geneva: He Finance Department, and Forest Department, ing the same period, KVIC products worth 33,425 crore next to Covid-19 patients Chahal, a 1989 IAS officer who appointment as the Mumbai headed the NDP Geneva Post Mantralaya, Mumbai. Mantralaya, Mumbai has been said. were produced in 2015-16; undergoing treatment at the was earlier Principal Secretary of Municipal Commissioner, Conflict Recovery Unit in A L Jarhad, a 1997 IAS offi- posted as Secretary, Public Similarly, the village indus- production went up by 96 per BMC-run LTMG Hospital at Urban Development Pardeshi had worked as Geneva (2002 to 2005, and was cer who was working as Works Department, try sector has also seen phe- cent to 65,393.40 crore in Sion in north-central Mumbai Department, Mantralaya, as the Additional chief secretary to the Senior Co-ordinator, Additional Municipal Mantralaya, Mumbai. nomenal growth, with pro- 2019-20. ' #' /((' , %  ,     " . !    R     "  N( %) 0)>   !   !    requesting him to arrange for Pradesh and Bihar were facil- corona-negative certificates Force. their return home. itating the return of their from the states where they are A CISF Sub-inspector "  ongress leader in “I have talked to Union respective citizens working in stranded before allowing them posted at the Indian Museum  %'( 0(  &0'' CParliament Adhir Home Minister Amit Shah. It other States the Bengal to return,” the former Railway on Friday died due to the %  ./ % Chowdhury has quoted Union is his responsibility to give Government was not pursuing Minister said. corona virus. The victim iden-     easy for us to get the raw puls- Home Minister as saying that relief to the people stuck in dif- the matter, Chowdhury quot- Bengal had already brought tified as Asit Kumar Saha was es milled and transported to Panaji: Factories in Goa have Bengal Government is not tak- ferent states owing to the lock- ing Shah said. about 4,500 people including undergoing treatment in nly 53,617 tons pulses dis- states/UTs in these difficult been allowed to extend their ing enough interest in getting down and hold consultations Bengal too has more than pilgrims and students strand- Calcutta Medical College and Otributed to ration card times. States should also put work shifts to 12 hours from back its migrating workers with the respective State a lakh workers stuck in various ed at Ajmer and Kota in Hospital. holders under the Public extra efforts to ensure at least the existing 8 hours, accord- stuck in various parts of the Governments in this regard,” he parts of the country. Rajasthan --- some by bus and The other 50 CISF per- Distribution System so far dur- whatever pulses have been sent ing to a government notifica- country. said adding the Home Minister “The State Government others by train. sonnel in the same unit who ing the coronavirus lockdown. to them are distributed via tion on Friday, citing lack of The Congress MP from had assured him of holding can arrange for quarantine Meanwhile, the dreaded came in contact with him have Union Food Minister Ram PDS," Paswan said. He said the adequate labour as the cause Behrampore has said that he talks with Bengal Chief facilities after bringing the corona virus crept into the been quarantined, the officials Vilas Paswan on Friday blamed delay in supply and distribution for the extension. had taken up the issue of Minister Mamata Banerjee. migrant labourers and other Indian Museum taking its toll said adding the Museum staff that State Governments are of pulses is due to late intima- "There are restrictions on Bengali migrant workers While the States like Uttar people back. It can also ask for on a Central Industrial Security had also been isolated. not doing enough in free dis- tion by States/UTs on their movement of workers leading tribution of pulses to ration choice of particular pulses vari- to shortage of workers there- card holders under the ety such as Tur Dal, Urad by causing the factories to *"456455 57 #5" 8 56 9:  Pradhan Mantri Garib Anna Whole, Moong Whole, Chana deal with an exceptional pres- 0% (       Yojana (PMGAY) during the hole, Chana Dal and Masur Dal sure of work. COVID-19 lockdown. besides the logistics involved in There is a need for relax- %"    &'% Paswan said that as many transportation from different ing certain provisions of The  #   ?0%  % as 20 states and union territo- States during the lockdown. Factories Act, 1948 thereby ries are getting ready for imple- The monthly allocation of extending the working hours  ( $)*  mentation of the ambitious pulses is 1.95 lakh tonnes under for optimum utilization of the      6> %   ration card portability service the PMGAY. Of this, 1.81 lakh workers in the factories     directly connected to Air     orders of this Tribunal. The “Chief Secretary of Andhra 'One Nation-One Ration Card' tonnes of pulses have already which have been allowed to Traffic Control (ATC), thereby amount is being fixed having Pradesh briefed the Committee from June 1. reached to states/union terri- operate during the shutdown," aintaining the tempo of providing excellent control of aking up the case suo moto regard to the financial worth of on the ground situation as According to Paswan, the tories so far, out of which only the notification issued by Mmodernisation of the the airfield systems to the air Ton the Vishakhapatnam the company and the extent of well as the actions taken by Food Corporation of India 53,617 tonnes have been dis- Chief Inspector of Factories armed forces, the Defence traffic controllers, defence min- gas leak incident, The National the damage caused," the bench them after the incident to (FCI) has loaded a total num- tributed to beneficiaries, he and Boilers Vivek Marathe Ministry on Friday signed a istry officials said here. The Green Tribunal (NGT) on headed by Adarsh Kumar Goel evacuate people and to contain ber of 2641 rakes (including said. "There is enough pulses said. contract worth over Rs 1,200 upgradation of navigational Friday ordered LG Polymers to said. the leakage in the plant. It was wheat and rice) towards this stock with the government. The notification also said crore with Tata Power SED for aids and infrastructure under depot Rs.50 crore as interim NGT also issued notice to informed that all efforts were end and the approx quantity We are milling and providing that the extension of the work upgradation of 37 air fields of this project would enhance amount for damage to life. The Andhra Pradesh State being taken by them to prevent loaded is 73.95 lakh metric tons it to states. Cannot states take shift would enable factories to the IAF, Navy and Coast the operational capability by Green Tribunal also issued Pollution Control Board, any further emissions from the (LMT) (55.38 LMT rice and the responsibility of distribu- overcome the handicap of Guards. Defence Minister facilitating air operations of notice to Centre, Central Vishakapatnam District tanks. Issues related to the 18.57 LMT wheat). tion of pulses for three months labour shortage. Rajnath Nath had earlier military and civil aircrafts even Pollution Control Board and Magistrate and Union Ministry long term impact of the gas on Nearly a month's supply of at least? They cannot expect us As part of the notification, approved the project,known in poor visibility and adverse formed a six-member com- of Environment and the com- health and on the quality of pulses has already been dis- to take care of distribution in factories may also extend as Phase Two of Modernisation weather condition while mittee comprising Justice B pany LG Polymers India water and air were also dis- patched to several states and states," Paswan said. working hours to sixty hours of Air Field Infrastructure enhancing aerospace safety. Seshasayana Reddy to probe Private Ltd. cussed,” said Ministry of Home union territories, but they have For instance, about 6,610 in a week and the changes (MAFI). The contract will provide the incident and submit a Styrene is classified as a Affairs (MHA) said in a state- managed to distribute only tonnes of pulses have been would be effective up to The second phase is a fol- impetus to the domestic indus- report before May 18. hazardous and toxic chemical, ment. 53,617 tonnes to ration card transported to Bihar which July 31. low-on programme based on try in the prevailing situation. Meanwhile the Cabinet the usage of which requires Cabinet Secretary took holders under the PDS he said plans to distribute under PDS Goa Chief Minister MAFI Phase-I that included The project will give a boost to Secretary headed committed onsite and off-site emergency stock of the current situation, and urged them to speed up the from May 9. The entire month- Pramod Sawant as well as upgradation of 30 airfields of over 250 Micro, Small and also assessed the relief and plans to prevent any damage. preparedness, rescue and relief process in the interest of poor ly requirement of 1,750 tonnes captains of industry and busi- IAF. The airfields modernised Medium Enterprises which will rehabilitation on the incident However, there appears to be operations and directed that all people. of pulses have been given to ness, have urged migrant under MAFI Phase-I have been be directly benefited from which 11 people were killed a failure to comply with the assistance, as maybe required It may be noted that the Delhi, while half of the quota workers not to leave Goa for of immense benefit to both being involved in execution of and 1,000 exposed to it. said rules, said the NGT bench. by the state, be provided to government has decided to of 15,419 tonnes have been their home state despite the military and civil users. various activities of this project, "Having regard to the Meanwhile, the National mitigate the situation. distribute free 1 kg pulses to given to Chhattisgarh, he Covid-19 pandemic, even as The project is a turnkey they said. This contract would prima facie material regarding Crisis Management Consultations between nation- each PDS householder for three added. Currently, the govern- more than 80,000 workers project that includes installa- aid in infusing the much-need- the extent of damage to life, Committee (NCMC) under al and international experts on months till June under the ment has about 14.48 lakh have registered with state tion and commissioning of ed capital in the market and public health and environ- the chairmanship of Cabinet Chemical Safety and Industrial PMGAY to ensure nutrition tonnes of pulses in its buffer, of government agencies seeking modern airfield equipment like boost employment generation ment, we direct LG Polymers Secretary, Rajiv Gauba met processes and the officials on security of the poor during the which tur dal is about 5.50 lakh return home. Cat-II Instrument Landing in such fields as communica- India Pvt Limited to forthwith for the second successive day site would be carried out lockdown period. tonnes, urad 2.60 lakh tonnes, Sawant has also said that System (ILS) and Cat II Air tions, avionics, information deposit an initial amount of Rs to review the situation arising through video conferencing, "Distribution of pulses is chana 2.72 lakh tonnes, moong the exodus of workers, would Field Lightning System (AFLS). technology, apart from civil and 50 crore, with the District out of the gas leak that took and a team of such experts the responsibility of the state 1.20 lakh tonnes and masur severely impact several indus- The modern equipment electrical equipment and con- Magistrate, Vishakhapatnam, place in Vishakhapatnam on would also be flown in as per governments. It has not been 0.84 lakh tonnes. trial sectors in Goa. IANS around the airfield will also be struction. which will abide by further Thursday early morning. requirements.     ! ! %  - , $ ,    !" #$%&     '()#" #$%&$ 0 ( 12  R    ! % ' -      5      R -       5                      '( ! #  #  &(  5) #' (( % ' ( ( ''' #        *0@)(9: ( )       ( & ()%"  &  %' ( % ( ' % '< (< #0'(  #%%                              .           (            (          %   (                       "     .  -- 5;8       +     .             he gas leak incident near                   ( Visakhapatnam in the early hours       A                 of May 7 has led to the death of           -         ( more than 10 people and hospi- talisation of over 200. According                     toT the district authorities, the gas was con-     )              ( firmed to be either styrene or vinyl benzene.     *0@)(9:         A   As an intermediary, styrene is known as PVC gas and is used for the manufacture of insu-                 lation material, plastic, rubber, pipes, fibre          )      (   ( glass and also for the packaging industry.   .                According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), it is the 12th most used chemical            " B   ) # in the world. It is to the credit of the district S         +       ( authorities and the National Disaster     %  S             Response Force (NDRF), who reacted quick- ly, that fatalities remained low. Around 500          B        ( kg of chemicals were airlifted from Gujarat             -% !/%      to neutralise the effect of the gas well in time.  .             #         Separately, with the direct intervention of the United Nations (UN), the bar for inves-               .         tigation of the Vizag gas leak case has not only    O           O     been raised but has also been virtually inter-               nationalised. The spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, #            (   )  Stéphane Dujarric, said, “We obviously tal disaster. Thousands of peo- Insurance Act 1991. According victims go to a civil court and -                   send our condolences to the victims and hope ple were killed in this disaster to the relevant rules framed by then have their remedies adju-        )   /  !)     ( for the quick recovery of those who have been and many more suffered perma- the Government, styrene is clas- dicated, and we are all conscious impacted. These kinds of incidents should nent damage or a genetic impact. sified as a hazardous and a toxic of the limitations of our legal sys- B     (             be fully investigated by the local authorities.” Responses of our entire system chemical. This should naturally tem that it almost takes decades,  )               / While detailed investigations would — the executive, legislative and have required a greater degree of not years, in order to compen-      (        (    undoubtedly be undertaken, prima facie, it even the judiciary — were found  3  supervision and monitoring of sate the victims…”         (    .    ( appears that the protocols necessary for the to be inadequate to meet the operations. Some of the major These were ominous words, recommencement of operations after the 45- expectations of the people.    5 laws and regulations that appear whose importance one realises   !)                   day lockdown was lifted were not followed. Whatever was done by way of  / 2 4 to have been overlooked in the only after 10 years when a trag-           +        When the accident took place early in the relief was too little when com-   35< instant case are, Environment ic incident has occurred in                 ( morning, only a handful of casual workers pared to catastrophes across the (Protection) Act, 1986 and the Visakhapatnam. The Parliament were present. Elements of negligence at mul- world. /4 / rules framed there under such as can still amend the existing laws                  %     tiple levels are more than obvious. For this, In the case of Vizag, the the Hazardous Waste or legislate a fresh enactment to                evidence will have to be secured immediate- plant was run by Hindustan  //2 /  Management and Handling Rule fill up this major lacuna. While                 ly and this should be done in the right Polymers 1961 onwards. Later, it K /   1989 and ones framed there Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister earnest. While the plant must have been merged with UB Group in 1978. under, including the YS Jaganmohan Reddy has  %             S sealed, a team of experts headed by a scien- Subsequently, LG Chem of 7   " Manufacture, Storage And already visited the spot and his                   ( tist from the Council of Scientific and South Korea took over  / /  Import Of Hazardous Chemical Government is undertaking nec-          )         Industrial Research (CSIR) needs to be con- Hindustan Polymers and (Amendment) Rules, 1989, essary relief measures, there still stituted immediately to get into various renamed it as LG Polymers  4 5 among others. might be individual compensa-                  aspects of this matter. India Pvt Ltd in July 1997. It is Despite a plethora of rules tion seekers, whose expecta-    /                     ( According to scientific research approved understood that after the lock- L  and regulations, there are certain tions would have to be suitably   %                by the US Environmental Protection Agency down, permission to recom- 3 3 aspects which indicate weakness addressed. and published in a top scientific journal, mence operations was obtained in our legal system in dealing The number of lawsuits                     Environmental Health Perspectives, chronic a couple of days ago on phone. 2 /5/ with such cases. During a dis- filed in India and abroad after                    .  exposure to styrene has been linked to the The factory inspector and the  3 cussion in the Parliament on the the Bhopal tragedy was so large                %       occurrence of neurological and behaviour- pollution control board had nei- 2 /" Civil Liability for Nuclear that a special enactment had to       #       *S al deficit. This may eventually result in ther inspected nor understood Damage Act, 2010, it was men- be undertaken. All such matters decreased performance, including delayed the sensitivity of such a plant / 2   tioned by the late Arun Jaitley, were transferred to a single judi- +               ( ( reaction time and visual disturbances, hear- recommencing operations with- who was then the leader of the cial forum, which, however,  1-*%   +             ing loss and possibly even peripheral neu- out adequate precautions. 6  /  Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, failed to deliver complete justice. ropathy. The International Agency for This incident should be a 3 / “We have a sad and unfortunate So let us not repeat the mistakes                      Research on Cancer (IARC) has deter- wake-up call for Government experience of the Bhopal gas of Bhopal and ensure adequate    . (          mined that styrene is a possible carcinogen agencies as well as the manufac-   leak. This law deals only with compensation to the victims                     and can cause cancer on prolonged exposure. turers since a large number of 5  nuclear incidents. I think, two and those injured in tune with                      In this context, let us not repeat the mis- industries would be preparing to lessons still remain. If there are international standards. takes of the Bhopal tragedy. Even after 35 recommence operations after 5  incidents and accidents, which Compensation for the damage              years of the disaster, scars have not fully the lockdown is relaxed. are not on account of a nuclear caused to the environment, too, healed yet. The chain of suffering of the peo- Particularly after the Bhopal incident but because of which a must be made. ple has continued unabated for generations disaster, a number of legislations large number of casualty and (The writer is a former as genetic deformities have been reported in were enacted. From the damage does take place, our legal Governor and a Senior Advisor 2 " % ! some newborns. Bhopal has been listed as Environment (Protection) Act, regime even today is only the at the Pranab Mukherjee the world’s biggest man-made environmen- 1986 to the Public Liability conventional legal regime. The Foundation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more than 56,000 lives, the nation           can ill-afford to bear such a cat-           1  astrophe. All those killed and                     2 3 Sir — It is a matter of deep con- '& ( /(( 3#('   %) ( injured in this mishap must get                   + cern that Mumbai is on the verge ( ( '0 (( #)( !' (0 # ( just compensation. of an unprecedented public health '( '''" ( ( 3#( ) '&9 Tushar Anand         4    P   Q emergency as both public and pri-  (' ( & (#   ( #'< ( '  Patna                    vate hospitals in the city are #% 0'  #)('  F00% 0& ( )'( (        #        "     swamped with Coronavirus #'   % ( (  ( '( ( #" (< %0'9     patients. The ICU facilities of ( '(!%' 0'% '% &&''  (         7          8   almost all hospitals are fully #)( %0'  () (#" <  &('   +             4 )  occupied and there is a shortage #)% (( !'  '(%%  0' )'(% ( Sir — It is not surprising that hun- 9:;<       =<=<            of nearly 400 doctors and health- (   0((' ( ('&( (#  ! #< %0'9 dreds of people thronged TAS- care professionals. Despite the (  ' )( )"  3 #   MAC shops in Tamil Nadu with-            +  ><           lockdown, Mumbai is witnessing ##  % %0'( '  '!% ( /(( out maintaining physical distanc-                 ?   400 cases daily on average. The 3#( ( '% 0') (# ( '()" ' (% () ('  '(%  0)) ( (0 ing. There is now fear that many                 )     city’s medical infrastructure is  0'<   /(( ' '  %&%(  ) ' ( (!   ( !'  &%) (# asymptomatic people may have finding it difficult to meet its ( !'< #'0' ( &9#&(  #'' %0'  &'' % ( ''('" % (  '( spread the virus. How far could               %  needs, forcing a few to wait on ( #)(  0   '  #" 0(  %%  (' ( ( (' ( #&'' 0& (  09 authorities have implemented the                     roads overnight before the ' ( 3#(O' && (  ( #)( !9 ' ( (  3" ' '0%' '  ( %#'(9 “one bottle per person” order of the      administration makes arrange- '  3 H ( < %) (#'' ( ( ( '  '% ('   '&' ('"  '0   High Court? When policemen ments. The situation is so dire  ) %  (' (#'< ( 3#( '  '(0(< ( 0% #(( ( #)(' ( (9 found it a Herculean task to +                 that people with non-COVID 0( '(''  (' ((#&( ( &%  ( ( !9 0 !)H < ( & < (<  (  restrict the movement of people                     ailments are struggling to get '"  L !% %##M  0( ( #)(' '#&(( ( (#" ( '  ( ('(  ( /(( ( during the “lockdown within lock-                      ) admitted. If the Government  F0( '# (#" )% %  %%< # % (( ( #)( !' ( !% )'" down” period, how could they ( &(( ( /(( 3#(' ( & (# 0(  .*$**                 doesn’t act immediately, the cri- possibly have controlled crowds in sis will worsen, putting the lives ( &% #("  '&'< ( 3 3#( '  front of TASMAC shops? The       #              of many more patients at risk. crowds now endanger the health                  MN Musa of the entire community. Who will                  Mumbai The dreadful incident of the sion at a Neyveli Lignite and requires a high level of super- be held responsible if the numbers styrene gas leak from a chemi- Corporation plant, too, were vision during usage. Negligence of the infected swell soon?                         cal plant near Visakhapatnam has reported on the same day. on the part of the staff must be Tharcius S Fernando   * #                 ( brought more bad news amid the With this, serious questions investigated and those held Chennai   ,                ( gathering economic gloom. A gas have arisen regarding the set-up responsible must be booked. Sir — This refers to the editori- leak at a paper mill in of chemical plants in the country. In these times when the   %%'           =<=9 al, “Memories of Bhopal” (May 8). Chhattisgarh and a boiler explo- Styrene is a known carcinogen Corona pandemic has affected -0*-<2/./     ! !  . , $ ,  ! " 9<8;7   ."9<; ." !  :: $ :$ 7 =     @  79   #7 @ A: $  > :  7   :  ! " " 7:#$ B!7   : 77$ C7 7  7"! 7 :7 "7>   77!: 7  # % #0'( '( '% &(  % ' % ' L!7 $ : "@ : $  L@7$   @$  ( (  '  #)  ( )( !  "  "  7>" " 9 9! "! 0  %%<    &0 ()(   '' " 6  

#/-01265 =;               0 0-  4 .                 " .           ((  #              ( - 7     .                 #                           +                     .  ith India currently besieged by COVID-            -        19 and the host of socio-economic prob-                 Wlems that come along with it, few can afford                    to worry about geo-political machinations taking                  ( place abroad. Yet, as the peace process between the               United States (US) and the Taliban in Afghanistan  >D    #             reaches a precarious position — with the Taliban hav-     9D           ing ramped up their attacks against the Afghan                   Government despite the recent spread of the         #        Coronavirus in the country — it is imperative India takes stock of the situation.                   ( While it might be many months before the US   ,     "      E finally exits Afghanistan, especially with the virus +           4 complicating prisoner exchange and the ongoing #                    negotiations, the South Asian security matrix is going          #      to undergo a paradigm shift once all American mil-    ><(>D    9:>F     )   9GD   itary operations come to their inevitable end. India    $  ,  #      must aim to use this transition to boost its region-     H #              al security interests.    -             The conflict in Afghanistan can at one level be .                 ( understood as being between the majority Pashtuns who are mostly concentrated in Southern and    9:>F             ) Central Afghanistan (and across the Durand Line,      9:>F   ;D     )  the 2,430-km border between Afghanistan and        9D         #   Pakistan), who the Taliban claim to represent, fight-      3<(3D         GD(><    ing against the empowerment of ethnic minorities   / 2      from northern Afghanistan such as the Tajiks,   9                   Hazaras and Uzbeks by successive democratically-  4          "         elected governments. 3<   #             #     While both the past and present presidents of                       ) Afghanistan — Hamid Karzai and Ashraf Ghani — 3  5               are Pashtun, they are seen as leaders propped up by                        the West. They are also seen as being overly-sym- 2   pathetic to ethnic minorities. Moreover, many State                    / 2 institutions are dominated by ethnic minorities and ///<                see a lack of representation by the Pashtuns. 0     2 .  S        However, the conflict in Afghanistan has also   /  Taliban without the Afghan Government. Mohammad Shaheen stated, “We will them play a pivotal role, India will risk          *    0 #  been considered as a continuation of the proxy war  4  33 Regardless of how these negotiations never want any foreign organisation squandering its influence. Simultaneously      I. .         between India and Pakistan. It is no secret that  L5  ultimately pan out, any form of eventual using Afghan soil to target another coun- though, India must also continue its             9:G< #  Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has deep ///    peace will need the integration of the try. We will bring a law to stop any such engagement with the democratic regime       *         ties with the Taliban and has continued to back 2 2  Taliban into the governing State — a real- activity.” More pertinently, Shaheen also and the northern ethnic minorities. It is                  extremist groups in Afghanistan, even while calling   isation that made the US finally reach the claimed that the Taliban would be more equally important to remember that a sit-     ,                 itself an “ally” of the US in its war on terror.     negotiation table. As it stands presently, than willing to engage with neighbouring uation resembling the Afghan civil war of      .      P!         A recent example of the Pakistani military estab- /   the Taliban have been able to keep their countries “on the basis of mutual respect the late 90s, between the Taliban and the lishment’s support to the Taliban and allied terror sphere of influence strong enough to make and mutual interests.” erstwhile Northern Alliance, is still very         .            /23 groups was the attack on a gurdwara in Kabul on / //" the US realise that trying to govern While the solidity of these sentiments much a possibility.            )     March 25. Prima facie it was thought to be an attack Afghanistan as a whole, in a state of peace will only be seen in times to come, India In a situation of an all-out military              Q #    carried out by the Islamic State (IS). However, fur- /  / and stability, would be impossible with- must now aim to establish some sort of campaign, where the Taliban might have     )   I        ( ther investigations carried out by Afghan authori- 5/ 5 5 out their cooperation. The US war aim of ties with the Taliban. Till now, it has been an inclination to fall back on Pakistan for      %            ties found direct links between the attackers, the   2   completely eradicating the Taliban and openly hostile to the negotiations under- assistance, India must be ready to engage             Taliban-linked Haqqani Network and the ISI. A /    making the majority ethnic group, the taken by the US and has repeatedly tried with equivalent assistance in the form of #     1   9F;:        ( report produced by the European Foundation for 3   Pashtuns, co-opt into a democratic system to lobby for their termination. Continuing economic and humanitarian aid to the    $           1  !  South Asian Studies (EFSAS) further substantiated 22  2   dominated by minority ethnic groups was such aggressive posturing against the entities that will safeguard its interests. .       . $     !     these links. 5     near impossible. Ghani and Abdullah both Taliban is folly if India wants to have sub- Some hawkish voices have even called for      1   9:9F  )  + S   ( India, on its part, has been a staunch support- 2 4   / need to realise this, if they have not already stantial influence in a post-America Indian boots on the ground in an effort er of the democratic Afghan State. This link has exist- done so. Afghanistan. At a time when the Taliban to fill the void that will be left by the US      1   !  /" 4< 2 ed since the pre-9/11 terror attacks, when New Delhi /4 / So where does India find itself at this themselves are re-evaluating their relations troops. )    $  -     ( supplied military equipment and humanitarian sup- threshold of a new phase in Afghanistan? with their Pakistani allies and are fearing Yet, if history has taught us anything,     %            port to the Northern Alliance in its effort to topple 3  / The resurgence of the Taliban has obvi- the spectre of extremism and lawlessness after the British, Soviet and now US mis- 0            ( the brutal Taliban regime. 4 3< 2 ously worried New Delhi. A key interest that ISI activity brings, India must aim to adventure to stabilise Afghanistan, it     ,  $  - + *     The Northern Alliance later went on to form the   / < of India, if not its main, is to ensure that provide them with an alternate regional would be a terrible mistake to do so. It is  - 9:><             B Afghan Government and many of its leaders, such /5   the Afghan State does not eventually con- option. important to remember that much of the %   #  %       - 9:><  as General Dostum, are now key members of the / / 5 sist of elements that would support Some analysts, such as veteran jour- goodwill harboured by the Afghans - 9:>D    +  + ())          present regime. William Dalrymple’s Brookings Essay  / / extremist groups functioning in Kashmir. nalist and author Ahmed Rashid, have towards India has been due to our abili-  0      ,  $     0 A Deadly Triangle, published in 2013, presents and 23 /<  In the past, the Taliban have been known even gone on to claim that the Taliban ty to help them without intervening mil-     %   *        explains this tacit conflict cogently.    to have warm relations with the Lakshar- would prefer closer relations with India itarily, an action which will be perceived With the US now having committed to leaving, e-Taiba (LeT) and the Jaish-e-Mohammed now. In contrast to Pakistan, which has as hostile by many. No nation appreciates *  $     $  -   *       / the weakest entity in this entire sum seems to be the   / (JeM). Extremist networks based in backed terror groups that have only the idea of a foreign army on its soil —      0 ? $        $  Afghan Government. With the decrease in Western Kashmir, with the backing of the IS, have brought destruction and devastation especially not Afghanistan. -  #       ? $      military support to it, the Taliban have made steady been known previously to have auxiliary upon the country, India has immense soft In a situation which is constantly  %   gains and now control over a third of the country. bases functioning freely across power in Afghanistan. Holding back developing and has the possibility of mul- )       $  - -    The Afghan National Army has been unable to estab- Afghanistan and Pakistan. from military intervention, while contin- tifarious outcomes, India must constant-                 lish itself as an effective fighting force. However, the Taliban now seem to be uing to support Afghanistan economical- ly try to pre-empt the status quo and build     #         Moreover, the recent election results have been willing to leave behind extremist inclina- ly with Indian aid totalling more than $3 ties that will help assert its geo-political          +       heavily disputed and both leading candidates, tions if allowed to integrate into the billion now, has been an effective geo- interests. A stable and peaceful regime in    1              incumbent Ashraf Ghani and his opponent Abdullah Afghan State. They have repeatedly political move. Afghanistan, which censures terror activ-         .         ( Abdullah, have sworn themselves in as President in claimed that they have now cut former ties Further strengthening this commit- ity, is vital to India’s security interests. March. A divided civilian leadership, a weak mili- and will not allow terror groups to func- ment, the Indian Government in mid- Deeming Afghanistan to be irrelevant, as         .   $  -      tary establishment and with US support nearing its tion in Afghanistan if allowed to form a April sent medical and food supplies to aid some have, will only result in the weak-                expiry date, the Afghan Government now finds itself Government. Recently, during an online the Afghan Government in tackling ening of India’s position in South Asia. %            A      in a bleak spot. conference hosted by the Delhi-based COVID-19. If relations with the Taliban (The writer is with the School of       *      This situation has been further exacerbated by think-tank Global Counter-terrorism are not established in this new chapter of Oriental and African Studies, University of 7        8 the US negotiating for a peace deal directly with the Council, the Taliban spokesperson Afghanistan, which will most likely see London) .                                      

the ongoing Coronavirus pandem- Demonstration for wider spread of the Coronavirus. through building of resources and However, there are a large num- Mobile apps like Kisan Suvidha, ic has compelled us to think and Application and to enhance However, extension activities social capital. The Government ber of agricultural services that are Pusa Krishi, Krishi Gyan, Crop plan about its future in India. Capacity Development (TADA- such as training of farmers, rural intends to set up 10,000 FPOs over effectively managed by IT applica- insurance, Agri Market and IFFCO Normally, agriculture exten- CD). The target is horizontal expan- youth and extension functionaries the next five years in different fields tions, including accessibility to mar- Kisan Agriculture and so on, are also sion services are mainly provided by sion of proven agricultural technolo- require a minimum gathering of 20 of agriculture, including value addi- kets, training, capacity-building, popular among farmers and exten- the functionaries of State depart- gies through on-farm testing (OFT), to 25 people at one place. On the tion and processing of fruits, vegeta- collection of feedback from farmers sion functionaries. ments of agriculture and local vol- frontline demonstrations (FLDs), other hand, organisation of Kisan bles and meat products. and so on. The creation of an IT Despite the availability of the e- untary organisations. farmers’ trainings, vocational train- Melas, field days on specific Cluster frontline demonstra- infrastructure has been an integral platform for extension services in The Indian Council of ings for rural youth, interaction crop/enterprise, farmers’ seminars tions (CFLDs) on oilseeds and puls- part of the Government’s strategy for agriculture, the usage by farmers, Agricultural Research (ICAR) start- meetings between scientists and and campaigns involve the build-up es, traditional agriculture develop- effective delivery of services. even the youth, remains very low. 3-4#/ "45 75 ed its extension activities with the extension functionaries, field days of more than 100 farmers. ment plan and so on, are among the The National e-Governance Looking at the current mindset National Demonstration project in and Kisan Melas. At present there One of the modern extension major extension programmes of Plan (NeGP) was introduced in and the need for social distancing in gricultural extension is a 1964. Further, the Krishi Vigyan are 713 KVKs under the adminis- approaches recommended for dou- the Ministry of Agriculture and 2006 to make all Government ser- the wake of the pandemic, organ- form of informal education Kendra (KVK) was introduced in trative control of State and Central bling farmers’ incomes are Self Farmers’ Welfare which employs a vices available to citizens via the ising agricultural extension activi- Athat aims at transfer of scien- 1974 to offer need-based and skill- Agricultural Universities (498), Help Groups (SHGs), farmers clubs cluster approach for sustainable electronic media. Approximately, 45 ties in the country will be a huge tific interventions to farmers and oriented training to farmers and ICAR Institutes (63), NGOs (101), and so on. These are formed to production in agriculture. per cent of the world’s ICT projects challenge. collection of feedback from them. extension workers. Then the Lab to State Governments (38) and other boost group activities so as to bring Further, agricultural market- are implemented in India, with the Taking into consideration the The ultimate aim is to introduce the Land Programme was launched in educational institutions (13). economies of scale in farming ing covers so many activities which maximum number of information success of group dynamics in agri- latest technical know-how in agri- 1979 to improve the economic con- In recent years, KVKs are per- through better resource manage- involve interaction of multiple stake- kiosks being in rural India. cultural extension, there is an urgent culture and allied activities such as dition of small, marginal farmers forming the duties of primary ment. holders at one place. Starting from E-agriculture initiatives such need to devise alternative method- dairy, poultry, apiculture, marketing and landless agricultural labourers. awareness centres for all Centrally- Farmers, as producers of agri- primary rural/village markets to as Agrisnet, Digital green, eSagu, ologies for offering uninterrupted and so on. The use of effective tools, KVKs are considered to be the sponsored schemes in the rural cultural products, can form groups wholesale regulated markets, all Agmarknet, eArik, Village extension services to the clientele, vernacular languages and group front runners in providing extension and agricultural sector. During the and register themselves under the involve direct contact of many Knowledge Centers (VKCs), SMS apart from ICT. dynamics marks the effectiveness of services to farmers even in the lockdown period also, KVKs are cre- Indian Companies Act to form farmers, intermediaries and con- Portal/mKisan Portal, Kisan Call (The writer is Scientist, Agril any extension programme. remotest districts of the country. ating awareness among rural house- Farmer Producer Organisations sumers to do interconnected activ- Centers (KCCs) and so on, are suc- Economics, Sher-e-Kashmir Apart from the other challenges The mandate of KVKs is holds for taking precautionary mea- (FPOs). The aim is to improve the ities for completing the supply cessfully rendering agricultural University of Agricultural Sciences that plague agricultural extension, Technology Assessment and sures in their farms to avoid the bargaining power of farmers chain of agricultural products. extension services. and Technology)  +     ! ! 7"8%7!9 8  Q     R   R18

Geneva: A wholesale market in Ben Embarek, a WHO expert cast doubts on Pompeo’s alle- likely, all the expertise needed )     ; $   #  the central Chinese city of on food safety and zoonotic gations, Der Spiegel reported. to do these investigations. They Wuhan played a role in the out- viruses that cross the species Ben Embarek did not have lot of very qualified ./    break of the novel coronavirus barrier from animals to address the accusations. researchers to that,” he said.    *1 last year, as the source or pos- humans. He noted that it took A common sight across % '    sibly as an “amplifying setting”, It was not clear whether researchers a year to identify Asia, wet markets traditional-  63 virus originated from the have become a venue to refute the World Health Organization live animals or infected vendors camels as the source of the ly sell fresh produce and live @ 63 Wuhan Institute of Virology in Pompeo’s “lies”. said on Friday, calling for more or shoppers may have brought MERS (Middle East animals, such as fish, in the hina on Friday asked the central Chinese city of Stating that China and the research. the virus into the market, he Respiratory Syndrome) virus, a open air. hina said on Friday it sup- CAmerican politicians not to Wuhan, where the outbreak US should not be enemies but Chinese authorities shut told a Geneva news briefing. coronavirus that emerged in Many markets worldwide Cports a World Health “waste” their time by trying to was first detected last December. “comrades” in this fight against down the market in January as US Secretary of State Mike Saudi Arabia in 2012 and that sell live animals must be Organization-led review into drive a “wedge” between the rul- The Trump administration this pandemic, she said, “Facing part of efforts to halt the spread Pompeo has said there is “a sig- spread in the Middle East, better regulated and hygiene the global response to the coro- ing Communist Party and the is currently weighing punitive the coronavirus pandemic, ide- of the virus and ordered a tem- nificant amount of evidence” adding: “It’s not too late.” conditions improved, and some navirus outbreak, but “after Chinese people over the dead- actions against China over its ological and political differ- porary ban on trade and con- the virus came from the “What is important, what should be closed down, Ben the pandemic is over”. ly coronavirus pandemic. early handling of the global ences can be put aside. Life mat- sumption of wildlife. Wuhan laboratory, although would be of great help, is to get Embarek said. “But the vast The comments from for- Chinese Foreign Ministry health emergency. Washington ters the most.” “The market played a role he has also said there wasn’t hold of the virus before it adapt- majority can be fixed, can be eign ministry spokeswoman spokesperson Hua Chunying is also pressing Beijing to allow On Trump’s allegation that in the event, that’s clear. But certainty. ed to humans, before the version better organised.” It is often a Hua Chunying came as China during a media briefing here American experts to probe the China may have made “enor- what role we don’t know, No public evidence has we have now. Because then we question of controlling waste has faced increasing global said it was under the leadership origin of the deadly virus. mous mistake”, Hua said “hat whether it was the source or linked the outbreak to the lab would better understand how it management, the movement of pressure in recent weeks to of the Communist Party of China has stoutly denied the enormous mistakes we made. amplifying setting or just a in Wuhan and scientists have adapted to humans, how it people and goods, and of sep- allow an international investi- China (CPC), Chinese people allegations and says the US This is a sudden disease we coincidence that some cases said the coronavirus appears to evolved,” he said. arating live animals from ani- gation into the origins of the made important progress in wants to distract from its own confronted among the were detected in and around have developed in nature. A “In terms of investigations, mal products and from fresh pandemic. fighting the pandemic. response to the pandemic ahead first to be affected by the virus”, that market,” said Dr Peter German intelligence report China has most probably, most goods, he said. Agency The review should be con- “Accusing Chinese political of the November presidential she said. ducted in an “open, transpar- system. We cannot accept this. election in which Trump is “China took comprehen- 7!# 7 :  7 :"     9 %  ' %% %0 ( #& (' ent and inclusive manner” They are doing it out of mali- seeking re-election. sive and rigorous measures / *<+@N<8+* MM3  !"#$%%   ;1 A  the WHO’s dual governing Donald Trump and Pompeo This promoted her to say Wuhan during the last year’s )26;!57 "#" '"#$ bodies. have claimed that the deadly that the ministry’s briefings military games.   '  %  ,   GENEVA: The World Health LONDON: The head of the 7!" >7:" !  Organization’s emergencies World Health Organization he number of people in &%  /- /- chief is pushing back against says the agency needs $1.7 bil- TItaly who’ve died with    misinformation that heating or lion to fund its response efforts COVID-19 infections has cooling the body can help fight for COVID-19 for the rest of topped 30,000. pain’s army says it expects  / ( )0(' &&% the coronavirus. the year — and that it’s about The Health Ministry reg- Stwo more outbreaks of the ( '( '9 '% Dr Michael Ryan said $1.3 billion short. istered 243 deaths on Friday, coronavirus, according to an 0' ('( (( ' Friday he’d heard “various sto- Last month, U.S. President bringing the total of those who internal document seen by && (  ( (  ries” suggesting it might be Donald Trump announced he died in the country to 30,201. The Associated Press. '#& ( #"   (9 important “to be very hot or be was suspending funding to the Italy was the first country in The army report predicts # &( ' & (% ( very cold” to fight COVID-19. U.N. health agency, saying Europe with a major outbreak “two more waves of the epi- &% 0'  ( ('( “This has no impact on the WHO botched its response to of the coronavirus. demic” and Spain will take $  %&%  0()' virus,” he said. the coronavirus pandemic and Authorities say many more “between a year and a year- '(<   ( 2% % Ryan’s comments were the was acting as a public relations likely died with the infection at and-a-half to return to nor- 0) %#'(( '( latest attempt to dispel urban agency for China. WHO said home or in nursing homes mality.” 0(% '( #(" & legend and other speculation previously it was conducting an without being diagnosed. It says the second wave  0' ( &'( (0  ( about how to defend against, assessment of what the loss of With 1,327 more cases reg- would be in autumn or winter   # ( &%  ' counteract or seek miracle U.S. funding would mean for its istered in the 24-hour period and possibly less serious than '#& % '& ( (  home remedy-style cures for operations. ending Friday evening, Italy the initial outbreak due to  (  & '')"  the pandemic disease. In a press briefing on now tallies 217,185 confirmed higher immunity in the popu- ('(     (0)  Ryan noted that viruses Friday, WHO chief Tedros coronavirus infections. lation.  6' (!  '&(' % ('() '(' and infectious diseases often Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Some 11,000 more people It adds a possible third (% ( 0()'" (< cause the body to have fevers. WHO’s COVID-19 strategic have recovered from the illness wave would be “greatly weak- ( )#( #(% ( ('( “Having a temperature in plan is focused on several than are currently positive for ened” if there is a vaccine ( (   (' % itself is not necessarily a bad objectives, including providing the infection. available next year. ('() '(' ( &'' thing,” he said. technical and logistical support Lombardy in the north The document was pub- '0&'" “But also that temperature to all countries, particularly continues to be the hardest-hit lished by Spanish has to be carefully monitored, those with fragile health sys- region, accounting for nearly newspaper ABC on Friday and  '  (% (' especially in children.” tems. one-half of the latest cases reg- later confirmed as authentic by 0'  !% ( AP AP istered on Friday. the AP. ,'  ( !'" 2'( '( ! !% ''  % (O' ( ' ( ( #'(  ( '( ('  '< % ( 8     8 )   - 9 :" 5-    '(  ( < '    ,+"  ( ( 0'  !% '( ( %  /   '' (  < # ' spilled onto the streets 75 years hardest-hit nations in the pan- US states plot tentative, chaot- weeks-long decline. Recession ended had been ally.” The U.N. chief warned !<  ''  '0# (% ( ' & (% (  ago, waving flags, flashing vic- demic. Britain, with over ic and often completely differ- In China, where the new wiped out in one month. that “anti-foreigner sentiment 0'''' #  ** ( ( '( '(  0#&#( tory signs and dancing in joy 30,000 confirmed deaths, is ent road maps out of their lock- coronavirus first emerged late And even those figures has surged online and in the %) (  '(  )0' '   %9!&) because the carnage on their second only to the US, which downs while still attempting to last year, authorities reported won’’t capture all the workers streets, anti-Semitic conspira- & 0( #'0'< )  *8-? continent had ended. has seen nearly 76,000 people avoid a second wave of infec- 17 new virus cases, including who have seen their hours or cy theories have spread and  ' '%   2%"   0&  (' # Street parties this year were killed by the virus. Russia has tions, China and South Korea 16 people not showing any pay cut in the United States. COVID-19-related anti- / ! #&'%  (9  '(! ('( ( (  banned in Britain. In France, reported only 1,625 virus highlighted the risks of easing symptoms. No new deaths have Around the world, millions of Muslim attacks have occurred.” % 0 #   ,@ ( #'  (' (' '&% President Emmanuel Macron deaths, but infections are jump- such measures. Both Asian been reported for more than day laborers in Asia are going Worldwide, the virus has  ! ( '&%  (  ( ( '((' M= ' )< laid a wreath at the Arc de ing by over 10,000 each day. nations on Friday reported three weeks. hungry as their jobs vanish, infected more than 3.8 million 0'" ' &(  ) )'< ')  ( Triomphe monument at the top Experts believe all those figures more coronavirus cases after Health experts say every tourism workers in Africa have people and killed nearly & 0( 0'<  ' ')' % % )  A of a largely deserted Champs- — especially the Russian death relaxing restrictions. nation will see some type of seen whole sections of their 270,000, according to a tally by   (% ( ( % (  0' ( )  ( Elysees Avenue since the coun- toll — understate the true South Korea’’s 13 new second wave of infections after fragile economies vanish and Johns Hopkins University based (0  (  % 0' ' (( % %% try is still under a strict lock- impact of the coronavirus. infections were its first increase their lockdowns ease. Yet the unemployment in the 19-coun- on official data. But limited test- (   0'(#" down until Monday. In Germany, President higher than 10 in five days. A economic impact of the mea- try eurozone is expected to sur- ing, differences in counting the   ' &(% *M    / A day earlier, Macron Frank-Walter Steinmeier, dozen were linked to a 29-year- sures on the world’’s largest pass 10% in the coming dead and concealment by some 0' ''<  0%) spoke to his Russian counter- Chancellor Angela Merkel and old who managed to visit three economy will be on full display months. The U.K. economy is governments undoubtedly *N '#&(#( '  ( uropean leaders held muted part Vladimir Putin, who had the heads of the parliament and nightclubs in Seoul last week- Friday when the U.S. govern- forecast to shrink by the most mean the true scale of the pan- 5 9*8 & ( 0  Ecommemorations Friday to to cancel his own huge Victory top court laid wreaths at the end. “A drop of ink in clear ment reports the unemploy- since 1706. demic is much greater. & < (  ' '% mark the end of World War II Day parade that had been memorial to victims of war and water spreads swiftly,” Vice ment rate for April. On the anniversary of Nazi In Iran, which is battling  2%" O' ( on the continent, as coron- planned for Saturday in violence in Berlin. Health Minister Kim Gang-lip The rate could reach 16% Germany’’s surrender to Allied the worst outbreak in the ( ##'' O P '% avirus lockdowns kept crowds Moscow. “The corona pandemic is said, urging vigilance to guard or more, according to econo- forces in Europe in 1945, Mideast while still under heavy ((    ('#((% from celebrating VE Day. Macron said the pandem- forcing us to commemorate the country’’s hard-won gains. mists surveyed by the data United Nations Secretary- U.S. sanctions, Friday prayers #% 5 9*8 ' ' Across the ocean, Americans ic “makes the construction of alone — apart from those who “Anyone can become that drop provider FactSet. Some 33 mil- General Antonio Guterres were resuming in mosques in &(%  6    awaited what is expected to be peace and stability on the con- are important to us and to of ink that spreads COVID- lion Americans have sought warned that the coronavirus 146 cities after being banned 0'%" /(  the worst set of unemployment tinent and in the rest of the whom we are grateful,” 19.” South Korea’’s top infec- unemployment benefits since pandemic is unleashing “a for more than two months, the '#&(#( ''  figures since record-keeping world more necessary than Steinmeier said. He urged tious disease expert said the the virus hit and experts say 21 tsunami of hate and xenopho- country’’s semi-official Tasnim &(%  ( 0  & < began in 1948. ever,” according to a statement. Germans to “think, feel and act country could possibly push million jobs may have been lost bia, scapegoating and scare- news agency reported. Prayer (!) ( (( 0#  The European celebrations With nearly 26,000 con- as Europeans” amid the coro- back its plans to reopen schools for good. That would mean that mongering.” gatherings will still be banned  '0   ('  ( came in stark contrast to the firmed virus deaths, France is navirus crisis. if infections surge again over nearly all the U.S. job growth in He appealed for “an all-out in major cities, including all 0( ( ?-=" way millions of its citizens among the world’’s top five As European nations and the upcoming weekend after a the 11 years since the Great effort to end hate speech glob- provincial capitals, it reported. 8 P" 6  "#5< 4 58 4>?  !    &% #    ( -               & )/& 5    Singapore: Far from barking its softly-spoken female voice. deployed at a nearby reservoir orders, a robot dog enlisted by Despite the niceties, to warn visitors “not to loiter” Islamabad: US Special Singapore authorities to help breaches of Singapore’s strict and that “gatherings are not Representative Zalmay  O    P curb coronavirus infections in lockdown rules can result in allowed”. Khalilzad discussed the the city-state politely asks jog- hefty fines and even jail. The authorities behind the Afghanistan peace process with gers and cyclists to stay apart. The city-state of 5.7 million latest trial - the government Pakistan Chief of Army Staff @ / 3 army,” he said. The remote-controlled, people has more than 21,000 technology and cyber security (COAS) General Qamar Javed “It would be called an inva- four-legged machine built by cases, one of the highest tallies agencies - said in a statement Bajwa on Friday. resident Donald Trump on sion.” Boston Dynamics was first in Asia, largely due to mass that SPOT could better cross In a statement, the Pakistan PFriday said the United Leftist Venezuelan deployed in a central park on infections among migrant rough terrain in parks and Army Khalilzad met the COAS States was not behind a failed President Nicolas Maduro’s Friday as part of a two-week workers living in cramped dor- gardens. As well as broadcast- in Rawalpindi. covert plot in Venezuela government says the apparently trial that could see it join other mitories in areas little visited by ing messages reminding visi- “During the meeting, allegedly involving two botched plot was funded by robots policing Singapore’s tourists. tors of social distancing mea- issues of mutual interest and Americans, but that if he did US-backed opposition leader green spaces during a nation- Under rules to enforce the sures, SPOT is fitted with cam- overall regional security, order an attack it would be an Juan Guaido and that two for- wide lockdown. lockdown in place until June 1, eras and analytics tools to esti- including Afghanistan recon- open “invasion.” mer US special forces soldiers “Let’s keep Singapore residents can only leave their mate the number of people in ciliation process were dis- “If I wanted to go into were among 17 people taken healthy,” the yellow and black homes for essential trips like gro- the park. Authorities said the cussed,” according to the Army. Venezuela I wouldn’t make a prisoner. robodog named SPOT said in cery shopping and must wear a cameras would not be able to General Bajwa reiterated secret about it,” he told Fox Another eight alleged English as it roamed around. mask at all times in public. track individuals or record support for the peace process. News. “I’d go in and they attackers were killed in a “For your own safety and Exercise outdoors is per- personal data.SPOT has also Khalilzad appreciated Pakistan’s would do nothing about it. shootout, the government says. for those around you, please missible but must be done recently been trialled for use at continuous efforts for stability They would roll over. I would- Maduro has said the two stand at least one metre apart. alone.Another robot, in the a temporary hospital delivering in the region, according to the n’t send a small little group. No, Americans have “confessed Thank you,” it added, in a shape of a small car, has been medicines to patients. Agency statement. PTI no, no. It would be called an their guilt.”     ! !  0 64=2<34762>4   '*++  $,':     top gainer in the Sensex pack, Bourses in Shanghai, Hong rallying 4.81 per cent, followed Kong, Tokyo and Seoul ended arkets squandered early by Nestle India, Tech Mahindra with substantial gains. Top (6//4<=23-844> Mgains but managed to end and Sun Pharma. stock exchanges in Europe in the green on Friday, propped On the other hand, M&M, were also trading on a positive up by heavyweight Reliance Axis Bank, NTPC and note in their opening sessions. Industries which announced IndusInd Bank were among the Meanwhile, international  AC6AD 1  % % **6;> another stake sale deal for its major laggards, shedding up to oil benchmark Brent crude digital platform. 3.87 per cent. futures climbed 1.73 per cent to A strengthening rupee and During the week, the USD 29.97 per barrel.     also comes from Gujarat, is said per cent discount to the clos- firm global cues also support- Sensex plunged 2,074.92 points to have personal connections ing price for April 30. ed the domestic bourses, or 6.15 per cent, and the Nifty eliance Industries on Friday with the private equity firm’s Also included is the traders said. tanked 608.40 points or 6.17    ? Rannounced the sale of 2.32 founder Robert Smith. 43,574 crore from the After rallying 645.13 points per cent. “Nifty fluctuated per cent stake in its digital unit The discussions were led Facebook-Jio Platforms deal during the day, the 30-share around 150 points in another to US-based Vista Equity by Ambani’s close aide Manoj and 7,000 crore from the sale BSE Sensex finally settled day of volatile trades, tracking  @%A%B Partners for 11,367 crore, the Modi and Sheth. Strategic and of 49 per cent stake in fuel 199.32 points or 0.63 per cent uncertainty in the markets. third deal in a little over two financial investors are to form retailing venture to UK’s BP plc. higher at 31,642.70. Gains were led by Reliance,   ;C weeks that will inject a com- 20 per cent of Jio Platforms. Jio Platforms, a wholly-owned Similarly, the broader NSE which succeeded in another bined 60,596.37 crore in the Between the three deals, subsidiary of Reliance Nifty rose 52.45 points, or 0.57 round of fundraising even in   oil-to-telecom conglomerate Reliance has sold 13.46 per cent Industries Ltd, is a next-gen- per cent, to finish at 9,251.50. this adverse scenario. to help it pare debt. of Jio Platforms and eration technology company. Reliance Industries was the “Global market trends were he rupee appreciated 18 The US-based private equi- more such investments are Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd, biggest contributor to the gains also positive following attempts healthcare, teck and IT indices the capital market in the pre- Tpaise to provisionally set- ty firm will buy a stake in Jio likely in near future. with 388 million mobile sub- on the benchmarks, jumping to defuse tensions around the rallied up to 2.59 per cent, vious session, provisional tle at 75.54 against the US dol- Platforms, which houses the Ambani, 63, chairman and scribers, will continue to be a over 3 per cent after the com- US- China trade talks. While while power, utilities, con- exchange data showed. lar on Friday, tracking higher country’s youngest but biggest managing director of Reliance, wholly-owned subsidiary of pany announced the sale of the earnings season has been sumer durables, auto and met- Global markets advanced domestic equities and telecom firm Jio, at an equity had in August last year set a tar- Jio Platforms. 2.32 per cent stake in Jio lacklustre, markets seem to be als closed with losses. as US and China discussed the weakness in the American value of 4.91 crore and an get of March 2021, to make his Vista is a leading global Platforms to US-based Vista awaiting announcement of a Broader BSE midcap index first phase of a trade deal on currency. enterprise value of 5.16 crore. conglomerate net debt-free. investment firm focused on Equity Partners for 11,367 stimulus package from the rose 0.04 per cent, while the Friday, while investors also “Vista’s investment will trans- But thanks to the Facebook empowering and growing crore, the third such deal in a Government,” said Vinod Nair, smallcap gauge slipped 0.45 per welcomed moves by various late into a 2.32 per cent equity deal, a 53,125 crore rights enterprise software, data, and little over two weeks. Head of Research at Geojit cent. Foreign portfolio countries to ease lockdown stake on a fully diluted basis, issue, Silver Lake and Vista technology-enabled companies In absolute terms, Financial Services. investors purchased equities measures and resume eco- making Vista the largest Equity investments, and more that are reinventing industries Hindustan Unilever was the BSE energy, FMCG, worth a net 19,056.49 crore in nomic activities. investor in Jio Platforms behind stake sale to companies such as and catalyzing change. Vista Reliance Industries and Saudi Aramco, the target is has more than USD 57 billion Facebook,” the company said in likely to be achieved by in cumulative capital commit- a statement. December. ments and its global network of !R  2  R '5-D/# E The deal follows Facebook At the end of March quar- companies collectively repre- picking up a 9.99 per cent stake ter, Reliance had an outstand- sents the 5th largest enterprise in Jio Platforms on April 22 for ing debt of 3,36,294 crore and software company in the world. (# *"%"'#',""- ,!#"$#  ! 43,574 crore. Within days of cash in hand of 1,75,259 crore. Commenting on the trans- that deal, Silver Lake — the After adjusting cash, action with Vista, Ambani said, world’s largest tech investor — the net debt came to Vista, one of the world’s mar-     ernment debt, weak social and coronavirus outbreak, and duration of slowdown. bought a 1.15 per cent stake in 1,61,035 crore. quee tech investors globally, also physical infrastructure, and a partly reflects lower govern- “However, prolonged Jio Platforms for 5,665.75 Of the outstanding debt, shares the same vision of con- oody’s Investors Service fragile financial sector face ment and policy effectiveness financial stress among rural Forex traders said positive crore. “Jio Platforms has now 2,62,000 crore is on Reliance tinuing to grow and transform Mon Friday projected further pressures due to the at addressing longstanding eco- households, weak job creation cues from domestic equities raised 60,596.37 crore from books and 23,000 crore is with the Indian digital ecosystem for India’s growth at zero per cent coronavirus outbreak. nomic and institutional weak- and, more recently, a credit and significant foreign fund leading technology investors in Jio. As part of debt reduction the benefit of all Indians. “In for the current fiscal and said Moody’s had, in November nesses, leading to a gradual rise crunch among non-bank inflows supported the local less than three weeks,” the plans, the company expects to Robert and Brian, whose fam- the negative outlook on sover- 2019, affirmed India’s ‘Baa2’ in the debt burden from financial institutions (NBFIs) unit. At the interbank foreign company said. complete a capital raising pro- ily hails from Gujarat, I found eign rating reflects increasing rating but revised downward already high levels,” Moody’s have increased the probability exchange, the rupee opened at Vista co-founder Brian gramme totalling 1.04 lakh two outstanding global tech- risks that GDP growth will the outlook to negative from said in a credit opinion titled of a more entrenched weaken- 75.36, then pared some initial Sheth is half-Indian and his crore by June. nology leaders who believe in remain significantly lower than stable on concerns of lower ‘Government of India- Baa2 ing,” Moody’s said. gains to finally close at 75.54 father hails from Gujarat. This includes the rights India and the transformative in the past. economic growth. negative’. It added that prospects of against the US dollar, register- Reliance owner and richest offering of one share for every potential of a Digital Indian The outlook also partly ‘Baa2’ is an investment It said the shock from further reforms to support ing a rise of 18 paise over its Indian Mukesh Ambani, who 15 shares held at 1,257, a 14 Society,” he said. shows weaker policy effective- grade rating with moderate coronavirus pandemic will business investment and previous close. During the day, ness to address economic and credit risk, and is two notches exacerbate an already materi- growth at high levels, and sig- the domestic unit hit an intra- institutional issues, it noted in above the junk grade. al slowdown in economic nificantly broaden the narrow day high of 75.27 and a low of   %  %   the update to its November The negative outlook growth, which has significant- tax base, have diminished. 75.59 against the US dollar. On 2019 rating forecast. reflects increasing risks that ly reduced the prospects for Moody’s projected Wednesday, the rupee had set-  '   Stating that the negative economic growth will remain durable fiscal consolidation India’s economic growth for tled at 75.72 against the US dol-     outlook indicates that an significantly lower than in the and government measures to 2020-21 fiscal at 0 per cent, lar. Forex market was closed on upgrade is unlikely in the near past, it said. “This is in light of support the economy should lower than 4.8 per cent esti- Thursday on account of "6 3#( ' term, Moody’s said high gov- the deep shock triggered by the help to reduce the depth and mated in 2019-20. Buddha Purnima. !)     & !)  '(0 (0 ' (' % ( #  0 % '<  #         1!+      * '( ( 3%! '%  2%"  ' ( () ( (        Mumbai: As the country enters says an international survey. down (May 4-17) among 1,300 ## '  ( 2  %0'( the final week of the third According to a survey by inter- consumers in metros and Tier &#( 0  (0)  New Delhi: With current pric- energy-consuming nation. phase of the Covid-19-induced national consultancy Boston 1 & 2 cities, is part of a global %  " L   ,9- ing formula making natural gas Pradhan also said that lockdown, public sentiment is Consulting Group, as much as COVID-19 consumer senti- %'  & !)   production economically unvi- India favours reasonable prices getting into negative territories 85 per cent of those in the poll ment research. 0 %""" )#( ' able, Oil Minister Dharmendra that give some space to the pro- with over 50 per cent of those are worried about servicing “Despite lockdown relax- !) ( ( )'(   Pradhan on Friday hinted at ducer countries. polled having a negative out- loans post-moratorium, while ations, concerns across health, ('

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What appealed you the most as a mystery where it becomes about your character, journal- quite impossible to identify the ist Sanjeev Mehra? real person behind these charac- The fact that he was once a ters. That would be my complete hero, a beacon of journalistic journey as an actor. Acting is not courage, who degenerates himself about you, it is about the charac- into rabble rousing as that’s the ter you are playing. That is why journalism that sells. His charac- you need to transform. ter is nuanced and gives me a scope to interpret him in a com- You have played many impor- plex way. tant characters in theatre — Shakespeare (as Banquo), How challenging was it to Moliere (as Sganarelle) and carve yourself into the charac- many more. How has this ter? What research went into it? shaped you as an actor? It was a step by step process. It has shaped me com- I had to first read up on the great pletely. Theatre has been journalists of 1990s in India and and will always be my foun- research their work and philoso- dation as an actor. It has phies. Then a quick study of given me the education I journalism, as it is practised, need to be able to process a today. A brief visit was made to script, understand voice and a television news channel in emotions, create character Delhi, where I got to see and arcs, transform, discipline understand the entire process of myself, work on my physical how news travels from the studio intelligence, respect my to the public. Once this skeletal work, develop strength to structure was made, I had to pre- endure long hours of film pare the psychological spaces the shoot, and so much more. character goes through in his brain so that I was prepared to get You also conduct the- into that state every time I was on atre workshops. What the set. Every scene was a con- N    7  2   2   would you say about the scious preparation. There was a /       2 /  interest of youth in the professional life and a personal medium? life of my character, both, oppo- /  /< 4    /   / I am fortunate to see site to each other. this gradual change of 2    "     //< 5 4/ 2 the youth towards acting Since the series revolves education. I have been around the conspiracy to kill a /  4/4"     4   conducting workshops for top-notch journalist, does it 64 /  " 3 /   4<  many years now and in the aim to give a message around last couple of years, I have the fourth pillar of democracy /      4   43O seen a steady growth of or anything at large? participants who are very Not really! The plot is an eager to learn and want to attempted assassination of a pop- Does it also gives an insight number of murder mysteries You played the antagonist in work very seriously towards ular television journalist where into how the killing of journal- written and filmed in the past, Hichki, DCP Parulkar in Sacred a performance technique. four suspects are nabbed. During ists like Gauri Lankesh, Shujaat you always need something Games and did a romantic role They are slowly realising their investigation by a police offi- Bukhari and many others new that cannot be easily pre- in Netflix’s Once Again. How that merely going to a gym, cer, shocking discoveries are made impact good Journalism? Or dicted or guessed. Do you think smooth or tough it is for you to building their bodies, look- which lead him to the nether- what all is at stake for an inves- the series has a completely new switch genres? ing good, doing the rounds of world. tigative journalist? angle for the audience? That’s what I have come here auditions is not getting them But the series explores a larg- Well yes, the arc of my char- Yes. It presents a new angle for as an actor. To be able to anywhere for years. You need er context. That of the class acter in the series reflects what as it explores the ancient realm explore from one end of the skill today. Even the audience divide in our country — upper, you have mentioned above but of Paatal Lok, Dharti and Swarg. spectrum to the other and per- is interested in watching an middle and lower classes. Their the series as a whole is not about The past lives of the four suspect- form roles that are absolute con- actor with a craft and acting skill interactions lead to truths and dis- an assassination alone. ed assassins is a shocking reve- trasts to each other, yet touch the and not only looks. coveries of an India that we know lation that will certainly keep the hearts and minds of the audience. (The series goes live on little of. That is the larger message. Given that there have been a audience hooked. And in the process, leave myself Amazon Prime Video on May 15.) !"7 )'$!  Chitrangda emphasises elly Rowland says her new single What visual are we going to get?” So I do KCoffee and its accompanying music feel that pressure at time but I just want video is her “ode to the beauty of black $  to take it a little easier on myself. women’s mental health women.” Rowland made her debut with the breezy R&B track and video featur- Is this album through Roc Nation? ctor Chitrangda Singh believes it is ing black women across a spectrum of Roc Nation is my management com- Aimportant to stay mentally fit, come what shades and colours two weeks ago. " 1<<= (>2<,?)R      !   pany. And that’s new. may. “I just wanted it to be an expression “The mental health of the women in the of black beauty and the different varia- ly gives me a ball in my throat. You just How did it come about? family affects everyone and it’s important to tions and tones and body shapes,” said don’t take anything for granted. You real- It is family and it happened just like encourage people to talk about it. People Rowland, who shot the video in Miami ly don’t. that. It really happened to work and it’s should absolutely not make women feel late last year. “I was really inspired by Are you a big coffee drinker? working out really well so far. My team guilty about having any kind of issue or stress black women.” I’m a coffee ice-cream girl. Whenever is great. It’s not to say I didn’t have a great or anxiety. There is no bravery in fake The Grammy-winning singer said there’s affogato close, it has my name on team before, But I am realising, you toughness. We she first started working on Coffee in 2017 it. I like it when it’s iced. I like iced cof- evolve, you move on and that’s really it, all are weak at but held on the track, which was co-writ- fee and I drink it with whiskey. so Roc Nation is home now. times, and it’s ten by Syd of the alternative R&B band good to make The Internet. How’s the album coming along? What have you been doing with your people feel that “I was very particular after I had my I’m very excited about this album, time at home now? it is all okay and son about what I was saying and how especially for the fact that the years that I wish I would have learned how to normal. So yes, I good it was because I wanted to make it took me to find tempo. The whole work ProTools. I think now that it believe the very him proud,” said Rowland, who gave album’s not like that but I’m excited to makes you definitely want to learn. You important step birth in 2014. “I was extremely hard on share my tempo. I feel like I always had watch artists like Ariana Grande. I heard is to talk about it myself.” mids and slower records but yes, I’m Trey Songz does it too. So many differ- in the first The 39-year-old Rowland talks about ready to dance. Especially, when we come ent artists are doing things right now over place,” said coffee — the song and the drink — as well out of all this (Coronavirus lockdowns), that. And hence, they’re operating their Chitrangda. as signing with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation com- we need to dance. own new sessions. But I feel why didn’t She shared pany for management and life in quar- I learn how to do that. That’s probably my that it is equally antine. Excerpts: Have you finished the album? next goal — to learn how to record myself important for In my gut, I feel like I have like one because I could have got so many things men to manage There’s been a really warm response more record to do. done by now. I’ve been sent songs since the chores of the to Coffee and its video. How does that the beginning of quarantine and I am lit- house. “It won’t be difficult if the workload make you feel? And you’re technically an indepen- erally waiting for my engineer to come of the family is distributed among all the The morning that it came out, I had dent artist now? out of his quarantine. members of the family. I suggest one could this really big weight on my chest. I lit- Yes, for now. There have been real- help by managing the daily chores or taking erally got to my closet and cried because ly cool calls. At the same time, it’s such Did you have a goal date for getting turns to help with the kitchen or the kids. Also, I was like, “This is what I remember the a different space and time in music now. the album out? it is extremely important to find some time anxiety and everything feeling like,” but I think in my head, it’s just navigating it No. Before quarantine, we were at the to talk to her (women at home) and know how this one felt a little different. It’s because all. I am definitely independent. It’s close of the record. That’s when you’re she is managing or feeling physically and men- I’ve been in business for 20-plus years and something about it that I am really, real- turning records in, talking to writers and tally,” she said. it was like an overwhelming sense of grat- ly loving but I am also just like, “Oh I producers, working on that whole pro- The actor also suggested staying busy by itude. When I started seeing, whether it’s need a little bit more of some budget cedure of the end process. It’s not that it’s doing anything you love during the lockdown. my fans or new people, or I’m seeing money to execute some of this.” I always slowed down but definitely made things Amid the lockdown, Chitrangada is writ- dancers put movement to the song, say that Destiny’s Child set me up because a little more challenging to navigate. We ing a short film, making fun videos for fans that’s really something to take in and cel- we had visuals. People are like, “You’re got this and definitely this year. I am not and much more. She will be next seen in Bob ebrate and be grateful for. It could be going release a song with no visuals?” waiting anymore. I won’t waste anymore Biswas, a spin-off to the 2012 hit, Kahaani, completely different. I feel this over- Now that I released Coffee, people are say- time. I will do it this year. L$&2 whelming sense of gratitude that literal- ing, “OK! What are we going to get next? —AP     ! !  #$% & '11

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0        R work as ‘art medicine’; the making His urgent brushstrokes, use of matic paintings have a depth that process as a form of ‘self-therapy’. “If electrifying colours and ridges of engulfs you in silence and stillness.” it were not for art,” she once revealed, thick impasto would pave the way for Those same qualities of silence      “I would have killed myself a long early 20th-century Expressionism. Yet and stillness also characterised the time ago.” during his time at the asylum, main- man himself. As the late art critic     By drawing and painting repet- taining the balance between his Dnyaneshwar Nadkarni explained in itive patterns, Kusama seeks to oblit- mental health and being able to focus 1983, “Gaitonde isolated himself any of today’s highest-selling He was, however, less well-known erate her hallucinatory daemons and on his work proved difficult. “To sac- very early in his career from every- artists produced their best across the Atlantic. escape them. “I paint them (dots) in rifice one’s freedom,” he wrote to his thing in his environment which he Mworks in solitude, away from It was during his first trip to quantity; in doing so, I try to escape,” brother Theo, “to stand outside soci- considered irrelevant to (his) inten- the clamour of society America in 1974 that Beuys unveiled she explained of her polka-dot works ety and to have only one’s work, with- sity as a painter.” I Like America and America Likes Me, in an interview with Artspace in 2017. out distraction… it’s beginning to Gaitonde only produced around @"  :7 a live performance piece — or Action Her Infinity Net paintings, which first weigh too heavily upon me here.” five or six paintings a year, and rarely Pain thrums through Frida — that has become one of his best- won her critical acclaim in New York, mixed with fellow artists. “Everything Kahlo’s life and art: childhood polio known works. are her most sought-after works at 7  7P @@ starts from silence,” he once said. “The crippled her; a near-fatal bus crash at auction. After the death of her photogra- silence of the canvas. The silence of the age of 18 led to a life of surgeries  $  Open about her illness, Kusama pher husband, Alfred Stieglitz, in the painting knife. The painter starts and recoveries; abortions and miscar- In 1967, Agnes Martin (1912- has lived voluntarily in a psychiatric 1946, Georgia O’Keeffe would spend by absorbing all these silences.” riages left her traumatised. Then, of 2004) gave away her painting mate- asylum in Tokyo since 1977. She is summers and autumns isolated at course, there was her turbulent on- rials and fled New York in a pickup now in her nineties. Most recently, in Ghost Ranch in New Mexico, living  !: C   off love affair with Diego Rivera, a truck. She resurfaced around 18 response to the current health crisis, off a generator and without a tele- Born in 1839 in Aix-en- string of adulterous liaisons and her months later on a remote mesa in Kusama shared a message with the phone. The house was sparsely fur- Provence, Cézanne studied law strained relationship with her moth- Taos, New Mexico. “I’ve finished world, in which she says it’s time “to nished, reflecting her minimalist before leaving for Paris in 1861 to er. painting,” she said to Arne Glimcher, fight and overcome our unhappiness.” aesthetic. pursue a career as a painter. There, Kahlo channelled this personal the founder of Pace Gallery, just She said the solitude offered ‘a he met the Impressionist Camille suffering into her art, birthing a before she took off. “I’m never paint-    7 kind of freedom’ that brought her Pissarro and later exhibited at the first macabre creativity now feted the ing again.” Vincent van Gogh’s painful last closer to nature. The view of the wide (1874) and third (1877) Impressionist world over. According to Glimcher, “She felt years saw the creation of some of his open desert backed by the Cerro exhibitions. She began painting in 1925, dur- she had painted everything she could most famous works, including The Pedernal mountain, as in Red Hills By the early 1880s, however, ing her nine-month convalescence paint. She needed to go back to New Starry Night (1889), Wheat with with Pedernal, White Clouds Cézanne had returned to Provence from the bus accident, using a cus- Mexico, to that kind of space and soli- 14 Crows (1890), and Portrait of Dr (1936), became her favourite and begun to withdraw from the tom-made lap easel and an overhead tude.” But more than anything, he Gachet (1890), the last of subject. “It’s my private Paris-centred Impressionists. In the mirror installed in her bed’s canopy. adds, “I don’t think she could cope which sold for mountain,” she explained. rugged solitude of his sun-drenched Over the next 20 years or so, Frida with the notoriety that she was start- $82,500,000 in “It belongs to me. homeland, his work pivoted in direc- painted the frailty of the human body, ing to gain.” earn her widespread recognition and at the outbreak of World War Two — 1990 at Christie’s God told me if I tion. He played with perspective and life and death and decay with haunt- In Taos, Martin led a simpler, if cult status as a sort of desert mystic. his London studio was bombed in New York, set- painted it enough, used short, hatched brushstrokes, ing poignancy. “I paint myself,” she isolating existence. She didn’t own a 1940 — marks a turning point in his ting a record I could have it.” blocks of strong, saturated colour and once said, “because I am so often television, or a phone, or a cat for that 7   work. Surrounded by six acres of price at auction irregular lighting. alone, because I am the person I matter. “I can’t have any distractions,” Ivon Hitchens (1893-1979) is woodland, Greenleaves proved a fer- for any work by  7" Today, works from Cézanne’s know best.” Of her 143 surviving she said to Glimcher. perhaps best known today for his tile source of inspiration: the silver the artist. Vasudeo groundbreaking late period are high- paintings, 55 are self-portraits. She would not return to painting post-war abstract paintings of the birch trees in his garden, the nearby Much of his E  !  Santu Gaitonde ly sought after by collectors at auc- until 1974. And when she did, her British countryside, executed in meadows, and the sunflowers, pop- work from 1889, (1924-2001), more tion. Formerly in the storied collec- ;7  9 !# aesthetic had changed — her grids blocks of rich, vibrant colour. Many pies and dahlias from his courtyard including Vue de l’asile commonly known as VS tion of SI Newhouse, Bouilloire et Joseph Beuys (1921-1986) saw art had morphed into an exploration of such landscapes were painted in and garden would populate his canvases et de la Chapelle de Saint-Rémy, was Gaitonde, is one of the highest-sell- fruits (1888-90, above) sold for as a means to effect social and polit- horizontal and vertical lines, the around Greenleaves, the rural home for the next 40 years. completed during his stay at Saint ing modern Indian artists at auction. $59,295,000 in May 2019 at Christie’s ical change. By the early 1970s, he was pastel greys and whites replaced he shared with his family near Paul de Mausole, a former monastery According to Deepanjana Klein, in New York, well above its on- widely regarded in Europe as one of with soft pinks, yellows and blues. Petworth in Sussex. # #7 ! $  that had been converted into a pri- Christie’s International Head of South request estimate in the region of $40 Germany’s leading conceptual artists. This new painterly language would The artist’s retreat to Greenleaves Yayoi Kusama has described her vate hospital for the mentally ill. Asian Art, “his mostly monochro- million. $$  )'$!  : 9 : )'$! 

he immediate effect of yoga and Tmeditation can astonish some peo- ‘Love Aaj Kal my best performance’ ple as they have the ability to quickly      3 still the mind and clear negative thoughts. When we begin to meditate, ctor Kartik Aaryan said we often wonder why we had not done 0) ) % #%((<     ( (''  & 0 ' (0<  Aplaying two characters in it before. Patanjali, the ancient author one movie would seem scary, of the ‘Yoga Sutras’, describes the # ( ' % %'(0    ( #('( %< '' 4   but if the transition from Veer mind as a restless monkey, which is to Raghu in Love Aaj Kal was constantly distracted and always hov- away from your goal even before you personally experience is the natural there is a potential to work skillfully smooth he credits the film’s ering around. can blink an eyelid.” display or energetic expression of our with that expression of our own minds director Imtiaz Ali for it. The However, meditation is some- Yoga exponent, Sivananda School, own minds. This is exactly what we to transform or change it.” actor feels Ali brings out great thing that can help one gain peace and Grass Valley CA, Ananda Prema of need to realise through practice. When Acharya Swami Sitaramananda, performances from actors in his control over the frenetic activities of the Russia, says, “When you do asanas, we realise that all we experience is the Sivananda Yoga, Grass Valley CA, says, movies. mind. We are able to land in a peace- your mind becomes focussed, and product or result of “A lot of people practice yoga but they Kartik took to Instagram ful sanctuary, away from the noise and hence, it becomes still. When mind is our own minds, it jump over its foundation, — the two and shared a still from Love Aaj disturbance of the materialistic world. still, there is no desire and when there means main practices of yama and niyama, Kal, and also a picture of him- In this state of mind, our being is much is no desire, you attain happiness. It’s that which are the prescription by the yogis self along with Ali. better balanced and our body becomes all about mind and controlling the about the dos and don’ts, the restric- Alongside the image he healthy. This should be our first and mind. It’s very hard to control your tions and the observances.” wrote, “When you first dream most natural protection against the mind which is running like a Talking about yama-niyama, of being in films, you act in ongoing pandemic and all other dis- wild horse, unwilling to fol- Puducherry-based Yoga guru front of the mirror and nail it eases. If this is done in time, we may low any discipline and Minakshi Devi Bhavnani, says, every time, and the world of be stronger and we may not even need it’s very tough to “It basically means a method or films seems magical? Then you medicines. We must also remember gently take over could be called a technology get a film. You see the camera that all yoga is first based upon yama it, to make it to evolve from the domi- and are unnerved. It’s bigger or niyama. This is the ethical founda- listen to you, to nance of the animal brain than the suitcase you brought tion of life and it is the basis of yoga. make it follow into the conscious use of to Mumbai. The bright lights Unless this ethics is not followed, the what you the human brain.” seem to be scolding you for not mind will never be still and meditation would like it As Patanjali had landing on a one inch tape will not be possible. to do.” said, yoga never harms. mark and wasting everyone’s Here are a few excerpts from my New York- It is absolutely brilliant time. film, Key to Immunity Part III, where based Tulku how it takes control of “The first few years become yoga experts talk about how they view Sherdor, direc- the tongue, our sexu- about trying not to look ner- it: tor, Blazing al desires, greed, the vous? Then you get an Imtiaz Yoga expert, Dr Ananda Balayogi Wisdom desire to steal and all Ali film. The moment he nar- from Puducherry, says, “The chitta (a Institute, says, the other natural rates the story, you are pulled part of mind) is that subconscious, “What modern impulses neces- into a dream. I don’t even unconscious mind that is constantly in cognitive science, sary for sur- remember seeing the camera motion. The ancient rishis said that the theories, physics, vival. on his set, he’d always be stand- mind is a monkey, a drunken one, and Buddhist science and ing wherever I looked after cut. between #Veer and #Raghu,” he Love Aaj Kal co-starring on top of that, is bitten by a scorpion. the yoga agree with is He was never at the monitor, he wrote. Sara Ali Khan released on Well, if that’s how the mind is — con- that all that we ever was by my side. The lights on “For an actor, there is no Valentine’s Day this year. It stantly in motion, it’s whirlpooling the experience is our own Imtiaz Ali’s set help you find better environment than being traced love stories of two dif- subconscious mind. The two togeth- mind and all we can those tape marks,” he added. In front of that mirror. Imtiaz ferent eras — the first is set in er just drag you down, Kartik claimed he never Ali takes you there. This is the the late 1980s-early nineties, experienced the kind of love reason why so many great and unfolds between Raghu and appreciation he got for his actors’ greatest performances and Leena. The other love performance in Love Aaj Kal. have been in Imtiaz Ali films,” story, set in the present time, “And that too from some of Kartik added. happens between Veer and my favourite filmmakers and The actor then praised Ali, Zoe. people I most respect in the calling him a “magician.” The film is a retelling of industry. How ironic that the “Imtiaz Ali director nahi Ali’s own film of 2009 that making of this film felt most hain, jadugar hain (Imtiaz Ali starred Deepika Padukone and effortless. It would scare me to is not a director but a magi- Saif Ali Khan, and was a hit. think of doing two characters cian)! Thank you sir for giving Love Aaj Kal 2020 fared below in one movie. And here, I did- me the best performance of my expectation at the box-office n’t even realise how smoothly career yet. @imtiazaliofficial and was also critically panned. I was being transitioned #LoveAajKal.” —IANS     ! ! % 1

Q" 2    "    " % 1 -@   A .   ,R 8  A     3   . , 0           ndia will not win the Test     interested? So there is no clar- goes, that discussion hap- Iseries in Australia later this ity. pened before the lockdown. year if they fail to dismiss sea- t is premature to talk about “Once the situation When cricket resumes, (we soned run-machines Steve Smith resumption of cricket but improves and the lockdown will see) whether any country and David Warner early, the IIndia’s tour of Australia ends, then we will see keeping would like to host an addition- great Ian Chappell said on Friday. later this year is likely to go the safety and health of our al Test or have two T20s Should the much-anticipated ahead, BCCI treasurer Arun players in mind as that is para- instead, which is likely to gen- series goes ahead as scheduled, Dhumal said on Friday, down- mount,” said Dhumal. erate more revenues. the duo’s presence will put the playing the logistical issues India are scheduled to play “There is a possibility that hosts at an advantage, according likely to arise because of the four Tests Down Under with request comes from Cricket to the former Australian captain. Covid-19 pandemic. Cricket Australia considering Australia only.” “I am certainly looking for- To ensure that the high- an additional one. Dhumal Dhumal also said if the ward to it (the India-Australia    )  #$ profile tour, starting in October, said the five-Test series idea IPL doesn’t take place, the series). It will be a very interest- goes on as scheduled, Dhumal was discussed before the lock- board will take a hit of 4000 ing one. India will come with the Australia will win,” said Chappell. said quarantining of Indian down but Cricket Australia crore. confidence of having won last Chappell heaped praise on players upon their arrival is a could now change its mind “If IPL doesn’t take place time they toured Australia,” current India skipper Virat possibility even though it is not considering the severe financial the revenue loss will be 4000 Chappell said on the Sony Ten Pit Kohli, saying he is the best at the feasible before every overseas impact Covid-19 has had on crore. In case, we lose the Stop show. moment when it comes to play- assignment. the board. home season also, that will The 76-year-old added, “It ing all the three formats, reiter- “You can’t be sure of the sit- “The India-Australia tour also be a substantial amount. will be a bit harder this time (for ating a point he made recently. uation prevailing at that point is more likely to happen BCCI is also facing huge loss- India) with Smith and Warner in “India has had some pretty of time. As of now the Australia because it is further away and es. If IPL doesn’t happen then the Australian side. But India are good batsmen, but the com- tour is on because nobody has logistically it easier to organ- we will be in a very big prob- well equipped to handle ment I made was over the three called off that tour and same for ise. We will have to see what lem,” said Dhumal. Australian conditions.” formats. I was basically asked T20 World Cup,” Dhumal said. government guidelines are at If the T20 World Cup Aussies missed services of Steve Smith or Virat Kohli and “The need for quarantine that point (both India and doesn’t take place in October- Smith and Warner in the last I said — over the three formats, ahead of Australia tour only Australian Government). November, staging the IPL is series. you can’t pick anyone ahead of arises if the preceding T20 “How will the team trav- a possibility in that window. “Australia are pretty hard to Kohli. World Cup doesn’t take place. el? There is no clarity on “If the situation improves beat at home and particularly “I mean his records in all If the World Cup happens, then international travel and if we by that time (September- with the attack that they have got three formats is incredible and players would have already can get an exemption. We October), we also have think at the moment, it is a very, very how he averages over 50 in T20 completed their quarantine.” $    5 !  &   #   4      '%  %A<*= *+  don’t know as of now. The pic- about T20 WC and Asia Cup strong attack. cricket, I think it’s a tremendous Dhumal said isolation ture is ho hazy that we can’t and accordingly take a call. For “The batting last time India feat. before the start of the tour can games,” he said. October-November. Players will be out of cricket for decide anything,” said a full-fledged IPL to happen, were here wasn’t so good. If “So, he (Kohli) in my opin- only be a one-off. Dhumal then went on to “...Would it be possible for so long and further two weeks Dhumal. you have to have at least 45- India can keep getting Warner ion, if you are taking about all “If quarantine becomes a list the bigger logistical chal- Australia to have so many of quarantine and then On Cricket Australia’s idea 50 days. Whether we get the and Smith out cheaply, then three formats, Kohli is the best norm before every tour then it lenge that awaits Australia — teams (16) coming in and straightaway to go into T20 of an additional Test, Dhumal window, it is still a question India could win. If they don’t get batsman at the moment,” said the would be difficult to organise the T20 World Cup in quarantining for two weeks? World Cup. Who would be said:”As far as the fifth Test mark.” Warner and Smith cheaply, legendary Australian player. "8*3 8*8*9 3 "%  &   %@' 6     Cricket Connected. was created. “Cricket as we’re used to is     one spot and keep bowling there. “I know it will be played at “We will play sports how it going to be different for a bit. “Mentally, it was great for Indian ndia skipper Virat Kohli a very good intensity but that is supposed to be played, but There’s the T20 World Cup and ustralian opener David Warner says cricket but it was hard to watch. I felt Ibelieves cricket in empty sta- feeling of the crowd connecting those magical moments will be the IPL that we’re all looking to Ait is unlikely that the T20 World Cup helpless. Hope it does happen and look- diums is a real possibility in a with the players and the tension difficult to come by,” he said. play, but it’s hard to picture will be staged in his country in October- ing forward to the battle,” said Warner. post Covid-19 world and of the game where everyone Cricket is not going to be anything without the fans. It’s November because of the Covid-19 pan- The Australian said playing India in though it is unlikely to have a goes through it in the stadium, the same in the post Covid-19 going to be a hollow feeling,” demic. India is one of the toughest challenges in bearing on the intensity of those emotions are very diffi- world and playing in empty said the Delhi Capitals player “The ICC World Cup will not go world cricket. players, he feels the magic cult to recreate,” he added. stadiums would be a “hollow during an Instagram Live ses- ahead here by the looks of it. It will be “I love playing India in india. would certainly go missing. Kohli said the many feeling” but Australia wicket- sion with his IPL team. difficult to get everyone (16 teams) Everyone is against you. Hard conditions. “It’s quite a possible situa- moments which are created keeper-batsman Alex Carey is “But I feel the fans will at together,” said Warner in an Instagram Same for you (Rohit) when you come tion, it might happen, I honest- because of the passion brought ready to embrace the “new nor- least have some Live cricket to Live session with India’s batting star Rohit here,” he said. ly don’t know how everyone is in by fans, would be missing. mal”. look forward to on TV, and I Sharma. Warner is also not enthused by the going to take that because we “Things will still go on, but Carey is open to the idea of can promise it’s still going to be However, the International Cricket idea of playing in front of empty stands, all are used to playing in front I doubt that one will feel that playing in empty stadiums, some solid cricket which the Council is yet to take the final call on the like Australia did against New Zealand of so many passionate fans,” magic happening inside which according to him could fans are going to love,” added T20 showpiece event. in Sydney in March before the ODI series Kohli said in Star Sports show because of the atmosphere that be a way forward. the left-hander. During the chat, Rohit said India’s was called off. tour of Australia, which is scheduled after “It was a bizarre experience. You the T20 World Cup, will be a “great way” could only hear echo of cricket ball. It was to restart international calendar. bizarre. We are used to calling ‘yes and “I love playing against Australia. no’ while running between wickets but we When we won last time (in 2019), it was did not need to do that. great for us. You guys (Warner and Steve “It was literally like playing a warm Smith) were missing (due to ball-tamper- up game. It was surreal. I don’t know for ing bans). how long you can sustain that. You gain “What our bowlers and batters did your momentum from home crowd.” there was amazing. I am looking forward The Aussie opener also spoke about to the upcoming tour already. Hope both &  '  0    & players considered the best in the world boards manage to get the series under- in Test cricket in Virat Kohli and Steve way. Will be a great way to kick off crick- ing helpless watching his team lose. Smith. “People say Kohli and Smith are et in the world,” said India’s limited overs “Watching that series was hard as you the best in the world,” said Warner. “But vice-captain. can’t do anything from the outside. But we make Smith and Kohli because we India won their first Test series in I want to say that India has the best pace take the shine off the ball. We have got Australia, and Warner said he was feel- attack against left-handers. They zero in an important job as openers.” "'  % '  + &% Teams face likely fixture con- gestion in a packed calendar as they attempt to make up for lost time when play can resume. &   ! The lay off is expected to have an impact on player fitness levels too. @   It also said that competitions which were using video assistant talian football giants referee (VAR) would be allowed to IInter Milan and AC drop it for the time being. Milan were both back The change will apply to com- training on Friday two petitions scheduled to be complet- months after a strict lock- ed by 31 December of this year. down which has hit the While teams will be able to northern Italian city hard. make five substitutions, “to avoid Inter said all their disruption to the game, each team players and staff have test- : !  6 Football teams will be will only have three opportunities ed negative for coron- allowed to use five substitutes when to make substitutions” as well as at avirus on Friday, clearing play resumes after the coronavirus half time or before extra time. the way for them to return pandemic, the sport’s law-making In competitions that allow an to individual training in the Government. There body announced on Friday. another replacement in extra time, the afternoon. is so much uncertainty.” The International Football teams will have an additional sub- “All the medical tests The city in the north- Association Board (IFAB) said in as stitution opportunity. that the first team under- ern Lombardy region is statement that it had agreed to a The previous limit on outfield went have come back neg- the epicentre of Italy’s proposal by world governing body substitutes for top-level competi- ative,” the team said in a outbreak, one of the worst FIFA for a temporary change to the tions has been three in regulation statement. in Europe in terms of rules “to protect player welfare”. time. AFP “Optional individual deaths and infections. training sessions will Lombardy has suf- begin this afternoon.” fered some 15,000 deaths, "      City rivals AC Milan around half of Italy’s resumed earlier in the 30,000 coronavirus fatal- week with club technical ities, since the outbreak @ / director Paolo Maldini first erupted in early warning on Friday “not March. ottenham Hotspur striker Son Heung-min was named one of the top going back on the pitch Both Milan clubs Tfive recruits in his unit as he finished three weeks of compulsory mil- would be a disaster.” insisted they were taking itary training in South Korea on Friday. Former Italy captain the maximum precau- South Korea’s marine corps posted pictures of Son wielding an M- Maldini, together with his tions. 16 assault rifle and saluting on their Facebook page as he completed his 18-year-old son Daniel, a “We have closed the stint at a boot camp. Milan youth team player, common areas of All able-bodied South Korean men are obliged to serve in the mil- have both recovered from Milanello,” said Maldini. itary for nearly two years, making up the bulk of Seoul’s 600,000-strong coronavirus. “The players are divided forces — who face off against North Korea’s army of 1.3 million. “You have to be care- into four for each pitch But Son — the top Asian goalscorer in Premier League history, and ful, but not to resume and in 12 you can work the Asian Football Confederation’s reigning international player of the would be a disaster from well anyway.” year — was in the South Korean team that earned an exemption by win- all points of view,” 51- Inter added: “The club ning Gold at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia. year-old Maldini said dur- maintains the utmost The Spurs star broke down in tears of joy after the 2-1 extra-time ing a live Instagram chat attention to preventive win over Japan, which meant he could fulfil his obligations with just three on Friday with former measures to safeguard the weeks’ basic training and around 500 hours of community service. Milan teammate Filippo health of the players and In April he reported to a marines camp on the island of Jeju for the Inzaghi. all members of the club, in basic training, which involved lengthy hikes, as well as tear-gas train- “France were wrong to accordance with all the ing and rifle practice. decree the end immedi- governmental and public He was judged among the five best recruits out of 157 on his course, ately, but we will accept health protection guide- a spokesperson for the Republic of Korea Marine Corps said. what will be the verdict of lines.”