Follow us on: @TheDailyPioneer facebook.com/dailypioneer RNI No. TELENG/2018/76469 Established 1864 ANALYSIS 7 MONEY 8 SPORTS 11 Published From LUCKNOW METICULOUSLY TWEAK SURGE IN CORONA MAY IMPACT THREE-PEAT ON BHOPAL RAIPUR CHANDIGARH CORPORATE GOVERNANCE NBFCS' FUND RAISING: REPORT MI MIND BHUBANESWAR RANCHI DEHRADUN *LATE CITY VOL. 3 ISSUE 145 VIJAYAWADA, FRIDAY APRIL 9 , 2021; PAGES 12 `3 *Air Surcharge Extra if Applicable PUNEETH’S SET TO DROP ON OTT { Page 12 } www.dailypioneer.com

SOLDIER TAKEN HOSTAGE BY NAXALS ‘MRS WORLD’ ARRESTED FOR NZ TEMPORARILY SUSPENDS TRAVEL HC ASKS GOVT TO IN RELEASED YANKING CROWN OFF MRS SRI LANKA FROM TO CONTAIN VIRUS SURGE CONSIDER COVID TESTS AT BORDERS commando kidnapped by Maoist rebels olombo police on Thursday arrested the ew Zealand has for the first time imposed he Telangana High Court on after a deadly encounter in Chhattisgarh current "Mrs World" on charges of a temporary ban on travellers coming Thursday said the state govern- Aon Saturday, in which 22 soldiers were Cassault over an on-stage fracas in Nfrom India, including its citizens, from Tment should consider conduct- killed and 31 injured, has been released which she pulled the crown off the head of April 11 to 28 due to a surge in Covid-19 ing Covid-19 tests, at border areas, after more than 100 hours in captivity, the the new "Mrs Sri Lanka". Caroline Jurie cases among visitors to this country, on people coming from other state government said on Thursday. yanked the crown off Pushpika de Silva Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on states, which have been reporting Rakeshwar Singh Manhas of the 210th minutes after she was declared "Mrs Sri Thursday. The travel restriction comes more infections. The court also CoBRA division was taken hostage by the Lanka 2020" in a Sunday gala at Colombo's after New Zealand recorded 23 new directed the government to ramp Maoists following the gun battle that lasted Nelum Pokuna theatre. Jurie was the positive coronavirus cases in managed up inoculation in view of rise in almost three hours in a rebel stronghold in the previous year's "Mrs Sri Lanka" and had gone isolation on Thursday, of which 17 came from cases in the state. A bench of Chief Bijapur district. He was freed in the presence of on to win the "Mrs World" competition organised India, Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield Justice Hima Kohli and Justice B Vijaysen hundreds of villagers on Thursday after a team of two eminent by a California-based company. De Silva needed hospital was quoted as saying. While arrivals from India had triggered the Reddy made the suggestions after perusing the report people, including a person from the tribal community, nominated treatment after the incident, seen by stunned spectators in a risk assessment, Prime Minister Ardern said the government submitted by the government on the state's preparedness by the state government led negotiations to secure his release. packed venue as well as a live social media audience. would be looking at risks posed by other Covid hotspot countries. for the second wave of coronavirus. AP has vaccine stocks to last for only two days Jagan tells officials to talk to Centre for more supplies; sets 30-day deadline to complete inoculation of all over 45-year-olds

PNS n VIJAYAWADA

Andhra Pradesh has barely enough stocks of Covid vaccine to last two Daily positivity rate in AP inches days. This shocking fact was reported closer to peak of first wave to Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy by officials on Thursday, SUMIT ONKA Thursday taking the cumulative Why should everyone prompting him to direct them to n to 8,93,651. The total number of take the matter up with the Centre active cases now stands at need to write and ensure vaccine supply meets In a steep increase in the daily 14,913 in the state, the highest ever more? the requirements of the state. Covid-19 cases in Andhra since November 23, 2020. The Chief Minister also asked Pradesh, the test positivity rate Apart from the five hot spot officials to carry out the vaccination spiralled to 8.18%, which is districts that have been report- drive vigorously and set them a tar- climbing up to the peak of the ing fresh cases in three digits for get of administering four lakh pandemic's first wave in 2020. the past few days, four more dis- 2 doses in rural areas and two lakh AP has been testing around tricts joined the list on second doses in urban areas on a daily 30,000 samples per day over the days with over 100 cases each basis. past three weeks and the Test on Thursday. It is estimated that there are Positivity Rate gradually Chittoor district reported the about one crore people aged 45 increased from 0.65 percent on highest number and topped years and above who still need to March 15 to 8.18 percent on the chart with an addition of be vaccinated in the state. April 8. Of the 31,268 samples 465 new cases followed by During a review meeting on tested in the last 24 hours, (399), Kurnool (344), Covid vaccination-control meas- 2,558 tested positive. Visakhapatnam (290), ures, Nadu-Nedu in the Health The cases are rising across AP (204), Srikakulam (185), Department, the Chief Minister as nine of the 13 districts in the Prakasam (153), Krishna (152), said that all those who are aged state reported hundreds of fresh and Anantapur (131). above 45 years have to be vaccinat- cases, totalling 2,558 on While YSR Kadapa added 94 ed in the next 30 days. He direct- Thursday, the highest in a day cases, ed the authorities to take up the officials to talk to the Central gov- The Chief Minister said that Reviewing the Covid control after November 8, 2020. registered the lowest of 37 cases. vaccination drives in rural areas too. ernment and ensure that the emphasis should be given on cre- measures, the Chief Minister direct- The positive cases have now reported With regard to this, the officials required doses are made available ating awareness among the public ed the officials to take stern action reached 9,15,832 in the state and 58 cases and Vizianagaram dis- informed that only one lakh doses in the state and administer smooth on the spread of Covid pandemic. on private hospitals that are fleec- the death toll increased to 7,268 trict reported 46 cases. are available for Thursday and the conduct of vaccination drive. He said that the state economy will ing public in the name of Covid as six more people died of the Guntur, Krishna, Kurnool, state has only enough stocks for two Also, he told officials to conduct be completely damaged if the lock- treatment and told them to cap virus on Thursday. Nellore, Prakasam and Visakha- Mamata fears Central days and there are about one crore an awareness programme through down conditions were put and treatment costs and strictly super- The new cases have outnum- patnam districts reported one people aged above 45 years who still Asha workers and volunteers to see stated that the pandemic caused a vise the private hospitals. bered the recoveries as 915 fatality each on Thursday. intimidation need to be vaccinated. that every eligible person in the financial loss of Rs 21,000 crore to people have been discharged The Chief Minister instructed the house gets vaccinated. the state last year. 2 after complete cure on 2 5 Jagan reminds voters Over 60 per cent polling in Parishad polls Durga temple ex-EO Suresh PNS n VIJAYAWADA A re-poll will be conducted in the village on Friday, the sources in Tirupati of his work Over 60.91 per cent polling was said. Babu ordered to reported in the elections to man- In half a dozen villages on the PNS n VIJAYAWADA voters across the seven Assembly dal and zilla parishad territorial Andhra- border in report to Govt segments of Tirupari Lok Sabha constituencies in Vizianagaram district, polling was For the first time in the last few constituency. on Thursday, which Panchayat Raj hampered due to a long-pending PNS n VIJAYAWADA months, Chief Minister YS In his letter, Jagan wrote about Principal Secretary Gopal Krishna jurisdictional dispute that was Jaganmohan Reddy on Thursday the benefits people had received Dwivedi termed "remarkably suc- pending adjudication in the Kanakadurga temple former wrote to voters of Tirupati Lok under several welfare schemes cessful". Supreme Court. Executive Officer V Suresh Babu, Sabha constituency, appealing being implemented by his govern- Stray incidents of clashes were Polling was conducted from 7 who was transferred on them to vote for YSRCP candidate ment in the last 22 months and reported from a few districts but am to 5 pm across the state as the Wednesday as endowments Dr M Gurumoorthy. appealed them to vote for his overall the polling went off High Court gave the green signal regional joint commissioner at Incidentally, votes for the party candidate. smoothly, official sources in the for the parishad elections but Rajahmundry, was on Thursday Tirupati Lok Sabha by-poll will be He explained the welfare State Election Commission here counting of votes will not be taken asked to report to the cast on April 17. schemes launched by his govern- said. up as scheduled on April 10, till the Endowments Commissioner Despite several elections over ment and sought the people's A polling official died of heart A sub-inspector of police carries an elderly petition in the court is disposed of office. He was not given any India to resume buy- the last few months, the Chief support for the YSRCP candidate. attack while on duty in Guntur dis- voter to the polling booth in Maripudi (probably on April 15). posting. Minister had refrained from per- The Chief Minister also men- trict. Mandal on Thursday. At Rajupalem village in Guntur The Endowments Department ing oil from Iran once sonally campaigning. Jagan had tioned various welfare schemes Polling was stalled in a couple of district, workers of the ruling YSR had to face criticism as Suresh US sanctions ease stayed away from campaigning for and the benefits received by fam- places because of faulty ballot polling. Congress and the main opposition Babu who had faced some serious the just-concluded high octane ilies through government activi- papers, the sources said. In a polling station in SPS clashed, result- allegations of graft and other polls for urban and rural local ties in last 22- month gover- The Jana Sena party symbol Nellore district, a BJP worker ing in minor injuries to a couple of irregularities was only transferred bodies. nance. was found missing in the ballot allegedly snatched the ballot box persons, police said. but not suspended. On Thursday, Jagan signed the paper in Amalapuram Rural, and dipped it in , forcing the 8 first letter that will be delivered to 2 resulting in the suspension of officials to cancel the polling. 2 2 TODAY ALMANAC Is Anjanadri Hill Hanuman's birthplace? or ‘vasool saab’? Month & Paksham: SNV SUDHIR Ministry. Ramayana Circuit is one Ticket price hike kicks off controversy Phalguna & Krishna Paksha n VIJAYAWADA of the 15 thematic circuits identi- Panchangam fied for development under the MARTHI SUBRAHMANYAM they obtained a court order as the n Tithi : Trayodashi: 04:27 am (Next Day) Anjanadri, one of seven sacred hills Swadesh scheme of the VIJAYAWADA Jagan government put its foot of Seshachalam range, the abode of Ministry of Tourism. down on hiking the ticket prices Nakshatram: Purva Bhadrapada: Full Night Lord Venkateswara, is all set to give Bhadhrachalam in Telangana is The makers of Vakeel Saab may for the flick. Time to Avoid: (Bad time to start tough competition to Anjanadri also part of this Ramayana circuit. have portrayed the flick’s AP Information Minister Perni any important work) Betta of in , TTD has constituted a commit- protagonist played by Pawan Nani said that the government Rahukalam: 10:45 am – 12:17 pm which has been promoted as the tee in December 2020 to study in Kalyan as dead against appeal to High Court against the Yamagandam: 03:22 pm – 04:54 pm birthplace of Lord Hanuman, the detail the evidence that Anjanadri exploitation of the poor, but the lower court’s order. monkey god. Hills is the birthplace of Hanuman. legions of the actor’s frenzied fans Jana Sena president Pawan Varjyam: 11:50 am – 01:33 pm Anjanadri Betta-Kishkindha puri The committee comprises TTD’s and others will have to shell out Kalyan claims to have derived Gulika: 07:40 am - 09:12 am in Hampi is popularly believed to Vedic Varsity Vice-Chancellor Prof huge sums for getting tickets of inspiration from revolutionary Good Time: (to start any important work) be the birthplace of Lord Hanuman Sannidhanam Sudarshana Sharma, the , which will hit the leader Che Guevara, who had Amritakalam: 10:10 pm – 11:53 pm and often, tourists, especially from National Sanskrit Varsity Vice- screens in Telugu states on Friday. raised a banner of revolt against the west, visit it for its spiritual Chancellor Prof Muralidhara Those behind the distribution of exploitation of people. Still, the Abhijit Muhurtham: 11:53 am – 12:42 pm importance and also take in the sce- Sharma, professors Ranisadasiva the film have kicked off a tickets for his new flick have been nic beauty of sunsets. experts and scholars on board, has a white washed Hanuman Murthy, Janumaddi Ramakrishna controversy by seeking to raise the priced at Rs 500 each for the VIJAYAWADA However, an expert panel including an ISRO scientist, have temple at the top is vocally promot- and K Sankaranarayana, ISRO sci- ticket prices for premier shows as premier shows. WEATHER appointed by Tirumala Tirupati completed their research work and ed as the birthplace of Lord entist Murthi Remilla and State well as first, second and third class The high price of the ticket is Forecast: Partly cloudy Devasthanams (TTD) Board that are ready to submit the report to Hanuman. Archaeology deputy director J tickets for two weeks. This will sure to burn a hole in the pockets Temp: 38 manages Tirumala temple claimed TTD on Ugadi day-April 13. Interestingly Hampi, due to its Kumar as members and proj- burn a hole in the pockets of people of middle class people and the Humidity: 51% to have found epigraphical and sci- Incidentally, Anjaneri Hills of connection of being the birthplace ect officer of Higher Vedic Studies belonging to the middle class. The poor, who lament that the Sunrise: 06:04 am entific evidence to establish that Trimbakeshwar in Nashik district of Lord Hanuman has also been Dr A Vibhishana Sharma as con- organisers managed to get the TRS theatres have become centres for Sunset: 06:30 pm Anjanadri was the birthplace of of is also considered included in the 15 places identified venor. government’s permission in exploitation of the poor. Lord Hanuman. the birthplace of Lord Hanuman. to be developed under Ramayana Telangana to hike the ticket fares. Current Weather Conditions 2 Updated april 08, 2021 5:00 PM The panel, with several Vedic However, Anjanadri Betta which Circuit by the Union Tourism However, in Andhra Pradesh, 2 VIJAYAWADA | FRIDAY | APRIL 9, 2021 vijayawada 02 Why should everyone need to write ever more? he idea behind writing With the implosion of dwindling at an unprecedent- What are the remedial mea- come out with their digital has always been to share information, thanks to the It is a harsh reality that the number of ed pace. sures with the publishing morning, noon and evening Tour experiences, modern communications people fond of reading and writing The publishing industry industry to overcome chal- editions. Even a few publica- thoughts, and points of view technology, reading and writ- including newspapers and lenges? As it happened with tions may try late night edi- with fellow citizens in the ing habits/skills of people have remains a minuscule percentage of the magazines etc., facing the mobile phones, companies tions for insomniacs. language widely written, read changed. total population. Despite increased brunt has also reinvented itself giving handsets with a con- The delivery of tailor-made and understood by many. These days information on by going for more number of nection, it is likely to happen content to the end-consumer More profound books and any subject is available in literacy, more or less similar percentage digital titles. Even their with the publishing industry. by eliminating the entire dis- ideas get translated and pub- plenty on the Internet. Of of readers and writers still holds good. monopoly of the publishing The markets will come out tribution network is one such lished in languages other than course a significant part of it But something has definitely changed. industry has ended with many with the special digital measure. Dissatisfaction the native ones, reaching out could be categorised as either authors/ anchors resorting to devices giving the similar among readers due to the to the wider range of readers. unsubstantiated or motivated. direct digital publication. look and feel by mimicking overdose of advertisements in It is a harsh reality that the Abundance of information If the same trend continues, time reading and writing The present pandemic due the physical features of the the existing social media plat- number of people fond of is overwhelming. the human race may all habits will be completely to its inherent risks, has accel- newspapers. In the case of forms would be another fac- reading and writing remains a This has curbed the urge of together forget writing skills as transformed under the influ- erated the pace of digitisation. digital books and magazines, tor to give rebirth to the tra- minuscule percentage of the individuals to acquire knowl- the digital media do not ence of digital devices. However, many people are this rubicon has already been ditional news papers in dig- total population. Despite edge by reading books and fol- encourage it. Now no one Dictation, typing and writing DR SHAILENDRA JOSHI, still unwilling to pay either at crossed. ital form. Advisor of Telangana govt and former increased literacy, more or lowing other literary pursuits. talks about calligraphic and will, in that descending order, chief secretary of Telangana the scale of printed versions or There are some more ways The next big interruption less similar percentage of read- Now one can use any popular neat writing. As typed content be the new ways of expression. pay at all for digital contents. and reasons to feel opti- is going to be Artificial ers and writers still holds search engines to find out the is gradually replacing writing, The empirical evidence fur- is shrinking over a period of This is largely due to the mistic. Intelligence (AI) writers good. relevant information with just there are no extra marks for ther exhibits that the overall time. Especially, the number perception of not getting the In order to cater to the replacing human beings. Let But something has defi- a few clicks. good handwriting in the percentage of people interest- of people opting for reading same look and feel of the readers who are not satisfied us continue to hone our skills nitely changed. What has Another side effect of the examinations. ed in serious reading either printed material, though many products that people are with encapsulated informa- till such things happen in the changed? digital age is looming large. No doubt, over a period of printed or over digital devices, still remain committed, is accustomed to. tion, the newspapers may very near future. Terracotta sculpture of Satavahana Odisha cops, leaders prevent Kotia voters from voting period found in PNS n VISAKHAPATNAM quo in March, 2006. said were “AP’s elections”. This proved to be the rea- However, the voters argued PNS n VIJAYAWADA Dr Reddy, after thorough figure whose ears, hands and Dr Reddy dates it to the 2nd forms. The disputed area on the son for tension between the that their villages have been examination of the find which legs are broken due to con- century AD. He cited a reference in Andhra-Odisha border, nes- two states flaring in the event kept disputed for decades Archaeologist and CEO, measures 6x4x1.5 cm, stant He said that this becomes Gathasaptasati compiled by tled between Vizianagaram of the local body elections. which is depriving them of Cultural Centre of Vijayawada revealed that the Ganesa the one of the earliest Ganesa Hala, the Satavahana of Andhra Pradesh and Some voters in the their basic rights. “We have and Amaravathi (CCVA) E image is created by a images in South India, as Emperor. Koraput of Odisha, witnessed Neradivalasa village were seen been giving votes in the two Sivanagireddy has discovered potter well versed with one similar terracotta Dr Reddy also picked up a tense situation on Thursday jostling with the Odisha police states whenever there are a tiny terracotta sculpture of the iconography and it is Ganesa datable to the same polished red ware. Red when people living there were who were trying to stop them elections,” they pointed out. Ganesa datable to the seen seated in lalit asana period (2nd century AD Slipped ware and black and prevented from casting their to exercise their voting rights. “When we vote in Odisha, Satavahana times at (flexible posture). )from Veerapuram in red ware of the Satavahana vote in the MPTC and ZPTC Some people managed to the Andhra government and Nilakanthapur village, According to him, Kurnool district was times as associate finds to elections. cross the barricade and cast leader never stopped us. Why Madakasira mandal of who is a sthathi himself reported by the Birla the terracotta Ganesa image. Polling booths opened in the their vote in another polling are you stopping us?” a Anantapur district. added that the head of Archaeological and He concluded that it's villages of Kotia panchayat booth. woman questioned the polit- While he was conducting a the god is elephantine Cultural Research insti- handmade using lavigated were also shut down by the Andhra Pradesh police ical leaders of Odisha. thorough exploration in and without any head gear tute in early 1980's. clay and baked or burnt well Odisha administration and personnel and public repre- The Neradivalasa villagers around Nilakanthapur, as part and with only two Dr RH Kulkarni, Art in a separate kiln under the political leaders. sentatives from Koraput dis- also claimed that AP gov- of data collection to compile hands, a feature of the Historian, College of supervision of a potter who The Kotia panchayat comes trict entered into heated ernment is giving them the history of the village, the Satavahana times. fine arts, Karnataka was an expert in handmade under the Salur Mandal in arguments. The AP cops Scheduled Caste status, sculpture was picked up from The proboscis is Chitrakala Parishad, sculptures. Vizianagaram district. argued that the people should while the Odisha govern- the agricultural fields of N. clearly seen turned towards Bengaluru also confirmed With the discovery of the It may be noted that the dis- not be deprived from exercis- ment did not bother to do Raghuveera Reddy, former the right side, another unique tilling that it is an image of Ganesa, image and pottery, he says pute over the jurisdiction of 21 ing their democratic rights. so. minister, located near the feature at such an early date. of land. created during the time that Nilakanthapu-ram now of the 22 hilly villages on the Hundreds of people from They also praised the wel- Pothugunta Dinne with the These features facilitated Based on the iconography when the Brahmanical gains a spot on the border of Vizianagaram and Odisha spent the previous fare schemes provided by help of Srinivas, a local. him to identify it as a Ganesa ,style of art and delineation, images are taking the perfect Satavahana map. Koraput district of Odisha night in the disputed villages the AP government like old could not be resolved as the dissuading the voters there to age pension, Amma Vodi Supreme Court granted status cast their vote in what they among others. Daily positivity... Continued from Page 1 State’s vaccine... Is Anjanadri Hill Jagan reminds Continued from Page 1 gen as well as medicines India reports daily Among the 13 districts in the should be made available voters in Tirupati state, Chittoor district has the He told the officials to focus along with infrastructure Hanuman's birthplace? highest number of active on a three-pronged strategy facilities in every hospital. new cases of 1.26 lakh cases (2,535) followed by of tracing, testing and treat- The officials explained Continued from Page 1 al times and elaborately of his work Guntur (2,231), ment to contain the spread that 66 Covid hospitals and researched the various evi- Continued from Page 1 PNS n NEW DELHI load in the country was Visakhapatnam (2024), of Covid 19 and take action 22 Covid-care centres were TTD Executive Officer dences to strongly establish recorded at its lowest of Krishna (1,879) and Nellore on those not wearing set up across the State and (EO) KS Jawahar Reddy has Anjanadri as the birthplace of He mentioned the benefits of India registered a record sin- 1,35,926 on February 12, 1,349 while the remaining masks. offering medical services sought the scholars to come Hanuman. YSR Zero Interest scheme, gle-day spike of 1,26,789 new comprising 1.25 per cent of eight districts have active The Chief Minister reiter- like last year. out with astronomical, epi- The evidences from Siva, YSR Aasara, Jagananna COVID-19 cases, pushing its the total infections. cases in three digits with ated that any infected per- Besides these, over four graphical, scientific Puranic Brahma, Brahmanda, Varaha, Vasati Devena, Jagananna infection tally to 1,29,28,574, The number of people who West Godavari having the son calling 104 for assis- lakh home isolation medi- evidences and salient features Matsya Puranas, Venkatachala Vidya Deevena, YSR while the number of active have recuperated from the lowest of 221. tance should be provided cine kits are made available. showing that Anjanadri Hills Mahatyam, Varahamihira Cheyutha, YSR Pension cases too went upwards to disease surged to 1,18,51,393, Andhra Pradesh has test- with necessary information, The Chief Minister said is the birthplace of Lord Brihatsamhita proving the Kanuka, Jagananna Amma breach the nine lakh-mark while the case fatality rate has ed over 1.53 crore testes with bed status and assist with that giving weightage in Hanuman could be presented point that Anjanadri hills Vodi, Housing-For-All and again, data updated on further dropped to 1.29 per 2,87,151 tests per million medical help at the earliest. recruitments to those who to the public on Ugadi. He also located in the abode of Sri other schemes. Thursday showed. cent, the data stated. and the overall infection pos- He said that sanitation, worked during Covid would asked them to bring out a Venkateswara Swamy is the Notably, the Chief The death toll due to the India's COVID-19 tally had itivity rate of 5.97 per cent. doctors, paramedics, oxy- be an encouraging gesture. comprehensive book with the actual birthplace of Lord Minister did not criticise disease in the country crossed the 20-lakh mark on evidence within a couple of Hanuman with relevance to opposition parties in his let- increased to 1,66,862, with August 7 last year, 30 lakh on months. the dates of that period, said ter, and focused on explain- 685 new fatalities being August 23, 40 lakh on The Committee met sever- TTD sources. ing the development and reported in a day, according September 5 and 50 lakh on welfare activities of the gov- to the data updated at 8 am. September 16. It went past 60 Over 60 per cent polling in ernment in the last 22 Registering a steady lakh on September 28 last months of governance. increase for the 29th day in year, 70 lakh on October 11, The letter has been a dif- row, the count of active cases 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh ferent approach than regular has gone up to 9,10,319, on November 20 and the one- Parishad polls political traditions. which is 7.04 per cent of the crore mark on December 19. He urged the people of total infections, while the According to the ICMR, Continued from Page 1 Commissioner M Girija technically it remained in Tirupati Parliamentary con- country's recovery rate has 25,26,77,379 samples have Shankar, district Collectors the contest as the ballot stituency to vote for the fan further dropped to 91.67 per been tested for COVID-19 in Similar incidents were and polling staff over the papers were printed before symbol and ensure the vic- cent, it stated. the country so far, including reported in Krishna and "remarkably successful" con- it announced its decision. tory of YSRCP candidate Dr The active COVID-19 case- 12,37,781 on Wednesday. Prakasam districts as well duct of the MPTC and The YSRCP already Gurumoorthy. but police immediately ZPTC elections. bagged 2,271 MPTC and The letters would be dis- quelled the mobs to bring Election was conducted 126 ZPTC seats unopposed. tributed to the families in the situation under control. for 7,220 MPTC and 515 The TDP won 100 Tirupati Lok Sabha con- Panchayat Raj Principal ZPTC seats for which 20,840 MPTCs unanimously in the stituency, spread over Durga temple Secretary Gopal Krishna candidates were in the fray. election process that ini- Chittoor and SPS Nellore Dwivedi congratulated For the record, the TDP tially commenced in March districts, through the party Panchayat Raj boycotted the election but last year. cadre. ex-EO... VIJAYAWADA Continued from Page 1 of Spark, the company that had quoted the lowest price BULLION RATES It may be recalled that the which was against the regu- GOLD Vakeel Saab or ‘vasool saab’? Anti-Corruption Bureau lations. ` 46, 900 (10 gm) (ACB) had submitted a Without cancelling the Continued from Page 1 vote for TRS nominee Vaani (Rs 70 normally) and third detailed report to the govern- tenders and without negoti- ` 650 Devi on the last day of MLC class ticket to Rs 150 (Rs 50 ment on the irregularities in ating with the A1 contractor SILVER YSRCP leaders have been poll campaign. normally) for two weeks. Kanakadurga temple. who quoted least the EO ` 70, 900(1kg) accusing Pawan, who tries to However, in Andhra Joint Collectors of Krishna, According to the ACB awarded the sanitary ten- ` 1600 expose exploitation by the Pradesh is not Guntur and Kadapa districts report, they found that Suresh ders to KL Technologies, the Government, on hiking the able to hike the prices of tick- went on record, in a latest Babu was involved in serious ACB said. ticket prices at least by three ets. development, stating that the financial irregularities. The It may be recalled here that CHICKEN times to the detriment of the Vakeel Saab producers government did not authorise ACB sleuths further men- the ACB officials conducted RATES `/KG poor. sought permission from Chief any theatre to hike the cinema tioned in their report that the surprise raids in Governments normally give Minister Jaganmohan Reddy to ticket fares. They warned of EO disobeyed the orders of Kanakadurga temple from Dressed/With Skin `223 permission to hike ticket prices increase the ticket fare, but the stern action if anyone brings to the Endowments February 18 to 20. Without Skin `254 of regular shows and premier government said no. The pro- their notice any theatre collect- Commissioner. Following this, 15 employ- Broiler at Farm `154 shows of top heroes’ . ducers then moved a court and ing hiked ticket fare. They The ACB report revealed ees working in various wings Normally, the Chief obtained orders to increase said that no permission what- that Suresh Babu made pay- of the temple, such as dar- Ministers decide on such the ticket fare. soever had been given for ments against the audit rules shan ticket counters, saree EGG issues. Sai Krishna theatre manage- screening any premier shows. and objections. auction counter and The tradition was first start- ment in Sattenapalli addressed The Jaganmohan Reddy The ACB sleuths in their godowns, annadanam stores, RATES `/100 ed with Jai Chiranjeeva film of a letter to the Joint Collector of government took it as a matter report said that the EO made prasadam counters, main VIJAYAWADA 411 the mega star . Syera Narasimha Reddy. 50 per cent of the available Guntur in this regard. It of prestige and appointed payments for tenders, quota- provision stores, engineering HYDERABAD 393 Later, it was continued by The KCR government gave seats, perhaps reciprocating sought permission to collect Rs RDOs, MROs and Commercial tions and equipment pur- department and administra- Gautamiputra Satakarni, a green light to hiking ticket Pawan’s gesture in the last 500 per ticket for benefit show, tax authorities to ensure that chases against the regulations. tion wings, were suspended VISAKHAPATNAM 505 Balakrishna-starrer, and the prices of ‘Vakeel Saab’ and MLC polls. to increase the first class tick- the Joint Collector’s orders Sanitary tenders were by Endowments RETAIL PRICE `4. 11 (IN HYDERABAD) Prabhaas-starrer Baahubali and increased occupancy ratio of It may be recalled that et to Rs 300 (Rs 100 normally), were enforced in letter and awarded to KL Technologies Commissioner P Arjuna Rao Chiranjeevi’s magnum opus theatres screening the film to Pawan called upon his cadre to second class ticket to Rs 200 spirit. keeping aside the quotation on February 23.

Although every possible care and caution has been taken to avoid errors or omissions, this publication is being sold on the condition and understanding that information given in this publication is merely for reference and must not be taken as having authority of or binding in any way on the writers, editors, publishers, and printers and sellers who do not owe any responsibility for any damage or loss to any person, a purchaser of this publication or not for the result of any action taken on the basis of this work. All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent court and forums in Delhi/New Delhi only. Readers are advised and requested to verify and seek appropriate advice to satisfy themselves about the veracity of any kind of advertisement before responding to any contents published in this newspaper. The printer, publisher, editor and any employee of the Pioneer Group's will not be held responsible for any kind of claim made by the advertisers of the products & services and shall not be made responsible for any kind of loss, consequences and further product-related damages on such advertisements.

Printed and published by B Krishna Prasad for and on behalf of CMYK Printech Ltd., Phone: 040-23322341, Hyderabad Office: F-502, Diamond Block, Lumbini Rockdale, Somajiguda, Hyderabad - 500 082. Telangana. Printed at Sree Seshasai Enterprises, Plot No.19, IDA Balanagar , Hyderbad-500037, Medchal -Malkajgiri District, Telangana. Chief Editor: Chandan Mitra. Resident Editor: B Krishna Prasad, AIR SURCHARGE of Rs 2.00. VIJAYAWADA | FRIDAY | APRIL 9, 2021 vijayawada 03

Victim-centric Speed up land acquisition for approach Postal cover marks centenary needed to end fete of Pinakini Ashram trafficking: Guv medical colleges, officials told GADAMSETTY SEKHAR BABU PNS n VIJAYAWADA n NELLORE

PNS n VIJAYAWADA a specialised course in medical Governor Biswabhusan The postal department has colleges related to hospital Harichandan on Thursday brought out a special postal Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan management by partnering launched the ‘Handbooks on cover with the image of Reddy on Thursday directed with leading private hospitals. Countering Human Trafficking’ Pinakini Satyagraha Ashram, officials to speed up the land With regard to YSR Health brought out by Prajwala, at a pro- founded by Mahatma Gandhi acquisition process and start Clinics, the Chief Minister gramme held in Raj Bhavan here. on April 7, 1921, in connec- the work for the establish- said that the clinics should be Speaking on the occasion, tion with the centenary cele- ment of 16 new medical col- painted in vibrant colours like Harichandan said it was neces- brations of the Ashram. leges by July 1. in schools to give them a pleas- sary to tackle the menace of The celebrations were The officials explained to the ant feeling and make them look human trafficking with a vic- organised under the aegis of Chief Minister that land acqui- impressive. tim-centred approach. the Nellore district branch of sition has been completed for He directed the authorities He said the set of five user- the Indian Red Cross Society. eight colleges and the process to release required funds for friendly handbooks on human As part of the celebrations, for the remaining eight was on. YSR Health Clinics immediate- trafficking will be helpful to Red Cross chairman P The Chief Minister said that ly. The Chief Minister said that duty-bearers in Andhra Chandrasekhar Reddy gar- every medical institution — doctors in PHCs and 104 Pradesh as an useful tool in the landed a statue of Mahatma right from Village Clinics to MMUs should visit rural areas prevention and tackling of Gandhi with yarn and paid Suresh Kumar Jain and others a step in the direction of PHC, CHC, Area Hospitals, said that there should be no ing hospital managers to over- and offer medical services in human trafficking in the State. tributes to him. were present on the occasion. sensitising the youth on the District Hospitals and Teaching delay in the release of the see all aspects of hospital man- the nearby villages on a regu- The five-set ‘Handbook on Ashram convener Vice-president M Venkaiah spirit of the independence Hospitals — should be of Hospital Development Funds, agement except clinical deci- lar basis. He instructed the offi- Countering Human Trafficking’ Ganesham Kalpana vowed to Naidu in his message on the struggle. national standard and direct- where a policy should be sions. cials to prepare an action plan is an unique initiative of develop the ashram further occasion said that such efforts As Mahatma Gandhi want- ed the authorities to prepare framed for better execution. Officials said that such pol- in this regard. Prajwala, designed to assist and help it find a suitable motivate the youth and con- ed to set up a satyagraha SOPs in this regard. The officials explained that icy is already being imple- The Chief Minister also duty-bearers such as judicial place on the country's map. gratulated the postal depart- ashram in Andhra Pradesh, He said that there should be leaving the management of mented in several states with directed the authorities to look officers, prosecuting officers, Ashram co-convener ment. Ponaka Kanakamma pur- no shortage of doctors and staff the hospitals to the medical good results. into the steps to be taken to child welfare committees, Ravindra Reddy, managing He advised youths to visit chased land and donated it to in any hospital across the state. superintendents was causing In this context, the Chief implement the Family Doctor labour officers and civil society committee members, Red such ashrams and imbibe the Gandhiji for ashram. With the Also, the Chief Minister difficulties and suggested hir- Minister suggested introducing Concept in State. organisations. Cross staff took part in the ideals of the freedom fighters support from several free- event. On the occasion, a of yore and take part in build- dom fighters, the ashram special cover with the Ashram ing a modern India. building was constructed. image on it was released on The ashram at Pallepadu in Later, Gandhiji inaugurated it. the occasion. the district is widely hailed as The Ashram stands as a tes- Red Cross vice-chairman D the “second Sabarmati timony to India's Jagan gave little, took everything: Naidu Sudheer Naidu, Treasurer Ashram”. The special cover is Independence struggle. PNS n SRIKALAHASTI He said 'prices of essential worth Rs 121 crore, of which to Rs 1 crore is demanded from commodities in Jagan rule were MLA took Rs 12 crore as 10% the rank of police officers, rev- TDP national president Nara skyrocketing during the regime. commission, stolen Rs 15 crore enue officers and any other Chandrababu Naidu on Electricity charges and gas rates from a farmer who gave 300 government official who wish to Industries in Vizag won’t be Thursday launched his cam- have been increased. The only acres of land to Kalahasti Rural come to the Srikalahasti con- paign in Srikalahasti for the party which satisfied the hunger Zone Industrial Park, Rs 10 stituency. About 7,000 TIDCO Tirupati Lok Sabha by-elec- of the poor through Anna can- crore was looted from house- houses have been constructed in tions. Starting door-to-door teens is the Telugu Desam Party.' sites in Yerpedu zone, Srikalahasti town in New NTR facing water crisis this year campaign from Srikalahasti He said that the YCP spoiling Chindepalli, Kalahasti rural Nagar during the TDP regime Super Bazaar Center over the the sanctity of Tirupati and it is zone and Urandur. In Corona and those houses have not been Pellivari mandapam and reached the responsibility of the people time, the MLA brought liquor given to a single beneficiary so PNS n VISAKHAPATNAM the Perivari Mandapam Center of Tirupati to protect the sanc- from and made crores far. A project of Rs.10 crore was addressed in the roadshow. tity of Lord Venkanna. Talking of money and he had become a brought under the TDP regime In a major relief to industries Addressing the gathering he about Pink diamond he said that super spreader. They demanded in Srikalahasti town by MEPMA and Special Economic Zones raised many questions about the for the sake of political gain Rs 15 crore by creating litigation for kalamkari art. But, there has in Visakhapatnam, they will mania rule of Jagan Reddy. some people are referring to of houses near Dharmaraju Gudi been no progress on this project not face a water crisis this sum- 'Should we vote for imposing a Jagan as greater than God and in Kalahasthi. He collected Rs 10 in the last two years since YCP mer due to the good water level burden of Rs 2.50 lakh on every talked about Ramana lakh to Rs 50 lakh from the can- came' Naidu said in this way, in in reservoirs and water bodies family in two years? Should we Deekshitulu indirectly. He said didates and gave tickets of two years, Rs 200 crore was loot- the city sources water from. vote for a massive increase in illegal cases were being filed try had come to the state in the MPTC, ZPTC, and sarpanch.' ed by local MLA in Srikalahasti. Executive Engineer, taxes, prices, and debt? Should against Telugu Desam leaders last two years as many compa- 'The MLA threatened the "If the Chief Minister had the Visakhapatnam Industrial we vote for committing new who fought for justice when the nies were brought to Chittoor local factory by putting his courage he should order for an Water Supply Company scams?', asked Naidu. Talking idols of Subramanya Swamy during the rule of the Telugu daughter as a union leader and inquiry on Madhusudhan (VIWSCO) under the GVMC, about Ammavodi, he said 'Jagan were destroyed in Kuppam. Desam Party and now the situ- looted commissions. The sand is Reddy illegal activities", Naidu Murali Krishna told The gave Rs 14,000 in Ammavodi Terming Jagan rule as mania ation was such that the youth transported to the neighbouring demanded. Amravati, the pub- Pioneer that bountiful rains in and extorted Rs 36,000 from he said 'he was being prosecut- were going to neighbouring states of and Bangalore lic capital, the heart of the AP the last two years had the Nanabuddi (farther's liquor bot- ed and would not be afraid of states for jobs. by 20 lorries every day. (1 lorry Polavaram project has been reservoirs and streams filled tle). similar cases being filed by the Talking about the local MLA rate is Rs. 1.25). About 1500 destroying in YCP rule, criti- and even after the onset of ty), Thatipudi reservoir (38 industries have been asked to Talking about several mafias police. He asked the people to Biyyapu Madhu Sudhan Reddy, tractors are moving from cized Chandrababu Naidu. He summer the water level is percent filled), Yeleru reservoir use tertiary treated wastewater under YSRCP rule he ques- vote responsibly as the onus is Chandrababu Naidu brought Yerpedu zone, Madibaka, said that social justice had been enough to tide over the season. (55 percent full) Mudasarlova wherever possible rather than tioned 'Isn't it true that Rs on the people to safeguard many illegal activities done by Kottaveerapuram and undermined under the YCP “So, we don’t see any water cri- reservoir 150.80 feet (169) and depending on the fresh sup- 25,000 crore has been extorted democracy and asked to defend the MLA. He said 'The MLA Papanayudupeta. When an rule and BCs had been cheated sis for industries this summer,” Meghadri Gedda reservoir plied water. by raising liquor rates and intro- democracy. Talking about Jagan looted Rs 200 crore in two industrialist came to set up an in local body election reserva- said the VIWSCO engineer. (66.67 percent full). As there are several mega- ducing inferior liquor? Isn't it Padayatra Naidu said 'Jagan was years. Provoked the workers to industry in the SEZ (APIIC) set tions. The sub-plan funds are The industries required 80 He said rains in the last two infrastructure projects in and true that Rs 10,000 crore was kissing in Padayatra and is strike from the Kalahasti Pipes up in Vikrutama village in the being diverted. Telugu Desam is Million Gallon every day years were good. “We predict around the city like APSEZ, looted by abolishing free sand punching now each other today. factory to the Krishnapatnam Yerpedu zone was asked for the only government in India to (MGD). that there will not be any JNPC, RINL, NTPC and new and turning it into a sand mafia? 'What is Jagan doing now port to grab the contracts and commission and partnership, have waived off Rs 17,000 crore According to the State water crisis this year. Water lev- ones are coming up with the Isn't it true that 125 professions when he says that if he comes to caused the factory to be closed. so, that the company left the farmers' debts. He urged the Government’s portal moni- els in all the reservoirs, includ- industrial growth in Vizag, and businesses have been dam- power he will bring special cat- This directly affected 5,000 state out of fear. In Srikalahasti, people to end such maniacal rule toring the reservoir and water ing the Yeleru canal are good,” the water need of industries is aged by the sand shortage? Did egory status and give jobs to all workers and indirectly 10,000 he is setting up his followers in by voting Telugu Desam Party bodies, the water level as on Murali Krishna said. growing drastically. 50 lakh construction workers the youth? Criticizing Jagan he people. Threatened TCEL the temple and collecting crore and safeguard the future of April 8 was — Raiwada reser- To address water scarcity However, the plans are yet to lose their jobs?' lamented that not a single indus- Company and got a contract of rupees in a month. Rs 50 lakh Andhra Pradesh. voir (62 percent of its capaci- challenges of summer, the get any shape.

QUICK CLEAN Election stalled for one hour Low voter turnout in panchayat for change of ballot papers PNS n began as usual at 7 am. polls in ‘disputed’ Kotia cluster After 11 votes were polled, The voting process was Janasena activists from PNS n KORAPUT (ODISHA) SEC on February 13, 2021, chairman of state seeds cor- stalled for about an hour at Gunnepalli found that there they said. poration and BJDs district Sakurru Gunnepalli of G was no 'glass' symbol on the The panchayat polls conduct- "The low turnout of voters president Iswar Panigrahi Agraharam suburb of ballot paper. To get confir- ed by the Andhra Pradesh is due to development activi- and former Koraput MP and Amalapuram mandal in East mation, the activists stormed State Election Commission ties executed in the panchay- BJP leader Jayaram Pangi Godavari district following a into the booth and noticed (SEC) at Kotia cluster of vil- at by the Odisha government campaigned at Kotia since change of ballot papers on that there was no Janasena lages, over which both Odisha in last few years," said Koraput Wednesday to ensure that Thursday. symbol 'glass' on the ballot and the neighbouring state District Collector, Abdaal M the AP government didn't According to reports, paper. claim to be their own, wit- Akhtar. lure the native villagers for Janasena was contesting in S Shocked over the incident, nessed low turnout on Earlier, the Koraput voting. Gunnepally of Amalapuram when the election officials Thursday, officials said. administration had clamped Earlier, on February 13, the Revenue Division while CPM were communicating with Of the total 1,291 voters prohibitory orders under sec- AP government had con- fielded its candidate in the the higher officials over the notified under the tion 144 of the CrPC from ducted elections for Sarpanch nearby village of Thandava change of ballot paper, some Neradibalsa booth only 223 Wednesday 5 pm at at the Kotia group of villages Palli. At booth no. 9, the bal- youth poured ink in the bal- voters, including 99 women Neradibalsa and Phattusenari and the Odisha government lot papers from Gunnepalli lot box. They came out and voters, cast their vote com- citing the emergence of had approached the Supreme reached Thandava Palli staged a protest in front of pared to 66 per cent polling Covid-19 positive cases. Court through a writ peti- polling station and vice versa. the booth. The police teams recorded during the election Also, political leaders tion. The next hearing of the The change in the ballot rushed to the spot and took to the post of sarpanch con- including Jeypore's Congress case is on April 9, sources papers was not noticed by the four Janasena activists into ducted by the Andra Pradesh MLA Taraprasad Bahinipati, said. Garbage piles up along the Vizag beach being cleared by a JCB deployed by the GVMC. poll staff and the polling custody. SHOT IN THE ARM 3K Run organised to celebrate ‘National Zoo Lovers Day’

PNS n VISAKHAPATNAM This 3K Run gave an entire- ly new experience to all the par- A 3K Run that was organised at ticipants, the curator said. the Indira Gandhi Zoological It was the first time such an Park on Thursday to mark the event had been held and that ‘National Zoo Lovers Day’ more such events would be received an enthusiastic held in the future, she said. response by the participants. The Run was conducted with About 180 enthusiasts from fewer people than originally different parts of the district — planned, due to the spike in the from young children to adults number of Covid cases. — regardless of age, took part The next event is to be in the Run. planned with more number of The Run, which started with people in a grand way, Salaria the registration process from 6 said. am, was flagged off at 7 am. The event was organised Zoo curator Dr Nandani with all Covid-19 guidelines Salaria said that there are many and precautionary measures zoo and animal lovers in such as adhering to social dis- Visakhapatnam and the event tance and wearing masks. was organised at the Zoo in the Kiran Kumar, Suresh and city to give them a chance to get Laxman, who finished in the close into nature and wildlife. top three, were presented tro- “A similar feeling cannot be phies and certificates. Every TDP leader Galla Jayadev receiving a jab for Covid at Sri Venkateswara Institute experienced from running any- participant was handed a cer- of Medical Sciences in Tirupati on Thursday. where outside,” Salaria said. tificate. VIJAYAWADA | FRIDAY | APRIL 9, 2021 vijayawada 04 Tirupati by-poll: BJP candidate COPS TURN GOOD SAMARITANS Ratna Prabha steps up campaign

MARTHI SUBRAHMANYAM with the BJP cadre setting aside with her appealing speeches. PNS n TIRUPATHI their differences, were cam- Her request for 'one chance' is paigning enthusiastically along drawing a tremendous response The , which with the BJP candidate. from the educated voters. Ratna is in the poll fray in Tirupati Undoubtedly, Pawan's campaign Prabha's clarity mainly on special Parliament by-election having an boosted the chances of the BJP status is allaying the misconcep- alliance with Pawan Kalyan's candidate. tions even among the BJP voters. Janasena Party is scaling up its The Madiga community, Top BJP leaders have been efforts and giving a tough fight which has a huge vote bank, has deployed in Tirupati and Nellore on par with the two major par- come together this time and was for their candidate's victory. ties YSRCP and TDP. working in favour of the BJP in Deodhar, co-in-charge of The poll observers felt that the all the seven Assembly segments the state has been staying in BJP was forging ahead in some of the Lok Sabha constituency, Tirupati for a long time and is Assembly segments beating the giving a fillip to the BJP leaders. inviting BJP's star campaigners ruling YSRCP and main Since Ratna Prabha belongs to for the Tirupati. The BJP leader- Two policemen carrying an old woman to the polling booth during the ZPTC and MPTC polls in Prakasam district on Opposition party TDP. BJP can- the Madiga community, she has ship is strategically deploying Thursday. didate K Ratna Prabha is reach- an edge over other candidates. leaders for the campaign based ing out to people and inching Moreover, Malas were only on the population of social com- ahead in the campaign compared allowed to contest the polls all munities. Polling in Kadapa to her rivals. Observing the pre- these years and for the first BJP Rashtra Samghatan gen- Low voter turnout sent campaign trends, it was clear time, a Madiga candidate was eral secretary Madhukarji was peaceful that the BJP leadership has taken chosen for the seat. There is jubi- playing a key role in the cam- the right decision by selecting lation among the Madiga com- paign in identifying the lead- PNS nKADAPA Ratna Prabha as its candidate. munity over the selection of ers who can suit which region in Guntur district The BJP's campaign was dull Ratna Prabha. On the other based on population as a cam- The ZPTC and MPTC polls until former IAS Ratna Prabha's hand, Ratna Prabha's husband Corporation former chairman mention that it is for the first time paign coordinator. BJP held in Kadapa district on name was announced as its can- Vidyasagar has close contacts Wilson Madiga, who stood by in poll history that the whole National Secretary Satyakumar Thursday were peaceful. A total didate. Her candidature, howev- with the local Dalit communities Manda Krishna in the early days Madiga community has united is camping in Tirupati and of 50 ZPTCs in the district out of er, boosted the chances of win- in the limits of the Tirupati con- of the MRPS movement, was and backed a party after the changing strategies from time which 38 seats were unanimous- ning and instilled enthusiasm stituency is an added advantage planning a campaign to unite all Assembly elections. to time in the election cam- ly elected and elections were held among the party's rank and file. for the BJP candidate. Moreover, Madiga community people in The educated voters appreci- paign. State President Somu for the remaining 12 seats. With Janasena leader Pawan the MRPS leadership has already villages in Nellore and Chittoor ate Ratna Prabha's approach in Veeraraju is concentrating on The elections were also held for Kalyan's campaign in support of announced its support for Ratna districts to vote in favour of Ratna the campaign as she was focus- inviting key leaders for the 117 MPTC seats in 26 constituen- her victory, the fighting spirit has Prabha and considering all these Prabha. Despite the local BJP ing only on the development campaign. Former ministers, cies. A total of 634 polling stations been doubled in the BJP- factors, the BJP leaders are con- leaders' invitation for the cam- without criticizing rival political state leaders, national larders, have been set up across the dis- Janasena cadre. Janasena activists, fident of winning the election. paign, the concept of 'Madiga parties or leaders unlike the in-charges are being engaged in trict. Nearly 2,000 policemen who were inactive in the initial Significantly, in villages where Bidda' (Daughter of Madiga) is other candidates in the poll fray. the campaign. By the time BJP were deputed to provide securi- days of campaigning, are now the Madiga population domi- creating a sense of unity among Ratna Prabha appears to have national president J P Nadda ty for the polling stations. fully charged after Pawan's pub- nates, Ratna Prabha is being the Madiga community people impressed the educated and reached Tirupati, the party's In the Badvel mandal, lic meeting after a roadshow. The accorded a warm welcome. BJP who voluntarily take a lead in the middle-class people in the campaign is likely to gain Uppativaripalli polling booth Janasena workers, who joined spokesperson and SC campaign. The political observers Tirupati Lok Sabha elections momentum further. YSRCP did not allow the TDP MLA Undavalli Sridevi casts her vote in Tadikonda (right) Home Minister agent as he was not a local. Hence, Mekatoti Sucharitha casts her vote in Firangipuram TDP ZPTC candidate Beeram Sirisha staged a protest in front of PNS n GUNTUR Meruga Nagarjuna used his Guntur YSRCP the polling booth and expressed vote in Bhattiprolu constituen- Woman cop discharges poll duty her concern. The altercation A total of 48 per cent of votes cy Vellatoor, while MLC Janga ended after the officials inter- were polled in the ZPTC and Krishna Murthy cast his vote leader dies of vened. MPTC elections held in the in Dachepalli Mandal Meanwhile, TDP candidate Guntur district on Thursday. Gamalapadu. Covid-19 holding six-month-old baby Rajeshwar was arrested for bring- Many of the public represen- In Ponnur Mandal PNS n GUNTUR ing out the election ballot paper tatives and celebrities exercised Chintalapudi, Ponnur former PNS n KAKINADA became a cynosure of the vis- from the polling booth at the their franchise and voted in MLA Narendra exercised his Guntur city YSRCP president A sub-inspector of police itors. Rajouri polling station in Valluru the Parishad elections. Home right to vote. Meanwhile, Padarthi Ramesh Gandhi Varalakshmi of the 2018 batch, Holding the baby on one mandal. Out of a total of 400 vot- Minister Mekatoti Sucharitha many public representatives passed away on Thursday. who attended poll security hand and asking voters to ers in Machireddypalli in Valluru voted in her hometown of did not even vote. Vinukonda Gandhi was receiving treat- duties along with her six- maintain queue line on the mandal, only the YSRCP candi- Firangipuram. Rajya Sabha MLA Bolla Brahmanayadu ment at a private hospital in month-old baby in the scorch- other, Varalakshmi managed to date and her son cast their votes member Alla Ayodhya confined to his home without Hyderabad after he tested ing Sun on Thursday, draws discharge her duty under the and the rest of the voters did not Ramireddy voted in using his vote. Many TDP positive for Covid-19. the attention of voters as well hot Sun. The voters said she turn up for voting. Pedakakani. Vemur MLA leaders skipped their votes. Gandhi breathed his last in as her superiors. symbolized the woman's the hospital on Thursday. Varalakshmi, who is cur- patience. Meanwhile, District Gandhi contested and won rently working at Kadapa SP Anburajan congratulated the recent municipal elections Disha Police Station, was Varalakshmi for her commit- as a YSRCP candidate from deputed for a poll duty at ment to discharge duties. She the 6th division of the Guntur Chilamakuru High School to ing ZPTC and MPTC elections breastfeeding, the SI attending was also greeted by senior Strong rooms in EG East constituency. support the voters in the ongo- in the district. To ensure to duties along with her infant police officials and the people.

Photos of ballot Mithun Chakraborty's roadshow Mulayam's under CCTV surveillance papers appear niece files PNS n KAKINADA The polls for ZPTC MPTC on social media disallowed, BJP men protest papers as BJP seats were held in a com- PNS n KOLKATA cannot avert its imminent ment on the issue. pletely peaceful atmosphere loss The BJP candidate later candidate across East Godavari district The BJP was denied permis- by such an undemocratic took out a roadshow in the except for some sporadic PNS nKAKINADA sion tohold a roadshow of act of preventing us from constituency where the PNS n MANIPURI incidents in one or two superstar Mithun campaigning. National Award-winning places, District SP Adnam A photo of the ballot paper Chakraborty, who had Is the state government actor was not present. Samajwadi Party founder Naeem Azmi said on was doing rounds on social recently joined the saffron scared of losing power?," the The actor-turned-BJP can- Mulayam Singh Yadav's Thursday. Speaking to 'The media and it was taken from camp, in Behala area of the popular Bengali actor said. didate is pitted against TMC niece Sandhya Yadav has Pioneer' correspondent, he the booth at Gorripudi vil- city on Thursday, following The saffron party activists heavyweight and West filed papers as a BJP can- said elections were conduct- lage in of which a group of party shouted slogans against the Bengal minister Partha didate for a district ed in 3561 polling stations Kakinada rural constituency activists held a demonstra- ruling TMC in front of the Chatterjee who is seeking panchyat member here, for 61 ZPTC and 1000 of East Godavari district. tion in front of a police sta- Parnasree Police Station. re-election from the Behala according to officials. MPTC seats. An unidentified voter took a tion. BJP sources said the party Paschim constituency. Sandhya, the current The SP said that the photo of a ballot paper and The agitation was led by sought permission to hold a "We have nothing to do president of the Mainpuri YSRCP and TDP groups posted it on social media actor-turned-politician door-to-door campaign by with any programme of Zila Panchayat, was elect- attacked each other on after voting at the local ZP Srabanti Chatterjee, who is the Bollywood superstar in Mithun Chakraborty. We ed to the post on the Wednesday night in High School. He wrote a contesting from the Behala the Behala area after the city know that the TMC has sup- Samajwadi Party ticket Krishnavaram village of message 'remember to vote Paschim assembly con- police had cancelled its road- port of the people of Behala. on January 14, 2015. Kirlampudi mandal. ordered by the EC. In the would be under the surveil- for glass'. stituency on a BJP ticket, show plea on Wednesday The BJP candidate is doing She had switched to However, Jaggampet CI wake of the High Court lance of CCTV cameras and Soon the photo surfaced, party sources said. night. drama," a leader of the ruling the BJP in 2017 after a Suresh Babu and Kirlampudi order that the counting guarded by AR police forces. village YSRCP leader Chikala "The Kolkata Police did "The door-to-door cam- party said. faction led by local MLA SI Appalaraju reached the should not be carried out till Floodlights and high-quali- Subbarao brought it to the not allow our leader Mithun paign by him was also not Chakraborty, however, led Raj Kumar tabled a no- spot and brought the situation the final verdict, tight secu- ty night cameras were also notice of returning officer S Chakraborty to campaign granted at the last minute," a roadshow in Tollygunj con- confidence motion under control, he said. rity was provided to shift the set up at the strong rooms, Rammohan Rao and IAS for me in the constituency they claimed. stituency for Union minister against her in the district The SP also said that the ballot boxes to the strong he said. The SP conducted officer BR Ambedkar, district without citing any reason. The Kolkata Police and BJP's candidate Babul panchayat. elections in the agency were rooms after the polling was surprise inspections in ten election observer. "The Trinamool Congress declined to make any com- Supriyo. concluded by 3 pm as over. The strong rooms mandals across the district. ‘EC should stop Mamata from Ongole railway land dispute resolved making communal speeches’ PNS n ONGOLE An agreement was reached over PNS n KOLKATA Banerjee to Bengal politics. the long-pending dispute of rail- This trend has to change, and way lands located in the Union Minister Babul Supriyo, BJP will change it," he said. Annavarappadu and who is trying his luck from the Responding to claims that Mamidipalem areas, Ongole Tollygunge assembly seat, feels several party MPs and senior MP Magunta Srinivasu Reddy Chief Minister Mamata leaders have been "forced" to has said. A high-level meeting Banerjee should be barred from contest the assembly polls as the was held with the railway offi- campaigning for making "vitri- BJP did not have enough good cials and the district revenue offi- olic and communal" speeches candidates, the Minister of cials here on Wednesday under and taking Bengal's political political discourse to an all-time State or Environment replied in the chairmanship of JC J Venkata discourse to an "all-time low". low. The EC should ban her the negative. Murali. Supriyo, one of most suave from campaigning for the entire "BJP is fighting for Bengal's About 43.50 acres of land faces of the BJP in Bengal and election," Supriyo told PTI in an honour, pride and soul, and we belonged to railways was occu- the Lok Sabha MP from interview. all want to play our part in it," pied by NGOs and others at Asansol, rejected opposition Criticising Banerjee and the he asserted. Annavarappadu and claim of having been "demot- ruling TMC dispensation for The BJP has fielded five Mamidipalem. As per the earli- ed" after being fielded for the changing the grammar of polit- MPS, including Rajya Sabha er agreement, the residents in the assembly election, and said he ical opponents to enemies, MP Swapan Dasgupta and name of the NGO employees' earlier. Currently, 9.5 acres of land was that the railways should repay resolve the issue with the initia- himself wanted to contest the Supriyo, a noted singer, party vice-president Mukul union paid the amount, but the District Joint Collector (RB & vacant in Annavarappadu and the amount paid by NGOs with tive from the Ongole MP. poll against a "formidable oppo- appealed to everyone to refrain Roy. Dasgupta had to even railway authorities have not yet R) J Venkata Murali said the rail- 14 acres in Mamidipalem. He 12 per cent interest per annum, DRO Kevinayakam, RTO sition and not a weak one". from making personal attacks. resign from the Rajya Sabha handed over the land to the way land has to be handed over said an amount of Rs 1.05 crore in case the railways failed to hand Prabhakar Reddy, Deputy Mayor "Despite being a chief min- He said, in politics, people due to constitutional reasons. respective residents. The resi- to the residents at an affordable had already been paid to the rail- over the land. Earlier, the high- of Ongole Vemuri Surya (Bujji), ister, the kind of comments that should fight over ideology and Supriyo is pitted against dents, who were living in these price to the NGOs as they were way authorities in 2004 itself as level committee appointed to NGO general secretary K Sarat Mamata Banerjee is making is policies. TMC heavyweight and state areas for the past 50 years, want- already residing there as per the per the agreement reached resolve the dispute has decided Babu, railway official K shameful. Through her vitriolic "But this change from oppo- minister Aroop Biswas, a ed the dispute to be resolved. High Court orders. He said that between the NGOs and the rail- to submit a report to the South Chiranjeevi, the Ongole tahsildar, speeches and the communal nents to being treated as ene- three-time MLA from Some residents had approached houses were built on approxi- way authorities. Central Railway. However, the NGO representatives and others campaign, she has taken the mies is a gift of Mamata Tollygunge. the High Court seeking justice mately 20 acres in the area. The High Court had ordered railway authorities agreed to participated at the meeting. VIJAYAWADA | FRIDAY | APRIL 9, 2021 nation 05

Mamata fears Central intimidation PLEA FOR COMPULSORY MASKING DURING CAMPAIGN She calls upon voters to be on guard HC seeks stand of Centre, EC PNS n NEW DELHI PNS n BALAGARH West Benal Chief The Delhi High Court on Apprehending that a section Minister Mamata Thursday sought response of of Central paramilitary forces Banerjee called upon the Centre and the Election may visit villages to intimi- Commission on a plea seek- date people, West Bengal the state police force ing to ensure that masks are Chief Minister Mamata "to keep vigil and not to worn mandatorily by every- Banerjee on Thursday asked one involved in poll cam- voters to be on guard. bow their heads before paigns during the ongoing Addressing a public meet- Delhi."Your job is to elections in various states and ing here in Hooghly district, union territories. Banerjee alleged Central ensure free and fair A bench of Chief Justice D Advocate Virag Gupta, to the Centre to ensure strict forces are working on N Patel and Justice Jasmeet appearing for Singh, told the compliance of its March 23 instructions of the "Union polls, please be stern Singh issued notice to the bench that the poll body order, mandating imposition Home Ministry run by Amit with trouble makers Centre and the EC and sought should "create awareness of appropriate fines, on per- Shah." their response to the applica- through digital, print and sons not wearing face masks " have respect for and keep your integrity tion by Singh, the for- electronic media for compul- in public and workplaces, in theCentral paramilitary intact" mer DGP of Uttar Pradesh sory masking and social dis- states and UTs where elections forces but they are working and also the chairman of tancing during assembly elec- are being held. on instructions from Delhi. celebrations at Bandel think tank Centre for tions". The assembly elections in They are committing atroci- polls, please be stern with stituency," the TMC supremo Asking voters not to turn Church, the unique Santhal Accountability and Systemic "When all the authorities Assam, Kerala, , ties on villagers before trouble makers and keep your said, West Bengal into "another festivals in Jangalmahal, Change (CASC). are unanimous on mandato- West Bengal and Puducherry polling day, some of them integrity intact." "They (BJP) spreads lies to Gujarat" by voting for the saf- chanted 'Chandi Mantra' The court listed the appli- ry masking, it defies logic as are being held in various are even harassing women. Asking villagers to lodge create panic. In reality, sec- fron party, she said, "If you while wrapping up her cation for further hearing on to why the rule should not be phases. The polls started on They are asking people to FIRs at local police station in tion 144 is in force within 200 wish to protect the oldest speech.Banerjee said the can- April 30 along with Singh's enforced in election cam- March 27 and will conclude vote for BJP. We will not case of any excess committed metres of a booth. But they Durga puja in Guptipara, if didate for the reserved main petition seeking to debar paigns," Gupta argued. on April 29. allow this to continue," the by central forces, the chief are doing this to prevent our you wish to protect our fes- Balagarh seat Manoranjan campaigners and candidates The Central government's Singh has contended that TMC chief said. minister said, "If the police voters from going to polling tivals like Durga Puja, please Byapari is chairman of state- from campaigning in the standing counsel Anurag despite the orders and guide- Banerjee called upon the station refuses to accept the stations." ensure the defeat of BJP." run Dalit Sahitya Academy. assembly elections for repeat- Ahluwalia accepted notice on lines of the Centre and EC, state police force "to keep FIRs, inform us". Banerjee asked polling Banerjee, who iterated the She exuded confidence that edly violating the mandatory behalf of the Centre. "election campaigning is going vigil and not to bow their Blaming BJP for "spreading agents to be vocal and to TMC government's commit- Byapari would always stand guidelines issued by the poll Singh, in his application on in full swing, without any heads before Delhi."Your job lies about promulgation of protest any "misdeed by BJP ment to protect the heritage by the marginalised in the panel in view of the COVID- filed through advocate Gaurav regard to the COVID-19 reg- is to ensure free and fair section 144 in an entire con- and security forces". Rathyatra in Mahesh, the constituency. 19 pandemic. Pathak, has sought a direction ulations". INDIA CORNER Mamata to NIA takes terror suspect into ‘Maha must turn to 60-hour weekend lockdown in all skip meeting other states to MP cities: CM Shivraj Singh custody at Jammu airport lockdown will be enforced called by PM n procure Remdesivir’ in all cities of Madhya PNS JAMMU APradesh from 6 pm on PNS n KOLKATA Friday to 6 am on Monday to Cracking the whip on overseas PNS n NAGPUR from states that are not in check the spread of the West Bengal Chief terror modules, the National the second wave of the pan- coronavirus infection, Chief Minister Mamata Investigation Agency on BJP leader Devendra demic and companies that Minister Shivraj Singh Banerjee will not Thursday arrested a person upon Fadnavis on Thursday said to are producing the drug," he Chouhan said on Thursday. attend the virtual his arrival at the Jammu airport address the shortage of said. Talking to reporters here after meeting called by in connection with a case of infil- remdesivir, the Maharashtra The BJP leader further chairing a meeting to review Prime tration of militants in Poonch and government should procure said that the state govern- the COVID-19 situation in MP, Minister Narendra smuggling of narcotics, officials the drug from states that are ment should stop playing Chouhan said his government aims to increase the number of beds Modi to discuss the said. not witnessing a second wave politics over the COVID-19 for COVID-19 patients in the state to one lakh. "A lockdown will be COVID-19 situation Accused Shahid Naveed of of the COVID-19 pandemic vaccine. enforced in all cities of the state from 6 pm on Friday to 6 am on withCMs, sources in Mendhar in Poonch district is and take action against black Union Health Minister Monday," Chouhan said. In the past three weeks, the state the state government alleged to be a close associate of marketing of the injection. Harsh Vardhan has clearly government imposed lockdowns in Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur and said on Thursday. Sher , the main coordinator police station last year following India under strict supervision. Speaking to reporters at stated the number of vaccine Gwalior on Sundays and extended the curbs to some other cities last Chief Secretary and facilitator of terrorist activ- the killing of two Pakistani ter- He was flown to Jammu for Nagpur airport, Fadnavis doses given to Maharashtra, Sunday. Chouhan said various crisis management groups will hold Alapan ities of various groups in the area, rorists affiliated with the JK handing over to the NIA, the said the state government pending doses and the quan- meetings to review the situation in cities where there has been a spurt Bandyopadhyay will be the officials said. Ghaznavi Force in an encounter officials said. A police inves- should pay attention to the tity which will be given, he in COVID-19 cases and will decide the course of action to contain present in the meeting, Ali was arrested on February at Surankote in Poonch on tigation had revealed that Ali availability of remdesivir, as said. it.Besides increasing the number of beds for the viral infection they said. 17, and Naveed's name came up December 13. After the arrest of facilitated the entry of the two instances of black marketing "Those criticising the patients, the state government has also decided to set up one COVID- Banerjeee will be during his interrogation. Ali in February, the NIA took terrorists from the Dabbi area had been reported last year. Centre should see that 19 care centre in each district, he said. busy campaigning for Both Ali and Naveed were over the case, the officials of Balakote on the intervening "The same is happening Maharashtra has more vac- the ongoing assembly operating from Kuwait, and their said. night of November 24 and 25 now as well. Not all states are cines than Uttar Pradesh, elections in the state, involvement in terror activities Naveed is believed to have last year at the behest of witnessing a second wave. which has double the popu- Former cop Pradeep Sharma the sources said. surfaced during the investigation been deported from a Gulf Pakistani handler Sultan, the Hence, the government lation of the state," Fadnavis appears before NIA for 2nd day of a case lodged in Mendhar country and was brought to officials said. should procure remdesivir said. ormer police officer Pradeep Sharma on Thursday appeared Fbefore the NIA for the second day Army Chief Gen Naravane Bid to destabilise Suspended in connection with the case of an explosives-laden SUV found near cop Waze at industrialist's Mukesh Ambani residence and the death of leaves for Bangladesh Maha govt: Raut businessman Mansukh Hiran, an hospital for official said. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had summoned PNS n NEW DELHI on December 16, 1971 that PNS n the "encounter specialist" cop to record his statement. Sharma paved way for the birth of check-up reached the NIA office in south Mumbai around 1 pm, the official Chief of Army Staff Gen MM Bangladesh. Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on PNS n MUMBAI said. He is likely to be confronted with suspended police officer Naravane on Thursday left for Col Anand said Gen Thursday claimed "dirty poli- The National Sachin Waze and two other persons who were earlier arrested by the Bangladesh on a five-day visit Naravane is also scheduled to tics" was being played out to Investigation Agency on NIA in connection with its probe into the case, sources said. On to further expand cooperation interact with the force com- destabilise the Maha Vikas Thursday took suspended Wednesday, Sharma was questioned by the NIAfor over seven hours. and coordination between the manders of the UN peacekeep- Aghadi (MVA) government in police officer Sachin Waze Sharma used to be a trusted officer of former Mumbai police two countries on a host of ing missions and the deputy Maharashtra and asserted that to the government-run J commissioner Param Bir Singh when the latter headed the Thane strategic issues. chief operations officer of the such attempts will not succeed. J Hospital here for a med- police. The visit comes less than Royal Bhutanese Army on Raut's remarks came a day ical check-up, an official two weeks after Prime Minister April 12. after suspended cop Sachin ready to face any probe into the said. Narendra Modi travelled to the strategic issues," Army He will also attend the clos- Waze in a letter claimed former allegations. He swore in the Waze (49) was arrested Bihar police arrest 6 in neighbouring country. Spokesperson Colonel Aman ing ceremony of exercise state Home Minister Anil name of Sena supremo last month by the On Thursday, Gen Naravane Anand said. 'Shantir Ogrosena', a multilat- Deshmukh had demanded Rs 2 Balasaheb Thackeray and National Investigation Madhubani massacre case will pay tributes to the fallen The year 2021 marks the eral UN-mandated counter- crore from him to continue his asserted that he has not done Agency (NIA) in the case ihar police have arrested six heroes of the Bangladesh lib- 50th anniversary of the liber- terrorism exercise from April service in the Mumbai police anything wrong. of an explosives-laden people from near the Indo-Nepal eration war and it will be fol- ation of Bangladesh and the 4 to 12. Besides armies of and another minister Anil Parab Talking to reporters here on SUV found near industri- Bborder here in connection with lowed by a one-on-one meet- birth centenary of Bangladesh and India, the asked him to collect money Thursday, Raut said there is a alist Mukesh Ambani's the killing of five persons last ings with the three service Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur exercise is being participated from contractors. new trend of getting letters residence in south month, an incident dubbed as a chiefs, officials said. Rahman. by Bhutan and Sri Lanka along Waze was arrested last month written from the accused locked Mumbai and the death of "caste war" by the media and The Army chief will also In reflection of close ties, with observers from the US, by the National Investigation up in jail. businessman Mansukh "massacre" by the opposition. All the interact with Bangladesh's for- India is also hosting a number the UK, Turkey and Saudi Agency (NIA) in the case of an "Never before has the coun- Hiran. six persons, including the alleged eign minister on April 11. of events to mark the 50th Arabia. explosives-laden SUV found try seen dirty politics being The NIA took him to mastermind Praveen Jha, were "This visit from April 8 to 12 anniversary of the 1971 war The Chief of the Army Staff near industrialist Mukesh played out in such a manner, the hospital around arrested from a village in Bisfi police station area on Wednesday, will further deepen the bilat- that led to liberation of is also scheduled to interact Ambani's residence in south like indulging in character assas- Thursday noon, the offi- said Madhubani Superintendent of Police Satya Prakash. Those eral relationships between the Bangladesh. with the members of the Mumbai and the death of busi- sination using investigation cial said. arrested were allegedly involved in gunning down five people, two armies and act as a cata- Around 93,000 Pakistani Bangladesh Institute of Peace nessman Mansukh Hiran. agencies and IT cells of politi- Hospital sources later including four brothers, belonging to the Rajput caste, in a village lyst for closer coordination troops had surrendered before Support and Training Parab, a Shiv Sena leader, cal parties, and letters from said Waze was examined under Benipatti police station area on March 29. The SP and cooperation between the the joint forces of the Indian Operations (BIPSOT), the rejected Waze's claims on accused locked up in jail," the and then sent back. maintained that the incident that took place on Holi had followed two countries on a host of Army and the "Mukti Bahini" Army spokesperson said. Wednesday and said he was Rajya Sabha member said. a dispute over catching fish from a pond. However, some media reports said the mass killing was a fall out of a protracted struggle for supremacy among two dominant castes Brahmins and Rajputs in the area. Security beefed HC refuses to entertain plea to direct govt Priyanka : Yogi attending rallies irresponsibly up for Vice-Prez’s to take steps for controlling Covid-19 ongress leader PNS n NEW DELHI minimising the impact of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Jammu visit another wave of COVID-19 or Con Thursday cited The Delhi High Court its new variant. media reports to allege that PNS n JAMMU vice president's cavalcade from Thursday refused to entertain The petitioner stated that the Uttar Pradesh Chief Jammu airport to the venue was a plea seeking to direct the courts have resumed physical Minister Yogi Adityanath Security has been beefed up in also undertaken this morning as AAP government to take functioning from March 15 and acted in an "irresponsible" the winter capital Jammu ahead part of the security arrange- immediate measures for con- jail inmates, who are brought to manner by attending rallies of the visit of Vice President ments. trolling and minimising the courts for their cases, meet their even after coming in Venkaiah Naidu who is sched- The vice president is scheduled impact of another wave of the relatives in the court premises contact with a COVID- uled to address the convocation to attend the annual convoca- COVID-19 pandemic. and there is a likelihood of risk positive person. of the Indian Institute of tion of IIM Jammu at the con- A bench of Justices Vipin of spread of COVID-19 pan- Hitting out at the Adityanath dispensation, the Congress general Management (IIM) here on vention centre here on Friday Sanghi and Rekha Palli said the demic in jail or outside and they secretary also alleged that reportedly there is long waiting queue in Friday, officials said. as the chief guest. Union min- government has been doing prayers, what else do you want Wednesday, the highest single- be asked to appear virtually crematoriums and hospitals in Lucknow and panic among people. Police and paramilitary forces ister Jitendra Singh and Lt everything to control the the government to do?”, the day rise this year, while 20 through video conferencing. "According to media reports, UP Chief Minister is going to rallies even have been directed to stay alert, Governor Manoj Sinha are also impact of the virus and it was bench said. more people died due to the It said local markets and after coming in contact with Covid+ person. His office is giving incorrect keep a strict vigil and intensify scheduled to attend the func- not inclined to entertain the The bench, however, grant- coronavirus infection, taking shopping complexes like malls, figures of deaths from Covid," Priyanka Gandhi alleged in a tweet in patrolling in the city, especially tion as guests of honour, they plea. ed liberty to petitioner- advo- the death toll to 11,133, accord- restaurants and cafes are facing . "According to news reports, there is a long waiting in the in the vicinity of the venue and said. Meanwhile, 19 IIM stu- “Everything is being done by cate Rakesh Malhotra to move ing to the city Health huge rush and many visitors are crematoriums and hospitals of Lucknow. There is panic among people," Jammu airport road as a precau- dents and staff members had the government, maintaining another application with spe- Department. not following enough distancing she alleged. Those whose work is of accountability and transparency are tionary measure, the officials recently tested positive for masking guidelines, social dis- cific suggestions and appropri- Malhotra, in his applica- and not wearing masks and themselves proving to be "irresponsible", Priyanka Gandhi said. Leaders said. COVID-19 but the officials tancing, people are getting ate prayers. tion, sought direction to the sought that appropriate direc- in times of crisis should present examples of truth and right conduct so They said a mock drill to facil- said they were not part of the vaccinations... The prayers stat- Delhi recorded 5,506 fresh authorities to take immediate tions be issued so that careless- that the people can trust them, she said. itate smooth movement of the convocation. ed herein are all general cases of COVID-19 on measures for controlling and ness may be avoided. VIJAYAWADA | FRIDAY | APRIL 9, 2021 06

www.dailypioneer.com facebook.com/dailypioneer | @TheDailyPioneer | instagram.com/dailypioneer/ PAPER WITH PASSION Farmers’ sympathy Goons in khaki The civil defence volunteers are acting as if they are law unto themselves for leaders grows INDRA SHEKHAR SINGH hey don the khaki uniform, just like policemen, and can dangerously come in the way of your vehicle, surrounding it from all sides and forcing you to Tstop. They can even pull out the ignition key of your vehicle. Usually, at the Rakesh Tikait’s March campaign, which covered Nandigram to first instance, a Delhi Civil Defence (DCD) “volunteer” will threaten you with a hefty challan if s/he catches you for even the minutest violation or accidental slip of mask. Naturally, one would immediately apologise or offer a genuine reason for the momen- Rajasthan and Punjab to Tamil Nadu, turned heads everywhere tary slip-up rather than eagerly and willingly paying the fine. So the volunteer now s the Samyukta Kisan asks you to pay less than the actual amount to “warm” their hands and let you Morcha was blocking walk away. All this is done in the name of compliance of the COVID-appropriate roads all across India behaviour and hapless citizens are at the receiv- on March 26 and cel- Aebrating Bharat Bandh, the sit- ing end of it. No doubt, apart from those who are uation in got out of manufacturing masks, sanitisers and other med- hand. The Bharatiya Kisan ical essentials, the pandemic has opened up the Union’s (BKU) Yudhvir Singh opportunity for these civil volunteers to be out on was arrested in the middle of a press conference. The arresting an extortion spree. These “pseudo-policemen” officer, with the IPS stars on his desperately hunt for their prey, particularly those shoulder lapel, told the media who appear poor, labour class or villagers who that the “arrest is being made often take them to be policemen. Several people because no permission was taken”. Since when is the have complained that these volunteers often Government’s permission assume the role of traffic police and stop even required to host a press confer- those who might be wearing a mask but not the ence? Keep in mind that there helmet or who haven’t fastened their seat belt. No was no protest or demonstration at the site, and the press meet- wonder, they must be indulging in moral policing, too. ing was being attended by only These civil volunteers extort money by threatening people with a jail term in a few people. Still, did the event case they fail to pay the fine. Ironically, there is no check on such activities and undermine Prime Minister these continue unabated, with even the real policemen standing by as mute spec- Narendra Modi? By arresting Yudhvir, a sea- tators to the deeds of the civil volunteers. Incidents of people clashing with the soned leader having a long-term civil defence personnel are increasing in the Capital. In a recent case, a heated relationship with the Tikait holding a press conference. It other places, he stressed that the need for better salaries argument between a student and DCD volunteers turned violent at a traffic signal family, the Gujarat Government looks like a political blunder farmers should be ready to and accommodation for in South Delhi’s Hauz Khas and a volunteer allegedly hit the student with a belt in did him a political favour as a to detain and release Yudhvir enter Delhi and sell their police and security forces’ normal press conference turned the same day. crops outside Parliament. personnel. One really has to full public view. Thereafter, the DCD personnel were attacked by an irate crowd. into national news and the But let us consider anoth- This strategy is bold and see the smiles on the faces of These volunteers act like goons in khaki uniform. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal BKU’s second-level leadership is er possibility — Is Modi strikes a chord with the farm- policemen deployed to always demands that the police should come under the control of his Government, now headed towards national actually getting scared of ers. His appeal is simple: If “maintain peace” at his rallies. saying it will help rein in crime. However, such claims are a mere rhetoric and it’s fame. The Modi Government Tikait’s tactics and messages? Modi says that farmers can The most earthy message hard to believe that a Chief Minister who cannot control the actions of civil defence may have actually helped Since the night of January 27, sell their produce anywhere, comes from his appeal to the Rakesh Tikait’s BKU by making Rakesh has catapulted him- why not the DM’s or SP’s youth: “Go to your land, volunteers will control the crime rate in the Capital. The Delhi Government has Yudhvir a martyr. self into national politics by TIKAIT HAS BEEN office? By mid-April, the Rabi touch the soil, put it on your imposed night curfew and nobody, except those who are facing an emergency or But, was the arrest neces- gaining huge support from CONSISTENT IN HIS harvest should be over in forehead and feel the earth.” are deployed in emergency duties or those with valid passes, is allowed to step sary to nullify the press confer- the Jat-dominated belts of APPEAL TO most parts of the country. If The farm leaders, including out. As the police alone cannot handle the situation, the role of civil volunteers ence? By any measure, no. So, Rajasthan to UP. His March this campaign works, the Tikait, are offering after half the schemes being hatched in campaign, which covered FARMERS TO Modi Government will have a decade of hate-based pro- becomes indispensable. However, it must be ensured that these men in “uniform” the Modi-Shah mind are Nandigram to Pipad, to be ready for a countrywide paganda a positive and inclu- do not overstep the limits of their duty; else we must be ready for something grue- unfathomable. Are they trying Rajasthan, and Punjab to REBEL AGAINST protest, especially if the prices sive message. They have con- some like the Nirbhaya incident hitting the headlines soon. to divide the Kisan Morcha by Tamil Nadu, turned heads UNFAIR PRICES. once again dip below the nected the earth, agriculture playing favourites? By giving everywhere. Popular support MSP. Modi will then have a and rights together and the Tikait faction more lime- has swelled from farmers, REPEATEDLY hard time assuring the nation formed the perfect antithesis PICTALK light, they may cause tension especially the youth. A recent ACROSS PIPAD, that the “MSP will continue”. to the Modi Government. among the 40-leader group. media survey names him The Tikait camp has Their methods are feisty yet This is very much like Modi. among 100 powerful Indians. MEHAM, JAIPUR repeatedly used Gandhian and their political Keep in mind, Yudhvir was later And he will soon be a force AND OTHER “Walmartisation” to describe organisation is growing released and he participated in to reckon with. Hence, the PLACES, HE the corporatisation of Indian stronger each day. the Kisan panchayat in Modi Government is keeping agriculture and farmers. The The Government has Rajasthan on March 27. a close watch on him, unnec- STRESSED THAT same position is being adopt- been on their back, hence Yudhvir and Rakesh Tikait essarily burning the tax- FARMERS SHOULD ed by the RSS-linked cases have been registered came out strongly against the payer’s money for political Swadeshi Jagran March, against various farmer lead- “oppression” of the Modi gains. BE READY TO which has been very vocal ers. But how will Modi react Government at the centre and As Modi goes on the ENTER DELHI AND against the FDI and entry of to this new challenge in the in Gujarat. They termed it the offensive, the growers’ sym- e-retailers like Amazon. So long term, perhaps only “Gujarat model of slavery” and pathy for their unions grows. SELL THEIR CROPS the farmers’ movement has Bengal will tell. said the “people and farmers of Meanwhile, Tikait has been OUTSIDE been very aware and astute in (The author writes on Gujarat were not free”. These consistent in his appeal to public campaigns. agriculture and environment, statements are powerful as in farmers to rebel against unfair PARLIAMENT A good example was the and is the Director — Green Mahatma Gandhi’s home State, prices. Repeatedly across talk of police reforms. Tikait India. The views expressed are people are being arrested for Pipad, Meham, Jaipur and has emphasised in each rally personal.) LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SOUNDBITE Tourists at the Taj Mahal on a hot day PTI All those ‘arhatiyas' TIME TO TREAD WITH CAUTION whose commission Sir —The surge in the Coronavirus cases Jails as hotels, resorts and labour wage calls for doubling our efforts to bring it dues have been under control. It is being studied by sci- were vacation to Bali and the Maldives. The pending since the last Shameful entists for its likely connection or corre- pampering he got; one wonders that even if procurement season, lation with the virus’ mutant strains. It is they paid all the money in the world, would one would get interest for the delayed The Assembly polls in West Bengal this year are a self-evident truth that the situation has get this much service? amount. worsened as a result of poor compliance One hopes that with the incumbent Yogi Haryana Chief Minister witnessing a record number of violent incidents with COVID-appropriate behaviour. Government, which is currently cracking — Manohar Lal Khattar Anxious as we are, we wish it to be only down on his properties, he would get the taste ore than 100 years ago, political leader and social reformer Gopal Krishna Gokhale a temporary blip. We must mount a of what prison is like — not as some VVIP but There will be had said: “What Bengal thinks today, India thinks tomorrow.” It must have rung robust response for the rate of transmis- as a regular fugitive of the law. Ansari's case no nationwide lockdown. We true for the “Aamaar shonaar Bangla” of that time and age; sadly, that is no longer sion to decline. It has been told for the is a classic example of politicians having a M nexus with criminals. This was just one case will not accept the umpteenth time that wearing masks and the case. The post-Independence Bengal is known more because of its trade unionism, out of many. What about the remaining policy of staying social distancing are simple but highly at home. The impromptu strikes and election violence, at least since bunch? What about those who went and hap- effective means to contain the pandemic. virus, like others, came to stay and the 1960s. The ongoing Assembly elections in the Still many people do not wear masks or pily played badminton with the criminal? will stay. It is almost impossible to State are no exception. Of the crucial eight-phase elec- maintain social distancing. Jettisoning his refers to the editorial ‘Just Deserts' Ansari's case is also an example of how law eradicate it. tion, the three phases that have already been com- these basic prophylactic measures allows (April 8). I would like to express my grat- and order, not just in the State but all over the Brazilian President country, is a big fat joke. pleted have had their share of bloody arson, mob vio- the virus to spread at a rapid rate. Titude to the article for throwing the — Jair Bolsonaro Data on the second wave of COVID- much-needed light on the state of our prisons This case is a first step to revive our law lence, exploding crude bombs, threats to rival politi- 19, sometimes called an ‘old man’s disease, or jails that have been the resort of the polit- and order situation which is a complete sham, Maharashtra is the cians and their followers and brandishing of lathis and indicate that children and young adults are ically well-connected criminals, both convict- one dare say. Ansari's case would be a big step worst hit with iron rods. Quite unlike other States and Union Territories also vulnerable to the infection. As for the ed and undertrials. The don-turned-politician in bringing about a change. We cannot be mute COVID-19 and yet in the country, West Bengal has always reported blood, vaccine strategy, it must be flexible enough Mukhtar Ansari is a classic case. Ansari — a spectators to the activities of corrupt politicians we've received the to deal with the evolving situation. The name that is enough to strike fear in people’s and their favourite criminals. least vaccine supply. gore and violence in its elections, be it for a panchay- pandemic hotspots can be given prece- hearts —treated his prison terms as if they Sean Young | New Delhi There will be plenty of at or Parliament. In the latest round of voting, five can- dence for vaccination with further relax- time to play politics. Now is didates, including two women, were assaulted, while ation in the age limit. It could be done and were this to increase given the widen- soothing lullaby and the credit goes to the time to rise above it. clashes between rival political groups during the polling without the inoculation programme else- ing public anxiety over the second wave, the police department and some punc- Actress were also reported. The balance of hooliganism seems where being affected by increasing the sup- there is a need to replenish the stocks every tilious political leaders who were ever — Urmila Matondkar to be tilted evenly — of the five people arrested for their alleged involvement in the assault ply of vaccines. 10 days. Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, alert to ward off any political violence In this situation, time is of the essence. Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh have erupting between the bloodthirsty party I am always looking of a female candidate, three belonged to the TMC and two to the BJP. We are still to go far in the mammoth task been complaining of vaccine shortages, loyalists of rival groups. The election to learn from the best Several candidates in the poll fray have been attacked. There were also allegations of inoculating enough people (900 million though the Centre is adamant that there campaigns, verbal conflicts and the (AB de Villiers and of attacks on polling agents in certain constituencies. Along predictable lines, Chief Minister to 1,000 million) to achieve herd immu- isn’t one. While the Centre’s case that rivalry between various political parties Virat Kohli). They are Mamata Banerjee alleged the misuse of Central forces deployed on election duty, and nity. Meanwhile, Maharashtra, Andhra Maharashtra, Delhi and Chhattisgarh and leaders gathered momentum dur- the best not just in Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have spoken have not matched the national average on ing the election season and now just after T20 cricket but also the BJP charged the “TMC goons” with running amok and trying to influence the elec- about “vaccine shortage” only to be refut- vaccinations may be true, the numbers also the voting day , this has erupted result- world cricket. tion outcome by intimidating voters. However, what is notably interesting is that the vio- ed by Union Health Minister Harsh make it evident that India’s vaccine sup- ing in widespread political clashes and Cricketer lence surprised neither the citizens nor political pundits. Everybody, it would appear, was Vardhan. Most affected States like ply chain is stretched. As the cases rise, a bloody murder in Kannur. Kannur is — Glenn Maxwell Maharashtra, Delhi and Punjab have there is a need to ramp up the number of notorious for political clashes and in fact waiting for the violence to be unleashed, especially since in this election a resur- A new trend of gent BJP has thrown a direct challenge to the might of Mamata, who herself is a street introduced Covid-19-related curbs tailored daily inoculations as well as extend access bloodshed and any slight negligence on to local situations. to the larger population. the part of the police and laxity on the letter-writing by the fighter. The stakes of the Congress and the Left may be considered somewhat limited, accused in jails has G David Milton | Tamil Nadu CK Subramaniam | Mumbai part of the politicians is sure to result in started, which is a but the latter — having ruled the State with an iron hand for more than three decades murders, clashes and vandalism. political conspiracy before surrendering to a feisty Mamata — itself is an old hand in managing violence CENTRE-STATES SHOULD NOT ENAGAGE IN WAR NO POLITICAL VIOLENCE, PLEASE M Pradyu | Kannur intended to destabilise during successive elections. In toto, democracy in the State can’t be termed healthy by Sir — India has hit a record of adminis- Sir — For some months it was as if the MVA Government. tering four million doses a day — a sig- Kannur, the most politically volatile any stretch of imagination, which is a sad thing. One can only hope that the upcoming nificant number by global standards — district in Kerala, was dozing under a Send your feedback to: Shiv Sena Spokesperson poll phases will witness less of violence and more of the dance of democracy. [email protected] — Sanjay Raut VIJAYAWADA | FRIDAY | APRIL 9, 2021 07 www.dailypioneer.com facebook.com/dailypioneer | @TheDailyPioneer | instagram.com/dailypioneer/ FIRSTCOLUMN Meticulously tweak DO AWAY WITH FLAWS IN ENERGY POLICY HIMA BINDU KOTA Load balancing is a key factor for capacity expansion corporate governance of power generation from renewable sources The regulators and policy-makers have to develop rules and regulations to give more teeth to independent non-executive directors in Indian firms lichéd though it sounds, financial scandals the world over highlight the ever-growing Cimportance of corporate governance. In the SANJIB POHIT backdrop of future scandals, the focus will be on governance issues — especially transparency and n recent years, India has been increasingly focussing on augment- disclosure, control and accountability — and upon ing its capacity of producing electricity from renewable energy. As the most appropriate form of board structure that Iof November 27, 2020, 38 per cent of India’s installed electricity may be capable of preventing such scandals. The generation capacity is from renewable sources — 136 gigawatt (GW) global financial crisis has brought to the fore the relevance of a sound corporate governance sys- out of 373 GW. To some extent, this push is due to Paris Agreement tem as an essential element of effective risk-man- where India has committed to an Intended Nationally Determined agement. Though not the only cause, governance Contributions target of achieving 40 per cent of its total electricity gen- failings are significant where boards fail to under- eration from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030. However, it is aiming stand and manage risk. The crisis highlights the for even more ambitious target of 57 per cent of the total electricity need to develop more effective approaches to cor- capacity from renewable sources by 2027. The 2022 electrical power porate governance and risk management, as well as the importance of social responsibility in the targets include achieving 227 GW (earlier 175 GW) of energy from financial sector; the role that corporate governance renewable sources — nearly 113 GW through solar power, 66 GW can and should play is in restoring trust. IN A STUDY from wind power, 10 GW from biomass, 5GW from small hydro and To some extent, shareholders may be criticised CONDUCTED 31GW from floating solar and offshore wind power. for not holding companies accountable, and it is ON 130 The grid-connected solar power provides electricity at best for eight- true that bondholders have encouraged compa- MID-CAP ten hours a day. For grid stability as well as providing power to the nies to ramp up short-term returns through lever- COMPANIES age. However, regulators have often not respond- consumers for the remaining hours of the day, the electricity author- LISTED ON ed decisively on realising that markets were mis- THE NATIONAL pricing risk, allowing bank boards to operate with STOCK EXCHANGE too little capital, excessive leverage, too much liq- TAKING TWO-YEAR uidity risk and poor mortgage-lending practices. DATA, THE result of these problems, corporate that outside directors are valued for therefore involves monitoring and There is an increasing perception that contagion control mechanisms have evolved as their ability to advice, to solidify evaluating the performance of the and spill-over effects from the global financial tur- RESULTS SHOW the means by which managers are business and personal relation- executive directors, including the moil could undermine the economic achievements THAT THE disciplined to act in the investors’ ships and to send a signal that the CEO. of any country. As a result, there has to be an RATIO OF interests. The board of directors, company is doing well rather than In a study conducted on 130 increased interaction between corporate gover- NON-EXECUTIVE especially independent and non- for their ability to monitor. Mace mid-cap companies listed on the nance and the stability and soundness of the finan- DIRECTORS executive directors, is the apex of the further argues that in selecting out- National Stock Exchange (NSE) cial system. Hence, corporate governance practices TO THE TOTAL internal governance system and is side directors, the title and prestige taking two-year data, the results ity has to depend on alternative source which needs to be such that need strengthening, in particular by increasing DIRECTORS AND meant to assist in reducing agency of the candidates are the prime con- show that the ratio of non-execu- THE PRESENCE switchover is possible in a short span of time. Technically, this is not board competence and responsibility. The board problems through mitigating incen- sideration. Further, he maintains tive directors to the total directors members need to have up-to-date knowledge on OF INDEPENDENT tives for managers to act oppor- that the CEOs dominate the direc- and the presence of independent possible with thermal power plant as it takes more time to build up financial issues and risk management to fulfill their NON-EXECUTIVE tunistically. Considerable evidence tor selection process and therefore non-executive director as the head the load. The ideal candidates are gas-based power plants, wind-based functions and training should be conducted DIRECTOR AS has been provided in academic lit- control the board. This view is sup- of the audit committee has no sig- power plants and hydroelectric power plants. Thus in other countries when necessary. The boards should conduct annu- THE HEAD OF erature to illustrate that independent ported by some other researchers nificant relationship with the per- where the emphasis is on producing electricity from renewable sources, al evaluations of their performance and report to THE AUDIT directors protect shareholders when like Vancil and Waldo, who were formance of the firm. This is in solar capacity augmentation goes hand in hand with other sources shareholders. It is pertinent to explore some issues COMMITTEE HAS there are agency problems. also sceptical about the ability of accordance with the hegemony like wind-based power, hydro power or particularly pumped hydro- surrounding corporate governance in the context NO SIGNIFICANT The issue of non-executive outside directors to make indepen- theory that the board of directors of the rapidly-emerging economy like India. directors raises questions as to dent judgement on firm perfor- is incapable of fulfilling its oversee- electric energy storage (PHES). It has emerged as one of the most RELATIONSHIP The Role of Independent Directors: WITH THE whether this external expertise pro- mance due to the dominant role ing role. important sources of hydroelectric energy storage used by electric power Empirical evidence on the association between out- PERFORMANCE OF vides a more solid basis for deci- played by the CEOs in selecting It is also found that CEO dual- systems for load balancing. The method stores energy in the form of side independent directors and firm perfor- THE FIRM. THIS sions. Outside directors (unlike outside directors. A criticism of the ity structure contributes positively gravitational potential energy of water, pumped from a lower eleva- mance is mixed. Two conflicting views are IS IN ACCORDANCE inside or executive directors), in non-executive directors is that they and significantly to the firm perfor- tion reservoir to a higher elevation. Low-cost surplus off-peak elec- offered by researchers with regard to the effective- WITH THE addition to providing valuable are too busy with other commit- mance in medium-sized companies tric power is typically used to run the pumps. During periods of high ness of corporate board of directors. One of the HEGEMONY access to resources and information, ments and are only involved with in India. This is in concordance views is based upon the agency theory and the also protect shareholders’ interests the company business on a part- with the stewardship theory, that electrical demand, the stored water is released through turbines to pro- THEORY THAT THE other is the managerial ‘hegemony’. The board of BOARD OF since they do not have the same time basis. the managers are inherently trust- duce electric power. Although the losses of the pumping process make directors is the pivot of good governance practices. concerns with their employment or ‘CEO Duality’ structure: worthy and are good stewards of the plant a net consumer of energy overall, the system increases rev- Appointed by stockholders and other key stake- DIRECTORS IS advancement opportunities. Duality occurs when one individ- company resources. In family-con- enue by selling more electricity during periods of peak demand, when holders, the directors are fiduciaries of the share- INCAPABLE OF Famous researchers in this field of ual holds the two most powerful trolled firms, controlling family holders, not the management. Hence, where the FULFILLING ITS study, Jensen and Meckling, in posts on the board of directors — members may appoint directors to electricity prices are highest. Pumped-storage hydroelectricity allows OVERSEEING ROLE energy from intermittent sources (such as solar, wind) and other renew- objectives of management differ from those of the 1976 identified the shareholders’ namely those of CEO and chair- the boards, and thus the indepen- shareholders, non-executive directors must rep- and directors/managers relationship man. The CEO is a full-time post dence of directors may be compro- ables, or excess electricity from continuous base-load sources (such resent the interests of the ultimate owners and dis- as one of principal and agent. The and has responsibility for the day- mised. In India, CEO duality and as coal or nuclear) to be saved for periods of higher demand. The reser- charge their fiduciary oversight functions. This is shareholders want their wealth to-day running of the company as small board positively contribute to voirs used with pumped storage are quite small when compared to why ‘independence’ has become such a critical maximised, but the managers have well as setting and implementing a firm’s performance. However, it conventional hydroelectric dams of similar power capacity, and gen- issue in determining the composition of any board. less incentive to do so than if they corporate strategy. The CEO is also appears that non-executive inde- erating periods are often less than half a day. The agency perspective of corporate gover- were the owners. By having more ultimately responsible for the per- pendent directors are failing in their Unlike other countries focusing on renewable energy, PHES does nance concerns the incentive problems that are cre- The writer is non-executive directors on board, formance of the company. In con- monitoring role. The regulators and ated by the separation of management and own- Associate Professor at this apparent conflict can be trast, the post of the chairman is policymakers have to take notice of not favour well in India’s policy frame. India’s power corporation does ership in corporations. Herein managers have Amity University, Noida. reduced. normally part-time and the main this and develop rules and regula- not insist on power agreement for 24 hours. Instead, they take the The views expressed incentives to take actions to increase their utility are personal. Researchers such as Mace in responsibility is to ensure that the tions to give more teeth to indepen- burden on themselves to tie up with alternative sources when power but not to maximise shareholders returns. As a 1986 and Herman in 1981 argue board works effectively. The role dent non-executive directors. from renewable source is not available. They assume that they get a better deal this way from renewable source. However, it may not be so when the cost of buying power from alternative source is includ- POINTCOUNTERPOINT ed. Moreover, this encourages lopsided capacity augmentation of solar power. This aggravates load balancing situation in India’s power sys- THE CRPF IS ASKING THE VOTERS TO VOTE FOR THE SHE HAS BECOME NERVOUS AND AGITATED AS SHE tem. It is of utmost importance to take into account the load balanc- BJP. I ASK YOU TO UNITE AND GHERAO IS EXPECTING A DEFEAT. SHE IS TRYING TO INCITE ing aspect to encourage capacity expansion of electricity generation from renewable sources. Thus, the increase in solar electricity capac- THEM WHEREVER YOU FIND THEM. PUBLIC AGAINST THE CENTRAL FORCES. ity should go in tandem with other renewable electricity sources. — WEST BENGAL CM — BJP LEADER (The writer is a Professor at the NCAER. The views expressed are MAMATA BANERJEE SISIR BAJORIA personal.) mining impasse needs holistic approach for redressal It is imperative to take immediate corrective actions to find solutions to the Goa mining crisis and prevent further loss to the State’s economy oa, the smallest State Mining has been a very stripping ratio) and compar- machinery owners, port Court regarding cancellation rospectively as was claimed. in India, is blessed important element in the atively higher transportation workers, small garage owners, of mining leases while some The Supreme Court Gwith abundant miner- economic history of modern charge as compared to the tea and refreshment selling mining companies have also should decide clearly on the al deposits such as iron ore, Goa and played a significant iron and steel plants located stall owners and so on. filed petitions before the apex matter, any other solution is manganese ore, bauxite and role as foreign exchange earn- on the eastern coast of India, On the other hand, court with respect to the likely to further muddle the so on. Tourism and mining er for the nation. Mining in made it economically unvi- tourism, which is another applicability of the “Abolition situation and would lead to have been the mainstay of Goa today is synonymous able to compete in domestic full-fledged industry of the Act 1987”. inordinate delays in mining Goa’s economy and these two D’SOUZA with iron ore mining, which markets and thereby left the State supporting large section In order to unlock the resumption which is likely to sectors are the major sources CLETUS is entirely with the private Goan miners with no option of population, also suffered mining impasse prevailing aggravate the precarious of livelihood for the locals. sector. It has a long-cherished but to look to the overseas badly due to the pandemic. in Goa, the following multi- financial condition of Goa Due to the mining stop- history of systematic and sci- markets. Thus iron ores pro- During the COVID-19 lock- pronged strategies are sug- and its people. page, the State was already entific mining and won acco- duced from Goa is exported down and even afterwards, gested: The Central There is little hope of faced with the perilous prob- lades from different organisa- to various countries like the tourism industry has Government should come revival of tourism industry in lem of falling revenue and the tions across the globe. Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, come to a standstill while forward to resolve the issue of the State till the time COVID- same has been exacerbated The exemplary “reclama- China and others. Mining operations have complete shutdown of min- date of applicability of Goa, 19 pandemic recedes. This due to the COVID-19 pan- tion and rehabilitation” of Nevertheless, the iron ore been completely stopped in ing in the State continues to Daman and Diu Mining makes it imperative to take demic, leading to Goa wit- mined-out areas carried out mining in Goa is beset with Goa from March 16, 2018, create unprecedented Concessions (Abolition and immediate corrective actions nessing its worst economic in some mines in the State has certain problems/ issues like ever since the Supreme Court employment crisis adversely Declaration as Mining to find a solution to the Goa crisis. The State is borrowing attracted the attention of the dumping of mine cancelled second renewal of impacting the livelihood of Leases) Act 1987 (popularly mining crisis and prevent extra money to the tune of mining world not only in waste/refuse outside the 88 mining leases in the State more than three lakh people. known as the Abolition Act further loss to the State’s `100 crore every month India but also globally and leasehold — due to limited vide its order dated February Also, it has a direct bearing on 1987). economy. through the Reserve Bank of The writer is the used to be referred to by leasehold area and unavail- 7, 2018. It has disrupted not the State revenue, resulting in The High Court The socio-economic India (RBI) in the current Chairman, Mining experts on different plat- ability of non-mineralised only the mining sector but loss of more than `3,500 had previously held that the impact of mining ban in Goa financial year to bridge the Engineers’ Association of forms. However, the low qual- area in the mining lease — also the entire ecosystem of crore every year as per the Central Government could may lead to a serious human- fiscal deficit which will fur- India (MEAI)-Goa ity of iron ores, coupled with and use of existing public allied industries, including State Government estimates. only recover statutory dues itarian crisis if there is any ther add to the financial woes Chapter. The views more removal of huge quan- transport infrastructure for individual truck owners, The State Government from 1987 onwards that is further delay in finding a expressed and create a debt crisis in the are personal. tity of waste for every tonne transportation of the iron barge workers/owners as well has filed a review petition prospectively under the timely solution to the current State. of ore production (excessive ore. as equipment suppliers, against the order of Supreme Abolition Act as against ret- stalemate. VIJAYAWADA | FRIDAY | APRIL 9, 2021 Money 08 Surge in corona may impact India to resume buying oil from NBFCs' fund raising: Report PNS n MUMBAI "An unabated increase in successive years the COVID cases is likely to (i.e. FY2019 and Iran once US sanctions ease Fears of stricter lockdown amid bring about fears of harsher FY2020) of PNS n NEW DELHI Iranian oil coming into crude will bring a number the second wave of coron- lockdowns, which could healthy volumes the market will not just of benefits, including a avirus infections may affect impact close to Rs 2 India will look to resume cool prices but also help longer credit cycle and asset quality of retail loans, lakh crore buying crude oil from Iran India diversify its import shorter voyage savings on thereby impacting the fund- each. the moment US sanctions basket. freight costs. raising ability of housing As the eco- are eased, helping it diver- In 2020-21, Iraq was Iranian exports tumbled finance and non-banking nomic activities sify its import basket, a India's biggest oil supplier, after former US President finance companies through the gradually senior government offi- followed by Saudi Arabia Donald Trump tightened securitisation route, according resumed and cial said. and the UAE. Nigeria was sanctions in 2018 and to a report. loan disburse- India stopped importing fourth-largest supplier ended waivers for some Securitisation is the process ments gained oil from Iran in mid-2019 and the US was the fifth. countries in 2019, includ- of pooling and repackaging momentum, following sanctions on the "We have been advo- ing India. homogenous illiquid financial even reaching Persian Gulf nation by the cating for oil producers to Iran and world powers assets into marketable securities pre-COVID levels Trump administration. pump in more oil by eas- this week began their most that can be sold to investors. for some NBFCs, The US and other world ing output caps," the offi- serious attempt yet to res- Securitisation volume, the securitisation powers are meeting in cial said. "Rising oil prices urrect a nuclear deal. which stood at Rs 85,000- market saw a Vienna to revive the Iran are a threat to the fragile Iran re-started banned 90,000 crore during the finan- healthy uptick in vol- nuclear deal. economic recovery around nuclear programme after cial year 2020-21, is expected to umes during H2 "Once the sanctions are the globe including in Trump pulled out of the rise by 40-50 per cent year-on- the asset quality of retail loans FY2021, the report said. lifted, we can look to India."India, he said, did deal and re-imposed sanc- year in the current fiscal (2021- especially for unsecured loans For FY2021, securitisation resume oil imports from not advocate for such out- tions on Iran. Even though 22), Icra Ratings said in a such as in the microfinance sec- through Direct Assignment Iran," the official, who did put increases when prices new US President Joe report. tor. This, in turn, would impact (DA) transactions (bilateral not wish to be identified, were within a certain rea- Biden wants to rejoin, both NBFCs and HFCs securitised the fund-raising ability of the assignment of a pool of retail said. Indian refiners have sonable limit. sides say the other must volume stood at Rs 40,000 NBFCs and HFCs through loans from one entity to anoth- begun preparatory work "We voiced our con- make the first move. crore of their loans assets in the securitisation of their assets," er) accounted for about two- and can swiftly enter into cerns when oil crossed India was second- fourth quarter of fiscal 2020-21, Dafria said. thirds of total annual volumes. contracts once the sanc- USD 63-64 on a sustained biggest buyer of Iranian oil similar to the corresponding Successful implementation The balance one-third is tions are lifted, he said. basis," he said. "We want after China before sanc- quarter of FY2019-20, it added. of the vaccination programme through Pass-Through "We already have a tem- prices that are reasonable tions halted supplies in According to the agency's and the ability of government Certificate (PTC) transactions plate for commercial terms for producers and afford- May 2019. vice president and head agencies to arrest the rising (loans are sold to an SPV which and we can very quickly able for consumers." Iran in 2017-18 was its (Structured Finance Ratings) infections would remain criti- issues PTCs). enter into contracts the India -- once Iran's sec- third-largest supplier after Abhishek Dafria, despite the cal in the near term, he added. During FY2021, securitisa- moment Iran is cleared ond-biggest customer -- Iraq and Saudi Arabia and healthy activity seen in the Due to the COVID-19 pan- tion of mortgage-backed loans for exporting oil," the offi- imports more than 85 per met about 10 per cent of securitisation market in Q4 demic and resultant nationwide and gold loans found favour cial said. cent of its oil needs. Iranian total needs. FY2021, the rising COVID-19 lockdown, securitisation vol- with investors, primarily due to cases may again create uncer- umes had seen an unprecedent- the secured nature of the under- tainty among the investors. ed fall in H1 FY2021 after two lying loans, the report said. Rupee slips for 4th Shoolini University aces ‘Reached out MONEY MATTERS straight session global Scimago ratings to engineering Hero MotoCorp to bear Covid PNS n MUMBAI institutions on PNS n SOLAN vaccination cost of workforce The rupee fell for the fourth straight session and settled 11 Solan-based Shoolini textile needs’ he country's largest two paise down at 74.58 (provi- University has been ranked the PNS n NEW DELHI Twheeler maker Hero sional) against the US dollar top university by Scimago in MotoCorp on Thursday said on Thursday amid fears that a the northern region compris- The textiles ministry has it will cover the COVID-19 rapid resurgence of Covid ing Punjab, Haryana, reached out to all engi- vaccination cost of its cases in the country can dis- Himachal Pradesh, Jammu neering institutions to workforce, including rupt economic recovery. and Kashmir and Union apprise them about the permanent and contractual At the interbank forex mar- Territory of Chandigarh and textile machinery needs of employees.The company ket, the local unit opened at 16th rank in the category of the domestic industry, will also facilitate similar 74.38 against the greenback research across the country. Union Minister Smriti vaccination initiatives across its group companies such as Hero and traded in the range of Scimago institution's rank- Irani said on Thursday. FinCorp, Hero Future Energies, Rockman Industries, Hero Electronix 74.19 to 74.93 during the day. ings are regarded as one of the Established institutions such ber three in the northern The minister said they and AG Industries, the two wheeler major said in a statement.Hero The rupee finally ended at most objective rankings as Panjab University and region comprising Punjab, have also informed the MotoCorp would also be working closely with its dealers and supply 74.58 against the American Health Ministry data updated because experts evaluate uni- PGIMER have always been Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, institutions about the sub- chain partners to facilitate similar vaccination for their employees, it currency, registering a fall of on Thursday showed. versities and scientific organ- recognised by the Scimago Jammu and Kashmir besides sidy support that is avail- added."More than 80,000 employees, including the entire workforce 11 paise over its previous clos- Jateen Trivedi, Senior isations based on information rankings as being some of the the Union Territory of able for the sector. of Hero MotoCorp, group companies and supply chain partners will ing of 74.47. Research Analyst at LKP from international databases top universities in the region. Chandigarh. The ministry is also be covered under this initiative.Additionally, a similar drive will be On Wednesday, the Indian Securities, said that "govern- rather than applications. Shoolini University, which is a The Institutions Rankings is engaged with the depart- commenced for Hero MotoCorp's Pan-India dealer network," the rupee nosedived 105 paise to ment spending keeps increas- In subject-wise category, private institution set up in a global ranking of scientific ment of heavy industries company said.The vaccination initiative will cover both shots of the mark its biggest single-session ing on vaccines and health Shoolini University has 2009, has been ranked third in institutions published by on the matter. COVID-19 vaccine in phases as defined by health authorities, and will drop in over 20 months. products due to rising secured several top positions the region after these institu- SCImago Laboratories in part- "We have now reached be implemented as per the guidelines prescribed by the government, India registered a record COVID-19 cases. INR will be among Indian universities: tions. nership with Elsevier and is out to all engineering covering people over the age of 45 and those with comorbidities single-day spike of 1,26,789 seen in a range of 74.45-75.15 The Scimago ranking list According to the latest entirely focused on research. institutions to highlight to first, followed by a wider application in the general population, it new COVID-19 cases, pushing in sessions ahead with a weak includes 4126 premier higher report published by The analysis is based on indi- them what are the textile added. its infection tally to trend for the rupee". This is the educational institutions world- SCImagoLab, PGIMER cators like the quality of aca- machinery needs of our 1,29,28,574, while the number fourth straight session of loss wide. As many as 549 Chinese Chandigarh is placed at num- demic research output, inno- industry," she said in a of active cases too went for the domestic unit, during and 511 universities from the ber two and Solan-based vation outputs, and societal webinar organised by upwards to breach the nine which it has seen depreciation United States have made it to Shoolini University (37th all- impact, which is measured by Swarajya Magazine. Gold jumps Rs 182; silver lakh-mark again, Union of 146 paise. institutions rankings. India rank) is placed at num- their web visibility. zooms Rs 725

old rose by Rs NZ suspends travel from CIL records G182 to Rs U Gro targets to sell 45,975 per 10 all-time high gram in the national capital on India to combat virus surge capex of Thursday PNS n 15,000 credit cards / adding that the temporary following gains in WELLINGTON hold would also help reduce Rs 13,115 cr PNS n MUMBAI the international the risk that travellers them- precious metal New Zealand has for the first selves faced. PNS n NEW DELHI Non-bank lender U Gro prices, according time imposed a temporary The ban covers all trav- Capital on Thursday said it is to HDFC ban on travellers coming from ellers, including New Zealand Coal India on Thursday hoping to sell up to 15,000 Securities. India, including its citizens, citizens and permanent resi- said its capital expenditure small businesses-focused cred- In the previous trade, the metal had closed at Rs 45,793 per 10 from April 11 to 28 due to a dents. While there have been (capex) grew more than it cards launched through a gram. Silver also witnessed increased buying and jumped Rs surge in COVID-19 cases previous travel bans on trav- two-folds to hit an all- tie-up with SBM Bank India in while the Mauritian govern- 725 to Rs 66,175 per kg from the previous close of Rs 65,450 among visitors to this country, ellers from some countries, time high of Rs 13,115 the next few years. ment-owned lender will be per kg.HDFC Securities Senior Analyst (Commodities) Tapan Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had triggered the risk assess- New Zealand has never sus- crore. CIL's original sanc- Eligible customers identi- taking the credit risk. Patel said, "Spot gold prices for 24 karat in Delhi were up by said on Thursday. ment, Prime Minister Ardern pended travel to New Zealand tioned capex budget was fied by U Gro will have to He said the 'Gro Smart Rs 182 with gains in COMEX (New York-based commodities The travel restriction comes said the government would be citizens and residents, Ardern Rs 10,000 crore for FY'21. open a fxed deposit with SBM Business card' will cater to the exchange) gold prices." In the international market, gold was after New Zealand recorded 23 looking at risks posed by other said, adding that she “absolute- "CIL more than doubled its and the credit limit is fixed at working capital needs of the trading with gains at USD 1,744 per ounce and silver was flat new positive coronavirus cases COVID-19 hotspot countries. ly understands the difficulty capital expenditure to an 90 per cent of the FD amount, micro, small and medium at USD 25.30 per ounce. in managed isolation on The ban will begin from that this temporary suspension unprecedented high of Rs as per an official statement. enterprises, adding that Thursday, of which 17 came 4pm local time on April 11 and will cause” for Kiwis in India. 13,115 crore in FY'21.... The BSE-listed company's NBFCs are mandated to do from India, Director-General will be in place until April 28, “But I also feel a sense of Against the capex of Rs executive chairman and man- only term loans and not work- of Health Ashley Bloomfield she said. responsibility and obligation to 6,270 crore, the company aging director Shachindra ing capital finance. "Over the Equity MF see inflow in Mar; was quoted as saying by media "This is not a permanent find ways to reduce risks that clocked 109 per cent Nath said it will be doing the next few years, I think we reports. arrangement but rather a tem- travellers are experiencing,” growth amid the Covid distribution and customer due should be able to sell up to 10- first time in 9 months While arrivals from India porary measure," Ardern said, she said. slump," the company said. diligence of the customers, 15,000 cards,” he said. quity mutual funds Ewitnessed a net inflow of Rs 9,115 crore in March, making it the NCLAT orders stay Hiring activities rise in Mar: Reports first net infusion in nine months. Prior to this PNS n MUMBAI II cities witnessed sequential inflow, equity schemes growth in hiring in March, had been witnessing net on formation of CoC Hiring activities rose margin- except Kolkata (3 per cent) and outflow since July. PNS n NEW DELHI ally with job listings rising to Vadodara (2 per cent) that saw However, investors 2,436 in March compared to a slight decline in hiring. pulled out Rs 52,528 Hospitality firm OYO on February this year, according to Ahmedabad registered the crore from debt mutual funds last month after investing Rs 1,735 Thursday said the National a report. highest hiring growth of 13 per crore in February, data from the Association of Mutual Funds in India Company Law Appellate The increase of three per cent amongst tier-II cities in (Amfi) showed on Thursday. Overall, the mutual fund industry wit- Tribunal (NCLAT) has cent in job listings on a month- March compared to February, nessed a net outflow of Rs 29,745 crore across all segments during ordered a stay on the forma- on-month basis was mainly led the report noted. the period under review, compared with a net inflow of Rs 4,090 tion of committee of creditors by IT-software and retail sec- Naukri.com Chief Business crore in February. According to the data, inflow from equity and in proceedings under the "Closing @riteshagar's tors. Officer Pawan Goyal said that equity-linked open-ended schemes was at Rs 9,115 crore in March, Insolvency and Bankruptcy thread from yesterday - Today In February, the job listings per cent last month, as per the On the other hand, sectors overall hiring activity showed compared with an outflow of Rs 4,534 crore in February. Barring Code against its subsidiary NCLAT has admitted our plea stood at 2,356. report. such as BPO/ITES (1 per cent) a robust growth of 23 per cent multi-cap and value fund categories, all the equity schemes saw OYO Hotels and Homes Pvt and ordered a stay for the for- As per the latest Naukri The Naukri JobSpeak is a and BFSI (1 per cent) wit- in the January-March 2021 inflow last month. Overall, equity schemes had witnessed an outflow Ltd (OHHPL). mation of COC in IBC pro- JobSpeak Index, given the wave monthly Index that calculates nessed a flat sequential trend. quarter compared to the of Rs 9,253 crore in January, Rs 10,147 crore in December, Rs Earlier, the National ceedings against OHHPL, an of digital transformation, the and records hiring activity With the second wave of October-December 2020 quar- 12,917 crore in November, Rs 2,725 crore in October, and Rs 734 Company Law Tribunal OYO subsidiary," OYO said in IT-software sector remains based on the job listings on COVID, education/ teaching ter. crore in September, Rs 4,000 crore in August and Rs 2,480 crore in (NCLT) had admitted a peti- a tweet. shielded and hiring continued Naukri.com website. (13 per cent), FMCG (10 per According to him, the IT July, which was their first withdrawal in over four years. Prior to tion for initiating insolvency In a tweet, OYO founder to grow by 11 per cent in Key sectors such as oil and cent) and hotels/ airlines/ trav- sector has been at the forefront this, such schemes had attracted Rs 240.55 crore in June. Apart proceedings against OHHPL and group CEO Ritesh March. The retail sector, which gas (7 per cent), accounting/ el (8 per cent) sectors experi- of fueling this growth and it is from equities, gold exchange-traded funds witnessed a total net for recovery of Rs 16 lakh, an Agarwal said, "I am so grate- was severely impacted by the taxation/ finance (6 per cent) enced a decline in sequential encouraging to see sectors like inflow of Rs 662 crore last month, compared to Rs 491 crore in order that the hospitality firm ful to everyone for their sup- pandemic, is also seeing robust and telecom/ ISP (5 per cent) hiring in March, the report retail and accounting/ finance February. The asset under management of the mutual fund industry challenged before the appellate port on social media since yes- revival, with sequential hiring showed an uptick in hiring in said. also showing promising recov- was at Rs 31.43 lakh crore in March-end, from Rs 31.64 lakh crore tribunal on Wednesday. terday (Wednesday).” activities seeing an uptick of 15 March compared to February. All six metros and key tier- ery over the past few months. in February-end. 9

Vijayawada Friday April 9 2021 what’s brewing? Margot Robbie FARHAN AKHTAR SHOOTS is a tea fanatic ollywood star Margot Robbie has shared that she is a tea fanatic and FOR MARVEL PROJECT that she is obsessed with drinking the hot beverage after moving to H London from . “Breakfast is usually porridge, and during the morning I’ll have an immu- nity-boosting smoothie. I’ll normally have a IN BANGKOK: REPORTS chicken salad for lunch, and for dinner I’ll tuck into a tuna steak with sweet potato. ollywood actor and crew, for the shoot of a boxer in the film. Toofan has Throughout the day, I’ll sip on tea — I’ve Farhan Akhtar has project with Marvel Studios, been directed by Rakeysh been obsessed with it ever since I lived in bagged an interna- who are known to be one of Omprakash Mehra and also the UK,” Robbie told Women’s Health UK B tional project with the biggest film studios features Mrunal Thakur, magazine. Marvel Studios. worldwide,” the source said. Paresh Rawal, Supriya She has been living in the US over the Unconfirmed However, the source Pathak Kapur and Hussain past several years to pursue a Hollywood sources said the actor has refrained from giving details Dalal. This is the second career, and is said to be a huge fan of burg- started shooting for the pro- about the project. time that Farah is working ers and beer. When she lived in London, the ject in Bangkok, although “All other details of the with Mehra. The two had actress was obsessed with a Mexican restau- when we contacted Disney, project are strictly under collaborated for the film rant. who own Marvel, they wraps,” the source Bhaag Milkha Bhaag in “Food is a big thing for me. I love burgers refused to comment. explained. 2003. and fries, which I’ll order with a pint of “Farhan is currently sta- Meanwhile, the actor has Farhan was last seen in beer. In the US, my favourite meal is a dou- tioned in Bangkok, along the film Toofan lined up for The Sky Is Pink alongside ble truffle burger from the American chain with an International cast release. The actor plays a Priyanka Chopra. Umami Burger: it comes with a truffle cheese fondue, truffle aioli and truffle glaze,” she said. “But back when I called London home, I loved the Mexican restaurant and bar in Pankaj Tripathi: Feminism as Soho. Everything I ate there was amazing -- and they whip up the best margarita I've ever had anywhere,” Robbie added. subject must be included for boys The actress is said to particularly enjoy her experience of working with filmmaker Quentin Tarantino. “When I got the chance to work with Quentin Tarantino (on Once Upon A Time... of his films,” she said. In Hollywood) I was so excited. He is one of Robbie added that once she was on the the all-time great directors — and I wrote set, she made sure she soaked up all the him a letter telling him I’d love to be in one knowledge from him. Amit Sadh takes break from social media: Don't want to show my privileged life

ctor Amit Maharashtra is “under consecutive day that the wear a mask maintain a Sadh has taken strict COVID restric- city has reported more social distance of 6 feet, a break from tions”. than 10,000 infections. step out when necessary, social media as “The whole country is For the third time this follow protocols and A the actor says going through a difficult month, it has witnessed a rules. I am going to be that he feels time. I believe my posts single-day case growth in vigilant, and I urge you uncomfortable sharing and reels of the gym ses- five digits. all to do the same. I hope posts about his daily life sions, the silly things that The Breathe actor said things get better to a ctor Pankaj Tripathi feels won’t have to ‘save’ our daughters at a time when people are I do will not heal or it is important now to point where I can start feminism is a notion that anymore.” struggling due to the entertain anyone. This is reach out to those who being goofy and silly should be instilled in boys “Boys need to learn right from the coronavirus pandemic. not a criticism to anyone. are struggling financially again.” A just as strongly as girls. For beginning that no gender is superior Sadh took to I personally feel the best due to the pandemic and Sadh also addressed that to happen, the subject or inferior. There was a time when I Instagram and posted a way to be sensitive about ensure that they are his fans, saying that he is must be included for all survived solely on my wife’s salary note about taking a break the situation is to pray taken care of. not “abandoning” them young boys by the education system. and I see absolutely no harm in doing from social media plat- and hope for things to “Life must go on even and will be available to “I feel that parents put all their so. My wife and daughter have forms. get better,” Sadh wrote. though I fool burdened. I talk through direct mes- energies into grooming and teaching impacted my life in the best way pos- The 37-year-old actor On Wednesday, am disheartened when sages on the social media their daughters how to behave them- sible, to see the existence of such a said recent events in the Mumbai reported 10,428 we do not acknowledge platforms. selves but when it comes to boys, it's large gender disparity in our country country made him reflect new coronavirus cases the seriousness and do “I am here but will not not given the same importance. In needs immediate attention and on whether he should be and 23 fresh fatalities, not address it. We cannot be posting quotes, pic- today’s education, I think the inclu- change,” said the actor, who will be sharing his pictures on taking its caseload to behave that everything is tures, or reels. I personal- sion of feminism is a must for all seen in films like 83, Mimi and social media, especially 4,82,760 and death toll to okay: this is a pandemic. ly feel this is not the time young boys, too,” Pankaj said. Bachchan Panday over the next at a time when the city 11,851. I will continue to do for me to show my privi- He says that if this is done, “We months. and the entire state of This is for the second what is expected of me, leged life,” he added. FUN

ARCHIE CALVIN AND HOBBES

GARFIELD REALITY CHECK SPEED BUMP CROSSWORD

NANCY

SUDOKU Yesterday’s solution

GINGER MEGGS

Rules l Each row and column can contain each number (1 to 9) exactly once. l The sum of all numbers in any row or column must equal 45. Follow us on @TheDailyPioneer facebook.com/ dailypioneer

Friday April 9, 2021 Captain 7 will cater to kids and adults: Sakshi Dhoni in the Bengaluru offices of the an espionage show with high Moving Picture Company leading octane action and an equally Former Indian the team to win an Oscar for best interesting storyline, thus it’s very visual effects of the year — all important to get the right narra- cricket captain this goes to show how the anima- tive for the audience. Hence, tion scene is absolutely sprouting. smooth and tight edits are going Mahendra Not to forget, S.S. Rajamouli to be a key element to our show. expanding the Baahubali uni- As it’s fully animated, it gives us Singh Dhoni is verse by launching the animated the liberty to create a world version in the popular epic fanta- where we can experiment beyond all set to launch sy. So, bringing all these examples the boundaries of live action, together under one roof tells us obviously keeping in mind the India’s first that firstly, we are living in a digi- right sensibilities and logic of the tal age and secondly, it’s a great plot. Finally, in my opinion, we animated spy asset to enhance viewer’s experi- need to start experimenting more ence. in animation content and proba- universe. Bhavik Vohra, the founder and bly find a larger audience for it CEO of a media company with with the right subjects. Dhoni’s wife which Dhoni Entertainments Animation can create and take have collaborated, tells us exclu- you into a world that is difficult KABIR BEDI sively why the animation indus- to do in live action and hence, Sakshi Singh, try is now not stuck in any limbo. gives wings to one’s imagination. “Unlike the West, animation in But of course, the costs are very who is the India has traditionally been very high to create high quality ani- UNVEILS THE BOOK kid-centric and hence as a mar- mation and so there is this obvi- managing ket, we really haven’t experiment- ous reluctance to experiment. here are so many Captain 7, we aim to cater to ed much on creating something With Captain 7, we are trying to COVER OF HIS director of forms of entertain- both these categories as our tar- that will appeal to a larger audi- bring in premium animation ment these days, but get audience. Additionally, in an ence. Captain 7 is our endeavor content that will hopefully open a Dhoni there is one such form animated universe, every detail to do that! The fact that it has MS new category of content in India,” T of pursuit where imag- has been developed from scratch. Dhoni as the central character concludes the founder of the FORTHCOMING Entertainment, ination is dominant Sky’s the limit for what you can will give it a much wider reach. media company that has earlier and that’s the world of animation. create! Your creativity and imagi- We are also focusing on the writ- partnered with films like and the team Kids definitely live in a world of nation can be exploited to a ing of the show and the quality of Baahubali, Pink Panther, Game of MEMOIR imagination! Tapping into their greater extent with more free- animation. Our attempt is that it Thrones, etc., in order to bring speak to The inner child, Sakshi and dom. The universe that is created should appeal to the new-age the best animation to the table. Mahendra Singh Dhoni have cre- becomes more dazzling because audience in the same way that elighting his fans, orable is the story of his inter- Pioneer’s ated India’s first-ever animated of the creative minds and highly they consume any international iconic actor Kabir viewing The Beatles, which spy universe. The new venture advanced technology that work show. We are planning a series of Bedi unveiled the was a turning point in his SHIKHA ‘BWO’ that the power couple has together to weave magic, provid- exciting rollouts to introduce the D book cover of his career, making the shift from founded, is made with a childlike ing an aesthetic appeal,” shares show to the audience and it’ upcoming autobi- a career in All India Radio to DUGGAL environment and the edition will Sakshi Dhoni. going to be a never-seen-before ography — Stories I Must Tell: advertising to theatre and be based on the multi award-win- Seeping more into the anima- Indian animation show. MS The Emotional Life of an Actor finally foraying into the world ning cricketer himself. tion scene in India, it’s yet to go Dhoni is a huge name and one of — scheduled to be published of cinema. He also remem- about co- Suspending all accepted wisdom as big as it in Japan since that’s the most-liked leaders in India. with Westland Publications bered his parents who were of beliefs, Sakshi helms the pro- the booming arena for anime, The show will capture an avatar on April 19. remarkable spiritual figures. producing the ject as the producer of the excit- most loved by Indians as well. of him that revolves around The book cover was When GQ referred to his ing animation-show, as she buys However, the simple animation things he is really passionate revealed on GQ India’s book as being cinematic, the series along into the illusion that animation is techniques used in our country about and this will take his fans Facebook platform, by evergreen star was hopeful also a kind of reality today and too, are conciliatory to everyone. on a journey that they will love,” Bollywood heartthrob Salman that the book will be adapted with Black something like that also can pos- There were times when some car- shares the CEO. Khan! for the screen or for a won- sibly exist for the kids. toons like Looney Tunes, Oswald, The use of computer-generated Talking about his book derful series. The actor talked White Orange “Animation is significant Mickey Mouse ClubHouse, and imagery leverages the quality to a cover, the international star, of his journey in film, televi- because it enables us to tell sto- Make Way for Noddy had us higher notch with effects being known for his baritone voice, sion and theatre, and the Brands and ries, express more creatively in a hooked! And, the detailed anima- convenient and unwieldy. regaled all present with the many ups and downs he has way that both children and adults tion for the live-action and CGI “Editing and the soundtrack will story of Terry O’Neil, Elton faced in life. Kabir Bedi more... can perceive and relate to. With film The Jungle Book was made be key aspects of Captain 7. It’s John’s photographer, who had regaled with taken his picture in the early stories of Hollywood and his ’70s, that’s made for an iconic epic series Sandokan. book cover. Wishing good luck to Kabir looking to keep themselves and A delighted Kabir Bedi, at Bedi for his upcoming book, others engaged while staying the cover launch of his book Salman Khan said, “Your per- indoors. However, a considerable said, “It is indeed a special sonality as a star and human Considering percentage of them might merely moment for me to have GQ being is pure, so whatever be exploring vlogging as an ama- and Salman Khan unveil the comes out from this book a full-time teur or simply pursuing it as a cover of my book. GQ repre- would be straight from your hobby. To sustain yourself as a sents the best style. And heart and soul. It is going to career in visual full-time vlogger, there are cer- Salman is a person who has a be a beautiful read and I wish tain things that you need to fol- heart of gold and one who has that a lot of people will learn blogging? low. been a good friend to me. My from your experiences For instance, formulating a book is the story of a middle shared.” Here are new concept and coming up with class boy from Delhi who Stories I Must Tell: The fresh content that is engaging to becomes an international star. Emotional Life of an Actor is some insights your audience is a must. It’s also about the successes about the highs and lows of Otherwise, your career may I’ve seen, the emotional trau- Kabir Bedi’s professional and become redundant. Regular inno- mas I’ve suffered, how I sur- personal life, his tumultuous vation, thinking out-of-the-box vived the worst of them, and relationships, including mar- and coming up with new con- found fulfilment in the end.” riage and divorce, why his ately, there has been a cepts are some of the key things In his interaction with beliefs have changed, his wide range of emerg- that you need to do to sustain Salman, Kabir narrated a wrenching setbacks, and his ing careers that are yourself as a full-time vlogger. series of fascinating anecdotes exciting days in India, unconventional as Vloggers: The new essen- that he has penned in the Europe, and Hollywood, and L more and more youth book. One of the most mem- how he made India proud. tial part of the content deviate from conven- landscape tional career options such as medicine, law and engineering. Vloggers, in today’s world, are Careers such as photography, content creators that bridge the design, event management are gap in engaging people with a growing rapidly as people break wide range of content as every free from rigid mindsets regard- individual’s preferences differ. ing new-age career options. Furthermore, in today’s day and Visual blogging or vlogging, as it’s age where social media content is now commonly known, is also the king, vlogging is receiving its one such choice that has gained due credit as a full-time career. immense traction in recent years, Content creation has become an especially with the advent of integral aspect for several busi- social media and high-quality and their subject of interest. As nesses as they turn to new-age smartphone cameras. Social they begin to gather a substantial marketing strategies. Vlogging media has become vlogger-cen- follower count with good audi- platforms are also facilitating it as tric because more and more peo- ence engagement and establishes a full-time career and setting up ple seek engaging, bite-sised con- themself, the growth prospects robust infrastructure to enable tent in regional languages. are boundless since brands and them to monetise their content. However, despite increasingly the audience begin to recognise Futurescape easy access, making a full-time Think out and trust their work. More career out of it requires strategy, opportunities come their way, According to Statista, 46.44 per skill, and above all, perseverance thereby paving the way for earn- cent of our population was as it has several aspects tied to it ing more from their vlogging accessing social networks in such as choosing a specific line of career. 2019. In 2020, the number interest, working with the correct Recently a report published by increased to over 50 per cent partners, monetisation with a business online stated that with the pandemic putting brands and more. today, Category-A social media restrictions on entertainment Having said that, Pulkit of the box influencers or the biggest names avenues available in India. It is Agrawal, co-founder of Trell online, earn around Rs 2L-15L. further estimated that by 2025, (lifestyle social commerce plat- may often start with a certain an extent, they get to work with Category-B influencers earn this penetration would be a form), shares how one can build topic but end up with something brands or celebrities, and can fur- between Rs 15,000-2L, while cat- whopping 67 per cent. Vlogging a full-time career in vlogging and entirely different. They, especially ther build their careers based on egory-C earns around Rs 5,000- has been a niche activity as a sustain it in the long. at the start of their career, need to these collaborations. Today’s 20,000 monthly, and these num- majority of people, up until The skills needed tap into their creative spirits and tech-driven world offers state-of- bers are only expected to recently, have not been well ideologies and constantly refine the-art infrastructure for aspiring increase. equipped to pursue it as a full- One of the most important their skills as well as content as vloggers to kickstart their careers Sustaining as a full-time time career. things a full-time vlogging career per the feedback/response and make a name for themselves. vlogger Today, however, it is no longer demands is inherent motivation. received from the viewers. The growth prospects a cumbersome task as more and Vloggers must be open to iterat- Moreover, to dedicatedly pur- Digitisation, increased internet more people begin to express ing and trying various forms of sue vlogging, one must be willing It is a field that offers a myriad proliferation and rising smart- themselves through visual con- content, especially if they wish to to experiment, move out of their of opportunities as there are no phone usage has resulted in a sig- tent. The future looks promising, establish and sustain themselves comfort zone, and shift their limits or restrictions to what a nificant number of people turn- and the vlogging ecosystem is in the segment. It is a continuous mindset. Once vloggers have person can vlog about. It all ing to vlogging, especially amid only set to thrive in the forth- exercise where content creators established themselves at least to depends on the vlogger’s passion the pandemic, where people are coming years. VIJAYAWADA | FRIDAY | APRIL 9, 2021 sport 11 Three-peat on MI mind

PNS n NEW DELHI giving it their all for their respective fran- n’t inspire the highest confidence. his own destiny as a Delhi Capitals leader comeback in chises. Glenn Maxwell has again been picked while taking inspiration from his illustri- International ohit Sharma ended the jinx of win- Mumbai Indians, perhaps in the near for big money and New Zealand’s Kyle ous senior’s captaincy. cricket. Chris ning IPL trophies in odd years two decade existence of T20 cricket, is a Jamieson has been made an overnight Pant 2.0 after his Gabba heroics is the Gayle, in between, is Rafter he won record-extending fifth side that will be remembered for its multi-millionaire by the franchise despite most confident man in Indian cricket cur- sure to provide entertain- title with Mumbai Indians in 2020 edition, aura. him being untested on Indian dust-bowls. rently and with a batting line-up that has ment. which was held in United Arab Emirates If Rohit fails, then Quinton de Kock Devdutt Padikkal will be in his second Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Marcus For Rajasthan Royals, because of Covid-19 pandemic. will certainly succeed. If both season with teams analysing him Stoinis, Shimron Hetmyer along with the the absence of Jofra Archer And now in 2021, he will aim to make fail, Surya Kumar Yadav way more and Yuzvendra experience of Steve Smith and Ajinkya first up will certainly rob it three in a row when the 14th season of and Ishan Kishan could ONE Chahal seems to have Rahane, Capitals would like to finish one them off initial momentum the cash-rich league starts on Friday scare the daylights out lost his mojo. better than last time. and with another wobbly with his team taking on Virat Kohli’s Royal of the opposition. MORE POSITIVE Mohammed Kagiso Rababda and Anrich Nortje’s Indian line-up under an incon- Challengers Bangalore in the season’s And if the top- THING ABOUT THIS Siraj and contribution will be as important as sistent Samson at the opener at MA Chidambaram Stadium in order is blown Saini do not Ravichandran Ashwin, Amit Mishra and helm, the heavy-lifting is going Chennai. away, then the EDITION LIKE LAST YEAR IS inspire the high- Axar Patel’s bowling. to be done by Ben Stokes, Jos This time there will be no home indomitable THAT THERE IS NO HOME est confidence in Sunrisers Hyderabad is one of the most Buttler and Chris Morris. advantage for any side as the entire 60 Pandya brothers in white ball low profile teams which has been known match tournament will be played in neu- (Hardik and ADVANTAGE. EVERYONE IS cricket at least for on-field exploits. A superb assortment tral venues and that too without fans. Krunal) will be PLAYING AT NEUTRAL VENUES despite their of foreign players comprising the prolific The 2021 season will be special in its on the rivals’ gutsy perfor- David Warner in batting and world’s best own way as Mumbai will aim to become case. AND THE STRENGTH OF mances in T20 bowler Rashid Khan along with Kane the first side to complete hat-trick of IPL On the out- YOUR SQUAD REALLY Australia early this Williamson, Jason Holder, Jonny Bairstow titles, Chennai under talismanic field, Kieron Pollard year. and Jason Roy makes them a contender. Mahendra Singh Dhoni seems ready to will save those extra COMES TO COMES Amid all this, Kolkata Knight Riders would expect pull off a fresh trick after a forgetful sea- runs apart from the Dhoni will be quietly that Andre Russell gets his six-hitting son last year, where they finished second trademark big hits always TO smiling and may be plan- prowess back while Varun Chakravarthy from the bottom. expected of him and also bring ning differently as it will be a is more than a one-season wonder. Indian skipper Virat Kohli’s under- in the change of pace suited for the placid Wankhede where CSK will be Eoin Morgan, the best white ball achievers Royal Challengers Bangalore Chennai track. playing Delhi Capitals on Saturday. International skipper on view, would will hope to change fortunes and step clos- Then there’s Jasprit Bumrah, ready to The return of seasoned Suresh Raina, look for a settled batting order while er to first-ever title and so does renamed lead the MI attack. And to support him which opens up an option to play Imran praying that Sunil Narine isn’t again Punjab Kings will aim for. Under new there is Trent Boult, with his swing, and Tahir in most games, and the presence of called for a suspect action. name, KL Rahul’s side will be the one to Rahul Chahar, with his googlies. Moeen Ali and Sam Curran as floating all- For Punjab Kings, the owners watch out for. Mumbai Indians can only lose on their rounders gives CSK a better look than last would hope that change in the name While for the likes of Sanju Samson bad days and on good days, they are going time. brings about a change in luck but a (Rajasthan Royals) and Rishabh Pant to be a nightmare as England captain Dhoni’s faith in uncapped Krishnappa lot would depend on skipper KL (Delhi Capitals), it will be an entirely new Michael Vaughan has already warned. Gowtham also needs a bit of validation. Rahul’s performance. experience to lead their respestive sides Rohit’s opposite number is the nation- As Dhoni brings on his years of IPL He wouldn’t mind another for the first time. al captain, who is ready to open once again leadership experience, his ardent “fan” and Orange Cap while Mohammed But both Rajasthan Royals and Delhi but the squad composition of RCB does- “disciple” Rishabh Pant is ready to chart Shami would like to make a roaring Capitals suffer a major jolt even before the start, when England pacer Jofra Archer (Royals) and Indian batsman Shreyas Iyer (Capitals) were ruled out of the entire tournament due to injury problems. Mumbai expect Chawla to play key role Also there is Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders in the fray, which PTI n CHENNAI since U-19 days. And I know, he is young talent. under foreign skippers David Warner and a very attacking bowler, which is The experi- Eoin Morgan will look to add more iyush Chawla’s skill-set will not something that we wanted in our ence of Piyush titles. Ponly help Mumbai Indians in the spin bowling department,” Rohit, Chawla is surely If one looks at the bigger picture, the pressure situation in this year’s IPL who has led MI to record five titles, going to help him 14th edition of IPL assumes greater sig- but his immense experience will also said in a video posted on side’s offi- as well,” said Zaheer. nificance as it is being held in a T20 World be useful in mentoring the young cial Twitter handle. "Piyush Chawla is not Cup year and that too in the sub-conti- spinners in the squad, the defend- Mumbai Indians Director of only going to bring his game nent. ing champions said on Thursday. Cricket Operations Zaheer Khan or skill sets to the team, but If Kohli will keep a ‘Hawk Eye’ on the Mumbai Indians strengthened said that Chawla’s experience will also his wealth of experience. performances of his probable list of play- their spin department with adding also help young Rahul Chahar. He has been in pressure sit- ers, it won’t be any different for an Eoin 32-year-old Chawla to the squad at “We value his experience very uations (and) he has a bigger Morgan or a Kieron Pollard, who would the most recent auction. highly. We have Rahul Chahar also role to play,” added Zaheer. also be preparing for the mega-event while “I have played with Piyush in the team, who is an upcoming, SINGLES FRENCH OPEN DELAYED BY A WEEK Paris: The French Open was on Thursday delayed by a 4 Indian sailors to compete in Tokyo week to May 30-June 13 in the hope that heightened PTI n NEW DELHI Games in Laser Standard Class Covid-19 restrictions in France will have eased by then after finishing second in the over- to allow the maximum number of fans to attend the n a historic first for India, four all standings. event. FFT president Gilles Moretton said the week's Later, the duo of Chengappa delay “will give the health situation more time to Isailors from the country will improve and should optimise our chances of compete at this year’s Olympics and Thakkar finished on top of the welcoming spectators at Roland-Garros”. after Vishnu Saravanan and the points table in the 49er Class. The pair of Ganapathy Chengappa and two had won a Bronze medal in HARENDRA IS US MEN'S HEAD COACH Varun Thakkar made the cut for the 2018 Asian Games in Colorado Springs: Former India hockey coach Tokyo at the Asian Qualifiers in Indonesia. Harendra Singh, who trained both the national men's Oman on Thursday. Two sailors make a team in the and women's teams at different stages of his This was after Nethra 49er Class while Laser class is a accomplished career, has been appointed as the new Kumanan on Wednesday became single sailor event. head coach of the US men's team. Singh, who was the first Indian woman sailor to Also, two sailors qualify for bestowed the Dronacharya award in 2012, served as qualify for the Olympics in the Tokyo Olympics from Laser class the chief coach of the senior India men's hockey team laser radial event in the Mussanah events while only one team can do from 2017 to 2018. Before that, he was also in charge Open Championship, which is an so in the 49er class. of the Indian women's team for some time. Asian Olympic qualifying event. Saravanan was third till the It is also the first time that penultimate day on Wednesday WARWICKSHIRE COMPLETE VIHARI SIGNING India will compete in three sailing but won the medal race on Birmingham: (From L-R) Indian sailors Ganapathy Chengappa, Nethra Kumanan, Vishnu Saravanan and Warwickshire have completed the events in the Olympics. Varun Thakkar pose for photo @malavshroff Thursday to jump to second place signing of Hanuma Vihari and the English county side So far, India had competed in overall with 53 points and book a on Thursday said the India all-rounder is likely to only one event in all the earlier Association of India joint secretary from Oman. Tokyo Olympics quota. feature in the early part of the championship, after Olympics though two sailors rep- general Capt Jitendra Dixit said. “I personally hope that it is the The Indian pipped Thailand’s undergoing six days of quarantine. Warwickshire is resented the country on four occa- Tomasz Januszewski, the start of a new era in Indian sailing. Keerati Bualong (57 points), who hopeful of the Indian playing in next week's match sions. Indian sailing coach, said it was a Sailors and the community behind was second till Wednesday, for the against Nottinghamshire. “Yes, history has been script- result of “years of hard work by them are amazing. It is time for Tokyo Games spot. India batsman and Delhi Capitals Shreyas Iyer on Thursday said he has ed. Four Indian sailors have qual- sailors, their parents and coaches. them to become recognised and While Kumanan finished sixth BHUVI NOMINATED FOR ICC MONTHLY AWARD undergone a successful surgery for a shoulder injury and vowed to return to ified for Olympics to compete in “Sincere congratulations to start shining, locally and interna- in the Laser radial class medal race Dubai: Experienced India seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar action at the earliest. “Surgery was a success and with a lion-hearted three events. It’s the maximum our champions for creating this tionally,” Januszewski added. on Thursday but still ended at sec- was among the cricketers nominated for the ICC Player determination, I'll be back in no time. Thank you for your wishes,” tweeted Iyer number of sailors qualified and historic day and taking Indian sail- On Thursday, Saravanan was ond overall with 30 points to con- of the Month award for March following his standout and posted his picture with it @ShreyasIyer15 also in number of events,” Yachting ing to a whole new level,” he said the first to qualify for the Tokyo firm the Olympics spot. performances in white ball matches against England. Besides Bhuvneshwar, the others in the men's category included ace leg-spinner Rashid Khan of Afghanistan and Zimbabwe's Sean Williams. The nominees among the women's comprised Rajeshwari Gayakwad of India, PSG win thriller in Munich Mount, Chilwell put South Africa's Lizelle Lee and India's Punam Raut. RAVINDRA, DUFFY, CONWAY GET NZ CALL-UUPS AFP n MUNICH Chelsea in control Wellington: South Africa-born batsman Devon Conway has been named among three uncapped ylian Mbappe insisted Paris Saint- AFP n SEVILLE players in the New Zealand team which will play two KGermain still have it all to do after Tests in England in June. Conway has played T20 and he scored twice in a thrilling 3-2 win at classy goal from Mason Mount on ODIs last year and is included in the Test squad for the holders Bayern Munich in Wednesday’s AWednesday helped Chelsea to a 2- first time along with Wellington all-rounder Rachin Champions League quarter-final first leg. 0 first-leg win over Porto, whose waste- Ravindra and seamer Jacob Duffy. Bayern had their 19-match unbeat- ful finishing could have scuppered their CHHETRI TO LEAD BFC IN AFC CUP MATCH en run in the Champions League ended hopes of springing another Champions Bambolim: in a repeat of last year’s final, as the League upset in the quarter-finals. Talismanic India captain Sunil Chhetri has returned to action after recovering from Covid-19 and German giants suffered their first Mount’s slick turn and shot in the will lead Bengaluru FC in their AFC Cup preliminary European defeat since March 2019. first half would have been painful stage two match against Nepalese side Tribhuvan Army PSG raced into a 2-0 lead after just enough for Porto, who were the better FC here on April 14. 28 minutes behind closed doors at the side for large spells in Seville but repeat- Allianz Arena as Neymar created goals edly lacked the precision to take advan- INDIA WOMEN SUFFER 1-22 DEFEAT for Mbappe and Marquinhos. tage. Tashkent: The Indian women's football team suffered Bayern, whose top scorer Robert Instead, their misery was com- a 1-2 defeat at the hands of Belarus in its second Lewandowski is sidelined by a knee pounded by Ben Chilwell capitalising on international friendly here on Thursday. While both the injury, drew level courtesy of headers by a mistake at the back to score a late sec- sides played out an even first half, Belarus took the lead Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and ond that gave Chelsea another away goal happy, excited but not too excited,” said through a Shuppo Nastassia penalty in the 66th minute, Thomas Mueller. and leaves them on the brink of the Chelsea’s coach Thomas Tuchel. “We before Pilipenka Hanna doubled their lead with a 78- However, Mbappe showed his class semi-finals. have to have a top mentality and a top minute strike. India's Sangita Basfore pulled one back with a superb second goal to give the vis- Kylian Mbappe celebrates after he scores PSG’s opening goal against Bayern Munich AP They were away goals only in name performance next Tuesday.” deep into added time. itors an advantage for the return leg in given both these teams were playing in Mount’s goal makes him Chelsea’s Paris. said Mueller. “If it had ended 5-3 or 6-3 “We don’t like to lose, but the way the the unfamiliar Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, youngest ever scorer in the Champions RONALDO, DYBALA SCORE IN JUVE WIN “We used all our chances and had a for us, no one could have complained team played was top.” where they will meet again next week, League at 22 years and 87 days old while Milan: Romelu Lukaku powered Inter Milan closer to bit of luck, but nothing has been decid- based on the chances.” This was a record 19th appearance just with the home and away roles Chilwell’s second meant the club boast- their first league title in over a decade by scoring and ed,” Mbappe told Sky, with the second leg Bayern coach Hansi Flick, who fin- in the Champions League quarter-finals reversed. ed two English scorers in a Champions setting up Lautaro Martinez in Wednesday's 2-1 win to come in Paris on Tuesday. ished on the losing side for the first time for Bayern, but there was little for them “There is a good atmosphere in the League game for the first time since over Sassuolo that moved his team 11 points clear at PSG goalkeeper Keylor Navas played in the Champions League, also rued the to celebrate at the final whistle. dressing room, we are happy but not too 2012. the top of Serie A. Champions Juventus are 12 points a key role with a string of saves as Bayern number of missed chances. “Kylian Mbappe made the difference. behind Inter in third after beating Napoli 2-1, as Paulo peppered his goal with 31 shots com- “With the chances we had, we could It’s a very positive result for us, but every- “If we take the performance we again to reach the semifinals. And we Dybala scored on his return after nearly three months pared to the French club’s six. have got a good result despite conceding thing is still open,” said PSG coach showed today and bring it to the pitch have to be there and to score the things. out with the league's leading scorer Cristiano Ronaldo “We have to score a lot more goals,” three goals,” Flick said. Maurico Pochettino. in Paris, then we'll get the goal chances That’s our full focus now.” also on target. Agencies 12

Vijayawada Friday April 9 2021 tollywood Bollywood can wait, PUNEETH’S for Fahadh Faasil ot very long ago the cially and critically successful makers of ’s films, Hindi films are still not upcoming film on the immediate radar. Written announced by Syam Pushkaran and direct- YUVARATHNAA N that ed by Dileesh Pothan, the film superstar Fahadh based on William Shakespeare’s SET Faasil will be playing the antag- Macbeth showcases the 38-year- onist’s role in the rustic actioner. old actor as Joji, an engineering As soon as the news broke out, drop-out from a wealthy planta- the internet went berserk as fans tion family who finds himself couldn’t control the excitement along with the motley band of witnessing powerhouses of inhabiting their sprawling the Telugu states and Kerala bat- home. TO DROP ON OTT tling it out on the silver screen. The actor, who has been part On the eve of Allu Arjun’s birth- of hit films such as Kumbalangi day, the introductory teaser of Nights, C U Soon, Super Deluxe the actor as Pushpa Raj was and Athiran, adds, “It’s not that I Sandalwood's very own Power Star Puneeth 's unveiled on social media. cannot speak in Hindi. I can During an interaction earlier, speak and understand Hindi, Yuvarathnaa, which released a week ago, is still roaring at the the actor confirmed his pres- but I need to think in Hindi to ence in Pushpa and broke improvise a scene. I need to feel box office. He is riding high on the success of the film that silence on this rustic actioner what I feel when I work here (in saying that he immensely liked Malayalam cinema) to go out- has become another big profitable venture in the first the script narrated by Sukumar. side and work. Unless I get the Fahadh also said that he loved language perfect, I don’t think quarter of 2021.The actor and his director talk to the director’s previous offering that (Bollywood debut) will , starring Ram happen.” K RAMYA SREE about their film, its sudden Charan and Samantha His upcoming Pushpa Akkineni. According to Fahadh revolves around the smuggling Faasil his character is very fresh of red sandalwood in the hills of OTT release and more. and he hasn’t done anything like Andhra Pradesh and the lives of this before. The actor also con- those interwoven with the ille- annada actor, play- Santosh Ananddram, the film association hits with Mr and firmed his presence in Kamal gal trade. Starring Rashmika back singer, television talks about the need to revive with Prakash Mrs Ramachari and Haasan-starrer upcoming big Mandanna as the leading lady, presenter, and pro- government-aided colleges, in Raj on and , direc- budget entertainer Vikram. the big-budget project stars K ducer Puneeth protecting the right to education off screen, tor Santhosh Meanwhile, his new film Joji actor , Rajkumar has worked of children from underprivileged Ananddram now has dropped on OTT. While the , Jagapathi Babu, for several films in backgrounds. With Puneeth Puneeth hopes to continue National Award- Harish Uthaman, Vennela the Sandalwood film industry, Rajkumar in the lead, shared with the streak with his winning actor Kishore and Anish and is known for his perfor- Yuvarathnaa brings together an The Pioneer, next outing, has belted Kuruvilla essaying cru- mances in Appu, , ensemble cast that includes “Prakash and I Yuvarathnaa. The out a few cial roles. Raajakumara, Anjani Putra and , Dhananjay, Prakash have been really film marks commer- more. He is one of the most Raj, and Radhika Sarathkumar. good friends. Santhosh’s second famous, revered celebrities, and Apart from having a key star Working with him is collaboration with the highest-paid actors in the cast, icing on the cake for the always fun. Although . His latest film is the music composed by we work for films, we and . Yuvarathnaa released in theatres SS Thaman. Speaking how never speak about films. The rapport that on April 1 to packed houses in Thaman’s added extra advantage Whenever we are on sets, we they share has only Kannada and Telugu. With the to the film, actor Puneeth said, only speak about family, spend- gotten stronger film government considering bring- “Thaman has a huge craze in the ing time with children and other after film. “We have ing back 50 per cent cap on Telugu industry. Having him on personal matters.” mutual respect for occupancy in theatres in light of board is definitely an added The actor says he admires the each other which has surging cases of Covid in advantage as our film was work of all directors in helped. As for Puneeth, he has the three-film-old director says, Karnataka, producers of the film released in the Telugu states as Tollywood and if given a chance always been a writer and direc- “Thaman has been a favourite of on Thursday announced that the well. His compositions gave soul he would work with each one of tor’s actor. He turns a director’s both mine and Puneeth. He is an film will be released on OTT to our film.” them and simultaneously release vision into reality,” says excellent music composer, and giant Amazon Prime on April 9. The film also stars Prakash those films in Kannada as well. Santhosh. his rerecording for Yuvarathnaa Written and directed by Raj in a key role. Sharing his Having delivered successful Heaping praises on Thaman, is completely out of the box.” ALLU ARJUN-VENU-DIL RAJU'S ICON NOT SHELVED

Vaikunthapuramulo and is now working for Pushpa. Once he wraps Pushpa, he will then move to work for ’s next, after Acharya. Months after project Icon was announced, nothing was heard about the project. In fact there were rumours that actor would be roped in for the movie. With this, many were of the opinion that Icon has been shelved and Allu Arjun would not be doing this pro- ject. However, Dil Raju, in a recent media interaction revealed that Icon is not shelved, but is very much on. “Icon is not shelved. Venu Sriram will direct the movie. However, the movie will start once Allu Arjun is free from his commitments.” couple of years ago, it for the project Icon. It was said Venu Sriram’s current pro- was announced that that star producer Dil Raju ject, Vakeel Saab, that has Stylish Star Allu would be bankrolling the pro- Pawan Kalyan, Nivetha A Arjun wil be working ject. Since its announcement, Thomas, and Ananya with director Venu Allu Arjun had been busy with Nagalla in the lead, has hit the Akhil's next Sriram of Oh My Friend fame, other projects. He has done Ala big screens today. A.R. RAHMAN'S titled Agent, first CONTEST AHEAD OF 99 Salman's cameo in Ram look wows fans SONGS' RELEASE covers in Hindi, Tamil or Charan-Shankar's next? Telugu on YouTube or oung actor Akhil Akhil, who underwent a com- Instagram using the hashtag Akkineni, who is opt- plete makeover for the film looks #99SongsCoverStar. They ward. It’s said to be a ing for distinctive dashing in the first look poster must also tag Rahman 25–30 day work for the scripts for his films, with beard and a stylish hairdo. (@arrahman). character in question and Y will next be joining Smoking a cigarette, Akhil’s got Ten lucky winners will get the makers have their hands with star direc- his body language and attitude a chance to virtually meet eyes on Salman Khan to tor whose last right. Akhil’s transformation A.R. Rahman and the team of come on board and ele- film from himself a lover boy to a . And that’s not all! vate the character with his was a smashing hit. On the occa- macho man is being lauded. One lucky winner will also be presence. Shankar and sion of his birthday, the Hello Tollywood’s busiest music awarded the opportunity of a Ram Charan are expected actor treated his fans to the title director SS Thaman will be scor- lifetime — a chance to collab- to meet him soon,” a and first of their film — Agent. ing music, while Ragul Herian orate with A.R. Rahman. news agency quoted a Known to present his heroes Dharuman will crank the cam- n some exciting Netizens and artists on source. at their stylish best, Surender era. National Award winner news for AR social media seem to be over Although it is a kind of Reddy is to show a new version Naveen Nooli is the editor while Rahman’s fans the moon and entries have a cameo, the role carries a of Akhil in the first film in their Kolla is the art director. (which is almost been raining in. lot of weightage and is combination. Vakkantham Akhil plays a spy in the film I everybody), the The film 99 Songs, that has said to help the film’s nar- Vamsi is writing the story for the that also stars newcomer Sakshi music maestro Ehan Bhat who is paired arlier this year, the film will be made on a rumour doing the rounds, rative. film that is to be produced by Vaidya. The shoot of the film is announced an exciting con- opposite American actress producer Dil mammoth budget and it the makers of the film are The makers reportedly Ramabrahmam Sunkara under expected to start on April 11 and test where he invited artists to Edilsy Vargas, is all set to Raju had will be an action enter- planning to rope in believe that Salman’s Anil Sunkara’s AK it is slated to hit screens on record and post a cover of release in Hindi, Tamil and E announced that tainer. Bollywood star Salman addition will add to the Entertainments and Surender 2 December 24. their favourite track from the Telugu on April, 16. he will be col- The project has been Khan for a pivotal role in pan-India appeal of the Cinema. The director-writer duo Apart from this, Akhil will 99 Songs soundtrack. 99 Presented by Studios, the laborating with the talk of the town ever the film. film. If things don’t work previously worked together for a also be seen in the upcoming Songs is an upcoming film film is produced by A.R. acclaimed director since it was announced. It “It’s a drama and out with Salman, sources few blockbusters such as Kick, film Most Eligible Bachelor being produced and written Rahman’s production compa- Shankar for a pan-India is said to go on the floors screenplay demands a say, the makers will and they are on a alongside . The film by Rahman himself. ny YM Movies and co-pro- film, which will feature this June and is said to be strong personality to play approach some other top mission to deliver another super is all set to hit theatres on June To participate in the con- duced by Ideal Ram Charan in the lead a high-octane drama. the role of a no-nonsense star to step into the shoes hit in their combination. 19. test, artists can upload their Entertainment. role. He also revealed that According to the latest cop to take the story for- of this cop.