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JOURNALISM OF COURAGE SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2021, KOLKATA, LATE CITY, 12 PAGES SINCE 1932 `5.00/EX-KOLKATA `6.00 (`12 IN NORTH EAST STATES &ANDAMAN) WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THE EDITORIAL PAGE OXFORD-ASTRAZENECA VACCINE LOOKBEFORE YOUREFORM PanelclearsCovishield BY FURQAN QAMAR & KRISHNA KUMAR PAGE 6 shot,laststepbefore BUSINESSASUSUAL BY UNNY regulator’sapproval SEC also considering Bharat Biotech’s UK flights to application forits candidateCovaxin resume Jan 8; PRABHARAGHAVAN WHATNOW? just 15 aweek NEWDELHI,JANUARY1 ■DCGI will take final call until Jan 23 AN EXPERT committee under on approval, likelyina the country's topdrug regulator fewdays recommendedonFridaythat ■ States will begin PRANAVMUKUL Agroup of protesting farmers at Delhi’s Singhu border,onThursdaynight. GajendraYadav Covishield, the Indian version of inoculation dryrun NEWDELHI,JANUARY1 In Srinagar, the Covid-19vaccine developed today(Jan 2) by the University of Oxfordand ■ Govt will procure FLIGHTSBETWEENIndiaandthe jeweller killed AstraZeneca, should be ap- vaccines from Serum UnitedKingdom,suspendedsince proved with certain conditions, InstituteofIndia December 23 to checktransmis- Coldest night in 15 yrs, Chhattisgarh halts paddy The Indian Express has learnt. sion of the new, morecontagious weeks after ■ 300mnhealthcareand While details of the condi- strainof thenovelcoronavirusde- frontline workers, those tions put by the panel were not tectedinthatcountry, willresume aged 50 years or older; domicile nod, slogan heat, calls to procurement, says available immediately, the rec- onJanuary8,thegovernmentsaid those under 50 with co- ommendation is enormouslysig- on Fridayevening. morbidities will be militants warn nificant, as it pavesthe wayfor Therewill be only15flights Centre not lifting stock vaccinated first kin keep Singhu warm India to getits firstvaccine against per week forthe firsttwo weeks, of more attacks the novelcoronavirus that has ■ In US and UK, the government said. Hundreds walk to the stage, killedalmost1.5 lakh and sick- vaccination started Twenty-nine samples have JIGNASASINHA whichhas been growing steadily GARGIVERMA enedmorethan 1crore Indians. almostimmediatelyafter so fartestedpositive forthe UK &AMILBHATNAGAR since the protestbegan more RAJNANDGAON,JANUARY1 Chief The recommendation of the final approval variant of SARS-CoV-2 in India, NEWDELHI,JANUARY1 than amonth ago, to light can- Minister Subject ExpertCommittee (SEC) ■ Aim is to complete first the Union Health Ministrysaid dles on itsrailings. Others sit in ANOTICE came up at the gate of Bhupesh has come twodays afterregula- phase of vaccinations by on Friday. IT'S 11 pm on December 31,the front of it, notready yettogo apaddy procurement centreon Baghel tors in the United Kingdom ap- August “It has been decidedthat mercurycreeping slowlyto- backtotheir tractor trolleys for ThursdayatSomani, 56 km from proved the use of the Oxford- flightsbetween India &the UK wards1.1 degrees Celsius, the the night, as police personnel Chhattisgarh’s capital Raipur and AstraZeneca vaccine among the will resume from 8Jan 2021. lowest in the Capital in 15 years. keep awatch. 17 km from district headquarters across the state, whichare cur- British public. The expertbody in and manufacturedunder licence Operations till 23 Jan will be re- At the Singhu protestsite, the Some march with candles to Rajnandgaon, telling farmers not rentlybursting at the seams. India wasatthe time considering by Serum InstituteofIndia (SII). stricted to 15 flightsper week farmers aregetting ready to ring paytributetoGuru Gobind to come forthe next fewdays as AfteraCabinetmeeting on an application forclearance of The SEC had on Wednesday eachfor carriers of the two in the NewYear with hymns Singh, while backstage,20-30 therewas no space to hold more Wednesday, Chief Minister Covishield,whichisbeing tested CONTINUEDONPAGE2 CONTINUEDONPAGE2 from the Gurbani, hottea and men and women decoratea dhaan (foodgrains). Similarno- Bhupesh Baghel wroteto some gusty sloganeering. CONTINUEDONPAGE2 tices came up at severalcentres CONTINUEDONPAGE2 Grieving familymembers in Srinagar. Shuaib Masoodi Festivals, action on evaders: GST In new policy, govt moots free access to BASHAARATMASOOD SRINAGAR,JANUARY1 revenue hits record high growth science journals and research data for all FORALMOSTfour decades, Satpal Nischal had been running the combinedeffect of the rapid pensive,and sometimes even money. And the taxpayerneed ajewelleryshop in the heartof ENSECONOMICBUREAU economic recovery postpan- AMITABHSINHA EXPRESS NETWORK one article can costseveral tens nothavetopay to access the re- Srinagar.OnThursday evening, NEWDELHI,JANUARY1 Indication demic and the nationwide drive &ESHAROY of dollars to access. Even topin- sultsordatagenerated by this re- the 70-year-old became the first E against GSTevaders and fake bills PUNE,NEWDELHI,JANUARY1 INPOLICY,EQUITY& stitutions have to be selective in search,” Akhilesh Gupta,head of ● ofrecovery person killedinKashmir appar- GOODS AND Services Tax(GST) EXPLAINED along with manysystemic GENDERINCLUSIVITY subscribing to these journals. the team that draftedthe policy entlyfor having obtainedacer- collections in December (for sales changes introducedrecently, INANambitiousattempt to make PAGE 8 Officials said the policy document, said. tificateunder the newdomicile in November) rose 11.6 per cent IN GENERAL, GSTcollec- whichhaveled to improved scientific knowledge and data aimedtobuy access to between 'One Nation, One law, that allows people who have to Rs 1,15,174 crore, the highest tions areanindicator of compliance”,the Ministrysaid. availableto all,thegovernmenthas 3,000 and 4,000 high-impact Subscription' is proposedaspart livedinJammu and Kashmir for year-on-year growth since the in- economic activity. Taxexperts,however, noted proposedan'open science policy' made in the draftScience, scientific journals, and the gov- of anew Open Science morethan 15 years rightstopur- direct taxregime came intoforce Collections had plum- that foraclearer pictureofthe thatwillensurethattheresultsof, Technology and Innovation ernment could end up spending Framework that will ensurefree chase immovable property. in July2017. Higher festivesea- metedtoarecordlow in extent of the economic recovery, and information generated by,all Policy that wasreleasedonNew an estimated Rs 2,000 croreto access to scientific datafor all. Justafew weeksafter he had son sales on account of Diwali in April, following the lock- the government should provide publicly-fundedresearch is freely Year’s Day, forinviting comments 3,000croreonthe bulk subscrip- Towardsthis objective,the obtainedthe certificate, Nischal November,along with the rollout down. However, to gauge abreakup of GSTrevenues col- accessible by everyone. and suggestions from the public. tions everyyear. MinistryofScience and wasshotbysuspected militants of newtechnological systems of the real extent of the recov- lected through filing of returns, Moresignificantly, the gov- The ‘One Nation, One “This has notbeen triedin Technology,whichhas drafted at his shop in Saraibala, and was e-invoicing, and action against ery, it is important to know and through recovery drivesby ernment has proposedtobuy Subscription’ policy forscientific anycountrysofar,but in our the newpolicy,has proposedto dead by the time he wasbrought taxevaders contributed to the howmuchofthe total GST the authorities. bulk subscriptions of all impor- journals is aradical move that viewthis is atransformational setupaScience,Technology and to the nearbyShri MaharajaHari surge in GSTrevenues. revenues have been col- “The GSTcollections in tant scientific journals across the could be agame changer forthe move towardsmaking scientific Innovation Observatorythat will Singh Hospital. The Resistance The Finance Ministrysaid this lected through filing of re- December have been higher world, and provide everyone in scientific community and indi- knowledge available to all... serveasthe central repositoryof Front (TRF), arecentlyfloatedmil- has been the highestgrowth in turns, and howmuch than expected.The collections India free access to them. vidual researchers. The world's Publicly-fundedresearch is car- all kinds of datagenerated from itant outfit, took responsibility for monthlyrevenues in the last21 through recovery drives. aresignificantlyhigher as The proposals have been best scientific journals areex- riedout through taxpayers' CONTINUEDONPAGE2 CONTINUEDONPAGE2 months. “This has been due to CONTINUEDONPAGE2 After protests, IIM-A drops plan to rebuild WORLD TMC will soon disintegrate, says student dorms designed by Louis Kahn Suvendu as his brother joins BJP This will secureabout 20,000 Chairman and Members of the The IIM-Astatement said the EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE votes forour party,” he added. RITUSHARMA BoardofGovernors of IIM-Ato boardwould try"to find the best KOLKATA,JANUARY1 Predicting the TMC’s down- AHMEDABAD,JANUARY1 all ‘stakeholders’ of the institute answer to the issues of howto W.H.O. GIVES fall, the BJP leader said Chief said theywerebeing "sensitive cater to our responsibility to a EMERGENCY NOD FORMER STATEministerand BJP Soumendu MinisterMamataBanerjee would THE INDIAN Instituteof to the feedbackfromsome significant legacy,the safetyof TO VACCINE leader Suvendu Adhikari on Adhikari come second in the coming state Management-Ahmedabad (IIM- stakeholders who arenot in those who utilize the buildings Fridayclaimedthe Trinamool elections. Adhikari claimedat A) has withdrawnanExpression agreement with this approach". as well as being in tune with the TRUMP EXTENDS Congress (TMC) would soon dis- leastone lakh people would at- of Interest(EoI) floated by it on "Weare thereforewithdrawing needs of the future". It added FREEZE ON H-1B, integrateasheinducted his the stategovernment. tend his rallyinNandigram on December 4inviting bids forre- the Expression of Interestthat that adecision would be taken OTHER WORK VISAS brother Soumendu intothe saf- “The Adhikari familyisno January8. construction of student dormi- wasput out." The statement, that aftertaking intoconsideration PAGE 10 fron party along with 14 other longer with the party of Pishi- “If anyofyou face blockade on tories on the main campus, de- addedthat the institutewas try- the feedbackreceived, including Trinamool Congress (TMC) coun- Bhaipo [TMC chief Mamata the waytothe meeting, justgive signedbythe legendary ing to find an alternative,came from "the best global conserva- cillors of the 20-member Contai Banerjee and her nephew me acall. Iwill handle it this time. American architect Louis Kahn. twodays afterKahn's children tion and structural experts". WEST BENGAL Municipality in Purba Medinipur Abhisek Banerjee]. The stategov- TMC miscreantshad carriedout The decision follows strong made another appeal to notpull DesignedbyLouis Kahn. File In alettertoIIM-ADirector district. Soumendu wasrecently ernment is scaredof itsimminent an attack on pilgrims when they protests from manyquarters, in- down the buildings. Prof ErrolD'Souza on December removedasthe administrator of defeat and that is the reason it is were en routetoareligious pro- cluding architects, designers, However, governing council communication or informa- 30, Kahn’s children Sue Ann ONFOUNDATIONDAY, the civic body. delaying the municipal elections. gramme on December 29. Their historians, alumni and Kahn's member and Principal Secretary, tionof suchastatement issued Kahn, AlexandraTyng and TMCLAUNCHESNEW Afterhanding over party flags Be it civic polls or Assemblyelec- vehicle carriedflags of Sanatan children, to the plan in the past Education, Anju Sharma told The on behalf of all members of the Nathaniel Kahn had appealed OUTREACHDRIVE to the newmembers, Adhikari tions, people in Bengal will vote Hindu Dharma organisation. The twoweeks. Indian Express she had no infor- BoardofGovernors," Sharma that he "reconsider this PAGE 3 said Soumendu’s removalfrom forthe BJP.Today, another 5,000 attackers will betaught abefitting An official statement by the mation on this. “I do nothaveany said. CONTINUEDONPAGE2 the postwas avindictive move by TMC workers have joinedthe BJP. lesson.”

PAGE1 ANCHOR VHP rallythrough MP villageleavesemptyhomes, damageinits wake

tion, citing messages allegedly nel present at the rally. The communal clash in from both sides, and complaints IRAMSIDDIQUE being circulated on social media Dorana in Mandsaur is one of HOUSEDEMOLITION Mandsaur is notaone-offinci- of arson by the villageresidents. MANDSAUR,JANUARY1 whichcalledall “Hindu broth- the three villages in the commu- ILLEGAL:EX-SCJUDGE dent in the state. Addressing an event in ers” to join the rallyfrom nally-sensitive Malwa-Neemuch In the pastweek,clashes Indore, Chief MinisterShivraj DAMAGED WINDOWpanes, AmlawadtoDorana villagein region, wherethe Rashtriya THEMANNERin have been reportedinUjjain and Singh Chouhan warnedthe broken doors, walls scribbled large numbers with saffron flags. SwayamsevakSangh (RSS) has whichahouse was Indoretoo during rallies organ- stone pelters. “Lawwill take its with ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and villagers Another messageallegedly significant presence. It has 500 demolishedinUjjain, a isedbyright-wing groups as course againstthe miscreants, scared to return to their own urgedpeople to teachthe “de- houses with about 82 Muslim dayafter aBJYM rally these passedthrough Muslim- whoevertheymay be.People homes: this is thepicture that scendantsofAurangzeb” alesson families. waspelted with stones dominated localities. On the creating disturbancewill be Dorana villageofMadhya forhaving stoppedaHindu rally The clashes on Tuesdayhad in the area, is “illegal ”, same dayasDorana in dealt with strictly. We have to Pradesh’s Mandsaur district pres- from passing through Dorana. An broken out following rallies or- former Supreme Court Mandsaur,aflare-up in Begum ensureMadhya Pradesh remains entsafter arallyofanestimated earlier rallyonDecember 25 was ganisedbyright-wing groups to judgeDeepak Gupta Bagh locality in Ujjain ledto an island of peace,” he said. 5,000 workers of VishwaHindu stoppedfromplaying loud mu- createawareness fordonation said. “This is amockery clashes with stone pelting by The police have since ar- Parishad (VHP) marched the sic outside the mosque in the vil- towardsthe construction of the of the rule of law. There residentsinresponse to alleged rested five persons and regis- streetsTuesdaywith no effective lagebylocals. But on Tuesday, Ramtemple in Ayodhya.Itcame is no powertothe police use of abusive languagebythose teredanoffence against58oth- intervention by the police. some of those in the rally under spotlight aftervideos of a to demolish structures in the rally. On December 29, a ers basedoncomplaintsbythe Aday before,villagers had climbed the same mosque and person climbing atop aminaret likethis,” he said. communal flare-up wasre- villagers; another 30 in Indore, petitionedthe Superintendent put up saffron flags. These flags Women who were attackedinDorana. Vishnukant Tiwari to put up asaffron flag went viral REPORT,PAGE4 portedinChandankhedi village of whichatleast27are villagers; of Police (SP) and sought protec- were removedbypolice person- on social media. in Indoretoo with stone pelting CONTINUEDONPAGE2 Kolkata WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM 2 THE SECOND PAGE THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY,JANUARY2,2021

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Singhu ishedfor protesting the farm Srinagar peaceful rallycalledonlytocre- laws." ateawareness.” palanquin forthe 'Nagar Kirtan' In his December 30 letter to the attack, saying all such"out- When asked about the at 5am. Alittle distance away, the Prime Minister, Baghel said, siders" who had received Panel clears Covishield shot communal messages, he said, agroup of people decoratea “Afterthe pre-intimation for domicile certificates were "RSS “It wasperhaps done locally tractor with orangeflowers for procuring 60 lakh metric agents" and warning them: sought additional information ment told The Indian Express. the companytosubmit an in- medicines and vaccines, have owing to some personal dis- aprocession to be carriedout tonne, the stagegovernment "Weknowyour names, we from the Pune-headquartered If the Drug Controller terim analysis of the efficacy of been fast-trackedconsidering putes… VHP does nothave along with the kirtan. startedprocurement on knowwhereyou live and we firm, including afact sheetof General of India (DCGI) green- the vaccine candidate–its abil- the urgency of the situation. anything to do with it.” As the hands of the clock December 1, and has procured knowwhat youdoand we are information about the vaccine lightsthis, SII will be able to ity to bring down the number Expertmeetings and ap- Elaborating on the rallies, creep towardsmidnight, afew 47 lakh tonnes from 12 lakh coming foryou." forthe general public. supplyCovishield to the gov- of symptomatic Covid-19 provals forsuchproductsdo JitendraChouhan,VHP slip intoapensive mood. farmers so far. But the stateis IGP,Kashmir,Vijay Kumar It had also asked fordetails ernment formass vaccination cases. nottakemorethan five days,a spokesperson forMadhya Gurdeep Singh (40), aformer yettoreceive aconsent from told TheIndianExpress,“We are of the product that would be before it completesthese tri- Bharat Biotech is present- senior government official Pradesh said, “Various aware- Armyman-turned-farmer from the Foods Ministrydespitesev- working on both aspects, i.e. includedinthe packageinsert, als. ing itscase forsimilar approval close to the development had ness driveswerecarriedout Punjab’s Anandpur Sahib, says eral requests over phone so business rivalryand the terror- as well as the specific condi- AZD1222, on which forCovaxin, as it too, has not earlier told The Indian Express. from December 25-31indiffer- he is alone at the Singhu bor- far.” istclaim... We will sharethe de- tions that the UK Medicines Covishield is based, received finishedlatestage human tri- SII CEO Adar Poonawalla ent pocketsofthe statetomake der since his wifeand son went Baghel said the impact on tails soon." and Healthcareproducts the approval of the UK MHRA als on over 25,000participants had said at avirtual press con- people awareofthe signifi- backafter the latter fell ill. The procurement would adversely Beforethe scrapping of RegulatoryAgency (MHRA) for“emergency” use on people across the country. ference on Mondaythat the cance of donation forthe con- loneliness is painful, he admits. affect 21.52 lakh farmers. J&K's special status, onlysub- had imposedonAstraZeneca aged 18 years and above. The firm had initiallysub- firm expected the regulator’s struction of RamTemple.” “My children liketowatchTV Following the letter,the Prime jectsofthe erstwhile state while granting emergency au- According to AstraZeneca, the mitted onlyinterim safetyand approval forCovishield to Some resorting to stone pelting and eat cakeorpastries to cel- Ministerspokewith Baghel the could be itsdomiciles and pur- thorisation forits candidate, approval recommends two immunogenicity datafrom come “in afew days”—and aremaligning the imageof ebrateNew Year’s.” next dayand “assured”him of chase land and other immov- known as AZD1222. doses administeredataninter- early-stageclinical trials, and that the vaccine should, there- VHP.“We urge our workers to GurtejSingh, however, taking “necessarysteps”, able property.Nischal origi- The SEC, whichreconvened valof4to 12 weeks. had been asked by the SEC on fore,belicensedinthe country ensurepeace.” doesn't see himself as alone. sources in the stategovern- nallyhailedfromGurdaspur in on Fridaytomakeadecision on The SEC on Fridayalso told Wednesdaytosubmit addi- in January. The police personnel were "Weare herefor acause and we ment said. Punjab. Asource said he had SII’s application, recom- Hyderabad-headquartered tional, updated trial informa- SII has manufactured over outnumbered with morethan will celebrateall the festivals An official of the society appliedafter the changeinthe mendedthat the Central Drugs Bharat Biotech to expeditere- tion forconsideration. 40 million doses of Covishield 5,000 people turning out for together.Thereisasense of handling procurement at lawand got the domicile cer- StandardControl Organisation cruitment of volunteers foron- While it is unclear how so far, and currentlyhas aca- the rally; manywereinthe age brotherhood and all of us hope Somani said theyjustdidn't tificate. “Since his daughter-in- (CDSCO) should grant approval going latestage human clinical soon DCGI Dr VGSomani will pacity to makearound 50-60 group of 15-25 years and had the newyear will bring gloryto have anyspace formorepaddy. lawisoriginallyfromJammu, to Covishield despitethe can- trials of itsCovid-19vaccine take the final call on approving million doses amonth. It ex- joinedfromthe bordering state the farmers.” "Today, we asked some millers he had also bought ahouse and didatenot having completed candidate, Covaxin, PTI re- Covishield, regulatory pectstorampupthis capacity of Rajasthan. Justbeforemidnight, slo- to take whatever theycan, so ashop recentlyinSrinagar in phase 2/3 clinical trials in India, ported. processes during the pan- to around 100million amonth Avillageresident, Shahid gans areraisedagainstthe that we can makespace fora her name." asource close to the develop- The committee had asked demic, especiallyfor Covid-19 by the end of February. Hussain Mansuri, said he was Centrefor itsrefusal to repeal couple of days worthofpro- This house is located in the asked by an Inspector of Nai the farm laws,apartfrom"Jo curement by next week." Till highlyfortifiedIndiraNagar Abadi Police Station whichhas Bole So Nihaal, Sat Shri Akal" January1,the stategovern- area, close to the Army15 jurisdiction over Dorana, to re- and "Kisan EktaZindabad". ment had procured 52.64lakh Corps headquarters, while the UK flights to resume Jan 8 move flags atop their homes These give waytobursting of metric tonnes. shop in his daughter-in-law's and mosque and remain in- crackers, singing of Punjabi The amount of paddy pro- name is at the Hari Singh High countries to &fromDelhi, General of Civil Aviation pendeduntil December 31, Bengaluru, Amritsar, doors on the rallyday,and re- songs, sharing of sweets and cured by the government in Street jewellerymarket. Mumbai, Bengaluru & (DGCA) said. The regulator and the suspension wasthen Ahmedabad, Kochi, Goa, etc. main assured the police will bear hugs as the datechanges Chhattisgarhhas been going up Soon afterNischal's killing, Hyderabad only. DGCAwill is- waswaiting forinputsfrom extendeduntil January7. everyweek earlier.Apartfrom take care. to January1,2021. everyyear,with the number of the TRF,whichisbelievedby sue the details shortly,”Civil the Health Ministryonthe The 15 weeklyflightsthat the UK, the newstrain has Unsureofpolice action, the As manystepawaytomake registeredfarmers rising from the police to be afront of the Aviation MinisterHardeep guidelines to be issuedtoair- will be allowedbetween been found in severalcoun- villagers, however, asked their video calls to families back 2019's 19 lakh farmers to up- Lashkar-e-Toiba, said it had car- Singh Puri postedonTwitter. ports and airlines, the official January8and January23is tries including the US, Canada, women to stay put at an ad- home, waving to small children wardsof22lakh now. The pro- riedout the attackonthe The formal order announc- said. MandatoryRT-PCR test- less than afourth of the over Singapore, France, Germany, joining villageonthe rallyday. on the phone screen, Gurdeep curement is done both forthe domicile issue. In astatement ing the resumption of flights ing is likelytobearequire- 60 that connected airports in the Netherlands, Japan, South Men stayed backtodefend goes to his trolleytotalk to his state-basedNagrik Apurti on itssocial media channels, will be issuedlateonFridayor ment foreveryone arriving the UK –mainlyLondon – Korea, and China. Flightsbe- their property.The police per- wife, before spreading amat- Nigam, to be sold through PDS, the TRF said, “The Resistance early on Saturday, asenior of- from the UK. with Delhi, Mumbai, tween India and these coun- sonnel also inspected the vil- tress and lying down next to his and the FCI. Front conducted an intelli- ficial at the Directorate Flightswereinitiallysus- Hyderabad, Chennai, tries continue to operate. lageand ensured therewereno friends. Millers areawaiting aclear gence-basedoperation in stones on the terrace. In one corner,farmers ob- signal from the Centreand the Srinagar todayinwhichanRSS On Tuesdayafternoon, over serveaone-minutesilence to FCI before theycan startpro- agent, who wasposing as a mandatoryfor companies with curity,orintellectual property and “monitor and recommend dorms would be recon- 5,000men armedwith swords, markthe protesters who died, cessing the dhaan whichfarm- businessman, wasneutralized. turnoverofoverRs500 crore rights, “suitablyanonymised technologies to be bought or structed," the statement had sticks and stones, and saffron mostofthem of natural causes ers arebringing to the procure- The individual wasanactive from October 1lastyear.Itwas and/or redacted data” will be indigenouslymade”. said, adding that therehad flags, chanted slogans, played in the biting cold or accidents ment centres. Facing economic participant in the demographic notifiedtobeextendedtobusi- made accessible. And even if been instances of slabs falling musiconloudspeakersand en- en route, and twoofsuicides. hardships themselves, they changeand settler colonyproj- nesses with over Rs 100crore some datacannotbereleased IIM-A from the roof, endangering stu- teredthe village. Theybroke Of the manylangars serving said theywereawaiting per- ect run by Hindutvafascists to turnoverfromJanuary1this to the general public due to calamitous and irreversible de- dents. open houses and climbed the food, afew remain open, missions to startprocurement. alter the demographyof year,and is likelytobeex- these or other reasons, genuine cision", saying manypeople in Speaking to The Indian mosque to put up saffron flags, churning out hotpakodas and Said Vikash Agrawalof Kashmir... The Resistance Front tendedtoall businesses begin- researchers would definitely India and abroad could help the Express on December 28, Prof says 60-year-old Fakeer chai. Those industrious enough Rajnandgaon, “For parboiled had already warnedthat any ning April 1. The e-invoicing have access. institutefind asolution that D’Souza, had said theycould Mohammad, aresident of to stocksweetsonthis big rice, whichisacquired in larger Indian national irrespective of system is connected to acen- The draftpolicy also pro- wasbeneficial to it and yetpre- consider restoration “if noth- Dorana. The mob ransacked night see these flying off. quantities and has abigger out- faith, caste or colour,who tral portal, whichreceivesand poses “proactive steps” to im- serve"the timeless architec- ing comes out of the proposals houses, parkedcars, CCTV As it gets colder,the protest side market,thereisabsolute comes to Kashmir with the in- validates invoices in real time. provethe quality of Indian ture". submitted forrebuilding of cameras and even hit the cat- siteisdottedwith small an- silence from the FCI.” Chief tention of settling here, will be GSTcollections,whichare journals, and “concentrated ef- Kahn’s children had ques- dormitories as per the require- tle tiedoutside, he said. githis everywhere, apartfrom MinisterBaghel had spoken treated as an agent of the RSS an indicator of economic activ- forts” to prevent the publica- tionedthe conclusion that the mentsofpreserving the cul- Nazar Mohammad heaters around some trolleys. with Food MinisterPiyush and notasacivilian." ity,had plummetedtoarecord tion of fake journals. Further,li- dormitories were "a lost tural and heritageaesthetics of Mansoori, aconstable with the Till 1am, thereisaconstant Goyaltoo earlier,and he had lowofRs32,172crore in April, braries of all publicly-funded cause", giventhat one of them, Kahn, meeting the budget and ArmedForces, who wasde- hum of gurbanis in the back- promisedthe file pertaining to GST receipts following the Covid-19pan- institutions areproposedtobe D-15, had been successfullyre- required usageofspace". ployedonduty in nearby ground. FCI procurement under the compared to the same month demic lockdown. The average made accessible to the general stored.Theyhad also asked Mandsaur district, said his Then, slowly, the farmers Central pool would be cleared lastyear.However, the govern- growth in GSTrevenues during public, “subject onlytoreason- that aseismic technical assess- VHP rally house backhome wasran- startretiring to their tractor soon, sources in the stategov- ment should also provide a the October-December quarter able security protocols”. ment reportofthe building be in Begum Bagh locality of sacked, vehicles damaged,and trolleys,huddling together un- ernment said. breakup of the GSTcollected has been 7.3per cent as com- The MinistryofScience and made public. Ujjain, 18 have been arrested his brother’s grain shop looted. der blanketscarriedfrom The problems in procure- through filing of returns and pared to (-)8.2 per cent during Technology is hoping that the Theyhad earlier written to with chargesunder National “Residentsweresharing the home, with plastic sheets cov- ment come on topofacute GSTcollected through recovery the July-September quarter final policy would be approved the director on December 22, Security Actinvoked on ten. videos on Whatsapp group and ering the vehicles foraddi- shortage of gunnybags or bar- drivesinitiated by the DRI and and (-)41per cent during the by the government in the first expressing "shockand dismay" Siddharth Choudhary, SP, all Icould do waswatchithelp- tional warmth. Blanketshave dana to hold the paddy,which DGGSTI authorities, which April-June quarterofthe finan- half of this year.The stated ob- at the EoI issuedtoreplace Mandsaur,told TheIndian lesslydespitebeing in the force also been distributed by several aresuppliedbythe Centre-- should give us atrue pictureof cial year. jective of the policy,whichwill dorms, saying "the buildings in Express that with priorknowl- myself,” he said. organisations at the protest made worse by the Covid shut- the extent of economic recov- Out of Rs 1,15,174 croreGST replace the STIpolicy of 2013, question arethe heartofour fa- edge of the rallyand under- Fakeer Mohammad, 60, site. Those withnovehicles downs. Stategovernment offi- ery,”Rajat Bose, Partner, revenues in December,Rs is to achieve technological self- ther's universallyacknowl- standing that it could take a said men in the rallychased move intothe tentsset up on cials said Chhattisgarhrequired Shardul Amarchand 21,365 croreisCentral GST; Rs reliance and position India edgedmasterpiece at IIM-A". communal turn, he had de- severalvillagers including his the road, footpath or divider. 4.5 lakh bundles of jutebags. Mangaldas &Co, said. 27,804crore is StateGST;Rs among the topthree scientific The EoI had cited multiple ployedaforce of 100men, six nephewAbdul Hakim who ran Some morebrave justsprawl “While the JuteCommissioner December wasthe fourth 57,426 croreisIntegrated GST powerhouses of the worldover problems in the dorms (D-1 to inspectors, aDeputy forhis lifeand returnedonly on the main stage, unmindful said theycan supply1.45 lakh month in whichGST revenue (including Rs 22,050 crorecol- the next decade. It hopes that 18), built between 1968 and Superintendent of Police (DSP) later in the night. Chasedbya of the cold. bundles, theyhavegiven us collections postedayear-on- lected on importofgoods); and government and private ex- 1978, from leakages from roof under the Additional SP. mob, Mohammad and six oth- By 5amthe next day, the only1.05 lakh bundles,” an of- year growth. The proposedex- Rs 8,579 croreisCess, includ- penditureonresearch and de- and dampness in walls to ma- “Wehad givenclear in- ers were finallygiven shelter by protesters have already started ficial said. tension of electronic invoicing ing Rs 971crore on importof velopment would double every jor structural damages caused struction to our forcedeployed aHindu family. stirring, with volunteers from Shankar Sahu, afarmer,says to morebusinesses is expected goods, the statement issuedby five years. by the 2001 earthquake. in the villagethat nothing Hakim’s two-storiedhouse Khalsa Aid and severalyouths even recycledgunnybags are to further prevent leakagein the government said. An important partofthe On Thursday, over 600ar- should happen to the masjid — wasone of the houses that suf- readying hotwater and arrang- nowinhigh demand. "Earlier, GSTrevenues. Atotal of 87 lakh GSTR-3B policy is the emphasis on pro- chitectsand academics from whichwas ensured.The flag feredmostdamagewith the ing heaters forthe women and they would costRs20, but af- “Recent changes introduced returns were filedfor the moting the goals of 118universities in over 30 put up wasimmediatelyre- glass balconyshattered.Inthe the elderly. terCovid-19, the rate is Rs 30 and effectively implemented in month of November up to Atmanirbhar Bharat by making countries releasedapetition movedbythe police personnel FIR, he claimedthat cash and per piece.” According to Tekam, the GSTN technology platform December 31,asagainstthe 82 India self-reliant in science and saying demolition of the dorms present there,” said Choudhary. ornamentsworth lakhs of ru- Chhattisgarh "Per quintal, afarmer is spend- likee-invoicing and of the lakh filedinthe previous technology.Itproposes to "will seriouslydamagethe While he deniedtherewas any pees were stolen. The residents Prime MinisterNarendraModi ing Rs 37 or moreongunny matching of supplier invoices month. adoptatwo-way approach, global reputation of IIM-A" and firing during the rally, he said a have registeredfour different complaining that despiteapre- bags, simplybecause the gov- along with strict enforcement The government settledRs “indigenous development of will be "an act of cultural van- fewmen were carrying swords. FIRs of theftand damageto intimation by the Food ernment doesn't have any." by revenue authorities in 23,276 croretoCGSTand Rs technology,aswell as technol- dalism". Thepoliceforce ensured the property following the rallies. Corporation of India (FCI) to Lakhan Sahu, whose village checking fraudulent invoices, 17,681 croretoSGSTfromIGST ogy indigenisation”, to achieve In astatement releasedon men in the rallywereconfined Some women who had procure60lakh metric tonne is one of the 18 affected by the has inducedenhanceddegree as regular settlement. After this. Friday, IIM-AChairman Kumar to the main road and exited stayed backalso had to flee of rice underthe centralpool shutting of the Somani centre, of reporting compliance...as e- this, the total revenue earned The policy says infrastruc- Mangalam Birla and the Board Dorana villageassoon as possi- their homes intothe fields. forthe kharif season, the state says,"We have had ashortage invoicing gets extendedtoless by the CentreisRs44,641 crore turewill be setuptoboostlocal of Governors had laid out the ble. “It wasnot advisable to use ShakiraBiclaimedsome in the had notreceivedafinal con- of sacks everyyear,but it than Rs 100crore turnovertax- as CGST, and by the states is Rs R&D capabilities and reduce reasons behind the decision, forcetocontrol the situation rallyfired afew rounds in the sent. Hence, the FCI’s local units would neverstopprocure- payers in the near future, it 45,485 croreasSGST, the largescale importin“selected takenafter "deep delibera- and so we ensured that they air afterwhichmanywomen have notyet startedlifting the ment. Even local millers arenot shall further prevent leakageof Ministrysaid. sectors of domestic importance tions". exited soon. The rallywas not who were hiding in the fields grains. taking the produce because GSTinthe MSME sector,” Atul suchaselectronic hardwarefor "The instituterecognises allowedtogather at anearby beganrunning, onlytobe Meanwhile, aconviction is thereisnowordyet from the Gupta,Senior Director,Deloitte New policy home appliances, railways,in- that it has acultural legacy to school as wasplannedearlier,” chasedbythe men. “The men gaining around among desper- Central government.” India, said. scientific research in the coun- telligent transport, clean tech, nurture. At the same time, said Choudhary. chasedusintothe fields, but re- atefarmers that theyare pay- The turn of villages regis- “However”, Gupta said, “the try. defence, etc”. therecan be no compromise on When contacted,Sohanji turnedafter following us some ingthe pricefor opposition to teredatSomani comes only government should ensure From this Observatory, all “Initiativeslikebuilding a the safetyofthe residentsof Vishwakarma, Regional distance,” claimedMumtaz Bi, the newCentral agricultural once in twoweeks, and Sahu easing bank credit availability dataand information related to robustsemiconductor ecosys- the dorms... (hence) ablended Minister(Prant Mantri) of the 32. laws.Representativesofseveral wasmeant to sell his paddy to the MSME sector whichis publicly-fundedresearch temwill strengthen India's po- approachwas considered ap- Malwaregion forVishwa On Thursday, an unsettling farmers' unions from the state now. still struggling to recoverfrom would be made freelyaccessi- sition in the strategic sectors,” propriate. The coreofthe Louis Hindu Parishad said, “Some silence had engulfed the village have joinedthe protesters at But, Sahu says,"Afterwait- the Covid-inducedslowdown ble to everyone under “FAIR it says. Kahn buildings -- the library, unidentifiedpeople took saf- with police taking stockof Delhi's Singhu border.Sudesh ing fordays,when it wasgoing in the domestic and export (Fair,Accessible, Interoperable Forthe strategic sectors, the the faculty wings, and the class fron flags and joinedthe rally. damageand clearing the Tekam, afarm leader,says,"The to be my turn, the centreissay- markets.” andReusable) terms”. In situa- policy proposes the establish- room complex--and the VHP has no affiliation with streetsofdebris leftfromran- Centreand stategovernment ing theyhavenospace. Despite Under GSTlaws, e-invoice tionswhere some data cannot ment of aStrategic Technology dorms on the peripheryofthe them. We aretrying to trace sackedhomes. arefighting it out and we are having atoken and sacks,Ican't forB2B (business to business) be made available to all due to Boardthat will bridgeall strate- complex(Dorms 16-18) would them (those who resortedto FULLREPORTSON losing, as if we arebeing pun- sell my harvest." transactions have been made reasons of privacy,national se- gic government departments, be restored,while the other stone pelting). Ours wasa www.indianexpress.com

Kolkata WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY,JANUARY2,2021 3 WEST BENGAL

RUN-UP TO ASSEMBLY POLLS Onfoundationday,TMC Shah, Nadda to visit Bengal again this month

cination starts.“Both JP Nadda ji party.However, we arenot at all EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE and Amit Shah ji will frequently bothered as MamataBanerjee KOLKATA,JANUARY1 come to Bengal to hold political herself enoughto fighttheBJP.She launchesnewoutreach programmes and to strengthen will undertake multiple visitsto WITH WESTBengal setfor theorganisation.Ouraimisto put the the districtsinthe newyear," Assemblypolls in April-May, the pressure onthestategovernment said asenior TMC leader. onlythe people. On The party is also planning politicalfight between the ruling in the run-up to the election. The Thestategovernmenthasalso EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE #TMCFoundationDay, Iextend outreachprogrammes like TMC and the BJP is likelytointen- time is already up forthe TMC launchedits ‘DuareSarkar’ (gov- KOLKATA,JANUARY1 my sinceregratitude to our Maa- “DidikeBolo [Tell Didi]” and sify in the newyear. Union Home Minister government. The BJP is all setto ernmentatdoorstep)initiative to Mati-Manush and all our work- “Banglar Gorbo Mamata As the LeftFront and the Amit Shah (left), BJP come to powerinBengal with help people getbenefitsofits so- THE TRINAMOOL Congress on CM Mamata ers who continue to fight with us [MamataisBengal’s Pride]”. Congress have entered intoan national president JPNadda hugemajority," said West Bengal cial welfareschemes. In abid to Fridaymarkedits foundation day Banerjee in making Bengal better and “Both ‘DidikeBolo’ and electoral alliance, the statewill BJP president Dilip Ghosh. combat it, the BJP has launcheda even as it announcedanoutreach stronger eachday.The Trinamool ‘Banglar Gorbo Mamata’ were witnessathree-corneredcontest. TheTMCisbankingontheim- Lokkho Sonar Bangla (aim for campaign following itsmuch- familywill carry on with this re- successful. Now, justbeforeelec- The newyear will begin with close on the heels of Amit Shah ageofCMMamataBanerjee to Golden Bengal) campaign. publicised“DuareSarkar [gov- the state, Banerjee said the solve fortimes to come!” tions, we will startamegacam- the visitsoftwo heavyweight and Chief MinisterMamata take on the BJP.According to a The Left-Congress combine is ernment at the doorstep]” initia- party’s 23-year journeyhad been Banerjee tweeted. Senior TMC paign.” The party think-tank just leaders of the BJP.While BJP na- BanerjeevisitingBolpurandhold- senior party leader,Banerjee is focusing on “addressing people's tive.The “Paray Sarkar one of “immensestruggle”. She leaders hoistedthe party flag at startedthe formulation of the tionalpresidentJPNaddaissched- ing road shows.Later in the scheduledtoundertake aseriesof issues to fight both the TMC and [government in the neighbour- said TMC workers would con- the TMC headquarters during the newcampaign. We think it will uledtovisitthestateinthesecond month, Shah is likelytovisit visitstothe districtstohighlight the BJP.” hood]” campaign will begin on tinue the resolve of making day, and workers organised be completedbythe end of week of January, Union Home Matua community dominated her government's achievements. “Wewill raise people's issues January2,with press conferences Bengal “betterand stronger eventsacross the state. January,”said asenior leader. MinisterAmit Shah is scheduled ThakurnagarareaofNorth 24 "It is unfortunatethat the BJP has suchaspricerise,economiccrisis, by Trinamool Congress (TMC) eachday”. “Wegot hugesuccess in the Meanwhile, Mamata to visitthestateinthethirdweek. Parganasdistrictto quelltheanger deployedits national president, unemployment and etctoreach leaders in everydistrict. “As Trinamool turns 23 today, ‘Duaresarkar’ scheme. General Banerjee and her nephew According to the BJP,Nadda of membersof Matuacommunity Union Home Minister, chief min- out to the masses. Both TMC and TMC chairperson and Chief Ilook backatthe journeywebe- people got relief from bureau- Abhishek Banerjee, who is the mightvisitBolpurinBirbhumdis- who were upsetafter his state- isters of others states, CBI and ED BJP areengaging in competing MinisterMamataBanerjee, who ganonJanuary1st,1998. Our cracy.So, we hope that ‘Paray MP from Diamond Harbour,will trict and hold organisational ment that Citizenship to fightagainstMamataBanerjee. communalism.Ourobjective isto foundedthe ruling party on years have been of immense Sarkar’ also will be successful as continue to campaign in districts. meetings with the stateparty Amendment Act(CAA) would be The BJP lacks leaders and that’s fightBJPand TMC,"saidstateCPM January1,1998, reiterated her struggle, but throughout this the party’s middlemen will dis- Sources in the ruling party said leadership. Nadda's visit comes implementedonceCovid-19vac- whytakingaway leadersfromour secretarySurjyakantaMishra. commitment to the cause of peo- time we have continuedto appear and common people will Abhishek Banerjee will begin a ple. Extending her gratitude to achieve our objective of being getrid of the ‘cut money’ cul- tour of NorthBengal next week. TMC workers and the people of committed to the cause of ture,” said asenior TMC leader. His schedule is yettobedecided. ‘Tantalisingly untrue’: Amartya Sen again CATTLE SMUGGLING RACKET claims he did not call Visva-Bharati V-C CBI seals another property of TMC leader ing ameeting forthe release of EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE STOPBUILDING abook by Pranab Bardhan. His in “lockand key” condition. It ducted raids at Mishra's resi- Bengal otherwise." KOLKATA, JANUARY 1 claim that we have talked on EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE waslater sealed. According to in- dences in KolkataonThursday. On Friday, BJP statepresident WALLALONG the phone and Iintroducedmy- KOLKATA,JANUARY1 telligence sources, Vinayhas Mishra, againstwhom alook-out Dilip Ghosh told mediapersons, NOBEL LAUREATEAmartyaSen ROAD:DMTOVBU self as Bharat Ratna is tantalis- manyapartmentsinKolkataand notice has been issued, wasnot "It seems the investigation is go- has once again deniedcalling ingly untrue.” THE CBI Anti-Corruption Branch suburbs that arenow on the present at anyofhis properties ing in the right direction. He Visva-Bharati University (VBU In the mail, acopyofwhich has sealedanother residential CBI's radar. that were searched by the CBI (Mishra) is notanew name and Vice-Chancellor Bidyut Kolkata:The Birbhum dis- is with The Indian Express,Sen property of businessman and Acommerce graduateand teams. CBI officials were accom- is close to manyTMC leaders. Chakraborty in June 2019 and EconomistAmartyaSen trict administration on went on to add, “On June 2, Trinamool leader VinayMishra Kolkata-basedbusinessman, paniedbyCRPF personnel dur- Slowlylot of other things will introducing himself as “Bharat (left), VBU Vice-Chancellor Fridayissuedanorder to 2019,Iwas in France, attending in Kolkata. The CBI is also inves- Mishrahas close linkswith in- ing the search operation. come to light." Ratna”. In anew email sent to Bidyut Chakraborty the Visva-Bharati ameeting in Paris. On June 14, tigating Mishra's alleged role in fluential political leaders, Meanwhile, the TMC has al- Speaking about CBI raids and Visva-Bharati University University (VBU) admin- 2019,Iwas in America, at our coal smuggling, apartfromacat- sources said. The CBI has claimed leged that the BJP was“misus- the arrest of alleged kingpin Faculty Association (VBUFA) istration to immediately home in Cambridge, tle smuggling racket.The agency that he is closelyassociated with ing” central agencies. Enamul Haque in November,BJP president Sudipta Bhattacharya V-Cfromalocal number and stop the construction of a Massachusetts. Afterthat Iwas had earlier sealedhis flat in manypeople directlyinvolvedin TMC spokesperson Kunal leader Suvendu Adhikari said in earlier this week,Sen dis- complainedtohim about the wall along aroad that in England, in the English Kaikhali. ACBI team also reached the cattle smuggling case. The Ghosh had said on Thursday, Kanthi, "The agency will soon missedChakraborty’s claim. removalofhawkers. According connectsthe twin towns Cambridge. Icame [toIndia] on athirdproperty of his on agency also claimedthat he al- "Theyare using central agencies knockthe doors of aheavy- Lastmonth, the vice-chan- to the spokesman, the conver- of Santiniketan and the 3rdofJuly, and went to Thursdaybut couldn't carry out legedly siphonedoff money. to malign our imagebecause weight involvedinthe case. cellor had claimedatavirtual sation took place in June 2019, Sriniketan. Delhi first, and then Calcutta asearch operation as the flat was Severalteams of CBI had con- theyare notable to fight TMC in Justwait." meeting with faculty members when the V-Cwas returning to Birbhum DM VijayBharti and Santiniketan. Iwas notin that Sen had calledhim and in- Santiniketan from Kolkataair- said the wall, if built, India at all in June 2019.” troducedhimself as “Bharat portafter attending ameeting could inconvenience peo- The 87-year-old economist, BJP LEADER’S MURDER Ratna AmartyaSen”. The econ- in Delhi. ple'smovement along the who wasborn and brought up omist, Chakraborty said, re- The VBUFApresident route. “Locals use the in Santiniketan, is the Thomas Two TMC questedthat hawkers outside emailedSen again, asking him routefor ease of com- W. Lamont University his home notberemovedbe- if he wasinIndia in June 2019 muting. Arestriction can Professor,and Professor of cause his daughter,who visits since the call wasmade from a be imposedall of asud- Economics and Philosophy, at leaders Santiniketan often, would be local number. den. The issue should be HarvardUniversity in the inconvenienced. On Tuesday, the economist solvedamicablythrough US at present. named as Following this, wrote, “I wasnot in India at all discussions," said the VBU authorities recentlyac- Bhattacharya wrotetoSen, ask- in June 2019.Iamextremely DM) The Visva-Bharati cusedSen of illegallyoccupy- ing him whether he had indeed rarely in India in June. Iprefer administration refusedto ing 13 decimals of university suspects spoken to the V-Coverthe to come onlyafter the mon- comment. The adminis- land, an allegation refuted by phone. soon settles in —soittends to tration has also taken Sen. Chief MinisterMamata The Nobellaureate, in his be July, notJune. On your other over another road that Banerjee has defendedSen, ac- EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE reply, deniedsuchclaims. question, Ihavetalked with the connectsUpasana Griho cusing the V-Cofbeing a“BJP KOLKATA,JANUARY1 However, auniversity present V-CofVisva-Bharati to KalisayarMorefrom man” and targetting the Nobel spokesperson, in astatement to onlyonce, to the best of my Visva- Bharati.ENS laureatebecause he does not THE STATECriminal the media, insistedthat the knowledge.This wasafew supportthe saffron party’s Investigation Department (CID) Nobellaureatehad calledthe years agowhen he waschair- ideology. on Fridayfiledachargesheetin acourtinaBarrackporecourtin connection with the murder of 34-year-old teacher found 2killed as motorcycle hits truck BJP leader Manish Shukla last October.The agency namedtwo NEW YEAR FUN Alipurduar:Two men on amo- motorcycle, coming from Trinamool Congress (TMC) lead- dead after New Year party torcycle were killedafter their Birpara, crashedintothe truck ers as suspects. Visitors at Maidan in KolkataonFriday. Express two-wheeler rammedintoa whichwas parkedonthe road- The agency has chargedthe 7pmonThursday, Biswasandhis truckfrombehind in West side due to abreakdown, ase- 10 people arrested till datefor EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE twofriends SubhagataMondal Bengal's Alipurduar district early niorpolice officer said. The two, the murder,while 12 have KOLKATA,JANUARY1 (33) and Raju Kundu (35) went to on Friday, police said. identified as Pradip and Nirmal been namedsuspects. Shukla, 1,153 new Covid cases, 26 more deaths theapartmentof theirfriendUjjal The accident took place in Oraon, were residentsof aclose aide of BJP MP Arjun A34-YEAR-OLD schoolteacher Ghosh (32), aresearcher on Rangalibazna area when their Madarihat area. PTI Singh, wasgunneddownin STATECOUNT statestands at 9,738 on Friday. wasfounddeadundermysterious MetallurgyatJadavpurUniversity Titagarh in North24Parganas EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE The cumulative number of dis- circumstances afteraNew Year forNew Year celebrations. राीय पशु जैव ौोिगक संथान district on the night of October KOLKATA,JANUARY1 TOTAL CASES chargedpersons became party at afriend's residence in Accordingto policesources,af- National Institute of Animal Biotechnology 4outside aparty office by gun- 5,31,862. The recovery rate has KolkataonFriday. According to terhaving food and drinksthey NIAB An autonomous Institute of Department of Bio-Technology, men on abike. IN THE last24hours, 1,153per- 553216 increasedto96.14 per cent. sources, SubrataBiswas was wentto sleep.“Nofoulplayhasbe National Institute of Animal Biotechnology Ministry of Science &Technology,Govt of India Titagarh civic body admin- sons tested positive forCovid-19 INCREASE DEATHS The total number of cases in found unconscious on abed detected nor we have received Sy.No.37, Near Gowlidoddy,Gachibowli,Hyderabad, Telangana, India-500032, istrator PrashantaChoudhury in the stateand 26 persons died. West Bengal increasedto around 4:15am. He wastaken to anycomplaint.However, thebody Contact: 040- 2312 0103/0115, Email:[email protected], Web: www.niab.org.in who has been namedaresus- As manyas1,496 persons cured 1153 9738 5,53,216.OnThursday, the total SSKMhospitalwheredoctorsde- hasbeensentforautopsyto ascer- Advertisement No.24/2020 pect along with his TMC col- of the infection. The number of 531862 RECOVERED caseloadwas 5,52,063. As many clared him dead on arrival. He tain the cause of death,” said DC RECRUITMENT OF SCIENTIST league and Barrackporecivic active cases further decreased as 39,109samples were tested in hailedfromNadia district, police (Jadavpur) Rashid Munir Khan. NIAB, Hyderabad, an autonomous institute under the aegis of Department of body administrator Uttam Das and became 11,616. 7149539 SAMPLES the past24hours, taking the to- sources said. An case of unnatural death case Biotechnology,Government of India, is aimed to harness novel and emerging TESTED TILL JAN 1 biotechnologies and create knowledge in the cutting edge areas for improving said, “It is apolitical conspir- The total death toll in the talnumber to 71,49,539. Enquiryrevealedthat around has been registered, police said. animal health and productivity. acy.” Both of them were earlier NIAB, Hyderabad invites applications from Indian citizens for the following positions: interrogatedbythe CID. Positions Pay Level No of post Age Limit Arjun Singh accusedthe Scientist -G Level 14 as per 7th CPC 1(UR) Not exceeding 50 years TMC of murdering his associ- Co-passenger of youth Not exceeding 50 years ate. “It wasaplannedmurder Scientist -F Level 13A as per 7th CPC 1(UR) by the TMC. Those who have with new UK strain tests PUBLIC NOTICE Scientist -B Level-10 as per 7th CPC 1(UR) Not exceeding 35 years been shown as suspectsare the It is notified to allconcerned Please visit NIABwebsite www.niab.org.in for detailed advertisement and that the original Deed of Mutual online application form. ones who gave shelter to crimi- positive for coronavirus Partition being no. 12843 for nals and fundedthe murder.We the year 1985, original Deed Date of commencement of online applications: 2-1-2021 knoweverything. The police are of Gift being no. 3255 for the Last date for submitting online applications: 5-2-2021 (5 PM) Sd/- DIRECTOR year 1988, original Deed of still trying to hide alot of things. condition is stable. Conveyances being no.13622 It is aclear-cut case, and would PRESSTRUSTOFINDIA “Weare waiting forthe re- for the year 1988 and 10574 have been better had CBI probed KOLKATA,JANUARY1 sultsofthe genetic analysis. for the year 2008 with respect to the murder.” His sample has been sent to ALL THATland measuring about 02 Cottah and 01 Chittacks APASSENGER who travelledin the National Instituteof and 03 sqft alongwith 20 years the same flight with ayoung Biomedical Genomics in old storied building under P.S- Won’t let corrupt man currentlyinthe isolation Kalyani to ensurewhether he -Kasba comprised in Municipal Premises no. 356, Garfa ward of acity hospital after is infected with the newstrain Main Road, Kolkata-700075 leader be TMC testing positive forthe mutant of the coronavirus or not. We within the limits of Kolkata coronavirus strain has been will followthe necessarypro- Municipal Corporation owned candidate: MLA diagnosedwith Covid-19, tocol once the result is out,” by one Sri Achin Bhattacharya. He lodged aGeneral Dairy with asenior health official said the official said. the Officer-in-Charge of Lake Kolkata:TMC leader and on Friday. The health department Police Station vide GDE no. Singur MLARabindranath Both of them travelledto came to knowabout the per- 1351 for the year 2020 dated Bhattacharya on Fridayagain the city from the United son's disease afterthe author- 22-12-2020 regarding the loss of the said deeds.Any body having lashedout over “corruption” in Kingdom, wherethe strain ities startedlooking out for custody of the said deeds or the party,saying, "I will notal- wasrecentlydiscovered. the co-passengers of the having any information thereof lowany corruptleader as a However, it is yettobeas- youth, the firstperson in the or any claim over the said property or the said deeds may candidateofour party in certainedifthe person is in- statewho wasdiagnosedwith kindly intimate the under named Singur.” Earlier,Bhattacharya fected with the mutant vari- the newstrain that wasfound person within 10 days from the raisedobjections when ant as the outcome of the in the United Kingdom, to date hereof failing which no Nasibpur panchayatchief genetic analysis of his sample find out whether theyare in- such claim shall be entertained. Ayan Mitra, Advocate Govinda Dharawas appointed is awaited,the official told PTI. fected with the mutant WB/420/2009 the TMC's blockpresident in The person, aresident of coronavirus or not. ACUMEN Legal &Advisory Singur.Sources saythe allega- central Kolkata, is kept in in- At least29cases of the new Unit no. 4Q, 4Govt. Place tions areaimedathis political stitutional isolation in the strain have so farbeen de- (North) Kolkata-700001 Mobile rivaland Haripal MLA, BeliaghataInfectious Disease tected across India, official No. 9674292623/7980380619 Becharam Manna. ENS Hospital hereand his sources told PTI. Kolkata WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM 4 EXPRESS NETWORK THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY,JANUARY2,2021

Kerala govt TRACKING INDIA’S COVID CURVE Backtoschoolwithcaution,curbs announces 305 CASES: ACTIVECASES:254,254 digital media DAYSSINCE 10,286,709 DEATHS:148,994 KERALA: Schoolsreopen partially; ASSAM: Lowattendanceonfirstday KARNATAKA: PANDEMIC literacy BEGAN TESTS: 173,111,694 | RECOVERIES: 9,883,461 next in line:theatres, places of worship as elementaryclasses restart Regular classes CASES DEATHS RECOVERIES TESTS programme DEC31 20,035 256 23,1811,062,420 Mazumdar,the school’s prin- resume for10th SHAJUPHILIP TORAAGARWALA cipal. and 12th grades THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, GUWAHATI,JANUARY1 According to the SOP, SHAJUPHILIP JANUARY1 classes will be held in astag- THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, ELEMENTARYSCHOOLSin geredmanner.While classes IV JANUARY1 SCHOOL BELLSchimedinKerala Assam reopenedfor the first and Vwill attend school every PRESSTRUSTOFINDIA forthe firsttime in nine months time since the Covid-19lock- Monday, Wednesdayand BENGALURU,JANUARY1 TheKeralaGovernmentonFriday as classes forthe 10th and 12th down on January1,with onlya Friday, classes I, II and III will announcedadigitalmedialiteracy standards beganonNew Year's handful of studentsinatten- attend everyTuesday, AFTER Agap of over nine programme called‘Satyameva STATESWITHRISINGACTIVECASES Day. And although the statecon- dance. Thursdayand Saturday. months, schools and pre-uni- Jayate’(Truth alone triumphs). ACTIVECASES RISEINLASTWEEK tinues to reporthigh Covid-19 While studentsofclass VI Tarun RamPhukan Hindi versity colleges in Karnataka Announcing the programme, Kerala 65,274 2,054 case numbers, it has nowal- and above have been attending High school in another partof reopenedfor studentson Chief MinisterPinarayiVijayan Sikkim 623 109 lowedmovie theatres to run Thermal scanning at a school since November,adip the city also sawlow atten- Fridaywith strict Covid-19 told the media that the pro- Jharkhand 1,659 64 shows,places of worship to con- school in Palakkad. PTI in cases prompted authorities dance. “It’s the firstof safetynorms. gramme would be taught at duct festivals and sports training to announce the reopening of January—this is one reason While regular classes began schoolsandcolleges,whichwould STATESWHEREACTIVECASESAREDECLINING programmes to resume from lowerprimary(ItoV)classes onlyafew showedup. From on Fridayfor class Xand sec- beencouragedto developcurricu- ACTIVECASES DECLINEINLASTWEEK Tuesday. hands before entering class- from January1.“Online mode Monday, we expect morestu- ond year PUC (class XII) stu- lum on digital media literacy. Chhattisgarh 11,4353,716 Since the beginning of the ac- rooms. of education will continue for dents,” said headmasterAshok dents, who will be appearing TheChief Ministersaidsmart- West Bengal 11,985 3,208 ademic year in June, the statehas Meanwhile, Chief Minister studentswho prefer to attend Kumar Choudhury. forboardexams, studentsfrom phoneandinternetpenetrationis Delhi 5,511 2,398 been live-streaming classes for PinarayiVijayan said theatres online classes rather than The SOP also stated that grades VI-XII came to cam- muchhigherinKerala than any studentsfromclasses one to 12. and places of worship hosting physicallyattend school” Classes VI to XII as well as de- puses forthe Vidyagama pro- other state. Large number of peo- STATESREPORTINGMAXIMUMCASES The government decidedto festivals would be allowedtorun stated the December 28 gree colleges and universities gramme, whichenables con- ple arenow depending upon so- ONDEC31 TOTAL open schools forclasses 10 and while following Covid-19pro- StandardOperating Procedure will function in a“normal” tinuedschooling. cial media fornews updates. The Kerala 5,215 760,934 12 as their boards arecoming up tocol. He told reporters that from the stateEducation manner—subject to safety Wearing masks, students chances forthe spread of lies and Maharashtra3,509 1,932,112 in March. thousands of people associated Department. Covid-19protocols—from with consent letters from their wronginformationthroughsocial All studentswent through with the film industryhave At Guwahati’s Rabindra January1.“Mostlysenior stu- parentswereseen entering the media, whichdonot have anyed- West Bengal 1,170552,063 temperaturechecksupon reach- been in crisis forthe lastten VidyaNiketan LowerPrimary dentsattendedschool today, classes afterthermal checks itorial supervision, has widened. STATESREPORTINGMAXIMUMDEATHS ing the school. Only12students months. "The decision was School, onlyseven out of 56 we arecloselymonitoring the and sanitising their hands at Hence,peopleshouldunderstand ONDEC31 TOTAL were allowedtosit in aclass- takenfor protecting the liveli- studentsshowedup. situation,” said BKalyan schoolsand PU colleges across the laws and benchmarks which Maharashtra6150,664 room—while maintaining social hood of people. Only50per “Following the government's Chakravarthy, Principal the state. control social media and the in- Kerala 30 3,180 distance. Studentsand teachers cent of the seating capacity order,wehad onlyclasses IV Secretary, Deparment of Inside the classes too, stu- ternet. It is important to distin- were told to sanitize their hands would be allowedintheatres,” and Vinattendance—very few Elementaryand Secondary dentswereseen seated main- guish between truth and un- West Bengal 29 9,712 afterevery class and wash their he said. showedup,” said Mitali Education. taining social distancing. truth, he said.

UJJAIN HOUSE DEMOLITION Mockery of rule of law, says former Supreme Court judge

tion drive wasmeant to hurt terrorism.Whilemaintainingthat APURVAVISHWANATH “criminalswhoresorttosuchacts lawwill take itscourse, Chief NEWDELHI,JANUARY1 of stone-pelting” economically. MinisterShivraj Singh Chouhan Justice Gupta,who retired had said “those who supportter- THE MANNER in whichthe a fromthetopcourtinMay lastyear, rorism will notbespared”while house wasdemolishedinBegum saiddespitevalidreasons,thetim- commenting on the demolition. Bagh,aMuslim-dominatedlocal- ing of suchdemolitions would On December 13,Bhopal ityinUjjain,aday afteraBharatiya makeitillegal. “...If thepoliceand Municipal Corporation demol- JanataYuvaMorcharallywas politicians take lawintotheir ishedabuilding belonging to pelted with stones in the area, is handsandshowthattheyhaveno HukumchandraChakbandiya,an “absolutelyillegal and an act of a faith in the courts,what is acom- alleged drug-peddler who is on police state”, former Supreme mon man supposedtodo?” therun. Althoughtheofficialrea- CourtjudgeDeepak Gupta told The strategy of hurting those son cited wasthat it wascon- The Indian Express. accusedofcrimes economically, structed illegally, officials ac- “This is amockery of the rule likeinUjjain, is notafirstfor MP. knowledgeditwas partofadrive of law. Thereisnopowertothe In November,Bhopal to curbdrugmafia.“Suchdemoli- police to demolish structures like Municipal Corporation and the tions aredone to send out ames- this,” Justice Gupta said. district administration demol- sagetothe community and ter- OnDecember26,thehouseof ishedparts of aschool ownedby rorise them...” said Supreme AbdulRafeeqwasrazedbythead- Congress MLAArif Masood. CourtadvocateMRShamshad. ministration who came looking Justdays before the demoli- Once abuilding is demol- forsuspectsinthe stone-pelting tion,twoFIRs–oneforpromoting ished, an individual has twole- incident caught on video the pre- enmitybetweenreligionsandan- galrecourses —acivil remedy vious day. Officially, the demoli- other forviolating Covid norms – seekingdamages forpolice ex- tion wascarriedout as the struc- were registeredagainstMasood cesses and another is to regis- turewas allegedly illegal. afterheled aprotest against teranFIR before amagistrate However, District Collector FrenchPresident Emmanuel foraction againstthe officials Asheesh Singh said the demoli- Macron’sstatementsonIslamand involved.

NOTICE BOARD CORPORATE ASSOCIATE DIARY APPOINTMENTS, MOVEMENTS, CELEBRATIONS, HONOURS

NILAMBAR KOLKATA'S ANNUAL FESTIVAL PM FLAGS OFF 100TH KISAN RAIL SOUTH EASTERN RAILWAY ‘LITERARIA 2020’ CONCLUDES SUCCESSFULLY.

South Eastern Railway,after con- Literaria-2020, the an- ThePrime Minister,Shri Narendra Modi flagged off the 100th Kisan Rail from Sangola in Maharashtra to sidering the huge rush of passen- nual festival of Nilam- Shalimar in West Bengal today via video conferencing. Union Ministers,Shri Narendra Singh Tomar gers and after partial modifica- bar,aliterary-cultural and Shri Piyush Goyal were also present on the occasion. tion, has decided to continue the institution in Kolkata, Speaking on the occasion,the Prime Minister termed the Kisan Rail Service as amajor step towards in- running of 02877/02878 Howrah- washeld from 14 to 20 creasing the income of the farmers of the country.Heexpressed happiness that even during the Corona Ernakulam-Howrah Special upto December 2020. The pandemic, 100 Kisan Rails were launched in the last 4months.Hesaid this service will bring amajor March 2021.Thedetails of revised main objective of this change in the economy related to farming and will also increase the strength of the country's cold sup- programme of run of Howrah-Er- annual festival is to ply chain.He added no minimum quantity has been fixed to transport through Kisan Rail so that,even the nakulam-Howrah Special are bring together littera- smallest produce will be able to reach the big market properly at alow price. given as under:- teurs,playwrights,artists and cultural enthusiasts; to create an all ◆ 02877 Howrah-Ernakulam India literary-cultural environment;to reduce the gap between liter- Special will leave Howrah every ature-art and people and to makecreative Hindi more attractive.Nil- SHRI VINIT KUMAR, SMP,KOLKATA CHAIRMAN TOOK Saturday during the period from 02.01.2021 to 27.03.2021.Thetrain leaving Howrah at 14.25 hrs.will ambar has been striving to spread literature and art to the people OVER ADDITIONAL CHARGE reach Ernakulam at 03.30 hrs.onthird day. since its very beginning with the combination of new experiments ◆ 02878 Ernakulam-Howrah Special will leave Ernakulam every Monday during the period from in literature andmodern techniques.Literaria 2020 is an important ShriVinit Kumar,Chairman, Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata (erstwhile Kolkata Port Trust), an 04.01.2021 to 29.03.2021.Thetrain leaving Ernakulam at 23.25 hrs.will arrive Howrah at 14.05 hrs on link of this effort.This time,the central theme of Literaria was“Zone of IRSEE officer of 1993 batch took over the additional charge of Chairman,Paradip PortTrust from today, third day. Literature”.Thetheme wasdecided keeping in mind the centenary i.e.,the 23 rd December,2020. Before taking over the charge of Chairman,Kolkata PortTrust,ShriVinit Passengers are requested to kindly converse with NTES (NationalTrain Enquiry System)App for update, year of famous Hindi writer Phaniswarnath Renu. Kumar wasChief Electrical Engineer in Mumbai RailwayVikas Corporation Ltd.and looked afterWorld intersectional stoppages and timings of train services before undertaking journey.Passengers are also re- Before the commencement of the program,Nilambar,byits tradition, Bank funded MUTP project before joining as Chairman,Kolkata PortTrust.Shri Kumar joined administrative quested to strictly follow all the safety protocols before and during journey in the wake of COVID-19 Pan- remembered the writers-artists who had passed away this year.In post of Secretary,Central Railway and gained experience in general administration.Shri Kumar worked demic. this sequence,avideo waspresented on the poetry “TANASAH” of in Central Railway in Mumbai suburban system,one of the densest suburban system in the world in main- Manglesh Dabral.Poetry wasrecited by Ritesh Kumar.Literaria 2020 tenance and operations of rolling stock and traction installations.Healso worked in Pune and Nagpur in began with the lighting of the lamp by Nilambar's mentor Mrityunjay independent charge of traction assets and locomotive workshop.Hehas wide experience in operation, SAIL RECOGNIZES OUTSTANDING EMPLOYEES Kumar Singh,ChairmanYatish Kumar and Secretary Ritesh Kumar. maintenance,infrastructure development and general administration of Railways. CLWPRODUCED 250 LOCOs SteelAuthority of India Limited BANGAON –PETRAPOLE SECTION OF ER’S (SAIL) gave away the SAIL Cor- SEALDAH DIVISION ELECTRIFIED porateAwards for Chittaranjan Locomo- Excellence 2020 todayinavir- tive Works(CLW) has tually conducted ceremony at Eastern Railwayelectrified the single line section between Bangaon produced 250 electric the Corporate Office.The &Petrapole (4.167 km) within arecord time frame of two months. locomotives (WAG-9 awards were given by ShriAnil Presently,8to 10 thousand people residing in Petrapole area are us- HC, 33071) in 188 Kumar Chaudhary,Chairman, ing roadtransport to reach Bangaon to board train for Kolkata and working days upto SAIL,in presence of the otherareas.Seeing the increasing trend of demand of passengers at 29th December of the Functional Directors and CEOs. Petrapole,Eastern Railway has decided to extend its train services current financial year Felicitating the award win- up to Petrapole station to serve intending passengers. 2020-21. Last 50 locos ning employees,Shri Anil Ku- Theentire route of Eastern Railway’sSealdah Division waselectri- are manufactured in mar Chaudhary said,“SAIL fied except 4.167 km of track between Bangaon &Petrapole.Itis only 29 working days. CorporateAwards for Excellence have been formulated with the objective to create aCompany level pertinent that Petrapole station has ahigh level platform of 304 me- Shri Satish Kr Kashyup, platform for recognizing and awarding the exemplary performance and extraordinary contribution of ters length withoutdealing of any passenger services.Petrapole sta- General Manager the SAIL employees in various areas of operation.This initiative is undertaken with an aim to create an tion is one of the freight trains interchanging point between India & flagged off the 250th environment of nurturing excellence,recognizing the outstanding efforts and motivating the em- Bangladesh since 2001.Electrification of the said section wasinitiated locomotive of WAG- ployees to strive for better”. Recognizing, awarding, applauding and celebrating the extraordinary then but not succeeded due to various constraints likenumber of 9HC series achievements of executives in SAIL at apex level will strengthen the motivational climate and inspire bridges.The electrification of the said section has therefore been bearing no.33071 from CLWaccompanied with senior officers ,staff &supervisors.Shri Kashyup employees to accept new challenges and strive to go beyond in the discharge of duties. done by adopting aspecial design of overhead electric wiring over hadcongratulated the entire team of loco production and appreciated their effort in successful pro- long bridges. ductionof250 locomotives.

EVGENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, CSR INITIATIVES, APPOINTMENTS, MOVEMENTS ,CELEBRATIONS

Kolkata WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY,JANUARY2,2021 5 EXPRESS NETWORK Covidcompelledpeopletoaccept Farmers warn: Will shut malls, DELHI CONFIDENTIAL importanceofmigrantlabour: PM

be made from modern technol- petrol pumps if DIPANKARGHOSE ogy and innovative processes. In NEWDELHI,JANUARY1 this, the time neededfor con- struction will be reduced, and Jan 4talks fail IN HIS firstspeechinthe new the poor will getmoreresilient, year,Prime MinisterNarendra affordable and comfortable Modi on Fridaysaid the Covid- homes,” he said. 19 crisis had compelledthose Calling the participation of ANJUAGNIHOTRICHABA ACADEMICSPENOPEN who did notunderstand the im- multiple states an example of co- JALANDHAR,JANUARY1 portance of migrant labourers to PM NarendraModi during his virtual address on Friday. PTI operative federalism, Modi said LETTER,FAVOURLAWS do so. he wanted planners, architec- AHEAD OF the next round of NewDelhi: Over 850 academ- He wasspeaking at the inau- tureprofessors and studentsto talks, farm unions Fridaywarned ics in the countryhavewrit- guration of six Light House ‘Come BackCome Back’. What The Light House Projects, the study these newmodels. that theywill startshutting all tenanopen letter in support Projectsunder the Global Corona did wasthat forthose Prime Ministersaid, would act Prime MinisterModi said the malls and petrol pumps in of three farm laws,against CAMPUS VISIT Housing Technology Challenge who did notacceptthe impor- as an “innovation and incubation faith of people that theywould Haryana if the government fails whichfarmers areprotesting with Chief Ministers of UP, tance of our migrant labourers, centre” fortechnologies of build- gettheir ownhomes had been to resolve their main demands at the borders of Delhi. “As a UNION AGRICULTURE MinisterNarendraSingh Tomar,who Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Madhya it compelledthem to do so,” the ing homes from all over the dwindling, but Pradhan Mantri forthe repeal of three newfarm proud citizen of India and is leading the government in the talkswith farmers' unions Pradesh, Gujarat and Andhra Prime Ministersaid. world. Awas Yojana changed that. laws and alegal guarantee for members of different educa- protesting againstthe three contentious farm laws,spent the Pradesh present. “Wehaveseen that our mi- “It is necessaryfor the min- “In the lastsix years, the steps MSP in the January4meeting. tional institutions, we firstday of the newyear at the Indian AgricultureResearch Speaking about the grant friends cannotfind homes istries of government that they takeninthe countryhavefor a Afterthe sixth round of for- strongly supportthe pro- Institute, Pusa. Tomar,along with his junior ministerKailash Affordable Rental Housing at appropriaterent in our cities. do notact likelarge stagnant common man, especiallyfor the mal negotiations on Wednesday, posedAgricultural reforms Choudhary, inspected the Pusa farm and inquired about the Complexesscheme, he said, “The In small rooms, manyofMany structures, but likestart-ups, hard-working middle class, re- the government and farm bill, 2020 by the Union research being done there. Both ministers visited amushroom goal of this programme arethose labourers stay.Inthese places, theyare both enthusiastic and turnedthe faith that their own unions had reachedsome com- Government,” said the letter. production unit, and took around of mustard field. Lastmonth, migrant colleagues who come thereare problems with water robust. Forthis, we organisedthe home is possible,” he said. mon ground to resolve protest- The letter has been signedby Home MinisterAmit Shah had held ameeting with 13 repre- from one statetoanother,or supply, electricity,toilets,lackof Global Housing Technology The Prime Ministerawarded ing farmers' concerns over rise 866academics of institutions sentativesofthe farm unions on Pusa campus. come from villages to cities. hygiene,” he said. Challengeand invited the best Uttar Pradesh forbestimple- in powertariffand penalties for including DU,JNU,DDU BeforeCorona we had seen that It is the responsibility of all companies in the world. Iam mentation of Pradhan Mantri stubble burning, but the two Gorakhpur University,Tezpur in some places, some inappro- countrymen to ensurethat happythat 50 and moreinnova- Awas Yojana (Urban) for2019. . sides remaineddeadlockedover University,Rajiv Gandhi SPECIAL SESSION priatethings were said to people those who labour in the coun- tive technology companies from Prime MinisterModi also the main contentious issues of University and BHU. ENS coming from other states. They try’s service live with respect, across the worldparticipated in conferredonGujarat three the repeal of three farm laws and THE CONGRESS is likelytoannounce the dates foraspecial were insulted.But during Modi said. this programme. From this awards—PMAY-Urban policy ini- alegal guarantee forMSP. session of the AICC in the firsthalf of this month. The session, Corona, labourers went backto “With this thought, together Global Challenge, we have got tiative foradopting an affordable Addressing apress confer- areclear that they“will notset- whichcould be held in February, is being calledtoelect areg- their ownhomes, then the rest with industryand investors, the the scope to innovate and incu- housing policy in the state, af- ence at the Singhu border tle down forless than repealing ular president to replace interim chief Sonia Gandhi. The party found out that without them liv- government is concentrating on batenew technologies. In the fordable housing projectsonpri- protestsiteFriday, representa- of the three laws because these is yettodecide the venue although at leastfour stateunitsare ing is very difficult,” he said. giving homes at affordable rates. next stageofthis process, from vate land and in-situ redevelop- tivesoffarmer unions said only Bills hand over agriculturemar- keen to hostthe event. Party-ruledRajasthan, Chhattisgarh “Without them howdifficult Thereisalso an effort to ensure today, in different sites, 6Light ment of slums. five per cent of the issues raised kets, farming processes, farmers and Punjab have shown interestasalso Maharashtra, where it is to run industries. People the homes arelocated where House projectsare starting. WITHINPUTSFROM by them have so farbeen dis- land and food security to the cor- the Congress is aruling ally. It wasinJaipur that Rahul Gandhi foldedtheir hands and said, theywork,”headded. These Light House Projectswill ENSLUCKNOWANDRAJKOT cussedinmeetings with the gov- porates, and it is apparent that waselected Congress vice president in 2013.Some leaders ernment. Theyoutlinedmulti- the government has declared ac- feel Mumbai is abettervenue givenits location but some ar- ple protestactions over amonth ceptance of twominor issues to gue Punjab is notabad option either,given the backdrop of the Punjab: Dung if theirmain demands arenot coverits adamant position”. farmers' protests and the fact that Assemblyelections aredue met, in an announcement afew Meanwhile, at ameeting of in the stateearly next year. unloaded outside days before Republic Daycele- Samkyukt Kisan Morcha--an BJP leader’s home, brations. umbrella body of around 40 Farmer leader Yudhveer farmer unions protesting at sev- MORNING MUSINGS CM seeks restraint Singh said if the central govern- eral Delhi border points--sev- ment thinksthe farmers' protest eral decisions were taken. THE FIRSTday of the newyear brought out another facetin will go the Shaheen Bagh way, it According to the unions, if the re- Prime MinisterNarendraModi. In the morning, apoem writ- EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE is mistaken. "They(government) sultsofthe talksonJanuary4are tenbythe Prime Minister–"Abhi tohsuraj ugahai"(the sun JALANDHAR,CHANDIGARH, cannotmakeusleave this place notsatisfactory, atractor march has justrisen) –was released. The shortvideo carriedanar- JANUARY1 liketheydid in Shaheen Bagh," will be takenout from the ration of the poem by the Prime Ministerhimself, with im- he said. protestsitetothe ages of India's space programme, agriculture, armedforces THE PROTESTS againstthe farm The All Indian Kisan Kundli–Manesar–Palwal (KMP) as well as those of the Prime MinisterinVaranasi. laws turnedunsavouryinPunjab Sangharsh Coordination Expressway on January6and a Fridaywith agroup of people Committee (AIKSCC) in astate- call will also be giventothose unloading adung-laden trolley ment releasedtothe media crit- farmers protesting at SECURITY RING in front of aBJP leader's house in icised“pro-corporateintellectu- Shahjahanpur on the Haryana- Hoshiarpur,prompting Chief als discussing the compromise Rajasthan border to move to- AT AN event at Rajghat to launchabook on Mahatma Gandhi, MinisterCaptAmarinder Singh formula” and said that farmers wardsthe national capital. the security stoppedentryofinvitees to the venue following to warn the agitators nottotake the arrivalofthe chief guest, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. As lawintheir hands. the invitees arguedwith Delhi Police, theyweretold that af- Agroup, believedtobefarm- terthe arrivalofthe chief guestnoone could be alloweden- ers, unloadedthe trolleyinside Khaps in Haryana trydue to security reasons. It wasonlyafter some mediaper- Compared to itsusual footfall, whichnumbers in the lakhs, the event to markthe anniversary the main entrance to residence sons intervened, reminding the security personnel that such of the Koregaon Bhima battle sawonlyafew thousand visitors amid Covid curbs. Ashish Kale of former Punjab minister protocol wasonlyreserved forthe Prime MinisterasanSPG Tikshan Sud. Theyalso raised announce boycott protectee, were people allowedtogoin. Bhagwat enjoys Z- slogans againstthe Centre. plus security of the CISF. Meanwhile, some BJP sup- Koregaon Bhima event peaceful; porters reachedthe spot. HoshiarpurSSP NavjotSingh of BJP-JJP leaders Mahal said that aviolent clash Dalit ministers, leaders pay tribute between the BJP workers and Dhanda on Saturday. AHindu will never the protesters wasaverted fol- SUKHBIRSIWACH Recently, agroup of angry Republican Sena, Union min- of one person and leftseveral lowing an intervention by aDSP- CHANDIGARH,JANUARY1 farmers had shown blackflags to CHANDANHAYGUNDE isterRamdas Athavale, Bhim persons injured. ledpolice team. He said acase Dhanda when she had gone to be anti-national: PUNE,JANUARY1 Armychief Chandrashekhar Backin1818, the British has been registeredagainst DESPITE SOME progress in recent attend functionsinvillages of her Azad alias Ravan, forces comprising alarge pro- unidentifiedpersons. talksbetween farmers and the constituency Kalayat(Kaithal). THE PROGRAMME to markthe MaharashtraEnergy Minister portion of Mahar community Chief MinisterAmarinder Centreand acrucial meeting “The farmers areready to Bhagwat at launch 203rdanniversaryofthe Nitin Raut were among the soldiers overpoweredthe said the invasion of privacy will scheduledfor January4,Haryana struggle forsix months or even Battle of Koregaon Bhima was Dalit leaders who participated Peshwaforces in asingle-day bring abad name to the peace- farmers arepreparing themselves more, if the government doesn’t held peacefullyonFriday. in the programme. Also, battle at Koregaon village. ful agitation by farmers. foralong battle by holding more repeal three anti-farmer laws. Besides senior Dalit leaders Deputy Chief MinisterAjit The Dalit community sees meetings and staging more Our meetings areoninthe vil- of book on Gandhi and ministers, onlyafew Pawar, Home MinisterAnil this as their victoryoverthe protests.Leaders of as manyas lages whichisleading to more thousand people turned up Deshmukh, local NCPMLA “castiest” rule of the Peshwas. tenkhap panchayats have an- participation of farmers to the forthe programme at the Ashok Pawarpaid their re- Everyyear,several Dalits, nouncedtheywon’t allowentry protestsites at Delhi borders,” DEEPTIMANTIWARY “Jaystambh” in Perne village spectsatthe “Jaystambh”. mainlyfromthe Ambedkarite of BJP-JJP leaders in Banger area, said Malkit Singh. NEWDELHI,JANUARY1 in viewofCovid-19. The “symbolic” cere- Dalit community,visit the whichfalls mainlyinJind district. In akhap panchayatheld at Police said therewas good monies beganwith Buddhist “Jaystambh”. ABKU leader,Malkit Singh, said Khatkar Kalan toll plaza on Jind- AHINDU is an automatic patriot Mohan response to the appeal made monksperforming Buddha Lastyear on January1 that the farmers in Kaithal district Patiala highway on Friday, khap and can neverbeanti-national, Bhagwat by the stategovernment and Vandana and Dhamma therewereabout eight lakh have plannedtogherao residence leaders announcedtheywon’t al- RSSchief MohanBhagwatsaidon Ambedkariteoutfitsthat peo- Desana prayers at visitors at the event. of local MLALeela Ramand lowentryofany BJP-JJP leader in Friday. Bhagwat said this in the ple should notvisit “Jaystambh”. Members of But, in the backdrop of the Haryana Women and Child their villages to express their re- contextofhow MahatmaGandhi thored by Dr JKBajaj and MD “Jaystambh” and see the SamataSainik Dal conducted Covid-19pandemic,Collector Development MinisterKamlesh sentment againstthree farm laws. found religion as asource of his Srinivas,focusesonGandhi’sjour- “symbolic” programme to drill with aband on the occa- Rajesh Deshmukh earlier is- patriotism. neyfromPorbandar to England markthe anniversaryofthe sion. Hugepolice forcewas suedprohibitoryorders Addressingagatheringduring andSouthAfricaandbacktoIndia. Koregaon Bhima battle live on deployedat“Jaystambh” and whichprohibited people from the launchofabook,Making of a BhagwatsaidGandhi’sunder- TVchannels and social media. villages in itsvicinity to main- outside from visiting the Bimla Prasad prayer meet Hindu Patriot: Background of standing of religion wasoftoler- Prakash Ambedkar of tain lawand order.Violence in Jaystambh at Perne villagebe- The pile of dung outside the Gandhiji’s Hind Swaraj,Bhagwat ance.“Unityindiversityisoursen- Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, Koregaon Bhima on January tween December 30, 2020 residence on Friday. Express to be held on January 7 said, “All Indians worship moth- timent and notjustamatter of Anandraj Ambedkar of 1, 2018 had causedthe death and 6amonJanuary2,2021. erland. But Gandhiji said my pa- policy.Gandhiji said Iwill follow triotism comes from my religion. my religion strictlybut also re- EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE Soif youare aHinduthenyouwill spect other religions. This is the UTTAR PRADESH PATNA,JANUARY1 be an automatic patriot. Youmay fundamental of Indian thought. be an unconscious Hindu, you Difference does notmean sepa- THE PRAYER meeting in mem- mayneedawakening,butaHindu ratism,” Bhagwat said. 1st chargesheet under anti-conversion law: oryofBimla Prasad, mother of will neverbeanti-India.” The RSS chief said Gandhi un- Union ministerand senior BJP DescribinghowIndianculture derstood the freedom struggle leader Ravi Shankar Prasad, will and Hindu religion inspired wasnot justanefforttotransform 22-yr-old accused of abducting Dalit woman be held in Delhi on January7. Gandhi, Bhagwat said, “Gandhiji those in powerbut to transform Bimla Prasad, 90, avolunteer said my religion is the religion of ourselves. “Gandhiji clearly said Kumar Gupta. her parentscame to Bijnor to at- cusedsexuallyassaulted her and in the JP Movement, wasthe all religions. Gandhiji wanted to theWesterncivilisationhasruined MANISHSAHU “The woman also stated that tend arelative’s wedding. On she came to knowabout his real wifeofsenior BJP leader Thakur Union minister say‘Dharm’ but thereisnoparal- our owncultureand we have be- LUCKNOW,JANUARY1 the accusedtriedtoconvert her December 6, she went missing identitywhenshewentwithhim. Prasad, who along with Kailash Ravi Shankar Prasad’s lelto itinEnglish.Gandhijistarted come ‘Dharmbhrasht’. ...Dr religion. Besides rape and Uttar while visiting amarket near He told her his real name and said Pati Mishra, wasafounding mother Bimla Prasad the movement forSwaraj(self- Hedgewaralsousedtosay thatdo POLICEINBijnorhave filedthefirst Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful her home. would marry her afterconver- member of the party in Bihar. rule)... But till youdonot under- notblameothers.Yougot enslaved chargesheetunder Uttar Conversionof ReligionOrdinance, Twodays later,the woman’s sion,”saidtheinvestigatingofficer. She passedawayinPatna on stand ‘Swadharm’, youcan't un- because youwereready to be en- Pradesh’s newanti-conversion 2020, we have filedthe charg- father lodged an FIR againstAfzal On December 10,the police December 25. woman of great conviction. derstand Swaraj.” slaved.Therewassomethinglack- lawagainsta22-year-oldcarpen- esheetunderIPCSection366(kid- afterhearing that his daughter arrested Afzal and producedhim Aclose aide of the Union She had been supporting the “The launchofabook dealing ing in you. Isaw aparallel of such terarrestedfor allegedly kidnap- napping, abducting or inducing waslastseenwithhim.Thepolice inalocalcourtthatsenthimto ju- ministersaid: “Though the party right from the beginning. withriseof aHindupatriotincon- thought in Gandhiji,” Bhagwat pingaDalitwomanfromnearher woman to compel her marriage, lodged acase on abduction dicial custody. prayer meeting would be held She actively participated in the text of Gandhi and the presence said. home lastmonth. etc)andSC/STAct,”theofficersaid. chargesand under the newanti- The anti-conversion lawpro- on January7,visitors have been JP Movement of Bihar as of RSS chief can mean alot of ThebookreleasedbyBhagwat Apartfromcharging the ac- The chargesheetwas filedin conversion law. On December 9, hibitsany religious conversion meeting the bereaved family woman volunteer.” things to the people. People will focuses on Gandhi's lifeinthree cused—identifiedasAfzal —un- thecourtofthechief judicialmag- thepolicefoundthewomaninthe due to coercion, force, undue in- both in Patna and Delhi.” He recalledhow topBJP sayweare trying to appropriate different stages of his struggle. der provisions of the Uttar istrateearlier this week,hesaid. district. fluence, allurement, fraudorby Following her death, Ravi leaders likeDeendayal Gandhiji. No one can appropriate The book claims that during Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful According to the police, afew In her statement to the mag- marriage, and makes suchamar- Shankar Prasad had in aseries Upadhyayand Atal Behari agreatpersonality.Theaimof this 1893-94, Gandhi waspressured Conversionof ReligionOrdinance, yearsago,the21-year-oldwoman istrate, the woman said Afzal hid riageliable to be declared void. It of tweets said, “My mother Vajpayeewould visit his Patna book is notthat. It is athoroughly by his Muslim employerand 2020, the police have invoked shiftedtoChandigarhwith her his real identity and claimedhis also makes suchanact of conver- Bimla Prasad leftfor her heav- home and his mother would researched book on the lifeof Christian colleagues in South rapecharge againsthimontheba- parents.Theaccused,whousedto name wasSonu. She said he used sion anon-bailable criminal of- enlyabode... She wasailing for take active partinthe discus- Gandhiji,” Bhagwat said. Africa to convert but he refused. sis of the woman’s statement to live near her home, also shifted to visit her house, and soon they fence. Fourteen cases have been some time. My mother wasa sions on contemporarypolitics The book,brought out by Andby 1905,hehadbecomeade- the district magistrate, according there. became friends. lodged under the lawsince it deeplypious lady and a and society. Centrefor Policy Studies and au- vout Hindu, the book says. to investigating officer Kuldeep Lastmonth, the woman and “The victim claimedthe ac- cameintoeffectonNovember28. Kolkata WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY,JANUARY2,2021 WORDLY WISE Youcan drag my body to school butmy 6 THE EDITORIAL PAGE spirit refuses to go. —BILL WATTERSON Look before you reform

§ FOUNDED BY § RAMNATH GOENKA NEP’s regulatoryarchitecture is toomonolithic for BECAUSETHE TRUTH INVOLVES US ALL higher education in adiverse country

SIGNS OF UPTICK FurqanQamar andKrishnaKumar

With government’s taxrevenues picking up, it should spend CONCERNEDWITHTHEdubious effectsofthe entirehigher education sector to eliminate healthcareeducation as an integrative sys- multiplicity of regulatorybodiesinhigher ed- isolation and disjunction” and proposeda temoffering allopathic medicine students“a moretosupportthe economy ucation, nearly all advisorypanels appointed National Higher Education Regulatory basic understanding of Ayurveda, Yoga and since 2005 have been pitchingfor asingle reg- Authority (NHERA) as asole regulator forall Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and NLINE WITH trends in the broader economy, dataongovernment finances, re- ulator.The National Education Policy (NEP higher education. The existing regulatorybod- Homeopathy(AYUSH) and vice versa”. The leasedbythe Controller General of AccountsonThursday, suggeststhat the recov- 2020) announcedafew months ago, too, has ies, including MCI, were to become profes- idea of making medical education inter-dis- eryincentral governmentfinances is beginning to gather momentum. Four broad endorsedthe idea by providing foracommon sional standardsetting bodies. Additionally, ciplinarymight beeasier to enforce if all med- trends emerge.First, the Centre’s gross tax collections rose forthe second straight singleregulator forthe entirehigher educa- the committee also recommendedthe setting ical education were to beregulatedin acoor- Imonth in November,with the pace of expansion actually accelerating.Second, tion system, with theexception of medical and up of three other independent agencies to dinatedmanner by asingle regulatorybody. laweducation. If recent developmentsinthe oversee accreditationby multipleaccrediting With the enactmentofthe National while the collections were drivenbyindirect taxes, the uptickwas morebroad-based, with field of medical education areany indication, institutions (AIs). Commission forHomoeopathy(NCH) and personal income taxcollectionsalso witnessing healthygrowth.Third, theimprovement the number of regulatorybodies in higher ed- With so manyindependent institutions the National Commission forIndian System of in taxcollections is in starkcontrasttothe continuing sluggishness of theCentre’s pro- ucation is onlyset to soar. responsible forregulatingvariousfacets of Medicine (NCISM) and continuation of the ceeds from disinvestment.Fourth, with greater revenue visibility,government spending Regulatorybodies came up essentiallyin higher education, the draftNEP 2020 pro- Dental Council of India (DCI), Pharmacy pickeduppace in November,imparting apositiveimpulse to the economy. responseto therapidgrowthofprivate partic- posedaRashtriyaShiksha Aayog(RSA) to co- CouncilofIndia(PCI) and the IndianNursing At theaggregate level, the Centre’s grosstax collectionsgrew by ahealthy23per cent ipationsince the 1980s. Procedures of regula- ordinate, direct andaddressinter-institutional Council(INC),itlookscertain that medical ed- in November,upfrom16.9 per cent in October.Muchofthis rise wasdrivenbyindirect tion became increasinglycomplexevenas overlaps and conflicts. The idea of acommon ucation shall continue to be regulated in a practicestheyweremeantto controlgot bolder singleregulator had, thus, morphedintoa fragmented manner. taxeswhichgrew by ahealthy 27.2 percent in November,upfrom23.6per cent in the pre- and brazen. Findinghigher education “over- complexregulatorystructurecomprising an It maywell be argued that it is well nigh vious month. GSTcollections have nowtouched an all-timehigh in December.Under di- regulated andunder-governed”, the National Reviling the regulatory authority,three councils and anational com- impossibletodesign asingleregulatory rect taxes, while personal incometaxes continue to showhealthygrowth,corporate tax KnowledgeCommission (NKC) concludedin regimes forbeing ‘too heavy- missionwithexisting regulatorybodies and framework to take careofthe domain-spe- collections remain subdued.The latter,though, arelikelytowitness an uptickonce the 2007 thattheplethora of agenciesattempting handed’, NEP 2020 has now professional councils to continue to exist, al- cific needs of disparatedisciplines and pro- baseeffect kicksin in the coming months. However, despite this uptick, gross taxrevenue to controlentry, operation, intake, price,size, posited fora‘light but tight’ beit as professional standardsetting bodies. fessions even within healthcareeducation. at the end of November remainedRs1.48lakh crorebelowlastyear’s level. Further,collec- output and exit had rendered theregulation Whilethe draftpolicy wasstill being fi- But if acceptedasaprinciple, it has the po- of higher education ineffectual. The NKCrec- system under asingle nalised, the National Medical Commission of tentialtodelay,ifnot derail,the idea of asin- tions from disinvestment continue to remainamatterofconcern —asagainst abudgeted ommendedthe setting up of an overarching regulator forall higher India (NMCI) Bill originallyintroducedin2017 gleregulator to cater to thediverse disciplines target of Rs 2.1lakhcrore,proceedsfromdisinvestment proceeds have so faraddedupto Independent RegulatoryAuthority in Higher education barring medical wasreintroducedand passedbythe of general,professional and technicalhigher amereRs13,843crore.Whilethe disinvestment process of entitieslikeAir India and BPCL Education(IRAHE).TheYashPalCommitteein Parliament in 2019 thereby repealing the education. And should that actuallyhappen, appearstobegainingtraction, it is unlikely thatthe stakesales will be completedbythe its2009reportalso felt that the existence of and laweducation. It Indian Medical Council Act1956, dissolving the idea of reining in the regulators might end of thecurrent financial year,implying ahugeshortfall againstbudgetedexpectations. multipleregulatorybodieshadbecomeanim- envisages an overarching the MedicalCouncilof India(MCI)andvesting mean drowning higher education under per- Greater revenue visibility has helpedimpartapush to the Centre’s spending. Spending pediment to the pursuit of excellence. The Higher Education the regulation of medical education in the manent heavy rain. committee’s keyconcern wascompartmen- newly createdNational Medical Commission The storyofregulation is nicelycaptured wasup48per cent in November,with both revenue (excludinginterestpayments)and cap- Commission of India talisation of academia, with little scope fordi- of India (NMCI). by the saying, “marz barhatagayajyonjyon italspendingwitnessingamassive increase,reversingthecurtailmentof thepreviousmonths. alogue across disciplines. To promote sucha (HECI), with four Reviling the regulatoryregimes forbeing dava ki (the disease got worsewith themed- Infact,sofarinthethirdquarter(October-November),centralgovernmentspendingisup22.4 dialogue, the Yash Palcommittee recom- independent verticals “too heavy-handed”, NEP 2020 has now ication)”. The regulatoryarchitecturepro- percent,aftercontractingby 15.6percentinthesecondquarter, impartinganexpansionary mendedthe creation of an apexbody called comprising the National posited fora“lightbut tight” system under a posedinthe NEP is fartoo monolithic fora impulse to the economy. However, it needs to be pointed out that cumulative government theNationalCommissionforHigherEducation Higher Education single regulator forall higher education bar- system of higher education serving ageo- and Research (NCHER).Itwas meanttoserve ring medicaland laweducation. It envisages graphically, culturallyand politicallydiverse spending over the April-November period has grownbyamere4.7 per cent,notwithstand- RegulatoryCouncil ingtheannouncementsof varioussupportmeasuresby thegovernment.Infact,actualspend- as aplatform foracademic exchangeand dia- an overarching Higher Education countrylikeours. Even in the matter of pri- logueacrossdisciplinesandprofessionsrather (NHERC), the National Commission of India(HECI), with four inde- vatisation, one notices enormous diversity ing is significantlylower than the12.7 per centgrowth assumedinthe budget.Evenmeet- than as acontrolling machine. Accreditation Council pendent verticals comprisingthe National of players and practices. Historicallytoo, pri- ing the budgeted expenditurelevelsnow translatestoa30per cent increase in spending in In 2016,acommittee chaired by TSR (NAC), the Higher Higher Education RegulatoryCouncil vate participation in the running of colleges the lastfour months of the financial year,providing amuch-neededfillip to theeconomy. Subramanian proposed aNational Higher (NHERC), the National Accreditation Council has notfollowedasinglepattern. To imag- Education Promotion andManagement Act Education Grants Council (NAC), the Higher Education GrantsCouncil ine that auniform structurecalledBoardof forsetting up an Indian RegulatoryAuthority (HEGC) and the General (HEGC) and the General Education Council Governors can serveall different kinds of in- forHigher Education (IRAHE) to subsume all Education Council (GEC). (GEC). Under the newschema of things, the stitutions across the country is to entertain a existing regulatorybodies in higher educa- Under the new schema of UniversityGrantsCommission(UGC) is to be- fantasy in place of aserious vision of reform. BACKTOTHE CLASSROOM tion. Media reports in 2017 hinted at the pos- come HEGC while the other regulatorybod- Suchavision calls forbetterappreciation of sibility of anew regulatorybody,tentatively things, the University ies will become professional standardsetters. what exists,nomatter howworrisome a Partial reopening of schools in severalstatesisanecessaryand titledHigher Education Empowerment Grants Commission (UGC) Thankfully, the five independent institutions condition it is in. Regulation Agency (HEERA), to dissolve all ex- is to become HEGC while recommendedindraft NEP 2019 nowstand welcome step. Forteachers, the task is cut out isting regulatorybodies in higher education. collapsedintoone whichwill function with Qamar is secretary general of theAssociation The draftnational policy presented by the the other regulatorybodies existing, re-definedbodies. of Indian Universities (AIU) and Kumar is a HE NEW YEAR has begun with acautious—and welcome —unlocking of Kasturirangan Committee in 2019 com- will become professional While NEP-2020 is content with separate former director of NCERTand editor of the the classroom. Severalstates, including Karnataka, Bihar,Puducherry,Uttar mended“acommon regulatoryregime forthe standard setters. regulation formedicaleducation, it envisions RoutledgeHandbook of Education in India Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and some districtsofMaharashtra, among oth- ers, have chosen to partiallyreopen schools, starting with higher classes. TIn Assam, even youngerstudents (Class Iand upwards) arenow back to school. Whilesafetyremains apriority and the school as it existed—fromrambunctious playgroundstocrowdedlunch hours and indoor classes —will have to be reimagined keeping the pandemic in mind, this is anecessarystepbacktonormal forthe children. VIRUS IN AN UNEQUAL SOCIETY The CBSE’s decision to conduct boardexaminations forClasses Xand XII in May-June is another signal that the long interruption of educationisnow close to an end. If thereisone realisation from the COVID-19outbreak,itisthat school is tooenmeshed WhyIndiabucks global gender-related trends on Covid mortality with the analogue experiences of life—the eyecontact between teacher and students, the waychildrenlearnfrompeers,the solidaritytheygiveeachother—tobeconvertedfully into adigitalformat.Evenfor the tinyminority of studentsfromprivilegedbackgrounds who have Phalasha Nagpal been able to access online classes, the virtual classroom has been apoor substitutefor teach- ers, with an unacknowledgedtoll on mental health. Moreimportantly, avastmajority of RECENT DATA ON genderdifferentials in cause of death remains lowerfor them when highlightsthe gender differential in average COVID-19case fatality rates(CFR) in India comparedto men. Againstthis background, it healthcareexpenditure(HCE)—HCE formen India’s children has been shut out of learning by amarkeddigital and technologicaldivide. highlight deviation from global trends. The is plausible that the COVID-19CFR gender gap exceeds that forwomen by Rs 8,397. Families Forinstance, the ASER phone survey of 60,000-odd studentsacross rural India found that disaggregated datashowhigher CFR for is higher than documented. areless likelytoopt fordistressedfinancing to onlyabout one-thirdhad access to onlinelearning;only11per cent could attend live online women when compared to men. What explains this gender-differential? A meetthe healthcareneeds of women. Apart classes.Thiscouldhave lastingconsequencesonlearningdeficitsgiventhateducation,long This datamustbeput in context. Men tend keyfactorisaccess to food and nutrition. from this double whammyofaccessand HCE, before thepandemic struck, washobbledbyinequalities of income, caste and gender.The to sufferfromhigher COVID-related co-mor- Research shows that women aremorelikely women areusuallytaken to ahealthcarefa- public school is asafetynet,whose absence riskspushing children intochild labour,child bidities likehypertension, as compared to to sufferfrompoor nutrition outcomes com- cility when theirsymptoms aresevere, poten- women. This makes them morevulnerable to pared to men. NFHS 2015-2016 dataindicate tiallyincreasing their mortality risk. marriageorunder-nutrition. contracting the novelcoronavirus. India is no that as manyas23per cent Indian women The unequal burden of unpaid carere- Thereturntonormalcymustbeguidedbyawillingnessofthe educationsystemtogive exception to this worldwide trend.Men in have alower than normal BMI whereas only sponsibilities on women in Indian households up itscentralising impulse. The Centre, rightly, has letstatesdecide their reopening sched- India, on average, arealso at ahigher risk of 63 percenthave some sayindecisionsregard- also reflectsontheir health. Thereisastrong ules forthemselves. The pandemic has exposedthe limitations of top-down diktats,and contracting the disease owingto higherphys- ing their healthcare. chance thatarecovering or recentlyrecovered shown the potential in empowering authorities at the local level. Decentralisation is alsoem- ical mobility and lifestyle choices –smoking Femaleinfants, moreover, faceatriple bur- COVID-19woman patientdoesnot have the powering, as teacher-ledinitiativesthat came up with ways to reachout to studentsinthe forexample. Women also tend to have anat- den of undernutrition. First, theysufferfrom optionofrecuperating adequately because lastyear show. The task of the post-pandemic school is cut out:Torestore and repair learn- ural biological survivaladvantageovermen. Empirical literature from the carryovereffectsofmaternalundernutri- sheiscompelledto take on physicallyburden- Yet, paradoxically, in India, the CFR forwomen tion.Second, research confirmsagender-bias somehouseholdresponsibilities. In fact, as per ing losses. It will needcommitted and empoweredteachers. They muststart now. India illustrates howwomen is higher than that formen. in breastfeeding practices.Third, girlchildren the OECD,womenin India,onaverage,spend Thereisalso compelling evidence to be- have lessaccesstofacility- areatadisadvantageinaccessing nutrition, five hours more than men on unpaid work. lieve that the CFR differential is likelytobe based healthcare. Inpatient therebyaffectingtheir survivaloutcomes.The It wouldbenaïvetoassume that centuries higher thanrevealedbystudies. This can be medical care canprove to be poorernutritionaloutcomesaretiedtohigher of discriminatorysocio-cultural practiceswill MALLSFOR PEACE explainedbythe gender differential in India’s lifesaving especially in severe COVID-19morbidity and mortality risk. notaffect mortality patterns during the pan- vital registrationsystems.Datafromthe Office Empirical literaturefromIndia illustrates demic. As the countryinches towardsavac- of theRegistrarGeneralshowthatnon-regis- cases of COVID-19. There is howwomenhavelessaccesstofacility-based cination drive againstthe novelcoronavirus, it Flood of Israeli tourists in Dubaishows that,likewar, tration of deaths among women is higher than also evidence that families healthcare. Inpatient medical carecan prove would be pertinent to ask if policymakers peace can come by other means that of men. Datafrom2016, forinstance, are lesslikely to travel long to be lifesaving, especiallyinseverecasesof have agender-focus approachtoensureeq- showthat of the total deaths registeredinthe distances to provide COVID-19. Thereisalso evidence thatfamilies uity in access to the preventive. country, 55 per cent were of men and 38 per areless likelytotravellong distances to pro- ERE'S ASENTENCE thatwould have seemedlikefakenews justayear cent women. And when deathsofwomen are healthcare to women, as vide healthcaretowomen The writer is asocial policy researcher ago: “Thousands of Israeli tourists flockedtoDubai, even as 'Made in registered, the likelihood of registering the compared to men. Thereisalso abody of scholarship that and analyst Israel' alcohol has become ubiquitous on storeshelvesinthe city.” The HUAEand Israel, afterall, onlyfullynormalised diplomaticrelationsas recentlyasSeptember 2020. In December,over70,000Israeli tourists visited Dubai,firmingupthe long-held belief of manyamarketfanatic: Malls and mar- kets areatleastasimportant to peace betweenpeoples and nations as treaties. JANUARY 2, 1981, FORTY YEARS AGO Israelis arediscovering something that the upper andaspiring classes in India have known foryearsnow.Dubai isessentially one large shoppingmall,withquite abit of enter- PM’S OFFER them”. She alsosaidthe current worldsit- POLICE ACTS ROUGH tainment and sightseeing thrownin, whichmakes foragreat getaway. In fact, likeIndians, PRIME MINISTER INDIRAGandhi deplored uation wasfull of “dangersand difficulties”. ON THE FIRST dayofthe Internationalyear Israelis arediscovering that selfies with the city's skyline in the backdrop arequite the sta- the attitude of the Opposition parties as forthe disabled, the Delhi Police roughed tussymbol. ThestringentCOVID-inducedlockdowns in Israel'scitieshave meant thatDubai confrontationist but offeredtomeettheir BANGARAPPA’S TOUR up 100men near the PrimeMinister’s leaders to discussnational issues. She said THE KARNATAKA CHIEF MinisterGundu houseand detainedabout 80 of them.They has become adestination foreverything from weddingstobusiness conferences. And thatsolutions to mostproblems facing the Raohas asked the state’s agriculturemin- were part of aprocession that had marched tourists have reportedlyfound little bigotry or animosity in the market-town. Forsocieties countrywerebeyond one organisation or isterSBangarappa to resign from the cabi- to the PM’s house to submit amemoran- that have historicallybeen seen as antagonistic to eachother,this is no small feat. one party and hadtobeseen from amuch net. Bangarappa, the number twointhe dum to her. The sheer volume of the touristtraffichas been apleasant surprise formany, includ- broader point of view. Theprime minister, cabinet, returnedfromalong tour of the dis- ing those who were worriedthat the detenteinparts of West Asia would be short-lived. however, agreedthatthe Oppositionhad a trictsand attendedthe cabinetmeeting. The IRAN AND US Tourism and markets,after all, aremorethan justsectors and spaces that makemoney. right to voice itsopinion andcriticise the chief ministerissaid to have expressedhis THE US HOSTAGE crisis is coming to an end From the earliestbazaars, marketplaces have been aspace forexchange,whichisasmuch government. IndiraGandhiwas mostcriti- displeasureatsome of the statements by “inone waythe other,”according to Radio cal of the BJP,whichshe preferredtocallthe Bangarappa during this tour.The stateagri- Tehran. The radio insistedthatIranhad cultural as it is economic. Andwhenpeople travel,when theyinteractwiththe host pop- Jana Sangh. Asked howthe government cultureministerhad expressedhis disap- made itslastproposals on the issueand ulation, theycome to see those who have been demonisedashumanbeings —not merely plannedtodeal with agitations in different proval of the waythe Karnataka govern- would notretreat from them. If the US does- the “other”. Besides, even if the Dubai malls don't bring about worldpeace, who doesn't parts of the country, the primeministersaid ment wasbeing run and talked about n’t acceptthe proposals, the Iranian govern- likealittle duty-free shopping? that“there wasnoquestion of dealing with effortstodistance him from the poor. ment willput thehostagesontrial.

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THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY,JANUARY2,2021 WHATTHE OTHERSSAY “Itlooks likeNepal is heading towardsthe wrongdirection as the countrygoes deeper into apoliticalcrisis at atime when it should be spending all its human as well as financial resources towards ensuringvaccinesintime foreveryone.” 7 THE IDEAS PAGE —THE KATHMANDUPOST Preserving the past for the future Stagnation,

It is the intangible spirit, the underlying metaphysicalorder,whichlendsKahn’s architecture itspower. in fact Hismasterpiece in Ahmedabad mustbepreserved in itsentirety, restored from oneend to theother Surjit Bhalla picks on data, but fails to debunk evidence of alarming trends in child nutrition

ishedin Odisha thanHaryana. In earlier writ- ings, Ihaverarelyusedwasting statistics, so thereisnothing “revealing” in the said omission. In anycase, wasting statistics areconsis- tent with the diagnosisofstagnating nutri- tion levels: Onlythree out of 10 major states William JR Curtis forwhichNFHS-5 datahavebeen released sawadecline in wasting between 2015-16 and 2019-20. Bringing wasting intothe dis- GREATARCHITECTURE COMMUNICATES be- Jean Drèze cussion is awaste of time. fore it is understood. It touches the mind, the Third, Bhalla suggests that theremay be senses and the body of the observer and im- nothing unusualwith alittle “zig-zagging” of poses itself on the imagination through itsun- IMUSTTHANK Surjit Bhalla (‘Ideology child nutrition estimates over time. derlying order.While aworkofarchitectureis trumps evidence’, IE December 26) forcon- According to him: “In 2000,the stunting av- created in aparticular period, it maynonethe- firming the main point of an earlier article of erage[fordeveloping countries]excluding lesscontinue to move us over thecenturies mine(‘Givechildrenweight’, IE December Indiawas29.3 percent;in201023.8 percent; through the powerofits spaces and forms. 17)—namely, thatchild undernutritiontends and in 2015,28.7 per cent. In other words, a Buildings embody the values, political ideolo- to be takenlightlyinthe corridors of power. lotofzig-zag, reversals, and no netimprove- giesand dominant beliefsoftheir time but they His intention, of course, wasthe opposite— ment over 20 years.” Letusoverlook the fact do notexpress these directly, astheyare ideal- to debunkmyarticle,along with afew others. that thereare 15 years, not20, between 2000 isations of social institutions. Theyresemble But then, this is notBhalla’s firstself-goal. and2015.Thesefiguresare puzzling,because constructedmyths symbolising the cosmic or- Forthose who missedit, my article tried stunting ratesimprovedinmostcountries der or supplying visions of the waythe world CRSasikumar to draw attention to recent evidence, from forwhichdataare availableduring this pe- ought to be.Agreat work fuses diverseinflu- the fifthNational FamilyHealth Survey riod.How,then, did the “stunting average” ences and traditions in afresh synthesisofidea flimsy pretextthat the trial restoration on one Sultanateperiod and ruinedBuddhiststupas, (NFHS-5), of astagnation in child nutrition go up between 2010 and 2015?Bhalla was and form, imageand material. It combinesthe of the dormitories was“unsatisfactory”, a monasteries and mandala plans. Kahn sym- indicators between 2015-16and 2019-20. I kind enough to send me detailedclarifica- unique withthe universal,the present withthe judgementcontestedby internationalexperts. bolised the statewithacosmicgeometryof also arguedthat these findings, along with tions. It turns out that the averages fordiffer- past. It is timeless but of itstime. Thankfully,thisact of culturalvandalismisbe- sorts. related evidence of rising food insecurity in ent years pertain to different sets of countries For40yearsIhavebeen roamingfromone ingchallengedfromall sides,bycommittedin- In Dhaka Kahn built in concrete, in 2020, callfor urgent intervention.Nothing in (for example, 111 countries in 2010,63coun- endofIndia to theother,experiencing,admir- dividuals, by prestigiousinstitutions and by ar- Ahmedabad he chose brick, but his materials Bhalla’s rejoinder invalidates these concerns, triesin2015), sothisis likecomparingapples ing and studying outstanding buildings and ticles in the national and international press. also includedspace, light and shadow. and Ialso stand by allthe factsmentionedin with mangoes. sites of all eras,fromthe most ancient to the Butnothing is certain in thecurrent state of an- Architecturecommunicates by itsownmeans that article. The same paragraph continues: “In con- mostrecent. The Buddhist stupa at Sanchi, the archyinIndia: RajRewal’s Hall of Nations and in silence and has itsimmaterial aspect. It is the Isharesome of Bhalla’s reservations trast, the stuntingaverageinIndiawas 46 per HindutemplesatKhajuraho,theJaintempleat Nehru Memorial PavilioninNew Delhiwere intangiblespirit,the aura,the underlyingmeta- about the wayNFHS-5 findings were re- cent in 2000,10ppt lowerin2015, and still Ranakpur,the tomb of Humayun —these are demolishedthree years agowhile under judi- physicalorder,whichlendsKahn’sarchitecture portedinthe media. But in his haste to knock lowerin2019.”The lastpointis wishfulthink- to me likearchitectural friends. They occupy a cial review, both of them key monumentsin itspower. In hisproject forIIM, he employed down all suspectsinone stroke,hegetsen- ing: Thereisno“stunting average” estimate placeinmy memoryandmy innerlife.Howcan India’s post-colonial history. shadedlayers of structureand bold openings tangledinaflawedattempt to disputeand forIndia in 2019.Ifavailable NFHS-5 dataare one forget the sensation of moving from light Suchare the dangers of aneo-liberal ide- forcross ventilation to protectfromthe sear- downplaythe evidence Ihad presented. representative of the entirecountry, then to darkinthe Elephantacaves with the dim ology whichemphasises private profit at the ingclimate. In defining the essential natureof First, he picks on specific figures. That stunting levels were muchthe same in 2015 sculptures of thedancingShiva and Parvati in expense of professional probity and long-term ateaching institution, he sought abalance be- does nottakehim very far. His main quarrel and 2019. the background? Or the floating levels in red public interest. Todaylaissez-fairecapitalism, tween individual and community while pro- is with afigureof22per cent forthe propor- Finally, Bhallapointsout that manyso- sandstone at Fatehpur Sikri experiencedat politicalcorruption and land speculationpose viding transitions between them. He distin- tion of underweight children in Bangladesh, cial indicators other than child nutrition im- dawn? Worksofthis calibre belong to both na- threatstoancient and modern worksofqual- guishedbetween library, administration and quoted in my opening paragraph. Bhalla proved between2015-16and 2019-20, ac- tional and universal heritage.Theyare among ity.Inasociety whereitis“the price of every- lecturehalls, and student residences, but inte- claims that Ipresented thisasa2015figure cording to NFHS-5. That is true, but it does the greatestcreations in the history of human- thing and the value of nothing”, thereisinsuf- gratedall in aunifiedconcept, acitadel of learn- and that thecorrect figureis30.1per cent. notmakethe stagnation of nutrition indica- ity and areprotected by both national laws of ficient interestinthe culturalenrichment ingwherespacesbetweenareasimportant as But the 22 per cent figure,likeotherWorld tors anylessalarming—thatwas the sub- patrimonyandinternationaldecreesunderlin- providedbyfine modern buildings. During a the buildings themselves. Kahn wasinspired Bank figures quoted in that paragraph, actu- ject of my article, notsanitation or literacy. ing their cultural, aesthetic and spiritual value. visit to Ahmedabad in 2014 Irealisedjusthow by monasteries withtheircloisters,courts and allyapplies to the latestyear forwhichesti- Social indicatorstend to improveovertime, When one comes to the 20th century, the vulnerable worksbyLeCorbusier,Louis Kahn, privatecells, and by the outdoor rooms in the mates areavailable—2018inthe caseof it is notsurprisingthat this happenedagain conceptof“architectural heritage” scarcelyex- Balkrishna Doshi, Charles Correa, and Anant Palace complexatMandu (15th C). The brick Bangladesh. It is correct. between 2015-16and 2019-20.The fact that ists in aformal sense in Indianmentalities or Raje had become. Isoundedthe alarm in sev- cylinders at IIM owe something to the Goingbeyondnitpicking,afullerpictureof improvement is the normmakes it all the legislation. Buildings and sites have to be over eral other texts: “Nothing is Sacred:Threatsto Cathedral at Albi(14th C) in south west France. child nutrition in India and Bangladeshis moreimportant to be alert to patternsof acenturyold to beconsidered“heritage”atall. Modern Masterpieces in India” (Architectural The plan of the campus at IIM reveals available from successiveNational Family stagnationordecline. This is both negligent and tragic forIndia also Review, 2014)and “Protecting Modern Kahn’s prodigious skill in weaving together Health Surveys(calledDemographic and Child nutrition is fundamental to devel- has within itsboundaries some of themajor Masterpieces in India” (Architecture+Design, solidsand voids, rectanglesand triangles, or- Health SurveysinBangladesh). Asharpcon- opment and the quality of life. The fact that masterpieces of modern architectureworld- 2014). Istressedthe urgency of changing na- Without repeating the myth thogonal and diagonal geometries. It is likea trastemerges—steady decline of child un- other indicators improvedoes notcompen- wide, suchasLeCorbusier’s Assemblyand High tional heritage laws so as to include and pro- of an ‘Eternal India’ one can mapof humanrelationships, anidealisationof dernutrition in Bangladesh, sluggish decline satefor afailure to improvechild nutrition.It Court in Chandigarh,his Ahmedabad Textile tect 20th centurybuildings, arguing that patri- thehuman interchangeofknowledge in an in- in India. This reinforces the point that India does raise an interesting question: If many Mill Owners' Association House (ATMA), or monyshould be assessed on the basis of suggest that deep structures stitution of learning. Alasthe temporaryten- needsto paymoreattentionto childnutrition. drivers of good nutrition (suchassanitation Louis IKahn’s Indian InstituteofManagement long-term quality rather than the cut-offdate are rethought in each period, antsofthis masterpiece,the director and board Second, Bhalla looksforadog who did not and antenatal care) improvedbetween 2015- (IIMA) also in Ahmedabad. As of 2016, of ahundred years. sometimes being fused with of IIM, do notseem to understand that they bark. He points out that Idid notmention 16 and 2019-20, howcome child nutrition Chandigarhachieveddefinition as aUNESCO Withoutrepeatingthemyth of an “Eternal imported forms. Modern have aresponsibility to bequeath this great wasting (weight-for-height) statistics and did not? One possible answer is that some- WorldHeritagesiteafter amassive though in- India”onecan suggestthat deepstructures are work in itstotality to futuregenerationsso that claims thatthis is a“revealingomission”. thing went wrong with NFHS-5 data. complete programme of restoration. But key rethought in eachperiod, sometimes being architecture is the latest theymay be inspired by it. The director stated Sorry,case dismissed. Iignored wasting be- Another is that the geniusdemonetisation modern buildings in Ahmedabad remain vul- fusedwith importedforms. Modern architec- ‘invader’ and it has gradually recentlythat it washardtoacceptthat aset of cause it is atricky indicator of child nutrition: gamble in 2016 (steadfastlysupportedby nerable to destruction. tureisthe latest“invader” and it has gradually been modified to meet local buildings onlyhalf acenturyold might becon- It has the odd effect of classifying stuntedchil- Bhalla)haddireand lastingconsequencesfor The recent announcement by the adminis- been modifiedtomeetlocal conditions, cli- conditions, climates and sidered as “heritage”.Hecould nothavebeen dren as well-nourishediftheyhaveadequate the poor.Hopefully, adetailedanalysis of the trationof the IIMAthat itintendsto knockdown mates and conceptions of space. One of the key morewrong. Kahn’s masterpiece in weight fortheir height. Wasting statistics of- full NFHS-5 datasetwill shedsome light on mostofthe dormitories in Kahn’s masterpiece figures in this process of “naturalisation” was conceptions of space. One of Ahmedabad mustbepreserved in itsentirety, tenlead to counterintuitive conclusions, for these and other hypotheses in due course. while keeping onlythe library/ teaching block Louis Kahn who,while remaining resolutely the key figures in this process restored from oneend to the other,and given example, thatchild undernutrition increased as an example of “heritage” —onFriday, the modern, wasinspiredby essentialsin tradition. of ‘naturalisation’ was Louis the samestatus anduniversalheritageprotec- in Indiabetween 2005-6and 2015-16(de- The writer is visiting professoratthe boardofgovernors of the IIM wrotetothe stake- On the Indian sub-continent he createdtwoof Kahn who, while remaining tion as thegreat monumentsinIndia’s past. spiteimprovementsinage-specificheights Department of Economics,Ranchi holders sayingitis withdrawingthe Expression his mostprofound masterpieces: The National and weights), or that children arebetternour- University of Interestthat sought bids forthe reconstruc- AssemblyComplexinDhaka,and theIndian resolutely modern, was The writer is an historian, critic, artistand tion —would belikeslicing offachunk of atem- InstituteofManagement in Ahmedabad. With inspired by essentials in photographer,the author of Modern ple complexand then claimingthat the remain- the former he grappledwith the problem of a tradition. On the Indian sub- ArchitectureSince 1900,LeCorbusier: Ideas ing fragmentsrepresent asuccessful example democraticmonumentality by fusing modern continent he created two of andForms,and Balkrishna Doshi: An of preservation. Having supportedthe restora- architectural abstraction with aprofound Architecturefor India.In2014hereceived the LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR tion of the entirecampus foryears, the leaders transformation of centralisedarchetypes in his most profound Golden Awardfor Global Contribution to of the institution suddenlymade au-turn on a Bengali traditions, including mosques of the masterpieces. Architecture(CERA,India) YEAROFHOPE IDEAS THIS REFERS TO the editorial, 'Happy NewYear'(IE, January1). This ill-fated ONLINE year testedthe resolve of thepublic. The COVID-inducedlockdown restrictions ONLYINTHE EXPRESS When the Arctic warms took alarge biteoutof theearningsof the business owners. Manytragicallysuc- ● BOOKBIGPOLLUTERS: cumbed to the virus. As we usher in this SANDEEPPANDEY,SHOBHA Itwillaffectsealevelsandprecipitationpatternsglobally. Indiawillbeaffected fresh year,wemustnot letthe flame of SHUKLAANDBOBBY hope be extinguished. RAMAKANT Navtej Sarna Varun Das, Zirakpur ● INTROSPECTION AT AMU: THIS REFERS TO the editorial, 'Happy SYED TAHSEEN RAZA INMYSCHOOLgeographybooks,theArcticwas lossand degradation, the absence of year-long ancedandsustainabledevelopment,before hu- vantage,hasmovedinfast,projectingthePolar NewYear'(IE, January1). Afteratrau- afrozen fastness, the distant domain of polar ice and higher temperatures aremaking the man greedovertakes everything. The compli- SilkRoadasanextensionof theBRI,andhasin- matic and turbulent 2020, the NewYear www.indianexpress.com bears and fur-clad tribes, or the occasional in- survivalofArcticmarine life, plantsand birds cation is that, unlikeAntarctica, the Arctic is not vestedheavilyinports,energy,underseainfra- marks the startofanepoch, whichcer- trepidexplorer. Butthatwashalfacenturyago. difficultwhileencouragingspeciesfromlower aglobal commonand thereisnooverarching structureand miningprojects. Thislimbering tainlybringsmanyopportunities and Todaythe mysteriesofthe Arcticare literally latitudesto move north.TheArcticisalsohome treaty thatgoverns it, onlythe UN Convention up of strategic postures is onlythe tip of the also various problems, foremostamong meltingaway:Thetopoftheworldisfallinginto to about40differentindigenousgroups,whose of Lawofthe Sea (UNCLOS). Large parts of it are proverbial iceberg. whichisthe ongoing battle againstthe foritduring vaccine administration. the sea in hugeblocks,bringing with it chal- culture, economy andway of lifeisindanger of underthe sovereignty of the five littoral states India’s interests in these developments, deadlyvirus. The countryalso has to Bal Govind, Noida lengesthatare globalinnature. beingsweptaway. Increasinghumanencroach- —Russia, Canada, Norway,Denmark though distant, arenot peripheral. Ourexten- grapplewith unemployment,starvation It is in the Arctic that globalwarming pres- ment with itsattendant stresses will onlyag- (Greenland)and the US —and exploitation of sive coastline makes us vulnerable to theim- and sectarianism. The wish listislong BEEVEN-HANDED entsitsmostdramaticface;theregioniswarm- gravatethis impact and upsetafragilebalance. the newresourcesiswell within theirrights. pact of Arctic warming on ocean currents, andambitious, but then, hope is what ing up twiceasfastasthe globalaverage.The Yetthereisaflipside: The opening of the Inevitably, giventhe high stakes, strategic weather patterns, fisheries and mostimpor- sustains life. THIS REFERS TO the article, ‘Listening for icecap is shrinking fast —since 1980, the vol- Arcticpresentshugecommercialandeconomic games areafoot.Russia, Canada, Norway and tantly, ourmonsoon.Scientificresearch inArctic SSPaul, Nadia avoice’ (IE, January1). It is true that the umeof Arcticseaicehasdeclinedbyasmuchas opportunities, particularly in shipping, energy, Denmarkhaveputinoverlappingclaimsforex- developments,inwhichIndiahasagoodrecord, elitebelievesthat democracyis prevent- 75 per cent. The NorthernSea Route(NSR) fisheries and mineral resources. Commercial tendedcontinentalshelves,andtherightto sea- willcontributetoourunderstandingofclimatic FRONTLINE SPIRIT ing the growth of Indian economic for- whichwould connectthe NorthAtlantic to the navigationthroughtheNSRisthemosttempt- bedresources;in2007,Russiaembeddedaflag changesintheThirdPole—theHimalayas.The tunes and goes to the extent of support- NorthPacificthroughashortpolararcwasonce ing:ThedistancefromRotterdamto Yokohama on the seabed belowthe NorthPole to bolster strategicimplications of an active China in the THIS REFERS TO theeditorial, '2020 is ing the suppression of the common the stuffoffantasy.The melting ice has now willbecutby 40percentcomparedto theSuez itsclaim. The US, notaparty to UNCLOS, is un- Arcticand itsgrowing economic and strategic done' (IE, January1). It has been amis- man’sfundamentalrights.The ironyis made it areality andatrickle of commercial route. Oil and natural gasdeposits,estimated abletoput in aformal claimbut is under pres- relationship with Russia areself-evident and erable year.Following COVID, it is the that the NarendraModi-ledNDA gov- cargo vessels has been goingthrough every to be 22 per cent of the world’s unexplored re- suretostrengthen itsArctic presence. needclosemonitoring.Fortunately, since2013, plight of migrant workers that leftanin- ernment seems to followtheir advice, summer since the lastdecade. Models predict sources,mostlyintheArcticocean,willbeopen Forthe present, Russia is the dominant India has had atoeholdinthe region. It has ob- delible mark. Hopefully,wewill see a though he considers himself the mass thatthis routecould be ice free in summer by to access alongwith mineral depositsinclud- power, withthelongestArcticcoastline,half the server status in the Arctic Council, whichisthe comprehensive database being rolled leader.This is because this privilegedlot 2050, if notearlier. ing 25 per cent of the global reservesofrare Arctic population,and afull-fledgedstrategic predominantinter-governmentalforumforco- out soon formigrantworkers, whichcan supportthe BJP’s Hindu Rashtraagenda. Thesedevelopmentswillhave acriticalim- earths, buried in Greenland. policy.ClaimingthattheNSRfallswithinitster- operationonthe environmentaland develop- ensurethat theyhaveadignifiedlifein If nothingelse,the NDAgovernment can pact in severalsectors, mostfundamentallyon Fortunately, none of this is easy.Navigation ritorial waters (the US believesthe passagelies ment (thoughnot the security)aspectsofthe case of an emergency.Itistheir in- makethem sitwiththepeoplebelowthe climate.Thelossof iceandthewarmingwaters conditions aredangerous and restricted to the ininternationalwaters),Russiaanticipateshuge Arctic. It is high time that our presence on the domitablespirit, and of healthcarework- salt on the same table to seetheir prob- willaffectsealevels,salinitylevels,andcurrent summer. Lack of deep-water ports, aneedfor dividendsfromcommercialtraffic including ArcticCouncil wasunderpinnedbyastrategic ers and other essentialservice providers, lems and deprivation through their eyes. andprecipitationpatterns.Already,theTundra ice-breakers,shortage of workerstrainedforpo- throughtheuseof itsports,pilots andice-break- policy that encompassedeconomic, environ- thatstood outin2020. Whilethe gov- The government musttreat everysec- is returning to swamp, the permafrostisthaw- lar conditions, and high insurance costs addto ers. Russia hasalso activatedits northern mili- mental, scientific and political aspects. ernment has failedmiserablyinprovid- tion of society equallytoprevent thedi- ing,sudden storms areravaging coastlines and the difficulties. Mining and deep-sea drilling tary bases,refurbishedits nuclear armedsub- ing public healthcare infrastructure dur- vision in it. wildfires aredevastating interiorCanada and carry massive costs andenvironmental risks. marinefleetand demonstratedits capabilities, The writer is theformer Ambassador of India to ing lastyear,itwill, hopefully, makeup Tarsem Singh, Mahilpur Russia. The phenomenallyrichbiodiversity of These difficulties mayprovide thecrucialwin- includingthroughanexercisewithChinainthe theUS. He also served as India’s High theArcticregionisunderseriousthreat.Habitat dowtoworkoutnormsthatarefocussedonbal- eastern Arctic. China, playing foreconomic ad- Commissioner to theUK

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THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY,JANUARY2,2021 8 EXPRESS NETWORK BRIEFLY LGBTQ,women:Draftscience Muslim mancan be accused under triple policyaimsforinclusion,equity talaq law, nothis

It says that the LGBTQ+com- Among the proposals in the and notthe biological agewould alisedcommunities, differently- mother, says SC AMITABHSINHA& munityshould be includedinall policy is removalofbars on mar- be considered.While this would abledgroups, irrespective of Naib Subedar ESHAROY conversationsrelated to gender riedcouples being employedin help women who oftenhaveto their caste/creed/religion/race,” Ravinder PUNE,NEWDELHI,JANUARY1 equity,and provisions be made the same department or labora- take abreak from careers for the draftpolicy says. biddat (divorcebytriple talaq) by to safeguardtheir rights and pro- tory.Asofnow,marriedcouples familyreasonsand to raise chil- Forthe benefit of people with EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE Muslim men”, it said. IN SOME path-breaking sugges- mote their representation and arenot postedinthe same de- dren, the provision is notlimited disabilities, the policy asksall NEWDELHI,JANUARY1 “Thus, on apreliminary JAMMU &KASHMIR tions to promoteinclusion of retention in the science and partment, leading to cases of loss to women alone. publicly-fundedscientific insti- analysis, it is clear that the appel- Paktroopsshell marginalisedgroups in science, a technology sector.Moreimpor- of employmentorforcedtrans- Child-carebenefitsare pro- tutions to make“structural and THE OFFENCE under the triple lant as the mother-in-law of the newdraft policy on science and tantly, it says partners of people fers when colleagues decide to posedtobemadegender-neu- cultural changes” to support talaqlaw can onlybecommitted second respondent cannot be ac- Nowshera,1 technology proposes that at least from theLGBTQ+ community getmarried. tral, and flexible work timings their inclusion. by aMuslim man, and his cusedofthe offence of pro- 30 per cent representation be working in the sector be entitled “Dual recruitmentpolicy will and adequateparental leave are “Academic and professional mother cannotbeaccusedofit, nouncement of triple talaq un- soldierkilled ensured forwomen in all deci- to spousal benefits"irrespective be encouraged in allgoverning to be offeredtocater to mater- organisations will be encour- the Supreme Courthas ruled der the Actasthe offence can Jammu: One Indian Army sion-making bodies,aswell as of their gender". bodies, funding agencies, so that nity,childbirthand child care. All aged to conductgenderaudits while granting anticipatory bail onlybecommitted by aMuslim soldier waskilledon “spousal benefits”beprovided AshutoshSharma, Secretary couples do notface the challenge publicly-fundedresearch insti- and social audits, to propel the to awoman from Kerala. man,” the benchsaid in its Fridayafter Pakistani to partners of scientists belong- in the Department of Science of ‘choosing’ aspouse's career tutions anduniversities will be organisations to proactively pro- Section 3ofThe Muslim December 17 judgment. troops resortedtounpro- ing to the LGBTQ+ community. and Technology,said: “Our main over theirs. The aim is to bring asked to provide day-carecentre mote gender-neutral recruit- Women (Protection of Rightson The courtalso held that there vokedmortarshellingand The proposals, fortackling focus areas in the policy are genderneutralitythrough such forchildren of employees, and ment and retention of employ- Marriage) Act2019renders void wasnobar on anticipatorybail small arms fire along the discrimination and providing women and the youth. While interventions,” it says. also have aprovision forelderly ees,for ensuring equitable, not andillegal pronouncement of ta- under the Actprovidedthe sub- Line of Control (LoC) in equal opportunities in science, both categories needtobeem- In another majorproposal, care, it says. necessarilyequal, representa- laq by aMuslimman upon his stantive conditions in Section Rajouri district's arepart of achapteroninclusion poweredmorefor leadership the policysays that forage-re- “Therewill be equal oppor- tion. These processes will have wifeand under Section4ofthe 7(c) aremet.Theseconditions Nowsherasector.AnArmy and equity in the draftScience, positions, women in science are lated cut-offs in matters relating tunity in academics forwomen, adequaterepresentations from law, aMuslim man who pro- arethatthe courtmustfirsthear PROsaid the Pakistani Technology and Innovation practicallymissing and this to selection, promotion, awards along with candidatesfromru- all marginalisedand excluded nounces talaq upon his wifecan the marriedMuslim woman troops initiatedthe cease- Policy. needs to be rectified.” or grants, the “academic age” raland remote areas, margin- groups,” it says. bepunishedwith imprisonment who has made the complaint fire violation at around of upto three years,the courtsaid. and mustbesatisfiedthat there 3.30 pm and the Indian “TheprohibitioninSections arereasonable grounds for Armyresponded strongly UP: Elderly 3and 4isevidentlyone which granting bail to suchperson. to the enemyfire. During operates in relation to aMuslim Jalal’s daughter-in-lawhad the exchangeoffire, Naib man assaulted, husband alone,” the benchof lodged an FIRatthe North Parur Subedar Ravinder was Justices DYChandrachud, Indu Police Station complaining ofof- criticallyinjured andhe paraded on Malhotraand IndiraBanerjee fences under IPC Section 498-A later succumbedto hisin- said while hearing aplea by (cruelty by husband or relative of juries, the PROsaid. He Rahna Jalalagainstanorder of husband) and The Muslim said the Pakistani troops donkey; 2held the Kerala High Courtdenying Women(Protection of Rightson again violated the cease- her pre-arrest bail. Marriage) Act, 2019.Though fire in Nowsherasector at ASADREHMAN “This is supported by the Kerala opposed the anticipatory around 5.30 pm, adding LUCKNOW,JANUARY1 Statement of Objectsand Reasons bail prayer,the courtsaid “hav- that the IndianArmyretal- accompanying the Muslim ing regard to the vague and gen- iated befittingly. ENS A60-YEAR-OLD man wasas- Women (Protection of Rightson eral natureofthose allegations in saulted andparaded on adonkey Marriage)Bill2019...”,whichwas the FIR, bereft of details, the ap- afterhis face wasblackenedby “togiveeffect to theruling of this pellant... should notbedenied residentsof AksavillageinBadaun courtinShayara Bano vUnion of the benefit of the grant of antici- MAHARASHTRA district. Police have arrested two India [(2017)9SCC 1], and to lib- patory bail”. Tigress,2cubs people in this connection. erateMuslim women from the FULLREPORTON The incident took placeinthe customarypractice of talaq-e- www.indianexpress.com founddeadin Bisauli police station area on December 29.Police have identi- sanctuary fiedthevictim as Baddan Ali (60), 3KILLEDINJ&K ENCOUNTER anativeofAksavillage,andareyet Nagpur: Atigress and two ascertain the cause of the attack. Mehbooba urges L-G to of her cubs were found Avideo of theincidentwent dead in the UmredPauni viralonThursdaywhereAliisseen Karhandla Wildlife sitting on adonkey with his face ensure bodies are given SanctuaryonFriday, offi- blackened, whileacrowd is seen cialssaid,addingtheysus- askinghim questions. pect it to be acase of poi- Police said Aliwas initiallyac- to kin, seeks probe soning. PenchTiger cusedofharassingawoman. But ReserveField Director no suchcomplaint has been re- sion will onlyexacerbate their Ravikiran Govekar in are- NEW VISTAS ceived, theyadded. EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE sense of loss and pain.One hopes lease said, "A tigress and “The incident happenedon SRINAGAR,JANUARY1 that youwill rethink this decision her twocubs were found People throng the replica of the TajMahalatEco Park,inNew Town, KolkataonFriday. Express December 29. The next day, we &allowthem to getclosure.” deadinKarhandalabeatof got acomplaint againstfour peo- PDP CHIEF and former chief She added, “Questionsare Karhandala range… The ple and lodged acase in this con- ministerMehbooba Mufti on also looming over this encounter area is close to an agricul- nection. In his complaint,the vic- FridaywrotetoJammu and and thereare conflictingver- turalfieldandahalf-eaten tim has alleged that he was Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor sions and reports from thepolice bodyofacattle wasfound Vadodara: Dalit youth stabbed to death humiliated, abused, beaten up, Manoj Sinha, urging him to in- and the army. Justice can be nearby. Furthersearch and and paradedwith his face black- tervene and ensurethat the bod- served onlyifitisswiftand investigation is being enedinthe villagebyagroup of ies of three persons killedinan thereforeIrequestyou to initiate done... Post-mortemwill in brawl at New Year party, 9detained people ledbyVipin,Suresh, encounter on December 30 on an impartial investigation into be done tomorrow." ENS VijendraandMadanlal.Thecom- Srinagar outskirts areprovided the matter immediately.” Hitesh Vankar (18), have been been booked in athirdFIR forat- “Jha wasbragging about his ar- plainant has notstatedwhy he to their families. Meanwhile, J&K Police, in a UTTAR PRADESH EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE booked under the The Gujarat tempttomurder (IPC 307) as rest in another attempt to mur- wasassaulted.The accusedare in She also calledfor an impar- statement issuedFriday,said VADODARA,JANUARY1 Prohibition Act, 1949. well as assault (IPC 323). der case registeredwith the their thirties,” said Bisauli police tial inquiryintothe questions “Background checkalso reveals 5killed,3 “One FIR is under the Police said the incident oc- Vadodaracity police earlier this station SHO RajeevSharma. He surrounding the incident. that Aijaz and AtherMustaq, both injuredasbus THE VADODARA rural police on Prohibition Actbecause the curredataround 10pm on year.Hewas showing offa addedthatVijendraandMadanlal The J&K Police hasidentified OGWs variouslyprovidedlogis- Fridaydetainednine youths — group wasconsuming alcohol. Thursday, when thegroup gath- YouTubevideo of alocal news have been arrested. the three persons killedinthe tic support to terrorists. ramsintotruck eight of them aged under 20 — The deceasedhas also been ered at an isolated location in channel that had reportedhis old The case has been lodged un- encounter as Zubair Ahmad Antecedentsand verificationstoo in three combinedcases regis- booked forthe same. Thereisa Dhayraj villageinPadrataluka to crime, claiming he wasa‘don’. der IPC sections 323 (voluntarily from Shopian,and Ajaz Ahmad shows that both were radicallyin- Unnao: Five people were teredatPadra police station in murder case againstthe six ac- usher in the newyear.The The deceased belonged to the causinghurt),504(Intentionalin- Ganai andAthar Mushtaq from clinedand had aidedterrorists of killedand three othersin- connection with an alleged mur- cused, who belong to one group youngsters were cooking ScheduledCaste andthe accused sultwithintentto provokebreach Pulwama and described them as LeT (nowso-calledTRF) outfit.” jured as adouble-decker der of aDalit youth from and another cross-complaint chickenbiryani when aspat is said to have usedcasteistcom- of thepeace),506(criminalintim- “hardcoremilitant associates”. While the investigation con- bus on itsway to Delhi Navapuraarea. The deceased filedbythis group againstfour brokeout betweenthe men. An ments,” he added. idation)and452(House-trespass The families of the three have tinues, police also claimedthat from Bihar rammedintoa and accusedwereknown to others, including the deceased, argument over “superiority” As soon as Jha stabbed afterpreparation forhurt, assault questionedthe police narrative an OGWcurrentlyinpolice cus- stationarytruckonthe eachother. forassaulting and attempt to endedinabrawl and Jha stabbed Vankar,his four friendscalledthe orwrongfulrestraint).Apartfrom and said theyhad no linkswith tody has corroborated Aijaz’s as- Lucknow-Agra According to police,abrawl murder since theyhad afight,” Vankar with an ice-carvingknife. emergency service foranambu- the four namedaccused, police militants. sociation with LeT terroristFaisal Expressway Fridaymorn- brokeout between twogroups Deputy Superintendent of Police Makadiyatold The Indian lance. Vankar,however, wasde- have also lodgedthe case against In her letter to the L-G, Mufti MustaqBaba who waskilledin ing, police said. The acci- of friends who had gathered for HS MakadiyaofPadra police sta- Express,“The group had come to- clared dead on arrivalatSSG unidentifiedpersons. wrote, “I am awarethat the ad- an encounter at Meej in denttookplaceataround7 aNew Year party at an isolated tion, said. gether to consumealcohol. A Hospital, wherepolicesenthis “Duringthe probe, it willbe- ministrationisapprehensive PamporeinJune lastyear. am near Mauni Bhava vil- location in Dhayraj villagein Main accusedAbhijit Jha fight brokeout when Jha began body forautopsy. comeclearwhoallwere involved about returning their bodies to FULLSTORYON lageunder Auraspolice Padrataluka on Thursday night (20), who allegedly stabbed bragging over about his ‘power’ Makadiyaaddedthat all nine in the assault,”said the SHO. the families but this callousdeci- www.indianexpress.com stationarea,theysaid.Four and one of the accusedfatally Vankar and five accomplices and crime history.One of the accusedhavebeen detained and peoplediedonthe spot, stabbed the youthwithanice- have been booked in aseparate youths refuted his claim and the sent forCovid-19testasper and one person suc- carving knife. FIR under IPC section 302 forcul- verbal warofsupremacy es- protocol. India lodges cumbed to injuries on the Three separateFIRs have pable homicide amounting to clatated intoaphysical fight.” “Theywill be formallyar- India calls on Pakistan waytothe hospital, police been registeredatPadrapolice murder and forrioting as well as Makadiyasaid Vankar is be- rested in their respective cases, protest with Pak said. The deceasedall station in the case and 10 per- under sectionsofthe SC/STAct, lievedtohaveintervenedtostop afterthe Covid test reports ar- to release, repatriate 185 hailedfromBihar,SHORaj sons, including the deceased 1989. Four accusedhavealso the fight when Jha stabbed him. rive,” he said. over temple Bahadur Singh said. PTI fishermen, three civilians vandalisation GUJARAT India handedoverlists of 263 Bengaluru civic body’s plan to rename EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE Pakistanicivilianprisonersand77 Copcaught NEWDELHI,JANUARY1 fishermeninIndia’scustodyto the EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE whileaccepting neighbouring country. Similarly, NEWDELHI,JANUARY1 roadsafterMuslim leaders put on hold INDIA ON Fridaycalledon Pakistansharedlists of 49civilian Rs50lakhbribe Pakistantorelease andrepatri- prisonersand270fishermeninits INDIA HAS lodged astrong ate185 Indian fishermen and custody,who areIndians or be- protest withPakistanoverthe Ahmedabad: TheGujarat EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE three civilianprisoners whose lievedtobeIndians, it added. vandalisation of aHindu temple Anti-Corruption Bureau BENGALURU,JANUARY1 nationality has already been “The government has called in Karak district of Khyber (ACB) caughtanassistant confirmedand conveyedto forearly release and repatriation Pakhtunkhwaprovince in the sub-inspector of THE BRUHATBengaluru Pakistani authorities. of civilian prisoners, missing neighbouringcountryand Ahmedabad rangepolice MahanagaraPalike(BBMP) on In addition, Pakistanhas been Indiandefence personnel and soughtstrict action againstthose while allegedly accepting Fridayput on hold itsdecisionto askedtoprovide immediatecon- fishermen, along with their responsible forthe incident, abribeofRs50lakh, anof- rename roads in aminority- sular access to Indianfishermen boats, from Pakistan's custody,” sources said on Friday. ficial said on Friday. ASI dominated area of thecity after and 22 civilian prisoners, who are the MEA said.“In thiscontext, India expectsPakistanto Prakashsinh Raol attached Muslim leaders afterthree BJP in itscustody and arebelieved to Pakistanwas asked to expedite carry out an investigation and to the rapid response cell MPs opposedthe move. BJP MPs Tejasvi Surya,AnanthKumar Hegde and CPMohan opposed the proposal be Indians, the Ministryof the release and repatriationof has asked forsharing of the (RR cell) wascaught red- The BBMPhad in September External Affairs (MEA) said. three Indian civilian prisoners probereport, theysaid. handedwhile accepting takenthe decision to name11 The requests came during and 185Indian fishermen to On Wednesday, the temple the bribeatahotel, the of- roads of Padarayanapura, BBMP missioner NManjunatha Prasad, toratesfor Hindus and Muslims. Hegde, meanwhile, said that the exchangeofthe lists of civil- India whose nationality has been in Terrivillage of Karak district ficial said. Recently, based Ward no 135, afterthe opposingthe move. This is dangerous and mustbe the renaming of the roads after ian prisoners and fishermen by confirmedand conveyedto wasvandalisedbyamob, on atip-off, the RR Cell of Pehalwans, the Hajis, and other Surya said the decision was condemned,”Surya'sletterreads. Muslim leaders was“promotion both countriesonthe firstday of Pakistan,” it added. protesting againstits expansion Ahmedabad Rangehad personalities belonging to the akin to the“communal mental- Requesting Prasad to recon- of one particular community”. everycalendar year as part of a “The government also re- work.Sources said the MEA con- raidedagodown. As per Muslim community. The BBMP ity of the twonationtheory”, and sider his decision, Surya said, Hisletter, written along with practice under the framework of questedPakistantoexpeditethe veyedits serious concerns to the the ACB, Raol had de- had written to the Karnataka requestedPrasad to revise the “Thereisnodearth of non- fellowMPMohan, says,“Only a2008agreement. grant of visas to the members of PakistanHigh Commission here mandedRs60lakh from MinistryofUrban Development, listofprobable names. Muslim public figures and patri- names of Muslim leaders have In viewofthe pandemic, the medical experts team and fa- over the repeated instances of the godown owner fornot intimating it about itsdecision. “Christening of roads in otsafter whom our roads can be been recommendedinthis par- India also requestedPakistanto cilitatetheir visit to Pakistanto similar incidentsand atrocities naminghimas an accused On Thursday, Bangalore Muslim-dominatedlocality with named. Irequestyou to imme- ticular ward.Itisnot appropri- ensurethe safety, security and assess the mental condition of againstthe members of the mi- in the FIR, and afternego- SouthMPTejasvi Surya, Uttara onlyMuslim names reeksofthe diatelyrevise the listand finalise atetoundertake suchastepin welfareofall Indian and be- believed-to-beIndian prisoners nority community there. tiations, he agreedtoac- Kannada MP Ananth Kumar samecommunalmentalityof the the listofroads to be namedaf- the name of social work,whichis lieved-to-beIndian civil prison- of unsound mind, lodged in dif- “Wealsoasked forthe inves- ceptRs50lakh. PTI Hegde and BangaloreCentral MP two-nation theoryand Muslim terpersonalities onlyafter wide nothing but the promotion of ers and fishermen. ferent jails of Pakistan,” the MEA tigation reporttobeshared with CPMohan wrote to BBMP com- League'sdemandof separateelec- public discussion.” one particular community.” In astatement, the MEA said said. the ministry,”asource said. 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CORONAVIRUS DASHBOARD Ayear to engage &assert In tissue of deceased Covid patients, study finds signsof Afterayear when it battledCovid-19and Chineseaggression, India enters 2021 with the challenge of strengtheningties and building newoneswith theUS, EU,Middle East countries, and itsneighbours. brain damage, not of virus The newyearpresentsIndiaanopportunity to emergeasaglobal rather than an aspirational player.

IN AN IN-depthstudy of howCovid-19 affectsapatient’s brain, researchers anon-permanentmemberfortheeighthtime, from the US National Institutesof stakes arehigh in the wake of this leadership Health(NIH) consistentlyspottedhall- contestbetween China and the rest of the marks of damage in tissue samples world. India willhavetotakepositions on is- from deceasedpatientsofthe disease. sues it had carefullyavoided—fromTibet to This damagetotissue samples was Taiwan, from Iran-Saudi rivalrytothe refugee causedbythinningand leaky brain crisisbetween Bangladesh and Myanmar. blood vessels. Yetthe researchers saw Whilecross-borderterrorismisoneof thetop no signs of SARS-CoV-2 in the tissue Shubhajit Roy concerns and India will work towardsisolat- samples. This suggeststhat the dam- ing Pakistanfurther,alimited fixation on the agewas notcausedbyadirect viral at- ASSOCIATE EDITOR westernneighbourwoulddistractfromIndia’s tack on the brain, NIH said in astate- Ahigh-resolutionscan of a aspirations of being aglobal leader. mentontheresearch.The resultswere patient’s brain stem. Arrows publishedasacorrespondence in the point to lightand darkspots that #3: Friendship with US NewEngland Journal of Medicine. areindicative of blood vessel INAPRIL1963,aboutsixmonthsafterthe1962 Muchisexpected from the Biden “Wefound that the brains of pa- damage observedinthe warwith China, Prime MinisterJawaharlal Administration forbuilding on Indo-US ties, tientswho contract infection from study.NIH/NINDS Nehru wroteanarticle in Foreign Affairs mag- but alot willdependonhow theUSviews SARS-CoV-2may besusceptible to mi- azine,titled‘ChangingIndia’.Heconcededthat Chinainthelargerschemeofthings.Movesto- crovascular blood vessel damage. Our therewas aneedto“adjustour relationswith wardsapossible US-China trade deal will be resultssuggestthat this maybecaused cluding diabetes, obesity,and cardio- friendly countriesinthe light of the changing watchedbySouthBlockclosely. Oneof thekey by thebody’s inflammatoryresponse vascular disease. Three patients col- actualitiesof theinternationalsituation…the testswill be thefutureofQuad, and the Indo- to the virus” NIH quoted the study’s lapsedand diedsuddenly. Chinese, ‘devious and deceptive’astheyhave Pacific strategy of the newadministration. senior author AvindraNath, clinicaldi- Initially, theresearchersusedaspe- proved to be,required that Indiapay ‘consid- New Delhi will build on itsdeepening rector at the NIH’s cial, high-poweredMRI erablymoreattention to strengthening her strategicand defence ties with the US, and National Instituteof scanner to examinesam- armedforces’.” This task would need“exter- would want to resolve trade and visa issues. Neurological Disorders ples of the olfactorybulbs nal aidinadequatemeasure”, he wrote. and Stroke (NINDS), as and brainstems from AsIndiabidsadieuto adisruptive yearthat #4: Wooing Europe saying. eachpatient. These re- challenged itsdiplomatic and militarystand- As the UK and the EU agree on adeal, India Although Cvid-19is gions arethought to be ing, and enters anew one fraught with chal- willlook ahead to negotiating adeal with the primarilyarespiratory highlysusceptible to lenges, it could borrowfromNehru’s words. UK and along-pending one with the EU.For a disease, patientsoften ex- PAPER Covid-19. Olfactorybulbs Areflection of eventsshows India faced Illustration:Suvajit Dey start,ithasinvitedBritishPMBorisJohnsonas perience neurological control oursense of smell sevenhardrealities in 2020, and has to deal Chief Guestfor Republic Day. In May, thereis problems including CLIP while thebrainstemcon- withsixchallengesandopportunitiesin2021. tive of whothe president is,” he wroteinThe border standoff. But, it has takennoteof apossibility of an India-EU summit. Already, headaches, delirium, cog- trols our breathing and Indian Express on November 5. Moscow’s position on the Quad and Indo- FranceandGermanyhavecomeupwiththeir nitive dysfunction, dizzi- NEWRESEARCH heartrate. Thescans re- HARDREALITIES:2020 Pacific, anear-echo of Beijing’s stance. Indo-Pacificstrategy,andapotentialEuropean ness,fatigue,and loss of vealedthat both regions #3: Acceptance forTaliban strategy is apossibility, but aEU-China trade the sense of smell.The disease may had an abundance of bright spots #1: China aims fortop Having invadedAfghanistan19yearsago #6: Assertive neighbours dealwouldbedissectedbyIndiannegotiators. also cause patientstosufferstrokes. (calledhyperintensities)that oftenin- trying to root out the Taliban, the US finally TheyearbeganwithBangladeshasserting Severalstudies have shown that dicateinflammation, and darkspots Accordingto theChineseZodiac,2020was made peacewith them in February as it looks itself on CAA-NRC, and then Nepal claiming #5: Engaging with neighbours the disease can cause inflammation (calledhypointensities)thatrepresent the Year of Rat. According to legend, in acom- to exit.ForIndia,thismeantabeginningof the territoryand issuing anew map. It brought China’s growing economic footprint in and bloodvesseldamage.Inone of bleeding. petitionheldby theJadeEmperorto decidethe process of re-engagingwiththe Taliban,and home the reality that neighbours areno India’sneighbourhoodisaconcern.Whileitis these studies, researchers found evi- The researchers then usedthe zodiacanimals,thequick-wittedRataskedthe New Delhireached out pushovers.Bytheendof beingplayedoutinNepal,Indiawillalsowatch dence of small amountsofSARS-CoV- scans as aguide to examine the spots Ox to carry him across the riverand jumped with External Affairs theyear,New Delhi had China’s movesinthe rest of the subcontinent. 2insome patients’ brains. morecloselyunderamicroscope. They down before theOxcrossedthe finishline, so ministerSJaishankar’s THENEW IN movedtobuild bridges Itsmoves in Iran, too, were closelywatched, Nevertheless, NIH said, scientists are found that the bright spots contained theRatbecamethefirstoftheZodiacanimals. attendancethroughvir- withboth,waryof anac- and as Presidential elections take placeinIran still trying to understand howthe dis- blood vessels that were thinner than In 2020,Beijing tried to behave muchlike tual mode and asenior NEWYEAR tive Beijing. Bangladesh this year,stakesfor engagement will be high. ease affectsthe brain. normal and sometimes leaking blood the proverbial Rat. Acountrywhich, under IndiandiplomatinDoha. pushedback, andIndia One of the important aspectsof2021is In this study,the researchers con- proteins, likefibrinogen,intothe brain. PresidentXiJinpingsince2013,hadbeencon- Signallinglong-term did notnotifythe CAA that,whilethereisachurninginNepal,almost ducted an in-depth examination of This appeared to trigger an immune solidatingitsglobalinfluence,sawanopportu- commitment to rules. Nepalreachedout everySouth Asian countryhas had elections brain tissue samples from 19 patients reaction. The spots were surrounded nity in aworld distracted with thepandemic. Afghanistan’s future— 2021 at the highestlevel. inthelastcoupleof years.Thatmeansthegov- who had diedafter experiencing by Tcells from the blood and the Whileitwastargetedinitiallyforbeingthe under Taliban or other India also watched ernmentsinthese countries arestable. Covid-19between March and July brain’s ownimmune cellscalled mi- source of the coronavirus, Xi’s regime turned political forces —India INDIA AND THE WORLD closely the US and Astheworldemergesfromthe pandemic, 2020. Thepatientsdiedatawide range croglia.Incontrast,thedarkspots con- around and startedtoflexits muscleinthe re- hascommitted$80mil- Chinese forayswith NewDelhihasalot to gainfromwhatcouldbe of ages, from 5to73yearsold. They tainedbothclotted andleaky blood gion. The Indo-Pacific wasits playground, lion, overand above its Maldivesand Sri Lanka. “vaccinediplomacy”withneighboursin2021 diedwithin afew hoursto twomonths vessels but no immune response. whereChinesenavalormilitiaforcesrammed $3billioncommitmentinthelasttwo decades. Indiaappearsto have madepeacewiththein- —supplying vaccines either free or at afford- afterreporting symptoms. Manypa- aVietnamese fishing boat, “buzzed” a This means New Delhi tooisfinally looking at volvement of the US in Maldives, and thatof able costs. tientshad one or morerisk factors, in- Source: NIH (US) Philippines navalvessel, andharasseda the Taliban as apolitical actor,although it is Japan in Sri Lanka and Maldives. Malaysian oil drilling operation. It even tried controlledbythe Pakistanmilitaryt. #6: Global, notjustaspirational to arm-twistAustralia through trade curbs. #7:Aspirational India Forlong, India has playedthe role of an INDIAACTIVE CASES 254,254 AndsinceMay, Chinesetroopshave altered #4: MiddleEastequations Through 2020,India’s publicarticulation emergingpower—withambitionstoplaythe the status quo along the border with India, TheUS-brokeredrapprochementbetween of “self-reliance”andrefusalto signtradepacts role of aglobal power. In 2021, New Delhiwill claimed thelives of 20 Indiansoldiers, and vi- Israel and four Arab countries —the UAE, with RCEP countries waswidely perceivedas hostthe BRICS summit,and startits prepara- 300,000 olated everyagreement to maintain peace. Bahrain, Moroccoand Sudan —reflected the “isolationist” and “inward-looking”. India did tions forthe G-20 summit in 2023. And the So,whileitwasinfectedwiththevirusfirst, changing landscape in the region. With Saudi stepupto supplymedicinesandprotective kits India-Africa Forum summit, whichcould not 254,254 it claimedtobethe firsttoovercome it,and to Arabia and Iran competing forleadership, to morethan150 countries, but did notcome be held in 2020, could be heldin2021orlater. 289,240 recover—asdid the proverbial Rat. along with Turkey,inthe Islamic world, there across as the global leader the worldneeded NewDelhi has opportunitiestoarticulateand have been growing calls forties with Israel. at this time. Lackofresources, acontracting bevocalonissuesthatmatterto theworld,and #2: ‘TrumpAmericans’ New Delhihasbeenaheadofthecurve,cul- economyanditspopulistpoliticsmadeitcome be proactivetofurther itsinterests. 250,000 Overthelastfouryears,theUSvacatedthe tivating ties with Israel as well as Saudi-UAE across as an aspirationalpower. As India looksahead in 2021, External leadership space at the worldstage under the andtheIranianswithdeftdiplomacy. Butithas Affairs MinisterSJaishankar mayhavetaken DonaldTrumpAdministration.Itwalkedoutof to becarefulto notlet itsgainsgetimpactedby 2021:CHALLENGES,OPPORTUNITIES aleafout of Nehru’s playbook.Inhis book The orweakenedalmostadozenmultilateralbod- polarisingpoliticsathome—beitthroughthe IndiaWay: StrategiesforanUncertainWorld,he LAST 10 DAYS ies or agreements, from the Iran deal to the CAA-NRCorreligious fault-lines. #1: CounteringChina sumsupIndia’sforeignpolicygoalsinthisage Dec 22 Dec 31 WHO. While Beijing movedintoclaim space, of disruption, “Manyfriends, fewfoes, great 200,000 the TrumpAdministration did one thing right #5: Russia-Chinabonding India’sresponseto theborderstandoffhas goodwill, moreinfluence. That mustbe —ittargetedChina and the CommunistParty Brewing forthe last threedecades, ties be- beenguidedbyathinkingthatonehasto stand achievedthrough the India Way.” Note:The Dec 31 figureinthis graphisbased on thegovernment update on Jan 1 of Chinafor disrupting the global order. tweenRussia andChina got closerin2020. upto thebully, butthathascomeatacost: sol- In the Chinese Zodiac, 2021isthe Year of OnceJoeBidentakesoverasPresident,the Indiahasalways feltthatitwastheWest,with diersbravingtheharshwinterandmilitaryas- theOx—consideredproductive forthosewho USisexpectedto reclaimthespacevacatedby itsapproachtowards Russia afterthe annexa- sets deployedonland, in air and at sea. The are“hardworking and methodical”and “fully INDIA TOTALCASES WORLDTOTALCASES Trump. But, as former Foreign SecretaryVijay tion of the Crimea in 2014,thathas pushed standoffhas reinforcedNehru’s belief in 1963 feeltheweightof theirresponsibilities”.Itis“a 10,286,709 83,718,625 Gokhale has pointed out, the US will be de- Moscowtowardsatighterembraceof Beijing. that India needs “external aid in adequate year when it is necessarytoredouble the ef- finedby“TrumpAmericans”.“Goingforward, Thishasbeenpossiblealsodueto theUS’santi- measure”. India will needcontinuingsupport fortstoaccomplish anything at all”. Source:MinistryofHealth&family Source:JohnsHopkinsUniversity, AmericawillnotbedefinedbytheDemocrats Chinese rhetoric, collapse of oil prices and from theUS, Japan, Australia, besides Europe That could well be the Indian strategy in Welfare,updatedat11pmonJan1 updatedat11pmonJan1 or by theRepublicans.Itwillbedefinedbythe Russia’sdependenceonChineseconsumption. leaders suchasFrance, Germanyand the UK. thenew year,asitnavigates apost-Covid-19 TrumpAmericans… Beyond the optics, the India has strong ties with Russia, and future. TrumpAmericans, whoare thenew political MoscowwasthevenueforalltheIndia-China #2: High table at UN base,willstillshapeAmericanpolicyirrespec- official andministerial conversationsoverthe As India enters the UN Security Council as NEXT:SPORTSAMIDTHEPANDEMIC 3states,3anti-conversionlaws:what’ssimilar,what’sdifferent

promulgatedinNovember,toorequiresa60- bailable,which meansanarrest canbemade HimachalPradeshalreadyhave anti-conver- APURVAVISHWANATH daynoticebutalsorequirestheMagistrateto JAILTERMS,ASPRESCRIBED withoutawarrantandbailisgrantedonly by sionlaws.The keydifference in thenewlaws NEWDELHI,JANUARY1 conduct apolice inquirytoascertain the real Mass Conversion Conversion of Anyother the discretion of thejudge. is that theyseek to criminalise conversions intention behind the conversion. aminor/SC/STconversion Under the MP law, aperson can be sen- solelyfor the purpose of marriage. THE MADHYAPradesh government is setto The Himachal Pradesh Freedomof tencedtoajail term between one and five The MP Ordinance repeals the Madhya followtwo other BJP-ruledstates—Uttar Religion Act, 2019 that came into effect last Uttar Pradesh 3-10years 2-10years1-5 years yearsforconvertingorattemptingto convert PradeshFreedomof ReligionAct,1968.While Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh —inpassing week,requires a30-day prior“declaration of MadhyaPradesh 5-10years- 1-5 years* unlawfully. If thepersonconverted is a that toocriminalisedforcedconversion, the ananti-conversionlawthatoutlaws religious intention to convert”. Himachal Pradesh -2-7 years 1-5 years woman, aminor or aperson belonging to a newlaw addsprovisionsrelating to conver- conversionsolelyforthepurposeof marriage. ScheduledCaste or ScheduledTribe(SC/ST), sion duringmarriage, maintenance rights, *MPbill alsoprescribes 3-10years jail forusing "misrepresentation"or"impersonation" for The MP Cabinet hasapproved the Freedom Who can investigate the sentence is twoto10years. It also pro- and reversal of the burden of proof by plac- religious conversion to Religion Bill, 2020 as an Ordinance. Section4ofthe MP lawstatesthat there videsforajailtermof threeto 10 yearsforcon- ing it on the accused. Whileacommonfeatureofallthreelaws cannotbeaninvestigationbyapoliceofficer cealing one’s religion during themarriage. Himachalpasseditslaw in2019,repealing is the declaration of suchmarriagesas“null exceptonthe written complaint of the per- sion wasdone without anycoercion or ille- wifehas converted,evenconsensual, unless TheUPlawprovidesforaminimumpun- the Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion and void” and the penalising of conversions son converted or the person’s parents/sib- gality. TheHimachal lawhas asimilar provi- theyhavegiven prior notice to thestate gov- ishment of one year,whichcan be extended Act,2006.Whilethe2019 lawhasaddedpro- done without the prior approval of the state, lings. Guardians of the person convertedcan sion.TheUPlawgoesfurther,placingthisbur- ernment, MP’snew lawatthe same time upto five years,andrepeatoffencescancarry visionsrelatedtoconversionsforthepurpose theydifferinthe quantum of punishment file acomplaint onlywiththe permission of den of proof on peoplewho “caused” or seekstoprotect the right of women and her double the maximumsentence. Men are of marriage, the aspect of prior declaration prescribed,and in attributing the burden of acourt.The MP lawalsosays that no police “facilitated”theconversionandnotonthein- child from the “null and void” marriage. awardedahigherpunishmentif convictedof before the district magistrateexistedinthe proof thataconversionislawful.Also,theMP officer belowthe rank of asub-inspector can dividual. Even in the police inquiry, if the UnderSection9,thewomanwhosemarriage causing conversion of awoman,aminor or a 2006lawaswell.Incidentally, theHighCourt lawseeks to protect the rightsofwomen of investigateanoffenceunderthe law. Magistrateisnot satisfied,criminalactionun- has been declarednull and void under this personbelongingto anSC/ST—inwhichcase had struckdownthe prior notice provisions suchmarriages. The Himachal lawsays that prosecution der Section11ofthe Ordinance can be initi- legislation,andherchildren,willhave aright the sentence is betweentwo and 10 years. asunconstitutionalandviolative of thefunda- cannotbeinitiated without theprior sanc- ated againstpersons who “caused” the con- to maintenance. The lawdoesnot,however, IntheHimachallaw, apersoncanbesen- mental right to privacy. Priornotice tion of an officer notbelowthe rank of asub- version. This includes those who committed providearecourseforensuringthemarriage tencedtoajail term of one to five yearsfor In 2019,areportbythe UP StateLaw The MP lawrequiresa60-dayprior “dec- divisional magistrate. the offence; omitted to actand prevent the can be protected subsequently. converting or attempting to convert unlaw- Commission recommendedaspecial lawto laration of the intentiontoconvert”tothe The UP lawallows thesame people as al- offence; and aided, abetted, counselledor Neitherthe UP northe Himachal lawhas fully. If theperson converted is awoman, a address incidentsofforcedconversion. In a DistrictMagistrateforconversionto bevalid, lowedbythe MP lawtofile acomplaint. procuredpeopleforcommittingtheoffence. suchprovisions. minor or aperson belongingtoanSC/ST,the draftBill,submittedalongwiththereport,the following whichacouplefromdifferent reli- sentence is twotoseven years. Commissionrecommendedpenalising gions can be legallymarried. Burden of proof Maintenance &inheritance Quantum of punishment fraudulent conversions, including conver- TheUttarPradeshProhibitionof Unlawful The MP lawplaces on the person con- Whiledeclaring as “null and void” any Theoffenceof illegalconversionunderthe The laws earlier sions solelyfor the purpose of marriage.The Conversion of Religious Ordinance, 2020 vertedtheburdenof provingthattheconver- marriageinwhicheither the husband or the laws of allthree states is cognisable and non- At least10statesincluding MP and Ordinance waspromulgated subsequently.

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THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY,JANUARY2,2021 10 THE WORLD

TOPOFTHE Trump extendsfreeze WORLD WHOgivesemergencynodtovaccine, on H-1B, other work aimstospeedaccessinpoorcountries visas until March31 Many Indianslikelytobehit by move Agency approves Pfizer-BioNTechshots LALITKJHA JOHNMILLER EvidenceofUK WASHINGTON,JANUARY1 At aceremonytomark ZURICH,JANUARY1 the 1-year anniversary virus strain found US PRESIDENT Donald Trump of thekillingofQassem THE WORLD Health has extendedthe freezeonH-1B Soleimani. Reuters Organisation on Thursdaylisted in Florida man visas, whichare highlysought- Pfizer and BioNTech’s Covid-19 afterbyIndian IT professionals, vaccine foremergency use, in a Miami: Florida health au- along with other typesofforeign IRAN move seeking to speed access in thorities lateThursdayre- work visas and green cards Topcommander the developing world. portedfinding evidence of through March 31,saying that The United Nations health the latestUScase of thenew the reasonsfor whichhehad im- vows‘resistance’ agency said it will work withre- andapparentlymoreconta- posedsuchrestrictionsamidst Trumpatthe WhiteHouse gional partners to tell national gious coronavirus strain first the pandemic had notchanged. on Thursday afterhis return ayearafter health authorities about the seen in England, saying it The freeze on various cate- following avisit to his Mar- Soleimanikilling two-dose shotand itsantici- wasdetected in aman with gories of work visas wasor- a-LagoresortinFlorida. AP pated benefits. no recent travel history.The dered by Trumpthrough two THEUSkillingof topgeneral

The WHO establishedits case, disclosed in aFlorida proclamations on April 22 and ED Qassem Soleimani will not emergency use listing (EUL) Health Department state- June 22 lastyear. deterIranian resistance, a process to help poorer countries ment tweetedonits Hours before the freeze was Dilemma senior commander said on without their ownregulatory HealthyFla site, comes after settoexpireonDecember 31, PLAIN E ● forBiden Fridayastensionsmounted resources quicklyapprovemed- reports in recent days of An emptyTimes Square is seenduring the virtualNew Year's Eveevent on Thursday. For Trumpissuedanother procla- EX in the build-uptothe first icines newdiseaseslikeCovid- multiple individual cases of decades, tens of thousands of merrymakers have filledthe blocks around Times SquareonNew mation on Thursdaytoextend it anniversaryofthe drone 19,whichotherwise could lead the United Kingdomstrainof Year’sEve,standingfor hours waiting to see aglitteringcrystal ballglide down apolemounted untilMarch 31,ensuring that his WHILE JOEBiden has prom- strike. The US killed to delays. Covid-19discoveredin atop askyscraper in the year’sfinal seconds. This time, onlyahandful of invited guests, including sweeping limitsonlegal immi- isedtoreverse manyof Soleimani, leader of the The WHO’s reviewfound Colorado and California. AP healthcareworkers, gathered at theiconic square to bringinthe newyear as cases of Covid-19 gration will remain in place Trump’simmigrationpoli- RevolutionaryGuards’Quds Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine met continue to surgeinthe United States. Reuters whenPresident-elect Joe Biden cies,itisnot yetclearifhein- Force, in Iraq on January3, the “must-have”criteria for is sworn in on January20. tends to immediatelyrevoke 2020.Washington had ac- safetyand efficacy benefitsout- liance has been in talkswith The continuation of the re- therestrictionsonwork cusedhim of mastermind- weigh itsrisks. Pfizer and BioNTech to secure strictions, whichcomes with just visas afterhetakes office on ing attacks by Iranian- “Thisisaverypositivestepto- vaccine. Founders of BioNTech warn 20 days leftinthe Republican Jan 20. Trump’smovetoex- alignedmilitiasonUSforces wardsensuring globalaccess to Even so, the Pfizer- President’s term, is the latestef- tend the curbs,whichhe intheregion.EsmailGhaani Covid-19vaccines,”said BioNTechvaccine’s challenging fort to bar the entryofimmi- says benefitAmerican work- who succeededSoleimani MariangelaSimao,theWHO’sac- storageand delivery require- of gaps in Covidvaccine supply grantstothe US. ers, until March 31 leaves as head the eliteQuds force, cesstomedicinesprogramleader. ments, including keeping it at Restricting immigration has Biden with the tough choice said on FridayIranwas still “But Iwant to emphasise the minus 70 degrees Celsius, have CEOUgurSahintoldnews weekly been afocusofthe Trumpad- of whether to liftthe mora- ready to respond. needfor an even greater global made deliveries challenging in DOUGLASBUSVINE Spiegel in an interview. ministration since itsfirstdays torium at atime when the “Americanmischief willnot effort to achieve enough vaccine western countries, and may BERLIN,JANUARY1 AshotfromModerna is ex- whenitissuedthe travel ban on pandemic has leftmanyin deterthe Quds forcefrom supplytomeetthe needs of pri- pose bigger hurdles fordevel- BioNTech pected to be cleared by the sevenMuslim-majority coun- the US unemployed, or to carrying on itsresistance ority populations everywhere.” oping nations without ade- BIONTECHISworking flat out CEO Ugur European Medicines Agency tries, and it has continuedinto keep the restrictions that go path,”headded. REUTERS The UN health agency,with quateinfrastructure. with partnerPfizer to boostpro- Sahin (EMA) on Jan 6. Trump’sfinal year in office as the againstthe liberal, pro-im- the GAVI Vaccine Alliance and The vaccine has gottenregu- duction of their Covid-19vaccine, Sahin said the WhiteHouse uses the coron- migration values thatheand the Coalition forEpidemic latorybacking from the United itsfounders said, warning there BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine, which avirus pandemic as cover. his party have espoused. Preparedness Innovations Kingdom, the European would be gaps in supply until sternationinGermany,where uses messenger RNAtoinstruct The H-1B visa is anon-immi- IRAQ (CEPI), arespearheading aglobal Medicines Agency,USFood and other vaccines were rolledout. some regions had to temporar- the humanimmune system to grant visa that allows US com- Oiltanker effort calledCOVAX to secure Drug Administration, Health The German biotech startup ilyclose vaccination centres days fight the coronavirus, should be panies to employ foreign work- Theywould nowhavetowait and distributevaccines to poorer Canada, Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, has ledthe vaccine race but its afterthe launchofaninoculation able to copewithavariant first ers in specialty occupationsthat at leasttill theend of Marchbe- evacuatedafter countries, to ensureshots do not Mexico, Oman, Qatar,Saudi shothasbeenslowtoarriveinthe drive on December 27. detected in Britainthat appears requiretheoretical or technical fore approaching the US diplo- go onlytowealthynations. Arabia and Singapore. European Union due to relatively “Atthemomentitdoesn’tlook to be morecontagious. expertise. The technology com- matic missions to getstamping. minefoundonhull The WHO-backed COVAXal- Pfizer and BioNTech’s mes- slowapproval from the bloc’s good—aholeisappearingbecause “Weare testing whetherour panies depend on it to hiretens It would also impact alarge num- AN IRAQI oil tanker was liance has agreements fornearly senger RNAvaccine wasfound healthregulatorandthesmallsize there’s alackofother approved vaccine can also neutralise this of thousands of employees each berofIndianITprofessionals evacuated afteramine was 2billiondoses, with firstdeliv- to be 95% effective aftertwo of the orderplacedbyBrussels. vaccinesandwe have to fillthegap variant, and will soon know year from countries likeIndia who areseeking renewaloftheir discoveredattachedtoits eriesdue in early 2021. The al- doses 21 days apart. REUTERS The delays have causedcon- with our ownvaccine,” BioNTech more,” he said. REUTERS and China. H-1B visas. PTI hull, the militarysaid on Friday, adding that agov- ernmentexplosives team UK abolishes wasstill working to make Quiet New Year gives breathing Australia tweaksnational anthem the vessel safe. The tanker ‘sexist’ sales tax waslocated in interna- tional waters about 28 room after UK-EU Brexit split on women’s to recognise Indigenous history nauticalmiles offshoreand supplying another ship sanitary products made and we have announced with fuel when the device JILLLAWLESS SWATIPANDEY today, Ithink,achieve that goal.” wasdiscoveredon LONDON,JANUARY1 SYDNEY,JANUARY1 Australia has struggledfor Thursday, theysaid in a ASSOCIATEDPRESS decades to reconcile with statement. It wasnot im- ASTEADYtrickle of trucksrolled LONDON,JANUARY1 AUSTRALIA AMENDEDits na- Aborigines,who arrivedonthe mediatelyclear howthe offferries and trains on either tional anthem to remove refer- continent some 50,000 years be- mine became attachedto side of the English Channel on BRITAIN ABOLISHED the so- ence to the countrybeing fore Britishcolonists. the tanker. REUTERS Friday, aquietNew Year’s Dayaf- called“tampon tax” on Friday, “young and free” amid calls to Australia hasstruggledfor The idea to changethe word- teraseismic overnight shiftin eliminating sales taxeson recognisethatits Indigenous decades to reconcilewith ing wasfloated in 2020 by New PAKISTAN relations between theEuropean women’s sanitaryproducts. peopleare the oldestcontinued Aborigines South Wales premier Gladys Union and Britain. The move waswidely civilizationinthe world. Berejiklian who had said the cur- Lawyersfileplea The busy goods routebe- praised by women’s rightscam- The changeto“forweare one rent wording ignored Australia’s forreleaseof tween southeastEngland and paigners as well as proponents and free” took effect on Friday. cestries and languagegroups,” “proudFirst Nationsculture”. northwestFrance is on the front People watchthe firsttruck, from Estonia, entering the of the country’s departurefrom “Weliveinatimeless land of PrimeMinisterScott Morrison The proposal waswelcomed DanielPearlkillers line of changes nowthat the UK Eurotunnelterminal on FridayinCoquelles, France. AP the European Union. ancient FirstNations peoples, told reporters in Canberra. by severallawmakers,including THE LAWYERS foral- has fullyleftthe economic em- Treasurychief Rishi Sunak and we draw together the stories “And our anthem should re- federal ministerfor Indigenous Qaeda leader Ahmed brace of the 27-nation bloc, the had committed to ending the of morethan 300national an- flect that. The changes we have AustraliansKen Wyatt. REUTERS Omar SaeedSheikh and his final stageofBrexit. andredtape,butforBritishBrexit BritainandtheEUcancontinueto widelyunpopular taxontam- three aides have filedan “For the majorityoftrucks supporters, it means reclaiming buy and sellgoods without tariffs pons and pads in his budget state- appeal petition in a theywon’t even notice the differ- national independence from the or quotas. But companies face ment in March but the change Gunmen kill prominent US blocked Pakistani courtagainstthe ence,”saidJohnKeefe,spokesman EU and itsweb of rules. sheavesofnew costs andpaper- couldonlycome intoeffect on refusal of authorities to free forEurotunnel,therailway tunnel Prime MinisterBoris work,includingcustomsdeclara- Fridayafter Britain had finallyleft $63-mn funds of them despiteanorder last that carries vehicles under the Johnson, whose supportfor tionsand border checks. the economic orbit of the EU. journalist in Afghanistan month by the Sindh High Channel. “Therewas always the Brexit helpedpush the country The English Channel portof EU lawhad prevented mem- terror groups Courttorelease them from riskthatif thishappenedatabusy outofthe EU,called it “an amaz- Doverand the Eurotunnel berstatesfromreducing the rate turninghome to the city after jails. Theyhad been serv- timethenwe couldrunintosome ingmoment forthis country”. bracedfor delays as the new of value-added taxbelow5%, TAMEEMAKHGAR visiting his familyinavillage including LeT, ing prisonsentences forthe difficulties,but it’shappening “Wehaveour freedominour measures were introduced. meaningthe period products KABUL,JANUARY1 nearby, when gunmen opened 2002 kidnapping and mur- overnightonabank holidayand hands, and it is up to us to make The pandemic and aholiday were treated as luxuryitems and fire at the vehicle. JeM in 2019 der of American journalist alongweekend.” the mostofit,” he said in aNew weekend meant cross-Channel notessentials. AN AFGHAN journalistand hu- According to the provincial Daniel Pearl. On December BritainlefttheEuropeanbloc’s Year’s video message. trafficwas lightonFriday. Britain “It’s been along road to reach man rightsactivistwas shotand governor’s spokesman, Arif Abir, 24,the HC ordered author- vast singlemarket forpeople, Thebreakcomes11 monthsaf- has also delayedimposing full this point, but at lastthe sexist killedonFriday by unidentified others in the car,including LALITKJHA ities nottokeep Sheikh and goods and services at 11 pm terapoliticalBrexit that leftthe customs checks forseveral taxthat sawsanitaryproducts gunmeninwestern Afghanistan, Aimaq’s brother,wereunharmed. WASHINGTON,JANUARY1 the others under“anysort Londontime, midnight in twosidesinthelimboof a“transi- monthssothatcompaniescanad- classedasnonessential, luxury the fifthjournalist to be killedin Aimaq workedas the head of the of detention”. However, Brussels, on Thursday,inthe tionperiod”inwhichEUrightsand just. The British government in- items can be consignedtothe the countryinthe pasttwo local Radio Sada-e-Ghor station THE US blocked$63 million in provincial authorities have biggestsingle economic change rulescontinuedtoapplytoBritain. sistedthat “theborder systems history books,” said Felicia months,aprovincial officialsaid. and wasalso ahuman rightsac- funds of designated terrorist notyet releasedthem. PTI thecountryhasexperiencedsince The trade agreement sealed and infrastructure we needarein Willow, chief executive of Bismillah Adil Aimaq wason tivistinthe province. groups, including Pakistan- WorldWar II. Anew UK-EUtrade on Christmas Eveafter months of place, and we areready forthe women’s rightscharitythe the road near FerozKoh, the No one immediatelyclaimed basedLeT and JeM, in 2019 as deal will bring newrestrictions tense negotiations ensures that UK’s newstart.” FawcettSociety. provincial capital of Ghor, re- responsibilityfortheshooting.AP partofits crackdown on foreign terror organisations, according to the TreasuryDepartment. TheUSblocked$342,000 in funds of the Lashkar-e-Taiba LIN QI,39, WAS WORKING WITH NETFLIX TO BRING ACHINESE BEST SELLER TO THE SCREEN (LeT), $1,725 of the Jaish-e Mohammed(JeM) and $45,798 of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen-al- Ascience fiction dreamer’s death by poisoning shocks China Islami, the US Department of Treasurysaid in an annual report releasedonThursday. Obama among itsadmirers. statement that theyreceived a connectedto the “Remembrance Outside China,Yoozoo wasbest All the three groups are PAULMOZUR Lin sawevenbigger possibil- report December 17 that Lin had of Earth’s Past”trilogy. The Three- known forits 2019 release of Pakistan-basedterroroutfits. &ELSIECHEN ities. He envisionedaglobal film likelybeen poisoned. Following Body Problem is the firstbookin “Game of Thrones:WinterIs Harkat-ul-Mujahideen-al-Islami JANUARY1 and television franchise basedon an investigation, theydetained a the series. By 2019,Chen esti- Coming,”anonlinegamebasedon is ajihad groupoperating prima- the book and itstwo sequels that man whose surname is Xu and mated,Lin had spent about $150 the booksand television show. rilyinKashmir. HE WASsometimes calledthe would approach Star Wars levels who theysaid wasacolleague of million on licencestothe books. Lin built his fortune in the Another Pakistan-basedter- “billionairemillennial”,and his of cultural recognition. He was Lin’s.The police said theywere Anative of Wenzhou,acoastal early 2010s, as Chinesepeople roristoutfit HizbulMujahideen ambitions were no lessgrand working with Netflix and the cre- holding Xu under suspicion of city famedfor itsentrepreneurial flockedtomobilephones to play had$4,321blockedbythe US in than his nickname. ators of the Game of Thrones TV committingamajor crime but spirit, Linhas said that his family gamesand spendmoneyonvir- 2019 as against$2,287 thepre- Lin Qi, a39-year-old video series to makeitcometopass. did notoffer furtherdetails. ranacoal mining business. Even tual items. Yoozoo’s series of vious year,the reportsaid. game tycoon, had spent asmall He would neverseeithappen. Chinese media, including of- afterhemoved to Shanghaitotry popularmultiplayeronline The Tehrik-e-Taliban fortune buying up the rightstoa Lin waspoisonedinDecember, ficial outlets,havewidelyiden- hisluckinthevideogamingindus- games made the company Pakistanhad $5,067 blocked in Chinese science fiction novel according to policeinShanghai tifiedthe suspect as Xu Yao, an try, he kept up hisWenzhou ties, worthbillions and Lin one of 2019 as against$318in2018. called The Three-Body Problem.A and accountsfromstate-runme- Lin Qi wasavideogame tycoon executive at Lin’s gaming com- holding aposition as executive China’syoungest billionaires. According to the report, in tale of alien invasion that inter- dia, and he diedonChristmas pany, Youzu Interactive,which chairof aWenzhoubusinessasso- “If youkeepgoing forward, 2019 the US blocked$63 million twinedcosmic machinations Day. His death has rattledChina’s goes by Yoozoo in English. ciation in Shanghai. Lin was therewill alwaysbeopportunity in fundsofnearly 70 designated with the horrors of China’s technology and gaming worlds the unlikelystory of Lin, a dreamedofbringing aproduct Chen Long, aprofessor who among anew,younger group of lying ahead,” he had said on a terroristorganisations,with the Cultural Revolution, the book had and setoff furious speculation would-beglobalmedia tycoon of Chinese popular culturetothe taught Lin at HupanUniversity, entrepreneurswhowere moreag- Chinese TV show. “I am not highestbeing$3.9 million of al- become an unlikelyinternational about who killedhim and why. undaunted by rising tensions be- global mainstream. said that since 2014,Lin started gressivethantheir elders about afraid of failure. Ican juststart Qaeda. The totalblockedfunds bestseller thatcounted Barack It has also turnedattention to tween China and the West,who The Shanghai police said in a buying copyrightsand licences growingbusinessoutsideof China. over again,”headded. NYT in 2018 was$46 million PTI

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THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY,JANUARY2,2021 11 ECONOMY GOLD RUPEE OIL SILVER `49,678 `73.11 $51.80 `67,520

Note:Gold,silverrates at Delhi spotmarket;gold per 10 g, silverper 1kg; Brent crude as of 0000IST SENSEX: 47,868.98 ▲ 117.65 NIFTY: 14,018.50 ▲ 36.75 NIKKEI: 27,444.17 ▼ 123.98 HANGSENG: 27,231.13 ▲ 84.02 FTSE: 6,460.52 ▼ 95.30 DAX: 13,718.78 ▼ 42.60

InternationalmarketswereclosedonFridayonaccount of New Year’s Day LEGAL WATCH SIX AUTOMAKERSPOST AGGREGATE GROWTH OF 19.5% RPL insider trading INSOLVENCY &BANKRUPTCY CODE Pent-updemand,festiveseason case: Sebi fines RIL, Lack of permanent heads aconcern, keepPVsalesinfastlaneinDec Mukesh Ambani ENSECONOMICBUREAU `25CRFINEONRIL, deluge awaits once Futuredemand to be drivenbyavailability of Covid vaccine, economic revival MUMBAI,JANUARY1 `15CRONAMBANI with availability of novelcoron- THE SECURITIES and Exchange ENSECONOMICBUREAU PVSALESINDOMESTICMARKET avirusvaccinesin2021, heexpects BoardofIndia(Sebi)onFridayim- ■ Sebi has leviedfines of moratorium ends NEWDELHI,JANUARY1 return of optimism to the market posedpenalties totaling Rs 70 Rs 25 croreand Rs 15 December December Change(%) and boost in theconsumer senti- croreonRelianceIndustries Ltd croreonRIL and RIDINGONpent-updemand,fes- 2019 2020 mentgoing forward. (RIL),itschairman&managingdi- Ambani, respectively AASHISHARYAN COVIDHIT tive salesuptick andgrowingpref- As Tata Motors witnessed rector MukeshAmbani, and two ■ Navi Mumbai SEZ Pvt MarutiSuzuki1,22,7841,40,754 14.6 NEWDELHI,JANUARY1 erenceforpersonalmobility,coun- strong growth in December and other entitiesfor allegedmanip- Ltd has been asked to ■ Anationwide try’s leading passenger vehicle Hyundai Motor37,953 47,40024.9 hasseenitspassengervehiclesales ulative tradinginthe shares of payRs20crore IN ITS fifthyear of existence, shutdown in March, manufacturers witnessedstrong Tata Motors 12,785 23,545 84.2 grow by 89percentinthequarter erstwhileReliancePetroleumLtd and Mumbai SEZ Ltd theInsolvencyandBankruptcy to prevent the spread growth in domestic sales in endedDecember2020,withhigh- (RPL)inNovember2007. Rs 10 crore M&M 15,69116,1823.1 Code (IBC) —brought with an of Covid-19, ledto December 2020.Whilethe coun- esteversales in last33quarters, The marketregulator has ■RIL had sold 4.1per aim to speedupthe bad debt the shutdown of the try’s largest car manufacturer, Toyota Kirloskar 6,5447,487 14.4 ShaileshChandra, president, PV leviedfines of Rs 25 croreand cent of itsstake in RPL. resolutionprocessinthecoun- NCLT and theNCLAT Maruti Suzuki India Limited an- Honda Cars 8,412 8,638 2.7 business,TataMotorssaid,“ThePV Rs 15 croreonRIL and Ambani, However, to prevent a tryand clean up banks’ books forthe time being. nounceda14.6percentjumpwith Source: Companies industrycontinuedtogrowro- respectively.Besides, Navi plungeinthe RPL share —has cometoanabrupthalt. sales of 1,40,754unitsinthe do- bustlyinQ3FY21, owingto pentup Mumbai SEZ Pvt Ltd has been price, the equity was Calendar year 2020 waspar- mestic market, Hyundai Motor demand,strongfestiveseasonand asked to payRs20crore and apparentlysold firstin ticularly harsh,withonefactor tentothecasesas“doorsof jus- India announcedsales of 47,400 shifttowardspersonalmobility… Mumbai SEZ Ltd has been di- the futures market and afteranother impeding the tice” could notbeclosed, both unitsinDecember,registering a December 2020 in the domestic thereisafeelingthatthefuturede- We arecontinuingto debottleneck rected to payRs10crore. later in the spotmarket functioning of the Code. thecourtscamebackonline.In 24.9 per cent jumpoversales in market, as against2,04,169units mand would be drivenbyavail- thesupplychainandramp upour “I find it appropriatetocon- Consider this. On January June, however, the govern- December 2019. in December 2019 —registering a abilityof vaccineandrevivalinthe output to meetthe increasedde- siderthedirectioninthenatureof 5, 2020, onlyfivedays intothe mentissuedanOrdinancesus- Among other manufacturers, growth rate of 19.5 per cent. economy. mand while addressing the avail- debarmentandthedisgorgement The execution of manipula- year,the firstpresident of the pendingtheadmissionof new while Tata Motors announceda Forthe market leader,MSIL, StatingthatHyundaiachieved abilityofelectroniccomponents.” thathas already been passed tive tradesaffectsthepricediscov- NationalCompanyLaw companiesintoinsolvencyfor strong84percentjumpwithsales the compact segment (WagonR, anew milestone in monthlypro- Severalmanufacturers have againstRIL as arelevant factor erysystemitself.Italsohasanad- Tribunal (NCLT), Justice MM six months, with provision for of 23,545 unitsinDecember, Swift, Celerio, Ignis, Balenoand ductionat71,178unitsin been facing supplychain con- while deciding the quantum of verse impact on the fairness, Kumar,retired from hispost. extendingitbyanother six Toyota Kirloskar Motors an- Dzire) witnessedstrong demand December,SSKim, MD &CEO, straintsandanissuewithavailabil- penalty,” said Sebi’s Adjudicating integrity and transparency of the The insolvency body has been months. The Ordinance has nounceda14.4 per cent growth of 18.2 per cent and the segment HMIL said, “Looking towardsthe ity of electronic components. In a OfficerBJDilipina95-pageorder. stockmarket,the order added. without afull-time president nowbeenextendedtillMarch rate in year-on-year sales in accounted for55per cent of total future, we areproceeding with statementissuedonFriday, M&M Itsaidanymanipulationinthe The RPLcase has been hang- eversince.Thetenureofacting 31,2021. December.Honda Cars India and PVsalesforthecompany. Themini cautiousoptimism and positively saidthatitsoverallsaleshave been volume or price of securities al- ingfire forthelast13years.RILhad NCLT president, BSVPrakash All these issues have taken Mahindra&Mahindraannounced segment (Altoand S-Presso) wit- anticipategreen shoots of recov- affecteddueto thecontinuingsup- ways erodesinvestorconfidence sold4.1percentof itsstake inRPL. Kumar,whichwas initially theirtollontheIBCandtheim- 2.7 per cent and 3.1per cent nessed 4.4 percent growth in eryin2021.”Infact, HMIL also be- plychainchallengesrelatedtothe inthemarketwheninvestorsfind However, to prevent aplungein supposedtoend within three pact is likelytobeseen even in growth, respectively. Decemberoverthecorresponding came the largest auto exporter constantlychangingglobal envi- themselvesatthereceivingendof theRPLshareprice,theequitywas months, April5,has been ex- the coming financial year. In aggregate, the six manufac- month of the previous year. fromIndiaforcalendar2020with ronment, morespecificallythe market manipulators. apparentlysoldfirstinthefutures tendedmultiple times since. AccordingtoareportbyIcra, turers —MSIL, Hyundai, Tata While severalmanufacturers sales of 98,900units. supplyshortageofmicro-proces- “In the instant case, the gen- market and later in the spotmar- On December 9, the Supreme lenderssuchasbanks,financial Motors, M&M, Honda Cars and creditedthegrowthinsalesto fes- Rajesh Goel director,market- sors (semiconductors) usedin eralinvestorswere notaware that ket.The crux of the Sebi noticeis Court, in an order,said he institutionsandothercreditors TKM— sold2,44,006 units in tive sales andpent-up demand, ing and sales at Honda Cars, said Electronic Control Unit (ECUs). the entity behind the above F&O that the companywas aware would continue to function as mayrealise only segmenttransactionswasRIL.The therewould be asaleofshares in the acting president until the Rs 60,000-65,000 crore execution of the aforesaid fraud- the spotmarketand hence, its appointment of aregular one. through successful resolution ulent trades affected the price of sales in the futures market before InMarch,thefirstchairper- of bad debt via IBC in financial Growth in credit Contraction in theRPLsecuritiesinbothcashand that amountedtoinsider trading. son of the National Company year 2020-21, compared to ‘Non-food bank credit 8.5%to agriculture and 0.7%advances to F&O segmentsand harmedthe RPL mergedwith RIL in 2008. LawAppellateTribunal nearly Rs 1lakh crorerealised allied activities in November industry in November, as interests of other investors,” the On November 6, 2020, the (NCLAT), Justice SJMukho- in 2019-20. This drop of 40 per grows6%inNovember’ 2020, rising from 6.5% in against 2.4% growthinthe order further said. Securities AppellateTribunal padhaya alsoretired.JusticeBL centinrealisationislikelytobe November 2019 year-ago month “Noticee-2, being the (SAT)had dismissedaplea by RIL Bhat, the second-mostsenior exacerbatedinthenextfiscal,if Non-food credit growth of banksstood at 6% in November Managing Director of RIL, wasre- challenging the Rs 447-croredis- judgeatthe appellatebody, and when the government 2020, as against7.2% in thesame monthofthe previous Industriesthatregistered Industries that registered sponsibleforthemanipulativeac- gorgement order passedbySebi. tookoverasactingchairperson moratorium on admission of year,ReserveBank of India (RBI) datashowed acceleratedcreditgrowth: deceleration/contraction in tivitiesof RIL.Iamoftheview that The Whole Time Member of and has been in office since. In fresh cases intoinsolvency ■ Foodprocessing credit growth: listedcompanies should exhibit Sebi,inanorder dated March24, arecent notification, the gov- courtsislifted. Apart from the ■ Petroleum ■ Rubber, plastic &their higheststandards of profession- 2017,directed RILtodisgorgean ernment said his tenure, too, usualnumbers,therewouldbe ■ Coalproducts&nuclearfuels products alism, transparency and good amount of Rs 447.27 crorealong would continueeither till aflood of big-ticketcases such 20.9% Growthin ■ Leather&leatherproducts ■ Cement &cement practicesofcorporategovernance, withinterestcalculatedattherate December31 orthenewchair- as those of JetAirways and credit to medium ■ Paper&paperproducts products whichinspires confidence of the of 12 per cent per annum from person wasappointed. Reliance Communications. industries, vis-a-vis ■ Mining&quarrying ■ Engineering investors dealing in the capital November 29,2007onwards till The manpowerissues had These cases would bring with contraction of 2.4% in ■ Glass&glassware ■ Gems &jewellery markets. Anyattempt to deviate the dateofpayment. Further,RIL barelybeen resolvedwhen a them alitanyofissues and November 2019 ■ Textile ■ Infrastructure fromsuchstandardswillnotonly wasprohibited from dealingin nationwide shutdown in claims—rangingfrombanksto ■ Beverages&tobacco ■ Basic metal &metal erode the confidence of thein- equityderivativesintheF&Oseg- March,toprevent thespread small operationalcreditors. Source: RBI/PTI ■ Vehicles,vehicleparts& products vestorsbutalsoaffecttheintegrity ment of stockexchanges,directly of Covid-19, wasannounced. Longpendinginsolvencycases, transportequipment ■ Construction of the markets,” the adjudicating orindirectly, foroneyearfromthe This also ledtothe shutdown suchasthose of Bhushan officer said. dateofthe said order. of the NCLT andthe NCLATfor Powerand Steel and assetres- thetimebeing.However, while olution of IL&FS arelikelytobe other courts of lawacross the completedinthecomingfiscal. DECEMBER GOODS &SERVICES TAXCOLLECTION AT `1,15,174CRORE -- HIGHESTSINCE ROLLOUT IN 2017 countryslowlymade provi- However, notall waslost No value sionsto starthearingsthrough lastyear at the NCLT and the How systemic changes led to record GST mop-up videoconferencingorlimiting NCLAT. Despiteall the chal- limitation thenumberof litigantsandad- lenges,theinsolvencyappellate vocates, the insolvency courts tribunal passedover1,000 to improved compliance,” it said. ing from September. Taxexperts noted tendedtobusinesseswithoverRs could notdomuch. judgmentsinawide rangeof AANCHALMAGAZINE December that the government 100crore turnoverfromJanuary on import, Anew system of filing on- cases, including important NEWDELHI,JANUARY1 The trend so far markedthe fourth should provide a 1thisyear andislikelytobeex- linesubmissionsandcasesalso ones with respect to the Following the outbreak of the month in whichGST breakup of the GST tendedfor allbusinesses begin- slowedthe functioning of the Companies Actand the GSTCOLLECTIONSinDecember Covid-19pandemic, goods and revenue collections revenues collected ning April 1. export of NCLT and the NCLAT, with CompetitionAct.Similarly,the 2020,forsalesinNovember2020, servicestax(GST)revenuecollec- postedayear-on- through filing of re- E-invoicing system is lawyers complaining of the NCLT,whichgot severalnew rose 11.6 per cent year-on-year to tionshad been posting acontrac- year growth. The in- turnsandthroughre- connected to acentral portal complexity of the process.In Benches operational lastyear, Rs 1,15,174 crore—the highest tion, that is, were at alowerlevel crease in percentage covery drivesbythe whichreceives andvalidates in- vaccine addition to that,boththe tri- okayedresolution plans for levelsince the July2017rollout of than previous year.The GSTrev- termsisalsoaidedpartlybyalow GSTauthoritiestohelp in assess- voices in real time and over time bunalsrecordedfrequentpos- over 75 debt-riddencompa- the indirect taxregime. enue mop-up remained in nega- base effect. ing the true pictureofthe extent will eventuallyreplace the e-way ENSECONOMICBUREAU itive cases of Covid-19among nies, as per the datafromthe TheFinanceMinistrysaidthis tive territoryfor thefirstfive of economic recovery. billsystem. NEWDELHI,JANUARY1 itsstaff,due to whichthey Insolvency and Bankruptcy has been the highestgrowth in monthsof FY21,witharecord low Reasons forthe uptick The proposedextensionof It has been seen as amajor optedfor acompleteshut- BoardofIndia.The principal monthlyrevenues in the last21 collection of Rs 32,172crore in GSTcollections in December electronic invoicing to all busi- gamechangerto curbtaxevasion THE GOVERNMENT has allowed down,withoutlistinganypro- BenchatNew Delhi,andthe14 months.“Thishasbeendueto the April,following thenationwide (for sales in November) gained nesses will further prevent leak- and plug leakages, whichinturn, importand export of Covidvac- visions foronlinehearing. otherBenchesinvariousparts combined effect of the rapid eco- lockdowninMarch inthewake of supportfromhigher festivesea- ages in GSTrevenues.Under GST maynot even necessitateanur- cineswithoutanyvaluelimitation, Following anudge from of the country, alsopassedliq- nomic recovery postpandemic the pandemic outbreak. son sales, on accountofDiwali laws,e-invoice forB2B transac- gent rollout of the proposed new in order to ensurespeedy clear- the Supreme Court, which, in uidation orders forover200 and the nationwide drive against With the gradualopeningup falling in November,along with tionshave beenmademandatory GSTreturn-filingsystemthatmay anceand distribution. Julysaid the NCLT and the companies, whichhaddebtof GSTevaders and fake bills along of the economy and resumption rollout of newtechnological sys- forcompanies with turnoverof have resulted in afresh startfor The CentralBoardofIndirect NCLATmustfind away to lis- over Rs 70,000crore. with manysystemic changes in- of economic activities, GSTrev- tems of e-invoicing and action over Rs 500crore from October 1, taxassessees under the indirect Taxesand Customs (CBIC)has troducedrecently, whichhaveled enues startedtogain pace start- againsttax evaders. 2020.Itwas notifiedtobeex- taxregime. amendedthe regulations to facil- itatethe import/export of COVID- 19 vaccinesthrough courier,atlo- BRIEFLY cations wherethe Express Cargo M&M ends JV talks with Ford ‘RoDTEP RBI launches Digital Clearance System (ECCS) is oper- Marketsstart ational.“Importsof andexportsof benefits vaccines in relation to COVID-19 2021onahigh ENSECONOMICBUREAU Payments Index has been allowedwithout any MUMBAI,JANUARY1 value limitation,” said the NewDelhi: The Sensexrose subject to amended Courier Importsand to arecordhigh,up117.65 MAHINDRA &Mahindra(M&M) Exports (Electronic Declaration pointsat47,868.98,whilethe and US-automaker Ford Motor ENSECONOMICBUREAU Surveysto and Processing)Amendment Nifty closedabove the Companyannounced Fridaythat conditions’ MUMBAI,JANUARY1 Regulations, 2020. 14,000-mark, at 14,018.50, it will notcomplete apreviously get inputs for The CBIC said Covid has posed forthefirsttime,onFridayas announcedautomotive jointven- THE RESERVE BankofIndia (RBI) monetary policy unprecedented challenges to marketscontinuedtheirrec- ture(JV)between their compa- ENSECONOMICBUREAU has constructedacomposite Customs and other administra- ordruninthenewyear. ENS nies. The action followedpassing The M&M manufacturing plant in Chakan, Pune.The company NEWDELHI,JANUARY1 Digital Payments Index(DPI) to Mumbai: TheRBI on Friday tions the worldoverand efficient of theDecember31,“longstop”,or said the decision willnot impact itsproduct plan. Reuters file capturethe extent of digitisation announcedthelaunchofthe clearance and distribution of vac- expiration, dateofadefinitive AVAILABILITYOFbenefitsunder of paymentsacross the country. nextroundof householdsur- cines would be acritical require- Microsoftsource agreement the organisations en- taxrefundschemeRoDTEPforex- The RBI-DPI has been con- veys to capture inflation ex- mentinthecollective fightagainst codeaccessed teredintoinOctober 2019. to transferthesetoajointventure porterswouldbesubjectto condi- structed withMarch 2018 as the pectations and consumer the pandemic. Speaking about the matter formedwith M&M. While M&M SsangYong stake tions,restriction, ineligibility and baseperiod—DPIscoreforMarch confidence. Announcing the “The challenges in doing so is Washington: The hacking PawanGoenka, managingdirec- wassupposedtoown a51per fulfilment of procedural require- 2018 is setat100.The DPI for launchofJanuary2021round heightenedbythe fact that the group behind the SolarWi- tor, M&M said,“Giventhe funda- centcontrollingstakeintheJVval- sale: Discussions mentsasnotifiedbythe govern- March2019 andMarch2020work of the InflationExpectations vaccinesneedtobestoredand ndscompromisewasableto mentalchangesintheglobaleco- uedat$275million or Rs 1,925 in advanced stage ment,astatement said on Friday. out to 153.47and 207.84,respec- Survey of Households, the transportedundercontrolledtem- break intoMicrosoftCorp nomic and business conditions, crore,Ford wastohold49percent. The government on Thursday tively,indicatingappreciable RBI saiditaims to capture peraturesand thereare multiple andaccesssomeof itssource causedinpartbythe pandemic, M&Mand Ford had signed a Mumbai: M&Misinanad- saidithas decidedtoextend the growth.“TheRBI-DPIcomprises5 subjective assessmentson stakeholders involved in this code, Microsoftsaid. both partners decidedthat we definitive agreementto create aJV vancedstage of talkswith a benefit of the Remission of Duties broad parameters that enable pricemovementsand infla- process. This necessitates putting should notextend the date of the thatwilldevelop,marketanddis- potential investor forits ail- and TaxesonExportedProducts measurement of deepening and tionfromabout6,000house- inplaceefficientcross-borderpro- businesstransferagreement,and tributeFordvehiclesinIndia and ingSouthKoreansubsidiary, (RoDTEP) scheme to all goods, penetrationofdigitalpaymentsin holds basedontheir individ- cedures forspeedy evacuation of NYSEdelisting thereforeasofmidnightbusiness Ford brandandM&Mbrandvehi- SsangYongMotorCompany, with effect from Friday. “The ben- thecountryoverdifferenttimepe- ual consumption baskets thevaccines,” the CBIC said. 3Chinatelcos transfer agreement expiredand cles in high-growth emerging and is hopeful of signing a efit of RoDTEP would be available riods,” the RBI said. These param- across 18 cities. PTI The regulation further states therewillbenofurtherdiscussion marketsaround the world. term sheetwith it by next subject to the conditions, restric- eters are: payment enablers that since the vaccines will beim- NewYork:TheNewYorkSto- that will happen on the JV be- AnishShah, deputyMDand week.After the transaction, tion, exclusions, ineligibility and (weight 25 per cent),paymentin- ported in durablecontainers ck Exchangesaid it has star- tweenMahindraand Ford”. Group CFO, M&M said, “Wewill the investor willhold ama- fulfilmentofthe procedural re- frastructure–demand-sidefactors sub-parameters which, in turn, equippedwith the requisitetem- teddelisting securities of He said those changes influ- continue to lookatopportunities jority stakeinSYMC, while quirementsasnotified,” the (10percent),paymentinfrastruc- consistofvarious measurable in- peraturemonitoring and track- China Telecom Corporation encedseparatedecisionsbyFord to collaboratetogether, butnotgo M&M’s stakewill come Ministrysaidinastatement. ture–supply-side factors (15per dicators, the RBI said. Going for- ing devices, the export of the Limited,China Mobile Limi- andM&Mto reassesstheirrespec- aheadwiththeJVasannounced”. downto about30percentor Itaddedthatthingswhichwill cent), payment performance (45 ward,RBI-DPI will be published durable container including ac- tedandChinaUnicom(Hong tive capital allocation priorities. However, M&Mreiterated that below, MD PawanGoenka be notifiedshortlyinclude details percent)andconsumercentricity on asemi-annual basis from cessories thereof, importedinre- Kong) Limited. REUTERS Giving up majority control in thisdecisionwillnothaveany im- said on Friday. FE of export goods (tariff lines)eligi- (5 per cent),itsaid. March2021onwardswithalagof lation to Covid-19vaccineshas itsIndiaoperations,Fordwassaid pact on itsproduct plan. FE ble forscheme. Eachoftheseparametershave 4months. also been permitted. Kolkata WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM The misconception is that Iwas upset at the lbw THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY,JANUARY2,2021 decision... The walk-off happened only because, as I had gone past Chetan (Chauhan) on the way to the change-rooms, the Australians had given me aspray. They told me to get lost, which is where I've come back and asked Chetan to walk off with me.” 12 SPORT SUNIL GAVASKAR, FORMER INDIA CAPTAIN TELLS 7CRICKET ABOUT HIS WALKOUT DURING THE MELBOURNE TEST OF 1981 We have fallen BRIEFLY into India’s ‘Testcricketisn’teasy.Notmanyslower FiveCityplayersto missChelseatripdue trap, admits balls,yorkersaregoingtobeeffective’ toCOVID:Guardiola London: Five ManchesterCity firstteam Labuschagne players have testedpositive forCOVID- 19 and will notbeinvolvedwhen they Tamil Nadu coachsaysNatarajan is aquicklearner,but needs to sharpen game forthe long form playChelsea in the Premier League this PRESSTRUSTOFINDIA weekend, manager PepGuardiola said MELBOURNE,JANUARY1 on Friday. Asurge in infections at City SHAMIKCHAKRABARTY among players and staffforcedthe club THE INDIAN bowlers, ledbythe crafty JANUARY1 to lodgearequestwith the Premier Ravichandran Ashwin, have successfully League to postpone Monday’s game at trappedAustralian batsmen in the firsttwo ABOUT Amonth-and-a-half ago, when India Everton. City also closedtheir training Tests, concededMarnus Labuschagne but ve- had embarkedonthe tour of Australia, T ground as aprecaution. The club said hementlydefendedSteve Smith, who is cur- Natarajan wasinthe party as anet bowler.He lastweek that striker Gabriel Jesus and rentlygoing through apoor run of form. wassubsequentlydraftedintothe T20I squad defender Kyle Walker had tested posi- Australia have been all out for191,195 and followedbythe ODI side and playedfor India tive but Guardiola refusedtodivulge 200inthree out of four innings with Ashwin in both formats. NowNatarajan has been the names of the other “three impor- getting 10 wicketssofar dismissing Smith namedintheTest squadastheinjuredUmesh tant players” who would notbeavail- twice and Labuschagne once. Yadav’s replacement. able forSunday’s clash. “I don’t think "I'venever facedAshwin before until this Natarajan will be in contention to playthe the Premier League allowustoname series. Youdon't have the statsthat Ravi has thirdTestinSydneyasIndia’s thirdquick the players but youwill knowtomor- without being agreat bowler and also agreat bowler.Onthe face of it, being aleft-arm row,”Guardiola said. REUTERS thinker," the 26-year-old said during avirtual seamer,hebrings variety intothe pace attack. press conference. "He's (Ashwin) obviously Bowling over the wicket,hecan createfoot- come in reallyprepared and they'rebeing re- marksoutsidetheright-hander’soffstumpfor Neymarlaughsoff allycraftywiththeirfieldandwhatthey'retry- Ravichandran Ashwin to manoeuvre. But the reportsofNewYear’s ingtodo. We have fallen intotheir trap afew Indian team management will have to take a times," he admitted Australia's inability to call on whether he is ready forTestcricket in partyfor500guests counter both pace and spin. The Indian bowl- Australia,wherehemighthave to bowl allday ing attack, on the other hand, has executed its andplanhis wickets. Rio de Janeiro: plans to perfection, leaving aheavy leg side If he plays,Natarajan will return home as Neymar fieldto cutdowntheirrunrate andnotallowed aninternationalinallthreeformats.Forsome- laughedoffcon- them to cross 200-markinboththe Tests. one from Chinnappampatti, avillage36kilo- troversyoverre- "Theyare verydisciplinedintheirbowling metres offSalem in Tamil Nadu, it’s been a ports he was andhave comeupwithaplaninbothspinand fairy-tale rise forthe 29-year-old; he faced throwing a pace...They'veheld it that straight line and hardship as achild and teenager and without megaNew made us face alot of balls," Labuschagne said. hisexceptionalcricket skills,couldhave ended Year's party for He defendedSmith forhis underwhelm- up being aporteroraweaverlikehis father. 500guests,post- ing show. "Call it what youwant to call it, but Natarajan is the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) ing avideo on- notlong agohegot twohundredsof60-odd gifttoIndian cricket.Afine season with lineof preparationsforwhathecalleda balls in ODIs (againstIndia at Sydney)." Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2020 IPL sawhim "low-keydinner" with familyand Asked what could be the reason for enhance his reputation as ayorkerspecialist. friends. The superstarfootballer has Smith's sudden bad patch, Labuschagne said: WithsixwicketsinthreeT20Isandanother Initiallypickedasanet bowler forIndia’s tour Down Under afterastrong IPL season, TNatarajan playedanODI and three facedaflood of criticism in his native "He's notshortofruns maybe, Imean, he has couple in an ODI in Australia, Natarajan has T20Is, snaring eight wickets. On Friday, he replacedinjured pacer Umesh Yadavinthe Test squad. PTI file Brazilandbeyondoverreports thatde- played alot of whiteball cricket and he prob- madeaseamlessprogressionto white-ballin- spitethecoronaviruspandemichewas ablyhasn't had as muchtime againstthe red ternationalcricket.ButTest cricket isadifferent Iamveryhappyfor(Natarajan)and ringing in 2021with aweek-long bash ball as he would have liked.Labuschagne re- ball game. It’s the ultimatetestofacricketer’s OPTIONSFORTHIRDSEAMER forhundredsofpeople at his mansion mindedeveryone about Smith's Test aver- skills, whereamedium pacer needs to go be- wanthimtoplayTestsandwishing outsideRiodeJaneiro.However, hetook ageand this current series could justbean yond pinpoint yorkers, deceptive slowerde- himsuccess.ButIamnotsayinghe to Instagram severalhours before mid- aberration. liveries and the cliché that aleft-arm seamer isgoingtobeimmediately WITH UMESH Yadavruledout of the in command. Restrictive bowling to nightto showhisNewYear'sEveplans, "He averages 60-plus after80-odd games will add variety.Tostart with, Test cricket de- successful.Heneedstoswingthe Test series due to acalf muscle injury keep the batsmen under pressure, whichhedescribed as small-scale. The (75).He'sshownhe'sconsistentevenfromthe mands swing from apace bowler apartfrom ball.Heneedstobowlamore he sustainedduring the second Test, especiallyonunresponsive pitches, is 28-year-oldParisSaint-Germainstriker startofhiscareerto now. Hejustkeepsputting other variations to getthe better of batsmen. consistentline.Healsoneedstocut India have three options forthe third aweak area in his bowling. postedavideoof adinnertablethatap- the runs on the board.” Natarajan’s first-class career is still in itsform- seamer’s slot–Navdeep Saini, Shardul pearedto beforabout40guests,decked ative stagewith just20matches and 64wick- theball(offtheseam).” Thakur and Natarajan. SHARDUL THAKUR out with whiteflowers and an empty Leg-side field etsat27.03, attesting that he is notared-ball DIWAKAR VASU, TAMILNADUHEADCOACH Thakur was chair between eachplace setting. “They'vecertainlycome in with aplan, thoroughbred yet. NAVDEEP SAINI includedinthe Test "Marvelous decoration forthis beauti- making surethat they'rereallynot leaving “He (Natarajan) is averygood trier and I’m He waspickedfor all squad as Shami’s ful, low-keylittle dinner at home, with stamps and and having areallyheavy leg side surethat working with (Bharat) Arun (India’s taking) option. Ithink (if he plays), he needs to three formats, but the replacement. He made social distancing," Neymar said. "And field...Itobviouslyslows thescoringrate down bowling coach), he will learn quickly. As aleft- bowl up, work on his swing, work on his an- BCCI informedthat his Test debut against it's notfor 500people, ok?" he added because youknowthose shots that youdoget arm seamer,hehas that natural angle (the ball gles. That would be abetteroption forhim,” Saini had complained the West Indies in with alaugh. "Social distancing. on your legs, go forone or four," he explained. that slantsacross the right-hander) and with the Tamil Nadu coachobserved. of backspasms ahead 2018,whichremains Everyone tested," he wrote. AFP The Aussie No.3 had scored three cen- the redball, he could bring the ball in also. But The potential disadvantages can make of the ODI series, his onlyTestyet.Afully-fitIndian fast- turies and adouble at the SCG in the home it’s alearning process forhim,” Tamil Nadu Natarajan astock bowler,arestrictive option. although he played bowling unit comprising Jasprit series againstPakistanand NewZealand but head coachDiwakar Vasu told The Indian Vasu agreed. “Somebody who is making his twomatches. The right-arm quickwas Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Shami and HenryinforWagner he's notbeen able to cross ahalf-century Express. Test debut, who is notexpress and who does- very expensive,returning figures of Umesh leavesnovacancy forsquad inNZTestsquad from four innings so farinthis series. "We've Natarajan plays forTamil Nadu in domes- n’t swing the ball (much); youcannotexpect 1/83and 0/70respectively and wasn’t players. In Australia, however, the justgot to keep finding ways,keep hitting ticcricket andVasuhasbeenworkingwithhim him to be the strikebowler.Thereare other pickedfor the T20Is. In atour game Indian pace packisseverelydepleted. Wellington: Fast bowlerMattHenrywas balls in the training and keep finding ways sincelastseason.T20cricket allows abowlerto strikebowlers.Hecanbeusedasabowlerwho againstAustralia A, Saini had 3/19in Adomestic cricket stalwartwith 62 onFridaynamedasreplacementforthe to getout there." beatad one-dimensional. Yorkers and slower comes in and bowls, and takesacouple of the firstinnings but gave away 87 runs first-class matches and 206wickets, injured left-arm pacer Neil Wagner in Anotherareathatisailingthehomesideis deliveriesarestapleforfastbowlersinthefor- wickets.” in 16 overs without awicket in the the 29-year-old can swing the ball the NewZealand squad forthe second the number of droppedcatches. In the Boxing mat wherebatsmen trytoforce the pace and Over the pasttwo seasons in the Ranji second. AfterMohammedShami both ways at decent pace (around Test againstPakistan, starting hereon DayTest,theygrassedasmanyaseightcatches commitmistakes.InTest cricket,batsmenput Trophy, TamilNaduplayedthemajorityof their sufferedanarm fracture, the Indian 135kph). He can reverse the old ball as Sunday. WagnerwasstruckbyPakistan including twobyLabuschagne. heavy price tags on their wickets. home matches on turners. Natarajan didn’t team management decidedtopick well. Thakur provides an all-round speedsterShaheen Afridi yorker while "All of our fielders areworking reallyhard playall the games lastseason, but Tamil Nadu MohammedSiraj forthe second Test option in terms of attackand defence. batting on the second dayofthe first on their exact position. If youare shortleg, or Grabbing the opportunity batsman Baba Aparajith allayedfears as re- and the latter vindicated the selection Test,sustaining undisplacedfractures leg slip or bat pad, or fielding in the slips, we “See,Iamveryhappyforhimandwanthim gardstohis ability to bowl long spells. with afive-wicket matchhaulonhis TNATARAJAN in both the fourth and fifthtoes of his areall working reallyhard. It's maybeacon- to playTestsandwishinghimsuccess.ButIam “Ihave playedwithhimforthree-fouryears debut. As Vasu said, he could right foot.Wagner's recovery is ex- centration thing, maybeafocus thing, but it's notsaying he is going to be immediatelysuc- now, and he is averyhardworking bowler.He Saini provides an out-an-out be better usedasa pected to be approximatelysix weeks, definitelynot aworkethic thing," he said. cessful. He has to learn and Iamsureheisa doesn’t gettired very easily. He can bowl long attacking option. He can go past restrictive option. Also, NewZealand Cricket (NZC) said in a quicklearner.Wehavetosee if he is ready for spells. He can come backand bowl at same 145kph and when in rhythm, the 28- as aleft-arm seamer statement.CoachGarySteadsaidHenry Test cricket.Itwilldependonhowhegrabsthe pace,” Aparajith told this paper. year-old can be quiteahandful forany bowling over the bringsTest experienceandlocalknowl- Australia have been all out for opportunity (if it comes),” Vasu said. Aparajith captainedNatarajan in Tamil batsman because of his pace and wicket,Natarajan can edge to the squad. "Matt has been in 191, 195and 200inthree out of So, what arethe aspectsNatarajan needs Nadu’s Ranji TrophymatchagainstRailways ability to extract bounce. He is ahit- createfootmarks — goodformwiththeballhavingrecently to learn?“Heneedsto swingtheball.Heneeds lastseason and usedthe seamer as astrike the-deckbowler,who can cut the ball without running intothe danger area taken6-53 forNew Zealand Aagainst four innings with Ashwin to bowl amoreconsistent line. He also needs bowler.“WheneverIbrought him backinto intothe right-hander offthe seam —outside the right-hander’s offstump the PakistanShaheens (A side) in getting 10 wicketssofar to cut the ball (offthe seam). Test cricket is not the attack, the main aim wasgenerallytoget apartfrommaking the odd delivery —apotential target spotfor off-spinner December," Stead said. NewZealand easy.Not manyoftheseslowerballsandyork- wickets,” Aparajith said, insisting that straighten offalength. But Saini can Ravichandran Ashwin. Traditionally, wonthe firstTestby101 runs to take 1- dismissing Smith twice and ersaregoingto beeffective asfarasTestcricket Natarajan could be usedasastrikebowler in be inconsistent with his line and the SydneyCricket Ground pitchassists 0lead in the two-matchseries. Labuschagne once. is concerned. And Idon’t think that at his pace Testsalso.“Heisveryaccurateandprettysharp length, especiallywhen batsmen are spinners as the matchprogresses. PTI (around130kph),bouncerscouldbea(wicket- offthe wicket as well.”

MORE THAN AN AWARD Padma Shri that Asiad hero Kaur Singh is set to relinquish transformed lives

neighbours, Kaur Singh’s name is always pre- cipient and wrestling great KartarSingh, who NITINSHARMA fixedwith Padma Shri around here. ForKaur This time, it’s about the farmers. I has made severaltrips to Delhi seeking an ap- CHANDIGARH,JANUARY1 Singh, who these days oversees the family- believe the law makes the farmer a pointment at Rashtrapati Bhawan. ownedfarmlands wherewheat and corn is slave in his own farmland. Iwill Bornintoafamilyoffarmerswhichowned HE WONthe heavyweight boxing gold medal grown, the decision to return the awardwas have no regrets if Iamcalled just 15 acres of land, Kaur Singh recalls his father at the 1982 Asian Games in NewDelhi to be- likegiving up his identity. Kaur Singh and not Padma Shri or Karnail Singh asking him to either join the come an instant national hero. As the Arjuna “When Idecidedtoreturn the Padma Shri Armyorcontinue farming. “He usedtotell us Awardand Padma Shri followed, the Indian award,IunderstoodIwouldbegivingaway an Arjuna awardee.” thatthecountrydependsonthesetoo.Thefirst Armysubedar-cum-boxer-cum-farmerwould honour greater than my familyname. When I KAUR SINGH, HEAVYWEIGHTBOXINGGOLD time Igot to knowabout the Padma awards go on to become alocal legend. wasgiven the award, the then President Giani MEDALLISTATTHE1982ASIANGAMES wasin1982when players likeKapil Dev, Syed Now, KaurSingh,73,hasdecidedtogiveup Zail Singh told me that Ihavedone the stateas Kirmani and Prakash Padukone were con- his awards to protestagainstthe Centre’s con- wellasthecountryproud.Allthevillageelders in 1994,” he said. ferred the award. Iwatchedthe ceremonyat tentiousnewfarmlaws.Forhisvillage,Khanal wouldcallmePadmaShriinsteadof my name. Kaur Singh says the Minimum Support our villagesarpanch’s home. It wasthe only KhurdinPunjab’s Sangrur district, the Padma Iwas able to getthings done formyvillagebe- Price (MSP) forfarm produce can’t be done house with atelevision. The next year,when Shriismorethanjustaprefix.Forthiscommu- cause of the award. But no award—whether away with. “Punjab has seen manyups and my name wasannouncedfor the Padma nity of about 2,000,KaurSingh’s title has it’sPadmaShriorArjunaaward—ismorevalu- downs but Inever thought of giving away my awards, Ihearditinthe news bulletin on the changed their livesinmanyways. able than the rightsofthe farmers,” he says. awards. But this time, it’s about the farmers. I very same TVset,” Kaur Singh recalled. Villagers sayitwas apush by the region’s Kaur Singh, aformer subedar in the 10th believe thelawmakesthefarmeraslave inhis His decision to give up the honour wasin- reveredPadma Shri that got farms in Khanal Sikh Battalion of the Indian Army, is adiabetic ownfarmland. Iwill have no regretsifIam spired by his long-time idol Muhammad Ali, Khurdregular watersupplyfromacanal, and and hence hasn’t travelledtoDelhi to join the calledjustKaurSingh and notPadma Shri or theall-timeboxinglegendknownto take prin- employment opportunities forteachers at the protestors agitating againstthe newlawsfor Arjuna awardee,” he said. cipledstands. “He wasmyrole model. Ihad local government school. Whenevertheygot more than amonth now. He recalls the cele- KaurSingh,likethethreeotherPadmaShri readabouthisstandagainsttheVietnamWar, stuckinbureaucratichurdles,KaurSinghwould brationswhichwentonforoveramonthwhen awardees who have returnedtheir honours - racism and him getting bannedfromboxing open doors. It’s been close to four decades but he wonthe gold at the Asian Games and also wrestler KartarSingh, hockeyplayerAjitpal due to his refusal to join the US Army. Aman the villageisstill indebted to the former boxer those afterhis back-to-backawards. “When I Padma Shri and Arjuna Awardee boxerKaurSingh helpedsecureregular water Singh, and former worldchampion body- likeAli stood forthe rightsfor his fellowciti- with an imposing frame and flowing white returnedtomyunit, therewerecelebrations supplyfor the farms and employment opportunities forteachers at the government builder Premchand Degra-iswaiting to meet zens and that’s what we arestanding up for beard.Beitthemanyshopkeeperswhovolun- formonths.Thecertificateandmedallionwere school in his villageKhanal Khurd. Kamleshwar Singh President RamNath Kovind. His awards and too,” says Kaur Singh, who fought an exhibi- teer to walk youtohis home or the hospitable displayedatmyArmyunittillthetimeIretired citations arecurrentlywith fellowPadma re- tion bout againstAli in NewDelhi in 1980.

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