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THE LARGEST CIRCULATED ENGLISH DAILY IN SOUTH INDIA HYDERABAD I THURSDAY I 19 MARCH 2020 WEATHER WORLD 12 SPORTS 16 TABLOID Max: 36.2OC | | Min: 22.7OC Dhoni takes RH: 29% Biden sweeps IOC hints Olympics Rainfall: Nil three US states may be postponed to badminton Forecast: Partly cloudy sky. Max/Min temp. 36/23ºC deccanchronicle.com, facebook.com/deccannews, twitter.com/deccanchronicle, google.com/+deccanchronicle Vol. 83 No. 78 Established 1938 | 32 PAGES | `6.00 AN APPEAL We are in a critical stage of 8 new Covid cases in one day our fight against the MLAs can’t be Coronavirus (Covid-19), and the coming 7-10 days will determine how we weather the disease. Please take it Seven cases relate to Indonesians, one from Medchal; total reaches 13 seriously and follow these BALU PULIPAKA and This takes the total num- ● The 58-year-old for the disease in a 3-kms cough and other acute precautions: KANIZA GARARI | DC ber of Covid-19 cases in radius of the district col- symptoms. Doctors were held captive, Covid-19 Indonesian HYDERABAD, MARCH 18 Telangana to 13, including lectorate, close to the monitoring diagnostic ☛ Avoid all travel unless one patient, the first, a patient, the first in the mosque in Karimnagar, tests for the viral load in absolutely critical. Wednesday witnessed the youth from Mahendra group of preachers to where the Indonesians had the patient’s body, its ☛ Avoid all gatherings, most serious surge in coro- Hills area of the city, a be found positive, is in stayed for three days, affect on the lung system, congregations and navirus (Covid-19) cases in techie, who was cured and a critical condition before being sent to the and possible pneumonia. says top court meetings. Telangana, with the state discharge from the hospi- Gandhi Hospital in the The response of the ☛ Maintain social distance. health department annou- tal a few days ago. ease. However, late at city on Tuesday. immune system to the ncing a total of eight new The first of the eight new night, after 11 pm, Telang- Earlier, the 58-year-old viral load is being checked ☛ Maintain personal Asks Speaker when will he positive cases of the dis- cases announced on ana health department Covid-19 positive Indone- to adjust medication accor- hygiene; wash your ease late at night. Of these Wednesday was declared released a special bulletin sian patient, the first in dingly. “He is not on venti- hands frequently. decide on MLAs’ resignations eight cases, seven are from in the evening at around 5 announcing that seven the group of preachers to lator support, but his con- ☛ In case of any symptoms, among the 10 Indonesian pm by health minister more Indonesians had test- be found positive, was dition is being moni- RABINDRA NATH self-report to (Gandhi/the preachers who were brou- Etala Rajendar, who said ed positive for the disease. reported to be in a critical tored,” the minister said. CHOUDHURY | DC nearest) Hospital. ght to the Gandhi Hospital that one of the 10 Worried over the fallout, condition at the Gandhi BHOPAL, MARCH 18 ☛ Follow doctors’ advice. here from Karimangar on Indonesian preachers had the government is plan- Hospital, with breathless- ■ Page 4: Scotland returnee Tuesday. tested positive for the dis- ning a widespread testing ness, severe persistent from Medchal tests positive The Supreme Court is set ☛ Heed government to decide the fate of 16 advisories. rebel Congress MLAs of ☛ Don’t believe or spread Madhya Pradesh, who rumours. hold the key to the sur- — Editor-iin-CChief vival of the Kamal Nath government as the week- Ban all foreign flights: Etala long political crisis in the IN BRIEF state took an ugly turn on Health minister tells Centre to abandon Indians stuck abroad Wednesday, with The resignation CBSE exams Congress workers holding of an MLA has to DC CORRESPONDENT ment should work through ing in the state, Mr protests at several places be accepted by the HYDERABAD, MARCH 18 local embassies in such Rajendar urged Chief in the state. postponed countries and ensure all Secretary Somesh Kumar The Supreme Court, Speaker and it cannot New Delhi: The Central The Telangana govern- Indians stuck there are to take every possible step V-P Venkaiah Naidu which began hearing peti- be said to be Board of Secondary Educa- ment has urged the Centre looked after and provided to ensure quarantine facil- tions on the ongoing polit- accepted because the tion (CBSE) on Wednesday to ban all incoming inter- the healthcare needed. It is ities for all international ical turmoil in the state Governor saw postponed ongoing class national flights into the not a good idea to get passengers arriving into VENKAIAH SAYS filed by various parties 10, 12 examinations till country to prevent the fur- someone with an infection Telangana. and individuals, observed something on TV, this March 31. “All ongoing ther ‘import’ of Novel Cor- into the country, given the “Arrangements must be MPS CAN’T WEAR that as of now the consti- is a new CBSE examinations in India onavirus (Covid-19) cases. population density and the made for all such passen- tutional court (the bench jurisprudence and abroad postponed till Speaking to Union health cted in a different country threat of mass spread of gers to be placed under hearing the case) knew March 31 and will be minister Harsh Vardhan and carried it back. The the disease,” he said. quarantine. We should be MASKS IN RS that 16 MLAs of MP, MP SPEAKER rescheduled thereafter... on Wednesday, state first positive case of The minister said that prepared to house an incr- lodged in a resort in N.P. PRAJAPATI TO after an assessment of the health minister Etala Covid-19 in Telangana was while it was finally a call easing number of people DC CORRESPONDENT Bengaluru, tilted the bal- SUPREME COURT situation,” CBSE secretary Rajendar urged him to confirmed on March 2 and for the Centre to make, if it in such facilities,” he said, NEW DELHI, MARCH 18 ance one way or the other. Anurag Tripathi said. “All impress upon the Central the sixth on March 18. wants to bring Indians adding, “we have planned A division bench of ongoing evaluation work government to ban all He said that while the back home, it can do so in for keeping 5,000 persons Vice-President M. Venk- Justices D.Y. Chandra- Sabha nominee and for- will be suspended during international air travel Telangana government special flights and keep all with symptoms in isola- aiah Naidu, in his role as chud and Hemant Gupta mer chief minister the period,” he added. into India. “was concerned about such returnees in special tion and more than 20,000 the chairman of the also made a significant Digvijay Singh who had The state government well-being of Indians stuck camps, under its control, asymptomatic persons Rajya Sahba, objected observation that the 16 sought access to the 16 has steadfastly held that abroad, it is not advisable in Delhi. under quarantine at differ- when members entered MLAs may or may not rebel party MLAs. Sensex crashes every one of the six Covid- to get people who are stuck Chairing a review meet- ent locations in the state.” the Upper House on take part in the business Earlier, high drama was 19 positive cases recorded in other countries into ing on secondary trans- Wednesday wearing face of the House, but they can- seen in Bengaluru as sev- in Telangana was that of India at this stage”. mission of disease from ■ Page 2: TS can isolate at masks as protection not be held captive since eral senior MP Congress below 29,000 an individual who got infe- “The Central govern- infected individuals arriv- least 1,000, says minister against the Coronavirus they need to be ensured leaders, including Mr Mumbai: Global recession (Covid-19). free exercise of their Singh, held a staged sit-in fears, rising coronavirus Opposition members choice in this regard. The before the resort where cases and the Supreme demanded that the ongo- bench also declined an the 16 MLAs were staying, Court’s stand on self assess- ing budget session of par- offer for the production of demanding access to ment of dues by telecom WB top official’s son skips screening liament be curtailed in the MLAs in judges’ them. companies led to panic sell- view of the Coronavirus chambers and rejected a The police deployed at ing in the equity market on RAJIB CHOWDHURI | DC wife Sonali Chakrabarti to a hospital. with three Covid-19 patie- scare, but the govern- proposal to send its regis- the resort stopped them Wednesday. The Sensex KOLKATA, MARCH 18 Bandopadhyay, who is At least 10 more govern- nts at a birthday party in ment was unwilling to trar-general to meet them. from storming the resort crashed 1,709.58 to end also vice-chancellor of ment employees, who were London. The Oxford accede. The court then adjourned and later detained them. below 29,000 point — The coronavirus scare has Calcutta University, from around them, are also in University student was Four Trinamool the hearing in the matter The Congress leaders, 28,869.51 — for the first hit the heart of the Wednesday within two isolation at home. found to be deliberately Congress (TMC) MPs till Thursday. who included six minis- time in three years. The Mamata Banerjee govern- days of his meeting with The development came a ignoring advisories to get came to the House wear- In another development, ters of the Kamal Nath Nifty-50 sank 498.25 ment — the state secretari- the bureaucrat mother of day after the Covid-19 quarantined at a hospital ing masks: Derek the Karntaka High Court government, were later points to end at 8,468.80. at — as West Bengal home the state’s first Covid-19 virus was confirmed in the by using his mother’s O'Brien wore a black on Wednesday dealt a released. secretary Alapan Bandop- patient who had taken her teenaged boy after his influence. mask while his deputy, blow to the Congress as it ■ Full report on Page 14 adhyay went under “home son to the secretariat return from the United Sukhendu Sekhar Ray rejected a writ petition ■ Page 8: Kamal Nath firm isolation” along with his instead of admitting him King. He came into contact ■ Full report on Page 9 wore white. filed by Congress’ Rajya on no floor test CITY pg DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | THURSDAY | 19 MARCH 2020 2

ASTROGUIDE Vikari; Uttarayanam Thithi: Phalguna Bahula Ekadasi till Old City oblivious to Covid-19 precautions 5.59 am (next day) Star: Uttarashada till 2.51 pm Varjyam: 7.14 pm to 8.59 pm Residents not taking preventive measures to protect themselves from the deadly virus Durmuhurtam: 10.24 am to 11.12 am and 3.11 pm to 3.59 pm ATHER MOIN | DC Rahukalam: 1.30 pm to 3 pm HYDERABAD, MARCH 18 QUARANTINED HIJRI CALENDAR Rajjab 23,1441 AH Even as the entire world is PASSENGERS TOLD PRAYERS in grips of panic and is reeling from shock at the Fajar: 5.22 am growing tentacles of coro- TO ‘ADJUST’ Zohar: 12.34 pm navirus (Covid-19), and Asar: 4.45 pm unlike fellow residents in DC CORRESPONDENT Maghrib: 6.32 pm rest of the city, majority of HYDERABAD, MARCH 18 Isha: 7.40 pm the people in the Old City SUNSET TODAY 6.26 PM of Hyderabad are neither With increasing number SUNRISE TOMORROW 6.20 AM scared nor much bothered of international trav- by Coronavirus. ellers arriving in the city MOONSET TOMORROW 2.25 PM Old City people are not each day at the Rajiv MOONRISE TOMORROW 3.01 AM taking precautionary Gandhi International measure to protect them- Airport (RGIA), and the selves from the pandemic. state government has COUNTER POINT They do not hesitate in firmed up its implementa- shaking hands with tion plans to mandatorily friends, or even strangers, quarantine every asymp- and roaming in the streets tomatic individual arriv- without using masks. ing here for 14 days. Most of the people The state government has Deccan Chronicle spoke to appealed to such people to were not aware about the understand the con- severity of pandemic. straints under which They said that they had quarantine facilities have heard about Covid-19, but been created. do not pay much attention Health minister Etala on it. Rajendar appealed to all “We have neither time to those being placed under take precautionary meas- quarantine that meeting ure nor do our women specific demands from understand it. We are liv- such individuals might ing in an atmosphere, not be possible in every where historically, less case, while addressing at attention was paid to a press conference here health and hygiene. If we on Wednesday. follow precautions, most Some facilities like west- of us would not be able to ern commodes in rooms, focus on earning our where they have been bread and butter,” most lodged might not be possi- resident argue. ble to provide in a hurry. IN BRIEF Mohammed Ayyan “The quarantine facilities Quadri, a student from People move around without taking precautions in the wake of coronavirus pandemic near Charminar on Wednesday. have been identified on an HR panel to hear Jahanuma, said that peo- urgent basis and the gov- ple here are less aware ernment is doing its best only urgent cases about the pandemic, to make them as comfort- because a large number of able as possible for every- Hyderabad: In the backdrop them are not educated. Scared netas skip launch of 40 basti clinics one,” he said. of Telangana government’s There are many pockets in precautionary measures to the old city, where MADDY DEEKSHITH | DC made an official ready to inaugurate them At present, specialist serv- Greater Hyderabad avoid contracting the migrants from other HYDERABAD, MARCH 18 announcement that a five- due to fear of coronavirus. ices are being offered in Municipal Corporation DON’T VISIT ME, COVID-19, the Human Rights places reside, who work as member team would work Sources said that while nine areas, including gen- (GHMC) and the Central Commission took a decision either artisans or daily Fear of the dreaded coron- expeditiously to identify few of them were busy in eral medicine, physiother- government, which have to restrict adjudication of wagers. Most people are avirus has made ministers sites and open dispen- taking preventive meas- apy, pulmanology, derma- allocated `1,200 crore for SAYS HEALTH cases for dire urgent matters away from news channels forego the inauguration saries at the earliest. The ures to curtail the spread tology, paediatrician, Health and Wellness only. The Telangana State and newspapers. the 40 Basti Dawakhanas team identified about 163 of coronavirus spread, the orthopaedician, general Centres under the MINISTER Human rights commission “Though a section of in city slums scheduled for locations, however, the remaining said that they surgeon, psychology and Ayushman Bharat pro- (TSHRC) to take up the people read Urdu newspa- March 18, thereby ignor- corporation faced a back- cannot inaugurate citing ENT twice a week or based gramme. DC CORRESPONDENT cases, received through post pers, these newspapers ing the instructions of lash at three sites and the situation in the city. on appointments. The intent of the project HYDERABAD, MARCH 18 or in-person without court have not given enough Chief Minister K. began work at 160 loca- Basti Dawakhanas, since However, ignoring the was to establish a health hearing till April 9 starting focus about the issue and Chandrasekhar Rao who tions. their launch, have been coronavirus crisis, neither centre at areas which lack Health minister Etala from March 19. As a part of therefore the readers have in January had instructed The corporation com- extending quality treat- GHMC official nor the Urban Primary Health Rajendar on Wednesday precautions and restrictions, not sensed the urgency or the civic authorities to pleted the construction of ment to the poor and the politicians have made an Centres (UPHC) and also urged his supporters and the TSHRC decided to take criticality of the issue. construct 227 dawakhana 40 dispensaries and hired downtrodden in slum effort to make the newly- to reduce the burden on TRS party workers not to up urgent matters only twice Most of the population in additionally apart from staff to make them opera- areas. constructed dispensaries tertiary hospitals like visit him at his home or a week on Tuesday and old city have neither time existing 123 on a war-foot- tional from March 18. Even, consultations dur- operational. Osmania General office in connection with Thursday, by way of court nor money to follow pre- ing. However, highly-placed ing evenings are opera- Basti Dhawakhana ini- Hospital, Niloufer and his birthday on Friday. hearings. The order further cautions given by doctors Following his instruc- sources in the corporation tional at 18 dispensaries tiative is a joint collabora- Gandhi Hospital, includ- The minister said given stated that regular matters, and experts,” Mr Quadri tions, in a knee-jerk reac- said that none of city lead- and in the offing is the tion by the city’s munici- ing Urban Primary Health the current situation which are already directed said. Moulana Mohammed tion, the corporation had ers and ministers were ophthalmology service. pal administration, Centres. when the state is busy to be listed, will automatical- Farooq Quadri said, “it is combating the spread of ly be adjourned and the par- our belief that no conta- novel coronavirus, it is ties who received the gious disease is conveyed better that people do not notices from the office of without almighty’s per- gather in large groups. the Commission need not mission. We the Muslims “I am not celebrating my attend before the do wudhu (ablution) five IIT-H develops sanitiser birthday this year. I Commission till April 9. The times in a day before request everyone to prac- parties/advocates/depart- prayer and think it is DC CORRESPONDENT ● THE RESEARCH in the campus for stu- tice safety and social dis- ments' representatives may enough to sanitize our- HYDERABAD, MARCH 18 dents, staff and faculty at tancing. Please do not ascertain the case status, if selves from all viruses and scholars have various locations, like the come to Hyderabad,” required, through helpline bacteria.” At a time when there is developed their own faculty lounge, meeting he said, with particular number 040-24601572 dur- Moulana Quadri said, rising corruption and hand sanitiser with halls, cafes and laborato- reference to his followers ing working hours. “human body weakens street fight over sanitisers ries, among other areas. from his Huzurabad and diseases take over and face masks over the 70% alcohol in it. “This has been done constituency. when immunity is weak. growing Covid-19 fears, a purely to support the com- The immune system of group of researchers at Engineering, at the insti- munity at a time when it LOKAYUKTA our people is very active IIT Hyderabad have found tute have developed their is critical to adopt safe and strong. In fact unhy- a solution to the problem own hand sanitiser with and hygienic practices. TAKE COVID-19 ADVISORIES ON gienic atmosphere and bad for the institute communi- 70 per cent alcohol in it, in We have not thought of food habits of old city ty. accordance with the commercialisation. Our SERIOUSLY, ETALA COVID-19 enhances immunity.” Dr Shivakalyani Adepu, World Health motto is to help people Mohammed Rafi of a research scholar, along Organisation (WHO) and around us. We can assure TELLS PEOPLE DC CORRESPONDENT Golconda said that we are with Dr Mudrika Centre for Disease that these are as safe as HYDERABAD, MARCH 18 living in an area in which Khandelwal, Associate Control (CDC) standards. any commercial sanitiser, mosquitoes abound. This Suspects from abroad and different parts of Telangana Professor, from the Around 10 litres of this and possibly more effec- DC CORRESPONDENT Following the outbreak of has made us stronger. He visit Gandhi Hospital for Covid-19 test on Wednesday. department of Materials hand sanitiser has tive,” said Dr HYDERABAD, MARCH 18 Covid-19, offices of the said it was not possible to — S. SURENDER REDDY Science and Metallurgical already been distributed Shivakalyani Adepu. Lokayukta and Upa- take precautionary meas- The Telangana govern- Lokayukta in Telangana and ures prescribed by doctors ment on Wednesday Lokayukta of Andhra Pradesh for people who are poor. appealed to people to take have issued separate circulars Doctors are advising to the threat of the possible asking complainants, public wash hands five to six spread of Novel servants and officials not to times in a day, use masks TS can isolate at least 1,000, says Etala Coronavirus (Covid-19) visit their office premises in and avoid mingling with seriously. Hyderabad till March 31. people or join crowds. From Page 1 said. The state govern- 14-day quarantine. Such belonging to various tined passengers, as many Mincing no words, The circulars mention that Undergoing isolation Addressing a press confer- ment has already begun to passengers are being Central and state govern- as 2,020 individuals can be health minister Etala public servants, who have becomes impossible for us, ence after the meeting, Mr send everyone landing in housed in Haritha Plaza ment organizations in housed at rate of two per- Rajendar told a news con- been summoned to explain as we will lose our daily Rajendar said that city’s Rajiv Gandhi inter- hotel at Vikarabad, the Rajendranagar, including sons per room, or half that ference here that shutting their stand on complaints wage. He said that instead Telangana has ramped up national airport from Forest Research and Prof Jayshankar number if government down of schools, colleges received against them, also of asking people to take its ability to cope with seven countries designat- Training Academy at Agricultural University, and health authorities and other businesses such need not to come. The offices precautionary measures, Covid-19 cases. “We have ed as high risk — China, Dulapally and some other NAARM, NIRD, MANAGE decide only one person as cinema halls and puns will, however, continue to government should take in place facilities to treat South Korea, Germany, locations, he said. and others. should be quarantined in was not an opportunity for receive complaints as usual. action to curb the up to 1,000 Covid-19 France, Italy, Iran, and The government has Between 12 buildings each of the 1,010 rooms, he families to celebrate ‘holi- pandemic. patients at a time,” he Spain — into a mandatory identified a host of hostels identified to host quaran- added. days’.

PANIC | MODE Fear of getting infected by Covid-19 in a flight packed with 300 passengers bothered all on board, says Anushka No food, scared: Ordeal of a UK student returning home VIKRAM SHARMA | DC able panic mode. Pursuing her BSc in and I, made up our minds to (whether to return or stay flight packed to capacity with other family members HYDERABAD, MARCH 18 Eleven hours later, after a Philosophy at Buckingham leave UK and return to put in UK) immediately as was what was bothering all were relieved when they brief stopover in Dubai, University, Anushka, a resi- India within two hours. we were not sure what passengers. finally spotted their daugh- As the Emirates flight EK- when the flight touched dent of Gachibowli, is With great difficulty, we would happen in near “At the Hyderabad airport, ter coming out at around 4 012 took off from London’s down at the Rajiv Gandhi among hundreds of stu- booked tickets on March 16 future. The next day morn- I was asked to fill two forms. am. Gatwick Airport at 9.40 am International Airport dents studying in the UK, evening and boarded the ing, we were on an Emirates One pertained to queries “The last 24 hours have on March 17, Anushka (RGIA), Shamshabad, at 2.17 who went into a panic mode flight next morning. The flight with our masks and about my health and per- been the most tense Singhvee, a student at the am, all passengers alighted after the Centre imposed decision to prohibit Indian gloves on,” she recalls. sonal details. I was asked to moments. Anushka had University of Buckingham, from the aircraft and began travel restrictions and pro- passport holders from It was hardly a memorable mention whether I had cold, joined the university only who was onboard along lining up for the mandatory hibited Indian passport entering the country from flight. With vegetarian cough or fever. Thereafter, in January this year. We are with two of her varsity screening for Covid-19. holders residing in UK and March 18 onwards has meals much in demand on there was screening. not sure what the situation friends, was on the edge. Anushka’s heart must other countries from enter- caught all students off- flights due to myths that Though I had no symptoms, will be in a month from now For the last 15 days, she have sunk when she saw ing India after March 18. guard, since it gave us very meat might transmit Covid- I was preparing myself in and whether she can go had been taking all precau- some passengers, who had The Emirates flight, little time to react. We just 19, many passengers includ- case health officials would back to UK,” said Prashant, tions to ward off the Novel travelled in the same flight, which brought scores of wanted to ensure we reach ing her had to go hungry as have suggested a mandatory a businessman. Coronavirus (Covid-19), par- getting placed under quar- students, including India before March 18,” said Anushka Singhvee there was a shortage of veg- quarantine. Though I was For the family, there are ticularly keeping distance antine, indicating they had Anushka, to Hyderabad, Anushka, sharing her expe- etarian meal on the flight. lucky enough, the sight of still tense moments ahead with other individuals. But shown some symptoms of reached only a couple of rience with Deccan due to worldwide lockdown “There were quite a few other passengers being as their elder daughter once on board the flight, she the virus. When her turn hours before restrictions Chronicle, from the comfort late on Monday evening. who could not get a vegetar- placed under quarantine Preksha, who is pursuing found herself in the midst came, she was asked to fill were to come into force. of her home, even if Hours later, Indian students ian meal. We travelled with- had me scared,” she said, her business studies in of over 300 people, a majori- two forms, was screened Over the last fortnight, a sequestered. learnt about travel restric- out food all the way to adding that it took close to Canada, is presently on ty of them students from thoroughly and made to majority of international The ordeal began for her tions from March 18. UK is Hyderabad,” she said. But two hours to come out of flight and would be arriving different universities across wait. Minutes later, she was flights were almost empty. after the university sound- amongst the worst affected more than hunger, it was the airport. in Hyderabad tomorrow. UK headed back to India, all cleared to go, but advised “My two friends, ed a choice of returning by the Covid-19 epidemic. the fear of getting infected Outside, her parents, “I am keeping my fingers of them in an understand- self-quarantine. Shambhavi and Koumudhi, home to foreign students “We had to decide by the deadly virus in a Prashant and Barkha, along crossed,” Prashant added. CITY pg 3 DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | THURSDAY | 19 MARCH 2020 Umasankar IN BRIEF THUNDERSTORM ICMR to test 150 random samples EXPECTED OVER Results to ascertain if there is local transmission which is an indication of spread KANIZA GARARI | DC both private and govern- ● THE SAMPLES are transmissions would be there is local spread.” there could be a differ- HYDERABAD, MARCH 18 ment sector but have no from those patients who an indication of the Epidemiologists on ence in what is being TELANGANA history of travel or con- have been hospitalised spread. field suspect possibility shown and the actual Around 150 samples of tact with those who have A senior infection spe- of local transmission picture.” T.S.S. SIDDHARTH | DC severe acute respiratory travelled to any of the in both private and gov- cialist explained, “our but say that it will be “High level of secrecy HYDERABAD, MARCH 18 infections have been col- Covid-19 affected coun- ernment sector but have definition for testing “mild”. Will the govern- is being maintained and lected by the Indian tries. no history of travel or right now is only contact ment admit or give data? no one is allowed to talk The pre-monsoon season has Council of Medical These results will contact with those who transmission. We are No, say medical experts. or give out any kind of begun well in advance for the Research (ICMR) from ascertain whether any have travelled to any of not going beyond. ICMR The data coming out information exchange. state, say officials of the northern and western local transmission has the Covid-19 affected is now opting for testing from day one has led to The buzz is that there is Indian Meteorological Depar- states to ascertain whe- taken place. countries. SARI, as that is the next doubts of actual num- already a lot of panic tment (IMD). In this regard, ther there is any local Medical experts, fol- step of verification. bers. and the government the local weather office has transmission of Novel lowing the transmission These samples would A senior pulmonolo- does not want to create issued a thunderstorm warn- Coronavirus (Covid-19) wave from contacts, which have been report- also have to be tested gist explained, “Actual more. Let everyone prac- ing for the state for the next 48 disease in the country. have found that the first ed. twice. If the first test is numbers are not being tice social distancing, hours. Samples from southern peak wave was noted on The patterns show that positive and they are to released on the day of isolation in case of cold In its warning it said: states are yet to be col- March 4, with 22 cases cases are on the rise and re-confirm it – it still confirmation. The data and cough, and allow the “Thunderstorm accompanied lected. and another on March 17 there would be another means there is commu- is being released slowly virus to eliminate itself. with lightning very likely to The samples are from with 23 cases. In between peak either on March 24 nity transmission. Even and gradually, which is a Tests are only necessary occur at isolated places over those patients who have these dates, there have or March 27. Whether if one test in 150 samples clear indication that it is in case of fever,” the doc- Telangana.’ According to offi- been hospitalised in been 15 positive cases these are contact or local is positive, it means being managed. Hence, tor added. cials of the department, there would be chances of light rain- fall over the state; however, the KARIMNAGAR thundering activity would be C-V suspect case higher than the amount of rainfall. ON HIGH ALERT SSC exams start today “We had issued a thunder- storm warning, and we predict FOR OUTBREAK shifted to Gandhi that there would be light rain- fall, coupled with thunder amid tight health vigil activity over the state,” K. PULI SHARAT Naga Ratna, director, IMD told KUMAR | DC SANJAY SAMUEL ● IF SOMEONE is suf- falls sick. DC doctors of RIMS, Deccan Chronicle. Deccan The rainfall KARIMNAGAR, MARCH 18 PAUL | DC fering from fever, cough Talking to CORRESPONDENT Adilabad. The man was caused by a trough travel- HYDERABAD, MARCH 18 Chronicle, B. Venkata ADILABAD, MARCH 18 had gone to Pune, ling over the state spanning A high alert has been or cold, they will be pro- Narasamma, the District Maharashtra and northern Tamil Nadu to declared over possibility The Secondary School vided with a separate Education Officer of A person from returned to Indravelli Vidarbha, she said. of outbreak of coron- Certificate (SSC) exams room. Hyderabad, said that Indravelli mandal two days ago and Unusually, this year, these avirus infections here in for the academic year ● STANDBY invigilators there are 362 centres headquarters was complained of cough, rains — pre-monsoon showers Karimnagar with BC 2020 are starting from from Hyderabad. All the shifted to Gandhi hos- cold and fever. — had arrived on time. “This welfare minister Gan- March 19. Keeping in will take over if centres have been strict- pital, Hyderabad on However, it would be year, the showers began on the gula Kamalakar anno- mind the novel assigned invigilators fall ly instructed to provide suspicion of suffer- confirmed whether or dot-on March 1-these showers uncing on Wednesday Coronavirus, which is at sick sanitizers and liquid ing from the coron- not he really is infect- were aiding in keeping the night that everyone who the threshold of wide- ● ALL CENTRES have soap, fresh and clean avirus, given his ed with the coron- maximums in control, to an lives in a three-kilome- spread, the SSC has been strictly instructed drinking water at the symptoms. He was avirus only after see- extent,” she said. ter radius of the mosque come up with new pre- centres for the students. shifted to Gandhi hos- ing his medical Speaking about the summer in which a team of 10 cautions and instruc- to provide sanitizers and They have also request- pital on the advice of reports. forecast, she said that the day Indonesian preachers tions. liquid soap, fresh and ed the students not to time temperatures in the state, stayed for a couple days, The minister for educa- clean drinking water at congregate after writing were on the rise. “Compared to will be tested for the tion, Sabitha Indra the centres for the stu- the exam. Md Ishaq, who the last 24 hours, the tempera- virus. Reddy in a press release, dents. is appearing for the tures were on the rise. Every Mr Kamalakar was said that there are ● exams, said that keeping day we are witnessing a rise of asked by the state gov- around 5,34,903 students ● THEY ALSO asked to the epidemic of COVID- one degree,” she said. ernment to lead the appearing for the exami- request students not to 19 in mind, the school efforts to contain the dis- nations in 2,530 centres congregate after exams management prescribed ● THERE ARE chances of light ease spread here in the across the state. All the a list of precautions rainfall over the state; howev- city and district follow- required precautions which include carrying er, the thundering activity ing confirmation that have been taken to grace period for the late- your own water bottle would be higher than the eight of the 10 ensure the smooth con- comers will be allowed to and a sanitizer. amount of rainfall. Indonesians, tested posi- duct of the examina- avoid crowding at the The principal of St tive for Covid-19. tions, which will end on entrance. If someone is Theresa’s High School ● THE RAINFALL was caused On Wednesday, the dis- April 6. The minister suffering from fever, said that schools and by a trough travelling over the trict administration also added that students cough or cold, they will classrooms have been state spanning northern Tamil shifted 13 more people — will be allowed inside be provided with a sepa- sanitized properly and Nadu to Vidarbha, said K. in two batches — to the centres from 8.30 am rate room. There are all the invigilating staff Gandhi Hospital in onwards, an hour before some standby invigila- have been given all the Naga Ratna, director, Indian Hyderabad for testing the examination starts tors, who will replace if instructions by the gov- Meteorological Department for the disease. and also five minutes’ any assigned invigilator ernment. CITY pg DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | THURSDAY | 19 MARCH 2020 4

IN BRIEF Scotland returnee RAILWAYS SETS Poor ticket sales: Special UP TEAMS FOR tests positive FROM PAGE 1 He arrived in the city on trains to TS, AP cancelled Monday and went home. The CORONAVIRUS In another case not related to next day he developed cough the Indonesian group, a and fever and reported to the DC CORRESPONDENT Services announced over last few weeks for post-school exam rush patient in Telangana, a 22- Gandhi Hospital. The state HYDERABAD, MARCH 18 year-old bachelor from health department said he ADITYA CHUNDURU | DC Speaking to Deccan make sense operating Medchal, who is pursuing a had four close contacts, who Railway minister Piyush HYDERABAD, MARCH 18 DISCONNECTING PEOPLE Chronicle, an South special trains when tick- BBA degree in Scotland the authorities were trying Goyal held a meeting with Central Railway official ets in regular trains are since 2019, tested positive for to trace. The passengers on members of the Railway Board The railways announced z Major special trains con- z Other major said cancellations of available so easily,” he Covid-19, the government his flight to Hyderabad are and general managers of all a slew of cancellations necting the twin cities to trains — booked tickets had sky- said. The official indicat- confirmed on Wednesday. also being contacted. zones via video conference to on Friday due to effects hubs in Andhra Pradesh Hyderabad to rocketed in the past few ed that more cancella- review measures being under- of the Covid-19 outbreak. such as Vijayawada, Kalaburagi, days. “Normally, when tions were on the cards Kakinada, taken to control and contain Almost all of the train Mumbai LTT to counted with waiting in the coming days and 27-YEAR-OLD TESTS NEGATIVE FOR VIRUS the threat of Covid-19 out- services cancelled so far Machlipatnam and lists and so on, our can- the announcements Visakhapatnam Karimnagar, break. are of special trains, Chennai to cellation rate is less than could happen at short DC CORRESPONDENT on Monday evening. District While appreciating the meas- announced over the past have been 18 per cent. Now it is notice. NELLORE, MARCH 18 Collector MV Seshagiri ures taken so far, Mr Goyal few weeks to cater to cancelled. Secunderabad, more than 40 per cent Meanwhile, the cancel- Babu disclosed this while directed the officials to consti- increased rush post- Hyderabad to across all trains (special lations have led to a great Much to the relief of Nellore adding that there are no tute a “Covid-19 Response school examinations. Ernakulam — and regular). The trav- deal of confusion and district administration and more suspected cases as of Team” consisting of six execu- Major special trains have also ellers are choosing to tension among travellers. health officials, the swab now. tive directors from the Railway connecting the twin been can- stay safe and not travel Since mostly samples of a 27-year-old He said they have identi- Board. This team would coor- cities to hubs in Andhra celled. anywhere,” he said. special trains are being youth tested negative at the fied 868 people who returned dinate the ministry’s efforts Pradesh such as The official added that stopped, travellers with virology lab in SVIMS, from foreign countries across all zones. It will be in Vijayawada, Kakinada, Other major trains — Secunderabad, despite the cancellations, booked tickets in them Tirupati. recently during house to touch with one nodal officer in Machlipatnam and Hyderabad to Kalabu- Hyderabad to the occupancy rate in are wondering if they The youth working in house survey as well as with each of the 18 zones. Visakhapatnam have ragi, Mumbai LTT to Ernakulam — have also these trains wasn't so should make alternate Chennai went voluntarily to the help of list provided by Mr Goyal asked for the cre- been cancelled. Karimnagar, Chennai to been cancelled. bad. “However, it didn’t plans. GGH at Nellore complaining Bureau of Immigration, ation of an online dashboard about cough, cold and fever Government of India to oversee operations by the zones. He also instructed them DENTISTS URGED to issue advisories to travellers to cancel non-essential travel Road trips favourite transport and not travel if they are run- TO ATTEND ONLY ning a fever. In case passen- gers show symptoms, they can EMERGENCY CASES take the help of railway staff mode as buses, trains turn risky and get instant medical atten- tion, he said. VIKRAM SHARMA | DC viewed separately by DC CORRESPONDENT HYDERABAD, MARCH 18 SAFETY FIRST Deccan Chronicle said HYDERABAD, MARCH 18 z Drivers who hit the highways they had travelled to Anand Kumar hates regularly say that it is safe to Mumbai, Pune, Bengal- The Telangana Dentists COPS ON GUARD long drives but he just drive for about nine hours a day uru, Chennai and even Association has urged all covered a distance of by taking breaks every two hours. Delhi from Hyderabad its members to opt for only TO TAKE ON close to 1,600 km in his in the safety and com- emergency cases and desist SUV, which took him z Those taking their z Though there are fort of their four wheel- from handling elective three full days. He could SUVs are both self- good eating options ers, only to avoid taking cases till March 31. CORONAVIRUS have easily taken a two- a flight or train which The request has been hour flight from Hyder- driving and taking along all highways, could have got them in issued due to the shutdown DURGA PRASAD SUNKU | DC abad or even a train along a driver. people are mostly car- contact with many peo- being observed in hospitals HYDERABAD, MARCH 18 which would have taken rying home cooked ple. According to an offi- for Covid-19. him about 24 hours. Yet food in the wake of cial in the ministry of Many dentists have Among the measures taken up he chose to travel from Coronavirus scare. Road Transport and clients who come from by police to contain Covid-19 is Hyderabad to New Highways, road travel in abroad for treatment and as supply of sanitizers and face Delhi, where he had take a flight, I was in travel in the present private vehicles is expe- their travel history is a masks to its personal, includ- some official engage- two minds after being times and that too with- cted to increase in the cause of concern, they ing those guarding the quaran- ments, by road, which told by family and out getting into contact wake of Coronavirus must refrain from handling tine facilities, where the level was disinfected before friends that airports are with other individuals,” outbreak. such cases till March 31. of risk is high. commencing the long high risk areas where says the 38-year-old. “I can drive for a few One of such facilities is journey. there is every possibili- A home maker, Sarika hours but I took along a ● THE REQUEST has been Haritha Plaza in Vikarabad, With airports and rail- ty of virus spreading Singhvee, a resident of driver just to make my issued due to the shutdown which houses asymptomatic way stations or even rapidly as so many peo- Gachibowli had booked long journey comfort- being observed in hospitals international travellers arriv- buses being seen as ple keep flying in and her air ticket to Beng- able. But the flip side is for Covid-19. ing in the city round-the-clock. “high risk” zones for the out,” said Anand, a sen- aluru. She cancelled it that the journey gets Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, spread of the deadly ior executive in a pri- in the last minute after expensive due to night ● MANY DENTISTS have Vikarabad superintendent of Coronavirus, a growing vate firm which has its fears of virus getting halts and fuel and the clients who come from police M. Narayana said, number of people are branches in both Hyder- infected at airports was drivers too charge more. abroad for treatment “Sufficient police personnel now undertaking road abad and Delhi besides weighing heavy on her It is also time taking have been deployed here in journeys in their four other cities. Describing mind. She then under- and can drain physical- shifts for 24 hours. We are also wheelers to reach their the journey as tiresome, took the nearly 600 km ly and mentally,” says taking proper precautions by destinations, be it for he said he always hated journey in her SUV Abhishek Singh, a resi- IN LOVING MEMORY OF 1st DEATH ANNIVERSARY providing them masks and personal or official long drives. “But I have along with her daughter dent of Banjara Hills, “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalms 23:6 sanitizers. We have asked con- work. “I had to visit decided to travel by road Pranika. who will be leaving for stables and officers to avoid Delhi for official work to any city as I feel that Over the past one Mumbai on business direct contact with asympto- and though I wanted to is the safest form of week, most people inter- work. matic international travellers. We want them to be vigilant about their own hygiene.” Sanitisers and face masks TELANGANA are also being supplied within the areas of Hyderabad com- Cabbies ‘harassed’ by missionerate. City police com- HOSTELS NOT LATE EMULA GOPAL GARU (Secretary, Manchester Cricket Club & missioner Anjani Kumar said JAYA SHEELA TO BE CLOSED ex-Executive Committee Member, HCA) (Retd. Teacher Madina Public School) they were providing protec- Date of Demise: 11-03-2020 W/o Late Chandrasheker Dasappa tion to each and every visitor We request your presence at the 10th Day Although your smiles are gone forever paranoia over corona Ceremony of our beloved late father today and your hand we cannot touch, we still to the police station. They HARLEEN at 1 pm, followed by lunch, at Mahmood have so many memories of the one who were also working together MINOCHA | DC DC CORRESPONDENT ● ONE CUSTOMER customer got down and Paradise Function Hall, 8-3-235, loved us so much, we know your with the community to pre- HYDERABAD, MARCH 18 HYDERABAD, MARCH 18 shouted at a cabbie for left without paying. Yousufguda Checkpost, Hyderabad prayers will always protect us. vent the spread of corona. “When I complained to (Landmark: Metro Pillar No. MNYP34). Inserted by: Sons, Daughter, not wearing a mask — Emula family, children & grandchildren. Daughters-in-law & Grand Children “Show your love for our city. Social media was abuzz The ongoing Covid-19 the company about Go out for essential works,” is with several complaints, outbreak is causing ● ANOTHER ONE gave him, they scolded me the commissioner’s message. on Wednesday morning, major problems for a 10-minute lecture for and blocked my acc- BIRTHDAY REMEMBRANCE BIRTHDAY REMEMBRANCE Anjani Kumar asked people about students and wor- app-based cab drivers. sneezing while driving ount for a few hours,” “The righteous shall be everlasting to avoid rallies in favour or king professionals being Customers, the few he added. The drivers remembrance.” Ps: 112:6 against any issue. He said, forced to vacate the hos- remaining ones, are also noted that they “This is the time to fight the tel facilities by their refusing to sit in the to clean the handles. I would like to provide virus and not mobilise people owners across the city. cars if they deem them said I didn’t have any- masks to their cus- for other causes. We request Following the com- unclean. One customer thing. He refused the tomers but they had all leaders to cooperate, or else plaints, the state govern- on a shared ride, as per ride and walked away. gotten too expensive cases will be booked against ment issued an advisory a driver’s account, Another customer for them. them”. saying, “We have stepped out of the vehi- shouted at me for not The drivers com- Abids inspector K. Ravi received concerns from cle as soon as someone using a mask. The plained that both Uber Mrs. JOSEPHINE LOUIS Kumar said, “We have provid- the IT firms that some of in the car coughed. strangest customer and Ola could help Ex. ASO, Uppal MRO ed sanitizers to our reception- their employees are Kumar, a driver affili- was the one who gave them out. Reddy said, DOB: 19.03.1963 DOD: 12.05.2016 K. PRABHAVATHI ist, general duty head consta- being asked to vacate ated with one of the me a 10-minute long “We keep getting notifi- Holy Mass at 6.00 a.m. 12.00 Noon & 6.00 p.m. on 19.03.2020 at St. Mary’s W/o Late A. Prabhakar Rao ble, station house officer and their hostels by the own- two major cab aggrega- lecture for sneezing in cations in their apps, Basilica, Secunderabad. There is no one as strong and dedicated patrolling staff. Each and ers. It has been decided tors, said that until last the car while driving!” asking us to use masks We love you, we miss you as you are, your soft spoken nature will but we experience your love always be remembered. every petitioner or victim who that working employees’ week he would spend 15 he explained. and sanitisers. How every moment of our life Missing you alot Amma. visits the police station is first hostels will not be closed hours on the road for Reddy, another driver, can we do that if you Inserted by: Husband: Eugene Louis Inserted by: P. Rama - Daughter provided sanitizers to clean and owners are instruct- 20-25 trips every day. said he was at GVK (the companies) won’t Sons: Joel & Noel Louis P. Naveen Kumar - Son-in-law P. Sai Pranathi - Grand Daughter their hands.” ed to not forcibly evict Since Monday, he has One to pick up a cus- provide them to us?” Daughter-in-Law: Immaculate Mary He said public are being edu- the occupants.” made less than 10 trips tomer as part of a pool Reddy said that in the (CA-3293) (S/1920/D02029) cated that Covid-19 it is not an The advisory further a day. “The airport is a ride. “There were a few short run, the compa- 1st MEMORIAL SERVICE airborne disease and can be stated that in case of any major spot for us. But it others in the back seat nies could relax the He exchanged his temporary tents for avoided by taking precaution- forceful closing of hos- has become a deserted of the car. The new cus- incentive scheme and a permanent home. II Corinthians 5:1 ary measures. tels, the public can reach place now,” he said, tomer got in the car suspend EMI pay- out to the Hyderabad while recounting biz- and sat in the front ments. Kumar said, “I ● SANITISERS AND face City police. It also arre encounters with seat. Before I could bought my car through masks are also being supplied instructed the compa- customers. One cus- move the car, the new the aggregator and I within the areas of Hyderabad nies to make their own tomer, he said, peered person coughed lightly. pay the EMI on it every commissionerate. assessment of the into the car, looked One guy sitting in the month. If they could emerging situation and around and asked him back got livid and allow us to not pay ● ANJANI KUMAR asked peo- take prudent decisions to sanitise the vehicle demanded to know how until this coronavirus ple to avoid rallies with respect to meas- right in front of him. the man could cough business gets over, it ures taken, with intima- “He insisted that I use like that!” he would be a great help to tion to the Nodal Officer. some sanitiser solution exclaimed. The older me.” MULKI AMRUTHA RAO DOB: 14.02.1958 DOD: 19.03.2019 “Always loved, never forgotten, forever missed.” Inserted by: Wife & Family Members Part of city heading to water shortage MEERPET

MADDY DEEKSHITH | DC the city. The K. Till recently, the S-M MGD from Godavari and Godavari water source IN MEMORY OF 6th ANNIVERSARY HYDERABAD, MARCH 18 Chandrashekar Rao-led reservoir has been fulfill- 17 MGD from Osmansagar during peak summer. government has made it ing drinking water needs and Himayathsagar. Water board officials Even as the city is in the emphatically clear that of around 40 per cent of Surprisingly, the current even took the issue to tight grip of scare supply of drinking water the city’s population. The year water levels in the notice of government dur- unleashed by the Novel from Singur/ Manjeera to 120 million gallons per day twin reservoirs are drop- ing the recently concluded Coronavirus (Covid-19) the city would be stopped (MGD) regular supply ping at an alarming pace Assembly session. epidemic, at least a part of permanently and would be from the S-M reservoir and the HMWSSB has However, the government the city is heading towards compensated with water was cut down to 57 MGD been using it sparingly. ruled out the idea and said another major crisis — an sources from Godavari. for the past one-and-a-half Against this backdrop, the water board must acute shortage of drinking About 20 per cent of the year, and subsequently, HMWS&SB officials make alternative arrange- Late D. Costa John George water. This is because the citizens who come under due to poor monsoon, reached out to the state ments, even if difficult. (CAD SBH) TRS government has the S-M catchment area, drinking water supply government to release The board, during the DOB: 22-01-1918 DOD: 19-03-1972 “Declare his glory among the Heathen; rejected the proposal of including Serilingampally, from this source has been water from S-M reservoir previous year, had said His marvellous works among all nations.” A. SAMUEL (Marpally) Hyderabad Metropolitan Rajendranagar, stopped completely. since to reduce the burden that it would ensure suffi- 1 Chronicles 16:24 KJV Tahsildar (MRO) Retd. R.R. Dist. Water Supply and Sewe- Kukatpally and others, However, authorities on of electricity charges and cient water supply to the Inserted by: DOB: 16-10-1952 DOD: 19-03-2014 rage Board (HMWSSB), would suffer acute water paper claimed that the load on Godavari water affected areas by setting Wife Mrs. Rathanamma George, Beloved Friends & Family: Children, Daughters-in-law, M. Mark Malliah SCRLY (Rtd.) requesting the govern- crisis during summer shortfall of 57 MGD supply supply, since it would not up 20 additional water fill- Grand Children, Great Grand Children Mrs.Shyamala, ment to allocate Singur / because of this stand of from Manjeera and Singur be possible to meet all of ing stations, which would (Neel, Ethan, Joel & Meshika) Mrs. Prathibha, Shanthiraj, Manjeera (S-M) water to the state government. is being met through 35 the demand with only hardly make much impact. Ph: 7893015354 Mr. Sunilraj & Mrs. Mary. (S/1920/D02030) (S/1920/D02025) POLITICS pg DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | THURSDAY | 19 MARCH 2020 5

SHORT TAKES HC grants bail to Revanth RS: KESHAV, Kavitha entry to MLC polls VUJJINI SURESH ELECTED VAMSHIDHARA | DC UNOPPOSED enthuses state TRS cadre HYDERABAD, MARCH 18 Uttam: Revanth is The Telangana High court DC CORRESPONDENT on Wednesday granted HYDERABAD, MARCH 18 S.A. ISHAQUI | DC regular bail to Congress HYDERABAD, MARCH 18 MP Anumula Revanth being harassed The Election Commission of Reddy in a criminal case India (EC) on Wednesday decl- Telangana Rashtra Samiti where he charged with DC CORRESPONDENT and harassing opposition ared that the official candi- (TRS) cadre are wonder- illegal usage of Drone HYDERABAD, MARCH 18 leaders of the state. dates nominated by the TRS — ing and speculating hard camera to capture images Uttam Kumar Reddy Dr K. Keshava Rao and K.R. about the near-future role of private properties of Telangana Pradesh said, “We will take the Suresh Reddy — have been in the party of Kalvak- individuals, including Congress Committee arrest to notice of Lok elected unanimously for the untla Kavitha, daughter of some belonging to IT president and Nalgonda Sabha Speaker that the Rajya Sabha. Chief Electoral Chief Minister and party Minister, K.T. Rama Rao. MP N. Uttam Kumar Telangana government is Officer Shashank Goel, in a supremo K. Chandras- Justice K. Lakshman, Reddy has accused the violating the rights of an press release, said that both hekar Rao, after her entry heard the criminal peti- state government of MP. We will also lodge a candidates have been elected into active state politics. tion filed by Mr Revanth harassing A. Revanth complaint with the unopposed. Ms Kalvakuntla had cho- Reddy and granted him Reddy, TPCC working Privilege Committee of After the formal declaration sen to keep a low profile bail. While granting the president and Lok Sabha Lok Sabha about the of the results, a foregone con- and stay off active politics bail, the Judge imposed member from Malkajgiri, Telangana police infring- clusion, Dr Keshava Rao and after her shocking defeat two conditions on the peti- by foisting false cases ing on the rights Revanth Mr Suresh Reddy, speaking to in the 2019 Lok Sabha tioner (A) to execute two against him. Reddy.” the press, thanked TRS supre- polls. In fact, Ms Kavitha, Former MP K. Kavitha filed nomination papers for MLC by-elections of Nizamabad Sureties worth `10,000 Speaking to reporters in He said he will be meet- mo and Chief Minister K Cha- who took an active role in local authority constituency in Nizamabad on Wednesday. —DC each and (B) petitioner is New Delhi on Wednesday, ing Home Minister Amit ndrashekar Rao and TRS wor- building a strong base for not to interfere with the he said the entire Shah to complain against king president K.T. Rama Rao the party in Nizamabad largest party, even though stituency, which has a Nizamabad local authori- investigation. Congress party and all the state government's for nominating them to the district, and ensured vic- the TRS managed to grab term of less than two ties constituency, the TRS The Judge observed that leaders of Telangana are harassment of MP upper house of Parliament. tory of the party in all control of the council with years. had 523 votes and Cong- the accused being a standing behind Revanth Revanth Reddy. Dr Keshav Rao is set to retire Assembly segments in the support from its ally, the Sources in the party dis- ress has 140, while BJP Member of Parliament Reddy. He alleged that The TPCC chief said if from the Rajya Sabha after December 2018 Assembly MIM, as proof of the closed that Mr Rao fielded had only 83 votes. "The and considering that the Telangana police are police continue with such completing his first term on elections, had kept away growth of the saffron his daughter with a pro- victory of Ms Kavitha is Parliament session is working as agents of the a kind of attitude, they April 9. Mr Chandrashekar for several months from party. longed strategy as the con- certain," he said. underway, he is being ruling party. At its behest, will certainly damage Rao has re-nominated him. Mr all party matters. In this backdrop, party stituency covers almost Sources in the party said granted bail. He also they are violating the law their own image. Rao has also kept his word to After her defeat in the leaders hoped the party the entire district and she that the party had no exempted Mr Revanth former unified AP assembly Lok Sabha elections, there supreme would nominate would have all protocol option but to bring her Reddy from appearing speaker Mr Suresh Reddy, was pressure on party top Ms. Kavitha to the Rajya privileges to participate in back into politics to count- before the police, given was under Judicial rem- ties, including the premis- promising him a “good posi- leadership to bring her Sabha, instead, former AP all meetings, along with er Nizamabad BJP MP D his status as a sitting MP. and since March 6. Fur- es of a State Minister. tion” when he shifted from the into active politics in the Assembly speaker K.R. ministers and MPs. The Arvind. She is also crucial Earlier, senior counsel ther, he all Sections inclu- Further, Mr Pratap Reddy Congress to the TRS in 2018. district as TRS cadre were Suresh Reddy, who hails position would help her for TRS to build better Mr. Salman Khurshid, ded by the police in the Re- explained that this was losing morale with grow- from Nizamabad district, build her career and a coordination in district appeared for Mr Revanth mand Order are bailable not a case of bailable and ing influence of the BJP was sent to the upper stronghold in the district. party, in view of alleged Reddy, and informed the including Sec.188 IPC. attracted punishment un- BJP ASKS GUV TO in the district. The cadre house. Instead, Mr K After announcing name lacking of coordination court that all accused Public prosecutor Mr. der Sec 336 of Indian cited the results to the Chandrashekar Rao has of Ms K. Kavitha, roads between ruling party were enlarged on bail, a Pratap Reddy submitted Penal code and Section 7 CALL FOR SESSION Nizamabad Municipal chosen his daughter for an and buildings minister MLAs and ministers from day after their arrest that the accused had loi- of the Criminal Amendm- Corporation, wherein the MLC seat from Nizamabad Vemula Prashanth Reddy the district and the party while Mr Revanth Reddy tered over private proper- ent Act, 1932. ON CAA BJP emerged the single local authorities con- told press that in workers. DC CORRESPONDENT HYDERABAD, MARCH 18 The Telangana BJP leaders Cops foil Cong welcome gave a representation to Gove- Speed up works in Old City: KTR rnor Tamilisai Soundarar- ajan, requesting to instruct DC CORRESPONDENT under strategic road devel- authorities and other widening, and to post a Chief Minister K. Chandra- HYDERABAD, MARCH 18 opment plan (SRDP). Be- departments to shift public special officer for this pur- rally for Revanth’s release shekar Rao to call for a special sides this, Mr Rao asked utilities so as to complete pose. session of the Assembly for a Municipal administration officials to expedite foot- works without any delay. Mr Rao asked DC CORRESPONDENT prison in a case related to Mr Reddy’s residence. day to withdraw the Telang- and urban development over-bridges (FoBs), road He instructed them pre- HMWS&SB officials to HYDERABAD, MARCH 18 flying of a remote con- Anticipating such a pos- ana state Assembly resolution minister K.T. Rama Rao on widening works, junction pare proposals for laying a repair water leakages, and trolled drone over Mini- sibility, the Rachakonda against Citizenship Amendm- Wednesday held a review improvement and beautifi- four-lane road on both if necessary, replace the High drama was wit- ster K.T. Rama Rao’s police had earlier in the ent Act (CAA) and the Natio- meeting with city de- cation, water supply sides of the Musi river old pipelines with new nessed at the Cherlapally farmhouse in Janwada in day imposed Section 141 nal Population Register (NPR), partments and instructed pipelines, development of under the east-west corri- ones to ensure better water jail where Telangana Pra- the city outskirts. in the area adjoining the and to instruct the governm- officials to speed-up ongo- sport complex, parks, pub- dor project. supply. He told them to desh Congress Committee The Congress leader’s prison. When Congress ent to co-operate to commence ing developmental works lic toilets, nala widening During the meeting, Mr make sure there was no working president and the release from the prison on leaders and workers NPR in the state. The BJP in the Hyderabad parlia- works and other infra- Rao sought proposals for shortage of water supply Medchal-Malkajgiri Lok bail was sought to be turn- arrived to receive Mr leaders also appealed the mentary constituency. structure related projects. laying vacuum dewatering in summer. He said that a Sabha member, A. ed into a big event by Reddy, the police said the Governor to advise the Chief He instructed the Grea- Regarding road widening cement concrete (VDCC) sum of `200 crore was san- Revanth Reddy, was some of his party’s lead- TPCC working president Minister and the cabinet to ter Hyderabad Municipal works, the MA&UD minis- roads and to fasten land ctioned for purpose of nala released on Wednesday. ers who arrived at Cherla- would be taken and refrain from spreading mis- Corporation (GHMC) to ter asked officials to coor- acquisition process on 20 widening and to replace Mr Reddy, it may be pally to take out a rally all dropped home in a police conceptions amongst the peo- speed-up works taken up dinate with railway stretches meant for road- old sewerage pipelines. recalled, was lodged in the the way from the prison to vehicle. ple. The BJP leaders in their rep- resentation to the Governor stated that the Telangana Assembly passed a resolution Proposed Greater on March 16 against the CAA, Career Chronicle NPR and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Council will have CEO WAIVE ALL CROP MADDY Infrastructure Corpo- mental protection. DEEKSHITH | DC ration (TSIIC), Musi Funding for all major LOANS, SAYS HYDERABAD, MARCH 18 Riverfront Develop- infrastructure projects ment Corporation Lim- will be under the SHABBIR The proposed Greater ited (MRDCL), and Hyderabad and urban Hyderabad Regional Hyderabad Road Deve- agglomeration budget. DC CORRESPONDENT Council (GHRC) com- lopment Corporation The state government HYDERABAD, MARCH 18 prising eight municipal Limited (HRDCL). has earmarked `10,000 corporations and seven A Principal Secretary- crore for the current Former minister, Mohammed municipalities within rank officer will be the financial year and over- Ali Shabbir, demanded that the outer ring road administrative head. all `50,000 crore over the state government waive all (ORR) will have board Sources said that an five years. crop loans in a single take and members representing administration member Sources claimed that not split them into four install- the municipal corpora- will head the transport the Hyderabad regional ments, like it did in the past. tion and urban local wing comprising all council is inspired by Shabbir, in a media state- bodies and it would be modes of transport the Cape Breton ment on Wednesday, said that either headed by the including HMRL, Regional Council, the guidelines for the crop GHMC mayor or MMTS, RTC, etc. The Halifax Regional loan waiver scheme issued by MA&UD minister. department will extend Council and councils in the state government on It would also have a public connectivity in New Zealand, Scotland, Tuesday were not comprehen- CEO for administration the regional council at Israel, France, Hong sive and promises no major with board members pace with the growing Kong, etc. relief for farmers. representing all city population. The rem- The best model that He said that the government departments including aining members will would suit the plans to waive off outstanding GHMC, Hyderabad Met- focus on projects like Hyderabad and its loans up to `25,000 in the first ropolitan Development implementation of the periphery will be imple- phase and for remaining farm- Authority (HMDA), sewerage master plan, mented. A decision per- ers, it proposes to waive off Hyderabad Metro Rail the ring road construc- taining to the regional the amount in four install- Limited (HMRL), pol- tion, the construction of council will be taken ments. ice, MMTS, RTC, Tela- flyovers, land use regu- once the Coronavirus ngana State Industrial lations and environ- subsides.

COURT| ORDERS Oppn hails the decision, says it’s an eye-opener SC upholds SEC call, lifts MCC

MD. ILYAS | DC ● THE SUPREME court desired by the government. cally. The court asked the VIJAYAWADA, MARCH 18 order makes way for the The SC took objection to SEC, “how can you have the SEC’s stand of both both sides. You want to A bench of the Supreme YSRC government to make postponing elections on the postpone elections and also Court on Wednesday uph- a mega programme of one hand and declaring have a model code of con- eld the decision of the And- 26.6 lakh house pattas that the MCC would be in duct. You want to bring the hra Pradesh State Election distribution scheduled force. Additional solicitor- state to a standstill.” Commission to postpone on Telugu new year Ugadi general (ASG) A. Nadkarni The ASG pointed out that the elections for the local contended on behalf of AP this was a ploy and politi- bodies in view of the glob- government that the SEC cal lines are drawn and ally widespread Novel tion programme scheduled has passed a curious order, they want the government Coronavirus (Covid-19) epi- on Telugu new year Ugadi. postponing elections and to stop functioning. The demic, serving a huge blow The main opposition yet saying the MCC will be SEC contended that there to the YSRC state govern- Telugu Desam party and in force. was an “attempt to distrib- ment which contested the other opposition parties “There was no prior con- ute freebies, which will decision as being ‘motivat- hailed the SC decision in sultation with the govern- affect the purity of the ed’ and ‘misplaced’. upholding the SEC’s deci- ment, and if there had election”. The SC bench, headed by sion on postponement of been any, we would have To which the state con- Chief Justice Sharad polls, saying it must come apprised the SEC of the tended that political lines Arvind Bobde, upheld the as an “eye-opener” for the factual situation, which were already drawn. Why decision of the AP-SEC on YSRC party. would have justified the should the SEC contest the postponement of elec- The state government, view that the state was developmental pro- tions for six weeks in view however, saw it as a posi- ready for elections,” Mr grammes of the state? of the Covid-19 but gave tive decision, while some Nadkarni argued. The Court said that MCC relief to Chief Minister analysts called it a “win- He pointed out that it is must be lifted immediately Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s win situation” with really curious that the SEC and could be re-imposed government by suspending enough positive for both is on caveat and opposing when the next date for elec- the restrictions of the the state government and the writ petition filed by tions is notified. There model code of conduct the SEC, with the apex co- the state, which “clearly shall be no interference (MCC) till further orders, urt verdict supporting pos- indicates the SEC is taking with any developmental which paves the way for tponement of local body a political line.” The ASG activities already initiated the YSRC government to election as taken by SEC said the SEC wants to crip- and the SEC shall not inter- make a mega event of 26.6 and the lifting of the MCC ple government function- fere with that, the SC lakh house pattas distribu- with immediate effect as ing by taking sides politi- bench ruled. CITY pg DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | THURSDAY | 19 MARCH 2020 6

IN BRIEF Sex worker business `5.2L property Fake sanitiser makers held busted, one arrested GEETA VALABOJU | DC Semuns Cleanse and Since the demand for GST, the accused priced recovered, 1 held HYDERABAD, MARCH 18 Kausthuba Coclean 19 hand sanitisers has them at `144. Hyderabad: Sleuths of the stocks at Kushaiguda increased multifold after “We have seized 50 lakhs DURGA PRASAD hatched a plan to run a LB Nagar police station have A duplicate hand sanitiser and Abdullapurmet and the outbreak of Covid-19, bottles of fake sanitisers SUNKU | DC brothel. arrested a burglar and reco- manufacturing unit was raw material worth demand for the products from the manufacturing HYDERABAD MARCH 18 M. Niranjan Reddy, vered property worth `5.2 busted at Cherlapally `60 lakh. has skyrocketed while unit and its sub-unit. The inspector of police, Panja- lakh from him. He has been under Kushaiguda police They arrested Managing retailers sold them at groups appointed distribu- Panjagutta police appre- gutta, said, “The accused identified as Sriramadasu station limits on Director of Seven Hills exorbitant rates. tors in both States and hended a man running a procured the sex workers Jagan, a resident of Masjid Wednesday. The products Softgel Company Krishna Commissioner of Police supplied them to leading sex worker business and and others from different Galli and native of Neredc- were sold as ‘Semuns Kiran, General Manager Mahesh Bhagwat said, medical shops,” police rescued one sex worker parts of India offering harla in Suryapet district. Cleanse’ hand sanitiser Vemuri Venkata Subram- “Normally, hand sanitis- said. Meanwhile, in anoth- on Wednesday. them `1,000 per session He was an auto rickshaw and ‘Kausthuba Coclean anyam and Marketing ers turn dry as soon as er similar operation, pol- Identifying the accused per person and have driver who turned into a 19’ hand sanitiser. Manager Vemuri Vishw- Police seizing products at they are applied on hands. ice raided a manufactur- as Inti Pavan, police said been runninga brothel in habitual offender owing to Sleuths of the Special anath. Police recovered a duplicate hand sanitiser But this particular compa- ing unit at Abdullapurmet that he along with anoth- the premises, charging bad habits. Police recovered Operations Team (SOT) of 180 cartons containing manufacturing unit in ny’s sanitiser does not.” and arrested Chandan er accused, Kiran, who customers anything from him 12 tolas of gold, 11 Rachakonda, along with 25,000 100ml bottles, eleven Cherlapally on Wenesday. The accused distributed Panjwani, Anil Kumar was absconding, were between `2000 to `5000 tolas of silver and a CBZ police officers of drums of Iso-propyl their products, Medipro, and Bommu Shanker. running a brothel. for 30 minutes to an bike, all worth `5.2 lakh. Hyderabad and Ayush alcohol weighing 162 kgs Kiran obtained a licence in Telangana and Andhra Around 2,500 fake According to the police, hour.” He was produced before a Drug Inspectors from and other material worth for Ayush Softgel capsules Pradesh. sanitiser bottles and other the accused are working The accused person was court and remanded to Telangana, raided the `40 lakh. and Syrups in 2018 and While the approximate raw material worth `10 as junior artists in the sent to judicial custody judicial custody on duplicate manufacturing Investigations revealed started operations at IDA cost for manufacturing is lakh were seized from the film industry, wanted to and efforts are made to Wednesday. unit and seized huge that Kakarlapudi Krishna Cherlapally. `46 per bottle including spot. earn easy money and nab his accomplice.

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FIVE NABBED IN BRIEF Chevella murder: Cops 6 Inter copycats, FOR RAPING SERB EXCELLENCE TWO MINORS AWARD FOR 2 staff arrested DC CORRESPONDENT SWATI GHOSH fail to make headway HYDERABAD, MARCH 18 DC CORRESPONDENT ● SPEAKING TO Deccan HYDERABAD MARCH 18 Chronicle, K Chandra Kamatipura police arre- Police: Jewellery links woman to Guj. or Maha Shekar Reddy, Inspector of sted two persons and th- Six Intermediate students, Golconda police station ree juveniles in connect- DC CORRESPONDENT ● with the jewellery stores with a boulder. She is a who were caught mass- ion with the rape of mi- ON TUESDAY morning, said, “The students from HYDERABAD, MARCH 18 the body of an unidenti- to learn which part of the married woman,” said copying during the nor girls, who are sis- country made such sources close to the Chemistry and Commerce different private colleges ters. Identifying the The mystery over the fied woman was found designs, found that the Cyberabad police. supplementary exams on were writing their papers in accused as Mohd identification of the under a bridge located woman, aged between 25 The police have also Wednesday, were arrested the New Madina Junior Shafeeq and Mohammed woman, who was found on the outskirts of and 30 could be hailing identified that the ring by Golconda police. College centre. On being Saif Ali, police said the murdered at Chevella Thangadpally village in from Maharashtra or recovered from the spot Reportedly, taking `8,000 tipped about mass-copying, two, along with three Dr Swati Ghosh Acharyya continues, as the police Chevella mandal of Gujarat. was of a new model and per paper, a few of the col- our task force team raided juveniles, exploited the could only correlate that Rangareddy district in Meanwhile, forensic also detected a hallmark lege staff were helping the the premises Wednesday innocence of the two DC CORRESPONDENT the woman could be a Cyberabad police com- doctors have already on it, but has become so students, who are believed minor girls. HYDERABAD, MARCH 18 native of Maharashtra or made it clear that they difficult to find the ring to have resorted to this morning and caught four According to the pol- missionerate limits. college staff and six stu- Gujarat, based on the Forensic experts have did not identify forcible manufacturer. since the Mathematics ice, one of the juveniles Dr Swati Ghosh Acharyya, a type of gold ornaments penetration on the The footage of the examination. dents red-handed. Two befriended a sister, aged professor from the University recovered, which they made it clear that there woman, which cleared CCTV cameras installed Identifying the 29-year-old escaped from the spot.” 17 years, about a year of Hyderabad is selected for anticipate belonged was no sexual assault. In that she was not sexually in nearby places were of correspondent of New back and proposed to the prestigious SERB Women to her. addition, leaving behind assaulted, before she was no help so far. The vis- Madina Junior College at her. They girls are scho- Excellence Award, 2020. On Tuesday morning, the gold ornaments killed. cera and blood samples Tolichowki, Shoib Tanveer, Shekar Reddy, Inspector of ol and tuition mates. Her research encompasses the body of an unidenti- cleared that it was not In addition, leaving have been collected and and faculty members Golconda police station According to G. Ramb- the development of novel cor- fied woman was found murder for gain. behind the gold orna- stored and the body is Shabha, Shahida Shareen said, “The students from abu, Inspector at Kama- rosion-resistant materials and under a bridge located on ments cleared that it was preserved at the Chevella and Syed Kaleemuddin have different private colleges tipura PS, “One day whi- surfaces. Her team has recent- the outskirts of not murder for gain. government hospital. been caught by the police were writing their papers in le the girl was returning ly developed an eco-friendly Thangadpally village in der and her hands were The doctors informed An official from who said they helped the the New Madina Junior home from tuition, the route for bulk synthesis of gr- Chevella mandal of tied. The Chevella police, the investigators that the Cyberabad, who is part of eight students in mass-copy- College centre. On being boy took her to a grave- aphene under ambient condit- Rangareddy district in who registered a case, woman had a habit of the probe said, “She had ing. tipped about the mass-copy- yard in front of Vazir Ali ions. Graphene-based nanoco- Cyberabad police com- sent the body to the using tobacco products also undergone a tubecto- The arrested students ing, our task force team Mosque and assaulted mposites have been fabricated missionerate limits. Chevella government after checking her my procedure. No one have been identified as raided the premises her sexually.” Later he by her team to synthesise corr- The woman was killed hospital for a post- mouth. “The death possi- has contacted the police Mohd Iqbal Abbas, Ahamad Wednesday morning during shared his experience osion resistant, abrasion resis- and was disrobed before mortem. bly took place between 2 so far about a missing Nazeer, Mohd Riyan Nazeer, the examination and caught with the other four, who tant, hydrophobic, high tempe- her body was dumped in The special teams of to 3 am on Tuesday. She woman or close to the Nisar Ahmed appearing for four college staff, including also raped her at differ- rature resistant and high stre- an isolated area. Her face Cyberabad police, who was strangulated before descriptions of the the second year Chemistry the correspondent, and six ent locations. ngth coatings. These would be was smashed with a boul- verified the ornaments her face was smashed woman killed.” supplementary exam while students red-handed. Two Later Saif Ali, also sex- used for fabrication of water Firaz Mirza, Mohd Ahmed escaped from the spot.” ually exploited the vic- purification membranes and Hussain were writing the A case was booked against tim's 14-year-old sister. self-powered corrosion resist- Commerce-II exam. all of them and all arrested All the accused were ant sensors for heavy metal Speaking to Deccan have been sent to judicial arrested and sent to judi- ion detection in water. AK-47 theft: 5 cops suspended Chronicle, K Chandra custody. cial custody. Her project ‘Real-time detec- tion of heavy metal ions in groundwater by stripping volt- DC CORRESPONDENT station in early 2017. neighbour G. Gangaraju sub-inspector Sanjay, ass- FURNITURES & FURNISHINGS ammetry using indigenously HYDERABAD, MARCH 18 Strangely, no investiga- because of rivalry. istant sub-inspector Man- fabricated self-powered, corro- tion was taken up and no Subsequently, Sadanan- emma, head constable sion-resistant, pH insensitive, The Telangana police efforts were made to dam was arrested and his Sampath, and constables flexible nano-composite based department has suspend- trace and recover the questioning revealed that Ashok and Manoj were electrochemical sensors: conc- ed five of its personnel stolen weapons. it was he who entered the placed under suspension. ept to product (RISE)’ has been for negligence in safe- In February this year, Bell of Arms and stole When contacted, Siddi- recommended under the Wom- guarding weapons stored police found the weapons the AK-47, 9-mm carbine pet commissioner Joel en Excellence Award of Scien- at the Bell of Arms in to be in possession of a and 30 live rounds of AK Davis said, “Five person- ce and Engineering Research Husnabad police station. shepherd D. Sadanand- rifle. An inquiry was con- nel, who were found to be Board (SERB) of the Departm- An AK-47 and a 9-mm am, a resident of Akkan- ducted to identify person- responsible for the miss- ent of Science and Technology, carbine, along with 30 napet village in Siddipet nel whose negligence had ing weapons, have been Govt. of India, with a `5 lakh live rounds, were stolen district. He even used the led to the theft. suspended after an annual grant for 3 years. from Husnabad police AK-47 rifle to fire at his Following the inquiry, inquiry.”

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SHORT TAKES Supreme Court PAWAR TO DEPOSE BEFORE removes Manipur BHIMA PANEL SONU SHRIVASTAVA | DC Cabinet minister MUMBAI, MARCH 18

Nationalist Congress Party PARMOD KUMAR | DC ■ A BENCH headed by chief Sharad Pawar has been NEW DELHI, MARCH 18 summoned by Koregaon Justice Rohinton Fali Bhima inquiry commission to In a major decision, the Nariman passed appear before it on April 4. Supreme Court on the order taking recourse Pawar will have to appear Wednesday barred T. to its plenary powers before the commission in Shyamkumar – a Cabinet under Article 142 of Mumbai, as the scheduled minister in BJP-led the Constitution. hearing by the commission Manipur government from was shifted there in view of entering the state Assembly ■ THE COURT took the the coronavirus outbreak. and ordered that he would decision noting that despite The commission’s tenure cease to be a minister forth- giving time the Speaker did ends on April 9, however, it is with. not take any call. likely to get extension, sources A bench headed by Justice said. Rohinton Fali Nariman with March 28, assuring that A two-member inquiry com- Justice S. Ravindra Bhat decision on disqualification mission is conducting the said that T. Shyamkumar is petitions would be taken by probe into the 2018 Koregaon- “restrained from entering that time. Bhima violence. the Legislative Assembly till However, senior counsel In Februrary, social group further orders of this Court. Kapil Sibal, appearing for Vivek Vichar Manch member Needless to add, he will the petitioner Keisham Sagar Shinde had filed an cease to be a minister of the Meghachandra Singh told application before the commis- Cabinet immediately.” the court that it (court) sion, seeking summoning of The court passed the order should have itself decided Pawar in view of certain state- taking recourse to its plena- these cases as the Speaker, ments made by him in the ry powers under Article 142 even after one month’s peri- media about the 2018 caste vio- Madhya Pradesh Congress Party MLAs leave after meeting Governor Lalji Tandon at Raj Bhavan in Bhopal on Wednesday. The MLAs met the of the Constitution. od given to him, did not take lence. Governor to demand the release of their party MLAs from Bengaluru. — PTI The top court took the decision and had sought Taking note of Vivek Vichar major decision noting that eight week’s more time – Manch’s application the despite it giving time to which was subsequently not Commission had first sought Manipur Assembly Speaker pressed. Sibal on Wednesday time from Pawar for his to take decision on the peti- urged the court to take up appearance and later sent him tions seeking the disqualifi- the matter and decide it. the summons. cation of MLAs who had The top court by its Sagar Shinde of the Manch crossed the floor, the Spea- January 21, 2020, judgment demanded that NCP chief be Nath firm on no floor test ker did not take any call. had urged the parliament to summoned in view of certain Noting the “chequered his- take a call for setting up an statements made by him in the tory” of the case, the court independent tribunal to media about the 2018 caste vio- MP CM likely to visit B’luru to meet rebel MLAs; Regrets calling up Shah, BSY in its order on Wednesday “swiftly and impartially” lence. referred to its January 21, decide on the disqualifica- Shinde had given reference From Page 1 of the 16 Congress MLAs, Commission alleging an 2020, judgment pointing out tion of lawmakers in the of the NCP press conference but did not get any attempt by Mr Singh to that 13 disqualification peti- parliament and the State conducted in February 18, in The 16 legislators prom- response from them. influence the 16 MLAs Digvijay detained tions which were filed, start- assemblies under the anti- which Pawar had alleged that ptly made a plea to the He reiterated his asser- ahead of the March 26 ing from as early as April, defection law. right-wing activists Milind Karnataka director-gen- tion that he was not going biennial Rajya Sabha 2017 have not yet been decid- “It is time that Parliament Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide eral of police in writing, to face a floor test to elections in the state. ed by the Speaker of the have a rethink on whether had created a “different” saying they did not want prove his majority since Interestingly, governor by police in B’luru Manipur Legislative disqualification petitions atmosphere in Koregaon- to meet the Congress he had on several occa- Lalji Tandon on Assembly. ought to be entrusted to a Bhima close to Pune city. leaders of Madhya Prad- sions in the last 15 Wednesday snubbed DC CORRESPONDENT that the police were By its January 21, 2020, Speaker as a quasi-judicial NCP chief spokesperson and esh and sought protec- months had won the trust Assembly Speaker N.P. BENGALURU, MARCH 18 obstructing meeting of judgment, the court had authority when such cabinet minister for minority tion from them. They vote in one form or Prajapati for seeking his Singh with his own vot- given Manipur Assembly Speaker continues to belong affairs Nawab Malik said that also released videos another. He dared the intervention in securing In a major twist to ers. Since the election Speaker a month’s time to to a particular political the commission had asked which went viral on the BJP to move a no-confi- the release of the 16 rebel Madhya Pradesh was fast approaching, he decide on 13 disqualification party either de jure or de Pawar for a convenient date social media to make dence motion against Congress MLAs, remind- Congress MLAs’ stay in sought emergency hear- petitions pending before facto”, a bench comprising for appearing before it. their stand clear on the him in the House to dis- ing him that it was the Bengaluru resort, former ing of the case and him. Justice Rohinton Fali Pawar had informed the com- matter. lodge his government job of the executive (to MP Chief Minister requested the bench to However, court noted that Nariman, Justice Anirud- mission that owing to the In another develop- from power. free the legislators). Digvijay Singh give suitable direction to till date nothing moved in dha Bose and Justice V. ongoing Parliament session, ment, Chief Minister Former chief minister “You are knocking at approached Karnataka the police. the matter. It also noted that Ramasubramanian had said he would appear on April 4 in Kamal Nath on Wednes- and BJP vice-president the wrong door”, Mr High Court, seeking a Meanwhile, earlier in Solicitor General Tushar in their January 21, 2020, afternoon at 3 pm. day dropped hints that he Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Tandon said, while reply- direction for permission the day, high had pre- Mehta sought time till judgment. might visit Bengaluru to however, took a jibe at ing to the Speaker’s com- to meet the MLAs. vailed in near Ramada meet the 16 MLAs if him for shying away from munication to him. The writ petition filed Resort, Yelahanka, when CONG FUMES needed. facing a floor test as Congress workers held in the Karnataka High Singh, along with other Mr Nath regretted that ordered by the governor, demonstration at the Court contended that Congress leaders were OVER ‘MASS he had called Union “reminding” him that his BJP’s state headquarters Singh was candidate for detained by police, while home minister Amit government had been here and at the resi- forthcoming elections to trying to barge into the SURVEILLANCE’ Shah and Karnataka reduced to minority. dences of some of the Rajya Sabha and it was resort. Chief Minister B.S. Yedd- In another develop- rebel Congress MLAs, his right to seek votes Singh was accompanied DC CORRESPONDENT yurappa on the phone ment, the BJP on accusing them of trying from the voters. by Madhya Pradesh min- NEW DELHI, MARCH 18 seeking their interven- Wednesday filed a com- to destabilise the Kamal Senior Counsel A.S. ister Jitu Patwari and tion to secure the release plaint with the Election Nath government. Ponnanna contended other Congress leaders. Terming reports of “mass sur- veillance” on citizens as “extremely disturbing”, the Congress on Wednesday said the “sinister plot” which has been put in place was a trans- Pawar among 37 elected unopposed gression of the Right to Privacy guaranteed by the New Delhi, March 18: NCP minister Fauzia HIMACHAL PRADESH: BIHAR: Supreme Court. NCP chief Sharad Pawar, RS ELECTIONS Khan. BJP: Indu Goswami JD(U): Harivansh, “The reports which have Union minister Ramdas Gujarat is also expected Ram Nath Thakur emerged in the public space Athawale and Rajya Sab- leader and former Lok to witness a close contest HARYANA: BJP: Vivek Thakur are extremely disturbing ha deputy chairman Har- Sabha deputy speaker M with three candidates BJP: Ram Chander RJD: Prem Chand Jangra, Dushyant Gupta, because the Government has ivansh Narayan Singh Thambidurai, veteran from the BJP — Abhay Kumar Gautam Amarendra Dhari decided that it will carry out were among 37 candi- lawyer K.T.S.Tulsi and Bharadwaj, Ramilaben Congress: Singh mass surveillance against the dates elected unopposed Congress party’s Deepe- Bara and Narhari Amin Deepender citizens of India,” Congress on Wednesday to Rajya nder Singh Hooda were — and two from the Singh Hooda spokesperson and Lok Sabha Sabha as the deadline for among other prominent Congress — Shaktisinh MP Manish Tewari told the withdrawal of nomina- candidates. Gohil and Bharatsinh media. tion ended. Polls will be held on Solanki — filing their A media report has said that Nominations had been March 26 for the remain- nomination papers. For the government has been seek- filed for 55 Rajya Sabha ing 18 RS seats — four the two seats in ing call data records (CDRs) of seats in 17 states for the each in Gujarat and And- Jharkhand, the ruling all mobile subscribers across March 26 election. Out of hra Pradesh, three each JMM-Congress-RJD alli- WEST several pockets of the country these, candidates were in Rajasthan and Madhya ance has fielded JMM BENGAL: for specific days over the past declared elected unop- Pradesh, two in Jhark- chief Shibu Soren and Trinamul few months. posed to all seven seats in hand and one each in Shahzada Anwar, while Congress Tewari said that a sinister Maharashtra, six seats in Manipur and Meghalaya. state BJP president Arpita Ghosh pre-meditated orchestrated Tamil Nadu, two seats NCP leader Pawar and Deepak Prakash is the ODISHA: Dinesh plot has been put in place in each in Haryana, Chhatt- Union minister of state party’s candidate. In BJD Trivedi order to unleash a mass sur- isgarh and Telangana; for social justice Ramdas Rajasthan, where elec- CHHATTI- Subhas Subrata SGARH: Bakshi veillance programme on the four seats in Odisha, five Athawale, both sitting tions will be held to three ASSAM: Singh Congress Mausam citizens of India, which is an seats each in Bihar and members, were among RS seats, the Congress Bodo Peoples’ Munna K.T.S. Khan Noor absolute transgression of the West Bengal; three seats seven elected unopposed has nominated AICC gen- Front: Biswajit Tulsi Sujit CPI(M) Right to Privacy guaranteed in Assam and one seat in from Maharashtra. The eral secretary K.C.Venu- Daimary Phulo Kumar Bikash by the Supreme Court in a 9-0 Himachal Pradesh by the others elected from the gopal and state general BJP: Devi Mamata Ranjan judgement. “We strongly con- returning officers as no state were BJP’s Uday- secretary Neeraj Dangi, Bhubaneswar Netam Mahanta Bhattacharya demn and we deprecate this other candidates were in anraje Bhosale and whereas the BJP has Kalita assault on the fundamental the fray. Bhagwat Karad; named Rajendra Gehlot Congress- TAMIL NADU: freedom which have been pro- Priyanka Chaturvedi, Congress general secre- as its candidate and its AIUDF sup- ported inde- AIADMK: M Thambidurai, K.P. Munusamy vided in the Constitution and who had quit the Cong- tary Rajiv Satav, Shiv senior leader Omkar pendent can- Tamil Maanila Congress’ (Moopanar): G K have been interpreted by the ress last year and joined Sena’s Priyanka Singh Lakhawat is also in didate: Ajit Vasan Supreme Court. the Shiv Sena, AIADMK Chaturvedi and former the fray. — PTI Bhuyan DMK: Tiruchi Siva, N.R. Elango, P. Selvarasu SC asks Centre, J&K if it is going to release Omar soon PARMOD KUMAR | DC Omar Abdullah was Shah would be sitting Minister Omar NEW DELHI, MARCH 18 being released, a bench again. Abdullah under the comprising Justice As senior counsel PSA and prior to The Supreme Court on Arun Mishra and Kapil Sibal appearing the invoking of the Wednesday asked the Justice M.R.Shah said, for petitioner Sara Public Safety Act, the Centre and the admin- “If you are releasing Abdullah Pilot urged former Chief Minister istrator of Union him, then release him the court to fix a short was detained under Territory of J&K if it is soon or we will hear the date, the court said Section 107 of the going to release the for- matter on merits.” under the existing Code of Criminal mer Chief Minister Asking the lawyer curtailed arrangement Procedure. Omar Abdullah – who appearing for the in the wake of Section 107 of the is now in detention Centre and Jammu and Covid-2019, only six CrPC provides for steps under Public Safety Kashmir administra- benches are sitting and to be taken by Act. tion to take instruction it is not certain when magistrate for keeping Omar Abdullah was whether Omar their next turn would peace. detained on August 4-5, Abdullah is come. The release of former 2019, shortly before the going to be released, the “Probably next week Chief Minister Farooq abrogation of Article court adjourned the we are sitting and the Abdullah a few days 370 of the Constitution hearing indicating that matter will be taken up ago has raised hopes of and subsequent bifur- the further hearing at that time,” the bench the possible release of cation of the J&K into in the matter may said. Sara Abdullah has other two former Chief two Union Territories take place next challenged the further Ministers Omar — J&K and Ladakh. week when Justice detaining of her broth- Abdullah and Seeking to know if Mishra and Justice er and former Chief Mehbooba Mufti. NATION pg DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | THURSDAY | 19 MARCH 2020 9

SHORT TAKES Man spreads fake Maha count rises to 45; CBSE exams off news, arrested Prime Minister to address nation on Thursday evening; Suspected Covid patient ends life in New Delhi Bhubaneswar: Four persons, VINEETA PANDEY | DC With schools in almost IITs and engineering col- on Wednesday night, soon for private sector laborato- reported from various Moreover, a woman from including three web-media with agency inputs all states shut, the HRD leges was postponed. The after he was admitted to ries intending to initiate parts of the country Mumbai with travel histo- journalists, were on NEW DELHI, MARCH 18 ministry decided to launch exam was earlier sched- the isolation facility by Covid-19 testing while included one from the ry to the US and a 50-year- Wednesday arrested on the e-classes on Swayam uled from April 5-11. airport authorities, said appealing to them to do the Indian Army. old male from Ratnagiri, charges of spreading misin- Prime Minister Narendra Prabha DTH channels for Late on Wednesday the police. tests free of cost, Swiss Out of the total number, with a travel history to formation and misleading Modi will address the school students. evening, the authorities Earlier, Union health firm Roche Diagnostics 134 are active cases under Dubai, were found posi- messages on social media nation on Thursday The Central Board of reported first confirmed minister Harsh Vardhan India received a licence for treatment, while 14 per- tive. regarding coronavirus in evening on the situation Secondary Education Covid-19 case in Kashmir reviewed the preparedness conducting tests after sons have been discharged The state government different places of Odisha. arising out of coronavirus (CBSE) also postponed Valley. Government of hospitals, availability of approval from drug regu- from hospitals. has also decided to work As per reports, the four per- outbreak and the efforts to ongoing class 10, 12 exami- spokesman Rohit Kansal testing kits, personal pro- lator DCGI. There have been three with 50 per cent strength sons were arrested in combat it. “PM Shri nations till March 31. “All tweeted that the affected tective equipment, medi- The Drug Controller- deaths so far. The positive in the administration. It Kendrapara on the charge of @narendramodi will ongoing CBSE examina- person is a resident of cines and adequate isola- General of India is also cases include 25 foreign also urged public trans- posting a false and mislead- address the nation on 19th tions in India and abroad Srinagar’s Khanyar area tion wards in view of the assessing giving a license nationals. port authorities, including ing message in social media March 2020 at 8 pm, during postponed till March 31 who had returned from novel coronavirus, whose to another private diag- The number of Covid-19 the Railways, BEST and platforms regarding which he will talk about and will be rescheduled abroad on Monday. He said total number of cases in nostic firm, bioMérieux, cases in Maharashtra metro, to curtail its pas- coronavirus. issues relating to Covid-19 thereafter... after an that he has been put in iso- India has now risen to 151. which has also sought increased to 45 on sengers by 50 per cent. and the efforts to combat assessment of the situa- lation and surveillance One private diagnostic approval to conduct tests. Wednesday. A 28-year-old Former Union minister Covid hits it,” the PMO tweeted. tion,” CBSE secretary has started in the 300 centre was given a licence Officials said two Indian woman from Pune, with a and BJP MP Suresh In another tweet, the Anurag Tripathi said. radius of his residence. to conduct tests while the diagnostic companies — travel history to France Prabhu has self-quaran- PMO said Modi chaired a The ICSE board exams A 35-year-old man sus- applications of three more Trivitron Healthcare and and the Netherlands and a tined himself at his resi- Railways hard high-level meeting to for classes 10 and 12 have pected to be infected with are under process after the Mylab Discovery Solution 21-year-old male from dence for the next 14 days Hassan: Owing to fear of review the ongoing efforts not been postponed, board Covid-19 allegedly commit- government allowed the — have also sought Pimpri Chinchwad, with as a precautionary meas- contracting Covid-19 (Novel to contain Covid-19. “Ways chief executive and secre- ted suicide by jumping off private sector to do Covid- approval from DCGI for travel history to ure following his return Corona Virus), passengers to further strengthen tary Gerry Arathoon said. the seventh floor of the 19 testing. the coronavirus testing Philippines, Singapore from Saudi Arabia, where opting for refunding after India’s preparedness were The Joint Entrance Safdarjung Hospital build- A day after the health kits developed by them. On and Colombo, tested posi- he had gone to attend a cancellation of their journey discussed,” it said. Exam for admission to ing in the national capital ministry issued guidelines Wednesday, 14 fresh cases tive on Wednesday. meeting on March 10. tickets by trains from South Western Railways, Mysuru division has gone up to `3.5 lakh a day from its earlier ARMY REPORTS daily refund of `60,000 to `70,000 costing railways ITS FIRST CASE; dearly. To make the matters worse for the Railways, apart from losing revenue from 10 SOLDIERS cancellation of bookings, even reservation bookings QUARANTINED have also dipped drastically, says Railway officials while PAWAN BALI | DC stating that trains from SWR NEW DELHI, MARCH 18 connect to various parts of the country and there occu- In first case of coron- pancy rate has been down. avirus in Indian Army, a “Some trains record less jawan from Ladakh than 20 per cent occupancy Scouts has tested posi- rate,” said Divisional tive for Covid-19. Manager of South Western Indian Army has quar- Railways, Mysuru division antined 10 soldiers at the Aparna Garg on Wednesday. Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre in Leh, after the jawan Israel condemns from the Centre tested positive for Covid-19. racist attack The Center has also Jerusalem: Israel on been put under a lock- Wednesday condemned as down. deplorable and unacceptable The 34-year-old jawan’s the brutal racist attack on an father had recently Indian-origin Jew by two returned from Iran after persons who called the vic- a pilgrimage and was in tim a “Chinese” and yelled quarantine. ‘Corona! Corona’ in Tiberias As a precaution, city. “The brutal attack on Indian Army has post- Am-Shalem Singson is poned all courses start- deplorable and I condemn it ing from coming in the strongest sense. This Monday. The courses act of violence is totally which are in progress unacceptable,” Deputy will continue with pre- Director General at Israel’s cautions. However, all Foreign Ministry Gilad Cohen non-essential training, tweeted. “To our Indian conferences and move- friends: This is not the Israeli ment of the Indian way! I wish a speedy and full Army has been can- recovery,” Cohen said. Am- celled. It has asked Shalem Singson, 28, from Army personnel that all the Bnei Menashe communi- non-essential foreign ty, hailing from the north- travel must be avoided. (Clockwise) Parliamentarians observe silence during an obituary reference in Rajya Sabha during the Budget Session of Parliament on Wednesday. A few MPs were seen wear- eastern states of Manipur The jawan, who has ing mask due to the Covid-19 scare. An official uses a thermal screening device on a devotee at Garh Ganesh Temple in Bikaner. A woman using hand sanitiser at the entrance and Mizoram, was admitted tested positive for coron- of a shopping mall in Vaishali, Ghaziabad on Wednesday. Independent MP Navneet Ravi Rana (L) and BJP MP Himadri Singh sanitize their hands at Parliament. Four Trinamul to the Poriya hospital with avirus had taken casual Congress MPs came to the House wearing face masks. Seen here is TMC MP Mahua Moitra sanitizing her hands at Parliament. Trinamul Congress MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray severe chest injuries last leave from February 25 said on Wednesday that he has gone on home quarantine in wake of the coronavirus pandemic and would not take part in the rest of the Budget Session. — PTI week. till March 1 and had rejoined the Centre on March 2. His father had Bird flu: 989 more returned from Iran after pilgrimage by Air India ‘ANTI-CORONA birds killed flight on February 27 Mysuru: With confirmation and was quarantined Kolkata teen used mom’s Huge chaos at JUICE’ LANDS of bird flu or Avian influenza from February 29 at or H5N1 in Mysuru, culling Ladakh Heart operation continued for the Foundation. MAN IN POLICE second day. On Wednesday, “Even though soldier influence to skip screening Delhi airport 13 Rapid action teams led by had rejoined from his CUSTODY officers of Mysuru city cor- leave but he was helping DC CORRESPONDENT virus was confirmed in (Executive) officer posted DC CORRESPONDENT guidelines in the public poration and department of his family also during KOLKATA, MARCH 18 the teenaged boy after his as a special secretary in NEW DELHI, MARCH 18 domain for all passengers DC CORRESPONDENT animal husbandry and vet- the quarantine period return from the UK. The the state home and hill to understand why each THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, erinary sciences killed 989 and was staying at The coronavirus scare has Oxford University student affairs department at There was total chaos at and every one has to be MARCH 18 poultry birds including 304 Chuchot village for hit the heart of the was found to be deliber- Nabanna, which also Indira Gandhi tested on entering India. broiler chicken, 20 pet birds, some time as well,” said Mamata Banerjee govern- ately ignoring advisories houses the CMO. He was International Airport Taking to Twitter, the The attempt to make six turkey chickens and 499 sources. The father of ment — Nabanna, the to get quarantined at a then advised to visit the here on Wednesday after Delhi airport issued an some money in the name native chickens. Mysuru DC the jawan reported posi- state secretariat — as hospital by using his Infectious Diseases passengers were not advisory asking people of coronavirus proved Abhiram G. Shankar said, tive for Covid-19 on West Bengal home secre- mother’s influence. Hospital at Beliaghata for allowed to leave the air- travelling from China, costly for a restaurant “After decapitation, all the March 6 and he was iso- tary Alapan Bando-pad- Furious over his and his tests, but he did not, port premises without Iran, South Korea, Italy, owner in Varkala in birds are scientifically dis- lated at Sonam Nurboo hyay went under “home mother’s callousness, CM sources said. getting tested for novel Spain, Germany, France, Thiruvananthapuram posed of, by deep burial Memorial Hospital in isolation” along with his Mamata Banerjee cau- Alerted by airport offi- coronavirus. UAE, Qatar, Oman and district of Kerala. method with disinfection of Leh. wife Sonali Chakrabarti tioned: “There is no space cials, the state health Passengers posted Kuwait to undergo com- The restaurant owner the burial area.” The soldier was also Bandopadhyay, who is for the VIP or LIP. The department contacted his videos on the social pulsory quarantine for a was arrested by police quarantined on March 7 also vice-chancellor of rules to be followed in my mother and strongly rec- media to show the chaos minimum of 14 days. for putting up a board and was detected to be Calcutta University, from home and yours are the ommended that she take as they confronted securi- Delhi airport also said ‘Anti Corona juice’ avail- LOANS UP TO `25K positive on 16 March and Wednesday within two same. Nothing can be her son to a hospital. On ty personnel after their after the medical check- able. was isolated at SNM days of his meeting with more callous than roam- March 16, the woman passports were taken up, all symptomatic pas- The restaurant owner, FOR BUYING Hospital. The sister of the bureaucrat mother of ing around with symp- bureaucrat took her son to away after they had sengers will be sent for who is a foreigner, was the soldier, his wife and the state’s first Covid-19 toms like an irresponsible M.R. Bangur Hospital, cleared immigration. isolation while the taken into custody for a ESSENTIAL ITEMS two children are also patient who had taken her person which can infect where he was examined in People were seen argu- asymptomatic would be brief period and issued quarantined at SNM son to the secretariat others also. ” the deputy superinten- ing with the airport refereed to the state strict warning against DC CORRESPONDENT Heart Foundation. instead of admitting him Landing at the Kolkata dent’s office and was police and some even health team. repeating such acts THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, An Army officer to a hospital. Airport on March 15, the asked to take admission at shouting at them to Among asymptomatic before being let off. The MARCH 18 attached to the College At least 10 more govern- 18-year-old boy, whose the ID Hospital. “shoot us” as the police passengers, those with 60-year-old person of of Military Engineering ment employees, who father is a doctor, skipped But, instead, his mother said they couldn’t be high risk will be sent for British origin has been State Level Bankers in Pune has been asked were around them, are the “thermal screening” took her son in her office allowed to go without 14-day quarantine while running the restaurant Committee has recommended to self-quarantine after also in isolation at home. for Covid-19, giving the car to Nabanna, where she medical checkups. the rest will be allowed to ‘Coffee Temple’ for one year moratorium on all he showed symptoms of The development came a reference of his mother, a attended a meeting with Later, the government go home after coun- many years near. bank loans in Kerala. The rec- flu. day after the Covid-19 West Bengal Civil Service Mr Bandopadhyay. posted advisories and selling. The juice made of gin- ommendation was made at the ger, lemon, gooseberry subcommittee of the State was named as ‘anti coro- Level Bankers Committee na’ drink. A glass of meeting here on Wednesday. MONEY | MATTERS Government is reluctant to close bars as it is a major source of state income juice was priced at `150. The moratorium has been Varkala which is an proposed for 12 months begin- international tourist ning from January 31, 2020. spot, had reported a Besides, the committee has Covid-19 positive case also recommended disburse- recently. ment of loans for buying Kerala not to shut bars, liquor retail outlets It may be recalled that essential commodities. an Italian tourist who Loans from `10,000 to `25,000 GILVESTER ASSARY | DC retail outlets as they ● The government has below the age of 21 years will be regulated comply- states and countries have stayed in a resort was will be provided to people who THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, feared it could result in rejected the demand consume liquor in Kerala. ing with the instructions shut bars and liquor tested positive. The are not having income due to MARCH 18 the spread of Covid–19. Over one lakh people are of health department,” he vends. Kerala should also tourist had visited vari- the problems caused by Covid However, the govern- and directed bar own- totally addicted to alcohol. added. However, the IMA follow suit. ous places in the town –19. SLBC convenor Ajith Giving a major relief to ment has rejected the ers to take precaution- Excise minister T.P. state leadership said Kerala has 270 beverages and reportedly attended Krishnan who gave details of tipplers in Kerala in the demand and directed bar ary measures like Ramakrishnan said shut- social distancing along outlets run by State a temple festival thus the decisions, said the morato- wake of Covid-19, the owners to take precaution- increasing the gap ting of bars and liquor with hand washing is cru- Beverages Corporation, 36 coming into close con- rium will be applicable to peo- Kerala government has ary measures like increas- between tables, sani- outlets could cause more cial for preventing the outlets of Consumerfed, tact with a large number ple who have repaid loans decided not to close bars, ing the gap between tables, problems. spread of virus. Closed 570 bars and 365 beer and of people. without any delay till January beer parlours and retail sanitizing, disinfecting tizing, disinfecting “We all know what hap- environment in bars and wine parlours. Officials said there was 31. The facility will be provid- outlets even as the deci- interiors of bars and keep- interiors of bars and pened when arrack (local air-conditioned rooms Also, in view of the alert already scare among the ed only to those who make a sion drew flak from doc- ing alcohol-based hand keeping alcohol-based liquor) and bars were shut increase the possibility of sounded by Indian Council people in the town due to request in this regard. Those tors’ associations and anti- wash. hand wash. in Kerala,” he said while virus transmission. for Medical Research on Italian tourist irrespon- availing the facility will have liquor activists. The government is reluc- indirectly referring to the Anti-liquor activists say possible spurt in the cases sible behavior. to pay higher interest. The The Opposition parties, tant to close bars as it is a increase `1,567 crore as hooch tragedy which people coming to beer bars in the coming days, the The restaurant owner Committee on Tuesday had Indian Medical major source of income. liquor worth `12,937 cr claimed many lives and and liquor outlets belong government has taken sev- might have thought responded positively to Kerala Association and anti- During 2018-19 the govern- was sold in 2017-18. the increase in substance to high risk group. There eral measures to step up of cashing in on the fear government’s request for liquor campaign activists ment sold liquor worth According to studies, 31 abuse. is no social distancing surveillance besides prevailing among moratorium on all bank loans. had raised the demand for `14,504.67 cr. The total per cent males, 3 per cent “We will cut down the near cash and delivery appealing to the people not people over community closing down bars, liquor sales registered an women and 5 per cent rush at outlets, queues counters. Many other to lower their guard. spread. EDIT pg DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | THURSDAY | 19 MARCH 2020 10

19 MARCH 2020

Co-opt private sector in Subhani fight against Covid-19 he World Health Organisation is quite clear on how to contain the Covid-19 pandemic. The most effective way to prevent infections and save lives is breaking the chains of transmission, says its director-gen- Teral Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Once again, our message is: test, test, test,” he said the other day, underlining the importance of testing. The Government of India and the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) seem to have taken a cue from the WHO advisory and moved fast to incorpo- rate private labs to conduct Covid-19 tests as per the ICMR guidelines. It has allowed 73 private laboratories to take up the test other than the 52 that are in the government sector now, taking the total number of testing labs to 125. The tests must be done free of cost, as per the ICMR advisory. While the government move must be appreciated, one must keep in mind the fact that India continues to be one of the least tested among the 170 Covid- affected countries. As per ICMR data, a total of 12,351 samples from 11,461 indi- viduals have been tested as on March 18. This amounts to 8.95 tests per million population. True, the figure is improving: it was five per million population on LETTERS March 13, but is woefully inadequate compared with the other nations such as Italy and South Korea who have four-figure numbers for the same. Only RS NOMINATION nations such as the United States, which have been roundly criticised for their Navigating uncertainty inadequate response, have figures similar to that of India. The ICMR testing Quid pro quo is corruption strategy, which was released on Tuesday, advises that all asymptomatic peo- in the system at its best. ple who have undertaken international travel, all contacts of laboratory-con- firmed positive cases and healthcare workers managing respiratory distress The BJP has given a gift or severe acute respiratory illness should be tested only if they become symp- for verdicts in Babri tomatic with fever, cough, difficulty in breathing and so on. It remains to be in time of coronavirus Masjid, Assam NRC, Rafale seen if limiting the tests to symptomatic people is a wise idea. It is suggested that one of the reasons why South Korea was able to limit the casualties to the acute fear of social isola- riers which impact sup- scam, etc in its favour. minimum despite having the large number of affected people was that it went tion and stigma. ply chains. Probably people can now in for higher number of tests: it was 4,099 per million people as on March 9. Patralekha Very few states have a “Not every nation pro- better understand the The ICMR has said it reviews the situation frequently. The research body of public health system duces the medical sup- intentions behind so many the government must factor in the data available from such countries and Chatterjee that inspires trust in the plies needed to tackle revise the strategy accordingly. public. The quality of the coronavirus. Those verdicts of Justice Gogoi. The permission granted to private laboratories to test should be seen only as hygiene in many quar- that do can still face It shows that every depart- the first step to co-opt the sector into the fight that India is undertaking against Dev 360 antine facilities leave shortages as health care ment in the system, even Covid-19. This is not a challenge the government alone can take up; India must much to be desired systems come under now prepare a plan to face the impending challenge, marshalling all the But fear and lack of pressure,” pointed out the Supreme Court, can be resources at the command of the government and the private sector. And et us face it. rashtra looks like the trust can have devastat- Global Trade Alert, influenced. enhancing testing facilities is only elementary. As the WHO chief said, we can- There are no worst-affected state, fol- ing consequences for which monitors protec- Syed Maaz Razvi not stop this pandemic if we don’t know who is infected. certainties in lowed by Kerala. The public health. tionism. Hyderabad the time of a higher numbers could Then, there is the issue “Worldwide, there are Lpandemic. mean that these states of stigma. 25 import or export A functioning republic is a gift to Perhaps the only thing are doing a good job in Across the world, there restrictions on medical the nation by the Constitution mak- Call of the sea one can say with confi- diagnosing infected have been several testing kits as of now. ers who build checks and balances. dence is that while life cases. instances of racial slurs Nineteen relate to tariff But its credibility is tested due to hoy there, mates, give us your coordinates! It is a heady time for sol- in the shadow of Covid- The Indian Council of directed at people of increases,” says Simon conduct of the powers of the day diers, sailors and countrywomen as another of the last few remaining 19 is tough for everyone, Medical Research says Chinese origin just Evenett, professor of (Gogoi’s RS nomination sends the Amale bastions fall — close on the heels of granting permanent commis- the most vulnerable peo- there is no evidence that because Covid-19 origi- economics at the Uni- wrong signal, DC, March 18). A sion to women in the Indian Army in February, the Supreme Court on ple will suffer the most. “community transmis- nated in Wuhan, China. versity of St Gallen, Rajya Sabha member (that too a Tuesday extended permanent commission to women in all streams of the In the United States, sion” has taken place till Prejudices are tum- Switzerland, and Coordi- nominated one without voting Navy, come bloody war or sickly season. It has directed the Centre to grant where more than 100 date. India is ramping bling out in India too. nator of Global Trade rights) has no role to play. Justice this career opportunity to short service commission female officers within people have already up laboratory capacity There have been several Alert. Kurian Joseph was right in advis- three months, while also granting pension benefits to retired women officers died, people are being and gearing up for more reported instances of Availability of testing ing against compromising the not granted the same. The division bench headed by Justice D.Y. asked to avoid large tests. people from the North- kits is just one element noble principles of independence Chandrachud, which also included Justice Ajay Rastogi, was hearing the crowds, stockpile shelf- This is the time to look east being harassed and of pandemic prepared- and impartiality of judiciary. Indian Navy’s appeal challenging the 2015 verdict of the Delhi high court that stable foods in case they at some of the prickly called “Coronavirus”. ness. Dr S.V. Rama Krishna cleared it in Union of India & Ors vs Lt Cdr Annie Nagaraj & Ors. end up quarantined, and issues which will be key It is vital to learn from “Community spread Hyderabad Though it was the first of the three wings of the Indian armed forces to open stay home from work to how India manages the HIV and AIDS epi- would involve older up permanent commission to women – in 2008, it was granted to women in air and contact a doctor if Covid-19. demic and fight fear and patients who are at high- traffic control, education, law and logistics – while in 2017, three other streams they are ill. Take containment stigma with solidarity. er risk. This would CORONAVIRUS – executive, electrical and engineering were opened up – the fact is that it does But many low-income strategies, for example. India has to improve increase the demand for When people are trying to keep the not allow women to be positioned on ships. But now the court has dismissed people can’t afford to fol- These include “social its public health facili- intensive care, includ- virus at bay, masks and hand sani- as flimsy the Centre’s argument that the Russian-made vessels used in the low such advice easily; distancing” measures as ties drastically so that ing ventilators. The tizers are vanishing from stores Navy do not have facilities for women. It has dubbed it as one of “101 excuses” they are engaged in well as quarantine mea- people are not terrified experience of Hubei and and medical shops. Thankfully, and observed that “women officers can sail as efficiently as men officers”. work that can’t be done sures — both at home by the idea of being in Lombardy regions pro- WHO has clarified that masks are Indeed, even as there is debate on whether or not combat roles should be remotely, and the major- and at the government's isolation wards in gov- vide an indication of the not mandatory. However, some given to women, they actually serve in this role in the Air Force, which last ity of low-income jobs isolation centres. These ernment quarantine number of intensive selfish citizens have stocked them year qualified its first women fighter pilots. Last year, too, Sub-Lieutenant don’t offer paid sick are meant to check the facilities. care beds needed: rough- and sellers are profiting by selling Shivangi became the first woman pilot for the Indian Navy. Navy chief Adm. days. spread of the disease Equally, we must ly 10 per cent of the total them in black market. These people Karambir Singh had then himself pointed out that women naval officers In India, the vast among the community. realise that people are numbers infected. are the real traitors and anti- already perform combat tasks, such as firing torpedoes and missiles at enemy majority of people work But there are daunting unlikely to come for- Creating the facilities nationals. warships while serving as observers and weapons systems officers on board in the informal sector. challenges here, and not ward to report symp- take time. The govern- N. Nagarajan maritime aircraft like the P-8I Poseidon. Millions are daily wage- just of ensuring hand- toms if they do not trust ment may need to identi- Hyderabad Clearly, it is only “organisational issues” that were being used to deny earners who don’t get washing with soap on a the system or are afraid fy buildings, procure women Navy officers equality, as senior advocate Aishwarya Bhati argued on paid sick leave. mass scale. of being stigmatised. oxygen cylinders, Covid-19 has brought the world to a behalf of Seema Chaudhary commissioned in the Indian Navy’s Judge There is no playbook There have been sever- Finally, there are the masks, cannulas and nought. It has slowed down the Advocate General branch in August 2007. Chaudhary was among the 17 for Covid-19, a new virus al reported instances of critical issues of capaci- ventilators and recruit economy. People have cut down female officers fighting this case. Bhati had also been the lawyer for Babita for which there is no people suspected of hav- ty and health security. personnel immediate- expenses and are taking up only Puniya and other petitioners in the women Army officers’ lawsuit. While the vaccine as yet. ing the coronavirus The health authorities ly,” points out Rajeev essential work. Further, they are court was emphatic in stating that “to cast aspersions on the ability of women How do we navigate infection in the country say the government is Sadanandan, former busy buying medicines to avoid and their role and achievements in the army is an insult not only to women, uncertainty and turbu- running away from expanding the number Kerala health secretary Covid-19. In families, safety comes but also to the Indian armed forces”, let us pause a moment to acknowledge lence in the days to quarantine facilities. of laboratories that can and currently CEO of first our dues to these individual doughty warriors. come? Eleven persons who test patients for Covid- the Tata Trust-funded T.S.C. Mohan One way is to recog- were kept in isolation 19. Health Systems Secunderabad DECCAN CHRONICLE nise that the pandemic wards, and whose test But there are other Transformation Plat- is exposing every soci- results were awaited, issues relating to health form (HSTP), in a recent ety’s weaknesses, be it fled from a Navi infrastructure and test- article for the Observer 3 bombs hurled at Chenna ADITYA SINHA T. VENKATESWARLU in the developed or Mumbai hospital. ing kits. As of now, India Research Foundation. Editor Printer & Publisher developing world. In Mirzapur, Uttar has about 1.5 lakh test- “This may at worst be Reddy’s residence DECCAN CHRONICLE offices are located at: We must not fixate so Pradesh, a man who had ing kits. Government a wasted effort. But if By a staff reporter much on “numbers” on been admitted to the iso- scientists say India has support is needed, and HYDERABAD, March 18 Hyderabad: 36, Sarojini Devi Road, Secunderabad - 500 003, Ph: 040-27803930-4; Fax : 040-27805256 a daily basis. Instead, it lation ward of a hospital placed orders for a mil- not provided, it could THREE country-made bombs Vijayawada: No.C-3 & 4 Patamata, Industrial Estate, Auto Nagar, Vijayawada (A.P.), Ph: 0866- is vital to take a hard after he complained of lion more testing kits. lead to avoidable deaths, were hurled at the house of Dr. 2555284/2555287; Telefax: 0866-2555234 look at preparedness fever and throat pain In the time of Covid-19, loss of morale of health M. Chenna Reddy, Chairman of Visakhapatnam: Survey No.1/3A Beach Road, Near Kailasagiri Ropeway, Sector-9 MVP Colony, and contingency plans escaped through a win- it is important to bear in workers and anger in the Telangana Praja Samithi, at Visakhapatnam - 530 017 (A.P), Ph: 0891-2552333/2552334; Fax: 0891-2755285 in every sphere and plan dow. He was intercepted mind that there can be the community,” adds Tarnaka in the early hours of Rajahmundry: Vemagiri, Dhawaleswaram Rd, Rajahmundry, Ph: 0883-2417618/2417208; Telefax: 0883- for the worst-case sce- and brought back. In an formal and informal bar- Mr Sadanandan. today. However, the doctor and 2417208 Anantapur: Thapovan colony, Bangalore By-Pass Road, Anantapur - 515004, Ph: 08554-276903; Fax: nario. unusual move, the These are wise words his family 08554-276904 How is India coping? Maharashtra govern- from a man who worked members 50 YEARS AGO IN Karimnagar: Survey No.1341, Vavilalapally Colony, Jagityala Road, Karimnagar - 505 001, Ph: 0878- The total number of ment has decided to India has to closely with Kerala escaped 2228908; Telefax: 0878-2220433 officially confirmed “stamp” behind the left improve its public health minister Shailaja unhurt. Nellore: Survey No.527/2, Burranpur Village, Venkatachalam (M), Chemmudugunta Panchayat, Nellore, novel coronavirus cases palm of all persons who at the time of the Nipah But, a dri- Ph: 0861-2348581/82; Telefax: 0861-2348580 in India has crossed 138, have been asked to be in health facilities outbreak. The world ver, sleeping near the car in the Chennai: SP-3 Developed Plot, Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai - 600 032, Ph: 044-22254747/ out of which 114 are “home quarantine” in drastically so that applauded Kerala for the portico was injured and the rear 48/50/51; Advt Fax: 22254765/22254766/42305325 Indian nationals and 24 the wake of the coron- people are way it handled Nipah. windscreen of the car was Bengaluru: 5th Floor, BMTC Commercial Complex, 80 Feet Road, Koramangala, Bengaluru-560 095 Ph: 080-43460500; Fax: 080-22960552. are foreigners. By the avirus outbreak. not terrified by smashed. One bomb hit the win- Coimbatore: 77, Vivekananda Road, Ramnagar, Coimbatore - 641 009, Ph : 0422 2231255 time this column is pub- All these incidents the idea of being in The writer focuses on dow of the room in the ground Kochi: No.3-B, 3rd Floor of DD TRADE TOWER, Kaloor-Kadavanthara Road, Ernakulam, Ph: 0484- lished, the figure would point to several disturb- development issues in floor and another hit the win- 4039408 have shot up further in ing realities. Many peo- isolation wards India and emerging dow of a room on the first floor Thiruvananthapuram: St Joseph s Press, TC 15/1040, Cotton Hill, Thycaud (PO), Thiruvananthapuram most likelihood. There ple harbour grave in government economies. She can be where Dr. Chenna Reddy’s son 695 014 have been three deaths doubts about the quality quarantine reached at was sleeping. The third one fell Kozhikode: Door No 6/1002 E, First Floor of City Mall, Opp. YMCA, Kannur Road, Kozhikode - 673 in the country so far. of healthcare in public facilities patralekha.chatterjee in the portico. 001, Fax : 0495 4019 018 At 39 cases, Maha- hospitals and there is @gmail.com Gram: CHRONICLE Postal registration no: No. H/SD-348/2006-08

’m no fan of Steve Bell, the Hindu. It portrays the Home given the allegations made against that the tribunes of the progressive No, the point worth making is the Guardian cartoonist. I can’t Secretary, of Hindu origin, as a her by members of the civil ser- left would be absolutely up in arms opposite one: to attack the say I’ve ever laughed at one of cow. A sacred symbol for Hindus. vice, most of which boil down to if a cartoonist for a right-of-centre Guardian for not standing up for Ihis squibs, which are witless It’s racist and misogynist. It’s saying she’s aggressive and con- paper depicted Diane Abbott or free speech. In the week following and crude. Some would call him plainly unacceptable! It may con- frontational. Incidentally, I don’t Dawn Butler in an equally unflat- the launch of the Free Speech ‘fearless’, but he just seems cruel stitute a hate crime.” think she should be remotely tering way, including the Union — the membership organi- and over the top to me. When the That’s complete nonsense, I’m ashamed of that. If I were her I’d Guardian. No doubt that’s true, but sation I’ve helped set up to defend Toby Young Guardian finally puts him out to afraid. The Tamils, along with buy the cartoon and give it pride of the correct response in the face of free speech — the Guardian pub- grass, which surely won’t be long, thousands of other conservatives place in my downstairs loo. such faux outrage is to reject it out lished a piece attacking it (and me) he will disappear into the inkwell who claimed to be outraged by But let’s suppose Bell’s critics are of hand, not to embrace this censo- every day. According to their of history. But having said all that, Bell’s cartoon, are doing exactly right and he is trying to depict rious approach and apply it to our columnists, it’s a political cause I would defend to the death his what the left has been doing for the Patel as a sacred cow. So what? political opponents. that only benefits male, pale and right to produce his tasteless car- past 25 years, namely interpreting Yes, many Hindus would find that If we accept that some jokes or stale conservatives and therefore toons, as well as the right of his something in the worst possible offensive, but that’s the price you cartoons should be ruled out of isn’t worth defending. newspaper to publish them. light so they can pretend to be pay for living in a free society. I’m bounds because someone, some- Turns out, the speech rights of Cartoonists Last week, the Guardian printed offended. sure tens of millions of Christians where might find them offensive, male, pale and stale socialists are a Steve Bell caricature of Priti The fact is, Bell is not portraying found Life of Brian offensive, but then the other side has won. When also at risk. We don’t generally do Patel sitting next to Boris in the Priti Patel as a cow, let alone a that’s not a reason to pillory its cre- faced with an “unacceptable” cari- corporate memberships at the FSU, have right to House of Commons that was widely sacred one, but as a bull. After all, ators or distributors. Effective cature of one of their own, conserv- but I’m willing to make an excep- condemned as “racist”. The rea- bulls have rings through their satire is often extremely offensive. atives should defend the cartoon- tion for the Guardian. I’ve a feeling son? He depicted her with horns on noses, cows do not. If you’re in any Indeed, it’s hard to imagine a truly ist’s right to free speech and tell its journalists are going to need our her head and a ring through her doubt, Google “sacred cows”. memorable piece of satire that anyone on their side who claims to protection as the left turns on itself free speech nose, which many saw as a deroga- Admittedly, there are such things isn’t. As John Cleese once said: ‘No be upset by it to grow a thicker and begins to purge the ideological- tory reference to her Indian her- as sacred bulls in Hindu culture, one has the right not to be offend- skin. Steve Bell’s cartoon is no ly impure. itage. “This cartoon is offensive on but was that really Bell’s intended ed.’ more a “hate crime” than Amber every level,” tweeted the British reference? Drawing the Home Some of those expressing disgust Rudd’s speech on immigration was By arrangement with Tamil Conservatives. “It’s anti- Secretary as a bull makes sense, at Bell’s cartoon have pointed out at the 2017 Tory party conference. the Spectator OPED DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | THURSDAY | 19 MARCH 2020 pg 11 How worried should we be about coronavirus?

explain was that the 3.4 per cent The best guide we importance of the subject, has on the virus. The report for up in the latter city, that gives is simply the number of deaths have to the virus’ been pre-published. It looked at Tuesday, March 17, for exam- a clue to how many people in divided by the number of a total of 1,286 people who were ple, showed that 179,112 global- Wuhan might have the disease. reported cases, known as the ability to spread is a in close contact with coron- ly have been confirmed as A team at the University of Ross Clark Case Fatality Rate (CFR). What study from the Shenzhen avirus sufferers in Shenzhen, a being infected, a rise of 11,526 Austin, Texas, for example, it doesn’t do is account for the Centre for Disease city adjoining Hong Kong. The on the day before. There are estimated the number of peo- possibility that there may be Control and the John study found that 14.9 per cent of 81,116 confirmed cases in ple likely to have been infected many more people who have people who shared a room or China, 8,320 in South Korea, a with Covid-19 in Wuhan by been infected with the virus Hopkins Bloomberg apartment with a coronavirus snowballing 27,980 cases in January 22 as 11,213 (with a who have gone unrecorded, School of Public Health. sufferer went on to contract the Italy and so on. But for reasons range between 1,590 and most likely because their symp- It has not yet been infection themselves. Of those given above, this is likely to be 57,087). On that day, the WHO o are we all going It isn’t easy for the scientists, toms have been so mild that peer-reviewed but has who had close contact with a only the tip of the iceberg, as put the number of recorded to die or is it either. In a fast-developing dis- they have not sought treatment. sufferer outside the home, 9.6 many people who have con- cases in the whole of Hubei going to fizzle ease there is, inevitably, a Two studies have tried to esti- been pre-published. per cent went on to become tracted the disease will have province at just 270. A out? In Naples the shortage of up-to-date, peer- mate how many infected peo- infected. There were, however, such minor symptoms that University of Hong Kong study police drive along reviewed studies to give you an ple will go on to die from the and came up with a very simi- some missing results from the they have not come into con- produced an estimate for the the streets with accurate picture. But from disease. A team at Imperial lar number: an IFR of 0.94 per study. If these people were tact with healthcare services. number of infected people in loudhailers, what we do have so far, this is College looked at the results of cent (with a range of uncer- included, and assumed not to Many might even be unaware Wuhan on January 25 at 75,815 warning every- what we can tell about coron- coronavirus tests performed tainty between (0.5 per cent have contracted the virus, the they have the disease. Whether (range 37,304 to 130,330). On oneS to keep indoors; in Britain avirus Covid-19. on nearly 1,000 citizens who and 4 per cent). The latter infection rate fell to 11.2 per we can trust the data reported that day, the WHO put the the government declines to close Firstly, how many of its vic- were flown to their home coun- study also measured a sharply cent for people who shared by China and certain other number of reported cases in schools, call off sporting fixtures tims does it kill? You may well tries on repatriation flights rising death rate with age. households with an infected countries is another matter. the whole of China at just 1,297. and persuade people out of the have heard the figure of 3.4 per from China, and used this to But how likely are you to person and 6.6 per cent who But two peer-reviewed stud- That is what evidence we pub. Something feels not quite cent reported over the past estimate the extent of under- catch the disease in the first had close contact outside the ies have attempted to quantify have so far: an infection that is right: either there is huge over- week or two. This came from an reporting of the virus in Hubei place? Is it remotely possible home. Children were found to the size of the iceberg itself. likely to be far more wide- reaction or under-reaction to announcement by the World province. They were able to that 80 per cent of us will go have a slightly lower risk of They did this by looking at the spread than officially reported Covid-19. Britain’s health secre- Health Organisation (WHO) estimate an overall Infection down with it? The best guide picking up the infection, but numbers of people who had figures suggest, yet neither as tary Matt Hancock has not and was widely reported as evi- Fatality Rate (IFR) of 0.9 per we have to the virus’ ability to not by much. They were, how- travelled out of Hubei province contagious nor as deadly as helped calm fears by announc- dence that the disease is more cent — with a range of uncer- spread is a study from the ever, found to have less severe by aircraft and gone on to many fear. You can decide ing that the government has deadly than previously imag- tainty between 0.37 per cent Shenzhen Centre for Disease symptoms than adults. spread the disease elsewhere. yourself how worried you been working on a worst-case ined, given that previous esti- and 2.9 per cent. The Institute Control and the John Hopkins Finally, how many people in If, for example, it takes 5,000 should be. scenario of 80 per cent of the mates had put the mortality for Disease Modelling, based in Bloomberg School of Public the world are really infected plane passengers to travel population catching the virus rate at one to two per cent. America’s Washington state, Health. It has not yet been peer- with Covid-19? The WHO pro- between Wuhan and Bangkok By arrangement with and 500,000 dying from it. What the WHO was at pains to performed the same exercise reviewed but, thanks to the duces a daily situation report before a case of Covid-19 pops the Spectator Inadequacies in fighting coronavirus Coronavirus: Now is a vulnerable raise questions on Tokyo Olympics time with Boris, Trump at helm initial insouciance of the Jack Ma, the entrepre- and the virus soon spread devastating impact on the regime in Tehran is one neur behind Alibaba and among 3,700 crew members people. Such a declaration factor in the unfolding the richest man in Asia, and passengers. Japan was of emergency would also tragedy, but Western — has begun donating test caught unawares and not authorise prefectural gov- Mahir Ali primarily American — kits to the US as well as K.V. Kesavan fully equipped to tackle the ernors to regulate people’s sanctions are also taking other Western countries. problem. There were activities. A bill to revise a toll, not least by limit- It is particularly unfor- reports of the absence of the existing laws has ing the nation’s access to tunate that during a cri- testing equipment and already been tabled before medical supplies. sis such as this, a couple shortages of masks and toi- the Japanese Diet. As India and Pakistan of the most vulnerable let papers. Many believed expected, some parties mid the multi- Which, if you think have thus far got off pret- countries boast leaders that Mr Abe was too preoc- have objected to the bill on farious known about it, might not be ty lightly, but there are such as Donald Trump apan, a country and in that sense, Mr Xi’s cupied with preparations the grounds that it would unknowns of the such a bad outcome. no grounds for compla- and Boris Johnson. prone to earth- visit would have been a sig- for President Xi’s visit to violate people’s rights and Acoronavirus epi- Since last week, cency. It’s worth recall- Given its National quakes, tsunamis nificant landmark in their Japan to give adequate privacy. With a view to demic, it is fascinating to Western central banks ing that during the so- Health Service, Britain and typhoons, is bilateral engagements. attention to the coron- strike a compromise, Mr see how many media out- from the US to the EU, called Spanish flu pan- is not as badly off as the Jalso known for its Both Mr Abe and Mr Xi avirus issue. Abe has tried to mould a lets in the West are more Britain and Australia demic that provided a US, where a public capacity to use advanced were expected to redefine There was a realisation in consensus on the issue by focused on the tumbling have been deploying the horrific coda to the health system is conspic- measures to counter disas- their bilateral relations in Japan that its lack of meeting with five major stock markets than on tools at their disposal to depredations of the First uous by its absence. ters effectively. But the pre- the light of the present response to the coron- Opposition political par- the human toll. stave off a market melt- World War a little more A Harvard epidemiolo- sent coronavirus epidemic favourable conditions and avirus stemmed from two ties. But Mr Abe appears to Suddenly, socialism by down — thus far to little than 100 years ago, west- gist recently commented has undoubtedly created project a new vision of reasons. First, while Japan have almost succeeded in any other name is the effect. The key indices ern India (a united that he and his col- one of the most serious their partnership for the has the capacity and exper- convincing his rivals on flavour of the day, as gov- remain in free fall as British colony at the leagues initially treated challenges to the Japanese coming years. But consid- tise to respond effectively the need for revising the ernments are impor- Covid-19 keeps spread- time) accounted for up to the Johnson govern- government under Prime ering the rapidly spreading to natural disasters, the existing laws. tuned to rescue flounder- ing, with the epicentre 60 per cent of an estimat- ment’s faith in “herd Minister Shinzo Abe. coronavirus, both leaders same cannot be said about Finally, the present coro- ing capitalist enterpris- shifting from Asia to ed global death toll of at immunity” — the hope The coronavirus could decided to postpone Mr Xi’s its measures to counter the navirus crisis has high- es. And it doesn’t end Europe. least 50 million. that if enough people are not have hit Japan at a visit. The coronavirus has spread of infectious dis- lighted two major inade- there. In certain particu- Like so many other The mortality rate of exposed to the virus, more inappropriate time. definitely deprived the two eases. Having failed to quacies in the Japanese larly shameless ideologi- aspects of the highly the Spanish flu has com- they will in time develop Indeed, Mr Abe was expect- countries, at least for the undertake proactive mea- system in fighting the cal circles, there are infectious disease, where monly been compared in immunity to it — as a ing rosy days in 2020 for time being, of a great sures in the initial stage, spread of infectious dis- arguments being made it will spread next recent weeks with that of spot of British satire. two reasons. First, it was opportunity to define the Mr Abe has now taken eases. The first one relates for exploiting the crisis remains uncertain. The the novel coronavirus The idea of daily media he who took the initiative dawn of a new era. some strong steps. For to financial limitations. In as an opportunity to coronavirus thus far has- currently confronting briefings by the British to host the Summer At present, recording a instance, he ordered the the current parliamentary reinforce neoliberal eco- n’t reached deep into us, boiled down to a fig- Prime Minister is also Olympics in Tokyo during total of more than 1,000 closure of all schools until debates on the issue, many nomic structures with Africa. Asia, of course, is ure of 2.5 per cent. But it not particularly reassur- July/August this year and coronavirus cases, Japan the end of March. He also lawmakers stressed the “reforms” relating to a different story. doesn’t require a particu- ing. But it’s no match for he went all out to make it ranks fifth among the most enforced severe restric- need for substantially company tax cuts, labour The rate of infection larly mathematical mind Trump’s rapid evolution one of the most spectacular affected countries like tions on the entry of thou- increasing the financial market “flexibility”, and has been sharply declin- to figure out that back in from “who cares?” to events of the decade. China, Italy, South Korea sands of Chinese and and personnel strength of even pension schemes. ing in China, wherefrom 1918, 50 million repre- “everything is under Already, the Japanese gov- and Iran. The number of Korean travellers. Visas the National Institute of That, we are unreliably Covid-19 apparently sented 2.5 per cent of the control”, when it clearly ernment is reported to cases in Japan includes 706 issued to 2.8 million Infectious Diseases (NIID) informed, is the way the sprang. South Korea, the world’s population, isn’t, with the US have spent a whopping $26 people aboard the cruise Chinese and 17,000 South on the lines of the US world will rapidly return next worst-hit nation, rather than the one-third President himself this billion on the preparations ship Diamond Princess Koreans have been sus- Centre for Disease Control to a “growth path” after has been remarkably of humanity that is week advising state gov- of the games. Mr Abe which was quarantined at pended. Chinese and and Prevention (CDC). It is the looming global reces- successful in keeping the believed to have been ernors to fend for them- believed that if the 1964 Yokohama port. The epi- Korean visitors will be reported that the draft bud- sion. The starkly fatality rate extremely infected. selves in obtaining test Tokyo Olympics had her- demic has so far claimed 12 asked to stay in separate get allocated for NIID for exposed inadequacies of low. Adhering to advice At present, the level of kits. But then, he pre- alded the advent of a new lives, six of whom were and designated facilities the fiscal 2020 is only 6.4 privatised healthcare are from the WHO has also fatalities anyhow seems sides over a country Japan on the Asian scene, connected with the cruise like hotels. Entertainment billion yen, and its total an unlikely topic in such paid off for Hong Kong, to vary widely from one whose denizens report- the 2020 mega event would ship. According to reports, and amusement centres staff is 348. On the con- forums, where Mammon Taiwan and Singapore. country to another, with edly have been rushing demonstrate Japan’s pre- 27 out of the total of 47 pre- and theme parks have trary, in the US, the CDC is is the star, sustained by a Iran has been a differ- Iran faring much worse out to stock up on assault eminence as an economic fectures have reported closed down and people operating with a budget 200 supporting cast not of ent story altogether, with than South Korea, for weapons. Amid all the and technological giant about the impact of the have refrained from going times larger and a staff 40 human beings but an alarming rate of fatal- instance, and Italy self-isolation, mandatory striving to promote peace virus. Hokkaido accounts to hotels for family parties. times bigger. “clients” and “con- ities relative to the num- emerging as something quarantining and social and harmony in the world. for the highest number of Sports and music pro- The second one relates to sumers”. And the very ber of infections, of an outlier in Europe. distancing, panic-buying Though the Olympics are cases and the prefecture grammes have been can- the absence of a centralised idea of extending corpo- although it’s widely Amazingly, Italy appears toilet rolls would seem to scheduled to be held only has declared a state of celled. But these measures controlling agency with a rate socialism to the rest assumed that the actual to have been receiving be the safer option. from the last week of July, emergency. Other prefec- also have had a strong neg- swift response system. of humanity is dismissed rate of infections is con- more assistance from the coronavirus has tures that have reported ative impact on the econo- Until now, the Cabinet as a recipe for the end of siderably higher than China and Cuba than By arrangement already cast a shadow of more than 30 cases are my. For instance, the non- Secretariat has acted as the the world as we know it. the reported figures. The from the EU. Meanwhile, with Dawn doubt on the upcoming Tokyo, Kanagawa and entry of thousands of controlling agency tasked event. Many people have Aiichi. Chinese and Korean with spearheading mea- raised the question on Many believe that when tourists in particular have sures to stop the spread of whether it would be wise or the epidemic started in seriously hurt the tourist infection. But it has spe- practical to go ahead with January 2020, Mr Abe industry. Tourists from cialised in crisis manage- the games when thousands appeared to be rather slow China and South Korea ment at times of large dis- Saying ‘Yes’ and banking on God is a leap of faith of Japanese and foreigners in reacting to it. But in accounted for nearly 50 per asters like earthquakes, ups and downs with many return to Nazareth. The Bible are expected to gather in February, the situation cent of all travellers to hijackings, terrorist bomb- “Yeses” to God. The Bible doesn’t says that he unfailingly protects Tokyo. The key question became quite serious with Japan in 2019. ings and missile threats. It record even a single word Joseph his family and promotes Jesus’ they raise is: Can normalcy the quarantining of the Second, there is a strong lacks experience in under- Francis uttered; yet, his silent “Yes” to growth “in wisdom, in stature, be restored and the virus cruise ship Diamond realisation in Japan that taking counter-measures to Gonsalves God, Mary and Jesus, and in favour with God contained in time before Princess in Yokohama port the existing laws dealing control infections. In the spoke volumes. Through and other people.” the commencement of the with infectious diseases current session of the an angelic apparition he Heroically, through toils, event? are not adequate to fight Japanese Diet, there were was first advised to trials and travels he Second, the long-antici- Shinzo Abe believed Covid-19, which is different demands that “We need to accept pregnant virgin, banks on God, becoming pated state visit to Japan that if the 1964 Tokyo from the earlier known have a commanding organ- oday, Christians celebrate Mary or Miriam — who patron-saint of parents, by Chinese President Xi Olympics had heralded infectious viruses. The isation which specialises in the feast of Saint Joseph — Christians and Muslims workers and protectors. Jinping in April has Shinzo Abe government is infection control like the Tjust man, silent worker, ste- believe conceived In a world wherein we already been postponed the advent of a new now finding it necessary to American Centre for adfast protector — also remem- through the power of often say “No” to new- and no fresh dates for his Japan on the Asian enact a new law. If the law Disease Control and bered on May 1, International God’s spirit — as his wife. Next, ness, to change, to love and serve visit have been announced scene, the 2020 is enacted, it will give Mr Prevention”. Workers’ Day. Joseph of at Jesus’ birth in the most trying selflessly, why don’t we say “Yes” so far. Sino-Japanese rela- mega event would Abe the power to enforce a Nazareth — foster-father of Jesus of times, he was told to flee to more frequently? tions have shown strong demonstrate Japan’s state of emergency in cer- The writer is a distin- and legal spouse of Mary — was a Egypt with Mary and Jesus, to signs of improvement in pre-eminence as tain areas in the country in guished fellow at the carpenter. The poor “Holy escape the murderous designs of Francis Gonsalves is a profes- recent months. No Chinese an economic and order to cope with the Observer Family” of Jesus, Mary and King Herod. He said “Yes”. sor of theology. He can be contact- President has made a state technological giant rapidly spreading coron- Research Foundation, Joseph laboured through life’s From Egypt, Joseph is told to ed at [email protected] visit to Japan since 2008, avirus that could have a New Delhi WORLD pg DECCAN CHRONICLE | THURSDAY | 19 MARCH 2020 | HYDERABAD 12

IN BRIEF Cherry blossom 4 Pak armymen, Biden sweeps 7 ultras killed Peshawar: Four Pakistan Army personnel, including three US states an officer, and seven terror- ists were killed in an exchange of fire on 1,991 votes needed to clinch Dem candidature Wednesday after security forces conducted an intelli- Washington, March 18: gence-based operation in Former vice president Joe northwest Pakistan, the army Biden has claimed victory said. Acting on a tip-off, over rival Bernie Sanders security forces launched the by sweeping three key pri- operation in Datta Khel area maries in Florida, Illinois of North Waziristan district and Arizona, inching clos- bordering Afghanistan. In er in the race to become the intense exchange of fire, the presumptive Democ- seven terrorists and four ratic presidential nomi- army personnel soldiers, nee to face US President including an officer of Trump in November’s Lieutenant rank, were killed, election. Biden, 77, won the army said in a press the three primaries with statement. The officer was an impressive margin, tro- identified as Agha Muqaddas uncing Vermont Senator Ali Khan. Sanders, 78, to become the Democratic party’s presi- Democratic presidential candidate and former vice dential nominee. president Joe Biden gestures as he speaks during a St. Patrick’s Day: Whereas Ohio, which campaign rally in Detroit. — AP was supposed to hold a 1 dead in shooting primary on Tuesday, post- Corpus Christi (US): One poned it due to the coron- woman was killed and avirus pandemic. As of Trump is tentative another injured in a shooting The Washington Monument is visible behind a man walking along an almost empty Tidal Basin lined with cherry Tuesday, Biden had 1,121 on St. patrick’s Day at an blossoms that are about to peak, on Wednesday. — AFP pledged delegate in his Irish pub in southeast Texas, kitty with Sanders trail- authorities said. The shoot- ing behind with 839 dele- Rep. Prez nominee ing happened Tuesday night gates. at Molly’s Irish Sports Pub in Either of the two presi- Washington, March 18: of Florida put him above Corpus Christi and a suspect dential aspirants need US President Donald the delegate threshold to is in custody, police 1,991 of the 3,979 pledged Trump has become the become the presumed 2020 spokesman Travis Pace said. Iraq’s Shiite parties line up delegates to win the nomi- Republican party’s pre- Republican nominee for When officers arrived, they nation during the sumptive presidential president. found one woman dead and Democratic National nominee after his home The primary season saw another who had been shot Convention in Wisconsin state of Florida awarded him shatter records for in the torso, the Corpus in July. In his speech, him with enough num- vote totals and vote per- Christi Caller Times report- to oppose new PM-designate Biden laid out his vision bers to cross the pledged centages. With Florida’s ed. Police interviewed wit- for America, call on delegate threshold. 122 delegates awarded to nesses and identified a sus- Baghdad, March 18: ● ZURFI HAS 30 days to Zurfi spent roughly a Americans to come As per the national dele- the President, he has 1,330 pect, who was later arrested Iraq’s typically divided form a cabinet, which decade in the United together to address this gate count, Trump on delegates, above the 1,276 after a brief foot chase, Pace Shiite political parties must earn a vote of confi- States and returned after global health pandemic, Tuesday had 1,330 pledged needed to win the nomina- said. The suspect’s name lined up on Wednesday to the invasion to serve as and describe how we will delegates in his kitty. A tion. “The Republican was not immediately signal their opposition to dence from Iraq’s 329- governor of his native city come out of the crisis Republican presidential Party is more unified and released but Pace said that premier-designate Adnan member parliament. But of Najaf under the US- stronger as one nation. aspirant needs 1,276 of the energized than ever person will likely face al-Zurfi, less than 24 hours several Shiite blocs have dominated occupying for- Biden spoke from his total 2,550 pledged dele- before and it’s because of charges of murder and after his nomination. already signalled their dis- ce. Respected as a states- home in Delaware keep- gates. A formal nomina- President Trump’s leader- aggravated assault. Pace The 54-year-old lawmak- pleasure with the way man focused on improving ing the guidelines of tion would be announced ship and clear record of said the investigation was er and former Najaf gover- Zurfi was selected. public services and securi- avoiding a gathering of 10 at the Republican Nation- accomplishment on ongoing but “it’s not a ran- nor was nominated ty, many hope he could or more people. He urged al Convention in August. behalf of all Americans,” dom act of violence.” Tuesday to be Iraq’s new Adnan al-Zurfi opposed could add up to shelter Iraq from spi- supporters of the Sanders Trump’s campaign in a said Brad Parscale, prime minister, the second more than 100 lawmakers ralling tensions between campaign to join him. statement said that the Trump’s 2020 campaign attempt to replace outgo- moderate cleric Ammar voting against a Zurfi-led Tehran and Washington. Commending the remark- primary in his home state manager. — PTI US court stays ing premier Adel Abdel al-Hakim said they cabinet. In his first public state- able passion and tenacity Mahdi this year. opposed the president’s One key Shiite leader, ment late Tuesday, Zurfi of Sanders’ supporters, he Texas execution Zurfi has 30 days to form unilateral selection of the cleric Moqtada Sadr, said pledged to hold elections said that they have shifted Washington: A US court has a cabinet, which must prime minister. Wednesday he would not within a year of forming the fundamental conver- ordered a 60-day stay of an earn a vote of confidence President Barham Saleh, announce a position on his cabinet and vowed to sation in this country. Sanders to assess execution scheduled for from iraq's 329-member they insisted, should have Zurfi’s nomination. Kurd- respond to the demands of “I hear you. I know Wednesday in Texas because parliament. But several referred to parliament’s ish and Sunni blocs, mean- protesters hitting the what's at stake. I know of the novel coronavirus. Shiite blocs have already largest bloc to select a while, will likely be sup- streets for months over what we have to do,” A Texas court rejected John signalled their displeasure nominee. The powerful portive of the candidate. government graft and inef- Biden said in an impres- campaign after loss Hummel’s appeals argu- with the way Zurfi was Fatah bloc, the political Zurfi was a longtime mem- ficiency. He also promised sive speech. “This is over. ments on Monday, but in the selected. arm of the Hashed al- ber of the Dawa party, the to improve security in the It's over. The election is Washington, March 18: ering his options as more end still granted him relief. On Wednesday, the State Shaabi military network, historic opposition force country, which has seen over tonight. I think that Leftist Bernie Sanders states postponed their pri- “We have also determined of Law coalition, led by ex- had also slammed Zurfi’s to dictator Saddam more than two dozen rock- is very clear,” former US was under fresh pressure mary votes amid a nation- that the execution should be prime minister Nuri al- nomination as unconstitu- Hussein, who was ousted et attacks targeting for- president Barack Obama’s Wednesday to bow out of al shutdown for the stayed in light of the current Maliki, and lawmakers tional. Along with some in a 2003 US-led invasion. eign installations since adviser David Axelrod the race for the Dem- COVID-19 emergency. health crisis and the enor- linked to the relatively smaller parties, those A dual US-Iraqi national, late October. — AFP said. ocratic White House nom- “The next primary con- mous resources needed to In his brief address, ination after losing the test is at least three weeks address the execution,” the Biden said that tackling three latest primaries in away,” said Sanders’ cam- ruling said. Hummel, 44, was this pandemic is a nation- contests hobbled by the paign manager Faiz sentenced to the death NEW ZEALAND al emergency akin to fig- coronavirus pandemic. Shakir in a statement. penalty for the 2009 killings hting a war. It will require Political moderate Joe “Sen. Sanders is going to of his pregnant wife, their Russia behind Turkish DECRIMINALISES leadership and coopera- Biden swept all three of be having conversations five-year-old daughter and tion from every level of Tuesday’s contests, build- with supporters to assess his father-in-law. He was government. “It will requ- ing a solid lead in dele- his campaign.” scheduled to receive a lethal ABORTION ire us to move thoug- gates to the party’s July Biden handily trounced injection at a prison in soldiers’ deaths: Pompeo htfully and decisively to nominating convention as Sanders in each of Tue- Huntsville, Texas. Like every Wellington, March 18: quickly address both the Democratic voters appe- sday’s battlegrounds. In execution, Hummel’s would Washington, March 18: that Assad’s rundown air New Zealand’s parlia- public health crisis and ared to coalesce around the biggest prize of Flo- involve many people — The United States for the force could effectively hit US NAMES I.S. ment voted Wednesday the economic crisis we’re him as the best chance to rida, the 77-year-old for- prison guards, lawyers, wit- first time held Russia Turkish forces but until to decriminalise abor- in. It will require us to pay defeat President Donald mer vice president grab- nesses, his family and that of responsible for the deaths now the United States had CHIEF ON TERROR tion, in a move Justice attention to the medical Trump in November. bed 62 per cent of the vote the victims — to be present, of dozens of Turkish steered clear of blaming Minister Andrew Little and scientific and health Sanders, once the race’s against 23 per cent for 78- at a time when health auth- troops in Syria as it vowed Russia, mindful of official said modernised legisla- experts”. — PTI frontrunner, was consid- year-old Sanders. — PTI orities have warned against accountability. statements by Ankara. BLACKLIST tion and gave women co- large gatherings in order to An airstrike last month After the killings, ntrol over their bodies. stop the spread of virus. in the Idlib region killed Turkey killed dozens of Washington, March 18: Despite its progressive 34 Turkish soldiers, Syrian government troops The US has placed the reputation, New Zealand although Ankara blamed as retaliation but Pres- new ISIS leader on its bla- had until now main- Syrian President Bashar ident Recep Tayyip Erd- cklist of terrorists, nam- tained abortion as an Spanish royals PROBABILITY al-Assad and reached a ogan flew to Moscow to ing him as Amir Moham- offence under the 1961 new ceasefire deal with negotiate a ceasefire with med Abdul Rahman al- Crimes Act, with jail Moscow. Secretary of his counterpart Vladimir Mawli. Secretary of State terms of up to 14 years EXPERTS WIN State Mike Pompeo, Putin that includes joint Mike Pompeo said that al- for those who procured a cancel US visit announcing new sanc- Russian-Turkish patrols. Mawli was named the termination. tions on Syrian officials Idlib has been the last group’s leader after an While the law was never Madrid, March 18: Spanish royal couple in ABEL MATHS on Tuesday, placed blame major battleground October raid by US com- enforced and women Spain’s King Felipe VI the United States in the Oslo, March 18: The Abel on Russia, which along between Assad’s forces mandos killed its chief who underwent abor- and Queen Letizia can- future, the statement Prize for mathematics was on with Iran has backed against jihadists and their Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. tions were not liable for celled Wednesday a added. Spain is the fourth Gulnara Karimova Wednesday awarded to Israeli- Assad in his bloody quest rebel allies, who are The organization had prosecution, Little said planned visit to the hardest-hit nation in the American Hillel Furstenberg to crush rebels. backed by Turkey. The earlier named Abu the change was needed. United States on April 21 world by the coronavirus and Russian-born Gregory “We believe Russia has offensive launched in Ibrahim al-Hashimi al- “From now abortions where they were due to pandemic, with over UZBEKISTAN Margulis, both probability exp- killed dozens of Turkish December caused a new Quraishi as its new head, will be rightly treated as meet with US President 13,700 confirmed cases as erts, the Norwegian Academy military personnel in the humanitarian crisis in but US officials acknowl- a health issue,” he said Donald Trump due to the of Wednesday and the EX-LEADER’S of Science and Letters said. course of their military Syria’s brutal nine-year edged they knew little in a statement. coronavirus outbreak. number of deaths rising The pair were honoured “for operation,” Pompeo told civil war with close to one about him — and later “The previous law The royal palace said in to almost 600. DAUGHTER JAILED pioneering the use of methods reporters, without nam- million people fleeing in came to believe that ISIS required a woman seek- a statement that the goal The nation of around 46 from probability and dynamics ing a specific incident. the dead of winter. was using his nom de ing an abortion to go was to allow “the United million people is on a in group theory, number theo- “We stand with our NATO Pompeo announced new guerre. through many hoops. States and Spain to con- near total lockdown since Tashkent, March 18: A ry and combinatorics,” the ally Turkey and will con- sanctions against Syrian Al-Mawli “was previous- The changes agreed to tinue to dedicate all of the weekend, with people court in Uzbekistan on Academy said in a statement. sider additional measures Defense Minister Ali ly active in al-Qaeda in by parliament will better their resources and atten- allowed out of their Wednesday sentenced Furstenberg, 84, is affiliated that support Turkey at the Ayoub, accusing him of Iraq and is known for tor- ensure women get tion to the response to homes only to buy food, the daughter of the with the Hebrew University of end of the violence,” he destroying an earlier turing innocent Yazidi advice and treatment in COVID-19.” medicine or to go to work country’s late longtime Jerusalem, while Margulis, a said. truce through the offen- religious minorities,” a more timely way.” Trump and his wife if they can not do so from leader Islam Karimov to decade younger, is at Yale Analysts widely doubted sive. — AFP Pompeo said. — AFP — AFP Melania hope to host the home. — AFP more than 13 years in University. Furstenberg and prison for extortion and Margulis invented so-called embezzlement. random walk techniques, or a Gulnara Karimova, the path consisting of a succession NEW | STUDY When we sleep, the brain cells that hold onto a particular memory reactivates 47-year-old daughter of of random steps. The study of Islam Karimov, who died random walks is a central in 2016, is a former diplo- branch of probability theory. mat and pop star whose The pair used the technique legal problems began in “to investigate mathematical Scents can alter how our brain processes 2014 as rumours spread objects such as groups and that she could become graphs, and in so doing intro- Boston, March 18: Sce- tivates and reorganises. The researchers created not exposed to any scent. her father’s successor. duced probabilistic methods to nts can alter how memo- The memory then fear memories in mice by However, this time neither In a closed-door ses- solve many open problems,” ries are processed in the becomes processed by the giving them a series of group received any new sion, a court in the the statement said. brain, according to a study front of the brain — the harmless but startling electric shocks. Uzbek capital Tashkent Their work “has opened up a that suggests odours may prefrontal cortex — electric shocks inside a Consistent with the sys- convicted Karimova of wealth of new results” in be used to treat memory- instead of the hippocam- special container. During tems consolidation theory, fraud and sentenced her diverse areas of mathematics related mood disorders. pus, and many of the the shocks, half of the both groups exhibited sig- to 13 years and four and “brought down the tradi- The traditional theory details become lost in the mice were exposed to the nificant activation of the months in jail. tional wall between pure and suggests that our memo- shuffle, the researchers scent of almond extract, hippocampus during this The court said it found applied mathematics”. Born in ries start out being said. while the other half were early recall session, indi- Karimova guilty of Berlin, Furstenberg and his processed by a small, “If odour could be used not exposed to any scent. cating they remembered extortion and embezzle- Jewish family fled Nazi horseshoe-shaped brain to elicit the rich recollec- The next day, the receiving the shocks from ment among other Germany for the US just before area called the hippocam- tion of a memory — even researchers returned the the day before. crimes. It did not say the start of World War II. pus, which infuses them of a traumatic experience mice to the same container During the next recall what activities led to the After starting his career at with rich details, noted the — we could take advantage to prompt them to recall session 20 days later, the charges she was convict- top universities like Princeton researchers from Boston of that (therapeutically),” their newly formed memo- researchers found that in ed of. and MIT, he left the United University in the US. said assistant professor ries. Once again, the mice the no-odour group, pro- It was the latest case States for the Hebrew Over time, especially Steve Ramirez, senior in the odour group got a cessing of the fear memo- against Karimova, who University of Jerusalem in when we sleep, the set of author of the study pub- whiff of almond extract ry had shifted to the pre- had already begun serv- 1965 and stayed there until his brain cells that holds onto lished in Learning and during their session, while frontal cortex as expected. ing time for earlier sen- retirement in 2003. a particular memory reac- Memory. the no-odour group was — PTI Picture for representation only tences. — AFP WORLD pg DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | THURSDAY | 19 MARCH 2020 13

IN BRIEF 850M students not 2,00,000 hit; Europe shuts borders at school: Unesco Paris: More than 850 million Covid controls lead to traffic jams, slow passage of vehicles carrying critical supplies young people, or nearly half the world’s student popula- Berlin, March 18: Desp- tion, are barred from their erate travellers choked Eu- school and university ropean border crossings 147: Iran’s biggest grounds because of the on Wednesday after natio- Covid-19 pandemic, UNESCO ns implemented strict con- said Wednesday. trols in an attempt to slow Calling it an “unprecedented the spread of the Covid-19 jump in fatalities challenge” for education, virus, creating traffic jams UNESCO said schools had miles long and slowing the Tehran, March 18: Iran been closed in 102 countries, passage of trucks carrying reported its single biggest 103-YEAR-OLD with partial closures in 11 critical supplies. jump in deaths from the more — and there would be The number of people new Covid-19 on Wednesd- IRANIAN WOMAN more closures. infected worldwide crested ay as another 147 people the 200,000 mark and deat- died, raising the country’s MAKES RECOVERY Italy struggles hs topped 8,000, with the overall death toll to 1,135. number of people now rec- The nearly 15 per cent spi- overed at more than 82,000, ke in deaths — amid a tot- Tehran, March 18: A 103- to make room according to a tally kept by al of 17,361 confirmed cas- year-old woman in Iran Brescia: Three weeks into Johns Hopkins University. es in Iran — marks the bi- has recovered after being Italy’s Covid-19 crisis, Dr. In an attempt to alleviate ggest 24-hour rise in fatali- infected with the new Co- Sergio Cattaneo has seen an some of the pressure from ties since officials first ac- vid-19, state media report- unused ward outfitted into eastern Europeans stuck knowledged virus cases in ed, despite overwhelming an intensive care unit in six in Austria trying to return Iran mid-February. evidence the elderly are days, a hospital laundry home, Hungary overnight Still, even as the number most at risk from the dise- room converted into a giant opened its borders in phas- of cases continues to grow, ase. The unnamed woman stretcher-filled waiting room es. Bulgarians were first food markets were still pa- had been hospitalised in and a tented field hospital allowed to cross in careful- cked with shoppers on We- the central city of Semnan erected outside to test pos- ly controlled convoys, then dnesday and highways cr- for about a week, IRNA sible new virus patients. “If Romanians had a turn. owded with traffic as fami- news agency said. But she the spreading of this epi- But by early Wednesday lies travelled between citi- was “discharged after ma- demic is not put under con- on the Austrian side of the es ahead of the Persian king a complete recove- trol, it will bring all hospitals border, trucks were backed New Year, Nowruz, on Fri- ry”, Semnan University of to their knees.” Cattaneo’s up for 28 kilometres and day. Iran’s deputy health Medical Sciences head new ICU added six more cars for 14 kilometres as minister Alireza Raisi ur- Navid Danayi was quoted beds to the hospital. rules allowing only Hung- ged the public to avoid tra- as saying by IRNA late arians or transport trucks Trucks wait in a traffic jam on a highway near Briesen, some 12 km from the Polish border, on Wednesday, as vel and crowded places. He Tuesday. — AFP through the country’s bor- Polish border authorities conducted strenuous health checks before allowing people to return in an attempt to fight told Iranians the coming Medical system ders kicked back in. the spread of the novel Covid-19. — AFP period represented two European Union leaders “golden weeks” to try curb criticism that officials act- troubled: Kim have been working on how the virus from spreading. ed too slowly and may Seoul: North Korean leader to make sure that food, He criticised people for have even covered up initi- Kim Jong Un acknowledged medical supplies and other not adhering to the warn- al cases before infections that his country lacks mode- essential goods keep flowi- ings to stay home, saying rapidly spread across the rn medical facilities and call- ng but so far borders have Prince Harry taking ‘measures’ the virus is very serious. country. In a speech to his ed for urgent improvements, been clogged. Looking ahe- “This is not a good situati- Cabinet, Rouhani said the state media said Wednesday, ad, they’re also trying to London, March 18: Brit- on at all,” he said. Iran’s government was “straight- in a rare assessment of the figure out ways to allow se- ain’s Queen Elizabeth II’s PANIC-STRICKEN INDIAN STUDENTS ‘WARTIME’ SCENE President Hassan Rouhani forward” with the nation, North’s health care system asonal agricultural work- grandson Prince Harry is on Wednesday defended saying it announced the that comes amid worries ab- ers, needed to keep the pro- said to be taking “appropr- IN UK DESPERATE TO GET HOME IN UK AS 71 DIE his government’s response outbreak as soon as it lear- out the Covid-19 in the imp- duction of food going, to iate measures” after he to the Covid-19 outbreak in ned about it on February overished country. Outside travel back and forth acro- was seen hugging Formu- London, March 18: Indi- associations in the UK are OF CONTAGION the face of of widespread 19. — AP experts say a Covid-19 epid- ss essentially closed borde- la One driver Lewis Ham- an students in the UK are putting out advisories to emic in the North could be rs. Nations around the wo- ilton at an event in the UK desperate to return to Ind- try and calm some of the London, March 18: The devastating due its chronic rld were facing the same earlier this month before ia and have flooded the In- panic among the students, UK must act like a “warti- lack of medical supplies and issues, with the US and Ca- flying out to join wife Me- dian High Commission many of whom are on vis- me” government and do USA-CANADA BORDER TO BE SHUT outdated health care infrast- nada working on a mutual ghan Markle and son here with queries about as that are close to expiry whatever it takes to suppo- ructure. He made the com- ban on nonessential travel Archie in Canada. when they are likely to get and others who simply rt the country’s economy, Washington, March 18: ing our northern border ments during a ceremony between the two countries. Hamilton was pictured back home and be with th- want to be with their lov- Prime Minster Boris John- US President Donald Tru- with Canada,” Mr Trump marking the start of con- In Southeast Asia, the ca- with British actor Idris eir families, as New Delhi ed ones as all face-to-face son said as Britain’s death mp and Canadian Prime tweeted. He said trade struction on a new hospital. useway between Malaysia Elba and Sophie Trudeau, bans travellers from Brit- classes begin to be cancel- toll from the Covid-19 rose Minister Justin Trudeau would not be affected. and the financial hub of the wife of the Canadian ain starting on Wednesd- led. Many were booked on to 71 and the number of have agreed to close the Both countries had alre- Singapore was eerily quiet Prime Minister — both of ay due to the fast-spread- flights later this month cases stand at nearly 2,000. US-Canada border to all ady issued sweeping travel Pakistanis decry after Malaysia shut its bor- whom have since tested ing Covid-19 pandemic. but are now stranded at le- The cases exploded by non-essential travel in an bans but had maintained ders, while the Philippines positive for Covid-19. Universities and student ast until March 31. — PTI 407 to 1,950 on Monday, the attempt to curb the spread exemptions for each other. squalid camp backed down on an order In another development, biggest daily rise. “We of Covid-19. Canada relies on the US Lahore: Hundreds of Pakista- giving foreigners 72 hours the Queen has cancelled must act like any wartime “We will be, by mutual for approximately 75% of nis who returned home from to leave from a large part all her appointments for lives in the country. The rts and the UK governme- government and do whate- consent, temporarily clos- its exports. — Agencies a pilgrimage to Iran are stu- of its main island. the next few months and is monarch, who turns 94 nt. Her regular “audienc- ver it takes to support our ck in filthy Covid-19 quaran- President Donald Trum- set to leave Buckingham next month, was to host a es” with PM Boris Johns- economy,” he said. Opposi- tine camps with limited me- p’s administration was co- Palace in London on Thur- series of garden parties on are to continue but as a tion Labour leader Jeremy dical care, and fear squalid nsidering a plan to immed- sday to be based at Winds- and Easter related events “sensible precaution and Corbyn urged the govern- conditions are helping spre- iately return to Mexico all or Castle for an extended but will now spend time for practical reasons”, a ment to suspend home re- France reports ad the virus. Residents of people who cross Americ- period of time amid the indoors in Windsor, south- number of other changes ntal fees and ban evictions Taftan camp with Iran said a’s southern border illega- Covid-19 pandemic outbre- east England, in consultat- are being made to the rest of tenants during the Cov- the facility lacks running lly, according to two offici- ak which has claimed 71 ion with her medical expe- of her diary. — PTI id-19 crisis. — PTI water or flushable toilets, als who spoke on the con- 27 fresh deaths with detainees only able to dition of anonymity beca- wash every few days. Gov- use the plan hasn’t been Paris, March 18: French ● RUSSIA ANNOUNCED ernment figures show half of finalised. In far-flung Haw- COVID SCOURGE ACROSS WORLD health authorities have the 241 confirmed cases of aii, the governor encour- said that 27 more people Covid-19 cases jumped novel Covid-19 in Pakistan aged travellers to postpone ● Mexico City borough has announced that ● “We don’t know exactly how long this is had died from the Covid-19 almost 29 per cent are in people who went on their island vacations for Latin America’s most famous re-enactment going to take. It could be weeks. It could be in the country, bringing overnight to 147 despite pilgrimages to Iran — one of at least the next 30 days, of the crucifixion of Christ will be closed to months,” said Canadian PM Justin Trudeau. the total death toll in Fran- the Kremlin imposing the countries hardest-hit by while the governor of Ne- ce to 175 people. There are tight controls on move- the public for the first time in 177 years to ● Bangladesh reported its first death while the disease. “I have been vada — home to Las Vegas prevent the spread of Covid-19 now 7,730 confirmed cases ment and saying the situ- using the same mask for — ordered a monthlong four new infections were detected, taking of Covid-19 in the country, ation is under control. over seven days now,” one closure of the state’s casi- ● Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer case tally in the country to 14. France’s top health official quarantined pilgrim said. “If I nos. Worried about the ec- statue, which last year saw almost 2 million ● The world is at Jerome Salomon told didn’t have the virus when I onomic fallout of the glob- ● A summit of European Union leaders reporters on Tuesday, a ople were currently hospi- visitors, closed at day-end Tuesday and scheduled for next week will be held by war with a hid- first got here, I wouldn’t be al shutdown, the US, Brita- won’t reopen for at least a week. jump of over 1,000 on the talised including 699 in in- surprised to find out that I in and the Netherlands an- videoconference because of Covid-19. den enemy. WE day earlier. tensive care. ● WILL WIN! We have have it now.” nounced rescue packages ● Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah ● His comments came as Seven percent of those totalling hundreds of bil- The number of people infected by Covid- to get rid of this, France entered the first who have died are aged Mahmood Qureshi said on Wednesday that 19 in Spain soared past 13,700 with the lions of dollars. he will self-isolate for five days after his we have to win this day of a lockdown ordered under 65. “We are progres- German Chancellor Ang- number of deaths rising to almost 600, war and ideally by President Emmanuel sively moving to a general recent trip to China as a precautionary government data showed. ela Merkel said European measure to limit the spread of the deadly quickly. Macron which orders peo- epidemic over the territo- POPE URGES leaders agreed in a confer- ● ple to stay at home and pr- ry” of France, he said, ence call to the commis- Covid-19 that has infected 249 people in the Sri Lanka on Wednesday imposed a — DONALD TRUMP, ohibits all non-essential urging people to “stay at sion's proposal for an country. curfew in the Western coastal areas US President movements. Salamon said home” and keep contacts HUGS TO FIGHT entry ban to the bloc — of those infected, 2,579 pe- to a minimum. — AFP along with Norway, Switz- erland, Iceland and Brit- OFF ISOLATION ain — with “very, very lim- Vatican City, March 18: Pope ited exceptions”. Germany EPIDEMIC CLAIMS 11 MORE LIVES IN Francis stressed Wednesday will implement the deci- the importance of families and sion immediately. But so CHINA AS WUHAN HAS SINGLE CASE China gave disinformation: Pompeo friends making small gestures far, European Union Washington, March 18: Asked about the Chinese was the Chinese governm- sibility to share all of the- such as hugs and phone calls efforts to smooth the tran- Beijing, March 18: The phased withdrawal of tho- China is engaged in a dis- allegation that the US ent. That imposes a special ir data, all of their inform- during times of isolation in a sition have failed. epicentre of the novel usands of medical person- information campaign to army planted the Covid-19 responsibility to raise the ation in as timely and acc- pandemic. “We must rediscov- — AP Covid-19 outbreak Wuhan nel deployed in the hard- shift its responsibility in in Wuhan province of Chi- flag to say, ‘We have a prob- urate a fashion as they er the concrete nature of small city in China reported a hit Hubei province. the spread of the Covid-19, na, Pompeo said, “The dis- lem, this is different and have the ability to do not things, of making small ges- I think that all of us who single confirmed case for For the second day on US Secretary of State information campaign (on unique and presents only because it is the right tures toward those around us are not experts initially the second consecutive Tuesday, the city reported Mike Pompeo has alleged. Covid-19) that they are risk’,” he added. It took an thing, but because that is — family, friends,” the 83-year- underestimated the Covid-19. day on Tuesday even as 11 only one new confirmed “Now is not the time for waging is designed to shift “awful long time” for the how you save lives of your old pontiff told the La But now it is clear that this is people died of the deadly case. China’s National recrimination. Now is the responsibility.” world to become aware of own people,” he said. Repubblica newspaper. a virus that will keep us busy disease in the country, tak- Health Commission (NHC) time to solve this global “There will come a day this risk that was sitting He added that the Chin- “They are gestures of tender- for a long time yet. ing the toll to 3,237, health said 11 new deaths and 13 pandemic and work to take when we will go evaluate there in China, the top ese Communist Party had ness, of affection, of compas- officials said on Wednes- new confirmed cases of down risks to Americans how the entire world resp- American diplomat said. a responsibility to do this sion, which are nonetheless — URSULA VON DER LEYEN day. Wuhan had reported a novel Covid-19 infection and people all across the onded. We know that the fi- “We’ll do the after-action not only for others who are decisive and important — for President, European single confirmed case on were reported in the coun- world,” he told reporters rst government to be awa- when the time is right. now suffering, but for the- example, a hot dish, a caress, a Commission Monday as China began try on Tuesday. — PTI on Tuesday. re of the ‘Wuhan virus’ Every nation has a respon- ir own people. — PTI hug, a phone call.” Italian rul- es instruct everyone to keep one metre (three feet) apart while in public but say nothing STEALING | INFO Cases of tricking people into giving up credentials are rising about what people can do at US toll 105 as virus home. Most business have been closed and public events cancelled since last week. Italian streets stand deserted affects all 50 states Surge in Covid-themed cyberattacks except for the few who go out shopping or walk their dogs. Washington, March 18: ● NEW YORK is to get a Washington, March 18: campaigns with message le as at an airport or a Sta- The Argentine-born Pope has The number of deaths 1,000-room hospital ship It may look like an email volumes up to hundreds of rbucks, you just don’t have made no secret of his own dis- due to the new Covid-19 in from a supervisor with an thousands which are leve- that protection you might comfort at having to communi- the US has reached 105, that will dock in the attachment on the new raging this Covid-19. have in the workplace,” cate with the world’s 1.3 billion with the outbreak spread- city’s harbour to fight “work from home policy”. “The pandemic has crea- DeGrippo said. Catholics via livestream. The ing to all 50 states, even as Covid-19, Governor But it could be a cleverly ted a perfect storm for cyb- “And if we are home with Vatican’s Saint Peter’s Square President Donald Trump Andrew Cuomo said. designed scheme to hack erattacks, with millions of family where we feel safe, has also been sealed off. mounted a warlike effort into your network. people working in unfami- you might see a member He complained of feeling like to contain the situation, The World Health Orga- The abrupt move of mil- liar, less secure circumsta- hop on to do homework, he was sitting in a “cage” this including an economic nisation has declared Co- lions of people to working nces and eager for inform- and might not understand month while delivering his fir- stimulus package of $1 vid-19 a pandemic. Presid- remotely has sparked an ation about the virus and security controls. Keeping st Sunday Angelus Prayer into trillion. The first fatality ent Donald Trump has unprecedented volume of new organisational polici- mom’s and dad’s computer a camera instead of out of his from Covid-19 was report- said that the crisis in the attacks to trick people into es being implemented. for mom and dad is the Vatican window facing thou- ed from the Washington US might continue till giving up credentials to at- This opens up an avenue right thing to do.” sands of faithful. Italy was the state on February 26. July and August. Accordi- tackers, according to secu- for malicious actors using Tom Pendergast of secu- first country in Europe to be Less than a month later, ng to The Washington rity researchers. “We’ve phishing emails or “social rity and privacy training seriously hit by the Covid-19 the toll has crossed 100. Post, most of the deaths never seen anything like engineering” to gain acce- firm MediaPRO said many pandemic. Its 2,503 official As of March 17, the figure have occurred in people this,” said Sherrod DeGri- ss or steal sensitive infor- of the millions of people Covid-19 deaths account for stood at 105 and the num- over 70 and those with un- ppo, head of threat resear- mation. When someone is adjusting to the new land- more than half of those ber of confirmed infectio- derlying conditions. ch for the security firm Pr- working form their home scape are unprepared for reported outside China. ns crossed 6,500. — PTI oofpoint. “We are seeing it is a similar threat profi- teleworking. — AFP pg THURSDAY | 19 MARCH 2020 | HYDERABAD 14 quick ■ SC pulling up telcos, recession fears worsen sentiments SC lashes out at telcos Sensex cracks below 29000 for self-assessing dues BITES PARMOD KUMAR mon the secretary, DoT WITH AGENCY INPUTS and desk officer for per- as panic, carnage continue NEW DELHI, MARCH 18 mitting the TSPs to carry INDICATORS % out self-assessment of The Supreme Court on their respective AGR Sensex 28,869.51 -5.59 RAVI RANJAN PRASAD The only saving grace Wednesday pulled up the dues. Nifty 50 8,468.80 -5.56 MUMBAI, MARCH 18 was big value buying seen telecom service providers In the last hearing of the S&P 500* 2,390.98 -5.46 in PSU stocks in late after- (TSPs) for undertaking the matter DoT's desk-officer Global recession fears, noon trade. The PSU stock self-assessment, or invited the wrath of the Dollar (`) 74.26 -0.006 fresh coronavirus cases that gained included reassessment, of the top court for issuing a Pound Sterling (`) 88.42 1.74 and the Supreme Court ONGC (9.83 per cent), adjusted gross revenue communication on coming hard on telecom Punjab National Bank (AGR) dues decided by its January 23, that had said Euro (`) 81.49 0.41 companies led to more (6.52 per cent) and Bank of October 24, 2019 judgment that no coercive action be Gold (10gm)* (`) 40,241▼311 0.77 panic selling in the equity India (2.37 per cent) while and took exception to arti- taken against the service Brent crude ($/bbl)* 26.21 -8.77 market on Wednesday. SBI closed flat at Rs 214.65, cles appearing in the news- providers for not comply- Benchmark indices down just 0.12 per cent. papers relating to AGR assessment by TSPs. ing with the court's IN 10-Yr bond yield 6.296 0.492 Sensex and Nifty-50 sank Arun Kumar, market concealing the truth. Expressing its displeas- October 24 order. US 10-Yr T-bill yield* 1.060 6.426 another 5.5 per cent to strategist, Reliance In a warning to the top ure over the way its A Bloomberg report said fresh three-year lows, in Securities, said, "The Nifty echelons of the TSPs, a October 24 order, direct- the ruling could send * As of 9:30 pm IST line with the massive sell- 50 hit a new three-year low bench headed by Justice ing TSPs to pay outstand- Vodafone Idea into bank- ing witnessed in the Asia- by surpassing last Friday's Arun Mishra, and com- ing AGR dues of Rs. 92,000 ruptcy. It now leaves few Pacific and Europe low of 8,556. Though, the prising Justices Abdul crore, was sought to be options for Vodafone Idea, regions. index is highly oversold on Nazeer and M.R.Shah, said scuttled, the court which owes $4 billion -- of NCLT gives 90 Confirmed coronavirus near-term basis, market all the managing directors deferred, by two weeks, which the carrier has paid cases in the country rose (AGR) dues was in viola- It was the worst day for technical displays incre- of telecom service hearing on the Centre's about $930 million. It also to 151, and as the disease tion of its October 24 order index heavy weights, led mental pain. The next sig- providers would be made rescue plan to give service comes as a disappointment days more for was still in the second and that all dues must be by IndusInd Bank (-23.90 nificant support falls personally responsible providers a window of 20 to rival Bharti Airtel, the stage, the next two weeks paid. per cent), HDFC Bank (- around Nifty-50's histori- and hauled up for con- years to pay AGR dues in other survivor of a brutal Jet Air resolution were crucial in preventing After the apex court 9.92 per cent), Kotak cal support in the zone of tempt if any such write-up annual installments cou- price war sparked by the National Company Law Tribunal it from spreading to the lashed telecom companies, Mahindra Bank (-11.23 per 7,890 - 8,000." concealing truth appeared pled with interest. entry of Reliance Jio allowed 90 days' extension for community level, medical there was massive selling cent), HDFC (-7.47 per Analyst said volatility in future. "The time-frame of 20 Infocomm in 2016. the corporate insolvency reso- experts said. Globally, the in blue-chips, particularly cent), Bajaj Finance (-11.11 index India VIX, which hit Telling in an unequivo- years is unreasonable. The While Bharti Airtel has lution process of Jet Airways. confirmed cases of coron- banks having exposure to per cent) and Hero 12 year high of 64.57 on cal terms that amount telecom companies have to raised funds to meet the Jet’s resolution professional avirus topped 2-lakh mark, the telecom sector and the Motocorp (-7.86 per cent), Wednesday, was still indi- decided by its October 24 clear all dues mentioned payment demand by way had last week filed an applica- with 1 lakh more cases telecom stocks that may on the BSE. cating wild market move- judgment was final, the in the judgment," the court of rights issue of shares tion in the NCLT seeking 90 added after March 6, in get hit by court's stance. Reliance Industries also ments in the near future court described as "fraud" said noting that till other and bond sales, Vodafone days' extension for the insol- just 12 days. The Sensex closed 5.59 fell 3.97 per cent while and no predictable range the TSPs carrying out self- day, when the matter was Idea has pinned its hopes vency process of the grounded The worst affected coun- per cent, or 1,709.58 points, ICICI Bank lost another for the benchmarks. S assessment of their argued before it leading to on a relief package. UK- airline after it failed to attract tries included China down at 28,869.51 while the 2.96 per cent after massive Ranganathan, head of respective AGR dues. October 24 judgment, the based Vodafone, which any bidder. The committee of (81,000), Italy (31,000) Iran Nifty-50 fell 498.25 points, 8.92 per cent fall in the pre- research at LKP "We will be party to Centre had "fought tooth owns about 45 per cent of creditors had on February 18 (16,000), Spain (11,000), or 5.56 per cent, to 8,468.80. vious session. Securities, said, ''What we fraud if we allow self- and nail for levying inter- the local venture, has sig- set a new deadline of March 10 Germany (9,000), South Investors lost another Rs Telecom stocks that fell witnessed today in our assessment of AGR dues ests and penalties." nalled its reluctance to for submission of bids. Korea (8,000) and US 5.98 lakh crore as BSE's sharply included Bharti markets was truly unnerv- by telecom companies," The desk-officer of the plow any more money. (5,000). market capitalisation fell Airtel (-6.14 per cent), ing to every investor as the court said, making it department of telecom- Shares of Vodafone Idea The Supreme Court said to Rs 1,13,53,329.30 crore as Bharti Infratel (-22.62 per our market cap to GDP vir- clear that it cannot permit munications (DoT) was plunged 35 per cent and that the self-assessment of against Rs 1,19,52,066.11 cent) and Vodafone Idea (- tually touched 2008 global encroachment of its pow- again in trouble as the Bharti Airtel fell over 6 per adjusted gross revenue crore crore on Tuesday. 34.85 per cent). financial crisis lows." ers by allowing self- court said it would sum- cent. Oyo parent gets $807 mn from E-com firms step up temp hiring Small savings current investors Oil projected to touch rates may be $20/bbl next quarter to meet coronavirus-led demand cut in April SANGEETHA G Federation, said, "The e- London, March 18: cent from a year earlier. CHENNAI, MARCH 18 commerce companies like New Delhi, March 18: Benchmark WTI oil on Virgin Australia became Amazon and Flipkart have The government is con- Wednesday slumped 12 the latest airline to shut its With online orders rising reached out to us and indi- sidering rate modera- per cent to the lowest level international network due to fears and shut cated that they want peo- tion for small savings since 2002, at under $24 with the suspension of all downs over the coron- ple ahead of their peak schemes in the upcom- per barrel, as the coron- overseas flights, while avirus pandemic, e-com- season. Usually the peak ing quarter, a develop- avirus slashes global Australian Prime Minis- merce companies are hir- season hiring starts by ment that could lead to Oravel Stays, the parent compa- demand for crude. ter Scott Morrison warn- ing more temporary staff June-July for August speedier transmission of ny of Oyo, has received $807 WTI slid to $23.60 per ed that the situation could to meet the additional before the festive season. monetary policy rate million (around Rs 6,000 crore) barrel, while Brent North last six months or more. demand for door-step This time they have cuts, sources said. from existing backer Soft Vision Sea oil touched a 2003 Elsewhere, Iraq’s oil delivery. approached us much earli- During the current Fund and Ritesh Agarwal-led RA trough at $26.65 a barrel. minister pleaded for an BigBasket usually er due to the unprecedent- quarter, the government Hospitality Holdings. In This is the third straight emergency meeting increases its headcount by ed demand." refrained from cutting October, Oyo had said that it day of losses for crude oil between members of the 2 to 3 per cent every "Over the last couple of In the US, Amazon is interest rates on small will raise $1.5 bn for expansion in this week. Rystad Energy has gone Organization of the Petro- month. However, this time days, we have seen cus- opening 1,00,000 new full savings schemes, such the US and strengthening Investment banks and even further, projecting a leum Exporting Countries there has been a surge of 5 tomers buying items on and part-time positions as Public Provident Europe operations. The firm consultancies have been year-on-year decline in (Opec) and non-Opec pro- to 10 per cent. The e-grocer our platform in large across the fulfillment cen- Fund and National allotted 15,325 Series F compul- making heavy cuts to their demand of 2.8 million bpd, ducers to discuss immedi- is hiring around 2,000 peo- quantities across cities as tres and delivery network Savings Certificate sorily convertible cumulative demand forecasts as a or 2.8 per cent, this year. ate action to support the ple in March. well as categories. to meet the surge in despite moderating preference shares to the two growing number of the “To put the number into market. "We have witnessed 100 Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune demand. bank deposit rates. entities, at $52,643.22 per share world’s largest cities and context, last week we pro- A price war between per cent increase in and Ahmedabad have seen "Amazon and our net- Currently, there is a economies restrict move- jected a decrease of just Opec leader Saudi Arabia demand. Usually the a higher surge with nearly work of partners are help- difference of nearly 100 ment. 600,000 barrels,” Rystad and Russia after the col- growth in demand would 80 per cent growth fol- ing communities around basis points between “The oil demand col- said. lapse of talks on coordi- be 5 per cent over the pre- lowed by Delhi NCR and the world in a way that deposit rate of banks lapse from the spreading In addition to imposing nated output cuts is vious month. But in Hyderabad, at a 60 per cent very few can-delivering and small savings rate coronavirus looks increas- social restrictions not increasing pressure on the March, the demand has spike in business. We have critical supplies directly for one-year maturity. BMW to shut ingly sharp,” Goldman seen since World War Two, market. grown by 10 to 15 per cent seen a rise in the number to the doorsteps of people Rates on small savings Sachs said in a note, fore- the world’s richest nations The Kremlin on over February. This of orders by 45 per cent," who need them. Getting a schemes are revised on down European casting a fall in Brent prepared to unleash tril- Wednesday said that requires additional hands the company said. priority item to your quarterly basis. prices to as low as $20 in lions of dollars of spend- Russia would like to see for delivery as well as Big e-commerce plat- doorstep is vital as com- On December 31, the the second quarter, a level ing to reduce the fallout the oil price higher than warehouse management. forms like Amazon and munities practice social- government kept inter- factories not seen since early 2002. from the coronavirus. current levels. The stock levels also have Flipkart are also stepping distancing, particularly est rates for savings German carmaker BMW said it The bank expects a The impact on demand is Saudi Arabia’s energy been increased to ensure up hiring to meet higher for the elderly and others schemes like PPF and would close European and demand contraction of 8 starting to show in official ministry, however, said it availability,' said Abhinay demand. Though Amazon with underlying health NSC unchanged at 7.9 South African factories million barrels per day statistics, with Japan’s had directed national oil Choudhari, co-founder of India has not revealed its issues. We are seeing a sig- per cent for the January- accounting for half its output (bpd) by late March and an trade bureau saying on company Aramco to con- BigBasket.com. hiring plans yet, it has nificant increase in March quarter while the for a month, matching other car annual decline in 2020 of Wednesday that crude tinue to supply crude oil at Grofers too is increasing approached flexi staffing demand, which means our rate for the Kisan Vikas giants stricken by coronavirus 1.1 million bpd, which it imports into the world’s a record high 12.3 million its headcount to deliver companies seeking more labour needs are unprece- Patra maturing in 113 containment measures. It also said would be the biggest third-biggest economy in bpd over the coming products as it has also hands. dented for this time of months was kept at 7.6 warned that profits this year on record. February were down 9 per months. —Agencies seen a similar growth in Rituparna Chakraborty, year," Amazon Inc said in per cent. —PTI would be significantly lower as demand for products. president, Indian Staffing its blog. a result of the crisis. BMW's factories around Europe com- bined with the South Africa plant accounted for half the 2.56 million cars it built in 2019. Surging US dollar is next big Gold falls as investors headache for world economy Bajaj Finance shift to safety of cash MICHELLE JAMRISKO Africa, Indonesia and reappoints MARCH 18 Brazil are expected to SANGEETHA G moving in a wide range POUND NOSEDIVES AGAINST reduce their key rates in CHENNAI, MARCH 18 between $1,460 and $1,530. King Dollar is creating a coming days. The average daily move- Jain as MD new headache for virus- DOLLAR TO 1985 LOW New research from the Gold prices have ment in gold has signifi- battered economies global- Bank for International remained quite volatile in cantly moved up in March Bajaj Finance said its board has ly, with emerging markets London, March 18: stood at $1.1861."Sterling Settlements shows that the past few sessions as compared to what it was reappointed Rajeev Jain as especially vulnerable as Sterling tanked on has completed one of its since the global financial US dollar gaining strength in February. managing director for a further they try to cope with col- Wednesday against the steepest declines in mem- crisis, unexpected dollar despite the US Federal “The pandemic scare is period of five years with effect lapsing currencies and dollar, hitting its lowest ory by hitting its weakest appreciation depresses Reserve bringing down making investors hold on from April 1, 2020, the compa- plunging demand. level since 1985 as level since 1985, exclud- world trade growth. A rea- the interest rate. The book their profits in gold to cash rather than invest- ny said in a regulatory filing. Investors are fleeing investors snapped up the ing... the brief dive of the son for this could be a Covid-19 pandemic fears to cover margin calls in ing it any asset class. This Jain is the managing director of emerging markets in safe haven US currency October 2016 flash crash," tightening in financial are forcing investors to equities. sentiment has supported our company since April 1, record numbers and piling in markets panicked by said Markets.com analyst conditions as dollar lend- keep cash in hand rather “Hedge funds had to US dollar,’ said Himanshu 2015. He has more than 26 into the safe-haven green- the coronavirus out- Neil Wilson. "This seems ing to emerging markets than investing in assets. cover their losses in equi- Gupta, vice president and years of experience in the con- back, with two emergency break. The pound slid to be an offloading of slows, according to the Though the long-term ties and hence they were head of commodities and sumer lending industry. He was interest-rate cuts this about 1.9 per cent to risky-ish pounds in research paper. prospects of the metal are increasingly booking prof- currencies research, earlier with Countrywide month by the Federal $1.1828, according to favour of safer dollars." Outflows from emerging bright, volatility will con- its in gold, which had gone Globe Capital. Consumer Financial Services, Reserve doing nothing to Bloomberg data. It later —AFP markets are already at tinue in the short-term. up around 40 per cent in While the volatility will ANZ Grindlays Bank and Amex. diminish the dollar's record levels, reaching $30 On Wednesday, gold fell the past one-and-half continue in the short appeal. billion in 45 days amid the as much as 2.7 per cent as year,” said Jateen Trivedi, term, the fundamentals With the dollar more cies as well if they cut too struggle as investors steer virus outbreak, according investors to dump most senior research analyst, are supportive of gold in Printed & Published by integrated into the world much. clear of relatively risky to the Institute of assets for the safety of commodities and curren- the medium to long-term. T Venkateswarlu on behalf of Deccan economy than ever before, "The surge in the dollar assets and maintain a bias International Finance. All cash. cies, LKP Securities. “Once the epidemic sub- Chronicle Holdings Limited, Printed at its gains are an added is another blow to emerg- for safe havens." major emerging-market Gold has fallen from its However, gold should sidies, we will start hear- Deccan Chronicle Press at Deccan stress for businesses and ing markets," said Mitul Turkey's central bank currencies tracked by recent highs above $1,700 have moved up after the ing about the impact of it Chronicle Holdings Ltd. #563/9/D&9/E, governments as they brace Kotecha, senior emerging was the latest emerging Bloomberg have weakened per ounce to touch a US Federal Reserve low- on the global economy in Behind Andhra Bank Pet Basheerbagh, for soaring costs on their markets strategist at TD market to make an emer- against the dollar since recent low of $1,450. In the ered the interest rates and the coming quarters. This Kompally, Ranga Reddy Dist. Editor: dollar debt. The dilemma Securities in Singapore. gency rate cut. South January 20—the onset of Indian market, gold prices announced the bond buy- will see investors flocking T.Venkatram Reddy, RNI Reg for emerging market cen- "The demand for the dollar Korea, Chile, Vietnam, Sri Covid-19 concerns in have slid from around ing programme. Both are towards gold,” said Gupta. No.APENG/2008/24282. © All rights tral banks is that as they has outweighed any hit to Lanka and Pakistan Asia—with the Russian `45,000 per 10 gm to factors that, in any nor- Goldman Sachs has low- reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part slash interest rates to sup- the US currency from already eased this week ruble and Mexican peso `39,700. The fall in the bul- mal scenario, would have ered the three-six month without written permission of The Editor, port growth, they risk sharply lower Fed rates. following the Fed's action dropping almost 20 per lion market was a result of supported another rally in gold forecast to $1,600, but Financial Chronicle ® is prohibited. destabilising their curren- EM assets will continue to on Sunday, and South cent. —Bloomberg the equity market crash as gold. But, gold has has retained the 12-month the hedge funds went on to remained highly volatile, forecast at $1,800. GAMES pg DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | THURSDAY | 19 MARCH 2020 15

SHORT TAKES My focus is on IPL for now: ABD New Delhi: Even as the world is Count(y) on it engulfed by the coronavirus pandemic, a burning question in every cricket fanatic’s mind is whether AB de Villiers will Vihari says he is gearing indeed come out of retirement and represent the country in the World T20 that is slated to up for a County stint be played in Australia later in the year. While there have been quite a few opinions on the New Delhi, March 18: Gade matter, the former South Africa Hanuma Vihari wanted to utilise the skipper is keen to follow the summer months playing Vrinda Rathi (left) and Janani Narayanan. “wait and watch” policy rather county cricket in England but the than making a statement. De Covid-19 pandemic has put paid to Villiers said that he is taking BANGAR TURNS DOWN the India allrounder’s plans for the things slowly, he will assess the time being. situation only after playing the Slowly becoming a key member of Vrinda & Janani Indian Premier League and BATTING CONSULTANT the Indian Test side, the 26-year-old check what is possible and wants to hone his skills with a what isn’t. "Let”s wait and see ROLE FROM BANGLA prominent county side but now the what happens. My focus is on deal will be inked when the situation New Delhi, March 18: make ICC grade the Indian Premier League at Former comes under control and travel bans the moment, and helping Royal India batting coach Sanjay are lifted globally. Dubai, March 18: The Challengers Bangalore realise Bangar has decided against tak- “I was supposed to play four number of women match UMPIRES | PANEL our full potential. Then we will ing the Bangladesh Cricket English county games this season. I officials across different sit down and have a look at the Board’s offer to become its Test would only be able to tell you the International Cricket level,” she said. rest of the year and see what is team’s consultant citing his per- name when all the paperwork is Council panels has gone Janani, 34, who idolises possible,” he explained. The sonal and professional commit- complete. Right now, it’s on hold due up to 12 as Chennai’s the late David Shepherd fate of the 13th edition of the ments. to the unavoidable situation (COVID- Janani Narayanan and of England and retired IPL though hangs in balance Bangar was offered to coach 19)”. Mumbai’s Vrinda Rathi India umpire Srinivas due to the coronavirus out- Bangladesh batsmen in red-ball The Andhra man is confident that were on Wednesday na- Venkatraghavan, has break. And while the BCCI and cricket eight weeks ago but he he will be able to travel to the UK med in the International been umpiring in Indian the IPL franchises are keeping could not take up the offer as he during the later part of the county Panel of ICC domestic tournaments no stones unturned to ensure signed a two-year contract with season which is played from April to Development Umpires. since 2018. that the tournament is played, it Star Sports in the interim. September. “Hope once it’s under The announcement Janani said: “It feels will all depend on the calls “They offered me the position control, I will be able to play those comes soon after the great to know that Vrinda taken by the Indian government eight weeks ago. games. It will be a learning experi- launch of 100 per cent and I have been inducted and the health department. But in the interim, I finalised ence for me,” said the soft spoken Cricket, a 12-month cam- into the ICC’s develop- While the South African feels finalised my contract with Star Vihari. paign anticipated to build ment panel. This gives me that workload management is a which gave me the opportunity The BCCI, in recent years, has on the momentum of the the chance to learn from personal call, he does believe to balance out my personal allowed top cricketers who are not ICC Women’s T20 World seniors on the circuit and that the mental and physical and professional com- playing in the IPL to compete in Cup 2020. The campaign, improve in the years to demand on the top stars is mitments. county cricket during the summer launched just before come. massive thanks to the non-stop However, I look months. The likes of Cheteshwar 86,174 people watched the “Cricket has become cricket action. — Agencies forward to work- Pujara, Ishant Sharma, final of the ICC Women’s part of my daily routine ing with BCB in Ravichandran Ashwin and Ajinkya T20 World Cup 2020 final since the 90s and I look the future,” Rahane are some of the prominent at the Melbourne Cricket forward to be associated Finch not sure of Bangar said. Test specialists who have plied their Ground on International with the sport at a higher Former trade in division 1 and 2 of English Women’s Day, aims to cre- level,” Janani added. South Africa county. ate more excitement Rathi, 31, a former var- IPL participation batsman Neil Vihari’s commitment to the game around the women’s game sity player who has kept Sydney: Australian captain McKenzie is pri- can be gauged from the fact that he ahead of the ICC scores in international Aaron Finch spoke about the marily working played for his employers Nelson CC Women’s Cricket World matches, has also been coronavirus pandemic and how with the in the Tamil Nadu CA league on Cup 2021 in New Zealand. umpiring in Indian it has been affecting cricketers Bangladesh side for Sanjay Bangar Tuesday. He scored 202 not out Adrian Griffith, ICC domestic cricket since in the country. Finch, the limit- the shorter formats. against Alwarpet CC in a drawn Senior Manager– 2018. Rathi was inspired ed overs captain of the team, Bangar was with the Indian game. “I work for Nelson and I am Umpires and Referees: to take up umpiring after said that Australia’s travel advi- team from 2014 to 2019. The committed to play when I am avail- “These are exciting times watching retired woman sory issued on Tuesday makes West Indies tour, which took able. It was good match practice. for women’s cricket, and umpire Kathy Cross of things uncertain for those in the place after the World Cup, was Now I am back in Hyderabad. I will it is only appropriate that New Zealand at the country who have contracts his last assignment with the be taking a break for the time we have more women offi- Women’s World Cup 2013. with Indian Premier League Indian team. being,” he informed. cials at the international — Agencies (IPL) teams. Bangar was the only one Talking about his 55 off 70 balls The 2020 season of the IPL whose contract with the Indian against New Zealand on a green top has been postponed from an team was not renewed with at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch, April 15 start and Finch, who head coach Ravi Shastri, bowl- the gutsy right-hander was a touch WHEN VIRAT’S ANTICS IRKED AUSSIE has been signed up by Royal ing coach Bharat Arun and disappointed. “I wouldn’t call it my Challengers Bangalore (RCB) fielding coach R Sridhar retain- best innings. Yes, I was playing well COACH LANGER DURING TEST SERIES this season said that it is hard ing their roles. He has been but that innings didn’t get a victory to plan anything under the cir- busy commentating on the for my team. It was good to score New Delhi, March 18: Gavaskar Trophy 3-1, cumstances. “We’ve never seen game ever since he was runs in tough conditions but you Australian coach Justin their first-ever Test series anything like this,” Finch told replaced by Rathour. The 47- value it more when the team wins,” Langer has revealed that win in Australia. SEN. “That (travel advice) has year-old played 12 Tests and 15 he said. he felt like a “punching “We can’t fight back changed over the last couple of ODIs for India between 2001 and Vihari, who made his debut in bag” after Virat Kohli’s because it felt like we had hours. That could change in two 2004. England, has a decent Test record of aggressive celebrations our hands behind our weeks or three weeks, it's hard “We have spoken with Bangar 552 runs in nine games with an aver- during India’s 2018-19 backs and we just had to to plan anything. But it’s just (for Test batting consultant) but age of just under 37. Incidentally, he tour while also calling out take it. You must be feel- about making sure everyone nothing is finalised yet,” BCB has eight of his nine Tests abroad. “I the “double standards” ing the double standards around you personally is safe chief executive Nizamuddin have the self belief and the team when it comes to sledging the way their captain is and you’re doing everything Chowdhury told reporters in believes that I have the technique to in cricket. carrying on and we sort you can to stop the spread,” he Dhaka earlier on Wednesday. get success in overseas conditions,” India, led by Kohli, of have to be careful,” said. — PTI he said. — PTI enjoyed an unprecedent- Langer said in Amazon’s Paine said that while he would ed summer Down Under, released docu-series titled love to be playing in the winning the Border ‘The Test’. — PTI Sheffield Shield now for Tasmania, the shutdown right now is for reasons bigger than cricket. — Agencies CORONA EFFECT DADA GETS MUCH CORONA IS BIGGER THAN THE GAME: PAINE Melbourne: Australian Test cap- NEEDED BREAK tain Tim Paine on Wednesday New Delhi: With the IPL said the threat of COVID-19 pan- postponed to April 15 and demic is bigger than the game the BCCI office shut down in of cricket and needs to be taken the wake of Covid-19 pan- seriously, justifying the suspen- demic, board president sion of almost all the ongoing Sourav Ganguly has got a action. “As hard as it is for all welcome off day from his cricketers at the moment I think busy schedule. With the it is time that we take a break. I sporting world going into a know it’s even harder this time complete shutdown, the of year when you’ve got finals game of cricket but it’s some- ever-busy former India cap- and trophies are on the line and thing that needs to be taken tain got a chance to cool his it’s all there to be won but this is very seriously,” Paine said via heels on Wednesday. bigger than us, bigger than the Twitter. — PTI Former national volleyball “Corona virus scare .. happy player and secretary of the to sit in the lounge at 5pm .. Sarojini Cricket & Fitness free... can’t remember when Academy G. Kiran Reddy I did last,” Ganguly posted PROTEA CRICKETERS TOLD TO SELF-ISOLATE (right) felicitates former vol- on Instagram. The BCCI Johannesburg: The South case any symptoms show up. leyball coach I. B. Rajendra employees have been told African cricket team has been “We have recommended the Prasad on his appointment as to work from home while asked to self-quarantine for the players social distance them- Sports Director of the Greater there has been no headway next 14 days after returning selves from others and self-iso- Hyderabad Municipal about the fate of IPL even midway from an ODI tour of late for a minimum of 14 days. I Corporation in the City on though a curtailed one looks India due to the Covid-19 pan- think that is proper guidance to Wednesday. imminent if the situation demic. Cricket South Africa’s protect themselves, people comes under control. chief medical officer, Dr Shuaib around them, their families and Ganguly himself had indicat- Manjra, was quoted as saying their communities,” he was HCA matches off ed that a shortened IPL is a that the players have been told quoted as saying by the media possibility if things improve to isolate themselves and will here. due to coronavirus after April 15. — PTI be tested for the deadly virus in — PTI Hyderabad: Owing to the pan- demic coronavirus, the Raja revealing that it was Hyderabad Cricket Association PCB AWAITS TEST RESULTS OF PLAYERS England's Alex Hales. Hales have cancelled all their one-day Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket 19 tests. PSL was postponed on later said he has gone into self- knockout and league matches. Board on Wednesday said Tuesday after the country’s isolation. “We are expecting The association have also put around 100 people, including Cricket Board revealed that a the first results later tonight off biometric attendance for its players, associated with the foreign player showed symp- (Wednesday) or tomorrow employees for now. now-suspended Pakistan Super toms with former captain- (Thursday),” a PCB official said. League have undergone Covid- turned-commentator Ramiz — PTI U-15, U-18 football trials on Sunday Hyderabad: The Reeds Football Monkeygate lowest point: Ponting Academy is organising football trials in the boys Under-15 and Melbourne, March 18: ly abusing Australian all- 77 Tests and 164 triumphs the case because the Under-18 categories at their Australia’s two-time rounder Andrew in 228 ODIs, said. hearing was at the end of Bowenpally Ground in the city world Cup-winning for- Symonds during the sec- Harbhajan was eventu- the Adelaide Test on Sunday. Players born mer skipper ond Test at Sydney. ally cleared of the charge match,” Ponting added. between 2006 and 2007 are Ricky Ponting considers “Monkeygate was proba- and Symonds’ career The incident created a eligible for the U-15 trials and the 2008 ‘Monkeygate’ bly the lowest (point in went into a downward lot of bitterness between those born in 2003 can partici- scandal the lowest point career as captain). spiral after the incident. the two teams with India pate in the U-18 category. of his captaincy stint as Losing the 2005 Ashes “It was a low point and threatening to pull out of Interested footballers must he feels he was not in series was tough but I also because it dragged the tour before the ICC reach the venue by 7 am along control of what was hap- was in full control of on for so long. I remem- intervened. with a photocopy of their Date pened at that time. that. But I wasn’t in full ber coming off the “We all felt let down by of Birth proof and one passport The scandal unfolded control of what happened ground during the the end result (of the the size photo. For further details when senior Indian off- during the Monkeygate Adelaide Test match and Monkeygate controver- contact 9030035854 or spinner Harbhajan Singh thing,” Ponting, who led speaking to Cricket sy),” Ponting added. 9030815397. was charged with racial- Australia to 48 wins from Australia officials about — PTI GAMES pg DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | THURSDAY | 19 MARCH 2020 16

SHORT TAKES Dutee hit No plans to push as event is Wimbledon yet Games on tenterhooks London: Wimbledon organisers postponed are still planning to play the Grand Slam this year, despite Dark cloud over Tokyo Olympics, admits IOC New Delhi, March 18: the coronavirus chaos that led India’s fastest woman the French Open to be pushed Dutee Chand is wary of back until September. Lausanne, March 18: missing out of the Wimbledon is scheduled to run Olympic chiefs acknowl- Olympics after she was from June 29 to July 12, but All edged Wednesday there deprived of her training- England Club chiefs are aware was no “ideal” solution to cum-competition stint in the sporting schedule has been staging the Tokyo Germany due to the decimated by the deadly Olympics amid a backlash Covid-19 pandemic, which pandemic. Wimbledon remain from athletes as the deadly affected her plans to qual- hopeful that play at the grass- coronavirus pandemic ify for the Tokyo Games. court tournament will be able swept the globe. The 24-year-old Dutee to go ahead if the spread of the “This is an exceptional was to train and take part virus is slowed. situation which requires in Olympic qualifying UNCERTAINTY LOOMS exceptional solutions,” an events in Germany from OVER US OPEN International Olympic March 2 but despite get- The US Tennis Association Committee spokesperson ting the visa and sponsor- acknowledged Tuesday that said after criticism from ship, she could not make developments in the coron- top athletes that they were it there as Europe has avirus pandemic could dictate being forced to take health now turned into an epi- moving the US Open, now risks should the July 24- centre of the coronavirus scheduled to start in August. August 9 Games go ahead outbreak. But the American federation as scheduled during the “I was to go for a train- said it wouldn’t determine any Covid-19 outbreak. ing-cum-competition stint new date for its flagship Grand “No solution will be ideal in Germany from March Slam without consulting the in this situation, and this 2. I was planning to run in other major championship is why we are counting on some quality competi- organizers, the International the responsibility and soli- tions in Europe and hop- Tennis Federation and the ATP darity of the athletes,” the ing to qualify for the and WTA tours. — AFP IOC spokesperson added. Olympics. But all my Olympic pole vault plans fell apart due to this champion Katerina coronavirus,” Dutee told . Stefanidi and British hep- “I don’t know. I am wor- Berlusconi, Agnelli tathlete Katarina ried that I may not qualify Johnson-Thompson had for the Olympics,” Dutee donate big money earlier both voiced con- said when asked about Milan: Italy’s former prime cerns after the IOC said it how confident she is minister Silvio Berlusconi and was “fully committed” to about qualifying for the country’s multi-industry running the Games as Tokyo Olympics. — PTI Agnelli dynasty have pledged scheduled from July 24. 10 million euros ($11 million) ZERO RISK each to fight the coronavirus A man walks past giant Olympic rings near the new National Stadium in Tokyo last Saturday. crisis. CONSIDERATION Durant is The Turin-based On Tuesday, minutes Agnelli family, whose business before the IOC statement, interests include the Fiat the Euro 2020 football tour- Chrysler group and football nament was delayed for a Olympic torch relay born in Berlin positive giants Juventus, matched the year, bowing to the crisis donation made by the former that has paralysed Europe AC Milan owner Berlusconi. and drastically curtailed Tokyo, March 18: The for corona AC Milan forward Zlatan international travel. torch relay was not always Ibrahimovic set up an online Olympic qualifying tour- a fixture of the modern New York, March 18: fundraiser on Wednesday to naments are among the Olympics, which began in Kevin Durant is reported- help hospitals at the center of swathe of sports events 1896. ly among four Brooklyn the coronavirus outbreak in that have been cancelled The relay tradition start- Nets players who have Italy, with the target of raising 1 or postponed, with only 57 ed at Adolph Hitler’s 1936 tested positive for the new million euros ($1.09 million). percent of athletes book- Berlin Olympics the coronavirus and are in “Italy has always given me so ing their places so far. Games of the XI Olympiad isolation. much and, in this dramatic Johnson-Thompson, the and was the brainchild of The injured Durant, moment, I want to give back world heptathlon champi- Carl Diem, who was the who has yet to play for the even more to this country that on, criticised the IOC for head of the organising Nets since signing for the I love,” Ibrahimovic said in telling athletes to train “as committee. club last year, confirmed a video message to launch best they can”, saying it The Tokyo Olympic relay to The Athletic website he the fundraiser. was at odds with stringent is scheduled to begin its had tested positive for the — AFP government health meas- Japan leg on March 26 in virus. ures. northeastern Fukushima “Everyone be careful, prefecture. take care of yourself and IOC COULD ADJUST Tony Perrottet, in his quarantine. We’re going Roger, uncle of QUALIFYING 2004 book “The Naked to get through this,” Almost any athlete will Olympics” published to Durant was quoted as say- Mayweather, dies concede that getting coincide with the 2004 ing. News that the two- Los Angeles: Roger picked for an Olympic Athens Olympics captured time NBA Finals MVP Mayweather, a two-time world team is as much of a chal- the paradox of the Nazi was among those who had champion turned trainer and lenge as competing for regime appropriating the contracted the virus came uncle of unbeaten boxing great one. relay. soon after the Nets con- Floyd Mayweather, has died at The IOC acknowledged “Ironically, considering firmed four players had the age of 58. “My uncle was on Tuesday just how fraz- its repellent origins, the tested positive for Covid- one of the most important zling the whole process torch race has come to 19. people in my life inside and could be this year, and a symbolize international “Four Brooklyn Nets outside of the ring,” said Floyd few leaders from the ath- brotherhood today, and players have tested posi- Mayweather, who was trained lete community weighed remains a centerpiece of tive for the Covid-19 by his uncle for much of his in on how the uncertainty our own pomp-filled virus. All four players are illustrious career. “Roger was a is plaguing them, as well. Olympic opening cere- presently isolated and great champion and one of the While pushing forward monies,” Perrottet wrote. under the care of team best trainers in boxing,” Floyd for its planned July 24 He added: “The Nazis In this file photo, an athlete lights the lamp surrounded by German soldiers before the 1936 Berlin Olympics. — AP physicians,” the team Mayweather said. start for the Tokyo Games, knew a good propaganda said in a statement. “Unfortunately, his health was the IOC outlined how the symbol when they saw Krupp, Perrottet wrote. the images of Greek gods radio reports from every Olympics were canceled The Nets said they were failing him for several years and invitations might be sort- one.” The first person to set off and goddesses and wanted step of the route, and during World War II notifying known contacts now he can finally rest in peace. ed out if the dozens of Perrottet recounts how on July 20, 1936, was Greek the Olympics to promote filled the Games with the (Tokyo was to hold the of the players including Roger meant the world to me, Olympic trials and quali- the Olympic flame was athlete Konstantin his idea of the supremacy, iconography of ancient 1940 Games) and resumed those from teams who my father Floyd Sr., my uncle fiers slated for this spring run from Greece to Kondylis. The torch mean- the perfection, of the Greek athletics.” in London in 1948. There played against the Nets Jeff, our whole family, everyone and summer around the Germany over 12 days, dered through Greece, German nation. The first Olympic flame have been modifications shortly before the NBA in and around the Mayweather globe get cancelled or post- ending with the lighting of Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, “Hitler took consider- appeared at the 1928 along the way. The flame shut down its season Boxing Gym and the entire poned due to the coron- a “colossal brazier in the Hungary, Austria, able personal interest in Amsterdam Games, and for the Summer Olympics indefinitely on March 12. boxing world.” Roger avirus. There are still Berlin stadium before the Czechoslovakia and the ritual, and pumped then again in 1932 in Los has always been lit in The last team to play the Mayweather won world titles at around 4,700 out of nearly Fhrer’s approving gaze.” Germany with each run- funds into its promotion: Angeles. Ancient Olympia, Greece, Nets was the Los Angeles super featherweight and super 11,000 Olympic spots to be Each of the torches car- ner covering a kilometer The Nazi propaganda There was no relay until but Winter Olympic torch- Lakers, who were stunned lightweight, earning 59 wins in decided. ried the logo of German or 0.62 miles. Perrottet machine covered the torch 1936, and it’s been continu- es have not always been lit 104-102 by Brooklyn on a 20-year ring career. — AFP — Agencies arms manufacturer wrote that Hitler admired relay slavishly, broadcast ous since then. The there. — AP March 10. — AFP

TWO MORE Vimal lashes out at JUVENTUS MEN REPORT SICK overseas coaches Rome: Juventus’s France World New Delhi, March 18: abruptly in late 2017 Cup winner Blaise Matuidi and Former India badminton before joining the Hellas Verona’s Mattia Zaccagni coach Vimal Kumar is Singapore squad. Mala- have both tested positive for extremely disappointed ysia’s Tan Kim Her coronavirus, their Italian League with the way Indonesian stepped down as India’s clubs confirmed on Tuesday. doubles coach Flandy doubles coach early last “Matuidi has undergone med- Limpele left abruptly in year, 18 months before ical tests that have revealed his an Olympic year and his tenure was to end. positivity to the Coronavirus- said foreign appointees “I think they have to be Covid-19,” the Italian must be held account- made accountable. We champions said. able for departing with- need to be very clear that Juve added Matuidi is asympto- out completing their they stick to the group, matic and currently “in volun- tenures. or the certain number of tary home isolation”. Daniele Limpele, who was players that they have to Rugani was the first top-flight hired last March, recent- It was very handle. It should be in footballer to be diagnosed with ly stepped down as unfortunate and the contract,” Vimal coronavirus last Wednesday, India’s doubles coach, unprofessional of said. sending the entire team into citing family reasons, Flandy Limpele to “We are paying them quarantine. In total 13 Italian becoming the fourth leave this way. When huge money, so we have League players have officially such foreign coach to the doubles players to take that responsibili- been diagnosed with the illness have resigned without had qualified for ty. They just can’t walk including seven from completing the tenure. Olympics and had off without notice,” he Sampdoria and three at “It was very unfortu- chances of doing well, said. Fiorentina. Zaccagni had nate and unprofessional to leave in the middle Only four Indian shut- already been in self-isolation as of Flandy to leave this of it, I was disappoint- tlers — Sindhu, B. Sai a precautionary measure after way. When the doubles Praneeth and men’s dou- Verona played Sampdoria on players had qualified for ed. bles pair of Chirag March 8. — AFP Olympics and had — VIMAL KUMAR, Shetty and Satwiksairaj chances of doing well, to former Indian Rankireddy — are leave in the middle of it, badminton coach assured of a spot at the Regd. No. H/SD/509/2018-20 I was disappointed,” Tokyo Games. There is Printed and Published by Vimal, who served as denly he left just before little hope that Saina T. Venkateswarlu on behalf of India’s chief national All England,” he added. Nehwal and Kidambi Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited. coach from 2003 to 2006, Earlier, Korean Kim Ji Srikanth will be able to Printed at Deccan Chronicle Press said. Hyun, who guided P. V. make the cut, especially situated at Plot No. 9 Alwal Village, Vallabh Nagar Taluk, Medchal “I had a long chat with Sindhu to a world cham- after Badminton World Malkajgiri Dist. Telangana and him in January. He had pionship gold, made an Federation (BWF) was Published at 36, S.D. Road, said then that some play- unceremonious exit last forced to postpone all Secunderabad-3. ers were not disciplined September. Renowned events due to the Covid- RNI Registration No. 3081/1957. but he said he will work Indonesian coach Mulyo 19 pandemic. Editor: Aditya Sinha with them and then sud- Handoyo also resigned — PTI