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JOURNALISM OF COURAGE FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2021, KOLKATA, LATE CITY, 14 PAGES SINCE 1932 `5.00/EX-KOLKATA `6.00 (`12 IN NORTH EAST STATES &ANDAMAN) WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

WILL BE ORDERLYTRANSITION, WOMAN SHOTBYPOLICE, SMALL NUMBER OF EXTREMISTS, says Trump; his Facebook,Instagram three others die during violence as bordersonsedition, says Biden; GDP to contract accountsblockedtill inauguration rioters scale walls, break windows topRepublicans blame Trump 7.7% in current fiscal, advance Trump’s Demockracy estimates show US Congress AANCHALMAGAZINE confirms NEWDELHI,JANUARY7 PULLED DOWN by asharp Biden after contraction in the services, manufacturing and mining ForBudget mob, incited sectors, India’s gross domestic product (GDP) will contract 7.7 calculations per cent in the current finan- by Trump, cial year as againstagrowth of THE FIRSTadvance es- 4.2 per cent in the previous fis- timates of GDP,ob- breaches cal, the firstadvance estimates tainedbyextrapola- releasedbythe National tion of sevenmonths’ Capitol Statistical Office (NSO) on data, arereleasedearly Thursdayshow. to help officers in the The slide in growth in atu- Finance Ministryand NICHOLASFANDOS multuous year that sawthe other departmentsin &EMILYCOCHRANE Covid-19pandemicand the framing the broad con- WASHINGTON,JANUARY7 economic impact of amonths- tours of Union Budget long nationwide lockdown, is 2021-22. The second CONGRESS CONFIRMED deeper than the 7.5per cent advance estimates of President-elect Joseph R. Biden contraction estimated by the GDP will be released Jr.’s victoryearly Thursdaymorn- ReserveBank of India (RBI) in on February26. ing, overwhelmingly repudiat- CONTINUEDONPAGE2 ing adrive by President Donald Trumptooverturn his defeat af- teritculminated in amob of loy- alists storming and occupying Talks today, Tomar the Capitol in ashocking display of violence that shook the core of Americandemocracy. meets sect head, farm Therewas no parallel in modern American history,asin- unions say no link surgentsacting with the presi- dent’s encouragement vandal- izedSpeaker Nancy Pelosi’s office, smashing windows,loot- ing artand brieflytaking control of the Senatechamber,where theytook turns posing forpho- An explosion causedbypolice munition afterUSPresident Donald Trump's supporters breachedthe Capitol Building on Wednesday. Reuters tographs with fistsuponthe dais whereVice President Mike Pence had justbeen presiding. Outside the building,they erected agallows,punctured the The Invasion: ransacked House, screams, tyres of apolice SUV,and lefta note on itswindshield saying, “PELOSI IS SATAN.” broken glass —and some surreal glee Farmers during atractor march from Delhi’s Singhu border The attackbyrebels carrying to Tikri on Thursday. AbhinavSaha REPORTS,PAGES5&9 pro-Trumpparaphernalia stoppedthe electoral counting forseveral hours and sent law- ZOLANKANNO-YOUNGS, EXPLAINED and the protesting farmers, makers and Pence fleeing. But by SABRINATAVERNISE EXPERT EXPLAINS HARIKISHANSHARMA Tomar playeddownthe meet- the time the Senatereconvened &EMILYCOCHRANE &KAMALDEEPSINGH ing and the farm unions said in areclaimedCapitol, one of the WASHINGTON,JANUARY7 ANATOMYOF BRAR the religious leader wasn't nation’s mostpolarizing mo- Even though Itotally INSURRECTION NEWDELHI,AMRITSAR,JAN7 speaking forthem. mentshad yieldedanunex- disagree with the THE MOB of Trumpsupporters BY AMITABH MATTOO P11 Friday's talkswill be be- pected moment of solidarity that outcome of the pressedthrough police barri- ADAY ahead of the eighth tween aministerial committee brieflyeclipsedpartisan division. election, and the facts cades, brokewindows and bat- round of talkswith farmer or- including Tomar,Food Minister Republicans and Democrats bear me out, teredtheir waywith metalpoles found himself captive in the ganisations to break the dead- Piyush Goyaland Ministerof lockedarms to denounce the vi- nevertheless there will through entrances to the Capitol. House chamber. lockoverthe newagricultural Statefor Commerce and olence and express their deter- Then, stunningly,theybreached What unfoldedatthat point, laws,AgricultureMinister IndustrySom Prakash, and 41 mination to carry out what they be an orderly transition the “People’s House” itself, forc- at times on national television, NarendraSingh Tomar on representativesoffarm organ- calledaconstitutionallysacro- on January 20th... This ing masked police officers to wasatableauofviolence and Thursdaymet religious leader isations. The Agriculture sanct function. Theyrefused, by represents end of the draw their guns to keep the in- mayhem that shockedthe na- Baba Lakha Singh, one of the Ministryofficials Thursdayheld resounding bipartisan majori- greatest first term in surgentsoff the chamber floor. tion, one of the mostseverein- heads of the Nanaksar Sikh sect informal internal talkstopre- ties, to deliverTrumpthe elec- presidential history...” “I thought we’d have to fight trusions of the Capitol since the basedinPunjab. While Baba parefor the meeting. Sources tion reversal he demanded. our wayout,” said British invadedduring the War Lakha Singh, who has been or- said before the talksinthe af- Pence, breaking with the DONALD TRUMP AsupporterofPresident Donald Trumpinside the Capitol Representative Jason Crow, of 1812 and burneditdown. ganising langar at the protest ternoon, the ministers maycall President he has loyallyserved, US PRESIDENT Building, Washington DC, on Wednesday. NYT Democrat of Colorado and afor- An armedstandoffensuedin sites, said he wishedtomedi- on Home MinisterAmit Shah. CONTINUEDONPAGE2 mer ArmyRanger in Iraq, who CONTINUEDONPAGE2 atebetween the government CONTINUEDONPAGE2

Democratic process THE EDITORIAL PAGE Horrific scene... not America at its Looking into facts of AMERICAATTACKS can’t be subverted by AMERICA best, says US envoy as he wraps up Srinagar gunfight that BY PRATAP BHANU MEHTA unlawful protests: PM P10 news coming out of killed 3, says J&K L-G JANUARY6 SHUBHAJITROY Washington, D.C. when we woke Don’t justblame the mob. NEWDELHI,JANUARY7 up on Thursdaymorning. While SHUBHAJITROY BUSINESSASUSUAL Trumplit the fire protests in our countryare part ARUNSHARMA NEWDELHI,JANUARY7 PAGE 6 US AMBASSADOR to India of our democracy,itisunaccept- &BASHAARATMASOOD BY UNNY Kenneth IJustersaid Thursday able fortheretobeviolence asso- JAMMU,SRINAGAR,JAN7 AS SOUTH Blockwatchedthe that he was“very sad” to see the ciated with them, and the storm- Manoj unprecedented scenes of chaos WORLD violence in Washington DC and ing of the US Capitol wasa J&K L-GManoj Sinha said Sinha in Washington DC, with pro- described the storming of the US horrific scene. This is not Thursdaythat he is “looking Trumpsupporters storming the Capitol as a“horrific scene” that America at itsbest. Lawlessness intothe facts” related to the al- US Capitol, Prime Minister was“notAmerica at itsbest”. and rioting in the United States leged gunfight on the outskirts INDUSTRY PACKAGE NarendraModi Thursdayjoined Speaking to The Indian —orinany country—isalways of Srinagar city latelastmonth CLEARED FOR J&K achorus of worldleaders in ex- Express during adetailedinter- unacceptable. It has no place in in whichsecurity forces killed PAGE 9 pressing concern over the turn viewonhis three-year stint in THEEXPRESS anydemocracy,” Justersaid. three youths who, they of eventsand said that “orderly VIOLENCE JOLTS U.S., India, the outgoing US envoy also The Ambassador's comments claimed, were “militants”. and peaceful transfer of power said that lawlessness and rioting INTERVIEW aresignificant as he is apolitical “I want to saythis with all probed,’’ Sinha said. He wasre- TRUMP ISOLATED mustcontinue”. is “always unacceptable” and has KENNETH IJUSTER appointee who waspickedbythe responsibility that if anything sponding to questions from re- “Distressedtosee news FULL COVERAGE, PAGE 12 no place in anydemocracy. U.S. AMBASSADOR TO INDIA Trumpadministration forthe job is found suspicious in the mat- porters during an interaction CONTINUEDONPAGE2 “It wasverysad to see the CONTINUEDONPAGE2 ter, Iwill definitelyget it CONTINUEDONPAGE2

PAGE 1 ANCHOR Thane shows the way, slum marks aroom formenstrual hygiene

‘period room’ has aurinal, ajet- that assistedthe Thane that in the absence of dustbins Dipali Nikam, adomestic block, JyotiShinde, 30, is also do- MAYURAJANWALKAR spray,atoilet-roll holder,soap, Municipal Corporation in creat- in public toilets,manywomen help who has been living in ing her bit. Extracareful these MUMBAI,JANUARY7 running waterand what public ing it, said it will inform women who usedthem had no option Lokmanya Nagarfor 25 years, days againstthefts due to "the toilets neededmost—adustbin. in the slum about it during their but to dispose of sanitaryprod- says the period room shows how things installedinthe period IN THE grimy, narrowalleys of Thane Municipal Corporation is regular menstrual hygiene ses- uctsanywaytheycould. muchthings have changed. room", she says,"Afew girls Thane’s Lokmanya Nagar, aone- planning to have sucharoom sions. Says founder Nishant MamtaVishwakarma, 30, Planning to talk to her friends have come and seen it. Itry and storey toiletblockstands out for nowacross itspublic toilets. Bangera, “Werealisedthat there says mostwomen have a mohri who have daughters about it, she tell them about itsbenefitsif itsfreshlypainted outer wall in "This is alow-costinnovation arenourinals designedfor (small washing area) in their says,“When we were young, we theyask.Itold afew other shades of green and yellow, and that took onlyRs45,000.Wewill women anywhere. The urinal homes and use that to change didn’t have the sanitarypads women too." amessage: “Menstrual cycle is a replicatethis in all our toilets, we have installedinthe period their sanitaryproducts. But that we have now. Mostofus Joshi says all it will take is for natural process. Tyabaddal lajjas- whichwould mean aminimum room is fashionedout of awash when it comes to disposing usedcloth." women to startusing the period pad ase kahihi nahi (There is of 120community toilets," says basin." them, theymustdoitinaway Nehali Jain, avolunteer with room. "This is abehavioural nothing shameful about it).” Deputy Municipal Commissioner In 2019,Muse Foundation that no familymember notices. Muse Foundation, says theywill changeand behavioural changes One of the 10 toilets in the Manish Joshi. had carriedout asurvey in the 15 "I have notusedthe period room be meeting women around the don't happen very fast.When women's section is nowa‘period With awareness low, not slums of Thane and found that yetbut Iamsureitwill be very Lokmanya Nagartoiletcomplex women who have been changing room’, the firstofits kind in a manyhavestarted using the of the 1,004women it talked to, useful, especiallyfor those who to tell them about the period their sanitarypads at home see public toiletinaslum, whichwas Lokmanya Nagarperiod room 67 per cent did nothaveatoilet The toiletcomplexinThane with the ‘period room’. Deepak Joshi don’t have atoiletathome,” she room. this is abetter, cleaner place,with openedtousers on Monday. The yet. Muse Foundation, an NGO at home. The survey also showed says. The attendant of the toilet water, theywill startusing it." Kolkata WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM 2 THE SECOND PAGE THEINDIANEXPRESS,FRIDAY,JANUARY8,2021

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Pak anti-terrorism FROMPAGEONE court issues arrest The invasion important if he wasinvited or the House chamber,with police of- metTomar on own. "What is warrant for JeM ficers drawing their weapons. Apro- important that Iwant this Trumpprotester casuallymon- US Congress confirms Biden win matter resolved. Iwant to work keyedaround at the dais of the as amediator between the chief Masood Azhar Senate. Intruders in Speaker Nancy made Biden’s victoryofficial just sultslodged by Senators TedCruz And he fought, at last, to turn the assault” on democracy.Hecalled government and farmers. Ihad Pelosi’s suiteoverturneddesksand after3:40 am in Washington, de- of Texasand TommyTuberville of congressional counting intothe foraTVaddress by Trumpto“ful- agood meeting with Tomar," smashedphotos. Others rippedart- claring that Biden had received Alabama justbeforethe violence siteofhis final stand. filhis oath and defend the Baba Lakha Singh said. MZULQERNAIN work in Senatehideawayoffices. 306electoralvotesto Trump’s232 brokeoutintheCapitolfailedover- Farfromdiscouraging con- Constitution and demand an end The religious leader had LAHORE,JANUARY7 “This is what the president has and would be inaugurated the whelmingly in the Senate, 6to93. frontation,Trumphadencouraged to this siege.” extendedsupporttothe farmer causedtoday, this insurrection,” 46th president on January20. TheHouseturneditbackonavote hissupportersearlierWednesday “This is notdissent. It’s disor- agitation muchbeforetheytook AN ANTI-TERRORISM courtinPakistanonThursday Senator Mitt Romney, Republican of “Tothose who wreakedhavoc of 121to303, but morethan half to confront Republican lawmak- der.It’s chaos. It borders on sedi- their protesttothe Delhi issuedanarrestwarrant forMasood Azhar,chief of Utah, said as he and other senators in our Capitol today, youdid not of that chamber’s Republicans ers going againsthim to side with tion, and it mustend now,”Biden borders. He also claims to have the bannedJaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), on chargesof were hustledoff to asecurelocation. win,” Pence had said earlier.“Vio- supportedthe effort to overturn the Constitution. said.“Icallonthismobto pullback known the religious leader of terror financing. This comes days afteranother ter- Some of the protesters gawked lence neverwins. Freedom wins. the election results. “Wewill neverconcede,” he and allowthe work of democracy the Nanaksar sect who killed rorist, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, wasarrestedonsim- at the grand and storiedbuilding Andthisisstillthepeople’shouse.” AchallengetoPennsylvania’s toldagroupof thousandsgathered to go forward.” himself on December 17 near ilar charges. theyhad unlawfullyfloodedwhile Senator MitchMcConnell, resultsbackedbyHawleyended near the WhiteHouse, inveighing Trumpinitiallystayedquietas Kundli, leaving asuicide note The anti-terrorism court(ATC) in Gujranwala is- others looked at it with contempt. Republican of Kentucky and the indefeats,aswell.Skippingdebate againstmembersof hisownparty the mob rampaged through the saying he waspainedoverthe suedthe warrant againstAzhar during ahearing in a “I don’t trustany of these peo- majorityleader, saidthe“failedin- altogether,senatorsvotedto reject preparing to finalize his loss as Capitol. When he did makehim- suffering of the protesters. terror financing case instituted by the Counter ple,”saidEricMartin, 49,awood- surrection” had onlyclarified it 7to92. The House movedmore “weak Republicans, pathetic self heard,itwastocallforsupport Tomar said theyhad not Terrorism Department (CTD) of Pakistan’s Punjab po- worker from Charleston, S.C., as he Congress’s purpose. slowly, buteventuallyvoted138to Republicans” whose leadership forlaw enforcement in atweet giventhe religious leader any lice againstsome members of the JeM. marvelledatthe opulence of the “Theytriedtodisruptour 282 to do the same. had gone “down the tubes.” He that concluded, “Staypeaceful!” proposal. "The government has “ATC Gujranwala judgeNatasha Naseem Suprais- Capitol and helpedafriend wash democracy,”hesaid.“Theyfailed.” The upheavalunfoldedona then repeatedly told them to But notlong after, he releaseda said that if thereisany proposal suedanarrestwarrant forMasood Azhar and directed pepper spray from his eyes. Inastatementjustbefore4am daywhen Democratssecured a march to the Capitol wherethe brief videorepeatinghisdisproved other than repeal, it can discuss the CTD to arrest him and present him in the court. “Absolutepowercorrupts ab- Thursday, the President finally stunningpairof victoriesinrunoff votetallying wasabout to getun- claim that “the election was that.” Asked if he will meet The CTD told the judgethe JeM chief wasinvolvedin solutely.” conceded, saying, “Even though I elections in Georgia, winning ef- derway. The violence beganalit- stolen” and speaking in sympa- other religious leaders from terror financing and selling jihadi literature,” an offi- But if some onlystaredatthe totallydisagreewiththeoutcome fective control of the Senateand tle morethan twohours later. thetic and affectionateterms to Punjab to mediatewith the cial told PTI. Capitol, others resortedtoviolence. of the election, and the factsbear the complete levers of powerin In aspeechjustbeforethe vio- membersof themob.Later,heab- protesting farmers, the minister He said the ATCjudgeissuedthe arrest warrant The Capitol Police fatallyshota meout,neverthelesstherewillbe Washington. And it arrivedas lence brokeout, McConnell, the solvedthe mobsters of their gross said, "I will meeteveryone -- be forAzhar on the requestofaCTD inspector. woman inside the building, accord- an orderly transition on January Congressmetforwhatwouldnor- mostpowerful Republican on assault, effectively arguing that theyfarmers or leaders." Azhar is believedtobehiding in a“safeplace” in his ing to Chief Robert J. Contee of the 20th.” mallyhavebeenaperfunctoryand Capitol Hill, rebuked Trumpand theiractionshadbeenwarranted. Tomar also claimedtohave native town of Bahawalpur. Metropolitan Police Department, Still, the process openedbitter ceremonial session to declare members of his ownparty,warn- “These arethe things and known Baba Lakha Singh from Sources in NewDelhi said that under pressure and multiple officers were injured. wounds within the Republican Biden’s election. ing that the drive to overturn ale- eventsthathappenwhenasacred before.“Iusedtotalk to him... from global terror financing watchdog Financial Another woman and twomen Partythat areunlikelytoquickly The siegewas the climax of a gitimateelection risked sending landslideelectionvictoryissoun- Buttodayhecame to meetme Action Task Force(FATF), Pakistanhas acknowledged around the Capitol diedfromsepa- heal. While some Republicans weekslong campaign by Trump, democracy into“adeath spiral.” ceremoniously&viciously in Delhi, so it became news." Azhar's presence on itsterritory. Pakistanistrying to rate medical emergencies as the whohadplannedtojointheeffort filledwith baseless claims of fraud “Thevoters,thecourts andthe strippedawayfromgreat patriots improveits global standing and to wriggle out of the mob chargedtothe building. to overturnBiden’svictoryagreed and outright lies, to trytooverturn states have all spoken,” said Mr. who have been badly&unfairly Srinagar FATF's grey list. Twoexplosive devices were to drop their challenges afterthe an election that he lost. He fought McConnell,themajorityleader.“If treated forsolong,” Trumpwrote to announce ascheme to boostin- Following the Pulwama terror attackinFebruary found around noon near the head- Capitolsiege,SenatorJoshHawley the result in courtwith dozens of we overrule them all, it would Wednesdayevening in atweet, dustryinthe Union Territorywith 2019 in India, Pakistan's Punjab province police had quarters of the Republican National of Missouripressedforward,keep- spurious lawsuitsthat he lost. He damageour republic forever.” whichTwitter later removed. “Go an outlayofRs28,400crore. launchedacrackdown on terrorism financing, and in Committee, then destroyed by a ingbothchambersinsessionwell outright pressured Republican Biden,inhisownremarks,de- home with love &inpeace. The L-G's commentscome days this connection, arrested six activists of the JeM in bomb squad. And the federal au- pastmidnight. leaders in keybattleground states mandedthat Trumpintervene to Remember this dayforever! afterthe families of the three Gujranwala, some 130kmfromLahore. thorities arresteda70-year-old man An objection to Arizona’s re- to reverse the will of the voters. tamp down an “unprecedented —THENEWYORKTIMES youths killedinLawayporainthe The CTD said itsteams raidedthe whereaboutsof from near the Alabama Capitol with early hours of December 30 alleged the JeM’s “safehouse” and arrested itsmembers — afirearm and materials to makesev- that the incident wasa“staged Muhammad Afzal, Muhammad Amir,Allah Ditta, eral Molotovcocktails. young man put aframedpictureof Washington DC was“notAmerica”. India “the mostfascinating coun- previous year.GDP in nominal gunfight” and that their children Muhammad Iftikhar,Muhammad Ajmal and By Wednesdayevening, the the Dalai Lama in his backpack. He also expressedbelief in the tryinthe world” and “manycoun- terms, whichfactors in inflation, is were innocent. Muhammad Bilal Makki —and recoveredlakhs of ru- scene outside the Capitol had “We’reclaiming the House, and “strength of American democracy”. tries rolledupintoone”. estimated at (-)4.2 per cent as The incident happenedfour pees from their possession. calmed, afterCapitol Police, supple- the Senateisours,” asweaty man in Canadian Prime MinisterJustin againstagrowth of 7.2per cent in days afterJ&K Police fileda “The suspectswerecollecting funds to finance ac- mented by FBI agentsand acheckedshirtshouted,stabbing Trudeausaid the violence “should GDP 2019-20. chargesheetagainstanArmyoffi- tivities of JeM. The chargesheetagainstthem has been Department of Homeland Security his finger in the air. neversucceedinoverruling the will itsDecember 4monetary policy re- With the lowernominal GDP cer and twocivilians over the submitted to the Anti-Terrorism CourtGujranwala officers with members of the —THENEWYORKTIMES of the people”. view. growth rate,the government’s fis- killing of three labourers from and theyare being interrogated,” the CTD said. NationalGuardontheirway, squee- German Foreign MinisterHeiko The projected contraction re- cal math is also expected to take a Rajouri in another "encounter" at Following immense international pressureaf- zedprotesters from everycorner of PM Modi Maas said Trumpand his support- flectsaloss of Rs 11.3 lakh croreof hit. The Budget estimatefor 2020- Shopian in July. terthe Pulwama attack, the Pakistangovernment thebuildingto themajesticRotunda, about rioting and violence in ers “shouldfinallyacceptthe deci- GDP in real absoluteterms from 21 had pegged GDP at Rs 224.89 Sinha, however, said the ad- had arrested over 100members of bannedmilitant then persuadedthem to leave. WashingtonDC.Orderly andpeace- sionof theAmericanvotersandstop lastyear. lakh crore, while the firstadvance ministration needs to “maintain a outfitsincluding the JeM chief’s son and brother. Beforethat wasmayhem. At one fultransferofpowermustcontinue. trampling democracy”. Out of atotal eight sectors, agri- estimates have pegged the nomi- fine balance” to ensurethat “the The government also took control of the JeM, point, as lawmakers and staffmem- The democratic process cannotbe Australian Prime MinisterScott cultureand electricity generation nal GDP at Rs 194.81lakh crore. morale of security forces” is not Mumbai terror attackmastermind Hafiz Saeed’s bers were rushing out of aSenate allowedtobesubvertedthroughun- Morrison, another close allyofthe arethe onlytwo that areprojected Asector-wise breakup of data loweredsince “Jammu and Jamaat-ud-Dawah(uD) and Falahai Insaniat chamber under assault, aides scur- lawful protests,” Modi postedon US,condemnedthe“actsofviolence to be in positive territory, with an forFY21shows the sharpestfall in Kashmir is asensitive Union Foundation (FIF) properties including seminaries riedbacktograbhold of boxescon- Twitter. and looked forwardtoapeaceful estimated growth rate of 3.4 per “trade, hotels, transport, communi- Territory”. “All the details have and mosques across the country. taining the Electoral Collegecertifi- These remarks come amid transferof governmentto thenewly cent and 2.7 per cent respectively. cation and broadcasting services” come to me and Iamlooking into JeM had claimedresponsibility forthe Pulwama cates, making surethat the growing disquietinNew Delhi over elected administration in the great On the expenditureside, except at (-)21.4per cent from 3.6 per cent them.You will getanappropriate terror attackthat killed40CRPF soldiers. protesters could notliterallysteal the manner in whichTrumpre- American democratic tradition”. forgovernment final consumption growth lastyear.This is followedby answer at the appropriatetime,’’ Pakistan’s Punjab government claimedtohave the resultsofthe election. spondedtohis electoral defeat and expenditure, whichhas been esti- 12.6 per cent contraction in the con- he said. takenoverthe administrative control of the JeM head- On the eastside of the complex, his refusal to concede the elections. US envoy mated to increase 5.8 per cent in struction sector as againstagrowth According to police, the three quarters —comprising Madressatul Sabir and Jama- people banged on the glass win- Sourcessaidtherewasconsiderable in the end of 2017.During his term, FY21, other drivers of demand are of 1.3per cent lastyear. youths -- Zubair Ahmad Lone (20) e-Masjid Subhanallah —inBahawalpur. dows.Crowds chargedpastthe front concern at the highestlevels in the the India-US relationship has trans- down sharply: private consump- The Finance Ministryinits of Turkwangam in Shopian, and According to the government, some 600stu- columns, and some pressedtheir Government over the “instability” formed, especiallyindefence, secu- tion expenditureisexpected to statement said the movement of Athar Mushtaq (16) and Ajaz dentsare studying thereand none of them is asso- faces intothe glass. Others in cam- and “unpredictability” in the US rity and energy cooperation. contract 9.5 per cent, and gross various high frequency indicators Maqbool (22) of Pulwama -- were ciated with anybannedoutfit or involvedinany ter- ouflageusedpoles to batter an en- since the November elections. Speaking about his India stint, fixedcapital formation —anindi- in recent months pointstothe killedinanoperation launchedby roractivity. PTI trance to the building, breaking it Besides, President-elect Joe Justermarkedout three incidents cator forprivate investment —is “broad basednatureofresurgence the Armybasedoninputs. open. The crowdthen rushed Biden is aknown commodity for as “lowpoints”: the Pulwama ter- expected to contract 14.5 per cent. of economic activity”. The families, however, said the through, passing through metalde- India’s America hands —External roristattackinFebruary2019, the The (-)7.7 per cent GDP esti- The NSO said the GDP esti- youths had gone to Srinagar for tectors as one man blared aTrump AffairsMinisterSJaishankar,Foreign desecration of the Mahatma materests on the assumption of mates were likelytoundergo some work.While Zubair’s two Woman denies ‘love speechabout the “stolen” election SecretaryHarsh Vardhan Shringla Gandhi statue outside the Indian government expenditurerising 17 “sharp revisions”, as the datacol- brothers areworking in J-K Police, through aspeaker. and Indian ambassador to the US Embassy in Washington DC last per cent year-on-year in the sec- lection forthe underlying macro- Ajaz wasthe son of apoliceman. jihad’ charge, mob As debateprogressedinthe Taranjit Singh Sandhu have dealt summer,and the Galwan Valleyin- ond half of the fiscal from the 3.9 economic indicators likeIIP and CPI “My brother washome that day House chamber over aRepublican with him in his previous roles. cident in which20Indian soldiers per cent contraction seen in the usedinthe national income esti- (December 29) till 2pm. How protestofArizona’s Electoral College OnNovember17,assoonasitbe- were killedinviolent clashes with firsthalf. This, economists said, mates were impacted due to re- could he become amilitant within chases man’s family votes forPresident-elect Joseph R. came clear that Trumpwas losing Chinese troops. would be crucial forthe sustain- strictions imposedinMarch last twohours (whenthe allegedgun- Biden Jr., fewlawmakers knewof the elections, Modi wasamong the On the air strikes in Balakot, ability of the overall FY21GDP es- year in viewofthe pandemic. fight started)? Therewas no record AVANEESHMISHRA the commotion. But Capitol Police worldleadersto congratulateBiden Justersaid the US wasconcerned timate. with anysecurity agency against LUCKNOW,JANUARY7 officers were quietlylocking down and Vice President-elect Kamala about the possibility of escalation. “A 3.7% contraction in GVAof Tomar him. We want aprobe.Therewas the building, instructing everyone Harris on their victory. “Wheneverthere’s apotential public administration and mere With the government asimilar incident in Shopian. There TENSION PREVAILSatNagla Mulla villageinFirozabad in the hallways to shelter in place Until then, India had engaged conflict or an actual engagement, 5.8% growth in GFCE (lowest in last insisting that therewas no also theyclaimedtohaverecov- afteraMuslim family, one of whose men is facing and preparing reporters forthe pos- proactively with the Trumpadmin- we arealways concernedthat sevenyears) at atime when the question of agreeing to the ered weapons from the dead mili- chargesundertheanti-conversionlaw, waschasedeven sibility of doing so in the chamber. istration over the pastfour years — something could escalate. And all economyisfacing itsworstisabit farmers' demand of repeal of the tants. But they, too, turnedout to as the 19-year-old woman involvedinthe case gave a Justafter 2.30 pm, apolice officer Trumpwas the keyguestattwo parties arehoping that therecan intriguing. Imputed GVAgrowth of laws,MinisterofState, be civilians,” said Mohammad testimonycounteringtheallegations.Inastatementon steppedonthe dais and informed public events, in Houstonin be restraint shown and the situa- public administration (3.3%) and Agriculture, Kailash Choudhary ShafiLone, brother of Zubair. Thursdaybeforeamagistrate, the woman said she had lawmakers that theymight needto September2019 andinAhmedabad tion can de-escalate. That’s been GFCE growth (17.0%) in 2HFY21 said morereforms were planned Thefamilieshave alsodemanded lefthomewiththe Muslim youth, 23, of her ownfree duckunder their chairs. in February2020. our perspective with the border suggests that these estimates are forthe agriculturesector,and thereturnof thebodiesof theyouths. will,hadgot marriedtohimincourtandnotconverted. “Wenow have individuals that At the Howdy Modi event in disputes with China —that people contingent on government (both these could also face protests. “I want justice. Idon’t needmoney. I Thepolicesaidseveralpeoplefromthewoman'svil- have breachedthe Capitol building,” Houston, the Prime Minister, who want to trytoresolve the issues central and states) spending. “The farm unions areagitating onlywant the body of my son. He lage, the neighbouring Jamalpur,gathered outside the he said, warning them to be pre- has referred to Trumpasa“true peacefully. Now, on terrorism is- “If GFCE growth slows down to under the influence of arhatiyas wasonly16,” said Mushtaq Ahmad, house of the accusedand chasedhis familymembers paredto relocatetothe cloakrooms. friend of India”, had famouslyre- sues, it’s also understood that 10%from17% in 2HFY21, 2HFY21 (commission agents). This is the father of Athar Mushtaq. on Wednesday. The police said theyacted before any “Theyare in the Rotunda.” marked: “Abki Baar TrumpSarkar”. countries mayneedtotakesome GDP contraction will increase to beginning. Going forward, the On January4,J-K Police re- violence brokeout and forces were deployedinboth Awooden chestwas pushedin Major US allies likethe UK, responsive action when that oc- 0.4% from 0.1% and FY21contrac- pesticide Bill (Pesticides leasedtwo videos on Twitter that the villages. front of the main doors to the cham- France, Germany, Australia, EU con- curs. If that’s the case, you’rehop- tion will widen to 7.9% from esti- Management Bill, 2020) and purportedlyshowedsoldiers mak- The woman had lefthome with the youth on ber. Security officers drew their demnedthe Capitol violence. ing it would be proportionateto mated 7.7%,” Sunil Kumar Sinha, seedBill will also come. At that ing announcementsand asking the December 22, and on December 26, acase under the guns, pointing and shouting at the NATOsecretarygeneral Jens that incident,” he said. principal economist, India Ratings time too, they(farmers) can be three youths “tosurrender”. anti-conversion lawand of kidnapping waslodged entrance, as lawmakers, staffaides Stoltenbergsaid: “Shocking scenes He also spokeabout the trip &Research said. misguided... So, this is the However, while GoC (Kilo Force) H againsthim. On Monday, the woman wastracedand and reporters coweredinthe top inWashington,D.C.Theoutcomeof hostedbythe Centrefor diplomats Dharmakirti Joshi, chief econo- beginning of transformation for SSahi said that when giventhe op- brought backtoher family; the police arelooking for levels of the chamber.Therewas a thisdemocraticelectionmustbere- to Jammu and Kashmir in January mistatCRISIL Research,said, farmers," he said. tion to “surrender,the militants the 23-year-old. bang, and everyone wastold to get spected.” 2020, following the bifurcation of “Excluding agricultureand public Baba Lakha Singh said he had openedfire”, the videos do notin- Matsaina Station Officer VinayKumar Mishrasaid, down. British Prime MinisterBoris the state, and calleditan“impor- administration, GVAgrowth stands told the farmer unions about his clude the sound of anybulletbeing “Thewomansaidtheyhadacourtmarriagebeforerun- In asurreal scene of chaos and Johnson described the storming of tant and valuable” opportunity.He at (-)10%. On the expenditureside, meeting with Tomar,and asked firedorany other response. ning away.Asper her claims, theyhad anikaah. But we glee, hundredsofTrumployalists the Congress as “disgraceful”. “The said that the US has publiclyex- excluding government consump- them to getbackiftheyhad any Replying to another question areverifying the documentsprovidedbyher,asthey roamedthe halls, taking photosand United States stands fordemocracy pressedits hope forrestoration of tion, GDP growth stands at (-)9.5%.” messagefor the government. On about restoration of 4G mobile data showher name as Zeenat and she claims she has not breaking intooffices. No police offi- around the worldand it is nowvital full access to the InternetinJ&K, The growth rate in terms of what Tomar told him, he said, "It servicesinJ&K,Sinhasaidthatacourt converted... She is denying the allegations that she was cers were in view. In aroom where that thereshould be apeaceful and and forthe realisation of economic gross value added(GVA) —which would notbewise to discuss committee is examining the issue. forced intothe marriage." therewereimages of mountains orderly transfer of power,”hesaid. benefitsthat have been discussed is GDP minus netproduct taxes, anything in public. It would “Hopefully, therewill be good news Mishraaddedthat the woman said she had known and maps of Oregon on the wall, a FrenchPresident Emmanuel by all parties. and reflectsgrowth in supply—is dilutethe purpose." soon in the coming days,” he said. the 23-year-old forthe pastthree years and theywere man in aleather jacket rippeda Macron stood before Frenchand US The envoy signalledthat he was seen contracting to 7.2per cent in Asked howthe meeting had FULL REPORTS ON in love. scroll with Chinese characters. A flagsto statethat what happenedin leaving on ahappynoteashecalled 2020-21from3.9 per cent in the come about, he said it wasnot www.indianexpress.com

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THEINDIANEXPRESS,FRIDAY,JANUARY8,2021 2021 3 DECISION BENGAL

ONRECORD RIGHTTOPUBLICSERVICECOMMISSION Buildgallowsifyoucanprovethe Zero hearings in 4yrs but extortioncharge:AbhishektoBJP Rs 40 crore spent: TMC Diamond Harbour MP and Suvendu Adhikari trade charges, accuse eachother of corruption govt’s grievance redressal

criticism theyface, the CPI(M) EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE and the Leftleaders did alot of panel comes acropper KOLKATA,JANUARY7 good work.The TMC ruined everything. In the education sec- TRINAMOOL CONGRESS (TMC) tor, forexample, the appoint- the nodal department, did not firmedthat the responsibility of MP Abhishek Banerjee on ment of teachers has stopped ATRIMITRA cooperatewith the commission. the commission and the com- ThursdaylashedoutattheBJPfor and corruption has creptin.” KOLKATA,JANUARY7 “The commission has im- missioner is to design advertise- levelling corruption allegations At the Gangarampur rally, mense potential but the depart- mentsand publicity campaigns. againsthim, daring the whichwas streamedliveon ACOMMISSION setupbythe ment neverprovidedussufficient The chief commissioner has to Oppositionpartyto “buildgallows Facebook,Banerjee labelledBJP MamataBanerjee government manpowertoaddress different supervise all suchmatters of the inpublic[soIcan]embracedeath” national leaders “outsiders”, say- to address grievances related to problems facedbypeople while commission. But theycannot if theycan provethe accusations. ing, “Theyneither speak Bengali public services did notconduct trying to access different govern- dispose of appeals and com- “Theyare attacking me every nor do theyknowthe historyand asingle hearing between 2015, ment services. We approached plaintstoensuretimelydelivery day. Theysay ‘remove the extor- cultureofBengal. Bengal will not when it wasset up, and 2019,a the department multiple times to of public services. The depart- tionistnephew'. Ihavesaid this bowbeforeGujarat. Nobody can Right to Information (RTI) ac- provide us sufficient infrastruc- ment engaged private advertis- earlier,and Iamsaying this again teachuspatriotism.” tivisthas found. turebut theywerenot ready to ing agencies foradvertisements infrontof thecamerashere,letthe The MP criticisedthe Twoyears aftercoming to help us,” Ghoshsaid. and publicity purposes and gave CBI and Enforcement Directorate Opposition party on ahostofis- power, the Trinamool Congress He claimedthatthe commis- hugeadvertisements.” conductaprobe.Ifitisprovedthat sues, ranging from the Doklam (TMC) administration enacted sion had no control over the ad- However, the rules of the Ihavemadeevenapennythrough standofftodemonetisation and the West Bengal Right to Public vertisementsand awareness pro- commission contradict the ad- corruption youwon’t have to do corruption. “It has been four Services Act, 2013 (WBRTPS Act), grammes it ran. “The powerof ministration’s claims. anything.Iwillvoluntarilywalkto years since we had demonetisa- and in 2015 it setupthe West authorisation waswith the con- According to the rules, the the gallows and hang myself,” tion.India’s GDPhas gone down Bengal Right to Public Service sumer affairs department. Many commission can take “suo moto” Banerjeesaidamidloudapplause from 8% to minus 4%. Who will Commission to ensureproper times we told the department notice of afailuretodeliverserv- at awell-attendedTMC rallyat answer forthat?” he asked. implementation of the law. that to give us control of adver- ices and refersuchcases fordis- Gangarampur in Dakshin “Beforethe 2014 Lok Sabha In response to queries from posal. The government body can Dinajpur district. polls, PM Modi said he would not socio-legal researcher and ac- also inspect officers entrusted Targeting former party col- spareany criminal and corrupt tivistBiswanath Goswami under He (Rudranil Ghosh) with the deliveryof services along league and current BJP leader person and nowthe BJP is induct- the Right to Information (RTI) should tell us what withappellateofficers and review Suvendu Adhikari, who has led ing all the thieves. Beforethe 2019 Act—firstraisedonDecember he hasdoneinthe last officers. The commission, the the attackson him, the Diamond Lok Sabha polls, Modi made a 8, 2017 —the Department of five yearsand howmany rules state, mayalso recommend Harbour MP said, “You do not long speechonPulwama. We also Consumer Affairs admitted that days he came to office. departmental action againstany have the couragetotakemy TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee at Gangarampur rallyinSouth Dinajpur district, Thursday. PTI want the Centretocrush the between 2015 and 2019 the He gotahugemonthly stategovernment employee for name and always refertomeas threatsposedbyPakistan. But commission did notconduct a salary as commissioner.” failing to discharge functions ‘bhaipo [nephew]’ so thatIcan- whyare Modi and Amit Shah single hearing on matters related mentionedunder the Act. notsue youincourt. Youcall me Responding to Banerjee later whyall government contracts studentsare so sub-standard silent on China?” the MP asked. to itsmandate. —SADHAN PANDE, CONSUMER The lawalso empowers the ‘tolabaaj[extortionist]’ but you in the afternoon at arallyin aregiven to some specific peo- that these have to be repaired Banerjee is on afive-daytour The government body, AFFAIRSMINISTER ON CHARGES government body to put forward arethe one who wasseen in the Tamluk in Purba Medinipur dis- ple in Kolkataand what is the before use.” of north Bengal, wherethe BJP meanwhile, spent Rs 40 croreto LEVELLED BY RUDRANIL GHOSH, recommendations to makeserv- [Narada sting operation] video trict, Adhikari said, “The ‘tolabaaj source of his prosperity.Even The former statetransport bagged sevenofthe region’s publicise itsworkand the THE CHIEF OF THE COMMISSION ice delivery moretransparent accepting money.” bhaipo’ has to tell the people school bags and bicycles givento ministeradded, “Despiteall the eight Lok Sabha seatsin2019. WBRTPS Act. and easier,providedthat the sec- The commissionalso admit- retary of the concerneddepart- tedthat till dateithad notdone tisements, we also triedtocon- ment is consulted before the rec- anything to ensureand enforce trol the fund. But the department ommendations aremade. Suvendu, now with BJP, pays tribute to TMCLEADER time-bound service to the public neverallowedustodoso. We Thecommission,however, ad- SAYSHEMAY under the Act. wanted the languageofadver- mitted in replytoGoswami’s Goswami told The Indian tisementsincities likeKolkata queries that it had made no rec- ‘TMC martyrs’, takes adig at Chhatradhar SOONMEET Express, “A notice wassent on the and in villages to bedifferent. We ommendationssincebeingsetup. VIJAYVARGIYA matter and suchastonishing rev- told that to department officials, In all these years, it has only Atrocities,” Adhikari said with- elations were made by the com- but theyfinalisedall these things visited the districtsofHowrah, EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE out naming Mahato, who has mission itself. This commission single-handedly.” Hooghly, Nadia, South and North KOLKATA,JANUARY7 spent over adecade in the jail. Kolkata: Trinamool has been purposefullycrippled Consumer Affairs Minister 24 Parganas,PaschimBardhaman, Trinamool leaders Subrata Congress leader from and made inactive because of Sadhan Pande, however, dis- andtheofficesof theWest Bengal FORTHEfirsttime,aBJPleaderon Bakshi, Partha Chatterjee and Howrah and actor vested interests.Ithas onlymade missedthe allegations. “I do not BoardofSecondaryEducation. Thursdaypaid tributetothose Madan Mitraalso visited Rudranil Ghosh has said hugeexpenditures in advertis- want to sayanything unpleasant. According to an official in the whowere killedintheNandigram Nandigram and Lalgarhtopay he maymeetBJP leader ing and awareness campaigns.” He should tell us what he has nodaldepartment,neitheranyac- and Lalgarhagitations during the their respectstothose killedin Kailash Vijayvargiyasoon, ActorRudranil Ghosh, who done in the lastfiveyears and tionwastakennoranyreportwas LeftFront government. the agitations. Partha Chatterjee fuelling speculation that wasthe commissioner of the howmanydays he came to of- submitted afterthese visits. Nandigram and Lalgarhagi- slammedAdhikari, saying the he mayquit the ruling statutorybody till December 18 fice. He got ahugemonthly The commission told tations, spearheadedbythe vil- former Trinamool minister“be- party.BJP leader lastyear,claimedthat the organ- salaryascommissioner.Hede- Goswami that it spent Rs 6.64 lagers and backedbythe trayed the trustofthe people of Shankudeb Panda visited isation wasnot givensufficient signedthe advertisementsand croreinthe2015-’16financialyear, Trinamool Congress againstthe Nandigram”. Ghosh on Wednesdayto manpowertoimplement the we carriedthem,” Pande added. while the following year Rs 6.4 land acquisition in the later years “These movements wish him on his birthday. lawproperly. According to the department, crorewas spent. In 2017-’18, the of the lastdecade,had prefaced (Nandigram and Lalgarh) were Afterthe visit, Ghosh said, Under the Act, it wassanc- Ghosh drew asalaryofnearly expenditurewas Rs 5.66crore. the fall of the LeftFront govern- fought by the Trinamool under “Shankutold me to meet tioned20posts,including achief Rs 3lakh till the end of his tenure. However, in the 2018-’19fi- ment in 2011.Itisanimportant Suvendu Adhikari in Netai, Lalgarh, on Thursday. Twitter the leadership of Mamata BJP leader Kailash commissioner and acommis- In itsRTI reply, the government nancial year,the expenditureal- dayinthe Trinamool Congress Banerjee. Theywerenot fought Vijayvargiyasoon. Itold sioner.Ghosh —who, according said it does nothavethe actor’s mostquadrupledtoRs21.88crore. calendar,and is observed as by one individual. People will re- him that Ihavenoprob- to sources, is settomeetBJP attendance and leave records. According to the records, the “Shahid Diwas” —Martyrs’ Day. villagers were killedin who wasthe face of the Lalgarh member the sacrifices made by lem meeting him.” leader Kailash Vijayvargiyasoon Goswami said, “The commis- moneywas spent on the imple- Suvendu Adhikari, who re- Nandigram in police firing dur- movement. Mahatorecently the Trinamool and Mamata ENS —also alleged that the sion and the nodal department, mentation of the WBRTPS Act, centlyquit the Trinamool ing their agitation againstthen joinedthe ruling Trinamool Banerjee," Chatterjee said. Department of Consumer Affairs, Consumer Affairs, have con- and publicity campaigns. Congress to join the BJP,reached LeftFront government's move to Congress. Ever since coming to power, Nandigram in Purba Medinipur acquireland forsetting up a “I have aspiritual relation- the MamataBanerjee govern- district on Wednesdaynight and chemical hub in the area. ship with the people of Netai. If ment observes the dayevery wasfirsttopay tribute, even be- Later in the day, Adhikari someone thinksthat he can year by paying tributetothose fore the Trinamool leaders. reachedNetai in Lalgarhareaof break that relationship after killedinthe agitation. This year, “Some people had threat- Jhargram district to payrespect spending 10 years in jail, it will Chief MinisterMamataBanerjee enedthat Iwould notbeallowed to nine villagers killedinfiring notbeeasy.People of Netaidied wasscheduledtoaddress arally to come here(Nandigram). But I on January7,2011. There, because of these men. OnlyCPM in Nandigram on January7,but am notscared.Iwas here, Iam Adhikari took adig at can’t be blamed. Everyone the programme wascalledoff — hereand Iwill be here,” Adhikari Chhatradhar Mahato, the former knows about anarchythat pre- the party said that local said afterpaying tribute. leader of People’s Committee vailedinthe name of People’s Trinamool MLAAkhil Giri had On January7,2007, at least11 AgainstPolice Atrocities (PCAPA) Committee AgainstPolice tested positive forCovid-19. Shukla: Taking abreak from politics, no question of joining another party

EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE KOLKATA,JANUARY7 Will focus on sports FORMER SPORTS ministerand now: former Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader minister Laxmi RatanShukla on Thursday ruledout joining anypolitical party.Heissuedthe clarification focus on sports in amuchbetter days afterquitting the state manner.Iwill, however, complete Cabinetand stepping down as the my term as an MLA. Sportismy Trinamool Congress’s (TMC) biggestidentity.” Howrah district chief. Askedif he wasunhappywith Shukla, aformer India crick- the party leadership, the MLA eter,told reporters that he wants said: “Some reasons should stay to quit politics and concentrate within you. Iwant to take the on sports.“Iamleaving politics game as agame and do notwant fornow,sothe question of going to drag it to the road. Some things somewheredoesn’t arise. Ihave shouldn’t be made public.” done politics as honestlyasI AfterShukla’s resignation, have playedcricket.Myidentity Chief MinisterMamataBanerjee as acricketer is the mostfunda- had said, “Laxmi is agood boy. He mental. Fornow,Iwill focus on wrotealettersaying he wantsto sports.Iwill complete my term pursuesportswholeheartedlyand as MLA...Since Iamgoing to take wantstoberelievedofall respon- abreak from politics, so the sibilities in the party.Thereisno question of joining aparty does- question of misunderstanding.” n’t arise.” On Wednesday, BallyMLA Following his resignation on Baishali Dalmiyahad backed January5,therewas speculation Shukla, saying “thereare termites that Shukla might move to the BJP in the TMC who arebreaking the likeformer statetransportmin- party from within”. Shukla was isterSuvendu Adhikari. But on also backedbyformer Howrah Thursdayhesaid, “Now Iwant to mayorRathin Chakraborty. Kolkata WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM 4 WEST BENGAL THEINDIANEXPRESS,FRIDAY,JANUARY8,2021

Nadda to launch BJP DADA OUT COVID PANDEMIC campaign Saturday OF HOSPITAL BCCI president and former Vaccinefirst cricket captain Sourav focusing on farmers Gangulyspeakstomedia afterbeing dischargedfrom of afarmer in Jagadanandpur vil- Woodlands Hospital in shotslikelyby EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE lage,” said the senior party leader. KolkataonThursday. KOLKATA,JANUARY7 Afterlunch, Nadda will at- ■ The 48-year-old was tend aroadshowinBardhaman admitted to the hospital last BJP NATIONAL president JP Nadda town and address the media in Saturdayafter he suffereda will visit West Bengal on Saturday the evening. “mild heartattack”. He nextThursday to launchthe party’s “Ek Muthi This will be Nadda’s second underwent an angioplasty Chawal[fistful of rice grains]” visit to the stateinasmany to clear ablockedartery. door-to-door campaign to months. During his lastvisit, on ■ Doctors said Gangulywas counter the Opposition’s allega- December 10,the BJP chief’s con- clinicallyfit, but will have to EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE STATECOUNT tions that the BJP gov- voy came under attack undergo another angioplasty KOLKATA,JANUARY7 TOTAL CASES ernment at the Centre in Diamond Harbour in aftertwo weeks. “Wecome wasagainstfarmers. South 24 Parganas dis- to hospitals to save our lives. WESTBENGALisgearing up to 558173 The campaign trict and stones were That has proven true... Iam administeraCovid-19vaccine to INCREASE DEATHS comes at atime when pelted at the vehicles. absolutelyfine. Hope Iwill be frontline workers, with sources farmers arecamping on While Nadda escaped ready to flysoon,” Ganguly in the health department saying 921 9881 the Delhi border,de- DECISION unhurt, severalparty said while leaving the that the firstshots maybegiven 539816 RECOVERED manding that the gov- functionaries were in- hospital, accompaniedbyhis to health workers as early as ernment withdraw 2021 jured. wifeDona. Hundredsoffans January13or14. 73,36, 021 SAMPLES WEST TESTED TILL JAN 7 three farm laws passed BENGAL Anticipating waited outside the hospital According to them, the afew months ago. Nadda's visit to the state as well as his residence. Serum InstituteofIndia’s According to asen- to launchthe campaign ■ “Doctors will keep a “Covishield” vaccine is likelyto National CadetCorps (NCC) per- ior party leader,Nadda will forfarmers, the Mamata constant vigil on his health arrive in the city from Pune by sonnel will be partofthe team. launchthe campaign in Banerjee government recently from time to time at home,” Saturday. Meanwhile, the final vaccina- Bardhaman. BJP workers will indicatedto the Centrethat it was read ahospital bulletin. ENS The sources said on Thursday tion trial in Kolkatawill be car- visit farmer households in ready to implement the PM that the government had pre- riedout on Fridayatthe SSKM 48,000 villages across the state Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. Partha Paul pared alistofhealthcarework- Hospital, the NRS Medical to collect rice. Meanwhile, the BJP said it ers, including doctors, nurses College, and an urban health “This is going to be amonth- would take out a“padayatra[foot and hospital Group-D staff, who centreunder the Kolkata long drive to collect rice to beused march]” hereonJanuary12to In letter to PM, Tamang invokes statehood would be among the firsttore- Municipal Corporation as partof formaking meals forfarmers and markthe birth anniversaryof ceivethe vaccine. astatewide drill. the poor.Nadda ji will launchthe Swami Vivekananda. The party Officials said all the districts “All districtsare conducting campaign from apublic meeting has decidednot to displayparty demand, wants Darjeeling region in DONER had already been givenproper dryruns at three health centres,” on Krishak Suraksha Gram Sabha flags during the march from instructions about the vaccina- said asource. in Bardhaman on Saturday. He Shyambazar to Vivekananda’s an- country's security,integrity and tion process. Once the vaccine All district health officials will also have lunchatthe house cestral house in NorthKolkata. EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE sovereignty," Tamang wroteto arrives, people who aresup- have been asked to preparethe KOLKATA,JANUARY7 Binay Modi. posedtoget it will receive an vaccination sites. “Weare all pre- Tamang sent “These treaties areproducts SMS with all the details, includ- pared,storage and listofpeople DEMANDING“CONSTITU- acopyofthe of bipartitetalksbetween na- ing the place wheretheywill be who will be getting the firstshot CPM, Cong to hold joint TIONAL justice” forpeople living letter to CM tions and have created anega- administeredthe shot. have also been done. Tomorrow of Darjeeling hills and Dooars, tive influence on our nationality Whatthetiming “It will bejustlikeweconduct therewill be adry run at three rally, Rahul may attend BinayTamang has shotaletterto and identity," he added. polls. We will have the datawith places in my district,” said Chief Prime MinisterNarendraModi, treaty of Sinchula with Bhutan Justifying the demand of a ofthelettertells all the details of people. Every Medical Officer of Health will stand on the same platform seeking his intervention to meet on 11 November 1865. separatestate forGorkhas, vaccination sitewill be manned (CMOH) Alipurduar Girish Bera. EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE to address the people. Primarily, the long-pending demand of a Thereafter, the British occupied Tamang wrote, “Darjeeling hills, BINAY TAMANG'S letter by special teams comprising a Meanwhile, West Bengal on KOLKATA,JANUARY7 it has been decidedthat the separatestate of Gorkhaland. Dooars with effect from July4, Siliguri Teraiand Dooars region to PM highlighting the vaccinator and four vaccination Thursdayreported921 new Brigade rallywill be held at the Tamang, who heads afaction of 1866.You areverymuchaware arethe onlyareas in the region Gorkhaland statehood officers, who will be responsible cases as the active caseload THE CPI(M) and the Congress on end of Februaryorearly in Gorkha Janmukti Morcha(GJM), that before Independence, India whichare separatefromthe demandcomes in the forconducting it successfully,” droppedto8,476. Thursdaydecidedtoorganise a March,” said LeftFront chairper- hasalsosentacopyofthe letter had 36 “partially-excludedar- Northeast, but apartofeastern wake of the return of said ahealth official. According to the statehealth joint rallyatthe Brigade Parade son Biman Bose. to West Bengal Chief Minister eas” and afterIndependence, 35 Himalayas. It is necessarytoin- Bimal Gurung to the Hills The Department of Health bulletin, in whichfigures areup- ground herefor the firsttime. Senior Congress leader and MamataBanerjee. of the partially-excludedareas clude Darjeeling, Kalimpong and afterthree years in hid- has already receivedalistofsix dated till 9am, 1,295 were dis- The decision wastaken at a party MP Pradeep Bhattacharya Tamang has also urgedthe were granted constitutional TeraiDooars region intothe ing. With the twofac- lakh healthcareworkers forthe chargedasthe recovery rate rose meeting between the twopar- said, “Wewill requestour party Prime Ministertoscrap the justice. Unfortunately, the DONER (Development of North tions of the GJM not vaccination drive.Atpresent, a to 96.74per cent. The toll rose to ties on their strategy forthe up- high command to come here India-Bhutan treaty of 1949and Darjeeling hills, Siliguri, Terai Eastern Region) under the North ready to call atruce de- listisbeing prepared with details 9,881with the deaths of 18 pa- coming elections and the seat- and address the people. The top- India-Nepal treaty of 1950, and Dooars were leftout from EastCouncil Actof1971. All the spitehaving similar polit- of people above 50 years with tients. The toll in Kolkata, the epi- sharing arrangement. Though mostleaders of both parties will “keeping the security of Gorkhas receiving constitutional justice. Northeaststate fall under ical agenda, Tamang's let- various comorbidities. Theywill centreofthe pandemic along the parties have notyet fixedthe make their presence felt.” and others in mind”. It remainedasapartially-ex- DONER, but the Gorkhaland terisseen as an attempt be on the second listafter health with itsadjacent districts, datefor the rally, central leaders CPI(M) statesecretarySurjya “If we look intothe history cludedarea. These areas were Territorial Area, Teraiand Dooars to regain the ground as workers. Apartfromthem, front- climbed to 2,996. of both parties, including former KantaMishra, Congress MLA of Darjeeling and Kalimpong, it absorbed in West Bengal in region areleftout of it.” the Gurung camphas de- line workers suchaspolice, civic The health department said Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, are Abdul Mannan also attendedthe directsustolook eastwards of 1954 through Absorbed Area “The people of Darjeeling, cidedtoform anational workers will also be vaccinated 35,867samples were tested in likelytoattend it. meeting. The Brigade rallyhas Teesta riverinwhich Act, 1954.These areas arenot Teraiand Dooars region areeco- body,and use the original in aphasedmanner. 24 hours, taking the cumulative “Weare contesting the been an annual affair forthe Kalimpong is also apart. The included, legallyand constitu- nomicallybackward.So,Iurgeyou ‘Morcha’ flag, usedbythe While ahealthcareworker number of testsconducted to Assemblyelections together CPI(M), using it, especiallybefore British during itsrule had sub- tionallyinIndia till now. This is to sharethe benefitsofDONER Tamang faction. will be the vaccinator,police of- 73,36,021. The test positivity rate with the Congress. Therefore, we elections, as ashowofstrength. jugated Dooars through the amatter of great concern for with the region too," he added. ficials, home guards and droppedto7.61per cent. Poultry farms on HC seeks govt’s BASIRHATMUNICIPALITY BASIRHAT, NORTH 24 PGNS alert over bird flu action plan on Kolkata Zonal Office, GN 38/2, Sector V, NIT No. 04 of 2020-21 Kolkata: An organisation of poul- Salt Lake, Kolkata 700 091 Tenders are invited from tryfarm owners in the statehas Covid protocol at TENDER asked itsmembers to be on alert Bank of Baroda invites tender for bonafide Contractors for 107nos. Gangasagar Mela empanelment and awarding rate contract of Works Contract within in the wake of abirdflu outbreak from agencies of repute for providing Basirhat Municipality. Tender invariouspartsof thecountryand small outsourced CASH VANservices at Start date: 08/01/2021,10:00 take preventive measuresto avoid Kolkata: Observing that lifeis different branches of kolkata zone. Hrs. and Closing Date: the spread of the infection, an of- moreimportant in everysense in Last date of submission: 02.02.2021 14/01/2021 upto 15:00 Hrs. ficial said on Thursday. The alert comparison to religious practices up to 05:00 P.M. For further details, log For more information visit: wassoundedasaprecautionary and beliefs, the CalcuttaHigh on to the Bank’swebsite: www.basirhatmunicipality.in measureamid reports of the bird CourtonThursdaydirected the www.bankofbaroda.in/tenders flu in some states, thoughnot a stategovernment to submit are- General Manager Sd/- Chairperson Date: 08.01.2021 single case of avian influenza has portdetailing measures to pre- Place: Kolkata (Kolkata Zone) Basirhat Municipality been detected heresofar,West vent the spread of Covid-19, if the BASIRHATMUNICIPALITY BengalPoultryFederationgeneral Gangasagar Mela is permitted to BASIRHAT, NORTH 24 PGNS secretaryMadan Mohan Maity be held this year. said. The CentreWednesdaysaid Chief MinisterMamata WBMAD/BASIR/E-05 of 2020-21 thebirdfluoutbreak,hasbeenre- Banerjeerecentlysaidthatthean- Online e-tenders are invited from portedat12epicentres. PTI nualfairheldonMakarSankranti bonafide Contractors for 2Nos. attracted50lakhpilgrimsin2020. works of Supplying and Laying of The auspicious daywill be cele- HDPE Pipe line within Basirhat brated on January14this year. Municipality. Tender Start date: ''IMPORTANT'' 08.01.2021, 10:00 Hrs. and Whilst care is taken prior to Hearing aPIL seeking that the Closing Date:22.01.2021 upto acceptance of advertising Gangasagar Mela siteatSagar 18:00 hrs. For more information, copy,itisnot possible to verify Island be declared acontain- visit: www.wbtenders.gov.in and its contents. The Indian ment zone, the courtsaid that it www.basirhatmunicipality.in Express (P) Limited cannot be will be up to the stategovern- Sd/- Chairperson held responsible for such ment to come out with clear sug- contents, nor for any loss or Basirhat Municipality damage incurred as aresult of gestions in the reportastohow TAMILNADU NEWSPRINT AND PAPERS LIMITED transactions with companies, the fair can be regulated,con- Kagithapuram-639 136, Karur Dist.Tamil Nadu associations or individuals trolledorifnecessary, even Ph: 04324-277 001 (10 Lines), Extn: 4278/4404, E-mail:[email protected] advertising in its newspapers droppedfor the current year. CAUVERYNEERAVVV ARI NIGAMA LIMITED NOTICE INVITING BIDS FOR PROCUREMENT OF or Publications. We therefore The Division BenchofChief recommend that readers (A Government of Karnataka Enterprise) PACKAGE FOR MEP AT TNPL UNIT -II Justice TBNRadhakrishnan and Office of the Executive Engineer, Hemavathy Dam make necessary inquiries Sl. No Packages Due Date before sending any monies or Justice Arijit Banerjeedirectedthe Division, Gorur Hassan District. 1Supply of CarbonSteel Pipes forwater line of TNPL 22.01.2021 entering into any agreements government to place the report Short term tender NotificationNo.13/2 020-21/ Unit-II MEP with advertisers or otherwise before it at 2pmonFridaywhen Call-2 dated:06.01.2021 Biddersmay requestthe tender documentatthe above address by acting on an advertisement in the matter will be takenup. PTI post/mail. Detailed NIBmay be viewedinwebsites: www.tnpl.com / any manner whatsoever. The ExecutiveEngineer,CNNL.,HemavathyDam Division, www.tenders.tn.gov.in Gorur-573120Hassan Taluk Hassan Dist., As Per KW-4 DIPR/ 116/Tender/2021 TNPL -Maker of bagasse based eco-friendly Paper Format,invited PercentageBasis tender (Two covers) through e- procurementonly vide No. 13/2 020-21/call-2 dated 06.01.2021 on behalf of the Managing Director,CNNL, Bangalore from the eligible contractors of CPWD/KPWD/ WRD/ &inany otherCentral or state government organizationas Class Icontractor &EnrolledasCat-1A in CNNL. Details:- Development of important lakes, parksand otherinfrastru ctureworksinhassan city,including the development of channapattanatank as atourist destination. Approx., Cost put to tender Rs. 12691.00 lakhs,EMD declaration shall be submitted in prescribed format, as uploaded in tenderwizard. stipulated period 24 months,Thecontractor canhaveaccess e-tender documents from 07-01-2021 to 18-01-2021 through website www.eproc.karnataka.gov.in on payment (Non Refundable) of transaction fees as fixed by E–portal(2) Last date forsubmission of completedTechnical and Financial bid is 18-01-2021 upto 16.00 hrs, (3)Pre bid meeting date: 15.01.2021, (4)Opening of Technicalbid (Cover-I) 19-01-2021 at 04.30 PM onwards. (if possible) (5)Cover-II (Financial bid) will be opened afterapproval of Technicalbid from the Competent authority.For furtherinformation etc., contact in the undersigned office during workinghours or through websitewww.eproc.karnataka.gov.in(Department) Sd/- ExecutiveEngineer,CNNL, Hemavathy Dam Division, Gorur

Kolkata WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM THEINDIANEXPRESS,FRIDAY,JANUARY8,2021 EXPRESS NETWORK 5 BRIEFLY REHEARSASinghuLFORtoREPUBLIPalwaCDAY, SAYl,thousFARMERS andstakeouttractormarch

thousand tractors from partsof JIGNASASINHA& Ghaziabad, Noida, Hapur and Counselling after 3 ASHNABUTANI Bulandshahr joinedthe protest NEWDELHI,JANUARY7 and returnedwith us." Akhil Gogoi At Nuh, meanwhile,farmers suicides: ‘Away from ADAY before the eighth roundof claimedtheywereunable to ex- ASSAM talksbetween the government ecutetheirrally withpolice de- and farm unions, thousands of taining one of them and placing kin, stir taking atoll’ GauhatiHC farmers Thursday took to the three others under house arrest. eastern and western peripheral Theyalso alleged policedid not been rising everyday.“We have rejectsAkhil expresswaysintheir tractors — lettractors travel till the Kundli- ARANYASHANKAR seen around 50-60people till Gogoi’sbailplea via Ghaziabad and Manesar.The Manesar-Palwal expressway, NEWDELHI,JANUARY7 now, andhavetaken proper ther- tractor march,farmers said, was and onlyafew protesters in cars apysessions with around15-20 Guwahati: Gauhati High a"dress rehearsal" forRepublic were able to carry outthe FOLLOWINGTHREE suicides and of them. Themain issuesweare CourtThursdaydenied Day, when theyplan to hold a planned demonstration. an attempted suicidebyfarmers seeing aredepression, anxiety, bailtoactivistAkhil Go- bigger march towardsDelhi. Rallycoordinator Ramzan protestingatDelhi’s borders, aggression and agitation. There goi, who has been in pri- Despiteafoggy,cold Thursday Chaudharysaid he waspicked counselling services arenow be- is also the issueofgrief; of losing son foroverayear now morning,farmersleftthe Singhu, up by police personnel from his ing providedatSinghu, and will your fellowfarmers,” Kataria on multiple charges Tikri, and Ghazipur protestsites home around 8amand kept at begin at Ghazipur in the next few said. including sedition.This as scheduled. At Singhu, vehicles the police station throughthe days.OnThursday, the counsel- “It hasbeen 40 days since is expected to affect the beganleavingat 9amand headed day: "Other protesters placed lors came to the aid of aperson theyhavebeen here, so thereis electoral prospectsof towardsTikriviathe expressway, under house arrest were re- from Kurukshetrawho slithis burnout. Thereisalsoamajor the Raijor Dal,formed whichsoon turnedintoasea of leasedbylateafternoon, but I wrist, escaping with superficial problem with sleep;manyare recentlybythe Gogoi- tractor-trolleys andbarricades. At Protesters on NH-24, Thursday. GajendraYadav wasdetained through the day." injuries,who has nowbeenem- notable to sleep and aregoing ledKrishakMukti policecheckpoints,thefewcom- SuperintendentofPolice ployedin‘seva (voluntaryserv- through mood swings. Forsome, SangramSamiti. “There muters were advisedtotakedif- NarendraBijarniyasaid police ice)’ to keep him occupied. effectivelistening is enough be- were twocases by the ferent routes. down," said Brar Singh (51) from (JSO) members cooked chole- getadirectionfromourseniorsto teams had visitedhomes of pro- While doctors have been causetheydon’thaveany outlet NIA againsthim. He had By 11 am, Punjabi songsand Sangrur in Punjab, who has been rice forfarmers at Tikri border. return, we will ask everyone to testers to take details of the presentatthe protestsites, the fortheir thoughtsand emotions. got bail in onebythe slogans againstthe Centre filled at Singhu foramonth. Farmers said the difficult bit turn back." routeofthe plannedrallyand NGOUnitedSikhs decidedtoof- It is cathartic,” she said, adding NIA special court but in the air as severalfarmers stood According to thefarmeror- wasplanningand coordination. Around 1pm, afew farmers thenumberofpeople partici- fercounsellingservicesalarmed that thoseinneedofmedication the other,bail was atop their vehicles and waved ganisations,over5,000 tractors Bhupender SinghLongowal(35), from Singhu and Tikri borders pating in it. "Wehad to note the by thesuicide cases, and worried areadvisedaccordingly. rejected. We appealed the tricolour.Within half an came forthe march from Singhu, afarmerfromSangrur, volun- metonthe expressway.Due to number of tractors participating that there maybeaspurtasthe Farmers arealso coming to to the HC againstthat hour,the roads were packedand Tikri,Ghazipur and Palwal. teered to managetrafficnear the trafficand high barricading, in the rallysowecould plan our long stay in theopenand in the them with familyissues. Adriver and it wasrejected farmers stoppednear the west- An ambulance from Civil Singhuborder.Hesaid, "Weare mosttractors couldn't passand deployment accordingly.Only cold, with no quickresolutionin from afarming family in Haryana today,”Gogoi’s counsel ern peripherydue to traffic. Hospital Sonipat accompanied 100volunteersacrosstheborders. farmers returnedafter an hour. advocateRamzan Chaudhary sight, plays on theminds of farm- kept breaking down, telling the Santanu Borthakur said. "Weare heretomeetour tractors. Dr Amit Mehra(25) said Communicationregarding the Farmers from Ghazipur bor- wastaken intopreventive de- ers. counsellors,“At least someone is “The onlyway leftfor us brothers from Tikri. Together,we theyhad come preparedwith march spread through word of der also participated in the tention and he has also been re- JasmeetSingh (45),who is listeningtous. That makes abig nowistoapproachthe will protestagainstthe govern- firstaid kits and medicinesin mouthand WhatsApp.Our main march.Haseeb Ahmed(40), a leased. Nobody wasplacedun- partofthe United Sikhs camp at difference.” Supreme Court.” Gogoi ment and showthat we are case of an emergency.Over50 role todayistoensure that the farmer from Rampur,said, "We der house arrest." Ghazipur,said theyput up pam- Doctors saythe exposureto wasalsobooked under united.Wearen't going to back JamindaraStudent Organisation trafficisunder control. When we leftwith 300tractors.Another (With Sakshi Dayal) phletsand posters at Singhu a the cold is also leading to physical UAPA provisions forhis fewdays agoinGurmukhi,en- ailments. involvement in the anti- couragingfarmers to come for- Dr Harwinder Passi (26) of CAAmovement. ENS CASE AGAINST TWO MUSLIMS ward if they hadany mental the KhalsaSewaSociety,Canada, Badaun priest,key accused health issues. just setupacampinGhazipur UP tells HC: No evidence The Kurukshetraresident with leg massagers and other RAJASTHAN who triedtokill himself saidhe physiotherapyequipment. “We in rape-murder case, held had come to the protest siteon had done arecce and foundthat 38kidnapped under anti-conversion law January2.“Earlier,Irushedinto because of the cold, manyold running traffic, and sustainedin- people were facing bone and women,kids ment, stating that the investigat- juries. Ihavebeen feeling muscle issues,” he said. rescued:Police MANISHSAHU ing officer has found no evidence AMILBHATNAGAR verylowand talking to someone The three cases of suicide LUCKNOW,JANUARY7 of anyoffencerelating to provi- BADAUN,JANUARY7 Women shouldn’t step out alone is making me feel alittle better,” have been of Sant BabaRam Jaipur: Suspecting men sions of the anti-conversion law. he said. Singh (65),areligiousleader from from Baman Deoriya AMONTH afterbooking two During investigation, it was FOUR DAYS aftera50-year-old in theevening: NCWmember “The pamphlets andposters Haryana’s Karnal district who villageinJhalawarof Muslim daily-wage workers in found that Nadeem did nothave woman wasallegedly gang- we put up read —‘Howare you shothimself near Kundli; Amarjit stealing their bikes, Muzaffarnagar under the anti- anyillicit relationship with the rapedand abandonedoutside NewDelhi: National she said. “I feel had the feeling?Isthereany depression, Singh Rai(63)fromPunjab’s around 100people from conversion law, theUttar woman, the affidavit said, herhome at avillageinUttar Commission forWomen woman notsteppedout in irritability,agitation or anxiety? Fazilka district, who consumed Madhya Pradesh Pradesh government on adding that her statementhad Pradesh'sBadaun district,the lo- member Chandramukhi the evening, or one of her Come to us andwewill help you’. pesticide at the Tikri protestsite; kidnapped38women Thursday told the Allahabad also been recorded. However, it cal temple priest, the main ac- Devi,who visitedthe village children had accompanied We felt that withthe recent sui- and Kashmir Singh Dass, asep- and children from the High Courtthat no evidence has wasfound that he had threat- cusedinthe case, wasarrested on Thursday,said the incident her,the incident would not cide casesand farmers being tuagenarian, who hanged him- village,which is around been found againstthem under enedthe complainant, it said, from anearbyvillageinthe dis- would nothavehappened have occurred."NCW away from home and their fam- self at the Ghazipurprotest. twokmfromthe MP the newlaw,although one of adding that achargesheetwas trict lateonThursday, the police had the woman notstepped Chairperson Rekha Sharma ilies forsolong, therewas aneed Niranjan Singh from Punjab’s border,police said. All them faces less serious charges filedagainsthim accordingly. said. out alone in the evening. “This said, “I don't know howand forcounselling,”Singh said, Tarn Tarandistrict attemptedsui- were,however, rescued suchascriminal intimidation. The chargesheetwas filedon The priest, identifiedas is acrime that has shamed whythe memberhas saidthis adding that pamphlets to be put cide at the Singhu border by con- afterapolice chase. ENS The case againstNadeem (28) December31 andtheinvestigator Satyanand, washiding in the humanity,but Iwould also but women have theright up at Ghazipur were also ready. suming pestcontroltablets. and Salman (29) waslodged at hasnot foundanyevidenceunder house of one of hisfollowers in liketosay that women should move on theirwill whenever At Singhu,amongthose hold- Meanwhile, theUnited Sikhs DELHI Mansoorpur Police Station on UP Prohibition of Unlawful avillagefromwherehewas not, under the influenceof and wherever theywant to.” ing counselling sessions are is providing another relief.Itnow November 29, aday afterthe Conversionof ReligionOrdinance, pickedupand arrested, PTI re- anyone, step out untimely,” ENS Sanya Kataria(26),who is doing has up and runningfour washing Pleaagainst Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of 2020, said the affidavit. ported, quoting District PhD at Amity University,Noida, machinesand dryers at the callertune Unlawful Conversion of Religion Nadeem told The Indian MagistrateKumarPrashant. and is aResident Clinical Ghazipur protest site, so that Ordinance, 2020, came intoeffect. Express:“Iwas falselyaccusedby Droppedoutside herhouse side the temple. “The twomen arrested Psychologistatthe university, farmers don’t have to wash NewDelhi:APIL has In his complaint to police, the woman's husband on on Sundaynight, allegedly by the Local residentssaid maintain that theyfound the and Manmeet Kaur (26),who has clothes by hand in the cold. These been filedthe Delhi High AkshayKumar, who worksasa ground of suspicion. To hide his priestand twoassociates, the Satyanand had come to thevil- woman in an injured stateand aprivate practice. run on generators procured by a Courtseeking the labour contractor at afirm in wrongdoing, he made up astory woman later diedinhospital due lagearoundfiveyears ago, and wanted to help her.Icarriedout Kataria said the number of group of farmersfrom removalofthe caller Uttarakhand, alleged that and lodged acaseagainstme. I to excessive bleeding. largely kept to himself. an inspection of the crime site, farmers coming to them has Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh. tune in whichAmitabh Nadeem usedtovisit his house, am thankful to the UP govern- The twoother accusedwere "People knewhim since and as per evidence we aretreat- Bachchan speakson and thathetrappedhis wifeina ment and police forhelping me." arrested on Wednesday. Aday manycome herefromnearbyar- ing it as acase of gangrape and Covid-19precautions— relationshipand triedtoconvert His lawyer Syed Farman later,three UP Police constables eas. But until this incident, no one murder," Badaun SSP Sankalp PREMISES REQUIRED FORRE-LOCATION on the ground that the her to Islam. He alleged that Ahmad Naqvi said the govern- were deployed outside the tem- reallyinterfered in the temple's Sharmasaid. OF BARASAT&BASIRHATBRANCH actor and hasfamilyhad Nadeem wanted to marry her af- ment's affidavit stated that ple. activities or asked muchabout The woman's familyrejected themselvescontracted terconvertingher and Salman Salman has been givencleanchit Alocal resident said the vic- the priest. We sometimes saw the arrested duo's assertion. Her Bank of Baroda invites proposals/offers in two bid systems from the Owners/Power of the virus. The case, listed washelping him. Akshayalso al- while no evidence under the tim wasknown to visit the tem- him outside the temple prem- son-in-lawsaid, “If theywanted Attorney Holders /Builders /Developers of premises having clear and marketable titles over the offered/proposed premises on preferably on Ground Floor.(Area required- forhearingonThursday, leged thatboththreatenedhim anti-conversion lawwas found pleregularly,but no one could ises, but his visitswerelimited," to help, theycouldhavewoken 1600-2000 sq ft) for Branch including 80-100 sq.ft. area for onsiteATMspaces at under couldnot be takenup when he objected to it. againstNadeem. saywhat had transpired on Nandu, alocal resident, said. up people in the village. But their mentioned location with all the facilities including adequate power. and has been adjourned Joint Director (Prosecution) SHO(Mansoorpur) KushalPal Sunday. Thetemple is situated Peoplewhovisitedthetemple intention wastoleave her dead.... 1. Near to Duckbanglow More, BARASAT, DIST:N24PARGANAS, WEST BENGAL-700124 forJanuary18. The Awadhesh PandeyonThursday Singh said the woman in her close to the main villageroad, saidSatyanandofferedto conduct She wasaGod-fearing lady;we 2. Near to Jailkhana, BASIRHAT, DIST:N24PARGANAS, WEST BENGAL- 743411 petitionwas filedbya filedanaffidavit in the High statement deniedchargesofany near asprawling farm. rituals fortheminthe temple. He cannotimagine something like Sealed offers are to be submitted in two bid system viz., Envelop No. (1) Marked “socialactivist”. ENS Courtonbehalf of stategovern- conversion attempt on her. Satyanand,the localresidents reportedly alsooffered concoc- this would happen to her in a "Technical Bid” TB- Envelop should contain full technical details viz. Location of premises with detailed address, plan drawing to scale with completion/ occupation said, livedinone of the rooms in- tionsfor aches and pains. temple.” certificate, carpet area of each portion to be acquired, specification of internal finishes, amenities, car parking and space for V-SATfacility,MPLS, distance from railway station. No indication as to price aspect to be given in Technical Bid (For details please log in to DEFAMATIONCASEOVER ‘ME TOO’ CHARGE tender section of our website www.bankofbaroda.com) Envelop No. (2) Marked Satya Paul, who introduced "Financial Bid”(FB) -Envelop should contain strictly financial details like rate per sq.ft./ mtr on carpet area, details of municipal Taxand lease expenses. Carpet area (as per IS Ramani targeted me… code 3861-2002) shall exclude staircase, corridor and passage, porch, shaft and Indian fashion to bold machine rooms for lifts, air conditioning ducts, lofts, build-in-wardrobe and shelf, intermediate pillars /columns, partition and wall and other obstruction, verandas, unlike her, Ibelieve in due balcony,bathroom and lavatories etc.(For details please log in to tender section of our prints, neon colours,dies website www.bankofbaroda.com and also download TB and FB). Offer should be valid for minimum period of 120 days from the date of submission of offer.Nobrokerage shall process, Akbar tells court be paid. Both the sealed covers marked as TB and FB super scribing advertisement reference and applicants’name and address be put in one sealed cover and submitted to EKTAAMALIK Regional Head, Bank of Baroda, Greater Kolkata Region 3rd Floor GN 38/2, Sec-V, NEWDELHI,JANUARY7 EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE Akbar resignedas Salt Lake, Kolkata 700091 within-21-days from the date of publication of this NEWDELHI,JANUARY7 advertisement. Any decision taken by bank at any point of time in connection with this IN INDIA of apre-liberalised MinisterofState for process shall be final and conclusive and no claim or dispute from any quarter in that regard shall be entertained. economy, buying adesigner sari, TRYINGTOcounterjournalist External Affairs in Place: Kolkata Regional Head hand bag, or even ascarf wasout PriyaRamani’s argument that October 2018 Date: 08.01.2021 Greater Kolkata Region of reachfor many. But if one did she wastargetedbyformer save andscrunch, it wasfor a Union ministerMJAkbar who HABRA BRANCH SatyaPaulsari, or,inararede- filedacriminal defamation com- reputation. The fact that Iwas a Jessore Road, Kamarthuba, Opp. Kalika Cinema Hall Dist. 24 Parganas (N), Pin -743 263, West Bengal parturefor men, aSatyaPaultie. SatyaPaul plaint againsther,Akbar’s member of RajyaSabha wasnot The man behind the brand, lawyers told aDelhi court that it questionedorthat Ijoinedthe Appendix-IV,Rule-8(1) POSSESSION NOTICE (For Immovable Property) designerSatyaPaul, diedon wasRamani who attackedhis MinistryofExternal Affairs was Whereas, the undersigned being the Authorised Officer of the Bank of Baroda Thursday, at Isha Ashram in Coi- came to IndiafromPakistan, and reputation afterher tweettrig- notquestioned.Laterinarguments under the Securitization and Reconstruction of FinancialAssets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 (54 of 2002) and in exercise of powers conferred under mbatore. He was78. The veteran he single-handedlychangedthe geredsexual harassment to tryand raise adoubtwith re- section 13(12) read with Rule 3ofthe Security Interest (Enforcement) Rules, 2002, designer had been unwell for languageofIndian fashion in the chargesagainsthim. gardstoMrAkbar having or not issued aDemand Notice dated 19.10.2020 calling upon the borrower A/c Koushik some time, afterhaving suffered eighties. He blendedhandwoven Akbar has suedRamani for havingareputationisneitherhere Paul &Shyam Sundar Paul at Netaji Subhas Road, Deshbandhu Park, Habra, astrokeinDecember lastyear. textiles with prints, and that’s defamation over allegations of nor there,” she told the court. Dist. North 24 Parganas (A/c No. 29680600000347) to repay the amount as Paul’s sonPuneetNanda bro- something no one had thought sexualmisconduct andharass- Luthratold the courtthat mentioned in the notice being Rs.7,11,717.71 (Rupees Seven Lakh Eleven ke thenews in aFacebookpost: of doing then,” said designer ment.With severalother Ramani’s“dissemination of false Thousand Seven Hundred Seventeen and Paise Seventy One only) as on “Wefinallygot clearance from Rajesh Pratap Singh, who is cur- women making similar allega- defamatorymaterials proves the 19.10.2020 plus interest within 60 days from the date of receipt of the said notice. The borrower having failed to repay the amount, notice is hereby given to the doctors to take him back to Isha rentlythe creative director of tions, Akbar resignedasMinister fact that she wasthe person who Borrower/ Guarantor and the public in general that the undersigned has taken Yoga Center,his home since 2015. SatyaPaul.Earlier,designer of Statefor External Affairs in startedthis...the counsel forthe possession of the property described herein below in exercise of powers conferred As per his wish, he gentlypassed Masaba Gupta hasalso served as October 2018. accusedhad triedtoshowthat I on him/ her under Section 13(4) of the said Act read with rule 8ofthe said Rules on on with blessings of the Master.” the creative director of the fash- The submissionsweremade had targeted her whereas the this the 7th day of January of the year 2021. Paul made aname forhim- ion house. by senior advocate, Geeta Luthra, fact is that she had targeted me.” The Borrower/ Guarantor in particular and the public in general are hereby self in Indian fashion by intro- Paul’s bold colour palette, es- on behalf of Akbar before Addit- “It wasRamani’stweet that cautioned not to deal with the property and any dealings with the property will be ducingprints on textiles in an era peciallythe use of neon and pop ional ChiefMetropolitan Magis- triggered sexualharassment subject to the charge of the Bank of Baroda, Habra for an amount of Rs.6,60,919.57 (Rupees Six Lakh Sixty Thousand Nine Hundred Nineteen and in whichembroiderywas still colours, became something of a trateRavindraKumar Pandey. chargesagainstAkbar...because Paise Fifty Seven only) and further interest, incidental expenses, costs &charges considered thehigh point. He calling card. “His usageofgeo- Herrebuttal could notbecom- sheisthe one who attackedme etc. thereon. startedthe brand ‘SatyaPaul’ in metric prints, and later abstract pletedand will be heardon and attackedmyreputation, a The borrower's attention is invited to provisions of sub-section (8) of section 13 of 1985 with entrepreneur Sanjay designs as well, on textiles like December 12. complaint wasfiledagainsther. theAct, in respect of time available, to redeem the secured assets. Kapoor.Later,his son Puneet jaamdanis, jaamewar, andpure Luthrasaid, “Thecommon Iamwithin my rightstodoso. Description of the Mortgage Immovable Property took over from him. cottons, and his usageofveg- thread of the witnesses of the co- Unlikeher and other people Ibe- All that piece and parcel of Bastu Land measuring about 2Cottah lying and situated Paulwas also among the first etable dyes leftadeep impres- mplainant (Akbar) is the fact that lieve in due process. Thereis at Mouza- Habra, J.L. No. 72, R.S. No. 313, Sabek Khatian No. 172, R.S. Khatian designerstoexpand his reper- sion on me. Notjustme, all of the complainant has areputa- sanctity of law. It is on her to No. 1969, Dag No. 2559 within the limit of Habra Municipality,being Holding No. 9/1, toiretoaccessories —cufflinks, India went ga-gaoverhis very tion whichwas unblemishedtill provethe misconceivedallega- Jessore Road, Ward No. 14, P.S. Habra, ADSRDistrict North 24 Parganas, Pin - totes and wallets were as mucha modern approachtodesign.I the accusedmade her aver- tions forwhichshe goes to a 743263, Deed No. I14795. The property butted and bounded by on the North: partofhis brand identity as the usedtoreallylook up to him,” ments.” public platform and does not Jessore Road, on the South: Itu Das, on the East: Subhas Road and on the West: clothes. “He wastrulyapioneer said Delhi-baseddesigner Anju “Therewas no doubtcaston take discourse to dueprocess,” Dilip Dutta. in the field of textiles. His family Modi. the fact that Ihad an impeccable Luthratold thecourt. Date: 07.01.2021, Place: Habra Authorised Officer,Bank of Baroda

Kolkata WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THEINDIANEXPRESS,FRIDAY,JANUARY8,2021 WORDLY WISE It is ironic thatanation thathas never experienced acoupd’etatshould be so obsessed

6 THE EDITORIAL PAGE with the ideaofconspiracy. —GORE VIDAL America attacksAmerica

§ FOUNDED BY § RAMNATH GOENKA US might recoilfromCapitol siege. But its BECAUSETHE TRUTH INVOLVES US ALL democracy will remain rivenbyinternalconflicts

JANUARY 6 PratapBhanu Mehta America’s dayofshame: Don’t justblame the mob. Trumplit the fire,his gutless colleagues fannedthe flames ONE OF THE moreintriguing quotations asso- thatitistheLeftthatcondoneslawlessness.The inthis discourse,awill to cross all boundaries, ciatedwiththe Capitol HillcomplexisbyRufus distinction between amovementfor justice that is noteasilycaptured by our languageof Choate, “Wehavebuilt no temples butthe andinclusion andamovementforthesubver- interests.How elsewouldTrumptakethe HE STORMINGOFthe US Capitol by amob of President Donald Trump’s Capitol,and we consultnocommon oraclebut sionofdemocracy will be lost in this partisan place of Jesus? Howelse does one explain the supporters, thescenes of violence at the Congress, and the loss of lives the Constitution.”OnJanuary6,the Capitol constructionofprotest. deep QAnon conspiracistmindsetthat has have left the worldaghast. That this could happen in the oldestdemoc- wassymbolicallydesecrated,and the author- Second, thereisnow going to bemore gen- takenmorehold in politics than one could racy,wherethe transition from onepresidenttothe next has always ity of the Constitution waschallenged.The des- eralisedpartisansuspicionofstate agencies. If have imagined? T evoked admirationfor itsease and precision, is deeplyunsettling.And ecration wasnot carriedout by external ene- it is true,asappears to bethe case, that the po- The Republican Partymay have pulled mies, but encouraged by the President of the lice did notdoall it could to stop this storming, away fromthebrink.Butthere islittlesignthat yethardlysurprising. For, themob that massedatCapitol Hill on the daythe Senate United States,egging on loutishand armed might even have mildlyencouraged it, and is itwillnotcontinueto fuelthepoliticsof resent- wastoratify President-elect Joe Biden’svictorymay be dismissedasthe loonyfringe groups likethe Proud Boys to intimidatean reluctant to arrest protestors, it will expose ment.TheDemocratswillfacetwochallenges. but thereisnogetting around the fact thatthe lumpen protesters had assembledonthe elected Congress. They, some of them armed, lawenforcement agencies to even morecon- The divisions papered over in the battle over call of none otherthanPresidentTrump. What waswitnessedonJanuary6was that made it to theinner precinctsofCongress and spiracy theories, about whichsections of the Trumpwill likelyensurethat that small win- dangerousmoment when the fringeissoempoweredbythe patronageofthe power- disruptedthe proceedings. In one instant, that stateare part of whichparty’s deepstate. dowofopportunity afforded fortransforma- ful, whenitissoweaponisedbythe mainstream leadership, that it takescentrestage. indelible imagedamaged the reputation of When the instrumentsoforder arenot per- tive changemay notyieldlastingresults.Andas President Trump’s refusal, from the start, to concedethe election to Biden, coupledwith American democracy. Themost important ceivedtobeneutral, it is acontinuingproblem the pandemic worsens, the convenientnarra- Thisbreakdownin orderwasalsoattended fororder.And the challengeisthat it is hardto tive of blamingitallonTrumpwillalsobeginto his call to his supporters to makeitclear that theydonot accept the result, made him the by aconfusion in language. What wasthis: A transformation over the last convince citizens of the political neutrality of fall apart: Afterall,Democratic states like enabler-in-chief of this sordid episode. Blame mustalso be laid at other doors —ofthose coup d’etat, an armedinsurrection, aviolent few yearsisthe institutions likethe police aftervisible inci- California and New York also have dismal who could have prevented this dayfromcoming, whose ownactsofcommission and protest, an act of sedition? Whatever the tech- institutionalisation of the dents likethese. This is notanewproblem, but records.Thepossibilityof growinggeneralised omission made it possible.Inasystemdeservedly admired forits intricatechecks and nicalities,thereisnodoubt thatthis wasanat- infrastructure of hateand it nowgoes to the heart of political partisan- distrustoftheliberaldemocraticprojectcannot tempttosubvert the democratic process, and ship at thehighestlevel. be ruled out. balances, theRepublican Partyproveddisturbingly unable to step up to the task of rein- demagogueryacross ing in Trump. Itssilence in the face of his repeated assertions that the election wasstolen had the full blessings of the Commander in The thirdchallengeissomething the bril- Strong institutions can be,for awhile, com- Chief, and of sections of the Republican Party. institutions,from media to liant political scientist PaulStaniland has been patible with adeepening civil warofsorts,as from him became atacit acceptance of his unverifiedclaims. Republican seniors, nerv- It is also tempting to seeAmerica as a alerting us to foryears: The possibilityofthe conflicts getremovedfromthe arenaofbar- ous that the party would lose Trump’s supportbase, playedalong with his delusions. civil society. This Hollywood movie writ large;apantomime infrastructure is not going to growing militarisationofUSpolitics. The US gaining to morefundamentalconflictsofiden- While some did makeitcleartheydid notsupporthim in his darkschemes to overturn showfull of guns, violence and cartoon char- hasalways hadaninfrastructureofarmedright tity.But the lines of what is acceptable in pol- theresult, the mostpowerfulRepublicans either kept quiet, or didnot call himout firmly acters that fundamentallychangenothing. Its vanish easily.Its goals are not wing groups likethe Ku Klux Klan. Butthere itics have also shiftedeachtime. America enough,oropenlysupportedhis brinkmanship. institutions have shown great resilience. The just electoral victories. There nowseemstobeareversalto apoliticalclimate might recoil from the incident at Capitol Hill, America will overcome this moment, as it has itsother big crises.Itstill has institutions electoral process stood up to President is also atouchofcultural wherethemainstreampoliticalprocessopenly invoke the 25th Amendment to protect the re- Trump’s assault.State officialsand courts dis- legitimises them to an unprecedenteddegree. public from further harm, or impeachTrump that can stand up to excessesbythe country’s politicalleadership, even itshighestoffice. nihilism in this discourse,a chargedtheir duty.Revulsion againstTrump In asense, cultivating afear of aright-wing to send amessage.ButthatAmericandemoc- TheUnited States Supreme Courtgaveademonstration of itsindependence lastmonth playedapartingiving Democratscontrol of will to crossall boundaries, backlash is atime-honouredstrategytopres- racy has come to thisisalready asignofits po- when it rejected alawsuitseeking to overturn the verdict, as did manystate courts.Trump’s the Senate. Trump’s mostpowerful enablers, that is not easily captured by surethe centreand the middle. One of the un- tential forstrife. suggestion to officials in Georgia statethat theyshould ensurehis victorybyfindingthe from Mitch McConnelltoMikePence,with- our language of interests. intended challenges of Democratscontrolling Thereisagreatdealof creativityinAmerica. right number of votes wascalledout by the officials themselves. The Senate, too, recov- drew from the precipice. Trump’s endgame Howelse does one explain the both Houses will be thatdiscontent with poli- Technological disruption and economics have ered quicklyfromthe assault on the Capitoltocertify thevictories of Biden and Kamala willsoon be over.But there is good reason to tics nowtakes an extrapolitical turn. thepowerto changethenarrative.Butitishard deep QAnon conspiracist Harris. The system will certainlyrise to the occasion when the time comes to fixaccount- think that this storming of the Capitol maybe Theresult in Georgia wasatestament to to shakeoff the feeling that liberal democracy partofacontinuing nightmare, notan what political hardworkcan accomplish. But in America will continue to come undermore ability forthe incidentsatthe Capitol. Forthe rest of the world, however, therecan be no mind-set that has takenmore ephemeral bad dream. hold in politicsthan one could governingAmerica,evenwithDemocrats con- stress, rivenbyits owninternal conflictsand schadenfreude at the terrible images from Washington on Wednesday. On the other The assault on the Capitol is asignofmany trolling both Housesofgovernment,will not confusionof values.Therest of theworldmight hand, thereare lessons to be markedand learnt. One of them is that powerful democra- challenges. The firstisthe racialquestion.The have imagined? The be easy. The mostimportant transformation feelsomeschadenfreudeatAmerica’sdivisions. cies draw their strength notonlyfromwe, the people, but from checkson their power. The politicsof protestwillremainracialised.Itisdif- Republican Partymay have over the lastfew years is theinstitutionalisa- ButregimesinMoscowandBeijingquietlytak- worldwaitstosee howits mostpowerful democracy holds itsPresident to accountfor ficultnottowonderif aBlackLivesMatterkind pulled away from the brink. tion of the infrastructureofhateand dema- ing succour from the Capitol falling is notgood going rogue. of movement would have been allowed to as- But there is little sign that it gogueryacrossinstitutions,frommediato civil forglobal freedom either. saulttheCapitolinthisway; thereismorethan society.This infrastructureisnot goingto van- atouchofwhiteentitlementhere.ButtheRight will not continue to fuel the isheasily. Itsgoals arenot justelectoral victo- The writer is contributing editor, has also convinceditself that it is the victim, politicsofresentment. ries.Thereisalso atouchofcultural nihilism TheIndian Express A SMALLER DECLINE NSO pegs GDP contraction at 7.7per cent. Stronger rebound in economic activity,vaccine rollout, maymean faster pick-up

HE FIRSTADVANCE estimatesofnational income forthe current financial COVID LESSONSINHUMILITY year,releasedbytheNationalStatisticalOfficeonThursday, indicatethatthe Indian economyislikelytocontract by 7.7per centin2020-21. This is in line Fight againstpandemic taught me to listenmore, value of collaborativeleadership T withtheRBI’sestimate,which,inDecemberlastyear,hadpeggedthedecline at 7.5per cent. Considering thatthe economy contractedby 15.7 per cent in the firsthalf of the year,these numbers suggestthat the NSO believesthat in the second half Preeti Sudan of theyear,the economywould be at almostthe same levelasitwas lastyear.Innominal terms—this assumes significance as it will form the basis of the upcoming budget numbers IT IS JANUARY8again, ayear since the first speaking,thevalueof collaborative leadership, ment,maintainingessentialnon-COVIDhealth —the contraction is pegged to be smaller at 4.2per cent, withthe size of the economyesti- meeting of the Joint MonitoringGroup under and admiration forthe selfless work of col- services, wearing masksand maintaining do mated to be Rs 194.81lakhcrore in 2020-21, as againstRs203.89 lakh crorein2019-20. the Director General Health Services wascon- leagues in central and stategovernments. I gazkidoori.Freehelplinenumberswere setup On the production side,the pace of recovery is likelytoremainuneven. While agricul- venedbydirector, emergencyresponse,to for- came away with respect and gratitude forthe forCOVID-relatedqueries,specifically formen- tureisexpected to continuetogrowatahealthypace, notmuchofanuptickisexpected mulate the government’s stand on COVID-19, effortsofdoctors,nurses,ASHAs,frontline talhealth issues. Training resources forvolun- afast-emerging health threat then. Anational workers, including police personnel and the teers andfrontline workerswerecreated via in the manufacturing sector.The constructionsector is expected to pickupfaster, grow- task forcewith experts wasalso constituted. armedforces,who apartfromassisting in the iGOT platformand human resources were ing at 4.4 percent in the second half of the year,after contracting by almost 30 percent Thus beganIndia’s battle againstapan- emergencyoperations,openedtheirfacilitiesto moblisedthrough covidwarriors.gov.in.Safety in the firsthalf. On the services side, the badlyscarredtrade, hotels, transportand com- demic,whichwas notjustapublic healthcri- civilians,compensatingforinfrastructureshort- netpackages forthe vulnerable were organ- munications sector is likelytocontinue to contract in the second half of the year as well, sis but also one with economicand social con- ages. Therewas prideatthe capability of our ised(PM Garib Kalyan Yojana, aRs1.70-lakh- though the pace of decline is expected to ease marginally. However, both financial, real sequences. Backedbyscientific advice and led scientists andresearchers, the pharma and re- crorerelief package).Guidelines were also is- estate andprofessional services and public administration, defence and other services by the Prime Minister, India’s proactive,pre- lated industry, whichquickly re-engineered suedforhighlighting the inspirational work of emptiveand gradedresponse exemplifiedthe their processesto“Make in India” the essen- COVID health professionals, development of areexpected to impartapositive impulse to theeconomy in the second half. The latter is myriadfrontsonwhichthecentralgovernment tialsneededtofightthepandemic.Youngjour- theArogyaSetuApp,redesigninge-Sanjeevani projectedtogrowat3.3 per cent, aftercontracting by 11.3 percent in thefirsthalf. The sharp coordinatedpolicyandimplementationacross nalistsontheMoHFWbeatkept awakeallnight forteleconsultation, uploading real-time test- rise in central government spending in November is indicative of this. On the expendi- multiple departments andstates. to coverthe news sent by ourteam, amedia ing dataonthe ICMR portal and indigenous tureside,inthe second half of the year,the NSO expectsbothhousehold demandand in- The firstadvisory wasreceivedonJanuary shyjoint secretarybecame the face of the manufacturing of Trunat and rapid antigen vestment activity to recovertoalmostthe same levelaslastyear. 17,2020. DG, ICMR, colleague secretaryinthe MoHFW. Moreimportantly, Iwas filled with testing kits. Once an importer of PPEs, masks As theseestimates take intoconsideration datafor onlyseven to eight months of theyear, ministry, always aphonecallaway, ensured respect forour people who, ungrudgingly, and ventilators, the country became an ex- thattestingwasarrangedattheICMR’sNIVlab- made sacrifices,and arenewedfaithinour re- porterofthese items. these numbers arelikelytoberevisedinthe months ahead. With the momentum observed oratory. India’sfirstcasecameonJanuary30,a silience and ability to standtogether. Today, with apopulation of 135crore,we in various economic indicatorsappearing to grow stronger in theperiodthereafter, and a studentreturneefromWuhan.Personally, tillI Ledpersonally by thePM,thestatesandthe have acase fatality rate of 1.45 per cent, are- rolloutofthe vaccinelikelytoprovide afillip to economic activity,especially high-contact handedovercharge as health secretarytoan Today, with apopulation of Centreworkedinharmony to meettheCOVID- covery rate of 96.3 per cent, over 15 lakh isola- services, growth in the fourth quartermay well be stronger than what is being expected. ablesuccessorinend-July, thesesevenmonths 135crore,wehaveacase 19 challengeinaspiritofcooperative federal- tion,2.7 lakhoxygenand 80,557ICU bedsand were lifechanging. Ihad served as commis- fatalityrate of 1.45 per cent,a ism. Regular interactions of the PM withthe 40,627ventilators. From one lab at the begin- sioner,disastermanagement,inthecombined chief ministers, Group of Ministers chaired by ning of the pandemic, the countryhas 2,305 stateofAndhra Pradesh,handledtwo cyclones, recoveryrate of 96.3per cent, the healthminister, committee of secretaries labs, and an enhancedtesting capacity of 12 sevenfloods, adrought, and Zika and Nipah over 15 lakh isolation, 2.7 under the CabinetSecretary, 11 empowered lakh testsper day. Behindthis is the untiring BUSINESSOFDIVERSITY outbreaks, but this wasunimaginablydiffer- lakh oxygen and 80,557ICU groupsled by secretaries/member/CEO NITI work of experts,search forglobalbest practices ent. COVID wasanevolvingchallenge, with no beds and 40,627 ventilators. Ayog,andalmostdaily videoconferencesof the and consensus-building across stakeholders. Germany’s quotafor women in corporateboardrooms is known “right way”,health infrastructure and minister, secretaryandofficersof MoHFWwith On January3,Indiaapproved twoindige- From one labatthe significant. India’s private sector mustset itself similar goals human resources constraints, no treatment states, enabledafocused response. nouslymanufactured vaccines, concurrently guidelines or training modules, high depend- beginning of the pandemic, Guidance forpublic health teams, health making extensive arrangements to rollout the enceonimportsforessentialprotective equip- the countryhas 2,305 labs, facilitiesandserviceprovidersandthelaypub- world’s largestvaccinationdrive.Iamsure, as ERMANY’SCABINETHASapprovedalaw thatmakesitmandatoryforlarge ment and testing probes/reagents. Therewas and an enhanced testing licwasgiven.Testing,quarantineandisolation always, together we can. listedfirmsinthe country to have at least one woman on their boards. The also an “infodemic” to counter. norms were framedand surveillance and case ruling Christian Democratic Union, whichhad so farresistedforcing the These sevenmonths taught me much— capacityof12lakh management protocols drafted. Guidelines The writer is formerUnionSecretary, Ghand of private companies, said it gave in because of slowprogress on gen- fromlessonsinhumilityto listeningmorethan tests per day. were issued forthe use of protective equip- Health&Family Welfare der equality in the boardroom. “Not manychanges aremade voluntarily,” saidaministerintheAngelaMerkelgovernment.Womenmakeuponly12percentof man- agement boards in Germany, behind countries suchasthe US (28.6 percent), UK (24.5 per cent) and France(22.2 per cent). In 2015,ithad legislated a30per cent quotafor women on JANUARY 8, 1981, FORTY YEARS AGO supervisoryboardsof listedcompanies,which,however, entailedonlyanon-executive role. Globally, studies have shown ariseinthe number of women in leadership positions in companies. The question remains: Do legallybinding quotas work or do theyrun the NAM DIPLOMACY thedraft declaration but he willalso make down of marriageaground fordivorce. An risksofstate meddling in private enterprise? Germany’s experience suggests that while WITH TOPFOREIGN office officials, includ- an assessment of the latestsituation in official spokesman said that the Cabinet ing foreign secretaryRDSathe, flying offto Afghanistanand gauge Kabul’s willingness while accepting the recommendationsof expanding the pool of innovators, talent and perspectivesisinthe obvious self-interest various non-alignedcountries, India today to have talkswith Islamabad. the LawCommission decidedtoprovide of industries, the gender bias wired intocorporatestructures is what keeps the glass ceil- launched amajor diplomaticinitiative for necessarysafeguardstoavoid financial ing in place. Countries that do better on genderparity thanothers —Norway, Sweden, Italy seeking consensus on itsdraft declaration EXIM BANK CLEARED hardship to the wifeand children in her cus- —set themselveseither informal targetsorcommit to legal quotas. to be discussedatthe conference of non- THE PROPOSAL FORanexportimportbank tody whenapetition fordivorces on such In India, SEBI regulations makeitmandatoryfor listedfirms to have at leastone woman alignedministers in Delhi next month. Sathe wascleared by the cabinetonJanuary7.The grounds is presented by the husband. director on their boards. Despitethat, the proportion of women boarddirectors in Nifty flewtoKabul, raising speculationthat it was bank,tobeset up as astatutorycorporation carrying concreteproposals forstarting adi- fullyownedbythe government will have an CM AND DSP 500companies doesnot even touch20per cent, according to areport by Institutional alogue between Pakistanand Afghanistan, authorised capital of Rs 200crore. THE BIHAR GOVERNMENT has suspended Investor AdvisoryServices lastyear.Inequality,whether of gender,caste or income, is a but the foreign office maintains that the visit aDSP who refusedto“close the files” relat- systemicfeatureofmanyIndianinstitutions —and the privatesector is no exception.Nor has to do withthe ministers’ conference. NEW DIVORCE RULES ingtothe corruption of formerexcise offi- should it be exempt from the expectations of substantive equality.Though it has resisted Thatis, perhaps, true,but it is certain thatin THE GOVERNMENT HAS decidedtoamend cer being favoured by Chief Minister pressures foraffirmativeaction so far, it mustget to work on mechanisms that ensure Kabul,Sathe will notonlyhavedetaileddis- the Hindu MarriageAct and the Special Jagannath Mishra. The CM had earlier re- morewomen in the boardroom. cussions with President Babrak Karmal on MarriageAct to makeirretrievable break- fusedpermission to prosecutethis official. Kolkata WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THEINDIANEXPRESS,FRIDAY,JANUARY8,2021 WHATTHE OTHERSSAY “PresidentDonald Trumpneeds to be heldaccountable—through impeachment proceedings or criminal prosecution—and the same goes forhis 7 THE IDEAS PAGE supporterswho carried out the violence” —THENEWYORKTIMES Misunderstanding the MSP

Aproperlythought out resolution —not hurriedly made amendments —requiresthe untangling of manyaspectsofthe farm laws

food procurement targetshavebeen met, ig- noreeither or both of the twonew purposes of MSP/APMC. The flawedrecommendation to dismantle FCIpublic procurement, made by theShanta Kumar Committee in its2015 report, displayedasimilar lackofrecognition of the importance of these twopurposes. The government’s “assurance” that MSP/APMCcan co-existwith the big agro- Pritam Singh and business-controlledprivate marketsisnot tenable, because afarmer who has reacheda Shruti Bhogal contract, sayfor threeyears, with aprivate trader will notbelegally allowedtotakethe IN THETWOlatestroundsofnegotiations be- product to APMCifthe APMC mandi offered tween the farmers’ organisations and the him/her abetterprice than that contracted Centre, the changeinthe government’s atti- with the trader.The agro-business entity will tude—reflected in thehomage paid to the take the non-compliant farmer to court, farmers who diedduring the protest,the con- wherethe disputeresolution mechanism is ciliatorygestureonthe stubble burning is- stackedagainstthe farmer due to the struc- sue and the proposedelectricityamendment tural inequities of legal resources and social- bill —deserves to bewelcomed. The govern- cultural capital. The proposeddisputeresolu- menthas also acknowledgedflaws in the tion mechanism increases the choice of the CRSasikumar three farminglawsand is offering to make trader to tradeand notofthe farmer to sell. amendments. However, afundamental gulf The central lawwill prevail in the private mar- exists between the government’s viewthat kets, while statelawswillprevail in the APMC itssuggestedamendmentswilladdress these mandis.Two marketswithtwo regulatory Bolne bhi mat do yaaro flaws,and the farmers’viewthat theamend- frameworkswill createconditionsfor per- mentsdonot changethe faulty structureof petual Centre-state conflicts. these laws and, therefore, the laws them- Thegovernment system of announcing selvesneedtoberepealed. and implementing MSPs is inadequate. MSPs Indore incidentwhereMunawarFaruquiwas apprehendedbyagroup of men On minimum supportprice(MSP), the areannouncedfor 23 crops but since the mostimportant of the manycontentious is- other twocomponentsofthe procurement and handed over to police must be one of god’s #NotInMyName moments sues, the governmentposition is riddled package, compulsoryand timelypublic pro- withsomanyirresolvablecontradictions curement, areprovidedmainlyfor twocrops, neighbourhoods. The comic hereishighlight- that amereamendment —and less so an as- wheat and rice, the support price does not ing averyreal problemfacedbymany. To re- powerthe mob and give it atwistedmoral le- surance on maintaining MSP —cannotre- work forthe remaining21 crops.Forinstance, duce it to hurting religious sentimentsismiss- gitimacy to commit murder. Once amob is em- solve thematter. the MSP formaize forthe year 2019-20 was ing the point by light years. powered, nooneis safe. Itleadstocollectiveso- MSP,public procurement system (PPS) Rs 1,760/quintal,but the averagemarket price Stand-up comedy is about human beings cial paranoia. Amob is bloodthirsty by nature, and astrict time-bound purchase of output receivedbyfarmers wasRs1,250/quintal in and their behaviour and practices and never and, afterapoint, becomes community-agnos- brought to thePPS (represented by Bihar,Rs1,000-1,200/quintal in Haryana, and about gods and goddesses. India has had arich tic, even going afterits own, as is evident from AgriculturalProduce MarketsCommittee, or Rs 1,100/quintal in Karnataka. The farmers’ tradition of using mythology, religion and reli- the murders of Taseer and Khan. Even some of APMC, mandi yards) form apackagedeal. If organisations have rightlydemandedthe ex- gious figures as partofstorytelling. Thereare the lawyers defending ablasphemyaccused youtakeout one aspect, the deal falls apart. tension of the fullMSP packagetothe re- Sanjay Rajoura numerous examples. One being from the cult were murdered. Forexample, if youhaveMSP but notcom- maining 21 crops. classic Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983) by iconicdirec- The writing on the wall is as clear as it gets. pulsoryPPS,the supportprice becomesre- The definition of MSP is ahugelycon- torKundan Shah. The epic Mahabharatase- Actnow,India, before it’s toolate. dundant. Similarly,ifyou have MSP and tested issue. Farmers’ organisations arein- quence is etchedintoour memoryasone of the The Indoreincident whereMunawar PPS/APMC mandi but notstrict time-bound sisting on the SwaminathanCommittee ACOFFIN NEEDS manynails. Call it macabre, funniestever. It’s hardtoimagine that just40 Faruqui wasfirst apprehended by agroup of purchase of the product brought to thePPS, formulaofC2+50 per cent, whichthe BJP but acoffinappears to be an aptmetaphor years ago, the legendaryOmPuri said in that men and then handedovertothe policeshould the deal will fail —especiallyifthe product is announceditwould implement in its2014 because in India today, only the dead don’t sequence, “Oyetukaise Draupadi ko akele le worryusall. In acivilisedsociety whererule of aperishablecommodity.Gaurang Sahayof election manifesto,but failedtodosoafter getoffended. jayega,hum sab shareholder hain.” Is it possi- Stand-up comedy is about lawisthe order of the day, suchbrazen acts theTata InstituteofSocialSciences,Mumbai, coming to power. Farmers citethis betrayal With the arrest of stand-up comic ble to saythattodayincomedywithout conse- human beings and their have no place. If youdon’t likeit, don’t go forit. has pointedout that on oneoccasion,theab- as areason fortheir lackoftrustinthe gov- MunawarFaruqui by the Indorepolice, have quences? Iamafraid not. Again,weall know behaviour and practices and If your religious sentimentsare hurt, youhave senceoftimelypurchase of vegetables in ernment regarding its“assurance” on MSP. we driventhe last nail in the coffin? We aretold that the sequence wasnot about religion, reli- never about gods and theright to file acomplaint with police. Any Madhya Pradesh ledtofarmers feeding cau- When thegovernmentnow says that it has that his “jokes”hurt the religious sentiments gious figuresormythology.Itwas abouthu- further action is forthepolice to decideonand liflowerand aubergine to their animals. implementedthe Swaminathan of some people who took objection to Faruqui man corruption and depravity.Likeall good goddesses. India has had a take.Citizens cannotbeaself-proclaimedex- Ahistoricalchangehas takenplace re- Committeerecommendations, it is being making fun of Hindu gods. In his defence, jokes, it had acontextand alargerpoint. rich tradition of using tension of the police, acting as vigilantes and garding the purpose of MSP,PPS/APMC and economical with the truth. The MSPan- Faruqui states thathe had manyjokes onIslam In 40 years, we have gone from Jaane mythology, religion and dragging people to the police station. thetimelypurchaseofagriculturalproducts. nouncedbythe government is based on the too. What asad place to be forastand-up Bhi Do Yaaro to “Bolne bhi mat do yaaro”. You religious figures as part of Idon’t knowFaruqui personallyand was At thelaunchofthe Green Revolution, MSP A2+Fl+50 percentformula, which, unlike comic, to be answering to whatabouteries. arefreetoconclude, whether this is aslide or notexposedtohis craftuntil the Indore and PPS were designedtoincentivise farmers the C2+50 per cent formula, doesnot cover Everyjokehas abackstory and acontext, aclimb. storytelling. There are episode. Afterthe incidentthough, my online to produce cereals —mainlywheat and rice all the costs of farming. whichare perhaps moreimportant than the Section 295(A) is ofteninvoked against numerous examples. One feed is full of hisvideos. Afterwatching afew —and to assistthe countryinachieving its Aproperly thought-out viewonthis punchline. Acomic goes on stage, oftenex- someone who is accusedofhurting religious being from the cult classic of them, Ican safelysay that hereisabright goal of food self-sufficiency,whichwas met contentious issue —not hurriedly-made posing her ownlifestoriestotransform an an- sentiments. It is an archaic lawand wasone of Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983) by young man, who is extremelycomfortable by the early Seventies. The purpose of MSP amendments —requires the untangling of ecdote into ajoke. She connects many con- the parting gifts of the British. Suchananti- laughing at himself and his faith too. Some of and PPS/APMC is nowtwo-fold. One, to manyotheraspectsofthe farm laws.The temporaryincidents, people, images, quated lawhas no place in afree, modern so- iconic director Kundan Shah. his jokes on Muslims areremarkablyintelli- maintain food self-sufficiency because crop farmers’ recognition of the necessitytore- institutions or practices and maps asocial and ciety.It’s interesting to note that 295(A) of un- The epic Mahabharata gent. From the videos, Icould see that when diseases and weather conditionssuchas peal these laws is rational. Agrarian reforms cultural pattern. Religion is one of them,and divided Indiaisthe precursortoPakistan’s sequence is etched into our he wasonstage,hewas in an extremely droughts, especially due to global heating, thatrecognise the importance of ecologi- an importantone at that, becauseit’saninte- 295(C) —the blasphemylaw whichcarries the happyspace. Theaudience lovedhim. He can lead to food shortages;and two, even callyand economicallysustainable agricul- gral and unquestionedpartofthe lifeofthe death penalty. memory as one of the spokeabout my India, his India, our collective moreimportantly, to ensureareasonable, as- tureare an absolutenecessity.Suchreforms majority of people in the audience. Take a Unabashedstate supporttothe blasphemy funniest ever. It’s hard to shared India. Some of them funny, some not sured income to thefarmers. This second would requiremorethanmerelychanging comic who uses awheelchair,wantstohigh- lawinPakistanhasresultedin unfair andunjust imagine that just 40 years so. Do people have aright to take him offstage purpose is critical forthe 86 per cent of India’s the trade emphasis of existing laws.They light the difficulties facedbyher because most persecution, including mob lynchings of mi- ago, the legendary Om Puri and hand him over to thecops? Turns out they farming households who areeither marginal will involve the creationofinclusive,trans- places arenot accessible, and she happens to norities and even the murders of political fig- do, in the name of god. (cultivating less than one hectareofland) or parentand well-informedlawscompatible mention howHindu mythology portrayed ures, mostnotably SalmanTaseer,who op- said in that sequence, ‘Oye tu This surelymustbeone of god’s small (cultivating between one hectareand with thesereforms. disabled figures negatively as thepunchline to posedthe lawand wasassassinatedby hisown kaise Draupadi ko akele le #NotInMyName moment. Whether suchacts twohectares of land) and who sell their pro- drive homethe point and highlight society’s bodyguard, Mumtaz Qadri. Thereisalso the jayega, hum sab shareholder arethefinalnailin thecoffinofdemocracy,shall duce immediatelyafterharvest.Severalpro- Singh is Professor Emeritus, OxfordBrookes apathy. Now, it would be ridiculoustothink horrific storyofthe lynching of Mashal Khan,a hain’. Is it possible to say that be known soon enough.For now, though, the government andpro-agro-business econo- Business School, Oxford. Bhogal is withPDRA, that she is making fun of Hindumythology. student from Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. jokehas been incarcerated in India. mists,who argue forscrapping MSP nowthat Centres forInternational Projects Trust, Delhi In this context, if anything should makepeo- He waslynched by amob in hisuniversity on today in comedy without ple angry it’s the lackofwheel-chair friendly amererumour of blasphemy. Suchlawsem- consequences? The writer is asatirist LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR

BCCI’SCORRUPTION AHouse for new India THIS REFERS TO theeditorial. ‘Fading IDEAS lines’ (IE, January7). To thinkthatBCCI will deal with the “conflict of interest” is- ONLINE NewParliamentwillbeamonumentto culturaldiversityof Indiandemocracy sue is nothing but wishful thinking. We mustnot forget that even the Supreme ONLYINTHE EXPRESS Court’s interventionhasn’t resultedin Arjun Ram Meghwal anygreat transformation in the work- ● THESTORMING ingsofthe BCCI. The lureofthe lucre is OFTHECAPITOL: WE HAVE ENTERED the 21st year of the 21st highlighted this need as the numberofpar- constituencies. Since the lastdelimitation orated these factsduring theConstituent so strong that even the best of intentions SUDIPTASARANGI century. Thenationisonatransformative liamentary staff, securitypersonnel, media exercise wasbased on the 1971 census, the Assemblydebates. The US’s present parlia- at cleaning the Augean stables fail. journeytofulfil the aspirations of itsciti- visitors, and parliamentaryactivities have ongoingfreeze on increasing the state-wise mentarybuilding wasconstructed within Vijai Pant, Hempur ● IDEOLOGY zens. Acentury ago, severalhistorical mile- seen asteep rise. During aJoint Session, the distribution of seatswill end in 2026. 25 years of itsindependence; it took 70 years AND JUDICIARY: stones helpedIndianstoachieve their goal Central Hall is jam-packedand runs out of Subsequently, thenumberofMPs will un- to build itsparliament.In1988, Australia DRACONIAN LAW MSANANTH of Swaraj.The ongoing decadewill nowgo chairs forMPs. doubtedlyincrease, whichposes an urgent proudly dedicatedits newparliament build- along waytowards fulfilling the aspirations Since Parliament is aheritage building, demand forappropriate arrangements. ing in Canberra.Thus, it is imperative to un- THIS REFERS TO the report, ‘UP, www.indianexpress.com of aproud democratic country.The newly- thereare severe limitations to thestructural It is the farsighted vision of Prime dertake thishistorical exercisetodevelop Uttarakhand ‘love jihad’ laws challenged, inaugurated Parliament building is acase repair,alteration and modifications that can MinisterNarendraModi —dedicating the our post-colonial people’s Parliament. This SC issues notice’ (IE, January7). The dra- in point —itwill showcase the broad trajec- be made.The existing building lacks sev- newParliament building to the countryby gloriousproject will depict India’s demo- conian legislations run counter to the tory of growth in the years to come. eral safetyfeatures suchasearthquake- the 75th year of Independence in 2022 — cratic tradition and represent India as the Article 21 of theConstitution. Theynot farmers’interests areimportantforother TheMontague-Chelmsfordreformsre- proofing,astandard fireproofingsystem whichwill nurturethe atmanirbhar nation’s mother of democracy in areal sense. onlyimpinge on the libertyofinter-faith sections of society.The Centre should be sulted in the participation of Indians in the and alsohas inadequateoffice space. This aspiration. Underthe CentralVista redevel- The Supreme Courtverdict has provided couples but also compound their strug- conscious of this during negotiations. governanceand administration of the coun- necessitated the demand foramodern opment project, the newParliament build- agreen signaltothe government to go ahead gles. Thelaws, whichwereintroduced Kanika, Noida trythrough the Government of India Act building and severalmembersvoicedthis ing’s indigenous architecturewill represent with the Central Vistaproject. The govern- on the pretextofprecluding forcedcon- 1919.Public representativeswereelected need.In2012, MeeraKumar, the then Lok the cultural diversity and strengthen the “Ek ment has clarifiedthat it will continue to ad- versions,arebeing misusedtoinculpate LAWLESS UP forthe firsttime in 1921.These reforms re- Sabha Speaker,accordedapproval forthe Bharat-Shrestha Bharat” spirit. The red heretothe highest standards and be sensitive innocent couples. sultedinthe creationofabicameral legisla- newParliamentbuilding. In 2016,former Dholpur stone of Rajasthan will provide a to environmental concernsduring construc- Varun Das, Zirakpur THIS REFERSTOthe report, ‘Woman ture. To accommodatethe legislators, speaker SumitraMahajansuggestedthat great look to thistemple of democracy.This tion. In the modern, technologically-con- gangraped, killed in UP,police look for Edwin Lutyens and HerbertBaker designed the urban development ministryinitiate morespacious,energy-efficient, accessible nected world, all stakeholders’ roles demand WITH FARMERS priest’ (IE, January7). The madness con- the present Parliamentbuilding, whichhas the newParliament building’sconstruction. and tech-friendly buildingwill have aseat- acontinuous recalibrationovertheir rights tinues, with another rape reportedfrom stood the test of time. ThefirstLok Sabha RajyaSabha ChairmanMVenkaiah Naidu, ing capacity of 1,224MPs. and duties. Convergence is required among THISREFERS TO the report, ‘25 buses, tar- UttarPradesh. So muchfor lawand order had 489seatsand eachMPrepresented,on LokSabha SpeakerOmBirla and Union India has imbibed democratic values and individualistic, collective and nationalistic paulin sheets and averylarge tent as in the state. Rape is very distressing, an average, sevenlakhpeople. As the coun- UrbanDevelopment MinisterHardeep these areapartofour cultural ethos —beit goals. The newParliament building will be a protestsites tackle rain’ (IE, January7). moreso, when suchincidentsoccur at a try’spopulation has increasedfrom36.1 Singh Puri have solicited suggestions from the 12th-centuryAnubhava Mantapa of fitting tributetoIndian democracy on its The supportthe farmers arereceiving place of worship, with apriestamong crores in 1951 to over 135crore today, so has parliamentarians and other stakeholders Bhagwan BasavaorBuddhism from the 75th year of independence. from people from diverse backgrounds is the accused. When will men come to the number of people represented by an in- on the proposednew Parliament building sixth centuryBCE onwards, whichtaught heartwarming and exemplaryofthe hu- their senses? dividual MP. and the ambitious Central Vistaproject. liberty,equality and fraternity to the world. The writer is Union Minister of Statefor man propensity forcollaboration. The MelvilleXD’Souza, Mumbai The idea of anew structurefor Parliament Article81ofthe Indian Constitution pro- BRAmbedkar,chairmanofthe Parliamentary Affairs and HeavyIndustries is notarecent one—two formerSpeakers vides forthe delimitation of parliamentary Constitution’sdraft committee, lucidlyelab- &PublicEnterprises

Kolkata WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM 8 CALENDAR THEINDIANEXPRESS,FRIDAY,JANUARY8,2021

CROSSWORD4322 OVER THE HEDGE by Michael Fry &TLewis DAYTODAY BYPETERVIDAL

ARIES (Mar 21 -Apr 20) LIBRA (Sept24-Oct 23) That magical planet Youdostill have to Mercuryreassures be down-to-earth youthat thereisa if youwant to geton, great deal to be done but nothing is as before your wishes come true, simple as it seems. The most but also that you'reonthe right effective course maybeto track. Romantically, the most put fantasy firstand facts important consideration is still second, strangeasthat may security.Ifyou feel safe, then seem. The point is that you'll be prepared to take a youmight solve practical well-calculated risk or two. problems by applying unlikelysolutions. TAURUS (Apr 21 -May 21) One of the most SCORPIO (Oct 24 -Nov 22) important planetary It's auseful moment aspectsofthe fordiscussions, moment is that debates and choices, whichcementsfriendships at and it reallyistime CALVIN &HOBBES by Bill Watterson work.The overwhelming that youmade up your mind. It priority nowistoget on with is doubtful whether anyone people in authority.You maygo else can do this foryou, so forthe best long-term options, search out the factsand then and treat short-term take the best decision you temptations with a can. But don't imagine that healthyscepticism. it's final. ACROSS DOWN GEMINI (May22-June 21) SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 -Dec 22) 1Unhappyexperiences in gold 1 Attack on aclique (5) It's definitely One medium-term transactions (7) 2 Followsome sortoflead (3) traditional values pattern in your 5 The Spanish weapon involvedin 3 Expresses pretentious whichsuit youbest horoscope suggests the movement of arms (5) attitudes (4) at the moment. This that youshould try 8 But grease can also be extracted 4 Setday arranged forregular doesn't mean that you'rea and talk to people at home from this plant (5,4) date(6) stick-in-the-mud reactionary, muchmoreoften. And if youdo but that what appeals is the this already then perhaps it's a 9 Punishingdistance (3) 5 Plea foratwo-point pact (8) waythings were done better in case of making surethat they 10 Vehicle turns to leave (4) 6 Arevolutionaryfortification (9) the past. And, having applied listen! It's notaquestion of 12 Sticking together he said no 7 We dinedperhaps and swelled triedand trustedmethods, you chatting about dailyaffairs, but changes areneeded(8) out (7) mayset out your plans for of getting to grips with 14 Iamseen in unusual anger but 11 Neat grain-producing country the future. deeper issues. recoverpossession (6) (9) MARVIN by Tom Armstrong CANCER (June 22 -July23) CAPRICORN (Dec 23 -Jan 20) 15 Beachordesert(6) 13 Patching battered headgear This is an ideal The pursuitof 17 Use hands to makesome (8) moment to setabout happiness is an protection from heat (8) 14 Opposedthe ugly sisters (7) building up future essential human 18 The favourites step out (4) 16 Movement notedfor its security,ifonly right, and it's 21 Runner in avigorous kind of slowness (6) because you'renolonger certainlyone that youshould winter sport(3) 19 It’s abit rough but Americans trappedinthe past. If other be aiming foratthe moment. If 22 Maybetippedthough not think it’s great (5) people arerefusing to playball, at all possible, youshould draw it might be best foryou to get familymembers intowhatever recommendedbydoctors (9) 20 Available if the price is about on and seek out companions good fortune comes your 24 Keen to play(5) right (4) who areolder,wiser and way. Youmay also bring 25 Supreme general (7) 23 Leavesfor adrink (3) generallymoresuited to your together friends who have current mood. fallen out. SolutionCrossword4321Across:1Forensic,5Clip,9Sinew,10Sponger,11 Shootingstar,13Errand,14Sentry,17Double-dealer,20Intense,21Ideas,22Eden, LEO (July24-Aug 23) AQUARIUS (Jan 21 -Feb 19) 23Standard.Down:1Fast,2Rancher,3Newfoundland,4Instil,6Light,7Portrays,8 Youdon't seem to Youmay give Congregation,12Deadline,15Theresa,16Advent,18Untie,19Used. have anychoice but yourself as much to press on with the time as youneedto job in hand. Happily, getyour feelings in your lunar alignmentsindicate perspective.Thereisalot to be that youmay throw caution to said forputting pressureon JUMBLED WORDS the wind and might walk away people who don't yetseem to DifficultyLevel5s from aparticular engagement be responding to your Instructions without toomuchfuss. Don't blandishments. Mind Givenbelowarefourjumbledwords.Solvethejumblestomakeproperwordsandmovethemto TosolveaSudokupuzzle, leave anyone feeling letdown you, in the final analysis you

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4346 situation continues It's time to give TUELL ALMSUY rowsandineachofthe to look favourable, moreattention to nineboxes. but there's aheavy social connections. SUDOKU emphasis on those of youwho The gatherings have some sortofartistic or whichshould be mostsuitable EJOLL EIRSBF DifficultyLevel creative vocation. The rest of todayinvolve either family youmay feel strangely members or friends who areso

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

66 CLWEMPLOYEES RETIRED GRSE DELIVERS 106TH WARSHIP: LCU L-58 Aretirement ceremony was organized by CLW BIDS ADIEU TO 2020, ACHIEVING ADOUBLE MILESTONE personal deptt. maintaining all precautionary Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd., measures of COVID -19 in Vivekananda Auditorium (GRSE), aleading warship building and Mini- at English medium high school today,on31-12- ratna Category1Company under the adminis- 2020. Atotal of 66 employees retired from railway trative control of the MinistryofDefence, tops services on superannuation in Chittaranjan off year 2020 with “Delivery” of the “Last of Locomotive Works (CLW) in December,2020. On Eight LCU Project” &“StartProduction” of the this auspicious occasion, Honourable Railway First Ship of Eight ASWSWC Project. GRSE deliv- Minister,Shri Piyush Goyal along with Chairman ered IN LCU L-58 (Yard 2099), eighth and last in and CEO of railway board Shri V.KYadav,addressed the series of Landing CraftUtility Ships to the In- them through video conferencing and appreciated their long service for Indian Railway and wished them all success. dian Navy.This ship is the 106th Warship built Officers of CLWfelicitated all of them with their retirement benefits and Gifts. Retired employees along with their family, and delivered by GRSE so far,since its inception in 1960, the highest no. of warships delivered by any Indian Ship- representatives of CLWaccounts deptt., representatives of local banks were present on this occasion. yard till date.The Protocol of deliveryand acceptance was signed between Rear Admiral VK Saxena, IN (Retd.), Chair- man &Managing Director,GRSE and Lt Cdr Krishan Kumar Yadav in the presence of Cmde Sanjeev Nayyar,IN `RISING TOLLYWOOD STAR ABHISHEK’S NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS (Retd), Director (Shipbuilding), Cmde PRHari, Director (Personnel) and Shri RK Dash, Director (Finance)and As we leave behind us atumultuous 2020, actor Abhishek Singh, known for his contrasting leading roles in webseries other Senior Officials of GRSE and Indian Navy.The LCU is the third ship delivered by GRSE in 2020, no mean -Mismatch 3and Judgement Day -looks at 2021 with hope. “For us 2020has been like aharsh teacher and we feat considering the operational constraints imposed by the global pandemic of COVID 19. The Shipyard has deliv- SMT.SOMA MONDAL HAS TAKEN CHARGE have learned alot from. We step into 2021 alot more wiser,” says Abhishek. The Tollywood heartthrob has never fixed ered 14 ships in the last 42 monthswhich clocks an average of 3months per ship. The complete design ofthe LCU New Year resolutions for himself,but 2021 is different. He has two simple ones -tostay safe at work and to workout AS CHAIRMAN, SAIL* Mark IV ships has been developed in-house by GRSE as per requirements specified by the Indian Navy which neces- more. He looks pretty fit, but alot of effortgoes behind maintaining his chiselled body. Soma Mondal has taken over as Chairman of Steel Au- sitate aunique design with no precedence worldwide. The 62.8 mlong and 11 mwide LCU has adisplacement of thority of India Limited (SAIL) w.e.f.01.01.2021. She 830 Tand can achieve aspeed of 15 knots. The LCU is designed to accommodate 216 personnel and is equipped was the Director (Commercial) of SAIL prior to this. with TwoIndigenous CRN 91 Guns to provide ArtilleryFire supportduring landing operations. The ship is fitted with MSME GOES AHEAD Before joining SAIL as aDirector,Mondal was the Direc- State-of-the-ArtEquipment and Advanced Systems like the Integrated Bridge System (IBS) and the Integrated Nitin Gadkari, Minister for MSME, Road Transport&Highways, said that MSME is the backbone of the Indian economy and tor (Commercial) at NALCO. PlatformManagement System (IPMS). In line with the Govt. of India’s Make In India Initiative towards Self Re- eradicationofpoverty is the biggest mission for the government.Dr Sangita Reddy,Former President, FICCI highlighted that After assuming the charge on the first day of the year, liance &Indigenisation efforts, the LCU Mark IV Class of Ships are fitted with close to 90% indigenous equipment fit the disruptions caused by COVID-19, has given an opportunity for Indian MSMEs to integrate with the global value chains. she addressed the SAIL collective and said, "SAIL has a and multiple innovations. As large companies continue to adopt new technologies of automation, AI, IoT and 3D Printing, we need to ensure that our rich legacy with enormous contributions from its em- MSMEs are not leftbehind and seamlessly integrate these technologies in their processes to compete globally,she added. ployees and leadership over the decades. It has been at the forefront of the nation building. "There's alittle bit of DANCE AND ART CAN CHANGE SOCIAL ISSUES AND TRANSFORM PEOPLE: GEETACHANDRAN SAIL in everybody's life" is an apt description of SAIL's UCO BANK FOUNDATION DAYCELEBRATED BY ZONAL OFFICE Leading Bharatanatyam danseuse and carnatic music exponent, Padma Shri Geeta Chandran said, “Dance can importance as atrusted steel maker to the nation." She change social issues and arts can actually transformpeople. If we had invested more in arts and education there On the auspicious occasion of 78th Foundation Day of UCO Bank on 06th January2021 bank dedicated its 3368th Branch added, "SAIL is acolossal organization, with multi-loca- wouldn’t have been so much violence and stress around us. The arts do make you more sensitive.” The versatile to the nation .This is 83rd branch under Kolkata Zone .MD&CEO Shri Atul Kumar Goel inaugurated the branch in the pres- tion production units &mines, wide ranging product dance teacher,activist and founder-president of Natya Vriksha dance school engaged in an hourlong session of Ek ence of prominent citizens of the locality .Newly opened Branch is prominently located at Boral under Sonarpur Munici- basket and diverse workforce. Mulakat Visesh organized by Prabha Khaitan Foundation and presented by Shree Cement. pality near Garia and offers awide range of modernbanking facilities including Locker Facility .Zonal Head Shri Ambikanand People are its greatest strength and with synergized ef- Jha was also present on the occasion .Shri Goel in his address to the newly opened branch’s customers highlighted bank’s forts of the entire Team SAIL, we will strive to attain commitment to offer best product and services to its customers including the best technology products .Herequested the higher summit". "Our immediate focus is to improve COMMENDABLE PERFORMANCE OF RAILWAYPROTECTION FORCE OF SOUTH EASTERN RAILWAY customers to continue to demand new and better products from the bank to help the bank keep innovating which will help the top-line and the bottom-line of the company. South EasternRailway RPF (Railway Protection Force) personnel are playing asignificant role in providing security each other reach new heights .Shri Jha urged the customers to avail the benefits of ongoing campaign on Retail Loan prod- We are charting out all strategies to improve value for all of rail travellers as well as in guarding the railway property and its vital installations. ucts at most competitive rates and processing fee waivers .Its Home Loan is priced at 6.90% and Car Loan at 7.70% . our stakeholders and make it structurally stronger", she During nationwide COVID-19 crisis, RPF personnel of this railway,inthe month of December,2020 has conducted asserted. regular drives against miscreants involved in theftofpassenger belongings. Preventive measures have also been SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL, MINISTER FOR RAILWAYS, COMMERCE &INDUSTRY, CONSUMER AFFAIRS taken to control the theftofrailway materials and booked consignments.During the month of December 2020, ato- AND FOOD &PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION LAUNCHES INDIAN RAILWAYS’ FREIGHT BUSINESS tal number of 31 miscreants were arrested under RP(UP) Act and Railway property worth Rs. 20,92,943/- was re- DEVELOPMENT PORTAL covered. METRO RAILWAYORGANISES FIT INDIA Moreover,300 offenders were booked under different sections of the Railways Act and Rs.97,575/- was realised Indian Railways is the backbone of the country's logistics sector.During 2020, when most of the activities were under lock- CYCLOTHON as fine.Regular drives were also conducted by RPF and Commercial Department and 688 ticketless travellers were detected andRs2,09,960/- was realised as fine. down, Indian Railways was providing relentless services in Freight transportation in the country. Indian Railways achieved AFit India Cyclothon was organized today i.e. on highest ever loading continuously in Sept, Oct, Nov and Dec 2020.Indian Railways has embraced a“Freight on Priority” policy 24.12.2020 at Central Park Depot. Shri Manoj Joshi, by pushing for an aggressive customer-centric approach to expand the freight carried not only from the traditional segments General Manager flagged off the cyclothon event and but also by attracting new customers to its fold. In its commitment to take level of customer services to new heights, Piyush took partin it. ABSTRACT HEALTH CARE HAS COME UP WITH AN UNIQUE WAYTO Goyal, Minister for Railways, Commerce &Industry, Consumer Affairs and Food &Public Distribution has launched today He encouraged all Metromen to participate in the Fit In- PROMOTE FIGHTING POLLUTION (i.e. 05.01.2021) aFreight Business Development Portal as one stop solution for all the needs of freight customers. The dia Campaign to promote fitness across the country. Minister said that Indian Railway is an invisible thread which connects the length and breath of India. During the lock Officers and staff of Metro Railway took partinthis cy- Aunique calendar has been made, where everymonths paper can be planted to produce down, Railway showed it's resolve in delivering the essential supplies to the nation in most challenging times and keep na- clothon. It is to be noted that Indian Railways has under- aplant. Each month has different plants to produce. tional supply chains running. The new portal will be game changer in ensuring in ease of doing business with Railways. The taken Fit India Campaign in December,2020. Mr Amitabh Bhattacherji Managing Director said in today's time we are so occupied with portal will ensure that best services are available to the clients. The Minister said that last 6years have seen an extra ordi- As partofthis programme, today’s cyclothon event ourself that we don't get time to make adifference for our future generations. Hence narydevelopment in all spheres of Railway operations under the leadership of PM. Indian Railway is getting future ready. was organized. The theme of this year’s Fit India Cam- came up with this unique idea. The commitment of Railways to further improve the services is unflinching. Greatness of Railways would not just be in be- paignis“Fitness Ka Dose -Aadha Ghanta Roze” ing better than someone else but being the BEST. EVENTS,ANNOUNCEMENTS,LAUNCHES,CSR INITIATIVES,APPOINTMENTS,MOVEMENTS,CELEBRATIONS

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THEINDIANEXPRESS,FRIDAY,JANUARY8,2021 9 GOVT &POLITICS Are Covid norms in place at Toboostindustries farm protest sites, asks SC DELHI CONFIDENTIAL inJ&K,Centreclears EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE NEWDELHI,JANUARY7 THE SUPREME COURTon Rs28,400-crscheme Thursdaysought to knowfrom the CentreifCovid-19safetypro- tocols were being followedatthe physical assets (service). venues of the farmers' protests ARUNSHARMA According to Sinha, units at the Delhi borders and ex- JAMMU,JANUARY7 with investment up to Rs 50 pressedconcern that it could crorewill be eligible forthe in- lead to asituation similar to THE CENTRE has approved a centive -- the maximum incen- what allegedly happenedafter newindustrial development tive available in areas under Zone the Tablighi Jamaat congregation scheme with an outlayofRs AisRs5crore and under Zone B in the national capital in March 28,400crore forJammu and Rs 7.5crore. lastyear. Farmers at the Delhi-UP Ghazipur border,Thursday. PTI Kashmir that will focus on gen- The scheme provides for6 CHAIRMAN'S TURF Athree-judgebenchheaded erating employment, develop- per cent interestsubvention for by Chief Justice of India SA ing skills and attracting newin- PTI amaximum of sevenyears on IT IS notevery daythat achairman of aparliamentarycommit- Bobde washearing aplea which Ensureguidelines issuedare fol- atime the countrywas battling vestment, especiallyinfar-flung L-GManoj Sinha at apress loans up to Rs 500crore forin- teetakes the panel to his hometown. On Saturday, the Public sought action againstauthorities lowed.” Covid-19. The petition also re- areasofthe Union Territory, L-G meetinJammu, Thursday. vestment in plant and machin- AccountsCommittee (PAC)will begin afive-daytrip of West forallowing the Tablighi Jamaat The benchalso comprising ferred to the large gathering of Manoj Sinha said Thursday. ery(manufacturing), or tenyears Bengal, holding meetings in Kolkataaswell as Chairman Adhir congregation at the Nizamuddin Justices ASBopanna and V people wanting to cross statebor- Sinha said the scheme will forconstruction in building and Ranjan Chowdhury’s constituency Baharampur.The panel Markaz amidstthe pandemic Ramasubramainan asked the ders at Anand Vihar Bus Terminal come intoforce from the dateof firstsuchscheme by the Centre all other durable physical assets members will meetjutefarmers and mill owners, primarily lastyear.Manyofthose who at- Centretofile areportonwhat during the lockdown and con- itsnotificationtill 2037, and “give that aims to take industrial de- (service). from Murshidabad region, to understand their problems in tendedthe event had later tested wasbeing done to ensurethat tendedthat adequatesteps were direct and indirect employment velopment to the blocklevel in Simplifying the scheme, he the presence of senior stategovernment officials. Theywill positive forCovid-19. the safetyprotocols were being nottaken to prevent this. to about 4.5 lakh persons”. It will J&K. said,the Government has pro- then have meetings related to rural drinking waterscheme, “You musttell us what is hap- followed. The Supreme Courtisalso also provide interestsubvention According to Sinha, although videdfor aGST-linked approach Gangarejuvenation, Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, flood pening. Idon't knowiffarmers The plea by Jammu-based seizedofanother petition by a on working capital loans that earlier industrial schemes for under whichfinancial incentive control, BSNL and the IRCTC. Significantly, the heads of Indian areprotected from Covid-19. lawyer SupriyaPanditahas raised lawstudent, Rishabh Sharma, will indirectlysupport35,000 J&K offeredarangeofincentives, will be basedonGross GSTtoen- Oil Corporation, HPCL and BPCL areexpected to be in Bengal Same problem mayarise in the questions on the role of the whohas sought adirection to people, he said. the financial outflowwas onlyRs sureless compliance burden to attend the meeting related to the Ujjwala Yojana. farmers' protesttoo,” CJI Bobde Centre, Delhi government and immediatelyremove the farm- The UT administration has 1,120crore.The newinitiative without compromising on trans- told Solicitor General Tushar Delhi Police forallowing the ers to adesignated place in view earmarkedland forsetting up in- will also nurtureexisting parency. Mehta. “Weare trying to ensure March 2020 convention, thereby of the Covid-19pandemic and dustries and created aland bank schemes in the manufacturing Sinhasaid that existing units that Covid-19does notspread. risking the health of the people at hardships to commuters. with 3,000acres in both Jammu and service sectors, and attract can avail working capital inter- THE HEARTBURN and Kashmir divisions, he said. “unprecedented investment”, he estincentive at the annual rate The announcement comes said. of 5per cent foramaximum of THE REJIG in the BJP organisation has created alot of heartburn SC upholds HC weeksafter the firstDistrict The scheme will offerincen- five years, with acap of Rs 1 among some leaders and the RSS topleadership is now Sukhbir says 40 farmers Development Council (DDC) tivesonthe basis of location: crore. He said that even smaller floodedwith complaints. The RSS leadership wasalready up- orders directing elections were held across eight capital incentive at the rate of 30 unitswith an investment upto setoverthe dropping of twosenior leaders –Ram Madhav who died were Akalis; phases in J&K to markthe first per cent in Zone-A, whichwill Rs 50 croreinplant and machin- and PMuralidhar Rao–who had been loanedfromthe Sangh Gujarat to pay step in the Centre's bid to restart coverfar-flung areas, and 50 per erywill getcapital incentive upto to the BJP from itsnational team. Sources said another leader, the political process afterthe bi- cent in Zone-B on investment Rs 7.5crore and capital interest Sunil Deodhar,had along meeting with RSS chief Mohan unions trash his claim more to farmers furcation of the stateintotwo made in plantand machinery subvention at the rate of 6per Bhagwat in the lastweek of December and he toocomplained Union Territories in August2019. (manufacturing), or construction cent per annum foramaximum about being sidelinedbythe party.Deodhar who had been The L-Gsaid that this is the of buildings and other durable of sevenyears. givencharge of Tripura, had contributed to the victoryfor the RAAKHIJAGGA EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE party in the state. However, instead of giving him charge of a LUDHIANA,JANUARY7 AHMEDABAD,JANUARY7 full state, he is nowbeen givenco-charge of AndhraPradesh. THE SHIROMANI Akali Dal (SAD) DISMISSINGAplea by the Centre merges J&K cadre chief Sukhbir Singh Badal Gujarat government, the TECH GLITCHES Thursdayclaimedthat 40 out of Supreme CourtonThursdayup- the 54 farmers who have died held twoorders by the Gujarat WITH THE number of complaintsrising about glitches in the during the protests at Delhi are High Courtdirecting the state officers with AGMUT working of the video conferencing softwareusedbythe from the party cadre. Farm union government to payhigher com- Supreme Court, officials said the National Informatics Centre leadersrubbished thestatement. Sukhbir Badal with the pensation to farmers —in Officers from UTscan nowserveinJ&K and vice-versa (NIC) is nowlooking intoit. Theysaid the system had stabilised Badal said his party workers familyofadvocateAmarjeet Bharuchand Gandhinagar— by December lastyear but addition of some newupdates was areheavilyinvolvedinthe ongo- Singh Raiwho diedbysuicide whose lands were acquired for creating problems. The apexcourtuses the VIDYO platform ingagitation forthe repeal of the at Tikri border,inJalalabad. national highway expansion. DEEPTIMANTIWARY hostedonthe servers of NIC’s National DataCentrefor virtual three central farm laws. AdvocateAnand Yagnik,who NEWDELHI,JANUARY7 Politicalmessage, hearings. Earlier this week,athree-judgebenchexpressedits “Our rank and file is at Delhi representedthe villagers at the SC administrativemove exasperation with the technical errors and asked the court’s borders protesting againstfarm along with senior advocateKapil THE CENTRE on Thursday E ● SecretaryGeneral to look intothe matter.Subsequently, laws,not as SADworkers but as PMSHOULDSPEAKTO Sibal, said that the locus standi to mergedJammu and Kashmir EXPLAINED AttorneyGeneral KKVenugopal toocalledfor necessaryup- farmers,” Sukhbir said. He added FARMERS:HARSIMRAT challengethe high courtorders cadreIAS, IPS and IFS officers THEMERGERofthe existing J&K cadreofIAS, IPS and IFS of- grades. Meanwhile, atender foroutsourcing the video con- that 65 of the party’s con- wasessentiallywith the National with that of Arunachal Pradesh, ficers is both apolitical and administrative move.Itsends the ferencing is in its“final stages”, officials said. stituency in-chargesare at Delhi. NewDelhi: Aday before the Highways’Authorities of India Goa, Mizoram and Union messageoftotal integration of J&K with the Centrewhile “Our youth workers have made a Centre’s eighth round of talks and notthe stategovernment. Territory(AGMUT), also called putting aquestion markonthe time it maytaketoreturn the tent city at the borders. Anum- withfarm unions, SADleader In twoorders in September the Union Territorycadre, region’s statehood.The move is also seen to have been ne- berofthem areparty office- and former Union minister and October in 2019,the HC had through an ordinance. cessitated by the reluctance of J&K cadreofficers to servein bearers at the blockand village Harsimrat Kaur Badal said the directed the stategovernment to The move will allowofficers Ladakh. It givesgovernment alargertalent pool forthe UTs. ‘Country at crossroads’: level,” he claimed. Centrehas lostthe trustofthe recalculatethe compensation by postedinthese states and UTsto Farmer union leaders ex- farming community and applying amultiplying factor of work in J&K and vice versa. and Kashmir and Union territory pointed day, shall continue to Sonia slams govt on fuel pressedtheir surprise at Prime MinisterNarendra 2.00instead of 1.00. In agazettenotification, the of Ladakh shall be made to function on the existing cadres.” Sukhbir's claims. SukhdevSingh Modi should directlytalk to In Bharuch, the lands were ac- government said the President Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Sub-section (4) had provision Kokrikalan, general secretaryof them. “Afterseveralmeetings quired forthe construction and has promulgated an ordinance Mizoram and Union territories forallocation officers to J&K and price hike, farmer stir BKU (Ugrahan) said, “It is news if ministers areunable to re- widening of Vadodara-Mumbai to amend J&K Reorganisation cadrefor whichnecessarymod- Ladakh from the cadre. It stated, formethat 40 of the deceased solve the issues then PM Modi Expressway under the National Act, 2019. ifications maybemade in corre- “members of eachservices, cur- forthe last44days in supportof arefromSAD cadre. Afew farm- should directlytalk to protest- Highways Act, 1956, while in The Acthad made provision sponding cadreallocation rules” rentlyborne on the Jammu and EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE their legitimatedemands,while ers maybevoters of aparty but ing farmers,” she said. PTI Gandhinagar it wasfor the expan- forretention of J&K cadrefor ex- by the Centre. Kashmir cadreimmediatelybe- NEWDELHI,JANUARY7 the country's autocratic, insensi- youcan’t term voters as cadre.” sionofAhmedabad-Delhihighway. isting officers and stated that It says officers “so borne or al- fore the appointed dayshall be tive and ruthless BJP government newofficers postedinthe state located”onAGMUT cadreshall finallyallocated between” the INDIA IS at acrossroads forthe is busy breaking the backofthe would henceforth come from UT function in accordance with UTsofJ&K and Ladakh “in such firsttime in itshistory and an poor,farmers and middle class,” cadre. The ordinance has now rules framedbythe Centre. manner and with effect from “autocratic” and “insensitive” Gandhi said in astatement. For second day, Uddhav handle puts mergedthe existing J&K cadreas Sources said the ordinance is suchdateordates as the Central government is bent on imposing Gandhi said that at atime well with UT cadre. likely to have significant bearing Government may, by order, hardships on the poor,farmers when the economyisreeling un- out tweet referring to ‘Sambhaji Nagar’ “It’s afollow-up to J&K turn- on the administration of the two specify” on the twoL-Gs' recom- and the middle class, Congress der the impact of the pandemic, ing intoUTand merging intothe UTs. “It will give the government mendation. president Sonia Gandhi said the Modi government is looking “Yesterday,the statecabinet Thackeray mentioned mainstream. It wasanobvious access to alargertalent pool at a The ordinance has also made Thursdayattacking the BJP gov- to fill itscoffers. She said despite EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE has takenadecision to regularise “Sambhaji Nagar” while an- next step because nowit’s aUT,” time it is trying to quickenthe an addition in Section 13,insert- ernment over the increase in the prices of crude oil coming MUMBAI,JANUARY7 the irregular gunthewari (con- nouncing another Cabinetdeci- MoS, PMO and Personnel, pace of development in the erst- ing the words“or anyother arti- petrol prices and the continuing down, the government "has bro- structions) in the statetill sion on Twitter.The tweethad JitendraSingh told The Indian while state,” aseniorUnion gov- cle containing reference to farmers’ agitation. kenall records of profiteering by DESPITE CONGRESS' objection to December 31,2020. Fewdays tagged Medical Education Express. ernment functionarysaid. elected members of the Gandhi demandedthat the exorbitantlyraising excise duty". renaming cities, Chief Minister ago, Ihad givenapromise to the MinisterAmit Deshmukh of the The ordinance has replaced Sources in J&K administra- Legislative Assemblyofthe government slash the ratesof She also asked the govern- UddhavThackeray’s official people of Sambhaji Nagar, which Congress. sub-sections 2-6 of the lawwith tion said the move wasalso ne- State” after“in Article 239A”. excise duty on petrol and diesel. ment to repeal the three farm Twitter handle referred to Ihavefulfilled,” read one tweet. Soon afterWednesday's twosub-sections, whichsay that cessitated by paucity of officers Section 13 says:“On and “The countryisstanding at the laws immediatelyand fulfil all Aurangabad as Sambhaji Nagar “The common people's dream tweet, Congress had reacted members of IAS, IPS and IFS for in Ladakh. Since the region is from the appointed day, the pro- crossroads todayfor the firsttime the demands of farmers. Former forthe second dayonThursday. about houses in the capital city strongly with Balasaheb Thorat, the existing J&K cadre“shall be harsh, mostofficers areunwill- visions containedinarticle 239A, in the history of independent Congress chief Rahul Gandhi ac- The Twitter handle put out of Marathwada like Revenue Ministerand stateparty borne and become partofthe ing to servethere. whichare applicable to “Union India. On one hand, the country’s cusedthe government of "loot- twotweetsonWednesday’s Sambhajinagar will come true president, saying that the Maha Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Sub-Section (2) of Section 88 territoryofPuducherry”, shall annadata(farmers) had been ing" the people by imposing stateCabinetdecision regularis- and the urbanization will hap- Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government Mizoram and Union territories of the Actstatedthat members also applytothe “Union territory staying put at the borders of Delhi heavy taxesonfuel. ing gunthewari constructions, pen in abetterway...” said the runs on the Common Minimum cadre, and all futureallocations of IAS, IPS and IFS cadres “for the of Jammu and Kashmir”. both referring to Aurangabad as second tweet. Program (CMP) and renaming of of All India Services Officers for existing StateofJammu and FULLREPORTON Nagrale gets addl charge Sambhaji Nagar. The tweets came aday after cities is notpartofit. the Union territoryofJammu Kashmir,onand from the ap- www.indianexpress.com as Maharashtra DGP Rahul awarrior, rulers in Delhi Karnataka’s Brahmin marriage schemes: Rs 25,000 for MOHAMEDTHAVER fear him: Sena MUMBAI,JANUARY7 poor brides, Rs 3lakh bonds for marrying poor priests HEMANT NAGRALE, a1987- EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE batchIPS officer,was Thursday MUMBAI,JANUARY7 funds have been setaside. We name of the bride who marries terHDKumaraswamyin2018- expandedtobenefit the poor giventhe additional charge of EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE areinthe process of chalking out BPL Brahmin farmers or cooksor 19 period. The boardwas created from all communities. MaharashtraDGP.The Maha PRAISINGCONGRESS leader BENGALURU,JANUARY7 the procedures to avail these priests.However, during my tour at the end of 2019 when the BJP According to Murthy, Rs 14 Vikas Aghadi government re- Ganesh Shirsekar Rahul Gandhi's attackson Prime funds. This is partofour efforts across the state, Ifound that government headedbyBS crorehas also been setaside to lievedSubodh Kumar Jaiswal, a MinisterNarendraModi, Shiv LITTLE OVER ayear afterits cre- to assistweaker sections of the priests were economicallyvery Yediyurappa came to power. help studentsfrompoor Brahmin 1985-batchIPS officer who Hemant Nagrale (left) with Sena Thursdaydescribed him as ation, the Karnataka State community,” said boardchair- weak and we decidedtolaunch Murthywas appointed as itsfirst families in the form of scholar- headedthe statepolice from Subodh Kumar Jaiswal. He a“warrior” standing againstthe Brahmin Development Board man HSSachidananda Murthy, the programme fortheir benefit chairman. ships, payment of fees and pro- February2019, afterhewas ap- is likelytobeformallymade Centreand said that the “rulers has obtainedapprovals to launch aBJP leader. to startwith,” he said. Around three per cent of the viding training to those who have pointed as CISF DG by the Centre the stateDGP in Delhi” were afraid of him. twomarriageschemes on api- Under the Arundhati scheme, The Maitreyischeme will re- six crorepopulation in passedthe preliminarystage of on December 30. In an editorial in mouthpiece lotbasis –one offering financial 550 Brahmin women from poor quirethe couples to stay married Karnataka belongs to the examinations suchasthe UPSC. ThoughNagrale(58)hasbeen Saamana, Sena said that despite bonds of Rs 3lakh to 25 Brahmin background will be givenRs forthree years to avail the entire Brahmin community. To avail benefitsofthe givenadditionalcharge,heislikely the Navi Mumbai police com- the “weak leader” campaign women who marry priests from 25,000 eachfor their marriage. bond of Rs 3lakh. Installmentsof The board's marriageassis- schemes of the Brahmin to beformallymadethestateDGP missioner,playedanimportant againstRahul Gandhi, he was economically weak background Under the Maitreyischeme, afi- Rs 1lakh will bepaid at the end of tance scheme is on the lines of Development Board, applicants oncetheUPSCpanelclearshisap- partintransporting those in- still standing and attacking the and the other offering Rs 25,000 nancial bond of Rs 3lakh, which eachyear of the marriage, he said. another scheme –Shaadi Bhagya have to certify that theydonot pointment, as per procedure. jured in the 26/11terrorattacks government at everyopportu- eachfor the marriageof550 is to beusedoverthree years, will The financial aid formarriages –that waslaunchedbythe ownfiveormoreacres of agri- Nagrale's senior,SanjayPandey, a of Mumbai in 2008 to hospitals. nity.“The rulers in Delhi fear women from economically be created for25women who is among the social schemes that Congress government in 2013 to cultural land, aresidential flat 1986-batchofficer,was the fron- In October 2018,hewas elevated Rahul Gandhi. Had it notbeen weak families from the commu- marryBrahmin priests from poor the Brahmin Development Board provide Rs 50,000 forthe mar- that is morethan 1,000sq ft,that trunner,but waspassedover. to the DG (legal &technical) the case, therewould nothave nity. background, Murthysaid. has come up with forutilisation riageofwomen from economi- theydonot belong to backward Jaiswal handedoverthe rank,and wasgiven the respon- been government campaigns to “Wehavereceivedthe ap- “Initially, the Maitreyi of Rs 25 croreofbudget funds al- callyweak minority families. classesorscheduled castes and charge to Nagrale on Thursday. sibility of looking afterthe foren- defame the Gandhi family,”the proval to launchthe schemes – scheme with the Rs 3lakh finan- located to it when it wasan- Yediyurappa had then criticised that thefamilyincome is below Nagrale, who had served as sic labs across the state. editorial said. Arundhati and Maitreyi–and cial bond wasproposedinthe nouncedbythe then chief minis- the scheme saying it should be Rs 8lakh per annum. Kolkata WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THEINDIANEXPRESS,FRIDAY,JANUARY8,2021 10 EXPRESS NETWORK

Vardhan reviews ‘4 yrs of ambition, achievement... vaccine dry run, state US-India ties strong, positive’ ministers offer ideas statelevel —should be included. KAUNAINSHERIFFM Public representativesfrompan- As he wraps up his stint in NewDelhi ahead of the Joe Biden Administration taking charge, NEWDELHI,JANUARY7 chayat up to Parliament should also be included, as theyare all US Ambassador to India KENNETH IJUSTER speakstoSHUBHAJIT ROY ■ Provision of an air ambulance working (amid the people) in the to address possible adverse re- fight againstthe pandemic,” tragic on itsown, but especially actions in tribal areas. Bihar’s Mangal Pandeysaid. the terroristattackand the at- ■ An offline mechanism to up- The states also asked the tacksinGalwan Valleybecause datevaccine datainKashmir val- Centreabout registration of the theyalso raisedconcern about leytodue 2G restrictions. second priority group —those THEEXPRESS what theycould lead to. ■ Include elected representa- above 50 years. “When will the tivesinthe vaccine’s second pri- 50-plus agegroup begin registra- INTERVIEW If youweretotell twothings ority group. tion? When will those below50 to your successor:pep talk These were among the key years getthe vaccine,” Naba WITH KENNETH IJUSTER and one note of caution? suggestionsofferedbystate heal- KishoreDas of Odisha asked. US AMBASSADOR TO INDIA Well, our relationship with thministersduringaninteraction Kerala’s KKShailaja said: India is so broad and covers so with Union Health MinisterDr “...Thereisnotemplatefor elderly manyareas that, inevitably, there HarshVardhanonThursday, aday datacollectionintheCo-Winport- Ambassador,asyou sawthe aregoing to be issues wherewe before the Covid-19vaccination al.We shouldaddthetemplatefor scenes of protests and the do notsee eye-to-eye or where dryrun in 736districts. The inter- the elderly registration.” She also siegeofCapitol Hill, what we have to work through dis- action wastoreviewprepared- suggestedthatdoctorsandhealth- were your thoughts? agreements, and my successor ness on ground forthe dryrun. careproviders working in private It wasverysad to see the simply needs to persevere and The mostcommon question clinics and home should also be news coming out of work through that…That would posedtoVardhan wasonthe date registeredinthe priority group. Washington, D.C. when we woke be my advice: have avision, as- of the vaccine’s roll-out, to which HerChhattisgarhcounterpart up on Thursdaymorning. While pirehigh, and be prepared to the Health Ministerreplied, “You TSSingh Deo sought the Centre’s protests in our countryare part work through difficult issues willgettheanswer,soon....Youwill help in twocritical areas: “We of our democracy,itisunaccept- without being discouraged. receive clarity on all guidelines mighthave to airlift(people)from able fortheretobeviolence asso- With regard to anoteofcau- well before the actual roll-out.” some areas if an adverse reaction ciated with them, and the storm- tion –again, do notget discour- Rajasthan Health MinisterDr followingimmunisationisrepor- ing of the US Capitol wasa aged with particular issues. I Raghu Sharma raisedthe issue of ted. We might needanair ambu- horrific scene. This is not think this relationship is going to public confidence, with the two lance.Whereverthereisnodirect America at itsbest. Lawlessness be critical to the Indo-Pacific re- manufacturers—SerumInstitute electricity,wewillrequiresolardi- and rioting in the United States Tashi Tobgyal gion and the worldmore and Bharat Biotech —slamming rect drive (vaccine refrigerators). –orinany country–isalways achieved, if notanambitious –Kashmiris, political people other equipment. It is ideal to Modi’s relationship with broadly. The United States sup- eachotherinpublic.Hesaid,“...the In CHCs without internet, can unacceptable. It has no place in trade deal? across the spectrum, and the have inter-operable equipment. President Obama. Prime ports India’s rise as aglobal vaccine manufacturers are VSAT (satellite-basedtelecommu- anydemocracy. We discussedarangeofpar- Government of India’s perspec- At some point, the levelofso- MinisterModi is an extremely power, and astrong and demo- terming eachother’s vaccine as nication) be provided?” ticular products. I’m notgoing to tive. phistication of the various types charismatic and personable cratic India in this region is an ‘water’. This weakens people’s Onpoorconnectivity,asenior What is that one thing you’re getintothe details of the inter- Collectively,this information of equipment that India maybe leader.Heisable to strikeupa important pillar in the world. We confidence in vaccines. Suchac- official from the J&K L-G's office proud of afterspending three nal negotiations. But it wasmy feedsintoour ownunderstand- purchasing could createaprob- good personal relationship with needtocontinue to work with tivitiesshouldbestopped.” said,“Wehaveseriousconnectiv- years in India as the US viewthat even reaching asmall ing and analysis of the situation. lem if the equipment is from two his counterparts,including India notjustonabilateral basis, Health ministers of Bihar, ityissuesbecauseourUTisunder Ambassador? deal would send averypositive And then, if we have concerns, countries that don’t see eye-to- President Obama and President but on issues in the region and Odisha, and Telangana requested 2G internetnetwork.Inthe dry …What Iammostproud of signal to the marketplace that we express them privately with eyeand could lead to compro- Trump. the worldmorebroadly–tocon- the Centretoinclude electedrep- run to updatethe status, we were is that Ihavebeen involvedin Indiawas open formorebusi- the Government of India. We mising technological know-how. From adistance, Isaw this tinue to see wherewehavea resentativesfromall levels in the taking toolong. Can therebean this (India-US) relationship for ness and would reassureUS have expressedpubliclythat we That’s justafact of lifeand tech- with President Obama during convergence of our thinking. If vaccine priority population. “In offline mechanism,wherewe 20 years in various capacities, companies that were looking to hope forarestoration of full ac- nology.Maybe therewill be the Republic Dayevents, and problems arise, address them. thesecondprioritygroupof front- could updatethe datalater??” and I’veseen it progress signifi- invest moremoneyinIndia. And, cess to the Internet, and forthe technology fixestothat chal- also Isaw it with President lineworkers,allgovernmentoffi- FULLREPORTON cantlyfromyear to year…the regrettably, despiteour best and realization of the economic ben- lenge, but maybetherewill not Trump. Ihaveseen it in my own Therewas aconcern that in cials —frompanchayatuptothe www.indianexpress.com pastfour years have been atime persistent efforts, we were un- efitsthat have been discussedby be.This is something about interactions with the Prime the TrumpAdministration, of further ambition and achieve- able to conclude adeal. all parties. That is our hope. whichtechnical experts needto Minister. He is extremelyper- the US's reputation forbeing ment. And Ibelieve that I’m leav- consult with eachother. sonable and thoughtful, and adestination forjobs, for ing this partnership in avery When youwerehere, India Do youthink that hope has As India makes purchases of strikes averycomfortable rela- education has been affected. TRACKING INDIA’S COVID CURVE strong position forthe next conducted the air strikes in been realized? Ihonestlydonot think it has Administration. Ibelieve the Balakot…Wereyou Ihavenot been to Kashmir Whenever there’s apotential conflict or an been adverselyaffected.The fact CASES: ACTIVECASES:2,28,083 U.S.-India strategic partnership concernedthat the situation since that visit in January2020. I is that the H-1B program is a 311 is strong, positive,and on an up- might escalatebetween India cannotgiveyou an assessment actual engagement, we are always concerned global program. The number of DAYSSINCE 1,03,95,278 DEATHS:1,50,336 that something could escalate. And all parties are PANDEMIC ward trajectory. and Pakistan? on the ground. Ithink there’s still visas issuedis65,000,plus an- BEGAN TESTS: 17,84,00,995 | RECOVERIES: 1,00,16,859 Wheneverthere’s apotential away to go to realize the type of hoping that there can be restraint shown...” other 20,000 forpeople who Youexpressedconcerns on conflict or an actual engage- economic development that has have Master’s degrees. That has CASES DEATHS RECOVERIES TESTS trade and investment, where ment, we arealways concerned been discussed. Howmuch notchanged at all. Indians, de- JAN6 20,346 22219,5879,37,590 youtalked about “frustration that something could escalate. progress has been made? Iam individual pieces of equipment, tionship that obviouslyhelps the spitethe fact that it’s aglobal and friction.” And all parties arehoping that notable to give youathorough it mayalso needtohavea broader bilateral relationship. program, have been able to gar- During my three years, trade therecan be restraint shown and answer. broader strategic vision as to Countries aremade up of human ner about 70 percent of the H-1B and investment have continued the situation can de-escalate. whereitisgoing with itsoverall beings and if we have awarm visas. That hasn’t changed either. to grow in apositive direction. That’s been our perspective with (On Russia) youspelt out how systems. Because one piece of feeling toward those with whom And there’s no lackofapplica- But Ihavestill felt that, giventhe the border disputes with China it can compromise equipment maynot integrate we aredealing, it helps in ad- tions. The program has contin- size of our respective economies, –that people should trytore- technology,platforms, with another and, in fact, may dressing issues of concern, solv- uedtobeoversubscribed. there’s morepotential…trade solve the issues peacefully. Now, systems, whichthe US is createavulnerability forthe sup- ing problems, and doing things Therehas been an effort to and investment would really on terrorism issues, it’s also un- providing to India. But India pliers that could ultimatelylimit together. ensurethat the positions being take offstrategicallyifwecould derstood that countries may is dependent on Russian what else it can purchase. India filledare high-quality jobs, not STATESWITHRISINGACTIVECASES have abroader comprehensive needtotakesome responsive ac- equipment. Howdoyou maywant to purchase equip- EveryUSAmbassador has low-quality jobs. And that visas ACTIVECASES RISEINLASTWEEK trade agreement that would en- tion when that occurs. If that’s address that concern for ment that will enhance interop- had at leastone sleepless aregoing to companies that are Ladakh 21930 suremarket access forboth the case, you’rehoping it would India? erability and lead to the next night in Delhi. Whichone involvedinreal work.Therehas Puducherry 3729 countries. be proportionatetothat inci- India has had along relation- levelofmoresophisticated wasyours? been asuspension of the H-1B We arethe Number One dent. ship historicallywith the Soviet equipment, as opposedto Oh, I’m notagood sleeper in program because of COVID-19, STATESWHEREACTIVECASESAREDECLINING market forIndia and Iwould Union and with Russia in terms procuring apiece of equipment general, so Ihad anumber of but this is achallengethat coun- ACTIVECASES DECLINEINLASTWEEK think that they’d want to lockin During your time, Article 370 of obtaining militaryequipment. that could artificiallyconstrain sleepless nights. But therehave, tries all over the worldare facing. West Bengal 8,8683,513 that benefit. Even as we adjustto wasrevoked and youhad the That is afact of life. No one is as- what else it can purchase. These in fact, been afew lowpoints. With tremendous domestic un- Chhattisgarh9,109 2,830 the COVID-19pandemic and try opportunity to visit J&K afew suming that India will have to aredecisions forthe When the Pulwama terroristin- employment, youhavetogive Karnataka 9,1632,447 to learn the lessons that lead months later.Your view destroy that equipment. There Government of India. cident occurredinFebruary priority,atthe outset, to restore some countries to saythat they looking back? arefutureprocurementsthat Irecognise that, from India’s 2019,that washardfor me. It the employment situation in STATESREPORTINGMAXIMUMCASES want to reduce globalization so It wasimportant and valu- India will needtomakefrom perspective,thereare also ben- wastragic, both what happened your owndomestic population. ONJAN6TOTAL that they’renot simplygetting in able to have that opportunity to time to time, to fill the strategic efitstohaving equipment from to those killed, and what could But Idonot envision that sus- Kerala 6,3947,90,883 the cheapestgoods from any- travel there. We were partofa needs it might have.These pro- diverse suppliers. So, theremay happen afterthat. This pastsum- pension going on indefinitely. The Maharashtra4,382 19,54,553 whereinthe world, we still need group. But the Embassy has curementswill likelyinvolve so- needtobetrade-offs among mer,when we had some unrest H-1B program has been veryben- Chhattisgarh1,050 2,85,586 to work with other countries in tried, with regard to the situation phisticated technology. these various objectives. That is in the United States and the eficial to both countries and it’s the international trade environ- in Kashmir,togather informa- Sophisticated technology has apotential issue down the road. Gandhi Statue outside the Indian been ahugeboom forIndia. As I STATESREPORTINGMAXIMUMDEATHS ment. Ithink we would want to tion from all concernedparties softwarethat can often“talk” to Embassy in Washington, D.C. said, Indians receive about 70 per- ONJAN6TOTAL work especiallywith trusted, Howwould youanalyse wasdesecrated,that wasalow cent of the H-1B visas. That ratio Maharashtra7150,986 like-mindedpartners, and that’s ...the H-1B program is aglobal program. The Modi’s relationship with point. Then, when the Indian has notchanged.The number of Kerala 25 3,317 howIwould characterize both President Trumpvis-a-vis his troops were killedinGalwan people going to the UnitedStates West Bengal 22 9,863 India and the United States. number of visas issued is 65,000, plus another relationship with President ValleyinJune 2020 —for the first has notchanged.And the interest 20,000 for people who have Master’s degrees. That Obama? time in 45 years therehad been in the program has notchanged. DataasonJanuary6,releasedbyUnionMinistryofHealthandFamilyWelfare,IndianCouncilofMedical Researchandstategovernments.Oftenthenumbersreleasedeverydaycontaindatafrompreviousdays So what wasthe low-hanging has not changed at all.” In all candour,Idid not casualties due to Chinese attacks. FULLINTERVIEWON aswell.Assuch,trendsbasedondailynumbersareonlyindicativeandnotdefinitive fruit that youcould have closelyfollowPrime Minister Eachofthese incidentswas www.indianexpress.com BUDGET SESSION STARTS TODAY SC to hear plea to bar Bihar: Manjhi Indian vaccine makers UDF movesnotice for resolution disqualified lawmakers claims another moved really quickly, says minister, MLC seeking removal of KeralaSpeaker from bypolls to same House berth for party top vaccine scientist disqualification under the Tenth approval process of the vaccines Customs,’’ he said. EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE Schedule“cannotbepermittedto Patna:Amid posturing from the ANURADHA by Drugs Controller General of SHAJUPHILIP The notice forthe resolution NEWDELHI,JANUARY7 contestagain during the term for RJD and Congress, former Bihar MASCARENHAS India.Respondingto questionson THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, wasmoved afterCustoms sum- which” theyare elected.“Article CM and Hindustani Awam PUNE,JANUARY7 Covid-19vaccines during awebi- JANUARY7 monedthe Speaker’s assistant THE SUPREME Courtwill exam- 172makes amembership of a Morcha(Secular) head Jitan Ram narorganisedbytheNationalCou- private secretaryinconnection ineif thosedisqualifiedunderthe House co terminus with the term Manjhi has pressedclaim foran- TOPVACCINE scientistDr ncilof AppliedEconomicResearch, ADAY ahead of the budget ses- with itsprobeintothe smuggling Tenth Schedule of the Consti- of 5years of the House exceptin other ministerial berthand an GagandeepKangonThursdayex- whichhostedauthorsKang,AIIMS sion of Kerala Assembly, the case. However, assistant private tution fordefection be barred circumstances mentioned MLCposition forhis party. pressedamazement at how director Dr Randeep Guleria, and Opposition UDF on Thursday secretaryAyyappan did notturn fromre-contestingby-electionsin therein,” the plea said. Manjhi’s son Santosh Kumar quicklyIndianvaccinecompanies Dr ChandrakantLahariyaontheir gave notice foraresolution seek- up before the Customs forques- the remaining term of the House The petitioner said that the Suman is aministerinthe Nitish movedduring the Covid-19pan- newbook ‘Till We Win: India’s ing the removalofSpeaker P tioning, citing legal protection for to whichtheywereelected. Tenth Schedule read with Article Kumar-ledgovernment,and the demic,statingthattheyhavemade fight againstthe Covid-19pan- Sreeramakrishnan. the office of the Speaker. AbenchheadedbyChief 191(1) (e) of the Constitution party has four MLAs in the Asse- “phenomenaleffortstopartnerfor demic’, Kang, however, triedto The notice wasgiven by UDF PSreeramakrishnan Legislative Assemblysecre- Justice of India SABobde on makesitclearthatamemberdis- mbly,including the former CM. technologies theydid nothave”. drive home the point that none of legislator MUmmer under Article tary SVUnnikrishnan Nair told Thursdayissuednotice to the qualifiedunder the Tenth At aparty meeting Wednesd- Indianvaccinemanufacturers, these vaccines is “innovation that 179(c) of the Constitution. the media thatpermissionfrom Election Commission and the Schedule cannotre-contestdur- ay,Manjhi said, “Weare expect- Kang said, were known forhigh- has suddenlycame to light be- According to the resolution, the post, said the resolution. the Speaker is mandatoryto Centreonaplea by Madhya ing the term forwhichheorshe ing one moreministerial berth volume and low-value vaccines. cause therewas anew virus”. Speaker had maintainedsuspi- Sreeramakrishnan said the question his staffmembers. Pradesh Congress leader Jaya waselectedandstressedthatthis andMLCposition.We aresureCM “What theydid very quicklywas She explainedthat invest- cious affinity and personal rela- Assemblywould take an aptde- TheOpposition,however, said Thakurwhohassoughtthisrelief. hasto beimplementedsoasto en- Nitish Kumar would fulfil our de- partneraroundtheglobeforevery mentsand effortsbyscientists tionship with persons accusedin cision on the notice. “I have been Constitutional protection forleg- The plea, whichcomes in the surethat the object of the law mands.” Cabinetexpansion is ex- kind of technology platform and aroundtheworldoveryearsmade the gold smuggling case. His pres- apublic figurefor the last40 islators does notcover staffofthe wake of manyparty MLAs in the againstdefection is notdefeated. pected anytime afterJanuary14. madesuretheyhadmultiplesho- these vaccines possible. “That is ence at the inauguration of a years. Throughout these years, I Assembly. Leader of Opposition stateleaving the Congress to join The plea has said Paragraph 2 HAM(S)spokespersonDanish ts.Sonow,SerumInstituteofIndia whywehavethe vaccines, and workshop of one of the accused haven’t facedallegations of even Ramesh Chennithala said the the BJP,says that defecting law- of Tenth Schedule uses the words Rizwansaid,“Letusnot readpolit- has four different productsand so thesewillbeagame-changerdur- in the smuggling case wasagainst asingle rupee. Iamsurethat I Speaker had misconstruedthe makersseekingre-electionunder “disqualifiedfor being amember ical meaning to our leader's de- does Bharat Biotech,” she said. ingthenextpandemic.If thistime the dignity of the Speaker’s post, haven’t committed anymistake. norms to protect his staff. “If the anew political flag has made the of theHouse”.Thetermof theHo- mand. We had been promised Kang,vice-chairof theBoardof avaccinewasmadein10 months, it said. The Speaker has failedto So Iamleastafraid about the Speaker has nothing to hide, why anti-defection lawredundant. use(ParliamentorAssembly)isfor twoministerial berths earlier.... Coalition forEpidemic Prepared- then next time it will be amatter uphold the dignity of the House controversies. Idon’t think that is he trying to impede the Cust- Thakur has contendedthat a five years and hence the disquali- Thereisnopoliticalinstability;the nessInnovations,hasbeenspeak- of asking whynot makeitinsix and should be removedfromthe Iwould be summonedbythe oms probe,” asked Chennithala. memberof theHousewhoincurs fication would apply, it has said. NDAisasstrong as ever.” ENS ing of her concerns related to the months.We needtobeprepared.” Kolkata WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THEINDIANEXPRESS,FRIDAY,JANUARY8,2021 @ieExplained #ExpressExplained 11 If thereare questions of current or contemporaryrelevancethat youwould like E EXPLAINED explained, please [email protected]

CORONAVIRUS DASHBOARD EXPLAINED CAPITOL SIEGE INDIAACTIVE CASES 228,083 Anatomy of an insurrection 300,000 268,581 Howdid theextraordinarysituationofanout-of-control mob taking over theUnited States Capitol come about? Is adelusional President's incendiary speechmakingthe onlyreason? Whatisthe responsibility 228,083 that the RepublicanParty musttake? Can –and will –Trumpberemovedfromoffice even at thisstage? 250,000 with presidential disability and succession. EXPERT While Section 3ofthe 25th Amendment al- lows aPresidenttodeclarehis owninability LAST 10 DAYS EXPLAINS (and has been invokedinthe pastduring the Dec 28 Jan 6 Reagan and Bush eras), Section 4, whichal- 200,000 Amitabh lows the Vice President and Cabinettode- clarethe President's inability,has neverbeen Note:The Jan 6figure in this graphisbasedonthe government updateonJan 7 Mattoo invokedbefore. Thisisthe critical section at issue today. From The Indian Express panel Under Section 4, if Vice President Mike INDIA TOTAL CASES WORLD TOTAL CASES of specialists, exclusive insight Pence and the majority of the TrumpCabinet 10,395,278 87,588,168 or another body approved by Congress give Source: Ministry of Health &Family Source: Johns Hopkins University, awrittendeclarationtothe President pro Welfare, updated at 11pm on Jan 7 updated at 11 pm on Jan 7 ALMOSTEVERY cliché of politicaltheory has temporeofthe Senate, ChuckGrassley, and been usedtodescribethe eventsofJanuary the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 6–carnage, coup,evenriot. But while Donald Nancy Pelosi, stating that the President is Trumpmay have incited the mob, the events “unable to discharge the powers and duties at the United States Capitol were theunfor- of his office”,VicePresident Pence would as- Covidimmunity could last tunatebut logical conclusion of the wayin sume powerasthe Acting President. whichadominant section of the Republican Thereafter, President Trumpwould have for months: New research Partyhas articulated itspolitical strategy over the righttochallengethe decision through a the lastdecade or more. written declaration stating that “no inability The swearing-in of Joe Biden as President Protesters storm the US Capitol on Wednesday. Reuters exists”. The Vice President and the majority clarifies previous findings on January20may,therefore,formallyend of the Cabinet (or another bodyapproved by the tenureofDonald Trump, but unless and Congress) would then have another four days blood samples from 188patients. until the Republican Partytransforms itself, ties of the right have facedanelectoral disad- sonal lawyer Rudy Giulianiadded: “Let’s to provide asecond written declaration of EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE “Our datasuggestthat the immune January6willbeone moremarkeronthe vantagesince, forthe mostpart, they have trial by combat.” the President's inability. NEWDELHI,JANUARY7 response is there—and it stays,” routeofdestructivepoliticsthat is dividing emergedasvesselsfor the wealthy, adefin- What followedatthe US Capitol wasare- Within 21 days of this declaration, AlessandroSette of La Jolla Institute the US morestrikinglythan at anytime since itionallysmall coterie. Their growth seemed flection of the delusional personality of Congress would needtoconfirm the ANEW study suggests that thebody’s (LJI), who co-ledthe study with Shane the American civil war. further constrainedbythe fact that they Trumpand the dangerous politics of the President's inability through atwo-thirds immune response to the novelcoro- Crotty and Daniela Weiskopf, said in In manyways, the eventsofJanuary6 could nevermatchtheir opponents’ enticing Republican Party, particularly aggrieved by voteofbothHouses. However, this step navirus can lastfor at leasteight astatement issuedbyLJI. could have been foretold when Trumpand promises of government largesse because losingbothSenateseatsfromGeorgia– would be unnecessaryinTrump's case,be- months afterthe onsetofsymptoms "Wemeasured antibodies, mem- the coreofhis supportbase refusedtoaccept their wealthybackers steadfastlyrefusedto whichwas to alarge extent duetoanun- cause his term ends on January20. from the initial infection. oryBcells, helper Tcells and killer T that he had lost the presidential election. It payhigher taxes…” precedented mobilisation of blackvoters by The American constitutional lawscholar, The duration of immunity to cells all at the same time. As faraswe wasclear that Trumpwould not, to para- In order to become electable, the StaceyAbrams, who almost single-handedly Joel KGoldstein, has arguedthatwhile the Covid-19has been asub- know, this is the largest phrase Dylan Thomas, “gogentle intothe Republican Partyhas had to widen itscon- built acoalition of grassroots support forthe 25th Amendment doesnot provide adefini- ject of research through study ever,for anyacute good night”. stituency by adding toxic emotional content Democratic Partyinthe state. tion of “inability”, legislative authorities indi- the pandemic, and stud- infection, that has meas- Formostofhis term, almosteveryone to itspolitical ideology that has helpeditto Capitol consequences, catethat Sections 3and 4ofthe Amendment ies so farhaveprovided ured allfour of those who has observedTrumpclosely–includ- win the supportofsections of the white referto“awide rangeofphysical and mental various results. In July componentsofimmune ing manywho have worked with him –have working class. case for25th Amendment inabilities”, which“could be producedbyat- last year,astudy sug- memory,”LJI quoted been convincedthat the incumbent in the It has done so by appealing to faith, patri- The short-term consequences of the tack,injury, illness...or could resultfromade- gested that immunity PAPER Crotty as saying. Oval office is notentirelystable. otism, racial prejudice, and the so-calledcore eventsofJanuary6areobvious. Thereis generative process”. might be lostinmonths. The findings could Almostayear ago, nearly 350psychia- American values –and by widespread outrage This definition could clearly encompass a As TheIndian Express re- mean that Covid-19sur- trists andother mental professionals peti- exploiting the sense of within mostsections of rangeofpossible psychological assessments portedbackthen, re- CLIP vivors have protective tionedtoCongressthatthe President’s men- victimhood of the white public opinion,akintoa of Trump. Moreover, as Goldstein pointsout, searchers from King’s immunity againstseri- talhealth was“rapidlydeteriorating”.Atleast working class. While pre- THEEXPERT political catharsis. Section4applies both when aPresidential CollegeLondon drew NEWRESEARCH ous disease from the twowell-known psychiatrists from Yale and Trump, muchofthe mes- Internationally, US candidate“refuses to recognise an inability, this conclusionfroma SARS-CoV-2 virus for George Washington University stated that saging waslimited to dog PROF.AMITABH MATTOO, democracy is no longer as well as when he is unable to do so”. Thus, drop theyobserved in theantibody months,perhaps years, afterinfec- “Trumpappeared to be showing signs of whistling, the President Padma Shri, is one of the “shining city on the Trump's refusal to acceptanassessment of levels in recoveredCovid-19 patients tion, the researchers said. Their study delusion by doubling down on falsehoods wasbrazen in represent- India's leading specialists hill”. his inability is irrelevant to an invocation of over time —froma“potent level” in addresses concerns arising out of andconspiracytheories.” Theyconcluded ing the Democratic Party on foreign policy.Heis But whether the out- Section4. professor at the School of 60% of study participantsduring the Covid-19datafromother labs, which therewas “real potential” that Trumpcould as being againstGod and rage will be amoment of Going forward, India and peak of infection to only16.7% retain- showedadramatic drop-offofCovid- be “evermoredangerous, athreat to the American values and International Studies at awakening, or ing that levelofpotency 65 days later. specific antibodies over time. safetyofour nation”. freedoms (including the Jawaharlal Nehru “epiphany” as the post-TrumpUnited States While that study suggestedthatre- As the researchers said, adecline Thesedelusions have onlyaggravated right to bear arms), and University,and Honorary Speaker of the House of Will theTrumpAdministration’s per- coveredCovid-19patientsare likely in antibodies is very normal. “That’s since theelection, whichTrumpwas con- responsible fordisenfran- Professor of International RepresentativesNancy ceivedproximity to India castashadowon to remain susceptible to re-infection, what immune responses do. They vincedwas stolen from him by fraudcom- chisingwhitevoters by Relations at the Pelosiput it, remains to bilateral relations during the Biden-Harris the newstudy suggests thatnearly all have afirstphase of ramping up, and mitted by the Democratic Partyincollusion weakening voting laws University of Melbourne. be seen. Muchwill de- era? Covid-19survivors have the immune afterthatfantasticexpansion, even- with local officials. and following proimmi- In October-November pend on whether the India-US relations have bipartisan sup- 2020, Prof Mattoo cells necessarytofight re-infection. tuallythe immune response contracts The dangerous politics of gration policies. Even the Republican Partyrealises portand amajority withinthe US Congress The study,publishedinthe jour- somewhat and gets to asteady state,” obvious needtowear explainedthe United the limitsofdestructive recognise the importance of India, givenpar- nal Science,isbasedonanalyses of Settewas quoted as saying. the Republican Party masksduring the Covid- States presidential Trumpism; thereissome ticularly the rise of abelligerentChina. However, the deeper cause that goes be- 19 pandemic waspro- election in afour-part evidence in the distanc- Nonetheless, it is critical forNew Delhitodis- yond the delusions of Trumplies within the jected as an attempt by series publishedinThe ing of keyfiguresofthe pel the impression thatithad aspecial rela- Republican Partyitself. While itscoresup- Democratstoundermine Indian Express.You can party from Trumpand his tionship with the TrumpAdministration – port is derivedfromanelitewho areat- the fundamentalrightsof read them on his author follies. or that it would have been morecomfortable tracted to it on the basis of free marketfun- American citizens. pageat As of now, formany, with the re-election of aRepublican damentalism and whatthe writer-thinker In the period afterthe www.indianexpress.com. everyone of the next 13 President. AynRand described as thevirtue of selfish- election, Trumpwas days that Trumphas re- This demands also subtlytempering sec- ness (Rand’s TheFountainhead andits storyof publiclyelusive, but was maining in the Oval Office tions of the India diasporawho were enthu- the architect Howard RoarkisTrump’s using the subterranean weband social me- is aday toomany; this is true forAmericans siasticTrumpsupporters, and reaching out favouritenovel), it needsawider base to be- dia to mobilise his supporters to gather at as well as forthe world. Trumpisstillin to Democratsbeyond keyfigureswithin the come electable. the Capitol on the dayCongress wastocer- charge of the world's largest nuclear arsenal, Biden-Harris administration. Awillingness In hisreviewofJacob SHackerand Paul tify Joe Biden'selection victory. His message weapons that could destroy theplanetaswe to engagewith critics within the Democratic Pierson’s LetThem Eat Tweets: Howthe Right wassimple and direct:“We will nevergive knowitseveral times over. Party,and to be moreopen on sensitive is- Rules in an AgeofExtreme Inequality,Franklin up, we will neverconcede... Youdon’t con- Therefore, thereare serious movestoin- sues could help to quicklyensurethat the Foer wroteinThe NewYorkTimes:“From cede when there's theftinvolved.” The for- voke the25th Amendment. The transition from TrumptoBiden could be their 19th-centuryinception, political par- mer MayorofNew York andTrump's per- Amendment, ratifiedinFebruary1967, deals seamless at leastfor bilateralrelations.

EXPLAINED YOURMONEY EventsinUScouldboostIndianmarkets,butinvestwithcare

DowJones rose 1.44%onWednesday,the uities hasbeen one of the dominant factors largenumberof first-timeinvestorshave en- being upgraded. Keymacroparameters are “Inthis excited state, the biggestconcern FTSE 10 in UK and DAXinGermanytoo rose forthe rise of equity markets. So, amajority teredthe marketsand while theyhavebeen expectedto remaininIndia’sfavour.Key pol- is thatthe stoppageofFPI inflows could po- 3.5% and 1.7% respectively.Asian markets forBidenontheSenatefloorandhisabilityto ridingthishightide,they needtobecautious icy ratesare at the lowest levels in recent tentiallystopthis rally. Fornow,everyoneis rose on Thursdaywith the Nikkei 225 in push astimulus will have apositive impact about an adverse movement. years. The RBI has projected theCPI (con- looking at the stimulus but if thereisadis- JapanandSTIIndexinSingaporeclosingwith on Indian marketsasapartofthatmoneyis Analysts sayinvestors should notlook at sumer price index) inflation at 6.8% forthe ruptioninUSthatimpactstheinflowoffund, gains of 1.6% and 1.65%respectively. expectedtofind itsway intoIndianequities justonedata point,but take aholisticviewof thirdquarterof2020-21, 5.8%forQ4of2020- orif theCovid-19issuegetsextendedto2022 While thereisoptimism among global too. Foreignportfolio investors’ netinvest- the economy and the market.With RBI’s ac- 21,and5.2%to 4.6%inthefirsthalf of 2021-22. and2023, then it could have abearing onthe market participantsaround the anticipated ment of Rs 2.22 lakh croreinIndianequities commodative stanceand low-interestrates Real GDP is expectedtocontract by 7.5% in market,” said Agrawal. He addedthat since Sandeep Singh & stimulus, thereare concerns around the since April 1, 2020, resulted in Sensexand that aregoing to continue forsome time, eq- 2020-21andexpandby 0.1%inQ3of 2020-21 thereare alot of movingparts to marketsand George Mathew higher corporatetaxes andstricter antitrust Nifty gaining 63.4% and 64.4% respectively. uityisexpectedto remainthebest assetclass. and 0.7% in Q4 of 2020-21. GDPisexpected we can’t control them, “weshould focus on scrutinyBiden has spoken about. However, “While Biden has spoken about his big “Weare alreadyseeingagradualbroad-based to expandby21.9% to 6.5% in the firsthalf of whatwe doaswe have controloverthat.One with anarrowmajority in the Senate, mar- stimulus, even if half of that comes through, rally. If thecommentarycomingfromthecen- 2021-22. needs to bedisciplinedininvestment andbe DONALDTRUMPsupportersstormedCapitol ketsfeelBidenismorelikelytopushthrough it would bebig. Marketsare thinking that big tral bankisanythingtogoby, then this mar- Goingbythese numbers, long-term very guardedinwhereyou invest.” Hill on Wednesdayafternoon, but the Dow the stimulus packagethan makechanges to moneyatlow costofinterestwillfinditsway ketrally is notashort-livedone,”said A prospectsseembright.“India’sgrowthhasthe There’s already afeeling within asection Jones Indexwas unruffledand endedthe day the taxstructureinthe current situation. intoemerging economiesincludingIndia Balasubramanian,MD&CEO,AdityaBirlaSun highestcatch-uppotentialpostmajorreforms of participantsthatthe marketvaluation is at an all-time high of 30,829. Rather than be- Whiletherehasbeencontroversyaround andthatwillkeepithigherin thenearterm,” LifeMutual Fund. announcedbythe government. PLI Scheme running ahead of fundamentals. “If anyun- ing influencedbythis,the marketswereen- the election outcomeand therewas chaos in said Agrawal. Marketsworkonanticipationofthe cur- should attract FDI, housing sector should see expectedriskfactorcomesintoplay, themar- thused by the news of the Democratic Party Capitol Hill by Trumpsupporters,manyfeel If thathasbeenthebiggestdriverformar- rentandfutureeconomicoutlook.TheCovid arecovery,bankNPAsshouldbemanageable ket willcorrectorreact.Muchwilldependon winning twoSenate seatsfromGeorgia and politicswillplayalimitedroleinthemarkets. ketsand has takenittofresh highs, closing impact on the economywas predicted in andcreditgrowthshouldnormalise.Earnings the FPI flows andthe Budget whichisonthe getting aslendermajority (with Vice “Marketsare moreabout trade and com- the tapmay affect them adversely. This pos- March,and hence the markets corrected — whichhavebeendepressedforafew yearsare anvil. Retail investors should be cautious in President-elect Kamala Harris’s vote), which merce and nowpolitics does notmatter sibility,therefore, calls forrationalbehaviour the Sensex has gained over 15%incalendar showing reasonablystrong growth. We are thismarket,”saidveteranstockdealerPawan could ease the path of abig stimulus an- muchincommerce as it is big and powerful. by domesticretail investors. year 2020. Now, thepace of vaccinationwill entering intoanearnings upgrade cycle after Dharnidharka. nouncement by President-elect Joe Biden af- Liquidity,globalisationof moneyandwealth ThoughFPIshave beendominantplayers, have abearingonthe markets. alongtime,whichshoulddrive marketsgoing Another risk is the possibility of inflation terhetakescharge onJanuary20.Expertssay is very bigand the numbers arestaggering,” Indianinvestors—bothretailandHNIs(high forward,” Subramanian said. remainingatanelevatedlevelandtheRBIun- whileIndia will be alikelybeneficiary of that said Raamdeo Agrawal, chairman, Motilal netindividuals)—alsoplayedabigroleinthe What factorscould playout in the winding the accommodative policy stance. stimulus packageassome of that moneywill Oswal FinancialServices. market surgeastheyentered themarketsin longer term? What arethe concerns forthe market WhiletheCovidgraphiscurvingdownward, finditsway intoIndianequities,thereare also big numbers following asharp declineinin- Expertsarguethatthe Indian economyis and investors? GDP growthwill have to pick up speedinthe risks involved. What does it mean forIndian markets? dices in Februaryand March 2020. Between ataninflectionpoint.TheCovidcurvehasflat- Foreigninvestors have been thebig bulls comingmonths.Ifthe economydoesn’t pick In India, although the Sensexopened Apriland December,the CentralDepository tenedout and economic activity is at pre- in the market so far. If theliquidity dries up up the wayitisprojected,the high market Whydid marketsrise in the US and strong on Thursday in line with theglobal ServicesLimitedhasaddedmorethanathird Covidlevelsasevidencedbyvarioushigh-fre- andtheeconomydoesn’tshow theexpected valuation will turn out to be abubble. That worldwide? trend,itclosedwithadeclineof0.17%.Itisim- (77lakh) of the investor accountsthat it held quency datapointslikethe IHS Markit PMI resilience, the FPI flow willalsocome down scenariowill damagethe sentiment. It’s un- Clearly,the markets areeyeing another portant to note thatthe economic stimulus until March 2020 (2.12 crore) to reach2.89 Index.Theruraleconomycontinuesto bere- and the marketswill stagnateorslowlyde- likelytohappen going by the waythingsare stimulus, this time from Biden. While the in the US and inflow of funds intoIndian eq- croreinDecember.Marketparticipantssay a silient, and economic growth estimates are cline from the current high levels. takingshape.

Kolkata WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THEINDIANEXPRESS,FRIDAY,JANUARY8,2021 12 US CAPITOL BREACH

SEVERALCLOSE AIDES RESIGN AS CALLS FOR PRESIDENT’S REMOVAL GROW AsmobjoltsUS,Trumpincreasinglyisolated

(From left)Peopleshelterinthe House galleryasthe mob tries to break in; ElectoralCollegeballots were takentoa securelocation;Trumpsupporters confront police inside the Capitolbuilding. Reuters,AP

Allies in Congress say‘enough is enough’ Trump summoned AGENCIES WASHINGTON,JANUARY7 supporters to ‘wild’ SENATOR CHUCKSchumer of New York,the topDemocratic in the Senate, calledonThursday protest, told them forUSPresident DonaldTrump’s immediateremovalfromoffice forhis role in urging on the vio- to fight.They did lent mob that stormedthe Capitol on Wednesday. His was the latestinachorus of calls for Later promisedorderly transition, but the President’s removal, includ- continues to disputeelectionresults ing from the Republican party. Wednesday’s unprecedented Trumpspeaksatthe rallyin eventshavealso forced the WashingtonWednesday. AP STEVEHOLLAND, WHATTRUMPSAID Republican party,whichhas JEFFMASON& steadfastlybackedTrump JONATHANLANDAY through anumber of controver- Amendment,whichallows him WASHINGTON,JANUARY7 ON DECEMBER 20 sies, to look at recalibrating itsre- and the Cabinettowrest the “Statisticallyimpossible to lationship with him. Trumphas powerofthe presidency from THE CHAOSinthe US Capitol on have lost the 2020 alsoseenanumber of topadvis- Trump. If Pence would not, Wednesdayunfoldedafter Election... Big protestinDC ers and aides resigning follow- Schumeradded,Congressshould President Donald Trumpspent on January6th.Bethere, ing Wednesday’s chaos. reassemble to impeachTrumpa weekswhippinguphis support- will be wild!” WhiteHouse deputy na- second time,evenwith justdays erswith false allegations of fraud tional security adviser Matt leftinhis term. in the November 3election, cul- AT WEDNESDAY’S RALLY Pottinger is one of the mosthigh- RepresentativeAdam minating in acall to march to the “We’re goingtowalk down profile Trumpadvisers to have Kinzinger,RepublicanofIllinois,is- Trumpsupporters storm the Capitol in Washington on Wednesday. NYT building that represents US to theCapitol and we’re resigned. Pottinger,aformerWall suedasimilar call earlier,posting democracy. going to cheeronour brave Street Journal reporterwho left on Twitter thatthe president had Trump, who has refusedto senators andCongressmen journalismto jointheUSMarines become“unmoorednot justfrom FB bans Trump at concede his loss to Democratic and women...Wewill never afterthe Sept. 11 attacksin2001, his duty or from his oath but from Biden says storming of Capitol President-elect Joe Biden, had give up,wewill never had served in the WhiteHouse reality itself”. least till term ends urgedhis supporters multiple concede.” since the beginning of Trump’s AWashington-basedlaw firm, times to come to Washington for presidency in 2017. Crowell &Moring, whichrepre- an ‘assault on citadel of liberty’ FACEBOOK WILL blockPresident arallyonWednesday, theday the AFTER CAPITOL STORMED The acting chairman of the sents manyFortune 500compa- Trumponits platforms, includ- US HouseofRepresentativesand “I knowyou’rehurt. We had WhiteHouseCouncilof Economic nies,alsoaddedtheirvoiceto those lies around the worldappalled. ing Instagram, at leastuntil the Senatewerescheduledtocertify an election that wasstolen Advisers TylerGoodspeed, and callingforthePresident’sremoval. MICHAELDSHEAR& “Attheir best,the wordsofa end of his term, chief executive theresultsoftheElectoralCollege. from us. It wasalandslide special envoy to Northern Ireland TheviolentsiegeonCapitolHill JIMTANKERSLEY president can inspire. At their MarkZuckerbergsaid in apost “Statisticallyimpossible to election. But youhavetogo MickMulvaneysubmitted their alsoofferedanew,andperhapsfi- WASHINGTON,JANUARY7 worst, theycan incite,” Biden said. on Thursday. have lost the 2020 Election,” home now. We have to have resignationsThursday. Mulvaney nal, moment of reckoning forthe “This is notdissent,” thepresi- “The shocking eventsofthe Trump, aRepublican, tweeted peace. We have to have law has previouslyserved as Trump’s GOP.The party’s usual excuses for US PRESIDENT-ELECT Joe Biden dent-elect said in remarks from last24hours clearly demonstrate on December 20. “Big protest in and order.” formeracting chief of staff. Trump—he’s notapolitician and denouncedthe storming of the Delaware as scenes of thearmed that President Donald Trumpin- DC on January6th. Be there, will An administration official de- is uninterested in hewing to Capitol on Wednesdayasthe vio- takeover of the Capitolplayedout tends to use hisremaining time be wild!” scribed Trumpas“increasingly Washington’sniceties —fell short lent expression of President on television screens. “It’s disor- in office to undermine thepeace- Theyturnedout in the thou- the culmination of his effortsto isolated” and said that“national againstimagesof mobsoccupying Trump’s refusal to accepthis de- der. It’s chaos. It borders on sedi- ful and lawful transition of power sands and heardthe president thwartapeaceful transfer.About security officialswho areloyal to some of American democracy’s feat, callingit“an assault on the tion and it mustend now.” to his elected successor,Joe urge them to march on the 50minutesintothespeech,some their oath to theconstitution will mostsacredspaces. citadel of liberty” and saying the Biden addresses the nation With Trumpremaining Biden,” Zuckerbergwrote. Capitol buildingtoexpress their of his supporters, waving Trump be standing watchuntil One of his closestallies in President had stoked the mob on Wednesday. AP mostlysilent immediatelyafter Trumpalsofacedasuspen- angeratthe voting process and flags, beganheading toward Inauguration Dayand will then Congress, GOP Senator Lindsey withhisfalseclaimsthatthe2020 the mob entered the Capitol, sion from Twitter,whichlocked to pressuretheir elected officials Capitol Hill, whereunprece- turn over powertothe duly Graham of South Carolina, said electionhad been stolen. Biden calledonthe president to his account for12hours and re- to reject the results. dented mayhem ensued. elected newpresident.” “enoughisenough”. Another In direct, forceful language, appealedforcalmandmadeclear “goonnational television nowto quired him to delete three “We’regoing to walk down to Monitoring the scenes of vi- Four people diedduring the close ally, Senatemajority leader Biden calledthe scenesofchaos that he held Trumpaccountable fulfill his oathand defendthe tweets that thecompanysaid theCapitol and we’regoing to olence on cable news television chaos —one from gunshot MitchMcConnell, also did not in the halls of Congress “a dark forinstigating violence that left Constitution and demand an end could inciteviolenceinorder to cheeronour bravesenators and from the White House, Trump wounds andthree from medical support the President’s bid to moment” in the nation’s history, members of both partiesand al- to this siege.” NYT regain access. NYT Congressmen and women,” tweetedabout an hour afterthe emergencies —after hundreds of challengeelection results. Trumptold the crowd, speaking Capitolwas putonlockdown Trumpsupporters stormedthe Trump’s grip on hisparty ap- with the White House as aback- that the protesters should“re- Capitolinabidto overturnhiselec- peared weakenedwhen mem- drop. He exhorted his supporters main peaceful.” tiondefeatto DemocratJoeBiden. bers of Congress returnedtothe World leaders lament ‘tragic’day for US democracy “tofight.” As criticism mounted that he Twotop aides to firstlady CapitolWednesdaynight, having Trumphas sought forweeks had incited ariot, he wasurged Melania Trumpalso resignedon spent severalhourshidinginse- ceptedhis defeat in the election America he knew. “Webelieve in the MinistryofForeign Affairs, to thwartapeaceful transfer of to saymore. Wednesday. StephanieGrisham cure locations afterbeing evacu- THENEWYORKTIMES and again on Wednesday failed thestrengthofAmericandemoc- HuaChunying,pointedly referred power, aided by groups such as Eventually, Trumpposteda resignedaschief of stafftothefirst ated.Beforetheyleft, ahandful of JANUARY7 to acceptits outcome.“He stoked racy,” he said. to American expressionsofsup- "Stopthe Steal," which promoted recordedvideo on Twitter. lady. TheWhiteHouse social sec- Republican senators and more uncertainties about the election Russian foreign ministry portfor thehugeprotests that the day's protestand peddled “Iknowyou’rehurt.We hadan retary,RickieNiceta,alsoresigned, than100RepublicanHousemem- CHANCELLOR ANGELAMerkelof outcome, and that created an at- spokeswomanMaria Zakharova tookplaceinHongKong,whichat false claims about voter fraudon electionthatwasstolenfromus.It asdidadeputyWhiteHousepress berswere settoopposethevoteto Germany on Thursday con- mospherethat made the events said, “Weonce again point out one point includedthe takeover Facebook andothersocial media. wasalandslide election,” Trump secretarySarah Matthews,two certifyBiden’spresidentialvictory. demnedthe mob violence at the of lastnight possible,”she said. that the electoral system in the of the legislaturein2019. “You In astatement postedon said,repeatingfamiliarfalsehoods. sourcestold Reuters. Therewas When theyresumed debate, US Capitol and blamedthe chaos She described theincident as UnitedStates is archaic and does- maystill remember that at the Twitter by WhiteHouse “Butyouhavetogohomenow. We also talk inside the WhiteHouse however, muchofthe energy be- ontherhetoricof PresidentTrump, “tragic”, but also said that it was n’t meetmodern standards of time,Americanofficials,congress- spokesman Dan Scavinoon have to have peace. We have to that deputy chief of staffChris hind the push had fizzled. The as leadersaround theworld ex- asignof“hope” thatCongress democracy,creatingthe possibil- men and some media —what Thursday,Trumpsaid there have lawandorder.”Hepostedan- Liddellmightresign,asourcesaid. vast majority in both the House pressedconcern about the health worked through the night. ity formultiple violations and the phrases did theyuse forHong would be an orderlytransitionof othermessagethatcalledthemob Senator Schumer on and the SenaterejectedTrump’s of American democracy. President Emmanuel Americanmediahave becomein- Kong?” she said in Beijing on power“though Itotallydisagree “great patriots”who were react- Thursday calledonVicePresident claims of fraudand condemned Merkelsaid she deeplyre- Macron of France said the chaos strumentsofpoliticalstruggle.” Thursday. “Whatphrasesarethey withtheoutcomeof theelection”. ingto anelectionvictory“viciously MikePence to invoke the 25th violence by his supporters. grettedthatTrumphad notac- in Washington did notreflectthe In China, aspokeswomanfor using forAmerica now?” ButWednesday’seventswere strippedaway”. REUTERS Womankilled in Capitolsiege aveteran End of Trumpera: Amob, abreach of democracy who embraced conspiracy theories

receiving messages of concern weeksfor theinauguration of 24 hours... darktolight!” PETERBAKER from other capitals.“American President-elect Joe Biden. GABRIELLABORTER Trumpendedaspeechon JANUARY7 carnage,” it turnedout, wasnot The extraordinaryinvasionof &JONATHANALLEN Wednesdaywithexhortations to what Trumpwould stop, as he theCapitolwas alast-ditchact of JANUARY7 his supporters to march on the SO THIS is howitends. The promisedupon taking office, but desperation from acampfacing Capitol. Presidency of Donald John what he wound up delivering politicaleviction.Evenbeforethe THE WOMAN shotdead by po- Video of the shooting posted Trump, rootedfromthe begin- four yearslater to the verybuild- mob setfootinthe building on lice during Wednesday’s siegeof by afreelance journalistonsocial ning in anger,division and con- ing wherehetook the oath. Wednesdayafternoon, Trump’s the US Capitol wasidentifiedby media shows achaotic moment spiracy-mongering, comes to a TheconvulsioninWashington presidency wasslipping away. police as Ashli Babbitt, aUSAir betweenthe Trump-supporting close with aviolent mob storm- capped1,448 days of Twitter Democratsweretakingcontrolof Forceveteran whose social me- Police trytohelp awoman intruders and police in ahallway ing the Capitol at the instigation storms, provocations, race-bait- the Senatewith apair of Georgia dia activity indicates she em- lyingonthe floor after in the Capitol. Thereisthe sound of adefeatedleader trying to hang ing, bustednorms, shock-jock runoffelection victoriesthat bracedfar-fetched right-wing supporters of Trumpentered of asinglegunshotbeforethe ontopower as if America were governanceand truth-bending Republicansangrilyblamedon conspiracy theories. theCapitol building. Reuters videoshows awoman,whoseap- justanotherauthoritariannation. prevaricationfromtheOvalOffice the President’s erratic behaviour. Babbitt, 35,was an avid sup- pearancematchesthatof Babbitt’s The scenesinWashington that have leftthe countrymore And following theattackon porterofPresident Trump, her photos, wearing aTrumpflag on wouldhave oncebeenunimagin- polarisedthan in generations. the Capitol, even more husband told KUSINews. Her photographs of her,shared many the ground, bleeding profusely able:Arampagethrough the ATrumpsupporter sitsinside the Capitolbuilding. Reuters Thosewhowarnedofworst-case Republicans abandonedhim. posts and retweets on Twitter postsinrecentweeksflaggingher andvisiblyinshock.Peoplearound citadel of American democracy. scenarios onlytobedismissedas While mostRepublicans in the backedTrump’s false assertions excitement over attending the her scream and trytotend to her Policeofficersbrandishinggunsin alarmistsfoundsome of their House stuckwith him, he lost that he wasdefeated because TrumprallyonJanuary6.Theday injuries. Police confirmedthat a an armedstandofftodefend the president’sspotontheSenatedais were equallyalarming: Coup. darkest fears realised. By day’s mostofthe Republican senators Democratselaboratelyrigged before,she wrote: “Nothing will woman namedAshli Babbittwas Housechamber.Teargasdeployed and sitting at the desk of the Insurrection. Sedition. Suddenly end,someRepublicansdiscussed whostarted the dayonhis side, the November 3election. stop us... theycan tryand tryand shot by an officer as protesters intheRotunda.Lawmakersinhid- speaker of the House. theUnitedStates wasbeing com- removing Trumpunder the 25th leaving him with justsix after The Twitter account trybut the storm is here and it is were forcing their wayintothe ing.Extremistsstandinginthevice The wordsusedtodescribeit paredto a“banana republic” and Amendmentratherthanwaittwo the rioters were removed. NYT @Ashli_Babbitt, whichincludes descending upon DC in less than House Chamber. REUTERS

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THEINDIANEXPRESS,FRIDAY,JANUARY8,2021 13 ECONOMY GOLD RUPEE OIL SILVER `50,335 `73.31 $54.58 `69,708

Note:Gold, silverrates at Delhispotmarket;gold per10g,silverper 1kg; Brent crudeasof2300IST SENSEX: 48,093.32 ▼ 80.74 NIFTY: 14,137.35 ▼ 8.90 NIKKEI: 27,490.13 ▲ 434.19 HANG SENG: 27,548.52 ▼ 143.78 FTSE: 6,811.20 ▼ 30.66 DAX: 13,943.79 ▲ 51.82

Internationalmarket data till 1900IST RESERVE BANK OF INDIA STUDY ON MONETARY POLICY TRANSMISSION USTR targets India, Italy, ‘IndiaIncusinghighercreditflows Turkeyover digital taxes

DAVIDLAWDER tomeetliabilities,notinvestments’ WASHINGTON,JANUARY7 Govt: Equalisation levy DIGITAL SERVICES taxesadopted by India,ItalyandTurkey discrim- not discriminatory, will their capital expenditure, while Rates(PLR). But PLR turnedout to inateagainstUScompanies and GEORGEMATHEW College of Supervisors set up currentliabilitiesincreaseforthese be rigidand inflexible in relation areinconsistent with interna- take appropriate action MUMBAI,JANUARY7 firms.“Thistellsusthatfirmschan- to the overalllending rate which tionaltaxprinciples,theUSTrade Mumbai:Aspartofaninitia- developmental inputstothe neltheircreditlinestowardsmeet- ledtotheintroductionof Benchm- Representative’s office said on field with respect to e-com- AHIGHER credit flowfrombanks tive to further strengthensu- concernedstaff,the RBI said. ingcurrentliabilitieswhileinvest- arkPLR (BPLR).Thisregimewas Wednesday, paving the wayfor ENSECONOMICBUREAU merce activities undertaken doesn’t mean higher investment pervision over regulatedenti- FormerRBI Deputy mentstakeabackseat,”itsaid.On also marked withlimited trans- potential retaliatorytariffs. NEWDELHI,JANUARY7 by entities resident in India as by India Inc. Instead, companies ties,theRBIhassetupaCollege Governor NS Viswanathan is theotherhand,thestudysaidthat missionsuccess,asbankswereof- USTR,releasingthefindingsof well as those notresidentsin areusingcredit lines to finance of Supervisors (CoS) to aug- chairperson of the CoS. The firms who borrowfromrelatively tenlending at sub-BPLR rates. its“Section 301” investigations THE NDAgovernment had India or without permanent their current liabilities while in- ment and reinforce supervi- othermembersincludeex-SBI moreliquid banksare morere- Asacorrective practice,theRBI intothe digital taxes, said it was movedanamendment in the establishmentinIndia. vestmentstakeabackseat, the soryskills among itsregula- ManagingDirectorArijitBasu, sponsive to increasing their capi- introducedabase rate system in nottakingspecificactionsatthis FinanceBill2020-21imposing “Thepurposeof theequal- ReserveBankofIndia (RBI) said tory andsupervisorystaff — formerHDFC Bank deputy talspendingwhen the lenders in- 2010 basedonthecostofborrow- time,but “will continuetoevalu- a2per cent digital servicetax isation levy is to ensurefair in astudy on monetary policy both at entrylevel and on a MD Paresh Sukthankar, crease their supplyofcredit. ing. However, thetransmission ateall available options.” (DST)ontradeandservicesby competition, reasonableness transmission. continuousbasis. IIM Bangaloreprofessor S Policiesdirectedatinfluencing throughbaserateturnedoutto be Theprobesareamongseveral non-residente-commerceop- andexercisetheabilityof gov- Whilecreditflows frombanks This wasdone to facilitate Raghunath, IIM Ahmedabad the term spread could comple- weak primarilybecause of banks’ stillopenUSTRSection301inves- eratorswithaturnoverofover ernmentstotax businesses dependontheliquiditypositionof the development of unified professor TathagataBandyo- ment policy rate changes in spread adjustments. To improve tigations that could leadtotariffs Rs2crore,effectively expand- that have aclose nexus with banksthat the firms areattached and focused supervision by padhyayand IGIDR professor strengtheningratetransmission, transmission, amarginal cost- before President Donald Trump ing the scope of equalisation the Indian marketthrough to,anincreaseincreditmaynot al- providingtraining and other SubrataSarkar. ENS it said. Further,inthe presence of basedlendingsystem(MCLR)was leavesofficeorearly intheadmin- levy that,till lastyear,onlyap- their digital operations,” it ways finditsway towardsincreas- aweak balance sheetchannel of introducedin2016, andwas fur- istrationofPresident-elect Joe pliedtodigital advertising stated in arelease. ing investments, the RBI report policytransmission,anexpansion- ther refinedbylinking all new Biden.Among theseisamoread- services. The USTR analysis has said.Credit growth on ayear-on- have stagnated in thelastcouple finditsway towardsincreasingin- arymonetary policy could help floatingrate personalorretailloans vancedprobeintoFrance’sdigital Thenewlevycameintoef- identified119 companies yearbasiswas6.1 percentin2020, of years as companies have been vestments. Firms mayuse their firms in meeting their current lia- and floating rate loans to micro servicestax. fectfromApril1. E-commerce likelysubjecttoIndia’s DST, of as against7.1 per cent in 2019 focussing on repayment of debt. creditlinesto financetheircurrent bilitiesrather than raising their andsmallenterprisesextendedby USTRhadsetaJanuary6dead- operators areobligatedto pay which86(72 per cent)are US while depositgrowth washigher In other words, while the RBI liabilitiesratherthanundertaking fixedcapital expenditure,itsaid. bankstoexternal benchmarks lineforimplementing25percent thetaxattheendof eachquar- companies,followedbyChina at 11.3 per cent and 10.1 per cent, hasbeenpushingforfasterratecut capital formation,” it said. Thus,capitalinfusioninbankscan since October 2019. tariffs onFrench cosmetics,hand- ter. and the UK with 7companies respectively.The RBI has slashed transmission, borrowers ignored Further,banksrespond to makecriticaldifferenceinimprov- However, someevidencesug- bags and other imports valuedat ThegovernmentsaidThu- each, France with 6compa- keypolicy rate —repo rate —by investmentsinnew projectsand changesinmoneymarketspreads ing credit supplyand capital for- geststhattheMCLRactionhasnot around$1.3billionannually inre- rsdayitwillexaminethisdeci- nies, and Japanwith 5. 400basispointsfrom8percentto usedthe credit to meet the liabili- faster and better than changes in mation, the study said. been fullytransmitted to corpo- taliation againstthe Frenchdigi- sion and take “appropriate” It also notesthat India’s 4per cent since January2014. ties. “In addition to sloworlagged policyrate, it said. The RBI study In 1994,the RBI deregulated rate borrowings,andtherewasev- taltaxes.Butitwasunclearlate on action “keeping in viewthe DSTtaxesawiderangeofserv- However, investmentsinnew monetarypolicy transmission, an saidthatfirmswhichborrowfrom lending rates, and bankswerere- idence of long and variable lags, Wednesdaywhether collections overall interestofthe nation. ices “other than digital serv- projectsand capital expenditure increase in credit maynot always less liquid banksdonot increase quired to declarePrime Lending the study said. of thoseduties would begin as Accordingtothe Comme- icestaxes”adoptedaroundthe scheduled. Spokesmen forUSTR rceand Industry Ministry,the world,whichexpandstheuni- and Customs and Border Protect- 2per centequalisation levy is verseof UScompaniessubject ion,theagencyresponsiblefortar- notdiscriminatory, instead to the DST, and increases the Whatare spectrum iffcollections,did notrespond to seeksto ensurealevel-playing taxburden that US firms face. ‘Hiring intent forjunior Hiring intent for other multiple requests forcomment. talent segments in USTR has concluded the digi- auctions &who may leveltalent rises in Jan-Mar’ current quarter: taltaxesimposedbyFrance,India, In the latestreport, it alsosaid tion, includingdue to itsapplica- Italyand Turkey discriminate the Indian, Italian and Turkish tion to revenue rather than in- With mostsectors and establishments recovering, theintent 2% 4% 2% againstbig US tech firms,suchas taxeswere“unreasonable” be- come,extraterritorialapplication, be the likelybidders? to hirejunior leveltalent in January-March has risen by 7% Entry Mid Senior Google, Facebook,Apple and cause theyare “inconsistent with and failuretoprovide taxcer- as againstOctober-December 2020, aTeamLease report said level level level Amazon.com. principles of international taxa- tainty.” REUTERS

erallyset at 20 years. Juniorlevelmostsought-after: Positivityinjobmarket AASHISHARYAN Juniorleveltalent,withwork attributedto: NEWDELHI,JANUARY7 Whyisthe spectrum being experienceof2-5years,islikely ■ Businessrecovery Vi moves Petrol at all-time high auctionednow? tobethemostsought-after ■ Strongforeigndirect THEDEPARTMENTof Telecomm- The last spectrum auctions resourcethisquarter investmentinflows SC seeking unications (DoT) on Wednesday were held in 2016,inwhich the ■ Governmentthrusttocreate post 2nd straight hike announcedthe auctions for4G governmenthadoffered2,354.55 Optimisminmetros:Optimism positiveregulatoryecosystem spectrum in the 700, 800, 900, MHz at areservepriceofRs5.60 onhiringishighlyevidentin correction 1,800,2,100,2,300,and2,500MHz lakh crore. Though the govern- metrosandtierIcities,mainly Surveydetails:TheTeamLease ENSECONOMICBUREAU Asteady increase in bands. Licence holders have till ment hadmanaged to sell only ledbyBengaluruandDelhiwith EmploymentOutlookreport NEWDELHI,JANUARY7 international prices of February5to submitapplications. 965 MHz, or about 40 per cent of a10%pointriseeach covers14citiesand21sectors in DoT’s the spectrum that wasput up for PETROL PRICES reachedanall- crude oil and high taxes What arespectrum auctions? sale and the total valueofbids re- AGRmath timehighofRs84.2perlitreinthe on petrol and diesel to Why is it important: The resilience of India Inc coupled with Devicessuchascellphonesand ceivedthen wasonlyRs65,789 CapitalonThursday, afteroilmar- shoreupgovernment wireline telephones requiresig- crore, the needfor newspectrum movement in the discovery of the vaccine seems to be having a Source: keting companies (OMCs)hiked nalstoconnect from one end to to be auctionedhas arisen as the positive impact on the intent to hire. Most sectors have indicatedan TeamLease/PTI INDUBHAN ratesby23paise per litre. Diesel revenues arethe key another.These signals arecarried validityof theairwavesboughtby intent to invest in manpower acquisition indicating buoyancy back NEWDELHI,JANUARY7 prices were raisedby24paise to reasons behind the hike on airwaves, which companiesissettoex- Rs 74.38 per litre. OMCs had also mustbesentatdesig- pire in 2021. ADAY afterBhartiAirtel,Vodafone hiked prices of petrol by 26 paise nated frequenciesto Idea (Vi) toomoved Supreme per litreand that of diesel by 25 December. Theaveragecostofthe avoid anykind of in- Who arethe likely Courtseekingmodification of its paiseper litreonWednesday,af- Indian crude basket in FY19was terference.TheUnion bidders? Dow, S&P shrug off Capitol chaos, order so that the Department of terholdingfor30days.Asteadyin- $69.9 per barrelin$60.5per bar- government owns all RelianceJioInfoco- Telecommunications (DoT) can crease in international prices of relinFY20. thepubliclyavailable mm, Bharti Airtel, and consider itssubmissions regard- crude oil and high taxesonpetrol The keyreasons behind the assetswithinthegeo- Vi areeligiblecon- surge on Democrat win in Senate ing arithmeticalerrors in the cal- anddieselto shoreupgovernment highpricesof petrolanddiesel,de- graphical boundaries tenders to buy addi- culationsregarding itsadjusted revenues arethe keyreasonsbe- spiterelatively lowcrudeoilpieces, of thecountry, whichalso include tional spectrum to support the 57.18 points,or1.53per cent, to grossrevenue (AGR)dues. hind the recent hike. arehikes in government levies airwaves. With the expansion in numberof usersontheirnetwork. REUTERS RALLYRESUMES 3,805.32and the Nasdaq The companyonThursday Thepriceof petrolinDelhihad overthepastyear.Thecentralgov- thenumberof cellphone,wireline Apartfromthesethree,newcom- NEWYORK/LONDON,JAN7 Compositegained306.33points, saidinitspetitionthecalculations previouslyhit the Rs 84 perlitre- ernmenthashikedtheexciseduty telephoneand internetusers, the panies, including foreign compa- DOWJONES or 2.40 per cent, to 13,047.12. made by DoThad errors like dou- markinOctober2018 wheninter- onpetrolto Rs32.98perlitrefrom needtoprovidemorespaceforthe nies,are also eligible to bid. WALLSTREEThitrecordlevelson Meanwhile, European stocks blecounting,notconsideringpay- national crude prices were above Rs 19.98per litreatthe beginning ▲ 31,135.87 306.47points signals arises from time to time. Thursdayasmarket participants rose forasecond straight session. mentsalready made, notadjust- $80 per barrel. Brent crude is cur- of 2019,and increasedthe excise To sell these assets to compa- What will the auctions cost betonmoreCovidrelief aidunder Thepan-EuropeanSTOXX600in- ing forinterconnect payments, rentlypriced around $54 per bar- duty on diesel to Rs 31.83per litre S&P 500 nieswillingto setuptherequired the three existing telcos? aDemocrat-controlledCongress dexrose 0.5 per cent to near last etc.Visaidtheexcessdemanddue rel—its highestlevel since the from Rs 15.83overthe same pe- infrastructuretotransportthese Both BhartiAirtel andVihave to help the economyrideout a ▲ 3,805.32 57.18points February’s highs, while London’s to theseerrorsistothe tune of crash in pricesdue to the pan- riod.Anumberofstatesalsohiked waves from one end to another, repeatedly expressedtheirinabil- steep pandemic-leddownturn. blue-chipFTSE100gained0.2per Rs 5,932crore of principal demic in March. value-addedtaxes. Central and the central government through ity to shell outalot of moneyei- Economy-linked financialsrose As of 11:47amET cent and Germany’s DAXindex amount, whichwould have an The averagecostofIndia’s statelevies currentlyaccount for the DoTauctions these airwaves ther forbuying newspectrumor 2.1per cent, while industrial and wasup0.6 per cent. overall impact of over four times crudebasketinthisfiscalhasbeen about 62percentof theretailprice from time to time. These airwaves forrenewalofold spectrum they materials sectors were near rec- DonaldTrump’s supporters Meanwhlie, Brentcrude rose onthetotalprincipalamountdue around$39perbarrel,hittinglows of petrolandaround57 percentof arecalledspectrum, whichisfur- already hold. Analysts,however, ordhighs on hopesthatJoe Biden stormedthe US Capitol, which 28centsto$54.58abarrelby1635 to imposition of interest, penalty of $19.9 per barrelinApril and a the retail price of diesel in the na- ther subdividedintobands, expectthatRelianceJiowillbidfor willlineupabiggerfiscalpackage briefly weighedonmarkets. GMTaftertouching$54.90,afresh and interestonpenalty. high of $49.8 per barrelin tional capital. whichhavevarying frequencies. newspectrum as well as renew andhikeinfrastructure spending. At 11:47a.m.ETtheDowJones highnotseensincebefore thefirst Visaidthatdespiteits requests All these airwaves aresold fora the old licences that it holds. The Congress on Thursday Industrial Averagerose 306.47 Covid-19lockdowns in the West. to theDoT to correctthemistakes, certain period of time, afterwhich Full report on certifiedBiden’s election victory, points, or 0.99 per cent, to US West TexasIntermediatewas the latter hasnot doneit, thus their validity lapses, whichisgen- www.indianexpress.com hoursafterhundredsof President 31,135.87, theS&P 500gained up 30 cents to $50.93. causing prejudice to it. FE BRIEFLY ‘I-T surveys Flipkart LIC offers SBIfundraising revival for Mumbai:SBIhasraised$600 arm, Swiggy on tax million of “RegulationS” bonds at 1.80 per cent. ENS lapsed IL&FSarmdebt evasion charges’ policies NewDelhi: IL&FS on Thursday said itsgroup PRESSTRUSTOFINDIA The action is related to ENSECONOMICBUREAU companyIL&FSSolarPower NEWDELHI,JANUARY7 chargesofbogus ITC MUMBAI,JANUARY7 Ltd (ISPL) has paid itsentire debt of around Rs 845crore THE INCOME TaxDepartment claims under the GST LIFE INSURANCE Corporation of to all itscreditors. has conductedsurveys on asub- regime and related tax India(LIC) has comeout with a sidiaryofe-commerce major evasion, sources said special revivalcampaign forits Flipkartand food ordering plat- customers to revive their indi- PNB-IITcentre form Swiggy on chargesofbo- vidual lapsedLIC policies.Ithas NewDelhi: Punjab National gus input taxcredit (ITC) claim The probeisprimarily also authorisedits 1,526 satellite Bank(PNB)saiditistyingup and taxevasion by some vendors againstthe vendors who areon offices to revive policies where with theIndian Instituteof linked to them, officialsources theplatforms of these e-com- special medicaltests arenot re- Technology(IIT),Kanpurand said on Thursday. merce majorsbut aproper and quired.The campaignwill be FIRSTtoset up the Punjab Taxofficialssaid the action evidence-basedinvestigation re- held from January7to March6. National Bank-IIT Kanpur wasundertakenatthe offices of quired the taxdepartment to Under this campaign,policies Innovation Centre. PTI the twoentities —Instakartand survey the offices of the two of specific eligible plans can be Swiggy —inBengaluru, apart companies forcollection of doc- revivedwithin 5years from date from the office locations of the umentsand understanding the of the firstunpaid premium sub- Muskrichestperson associated vendors, on subject matter,sources said. ject to terms and conditions. Bengaluru: Tesla Inc chief Wednesdayand Thursday. “Webelieve we areinfull “Certain concession in health re- Elon Musk surpassed Instakartisthe entity that compliance with all applicable quirementsisalso being offered Amazon’s JeffBezos to be- runs Flipkart’s logistics arm taxand legal requirements,” a subjecttoeligibility.Mostpoli- come world’s richestman, Ekart. spokesperson forFlipkartsaid. cies can be revivedonlyonthe BloombergNews reported. The action is related to ASwiggy spokesperson said basis of adeclaration of good Musk gainedonarallyin chargesofbogus ITCclaims un- theyare “a lawabiding company health and aCovid questionnaire Tesla shares. REUTERS der the GSTregime and related and areinfull compliance with to be submitted by the proposer/ taxevasion, theysaid. the taxand legal mandates.” lifeassured,” LIC said. Kolkata WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM 14 SPORT THEINDIANEXPRESS,FRIDAY,JANUARY8,2021 ‘Footwork, hard hands Afterrain,arundrizzle key to Pant’s struggles’ On weather-affected opening day, Australia toporder finds some semblance of form on abenign surface SRIRAM VEERA SANDIP G SCORECARD JANUARY 7

JANUARY 7 AUSTRALIA VS INDIA SYDNEY CRICKET GROUND SINCE 2018,noother wicketkeeper has Afterthe rain relented,the clouds dis- droppedasmanycatches (13) as Rishabh Toss: Australia, chose to bat pelledand the sun begantohammer Pant in Tests. On aday when he dropped down, Australia producedtheir mostas- AUSTRALIA twotoreprieve Will Pucovski, Sadanand sertive batting performance of the series. WPuckovskilbwbSaini 62(110b,4x4) Vishwanath, one of India’s best wicketkeep- Debutant Will Pucovski impressedwith a DWarner cPujarabSiraj 5(8b) ers, has identifiedafew coreareas –foot- half-centuryondebut, Marnus MLabuschagnenotout 67(149b,8x4) work and hands –wherePant can improve Labuschagne shone with his fluency,and SSmithnotout 31(64b,5x4) to become abettergloveman. SteveSmith castawaydoubtsoverhis ■ Extras (nb1) 1 In his firstdrop, when Pucovski poked form with abreezy unconquered 31.The ■Total(55overs) 166/2 at adelivery from RAshwin when he was trio compensated forthe early loss of the ■FoW:1-6(DavidWarner,3.3ov),2-106(Will on 26, Pant wasupfar tooearly and didn’t returning David Warner to pile 166runs Pucovski,34.2ov) rise with the ball. Something that he often forthe loss of twowicketsonarain-short- ■Bowling:JBumrah14-3-30-0;MSiraj14-3- does while standing up to spinners. enedday in Sydney. 46-1;RAshwin17-1-56-0;NSaini7-0-32-1;R “Lotofhis problems aredowntohis foot- Justtoput the improvement in per- Jadeja3-2-2-0; work,” says Vishwanath, one of India’s stars spective,Australia were eight down when in the mid-80’s. “Sometimes, he is up too theyreachedthe same scoreinthe first quickly. Sometimes he is slow. As faraspos- RishabhPantdroppedtwo catches innings in Melbourne; in the second, they batsmen of yore.His firstboundaryoff sible, it’s good to rise with the ball. Thereisa behindthestumpsonDay1inSydney. AP had lostseven wickets; in Adelaide they Ashwin wasclassical stuff. Smith lashed fine line. Youdon’t want to jerkup, shootup had eight wicketsbackinthe pavilion by out at aflighted ball and whippedit tooquickly. Youalso don’t want to rise too this stage. At the heartofthe comeback through mid-wicket with nonchalant slowly. “Lot of his problems are down to wasacombination of factors —amore ease. Muchlikethe Smith of old. “Both those movementswill affect his footwork... sometimes, he is up purposeful approach, astrip without pace Marnus Labuschagne wasinvolvedina100-run partnership forthe second His wrist-flexatthe exact moment your hands’ position. Forthe hands to be too quickly. Sometimes he is slow. and bounce, unimaginative Indian bowl- wicket with debutant Will Pucovski. AP when wood metleather had Oriental pre- at the right place at the right time, foot- As far as possible, it’s good to rise ing, and Rishabh Pant dropping apair of cision coated all over it. He waltzedout work is important. Else, youcan be grab- straightforward catches when the match again next over to Ashwin, this time bing at the ball. Or find it oftenhitting the with the ball. There is afine line. wasstill in India’s firm grip. outside edge,that thuddedout of Pant’s “Iwouldn't say aggressive, just a smearing him through mid-on. Ashwin edgesoffingers/glovesand falling off. Or You don’t want to jerk up, shoot up But take nothing away from the pur- cast-iron leftglove.The curly-haired bit more positive (against Ashwin). would occasionallyslither one on Smith’s youare closing your hands tooquicklyas too quickly. You also don’t want to posefulness of the Aussie batsmen, start- Victorian, thereafter, marched to his half- Iwanted to put him under alittle legs, hoping that he would glance acatch youtry grabbing it.” rise too slowly.” ing with the incrediblyserene Pucovski. century, before becoming Saini’s first to leg- slip, but Smith wasnot falling for Sometimes, commentators talk about The 22-year-old shedlittle nerves as he wicket in Tests, when he swipedacross his bit of pressure which Ihaven't the bait this time around. He wasbent on hardhands. Vishwanath, one of the keyfac- SADANAND VISHWANATH, resolutelyblunted the new-ball onslaught. sharp in-swinger.Arareburstofexuber- done this series. Been working on a playing suchdeliveries straighter than tors in India winning the 1985 World FORMER INDIA WICKET-KEEPER LikemostAustralian openersofthe past, ance undid him, but Australia would not few things, wanted to hold the bat finer,would hang on the backfoot, ride the Championship of Cricket in Australia, agrees he possessesapronouncedshuffle across quibble. Theyseem to have uneartheda tighter. Felt like Iwas getting into bounce and tuckittowards midwicket. about the importance of softhands but feels sues that he has had with pacers in the past. the crease than aprominent front-foot genuine long-term, old-fashionedopener. good positions. Nice to get a With Ashwin neutered,half of it’s also tiedtothe footwork.“The commen- Like, his firstmovement. stride. But he doesn’t overcommit to the The wicket wasthe lastdropofrelief couple of boundaries away.” Australia’s troubles floated away likethe tators generallyfocus abit toomuchon “I have seen him wrong-footed. Moving backfoot, maintains abalancedposture, India enjoyedonatiresome day, as clouds on the evening sky.For fast bowlers hands and theymight be right at times as to his left, when the ball’s line should have and doesn’t needlesslylungeforward. Labuschagne laid siegeand Smith dusted STEVE SMITH, struggledtocoerce anything from the be- softhands and anatural feel forthe ball are made him move right. That has made me sit HowAustralia has missedanopener of up some of his characteristic splendour to AT THE END OF DAY 1 nign surface. vital. But on manyoccasions, Ihavefelt up and notice. The ball might be outside off- his assuredness in defence! Later,ashis in- combine an undefeated 60-run partner- Therewas no movement, pace or Pant’s problem to be with his footwork.For stump, but his firstmove–adecent stride nings progressed, Pucovski demonstrated ship that dragged the game away from the bounce to trouble batsmen. Jasprit ’keeping, the feet,the hands, the eyes have at that –istohis left. That certainlydoesn’t his crisp stroke-play. Abackfootpunchoff visitors. Formuchoftheir stay,theyhardly bouncy surface meant that he could not Bumrah unfurledaquick, missile-likefull to be in sync. If the footwork is slow, youtry help. Ican’t sayifthat’s because he is aleft- Navdeep Saini’s firstball in Test cricket was looked likebeing defeated either. extract disconcerting liftlikehehad pur- ball at Smith, hoping to beat his bat and to makeupfor it by moving tooearly,which hander and has anatural preference there. delightful, emphatic wasthe follow-up Labuschagne masterfullyneutralised chasedinMelbourne. Bounce has been nail him in front. But Smith, in buccaneer- isn’t good in wicketkeeping. That can onlybeascertainedafter speaking pull shotthat brought up his half-century. Ashwin by either going deep intothe Ashwin’s biggestweapon this series, and ing mood, would pat the ball backpast “With good footwork,you will have the to him and watching his videos alot more Onlyacouple of shortballs that reached crease and wristing him on the legside, without it, he seemedoverstrung. him to the fence. Saini attempted the confidence to rise with the ball. Youwon’t closely. It could justbeawrong assessment shoulder-height troubledhim. undaunted by the prowling fielders, or Impatience tore intohim, and he fiddled same ploy, onlyfor Smith to pickabrace of getupearly or late. And with the footwork of the line of the ball and wherehethinks One from Siraj brushedhis gloves, after stretching fullyforward to defend. around with fields and strategies. Forin- boundaries without breaking asweat. He to move either side, yougiveyourself the it’s heading. But yes, that’s an area he has to hurrying him intoabelated attempt at He pushedAshwin’s length back, and stance, he bowled three balls from round motoredalong to 26 off30balls, before he best possible chance to your hands to be in work on. His sideways movement also can pulling, and lobbed in the air.But Pant would vociferouslycut anything with a the stumps to Labuschagne, but as soon pulleddownthe shutters as dusk and the right place at the right time, and in the be better to getcloser to the ball so that he misjudged and eventuallylet the ball bob- hint of room. Later in the day, he sashayed as he cut the thirdball foraboundary, re- stumps approached. right way–asinyou won’t go hardatthe doesn’t have to lungetogather the ball.” ble out of his gloves. Considering his well- down the surface and loftedthe off-spin- verted to the conventional line of attack. It wasalittle over half aday’s toil for ball or be lunging forcatches offoseamers The good thing is that Vishwanath be- storiedvulnerability againstshort- ner over mid-on and once unfurledadex- Onlyinthe previous innings had he dis- the Indian bowlers —just55overs —but or be out of position. The feet affect the lievesPant can improve. “He seems to be a pitchedbowling, it wasbaffling whyIndia terous paddle sweep. Ashwin winced; it missedhim, caught at slip, from round the theylooked as if theyhad laboured two hands.” good talent, he is young, getting fitter and resortedtothe strategy onlyinbitsand wasarareoff-dayfor him this series. stumps to aball pushedacross him. full days on the field. his ’keeping can improve. If he workshard, fits.Asrecent as lastmonth had Kartik Ashwin resortedtohis old friends, On the contrary, Smith and Problemsagainstpacers trains smartly, he can improve–bysmartly, Tyagi pinged Pucovski on the helmet, con- Nullifying Ashwin flight and dip. But Smith metthe chal- Labuschagne dragged themselvesreluc- The second drop when Pucovski wason Imean the right drills tailored forhis needs.” cussing and delaying his Test debut. Notthat he bowled ordinarily, but lengehead-on. He steppedout noncha- tantlyoff the ground at close of play. It was 32 wasn’t aregulation wicketkeeping Awicketkeeping workshop with The reprieve came three overs after Australians nullifiedhim meticulously. lantlyathis nemesis this series and Australia’s mostassertive batting display chance. Pant had to react to atop edge,turn Vishwanath might nothurteither.“Oh, Iam Ravichandran Ashwin had inducedan Also, aconsiderablyslowerand less smothered the spin likesubcontinental of this series. quicklyand run back, but thereare other is- ready to help anytime!”

GABBA TEST BRIEFLY Leading from the front CSSantoshsuffers India complain about crashinDakarRally,in ‘5-star jail’ as UK COVID-19 after cheating death medically-inducedcoma NewDelhi: RenownedIndian motorcy- cleracerCSSantoshsufferedacrashdur- strain reaches Brisbane BangladeshskipperJamalBhuyan,whosurvivedfourbullets,set to playforMohammedanSporting ing the ongoing Dakar RallyinSaudi Arabia and wasput in amedically-in- neverplayfootball again but, barring afew ducedcomaafterbeingairliftedtoahos- “No one is saying that they MIHIR VASAVDA momentsofemotional breakdowns, pitalinRiyadh.The37-year-oldSantosh, EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE won’t follow rules but we need NEW DELHI, JANUARY 7 Bhuyan neverreallythought his career was who wasrepresenting the Hero JANUARY 7 over.“Iwas thinking, ‘I’vebeen shotinmy MotoSportsinoneof theworld'sbiggest some relaxation. They are “I OPENED my eyes and triedtoget out of upper body,but I'm notshotinmylegs. I rallies,crashedonWednesdayandisbe- THE INDIAN contingent continuedtopress saying players won’t even be the bed.The firstthing Isaid was, ‘I have to can still playfootball.’” ingkeptundera24-hourobservation. "In forrelaxation in the strict biosecurity restric- allowed in team rooms in go,Ihavetogo, Ihaveagame tomorrow.’ It took sevenmonths forBhuyan to get anunfortunateincident,@cs_santosh22 tions forthe Brisbane Test,put in place by the Brisbane.We are told that we But the nurse held me back. And she was backonhis feet.Hedid so by starting to sufferedacrashinStage4of#Dakar2021 Queensland government whichisfighting will not be allowed to step out of saying, ‘oh my god, youdon’t knowwhat playstreetfootball in the same lane where today. He has been takentoahospital in an outbreak scareafter aconfirmedcase of our rooms after we come back happened…” he got shotbut the football world, by then, Riyadh. In the initial assessment, he the UK strain of COVID-19. Jamal Bhuyan knows now. But at the had movedfar ahead. The players he once seems stable. Join us in wishing him a While the players areallowedtomingle in from practice. We will have to time, his mind had gone blank.Itwas only trainedwith had movedtoadifferent level. speedyrecovery,"HeroMotoSportssaid the communal areas of their hotelduring the dine in our rooms. It’s turning when the nurse showedhim newspaper Daniel Wass, Bhuyan’s teammateat in atweet.Hehas asuspected head in- ongoing thirdTestinSydney, sources in the out to be afive-star jail.” reports that it startedcoming backtohim: Brondby, forinstance, had establishedhim- jury. According to reports,hewas con- Indian contingent informedthat they’vebeen walking towardshome, getting caught in a self in the club’s senior team as did Thomas scious when paramedics arrivedonthe “told that we will beconfinedtoour rooms” in MEMBER OF TEAM INDIA, crossfirebetween twogangs, being shotat Delaney, afellowtrainee at Copenhagen. scene before he wasrushedtoRiyadh. Brisbane —the final stop on the Australia tour. ON QUARANTINE NORMS IN BRISBANE four times and waking up in the hospital When Wass made his debut forthe Theincidentoccurredonthesamestage “Noone is saying that theywon’t followrules afterspending twodays in acoma. “A few Danish national team in 2011,Bhuyan chose wherelastyear,HeroMotoSportrider but we needsome relaxation. Theyare saying forsporting teams right from the startand people around me, theydied,” Bhuyan says, to playfor his countryoforigin, Bangladesh. Paulo Goncalvesdiedwhile competing players won’t even beallowedinteam rooms they’veworkedverysuccessfullyfor us, so pausing between words. “But, youknow, I In 2013,when Delaney–now with German intheDakar2020.HeroMotoSportwith- in Brisbane,” amember of the Indian contin- that’s what we’ll continue to do,” Young told survived.” giantsBorussia Dortmund and who Bhuyan drew from the rallyafter the death of gent told The Indian Express. “Weare told that FoxSports. From his hotelroom in Kolkata–where calls ‘one of my good friends’ –earnedhis Goncalves. Santosh crashedaround we will notbeallowedtostepout of our rooms On Thursday, the Queensland health au- the Denmark-born Bangladesh football firstcap forDenmark, Bhuyan made his 135kmintothestageonagraveltrackand afterwecome backfrompractice. We will thorities sent aged carehomes in parts of team captain will begin his journeywith maiden appearance forBangladesh. hadtoforfeitthestage.ThiswasSantosh's have to dine in our rooms. It’s turning out to be greater Brisbane intolockdown aftera Mohammedan Sporting in the I-League, At first, therewereacceptance issues seventh attempt at the Dakar Rally. afive-starjail.” woman wasconfirmedtohavecontracted starting Saturday–Bhuyan recalls that from both sides –Bhuyan finding it tough While reports of give-and-takebetween the highly-infectious UK strain of COVID-19. fateful dayin2007that changed his life. to getaccustomedtoanalien culturein BCCI and Cricket Australia (CA) over the hard The woman, aquarantine worker in her 20s, “Denmarkisagood country, one of the Jamal Bhuyan has graduated from FC Bangladesh and his teammates bullying ‘a OdishathumpsKerala quarantine at the end of atwo-month tour wasstationedatthe HotelGrand Chancellor best in the world. But everycountryhas, Copenhagen youth programme. young kid from Europe, who couldn’t speak forseason’sfirstwin continuedonThursday, therewas no official in Brisbane that housedpatientswith the youknow, some darkareas,” Bhuyan says. proper Bangla and also jealousy.’ comment from either board. The BCCI offi- mutated strain. “WhenIgrew up, Iwas usedtoseeing Gradually, though, Bhuyan established NewDelhi: Odisha FC pickeduptheir cials tooremainedtight-lippedwhen According to Channel 9News,the people fighting on the streets, people deal- squad. But then, tragedystruck. himself in the team to become the captain. firstwinof theseason,defeatingKerala reachedfor comment. woman usedpublic transportand went ing with drugs and stufflikethat.” “I got done at school and waswalking Lastyear,his assistand tireless defensive Blasters 4-2 in an Indian Super League “Atleastfreeaccess should beprovidedto shopping before she developedsymptoms The tough Copenhagen neighbourhood, backhome,” he says. work in the midfield helpedBangladesh clash on Thursday. Kerala drew first players and team management inside the ho- andwas tested on Wednesday. She livesin wherehis familyhad livedsince the time “That’s when Igot caught in agang frustrateIndia and hold them to adrawat blood through Jordan Murray (7') but tel. If players want to go to the pool area, they AlgesterinBrisbane’s south —20km from theyhad movedinthe 1960s, made him shooting and Igot shot. Four times –one hit the Salt LakeStadium in a2022 WorldCup Odisha took the lead in the firsthalf it- should be allowed. What if anyplayerhas to The Gabba. feel safeand strong. And the football fields the right elbow, another just2centimetre and 2023 Asian Cup joint qualifier.On self through an owngoal from Jeakson getamassageormeetaphysiotherapist?” the Queensland Premier Annastacia made him secure. Bhuyan’s familyhad a belowmyheartand Igot shottwo times on Saturday, Bhuyan, who has recoveredfrom Singh (22') and astrikefromSteven source added. “In Sydney, we can’t go out of Palaszczuk has bannedresidentsfrom fabrics business and ranasupermarket,but the ribs.” Bhuyan wasinacoma fortwo Covid, will return to the same venue in Taylor (42'). DiegoMauricio's second- the hotel. In Melbourne, we were allowedto Greater Sydneyentering the stateuntil neither interestedhim as muchasfootball. days.After he woke up –and afterthe nurse Mohammedan Sporting’s season-opener half brace (50', 60') then settledthe tie go out forawalk or dine in an open restau- February. He joinedthe youth academyofone of explainedwhat had happened–hespent againstI-League debutantsSudeva.It’ll in favour of Odisha. GaryHooper (79') rant. Brisbane has stricter rules but the Indian “That’s (bubble concerns) amatter be- Denmark’s biggestclub BrondbyIF, located another three months in the hospital, markthe beginning of anew chapterin scored aconsolation forKerala, but it team onlywantsrelaxation in afew areas. tween Indian cricket team and Cricket in suburban Copenhagen. And when he wherehehad to undergo ’11or12surger- Bhuyan’s whirlwind story. But old scars re- proved to be notenough to sparka Theywant fresh air at the end of the day.” Australia. But from our point of view, the was14, Bhuyan wassignedbythe coun- ies’. One of the operations wastotransplant main, physicallyand mentally. comeback. ItwasOdisha,whichstarted same measures that have been put in place, try’s biggestclub, FC Copenhagen, fortheir nerves. “Thereisnofeeling in my twofingers be- better,enforcing acornerinthe third Outbreak scare wherewehavesuccessfullyhostedanumber youth team. “Because of the injury, Idid nothaveany cause Isaid no to the nervetransplant. Ihave minutebut Kerala scored the opener Earlier,Queensland’s chief health officer of eventsincluding the AFL, have stood His career wasprimedfor bigger things. feeling in my right hand. So the doctors alot of scars on my body,” he says.“Ithink a muchagainstthe run of play. KP Rahul Dr JeannetteYoung said that both the teams Queensland in good stead,” said Palaszczuk. Bhuyan says he waspractising with players wanted to take some nerves from my foot lotabout that incident and when Ithink alot headedFacundo Pereyra's free-kickat would be required to operatewithin abub- “In relation to travellers coming from Greater who were three, four years older to him and put it up in my arm,” Bhuyan says.But about those things, Iget crazy.Icannot goalandadivingArshdeepSinghcould ble forthe Gabba Test. Sydney, youwill notbeallowedtocome to and by the time he turned16, the club was he resisted. “I told them, ‘I needmylegs.’” changethe past. But, youknow, Ican change onlyparry it intoMurray's path. PTI “My rules arethe standardrules I’veused Queensland.” considering promoting him to the senior The doctors had declared he could the future.”

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