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THE LARGEST CIRCULATED ENGLISH DAILY IN SOUTH INDIA I FRIDAY I 26 FEBRUARY 2021 WEATHER NATION 9 SPORTS 15 TABLOID Max: 34.4OC | | Min: 18OC Prithvi slams record Dads cherish RH: 72% Modi slams Rahul’s Rainfall: Nil ‘north-south’ remarks 227 in one-dayer bonding time Forecast: Cloudy sky. Misty morning. Max/Min deccanchronicle.com, facebook.com/deccannews, twitter.com/deccanchronicle Vol. 84 No. 56 Established 1938 | 24 PAGES | `6.00 temp. 34/19ºC

ASTROGUIDE Short & Sweet Sarvari; Uttarayana Nirav can be extradited Tithi: Magha Shuddha Chaturdasi till 3.44 pm Star: Ashlesha till 12.30 pm UK judge says diamantaire must answer Indian courts Varjyam: 11.52 pm to 1.23 am (Saturday) , Feb 25: In a com- He similarly concludes a his risk of suicide does not Durmuhurtam: 9 am to 9.46 am; prehensive extradition win prima facie case to have meet the high threshold to 12.52 pm to 1.39 pm for the Indian authorities, been established on all satisfy him that his mental Rahukalam: 10.30 am to 12 noon a UK judge ruled on counts of charges brought state is such that it would HIJRI CALENDAR Thursday that fugitive dia- by the Central Bureau of be “unjust or oppressive” Rajab 13,1442 AH mantaire Nirav Modi not Investigation (CBI) and to extradite him. only has a case to answer Enforcement Directorate Under the UK PRAYERS in the Indian courts but (ED) — , Extradition Act 2003, the Fajar: 5.37 am that there is no evidence to intimidation of witnesses judge will now send his Zohar: 12.39 pm suggest he would not and disappearance of evi- findings to the Secretary of Asar: 4.43 pm receive a fair trial in India. dence. “I am not required State for Home Affairs, Maghrib: 6.27 pm Nirav Modi, wanted in to exclude all Mr Modi's Priti Patel. It is the UK Isha: 7.35 pm India on charges of fraud various alternative theo- Cabinet minister who is and money laundering in retical possibilities and authorised to order an SUNSET TODAY 6.21 PM Nirav Modi the estimated $2-billion narratives; nor exclude his extradition under the SUNRISE TOMORROW 6.36 AM Punjab National Bank Court from Wandsworth personal interpretation of India-UK Extradition MOONRISE TODAY 4.32 PM (PNB) scam case, lost his Prison in south-west the evidence, in order to Treaty and has two months MOONSET TODAY 5.03 AM legal battle against extradi- London, dressed in a for- find a prima facie case has within which to make that tion on all grounds as mal suit and sporting a been established,” the decision. The home secre- District Judge Samuel thick beard, and showed no judge noted, referring to tary’s order rarely goes COUNTER POINT Indian , Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Goozee also concluded that emotion as excerpts of the the extradition case of for- against the court’s conclu- R. Ashwin celebrate the of England’s Jack Leach on the second day of the there are no human rights judgment were read out in mer Kingfisher Airlines sions, as she has to consid- third Test match against England at in concerns that his medical court. “I am satisfied that boss Vijay Mallya as prece- er only some very narrow on Thursday. India registered their second Test win inside two days overhauling a needs would not be there is evidence upon dent. bars to extradition which meagre target of 49 against England to take an unassailable 2-1 lead in the four- addressed as per several which NDM [Nirav Deepak He accepted that while are unlikely to apply in match series on Thursday. Spin duo Axar Patel and Ashwin swung the match in Indian government assur- Modi] could be convicted Nirav’s mental health had this case, including the ances. in relation [to] the conspir- deteriorated due to the possible imposition of a India’s favour. England’s previous Test loss inside two days came way back in 1921 The 49-year-old appeared acy to defraud the PNB. A lengthy incarceration in a death penalty. ■ Reports on Page 15 against . — PTI via video link at prima facie case is estab- London prison, exacerbat- Westminster Magistrates' lished,” the judge noted. ed by the Covid pandemic, ■ More reports on Page 10 MOODY’S SEES Centre tightens rules 13.7% GROWTH India, Pak militaries agree for social media, OTT IN NEXT FISCAL to observe strict ceasefire New Delhi, Feb. 25: MADHUSUDAN SAHOO DIGITAL MEDIA & Moody’s on Thursday PAWAN BALI and SRIDHAR such violations in 2019 and sectors in a “free, frank and SHORT TAKES with agency inputs upped India’s growth KUMARASWAMI | DC 2,140 in 2018. The tensions cordial atmosphere”. A NEW DELHI, FEB. 25 OTT GUIDELINES projection for the next NEW DELHI, FEB. 25 at the LoC had risen after joint statement issued by financial year from the terror attack on CRPF both armies read: “In the Green Card curbs Weeks after a spat with 5 categories into which OTT April 1, to 13.7 per cent, The Indian and Pakistan convoy in Pulwama in interest of achieving mutu- Twitter and the fracas platforms must classify content: from 10.8 per cent esti- armies on Thursday February 2019, and the ally beneficial and sustain- over the series Tandav, U (universal), U/A 7+, U/A 13+, mated earlier, on the announced that they would revoking of Article 370 in able peace along the bor- lifted by Biden the government on back of normalisation strictly observe a ceasefire Jammu and Kashmir in ders, the two DGMOs Washington: US President Thursday announced the U/A 16+, and A (adult). of activity and growing along the Line of Control August 2019. There have agreed to address each Joe Biden revoked a pol- tightening of rules gov- 3-level grievance redressal PLATFORMS must confidence in the mar- (LoC) and all other sectors been nearly 600 violations other’s core issues and con- icy issued by his prede- erning social media and ket with the rollout of from February 24 midnight in first two months of 2021. cerns which have the cessor during the pan- streaming firms, requir- mechanism established implement parental Covid vaccine. in a major de-escalatory India’s director-general of propensity to disturb peace demic that blocked many ing them to take down under the rules with two locks for content For current fiscal, the move. military operations and lead to violence.” It Green Card applicants contentious content imm- levels of self regulation. classified as U/A US-based rating agency The announcement comes (DGMO), Lt. Gen. Paramjit said both sides agreed to from entering the US. ediately, appoint griev- Level 1 Publisher themselves 13+ or higher expects the economy to after 2020 had seen a 18- Singh Sangha, and his the strict observance of all Indian IT professionals in ance redressal officers Level 2 Self Regulatory Body contract 7 per cent, low- year record high of 5,133 Pakistani counterpart, Maj. agreements, understand- the US on the H-1B work and assist investigations Level 3 Oversight RELIABLE age veri- er than its previous esti- truce violations at the LoC Gen. Nauman Zakaria, held ings and cease firing along visas, sufferered the by revealing the origina- mechanism under the fication mecha- mate of 10.6 per cent and the international bor- discussions over the hot- the Line of Control and all most due to immigration tor of a message or tweet. Ministry of Information and nisms for content contraction. der with Pakistan in line, and the two sides other sectors with effect system which imposed a The new Code of Ethics Broadcasting. classified as ‘A’. Moody’s Investors Jammu and Kashmir. In reviewed the situation from midnight February seven per cent per coun- and self-regulation mech- Service associate man- contrast, there were 3,479 along the LoC and all other 24-25, 2021. try quota on allotment of anism for video stream- aging director (Sover- the coveted Green Card. ing services mean that NEWS PUBLISHERS on digital media must imple- eign Risk) Gene Fang anyone who misuses ment Norms of Journalistic Conduct of the Press said, “We expect a ■ Report on Page 13 social media and over- Council of India and the Programme Code under the rebound of 13.7 per cent the-top (OTT) platforms Cable Television Networks Regulation Act growth in the next fiscal will be under the strict on normalisation of FASTags on TS vigil of the government required to quickly take register complaints in 24 activity and base and is liable to face pun- down any contentious hours and file monthly effects.” highways too ishment. content flagged by the compliance reports. User The large rebound As part of new rules to government or legal grievances have to be incorporates the view Hyderabad: FASTags are regulate online content, order. resolved within 15 days. that recovery in activi- set to be made mandato- the government will ask They also have to Social media platforms, ty will continue, with ry on TS highways. As of the platform to reveal the appoint executives to on being asked by court the rollout of vaccines now, they are mandatory originator of a message/ coordinate with law or government, will be and growing confidence only on national high- tweet, and WhatsApp, enforcement and remove, required to disclose the in the market that activ- ways. However, FASTags Facebook, Twitter and within 24 hours, content first originator of the ities are coming back to are in force since March other social media firms depicting nudity or mor- mischievous information normal, Fang said in an 2019 on the Hyderabad as well as streaming ser- phed pictures of women. that undermines the sov- online conference on Outer Ring Road. The vices such as Netflix, They also have to now ereignty of India, securi- India Credit Outlook government YouTube and Amazon appoint a resident griev- ty of the state, or public 2021. has initiated steps to Prime Video will be ance officer who shall order. — PTI make FASTags mandato- ry on state highways from March. TS plans to initially make them com- pulsory on the Rajiv Rahadari. Confusion over EWS quota ■ Report on Page 6 L. VENKAT RAM tion of EWS quota in vari- employment. However, implement EWS quota. REDDY | DC ous states and make rec- the Centre left the deci- Accordingly, chief secre- HYDERABAD, FEB. 25 ommendations to the sion to states on when to tary Somesh Kumar state government. The implement the EWS issued a government INSIDE Confusion prevails over implementation of EWS quota and whether to order on February 8. implementation of the 10 quota is delayed by over implement it at all. However, no guidelines ■ CITY... PAGE 2 per cent reservation for two years in the state. While several states were issued so far. Covid mutations spread, Economically Weaker In January 2019, the started implementing this To implement 10 per causes concern Sections (EWS) in educa- Narendra Modi govern- in 2019 and 2020, the TS cent EWS quota, the state tion and employment in ment at the Centre passed government is yet to act. government needs to cre- ■ CITY... PAGE 4 Telangana. Official a Constitutional amend- Chief Minister K. ate supernumerary seats sources in the Secretariat ment Bill in Parliament Chanadrashekar Rao had and jobs. Owaisi criticises Didi for said the state government seeking to provide 10 per on January 21 this year singling out MIM would appoint a commit- cent reservations for announced the state gov- ■ Page 6: TS confused on tee to study implementa- EWS in education and ernment's decision to which model to follow INFORMATION | ALERT Court concerned over huge gatherings in TS COVID CASES RISE AGAIN IN TS AS Resume daily Covid bulletin: HC PER CENTRAL DATA VUJJINI issuing daily bulletins from The Bench expressed con- state government has given DC CORRESPONDENT VAMSHIDHARA I DC Friday onwards”. cern over the huge public permission to open up cine- HYDERABAD, FEB 25 HYDERABAD, FEB. 25 A division bench of the gatherings and congrega- ma halls, public parks etc., High Court, comprising tions, which have been wit- but preventive measures it There are 107 new cases in Responding strongly to the Chief Justice Hima Kohli nessed in the state. The has put in place are not ade- Telangana according to sudden stoppage in issuing and Justice B. Vijaysen Court directed the govern- quate.” These gatherings the data updated by the daily health bulletins, Reddy, while dealing with ment and Telangana police should be scaled down as central ministry of health which contain numerical public interest litigations department to scale-down we are witnessing a rise in and family welfare on data of the total number (PILs) related to gatherings. Chief Justice cases in neighbouring February 25. With no clas- Covid-19 cases in the state, Coronavirus issues, learnt Kohli said, “newspapers states like Karnataka and sification it is not clear and include other details that the issuance of daily have reported that there Maharashtra. Inter-state which districts are record- like deaths, recoveries etc., bulletin has been stopped. was a bereavement func- transport could lead to a ing more cases. With 213 the Telangana High Court The Court directed the tion in Khammam recently, spike in infections here too, new cases recorded on on Thursday ordered the Director of Public Health and at least 20 per cent of the Chief Justice observed. February 24, the load of Telangana state govern- and other officials con- people who participated patients in Gandhi ment to “immediately cerned to immediately were affected with ■ Page 2: HC wants fresh Hospital saw a rise. recommence the exercise of recommence the exercise. Coronavirus. Further, the status report by March 18 ■ Report on Page 2 CITY DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | FRIDAY | 26 FEBRUARY 2021 pg 2 HC tells TS to decide on OGH building plan soon Bench asks AG why funds not alloted if land is available DC CORRESPONDENT ● THE BENCH asked the state government was Manzil judgment of 2019, HYDERABAD, FEB. 25 AG why if land was avail- ready to construct a new the OGH still remains a able, the government has building in place of the protected heritage monu- The Telangana High existing OGH, within the ment. Court on Thursday direct- not allotted funds so far existing premises. He said The Court assured that ed the state government to to construct a new build- that due to these legal hur- the structure was protect- stop being indecisive ing. It directed the gov- dles, regarding the her- ed till a further decision about the issue of whether ernment to make up a itage structure, the gov- by the Court. The Court to go for a new construc- clear mind. ernment could not pro- faulted Advocate General tion for the Osmania ceed further. Prasad for “not complying General Hospital (OGH). maintained for long time”. The Bench asked the AG with earlier orders”, in The Court asked the gov- A division bench com- why if land was available, which the Court had asked ernment to make up its prising Chief Justice the government has not the government to submit mind and take a final deci- Hima Kohli and Justice B. allotted funds so far to a site plan of the OGH, sion. Vijaysen Reddy was deal- construct a new including Google maps, to “You may either proceed ing with several PILs, building. It directed the get an understanding of further as per an earlier some of which were filed government to make up a how much vacant space decision to construct a seeking protection for the clear mind. was available in the prem- new hospital in the exist- existing heritage struc- “If the government had ises. ing place or go for con- ture of the OGH while taken a decision a while It directed AG to submit struction in a vast vacant another set sought that ago, new constructions them by next hearing. place available in the the Court direct the gov- would have come up by Some of the petitioners premises.”the court said. ernment to construct a now,” the CJ observed. contended that of the 25 Expressing “displeas- new hospital building in Senior Counsel Sarasani sprawling acres area of ure” at the government for the existing place and Satyam Reddy submitted the OGH premises, her- keeping the issue pending premises. to the Court that since a itage structure was spread for six years despite sever- When the Court asked threat of demolition over only around two al petitions and listings why the government was looms large over the her- acres, so it can be protect- before the Court, Chief taking so much time in itage wing of a nearly 100- ed. New constructions can Justice Hima Kohli taking a decision, year-OGH structure, it is be made to house a new observed that “this type of Advocate General B.S important to bear in mind OGH in the remaining ambiguity cannot be Prasad submitted that the that going by the Errum space, they argued. TS ANNOUNCES Spread of new Covid-19 JAB PROTOCOL mutants raises concern FOR ELDERLY DC CORRESPONDENT KANIZA GARARI | DC HYDERABAD, FEB. 25 HYDERABAD, FEB. 25 As the state gears up to Approximately 241 differ- State reports 107 offer Covid-19 vaccines ent mutations have been to people over 60 years, found in the country and to those over 45 whose response to the years but with comor- existing antibodies is neg- new Covid cases bidities from March 1 as ative and is leading to a part of the nationwide rise in Covid-19 cases. DC CORRESPONDENT mild cases, all of them are vaccination drive, the Viruses escaping from HYDERABAD, FEB. 25 not admitted. Cases are health department has the immune system, being seen but they are said that it will have a avoiding antibodies and There were 107 new mild only.” total of 1,500 centres acr- the body’s delayed Covid-19 cases in Telan- Similarly, in Osmania oss Telangana state wh- response to medicines are gana on Thursday, accord- General Hospital, suspect- ere people can get their some of the challenges ing to data updated by the ed cases are being isolat- two doses of the vaccine. that the authorities are central ministry of health ed. In private hospitals It is estimated that confronted with. and family welfare. It was too, there is a slight rise in Telangana state has Although there was no not clear which districts Covid patients. Dr Ashish around 55 lakh people travel history of patients recorded more cases. Chauhan, general ph- from the two categories from Amravati, Yavatmal A health official said, ysician and internal medi- of people who, the and Akola, it is believed “Sample testing from cine specialist said there Centre had announced that the mutation spread across different districts was no cause for panic. will be given the Covid- due to utter disregard for has increased from “We are now having 19 vaccines from March safety protocols. Monday. Many people are online consultations and 1. According to depart- The N440K mutation coming to the centres for those who are testing pos- ment officials, all those was found in Yavatmal, testing even as they were itive with mild symptoms who wish to avail this which had emerged in suffering from seasonal are offered home treat- opportunity to get vacci- in flu. Many of them were ment. Apart from Covid- nated against Covid-19, December. scared.” 19, other diseases like dia- will need to register CSIR-Centre for Cellular With 213 new cases betes and hypertension themselves on the and Molecular Biology recorded on Wednesday, must not be neglected. CoWin website. recorded the presence of the case load at Gandhi Many are neglecting the The vaccines will be N440K in its research Hospital saw a rise. A doc- existing disease condi- administered in both paper published in Indian tor said, “Some 36 people tions and this is resulting government hospitals Academy of Sciences. came with positive in complications,” he and clinics, as well as in CCMB had also warned reports. As they were said. private hospitals. The that N440K will spread in procedures for registra- southern States if safety tion, administering of measures are compro- ● CCMB HAD also the vaccine to benefici- mised. warned that N440K will 85% FRONTLINE aries will be finalised in Dr Rakesh Mishra, dir- spread in southern States a couple of days, accord- ector of CCMB, says, “It is if safety measures are WORKERS GET ing to the department. a variant that needs to be compromised watched. So far it has not acquired any other prop- SECOND DOSE erties but could become tion of anonymity, says, COPS ARREST notorious. With safety “Both the variants were DC CORRESPONDENT protocols not followed, present in the southern HYDERABAD, FEB. 25 TWO WITH viruses have host bodies states but the cases were to thrive and spread. If it not like what it was in Around 85 per cent of the GUNPOWDER acquires new characteris- Maharashtra. Presently, government healthcare tics, then it will become a cases are static and there workers were adminis- matter of concern.” is no major rise in tered the second dose of DC CORRESPONDENT So far the people infect- Telangana. But we have to Covid 19 across 31 dis- HYDERABAD, FEB. 25 ed with this mutation in be alert as clusters have tricts in the state on Andhra Pradesh and been reported in districts Thursday. A total of Two men were caught in Telangana have recovered like Karimnagar.” 1,31,391 persons have possession of gunpow- after showing mild symp- The variants are a con- completed the two-jabs der in Falaknuma by the toms. There was also a cern as their behaviour course in the state. Hyderabad city police on steady decline of cases will indicate whether the The first dose for the Thursday. According to from January to the sec- vaccine is effective or not. frontline workers (FLWs) the police, the accused, ond week of February. A senior doctor, on con- and private healthcare identified as Mohd Hence, the behaviour of dition of anonymity, says, workers was done on Zainullah, 57, and the virus in the two states “There has been 60 per Thursday. Hameed Khan, 41, were did not lead to much con- cent efficacy in influenza Only 36 per cent FLWs running a coal business cern. But in Maharashtra, vaccine due to the differ- came forward, resulting in the old city area. the cases have seen a rise ent variants that it acq- in 2,745 vaccinations. “Earlier, Zainullah used with 5,210 reported on uires every season. Is The response from front- to run a gunpowder sup- February 22. This differ- Coronavirus also follow- line workers was too low ply business but did not ence in behaviour is ing the same path? If so, as the target was 2,57,239. renew his license for a indicative of a change and how much efficacy will Private healthcare while. He confessed that it requires more sampling the present vaccine workers also received the he got an order for gun- and testing. have?” first dose and 59 per cent powder and mixed coal The other mutation, Those frontline workers of them were vaccinated. powder with sulphur E484K, is the Brazil vari- who are vaccinated have As many as 1,95,850 bene- and sodium before deliv- ant but the behaviour in to follow safety protocols ficiaries received it on ering it,” said the police. three regions of and also people are urged Thursday against a high The duo were booked Maharashtra where it is to not relax or give up on target of 3.31,097. under relevant sections found is mild. masks, hand-washing and The sessions would of Explosives Act and re- A senior epidemiologist social distancing, say continue on February 27 manded into judicial in Telangana, on condi- health authorities. and 28. custody. HC seeks report by March 18 From page 1 ● WHILE ADJOURNING its own, the High Court ducted by the state the PILs to March 18, Bench directed the state between January 25 and The HC Bench directed to conduct a sero surveys February 12, 2021. the Telangana govern- 2021, the Bench also in places where the num- While adjourning the ment to file a fresh status directed the Telangana ber of cases were high. PILs to March 18, 2021, report by March 18, duly government to give wide The Advocate General the Bench also directed informing it about the publicity for the vaccina- submitted that three sero the Telangana govern- steps taken by the govern- tion program initiated by surveys were conducted ment to give wide publici- ment to contain the fresh the Central government, between June, 2020, and ty for the vaccination pro- second wave of December, 2020, by the gram initiated by the Coronavirus prevalence Union government. Central government, in the state. measure presence of anti- Advocate General B.S. wherein people of differ- Noting that the bodies in people) or stud- Prasad submitted that ent ages would have to Telangana government ies to track and monitor 1.03 lakh RT-PCR tests register themselves has not conducted a sero Covid infection from and 4.83 lakh Rapid online to get Coronavirus surveillance survey (to spreading in the state, on Antigen Tests were con- vaccination. CITY DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | FRIDAY | 26 FEBRUARY 2021 pg 3

SHORT TAKES EFLU STUDENTS HC fumes as state fails to RESUME SIT-IN PROTEST set up social security panel HARLEEN MINOCHA | DC Tells defiant labour officials it will nail them down HYDERABAD, FEB. 25 DC CORRESPONDENT cers, who have an obsti- Damodar Rajanarsimha, reasons for the undue Students from English and HYDERABAD, FEB. 25 nately uncooperative seeking a direction to the delay in constituting the Foreign Languages University attitude towards imple- Telangana government said Board. (Eflu) resumed their sit-in The Telangana High menting court orders. It to constitute a state-level The commissioner told protest outside the main gate Court admonished the is most unacceptable SSB for the unorganised the HC Division Bench of the campus on Thursday secretary of the labour casual behaviour of offi- workers and its that he has been holding demanding the reopening of department for not tak- cials. It is the responsi- members. an additional charge of hostels. Student representa- ing steps to constitute a bility of the government Despite petitioning the the post, and further, had tives said that the university state-level Social to constitute the board, government for the last sent a proposal to secre- authorities were neglecting Security Board (SSB) for which will be helpful to six years to do so, the tary, labour department, their demands for over two unorganised workers in poor unorganised work- board has not been con- for constituting the weeks now. the state, despite orders ers across Telangana,” stituted. Even a Court board; but it is pending Earlier, while the manage- of the Court on said Chief Justice Hima direction has not helped. with the government. ment had agreed to meet stu- December 16 to do so. Kohli. During the course of The CJ was not inclined dents after they submitted The Court directed the A Division Bench com- arguments, the Chief to hear his contentions their demands, students say official to be present prising Chief Justice Justice Hima Kohli posed and termed his con- that since February 18, it was before it (in virtual Hima Kohli and Justice a series of questions to tentions as “frivolous being postponed time and mode) on the next date of B. Vijaysen Reddy was the commissioner, labour and casual”. again. hearing. hearing a public interest department, who was The case has been “The university released a “This Court will nail litigation (PIL) filed by present before the Court, adjourned to March 18, circular about in-person class- down recalcitrant offi- Congress leader C. asking him to explain the 2021. es on February 18 evening while completely circumvent- ing our demands. The truth is that we never demanded SECURITY GUARD resumption of in-person class- Girl adopts 5 zoo birds ARRESTED FOR es. We have only been demand- ing access to the hostel SANJAY SAMUEL and other facilities”, said a PAUL | DC ABUSING MINOR student. HYDERABAD, FEB. 25 However, the university has DC CORRESPONDENT denied the claims saying that In a welcome birthday HYDERABAD FEB. 25 the registrar, proctor and celebration, baby other officials had met the stu- Sahasra Sri opted to The Kushaiguda police dents and listened to their adopt birds in Nehru arrested a security guard grievances. A senior official Zoological Park, which for allegedly misbehav- said that they had told student she visited along with ing with a 12-year-old representatives to meet the her family and friends minor girl on Thursday. authorities inside the campus. here on Thursday. According to the police, However, only a five-member She and her brother the accused, identified as delegation was allowed and Charvik, accompanied Sahasra Sri with her family meet Nehru Zoological R. Narasimha, 55, misbe- the students insisted that at their elders and met Park authorities for adopting five birds. haved with the minor girl least 10 members be part of zoo authorities to late on Wednesday night the discussion, the official complete the formalities ated the gesture shown Sri wanted to do when she was on her way said. for adopting five small by the children. something special on her to a nearby shop from her The university has also birds for three months. The girl’s father, Ch. birthday. She gave place. maintained that the decision The curator of Nehru Naresh, said “My child- `5,000 to the zoo authori- “He first walked up to not to open the hostels till Zoological Park, V.V.L. ren are fond of birds and ties for adopting the five her and caught her by her March 31 will remain, in view Subhadra Devi, appreci- wild animals. Sahasra birds.” shoulder before he of the rising Covid-19 cases in started misbehaving with several states. her in public. The girl “Students are citing the then raised an alarm and example of Osmania Driver flees with owner’s car the local residents came University, but they should to her rescue,” said the understand that at Osmania, DC CORRESPONDENT accused, M Gundappa, a the last two years and, police, adding that it was students come only from three HYDERABAD, FEB. 25 resident of Puppalaguda taking advantage of it, not yet clear why the man districts, whereas at Eflu we in Manikonda, has been hatched a plan to steal behaved in such a have students coming from all A 35-year-old was arrest- working as a car the luxury car and sell it manner. over the world. If we allow ed by the Banjara Hills driver for Madhusudan to make money. Last Following a complaint even one student on the cam- police for taking off in a Kakani, managing direc- week, Gundappa in the from the mother of the pus and someone turns posi- luxury car belonging to tor of Manjushree absence of his employer, minor girl, the Kushaigu- tive, it will raise a hue and his employer on Polymers, since 2019. stole the car and had da police booked a case cry”, he said. Thursday. “Gundappa gained the been absconding since and placed him under ar- Police said that the trust of Madhusudan in then,” said the police. rest on Thursday. 2nd day turnout rises in junior schools DC CORRESPONDENT to 17 per cent against 9 per ernment data on Class 9 and HYDERABAD, FEB. 25 cent on the first day. 10 attendance on Thursday In the 9,612 private schools put the figures at at 69 The overall attendance of across the state, the atten- and 78 per cent respectively. Classes 6-8 students across dance was at 14 per cent on Private school attendance all schools in the state rose the second day, against the was at 67 and 75 per cent several points up on the sec- 10 per cent on day-one. The respectively. The overall ond day of the junior school attendance in model schools attendance for Intermediate reopening to 14 per cent. As and KGBVs however 1st and 2nd years was 48 per government data, atten- remained low at 3,564 and and 56 per cent respectively dance in 8,056 government 381 students respectively. on Thursday, as per this and local body schools rose Meanwhile, another gov- data. 3 LTR OF HASHISH OIL WORTH `15 LAKH SEIZED

DC CORRESPONDENT HYDERABAD FEB. 25

The Special Operations Team of LB Nagar along with the Abdullapurmet police seized three liters of hashish oil from two men along with a transport vehi- cle on Thursday. The total worth of seized items was estimated to be `15 lakh, said the police. The peddlers were identi- fied as Thota Santhosh Kumar, 36, and Pawde Veerabhadra, 28, both resi- dents of KPHB, said the police, adding that their associate Raju, the supplier, was reportedly absconding. “Santhosh Kumar has been a fruits and vegetables ven- dor for about six years and Veerabhadra has been work- ing with him in the same business. During his trips to the outskirts to transport vegetables, Santosh got acquainted with Raju, a resi- dent of Narsipatnam area. Subsequently, Raju suggest- ed him to peddle drugs on commission basis, to which Santosh agreed as his earn- ings were not enough to run the household,” said the police. The two had earlier trans- ported drugs from Visakha- patnam agency area to Hyd- erabad and sold it to custom- ers in the surrounding area of Hyderabad city. After po- lice started cracking down on marijuana, they shifted to hashish oil and the de- mand gave them good profit. “They purchase the oil for ` 90,000 per litre and sell it for `4 lakh per litre, or `4,000 per 10 ML. On Thursday, they were returning back to the city with the contraband when the officials caught them near ORR and seized three litres of hashish oil from their possession,” added the police. CITY DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | FRIDAY | 26 FEBRUARY 2021 pg 4

SHORT TAKES KCR owes each youth `72K as KTR NAILS OPPN Owaisi slams Didi for ‘LIES’ ABOUT JOBS unemployment arrears: Bandi WITH ‘FACTS’ refusing rally in WB DC CORRESPONDENT The BJP chief called upon dicted that the BJP will form DC CORRESPONDENT NIZAMABAD, FEB. 25 the youth to question the rul- the next government in HYDERABAD, FEB. 25 ing TRS leaders on non-pay- Telangana in 2023. BJP state president Bandi ment of unemployment “MIM party won 5 MLA Tearing into the opposition Questions permission for other Oppn parties Sanjay said here on Thursday allowance and demand it for seats in Bihar state, where for their false propaganda ATHER MOIN | DC Congress, CPM, TMC that each unemployed youth the past 24 months too. the Muslims population is a over providing jobs to youth HYDERABAD, FEB. 25 are also allowed. Why in Telangana state has a right Banswada assembly con- mere 12 per cent. “If so, the 80 in Telangana, TRS working single us out?” Owaisi to get `72,000 as unemploy- stituency Congress leader per cent Hindus in Telangana president and IT minister K.T. All India Majlis-e- asked. Owaisi said once ment allowance, based on an V.Malyadri Reddy and a few will as well vote for the BJP in Rama Rao on Thursday Ittehadul Muslimeen the code of conduct unfulfilled promise from TRS and Congress activists 2023,” he asked. released the break-up of (AIMIM) president comes into force, “We Chief Minister joined the BJP in the pres- Bandi Sanjay reiterated that 1,32,899 job vacancies that will be compelled to K.Chandrashekar Rao in the ence of the party state chief. the BJP is not against have been filled by TRS gov- slammed the Mamata approach the Election 2018 Assembly elections. MP Dharmapuri Arvind, BJP Muslims and Christians, but ernment since 2014 in various Banerjee administra- Commission, against “For the last 24 months, the district president, former it would protect the interests government departments. tion in West Bengal for the continuation of the state government has default- MLA Aruna Tara, former of the Hindus. He recalled Rama Rao hoped that the refusing them permis- police officers who re- ed in paying the `3,000 as MLAs Endala that a few party leaders opposition parties would stop sion to hold an election jected permission for unemployment allowance,” Laxminarayana, Kuna including then Nizamabad such propaganda and duly go rally in Kolkata. Owaisi rallies in the same he said. Srisailam Goud, former zp BJP district president Revuri through the facts and figures. questioned the logic post”. “K.Chandrashekar Rao had chairman K.Venkataramana Surender was shot dead by He said these details were when the same was On the possible promised government jobs Reddy and others were pres- Naxalites and their sacrifices released with the sole inten- given to BJP, TMC and alliance with Furfura for each household in the ent. will yield results in tion of giving clarity and pro- Left parties. Sharif cleric Abbas state and `3,000 as unemploy- Speaking at a public meet- the next assembly elections. viding the right information Interacting with the Siddiqui, who had ment allowance to the youth. ing in Banswada of To end the dictatorship, the to the people of Telangana, media here on recently floated Indian Also, minister KT Rama Rao Kamareddy district, organ- corrupt family rule of TRS, especially the youth, who are Thursday, Owaisi said Secular Front (ISF), he gave false information on jobs ised by BJP Kamareddy dis- BJP will fight courageously,” being misled by the opposi- TMC MPs speak about said they were in dis- provided to the youth.” trict unit, Bandi Sanjay pre- he said. tion’s baseless accusations. freedom of expression, cussions with them. He Constitution and dis- clarified that his party sent in the Parliament, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi addresses has already handed TRS HITS OUT AT but contradict them- media at Darussalam in Hyderabad on Thursday. over him a list of con- selves when it comes to — BY ARRANGEMENT stituencies that it aims BJP, CONG FOR their state. to contest and the cleric “The secular and lib- contest from there? The political leadership had clarified his stand REMARKS ON KCR eral people who clap larger question is on that will strengthen about MIM. when they listen to the what grounds are they democracy,” he said. On the party’s plan for DC CORRESPONDENT speeches of TMC MPs stopping my party from “If the police adminis- , Owaisi said HYDERABAD, FEB. 25 will have to ponder. contesting in West tration refuses to per- “one of our primary This clearly exposes Bengal. We will speak mit us even before objectives is to fill the Ruling party MLAs and MLCs TMC doublespeak and against TMC, Congress, enforcement of the political vacuum there. on Thursday warned Con- hypocrisy,” he added. BJP and others. These Mode Code of Conduct, In Gujarat, our party gress and BJP leaders against “The BJP won 18 Lok parties do not under- how can the elections will work with Chho- making snide remarks about Sabha seats in West stand that there is a be free and fair? tubhai Vasava’s Bhar- Chief Minister K. Chand- Bengal. How can we be desire in Muslim youth Narendra Modi, Amit atiya Tribal Party rashekar Rao and his govern- responsible for BJP’s that we are politically Shah and JP Nadda can (BTP) and even contest ment, failing which the party win when we did not relevant and have a hold a rally and Assembly elections.” cadre would teach them a befitting lesson. Legislators G. Vivekananda, Saidi Reddy and MLCs MS SERVICES OF 30 Prabhakar Rao, Srinivas Re- OBITUARY ddy speaking to reporters said MECCA MASJID that it was unfortunate that the two parties had criticised their MLC nominee. They STAFF TO BE wanted to know what the sit- ting MLC from BJP N. Ra- DISCONTINUED mchandar Rao had done for graduates in the last six years. DC CORRESPONDENT TYRE DEALERS HYDERABAD, FEB. 25 Services of 30 TO JOIN FEB. 26 employees including KYLASA MADUSUDHAN RAO Imams and Khateebs D.O.B: 19-12-1936 D.O.D: 24-02-2021 BHARAT BANDH (sermonizers) of the Inserted by: Mecca Masjid and Kylasa Pramila (Wife) DC CORRESPONDENT Shahi Masjid are like- Kylasa Surender (Son) HYDERABAD, FEB. 25 ly to be discontinued. Kylasa Suchitra (Daughter) These employees are, Kylasa Sukanya (Daughter) Among others, the Hyderabad from then on, are tyre dealers association would expected to be rehired BIRTHDAY & WEDDING join the Bharat Bandh called on contract/out- ANNIVERSARY by traders on February 26 as TPCC chief N. Uttam Kumar Reddy speaks during the MLC election campaign sourced basis. News part of the planned nation- in Mahbubabad on Thursday. — P. ANIL KUMAR of this move has REMEMBRANCE wide protest against the cur- irked many in the rent GST slab system. The community. traders say the system pushed Both mosques were them into complex calcula- under the manage- tions and this is burdening Time to teach TRS, ment of the Hindu them with high taxation rates. Endowment Tyre traders explained that, Department after initially in july 2017 when GST merger of Hyderabad came in, it was explained that into the Union of this will be a simple and easy BJP a lesson: Uttam India in 1948. Later, in way of taxation, wherein 1996, the administra- Mrs. MARIA MICHAEL traders will end up paying less DC CORRESPONDENT the state, he said. not been given unem- tion of these mosques D.O.B & Anniversary 26th Feb. tax. In reality, this turned out WARANGAL, FEB. 25 Speaking at an election ployment benefits so was transferred to the MOM, We gratefully remember your love, care & concern for all of us to be more complex, burdening preparatory meeting in far. Chandrasekhar Rao minorities welfare Birthday & Ann. Wishes to dear MOM high tax on small traders, they TPCC chief N Uttam Mahbubabad, he said and K.T. Rama Rao department. Inserted by: Family Members said. Kumar Reddy on that the TRS govern- should be ashamed to This department “Tyres are on the highest Thursday said it is time ment is exploitative. say that they have given continued with the (B/2021/D00132) slab of GST, that is 28 per cent. the BJP and TRS are “The Congress party 1.3 lakh jobs in the services without fix- There are more than a hun- taught a fitting lesson is committed to the state. TRS leaders work ing the cadre strength dred tyre dealers in the twin in the upcoming MLC social class and that is like a gang of thieves. and pay scale. This cities and all of them extended elections. why Ramulu Naik has The Congress party will meant these employ- their support for the bandh in He said if the BJP is been fielded as our MLC come to power in 2023 ees were not regu- protest against the GST. defeated, the prices of candidate. There is no and end the TRS cor- larised in service. Khemchand Wadhwani, sec- petrol and diesel will social justice in any ruption in the state,” he According to retary, HTDA, said: “From the automatically come other party, which all said. sources, officials of time GST came in three and a down. The TRS govern- have fielded candidates Ramulu Nayak, for- the district minori- half years ago, the govern- ment provided jobs to from the Reddy commu- mer Union minister Po- ties welfare office ment amended this tax policy six of Chief Minister K. nity,” he noted. rika Balaram Naik and (DMWO), Hyderabad, for more than 900 times. Chandrashekar Rao’s “The unemployed Dr Murali Nayak were faced difficulties in Despite this, the government kin but forgot the rest of youth in the state have present on the occasion. clearing the bills of failed to make it trader-friend- salaries for the ly. We traders are suffering employees of both the and get slapped with high mosques as the taxes.” TSPECET 2021 EXAMS TO BEGIN FROM JUNE 7 finance department Praveen Kumar Jain, a tyre- kept seeking various dealer at Siddiambar Bazar DC CORRESPONDENT (TSPECET 2021) exams that registers for the “clarifications” about said, “Initially, the govern- HYDERABAD, FEB. 25 on Thursday, for admis- test, the TSCHE said. the appointments and ment made us believe that this sions into B.PEd and The submission of the term of extending will be an easy tax system. It The Telangana State D.PEd courses in the online application forms their services. 49th BIRTHDAY REMEMBRANCE IN LOVING MEMORY turned out to be most-compli- Council for Higher Edu- state. will begin from March 8 OF MY PARENTS cated and burdensome. The cation (TSCHE) anno- The physical exams and the last date without complexity of this tax is push- unced the schedule for will take place from any late fee will be May ing us to spend more time with the Telangana State Ph- June 7, 2021, and will go 8. Results will be annou- 6 HELD FOR CAs and other accountants.” ysical Education Com- on according to the nced a week after the mon Entrance Test number of candidates last day of the test. SMUGGLING MARIJUANA

DC CORRESPONDENT Nageshwar questions TRS’ HYDERABAD FEB. 25 The Excise BODLA VEERESHAM KATTA VIJAYA RAO KATTA SATYAVATHI D.O.B: 26-02-1972 D.O.D: 17-03-2019 D.O.D: 26-02-2007 D.O.D: 24-02-2006 Enforcement team of We miss you every moment in our life you You both will always be in our Hyderabad seized 34.7 are always there in our heart. FAMILY MEMBERS memories and heart kilos of dry marijua- M/s. Kotha Pentaiah & Katta Hepsheba, Katta Kezia silence over privatisation na from a gang of six Bodla Ramachandriah Banaras Silk Palace Rev. Katta Zaccheaus men who were smug- Gadwal Shop, General Bazar, Secunderabad DC CORRESPONDENT officers of various central gling it inside the city. (S/2021/D01278) HYDERABAD, FEB. 25 public sector units includ- The arrested were 3rd DEATH ANNIVERSARY ing ECIL, BEL, BDL, identified as Narotam Prof. K. Nageshwar, an Midhani and HAL, here on Sarkar, Prasanjit independent candidate in Thursday, Prof. Nageshwar Biswas, Debrata the ensuing MLC elections said indiscriminate pri- Chakrabarty, Khokan from Hyderabad, Ranga vatisation of the Central Haldar, Kanjara Shiva Reddy and Mahbubnagar Public Sector Shanker, and Syed graduates constituency, on Undertakings will weaken Sayeed, said the Thursday questioned the the national economy police. silence of the Telangana resulting in corporate loot The officials, who Rashtra Samiti on the of public assets. Absence of received reliable Narendra Modi govern- strong public sector would information about the LACHHMAN DAS MANJANI ment’s polices of privatisa- only result in such private contraband being D.O.D: 26.02.2018 tion of public sector units. monopolies, he added. smuggled in the city, Not a single days passes by without remembering you. The TRS government criti- Hyderabad, he said, is conducted a route We miss you cised the Modi government home to prestigious CPSUs watch at Gudimalka- MADHU - (Wife) policies during the GHMC and the BJP government’s pur and the 34.7 kilos Sharat - Khushboo Ravi - Neetu, Prof. K. Nageshwar, an independent candidate speaks to elections but has now privatisation policy will hit of dry marijuana con- Raunak - Shivam the staff and officers of various Central public sector become silent, he said. employment, and the econ- signment from the GANGA ELECTRICALS, units in Hyderabad on Thursday. — BY ARRANGEMENT Speaking to the staff and omy of this city. gang on Thursday. R.P. Road, Secunderabad. c m y k c m y k

DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | FRIDAY | 26 FEBRUARY 2021 pg 5 CITY/AP DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | FRIDAY | 26 FEBRUARY 2021 pg 6 SHORT TAKES No fire NOC, no classes, HC ENDANGERED HC questions tribunals DONKEYS tells Narayana, Chaitanya SLAUGHTERED DC CORRESPONDENT ● THE TWO institutes had es belong to the Narayana judging 16K land cases HYDERABAD, FEB. 25 filed several petitions chal- and Chaitanya Institutes for VADREVU SRINIVAS | DC lenging the denial of NOC violation of fire safety KAKINADA, FEB. 25 The Telangana High Court by the fire and safety rules. Questioned by the Wonders how it is possible to solve them in 20 days’ time on Thursday rejected the high court, BIE made it clear Donkeys are illegally being pleas of Narayana and Sri department for their build- that NOC of the fire depart- slaughtered on the banks of DC CORRESPONDENT ● KOVUTTURI PAVAN decision of the special- before those abolished Chaitanya Educational ings housing schools and ment was mandatory to get Eluru Canal in West Godavari HYDERABAD, FEB. 25 Kumar, counsel for the ly-constituted tribunals, revenues courts. Institutes that they be colleges. It is mandatory to affiliation. Aggrieved by and the remains are being petitioner, said it was a in “not allowing parties Collectors and addi- allowed to continue classes get NOC from the fire this, the two institutes dumped in the canal, endan- In a case relating to spe- violation of Article 300-A. or advocates to defend” tional collectors, as for students in various department for any educa- approached the court, seek- gering public health. cial tribunals set up by in cases pending before members of these tri- high-rise buildings that did tional institution to run ing a direction to allow Donkeys are named in the Telangana govern- He said cases were being the tribunals. bunals, decide cases. not conform to the rules them continue with the disposed of in a hurry. classes in high-rise the extinction list. Yet, hun- ment, in which collec- He argued that it was a But, reportedly, there specified by the Fire and buildings. classes. dreds of them across the coun- tors and additional col- clear violation of the were “instructions” to Safety department. The two institutes sought try and in Andhra Pradesh lectors have been izens and make judg- principle of natural jus- them to “dispose of the The two institutes had filed Board of Intermediate exemption on the ground are being slaughtered for instructed by the gov- ments within a fortnight tice, where every inter- cases within twenty several petitions challeng- Education ( BIE) nod to that these buildings were meat. Belief is that donkey ernment to dispose over when the same revenue ested party had to be days”, and that no hear- ing the denial of NOC by the run Inter-college classes constructed during times meat can cure respiratory and 16,000 revenue cases per- cases have been pending given a chance to put ings could be conducted fire and safety department without submission NOCs prior to the framing of rules. breathing problems and taining to land owner- before the same revenue their contentions and be or no advocate or party for their buildings housing and other permissions from The court refused to pass increase the sexual potential ship issues within twen- authorities for years heard by decision mak- be allowed to submit schools and colleges. It is various departments. Some any order in favor of the col- of humans. ty days, the Telangana together. ers. contentions in these mandatory to get NOC from branches of these institutes leges. It said the government According to sources, many High Court on Thursday Chief Justice Kohli, Kovutturi Pavan cases. the fire department for any ran the colleges even and BIE were in deep slum- donkey meat shops exist on wondered how would it said sarcastically, “if it Kumar, counsel for the When this aspect was educational institution to without getting the affilia- ber and they were awakened the sly in Gunturu, be possible to a tribunal can be proved how these petitioner, said it was a questioned by the High run classes in high-rise tions. only by the intervention of Cherukupalli, Bapatla, to adjudicate on so many tribunals can deal with violation of Article 300- Court on Thursday, and buildings. While dealing with a PIL a the high court. “So, we will Tadepalli, Vetapalem, Chirala pending cases solved in thousands of cases in A. He said cases were the state was asked to Earlier, following a high year ago, on 27 February not allow any deviations to in Guntur, Krishna and such a short time. such a short time, then being disposed of in a explain the reason for court intervention in 2020, 2020, the Telangana high the rules,” the bench headed Prakasam districts. The sell- A Division Bench com- the judiciary of India hurry. the undue haste, the managements of these court issued closure notices by Chief Justice Hima Kohli ers are bringing the donkeys prising Chief Justice would take a leaf from Special tribunals have Advocate General B.S. institutions could get the to around 68 college premis- made it clear. from Maharashtra, Karnataka Hima Kohli and Justice the book of Telangana, been constituted under Prasad sought a “little and Rajasthan. B. Vijaysen Reddy was in disposing of pending the Telangana Rights in time to get instructions For the past two years, ani- so curious on how it was cases”. Lands and Pattadar from the government”, mal activists in Maharashtra possible for special tri- The bench was dealing Passbooks Act, after on whether it had given are lodging complaints on ille- bunals constituted to try with a PIL filed by N. abolishing all revenue such directions or not. Issue hassle-free gal transport of donkeys. pending revenue cases, Srinivasa Rao, a practic- courts. These tribunals With that, the Court Some cases were filed. exercising a judicial ing advocate from were constituted to try gave four days’ time to Donkey meat is sold at function to adjudicate Bhadrachalam, as an around 16,000 cases, him and adjourned the bldg permits: CS `600 per kilo. The meat sellers on property rights of cit- aggrieved party to a which were pending case till March 2. are buying the meat at `15,000 DC CORRESPONDENT to Rs.20,000 per donkey. Meat HYDERABAD, FEB. 25 sellers say meat shops in Krishna, Guntur and Prakasm TS CONFUSED ON Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar on Thursday chose Eluru for selling the directed additional collectors to ensure trans- meat. WHICH MODEL parent and hassle-free building permissions Animal rescue organisation under TS-bPASS in all local bodies and ensure secretary Gopal R. that there are no encroachments. Surabathula said donkeys are TO FOLLOW The chief secretary held a meeting with being carried to Andhra additional collectors of local bodies (ACLBs) Pradesh from other states. From Page 1 along with senior officials of panchayat raj Nobody makes any effort to and municipal administration to discuss on curb it, though there are so However, the government the Palle and Pattana Pragathi programmes. many check-posts along the is confused whether to The CS stated that state government has way of its transportation. create 10 per cent or 20 brought in new acts for gram panchayats and He lodged a complaint with per cent supernumerary municipalities which have to be implemented the DGP Andhra Pradesh, seats and jobs. This is in their true spirit. The post of additional seeking stoppage of because the Centre has collectors for local bodies has been created to illegal transportation and created 20 per cent super- ensure that both the acts are implemented killing of donkeys. Sale of numerary seats and jobs strictly, he said. He reiterated the CM’s donkeys is rampant in several to implement EWS quota. vision to make every gram panchayat and districts in the state, the com- Of this, 10 per cent is urbal local body (ULB) clean, green and plaint said. extended to EWS and the hygienic. Apart from supply of tractors and He said that the survival of rest 10 per cent is distrib- water tankers, there is regular release of `456 donkeys is at serious stake. It uted among reserved cat- crore per month to gram panchayats and has almost vanished from the egories. urban local bodies. state while donkeys are illegal- The state government Additional collectors were directed to ly transported from other has to first take a deci- inspect GPs and ULBs to ensure that streets states. sion on creating supernu- and drains are cleaned on daily basis. If there merary seats in educa- is any slackness by officials, action would be tional institutions and President of Hare Krishna Movement Sri Satya Gaura Chandra Dasa taken against them, he said. FIRST INSCRIPTION supernumerary jobs in and others perform the Maha Abhishekam during the Nityananda Trayodashi government departments at the Hare Krishna Golden Temple in Banjara Hills on Thursday. OF DEVARAYA’s to ensure that the exist- ing reservations amount- 129 URS CELEBRATIONS TO DEATH FOUND ing to 50 per cent extend- ed to BCs, SCs, STs and DC CORRESPONDENT Minorities are not dis- BE HELD FROM MARCH 1 TO 5 VIJAYAWADA, FEB. 25 turbed. Nityananda Trayodashi Vijayawada: The 129 Urs celebrations of The remaining 50 per Hazarath Kale Mastan Shah Aaulia Baba Officials from Archaeological cent quota is under open Dargah would be held from 1 to 5 March at Survey of India (ASI) discov- category under which all Guntur. Dargah hereditary trustee Ravi ered the first epigraphical ref- categories irrespective of held with Covid norms Rammohan Rao released the posters and erence to the death of caste and religion can brochures of Urs and said that Hindu and Krishnadevaraya Nayaka, the compete. DC CORRESPONDENT Prabhu distributed panchamritam, pancha- Muslim in large numbers would attend the emperor of Vijayanagara Neighbouring Andhra HYDERABAD, FEB. 25 Hari Nama gavyam and sugandha Urs celebration from AP, Telangana and other empire during 1509-1529, in an Pradesh has created 10 Sankeertana and Japa dravyas. States. Addressing a press meet here on inscription found near per cent supernumerary The Hare Krishna along with Chaitanya This was followed by a Thursday, he said that Mastan Baba is wor- Gopalakrishna temple at seats only for EWS. In Golden Temple in Maha Prabhu for this mangala arathi along shipped by Hindus and Muslims in unison Honnenahalli of Tumkur dis- this backdrop, officials in Banjara Hills on age of Kali as a way of with bhajans and kir- and this Urs is organized for the past 128 trict recently. TS government are con- Thursday celebrated life to everybody with- tans. Melodious Hari years at Dargah. Rammohan Rao said that the The inscription found in fused over which model the Sri Nityananda out any discrimination Nama Sankirthan was Urs would began on March 1 with Gandha Kannada recorded the demise to adopt. Indications are Trayodashi. of caste, religion, performed by devotees Mahotsavam on the Baba’s tomb with Cha- of Krishnadevaraya, the third that the EWS quota Sri Satya Gaura creed. Nityananda on this occasion. ndini decoration and Sandal rally would be ruler from Tuluva dynasty on implementation will be Chandra Dasa, presi- Prabhu is the first spir- Strict Covid-19 safety held at 11 pm night on the same day in which October 17, 1529 AD. delayed further till the dent of Hare Krishna itual master in under- protocols were followed thousands of devotees would participate. The ASI received a photo- committee submits its Movement, Hyderabad, standing Sri Chaitanya during the celebrations graph of this inscription from report. said, “Nityananda Maha Prabhu and final- for the safety of the Prof. K.R. Narasimhan. It is ● THE REMAINING 50% Trayodashi is the ly getting Sri Krishna’s devotees. Nityanada Protest against engraved on a slab kept to the quota is under open cat- appearance day of Sri blessings.” Prabhu is the incarna- north of Gopalakrishna tem- Nityananda Prabhu As part of the festival, tion of Lord Balarama ple at Honnenahalli. The egory under which all who was the eternal a Maha Abhishekam of who is the brother VSP intensifies inscription mentions about categories irrespective companion of Sri 108 kalasas was per- of Lord Sri Krishna, : Former Honnenahalli being empow- of caste, religion can Chaitanya Maha formed with varieties according to the UPSC chairman and well- ered to provide offerings to the compete. Prabhu. Nityananda of fruit juices, flowers, temple. known academician Prof K.S. god Viraprasanna Hanumanta Chalam alleged that some of Tumkur by Timmappanna vested interest traded with Nayaka along with some offi- the R Cards, depriving cials and inhabitants of employment to thousands of Tumkur village. Jagan seeks transfer of rly land to AP farmers who gave away their Krishnadevaraya was born cultivable lands for the con- on January 17, 1471 and died of DC CORRESPONDENT here. cessfully made several encroached land. struction of Visakhapatnam ill-health on October 17, 1529. VIJAYAWADA, FEB. 25 He requested that the representations to the “It is of place Steel Plant. While speaking The finding of an inscription railway land in government to here to mention that the at the agitation Prof Chalam dated July 27, 1532 earlier, Andhra Pradesh Rajarajeswari Peta be regularise these Railways had not been said many farmers in spite of engraved on the north and Chief Minister Jagan handed over to the AP encroachments. “No able to put this land to having a valid R Card, could west walls of the third prakara Mohan Reddy has government so that this meaningful effort had any use for more than 30 not get employment in the of the Kalahastisvara temple addressed a letter to could be regularised. been made in the past to years. The land identi- steel plant. at Srikalahasti in Chittoor dis- Union Railway Minister The CM explained resolve the issue,” the fied by the state govern- trict, mentioned the corona- Piyush Goyal, offering that nearly 800 poor fam- CM said. ment to be given to the tion of Krishnadevaraya’s transfer of some land to ilies lived in houses they The chief minister Railways is very suitable cousin Achyutaraya as the the railways in lieu of had built on railway said that suitable state and located within the king on October 21, 1529 AD the land occupied land in Raja Rajeswari government land could limits of the Vijayawada before Kalahastisvara in by nearly 800 families Peta area here be provided to the rail- Municipal Kalahasti. within the municipal more than 30 years ago ways by way of an Corporation,” the CM corporation limits and that they had unsuc- exchange in lieu of this said.

EASY | PASSAGE Roads & buildings dept takes steps to launch FASTags in March, April Soon, FASTags must on TS highways too L. VENKAT RAM make them compulsory on Telangana that FASTags ernment has decided to installed FASTags. There REDDY | DC the Rajiv Rahadari are helping in introduce FASTags on are no traffic jams at toll HYDERABAD, FEB. 25 between Hyderabad and seamless collection of toll state highways soon. plazas now. Motorists are Ramagundam in March. tax, without the need of The roads and buildings relived. Since we received FASTags are all set to be Later, it would be extended stopping at toll plazas. department has initiated good feedback, we want to made mandatory on between Narketpally- The use of RFID technolo- steps to launch FASTags in extend FASTags to state Telangana state highways Addanki in April. gy is helping in collecting March and April. Roads highways soon. If all goes too soon. As of now, they However, an official taxes without the need and buildings minister well as planned, FASTags are mandatory only on announcement on the date of handling cash by toll Vemula Prashanth will be implemented from national highways. of launching FASTags on booth employees and Reddy held a series of March on state highways,” However, FASTags are in state highways is likely to reducing waiting time in meetings with senior offi- said Reddy. force since March 2019 on be made in a week. It may toll booths. cials of the department in The initiative will be the Hyderabad Outer Ring be recalled that the Centre It also stopped unneces- this regard over the past launched first at three toll Road. made electronic toll collec- sary queuing at toll booths, few days. plazas (Duddeda, The Telangana state gov- tion system for FASTags although teething prob- “Mandatory FASTags on Renikunta, Basanthnagar) ernment has initiated mandatory for all vehicles lems continue to create national highways since on Rajiv Rahadari. Later, it steps to make FASTags from February 15. hardships for motorists at February 15 has proved to will be implemented at toll mandatory on state high- It was noticed during the few toll plazas. Taking be a success. Over 85 per plaze in Madgulapally ways from March. The gov- past ten days on national these factors into consider- cent of vehicles passing between Narketpally and ernment plans to initially highways passing through ation, the Telangana gov- through toll plazas have Addanki. c m y k c m y k

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26 FEBRUARY 2021

Disha bail order should Subhani set welcome precedent he order of the additional sessions judge of Patiala House Courts, Delhi, granting bail to Bengaluru-based climate activist Disha A. Ravi, arrested for her alleged role in the preparation of a “toolkit” that the Tpolice claimed led to the violent incidents in the nation’s capital on January 26, has sought to right two wrongs. One, it has made a timely inter- vention and stopped the state from using legal tools to put dissenting citizens behind the bars for no end. Two, it has reassured the people that Article 19 (1) of the Constitution which guarantees the freedom of speech and expression has the strength to come to the aid of a legitimate dissenter. The court demolished the Delhi police’s case by pointing out that it was devoid of material evidence to connect the activist with the case slapped on her; and more importantly, whatever she did was protected by the Constitution. The court found that the investigating agency which charged the activist with sedition has produced “not an iota of evidence” to link her with seditious or violent acts; and reminded the It’s an irony that a police that it cannot resort to “surmises or government manned by conjectures” to convince itself of the culpa- LETTERS bility of an accused. The “scanty and people who have sketchy” pieces of evidence the agency has MODI STADIUM participated in the produced are not enough to send a 22-year-old Arrests on flimsy basis greatest freedom young woman with absolutely blemish-free Renaming the Ahmedabad restoration movement criminal antecedents to jail, it said. The strong words on the nature of the evidence stadium is not in the BJP’s in Independent India is were, in fact, a censure of the police, which interest, leave alone the resorting to went overboard picking up a citizen violating Opposition criticism suppressing voices of the Supreme Court’s guidelines and her basic undermine democracy (Narendra Modi stadium in legitimate dissent rights. The court made a series of observations on the police to charge Ms that showing support for Gujarat faces Oppn ire, DC, the citizen’s rights that a democracy would love the judiciary to assert and pro- Ravi with having associ- protesting farmers can- Feb. 25). Till now ordinary tect in the face of state assault. “Citizens are conscience keepers of the gov- Parsa ated herself with an ille- not be an offence and it citizens may have been ernment in any democratic nation,” it said. “They cannot be put behind the gal entity. cannot be deemed sedi- bars simply because they choose to disagree with the state policies.” In a warn- Venkateshwar Judge Rana could have tion. It is only by bring- voting for Modi as he pro- ing to the self-appointed “patriots” who miss no chance to threaten dissenters avoided the homilies ing in the “Khalistani” jected himself as ‘Pradhan with the label “traitor” and the state which has a profligacy to slap sedition Rao Jr about pluralist Indian factor that people like Ms Sevak’ and ‘Chowkidar’. charge at the drop of a hat, the court said, “The offence of sedition cannot be civilisation going back to Ravi can be charged with invoked to minister to the wounded vanity of the governments.” The court the Rig Veda and rapped a crime, and even if the The logic used by BJP observed that difference of opinion, disagreement, divergence, dissent, or even the police for creating a charge fails, they can be leaders to rename the sta- disapprobation, are recognised legitimate tools to infuse objectivity in state faux chargesheet. He did defamed. It is in this dia- dium doesn’t stand as the policies. If the Constitution was not enough, the judge referred to the nation’s t has been the bad cover themselves in admit that the investiga- bolical bid to outlaw dis- Pradhan Sevak could have 5,000-year old civilisation and the Rig Veda to remind everyone that we were practice and bad glory when the legal tion was on, but the evi- sent and protest that the “never been averse to ideas from varied quarters”. habit of the Indian process was short-cir- dence produced by the government and the said no to keep his image It’s an irony that a government manned by people who have participated in police and criminal cuited in bringing Ms police so far to oppose Delhi police are commit- intact. the greatest freedom restoration movement in Independent India is resorting investigators to Ravi from Bengaluru to bail to Ms Ravi was ting the crime of under- Dr Jaspal Singh Bhatia to suppressing voices of legitimate dissent. They should not ideally expect the Islap a mountain of New Delhi as though this paper-thin. But in times mining democracy. nation to experience the silence of a graveyard when they go about imple- charges against any country was under mar- when the government is The Disha Ravi case Hyderabad menting their agenda. They will face, to quote the judge, an “aware and accused in the hope that tial law and no questions keen to spread the pall of goes much beyond the It is the height of narcissism. It is assertive citizenry, in contradistinction with an indifferent or docile citizen- at least some, or even could be raised about the fear by invoking demons Delhi police’s cyber- rare to name a public property ry”, which is, “indisputably a sign of a healthy and vibrant democracy”. The one, of them would stick. way the Delhi police who are less than paper crime cell. It is a blatant after a living personality. It proves refreshing thoughts must set in motion a process to free many more that are This amounts to went about hauling up tigers, Judge Rana seems misuse of the laws of the that Narendra Modi is also after languishing in prisons facing similar charges. indulging in slander in an ordinary citizen in to have found refuge in land. The police can fame in addition to power. Actions more than a legal sense. Bengaluru. The pusilla- pious platitudes about claim that they investi- earn name, either good or bad. And this is what the nimity of the courts was democracy, liberty, and gate charges against peo- There is no need to rename places, Delhi police and its further underscored the right of the citizen to ple in good faith, and roads, buildings and so on. Leaders An act of sycophancy investigators have tried when the police custody dissent. It would howev- they nurse no animus should not go for name but work to do with the violence of Ms Ravi was readily er be mistaken to get car- against anyone. We can for the people sincerely. he Gujarat Cricket Association succumbed to the temptation of naming that erupted on January granted for five days by ried away by Judge readily concede the point Kshirasagara Balaji Rao the stadium after the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The cricket arena 26, 2021 when the farm- duty judge Dev Saroha Rana’s quiet plaint. if they had gone about Hyderabad Thad many earlier monikers like Gujarat and Motera, besides having ers’ tractor parade went on February 14. This was Something more serious the investigation in a borne the name of a famous son of the soil in Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. off the rails at some the police riding is amiss in the police’s sober manner. They The baptism does break an unwritten law that no edifice should be named points. Instead of focus- roughshod over the law line of investigation into could have easily built MAMATA’S JIBE after a living person even if it seemed apt to honour a person who headed ing on what went wrong and the judge allowing it the violence of January up more evidence, they The strange attacks by Mamata GCA in the long running Indian tradition of politicians getting themselves during the tractor tamely. It 26. Traces of could have interrogated Banerjee and Narendra Modi looks elected as presidents of cricket associations. The concept of a magnificent, parade, the Delhi police is at the “Khalistani” MsRavi in Bengaluru like a cat and mouse game (Didi: cricket arena that cost more than `800 crores came from his grand vision and went off on a tangent, end of five DISHA RAVI & elements without the cheap the- Modi is the biggest rioter, DC, Feb. its creation was carried out by the other leading contemporary political per- distracted by the tweets days of DELHI POLICE behind the atrics of arresting her 25). No PM in Indian history has sonality, Union home minister Amit Shah, and his son who is the BCCI sec- of American pop singer police cus- three-month- and bringing her to been bad-mouthed so much. What retary. Donald Trump, as US President, even paid a ceremonial visit there Rihanna and teenage cli- tody, two old farmers’ Delhi. forced the West Bengal CM to call just before the pandemic was declared in 2020. mate protester/warrior days of judicial custody agitation against the new There is a clear need the PM names is for the nation to The honour bestowed spontaneously and sentimentally on Narendra Modi Greta Thunberg. Greta and another day of police laws brought by the for the courts to rule think over and debate. is somewhat akin to India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru being Thunberg put out a custody, with the police Narendra Modi govern- clearly and loudly that Zakaria Sultan awarded the Bharat Ratna by the first President Rajendra Prasad. But it does toolkit, retracted and put wanting to confront Ms ment has been the theme the police have no right Hyderabad rankle considering this is a stadium named like this since the Maharashtra it back again. And it is Ravi with the other two song of the government to arrest people as long politician and chief minister S.K. Wankhede named one in Churchgate in here that Bengaluru cli- accused, Nikita Jacob and the ruling party. It as they are cooperating after himself in 1974. A second cricket stadium within a stone’s mate activist Disha Ravi, Shantanu Muluk, that seems that the police just with the investigation, throw of historic Brabourne was owed to a clash of egos between 22, entered the picture. she was finally granted follows the lead of their and there is no danger of 50 YEARS AGO IN Maharashtra Cricket Association and Cricket Club of India. The era of build- The Delhi police saw it as bail and released. political masters. the person absconding. ing an edifice of homage to members of one political family is thought to be a good opportunity to The excesses commit- The “Khalistani” ele- In the case of Ms Ravi, it well and truly over. And so the Congress playing the Sardar Patel card in crit- nail the international ted by the cybercrime ments have been sim- is self-evident that she icism seems hypocritical now. The issue, however, is to do with the need for linkages of the imagined branch of the Delhi mering beneath the sur- would have cooperated 21st-century India to evolve from a sycophantic, fetishist and neta-worship- conspiracy when they police should have been face for many years now, with the police investiga- Mulki rules cover all ping past. found the toolkit linkage condemned by additional but it is quite clear that tion. Arresting Ms Ravi between Ms Ravi and Ms sessions judge Dharm- the farmers have nothing was an attempt by the TS appointments Thunberg. The police ender Rana. It was easier to do with them, and the police to humiliate and HYDERABAD, February. 25 DECCAN CHRONICLE discovered that Ms Ravi for him to excoriate the people, whether Indian intimidate her and make A full bench of the AP High or foreign, who sympa- an example of her to KAUSHIK MITTER K. SUDHAKAR had a hand in the toolkit police on the serious Court today held that the Mulki Editor Printer & Publisher when she edited it for Ms charge of sedition that thise with the farmers’ other dissidents. This Rules constitute a Special Law Thunberg. they brought against the agitation have nothing to just cannot be allowed in and appointments contrary to it DECCAN CHRONICLE offices are located at: In the heightened young woman from do with them either. The a democracy. The powers would be invalid, although reser- atmosphere of the exag- Bengaluru. The judge government and the of the police to arrest vations for Mulki were not spe- Hyderabad: 36, Sarojini Devi Road, Secunderabad - 500 003, Ph: 040-27803930-4; Fax : 040-27805256 gerated nature of the tore into the flaky evi- police are fully aware people and keep them in cially made in departmental Vijayawada: No.C-3 & 4 Patamata, Industrial Estate, Auto Nagar, Vijayawada (A.P.), Ph: 0866- petty violence that broke dence on which they custody for 24 hours rules. The full bench consisted of 2555284/2555287; Telefax: 0866-2555234 before they are brought Visakhapatnam: Survey No.1/3A Beach Road, Near Kailasagiri Ropeway, Sector-9 MVP Colony, out at Red Fort on based their charge. It the Chief Justice N. Kumarayya, Visakhapatnam - 530 017 (A.P), Ph: 0891-2552333/2552334; Fax: 0891-2755285 January 26, the reckless was necessary that the Judge Rana could before a magistrate for Justice Gopal Rao Ekbote and Rajahmundry: Vemagiri, Dhawaleswaram Rd, Rajahmundry, Ph: 0883-2417618/2417208; Telefax: 0883- overreach of the police judge had said what he have avoided the being remanded smacks Justice Sambasiva Rao. 2417208 under the guidance of an had about the innocuous homilies about of a police state. A citi- The petitioners, who were all Anantapur: Thapovan colony, By-Pass Road, Anantapur - 515004, Ph: 08554-276903; Fax: authoritative Union toolkit and the laboured zen’s liberty cannot be superintendents of the 08554-276904 home ministry came into connect that the police pluralist Indian left to the mercy of a Government departments, filed a Karimnagar: Survey No.1341, Vavilalapally Colony, Jagityala Road, Karimnagar - 505 001, Ph: 0878- play. The Delhi police wanted to make between civilisation going policeman or police- writ petition challenging the 2228908; Telefax: 0878-2220433 went off to Bengaluru, the toolkit, Ms Ravi and back to the Rig woman. rules for appointment of Nellore: Survey No.527/2, Burranpur Village, Venkatachalam (M), Chemmudugunta Panchayat, Nellore, Ph: the Poetic Justice 0861-2348581/82; Telefax: 0861-2348580 arrested Ms Ravi and Veda and rapped Assistant Treasury Officers and : SP-3 Developed Plot, Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai - 600 032, Ph: 044-22254747/ 48/50/51; brought her to Delhi in Foundation (PJF). And the police for The writer is a to set aside the appointment to Advt Fax: 22254765/22254766/42305325 total violation of all legal he rightly pointed out Delhi-based that post by departmental recruit- Coimbatore: 77, Vivekananda Road, Ramnagar, Coimbatore - 641 009, Ph : 0422 2231255 norms in a democratic that the PJF was not a creating a faux commentator ment. Gram: CHRONICLE Postal registration no: No. H/SD-348/2006-08 polity. The courts did not banned organisation for chargesheet and analyst

s Antony Blinken, US President Middle East, Europe, even the Arctic. Nato is undermined by the continu- India’s coast. to have discussed much more than Joe Biden’s secretary of state, How did Mr Obama respond? He ing membership of Turkey, now There’s the rub. For China’s “progressive politics”. As for Prime preparing to abandon Barack did nothing. He issued platitudes. closely aligned with China. Even Southeast Asia strategy is to con- Minister Narendra Modi, the ultra- IObama’s powder-puff Asian for- He vacillated over whether the France’s President Emmanuel tain India, which it sees as its long- nationalist Hindu head of the BJP, eign policies? It is now widely Mutual Defence Treaty with the Macron said Nato was “brain term geopolitical rival. Although he is, like Donald Trump, a populist agreed that Mr Obama, under whom Philippines included the disputed dead”. But is the D-10 a credible India lags a distant third to with a cult following. Mr Biden may Mr Blinken served as deputy secre- South China Sea. By the end of his base for an anti-Chinese contain- America and China in terms of well court Mr Modi too. Noticeably tary of state, ceded to China uncon- presidency, it was too late. And ment strategy? aggregate GDP, it is also likely to Mr Blinken, like Donald Trump, Francis Pike tested control of the South China weakness in the South China Sea A containment strategy needs real overtake the US in 20 to 30 years. refers to Asia as “the Indo-Pacific” Sea. Mr Obama’s so-called “pivot to was undoubtedly an invitation for military power. Besides the UK and India already ranks fourth in the — a term that the Chinese govern- Asia” was all talk and no trousers. Mr Xi to push elsewhere on Mr France, the other European nations world in terms of aggregate mili- ment detests. Mr Blinken, who believes diploma- Obama’s open door. are largely window dressing. One tary power. While the geopolitical interests of cy must be “supplemented by deter- There are indications that the suspects neither Mr Biden nor Mr As the world’s largest democra- America and India are clearly in rence”, may be about to implement Biden administration will seek to Blinken have the cojones to initiate cies, the United States and India alignment, bringing them into a a more aggressive foreign policy in construct alliances in Europe and armed conflict to contest China’s should always be the best of friends. more formal arrangement may be Southeast Asia and elsewhere. Asia to contain the Chinese and already established military con- Yet US-Indian relations have rarely difficult. India is proudly indepen- In his first speech as general secre- Russian threats. As a former deputy trol of the South China Sea. worked well. India’s first Prime dent. It does things its own way, and tary of the Communist Party of secretary of state, Mr Blinken has If Southeast Asia is lost, what Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, its prickly relationship with the India, America China in 2012, Xi Jinping made his long been President Biden’s point next? China has already moved on rebuffed President Eisenhower; West remains. intentions clear. He stated his com- man on Europe and is known to be to securing control of the Bay of Nehru’s meeting with President While India — currently engaged mitment to “accepting the baton of a long-time confidant. For a “multi- Bengal, the Indian Ocean and Suez Kennedy was a car crash. (Kennedy in border skirmishes with China in & China: Can history and continuing to work for lateralist” who speaks fluent Canal trade routes. Burma is in later admitted it was “the worst the remote Himalayas — is fully realising the great revival of the French, getting Europe onside will China’s pocket. , with head of state visit I have had”.) aware of the Chinese threat, it may Chinese nation in order to let the be important. 165 million people, where in 2016 Mr Henry Kissinger described Indira be difficult to lasso the country into Chinese nation stand more firmly British PM Boris Johnson has Xi made the first state visit by a Gandhi’s meeting with Richard a formal mutual defence relation- ‘D-10’ forge new and powerfully among all nations”. been floating the idea of a “D-10” Chinese leader in 30 years, is being Nixon as a “dialogue of the deaf”; ship. The D-10 is one of those neat President Xi’s international adven- group: G-7 plus India, South Korea increasingly suborned by Chinese even the normally polite Kissinger ideas that might look good in a state turism, under the umbrella of his and Australia. Having finally decid- infrastructure investment and described Mrs Gandhi as “a bitch”. department or Foreign Office brief- relationships? “Belt and Road Initiative”, has been ed to ditch Huawei, and persuaded armaments. In the south, where the Relations between American and ing but, given the difficulties of co- most evident in his illegal military by China’s crackdown on democra- Bay of Bengal meets the Indian Indian heads of government have opting India and Germany, can it occupation of the South China Sea, cy in Hong Kong, the UK has Ocean, China is entrenched. In 2018, later improved, but their substance cut the mustard in the real world? but it is a global strategy for domina- thrown its hat into the “Stop China negotiated a 99-year lease for has not. Mr Obama liked Dr tion which can be observed in China” camp. D-10 is a grouping Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port and Manmohan Singh but judging from By arrangement with Central Asia, the Indian Ocean, the that has some logic. By comparison, 15,000 adjacent acres — just off his autobiography they do not seem the Spectator NATION pg 9 DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | FRIDAY | 26 FEBRUARY 2021

SHORT TAKES Modi targets Rahul over EMPTY ARTILLERY J&K border residents SHELLS GO his ‘north-south’ remarks MISSING heave sigh of relief Puducherry, Feb. 25: were celebrating the “free- Monday after it was Attacking Congress leader dom from misgovernance of reduced to minority in the Jabalpur, Feb. 25: Three Rahul Gandhi for his recent Congress.” Modi hit out at wake of resignations, he empty shells of artillery went India, Pak for strict observance of ceasefire agreements 'north-south' remarks, former Puducherry Chief said “the Congress culture missing from the laboratory of Prime Minister Narendra Minister V Narayanasamy, you saw in Puducherry for heavily-guarded Long Proof YUSUF JAMEEL | DC ● IN WRITTEN Modi on Thursday alleged implying he headed a ‘high five years is how the party Range (LPR), an ammunition SRINAGAR, FEB. 25 RESPONSE to a question the party's policy was to command’ government that works nationally.” testing facility, at Khamaria in in Lok Sabha earlier this “divide, lie and rule.” served the interests of a few “Our colonial rulers had Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur Tired of unending mili- There are no Not mincing words, he Congress leaders in Delhi. the policy of divide and district on Thursday, police tary tensions and fre- month, Union Minister of said the Congress culture of He also slammed him for rule. Congress has a policy said. quent bouts of skirmish- State for Home G Kishan feudal politics, dynasty pol- “lying” about the complaint of divide, lie and rule. The police received a com- es between the facing Reddy said a total of itics, patronage politics was made by a woman against Sometimes their leaders plaint about three empty shells troops, the border resi- 10,752 cases of ceasefire back-channel ending and people all over the government during the put region against region, of artillery going missing dents of Jammu and violations have taken the country were rejecting Congress leader’s visit here sometimes they put com- from LPR, Khamaria police Kashmir have heaved a place along India’s bor- the party. a fortnight ago. munity against communi- station in-charge Nirupa sigh of relief over India der with Pakistan in the He also expressed shock Pitching Puducherry as a ty.” Gandhi had said he was Pandey said. and Pakistan agreeing to last three years, in which talks: Pak NSA over Gandhi’s contention region with potential in used to a “different type of These shells, weighing 6 to 7 strictly observe all agree- that there was no ‘dedicat- various sectors, he said the politics” in north India and kg each, are made of a combi- ments on ceasefire along 72 security personnel ed’ fisheries ministry. NDA wanted to make it the coming to the southern nation of various metals that the Line of Control (LoC) and 70 civilians were SRIDHAR to a media query on the “They are gold, silver and BEST, saying the acronym state was “very refreshing” fetch good money in the open and other sectors. killed. KUMARASWAMI | DC statement made by bronze medal winners in meant the UT being a hub of as people are interested in market, she said. “It has come as a great ● HE SAID 364 security NEW DELHI, FEB. 25 Pakistan’s Army chief telling lies,” Modi said Business, Education, “issues”, which drew con- The police have been alerted relief to us. We hope and Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa addressing a public meet- Spirituality and Tourism. demnation from the BJP, and scrap vendors operating in pray that both sides will personnel and 341 civil- Hours after India and who had said that “it ing in poll-bound Training his guns against whose leaders accused him nearby areas are under scan- really ensure strict ians were injured in Pakistan agreed to a is time” for his country Puducherry, as he said peo- the Congress, whose party- of an opportunistic anti- ner, the official added. observance of all agree- cross-border firings “strict observance” of to “extend the hand ple of the union territory led government fell on North bias. — PTI ments, understandings along the International the ceasefire along the of peace in all direc- and cease firing along Border and the Line of Line of Control (LoC), tions”. MAHARASHTRA the LoC,” said Irshad Control in Jammu and Pakistani National The Pakistan Army Ahmad Khawaja, a resi- Kashmir in 2018, 2019 Security Advisor (NSA) chief had even called on BUDGET SESSION dent of Uri while speak- and 2020. Moeed Yusuf made it both countries to resolve ing to this newspaper clear that there had been the Kashmir issue in a CURTAILED over the phone. cross border firing and “no back-channel” talks “peaceful and dignified He said that the border shelling over the years. between him and India’s manner”, in comments SONU SHRIVASTAVA | DC residents were happy. There had been strong NSA Ajit Doval but nev- that were seen as a possi- MUMBAI, FEB. 25 Echoing their and his craving for bringing this ertheless added that the ble outreach to India. own sentiment, he said, to a close. “welcome development On Thursday evening, Maharashtra government on “If the two countries’ on the LoC is a result of the Pakistani NSA tweet- Thursday announced cur- armies follow the prom- J&K parties too discussions through the ed, “I have seen claims by tailed budget session of state ise we won’t suffer any welcome the pledge established channel of Indian media that attrib- Assembly citing rising num- further human and prop- DGMOs” and that “obvi- ute ceasefire announce- ber of Covid cases. However, erty losses. Kam se kam Apart from the border ously these are by their ment between Pakistani the Opposition walked out chen ki sans ley payengay residents, the fresh very nature not in the and Indian DGMOs to from the business advisory (At least, we will breath pledge of the two sides to public eye and done pri- back-channel diplomacy committee accusing the gov- in peace).” revert to the November vately and professionally between me and the ernment of running away Bashir Ahmed Wathloo, 2003 ceasefire agreement through the direct chan- Indian NSA. This is base- from its responsibility chairman of Rural and hold to it has been nel”. less. No such talks have towards people. The budget Development Society, Uri welcomed by J&K’s polit- The Pakistani NSA taken place between me session will have eight work- said, “I will get a good ical parties across the insisted that that “there and Mr. Doval. The wel- ing days from March 1 to 10. night’s sleep now. My joy board. is nothing more than come development on the The budget will be presented knows no bounds today.” Former chief minister meets the eye here”. LoC is a result of discus- on March 8. However, Bashir and National Conference Meanwhile, India on sions through the estab- The decision was taken on Ahmad Dar, who lives at president, Farooq Thursday evening also lished channel of Thursday in a meeting of the Balkote, a hamlet at a Abdullah, said that the said it “desires normal DGMOs. Obviously these Business Advisory Committee stone’s throw from the measure will go a long neighbourly relations are by their very nature (BAC), which was attended by LoC, said he would keep way towards sustainable with Pakistan” and has not in the public eye and chief minister Uddhav his fingers crossed. Dar peace between the two “always maintained that done privately and pro- Thackeray and leader of oppo- who lost his wife Farooqa neighboring countries. we (India) are committed fessionally through the sition in Maharashtra Begum, 35, in cross-LoC “The agreement to addressing issues, if direct channel.” Assembly Devendra Fadnavis shelling in November between the DGMOs of any, in a peaceful bilater- The Pakistani NSA among others. last year said, “I feel lost India and Pakistan will al manner”. added, “Pakistan has Mr. Fadnavis said, “The gov- since I have lost my go a long way in ushering Asked whether this was continued to call for the ernment is not interested in spouse. Had the two sides long lasting peace along- the start of the resump- 2003 ceasefire agreement holding discussions… In a abided by the ceasefire side LoC and IB. NC has tion of the Indo-Pak to be honored and I am first, the government does not agreement they had always been a strong peace process, New Delhi glad we have reached the want to complete the budget reached in 2003, my votary of Indo-Pak peace. merely said that “on key understanding. It must process. The budget will be world would not have It is the people of J&K issues, our position be followed in letter and tabled and discussion will be been ruined”. who have been facing the remains unchanged”. spirit. Doing so will save held on it but the demands Though the two coun- brunt of escalating ten- India had earlier this innocent lives so no one would not be made on it. It is tries pushed on with the sions alongside the bor- month squarely put the should question the totally unlawful.” ceasefire agreement ders. I hope the agree- onus on Pakistan to “cre- intent. Nor should wrong Parliamentary Affairs Anil signed after months of ment is followed in letter ate an environment free inferences be drawn. Parab said that the decision tortuous negotiations in and spirit. The develop- of terror, hostility and There is nothing more was taken considering Covid- 2003, the facing armies ment, I sincerely believe, violence”, in its response than meets the eye here.” 19 situation in the state. and border guards have will allow people living “Many ministers and legisla- often clashed both along alongside LoC and IB to Separatist Hurriyat address each other’s core tors have been infected with the LoC and go about their normal Conference faction head- issues and concerns the Coronavirus. The session International Border lives with minimal dis- ed by Mirwaiz Umar which have propensity to will begin from March 1 to (IB), the 198-km stretch of ruption and risk,” he Farooq said, “It is a move disturb the peace and March 10. The Governor's the 2,912-km India- said. People’s in the right direction. It lead to violence’, like- address to the two Houses will Pakistan border from Democratic Party presi- will provide huge relief wise in the interest of be on the first day of the ses- Gujarat to J&K called dent, Mehbooba Mufti, to the beleaguered people mutually beneficial and sion. In addition to this, sup- ‘Working Boundary’ by said, “It is a big and wel- living under constant sustainable peace in the plementary demands will also Islamabad as it passes come development.” threat on the LoC and entire region, be tabled on the same,” he through a “disputed The former chief min- end the bloodshed there.” Governments of India added. region” particularly. ister added, “I have been It added, “Just as the and Pakistan need to According to state officials, Both sides suffered saying all along that dia- joint statement correctly address the core concern RT-PCR test has been made hugely in interminable logue is the only way for- points out that ‘in the of J&K in keeping with mandatory for all the legisla- hostility particularly ward if both countries interest of achieving the aspirations of its peo- tors, officials, employees, secu- after 2010 but it has been want to stop the unend- mutually beneficial and ple. It is this issue which ritymen and mediapersons for mainly the civilian popu- ing cycle of violence and sustainable peace along is the cause of conflict the assembly session. lations on both sides bloodshed across the bor- the borders, the two and violence in the which bore the brunt in ders and J&K”. DGMOs agreed to region”. Maha: 229 students test Covid positive DC CORRESPONDENT cases were recorded in the NEW DELHI, FEB. 25 last 24 hours out of which 89.57% of the new cases Worried over the rising were from these seven cases of Covid-19, the Union states. Maharashtra contin- Cabinet Secretary has sched- ues to report the highest uled a review meeting with daily new cases at 8,807 fol- seven states - Maharashtra, lowed by Kerala with 4,106 Kerala, Punjab, Madhya while Punjab reported 558 Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, new cases. In Maharashtra, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh - 229 cases were detected from that are witnessing an a single hostel of a school in upsurge in daily detections. Washim district following The Centre has also rushed which the school has been Multi-Disciplinary High declared a containment Level Central teams to these zone. The school has over 300 states. students out of which 225 India’s active caseload was students and four teachers 1,51,708 on Thursday com- tested positive. The students prising 1.37% of the total had joined the hostel on positive cases. This is large- February 14. 21 students ly attributable to the tested positive in the first upsurge in daily new cases few days, after which all 327 in these seven states. students were made to take Overall 16,738 new daily RT-PCR tests. MP SPENT `724 CRORE FOR COVID-19 TREATMENT, MINISTER INFORMS HOUSE RABINDRA NATH Two hospitals in Bhopal CHOUDHURY | DC and alone had been BHOPAL, FEB. 25 disbursed `125 crore, Mr Choudhury said. Madhya Pradesh govern- Bhopal and Indore have ment has spent `724 crore been identified as Covid-19 for treatment of Covid-19 hotspots in the state. patients in the state till As many as 28,964 Covid-19 January 30. patients had been admitted This was informed by state to these 8 hospitals. The 8 health minister Prabhuram hospitals cumulatively Choudhury in the state recorded 956 deaths. assembly. Madhya Pradesh has so far Of the amount, the state recorded 2,60,313 positive government has disbursed cases. Out of them, 2,54,186 `173 crore to 8 private hospi- patients have recovered. tals designated as Covid-19 The state has reported facilities in the state. 3,857 deaths so far. NATION DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | FRIDAY | 26 FEBRUARY 2021 pg 10

SHORT TAKES I-T RAIDS OFFICES, Nirav: From diamantaire to fugitive RESIDENCES OF HARYANA MLA He has been lodged at Wandsworth Prison in south-west London since his arrest in March 2019 Chandigarh, Feb. 25: The London, Feb. 25: Nirav ● PICTURE PAINTED in Income Tax Department car- Modi’s story up until the court was one of a talent- LONG ROAD TO EXTRADITION ried out raids on the offices UK court verdict on ed jewellery designer who and residences of Haryana’s Thursday, just two days was only driven by one A UK court on Thursday ruled that fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi Independent MLA from before his 50th birthday, is Meham, Balraj Kundu, in one of stark contrasts. mission to make the Nirav can be extradited to India to face charges of fraud and money Rohtak on Thursday, officials From someone flush with Modi brand worthy. laundering amounting to an estimated $2 billion. Following is the said here. diamonds, quite literally, chronology of the case and its origin A residential building linked as a member of a Gujarati expert, told the UK court to his relatives in Hisar dis- family of gem traders who during the course of the JANUARY 29, 2018: Punjab of fugitive diamantaire trict and another one in grew up in the European extradition hearing last National Bank (PNB) files Nirav Modi to a UK court Gurgaon which is connected to jewellery hub of Antwerp year. police complaint against for further proceeding. the legislator himself were in Belgium, to ending up As someone who had Nirav Modi, MARCH 18: Westminster searched as well, they said. holed up in a jail cell in served on the Advisory and others accusing fraud Kundu, a vocal supporter of one Europe’s most over- Board of Nirav Modi’s Court in London issues the ongoing farmer’s agitation crowded prisons. company for three years to the tune of `2.81 billion. arrest warrant against against the new central farm The diamond merchant since 2015, Fritsch was FEBRUARY 5: The CBI fugitive Nirav Modi after laws, had in February 2020 wanted in India on deposed by the defence launches an investigation the Indian government withdrawn support to the M.L. charges of fraud and team to vouch for Nirav’s into the alleged scam. request was forwarded to Khattar dispensation in money laundering in the integrity and skills as an FEBRUARY 16: The ED the court by the UK Home Haryana, saying he was estimated USD 2-billion entrepreneur and creative Office “deeply hurt” with the govern- Punjab National Bank person, who was passion- seizes a cumulative `56.74 Journalists report the verdict to allow the extradition of ment giving “clean chit” to (PNB) scam case, lost his ate about establishing the billion worth of diamonds, MARCH 20: Nirav Modi Nirav Modi, outside Westminster Magistrates Court in those involved in the alleged legal battle against extra- first international brand gold and jewellery from Nirav Modi arrested in London and London on Thursday. — AP corruption in sugar which he dition as a UK judge ruled of luxury jewellery out of Nirav Modi’s home and produced in Westminster had flagged. that he does have a case to India. offices. Court, which denies him In October 2020, the Haryana answer before the Indian A gems expert, Dr bail. Police booked him and three courts. Richard Taylor, was also FEBRUARY 17: The CBI makes first other people in a cheating He has been lodged at fielded to go into the nitty- arrest in the case. Two PNB employees MARCH 20: Nirav Modi sent to Her MEA: Govt will liaise case. The FIR was registered Wandsworth Prison in gritties of the diamond and an executive of Nirav Modi’s group Majesty’s Prison (HMP) Wandsworth till in Gurgaon based on a com- south-west London since trade and how the Nirav were detained. March 29 plaint from a resident of the his arrest on an extradi- Modi brand had succeeded FEBRUARY 17: Government suspends MARCH 29: A Westminster Magistrates city, the police had said. tion warrant in March in making a mark around with UK for Nirav’s The MLA had then hit back, 2019 at a central London the world. passports of Nirav Modi and Mehul Court in London rejects Nirav Modi’s saying the FIR, like another bank branch, where he “The industry relies on Choksi for four weeks in connection with second bail application, saying there are one lodged against him in was trying to set up a new sending out high-value the PNB fraud. “substantial grounds” to believe that he early extradition January 2020, was due to account. product to companies and FEBRUARY 21: CBI arrests CFO of Nirav will fail to surrender. The judge fixes “political considerations” and He had been staying to do that they require Modi’s firm and two other senior execu- April 26 as the next date of hearing when DC CORRESPONDENT that he had been raising his nearby at a plush pent- trust and confidence,” said he will appear via video link from jail. NEW DELHI, FEB. 25 voice against the BJP-led gov- house in Centrepoint in Taylor, in an attempt to tives of his firms. It also seals his farm- CBI SAYS VERDICT ernment in Haryana on vari- the heart of the UK capi- establish Modi’s credibili- house in Alibaug. MAY 8: Nirav Modi denied bail for a third India on Thursday ous issues. The state police tal, regularly walking his ty in the business. FEBRUARY 22: The ED seizes nine luxu- time, to remain in UK jail. evening said that “since IS REMINDER TO had in January 2020 booked dog to an apparently new “India is the largest and ry cars belonging to Nirav Modi and his JUNE 12: UK court rejects Nirav Modi’s the Westminster Kundu and his brother Shivraj jewellery business nearby. most important centre of firms. bail for fourth time over fears he would Magistrate’s Court has ALL FUGITIVES for allegedly cheating a It later emerged during diamond cutting it was a abscond. recommended Nirav Rohtak resident. remand hearings at very significant trend that FEBRUARY 27: A magistrate’s court Modi’s extradition to the New Delhi, Feb. 25: The When the case was regis- Westminster Magistrates’ he [Modi] was part of,” he issues a bailable arrest warrant against AUGUST 22: Nirav Modi’s remand UK home secretary, the CBI on Thursday termed tered, Kundu had claimed that Court in London that he added. diamond trader Nirav Modi. extended till September 19, UK extradi- Government of India the judgement of a UK he was being framed in the had hired Boutique Law The picture painted in JUNE 2: The issues Red Corner tion trial expected in May 2020. would liaise with the UK court in the Nirav Modi's case due to political vendetta LLP in anticipation of the court was one of a talented authorities for his early case as “significant” and at the behest of a BJP leader extradition proceedings jewellery designer who Notice against Nirav Modi for money NOVEMBER 6: UK court rejects Nirav extradition to India” said it should serve as a and former minister from the on charges of fraud and was only driven by one laundering. Modi’s new bail application On Thursday, the reminder to all fugitives, state. Kundu, who runs a con- money laundering by the mission to make the Nirav JUNE 25: The ED moves a special court in MAY 11, 2020: Nirav Modi’s five-day Ministry of External who have indulged in struction company along with Central Bureau of Modi brand worthy of Mumbai seeking Nirav Modi’s extradi- extradition trial in PNB fraud case Affairs said, “Nirav Modi large value frauds, that his brother, was not answering Investigation (CBI) and competition with the likes tion. begins in UK is wanted in India in con- they cannot escape the calls. Enforcement Directorate of global luxury jewellery nection with the multi- law merely by changing (ED), trying to strike a vol- brands such as Tiffany or AUGUST 3: The Indian Government MAY 13: Indian govt submits more proof million dollar Punjab their countries of resi- untary surrender and bail Cartier. And, the accusati- sends a request for the extradition of against Nirav Modi in money laundering National Bank Fraud case. dence. MUMBAI MAYOR deal. ons associated with the Nirav Modi to the UK authorities. case On the request of CBI and The CBI said the court However, as the CBI and extradition case were pai- AUGUST 20: The CBI officials request SEPTEMBER 7, 2020: UK court given ED, his extradition from order vindicated the UNVEILS RESTORED ED evidence was present- nted as nothing more than UK was sought in August painstaking probe carried ed in court by the Crown a commercial dispute. Interpol Manchester to detain Nirav fresh video tour of Mumbai’s Arthur 2018. He was arrested and out by the agency espe- TRAM CAR Prosecution Service (CPS), The CPS, in turn, pre- Modi after the latter informs about his Road Jail produced before the cially since Modi had arguing on behalf of the sented documents and presence in London to Indian authorities. DECEMBER 1: Nirav Modi’s remand Senior District Judge at raised various issues on Mumbai, Feb. 25: Mumbai Indian authorities, his video evidence in an effort DECEMBER 27: The UK informs India extended, final hearings in 2021 Westminster Magistrate’s admissibility of evidence, mayor Kishori Pednekar on offer of up to GBP 4 mil- to establish a complex web that Nirav Modi is living in the country. court on 20.03.2019. Since fairness of investigation, Thursday unveiled a tram car lion as security to be of misuse of a bank credit JANUARY 8, 2021: UK court decides to then he is facing extradi- trial, prison conditions, restored by the allowed to be bailed under facility called letters of MARCH 9, 2019: British newspaper ‘The pronounce judgement in Nirav Modi’s tion proceedings while in availability of health Brihanmumbai Municipal strict house arrest condi- undertaking (LoUs) and Telegraph’ confronts Nirav Modi on extradition case on February 25 judicial custody. The final facilities in India and Corporation (BMC) in south tions was repeatedly threats issued to so-called London’s streets and confirms his pres- FEBRUARY 25, 2021: UK court rules Nirav hearing in this case was extraneous consideration, Mumbai, a civic official said. rejected. dummy directors of front ence in the country. held on 7-8 January 2021. with a view to divert The civic body had earlier His detention in a shared companies to keep them Modi can be extradited to India to face On Thursday, the attention from his own displayed the tram car on an cell with one other inmate out of the reach of Indian MARCH 9: The ED says the government charges of fraud and money laundering. Westminster Magistrate’s acts. — PTI elevated podium at Bhatia is a far cry from his past investigative authorities. of the UK has sent an extradition request — PTI Court in London has pro- Baug garden next to billionaire lifestyle, which Throughout the extradi- nounced that Nirav Modi Home Secretary, India Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj involved hobnobbing with tion case in London, Nirav be extradited to India to would liaise with the UK Terminus, but due to various high-profile celebrities Modi’s depression and me- Andrew Forrester, a foren- plan, involving antidepres- year, he seemed alert and stand trial.” authorities for his early reasons including the Covid-19 and his diamond designs ntal health condition rem- sic psychiatrist who exam- sants and psychotherapy. constantly referred to files The MEA added, extradition to India.” pandemic, it was not open for finding red carpet favour ained at the heart of argu- ined him, told the court in Except for a few initial r- related to the case made “Dismissing the mental A senior diplomat at public viewing. with stars. ments with his extended September last year. emand hearings in 2019, N- available to him. More health concerns raised by India House said the judg- “The BMC has taken this “I was totally impressed incarceration said to have At the time, Forrester irav has been appearing o- recently, he has appeared Nirav Modi, the judge ment paves the way for the tram from the BEST and with the craftsmanship at worsened his condition. said Nirav’s mental health nly via video link from a r- via video link sporting a observed that Nirav Modi government of India and installed it at Bhatia Baug so the workshop [in India]. It Coupled with a severe condition was on a deterio- oom in Wandsworth Priso- thick beard and at times conspired to destroy evi- the high commission offi- people could re-experience the was the best quality I condition of depression, ration trajectory and met n as the case was conduct- more dishevelled than his dence and intimidate wit- cials to liaise with the UK past glory of Mumbai,” could see anywhere in the in my view, he presents a the criteria for hospital ed in a part-remote setting appearance in a formal nesses. Since the Court authorities on the next Pednekar said, while unveil- world, Thierry Fritsch, a high risk of suicide albeit treatment in the absence due to Covid-19 lockdown. shirt and suit over the past has recommended his stages of the procedural ing the tram. high-end French jewellery not immediately, Dr of a multi-professional During the hearings last year. — PTI extradition to the UK matters for extradition. The yellow and maroon coloured single-decker tram car is decorated with lights for tourists to enjoy viewing it at night time as well, the mayor Electrifying protest Vehicle with explosives found said. Trams were part of Mumbai’s public transport system for nearly 90 years and near Mukesh Ambani’s house were one of the cheapest and favourite modes of transport SHAHAB ANSARI | DC ● THE SUV was noticed parked beside a tree on for citizens, before they were MUMBAI, FEB. 25 at around 3 pm after the Carmichael Road at discontinued from service in which some people from around 1 am. More than 1964. An abandoned vehicle the vicinity alerted the one person was seen with 20 gelatin sticks was alighting from the car. found just metres away local police, who rushed Deshmukh said that the RSS ACTIVIST’S from business tycoon to the spot. car was parked some dis- Mukesh Ambani’s house ● CCTV FOOTAGE of the tance away from in Mumbai on Thursday. area revealed the SUV Ambani’s palatial house. MURDER: 8 SDPI The SUV was noticed at Mumbai Police around 3 pm after which was parked beside a tree spokesperson, DCP WORKERS HELD some people from the on the Carmichael Road S. Chaitanya, said, “The vicinity alerted the local at around 1 am. gelatin sticks recovered in GILVESTER ASSARY | DC police, who rushed to the the SUV were not an THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, spot and cordoned off the tin sticks was found near assembled explosive FEB. 25 entire area, sending the Mukesh Ambani’s device. But details of the state government and the Mumbai residence. The risks they posed would be The brutal murder of RSS police into a tizzy. crime branch of Mumbai known only after a thor- activist in Vayalar in A Bomb Detection and Police is investigating the ough probe.” Alappuzha district of Kerala Disposal Squad (BDDS) entire matter and Efforts are on to trace allegedly by SDPI workers, the team reached the spot the truth will emerge the persons who parked political arm of PFI, has creat- immediately, he said. It soon,” Maharashtra home the vehicle there, from ed tension in many parts of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee rides an electric scooter during a protest against the hike in fuel was not an assembled minister Anil Deshmukh where they came, what the area. price in Kolkata on Thursday. She slammed the BJP-led government at the Centre, “We are protesting against the explosive device, he said, said. were their diabolic Nandu N. Krishna, 23, was fuel price hike. The Modi government only makes false promises. They have done nothing to bring down fuel adding that further inves- According to reports, motives, who or what hacked to death allegedly by prices. You can see the difference in petrol prices when the Modi government came to power and now.” — PTI tigation was on. CCTV footage of the area were the exact targets etc., SDPI workers on Wednesday “A Scorpio with 20 gela- revealed the SUV was officials said. night following a political clash between the rival groups. Eight SDPI workers have been arrested in connec- NEW | MEMBER Chaurasia had earlier pledged to spread Godse’s last court statement to 1L people KEJRIWAL’S tion with the murder; Suneer, 33, Yasir , 32, Abdul Khader, 52, Mohammed Amaz , 24, Ansil , SECURITY COVER 33, Riyaz, 38, Nishad , 32, and Shabudeen , 49. Godse ‘devotee’ inducted in MP Congress REDUCED: AAP The police said that the mur- der was well-planned as the RABINDRA NATH dent and former chief graph showing Nath wel- ple built for Godse in I was pushed into worship- added. New Delhi, Feb’. 25: A assailants had arrived at the CHOUDHURY | DC minister Kamal Nath here coming Chaurasia into the Gwalior in 2017. ing the idol”, he said. BJP took a jibe at day before Delhi Chief spot in a car carrying sharp BHOPAL, FEB. 25 on Wednesday. party in his Twitter He was also reportedly Hindu Mahasabha Congress for inducting the Minister Arvind edged weapons. These The official Twitter han- account, while posting his present at the ‘consecra- national vice-president Godse ‘devotee’, saying Kejriwal’s roadshow in weapons were used for hack- A ‘devotee’ of Mahatma dle of MP Congress on comment. tion’ ceremony held to Jaiveer Bhardwaj took a that this has exposed the Gujarat’s Surat, sources ing the RSS worker. Gandhi’s assassin Wednesday evening broke Sources in the party said install Godse’s statue in swipe at Chaurasia for dis- grand old party’s double in the AAP government The BJP and Hindu outfits Nathuram Godse has been the news of Chaurasia the decision to induct the temple. owning his devotion to standard as far as sticking alleged on Thursday had called for a dawn to dusk inducted in Congress here, being admitted to Godse’s “follower” in the Later, the Gwalior dis- Godse, saying, “He to its ideology is con- that his security cover hartal in the district on much to the chagrin of a Congress by sharing the party has left many senior trict administration had (Chaurasia) used to be cerned. has been scaled down, a Thursday against the murder. strong section of the party. picture of the event in the leaders in Congress flab- removed the idol. present in almost all the “On one hand, Congress charge denied by the The police have clamped pro- Babulal Chaurasia who party HQ here. bergasted. Talking to reporters in events organised to pay projects itself as the right- Union Home Ministry. hibitory orders in some areas had a few years ago Former PCC president of Chaurasia had quit Gwalior on Thursday, respect to Godse in the last ful inheritor of Mahatma Joint Commissioner of Cherthala and Vayalar to pledged to spread Godse’s MP Arun Yadav reacted to Congress and joined Chaurasia described his several years”. Gandhi’s legacy, on the (Security) of Delhi Poli- check retaliatory attacks by last court statement to one the development with a Hindu Mahasabha in 2014 joining in Congress as his “It shows Congress is not other the party is not hesi- ce ID Shukla said Kej- the rival groups. lakh people was welcomed one-liner, “Bapu hum to contest the local civic “homecoming”. averse to accommodating tant a bit to embrace a riwal has a Z+ security The area had witnessed into the party by MP sharminda hai’ (Bapu, we body elections in Gwalior. “I was not aware then people who espouse the staunch follower of cover and his “complete political clashes in the recent Pradesh Congress are ashamed). He was said to be one of that the idol I was wor- nationalistic ideology of Godse”, BJP spokesman Z+ security” is being days. Committee (PCC) presi- He tagged the photo- the brain behind the tem- shiping was that of Godse. Nathuram Godse”, he Rajneesh Agrawal said. maintained. — PTI c m y k c m y k

DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | FRIDAY | 26 FEBRUARY 2021 pg 11

C I N E M A WORLD DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | pg 12 FRIDAY | 26 FEBRUARY 2021 Japanese firefighters battle 2 forest fires Tokyo, Feb. 25: A forest News footage showed has been injured. fire broke out in a rural smoke billowing upward The two fires are not area north of Tokyo on from the hills. Another directly related, but the Thursday, near another fire has been raging in area has not had much blaze burning for a fourth nearby Ashikaga in Toch- rain lately, causing flames day. One man suffered igi prefecture, where 207 to spread, officials said. burns and was hospital- households have been ask- An evacuation order for ized, and firefighters have ed to evacuate, said spoke- Ashikaga was first issued been deployed, said Hito- sman Minoru Takayama. Tuesday for about 50 mi Hirokami, an official Firefighters were work- households, underlining at Kiryu in Gunma prefec- ing on the ground, while how the stricken area was ture, about 100 kilometres military helicopters were growing. northwest of Tokyo. dousing the area. No one — AP SPLIT CYPRUS PREZ HAILS UN BID TO RESUME PEACE TALKS Nicosia, Feb. 25: The Greek Cypriot president of ethnically divided Cy- prus said on Thursday he'll attend a United Nations-hosted meeting in April with the leader of the breakaway Turk- ish Cypriots with “full political will” to get dor- mant peace talks up and running again. Nicos Anastasiades expressed in a statement his “str- ong determination” to try and find common gr- ound with Turkish Cyp- riot leader Ersin Tatar when they meet in Gen- eva, Switzerland on Ap- ril 27-29. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will host the informal meet- ing that will also be attended by the foreign ministers of Cyprus' “guarantors” — Greece, Turkey and Britain. This will be the latest push to get the two sides focused on reaching a peace deal that has remained elusive since Cyprus' division in 1974, when Turkey invaded following a coup aiming at union with Greece. Only Turkey recognis- es a Turkish Cypriot de- claration of independ- ence in the east Medite- rranean island's north- ern third. The last atte- mpt at cobbling together an accord over several days at a Swiss resort in the summer of 2017 col- lapsed amid acrimony. April's meeting is over- shadowed by Turkey's apparent shift from the long-established aim of forging a federation made up of Greek- and Turkish-speaking zones. — AP RARELY SEEN VAN GOGH PAINTING EXHIBITED Paris, Feb. 25: A rare painting by Dutch impr- essionist master Vincent van Gogh of a street sce- ne in the Parisian neigh- bourhood of Montmart- re will be publicly dis- played for the first time before its auction next month. Sotheby's aucti- on house said the work, painted in 1887, has rem- ained in the same family collection for more than 100 years — out of the public eye. It will be exhibited next month in Amsterd- am, Hong Kong and Par- is ahead of an auction scheduled on March 25 in the French capital. “It's an important paint- ing in the oeuvre of Vin- cent van Gogh because it dates from the period in which he's living in Paris with his brother, Theo," Etienne Hellman, senior director of Impre- ssionist and Modern Art at Sotheby's, said. Van Gogh moved to Paris in 1886 and lived in Montmartre. He left the capital in 1888 for south- ern France, where he lived until his death in 1890. “Before this, his paintings are much dar- ker... In Paris he discov- ers colour,” Hellman said. “Colour blows up into the painting." “Street Scene in Mont- martre” depicts a wind- mill named the Pepper Mill, seen from the stre- et under a bright sky, with a man, a women and a little girl walking in front of wooden pal- isades that surrounded the place. “Paris marks this period where... the major impressionists influence his work,” Hellman said. — AP WORLD DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | FRIDAY | 26 FEBRUARY 2021 pg 13

SHORT TAKES GERMAN POLICE Biden revokes RAID ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS Green Card ban Berlin, Feb. 25: Hundreds of German police officers con- ducted coordinated raids early Thursday in Berlin and the Lawyers: Was blocking legal immigration surrounding state of Branden- San Diego, Feb. 25: States citizens and lawful United States. The block- burg in the investigation of an President Joe Biden has permanent residents from ed visas add to a growing organisation banned over alle- lifted a freeze on green joining their families backlog that has reached gations of Islamic extremism. cards issued by his prede- here. It also harms indus- 437,000 for family-based Some 800 police, including cessor during the pandem- tries in the United States visas alone, said Californ- SWAT teams, were involved in ic that lawyers said was that utilize talent from ar- ia immigration lawyer the raids of apartments linked blocking most legal immi- ound the world," Biden st- Curtis Morrison, who rep- to members of the organisati- gration to the United Sta- ated in his proclamation. resented thousands of pe- on, authorities told the D PA tes. Former President Do- Most immigrant visas ople blocked by the freeze. news agency. The raids were nald Trump last spring were blocked by the orde- “I'm thrilled for my clients carried out with the primary halted the issuance of gre- rs. As many as 120,000 fa- who are now in a position focus of obtaining evidence. en cards until the end of mily-based preference vis- that they can now enter No arrests were immediately 2020 in the name of prote- as were lost largely becau- the US," he said. reported. Berlin authorities cting the Coronavirus-wr- se of the pandemic-relat- “But that backlog will said further details would be acked job market — a rea- ed freeze in the 2020 budg- take years if the adminis- released at a press conference son that Trump gave to et year, according to the tration does not take later Thursday. achieve many of the cuts American Immigrant La- ambitious measures." A to legal immigration that wyers Association. Immi- federal judge last year had eluded him before the grants could not bring issued a ruling that all but MINE COLLAPSE pandemic. Trump on Dec- over family members unl- lifted Proclamation 10052 ember 31 extended those ess they were US citizens by allowing temporary IN INDONESIA orders until the end of applying for visas for the- foreign workers to enter March. Trump had deem- ir spouses or children un- the United States if their Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan (centre) surrounded by his supporters, speaks through a loudspeaker KILLS SIX ed immigrants a “risk to der the age of 21. employers are members of during a rally in Yerevan, Armenia, on Thursday. He accused top military officers on Thursday of attempting a coup the US labour market” It also barred entry to the US Chamber of Com- after they demanded he step down, adding fuel to months-long protests calling for his resignation following the Jakarta, Feb. 25: An illegal and blocked their entry to immigrants with employ- merce or several other lar- nation’s defeat in a conflict with Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. — AP gold mine in Indonesia's the United States in issu- ment-based visas unless ge organisations that rep- Sulawesi island collapsed on ing Proclamation 10014 they were considered ben- resent much of the US nearly two dozen people work- and Proclamation 10052. eficial to the national economy. But Proclamati- ing inside, killing three and Biden stated in his proc- interest such as health on 10014 continued to bl- leaving another five missing, lamation on Wednesday care professionals. And it ock thousands of immigr- officials said Thursday. that shutting the door on slammed the door on ants. Immigration lawye- Coup attempt: Armenia PM Survivors estimated about 23 legal immigrants “does thousands of visa lottery rs said they were surpri- people were trapped in the not advance the interests winners who were ran- sed Biden did not immedi- Yerevan, Feb. 25: Arme- ● Under pressure for his brass were mounting an ryan. Khachatryan had rubble when the mine in of the United States". “To domly chosen from a pool ately lift the freeze like he nia's Prime Minister Nikol handling of the conflict “attempted military coup” ridiculed claims by Pashi- Central Sulawesi province's the contrary, it harms the of about 14 million appli- did with Trump's travel Pashinyan accused the mi- over the Nagorno-Karaba- and fired the chief of the nyan that Iskander mis- Parigi Moutong district col- United States, including cants to be given green ban imposed against peo- litary of an attempted kh region, Prime Minister general staff Onik Gaspa- siles supplied by Russia — lapsed late Wednesday due to by preventing certain fa- cards that would let them ple from mostly Muslim- coup and brought support- Nikol Pashinyan has igno- ryan. Hundreds of sup- Armenia's main military unstable soil, said Andrias mily members of United live permanently in the majority countries. — AP ers to the streets on Thur- porters then joined Pashi- ally — had failed to hit tar- Hendrik Johannes, who heads sday, as months of tensio- red repeated calls to nyan to march through gets during the war over the local search and rescue ns over its defeat in last resign for losing swathes central Yerevan, chanting Nagorno-Karabakh. agency. Rescuers were able to year's war with Azerbaij- of territory to Azerbaijan “Nikol Prime Minister!” Armenia's opposition — pull 15 people from the debris WHO: LONG an came to a head. in the war. President Speaking to supporters who have been calling for and recover the bodies of German charged Thousands marched thr- Armen Sarkisian said he through a megaphone, Pa- Pashinyan's resignation three women during a gruell- COVID PRIORITY ough the streets of the was taking urgent steps shinyan called for calm, as since a ceasefire deal in ing search effort, he said. capital Yerevan in support to try to defuse the crisis. dozens of police deployed November — urged him to Police, emergency personnel, FOR AUTHORITIES of Pashinyan, with the outside the main govern- heed to military's call. soldiers and volunteers were with espionage opposition urging him to ment offices. “The situati- “We call on Nikol Pashi- all taking part in the efforts. Copenhagen, Feb. 25: step down to avoid blood- to resign for losing swa- on is tense, but we must nyan not to lead the coun- Berlin, Feb. 25: A Ger- military intelligence age- The World Health Orga- shed or even civil war. thes of territory to Azerb- agree that there cannot be try towards civil war and man man has been char- ncy. They didn't specify nisation on Thursday President Armen Sarkis- aijan in the war. clashes,” said Pashinyan, to avoid bloodshed. Pashi- DRONE HIT ON ged with espionage for how his activities came to urged national authori- ian, whose role is largely After largely backing the who was joined by his nyan has one last chance allegedly passing infor- light. The charges against ties to make a priority of symbolic, said he was taki- prime minister for mont- wife, daughters, ministers to avoid turmoil,” Prospe- SAUDI PALACE mation on properties the suspect, who is not in understanding the con- ng urgent steps to try to hs, the military's general and security detail. rous Armenia, the coun- used by the German par- custody, were filed at a sequences of long-term defuse the crisis, calling staff on Thursday joined He said the situation in try's largest opposition WAS FROM IRAQ liament to Russian mili- Berlin court on February coronavirus infections on all involved to “show calls for him to step down, the country was under party, said in a statement. tary intelligence, prosec- 12. The court will have to to help those suffering restraint and common se- saying in a statement that control and that the milit- Prosperous Armenia Baghdad, Feb. 25: Explosive- utors said Thursday. decide whether to go ah- from worrying sympt- nse.” Under pressure for he and his cabinet “are ary's call had been an “em- and another opposition laden drones that targeted The suspect, identified ead with a trial. oms after many months. his handling of the confli- not capable of taking ade- otional reaction” to his fir- party, Bright Armenia, Saudi Arabia's royal palace in only as Jens F. in line Relations between Ger- “It's a clear priority for ct over the Nagorno-Kar- quate decisions”. ing the previous day of the called for the holding of the kingdom's capital last with German privacy many and Russia have WHO, and of the utmost abakh region, Pashinyan Pashinyan hit back with deputy chief of the gener- an extraordinary session month were launched from rules, worked for a comp- been buffeted by a grow- importance. It should be has ignored repeated calls an accusation that top al staff Tigran Khachat- of parliament. — AFP inside Iraq, a senior Iran-back- any that had been repeat- ing list of issues in recent for every health authori- ed militia official in Baghdad edly contracted to check years. In October, the Eur- ty,” Hans Kluge, regional and a US official said. portable electrical appli- opean Union imposed sa- director for WHO Euro- Speaking to The Associated ances by the Bundestag, nctions on two Russian of- pe, said while address- RIOT PANEL IS Press this week, the militia or the lower house of par- ficials and part of the ing a press conference. official said three drones were liament, federal prosecu- GRU agency over a cyber- While some studies Oz passes law to make launched from Iraqi-Saudi tors said in a statement. attack against the Germ- have begun to shed light PRO-DEMOCRATS: border areas by a relatively As a result of that, he had an parliament in 2015. In on the illness, it is still unknown Iran-backed faction access to PDF files with addition, a Russian man unclear why some REPUBLICANS in Iraq and crashed into the floor plans of the proper- accused of killing a Geor- patients with Covid-19 Google, FB pay for news royal complex in Riyadh on ties involved. Prosecutors gian man in downtown continue to show symp- Washington, Feb. 25: January 23, exacerbating said, at some point before Berlin on Moscow's orde- toms for months, includ- Canberra, Feb. 25: Aust- Republican leaders in regional tensions. early September 2017, the rs in 2019 is on trial in ing tiredness, brain fog, ralia's laws forcing Google the House and Senate Attacks on the Saudi capital suspect “decided of his Berlin. And last year's po- and cardiac and neuro- and Facebook to pay for FB bans Myanmar say a proposed plan for have been sporadic amid the own accord” to give infor- isoning of Russian oppos- logical disorders. news are ready to take an independent commis- kingdom's years-long war mation on the properties ition leader Alexei Nava- “The burden is real effect, though the laws' sion to study the Capitol against Houthi rebels who to Russian intelligence. lny, flown to Germany for and it is significant. architect said it will take insurrection is overly control large part of neigh- They said he sent the treatment and then arre- About one in 10 Covid-19 time for the digital giants military accounts tilted toward Democrats, bouring Yemen. PDF files to an employee sted immediately after he sufferers remain unwell to strike media deals. The arguing that the panel of the Russian Embassy returned to Russia, has after 12 weeks, and many Parliament on Thursday Yangon, Feb. 25: Social state television broadcast- should have an even in Berlin who was an offi- added another layer of for much longer,” Kluge passed amendments to the media giant Facebook er MRTV. The bans are party split like the one SRI LANKA cer with Russia's GRU tensions. — AP said. — AFP so-called News Media Bar- announced Thursday it also being applied on Ins- formed to study the gaining Code agreed betw- was banning all accounts tagram, which is owned September 11 terrorist SEEKS $2.2 BN een Treasurer Josh Fryde- linked to Myanmar's mili- by Facebook. attacks. House Republic- nberg and Facebook chief tary as well as ads from Facebook and other an leader Kevin McCar- FROM CHINA executive Mark Zuckerb- military-controlled com- social media platforms thy and Senate Republic- erg on Tuesday. panies in the wake of the came under enormous an leader Mitch McCon- Colombo, Feb. 25: Sri Lanka Completely eradicated In return for the chang- army's seizure of power criticism in 2017 when nell said Wednesday that is seeking $2.2 billion from es, Facebook agreed to lift on Feb. 1. right groups said they a legitimate commission Chinese banks, the govern- a ban on Australians ac- It said in a statement failed to act enough to would be comprised of ment said Thursday, in echoes cessing and sharing news. that it was treating the stop hate speech against an equal number of Rep- of a borrowing binge more poverty in China, says Xi Rod Sims, the competiti- post-coup situation in Myanmar's Muslim ublicans and Democrats. than a decade ago that resulted on regulator who drafted Myanmar as an “emer- Rohingya minority. A draft proposed by in the country having to give Beijing, Feb. 25: Presid- verty fighters. erty. All the 832 impover- the code, said he was hap- gency,” explaining that The army launched a House Speaker Nancy up a strategic port to China. ent Xi Jinping on Thurs- China has a population ished counties and 128,000 py that the amended legis- the ban was precipitated brutal counterinsurgency Pelosi would create an Money and capital markets day declared that China of around 1.4 billion. "No impoverished villages lation would address the by events since the coup, operation that year that 11-member commission minister Nivard Cabraal said has scored a "complete vi- country has been able to have been removed from market imbalance betwe- including “deadly violen- drove more than 700,000 with four Republicans the government was hopeful of ctory" in its fight against lift hundreds of millions the poverty list, he said. en Australian news pub- ce.” Facebook already has Rohingya to to seek safety and seven Democrats, finalising a $1.5-billion swap poverty by lifting over 770 of people out of poverty Since the launch of the lishers and the two gatew- banned several military- in neighbouring Banglad- three of whom would be facility with China's central million people out of it in in such a short time," Xi reform and opening up in ays to the internet. linked accounts since the esh, where they remain in chosen by President Joe bank. “Within the next two the last four decades, call- said. Xi said that all poor the late 1970s, 770 million All signs are good, Sims coup, including army-con- refugee camps. Biden, according to one weeks we should be able to ing it another "miracle" people in rural areas have impoverished rural resid- told Australian Broadcast- trolled Myawaddy TV and — AP of multiple aides who finalise it,” Cabraal told created by the country been lifted out of poverty. ents have shaken off pove- ing Corp. The purpose of spoke on condition of reporters in Colombo while that will go down in histo- With this, China has achi- rty when calculated acco- the code is to address the anonymity to discuss maintaining that the funds ry. Absolute poverty has eved the UN goal of pover- rding to China's current market power that clearly petition and Consumer ing News Corp and Seven the details under negoti- would be used as a “buffer” to been eradicated in the ty eradication 10 years ah- poverty line, he said. Chi- Google and Facebook Commission chair added. West Media. ation. meet the government's foreign world's most populous ead of the 2030 deadline, na has contributed to have. Google and Facebo- The rest of the laws had Frydenberg said he was Pelosi has not co- currency needs. country, Xi announced he said. Over the past eig- more than 70 per cent of ok need media, but they passed earlier, so they can pleased to see progress by mmented on the draft or Official figures show Sri while addressing a gather- ht years, the final 98.99 mi- global poverty reduction don't need any particular now be implemented. Google and more recently said why there should be Lanka's foreign reserves plum- ing held here to mark the llion impoverished rural over the same period, Xi, media company, and that Google has already Facebook in reaching more Democratic mem- meted to $4.8 billion at the end country's accomplishmen- residents living under the also General Secretary of meant media companies struck deals with major commercial deals with bers. Last week, she said of January. ts in poverty alleviation current poverty line have the ruling Communist Pa- couldn't do commercial Australian news business- Australian news business- the commission must be and honour its model po- all been lifted out of pov- rty of China, said. — PTI deals, the Australian Com- es in recent weeks includ- es. — PTI “strongly bipartisan” and have the power to GAY SEX: subpoena witnesses. But on Wednesday, MALAYSIAN WINS ORNITHOLOGISTS | ASTOUNDED More than 150 bird species are ‘lost’ with no confirmed sightings House Democratic Conf- erence Chair Hakeem CHALLENGE Jeffries said McCarthy hasn't operated in good Kuala Lumpur, Feb. 25: A faith and “set a bad Malaysian man Thursday won Black-browed babbler emerges after 170 years tone” when he support- the country's first legal chal- ed former President Do- lenge against Islamic laws Jakarta, Feb. 25: A bird ● RESEARCHERS HOPED ingASIA. babbler and other speci- nald Trump's efforts to banning gay sex, a victory last seen more than 170 to go back to the area “This bird is often called es,” said Ding Li Yong, a overturn Biden's legiti- hailed as “monumental progr- years ago in the rain- where it was recently 'the biggest enigma in In- co-author on the paper and mate election victory. ess” in combating persecution forests of Borneo has been spotted, but Covid-19 donesian ornithology.' It's a Singapore-based conser- The partisan bickering of the LGBT community. rediscovered, amazing travel restrictions could mind-blowing to think vationist with BirdLife before the commission He was charged in an Islamic conservationists who have that it's not extinct and it's International. gets off the ground is court in 2019 with attempting long assumed it was slow the effort. still living in these low- More than 150 species of raising questions about to have “intercourse against extinct. land forests.” Little is birds around the world are whether lawmakers can the order of nature”, and sev- The Black-browed Babb- life Conservation. known about the creature considered “lost” with no coalesce around a thoro- eral others in the same case ler has only ever been doc- Ornithologists were ast- with brown and grey confirmed sightings in the ugh review of the Jan. 6 have already pleaded guilty umented once — when it ounded to find that the feathers, which has been past decade, conservation- riot that interrupted the and were caned as a punish- was first described by sci- Black-browed Babbler was “missing” longer than any ists say. presidential electoral co- ment. entists around 1848 — alive and well, despite not other Asian bird, accord- “Discoveries like this are unt and led to five dea- Critics say the climate is eluding all subsequent having been seen since ing to the paper. incredible and give us so ths. Both parties support worsening for the gay commu- efforts to find it. before Charles Darwin pu- Researchers hoped to go much hope that it's possi- creating an independent nity in Muslim-majority But late last year, two blished “On the Origin of back to the area where it ble to find other species investigation, but much Malaysia, with government men in Indonesian Borneo Species”. was recently spotted, but that have been lost to sci- of the consensus ends officials often speaking out saw a bird they didn't “It was a bit like a Covid-19 travel restric- ence for decades or long- there, with Democrats against LGBT people. recognise and snapped 'Eureka!' moment,” said tions could slow the effort. er,” said Barney Long, demanding accountabil- In Thursday's landmark case, photos of it before releas- Panji Gusti Akbar, lead “There is now a critical Global Wildlife Conserv- ity for lawmakers who the legislation banning gay ing the palm-sized crea- author of a paper on the window of opportunity for ation's senior director of amplified Trump's false- sex was enacted in Selangor ture back into the forest, discovery published Thur- conservationists to secure species conservation. hoods about the election. state, outside Kuala Lumpur. according to Global Wild- sday in the journal Bird- these forests to protect the — AFP — AP HYDERABAD | FRIDAY | 26 FEBRUARY 2021 pg 14  Country scores in digitalisation & connectivity Blank-cheque buyers quick India top over-performer BITES eye corporate spinouts KIEL PORTER & CRYSTAL TSE Acquiring spun-off in frontier technologies subsidiaries of FEB. 25 INDICATORS % public firms Sensex 51,039.31 0.51 SANGEETHA G available at a compara- Blank-cheque companies, seems less risky for Nifty 50 15,097.40 0.77 CHENNAI, FEB. 25 tively low cost. They also flush with cash and on the Spacs in terms of due S&P 500* 3,868.82 -1.44 have large local markets, hunt for a private business India is the top "over-per- which attract investment to take public, have started diligence, accounting, Dollar (`) 72.43 -0.12 former" in terms of readi- by multinational enter- adding corporate carve- reporting and gover- Pound Sterling (`) 102.54 -0.09 ness in using, adopting prises. In China, the outs to their list of poten- nance considerations and adapting frontier progress is partly a tial purchases. Euro (`) 88.17 -0.21 technologies like artificial reward for spending 2 per The surge in special pur- — Ivana Naumovska, Gold (10gm)* (`) 45,959▼358 0.77 intelligence, big data, cent of GDP on R&D. pose acquisition compa- professor, Insead Business School, block chain and robotics, The Philippines has a nies (Spacs), which have Singapore Brent crude ($/bbl)* 67.04 0.00 as per the Unctad global high ranking for industry, raised more than $137 bil- IN 10-Yr bond yield 6.182 0.00 index. reflecting high levels of lion over the past 12 US 10-Yr T-bill yield* 1.458 0.069 The global index rates foreign direct investment months, has set off a glob- ple's radar and stokes said it would list its cryp- 158 countries on their in high-technology manu- al search for suitable tar- interest for this type of tocurrency platform * As of 8:30 PM IST readiness for frontier tech- The Unctad report finds positions," says the United facturing, particularly gets-- usually startups transaction." Bakkt Holdings LLC nologies based on five that a few developing Nations Conference on electronics. Multinational with little revenue or US-based Eventbrite through a Spac in a deal building blocks: informa- nations are exhibiting Trade and Development. enterprises are attracted mature companies sitting Inc's co-founder Kevin that valued the unit at $2.1 tion and communication stronger capabilities to Over-performance is by the country's strong in private equity portfo- Hartz, whose Spac on Wed- billion. International RBI: New ARC technologies (ICT) deploy- use, adopt and adapt fron- measured as the differ- supply chains and solid lios. Now Spacs are also nesday announced a $2.1 Business Machines Corp ment, skills, research and tier technologies than ence between the actual base of parts manufactur- looking at divisions of billion deal to merge with (IBM), which is exploring development (R&D), their per capita GDPs index rankings and the ing. The country also has public companies, with an Markforged Inc, said that a sale of its Watson Health won’t jeopardise industry activity and would suggest. estimated index rankings pro-business policies eye on those that have the a public-company spinout business, may consider access to finance. Frontier "The greatest over per- based on per capita along with a skilled, well- potential to be carved out was among the targets it listing it via a Spac as one existing players technologies are those that former is India, whose income. Ukraine, Vietnam educated workforce and a as standalone businesses. reviewed before choosing option, according to a per- take advantage of digitali- actual index ranking was and China are also in the network of economic Publicly traded Ireland- the manufacturer of 3D son familiar with the mat- The proposed asset reconstruc- sation and connectivity. 43, while the estimated top five over-performers. zones. based packager Ardagh printers. ter. IBM declined to com- tion company (ARC) for man- They include artificial one based on per capita Outliers like India and As per the global index, Group SA on Tuesday "Spacs have the ability to ment. agement of NPAs, announced in intelligence (AI), the inter- income was 108. Hence, China exceeded expecta- economies in Northern agreed to sell its beverage- offer a path to liquidity not There could be benefits the latest Budget, will not 'jeop- net of things, big data, India over performed by tions by performing well America and Europe are can unit to a blank-cheque just for standalone-type for a Spac's management ardise' the activities of existing block chain, 5G, 3D print- 65 ranking positions. It is for R&D. This reflects most ready for frontier company backed by finan- private companies, but team in buying a company players in the space, RBI gover- ing, robotics, drones, gene followed by the their abundant supplies of technologies while those cier Alec Gores. The trans- also public companies," that's already been part of nor Shaktikanta Das said. "(In) editing, nanotechnology Philippines, which over qualified and highly least ready are in sub- action valued the can busi- Hartz said. a public entity, said Ivana no way will it (proposed ARC) and solar photovoltaic. performed by 57 ranking skilled human resources Saharan Africa. ness at $8.5 billion, includ- While blank-cheque com- Naumovska, a professor of jeopardise the activities of the ing debt, making it the panies have circled carve- entrepreneurship at existing ARCs. I think, there is biggest Spac deal involv- outs before, some haven't Insead Business School, scope to have one more strong ing a corporate carve-out made it to the finish line. based in Singapore. ARC...," the governor said at an since the surge began, Hartz said it's easier to "Compared to acquiring event. There are close to 28 according to data com- complete a deal with a pri- private targets, acquiring Budget marks a directional change: FM piled by Bloomberg. vate company than a spun- spun-off subsidiaries of ARCs in the country. This type of transaction out entity, whose finan- public firms seems less Ahmedabad, Feb. 25: ment for direct and indi- government can do or how rogative," she said. could become popular as cials and accounting func- risky for Spacs in terms of Union finance minister rect taxes, saying that tax far it can do...So it's a budg- "So we went for socialism, more blank-cheque firms tions must be separated due diligence, accounting, RBI: Bank credit Nirmala Sitharaman on terrorism will be a thing of et that gives directional which could not fit into the move to the deal-making from its parent. reporting, and governance Thursday said this year's the past, but also warned change to the Indian econo- Indian ethos.” stage of their life cycle, Michael Klein's Church- considerations," Nau- budget has negated the that "technology terror- my," Sitharaman said while She said, "technology can crowding the market with ill Capital Corp IV, months movska, said. "Spun-off grows 6.2 pc in notion that welfare state is ism" will now gain ground. addressing an event. identify where loopholes suitors looking for a trans- before it announced a deal entities seem better a socialist prerogative, and "This is a budget for new "We inherited a system exist, where people are action. with Lucid Motors Inc, equipped for the public December quarter added that it has given a decade. This budget clearly from the USSR, where glo- misusing the system... "It's a pretty sizable held talks with AT&T Inc market." directional change to the says, private sector we ries of socialism were spo- "So technology terrorism deal," said Christopher about acquiring a part of Spac spinouts particular- Indian economy, wherein trust you and you are wel- ken about...That only will happen next." Anthony, a partner at satellite provider DirecTV. ly appeal to companies the government trusts come to participate in the socialism can take care of She said corporate taxes Debevoise & Plimpton Some do succeed. that want to get value out wealth creators and citi- development of the coun- the welfare of the entire are the lowest in India and LLP. "It'll be interesting Intercontinental of a unit without giving up zens. She lauded the try. It's a budget in which population. They say wel- companies want to set up whether this gets on peo- Exchange Inc in January control. —Bloomberg reform of faceless assess- we are recognising what a fare state is a socialist pre- their base in India. — PTI

Bank credit growth on a year- MTAR Tech’s on-year basis improved to 6.2 Solar capacity exceeds Households per cent in the December quar- World’s top meat supplier mulls ter from 5.8 per cent in the `600-crore previous three-month period, keep faith RBI data showed. However, credit growth in the third quar- IPO opens separate plant-based company wind power in 2020 in future: ter of the current fiscal was SANGEETHA G lower when compared to 7.4 TATIANA FREITAS The company already CHENNAI, FEB. 25 per cent growth recorded a on March 3 CMIE survey FEB. 25 has a sizable footprint, year ago. Growth in credit by with about 57 per cent of Despite a 56 per cent SANGEETHA G private sector banks decelerat- Demand for faux burgers the plant-based burger decline in capacity addi- CHENNAI, FEB. 25 ed considerably to 6.7 per cent is growing so rapidly that market in Brazil. In tion, the share of installed in the quarter ended December JBS SA, the world's Europe, its Moy Park sub- solar power capacity Both urban and rural 2020 as against 13.1 per cent a biggest meat supplier, said sidiary supplies faux exceeded wind power households have year ago. Advances growth in it will likely set up a new chicken burgers. It also sources for the first time. greater confidence in PSBs improved to 6.5 per cent global company focused has 10 plant-based prod- India added 3,239 their future than in in December 2020 quarter as solely on plant-based ucts in more than 3,000 US megawatts of solar capaci- has left about 17-18 GW of their current economic against 3.7 per cent in same products. stores under the OZO ty in 2020, 56 per cent lower projects without a PSA. conditions. Their con- period of 2019, data showed. Meat from animals will brand, where sales rose compared to 7,346 MW Once economic activity tinued confidence in be a pricey luxury in the one of many sprawling, 300 per cent last year. installed in 2019, according resumed post-lockdown, their future is critical RAVI RANJAN PRASAD future, and people will legacy food companies try- It will still be a challenge to Mercom India Research. installations picked up in to sustain the economic MUMBAI, FEB. 25 have to turn to vegetable- ing to up their meat-sub- to compete with compa- Large-scale solar projects the second half of 2020. recovery seen thus far, DCB Bank wants derived alternatives, stitutes game as burgers nies like Beyond Meat that saw a 60 per cent decline Nevertheless, the share of according to CMIE, a MTAR Technologies, which will be cheaper, and sausages made from created the fake meat and rooftop installations a solar power in India's private think-tank. Hyderabad-based preci- JBS's chief executive offi- plant proteins become craze. Investment money 35 per cent drop. installed power capacity CMIE's Consumer to turn focus on sion engineering solution cer Gilberto Tomazoni mainstream. Consumer has been pouring into "India's solar installa- mix reached 10.3 per cent Sentiments Index (CSI), company and high-tech told Bloomberg in an demand has soared after alternative protein start- tions in 2020 were the low- in 2020, for the first time based on consumers' tractor loans equipment-maker for interview. In addition, the startups like Beyond Meat ups, which raised a record est in five years. While exceeding that of wind- perception of the cur- $2.4 billion of funding in Private sector lender DCB space research and defe- world's population is and Impossible Foods pop- other top solar markets in based power sources at rent economic condi- 2020, according to market Bank said it is seeing a good nce related requirements, booming and expected to ularised veggie burgers the world have experi- 10.25 per cent. Solar, with tions and expectations researcher CB Insights. business prospects from rural on Thursday announced a reach 10 billion by 2050. that imitate real beef. The enced positive growth, 48 per cent, accounted for for the future, had hit a "We have the basis to areas and wants to focus on Rs 600-crore initial public The amount of meat need- likes of McDonald's and India, which had one of the the majority of new power low during the lock- grow on plant-based: inno- the "encouraging" tractor offering (IPO). ed to satisfy the world's Starbucks have added most stringent lockdowns capacity additions in 2020. down, falling to 46 in vation capacity, invest- loans demand from the The company has set a protein needs won't be pos- alternative meat items to in response to the pandem- Renewable energy sources April 2020 from 97 in the ments in research, agree- farming community. The bank price band of Rs 574 to Rs sible to produce. their menus. ic, took a while to get back accounted for 78 per cent of previous month. ments with global compa- is offering customised loans 575 per equity share of Rs "Plant-based will help us JBS, like US rival Tyson up and running. However, the power capacity added Sentiments have recov- nies for ingredient sup- in Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, 10 face value for the pub- to reduce this protein gap Foods Inc, entered the we expect the industry to in 2020. Electricity generat- ered marginally since plies, presence in retail," Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, lic issue that opens on with more affordable prod- plant-based meat market experience significant pos- ed from solar in 2020 then, reaching 54 in Tomazoni said. Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, March 3 and closes on ucts compared with ani- in 2019, and regional itive growth in 2021," said crossed 58.2 billion units. January 2021. The For now, JBS's focus is Odisha and Rajasthan, March 5. mal protein, which will be teams across the globe Raj Prabhu, CEO of Andhra Pradesh, Raja- index has a base of 100 developing new products which saw a growth in MTAR Technologies is more premium," Toma- developed products. The Mercom Capital Group. sthan, and Gujarat were in September- and trying to better under- demand last year. engaged in the manufac- zoni said. "We see plant- new company Tomazoni The difficulty in getting the top three states for December 2015. turing and development based as an independent envisions would gather all stand the market, distribution companies large-scale solar capacity Interestingly, urban of mission critical preci- business in the future." those regional businesses Tomazoni said. (discoms) to sign power additions, representing sentiments are some- sion components and crit- Brazil-based JBS is just in a global enterprise. — Bloomberg sale agreements (PSA) was around 51 per cent of 2020 what worse than rural ical assemblies catering another bottleneck. This installations. sentiments. The rural State transporter to clean energy, nuclear Consumer Sentiments and space and defence Index was 55.8 in KSRTC gets into sectors," the company January while the said during a virtual MISHANDLING | GLITCH Anmi says trading could have been continued without a hitch urban index was at 50.3. press meet. But both rural and parcel, cargo biz The IPO comprises a urban Indian house- fresh issuance of equity holds indicate greater The Karnataka State Road shares aggregating up to confidence in their Transport Corporation will now Rs 124 crore and an offer Brokers squarely blame NSE for losses future. While the venture into the parcel and for sale of shares aggre- Current Economic cargo business in order to gating up to Rs 473 crore RAVI RANJAN PRASAD been continued…Also Conditions Index stood increase its revenue, Karnataka by selling shareholders. MUMBAI, FEB 25 despite having a disaster at 51.6 in January 2021, deputy chief minister Laxman The company proposes CAUSES, INSTITUTIONAL DEFICIENCIES TO BE ADDRESSED: SEBI recovery site as back up, it the Consumers Savadi said. The three State to utilise the net proceeds A brokers' body has resent- was a grand failure to Expectations Index was Road Transport Corporations from the fresh issue ed that the investing com- Mumbai, Feb. 25: A day cies", are addressed. The Sebi said its inter- switch over to a back up higher at 55.7. The dif- have been generating a revenue towards repayments of munity was kept in the after technical glitches The regulator said the operability framework site. Reasons for not acti- ference between the two of Rs 35 crore by transporting borrowings, funding of dark about the glitches in halted trading at the NSE decision to stop trading allowed market partici- vating recovery site even indices is usually about luggage. He said Strategic working capital require- the National Stock for around four hours, was taken by the NSE due pants to continue their after 45 minutes of glitch 1.5 per cent. Outsourcing Pvt Ltd will be the ments and general corpo- Exchanges' trading sys- market regulator Sebi on to "issues with the tele- transactions at other were unknown even at the "This continued confi- business facilitator for five years rate purposes. tems on Wednesday, which Thursday affirmed it will com service providers" stock exchanges, thereby end of the day," it said. dence in the future is to make the project happen. MTAR Technologies led to a three-hour stop- take all necessary meas- and the Sebi was allowing them to seam- It said proper communi- vitally important to said its key portfolio com- page of trading on the ures to ensure the under- informed of it only 10 lessly trade/square off cation on trading resump- sustain the recovery prises three kinds of bourse. lying causes, including minutes ahead of the halt their existing positions. tion by the NSE could have seen thus far. If house- Printed & Published by products in the clean In a letter to regulator "institutional deficien- of trade. —PTI averted panic sell-off by holds remain hopeful of K. Sudhakar on behalf of Deccan energy sector, 14 kinds of Sebi, the Association of online brokers on the BSE their future they are Chronicle Holdings Limited, Printed at products in the nuclear National Exchanges and prevented huge mone- likely to spend and help Deccan Chronicle Press at Deccan sector and six kinds of Members of India (Anmi) said. further intimation," the including intra-day tary loss to investors. in the recovery process. Chronicle Holdings Ltd. #563/9/D&9/E, products in the space and has complained that there "The problem started at Anmi said. traders. Hence there is a "They only informed after But, this cannot be Behind Andhra Bank Pet Basheerbagh, defence sectors. were no announcements by 10.08 am when benchmark "All open positions greater need for deeper all cash positions were taken for granted. It is Kompally, Ranga Reddy Dist. Editor: cross-settled at abnormally T.Venkatram Reddy, RNI Reg MTAR has a long-stand- the NSE in public channels Nifty Index was not updat- remained at peak levels. investigation in the mat- important to build upon No.APENG/2008/24282. © All rights ing relationship with its about the root cause of the ing stock prices. The glitch happened one ter," it said. high discounts and premi- the confidence of reserved. Reproduction in whole or in customers such as glitch or its solution. Thereafter, the cash mar- day before the expiry of "There was an issue with ums on the BSE. A simple households," said part without written permission of The Nuclear Power Corpor- Members ought to have ket prices at the exchange monthly and weekly con- 2 spot indices & all other proactive communication Mahesh Vyas, manag- Editor, Financial Chronicle ® is ation of India, Isro, DRDO been updated by the stopped getting updated . tracts, which has caused things were working fine from all could have avoided ing director and CEO, prohibited. and Bloom Energy (USA), exchange about the prob- Suddenly, NSE announced huge monetary loss to for more than an hour. this sell-off," the Anmi CMIE. the company said. lem and solution, the letter suspension of trading till members and investors Hence trading could have said. GAMES pg 15 DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | FRIDAY | 26 FEBRUARY 2021 SHORT TAKES AXARDHAM

Mumbai’s Prithvi Shaw celebrates his double century Patel strikes back, makes Motera his own against Puducherry in the Vijay Hazare Trophy match at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Thursday. Ahmedabad, Feb. 25: Left-arm spinner Axar Patel created an illusion NUMBERS GAME Dutee Chand (right) flashes a of turn with 11 straighter RAVICHANDRAN ASHWIN deliveries that put India JOINS 400-WICKET CLUB Shaw smashes victory sign beside her coach IN TESTS: N. Ramesh of Hyderabad. on the brink of the World Test Championship final ● Ravichandran Ashwin with a 10-wicket demoli- became the fourth Indian Dutee, Hima set tion of England inside two and 16th bowler overall to domestic record claim 400 in Tests. days in the day-night third The off-spinner from Chennai the track ablaze Test here on Thursday. reached this milestone by Jaipur, Feb. 25: Mumbai ister their third win on the In only his second Test, dismissing Jofra Archer, leg captain Prithvi Shaw on trot. Patiala: Sprinter Dutee Chand Patel (15-0-32-5), with a before, in England’s second Thursday became the high- Shaw and Yashasvi blazed the track to win the match-haul of 11/70, innings on the second day of est individual scorer in Jaiswal (10) added 58 runs women’s 100m in the Indian relentlessly hit the good the third Test macth at Vijay Hazare Trophy for the first wicket to lay Grand Prix II athletics at the length area and hood- Ahmedabad on Thursday national 50-over champi- the foundation. After (February 25). Jaiswal was dismissed, Netaji Subhas National Institute winked England batsmen, ● By achieving this feat in his onships as he smashed an of Sports campus on Thursday. who played for turn only 77th Test match, he is the unbeaten 227 off just 152 Shaw found an able part- Dutee won in 11.44 seconds, an to find that there was second fastest after Sri balls to help Mumbai beat ner in Aditya Tare (56, 7x4) improvement on the 11.51 sec- none on offer from him. Lankan Muttiah Muraliatharan Puducherry by 233 runs in as the duo stitched a 153- onds she had clocked last week The result was their low- who took his 400th wicket in their Elite Group D game run stand for the second in the first GP. She is hoping to est total against India — his 72nd Test match. here. wicket. Suryakumar, who ● qualify for the Olympic Games 81 all out in 30.4 overs Anil Kumble (619 wickets The 21-year-old Shaw, came in at No. 4, was in his in 132 Tests), Kapil Dev (434 elements, hitting 22 fours by meeting the 11.15 seconds leaving the hosts with a wickets in 131 Tests) and who has played in five standard. She can also qualify target of 49 which they Harbhajan Singh (417 wickets Tests and five ODIs, broke and four sixes. He and as one of the 56 starters in the achieved with minimum in 103 Tests) are the other the earlier record of the Shaw added 201 runs for Tokyo Games on the basis of fuss taking a 2-1 lead in Indians to t ake 400 wickets highest individual score the third wicket stand and her rankings. She is world No. the four-match series. before Ravichandran Ashwin. held by Sanju Samson (212 helped Mumbai go past the 33 at the moment. At the other end, off- ● Joe Root recorded his best not out against Goa in 400 mark. — PTI Meanwhile, star Indian sprinter spinner Ravichandran bowling performance by tak- 2019). Puducherry’s deci- BRIEF SCORES Hima Das ran her first competi- Ashwin (15-3-48-4) was an ing five wickets for eight runs sion to put Mumbai in to ■ Mumbai 457/4 in 50 overs in India’s first innings. It was (Prithvi Shaw 227 not out, tive race in more than a year ideal foil, becoming the first time England skipper bat backfired badly as and won a gold in the women’s fourth Indian bowler and has taken five-wicket haul Shaw and Suryakumar Suryakumar Yadav 133; 200m in 23.31 seconds. second fastest in the world with his off breaks in any Yadav (133 off 58 balls) Pankaj Singh 2/79) beat Hima, who is yet to qualify for to complete a commend- type of the game. His previ- toyed with their bowling Puducherry 224 the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, able milestone of 400 Test ous best in Tests was four for attack at the Sawai (Damodaran Rohit 63; wickets with the dismissal 87 against at Mansingh Stadium and Prashant Solanki 5/48) had run her last competitive ■ Himachal 251/8 (Nikhil of Jofra Archer. Port Elizabeth in 2019-20. post a mammoth 457/4. race in August 2019. She had ● India slumped to their joint Gangta 100 not out, suffered a lower back injury at Incidentally, after sixth lowest total against Prashant Solanki (5/48) Kulwant Kherjroliya 2/30) the 2018 Asian Games and that Afghanistan’s debut Test England at home by bowling then picked a five-for as lost to Delhi 252/4 (Kshitiz forced her to miss the World in 2018 in Bengaluru, this out for 145 in 53.2 overs. Mumbai bundled out Sharma 67 not out, Lalit Championships in Doha in was the second time that India’s lowest against Puducherry for 224 to reg- Yadav 52 not out). September 2019. — PTI India won a Test match, England at home is 83 in 38.5 overs at Chennai in 1976-77. well inside two days. ● This was after England Axar Patel of India appeals for England’s Zak Crawley’s wicket during Day Two of became their third Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday. — BCCI the eighth England batsman Manideep upsets skipper Joe Root’s fabu- to receive ducks in the both lous career-best spell of innings of a Test match seasoned Savio 6.2-3-8-5 resulted in India’s against India. He is only fifth Silva, Jesus score dramatic collapse from SCORECARD England batsman to achieve Hyderabad: G. Manideep out- 114 for 3 to 145 all out. this ‘unwanted’ feat on Indian England 1st innings: 112 Bairstow b Axar Patel 0, J. Root lbw b Axar soil. played seasoned player Savio India lost as many as ● Mendes in the first round to seven wickets for only 31 India 1st innings (Overnight 99/3): Rohit Patel 19, B. Stokes lbw b Ashwin 25, O. Pope England were bundled out Sharma lbw b Jack Leach 66, Ajinkya b Ashwin 12, B. Foakes lbw b Axar Patel 8, J. for 81 runs in 30.4 overs. It in Man City win register an upset in the Senior runs after looking solid at Rahane lbw b Jack Leach 7, Rishabh Pant c Archer lbw b Ashwin 0, J. Leach c Rahane b was first time when England Snooker event of the Telangana 114 for 3 at one stage in the Foakes b Root 1, Ravichandran Ashwin c Ashwin 9, S. Broad not out 1, J. Anderson c were dismissed under 100 Budapest, Feb. 25: Sunday’s win over Arsenal State Ranking Snooker & game but England lost all Zak Crawley b Root 17, Washington Sundar Pant b Sundar 0. Extras 0. Total (all out in against India in Tests. Their Premier League leaders City camped inside the Billiards Championship being 10 in an entire session in b Root 0, Axar Patel c D Sibley b Root 0, 30.4 overs) 81. previous lowest against India Manchester City closed in Gladbach half for most of played at the Telangana Cue which no pacer was seen Ishant Sharma not out 10, Jasprit Bumrah FoW: 1-0, 2-0, 3-19, 4-60, 5-56, 6-66, 7-68, was 101 in 45.1 overs at The on the Champions League the game, moved to lbw b Root1. Extras (B-2, LB-2, W-1) 5. Total 9-80. Oval in 1971. Sports Association premises at in action. ● quarterfinals after cruis- Hungary due to Germany’s Ironically, it was the (all out in 53.2 overs) 145. FoW: 1-33, 2-34, Bowling: Axar Patel 15-0-32-5, Ashwin 15-3- Axar Patel became the Covid-19 travel restric- Khajaguda on Thursday. fourth Indian bowler to take ing past Borussia non-turning deliveries 3-98, 4-114, 5-115, 6-117, 7-125, 8-125, 9-134. 48-4, Sundar 0.4-0-1-1. Manideep won the opener in Bowling: James Anderson 13-8-20-0, Stuart 11 or more wickets in a Test Moenchengladbach with a tions. straight frames at 3-0 — 55-44, from Patel that had the Broad 6-1-16-0, Jofra Archer 5-2-24-1, Jack India 2nd innings: not out 25, match against England. His comfortable 2-0 win in Although clear favourites 55-45, 63-33. England’s rank and file Leach 20-2-54-4, Ben Stokes 3-0-19-0, Joe Shubman Gill not out 15. Extras (B-8, LB-1). match figures of 11 for 70 is Wednesday’s Champions City took time to break Meanwhile, Vibhas and Syed pressing the panic button Root 6.2-3-8-5. Total (for no loss in 7.4 overs) 49. the fourth best for India League last 16, first leg tie down a stubborn German Maaz Ali set up the final in jun- as they pre-empted away England 2nd innings: Z. Crawley b Axar Bowling: J. Leach 4-1-15-0, J. Root 3.4-0- against England. in Budapest. defence however, often ior snooker. In the semis, turn every time. Patel 0, D. Sibley c Pant b Patel 7, J. 25-0. — S. PERVEZ QAISER A first half header from foiled by the interceptions Vibhas mauled Md Faisal 54-22, Whether it was Zak Bernardo Silva and a of Algeria left-back Ramy 66-10, 57-15; Maaz jinked past Crawley, Jonny Bairstow Gabriel Jesus strike in the Bensebaini. Debutants in Jeetendar 53-13, 41-33, 59-15. or skipper Root, everyone second extended a winning the Champions League THE SCORES lost the mind-game as streak by Pep Guardiola’s knockout stages, a nervy Senior Snooker first round: Ashwin also joined the high-flying side to 19 Gladbach had been urged Manideep G bt Savio Mendes 3- fun with records tumbling Kohli bests MS India sit atop as games in all competitions. by coach Marco Rose to be 0 (55-44, 55-45, 63-33); Faisal one after another. With six changes from brave against Guardiola’s Zubairi bt Vamsi Krishna 3-0 When Patel sent back the side which started side. — AFP (69-19, 64-31, 71-31); Md Moin Ben Foakes, he became Ashrafi bt Syed Ghouse the first spinner to get 11 with most wins Eng out of WTC Mohiuddin 3-0 (52-41, 66-23, wickets in a pink ball Test 68-20); Srikanth bt Dheeraj match. Ahmedabad, Feb. 25: Ahmedabad, Feb. 25: on the points table, which Kakumanu 3-2 (49-40, 57-32, While a bowler might Virat Kohli on Thursday India knocked England is now led by India with 71 REDS KEEPER ALLISON’S 29-61, 32-55, 51-33). end up getting the man of surpassed Mahendra out of contention from percentage points,” the Junior Snooker semifinals: the match, Rohit Singh Dhoni’s record of the ICC World Test ICC stated. Vibhas bt Md Faisal 3-0 (54-22, Sharma’s 66 off 96 balls in winning maximum num- Championship (WTC) “England are out of the DAD DIES OF DROWNING 66-10, 57-15); Syed Maaz Ali bt the first essay was 24- ber of Test matches as final in June with their 10- race for a place in the Sao Paulo, Feb. 25: Two Brazilian clubs have Jeetendar 3-0 (53-13, 41-33, 59- carat gold given that other captain on home soil after wicket triumph in the final of the ICC World expressed condolences following the sudden death of 15). batsmen looked like sit- leading the side to a 10- day-night third Test here Test Championship after the father of Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker. ting ducks. wicket victory over which propelled the hosts losing the third Test Fluminense posted on social media Thursday that But Indian batsmen save England in the day-night to the top of the stand- against India in it’s deeply sorry for the death of Jos Agostinho Becker. Guptill stars in Rohit did have a torrid third Test here. ings. Ahmedabad,” it added. Alisson’s brother, Muriel, is a goalkeeper at time during an afternoon Kohli now has 22 victo- India now have to either England needed to win Fluminense. Internacional, where both Alisson and Kiwi victory session when Root and ries at home in 29 Tests as win or draw the final the four-match series 3-1 Muriel played, also offered condolences. Leach made their lives captain which is one bet- Virat Kohli game here starting March to play the June 18-22 Brazilian media reported that 57-year-old Jos Dunedin, New Zealand: Veteran miserable. ter than Dhoni, who had 4 to claim the right to take final. New Zealand are Agostinho Becker had drowned after going for a swim batsman Martin Guptill returned Ajinkya Rahane was 21 wins in 30 Tests. Kohli wickets and go up 2-1 in on New Zealand at the assured of a place in the on his property in the city of Lavras do Sul, in the to form with a blistering 97 as rapped on the pads as already is India’s most the series. Lord’s. The Black Caps final with 70 percentage south of the country. Local police confirmed the body New Zealand held on for a nail- Leach fired one in and it successful Test captain Sourav Ganguly and have already qualified points. of man was found on Wednesday night. biting win over Australia in the was not much of an issue with 35 wins. Mohammed Azharuddin and are placed second in If India lose the final The 28-year-old Alisson played at Internacional second Twenty20 international for umpire Nitin Menon to India chased down a tar- have 21 and 14 victories to the latest list. Test then Australia will between 2013 and 2016 before he joined Roma. He left in Dunedin on Thursday. adjudge him leg before. get of 49 runs in only 7.4 their credit as captains. “England have dropped sneak in to make the final. Roma after two seasons to join Liverpool. — AP Guptill’s Black Caps set — PTI overs to win the Test by 10 — PTI to 64.1 percentage points — PTI Australia a challenging target of 220 after losing the toss but were made to sweat as Australia came within four runs of victory. Both sides took advantage of Benjamin brilliant; Pratheek, Siddharth hit double tons University Oval’s short bound- aries in a thrilling match that featured 30 sixes and 434 runs at an average of 10.9 an over. Vikram, Rahul, Sahith, Aashlesh, Sachit, Harsha, Saif, Suresh, Advaith, Suraj, Yuganand, Gautam, Vasu also do well in league Marcus Stoinis starred for the DC CORRESPONDENT 38, Tejveer 55, Praveen 3/37) vs Manikumar. Australians with 78 from 37 HYDERABAD, FEB. 25 ■ balls but Guptill’s 97 from 50 HBCC 331 in 88.5 overs (Vara Prasad 68, Ryan Rodrigues 67, Vishesh Anand laid the foundation for New Benjamin Thomas batted and 65, Md Basheeruddin 3/58) vs CCOB. Zealand’s win. — AFP bowled brilliantly to emerge the ■ Crown CC 254 in 57 overs (V. Brief scores: New Zealand top peformer in the Hyderabad Venkatesh 85, K. Surender 42, Anand 219/7 in 20 overs (Guptill 97, Cricket Association’s A-1 Prakash 4/56) vs Mega City 141/2 in 33 Kane 53, K. Richardson 3/43) Division three-day league overs (A. Bhargav 57). bt Australia 215/8 in 20 overs matches played on Thursday. ■ Team Speed 201 in 73.1 overs (Rohan (Stoinis 78, Santner 4/31). Benjamin hit 115 in 106 balls Sai Pratheek C. Siddharth Aashlesh Sahith Sachit Naidu Advaith Reddy Vasu Deva Raju Prem 36, S. Deekshit 43, Sujan Kumar Benjamin 4/33) vs PKMCC 3/1 in 5 overs. with 10 fours and two sixes in ■ National CC 123 in 36 overs (R. P. ■ Evergreen 430/8 in 90 overs & 289/5 Vardhan 5/9 — 6.5-2-9-5) bt Rakesh XI Sportive CC’s second innings Aashlesh Vaman (176) of A-2 DIVISION (TWO-DAY) Praneeth 63, M. S. Karthikeya 3/29, N. in 40 overs (G. Vikram Naik 111 — 94b, 89 in 39.4 over (Md Saif Ali 5/6 — 14.4- and then took five wickets with Vijaypuri Willowmen was the Charan 3/11) lost to Venus Cybertech 7x4, 7x6, Rahul Buddhi 108 — 78b, ■ Acrylic CC 499/4 in 90 overs (M. Sai 10-6-5). Points: Adilabad 5, Rakesh 0. his off-spin while conceding 25 other big scorer while Sachit 127/2 in 31 overs (M. S. Karthikeya 39, Live on TV 13x4, 3x6) bt Combined Districts 288 Pratheek 206 — 159b, 28x4, 1x6, M ■ Saint Sai 56 in 23.3 overs (B. Suresh Shrunoth Rao 33). Points: Venus runs to help his side beat Naidu of Abhinav Colts took in 67.3 overs & 228/7 in 40 overs (B. Jashwant 95, M. Vasu Deva Raju 101 — 5/14 — 9-3-14-5, N. Pavan Reddy 4/9) Cybertech 5, National 0. CRICKET Secunderabad Nawabs. 6/17. Vikram 76, Rithwik Surya 34, G. 89b, 10x4, Sai Aravind Gona 57) vs lost to Warangal District 59/1 in 5.3 ■ Secunderabad Gymkhana 113 in 32.1 South Africa T20 Challenge: In another match, G. Vikram D. Harsha Vardhan (5/9) of Ganesh 53 n.o, G. Aniketh Reddy 3/15). Adams XI. overs (B. Kumar 36 n.o). Points: overs (Anish Chandra 32, Md Adil 38, M. Cobras vs Lions from 1.30 pm; Naik (111) and Rahul Buddhi Rakesh XI, Adilabad’s Md Saif Points: Evergreen 6, Districts 0. ■ SK Blues 540/9 (all out) 80.2 overs Warangal 5, Saint Sai 0. Manikanta Charan 4/44, Abhinav 4/4) Dolphins vs Titans from 6 pm on ■ BDL 329/9 (all out) in 87.5 overs & (Ibrahim 91, C. Siddharth Rao 200 — ■ (108) scripted Evergreen’s win. Ali (5/6), Warangal’s B. Suresh HUCC 66 in 27.5 overs (Advaith 5/23 lost to Vijayanand CC 117/1 in 23.1 overs 211/8 in 40 overs bt Income Tax 188 in 156b, 36x4, K. Srikar 84, Md Ali 48, K. Star Sports Select 2, HD The A-2 Division two-day (5/14), Advaith (5/23) of — 9.5-3-25-5, TNR Mohit 3/24) lost to (S. Aryan Raj 62 n.o, M. Abhinav 31 n.o). 37.5 overs & 235/8 in 38.4 overs Anil 30 n.o, Sunil 3/99) vs Mayura 14/2 games threw up some top notch Cheerful Chums, Bharat CC’s P. Cheerful Chums 68/1 in 12.5 overs Points: V (Vamshi Vardhan 74, Harshavardhan 47, in 7 overs ijayanand 5, Gymkhana 0. FOOTBALL performances. M. Sai Pratheek Suraj Rao (5/39), Y. Yuganand (Yash Satwalekar 30 n.o). Points: ■ Karimnagar District 130 in 43.3 overs Sai Vihari 42, Swaroop 40, Mahendra ■ Vijaypuri Willowmen 406 in 72.3 Cheerful Chums 5, HUCC 0. Indian Super League: North East of Acrylic and C. Siddharth Rao Sree (123) of Elegant CC, V. 3/0). Points: BDL 6, Income Tax 0. overs (Aashlesh Vaman 176 — 172b, ■ (Thuniki Raju 51, Mehul Dayani 3/37, United vs Kerala Blasters from 7.20 Hyderabad Panthers 179 in 32.4 Shashank 3/21) lost to Shanti XI 133/3 of SK Blues hit a double centu- Gautam (105) of Ours CC and ■ 30x4, 3x6, M. Saketh Reddy 46, Md AOC 247 in 64.1 overs & 64 in 24.5 overs (Rahul Adwala 34 n.o, P. Suraj in 45 overs (S. Venkatesh 62). Points: pm on Star Sports 2, 3 ry each while Sahith of Swastik Acrylic’s M. Vasu Deva Raju Ayub Khan 37, Md Nayeemuddin 74, overs bt Continental 200 in 78 overs & Rao 5/39, Rahul Karthikeya 4/75) lost Shanti 5, Karimnagar 0. Kiran Paul 3/53) vs Eleven Masters Union took seven wickets. (101) were the others who did 106 in 35.1 overs (Anirudh Reddy 54). to Bharat CC 180/7 in 48.4 overs (K. ■ Superstar 237 in 66.3 overs lost to Pratheek’s 206 that contained well in the two-day league. Points: Continental 0., AOC 6. 42/2 in 9 overs. Rahul 38, Adithya Verma 32 n.o, Rahul Regd. No. HQ/SD/509/2021-23 ■ Time CC 238/6 in 79 overs ( Vivek 28 boundaries and a six pro- Brief scores: ■ Jai Bhagwathi 191 in 65 overs & 104 Swastik Union 238 in 66.3 overs A 4/26, Ananya Raj Shekar 3/59). Gagan 94, Visvesh K 58, Varnith Reddy Printed and Published by pelled Acrylic to 499 for 4 in 90 A-1 DIVISION (THREE-DAY) in 30 overs (Nitin Sai Yadav 3/15) lost (Govardhan 41, Karthik 61, Hasan 4/48) Points: Bharat 5, Panthers 0. 36). Points: Time CC 5, Superstar 0. ■ K. Sudhakar on behalf of Deccan overs against Adams XI. ■ Sportive 241 in 85.5 overs & 297/4 in to Rohit XI 484/7 in 90 overs. Points: bt Lords CC 109 in 44.3 overs (Jasper Elegant CC 229 in 64.2 overs (Y. ■ Greenland 297/9 in 80 overs 36, Sahith 7/34 — 18-6-34-7). Chronicle Holdings Limited. Printed Siddharth slammed 200 which 40 overs (Benjamin Thomas 115 — Rohit XI 6+02, Jai Bhagwathi 0. Yuganand Sree 123 — 166b, 18x4, (Prabhat Gupta 77, Sai Charan 74, Suraj at Deccan Chronicle Press situated ■ Noble CC 104 in 30 overs (B. Raghavendra 3/36) vs WMCC. came off 156 balls and included 106b, 10x4, 2x6, Abhishek Murgan 56, ■ Balaaji CC 377/7 in 90 overs & 236/8 31, Prudhvi 4/72) vs Victoria. at Plot No. 9 Alwal Village, Vallabh Ambarish 43, Sachit Naidu 6/17 — 9-0- ■ Ours CC 312/9 in 90 overs (V. ■ 36 boundaries as SK Blues piled Shaik Sameer 63 n.o) bt Secunderabad in 40 overs (HK Simha 63, B. Raja Sri Shyam 234 in 66.5 overs (Md Nagar Taluk, Medchal Malkajgiri Nawabs 296 in 73.1 overs & 184 in 36.1 Shekar 49, Md Zafarullah 3/50) bt Sri 17-6) lost to Abhinav Colts 106/2 in Gautam 105 — 191b, 14x4, Kaushik Afzal Ali 57, Shaik Khaleel 36, Srinath Dist. Telangana and Published at 36, 540 for 9 against Mayura. overs (Takshit Rao 34, Jaidev Goud 75, Chakra 224 in 86.5 overs & 215/8 in 40 16.3 overs (Varun Tej 51 n.o. Points: Chevendra 96) vs Nizamabad District Naik 39, Syed Haji 43, K. Sri Harsha S.D. Road, Secunderabad-3. Sahith’s 7/34 meant Lords CC Aryan Cariappa 3/43, Benjamin overs (Koushik 41, T. Rohan 36, K Vikas Colts 5, Noble 0. 2/1 in 2 overs. 4/28) vs Classic 140/4 in 19.4 overs (S RNI Registration No. 3081/1957. ■ ■ Editor: Kaushik Mitter crashed to a humiliating 109 Thomas 5/25 — 7.1-0-25-5). Points: Rao 42 n.o). Points: Balaaji 6, Sri Adilabad District 123 in 34.5 overs (L. Hyderabad Cricket Academy 389 in Raghavendra Rao 45, K. Jagdeesh against Swastik Union. Sportive 6, Nawabs 0. Chakra 0. Mahesh 35, B. Srinivas 34, D. Harsha 86.3 overs (Pranav 97, Rishi 38, Zaheer Reddy 73). c m y k c m y k

DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | FRIDAY | 26 FEBRUARY 2021 pg 16