Year : 04 Issue : 362 New Delhi Saturday, March 14, 2020 Rs. 1/- Pages - 8

E-mail - [email protected] / [email protected] Facebook - www.facebook.com/opensearch.co.in Website - www.opensearch.co.in Delhi Assembly resolution... P3 FIRST COLUMN Delhi Assy passes ICICI Bank to invest Rs 1,000 Moratorium will be lifted within resolution against NRC, crore in Yes Bank 3 days, says FM on Yes Bank NPR; Oppn unhappy n The Chief Minister appealed to the Central government to withdraw the NRC and NPR, saying that people were under fear as around 90 per cent of the population did not have any government birth certificate

Vijay Kumar, New Delhi

against the National Population Register and the TheNational Delhi Register Assembly of Citizen. on Friday The Resolution passed a was resolution moved by Delhi Labour Minister Gopal Rai against the NRC and NPR, which New Delhi, Agency. Private sector lender was supported by Chief New Delhi, Agency. its shareholding would remain within Minister Arvind Kejriwal, its board has approved investing Rs 1,000 49 per cent of the paid-up capital of the in the one-day Special Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, n ICICI Bank has announced on Friday that Seven days after private sector lender. “The executive Session, held over the Piyush Goyal and Prakash Javadekar committee of the central board at its issues of NRC, NPR and briefed media on the outcome of the notification the crore100 crore in the equity cash strappedshares at Yesa price Bank. of RsIn 10 Administrator will vacate meeting on March 11 accorded approval lieuper share,of this underinvestment, the proposed ICICI Bank Scheme will get of for purchase of 7,250 million shares of The Chief Minister Reconstruction of Yes Bank Limited under government announced lifting the his office. YES Bank at a price of Rs 10 a share, theappealed COVID-19 to the situation.Central the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, subject themoratorium cabinet on YES meeting Bank within on three Friday. The government to withdraw the NRC and NPR, saying days and hiking dearness allowance for to regulatory and government approval, sector to Coronavirus said that she had that people were under fear as around 90 per cent central government employees by 4 per spoken to trade sectors and we are Severe volatility and stock markets have of the population did not have any government birth cent. The Cabinet has cleared a draft subject to regulatory approvals,” SBI the BSE. “This investment is likely to continuously monitoring the issue in suffered globally: Sitharaman Speaking resolution scheme for cash-starved YES said in an exchange filing on Thursday the bank said in an exchange filing with coordination with all the ministeries. The on economic concerns of Coronavirus, excess of 5.0% shareholding in Yes Bank Bank. Last week, the Reserve Bank of certificate.hands, to withdraw Speaking the on NRC the and resolution, NPR. They Chief should Minister not result in ICICI Bank Limited holding in 49 per cent s state government and the Centre has Arvind Kejriwal said, ‘I request the Centre, with folded of reconstruction for the lender, according citizenship of every person. Mr Kejriwal said, ‘While governordraft resolution had statesrecognised SBI, would that pickthere up FMbeen Nirmala monitoring Sitharaman the development said that the Indiato which (RBI) the strategichad announced investor ain draftthe bank scheme our Nation is dealing with a major Economic Crisis, Limited,of Reconstruction with the final and shareholdingshare issuance to be is a global developmenttake in YES andBank that The he RBIis ian insterests. Global be implemented.’ Mr Rai said NRC is raising doubts of would pick up 49 per cent stake and not markets have had severe volatility and the Narendra Modi government is trying to divert the determined based on the final Scheme reduce holding to under 26 per cent cleared a draft resolution scheme for stock markets have suffered elsewere and attention from this by bringing this unnecessary NPR before three years from the date of capital and ensuring Ind thereunder,”after public sector ICICI Bankbanking said behemoth in its filing. opencash-starved to The YES Union Bank. Cabinet The strategic on Friday we are concious of the the development infusion. Consultation underway with Opposing the NPR, Kalkaji MLA Atishi said, ‘Through NPR, ICICI Bank is the second banking entity PMO on Coronavirus: Sitharaman up 49 per cent stake and not reduce have had meetings with the concerned exercise.the Centre Delhi is trying Government to make a backdoor opposes entry NPR for and NRC. NRC.’ Wednesday had said it will buy shares holding to under 26 per cent before industries and each department is spending State Bank of India (SBI), to invest in the ministeries are having engagements investor in the bank, SBI, would pickand closely monitoring with the RBI. We worth Rs 7,250 crore in Yes Bank. three years from the date of capital resolution. During the session, he asked the Legislators struggling private sector lender. SBI on with the concerned industries and we The Finance Minister said that each infusion. The scheme was announced a cent with a lockin period of 3 years on 26 We won’t let this happen” Later, the Assembly passed the per cent shares. Private inmvestors are also only nine raised their hands. Meanwhile, opposition consultations are being done with the time on the issue. SBI is purchasing 49 per Day after he joined BJP, Madhya moratorium on the bank, restricting being called in. The moratorium will be toin raisethe Delhi hands, Assembly, who had led such by birth BJP MLAcertificates, Ramvir to Singh which are not waiting for them to finish, thewithdrawals to Rs 50,000 per depositor lifted within 3 days and a new board will be Pradesh EOW reopens forgery sector will chip in YES Bank, the minister day after the RBI imposed a month-long said thare has been no discussions. Govt PMO as they finish. On whether privateThursday said it would infuse Rs 7,250 be made the members. Seven days after Bidhuri,over the NRCoutrightly and NPR rejected after assurances the AAP’s givenproposal inside over and the case against Jyotiraditya Scindia crore into ailing YES Bank and pick Administrator will NRCoutside and the NPR. Parliament He said bythere the wasPrime no Minister scope for and discussion the exposure of banks to Coronavirus till April 3. State Bank of India (SBI) on constituted and two directors from SBI will 7,250 million shares at Rs 10 each, and monitoring the development: FM on the notification the away from taking political gain out of it. vacate his office. Home Minister and further said that AAP must keep FM Sitharaman on exposureopensearch of banking BJP names third candidate from Thank all who fought for my freedom, says Farooq gujarat for rajya sabha polls Abdullah after being released from detention Gandhinagar, Agency. New Delhi, Agency. The Rajya Sabha elections to four seats in Gujarat are set to see a contest between BJP and Congress revoked the detention order against him under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA), former chief New Delhi, Agency. A land grab case after the former announced its third Hours after the Jammu and Kashmir administration lodged against Union minister Jyotiraditya candidate for the elections, Narhari free and that he would now be able to “speak for Scindia in 2014 and closed by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in 2018 for lack of Patidar leader, Amin was a senior minister Farooq Abdullah on Friday said he was evidence was reopened on Thursday after Amin,Congress late leader Friday for long night. and held A strong the the complainant claimed to have fresh position of Deputy Chief Minister in you all” in Parliament. “Today I don’t have words. I said while addressing reporters from his house. evidence in the case. The development am free today. Now, I will be able to go to Delhi and The Srinagar MP further said he was grateful to the came a day after Scindia severed ties with fell out with Congress in 2012 after attend Parliament and speak for you all,” Abdullah people of J&K and all leaders across the country the Congress and joined the BJP, triggering Congressthe party governmentdenied him inan the assembly past. He ticket. Before this, BJP has already a political crisis in Madhya Pradesh. On stated. The 21-page dossier prepared by the state Thursday, the Madhya Pradesh EOW decided announced the names of Abhay Bhardwaj and Ramilaben Bara as “who spoke for our freedom”. “This freedom willpublicahead oforder”, his detention the order noted extending that “the his subjectdetention has had tremendous potential for creating an environment one Surendra Shrivastava against Scindia its candidates. Whereas, Congress be complete when all leaders are released. I hope under detention in his home on Gupkar Road, of public disorder within the district and other and his family, who have been accused has named Bharatsinh Solanki and filenominations. their formal The nominationselections have later the government of India will take action to release to verify the facts in the complaint filed by Srinagar — that was declared a subsidiary jail —since parts of Kashmir Valley. The conduct of the subject of falsifying a property document while Shaktisinh Gohil as its candidates today.been necessitated Friday is theafter lastthe dayend toof file everyone,” he added. The Srinagar MP had been the August 5 revocation of Article 370 that accorded is seen as fanning the emotions of general masses selling land. Yes, an order has been given for the elections. As per the current term of four Rajya Sabha members numbers in the Gujarat assembly, — Chunibhai Gohel, Shambhuprasad special status to J&K. The J&K administration both BJP and Congress can win two Tundiya and Lalsinh Vadodia from subsequently extended his detention under the BJP and Madhusudan Mistry from PSA on September 15, 2019 before it was extended against the Union of India, instigating public with for re-verification of facts in the complaint by three months on December 13, 2019. The PSA Abdullah family to react to the development. “My an EOW release, Shrivastava on Thursday a third candidate, speculations are Congress. With decreased numbers statements against the unity and integrity of India”. filed by Surendra Shrivastava,” an EOW order, which was imposed by the Srinagar District alleged that Scindia and his family forged seatsrife about each. defections However, inwith the BJP Congress fielding in the assembly following assembly Safia Abdullah Khan was the first member of the official told new agency PTI. According to Magistrate, now stands withdrawn with immediate retweeted by her brother and former chief minister a registry document to sell him a piece of camp reminding one of 2017 hotly elections in 2017, BJP can retain only effect. Abdullah was held under the Public Safety land at Mahalgaon which was smaller by contested Rajya Sabha elections. two of the Rajya Sabha seats with its father is a free man again,” she tweeted, which was Act, 1978, “with a view to prevent him from acting Mufti and Omar Abdullah, however, continue to 6,000 sq feet than the original agreement All the candidates are expected to current numbers. in any manner prejudicial to the maintenance of remain in detention. in 2009. While the complainant had lodged Omar Abdullah. Former chief ministers Mehbooba

was investigated and closed in 2018. “As he theagain complaint petitioned first us on today, March we 26, will 2014, re-verify it Direct benefit transfer close aide Pankaj Chaturvedi alleged that theit was facts,” political the officer vendetta. said “The However, case hadScindia’s been closed for want of evidence. Now for When those who sow, don’t reap the dividend vengeance, it is being reopened. We have full faith in the Constitution and law. We will get New Delhi, Agency. he asks. According to him, the current system, Singh, who claims to have been cultivating justice and the Kamal Nath government a Balwant Singh Boparai has been cultivating 10 the land rented from the same zamindar acres in Ghudani KalanFor village over of a Payal decade tehsil now, state agencies undertake grain procurement (who has three other tenants) for the last 15 the BJP on Wednesday, Scindia lashed out wherethrough thearhatiyas Food Corporation(commission of agents) India andin years. Ravinder Singh Gill is the sarpanch APMC mandis, works better for landless tenant of Mehmuwal Yusufpur village in Jalandhar befittingat his previous reply,” organisationChaturvedi said. and Aftersaid the joining party is not the same as it used to be and inat an Punjab’s annual Ludhianarate of Rs district. 55,000-60,000 The 58-year- per farmers. “Yes, the payment is made into the oldacre. doesn’t But despite own thebeing land a andregular takes farmer it on ofrent But he, too, does not own the land that belongs to thank JP Nadda ji, PM Narendra Modi, to us. Moreover, he (arhatiya) is the one who district’s Shahkot tehsil and farms 70 acres. is far removed from reality. “I would like arhatiya’s account. But that money also comes me to their family and gave me a place in wheator its owner and having paddy, given there’s it out no on record lease. And in any government now starts transferring MSP toit. twoMy NRIs,arhatiya one livingeven tookin Canada my bankand the account other money to the zamindar, what will happen to Home Minister Amit Shah that they invited official document of his cultivating this land is also giving us loans to raise our crop. If the in the United Kingdom. “Yes, I heard about

it,” Scindia told media minutes after being Boparai refuses to divulge the owner’s name number, Aadhaar and other details,” when in Canada. Not being either the owner or a the 15 acres owned by a zamindar (name inducted into the BJP. He further said the (“it will create problems”), even while stating us?,” he points out. Echoing a similar sentiment asked about the Narendra Modi government’s registered tenant farmer means that Boparai not disclosed) of Jhumba village in Bathinda country’sNath-led Congress future is totallygovernment, secure Scindia in PM also that he is an NRI (non-resident Indian) based is Jagjit Singh, 40, who cultivates five out of proposed plan, on which The Indian Express cannot access any crop credit from the local Modi’ssaid, “the hands. dream In wea veiled saw forattack Madhya on the Pradesh Kamal had first reported last month (“After fertilisers, primary agricultural cooperative society, leave to the mandi, the arhatiya makes sure that the Centrethe other wants two farmers, food subsidy has four to acres. directly But this benefit Thursday, he warned the state government government plans to make minimum support district and tehsil. “Whenever I take my crop farmers”,is land jointly January owned 13). with The his 48-year-old,brother and twounlike price (MSP) payments directly into the bank me after deducting interest and loans that cousins. “Whatever land you can call my own hasthat been its collapse shattered was in imminent. 18 months.” “Whenever On For Boparai, the news that the Narendra Modi the Scindia family is challenged, there are aloneKisan benefitSamman from Nidhi the Punjab(PM-Kisan) government’s income accounts of farmers, from the ensuing wheat J-form is filled not in my name. And he pays loan waiver or the Centre’s Pradhan Mantri procurement season starting April, offers government pays only the zamindar and the wheat, paddy and potato, is not in my name. Iarhatiya have takenloses interest from him.in giving Where me loan will that I hego if isthe too small. The 70 acres, on which I grow various crops, simply does not apply in his consequences,”his grandmother, he Vijayaraje said while Scindia, speaking had at support schemes. The “scale of finance”, which case. Even at the time of sale at the agriculture one tilling this land and growing the wheat this tenant farmer, who has paid Rs 60,000 per theuninstalled state BJP the headquarters. Congress government He recalled in how the is used by banks to fix loan limits perlittle acre comfort.for “How will it benefit me? The So, I can neither avail any crop loan nor receive produce market committee (APMC) mandi in governmentbeing sold. Before doesn’t implementing even know such reforms, that I’m cannot the recover from sale of crop to him?,” says governmentcases. They represent benefit against an estimated this land,” 30-35% he says. of said even his father, Madhavrao Scindia. pay 50% of the rent amount in April (ahead Boparai, Gill and Jagjit Singh aren’t exceptional gives details of the crop, quantity and price, land) and enter the name of the actual kashtkar of the paddy season) and the balance 50% to others that include government employees, state in 1967 after she had been slighted. He acre for growing paddy and wheat this year. “I Raramentions Sahib only near the Ludhiana,name of the the landowner. ‘J form’, which shouldn’t they first do a Girdawari (survey of Punjab’s farmers who cultivate land belonging

(cultivator) along with the zamindar (owner)?,” in September (before sowing wheat),” adds NRIs and permanent urban. 2 | English Daily Open Search | STATE | New Delhi | Saturday, March 14, 2020 Coronavirus : Punjab shuts Several states in shutdown mode, total all schools till March 31 number of confirmed cases 81 pune, Agency already stressed economy. Another major today, the health ministry said that out related casualty Thursday with the number India for over a month now, affecting an In a press briefing in the national capital As India recorded its first coronavirus- as a pandemic. Before this, questions had Canadian national. Addressing the media and outside the country, Prime Minister announcement was the World Health of the 81 confirmed cases in India, 64 Organisation’sbeen raised about declaration why, despite of the coronavirus massive are Indians, 16 are Italians, and one is a of confirmed cases steadily rising in leadership of SAARC nations could chalk out briefing,cautioned that Luv coronavirus Aggarwal, outbreak Joint Secretary, is not Narendra Modi Friday proposed that the spread of COVID19, the WHO had continued Departmenta health emergency. of Health When and Familyasked aboutWelfare, and set an example for the world. According including N95, and hand sanitizers as the Epidemic Act, Aggarwal said, “This is to the health ministry, the number of active to call it an ‘outbreak’, and not a pandemic. a joint strategy to fight COVID-19 outbreak The government on Friday declared masks, Chandigarh Correspondent. declared in all government coronavirus scare leading to shortages and and private schools in the death till now, a 76-year-old man from state till March 31 as a ‘essentialblack marketing commodities’ of these items. in the These wake items of definitelythe not a health emergency, invoking announced closure of casesKalaburgi in India in Karnataka. now stands PM Modiat 81, suggested with one #coronavirus. My government is ready to will remain under essential commodities Aggarwal added that “contact tracing of precautionary measure. that SAARC leadership can discuss via video the epidemic act does not mean that. It does Punjaball the governmentgovernment Friday and leadershipwork closely of with the SAARC Member nations toStates fight segment till June-end, a move aimed at not mean there is an epidemic in India.” conferencing ways to keep citizens healthy. to protect our citizens from this deadly private schools, colleges continue to be conducted ensuring availability at reasonable prices and universities till March and cracking down on hoarders/black thesemore than cases 4,000 is contacts being who actively have pursued”.been However, exams would Novel Coronavirus. At various levels, 31 as a precautionary Punjab government has marketeers. “Soput far,under this surveillance. has led to Government identification of measure to prevent spread “Ourgovernments planet and is battlingpeople are the trying COVID-19 their disease.” Meanwhile, in a major relief has brought 42,296 passengers under accordingalready formed to schedule”. a seven- The for Indians stranded in Italy due to theunder the Essential Commodities Act to community surveillance, out of which 2,559 member group of ministers would like to propose that the leadership of Education Minister Tript coronavirus outbreak, Air India will bedeclare The masks government (2 ply hasand 3 notified ply surgical an orderwere symptomatic and 522 hospitalised to daily review the situation bestSAARC to nationscombat chalk it,” Modiout a strongsaid on strategy Twitter. afternoon“I and would be landing on Sunday ofRajinder coronavirus. Singh StateBjawa Higher said triggered by the coronavirus taking flight to Milan (Italy) to bring themmasks, N95 masks) and hand sanitizers that on the directions back. “The flight would take off tomorrowas essential commodities up to June via video conferencing, ways to keep our Ali, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation. of the Chief Minster this high alert, with specialized 30, 2020. The decision has empowered including 17 foreign nationals,” he said. decision has been taken to fight coronavirus. We could discuss, morning at Delhi Airport,” informed Rubina the Centre as well states to regulate scare.arrangements Hospitals to tackle are any on to his initiative to contain the spread of In a major relief for Indians stranded in keeping in view the threat took an unprecedented step to suspend all production, quality, distributions of masks Italy due to the coronavirus outbreak, Air exigency arising out of the citizenscoronavirus, healthy,” Nepal PM he KP added. Sharma Responding Oli said, visas, barring select categories, till April 15, of coronavirus (Covid-19). crisis. So far, one person Earlier this week, the Indian government and hand sanitizers, and also to smoothen Indiatomorrow will afternoonbe taking and flight would to beMilan landing (Italy) to Education Minister Vijay effectively closing its borders for a month. sale and availability of these items, and bring them back. “The flight would take off who had returned from ji for chalking out a strong strategy by the carry out operations against speculators. informed Rubina Ali, Joint Secretary. “I welcome the idea advanced by PM Modi on Sunday morning at Delhi Airport,” coronavirus in Punjab. It means that no foreign tourists can enter Inder Singla, meanwhile,Italy had tested positive for More than 6,000said, schools “Holidays have in Himachal been with Coronavirus : Maharashtra govt orders closure of student strength below 20: Education minister theatres, gyms, public parks as total cases rise to 17 New Delhi, Agency. Even as active coronavirus cases in Maharashtra rose to 17, Chief Minister

Epidemic Act 1897 which will come into Uddhav Thackeray Friday invoked the the spread of the pandemic, Thackeray said, effect“Gyms, from movie midnight. halls, swimming In a drastic pools, theatresstep to curb in Mumbai, Navi, Mumbai, Thane, Pimpri Chinchwad and Nagpur will remain closed

in the footsteps of the Delhi government, tillThackeray March 30made until thefurther announcement orders.” Following in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. Wherever possible, companies should allow employees to work from home in view of Shimla Correspondent. called off all religious, political, cultural and 1,092 middle, 32 high and nine senior coronavirussports events threat, in the aboveThackeray mentioned said. sevenHe also Questionsecondary Hour,schools there with area strength 4,994 below primary, cities and said permission earlier granted are functioning with a student strength of 20. Bhardwaj was replying to a question Aless total than of 20,6,127 state schools Education in Himachal Minister Pradesh Suresh posed by Jawalamukhi MLA Ramesh Chand include US and Dubai among destinations, Dhawala. Bhardwaj said that the department wouldfrom which be revoked.arrivals will “I willneed askmandatory Centre to “There are schools having a single student as per schedule. “We are not closing the legislator Vinayak Mete in the legislative Bhardwajas well, and informed 80 schools the Vidhan have a Sabhastrength Friday. less and faculty strength and also start a cluster Thackeray said. While the Chief Minister council. Out of the 17 people who have tested willscheme attempt for schools. a “rationalisation” of student quarantineordered that forschools those in showingPune and symptoms,”Pimpri- create any unnecessary panic. We will do positive in the state- three each belong to takes place and mid-day meals are prepared. Chinchwad will remain shut, he said that schools in Mumbai as we don’t want Mumbai to and Nagpur, whereas, 10 in Pune than five. Even in such schools, teaching Education Research and Training suggested state board exams, however, will continue Minister replied to a demandopensearch made by BJP and one case has been reported in Thane. that“In children 2018, aenrolled survey byin pre-primarythe State Council classes of it if required,” Rajesh Tope, Public Health Insaid some in acases, written children reply, of adding migrant that labourers under of private schools prefer to continue their arethe enrolledRight to inEducation these schools,” Act, there the minister should education in those schools at the primary be a school within a 1.5 km radius of each level as well. The state government then launched pre-primary classes in more Historical success achieved in Samastipur has a minimum enrolment of 25 students. Fearless criminals terrorized than 3,700 schools which improved our division rail time keeping…. child’s habitation provided that the school the city in broad daylight As per the reply tabled in the House duringenrolment by 50,000,” said the minister. Samastipur Correspondent. MLA laid foundation of several n All the claims that the Begusarai police law Three injured including and order are being repaired, all the claims home guards in the shootout roads at a cost of 4 crore 40 lakh are being seen as a toy toy, as a result of this, in the district, there is a lot of fearless Madhubani Correspondent. criminals being dominated, where in the past believes that when the general public is n RJD Bidhayak-cum-Chairman, Petition Now Bidyut Bibha days, Lohia Nagar police station area in the going on a sit-in protest over the failures of the police, they have to face the police Raj Kumar Rai, Samastipur Committee, Bihar Bidhan Sabha, Patna Dr. Benipatti will not have to killed, while the criminals did not desist from baton, or put a fake case to jail. Surely go for the work related to it is sent here that such a situation has Divisional Railway has today achieved 97.6% construction of about half a dozen roads on latechallenging evening the of police. a student He was shot and success in the operations of Mail / Express and The latest case is that of the Municipal been created in the district that people Fayaz Ahmad laid the foundation stone for C, because the official of Passenger trains on 12.03.2020, which is the best BK or Coriani-Rumunia to be built from 4 crore Corporation located just a short distance are also afraid to go to the market, do not the said level will now sit know when from where fearless criminals Friday.40 lakh From7 hundred Nurchak The foundationChowk to stoneBisfi ofChowk Bali via from the city police station. Awe criminals 94.2% success in time keeping was achieved by in the Bisfi. came down the tender started in broad amongSamastipur the division five divisions on 21.1.2018 of East prior Central to this, Railway. i.e. time, three people are getting shot in this startedthe criminals firing. are Let lookingthe people completely be the victims cool, Pucca road: Cut the lace. In a ceremony held at Block. Now Bidyut Bibha Benipatti will not ofthe firing police criminals. are seen Incompletely the district, battered. where Nurchakassembly Chowk,area have Bidhayak been laid, Dr. he Fayyazsaid that Ahmad there daylight firing on people. At the same today’sthe light success of the isinstructions the best in ofthe Ashok field ofMaheshwari time keeping have to go for the work related to C, because the two people also became the victims of See the encouragement of criminals when said that during his bidding period roads of Bisfi in(Divisional the last fewRailway years. Manager,It is worth Samastipur), mentioning thatthe in main road or Chowk intersection. bullets of criminals. Considering the crime controls are completely failing in firing, where two Home Guards including completely safe districts. And the culprits Divisional Administration keeps a continuous effort Do not be short The foundation stone of half a situation of two people, treatment is is no village left of Bisfi Block which is from the officialgot approval of the forsaid construction level will now of sit160 in differentthe Bisfi. escape the incident and the police are to operate the trains 100% of the time, due to these dozen roads, including Puyari, Nurchak, Bhairava, going on in private nursing home while Heroads, said whose in his tender address has that also in been this doneyear Bisfiand thehas seen only sitting in the spectator gallery. efforts today the Mandal attained this historic Balha and Khairi Banka, was constructed today, the treatment of home guard is going on height, even further All possible steps will be taken road construction work will be started soon. Although the police are again claiming which will be completed within two months, The meeting was attended by several people that soon the culprits will be tightened, the by the Divisional Administration to make all mail / Bidhak said, adding that half a dozen middle express and passenger trains operational on time in Sadarthe district, Hospital. while Explain the intelligentsia that constant and in the coming days Switch to 100% and try to the faith of God. School has been started by turning it into a Bishnu Dev Yadav, Jai Jai Ram Yadav, Shiv Shankar firing has created an atmosphere of panic get success in the follow. school. The post of Assistant Electrical Engineer besides local heads Mohammad Shakir Hussain, districters are definitely forced to live on schools of Bisfi would be upgraded to high.MohammadRai, Laliteshwar Hasnain Yadav, Kashmiri,Mohammad PACS Nabid, President Mo Ujale and Vijay Chandra Ghosh. Cabinet approves 4% hike in DA to 21%; 48 lakh has now been made in Bidhut division of Bisfi govt employees, 65 lakh pensioners to benefit ‘Neither sorry, nor suffering’: Kunal Kamra New Delhi/pune, Agency after Vistara Airlines bans him till April 27 hike in Dearness Allowance to 21 per cent for The48 lakh Union govt Cabinet employees, Friday approved65 lakh apensioners, 4 per cent Mumbai, Correspondent. ensure “zero tolerance for any activity which has the potential to jeopardize safety of passengers The government will incur Rs 14,595 crore Airlines has banned standup additional expense due to the hike, added announced I&B Minister Prakash Javadekar. Internationalcomedian Kunal carrierKamra till Vistara April Javadekar. DA is provided by the government to 27 for heckling journalist Arnab its employees to cushion the impact of the rising in an aircraft”. Following this, Kamratoo had wassent banneda legal noticeby IndiGo, to the Air prices) eats away the buying power of money; India, SpiceJet, and GoAir. Kamra Goswami on an Indigo flight in cost of living. Inflation (or rate of increase in the ban and a compensation of Rs January, PTI quoted an airline IndiGo,25 lakh. demanding revocation of officialhe is not assurprised saying by onthe action Friday. hencea commodity the justification for DA. For instance, if Confirmingtaken by the the airlines. same, Kamra said counsel Prashant Sivarajan to the annual inflation is 5 per cent, it means that “Air Vistara has also banned that cost Rs 100 in the first year, The notice sent by Kamra’s me now till the 27th April, Limited called for the revocation would cost Rs 105 in the second. If the employee has a salary that allows her to spend following orders like they show… Rs 100 on that commodity, she will be able to buy that commodity in the first year. the CEO of Interglobe Aviation Totwice calculate a year. AnDA, increase the government in DA provides typically additional uses the money All India in the Consumer hands of government Price Index- from immediate effect. of the six-month flying suspension based inflation rate as a broad marker. For greater effectiveness, the DA is revised at a time where no one can fly, sagging consumption demand, which the biggest problem in the economy right now. the airline. Recently, an internal all I want to say is, neither am I It also sought an apology from employees. If all this additional money is spent, it will have a positive impact on the sorry nor am I surprised, nor pend this money. Meanwhile, the Cabinet also approved reconstruction scheme for Yes to investigate into the incident amKamra I suffering…,”had posted a Mr video Kamra of However, the impact will depend on whether and to what extent employees actually glued to his laptop. Taking to committee formed by IndiGo wrotehis encounter on Twitter. with In late Goswami, January, viral, Kamra was seen shooting Twitter, Union Aviation Minister the six months that the airline editor-in-chief of Republic TV Bankreconstruction under which scheme SBI will for acquire Yes Bank 49 asper suggested cent stake by in the crisis-riddenReserve Bank. private sector flight.questions In at theGoswami, video, who which chose went reducedinitially imposed, Kamra’s to flying three monthsban from bank. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the Union Cabinet has approved the to ignore him and remained remarked that the airlines must effective from January 28. Hardeep Singh Puri had then on a Mumbai-Lucknow IndiGo New Delhi | Saturday, March 14, 2020 | DELHI/NCR | | English Daily Open Search | 3 One more case as 69-year-old mother of fifth victim tests positive, taken to RML Amit Shah misleading people on riots: AAP’s Sanjay Singh New Delhi Correspondent. New Delhi, Correspondent. A day after a 46-year-old man from Janakpuri was diagnosed with novel coronavirus, his 69-year-old mother tested positive for the disease Thursday. The patient has The AAP MP also asked why the Home Minister hadn’t visited the riot-affected areas till date. “It has been around 20 days been admitted to RML Hospital and her condition is not since riots broke out. The Home Minister, whohe asked. lives AAP in MP Delhi, Sanjay hasn’t Singh visited hit out the at affected areas. What are they afraid of?” accusing him of misleading the people on Unionthe communal Home Minister riots inAmit Northeast Shah Thursday, Delhi.

Reacting to Shah’s reply in the Parliament on the Delhi riots, Singh said: “The Home Ministerwhen in realityis giving it continued wrong oninformation. 26, 27 and He said the riots stopped after February 25,

28. For three days, no action was taken. WhySingh, was who the is also police the silent?party spokesperson, Why did the same police take action after three days?” nine members of her family who were in contact with her but none of them have shown any symptoms. Delhi has so stable, according to officials. The department has traced alsofor the responded Army to be to deployed Shah’s statement was pointless that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s demand showing symptoms of the virus were hospitalised on when the violence had ended. Singh Thursday. On Thursday, a meeting of all heads of hospitals far reported six confirmed cases of Covid-19. Three patients assaid, he “The had CM asked asked for for it onthe February Army to 27,be hatched before the polls and riots were that the Centre offer jobs to the kin of about that. Amit Shah spoke about hate of initiating sample collection and isolation beds in 34 when you, who controls law and order orchestrated after. The AAP MP also asked those who died in the violence since the hospitals, and testing facilities in three medical colleges for was called by the Health Secretary to review the status deployedin Delhi, did on nothing… February Did 26. you He condemn asked it hate speech. People and policemen have suspected cases. The collection facility has been initiated in the speeches made by (BJP leader) falls under the Centre. Earlier in the day, speech.died and Itpeople is your have partylost their that houses indulged and in Kapil Mishra or (Delhi MP) Parvesh whyaround the 20 Home days Minister since riots hadn’t broke visited out. Thethe DelhiSingh said: government’s “Delhi was servicesleft to burn department for three shops. You do not have the courage to visit The hospitals with the collection facility are Sanjay Gandhi riot-affected areas till date. “It has been whole days and the home minister was six hospitals (five Delhi government and one North MCD). visited the affected areas. What are they silent. (MoS) Anurag Thakur pushed Delhi Verma?conspiracy People to vitiate from the atmosphere BJP have was lit theHome fire Minister, who lives in Delhi, hasn’t riot-affectedhad no right toareas.”In remain the in power. Rajya Sabha, he Memorial Hospital, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Baba Saheb and fanned it.” Singh also said that the demanded Shah’s resignation saying he Ambedkar Hospital, Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalya, Babu afraid of?” he asked. He also suggested into the fires, but Amit Shah said nothing JagjivanCovid-19: Ram and Hindu Rao hospitals. Schools in 5 districts, colleges Delhi Assembly resolution to across Haryana, directed to remain closed discuss NPR-NRC link New Delhi Correspondent. The Arvind Kejriwal government in Delhi is likely to pass a resolution on the National Population Register (NPR), during a day-long special session of the Assembly on March 13, that would describe it as a step towards the proposed countrywide National Register

thrust of the resolution will be on the fact of Citizens (NRC). It is learnt that the do not maintain documents in a way that thatwould the enable country’s them poor to come and vulnerableunder the NRC net. Sources privy to the drafting of the resolution said it is likely to focus on the widespread apprehension that NPR is a step towards the NRC. “Union ministers have made statements to of the general public, especially the towards implementation of the NRC. this effect. Also, poor people in this minorities. Various pockets of Delhi have been witnessing protests against Rijiu had also made a similar assertion maintain documents. (The resolution the Citizenship Amendment Act, NRC Unionin the Rajya Minister Sabha ofin 2014, State while (Home) Union Kiren countryis) likely willto question suffer theadditional most asqueries they don’tand NPR since December last year. The assembly secretariat had not received the same in Parliament. Apart from Gurgaon Correspondent. Exams and Assessment Exams, March 2020 as per previous ask the Delhi government to not hold a copy of the resolution till Thursday HomeNPR, the Minister session Amit will Shah also haddiscuss indicated NRC, pertaining to place of birth, etc. It will CAA and the status of coronavirus in said a source. Within the AAP, there are exercise is supposed to begin on April 1 the city. The AAP had voted against the A day after schools and colleges in Delhi were directed that schools in remaining districts in the state “shall function NPRvoices as in the favour atmosphere of drafting is anot resolution conducive,” evening.in the NDMC In areas Delhi, with the the house-listing NPR updation citizenship law amendments in both to remain shut in light of a surge in cases of Coronavirus, schedule. However, all teaching and non-teaching staff members will attend the school as usual.” It states, adding phase of Census 2021. Sources said the houses of Parliament The NPR, data the Deputy Directoropensearch Cadet Corps for Director General They point out this would be a clear announcement, directing all schools and colleges in the as per normal schedule”. In another order issued on Friday, about reverting to NPR’s 2010 format. ideally be sent to the Assembly Secretary and updated in 2015, is a list of “usual thestate, Government along with ofall Haryana, government on Friday,and private made schools a similar which requires an individual to also Delhi government’s resolution should for which was first collected in 2010 be closed till 31 March 2020 as a precautionary measure. standshare theagainst place the of birthmodified of their questionnaire parents, under Rule 90, the Speaker can allow districts that have been directed to close down schools Higher Education, Haryana, has similarly directed that “all UniversitiesThe directions and came Colleges even assituated educational in the institutions, Haryana Statein will at least seven days in advance. However, residentsthe country of is theone who country”. has been According residing to in 5 districts, to remain closed until March 31. Thethe absence five of any directions from the State Government, section feels that a more clear stand thein a Homelocal area Ministry, for at a least usual the resident last six of started taking decisions to suspend classes on their own, as a amongneeds to other be taken things. to allay However, the anxieties another shorter notice periods. In the 2018-19months or intends to stay. are Faridabad, Gurgaon, Jhajjar, Rohtak, and Sonepat, allprecautionary measure. While universities like Jindal Global Annual Report of the Home Ministry, of which adjoin the capital. “In view of surge in casesUniversity of were to suspend classes from Saturday, others the NPR was described as the first step Coronaall the Govt. Virus Schools (COVID-19) as well as in Private the neighbouring Schools situated state, in thelike Ashoka University had already suspended classes since Department of School Education Haryana has decided thatSaturday, with the mid-semester break later being extended will remain closed till 31.03.2020 with immediate effect, Sonepat, Rohtak, Jhajjar, Faridabad and Gurugram districts, Four held for allegedly beating a man Xperiential Learning School had chosen to remain closed tountil March March 29. 29, In with Gurgaon students similarly, sitting schools for board such examinations as Heritage exceptEducation for Department, holding Examinations,” Chandigarh thestates. order, The issuedstudents by Drbeing expected to attend. Mahavirwill attend Singh, the school Principal only Secretaryto take the to Board Govt. Exams, Haryana, Annual School to death over ice-cream in Rohini New Delhi Correspondent.

No direction from state govt, Gurgaon a 25-year-old man to death after he refused to take ice- Fourcream men from were them. arrested The incident on Friday took for place allegedly in the beating early schools and colleges begin shutting down Sharma, worked at a lubricant manufacturing unit that New Delhi Correspondent. hours of Friday at South Rohini. The deceased, Amit

A day after the Delhi government ordered schools and colleges to remain closed isof the owned incident. by his SD father. Mishra, He Addl was CP accompanied (Rohini), said, by “we his to contain the spread of the coronavirus, faculty in Gurgaon started taking brother-in-lawreceived a call Rahularound and 12:45 a friend am about Ishant the at theincident. time similar calls in the absence of any directive from the state government. The bike registration numbers of the two bikes the accused went on bikes to buy ice cream. Police said that they but stopped short from issuing directions regarding shutdown of educational Thewere eyewitnessesdriving. We traced – Rahul the bikes and Ishantand caught had the noted four themen were celebrating at Lakshay’s home and then Haryana government Thursday declared the coronavirus infection an epidemic, men within four hours of the incident. We have also brother – Karan offered ice-cream to three strangers. send out an email to students and faculty today, stating that classes would be seized the weapon and their bikes. A case of murder wereWhen under Sharma the refused influence to takeof liquor the freeand ice-cream,Lakshay’s elderthe institutions,suspended from offices Saturday, or public March spaces. 14 till The March Registrar 29 “as aof precautionary Jindal Global measureUniversity two groups fought. Lakshay and his group left the shop the accused, Lakshay (27), a student from Lala Lajpat but later came back and caught the victim near Sector wasRai Memorialregistered Medical at South College Rohini had police passed station.” his MBBS One of 3 Rohini. Police said that they had sticks and lathis and againstof advisories Corona by Virus JGU in(COVID19)”. the last few “We weeks. resume We classes will be on closely Monday, monitoring 30th March the 2020. situation Please and note will that keep the you University updated remains of any exams and was celebrating with his brother and two thrashed the man. Sharma sustained injuries on his open during this period. I request you to follow all other health and safety related precautions that have issued in the form friends when they attacked the Sharma. The accused head and was left on the road. further developments,” the email stated. Similarly, Ashoka University has suspended classes till March 29. Noida company’s 707 workers, who came in contact AAP govt moves resolution against NPR in Delhi with Covid-19 victim, put under observation Noida Correspondent. Assembly: ‘Majority will be biggest sufferer’ A day after an employee of a Noida- for Coronavirus, as many as 707 New Delhi Correspondent. regarding NPR, NRC in the minds of people… basedemployees, private who firm came tested in contact positive with the victim, are now under Asserting that the majority in the country will be have issued different statements on these issues. the biggest sufferers if the National Population Register is implemented, Aam Aadmi Party leader because the PM, HM and the Home Ministrythe 46-year-old patient, who works Parliament that NPR has no link with NRC so people observation.in a factory in AccordingPhase 2, had to traveled officials, and Delhi Cabinet Minister Gopal Rai moved a need not worry. Previously, he used to explain the resolution against the NPR in Delhi Assembly on “Yesterday, Home Minister Amit Shah told the to European countries and began showing symptoms after returning the NPR updation should be stalled in Delhi. “And chronology,”if the Centre heinsists, said. theTabling process the shouldresolution, be carried he said Friday.Register Rai of Citizenssaid irrespective (NRC) will of naturally whatever follow assurances NPR theas the Home 2003 Ministerrules say hasso. The been Atal giving, Bihari the Vajpayee National to India. The patient had traveled to Kalkaji MLA Atishi too said the NPR-NRC issue has Italyshowing and signs then of Switzerland.lethargy. The personWhen the government had amended the citizenship law as per left the country in fear. “Around 80-90 per cent which it was decided NPR data will be collated with out in accordance with the 2010 format,” he added. personvisited returnedtwo-three to hospitals India, he for began routine check-ups and nothing was documents to establish their identity. And parents, diagnosed. Then it was suggested to Shah said NPR will not have any segment on ‘D people of this country won’t have the necessary him that a test for coronavirus should it. This will be followed by verification. Suspicious she said reminding that a lot of the childbirths also be done which turned out to be positive. All those who came in contact with him are data will be categorised as doubtful. Home Minister take place outside hospitals even today. Accusing Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise in Assam where in most cases, won’t even have birth certificates,” merely following the 2003 rules. And the rules also the central government of lying, Atishi said, “The category’. Shah also said the government has beentensed over these issues.” Referring to the National Union government claims that NPR is being carried were excluded from the list, Rai said the NRC and undershowing observation,” signs of lethargy. Dr Anurag The person Bhargava, visited CMO two-three Gautam Buddhhospitals Nagar, for routine said. The check-ups patient out under the Census framework. Census is carried 19NPR lakh have people nothing including to do bothwith Hindusreligion.Lashing and Muslims out hadand travelednothing towas Italy diagnosed. and then ThenSwitzerland. it was suggestedWhen the personto him returnedthat a test to forIndia, coronavirus he began say that NRC data will be based on NPR.” Asking out under the law enacted in 1948. Census data is should also be done which turned out to be positive. All those who came in contact with on what basis the Home Minister was saying that not to be revealed in the public domain. Census law NPR-NRC-CAA, he said, “There are a lot of questions thenaturally NRC follow won’t NPR. be carried Each and out, every he asked,individual “Have is does not have any reference to NPR at all. the 2003 rules been amended? If not, NRC will at the central ministry for conflicting statements on him are under observation,” Dr Anurag Bhargava, CMO Gautam Buddh Nagar, said. 4 | English Daily Open Search | EDITORIAL | New Delhi | Saturday, March 14, 2020 Open Search Coronavirus threat is real, but responses EDITORIAL to it are bordering on paranoia Privacy law should not disproportionately increase cost of business for start-ups Shah Alam Khan

digital entrepreneurship is its beating heart. This is Inplague The Plague,leading Albert to the Camus death describesof thousands the If data is the lifeblood of the modern economy, then French town of Oran, which is swept by a institutions have historically struggled to reach the last of a community struck by a destructive mile. Start-ups are working towards bridging the gap. particularly true in India where public and private offorce, inhabitants. to which Camus’s it refuses novel to issurrender. the story Access to high-quality data is enabling them to provide micro-credit to the under-banked, ed-tech solutions to Coronavirus epidemic and the response students in the smallest towns, and cheaper forms of Theto it from outbreak people and of countries the COVID-19 are not so Novel has been an unprecedented response medical diagnostics to the most vulnerable. It is in this differentto this brewing from Camus’s pandemic. plot. InConferences India, there contextrights over that their India’s data, draft and envisionsPersonal Dataa Data Protection Protection Bill and public events have been cancelled, shouldAuthority be (DPA) seen. that The will Bill enforce is meant good to data protect practices Indians’ weddings postponed, schools have been by public and private institutions. This is a timely and closed and even Prime Minister Narendra welcome move, since it will help minimise data-based programme fearing the spread of the virus. of a $1-trillion digital economy. This ambitious target ModiVisas have called been off cancelled the regular and the Holi country milan harmwill require to Indians. it to developHowever, a thrivingIndia has start-up also set ecosystem. itself a goal is in a virtual lockdown. The frantic buying of protective masks and hand sanitisers and the surge in prices of these items is a Itan is unfounded therefore importantrisk, as evidence that the from privacy other bill countries does not small indicator of the collective paranoia lead to an uneven playing field for them. This is not the disease a pandemic. shows. We know that in Europe, smaller AdTech firms which has swept us. The WHO has declared It is important to know that we are neither China, Japan nor Italy. In a lost market share to “big tech” players like Google is a thin line between paranoia and logic and Facebook after Europe adopted “General Data andIn thea situation reinforcement like the currentof one one, leads there to country like ours, where health struggles to find mention in the common Protectionability to devote Regulation” more resources its privacy to lawcompliance in 2018. and This A deeper analysis of political discourse, it is assuring that the current pandemic has caught the could be driven by many factors, including big tech’s said this, let me clarify that the threat responded to these market signals as well. Researchers these three pandemics national imagination. But we must remember that the health of a nation is the natural erosion of the other. Having reducefrom the data University access of for Maryland smaller firms.have shown Investors that have reveals something pandemic is very real but our paranoid not measured by its response to pandemics. It is determined by the health of interesting for the posed by the COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus its poor, its women and its children. Unfortunately, we have failed them at Europe declined 18 per cent by volume and 40 per cent historical perspective is thus essential to every level. Our national consciousness should be equally sensitive to diseases venture funding into early-stage technology firms in responseunderstand to why it the is fear not. of the A coronavirus scientific and privacy law should not disproportionately increase the Indian context.In a like tuberculosis and malnutrition, which kill more people than all the bycost value of business after enforcement for start-ups of vis-a-vis GDPR. bigTherefore, tech and India’s other World Health Bulletin pandemics are among the commonest influenza pandemics put together. We need to be vigilant but not vehement large incumbents. We have four suggestions on how published in 1959, I in India is exaggerated, if not hyped. Flu in our response to the coronavirus pandemic. The best option would be pandemics occurred at intervals of several the DPA could consider the differential impact on small to undertake a dynamic risk assessment of the situation using available G K Menon wrote that onesdecades to during affect the 20th world. century, Three the influenza businesses while formulating regulations under the law. this level playing field can be achieved. To start with, even at the peak of the scientific and historical knowledge and to maintain trust and confidence This can be achieved by amending Section 94(1) of the between the organisations and people who are at the helm of affairs. Asian Flu pandemic mostto have severe caused of up which to 50 wasmillion the deathsSpanish Flu while making rules, and explicitly consider the impact (causedin 1918-1919. by an The A other(H1N1) two virus),pandemics estimated Billon smallto require businesses, that the amongDPA conduct other cost-benefitfactors. The analysis cost- of 1957, 44,51,785 Donald Rumsfeld, former US Defence Secretary, has made more than $5 million is mandated in other countries. Second, the penalties cases of influenza were Control and Prevention (CDC), the in capital gains from selling shares in the were the Asian Flu caused by an A(H2N2) have also had a minimal effect in India. under law should be revisited. The draft Bill provides for benefit analysis should be put in the public domain as reported in India (in viruswere estimatedin 1957-1958 to have and caused the Hong 1-4 millionKong Flu According to the US’s Centers for Disease a population of 360 causeddeaths. byA deeperan A (H3N2) analysis virus of theseIN 1968. three Both bought in massive amounts by different Smaller, newer digital businesses are likely to have lower pandemics reveals something interesting 200912,4699 swinedeaths in flu the (H1N1)US and 5,75,400 affected biotechnology nearly firm that discovered and fines of up to 4 per cent of global revenues of a business. million at the time) 61deaths million worldwide. people On the in other the hand, US. Itdeveloped caused Tamiflu, the drug which was only on revenue will affect them disproportionately. profitThis can margins be mitigated and perhaps by specifying even losses. that the Fines DPA based also with a case fatality rate wrote that even at the peak of the Asian governments to treat a possible bird flu for the Indian context.In a World Health pandemic. It is important to know that of 242 deaths every Bulletin published in 1959, I G K Menon India reported 33,761 cases and 2,035 deathsattributed from to many swine sociodemographic flu. The lower and death we are neither China, Japan nor Italy. expensive for small businesses. They might also hesitate genetic factors. Other global pandemics Inpolitical a country discourse, like it is ours, assuring where that the health consider profits or profit margins while imposing million cases. Flupopulation pandemic of 360 of million 1957, at 44,51,785 the time) with cases and infection rates in India can again be to go to court against a DPA order for fear of retribution. have also followed a similar pattern. strugglescurrent pandemic to find hasmention caught in the the national common fines. Third, long legal battles are disproportionately ofa case influenza fatality were rate reportedof 242 deaths in India every (in a One way to alleviate these concerns would be to ring- The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome imagination. But we must remember that million cases. the health of a nation is not measured fence the judicial or adjudicatory functions in a separate The pandemic saw a total of just 1,098 (SARS) of 2003 and the Middle East body rather than having it housed within the DPA, as Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) of 2012 determined by the health of its poor, its envisaged in the current draft. The Supreme Court also low when compared to the fatality of the are classical examples. This historical recommended such a separation in its observations on bywomen its and response its children. to pandemics. Unfortunately, It is deathspandemic in in the countries country. such These as figuresSingapore, are the case pertaining to the Competition Commission. we have failed them at every level. Our Malaysia and China. There could be national consciousness should be equally -Vijay Kumar multiple reasons for this phenomenon, perspective on influenza pandemics in Indiapandemic. notwithstanding, But to believe thatit weis areimperative facing sensitiveto to diseases like tuberculosis and of which demographic patterns and the malnutrition, which kill more people than extant immune status of the population takean apocalypse action against and react the accordinglyongoing COVID-19 is probably played an important role. An sheer madness. Yes, we must not lower our guard but we must also not fall prey We need to be vigilant but not vehement in Predators and the prey opensearch allour theresponse influenza to the pandemics coronavirus put pandemic. together. reveals a similar picture. The pandemic, Bibek Debroy there are businesses that do quite well The best option would be to undertake a analysis of the Hong Kong flu pandemic also dynamic risk assessment of the situation Last month, there was a news report about scientists killed around 33,800 people in the US toout propaganda. of disease. DuringIt is interesting pandemics to likenote the that in a Belgian university experimenting with larva fat and had affected about 15 per cent of the present one, the sales of respiratory masks, which reached India by September 1968, hand sanitisers, anti-fever medicines and knowledge and to maintain trust and similar drugs have skyrocketed. According using available scientific and historical inuse waffles, less water cakes and andless land.cookies. The Theiridea of idea entomophagy is to replace number of deaths remains uncertain but total population of Hong Kong. Yet, its confidencewe are to avoid between the so-called the organisations coronavirus and butter.(eating Insectsinsects), are however more issustainable hardly new than though cattle. larva They fatalitymultiple ratepapers was asserted low in India.that among The exactthe tomarket data fromfor themasks All Food has and swelled Drug License up to peopleapocalypse, who we are need at to the be helm guided of by affairs. If evidence, science and collaboration, not very low death rate. Besides these major HoldersRs 450 crore Foundation over the (AFDLHF), last two the months total alone, from about Rs 200 crore annually. hype, hyperbole and impulse. fatOrganisation) isn’t entomophagy, paper, ‘Edible at least insects: directly. future For prospects instance, Asian countries affected, India reported a there was the 2013 FAO (Food and Agriculture pandemics, other influenza outbreaks for food and feed security’. A few years earlier, in 2010, there2010 publicationwas another is FAOa collection publication, of papers with presentedthe catchier title, ‘Forest insects as food: humans bite back’. The edible forest insects.Since the second is a diverse at a workshop in Thailand in 2008 and it’s only about Corona, crude and credit collection of papers, let me quote from the first paper Sajjid Z. Chinoy to about 1.3 per cent of GDP appear to be doing. The experience from intheir the environmental volume it’s footprint,a bit like becausean introduction. they are “Insects even accounting for reduced other countries suggests aggressive offer particular benefits to those who want to reduce remittances from the Middle containment early in the process tissue that can be consumed by others about twice as panic and dislocation since the global (isolation, quarantines, contract tracings, exceptionally efficient in converting what they eat intoGlobal markets haven’t witnessed such be seen whether the current cancelled gatherings) reduces the growth East.oil price It, equilibrium of course, can remains hold torate of the virus from exponential to linear. efficient as chicken and pigs, and more than five times financialbond is at its crisis lowest of level 2008. ever, Globaland crude equity given the game of chicken being as efficient as beef cattle. marketsprices underwent have collapsed, their largest the single-dayUS’s 10-year played by oil producers. But if outlook is whether the crude price decline of insectsFactoring may in be their 20 times astounding that of reproduction cattle. Moreover, rates it does, it would constitute a All told, therefore, the key to India’s macro andinsects fecundity, feed on the a actualfar wider food range conversion of plants efficiency than market mayhem is the upshot of three global shocks interacting with each other. fall in 30 years. What’s going on? The macro headwinds, boosting can sustain and whether India can avoid a help to reduce the adverse environmental impacts activity, dampening prices, Should any oil windfall be largely absorbed the world. As the coronavirus proliferates meaningful mitigant to India’s sharp domestic proliferation of COVID-19. conventionalof livestock production livestock. Insectas insect consumption rearing requires may also Whatby the are government some other (through policy implications? higher excise far less space and generates less pollution. As a food First,globally, a negativehouseholds demand and businesses shock around are reducing external imbalances. understandably becoming risk averse, source, insects are highly nutritious. Many insect creatingWe estimate fiscal that every space $10 and species contain as much or more protein as meat or reduction in crude prices, duties)tempting or to be advocate given to that the theprivate public sector? sector boosts growths by about 20-25 appropriateGiven current much of fiscal the windfall. pressures, But with it’s anddestruction the consequentaround the world. “social Second, distancing” a bps. Therefore, the $30 decline fish.percentages Some insects,of amino especially acids and in theessential larval vitamins stage, are isnegative expected supply to shock exert emanating significant from demand in crude, if it holds, should boost a strong case to pass this on to households. China. The widespread industrial closures also rich in fat and most insects contain significant periphery to the core. To the extent that growth by about 60-70 bps, consumptionA sharp cut inunder domestic such pressure, fuel prices there’s will areas are generally clean and free of chemicals, and in the periphery smaller private banks and thereby largely offsetting the negative hit boost household purchasing power and and minerals. Insects that are collected from forest outbreak will impact imports and supply to growth from external trade and tourism. aggregate demand thereby creating Even with only a relatively few species being eaten inchains China in onother the countries, back of the and COVID-19 thereby contemporaneous counter-cyclical by humans, the incredible numbers of insects in the constitute an adverse supply shock for the some areas are even considered to be ‘health foods’… non-banksector risk aversion financial could companies rise again. will With find the global demand destruction is expected world by some estimates, there are as many as 10 rest of the world. The 20-point drop in manufacturing itprivate harder banks to mobiliseresponsible resources, for a bulk financial of Furthermore, crude at $35-40, along with quintillion individual insects alive at any given time the incremental credit offtake in recent opening up space for monetary easing. pressures.could immediately Instead, ramp up spending.if the government were cent contraction in Chinese exports across months, a redistribution of resources is to generate large disinflationary forces, to absorb it, it’s hard to see how authorities collection also had papers on individual countries, local likely to dampen credit offtake, at least to translate into fewer expenditure cuts addentomophagy up to massive practices, quantities so to speak. of Not potential unexpectedly, food.” The output in the February PMI and the 17 pertemporarily. So, how will all this impact Finally,time since India’s 2003-04.The current growth account offset, deficit Instead,in the last higher quarter excise of 2020-21, revenues if otherare likely shock was large and immediate. That said, however, assumes that the coronavirus with the virus gradually being contained would virtually disappear, for the first Lanka.) With global population headed towards nine January and February, suggests that the open economy than is widely believed help activity in the last quarter, whereas billion, humans will perforce seek out other sources of in China, this supply shock is likely to fade there was no paper for India. (There was one for Sri India’swith exports macros? constituting India is almost a much 20 per more witnessed a rapid domestic proliferation, revenuespassing it don’ton to households materialise. would That help would even as the demand shock in the rest of heightened risk aversion by economic the world widens and deepens. Third, a cent of GDP. Therefore, the impact of the does not spread within India. If India advent of agriculture even monoculture, and animal demand destruction around the world agents could meaningfully hurt domestic food.husbandry Food habitsfood habitsaren’t constantwere different. over time. Social Before norms the positive oil supply shock. The failure of markets could understandably delay the oil producers to agree on production cuts activity now, when it’s most needed. change over time, a fact worth remembering, before marked down by 100 basis points in 2020, Discretionary services constitute about Further, while the turbulence in equity has led to a price war with production 35 per cent of GDP and have been growing should not be allowed to derail it, given increases on the anvil. Cumulatively, willwhich notincreasingly be trivial. appears If to global be the case, growth demand. is Here’s a thought experiment. know about Nirad Chandra Chaudhuri. At one point, in we estimate that this would shave off government’s asset sale programme, it saying “ugh” at the sound of a bug. Most of us would crude pieces are down almost 50 per cent were to halve, that alone would deduct about $30/barrel — since January. While (born Amiya Dhar) was an author in her own right and at140 8 perbps centfrom a growth, year. If thatand growthswamp rateany thethrough criticality higher of taxes asset as sales a substitute to this year’sfor published two installments of her autobiography in the the 1940s, he lived in Delhi. His wife Amiya Chaudhuri aboutforeign 40 tourism bps from was India’sdown 20growth per centthrough growth tailwinds from lower oil prices, fiscalasset salesmath. wouldAbsorbing be a allsuboptimal the oil windfall mix. early 1990s (she died without completing the third). related demand destruction fears, the the export channel alone. Furthermore,especially since heightened consumer risk More fundamentally, the salutary effects the first leg of the decline reflects virus- were to fall by, say, 30 per cent this year aversion would also reduce the marginal of falling crude prices which would boost which even adjusting for the concentrated propensity to spend out of any fuel stress in the oil sector, is growth-additive at the peak of SARS. If foreign tourism Ivolumes, don’t knowshe spoke whether about her these life in have Delhi been in the translated 1940s. second leg reflects a positive supply shock,deterrent than SARS the cumulative drag markets should not mask the imperative At that time, Delhi used to be frequently visited by into English (from Bengali). In the second of the two sinceto growth COVID-19 from is exportsproving andto be tourism a bigger demand to certain sectors may necessitate India’sto continue macros with relative reforms, to other particularly emerging would be a meaningful 60-70 bps. But this savings. Furthermore, a “sudden stop” recognisingof and resolving any further Pests, Diseases and Noxious Weeds Act, 1949 applied for the world and particularly for India. is where the importance of the large crude locusts. That’s the reason the East Punjab Agricultural Asplay. if The these resolution cross currents and reconstruction aren’t enough, markets are witnessing their most acute of YES Bank was inevitable, but, at least fiscal/liquidity support to ensure these than 14, the Collector could requisition your services there is a fourth India-specific force at evident. The near $30/barrel decline don’tthe best magnify antidote into tomore a prolonged disruptive growth credit financialvolatility since sector 2008. stress All proactively.we can do Globalis to destroy locusts. to Delhi. If you were a male Delhi resident, aged more pricesince declineJanuary onconstitutes India’s macros a large becomes positive eventshit would for thebe financialto aggressively sector. Allcontain told, mind our own house amidst the gathering the virus domestically, as authorities global storm. temporarily, it is likely to result in a “flight to quality” in India’s financial sector, with resources moving from the financial terms of trade shock for India equivalent New Delhi | Saturday, March 14, 2020 | INTERNATIONAL | | English Daily Open Search | 5 FIRST COLUMN US military may have brought coronavirus to Wuhan, says China South Africa reports first case of local transmission of coronavirus New York, Agency. authorities credit firm measures they took in January and February, including to a near A spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry total shutdown of Hubei, for preventing suggested on Thursday the U.S. military outbreaks in other Chinese cities on the scale might have brought the coronavirus to the of Wuhan and slowing the spread abroad. Chinese city of Wuhan, which has been The administration of U.S. President Donald hardest hit by the outbreak, doubling down Trump has pointed to a decision to limit on a war of words with Washington. China air travel from China at the end of January has taken great offence at comments by to fend off criticism that it responded the too U.S. officials accusing it of being slow to slowly to the disease. Critics say Trump react to the virus, first detected in Wuhan played down the disease in public and South Africa reported New York, Agency. late last year, and of not being transparent federal government was slow to roll out enough. On Wednesday, U.S. National tests. Unfortunately, rather than using best Security Adviser Robert O’Brien said the practices, this outbreak in Wuhan was the first case of local transmission of speed of China’s reaction to the emergence covered up,” Trump’s national security the coronavirus on Thursday, fuelling of the coronavirus had probably cost the advisor O’Brien said during a think-tank concerns that sub-Saharan African world two months when it could have been appearance on Wednesday. “It probably health systems could be overwhelmed preparing for the outbreak. In a strongly cost the world community two months if local transmission accelerates. Sub- worded tweet, written in English on his to respond,” during which “we could have Saharan Africa has reported far fewer verified Twitter account, Chinese Foreign dramatically curtailed what happened cases of coronavirus than in Europe or Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said it was both in China and what’s now happening China, but some analysts worry it could the United States that lacked transparency. across the world”, he said. Also read | As spread rapidly in poor or overcrowded When did patient zero begin in US? How new cases of coronavirus subside in China, areas. South Africa’s Health Ministry many people are infected? What are the Wuhan told to go back to work More than said a 32-year-old man contracted names of the hospitals? It might be US army “immoral and irresponsible” comments the U.S. would at this time concentrate 119,100 people have been infected by the the virus after contact with a Chinese who brought the epidemic to Wuhan. Be that blamed Beijing’s response to the their energy on responding to the virus and novel coronavirus across the world and businessman. “All others have been by transparent! Make public your data! US owe coronavirus for worsening the global impact promoting cooperation, and not on shifting 4,298 have died, the vast majority in China, patients who had travelled abroad,” the us an explanation!” Zhao wrote Zhao, an of the pandemic. Asked about O’Brien’s the blame to China.” The coronavirus according to a Reuters tally. The United ministry said, adding that the number avid and often combative Twitter user, did comments, Geng told a daily news briefing in emerged in December in the central Chinese States has 975 cases and 30 people have of confirmed cases had risen to 17 from not offer any evidence for his suggestion Beijing on that such remarks by U.S. officials city of Wuhan and surrounding Hubei died. “We have done a good job responding 13 on Wednesday. South Africa has not that the U.S. military might be to blame for would not help U.S. epidemic efforts. China’s province, where around two-thirds of to it but … the way that this started out in reported any deaths from coronavirus. the outbreak in China. Earlier on Thursday, efforts to slow the spread had bought the global cases so far have been recorded. But China, and the way it was handled from the Since the outbreak began in central China Zhao’s fellow Foreign Ministry spokesman world time to prepare against the epidemic, in recent weeks the vast majority of new outset, was not right,” said O’Brien. in December, more than 126,000 people Geng Shuang criticised U.S. officials for he added. “We wish that a few officials in cases have been outside China. The Chinese have been infected by the coronavirus around the world and more than 4,600 Travel industry under siege, have died, according to a Reuters tally. Disney shutting theme parks in South Africa has stepped up screening at ports of entry to try to limit the risk California, Florida over coronavirus of new infections but has not imposed crowd ban in Australia Beijing, Agency. bans on travel to China or other badly New Delhi, Agency. affected countries. The government dispatched a plane to repatriate more than 100 South African citizens living Walt Disney Co will close its theme parks in California and under lockdown conditions in the Nearly 5,000 people have died and as Florida and its resort in Paris from this weekend through the HowChinese city the of Wuhan. coronavirus many as 1,34,530 have been infected end of the month due to the global outbreak of coronavirus, the by the deadly coronavirus across the company said on Thursday. Disney Cruise Line will suspend changed the US 2020 world, according to a Reuters tally. all new departures starting Saturday through the end of the While China’s Wuhan, the epicentre month, the company said. “We are proceeding with the closure campaign of the outbreak, has seen a drop in of our theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and fresh cases, the country on Friday Disneyland Paris Resort, beginning at the close of business confirmed eight deaths, taking the toll on Sunday, March 15, through the end of the month,” the to 3,176. Italy, the European epicentre company said in a statement. Disney earlier had said that its of the virus outbreak and the hardest- hit country outside Wuhan, has registered over 1,000 deaths with more than 15,000 testing positive. Besides these, over 120 countries have reported the infection. Trinidad and Tobago as well as Ghana reported their first cases, while Algeria, Azerbaijan, Greece, India, Norway and Washington Poland recorded their first fatalities. Asian shares plunged, then recovered slightly as markets continued to reel For the past year, the from uncertainty over the coronavirus Democratic presidential candidates crisis. Benchmarks in Japan, Thailand debated the merits of sweeping liberal and India sank as much as 10% ideas, fretted over notions of electability following Wall Street’s biggest drop and bias, and rose and fell in the polls since the Black Monday opensearchcrash of 1987. as voters struggled to choose a front- Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 fell nearly 6%. In runner. And through it all, President intended targets for economic and said they would close. American Disneyland and California Adventure theme parks in Southern India, the benchmark equity indices on Donald Trump sniped from the sidelines, social development,” Xi was quoted Airlines Group Inc and United said California would be closed from Saturday. The hotels at both the BSE and National Stock Exchange demonizing the party and its 2020 as saying. Canadian Prime Minister they would continue normal flights Walt Disney World and Disneyland Paris will remain open (NSE) staged a sharp recovery after contenders as socialists. Almost overnight, Justin Trudeau’s wife Sophie Gregoire to and from Europe for the next week until further notice, the company added. The company’s theme the trade resumed post a 45-minute everything has changed. Amid deepening Trudeau has tested positive for but would be reducing capacity to parks in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo remain closed after break, however, they continued to uncertainty over a spreading virus and coronovirus, a spokesman for the Europe by around 50% in April. The being shuttered earlier this year in response to the coronavirus remain volatile with both the indices growing anxiety about an economic prime minister said. The prime Indonesian government is overseeing outbreak, which started in China. Disney’s stock ended down swing sharply between positive and meltdown, that kind of classic presidential minister is in good health with no a campaign to clean 10,000 mosques 13%, on a day when Wall Streets major indexes all slumped negative territories. The number campaign ended and something symptoms, the spokesman said around the country as part of its bid about 10%.No cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the of coronavirus cases in India rose extraordinary has begun: a real-time, in a statement on Twitter. Justin to contain the virus. The cleaning novel coronavirus, have been reported at the parks in Anaheim, to 76 after a Google employee and life-or-death test of competency and Trudeau’s wife will be in isolation for campaign kicked off Friday at Istiqlal California, a company representative said in a statement. The another employee at a Noida-based leadership for those seeking the White the moment, while the prime minister mosque in Jakarta and was witnessed announcement coincided with statewide restrictions on public firm tested positive on Friday. Prime House this November. Over 18 hours will be in self-isolation for 14 days, by President Joko Widodo and gatherings ordered by California Governor Gavin Newsom. Minister Narendra Modi proposed from Wednesday night through Thursday according to the statement. South other officials. Indonesian Religious Comcast Corp’s Universal Studios theme park near Los Angeles that the leadership of SAARC nations afternoon, the three major candidates for Korea reported more recoveries than Affairs Minister Fachrul Razi called also will close on Saturday with plans to reopen on March 28, could chalk out a joint strategy to fight the presidency, including the incumbent, new infections on Friday for the first on officers at mosques nationwide the company said. Newsom ordered a statewide ban on most coronavirus and set an example for made quick pivots to shape and guide time since its outbreak emerged in to roll up the carpets and spray non-essential gatherings of more than 250 people, including the world. the country’s new political discourse. January. The country recorded 110 disinfectant. The minister also called sporting events, business conferences and concerts, but his I would like to propose that It was an attempt to demonstrate how new cases, compared with 114 a on worshippers at mosques to avoid directive exempted casinos and theaters, as well as theme the leadership of SAARC nations they would lead Americans across a day earlier, taking the national tally any form of physical contact. Razi and amusement parks. Disney said it decided to voluntarily chalk out a strong strategy to fight muddled terrain of social disruption and to 7,979. The fallout from the virus said: “We temporarily recommend close its Southern California parks “in the best interest of our coronavirus. We could discuss, via stock market collapse, of worry about spread across the Pacific on Friday, not to doing handshaking, kissing on guests and employees” after reviewing Newsom’s directive. video conferencing, ways to keep our testing kits and concern about travel bans with Australian travel firms issuing the cheek or other body contact as it As of Thursday, 198 coronavirus cases have been documented citizens healthy,” he wrote on Twitter. and crowd sizes.Just hours after Trump profit warnings and Japanese carriers is the medium of the transmission.” in California, including four deaths, Newsom said. California Chinese President Xi Jinping has told delivered a wooden address from the Oval cutting capacity while US airlines Singapore has tightened preventive is one of a handful of states, along with New York, that have the United Nations that his country Office, former Vice President Joe Biden rushed to cut flights to Europe in the measures, including expanding adopted such drastic “social distancing” measures, designed wants to conduct joint research on sought to position himself as a sober wake of new travel restrictions. US border controls, banning cruise ships to limit transmission of the highly contagious respiratory virus drugs and vaccines and offer “as much steward of the national interest, delivering travel curbs on much of continental and limiting mass gatherings. From by curtailing close contacts among people. Ohio and Maryland assistance as it can” to countries where a speech echoing the language and tone of Europe announced by President Sunday, travelers from Italy, Spain, have ordered statewide closures of public schools. Disney- the novel coronavirus is spreading. addresses given by presidents in moments Donald Trump on Wednesday evening France and Germany will not be run hotels in Anaheim will remain open through Monday to State media reported Friday that Xi of crisis. Biden also went much further deepened the sector’s misery that allowed to enter the Southeast Asian give guests time to make travel arrangements, the company told UN Secretary-General Antonio than Trump in proposing a detailed plan began after the virus emerged in city-state. Singapore earlier banned said. Disney will pay its employees during the shutdown and Guterres by phone that economic and and a set of goals on testing, increasing China late last year and reduced those from South Korea, Iran and refund payments for hotel bookings, it added. Located about daily life are gradually returning to hospital capacity and supporting an traffic. United Airlines Holdings Inc China. The Health Ministry said Friday 30 miles (48 km) south of Los Angeles, the two Disney parks normal in China thanks to “arduous accelerated push for a vaccine. “This virus warned of US travel disruption as the that travelers who showed symptoms drew 28.6 million visitors in 2018, according to the Themed endeavors” at prevention and control. laid bare the severe shortcomings of the virus spreads domestically and major but tested negative for COVID-19 will Entertainment Association. Disneyland, which opened in 1955, “The Chinese people will definitely current administration. tourist attractions like Walt Disney Co’s now have to quarantine themselves at is nicknamed the “Happiest Place on Earth.” The adjacent prevail over the COVID-19 epidemic theme parks in California and Florida home for 14 days. California Adventure park was added in 2001. Trump takes toand will ‘namaste’ also definitely realize its amid COVID-19 Canada PM Trudeau working from home as wife tested for COVID-19 pandemic, says India ahead of curve New Delhi, Agency.

Jerusalem, Agency. Governments across the globe continued to fight the novel coronavirus outbreak as 2,000 new positive cases of the virus were US President Donald Trump and Irish Prime confirmed on Thursday. The day’s biggest Minister Leo Varadkar were photographed development saw US President Donald greeting each other with the traditional Indian Trump imposing sweeping measures gesture of namaste at the White House Thursday. to prevent people from 26 European US officials said this was “necessary” due to countries, except the UK, to enter the the coronavirus pandemic. Varadkar, who is country. Meanwhile, Canadian Prime of Indian-origin, and Trump posed for a photo Minister Justin Trudeau is quarantining after reporters in the Oval Office asked them himself at home after his wife exhibited how they greeted each other. “We did not shake flu-like symptoms, reported AFP. China, hands today. We looked at each other and said in the meantime, has said the peak of the what we are going to do. You know, sort of a novel coronavirus in the country is over weird feeling,” Trump said. “I just got back from next few weeks,” Varadkar, meanwhile, said. On Trump had not been tested because he had but its success in controlling the deadly India. And I did not shake any hands there. disease has become complicated due to And it’s very easy Trump also referred to the Tuesday, the US President refused to get tested no symptoms and had not had “prolonged for coronavirus saying he has no symptoms of close contact” with any confirmed coronavirus a global surge in the COVID-19 cases. Japanese method of greeting — by bowing ones According to Center for Systems Science head. “They (India and Japan) were ahead of the the disease and was examined by the White patients. Trump had also met a Brazilian official, House physician. “I don’t think it’s a big deal. I who had tested positive for the virus, during a and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins, the total number of positive coronavirus curve,” he added. “I have never been a big hand- cases were above 1.2 lakh. While China, where the virus originated, reported the shaker, you probably heard. But once you become would do it. I don’t feel that any reason… I feel visit to the president’s private Mar-a-Lago club extremely good. I feel very good,” Trump told in Florida last weekend. After the news of Fabio maximum number of cases at 80,932, Italy stood second with 12,462 cases and counting. a politician, shaking hands is very normal. It’s a Here are the top developments of the day: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is very strange feeling when people walk up and reporters at the US Capitol, following a meeting Wajngarten, Brazil President’s communications with Senate Republicans on the coronavirus director, testing positive sparked a minor crisis, quarantining himself at home after his wife exhibited flu-like symptoms. Trudeau’s office say ‘hi’,” the US President said. “It almost feels said Thursday that Sophie Gregoire Trudeau returned from a speaking engagement in impersonal or feels like you’re being rude, but response. White House spokeswoman Stephanie Trump told reporters, “Let’s put it this way: I’m Grisham said in a statement on Monday that not concerned”. Britain and had mild flu-like symptoms, including a low fever late, Wednesday night. She we just can’t afford to think like that for the is being tested for the COVID-19 disease and is awaiting results. 6 | English Daily Open Search | SPORTS | New Delhi | Saturday, March 14, 2020 Saina Nehwal battles the uncontrollables after All England ouster New Delhi, Agency.

she’s not able to find solutions for them… and tears at Rio, Saina would want to add Tokyo then it’s hurting her mentally too,” Kashyap to her epilogue. It might start with being There have been a few Olympic heartbreaks says, pointing to the extremities that clearly quarantined at home in India, because she that Saina Nehwal has dished out to some impeded her movement against Yamaguchi. travelled to Spain to desperately collect iconic names of the game over the last 12 “Shins and ankle got a little aggravated after ranking points. Or start with reading the years. In 2008, she went up against fourth arriving here,” he informs. For someone unwritten words on the sanitised walls of an seed Wang Chen of Hong Kong, then 31 – who whose game is built on fitness, not being isolation ward. PTI adds: Sindhu in quarters, had the most excellent crosscourt half smash able to push herself in training has added Lakshya bows out Star Indian shuttler P V – and dashed her Olympic hopes with an to her frustration. “It’s tough, considering Sindhu cruised into the quarterfinals of the upset that shook up the badminton world. In the situation now. It’s been tough for her for All England Championships women’s singles 2012, she summarily dismissed Danish Tine over a year … every time she wanted to push with a straight-game win over Sung Ji Hyun Baun, 32 then, in the London quarterfinals. a little bit, something has been stopping her,” of Korea here on Thursday. The young bouncing upstart of earlier was Kashyap explains of the physical toll injuries The sixth-seeded Indian Olympic silver making the senior pros aware of the wear take. Saina’s also been bombarded from medallist won 21-19 21-15 in a round of 16 and tear of the body after punishing years many sides with criticism, each of which gets match that lasted 49 minutes. Sindhu next on a badminton court. Late on Wednesday, nastier and more personal when she loses on meets the winner of the round of 16 match playing the first round of the All England court. “The comments by her fans and all the between fourth-seeded Nozomi Okuhara where she reached the finals at her peak in people, it all hurts… no one knows the issues, of Japan and Line Hojmark Kjaersfeldt of 2015, Japanese Akane Yamaguchi dismantled so it’s very tough to cope,” he says trying to Denmark. Rising shuttler Lakshya Sen, Saina with the same disdain. It was 21- walk her through this phase of tentative however, was knocked out of tournament 11, 21-8 in 28 minutes – and it pushed the body and vulnerable mind which Saina tends after losing in straight games to Victor Indian to battle uncontrollables like the to hide behind her devil-may-care combative Axelsen in the men’s singles. Lakshay went Covid-19 outbreak, forced cancellations of fight for our chance but it’s very stressful out. “Cancellations and quarantine have been facade. “When injuries were piling up in my down to the world number seven Dane 17- tournaments and the creaking of her own and confusing. If quarantined for two weeks, on her mind for a few days .. all players’ minds career, I thought of quitting,” Kashyap says. 21 18-21 in a hard fought second round bones. “The way she’s been performing in then anyway we can’t play India Open and for that matter, but the performance (against Saina though will have to go through a very battle which lasted 45 minutes. The 18-year training I certainly expected a good match,” Malaysia Open so not understanding our Yamaguchi) wasn’t for that reason for sure,” public downward slide – complete with old Indian, who won five titles last season, said husband P Kashyap who’s doubling situation,” Kashyap explains, staying put in Kashyap says. Going for the fourth Olympics unsolicited advice from trolls and a bizarre had defeated Hong Kong’s Cheuk Yiu Lee up as her coach. Though Health Minister Birmingham, with an eye on the Swiss Open in a terribly abrasive sport like badminton shaming of her injuries. There are Twitter 17-21 21-8 21-17 in the opening round.In HarshVardhan is personally looking into the next week, and another on the quarantine would be considered exceptional, though pleadings and visa kerfuffles with her fate the men’s singles, Parupalli Kashyap retired matter, Saina faces the likelihood of being rules that the government needs to strictly given its Saina with her single-minded focus, in the hands of ministers. And then there’s from his first-round contest against Shesar quarantined on her return home having enforce. Saina has the Swiss, India, Malaysia she’d want to be in a position to fight for a the limbs that want to dominate opponents Hiren Rhustavito while B Sai Praneeth lost travelled to Spain after February 15. There’s and Singapore Opens and needs around medal, not just turn up to play. “She has been like before but don’t move like the glory days. his match on Wednesday. Kashyap’s match no clarity this moment. Just waiting for a day 12,000 points from those four tournaments, in good shape for the last 3-4 weeks but few Brimming with hope in Beijing, medalling lasted just one minute. He was trailing 0-3 to get a clearer picture. We want to play and at London, over-training and retreating in when he decided to call it quits. FIRST COLUMN after theAustralian crazyball Yamaguchi pacer swatted Kane her Richardsonniggles are troubling her all the time IPL and 2020 postponed due to Mary Kom, other boxers to returns negative for Coronavirus test be in self-quarantine New Delhi, Agency. coronavirus, to start from April 15 New Delhi, Agency. Australian fast bowler Kane Richardson was on Friday cleared of coronavirus after his tests returned negative, Cricket Australia said. The right-arm pacer, who returned with the Australian team from The Board of Control for Cricket South Africa earlier this week, had informed the medical staff of in India (BCCI) on Friday decided a sore throat on Thursday and was then sent for a precautionery to suspend Indian Premier League COVID-19 testing. However, Richardson’s coronavirus test returned (IPL) 2020 till April 15, 2020, as negative and he was on his way to a precautionary measure against the Sydney cricket ground where the ongoing novel coronavirus the first ODI against New Zealand (COVID-19) outbreak. “The BCCI is taking place. Kane Richardson is concerned and sensitive about has been cleared of contracting all its stakeholders, and public coronavirus after he returned a health in general, and it is taking all negative result to COVID-19 testing necessary steps to ensure that, all New Delhi, Agency. today,” cricket.com.au reported. people related to IPL including fans “He received the all-clear about have a safe cricketing experience,” Thirteen Indian 8pm AEDT and was released from the board said in a statement. “The boxers, including MC Mary Kom, who his hotel room quarantine to travel BCCI will work closely with the competed in the Asia-Oceania Olympic to the SCG for the opening Gillette ODI against New Zealand.” Government of India along with the qualifiers in Amman, Jordan, will be sent Earlier, a cricket Australia spokesperson had said that the national Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, into self-isolation for at least 10 days upon board were following the protocols laid by the government and Ministry of Health and Family their return in the wee hours of Friday. had thus quarantined Richardson. “Our medical staff are treating Welfare and all other relevant The boxing contingent, who will also go this as a typical throat infection but we are following Australian Central and State Government Delhi, Deputy Chief Minister Manish March 30. Before Delhi, Karnataka through the formal screening process at Government protocols that require us to keep Kane away from departments in this regard,” it Sisodia said, “All the sports activities also expressed their unwillingness the Delhi airport, will be the first bunch other members of the squad and perform the appropriate tests added. Earlier during the day, including IPL matches have been to host IPL matches, while of Indian athletes to go into quarantine in given he has returned from international travel in the last 14 days,” the Delhi government prohibited postponed in Delhi till further Maharashtra has banned the sale the aftermath of the Coronavirus outbreak. a Cricket Australia spokesperson was quoted as saying by cricket. all sports activities that include notice.” Delhi is home to the Delhi of tickets. India has reported more The decision was taken as a ‘preventive com.au. “Once we receive the results of the tests and Kane recovers a gathering beyond 200 people Capitals IPL franchise. IPL was due than 70 coronavirus cases so far and in the next few days weopensearch expect he will re-join the team. including the IPL in the capital. to start on March 29 in Mumbai and recorded its first COVID-19 death on measure’ by the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) on the advice of the Sports Authority With six cases getting confirmed in Delhi’s first game was scheduled on Thursday in Karnataka. of India (SAI) since the Indian team Bengal resist, as a slow-burning travelled to Italy and Jordan, two countries Manish Sisodia says no to IPL matches with a high number of Coronavirus cases, in the last three weeks. A travel advisory in Delhi, BCCI explores alternate venues thriller awaits a heady climax issued by the government on Wednesday, stated that incoming travellers, including New Delhi, Agency. Indian nationals, can be quarantined for a minimum of 14 days on their arrival in India. A source said the boxers will be asked to go straight to their homes In wake of rising cases of Novel after leaving the airport terminal and Coronavirus in the capital, the stay in isolation for at least 10 days. Delhi government has prohibited They have also been told not to visit any all sports activities that include SAI centre during this period. “We are a gathering beyond 200 people following the government’s advisory. It is including the Indian Premier a precautionary measure since they have League (IPL) till further notice. been to Italy and Jordan. The boxers will Delhi has so far confirmed six be told to stay in isolation at their homes. positive case of the virus and has There are other trainees and Olympic traced over 1,400 people who prospects at SAI centres, so the intention were in the contact with the six is to not expose any of them to any cases. Announcing the decision Rajkot, Agency. risk,” the source said. Only the coaches, on Friday, deputy Chief Minister including the two foreigners – Sweden’s Manish Sisodia said “All the sports Santiago Nieva and Raffaele Bergamasco activities including IPL matches of Italy – will be allowed to stay inside have been postponed in Delhi till The tug of war at Rajkot for the Ranji Trophy continues to slow boil ever the SAI campus since that is their official further notice. Coronavirus has so fascinatingly. The arena simmered with gritty fightback from Bengal, residence in India. There were concerns been declared an epidemic by the Saurashtra stirred up three wickets in the afternoon, and the pressure over the status of the foreign coaches, government and we are taking all cooked in the final session but Bengal not only held on, but didn’t lose since the government suspended all precautionary measures.” Health 30. The BCCI responded by listing the alternate venues any wickets. Just 72 runs more for the first-innings lead for Bengal. Only existing visas till April 15. However, a Minister Satyendar Jain said home quarantine is the best that could play host. Delhi is home to the Delhi Capital four wickets more for Saurashtra. Sudip Chatterjee and Wriddhiman Saha BFI source said since the coaches have solution in case one has any symptoms of coronavirus. IPL franchise. “Lucknow has been wanting to host IPL dug in first before Anustup Majumdar, who hit hundreds in quarters and been issued employment visas, they will Delhi has so far reported six cases of coronavirus, matches for a while now. If it’s a closed-door tournament, semis, trenched in with Arnab Nandi. Heart-warming stories abound get an exemption from the government. which has been declared a pandemic by the World it really doesn’t matter where it is played,” a BCCI source the men still with a chance to seize the game. Majumdar, 35 years, had Tokyo-bound wrestler Vinesh Phogat is Health Organisation. On Thursday, Delhi Chief Minister told PTI. Before Delhi, Karnataka has also expressed its to switch to Railways Ranji team in 2014 to keep his job at Railways but likely to cut short her training in Norway announced shutting of all cinema halls, schools and unwillingness to host IPL matches, while Maharashtra didn’t get to play many matches for two years. He returned to play for and return home, owing to the prevailing colleges till March 31. The IPL is due to start on March has banned the sale of tickets. Bengal but had to take a tough decision to quit his job last year as he was situation in Europe. 29 in Mumbai and Delhi’s first game was to be on March asked to return to Railways. BCCI adamant; ODIs, IPL to be played behind closed doors Ranji Trophy : Of gritty batsmanship, New Delhi, Agency. controversies & a swansong already being planned. It is for the organisers New Delhi, Agency. to decide if they want to go ahead with it or Despite the Uttar Pradesh government not,” MEA Additional Secretary Dammu Ravi, advising the BCCI not to go ahead with the appointed as the nodal officer to coordinate second ODI against South Africa in Lucknow efforts to deal with the coronavirus outbreak. The 2019-20 Ranji season was the on Sunday, the fixture will be played, albeit said during a press briefing. Earlier in the 86th season of the Indian first-class behind closed doors. The advice from the day, Uttar Pradesh minister of Medical, cricket championship which was full Lucknow district administration comes after Health and Family Welfare Jai Pratap Singh of bright sparks as young batsmen a patient in the state capital tested positive said that the health department had advised rose to the occasion while the fading for Coronavirus tested on Thursday. With Lucknow District Magistrate Abhishek stars announced their departure the cricket board intent on going ahead with Prakash to write to the BCCI asking for the into the horizon. Controversies and the Lucknow ODI without spectators, the postponement of the match. The advisory by memorable moments also followed same formula could be applied for the third the Centre has asked state governments to in tandem and amidst all these, it was ODI in Kolkata (March 18) and the Indian take appropriate action under the Epidemic Saurashtra who booked a spot in the Premier League, starting March 29, even as Diseases Act, 1897 and adhere to advisories Ranji Trophy final against a buoyant the Ministry of External Affairs saying the are the one organising the match. We have issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Bengal which began on March 9. Both cancer, Uttarakhand’s Kamal Kaniyal central government’s advice would be “not do received an advisory by the Government of Welfare. “You are advised to ensure that no the teams were desperate to go all the hit a fantastic debut hundred in Ranji it (IPL) at this time but if the organisers want India, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, public gathering takes place in any sporting way with Saurashtra reaching their Trophy. Gujarat skipper also made it to go ahead, it is their decision”. An advisory and that is what we have forwarded to the event. In the event the sporting event cannot fourth final in eight seasons while a memorable season as he completed on Coronavirus received by the central BCCI, which is a private organisation. We be avoided, the same could be done without Bengal has not tasted success in the 11,000 runs in first-class cricket. government was on Thursday forwarded have not written anything to the BCCI and allowing gathering of people, including premier domestic event since the 1989- Bengal’s Manoj Tiwary hit a spectacular to the BCCI suggesting that all sport events have just passed on the advisory,” Meshram spectators,” mentioned the advisory. An 90 triumph. Saurashtra lifted their first maiden triple century for Bengal on day should be either postponed or held without told The Indian Express. The External Affairs earlier office memorandum by the Ministry Ranji Trophy on Day 5 on Friday under two of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group A allowing any spectators. Lucknow Divisional Ministry said the IPL was one of several big of Health & Family Welfare dated March 5 the captaincy of Jaydev Unadkat who is match against Hyderabad. Playing with Commissioner Mukesh Meshram put the events which the government had to consider. mentioned that experts across the world have the leading wicket-taker (67 wickets) a ‘specially customised bat’, Tiwary ball in BCCI’s court as far as Sunday’s ODI “We are assessing a lot of requests of this advised to prevent mass gatherings to avoid in this season. Let’s take a look back smashed a first-class triple hundred in is concerned. “The decision on the cricket nature of sports events that have been held in the spread of the virus, till the spread of the at some of the memorable moments of an innings where no other batsman got match is to be taken by the BCCI as they India and something related to mega events disease is contained. this season Back from the clutches of a century In a unique incident. New Delhi | Saturday, March 14, 2020 | BUSINESS | | English Daily Open Search | 7 FIRST COLUMN RBI says closely monitoring As markets get hysterical over Coronavirus, situation, will take steps for market stability CEA says govt ready to step in Mumbai, Agency.

prices from January 31 till March 12. “So of coronavirus and the government what we are seeing currently is a reflection will continue monitoring these sectors. The government and the RBI will take of some of the global factors related to “Government is watching and tracking the all necessary steps to quell the “fear coronavirus episode... Stock markets often data very carefully. Government and RBI sentiment” created due to coronavirus, react with greed and fear. Currently, there is will take all steps necessary,” Subramanian Chief Economic Advisor Krishnamurthy fear because of coronavirus. It (the decline said. Data released on Thursday showed Subramanian said on Friday. He said in stock market) is because of global India’s factory output rising marginally the fall in Indian stock indices is lower factors and fear sentiment which I expect in January, while retail inflation easing to than the decline witnessed globally and to come down un the next few weeks as we a two-month low in February. The Index New Delhi, Agency. the situation in India will stabilise over get a handle,” he said. Coronavirus has led of Industrial Production (IIP) grew by 2 the next few weeks as focus shifts to to over 4,300 deaths globally, leaving over per cent in January against 1.6 per cent economic fundamentals like declining The Reserve Bank 1.25 lakh people infected. a year back, displaying moderate green inflation, growing industrial production In India, there are 74 cases of shoots.the pre Retail inflation eased to 6.58 per of India (RBI) on Friday said it is closely and adequate forex reserves.”The monitoring the current global situation coronavirus and one case of death so far. cent in February, from 7.59 per cent in government is seriously considering and Asked if the Reserve Bank would follow vious month, but remained above and assured that it will take all steps looking at all aspects of this situation to keep markets adequately liquid and other central banks in cutting rates to the Reserve Bank of India’s target band of and the government together with the provide a fillip to economic activity, 4 per cent, plus or minus 2 per cent. The stable. The statement comes at a day when regulator will definitely respond when it is trading on the Indian stock exchanges hit a Subramanian said “this is something that current account deficit (CAD), which is the necessary. Market reaction is not reflecting is being thought through. Other central difference between inflow and outflow of “circuit breaker” first time since 2008 -- as fundamentals, fundamentals (of Indian soon as markets opened on Friday. “The banks have certainly responded and foreign exchange, narrowed to 1 per cent economy) are improving,” Subramanian in the market. In the currency markets, inflation data clearly suggests moderation. of GDP in the April-December period of RBI is closely and continuously monitoring told reporters here. Trading on the Indian the rapidly evolving global situation and the Indian rupee fell to a record low of “Also we expect core inflation to go down current fiscal, from 2.6 per cent of GDP in stock exchanges hit a “circuit breaker” -- 74.5075 (intra-day) against the US dollar. further because of decline in oil prices. the corresponding period in 2018-19 fiscal. will take all necessary measures to ensure first time since 2008 -- as soon as markets that money, debt and forex markets Subramanian said current developments in So I think there is scope for the central India’s forex reserves stood at at USD 487.24 opened on Friday. Both Sensex and Nifty the market are all related to global factors bank to consider these different aspects.” billion as on March 6, 2020. Subramanian remain adequately liquid and stable, and plunged over 10 per cent, hitting their continue to function normally,” the RBI and countries like Russia, Brazil, France, He said services sectors like tourism, said India’s forex reserve is “absolutely lower circuit levels, as new coronavirus- Germany, Argentina, the UK, the US and hotels, restaurants and movies would be adequate” and the decline in oil prices will said in a statement. Both Sensex and Nifty led recession fears triggered panic selling plunged over 10 per cent in the opening Japan witnessed a 20 per cent fall in stock impacted due to the lockdown on account help significantly lower theCAD. session, hitting their lower circuit levels, as new coronavirus-led recession fears Pvt airports want fliers to triggered panic selling in the market. Sensex ends 1,325 pts up as indices Stock exchanges had halted trading for pay more as Coronavirus 45 minutes within 15 minutes of market opening. Normal trading resumed around hurts their profits stage sharpest 1-day recovery 1030 hours. In the currency markets, the New Delhi, Agency. Indian rupee recovered sharply to trade 46 paise higher at 73.82 against the US dollar. At open, the rupee fell to a record low of 74.5075 against the US dollar. The RBI also Indian equity markets ended an eventful and announced to infuse an additional short- highly volatile session with significant gains on term liquidity of Rs 25,000 crore in to the Friday after posting a record intra-day recovery system to counterbalance the domestic as investors temporarily put aside worries over liquidity effects on account of dollar coronavirus spread and indulged in some bargain sell-buy swap on Friday. It conducted buying. The Nifty50 index was locked in 10 per Rs 25,000 crore of a variable rate repo cent lower circuit early morning, prompting a auction with a 7-day tenor. On Thursday, trading halt for 45 minutes. However, once the the RBI had announced to undertake six- markets re-opened, the headline indices Sensex month US dollar sell/buy swaps to provide and Nifty shot up as much as 5,381 points and liquidity to the foreign exchange market 1,604 points, respectively, from their early amid evolving financial market conditions morning lows. Volitality index surged over and taking into consideration the 24 per cent during the session. Sensex closed requirement of US dollars in the market. 1,325 pts, or 4.04 per cent, higher at 34,103 To start with, an amount of $2 billion New Delhi, Agency. and the Nifty50 index a tad above 10,000 level would be offered on March 16, 2020. at 10,023.65, up 433 points, or 4.54 per cent. Market fall nothing The rebound was led by index heavyweights like HDFC which ended 10 per cent higher and but fear psychosis at Private airport operators of India have sought the State Bank of India whichi zoomed 14 per cent. government’s permission to levy extra charge on fliers, Reliance Industries was also up over 5 per cent. play: Dharmesh Kant citing losses incurred due to reduced passenger footfall In the end, 27 out of the 30 Sensex constituents and aircraft movement. “Revenue streams of airports have ended the session in green. The broader markets been impacted adversely against the gloomy background also joined the benchmarks in the upmove. The of sharp declines in traffic and passenger throughput. S&P BSE MidCap index closed 258 points, or To address the growing severity of this issue and ensure 2.09 per cent, higher and the S&P BSE SmallCap sustainability of airportopensearch operators, we propose to levy index gained 146 points, or 1.26 per cent. On a a nominal facilitation charge as part of airline fares weekly basis, however, the Sensex posted worst to cover the increased operating cost,” Association of drubbing since the 2008 financial crisis. Sharp recovery in week in over a decade -- down 11.35 per cent while the global markets on hopes that US is considering economic Private Operators said in a communication to the Pardeep Nifty50 index slipped 11.6 per cent in the week. Stocks Singh Kharola, secretary at Ministry of Civil Aviation. stimulus helped domestic market to bounce back from plunged on Friday with coronavirus panic selling hitting losses with index heavyweights contributing to gains. Private airport operators levy charges on flyers in the nearly every asset class, before finding some kind of floor New Delhi, Agency. form of user development fees, passenger service fees Increase in recovery rates of virus-infected apart from as hopes turned to a US stimulus package. Japan’s Nikkei those in Italy has been considered positive. If there and development fees. On Wednesday, the government fell 10 per cent before paring the drop to close 6 per cent virtually sealed off borders saying that all existing visas any further fresh coronavirus cases over the weekend I have no idea why such kind of selling lower. Australia’s S&P/ASX200 had its wildest trading the market could turn volatile Indian markets reached had been cancelled till April 15 to rein in the spread of day on record, falling past 8 per cent before surging in is happening. There is aggressive coronavirus, which is spreading exponentially across the capitulation today amidst mayhem as exchanges were selling because they know something the last minutes of trade to settle 4.4 per cent higher after forced to shut down markets on hitting the circuit filter. globe. The World Health Organisation too, has classified the close. In Europe too, markets bounced back from which we don’t. As regards coronavirus it as a global pandemic. The move has forced people to en Markets after reopening displayed a highly spirited (COVID-19), I don’t know why the their worst day ever, as signs of a US stimulus package recovery in anticipation of a stimulus today post market masse cancel travel plans as airlines cut flights drastically. helped soothe fears about an economic shock from the World Health Organisation (WHO) took Since February, foreign carriers operating to India have by the GOI. The intraday swing in indices witnessed today so long to declare this health scare a coronavirus pandemic. In commodity market, oil prices was truly unnerving but provided a tremendous buying cancelled about 492 flights till March-end. Indian carriers rose over 3 per cent but were set for their worst weekly pandemic. And being pandemic doesn’t have cancelled 96 international flights. This number is set opportunity for those under allocated towards equities. change things. That said, the mortality to increase further after Wednesday’s order. At Bengaluru rate outside China is almost negligible. airport, international traffic has dropped by 20 per cent It is time to be active if one is a The fatality rate due to this virus is from normal levels in February and almost by 50 per cent nowhere compared to what happened from normal levels in March ‘20. “While the airprot would earlier – during SARS, swine flu. Given normally have international passengers in the region of this scenario, the market correction 14,000-15,000 per day, we are seeing approximately trader: Andrew Holland is unprecedented as data points did 6,000-7,000 daily international passengers,” an airport not suggest this kind of mayhem. The spokesperson said. Executives of private airports say that NEW DELHI, Agency. anticipation of a severe economic due to the revenue sharing arrangement they have with lockdown because of this virus has the government their revenue stream is under severe steep fall as there will be sharp recoveries. triggered a massive correction from the There is panic out there. That said, I think pressure. According to the agreements signed with the Indian market hit a lower circuit in the first peak, and even the Nifty hit the lower government during privatisation process in 2006, India’s the developments and the way markets circuit. This is not justifiable. The fear 15 minutes of trade. The trading is now halted have reacted is a bit too much. Volatility will two largest airports, the GMR group-owned Delhi Airport for around 45 minutes. Selling was across- psychosis is at play. I am totally puzzled and GVK group-owned Mumbai Airport pay 46 and 38.7 remain until markets believe that the peak to see such a steep correction. In my the-board, pushing both Sensex and Nifty of coronavirus (Covid-19) cases has been per cent of their annual revenue to government-owned below their crucial support levels. The Nifty50 view, this kind of fall is more technical Airport Authority of India (AAI). An executive of a private reached and that may be some time away. in nature rather than any sense of breached 8,800 levels for the first time since Globally, governments and central banks need airport operator explained that the revenue has to be paid February 2017, a 3-year low. The S&P BSE fundamentals playing out. Traders are a quarter in advance according to the projected business to step in and bring stability and confidence shorting the market, and know that Sensex plunged more than 3,000 points to hit back both for companies and investors. So, plan submitted by the airports to the government. “So we a three-year low on Friday. In this backdrop, there is no mechanism in place to stop have already paid the government for Q1 FY 21 according what should investors do then? If one is a them from doing this. as we have stated previously its best for trader, it is time to be active. If not, it is too risky to bottom- to the projected business plan we had in the beginning of investors to sit on the sidelines and wait for the dust to the year. fish now. That said, we will get a V-shaped recovery in the settle. Opportunities are there for active trading given the markets at some point in time. Govt extends deadline to submit bids Markets are paying the price for not banning short sale; crash due to panic for Air India sale till April 30 NEW DELHI, Agency. New Delhi Agency. I don’t think the markets have over-reacted with the Nifty50 hitting lower circuit today. On the contrary, I think we have not reacted much to the developments. The worst part, according to me, is that when The government on Friday extended the deadline the global markets are melting, our for submitting bids for buying 100 per cent government and regulators were not stake in Air India till April 30. The deadline was at all prepared for such a situation. In originally set at March 17. The government had my view, the rundown on the market allowed access to the “virtual data room” of Air today is largely due to the players India to interested bidders late in February and who are more speculators rather than allowed them further time till March 6 to pose investors in the global markets. And queries. Home Minister Amit Shah-led ministerial they have free entry and exit from panel on Air India decided on extending the our markets under the garb of a “free deadline for submission of expression of interest market”. This is a cause of worry. China (EoI) by interested bidders till April 30. While did put in place measures to curb such extending the date, the Department of Investment a thing. As soon as they got a whiff of and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) in a the coronavirus epidemic, which has notification said “the changes are in view of since become a pandemic, they immediately closed and stopped short-selling, put in the requests received from the IBs (interested Ltd. The government had on January 27 issued in 2018, the government this time has decided to heavy margin requirement and restricted the entry of traders in the market. All this was bidders) and the prevailing situation arising out of the preliminary information memorandum offload its entire stake. In 2018, the government done last month. They are still a $144 trillion economy and have saved their investors COVID-19.” In January, the government restarted (PIM) inviting EoI for sale of 100 per cent stake had offered to sell its 76 per cent stake in the from bearing the brunt of the coronavirus health scare and its impact on the economy. the divestment process of Air India and invited in Air India. On February 21, it issued the first set airline. Of the total debt of Rs 60,074 crore as of On the other hand, India and the other nations have not done that. We are paying a big bids for selling 100 per cent of its equity in the of clarification answering queries regarding the March 31, 2019, the buyer would be required to price for not doing all this. The markets are paying the price for not banning short sale. state-owned airline, including Air India’s 100 per ‘confidentiality undertaking’. Interested bidders absorb Rs 23,286.5 crore, while the rest would Friday’s fall is not based on fundamentals, but on panic. This is also due to compulsion. cent shareholding in AI Express Ltd and 50 per for Air India should have a net worth of Rs 3,500 be transferred to Air India Assets Holding Ltd There is capitulation happening in the markets right now. Capitulation is a stage when cent in Air India SATS Airport Services Private crore. After its unsuccessful bid to sell Air India (AIAHL), the special purpose vehicle. the liquidity dries out. And that’s why the markets are tumbling. 8 | English Daily Open Search | ENTERTAINMENT | New Delhi | Saturday, March 14, 2020 FIRST COLUMN Disney postpones Mulan Entertainment industry has a new villain: due to coronavirus outbreak Coronavirus and the scare that comes with it Mumbai, Agency.

release has been postponed. Disney’s Mulan held its premiere With the coronavirus outbreak in Los Angeles on March 9. Niki now declared a pandemic by WHO, shared on Instagram, “We are so the entertainment industry is excited to share this film with the deferring its film releases, movie world, but given the current ever- events and film/music festivals shifting circumstances we are all for the safety of the attendees. experiencing, unfortunately, we In India, Sooryavanshi’s release have to postpone the worldwide has been delayed as the fear of release of MULAN for now.” coronavirus spreads. Theatres Akshay Kumar starrer in Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir Sooryavanshi was scheduled and Kerala have already been to release on March 24 but on shut till March 31. Cinema halls March 12, the makers decided in Karnataka will also remain to postpone the release of the closed for a week. On Thursday, film amid the coronavirus scare. actor Tom Hanks became the A statement by the makers first high-profile celebrity to New Delhi, Agency. read, “We have been as excited have been tested positive for as you are to present the film coronavirus. He was in Australia Disney Studios has to you and your family, but due for the Elvis Presley biopic. Films to the recent outburst of the delayed the highly anticipated live-action like Mulan, Fast 9, A Quiet Place remake of Mulan in the wake of growing COVID-19 (Coronavirus), we, 2 have also been postponed. Here the makers, have decided to concerns about the novel coronavirus. The is how coronavirus is affecting live-action remake, featuring Liu Yifei and postpone the release of your the entertainment industry: film Sooryavanshi, keeping in directed by Niki Caro, was slated to debut Film trade analyst Taran Adarsh Personal With Salman Khan, postponed. Mulan director Niki has now been delayed. Mulan’s in theatres across the globe from March 26 which was scheduled in April Caro took to Twitter to inform release was already deferred in mind the health and safety of shared on Twitter that Salman our beloved audience. and was slated for a March 27 release in Khan-led event, Up, Close & in USA and Canada, has been fans that the release of the film China but now the worldwide the US.The studio has also postponed the release of The New Mutants and Antlers. All Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson are three films have been delayed indefinitely Anushka Sharma on 5 years of NH10 as the studio decides the new release dates. However, Disney’s Marvel Studios movie Had no knowledge of producing films but knew I had to do it ‘taking it one-day-at-a-time’ Black Widow is still expected to hit theatres New Delhi, Agency. on May 1. Mulan is the latest big project to after coronavirus diagnosis shift its release date. On Thursday, Universal Mumbai, Agency. postponed Fast and Furious 9 by a year, while Paramount indefinitely delated A Bollywood star Anushka Sharma made Quiet Place 2. The latest James Bond entry foray into film production five years No Time to Die was delayed from April until ago with thriller NH10, and the actor Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson were tested positive with November. says she happy to have contributed coronavirus on Thursday, and the Forrest Gump actor took to Angrezi Medium movie to the changing content landscape Twitter on Friday to inform his fans about his health. Hanks review and release: of Indian film industry. Anushka, shared a photo of himself and wife Rita on Twitter. Along with it, who established her banner Clean he wrote, “Hello folks. Rita Wilson and I want to thank everyone Irrfan Khan earns praises Slate Films along with her brother Karnesh Sharma in 2014, said her aim was to entertain the audiences with disruptive content and she is happy with the appreciation her production ventures have received. The decision to produce ‘NH10’ was very instinctive for me. It appealed to my core of doing something different and entertaining audiences with disruptive content. I was 25, I had no knowledge of producing films and I didn’t know what I was getting into but I knew that I had to do it. “My brother @kans26 and I have built CSF brick by brick and we have together dreamt of contributing to the changing content landscape of New Delhi, Agency. mainstream and I feel validated today. NH10. Post NH10, Anushka, 31, went our country. We have miles to go and I’m proud of what Clean Slate Films on to star in and produce Phillauri lots to achieve but we are proud of the Irrfan Khan and has achieved so far and it all started (2017) and Pari (2018). The actor disruptive content we have managed with this one,” the actor posted on is currently working on a biopic on Radhika Madan starrer Angrezi Medium to create so far. We triedopensearch to make the Instagram celebrating five years of cricketer Jhulan Goswami. releases today. The film also stars Kareena stereotyped non-mainstream cinema, Kapoor Khan, Deepak Dobriyal, Pankaj Tripathi, Kiku Sharda and Dimple Kapadia. A spin-off of 2017 hit Hindi Medium, it has Official Competition shoot been helmed by Homi Adajania and narrates the story of a father and a daughter. The trailer and songs of Angrezi Medium have suspended amid coronavirus crisis here Down Under who are taking such good care of us. We have created quite a buzz among cinephiles. From Covid-19 and are in isolation so we do not spread it to anyone the early reviews, it seems Khan will once New Delhi Agency. else. There are those for whom it could lead to a very serious again cast a spell on the audience. This is illness. We are taking it one-day-at-a-time. There are things we his first release after he took a hiatus from can all do to get through this by following the advice of experts movies to get treated for neuroendocrine and taking care of ourselves and each other, no? Remember, tumour in London. In an interview with The The Mediapro Studio has decided to halt the shoot despite all the current events, there is no crying in baseball. Indian Express, Irrfan Khan talked about his Hanx.” Tom Hanks was in Australia for the shooting of Elvis character in Angrezi Medium and said, “I of its upcoming Spanish film Official Competition, Presley biopic when he was tested for the virus. The production relate to everything which works against the of the Baz Luhrmann directorial was halted after the actor was odds. I have faith in miracles and I have faith starring Antonio Banderas and Penelope Cruz, amid tested positive. Warner Bros shared in a statement, “We have in obtaining the unattainable with undying been made aware that a company member from our Elvis feature spirit. And the father in this film represents coronavirus crisis. According to Variety, the production film, which is currently in pre-production in The Gold Coast, that undying spirit.” Shubhra Gupta gave Australia, has tested positive for COVID-19 (coronavirus).” Angrezi Medium a 2.5-star rating. In her house described the decision as a “security measure and The statement further read, “We are working closely with review, Shubhra wrote, “Taru’s (Madan) the appropriate Australian health agencies to identify and wish to go to the UK (Truford University act of responsibility towards shoots’ crews”. “It is hoped contact anyone who may have come in direct contact with the standing in for the world-famous red brick individual. The health and safety of our company members institution) is Champak’s (Khan) command. that production will be renewed as soon as it is is always our top priority, and we are taking precautions to Using that as a peg, Angrezi Medium, which protect everyone who works on our productions around comes three years after Hindi Medium, possible to guarantee the safety of crew members,” the world. The individual who tested positive for COVID-19 goes about picking several thematic points: is currently receiving treatment.” Earlier, Tom Hanks’ son the love of family which subsumes all else, the statement added. Official Competition, directed by Colin Hanks took to Twitter and shared, “My parents are the very special bond between fathers and receiving excellent care in Australia and are doing well (and daughters, and, of course, how knowing Argentine filmmakers Mariano Cohn and Gaston in good spirits) given the circumstances.” Chet Hanks, Tom English is a passport to better prospects.” and Rita’s younger son, also shared a video on Instagram She added, “In its attempt to strike a balance Duprat, also features veteran actor Oscar Martinez. The comedy went into production in and around Madrid in late January. It was scheduled to shoot until mid-April. Also read: Entertainment industry has a new villain: and said, “My parents got coronavirus. Crazy. They are both between making us laugh and cry, broad down in Australia right now because my dad was shooting comedy and wring-your-heart emotion, the coronavirus and the scare that comes with it The news comes after Spanish authorities closed the schools earlier this week in Madrid. As of now, total 2,968 COVID-19 cases have been reported in Spain. Madrid alone a movie down there, but I just got off the phone with them. film keeps swaying one way and another, They both are fine. They are not even that sick. They are not resulting in sudden tonal shifts. clocked up 1,388 infections and 38 deaths by Thursday morning. Spain has seen the number of infections spiral since the start of the week, becoming one of the worst-hit countries in Europe. worried about it. They are not tripping, but they are going through the necessary health precautions, obviously.” Les Miserables movie review: The misery still exists New Delhi Agency.

The message handed out to of the residents are known his colleagues, and in a corner: ‘you them being simply this: we to the cops, as they swap do not rat out your partners’. That Borrowing the title of one of the are not happy about this but what seems like harmless is an unwritten rule. Stephane is the greatest novels of the 19th century, if you must insist on being banter but which is laced moral centre of this roiling universe, Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, for where we are, fine, but let with resentment and anger. which the film captures beautifully a contemporary film, can seem like us not see you. It comes as A prank by a young boy and powerfully. It’s bad enough to see overkill. But when Ladj Ly’s handheld no surprise then, that Ly was called Issa (erica) is the adults fighting like silly children, but cameras start rolling down the tough raised in the neighbourhood catalyst for real trouble, your heart turns heavy when you see Parisian suburb Montfermeil, tensions he has shot in; and again no which spills out from the armies of kids and teens, their faces rising each minute, you begin to surprise that the very same high-rises filled with people hidden behind make-shift masks, understand why the debutant director neighbourhood inspired living a hand-to-mouth range themselves against the cops, has done such a thing: his subjects may Hugo’s classic as well. The existence, to the streets who wield power like a weapon. The be removed from Hugo’s by more than film is part police procedural, lined by kids old enough film closes with a strong image. A cop two hundred years, but the misery part socio-political to be in school, too young with a cocked gun, pleading for his, still exists. Ly’s eye, never still, always commentary. Stephane to be hoodlums. Racial and and his colleagues’ lives facing the restless, alights upon the poor and (Bonnard) joins an anti- religious slurs are flung implacable eyes of a child, holding a the dispossessed, almost all belonging crime patrol unit consisting about, not just amongst the burning ember. Will he fling it? Or not? to the immigrant communities who of the hard-as-nails, cynical residents who are aligned You find yourself in the middle, hoping have been forced onto the outskirts Chris (Maneti) and Gwada with their own, but amongst for safety. Hoping that the child dials of one of the glitziest capitals of the (Zonga), and we see them the cops. Stephane, the most back. Hoping that the cop doesn’t have Western world. This is common to circling the streets: it is a compassionate of the trio, to shoot. Hoping for sanity. For the the marginalised all over the world. daily sweep, and clearly most finds himself at odds with miserables, everywhere.o Owner, Printer, Publisher & Editor Vijay Kumar Printed at Aditya Graphics, Pratap Bhawan, 5 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, I.T.O. New Delhi-110002 and Published at 1536/108, Ganesh Pura Road Tri. Nagar, New Delhi-110035 RNI No. DELENG/2016/67075 (Phone : 011-27380260 Moble :9210092542 ) E-mail : [email protected] , Websit : www.opensearch.co.in