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THE LARGEST CIRCULATED ENGLISH DAILY IN SOUTH HYDERABAD I WEDNESDAY I 24 FEBRUARY 2021 deccanchronicle.com, facebook.com/deccannews, twitter.com/deccanchronicle Vol. 84 No. 54 Established 1938 | 20 PAGES | `6.00

WEATHER Max: 33OC O Toolkit case: Court grants bail Min: 18.4 C RH: 71% TS Assembly building’s Rainfall: Nil Forecast: Cloudy sky. to Disha, calls evidence scanty Mist or haze likely. BHASKAR HARI SHARMA Disha Ravi, the 22-year-old creating and disseminat- Max/Min temp. 32/18 ºC elevation portion falls with agency inputs activist arrested from ing an online document NEW DELHI, FEB. 23 Bengaluru on February that lists out how people 13. can support the farmers’ COVID-19 A Delhi court on Tuesday Commenting that the prot-est against the three Debris falls in garden; no one is injured; officials worried made strong remarks in police’s case against Ms news laws. Police has DC CORRESPONDENT said, “the main building favour of freedom of Ravi was based on “scanty claimed that the document C UNT HYDERABAD, FEB. 23 structure is strong and speech and expression and and sketchy” evidence, was meant to revive a CASES DEATHS there is no need to worry. the right to dissent in the the court said that “the Khalistani group and was A portion of the elevation Since the building is over country while noting that offence of sedition cannot part of a global conspiracy (+13,550) (+103) of the Assem- 100 years old, incidents “any call for any kind of be invoked to minister to to “spread disaffection bly building collapsed on like these are common. violence” was absent from the wounded vanity of the against the Indian state”. 1,10,29,326 1,56,598 Tuesday afternoon and fell The engineering wing of the much maligned “toolk- governments”. The court rubbished that into the premises. The 115- the Assembly takes up it” as it granted bail to Ms Ravi is accused of allegation in its order. STATE GOVERNMENT BULLETINS year old Assembly build- periodic inspections of the ing is a heritage structure. entire building premises NA* NA* Fortunately, no one was and takes up repair works injured as the debris fell on a priority basis.” TS: 2,97,712 1,625 into the empty garden area However, Tuesday’s inci- in the vicinity of the dent has left Assembly (+70) (+1) Assembly. officials worried as the According to security Budget session of the Tela- AP: 8,89,409 7,168 personnel who were on ngana Assembly is expect- duty at the Assembly pre- ed to commence in the sec- CASES AROUND THE WORLD mises, the elevation on the ond week of March. Duri- east side of the Assembly ng the session, the premis- 11,24,33,431 building collapsed, with a es will be filled with minis- loud noise. The side por- ters, MLAs, MLCs, DEATHS tion of the elevation of the bureaucrats, media per- 24,89,661 office of the Government A portion of the Assembly building’s parapet wall sonnel, and other visitors. Chief Whip Rega Kanta collapsed on Tuesday, peeling off stucco from a portion The Telangana Assembly Rao was also damaged. was built using public COUNTRIES, of the roof. — P. SURENDRA AREAS WITH 219 Security personnel, who funds by the citizens of CASES heard the noise, rushed to Hyderabad, who raised worldometers.info/ the spot to check if anyone renovation works, the sending shockwaves money to build it, to mark coronavirus was in the vicinity. Howe- incidents of building among Assembly and the 40th birthday of Nizam * TS stopped daily updates ver, they found no one was developing cracks and security staff working in Mahboob Ali Khan. injured in the incident. some portions of the build- the premises. Though officials are tak- ing collapsing are being Legislature secretary V. ■ Page 2: KCR wanted new ASTROGUIDE ing up periodic repair and witnessed frequently, Narasimha Charyulu, building for Assembly Sarvari; Uttarayana Tithi: Magha Shuddha Dwadasi till 5.59 pm Star: Punarvasu till 1.11 pm Varjyam: 9.11 pm to 10.47 pm Classes 6 to 8 will Parents worried Durmuhurtam: 12.06 pm to 12.52 pm Rahukalam: 12 noon to 1.30 pm HIJRI CALENDAR begin from today over kids’ health Rajab 11,1442 AH DC CORRESPONDENT directive before March 1. HARLEEN MINOCHA | DC conformity with safety PRAYERS HYDERABAD, FEB. 23 Somesh Kumar said that HYDERABAD, FEB. 23 protocols, schools are free Fajar: 5.39 am classes should start from to start a shift system. Zohar: 12.40 pm Chief Secretary Somesh Wednesday as far as possi- On a day when the Telan- The decision was wel- Asar: 4.43 pm Kumar on Tuesday held a ble and all schools must gana government announ- comed by the teaching Maghrib: 6.27 pm teleconference with all open by March 1. ced reopening of schools community. The Telang- Isha: 7.35 pm district collectors, district About 17.2 lakh stu- for Classes six to eight, ana state United Teachers education officers and dis- dents, in addition to exist- involving 17.24 lakh stu- Federation thanked the SUNRISE TOMORROW 6.37 AM trict welfare officers of ing students of higher dents, some parents expr- government and said this SUNSET TODAY 6.20 PM the BC, SC and ST, and classes already at school, essed concern over the would ensure academic MOONSET 3.18 AM minority departments to are likely to attend school safety of their children in year is not wasted. MOONRISE 2.36 PM discuss measures to be from classes VI to VIII. the ongoing Covid-19 pan- Some parents Deccan taken for reopening of He directed that an edu- demic conditions. Chronicle spoke to felt schools for students from cation monitoring comm- The decision to reopen there was risk to sending COUNTER POINT classes VI to VIII from ittee, chaired by district schools for upper middle their wards to schools as Wednesday. collectors, should meet classes ended a period of the pandemic refused to The Chief Secretary told and take up the issue of abrupt closure since go away. Venkat Sainath, officials that Chief Mini- reopening of classes. He March last. Education parent of a Class 6 stu- ster K. Chandrashekar said all precautions sho- minister Sabitha Indra dent, said he will not Rao has directed that uld be taken for the safety Reddy who chaired a allow his wards to attend schools be reopened from of students and teachers. meeting of education offi- regular classes. February 24 and asked Classes from IX to XII cials said if classroom officials to ensure that all have already started func- space is not enough to ■ Page 2: Parents question schools comply with the tioning in the state. accommodate students in state’s about-turn in policy Another TS, AP water row erupts L. VENKAT existing Rajolibanda Dive- ster K. Chandrashekar ion and the Apex Council RAM REDDY I DC rsion Scheme (RDS) to Rao that the AP govern- of the Union ministry of HYDERABAD, FEB. 23 draw additional water wit- ment had started making Jal Shakti against the AP hout obtaining any appro- markings to dig a canal on government and ensure Yet another water row has vals from various govern- the right side of the RDS. that Andhra Pradesh sus- erupted between Telang- ment agencies. This will Official sources in the pends these works. ana and Andhra Pradesh. deny Telangana its right- irrigation department said Though TS is supposed INSIDE The Telangana state gov- ful share and adversely that Rao discussed the to get 16 tmc ft of water ernment took a serious affect the erstwhile issue with officials on through the RDS, it is get- ■ CITY... PAGE 3 view of the AP governm- Mahabubnagar district. Tuesday and directed ting less than five tmc cur- 72 fly abroad with ent launching works to Public representatives them to lodge a complaint rently due to leakages. construct a canal at Rajoli- and farmers of and with the Krishna River fake Aadhaars banda village in Kurnool Mahabubnagar districts Management Board, the ■ Page 2: Farmers worry district, in parallel to the complained to Chief Mini- Central Water Commiss- about AP’s parallel project

HASTY | STEP State to release data of Covid cases weekly, experts criticise move TS stops daily Covid case updates DC CORRESPONDENT gether 1,625 deaths due to ongoing vaccination drive,” HYDERABAD, FEB. 23 the disease. The GHMC area Dr Rao said. PMO CONDUCTS REVIEW MEETING ON including Hyderabad city “In case of any significant The Telangana government had the highest daily cases development,” the media SUDDEN SPIKE IN CORONAVIRUS CASES will no longer release daily in the state, 24, out of the 114 will be informed,” he said. Covid-19 caseload data and new cases recorded on The decision to do away DC CORRESPONDENT and E484Q — have been information on district-wise Sunday. with the daily Covid-19 bul- NEW DELHI, FEB. 23 detected in new cases as also the num- There are no major letins has left public health and Kerala but there is no ber of people dying from changes in Covid-19 behav- policy experts confused. Amid a spike in coron- direct relation between the Covid-19 in the state. iour or cases in Telangana, “Data collection is a daily avirus cases in the country, recent surge in Covid-19 “Henceforth, instead, a the official said, justifying process of disease surveil- a meeting was held at the cases in these states and weekly bulletin will be the stoppage of daily Covid lance. Even if the govern- Prime Minister’s Office some others with the released,” the state director bulletin. “We have realised ment believes that it has (PMO) on Tuesday to mutant virus strains. of public health Dr G that instead of dedicating gotten rid of Covid-19 in the review the pandemic situa- Maharashtra and Kerala Srinivasa Rao announced exclusive human resources state, the data should be tion. account for 75 per cent of here on Tuesday. and many man hours into made public to help people Union health ministry total active Covid-19 cases As on Sunday, Telangana generating the Covid-19 data make appropriate choices,” officials, meanwhile, have in the country. has a total of 1,27,712 Covid- on a daily basis, this man- an infection diseases con- said that two mutated vari- 19 cases and there were alto- power can be used in the trol expert said. ant of SARS-CoV-2 — N440K ■ Full report on Page 7 CITY DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | WEDNESDAY | 24 FEBRUARY 2021 pg 2 Exam time JUST 24% TAKE COVID VACCINE SECOND DOSE DC CORRESPONDENT HYDERABAD, FEB. 23

Only 24 per cent of peo- ple have taken the sec- ond dose of Covid-19 vaccination in four dis- tricts of the state. While the number of targeted beneficiaries is 1,750, only 420 took the second dose. Meanwhile, 902 of ben- eficiaries took their first dose of the vaccine on Tuesday. Authorities are con- tinuing to administer the first dose as many beneficiaries did not come at the scheduled time to take their vacci- nation. A senior government official said, “They were down with Covid-19 or were busy with work. Students enter the digital examination centre to write their JEE papers at Moula Ali on Tuesday. While candidates They are all coming for- aspiring to pursue BArch, BPlanning programmes appeared for the exam on Tuesday, the ones aspiring to take ward only now.” admission in BE/BTech courses will take the test from Wednesday. — S. SURENDER REDDY There are 1,11,829 ben- eficiaries who have so far taken the second dose of vaccine in the state. ● 902 OF beneficiaries Tests -ve, but signs akin took their first dose of the vaccine on Tuesday. Authorities are continu- ing to administer the first dose of the Covid- to Covid puzzle doctors 19 vaccine as many ben- eficiaries did not come at the scheduled time to RT-PCR test cannot detect virus if mutant strain is present take their vaccination. KANIZA GARARI | DC missed? are declining.” Sangeeta Gupta, an insur- HYDERABAD, FEB. 23 A senior infectious dis- These new patients who ance agent in Hyderabad ease doctor in a private are responding slowly to who has three family `90L WORTH More than 10,000 people hospital said, “RT-PCR is medicines are a concern members in the intensive have tested negative for negative but the severity but sending their samples care unit of the hospital Covid-19 in the last 15 days of symptoms indicates to NIV is a challenge. says, “It is disturbing … GOLD SEIZED here, but these patients that it is Covid-19. The Another doctor explained, that the Covid tests are have similar symptoms, virus is expected to “Due to the taboo of the negative but patients are AT AIRPORT requiring intensive care mutate and there could be disease, there is unwill- still on ventilator support. and ventilation support, a local mutation, which ingness among the family No one is allowed to meet DC CORRESPONDENT stated medical experts has to be identified. members to report the and no information is HYDERABAD, FEB. 23 here. Patients are often admit- matter. Hence, till the shared. What is the dis- RT-PCR tests are nega- ted with severe symp- microbiologist is sure that ease is not known. In 2020, Officials of Directorate tive but the diagnostic kits toms.” it is a case of concern, we lost three members of of Revenue Intelligence cannot test the virus if the Hospitals state that random samples are not the family to Covid-19.” (DRI) at Rajiv Gandhi S, R and RBD mutations intensive care units and sent.” Dr Narsinga Reddy, past International Airport in are present,” they said. Covid-19 wards are full. Scientists at CSIR’s national vice-president of Shamshabad seized 1.867 These mutations are Another explained, “We Centre for Cellular and Indian Medical kg of gold worth `90.41 deletions or substitutions are seeing many patients Molecular Biology where Association (IMA) lakh from a person who in the genes of the virus. testing positive in diagno- genome sequencing is car- explains: “It has been stat- arrived in the city on a Two types of mutations sis but their response to ried out say they are get- ic this month with only a Pune-Hyderabad flight were detected in medicines is slow. They ting more samples of few cases being seen. on Tuesday. Maharashtra and Kerala. are taking time to recover. international travellers There is no sudden rise till The seizure was made Epidemiologists have Why is that happening, we but less from local resi- now. With cases increas- following specific intelli- reported to the central do not know.” dents. Sample collection is ing in Maharashtra and gence that the passenger health ministry that so far Hospitals in the city important to understand Kerala, we have to be was carrying six gold they are confined to the have a collaboration with the emerging local vari- alert.” biscuits concealed in his two states only. the National Institute of ants if any. Out-patient departments luggage. What is the reason for Virology in Pune, to where While variants of the of hospitals are also see- “Investigations have the tests showing negative samples are sent. To send virus will be around, it is ing a lot of cases of viral revealed that the gold even as patients have a sample, there is a set cri- important to understand fevers due to sudden was secreted in the air- symptoms of chill, muscle teria and the patient’s that only those that are changes in weather. This craft on an international ache, blood in sputum and symptoms must merit virulent will be a cause of has sparked fears of run by a syndicate. One low oxygen levels? Is the that. During last year, concern. immune-compromised person has been arrest- quality of the diagnostic there was aggressive col- People are once again state of people making ed and further investiga- kit a challenge? Or is there lection of samples. Now it alert as there are cases in them susceptible to con- tions are on,” a DRI offi- a mutation that is being has reduced as the cases the neighbourhood. tract infectious diseases. cial said. KCR wanted new Farmers worry about Assembly building AP’s parallel project From Page 1 Secretariat complex. From Page 1 ● IRRIGATION PROJECT intended to serve an aya- However, several peti- RDS is located on cut of 5,900 acres, utilis- The construction began tions were filed in the Farmers complained that ing 1.2 tmc in Karnataka during the reign of the High Court against the if AP builds a parallel Tungabhadra river and and 87,500 acres with 15.9 sixth Nizam Mahaboob demolition of the 150- canal, it would deprive spread in Gadwal district tmc in Telangana. The Ali Khan in 1905 and was year-old Errum Manzil to Telangana of even the of Telangana, Kurnool tailend reaches in completed in December pave the way for con- minimum five tmc of district of AP and Raichur Telangana have not been 1913. A new building was structing a new assembly water. district of Karnataka. getting water for decades built in 1980 in order to building. Irrigation project RDS is due to leakages. accommodate the legisla- Heritage lovers also located on Tungabhadra cated 15.9 tmc from the RDS was one of the main tive offices of ministers went to court against the river and spread in RDS but gets an average of issues during the and political parties. demolition of the secre- Gadwal district of only five tmc. Telangana statehood agi- As the building was tariat. While the High Telangana, Kurnool dis- The RDS has only one tation. However, it was not becoming older and pos- Court cleared the demoli- trict of AP and Raichur canal, which emanates addressed in the Andhra ing an existential threat, tion of the secretariat, it district of Karnataka. It is from the left side of RDS Pradesh Reorganisation Chief Minister K. issued stay orders on the an inter-state barrage on anicut on Tungabhadra Act, 2014. Due to this, Chandrasekhar decided demolition of Errum Tungabhadra river, which river. The anicut is located farmers under the RDS to construct a new Manzil in September supplies water to the three at the border of Andhra canal in Gadwal district Assembly at Errum 2019, which are still in states. Pradesh (Kurnool) and are still awaiting their Manzil, at a cost of `100 force. Due to this, the gov- The RDS is crucial for Karnataka (Raichur). The rightful share of water to crore. He even laid the ernment could not start Telangana, as it irrigates canal passes through reach their fields even foundation stone for its construction works for a about 87,000 acres in the Karnataka for 43 kms and more than six years after construction in June 2019, new assembly building so state and 4,000 acres in AP. flows into Telangana for Telangana state was along with a new f a r. Telangana has been allo- the remaining 100 km. It is formed. 4 building workers killed Parents question in 2 separate accidents state’s U-turn DC CORRESPONDENT ● IN THE first incident, nation. From Page 1 ent from Glendale HYDERABAD, FEB. 23 two construction workers In the second csae, two Academy said, “The vac- died after a trolley loaded persons, identified as “There is no point in cines that are now being Four persons from the Jangaiah and starting classes when used are not for kids city were killed in two dif- with iron rods and con- Mohammed, both con- this academic year is under the age of 16. ferent road accidents at struction material over- struction workers, were about to end. Two days Parents would prefer Petbasheerabad and turned at a construction killed in a mishap after a ago, the education minis- online classes until the Abdullapurmet areas of site in Petbasheerabad. rashly driven truck hit ter said junior-level pandemic is controlled. Cyberabad and them at Abdullapurmet schools will remain shut. Most parents I know of Rachakonda respectively. get down a slope to on the city outskirts on So, what has changed,” are against sending their In the first incident, two unload the construction Tuesday morning. Police he asked. children to school.” construction workers material, lost control of said the incident Another parent The state education died after a trolley loaded the vehicle, which went occurred when the two Madhushekhar raised department said that in with iron rods and con- out of control and down were proceeding on a bike concern over rising cases the first 10 days of struction material over- the slope. It overturned at from their village in some states and felt reopening of schools turned at a construction the end of the slope, towards Banda Ravirala this is not the right time from Class 9 and above site in Petbasheerabad on crushing under it the two side. “Both sustained to reopen schools. from February 1, the Tuesday afternoon. workers, identified as grievous bleeding “Students till Class 8 will attendance saw a steady Police said the mishap Upender and Manohar, injuries and succumbed be promoted as per the rise. occurred when the foun- who were in a pit being on the spot” said the law. Online classes at this More than 60 per cent of dation laying work was laid for pillars at the Abdullapurmet police, point are safer. Why the students are attend- being taken up for an site,” police said, adding adding that they are should we risk our kids ing schools and junior apartment. that a case was booked investigating the case and with the virus,” he colleges in the rural dis- “The trolley driver, who and the bodies were shift- efforts are on to nab the asked. tricts as well, the depart- reportedly attempted to ed for postmortem exami- absconding truck driver. Zubair Razzack, a par- ment said. CITY DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | WEDNESDAY | 24 FEBRUARY 2021 pg 3

SHORT TAKES TANISHQ OFFERS HC tells Wakf Board to ZERO LOSS GOLD EXCHANGE POLICY clarify on Hafeezpet land DC CORRESPONDENT HYDERABAD, FEB. 23 Separate petitions have been filed challenging Board’s gazette Tanishq, the popular jewellery brand, said it was offering a DC CORRESPONDENT Mohd. Hafeezuddin ‘zero loss gold exchange poli- HYDERABAD, FEB. 23 Khan Bahadur Zafar Jung cy’ for customers in Andhra Shams-ud-Dowla Shams-ul- Pradesh and Telangana state. Telangana High Court on HC seeks Board’s Mulk, which was These states, the company Tuesday asked Telangana executed by her on 01-01- said, see half of all gold pur- Wakf Board to clarify its 1955. With that, Wakf Board chases made thorough gold stand on 47 acres of land in pending response issued Munthakhab on 13-12- exchange. Tanishq’s offer, the survey number 80 of 2013 under section 36 of the company said comes as a boon Hafeezpet village, which Hyderabad: Three parties Some private parties Wakf Act 1995 in the statuto- for customers who are looking came into limelight follow- have been claiming the 484 contend that they have ry Telangana Book of to upgrade to new designs and ing alleged kidnap of acres land in this survey bought the land in survey Endowments. refresh their jewellery assort- Katikaneni Praveen Rao number. Rights over around number 80 through sale The petitioners have, how- ment. and his brother by former 141 acres are being claiming deeds from Khajim Nawab ever, contended that there is The company is offering 100 AP minister Bhuma by Wakf Board. The remain- Jung, who is son-in-law of no signature on Wakfnama per cent valuation on Akhila Priya and her hench- ing land is being claimed by Baseerunnisa Begum, kin of by Muneerunnisa Begum. exchange of 22 karat gold jew- men. the state government stating Nizam. The Wakf Board, however, ellery from any jeweller. The Praveen Rao claimed that that it belongs to Meanwhile, Supreme maintains that due to some offer in Andhra Pradesh and he, along with others, had Kurshidshah Paigah and Court and High Court have injuries to her, she was Telangana state, is for a limit- obtained the land under a subject to CS 14 (civil suits several times rejected the unable to sign the ed time period. registered settlement deed. filed by Dildarunnisa Begum claim of state government Wakfnama. The exchange at Tanishq But the proceedings dated and others) for partition of on the land. But with regard Following this, the stores take place in front of 16-06-2020 of Telangana the estate of late Nawab to Wakf Board’s claim, the High Court posed a series of the customer as the purity of State Wakf Board addressed Khursheed Jah Paigah, court has asked the board to questions to Wakf Board as gold is ascertained by non- to sub-registrar, Moosapaet, where the land in submit its contentions to how it came to know destructive method using the Ranga Reddy district, Hafeezpet village measures before it decides on the that she was the owner of Cancer patient duped state-of-the-art Karatmeter. claimed that the property about acres 1333-00 guntas). matter. said property in survey num- The product is first cleaned in belong to the Wakf ber 80 and why the board an ultrasonic machine and Board. The board asked the did not register the lands till then it is melted in front of the sub-registrar not to enter- Justice T. Vinod Kumar Board, notifying that the 2013, when she had been of `2L, clergy booked customer. The final purity is tain any transactions, adjourned the case to said lands belong to it. given the Wakfnama in measured in Karatmeter up to such as sale, purchase, mort- Wednesday, giving Wakf Abu Akram, counsel for the 1955. DC CORRESPONDENT ● MOHAMMED son Bilal including the two decimal points. The sell- gage or transfer, of the Board the last chance to sup- Wakf Board, submitted to The court also asked if any- HYDERABAD, FEB. 23 JALEEL Uddin Qadeer hospital’s estimation ing and buying gold rate at said property. Aggrieved port its contention that the the court that the dargah of body gave Wakfnama of any requested that the `2 form, Aadhaar card, Tanishq is the same and hence over this, Praveen Rao land belongs to the board. Hazrath Salar-E-Auliya (Rh) property like Charminar, A case has been regis- lakhs he gave be passport copy, and can- the customer gets the best and others have approached Praveen Kumar, has an attached wakf land Golkonda, and other tered against Maulana returned but Maulana cer reports. On exchange value for their old the High Court seeking Pardhasarathi (also known measuring acres 140-00 gun- buildings, whether the Wakf Ali Quadri by the November 26, 2020 gold, the company said. suspension of the proceed- as Goldstone Prasad), and tas in survey number 80 of Board would automati- Hyderabad city police Ali Quadri did not give Mohammed Jaleel was Speaking about the gold ings. others have filed separate Hafeezpet village. The cally register the property for allegedly cheating the money back. asked to send him one exchange policy, Srikrishna The Division Bench com- petitions before the High Wakfnama was originally without examining a cancer patient and more set of all the doc- Myneni, Regional Business prising Justice M.S. Court challenging the created by Muneerunnisa authenticity of the docu- collecting `2 lakh on `14.5 lakhs from the uments which was Manager, South, Tanishq, Ramachandra Rao and gazette issued by Wakf Begum, daughter of Nawab ments. pretext of arranging Chief Minister’s Relief promptly sent again,” said, “Customers expect jew- money from the CM’s Fund to cover the police said, adding ellers to be very transparent Relief Fund. expenses. “He had that Jaleel never saw when it comes to exchanging The Hyderabad city approached Ali Quadri the money. of old gold. One can easily police booked a case who he came to know He requested that the upgrade to Tanishq’s new and against clergy is well acquainted `2 lakhs he gave be exciting collections and get a Ex-cashier booked for forging invoices Maulana Ali Quadri, with Hyderabad returned but Maulana fair valuation for their old 50, following a com- Parliamentarian Ali Quadri did not give gold. Customers who have DC CORRESPONDENT ● THE CASE was from the management of “Srinivasa Rao had com- plaint which stated Asaduddin Owaisi. He the money back. exchanged with us are com- HYDERABAD, FEB. 23 booked against Lukka Malabar Royal Designs mitted the said acts with an that he had allegedly then contacted Quadri Hence, he requested pletely delighted with our Hyderabad Pvt. Ltd, repre- intention to cause loss to the taken money to help a and met him at his the police to take nec- transparency and valuation The ex-cashier of a jewellery Srinivasa Rao, who was sented by its showroom head company and unlawful gain cancer patient and brother-in-law’s house essary action against methods of exchange.” store in Somajiguda was working as a cashier at Shareej, 36, wherein he stat- to him. The victim’s compa- cheated. behind Azam Hospital Maulana Ali Quadri as booked by the Panjagutta Malabar Gold & ed that Lukka Srinivasa Rao, ny came to know about the According to the in Hussain Alam. per law. police for forging invoices Diamonds, Somajiguda, has committed falsification acts of the accused pursuant Banjara Hills police, Quadri said that he Based on the com- FCI LAUDS COPS and stealing gold ornaments of accounts and forged false to an internal audit conduct- they received a com- will arrange the plaint the police weighing 90.345 gm, with a said the police. invoices by deceitfully mis- ed in the complainant com- plaint from amount in about four booked a case under FOR RESTORING value of `4.64 lakh, from the against Lukka Srinivasa appropriating gold pany on Sunday. We have Mohammed Jaleel days and had asked for Section 420 IPC under place over the course of a Rao, who was working as a ornaments weighing 90.345 booked a cheating case and Uddin Qadeer `4.5 lakhs as commis- the zero FIR and trans- few months. The crime came cashier at Malabar Gold & grams having a value of started an investigation. Sidddiqui, who said sion. Jaleel arranged ferred the case to STOLEN PROPERTY to light when the owners con- Diamonds, Somajiguda, said `4,64,000 from the company Efforts are on to trace and that he had gone `2 lakhs immediately Charminar police sta- DC CORRESPONDENT ducted an internal audit. the police. and has stolen the gold orna- nab the man,” said the through colon cancer and handed over the tion for further inves- HYDERABAD, FEB. 23 The case was booked A complaint was received ments. police. surgery and needed cash along with his tigation.

An employee of the Food Corporation of India thanked and appreciated the Police HIGH COURT ASKS Commissioner of BioAsia’21 reviews Rachakonda, Mahesh Bhagwat, for swiftly arresting FOR COUNTER the interstate property offend- ers and recovering stolen vaccine challenges AFFIDAVITS IN material worth `25 lakh. DC CORRESPONDENT ● THE BIOASIA KAMALAKAR’S CASE B. Swayam Prabha, an HYDERABAD, FEB. 23 employee of the Food meet hoped normal- DC CORRESPONDENT Corporation of India, met the The virtual BioAsia cy will be restored HYDERABAD, FEB. 23 Police Commissioner and 2021 conference dis- sooner, with more thanked him on Tuesday. She cussed in detail the and more people The Telangana High expressed her gratitude to the ongoing Covid-19 pan- getting vaccinated Court on Tuesday direct- Nacharam police and the demic, apart from ed the respondents incl- Central Crime Station police innovations and med- the world over. uding Chief Secretary for their efforts in solving the ical technologies used Somesh Kumar and State case. in discovering differ- been observed all Wakf Board to file count- It was in December last year ent vaccines for fight- across the globe, so er-affidavits in a case that Swayam Prabha’s house ing the virus. 31,450 much so that the World filed by Gangula Kam- at Habsiguda in Nacharam people participated in Health Organisation alakar, minister for civil was burgled by a three-mem- the virtual conference (WHO) has asked peo- supplies and BC welfare. ber gang that stole cash, dia- from world over. ple to voluntarily opt Justice P. Naveen Rao mond and gold ornaments. The meeting under- for the vaccines as heard the writ petition The sleuths of CCS lined the need for col- they are safe. filed the Minister seeking Malkajgiri along with laboration between dif- The conference dis- a direction to the District Nacharam Police of ferent countries for cussed logistics and Collector, Karimnagar, to Rachakonda arrested Mohd timely delivery of the challenges being faced remove his 15 acres from Sabdar, 25 and Mohd Ayub, 58, vaccine throughout in supply of vaccines the prohibitory list and at the pot market in the globe. Participants to low and middle-inco- to the Wakf Board to Secunderabad and recovered expressed concern at me countries, where denotify his land from its stolen loot worth `26 lakh the evolving variants healthcare workers are gazette. from them. of SARS-Cov-2 and yet to be vaccinated. During the course of “They used to roam dwelt on questions The BioAsia meet hearing Minister’s coun- around residential areas to whether the vaccines reiterated that no one sel Jandhyala Ravish- target and burgle houses. will be effective is safe till all are safe. ankar drew the attention They confessed to committing against the emerging For that, better collab- of the court to a pending offences in three places and new strains. oration between differ- case filed by the Minister were placed under arrest in The BioAsia meet ent countries is essen- in 2014 on the same issue. due time,” police said. hoped normalcy will tial, it emphasised. Justice Rao directed the be restored sooner, Principal secretary Registry to tag the old ● IT WAS in December last with more and more (Industries) Jayesh writ with the new one people getting vacci- Ranjan said: "About 60 and adjourned the case to year that Swayam Prabha’s nated the world over. eminent speakers have March 23. house at Habsiguda in Majority of the scien- during the past two ● JUSTICE RAO directed Nacharam was burgled by a tists spoke about the days elaborated on the three-member gang that need to trust science way forward to emerge the Registry to tag the stole cash, diamond and gold and get over hesitancy out of the current old writ with the new ornaments. in taking the vaccine. challenges in the pan- one and adjourned the Such reluctance has demic”. case to March 23.

FAKE | PASSPORT 2 cops among 8 held for giving illegal papers to B’deshis 72 fly abroad with fake Aadhaars DC CORRESPONDENT sioner V.C. Sajjanar. of who had flight tickets through his HYDERABAD, FEB. 23 The Cyberabad police on earlier worked in the friend Sadham Hussain Tuesday arrested eight Special Branch and IB, and and Mateen Ahmed Mirza The Cyberabad Police has men including two police Anil Kumar, assistant created fake Aadhar cards. sent a note to the officials for illegally pro- sub-inspector of SB in Manoj arranged visas and Foreigners’ Regional viding passports to the Bodhan. Sadham Hussain booked Registration Office (FRRO) Bangladeshi nationals. The Three more suspects — flight tickets. Mallesh Rao for issue of Lookout arrested, produced before a Sameer from West Bengal, and Anil Kumar, both cops, Notices against 72 persons court, have been remanded Manoj, a native of West fraudulently conducted who fraudulently procured to judicial custody. Bengal, and Sadham passport verification.” fake Aadhaar cards and According to the police, Hussain, a flight ticket Telangana has a unique passports and went abroad. the arrested were Nitai Das agent from Mumbai, were system of AI (Artificial Some police officials were alias Sanjib Dutta, Mohd. absconding, police said. Intelligence)-based crimi- also involved in the fraud. Rana Mia alias Sandip According to the police nal recognition system “We are coordinating Mondal, Mohd Hasib Ur commissioner, four men using CCTNS data by with the UIDAI authority Rehman alias Ramu and namely Sanjib Dutta, which 314 passports were for cancelation of these 72 Parimal Bain, all from Sandip Mondal, Ramu Das blocked in the last two Aadhaar cards. We are also Bodhan and natives of and Parimal Bain were years. “Reports are also alerting the district collec- Bangladesh; Shahnaj Patil Bangladeshis while Sameer being sent to the Regional tors and SPs of various dis- from West Bengal, Mateen was an agent helping for- Passport Officer here for tricts in West Bengal about Ahmed Mirza, a Mee Seva eigners to illegally cross cancellation of these 72 these persons,” said the operator from Bodhan, P. borders into India. fraudulently obtained pass- Cyberabad police commis- Mallesh Rao, sub-inspector “Shahnaj had arranged ports,” the official said. CITY DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | WEDNESDAY | 24 FEBRUARY 2021 pg 4

SHORT TAKES GHMC OFFICIAL HELD FOR TAKING BRIBE DC CORRESPONDENT Phool Singh was caught after Dejected Congress leaders HYDERABAD, FEB. 23 ACB laid a trap at the Fala- FOUNDATION FOR knuma office of the GHMC. Officials of the Anti-Corr- Phool Singh demanded the SECRETARIAT uption Bureau (ACB) have bribe from complainant caught superintendent of Kranthi Kumar of Moosara- MOSQUE PUT OFF stream into ‘buoyant’ BJP Circle 10, Greater Hyderabad mbagh for issuing a cheque of DC CORRESPONDENT Municipal Corporation `20,000 towards funeral HYDERABAD, FEB. 23 (GHMC), red-handed when he charges of Kumar’s mother. BJP to speed up its recruitment drive of leaders from other parties demanded and accepting a The bribe money was recov- State government has post- bribe of `5,000 for processing ered from the superinten- poned laying of the foundation IREDDY SRINIVAS leader, who contested nisters and MPs having eswar Reddy also are in former MLA Yeleti Mah- a file. dent, who has been produced stone for re-constructing the REDDY I DC from Palvai already joined BJP, and touch with the BJP party eswar Reddy are likely to Superintendent Vadthy before the special court. mosque in premises of old sec- HYDERABAD, FEB. 23 Harish Kumar the joined more in queue, the BJP but both leaders are ask- join BJP in a few days. retariat complex. The stone BJP in presence of can now afford to get se- ing for the Chevella Lok Both leaders are from was scheduled to be laid on While more Congress Telangana BJP party lective and is focusing on Sabha seat. The discus- Congress and had contes- Friday, but has been put off leaders are increasingly affairs in-charge Tarun leaders with a good pub- sion is going on inside ted in the last elections. owing to Model Code of given to insecurity over Chugh. lic image. the party on how to han- Congress party Mahila Conduct in place because of their future, the Bharat- The BJP welcomed the- BJP national vice-presi- dle such contenders with wing president Nerella MLC polls. iya Janata Party is hav- se leaders from the dent DK Aruna has invit- similar claims. The BJP Sharada is also likely to Home minister Mahmood Ali, ing a field day in its Congress as it has been ed several leaders, is likely to give impor- leave the Congress due to however, reiterated that the recruitment drive, given since Dubbaka and including a former tance for Dalit leaders, a group rivalries. Mruthy- state government will estab- the growing perception GHMC elections. deputy chief minister, a community which has unjayam, a former lished the new masjid at the that the saffron party can With the graduate MLC former minister and a got neglected in the Con- Congress leader who same place it stood when the alone challenge and election process ongoing, spokesperson of Congr- gress and is angry with recently joined the BJP, entire secretariat complex was defeat the TRS in the the BJP has decided to ess to quit and join the the TRS for not fulfilling is reportedly in touch demolished to establish a new state. Several congress catalyse this attrition saffron party. various promises. with Nerella Sharada one. A new date for laying the senior leaders, including and speed up its recruit- The former deputy Rumours are abound in and is trying to woo her foundation will be announced former ministers and ment drive of leaders chief minister reported- Congress that its into the BJP. after MLC elections in consul- MPs, are already in a from other parties. The ly wants a guarantee of Hyderabad MP candidate A former TRS MP from tation with religious scholars. queue to join the BJP, BJP is currently focused the Lok and Nampally in-charge erstwhile dis- The minister said a Hindu whose fortunes are on a on Congress, its princi- Sabha ticket while the Feroz Khan is likely to trict is also seeking to temple and a church will also clear ascendency since pal opponent at the former minister is seek- join the BJP. Sources say join the BJP due to the be constructed within the sec- the Dubbak bypoll. national level. If BJP ing a surety for his past that party president party not giving any SAD DEMISE OBITUARY retariat complex for conven- In the last one week, succeeds in demoralising assembly segment. Bandi Sanjay Kumar importance to him, after I will dwell in the house of the LORD ience of employees as well as two important leaders of the Congress in the state, BJP senior leaders interacted with Feroz he lost the Lok Sabha forever. Psalm 23:6 visitors coming to the secre- Congress joined the BJP. it anyway becomes the de shared that former MLA Khan twice and asked elections. If he leaves, tariat. “Our Chief Minister K. Medchal district presi- facto challenger for the of Medchal Kichenna- him to join the BJP. the constituency-level Chandrashekar Rao respects dent and former MLA TRS for the next assem- gari Laxma Reddy and From the districts, and second-level leaders all religions,” he added. Kuna Srisailam Goud bly election. former Member of former MP Ra- are likely to go along and Adilabad district With several former mi- Parliament Konda Vishv- mesh Rathod and Nirmal with him into the BJP. MANUU V-C INAUGURATES 110 NOMINATIONS Mrs. DAISY FRANCIS WEB WORKSHOP W/o Martin Francis ON THE LAST DAY; A.D. DEVENDER (Munna) DOB: 20-01-1938 DC CORRESPONDENT S/o Late Sri A.S. Dayaker Promoted to Glory on 22-02-2021 HYDERABAD, FEB. 23 DOB: 20-10-1957 DOD: 23-02-2021 Funeral on 24-02-2021 at 12.00 Noon at Passed away on 23-02-2021 St. John’s Church Cemetery, Secunderabad. 179 IN FRAY Funeral on Wednesday 24-02-2021 at Deeply missed by Maulana Azad National Urdu Bansilalpet Cremation Ground Beloved Husband, Son, Daughter, University (MANUU) vice cha- DC CORRESPONDENT Ph: 8897040143/ 9948737616 Daughter-in-law & Grand Sons Ph: 9885190259 ncellor Prof. S. M. Rahmatull- HYDERABAD, FEB. 23 From: BELOVED FAMILY ah has advised students to avo- (S/2021/D01273) (S/2021/D01272) id differentiating between reli- As many as 110 aspirants 5th ANNIVERSARY gious and modern education. entered the fray on the I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 100th BIRTHDAY REMEMBRANCE OF Psalms 23:6 Late Sri SOUDAMALLA GEORGE He was addressing the inaugu- last day of nominations ‘Those who are righteous will be long ral session of an online work- for the biennial elections remembered’ (Ps 112:6) shop on Employability Skills. to the Telangana legisla- Prof. Rahmatullah under- tive council from the lined that application of mod- -Ranga- ern techniques is essential if a reddy-Hyderabad gradu- society is to develop. These will ates' constituency. With also enable students to find this, 179 candidates are in employment faster. All modern fray for the MLC polls. techniques and tools of learn- TDP Telangana unit ing must be explored, he stated. MP and PCC president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy addresses two-day Youth Congress training camp in TRR president L. Ramana was Students’ welfare dean Prof. medical college complex in Patancheru on Tuesday. — BY ARRANGEMENT among those who filed the Alim Ashraf briefed partici- nominations. City pants about aims and objec- mayor Gadwal R. Vija- RUDRAPATY HITHAVACHANA CHARI tives of the workshop. ylaxmi filed a second set DOB: June 2, 1945 Sri S. GEORGE Smt. RATHNAM GEORGE Students’ welfare joint dean of nominations on behalf Slept in the Lord: Feb. 24, 2016 24-02-1921 Mohammed Abdul Sami Sidd- of S. Vani Devi from the With all our love Remembered by: WIFE, SONS & LOVED ONES CHILDREN, GRAND CHILDREN AND iqui is convenor of the work- Take fight against communal TRS. GREAT GRAND CHILDREN shop. Mohammad Samiuddin The nominations will be introduced the Quran Founda- verified on Wednesday tion, Hyderabad. Resource per- and the last date for with- FIRST DEATH ANNIVERSARY son of the first technical ses- BJP, corrupt TRS: Uttam drawal is Friday. The IN LOVING MEMORY sion Abdul Raheem dwelt on voter enrollment over, WE MISS YOU the skills required to face inter- DC CORRESPONDENT that the responsibility of ● THE TPCC chief said said that unemployment around 5,17,883 people are views and took a number of HYDERABAD, FEB. 23 Youth Congress has that the responsibility of in Telangana was so eligible to vote in questions from students. increased due to the spe- Youth Congress has bad, where 11-member Mahbubnagar-Rangar- Telangana Congress cial circumstances pre- increased due to the TSPSC has nine eddy-Hyderabad gradu- chief N. Uttam Kumar vailing in the special circumstances vacancies. ates’ constituency. BJYM PROTESTS Reddy exhorted mem- country, especially in Reddy asked Youth The number of voters bers of the Youth Telangana. prevailing in the country, Congress activists to has doubled compared to AGAINST KERALA Congress to take up agi- He said that neither especially in Telangana. organise interactive pro- the last election when the tations against the com- the BJP government at grammes with youth to voter strength was of 2.3 GOVT Mr. D. J. DOSHI munal BJP government the Centre nor the TRS budgetary allocations identify and understand lakh persons. The highest DOB: 07-11-1932 DOD: 24-02-2020 DC CORRESPONDENT at the Centre and the in Telangana were doing for education. He said their problems and take number of voters is Dear Dad & Dear Baba, We remember HYDERABAD, FEB. 23 corrupt TRS govern- anything for the youth. that even after seven up the fight against from Rangareddy district you with pride and gratitude. We pay our tributes with reverence. We miss your ment in the state. In fact, youth are being years of formation of unemployment in with a tally of 88,358 love and guidance. Your presence The Telangana unit of Bharati- Addressing a two-day discouraged from taking Telangana, universities Telangana on a big followed by Medchal- remains with us at all times like a bless- ing. Bless us from heaven above. ya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) training camp of Youth up higher education by in Telangana have no pe- scale. He also asked Malkajgiri and Remembered by: on Tuesday protested against Congress leaders and scrapping or downsizing rmanent Vice-Chancel- Youth Congress mem- Hyderabad with 77,349 KISHORE, POONAM, DEVKI & AKSHAY the brutal lathicharge, teargas cadre in Patancheru on scholarships and other lor and most of them do bers to play an active and 64,224 voters respec- (B/2021/D00131) and water cannons against Tuesday, Reddy said that relevant schemes. not even have 50 per cent role in MLC election tively. 1st DEATH ANNIVERSARY BJYM activists outside the Ker- Youth Congress has He said the previous of staff. Uttam Kumar campaign to ensure vic- The election will be held ala secretariat. Led by BJYM st- already served as a Congress Government Reddy said that Prime tory of Congress candi- in nine districts -- ate vice-president P.M. Sai, backbone for the had implemented a fee Minister Narendra Modi dates Ramulu Naik and Mahbubnagar, Nag- BJYM and ABVP activists len- Congress. reimbursement scheme, came to power in 2014 G. Chinna Reddy. arkurnool, Wanaparthy, ding support to their Kerala Citing different along with scholarships, elections on the promise He said he was confi- Jogulamba Gadwal, counterparts held a protest at instances, the Nalgonda to encourage youth to of creating two crores dent that under the Narayanpet, Rangareddy, the CPM office at RTC cross- MP said that the Congre- pursue higher education jobs every year. Instead youthful leadership of , Medchal roads. Addressing the media, ss party had always won without hurdles. In con- of creating 14 crore new Shiv Sena Reddy, Youth Malkajgiri and the BJYM leader said that alo- elections and retained trast, the TRS govern- jobs by now, nearly 30 Congress would lead Hyderabad under Mahb- ng with ABVP activists, they power only when Youth ment has ruined the crore people have lost successful agitations ag- ubnagar-Rangareddy- were protesting against the Congress was strong. He careers of lakhs of their livelihoods due to ainst “communal BJP” Hyderabad constituency. Pinarayi Vijayan government, said a majority of suc- youths by not imple- faulty policies. and “corrupt TRS”. Former minister G. Chi- which has refused to extend te- cessful politicians menting fee reimburse- He said nearly 30 lakh The meeting was nnareddy from the Cong- K. VIJAY ANAND DOB: 21-08-1971 DOD: 06-02-2020 nure of rank list of candidates across the country ment schemes. He said educated youth were addressed by MLA ress, sitting MLC N Ramc- The pain of loosing you is immeasurable selected by the Kerala State began their careers lakhs of students were unemployed in Telang- Seethakka, TPCC work- hander Rao from the BJP, we know the biggest star in the sky that Public Service Commission. from Youth Congress. being deprived of schol- ana. They include near- ing president Ponnam S. Vani Devi from the TRS is shining the most is you. God has you in his arms we have you in our hearts. He said that rank list holders He said that members of arship for the last many ly 19 lakh youth. who got Prabhakar, former MP and former MLC profes- Om Shanti have been on a protest for the Youth Congress should years. themselves enrolled Konda Vishweshwar sor K Nageshwar Rao are From All Your Loving Family Members. last two weeks to draw the atte- work in a disciplined Similarly, he said that with the Telangana Sta- Reddy, former MLA Ram among those in the field (S/2021/D01264) ntion of the LDF government and committed manner. the Central government te Public Service Com- Mohan and other for the Hyderabad, Ran- in Kerala, which has refused to The TPCC chief said has drastically cut down mission (TSPSC). He leaders. gareddy and 5th ANNIVERSARY accede to their demands. Mahbubnagar graduates IN FOND REMEMBRANCE OF IN LOVING MEMORY OF He alleged that the CPM was constituency. illegally regularising hundreds ● of party cadres, working as ● THE NUMBER of vot- temporary employees in many Vote for Cong in MLC polls: Sanjeeva ers has doubled government departments and compared to the last State PSUs. Mr Sai said that DC CORRESPONDENT unemployment, inequal- and progressive values Hyderabad-Ranga election when the voter BJYM will not allow a back- HYDERABAD, FEB. 23 ity, racial injustice and in the MLC elections in Reddy-Mahbubnagar strength was of 2.3 lakh door entry for CPM cadre when poverty that need to be graduates constituen- graduates’ constituency meritorious candidates are Intuc president Dr G. tackled immediately. cies being held on while Ramulu Naik is persons. The highest waiting for jobs. He warned the Sanjeeva Reddy on He appealed to the March 14. contesting from number of voters is from CPM not to test the patience of Tuesday said that graduates of the state to The Congress has Nalgonda-- Rangareddy district B. MANASA the youth. Telangana state faces vote for the Congress for fielded Dr G. Chinna graduates with a tally of 88,358 DOB: 24-12-1994 DOD: 24-02-2016 challenges like its socialist, democratic Reddy from the constituency. We don’t know how 5 years have J. EASHWARI BAI followed by Medchal- passed, without you. It is complete (Ex-President RPI) Malkajgiri and emptiness in our lives and we miss you You are always in our hearts. everyday. You are always in our hearts Inserted By: Mrs. B. Vasundhra, Hyderabad with 77,349 and every tear we shed for you. Mrs. & Mr. Umesh Babu, Your’s Ever Loving. Mrs. & Mr. B. Mahesh Babu, SURPRISE | WIN Owaisi says party will emerge as new political force and 64,224 voters Mummy, Daddy & Family Members. Mrs. & Mr. Dr. Madhusudan Rao, respectively. Mrs. & Mr. N. Narender, (S/2021/D01246) Grand Neice: B. Ravitha & Ballepu Family 15th DEATH ANNIVERSARY THANKSGIVING & “The memory of the just is MIM wins 7 seats in Guj civic polls MEMORIAL SERVICE blessed.” Prov. 10:7 DC CORRESPONDENT of ing the last 65 years, Musli- not be solved and nobody ims. The situation is such HYDERABAD, FEB. 23 Chhotubhai Vasava. The ms were made political sla- would be ready to even dis- that it fears to give tickets BJP swept the polls while ves and forced to bear the cuss your problems unless to Muslims. “The Congress The AIMIM has surprised the AAP came second, edg- burden of upholding secul- your elected representa- is worried that if it gave political circles with a set ing out the Congress. arism. At the same time, he tives occupy the seats in tickets to Muslims, it will of significant wins in the AIMIM president said, they were refrained Parliament or the assem- lose the support of the municipal elec- Asaduddin Owaisi was from having their due sh- blies. Developmental initia- majority community. The tions. The Hyderabad- enthused at the success of are in power. Though Mus- tives ignored habitations AIMIM is striving to help based party secured seven his party in the civic polls. lims were asked to promote where Muslims and other the community win its seats — 4 wards in He was quick to claim that secularism, fact remained deprived communities political rights. We will not Jamalpur and three in the AIMIM will emerge as a that not a single Muslim lived. Our children have allow anyone to create hur- Late Mr. B. VASANTH RAO Mrs. KATTA SATYAVATHI Maktampur, the results de- new political force in was elected from Gujarat been deprived of qualit- dles in the way of progress Who slept in the Lord on 16 February 2021. Memorial Service will be held on W/o Katta Vijaya Rao clared on Tuesday showed. Gujarat by drawing in the for the Lok Sabha during ative education facilities and deprive us of the fruits Wednesday, 24 February at 11 a.m. at DOD: 24-02-2006 The All India Majlis Itteh- “deprived communities”. the last 35 years, he said. because they are poor.” of development. The last Centenary Methodist Telugu Church Inserted by: ad ul Muslimeen has ente- Addressing an election Added Owaisi: “It is a Owaisi alleged that the time a Muslim was made Nampally. Daughters, Sons-in-law, Son, red the election fray in Gu- meeting in Modasa in Guja- reality of Indian politics Congress party has all the Mayor of Ahmedabad Inserted by: FAMILY MEMBERS Daughter-in-law & Grand Children 7893412349, 9391008259 jarat in alliance with the rat, Owaisi said that dur- that your problems would along exploited the Musl- was in 1990.” (S/2021/D01270) CITY/ AP DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | WEDNESDAY | 24 FEBRUARY 2021 pg 5

SHORT TAKES LACTATION KIOSK AP returns SEZ SET UP AT Lorry driver arrested BRITISH DEPUTY SEC’BAD STATION COMMISSION HAILS for culpable homicide SANJAY SAMUEL ENERGY SCHEMES land to farmers PAUL| DC DC CORRESPONDENT said the police. “As usual, the couple were walking. HYDERABAD, FEB. 23 HYDERABAD, FEB. 23 the couple was heading He lost control and top- DC CORRESPONDENT home after work on foot at pled the vehicle on to the HYDERABAD, FEB. 23 Farmers refer CM Jagan as a ‘saviour’ South Central Railway A 60-year-old driver of a around 11:45 pm when left side on the road (SCR) has set up a lacta- tipper lorry was arrested they met with the acci- and crashed on the The British Deputy High VADREVU SRINIVAS | DC ● SAMITHI LEADER tion kiosk at the for culpable homicide not dent near Shivalayam,” couple, killing them on Commissions of Bengaluru, KAKINADA, FEB. 23 Bavisetti Narayana Secunderabad Railway amounting to murder said the police. the spot. Chennai and Hyderabad Swamy alias Pedakapu Station for convenience after he ran over a Nepali The driver of the lorry, “Based on the confes- jointly organised the first The nearly one-and-a-half of nursing mothers. couple while driving bearing the number TS 08 sional statement of the South India Energy Conclave decades’ struggle of farm- said the announcement Secunderabad divi- under the influence of UE 0346, was identified as accused driver, it was on Tuesday bringing together ers under Kakinada has come on the auspi- sional railway manager alcohol on late Sunday K. Narsimha, 59, was revealed that he has been corporates, industry experts Special Economic Zone cious “Bhishma Ekadasi’’ (DRM) Abhay Kumar night, killing them on the caught by the Alwal Police regularly consuming alco- and senior government offi- (KSEZ) fructified with the day. “People of the area Gupta, along with mem- spot. and his BAC was noted to hol and the same was cials from Karnataka, Tamil state cabinet on Tuesday will be worshipping Jagan bers of Rotary Club of The couple, identified as be 165mg/100 ml. known to the owner of the Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and deciding to return around as a saviour’,” he stated. Hyderabad, inaugurated Numal Bansari, 40, a chef Naramisha was driving vehicle, Mallesh. As he Telangana. 2,180 acres of land in the the baby feeding kiosk at a small fast food joint, the lorry in a reckless was negligent, he is being The event was organised to zone to farmers who have on platform No. 10, and Meena Devi Bandari, manner at a high speed named as the second celebrate the leadership of refused to take any com- Suryanarayana Murthy. which is the busiest at 35, were running a small under the influence of accused in the case,” south Indian states in scaling pensation. Jagan Mohan Reddy He thanked Kakinada the station. fast food joint at Alwal, alcohol at a curve where added the police. up clean energy, committing If small extents of 5–10 MP Vanga Gita, Tuni Cubicles at the kiosk to climate action and under- acres of land adjacent to and Thondangi mandal in MLA Dadisetti Raja, provide nursing moth- standing the opportunities KSEZ are there, these East Godavari district. Pithapuram MLA Pendem ers privacy for breast- and challenges around cli- farmers will be given the During his padayatra Dorababu and others who feeding their kids. AP TO PASS mate action to prepare for a same extent of land at when he was the opposi- fully supported farmers The DRM also inaugu- successful COP26 summit another place the “land- tion leader, Jagan had vis- on the issue. Samithi rated a Pochampally Centre to unveil RESOLUTION later this year. for-land’’ policy. ited the KSEZ area and leader Bavisetti Narayana weavers handloom stall British Deputy High Following the decision, promised to sort out the Swamy alias Pedakapu on platform number 1. Commissioner to Telangana some of the farmers have issue. “The Chief said the announcement The stall will not only AGAINST RINL and Andhra Pradesh, Andrew called Chief Minister Y. S. Minister has fulfiled his has come on the auspi- promote the handloom app for passports Fleming said, “it is highly Jagan Mohan Reddy as promise and proved his cious “Bhishma Ekadasi’’ sector but also save time PRIVATISATION commendable that businesses “saviour of farmers”. credibility,” said KSEZ day. “People of the area for shoppers seeking SAMPAT G. pass certificate, PAN in India are increasingly Particularly delighted are Vyathireka Porata will be worshipping Jagan handloom products. SAMRITAN | DC Card and any other proof DC CORRESPONDENT aligning with Paris climate farmers of U. Kothapalli Samithi convener Chinta as a saviour’,” he stated. This initiative will VIJAYAWADA, FEB. 23 of residence like driving VISAKHAPATNAM, FEB. 23 goals by getting more proac- enhance business oppor- licence, and show them to tive in deploying low-carbon tunities for small Air passengers could the passport authorities The Andhra Pradesh initiatives. traders as well. soon be relieved of the on their DigiLocker app Cabinet on Tuesday Srikanth Nagulapalli IAS, Abhay Kumar Gupta burden of carrying their for verification. decided to pass a resolu- Principal Secretary – Energy, Give equal power to women said, “Railways is passport for checks at air- As DigiLocker-issued tion in the state Ass- Government of Andhra always in the forefront ports. The Centre is work- documents are at par embly against privatisa- Pradesh and Sandeep Kumar of providing amenities ing on a project to inte- with original documents tion of the Rashtriya Sultania IAS, Principal and facilities for rail grate Passport Seva with as per IT Act, 2000, the Ispat Nigam Limited, Secretary Energy, in Parliament, urges Naidu users. Setting up lacta- a mobile app called Dig- authorities will need only the corporate entity of Government of Telangana tion kiosks is one such iLocker. Passengers need download such docu- Visakhapatnam Steel participated in a panel discus- DC CORRESPONDENT initiative”. He main- get a soft copy of their ments on the app, verify Plant. The resolution sion on clean energy transi- HYDERABAD, FEB. 23 tained that maternal passport and keep it with them and issue the clear- will be introduced in the tion. They outlined the meas- and childcare is one of them during the travel. ance for issue or renewal budget session of the ures and commitments of Vice-president M. the focus areas of pas- DigiLocker is a platform of passport. Assembly after the Andhra Pradesh and Venkaiah Naidu on senger amenities. initiated by the Centre Of late, several Class X municipal elections. Telangana respectively in Tuesday Naidu called for “Railways are planning under its flagship pro- educational boards are Minister for transport promoting clean energy in ending low representation to set up more such gramme Digital India, for issuing soft copies of pass and information, Perni their states. to women in Parliament kiosks at important rail- issuance and verification certificates to the stu- Venkataramaiah Nani and legislatures and way stations across of documents and certifi- dents so that they can said in his media brief- ● THE EVENT was organ- called upon all political Hyderabad, cates in a digital format. show a soft copy of their ing after the cabinet ised to celebrate the lead- parties to reach a consen- Secunderabad and This would eliminate Class X pass certificate meeting that Chief sus on providing reserva- Vijayawada divisions,” physical carrying of doc- for verification at pass- Minister Y.S. Jagan ership of south Indian tion to them. he added. uments. “The Union min- port offices. Mohan Reddy visited states in scaling up clean Speaking after releasing istry of external affairs is Once the passport aut- Visakhapatnam and energy, committing to cli- a commemorative ● THE DRM also inaugu- contemplating to inte- horities issue new pass- held lengthy discussions mate action and under- postage stamp on former Vice-president M. Venkaiah Naidu releases postage rated a Pochampally grate the passport seva port or renew the old one, with trade union repre- MLA, educationist, and stamp of Eashwari Bai on Tuesday. — DC weavers handloom stall with DigiLocker shortly,” those who got it can upl- sentatives and mass standing the opportunities social reformer J. on platform number 1. an official said here. oad the soft copy on Di- organisations on the pri- and challenges around cli- Eashwari Bai at a special only for 14 per cent of the tion leader. She constantly The stall will not only Accordingly, those who giLocker, similar to on- vatisation move. mate action to prepare for ceremony here, Naidu total number. advocated the cause of visit passport offices with line storage of other doc- Jagan told them that said though the 17th Lok Naidu, recalling children, NGOs, teachers, promote the handloom application for fresh pass- uments, and keep it ready he had already written a a successful COP26 summit Sabha has the highest Eashwari Bai’s services, agricultural labourers, sector but also save time ports or for renewal need for verification on their letter to Prime Minister later this year. number of 78 women said she was the voice of and the Scheduled Castes for shoppers seeking carry soft copies of their mobile app and avoid car- Narendra Modi to members, they account the people as an opposi- and the Scheduled Tribes. handloom products. Aadhaar card, Class X rying the hard copy. explore alternatives. EDIT DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | WEDNESDAY | 24 FEBRUARY 2021 pg 6

24 FEBRUARY 2021

Puducherry: Democracy on Subhani backfoot, hold polls on time he V. Narayanasamy-led Congress government lost a trust vote in Puducherry paving the way for an alternative mode of governance till the elections in April-May. Those wishing to bring down an elected Tgovernment have succeeded in their efforts at demolishing democrat- ic functioning backed by the will of the people as reflected from free and fair polls. The southern Union Territory is just another regime which in being brought down fulfils the “Congress mukt” aims of the national ruling party. The indecent hurry shown in dismantling the regime even at the cost of sacri- ficing a faithful “lieutenant” in Kiran Bedi has been linked to the Prime Minister’s visit to Puducherry on February 25 to inaugurate a renovated land- mark. The machinations were complete once the Speaker was convinced into falling line with a Supreme Court order investing three nominated MLAs with the vote on such matters as the Budget and trust vote. The Puducherry imbroglio follows the classic pattern of destabilisation of regimes not owing allegiance to the ruling dis- This does not absolve pensation at the Centre. It began with Arunachal Pradesh and swept through LETTERS those who continue to Karnataka and and is anoth- bring down er milestone for the BJP as it sought more OIL FROM IRAN governments through footholds in the south while denying the Afghan challenges for the clever strategy of Congress any share in power in a vast region. With a thaw in the US-Iran An emaciated Congress had not been politi- resignations when cally smart enough to nominate three MLAs relations in the foreseeable anti-defection laws to the UT in time and now suffers the fate of future, India should grab are in place ruling only in Punjab, and the opportunity to buy Chhattisgarh, besides backing the Shiva Sena India & Taliban factor crude oil from Iran which and NCP government in Maharashtra. The laidback manner of political operations in the grand old party played into the groups may strike deals uttering diplomatic piet- comes at a cheaper price hands of a manoeuvring BJP, so brazen in its use of the office of governors and with the Taliban. ies and doing little else. than from Saudi Arabia. lieutenant governors in throttling the functioning of governments. All eyes are on the new India showed yet again This move could bring The Puducherry question should help bring the focus back to whether nom- Anand K. Sahay US administration of that while it has influ- inated members of Parliament and legislatures can be allowed to vote. The President Joe Biden. ence in Afghanistan, down the ever-increasing Speaker’s decision to abide by a Supreme Court judgment may have helped Will he stick to the especially with the peo- petrol/diesel prices in the avert an awkward confrontation with the higher judiciary. Whether this only timetable of withdrawal ple, it possesses little country. It could also places a crown on the supremacy of the judiciary in present-day India is moot Far & Near of American forces leverage. Lately, howev- and needs a lot more debating on the delineation of powers among three pillars envisaged by his prede- er, attempts are being explore possibilities of in a democracy. The Puducherry Speaker’s action can be questioned as to due cessor? Or will he, as made to change this buying oil from Venezuela procedure not followed in the trust vote though the chief minister and his many have urged, adopt state of affairs. To the as the Biden’s government alliance MLAs walking out before the confidence motion may only have n the Afghanistan of Kabul comes to pass or a conditions-based satisfaction of the may lift sanctions imposed helped him arrive at his own conclusion within the sweeping ambit of a context, the present not, staying engaged approach whereby the Ashraf Ghani govern- Speaker’s power in the House. juncture can be with Afghanistan is US forces will persevere ment in Kabul, New on them too. The hunger for power driving toppling games is as old as the hills in India characterised as India’s foremost chal- with a withdrawal Delhi actively engaged R.J. Janardhana Rao and may have evolved from ancient palace intrigues. This does not absolve the twilight hour lenge in the region. scheme that will be guid- the United States and Hyderabad those who continue to bring down governments through the clever strategy of Iembedding the deepest New tools need to be ed by conditions on the Nato to resist a precipi- resignations when anti-defection laws are in place. This is not a good adver- uncertainty. India can- devised. A new diploma- ground and not by an tate military withdrawal tisement for a democracy that mandates honouring of popular verdicts in a not but be greatly con- cy with the friendly artificial timetable. and has shown other LAUGHTER RIOT modern setting. It remains to be seen if Puducherry is in for a spell of cerned as it has indicat- countries of the region, The Afghans, and the signs of engaging more ‘Running on laughter’ has given me President’s Rule but the aim should be to give an immediate opportunity for ed interest in being in particular Iran and regional powers, are nat- deeply. a good laugh (DC, Feb. 23). After the people to vote again and it is incumbent on the forces that be to support the invested over the long Russia, which enjoy con- urally watching the situ- It may be appropriate seeing how people are reacting due case for elections to be held in Puducherry as slated. term. It has unmistak- tiguity with Afghanistan ation closely. Iran and to make mention in this to increase in petrol price that has able strategic interests (Russia via Tajikistan, Russia, which carry con- context of the Afghan pinched every section of the people, in a geopolitical (and where Moscow’s influ- siderable weight in charge d’affaires in New a ground reality, I also prefer that geo-economic) area that ence is paramount), Afghanistan, would Delhi, Tahir Qadiry, cycling is the best in many ways. marks the junction of must be envisioned. want the Americans to who worked with ener- D. Manoj Kumar Judiciary’s late intervention South Asia, West Asia Indeed, the process of withdraw soonest, but gy, and some foresight, Secunderabad and Central Asia. better gauging the not in a rush. They fear in a most difficult he order of Bombay high court on Monday granting bail to poet India’s interest has Taliban, and forging the that a hasty US pullout moment to impress upon Varavara Rao, an accused under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) lately been underlined in terms on which a rela- will inexorably pave the India to step up its act CHECK DOG MENACE TAct (UAPA) in the Bhima-Koregaon violence case, is a welcome inter- spite of the unsettling tionship with this group path for a quick Taliban and be proactive to There are several stray dogs wan- vention by the judiciary to stop state agencies from using stringent special political and military sit- can be reached, is also a or Pakistan takeover as mobilise Afghan factions dering around the piled-up garbage laws to keep citizens behind bars as undertrials forever. Given his age and uation in Afghanistan, part of the challenge for other leading political in the democratic direc- in the lanes and bylanes of health condition, “sending him back to Taloja central prison would amount to which may well permit India. and armed factions (over tion even as the US-sanc- Nimboliadda, Kacheguda Station endangering his life, thereby violating his fundamental right under Article the return of the Taliban The uncertainty in the which Iran and Russia tioned Doha process and Barkatpura. Despite com- 21”, the court held, and said it could not be a “mute spectator” as Mr Rao’s to the seat of power in Afghan theatre has been have natural leverage) (which may conceivably plaints no action has been taken so health deteriorated in government facilities. Kabul. Indeed, India’s precipitated on account will be disadvantaged if unravel) plays its music far to clean garbage and to catch While granting him bail, the court also widened the scope of the writ juris- commitment to the peo- of the agreement the Taliban cut through in a different register. the stray dogs. I request Mayor diction of the high court under Article 226 of the Constitution to invoke Article ple of Afghanistan was reached by America’s militarily, pre-empting a Kabul has not had an Gadwal Vijayalaxmi and Dy Mayor 21 on the right to life and offer relief to people who face the stringent sections restated when earlier erstwhile Trump admin- political process. ambassador in New Srilatha Reddy to take action in special laws, which make it difficult even for the courts to grant relief. this month it signed the istration with the India — while it has Delhi for more than two immediately. In a similar case earlier this month, the Supreme Court held that statutory $300 million Shahtoot Taliban one year ago commonalities with years and it fell to this Om Vishal Raj restrictions should not stop constitutional courts from granting bail on dam project that will this month. Under the Tehran and Moscow on young diplomat to fill a Hyderabad grounds of violation of Part III of the Constitution. It had also asked the con- provide clean drinking Doha accord, all US the Afghan issue — big gap. It is this spirit stitutional courts to consider the inordinate delay in the start of the trial while water to the once great troops must leave desires that the US en- that saw in the recent considering bail petitions. “Such an approach would safeguard against the city of Kabul, which has Afghanistan by May 1 sure a smooth political period the arrival in possibility of provisions like Section 43-D (5) of UAPA being used as the sole fallen on hard times in this year in return for process for the future New Delhi of senior 50 YEARS AGO IN metric for denial of bail or for wholesale breach of constitutional right to recent decades. the Taliban cutting links governance of Afghan- Afghan personalities speedy trial,” it said. The Taliban, a strong with Al Qaeda. Along- istan in which all partic- such as Abdul Rashid These two orders together send a message to the law enforcement and inves- politico-military outfit side, the Taliban are ipants, including the Ta- Dostum and Ata Moham- tigating agencies that they have to use their professional excellence to get peo- specialising in the ter- enjoined to engage in an liban if they are interest- mad Noor and others ple convicted of crimes and keep them in jail instead of using provisions in rorist method, are a spe- intra-Afghan dialogue in ed, engage in political although the Covid-19 Separation will be special laws to do so. The courts’ resolute interventions also offer a ray of hope cial product of Pakistan, which the Afghan gov- competition on the basis pandemic inhibited trav- to hundreds of undertrial prisoners languishing in our jails due to the delay in manufactured to permit ernment is included. of an agreed Constitu- el. The building of a suicidal for the legal system. Islamabad to have a This is with a view to the tion, without resort to viable consensus among Telangana: CM long-term hold over formation of a govern- arms, in a sovereign, de- the top political figures Kabul. This is widely ment that will enjoy mocratic, Afghanistan. of Afghanistan is crucial HYDERABAD, February. 23 recognised. The Taliban wide acceptability in the New Delhi has nursed in the context of a post- leadership lives in Pak- country. such a goal for long but US Afghanistan. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister istan. Whether the Tali- The Taliban have, how- has done all too little to India enjoys the good- K. Brahmananda Reddy today DECCAN CHRONICLE ban will continue to be ever, scuttled meaning- work in that direction. It will to be a catalyst. But warned that if the demand for sep- under Pakistan’s thumb ful negotiations. They practically found itself will it play that part? arate Telangana was conceded, it KAUSHIK MITTER K. SUDHAKAR Editor Printer & Publisher over the long haul is a have instead unleashed rooted to the ground for Zamir Kabulov, the might end up in violence and matter for the future. violence on an unheard- more than six months Russian President’s spe- bloodshed as in West Bengal DECCAN CHRONICLE offices are located at: Pakistan influences Af- of scale, killing around after the US and Taliban cial envoy for because of frustration among the ghanistan in deep, 50 people daily over the signed the Doha agree- Afghanistan and a people. Hyderabad: 36, Sarojini Devi Road, Secunderabad - 500 003, Ph: 040-27803930-4; Fax : 040-27805256 malignant ways as it has past year, and engaging ment in February 2020, respected Kabul hand, is Addressing separately the meet- Vijayawada: No.C-3 & 4 Patamata, Industrial Estate, Auto Nagar, Vijayawada (A.P.), Ph: 0866- a long border with that in targeted assassina- said to have noted wryly: ings of Congress (R) Advocates’ 2555284/2555287; Telefax: 0866-2555234 country. Pakistan’s best tions. The prognosis is “If India wants to come Forum and National Union of Visakhapatnam: Survey No.1/3A Beach Road, Near Kailasagiri Ropeway, Sector-9 MVP Colony, Zamir Kabulov, the to the party, it must Visakhapatnam - 530 017 (A.P), Ph: 0891-2552333/2552334; Fax: 0891-2755285 friend China, now mili- dire. If the American Students, he said the avenues and Rajahmundry: Vemagiri, Dhawaleswaram Rd, Rajahmundry, Ph: 0883-2417618/2417208; Telefax: 0883- tarily and economically forces pull out wholesale Russian President’s dance!” Perhaps prelimi- opportunities for employment 2417208 very powerful, also has a as planned, it is widely special envoy for nary steps have been would be far less in a small State Anantapur: Thapovan colony, Bangalore By-Pass Road, Anantapur - 515004, Ph: 08554-276903; Fax: border with Afghanis- thought that civil war Afghanistan and a taken in that direction. than in a bigger one and conse- 08554-276904 tan. India, on the other will break out. Armed But it is still early days. quently there would be greater Karimnagar: Survey No.1341, Vavilalapally Colony, Jagityala Road, Karimnagar - 505 001, Ph: 0878- hand, does not, and is factions are likely to respected Kabul What New Delhi must frustration leading to unpleasant 2228908; Telefax: 0878-2220433 thus disadvantaged by emerge to resist the hand, is said to really prepare for is to situations. The division of the Nellore: Survey No.527/2, Burranpur Village, Venkatachalam (M), Chemmudugunta Panchayat, Nellore, Ph: geography. Taliban as the latter have noted wryly: remain on terra firma in State might lead to the demands 0861-2348581/82; Telefax: 0861-2348580 And yet, it must attempt to take control the Afghan theatre even Chennai: SP-3 Developed Plot, Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai - 600 032, Ph: 044-22254747/ 48/50/51; ‘If India wants to for further division of the region. in Kabul with the help of if the US troops pull out Advt Fax: 22254765/22254766/42305325 remain engaged with come to the party, This course would not solve the Coimbatore: 77, Vivekananda Road, Ramnagar, Coimbatore - 641 009, Ph : 0422 2231255 Afghanistan. Whether Pakistan (and possibly completely in the next problem, he added. Gram: CHRONICLE Postal registration no: No. H/SD-348/2006-08 the Taliban’s recapture China), while some it must dance!’ two months.

he capital’s Gymkhana 21st-century norms”. ing economic laws and fighting eco- ma, V.G. Thomas and Krishna Ja- raged, Mr Pandey took voluntary Club, the 107-year-old The current imbroglio dates back nomic crime. But with a wider in. The agency has also recently op- retirement and joined the Janata watering hole favoured by four years when the ministry of jurisdiction now with new respon- ened two new zonal offices in Bho- Dal (United) Party hoping to get a Tthe high and mighty of cur- corporate affairs decided to open an sibilities under the FEMA, PMLA pal and Gurugram and raised the party ticket. However, the ticket rently beleaguered Lutyens’ Delhi, inquiry into the Club’s manage- and FEO acts, it will need to expand status of sub-zonal offices in Raipur went to the BJP candidate under is back in the news. With its seem- ment after the growing number of its footprint. and Bhubaneshwar to zonal offices. the seat-sharing agreement within Dilip Cherian ingly endless saga of mismanage- complaints and court cases against According to sources, the expan- It has also opened several sub-zonal the NDA. ment and irregularities, the Club the Club. The petition was filed sion will involve a considerable offices across the country. This denied, many were certain Dilli Ka Babu has been in the limelight a lot, early last year at the NCLAT in restructuring of its cadre strength. that Mr Pandey would be inducted unfortunately. which the ministry sought to take At present, ED has a sanctioned EX-DGP’S POLITICAL into the Nitish Cabinet sooner than The present crisis has emerged over the Club management. It strength of 2,064 posts including CAREER STILL AT START LINE later. But Sunil Kumar has pipped after the National Company Law seems to have got its way, for now. five special directors and 27 joint The political ambitions of the high- him to that. Neither has Mr Pandey Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) dis- Other clubs in Lutyens’ Delhi are directors. Since there is a shortage profile former DGP of Bihar been made an MLC either. solved the Club’s governing council trembling now that serious action of officers for even the sanctioned Gupteshwar Pandey have been Curiously, this was Mr Pandey’s and appointed M.M. Juneja, direc- has begun. Any guesses about posts, there is a greater urgency for thwarted, yet again. second attempt at a career in poli- ‘Takeover’ of tor general of the ministry of corpo- who’s next? DKB is listening to selecting more officers to fill exist- Though Mr Pandey waited tics. In 2009, he had taken volun- rate affairs, as “administrator” to your chatter, so send it in… ing vacancies as well as for the new patiently for his hoped-for induc- tary retirement in the hope of get- oversee the club’s functioning even offices. Apparently, there is a move tion into the NDA government, ting a BJP ticket, which he was Gymkhana Club as the legal case continues. Among ED ON AN EXPANSION SPREE to create new posts of chief minister Nitish Kumar has denied. Luckily for him, Nitish Mr Juneja’s first actions after his As it seeks to become nimbler as additional/joint directors and instead appointed another former Kumar allowed him to withdraw appointment sent a notice to all well as to strengthen its reach due deputy directors for the new zonal IPS officer, Sunil Kumar, as a cabi- his resignation from the IPS and members to clear pending dues to growing responsibilities, the and sub-zonal offices. net minister in the state with the subsequently even elevated him as strikes fear in amounting to Rs 1.2 crores! Enforcement Directorate (ED) is on Recently, ED promoted 10 assis- excise and prohibition portfolio, state police chief. This is the first time in the Club’s an expansion spree. This requires tant directors as deputy directors barely a few months after his Will Mr Pandey’s patient wait history that an administrator has more officers for new zonal and of enforcement. They include P. retirement. fructify or has he run out of Lutyens’ Delhi been appointed to run its affairs. sub-zonal offices. Radhakrishnan, P. Vinod Kumar, Mr Pandey shot into the headline options? We’ll wait and see. Mr Juneja has been given the man- The agency, a part of the revenue P. Nandini, Rajesh Kumar, M. Nair, with his comments during the date to introduce “the best prac- department of the Union finance Shubhendu Parthi, Diptesh Mon- furore over actor Sushant Singh’s Share a babu experience! Follow tices that can bring the club to the ministry, is responsible for enforc- dal, Benjamin S.N. Chattair, Pad- suicide. Even as the controversy [email protected]. NATION DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | WEDNESDAY | 24 FEBRUARY 2021 pg 7

SHORT TAKES Didi visits kin to boost confidence U’KHAND: 136 MISSING PEOPLE before CBI grills nephew’s wife RAJIB CHOWDHURI | DC ● A 10-MEMBER CBI about her link to Anup arrival, BJP spokesperson ‘PRESUMED DEAD’ KOLKATA, FEB. 23 team including two legal Majhi alias Lala, the Shameek Bhattacharya Dehradun, Feb. 23: The officers and a female absconding kingpin of the claimed, “Common people Uttarakhand government has West Bengal Chief officer among others coal smuggling case, who understand it well that the issued a notification authoris- Minister Mamata allegedly used to deposit CBI does not enter some- ing 136 people still missing Banerjee on Tuesday reached the same address around `36 lakh monthly one’s residence to unleash after the flash flood in morning met her MP within five minutes. to the Kasikorn Bank political vendetta. In such Chamoli district over two nephew Abhishek account at Bangkok in a situation, the CM’s pres- weeks ago to be declared “pre- Banerjee and his family into a fortress, after learn- Thailand and another ence is unexpected. It was sumed dead”. apparently to boost their ing that a CBI team would bank in London, accord- an attempt to create a Sixty-eight bodies have so far confidence minutes before arrive at the same address ing to sources. mental pressure on the been recovered after the the Central Bureau of anytime to quiz Narula. The CBI also wanted to CBI. Had she refrained February 7 disaster. There is a Investigation reached Walking into the multi- know from her about her from paying the visit, it tunnel in which around 35 peo- their palatial residence in storeyed apartment, job profile, foreign tours would have been better for ple are suspected to have been South Kolkata and ques- Banerjee paid a surprise and it’s purpose, details of her as the CM.” trapped, but rescuers have not tioned Abhishek’s wife visit to Abhishek, his wife her bank accounts, TMC spokesperson been able to reach it till now Rujira Banerjee Narula and others and also spoke whether she holds more Kunal Ghosh, however, due to the sludge. Authorities for her suspected link to to them. In less than ten than one passport and it’s alleged that the BJP has say clearing the debris from overseas financial trans- minutes, she however purpose and if she is asso- been trying to politicise the tunnel could take months. actions in the coal smug- walked out of the building ciated with any registered the issue. “Abhishek has A glacial lake was formed gling case. with Abhishek’s little company, sources claimed. been on the forefront bold- upstream of Tapovan over At around 11.30 am, a daughter. Boarding her After recording Narula’s ly. First he himself tweet- Rishiganga following the dev- worried Trinamul car, the CM left for statement, the CBI investi- ed the CBI notice to his astating flash flood which had Congress supremo, on her Nabanna while her grand gators left. wife. Now Rujira also demolished a 13.2 MW hydel way to the state secretari- niece was taken inside. In the afternoon sources cooperated with the CBI. project along the river besides at Nabanna in a convoy A 10-member CBI team close to the CM nephew However, there are many causing extensive damage to from her Harish including two legal offi- claimed, “all questions others with allegations of the NTPC’s Tapovan- Chatterjee Street resi- cers and a female officer were replied. All sort of corruption against them Vishnugad hydel project along dence in the vicinity, among others from the cooperation was extended. who are in the BJP. Still no Dhauliganga. dropped at Shantiniketan anti corruption branch The questioning session action is taken against Uttarakhand health secre- on 188A Harish reached the same address completed smoothly.” them. Rather those who tary Amit Singh Negi said on Mukherjee Road, which within five minutes. They Slamming the CM for are out of BJP, are being Tuesday that the presumption West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee along with the daughter of TMC MP was already turned by the grilled Narula over the her visit to her nephew’s targeted unnecessarily,” of death can be made by offi- Abhishek Banerjee Azania Banerjee, at his residence in Kolkata on Tuesday. — PTI Kolkata Police personnel next one hour and a half house ahead of CBI’s he said. cials in the affected district only in case of missing people who in all likelihood have died in the disaster but their bodies have not been found. Normally the missing are India nods declared dead only when they ICMR: Strains not linked are not traced for seven years after the incident responsible for their disappearance but in for Pak PM case of an extraordinary occurrence like the one wit- to surge in Covid cases nessed in Uttarakhand special Narendra Modi provisions can be made, he flight plan said. Punjab orders new restrictions on indoor, outdoor gatherings The move to declare those GUJ CIVIC POLLS: DC same. The aircraft who continue to be missing in DC CORRESPONDENT Commissioners to impose CORRESPONDENT reached Colombo the flash flood as presumed NEW DELHI, FEB. 23 night curfew in Covid-19 MODI TERMS with agency inputs from Islamabad on dead has been initiated to Kerala CM writes to hotspots in their districts, if NEW Tuesday evening and expedite the process of distri- Union health ministry offi- needed. DELHI/COLOMBO, flew over the waters bution of compensation cials have said that two The move comes amid a RESULTS ‘SPECIAL’ FEB. 23 of India’s Exclusive among the affected families, mutated variant of SARS- growing concern over an Economic Zone or in he said. CoV-2 — N440K and E484Q — PM over virus curbs upswing in the number of New Delhi, Feb. 23: India granted per- its vicinity on the have been detected in Coronavirus cases in the With the BJP set to mission to overfly flight path parallel to Maharashtra and Kerala but GILVESTER ASSARY | DC ● CM SAID that the people state. retain power in six Indian airspace for the peninsular SIX KILLED WHILE there is no direct relation THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, and vehicles from Kerala Chairing a virtual meeting Gujarat municipal cor- the aircraft carrying Indian coastline, between the recent surge in FEB. 23 were being blocked at the to review the Coronavirus porations, Prime Pakistan Prime sources said. DISPOSING GELATIN Covid-19 cases in these states situation, Punjab Chief Minister Narendra Modi Minister Imran Khan, who will and some others with the Kerala Chief Minister interstate check posts along Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday termed the Khan en route to Sri hold wide-ranging STICKS IN K’TAKA mutant virus strains. Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday areas bordering Karnataka ordered restrictions on gath- results “very special” Lanka on Tuesday talks with top Sri Maharashtra and Kerala sought immediate interven- in the name of Covid restric- ering of people from March and said that for a party evening, news agen- Lankan leaders Bengaluru/Chikkaballapur, account for 75 per cent of tion of Prime Minister tions. Even vehicles bringing 1, with 100 people allowed serving a state for over cies reported. including President Feb. 23: Six people were killed total active Covid-19 cases in Narendra Modi to lift the in essential commodities indoors and 200 people two decades to record Permission was Gotabaya Rajapaksa when the gelatin sticks they the country. restrictions on movement of were being blocked. allowed to gather outdoors, such a phenomenal win reportedly granted and PM Mahinda were trying to dispose of clan- Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, people and vehicles from according to a government is noteworthy. despite the fact that Rajapaksa on issues destinely exploded accidental- Karnataka and Gujarat are Kerala to Karnataka. travel. The workers took out statement. He said the results of Pakistan had refused like trade, defence ly at a stone quarry site in a some other states that are In a letter to Modi, the processions towards the He also directed that wear- municipal elections clea- permission in 2019 and technology, is village in Chikkaballapur also witnessing a surge in Chief Minister said that the Talapady interstate border ing of face masks and social rly show the unwavering on three occasions the first government early Tuesday, police said. the cases. people and vehicles from and blocked vehicles coming distancing norms be strictly faith people have in poli- for Indian VVIP air- head to visit Sri The government has ordered Besides, people have also Kerala were being blocked at from Karnataka. They enforced, with testing to be tics of development and craft carrying Lanka since the a CID probe into the blast. been detected with the South the interstate check posts demanded that the restric- ramped to 30,000 a day, it good governance. President Ram Nath Covid-19 pandemic. Police said preliminary inves- African and Brazilian along areas bordering tions which warrant manda- said. The BJP appeared on Kovind and Prime It is his first visit to tigation indicated use of petro- strains of SARS-CoV-2 in Karnataka in the name of tory Covid negative test Health officials said course to retain power Minister Narendra Sri Lanka after leum gel and Ammonium India apart from the mutated Covid restrictions. reports for entering presently 200 people were in the six municipal cor- Modi to overfly assuming office in Nitrate in the quarry that was UK variant. Following the stringent Karnataka should be lifted allowed to gather indoors porations, winning 409 Pakistani airspace. 2018. His last visit to operating clandestinely and Director General of ICMR, restrictions, people seeking completely. and 500 people outdoors, of the 474 seats where The Pakistan PM Sri Lanka was in was closed a few days ago fol- Dr Balram Bhargava, said medical treatment in hospi- Though the Karnataka gov- while 20,000 to 22,000 tests results were declared till reached Colombo on 1986 when he was the lowing raids. that these two virus strains tals in Mangalore and ernment had put the restric- are conducted every day. evening. Tuesday evening for captain of Pakist- The incident comes close on — N440K and E484Q — have Dakshina Kannada districts tions on hold for two days, Chief secretary Vinni “Thank you Gujarat! an official visit to an’s cricket team du- the heels of a similar blast at a been detected in other coun- and students pursuing stud- political parties in Kasargod Mahajan ruled out closure of Results of municipal the island nation. ring the acrimonio- quarry site in Yediyurappa’s tries too and are not specific ies in various higher educa- are demanding a complete government schools again elections across the state The external affairs us Test series where hometown of Shivamogga on to India. tion institutions in roll back. The ensuing and said the department is clearly show the unwa- ministry in New he accused the local January 22, which left six de- Moreover, they have been Karnataka were facing a Assembly elections has also taking all steps to ensure the vering faith people have Delhi did not issue umpires of bias. ad. Karnataka health minister found earlier in some states harrowing time. Even vehi- aggravated the situation. safety of students. towards politics of any comment on the Ahead of his visit, K. Sudhakar, who represents in India. cles bringing in essential With the BJP having a size- Amarinder Singh autho- development and good permission that was the Sri Lankan gov- the Chikkaballapur constitue- The E484Q strain was earli- commodities were being able presence in areas in rised deputy commissioners governance,” Modi said reportedly granted. ernment cancelled ncy, visited the spot and said er detected in four sequences blocked. Kasargod bordering to impose night curfew in in a series of tweets. Sources confirmed Khan’s planned spee- the bodies of the victims were in Maharashtra as early as He said the Karnataka Karnataka, parties like the hotspots in their districts, if “Grateful to the people that Pakistan had ch to Parliament, cit- badly mutilated and scattered March and July 2020. action was against the CPM, Congress and Muslim needed, with a micro-con- of the state for trusting officially sent its ing the Covid-19 pan- all over the place. Prime Mi- The N440K mutation has Centre’s standing direction League have turned the tainment strategy to be BJP yet again. Always flight plan to India in demic. nister Narendra Modi tweeted been reported on 13 different that there should be no issue into a political fight. adopted. an honour to serve Guj- advance regarding It is said the his condolences to the families occasions between May and restrictions in the interstate These parties are accusing He also directed the police arat,” he said. Modi also the aircraft that was Parliament speech, of the victims of the blast. September 2020 in transportation. Hence the the BJP led government in force to ensure strict enforce- hailed the efforts of Guj- to carry the Pakistan due on February 24, “Pained by the loss of lives Telangana, Andhra Pradesh Prime Minister should inter- Karnataka of causing innu- ment of wearing masks. arat BJP workers who PM on his way to Sri was included in due to a mishap at Chikkabal- and Assam. vene and ensure the matter merable problems for the There will be monitoring of reached out to people Lanka, after which Khan’s itinerary at lapur in Karnataka. Condo- “The current upsurge in is settled amicably at the ear- people of Kerala. adherence to Covid-19 norms with the party’s vision New Delhi granted the Pakistan govern- lences to the bereaved fami- Maharashtra cannot be liest, he added. It is learnt that the at all restaurants and mar- for the state. — PTI permission for the ment’s request. lies. Praying that the injured attributed to the currently Meanwhile, the workers of Kasargod district BJP presi- riage palaces and the recover quickly,” he said. discussed point mutations,” CPM, CPI, Congress and dent has conveyed to the Department of Excise and Expressing shock over the Dr Bhargava said. Muslim League led organisa- Karnataka officials that if Taxation will be the nodal incident, Chief Minister B.S. The spike in Coronavirus tions took out separate the restrictions continued it agency for it. Yediyurappa said he has numbers in some states marches to the Karnataka would adversely affect the The Chief Minister said a ordered a thorough investiga- comes as 240 new strains of border demanding the lifting party’s electoral prospects in decision on reducing occu- tion into the case and directed the virus have emerged of restrictions on interstate the coming polls. pancy in cinema halls will be the officials to take stringent across the country. Health taken after March 1. action against the guilty. ministry sources said that Private offices and restau- “A high-level investigation between 800 and 900 samples containment zones and directed multiple central rants shall be encouraged to into the incident is underway — from Maharashtra and sealed. So far genome agencies to monitor the situ- display the last tests done for and stringent action will be Kerala — had been sent for sequencing of nearly ation on a daily basis in all employees, he added. taken against the guilty,” he genome sequencing in the 6,000 samples have been com- states where Covid-19 cases Punjab is among the five added. “Whoever is involved past month. Samples for pleted. have started increasing states that have been asked in illegal activities, we will genome sequencing — to Amid a spike in again. India on Monday had by the Centre to refocus on take merciless action,” he understand the complete Coronavirus cases, a meeting 10,584 fresh cases and 78 strict surveillance, contain- said. genetics of the virus — have was held at the Prime deaths. ment and RT-PCR testing to Karnataka home minister also been sought from Minister’s Office (PMO) on Meanwhile, the Punjab gov- check the growing number of Basavaraj Bommai ordered a Punjab and Bengaluru, Tuesday to review the pan- ernment on Tuesday ordered cases. The other four states CID inquiry into the blast where, in the past few days demic situation. curbs on indoor and outdoor are Maharashtra, Kerala, after visiting the spot. alone, two apartment com- Union home minister Amit gatherings from March 1 and Chhattisgarh and Madhya plexes have been declared Shah held a meeting and authorised Deputy Pradesh.

DEFENCE | PROPOSALS Prime Minister had formally handed over the Arjun Mk-1A to Army DAC clears 118 main battle tanks for ` 8,379 cr PAWAN BALI | DC ● THIS IS the second biggest ‘Make-in-India’ project cleared in inducted into the Army and “To meet the Atmanirbhar NEW DELHI, FEB. 23 2021 after the Cabinet Committee on Security last month are deployed in the western Bharat goals of the govern- approved procurement of 83 Tejas Mk-1A fighter jets for the desert along the Pakistan ment on time-bound defence The Defence Acquisition Indian Air Force. front. procurement process and Council (DAC) headed by Arjun Mk-1A has 72 improve- faster decision making and defence minister Rajnath ● THE ARJUN Mk-1A tanks would be joining the fleet of the first ments over the existing ver- to systematically work Singh on Tuesday accorded batch of 124 Arjun tanks which have already been inducted into sion, of which 14 are major towards reducing the time Acceptance of Necessities the Army and are deployed in the western desert along the upgrades. taken for capital acquisition, (AoNs) to proposals worth Pakistan front. The 118 Arjun tanks would the DAC also approved that `13,700 crore including indige- also form two regiments in the all capital acquisition con- nous main battle tank Arjun approved procurement of 83 handed over to the Army the Armoured Corps of the Indian tracts (delegated and non-dele- Mk-1A. Tejas Mk-1A fighter jets for the Arjun Mk-1A in Chennai. Army like the first 124 tanks. gated) other than design and The DAC accorded AoNs for Indian Air Force (IAF) in a The Indian Army will now Arjun Mark 1-A is equipped development (D&D) cases shall 118 indigenous Arjun Mk-1A deal worth around `48,000 issue Request for Proposal with a 120mm main gun and be concluded in two years,” tanks for Indian army worth crore. (RFP) to DRDO and after weighs 68 tonnes. said defence ministry in a `8,379 crore. The tank has been fully which a contract will be The Arjun has been designed release. This is the second biggest designed and developed by the signed. by the DRDO’s Combat It said that the ministry, in “Make-in-India” project DRDO in close coordination The Arjun Mk-1A tanks Vehicles Research and consultation with the services cleared in 2021 after the with the Indian Army. would be joining the fleet of Development Establishment and all stakeholders, will come Cabinet Committee on Last week Prime Minister the first batch of 124 Arjun (CVRDE) based out of up with detailed plan of action Security (CCS) last month Narendra Modi had formally tanks which have already been Chennai. for achieving the same. CINEMA WORLD DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | WEDNESDAY | 24 FEBRUARY 2021 pg 8 Former security officials to Sex assault: Jail answer for Capitol attack for Queen’s kin London, Feb. 23: A rela- wellbeing," said Sheriff Washington, Feb. 23: tive of Queen Elizabeth II Carmichael. Last month, Congress is set to hear was on Tuesday sentenced Bowes-Lyon apologised from former US Capitol to a 10-month prison term for his actions after enter- security officials for the Relationship with China is for sexually assaulting a ing his guilty plea, saying first time about the mas- woman at his ancestral he felt "greatly ashamed" sive law enforcement fail- home in Angus, Scotland. for causing "such distress ures on Jan. 6, the day a Earl of Strathmore Simon to a guest in my home". violent mob laid siege to one of strong contest: WH Bowes-Lyon, who is the He said he had "drunk to the building and inter- son of a cousin of the 94- excess" on the night of rupted the presidential Washington, Feb. 23: and its one-party political sys- close coordination with our year-old British monarch, the assault, although he electoral count. America's relationship with tem, lift sanctions on trade and partners and allies around the was found to have forced noted that this was "no Three of the four sched- China is one of "strong compe- halt Washington's backing of world: Europeans, other part- his way into the sleeping excuse" for what tran- uled to testify Tuesday tition" and the Biden adminis- "separatist forces” in Taiwan, ners in the region, also with woman's room during an spired. "I did not think I before two Senate commi- tration will work in close coor- Tibet, Hong Kong and Xinjia- Democrats and Republicans in event he was hosting at was capable of behaving ttees resigned under pres- dination with partners and ng. He also said that the Biden Congress. And it also means Glamis Castle. The 34- the way I did but have had sure immediately after allies to make sure that it is administration should “adju- we want to do work at home, year-old was sentenced at to face up to it and take the deadly attack, includ- coming from a position of stre- st” the hardline policy pursu- and focus on doing work at Dundee Sheriff Court responsibility," he said ing the former head of ngth, the White House has ed by former President Donald home, to make sure we are after he had pleaded outside the court. the Capitol Police. Much said, a day after Beijing urged Trump towards Beijing to che- coming to that from a position guilty. "Over the last year this remains unknown about the US to stop interfering in its ck its growing influence. of strength,” Psaki said. According to the BBC, has involved seeking and what happened before internal affairs and lift trade At the White House briefing, The relations between China Sheriff Alastair Carmich- receiving professional and during the assault, sanctions. Psaki said, "there is, of course, and the US are at an all time ael told Bowes-Lyon in help as well as agreeing to and lawmakers are expec- White House Press Secretary a review of our tariffs and the low. The two countries are cur- court that he had repeate- plead guilty as quickly as ted to aggressively quest- Jen Psaki made the comments tariffs that were put in place. I rently engaged in a bitter con- dly ignored his victim's possible. My apologies go, ion the former officials on Monday while responding don't have any update on that frontation over various issues, pleas during the attack. above all, to the woman about what went wrong. to a question on a statement at this point in time.” “We bel- including trade, the origins of "Even now — one year on concerned but I would How much did law enfo- made by Chinese State Counci- ieve the relationship with Chi- the novel Coronavirus pan- — she still, occasionally, also like to apologise to rcement agencies know llor and Foreign Minister na is one of strong competiti- demic, the communist giant's has nightmares and feels family, friends and col- about plans for violence Wang Yi on the China-US ties. on. We want to come to that aggressive military moves in panicked because of being leagues for the distress I that day, many of which Wang said that the US should relationship from a position of the disputed South China Sea sexually assaulted by you. have caused them," he were public? stop "smearing" the ruling strength. and human rights. This has also had an said. — AP Communist Party of China “That means working in — PTI impact on her emotional — PTI NEPAL: HOUSE OF Bomb plots: 9 REPRESENTATIVES REINSTATED women held Kathmandu, Feb. 23: Nepal's Supreme Court Manila, Feb. 23: bomb parts, including on Tuesday reinstated Philippine forces have batteries, detonating the dissolved House of arrested nine women cords, suspected Representatives, in a who were related to explosive powder and major setback to embat- Abu Sayyaf com- oil, an iron pipe and tled Prime Minister K.P. manders and mili- nails, along with a Sharma Oli who was tants in the south and grenade, cellphones, preparing for snap polls could have been backpacks and a ske- amidst a tussle for "potential suicide tch of a suspected tar- power with his rivals in bombers," the mili- geted bombing area. the ruling communist tary said Tuesday. “We are always party. In a landmark rul- The women were ready to welcome ing, a five-member Con- captured Friday in those who wish to stitutional bench led by raids on houses in return to the folds of Chief Justice Cholendra three towns in the pre- the law but if you will Shumsher annulled the dominantly Muslim refuse to do so, we will Oli government's "unco- province of Sulu, said surely hunt you down nstitutional" decision to Lt. Gen. Corleto and prevent you from dissolve the 275-member Vinluan, Jr., who inflicting havoc in the lower house of Parli- heads the military's communities,” said ament. The court also Western Mindanao Maj. Gen. William ordered the government Command. The south- Gonzales, who heads to summon the House ern province is the government forces in session within the next stronghold of Abu Sulu. “May this serve 13 days. Nepal plunged Sayyaf, which is as a clear message to into a political crisis on known for ransom the supporters and December 20 after kidnappings, behead- remaining members President Bidya Dev ings and bombings. of the Abu Sayyaf,” Bhandari dissolved the Troops also seized Gonzales said. — AP House. — PTI AFGHAN PEACE Biden: 5L toll TALKS RESUME IN QATAR heartbreaking Islamabad, Feb. 23: After more than a month Washington, Feb. said on Monday as he of delays, escalating vio- 23: The United States led the nation in lence and a flurry of on Monday crossed a mourning the dead. diplomatic activity, grim "heartbreaking "Today we mark a peace talks between the milestone" in its fight truly grim, heart- Taliban and the Afghan against Covid-19 as breaking milestone — government have the death toll due to 500,071 dead," Biden resumed in the Middle the disease crossed said at a candle-light- Eastern State of Qatar. 500,000, a staggering ing ceremony at the Taliban spokesman Dr. figure that is more White House to mark Mohammad Naeem than the combined the grim milestone. tweeted on Monday American casualties More than 28.1 mil- night that talks had during World War I, lion Americans have resumed. World War II and the also been infected — There were no details Vietnam War. another global record. other than the atmos- "As a nation, we He also participated phere was “cordial”, a can't accept such a in a moment of commitment that neg- cruel fate. We've been silence, standing by otiations should contin- fighting this pandem- 500 lighted candles ue and an announce- ic for so long. We have outside the White ment that the first item to resist becoming House, joined by first of business will be set- numb to the sorrow. lady Jill Biden, Vice ting the agenda. When We have to resist President Kamala talks ended abruptly in viewing each life as a Harris and second January, both sides sub- statistic or a blurb or gentleman Doug mitted their wish lists on the news," Emhoff. for agendas. President Joe Biden — PTI — AP Mars landing video out Cape Canaveral (US), Propulsion Laboratory hold evidence of life 3 Feb 23: Nasa has rele- in Pasadena, Califor- billion to 4 billion years ased the first high-qual- nia, shared the video at ago. The core samples ity video of a space- a news conference on will be set aside for craft landing on Mars, a Monday. return to Earth in a three-minute trailer “These videos and decade. Nasa added 25 showing the enormous these images are the cameras to the $3 bil- orange and white pa- stuff of our dreams," lion mission — the rachute hurtling open said Al Chen, who was most ever sent to Mars. and the red dust kick- in charge of the land- The space agency's ing up as rocket ing team. Six off-the- previous rover, 2012's engines lowered the shelf cameras were Curiosity, managed rover to the surface. devoted to entry, only jerky, grainy stop- The quality was so descent and landing, motion images, mostly good — and the images looking up and down of terrain. Curiosity is so breathtaking — that from different perspec- still working. So is members of the rover tives. All but one cam- Nasa's InSight lander, team said they felt like era worked. The lone although it's hampered they were riding along. microphone turned on by dusty solar panels. “It gives me goose- for landing failed, but Deputy project mana- bumps every time I see Nasa got some snippets ger Matt Wallace said it, just amazing,” said of sound after touch- he was inspired years Dave Gruel, head of the down: The whirring of ago to film Perseveran- entry and descent cam- the rover's systems and ce's harrowing descent era team. The Persev- wind gusts. Flight con- when his young gymna- erance rover landed trollers were thrilled st daughter wore a cam- last Thursday near an with the thousands of era while performing a ancient river delta in images beamed back — backflip. Watching the Jezero Crater to search and also with the video "I think you will for signs of ancient remarkably good condi- feel like you are getting microscopic life. After tion of the rover. It will a glimpse into what it spending the weekend spend the next two would be like to land binge-watching the years exploring the dry successfully in Jezero descent and landing river delta and drilling Crater with Persevera- video, the team at Jet into rocks that may nce,” he said. — AP WORLD DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | WEDNESDAY | 24 FEBRUARY 2021 pg 9

SHORT TAKES U.S. CURBS ON 2 FB to lift ban on Oz news National Spelling MORE MYANMAR JUNTA LEADERS Firm to pay local media companies for content after deal on legislation Bee to return in Sydney, Feb. 23: Facebo- Facebook for Australians ● THE SOCIAL media ments”. “We now face the sector watched advertis- Washington, Feb. 23: The US ok said Tuesday it will lift in the coming days,” said firm sparked global out- strange possibility that ing revenue flow to the dig- on Monday announced sanc- a contentious ban on Aust- Will Easton, managing dir- the news media mandato- ital players. virtual format tions against two more leaders ralian news and pay local ector of Facebook Austral- rage last week by ry code could be passed by For every $100 spent by of Myanmar's junta and media companies for con- ia. The social media firm blacking out news for parliament and it applies Australian advertisers Florida, Feb. 23: The ''We gave up on the idea warned of further action as tent, after a last-gasp deal sparked global outrage its Australian users in to precisely no one,” said today, $49 goes to Google Scripps National Spelling of Bee Week early on hundreds of thousands defi- on pending landmark leg- last week by blacking out protest at the proposed Marcus Strom, head of the and $24 to Facebook, Bee will return this year because we knew we antly rallied for the restora- islation. Australia's Treas- news for its Australian Media Entertainment and according to the country's in a mostly virtual for- couldn't bring hundreds tion of the nation's democracy. urer Josh Frydenberg ann- users in protest at the pro- legislation, and inadver- Arts Alliance, a union. competition watchdog. mat, with the in-person of people to one location The US said it was blocking ounced a face-saving com- posed legislation, and tently blocking a series “It will just sit in the Tech insiders see the leg- competition limited to a safely,'' Carolyn Micheli, any US property and suspend- promise that will see Goo- inadvertently blocking a of non-news Facebook Treasurer's (drawer) as a islation as driven, in par- dozen finalists who will the bee's interim execu- ing the entry into the country gle and Facebook plunge series of non-news threat to misbehaving dig- ticular, by Rupert Murd- gather on an ESPN cam- tive director, told The of two members of the newly tens of millions of dollars Facebook pages linked to pages linked to every- ital companies.” Google och's News Corp, which pus at Walt Disney World Associated Press ahead of ruling State Administrative into the struggling local everything from cancer thing from cancer char- was also keen to avoid cre- dominates the local media in Florida, Scripps the announcement. Council — General Maung news sector. charities to emergency ities to emergency ating a precedent that plat- landscape and has close announced Monday. ''We came up with what I Maung Kyaw, who commands In return the US digital response services. response services. forms should pay anyone ties with Australia's con- Last year's bee was can- think is a pretty exciting the air force, and Lieutenant firms will, for now, avoid Prime Minister Scott Mo- for links, something that servative government. celled because of the and creative way of struc- General Moe Myint Tun. being subjected to manda- rrison had angrily accus- could make their flagship A new provision in the Coronavirus pandemic, turing the competition tory payments that could ed Facebook of making a nths to reach further ag- search engine unwork- law gives Facebook and the first time since World across several weeks that cost them vastly more and decision to “unfriend” Au- reements that would stave able. Google more discretion War II it had been called will be fun for the kids, ZUMA GRAFT create what they see as an stralia. Google has already off binding arbitration. Facebook — which is over who they do deals off. Organizers said they build excitement, and I alarming global prece- brokered deals worth mill- The tech firms had fierc- much less reliant on news with, and what the sums did not believe a large think it's a great way to TRIAL SET TO dent. ions of dollars with local ely opposed the legislation content — had initially involved would be. gathering at the bee's cope with a difficult situa- Just hours after the com- media companies, includ- from the get-go, fearing it said being forced to pay for — PTI longtime venue — a con- tion,'' she added. BEGIN IN MAY promise was unveiled, ing the two largest: Rupert would threaten their busi- news was simply not “We have come to an vention center outside The cancellation of last Facebook announced its Murdoch's News Corp and ness models. worth it and shut down agreement that will allow Washington — would be year's bee was a particu- Johannesburg, Feb. 23: first proposed deal with an Nine Entertainment. In particular, the compa- content. “There is no us to support the publish- possible this year for the larly cruel blow to eighth- Former South African presi- Australian media compa- Commentators described nies objected to rules that doubt that Australia has ers we choose to, including competition's usual date graders who missed out dent Jacob Zuma's corruption ny, Seven West, and was the eleventh-hour amend- made negotiations with been a proxy battle for the small and local publish- around Memorial Day. on their final chance to trial is set to begin in May, said to be pursuing com- ments — which came as media companies manda- world,” said Frydenberg. ers,” said Facebook vice Instead of compressing compete after years of more than 16 years after he mercial deals with other parliament looks set to tory and gave an independ- Critics of the law say it president for global news the entire competition preparation. Top spellers was first implicated in the local news organisations. pass the law this week — ent Australian arbiter the punishes innovative com- partnerships Campbell into a week _ spellers rou- routinely study obscure graft allegations. Zuma, South The company is expected as “a reasonable compro- right to impose a mone- panies and amounts to a Brown. tinely refer to Bee Week words, roots and lan- Africa's president from 2009 to to use the content to laun- mise”. “Everybody can tary settlement. money grab by struggling Facebook and Google as a highlight of their guage patterns for hours 2018, is accused of receiving ch a dedicated news produ- walk away saying, well we That process will now be but politically connected could still face the young lives _ the bee will a day, sacrificing other bribes from French arms man- ct in Australia later this got what we wanted,” Uni- avoided if companies are traditional media. prospect of having to be stretched over several activities and social life ufacturer Thales. Both Zuma year. “As a result of these versity of New South deemed to have made a Thousands of journal- replicate deals with media weeks. The preliminary for a chance to become and Thales have refuted the changes, we can now work Wales business professor “significant contribution” ism jobs and scores of worldwide, as the rounds will be held in the national champion. charges, which include to further our investment Rob Nicholls said. to the Australian news news outlets have been European Union, Canada mid-June, the semifinals Spellers are no longer eli- corruption, fraud, racketeer- in public interest journal- Both companies now industry through unspeci- lost in Australia alone and other jurisdictions on June 27 and the ESPN- gible after they reach ing, and money laundering. ism, and restore news on have an additional two mo- fied “commercial agree- over the past decade as the move to regulate the sec- televised finals on July 8. high school. — AP CINEMA

Javad Zarif IRAN IMPOSES CURBS ON UN N-INSPECTIONS

Tehran, Feb. 23: Iran officially has begun restricting interna- tional inspections of its nuclear facilities, state TV reported Tuesday, a bid to pre- ssure European count- ries and US President Joe Biden's adminis- tration to lift crippling economic sanctions and restore the 2015 nuclear deal. The state TV report gave little detail beyond confi- rming that Iran had made good on its thr- eat to reduce cooperat- ion with International Atomic Energy Agen- cy inspectors. Iran's move to limit international inspe- ctions underscores the daunting task facing Biden as he seeks to reverse Trump's poli- cies and return to the deal, the most signifi- cant pact between Iran and major world pow- ers since its 1979 Islamic revolution. “The law has gone into effect from this morning,” said Iran- ian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, reiterating that Iran would no longer share surveillance foo- tage of its nuclear facilities with the UN agency. — AP DRUG KINGPIN EL CHAPO’S WIFE ARRESTED

Washington, Feb. 23: The wife of Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman was arrested Monday in the US and accused of helping her hus- band run his multibill- ion-dollar cartel and plot his audacious escape from a Mexican prison in 2015. Emma Coronel Aisp- uro, a 31-year-old for- mer beauty queen, was arrested at Dulles International Airport in Virginia and is exp- ected to appear in fed- eral court in Washin- gton on Tuesday. She is a dual citizen of the United States and Mexico. Her arrest is the latest twist in the bloody, multinational saga involving Guzman, the longtime head of the Sinaloa drug cartel. — AP HYDERABAD | WEDNESDAY | 24 FEBRUARY 2021 pg 10

 Separation could help revive stake sale to Aramco INDIA INC MAY OFFER 7.7% China returns as top quick RIL to spinoff O2C unit SALARY HIKE trade partner amid SANGEETHA G BITES CHENNAI, FEB. 23 border standoff Indian Inc is likely to with $25 billion loan offer an average salary % hike of 7.7 per cent in KARTHIKEYAN INDICATORS 2021 after the decade’s SUNDARAM & Dragon returns Sensex 49,751.41 0.01 DEBJIT CHAKRABORTY & Ethane Pipeline Limited lowest hike of 6.1 per ARCHANA CHAUDHAR China displaces the US to regain Nifty 50 14,707.80 0.22 ARCHANA CHAUDHARY SLICING AND DICING VALUE that operates a pipeline cent in 2020. The year FEB. 23 India’s top trade partner slot in 2020 between Dahej in Gujarat S&P 500* 3,841.84 -0.89 FEB. 23 ◗ will also see a reversal ■ China ■ US ■ UAE RIL to house only upstream oil and gas E&P and Nagothane in from the 10-year declin- China regained its posi- $ billion 100 Dollar (`) 72.44 0.08 Reliance Industries Ltd has biz, including KG-D6 block, financial services, Maharashtra as well as a ing trend in salary hike. tion as India's top trade Pound Sterling (`) 101.73 -0.13 started carving out its new group treasury and legacy textile businesses 74.9 per cent stake that However, this may not partner in 2020, as New 50 oil-to-chemicals (O2C) ◗ Reliance holds in the joint increase higher cash-in- Delhi's reliance on Euro (`) 88.05 -0.31 operation into an inde- Even though the O2C assets will move into a venture with Sibur. hand for employees if imported machines out- 0 Gold (10gm)* (`) 46,372▲337 0.72 pendent unit with a $25 bil- new arm, its debt will continue with RIL It's very large ethane car- organisations make weighed its efforts to curb 2017 2018 2019 2020 lion loan from the parent, ◗ riers, gas pipelines such as higher provident fund commerce with Beijing Source: Ministry of Commerce Brent crude ($/bbl)* 65.24 0.00 O2C unit houses Singapore and UK-based oil as billionaire Mukesh trading subsidiaries and Reliance Industries one that transports coal- contributions as per the after a border conflict. Note: Data for 2020 is provisional IN 10-Yr bond yield 6.172 0.00 Ambani steps up efforts to bed methane from its coal new labour codes. Two-way trade between Uruguay Petroquimica SA. US 10-Yr T-bill yield* 1.372 0.003 unlock the value of his bed methane (CBM) blocks, According to a survey the economic and strate- ners, respectively. businesses. ◗ It also houses Reliance Ethane Pipeline Ltd overseas oil and gas asset by global professional gic rivals stood at $77.7 That said, India did * As of 8:30 PM IST The wholly owned unit's that operates a pipeline between Dahej and holding company Reliance services firm Aon, billion last year, shows manage to lower imports assets will be funded by the Industries (Middle East) almost 88 per cent of provisional data from from its neighbour amid interest-bearing loan, Nagothane as well as a 74.9% stake RIL holds in DMCC, and domestic surveyed companies India's commerce min- demand disruptions cau- which will be an "efficient the JV with Sibur exploration and produc- reported they intend to istry. Although that was sed by the coronavirus Punjab & Sind Bk mechanism to upstream tion assets would not form increase salaries in 2021, lower than the previous pandemic. India also cash, including any poten- part of the O2C unit. up from 75 per cent in year's $85.5 billion, it was managed to increase its tial capital receipts," in the including Facebook Inc cent of Jio Platforms. The Also, RIL's textiles busi- 2020. enough to make China the exports to China by about to allot `5,500 cr unit, according to a presen- and Google through stake rest it had sold to global ness as operated out of the Over 34 per cent com- largest commercial part- 11 per cent from a year tation filed with the stock sales in his retail and digi- investors for over Rs 2 lakh Naroda site, Baroda town- panies said that they ner displacing the US-- ago to $19 billion last year. shares to govt exchanges. tal ventures, turning crore. ship and land, including would offer salary hike bilateral trade with which The tense relations are Oil-to-chemicals con- Reliance net-debt-free. RIL will provide the $25 cricket stadium, Jamnagar between 8 and 10 per came in at $75.9 billion already weighing on Punjab & Sind Bank will allot tributed more than 60 per Reliance has floated sepa- billion loan to the O2C sub- power assets, and Sikka cent, while 30.6 per cent amid muted demand for India's ambitions to bol- preferential shares to the gov- cent in the last financial rate units twice earlier for sidiary at floating interest Ports and Terminals would offer 5 to 8 per goods in the middle of a ster its manufacturing ernment next month in lieu of year to the group's revenue funding two refineries on rate for 10 years. The sub- Limited would also not be cent. Only 12.2 per cent pandemic. capabilities. New Delhi Rs 5,500 crore capital infusion. that's been lately pivoting the west coast. The entities sidiary has about $42 bil- part of the O2C unit. companies said they While Prime Minister has been slow to issue An EGM of the shareholders is toward consumer busi- were merged with the par- lion of assets (28 per cent of RIL owns and operates would not give any hike Narendra Modi banned visas to Chinese engi- scheduled on March 25 in this nesses such as technology ent on the completion of consolidated assets). twin oil refineries at and this is lower than hundreds of Chinese neers needed to help respect, the bank said. In and retail. Splitting the the plants, which can In August 2019, RIL had Jamnagar in Gujarat, with 25.4 per cent in 2020. apps, slowed approvals for Taiwanese companies set September, the government business will make it easi- together now process 1.4 agreed to upstream Rs 1.08 a combined capacity of 68.2 Hirings are, mean- investments from the up factories under a so- had approved a Rs 20,000 er for Ambani to bring in million barrels of crude lakh crore of Jio's debt to million tonnes per annum. while, picking up in neighbour and called for called production-linked crore fund through Parliament investors and help expedite daily, making it the world's make its telecom venture It is also the country's India Inc. Job site Scikey self-reliance after a dead- incentive programme, or for capital infusion into public a proposed stake sale to biggest refining complex. debt-free, ahead of induct- largest petrochemical man- Market Network, which ly clash along their dis- PLI, to promote local sector banks. Of this, Rs 5,500 Saudi Arabian Oil Co. Once the spin-off is com- ing strategic and financial ufacturer with units at has analysed data from puted Himalayan border, manufacturing. crore was approved to be Creating the unit "facili- pleted, Reliance Industries investors like Facebook, Jamnagar, Dahej, Hazira, over 15,000 job postings, India continues to rely "Still a very long way to infused into P&SB. tates participation by will house only the Google and KKR. Nagothane, Vadodara, Pat- said the IT sector is heavily on Chinese-made go" is how Amitendu strategic and financial upstream oil and gas explo- As of December 2020, alganga, Silvassa, Bara- experiencing a sequen- heavy machinery, telecom Palit, an economist spe- investors," Reliance said. It ration and production RIL's gross debt stood at Rs banki, and Hoshiarpur. tial growth in hiring equipment and home cialising in international expects the separation to business, including the KG- 2.57 lakh crore. The company holds a 66.6 since the lockdown. Job appliances. As a result, trade and investment at be completed by D6 block, financial servic- Even though the O2C per cent stake in the KG-D6 postings were up 39 per the bilateral trade gap the National University of NTPC inks pact September. Approvals have es, group treasury and the assets will move into a new block where it is investing cent in January com- with China was at almost Singapore, described New been received from the legacy textile businesses, arm, its debt will continue about $5 billion in develop- pared to December. $40 billion in 2020, making Delhi's efforts to wean to buy Gail’s 25% markets regulator and and act as a holding com- to sit inside RIL. ing a second set of gas dis- The IT sector was fol- it India's largest. itself away from Beijing. stock exchanges, and the pany of the group. The O2C unit also houses coveries along with BP. lowed by BPO (10 per Total imports from "The PLI schemes will company will seek a nod The retail business is the firm's Singapore and It also has a similar stake cent growth) and bank- China at $58.7 billion take at least four-five in Ratnagiri Gas from shareholders and held in Reliance Retail the UK-based oil trading in the NEC-25 block in the ing (6 per cent). were more than India's years to create fresh creditors in the first quar- Ventures and telecom and subsidiaries and market- Bay of Bengal and operates Job postings have seen combined purchases from capacities in specific sec- ter of FY22. digital ventures are nested ing subsidiary, Reliance two CBM blocks in MP. a jump in several metro the US and the UAE, tors. Till then reliance on Ambani amassed more in Jio Platforms. Industries Uruguay These upstream assets are cities, including Hydera- which are its second- and China would continue." than $27 billion last year RIL holds 85.1 per cent of Petroquimica SA. not part of the O2C unit. bad and Pune. third-largest trade part- — Bloomberg from global investors, Reliance Retail and 67.3 per It also houses Reliance — Bloomberg/PTI

HSBC TO CUT PIAGGIO ENTERS OFFICE SPACE BY Broking income set to hit `27,500 cr NTPC said it has signed a share RAVI RANJAN PRASAD in FY21 compared to Rs ties with strong presence CARGO ELECTRIC purchase agreement to buy 40% OVER YEARS MUMBAI, FEB. 23 13.89 lakh crore in the in online broking have Gail’s 25.51 per cent stake in comparable period last increased their market 3-WHEELER SPACE Ratnagiri Gas and Power Pvt LAWRENCE WHITE Due to high turnover in year and Rs 14.39 lakh share in the current envi- Ltd (RGPPL), commonly known LONDON, FEB. 23 the first nine months of crore in FY20. ronment. As per NSE MICHAEL GONSALVES as Dabhol project. Once the current fiscal, the broker- "The industry growth data, the top 20 brokerage PUNE, FEB. 23 transaction is complete, NTPC HSBC plans to nearly age industry is estimated rate, however, is expected houses together account- will have 86.49 per cent stake in halve its office space glob- to clock a record broking to moderate in the fiscal ed for about 84 per cent of Piaggio Vehicles, the RGPPL. Earlier in January, NTPC ally over the long term as income of Rs 27,500-28,500 2021-22 with gradual mod- overall active client Italian manufacturer of had announced acquiring 35.47 part of a cost-cutting drive crore in FY21, up 30-35 per eration in transaction vol- accounts as of December small commercial vehi- per cent stake in RGPPL from its set out on Tuesday, in a fur- cent growth compared to umes," Icra said. 2020, up from 75 per cent cles, on Tuesday entered lenders. Initially, NTPC and Gail ther sign the pandemic Rs 21,000 crore in FY20, The rating agency as of March 2020 and 57 the cargo electric three- had 25.51 per cent stake each in could mean permanent says rating agency Icra. expects industry aggre- per cent as of March 2019. wheeler segment with the Dabhol project. changes to working pat- The equity market gate broking income of Rs Discount brokerage hou- the launch of Ape’ E- terns. reported an aggregate 29,500-30,500 crore (YoY ses have been able to gar- Xtra FX priced at Rs 3.12 HSBC aims to cut its turnover of Rs 4,222 lakh growth of 7-8 per cent), in ner a predominant share lakh. This is the second office footprint by 40 per crore in the first nine FY22. Growing retail of the new accounts sup- product in the EV space cent over the long-term, months of FY21, register- share along with increa- ported by their technolo- by the company with the the bank said in an analyst ing year-on-year (YoY) sed interest and other fee gy-driven business model. first being the passenger Sebi: Pre-expiry presentation. growth of 66 per cent. The income is expected to sup- But many traditional bro- electric three-wheeler The bank's CEO Noel average daily turnover port profitability of bro- kerage companies had a Ape’ E-City which was margins to curb Quinn said the reduction (ADTO) rose to Rs 22.46 kerages. slow start to the year in launched in late 2019 and would come from axing lakh crore till December Large established enti- terms of client additions. came with swappable office buildings as their battery technology. -ve prices soon leases come to an end and These small commer- The Sebi will put in place pre- would not include branch- cial vehicles are powered expiry margins on cash settled es or HSBC's headquarters by the FX (fixed) range of contracts wherein the underly- building in London's battery solutions. The ing commodities are deemed to Canary Wharf. Retained Ape’ E-City is priced at be susceptible to possible near buildings will be used Airtel partners with Qualcomm to drive 5G services Rs 2.83 lakh. Both prices zero or negative prices— like more flexibly, Quinn said. are introductory. that happened in crude oil fut- Several banks have said Bengaluru, Feb. 23: exchanges that it will use first society," Airtel said. While the country is set Jio has previously said it The Ape’ E-Xtra FX ures las year. The decision, to be they will adopt more Bharti Airtel Ltd said on Qualcomm's Radio Access Although the need for to auction some airwaves built an in-house 5G solu- gives 9.5 kW power out- effective from April 1, is aimed hybrid working after most Tuesday it will work with Network platforms, which high-speed internet has in March, bands that sup- tion and is ready to roll out put and has a payload at encouraging reduction of of their staff switched to US chipmaker Qualcomm runs services on the cloud, been highlighted in the port 5G will only be auc- services as soon as air- capacity of 506kg. open interest as the contract working from home, but for 5G services in India, as to roll out 5G networks in pandemic-led work-from- tioned in the next six waves are made available. The top-speed of both approaches the expiry date. The few have spelled out a spe- telecom firms in the the country. home year, India's 5G months, the Parliamentary Parent Reliance last year E-Xtra FX and E-City FX margin will be applicable on cific space target. world's second-largest "This collaboration ... ambitions have been buf- Standing Committee on raised about $97 million is 45km/hour. The drive some commodities under ARMF. HSBC's Asia-focused wireless market gear up to aims to allow a faster roll- feted by delays in auction Information Technology from Qualcomm for its dig- range of the cargo vari- rival Standard Chartered usher in the latest genera- out of broadband services of airwaves that support said in a report on India's ital unit that houses Jio. ant is 90km and the pas- moved to permanent flexi- tion of wireless networks. ... across India for "last the technology. 5G preparedness. Still, Airtel has seen senger variant, 110km. ble working in November, Airtel, placed second to mile" connectivity chal- Concerns have also been The technology ultimate- gains in market share The charging time for later signing an agreement Reliance Industries-owned lenges that are becoming raised by telecoms around ly promises internet faster than Jio over the last both the vehicles is three with flexible workspace Jio by subscribers, said in increasingly important in the relatively high pricing speeds up to 20 times faster few months of 2020. hours and 45 minutes. Bajaj launches provider IWG. —Reuters a statement to stock today's remote, mobile- of spectrum in India. than existing networks. —Reuters new Pulsar 180 priced at `1.08 L GOING | GREEN Warming potential of underlying assets a concern Bajaj Auto has launched the Thailand may set income new version of Pulsar 180 bike priced at Rs 1,07,904, ex-show- Funds vex over ‘portfolio warming’ room Delhi. The 178.6 cc model gets sporty split seats, black criteria for crypto traders ALASTAIR MARSH its assets would warm the put Axa, despite its cli- alloy wheels, LED tail lamp, FEB. 23 planet by 0.8 degrees mate-conscious efforts, five-speed transmission gear ANUCHIT NGUYEN own accounts can invest for higher returns amid Celsius less than if it held on the wrong side of the box with telescopic anti-fric- FEB. 23 through licensed fund record low interest rates. All good money managers all the companies in 2015 Paris Agreement in tion bush in the front suspen- managers or financial Bitcoin, the largest token, expect to outperform major global stock and which every nation sion and a five-way adjustable Thailand plans to intro- advisers, she said, declin- has added more than $450 their benchmark, and by bond indexes. That was agreed to limit warming nitrox shock absorber at the duce new rules to curb ing to elaborate. billion of value in 2021 one such metric the good news for an early to 2°C. rear. Currently, 20 per cent of individuals' cryptocurren- "It's a big concern as and reached $1 trillion in French insurer and adopter of portfolio- And it's not only Axa the sports biking segment is in cy trading after a surge in most crypto investors on market capitalisation for investor Axa SA recently warming metrics. that's taking the tempera- the 180-200cc motorcycles. inflows from young people domestic exchanges are the first time last week. scored a market-beating The bad news: Axa's ture of its assets. UK sparked concern. very young, such as stu- The new rules may success. Not by delivering portfolio implied a tem- insurer Aviva Plc and Retail investors will dents and teenagers," require individual inves- higher returns, but by perature increase of Japan's $1.7 trillion probably be required to Ruenvadee said. "We tors to possess some generating a lower level climate change. In theory, almost 3°C above pre- Government Pension Printed & Published by show their income or realise those people love knowledge of crypto mar- of global warming. that means every invest- industrial levels by 2100. Investment Fund have K. Sudhakar on behalf of Deccan assets before opening innovations and technolo- kets before being allowed If human activity is ment portfolio can be At that level, scientists published data on warm- Chronicle Holdings Limited, Printed at Deccan Chronicle Press at Deccan trading accounts with the gy, but investments in to open accounts to trade driving carbon emissions evaluated for the "warm- warn of mass extinctions ing potential. New York- Chronicle Holdings Ltd. #563/9/D&9/E, nation's six licensed cryp- these assets have enor- them, said Ruenvadee. and temperatures to dan- ing potential" of its of animal species, large based BlackRock Inc, Behind Andhra Bank Pet Basheerbagh, tocurrency exchanges, mous risk." Trading of cryptocur- gerous highs, then a giant underlying assets. parts of the planet becom- with $8.7 trillion of Kompally, Ranga Reddy Dist. Editor: said Ruenvadee Suwan- Thai authorities are rencies on the nation's asset owner like Axa with After a painstaking ing uninhabitable due to assets, plans to do the T.Venkatram Reddy, RNI Reg mongkol, the secretary joining other countries' licensed bourses more a 650 billion-euro ($790 process of self-evaluation extreme heat, rising sea same for some of its No.APENG/2008/24282. © All rights general of the Securities regulators in warning than tripled in January billion) horde of stocks, that took two years, levels swallowing up funds. The practice is reserved. Reproduction in whole or in & Exchange Commission. about cryptocurrencies, from December to 65 bil- corporate bonds and sov- including a significant coastal cities, and lush likely to spread in the part without written permission of The Anyone who isn't allowed even as price rallies draw lion baht ($2.17 billion). ereign debt is one of the shift away from heavy rainforests turning into years ahead. Editor, Financial Chronicle ® is to trade crypto via their retail investors searching —Bloomberg principal proprietors of polluters, Axa concluded savannas. It also would —Bloomberg prohibited. GAMES pg 11 DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | WEDNESDAY | 24 FEBRUARY 2021 SHORT TAKES Snehit settles for national bronze Sathiyan breaks nine-time champion Sharath’s stranglehold for gold Panchkula, Feb. 23: G. ● Hyderabad’s SFR Sathiyan ended his long Snehit, who made a wait for a national title with a convincing 4-2 win very good run to the over nine-time champion National Table Sharath Kamal in the 82nd Tennis National Table Tennis Championships Championships here on Tuesday. Sathiyan pre- semifinals, was vailed 11-6, 11-7, 10-12, 7-11, stopped by eventual 11-8, 11-8. champion Sathiyan Hyderabad’s SFR Snehit, at 13-11, 11-5, Amit Sanghi practices his aim on Tuesday, eve of the who made a good run to Telangana State Shooting Championship in Hyderabad. the semifinals, was 11-9, 11-5. stopped by the eventual champion in the last four match, and he deserved to stage. Sathiyan sailed past win, said the genial Loaded guns all set Snehit in straight games Sharath. Yusuf Pathan plays in the nets at 13-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-5. He attributed the loss to during the launch of his acad- Sathiyan had rued his the lack of concentration emy in Hyderabad on Tuesday. missed chances against in the fifth game after for State shooting Sharath in the final at leading 8-6. Two crucial Cuttack a couple of years mistakes cost me dearly at DC CORRESPONDENT that all competitions will Yusuf Pathan ago. That win had put that stage. But Sathiyan HYDERABAD, FEB. 23 be conducted by taking Sharath, the current let me off the hook in the necessary precautions for starts academy world No.32, on a high third to come back. These The guns are loaded and Covid-19 pandemic as per pedestal. On Tuesday, it are part of the game. I am targets set. The shooters the guidelines issued by Hyderabad: Former India all- was a different Sathiyan. happy for him, he added. will go all out to capture the National Rifle rounder Yusuf Pathan on So was Sharath, who was With age catching up honours when the VII Association of India and Tuesday inaugurated the 26th not at his usual self as he with Sharath, he is not yet Telangana State Shooting Government of Telangana. centre of Cricket Academy of lost momentum in the giving up chasing his 10th Championship competi- Wednesday’s schedule Pathans (CAP) here, with an fifth game of the men’s SFR Snehit (centre) poses with his cheque and medal alongside coach Somnath title. “I will certainly tions in rifle, pistol, and has rifle events lined up aim to providing world-class singles final. Ghosh (right) and fitness coach Hirak Bagchi at Panchakula, Haryana, on Tuesday. come back strong and aim shotgun events gets under- with 102 in fray for 50 coaching to budding cricketers “Third time I was lucky, for it,” he said. — PTI way at the Sports metres, 77 in 10m, 72 for of the city. no more jinx. A huge bur- Sathiyan made his inten- problems unable to land possible. Sharath allowed THE RESULTS Authority of Telangana 50m open site and 21 in 10m During the occasion, Yusuf den off my shoulder, said tions loud and clear. But the ball. Converting those Sathiyan to take control of ■ Final: G. Sathiyan (PSPB) State Shooting Ranges in open site. interacted with the trainees and Sathiyan. Before Cuttack, he knows his experienced moments to his advantage, the match slowly but sure- bt A. Sharath Kamal (PSPB) Gachibowli on Wednesday. Pistol events — Centre shared his experiences of play- he had missed out at opponent can change the Sathiyan nailed it again ly. It’s equally important 11-6, 11-7, 10-12, 7-11, 11-8, 11- More than 1,000 partici- Fire (52 participants), 25m ing cricket in Hyderabad. “The Pondicherry (2014) and flow of the match in a mat- and went 3-2 up. to give full credit to 8. Semifinals: G. Sathiyan bt pants from all over the (13), Standard Pistol (54), aim of Cricket Academy of Hyderabad (2015). The win ter of minutes. And As if on cue, Sathiyan Sathiyan, the new champi- SFR Snehit (Telangana) 13- State are expected to par- 50m (9) and 10m (92) — Pathans is to provide world- on Tuesday also helped Sharath did strike, taking kept his backhand blocks on, who punched his way 11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-5; A. Sharath ticipate in 112 shooting dis- have a total of 220 taking class cricket coaching and the him carry home `2.50 lakh the next two games. But, and forehand scorchers up the ladder with a lot of Kamal bt Manav Thakkar ciplines between February part while 54 will train best-possible infrastructure to as prize money. as has been seen very going, pushing Sharath on hard work. (PSPB) 11-8, 5-11, 14-12, 11-9, 24 and March 7. their guns in the Shotgun facilitate and help the budding Taking a 2-0 lead, often, Sharath had his the backfoot as hard as “In the end, it was a good 9-11, 17-15. The organisers pledge category. cricketers of the country,” said Yusuf, a Director of CAP. Harmeet Vasdev, Managing Director of CAP, said they plan to launch the academy in VIBHAS, FAISAL, another 25 cities by the end of the year. JEETENDAR AND CAP has partnered with PitchVision, a unique online training platform, to track the MAAZ IN SEMIS trainees’ performance in real DC CORRESPONDENT time as it automatically gener- HYDERABAD, FEB. 23 ates videos and statistical analysis to the extent of line, Vibhas, Jeetendar, length, bounce, deviation, pace, Mohammed Faisal and etc, the release said. Syed Maaz Ali made the semifinals of the junior snooker at the Telangana KBA, Patrick’s State Ranking Snooker & Billiards Championship hoopsters on top at the Telangana Cue Sports Association prem- Hyderabad: Keystone ises on Tuesday. Basketball Academy teams fin- In the quarterfinals, ished on top in the under 18 Vibhas prevailed over P. years boys category of the Zero Members of the Hyderabad Globe Football Club pose after winning the South India invitational event at Gadwal. Sai 39-53, 86-22, 40-56, 64- Gravity 3x3 Basketball 51, 73-21 while Jeetendar Tournament conducted by too scored a similar 3-2 Keystone Basketball Academy, (46-52, 72-36, 31-55, 43-39, Hyderabad. 49-40) win over Saurav. KBA cagers emerged winners Md Faisal beat Md Bilal with a clean slate winning all Hyderabad Globe win trophy Khan over five frames 55- their games in the eight-team 20, 26-33, 43-52, 56-15, 57-27) round robin format while KBA DC CORRESPONDENT penalty spot in the 60th Police took the lead in keeper Mohd Faiz was too and Syed Maaz Ali defeat- Thunders with five wins and HYDERABAD, FEB. 23 minute after his team- the 25th minute via good under the bar, saving ed Abdul Nadeem 26-70, 7- two losses took the second mate Mohd Ehtesham Shiva’s superb freekick to two penalties for the 71, 65-47, 55-24, 78-16. spot. Hyderabad Globe FC won was brought down in the keep the lead at half-time. Police team. THE RESULTS ■ Junior Snooker Quarterfinals: In a two way tie, St Patrick’s the South India invita- box by a rival defender. However, Globe bounced In the quarters, Globe Vibhas bt P. Sai 3-2 (39-53, 86-22, 40- girls were declared winner as tional football champi- The winners were back strongly in the sec- beat Nizamabad 1-0, 56, 64-51, 73-21); Jeetendar bt Saurav they, along with Srila, finished onship at Gadwal, awarded with `1 lakh as ond half and equalised Sohrab scoring the all- 3-2 (46-52, 72-36, 31-55, 43-39, 49- 40); Md Faisal bt Md Bilal Khan 3-2 their engagements with three Telangana, by defeating cash prize while the run- with a superb header by important goal. (55-20, 26-33, 43-52, 56-15, 57-27); wins and a defeat. By virtue of host Gadwal District ners-up received `50,000. Mohd Sohrab to take the In the pre-quarterfinal, Syed Maaz Ali bt Abdul Nadeem 3-2 defeating Srila in the last Football Association by a Earlier in the semifinal, match into extra time, in Globe team defeated (26-70, 7-71, 65-47, 55-24, 78-16). match, St Patrick’s brought solitary goal scored by Globe beat Tamil Nadu which both teams failed Nellore FC 3-1. Mohd Second Round: Md Faisal bt Srikanth 2-0 (54-36, 66-34); Saurav bt Zeeshan about a tie and took the top Mohammed Sohrab. State Police team, which to score, thanks to tight Sohrab was the hero for Fawaz 2-0 (62-10, 56-20); P. Sai bt position. Sohrab who was the is all-India police champi- rival defences. Shaik Globe, scoring a hat-trick Bharath Choudhary 2-0 (58-8, 59-9); The cohesion, teamwork and hero of the tournament, on, 6-5 in sudden death Umair and Wahed Khan while Sudhaker reduced Bilal Khan bt Majid Khan 2-0 (59-49, 66-44); Jeetendar bt Habeeb 2-1 (66- individual brilliance coupled who scored the winning after teams were locked 1- were Globe’s best back the margin for Nellore 44, 41-70, 66-34); Md Abdul Nadeem with tactical strategy had KBA goal for Globe from the 1 in regulation time. men while young goal- team. bt Pratham Jain 2-0 (53-47, 47-29). cagers roll over their opponents with consummate ease and hardly faced any challenge with their tall players Lakshman and Subhash controlling the board. Shooting guard Akhil Korupolu and Akhil Karijela were quick to Teja, Vignesh, Chandan crack tons grab any opportunity. Allround show by Debansu, Vasistha; Prasad, Vinmukh, Khush, Shakeer, Mihir, Deepak, Anurag, Syed, Afzal, Sainath, Sandeep, Shreyas, Aditya, Vijay, Ajay, Simaal, Naman, Siddhanth shine in A-2 division DC CORRESPONDENT HYDERABAD, FEB. 23

Hima Teja, Vignesh Agarwal and Chandan Sahani scored a century each to emerge top per- formers in the Hyderabad Teja Vignesh Debansu Vasistha Vinmukh Khush Vijay Simaal Naman Aditya Sandeep Cricket Association’s A-1 Division three-day league scored 185 for his third Brief scores: Points: International 5, RJCC 0. ■ SN Group 409 in 84.3 overs bt Sports Village CEO & A-1 DIVISION (THREE-DAY) LEAGUE ■ New Blues 99 in 39.1 overs (G. Kishoresons 302 in 76.4 overs matches played on hundred this season while Day 1 Vishnu Vardhan 38, C. Durga Prasad (Sandeep Bishnoi 124 — 212b, 21x4, Managing Trustee of RR 7/18 — 13.1-2-18-7) tied with Vijay Manav Agarwal 93, M. Uday 45 Tuesday. his teammate Khush ■ BDL 329/9 (all out) in 87.5 overs (K. Hanuman 99 in 42 overs (G. Raju 36, n.o, Vijay Verma 5/65 — 18-5-65-5, Foundation Mohammad Hima Teja continued his Agarwal got the season’s Hima Teja 130 — 225b,16x4), Nadeem Khan 4/40). Points: New Aryaman Thakur 4/58). Points: SN Yashwanth 63, Mahendra 34, Raju Shamsuddin (left) greets solid run to score another second century (108) as Blues 2, Vijay Hanuman 2. Group 5, Kishoresons 0. Hyderabad Mayor Ekalavya put up 506 for 9 Yadav 3/59) vs Income Tax. ■ ■ century, 130, to boost BDL ■ Evergreen 430/8 in 90 overs Eklavaya 506/9 in 90 overs Marredpally CC 280 in 58 overs Vijayalakshmi Gadwal at the against Income Tax. against Azad CC. (Vignesh Agarwal 101 — 162b, 14x4, (Vinmukh Raj 185 — 176b, 28x4, 4x6, (Vivek Singh 71, Shafi Ali 51, V. Ajay 1x6, Ishan Sharma 38, Chandan Khush Agarwal 108 — 138b, 13x4, 3x6, Mudiraj 5/82) vs Classic CC 127/3 in GHMC Office in Hyderabad. Evergreen’s Vignesh Md Shakeer (6/30) of Sathvik 61, Preetam Ganga 32, Varun 28 overs (S Harshit 67 batting, Shafi Agarwal (101) and Postal, Mihir Dange (5/5) Sahani 106 — 93b, 9x4, 4x6, Rahul Buddhi 86) vs Combined Districts. Dhatrak 32 n.o, Venkata Harshith Ali 3/48) Chandan Sahani (106) took of Rushiraj, J. Deepak ■ 3/82) vs Azad CC 13/2 in 3.5 overs. ■ Oxford Blues 280 in 73.3 overs AOC 247 in 64.1 overs (Ravikanth ■ their side to 430/8 in 90 (141) and Sai Venkata Pandey 68, Sufiyan Alam 46, Ganga Visaka CC 222 in 80.1 overs (G. (Naman Agarwal 105 — 141b, overs against Combined Anurag (99) of Hyderabad Singh 33, Sachinanda Pandey 44, K. Rithish Reddy 97, Md Shakeer 6/30) 7x4, Yashaswi Yeles 40) vs Young Live on TV Ramesh 3/37) vs Continental 51/0 in 25 vs Postal CC 53/0 in 8 overs. Citizen 73/2 in 18.1 overs (Jai Mohan ■ Districts. Patriots, Sunshine’s Mir overs (S Vaishnav Reddy 30 batting). New Star 85 in 29 overs (Yash Raj 35). CRICKET Debansu Rayaguru and Syed Ali (5/25), Green ■ Sportive 241 in 85.5 overs (Mohit 46, Mihir Dange 5/5 — 9-6-5-5) lost ■ Hyderabad Wanderers 268 in 67.4 Soni 48, Rachnesh Dubey 46, P. to Rushiraj 88/0 in 15 overs (Sunil overs (Ghazi Abbas 35, Siddhanth India vs England: Third Test, Day 1 Vasistha Karthikeya dom- Turf ’s Syed Afzal (138), C. Survi 47 n.o, Saketh Reddy 30 n.o). from 2.30 pm on Star Sports 1, HD Govind Kaustub Rao 3/51, Shashi Reddy 103 — 161b, 17x4, Karthik H 31, inated the A-2 Divison Sainath (134) of Medak Shekar 3/57) vs Secunderabad Points: Rushiraj 5, New Star 0. Aarya Udupa 3/65, Aditya Malhotra two-day games with all- District, Sandeep Bishnoi ■ Tirumala 202 in 67.2 overs (M. South Africa T20 Challenge: Titans Nawabs. 5/60 — 15-0-60-5) vs Balaji Colts round shows. Osmania (124) of Kishoresons, K. ■ Mahmood 175 in 56.1 overs (Durga Srivaranya 40, B. Jayant Reddy 55, 49/0 in 15 overs (Adiya Malhotra 32). vs Warriors from 1.30 pm; Lions vs Mir Syed Ali 5/25 — Balaji 43, Abhilash Kulkarni 33, Krishnag Rao 42, ■ Telangana 353 in 82.2 overs (Sunil captain Debansu first took Shreyas Goud (5/51) of 16.2-5-25-5) Dolphins from 5.55 pm on Star Harshit C 3/23) vs Khalsa. vs Sunshine 107/3 in 29 56, Bala Ganesh Goud 98, Abhinav Sports Select 2, HD seven wickets while con- Pasha Beedi, Aditya ■ Jai Bhagwathi 191 in 65 overs (Syed overs. ■ Challa 34, K. Vinay Kumar 67, Ranjith ceding 28 runs and then Malhotra (5/60) of Balaji Firasuddin 34, Abrar Mohiuddin 30, Hyderabad Patriots 400/9 decl in Kumar 3/50) vs Kosaraju 9/0 in 3 FOOTBALL hit 91 to earn his side a Colts, Vijay Verma (5/65) Shaik Md Ghouse 55, Vk Siddharth 81.1 overs (A. Sai Venkata Anurag overs. 3/41, Prashanth Raj 4/46) vs Rohit XI 99, J. Deepak 141 — 157b, 15x4, 2x6, ■ Deccan Blues 376 in 89.1 overs Indian Super League: five-wicket win over — leg-spinner and son of 103/0 in 14 overs (Vinay Aliga 60 bat- A. Balraj 77, Mohd Simaal 5/83 — 18- Odisha vs (Ajay Yadav 93, Jairam Kashyap 82, ting). 0-83-5) vs Youngmaster 37/1 in 12 Mumbai City from 7.20 pm on Star Brothers XI. Test cricketer S. L. Sailesh G 46, Shiv Srikanth Naidu 40, ■ Balaaji CC 377/7 in 90 overs (Paras overs. Sports 2, 3 Vasistha got 4 for 75 and Venkatpathi Raju — of SN Avik Dixit 4/82, Ramesh Nayak 3/42) Raj 83, Siddharth Naidu 75, HK Simah ■ Green Turf 474/6 in 90 overs (Syed vs Hyderabad Titans 35/2 in 9 overs. then followed it with a Group, V. Ajay Mudiraj 62, S. Ganesh 41, Pabba Nilesh 46 n.o) Afzal 138 — 140b, 26x4, Md Europa League: Tottenham Hotspur ■ century (109) to fashion a (5/82) of Classic, off-spin- vs Sri Chakra. Sitwaitullah 89, Abdul Bhagi 80, Saleemnagar 277 in 65.2 overs vs Wolfsburg from 10.30 pm; (Adnan 51, Nakul 49, Jatin Yadav 73, 5-wicket win for ner Mohd Simaal (5/83) of A-2 DIVISION (TWO-DAY) LEAGUE Anmol Singh Sethi 65, Y. Chay 4/82) Atalanta vs Real Madrid from 1.30 vs Yadav Dairy. Tharun 4/49, Ram Prakash 3/36) vs am (Thursday) on Sony Ten 2; International vs RJCC. Youngmaster, Oxford ■ Brothers XI 169 in 49.5 overs (T. ■ 364/8 in 82 overs Aggarwal Seniors 137/2 in 31 overs Monchengladbach vs Manchester C. Durga Prasad of Vijay Blues’ Naman Agarwal Reddy Advaith 37, Avinash Ram 37 (Sandeep Raj 56, C. Sainath 134 — (Navneeth 99 batting). City from 1.30 am (Thursday) on Hanuman took 7 for 18 as (105), Siddhanth Reddy n.o, Debansu Rayaguru 7/28 — 8.5-1- 142b, 24x4, Sridhar 73, B. Rohit Akash ■ PJLCC 263 in 79 overs Sony Ten 1 his side was involved in a (103) of Hyderabad 28-7) lost to Osmania 173/5 in 24 4/56) vs Galaxy. (Raghavendra 83, Liyaqat Hussain 41, overs (Debansu Rayaguru 91, J. Ashrit ■ Sri Shyam 211 in 39.4 overs (Md Mirza Noman 3/28) vs Nizam College low-scoring thrilling tie Wanderers, Bala Ganesh 49). Points: Osmania 5, Brothers XI 0. Afzal Ali 84, Md Zakariya 3/69, K. 7/1 in 7 overs. WWE with New Blues as both Goud (98) of Team ■ RJCC 159 in 48.2 overs (Ashok Shreyas Goud 5/51 — 11.4-1-51-5) bt ■ Mahbubnagar District 276 in 77.1 NXT: Bouts from 6.30 am teams were all out for 99. Telangana and Visaka’s Kumba 36, Vasistha Karthikeya 4/75) Pasha Beedi 124 in 30.4 overs (Md overs (Srikanth Naik 64, (Thursday) on Sony Ten 1, HD lost to International CC 162/4 in 32.2 Faiz Ahmed 57, Shaik Ghouse Basha Harshavardhan 37, David 69, Badal Vinmukh Raj was the G. Rithish Reddy (97) were overs (Vasistha Karthikeya 109 n.o — 4/22). Points: Sri Shyam 5, Pasha Bhati 4/64) vs Vijay CC 24/1 in 8 other big performer. He the other performers. 89b, 17x4, 1x6, Vijay Reddy 32). Beedi 0. overs. GAMES pg 12 DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | WEDNESDAY | 24 FEBRUARY 2021

SHORT TAKES Bedi undergoes bypass surgery New Delhi: Legendary spinner Bishan Singh Bedi has under- gone a bypass surgery at a city hospital a few days back after he complained of heart prob- MOTERAW lems and he is recovering well. The 74-year-old Bedi under- went the procedure 2-3 days India, England look to exploit ‘unexplored’ strip in pink ball conundrum back and he is expected to be Ahmedabad, Feb. 23: A Iyer hits century discharged from the hospital virgin Motera strip has Rishabh Pant practices during a net soon, according to a close con- become the big talking session at Motera in Ahmedabad LEACH READY fidant of the former India cap- point as India captain on Tuesday. — BCCI tain. “As far as I know, he was Virat Kohli prepares the having some heart issues and right pink ball question- FOR NEW ROLE in Mumbai win he underwent a bypass surgery naire to trouble a spoilt- 2-3 days back on the advice of for-choice England in the Jaipur, Feb. 23: Mumbai took Mumbai on the cusp the doctors,” he said. day-night third Test start- IN THIRD TEST rode on skipper Shreyas of a win. “He is currently doing fine and ing here on Wednesday. Ahmedabad, Feb. 23: Iyer’s unbeaten 103 to beat CHANDIGARH CLIMB recovering from the surgery Ahmedabad as a cricket- England’s lead spinner Maharashtra by six wick- TO TOP OF TABLE and is expected to be dis- ing venue has been wit- Jack Leach says he is ets in their Elite Group D charged from the hospital ness to a lot of cricketing ready for a new role as the game of the Vijay Hazare Chandigarh continued soon,” he added. feats in Indian cricket — day/night pink ball Test Trophy here on Tuesday. their giant-killing run in Bedi, a premier left-arm ortho- from Sunil Gavaskar’s against India looks set to This was Mumbai’s sec- their Elite debut, stunning dox spinner in his playing days, famous late cut to com- bring the seamers back ond successive win after hosts Bengal by five wick- represented India in 67 Tests plete 10,000 runs in Tests into the forefront after the they had beaten Delhi in ets in a Group E clash at and 10 ODIs between 1967 and to Kapil Dev’s best bowl- tweakers’ domination in the lung-opener. the Eden Gardens. 1979, scalping 266 and seven ing figures of 9 for 83 and the first two matches. Opting to bat first, Fresh from their win over wickets respectively. — PTI also him eclipsing Richard Leach is aware that with Maharashtra posted 279/9, neighbours Haryana, Hadlee’s then world record the pink ball, which tends with centuries from Yash Chandigarh who were of highest wickets. to move around a lot more Nahar (119) and Azim Kazi playing their second Deepak in last 8 On Wednesday, Ishant than the traditional red (104) despite experienced domestic season chased Sharma joining Kapil as cherry, his role could Mumbai pacer Dhawal down Bengal’s 253/9 with of Strandja meet the second Indian pacer to change over the next few Kulkarni (5/44) running seven balls to spare to play 100 Tests would add to days. “We want to be through their top-order. climb up to the top of the New Delhi: Asian silver-medal- the momentous occasion adaptable, we feel like But it was Iyer, who group table, ahead of list Deepak Kumar (52kg) and Kohli scoring a hun- we’ve got all bases cov- anchored the Mumbai Saurashra on net-run rate. advanced to the quarterfinals dred is just what the 55,000 ered in our squad so I chase and saw them home BIHAR PLAYER TESTS with a facile win as Indian box- odd spectators, who would think it’s going to be a fas- in 47.2 overs. POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 ers got off to a mixed start at be allowed in, might crave cinating Test match if the Chasing 280, Mumbai the 72nd Strandja Memorial for. ball is moving around, openers Yashasvi Jaiswal The event has seen its first Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria. The refurbished Sardar and if so, it might be a (40) and Prithvi Shaw (34) case of Covid-19 with a Deepak, also a 2019 India Patel Stadium looks colos- slightly different role for conjured 67 for the first Bihar player returning Open gold-medallist, defeated sal under lights but the me,” Leach said. wicket. positive for the virus, fol- Kazakhstan’s Olzhas Bainiyazov first Test match in many “I’ve definitely thought Iyer, who walked in at lowing which all the other 5-0 in his opening bout to years would mean that about that — it’ll be a dif- three, was in his elements cricketers are being tested. make the last-eight stage. even the home team ferent challenge and I’ll and hammered nine “It is confirmed and the Other winners on Monday wouldn’t expect a lot of be ready.” boundaries and one six, in concerned player has been included Naveen Kumar (91kg) advantage. Both sides are wary of his uneaten knock and isolated from other play- among men and Jyoti (51kg) in It would prefer a square how the pink ball would after Jaiswal perished, he ers. He is currently in the women’s draw. turner to go 2-1 up in a behave under lights on a found able partners in Bangalore as he cannot While Naveen defeated high-stakes game but newly laid strip. Batting Suryakumar Yadav (29), travel,” a senior official of American Darius Fulghum in a whether it actually gets in the twilight phase has Shivam Dube (47) as they the state’s cricket body close fight that ended 3-2 in his one remains to be seen. been one of the talking played their roles to perfec- said. favour, Jyoti got the better of As senior opener Rohit points going into the tion. Dube took the game A Bihar Cricket Associa- Ukraine’s Tetiana Kob 4-1. Sharma was clear in game. away from Maharashtra, tion official believed that India has sent a 12-member team’s choice of surface — On England’s prepara- with his hitting, smashing the game would go on as team for the prestigious event a turner that helps tions, Leach said, “We five fours and a six, and scheduled. — PTI — seven men and five women. Ravichandran Ashwin had a good session under and Axar Patel just like lights that started in that Joe Root would have opted twilight period and while BRIEF SCORES Shooters look to for a green top at the I don’t have much experi- ■ Maharashtra 279/9 in 50 overs (Yash Nahar 119, Azim Kazi 104; Dhawal Kulkarni Headingley or the Old ence of playing in these 5/44) lost to Mumbai 280/4 in 47.2 overs (Shreyas Iyer 103 not out, Shivam Dube shine in Cairo WC Trafford. day-night games, I’ve 47; Satyajeet Bachhav 3/59) by six wickets. There are a few more heard that during twi- ■ Delhi 354/4 in 50 overs (Nitish Rana 137, Dhruv Shorey 132; Sagar Trivedi 2/66) Cairo: A 13-member Indian questions that would light can be a tough time beat Pondicherry 175 in 39.3 overs (S. Suresh Kumar 42; Kulwant Khejroliya 4/32, squad will seek medals in the demand answers. to bat.” — PTI Pradeep Sangwan 2/27) by 179 runs. ■ Rajasthan 199 in 47.5 overs (Mahipal Lomror 67, Arjit Gupta 45; Rishi Dhawan Shotgun World Cup starting How would the twilight 6/27) lost to Himachal Pradesh 201/6 in 33.3 overs (Rishi Dhawan 73 not out; A here on Wednesday as the period be for the batsmen Singh 2/46, Ravi Bishnoi 2/60) by four wickets. International Shooting Sport as James Anderson feels ■ Bengal 253/9 in 50 overs (Shabaz Ahmed 59) lost to Chandigarh 257/5 in 48.5 that the ball swings more overs (Arslan Khan 88, Shivam Bhambri 71 not out, Manan Vohra 45). Federation’s marquee events ■ return after a break of almost a in that phase? Services 274/7 in 50 overs (Ravi Chauhan 118, Pulkit Narang 48 not out, Diwesh Spinners, pacers both in game: Virat Pathania 42 not out) lost to Jammu & Kashmir 276/7 in 48 overs (Shubham year due to pandemic. Will the extra lacquer on Khajuria 84, Abdul Samad 63) by three wickets. The eight-day competition is the ‘SG Test Pink’ make it Ahmedabad, Feb. 23: A on the nature of the vir- the first time in 2019 ered with that. It’s just ■ Haryana 264 in 50 overs (Chaitanya Bishnoi 84; Chetan Sakariya 3/63) lost to the year’s first Shotgun World difficult for the Ashwin- rank turner is being gin track at the refur- (against Bangladesh),” about playing well as a Saurashtra 265/9 in 49.1 overs (Snell Patel 79, Arpit Vasavada 46) by one wicket. Cup stage, beginning with Axar combo which anticipated at Motera but bished stadium. Kohli said. team,” he said, adding, ■ Manipur 148/9 in 50 overs (Jayanta Sagatpam 32, Mayank Mishra 2/18) lost to Uttarakhand 152/3 in 23.1 overs (Jay Bista 71, Kamal Singh 41) by seven wickets. men’s and women’s skeet com- wreaked havoc on the India captain Virat Kohli Asked if the ball is Kohli also rejected the “And yeah, there are ■ Manipur 148/9 in 50 overs (Jayanta Sagatpam 32, Mayank Mishra 2/18) lost to petitions on the opening day. Chepauk snake pit? expects pacers to have as unlikely to swing much in assessment that England many, many weaknesses Uttarakhand 152/3 in 23.1 overs (Jay Bista 71, Kamal Singh 41) by seven wickets. There will be 10 events in the And with a 2:30 pm start, big a role as spinners in the third Test, Kohli said would have an edge if the in the opposition side as ■ Meghalaya 319/7 in 50 overs (Punit Bist 116, R. Sanjay Yadav 73 not out) beat competition. As many as 191 how much will the dew the day-night third Test he expects the pacers to pitch favours pacers. well, if you are keen to Sikkim 231/9 in 50 overs (Ashish Thapa 79, Robin Bist 59, Dippu Sangma 2/33). athletes from 33 countries have have a bearing during the against England, a side be in the game till the ball “...Not really bothered exploit them. If it’s a entered the fray and for the final session? The ball riddled with “many weak- is “nice and shiny”. about what the strengths seamer friendly track for first time, the men’s and would be difficult to grip nesses” according to him. “I don’t think that is an and weaknesses of the them it’s for us as well. Regd. No. HQ/SD/509/2021-23 women’s team competitions will at that point for slow Both teams have won a accurate assessment (that English team are. We And we probably have the bowlers and the pitch, bowl will not swing). The have beaten them in their best bowling attack in the Printed and Published by K. Sudhakar on behalf of Deccan Chronicle be held based on the new team game each in the four- Holdings Limited. Printed at Deccan Chronicle Press situated at Plot No. 9 event formats declared last despite grass being shaved match series and ahead of pink ball does tend to home as well, where the world so we’re not really Alwal Village, Vallabh Nagar Taluk, Medchal Malkajgiri Dist. Telangana and year by the ISSF. The Cairo off, might ease out with third Test here starting swing a lot more than the ball does way more and bothered by what the ball Published at 36, S.D. Road, Secunderabad-3. event will be the final chance to ball skidding off the sur- Wednesday, the talk has red ball. We experienced hold them out every time might bring differently to RNI Registration No. 3081/1957. Editor: Kaushik Mitter qualify for the Olympics. — PTI face. — PTI been incessantly focussed that when we played for so we’re not really both- the table.” — PTI