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JOURNALISM OF COURAGE WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2020, AHMEDABAD, LATE CITY, 14 PAGES SINCE 1932 `4.00, WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM PM at AMU event: In DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL POLLS Chorus from ground: ’s progress, none J&K votessplit:Valleygoesto Dhakka from Delhi can be left behind won’t work, protest because of religion GupkarAlliance,JammutoBJP now has life of its own BJP wins at least6DDCs in Jammu, none in Kashmir;PAGDwins 9councils,all in Valley ‘Ideological differences natural, but VANDITAMISHRA FROM THE THECOUNT CHANDIGARH/LUDHIANA/ can’t come in wayofnational goals’ BASHAARATMASOOD AMRITSAR,DECEMBER22 PUNJAB SRINAGAR,DECEMBER22 TOTALDDC SEATS: 20 (10inJammu, 10 in Kashmir) THEREmusthavebeen amo- FIELDS ASADREHMAN THE PEOPLE’s Alliance for PARTYJAMMU KASHMIR ment, apoint in the ongoing ag- LUCKNOW,DECEMBER22 Gupkar Declaration has wonor itation ledbyPunjab farmers, is leading in 100-plus seatsofthe BJP 6#when aline wascrossed. UNDERLININGTHAT“alot of total 280 in the District PAGD *9 When men and women be- time waswastedlastcenturyin Development Councils (DDCs) in *In 4DDCs in Jammu Division, NC is gantalking less about the three the name of differences”, Prime the first-everelections held in thesingle largestparty in 3, and Central farm laws that sparked MinisterNarendraModi told a the Union TerritoryofJammu Congress in 1 small dharnas at petrol pumps gathering of AligarhMuslim and Kashmir afterthe abroga- #In1DDC in Kashmir Division, and toll plazas across the state ANEXPRESSSERIESPARTONE University Tuesdaythat “the Prime MinisterModi during tion of the erstwhile state’s spe- Apni Party is thesingle largestparty and moreabout those who countryisprogressing on apath the AMU event. ANI cial status in August2019. withleads/ wins in 3seats startedtravelling to Delhi’s of the un-seeing Centreiscom- wherenone can be leftbehind Even as votes arestill being doorsteptohuddle together in poundedbythe spateofname- because of religion, whereall get counted,itisclear Manzoor Ahmad, a the cold. calling. equal opportunity to move ideological compulsions,” he said. thatthe Bharatiya candidateofthe People’s That moment, when the The protests are“misguided”, ahead, and fulfil their dreams”. “Wemustunderstand that JanataParty is Alliance forGupkar protests became acharacter in it wassaid, drivenbya“lobby” of Describing the AMU campus, politics is an integral partofsoci- emerging as the Declaration, celebrates his their ownright, wasmissedby LeftistModi-baiters, professional itshistory of education as a ety, but thereare issues other single largest win from aDDC the BJP-ledgovernment at the malcontents. Or hijackedbythe “priceless heritage” of the coun- than politics in society.Acoun- DECISION party with wins constituency in Srinagar on Centre. That's whereitwill need “Khalistanis”, who arealways tryand praising itsalumni across try’s society is muchlarger, far 2020 and leads in 75 Tuesday. Shuaib Masoodi to go backto, to find aresolution. seen —and imagined—inthe the worldas“representativesof morepervasive than the think- J&K DDC seats. It is What is more, as The Indian CONTINUEDONPAGE2 DISTRICT, India’s culture”, the Prime ing of politics and power. Even LOCAL POLLS sweeping the Express found in aweek-long Minister, addressing the cente- beyond politics, thereisenough Hindu-domi- journeythrough villages and narycelebrations of the univer- space to take the society for- nated districts—Jammu, First time since August 5downgrade, cities across Punjab’s three re- TOMORROW: FROMJIO sity via avideo link,said: “There ward.Itisveryimportant to keep Udhampur,Kathua and Samba gions of Malwa, Doaba and AND BSNLTOMSP: areideological differences in a exploring this space. Acampus —inthe Jammu Division, lead- crucial political space opens in J&K Majha, talking to scores of farm- WHATTHE FARMER society,itisnatural. But when it likeAMU can do this work,all of ing in 49 out 56 DDC seats. ers’ and their families, the image FEARS AND WHY comestoattainment of national youcan.” The poll resultsmean that notdent the process, the Union Territory, and par- goals, then these differences He said the development of the BJP has secured control of at PVAIDYANATHANIYER resultsunderlined ticularly in the Valley, should be kept aside.” acountryorsociety should not leastsix District Development NEWDELHI,DECEMBER23 Tuesday. As expected, whichassumes signifi- “When youyoung friends de- be viewedthrough the prism of Councils (DDCs) in Jammu and BJP bagged six of the 10 cance. It has kickstarted Panel to tweak in laws,

EXPLAINED E● cide to move ahead with this politics. “When we come to- none in Kashmir.The People’s THE HECTIC POLITICKINGahead DDCs in Jammu Division politics, dormant and thinking, then there’s no goal that gether foralargerobjective,itis Alliance has amajority in nine of elections to the District but it wasthe Gupkar lockeddownsince we cannotachieve together.Beit possible that some elementsget DDCs, all in the Valley. As there Development Councils (DDCs) – Alliance's win in nine out of 10 August5lastyear when the state Govt open to ideas but education, economic progress, troubled. Suchelementscan be CONTINUEDONPAGE2 the ‘Gupkar Gang’ jibeofAmit DDCs in the Kashmir Division wassplit and downgradedand better living, opportunities, found in everysociety of the Shah, selective leak of nowan- that's the keytakeaway. itsspecial status abrogated.The wants farmers to talk women’s rights, security,nation- world. These arepeople with nulledRoshni Actbeneficiaries Morethan this outcome, it’s Alliance members' decision to alism, these areeverycitizen’s re- vested interests.Tosuit their MORE REPORTS and arrest of PDP’s youth wing the space that this democratic contesthas been vindicated by quirements. These aresome is- owninterest, theywill PAGE 7 President WaheedPara—did exercise has openedupinthe CONTINUEDONPAGE2 LIZMATHEW& sues on whichwecannot employevery ploy, and spread HARIKISHANSHARMA disagree because of our political, CONTINUEDONPAGE2 NEWDELHI,DECEMBER22

WHILE STICKINGtoits stand of THE WORLD Pride of lions THE EDITORIAL PAGE notrepealing the newfarm laws, Centre issues SOPs, says new the Centreisopen to anysugges- Tomar with farmers who tions that will help break the supportnew laws. Anil Sharma kills 10 cows TRADERINTEREST, deadlock with the protesting coronavirus strain not in India FARMERVOICE farmers, including tweaking the at gaushala in BY laws or even setting up acom- whether the implementation of PAGE 8 mittee as suggestedbythe the laws can be put on hold Rajkot village Supreme Court. pending talks. KAUNAINSHERIFFM With protesters campedat Conscious of the sentiments NEWDELHI,DECEMBER22 INSIDE Delhi's borders fornearly a evoked by the protests in Punjab, EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE month, official sources said, the CONTINUEDONPAGE2 NEPAL RULING ADAY afteritannouncedthe RAJKOT,DECEMBER22 Government has an open mind PARTY HEADS FOR suspension of flightsfromand to PM ATSCIENCECONG: on ideas if the farm groups show SPLIT, OLI EXPELLED the United Kingdom until APRIDE of 10 lions entered a ATTRACT,RETAIN signs of areconciliatoryap- FARMERS GHERAO AS PARTY CHAIRMAN December 31,the Centreon gaushala and preyed on 10 cows YOUTHINSCIENCE proach. The Government is also KHATTAR’S CONVOY, Tuesdayassured that thereisno in Arab Timbadi villageofJetpur PAGE 7 formulating aresponse on the PAGE 12 SHOW BLACK FLAGS reason forpanic, noting that the taluka of Rajkot district early on Supreme Court's suggestion PAGE 10 newstrain of the novelcoron- Tuesday. Ateam of forest depart- avirus has notbeen seen in India. ment that wastracking the pride, Delhi govt may The Union MinistryofHealth however, reachedthe spotand and FamilyWelfarealso released saved25other cattle heads in scrap nursery detailedstandardoperating pro- the gaushala. cedures (SOPs) forstatesregard- Passengers from the UK leave Ahmedabad airportafter This is the thirdinstance of li- ing travellers from the UK who completing Covid-19testonTuesday. Express ons being spotted in Rajkot dis- admissions arrivedinIndia over the past trict in amonth. Sevenlions month, whichincludes carrying were found camping in for 2021-22 outgenome sequencing in case Thanagalol villageofJetpur of positive samples. Four UK passengers test taluka, 10 km north of Arab MALLICAJOSHI “The Indian government is Timbadi lastmonth, and three li- NEWDELHI,DECEMBER22 watching closely. We arefortu- positive at SVPI airport ons killed14cattle earlier this natethat our countryhas robust month in Jasdan taluka. THE DELHI government is consid- laboratories. From the startof suspendedbythecentralgovern- Arab Timbadi is some 10 ering scrapping nurseryadmis- the pandemic itself, we areiso- EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE ment from Wednesdaytill km from the border of the Gir sions forthe 2021-22 academic lating the virus; we have system- AHMEDABAD,DECEMBER22 December31,afteranew strainof Wild LifeSanctuary(GWLS). session. Sources said senior gov- aticallystudiedthe genomic be- coronavirus wasdetected there. Spread across Junagadh, ernment officials have discussed haviour of morethan 1,000virus FOUR PASSENGERS who arrived An Ahmedabad Municipal Bhesan and Visavadar talukas the option, whichwill nowbe samples. We have closelyexam- from London at the Sardar Corporation (AMC) health offi- of Junagadh district, GWLS is proposedtoprivate schools. inedthe mutations. So far, we Vallabhbhai PatelInternational cial confirmedthat all four have home to afew dozen Asiatic li- According to the proposal, have notfound anysignal (of the (SVPI) AirportinAhmedabad on been admitted to SVPHospital ons. However, over the past schools will admit twobatches in presence of the UK variant),” said Tuesdaytestedpositive for run by the civic body.The official fewyears, lions have been dis- 2022-23 instead –one in nursery, Dr VKPaul, Member,NITI Aayog. Covid-19and have been admit- addedthat genomic sequencing persing out of the protected and the other in kindergarten. “Also, until now, according to tedtohospital. will be done of the sample of the forest areas to denselypopu- Meanwhile, Delhi Education scientists,the mostimportant The passengers were on Air four patientstosee “if it is the lated revenue areas. MinisterManish Sisodia told The thing is that despitethis muta- IndiaflightAI1172 thatferried275 usual strain or the newmutant CONTINUEDONPAGE2 Indian Express that therewas tion, thereisnonegative impact passengers from the United strain detected in the UK”. very little possibility of schools on all the vaccines that arebeing Kingdom and landedat The newstrain, whichis LIONS KILL GIRL IN reopening before July. “Even if developedinIndia,” he said. Ahmedabadat10.30am.Allflight seemingly morecontagious, is JUNAGADH PAGE 3 CONTINUEDONPAGE2 CONTINUEDONPAGE2 operations from UK have been CONTINUEDONPAGE2 Sister Abhaya case: 28 yearsafter 19-yr-old was murdered, court finds priest, nun guilty

PAGE1 in Kottayam on March 27,1992. year,citing lackofevidence. ANCHOR Twenty-eight years and nine “I had been waiting forthis BUSINESSASUSUAL months later,aCBI special court day. Truth has the final victory. I in Thiruvananthapuram found a have been praying forthe soul of BY UNNY priestand anun guilty of the my sistertoget justice,’’ said SHAJUPHILIP murder.The quantum of punish- Abhaya’s brother Biju Thomas, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, ment forFather Thomas Kottoor, who is employedinthe Middle DECEMBER22 63, and SisterSephy, 57,the first East.Abhaya's parents, Thomas and thirdaccused, will be pro- Aikkarakunnel and Leelamma, AWATER bottle that had fallen nouncedWednesday. diedin2016. down near the fridgeinside the Hours afterthe order was According to the CBI, Abhaya, kitchen with waterdripping out, passed, the twoaccused, apre-degree collegestudent, aveil found under the door Body wasfound in awell in chargedunder IPC sections 302 waskilledafter she found the lockedfromoutside, an axe, a convent on March 27,1992 (murder) and 201(destruction twopriests and Sephyinacom- basket,two slippers found at dif- of evidence) and on bail since promising position inside the ferent places in the room -- and 2009, were sent backtojail. kitchen of the Pius XConvent crucial testimonyfromathief. of 19-year-old SisterAbhaya -- a The CBI had namedanother hostel. All of this addeduptothe crime that has been apartof priest, Father Jose Puthrikkayl,as Fearing that she would ex- case presented by the CBI that Kerala's news cycle ever since the second accusedbut the court pose them, the agency told the ledTuesdaytothe conviction of the Catholic nun's body was allowedhis discharge petition court, Kottoor strangulated her the twoaccusedinthe murder found inside awell at aconvent before the trial, whichbegan last CONTINUEDONPAGE2 Ahmedabad WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM 2 THE SECOND PAGE THEINDIANEXPRESS,WEDNESDAY,DECEMBER23,2020

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PM at AMU Delhi dhakka reportedonTuesday, similar to Arab Timbadi residentssaid the cases in the firstweek of that lions have been roaming in negativity.But if building India is nooksandshadows of astate that November.Another 1,200pa- theirvillageforthepastfiveyears. uppermostinour hearts and fought and defeated extremism Jammu goes to BJP, Valley to Gupkar tientsweredischarged. “Theycome here, campfor afew mind, then the space forsuch in the 1990s and livedtotell the days,preyonafew cattle before peoplewillshrinkonitsown,”he tales.Butto manyhere,especially is no clear-cut majority in the status,”Muftitweeted.“Ourwin were leading in about 50 seats, People’sAlliancegivingitleadin Pride of lions moving away.Thishasbeenhap- said, adding that “politics can Jat Sikh farmers, at the centreof five councils, the independent isdedicatedto PAGDcadrewho whichpolitical sources attrib- at least85DDC seats. Of these, “The pride of 10 lions man- pening forfiveyears,” Manish wait,notsociety,not thedevelop- theeconomy, politicsandculture candidates arelikelytoplaythe worked tirelesslytoensureour uted to good booth-levelman- the National Conference has aged to enter the gaushala at Vaghasiya, sarpanchofArab ment of the country, notthe of thestatewhichhashistorically role of king makers. success. GOI leftnostone un- agement by the BJP.The wonorisleadingin42seats,and around 3amTuesdayand went Timbadi, said. poor”. nurtured an anti-Centrestreak, BoththeBJPandthePeople’s turnedtocreatehurdles forus. Congress party has once again PDP in 27 seats. Sajad Lone’s on the rampage, killing 10 cows. Beingterritorialanimals,lions “Ahundredyearsago,in1920, the Centreisagain talking down Alliancehave termedthepollre- Beginning with @parawahid's failedtomakeamarkintheDDC People’s Conference is ahead in However, ateamof forest depart- aremoving out of Gir and other the youth of the countrygot a to Punjab. And forcing itsway. sultsastheir success. While the arrest aday afterhefiledhisDDC polls. It is ahead onlyinnine eight seatsand CPI (M) in five. ment reachedthe spotsoon and protected areas spread across chanceto dedicatethemselvesto “Nobody is aleader in these BJP has termedthe outcome nominations, restricting our seatsinthe Valleyand 17 seats Overall, the National saved25other cows,” Nishant Junagadh, Gir Somnath, Amreli the country, struggle and make protests,everyone has minus-ed and the voter turnout acontra- movement ¬ allowing us to in Jammu. The final tallyisex- Conferenceisleadingin68seats Kugasiya,talukadevelopmentof- and Bhavnagar districts, accord- sacrifices. That generation’s sac- themselvesand the farmer has diction to the “idea of Gupkar campaign,”she said in her pected aftermidnight. –42inKashmir and 26 in ficer (TDO) of Jetpur,told The ing to forest officials. Apride of rifices gave India independence takencentrestage”, says Balkar Alliance”, the People’s Alliance tweet. In apolarisedJammu and Jammu. It has emergedasthe Indian Express. three lions has been camping in 1947.Today’s generation has Singh,whoretiredasprofessorin hassaid thatthepeoplehave re- , Vice Kashmir,Farooq Abdullah-led onlypartyto have achievedcon- Forest officers said that they near Rajkot city forthe pasttwo manyopportunities to reachthe Punjabi University,Patiala. “Look jectedthe“unconstitutionalde- President, of J&K National National Conference has siderablepollsuccessinboththe were awareofthepresenceof the weeks. goal Atmanirbhar Bharat, New at them, sitting thereinthe cold. cision to abrogateArticle 370”. Conference,whichisleading68 emergedasthe onlypolitical regionsof theUnionTerritory. In lions in the vicinity of Arab “The lions near Rajkot have India.Thatwas1920,thisis2020. Thepersonwhoisleavingbehind “The overwhelming partic- seats,said,“Thetrendsthathave party to secureconsiderable fact, it has givenatougher fight Timbadi, the border villageof preyed on 14 cattle heads while Thenext27 yearsareveryimpor- his children and the comfortof ipation of the people is aclear emergedintheDDCpollsinJ&K supportinboththeKashmirand to the BJP than the Congress in Jetpur.“We hadlocatedthispride the prides in Jetpur have preyed tant foryou. In 2047,when India home is notdoing it at anyone’s sign that theybelieve in demo- areveryencouraging forthe Jammu divisions of the Union Jammu’s Hindu heartland. inPipalva,aroundfourkilometres on eight cattle heads besides to- completes100yearsof independ- bidding”, says Baljit Singh in craticprocedureratherthanbul- @JKPAGD. The BJP had made Territory. The resultsare,how- Theindependentcandidates from Arab Timbadi, earlier in the day’s incident,” Prasad said, ence,youwillwitnessthehistoric Malwa’s KotraLehal village. letand grenade,” BJP’s election- this election aprestigeissue ever,abigsetbacktotheCentre- have shone in the polls leading night.Then,we followedthecalls adding the forest department is moment,andyouwillalsobepart “Thegovernmenthasapoint”, in-charge forthe Valley, Syed aboutArt370 &J&K’sspecialsta- backedJammu and Kashmir in around 50 seats–32in of dogs to Arab Timbadi. But by compensating the owners of the of the making of modern India. says Amritpal Singh, afarmer ShahnawazHussain said. “The tus. The people have nowspo- Apni Partyled by Altaf Bukhari. Kashmir and 17 in Jammu. the time we reachedthere, the li- livestock. Youmustthink of the country’s who also runs ashop in village peaceful, free and fair election ken&it’s forthose who believe Thepartyhasonlywon10 seats. Surprisingly,alarge number ons had already preyed on 10 welfare,” Modi said. Dhesian, district Hoshiarpur,in withrecordvotingturnoutcon- in democracy to payheedto The official figures reveal were in the fray in the Kashmir cows.Given the large number of Delhi schools “Today, the entireworld is Majha region, from wherethe tradictsthe idea of the Gupkar these voices.” that the People’s Alliance, Valley, whichsources in PAGD cattle, we had to intervene and we startvaccinating people by lookingatIndia…Thereiscurios- largest numbers migrateabroad Alliance,” he said. The BJP is turning up as a formedbymainstreampolitical said, served to divide the vote save theothercows.Then,thecar- February, we will be able to vac- ity about this being India’s cen- andwhichislessroiledbytheag- Former Chief Ministerand dominant forceinMuslim- parties to seek restoration of shareofthe alliance partners. nivoresleftfromtheopengatesof cinateasizeable chunk onlyby tury. We musthaveasinglegoalto itationthanMalwa.“Buthowcan Vice President of the People’s dominated Chenab and Pir Jammu and Kashmir’s special By Tuesdayevening, the thegaushala,”aforestofficersaid. July. Thereisnopossibility of re- makethecountryAtmanirbhar.It it notlistentothose who aresit- AllianceMehboobaMufticalled Panjal regions of Jammu status, has wonorisleading in Election Commission declared The officer said that the opening schools before that. We should notmatter whichfamily ting out in the open?” it a“hardearnedvictory”. Divisionaswell. Significantly, it 112seats. Of these, National the final resultsfor the 241out gaushala, run by Purushottam also have to look at howexami- onewasbornin,inwhichreligion To getasense of this agitation “Today’sDDCresultshavemade also openedits account in the Conference candidates have of the280seats.Of thesetheBJP Lalji Gauseva SamajTrust, had a nations will be conducted with- one wasraised…,” he said. that is assuming alifeofits own it clear that people of J&K voted Valleysecuring three wins, one wonorare ahead of their rivals secured 68 seats, National six-foothigh compound wall. outputtingteachersandstudents “AMU has givenseveral free- with everyday that passes with- en masse for@JKPAGDthus re- eachinSouth (Kakaporain in 68 seats. Candidates belong- Conference55,PDP26,Congress “Butthewallhastwoopeningsfor at risk,” he said. dom fighters and I’d liketosay out aresolution, youcould begin jectingtheunconstitutionalde- Pulwama), North(Tulail in ing to Mehbooba Mufti-led 21 and Apni Party10. The inde- gateswheregates arenot in- Explaining the proposal to that theycame from different with twomen and awoman. cision to abrogateArticle 370. Gurez, Bandipore) and Central People’s Democratic Partycan- pendent candidates were de- stalled.Thelionsenteredthrough scrap nurseryadmissions forthe backgrounds, but worked to- MeetSardaraSingh Johl in Theyhaveoverwhelmingly sup- Kashmir (Khonmoh in didates areahead in 28 seats. clared winners in 43 DDC seats. those openings and exited upcoming session, asenior offi- gether forthe independence of Ludhiana,BibiJagirKaurinvillage ported@JKPAGDwhichstands Srinagar). TheKashmirDivision,how- (WITH INPUTS FROM ARUN through the same aftermaking cial said: “Schools can admit stu- the country. What wasdone for Begowal, and NarendraModi in- forrestoration of J&K’s special Independent candidates ever,hasstoodfirmlybehindthe SHARMAINJAMMU) the kills,” said the officer. dentsinbothnurseryandkinder- the freedom of this country, you the-Punjab-fray. Officers of Rajkot social garten forthe 2022-23 academic have to dothesameforthecoun- There's no point arguing the forestry division said that lion session,astherewillbevacancies try. We have to work foracom- meritsofthe farm laws now, says Govt open to ideas but wants farmers to talk movement is being recordedin in both grades. Considering the mon ground. NewIndia mustbe 92-year-old Johl, the grand old Jetpur taluka’s Arab Timbadi, unpredictablenatureoftheCovid self-reliant, and the benefitswill man of agricultureeconomics in senior Union Ministers, includ- itisalsoconsciousthat“boththe OnTuesday, duringaninter- makejokes, then therewill be Thanagalol and half-a-dozen virus, the youngestchildren will reacheveryoneequally. Theyouth the state. “I have supportedthe ing AgricultureMinister optics and the unrelenting action with members of the protests,and then acceptance. other villages on the border of be the lasttogotoschool...” can do it.” Bills, Ican answer all the ques- NarendraSinghTomar,Defence protests”would dent itsimage, Foreign Correspondents’ Club, We aregoing through this Bhesantalukaof Junagadhdistrict In December 2019,AMU was tions, but if Idoitnow,itwill be MinisterRajnath Singh and theysaid. Tomar said: “The Government process.”Tomar’sremarkscame near the Girnar Wildlife Abhaya case one of the centres of protest Dr Johl versus Rest of Punjab”. Home MinisterAmit Shah, and “Even if it is farmers from isreadyto discusseverysugges- twodays afterhis Ministryin- Sanctuary(GWLS)for the past while Sephyallegedly beat her againstthe Citizenship Over astoried60-year career, topofficials arealso engaged in justone state, images of them tion. We areready to discuss vited farm leaders forafresh one month. with the axe. Together,they (Amendment)Act,andclasheson thePadmaBhushanawardeehas backroom channel talkswith sitting in protestdonot look with an open mind and find a round of talksand urgedthem “A pride of sevenlions had dumpedherbodyinthewell,the the campus had leftover70peo- had one of the longestand most socio-political groups and Sikh good forany government. But solution to anyprovision of law to “choose adateaccording to campedinThanagalol village CBI told the courtwhile building ple injured.Police arrested 26 influentialengagementswiththe community leaders to find a we feel that the Government thatgoesagainstthefarmer...By their convenience”. The previ- around Diwali for20days.One of itscase on circumstantial evi- people, including AMU students. issue of agriculturereform in “middle path” and “bring the has held enough discussions discussing again and again, we ous five rounds of official talks thelionsof thepridewassatellite- dence. The “Abhaya case” was Followingtheincident,university Punjab —asvice chancellor of protesting farmers to the table and deliberations over these reachasolution...I think we will remainedinconclusive. taggedby ateamof Sasanwildlife among the longestand most authorities announcedanex- Punjab Agricultural University, fordiscussions again”. laws.Infact, discussions on find away soon and will move Lastweek,the Supreme division afteward.But that pride high-profilereal-lifemurdermys- tendedwinter break. member of the Prime Minister’s On Tuesday, Tomar urged these have been on since 2001 towardsasolution.” Courthad asked the Attorney has since returnedtothe Girnar teries in Kerala, with multiple In his address, the Prime Economic AdvisoryCouncil. the farmers to decide on adate (when the NDAgovernment The AgricultureMinister if the Centrecould pro- WildlifeSanctuary. Forthe past twists and turns. The accused Ministeralso spokeonthe Hisreportoncropdiversifica- fortalkstwo days afterhis under AB Vajpayeewas in said the focus of the laws is to vide acommitment that the fewdays,weare recordingmove- were arrested by the CBI in dropoutratioamongMuslimgirls tion in 1986 made “diversifica- Ministryinvitedfarmunionsfor power),” said sources. benefit farmers by “freeing farm laws will notbeimple- ment of this newpride of 10 li- November 2008, morethan 16 whichhesaid had declinedfrom tion” apartofpolicy lexicon. “I morediscussion. “But anycon- “Asof now, we have noalter- them from the shackles” of the mented while it hears aclutch ons,”RaviPrasad,incharge deputy years afterthe nun's death. And 70 per cent to 30 per cent. “I met waslooking ahead 50 years… cession from the Government nateplans to end this. No solu- (APMC)mandis.“Thesereforms of petitionsseekingtheremoval conservator of forests(DCF) of during the trial, eight of the 49 anAMUalumnusrecentlywhois governmentdidnoteventurnthe cancomeonlyifthediscussions tion to this can be found unless have been made in the interest of farmers from protestsites. Rajkot socialforestrydivision,told prosecution witnesses, mostof alsoanIslamicscholar.Hetoldme page(of the report)”, he says. arecontinued,” sources said. the discussions continue. The of farmers and will bring anew The Courtalso said it was The Indian Express. them close to the Church,turned somethingveryinterestingwhich Johl speakswith regret about According to sources, the situation maychange, there erainIndianagriculture,”hesaid. considering the setting up of an Jetpur rangeispartofRajkot hostile. Iwould liketosharewith you. opportunities lost, being ap- Government is ready forthe maybesome middle path, but StatingthattheGovernment “impartial and independent” socialforestrydivision.Aforestof- Among the keywitnesses, Under the Swachh Bharat mis- pointed to boards whichdid not “long haul” and is “confident thereshould be discussions. iscommittedto reforms,Tomar panel of agricultureexperts ficerof Jetpurtoldthispaper,“This whose testimonyisbelievedto sion, when morethan 10 crore meet, leading discussions that that the reform initiativesithas Without talks, it can go on fora said: “When the process of re- and farmers’ unions to resolve pride wasspottedin Jetpur range have been crucial, wasAdakka toiletswere built,everyonebene- reachednowhere. takenwill benefit farmers”. But long time,” sources said. form begins, firstpeople will the impasse. forthe firsttime... It came from Raju, who said that he sawtwo fited. Toilets were built without “My plan wasthat 1million Pipalva neartheJetpur-Junagadh persons going down the stairs of discrimination.But thereisone hectares of 2.6 million hectares and aftermaking the the hostelinthe early hours of aspect of Swachh Bharat which under rice could be diverted to tion”. In November,Kaurmade a mark. If at all, the five-party al- inJammuandKashmir. Tuesday's giventhisnewchallengeposedby killsinArabTimbadi,headedback March 27,1992. Raju, who had has notbeen discussedmuch. other crops to restorethe water comebackaschief of the liance of regional parties in the resultsmarkatentative and im- the UK variant of the virus, these south in the direction of GWLS. been jailedinconnection with a Therewas atime when the table… Rs 1,600crore could be ShiromaniGurdwaraParbandhak Union Territoryhas openedup portant step towardsthat -- how labs will be working with re- The pride has notbeen located theftcase, wasknown to steal dropoutrate of Muslimdaughters giventofarmers to compensate Committee, the firstwoman to newpossibilities too, and pre- will the establishment manage newedvigour to establish gen- since.” copper cables from buildings. wasmorethan70 percent.Itwas forthe shift(to oilseeds, among hold that position. sentedtheBJPwithauniquechal- the newexpectations is the next ome sequencing of the samples “Weare holding meetings “I had been offeredahuge abig hurdle in the development other crops, whichwould even- lenge–that of aunited challenge. whichhavebeen pickedupfrom with villagers to sensitise them amount of moneytochangemy of the Muslim community.” tuallycutdowntheoilandpulses Political space Opposition. Of the 20 DDCs, a the airports as well the samples about the behaviour of lions. We statement. But Iconsidered “For 70 years, the situation importbill of up to Rs 14,000 the outcome. unitedOppositioncanhave itssay New strain that will be pickeduprelating to arealso writing letters to power Abhaya asmy daughterandstood wasthat 70 per cent of Muslim crore)…Therewasalackofinter- Kashmiriswillhave represen- in as manyas13. This maygive Paulsaid“allthesamples”col- passengers who arrivedinthe distributioncompany—PGVCL— forjustice,’’ said Raju, who is now daughters could notcomplete estinthe political bosses and bu- tativespeoplecango to withtheir ideastonational parties fighting lected “recently” in the laborato- countryintherecentpast,”hesaid. to supplypowertofarmers dur- adailywageworker. their education. Under these cir- reaucrats…Itriedagainbutnoth- day-to-daygrievances and insti- the BJP’s rise in states as well as riesthatconductgeneticsequenc- ing daytime to irrigatecrops. Our Kottoor told reporters that he cumstances,SwachhBharatmis- ing happened”. tutions whose doors theycan the Centre. ing have been “prioritised” since SVPI airport teams aretracking the lions is innocent. “God is my protector. sion started. Toilets forgirlstu- Today, “the question is not knockon. Logon ki sunwaihogi The flipside of this bonsai Monday. “This is being done in a suspected to be aresult of multi- round-the-clockand arealways Iwill proceedaccording to the dentswas built on mission mode whether laws aregood or bad. (people will be heard), and funds democracy is also howalarge muchmoreextensive manner plemutationsinthespikeprotein on standbytorespond to anydis- plansof God.Ihaven’tcommitted by the government. Now, the They(agitators) aresaying ‘yes or willreachtheseCouncilsbasedon number of independent candi- and at afasterpace. CSIR, ICMR of the virus. tress call. We arepersuading vil- anycrime,’’ he said. Sephybroke dropout ratio of Muslim women no’. The old system theywant to the size of their population. dates can influence the outcome. and DBT areworking together,” Allfourwhotestedpositive at lagers that shifting these lions is down in the courtroom after is just 30 per cent -- from 70 per go backtoisthe one that pushed That apart, thepolitical mes- InSrinagar,thesummercapitalof he said. the airportafter RT-PCR test are notadvisableasif thisprideissent hearing the verdict. “This is the cent.Lakhs of Muslim daughters so manyfarmers to suicide. But sageisclear. Jammu&Kashmir,ofthe14 seats, He said that experts from Indian nationals. The remaining backtoforest,anotherwilltake its victoryofthejudiciary. Forthelast had to quit studies earlier due to now, government should with- The Jammu Division and the independentshavewonasmany Indiahadadetailedconversation 271passengers have been ad- place,” the DCF added. three decades, Ihavebeen fight- lackoftoilets.The government is draw the bills, begin again by Kashmir Division still do notsee as nine. With the Centre-backed withtheircounterparts intheUK visedtobeinhomequarantinefor Food, Civil Supplyand ing forAbhaya.This verdict has doing everything to ensurethat bringing the farmers’ concerns eyetoeye,though Lt Governor J&KApniPartywinningthree,and on Monday. “As of now, basedon the next fortnight. ConsumerAffairsMinisterJayesh the signatureofGod,’’ said rights fewerMuslim women drop out. intoParliament.” ManojSinharefersto themasthe the BJP one, technically, Apni our discussions with scientists in Anofficialof theAdaniGroup, Radadiyahad reportedlywritten activistJomon Puthenpurackal, At AMU,thereisabridgecourse A“trustdeficit” stands in the "twoeyes"of theUnionTerritory. Party-BJP alliance can claim the the UK and deep understanding whichmanages the SVPI airport, to the forest department to shift whohadbeenpartofagroupde- fordropout students. Ihavebeen way, says Johl. “These areserious Jammuhasvotedbasedonthere- DDC with supportfrominde- of the dataavailable, thereisno said, “Wehavebeen following thepridefromThanagalolvillage. manding justice forAbhaya. told that at AMU,the percentage laws,theyaffect the livesofpeo- ligious composition of itsvoters. pendents. cause forconcern or panic. Is it a standardoperating procedures ThanagalolandArabTimbadiare The case wasinitiallyprobed of womenstudentshasincreased ple. What wasthe hurry?They PredominantlyHindu regions TheDDCelectionshave forthe cause forustobemorevigilant? (SOPs)decidedbytheUniongov- around 10 km apart. Arab by local police as an unnatural to 35 per cent,” he said. should have put the bills in the have votedoverwhelmingly for firsttime also giventhe BJP atoe- Of course,yes...alsowiththenew ernmentregardingthepandemic Timbadi is barely10kmaway death before the Crime Branch “The government has special publicdomain…Intheinterestof thesaffronparty;inPoonchDDC, holdintheValley. Forthepartyto variant, thereisnochangeinour till now. On the newcoronavirus from the border of GWLS. tookover.Ayearafterthemurder, focus on education and empow- the economyand of peace, the it drew ablank,and three eachin win aseat in Pulwama (south treatment guidelines,” Paulsaid. variant,we areawaitingnewSOPs The DCF added, “Lions com- itwashandedovertotheCBIafter erment of Muslim daughters. In government musttakethem Rajouri, Ramban and Kishtwar. Kashmir), whichsaw percentage UnionHealthSecretaryRajesh from the stateorunion govern- ing to Arab Timbadi is notamat- apetition wassubmitted by a thelastsixyears,thegovernment back”, he says. The moderatevoice of the voter turnout in single digits, it is Bhushan said the country’s pre- ment... Today, as the UK flight terofsurprise as three lions are group of nuns from various con- has granted scholarships to one At thesprawlingandwell-ap- National Conference seems to seenasremarkable.Infact,BJPhas mier labs would carry out the landedatSVPI airport, RT-PCR camping near Rajkot city after gregations to the then Chief croreMuslimdaughters,”hesaid. pointed Sant Prem Singh Murale have appealedtovoters beyond wonaseat in north Kashmir genome sequencing of the sam- testswereconducted forall 275 coming all the wayfromDhari”. Minister, the lateKKarunakaran. The Prime Ministeralso re- Wale Derathat she heads in theValley. Ithasemergedthesin- (Bandipore)andCentralKashmir ples pickedupfromairports as passengers and we ensured that Incidentally, twosub-adult In aclosurereportsubmitted leasedapostage stampdedicated Begowal villageofdistrict gle-largest party in three DDCs in (Srinagar) too. This brings the well as Covid-positive patients theywereprovidedwater,snacks malelionshadsetoutfromBabra in 1996, the CBI said that it could to AMU on the occasion. AMU Kapurthala, Akali Dal leader Bibi the Jammu Division –Rajouri, party in proximity to the Valley’s with recent travel history to the and seating arrangements...” and walked morethan 100km notconclude whether it wasa Chancellor Syedna Mufaddal JagirKaursays:“We areall kisans RambanandKishtwar.IfCongress people,whichmay have arub-off UK. “Wehavebeen testing pas- Ahmedabad reported209 north to Chotila taluka in case of suicide or homicide. But Saifuddin, Vice- Chancellor Tariq (farmers), those who aresitting enters intoapost-poll alliance effect on itspolitics as well. sengers originating from the UK. newcases and five deaths on Surendranagar district in the chief judicial magistratein Mansoor and Union Education thereare ours.Thegovernmentis with NC,the twocan gain ama- Explainingthesignificanceof the Thousands of genome sequenc- Tuesdaydue to Covid-19evenas November lastyear and camped Kochirejected it and directed the MinisterRamesh Pokhriyal looking nirdayi (hardhearted). jority in all these three. And in DDC elections, L-GSinha had ing during the pandemic have has been reporting ade- thereforaboutfive monthsbefore agency to continue the probe. Nishank also took partinthe vir- Things should nothavereached Poonch,theNC,PDPandCongress calleditakey vehicleforbringing been establishedbylaboratories cline of fewerthan 1,000 cases a walking around 140kmover FULLREPORTSON tual event. this point, we needaquicksolu- add up to makethe half-way thepoliticsof representationback of ICMR, CSIR and NCDC. And day. As manyas988 cases were sevendays to reachGWLS. www.indianexpress.com

Ahmedabad WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THEINDIANEXPRESS,WEDNESDAY,DECEMBER23,2020 DIED OF BRAIN HEMORRHAGE MORTAL REMAINS OF SOLDIER REACH STATE Mortal remains of SepoyKeval Kumar Patel, who died of brain hemorrhage,reached Ahmedabad 3 from Pune on an AirIndia flight on Tuesday. Commanding Officer of ASCBatallion, Anil Gulia, GUJARAT paid homage to the soldier before his body wastaken to his native village Junasar in Aravalli district.

Two lions kill Over 51L farmers Onekilled,4injuredingaspipelineblast to benefit as govt 17-year-old deposits Rs 2,000 Twohouses at Kalol residential society under PM-KISAN girl at farm in damaged;police yettoidentify cause EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE who were takentocivil hospital for GANDHINAGAR,DECEMBER22 Junagadh village EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE emergencytreatmentof whomone AHMEDABAD,DECEMBER22 person wasdeclared brought dead AROUND 51.34LAKH farmers by theteamof doctors.Exactcauseof from Gujarat areset to be bene- ONE PERSON waskilledand at least the blastisnot known as teams of fitted as Rs 2,000eachisdigitally EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE four others were injured in ablastin Forensic Science Laboratory, ONGC deposited in the bank accounts RAJKOT, DECEMBER 22 agas pipeline at aresidential society andadministrationhave reachedthe of nine crorecultivators under in Kalol, Gandhinagar,onTuesday. spottoconduct aprobe.Weare yet the Pradhan Mantri Kisan TWOLIONS allegedly attackedand killeda17-year-old Twohouses collapseddue to the in- to find out exactlywhichpipeline Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) on tribal girloutside her cottageonanagricultural field at tensity of the explosion. had burstinthe accident,” said KK December25, stateagriculture DhanfuliyavillageinVanthali taluka of Junagadh dis- Accordingto police,theexplosion Desai, police inspector,Kalol Taluka department officials said. In all, trict when she steppedout to relieve herself on Monday occurredaround8amonTuesdayat police station. around Rs 1,020 crorewill be night, forest officers said. the Garden City bungalows society, An official statement from the deposited in the accountsof Officers of the Gir Somnath social forestry division located near Oil and Natural Gas ONGCsaidthegaspipelinedoesnot these farmers, officials added. said the twosub-adult male lions chargedatBhavna Corporation (ONGC) field in Kalol. belong to it. Under the PM-KISAN,anin- Bamaniya(17)and her cousin sisterRekha when they Twohouses in the posh residential “Anunfortunategasleakagetook come supportofRs6,000 per steppedout of their house on Harsukh Chavda’s agricul- society collapsedburying twoper- placetodayinagaspipelinein ares- year is providedtoall registered tural field at Dhanfuliyavillagearound 9.30 pm on sons under the rubble, police said. idential area near ONGC’s Kalol field. farmers across the countryin Monday. Fire safetyofficials extricatedthe ONGC confirms that this pipeline, three equal installmentsof “As the lions chargedatthem, jumpedintoa trappedpersons,but one of them wherethe accident took place, does Rs 2,000 each, everyfour nearbywater tank.The carnivores, however, managed wasdeclared brought dead at the notbelong to ONGC. As aresponsi- months. On December 25, the to catchhold of the other girl, killedher,dragged her to hospital later.The deceasedhas ble corporatecitizen, ONGC Prime Ministerwill deposit the aneighbouring farm and been identifiedasAmit Dave (26), Ahmedabad Assetisintouchwith lastinstallment of the current fi- partiallyate her body.Our police said. the stategovernmentmachineryfor nancialyear forthe quarterbe- Unless provoked, staffreachedthe spotim- Policeareyet to declarethename fire and safetysupport. ONGC fire tween December and March. Asiatic lions rarely mediatelyand triedto of the companytowhichthe gas tenders have rushedtothe spotand On December 25, whichis rescue the girlbut could- pipeline belongs. the crisis management team has also the birth anniversaryoffor- attackhumans n’t. Theyrecoveredher “Following the blast, police and been instructedto beon standbyfor mer prime ministerAtalBihari as the carnivores body,” Ushman Nanavati, fire safetydepartmentteamsrushed anykindofexigency,” the statement The spotofthe accident at aresidential complexinKalol, Gandhinagar,onTuesday. Express Vajpayee, the PM will address do notsee humans deputy conservator of to thespot.We rescuedfourpersons said. farmers virtually. forests(DCF), Gir as their prey,forest Somnath social forestry officials said division, told The Indian PDPM Indian Institute of Information Technology, Express on Tuesday. Design &Manufacturing, Jabalpur Dhanfuliyais12km (AnInstituteofNational Importanceestablished by an actofParliament, under Ministry of Education, Govt. of India) DumnaAirport Road, PO :Khamaria, Jabalpur-482005 (MP)INDIA eastofVanthali town and fewerthan 20 km from the Addendum border of Girnar WildlifeSanctuary, the nearestpro- Sub :- Advertisement for Faculty Positions Dated 22/12/2020 tected forest area, whichisahabitat of lions. The vil- Ref.– Advertisement No 03/2020 Dated 18/12/2020 lageislocated on the bank of Ozat riverand lions out- With reference to above advertisement forfaculty positions was published in various disciplines. In continuation to it applications arealso invited in the disciplinesofMechanical Engineering and English for side the protected areas prefer riverine patches for the posts of AssistantProfessor Grade-I, Paylevel-12; Assistant Professor Grade-II, Paylevel-11 (on shelter. contract) and Assistant Professor Grade-II, Paylevel-10 (oncontract).For further details and Police said Rekha raisedanalarm as soon as the li- application form please visit Institute website www.iiitdmj.ac.in Note :- Last date forreceivinghardcopy of completed application form is ons attackedthem. “A team of forest department staff also extendedtill 25-01-2021(by 05:00 PM) Director reachedthe spotimmediatelyand triedtoshout the animals away but to no avail. The carnivorescould only be drivenawayafter around half an hour... By that time, the animals had eaten lowerlimbs of Bhavna,” Shailesh Sondarva, ahead constable with Vanthali police, said. Sondarva is conducting an inquiryintothe incident afteracase of accidental death wasregisteredat Vanthali police station early Tuesdaymorning. “The victim wasanative of Methan villagein Singvad taluka of Dahod district in eastern Gujarat. Her parentswereintheir native villagewhile Bhavna came to Dhanfuliyawith her maternal uncle’s familytowork as agricultural labourer.Her body has been kept at gov- ernment hospital in Junagadh city and her parentshave been informed,” he added. The DCF said that the forest department wastrying to rescue the lions aftertheir unusual behaviour.“This is averyunfortunateincident and the behaviour of the twolionsisveryunusual. Effortsare on to cagethem,” Nanavati said. KIFS FINANCIAL SERVICESLIMITED According to forest officials, unless provoked,Asiatic CIN: L67990GJ1995PLC025234, Email: [email protected], lions rarely attackhumans as the carnivoresdonot see Reg. Off.: B‐81, Pariseema Complex, C. G. Road,Ellisbridge,Ahmedabad –06. Ph.: +917926400140, Fax: +917926403717, Website: www.kifsfinance.com humans as their prey.Human deaths on account of at- PUBLIC NOTICE tacksbylions in and around Gir forest and other pro- Pursuant to para 64 of the RBI MasterDirections DNBR.PD.007/03.10.119/ tected areas spread across Junagadh, Gir Somnath, 2016‐17dated September 1, 2016,through this public notice of 30 days, Amreli and Bhavnagar districtsare notcommon occur- generalpublic is being notified that the companyintends to appoint (without rence, theysaid. transferofcontrol or sale of anyshares) Mr.Vimal P. Khandwala as adirector of thecompany to constitute theboardwithoptimum combination of directors as perapplicableSEBI Regulations.Ifany person hasany objection in such proposedappointment, he canapproach, statingreasonand supported documents, if any, forsuchobjection to the companyatits registered office and to RBI, Regional Office,, Ahmedabad. Issued jointly at Ahmedabad on December 22,2020 by KIFSFinancial Services Limited Mr.Vimal P. Khandwala Devang Shah (Director –DIN:01788760) (DIN:00477768)

Commercial unitsinAMC limitshavebeen told to process and recycle biodegradable wasteatsource or by an agency. File Segregate: AMC tells premises producing more than 50 kg waste

EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE AHMEDABAD,DECEMBER22

THE AHMEDABAD Municipal Corporation (AMC) has directed all premises, including residential and commercial unitsproducing morethan 50 kg of dailywaste,tosegregatewaste at source intobiodegradable, non-biodegradable and do- mestic hazardous waste. It also instructed them to process and recycle the biodegradable wasteat source or by an agency. In apublic notice issuedTuesday, the AMC asked unitsproducing wastemorethan 50 kgs to startthe process within amonth. Those pro- ducing less than 50 kg wastehavetosubmit a declaration by January10, 2021. AMC’s solid wastemanagement department director Harshadray Solanki stated,“’s Swachh Survey-2021, whichis being held this year,emphasises on 3R —reduc- ing, reuse, recycling of wastegenerated in cities. In order forthe city to be ratedasafivestarcity in the SS-2021..., unitsgenerating morethan 50 kg of wastemustprocess their wasteatthe place of origin...” He addedthat under the ‘GarbageFreeCity’ protocol, unitsgenerating morethan 100kgof wastewereidentifiedasbulk wastegenerator. “This has been reducedtomorethan 50 kg now. This public notice has been issuedtorecognise unitsgenerating morethan 50 kg of wasteasbulk wastegenerators,” he added. Ahmedabad WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM 4 GUJARAT THEINDIANEXPRESS,WEDNESDAY,DECEMBER23,2020 7Lpeopleinhigh-riskgroupidentified 47-yr-old Surat man recovers forCovidvaccinationinAhmedabad from Covid-19 after 119 days EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE CASETRACKER SURAT,DECEMBER22 Places ConfirmedDeaths Newcases SOHINIGHOSH INNUMBERS A47-YEAR-OLD businessman Ahmedabad 54,650 2,219 209 AHMEDABAD,DECEMBER22 wasdischargedfromKiran hos- Amreli 3,686 33 10 pital in Surat on December 14 af- ■City ■Rural Anand 2,165179 AHMEDABAD DISTRICT and cor- ter119 days of Covid-19treat- Vaccinators poration officials have registered ment. Aravalli 1,113255 morethan sevenlakh people 380 Chintesh Kaniyawala, aresi- Banaskantha 4,493 37 13 across Ahmedabad city and rural 324 dent of Dudharastreetin Bharuch3,750 18 10 areasduringamonth-longsurvey Health workers BegampuraareainSurat, had Bhavnagar 5,771 70 15 to identify the high-risk popula- fever and breathlessness, fol- registered Botad1,010 10 3 tionforvaccinationagainstCovid- lowing whichhis familymem- 19.Asmanyas704vaccinators,in- 52,000 bers admitted him to the Kiran Chhota Udepur 8684 2 cluding324fromruralareas,have Multi- Specialty hospital at Dahod 2,809 723 7,435 been also identifiedduring the KatargaminSurat, wherehe Dang 144 survey,officials said. wastestedpositive of Covid-19 Totalpopulation Devbhoomi Dwarka 9,768 53 The Ahmedabad Municipal on August17. Gandhinagar 7,840102 33 Corporation officials, engaged 60 lakh 15-16lakh Chestphysician at Kiran hos- from the firstweek of November Totalregistered pital Dr Hardip Maniyar said, Gir Somnath 2,254227 to collect dataonthe highestpri- Nearly Nearly “When Kaniyawala wasbrought 10,030 35 27 ority group forthe firstround of 5lakh 3.54lakh to the hospital, his oxygen satu- Junagadh 4,762 32 15 vaccination, have identified ration levelwas 92 per cent. We Kheda 2,767 16 32 52,000 health-careworkers and As manyas704 vaccinators, including 324fromrural areas, have been identified. File kept him on oxygen supportfor Kutch3,708 33 13 40,000 other essential workers, cific areas suchasVatva, fewdays and later he was includingpoliceanddefenceper- DanilimdaandBehrampura.“We shiftedtothe ICU ward where Mahisagar 1,909 13 13 sonnel and others. The civic body aretryingourbest to convincethe he waskeptonventilator with Mehsana 6,445 37 35 hasalsoidentifiedfourlakhinthe peoplebutcannotdomuchifthey Survey finds low prevalence 100per cent oxygen support Morbi 2,979 20 9 high-risk population -- people refuse to give details. We will un- level. His blood had become Narmada 1,8971 9 above 50yearsandresidentswith dertake asecond round of data thickand he had showedcom- long-term-carefacilities and un- collectionaswell,”theofficialsaid. plications as blood startedcom- Navsari 1,5468 3 rate of coronavirus in Gujarat Panchmahal 3,9372324 derlying medical conditions -- Thevaccinationdrive,officials ing out through urine. We gave ahead of the vaccine roll out. said, is plannedacross nearly 300 appropriatetreatment and Patan4,087509 Accordingto officials,thedrive spots by an estimated 380 vacci- face-to-face between December comparatively higher in the blood flowwas stopped. The Porbandar 1,052 41 hasbeenchequereddueto myths natorsinAhmedabadcity.Thecity EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE 1and 10,looked at what rural north zone (85%) while it was treatment continuedfor 50 Rajkot 20,064 196133 related to some coronavirus vac- has nearly 60 lakh population. AHMEDABAD,DECEMBER22 India thought about the Covid- the lowest in west zone (61% said days and later his bloodbecame cines,trialsforwhichare inthefi- District Collector Sandip 19 vaccine, if rural citizens would theyare aware). thinner.After 80 days since be- Sabarkantha 2,701 13 10 nal stage. An AMC health officer, Sagale said 324vaccinators have ASURVEY by media platform payRs1,000forvaccinating one Among the lowCovid-19 ing admitted to ICU,were- Surat 48,062 952 160 whodidnotwishto beidentified, beenidentifiedforadministering Gaon Connection, titled‘The familymember,iftheyhaveto prevalence states’ rural house- movedhim from ventilator sup- Surendranagar 3,351 13 10 saidfieldsurveyorsoutto register the vaccine in rural parts,while RuralReport3:Covid-19Vaccine choose, whom in their family holds surveyed,nearly 82 per portand he wasput on Tapi 1,022 62 eligible populations forthe vac- 7,435health workers have been and RuralIndia’, released will theyvaccinatefirst, how cent, that is 755 households, said oxygen support.” Vadodara23,432 243137 cine priority listhavealso faced shortlistedunderthefirstpriority Tuesday, has categorisedGujarat awarethe rural citizens were theyare ready to payuptoRs500 He added, “Wegraduallyre- some resistance. groupfromtheseareas.Morethan as astate with ‘lowCovid-19 about the updates on the Covid- to avail the twodoses of vaccine ducedthe percentageofoxygen Valsad 1,3348 “This is similar to the resist- 18,000defenceandpoliceperson- prevalence rate’, along with , 19 vaccine, howmuchdid they and another 15 per cent (or 142 supplyand he wasput on pul- Other states 1483 ance we facedduring measles nel from Ahmedabad rural, he Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and trustthe vaccine candidates, and households) across the five states monaryrehabilitation includ- rubella vaccination (in 2018) said, have been identifiedwho . Morethan 2,200 other aspects. said theywould payuptoRs ing exercise of lungs. Finallywe Cumulative Total New Cumulative when people would tell us it (the will getthe vaccine in the second rural households formedapartof Anumber of participants, sur- 1,000 forthe same. This wasin got him dischargedon discharge: cases: cases: deaths: vaccine) contains pork. These phase. During the door-to-door the sample of the lowCovid-19 veyedinthe west zone, said they contrasttohigh and medium December 14.Weadvisedhis 2,36,501 mythsonlygoawaywithtime.No survey undertakenwith the help prevalence states. would give ‘self’ (29.8 per cent) Covid-19prevalence states, familymembers to give him 2,21,602 988 4,273 amountof information,education election rolls datainrural parts, The survey undertakentoas- priority to bevaccinatedfollowed wherefewer people wanted to oxygen of 1litreper minuteat communication(IEC)works.Even Sagalesaid,atotalof 3,22,009peo- sess vaccine awareness had ato- by ‘old parents’ (28 per cent), payfor the vaccine doses. home and take extracare.” now, some people arerefusing to ple,agedmorethan50years,have talsample size of 6,040 rural whichwas in contrasttothe east, Overall, the rapid survey On Tuesday, Chintesh him walk at the home later and motivate him. We pur- registerthemselvescitingadverse been identifiedalong with 6,507 households across 16 states and north-eastand south zones found among its6,000-odd rural Kaniyawala turneduptothe without oxygen and when chased35PPE suitsfromthe effects. Some have cited the case people, aged below50but with one Union Territory. Of these, 389 whererespondentsgavepriority household respondents, over 32 hospital with his familymem- neededoxygensupportshould market and on everyalternate of Health Minister(Anil seriouscomorbidconditions.Data rural households from Gujarat to old parents. In the north zone, per cent expressedaconcern that bers forcheck-up and afterbe- be given. We expect that in the day, one of us usedtovisit him Vij)whotestedpositive days after collection forthe lastcategoryis were apartofthe survey’s sam- respondentspreferred children the vaccine mayhaveanadverse ingexamined, he wasallowed next one month he will able to in the hospital.” takingtrialCovid-19vaccineshot, on, he added. ple under the west zone analysis. to be givenvaccine on priority. health impact, while 25 per cent to go home. do his routine works.” Kaniyawala’s familyconsists while afew others said they Adistrict health official said Maharashtraand Madhya Respondentswerealso asked admitted to concerns of black- Dr Maniyar further said, “We Chitesh Kaniyawala’s cousin of his wifeand two wanted to wait and see howthe dataonhigh-risk groups in Pradesh were the twoother states if theywereaware of the various marketing. Another 22 per cent have told his familymembers to Paresh Kaniyawala said, “There children. On December 14, vaccine reacts,” the officer said. Dholeraand Dhandhuka blocks in the west zone. The three states companies trying to come out said their concern wasthat the makehim walk and give him are30members in our family, when he returnedhome after Another senior health official remain to be collected.Rural combinedhad asample size of with aCovid-19vaccine during common people will notbein nutritious food, as he had lost20 and on alternatedays,one of recovering from Covid-19, the with AMC said resistance was Ahmedabadhasanestimated15- 1,186households. the survey.Azone-wise analysis the priority listduring vaccine kilogram of his weight. We have our familymembers usedto familymembers celebrated by notedinsome pocketsand spe- 16 lakh population. The rapid survey,conducted revealedthe awareness was distribution. also advisedhis familytomake talk to him through video call cutting cake. MLA Kandhal Jadeja Case after 76 TO ATTRACT FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT discharged in 1998 laptops missing State industrial policy from pvt firm in 8foreign languages arms possession case EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE AHMEDABAD,DECEMBER22 Theofficialsaidthetranslated entitledtopossess the same) un- AVINASHNAIR copiesof thepolicywassharedon EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE der the Arms Act. POLICE HAVE registeredacase of AHMEDABAD,DECEMBER22 the websites of the embassies. AHMEDABAD,DECEMBER22 This wasagain challenged at theftafter 76 laptops went miss- “Manycompanies do notknow the Porbandar district courtin ing from Vodafone House build- THESTATEgovernmenthastrans- muchabout Gujarat. Theymight THE GUJARATHigh Courton 2011,whichtoo wasrejected by ing in of Ahmedabad re- latedtheGujaratIndustrialPolicy, knowabout India as awhole. By December 21 discharged the courtinNovember 2014. cently. 2020,intoeightforeignlanguages, translatingour policy,wehave Porbandar MLAfromKutiyana, Jadeja then movedthe high court According to police, an FIR was including English, to reachout to been able to reachout to com- Kandhal Jadeja in the 1998 arms in December 2014,challenging lodgedatSarkhejpolicestationon foreign companies across the paniesincountrieswhereEnglish possession case. the lowercourt’s rejection of his Mondaynightafteradeputygen- globe. is notveryprevalent,” Das said. Jadejawaschargedundersev- discharge application. eral manager of Vodafone India Themove isexpectedto boost Gujarat accounted for53per eralprovisionsof theArmsActfor Itwasarguedbyhisadvocate, submitted acomplaint stating Foreign Direct Investments(FDI) cent of the total FDI received, in allegedly possessing prohibited seniorcounselNirupamNanavaty that during an inspection check inflowtoGujarat, whichiscur- the firsthalf of the 2020-21, arms. that if the onlyevidence against onDecember15,itwasfoundthat rentlythe topmoststate in the Of the total USD 30 billion FDI While the offence wasregis- the accusedisinthe form of a 76 laptops worthRs19lakh were countryinattracting foreign in- inflowintoIndia during the first teredatthe Udhyognagar police statementof aco-accused,which missing. WORK IN PROGRESS vestmentsdespitethe Covid-19 six months (April-September stationinPorbandarinNovember otherwise cannotbeapartofthe “Thecomplainantinthiscase, pandemic in 2020-21. 2020)of thecurrentfinancialyear, 1998againstJadeja,thehighcourt chargesheet,then,insuchcircum- Prashant Digwal,deputygeneral Renovation work being carriedout at platform 1ofVadodararailway station to increase the “Wehavetranslated Gujarat USD 16 billion came to Gujarat. had earlier stayed the framing of stances, the trial courtought to manager of Vodafone India train speed. Trains areallowedtomovefromother platforms. BhupendraRana IndustrialPolicy2020ineightfor- The statealso sawa400 percent chargesbythe Porbandar trial have allowedthedischarge appli- Private Limited,hasstatedthatbe- eignlanguages,”says MKDas,the growthininvestmentsduringthis court.Thechargesheetcameto be cation. It wasalso submittedthat tween March and October 2020, AdditionalChief SecretarytoChief period compared to lastyear. filedinJune 2000. suchconfessional statementsby thecompanyhadpurchased1,074 MinisterVijay Rupani. The topsectors attracting FDI The NCPMLA had sought to aco-accusedmade in police cus- laptops forits employees at the ThepolicypublishedinAugust infloware automobiles (14.5 per be dischargedbut aPorbandar tody,does notconstituteaslegal Vodafone House Building. 3teachers killed in Mehsana accident 2020 has been translated to cent), telecommunications (11.3 trialcourthadrefusedtodropthe evidenceforthepurposeof fram- Howeverduring an inspection German, Dutch, Spanish, French, per cent), services (10.2 per cent), chargesof25(1-B) (in possession ing of charge. check, 76 Lenovo laptops were lice said, allegedly lostcontrol come on the road and lostcon- Taiwanese, Japanese, Korean and power(8.9 per cent), cement and of firearms or prohibited ammu- The courtofJustice Vipul found missing,” said apolice offi- EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE over the SUV car whichslipped trol of the vehicle. The car fell English. gypsum products(8.5 per cent) nition) and 29 (punishment for Pancholi thus droppedthe cer at Sarkhej police station. AHMEDABAD,DECEMBER22 intoapond along the road intothe pond. The three teach- This industrial policy was and construction (7 per cent). knowingly purchasing arms, etc, chargesagainstJadeja on “The complainant has told us stretchatPanchotvillage. ers diedonthe spotand their shared with Indian embassies in Accordingto thestategovern- fromunlicensedpersonorforde- December 21.Adetailedorder is that 70 employees work at the THREE SCHOOL teachers were The deceasedhavebeen bodies were retrievedlater.The 43countries.“Wecalledupthere- ment, the maximum investment livering arms, etc., to person not awaited. Vodafone House Building apart killedTuesdayafter their car identifiedasVipul Chaudhary car wasalso pulledout from the spective Indian ambassadors in during the firstsix months of from pantrystaff and theysus- skiddedintoapond in Mehsana, (38), SmitaChauhan (33) and pond with acrane. We have sent these countries and shared the 2020-21hascometo Gujaratfrom pectedoneof theirownasthecul- police said. Anand Shrimali (30), all resi- the bodies forpostmortemand translatedcopieswithallof them. United States, Japan, South Korea PRICES SLIDE prit. As of now, we have booked a The three teachers were trav- dentsofMehsana and employed areportofaccident death has These embassies in turn talkedto and Singapore. case of theftagainstunknown elling to the school forwork as primaryschool teachers. been filed,” apolice officer at the industries and chambers in Thestategovernmenthasalso Mahuva APMC chairman persons and probeisgoing on,” when the accident happened “As per eyewitnesses, the car Mehsana Bdivision police sta- therespective countries,”Dastold approachedabout 1,350interna- urges Centre to lift ban the officer added. around 5.30 am. The driver, po- drivertriedtosaveadog that had tion said. The Indian Express. tional companies. on export of onion Traditional midnight mass to go virtual this Christmas onions from currentlysowncrop EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE in Saurashtraand heretothe government protocol. bolic physical mass with mini- whichdistributethe mandatory RAJKOT,DECEMBER22 reaches the market,” Patelstated ADITIRAJA "Allthosewhohave registered mum registeredparticipantsand holycommunion during the in alettertoPrime Minister VADODARA,DECEMBER22 aregiven anumber.The sitting avirtual midnight mass. physical prayer service, have not WITH THE price of onion sliding NarendraModi and Union Com- area is dividedintozones and the The church also releaseda been able to distributethe sacra- down in wholesale markets, merce and Industries Minister CHRISTIANS IN Gujarat will join seat number is stuckonthe ben- Christmasalbumtitled“LetEarth ment since the lockdown. Mahuvaagricultural produce Piyush Goyal. the customaryannual midnight ches and chairs. The person will BeGlad”onYouTubeofresponso- Jadhavsaid, "Since the distri- market committee(APMC)chair- India had prohibited exports Christmas mass online this year be allowedtoonlysit on the seat rial psalms. bution of the holycommunion man GhanshyamPatel on of onion on September 15 as bulb amidtheCovid-19pandemicand that's allotted.Those who have AreleasefromDonBoscosaid, (host) is the mostimportant part Tuesdayurgedthecentralgovern- price had shotupinretail market night curfew.Across the state, notregistered,willnotbeallowed "Over the Covid-19pandemic of the entireeucharist, aprayer ment to liftthe ban on exportof afterits supplywas disruptedfol- churches have plannedvirtual to come in," said Father Vinayak lockdownperiod,membersof the has been draftedfor the whole the commodity to save farmers lowing heavy rainfall and subse- liturgicalcelebrations,alongwith Jadhav, spokesperson forthe parish choir were engaged in the world, whichiscalledthe prayer from potential losses. quentdamagetothecropsownin asymbolic physical church serv- Roman Catholic Church in Responsorial Psalm Music of the spiritual communion. Patelsaid as the newcrop June-July. Price of redonion, wh- iceintheevening,before thenight Gujarat. CompositionProject.We have put While the priestisraising the startedarriving in marketsof ichisconsumedfresh,hadcontin- curfew comes intoeffect. Amessagesent by the Parish together 19 responsorial psalms communion in the virtual mass, Maharashtraand Gujarat, prices uedtorise through October and St Xavier's church in Ahmed- Priesttothe parishioners of St Awoman does Christmas shopping in Ahmedabad. File with original tunes composedby the believers recitethe prayer of onions droppedinthe rangeof had gone pastRs60per kg in Ma- abad has sent out an invitation to Xavier's church states that wear- membersacrossourchoirs.These whichessentiallymeans that al- Rs 10-15per kg and mayfurther huvaAPMC, whichisamong the itsparishioners to “register” for ing masksismandatoryand the responsorial psalms arefor use at though we cannotreceive our go downincomingdays if theban largest marketsofthe bulb in the the physical service as the open temperatureofall participants to the night curfew in place. 9pmonChristmas Dayinmost the Liturgy during the entire Lordphysically--asthehostsigni- on exports wasnot lifted. state.SinceNovember,priceshave ground, whichisknown forthe will be screenedatthe entrance. Jadhavsaid, “Wehavenot churches across the state." Christmasseasonbeginningfrom fies the body and blood of Jesus “FarmersaregettingonlyRs10 shown adownwardtrend until biggestmidnightChristmasgath- Althoughthephysicalcelebra- asked forany permissions forthe In Vadodara, Don Bosco Christmas midnight and ending Christ-- we areuniting with the to 15 perkgfortheirproduce.The mid-November.OnTuesday, the eringinGujaratwithacapacityof tions areheld at midnight, the midnight mass. The mass will be church,whichhas been stream- with the Feastofthe Baptism of hostinspirit." The church will , prices would certainlygodown highestprice in MahuvaAPMC 500persons, will allowonly150 church hasnotsoughtanyspecial held at 6.30 pm on the eveof ing live liturgical celebrations Jesus Christ." similarly,hold the NewYear further by February2021when wasquotedatRs19.5 per kg. registeredparticipants--toad- permissions forthe same owing Christmasandamorningmassat everyday,will also hold asym- Roman Catholic churches, Service virtually.

Ahmedabad WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM THEINDIANEXPRESS,WEDNESDAY,DECEMBER23,2020 5

''IMPORTANT'' DELHI JAL BOARD :GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICE (W) Whilst care is taken prior to ROOM NO. 306, VARUNALAYA PHASE-II, KAROL BAGH, acceptance of advertising EMAIL ID:proyap32018@.com PHONE NO.-011 2355 0843 copy,itisnot possible to verify EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

its contents. The Indian Sl. Name of Work Estimated Bid security Period of Last dt./time Express (P) Limited cannot be No. Cost For each deposit For each Completion of receipt of held responsible for such group (Rs.) group (Rs.) Bids 1. Selection of Partner Public Relations (PR) Agency to carry out Lump Sum INR 3,96,000.00 36 months 03/02/2021 contents, nor for any loss or Media Tracking and Analysis, and to assist DJB in handling, (Rupees Three up-to 15:00 damage incurred as aresult of managing and improving the perceptions of the organization, Lakh Ninety-Six Hours publicizing itsactivities, policies and programs to the public at large Thousand Only) transactions with companies, under the YAP-III PR component, at both macro and micro levels. associations or individuals advertising in its Further details in this regard can be seen at DJB website i.e. www.delhijalboard.nic.in under “Expression of Interest” link. or Publications. We therefore “STOP CORONA: WEAR MASK, FOLLOW PHYSICAL Sd/- recommend that readers ISSUED BY P.R.O. (WATER) Dy.Director (PR) ONLINE TENDER NOTICE NO. 04 OF 2020-2021 DISTANCING,MAINTAIN HAND HYGIENE” make necessary inquiries Advt. No. J.S.V.274/2020-21 Delhi Jal Board For&onbehalf of the Governor of Gujarat the ExecutiveEngineer Navrangpura(R&B) Division, 4-A Bahumali Bhavan, Drive-in Road before sending any monies or ,Ahmedabad -380052. invites Online tender from entering into any agreements bidders for01(One) worksFor Total Estimate cost Rs.34.05 Lacs. with advertisers or otherwise From the Contractors Registered in appropriate class Contractor. acting on an advertisement in OFFICE OF THE COMMANDANT 79 BATTALION The Tender documents will be available &downloaded on our web- any manner whatsoever. site www.rnb.nprocure.com from dt.22-12-2020 to 05-01-2021 at BSF: AYANAGAR: BHUJ (GUJARAT) 18.00 hrs Tender will be opened on Dt.06-01-2021 at 12.00 Hrs.(if No. 5049/Auction/Prov/79 Bn/2020/15213-30 Dated, the 15 Dec 2020 possible) at Circle Office.Bidder shall have to submit DD for Tender Fee&FDR against EMD of Nationalized /Scheduledbank /// AUCTION NOTICE /// in the name of ''ExecutiveEngineer,Navrangpura(R&B) Division, Apublic auction will be held at Bn HQ 79 Bn BSF,Ayanagar,Mundra Road, Bhuj (Gujarat) on 28th Dec’ 2020 Ahmedabad. Forfurther details and Online submission of tender at 1000 hrs for unserviceable (U/S) condemned stores of MT spare parts, Tyre &Tubes, Burned oil, Clothing please visit our website mentioned above &website www.state Equipment, Misc, Furniture, Comn store, construction store, Mag stores, Ration stores, welfare store, News tenders.com on contact at above office. No.INF/ABD/1117/2020 Papers, magazines and other mise stores held on charge of this unit. 02. All interested bidders may attend the auction on scheduled date &time. PASCHIM GUJARATVIJ COMPANY LIMITED 03. All the interested bidders will have to register themselves with Commandant 79 Bn BSF at least one hour prior to the auction of the above U/S stores and deposit asum of Rs. 10,000/- as earnest money,which Corp.Office, Nanamava Main Road, Laxminagar,Rajkot-360004 will be adjusted/ refunded after finalization of auction procedure. www.pgvcl.com http:guj_epd.gov.in 04. Highest successful bidders will have to deposit the full amount of auction in cash on the spot on bid TenderNotice No. 942, 945, 946, 947, 948, 949, amount and will liftthe U/S Stores from the location of this unit at their own arrangementsafter completion 950, 953, 954, of the auction procedure. Tender forPurchase of following material items is put up on 05. Admissible GST will be charged extra from the successful bidders. our ONLINE (e-Tender) website https://pgvcl.nprocure.com. 06. In case the final bidder fails to deposit the final auction bid value in cash on the spot, his earnest money 1) EHV Grade Transformer Oil (Tender No.942) will be forfeited and deposited into Govt. treasurey. 07. No transport will be provided by this unit for shifting of the auctioned stores. 2) 11 KV 3C XLPE Cable (95, 185, &240 sqmm) (Tender No.945) 08. The stores will be auctioned on the formulae of “ASISWHERE IS BASIS”. 3) 2Cx2.5mmsq Armoured Cable (Tender No.946) 09. Terms &conditions of the auction will be announced by the Board of Officers before conducting the public 4) 2Cx4 mmsq, 4Cx4mmsq 4Cx6mmsq LT PVC Cable (Tender auction. Bidders having GST number &PAN CARD will only be allowed to participate in the auction. No.947) 10. The Commandant, 79 Bn BSF has reserve the rightstoaccept or reject, any/all the bid(s) and public 5) 4Cx10mmsq, 4Cx16mmsq LT PVC Cable (Tender No.948) auction without assigning any reason. 6) 11 KV AB Cable 3Cx70+70 sqmm, 3Cx95+80 sqmm Registered Office: Bombay House, 24, Homi Mody Street, Sd/- Fort, Mumbai -400 001, India (Tender No.949) (LOKYANAIK) DC/QM Tel.: +91 22 6665 8282 FOR COMMANDANT 7) LT AB Cable 1Cx35+1Cx16+25, 3Cx35+1Cx16+25 sqmm Email: [email protected] Website: www.tatasteel.com DAVP 19110/11/0042/2021 79 BN BSF (Tender No.950) CIN: L27100MH1907PLC000260 8) G.I.Wire No.8&10SWG (Tender No.953) NOTICE 9) G.I.StayWire No.7/12 SWG (7/2.5mm2) (Tender No.954) Notice is hereby given pursuant to circular no. SEBI/HO/MIRSD/DOS3/CIR/P/2018/139 dated Interested Suppliers are requested to submit the tender online. November 6, 2018 (“the Circular”), issued by the Securities and Exchange Board of India, that the Tender documents forviewand download are also available Company has received the following requests to transfer the equity shares from the name(s) of on our website www.pgvcl.com.Interestedvendors maydown- the shareholder(s) (“Transferor”) to the name(s) of the proposed transferee(s) (“Transferee”). load the same from this website.Infuture,ifany amendments will be required forthis tender,same will be uploadedonly on The details of the proposed transfers are: above websites. Chief Engineer (Material) No. of equity "Install ELCB and Protect life from electric shock" Name of the Distinctive Name of the SN Folio No. shares "Customer Care CenterToll Free No. 1800 233 155333 &19122" Transferor(s) numbers Transferee(s) of `10 each 1 S1U0018209 Urmila Devi Bansal 25 387901900 –387901924 Sanjay Bansal Sanjay Bansal 2 S1G0021515 Gita Devi 1 373891536 –373891536 Indra Kumar Bagri 3 S1S0132205 Sharda Bhalotia 2 336522992 –336522992 Indra Kumar 612205789 –612205789 Bagri

4 S1M0066566 Manikalal Hansaraj 50 187306841 –187306890 Kalu Ram Shaha Joshi Mahipal Shaha 5 S1Y0007739 Yogendra Kumar 133 105196821 –105196870 Yogendra Surana 316786407 –316786427 Surana 334542600 –334542617 Gambhirmal Surana 388865128 –388865171 6 S1L0014945 Lalit Prakash Jain 183 184378631 –184378680 Vimal Prakash 265979734 –265979754 Jain 332583598 –332583614 377101714 –377101757 610843620 –610843648 796652232 –796652253 7 S1S0136423 Sherenaz Mahiyar 1330 98775021 –98775470 Raiomond K Mazda 98775771 –98775920 Irani 98776021 –98776070 98776221 –98776320 98776371 –98776380 200998171 –200998190 384260386 –384260775 612215981 –612216140

8 S1M0118463 Mydur Anand 18 328150496 –328150505 Harish Kumar Shashikala Anand 328150506 –328150510 Chunilal 797541486 –797541488 Ankush Anand Poonam H Chhabria 9 S1M0113212 Mydur Anand 15 797540396 –797540410 Harish Kumar Shashikala Anand Chunilal Anirudh Anand Poonam H Chhabria

10 S1M0118462 Mydur Anand 3797541483 –797541485 Harish Kumar Shashikala Anand Chunilal Classifieds Anirudh Anand Poonam H Chhabria 11 S1M0113213 Mydur Anand 36 321510847 –321510866 Harish Kumar PERSONAL Shashikala Anand 321510867 –321510876 Chunilal Ankush Anand 321510877 –321510882 Poonam H Chhabria 12 S1M0076637# Mukesh Dhruva 132 187806721 –187806770 Rajendra R Pushpa Dhruva 268364265 –268364285 Mehta 335648068 –335648084 378065417 –378065460 13 S1N0070851 Nilesh Vasa 64 379453554 –379453583 Kalu Ram Rakesh HLakhani 611317081 –611317099 Joshi Chandanbala H 797613840 –797613854 Lakhani 14 S1N0064196 Nilesh Vasa 95 379413536 –379413579 Kalu Ram Rajendra Vidhavan 611309303 –611309331 Joshi 797611800 –797611821 15 S1N0064197 Nilesh Vasa 95 379413580 –379413623 Kalu Ram Rishi Vidhavan 611309332 –611309360 Joshi 797611822 –797611843 16 S1A0079165 Amritlal MShah 36 232723671 –232723691 Bhavna J Devang AShah 331335059 –331335073 Shah

#The shares held against this folio number have been transferred to demat account of Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority ('IEPFA') pursuant to IEPFARules, 2016. In terms of the Circular and IEPFARules, the said transfer request would be processed and completed.

Any person who has any objection in respect of the proposed transfer of equity shares referred to above, shall intimate in writing to the Company Secretary at the Registered Office of Company and/or to the Registrar &Transfer Agent, TSR Darashaw Consultants Private Limited, within 30 days from the date of publication of this notice and if no objection is received by the Company within the stipulated period then the Company shall proceed with the transfer of the said equity shares/issue of Letter of Entitlement in favour of the above-mentioned transferee(s), without any further intimation. The information is also being made available on the website of the Company at www.tatasteel.com.

For Tata Steel Limited IMPORTANT Sd/- Whilst care is takenprior to acceptance of advertising copy,itisnot possible to verify its contents. The December 23, 2020 Parvatheesam Kanchinadham Indian Express (P) Limited cannot be held responsible for such contents, nor for any loss or damage Mumbai Company Secretary & incurred as aresult of transactions with companies, associations or individuals advertising in its Chief Legal Officer (Corporate &Compliance) newspapers or Publications. We therefore recommend that readers make necessaryinquiries before sending any monies or entering into any agreements with advertisers or otherwise acting on an advertisement in any manner whatsoever.

Ahmedabad WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM 6 CALENDAR THEINDIANEXPRESS,WEDENESDAY,DECEMBER23,2020

OVER THE HEDGE by Michael Fry &TLewis CROSSWORD4309 DAYTODAY BYPETERVIDAL

ARIES (Mar 21 -Apr 20) LIBRA (Sept24-Oct 23) Today's sensitive Socially, your lifeis Moon lands in an looking up. Although extraordinarily therehavedoubtless favourable region of been some your chartand brings disappointments, youhaveto younoend of potential for see that what is trulynecessary both fun and self- nowisawillingness to improvement. Familyaffairs voluntarilylet go of certain should put the spotlight on emotional ties. Younever know children and their interests.In -loved ones might likethe fact, the young-at-heartstand newyou. to do well. SCORPIO (Oct 24 -Nov 22) TAURUS (Apr 21 -May 21) Professionallyyou are Restlessness rises, still on to awinner.In and youcould even all areas thereseems be temptedtomove to be agreat deal to CALVIN &HOBBES by Bill Watterson home. One wayor gain from seeking out fresh another thereseems to be a responsibilities and pursuing great needtoimprove your newambitions. If thereshould be domestic existence, perhaps to anysetbacks then, strangetosay, introduce asplash of colour.At the wayisbeing openedfor even work,any personal friction can greater success. be overcome with awillingness ACROSS to say‘sorry’. SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 -Dec 22) 1Put prisonhelper’s position in DOWN Sometimes it's not jeopardy (2,7) 2It’s pleasant embracing an GEMINI (May22-June 21) what people do 8Victor loses his head in the bull Eastern relative (5) The Moon is now that's important, but ring (5) 3Able to help us with processed bound to trigger what theythink.In 9Misfortune forthe other side fuel (6) some of the livelier other words, philosophical (7) 4Fair description of all but the aspectsofyour considerations should be taken 10 Firs do makeattractive fastestrunners? personality.Ifyou were to seriously. Youmay think they're features in Norway (8) spend the whole daychattering irrelevant, but youshould (6) 5It’s exhausting but followitup away and generallyexpressing realise that what youbelieve 11 She mayget up late with atelephone call your latestopinions, this shapes your actions and (6) (6) would be perfect. Mind you, controls your future. Oh, and 12 Stop in front of ahumble 6Any girlsomistreated might you'd probablybewise to keep welcome anynew long- building (8) react thus (7) at leasthalf an eyeon distance contacts. 15 One point on aforkis 7Expression of annoyance for practical responsibilities! MARVIN by Tom Armstrong CAPRICORN (Dec 23 -Jan 20) unpleasantlysharp (8) your immediateoccupation CANCER (June 22 -July23) Businessprospects 18 It’s old perhaps and noteasily (9) Youreallydohavea have seldom been moved(6) 11 Acceptedinerror and fainted chance to makea stronger,evenif 20 I’d seem upsetbyadeath (6,3) fresh startin there's some (6) 13 Fair description of areformed financial affairs. On information whichcannotbe 21 Jewish father character (3,2,3) one levelit's agood dayfor trusted, nottomention people (7) 14 I’m intogossip likeabishop picking up bargains, but look who areunreliable. Thereis 22 Notqualifiedtospeak (7) around and you'll discoverways muchtogain from launching (5) 16 Wish to reside in style(6) in whichyou can boostyour intosome newventureaslong 23 Trace idea that is wrong and 17 Artistic piecework (6) long-term prosperity.Perhaps a as youkeep your options wide root it out 19 Unsuitable camouflagepaint social liaison offers the security open. Domestic improvements (9) (5) you'relooking for. could be high on the agenda, with bargains to be had. SolutionsCrossword4308:Across:1Coconut,4Mango,7Mate,8Marginal,10 LEO (July24-Aug 23) Cartoonist,12Ranges,13Ground,15Callitaday,18Alphabet,19Edam,20Trout,21 The Moon plays a AQUARIUS (Jan 21 -Feb 19) Shotgun.Down:1Comic,2Catering,3Trains,4Magistrate,5Nuns,6Obliged,9 curious role in your This could be a Polesapart,11Guidedog,12Rampant,14Alters,16Yemen,17Upto. chart, suggesting a remarkable time for simultaneous rise in personal confidence and increase in relationships, with sensitivity.This is an ideal time the chance of ahighly to launchyourself intoabrave significant meeting rising by JUMBLED WORDS DifficultyLevel5s newexistence, although there the hour.Indeed, your lifecould Instructions is no pressing needtoact today. be changed by the people who Givenbelowarefourjumbledwords.Solvethejumblestomakeproperwordsandmovethemto TosolveaSudokupuzzle, Anyventures initiated over the aresoon to walk intoit. Could next three days will be that be agood thing? Well, yes, therespectivesquaresbelow.Selectthelettersintheshadedsquaresandjumblethemtoget everydigitfrom1to9 4330 theanswerforthegivenquip. mustappearineachofthe very important. if youhandle it right. Thediscoveryofanew___doesmoreforhumanhappinessthanthediscoveryofanew___ nineverticalcolumns,in VIRGO (Aug 24 -Sept23) PISCES(Feb20-Mar 20) (4,..,4) eachoftheninehorizontal

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ªÉĸÁÌA MANGALORE ELECTRICITY SUPPLYCOMPANY LIMITED GOVERNMENT OF TAMILNADU (A Government of undertaking) MESCOM Corporate Office, MESCOM Bhavana, Kavoor Cross Road, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT Bejai, Mangaluru -575004. Ph: 0824-2885795 E-mail :[email protected] BUILDINGS (C &M)CIRCLE, MEDICAL WORKS, TRICHY 04 JUN 1963 -23DEC 1993 CIN: U40109 KA 2002 SGC 030425 TENDER EXTENSION NOTICE, DATED: 22.12.2020 We pay homage to our noble martyr,who No. MESCOM/SEE(P)/EEE(P)/2020-21/ 11942 Date: 18.12.2020 The date of tender for the work in the Tender Notice No.14/2020- made the supreme sacrifice while fighting SHORT TERM TENDER NOTIFICATION (Through e-Procurement Portal Only) 2021/ BCM/ MW/ TRY/ Dated:23.11.2020 published in is the enemy in ‘OP RAKSHAK’, J&K in the year MESCOM invites short term tender for Manufacture and Supply of the extended due to Administrative reason and the date of receiving 1993. His dauntless courage &sacrifice will following material: tender is fixed upto 3.00 PM on 12.01.2021 and will be opened on forever inspire the organisation. Tender No. Name of the Material proposed for Procurement Quantity 12.01.2021 at 3.30 PM. The tender schedule can be downloaded upto 11.01.2021, 5.45 PM.All other Details may be downloaded from MAJ HPS CO &ALL RANKS 6TH BN BRIGADE MESCOM/2020-21/ 11KV 5KN Polymeric Pin Insulators 1,20,000 Nos IND733/Call-2 the following websites : www.tenders.tn.gov.in(or) SANDHU, SC OF THE GUARDS. The interested eligible bidders may log on to : www.tntenders.gov.in www.eproc.karnataka.gov.in on or after 23.12.2020. Other conditions remain unaltered. Sd/- Superintending Engineer (Ele.) (Proc.) MESCOM, Mangaluru Superintending Engineer,P.W.D., ªÉĸÁAÌ MANGALORE ELECTRICITY SUPPLYCOMPANY LIMITED GREATER CORPORATION For Power Related Complaint &Assistance Call Toll Free Number 1912 DIPR /4823 /TENDER /2020 Buildings (C &M)Circle, Medical Works, Trichy (Government of Karnataka undertaking) Mechanical Engineering Department nd M.E.D.C.No.M1/1773A/2020 MESCOM Corporate Ofce, 2Floor MESCOM Bhavana, Kavoor Cross Road, ''IMPORTANT'' Short Re E- Tender No�ce Whilst care is taken prior to Bejai, Mangaluru-575 004 Phone: 0824-2885795 E-mail: [email protected] NOTIFICATION acceptance of advertising Short Re E-Tender is invited forthe following work by GOVERNMENT OF GUJARAT copy,itisnot possible to verify No. SEE(P)/ MESCOM /2020-21/11612 Date: 15.12.2020 Superintending Engineer (Mech), (Head Quarters)asper tender its contents. The Indian Revenue Department, Sachivalaya, Gandhinagar Express (P) Limited cannot be TENDER NOTIFICATION (E-Procurement Portal Only) condi�on held responsible for such The Right to Fair Compensation and TransparencyinLand Acquisition, Rehabilitation contents, nor for any loss or MESCOM invites tender for Manufacture &Supply of following material: RefNo. Name of Work Tender Value EMD &Resettlement Act, 2013 (30 of 2013) damage incurred as aresult of Supply,Installa�on and transactions with companies, Tender No Name of the Material proposed for Procurement Quantity Dist :Panchmahals associations or individuals Commissioning of 11 advertising in its newspapers MESCOM/2020-21/IND738 No. 8Guy Strain Insulators 1,40,000 Nos Nos.ofFully Automa�c No. AM-2020-472-M-LPN-2020-734-CH Date: 14 AUG2020 or Publications. We therefore M1/1773A/2020 Rs.546 Lakhs Rs.5,46,000/- recommend that readers HorizontalBaling Machine Whereas it appears to the Government of Gujarat, that the land specified in the SCHEDULE annexedhere- The interested eligible bidders may log on to make necessary inquiries www.eproc.karnataka.gov.in on or after 24.12.2020. with conveyor a�achment to,islikely to be needed forpublic purpose viz:for the purpose of PMGSY -Constg. Dhamnod Muvadi before sending any monies or entering into any agreements Sd/- Superintending Engineer (Ele.)(Proc), MESCOM, Mangalore Lastdateand �me forsubmission of Tender: 07.01.2021, FaliyaRoad. with advertisers or otherwise 1. Nowtherefore in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 2of"The Right to Fair acting on an advertisement in 3.00 p.m. any manner whatsoever. ForPower Related Complaints and Assistant Call Toll Free Number 1912 Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (30 of Tender Opening date and �me: 08.01.2021, 3.15 p.m. 2013) (hereinafter referred to as "The Act"), and the Rules made there-under,itisherebynotified that Tender details canbedownloaded from: h�p://tntenders.gov.in the Government of Gujarat intends to acquire the said land forthe public purpose of the specified above. DIPR/4873/Tender/2020 Superintending Engineer (Mechanical) 2. Nowwhereas aproposal is made foracquisition of the belowmentioned scheduled land forthe pro- posed project of PMGSY -Constg. Dhamnod Muvadi FaliyaRoad the bare minimum area of land to be acquired, as per SCHEDULE forthe Project is H. 3-34-38 Sq. mtr. of Panchmahal district. 3. Nowwhereas it appears to the State Government, That it is expedient to exempt in the public interest to the area of H. 3-34-38 Sq. mtr. of land to be acquired forthe above stated infrastructure project from the application of the provision of chapter-II and III of The Act. 4. Nowtherefore in exercise of the powerconferred by section 10(A) of The Act (inserted by section-3 of The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (Gujarat Amendment Act, 2016) (Gujarat Act No.12of2016). The Government of Gujarat herebyexempt in public interest the area of H. 3-34-38 Sq. mtr. land comprised in belowmentioned SCHEDULE to be acquired forthe PMGSY -Constg. Dhamnod Muvadi FaliyaRoad from the appli- cation of the provision of Chapter-II and III of the Act. SCHEDULE Case No.06/2020 Village :Dhamnod Taluka :Shahera District :Panchmahal Survey/ Area Survey/ Area Survey/ Area BlockNo. (H. Are.Sq. Mtr.) BlockNo. (H. Are.Sq. Mtr.) BlockNo. (H. Are.Sq. Mtr.) 391 0-03-80 436 Paiki 10-00-80 476 0-00-50 405/2 0-03-04 438 Paiki 10-02-02 477 0-07-08 0-15-18 0-22-26 40 Paiki 20-01-80 439 Paiki 30-15-18 508 0-08-09 0-08-09 0-23-27 407 0-26-28 439 Paiki 20-02-02 512/A Paiki 80-05-06 0-10-12 0-36-40 408 Paiki 10-02-02 439 Paiki 40-08-09 512 Paiki 10 0-26-50 408 Paiki 30-09-11 469 0-03-04 512/A Paiki 60-03-04 0-04-05 0-07-09 409 Paiki 20-18-90 470 0-01-01 512/A Paiki 11 0-13-60 409 Paiki 10-08-09 472 Paiki 10-05-50 544 0-35-50 0-02-02 0-07-52 423 Paiki 10-20-11 472 Paiki 20-07-08 545 0-08-09 0-03-04 0-10-12 424 Paiki 10-06-80 473 Paiki 10-00-80 566 0-01-01 0-02-02 0-03-03 425 0-12-80 474+473 0-06-50 ------435 0-07-80 475 0-08-80 Total 3-34-38 By order and in the name of Governor of Gujarat. Sd/- Sd/- Additional Special Land Acquisition Officer (H. J. Rathod) Panchmahal, Godhra Under Secretary Revenue Department (INF/Godhra/628/2020) Govt. of Gujarat

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THEINDIANEXPRESS,WEDNESDAY,DECEMBER23,2020 7 GOVT &POLITICS DDC:‘Freeofpoliticalbaggage’, Challenge is to retainyouth in DELHI CONFIDENTIAL Independentsscorebiginpolls science: PM

NAVEEDIQBAL PARTY-WISE Indian scientists.” SRINAGAR,DECEMBER22 EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE Modi said thatthe new PERFORMANCE NEWDELHI,DECEMBER22 National EducationPolicy will BESIDESTHEBJPandtheNational helpbuildascientifictemperfrom ■Kashmir ■ Jammu Conference winning big on their WHILETHEbiggestchallengefac- an early age, with the focus of ed- own, the single largest groupof (wins/leads) ing science rightnow is develop- ucation shifting from outlays to winning candidates in the DDC BJP 3 73 mentof avaccineforCovid-19,the outcome, and from textbooksto elections arethe Independents. NC 42 26 biggestlong-term challengere- research and application.“The Barring five of 20 districts, PDP 27 1 mains attracting and retaining (NationalEducation) Policy will Independentswon theday in all Congress 9 17 youth in science, Prime Minister encouragecreationofapooloftop otherdistricts. NarendraModi said on Tuesday. quality teachers. This approach AUTO MESSAGE Asperlatestavailablefigures,44 ApniParty 9 3 Inaugurating the sixth India willhelpbuddingscientists.Thisis of 241seatsfor whichresultswere Independents 32 17 International Science Festival being supplemented by the Atal WHENDEFENCEMinister Rajnath Singh spoketoJapanese available till lateTuesdayevening, PAGD 85 27 (IISF),Modialsostressedtheneed Innovation Mission and Atal counterpart Kishi Nobuo on Tuesday,the discussions were on were wonbyindependents. forincreasedcooperation be- Tinkeringlabsbeingdevelopedin *J&K SEC; as of lateevening serious issues suchasbilateral defence and security cooper- Twenty-eight of these arefrom tween science and industry, and schools across the country, in ation. However, images officiallyreleasedbythe Japanese side Kashmirregion,therestinJammu. Independent candidate Bilal Ahmad in Srinagar. PTI appealed the global community whichscienceinfrastructureisbe- afterthe meeting caught the attention of officials in the Forthetwocousinsof Srinagar to invest in Indian talent andin- ing upgraded.” Defence Ministry. In aphoto publishedonKishi Nobuo's offi- and Poonch, Independents will novate in the country. He said Atal Incubation cial Twitter handle, therewas aminiaturemodel of an Indian castthe deciding vote. Of 2,178 The science festival, which Centres arealsobeingcreated for autorickshawonhis table. Other than the flags and aBuddha candidates in 280 territorial con- concludes on December 25, will higher education facilities.. statue,all that he had on the table wasthe model of the au- stituencies dividedequallybe- ‘Now that he has won, bethecountry'slargest virtualsci- Forqualityresearch,the gov- torickshawingreen and yellow. With officials starting to won- tween Kashmir and Jammu, over encefestivaltilldate,withthecon- ernment is runningthe Prime der what could be the message, one of them quipped: “It could athousand candidates were cludingsessionto beaddressedby Minister's Research Fellows mean India-Japanrelations areonautopilot.” Independent. In ahyper-local we are living in the Vice President Venkaiah Naidu. Scheme to encouragethe coun- election, theymade the pitchof Stating that India has arich try's best talentstoundertake re- being“freeof politicalbaggage”in legacyinscience,technology and search as per their talent and in- BACK IN ACTION their campaign. hope of his release’ innovation, Modi said in his ad- terest,hesaid. With digital AlthoughPDPhadjust63can- dress: “Our scientists have done advances,thePrimeMinistersaid, DAYS AFTER they metand initiated an internal dialogue didatescontestingonpartyticket, SomiaSadaf path-breaking research;our tech Indiaisbecomingacentreofevo- process, and some of the letter-writer leaders, the number of Independentsis NAVEEDIQBAL industryisattheforefrontofsolv- lutionandrevolutionof globalhi- who have sought changes in the party,will be together again higherthan itstally of 26, as per PULWAMA,DECEMBER22 PDP’s youth ing global problems. But India tech power. later this week.Gandhi will lead adelegation of Congress lead- lastavailable figure. wing leader PoK to J&K: wantstodomore. We look at the “Toachieve this world-class ers and MPs on ThursdaytomeetPresident RamNathKovind In termsofvotes, the 44inde- JUST AFTER 2pm, twomen wasarrested pastwith pride but want an even education, health, connectivity to demand his intervention forrepealing the three controver- pendentcandidates together walkedoutofthecountingcentre on Nov25 Past thefences, better future. All our effortsare and rural solutions,today’s India sial farm laws.Theywill submit some twocrore signatures polledover1.24lakhvotes,signif- atGovernmentDegreeCollegefor aimedatmakingIndia the most has data, demographyand de- collectedbythe party urging his intervention. The delegation icantlyhigher than PDP’s 45,000. Women in Pulwama, holding a sheisstill trustworthycentrefor scientific mand,” he said. “Above all, India will include Ghulam Nabi Azad. Gandhi had metthe President TheBJP,owing to higher voter sheetofpaper and barelyable to Pulwama, his father Ghulam learning. has democracy to balanceand earlier this month with leaders of other opposition parties turnoutinJammu, polledmore contain their smiles. “He won, AhmadPara sitsonthefloorof the “Atthe same time, we want protect all this. That is whythe but Azad, the Leader of the Opposition in RajyaSabha, was votes thanany other single party Waheedwon.”Whilethefinalvote living room, surroundedby not ‘home’ ourscientificcommunityto share worldtrusts India.” notinvolvedincoordination with leaders of other parties. –over4.42 lakh. TheNational count wasyet to be announced, friends, neighbours and relatives. and grow with the best of global The Prime Ministerstressed Conferencepolledabout2.16 lakh the lead wasunassailable. “I have notseen him in twoyears. BASHAARATMASOOD talent. One of the steps takento on scientific solutionsfor chal- outoftotal 30 lakh ballots castin Of the 1,851votes polledfor Afterhewas released, he came SRINAGAR,DECEMBER22 achievethis is hosting and partic- lengesof waterscarcity, pollution, theseelections. the Pulwama 1constituency, home once to see his sisterand I ipatinginhackathons to provide soil quality and food security fac- As of Tuesday night, onlyBJP Waheed-ur-Rehman Para se- missedseeing him that dayas INTHEchillingwintercold,Somia exposure andopportunity to ing the country. BJP sweeps Jammu and PDP have claimedsupportof cured1,322.However, hewasnot well,”thefathersays,ashebreaks Sadaf spent days travellinghome approximatelyadozen around to collect his certificate. down. He says his sonnever had to homeinvillages of Drugmulla Independent candidates. As the The PDP’s youth wing leader permissionto stay thenightathis constituency of Kupwara, trying division, faces reverses fulllistofcandidates is an- wasarrestedbythe NIA on home duetosecurity concerns. to convincepeopleto vote forher. nounced, likelybyWednesday November 25,fivedays afterhe The campaign, carriedout by She wasthe firstwoman from in Chenab, Pir Panjal morning, aclearpicturewill filednominationpapers, in con- hisfriendsandfamily, startedafter Pakistan-occupiedKashmir(PoK) emerge on who the Independent nectionwithaterrorcase against Para’s arrest.“Ionlystepped out to contestthe DDC polls. winnerschooseto support.There suspendedJ&K police officer to campaign forhim over two As Drugmulla went to pollsin ARUNSHARMA areseven Independent winners Devinder Singh. The NIA has al- days.His friendsdid everything,” the fourth phase on December 7, JAMMU,DECEMBER22 inSrinagarandsixinPoonch,four leged that Para,who is currently hesays.“Nowthathehaswon,we theturnoutkeptSadaf’shopesalive. in Shopian, three eachin in judicial custody,was in touch areliving in the hope of his re- Butassheanxiouslyawaitedthere- THE BJP wasset to emergethe Bandipora, Baramulla and with one of the accused. lease.” FULLREPORTON sultsonTuesday, thecounting for PM Modi addresses the India InternationalScience Festival single largest party in Jammu, Pulwama, among others. At his home, in Nairaareaof www.indianexpress.com the DDC seat wasnot allowed. on Tuesday. PTI Samba, Reasi, Udhampur and Reason: Sadaf,and her Kathua districts,but sufferedre- domicile. verses in ChenabValley and Pir On Tuesday, counting forthe Trump presents Legion Panjal regions. Big wins, narrow defeats seat wasstoppedafter the office Of the resultsannouncedfor of the StateElection 52 seatsinJammu division so far, JammuandKashmir,Taj Mohidin didateBasher Ahmad Malla by Commissioner wrotetothe the BJP,whichwas contesting BASHAARATMASOOD jumpedthe fray from theborder 637votes. While Mir polled932 DeputyCommissioner,Kupwara, of Merit to PM Modi 114seats in the division, wasde- SRINAGAR,DECEMBER22 constituencyof ParenpillaninUri, votes, Malla managed 295. asking himtostopthe counting. clared winner in 28 constituen- aseathehasrepresentedtwicein SAFEENABEIG: Wife of for- “...The StateElection EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE cies, mostlyinJammu,Samba FROM Awomanwho originally the erstwhile stateAssembly. mer deputy Chief Ministerof Commissionerhasdirectedtodefer NEWDELHI,DECEMBER22 and Reasi districts. The party's BJP candidateSuresh Kumar camefromMuzaffarabadto afor- Mohidin wasleading, when re- Jammu and Kashmir Muzaffar counting of votesinDrugmulla till US President advances got checkmated by the afterhis lead in the DDC poll mer minister, aseniorCongress ports last came in, by amarginof Hussain Beig, Safeena contested further orders in this regard.Ballot USPRESIDENTDonaldTrumphas Donald National Conference (NC), results, in Jammu. PTI leader and formerlegislators to over 1,500votes over his nearest theDDCpollsfromWagooracon- boxesandrelatedelectionmaterial conferredone of the country's Trump Congress, JKAP and Independent thechildrenof seniormainstream rival, Showkat Ali Khan –ajoint stituency as an Independent can- shall be stored in astrong room...” highestmilitarydecoration—The candidates in Kisht, Doda, politicalleaders,theDDCelections candidateofthePeople’sAlliance didate. She wasupagainstNC’s statedtheletter,signedbySecretary, Legion of Merit, Degree Chief Ramban, Poonchand Rajouri at least halfadozenmore. The in Jammu and Kashmir sawa forGupkar Declaration (PAGD). Shaheena Begum, ajoint candi- StateElection Commission. Commander —toPrime Minister theUSto improvebilateralties,re- districts. winners in Udhampur district galaxy of candidates trying their WhileMohidinhadsecured9,730 dateofthe People’s Alliance. Thelettercitedacomplaint for NarendraModi, along with flected in the bipartisan consen- LateTuesdayevening, with includedBJP’s former MLARS luck.Hereare someof thebigwin- votes, Khan wasat8,145votes. Safeena defeated Begum by a “furnishing of wrong informa- AustralianPMScottMorrisonand sus in both countries about the counting still on, the NC had won Pathania’s wifeJuhi Manhas ners and losersinwhat is the SHUAIBLONE:Aformerlegis- marginofaround 1,500votes. tion” by Sadaf. formerJapanese PM Shinzo Abe. Indo-USStrategicPartnership.The 12 seats, Congresshad five,JKAP (Khoon constituency). biggestdemocratic event in the latorwhojoinedtheAltaf Bukhari- Whilethe turnout in most Asking whynoone raisedthe This is significant since the 21st centurypresentsbothun- two, JKNPP one and In Reasi district, BJP wonat newUnionTerritory: ledJammu and Kashmir Apni southKashmirconstituencies,es- issuewhenshehadfiledhernom- four leaders were keytoreviving precedentedchallengesaswellas Independents(four). five places, with twogoing to NC, WAHEED-UR-REHMAN Party, Shuaib losttoIndependent pecially inPulwamaandShopian, ination,andafterward,Sadaf said, the Quadrilateral grouping since opportunities.The India-US rela- While BJP had won13seats including formerJ&K minister PARRA: The youth presidentof candidateIrfan Hafeez Lone from waslow,the region witnessed “Itwasasurpriseforme....Nobody 2017,whichispartofthe Indo- tionshipcanleverage thevast po- and NC one in Samba district, the JagjivanLal. The JKAP wasde- PDP,Waheedwascontestingfrom Sangrama constituency of some close contests. objected foroveramonth. Pacific strategy and is aimedat tential of our people's unique trends available in Jammu dis- clared elected from twoplaces, jail.Hewaspickedupby theNIAa Baramulla by anarrowmargin. An independent candidate Suddenly,when Iwas sure to win countering the growing belliger- strengths to provide global lead- trict showedthat it waspoised among the winners former min- fewdaysafter he filedthe nomi- While Irfan secured 3,404votes, fromDadsaraTral,AvtarSingh,de- this seat, todaytheydidn’t allow ence of China in the region. ershipfor the benefit of (the) en- to winall seats, barring two, isterAjaz Khan from Thruoo. nation papers. In his absence, Shuaibmanagedtoget2,129votes. feated National Conference’sAli counting of votes.” The awardwas receivedon tirehumanity. whereanNCand an Congress and Independentswon Waheed’s family sought votes for PDPspokespersonSuhailBukhari, Mohammad Bhatbyamargin of Sadaf saidsheissurprisedbut behalfofthe Prime Minister by In September,the awardwas Independent candidatewere one seat each. himto“provehis innocence”. In who wasalso in the fray from onlythree votes. In Zainapora-I notsad:“Whateverhappens,hap- Indian Ambassador to theUS given—after29years —tothe leading.InKathua district,BJP The election resultsand Pulwama-I constituency, which Sangrama, managed to getonly DDC constituency,Independent pens forthe good.” Taranjit Singh Sandhu. Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al- wasleading at 12 places, while trendsavailable so farshowthat polledless than 10 per cent votes, 325 votes and finishedsixth. candidateBilquees Jan defeated Countingwasstoppedonsim- InmultipletweetsonTuesday AhmedAl-Jaber Al-Sabah. Congress and BSP were ahead in voters by and large rejected the Waheedwonaftersecuring1,332 AJAZMIR:Aformerlegislator another Independent, Gull Iqbal, ilargroundsatHajinconstituency evening, Modi stated:“Iam Therehavebeen twoIndian one seat each. extreme right-wing politics in votes from. The next in line were from WachiinsouthKashmir’s by 11 votes. In Kakaporacon- of Bandipore, whereacandidate, deeplyhonoured to be awarded recipientsofthe honour in the In Udhampur district, BJP had Jammu division. the rejected votes –at333. Shopian, the PDP candidatewon stituencyofPulwama, BJP's Pakistani wifeofamilitant who the Legion of Merit by @POTUS past: Field Marshal KMCariappa wonfourseatsand JKNPP one, FULLREPORTON TAJMOHIDIN:Aformermin- from Zainapora-II DDC seat, de- Minha Lateef wonbyamargin of returnedundertherehabilitation @realDonaldTrump.Itrecognises in1950,andGenSMSrinageshin with the saffron party leading in www.indianexpress.com isterandseniorCongressleaderin featinghisrival,Independentcan- 14 votes. programme, wascontesting. theeffortsof thepeopleof India& 1955. Rajnath talksdefence ties Baloch activist, vocalcritic of Pak, found dead in Toronto with Japan counterpart Qambarand thelateKhalid participationof womenis incom- did she mobilize the womenof ful Pakistani militaryinsuchan SHUBHAJITROY Baloch. plete,” she had told BBC. her area but alsoled the menin open way,”Akbar said. NEWDELHI,DECEMBER22 Although Pakistanhas In a2016interview, Karima the fight againstPakistan's poli- Meanwhile, rightsgroup KRISHNKAUSHIK bannedthe BSO-Azad, Karima re- said the political situation in cies in Balochistan.” Amnesty International tweeted, NEWDELHI,DECEMBER22 DAYS AFTER Prime Minister peatedly rejectedthe notion that Balochistanpushedher intopol- “She wasvocal, fearless, and “The death of activist NarendraModi, in his 2016 the organisation supported vio- itics. consistent in her resistance de- #KarimaBalochinToronto, DEFENCEMINISTERRajnathSingh Independence Dayspeech, had lence forthe attainmentofits po- “When Iwas growing up, I spitefacingsevereopposition Canada is deeplyshocking and onTuesday heldatelephoniccon- Kishi Nobuo made an outreachtothe people litical goals. She had oftenac- neverthought of becoming a from the Pakistanimilitaryandits must be immediatelyand effec- versationwithhisJapanesecoun- of Balochistan, Balochactivist cusedPakistanofpromoting politician. Iwas more interested intelligence agencies. One of her tively investigated.The perpetra- terpartKishiNobuoduringwhich Karima Mehrab calledthe radical Islamic elementsinBaloch in arts and psychology.Itisobvi- uncles had previouslybeen killed tors mustbebrought to justice bothleadersdiscusseddefenceco- in itsstatement that the twolead- Indian PM herbrother and areas to counter the nationalist ous that when youare living in a by the Pakistani securityforces without recoursetothe death operationbetweenthetwocoun- ers “also exchanged views on re- urgedhim to be thevoice of movement and to curb women’s KarimaMehrabhad called society whose sufferings yousee and the home wastargetedbut penalty.” triesandopposedany attemptsto gionalsituations,includingtheEast “Balochgenocide, warcrimes rights. the Indian PM her brother all around youonadailybasis, that did notdeter herfromher Karima is the secondhigh- changestatus quothrough coer- ChinaSeaandtheSouthChinaSea, and human rightsviolations at According to aprofile in the then youbegin to question why mission. She wasdeemedasa profile Balochactivistliving cion in the region –inaveiledref- and reaffirmedtheir continued international forums”. BaluchHal, “her journeywith the is this happening to me andmy powerfulBalochvoiceevenin ex- abroad to be killedthis year.In erence to China. closecooperation”.“Inthiscontext, On Mondaynight, Mehrab — BSO beganin2006when she was Zahid Baluch,its formerchair- people?” she said. ile,” Akbar said. March,Balochrefugee and jour- Theyalso discussedthe theministersaffirmedtheirinten- popularly known as Karima astudent at Atta Shad Degree man, went missing. Her home “When youbegin thesearch Akbar said he believedthat nalist Sajid Hussain wasfound Malabarnavalexercise,whichcon- tiontocontinueexchangingviews Baloch–wasfound dead in CollegeinTurbat. It wasatumul- and the familywerealsoreport- foranswers to all these questions, with her death, theBalochmove- dead in the Fyris Rivernear cludedinNovember, and forthe inlightof thecurrenteventsoccur- Toronto, Canada,whereshe had tuous year in Balochistan's poli- edly targeted due to her political the answers youfind makeyou ment has got itsbiggestfemale Uppsala, Sweden. He had been firsttime since 2007 sawpartici- ringintheregionandconcurredin been living since 2015,seeking ticsas theMusharrafgovernment activities”. give up personal goals and focus icon yet. “She will be remem- missing fordays before his body pation of all four members of the sending aclear messagethat they political asylum.The 32-year-old killedtheprominentBaluchtribal Karima wasmarriedtoHamal on the greater national goal.” beredand seen by manyyoung wasfound. Quadrilateral Security Dialogue – strongly opposeany attempts to waslastseen on December 20, chief NawabAkbar Bugti in , asenior BalochNational Malik Siraj Akbar,aUS-based Balochs -- both boys,and girls -- Reporters without Borders India, Japan, US and Australia. unilaterallychange the status quo the TorontoPolice tweeted. Augustthat sparkedprovince- Movement leader who until re- Pakistani journalistand editor of as arole model and asymbolof (RSF),aParis-basedjournalists’ Theconversation,anothersign bycoercionoranyactivitiesthates- The firstwoman chairperson wideprotests acrosstheprovince. centlyservedastheparty’s inter- BaluchHal, told The Indian resistance even if theywould not organisation, alleged that of deepening defence tiesbe- calatetension,” it said. of the BalochStudents Givenher proactive participation national spokesperson. Express on Tuesday, “Karima fullyendorseher politics simply Hussain’s mysterious disappear- tween both the countries, comes Singh tweeted, “Indiaiscom- Organization(BSO-Azad),Karima in the BSO, she soon rose to Shehadbeen listedbythe BBC stood outin Balochistan'spolitics because thereare notmany ance andsubsequent death could in the backdrop of the continuing mitted to further elevateengage- wasborn in Balochistan’s Tump prominencewithintheorganiza- in itsprestigious 100Most as the firstfemaleleader of the women likeher in Balochistanor have been organisedbythe militarystandoffwith China in mentswith Japan under the area to apoliticallyactive family tion. In 2014,she made historyaf- Inspirational and Influential Balochresistance movement. In Pakistanwho would bewilling to Pakistani intelligence agencies – eastern . SpecialStrategic&Globalpartner- thatproducedseveralprominent terbeingelected as thefirstfe- Women of 2016.“Anational lib- Balochsociety, notmanywomen sacrifice everythingfor their polit- ISI and MI –due to his work as a Japan’sDefenceMinistrysaid shipframework,” he said. nationalistfigureslikeWahid male chairperson of the BSO after eration movement without the getout of their homes. Not only icalbeliefsand call outthepower- journalist. Ahmedabad WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THEINDIANEXPRESS,WEDNESDAY,DECEMBER23,2020 WORDLY WISE Theunique natureabout theinfluenzavirus is itsgreat potential forchanges, formutation. 8 THE EDITORIAL PAGE —MARGARET CHAN His trader’s voice

§ FOUNDED BY § RAMNATH GOENKA It is astonishing that farmers arespeaking up BECAUSE THE TRUTH INVOLVES US ALL to protect traders’ interests

SCIENCE IS KEY Rajiv Mehrishi Covid variant mustbetaken seriouslybut ayear into THE APMCACT of the1950s freedthe enues forthe sale of their produce, other than law, suchasappeals, theycan seek those pandemic, science should guide policy,not alarm bells Indian farmer from the monopolyofthe lo- mandis, especially if no element of coercion changes. Whytheyshould seek arepeal of cal trader (a la Kanhaiyalal of Mother India), is involved? the lawaltogether is trulybaffling. HE IDENTIFICATION OF anew strain of the novelcoronavirushas setoff alarm undoubtedly with substantial benefits. What changes have the three farm laws The EssentialCommodities bells in severalpartsofthe world. On Monday, Indiajoinedagrowing listof Equallytruly, what got created were oligop- wrought? The Farmers Produce Trade and (Amendment) Act, 2020 provides that stor- countriesthathave suspendedairlinkswiththeUK,wherethestrainisreported olies. In practice, eachtraderinthe mandi Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, age, etcofcereals, pulses, oilseeds, edible T to have becomethe dominant pathogen —italso seems to have appeared in has built relationships with aset of farm- 2020 givesfarmers the freedom to sellout- oils, onions and potatoes can be regulated South Africa, , Denmark, Netherlands and Australia.Stock marketshaveplunged in sev- ers: The tradersprovide credit, the farmer side the mandi; and to the buyer to buy at only in extraordinary circumstances such then sells his produce onlythrough that “farm gate”, without the necessity of a as war, famine, natural calamity,orextraor- eral countries, including India. In aworld reeling under the ravagesofthe battle with the trader,tohavethe credit/advance against mandilicence.The farmer’s choice to sell dinaryprice rise. The EC Act, as it stood, novelcoronavirus,suchreactionisunderstandable.And,thereisnodoubtthatthenewstrain suchsales adjusted. Moreoften than not, within the mandi, if she so wishes, is not served theinterests of the consumer,espe- needs to betakenseriously. Butscientists have learnedmuchabout thenovelcoronavirusin the mandi trader is also aconduit forthe takenaway. Reportedly, farmers believe that ciallythe rather spoilt urban middle classes, thepastoneyear.It’sthiswork inlaboratories,research institutes,hospitalsand datacentres sale of foodgrain at MSP (direct sale by this reform is aprecursor to the abolition of by trying to getfarmproduce to them at low thatshould obviatepessimism,evenasthe contagion donsanew avatar. farmers to MSP centres is virtuallyimpossi- mandis and MSP.Itishardtoimagine what prices. It is notdifficult to see that if retail Virusesmutate.Thoughthenovelcoronavirushasmutatedatafarslowerpacethanmost ble), reducing the netreceived by the farmer might have made them jumptothis conclu- prices arelow,farmgateprices willbede- to belowMSP (the traders’ “commission” sion: Anypolitical party would have to have pressedtoo. The EC Acthas also been other fluviruses, the newstrain —referredtoasVUI (variant underinvestigation) or B.1.1.7 forsuchtransactionsisobviouslyoff the an extreme andunprecedented case of my- againstthe interests of the farmer by dis- lineage—is notthe firstmutant of the contagion. Earlier mutations do notseem to have in- books). The symbioticrelationship between TheECAct has also been opia to do away with either mandis or MSP, couraging investmentsincold chains, ware- creasedthe healthrisksposedbythe novelcoronavirus. PublicHealth England—the exec- particulartraders and farmers, whichhave against the interests of the as it would be politicallysuicidal. Besides, it houses, etc. Better supply/marketing chains utive wing of the UK’s healthcaredepartment —does reckon thatVUI “transmitsmoreeas- been created within these oligopolies, is seems the government is prepared to give have the potential of getting higher ilythanotherstrains”. But theagency hasalso pointedoutthat thereisnoevidence“thatthe possiblyless exploitative only in compari- farmer by discouraging whatever assurance the farmerswanton prices/returns forthe farmer.Ifanything, variantismorelethalthanotherstrains”of thecontagion.Sofar, accordingto theUKgovern- son to theKanhaiyalals of yore. investments in cold chains, their continuation, and alsotomakechanges the farmers should have agitated,from That taking the next step, of allowing/in- in the lawsuchasmandi feeapplying to pri- decades ago, forthe amendmentsthat they ment’s Newand EmergingRespiratoryVirus ThreatsAdvisoryGroup, four deaths in around warehouses, etc. Better troducing morebuyers forfarm produce, vate “mandis” as well. arenow reportedlyopposing! 1,000caseshave beenidentified.Ithasalsosaidthatfurtherwork “isneededtocomparethis would further reduce exploitation of farm- supply/marketing chains The Farmers (Empowerment and In the 2004 strikeinRajasthan,the fatalityrate withdatasets”.ThoughtheUK’shealthsecretaryhaswarnedthattheVUI“isout ers has been thewisdom-by-consensus of have the potential of getting Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance traders’ demands were uncannilysimilar. of control”, the WorldHealth Organisation has disputed this negative prognosis. “Wehave almostall experts,expertcommittees and higher prices/returns forthe and Farm Services Act, 2020, basicallypro- This is what is astonishing: The concerns of had amuchhigher contaminationrateatdifferent pointsinthis pandemicand we’vegot it conferences at leastsince the late1980s. The farmer.Ifanything,the videsfor yetanother much-recommended the traders —additional sale optionsfor farm logicissimple: If the farmer has asingle agriculturemarketingreform—contract produce other than the mandis, and contract under control,” the head of the global healthagency’s emergency unit, Michael Ryan,isre- farmersshould have portedtohavesaid. buyer forher produce, she is mostvulnera- farming. Thishelpsthe farmertotransit to farming —are being mouthedbythe farmers. ble; if thereare afew buyers,she is less open agitated,from decades ago, commercialcrops, suchasvegetables and What is equallyastonishing is the silence of Willthenewstrainbypassthevaccinesthatareinthefinalstageofdevelopmentindiffer- to exploitation; and if thereare an unlimited forthe amendments that fruits, whichgivehigher returns than food- allthose“intellectuals” and “experts”, bar- ent partsofthe world? It’stoo earlyfor aconclusive answer.However, one of the protocols of number of buyers, she is the best off, because they are nowreportedly grain sold at MSP,byassuring her the “con- ring afew exceptions, who had passionately vaccinedevelopmentisto lookatavirusasamovingtarget.So,safeguardsagainstnew strains she can sell to whoeveroffers the best price. tracted”price even if thereisexcess produc- arguedfor years forthese reforms. Letusnot arebuilt intomostvaccines. The UK’s PHE, forinstance, is confident that the Pfizer-BioNTech Fewcan argue againstthis simple logic. opposing! What is equally tion, and prices in the marketfall. Of course, letour reform imperative be informedby vaccine currentlybeing deployedinthe countrycan take on VUI. Giventhat the anti-COVID- In fact, the much-advocated reform of the astonishing is the silence of the farmer is also committed to sellingatthe whichparty is in power. 19 vaccines arefirstgeneration preventives, some tweakscannot, of course, be ruledout. APMC laws has nothappenedsofar due to all those ‘intellectuals’ and “contracted”price, even if marketprices are Thereisobviouslymoretothis agitation the opposition from mandi traders, by now higher,though the lawdoes provide ameans than meets theeye.Tothink that the farmers Researchers,inanycase,have consistentlybeenunderliningthatthevaccineshave to befine- ‘experts’, barring afew an influential lobby. In Rajasthan, forexam- of sharing this windfall. The point, however, have been “misled” as partofa“politicalcon- tuned.It’sthisstateofpreparednessandtheconfidenceamongstthescientificcommunitythat ple, in 2004,asimilar Cabinet-approved exceptions, who had is that thereisnoelementofcompulsion. The spiracy” is perhaps naïve. Perhaps, the key should guide responses to thenew variant of the contagion —there’s no cause forpanic. amendment to the APMC Acthad to be with- passionately argued foryears farmer is free to continuesowing crops that lies in the waythe MSP scheme worksincer- drawnbecause traders went on strike. forthese reforms. Let us not sell at MSP,ortotakeher chances in the mar- tain states, and the way“big” farmer-trader Opposition to changes from traders to the let our reform imperative be ket, if she sows non-MSP crops, without en- relationships have worked out in such states. way, and to whom, farm produce is sold is tering intoany contract. Howcan therebea perfectlyunderstandable. But from the farm- informed by whichpartyis protestabout an additional option? If the The writer has been theCAG of India, and is a CONSUMER IS KING ers? Whyshouldfarmers opposemoreav- in power. farmers do notlikethe safetyfeatures of the former civil servant Newelectricity rules aim to makediscoms accountable to users. Competition, notjustregulation, is necessary to achieve this

NMONDAY,THE central government notifiedThe Electricity(Rightsof Consumers)Rules, 2020 thatare aimedatmaking powerdistribution com- CITIZEN AMERICAN O paniesmoreaccountable to theend consumer.The underlying rationale for thenewset of rulesisstraightforward.Powerdistributioncompanies,whether public or privateentities, areessentiallygeographical monopolies. This leavesthe end con- US polls have shown ‘ordinary’citizen has theability and duty to call out awrong sumer withnoalternativetoshifteveniftheyare unhappywith the services being offered to them —unlikethe telecom sector whereconsumers caneasilymigrate to other service providers.Thus,intheabsenceof realcompetition,consumershave littleornopowertohold Rajmohan Gandhi discoms accountable forthe quality of electricity supplied or the serviceprovided. The new rules attempt to address this issuebyputtinginplace astructuretomakediscoms moreac- countable to the end consumer, placing himatthe centreofthe regulations. AS Ahardyear closes out in the US, and the Arizona probablydestroyed their political Obama, aBiden or aKamala Harris. It be- electoral collegevoting seals Joe Biden’s futures, at leastfor the shortterm. Butthey came an American duty. The rules cover11key areas, encompassing the obligation of the distribution licencees, win, the oft-ignored powerthat individu- savedtheir country’s prestige. Theparallels forIndia areplain. While meteringarrangements,releaseof newconnections,andagrievanceredressalandcompen- als possess in ademocracy has once more In India, too, doing our duty in the teeth Adivasis, Dalitsand Muslims makeup sationmechanism,amongothers.Discomswillnowhavetocompensateconsumersforlong been highlighted. of pressures and inducements is notasmall “India’sBlacks”, among theseworse-offsec- powercuts,delays ingrantingelectricityconnections,andothersuchlapsesinservice.Forin- In America’s quaint system, the choice matter,whether we arepublic servants, or tions Muslims areassigned the role that stance, as per thenew rules, newconnectionsshould be provided by discoms withinseven of astate’s voters forthe nation’s president members elected to alocal, stateorna- Trumpism reserves forBlacks. Thisiswhere days of receiving the requestinmetros, 15 days in other municipal areas, and 30 days in ru- is formalisedby“electors” namedbythe tional council, or justcitizens. India’s national lifehas been found wanting. ralareas —failuretocomplywiththese timelines will resultinpenalties. Currently, some winning party,who voteone by oneincer- Yielding to pressurefromTrumpand Even though everyindexofincome, wealth, emonies separatelyconducted,onthe his base, manyRepublicanmembers of housing, health,educationorsecurity finds stateelectricity regulatorycommissions (SERCs)dohaveprovisions forcompensation if the same day, in eachstate or federal territory. Congress shamelesslyendorsedaSupreme the Muslim at the bottom, aJunaid or a statedperformancebenchmarksarenot met.However, notallstatesadheretothem,orhave This year,the rituals were performedon Courtplea, initiated by Texas’s attorney Jamila, aYasmin or aYusuf, will rarely get userfriendlyproceduresforreceivingthecompensation.Thenewrulesattempt to fixthisby December 14. general, to invalidatethe popular vote in support, even if attackedbyamob. paving the wayfor an automatic compensation mechanism. However, thereissome con- But rituals maybeamisleading phrase. Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia and Unless Trumptells his American ador- cern that these rules violatethe domain of the SERCs. Some experts have alsoarguedthat These “electors” couldhavecheated and Wisconsin. In adecision that showedthat ers (whichhewon’t)that he has been de- theymay be inconsistent withthe performancebenchmarks that have alreadybeen speci- voted againsttheir party,that is, against the Supreme Court, too, knewits duty,all feated,theywill notacceptthat truth. their state’s verdict. However, everyone of itsnine justices, including the three nom- Unless aNarendraModi, an or fied by SERCs.But, the real challengewill lie in their effective implementation. the 306Democratic “electors” voted for inated by Trump, decidedagainstenter- an Adityanath says to Hindu nationalism’s While these arewelcomesteps, the larger issue of usheringincompetition in the power Biden, and eachofthe 232 Republicans for taining the brazen plea. Though Trumpre- fervent adherents—what seems so hard distributionsegment—theweakestlinkinthepowerchain—remains.Thegovernmenthad Donald Trump. acted by tweeting thatthe courtlacked forthe three to say—that aMuslim’s lifeis earlier hopedtointroduce the model of separation of carriageand content. Doingsowould This time, with Trumpcontinuing to UnlessTrump tells his “wisdom” and “courage”, the justices had as valuable as aHindu’s, the masses of ad- have allowedconsumersthefreedomto choosetheirelectricitysupplier.Thiswouldhave ush- denyhis defeat (and to rouse his support- shown preciselythose virtues. herentswill notacceptthat truth. American adorers(whichhe ered in competition, forcing discoms to improvetheir performance standards, and adopt a ers to somehowtransform it intoawin), Biden’s dislodging of Trumpis, there- That still leavescroresofother Hindus the “electors” became targetsofintimida- fore,not the former’s personal feat. It is the and other Indians who would welcome re- moreconsumer centric approach. won’t) that he has been tion. Prevention of voting and even abduc- defeated,they will not accept outcome of duty done by agreat many. minders of the equal value of everyhuman tion wasfeared,but publicservantssaw the Equallycrucial to the outcome wasthe life, and of the tolerance whichIndians in exercise through. that truth. Unlessa outspoken and broad rejection of the con- their vast majorityhavealwayscherished. In some places, ingenuity wasneeded. NarendraModi, an Amit tinual Trumpisthint, obvious to everyone Forany of us to wait forsome great leader At the lastminuteintraditionally Shah or an Adityanath says and appealing to many, that America be- to provide these reminders, or to keep NOT JUSTAJOB Republican Arizona,whichhad chosen to Hindu nationalism’s longed primarily to itsWhites. Twinnedto silent until aunifiedopposition emerges, Biden over Trump, the state’s officers — this insinuation wasacall against“pam- is to acquiesce in dailydeeds of injustice. fervent adherents —what Apolitician decidedtoswitchjobs, leaving her husband’s party. loyalRepublican Party members — pering Blacks”. In refutation, Americans To Indians and others, America 2020 switchedthe ritual’s venue to asafer place, seems so hard forthe three said on social media,innewspapers, on TV, has shown that the “ordinary” citizen has No one would careiftheywereinvestment bankers freeing the “electors” to vote forBiden. to say—that aMuslim’slife in dailyconversation, and in marches on both the ability to call out awrong and the In this and other ways,officersand the street that their country belongedto duty to do so. HERE’S AREASON forthat old adage, “Don’t discuss politics or religion at the is as valuable as aHindu’s, “electors”acrossthe US overcame pres- all, and that the real problem wasthe neg- dinner table”. But then, there’s acounter-cliche: “Communication is the keyto sures and did their duty.Insodoing, pub- the masses of adherents will lect of Blackneeds. Confronting the The writer teaches at theUniversity of asuccessfulrelationship.” On Monday, SujataMondal Khan, wifeofBJP MP lic servantsinstateslikeGeorgia and not accept that truth. Trumpistline wasthus notlefttoan Illinois at Urbana-Champaign T SaumitraKhan,joinedtheTrinamoolCongress.Shehasbeenalong-timemem- berofthe BJP and her chagrin at her now-former party stems from the fact that “corrupt leaders from other parties” were being givenpositions in the BJP at the expenseofparty loy- alists.SaumitraKhanbrokedownatapressconferenceheldshortlyafterhiswife’sdeparture and saidhewould send her a“divorcenotice”. DECEMBER 23, 1980, FORTY YEARS AGO Defections and counter-defections arehardlyanew phenomenon in Indian politics. But in families, particularly in ideologicallyand politicallypolarisedBengal, switching parties is A SSAM ON THE BOIL CRITICISING PROTESTORS tabledacountryliquorbottleintheHouse.The clearly morethan just switching jobs. Remember,this is atime when familyfeuds eruptin AT LEASTSIX personshavealready died PRIME MINISTER INDIRAGandhi has warned bottle, as per him,had been bought from WhatsApp groups over everything from the CAAtofarmerprotests. That impulsemay well and severalmorewereinjured when the agitatorsinAssamandotherparts of thenorth- Narwanawhere22peoplehaddiedinahooch police openedfiretodisperse demonstra- eastthatdivisive elementswould notbetol- tragedy. Ministerofhealth Shankaranand and becompoundedinfamilieswherebothpartnersarepoliticians.Perhaps,politicsshouldstop tors who attackedthe police with brick- eratedandany resorttoviolencewillbesternly Congress-I members alleged that Bagri had at the water’sedge, andbeyond the threshold, moremundanedomesticity shouldrule the batsinseveral parts of Gauhationthe fifth dealt with. Mrs Gandhi said that the agitation brought disrespect to thehouse. roost. But that’s easier said than done —likebusiness andBollywood, apolitical career is of- dayofthe 13-daymass satyagraha. An in- has nothelpedthe cause of national integra- tenafamilyconcern.Childrentake overpoliticalpartiesfromtheirparents,spousesbecome definitecurfew wasimposedbythe au- tion. She said that Indian culturewas known RADIO IN HEAD stand-inchief ministers.Infact,whenSaumitrawasbannedbyacourtfromenteringBankura thorities in Mirza township and the army forits tradition of hospitality and itswilling- MIAMI MEDICAL STUDENT Stephen Liggett during the 2019 Lok Sabhaelections, Sujatabecame the chief campaigner forher husband. staged aflag march as tension prevailed ness to assimilatewhat is good in other cul- wassurprisedwhen apsychiatrypatientre- Inanidealworld,wherethepoliticallineswouldnotbesosharplydrawn,aspouseswitch- during police firing. Despitethe police ac- tures.Unfortunately, theagitatorshadnotun- portedhearing music in his head. He was tion, the satyagrahis did notdisperse and derstood this vital element of our culture. moresurprisedtolearn that the music was ing parties wouldn’t be as upsettingasitseems to be.Politicalcouples could ask eachother, awaited action in different parts of the coming from aradio station. The patient, a “howwasyourday”withoutworryingaboutdefections,optics,electionsandtheburdensof city.Theydispersedonlyafter the magis- RUCKUS OVER BOTTLE Vietnam warveteran with shrapnel in his ideology.After all, when investment banker couples switchjobs,thereare no press confer- trateonduty declared “their formal arrest MANIRAM BAGRI,JANATA-S member from skull, could be the firstwalking radio receiver ences expressing anguish. and release”. Hissar created aflutter in Lok Sabha when he —the shrapnel being the receiver.

Ahmedabad WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THEINDIANEXPRESS,WEDNESDAY,DECEMBER23,2020 WHATTHE OTHERSSAY “Ifthe new virus’seffectonthe rate of transmission is as badasgovernment advisers’ fear then we will needanational shutdown of the kind imposed in 9 THE IDEAS PAGE March” —THE GUARDIAN The new league of nations Ablind eye

ForIndia, despitearising China,this is afavourable geopolitical moment, whichitmustseize to assureits to justice place in alooselystructured multipolar global order Giventhe farmers’ protests,the Supreme Court should have suspended implementation of farm laws tillitheardthe matter

representatives of farmers’ unions across India, the government and other stakehold- erstoresolve theissuesagitatingthefarmers. Italsoaskedthe AttorneyGeneralifhecould assure the courtthattill it decides the issues, Shyam Saran the government would put on hold the im- plementation of the contentious laws. ThoughtheAG saidthathe wouldgetbackto the court, the Solicitor General reportedlyre- THE YEAR ENDS with asigh of relief and an- jected the suggestion out of hand. ticipated redemption. Scientists theworld Rekha Sharma Giventhe fact that the Supreme Courtit- over have delivered with unprecedented self felt the farmers issuewillsoon become speedaset of vaccines whichmay deliver anational issue, andgiven also the fact that us, in time, from the scourge of COVID-19. FARMERSFROMMANY states areout in the it wasslipping intowinter vacationfor afort- This news comes appropriately on theeve cold sitting on dharna at Delhi’s borders night, and that the farmers would have to of Christmas and the turn of the year,tradi- againstthe three newlyenacted farm laws, sufferthe harsh winter under the open sky, tionallyanoccasion of renewal, and rekin- whichtheybelievewill robthem of their shouldthe courtnot have exercisedits dledhopes forabetteryear ahead. These livelihood, and, eventually, theirlands too. power, andsuspendedthe implementation sentimentswill be moreintense, more Amongsttheir manyfears, real or imagi- of the laws till it finallyheardthe matter? deeplyfelt than in recent years with lives nary, is that the newlawswillopen the The Supreme Courthas also reportedlysaid having been rudelydisrupted, relationships agrariansector to corporates in abig way, that it willnot decide the validityofthe laws made distant and tinged with yearning and CRSasikumar and that in the absence of astatutory guar- as of now. apall of uncertainty and sense of future antee of MinimumSupportPrice(MSP), With thegreatestofrespecttothe dread sweeping across the world. terrorism, drug trafficking, moneylaunder- ANEXPRESS IDEASERIES tions to collaborate. This is onlypossible theywill be forced to sell their produce for SupremeCourt, it is time it takesthe bullby But while the gloom maybeslowlylift- ing and ocean and terrestrial pollution have through multilateral approaches and adher- asong—astheydonot have thewhere- thehorns. It has, forfar toolong, put on the ing, the worldwill repair onlyslowlyand takenonaglobaliseddimension. Theyare ence to the principle of equitable burden- withal to carry thesame to far-flung places backburner issues whichconcern the na- thereare worrying intimations of other notamenabletonationalsolutions. Theyde- sharing. We maysee the emergence of a in pursuit of abetterprice. The farmers are tion most. We have known of aSupreme crises looming round the corner.Weare at mand collaborative,not competitivesolu- looselystructuredglobalorder withclusters notwilling to settle at anything lessthan Court which, in the past, heardthe matter an inflexion point, marking awatershedin tions. This glaring disconnect between the of regional powers, inter-linked andinter- the withdrawal of the three contentious of aterroristatmidnight, satlateintothe human experience. But thereare several rising salience of global and cross-cutting is- acting with eachother.But suchamultipo- Acts,and have resolvedtostayput at the night, and grantedbail to twoindustrialists, paths ahead,several choices that beckon, ex- suesand the resistance to multilateral and lar order can onlybestable and keep the borders, whether it takesthem days or suspendedthe execution of aconvict who ceptthat thereisnopath to retrace our steps collaborative approaches is likelytointen- COVID peace with aconsensus setofnorms, man- months to makethe government relent. beheadedhis five daughters,again at amid- backtowherewewerebeforethe pandemic sify in the post-pandemic world, unlessthere aged through empoweredinstitutions of in- The government, on the other hand, is night sitting.Why then the issue of farmers, struck—because that worldnolonger ex- is some displayofstatesman-likeleadership SHADOW, ternational governance and multilateral equally adamant, and is notwilling to cede who areone of us and who have been feed- ists.Geopolitics has been transformedand to mobilise action on aglobal scale. The na- processes. India's instinctive preference has anygroundtothe farmers. Initially,instead ing us, cannotbetaken up on an urgent ba- powerequations arebeing altered.Thereare tion-state will endurebut itsconduct will been foramultipolar order as the best as- of soothing theirfrayednerves,attempts sis, even if it calls forsetting up aspecial anew setofwinners and losers in the eco- needtobetempered by aspirit of interna- NEWYEAR suranceofits security and as mostcon- were madetodiscredit the protesters by benchinvacation to prevent the matter nomic sweepstakes. Technological advance- tionalism and asense of common humanity. ducive to itsown social and economic de- calling them Khalistanis. When that did not from snowballing intoanational issue? ment will magnify these changes and India Howlikelyisitthat therewill emerge LIGHT velopment. It nowhas the opportunityto stick,theywerecalledanti-nationals. In the EdmundBurke has famouslysaid: “The only will needtomakedifficult judgements leadership that is able to orient the world makethis itsforeign policy priority as this latest salvo,the Union agriculture minister, thing necessaryfor the triumph of evil is for about the worldthatistakingshape and find in the right direction? The pre-pandemic aligns with the interests of alarge majority in an open letter to the farmers, allegedthat good men to do nothing.” itsplace in amorecomplex and shifting shiftinthe centreofgravity of the global of middle and emerging powers. This will those stopping trains at the borders when Andthosewho want the farmers to be geopolitical landscape. economyand political powerand influence, be an important component of astrategy to the situation in Ladakh is challenging cannot removedfromthe present sitetoadesig- Some trends were already salient before from the trans-Atlantic to thetrans-Pacific, meet the China challenge.The techniques of be farmers. Perhaps, the ministerneeds to natedplace,onthe ground of inconvenience the pandemic struck. They arebeingaccel- has been reinforcedunder the impact of the mobilisationthat were deployed success- knowthat mostofthe soldiers he is refer- to thepublic and the pandemic, needto erated andintensifiedthankstothe forces crisis. EastAsian and South-EastAsian fullyinleading the Non-AlignedMovement ring to maywell turnout to be the sons or know that it wasthe Haryana government unleashedbythis crisis. Thereare also countries have managed the crisis moreef- in an earlier time and in adifferent geopolit- relativesofthese farmers. that triedtopush thefarmers to the brink newertrends at play, which demand atten- fectively and their economies arethe first ical contextare relevant. However, despitethe name-calling and when theywerepeacefullymoving towards tion and efficient management.Asthe pan- to registerthe green shoots of recovery. Despiteadegree of pessimism about innuendoes, the government did hold afew Delhibyusing watercannons, erecting bar- demic recedes, the worldcould draw the Ironically, Chinabeing the countrywhere India's economic prospects, we maybelo- rounds of talkswith the representativesof ricades and digging roads to prevent them rightlessons and proceedonamorehope- the COVID-19firsteruptedearly this year, cated at afavourable geopolitical moment. these very farmers. Butbothare standing from proceeding ahead. Ironically, all this ful trajectory. It mayequally lurch intoan- has been the firstlarge economytowitness India's instinctive preference This mayappearcounterintuitive.Thanks their ground. The government believesthe happenedonConstitutionDay.These peo- other even moreserious and damaging cri- asignificant rebound in itsgrowth rate. to concerns about China's aggressive pos- three laws areinthe best interestofthe ple also need to knowthatthe authorities sis or even multiple crises because the While tradeand investment flows in the has been foramultipolar tureacrossthe boardand itsunilateral as- farmers, andthattheyare being misledby had declinedpermission to farmers who lessons remain unlearnt. The latter has been rest of theworld have declined,theyhave order as the best assurance of sertions of power, thereisasignificant the Opposition. Meanwhile, at least29pro- wanted to peacefullyprotestatJantar moreoften the case in history but the impli- registeredgrowth in this partofthe world. its securityand as most push-backevenfromsmaller countries, for testorshavereportedly died. Mantar,wheremanyprotestshavebeen cationsare moredirenow. The regionalsupplychains centred on China conducive to its ownsocial example, in South-EastAsia and Africa. In theabove scenario,the matter has held in the past. Whereweretheytogo The successofscientists in delivering vac- have been reinforcedrather than disrupted. China’s blatant"weaponisation of eco- reachedthe Supreme Court. While the then? As for thethreatofCOVID-19, if as- cines in recordtime has masked an ugly re- China will emerge in pole position in the and economic development. nomic interdependence" suchaswesee in BhartiyaKisan Union has challengedthe sembly elections could beheld in Bihar and ality.COVID-19 has been aglobalemergency, geopolitical sweepstakescommencing in It nowhas the opportunity itspunitive commercial action against constitutional validity of the three Acts,a hugeelection ralliesorganisedinWest recognising no national or regional bound- 2021. Thepower gapwith itsmainrival,the to makethis its foreign Australia, has made itseconomic partners lawstudentinaseparatepetition has sought Bengal during apandemic, whynot allow aries but it has been dealt withalmosten- US, will shrink further.The powergap with policy priorityasthis aligns increasinglywary. India is seen as apoten- the removalofprotesting farmersfromthe farmers’ protests? tirelywithin national confines. International India, itslargest rivalinAsia, will expand tial and credible countervailing powerto sitetoadesignated place citing inconven- Letmeend with aquote from Martin cooperation in either developing an effective even more. India is already confronting a with the interests of alarge resistChinese ambitions. The worldwants ience to the public, besides the threat of Luther King Jr,who wasjailed in vaccine or responding to itshealth impacts moreaggressive andarrogantChina on its majorityofmiddle and India to succeed because it is regarded as a COVID-19.Itisopenlybeingallegedthat the Birmingham, Alabama, afterhedefieda has been minimal. The pre-existing trendto- borders. This threat will intensify and de- emerging powers.This will benign powerweddedtoarule-basedor- petition seekingremovalofthe farmersis court’s injunction and ledamarch of Black wardsnationalisturgings, the weakeningof mand asymmetrical coping strategies. der.Indiacan leverage this propitiousmo- at the behestofthe government to derail the protestors without apermit. In responseto international institutions and multilateral DespiteChina emerging arelative gainer be an important component ment to encourageasignificant flowofcap- agitation. It mayormay notbeso. his critics who objected to his holding the processes has been reinforced. Even in the from the disruptions triggered by the pan- of astrategy to meet the ital, technology and knowledge to In the course of hearing, the Supreme protests at Birmingham, he wrotealetterin distribution of vaccines,weare witnessing a demic, Ibelievethat the trend towards China challenge. The accelerateits ownmodernisation. Butfor Courtrecognisedthe constitutional right of whichhesaid: “Injustice anywhereisa cornering of supplies by ahandfulofrichna- multi-polarity is heretostay. Neither the US techniques of mobilisation this to happen, Indianeeds to position itself the farmers to protest so longastheirdissent threat to justice everywhere”. tions. Help forthe poorer nations of the in itsrelativelydiminishedstate norChina as the mostopen and competitive destina- is non-violent. Observing that the farmers’ worldisalow priority. with itsenhancedpower can singly or as a that were deployed tion fortrade and investment offering both issue will soon become anational issue, it The writer is aformer judgeofthe Mostchallenges the worldfaces are duopolymanageamuchmorediffuseddis- successfully in leading the scaleand political stability. proposedsetting up acommittee comprising Delhi High Court global,likethe pandemic. Theyare inherent tribution of economicand militarycapabil- Non-Aligned Movement in The choice is clear and the opportunity in globalisationdrivenbyrapid technologi- ities across the globe. As already noted, most an earlier time and in a forleadershipbeckons. cal change. These include climate change, cy- of the challenges we confrontdemand bersecurity,space security,whichare newer global and collaborative responses. Even a different geopolitical context The writer is aformer foreign secretary and domains. But even extant challenges suchas powerful countrycannotcoerce other na- are relevant. currently senior fellow, CPR LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR

CRISIS IN NEPAL IDEAS THIS REFERS TO the editorial, 'Crisis in Game on in Bengal Kathmandu'(IE,December22).NepalPM ONLINE KPOli’s suddenmovetodissolve the Houseof Representativesisbeingseenas ONLYINTHE EXPRESS avindictive manifestationofhis authori- Thereisnoalternative forTMC,LeftandCongressbutto stitchtogetheranalliance tarianstreak.The move appears to stem ● INTELLIGENCELESSONS largelyfromthe feud in the ruling Nepal FROMLADAKHSTAND-OFF: CommunistParty.Oliissteeringhiscoun- AMEYAPRATAPSINGH Sayandeb Chowdhury tryintoaninflexion point forthe fledgelingdemocracythatitwasattempt- ●THE MYTH OF OWAISI'S THE DICTIONARYMEANINGofblunderbuss is and so forth. The question henceisnot what ture. This is more so, becausethe Leftcontin- diabolic campaign. An alliance will also cut ingto establishafterdecadesof instability. POLARISATION: two-fold. The morearchaic meaningstands BJPwilldoinBengal. The question is, knowing ues to have asignificant voter base among down on cost, disincentivise defection and al- SSPaul, Nadia foragun with ashort, large barrel, to be fired the narrative,what the other parties would. those sorewithMamata’s vulgar populism. legations of dynasticisminTMC. It would also NIZAM PASHA onlyatclose range. The second meaning refers Nothing bindsthe Trinamool’s foot sol- As forthe Congress, very little can be said minimise the political violence that Bengal GREATER CULPABILITY to an action lackingsubtlety and precision. diers morethan their genuflecting loyalty to about itsprospectsinBengal morethan it can routinelywitnesses before polls. Theseare www.indianexpress.com Eitherway,whatthe BJP is planninginBengal afirebrand shibboleth. Notwithstanding 10 be said elsewhere, though it has asmall but quantifiable gains. So, whatisatstake? THIS REFERS TO theeditorial, ‘In the is atextbook caseofblunderbuss.Ithas gone yearsinpowerand ahandful of penetrative loyalfaction of voters, especiallyinparts First, if the Leftiswilling to courtBJP and dock’(IE, December 22). It's notjustUP to the state—which goes to thepoll in the welfarepolicies, MamataBanerjee remains wherethe Congresscontinues to have active sit out till 2026 (hypotheticallycounting Chief MinisterYogi Adityanath —his evolvedtoappreciatethem. Ihavebeen early half of 2021—with all guns blazing.It an impenitent autocrat of ashambolic party, presence and keylocalleadership. their return to glory), whynot do the same supporters and patrons in the BJP should tuning in to theDecember season con- has parkedthere, the head of itsITCell. A whichisotherwise made of local mafiosiek- TMC, BJP and aCPM-Congress combine instead forTMC? Forafter Mamata, there bein the dockfollowing theCBI’s indict- certsand the bonhomie buzzing about Bengal-specific divisionofthe raucous ing out political fortunesfromthe crumbsof have hinted thattheywill fighteachother in would be no TMC to speak of anyway,giving ment of the UP police in the heinouscase in the chatboxhas been infectious. Republic TVhas been bankrolled. agig economy. To that end, onlyaprospect of thepolls.But factsand thepolitical winds are areal chance to CPI(M)’s so-farunrealhopes. of rape andmurder of a19-year-oldDalit Sharing tidbitsand trivia about the To organisationallyunsettle BengalBJP’s awin in the next pollscan keep her minions chimingone simple arithmetic: Thatthere Second, Bengal’s history for decadessince girl.Theyhad triedtheir best to derail the raagams, composition and composer insouciance,the home ministerrecentlypara- together.Atthe sametime, Mamataisapop- cannot be athree-way election in 2021. That the 1960s is full of the bloody rivalrybe- investigation through diversionaryand have immenselyenhancedthe musical trooped to induct onechieftainand several ularleader,has extensive acceptability,com- would mean an advantagefor BJP,asitwill tween local Congress and CPI(M). If that can delaying tactics. Even PM Narendra experience. localturncoats, mostlyfromthe Trinamool mandswidespread loyalty and has notyet lost cannibalise on the factionalisminthe former be convenientlyforgottentoforge an al- Modi, who is nottired of claiming em- KSahasranaman, Mumbai Congressbut also from the Congressand the her street-fighting genes.So, in spiteofher and on theirrelevance of the latter.Ifthe BJP liance, whynot the same forTMC? Third, a powerment of Muslim women, had kept CPI(M). If this is the barrelfor shooting, the party, Mamataisstill asubstantivepolitical is to be defeated,the TMC and the Left- coalition in powerwillkeepMamata’s quiet. Thank God that in this case, the CBI HOLLOW WELFARE other partofthe blunderbuss, one can bet, will force. At least till today. Congress combine mustcome together to monocracy in check, endCPM’s long isola- seems to have investigated it underno alsolackany subtlety.Itwould be the same The stateofthe Leftis aconcoction of delu- form astrategic alliance. Thereisimmediate tion from governance; and createapool of pressureand as aresult, could THIS REFERS TO the article,‘New wel- storyofcourting dodgy defectors withplum sion and denial.Itisdeludingitselfif, accord- and successful precedence in Maharashtra, political progenyfor the future. As forTMC, chargesheet the four upper-casteac- farismof India’sRight’(IE,December22). positions; creating anarrative of along-suf- ing to severalreports, it is considering backing whilethe grandalliance in Bihar, even in de- it is anyway aparty without abelief, so how cusedinastipulated time. It is worthnoting that the government fering Bengal underMarxists and autocrats; the BJP furtively to root out the TMC, so that it feat, has created the promiseofanon-BJP fu- will it matter if it sides with the Left? Tarsem Singh, Mahilpur is focusing on tangible essentials in its unearthing imaginarytraumasofPartition; canmakeatriumphant return in 2026. This ture. History is witness that afteramillennia Mostimportantly, suchastrategic and schemes. But intangible essentials, like canvassing the fiction of rampaging is like the squirreltempting the wolf to tame of fightingeachother,France andBritain did timelyalliance wouldsuccessfullyturn the VIRTUAL BONHOMIE medical facilities and education, areim- Bangladeshi infiltration; holding high-octane thecat. Even if thecat survives the wolf, the cometogether againstGermanyinboththe tables on BJP’s spin doctors, while ensuring portanttoo. Despiteits focuson tangible rallies with one-pennyactors and aprevari- squirrelwon’t. Also, unless it has lostall its worldwars. Whyisitsuchanimpossible that Bengal does notsufferthe ignominyof THIS REFERS TO thearticle, 'Notes from welfare, the dataonchild stunting is not cating prime minister;instigating localised marbles, the Leftwill do well to remember prospectinBengal? having fallen to the ultra-right. What can be anew world' (IE, December 22). While impressive.New Welfarism without in- communitarianviolence; and hop-in and that the RSSreserves itssincerestdisgust for An allianceisgoing to ensure—mathe- better forBengal? musicians have adaptedwell to perform tangible essentials is hollow. hop-offflirtations withBengal’slong listof it. So,bothpoliticallyorideologically, provid- maticallyspeaking —anunassailable politi- in "voncerts", the rasikas toohave Love Kumar Lalwani, Mehsana talismans —Tagorefor breakfast, Vivekananda ing anygrease to the BJP’s juggernaut would cal behemoth; and will be electorallyinsur- The writer teaches at Ambedkar forlunch, Subhas Bose fordinner.Somuch be hara-kiri, nowand in the foreseeable fu- mountableevenifthe BJP unleashesits most University Delhi. Viewsare personal

Ahmedabad WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM 10 EXPRESS NETWORK THEINDIANEXPRESS,WEDNESDAY,DECEMBER23,2020

TRACKING INDIA’S COVID CURVE TWISTS AND TURNS IN ABHAYA MURDER CASE 295 CASES: ACTIVECASES:292,518 DAYSSINCE 10,075,116 DEATHS:146,111 28yrsofprobe,tamperedtapes,kitchenevidence PANDEMIC BEGAN TESTS: 163,117,557 | RECOVERIES: 9,636,487

CASES DEATHS RECOVERIES TESTS DEC21 SHAJUPHILIP Justice for Abhaya was 19,556 30130,376 1,019,228 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, DECEMBER22 mission: Activist who TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS and probes by three agencies later,a tracked case from start specialCBIcourthereonTuesday found apriestand anun –Father longs to Knanaya Catholic Church, STATESWITHRISINGACTIVECASES Thomas Kottoor and SisterSephy SHAJUPHILIP whichisthe home church of the ACTIVECASES RISEINLASTWEEK –guilty of the murder of Sister THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, accusedaswell as the victim. Goa50,14349,113 Abhaya,ayoungnunwhotheyal- DECEMBER22 When an action council was Puducherry 37,762 37,455 legedly feared would disclose formedinKottayamdays after Tripura33,17232,819 their relationship. Alook at the FORJOMON Puthenpurackal, it Abhaya's death, he wasone of twists and turns in the investiga- has been along wait. One of the council leaders. Then aged 23, STATESWHEREACTIVECASESAREDECLINING tion, one of among Kerala's fewwho trackedand highlighted Jomon had raiseddoubtsoverthe ACTIVECASES DECLINEINLASTWEEK longest. the Abhaya murder case right police version of suicide and Maharashtra 59,469 12,914 VICTIM AND ACCUSED from the beginning, the rightsac- pickedupfaultsinthe probe. Delhi 9,255 5,992 SisterAbhaya aswellastheac- The accusedproducedbeforethe KochiChief Judicial MagistrateCourt. Express file tivistsays it had become amis- As the case waspassedfrom 16,903 4,481 cusedbelonged to the Knanaya sion forhim to see to it that jus- police to the CBI, from one officer Catholic Church,whichishead- tice wasdelivered. It took 28 years to another,fromjudicial magis- STATESREPORTINGMAXIMUMCASES quarteredinKottayam.A19-year- thatday, herroommatewasaway. complete the investigation. narco-analysis CD wasgiven to but the wait wasworth it, he says. tratecourttohigher courts,hefol- ONDEC21 TOTAL old nun, SisterAbhaya wasapre- POLICE PROBES THE ARRESTS the court. Afterthe CBI special court loweditlikeashadow. He was Kerala 3,422 709,292 degreestudentinacollegerunby Initially, the police registered The newCBI probeteam led TAMPERED TAPES convictedFather Thomas Kottoor among the fewtohighlight the Maharashtra2,834 1,899,352 the church.She usedtolivein acase of unnatural death, based by Deputy SP Nandakumaran Ateam of technical experts at and SisterSephyofthe murder, delayindelivery of justice for Pious Xth Convent Hostel, which onthestatementof SisterLeissue, Nair recordedthe statement of the Centrefor Development of he said, “I have been waiting for Abhaya's family. West Bengal 1,515 538,343 had 123inmates, including 20 Mother Superior of the convent. Sanju PMathew, who livednext Imaging Technology,Thiruvana- this day. Justice forAbhaya has Suchhas been the influence STATESREPORTINGMAXIMUMDEATHS nuns.Her body wasfound in a On April 13 that year,the Crime to the hostel. In his statement nthapuram, found that master been my mission in life. The forces of the case on him that he turned ONDEC21 TOTAL well in the hostelcompound on BranchofKerala Police took over recordedunder Section 164ofCr tapes of the narco-analysis tests, behind the accusedtriedtoanni- afull-time rightsactivistand so- Maharashtra5549,925 March 27,1992. Around 16 years the probe. On January30, 1993, it PC, Mathewsaid he had seen conducted on the accusedbefore hilateme. Ihaveweathered the cial worker,taking up corruption West Bengal 41 9,401 later,three suspects–Father submitted areport, concluding FatherKottooronthehostelcam- their arrest,had been tampered threats.” cases againstbureaucratsand ThomasKottoor,SisterSephyand that Abhaya committed suicide. pus on the night of March 26, with. The CD of the test on Father Aschool dropout, Jomon be- politicians in the later years. Kerala 27 10,304 FatherJosePuthrikkayl –werear- CBI STEPS IN 1992, aday before Abhaya was Kottoor had been edited at 30 DataasonDecember21,releasedbyUnionMinistryofHealthandFamilyWelfare,IndianCouncilofMedical rested.The CBI court, however, Following acomplaint to the found dead. Basedonthis, Father places. The CD of Father Researchandstategovernments.Oftenthenumbersreleasedeverydaycontaindatafrompreviousdays aswell.Assuch,trendsbasedondailynumbersareonlyindicativeandnotdefinitive later allowedthe discharge peti- then Chief MinisterKKottoor,Father Puthrikkayl and Puthrukkaayil had been editedat So happy Imight drink tonight: tion of Father Puthrikkayl forlack Karunakaran, the probewas SisterSephywerearrestedon 19 places and the CD of Sister of evidence. handedovertotheCBI.OnMarch November 19,2008. On July17, Sephywaseditedat23places.The Thief who turned prime witness Serum institute submits fresh data THE CASE 29, 1993, the CBI took over the 2009, the CBI submitted the Centrewas asked to examine the According to the prosecution, probe. However, it could notcon- chargesheet.ThespecialCBIcourt CDs by the CJM courtinKochi, courtverdict. for Covishield emergency approval SisterSephywas in arelationship cludeif itwassuicideorhomicide. beganthetriallastyear.However, whichwasmonitoringtheprobe. EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE He alleged that police, espe- with twopriests –Father Kottoor, In areportCBI SP AKOhri filedin during the trial, Mathewturned In December lastyear,the High , DECEMBER 22 ciallythe crime branch, whichin- NewDelhi: Justtwo weeksafter the regulator,top government thethenchancellorof thediocese thecourtofthechief judicialmag- hostile. Days afterthe arrests, re- Courtruledthat the narco-analy- vestigatedthe case before the CBI the expertcommittee scrutinis- sources confirmed. “SII has sub- and Father Puthrikkayl,acollege istrate,theagencysaid,“Assuming tired assistant sub-inspector VV sis and brain-mapping testscan- IN THE early hours of March 27, triedtofoistthe murder charge ing applications foremergency mitted additional data. The regu- faculty at the diocese-run college itto beacaseof homicide,allpos- Augustine, who initiallyprobed notbeusedasevidence. 1992, Raju, apetty thief, wasin on him, citing his presence in the use authorisation of Pune-based lator’soffice,internally, willreview in Kottayam. According to the in- sible effortsweremade to deter- thecaseforthepolice,committed KITCHEN EVIDENCE the compound of the Pius Xth compound. He alleged that he Serum InstituteofIndia’s Covid- these documents. Onlythen they vestigators, around 4amon mine the identity of culprits.... suicide. The CBI wasconsidering The mostcrucial evidence re- convent in Kottayam, hoping to wastortured by severalofficers 19 vaccinesoughtadditionallate- will requestthe subject expert March 27,1992, Abhaya was However, our prolonged efforts... to listhim as accusedfor destroy- liedupon by the CBI wasthe dis- steal something worthwhile. to gethim to changehis testi- stagesafetyand efficacy data, the committeeto meet,”sourcessaid. wokenupbyanother hostelin- did notyield anyfruitful results.” ing evidence. turbance at the crime scene –the Instead, what he sawthat day mony. firm has submitted fresh datato — KAUNAINSHERIFFM mateasshehadto prepareforex- The courtdid notacceptthe re- LIE-DETECTOR TEST hostelkitchen.Abottlefoundnear made him aprime witness in the Speaking about Sr Abhaya,he ams.Asshewentto thekitchento port. The CBI submitted final re- On July6,2007, the courtor- the fridgewith the cap open and murder of Sr Abhaya.Itwas God’s said, “She waslikeadaughter to NARMADAWATER RESOURCES WATER SUPPLY& take waterfromthefridge,sheal- ports twomoretimes, under dif- dered the CBI to subject the sus- waterdripping,aveilfoundunder will that he wasthere, he says. me. Ialways knewthat she KALPSAR DEPARTMENT legedly sawthe twopriests and ferent investigating officers, pectstonarco-analysis test.On theexitdoorthathadbeenlocked “I'm veryhappytoday. Maybe would getjustice and today, it has On Line Tender Notice No. 10 (Corrigendum) Of 2020-2021 the nun in acompromising posi- calling it ahomicide but adding August3,2007, theCBIconducted from outside, an axeand abasket it wasGod’s will that Ibepresent happened. I’m so happythat I Water Resource Department intends to select renowned /estab- tion. Fearing that she might tell thatitcouldnotfindtheassailants. thetest inBangalorebutcouldnot that had fallen down. Also, Sister thereatthat time. Manypeople might drink tonight.” lished suitable Consultant /Agency,for providing Consultancy others, the accusedstrangulated Both times, it requestedthe court proceedfurther in the absence of Abhaya's slippers were found at over the years have approached Raju had told the CBI he had Services forDevelopment of Dharoi Dam Region, District, her and hit her with an axehan- to treat the case “as closedbeing hardevidence.InAugust2008,the twodifferentplacesinthekitchen. me with crores of rupees for seen Father Thomas Kottoor and Mehsana as aWorld Class Sustainable Tourist /Pilgrimage dle. Theydumpedher intothe untraced”, but the courtrefused CBI informedthe High Courtthat Puttogether,theprosecutionsaid, changing my testimony. But I Father Jose Puthrukkayil in the Destination. well. Sephy, who wasincharge of to budge. On September 4, 2008, no newfactshad emergedafter thekitchenpresentedapictureof have nottaken asingle paisa convent compound in the early RFP Document including the eligibility criteria and other terms & the hostelmess, had been living the Kerala High Courtgavethe the test,but it would continue its atussle. However, no blood was from them,” Raju, who has since hoursofthe daySister’s Abhaya’s conditions can be downloaded from https://guj- inthecellarwithanothernun.On CBI’s stateunit three months to probe. The copyofthe original found. reformed, told reporters afterthe body wasfishedout of the well. nwrws.gujarat.gov.in or nprocure.com starting 24/12/2020. The Pre-Bid Conference is scheduled on 08/01/2021. Interested Bidders maycontact on [email protected] &exed- [email protected] forany further details in this regard. Dakshin Gujarat Vij Co. Ltd. CIN U40102GJ2003SGC042909 Farmers gherao Haryana CM’s (B) SCHEDULE OF E-TENDERING Surat Urban Division Office Old Schedule NewSchedule Opp. Batliboi Co., Udhna-Navsari Road, Pandesara, Surat 395023 GUJARAT 1Pre-Bid 04/01/2021 at 11:30 08/01/2021 at 11:30 DGVCL Toll Free No.19123(or 1800 233 3003) Conference Hours at State Water Hours at State Water convoy, show him black flags Data Centre,Sector -Data Centre,Sector - Install MCB/ ELCB/ RCCB &Prevent Electric Shocks/ Electrical Accidents 8A, Gandhinaear 8A, Gandhinagar TENDER NOTICE and managed to secureasafe Fordetails regarding submission of tender documents through Tenders are invited forerection and maintenance worksof SUKHBIRSIWACH passageforCM’sconvoy through Farm leaders to call on British online-e tender.Please visit the following website. overhead 11/22 kV HT/LTlines and transformer centers,pro- CHANDIGARH,DECEMBER22 old Hissar road. 1) www.nwr.nprocure.com 2) www.statetenders.com viding newDTR and replacement of DTR besides other activ- The farmers later started PM to skip Republic Day event No.DDI/MEH/331/328 (Corrigendum)20-21 ities,installation of HT terminal protectors (UV resistance), dis- AGROUP of farmers Tuesday gathering at the AnajMandi and connection/reconnection of 1ph/3ph meters and providing showedblackflags to Haryana also triedtoblockthe Ambala- NarendraSinghTomar’sfreshap- overseers (workers) for11/22 kV underground cable network Chief MinisterManohar Lal highway. ABHINAVRAJPUT&ANJU pealfortalksandsaidthatinstead ROURKELA SMART CITY LIMITED, forroute patrolling on ARC basis under all Schemes forSachin KhattarinAmbalawhileanother Meanwhile, in Bahal town, AGNIHOTRICHABA of responding to their demand to Rourkela Rural sub-division of Surat Urban Division. Vendors mayvisit held aprotestagainststate farmers staged aprotestwhen NEWDELHI,JALANDHAR scrap the three laws,the Udit Nagar,Rourkela-769012, https://nprocure.com forview, download &online submission C-256 AgricultureandFarmersWelfare Dalal went to avillagetoaddress DECEMBER22 Governmentisengagedin“prop- Email: [email protected] of the tenders. EE (O&M), Surat Urban Division, DGVCL. MinisterJPDalal during his visit apublic meeting. The farmers aganda” to promote them. BID ID: -RCL/2251/2020 Date. 21.12.2020 to Bhiwani’s Bahal town. had plannedtoshowblackflags WITH THE farmers’ agitation at At Singhu border,Harender ‘NIT’ National Competitive Bidding Government of Gujarat Khattar had gone to Ambala to the minister, but the police Delhi’s borders againstthe Singh Lakhowal, stateconvener, The Chief Executive Officer,RSCL Invites bids from eligible Narmada, Water Resources, Water supply &Kalpsar Deptt. to address public meetings in stoppedthe agitators away from Centre’s newagriculturelawsin BKU(Lakhowal),said:“Weare re- contractors for the project “Construction of Food Court Near E-Procurement Notice No B-2/2 of 2020-21 supportofBJP’s mayoralcandi- the routeleading to the venue of itsfourth week,farm leaders said questing the British PM to not Basanti Over Bridge on Percentage Rate basis in Rourkela”for Correction of date Rs. 47.91 Lakhs (Estimated cost). Online tenders forthe following work is invited from Registered dateVandna Sharma and other thepublicmeeting.Sourcesinthe Tuesdaytheyhaveasked leaders come to India as long as the de- The Complete Bid documentscan be viewed /downloaded from Contractor by the ExecutiveEngineer,Botad Irrigation Division, ward candidates forthe upcom- farm unions said theywill show from Punjab in the UK to appeal mandsof thefarmersarenot met. official portal of Rourkela Municipal Corporation Kaniyad Colony, Bhavnagar Road, Botad. Last date forOnline submis- ing civic bodies polls. Alarge blackflags to the CM when he to British Prime MinisterBoris We have made the appeal (https://www.rmc.nic.in or e-procurement portal of sion of tender is changed as under.. numberof farmershadgathered will go to the villageon Johnson to notcome to India as throughleadersfromPunjabwho https://tendersodisha.gov.in from 21.12.2020 to 04.01.2021 up to Sr.Name of work Class Estd. Cost. inAmbalaaheadof Khattar’svisit. December 27. the chief guestfor Republic Day arenow in England politics.” 5:00 PM. Bids must be submitted online only at No. As soon as Khattar reached Dalal claimedthat it wasthe next year until the “blacklaws” Lastweek,visiting British [https:/tendersodisha.gov.in]onorbefore 04.01.2021 up to 17:00 1 GOMA IRRIGATION SCHEME "AA'' 20,39,84,946.58 Agrasen Chowk in Ambala’s handiworkoftheoppositionpar- were repealed. Foreign SecretaryDominic Raab Hrs IST. Bid through any other mode shall not be entertained. Under Ground Pipe line forGoma Left Manmohan Nagartoaddress a ties who are“notaccepting the Theleadersalsosaidtheyhave announcedJohnson would be However,Bid Security document fee &Power of Attorney and other Bank Command. public meeting, the farmers mandateasModi ji and BJP are deferredtheirmeetingby aday to chief guestattheRepublicDaycel- documentsasper DTCN shall be submitted physically by the Bidder Downloading of Tender Documents Up to Dt 08/01/2021 18.00 Hrs.lST gheraoedhis convoy,waived winning one afteranother elec- Wednesday, to decide on are- ebrations in January. Raab also on or before 07.01.2021 by 4:00 PM. The RSCL reserves the rights Online submission of P. Q. Up to Ot. 08/01/2021 18.00 Hrs,IST blackflags and raisedslogans tion”. However, afarmer leader, sponseto thegovernment’sletter said he “discussed” the situation to accept or reject all or any of the BIDs without assigning any reason bid and Price bid whatsoever.For queries, intending bidder my contract GM(E&T) againstthe government. They Suresh Koth, claimedthe anger asking them to fixadatefor the arising out of the farmer protests (8249833105) and Email id :Rourkela Smart City Ltd. Submission of E.M.D.Tender Dt. 11/01/21 to 19/01/21. saidtheywillcontinueto protest among the people is increasing next round of talks. Besides, they with External Affairs MinisterS Sd/- Fee&other documents tillthethreefarmlaws arenot re- because of “drama being played issuedanappeal to “boycottall Jaishankar,and underlinedthat Chief Executive Officer (In physical form) pealed. by the BJP leaders to divert the storesrunby AmbaniandAdani”. “your politics” is, in some sense, Rourkela Smart City Ltd Opening of tenders (online) Dtd.- 20/01/2021 at 12.00 Hrs.(IST) Alarge numberof policeper- attention” from the farmers’ ag- InPunjab,farmleadershitout “our politics” because of the OIPR-13080/11/0012/2021 Other details of Advertisement is as usual. DDI-BVN-C-670/20-21 sonneldeployedneartheChowk itation. at Union AgricultureMinister Indian diasporainBritain. l( )RLY() GOVT.OFBIHAR 3arrested in fake BIHAR COMBINED ENTRANCE COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION BOARD visa stamps case I.A.S. Association Building, Near Airport, Patna-14. Ahmedabad: The Special UNDER GRADUATE MEDICAL ADMISSION COUNSELLING OperationsGroup of the (UGMAC)-2020 for MBBS /BDS /B.V.Sc. &A.H. in Govt. Medical /Dental /Bihar Ahmedabad Police have arrested threepersons,includingacouple, Veterinaty Colleges and Private Medical /Dental Colleges of Bihar in connection with fake US visa Adv. No.- BCECEB(UGMAC)-2020/11 Dated 22.12.2020 stamps. According to police, Rajesh Important Notice for MOP-UP RoundCounselling Pateland his wifeSonal were de- Fresh OnlineRegistration and submissionofApplication form are invited from such qualified, tainedatSardarVallabhbhaiPatel eligible &interested NEET(UG)-2020 candidates for appearing in the MOP-UP round Offline Counselling International airporton of Under Graduate Medical Admission Counselling (UGMAC)-2020, who are not admitted in any December 19 night when they Medical/ Dental Colleges of India, on the vacantseats of Government /Private Medical /Dental Colleges were ontheirwaytocatchaflight of Bihar /Bihar Veterinary College after admission on the basis of UGMAC-2020 Online 2nd round to theUS.Theimmigrationofficer counselling from 23.12.2020 to 24.12.2020. deputedat the airportcaught the 2. Eligibility criteria and instructions and other details are available in the prospectus of UGMAC- couple along with their eight- 2020 which can be downloaded from the Board's website bceceboard.bihar.gov.in. year-old son forcarrying fake US 3. Those candidate who are admitted in any Govt./ Pvt. Medical /Dental College of India are not visa stamps on their passports, eligible for MOP-UP round counselling. police added. 4. Those candidates who havealready duly submitted the online application form earlier for UGMAC- “While the passports of three 2020 and are not admitted in any Govt. /Pvt. Medical /Dental Colleges of India and are interested to passengerswere genuine,theim- take admission in Medical /Dental Colleges and Bihar Veterinary College on the basis of MOP-UP migration officer found that the round counselling of UGMAC-2020 are also required to do fresh Registration and duly submit the security featureonthe US visa application form with requisite fee. stampwas fake.During interro- 5. Seat Matrix of vacancies after completion of 2nd Round Counselling will be available on Board's gation, the couple said around 10 website from 25.12.2020. If any further vacanciesarise, the Seat matrix of updated vacancies shall be days agotheyhad contacted one uploaded on the Board's website on 27.12.2020 (10:00 A.M.) beforestarting of MOP-UPCounselling. Vishwajit PatelofKadi town and The details of programme /process /fee etc. has been uploaded on the Board's website : paid him Rs 10 lakh to avail the bceceboard.bihar.gov.in vide adv. No. BCECEB(UGMAC)-2020/10Dated 22.12.2020. fake visastamps.Basedonthein- 6. Theconcerned candidates are requested to download the details and go through it and complete the put, police then detained process accordingly as per the details of above advertisement for attending the MOP-UP counselling. Vishwajit Patelaswell,” an SOG Controller of Examination officersaid.AnFIRhasbeenregis- teredatAirportpolice station. ENS

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SIMPLY PUT CORONAVIRUS DASHBOARD From Cormac the llama, Nepal crisis: what’s at stake tiny antibodies that show The LowerHouse of Parliament has been dissolvedatthe recommendation of PrimeMinister Oli, who is promise against coronavirus fightingalosing battleinhis party.Alook at the questionsitraises over theConstitution and leftunity

FROM Allama namedCormac, re- searchersatthe US National Institutes YUBARAJGHIMIRE of Health (NIH) have isolated aset of KATHMANDU,DECEMBER22 tinyantibodies, or “nanobodies”, that hold promiseagainstthe novelcoron- ON SUNDAY,Nepal Prime MinisterKPOli avirusSARS-CoV-2.At leastoneof these recommendeddissolution of the House of nanobodies could prevent infections Representatives, the lowerofParliament, a and detect virus particles by grabbing move promptly approved by President holdof SARS-CoV-2spikeproteins,the Bidhya Devi Bhandari. researchers suggestinthe journal This effectively endedthe unity forced ScientificReports.Thisnanobody,called among the leftforces thathad ledtothe cre- NIH-CoVnb-112,appeared to work ation of the single, grand Nepal Communist equallywell in either liquidoraerosol Partythree years ago. It plunged national pol- form, whichsuggests it couldremain itics intoturmoil and the five-year-old effective afterinhalation. Constitution intouncertainty,and raised Ananobody is aspecial type of an- questionsaboutthe hastewithwhichthe tibody naturallyproducedbythe im- President approved Oli’s recommendation. mune systems of camelids, agroup of Oli took the step when he realisedthat a animals that includescamels, llamas, factional feud within the party had reached and alpacas. Theyare callednanobod- Cormac, the llama. Triple JFarms, the point of no return and he facedpossible ies becausetheyare tiny, about atenth Washington; photo providedbyNIH expulsion both as party chiefand as Prime Demonstrators in Kathamndu burn an theweightofmosthumanantibodies. Minister. Since then, adozen petitions have effigy of Nepal Prime MinisterOli Because nanobodiesare moresta- been filedinthe Supreme Courtchallenging (above) followingthe dissolution of ble, less expensive to produce, and infections by covering partofthe the dissolution with twoyears leftofthe Parliament. Reuters easier to engineer than typical anti- spikeprotein that bind to andunlock present House’s tenure. Eachfaction has also bodies, researchers have the ACE2 receptor. approachedthe Election Commission claim- been using them for To do this, the re- ing it is the real party. politics of violence that causedmorethan Nepal, but this is the firstsuchinstance after reasons to hopethananearly pollwill earn medical research.Since searchers immunised 17,000 deaths. But Oli approachedthe the newConstitution of 2015 that places them abigger spaceinParliament.But it fears the pandemic broke, sev- Cormac five times over Oli’s battles Maoists in 2017 foramergerbetween their safeguards againstdissolution. “The new that the likelystreetprotest and violence, be- eral researchers have 28 days withapurified Oli is fighting alosing battleinthe party. parties, pre-empting the possibility of an al- constitution does notenvisagesuchastep sides the onsetofraininlateApril and early producedllama version of the SARS-CoV- He has declared that the next election will liance between the Maoists andthe Nepali without exploring formation of an alterna- May, could be usedasanexcuse to further nanobodies againstthe PAPER 2spikeprotein. Aftertest- be held on April 30 and May10nextyear Congress that mayhavecomeinthe wayof tive government,” said Dr Bhimarjun defer the election. SARS-CoV-2 spikepro- ing hundredsof with him leading acaretaker government, Oli’s prime ministerial ambitions. Acharya,aleading constitutional lawyer. “I doubtelections will be heldonthe pre- tein thatmay be effective nanobodies, theyfound but his fate will be decidedbyagitating Oli wasleading the CommunistParty of The 1991 Constitution, scrappedin2006, scribed dates,” said Shekhar Koirala, mem- at preventing infections. CLIP thatCormac produced13 crowds and the Supreme Court. There's also Nepal-UnifiedMarxistLeninist, and had provisions fordissolution of Parliament berofthe Nepali Congress central commit- In the current study,the nanobodies that might amovement forrestoration of Nepal as a Prachanda represented theNepal at the Prime Minister’s prerogative.During tee. The Nepali Congress or the Janata researchers useda NEWRESEARCH be strong candidates. Hindu kingdom. CommunistParty (Maoist). Following the the time it wasinforce, Parliament wasdis- SamajbadiParty have,however, notbeen slightlydifferent strategy Initial experiments His move has created bitterness between merger, thetwo leaders agreedthat they solvedthrice. The firstParliamentelected in very proactiveinParliament in countering than others to find nanobodies that suggestedthat NIH-CoVnb-112 could the breakawaycommunistgrouphe leads and would lead the government by turn, aprom- 1991 wasdissolvedonthe recommendation the government. mayworkespeciallywell, NIH said in work very well. Test tubestudies other parties. On Mondayevening, Oli got his ise that Oli did nothonour at the end of his of PrimeMinisterGPKoirala afterhefailed astatement. showedthatthis nanobody bound to followers to padlockthe party office, effec- two-and-a-half years, thus sowing the seeds to have avoteonthanksmotion by theKing The Army The spikeprotein actslikeakey the ACE2 receptor2to10times tively bringing it under his control, but going of separation. Now, as asplitappears in- passedinthe House.The SupremeCourt up- The Nepal Armyhas made it clear that it duringcoronavirus infection. It “un- stronger than nanobodies produced by the numbers in the dissolvedParliament, evitable, Oli is hoping to continue in power held that dissolution. will remain neutral in the ongoing political locks”the door to infections when it by other labs. Other experimentssug- the Central Secretariat, the Standing with those following him. But in 1995, the Supreme Court rejected developments. This implies that if Oli tries to binds to ahuman protein calledACE2 gested that the NIH nanobody stuck Committee and the Central Committee, Oli is the dissolution by Prime Minister rule with the help of security forces to main- receptoronthe cell surface. The NIH directlytothe ACE2 receptorbinding in aminority.But with Parliament dissolved Questions over Constitution Manmohan Adhikaryafter ano-trustmo- tain lawand order and contain protests,itis scientists developedamethodthat portion of the spikeprotein, NIH said. andwithaPresidentseenasfavourable to him, Whathashappenedhasleftaquestionmark tion had been tabledbut before the lossof uncertain howfar the Armywill playalong. would isolatenanobodies that block EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE Oli will have the powertorule without being over the Constitution of 2015,and itskey fea- majority wasproved. The courtheld that accountable to none. tures likefederalism, secularismand republic. the executive did nothavethe rightto The China factor The dissolution came hours before a Therearealreadypopularprotestsonthestreets. snatchanissue under consideration of the China has been abig factor in Nepal’s in- INDIA ACTIVE CASES 292,518 Standing Committee meeting that wasex- Thesplitinapartywithatwo-thirdsmajor- legislature. ternal politics since 2006.Itisseenashav- pected to order aprobe intocorruption ityhasraisedconcernsthatitmayleadto asys- The thirdtime, Prime MinisterSher ing lobbied, visible or secret,toprevent the chargeslevelledagainsthim by party co- temic collapse. “Wewill go foradecisive na- Bahadur Deuba dissolvedParliament in 2002 split.Chinahas alsoinvestedincrucial sectors 360,000 chairmanPushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda. tionwidemovementto have thisConstitution and the Supreme Courtupheld it. King liketrade and Investment, energy,tourism dumped,”saidBalakrishnaNeupane,convener Gyanendra revivedParliament in April 2006. and post-earthquakereconstruction, and is The unification &its end of an ongoing citizens’ movement. Nepal’s biggestFDI contributor.Ithas in- 356,546 Prachanda ledthe Maoistinsurgency for Opposition stakes creasedits presence in Nepal because of a adecade (1996-2006)beforejoining main- Constitution &dissolution The opposition Nepali Congress and the perception that India playedacrucial role in 292,518 stream politics. Oli wasafierce critic of the Dissolution of the House is notnew in Madhes-basedJanataSamajbadiParty have the 2006 political change. 310,000 How frauds make use of fake GST invoices LAST 10 DAYS Dec 12 Dec 21 260,000 ments, causing losses to the government. For usingtheseinvoices, booking fake purchases suchfrauds,” said an officer. KHUSHBOONARAYAN instance,onDecember 9, the Vadodaratax to evade income tax, diversion of funds and Note:The Dec 21 figureinthisgraph is based on thegovernment updateonDec 22 MUMBAI,DECEMBER22 unit arrested an individual foroperating 206 moneylaundering.Accordingto officialdata,in Will the taxdepartment be able to dummycompanies in 10 states that illegally 2018-19,thecentralGSTauthoritiesregistered recoverthe moneyfromthe fraudsters? IN THE lastone month, the Directorate passedonITC of Rs 154crore to clientsbyis- 1,602 cases of fake ITCinvolving an amount of Taxofficials who spokeonthe condition INDIA TOTAL CASES WORLD TOTAL CASES General of Goods and Services Tax suing fake invoices of Rs 1,101crore. Rs 11,251crore and arrested 154people. of anonymity said in these cases recovery of 10,075,116 77,667,963 Intelligence(DGGSTI) across the country has In some other cases, the taxdepartment Between April and November 2019,the au- moneyisunlikely as the moneyhas already arrested over100 people and booked 3,479 has found that promoters of certain compa- thorities bookedover6,000suchcases. been siphonedand the companies involved Source:MinistryofHealth&Family Source:JohnsHopkinsUniversity, entities in 1,161cases forillegallyavailing or nies have routed fake invoices through ase- in the fraudare onlyonpaper withverylit- Welfare,updatedat11pmonDec22 updatedat11pmonDec22 passingoninput taxcredit (ITC)byusing fake ries of shell companies and transferredinput What is the reason forasurge in such tle or no assets. GSTinvoices, and causing losstothe excheq- taxcredit from one companytoanother in cir- cases? uer.Tax officials said the use of fake invoices cular transactions to increase the turnoverof According to taxofficials one of the pri- Howisthe government planning to curb to wrongfullyavail ITCcredit has been grad- the company. Thishelpedthem notonlyevade mary reasons foranincrease in companies suchcases? uallyincreasing and has becomeaconcern GSTbut also avail higher bank loans and credit availing ITCfraudulentlyisthe lackofdue The government is planning to tighten forthe government, especially at atime facilities due to increasedturnover. Acasein diligence during the GSTregistration. The the GSTregistration processand legal meas- when revenue collection is depressed. point is atrading companyinMumbai that process of registration wasmade easy and ures to deal with the rising cases of fake in- has been booked foranITC fraudofRs220 hassle free by thegovernment so thatbusi- voicing. Lastmonth the legal committee of Howdid fraudsters cheat the crore. The probeagency has found that the nesses could be easilyon-boardedtothe sys- the GSTCouncil mettodiscuss the tighten- government? firm did circular transactions with 22 related tem. However, this meant thatanumber of ing of the GSTregistrationprocess and work In anumberofcases bookedby the taxau- companies to inflateits turnover. dummy companies tooobtainedthe GST out other legal measures including neces- thority, fraudsters have been found to have registration in the absence of scrutinyor sarylaw amendments required in the GST floated multiple dummyfirms, obtainedGST What motivatesfraudsters to use fake physical verification of the registered address Act. Apartfromthis, the DirectorateGeneral registrations,issuedfakeGST invoicesof goods invoices? of the companies. Apartfromthis, officials of Analytics and Risk Management, the data andserviceswithout actualsupplyofservices, Fake invoicesare usedbecause it notonly said, lackofdataexchangeamong the en- wing of GST, has identifiedand issuedalistof and passedon ineligibleITC accruedfromthe helpsevadeGSTontaxableoutputsuppliesby forcement agenciesand bankshavealsoled 9,757companies thathaveeither issuedor bogus invoices to clientsfor acommission, availing undueITC and converting excessITC to increase in fraudcases. “The existing GST availedfakeITC across the countrybetween who subsequently usedittomakeGST pay- intocashbut alsohelps in inflating turnover system needs to be more robusttodetect July2017and March 2020. JupiterandSaturnwillmeetagain—butcurrentspectacleisstillon

of 12 and 30), i.e. in 2080, the twoplanets four of Jupiter’s moons withhis telescope a 16 and 25, thedistancebetween the two MEHRGILL will alignatroughly the same placewhere fewyears previously—but scientists today planetsinthe skywill appear to aviewer NEWDELHI,DECEMBER22 stargazers watchedthem on December 21, believe Galileowould nothavefound it easy from Earth to be less than the diameterofa 2020. In these 60 years, Jupiter will have or- to see the conjunction, because the planets full moon. FORTHE lastseveral days,sky watchers have bited the Sun five times, while Saturn will were aligned tooclose to the Sun from This does notmean, of course, theyare been captivatedbythe Great Conjunction have done so twice. Earth’s perspective. From an Indiancontext, reallythatclose —theyare currentlyover between Jupiter and Saturn. The closestpass But theywill have mettwice moredur- Jahangir wasruling the Mughal empireat 700millionkilometres apart. Yettheir sep- between theplacetook place on Monday, ing this period, thoughatdifferent places in the time,and the Maratha warriorking aration during the current conjunction is December 21,but the spectacle itselfbegan the sky.In12years more, Jupiter will return Chhatrapati Shivaji wasyet to be born. smaller than theyusuallyeverget during days earlier —and will lastuntil at least to itscurrent place; in the next 8years, it will The Great The lasttime the twoplanets were close mostother conjunctions. Christmas Day. complete 2/3rdsofanother 12-year cycle Conjunction of enough to be viewed in the night skywas around the Sun. In the same 20 years, Saturn Jupiter and in 1226.This wasjustayear before the What if somewatchers missit? What’s agreat conjunction? will have completed2/3rds of its30-year cy- Saturn,viewed deathofthe Mongol ruler Genghis Khan. Forthe very young, thereisstillanop- Apairingbetween anypair of planets is cle. In other words, the twoplanets willmeet from New Delhi portunity.The next twoconjunctions arein aconjunction. Jupiterand Saturn arethe again in 2040. And yetagain in 2060. Howlong will the spectacle continue? 2040 and 2060, although theywill notbe twolargest planetsvisibletothe naked eye, Jupiter has been catching up with Saturn as easy to vieworasprominentasthis one. hence the expression ‘Great Conjunction’. So, whyisthis conjunctionspecial? In fact, this is almostnever the case. ers aound the worldhavefound them dis- since the beginning of December as the two It’s the big one afterthat to look out for— These twoalign roughlyevery 20 years, It’s the alignment. We measurethe po- Planets in aconjunction aretypicallyabove tinct enough to tell them apart. planets move along their orbital paths on March 15,2080. That will have almost whichisrelatively rare comparedtothe sitionofaplanetinterms of the angle it or beloweachother,because their orbits are Also, the position of Earth matters. Not around the Sun. The datethe worldcele- exactlythe same separationasthis one alignmentsofplanets closertothe Sun (and makes on the Earth’s orbital plane, with a slightlytilted withrespect to eachother. everyalignment provides aclear viewing. brated,the night of December21, waswhen does, and will be much easier to see, accord- whichconsequentlyhaveshorterorbits). givenreference direction. When we saytwo This time, Jupiter and Saturn areatenth Jupiter “overtook” Saturn (from Earth’sper- ing to Rice University.That’s 60 years from Jupiterorbitsthe Sun once in 12 years, planets have alignedinaconjunction, it sug- of adegreeapartviewedfromEarth. From And howrareisthis conjunction? spective). But even afterDecember 21,the today, somethingfor youngersky watchers and Saturn once in 30. High school arith- geststheyare casting the same angle with some views,thatmightgivethem the ap- The lastGreat Conjunction happened in planetswill still appear very close together to be optimistic about. metictells us thatin60moreyears(the LCM that reference direction. pearance of converging intoone, but view- 1623. Forcontext, Galileohad discovered forthe next fewdays.Between December InputsfromENS in NewDelhi

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TOPOFTHE Nepal ruling party WORLD Englandmullswiderlockdownto heads for split as curbspreadofnewCovidvariant Prachandaexpels Oli from top post EU urgesmember countries to liftblanket travel bans forBritain BioNTech CEO YUBARAJGHIMIRE Security personnel at confident KATHMANDU,DECEMBER22 thesiteofthe attackin THENEWYORKTIMES vaccine will Kabul. AP LONDON,DECEMBER22 THE NEPAL CommunistParty work on variant (NCP) on Tuesdaymoved astep AS GOVERNMENTS around the towardsaformal split, with the AFGHANISTAN worldracedtoseal their borders PushpaKamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ Roadsidebomb to travelers from Britaininanat- ASSOCIATEDPRESS -ledfaction removing Prime KPOli and (right)Pushpa tempttocontain anew variant BERLIN,DECEMBER22 MinisterKPSharma Oli from the Kamal Dahal‘Prachanda’ killsprison of the coronavirus, officials in postofchairman and deciding to London warnedthat the lock- GERMAN PHARMACEUTICAL take disciplinaryaction against doctorsinKabul down measures in effect in the companyBioNTechisconfident him. cidedthat the dissolution of Kabul: Aroadside bomb capital and southern England that itscoronavirus vaccine The Central Committee Parliament wasanact that went killedatleastfiveprison might needtobeexpanded. worksagainstthe newUKvari- unanimouslynominated senior againstthe spirit of the doctors and health work- The government’s chief sci- ant, but further studies are leader MadhavKumar Nepal as Constitution and values of ers in the Afghan capital entific adviser,Patrick Vallance, neededtobecompletely sure, its the party's second chairman in democracy.Hence,the group de- on Tuesdaywhilethey said Mondaynight thatthe new chiefexecutive said Tuesday. place of Oli. Prachanda is the first cidedtoexpel Oli as party chair- were on their waytothe strain wasnow “everywhere” The variant,detected mainly chairman of the party. man. “The government stands country’s largest jail, offi- across England and that cases in London and southeast “Now Dahal and Nepal will dissolvedbut the Partyisintact,” cials said. The Taliban said were only expected to grow over England in recent weeks, has chair the meetings in turn as Prachanda said. theywerenot involvedin the holidayperiod. “I think it’s sparkedconcern worldwide be- stated in the party statue,” said Inacounter-move,thefaction the attack as the five were likelythereforethat measures cause of signs that it mayspread Rekha Sharma, acentral com- ledbyOli removedNCP central on their waytothe sprawl- will needtobeincreasedin moreeasily. While thereisnoin- mittee member. secretariat member Naryan Kaji ing Pul-i-Charkhi prison some places in due course, not People queue outside asupermarket in London'sBalham on Tuesday. Reuters dication it causes moreserious Earlier in the day, Oli -- one of Shrestha from the position of the housinghundreds of pris- reduced,” Mr.Vallancesaid. illness, numerous countries in the twochairmenofthe ruling spokesperson. Oli announceda oners,including scores of With nearly everycountryin Europe and beyond have re- NCP--organisedaseparate new1,199-membercommitteeto Taliban insurgents. Three Europenow banning travel to the newvariant and the danger Biden gets his shot, says stricted travel from the UK as a meeting of the Central organisethe party'sgeneral con- doctors, twoofthem and from Britain, European it poses. “There is zero evidence result. Committeeleaders close to him vention on November 18-23 in women, working to con- Union officials struggledtoes- at this point that thereisany in- “Wedon't knowatthe mo- at Baluwatar,the prime minis- Kathmandu next year.Earlier the trol the spread of the coro- tablish guidelines formember crease in the severity associated nothing to worry about ment if our vaccine is also able to ter's official residence. party'sconventionwasscheduled navirus in thejail were nations that could bring asem- with this disease,” MikeRyan, the provide protection againstthis Themeetingwas held three from April 7to12, 2021. among the dead,said blance of order to the chaotic WHO emergency director, said. newvariant," CEO Ugur Sahin days afterOli got the President Meanwhile, four members of Masooma Jafari, aspokes- cascade of border closuresan- “Clearly thereisworkongoing to LALITKJHA told anews conference. “But sci- to dissolve Parliament, acontro- the dissolvedHouse -- all be- woman forthe health nouncedoverthe past48hours. look at transmission and the in- WASHINGTON,DECEMBER22 entifically, it is highlylikelythat versial move amidstaprolonged longing to thePrachandacamp ministry. REUTERS The EU’s executive arm, said creasedrates of transmission and the immune responsebythis tussle forpowerbetween him -- filedapetition before the on Tuesday that member states howmuchofthat is attributable US President-elect Joe Biden on vaccine also can deal with the and Prachanda within the ruling Supreme Court, pleading that should move swiftlytoreverse to this particular variant.” Mondayreceivedthe Covid-19 newvirus variants.” dispensation. the dissolution of Parliament be travel bans imposedoverthe past While scientists around the vaccine and said he wanted to Sahin said the proteinsonthe At themeetingheld by the declared null and void. NORWAY fewdays in an effort to stop the worldworkedtobetterunder- demonstratethat people should UK variantare 99 per cent the Prachanda faction, it wasde- --WITHPTI Greenpeaceloses spread of newvariant of the coro- stand the dangers of the variant, be ready to take the vaccine same as on the prevailing strains, navirus thathas emergedin the measures being put in place when it is available. Joe Biden receiveshis first and thereforeBioNTechhas "sci- courtcaseover Britain. It recommendedtesting to tryand contain it were already Biden receivedthe first dose of the vaccine. AP/PTI entific confidence" that itsvac- Arcticoildrilling or quarantining as needed, and being felt across Britain. Millions course of the Pfizer-BioNTech cine will be effective.“But we Israeli top court stressedthatnonessentialtravel of peopleforcedtoabruptly can- vaccine. “I am doing this to willknowitonlyifthe experi- Oslo: Norway’s supreme should be discouraged.The rec- cel Christmas plans arenow also demonstratethat people should 19 vaccine. To thescientists and ment is done and we will need courtapproved thegov- ommendationsare nonbinding. facing the prospect of adisrup- be prepared when it's available researcherswho worked tire- about twoweeksfromnow to hearschallengeto ernment’s plans forArctic The WorldHealth tion to basic services unlikeany- to take the vaccine. There's noth- lessly to makethis possible -- getthe data,” he said. “The likeli- oilexplorationonTuesday, Organization sought to temper thing experiencedsofar in the ing to worryabout,” he said. thankyou.Weowe youanaw- hood thatour vaccine works... is dismissing alawsuitby the growing sense of alarm over pandemic. “Today, Ireceivedthe Covid- ful lot," Biden said in atweet. relatively high.” Jewish nationlaw campaignerswhoclaimed the scheme violated peo- ple’s right to ahealthy en- ASSOCIATEDPRESS ED vironment.Theverdictup- Trump signs stopgap Whythelaw JERUSALEM,DECEMBER22 hassparked

heldrulingsmade by two PLAIN E controversy lowercourts,rejectingar- ● fundingbill; Cong awaits THE ISRAELI Supreme Court on EX guments by Greenpeace Tuesdaywas hearing acase and the Natureand Youth againstacontentious lawthat Benjamin Netanyahu group that a2015-16oil li- nod of $892 bn Covid aid defines the countryasthe na- has called the2018legis- censing round giving tion-state of theJewish people, lation“adefining mo- awards to Equinor and marking the beginning of aland- ment in the history of the othersbreachedNorway’s REUTERS markchallengeagainstlegisla- state”. constitution. While the WASHINGTON,DECEMBER22 tion thatopponents saydiscrim- Proponentsofthe law casewasspecificallyabout inates againstminorities. have arguedthat the leg- tenexploration licenses PRESIDENT DONALD Trumpon The 15 petitions filedbyArab islation merelyenshrines awardedfour years ago, Tuesdaysignedastopgap meas- rights groups and other civil so- Israel'sJewish character the environmental cam- uretofund US agenciesfor an- ciety organisations seek to have intolaw.But critics have paigners had hopedthat other week while Congress the country's Supreme Court arguedthat the lawcon- their appeal would seta passedamassive Covid-19 aid strikedownthe law. travenes the basis of precedent limiting the oil and government funding pack- The petitions pose amajor Israel's legal system, as industry’s Arctic expan- ageovernight aimedatbolster- challengetothe 2018 lawand are well as itsDeclaration of sion. REUTERS ing the nation’s pandemic re- Donald Trump being heardbyapanel of 11 jus- Independence, and sponse and itsbattered tices, the court's largest possible solidifies inequality ARGENTINA economy. WE DIDN’T START THE FIRE configuration. among itscitizens. Senatetovote The packageincludes $892 than 319,000 Americans have “This is the firsttime in Israeli billion forcoronavirus relief plus died. Aplume rises near active fissures in the crater of Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano. The eruption legal history that the Supreme onexpanding federal government funding to The wide-ranging bill in- beganlateSundaywithinthe volcano’s caldera, the US Geological Survey said. Because of the Court has to deal withthe legal selvesdemotedtosecond class also avertagovernment shut- cludes $600paymentstomost location of the erupting lava,therewas littlerisk to the public. AP/PTI status of thePalestinianminority citizens. righttoabortion down -together worthabout Americans and additional in Israel,” said Hassan Jabareen, As the judges heardargu- Buenos Aires: Argentina’s $2.3 trillion in spending forthe moneytothe millionsofpeo- founder of Adalah, an Arab mi- mentsagainst the lawfrompe- Senatewill decide next rest of thefiscal year that ends ple thrownout of work during nority rightsgroup petitioning titioners, Israeli Prime Minister week whether to give fi- next September 30 -- and is the Covid-19pandemic, justas the court, ahead of the hearing. Benjamin Netanyahu said the nal approval to agovern- awaiting Trump’s approval to be- earlier benefitsexpireon EU vows ‘final push’ in UK trade talks The nation-state lawwas ap- court“is notanabsoluteruler” ment-backedbill that come law. Saturday. proved by the KnessetinJuly and calledfor legislation to limit would expand the avail- In the meantime, US law- Still, various advocacy groups arrangementsexpire. Barnier.Hetoldthe closed-door 2018.Itdefines Israel as the “na- judicial authority. makers movedtofund federal and others said that while the REUTERS tion-state of the Jewish people” ability of legal abortion, a The twosides have for gathering that fisheries remained Israel on cusp of 4th proposal that has divided agenciesthrough December 28 newround of aid waswel- BRUSSELS,DECEMBER22 months been struggling to seal a astumbling blockand that the and addsthat“fulfilling the right asociety with strong ties to prevent alapse in government comed, it wasfar from enough newframework fortheir rela- UK’slatestoffer on sharing out to national self-determination in election in 2years to the Roman Catholic operations. Trumpsignedthe to help Americans who have THE EUROPEAN Union is giving tions, going beyond trade to the catchfrom2021was “totally the stateofIsrael is unique to the Jerusalem: Israel’s government church.Asimilar bill was stopgap funding bill intolaw on been strugglingfor months and a“final push” in abid to strikea transporttoenergy.But the unacceptable”, according to an Jewish people.” teetered on thebrink of collapse defeated by Argentina’s Tuesday, theWhiteHouse said. comes toolatefor many. They Brexit trade deal with Britain, the much-postponedfinalstages EU diplomat who spokeoncon- It also downgradedArabic on Tuesday, abuilding crisis that Congress in 2018.Current The Covid-19provisions aim calledonPresident-elect Joe bloc’s chief negotiator said nowcoincidewith across- dition of anonymity. from an official statelanguageto lookslikelytopush the country lawallows forabortion to throwalifeline to the US econ- Biden to do moreonce he takes Tuesday. Channel crisis as EU and other Earlier in the day, EU diplo- one with “special status”. into yetanotherearly election — onlywhen thereisaseri- omyafter months of inaction as office on January20. Britain is settocomplete its countries suspend mosttravelto matsand officials said an agree- The law's passageprompted thefourth in twoyears. ous risk to the mother’s thenovel coronavirus outbreak TreasurySecretarySteven departurefromthe EU when it and from Britain. ment wasgetting closer but also vocal opposition by the country's The Parliament wasexpected healthorinthe event of continues to swellnationwide, Mnuchin has said $600direct leavesthe bloc’ssingle market “Weare reallyinacrucial mo- warneditmight notcome to- Arab minority,particularly to dissolve at Tuesdaymidnight. rape. REUTERS with morethan 214,000 people payment checkscould be sent to and customs union on December ment. We aregivingitafinal gether in time to come intoforce among Druze Israelis, who serve Anew votehas tentatively been infected everyday.Sofar,more people as soon as next week. 31,meaning itscurrent free trade push,”saidthe negotiator,Michel on January1. in the militaryand sawthem- scheduledfor March 23. NYT Riomayor Russian law to arrestedover 32 years on, suspect charged in 1988Lockerbie bombing allow former ‘briberyscheme’ chargesagainsttwo suspectsin mainedmurky.But the depart- and we have no reason to think Rio de Janeiro: Rio de ADAMGOLDMAN& the explosionofthe jetlinerover ment said that Col.Muammar that that government is inter- presidents be Janeiro MayorMarcelo KATIEBENNER Lockerbie, Scotland. On Monday, el-Qaddafi, Libya’s leader at the estedinassociating itself with Crivella wasarrestedon WASHINGTON,DECEMBER22 the 32nd anniversaryofthe at- time, personallythanked Mr. this heinous act of terrorism,” senators for life Tuesday, nine days before tack,Mr. Barrrevealedcharges Mas’ud forcarrying outthe Mr.Barrsaid. “Weare optimistic the end of his term, foral- US ATTORNEY General William againstathirdperson, ashad- deadlyoperation and calledita theywill turn him over to face Moscow: President Vladimir legedinvolvementinacor- PBarronMondayannounced owybomb expert namedAbu total success. justice.” Putin signedlegislationon ruptionschemeatcityhall, criminal chargesagainst aformer Agila Mohammad Mas’ud. AfterColonel el-Qaddafi’s Extradition would allow Mr. Tuesdaythatallows former pres- police and prosecutors Libyanintelligence operativeac- The Justice Department government collapsed, Mr. Mas’ud to stand trial, but defense idents to becomelawmakers for said. Crivella, who wasar- cusedofbuilding the explosive chargedMr. Mas’ud with two Mas’ud confessedtothe bomb- lawyers raiseddoubtsabout lifeinRussia’s upper house of rested at home on the devicethat wasusedinthe 1988 criminal counts, including de- ing in 2012 while being inter- whether aconfession obtained parliament once theyleave the westernsideof Rio,denied bombing of PanAmFlight 103, struction of an aircraftresulting viewedbyaLibyanlaw enforce- in prisoninwar-torn Libya Kremlin, agovernment website anywrongdoing and said one of the deadliest terroristat- in death,according to court doc- ment official. Investigators would be admissible as evi- showed. he wasthe target of politi- tacksinUnited States history, umentsunsealedonMonday. He eventually learnedabout his de- dence. The legislation follows cal persecution. The stemming partlytoaconfession is halfway through a10-year tentionand confession, Mr.Barr Mr.Mas’udwas thethirdsus- sweeping changes to the Russian mayor’sarrest comesafter that he gave nearly adecade ago sentence in aLibyanprison for said, calling the developmenta pect chargedinthe PanAm103 political system initiated by awaveofcorruptioninves- while imprisonedinLibya. unrelated crimes. RemainsofPan Am Flight103 at afieldinLockerbie, “breakthrough.” case. The other two, Abdel Basset Putin this year that, among other tigations that have landed The announcementbook- “Lettherebenomistake,” Mr. Scotland.The December 1988 attackkilled270 people. AP File The attorneygeneral, who Ali al-Megrahi and Al-Amin things, allowhim to runfor two five formerRiostategover- ends Mr.Barr’s twotours of duty Barrsaid. “Noamount of time or steps down on Wednesday, said KhalifaFhimah, were initially moresix-year terms in the nors to jail..“Iaminnocent as attorneygeneral, firstunder distance will stop the United he washopeful that the Libyans chargedin1991, but American Kremlinifhechooses. He had and Idon’t knowwhat is President George Bush and now States, and itspartners in into the bombing of the flight, confirm his identity or locate would extraditeMr. Mas’ud to effortstobring them to justice been due to step down in 2024. going on. This is apolitical under President Trump. At his Scotland, from pursuing justice whichkilled270 passengers, in- him afterthe attack, Mr.Barr the United States and calledthe were stymiedwhen Libya re- The reforms arebeingclosely persecution,” Crivella said firstnews conference as the act- in this case.” cluding 190Americans. said. Mr.Mas’ud appeared to prospects“very good.” fusedtoextraditethem to either parsedfor cluesastowhat Putin afterhis arrest. REUTERS ing attorneygeneral under Mr. Mr.Mas’ud’s name had sur- However, officials examin- have hadaroleinthe explosion, “Mas’ud is in the custody of the United States or Britain for maydoatthe end of his current Bush in 1991,heannounced facedduringthe investigation ing what happenedfailedto but his exact involvement re- the current government of Libya, trial. NYT presidential term. REUTERS

Ahmedabad WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THEINDIANEXPRESS,WEDNESDAY,DECEMBER23,2020 13 ECONOMY GOLD RUPEE OIL SILVER `49,653 `73.84 $50.29 `67,177

Note:Gold,silverrates at Delhi spot market;goldper 10 g, silverper 1kg; Brent crude as of 0030 IST SENSEX: 46,006.69 ▲ 452.73 NIFTY: 13,466.30 ▲ 137.90 NIKKEI: 26,436.39 ▼ 278.03 HANGSENG: 26,119.25 ▼ 187.43 FTSE: 6,428.76 ▲ 12.44 DAX: 13,379.07 ▲ 132.77

International market data till 0000IST IT, PHARMA LEADGAINS; RUPEE FALLS5PAISE TO 73.84 $900-billion US Covid aid: Marketsrecouplossespartiallyas How relief package could FPIsreturn;Sensexbackabove46K impact global sentiment Thedeal,whichhasbeenhanging hadledtoconcernsoverwhether ENSECONOMICBUREAU fire formonths, wasannounced the US government would shut search,Geojit Financialservices. US dollar and witnessedanintra- andFrenchindicesbothadded1.3 NEWDELHI,DECEMBER22 on SundaybySenateMajority down withoutaspending bill. ENSECONOMICBUREAU With FPIs resumingpur- dayhighof73.82 and alow of per cent,asper a Reuters report. LeaderMitchMcConnell. Washington has been operating MUMBAI,DECEMBER22 chases, markets openedwith an 73.95,asper a PTI report. The lo- In the US,the benchmarkS&P FOLLOWINGSEVERALmonthsof on temporaryfunding since uptickamid encouraging global cal unitfinallyclosed at 73.84 500stock indexdippedinchoppy wrangling,the US Congress clea- What arethe keybenefitsin October,the commencement of AFTERMONDAY’S sell-off, do- cuesandhoveredinarangeinthe againstthe American currency, trade, despitethe US Congress’s reda$900-billioncoronavirusaid the package? the US federal government’s fi- mesticmarketsonTuesday firsthalf. However, healthybuy- registering afall of 5paise over its passageofan$892 billion coron- packageMonday night,withboth The stimulus in- nancial year.This is made apartial recovery on the ing in theITand pharma majors previous close. avirus aid package. theHouseof Representativesand cludes$600pay- important as the $2.4 backoffirm global advices. Led combinedwith some recovery in On Monday, the rupee On Wall Street,the DowJones theSenateclearingtheaidbill.Ou- mentstomost trillion economic re- by IT and pharmastocks, the the other sectors helpedthe plunged 23 paise to end at atwo- Industrial Averagefell 96.58 tgoingPresidentDonaldTrumpis Americans, and will lief packagehas been Sensex, whichfell 1,407pointson benchmarktopareintradaylosses week lowof73.79 againstthe points, or 0.32 per cent, to nowexpected to sign it intolaw. supplement unem- credited withcush- Monday, gained 453 points, or and settle around theday’s high US dollar. 30,119.87, theS&P 500lost2.43 ployment payments ioning the US econ- 0.99 per cent, to close above the as well. Consequently, the Nifty Asian shares (exceptIndia points, or 0.07per cent, to What does this bill entail? by $300per week.It omyfromthe impact 46,000levelat46,006.69 and the endedaround13,466levels,upby and Thailand) retreated on 3,692.49and the Nasdaq The cleared aidpackageen- also contains more of the pandemic. NSE Nifty50 soared 138points, 1per cent. The broader markets, Sensexat46,006 points. File Tuesday,extendinglosseson Composite added39.71points,or tails direct jobless benefitsfor than $300billion in The impact of the or 1.03 per cent, to 13,466.30 on too, witnessedrecoveryandboth growing worries over anew,po- 0.31per cent, to 12,782.22.US Americansbelowathreshold in- supportforcompanies,alongside legislative action couldresonate buying support. the midcap and smallcap index tentiallymoreinfectious strain of Treasury yieldsalso fell as in- comelevel,alongside supportfor fundsforvaccinedistributionand beyondtheUS,intermsofassuag- The rallywas ledbyITand posteddecent gains. avoidunnecessaryovernightrisk,” the coronavirus. vestorsweighedthe likelihood of businesses and unemployment rental aid. ing market sentimentsacross ge- pharmastocks,withothersectors Analysts said marketstook an said AjitMishra, VP-research, Meanwhile, European stocks increasedlockdownsinresponse programmes.AnumberofCovid- The payment is half the ographies, especiallycoming a also supporting the firm trend. unexpectedpositive momentum ReligareBroking. steadiedonTuesday,after heavy to thenew Covid-19 variant. 19 relief programmes were setto amountthat the US Congress ap- dayafter marketstanked follow- “Volatilityisexpectedto stay high intheafternoon,duringasee-saw The rupee furthered itslosses losses aday earlier sparked by Oil droppedtowards $50 a expire attheendof themonthand proved fordirect paymentsdur- ingreportsofthenewcoronavirus inthenear-termdueto strictlock- tradingday,followingthepositive by another5paiseto closeat73.84 fearsoverahighly infectiousnew barrelonTuesday, addingto losses about12 millionAmericanswere ingthefirstroundof pandemicre- strain in Britain and South Africa. downimpactingeconomicrecov- openingof theEuropeanmarkets, againstthe US dollar on Tuesday strainof Covid,asWashingtonap- from the previous session. Brent at risk of losing access to benefits, lief earlier this year. The Sensex, whichfell 1,407 ery. However, the marketisex- whichrecoveredfromMonday’s in line with weaker Asian peers proved an $892billionpandemic crude wasdown62cents, or 1.22 if the legislationhad notgone pointsonMonday, gained453 pectedtoremain bullish in the sell-off.“Weexpectvolatilityto re- amidconcernsoveranew coron- relief package. The broad Euro percent,at$50.29abarrelby0150 through. At over 5,500pages,the Whyisthis important for points, or 0.99 per cent, to closeat medium to longterm,backedby main high in the following ses- avirus strain. At theinterbank STOXX600gained1.2percent,on pm GMT,while West Texas legislation wasdescribed by the the US, and even marketssuch 46,006.69andtheNSENiftyIndex progress in economic activity in sions too. Traders should proac- forexmarket,the domestic cur- course forits biggestone-day Intermediate(WTI) crude fell 78 AssociatedPressas“thelongestbill as India? soared138points,or1.03percent, 2021,”saidVinodNair,headof re- tively managetheirpositionsand rencyopenedat73.95againstthe jumpinoverfiveweeks. German cents, or 1.63 per cent,to$47.19. in memoryand probablyever”. Delays inclearingthepackage to 13,466.30 on buying support. BRIEFLY Bharat Biotech &Ocugen team Bidsinvitedfor ‘Securitisation volumes likely STATUS OF PASS-THROUGH 31 ShippingCorp to bounce backinFY22’ CERTIFICATES (PTCS) 10 up to develop Covaxin for US IN FY21 SO FAR downgrades upgrades NewDelhi: The government Aftercontracting sharply so farthis fiscal year,domestic “VaccinessuchasCovaxinthat Tuesday invitedexpressions securitisation volumes of retail pools originated by NBFCs ENSECONOMICBUREAU CURRENTLYIN can potentiallyelicit abroad im- Originators who went of interestfor strategic dis- and HFCs arelikely to bounce backfirmly in FY22, Icrasaid FACTORS THAT WOULD NEWDELHI,DECEMBER22 PHASE3TRIALS muneresponseandmaylimitfu- investment of its63.75 per DRIVE RISE IN VOLUMES 45throughsecuritisation in tureCovid-19severity could be cent stakeinShipping Corp FOR THE REMAINDER OF Q2 FY2021, compared BHARATBIOTECHhas decidedto importantto have inourarsenal,” ■ Covaxin hasbeen of Indiaalongwiththetrans- FY21 AND FY22: to 18 in Q1 FY2021 developCovaxin forthe US mar- said David Fajgenbaum, amem- evaluatedinnearly ferofmanagement control. ketincollaboration with Ameri- berofOcugen’sVaccine Scientific ■ Growing investor Financing requirements likely 1,000subjectsinphase can biopharmaceuticalfirm AdvisoryBoard. confidence in asset qualitydue to rise: The financing 1and phase2clinical Ocugen.Thetwocompanieshave “The development and clini- NBFCs to improving collections trialsinIndia, and is IBCsuspension requirements for non-banking signedabinding letter of intent cal evaluation of Covaxin marksa currently partofa ■ Higher funding requirement financial companies (NBFC) (LoI),BharatBiotech saidTuesday. significantmilestoneforvaccinol- notification phase 3clinical trial of originators on account of and housing finance According to the LoI, Ocugen ogyinIndia.Covaxinhasgarnered NewDelhi: The government increasing disbursements companies (HFC) are willhavethe US rightstothe vac- interestfromseveral countries hasagain extended thesus- ` ■ Improving business expectedtoincrease in cine candidateand, in collabora- worldwideforsuppliesandintro- pension of fresh proceed- activities post the end of financial year 2021-22 as tion with Bharat Biotech,willbe vaccine expertise, and itsR&D ductionandwe areexcitedto col- ings under the insolvency lockdown and moratorium disbursements would be responsible for“clinicaldevelop- and regulatorycapabilities in the laboratewith Ocugen to bringit lawbythree moremonths period closer to the pre-Covid levels ment, registration, and commer- US,” said BharatBiotech in to theUSmarket,”saidDrKrishna tillMarch 24 nextyearamid cialisation” of the candidatefor itsstatement. Ella, CMD, Bharat Biotech. the disruptions causedby thatmarket. In preparation forthe devel- The vaccine has been evalu- the coronavirus pandemic. Why is it important: Appetite for securitisation of unsecured Lockdown, moratorium impact: Securitisation “The companies have begun opment of Covaxin in the US, ated in approximately1,000sub- Anotification forathree- loans still remains relatively weak and wouldonly improve if volumescontracted sharply in Q1FY21, Source: Icra collaborating and will finalize de- Ocugenhas assembleda‘Vaccine jectsinphase 1and phase2clini- monthextensionof thesus- collection efficiency for such asset classes continues to following the nationwide lockdown and the Ratings/PTI tails of the definitiveagreement ScientificAdvisoryBoard’to eval- cal trials in India, and is currently pension, whichwas to end increase sustainably moratoriumprovided to borrowers in the next fewweeks.This col- uatethe clinical and regulatory partofaphase 3clinical trial in- onDecember24,wasissued laboration leveragesOcugen’s pathto approvalintheUSmarket. volving 26,000volunteers. by thecorporateaffairsmin- istryonTuesday. Thethree- monthperiod would be from December 25. Crude production Wipro inks $700-mn IT takeoverdeal with Metro AG BHELtoback specialising in serving needs of andcateringfoodindustryfuelled slips4.9% amid low ENSECONOMICBUREAU hotels,restaurantsandcaterersas by quality,focus and flexibility. Buyback offer to open on Dec 29 localsuppliers BENGALURU,DECEMBER22 well as independent traders. “PartneringwithWiproallows The estimated deal value for us to simplifyand streamlineour NewDelhi:WiprosaidTues- “...the companyreceived NewDelhi:EngineeringPSU demand, shutdowns WIPROSAID on Tuesdayitwill the duration of the firstfiveyears IT landscape, and criticallygives dayits up to Rs 9,500-crore final comments from the BHELsaidTuesdayitisinter- take overtheinformationtechnol- is$700million.Withtheintention us accesstoinnovation and the sharebuybackprogramme Securities and Exchange estedinindigenisationof 21,566TMT setfor this period, ac- ogy unitsofMetro AG —Metro- to extend up to four additional best digitalpractices,” Timo willstartonDecember29and BoardofIndia on December over 300items across nine ENSECONOMICBUREAU cording to the officialrelease. NOM GMBH in Germanyand years, it can be apotentialspend Salzsieder, CIO, MetroAGsaid. closeonJanuary11, 2021. 21,2020, with respect to the categories, with afocus on NEWDELHI,DECEMBER22 Significantlylowerproduc- MetroSystems Romania SRL — of up to $1 billion, Wiprosaid. Thierry Delaporte, CEOand Lastmonth, shareholders DraftLetterofOffer filedby contributingto theAatman- tion from Cairn India’sRajasthan underwhichover1,300 employ- The IT major will deliveraco- managing director,Wiprosaid, had cleared Wipro’s buyback the companyfor the cap- irbhar Bharat mission. PTI THE NATION’S crude oilproduc- fields —whereoutput fell 9.6 per eesacrossGermany, Romaniaand mplete technology, engineering “Likeus, MetroAGisfocusedon plan to buy up to 23.75crore tionedbuyback...thecompany tion fell 4.9 per cent in November cent to 477TMT compared to Indiawill transfer to Wipro. andsolutionstransformationpro- leveraging digitaltransformation equity shares at Rs 400per will dispatchthe Letter of to 2,486 thousandmetric tonnes 527.5TMT in the corresponding Metroisaleadinginterna- gramme forMetro as it positions forcompetitive advantage. Wip- share,aggregatingto anamo- Offertoeligibleshareholders,” US,UKrevise (TMT) from 2,680 TMT ayear period last year —compriseda tional wholesale company, with itself as awholesale 360-degree ro’s role is to makethat transfor- untofuptoRs9,500crore. Wiprosaid in afiling. PTI GDPfigures ago, while natural gasproduction keyportion of the shortfall in food and non-food assortments, provider in the hotel, restaurant mationefficientandeffective.” FE fell 9.1per cent from last crude oiloutput. Washington/London: The November. ONGC’s crudeoil outputfell UnitedStatesDepartmentof Lowerdemand due to Covid- 1.5per cent in November due to Commerce, in itsthirdesti- 19 and plant shutdowns planned lowerthan expectedproduction Govt, World Bank in $500 million ‘SDL issuance falls in Dec mate, revisedthe gross do- to coincide with lowerdemand levels at newerfields, the opera- mesticproduct(GDP) gro- were key reasons forlowerout- tions of whichwereimpacted post expansion in Apr-Nov’ wth forthe July-September put, agovernment release said. due to Covidimplications, the pact to develop highway corridors quarterto33.4 per cent an- Meanwhile, crudeoil pro- government release said. the SDLissuance in December nualised rate,from33.1per cessing in the month fell 5.1per Output by Oil India (OIL) was the WorldBank, hasamaturityof ogydesignssuch aslocalandmar- ENSECONOMICBUREAU 2020hasdisplayedamixedtrend, cent reportedlastmonth. cent to 20.8milliontonnes as down 6.53 per cent in November ENSECONOMICBUREAU 18.5 years including afive-year ginalmaterials,industrialbyprod- MUMBAI,DECEMBER22 witha5-24per cent year-on-year Similarly,the United King- against21.9million tonnes in the over lastyear due to lowerthan NEWDELHI,DECEMBER22 grace period. ucts,andotherbioengineeringso- decline in the firsttwo weeksfol- domreviseditsGDPgrowth year agoperiod, but rose 13 per expected production from older The project will also enhance lutions, it said. NINE STATES on Tuesdayraised lowedby8-19per cent growth in figureforthethirdquarterto cent from the18.9million tonnes wells and the impact of protests THE GOVERNMENT and the the capacity of the Ministryof “Connectivity foreconomic Rs 12,000 crorethrough state de- the subsequenttwo auctions. As 16 percent, from 15.5 per processedinOctober,according andblockadesatOIL unitsafter WorldBank Tuesday signeda Road Transport and Highways growth and connectivity forsus- velopmentloans(SDLs)intheauc- per Icra, overall,the gross SDL is- centearlier. REUTERS to government datareleasedon the Baghjan well blowout in May. $500million project to build na- (MoRTH)inmainstreamingsafety tainabledevelopmentaretwo im- tion,nearly 25percentlowerthan suancebetween December 1and Tuesday. Natural gasoutput in the tional highway corridors in the and green technologies, the fi- portant aspects of acountry’s de- theamountthatwasinitiallyindi- December 22, 2020 has recorded Cumulative crude oil produc- countryfell largely due to closure states of Rajasthan,Himachal nanceministrysaidinastatement. velopmenttrajectory. This cated forthe week. amildY-o-Ycontractionof 2.5per 2startupsraise tion in April-Novemberwas of ONGC gaswells in the western Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and The Green National Highways operation brings these twoprior- However, Tuesday’s SDL is- cent. So far, in Q3FY21(till fundsfromGoogle 20,427TMT,down6per cent offshoredue to aplant shutdown AndhraPradesh.The$500million Corridors Project will support ities together in supportofIndia’s suance was18.3 per cent higher December22, Rs 1,83,400crore from 21,725 TMT in the samepe- in Haziraaswell as lowerthan loan from the International Bank MoRTHconstruct783 kmof high- growth strategy,” said Junaid than the year-agolevel. Afterthe have been raisedvia SDLs, which NewDelhi: VerSe riod lastyear.This is also5.3 per expected production from wells forReconstruction and ways invariousgeographiesby in- Ahmad, WorldBank countrydi- high 48.4 per cent expansion is 90.7 per cent of the Rs 202,200 Innovation, whichruns cent lowerthanthe target of in the Eastern offshore region. Development(IBRD), an arm of tegrating safeand green technol- rector in India. recordedinApril-November2020, croreindicated forQ3FY21). Dailyhuntand shortvideo app Josh, on Tuesdaysaid it hascompletedanover$100 ELECTRICITY(RIGHTSOFCONSUMERS)RULES, 2020 million (about Rs 739crore) ‘Apple self-driving car by 2024’ fund raisinground from Norms bring in compensationmechanism AlphaWave, Google and Microsoft.Existinginvestors, REUTERS Shares rally especiallywhereuse foragricul- gations of Distribution Sofina Group and Lupa BEIJING/DETROIT,DEC22 PRABHARAGHAVAN tural purposes is concerned. licensees; Systemsalsoparticipatedin nearly 5% NEWDELHI,DECEMBER22 ¾ release of newconnection thisround,astatementsaid. APPLEINCismovingforwardwith Effect on consumers and modification in existing con- With this newinfusion of self-driving car technology and is Bengaluru: Shares of Apple THE GOVERNMENT on Monday Now, as per law, states will nection; capital, the companyisnow targeting 2024 to produceapas- Inc jumpednearly 5per cent notifiedthe Electricity (Rightsof have to implementtheserulesand ¾metering arrangement; valuedatover$1billion, it sengervehicle that could include on Tuesday, after Reuters re- Consumers) Rules, 2020. These discoms will be held moreac- ¾billing and payment; added. Meanwhile,lock itsown breakthrough battery portedthattheiPhonemaker rulesserveto“empower” con- countable forissues likedelays in ¾ disconnection and reco- screenplatformGlancesaid technology,people familiar with Apple CEO TimCook. File is aiming to produce apas- sumers with rightsthat would al- providing and renewingconnec- nnection; Tuesday it has raised $145 the mattertoldReuters. senger vehicle by 2024. lowthem to access continuous tions of electricity.Theyare also ¾reliability of supply; million in fundingfrom The iPhone maker’s automo- Apple’s shares were lastup supply of quality,reliable electric- The rulescover 11 keyareas of obligated to provide round-the- ¾consumer as ‘prosumer’; Googleandexistinginvestor tive efforts,knownasProjectTitan, Tesla Inc, returnedtooversee the 3.9 per cent at $133.27, on ity.This is because the provisions powersupplytoconsumers. clockelectricity to consumers, as ¾ standards of performance of li- MithrilCapital.Anof InMobi have proceededunevenlysince project in 2018 andlaid off190 tracktoaddnearly $86billion makedistribution companies perthe MinistryofPower. censee; Group, Glance—whichalso 2014 whenitfirststartedto design people from the team in 2019. to itsmarket valuation. moreaccountable to consumers. To ensurecompliance,thegov- ¾compensation mechanism; owns shortvideoapp itsown vehicle from scratch. At Since then, Apple has pro- TheNasdaqwaspropped The rules cover11key areas of nections and modifications of ex- ernment willapplypenalties that ¾call centrefor consumer Roposo—said it will use the onepoint,Appledrew backtheef- gressed enough that it nowaims up by Apple as the S&P 500 powersupply to consumersinthe isting connections and grievance willbecreditedto theconsumer’s services; fundsto expandinkey mar- fort to focus on softwareand re- to build avehicle forconsumers, wasintheredoverweakeco- country,including obligations of redressal and compensation account. The following areas are ¾grievanceredressalmechanism. kets. FE&PTI assessedits goals. Doug Field, an twopeoplefamiliarwiththeeffort nomic data. REUTERS distribution licensees, metering mechanisms. However, thereare coveredunder the rules: Fullreport on Appleveteranwhohadworkedat said, asking nottobenamed. arrangements,releaseof newcon- certain exceptions to these rules, ¾ Rightsofconsumers and Obli- www.indianexpress.com Ahmedabad WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THEINDIANEXPRESS,WEDNESDAY,DECEMBER23,2020 PAKISTANBEAT NZ IN THIRD T20 Newtest captain Mohammad Rizwan showedhis leadership qualityina bold inningsof89whichsteered Pakistan to afour-wicketwin over New Zealand in the third Twenty20 on Tuesday. SPORT Brief scores: NewZealand 173for 7(Conway 63,Ashraf 3/20) lost to 14 PTI Pakistan 177for 6(Rizwan 89,Southee 2/25) by four wickets Tax exemption for T20 Bajrang,India’sinternationalwrestler WC, new IPL teams Grapplingstyle, social media posts &justhis namehavemade him oneofthe mostpopular competitors

“My name in the passportisBajrang, on BCCI agenda GAURAVBHATT without asurname.Soatwrestling compe- NEWDELHI,DECEMBER22 titions, oftenitbecomes Bajrang Bajrang.Ye aise hi trend chala dete hain fir,”helaughs. “BHAISAHAB,Ihave no idea whypeople are On the mat is where the virtuoso capti- SHAMIKCHAKRABARTY ONTHEAGENDA attracted to me. Thereare so manytimes that vatesthe audience with his breakneck style. KOLKATA,DECEMBER22 instead of supporting their owncountry, they Sean Bormet, coachatthe CliffKeen root forBajrang.” Wrestling Club whereBajrang is currently THE INTERNATIONAL Cricket Council (ICC) Germany, Kazakhstan, Russia, USA. training, believesAmericans love himbe- wantstax exemptions fornextyear's T20 Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia has made cause of afamiliar wrestling style. WorldCup to be hostedinIndia or the money crowds fall in love with him around the “It’s similar in howhardwewrestle, cre- paid by the worldbody would be deducted world. The reason, though, is beyond him. ating alot of pressureonour opponentsand from the Indian cricketboard's shareofrev- “It’s perhaps the craze forwrestling in using our hands,” says Bormet.“Ithink enue. The other option, before the ICC, is to these countries. Youdon’t getthis muchlove American fans appreciatewrestlers who move thetournament to the United Arab in India, because notalotofpeople trulyfol- compete theway Bajrang competes. Ido Emirates, which hostedthe lastseason of the lowwrestling,” Bajrang tells The Indian think American wrestlingfans have takenno- . The taxissue is high Express from his training base in Ann Arbor, tice of him moresobecauseofhis wrestling on the agenda of theBoardofControlfor Ahmedabad, whichissaid to Michigan. “In all these countries, at anytour- style. And what agreat competitor he is.” Cricket in India's(BCCI)89thAnnual General have the world’s largest cricket nament or event, the stadiums arefull of peo- Bajrang agrees with the assessment. Body Meeting. Cricket's possible inclusion in stadiumatMotera, is all but ple with love forwrestling.” “My styleisveryclose to the styleof the 2028Los Angeles Olympics, whichis certain to have anew IPL team. But whyissomuchofitdirected towards American wrestlers. The wayweuse our backedbythe ICC, will also be discussed. Bajrang? The 26-year-old phenom is athree- powerand stamina. Maybe, that’s whythey The ICC has setthe December 31 deadline time medallistatWorldsbut yettostrikegold. likeitalot more. Plus, I’vefacedalot of forthe Indian boardtoconfirm afull taxex- ■Updateonthe 2021ICC T20 He hasn’t made his Olympic bow. Therehave Duringastint in Germany last year,Bajrang Punia earnedalegion of fans after Americans, at Worlds and other events. So, emption. “As per Clause 10.20 of hostagree- WorldCup. beenIndianwrestlers,nay, combatsportcham- helping hisclub Vfk07win the league title after14years.(Below)The Indian has theyknowabout me.” mentforthisevent,theBCCIisobligatedto de- ■ Approval on inclusion of two pionsfromIndiawithbiggerachievements.But become acult figure in wrestlingfandom due to his swag and social media presence. Thethree hosts of FloWrestling Radio livertoICC afulltax exemption forall income newteamsinthe IPL. nobody makes fans as easilyasBajrang. showrecentlydiscussedthe Bajrang phenom- arisingoutof thiseventinfavourof ICC,itssub- ■ Discussion on the BCCI’sstand on Beforehis stintinthe German league last enon at length. And while theyagreedthat the sidiaries and associates and itsMembers at the inclusion of cricket in the 2028 February, the country’s wrestlingforums Nobody did the fantasy wrestling, Indian’s socialmedia swagger andselfies from least18month prior to thestart of the event,” Los Angeles Olympics. went intooverdrive.Commenters wondered we just kind of hung out and talked the gym or clad in fine attireplayarole, how the BCCI has mentionedinthe agendapapers ■ UpdateonIndia’s FutureTour whether he would live up to the hype aftera to each other in achat room. We he wrestles, and howoften, is the real key. forits89thAnnualGeneralMeetingto beheld Programs. tough ProWrestling League season back made friends and afew in the “It’s because he wrestles likeanAmerican in AhmedabadonThursday. ■ Appointment of the Cricket home. Others repostedspeculationofthe and we’renot usedtoseeing that from for- Withoutafulltaxexemption,theICC’ssur- Committees and Standing debutant being under the weather.Cut to the group really enjoy Bajrang. Not eigners,” opinedKyleBratke. “The Russians, plus payout to itsMembers will be reduced Committees. Indian cutting down opponentstosize, to the only wrestling but what he does on theydon’t wrestle likeus. But this guy,he and in Maythis year,the game’sglobalbody ■ Appointment of the BCCI’s chorus ‘Bajrang, Bajrang’. social media, the photos and his goes out andhewrestles hardinyourface hadagreedtoextendthedeadlinefortheBCCI representative or representatives Bajrangremembers waking up to back words. We just enjoy each other's forsix minutes. And he’s justcompeting all tillDecember31 to dotheneedful.If theIndian at the ICC. pages bathedwithhis photos. “Inder Tiger, company and talk about Bajrang.” the time. And we don’t see that out of the boardfails,then:“a.ICCmovesthe2021event ■ Election of the vice-president. Inder Joker.One who changed thegame. Russians or anyone else that is one of the top from India to UAEor“b. BCCIprovidesanun- ■ Electionoftwo representativesof Photosineverynewspaper and channels,” re- BLAINE HENRY guysinthe world. He is at Matteo Pellicone, dertakingthat if the BCCI is unable to achieve the general body in the IPL calls Bajrang. “My club (VfK07Schifferstadt) LEADER OF FAN GROUP ‘BAJRANG BOYS’ he’s in New York and Beat the Streets. He’s the requisitetax solution then anyresulting Governing Council. hadn’twon the league title in 14 years.” notafraid of anybody.Ithink people likethat taxliabilitiesbyICC/IBC/its Members will be Twomonths later,hewas at the Ali Aliev lowing, Bajrang responds withasheepish their idol agreedtoaninterview. attitude. Theylikewhat theysee when he’s setoff againstmonies owed to theBCCIfrom Invitational in Dagestan; the wrestlingcap- mix of humilityand curiosity.“Idon’t know “I sent him an email and he got backto on the mat, too.” ICC (including ICCdistributions) and thatthe The ICC, on the other hand, believesthat ital of Russia. In the final, he defeated alocal why. Youwould have to ask them that.” us acouple days later.Ilearnt alot about his Ben Askren, 2008 Olympian and former BCCIwillbeliableforany shortfallafterset off.” cricket’s inclusion in the Olympics will en- guy as the crowdfavourite. life, wherehecomes from,” says Henry. “We UFC fighter,calledBajrang his favouritein- The BCCI has already distributed the sure “diversificationoffunding forMembers, “You watchthosewrestling videos from ■ ■ ■ have been told that Bajrang is completely ternational wrestler. agendapapers among itsmembers and the reducing reliance on ICC funding”. Dagestan, theyare exactlylikethe Germany awareofus. Having him knowand follow “It’s almostimpossible to be afan of issue is going to be deliberated uponat It is learnt that the BCCI under itspresent one. The crowdisbehind me even though I Blaine Henry, a30-year-old from everything is likeajokethat seems to have someone when theyshowuptwice ayear length at the AGM. The BCCI-ICC taxtussle dispensation is open to consider cricket’s in- am beating the local guy,” Bajrang says. Louisiana, runs acombat sports website gone toofar.” and youdon’tknowwhen and where. If I has been an ongoing saga. The global body clusion in the Los Angeles Olympics, whichis “Russia is lovely andwhenever Isteponthe calledthe ‘The Fight Library’. He is also the can’t watchaguy 3-4-5 times ayear,it’s re- had earlier wanted to recoverthe taxburden areason the item has been listedonthe AGM mat, theystart the chants.” leader of agroup of Bajrang fanatics, effi- ■ ■ ■ allyhardfor me to become afan.” of the 2016 WorldT20 in India and threat- agenda. Onlylastmonth, former India cap- Russia’s love forBajrang rubbed offon cientlynamed‘Bajrang Boys’. And Christian Pyles summedupthe dis- enedthe BCCI to deduct apartofits annual tain and current National CricketAcademy their neighbours. Kazakhstanhostedthe “It startedwith afantasy wrestling group. The question though remains: Why course: “Another thing with Bajrangisin revenue shareincase of non-exemption. director threw his weight be- WorldChampionships lastyear,and even- Afew in the group, myself included,really Bajrang? It’s in the name, to beginwith. manyofhis matches, he’ll be down and he hindacricket-Olympics partnership. tual bronze medallistBajrang landedaday enjoyBajrang,” says Henry. “Not only “Mainlybecause thename sounds cool,” storms back.Everymatchislikeamini Rocky Cricket in Olympics before his bout. India had acampthere, and wrestling but what he does on social media, Henrylaughs. type of thing wherethis guy’s the underdog, The ICC document, in possession with The NewIPL teams severallocalkids kept askingthem “where the photosand his words.” Baj-Rang. The twosyllables, drawnout butkeeps going.” Indian Express, describes cricketand the The members will deliberateonincorpo- is Bajrang? When will he come?” Lastmonth, Henryscampered to secure in thickaccents around theworld, makethe Bajrang accepts thecomplimentsbut is- Olympic Games “a winning partnership”. rating twonew teams intothe Indian Premier “WhenIreached, Imade sure Imet every the Bajrang Boys Twitterhandleafter the name extremelychantable. The process is n’t compelledtowonder why. According to thegame’s governing body: League (IPL). According to aBCCIofficial, the single one of them. Igot alot of love in group wasadjudged thebestsocial media further facilitatedbythe repeated first “Wherever wrestling is popular,Ifeel “Cricket can provide the Olympic movement majority of the membersare in favour of an Kazakhstan.” innovatorsbywrestlingenthusiasts. The fan name phenomenon severalIndian athletes happy,”says Bajrang. “Allthe credit goes to with an unrivalledopportunity to drive fan expansion, as theyfeel it would createa Quizzedfor reasons forsomuchfan fol- club, however, trulybecame formal when areusedto. wrestling. And Bajrang Bali.” engagement across the Asian Sub-Continent.” “largertalentpool, giventhe abundance of Asforcricket’sbenefits,thedocumentsays: talent in Indian cricket”. It needs to be seenif “TheOlympicscanprovidecricketwithanun- the BCCI brings on one newteam to startwith AUSTRALIAN WIRES rivalledopportunity to super-charge global or two, and from thenextyear or 2022. “We growthbeyonditstraditionalheartlands,par- willtakeadecisionafter the matter is placed AFTERPEP TALK, KOHLI LEAVES News and viewsaround India’stour Down Under here forjustthe one Test.Ithought the ticularlyinthe USA, Europe and China.” before themembers; one newteam or two, AUSTRALIA FORINDIA conditions would suit them.I justcan't The ICC is targeting the 2028 Los Angeles from 2021 or 2022;wewant to go ahead Indian captain ViratKohli left Australian see howtheycan bounce back(after) Olympics andasurvey among itsAssociate basedonconsensus,” the BCCI official said. shores on Tuesdayafter apep talk with Let it go and moveon: Smith to India Australia whitewashedthem on the Members showedthat an additional $13mil- According to sources, Ahmedabad, which his beleaguered teammates, handing thirdday.So'no' is the answer -four-nil lion funding could be triggeredjustfor the is said to have theworld’s largest cricket sta- over the mantle of leading the sideto to Australia," he said on FoxCricket. Associates through cricket’s inclusion in the dium at with aseating capacity of AjinkyaRahane in the remainingthree Australian batting star bowling. It is probablythe quadrennial showpiece event. 110,000,isallbutcertainto have anew IPLteam. Tests. Kohli is comingbacktoIndia for SteveSmith has no time to best I'veseen our bowlers SMITH NOT CERTAIN TO BE The ICC has also chalked outatentative the birth of his firstchildinJanuary. think about howIndia bowl collectively forabout REAPPOINTEDASCAPTAIN cricket programme forthe 2028 Olympics: T20 WorldCup venues Before boarding his flightbackhome, the might plotrevengeinthe five years Ithink," Smith “One men’s and one women’s event (each The BCCIhas picked Ahmedabad, star batsman methis teammates and second Test herethis said. "The lengthstheywere SteveSmith's reappointment as Austr- spanning 9days); Twenty20 format;8teams, , Chennai, Delhi,Mohali, encouraged them to give their all in the weekend but he does have a hitting were just alia's Test captain is farfromcertain as the and 16 matches per event;11players per Dharamsala, Kolkataand Mumbai to hostthe remainderofthe series.WhileKohli has word of advice forthe impeccable. Sometimes sport's governing body in the country team /15players per squad; 2venues /turf T20 WorldCup matches. Some members, departedfor India, his white-ball deputy visitors jolted by the first that happens, youget a feels thereare some "great young or hybrid pitches.” The ICC wantsall its104 though, prefer awider distribution.“It’s a Rohit Sharmaisquarantining in Sydney. game's battering —“Letitgoand good ball and younickit...You got to leaders" coming through the system. CA members to be united “toprogressabid” and matter of pride foreverycentretohostWorld move on”. "Look,the other daywe letitgoand move on and tryand chairman EarlEddings told ESPNcricinfo: lists “unifying all Members behind the cam- Cup matches. We have high class stadiums MARK WAUGH SEES "NO HOPE" OF justsaw some pretty incredible fast keep yourself in apositive mindset.” "Firstofall we'vegot three great captains paign forcricket’s inclusion”asachallenge. and topfacilities and we want the BCCI to con- INDIA BOUNCINGBACK in Meg, Aaronand Tim. We'vegot some So farthe BCCI has shown reluctance to siderour case as well. We areOKwiththe big- The Indian cricket team has "no hope" great young leaders coming through. So cricket’s inclusionintheOlympics.There’s an gercentres hosting India matches. But at least of making acomebackafter the series against Australia, feels former Test,Waugh said: "Nohope, no hope. I it's notjustabout should Stevetakeover, apprehension that cricketinT20 format in the give us some games. We will raise the issue humiliation in Adelaide and will suffer batsman MarkWaugh.Asked if India thought Adelaide wasthe Test that they it's about what's best overall.” Olympics can negatively affect the revenue at the AGM,” president of aWestZone state a4-0 whitewash in the four-matchTest couldbounce backafter losing the first could win on paper and with ViratKohli PTI stream from bilateral and global T20 events. association said. How has Zlatan made adifference at AC Milan BRIEFLY Star-studdedteamfor OdishaholdNorthEast titles,but this second stint is built moreto- agiven. The ability to understand that he AsianLeMansSeries toadrawinISL SHASHANKNAIR wardsbringing the Italian club backtoits for- can’t run likeheusedto, butstill adapting NEWDELHI,DECEMBER22 mer glorydays. his game to score10goalsinthe ongoing NewDelhi:Astar-studdedline-up of driv- Bambolim: Odisha FC and NorthEast Serie Aseason, makes the 39-year-old a ers, including Narain Karthikeyan, Arjun Unitedplayedout a2-2 draw in an Indian FOOTBALL REFUSES to quit on Zlatan Has agechangedZlatan’s approachto forcetoreckonwith, especiallyconsidering Maini and Naveen Rao, will spearhead Super League (ISL) matchatthe GMC Ibrahomovic as the Swedish striker leads the game? howMilan areupsettingthe status quoof Racing Team India's campaign in the 2021 Stadium hereonTuesday. Odishatook the AC Milantothe topofSerie A—aleague that Through his stellar career,Ibrahimovic Juventus -who have wonthe last nine Asian Le MansSeries with an eyeoncom- lead through DiegoMauricio(26') before has CristianoRonaldo and his Juventus as has turnedout forawho’s who of European league titles in arow and have Ronaldo on peting in the prestigious 24 Hours of Le BenjaminLambot (45+1') drew parity. well as Inter Milan,who aremanagedby club royalty –the twoMilan clubs, Juventus, their roster. Mans later in the year.The Asian Le Mans KwesiAppiah(65') then converted a Antonio Conte. Barcelona, ManchesterUnited,Paris Saint- Milan arecurrentlyon31pointsafter 13 Series, to be heldatthe YasMarinaCircuit penalty to put the Highlandersahead but Intohis 40th year,Ibrahimovic is the top Germain and Ajax. The air of arrogance that Serie Agames-one point ahead of city rivals inAbuDhabionFebruary5-6andFebruary soon sawhis goal cancelledout by Cole scorer of the league’s topteam -still unde- one associates with him continuestobepro- Inter and four ahead of Juventus. Whiletalk 19-20,comprises of four races spread over Alexander (67').OnWednesday, feated -and hasmade amiraculous recov- jected through his social media of adomestic title –potentially thetwo raceweekends,witheachracelast- Jamshedpur will hope to extend theirun- eryfromaknee injurysufferedat accountsbut occasionallythings Milan’s 19th and the firstsince ing fourhours,amedia release stated. beaten run when theytakeonGoa. ManchesterUnited to playaswell as he has getreal.and the Swedish striker 2010-11–will be prematureat in Italyafter atwo-seasonstint at LA Galaxy. opens up about his limitations. this stage,the Zlatan effect is “I’m honestinsaying that therefor all to see. ThreeIndiansinfinals Wernerunderscrutiny Howisthis AC Milan team anew I’m notrunninglikeIranbe- ofworldyouthchess despiteChelseawin environment forIbrahimovic? fore;I’m running moreintelli- Howdid Zlatan come out of a AC Milanhaveone of theyoungersides gent now. TheItalian league, the career-threatening injury? Chennai: Three Indians, including London:Chelsea'snew signing Timo in the league, with an averageage of under reason Isay thatit’sthe most In his second season at GrandmasterNihal Sarin, reachedthe fi- Werner will startfiring on all cylinders 25. Adding someone with the experience of difficult to playinfor astrikeris ManchesterUnited (2017-18), nal of the FIDE Online WorldYouth and when he ends his goal drought, man- Ibrahimovic changes the mentality of the because, it’s very technical and the philos- Ibrahimovic sufferedananterior cruciatelig- CadetRapid Championships in their re- ager Frank Lampard said afterseeing his dressing room. The well-travelledstarhas ophyofItaly is to nottoconcede agoal ament tear whichessentially is anine-month spective categories on Tuesday. While side beat West Ham United 3-0thanks assumedaleadershipresponsibility at the rather than scoreagoal,” Zlatan told BBC layoff forafootballer -arecovery he com- Sarin beat Francesco Sonis 1.5-0.5 in the to aTammy Abraham double and a club and once bought aPlayStation 5for Sport. pletedinseven months. Forhim to be at the Open under-18 section, GM DGukesh ThiagoSilva header.forward Werner everyplayerinthe squad. agehewas and to notonlynot retire, but re- and WIM RakshittaRavialso made it to has failedtofind the backofthe netin Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored 10 goals In an interviewtoBBC Sport, the Swede What do the numbers say? turn to plyhis trade in atop European league the finals of the boys under-14and girls his lasteight starts. in Serie Asofar this season. File talked about howhis earlier stintatMilan It doesn’t matter whichphase of Zlatan’s acouple of years later,proveshis resolve to under-16categories respectively. PTI &AP (2010-12) involvedfighting consistentlyfor career is poredover-titles and trophies are makeanincredible comeback.

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