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NEARBY India records 89,019 fresh 4 poll personnel suspended in cases, highest in 6 months Assam for ‘lift’ in BJP vehicle Re­polling ordered at a booth in Ratabari constituency 713 more deaths Highest single SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT as surge continues NEW DELHI/GUWAHATI Rakesh Tikait’s convoy day vaccine The Election Commission attacked in Rajasthan for 23rd day has suspended four polling JAIPUR/GHAZIABAD Special Correspondent coverage personnel, including a pre­ Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Chennai Rakesh Tikait’s convoy was siding officer and an armed India recorded the highest More than 36.7 lakh escort officer, besides order­ allegedly attacked in COVID­19 vaccine doses Rajasthan’s Alwar district on single­day rise in coronavi­ ing a re­poll at a booth in rus cases in six months with were administered in the southern Assam’s Ratabari Friday. He was on his way to last 24 hours, the highest address a farmers’ rally in 89,019 new infections in a Assembly constituency, af­ single day coverage till now, Bansur. A group of people span of 24 hours, taking the ter electronic voting ma­ the Union Health Ministry allegedly pelted stones at COVID­19 tally of cases to chines (EVMs) were found in the cavalcade, damaging the 1,23,91,129, according to the said on Friday. Of the a vehicle linked to a BJP can­ rear windscreen of his car. State Health Departments 36,71,242 vaccine doses, didate contesting the adjoin­ Mr. Tikait, who escaped and Ministries on Friday. 33,65,597 beneficiaries were ing Patharkandi seat. unhurt, blamed ‘BJP goons’ The single­day rise in cas­ vaccinated for the first dose Both constituencies are in was returning from 149­Indi­ who found armed escort of­ for the attack. es is the highest recorded and 3,05,645 beneficiaries Karimganj district. ra MV School under the Ra­ ficer Luhit Gohain guilty of received the second dose of NORTH & EAST Ī PAGE 4 since September 8, 2020, Officials said the polling tabari constituency, about leaving the stranded polling DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD while the death toll in­ the vaccine. Ī Page 10 personnel were unaware 70 km away. party behind and not ensur­ creased to 1,64,141 with 713 DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD they had — after their car ing its safe arrival at the new fatalities, the highest broke down near Nilamba­ EVM seals intact destination. since December 3, data up­ ber 3. The number of people crossed the 20­lakh mark on tober 29, 90 lakh on Novem­ zar, 20 km short of district The seals of the EVMs were Mr. Paul did not take calls. dated at 11.45 p.m. showed. who have recuperated from August 7, 30 lakh on August ber 20 and surpassed the headquarters Karimganj — found intact, but the EC de­ But his party members said As many as 89,855 new in­ the disease surged to 23, 40 lakh on September 5 one crore­mark on Decem­ taken a lift in a vehicle regis­ cided to conduct a re­poll at the Opposition had blown a fections were recorded in a 1,15,67,060. The case fatality and 50 lakh on September ber 19. tered in the name of Mad­ the polling station con­ “minor” incident out of pro­ span of 24 hours on Septem­ rate stood at 1.33%, the data 16. It went past 60 lakh on humita Paul, the wife of cerned. The panel also portion. ber 8, while 541 daily deaths stated. September 28, 70 lakh on CONTINUED ON Ī PAGE 8 Patharkandi BJP candidate sought a report from the were registered on Decem­ India’s COVID­19 tally had October 11, 80 lakh on Oc­ MORE REPORTS Ī PAGE 10 Krishnendu Paul. The team special general observer, CONTINUED ON Ī PAGE 8 Two attackers of BJP leader killed in Pulwama I-T searches on premises of Stalin’s kin 10 civilians injured sence of terrorists in the re­ ice said. Amid charges of cash for polls, offices of former Minister, aides raided across T.N. sidential house of Nawaz The police identified the in clashes after Ahmad Dar in Dhobi Mohal­ slain militants as Junaid Ah­ Sangeetha Kandavel “These groups and indivi­ were in Chennai, Coimbatore, la of Kakapora. They were mad Nengroo from Prichoo R.Sivaraman duals are involved in busi­ Karur and Thanjavur. A total the encounter CHENNAI/ TIRUCHI given an opportunity to sur­ in Pulwama, Suhail Nisar nesses ranging from running of 28 premises were covered Special Correspondent render. However, they start­ Lone and Yawar Ahmad Wa­ The Income Tax (I­T) Depart­ distilleries and breweries, real under Section 132 of the I­T Srinagar ed firing indiscriminately. ni, both residents of Khrew ment on Friday knocked on estate, local financing, solar Act. CBDT officials said sever­ Three militants, including Later, all the three trapped in Pampore. the doors of V. Sabareesan, power EPC to handling cash al incriminating materials on the two persons who at­ terrorists were killed,” In­ “Preliminary investiga­ the son­in­law of DMK presi­ of politically exposed persons tax evasion had been found. tacked the house of a BJP spector General of Police tion revealed that the terror dent M.K. Stalin, a few of his for the ongoing election. Part Sources said the premises leader on Thursday, were (IGP) Vijay Kumar said. attack on a BJP leader’s associates and former Tran­ I­T officials searching V. of these groups and indivi­ of two of Mr. Sabareesan’s killed in an operation of the A jawan walking past the The police said it tactfully house was jointly carried sport Minister Senthil Balaji. Sabareesan’s house in duals are alleged to have been close aides, Bala of G Square security forces in south encounter site. * NISSAR AHMAD rescued five civilians taken out by Srinagar and Pulwa­ Searches were conducted at Chennai. * KARUNAKARAN M. actively assisting in political Realtors Private Limited, and Kashmir's Pulwama on Fri­ hostage by the trapped ter­ ma­based terrorists of the over five places in Chennai, cash distribution. Searches Karthik Mohan, son of DMK’s day. Around 10 civilians, in­ “Just after the attack on rorists. “During the encoun­ Lashkar­e­Taiba and Al­ including Mr. Sabareesan’s re­ partment said the searches on have been conducted to verify Anna Nagar MLA M.K. Mohan, cluding a woman, were in­ the BJP leader in Srinagar’s ter, a stray bullet hit a wo­ Badr,” Mr. Kumar said. sidence in Neelankarai on three different groups and a and unearth such activities were also searched. jured in clashes near the Nowgam, the police acted man in her leg. Her East Coast Road. few individuals by its Chennai too,” the agency said. encounter site. on a lead regarding the pre­ condition is stable,” the pol­ CONTINUED ON Ī PAGE 8 Late in the evening, the De­ Directorate were continuing. The premises searched CONTINUED ON Ī PAGE 8

CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC ‘4th wave in Delhi; no lockdown plans’ Drugs beat BMWs this Special Correspondent COVID­19 in the Capital. “less serious” than the pre­ New Delhi The city recorded 3,594 vious ones, Mr. Kejriwal said Chief Minister Arvind Kejri­ fresh COVID­19 cases on Fri­ any decision on lockdown poll season in Assam wal on Friday said the Delhi day, the highest daily count will be taken “after due con­ government was not plan­ since December 4 last year, sultation with the public”. Narcotics worth ₹34 crore seized ning any lockdown in the taking the tally to 6.68 lakh. wake of the ‘fourth wave’ of Terming the latest surge DETAILS ON Ī PAGE 3 RAHUL KARMAKAR crystalline GUWAHATI methamphetamine, 4.22 kg Elections in Assam have of heroin, 1 kg of morphine often been associated with and 252.85 gm of brown the doling out of ‘BMWs’, a sugar. The surveillance coded contraction for teams also recovered blanket, money and wine. 3,02,188 methamphetamine Going by the seizures by capsules and pills of other various enforcement narcotic substances. agencies, the ‘BMWs’ “The seizure of drugs appear to have lost was highest in eastern out to narcotic Assam,” State drugs during Nodal Officer the ongoing Rahul Das poll. said. Between Most of the February tea 26, when plantations the model are in eastern code of Assam. conduct came For Excise and into force, and Revenue Intelligence March 31, the illustration: officials, this could enforcement and Sreejith be a disturbing regulatory agencies Ravikumar trend, as other parts seized cash, illegally of Assam have been transported liquor and notorious for drug other items worth a record trafficking. These include ₹110.83 crore. the Barak Valley, used by Officials said there was dealers on the Myanmar­ nothing unusual about Mizoram­Bangladesh axis seizing cash, liquor and to illegally transport other valuables during the heroin, methamphetamine campaign phase. What and high­codeine cough stumped them was the syrups. seizure of narcotic Western Assam’s Dhubri substances worth more district is also a conduit. than ₹34.29 crore. “The seizure of cannabis Freebies of the in eastern Assam is not intoxicating kind, such as unusual since it is grown in Indian and foreign brand parts of southern cigarettes and tobacco Arunachal Pradesh and products, also touched a Nagaland. It is the other record value of ₹14.91 crore. substances confiscated in The drugs seized the area that we are more included 6,892.82 kg of worried about,” an Excise cannabis, 10.27 kg of official said. CM A ND-NDE YK EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

DELHI THE HINDU 2 CITY SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 2021 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE In bloom, a vegetable garden at Singhu Haryana property damage recovery Many protesters camping at the border have started sowing seeds and planting vegetable saplings Bill comes under fire from activists

Shinjini Ghosh Mass movements held at State­level convention in Rohtak NEW DELHI With protesting farmers con­ Ashok Kumar tinuing to install semi­per­ GURUGRAM manent structures at the The legislation on recovery Singhu border, mostly for ac­ of damages to property, re­ commodation purposes, cently enacted by the Harya­ several protesters have start­ na Assembly, came under ed sowing a varied range of fire from activists associated vegetables, some along the with several mass move­ perimeters of the structures. ments at a State­level con­ A park, which was recent­ vention held in Rohtak on ly made by the protesters, is Friday. The State­level convention was organised by Samyukt Kisan also set to turn into a kitchen ‘The Haryana Recovery of Morcha in Rohtak on Friday. * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT garden for the farmers. Vo­ (From left) Saplings planted by farmers at the Singu border; a farmer building a temporary shelter at the protest site on Friday. Damages to Property During lunteers said that more such * SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA Disturbance of Public Order Singh put forth a resolution and Batukeshwar Dutt in gardens will be made de­ Bill, 2021’ was passed by the critical of the Act and called 1929 against similar legisla­ pending on space. park, added: “As of now we existing langars will get plings. So we have kept a few been self­sufficient through­ State Assembly on March 18, upon all sections of the peo­ tions brought by Britishers Charanjit Singh, a farmer have coriander and bottle drained to ensure that the along the boundary. Apart out and we intend to conti­ giving powers to the police ple to raise their voice for re­ and protest before the Raj from Punjab’s Ludhiana dis­ gourd among other vegeta­ roads are not flooded,” he from beautification purpos­ nue doing the same. We and executive towards re­ pealing the pernicious Act Bhawan. trict, said: “The park was bles. We are also growing said. es, we have also sowed a few have survived harsh condi­ covery of damages to pro­ whose implications were ve­ All­India Lawyers Union opened a few days ago. Now mint and have started using vegetables so that over the tions over all these months perty from protesters of an ry serious for the future of president Gurmej Singh and several women and children it. These days most people Beyond beautifying next few months we can and we are not moving from agitation. democracy. advocates Rajender Singh visit the park in the morn­ are busy constructing their Several others said that consume it right from here.” here.” The Speakers at the con­ The decisions taken in the and Pradeep Raparia placed ings. We have also decided houses over here. Once it is apart from beautification Stating that the prepara­ Thousands of farmers vention, organised by Samy­ convention included send­ a point­to­point rebuttal of to plant saplings and sow so done, we will see if there is purposes, they have also tions and modifications are have been camping at Del­ ukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), at­ ing emails to the Chief Minis­ the law questioning the in­ that we can grow vegetables enough space available started sowing in limited towards a longer haul, Mr. hi’s borders demanding a tacked the Bill calling it a ter against the law, holding tentions of the government ourselves for consumption where we can make other si­ quantities. Joginder Singh, a Singh said: “We still do not minimum support price and “draconian” measure to sti­ protest demonstrations and behind the move as there later.” milar gardens.” farmer from Punjab’s Roop­ know how long the move­ repeal of the three farm laws fle the right to protest. sit­ins on April 8 to mark the were ample laws for damag­ Mr. Singh, who is also a “We also have to decide nagar, district said: “People ment will continue. For the brought in by the Centre last All­India Kisan Sabha Ha­ hurling of bombs in Central es to property under the In­ volunteer looking after the on where the water from the often come here to sell sa­ last few months we have year. ryana vice­president Inderjit Assembly by Bhagat Singh dian Penal Code. Man kills Five members of Lawrence live-in partner Man held for creating girl’s fake profile in Mangolpuri Bishnoi-Kala Jathedi gang held Accused posted morphed pictures of the girl; he has targeted six women: police

Staff Reporter Staff Reporter registered at Kotla Mubarak­ created three fake accounts NEW DELHI Loaded firearms and over 70 live cartridges recovered: police NEW DELHI pur police station. in her name on Instagram A 25­year­old woman was al­ A 25­year­old event manager During probe, letters were and posted morphed pic­ legedly killed by her live­in STAFF REPORTER was arrested for allegedly sent to Facebook to seek de­ tures of hers. When the vic­ partner in outer Delhi’s NEW DELHI creating a fake profile of a tails about the Instagram ac­ tim confronted him, he asked Mangolpuri. Her minor chil­ Delhi Police has arrested five Class VIII student on Insta­ count and with the help of her for sexual favours, the dren were found near her criminals of Lawrence Bish­ gram and threatening her technical intelligence, the ac­ police said. body when it was disco­ noi­Kala Jathedi gang from with obscene messages , the cused was identified. They said that the accused vered, the police said on Fri­ the national capital, officials police said on Friday. After due verification, the doesn’t have genuine profiles day. said on Friday. Deputy Commissioner of accused was apprehended on Instagram or Facebook Deputy Commissioner of The accused have been Police (South) Atul Kumar Accused Bharat from his residence in Farida­ and uses social media plat­ Police (Outer) Parvinder identified as Kapil Nehra Thakur said that the accused bad on Thursday, Mr. Thakur forms –WhatsApp, Facebook, Singh said that the woman (23), Yashpal alias Sarpanch has been identified as Bharat and the accused has been said. Instagram – for talking to girls has been identified as Jyoti (28), Rajeev alias Raju Basai Khatar, who allegedly posted sending obscene messages It was revealed that the ac­ from fake profiles. The police alias Soni, a resident of (25), Rahul Mehalawat (23), a 14­year­old girl’s morphed from the same and stalking cused first targeted the vic­ said that he is also involved in Shahbad Dairy. all residents of Haryana, and nude pictures on the social her daughter. tim’s friend and contacted a case filed at Faridabad Cyb­ The police said that Gagandeep alias Guni (35), media. He wanted to take re­ Based on the complaint, a her through social media. He er police station related to around 10.50 a.m., they who is from Punjab, they Accused were wanted in several cases, including murders, venge on her as she had case under Sections 354D started harassing her and another fake profile of a girl. were informed about a wo­ said. extortion and under Arms Act. * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT warned him against harass­ (stalking), 509 (word, gesture they had an argument on The police said that the ac­ man’s body, which was lying “The police received a ing her friend. or act intended to insult the Whatsapp after which she cused is a B.Com. graduate on the fourth floor of a specific input regarding the double murders, attempts to After the arrests of all ma­ The police said that a com­ modesty of a woman), 354A shared the incident with the and has been working with house in J­Block, Mangolpu­ movement of the accused in murder, extortion, encoun­ jor criminals of Delhi in the plaint was received from the (sexual harassment and pun­ victim. an event management com­ ri. When the police reached the national capital. Later, a ter with police and Arms Act last one year, gangsters from victim’s mother who stated ishment for sexual harass­ The police said that the ac­ pany for the last two years. the spot, they found the bo­ police team laid a trap near in Delhi, Haryana, Rajas­ Punjab, Haryana and Rajas­ that a fake Instagram profile ment) and other relevant sec­ cused then decided to take He has targeted six women, dy and there were visible in­ Chandgi Ram Akhara red than, Punjab and Uttarak­ than are trying to enter the of her daughter was created tion of the POCSO Act was revenge from the victim and the police said. jury marks on the head and light at Ring Road on the in­ hand, police said. national capital. Lawrence the right side of the face. tervening night of Thursday They had committed a se­ Bishnoi and Sube Gurjar are “During inquiry, it was and Friday and apprehend­ ries of crimes in the recent amongst the most danger­ CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC found that she had come to ed them,” Deputy Commis­ past, acting as a bridge bet­ ous once operating in areas Constable’s the area to live on rent a few sioner of Police (Special Cell) ween Lawrence Bishnoi­Ka­ surrounding Delhi, the DCP Solution to pollution days ago. She and her hus­ Manishi Chandra said. la Jathedi and another want­ said. wife ends band had separated a few ed gangster of Gurugram Bishnoi has been trying to years ago. She was living in Case under Arms Act Sube Gurjar, who is carrying make inroads into Delhi for life at home the area with her partner Loaded firearms and over 70 a reward of ₹7 lakh on his ar­ last eight to ten months. Shiva Sharma, who works as live cartridges were reco­ rest, police said. While Bishnoi himself is in Press Trust of India a carpenter,” Mr. Singh said. vered from the possession of jail, his close associate San­ New Delhi The police said that she the accused, police said, ad­ Network expansion deep is working to expand A police constable’s wife al­ had a fight with her partner ding that a case under Arms After escaping from the cus­ the syndicate’s footprints in legedly ended her life at on Thursday night during Act has been registered and tody of Haryana Police in Fe­ Delhi. Sandeep is closely as­ her house in south­west which he hit her on the head all the accused have been bruary 2020, gangster San­ sisted by one Kala Rana of Delhi’s Ghitorni village, of­ and face. She was injured arrested. deep alias Kala Jathedi has Lawrence Bishnoi gang, sus­ ficers said on Friday. and bled profusely. The ac­ The accused were wanted been working to expand his pected to be hiding in a According to the police, cused locked the main door in several cases, including network in Delhi and adjoin­ south­east Asian country, a caller informed them on and fled. broad daylight triple and ing States, police said. the police said. Thursday evening that his wife and two sons were at home but no one was an­ swering the door. “Police reached the spot Man found dead in vacant flat in Narela and the door of the house was found latched from in­ side. They broke open the There were injury marks on his neck, hands and his face was burnt to hide identity door and found the woman hanging,” DCP (South­ STAFF REPORTER reached DSIIDC flats in Bhor­ uncle had left the house on when his relatives persisted, West) Ingit Pratap Singh NEW DELHI garh. There were injury Wednesday to meet his he told them to search for said. The body of a 36­year­old marks on Kumar’s neck and brother­in­law, Panna Ram, Kumar at the DSIIDC flats, The couple’s two sons man was found inside a va­ hands and his face was burnt who resides in Narela,” De­ the police said. On Friday, were found unconscious cant flat in north Delhi’s Na­ to hide his identity, the offic­ puty Commissioner of Police the relatives found the body, and were rushed to the hos­ rela, the police said on Fri­ er said. (Outer North) Rajeev Ranjan the officer said. pital where they are under­ day. The face of the deceased Kumar’s relatives had in­ Singh said. A case has been registered going treatment. The elder was burnt, they said. formed the police after find­ When Kumar did not re­ at Narela Industrial Area pol­ son is stable but the condi­ The deceased has been ing the body. A missing re­ turn home, his family ice station. Mr. Panna is ab­ tion of the younger one is identified as Karan Kumar, a port had earlier been lodged membrs asked Mr. Panna sconding, the DCP said. Pre­ critical, the police added. resident of Mahavir Vihar co­ at Kanjhawal police station, whether he had met him, liminary investigation Suicide prevention hel- lony in Kanagawa, they said. the police said. but he refused, the police revealed that there was pline: Sanjivini, Society for After receiving informa­ “Statement of the decea­ said. some dispute between Ku­ Mental Health, 011-4076 Firefighters dousing burning leaves and garbage near Gole Dak Khana in New Delhi on tion about the body on sed’s nephew, Vicky (21), was Mr. Panna had sustained mar and Mr. Panna over mo­ 9002, Monday-Saturday Friday. * SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR Thursday, the police recorded. He stated that his an injury on the leg and ney. (10 a.m.-7.30 p.m.) CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC HC grants bail to doctor accused of rape on pretext of marriage

‘Victim’s initial and to the woman. at Safdarjung Hospital here, cused was the doctor on duty. tened to make it viral, the wo­ The court noted that there was with the police. During the course of treat­ man alleged, adding that she present versions are contradictions between “In view of the above, this ment, he visited the woman’s was later called to some ho­ are contradictory’ the initial version and the pre­ court finds it just and expe­ residence and gave his profile tels and raped again. sent version of the woman. dient to grant bail to the peti­ for the purpose of marriage Seeking bail, the doctor’s Staff Reporter “The prosecutrix is a tioner [doctor] in the event of and asked for her profile as counsel submitted that the New Delhi make­up artist and is a resi­ arrest [in the case] registered well, she said. FIR was registered January 28 The Delhi High Court has dent of Delhi. It cannot be at Hauz Khas police station The woman alleged that he this year based on the allega­ granted bail to a doctor, ac­ said that she is naive. This is for offences punishable un­ later called her to meet him to tion that the petitioner took cused of raping a woman after not a case of forceful sexual der Sections 376 [punishment “know each other more”. the woman to his friend’s flat promising her marriage, not­ assault...,” the High Court for rape] and 328 [causing Once, she said, he called her on June 9, 2019, and raped ing that it was “not a case of said, adding that whether the hurt by means of poison with at his friend’s house where her. However, this story has forceful sexual assault” and woman’s physical relation­ and intent to commit an of­ she was given a soft drink af­ been completely given a go by he would not be in a position ship was based on her free fence] IPC...,” the High Court ter which she lost conscious­ and now the allegation is that to terrorise the victim or tam­ consent or not will be decided said. ness. After regaining con­ the man promised marriage per with evidence. only in trial. According to the woman, sciousness, she said, she and established physical rela­ Justice Subramonium Pra­ The court noted that the her father had suffered a realised she has been raped. tionship with her, he argued, sad said there was nothing on evidence has been collected heart attack in January 2019 When she confronted the adding that no useful purpose record to indicate that the and the mobile phone of the and she took her to Safdar­ man, he told her that he had would be served by arresting man had promised marriage man, who is a doctor working jung Hospital where the ac­ recorded a video and threa­ the doctor.

CM A ND-NDE YK EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

THE HINDU DELHI SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 2021 CITY 3 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Timings DELHI Daily new COVID­19 cases SATURDAY, APR. 03 Not planning to impose lockdown, RISE 06:09 SET 18:40 RISE 00:00 SET 10:27 cross 3,500 mark in Capital SUNDAY, APR. 04 RISE 06:08 SET 18:41 says Kejriwal amid surge in cases RISE 01:02 SET 11:25 Over 80,000 tests conducted in 24 hours, says govt. MONDAY, APR. 05 RISE 06:07 SET 18:42 CM says ‘fourth wave is less serious’, exhorts Centre to allow mass vaccination Special Correspondent RISE 01:59 SET 12:26 NEW DELHI Special Correspondent tion and all mandatory steps of ambulance, hospital, ven­ The city on Friday recorded New Delhi that need to be taken, are be­ tilator, oxygen, and ICU were 3,594 new COVID­19 cases Chief Minister Arvind Kejri­ ing looked into,” he added. all discussed. For this, a plan and 14 deaths, stated a health wal on Friday said the Delhi On March 16, he said, the has been laid down as to in bulletin released by the government is not planning city witnessed 425 cases, what stages the number of government. to impose any lockdown in which has now surged ICU beds in the private and The bulletin added that the Capital. He said the beyond 3,500. According to government hospitals would 87,505 tests had been con­ “fourth wave” of COVID­19 data, he said, the fourth wave be increased,” he added. The ducted in 24 hours with a was “less serious” than oth­ is “less serious than the pre­ government has three broad positivity rate of 4.11%. Out of ers before it. Chief Minister Arvind vious ones” as mortality rates concerns, including prevent­ the total tests, 54,898 were If needed, Mr. Kejriwal Kejriwal. are relatively low and so was ing the spread of infection, RTPCR and 32,607 were ra­ said, the government would the number of people being hospital management and pid antigen. consider a lockdown only “af­ country, this might be the se­ admitted to hospitals and the ongoing vaccination At present, there are ter due consultation with the cond wave but Delhi is en­ ICUs. drive. 11,994 active cases in the city public” even as he sought to countering the fourth peak,” In October, he said, 3,000 Mr. Kejriwal said he was out of which 6,106 were un­ urge the Central government he told at a digital briefing af­ to 4,000 new cases came up happy that the Centre al­ der home isolation. A health worker administering vaccine to a man in the Capital

to open up the vaccination ter an emergency meeting at daily with around 1,700 pa­ lowed the vaccination to peo­ on Friday. * SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR process for everyone instead his residence to assess the tients in ICU. On Friday, the ple above the age of 45. “If 0 of keeping it restricted to situation. number was around 800 ­ re­ the Centre permits us to do There are 2,338 contain­ ber 4 when 4,067 cases DISCLAIMER: Readers are requested to specific age groups due to the gistering a drop of 50%. The mass vaccination, then hun­ ment zones in the city. Since were recorded. Over the verify and make appropriate enquiries to satisfy themselves about the veracity of rising number of cases. ‘Govt. keeping an eye’ mortality rate then was 40 dreds and thousands of facili­ the pandemic began over a past few weeks, the Capital an advertisement before responding to any published in this newspaper. THG “India is witnessing a rise “At this peak, we have seen deaths per day but on Friday ties can be created in com­ year ago, the total number of has seen a surge in the num­ PUBLISHING PVT LTD., the Publisher & Owner of this newspaper, does not vouch in cases. Delhi, too, is wit­ that the cases have been ra­ it was around 10­12. “We have munity centres, schools and positive cases has reached ber of cases reporting 2,790 for the authenticity of any advertisement or advertiser or for any of the advertiser’s nessing a surge. As I have al­ pidly increasing regularly looked into the provision for a mass vaccination drive 6,68,814 cases with 11,050 cases on Thursday, 1,819 products and/or services. In no event can the Owner, Publisher, Printer, Editor, Dir- ways said Delhi has encoun­ and this is a matter of grave additional requirements for could be initiated. If this is deaths. COVID­19 cases on Wednes­ ector/s, Employees of this newspaper/ company be held responsible/liable in tered the worst COVID concern but one must not hospitals in case people fall done, it would be a great aid The last time the number day, 992 cases on Tuesday, any manner whatsoever for any claims and/or damages for advertisements in situation, this is the fourth worry. The government is sick and need to get admitted to control the spread of the of new cases was over the 1,904 cases on Monday and this newspaper. wave for the city. For the keeping an eye on the situa­ to the hospital. The provision virus,” he said. 3,500 mark was on Decem­ 1,881 cases on Sunday.

CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC HC refuses to stay order Delhi Prisons discontinue Testing at station for FIR against councillor family ‘mulaqat’ of inmates He allegedly caused loss to exchequer Move comes in wake of rising cases: Goel

Press Trust of India It further said that if any STAFF REPORTER New Delhi such application is filed by NEW DELHI The Delhi High Court has the petitioner, the court In the wake of a surge in declined to stay the Lokay­ shall consider whether any COVID­19 cases, the Delhi ukta order for registering an interim protection is to be Prison decided to suspend FIR against a councillor of granted and on what terms family mulaqat (meeting) the North Delhi Municipal and conditions. of inmates from Monday till Corporation for alleged pe­ further orders, jail authori­ cuniary loss caused to ex­ Notice issued ties said on Friday. chequer over disbursal of The court also issued notice old­age stipends under a to the office of the Lt.­Go­ Meetings had resumed 2018 scheme. vernor and the Delhi go­ In its step towards norma­ Justice Prathiba M. Singh vernment seeking their lising the routine of in­ also did not put on hold any stand on the plea by the mates, Delhi Prisons De­ Meeting of inmates with investigation or trial in con­ councillor – Bhoomi Chatter partment on March 21 had their legal counsels will nection with the FIR which Singh Rachhoya – and listed resumed the process of in­ continue, said jail was ordered to be lodged by the matter for hearing on ternal mulaqat of inmates authorities. the Lokayukta in January August 31. inside the jail premises. last year. The order came on the The meeting of inmates ders and the situation will councillor’s plea challeng­ with their legal counsels, be reviewed in 15 days," Recovery of loss ing the Lokayukta’s order however, will continue said Director General (Del­ “The interim prayer for stay on the ground that it was with proper COVID­19 pre­ hi Prisons) Sandeep Goel. of the FIR and the trial and not the sanctioning authori­ cautions. Also, the facility According to the latest investigation is rejected ty for old­age stipends as of telephone and e­mulaqat data shared by Delhi Pri­ considering the nature of per the rules and guidelines will continue as per rules, sons as on April 2, out of the allegations. However, if governing the scheme of the jail authorities said. the 130 inmates detected any steps are taken for re­ 2018. “In view of rising trend positive for COVID, 118 have covery of the pecuniary Apart from lodging of an of COVID­19 cases, it has recovered, two died and A health worker collects swab samples of a passenger at the New Delhi railway station on Friday. * SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR [loss], at that stage, the peti­ FIR, the Lokayukta had also been decided to suspend there are presently 10 ac­ CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC tioner [councillor] is per­ directed the Commissioner physical mulaqat of Delhi tive cases. All the 293 pri­ mitted to approach the of the North body to recov­ Prison inmates with family son staff who were found court,” the Judge said in the er from the councillor the and friends with effect positive have also reco­ order of March 24. alleged pecuniary loss. from Monday till further or­ vered, it stated. BJP won’t be able to earn LoP says AAP govt. in from liquor mafia: Atishi nexus with liquor mafia Kejriwal will represent Delhi ‘New policy brought in to stop illegal sale’ Bidhuri demands Sisodia’s resignation at World Cities Cultural Forum Special Correspondent Special Correspondent glove with the mafia and pa­ NEW DELHI New Delhi tronising them,” Mr. Bidhuri Senior AAP leader and MLA Leader of Opposition in the alleged. ‘This year’s theme will play crucial role in reimagining culture’ Atishi on Friday alleged that Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh “Now, they have suddenly the BJP was critical of the Bidhuri on Friday demanded woken up to this illegal prac­ Special Correspondent The annual Summit, at­ Mayor of London, Sadiq Delhi government’s new ex­ the immediate resignation of tice and loss of revenue. Why New Delhi tended by Deputy Mayors for Khan, Mr. Kejriwal said: “’Fu­ cise policy as it would no Deputy Chief Minister Man­ were they sleeping over it? Chief Minister Arvind Kejri­ Culture and Heads of Culture ture of Culture’ is certainly a longer earn money from the ish Sisodia for conceding that This is a clear case of collabo­ wal will represent the Capital from the member cities, is at topic of relevance at this chal­ liquor mafia now. a big “liquor mafia” had ille­ ration in corruption and the­ and India at the World Cities the heart of the forum’s activ­ lenging juncture. As people She hit out at them for op­ Senior AAP leader Atishi. gally operated in the Capital refore Mr. Sisodia should im­ Cultural Forum, the Delhi go­ ity, the government said, ad­ around the world struggled posing the lowering of the for the past six years of AAP mediately step down owning vernment said here on ding that Delhi will also be in isolation — it has been art drinking age from 25 to 21 Kejriwal government will government rule and had responsibility for this scam,” Friday. part of the World Cities Cul­ and music that helped us stay years, asking when BJP­ now attempt to break the caused nearly ₹12,000 crore he also said. Mr. Kejriwal, the govern­ ture Report, the most com­ connected and cope with the ruled Goa, Karnataka and hold of the liquor mafia,” worth of losses to the exche­ How many people from ment said, had recently ac­ prehensive global dataset on crisis at hand. Creativity and Himachal Pradesh have a le­ she said. quer. the liquor mafia were prose­ cepted an invitation by the culture in cities. sharing provided hope and gal drinking age of 18 years, She added that till now The LoP alleged that the cuted and sent to jail and how Mayor of London to repre­ This year’s theme — The strength to respond to the then why was it opposing there were many areas in inaction of the Delhi govern­ many cases under the Excise sent Delhi at the forum, Future of Culture — will play a COVID­19 with resilience. the same in Delhi. Delhi that did not have legal ment against the alleged ma­ Act were registered in rela­ which comprises 40 world ci­ crucial role in reimagining The unfortunate circum­ “Delhi government has outlets for the sale of alco­ fia is an indication that it was tion to their activitie? Mr. Bid­ ties including London, Tokyo the culture of Delhi, especial­ stances of the pandemic have brought in a new excise pol­ hol due to which there was hand in glove with the mafia. huri asked. Similarly, he and New York. ly in the wake of several de­ posed new challenges and icy to end the activities of li­ an uneven distribution of “The AAP government was asked, what action had been All the cities ‘recognise the vastating challenges and CO­ possibilities to reimagine the quor mafia in the city. The shops. As a result, liquor ruling Delhi for the past six taken against errant shops impact and importance of VID crisis faced by the people modes of cultural practice. Aam Aadmi Party had pre­ was sold illegally and there­ years and if they knew that and how many criminal cases culture and creativity and in the last one year, the go­ As we move towards recov­ viously endeavoured to end fore the Delhi government such an illegal thing was tak­ had the Delhi government got seek to inculcate these values vernment said. ery, the arts and culture will the private school mafia, had brought in the policy to ing place, why did they not registered against those alleg­ in public policy and city plan­ In his response to the invi­ play a vital role in rebuilding tanker mafia, hospital mafia ensure that alcohol was not act? It is very clear that the edly indulging in irregulari­ ning’, the government said. tation received from the lives and society.” — in the same manner, the sold illegally. AAP government was hand in ties related to liquor. Temperature in Capital likely to rise Cong. criticises AAP for letting students down to 38°C by Monday, forecasts IMD ‘Instead of bridging digital divide gap, govt. is launching virtual school project’ Special Correspondent If there is no timely period did not get the bene­ this inequality, then poor Press Trust of India by Monday. Normally, the mean maxi­ NEW DELHI <> fit of education,” Delhi Con­ students will get backward New Delhi action on this The Capital had record­ mum temperature for the The Delhi Congress on Fri­ inequality, then gress chief Ch. Anil Kumar in the future not only in The Capital recorded a ed a mean maximum tem­ month of March in Delhi is day criticised the govern­ poor students will said. terms of education but also maximum temperature of perature of 33.1 degrees 29.6 degrees Celsius, ac­ ment for allegedly failing to employment,” Mr. Kumar get backward not 34.4 degrees Celsius on Fri­ Celsius last month, making cording to the IMD. provide students with the Digital inequality said. day, two notches above the it the “hottest” March in necessary infrastructure to only in terms of He added that for the se­ Mr. Kumar said that the normal, the India Meteoro­ the last 11 years, according Heat wave condition attend online classes dur­ education but also cond year in a row, stu­ budget presented for the logical Department (IMD) to the IMD. On Monday, Delhi reeled ing the pandemic. employment dents will be forced to stu­ year 2021­22 also did not said. under a “severe” heat “Instead of providing the Ch. Anil Kumar dy through online classes, make any allocation to The city’s minimum tem­ Worst since 2010 wave, as the maximum necessary facilities for on­ Delhi Congress chief and due to the digital in­ overcome the problem. No perature settled at 16.2 de­ It was the highest mean temperature shot up to 40.1 line class to the students that one school can be used equality, many will be de­ incentive, like laptops, ta­ grees Celsius. The weather­ maximum temperature in degrees Celsius, making it and teachers, the Kejriwal to promote it, while it is a prived of education and blets or data for mobile man said mercury is likely March since 2010, when it the hottest day in March in government is showing the common opinion that stu­ will lag. “If there is no time­ phones and Internet, was to rise to 38 degrees Celsius was 34.1 degrees Celsius. 76 years, the IMD had said. dream of a virtual school so dents during the pandemic ly and thoughtful action on announced for them either.

Published by N. Ravi at Kasturi Buildings, 859 & 860, Anna Salai, Chennai-600002 and Printed by S. Ramanujam at HT Media Ltd. Plot No. 8, Udyog Vihar, Greater Noida Distt. Gautam Budh Nagar, U.P. 201306, on behalf of THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD., Chennai-600002. Editor: Suresh Nambath (Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act). Regd. DL(ND)-11/6110/2006-07-08 ● RNI No. UPENG/2012/49940 ● ISSN 0971 - 751X ● Vol. 11 ● No. 79

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DELHI THE HINDU 4 NORTH & EAST SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 2021 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Rakesh Tikait’s convoy attacked FIR filed against BJP leader in Ansari ambulance row Incident took place in Rajasthan’s Alwar when he was going to address a rally Alka Rai charged with cheating, forgery EDUCATIONAL Special Correspondent JAIPUR/Ghaziabad Omar Rashid vernment had allowed Mr. Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) LUCKNOW Ansari to be escorted to leader Rakesh Tikait’s convoy The police in Uttar Pra­ court in a luxury, bullet­ was allegedly attacked in Ra­ desh’s Barabanki district re­ proof ambulance that had a jasthan’s Alwar district on gistered an FIR against a wo­ number plate of Barabanki Friday, when he was going to man BJP leader on Friday on district. address a farmers’ rally in charges of cheating and for­ A probe by the U.P. Tran­ Bansur town. A group of peo­ gery after it surfaced that an sport Department found ple pelted stones at the caval­ ambulance with a number that the address and docu­ cade, damaging the rear plate from the district was ments provided for the re­ windscreen of his car. used to ferry jailed MLA gistration of the ambulance Mr. Tikait was safe and did Bharatiya Kisan Union Farmers blocking traffic at the Ghazipur border in protest Mukhtar Ansari from Ropar in 2013 were “prima facie not get any injury. The farm­ leader Rakesh Tikait against the alleged attack on Rakesh Tikait on Friday. * PTI jail to a court in Mohali by fraud” and forged, said Ya­ er leader, who has been lead­ the Punjab Police. The Su­ muna Prasad, Superinten­ ing the agitation against the Mr. Tikait addressed two force was deployed in the against unidentified assai­ preme Court had last week dent of Police, Barabanki. Centre’s agriculture sector rallies in Alwar district on Fri­ area late in the evening. lants. “The SUV that the at­ directed the Punjab govern­ The address stated during laws for over four months, day. He was travelling from tackers left is said to have be­ ment to hand over the cus­ registration was not found held the “goons of Bharatiya Harsauli to Bansur when the BKU flays attack longed to Kuldeep Yadav, tody of the controversial to be in Rafi Nagar area of Janata Party” responsible for attack, allegedly with stones Meanwhile, the BKU and the student union president of MLA. Barabanki, he said. the attack. and iron rods, took place. Samyukt Kisan Morcha have Matsya University. Kuldeep The case was lodged A case was lodged under “The goons of BJP in­ Police have detained four criticised the alleged attack could be seen in photos with against Alka Rai, who Sections 419, 420, 467, 468 dulged in a lethal attack [on persons, including a student on Mr. Tikait. BKU media in­ Rajasthan BJP chief Satish Pu­ claimed in front of the me­ and 471 of the IPC against Al­ our convoy] at Tatarpur in­ leader, in connection with charge Dharmendra Malik nia and is said to be close to dia that she was the regional ka Rai, who is the owner of tersection on Bansur road. the incident. said the assailants came in an him,” Mr. Malik said. general secretary of the the Shyam Sanjeevni Hospi­ This is the murder of democ­ The BKU leader’s suppor­ SUV and were close to the lo­ In response to the attack, BJP’s women unit in Go­ tal in Mau district, from racy,” Mr. Tikait remarked ters and a large number of cal BJP MLA. the BKU workers blocked the rakhpur. where Mr. Ansari is an MLA. while posting a video clip of farmers from the region He said the BKU members Delhi­Meerut Expressway at The controversy erupted The ambulance was alleged­ his car with the smashed win­ blocked the Bansur road after blocked the road in protest Ghazipur border for two after the U.P. government al­ ly registered to an address dow glass on twitter. the attack. A huge police and an FIR was registered hours. leged that the Punjab go­ linked to her hospital.

Two dead after Three arrested consuming AAP plans stir against high power tariffs for assault on spurious liquor Punjab people are suffering due to Cong. govt.’s policies: Harpal Singh Cheema couple in U.P.

Press trust of india VIKAS VASUDEVA however, is paying no need celled. But it had been four Press trust of India Budaun (U.P.) CHANDIGARH to the problems being faced years since the Congress Bareilly Two persons died, one lost Ahead of the Assembly elec­ by the people. Now, we will came to power, the govern­ Three persons have been his vision while several oth­ tions in Punjab, due early launch a mass agitation to ment has not taken any step. arrested after a video of ers were hospitalised after next year, the principal Op­ pressurise the government Chief Minister Amarinder them allegedly beating up allegedly consuming spu­ position party — the Aam to resolve these issues,” he Singh had said that White an unmarried couple sitting rious liquor distributed by Aadmi Party — has decided said. Paper on power prices in a shop in a village here panchayat election candi­ to raise the electricity rate is­ Hitting out at the Con­ would be brought but so far surfaced on social media, dates in Tigalpur village sue. The party plans to gress, Mr. Cheema said the nothing has come,” he said. police said on Friday. here, police said on Friday. launch a State­wide agitation State government has failed “The people of Punjab are Assistant Superinten­ Three persons, includ­ from April 7. to keep its promises made buying expensive electricity dent of Police Raj Kumar ing prospective candidates In the first phase of the during the 2017 Assembly and in times of inflation, the Agarwal said that the inci­ for village head, have been month­long agitation, AAP polls and the people have government is imposing a dent took place in Rithaura arrested, the police said. would be staging protests in Harpal Singh Cheema. lost all faith in the burden on them. The go­ village on Wednesday. over 16,000 villages and * FILE PHOTO government. vernment had given free After the video surfaced wards across the State. “The Congress had pro­ hand to the companies to on social media, the wo­ OBITUARY & du on Friday. mised to reduce power ta­ rob the people and fill their man’s brother registered a REMEMBRANCE ‘Give free power’ Mr. Cheema said on ac­ riffs before the 2017 elec­ coffers,” added Mr. Cheema. complaint, following which “We will launch a massive ag­ count of the anti­people pol­ tions, but after assuming “Our party volunteers and three men, identified as Ma­ itation from April 7 against icies adopted by the Con­ power, the government had workers will go door to door noj, Pankaj and Ajay, all re­ DEATH the rising power prices and gress during its four years of raised power prices multiple across the State to make peo­ sidents of Rithaura area, MRS SUBHALAKSHMI Ram Mohan, W/o ask the Punjab government rule, the people are suffering times. The Congress had ple aware about higher pow­ were arrested. Capt C Ram Mohan,of Defence to provide free power in the immensely. promised that power agree­ er tariffs in Punjab in compa­ An FIR was registered in Colony, Madras, expired on 1 April 2021. Deeply mourned by Family and State,” AAP MLA Harpal “We had been raising the ments made by the previous rison to Delhi, which is ruled Hafizganj police station un­ Friends. Contact 9840094349/ Singh Cheema, who is the high power tariffs and other SAD­BJP government with by AAP. We will burn copies der the IPC Sections 323 9500015058 Leader of the Opposition in public­centric issues in the the private companies of electricity bills as a mark (voluntarily causing hurt) the Assembly, told The Hin- Assembly. The government, would be reviewed and can­ of protest,” said Mr. Cheema. and 504 (intentional insult). Girl returning from tuition First farm­based solar power gang­raped, dies by suicide plant comes up in Rajasthan 2 accused arrested, hunt on for others Press Trust of India were involved in abducting It has capacity to produce 17 lakh units of electricity per year Meerut and raping the girl, and the A Class 10 student died by police, on the basis of a Special Correspondent generating 722 MW capacity less productive or barren suicide after she was alleg­ note left by the girl, have JAIPUR in the State under the land. It would also help in­ edly abducted and gang­ arrested two of the The first farm­based solar scheme’s first phase. crease the clean green ener­ raped while on her way accused. power plant under the The project has been gy and generate employ­ back from a tuition class, Suicide prevention hel- Prime Minister’s Kisan Urja commissioned following a ment in the rural areas, he the police said on Friday. pline: Sanjivini Society for Suraksha Evum Utthan Ma­ 25­year contract signed bet­ said. Meerut’s Rural Superin­ Mental Health, Telephone: habhiyan (KUSUM) scheme ween the RRECL and farm­ tendent of Police Keshav 011-4076 9002, Monday-Sa- has come up in Jaipur dis­ land owner Devkaran Yadav Renewable energy target Kumar said four youths turday, 10 a.m. -7.30 p.m. trict’s Kotputli tehsil with a in September 2020. Deve­ The Congress government in provision for production of loped at a cost of ₹3.70 the State had adopted the 17 lakh units of electricity ev­ crore, the plant is expected solar energy and the wind ery year. to generate an annual in­ and hybrid energy policies The 1 MW project has come of ₹50 lakh for Mr. Ya­ in December 2019 with the been established on 3.50 dav, as the discom will be plans to develop a capacity acres of farmland in Kotput­ purchasing electricity at the of 38,000 MW renewable li’s Bhaloji village. rate of ₹3.40 per unit. energy. The capacity to be The new plant is also the RRECL chairman Subodh developed under the KU­ first of the 623 farm­based Agarwal said here on Friday SUM scheme will be of the solar power projects select­ that the KUSUM scheme order of 2,600 MW, for ed by the Rajasthan Renewa­ would ensure energy securi­ which the letters of award ble Energy Corporation Li­ ty for farmers, as they could have been issued to 623 ap­ mited (RRECL) for generate revenue from their plicants. Leopard skin seized, ‘BJP­IPFT alliance will two arrested in Odisha win tribal polls’

12 skins recovered in last one year Syed Sajjad Ali Staff Reporter said the STF Deputy Inspec­ Agartala BHUBANESWAR tor General Jai Narayan Pan­ Tripura Chief Minister Bi­ The Special Task Force of Od­ kaj. plab Kumar Deb is confi­ isha Crime Branch arrested Mr. Pankaj said during last dent that the BJP­IPFT al­ two persons and seized a leo­ one year, the STF has seized liance will get absolute pard skin on Thursday night. as many as 12 leopard skins, majority in elections to the The skin was seized when six elephant tusk, two deer Tripura Tribal Areas Auto­ the STF team conducted a skin, two live pangolin and nomous District Council raid at Bolagarh under five kg of pangolin scales and (TTAADC) slated for April Khordha district after a tip arrested 24 persona. 6. At a media briefing on off. Friday, he said people will Two accused — Sudhir Hub of smuggling vote for the ruling coalition Behera and Subash Behera — The STF, which has launched to support all­round deve­ who hail from Nayagarh dis­ a campaign to curb wildlife lopment activities in the trict were arrested. crimes, has issued a tele­ State. “The accused persons phone number for people to “Congress or CPI(M) is could not produce any valid intimate about such inci­ nowhere, but BJP is eve­ authority in support of pos­ dents. Nayagarh district ap­ rywhere. People who are session of the leopard skin, pears to be the hub of leo­ still in different political for which they have been ar­ pard skin smuggling in the camps should join BJP for rested. The seized leopard State. An elected representa­ sake of development and skin will be sent to Wildlife tive was caught red handed progress,” the Chief Minis­ Institute of India, Dehradun, while he was stripping the ter appealed while speak­ for chemical examination,” skin from a dead leopard. ing at his official residence.

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Weather Watch Author refuses to work under Ambedkar Rainfall, temperature & air quality in select metros yesterday Strict restrictions in publication committee member­secretary coming days: Uddhav J.V. Pawar questions his eligibility, contribution to movement Alok Deshpande wrote to Higher and Techni­ to work for the committee Mumbai CM hits out at political parties opposing lockdown cal Education Minister Uday but not like this,” he said. The reorganisation of Dr. Samant, who is the presi­ Mr. Pawar has long been Staff Reporter threatening to hit the Babasaheb Ambedkar dent of the committee, ques­ associated with Vanchit Ba­ Mumbai streets. “Of course, I wel­ Source Material Publication tioning the credentials of Dr. hujan Aghadi leader Pra­ Maharashtra Chief Minister come them to hit the Committee by the Maha­ Krishna Kamble appointed kash Ambedkar who con­ Uddhav Thackeray on Fri­ streets. But they should rashtra government has as the member­secretary. tested against the Maha day said that strict restric­ come out to save lives, to sparked a controversy after “I have been active in the Vikas Aghadi partners (Con­ tions would be implement­ help health professionals veteran Ambedkarite and Ambedkarite movement for gress, NCP and Shiv Sena) in ed in the State in the with testing, and to create author J.V. Pawar refused to over 50 years. It was me the 2019 Assembly polls. coming days. He did not social awareness,” he said. work under a relatively un­ who ensured the legal battle According to sources in want to impose a lockdown, Taking a dig at Maharash­ known member­secretary of over this literature ended in the government, the com­ but would be left with no tra Navnirman Sena chief the committee, questioning 70s and material was made mittee is an attempt to go option if COVID­19 cases Raj Thackeray, without his eligibility and available for publication. I beyond politics and try to continued to rise in the pre­ naming him, for his refusal credentials. have authored numerous work towards the larger aim sent manner. to wear a mask, the CM The State Higher and books, articles on Dr. Am­ of bringing out literature of Temperature Data: IMD, Pollution Data: CPCB, Map: INSAT/IMD (Taken at 18.00 Hrs) “I have been getting calls asked what sort of bravery Technical Education De­ bedkar, and even at the age Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. Forecast for Saturday: Thunderstorm with lightning likely at enquiring whether a lock­ was this and what was be­ partment on March 30 is­ of 78, I am active in the Interestingly, one of the isolated places over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, I don’t want a coastal Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. Heat wave conditions likely down would be imposed in <> ing achieved through it? sued a list of new members, movement. I have never members of the committee, the State. I am only warning lockdown. But can Mr. Thackeray said peo­ including Mr. Pawar, in an heard the name of Dr. Krish­ senior journalist Nikhil Wa­ in some/isolated pockets over Rajasthan, Saurashtra & Kutch, all those who are Vidarbha, Telangana, Rayalaseema, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry today; I am not announcing ple were getting infected ir­ attempt to reorganise the na Kamble nor am I aware of gle, has already declared city rain max min city rain max min anything. I will be watching advising me to not respective of being vacci­ dormant committee which his contribution to the that he is not part of it. “As a Agartala...... —....35.0....26.5 Kozhikode...... —....33.6....26.1 for the next two to three call for a lockdown nated. “Vaccine is merely is tasked with editing, tran­ movement. Why should I journalist, it has been my Ahmedabad...... —....39.9....20.3 Kurnool ...... —....40.6....26.7 suggest me a way Aizawl...... —....28.1....13.1 Lucknow...... —....36.6....16.8 days and discussing with an umbrella in a storm. We slating, and re­publishing work under him?” Mr. Pa­ policy to not work with any Allahabad...... —....39.2....16.8 Madurai...... 0.5....42.3....24.5 various stakeholders. I will to control the have to follow each and ev­ the works of Dr. Babasaheb war asked. government committee. Bengaluru ...... —....36.8....21.4 Mangaluru ...... —....35.5....24.5 announce strict restrictions number of ery health norm even after Ambedkar. Apart from mi­ In his letter, Mr. Pawar Here I was not even consult­ Bhopal ...... —....39.1....17.4 Mumbai ...... —....32.4....23.8 Bhubaneswar...... —....38.2....25.5 Mysuru ...... —....35.0....20.0 in the coming few days. We patients? getting COVID­19 jab. There nisters, MLA and officials, it said that he was willing to ed before selecting me. I al­ Chandigarh ...... —....32.4....13.3 New Delhi ...... —....34.4....16.2 have to stop this wave and Uddhav Thackeray is no effective mode to stop has 16 private members, in­ work for the committee but so believe that researchers Chennai ...... —....41.8....28.5 Patna ...... —....38.0....17.0 ensure there is no third Chief Minister the spread of the virus,” he cluding activists, authors would not work under some­ on Dr. Ambedkar and his Coimbatore ...... —....36.7....24.2 Port Blair...... 10.2....28.8....22.1 Dehradun...... —....31.5....12.5 Puducherry ...... —....37.8....25.6 wave. It is not a one­way said. and researchers of the Am­ one who hardly had any con­ work should be part of this Gangtok...... —....19.3....10.5 Pune...... —....37.7....17.8 process; both sides have to would increase the number About the additions to bedkarite movement. tribution to the movement. committee instead of me,” Goa...... —....34.3....25.3 Raipur ...... —....41.7....21.0 work hard. I expect cooper­ of people getting vaccina­ the State’s health infras­ On April 1, Mr. Pawar “I had expressed my desire he told The Hindu. Guwahati ...... —....32.2....20.1 Ranchi...... —...... —....19.8 Hubballi...... —....36.0....19.0 Shillong...... 0.8....25.1....13.5 ation like last year,” said Mr. tions. “A total of 65 lakh pe­ tructure, the CM said from Hyderabad ...... —....39.3....23.1 Shimla...... —....19.2...... 8.1 Thackeray, in his address to ople have been vaccinated a few thousand beds, the Imphal ...... 1.5....28.8....13.7 Srinagar...... —....19.6...... 4.8 the State. and on Thursday, three number had reached 3.75 Jaipur ...... —....36.0....18.6 Thiruvananthapuram...... —....34.0....24.7 Kochi ...... —....32.4....24.4 Tiruchi...... —....42.3....26.6 Mr. Thackeray’s speech lakh citizens received the lakh beds in one month. Two months after Kharghar gang rape, Kohima ...... —....22.6...... — Vijayawada ...... —....42.8....27.2 indicated that the State is jab. We look forward to in­ “But if this trend continues, Kolkata ...... —....35.6....26.6 Visakhapatnam ...... —....33.0....28.8 set to come under a lock­ crease this number to 6­7 we may face shortage of (Rainfall data in mm; temperature in Celsius) down from the coming lakh and I am sure the beds in 15­20 days,” he said. police arrest main accused in Chembur Pollutants in the air you are breathing Yesterday week as he presented the Centre will grant our re­ The State is conducting CITIES SO2 NO2 CO PM2.5 PM10 CODE Raina Assainar According to the police, help of some citizens and in­ * examples of foreign coun­ quest,” he said. 1.82 lakh tests, of which Ahmedabad..... 83 .85 24 ..188 .172 .... Navi Mumbai Bengaluru ...... 4 118 39 ....70 .106 ....* In observation made at 4.00 tries, including France, Bra­ Mr. Thackeray slammed 70% are RT­PCR, every day, the victim and the duo lived formed her family about the * p.m., Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Chennai ...... 8 .25 52 ....64 ...73 .... Pradesh recorded an overall zil and the United Kingdom, the political parties who are and plans to increase the Nearly two months after a in the same locality and incident. Delhi ...... 22 .40 34 ..252 .192 ....* air quality index (AQI) score 19­year­old woman was were known to each other. The next day, based on a Hyderabad ...... 6 .91 25 ..113 .150 ....* of 322 indicating an where strict measures like opposing the lockdown and number to 2.50 lakh. Kolkata...... 8 .19 50 ..155 .159 ....* unhealthy level of pollution. lockdown were taken to gang­raped by two people On the night of February 3, complaint, the Kharghar * In contrast, Bagalkot, Lucknow...... 6 .39 60 ..199 .164 .... Karnataka recorded a control the spread of novel inside a stationary bus in the victim had gone for a police registered a case of Mumbai ...... 2 .18 .5 ..323 .148 ....* healthy AQI score of 50 Kharghar, the police arrest­ pre­wedding programme gang­rape against the two Pune...... 6 .39 36 ..135 .108 ....* coronavirus. Visakhapatnam ..— ...— .— ..... — .....— ....— “I don’t want a lock­ Maharashtra sees 47,827 ed the main accused in with her parents. In bet­ and immediately arrested Air Quality Code: * Poor * Moderate * Good (Readings indicate average AQI) down. But can all those Chembur on Wednesday. ween, the victim was thirsty Mr. Dewlekar. However, Mr. SO2: Sulphur Dioxide. Short-term exposure can harm the respiratory system, who are advising me to not The arrested accused, and the duo who were also Kharat, had absconded. On making breathing difficult. It can affect visibility by reacting with other air call for a lockdown suggest new cases, 202 fatalities identified as Abhishek Kha­ present at the programme Wednesday, he was traced to particles to form haze and stain culturally important objects such as statues me a way to control the rat (31), was the driver of the took her to a nearby minibus Lal Dongar in Chembur and monuments. Press Trust of India NO2: Nitrogen Dioxide. Aggravates respiratory illness, causes haze to form by number of patients? Lock­ The new figure took the bus in which he committed and gave her a spiked drink. where he was hiding at his Mumbai reacting with other air particles, causes acid rain, pollutes coastal waters. down will hamper the eco­ State tally of positive cases the crime along with his ac­ After she became uncon­ sister’s house and was ar­ CO: Carbon monoxide. High concentration in air reduces oxygen supply to critical organs like the heart and brain. At very high levels, it can cause nomy, employment. But Maharashtra on Friday re­ to 29,04,076, a Health De­ complice, Tejash Dewlekar scious, the two sexually as­ rested by assistant police in­ dizziness, confusion, unconsciousness and even death. saving lives is the utmost corded 47,827 new CO­ partment statement said. As (19), a college­going student. saulted her in the bus. The spector Shridhar Pawar. PM2.5 & PM10: Particulate matter pollution can cause irritation of the eyes, priority for me. Employ­ VID­19 cases, the highest many as 202 novel coronavi­ Mr. Dewlekar was arrested duo then took her to a se­ While Mr. Dewlekar is in jud­ nose and throat, coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath, reduced lung function, irregular heartbeat, asthma attacks, heart attacks and premature ment is not going anywh­ daily count since the novel rus patients died in the State on February 4 after an FIR cluded spot in Taloja in the icial custody, Mr. Kharat has death in people with heart or lung disease ere,” he said. coronavirus pandemic on Friday, taking the death was registered at Kharghar dark and abandoned her. been remanded in police He said that the State began. toll to 55,379, it said. police station. She reached home with the custody till April 5. Congress ministers discuss Deshmukh CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC Car falls into Remembering Christ waterbody; 4 controversy with AICC secretary of family dead Raut’s remarks Former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Press Trust of India that Pawar should Singh alleged last month Pune take over as UPA that Mr. Deshmukh had A woman and her three asked police officials to col­ daughters died and her chairperson also lect ₹100 crore a month husband was injured after discussed from bars and hotels, an al­ their car fell into a roadside legations the latter denied. waterbody in the Panshet Press Trust of India “The view in the meeting dam catchment area near Mumbai was that the NCP should have Pune on Friday afternoon, Congress ministers in the handled the Deshmukh issue police said. Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in a better way,” the leader After locals alerted auth­ government on Friday dis­ Anil Deshmukh added. Congress ministers al­ orities about the incident, cussed the allegations of cor­ so complained about Sena the bodies were brought ruption against Maharashtra The meeting in Mumbai spokesperson Mr. Raut re­ out, said fire brigade offi­ Home Minister Anil Desh­ with Mr. Patil, an AICC secre­ peatedly stating that Mr. Pa­ cials of PMRDA. mukh in a meeting with All tary, was held for discussing war be made UPA chairper­ The deceased have been India Congress Committee the political situation in the son by replacing Congress identified as Alpana Bhi­ (AICC) in­charge for the State, sources said. president Sonia Gandhi. kule (45) and her daughters State H.K. Patil, sources said. “They talked about how The issue of development Prajkta (21), Pranita (17) Shiv Sena leader Sanjay the State government’s im­ funds for constituencies of and Vaidahi (8), while the Raut’s repeated remarks that age is being tarnished due to Congress ministers not be­ injured person is Vitthal NCP chief Sharad Pawar the allegations of corruption ing disbursed in time also Bhikule, a rural police sta­ should take over as UPA against NCP leader Mr. Desh­ came up, sources said. tion official said. chairperson also came up mukh and how our party is The Congress has 12 mi­ “The family was return­ during the discussion, sourc­ getting maligned unnecessa­ nisters in the Sena­led coali­ ing to their home in Pune es added. rily,” a Congress leader said. tion government. from their native village in Velhe tehsil. It is suspected the man lost control of the Solemn occasion: Members of the Christian community receive the Holy Communion on the premises of Mount Carmel Church vehicle and it fell into the at Bandra on Good Friday. Due to COVID-19, many churches in Mumbai kept the Mass service online. * EMMANUAL YOGINI waterbody,” he added. HC quashes FIR against businessman CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC accused of stealing 17 currency notes Special Correspondent February 4, 2017, without Postmaster General’s tribute to Netaji wins laurels Mumbai there being even an iota of The Bombay High Court re­ material to link him with the Directorial debut on freedom fighter’s legacy adjudged Best Biographical Film at National Film Awards cently granted relief to a 45­ incident in question. There­ year­old man by quashing fore, we are of the opinion Lalatendu Mishra award from the President IFFI, Goa, 2019. ment, she has started inno­ the FIR and chargesheet that Mr. Beg has successfully MUMBAI on May 3 in Delhi. “This award is an ack­ vative projects like SOFT against him for being ac­ made out the case for quash­ Elephants Do Remember, a Ms. Khandwala is the ol­ nowledgement for Rama di- (Supporting Officials for cused of stealing 17 currency ing of the FIR.” documentary on Netaji Sub­ dest tourist guide in India, di, who at the age of 16 was Treatment), Smartest Post­ notes in ₹2,000 denomina­ While allowing the peti­ has Chandra Bose, recently helping Japanese tourists not only an integral part of men Campaign, Digital tion and said that “allowing tion, the HC said, “Mr. Beg adjudged the Best Biographi­ during their visits to Mum­ Netaji’s Rani Jhansi Regi­ Identity of Postmen and a the proceedings would not has been able to make out cal Film at the 67 th National bai, and recipient of the ment, that fought for India’s heritage walk of the Mum­ be in the interest of justice”. his case for exercise of ex­ Film Awards 2019, marks the Presidential Award. The freedom, but also led a bai General Post office. A Division Bench of Justic­ accusing him of cheating traordinary and inherent directorial debut of Swati film records the thrilling ex­ team of 30 women soldiers es S.S. Shinde and Manish Pi­ and criminal breach of trust power of this court to quash Pandey, Postmaster General, periences of Ms. Khandwa­ (known as Ranis) at the war New project tale was hearing a criminal at Pimpri police station. the criminal proceedings in­ India Post, Mumbai Region. la, who hails from Burma front. This was she! Fear­ Ms. Pandey is now working petition filed by Taleb Rafiq Advocate Hassnain Kaazi itiated against him. We find The film, which will bring (now Myanmar). In the film, Swati Pandey. * VIVEK BENDRE less, Passionate Valiant!” on a documentary on the Beg, a businessman at Beed. Sayyed, representing Mr. that the nature of material to the fore unknown facts she leaves the viewers awe­ said Ms. Pandey, who has 160­year history of India On February 3, 2017, Mr. Beg, argued that he was fal­ brought on record in pur­ about the great freedom struck as she reminisces her Netaji through my Baba’s become the first officer of Post along with Epic Chan­ Beg went to one Damyanti sely implicated and there suance of investigation and fighter, revolves around the association with Netaji. eyes and I got to know Neta­ the Indian Post to win a Na­ nel. Recently, she also pu­ Pardeshi’s office and re­ was no material to link him filing of chargesheet does life of Rama Khandwala, 94, “Since my childhood, I was ji through his words,” she tional Film Award. blished the first­ever e­book quested to get one ₹2,000 to the case. not even prima facie indi­ a resident of Opera House, inspired by Netaji. This film said. Through this docu­ Ms Pandey, an Indian on the Mumbai General currency note in exchange The Bench said, “A bare cate his involvement in the Mumbai, who served in the is my tribute to him, the mentary, I attempt to revive Postal Service Officer of the Post Office, co­authored of four ₹500 currency notes perusal of the FIR does not alleged offence. Therefore, Indian National Army and most underrated and for­ the legacy of Netaji, his un­ 1997 batch, said she was al­ with another government required for a pooja. show any offence with allowing the proceedings to worked closely with Netaji. gotten freedom fighter of In­ dying patriotism and al­ ways inspired by creativity officer Orchida Mukherjee. Ms. Pardeshi alleged that which Mr. Beg can be linked continue in pursuance of With a run time of 37 mi­ dia,” Ms. Pandey said. truistic love towards his and filmmaking came natu­ The book showcases the ar­ he snatched a bundle of to the present case. The pol­ such an FIR and chargesheet nutes, the film is co­direct­ “This film is an ode to my motherland, the way he still rally. Born in a Bengali fami­ chaeological beauty and ₹2,000 notes from her and ice apprehended him on Au­ would not be in the interest ed by Viplove Bhatia and Baba (father) who was a re­ influences our lives, she ad­ ly displaced by the Parti­ splendour of the heritage took out 17 notes instead of gust 6, 2017 and sought his of justice and would amount Manu Bist, and produced by fugee from East Bengal and ded. The film was also nom­ tion, she grew up in the building, constructed in In­ one. A day after, she lodged remand on August 7 for an to abuse of the process of Films Division. The film­ reminisced the influence of inated under the Short Doc­ Dandakaranya region of Od­ do­Saracenic style of archi­ a complaint against Mr. Beg incident that occurred on law.” makers will receive the Netaji through his life. I saw umentary category at the isha. In the postal depart­ tecture.

CM A ND-NDE YK EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

DELHI THE HINDU 6 EDITORIAL SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 2021 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE A missing science pillar in the COVID response India’s fight against the resurgence of the coronavirus is a challenge requiring strengthened data and better science ly suggest multi­generational verbal autopsy studies are invalua­ left in the dark. transmission, with younger adults ble, but must be reactivated to re­ the engine of transmission into the view deaths occurring in 2020, gi­ Adult vaccination plan Prudence prevails elderly. Various serosurveys have ven that the last available results COVID­19 could well turn into a That inflation is a concern for policymakers consistently found that half or are from 2013. seasonal challenge and thus, the more of tested urban populations Third, the Indian Council of central government should active­ is reassuring for consumers and savers Prabhat Jha have antibodies to the virus. Ho­ Medical Research’s national sero­ ly consider launching a national he Finance Ministry has put to rest all speculation wever, this high level of infection is survey had design limitations such adult vaccination programme that not the same as a markedly re­ that it probably under estimated matches India’s commitment and about the inflation targeting framework that will he optimism that India might duced level of transmission, which the true national prevalence. A far success in expanding universal Tguide the interest rate decisions of the RBI’s Mo­ have beaten the COVID­19 is what is required for herd im­ larger and better set of serial sur­ childhood vaccination. The Dis­ netary Policy Committee over the five­year period start­ Tpandemic has given way to munity. veys is required. Finally, we need ease Control Priorities Project esti­ ing on April 1. In a terse notification, the Department of pessimism from a sharp increase Notions of herd immunity do PUSHPAKAR SHIV KUMAR to understand better why some mates an adult national pro­ Economic Affairs announced that the inflation target in new cases and deaths from the not fully capture the fact that for of clinical illness, helping to ex­ populations are not affected. For gramme would cost about ₹ 250 for the quinquennium ending on March 31, 2026, will disease. Maharashtra seems to be largely unknown reasons, viral plain the Indian paradox of wides­ example, COVID­19 infection and per Indian per year to cover rou­ be 4%, with an upper tolerance level of 6% and a lower particularly affected, but nearly all transmission is cyclical. Delhi had pread transmission but with low death levels in Thailand and Viet­ tine annual flu vaccination, five ­ tolerance level of 2%. Economic Affairs Secretary Tarun States are reporting increases. The two major peaks, in 2020, of death mortality rates. nam are remarkably low, and can­ yearly pneumococcal vaccines, epidemiology of COVID­19 is poor­ rates and case rates, one in June not be assigned to their stronger HPV vaccines for adolescent girls Bajaj said that the framework’s parameters would re­ ly understood, but some early un­ and another in November, and Data must guide decisions testing and tracing programmes. and tetanus for expectant moth­ main unchanged from what had prevailed in the five derstanding of the transmission of now is entering a third major India needs to increase the quanti­ Widespread existing immunity, ers. Per year, vaccines for one bil­ years that ended on March 31. The government’s an­ the virus can enable a more effec­ wave. Within Mumbai, the current ty, quality and public availability perhaps from direct exposure to lion adults might save about nouncement is a welcome step in reiterating that infla­ tive science­driven response. wave appears to be affecting more of actual data to guide decision­ bat coronaviruses might be one ex­ 200,000 lives from the targeted tion targeting remains the centrepiece of the monetary affluent areas and private hospi­ making. Theories or mathematical planation. Rapidly assembled diseases. Annual flu vaccination policy framework and signals that the fiscal and mone­ Spread of variants tals, in contrast to last year where models are hugely uncertain, par­ comparative studies across parts reduces the risk of influenza pan­ tary authorities are in lockstep in ensuring the primacy First, the surge is probably driven the highest infection levels were in ticularly early on in the epidemic. of India and Asia are a priority. demics and perhaps even CO­ by variants from the original, as the slums and poorer areas. Our Better understanding of the un­ VID­19 infection. Indeed, we might of price stability as the bedrock for all macro­economic variants worldwide comprise forthcoming mortality­based ana­ ique patterns of Indian viral trans­ Counter growing inequity already be in the era where major development. This is particularly apposite at a time much of the current wave. A re­ lyses (https://bit.ly/3sY0KYZ) sug­ mission has a few pillars, which The science pillar of a response is zoonotic diseases are not once­a­ when inflation pressures are mounting in an economy sumption of global travel meant gest several sub­waves exist within can be achieved quickly. First, col­ complementary to action. The century events, but once a decade. that is still struggling to regain its footing from the de­ that spread of variants into India major viral peaks, reflecting subtle lection of anonymised demo­ central and State governments Thus, adult and child vaccination vastating contraction in the just­ended fiscal year, when was inevitable, with the only ques­ changes in community transmis­ graphic and risk details (age, sex, have already pushed for a rapid ex­ programmes are essential to pre­ the COVID­19 pandemic and the drastic measures to tion being when. Evolutionary the­ sion. The ebbs and flow of vaccine travel, contact with other CO­ pansion of COVID­19 vaccination. pare for future pandemics. curb its spread resulted in widespread precarity. The ory would expect SARS­CoV­2, the transmission are far more variable VID­19 patients, existing chronic India can learn from Chile, which More draconian steps, such as virus that causes COVID­19, to mu­ than we assume. conditions, current smoking) on has successfully provided at least another full national lockdown latest Consumer Price Index data show retail inflation tate to become more transmissi­ As well, much of infection in In­ all positive cases on a central web­ one dose to over half of its popula­ should be considered carefully, as accelerated by almost 100 basis points to a three­month ble. After all, the only task of a vi­ dia might well be mild, with less site in each State remains a priori­ tion. Affluent and connected ur­ they incur a huge toll on the poor high of 5.03% in February, with food and fuel costs con­ rus is to reproduce. However, the durable immune protection than ty. ban elites of India are vaccinating and stunt education of Indian chil­ tinuing to remain volatile. Also, with the prices of mul­ expected concomitant decrease in induced by vaccination. ‘Asympto­ Second, greatly expanded se­ quickly, but the poorer and less dren. It also remains unclear if the tiple raw materials on an upward trajectory, an IHS lethality has not yet been docu­ matic infection is more commonly quencing of the viral genome is educated Indians are being left be­ population would comply. The re­ Markit India Business Outlook survey last month mented. Anecdotal reports that reported in Indian serosurveys, ex­ needed from many parts of India, hind. Vaccination campaigns need surgence of COVID­19 presents a showed companies were planning to raise selling prices the current surge is occurring ceeding 90% in some, in contrast which can be achieved by re­pro­ to reach the poor adults over age major challenge for governments, more in younger adults and ac­ to high­income countries, where gramming sequencing capacity in 45, without having to prove anyth­ yet the best hope is to rapidly ex­ over the coming 12 months to cope with rising costs. companied by unusual symptoms about one­third of infections re­ Indian academic and commercial ing other than approximate age. pand epidemiological evidence, The RBI’s officials have in recent months maintained also support the idea that variants port as asymptomatic’. Recent laboratories. Third, far better re­ Follow­up studies among the vac­ share it with the public and build an unwavering focus on emphasising the need to retain are responsible. Direct evidence is findings from Wuhan, China show porting of COVID­19 deaths is cinated can establish the durabili­ confidence that the vaccination the flexible inflation targeting framework. In a Decem ­ needed from genetic sequencing most seropositive infections were needed. Daily or weekly reporting ty of protection, and, ideally, re­ programme will benefit all ber working paper titled ‘Measuring Trend Inflation i n of the virus. asymptomatic and among these, of the total death counts by age duction in transmission. Indians. India’, the Deputy Governor overseeing monetary pol­ Second, it was, and remains, the important protective antibo­ and sex by each municipality Similarly, India must capture icy, Michael Debabrata Patra, and a colleague under­ wishful thinking that India had dies were low during follow­up pe­ would help track if there is a spike and report data on who is vacci­ Prabhat Jha is a professor of epidemiology achieved “herd immunity”. The riods. Milder infection might well in presumed COVID­19 deaths. nated, including by education or and global health at the University of scored the importance of ensuring the appropriateness patterns of infection in India clear­ also correlate with lower severity The Registrar General of India’s wealth levels. The poor cannot be Toronto, Canada of the inflation target. Observing that there had been a steady decline in trend inflation to a 4.1%­4.3% band since 2014, they said a target far lower than the tre nd ran the risk of imparting a ‘deflationary bias’ that would In Geneva face­off, outrage versus hope dampen economic momentum, while a goal much above the trend could engender expansionary mone­ The Human Rights Council is where Sinhala and Tamil nationalisms meet and confront each other tary conditions that would likely lead to inflation play full of double standards. It is get on the agenda of international Scheme of Preferences Plus) and shocks. And in February, the RBI’s researchers author­ seen as western countries ganging civil society, it is difficult to get off. other trade and financial benefits ing its Report on Currency and Finance — themed ‘Re­ up on Sri Lanka for itscloseness to As Christine Schöwebel­Patel, the and was welcomed back into UN viewing the Monetary Policy Framework’ — made clear China. Imperialism and neocolo­ academic in international law and peacekeeping. Despite its interna­ that the framework had served the economy well, at­ nialism remain in the frame. There political economy, has recently tional success, 30/1 was reviled na­ tested by a decline in inflation volatility and more cred­ is no government recognition that written, there is a kind of “brand­ tionally as a resolution that “sold Radhika Coomaraswamy ible anchoring of inflation expectations. That the go­ there may be any grievance or a ing” in a communications sense out the soldiers” — blurring the vernment’s economic officials have heeded these calls victim. This just compounds the that takes place and has severe lines between the few who have insensitivity. consequences for country and committed war crimes and the

will certainly reassure investors and savers that infla­ ey Geneva” laments The government’s aim this year AFP community. large majority who have not. tion remains a central concern for all policymakers. Ajith Kumarasiri (musi­ was to have no resolution at all, ing Accountability and Reconcilia­ The events unfolding in Geneva Fundamentally, there was also a “Hcian, songwriter, and while the major Tamil groups tion in Sri Lanka”. Michelle Bache­ are particularly disturbing be­ lack of understanding of what “co­ composer in Sri Lanka) in power­ wanted the Human Rights Council let as a High Commissioner, a cause of their shortsightedness. In sponsorship” meant and the en­ Better late ful Sinhala rhythm and blues. “We to begin a pathway to the Interna­ torture victim, President, and a 2014, Sri Lanka faced a hostile lightened self­interest that it en­ Rajinikanth fully deserves the Phalke, but no longer kill.” “We don’t shoot tional Criminal Court. In the end, Minister of Defence, put her full Council and was an outlier in the tailed. Co­sponsorship has always anymore.” “Give us our island the resolution decided to create weight behind the report. More international system very much meant accepting international the timing of the announcement is suspect back.” Geneva as an idea is firmly capacity at the Office of the United than anything else, her report and like today. Most people have con­ standards while keeping control of ajinikanth, the reigning demigod of Tamil film­ embedded in the Sri Lankan con­ Nations High Commissioner for words made the resolution inevita­ veniently forgotten this history. the national process — the legisla­ dom, richly deserves the Dadasaheb Phalke sciousness. For many Sri Lankans, Human Rights (OHCHR) to collect, ble. The Resolution of the Human tion to be enacted and the person­ Raward, Indian cinema’s highest recognition, bes­ especially the Sinhalese, it is an at­ preserve and consolidate evidence In addition to the work of Rights Council in 2015 (https:// nel to be appointed. By arbitrarily towed by the jury this year. The film world has few pa­ tack on national honour, a place not only on war crimes but also on OHCHR, the Tamil groups nation­ bit.ly/3md0P8x) that Sri Lanka withdrawing from the resolution, where their vulnerability as a other gross violations of human ally and globally were extremely cosponsored after the government Sri Lanka created the space for the rallels to his success story. His transition from Shivaji small island is exploited. For many rights and serious violations of hu­ active. But, it was Muslim civil so­ changed was to pull Sri Lanka out Human Rights Council to create a Rao Gaekwad, a Marathi­born struggling bus conductor Tamils and now Muslims, it is a manitarian law. There is no date or ciety and the Muslim diaspora that of the rut that it had fallen into. If new mechanism to collect and in Bengaluru, to a worshipped superstar in the Dravi­ place of hope. For human rights time period. made the difference for this reso­ that resolution were not passed, preserve evidence. This process is dian heartland, was made possible only by his un­ activists the world over, it is their lution. Their passion, energy and Sri Lanka would have had the evi­ now independent of the Colombo dimmed passion and sustained hard work. From early forum. Geopolitics ‘plus’ sense of injustice filled the spaces. dence collection and preserving government and will eventually on, he introduced novelty to his screen characters. He Though geopolitics is the frame­ Despite heavy lobbying from Pa­ mechanism in some form by 2016. have a life of its own. has kept innovating on his unique styles of tossing a ci­ The setting work for decision making at the kistan, (the Coordinator on Hu­ The 2015 resolution accepted The Human Rights Council in Ge­ Human Rights Council, the actual man rights and humanitarian is­ international best practices, an of­ The two sides garette or a mint, twirling his sunglasses and walking neva is a place where Sinhala and process is more nuanced and may sues in the Organisation of Islamic fice for missing persons, an office With this dedicated capacity at the with a swagger. While style remains his hallmark, it Tamil nationalisms meet, confront be described as geopolitics “plus”. Cooperation, at Geneva), and from for reparations, a truth commis­ OHCHR, the human rights issues would be an injustice to dismiss him as just a mass hero. each other and fight countless sha­ Unless one acknowledges this Bangladesh, after Prime Minister sion and a judicial process for regarding Sri Lanka will not go He had excelled as an actor with sensitive portrayals in dow battles. In some of the side “plus” factor, one will never un­ Mahinda Rajapaksa’s visit in those guilty of serious crimes. At away. For many Sri Lankans, espe­ films such as Mullum Malarum and Aarilirindhu Aru­ events of the Council, before the derstand the actual workings of March, despite pressure from Chi­ that time, the focus was on the cially the Sinhalese, this is an out­ badhu Varai before getting trapped in superstardom novel coronavirus pandemic, peo­ the Human Rights Council. The ac­ na and after the Rajapaksa s made need for a system that gave confi­ rage of double standards. There is with Billa and donning larger than life roles. He is ple have fainted, come to fisticuffs tivism, agitation and the momen­ personal calls to OIC members, dence to the victims. Victim real fury at what they see as global and been removed by UN security. tum around a resolution created the large majority of Muslim coun­ groups were clear that a purely inequity. For many members of among the rare heroes who handle comedy scenes with It is the place where both com­ by this “plus” factor spills over and tries still decided to abstain. domestic process had failed them the minorities, opposition leaders, ease, his dual roles in Thillu Mullu being an example. munities have large demonstra­ creates the atmosphere in which before. As a result, it was agreed to journalists, lawyers, victim groups His charisma has attracted three generations of fans , tions next to the legless chair that the resolution is adopted. Elements to a global cause have a framework with an element and civil society activists who with a following even in Japan where he is lovingly reminds the Palais de Nations of The “plus” factors around the Though the diasporas are always of foreign participation. claim they are being harassed, called ‘Odori Maharaja’ (The Dancing Maharaja). He i s the consequence of war. There are Sri Lankan resolution were easy to active, it is an international civil International, resolution 30/1 prosecuted and intimidated on a also the only Indian actor to have featured in black and heated, blood­chilling speeches identify. First came the legal ex­ society made up of a whole array became a great success though vic­ daily basis by a surveillance state, white, colour, 3D and motion capture films. aimed at the supporters. For bys­ perts of the Office of the High of disparate groups that dominate tim groups thought it was a failure there is relief to know that some­ tanders, much of this drama is Commissioner for Human Rights, the agitational space of the Human due to a lack of implementation. one will be watching. But despite Rajinikanth’s demonstrable body of quite unsettling. as well as the Special Rapporteurs Rights Council. These groups are International hostility disap­ work, given his active inclination for a foray into “spir­ The government playbook with and procedures who took very often at odds with each other but peared; Sri Lanka was dropped Radhika Coomaraswamy is former Under itual politics” until last year, inevitable questions are regard to the Geneva process at strong positions. The pivotal input act in solidarity when it comes to from international punitive agen­ Secretary General and Special being raised if the award is a calculated choice to in­ the UN Human Rights Council is to by the Office was the Report of the global causes. Sri Lanka has again das, became open to GSP plus (or Representative of the Secretary General on fluence poll­bound Tamil Nadu. While Rajinikanth lent present it as an enormous power High Commissioner on “Promot­ become a global cause. Once you the European Union’s Generalised Children and Armed Conflict support during elections to the DMK­TMC (1996, 19 98) and AIADMK­BJP (2004), in recent years he has made LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters emailed to [email protected] must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials. no secret of his admiration for BJP leaders. Not only did he hail Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minis­ To read more letters Reversing rate cuts if it has been rolled back opportunities to pass on have got a clue now. After the Award for actor online, scan the QR code ter Amit Shah as ‘Lord Krishna and Arjuna’ — after the The flip­flop announcement now. Why is the central relief, these were not spell of elections, there are It is impossible to believe scrapping of special status granted to Jammu and Kash­ over interest rate cut is a government so hell­bent on explored. Whatever sure to be more shocks. that the Dadasaheb Phalke disregarding established mir under Article 370 —he targeted Dravidian icon Peri­ matter that the Election crushing small savers? One is happened to “Achhe din A.G. Rajmohan, award was not awarded to norms has to be criticised. In yar E.V. Ramasamy while recalling the alleged attacks Commission of India must certain that had it not been aane waale hain”? Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh superstar Rajnikanth in the its desperation to gain a on Hindu deities during a 1971 anti­superstition rally. He look into. Why was such a for the elections in the B.G. Baliga, hope of reaping some toehold in Tamil Nadu, the Thrissur, Kerala backed the Citizenship Amendment Act. To be fair, cut announced and backdrop, the government On the campiagn trail political harvest in Tamil politicisation of the awards repealed overnight after would not have backtracked. Why are our political leaders Nadu. This is not to say that demeans the award and the since his ‘no show’ in politics, the actor has remai ned calling it an oversight, and It is small savers who give the ■ To stabilise the economy, a humiliating each other in the superstar is unworthy of awardees. politically withdrawn, though previously he indirect ly at a time when a few States government its financial good amount of domestic order to serve us? It is the award, but the sheer Anthony Henriques, targeted the DMK and the AIADMK. He has not res­ have their Assembly cushion. savings is one of the absolutely amazing, that on a effrontery of the BJP in Mumbai ponded to appeals from ‘neutral’ observers to lend his elections? First cause a jolt Katuru Durga Prasad Rao, important and inevitable daily basis over the past few support for “honest, dynasty­free politics”. Whether and then induce relief — is Hyderabad components for any country. days, they are embarrassing corrections & clarifications: the award’s timing would influence the voting choice of this some new technique to It is a factor which helped each other by alleging just In a Sports page story titled “IPL 2021: Hazlewood pulls out ‘for attract the middle class by ■ Even otherwise, the central China in building its about anything. Is this the personal reasons’” (April 2, 2021), there was a reference to South his legion of fans is difficult to say as he remains an un­ African paceman Lungi Ngidi having a series against South Africa playing with their government has been economy. Instead of leadership that we have to tested electoral force. However, had the jury put off the at home. It should be a series against Pakistan. sentiments? subjecting senior citizens encouraging such savings in contend with and guide the announcement of the award by just a week till pollin g J. Eden Alexander, and retirees to trauma by government schemes, destiny of our nation ? Or, It is the policy of The Hindu to correct significant errors as soon as possible. Please specify was over, everyone would have unconditionally wel­ Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu the edition (place of publication), date and page. The Readers’ Editor’s office can be reducing bank deposit rates. driving people into the arms are image makers and speech contacted by Telephone: +91-44-28418297/28576300 (11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to comed the choice. The giver has done the recipient a Similarly, fuel prices have of private players does not writers creating this havoc? Friday); Fax: +91-44-28552963; E­mail:[email protected]; Mail: Readers’ Editor, The Hindu, Kasturi Buildings, 859 & 860 Anna Salai, Chennai 600 002, India. ■ Hemachandra Basappa, disservice through the timing of the announcement. Many of us have still to been rising sharply and even speak well of the All communication must carry the full postal address and telephone number. No personal recover from the shock, even when there were government. However, many Bengaluru visits. The Terms of Reference for the Readers’ Editor are on www.thehindu.com

CM A ND-NDE YK 2021 TAMIL NADU | KERALA | PUDUCHERRY | WEST BENGAL | ASSAM ₹2.2 cr. ₹268.28 cr. UDF and LDF are <> twins of average assets per total assets of Manaranjan P7 candidate contesting in Brahma, the candidate with the misgovernance, the third phase (40 seats) highest assets in Assam's third corruption, cronyism, of the Assam Assembly phase. He is from the UPPL and political violence... ASSEMBLY POLLS election. 27% of the will be contesting from the Narendra Modi candidates are crorepatis Kokrajhar West constituency Prime Minister DELHI THE HINDU | SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 2021 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

NEWS ANALYSIS Polls piquantly poised in southern Tamil Nadu Caste equations, reservation for the Vanniyar community and the impact of T.T.V. Dhinakaran’s party will determine the outcome in the region

T. RAMAKRISHNAN of Kallars, one of the three weights are contesting from group of castes of the Sche­ MADURAI constituent­castes of the the region. Deputy Chief Mi­ duled Castes will expand the A combination of factors Mukkulathors (the other two nister and party coordinator party’s votebase, they said. seems to give the Dravida being Maravars and Agamu­ O. Panneerselvam is contest­ Despite the ruling party Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)­ daiyars). ing from Bodinayakkanur, giving ticket to a substantial led coalition an edge over the Forests Minister C. Sreeniva­ number of persons from the front headed by the ruling All Key role san in Dindigul, Revenue Mi­ Mukkalathor community in India Anna Dravida Munne­ Though she hails from the nister R.B. Udhayakumar the region, the talk in politi­ tra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in central region of the State, from Thirumangalam, form­ cal and public discourse the southern districts of Ta­ she was said to have played a er Electricity Minister R. Vis­ about the chasm between mil Nadu. key role, according to the wanathan from Natham, and certain sections of the Muk­ Apart from anti­incum­ community, in getting a gol­ former PWD Minister N. Tha­ kulathors and the AIADMK bency and the discontent ov­ den armour presented by lavai Sundaram in Kanniya­ will yield support from other er the rise in prices of petrol, Jayalalithaa in 2014 for the kumari. communities to the party. diesel and cooking gas, the bust of U. Muthuramalinga The DMK has nominated Besides, there is a “sense of ruling front is also troubled Thevar, an icon of the com­ veterans including former complacency” in the DMK, by other disadvantages. munity. Ministers I. Periasami, sources said. He said Ms. Sasikala’s hold K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran Quota questions over sections of the com­ and Thangam Thennarasu Rough estimate The presence of the breaka­ munity should have spurred from Athur, Tiruchuli and “We in the party strongly be­ way Amma Makkal Munnetra the party to revive its ties af­ Aruppukottai, respectively. lieve that winning 60% of the Kazhagam (AMMK) led by ter her release from prison Conceding that the party seats — 35 out of 58 — is a doa­ T.T.V. Dhinakaran, nephew of earlier this year. is facing an uphill task in re­ ble, even though we are former AIADMK’s interim Across the divide, a young peating its 2016 perfor­ aware that it is not that easy,” general secretary V.K. Sasika­ DMK leader in Virudhunagar mance, two senior leaders of a young AIADMK leader said. la, and the strong pushback district said though his party the AIADMK said that the or­ Mr. Dhinakaran, who is a from sections of Mukkulath­ has not played up the reser­ ganisation should have re­ sitting legislator of R.K. Na­ ors, a dominant community vation issue, it is aware the tained the Desiya Murpokku gar, a constituency in north­ in the region, to the State go­ two factors will enable Mr. Dravida Kazhagam and Puth­ ern Chennai, has surprised vernment’s decision provid­ Dhinakaran to cut into the iya Tamilagam within its many by choosing Kovilpatti, ing 10.5% reservation to Van­ AIADMK vote share. pointed out that “they [DMK] Lack of progress in high­ quently visits Madurai, said south has favoured the fold, as both can supplement which comes under the niyars within the overall Yet another challenge are banking on the over­ profile infrastructure is also that regardless of political af­ AIADMK more in the last 40­ the AIADMK’s base to a cer­ Thoothukudi Lok Sabha con­ quota of 20% for Most Back­ looming for the ruling front, whelming support from the likely to affect the fortunes of filiation, the general feeling odd years. Like her mentor tain extent. stituency, as he had earlier ward Classes and denotified given its ties with the BJP and minorities — Muslims and the ruling AIADMK. A case in among people is that an ex­ and the party founder M.G. said he would contest from communities have thrown its hardline Hindutva polit­ Christians. This is a huge point is the widespread im­ peditious execution of the Ramachandran, former Strengths one of the constituencies in up serious challenges for the ics, is the considerable pre­ plus factor for them.” pact of DMK youth wing se­ hospital project would make Chief Minister Jayalalithaa re­ However, they also pointed Theni district. ruling party. sence of religious minorities cretary Udhayanidhi Stalin a huge difference to the re­ presented the south thrice in out that the organisation’s in­ Ms. Sasikala’s visits to ma­ A functionary of the in the southern districts such Infrastructural projects recently holding up a brick to gion. the Assembly. In 2016, which herent strengths cannot be ny important temples in the AIADMK in charge of the as Ramanathapuram, Economic backwardness and symbolise the slow progress While the project itself has was the last Assembly elec­ underestimated or brushed region during the past 10 southern zone feels that the Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli strong caste affiliations in the of the proposed AIIMS in made very little headway, tion for her, the region re­ aside. days and AMMK functionar­ party should not have dis­ and Kanniyakumari. southern districts have led to Madurai. real estate in and around the turned 32 candidates of the The recent measure of ies greeting her in a few plac­ tanced itself from Ms. Sasika­ A veteran AIADMK leader heightened communal sensi­ Subhasan, a trader who proposed site is on the rise. AIADMK. providing the generic name es have added to the morale la, who belongs to a sub­sect from Ramanathapuram tivities. hails from Watrap and fre­ Politically speaking, the Several party heavy­ of Devendrakula Velalars to a of the workers of the party.

CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC A dance for democracy Change or continuity? Kerala plays it close POLL POURRI Robot woos voters in Wayanad The State is known for voting out the government in every election since 1982

Biju Govind unable to mount a serious Kozhikode challenge in the run­up to the Even as several pre­poll sur­ poll. veys indicate a continuity of “It has been ineffective in the CPI(M)­led LDF rule in projecting a strong leader to Kerala, a silent undercurrent steer the campaign even of anti­incumbency appears though Leader of the Opposi­ to be prevailing among the tion in the Assembly, Ramesh voters. Rarely has the electo­ Chennithala, levelled serious rate rewarded incumbent charges of corruption against State governments, especially the government. The CPI(M), in Kerala, with consecutive with its well­equipped ma­ terms in recent times. Either chinery, showcased Chief Mi­ E.M. MANOJ they vote for the Congress­led nister Pinarayi Vijayan as a KALPETTA

UDF or the Left alliance. This A cutout of Pinarayi Vijayan at Kodungallur. * THULASI KAKKAT superhero who can handle “Vote Kunhappan,” a robot developed by the see­saw voting pattern has any situation,” he said. faculty and students of the Government been seen in the State since to retain power. One of the the same narrative will work So far, the ruling party has Engineering college, Mananthavady, is now the the 1982 election. The pred­ factors for this assumption is in the Assembly poll. controlled the optics of the star campaigner in Wayanad district, especially in icted continuity of the LDF the LDF’s victory in the local “Yes, there is silent anti­in­ poll campaign. Many also be­ remote tribal settlements where voters can clarify their doubts regarding the voting process. government headed by vete­ body polls in December cumbency. But the Left’s ag­ lieve that a continuation of The innovative awareness programme was ran CPI(M) leader V.S. 2020. The victory came des­ gressive publicity blitzkrieg the Left government will help launched by the Wayanad district administration Achuthanandan in the 2011 pite the government facing focusing on social security the dispensation concentrate as part of the SVEEP campaign, Collector Adeela election also failed to serious allegations of nepo­ schemes and pensions over­ more on infrastructure pro­ Abdulla said. “It speaks in tribal languages too, to materialise. tism and backdoor appoint­ shadowed it. The electoral jects with longer gestation woo tribal voters in remote areas of the district, ments and investigations by picture is still hazy,” said Ha­ periods. especially where the voting percentage is very No clear wave the Central agencies into mul­ meed Chennamangaloor, The Congress, which de­ low,” said Wayanad District Assistant Collector On the move: Artists performing the Rabha folk dance This time, the absence of a tiple scams, including smug­ political analyst and social layed finalisation of the list of Balpreet Singh. Kunhappan has a chat box system 'Hamja' during an election rally of BJP national president clear wave for or against eith­ gling of gold through the di­ critic. candidates, has been ham­ that can clear queries on the voting process and a

J.P. Nadda in Kamrup district, Assam. * PTI er of the fronts has given the plomatic channel. But it Mr. Chennamangaloor said strung by organisational QR code that redirects queries to the SVEEP CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC impression that the Left is set remains to be seen whether that the Opposition has been weakness. website. It also sensitises voters on the cVIGIL app, which enables citizens to report on violations of the model code of conduct. INTERVIEW | MANORANJAN BYAPARI BJP candidate injured in Bengal Shiv Sahay Singh ‘As a writer, I had to stand up to the BJP’s divisive politics’ Kolkata Dipak Halder, the BJP The Dalit Bengali writer and Trinamool candidate from Balagarh says the BJP doesn’t have any idea about West Bengal candidate from Diamond Harbour, located in South 24 Sudipta Datta [Mr. Byapari was transferred working against equality and Parganas district of West Bengal, was injured in an Shiv Sahay Singh to a library at Amtala in freedom. Also, the BJP is a attack while campaigning on Manoranjan Byapari learnt to read in prison when he was South 24 Parganas by the party of outsiders (bahiraga- Friday. A delegation of the BJP 24 years old. A refugee from East Bengal, he had never been to State government in August to) in Bengal and cannot dic­ filed a complaint regarding the attack at the office school. When he was released from prison, he returned to his 2020. He had appealed to the tate our lives. It doesn’t have of the Chief Electoral Officer. The BJP blamed the cycle rickshaw, but the dagger he kept hidden under the seat government to relieve him of any idea about the State, and Trinamool Congress for the attack. Mr. Halder, a was now replaced by a book. In his autobiography, Itibritte his duties as a cook in a is particularly unaware about Trinamool MLA (wearing Trinamool colours in Chandal Jibon (‘Interrogating my Chandal Life’), he says: “I school, where he had what the poor want. Banglar photo) who joined the BJP ahead of the election, have lived my life as the ill-fated Dalit son of an ill-fated Dalit worked for 23 years, because manush unnayan aar shanti was admitted to a hospital following the attack. father, condemned to a life of bitterness.” Mr. Byapari has he had found it difficult to lift chaye (the people of Bengal Diamond Harbour constituency is going to the written 20-odd books, giving voice to the desperate, because heavy pans after a knee oper­ want development and polls in the third phase and is considered a strong “there are certain things I have to tell the people, and it is only ation.] peace), they want freedom to Trinamool bastion. Earlier in December, the I who can tell them of these things”. The urgent need to tell pe- practise their religion. But convoy of BJP national president J.P. Nadda was ople “certain things” prompted him to enter the election fray How has the Trinamool the BJP wants to capture eve­ attacked in the same Assembly constituency. on a Trinamool Congress ticket. Mr. Byapari is contesting reacted to the threat? rything from language to our from Balagarh in Hooghly district, which goes to the polls on culture and that is April 10. Excerpts from an interview: ■ The Trinamool has fielded frightening. Priyanka cancels campaign tours 79 Scheduled Caste candi­ Sandeep Phukan You have written about the many other issues, from high dates though there are 68 What will you do if elected? New Delhi poor and Dalits and the prices of essential food why you decided to contest? Caste was not a seats reserved for the SCs in Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on discrimination they face. But items, the impact of the coro­ Did Mamata Banerjee <> factor in Bengal the State. Caste was not a fac­ ■ I plan to set up a ‘ nagarik did caste play a big role in navirus, job fears and so convince you to join the tor in Bengal but the BJP has (citizen’s) committee’, where Friday announced that she was but the BJP has cancelling her campaign earlier elections? Why has it forth. We have to protest fray? introduced identity politics I will ask rickshaw pullers, schedule in Assam, Tamil Nadu become a talking point this against this naked show of introduced identity in the State. Truly, if people vegetable vendors, fish sell­ and Kerala for the next three ■ politics in the State time? power and divisiveness. We Yes. I am a Dalit writer. I were caste conscious, then ers and people from all levels days as her husband Robert have to tell the people that if understand the poor peo­ the BJP would not have risen of society to join. Everyone Vadra had tested positive for COVID­19. Posting a ■ The BJP has set foot in the BJP is allowed to come to ple’s world and I want to tell poor people and I can speak in Bengal. from all castes and religions video on her Twitter handle, Ms. Vadra said her West Bengal and is dividing power, they will not permit them to beware of BJP propa­ to them in their language. I will be welcome. We will lis­ test report came negative on Thursday but the people further on reli­ Dalits to enter temples, they ganda. The party doesn’t understand their pain and What is it that upsets you ten to their problems and doctors had advised her self­isolation for the next gious and caste lines. We will discriminate against us, stand for true emancipation difficulties because I live that most about the BJP’s needs, help them get benefits few days. Mr. Vadra wrote on Facebook that he have lived in harmony for the poor will become poorer, of the poor and people must life. As a writer, it is my mo­ campaign? of the various schemes that was asymptomatic. Ms. Vadra was scheduled to many years despite the harsh and no one will be able to be made to understand that. ral duty to stand up to these are already in place. We must campaign in Assam on Friday, Tamil Nadu on life we have had to endure. It read books any more. The BJP is standing on our divisive forces. When Mama­ ■ They are promoting a so­ ensure that even one rupee Saturday and Kerala on Sunday, the last day is criminal to polarise people turf and espousing bravado. ta Banerjee asked me to con­ ciety based on Manu’s laws owed to the poor does not go of campaign before polling in these States on who are struggling with so Is this one of the reasons This must stop. I write about test, I decided to go ahead. and this leads to divisions, elsewhere. April 6. CM A ND-NDE YK EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

DELHI THE HINDU 8 NEWS SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 2021 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE FROM PAGE ONE LDF is destabilising holy places in Kerala: Modi India records 89,019 fresh Prime Minister says his party won’t let He elaborated on the de­ “The UDF and the LDF are velopment projects allotted twins. They are twins of mis­ cases, highest in 6 months anyone tamper with Indian culture to Kerala in the Union Budget governance, corruption, pol­ STAFF REPORTER yappa, who should have and noted the potential that itical violence, communal­ According to the ICMR, The health ministry PATHANAMTHITTA been welcomed warmly, the State holds in the area of ism, casteism, cronyism, 24,59,12,587 samples have stressed that more than 70% Accusing the Left Democrat­ were greeted with lathis. The tourism development. Mr. nepotism and more,” Mr. been tested up to April 1, of the deaths occurred due ic Front (LDF) of making at­ innocent devotees are not Modi criticised the State go­ Modi said. and 11,13,966 samples were to comorbidities. tempts to destabilise places criminals,” he said. vernment for its under­ Citing the alliance bet­ tested on Thursday. (With inputs from PTI) of worship through their achievement in the Jal Jeevan ween the Congress and Left agents, Prime Minister Na­ PM invokes Ayyappa Mission programme and at­ parties in West Bengal, he rendra Modi has said Bharati­ Earlier, the Prime Minister tributed the shortfall to an said, “the political picture in ya Janata Party (BJP) activists started his speech by chant­ attempt to deny credit to the West Bengal is clear to eve­ Four poll personnel will stand in the way of any ing ‘Swamiye Saranam Ay­ Prime Minister. ryone. Election after elec­ attempts to tamper with In­ yappa.’ He then paid tributes BJP State president K. Su­ tion, Congress and Left are dian culture. to various temples in Patha­ rendran, Union Minister of getting closer. The logical suspended in Assam Addressing a rally organ­ namthitta, including the Thi­ State for External Affairs V. step after such closeness is a ised by the National Demo­ ruvalla Sreevallabha temple, Mission Kerala: Narendra Modi greeting supporters during an Muraleedharan, and Bharat full merger of Congress and “We have suspended presid­ 10 p.m. on Thursday, four cratic Alliance (NDA) at Rajiv Aranmula Parthasarathy election rally in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday. * PTI Dharma Jana Sena State the Left. They can call ing officer Sahab Uddin Ta­ hours after the second Gandhi Indoor Stadium at temple and Malayalapuzha president Thushar Vel­ the new party CCP­ lukdar and three others and phase of polling across 39 of Pramadam, near Konni, on Devi temple, besides Sabari­ “The lust for power has Front of India (PFI). lappally were present. Comrade Congress asked them to explain why Assam’s 126 Assembly seats Friday, Mr. Modi invoked the mala. The services and sa­ made the UDF and LDF form The BJP, on the other Party.” they violated the transport had concluded. Sabarimala episode as a case crifices made by Jesus Christ alliances with all communal, hand, brought in profession­ Second rally “Because they are protocol. The team said District officials said the in point. “At first, they tried too were remembered in criminal and regressive forc­ als and educated people to Addressing another rally twins, the UDF lacks they were unaware of who polling team had left booth to portray the culture of Ker­ view of the observance of es,” he said, pointing out the politics as was evident in the in Thiruvananthapu­ the ability and willing­ the vehicle belonged to until No. 149 for Karimganj, about ala as regressive and tried to Good Friday. regressive social policies case of technocrat E. Sreedh­ ram, Mr. Modi described the ness to defeat the LDF. No it was mobbed at Kanaishil, 70 km away, in a convoy of destabilise places of worship He lashed out at the Unit­ adopted by the Indian Union aran. He termed Mr. Sreedh­ two fronts as twins of misgo­ wonder there is a surge in short of the district head­ armed security personnel by sending their agents,” he ed Democratic Front (UDF) Muslim League (IUML), So­ aran’s entry into politics as a vernance, corruption and support in favour of the quarters,” Karimganj’s De­ led by police sector officer said. and the LDF of engaging in cial Democratic Party of In­ game changer in Kerala's political violence, among NDA,” Mr. Modi said. puty Commissioner and Dis­ Luhit Gohain. Their vehicle “The devotees of Lord Ay­ “competitive corruption”. dia (SDPI) and the Popular path of progress. others. (With inputs from PTI) trict Election Officer (DEO) broke down at 9 p.m., but it Anbamuthan M.P. told The had by then got separated Hindu. from the convoy due to traf­ According to a statement, fic congestion and rainfall. Chennithala Cong. questions Kerala’s the mob had damaged the “The party alighted from SC warns against mechanically vehicle by the time Mr. An­ the vehicle and called sector denigrating bamuthan and the district officer Ajoy Sutradhar on power pact with Adani Superintendent of Police his mobile phone and in­ granting bail in heinous offences voters: CM reached the spot. The police formed him. While the sec­ Pinarayi rejects corruption charge had to resort to “blank fir­ tor officer was arranging an Special Correspondent ing” to disperse the stone­ alternative vehicle, the poll­ ‘The nature of the crime should be a basic consideration’ Thiruvananthapuram Special Correspondent that the agreement was to pelting mob after the SP sus­ ing party decided to arrange Kerala Chief Minister Pina­ Thiruvananthapuram buy 300 MW of power. The tained minor injuries. a vehicle of its own so as to LEGAL CORRESPONDENT is one of the basic considera­ serious stab injury and rayi Vijayan on Friday The Congress on Friday corporate major could make The EC has sought a reach the Material Receipt NEW DELHI tions for the grant of bail — caused damages to her inter­ slammed Leader of the Op­ came up with a fresh cor­ a profit of over ₹1,000 crore. ground report on the inci­ Centre faster” as they were The Supreme Court has cau­ more heinous is the crime, nal vital organs... the High position Ramesh Chennith­ ruption charge against the At present, solar power was dent that happened about carrying the EVMs. tioned courts against me­ the greater is the chance of Court overlooked the mate­ ala for stating that nearly Left Democratic Front (LDF) available at ₹2 a unit. Then chanically granting bail in rejection of the bail, though, rials on record, which prima 4.34 lakh voters in the government over its pur­ why a pact was signed to heinous offences, saying the however, dependent on the facie indicate that the res­ State had obtained multi­ chase of power from the buy power at ₹2.82 a unit, seriousness of the charge is a factual matrix of the matter,” pondent (accused) had com­ ple voter identity cards Adani group. However, he asked. I­T searches on basic consideration before Justice Banerjee, who auth­ mitted cold­blooded murder through deception. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vi­ Rejecting the charges, Mr. releasing an accused on bail. ored the judgment, ob­ of a young lady doctor, as a In Kannur, Mr. Vijayan jayan rejected the Vijayan told reporters in A recent judgment by a served. The court agreed fall­out of a soured relation­ said systemic anomalies, allegation. Kannur that Mr. Chennitha­ premises of Stalin’s kin Bench led by Justice Indira that grant of bail was a judg­ ship... After committing the and not criminal deceit, Leader of the Opposition la was ‘jealous’ of the five Banerjee set aside a Kerala e’s discretion. crime, the petitioner had ab­ had resulted in the mix­up. Ramesh Chennithala al­ years of rule under the LDF Sources in the Income Tax officers of IT department High Court order bailing out “However, calls for exer­ sconded and he could be ap­ Mr. Vijayan pointed out leged that the lucrative pur­ government when there had Department said the search­ entered the house, accom­ a man accused of stabbing to cise of such a discretion in a prehended only on October that Mr. Chennithala's chase contract was awarded been no load­shedding. es were based on inputs re­ panied by armed central pa­ death a 30­year­old dentist judicious manner and not as 6, 2020 on receiving secret close relatives had inadver­ to the Gujarat­based Adani “That’s why he is now trying ceived. The officers of IT De­ ramilitary force personnel. in front of her father in Sep­ a matter of course. Order for information by the investiga­ tently figured on different group to avert prosecution to tarnish the deals of partment also conducted a While the officers were con­ tember 2020. The accused bail bereft of any cogent rea­ tion agency...” the court electoral lists. It did not by Central agencies investi­ KSEB,” the Chief Minister search in a premises belong­ ducting the search, the had gone absconding for son cannot be sustained,” noted mean they were bogus vo­ gating the UAE consulate­ said. Mr. Vijayan said all ing to G Square, which has cadres blocked the road and several days before his the judgment said. Justice Banerjee said, ters. linked gold smuggling case. agreements made by the aggregated land for some staged a dharna, besides arrest. The apex court said the “while granting bail the He pointed out that the The Adani group shared a KSEB were published on the big corporates and for set­ shouting slogans against the Though the trial court de­ accused had reached the court has to keep in mind Election Commission of In­ ‘special relationship’ with official website. Mr. Chen­ ting up IT parks in the last Central and State govern­ nied him bail, the High clinic of the victim with a not only the nature of the ac­ dia had sufficient checks the BJP’s national leader­ nithala imagined corruption few years. ments for launching search­ Court set him at liberty. knife. “He had attacked the cusations, but the severity of and balances to prevent ship, he alleged. where it did not exist, he ad­ Until 8 p.m., tax sleuths es at DMK leaders’ houses. “The nature of the offence deceased and inflicted very the punishment”. double voting. Mr. Chennithala alleged ded. remained tight­lipped when The IT officials also asked about seizures. searched the residences of According to sources, the former Transport Minister IN BRIEF searches began at all the and DMK MLA Senthil Balaji places simultaneously and his brother Ashok Ku­ Karnataka shuts gyms, cuts cinema seats around 6.30 a.m. including mar in Karur and at a couple at the two­storey palatial of other places. Mr. Balaji is house located near the coast the DMK candidate for the Kerala asked to prepare for second wave effects; cases rise in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in Casurina Drive, Kapa­ Karur Assembly constituen­ leeshwarar Nagar, Neelanga­ cy. The operation continued Special Correspondent Global Hospital, Chennai, rai. Around 12 officers from till late in the evening. Bengaluru and governing council mem­ TDP to boycott MPTC, the IT Department, accom­ In Thanjavur, the officials Karnataka ordered a ban on ber, Clinical Infectious Dis­ ZPTC polls in A.P. panied by armed guards searched three places be­ gyms and swimming pools, eases Society. VIJAYAWADA from the central paramili­ longing to the Thanjavur rallies and protests, allowing The State added 14 more The Telugu Desam Party has tary forces, entered the bun­ North DMK union secretary, cinemas with only 50% seat­ virus deaths. decided not to contest the galow when Mr. Sabareesan Murasoli. The searches were ing. Andhra Pradesh wit­ ZPTC and the MPTC and his wife Senthamarai conducted at the house of After suspending regular nessed five more deaths and elections. This is for the first were present. Mr. Murasoli at Arulananda classes for VI to IX grade stu­ added 1,288 infections on time that the TDP is As soon as word spread Nagar in Malligaipuram, dents in Bengaluru, it ex­ Friday. The TPR of 31,116 boycotting the elections in about the searches, DMK Thanjavur, and at his native tended the rule to all dis­ samples was 4.14%. the last 39 years. Disclosing workers gathered in front of place in Thennankudi vil­ tricts. But the government Telangana reported 965 this at a press conference on the house and expressed so­ lage. decided against lockdown or cases on Thursday and five Friday, party president N. lidarity with their leader’s After searching the three night curfew. fatalities. The Hyderabad re­ Chandrababu Naidu said the family. They also blamed premises for about six gion recorded 254 cases. TDP has taken the tough the BJP­led central govern­ hours, the IT sleuths issued After five months, fresh decision owing to lack of ment for the action. a notice to Mr. Murasoli di­ COVID­19 cases in Tamil Na­ trust in the State Election At Anna Nagar, DMK recting him to appear for du exceeded 3,000 on Fri­ Commission. cadres protested in front of further inquiry at the IT Of­ Karnataka reported 4,991 day. A total of 3,290 persons Woman trampled to Mr. Karthik’s house. The fice, Thanjavur, sources cases, 3,509 from Bengaluru tested positive for COVID­19, death in Wayanad cadres assembled before the said. Urban. There were six taking the State’s overall tally KALPETTA house to accompany his (With inputs from R. Raj- deaths. to 8,92,780. The last time the A 47-year-old woman was father, Mr. Mohan, for door­ aram in Tiruchi and V. Ven- Kerala reported 2,508 State had recorded 3,000­ trampled to death by a wild to­door canvassing in the katasubramanian in Than- new cases of COVID­19 on plus cases (3,057 cases) was elephant at Neykuppa under early hours. Suddenly, the javur) Friday with a test positivity ere and fast­paced second behaviour during the last ment are much narrower on October 23, 2020. the Chethalayath forest range rate (TPR) of 4.84%. Public wave. “We do not have adeq­ wave. Unlike in the first, we and the time to respond, (With inputs from Vijaya- of the South Wayanad forest health experts said the State uate knowledge about the vi­ find the virus is creating much less,” said Subrama­ wada, Thiruvananthapu- division on Friday. The jumbo should have a mitigation rus and should be very care­ more immune mischief now nian Swaminathan, an infec­ ram, Hyderabad and Chen- attacked Gangadevi while she Two attackers of BJP plan to counter a more sev­ ful about extrapolating its so that our margins for treat­ tious diseases specialist at nai bureaus) was collecting firewood from the nearby forest along with a leader killed in Pulwama group of women in the area. 2 Telangana Unemployed youth Bajrang Dal activists Ritual at Godavari succumbs to poison “It was Lone and Nengroo, that broke out near the en­ boys caught HYDERABAD who used an Alto­800 vehi­ counter site. Locals alleged A 26-year-old unemployed cle to commute from Now­ the police used pellet shot­ target couple on bus claims six of family in fire, die graduate, Boda Sunil Naik, gam to Pulwama. The car guns and firearms to dis­ who attempted to end his life belonged to the owner of perse the youth. 23­year­old man assaulted, stabbed Three teenagers among the victims by consuming pesticide at the house, where the en­ “During the withdrawal Staff Reporter Hanamkonda in Telangana Hyderabad counter took place,” Mr. Ku­ of the security forces from Special Correspondent asked her classmate to ac­ Staff Reporter Raju and Ravi. last week, died while mar added. The police said the encounter site, some Mangaluru company her as she was A playful act by an eight­ Hyderabad Speaking to The Hindu, undergoing treatment on an SLR rifle, which was miscreants resorted to stone A group of Bajrang Dal acti­ new to the city. year­old ended up getting A tonsuring ceremony for a Nizamabad Deputy Com­ Friday. In a selfie video, Naik snatched from a policeman pelting and were dispersed vists allegedly assaulted a Stopping the bus at the two boys burnt alive as two­year­old boy turned fa­ missioner of Police K.C.S. blamed the State government in Srinagar on Thursday, by using non­lethal wea­ 23­year­old man and junction, a group of men they were caught in a fire at tal for six of his family mem­ Raghuveer said the victims for not issuing government had been recovered. pons, in which a few mis­ stabbed him after finding made the couple get off the Ippatoor village in Maha­ bers, including three teen­ and other relatives entered job notifications. To overcome The police said the owner creants received minor inju­ him travelling with a woman bus and allegedly assaulted bubnagar district of Telan­ agers, who drowned in the the water at the VIP Push­ suicidal thoughts, call Roshni of the house will be booked ries,” the police said. from another community in the man before stabbing gana on Thursday. river Godavari downstream karghat. Srikar went deep at 914066202000. under the Unlawful Activi­ Meanwhile, the J&K Pol­ a Bengaluru­bound bus here him. They also reportedly The victims, Vaishnav, 8, of the Sriram Sagar project inside the water and started ties and Prevention Act (UL­ ice said it’s working on mea­ on Thursday night. assaulted the woman. and Prashanth, 9, along at Pochampad, in Nizama­ struggling. Upon hearing his CD case: Jarkiholi skips PA). “We managed to crack sures to improve the securi­ Police have taken Quoting doctors, Mr. with their friend Shiva, 8, bad district on Friday. cries other members of the appearance before SIT the Srinagar attack within ty cover of the protected eight into custody in Kumar said the victim went to an agricultural The victims have been family attempted to rescue BENGALURU Former Minister Ramesh 24 hours. Two out of the persons in Kashmir, espe­ connection with the had a lacerated injury field. While playing, Shiva identified as 40­year­old him leading to the deaths of Jarkiholi, who had been four militants involved in cially of the leaders associat­ case. caused by a sharp wea­ found a matchbox, lit the Bobbili Srinivas from Yel­ six of them. issued a summons by the the attack have been killed,” ed with the BJP. “Policemen Police Commission­ pon. He was out of dan­ sticks, and accidentally lamgutta, his two sons — Police rushed to the spot, Special Investigation Team IGP Kumar said. guarding politicians will get er N. Shashi Kumar ger and undergoing threw it on the haystack. Bobbili Siddhartha, 16, and retrieved the bodies, and (SIT) to appear before them The police said the last fresh training. New stan­ told reporters that the treatment at a private The other two who were Srikar,14, Suresh, 40, Yo­ sent them to a government for questioning on Friday, in rites of the slain militants dard operating procedures incident occurred at Pump­ hospital. playingclose to the hay gesh, 16, from Bikampally hospital for autopsy. Mr. connection with the CD will be carried out in Bara­ and advisories are being well Junction around 10 Kankanady Town Police were caught in the flames. and Dodla Raju, 24, of Guth­ Raghuveer said he had di­ scandal case, did not report mulla and the nearest family worked out to foil the bids of p.m. The 23­year­old wo­ have registered a case of at­ The boys, who were pa village in Nizamabad dis­ rected the village committee to the police, citing ill health. members shall be allowed to the militants to target pro­ man, who was on her way to tempt to murder under Sec­ rushed to a nearby hospital trict. Another member of to set up public address sys­ The SIT has now issued participate. Around 10 civi­ tected persons,” IGP Kumar Bengaluru to attend a job in­ tion 307 of the IPC on a com­ by villagers, later suc­ the family, 14­year­old Ravi­ tems to warn devotees from another summons to him to lians were injured in clashes said. terview, had reportedly plaint from the woman. cumbed to their burns. kanth, was rescued by locals entering deep waters. appear on Tuesday.

CM A ND-NDE YK EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

THE HINDU DELHI SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 2021 NEWS 9 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Himanta can’t BJP complains against campaign Cong. raises doubts over Assam polling for 48 hours Call for probe after car of BJP candidate’s wife was used to transport EVM in Karimganj district Mamata, Udhayanidhi

Special Correspondent SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT party meeting convened by by. The driver stopped and Party delegation meets EC officials NEW DELHI NEW DELHI EC, Opposition parties de­ offered a lift. While we were The Election Commission The Congress on Friday manded a return to paper organising another vehicle Special Correspondent of India (EC) on Friday questioned the electoral pro­ ballots. “The fact is that too to bring them, the presiding NEW DELHI barred BJP leader Himanta cess in Assam after a polled many such incidents are be­ officer took the offer to reach Senior leaders of the BJP on Biswa Sarma from holding electronic voting machine ing reported and nothing is Karimganj. The vehicle was Friday complained to the public meetings, proces­ (EVM) was being transported being done about them. The mobbed by some people Election Commission (EC) sions, rallies, road shows in the vehicle of a BJP candi­ EC needs to start acting deci­ near the headquarters and it against West Bengal Chief and interactions with the date’s wife, with party gener­ sively on these complaints was only then that the officer Minister Mamata Banerjee media in connection with al secretary Priyanka Gandhi and a serious re­evaluation realised his folly,” he told for what they termed poll the ongoing elections for asking for a “serious re­eval­ of the use of EVMs needs to The Hindu on Friday, adding violations. They also com­ 48 hours. uation” of the use of EVMs be carried out by all national that the vehicle was regis­ plained against Udhayanid­ The EC issued the order by all national parties. The EVM found in a vehicle belonging to BJP MLA parties,” Ms. Vadra said. tered in the name of the hi Stalin, son of DMK leader with respect to a complaint Violence broke out in Ka­ Krishnendu Paul in Karimganj on Thursday night. * ANI Patharkandi MLA’s wife. M.K. Stalin, for “indecent lodged by the Congress on rimganj district on Thursday ‘Minor incident’ Former Congress chief Ra­ remarks” against late BJP Prakash Javadekar and March 30, alleging that Mr. night after a crowd disco­ suspended four polling offi­ things in common: 1. The However, Karimganj Deputy hul Gandhi tweeted, “EC’s leaders Arun Jaitley and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi

Sarma had threatened Ha­ vered that the vehicle of the cials. vehicles usually belong to Commissioner Anbamuthan car has broken down, the Sushma Swaraj. speaking in New Delhi. * PTI grama Mohilary, chairman wife of Krishnendu Paul, the A Congress delegation, led BJP candidates or their asso­ M.P. said it was a minor inci­ BJP’s intentions are bad and The BJP delegation in­ of the Bodoland People’s BJP candidate from Pathar­ by former Law Minister Ash­ ciates; 2. The videos are ta­ dent involving a polling par­ the condition of democracy cluded Union Ministers Pra­ her misconduct. A Chief Mi­ Front and the Congress al­ kandi, was being used to wani Kumar, raised with the ken as one­off incidents and ty from a polling station in has worsened.” kash Javadekar, Mukhtar nister, who herself is in a liance partner, of sending transport the EVM to the ECI the Karimganj incidents dismissed as aberrations; 3. the adjoining Ratabari con­ While Congress chief spo­ Abbas Naqvi, BJP general se­ constitutional post and sat him to jail by misusing the strong room. as well as the defection of an The BJP uses its media ma­ stituency. kesperson Randeep Surjewa­ cretary Bhupender Yadav on dharna while the polling National Investigation While the police is said to Opposition candidate to the chinery to accuse those who “The vehicle from the la said the “EVM fraud” was and party’s national spokes­ was on, is against democra­ Agency. have fired in the air to bring BJP just days before polling. exposed the videos as sore polling station to the district there for all to see and asked person Anil Baluni. cy and against the Election “The Commission here­ the situation under control, “Every time there is an losers,” Ms. Vadra alleged. headquarters broke down whether the ECI needed the “For the first time in the Commission’s norms for by strongly condemns the the Election Commission of election, videos of private The Congress leader’s about 20 km away at Nilam­ BJP’s help to carry EVMs, MP country’s history, a Chief polling. And therefore, we impugned statements India (ECI) ordered a re­poll vehicles caught transporting comments could restart the bazar. The polling party was Manish Tewari demanded a Minister sat on dharna in a have demanded urgent ac­ made by Himanta Biswa in the booth where the par­ EVMs show up. Unsurpris­ debate on the use of EVMs. waiting for transport when a probe by a Joint Parliamen­ polling booth when polling tion against her from the Sarma, BJP leader and star ticular EVM was used and ingly, they have the following In August 2018, at an all­ private vehicle was passing tary Committee. was on. Before she [Mamata poll panel,” he added. campaigner,” said the EC. Banejee] sat on dharna, 74% The BJP has also demand­ of the votes were polled in ed action against Udhaya­ Nandigram and the polling nidhi Stalin. They accused was by and large peaceful,” him of raking up a contro­ BJP behind I will win from Nandigram, says Mamata Mr. Javadekar said after versy by saying that Mr. Jait­ meeting EC officials. ley and Ms. Swaraj passed new outfits, “We have given all proofs away due to political pres­ says Himanta Trinamool Congress and BJP teams knock on the doors of Chief Electoral Officer including photographs of sure. Shiv Sahay Singh ing to the updated voting acted in a partisan manner Special Correspondent Kolkata percentage provided by the in many booths in the first Guwahati West Bengal Chief Minister Election Commission, the two phases. “There have Assam’s Finance Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday constituency recorded 88% been incidents of violence Will develop north Himanta Biswa Sarma has resumed her campaign in polling on Thursday . and attacks on our party said the BJP had encour­ the districts, and asserted Representatives of both supporters by the BJP,” Mr. aged the creation of two re­ that she would win the As­ the Trinamool Congress and Sinha said. Bengal, says Shah gional parties — the Assam sembly election at Nandi­ the BJP met the Chief Electo­ Addressing a meeting at Jatiya Parishad (AJP) and gram. The Chief Minister ral Officer in Kolkata and Natabari in Cooch Behar, the ‘Mamata has done injustice to region’ jailed activist Akhil Gogoi’s held three rallies at Dinhata, raised allegations against Chief Minister accused Raijor Dal (RD) — ahead of Natabari and Falakata. each other. Home Minister Amit Shah of the State polls in order to Reacting to a remark by The BJP delegation, led by using Central agencies to tar­ split the anti­Citizenship Prime Minister Narendra party leader Sishir Bajoria, get Opposition parties. Ms. (Amendment) Act votes Modi that she could contest questioned why the Chief Mi­ Banerjee said that leaders between them and the from a seat other than Nandi­ Brisk campaign:Trinamool supporters cheering as Mamata nister had stayed inside a from Tamil Nadu, where As­

Congress and its allies. gram, Ms. Banerjee said: “I Banerjee arrives in a helicopter in Cooch Behar on Friday. * PTI polling booth for more than sembly election is to be held, In response to the BJP want to tell the Prime Minis­ two hours and accused her had contacted her over in­ leader’s remark, AJP gener­ ter to control his Home Mi­ from Nandigram and will come from outside and gath­ of violating the model code come tax raids on relatives of al secretary Jagadish nister first and then try to win from there.” ered there with guns. of conduct. The Trinamool DMK leader M.K. Stalin, Bhuyan said: “The Minister control us. We are not your She also added that she delegation, which was led by claiming that these were is intelligent enough to re­ party’s members.” went to a polling booth in 88% vote in Nandigram party leader Yashwant Sin­ done at the behest of the member that he had a few Addressing a rally at Dina­ Nandigram on Thursday on­ The Nandigram constituen­ ha, said the delegation told Home Minister. She accused months ago said we were hata in Cooch Behar district, ly because she received a cy remained at the centre of the Election Commission Mr. Shah of trying to scare sired by the Congress and she said: “I have contested complaint that goons had political discourse. Accord­ that the Central forces had his political opponents. the AIUDF.” Hectic round: Union Home Minister Amit Shah at a road show HC to decide in South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, on Friday. * PTI No ban on India wants total disengagement Special correspondent ly at Sitalluchi in Cooch on Param Bir’s Kolkata Behar district. He held two vaccine Union Home Minister Amit public meetings in north Chinese forces yet to disengage from Gogra, Hot Springs, Depsang & Demchok plea on April 5 Shah on Friday accused Bengal and participated in export: MEA West Bengal Chief Minister two road shows in south Special Correspondent Chinese Senior Comman­ Special Correspondent Mamata Banerjee of doing Bengal. In north Bengal, the Press Trust of India NEW DELHI ders had managed to disen­ Mumbai injustice to the people of Home Minister claimed that New Delhi The remaining points of ten­ gage on the north and south On April 5, the Bombay north Bengal. Mr. Shah, infiltration was the biggest Asserting that India has not sion along the Line of Actual banks of the Pangong Tso. High Court will pronounce who promised ₹2,000 crore problem in the region and imposed any export ban on Control (LAC) in eastern La­ However, the Chinese forces its order on the public in­ for the region’s develop­ promised to stop it. COVID­19 vaccines, the Mi­ dakh should be resolved are yet to disengage from Go­ terest litigation (PIL) peti­ ment, said an All India Insti­ Targeting the Trinamool nistry of External Affairs “quickly”, said an official of gra, Hot Springs, Depsang tion filed by former Police tute of Medical Sciences government, Mr. Shah said (MEA) on Friday said the the Ministry of External Af­ and Demchok. “We there­ Commissioner Param Bir would be set up in the area. the Mamata Banerjee gover­ country has taken the lead fairs (MEA) on Friday. Ad­ fore hope that the Chinese Singh seeking a probe by “Mamata didi has done nance model was based on in sending vaccines abroad dressing the weekly press Bagchi, highlighting the pos­ WMCC (Working Mechanism side will work with us to en­ the Central Bureau of In­ nothing for the develop­ 3Ts of ‘Tolabaji’ (extortion), with over 640 lakh doses briefing, official spokesper­ itive outcome from the 10 for Consultation and Coordi­ sure that disengagement in vestigation (CBI) into his al­ ment of the region. After ‘Tanashahi’ (dictatorship) supplied to more than 80 son Arindam Bagchi said rounds of Senior Comman­ nation), the two sides had the remaining areas is com­ legations against Home Mi­ coming to power, the BJP and ‘Tushtikaran’ (appease­ countries till now. “prolongation” of differenc­ ders­level talks which helped detailed exchange of views pleted at the earliest. This nister Anil Deshmukh. will constitute a North Ben­ ment). He promised the im­ At an online media brief­ es in the remaining points of in achieving “disengage­ on the remaining issues. The would allow both sides to On March 20, Mr. Singh gal Development Board and plementation of the Citizen­ ing, MEA spokesperson friction was not helpful for ment” in the Pangong Tso two sides continue to remain consider de­escalation of wrote a letter to Chief Mi­ spend ₹2,000 crore annual­ ship Amendment Act at the Arindam Bagchi also said restoration of peace and area. The official indicated in touch through military forces in eastern Ladakh as nister Uddhav Thackeray ly on the region’s develop­ first Cabinet meeting if the that the Ministry’s ‘Vaccine tranquillity along the LAC. that despite negotiations, si­ and diplomatic channels,” that alone will lead to the alleging that Mr. Desh­ ment,” Mr. Shah said at a ral­ BJP came to power. Maitree’ initiative to supply “There is a consensus that milar disengagement is yet said Mr. Bagchi, emphasising restoration of peace and mukh had directed sus­ vaccines abroad had been the two sides should now to be achieved at the remain­ the need to resolve the is­ tranquillity and provide con­ pended police officer Sa­ “very successful and very quickly resolve the remain­ ing friction points. sues. ditions for progress of our bi­ chin Vaze to collect ₹100 well liked” by our partners ing issues along the LAC in “At both the senior com­ Following months of ten­ lateral relationship,” said the crore from bars and restau­ across the world. eastern Ladakh,” said Mr. manders’ meeting and the sion on the LAC, Indian and official spokesperson. rants a month. ‘India stands for revival of democracy in Myanmar’

It says violence will not solve the prevailing situation

Special Correspondent foreign ministerial meeting NEW DELHI of BIMSTEC, Bay of Bengal India on Friday said it stood Initiative for Multi­Sectoral for revival of democracy in Technical and Economic Myanmar, and added that Cooperation, which was violence would not solve the chaired by Sri Lanka and at­ prevailing situation in the tended by India along with country. other members like Bangla­ “We condemn any use of desh, Nepal, Bhutan, and violence. We believe that the Thailand. rule of law should prevail. We stand for the restoration A jawan manning Concern for displaced of democracy in Myanmar. the India-Myanmar Mr. Bagchi, however, argued

We have urged the release of border in Mizoram. * AP that India maintains routine political prisoners and sup­ diplomatic activities through ported any attempts at re­ quent behaviour indicated its mission in Myanmar. solving the current situa­ that it preferred to maintain “Our Ambassador, Defence tion, including through the communication links with Attache, and other diplo­ efforts of ASEAN,” said Arin­ the military junta. matic officers continue to dam Bagchi, External Affairs On March 27, an Indian of­ discharge their regular di­ Ministry spokesperson said. ficial attended the Myanmar plomatic responsibilities ,” India was among the first Armed Forces Day parade at said Mr. Bagchi. countries to express con­ capital Naypyitaw even as Mr. Bagchi further said In­ cern after the February 1 mil­ the day turned out to be the dia was treating the flow of itary takeover which de­ bloodiest with the military displaced people from posed the democratically killing around 100 protes­ Myanmar as per Indian laws elected leadership of Myan­ ters. Subsequently, on April and “humanitarian consid­ mar. However, India’s subse­ 1, Myanmar participated in a erations.”

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DELHI THE HINDU 10 NEWS SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 2021 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Highest vaccine Clinical trial 11 States, Union Territories show surge for third dose coverage in a day Tier 2 and 3 cities, along with peri-urban areas, account for a jump in the number of COVID-19 cases of Covaxin 36.7 lakh people get jabs on Friday Special Correspondent antigen test (RAT) as a Press Trust of India New Delhi screening test in densely New Delhi Press Trust of India and 39,401 (second dose) The current COVID­19 case populated areas and where The expert panel of India’s New Delhi beneficiaries aged more growth rate of 6.8% in March fresh clusters were drug regulator, Drugs Con­ More than 36.7 lakh CO­ than 45 years with specific 2021 has surpassed the pre­ emerging. troller General of India VID­19 vaccine doses were co­morbidities; and vious record of 5.5% ( June The Centre has added that (DCGI), has permitted Bha­ administered in 24 hours, 3,17,05,893 (first dose) and 2020), noted a release issued all symptomatic RAT nega­ rat Biotech to give a third the highest single­day cover­ 2,18,741 (second dose) be­ by the Central government tives have to be mandatorily dose of Covaxin to a few age till now, the Union neficiaries aged more than following a meeting chaired subjected to RT­PCR tests volunteers in its clinical Health Ministry said on 60 years, it said. by Cabinet Secretary Rajiv while ensuring effective and trials of the COVID­19 vac­ Friday. Eight States account for Gauba on Friday. prompt isolation of those in­ cine, sources said. Of the 36,71,242 vaccine 59.58% of the cumulative The government has iden­ fected in institutional facili­ Bharat Biotech present­ doses, 33,65,597 beneficiar­ doses given so far. These tified 11 States and Union Ter­ ties (COVID­19 care centres). ed amendments to the sub­ ies were vaccinated across eight States are Maharash­ ritories as areas of grave con­ The release noted that the ject expert committee of 51,215 sessions for the first tra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Ut­ cern — Maharashtra, Punjab, States and the Union Territo­ the DCGI in the approved dose and 3,05,645 benefici­ tar Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka, Kerala, Chhattis­ ries had been told to ensure phase 2 clinical trial proto­ aries received the second Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh garh, Chandigarh, Gujarat, that patients isolated at col for administration of dose of vaccine, the Health and Kerala. Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Na­ home are monitored daily booster dose six months af­ Ministry said in a statement. du, Delhi and Haryana. They and that 25 to 30 close con­ ter second dose. “The firm The Ministry said this is Steep rise have been reporting a surge tacts be traced for each in­ presented amendments in the highest single day vac­ The Ministry further said in daily cases and daily mor­ fected person. the approved Phase 2 clini­ cine coverage till now. that Maharashtra, Chhattis­ tality in the past two weeks. “Tracing of close contacts cal trial protocol for admi­ Cumulatively, more than garh, Karnataka, Punjab, The meeting was to review Tight surveillance: Tourists waiting to get their rapid antigen test done at the Gateway of India and their isolation has to be nistration of booster dose 6.87 crore (6,87,89,138) vac­ Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Delhi and discuss the COVID­19 in Mumbai on Friday. * VIVEK BENDRE done in 72 hours. Subse­ after six months after se­ cine doses have been admi­ and Uttar Pradesh reported management and response quent testing and follow­up cond dose. The committee nistered through 11,37,456 a steep rise in daily new cas­ strategy. The Chief Secretaries, Di­ had now reached the critical appropriate behaviour,” not­ of all close contacts have to recommended that the sessions, as per the provi­ es. Five States, namely, Mah­ “Another worrisome as­ rectors­General of Police and figure of 81,000 daily new ed the release. be carried out,” the release firm should conduct the sional report till 7 a.m. on arashtra, Karnataka, Chhat­ pect pointed out at the meet­ Health Secretaries of all cases. The States and the Union said. booster dose study only in Friday. tisgarh, Kerala and Punjab, ing was that Tier 2 and Tier 3 States and Union Territories Territories have been asked The States have been 6 mcg cohort and also These include 83,06,269 cumulatively account for cities along with peri­urban and other senior officials Containment measures to increase testing continu­ asked to examine the case fa­ should follow up the sub­ healthcare workers (HCW; 77.91% of the total active cas­ areas have recorded a surge participated in the meeting. “The Cabinet Secretary has ously to ensure that positivi­ tality rate hospital­wise, de­ jects at least for six months first dose) and 52,84,564 es in the country. in COVID­19 cases. The The Central government reiterated the need for strin­ ty comes down to 5% or less vise appropriate strategy, after the third dose,” the HCWs (second dose); “Maharashtra alone ac­ spread of infection to the ru­ said that while the country gent enforcement of contain­ than 5%, focus on ensuring and mitigate concerns re­ SEC said. 93,53,021 frontline workers counts for nearly 60% per ral areas with weak health in­ was reporting 97,000 daily ment and surveillance mea­ RT­PCR tests (comprising garding late admission in The firm was asked to (FLW; first dose) and cent (59.84%) of the total ac­ frastructure would over­ new COVID­19 cases at the sures, in conjunction with 70% of total tests), and re­ hospitals and non­adhe­ present the details of as­ 40,97,634 FLWs (second tive caseload of the coun­ whelm the local peak of the pandemic in Sep­ ramping up vaccination and duce waiting time of test re­ rence to National Clinical sessments to be carried out dose); 97,83,615 (first dose) try,” it said. administration,” it noted. tember 2020, the country strict enforcement of COVID­ sults while using the rapid Management Protocol. in the subjects.

Two arrested in Jhansi for Rahul questions U.S. Pune goes into week-long shutdown harassing nuns Restaurants, bars Lockdown in silence on events in India and religious Omar Rashid Durg district in Lucknow centres to close Two persons were arrested ‘There is a wholesale capture of the institutional framework’ Press Trust of India Chattisgarh in Jhansi of Uttar Pradesh Pune in connection with the ha­ Special Correspondent Eateries, bars and restau­ Press Trust of India rassment of two nuns and New Delhi rants in Pune district of Mah­ Durg their two postulants, who Former Congress president arashtra will remain shut for The administration in Durg were forced to de­board Rahul Gandhi on Friday seven days starting April 3 in district of Chattisgarh on from a train after ABVP questioned the silence of the view of the spike in coronavi­ Friday announced a members accused them of United States establishment rus cases of late, a senior offi­ complete lockdown from illegal conversion. Howev­ over what is happening in cial said on Friday. April 6 to 14 in the light of er, the police and the admi­ India. A curfew will be in place Shutters down: Malls, too, will not be allowed to function in spike in COVID­19 cases. nistration did not make it Mr. Gandhi made these Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a virtual conversation with across the district from 6 CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC Pune for a week. * FILE PHOTO clear if the arrests were di­ remarks in an interactive vir­ Nicholas Burns from Harvard Kennedy School. * ANI p.m. to 6 a.m., and malls, ci­ rectly linked to the inci­ tual conversation with form­ nema halls and places of reli­ taurants will remain closed, lowed to attend a wedding es will remain closed till dent on March 19 as the ac­ er U.S. diplomat Nicholas “wholesale capture of insti­ powerful idea but you have gious worship will also be but home delivery of the and only 20 people can re­ April 30. “Only the students tion appeared to be a Burns of the Harvard Kenne­ tutions” in India. got to defend that idea ,” he shut during this seven day food will continue,” Pune Di­ main present for last rites, of Classes X and XII, and the preventive measure dy School. “I don’t hear anything added. period, he said. visional Commissioner Sau­ he added. candidates preparing for against future protests In the hour­long interac­ from the U.S. establishment Mentioning the incident The administration intro­ rabh Rao said. MPSC exam will be allowed planned by the arrested tion that had questions from about what’s happening in of an electronic voting ma­ duced these “stricter restric­ “Malls, cinema halls will Essential services to carry out their regular persons. students, the Congress lead­ India. If you are saying part­ chine being transported in tions” in the district, which remain shut for seven days He said that essential servic­ academic activities,” he Jhansi DM Andra Vamsi er spoke on a range of issues nership of democracies, I the car of a BJP candidate in has reported more than from Saturday. All religious es had been exempted from added. on Friday said the arrested such as the economy, fo­ mean what is your view on the Assam elections, Mr. 8,000 COVID­19 cases in the places will also be closed for the curfew. “All these decisions were persons belonged to a reign policy as well as dom­ what is going on here,” Mr. Gandhi claimed that nothing past two consecutive days. a week,” he said. Buses of the Pune Maha­ taken in view of the surge in fringe group called Rash­ estic politics, including Gandhi said. about it was being talked The decision to impose Except weddings and ri­ nagar Parivahan Mahaman­ COVID­19 cases in the last trabhakt Sangh formed by farmers’ protests and the “I fundamentally believe about in the national media. the curbs was taken during a tuals pertaining to last rites, dal Limited (PMPML), the ci­ few days. The situation is be­ one of the accused. Mr. ongoing elections. that America is a profound “There is a wholesale cap­ review meeting chaired by all other public gatherings ty’s public transport system, coming critical. In the last Vamsi said they had no Talking about the role of idea. The idea of freedom ture of the institutional fra­ Deputy Chief Minister Ajit have been banned in the dis­ will remain off the roads for one week, the positivity rate present connection with being an Opposition leader, the way it is encapsulated in mework of this country,” he Pawar here on Friday. trict. seven days, Mr. Rao said, ad­ of the district has crossed any mainstream outfit. he said there had been a your Constitution is a very said. “Eateries, bars and res­ Only 50 people will be al­ ding that schools and colleg­ 32%,” Mr. Rao said. IN BRIEF Maternal deaths rose Centre says labourers in Punjab drugged Plea seeks during pandemic: study action against Home Ministry says 58 migrant workers were exploited in the border districts black magic ‘Risk of stillbirths also increased’ Special Correspondent <> During the course of in a feeble state of mind and ers are often given drugs, Legal Correspondent SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT New Delhi questioning, it have been working as bond­ which adversely affect their NEW DELHI NEW DELHI emerged that most CGHS: no refund for jab The Union Home Ministry ed labourers with farmers in physical and mental condi­ A petition has been filed in taken in private centres The failure of the health sys­ has said in a communication of them were border villages of Punjab. tion. The BSF has been the Supreme Court to issue NEW DELHI tem to cope with COVID­19 to the Punjab government mentally challenged The persons apprehended handing over the rescued a direction to the Centre The Health Ministry on Friday pandemic resulted in an in­ that labourers from Uttar home ministry letter belong to poor family back­ persons to the State police and States to control black said beneficiaries of the crease in maternal deaths Pradesh and Bihar who work ground and hail from remote for necessary action,” the magic, superstition and re­ Central Government Health and stillbirths, according to in agricultural fields in the Chief Secretary of Punjab, areas of the states of Bihar letter said. ligious conversion by inti­ Scheme, who get their a study published in The State are drugged, exploited the Ministry said the BSF and Uttar Pradesh,” the let­ “Keeping in view the mul­ midating, threatening, de­ COVID-19 vaccination at Lancet Global Health and meted out inhuman found that the workers were ter dated March 17 said. ti­dimensional and over­ ceivingly luring through private empanelled hospitals, journal. treatment. The Ministry brought to Punjab on the whelming enormity of the gifts and monetary bene­ will not be reimbursed. The Overall, there was a 28% asked the State government promise of a good salary but ‘Human trafficking’ problem, which involves hu­ fits. clarification has been issued increase in the odds of still­ to take appropriate mea­ they were exploited, given The Ministry said it has been man­trafficking, bonded la­ “Religious conversion after various representations birth, and the risk of moth­ Fewer women received sures to address the serious drugs and forced to work in further informed that “hu­ bour and human rights viola­ by ‘carrot­and­stick’ or ‘by­ and grievances regarding ers dying during pregnancy ante-natal checkups during problem. inhuman conditions. The man­trafficking syndicates tion, you are requested to hook­or­crook’ not only of­ administration of vaccine to or childbirth increased by the pandemic, data show. The Ministry said that 58 BSF has said that these la­ hire such labourers from look into the matter and take fends Articles 14 [right to the CGHS beneficiaries was about one­third. There was mentally challenged people bourers were rescued from their native place to work in appropriate measures to ad­ equality], 21[right to life] put forward and the matter also a rise in maternal de­ lure of the “inefficiency of from Bihar and Uttar Pra­ the border areas of Gurdas­ Punjab on the promise of a dress this serious problem,” and 25 [right to religious was examined, the Ministry pression. COVID­19 impact the healthcare system and desh were found working as pur, Amritsar, Ferozepur good salary, but after reach­ the Ministry communicated freedom], but also against added. As per government on pregnancy outcomes their inability to cope with bonded labourers in the bor­ and Abohar in Punjab. ing there, they are exploited, to the Punjab government. the principles of secula­ policy, vaccination against was disproportionately high the pandemic” instead of der districts of the State by “During the course of paid poorly and meted out The Punjab government rism, which is an integral COVID-19 is being provided free of cost to beneficiaries on poorer countries, ac­ strict lockdown measures. the Border Security Force questioning, it emerged that inhuman treatment. To has also been asked to in­ part of basic structure of at designated government cording to the study pu­ This resulted in reduced ac­ (BSF) in 2019 and 2020. most of them were either make them work in the fields form it on priority about the Constitution,” the petition facilities. blished on March 31. cess to care. In a communication to the mentally challenged or were for long hours, these labour­ action taken in the matter. filed by advocate A.K. The report is an analysis Upadhyay said. of 40 studies across 17 coun­ Indian context The court is likely to Dalit youth held captive, tries including Brazil, Mexi­ In the Indian context, an hear the case on April 9. tortured by four in U.P. co, the U.S., Canada, the analysis of HMIS data by Mr. Upadhyay registered LAKHIMPUR KHERI U.K., Denmark, Nether­ Population Foundation of Disquiet over policy for rare diseases his “dismay” that the A 22-year-old Dalit man was lands, Italy, India, China India shows that during the Centre and the States failed allegedly held captive and and Nepal. “The disruption months of national lock­ ‘Those who need caregivers say this doesn’t ble treatment support,” said for a load­sharing model, as to control the menace of tortured by four persons here caused by the COVID­19 down last year between reflect actual costs of Manjit Singh, National Presi­ a few States like Kerala, Ta­ black magic, superstition on the suspicion that he was pandemic has led to avoida­ April and June, compared to lifelong care treatment. dent, Lysosomal Storage Dis­ mil Nadu and Karnataka and deceitful religious con­ having an affair with a girl of ble deaths of both mothers the same period in 2019, require more help’ “The new policy offers no orders Support Society. have already indicated,” said version, though it was their their family, police said on and babies. Policy makers there was a 27% drop in support to patients awaiting “Looking at the number of health economist Prof. Vis­ duty under Article 51A of Friday. The man’s family and healthcare leaders must pregnant women receiving Jacob Koshy treatment since the earlier rare disease patients diag­ wanath Pingali. the Constitution. members had claimed that an urgently investigate robust four or more ante­natal Bindu Shajan Perappadan National Policy for Treat­ nosed and considered eligi­ “It is alarming that the Un­ “There is not even one iron rod was also inserted in NEW DELHI his rectum, but Circle Officer strategies for preserving check­ups, a 28% decline in ment of Rare Diseases 2017 ble for treatment by the res­ ion government has left pa­ district in the country Pradeep Kumar Verma, who is safe and respectful materni­ institutional deliveries and Caregivers to patients with was kept in abeyance. In the pective State technical tients with Group 3 rare dis­ which is free of black mag­ investigating the case, denied ty care, even during the on­ 22% decline in prenatal ‘rare diseases’ and affiliated absence of any funding sup­ committees, the immediate eases to fend for themselves. ic, superstition and reli­ the charge, saying the going global emergency. Im­ services. organisations are dissatisfied port, close to 130 patients requirement of funds to sup­ The new policy has absolute­ gious conversion ... Inci­ medical examination and mediate action is required The authors recommend with the National Policy for are left with no option but to port the immediate treat­ ly no consideration for dents are reported every probe so far indicate this is to avoid rolling back de­ that personnel for materni­ Rare Diseases, 2021 an­ wait for the inevitable. Sever­ ment needs of the diagnosed Group 3 patients, who re­ week throughout the coun­ not true. The accused have cades of investment in re­ ty services not be rede­ nounced on Wednesday. al patients have already lost patients shouldn’t have ex­ quire lifelong treatment sup­ try where conversion is been arrested and the victim ducing mother and infant ployed for other critical and Though the document speci­ their lives in the interim pe­ ceeded ₹80 crore to ₹100 port,” said Prasanna Shirol, done by intimidating, is under treatment at the mortality in low­resource medical care during the fies increasing the govern­ riod. Unlike conditions un­ crore annually. The Centre’s co­founder and executive di­ threatening, luring district hospital. His condition settings,” the authors urge. pandemic and in response ment support for treating pa­ der Group 1 and Group 2, pa­ contribution would work out rector, Organisation for Rare through gifts and mone­ has been stated to be serious, The study attributes the to future health system tients with a ‘rare disease’— tients with Group 3 to ₹40 to ₹50 crore — if it is Diseases India, an umbrella tary benefits,” the petition police said. PTI worsening trend to the fai­ shocks. from ₹15 lakh to ₹20 lakh — disorders require sustaina­ able to convince the State(s) organisation. alleged.

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THE HINDU DELHI SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 2021 SHOWCASE 11 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

yarn it! The election Instapick Delhi Art Week: As Art Dubai, held as an in­person event, comes to a close today, a new initiative, Delhi Art Week, gets underway. The city has been divided into four ‘art zones’ with exhibitions, workshops and walkthroughs from GAME about 37 galleries. Details: delhiartweek.com. Till April 10.

If pop art is more your speed, Super Nintendo World is SREEJITH R KUMAR Who said it’s about the best candidate * finally a reality at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka. or the best party?

Jane De Suza hoarding. Pro­ mise free eve­ Remember, before starting this game, you rything — money, must pledge to not play fair. Now, let’s begin. rice, places of wor­ Roll the dice. Whatever you get — protest! ship, free air (fabri­ Loudly. Arrange for a stage and the loudest cate statistics about how loud speakers that (tax payer) money can much pollution there is in buy. Say that the other party has rigged your the states you do not run yet). 25 dice. Whatever the results, you’re being points. the truth anyway). Fire the journalists who better, make up history. The voting masses cheated. 10 points. This annoying popular candidate from the expose the truth. Are we a nation of people lap it up. 80 points. Oops, the first round of results show you’re other party keeps edging ahead. Resort to who expose? Hack their accounts, get them There are still some stubborn hurdles in in the lead. Instantly do a U­Turn. Go back on­ your Rescue Card. Horse­trading. Threaten, arrested. Replace them with lip­sync dolls the game. Activists, students, writers. Get rid to the stage. Give interviews. Tell people how publish fake stories about this dirty scoun­ who will shout and spout whatever you tell of them. Any way you can. Now, the flag at Talking point honest the elections are, how you believe in drel. If all else fails, bribe the dirty scoundrel them to. Brilliant! You’re almost there. 65 the end is in sight. Make sure it is yours. Give Excelsior Pass: What’s the latest on digital vaccine the system, and that anyone who protests is to join your party. Throw him a party to wel­ points. a tear­jerker speech about honesty and de­ passports? You know, the health certificate that will see you anti­national. 15 points for this turnaround. come him in. Kill any media story that says Diversion needed. Quick! Some idiot party mocracy. 90 points. If you can squeeze out a enjoying a concert with hundreds of people and the tourism Proceed. You are now entering a new you said he was dirty. Wear matching halos. member said something sick. Start stories tear too, you make it to 100 points. Congrat­ industry sighing with relief. New York, with IBM, has rolled phase. Rallies. One rule. Make sure you or­ 45 points. about Covid­19 (thank God for such a timely ulations! out the pass, which shows a person’s Covid­19 status ganise more than your opponent. Bring out Your ally, the media channel, has to keep diversion), border problems, film stars, (whether vaccinated and results of a recent test). And then the biggest face of your party, give away at 24x7 stories about how you are winning drugs. Blame the foreign hand for trying to Where Jane De Suza, author of Flyaway Boy, pokes her follow the questions about privacy and data protection. masks of the face, splash the face on every (especially if you’re not, no one really wants roll the dice. Not working? Talk history, even nose into our perfect lives.

Pick of the week XXL beer paradise Ruby-loaded eggs Kate’s photo project Vali Vadhe online Return of the watches Sufi and some ghazals On Korean culture

Concerts, stand-up and Bengaluru, home to over 60 Smash Fabelle Chocolates’ Even as the UK takes steps to Vali Vadhe is part of Watchmaking worldwide is set Ruhaniyat, the Sufi and mystic As a reminder that there is other events you just microbreweries, can add Signature Easter Egg to reveal unlock, Kate Middleton’s Staged@RS — Bengaluru­ to be in the spotlight as the music festival, will be held more to Korean culture than can't miss. ‘world’s largest microbrewery’ nut clusters enrobed in milk and project, Hold Still, which invited based Ranga Shankara’s annual trade show, where digitally across seven cities, K­dramas, The Korean Cultural to the list with the opening of ruby chocolate. Buy the egg at photo submissions that digital programme. Based on leading names reveal their including Delhi. The shows Centre UK presents A Viewing Ironhill India that can ₹2,475 or mini eggs (box of 10) captured life in lockdown, has celebrated writer Kuvempu’s latest products, will soon get curated for each city will be a Room. The artist film accomodate 1,500 people. for ₹495 at ITC hotels or order been turned into a book, Hold Sri Ramayana Darshana, the underway. Set to be a hybrid combination of newly shot and programme features new and Eight varieties of beer are on online. Kiko­bā a restaurant in Still: A Portrait of Our Nation in play blends elements of show this year, Watches and archival performances. April 3. recent video works by eight offer, including Sinnerman Delhi’s Vasant Vihar, takes 2020. The book features 100 Yakshagana, Kalaripayattu Wonders Geneva’s digital event ₹350. 6 pm. contemporary Korean artists. Stout, at the 1.3 lakh sq ft space heirloom recipes from homes in images selected by a panel of and the Manipuri art form. is a private affair. As many as 38 in.bookmyshow.com. Themes include psychological in the IT hub of Marathahalli. Eastern Asia, and gives them a judges, including the Duchess ₹150 at insider.in. What is the prestigious brands will gather Kommune presents Mulaqat: An well­being and the transition ♣9606044623/24. In Delhi’s modern twist. Try the shisho of Cambridge and National purpose of art? Find out with on watchesandwonders.com. Introductory Workshop on Urdu from offline to online. The Saket, Altogether Experimental butter that takes three days to Portrait Gallery Director The Right Way by Thespo. April 7 to 13. This will be Ghazal. Learn the history of works include Sound Garden by has a popup today, in make, combining ingredients Nicholas Cullinan. The play has been created by followed by an in­person event ghazals and more from writer Jeamin Cha and After Life by collaboration with Amrita Kaur. like shisho leaves, Ponzo, aged Meanwhile, kids can learn about Daniele Bartolini, and is in Shanghai, which will host 19 and lyricist Swapnil Tiwari. Cha Ji Ryang. April 6 to May 31. ‘Vasant’ welcomes spring rice vinegar, and French butter. alphabets, numbers and “audience­specific art” brands, including first­time Some participants may even get kccuk.org.uk. Meanwhile, through a seven­course home Or order the Grilled Lobster Pokemon, of course, via Pikachu (meant for one person at a exhibitors Chopard, Montblanc, the chance to perform at an Minari, nominated for six style meal using Ayurvedic (Robatta) or the Black Cod Press’ new series of interactive time). April 3, 4. 4 pm Rolex, Tudor and Ulysse Nardin. online event. April 3, 4. ₹499. Oscars, is set to be released in principles. ♣99992 88073 Gyoza to savour its flavour. books for children. onwards. ₹300 at insider.in. April 14 to 18. insider.in. India on April 16.

Kuriakose, is part of an inte­ grated plan (estimated to cost around ₹260 crore) that in­ Transforming cludes conserving the heritage of Alappuzha, also called the Venice of the East, and will in­ clude rejuvenation of its canals Alappuzha’s warehouses and construction of walkways. Unlike the gentrification of Mumbai’s textile mills that be­ How the town’s historic coir factories are being restored came shopping malls, this pro­ ject, he says, is in sync with the to accommodate art spaces and museums history of the town.

Yarn history and a cafe Lured by a Naushad PM, MD of the Muzi­ ris Heritage Project, says the collaboration by different go­ aren’t 100% guarantees of not vernment departments — Tou­ getting the virus, it only makes it rism, Coir, Port — will see 21 much milder) and go to a cinema museums take shape, of which spectacle and sit cheek­by­jowl with a po­ three will be exclusively dedi­ tentially infected stranger to cated to coir. “A yarn museum drink in an independent film, as With cinemas shutting across the world, will come up at the Coirfed opposed to a James Bond or a building [formerly Darragh will there be room only for ‘event’ cinema Marvel spectacle? Will the only Smail]. The KSCC will house a event remaining be ‘event’ cine­ like Godzilla vs. Kong? coir history museum, and the ma? If such a scenario transpires, NMCSB will have a Living Coir it’ll be a crying shame. For, ho­ (Clockwise from left) The museum,” he explains. While Naman Ramachandran year that has passed has had a wever small the film, the big Coirfed building, a new steel preparations for an immersive devastating effect on cinemas. screen in a darkened cinema staircase and other work at the coir experience are underway, As you read this, Godzilla vs. The latest FICCI report reveals creates a powerful bond bet­ Priyadershini S New Model Society Building two spaces in KSCC and

Kong is already the biggest hit that in India alone, some 1,500 ween the subject matter and the * SURESH ALLEPPEY NMCSB are already experi­ across the planet, including in cinemas were forced to close ov­ viewer. Unless you are wealthy A wind of change is blowing menting with art — Lokame India, China, the US, wherever er the last 12 months, leaving just or fortunate enough to have a through the historic coir facto­ A remarkable turnaround Tharavadu, an upcoming me­ cinemas are open, really. People 8,000 screens for a population home theatre, the at­home view­ ries of Alappuzha, past 100­ It is interesting to note that in ga show of contemporary art, are flocking by the millions to of 1.3 billion. Though there are ing experience is just not the year­old doors, halls and vault­ 1975, when Aspinwall first im­ will exhibit works, installations watch the beloved monsters go dedicated repertory single cine­ same. ed ceilings. The spaces that ported power looms from Ger­ and paintings of 268 artists of up against each other in an epic mas and chains for independent I leave you with a personal ex­ once resonated with the many, the industry rejected Kerala. spectacle. By the same token, perience. Along with a promi­ sounds of yarn being spun, mechanisation as it would lead At Port Museum on the medium­level films, budget and nent Indian independent film­ Now Showing toiling workers and political to loss of jobs. Now, state­of­ beach, the cafe will be partially spectacle­wise, are not exactly maker I watched Cate Blanchett’s uprisings are now gearing up the­art machines are being in­ alfresco to remain accessible to falling by the wayside, but aren’t films around the world, won’t Oscar­winning performance in for a major makeover. Building (NMCSB) will be re­ stalled in the factories to com­ the public even after gallery doing humongous box office producers be tempted to recover Blue Jasmine in a giant multiplex “These were once busy purposed and turned into tou­ pete with cheaper Chinese­ hours. Citing the example of numbers either. The debate that costs in one fell swoop? Or in Leicester Square. We were spaces but with changing busi­ rist spots. made tufted coir mats. Yet Admiral Hotel in Copenhagen, has been raging on for the last maybe even turn a profit by sell­ stunned by the agony Blanchett nesses, many sections of the “Architecturally, as these there is room for art and cul­ which was a granary before it year, ever since Covid­19 began ing rights to a giant global conveyed in the film. As we factories are unused and some spaces were full­fledged facto­ ture alongside coir processing turned to offer a new role, vet­ ravaging the world, and produc­ streamer, with the justification stumbled out into daylight, ren­ are in a dilapidated condition,” ries, they were well ventilated. and production. Factory tim­ eran conservation architect ers started giving their babies to that their product is reaching dered speechless, the moment explains Benny Kuriakose, By a twist of fate, when busi­ ings and gallery hours, labour Ramesh Tharakan says, “Old OTT platforms for direct to digi­ some 200 countries at the same was somewhat ruined by a selfie conservation architect. He ness dropped, they became unions and tourist groups, warehouses can be retrofitted tal premières, is about the death time and potentially hundreds of seeker (for a picture with him, heads the Alappuzha Heritage places to store things,” he says, canteen meals and cafe menus into interesting and dynamic of small cinema. millions of eyeballs. not me), but the effect was indel­ Project, under which factories adding that while they will are to soon coexist within hospitality as well as retail Small, intimate films are going From an audience point of ible enough for both of us to re­ at Coirfed, Kerala State Coir “conserve and design for adap­ these century­old coir process­ spaces. European cities are re­ nowhere soon and will continue view, in a post­Covid, vaccinated member today, eight years down Corporation (KSCC), and New tive reuse, very little new con­ ing factories. plete with examples of such to be made and consumed, but world (and that world can’t come the line. I somehow doubt a Model Co­operative Society struction will take place”. The repurposing, explains transformation”. the question is whether their soon enough), will they be will­ small screen will provide that le­ platforms will be restricted. The ing to take a risk (vaccinations vel of engagement. CM A ND-NDE YK EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

DELHI THE HINDU 12 SHOWCASE SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 2021 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Book covers of Guthli Has Wings and I Want to Ride a Motorbike, Where do you begin? (right) Maulik Pancholy, and (below) Shals Mahajan

* SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

her identity, Guthli goes into a shell. LGBTQI+ characters in children’s Mahajan feels that while English lan­ books often struggle to find acceptance. guage children’s books in India are mov­ But a lack of support isn’t a problem for ing towards more representation, the Rahul Kapoor, the protagonist of The world that these books are set in remain Best At It (HarperCollins, 2020) written largely normative. “They are usually he­ by Indian American actor and activist tero, upper class and caste families Maulik Pancholy. The new middle grade In Friends Under the Early reader recommendations that where men and women play fairly gen­ novel traces 12­year­old Rahul’s search Summer Sun by Ashutosh could teach children and remind dered roles. In that world we have this for something that he’s the best at, while Pathak and Kanak Shashi one person or character who doesn’t fit trying to grapple with OCD, racism and (Pratham Books), Nimmy parents about the importance of in or is different. And that is a problem. making sense of his feelings for his visits her neighbour Shri acceptance Because this is a false kind of inclusivity,” neighbour, Justin. What really stood out Akka to bake a cake. She’s they said, adding that access to books — for me in the book is how Rahul’s best fascinated by Akka’s Menaka Raman in terms of language and reach — is also a friend, parents and grandfather accept collection of sequined Gender problem. “More often than not it is ur­ him fully for who he is. sandals and beautifully We recently watched The Queen’s Gam­ ban, middle class children who have the “In middle grade books, there’s this painted nails, before finally bit with the kids. (This was after my sis­ opportunity to read many of these idea of aspiration or, what I like to call, asking ‘Are you a boy or a ter breezily replied ‘Sure!’, when I asked books.” realistic possibility. I wanted to show girl?’ if it was appropriate for children. I guess Publishers like Pratham Books are that an Indian family could be suppor­ she forgot about the volley of expletives cognizant of this gap and are trying to tive of a kid who is LGBTQI+. Rahul’s pa­ 20 minutes into episode one.) Later in bridge it. By digitising their content, and rents and grandfather are more con­ the show, there’s a moment of attraction openly licensing it on their StoryWeaver cerned about how they can support him between the characters Beth Harmon platform, they offer thousands of free and when he’ll be ready to talk about and and DL Townes. But soon after this, au­ storybooks in hundreds of languages this,” Pancholy told me over a Zoom call. fluidity diences are left wondering if Townes which can be read across devices. “Tran­ Pancholy says that representation helps, might be gay. slation tools also help customise the and that we need more of it to validate “Wait! I thought he liked Beth!” my books for localised requirements, pio­ LGBTQI+ kids’ own experiences. husband exclaimed. neering a new publishing model that Writer and filmmaker Aarthi Parthas­ “Appa,” our nine­year­old replied transfers agency to the user,” adds Purvi arathy recalls the “lack of diversity of matter­of­factly, “He could be bi.” Shah, director, StoryWeaver. how girls could be” in the books she read children’s When I was nine, I had no clue what as a child. In her book I Want to Ride a bisexuality was. I’d just figured out what Motorbike (Pratham Books), 14­year­old being gay meant. But today, children are Dia desperately wants to learn how to far more aware of sexuality from a youn­ ride a motorbike but keeps hearing that books ger age thanks to a slowly growing pre­ it’s not something that girls do. Help sence of LGBTQI+ characters and fami­ comes from her Anitha Chithi who lives lies in books and on screen. with Farah Aunty in Bombay. While not Raina Telgemeier’s Drama Writer and queer feminist activist overtly stated, one can tell from the illus­ (Scholastic) is a coming­ Shals Mahajan says that talking about trations that the women are a couple, of­age graphic novel gender and sexuality in books for young subtly reinforcing the normalcy of same­ about seventh grader and readers is important. “All children must sex relationships. theatre lover Callie whose know that there are different ways of be­ The recent Delhi High Court ruling re­ close friends, twin ing and functioning,” they said. This op­ Stop the prejudice jecting three applications for the legalisa­ brothers Jesse and Justin, portunity to explore differences is cru­ The numbers may still be small, but the tion of same­sex marriage in India shows come out as gay. cial as “by the time children are five books are there if you’re looking for that we have a long way to go in respect­ years old, they already can form rigid them. ing the LGBTQI+ community’s right to stereotypes and the pictures and texts in In Guthli Has Wings by Kanak Shashi choose. Over the years, I’ve had so many their literature aid in this process (Tulika Books, 2019), Guthli is a happy conversations about parenting with ‘lib­ [Schlossberg and Goodman 1972]”. child who loves fairies, cycling and eral’ parents who say things like, ‘I’m drawing. But when she wears her sister’s okay with whatever my child wants in The lived experience frock for Diwali, Guthli’s mother tells life... as long as they’re not gay, you But are there enough books for young her, ‘Boys are not fairies, they are princ­ know?’ readers that help prevent these ‘rigid es,’ and forces her to change her clothes. On the other hand, the children I’ve Julián Is a Mermaid stereotypes’ from forming? Surprisingly, Denied spoken to are far more open. Until their (Penguin Random House) data around this was hard to come by, parents pass their prejudices on to them. by Jessica Love tells the both for India and globally. The only The books here are for children , but story of a boy who wants numbers I could find were from the US­ “In middle grade books, there’s this idea of really, it’s the grown­ups who should to become a mermaid based Cooperative Children's Book Cen­ aspiration or, what I like to call, realistic probably read them first. and participate in the ter who noted that in 2017, only 4% of possibility. I wanted to show that an Indian Menaka Raman is a children’s book family could be supportive of a kid who is Coney Island Mermaid books received could be categorised as MAULIK PANCHOLY author ( Loki Takes Guard ) and Parade. LGBTQI+. LGBTQI+“ - columnist.

FOOD SPOT Podcasts for kids 13 to 16 years Festival of 1) Mission ISRO How did India’s space programme start? ooked at Who were the people who were dreaming FLAVOURS H of missions to space and even an Indian on the Moon, in a country that was barely 10 years into Independence? Narrated by the Since it wasn’t safe to inimitable Harsha Bhogle (who jumped at step out and mingle, first listen the chance to work on something to do with his other love: science), the 12­episode ordering in some Mission ISRO is equal parts history lesson Chinjabi from Noodle and thrill ride and has already won much A summer playlist that includes folk tales, acclaim on Twitter, including by comedian Bowl seemed the Danish Sait. Created by All Things Small, only option India’s space programme, and the story of cofounder and COO Gaurav Vaz, says: “We realised India's foray into space hasn't really Chong do chicken * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT the ta­dum sound that introduces Netflix been chronicled. There is no single place you can go and find all of this data. It's only quite a nice taste. The pork was crun­ in various people's minds from their lived chy, had an aftertaste of pepper, and Aparna Narrain experience. We saw the opportunity that was a good appetiser. Both the lamb Mission ISRO could be the comprehensive and the chicken dishes did come in a After a year of online classes and kids glued to screens of various story of Indians [in] space.” While saying soya dressing, but I enjoyed them. kinds, give digital fatigue the boot this summer holidays. Introduce 3) Radiolab for Kids the English may be a little harder for really The lamb was tender and the sauce, your children to podcasts. young children, Vaz adds, “But the minute cooked with onion, ginger and capsi­ Parents who are dipping their toes into this auditory world for the A curated collection you are being taught science and history in Rahul Verma cum, nicely tangy. first time, don’t worry. As Kitty Felde, award­winning journalist and from the archives of school, I think you can consume a podcast I was a wee lad when I had my first What was really nice was the chick­ host of Book Club for Kids, suggests, try a ‘podcast tasting’. “Listen to Radiolab, a Peabody­ like this. Right from middle school Chinese meal in Delhi. It was at Ginza en: pieces of chicken breast with one episode every night from a different podcast [and] see which one winning show created onwards. You're taught about India's in Connaught Place. Your childhood spring onions, red and yellow pepper, your child likes. Which one do you like? Make a date to listen together: in 2002 by Lebanese­ freedom fight, about the British rule, about food memories mould your tastes, no black mushroom, Chinese cabbage in the car, at bedtime, while walking the dog together. That podcast American radio host the sun and moon and solar system and matter how many cuisines and fla­ and lemon juice. The sauce was mild­ can be a jumping off place for a longer discussion between you and and producer Jad astronomy. This intersects the two. There's vours you try out as you grow older. ly sweet, possibly because of the pep­ your child about topics you never even imagined.” Abumrad, Radiolab for no real reason why it's only for older kids.” That explains why Chinjabi — a mix of pers, and I really enjoyed that. The Here is a list to get you started: Kids comprises family­ A second season is currently in the works. Chinese and Punjabi — continues to crunchy veggies added to the taste friendly content. If your enthral me. and texture. The chicken pieces were child has ever asked 2) Geek Fruit I was in a nostalgic mood last week, deliciously squashy and went well For 10 to 13 years you, ‘What do dogs see as it was Holi and we were cooped up with the fried rice. 2) Newsy Jacuzzi when they look at the Is your mind palace full of pop culture inside. I thought back to the old Chi­ The rice was long­grained, and 1) Veergatha rainbow?’, this is where trivia? Then this is probably the podcast nese restaurants we used to frequent came with bits of veggies, and a nice Baalgatha, a mix of contemporary How do you tell your you will find the for you. Join Jishnu, Dinkar and Tejas, on festive occasions. The yearning for aroma. The noodles, however, were tales and stories from the child what’s going on in answer. three fans from Mumbai started Geek some old­fashioned Delhi­style Chi­ nothing much to write home about, Panchatantra, Jataka and the world? Should you Fruit in 2015 with the idea of building a nese food — doused with a generous quite like the spring rolls, which were Hitopadesha may be the most well­ even? Well, it is not too community of geeks. While the very first dollop of soya sauce — grew. I went too hard. The dim sums got a B from known from Gaathastory’s bouquet bad when a kid explains topic was Star War, over the course of looking for a suitable Chinese eatery us — neither very good, nor too bad. of podcasts, but its selection for things. New Delhi­based 340 episodes, everything from the boy that I had not tried out before. Noodle Bowl is value for money, pre­teens is picking up too. Leela Sivasankar reporter Tintin, British panel shows like The result was a place called Noo­ and the portions are generous. Four “Veergatha honours the National Prickitt, 8, with a little Would I Lie To You? and dystopian sci­fi dle Bowl, a popular chain with of us had this meal, and there was Bravery Award winners and others help from her mother, series Black Mirror to Harry Potter and branches everywhere. I looked up enough left over for lunch and half a who have done courageous deeds”, Lyndee, discusses the Cursed Child, Hayao Miyazaki’s films, Swiggy, and found that the menu in­ dinner the next day, says Bengaluru­based Amar everything from planes The Avengers: Infinity War, and Jim cluded pork, which many restaurants I am not all that fond of Chinese Deshpande, who started the platform powered by ‘water’ to Carrey’s movies in the 90s have been sadly do not serve any more. dessert, so I ended with two kinds of with his wife Mrunal. What is less kid­friendly topics talked about. After a brief discussion at home, gujiyas (it was around Holi, after all). common to all the content is their such as Black Lives we decided on Chong do chicken One was from Hira Sweets, with a fill­ intention that “every story should Matter. What makes it (₹359), five spice lamb (₹479), crispy ing of thickened milk and khoya. The have a moral” and an India connect. fun are the sound effects 3) Dear Hank and John pork pepper salt (₹379), vegetable second from Pitara was a soft gujiya, “We have a library of about 4,000 (honking cars and spring roll (₹109), chicken momos with a filling of stewed apples, walnut curated stories that we rewrite and planes taking off) Listen in as the Green brothers ­ authors and YouTubers John (of The Fault in (₹109 for four), vegetable fried rice and jaggery. It was delicious, and edit, and correlate to topical events,” accompanying each Our Stars fame) and Hank ­ banter [the vibe is high energy and fun], and (₹189) and half a plate of vegetable healthy to boot. he says, adding that the aim is to bulletin. Listening to offer humorous, dubious and even heartfelt advice in response to questions noodles (₹119). Holi turned out to be quite nice af­ educate while bringing in different other young news from listeners such as ‘’Why do things burn when not coming into the First the bad news: The dishes ter all. It wasn’t the festival of colours, elements. correspondents from atmosphere but not when leaving?’ and ‘Does milk expire when it’s inside a more or less looked the same. Now but certainly one of flavours. New seasons of all their podcasts out across the world is an cow? Episodes end with the news from planet Mars and AFC Wimbledon, the the good news: They, however, had this month. added perk. English football club John sponsors. their own characteristic flavours, and The writer is a seasoned food critic

CM A ND-NDE YK EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

THE HINDU DELHI SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 2021 WORLD 13 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE U.S., Iran agree to indirect nuclear talks At least 50 dead after train Announcement marks the first major progress in efforts to return both countries to the 2015 accord derails in Taiwan tunnel Associated Press accord, known as the Joint lowed by Iran ceasing reme­ Brussels Comprehensive Plan of Ac­ dial measures.” It collided with a vehicle on tracks; 146 hospitalised The U.S. and Iran said on Fri­ tion ( JCPOA). Iranian state television qu­ day that they would begin Mr. Price said next week's oted Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s Agence France-Presse negotiations through inter­ talks will be structured nuclear negotiator at the vir­ Hualien mediaries next week to try to around working groups that tual meeting, as saying dur­ At least 50 people were get both countries back into the EU was forming with the ing Friday’s discussions that killed in Taiwan on Friday an accord limiting Iran’s nu­ remaining participants in the any “return by the U.S. to the when a packed train collided clear programme, nearly accord, including Iran. nuclear deal does not re­ with a vehicle on the tracks three years after President quire any negotiation and and then derailed inside a Donald Trump pulled the Primary issue the path is quite clear”. tunnel, in the island’s worst U.S. out of the deal. “The primary issues that will “The U.S. can return to railway accident in decades. The announcement be discussed are the nuclear the deal and stop breaching Officials said the devastat­ marked the first major pro­ steps that Iran would need to the law in the same way it ing collision was caused by a gress in efforts to return both Talks resume: Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, take in order to return to withdrew from the deal and railway maintenance vehicle countries to the 2015 accord, centre, during a virtual meeting of the JCPOA in Tehran. * AFP compliance with the terms imposed illegal sanctions on which slipped down an em­ which bound Iran to restric­ of the JCPOA, and the sanc­ Iran,” Mr. Araghchi was quot­ bankment above the tracks Fatal crash: Rescue personnel helping stranded passengers tions on its nuclear pro­ scheduled for Tuesday in maintaining its insistence tions relief steps that the U.S. ed as as saying. near the eastern coastal city down the roof of the train in Hualien, Taiwan. * VIA REUTERS grammes in return for relief Vienna, “a healthy step for­ that its nuclear development would need to take in order Russia's Ambassador to in­ of Hualien. from U.S. and international ward”. But Mr. Price added: was for civilian and not mili­ to return to compliance as ternational organisations in “(The driver) was suspect­ was packed with some 480 vivor told TVBS news chan­ sanctions. President Joe Bi­ “These remain early days, tary purposes. Iran’s moves well,” Mr. Price said. Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, ed of not pulling the parking people heading down the nel of trapped passengers — den came into office saying and we don’t anticipate an increased pressure on major The U.S., like Iran, said it said “the impression is that brake tight enough so the east coast for the annual some crying out for help, that getting back into the ac­ immediate breakthrough as world powers over the did not anticipate direct we are on the right track, but vehicle slid 20 meters... onto Tomb Sweeping Festival, a others unconscious. cord was a priority. But Iran there will be difficult discus­ Trump administration's talks between the U.S. and the way ahead will not be ea­ the train line,” Feng Hui­ four­day public holiday. President Tsai Ing­wen vi­ and the U.S. have disagreed sions ahead.” sanctions and raised ten­ Iran now. Mr. Price said the sy and will require intensive sheng, deputy director of The Taiwan Railways sited an emergency res­ over Iran's demands that Mr. Trump pulled the U.S. sions among U.S. allies and U.S. remains open to that efforts. The stakeholders Taiwan Railways Authority, Agency said 146 passengers ponse centre in the capital sanctions be lifted first, and out of the accord in 2018, strategic partners in West idea, however. seem to be ready for that”. told reporters. were sent to hospital in addi­ Taipei, and said investiga­ the stalemate threatened to opting for a “maximum pres­ Asia. Agreement on the start In a tweet, Iranian Foreign Any return of the United Local media images from tion to the 50 confirmed tors would get to the bottom become an early foreign pol­ sure” campaign of stepped­ of indirect talks came after Minister Javad Zarif said the States would involve compli­ the scene showed the back dead. of how such a deadly crash icy setback for the Biden up U.S. sanctions and other the EU helped broker a vir­ aim of the Vienna session cations. Iran has said before of a yellow flatbed truck on A French national was could have occurred. administration. tough actions. Iran respond­ tual meeting of officials from would be to “rapidly finalize it resumes compliance with its side next to the train just among those killed while “We will definitely clarify State Department spokes­ ed by intensifying its enrich­ Britain, China, France, Ger­ sanction­lifting & nuclear the deal, the U.S. needs to re­ a few metres from the tunnel two Japanese and one Ma­ the cause of the incident that person Ned Price called the ment of uranium and build­ many, Russia and Iran, measures for choreographed turn to its own obligations by entrance. cau resident were injured. has caused major casual­ resumption of negotiations, ing of centrifuges, while which have remained in the removal of all sanctions, fol­ dropping the sanctions. The eight­carriage train One unnamed female sur­ ties,” she told reporters. ELSEWHERE Biden vows support to Kiev after Russian buildup ‘Extremist’ kills self, baby His call to President Zelensky came after Kremlin warned the West against sending troops to Ukraine in Tunisia suicide attack

Agence France-Presse between the U.S. and Russia deo released by his office scenario would lead to a Ukraine’s border to practise Associated Press serine province. They killed Moscow have hit rock bottom after that “President Biden as­ further increase in tensions defence against attack Tunis one suspected jihadist, U.S. President Joe Biden af­ Mr. Biden last month infu­ sured me that Ukraine will close to Russia’s borders. Of drones. Tunisian authorities said a whose wife then killed her­ firmed his “unwavering sup­ riated Moscow by agreeing never be left alone against course, this would call for More than 50 battalion female suicide bomber self by activating an explo­ Japanese PM to hold port” for Ukraine in a call to with a description of his Rus­ Russian aggression.” additional measures from combat teams comprising killed herself and her baby sive belt, the statement said. talks with Biden in U.S. President Volodymyr Zelen­ sian counterpart Vladimir the Russian side to ensure its 15,000 people will take part during counterterrorism The explosion killed her ba­ TOKYO sky on Friday after Kiev ac­ Putin as a “killer”. Tensions raised security,” Mr. Peskov said. in those , the military told operations in mountains of by in her arms, while an ol­ Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will visit cused Moscow of building up The White House said in a Weeks of renewed frontline He declined to specify reporters. central Tunisia. der daughter also at the Washington for talks with military forces on its border. statement that Mr. Biden “af­ clashes have shredded a cea­ which measures would be Kiev has been battling Two other Islamic extre­ scene survived, according to President Joe Biden on April The call, which was Mr. Bi­ firmed the U.S.’ unwavering sefire and raised fears of an adopted, while insisting that pro­Russian separatists in mists were killed in the se­ the Ministry. 16, the government said on den’s first conversation with support for Ukraine’s sove­ escalation of the simmering Russia was not making the eastern Donetsk and Lu­ curity operations, accord­ In a second operation, in Friday. Chief Cabinet Mr. Zelensky since the US reignty and territorial inte­ conflict in eastern Ukraine. moves to threaten Ukraine. gansk regions since 2014, fol­ ing to an Interior Ministry the Mount Mghila area, se­ Secretary Katsunobu Kato leader’s inauguration in Ja­ grity in the face of Russia’s Speaking to reporters on “Russia is not threatening lowing Moscow’s annexation statement on Thursday curity forces killed a sus­ told reporters that Mr. Suga nuary, came after Russia ongoing aggression”. Friday, Kremlin spokesman anyone, it has never threa­ of the Crimean peninsula af­ night. pected leader of Jund Al Khi­ will be the first foreign leader warned the West earlier Fri­ Mr. Zelensky, who this Dmitry Peskov said Russia tened anyone,” he said. ter an uprising that ousted In one operation, Tuni­ lafa brigade, the statement to meet Mr. Biden in person day against sending troops to week accused Russia of would be forced to respond On Friday, Russia said its Ukraine’s Kremlin­friendly sian forces were tracking an said. The brigade has since he took office in Ukraine to buttress its ally. amassing troops on Uk­ if the U.S. sent troops. armed forces would hold president Viktor extremist group in the pledged allegiance to the Is­ January. AP It also came as tensions raine’s border, said in a vi­ “There is no doubt such a military exercises close to Yanukovych. Mount Salloum area of Kas­ lamic State group. Myanmar junta shuts down Internet

Pro­democracy groups vow to use radio, SMS messages to keep up the protests

Reuters Yangon Military Opponents of military rule in Myanmar marched and slammed for laid bouquets of flowers on Friday while trying to find child deaths alternative ways to organise their campaign of dissent af­ Agence France-Presse ter the authorities cut off Yangon most users from the Myanmar’s junta faced Internet. fresh criticism on Friday Protests have taken place over the deaths of more almost daily since the mili­ Buddhist novices giving the three­finger salute to protesters than 40 children and the tary overthrew the elected marching in Dooplaya, Myanmar, on Friday. * AFP/KNU DOO PLA “forced disappearance” of government of Aung San hundreds of people in its Suu Kyi on February 1. Hun­ already shut down mobile “In the following days, crackdown on pro­democ­ dreds of civilians have been data in a bid to stifle the op­ there are street protests. Do racy protests. killed in a crackdown by se­ position to the ruling junta, as many guerrilla strikes as Violence has ramped up curity forces that has drawn ordered Internet providers you can. Please join,” Khin in recent weeks, with Save international from Friday to cut wireless Sadar, a protest leader, said the Children saying the condemnation. broadband, depriving most on Facebook in anticipation death toll of youngsters On Friday, security forces customers of access. of the Internet blackout, re­ had more than doubled in opened fire at a rally near In response, pro­democ­ ferring to quick protests in the past 12 days. “We are Myanmar’s second city Man­ racy groups shared radio unexpected places that shocked that children con­ dalay, wounding four peo­ frequencies, offline apps break up when the security tinue to be among the tar­ ple, two critically, according that work without a data forces appear. “Let’s listen gets of these fatal attacks, to three domestic media connection, and tips for us­ to the radio again. Let’s despite repeated calls to organisations. ing SMS messages as an al­ make phone calls to each protect children,” the char­ The authorities, who had ternative to data services. other too.” ity said in a statement. U.S. Capitol under lockdown Pilgrims clash with police at after car rams into 2 officials Pak. shrine

Associated Press Driver shot dead; police officer succumbs to injuries Karachi Pakistan deployed paramil­ ASSociated Press itary troops early on Friday Washington to a shrine closed due to A car rammed into two pol­ coronavirus restrictions, ice officers at a barricade after hundreds of pilgrims outside the U.S. Capitol on trying to get in clashed Friday, and the driver got with the police. out of the vehicle while ap­ Police said the pilgrims pearing to brandish a knife broke open the main gate before being shot by author­ of the the shrine of Lal ities, two law enforcement Shahbaz Qalandar, a 13th­ officials said. century mystic Sufi saint, The U.S. Capitol complex located in the town of Seh­ was placed on lockdown af­ wan in the southern Sindh ter the shooting. province. Security threat: Police officers near the car that crashed into The driver has died after The crowds attacked two officers, near a barrier on Capitol Hill in Washington.* AP being shot by authorities, police and threw stones on sources told AP. armed insurrectionists the U.S. Capitol, and then Thursday night, police The crash and shooting stormed the Capitol as Con­ exited the vehicle with a said. Several policemen happened at a security gress was voting to certify knife and lunged at the offic­ suffered minor injuries and checkpoint near the Capitol Joe Biden’s presidential win. ers. The suspect was shot investigations are ongoing. as Congress is on recess. It Yogananda Pittman, act­ and died at the hospital. Shrines in Pakistan were comes as the Washington re­ ing chief of U.S. Capitol Pol­ “One of our officers has suc­ closed recently as part of gion remains on edge nearly ice, said the suspect cumbed to his injuries,” she measures to help stem the three months after a mob of rammed a barricade near told a news conference. spread of coronavirus.

CM A ND-NDE YK EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

DELHI THE HINDU 14 BUSINESS SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 2021 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Govt. asks PSU refiners to review Saudi oil deals Reliance Retail extends deadline for Future deal Move comes in the wake of the West Asian nation ignoring India’s calls to relax output curbs when prices started climbing RIL sets Sept. target to complete buy Press Trust of India it wanted Saudi Arabia to re­ in any month and has to pay “It’s like the stock market. New Delhi lax output controls but the an average official price an­ You would want to buy PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Amid tensions with Saudi Kindgom ignored its calls. nounced by the producer. shares on a day or time when NEW DELHI Arabia over oil production This has led to the govern­ “In an ideal market, the the prices are low. So is the Reliance Retail Ventures, cuts, India has asked its state ment now pressing for diver­ pricing should be of the day case with crude oil — we the retail arm of Reliance In­ refiners to review contracts sification of the supply base. when the loading is taking would want to buy when we dustries, has extended the for buying crude oil from the “Traditionally, Saudi Ara­ place. That way we can get see there is a drop,” he said. timeline by six months to West Asian nation and nego­ bia and other OPEC produc­ the advantage of any drop in Indian refiners have complete its ₹24,713 crore tiate more favourable terms, ers have been our mainstay international oil rates. But raised spot purchases from deal with Kishore Biyani­led a top official said. suppliers of crude oil,” the that is not the case. They 20% a decade back to 30­35% Future group to buy its retail Keen to break the produc­ official with direct know­ (Saudi and other OPEC sup­ of the total oil bought now. and wholesale business. ers’ cartel dictating pricing ledge of the discussions said. pliers) insist on selling at “We want pricing flexibili­ Reliance Retail Ventures and contractual terms, the “But their terms have often their official selling price on­ ty as well as the certainty of Ltd. (RRVL) has extended government has told Indian been loaded against the ly,” the official said. supply even during times the ‘Long Stop Date’ from Amazon, is facing legal hur­ Oil Corporation (IOC), Bha­ buyer,” the official added. when production falls due to March 31 to September 30, dles and a decision from the rat Petroleum Corporation Indian firms buy two­ Shift to spot market any reason,” the official said, of this year, Future Retail Supreme Court is pending (BPCL) and Hindustan Petro­ thirds of their purchases on To begin with, Indian refin­ adding that the state­owned said a regulatory filing. over the petition filed by the leum Corporation (HPCL) to term or fixed annual con­ Uneven ride: Term contracts provide assured supplies but ers will look to reduce the refineries have been asked to “RRVL has... extended e­commerce major. look for supplies from out­ tracts. These contracts pro­ pricing terms favour the supplier, says an official. * REUTERS quantity they buy through coordinate buying and also the timeline for ‘Long Stop The Future­Reliance side the region and use col­ vide assured supplies of the term contracts and instead explore joint strategy with Date’ from March 31, 2021 to deal, announced on August lective bargaining power to contracted quantity but the the option to reduce supplies should also supply no matter buy more from the spot or private refiners such as Re­ September 30, 2021 which 29, 2020, has already re­ get favourable terms. pricing and other terms fa­ in case OPEC decides to keep what,” he said. current market. liance Industries and Nayara has been duly acknow­ ceived clearance from the India imports 85% of its oil vour the supplier, he said. production artificially lower More importantly, the Buying from the spot mar­ Energy. ledged by Reliance Retail CCI, SEBI and the bourses, needs and is often vulnera­ “While buyers have an to boost prices. Why should buyer has to indicate at least ket would ensure that India West Asia accounts for and Fashion Lifestyle Limit­ and the scheme of arrange­ ble to global supply and obligation to lift all of the the consumer have to pay for six weeks in advance of their can take advantage of any fall 60% of oil bought by India. ed, wholly­owned subsidi­ ment is now awaiting a nod price shocks. When oil pric­ contracted quantity, Saudi decisions of OPEC? If we intention to lift quantity out in prices on any day and Latin America and Africa are ary of RRVL,” it said. from the NCLT and es started to rise in February, and other producers have commit to offtake, they of the annual term contract book quantities. the other big supplier blocks. The deal, contested by shareholders. SAIL clocks ‘best­ever’ Royal Enfield Emission rules: coal­fired No plans to exit India, says quarterly sales of 4.27 MT sells 60,173 units get 3 more years bikes in March Franklin Templeton’s Sapre Firm’s crude steel output rises 6% Plants missing goal can pay fine to run Special Correspondent PRESS TRUST OF INDIA CHENNAI Reuters near populous regions and ‘Parent firm sought diplomatic route for fair hearing’ NEW DELHI Eicher Motors Ltd., the Chennai the capital New Delhi will Steel Authority of India Ltd. makers of Royal Enfield The government has pushed have to comply by 2022, PRESS TRUST OF INDIA around sale of business in (SAIL) clocked its best­ever motorbikes, has reported a back deadlines for coal­fired while utilities in less pollut­ NEW DELHI India are incorrect and quarterly sales at 4.27 mil­ sales volume of 60,173 un­ power plants to adopt new ing areas have up to 2025 to Franklin Templeton Mutual simply that — rumours”. He lion tonnes (MT) during the its in March this year. emission norms by up to comply or retire units. Fund on Friday said its com­ said Franklin Templeton was March quarter of the last fis­ In a statement, the com­ three years, and allowed Operators of coal­fired mitment to India remains an early entrant in the In­ cal year, up 14% from the pany said this was not com­ utilities that miss the new utilities have long been lob­ ‘steadfast’ and the fund dian mutual fund industry year­earlier period. parable with March 2020 target to continue operating bying for dilution of the pol­ house has no plans to exit its and stayed put even while The domestic steel giant’s figures on account of CO­ after paying a penalty, ac­ lution standards, citing high operations in the country. many other global asset crude steel production, too, VID­19 and associated lock­ cording to a notice. compliance costs. This comes following me­ managers decided to leave. increased by 6% during the down. Exports stood at India had initially set a A task force will be consti­ dia reports suggesting inter­ He, however, did not de­ quarter to 4.55 MT. company to improve its vol­ 5,885 units. 2017 deadline for thermal tuted by the Central Pollu­ vention by the fund house’s ny reports of engaging with “(SAIL), the Maharatna umes saw it clock its best­ev­ The company, mean­ power plants to install Flue tion Control Board to cate­ U.S.­headquartered parent Sanjay Sapre government authorities. PSU, has recorded its best­ er annual sales at 14.87 MT, a while, reported a 12% dip Gas Desulphurization (FGD) gorise plants in three seeking the diplomatic route “Our engagement with go­ ever quarterly performance growth of 4.4% over 14.23 in its FY21 sales to 6.12 lakh units that cut emissions of categories “on the basis of for a “just and fair” hearing ing. In a letter to investors, vernment authorities, in In­ in both production and MT during FY20,” it said. units. Exports contracted sulphur dioxides. But that their location to comply by market regulator SEBI in Franklin Templeton Asset dia and globally, is also so­ sales during Q4 FY’21,” the SAIL chief Soma Mondal 2% to 38,622 units. was postponed to varying with the emission norms”, the investigation pertaining Management (India) Pvt. mething we... do, as a matter company said. About an­ said, “[a] multi­pronged During March, sales vol­ deadlines for different re­ the Ministry said in its order. to six wound­up debt Ltd. president Sanjay Sapre of course.” The intention in nual figures, the company strategy has helped us top ume for bikes with an en­ gions, ending in 2022. In case of non­compliance, schemes. According to the said, “We have no plans to reaching out remains bring­ said despite the volatility in the performances during gine capacity of up to The new order dated a penalty of up to ₹0.20 will reports, Franklin Templeton exit our India business. Any ing current matters to an ap­ the market during the year, the month, quarter as well 350cc contracted 10% to April 1 from the environ­ be levied for every unit of had threatened to exit India speculation suggesting oth­ propriate and satisfactory determined efforts by the as the year.” 5.58 lakh units. ment Ministry said plants electricity produced. if it was not given a fair hear­ erwise, or any rumours conclusion, he said.

INTERVIEW | N. MURUGAN FT MF’s 6 shut ‘Millet­based products set to schemes get ₹15,776 crore gain increasing acceptance’ PRESS TRUST OF INDIA NEW DELHI Our goal is to boost nutrition: Southern Health Foods CEO Franklin Templeton Mu­ tual Fund on Friday said its N. Anand <> Given the high sure, will happen soon. six shut schemes have re­ incidence of ceived ₹15,776 crore from The United Nations has de- diabetes, millets are Your growth strategy? maturities, pre­payments clared 2023 as the Interna- wonder grains with ■ Ours is a food and bever­ and coupon payments age company that wants to tional Year of Millets. India their low GI since closing down in is fast catching up with the make consumers healthier April, 2020. western world in millet con- in these products after that. by increasing the nutrition The fund house shut six sumption, said N. Muru- content in food intake. debt mutual fund schemes gan, CEO, Southern Health Why are many firms not Apart from having health on April 23, citing redemp­ Foods, makers of the Manna keen on entering this sector? products, the company is tion pressures and lack of brand of foods. Excerpts: ■ There are only a handful looking to expand its portfo­ liquidity in the bond mar­ of players in the branded lio through relevant innova­ ket. The schemes together Millet­based products are and/or in the organised sec­ tions in the health­food had an estimated ₹25,000 fast gaining acceptance in tor at the moment. However, space. Products under Man­ crore as assets under man­ the West. How is the scenario it is going to change in the na, our Made­in­India agement (AUM). in India? next 12 to 24 months. brand, are also exported to It said that the net asset ■ India, Nigeria and China countries around the world. value of all the six schemes are the largest producers of How does Southern Health We will keep researching were higher as on March millets in the world, ac­ Foods fit into this? and formulating new millet­ 31, vis­a­vis their respective counting for more than 55% ■ We want to make many based food products that NAVs on April 23, 2020. of the global production. For foods and beverages more will help in improving the Franklin Templeton MF many years, India was a ma­ nutritious for consumers nutrition quotient of what said its primary focus has jor producer of millets. through millets and multi­ consumers eat everyday. been, and remains on re­ However, in recent years, grains. Most of our products So, innovation, consumer turning money to unit hol­ millet production has in­ have a high percentage of awareness and engagement ders as quickly as possible. creased dramatically in Afri­ millets in them. are the cornerstones of the ca. In India, pearl millet is In a country such as India strategy. Our aim is to intro­ the fourth­most widely cul­ where there is a high inci­ duce at least one new pro­ tivated food crop after rice, dence of diabetes, millets, duct every quarter. ABT steps into wheat and maize. It occu­ being complex carbohy­ pies an area of 6.93 million drates with low GI [glycemic What is your target for the Mumbai with hectare with an average pro­ index], are indeed wonder next two years? duction of 8.61 million grains and [hence] we see a ■ Our goal is to improve the health drink tonnes and productivity of huge relevance in shifting share of millet and millet­ 1,243 kg/ha during 2018­19. consumers to millets and based value­added products Lalatendu Mishra millet­based products. in our portfolio from the MUMBAI Why is India slow in We will communicate the present 60% to 80%, double ABT Ltd., one of south In­ adopting millet­based same to consumers through the number of products and dia’s larger corporate hous­ products? the media. distribution channels and es with a revenue of $1.4 ■ Millets are available al­ We want to be one of the increase distributors by billion, has forayed into most across India. They pioneers in leading the 30%. The share of e­com­ Mumbai and Pune with need very little water for country’s millet revolution merce is about 8% and this is ‘Mirakle’ — a vitamin C growing. that, we are set to increase. drink that it claimed can The awareness of the be­ boost the immunity levels nefits of millets is still low On the pandemic’s impact of consumers. and this is the reason for on your operations...? The health drink is ap­ lesser number of players ■ Our sales did not drop as proved by the Food Safety working on value­added mil­ 80­90% of our volume came and Standards Authority of let products in India. through sales of health­mix India, said the company. However, we see this in­ products. Currently, we op­ “The drink is infused creasing in the coming years erate our units at 70% to with 1,000 mg of vitamin C as many States will start sup­ 80% of capacity in a single which is known for en­ porting millet cultivation shift and this will increase hancing resistance to va­ both on account of the bene­ with an increase in demand. rious diseases,” said Man­ fits and the fact that they The lower demand also ickam Mahalingam, CMD. need less water. means limited supply and “Given the viral infec­ So, we see a slow ex­ higher prices. This will tions, Mumbai is a very pansion of millet­ change as more consum­ promising market and we based products in ers start trying out mil­ hope to gradually streng­ the next few years lets and value­add mil­ then our footprint across and a big explosion let products. the country,” he added.

CM A ND-NDE YK EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

THE HINDU DELHI SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 2021 SPORT 15 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Knight Riders bolster armoury, mount campaign for third title The Kolkata side has recruited multidimensional players, added experience and improved its options in all departments in a bid to return to its glory days

IPL COUNTDOWN QUICK SINGLES

Y.B. Sarangi fter narrowly missing Aout on a playoff berth in two successive seasons, Kolkata Knight Riders has strengthened itself in two key areas ahead of the In­ dian Premier League’s 14th edition. The two­time champion has added experience and also enhanced its options in every department. Jadeja says meeting No international games The side has fortified it­ Dhoni is always exciting during ‘biggest show in self with multidimensional Chennai Super Kings (CSK) town’: Pietersen players, hiring four all­ all­rounder Ravindra Jadeja The cricket Boards should rounders — Shakib Al Ha­ on Friday shared his realise that IPL is the “the san, its ‘lucky charm’ in two picture with skipper Dhoni biggest show in town” and title wins, Australian Ben saying that whenever he no international game Cutting, old hand Pawan meets the former India should be scheduled during Negi and newcomer Venka­ captain, the level of the course of the T20 event, tesh Iyer — and two wicket­ excitement is always the former England captain keeper­batsmen — New Zea­ same. “Whenever I meet Kevin Pietersen opined on lander Tim Seifert and him it feels like i m meeting Friday. “Cricket boards domestic stalwart Sheldon him for the first time!Still need to realise that the Jackson. Same excitement when I @IPL is the biggest show in Last season, KKR’s pro­ met him in 2009. #bonding town. DO NOT schedule gress was dented to some #respectforever,” Jadeja ANY international games extent because of the un­ tweeted. whilst it’s on. V v v simple!,” derperformance of Sunil Warner, Williamson Pietersen tweeted. Narine and Andre Russell, and Haddin arrive MI’s New Zealand trio two vital components in the reaches Chennai team’s makeup. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) New Zealand cricketers Shakib and Cutting are skipper David Warner, Kane Trent Boult (in pic), Adam seen as alternatives to the Williamson (in pic) and Milne, and Jimmy Neesham Caribbean duo, but some assistant coach Brad arrived in Chennai on experimentation cannot be Haddin have landed in Friday to link up with the ruled out. Chennai and will be in Mumbai Indians squad. Seifert and Jackson are quarantine, according to “National duties to IPL considered backups for the protocol. “Just landed, duties. The trio has landed vice­captain Dinesh Kar­ looking forward to getting out of the seven days in Chennai! Welcome Trent, DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD quarantine,” Williamson Adam, and Jimmy,” MI DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD said on SRH’s Twitter. tweeted. X-factor

B Varun Chakaravarthy: Varun Chakaravarthy, who thik. The recruitment of against India after splitting important members of — new international Prasidh tial to keep the best of bat­ impressed last season with a bag of 17 wickets (including Harbhajan Singh — who will his webbing, is optimistic of KKR’s batting unit while Ra­ Krishna, Shivam Mavi, ters in check. a five­for), is a vital member play the dual role of being a being fit to lead KKR from hul Tripathi and Rinku Kamlesh Nagarkoti and San­ The think­tank will be of the attack. The spinner, lead spinner and a mentor the beginning. Singh can chip in if re­ deep Warrier — will be addi­ keen to see Harbhajan, who known for his variations, to younger colleagues — and quired. tional sources of firepower. trained at his hometown Ja­ will have gained in experienced batsman Ka­ Suitable opening partner KKR will also need to de­ With the diversity of its landhar, perform well in the confidence after being run Nair offers flexibility Finding a suitable opening vise ways to improve its Po­ spin department — left­arm purple and gold. named in the Indian squad and provides cover in case partner for Shubman Gill werPlay scores. wrist spinner Kuldeep Ya­ England white­ball ana­ following his success. He of injuries and health and additional finishers will Australian Pat Cummins dav and mystery spinner lyst Nathan Leamon will should, however, be issues. prepared for newer be high on the captain’s will lead the pacers. Kiwi Varun Chakravarthy com­ give the side an edge, but it challenges Eoin Morgan, who mis­ agenda. Lockie Ferguson and a plement Harbhajan’s off­ must play positively in or­ DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD sed the final two ODIs Gill and Nitish Rana are bunch of promising Indians spin — KKR has the poten­ der to win its third crown. Eight Karunaratne and Babar stars, Pakistan wins off final ball Tendulkar in hospital as Wankhede Skipper’s 103 trumps van der Dussen’s 123 for hosts precautionary measure groundsmen Thirimanne bat well PAK IN SA innings with a sixth­wicket Dussen’s unbeaten 123, his stand of 53 before both fell. maiden International centu­ Agence France-Presse test positive Chasing 377, Sri Lanka 146 for two However, Faheem Ashraf hit ry, lifted the hosts to 273 for Mumbai AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE SL IN WEST INDIES CENTURION the winning run off the final six. Sachin Tendulkar was on Amol Karhadkar ball. South Africa was strug­ Friday admitted to MUMBAI A century by Babar Azam set Agence France-Presse Earlier, Rassie van der gling at 55 for four before hospital as a Eight groundsmen of the North Sound up a three­wicket last­ball van der Dussen and David precautionary measure six Wankhede Stadium were (Antigua & Barbuda) win for Pakistan in the first Miller (50) revived the in­ days after announcing that COVID­19 positive during ODI against South Africa at Sri Lanka skipper Dimuth nings with a fourth­wicket he had coronavirus. the tests conducted ahead SuperSport Park on Friday. Karunaratne (75) and his stand of 116. “As a matter of of IPL 2021. opening partner Lahiru Thi­ Chasing a target of 274, Van der Dussen, 32, had abundant precaution Mumbai is scheduled to rimanne (39) added 101 as Babar and Imam­ul­Haq (70) been dismissed three times under medical advice, I host 10 league games from the visitors, chasing a target put on 177 for the second in the 90s — twice in ODIs have been hospitalised,” April 10 to 25. of 377, were 146 for two at wicket, taking the visitors to and once in a Test — since Tendulkar said on Twitter. The Hindu understands tea on the last day of the se­ within 88 runs of victory Tendulkar. * FILE PHOTO making his debut two sea­ “I hope to be back home that all the groundstaff — 19 cond and final Test against with 18.2 overs left when the sons ago. However, his effort in a few days. Take care sure you will hit COVID­19 — underwent RT­PCR tests the West Indies on Friday. former was caught behind was overshadowed by Babar and stay safe everyone.” for a six!” said Akram. over the last week. Earlier, West Indies had off speedster Anrich Nortje. and Pakistan on this day. Pakistan legend Wasim “Recover soon, master! While three returned declared its second innings Babar hit a stroke­filled 103 The scores: South Africa 273/6 Akram sent his special Would be great if you positive during the tests at 280 for four, with Kraigg Karunaratne. * AFP off 104 balls, but his dismis­ sal triggered a collapse as in 50 overs (Rassie van der Dus­ wishes. “Even when you celebrate India’s World conducted on March 26, Brathwaite missing out on 280/4 decl. (Kraigg Brathwaite sen 123 n.o., David Miller 50) Nortje took four wickets in were 16, you battled the Cup 2011 anniversary with five more positive cases the rare feat of centuries in 85, Kyle Mayers 55, Jason Hol­ lost to Pakistan 274/7 in 50 ov­ world’s best bowlers with doctors and hospital were reported on Friday both innings of a Test when der 71 n.o.) vs Sri Lanka 258 & four overs. ers (Babar Azam 103, Imam­ul­ guts and aplomb... so I am staff... do send me a pic!” from the tests held on he was dismissed for 85. 146/2 (Dimuth Karunaratne 75), Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam... leading Haq 70, Mohammad Rizwan April 1. The scores: West Indies 354 & at tea. Shadab Khan steadied the the way. * AFP 40, Anrich Nortje 4/51).

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SCAN TO PLAY Never go off the grid. SUDOKU FAITH + 13212 We are digital now. Come solve online! @ https://qrgo.page.link/jjpTn (set by Afterdark) The cause of Srishti 15 Illiterate crowd in an university in India on Sunday (9) Srutis and the sastras exist to aid the entire world an d the 17 Team­mate in company joins liberal association (9) beings in it. They teach us to attain the highest goal, that is, 19 Thin membranes leading to anemia without drug administration (5) release from samsara. Spiritual tradition holds the Vedas as 21 Maintenance of any limo could be difficult (7) the greatest sastra and their supremacy and authorit y rest 23 Eager or wary? Source of joy is absent, sleep instead (7) on the fact that they are ‘apaurusheya,’ meaning they are 25 Exhausted mate, not new (5) not created by any being and are hence faultless. Th ey are 26 Leaders like Hitler are too drastic, leave nothing and destroy (9) also looked upon as the only valid means of arriving at the 27 Bird embarrassed dog (7) highest truth and this truth is knowledge of God. 28 Repeats last scene at censor in a loop (7) Sastra study thus leads all beings towards the ultimate goal of liberation by showing them the path which is medi­ ■ DOWN tating on God who is shown to be the sole cause of this entire 1 Mysterious obstacle in making a construction implement on chimney universe, pointed out Sri Padmanabhachariar in a dis­ (4,3) course. In this regard, the practice of the acharyas in the 2 Copper grabs two fellows at school and clobbers (5) Vaishnava tradition since the time of Nathamuni, Alavandar, 3 Unusual stance taken by university on madman (7) Ramanuja, Vedanta Desika and others in the lineage is to ex­ 4 Struggling with drizzling being on road (9) plain the sutras on Jagat srishti by drawing from th e Srutis 5 Free, but not fit for use (5) which deal with this idea. They also derive the rich hidden 6 An elderly person, wounded soldier crossing island taking time (7) meanings in the Srutis by referring to the hymns of Azhwars. 7 Designer found dead on float, small chap (9) Azhwars are held to be incarnations of the Nityasuris and 8 Dislikes having stranger in Delaware streets (7) Solution to puzzle 13211 Solution to yesterday’s Sudoku hence endowed with divine knowledge. 14 Cancelled national university leagues? Provided that’s disinfected The Divya Prabandha hymns are hailed as the Tamil Ve ­ primarily (9) das and are known as ‘Dravida Veda Sara.’ Nammazhwar ’s 16 Uncontrollable zest in calling a philosopher (9) ■ ACROSS Tiruvaimozhi hymns, especially the first 21 hymns, convinc­ 17 Having tea with two fellows, about to turn teaser (7) 1 Like to keep track of escalations (7) ingly establish the Paratva of Narayana without any trace of 18 Introductory parts aired in a haste, taking wrong order (7) 5 Escaped emptiness after a meeting with journalist (7) doubt. In the very first verse, obeisance is offered to t he 19 Old language, best used by God (catholic) (7) 9 Auditor’s treat at open air restaurant (9) Highest Eternal Truth who is higher than the highest. He 20 First to board ship after a son helps (7) 10 Operated front door with electronic key (5) alone can grant jnana and bhakti that can remove the igno­ 11 In Delhi & Kerala, it’s enough rice (7) 22 Yell from the sides? Appropriate song and sing (5) rance. He is by nature the sat­chit­ananda swaroopa. He is 12 Toilets are shabby? It's an understatement (7) 24 Hard to follow old scent (5) the Lord of the Nityasuris and other celestial beings and 13 Managed company diversity (5) The clues 31 Across and 32 Across of The Hindu Crossword 13211 by Incognito regrettably Azhwar exhorts his mind to seek His feet that are sure to had errors. Visit crossword.thehindu.com to play the updated puzzle! confer eternal freedom from sorrow.

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DELHI THE HINDU 16 SPORT SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 2021 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Top recognition for Viswanath, Tendulkar, Dhoni and Mithali Anantapur Sports Academy wins ‘Sports for Social Good’ award for its work in rural Andhra Pradesh ACES AWARDS ‘Delighted with the Sports Bureau Sportstar Aces award for ASA’ .R. Viswanath was con­ Gferred the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ while I appreciate our team for their work over the years, Sachin Tendulkar, M.S. Dho­ says Programme Director Ferrer ni and Mithali Raj were also honoured in the 2021 Sport- V.V. Subrahmanyam star Aces Awards on Friday. Hyderabad “To receive a recognition “We are delighted to share of this nature at this stage of with you that our Sports for my life is an unexpected and Development Programme, very pleasant surprise,” Vis­ Anantapur Sports Academy wanath said. (ASA), has won the presti­ gious Sportstar Aces Award 2021, in the ‘Sports for Social Good’ category,” Moncho Viswanath with the trophy. Mithali Raj. Ferrer, Programme Director, said in a statement on Friday. “The Sportstar Aces Awards by Sportstar Maga­ zine and The Hindu Group recognise sporting achieve­ What a feeling! Anantapur Sports Academy boys are ments and efforts to contri­ overjoyed on receiving the trophy. * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT bute to the country’s sport­ Tendulkar shared his am­ ing fabric in equal measure, and thank the children for the Sportstar Aces Awards bitions for the sport in the and ASA is being honoured their participation,” he said. team for including a Sports country in the years to come. for its role in tying sports to­ “This award reminds us for Good category for the “I hope India moves from be­ gether with attention to so­ that we are on the right first time to acknowledge the ing a sport­loving nation to a cial indicators” he said.. track, and encourages us to efforts of sports for develop­ sport­playing one. We will Ferrer, who received the work towards realising our ment organisations across have a younger, healthier award through a virtual ce­ vision to leverage the power India. and fitter India,” said the 47­ remony (because of CO­ of sports for the benefit of “On this note, we also year­old, who was honoured Wristy: G.R. Viswanath playing his trademark square­cut. Sachin Tendulkar... Inspirational Giant of Indian Sport. VID­19 restriction) held on underprivileged and margi­ thank the support from our with the ‘Inspirational Giant Friday, said their sports pro­ nalised children and youth local community including of Indian Sport’ award. credited her support staff rural Andhra Pradesh using gramme is all about sports in Anantapur district,” he parents, schools as well as India ODI captain Mithali and coaches on winning the grassroot programmes as a for good. added. our numerous partners we DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD ‘Sportswoman of the De­ tool. “We decided to institute “I appreciate our team at P. Sai Krishna, Director of have been fortunate to col­ The second list of cade’ (Cricket). “ I would like this award to recognise dedi­ Anantapur Sports Academy Anantapur Sports Academy laborate over the years,” he Sportstar Aces to acknowledge the contribu­ cated organisations who are for their work over the years said, he would like to thank said. award winners tion of various coaches who using sport as a medium of have worked tirelessly to­ social change to benefit rural B Sportsman of the Decade wards the growth of my youth. We hope this motiv­ (Cricket): M.S. Dhoni game and my physios and ates others to follow their ex­ B Sportswoman of the Decade trainers who worked very ample,” said Malini Parthasa­ (Cricket): Mithali Raj hard on my fitness and injury rathy, Chairperson, The B National Team of the management,” she said. Hindu Publishing Group. Decade: 2011 WC­winning The 2011 World Cup­win­ Indian men’s cricket team ning Indian team was also honoured with the ‘National B Sports for Social Good: Team of the Decade’ award, Anantapur Sports Academy coincidentally on the 10th B Inspirational Giant of Indian anniversary of the triumph. Sport: Sachin Tendulkar Anantapur Sports Acade­ B Lifetime Achievement my won the inaugural Sport- Award: G.R. Viswanath star Aces ‘Sports for Social Special moment: Anantapur Sports Academy, winner of the ‘Sports for Social Good’ award. DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD Good’ award for its work in M.S. Dhoni. Moncho Ferrer. * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT TV PICKS Harrity beats Mangaonkar to the title Calm Niki Poonacha trumps Serie A: Sony Ten 2 (SD & HD), 4 p.m. onwards; Sony Six (SD & HD), 6.30 p.m. Hana Moataz wins all­Egyptian women’s final against Malak Kamal tempestuous Lorenzo Bocchi Premier League: SS Select 1 (SD & HD), 5 p.m. onwards SQUASH Sets up a semifinal clash against Dalibor Svrcina IN BRIEF K. Keerthivasan CHENNAI ITF MEN Todd Harrity of the USA blunted the power and will KAMESH SRINIVASAN of Mahesh Mangaonkar 11­9, NEW DELHI 11­6, 7­11, 2­11, 11­0 to win the Niki Poonacha can fight men’s title — his fourth over­ hard, and still stay quiet on all — in the PSA Challenger court, sporting the best be­ Tour squash tournament at haviour. Sedate start by Aditi the ISA courts here on Fri­ It was a glaring sight when at ANA Inspiration day. the 25­year­old Niki retained RANCHO MIRAGE (USA) Egypt’s Hana Moataz his composure, and tamed Aditi Ashok made a quiet bagged the women’s crown the boisterous Lorenzo Boc­ start at this year's first Major, with a clinical 11­3, 11­9, 11­5 chi of Italy, who was throw­ the ANA Inspiration, carding victory over compatriot Ma­ a one­over 73 to be tied ing tantrums right through lak Kamal. Hana's first, and 70th. Aditi is playing an the three­hour duel, for a Indian record­equalling 16th last PSA title came way back 6­3, 6­7(4), 6­3 victory, in the Major. Thailand's Patty in 2016. Champions: Hana Moataz and Todd Harrity with SRFI secretary Cyrus Poncha, right, and $15,000 ITF men’s tennis Tavatanakit was in the lead Saikrishnan Purushothaman of HCL. * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT tournament at the DLTA Domination Complex on Friday. with a six­under 66. PTI It’s all over! Italian Bocchi congratulates Poonacha after The American dominated tide in his favour in the third points short for the rest of ning a title after five years. "I Serving well, stroking losing in the quarterfinals. * KAMESH SRINIVASAN Karman Kaur the first two games, pushing and fourth games with the the game. hope the next title does not with varying pace and inten­ in semifinals the top­seeded Mangaonkar right mix of power and fi­ “I have played Mahesh take this long," she said. sity, Niki did control the con­ ninth game to set up a semi­ jun Kadhe and Saketh Myne­ MONASTIR (TUNISIA) all over the court. nesse. So much so that in the quite a few times before, it’s final against Dalibor Svrcina ni set up a title clash against The results (finals): Men: Todd test most of the time. A slight Karman Kaur Thandi beat fourth Harrity could pocket The American actually always tough. After losing Harrity (USA) bt Mahesh Man­ dip in concentration saw of the Czech Republic. Dalibor Svrcina and Zsom­ third seed Mallaurie Noel of gave the top seed neither the just two points. the third and fourth games, I gaonkar 11­9, 11­6, 7­11, 2­11, him deliver double­faults The Czech beat the third bor Velcz. France 6­1, 2­6, 6­1 to reach time nor the space to settle However, all that changed stayed mentally strong,” said 11­0. Women: Hana Moataz while serving for the match seed Aidan Mchugh of Bri­ The results: Singles (quarterfi­ the semifinals of the $15,000 into any sort of rhythm. in the decider. Harrity raced Harrity. (Egy) bt Malak Kamal (Egy)11­3, in the 12th game. That open­ tain 4­6, 6­0, 6­2. The Briton nals): Niki Poonacha bt Lorenzo ITF women’s tennis Mangaonkar turned the to a 7­0 lead and kept the Hana was relieved at win­ 11­9, 11­5. ing was grabbed by the Ita­ was perhaps exhausted after Bocchi (Ita) 6­3, 6­7(4), 6­3; tournament on Friday. In the lian who played sharp in a four­hour clash against Dalibor Svrcina (Cze) bt Aidan semifinals, Karman will play clinching the subsequent tie­ lucky­loser Nitin Kumar Sin­ Mchugh (GBR) 4­6, 6­0, 6­2; Anna Kubareva of Belarus. CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC Oliver Crawford (US) bt Alex­ CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC ha on Thursday. The results (quarterfinals): Football scouts break to get himself a fresh \ DELHI ROUND-UP \ lease of life on court. Second seed Simon Carr ander Kotzen (US) 6­4, 7­5; Si­ Karman Kaur Thandi bt mon Carr (Irl) bt Zsombor Velcz was energetic in a baseline Mallaurie Noel (Fra) 6­1, 2­6, SS Sports advances The scores: Push Academy 237 184 in 36.4 overs (Saksham camp begins In the decider, Niki was in (Cze) 6­3 2­6, 6­3. 6­1. a spot of trouble as he trailed battle against Zsombor in Sood cricket in 44.4 overs (Mrigank Pathak Negi 72, Parikshit Sehrawat 53, Doubles (semifinals): Arjun 0­2, but found the grip on Vvelcz of Hungary and An all­round performance 71, Rishabh Manchanda 3/57) Saiansh Vohra 3/46) bt DCH Special Correspondent Kadhe & Saketh Myneni bt Ani­ CAS to hold Sun Yang’s his game to cruise to a 5­2 pulled through in three sets. by captain Deepanshu Phore lost to M­10 Academy 238/4 in 163 in 33 overs (Swarnim New Delhi rudh Chandrasekar & Niki Poo­ retrial in May lead, even as the Italian He will play fourth seed Oliv­ and three wickets apiece by 42.1 overs (Ayush Doseja 66 Bansal 73). Mexican football coach Da­ nacha 6­4, 7­6(0); Dalibor GENEVA n.o., Mridul Surroch 54, Rijul made it a noisy affair with er Crawford of US in the Svrcina (Cze) & Zsombor Velcz The retrial of Olympic Prince Mehra and Abhishek Big win for Signature FC vid Fernandez believes the Singh 48, Sahil Tada 39, his ramblings. Niki served semifinals. (Hun) bt Manish Sureshkumar swimming champion Sun Sakuja saw SS Sports beat Suju Hangma and Sanjali untapped talent in India Eshaan Anand 3/32). out the match at love in the In doubles, top seeds Ar­ & V.M. Ranjeet 6­1, 6­2. Yang will be held by the Court Youngster CC by six wickets Kermprai scored three goals needs to be spotted and of Arbitration for Sport during to enter the pre­ Wonders Club in final each as Signature FC trained in a systematic the week of May 24­28 by quarterfinals of the 31st All Man­of­the­match Sanskar thrashed Goodwill FC 11­1 in manner. video link from Lausanne. India Om Nath Sood Rawat made 83 not out as a Football Delhi Women’s Fernandez, who is here Manas fights his way past Rushil Sun’s initial eight­year ban for Memorial tournament. Wonders Club Noida beat League match. as part of the World Sports alleged doping violations was The scores: Youngster CC 174 Ajmal Khan Club by 97 runs In another game, Radhika’s Week Football Scouts Camp Suhitha to lock horns with Sanjana overturned last year. AP in 39.2 overs (Gagan Vats 52, to enter the final of the two goals led Friends United that began on Friday, said, Harcourt Butler Under­15 capitalised on the available The results: U­18: Nets Hammer Hornets Jitesh Yadav 48, Prince Mehra FC’s 5­0 win against Ahbab “There is talent in plenty in 3/28, Abhishek Sakuja 3/35) lost tournament. NAT. JR. TENNIS time to make his mark. LOS ANGELES FC while Hans Women FC India and it is only a matter Boys: Semifinals: Sandesh Ku­ The scores: Wonders Noida Jeff Green scored a team­ to SS Sports 175/4 in 23.5 overs won 4­0 against Eves SC. of giving them the right kind The 14­year­old Rushil, a rale bt Krishan Hooda 1­6, 6­2, 223 in 40 overs (Sanskar Rawat Sports Bureau high 21 points as Brooklyn (Deepanshu Phore 46, Deepak The results: Signature FC 11 of training. With nearly 30 talented player who has 6­4; Manas Dhamne bt Rushil 83 n.o., Bharti Rawal 3/40) bt INDORE Nets became the first Eastern Khatri 43 n.o., Manan Bhardwaj (Suju Hangma 3, Sainjali academies likely to open in been slowly stepping up Khosla 7­6(2), 1­6, 7­5. 3/37) AKC 126 in 30.2 overs (Sarthak Manas Dhamne fought his Conference team to win 20 . Kemprai 3, Karishma Rai, Sibani the next three years, and with good results, had de­ Doubles (final): Aayush Bhat & Pal 47) home games this season with M­10 Academy in title clash . Sharma, Bhawna Yadav, with UEFA Pro­licensed way past Rushil Khosla 7­6 feated second seed Karan Denim Yadav bt Anup Bangargi a 111­89 rout of Charlotte Delhi Under­19 player Ayush Half­centuries for Ibashisha Khongwet, Sonia coaches to show the way, I (2), 1­6, 7­5 in the semifinals Singh in the earlier round. & Torus Rawat 7­5, 6­4. Hornets on Thursday. have no doubt India’s per­ of the National junior cham­ Doseja made an unbeaten Saksham, Parikshit Marak) bt Goodwill FC 1 In the final, Manas will Girls: Semifinals: Suhitha Ma­ The results: Heat 116 bt pionships at the Indore Ten­ 66 and Mridul Surroch Saksham Negi’s 72 and (Shibani Negi); Ahbab FC 0 lost formance graph will go up.” play Sandesh Kurale who ruri bt Anjali Rathi 6­4, 7­5; Warriors 109; Spurs 129 lost nis Club on Friday. contributed 54 as M­10 Parikshit Sehrawat’s 53 to FUFC 5 (Radhika 2, Charvi Indo Europe Sports aims knocked out top seed Krish­ Sanjana Sirimalla bt Lakshmi to Hawks 134 (OT); Nets 111 to promote relations bet­ an Hooda in three sets. Prabha 7­5, 6­1. bt Hornets 89; Clippers 94 Academy beat Push helped Telefunken Club beat Diesh, Harshita, Yashodhara); The 13­year­old Manas, ween India and Europe be­ lost to Nuggets 101; Pelicans Academy by six wickets to Delhi Cricket Hub by 21 runs Hindustan FC 1 (Ankush) bt who is waiting to get his visa In the girls section, Su­ Doubles (final): Reshma Maruri 110 lost to Magic 115 (OT); enter the final of the Shashi in the D. Fours Under­13 Frontier FC 0; HWFC 4 (Aveka sides North America, to train with the renowned hitha Maruri will play se­ & Suhitha Maruri bt Sudipta Pistons 120 bt Wizards 91; Sharma memorial under­19 tournament. Singh 2, Anushka Samuel 2) bt through football by training coach Riccardo Piatti in Italy cond seed Sanjana Sirimalla Senthilkumar & Riya Uboveja Cavaliers 94 lost to 76ers 114. tournament. The scores: Telefunken Club Eves SC 0. the youth. as part of support from IMG, in the final. 6­3, 7­5. CM A ND-NDE YK