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EMPATHETIC DEEPIKA NO KHANDAGIRI MELA INDIA LOSE 1ST TEST Actor Deepika Padukone says she would The Magha Saptami Mela organised at Virat Kohli & co suffer a 227-run defeat in like to see a world where no life is lost Khandagiri with much fanfare won’t be the first Test in Chennai to trail the four-match series 0-1 due to mental illness LEISURE | P2 held this year DOWNTOWN | P3 SPORTS | P12

VOLUME 10, ISSUE 309 | www.orissapost.com BHUBANESWAR | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10 | 2021 12 PAGES | `4.00

IRREGULAR by MANJUL Ultra gets bro killed State government for leaving Red camp POST NEWS NETWORK

Malkangiri, Feb 9: A former ultra who sur- rendered before Chhattisgarh Police to join the mainstream was shot dead by a contract killer supports farmers hired by his Maoist younger brother in Bijapur district of the neighbouring state, police said. The deceased was identified as Malesh, a for- POST NEWS NETWORK mer assistant commander of Katrapal Maoist outfit in Bijapur district. Police registered a Congress calls for I wanted to share personal anecdotes without hurting govts, religious groups, courts, etc. So I Bhubaneswar, Feb 9: In sync with case and launched a manhunt to nab the killer deleted my social media accounts. the demand of the agitating farmer Maoist and the accused younger brother. unions in the country, the State Malesh shunned the life of a Maoist and sur- shutdown Feb 15 Cabinet Tuesday passed a resolu- rendered before police in 2014. He was rehabil- tion, urging the Centre to implement itated as per the rehabilitation policy of the POST NEWS NETWORK forced to observe the shut- RAJIV KAPOOR DIES the MS Swaminathan Committee government and was appointed as a DRG jawan. down to create awareness report on raising the minimum However, his younger brother who too was a Bhubaneswar, Feb 9: The among people about vari- MUMBAI: Actor- support price (MSP) of foodgrains. Maoist refused to leave the outfit. Malesh tried Odisha Pradesh Congress ous issues, including record director Rajiv The Cabinet headed by Chief to make his younger brother listen to him and Committee Tuesday an- hike in prices of petrol, Kapoor, son of Minister Naveen Patnaik resolved The State Cabinet also approved surrender but he refused him each time. The sur- nounced a statewide shut- diesel and cooking gas," said celebrated to move the Centre, reiterating its a proposal to bring in the ordinance `1.70L cr budget render of Malesh did not go down well with his down February 15 to Patnaik. Meanwhile, filmmaker-actor earlier demand for implementa- on the Odisha Agricultural Produce younger brother. He hired a fellow Maoist to protest the rising FUEL petrol and diesel prices Raj Kapoor, tion of the recommendations of and Livestock Marketing (Promotion BHUBANESWAR: The state eliminate his brother. The contract killer hired prices of petrol and Tuesday climbed to passed away the Committee regarding hiking and Facilitation) for the third time. council of ministers headed by by Malesh’s younger brother shot him dead diesel in the state. PRICES fresh highs in the Tuesday. He was 58. Neetu Kapoor, of the MSP of all crops to ensure Briefing about the decisions, Chief Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik January 28. As per a plan, the brother sent a let- PCC President GO UP country as rates were wife of late actor Rishi Kapoor, doubling the farmers’ income. Secretary SC Mahapatra said the Tuesday approved annual budget ter to Malesh informing him that he has un- Niranjan Patnaik said hiked after a three-day was the first to confirm the news In a press statement, the gov- cabinet has decided to extend the of approximately `1.70 lakh crore dergone a change of mind and wanted to sur- the bandh will be observed hiatus. Petrol and diesel on Instagram. The cause of death ernment said it has been dedicat- Odisha Agricultural Produce and for the financial year 2021-22. render before police. Malesh was asked to come from 7 am to 1 pm across prices in Bhubaneswar were was not known immediately. Rajiv Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari Kapoor made his acting debut with edly working towards development Livestock Marketing (Promotion to their native village to participate in his sur- the state. "We know that the hiked by 36paise and 38 paise of farmers and is committed to the and Facilitation) ordinance to pro- will present the budget in render event. Malesh was on his way to his vil- decision will inconvenience per litre respectively, according 1983 film "Ek Jaan Hain Hum", but Assembly February 22. The total made first appearance as a hero in doubling of farmers' income. All gov- vide competitive rates to farmers lage when he was waylaid and shot dead. the people. But we have been to state-owned fuel retailers. ernment policies and programmes, for their produces. budget outlay for the year 2020- blockbuster "Ram Teri Ganga 21 was `1.50 lakh crore. Maili" (1985), which was Raj including the new Agricultural The government has approved the Kapoor's last directorial venture. P2 Policy 2020 SAMRUDHI are aimed proposal to implement Rejuvenating at achieving rapid farm growth Watersheds for Agricultural fessors, readers and lecturers as Class IX pupils of MARKET WATCH through improved profitability, in- Resilience through Innovative professors, associate professors U’khand toll up to 31 clusivity and sustainability, it said. Development (REWARD) project. and assistant professors in line 19-20 batch can The state government considers The government will spend Rs500 with the all India pattern and as per AGENCIES ing by inexorably, fears escalated INDEX VARIATION that the MSP is an important tool crore on science-based watershed AICTE norms. about those missing since the dis- for income generation of farmers. management for six years starting A new section has been inserted Dehradun/Joshimath, Feb 9: aster struck on Sunday morning, sit for board exam SENSEX 51329.08 19.69 The income of farmers needs to from April, 2021. Out of this, the wherein the chancellor is made The toll from the Uttarakhand gla- according to officials who stepped POST NEWS NETWORK keep pace with the growth of income World Bank will provide a loan as- competent to issue direction or cier disaster rose to 31 with five up efforts to locate survivors. BOURSES NIFTY 15109.30 6.50 in other sectors and the rise in the sistance amounting to `350 crore. The instruction not inconsistent with more bodies being recovered, offi- The missing people include those Bhubaneswar, Feb 9: Class IX stu- DOLLAR 73.32 `0.06 cost of cultivation. project will benefit 1,90,000 persons the provisions of this Act and cials said on Tuesday as multiple working at NTPC's 480 MW dents of 2019-20 academic session The MSP of any agricultural including 10,000 poor and landless statutes on any matter connected agencies raced against time to reach Tapovan-Vishnugad project and in the state can give matricula- EURO 88.37 `0.38

CURRENCY produce has to be fixed in a holis- households, Mahapatra said. with the university when any au- about 30 workers trapped inside a the 13.2 MW Rishiganga Hydel tion exam in May, said Chief GOLD `48,045 `206 tic manner so as to make farming The government has also de- thority or Vice-Chancellor fails to tunnel in a power project site and Project and villagers whose homes Minister Naveen Patnaik Tuesday. operations profitable and safeguard cided to bring in an amendment act in accordance with the provi- 175 people remained missing. nearby were washed away. This decision was taken looking SILVER `69,750 `334 farmers against all types of risks, to the Biju Patnaik University of sions of this Act. Two of the bodies were recov- Teams of the Army, Indo-Tibetan at the students’ situation after BULLION the statement said. Technology Act, 2002 for smooth In order to bring uniformity with ered from the debris in Raini village, Border Police, National Disaster schools were closed for more than Earlier, the State Assembly had functioning and academic excel- other state universities, it is proposed National Disaster Response Force Response Force and State Disaster 10 months since March 2020. Due passed unanimous resolutions in lence of the university. It was pro- to fix the term of office of the Vice (NDRF) officials said, two days after Response Force coordinated efforts to closure of schools, Class IX stu- WEATHER this regard in 2017 and again in posed to convert the status of gov- Chancellor of BPUT at four years a portion of the Nanda Devi glacier to rescue about 30 people. The work- dents were not able to gave their BHUB CTK 2018. The Cabinet in November last ernment engineering colleges from instead of the current five years. possibly burst its banks and trig- ers have been trapped in the 12-ft- annual exams. year had also approved a similar res- constituent colleges of BPUT and As part of its 5T mantra, the gered an avalanche and floods in the high and about 2.5-km-long 'head In January, the government MAX 31.7° 31.2° olution. The MS Swaminathan- bring them under their respective state Cabinet approved the pro- Alaknanda river system. race tunnel' (HRT). "Clearing of opened Classes X and XII for com- headed National Commission on autonomous Board of Governors for posed SOPAN (Strategy for Odisha's The State Emergency Operation debris and slush continued the pleting their syllabi in 100 days TEMP MIN 14.2° 13.5° Forecast Farmers had recommended that proper administration, the Chief Pathway to Accelerated Nutrition) Centre said five bodies were found whole night. About 120 metres of the before the exam. The state gov- Humidity 91% 78% "MSP should be at least 50 per cent Secretary said. scheme for improving nutrition in the morning, taking the death toll tunnel entrance stretch is now ernment also opened the schools Mainly Rainfall Nil Nil clear sky more than the weighted average It is proposed to re-designate the outcomes in 125 blocks of 22 districts to 31, and estimated that 175 people clear," ITBP spokesperson Vivek Monday for Class IX and Class XI cost of production". conventional designation of pro- in the state. More P4 are still missing. With the hours tick- Kumar Pandey said in Delhi. students. For students’ doubt clearance there will be special classes to be conducted by the schools. The board of secondary education Army using dogs to detect COVID-19 to cut time delay Monday announced the schedule of matric exams to be conducted from May 3 to May 15. AGENCIES 19 by sniffing samples of sweat and is the first time canines have been them, to avoid any surface contact This apart, the government also urine, senior Army officials said. PIONEERING PAWS used for medical detection in India," transmission to people handling the decided that Class XI students of New Delhi, Feb 9: In a first for A demonstration of their skills he told reporters. dogs, the samples are first exposed 2019-20 session can sit for Plus II the country, the Indian Army is using real samples was held on THE INDIAN ARMY To a question on where the dogs to UV rays," Saini said. exam. After resumption of phys- using its dogs for quick detection of Tuesday on the premises of the 48 HAS AROUND 1,200 are being deployed, Saini said that "This is the first time in India ical classes for Classes X and XII COVID-19 to cut down time delays Military Veterinary Hospital at DOGS, OUT OF after their training in September, the that the olfactory capability of ca- students, classes for IX and XI stu- associated with regular diagnostic Delhi Cantonment. Their handlers WHICH NEARLY dogs were deployed at the Army's nines are being used to detect tis- dents resumed Monday after more techniques. were wearing full PPE kits. 700 ARE DEPLOYED transit camp in Delhi in November. sues infected with pathogens re- than 10 months due to Covid-19 The canine members of the Lt Col Surinder Saini, instructor From December, they are being de- leasing volatile metabolic pandemic. armed force are known for their at the Dog Training Facility of the ployed at the transit camp in biomarkers," he added. As per the government SOP, pronounced olfactory capability Remount Veterinary Corps (RVC) A COCKER Chandigarh from where troops move The Indian Army has around physical classes of Classes IX and and have earlier helped in explosive Centre in Meerut, said these dogs SPANIEL AND A to large areas, including the Ladakh 1,200 dogs, out of which nearly 700 XI will continue till April 30 from and narcotics detection, search and are "pioneering canines" of not just 'CHIPPIPARAI' region, under the North Command. are deployed, a senior official said. 8:30 am to 10:30 am (Monday to y rescue operations, and other chal- the Army, but of entire India. TRAINED TO "Army dogs were successfully trained "Besides these two dogs, eight Saturday). Three periods will be

lenging tasks. Now, they have an- "Countries like the UK, Finland, DETECT COVID-19 on specific biomarkers emanating other dogs, including four labradors, taken up for these classes daily.

k y m c other job. France, Russia, Germany, Lebanon, BY SNIFFING from urine and sweat samples of are also undergoing training," Saini There will be no recess. SWEAT, URINE Two dogs – two-year-old cocker the UAE and the US have already positive patients. These samples do said. One-year-old Mani, another Sitting arrangements in class- spaniel Casper and one-year-old trained dogs for detection of COVID- not contain living virus, but only chippiparai dog undergoing train- rooms have been made keeping Jaya, a 'chippiparai', which is an 19. Dogs have been previously used THEY HAVE SNIFFED OUT 22 POSITIVE volatile metabolic biomarkers, which ing, also showed his skills during in view the size of the rooms so as CASES OF COVID-19 FROM 800 indigenous breed from Tamil Nadu abroad to detect malaria, diabetes the dogs have been trained to de- the demonstration. Mani is the to ensure that social distancing SAMPLES AT DELHI TRANSIT CAMP – have been trained to detect COVID- and Parkinson's disease, but this tect. Prior to bringing in front of elder brother of Jaya. is maintained. P2 SALMA WAS TOLD SHE WOULD OSCAR-NOMINATED SCREENWRITER WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 10 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR NEVER MAKE IT AS AN ACTRESS JEAN-CLAUDE CARRIERE DIES AT 89 Top star Salma Hayek was once told she would Jean-Claude Carriere, the prolific French screenwriter never make it as an actress in Hollywood. “First and novelist who was Oscar-nominated for The of all, they told me a Mexican is never going to Unbearable Lightness of Being, That Obscure Object of make it because it was impossible for a Desire and The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie,

y leisure Mexican to have a leading role in Hollywood,” died Monday at his home in Paris. He was 89. His

k y m Salma said, reports femalefirst.co.uk. family confirmed his death due to natural causes. c FORTUNE FORECAST B-Town mourns Ram Teri Ganga Maili actor’s exit Deepika wants to see a Mumbai: Top stars poured their Granth. It was a difficult sub- love and light,” Namrata directorAshutosh Gowariker posted: hearts out on social media and re- ject which he handled Shirodkar commented. "Saddened to hear about the passing world with no death ARIES called the time they spent with late with great maturity Sunny Deol, in his tweet, of Rajiv Kapoor! I was a fan from his Sometimes, pressure is a actor Rajiv Kapoor, who died Tuesday though it was his wrote: “Shocked to hear Ram Teri Ganga Maili days. We had good thing, as it brings in Mumbai. first film. My heart- about Rajiv Kapoor's wrapped shoot for my home pro- out the best in you. You Veteran singer Lata Mangeshkar felt condolences to passing. Deepest con- duction TOOLSIDAS JUNIOR. Rajiv will outshine your col- tweeted: I just got to know about the the Kapoor family. dolences to the Kapoor was so affable and played his part with due to mental illness leagues in whatever you choose to do. passing away of the talented actor RIP.” “Saddened family.” much fun & ease. Will miss him But your expectations may far exceed the outcome. Ganesha asks that you Rajiv Kapoor, the youngest son of to hear about the “Shocked n deeply!" have patience. Results take time. Raj Kapoor Sahab. I'm deeply sad- untimely demise Devastated on Netizens flooded social media to Mumbai: Actress Deepika Alongside the image, she dened by the news. May his soul rest of Rajiv Kapoor ji. #RajivKapoor passing pay their condolences. They also Padukone, who has openly wrote: “Mental health is a in peace. My deepest condo- away. Seen you grow up. sent love and prayers for the Kapoor spoken about her battle with cause that is extremely per- TAURUS Madhuri Dixit, who acted in lences to the entire Condolences to the entire family, who in the last one year has depression at the peak of her sonal and dear to me. Over A FILE PHOTO Planning your own mile- Rajiv’s direction Prem Granth wrote: family,” tweeted Akshay family. RIP,” tweeted pro- seen the passing away of Rishi Kapoor career, says she would like to the last 5 years, donors, part- stones and celebrating “I had the opportunity of working Kumar. ducer-director Boney Kapoor in April 2020 and sister Ritu Nanda see a world where no life is lost ners, government authorities the success of friends is with Rajiv Kapoor in the film Prem “My heartfelt condolences. Sending on his micro blogging site. Noted in January 2020. IANS due to mental illness. and our incredible team have the agenda for the day. Your thoughts will be progressive in busi- Deepika posted a picture all played a crucial role in ness or at work, and any plans you make of her organisation, The Live LiveLoveLaugh’s journey, but will make a rock-solid foundation for your Love Laugh Foundation, on the greatest impact has been future. Social gatherings and parties will When Priyanka was asked Instagram Monday. from those who have had a beckon with bubbly and bruschetta. lived experience with men- tal illness, and their care- to fix her ‘proportions’ givers.” GEMINI Deepika added: “I would You will be in a spot of like to see a world where bother owing to financial problems today. You will Los Angeles: Actress Priyanka Chopra says she had no life is lost due to men- try to reduce your been advised in her early days to get a boob job done tal illness, and expenses and increase your savings, but if she wanted to become an actress in Hindi film LiveLoveLaugh is com- circumstances will be such that you will industry. The 38-year-old actress, who was crowned mitted to delivering on have to spend your money. You will Miss World in 2000, has recalled the incident in that aspiration.” spend your day in all this financial jug- her autobiography Unfinished. glery, says Ganesha. One of the highest Priyanka shared that the first person she paid actor in India, met suggested that she should fix her 'propor- Deepika, who started CANCER tions', and her then-manager agreed with the her career with Om You may get a gift from idea. Shanti Om in 2007, has your life partner. Ties “After a few minutes of small talk, the di- set up a foundation to with business partners rector/producer told me to stand up and create awareness on will be good and you will twirl for him. I did. He stared at me long mental health get a good news from them. Time to and hard, assessing me, and then sug- Kangana compares named The Live make new plans for the future with spouse. You will feel greater companion- gested that I get a boob job, fix my Love Laugh ship with spouse, giving you joy. jaw, and add a little more cushioning herself to Streep, Gadot Foundation to my butt,” she wrote in the book. in 2015, She admitted: “I never had the which cre- LEO courage to stand up for myself.” Mumbai: Actress Kangana Ranaut ates Decisions taken in “Now on the other side of Tuesday declared she has raw talent aware- haste will prove to be 35. I know that’s a normalised like Oscar winning-actress Meryl Streep, ness harmful. You need to thing that girls hear so often. and skilled action capabilities and glam- about carefully weigh the I fell for it too, even though I our like actress Gal Gadot. stress, pros and cons of every decision that consider myself a forward- She also stated that she is ‘open for de- anxiety you take today, considering all the pos- sible alternative thoroughly. You need thinking, smart girl,” she bate if anyone can show me more range and de- to be extremely industrious on the added. and brilliance of craft than me by any pres- work-front as well. IANS other actress on this planet’. sion. The actress made her assertion shar- IANS ing several images from her upcoming VIRGO films, Thalaivi and Dhaakad. The pho- Something you achieve tographs show Kangana’s physical trans- in a most unexpected formation, when she gained weight for manner will make you her role in Thalaivi and shed the extra very happy today. But kilos for the action film Dhaakad. your happiness may possibly be marred by getting agitated about the problems “Massive transformation alert, The you are facing. You may expect new kind of range I display as a performer funds for new projects, says Ganesha. no other actress on this globe has that Your business will flourish today. right now, I have raw talent like Meryl Streep for layered character depictions but I can also do skilled action and glam- LIBRA our like Gal Gadot #Thalaivi #Dhaakad,” Ganesha says that you she wrote. will be able to see a “I am open for debate if anyone can huge change in your show me more range and brilliance of personal and social sta- tus. Ganesha says that this may be due craft than me by any other actress on this to medium like television or due to your planet I promise to give up my arro- innovative ideas in your work place. gance, until then I can surely afford the People will be praising you and your luxury of pride #Thalaivi #Dhaakad,” work today. she added. IANS SCORPIO Your energy levels are on an all time high today, as you plan to begin a new SUDOKU business venture. You are PEANUTS post To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, determined to give in your best and toil CROSSWORD column and box must contain the numbers hard till you succeed in your plans. Well, 0 to 9 and the letters A to E. and the day turns out to be fruitful and worthy when you garner compliments and positive feedback about your work from your peers, says Ganesha.

SAGITTARIUS You take the path of spir- ituality for the peace of mind and to stay away from the daily humdrum of life. You will not only seek love, but also spread love around you. In a nut- shell, a pleasant day in store for you, says Ganesha.

CAPRICORN CALVIN AND HOBBES You have become worka- holic and others may have complains against you for being so busy. But, you should not take to heart as you are finishing off assignments which have been hanging in there for a long time SOLUTIONS now. Once done with the work, you'll have ample of time for your lover.

AQUARIUS Amid all the boring work buzz, you will manage to sustain your sense of humour. And, why not? After all, you are an expert at inducing a laugh riot! You are in a gregarious mood and that explains it. BREVITY CROSSWORD

PISCES You will experience mixed feelings today. On one

y hand tension and stress

about how to set a deteri-

k y m orating situation right will keep you wor- c ried, and on the other hand you will be in a mood to accept things for what they are. What you learn now will be very vital in your development, and will help you progress and become a better person in the future, says Ganesha. CHECK FOR SOLUTIONS OF THE PUZZLES TOMORROW SUDOKU COVID-19 TRACKER P3 WATER-RICH FRUIT WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 10 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR INFECTED RECOVERED DEAD A woman sells World 10,71,14,868 7,90,05,929 23,39,402 watermelons alongside a road at College Square in India 1,07,91,123 1,04,79,508 1,54,742 Cuttack, Tuesday

downtown Odisha 3,35,797 3,33,139 1,910

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Investments worth `1,242Cr get nod POLITICKLE by MANJUL

POST NEWS NETWORK crore having employment po- EMPLOYMENT BOOST tential of 345. Bhubaneswar, Feb 9: In yet another Atomized Iron Powder plant proj- move to create employment op- THE PROJECTS WILL CREATE ect of SLM Powders Private Limited portunities through industriali- EMPLOYMENT also got government approval. The sation, the state government OPPORTUNITIES FOR 3,135 plant will be set up at IDCO Tuesday approved eight invest- PERSONS Industrial Estate Kulanga in ment proposals worth Rs 1,242 Sundargarh district with an in- crore. CHIEF SECRETARY ASKS vestment of Rs 67.83 crore. It has The State-Level Single Window OFFICIALS TO FACILITATE the potential to create employment Clearance Authority (SLSWCA) EARLY GROUNDING AND opportunities for 430 persons. headed by Chief Secretary SC TIMELY COMMISSIONING OF Surya International’s proposal Mahapatra has approved the proj- THE PROJECTS to set up an electronic manufac- ect proposals which will create em- turing unit at Info Valley in Khurda ployment opportunities for 3,135 IPICOL WAS DIRECTED TO with a cost of Rs 67.50 crore was ap- persons. PROVIDE NECESSARY proved by the single window au- The proposal to set up an PIC FOR REPRESENTATION HANDHOLDING SUPPORT thority. The project will provide Integrated Heavy Beach Sands proj- employment to 680 persons. ect by IREL IDCOL Ltd at Mahapatra directed the depart- Krushnaprasad in Puri was ap- persons. hotel-cum-luxury resort in Puri at ments concerned to facilitate early proved by the government. The Logistics Park proposal by an investment of Rs 135.69 crore. The grounding and commissioning of project will be set up at an invest- Jagannath Industrial and Logistics project is likely to create 350 jobs. the projects. ment of Rs 460 crore and has em- Parks Private Limited at Tangi- The panel approved the proposal Industrial Promotion & ployment potential for 800 persons. Choudwar in Cuttack district also of Swosti Premium Ltd to set up a Investment Corporation of Odisha The government has approved got government nod. The park will 5-star luxury resort in Puri. The cost (IPICOL) was directed to provide Oricon Enterprises Ltd’s proposal be set up with an investment of Rs of the project is Rs 134 crore with necessary handholding support. to set up a food & beverage unit in 140 crore and provide employment an job potential of 310. Industry Secretary Hemant Sharma Khurda with an investment of Rs to 110 youths. A 4-star hotel will be set up by presented the scrutinized projects 120 crore. This project will gener- Similarly, Pravat Hospitality Hotel Eden Roc in Bhubaneswar with its financial, product and tech- ate employment avenues for 110 Private Limited will set up a 5-star with an investment of Rs 117 nological details for discussion. Govt to move SC No Khandagiri Mela on Kotia issue this year, says BMC POST NEWS NETWORK POST NEWS NETWORK Mishra is the AOR Supreme Court lawyer em- Bhubaneswar, Feb 9: Bhubaneswar, Feb 9: The panelled by the state gov- Bhubaneswar Municipal state government is all set to ernment to appear for it in the Corporation (BMC) knock doors of the Supreme court. The Revenue and Commissioner Prem Chandra Court challenging Andhra Disaster Management de- Chaudhary Tuesday said that FILE PHOTO Pradesh government’s an- partment has been asked to the traditional Magha Saptami nouncement to conduct pan- provide Mishra all the rele- Mela organised at Khandagiri Civic officials said chayat election in three vil- vant documents for filing the with much fanfare every year lages of Kotia gram panchayat petition. will not be held this year in that law and order in Koraput district February A case of border dispute be- view of Covid-19 pandemic. issue due to gathering 13 and 17. tween the two states over However, the usual rituals of large number of Kotia cluster of villages is of Magha Saptami may be sub-judice in SC Supreme conducted in strict adherence people will be a cause Court. to Covid safety protocols, said of concern While Odisha claims that the BMC Commissioner. three village are in its juris- Despite the assurance from diction, Andhra Pradesh avers Jatra Committee that had of social distancing as per that they are located under submitted proposals and un- Covid-19 safety protocol will Salur mandal in dertakings to abide by Covid- be impossible due to expected Vizianagaram district. 19 safety protocols, the BMC large congregation which Odisha government has observed that due to the on- will endanger public safety, been objecting to Andhra going expansion work on NH- read the order, adding, “Now, Law department deputy Pradesh government’s alleged 16 the road being used is ex- therefore, in view of public secretary Bhagaban Nayak move to lure the inhabitants tremely narrow and there safety it has been decided Tuesday directed Advocate of the Kotia cluster of villages will be serious traffic snarl if that the Magha Saptami Mela on Record (AOR) Sibo Sankar by giving them additional ra- the opera shows are allowed. (Khandagiri Mela) will not Mishra to file a writ petition tions and other benefits. The BMC Commissioner be held for this year.” before the apex court chal- Chief Minister Naveen also said that the law and It’s worth mentioning here lenging the notification of Patnaik recently inaugurated order issue due to congrega- that a writ petition was filed State Election Commission, Rs 18 crore development proj- tion of large number of peo- in Orissa High Court seeking Andhra Pradesh to hold pan- ects for Kotia gram panchayat ple will be a cause of con- a directive to allow the chayat elections in three vil- and laid the foundation stone cern. Further, there will be no ‘Khandagiri Mela’. But the lages of Kotia GP which are for other projects worth space available on the road to court dismissed the petition under the territorial juris- Rs five crore for the region. accommodate temporary erec- and directed the local au- diction of Odisha. (MORE PAGE - 5) tion of stalls. “There is ap- thorities to take a decision prehension that maintenance in this regard. On morning walk, lady loses gold Check twice before buying kitchen items chain to muggers With the seizure of adulterated ghee, sauce, turmeric and chilli powder from various manufacturing units in Cuttack, concerns have been POST NEWS NETWORK raised regarding food safety. At least 5 tonnes of adulterated food materials worth several lakhs were destroyed by the officials, Tuesday Bhubaneswar, Feb 9: Three unidentified bike-borne miscre- ants snatched a gold chain from a woman in Jharpada area of the Capital city Tuesday morning. The incident took place at around 7am when victim Manorama Sahoo was out for her daily morning walk. She tried to resist the miscreants who tugged at her chain. In the process, Manorama fell down and suffered bruises, it was learnt.

According to a source, the woman was on her regular morn- ing walk Tuesday and was on her way home. The three youths were waiting for her near an apart- ment. As she got close to the build- ing, one youth walked up to her and threatened her with a sharp weapon which he placed on her neck. He snatched the gold chain and the trio fled the spot on a mo-

torcycle.

k y m c Tipped off about the incident, police launched a manhunt to nab the accused. They are scanning the footage captured in the CCTV cam- PICS : RAJKISHORE MOHANTY eras installed in the locality, it was learnt. P4 WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 10 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR downtown

Integrated Infra Complexes

k y m to come up in all districts Unnatural deaths up in City during 2020 c POST NEWS NETWORK for construction of intake structure to pump water from Bargarh Main POST NEWS NETWORK Bhubaneswar, Feb 9: The state Canal to meet the irrigation re- RISING GRAPH Cabinet Tuesday decided to con- quirement of Gangadhar Meher Bhubaneswar, Feb 9: The Capital Cybercrime help desk struct Integrated Infrastructure Lift Irrigation Project. The work city witnessed a surge in unnatu- n In 2019, as many as 1,483 Complexes (IICs) in all the districts will be executed through ral deaths under various police sta- unnatural death cases were in a phased manner as per 5T ac- Engineering, Procurement and tions during 2020. Unnatural deaths registered at various police receives 1,207 plaints tion plan. Construction (EPC) mode on include accidental deaths, suicides, stations in the city In the first phase, 10 IICs are turnkey basis. deaths due to complications in sur- n The number rose to 1,583 in 2020 he recently-opened cyber- the desk received 368 calls from taken up for construction out of The project will be completed gery, attack by some wild animal like registering a 6 per cent rise Tcrime help desk at the special the denizens in Bhubaneswar which 9 complexes – Khurda, within 30 months. On completion snakes etc. squad office here received 1,207 while the remaining were from Cuttack, Puri, Kandhamal, of this work, irrigation facility for In 2019, as many as 1,483 unnat- n Most of the unnatural death complaints from the victims other parts of the state. Sarangi Sambalpur, Bhadrak, 25,600 hectares of land ural death cases were registered cases were reported at across the state during last one also urged the victims from out- Malkangiri, Ganjam and CABINET in Bijepur, Sohela and at various police stations in the Khandagiri, Capital, Nayapalli month. side the Capital city not to call the Nabarangpur – are Barpali blocks of Bargarh city. The number rose to 1,583 in 2020 and Mancheswar police stations Speaking to media persons, desk as its power is limited to funded from the state DECISIONS district and Dunguripali registering a 6 per cent rise, said the Commissioner of Police, Bhubaneswar UPD only. budget and the one in Sundargarh block of Sonepur district will be en- sources at the Commissionerate Sudhanshu Sarangi, Tuesday Meanwhile, police through out of District Mineral Fund (DMF). sured. The panel further approved Police. According to the data, as many which decreased to 455 in 2020. revealed that the cyber crimi- analysis came to know that most The remaining eight DMF dis- tenders for execution of four rural Most of the unnatural death as 8,229 cognisable cases were However, the registration of nals have duped the victims of Rs of the fraudulent calls to the vic- tricts will take up construction of piped water supply projects---two cases have been reported at police registered at various police sta- cognisable cases increased in 1.4 crore during the above men- tims were made from Jamtara in such complex expeditiously while each for Jajpur and Kandhamal stations like Khandagiri, Capital, tions in the city during 2019. Khandagiri, Capital, Airport and tioned period. Jharkhand, areas near Deoghar setting up of IIC in the remaining districts. Nayapalli and Mancheswar. However, the city witnessed 7,671 Airfield police stations. Sarangi further informed the in Bihar and some villages in 12 districts will be taken up in the By execution of these projects, However, the city registered a cognisable crimes in 2020. Khandagiri police station wit- media that the cops succeeded in West Bengal along the border of second phase starting from the fi- 3,90,868 people of 69 GPs of Jajpur decline in various serious crimes Major police stations like nessed a significant rise in the reg- blocking transfer of Rs 7.19 lakh Bangladesh, Noida in Uttar nancial year 2022-23. district and 1,05,217 people under 25 during 2020. The cognisable crimes Chandrasekharpur, Nayapalli istration of various cognisable to the account of alleged cyber Pradesh and Kerala. The complexes will have old age GPs of Kandhamal district will be are serious in nature that include and Sahid Nagar have registered cases in 2020. In 2019, 760 serious fraudsters in the last one month. He also stated that the help home, home for the destitute, phys- provided with safe drinking water. rape, murder, kidnapping, un- significant decline in the regis- crimes had taken place in The city police also managed to desk’s prime objective is to pro- iotherapy centre, medical unit, re- The total cost of Jajpur project natural offence, dowry death etc. tration of cognizable cases in Khandagiri area that rose to 888 block 239 SIM cards used by the vide immediate assistance to the habilitation centre and special is Rs 254.27crore while Rs 185.92 A police officer has the power 2020. in 2020 registering an increase criminals to dupe gullible victims. victims during the vital golden schools for visually impaired, hear- crore to be spent for execution of to arrest the suspect in cognis- In 2019, 705 serious crimes were of around 17 per cent. As many as 289 callers have al- hour, the first hour of incident of ing impaired and those with in- project in Kandhamal district. able offence without warrant while registered in Sahid Nagar as As many as 593 serious cases leged cheating through UPI trans- cheating. Sarangi revealed that the tellectual disabilities. Both the projects are targeted for the police require the permission against 542 in 2020. As many as 632 were reported at Capital police sta- action while only 46 victims were proposed cyber police station in Similarly, the Cabinet has also ap- completion within a period of 24 of magistrate to arrest the suspect cognisable cases registered with tion as against 501in the previous duped through OTP. Similarly, city is likely to come up this year. proved tender of Rs 340.36 crore months. in non-cognisable offences. the Mancheswar police in 2019 year. ANTI-FILARIA DRIVE BEGINS TODAY Courtesy call Odisha has planned to eliminate the disease, which spreads through mosquito bites, by 2030

POST NEWS NETWORK tal growth. This time due to clo- FILARIA FACTS sure of Angwandi centres and Bhubaneswar, Feb 9: The state schools due to COVID, we are giv- n Swollen legs, scrotum and milky white urine are the Health and Family Welfare (H&FW) symptoms of filaria ing it through our health workers.” department Tuesday said that it Bijay Mohapatra, Director, Health n has planned to commence its first The disease is spread through mosquito bites Services, informed the media that phase of mass drug administra- n Filaria may take 15-20 years to show symptoms post the drug will be given amid ad- tion drive against lymphatic filar- infection herence to Covid-19 safety proto- iasis from Wednesday in eight high- n Filaria drug can arrest growth of the pathogen in human cols by the grassroots workers. burden districts. body “The drugs are safe but it will not Eight districts would be targeted n The drug helps in reducing the chances of spread of the be given to kids below two years of for the drug administration in the disease from one person to others age, pregnant ladies and persons first phase planned from February with serious illness,” he said. n Experts said the drug is safe and hardly has any side effect 10 to 19. These districts are: Bhadrak, The state government has Balasore, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, planned to eliminate the disease Jharsuguda, Khurda, Nuapada and centres, we have decided to give the “The disease leads to Hydrocele by 2030. The experts claimed that Nayagarh. filaria drug as well as deworming (inflammation of the scrotum), after getting infected, the infected The second phase of the drive tablets together. Our health workers lymphoedema (swelling in the limbs) persons show symptoms after a will include nine other districts - will visit door to door and ask citi- and Chyluria (milky white urine) very long time, around 15 years Angul, Ganjam, Mayurbhanj, zens to consume the drugs in their in later stages,” he said. post infection. Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Kandhamal, presence,” Niranjan Mishra, Director, Bijoy Kumar Panigrahi, Director, The health official said that filaria Sonepur, Bargarh and Sambalpur Public Health department said. Family Welfare said, “The admin- drugs need to be taken annually – as a total of 17 districts will be cov- Mishra said that filaria, which istration of deworming drug- and after five years of consump- ered in the entire drive. spreads through mosquito bites, is Albendazole is also important. This tion of the drug, the pathogen, pres- A delegation of Srimandir servitors calls on Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at his residence in Bhubaneswar, Tuesday, “This time, owing to the close one of the leading causes of trig- drug helps kids in better nutrition ent in their initial stages, will be to thank the CM for his personal intervention with regard to the withdrawal of draft bylaws for the 12th century shrine. down of schools and anganwadi gering disability in human beings. absorption better physical and men- eliminated. 5T Secretary VK Pandian is also seen OP PHOTO ADIVASI MELA BJP team meets Shah NCC cadets CONCLUDES State’s urban initiatives picked feted in Cuttack POST NEWS NETWORK for Puri development for Guangzhou Int’l Award POST NEWS NETWORK Bhubaneswar, Feb 9: Adivasi Cuttack, Feb 9: The NCC Group Mela-2021 concluded on a high note POST NEWS NETWORK controversial draft heritage by- UNITED NEWS OF INDIA Headquarters here Tuesday here Tuesday. The fair that lasted laws. The servitors of Srimandir awarded cadets with commenda- for 15 days helped to make tribal New Delhi, Feb 9: A delegation of also urged the Home Minister to Bhubaneswar, Feb 9: Two inno- tion cards for their outstanding per- women financially independent the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) take steps for the development of vative urban initiatives of the state formance. by selling their organic products. led by Union Minister Dharmendra the heritage city. government have been shortlisted According to sources, cadet Pradhan and servitors (sevayats) “We met Home Minister Amit in the top 15 at the prestigious 2020 Sasmita Das of 7 (O) Bn NCC, of Srimandir Tuesday met Home Shah over the controversial draft Guangzhou International Award Bhadrak was felicitated with Minister Amit Shah urging him by-laws and we were assured that for Urban Innovations exemplary Raksha Rajya Mantri to take steps for the development as long as Modi government is in models of innovative policies and Commendation Card, while cadets of Puri city and preservation of power, no harm will be done to practices. Jyotsnarani Sahu of 7 (O) Bn NCC, Odia culture. Odia culture or heritage and all Odisha is the only state from Bhadrak, Srusti Samikshya of 1 The saffron delegation also efforts will be made to preserve India with two initiatives in the top (O) Girls Bn NCC, Bhubaneswar thanked the Home Minister and Jagannath culture,” said Lekhashri 15 and one initiative in the next top and Nibedita Tarai of 3 (O) NU Union Culture Minister Prahlad Samantsinghar, Odisha BJP general 30 deserving interventions for NCC, Cuttack were awarded with More than 2.50 lakh people vis- Singh Patel for withdrawal of the secretary. Global Award. DG Commendation Card. ited the fair with a staggering The two innovative urban ini- “Cadets Himanshu Bhol of 1 business of over Rs 2.5 crore. On tiatives — Urban Wage (O) Bn NCC, Cuttack, Ananta Das the concluding day, Subroto Bagchi Employment Initiative (UWEI) File photo of murals being painted in Bhubaneswar under the Urban Wage of 1 (O) Bn NCC, Cuttack, Soumya Chairman of Odisha Skill Bengal man held for murder of minor implemented in all 114 urban local Employment Initiative Ranjan Jena of 12 (O) Bn NCC, Development Authority, joined bodies (ULBs) and Faecal Sludge Bhubaneswar: Airfield Police Tuesday arrested a person hailing from West Bengal on the fair as the chief guest while and Septage Management had received 273 initiatives sub- charges of kidnapping and murdering a 14-year-old girl. The accused identified as Odisha is the only state Susmita Bagchi, Chairperson of Hamidul Lakshar was produced before the court and was taken on transit remand. The (FSSM) in Berhampur—have mitted from 175 cities from 60 Mo School and nodal officer Akhila cops have now handed over the accused to West Bengal police as the case was regis- been shortlisted in the top 15 from India with two countries. Bihari Ota attended the event. tered in the Diamond Harbour GRP Police Station in Bengal. Police sources said that after at the prestigious 2020 initiatives in the top The award is co-sponsored by Two books penned by Professor Ota committing the crime, the accused had fled Bengal and started residing in the Capital Guangzhou International Award the City of Guangzhou and re- was released at the fair. city here. He was working as a construction worker and was staying in the Airfield area. for Urban Innovations exem- 15 and one in the puted global networks of cities plary models of innovative poli- next top 30 deserving and local, regional, and metro- cies and practices. politan governments, namely Another innovative and peo- interventions United Cities and Local Engg colleges, ITIs, polytechnics reopen today ple-centric urban mission ‘Drink Governments (UCLG) and the from Tap Mission’ in Puri has also hancing the resilience of the urban World Association of the Major Dhenkanal, Sai Subhashree Sahoo POST NEWS NETWORK (PG) students will begin Wednesday. February 2 notified that the State been selected in the top 30 list of population in the state, the ini- Metropolises (Metropolis). of 1 (O) Girls Bn NCC, As per a notification issued by Public Universities and deserving interventions. tiative in Berhampur was chosen The award is also supported by Bhubaneswar, Arpita Biswal of 1 Bhubaneswar, Feb 9: All the Skill Development and Technical Government as well as non-gov- Panchayati Raj Minister for promoting sustainable envi- renowned global networks com- (O) Bn NCC, Cuttack, Sremayee technical and professional insti- Education Department, all ITIs, ernment degree colleges coming Pratap Jena congratulated the de- ronment conservation and women mitted to sustainable development Satapathy of 12 (O) Bn NCC, tutions across Odisha will reopen polytechnics, engineering colleges under HE department are hereby partment and officers concerned empowerment through Faecal and addressing climate change Dhenkanal, Babi Sahu of 12 (O) Bn February 10. However, physical and other professional institutions directed to commence physical for their persistent hard work Sludge and Septage Management namely, ICLEI and C40. NCC, Dhenkanal, Santosh Kumar mode of teaching will resume will resume their work from to- classes for students of 2020-21 pre- and dedication in setting bench- in the city. All 15 shortlisted cities will re- Sahoo of 3 (O) NU NCC, Cuttack February 17 in compliance with morrow. final year UG (2nd year in case of marks in urban development The 2020 Guangzhou Award ceive medals and certificates and and Ashutosh Behera of 3 (O) NU Covid-19 protocols. Earlier, In a letter to the vice 3-year UG course and 3rd year in and being an example for others aimed at recognising innovation all the 45 interventions will be NCC, Cuttack were felicitated by Similarly, classroom teaching chancellors and principals, Higher case of 4-year UG course) and first to emulate. in improving social, economic and featured in the special publica- the Group Commander for par- for pre-final year undergraduate Education (HE) department year PG courses from 10-02-2021 While the UWEI was shortlisted environmental sustainability in tion to be brought out on the ticipating in Republic Day camp

(UG) and first year postgraduate Principal Secretary Saswat Mishra (Wednesday).” for reducing vulnerabilities and en- cities and regions across the world, Innovative Interventions. at New Delhi,” added the source.

k y m c P5 WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 10 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR state

AP govt all set to conduct panchayat polls in Kotia

k y m c

POST NEWS NETWORK Ganjeipadar village of Kotia pan- eportedly, sarpanchs of two has been renamed as Patuchenuru chayat as Ganjei Bhadra panchayat. Rpanchayats won uncontested, while by the Andhra Pradesh govern- Pottangi, Feb 9: Odisha govern- In this panchayat, Dambu Gemel, the villagers of the third panchayat will ment. Here, Kami Himirika, ment’s attempts to make Kotia pan- Bishu Gemel and Dibakar Gemel exercise their franchise coming February Kondapali Paidi Taliamma of chayat under Pottangi block in had filed their nominations as 13. All the arrangements are in the last leg. Belagabalasa village in Andhra Koraput district free from the sarpanch candidates. Later, Dambu Pradesh and Sidharapo Kami of Andhra Pradesh administration is and Bishu had withdrawn their he Andhra Pradesh government has Phatusinery village have filed reportedly renamed Ganjeipadar yet to have any positive effect as nomination papers, paving way for T their nomination papers for the village of Kotia panchayat as Ganjei the AP government is going ahead Dibakar to be the sarpanch of Ganjei Bhadra panchayat. Dibakar Gemel won sarpanch post. Meanwhile, Kami with its plans to conduct panchayat Bhadra panchayat. uncontested to be the sarpanch of Ganjei Himirika has withdrawn his nom- elections in three newly-formed Similarly, the Andhra Pradesh Bhadra panchayat after two other ination papers, leaving two con- panchayats. government has changed the name candidates withdrew their nominations. testants. While sarpanchs of two pan- of Phagunasineri village of Kotia Notably, Phatusinery, or chayats won uncontested, it has panchayat to Patugu Chenuru. ub-collector Bijay Kher and Salur Patuchenuru panchayat has eight been learnt that the villagers of For the panchayat election here, Dibakar Gemel of Ganjeipadar Stehsildar K Srinibas Rao from Andhra wards. There are 1,027 voters in 32 the third panchayat will exercise Kuneti Kusuamma, wife of Beturu village of ‘Ganjei Bhadra’ panchayat Pradesh have paid a visit to Kotia Monday villages. The villagers said they their franchise coming February 13. Hareka, has filed her nomination (renamed by AP government) won to give finishing touch to will participate in the February 13 All the arrangements for the elec- papers for sarpanch post. Since uncontested as the sarpanch election preparations election. Sub-collector Bijay Kher tion are at the last stage. she is the sole candidate, she has and Salur tehsildar K Srinibas Rao According to sources, the Andhra already been considered as the Patugu Chenuru panchayat. chayat where panchayat election from Andhra Pradesh have paid a Pradesh government has renamed next sarpanch of newly-formed The third village of Kotia pan- will be held is Phatusinery, which visit to Kotia Monday.

MAHANADI WATER DISPUTE Odia man missing after MOCK DRILL U’khand glacier burst CWC denies valuation of four POST NEWS NETWORK Bhadrak, Feb 9: Among the more than 150 people still missing due to the glacier burst in ongoing projects in state Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district Sunday morning, is a 25-year-old POST NEWS NETWORK youth from Odisha. He has been identified as Nagarjuna Das, a Bolangir, Feb 9: The dispute over resident of Dharma area in Mahanadi water sharing between Bhadrak district. He was work- Chhattisgarh and Odisha has se- ing as an electrician at Tapovan riously hit the implementation of Reni barrage under Rishi Ganga four ongoing projects in the state, Power Project in Uttarakhand a report said. since November 5, 2020. The Mahanadi water dispute has Even though there is every pos- backfired on the state as Central sibility of Nagarjuna being washed Water Commission returned the away due to the massive floods Detailed Project Reports (DPR) of caused by the glacier burst, his four projects, including the Lower family members have not given Suktel Irrigation Project, the re- up hope. They still believe that he port said. The four projects being FILE PHOTO is alive. A source said that the implemented in the Mahanadi river last time Nagarjuna’s family mem- basin are Tel Multi-purpose Project, bers had spoken to him over phone Lower Suktel Irrigation Project, Lower Suktel Irrigation Project was February 6. Worried, family Khadang Barrage Project and Telijor court. On the basis of the tribunal’s ernment termed the construction members had tried to contact Personnel of NDRF take part in a mock drill on the disaster management and safe rescue operation on the premises Irrigation Project. award, the CWC directed the state of a barrage by the Chhattisgarh Nagarjuna over his mobile. of Rourkela Steel Plant, Tuesday OP PHOTO The CWC has returned the DPR to file the revised outlay of the four government in the upstream of of Tel MPR, the second DPR of projects, October 3, 2019. Since Hirakud illegal and raised objections Lower Suktel and the feasibility of then 16 months have passed but to it. The Chief Ministers of the two Khadang barrage project and Telijor the state government has remained states had a meeting to resolve the irrigation project. silent on the issue. issue, September 17, 2016. Malkangiri girl breaks stereotypes, lights dad’s pyre The matter came to light fol- Even as the CWC has returned the In the meeting, the then lowing a reply to an application DPR of four projects, the political lead- Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman POST NEWS NETWORK In the past, families have members and relatives were in a fix. filed by rights activist Hemant ers and government officials are not Singh h argued in the presence of Then Sanjukta came forward and Kumar Panda under Right to speaking the truth but creating con- his Odisha counterpart that the Malkangiri, Feb 9: Setting aside been forced to face expressed the desire to light her Information Act (RTI). This has fusion by making unnecessary pre- barrage constructions in his state the age-old Hindu tradition of only social boycott and father’s pyre. Initially, her family been informed by the Union sentations on Lower Suktel Project started 10 years back. As a result, male members being allowed to members and local villagers were Ministry of Water Resources, River and Mahanadi, Panda alleged. the barrage works were not stopped light the pyres of their parents, a wrath of co-villagers taken aback by her proposal, but Development and Ganga He even questioned the visit of but it had a reverse effect in the girl in this district carried the bier for allowing girls to they eventually accepted her re- Rejuvenation department in a re- a high-level committee compris- case of Odisha. The work on the of her father to cremation ground quest. “If girls can fly aircraft, run sponse to the RTI query; Panda ing state Chief Secretary, WODC Lower Suktel project which started and also lit the pyre. light the pyre trains and travel to space, what is said while addressing a press meet chairman and 5T Secretary to Lower 20 years back has been stopped. Meet Sanjukta Nayak of courage in breaking the age-old wrong in allowing a girl to light here, Monday. Suktel project site a few days back, He said, after the CWC denied car- Pradhaniguda village in Malkangiri face social boycott and wrath of tradition. her father’s pyre,” some villagers According to Panda, the Centre saying that people were not prop- rying out the valuation of the under- district headquarters for whom fellow villagers for allowing girls to According to a source, observed. formed the Mahanadi Water erly informed and many things construction projects, it is unfor- duty took precedence over tradi- conduct rituals traditionally con- Satyanarayan Nayak (55) met with Notably, Satyanarayan was earn- Tribunal following a demand of have been concealed from them. tunate that the state government has tion. There are several instances ducted by men. However, Sanjukta a road accident Monday and died. ing the livelihood for his family as the state and on the order of the apex Reports said that the state gov- remained silent on the issue. where families have been forced to has been praised for showing He did not have a son so the family an auto-rickshaw driver. Families allege ‘social Fate plays cruel joke on Rinki Assuming her to be dead, Rinki’s husband Nabakishore Kabat had set their boycott’, stage sit-in house on fire – little did he realise that his wife was still alive POST NEWS NETWORK POST NEWS NETWORK not save her. The police recovered Bhadrak, Feb 9: Some families Rinki’s body February 6. are allegedly facing social boycott Dhenkanal, Feb 9: Fate couldn’t Nabakishore, during police in- at Tiadisahi under Tihidi block in have played a crueler joke on Rinki terrogation, confessed to his crime. Bhadrak after they sought infor- Mahakud (26). Assuming her to be He was arrested and produced in a mation under the RTI Act regard- dead, Rinki’s husband had set their court Monday and was remanded ing alleged irregularities in relief house on fire. Little did he realise to judicial custody as his bail plea distribution. that his wife was still alive. When was rejected. The members of these families Rinki’s agonising screams pierced According to the police, staged a sit-in at the Collectorate his ears, it was too late. The house Nabakishore married Rinki of here seeking justice, Tuesday. that Barasar panchayat was se- was reduced to ashes and Rinki Badakathia village under Bhuban They alleged that a village head verely affected by floods in 2020. was charred beyond recognition. police limits in Dhenkanal dis- has enforced social boycott against The state government had made pro- This is the heart-wrenching story trict March 2017. They have a two- them and demanded action against vision of relief for the affected. behind the murder of Rinki (26) at doused the kitchen with kerosene year-old daughter. The couple had government official who had mis- The relief was distributed according Chunaragadi village under and put it on fire. been quarrelling regularly for the appropriated relief material by to the 2011 census.However, relief Kankadahad police limits in But Rinki was not dead. She had last few days. The scene turned ugly forging signatures of some dead material meant for of beneficiar- Dhenkanal district. Her husband just been unconscious. Due to the on the night of February 5. In the beneficiaries. ies like Pagali Das, Mohan Das and Nabakishore Kabat had slapped flames, she regained her senses heat of the moment, Nabakishore Sasmita Mallick, Pramila Das, Gangadhar Das, who are now dead, her and she had collapsed. Assuming and cried for help. However, by then slapped Rinki. She lost her sense Abasi Das and Seshab Das alleged was misappropriated. that Rinki had died, Nabakishore it was too late as Nabakishore could and collapsed. Ruins of twin forts lie neglected in Sunabeda sanctuary

POST NEWS NETWORK IN THE JONK RIVER Tarbod/Nuapada, Feb 9: The ruins BASIN, LIE THE of ancient Jumagarh and Manikgarh forts are lying scattered amidst the RUINED WALLS OF dense forest of Sunabeda wildlife sanc- MANIKGARH FORT, tuary in Naupada district. The dam- aged sculptures are the testimony of WHICH WERE BUILT history and the lineage of monarchs in the region. Unfortunately, the state WITH STONES. A PART government and the Archeology de- OF THE FORT IS STILL partment have not turned their at- tention to restore restoration and main- EXISTENT tenance the treasures, a report said. Historians and archeological ex- It is believed that both the forts had perts have now undertaken archeo- been developed at during the Maraguda logical research at the site to learn civilization in the district. Though about the history of the monarchy in the area is rich in valuable archeo- the region. “If the sites lying hidden ans led by Ranbir Singh had visited the Saraf, Ajit Panda, Tapan Ranjan Das, logical remains, there has been no

in the forests are excavated, the arche- sites inside the Sunabeda sanctuary a Prameswar Barik, Mukesh Kumar survey or excavation in the area, the

k y m c ological findings would disclose many few days ago. In the Jonk river basin, Sahu, Sunil Kumar Sahu and team said. unknown aspects of Odisha’s history,” lie the ruined walls of Manikgarh Dambarudhar Majhi found that the Dr Singh noted that if the Archeology said Dr Ranbir Singh, head of the fort, which were built with stones. A Jumlagarh fort was built with both department undertakes excavation at Archeology department in Kharial part of the fort is still existent. stones and baked bricks. Besides, there the fort sites, more valuable informa- Autonomous College. On visiting the spot, the team com- are some broken stupas (mound or tion relating to Odisha’s Odisha history A team of researchers and histori- prising culture researchers Mayadhar round structures) at the site. will be unearthed. P6 WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 10 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR power post

FOCUS POLITICS We have every one of us a role to

fulfill, a work to do, a place which

k y m we alone can occupy. c THE MOTHER DEMAGOGUES VS DICTATORS

hroughout Donald of convicted criminals. Recent re- Trump’s single term as ports that Trump allies were paid president of the United to lobby the outgoing president Tweet Plot T States, his opponents in for pardons reek of corruption, both the Democratic and not dictatorship. hat has been in the realm of suspicion, surmise and disbelief will Republican parties frequently por- Of course, the storming of the now be probed to ascertain whether there was truth in it or not. trayed him as a would-be fascist dic- US Capitol by Trump supporters WThere could be high voltage politics in the move to investigate the tator. But with Trump ousted from has inevitably led to facile com- matter, but one way to get to the bottom of it is the Maharashtra government’s the White House, this analogy has parisons to Nazi Storm Troopers decision on February 8 to order an inquiry into the tweets by celebrities such become untenable. The Italian and Italian Fascist Blackshirts. as cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and singer Lata Mangeshkar. Their tweets leader Trump resembles most is But America’s own history offers were a sharp rejoinder to those by international celebrities like pop icon Rihanna, not the fascist dictator Benito more accurate analogies for un- Swedish environment activist Greta Thunberg among others. The interna- Mussolini but rather Silvio derstanding the MAGA mob. It is tional celebs had incurred the ire of some Indian celebrities of the celluloid Berlusconi, the scandal-prone for- no accident that in Tennessee and sports world for expressing their solidarity with the farmers’ agitation mer prime minister. Williams’ 1959 play Sweet Bird of against three contentious farm laws. Figures like Trump and Youth, the character of Boss Finley, The Maharashtra government’s decision also comes in the midst of a war Berlusconi – tycoons or media the demagogic leader of a Southern of attrition between the Central government and Twitter over the dissem- celebrities who ran for office as anti- state, has his own criminal gang ination of information on the same issue. The government is mulling action establishment populist dema- To be sure, demagogues in modern (“Youth for Tom Finley”) whom he against Twitter for not complying with the order, with speculation of slap- Michael Lind gogues – are not uncommon in democracies can do a lot of harm, even if unleashes against his political op- ping a seven-year jail term for some of its officials. contemporary Western democra- ponents. The Maharashtra government has ordered the probe to find out whether cies. In Europe, the list includes they cannot (and do not intend to) abolish To be sure, demagogues in mod- the BJP-led NDA-government had coerced Tendulkar, Mangeshkar and POPULISTS elected leaders like Czech Prime elections, establish police states, and put ern democracies can do a lot of other celebrities into joining the Twitter chorus against the foreign celebri- Minister Andrej Babiš, one of the harm, even if they cannot (and do ties. These Indian names lent their support in line with what the Ministry RELY ON THE country’s wealthiest men; former their opponents in concentration camps not intend to) abolish elections, es- of External Affairs had officially stated condemning some of the interna- SUPPORT OF Ukrainian President Petro tablish police states, and put their tional tweets. Many of the tweets by celebrities such as Tendulkar, Mangeshkar, Poroshenko, previously his coun- cratic countries generally do not others merely create personal pa- opponents in concentration camps. actor Akshay Kumar, filmmaker Karan Johar and the Indian cricket team ALIENATED try’s “Chocolate King”; and his intend to create police states, and tronage machines, using their of- But opposing demagogic populists head coach Ravi Shastri included the hashtag #IndiaAgainstPropaganda in NON-ELITE successor, Volodymyr Zelensky, a they could not even if they tried. ficial powers to reward family when they appear is not enough. We response to the tweets from international personalities. The Maharashtra comic actor who had previously Whereas interwar fascist dicta- members or cronies. Very rarely also need to understand the con- government’s probe will investigate whether these big names and others were GROUPS AND played a Ukrainian president on tors were backed by their countries’ do demagogues create new insti- ditions that allow this species of pressured into tweeting by the central authorities. It is also likely to look into ARE TYPICALLY television. military, police, bureaucratic, and tutional structures that can carry politician to flourish. the reasons for identical tweets being posted by some of these people. Although Trump is the first business establishments, populists out reforms long after they leave When major groups in society Announcing the probe, Home Minister of Maharashtra Anil Deshmukh OPPOSED BY true demagogue to be elected to the rely on the support of alienated office. have adequate representation said if a person opines on his or her own, it’s fine but there’s room for sus- American presidency, the enter- non-elite groups and are typically In Curley’s case, his Harvard-ed- through electoral politics and in- picion that the BJP could be behind this spate of tweets which are nothing MOST OF THE tainer or plutocrat who wins office opposed by most of the other power ucated son-in-law, Edward Donnelly, stitutions like trade unions, reli- but attempts to drum up support of the country’s iconic figures in defence OTHER POWER by posing as a champion of the centers in society. played a role similar to that of gious organisations, and com- of the government’s handling of the farmers’ agitation. For this reason he common people has been a staple Hence, many flamboyant dem- Trump’s Harvard-educated son- munity groups, populist has given orders to the intelligence department to probe the Twitter re- CENTERS of mayoral and gubernatorial agogues in the American South – in-law, Jared Kushner. In Louisiana, demagogues seldom find significant sponse from India. IN SOCIETY races for generations. Media such as Louisiana Governor (and Long created a family dynasty public support. It is only when Maharashtra Congress chief Sachin Sawant at a press conference said the celebrity, in particular, has be- then US Senator) Huey P. Long or that included his brother Earl, large groups in a given city, state, timing of the tweets by Tendulkar, badminton champion Saina Nehwal and come an increasingly common the husband-and-wife team of pop- who followed him as governor, province, or country feel disfran- actor Suniel Shetty looked dubious. The pattern followed in the tweets has basis for electoral success in ulist Texas governors, James “Pa” and Russell Long, who became a chised and ignored by conven- given rise to the suspicion that there could be some communication be- America. and Miriam “Ma” Ferguson – rep- long-serving US senator from tional leaders that they are tempted tween the celebrities and the Union government, he claimed. In the 1930s, the country music resented small farmers and the Louisiana. to turn to flamboyant outsiders Recently, Nationalist Congress Party leader Sharad Pawar had asked radio star W. Lee “Pappy” O'Daniel white working class against the rich In any case, demagogic pop- who claim to represent them, even Tendulkar to be more careful while speaking on farmers’ issues. “I would became governor of Texas and gentry who monopolised wealth ulists’ political careers tend to be though they usually represent suggest to Sachin (Tendulkar) that he should be careful while speaking on then a US senator. In the 1960s- and political office in their states. rich in scandal and corruption. only themselves. the issues related to other fields,” Pawar said. In fact, Tendulkar’s tweet was 80s, Ronald Reagan famously made Some demagogues exploit mi- Whereas Berlusconi had his in- Unfortunately, while wealth and the “most unkindest cut of all” for the farmers. The cricketing icon is the transition from Hollywood nority ethnic groups’ bitterness famous “bunga bunga” parties, status are becoming increasingly adored by many for his genius irrespective of one’s political affiliation as actor to California governor and over their own exclusion from Trump had the “Access Hollywood” concentrated in modern Western he stays away from political controversies. But, his tweet was an indirect con- then to the White House. Similarly, wealth and power. In the first half tape, where he boasted about sex- societies, intermediate institu- demnation of the agitating farmers which appears most uncharacteristic Jesse Helms, the late US senator of the twentieth century, James ually assaulting women. tions and local communities have of the cricketing maestro. from North Carolina, started out Michael Curley, the corrupt four- And then there are the instances decayed, and traditional political What strengthens the suspicion about the coercion charge is the BJP’s re- as a right-wing radio star. Then, in term mayor of Boston and one- of graft and outright crime. Like parties have declined to the point sponse to Maharashtra government’s decision to probe. Within hours of the 1999, the TV wrestling celebrity term governor of Massachusetts, Curley, Berlusconi was sentenced of being mere labels that billion- announcement, former Chief Minister of the state Devendra Fadnavis ques- Jesse Ventura (who, along with won and held power by repre- to prison. As Louisiana’s politi- aires and media celebrities can tioned the state government’s sanity. Mounting a fierce attack, Fadnavis stated Trump, had attempted to take over senting working-class Irish- cal boss in the 1930s, Long made easily co-opt. That means the con- the state government should be ashamed of even using the term “probe” against Ross Perot’s Reform Party) was Americans against the Anglo- a deal with the New York gangster ditions will remain ripe for more Bharat Ratnas - Lata Mangeshkar and Sachin Tendulkar. “It now seems nec- elected to a single term as American Protestant elite – the Frank Costello to share gambling Berlusconis – and for more Trumps. essary to probe the mental state and stability of the ones who made such a Minnesota’s governor, and in 2003, so-called Boston Brahmins. profits in the state, even as his demand,” Fadnavis said in a tweet. He has even invoked “Marathi Pride” to the movie star Arnold But while populist demagogues minions “dee-ducted” money from The writer is Professor dissuade the government from the probe. Schwarzenegger became gover- can identify legitimate grievances state government payrolls to ben- of Practice at the Lyndon B. The state government asserts its intent is not to show any disrespect to nor of California with no prior among some voters, they almost efit a campaign slush fund that Johnson School of Public the celebrities, but to find out if any pressure was put on them, in which case political experience. (Ventura had never deliver on their promises became known as the “deduct Affairs at the University of they need protection. previously served as mayor of a to followers. Some, like O'Daniel box.” In Texas, Pa and Ma Ferguson Texas at Austin. The question is if the BJP had no hand in the celebrities’ Twitter response, Minneapolis suburb.) in Texas, become fronts for es- financed their political machine why is the party getting so worked up over the probe order. A sad fact of the Populist demagogues in demo- tablishment interests, whereas by selling pardons to the families ©PROJECT SYNDICATE internet revolution is that weaponisation of the media – social and main- stream - has become a lethal political tool to remain entrenched in power. Looking at the list of Indian big names, it is evident that people like Karan Johar could easily have been coerced to tweet in favor of the Union government because of the pending drug abuse investigation of the Bombay IN JEST THIS film industry in the Sushant Singh Rajput case. Similarly, people like Sachin, Saina, Suneil or Lata would be easy meat if any Income Tax or Enforcement Directorate peon would have called them up and dictated the tweets along with the hashtags. The Maharashtra government’s probe result might help create a healthy atmosphere for the future in such matters. Too much monkeying around in city onkeys are a nuisance in Delhi and you’ll probably spot a about them in a Royal manding repayment in the form of WISDOM CORNER many parts of India and monkey stealing some food from Societyscience journal. The mon- bananas? Mthe rest of the world, partly someone, perhaps a vendor at a keys in the study — long-tailed You may think this is farfetched, There is no greater harm than that of time wasted. because they have a propensity to roadside stall. Tell a policeman macaques that roam freely around but there are many reports of mon- MICHELANGELO steal food and other objects. about it and he’ll just shake his Uluwatu Temple in Bali, Indonesia keys behaving more and more like Always seek out the seed of triumph in every adversity. OG MANDINO Monkeys are the gangsters of the head and give you an expression that — didn’t just seek food as payment humans. Last May, for example, a Remember that failure is an event, not a person. animal world. Not all monkeys, of says, “That’s what monkeys do.” for the objects they had stolen, they group of monkeys attacked a lab- ZIG ZIGLAR course, but the ones you come Like other animals, many mon- were able to figure out which items oratory technician at a state-run across in cities who haven’t yet keys are just hungry and scav- were more valuable and negotiate medical college in Meerut, Uttar found religion. enging for food, but unlike dogs a higher reward for them. Pradesh. They travel around in gangs and and cats, they’re very skilled at If a monkey stole a tourist’s hat, “Monkeys grabbed and fled with WORDSWORTH Melvin Durai get away with all kinds of crimes, swiping. Some are just beginner the tourist could offer the monkey the blood samples of four COVID-19 largely because we don’t take their thieves, still learning the tricks of a cracker and get it back. But if patients who are undergoing treat- WE IMPRISON actions seriously enough. We think the trade, while others are experts, the monkey stole a cellphone, a ment,” Dr SK Garg, a top official at Make no bones about it they’re just monkeying around, possessing master’s degrees from cracker wouldn’t suffice. The tourist the college, told Reuters. “We had to HUMANS FOR but if any humans choose to mon- MIT (Monkey Institute of Thievery). would have to give the monkey a bag take their blood samples again.” his is so ancient, dating practically from time immemorial, that it BURGLARY AND key around in similar fashion, we Monkeys are a lot smarter than containing a few pieces of fruit, Garg and others were not sure Thas long since achieved the status of an idiom. When you think throw them in jail. we think. They’ve been known to as well as tickets to watch the lat- what the monkeys did with the about it, the saying is certainly odd. Why should the notion of having THEFT, BUT THE ONLY We imprison humans for bur- break into apartments, open re- est Shahrukh Khan movie. blood samples, but I have my own no hesitation or scruples in speaking about or dealing with some MONKEYS WE PUT glary and theft, but the only mon- frigerators and help themselves to You may believe that these mon- theory. The monkeys took the sam- matter, no matter how awkward or unpleasant, have any connections keys we put behind bars are the ones food. They’ve also been known to keys are just “monkeying around,” ples to their lab at MIT. They injected with bones? It has been argued that the phrase had its origin in dice BEHIND BARS ARE who haven’t committed any crimes. steal objects from people and hold but the sophistication of their each other with human blood, part games, since dice have been called bones since the fourteenth century Go to any zoo and you will find in- them for ransom. Only when the scheme should scare you. What of a grand scheme to help them at the latest, for the good reason that they were originally carved from THE ONES WHO nocent monkeys being imprisoned. people pay them in monkey cur- happens if these monkeys stop re- become smarter criminals. Before bone. The image presumably is that the player doesn’t stop to call on HAVEN’T COMMITTED Meanwhile, their thieving kin are rency (fruit, cracker, etc.) do they turning cellphones to tourists and long, they’ll be stealing credit cards Dame Fortune or talk to the dice after the manner of craps players wandering free. They’re committing relinquish the objects. others? What if they instead make and ordering biryani for them- (“Baby needs new shoes!”) but just rolls them. A more probable, but ANY CRIMES crimes without consequences, with- A group of scientists studied phone calls to people, imperson- selves through Zomato. The worst somewhat surprising, origin is from the meal table. The oldest version out even bribing the police. these ransom-seeking monkeys ating government officials, claim- part is, I don’t think the monkeys of the expression is to find bones in something, meaning to find a Just drive around a big city like and recently published a paper ing that taxes are owed and de- will tip the driver. difficulty or objection in some course of action. The first example is from one of the Paston letters of 1459. It seems to have been linked especially with soup: to have a bone in that certainly presented difficulties in eating it. To find no bones in something meant that you Debacle at home Education for all had no problems or difficulties. The idiom seems to have grown out of that. There are other expressions connected with bones, such as having Sir, Cricketing fans were deeply hurt at the defeat team India suffered Tuesday Sir, It is welcome to note that the Kerala Infrastructure a bone to pick with somebody (to have a dispute with that person) and at Chepauk. The men in white had brought laurels to the country a few days and Technology for Education (KITE) has launched bone of contention (something that causes discord or dissention). Both etters back when they had registered a historic win over the Kangaroos on their home audio books for all students, with a special focus on seem to be connected with the way that a meaty bone thrown to a turf. The tables turned on the Indians now at home when the inaugural Test the visually-challenged children. The KITE has also group of dogs will cause intense rivalry and dispute. match after a long gap was convincingly won by England led by Joe Root who released audio books and sign language adapted TOL THE EDITOR contributed a lion’s share in his team’s run box. Certainly, credit goes to this classes highlighting the focus areas for Classes X and Readers of Orissa POST valiant skipper who had made enough homework before taking on the Indian XII for the annual examination, as part of its 'First are most welcome to contribute letters team, considered the best combination in the Test format. Reasons for the Indian Bell' Digital Classes aired through the KITE VICTERS (200 words), articles and debacle can be attributed to two important aspects; one, a sense of compla- educational channel. The revision classes in audio columns (between 750-1250 LOL words). Contributors are cency accruing from the Australia tour; and two, the field conditions. Win over books shall be heard in an enjoyable way like listening requested to send their their opponent abroad must have given enough impetus to the hosts as they to a radio program and are easily downloadable contact numbers and full were facing the visitors, a little less formidable team. Moreover, Indian tailen- and shareable in mp3 format and this is the first such

know that I postal address/email ID. They may also ders who had exhibited enough grit in all the encounters in Australia failed module in the country in the general education sec-

k y m We are the best of friends send in their valuable comments, opinion c had mentioned you and suggestions, preferably by email, to repeat the performances. It is for the team management in India to select tor. This is a praiseworthy move to ensure inclusive he patient shook his doctor’s hand in my will.” to: [email protected] a winning combination for the remaining matches. It is desirable that too much education for children with special needs on digital Tin gratitude and said, “Since we “That is very kind of you,” said the experimentation may not work well. However, the youngsters in the team must platforms. The National Education Policy 2020 also are the best of friends, I would not doctor emotionally, and then added, face the forthcoming challenges in a coordinated way so that the series is not emphasises providing an appropriate educational en- want to insult you by offering “Can I see that prescription I just gave B-15, Rasulgarh Industrial Estate, snatched away from them. vironment for all. payment. But I would like for you to you? I’d like to make a little change.” Bhubaneswar-751010 Sanjib Das, CUTTACK Amit Singh Kushwaha, SATNA (MP) BIHAR P7

KARNATAKA WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 10 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR

k y m Bihar Cabinet expansion: BJP, Anti-cow slaughter Bill is anti-farmer: Cong, JD(S) c INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE House. Opposing the Bill, veteran Bangalore, Feb 9: Amid protests Congress leader B.K. Hariprasad JDU set caste equations right by the Congress and JD(S) legisla- said that this law will not help any- tors, the ruling BJP in the Karnataka one, neither the farmers nor the THE 17 MINISTERS INCLUDE 10 FROM THE BJP, SIX FROM THE JDU AND legislative council Monday passed common people. "You (BJP) seem to the contentious anti-cow slaugh- be giving jobs to unemployed VHP ONE INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE WHO HAS GIVEN SUPPORT TO THE JDU ter Bill. Congress and JD(S) MLCs and Bajrang Dal workers," he said. termed the Bill as ‘anti-farmer’. Intervening at this juncture, state INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE The anti-Cow slaughter Bill is Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai officially termed as the Karnataka said that the Congress believes in Patna, Feb 9: Both the Bharatiya Prevention of Slaughter and killing cows whereas the BJP be- Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Preservation and Protection of lieves in saving them. "Unlike you Dal United (JDU) have set the caste Cattle Bill 2020, and the passage of people, we are the saviours of our equations right in Bihar, as Nitish the Bill will help the ruling party culture and rituals," he said. Kumar expanded his cabinet replace the ordinance that was Hailing the passage of the Bill, Tuesday after he became the Chief passed January 8. Revenue Minister R. Ashoka said Minister again in November last The Bill, already passed by the that he was 'truly blessed' to witness year. Seventeen legislators were Assembly during the winter ses- such a 'holy event'. sworn in as Ministers by Governor sion in December last year, was put Yediyurappa celebrates Bill "We have realised the unfulfilled Fagu Chauhan. to vote by Deputy Chairman of the dream of Mahatma Gandhi by pass- The 17 ministers include 10 from council, MK Pranesh. ing this Bill. Once Congress had the BJP, six from the JDU and one With this, slaughtering of nearly passage with cow worship cow and calf as its symbol, but after Independent candidate who has all cattle - bull, ox, bullock, buffalo it changed to the hand symbol, it given support to the JDU. and cow - is now illegal in BANGALORE: Karnataka As the Deputy Chairman M started helping cow slaughter in Both the BJP and the JDU have With the induction of Gyanu said that no experienced Karnataka. Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa K Pranesh took up the matter the country," he said. tried to appease the minorities by leaders have been included in the For the Bill to become a law, its Tuesday offered special prayers in the Council on Monday, the Rebutting both the ministers, inducting Syed Shahnawaz Hussain Hussain and Khan, BJP cabinet and an attempt has been passage in both Houses followed by to cows here to celebrate the Congress and JD(S) trooped in Hariprasad said that he too loved and Jaman Khan into the cabinet, now has ammunition in made to reconcile the Nahe region. assent of the Governor is neces- passage of the contentious anti- the well of the house and started cows as several communities in even as the BJP banked on Lesi Singh’s induction has raised sary. As the same Bill was approved cow slaughter bill in the raising slogans. the state, including his own, start "Kayastha" votes by including Nitin its armour to counter the the number of women in the cab- in the form of ordinance by the Legislative Council. Amid din and strong oppo- their married life by pouring cow Naveen as one of the Ministers. charge of not having a inet to three. Earlier, BJP’s Renu Governor last month, it is likely to Flanked by his cabinet col- sition by the opposition, milk to solemnise marriages. "Do Interestingly, the cabinet ex- Muslim in the Cabinet Devi and JD(U)’s Sheela Mandal get the Governor's nod shortly. leagues, including Animal Pranesh announced that the not teach us what it takes to love an pansion also saw the inclusion of had been sworn in and the former Karnataka Animal Husbandry Husbandry Minister Prabhu bill was passed. animal. You should accept that this four Ministers from the Rajput was elevated as a Deputy CM. Minister Prabhu Chauhan tabled the Chauhan and Home Minister Karnataka is among the se- Bill is aimed at creating communal community. Both the JDU and the the Koeri and Kurmi vote banks The NDA had been facing flak Bill for consideration of the Upper Basavaraj Bommai, the CM put lect states in the country which disturbances," he said. BJP exuded confidence after the as they have appointed Nitish from the opposition over the ab- House Monday. During the discus- vermilion and turmeric powder has tough provisions against He also dared the BJP to come out induction of leaders from the 'up- Kumar's confidant Shravan Kumar sence of a Muslim in the cabinet. sion, several Congress and JD(S) on the forehead of the 'Go Mata' those transporting, smuggling with a law to ban fishing or eating per caste'. from Kurmi and Jayant Raj from With the induction of Hussain and MLCs termed it as anti-farmer, and and showered 'Akshat' and flow- and slaughtering cows and buf- pork. "Both fish and boar are di- While the BJP has included Kushwaha castes, while Madan Khan, it now has ammunition in its some of them even tore the Bill be- ers on them, at his residence faloes below the age of 12. rectly associated with Lord Vishnu. Neeraj Kumar Babloo and Subhash Sahni, who comes from the Mallah armour to counter the charge. sides claiming that it is aimed at tar- here. Under the new law, slaughter Why have you not thought of ban- Singh, the JDU inducted Leshi community, has also been inducted Shahnawaz Hussain took oath geting certain sections of people. After garlanding the cattle, of cattle would lead to impris- ning the consumption of these Singh and Independent candidate as a Minister. in Urdu, Sanjay Jha did so in Maithili They also demanded that the Bill Yediyurappa offered them raw onment of upto seven years meats," he asked. Sumit Singh as Ministers. The BJP has included former language while others chose Hindi should be withdrawn or be referred rice, lentils and banana. and a fine ranging from `50,000 Congress MLC C.M. Ibrahim said Both the parties have appointed MP from the Dalit community at the swearing-in. The first-time to the joint select committee for One of the flagship bills of to `5 lakh. that Karnataka is not like one leader each from the 'Brahmin Janak Ram in the cabinet, while the minister Neeraj Kumar Singh vetting. the BJP government as prom- Congress and the JD(S) have Maharashtra or Uttar Pradesh. "Do caste'. While the BJP has inducted JDU has also played the 'Dalit card' "Bablu" is a cousin of deceased film "With the Act coming into effect, ised in the party's election man- been opposed to the bill say- not add communal colour to this Bill. Alok Ranjan Jha, the JDU has re- for the ministerial berths. actor Sushant Singh Rajput. the efforts for conservation would ifesto, the Karnataka ing it intends to target the mi- Give us time, I will invite all mosque posed faith in Sanjay Kumar Jha. Through the expansion of the Nitin Nabin, the four times MLA gain strength," Chauhan said. Prevention of Slaughter and norities. They alleged that the heads. Let's discuss the issue. Refer Banking on the 'Vaishya' vote cabinet, both the parties have tried from Bankipore constituency in After the members of the Preservation of Cattle Bill got BJP was not aware of the this Bill to the joint select com- bank, Pramod Kumar and Narayan to appease their vote banks in their capital Patna, had defeated Luv Congress and the JD(S) trooped stuck in the legislative council ground realities as there are mittee," he suggested. Prasad from the BJP were also ad- own way, as well as to try new po- Sinha, son of actor- politician into the well opposing the Bill, it was after getting passed in the as- many cobblers dependent on Ibrahim added that the govern- ministered the oath. litical equations. Shatrughan Sinha in the recently passed through voice vote as the sembly. the hides. ment should consider discussing the The JDU has reposed faith in BJP MLA Gyanendra Singh concluded polls. BJP had the higher numbers in the matter with the farmers too. Wistron likely to resume Heritage buildings set to be razed for revamp PRESS TRUST OF INDIA per the plan, the tallest buildings will be eight-storied,” said Dr Indra Patna, Feb 9: The iconic heritage Shekhar Thakur, the Superintendent ops in violence-hit plant buildings of the PMCH, which was of the PMCH. founded in 1925 as the Prince of Thakur, also the head of surgery In December, a large number of workers at the Narasapura facility went on Wales Medical College, are set to be department at the historic institu- consigned to history as the old tion, said, “After completion, the a rampage allegedly over issues related to payment of salaries structures of the historic institution PMCH will become the world's sec- in Patna are planned to be demol- ond-largest hospital by bed count". INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE ished as part of a major redevel- In December 2018, the then PMCH opment project. Principal Dr Ajit Kumar Verma New Delhi, Feb 9: Apple iPhone- The then Prince of Wales, later had said that it would be a state-of- maker Wistron Corporation may King Edward VIII, had visited Patna the-art facility, with “modular-op- resume operations at its violence-hit on December 22-23 in 1921 as part eration theatres” and other high-tech Narasapura plant in Karnataka next of his royal tour of India, and amenities. week as the reconstruction is near- Bihar's and Orissa's first medical col- completed in seven years. of Bihar's first medical college in- “As of now, only administrative ing completion, official sources said. lege was named after him to com- At a function held on the PMCH stead of being celebrated, will soon building has been planned to be People in the know said that memorate his visit to what was campus, Kumar also unveiled a plaque face the wrecking balls". preserved, as it also has the old large-scale rehiring after extensive then a young provincial capital. commemorating the occasion, and “We have personal memories plaque of the inauguration of the background checks by the police is The college, renamed a few said the ambitious project aims to up- with this college. My father and college,” he had said. now underway. As global iPhone de- decades after Independence as the grade the PMCH and make the largest youngest brother graduated from Thakur, who took over as the mand is on the rise, all-out efforts Patna Medical College and Hospital, public health care centre in the state Patna Medical College. Hopefully, Superintendent earlier this month, are on to get the capacity back on popularly known as PMCH, is dot- a "world-class facility". alumni of PMCH can create aware- when asked if the administrative track to fulfil the global demand, annum and second-generation “We have been working hard on ted with historical buildings, in- Heritage lovers from Patna and ness on this issue and appeal to the building will be preserved, said, “I they said. iPhone SE devices. improvements across the board to cluding the Bankipore General other places, expressed disap- government to spare iconic land- am not privy to that information.” The plant is likely to scale up its Of nearly 10,000 workers, around raise standards and fix the issues. Hospital and Women Hospital, pointment and criticised the gov- marks on its campus,” he said. A huge marble plaque, bearing the capacity in four weeks after oper- 1,340 are permanent and 8,500 on All employees have been promptly which were equipped with special ernment's move as “an act of sac- The hospital infrastructure will old name of the college and the ations resume. contract, hired by six firms. and fully paid.” lifts in that era, the main admin- rificing heritage of Bihar in the be redeveloped by the Bihar Medical Prince of Wales royal crest, installed In December, a large number of Following the violence, Apple "We have implemented a new istrative building, and physiology name of development”. Services & Infrastructure right outside the principal's office, workers at the Narasapura facil- placed Wistron on probation after hiring and payroll systems to ensure and anatomy departments, among Soon after the project had been Corporation Ltd (BMSICL) on a albeit minus it shine, tells the story ity went on a rampage allegedly finding fault with the company everyone is paid correctly and pro- other structures. proposed, it had faced opposition turn-key basis. In future, there is a of its inception, and the prestige it over issues related to payment of over payment delays in October vided the correct documentation A few years ago, these old heritage from the PMCH alumni, living in plan to link it with the Ganga Drive. enjoyed earlier, all but faded now. salaries. and November to workers at the going forward,” he added. buildings were proposed to be dis- Bihar or abroad, who in 2018 had sug- “The project will be executed in The plaque reads that the col- Taipei-based Wistron Corporation Narasapura facility. Shen also confirmed the en- mantled in multiple phases as part gested restoring and preserving three phases. In the first phase, lege was established in 1925 and estimated `54-crore loss due to the In its own statement, Wistron hanced training programs for all of the mega redevlopment plan, the historic institution in its orig- nurses' quarters, prison ward, cot- formally inaugurated by the then violence at the plant, about 60 km said it is looking forward to restart- workers, adding: “We have put in whose foundation stone was laid inal form and developing “extension tage and nurses' institution will be Lt governor of Bihar and Orissa, Sir east of Bangalore, leading to its ing operations, where a new hiring a place a new system for workers by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish centres” in peripheral areas of demolished. Patient care work is not Henry Wheeler, on February 25, shutdown. About 150 employees and payroll systems has been im- to get information and raise any con- Kumar Monday. Patna, like Bihta or Fatuha, on the to be affected, as a 2200-bed hospi- 1927. Principal donors, included were arrested on December 12-13. plemented, and all employees have cerns they may have, anonymously. As part of the revamp plan, a lines of AIIMS extension centres. tal will come up first and then pa- erstwhile zemindars of Darbhanga, The company has invested about been “fully paid.” We are looking forward to restart- 5462-bed hospital complex will come Bihar native and UK-based doc- tients will be shifted there, and Dumraon, Mayurbhanj, among oth- `2,000 crore in the plant to roll out The statement from David Shen, ing our operations and welcoming up at the site at a cost of `5,540 cr, tor Abu Eesa Siddiqui, said he was demolition of other buildings will ers. An official opening ceremony about 4 lakh iPhone 7 handsets per CEO, Wistron Smart Devices said: back team members.” and the project is expected to be shocked that "heritage buildings take place in successive phases. As was held as well. ‘Farmers being held back due to lack of organisations’ Mobile application to help farmers find new market PRESS TRUST OF INDIA demned world over.” He also disclosed that the INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE Patna, Feb 9: A dearth of po- Congress has decided to hold district- tent farmers' organisations in level "padayatras" across the coun- Bangalore, Feb 9: In a bid to elim- Bihar has held its peasants back try, including in Bihar, to express sol- inate middlemen and to give farm- from agitating against the farm It is not that the farmers of idarity with the agitating farmers. ers' access to multiple markets, the laws like their counterparts in Bihar are better off than Training his guns at Chief ICAR-Indian Institute of states like Punjab and Haryana, those in Punjab, Haryana, Minister Nitish Kumar, the former Horticultural Research (IIHR), senior Congress leader Tariq Maharashtra and Karnataka. Union minister said the JD(U) leader Bangalore, Monday launched its Anwar asserted. Unlike those states, used to accuse the Manmohan Singh 'Arka-Vyapar' mobile application farmers who will be in control of Addressing a press conference government of not granting spe- during five-day national horticul- the things. "The market dynamics we do not have organisations here, the AICC general secretary cial status to Bihar since the UPA ture fair 2021. will change as the farmer will have debunked the claims made by the which could effectively take was not in power in the state, and IIHR Director M.R. Dinesh told control since he can sell his produce ruling NDA that the state has re- up their cause. It is a pity asked "why is he not able to get the IANS that the very aim of this app to whoever pays the highest rate," mained placid by virtue of the since this is the land where BJP, which rules the Centre and is to provide direct marketing link- he said. "success" of Nitish Kumar gov- Mahatma Gandhi had shares power with him here, to do age to farmers. "It is an open ap- After releasing this app virtually, ernment's experimentation with launched his Satyagraha in the needful". plication and any one can install it Indian Council of Agricultural abolition of APMCs. launched his Satyagraha in protest contentious laws, and urged the protest against exploitation Anwar also deplored the recent on his or her mobile. Through it, Research (ICAR) Director-General “It is not that the farmers of against exploitation of indigo cul- Centre to give up its “ahankaar” of indigo cultivators order issued by the Bihar police one can sell or buy produce," he Trilochan Mohapatra said that the

Bihar are better off than those in tivators in Champaran,” said the for- (arrogance). in Champaran wherein those taking part in demon- said. The director said that this 'Ark Vyapaar' will help farmers to

k y m c Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra and mer state Congress chief. Pointing towards Modi's much- TARIQ ANWAR I AICC GENERAL SECRETARY strations have been warned of ad- app will also provide market updates double their income. "Most of the Karnataka. Unlike those states, we He expressed dismay over the touted move of abolishing many verse entries in their police verifi- regularly. horticulture produces being per- do not have organisations which Narendra Modi government's redundant laws which was taken up cation reports, which could deprive He added that for a long time, ishable... this app will bridge the de- could effectively take up their cause. “baal hath” (childish obstinacy) soon after he rose to power in 2014, now when it is being demanded by them of getting government jobs farmers have faced the biggest hur- mand and supply gap. This could It is a pity since this is the land in refusing to agree to the farm- Anwar wondered “why is the gov- farmers and attempts to obstruct and contracts. dle in terms of middlemen con- turn out be disruptive technology," where Mahatma Gandhi had ers demand for repeal of the three ernment so adamant to not do so their agitations are being con- “This is undemocratic,” he said. trolling the market, and now it is he said. I want to assure every NEW TECH TO COMBAT P8 Afghan brother and WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 10 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR sister, from Badakhshan to Nimroz AIR POLLUTION and Herat to Kandahar that India The Delhi Government claimed Tuesday stands with you. At every step of that it will set up advanced real time your journey of patience, courage resources to monitor air pollution in the and determination, India will be city. Sources said the project will take y national with you off under the supervision of the Indian

NARENDRA MODI | PRIME MINISTER

k y m Institute of Technology - Kanpur c

of the day uote SC grants protection ‘GLACIER DISASTER HIGHLIGHTS No new nCoV deaths in from arrest to There is no reason to 7 states/UTs in 3 weeks Sanjay Singh think I am weak, I am not a PRESSURE ON ASIA’S RIVERS’ AGENCIES PRESS TRUST OF INDIA person to be afraid of anything. I am a strong person and “Rivers are really at risk from development projects, dumping of solid waste New Delhi, Feb 9: Seven states and New Delhi, Feb 9: The Supreme will keep my head high as long as I & liquid waste, sand mining and stone mining,” an expert said UTs have reported no new COVID- Court Tuesday granted pro- live and till then I will live like a 19 deaths in the last three weeks, tection from arrest to Aam Royal Bengal Tiger AGENCIES while 15 have not registered any fa- Aadmi Party leader and Rajya tality in the past 24 hours, the Sabha MP Sanjay Singh in al- MAMATA BANERJEE | WEST BENGAL CHIEF 70 FROM UP MISSING New Delhi/Kuala Lumpur, Feb 9: Centre said Tuesday, underlining leged hate speech case lodged MINISTER A glacial burst that triggered a deadly Lucknow: At least 70 people from that consistent gains are being against him in Uttar Pradesh flash flood in the Himalayas at the Uttar Pradesh are feared missing in made in terms of declining new but cautioned that he “cannot We need to weekend was a disaster waiting to hap- the glacier burst. Of the 70 people, cases and casualities. divide the society on lines of avoid pen, and one likely to be repeated in 34 are from Lakhimpur Kheri district The Centre, however, noted that Uttarakhand (73.7 per cent), Odisha castes and religion”. crowding at a region transformed by climate alone. "As of now, 70 people from the last national serosurvey find- (72.4 per cent), Mizoram (69.9 per The apex court made it clear public places to change and unchecked infrastructure Uttar Pradesh are feared missing, ings have shown that over 70 per cent), Himachal Pradesh (68.7 per however that UP Police is not pre- control the spread development, experts warn. including 34 from Lakhimpur Kheri, cent of the population is still sus- cent), Uttar Pradesh (68 per cent), cluded from seeking sanction from of the coronavirus Asia is home to some of the nine from Saharanpur and five from ceptible to the disease. Andaman and Nicobar Islands (67.9 Rajya Sabha Chairperson to pros- Shravasti," Relief Commissioner of world's biggest waterways, from The seven states and UTs -- per cent), Rajasthan (67.2 per cent), RAJESH TOPE | Uttar Pradesh Sanjay Goyal told PTI MAHARASHTRA HEALTH MINISTER the Ganges and the Indus in India on Tuesday. Earlier in the day, Chief Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Kerala (66.9 per cent) and to the Yangtze and Mekong origi- Minister Yogi Adityanath sent a Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Dadra Lakshadweep (66.7 per cent)," he nating in China, that snake for team of three ministers to and Nagar Haveli, Mizoram, said. On the other hand, Bhushan People have thousands of kilometres. Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and Uttarakhand for better coordination Nagaland and Lakshadweep -- have said, there are 11 states and UTs that only seen the They support the livelihoods of People, told AFP. with the state in carrying out relief reported no new COVID-19 deaths have vaccinated less than 40 per cent politics of cut- vast numbers of farmers and fish- SHRINKING GLACIERS works after the disaster, an official in last three weeks, Union Health of healthcare workers. These are money in the last 10- ermen, and supply drinking water It is not yet clear what damaged spokesperson said here. Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said. Puducherry (15.4 per cent), Manipur years here. to billions of people, but have come the glacier and triggered the acci- Addressing a press briefing, he (21.3 per cent), Nagaland (21.5 per Trinamool leaders under unprecedented pressure in dent, but there are suspicions that said India was the fastest country ecute Singh in the cases. have dangerous, as it makes hillsides cent), Meghalaya (24.3 per cent), misappropriated the relief funds that recent years. Higher temperatures construction of hydro-power proj- unstable and causes landslides. to reach 6 million vaccination doses Chandigarh (28.7 per cent), Punjab It also issued notice to the Uttar the Centre had sent for cyclone- are causing glaciers that feed the ects -- in an area that is highly seis- Some have also pointed to ris- of COVID-19 in 24 days. (34.1 per cent), Dadra and Nagar Pradesh government and sought ravaged people of Bengal. They have rivers to shrink, threatening water mically active -- may have con- ing temperatures as a contribut- Bhushan said within the coun- Haveli (34. 5 per cent), Ladakh (35.8 its response on two pleas of Singh also stolen their food grains supplies and also increasing the tributed. "This area is prone to ing factor. try also some states have performed per cent), Jammu and Kashmir seeking clubbing and quashing chances of landslides and floods, vulnerability, it is not appropriate A major study in 2019 suggested well, while others need to improve (37.5 per cent) and Delhi (38 per of FIRs lodged against him after JP NADDA | BJP NATIONAL PRESIDENT while critics blame dam building and for this kind of bumper-to-bumper Himalayan glaciers had melted their vaccination coverage. cent). 97% satisfied with vax his press conference on August pollution for damaging fragile ecosys- hydro-power development," Mr twice as fast since the turn of the "There are 12 states and UTs that experience Over 97 per cent of 7.75 12 last year at which he alleged that tems. "Rivers are really at risk from Thakkar said. Patricia Adams, ex- century as in the 25 preceding years. have vaccinated more than 65 per lakh people surveyed after receiv- the state government was favour- SHORT TAKES development projects, dumping of ecutive director from Canada-based "The impacts of climate change cent of the registered healthcare ing anti-coronavirus vaccine shots ing a certain class of society. solid waste and liquid waste, sand environmental NGO Probe in the Himalayas are real," said workers. These states are Bihar have expressed satisfaction with the During the hearing, a bench of Toxicology tests mining and stone mining," International, said dam building Benjamin P. Horton, director of (78.1 per cent), Tripura (77.1 per immunisation process, the Union Justices Ashok Bhushan and R S Himanshu Thakkar, from the South in such an area was simply too the Earth Observatory of Singapore. cent), Madhya Pradesh (76 per cent), Health Ministry said Tuesday. Reddy told the counsels for Singh, in Arunachal “You cannot divide the society on Itanagar: Amid reports of drug lines of castes and religion”. abuse by many government The bench said, “In the mean- officials, the Arunachal FINISHING TOUCH time, we direct that the petitioner Pradesh administration has Memories of 2007 be not arrested in Crime No...Under decided to conduct toxicology Sections 153A (promoting enmity tests on officials suspected to between groups), 153B be addicted to drugs in the (Imputations, assertions prejudi- worst- affected districts of the terror attack made cial to national-integration), 501 state, Chief Secretary Naresh (printing or engraving matter Kumar has said. The known to be defamatory), 505(2) administration will also keep a (Statements conducing to public close tab on officials PM, Azad emotional mischief), IPC registered at Police suspected to be involved in AGENCIES ji called me from the airport Station Hazratganj, Lucknow.” drug trafficking. Kumar said about the despatch of the bodies," strong action will be initiated New Delhi, Feb 9: Memories of Modi said. against officials found the 2007 terror attack in Kashmir Azad while remembering the Rlys achieves involved in any drug-related on tourists from Gujarat made activity. A toxicology test is same incident, just two days after conducted to determine both Prime Minister Narendra he became J&K Chief Minister, record freight traces of drugs in a person. Modi and senior Congress leader said "this was the terrorists' way Ghulam Nabi Azad emotional in the of welcoming the CM and at the air- loading in Jan 21 Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, as the port, when I reached one child Priyanka to address House bid farewell to Leader of who had lost his family members PRESS TRUST OF INDIA ‘kisan sabhas’ in UP New Delhi, Feb 9: Indian Railways achieved the highest ever freight Saharanpur (UP): Congress loading in January 2021 clocking General Secretary Priyanka a figure of 119.79 MT and sur- Gandhi Vadra will hold a passing its previous record of load- series of 'kisan sabhas' in ing 119.74 MT of freight in March Uttar Pradesh to step up the 2019, the ministry said Tuesday. protest against the three Indian Railways' freight loading Central farm laws. According An artist gives final touches on a clay idol of Lord Ganesha ahead of the Ganesh Jayanti festival in Mumbai PTI PHOTO figures for the last few months to party sources, Priyanka will hold the first such have been crossing the last year's meeting in Saharanpur on figures for corresponding months February 10. She will then and the cumulative freight loading hold similar 'kisan sabhas' in figure this year is expected to sur- Meerut and Bijnor February Nearly 1L SL refugees in India: Govt pass the last year's freight loading 13. According to Naresh Saini, Opposition Azad who is among grabbed my legs and I too cried figure, a statement by the min- Congress MLA from Behat in four members retiring from the loudly - 'Oh God, what have you INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE non-camp refugees but they have istry said. Saharanpur, "During her visit, Upper House this month. done? How will I answer these chil- registered with the local police. As per the statistics till Priyanka will offer prayers at The Prime Minister recalled the dren, these people who came to New Delhi, Feb 9: A total of 93,032 Besides this, as per available February 8, Indian Railways load- the Shakumbhari Mata incident to highlight the humane visit and were on a leisure trip Sri Lankan Tamil refugees are information, 54 Sri Lankan Tamil ing was 30.54 million tonnes which temple and also visit a shrine. side of Azad. Modi, who was the and are going back with bodies." living in the states of Tamil Nadu refugees are staying in refugee include 13.61 MT of coal, 4.15 MT Later, she will hold a kisan then Gujarat Chief Minister, re- A visibly moved Azad during and Odisha and they may acquire camp at Malkangiri, Odisha. of iron ore, 1.04 MT of foodgrains, sabha in the Chilkana area. called that tourists from Gujarat his speech said that he prays that Indian citizenship by registration The minister said that citizen- 1.03 MT of fertilizers, 0.96 MT of had been attacked in Jammu & militancy is finished in the coun- or naturalisation after fulfilling the ship of India is governed by the mineral oil and 1.97 MT of cement Kashmir and then J&K Chief try. The Prime Minister, while re- eligibility criteria laid down in provisions of the Citizenship Act, (excluding clinker). “It is worth Major fire in Minister Azad was the first to call ferring to Azad's contribution to pol- the Citizenship Act, 1955, the 1955 and rules made thereunder. mentioning that a number of con- him to inform him about the in- itics and the House, said: "You are Ministry of Home Affairs told "Any foreigner including a Sri cessions and discounts are also Navi Mumbai cident and Azad was crying and his retiring from the House, but I will Parliament Tuesday. In a written reply, Minister of Lankan citizen may acquire Indian being given in Indian Railways to Thane: A major fire broke out tears would not stop. "I will never not let you retire and my doors The Home Ministry cited the State for Home Nityanand Rai in- citizenship by registration or nat- make the railways' freight move- in at least four factories in the forget Azad's efforts and Pranab are open for you and will need data provided by the Tamil Nadu formed the Lok Sabha that 58,843 uralisation after fulfilling the el- ment very attractive. The COVID- Taloja industrial area in Navi Mukherjee's efforts when people your contribution and advice." government's Commissionerate Sri Lankan Tamil refugees are igibility criteria laid down in the 19 pandemic has been used by Mumbai Tuesday, a senior from Gujarat were stuck in Modi said the person who will re- of Rehabilitation and Welfare of staying in 108 camps in Tamil Citizenship Act, 1955 and the rules Indian Railways as an opportu- official said. No casualty is Kashmir due to a terror attack place Azad will have a tough task non-resident Tamils. Nadu while 34,135 are staying as made thereunder." nity to improve its all-round effi- reported so far in the fire that and the same night, Ghulam Nabi to match his contributions. ciencies and performances. is yet to be brought under control since it broke out around 11:51 AM, said Santosh Kadam, chief, UPSC LAST BID Regional Disaster Management Cell (RDMC), Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC). As per preliminary Centre says can’t relax age rule, SC reserves verdict information, the blaze erupted at a factory and spread to three adjacent units that deal in acid, packaging Scores of petitioners, who had exhausted their attempt in October 2020 exam amid Covid-19, had moved the top court urging it to grant them an extra chance and fabrication. The cause of the blaze is not known. INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE from the bench. After a detailed attempt for Civil Service egories, or to any other candidate hearing in the matter, the top court Examination (CSE), specifically for any other reason whatsoever. New Delhi, Feb 9: The Centre reserved its verdict on a plea seek- limited to CSE-2021, may be granted Senior advocates appearing for Tuesday told the Supreme Court ing an extra chance for UPSC aspi- to only those candidates who ap- petitioners had argued if anyone Man strangles that it is not in favour of one-time rants, who exhausted all attempts peared for CSE-2020 as their last which requires consideration, it tailor to death relaxation to UPSC exam aspirants last October, against the backdrop permissible attempt and are oth- is the age barred group. On Monday, who are age-barred, as it will be of mental and physical trauma due erwise not age-barred from ap- senior advocate C.U. Singh, ap- Rae Bareli (Uttar Pradesh): In discriminatory to other candidates. to the ongoing pandemic. pearing in CSE-2021." pearing for a petitioner, argued a shocking incident, a man Scores of petitioners, who had ex- "During this pandemic, while The top court, however, pressed that if all the 2,236 candidates, had strangled his tailor to death hausted their attempt in October 2020 everyone had a choice to save their that the government should con- lost their last chance last year, are because the shirt he had exam amid Covid-19, had moved attempt by leaving the exam in 2020, sider giving age-relaxation as a one- age-barred, and if this is not re- stitched was ill-fitting. The the top court urging it to grant while taking care of their health, the time measure. The Centre had told laxed, all SC/ST candidates, and

y victim's son, Abdul Naeem them an extra chance. Khan, claimed that his father, last attempters were given no choice the top court that no relaxation can handicapped candidates would be

Additional Solicitor General SV at all and had to sit for the exam, de- be granted for CSE-2021 to those excluded and for this category of

k y m Abdul Majid Khan, 65, was c allegedly strangled by one Raju, representing the Centre, sub- spite the lack of opportunity to pre- candidates who have not exhausted candidates, there is no limit in Saleem Sunday night. Saleem mitted before a bench headed by pare," the petitioners have argued. their permissible number of at- number of attempts. was reportedly enraged over Justice AM Khanwilkar that ini- Raju stressed that the govern- matters beyond purview of the he submitted. tempts or to those candidates who Similarly, senior advocate Shyam the poor fitting of the shirt tially the government was not will- ment is not willing to dilute its court. "This is not the exam where Agreeing to the final attempt, are otherwise age-barred from ap- Divan, representing some peti- that Abdul Majid Khan had ing to give an extra chance, but it mel- stand on age-barred candidates, you prepare at the last minute. the Centre had said: "Relaxation, only pearing in CSE-2021 as per the pre- tioners, also pressed upon the issue stitched for him. lowed its stand after a suggestion and insisted that these are policy People prepare for years together," to the extent of providing one extra scribed age limits of different cat- of age bar relaxation. TWO INDIAN STARTUPS TO P9 The way the WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 10 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR Prime Minister had urged OFFER TAXI SERVICE IN SPACE people to give up their Two start-ups – Bellatrix Aerospace subsidy on LPG cylinders, and Skyroot Aerospace – have he should now appeal to entered into a partnership to ferry MPs and MLAs to give up small satellites into multiple orbits

y national their pension using a vehicle that will work as a

k y m RAKESH TIKAIT | FARMER LEADER “space taxi” c

of the day uote Need to probe if mutant strain Twitter reaches out to IT Minister The BJP government was adopting Prasad seeking formal dialogue the ‘Foreign Destructive Ideology’ of ‘divide active in Kerala, Maha: Guleria INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE under Section 69A of the IT Act. and rule’ that the Twitter had suspended some British colonial rulers introduced in member of the National Covid-19 New Delhi, Feb 9: Twitter has high-profile accounts earlier this India task-force, acknowledged that the reached out to Union IT Minister month, only to unblock them in a state did a fairly good job in con- Ravi Shankar Prasad for a formal few hours saying that the “content DIGVIJAY SINGH | SENIOR CONGRESS LEADER trolling the transmission when dialogue to resolve the deadlock is free speech and newsworthy”. pandemic hit the country. However, over the removal of bad accounts The IT Ministry then took cog- Health he added that the situation deteri- amid the ongoing farmer protests. nizance of a clear attempt to polarise workers who orated since the restrictions were The Ministry of Electronics and died while India when international celebri- fighting as a Covid lifted in the state. IT (MeitY) has sent three notices to ties with hardly any expertise on Warrior have “Kerala did initially good in con- Twitter, the latest one asking the Indian affairs extended their sup- received `50 lakh as trolling the measures through put- company to block 1,178 accounts of the non-compliance notice has port to the protesters agitating compensation. ting restrictions. However, since believed to be linked to Khalistan also been formally communicated. against the three new farm laws. Government is trying to provide they have opened up, the more num- sympathisers and those backed by “We review every report we re- The government also took a se- mental and physical welfare ber of cases are being reported Pakistan. ceive from the government as ex- rious note of Twitter CEO Jack there,” Guleria said. “Safety of our employees is a peditiously as possible and take Dorsey “liking” a Tweet asking for HARSH VARDHAN | UNION HEALTH MINISTER He also observed that the de- top priority for us at Twitter. We con- appropriate action regarding such an emoji for the hashtag mography of the state could be pos- tinue to be engaged with the reports while making sure we hold #FarmersProtests. “An update is The sibly not letting the viral infection Government of India from a posi- firm to our fundamental values shared through our established government INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE wane from the community since a tion of respect and have reached out and commitment to protecting the channels of communication with will soon issue COVID-19 significant amount of the popula- to the Honourable Minister, Ministry public conversation,” the Twitter the government. We strongly be- guidelines for New Delhi, Feb 9: At a time when tion living in Kerala are elderly of Electronics and Information spokesperson said. In the first no- lieve that the open and free ex- regulation of OTT the new cases of Covid-19 have n At a time when the new cases of Technology for a formal dialogue,” tice, MeitY asked Twitter to block (over the top) and are more susceptible to contract change of information has a posi- Covid-19 have been manifesting a platforms that will been manifesting a downward trend the Covid-19 disease. a Twitter spokesperson said in a 257 accounts using the tive global impact, and that the downward trend nationally, its address issues such as sensitive nationally, its unabated transmis- “A large number of people there statement. The company said that #ModiPlanningFarmerGenocide Tweets must continue to flow,” the unabated transmission in Kerala content sion in two Indian states – Kerala (Kerala) are elderly and suffer with an acknowledgement to the receipt hashtag amid the farmers' protest, company spokesperson said. and Maharashtra – has become a and Maharashtra has become a comorbid conditions. This fact could PRAKASH JAVADEKAR | I&B MINISTER cause of worry. cause of worry also be impacting the emergence of The data of last one week by the n The data of last one week showed Covid-19 in the state,” said Guleria. Union Health Ministry showed that that both the states account for As per the latest national family HOLY DIP SHORT both the states account for 71 per 71 per cent of the fresh caseload health survey (NFHS) report, the TAKES cent of the fresh caseload of the of the week with Kerala making level of asthma (4,806 per 1,00,000 week with Kerala making up al- up almost half of the total population) in Kerala is twice as high BSP leader ends most half of the total. n NFHS-5 findings indicated that as the level reported for India as a Of the total 80,536 new cases re- every third person in Kerala and whole (2,468 per 1,00,000 population). life, blames officials ported in the duration, Kerala and every fourth person in Dr, Lalit Kant, former head, epi- Maharashtra is obese Badaun (UP): A Bahujan Maharashtra accounted for 56,932 demiology and communicable dis- Samaj Party functionary and whereas the southern state logged eases, Indian Council of Medical local farmer allegedly 39,260 cases (49 per cent) alone. ing in the two states. “We will have Research (ICMR) told IANS that de- committed suicide after Speaking on the matter, Dr. to investigate whether any mutant mography plays a huge role in disease accusing officials of Randeep Guleria, Director, All India strain of coronavirus is under cir- spread. "Age structure of the popu- corruption. In his suicide Institute of Medical Sciences culation in the state which is caus- lation and presence of chronic ill- note, he has alleged (AIIMS), New Delhi, evoked the ing spurt in the daily infection,” he nesses among them are few of the harassment and levelled possibility of an undetected mu- told this news agency. In respect deciding factors of a disease spread," corruption charges against tant strain of Sars-CoV-2 circulat- of Kerala, Guleria, who is also a he said. the sub divisional magistrate (SDM) and revenue official (kanungo). Harveer, 35, who belonged to the Dalit Actor-activist community and was a father of five, had been visiting the Cong to move pvt Deep Sidhu sent Sahaswan tehsil and meeting officials regularly. He went to the tehsil twice before to police custody consuming poison on the members’ Bills for campus. PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

New Delhi, Feb 9: A Delhi court Six killed in UP repeal of farm laws Tuesday sent actor-activist Deep Pilgrims take holy dip at Sangam confluence of three rivers, the Ganga the Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, ahead of Sidhu to 7-day police custody in con- Mauni Amawashya festival during Magh Mela in Prayagraj, Tuesday PTI PHOTO road accident The Congress MPs will meet Lok Sabha Speaker Om nection with the Red Fort violence on the Republic Day during farm- Jaunpur: Six persons were Birla and request him to allow discussion on the Bills ers' tractor parade against the R-DAY VIOLENCE Shutdown in Kashmir killed and 11 others injured in submitted to the Lok Sabha Secretariat Centre’s three new agri laws. a road accident in Jaunpur Metropolitan Magistrate Prigya district of Uttar Pradesh to mark Afzal Guru's INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE Gupta sent Sidhu to the custody Tuesday morning. The after the police alleged he was one SC stays arrest of accident took place on the death anniversary Varanasi-Jaunpur border area New Delhi, Feb 9: Congress’ Lok of the main instigators of the vi- and the injured have been Sabha member Manish Tewari olent incidents at the Red Fort. rushed to a district hospital Tuesday said that the party MPs Sidhu’s counsel, however, from Punjab have decided to bring claimed he had nothing to do with Tharoor, Sardesai with the help of locals in the area. The accident occurred private members’ Bills in the violence and was at the wrong Vinod K Jose and Anant Nath. when a vehicle collided with Parliament to seek the repeal of place at the wrong time. When the bench said it was issu- a truck while returning from three new Central farm laws op- The police had announced a ing notice in the matter, senior lawyer Varanasi. Further details are posed by the farmers. cash reward of `1 lakh for infor- Kapil Sibal, appearing for Tharoor, awaited. Tewari, who represents mation leading to Sidhu’s arrest. said that no coercive action be taken Anandpur Sahib, said: “Prime other members of Parliament to ini- Tens of thousands of farmers against them in the meantime. Minister Narendra Modi spoke on tiate such Bills on the farm laws. broke barriers to storm the national “Nothing is going to happen. Where PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Murdered woman’s the farm laws in the Rajya Sabha Congress MP Jasbir Singh Gill capital on January 26, their tractor is the danger,” said the bench, also Monday but no farmer is willing to said: “Those MPs who have written parade to highlight their demands PRESS TRUST OF INDIA comprising Justices AS Bopanna Srinagar, Feb 9: Normal life was head found believe him. We have no alternative, their profession as agriculture dissolving into unprecedented scenes and V Ramasubramanian. affected in Kashmir Tuesday due so we decided to adopt this path.” should bring in private member’s of anarchy as they fought with po- New Delhi, Feb 9: The Supreme Sibal objected to the observation to a shutdown to mark the eight Fatehpur (UP): The head of a woman, whose torso was The Congress MPs will meet Bills.” Congress MP Ravneet Singh lice, overturned vehicles and de- Court Tuesday stayed the arrest of the bench that nothing would death anniversary of Parliament recovered from Sarwal Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Bittu said: “There are 203 MPs in livered a national insult hoisting a of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and happen to the petitioners in the attack convict Mohammad Afzal village in Fatehpur district of request him to allow discussion the Lok Sabha and 64 in the Rajya religious flag from the ramparts of six journalists including Rajdeep meantime, saying Solicitor General Guru who was hanged in New Uttar Pradesh on February 6, on the Bills submitted to the Lok Sabha who have shown agricul- the Red Fort, a privilege reserved for Sardesai in connection with FIRs Tuhsar Mehta is appearing for Delhi’s Tihar Jail on this day in have been found in a well in Sabha Secretariat. ture as their profession. So, we ap- India's tricolour. lodged against them for their al- Delhi Police and the cops of other 2013, officials said. Sewramau village, Ghazipur The Congress leader said that peal to them to help with these pri- Thousands of protesting farm- legedly “misleading” tweets on the states might “knock at my doors and Most of the shops, fuel sta- police said. The woman’s they will also meet the Rajya Sabha vate member's Bills by coming out ers who reached ITO from the violence during the farmers' trac- arrest me in the meantime”. tions and other business estab- headless body was found Chair on the issue. of partisan politics.” Ghazipur border clashed with po- tor rally here on the Republic Day. “Kindly protect us in the mean- lishments were shut in Srinagar, from a mustard field by the Another Congress MP Praneet In parliamentary history, 14 such lice. Many of them driving tractors A bench headed by Chief Justice while," Sibal said, prompting the the summer capital of Jammu police three days back. Kaur, who is the wife of Chief Bills have been made into laws, reached the Red Fort and entered S A Bobde issued notices and sought bench to ask the law officer and Kashmir, while public trans- During investigation, the Minister Amarinder Singh, said Tewari said. Modi had appealed the monument, where the reli- responses from the Centre and oth- whether the police was planning port was largely off the roads, the police had recovered a that they stood by their demand to the farmers on Monday to end gious flag was also hoisted. Over ers on the petitions filed by Tharoor, to arrest Tharoor and others. officials said. However, they said, paper with a couple of for the repeal of these laws. their agitation and resume talks 500 police personnel were injured Sardesai and journalists Mrinal Mehta said that “horrendous” private cars, auto-rickshaws and mobile phone numbers from The Punjab MPs appealed to with the Centre to resolve the issue. and one protestor died. Pande, Zafar Agha, Paresh Nath, tweets were made. cabs were plying in the city. the pocket of the jeans of The officials said similar re- the woman. The police ports of shutdown were also re- found surgical gloves from ceived from other district head- near the well, where blood quarters of the valley. stain marks were also found. Survivors recount deadly glacier break disaster Security forces have been de- ployed in strength at vulnerable places in the city and elsewhere in Woman gangraped A WHISTLE TURNED INTO A ROAR OF WATER THAT TRAPPED A DOZEN MEN IN A HIMALAYAN TUNNEL AFTER A GLACIER BURST IN UTTARAKHAND the valley to avoid any untoward inside a parked bus incident, they added. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE people were telling us to come out. Raini village was basking in the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Mumbai: A 19-year-old We thought it was a fire. We started Sunday morning sun at his home Front (JKLF) had last week called woman was allegedly raped Tapovan, Feb 9: A whistle turned running but the water gushed in. It overlooking the plant when he heard for a complete strike February 9 by two men, one of whom into a roar of water that trapped a was like a Hollywood movie.” a loud roar and saw a huge wall of and 11 to mark the death an- was her friend, inside a dozen men in a Himalayan tunnel The men clung to scaffolding rods water smash into and sweep away niversaries of Guru and its founder parked bus at Kharghar after a glacier burst in Uttarakhand, in the tunnel for four hours, keep- a bridge that led to the Chinese bor- Mohammad Maqbool Bhat who February 3. While the police but Rajesh Kumar lived to tell the tale. ing their heads above water and de- der. Dozens of workers building a was hanged in the Tihar Jail have arrested one of the Over 20 people were confirmed bris, trying to reassure each other. concrete dam on the Dhouli Ganga February 11, 1984. accused, the other is yet to dead but at least 170 others remained “We just kept telling each other – river bed and grazers leading their Also, posters, purportedly is- be nabbed. The accused missing after the glacier broke off come what may, we must not let go cattle along the mountain slopes sued by Hurriyat Conference, were and the rape survivor lived in the same building in a mountainside, triggering a flash of the rods. Thank god our hands did disappeared beneath the sudden pasted in some areas of the city, call- Kharghar, police said. flood through a valley in not lose their grip,” said Kumar. As deluge, leaving behind a wasteland ing for a shutdown Tuesday and Police added that while the Uttarakhand. On Sunday, floodwa- the flood coursed down the valley, of grey and brown sludge. Thursday. However, the officials

22-year-old works as a ters swamped a nearby hydroelec- the water started to recede in the tun- “There was dust and screams all said, the authenticity of the posters y driver, the 19-year-old tric power complex where Kumar nel, leaving it filled with more than feel some air.” Eventually, they saw they saw daylight; some were put over,” 36-year-old Negi told this could not be verified.

and his colleagues were working 1.5 metres of debris and mud. some light coming through and one straight onto stretchers and car- news agency. “We tried to alert the Unlike the previous years, the

k y m accused worked as a pizza c delivery boy. In her 300 metres inside a tunnel. “We climbed across the rock de- of the men got a phone signal and ried away. One man put his arms in grazers but they were blown away authorities did not impose re- complaint, the woman said “We didn’t think we were going bris and forced our way to the mouth called for help. There were emo- the air and then fell face-first into by the wind pressure before being strictions on the movement and as- that February 3, the key to make it,” the 28-year-old told this of the tunnel,” said Kumar. There tional scenes as Kumar and his col- the mud. Despite their hours-long consumed by the water and slush. sembly of people or order the sus- accused (22) asked her to news agency from his hospital bed. they found a small opening but they leagues were pulled out of a tiny hole ordeal, they miraculously managed We can only guess what happened.” pension of mobile Internet services join for a bike ride and “Suddenly there was a sound of were not sure where it led. at the surface. to escape with just minor injuries. Mangra, another tunnel survivor, as a precautionary measure on promised to buy her a gift. whistling... there was shouting, “All we knew was that we could Some punched the air in joy as Shopkeeper Ramesh Negi from still can’t sleep. the day. I think in PRACHANDA SEEKS SUPPORT P10 fairness to WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 10 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR President Trump he FROM INDIA & CHINA was right to take a Nepal Communist Party appealed to tougher approach the international community, including to China. That was India and China, to extend support to the right thing to do its ongoing struggle against PM KP TONY BLINKEN | US Sharma Oli's “unconstitutional move”

international SECRETARY OF STATE

k y m to dissolve Parl c of the day uote Biden, Modi commit ‘Iran may pursue nuclear weapon’ We stand with the people of ASSOCIATED PRESS ful and the fatwa by the supreme of an Iranian scientist credited with Burma, leader has forbidden nuclear support their right spearheading the country's dis- towards greater Tehran, Feb 9: Iran's intelligence weapons, but if they push Iran in that banded military nuclear programme, to protest peacefully in minister warned the West that his direction, then it wouldn't be Iran's Iran's parliament has approved a support of the country could push for a nuclear fault but those who pushed it,” Alavi law to block international nuclear elected govt, and the right to weapon if crippling international was quoted as saying. inspectors later this month — a se- freedom of expression, to seek, to Indo-US relationship sanctions on Tehran remain in place, Israel insists Iran maintains the rious violation of the accord. receive, to impart information both state television reported Tuesday. ambition of developing nuclear Alavi, the intelligence minister, was online and offline The remarks by Mahmoud Alavi weapons, pointing to Tehran's bal- also quoted as saying that a member Modi is the first foreign leader, whom Biden mark a rare occasion that a gov- listic missile program and research of the Iranian armed forces “facili- NED PRICE | US STATE DEPARTMENT ernment official says Iran could into other technologies. The 81- tated” the killing of the scientist, SPOKESPERSON has spoken with beyond neighbours and key reverse its course on the nuclear pro- year-old Khamenei, who has the which Iran has blamed on Israel. NATO allies, reflecting the significance his gramme. Tehran has long insisted final say on all matters of state in in comments aired on state TV on The minister did not expand on As long as the that the programme is for peaceful Iran, on Sunday urged the United Tuesday reiterated the US must what he meant — and it was not Beijing administration attaches to ties with India purposes only, such as power gen- States to lift all sanctions if it wants first take steps to honour nuclear deal clear if the soldier had carried out authorities are AGENCIES president makes first phone calls eration and medical research. A Iran to live up to commitments agreements. “Any day that the US the explosion that killed the sci- willing to resolve to the leaders of two neighbouring 1990s fatwa, or religious edict, by the under its 2015 nuclear deal with resumes implementing its com- entist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh. Israel, conflicts, we also Washington, Feb 9: US President countries -- Canada and Mexico. country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah world powers. However, President mitments under the nuclear deal, we which has been suspected of killing want to have a Joe Biden and Prime Minister Thereafter, Biden called leaders Ali Khamenei states that nuclear Joe Biden has said the US won't be will fully implement our promises Iranian nuclear scientists over the dialogue with them Narendra Modi have committed of close US allies, including Britain, weapons are forbidden. making the first move. under the deal as well,” he said. last decade, has repeatedly declined under the conditions of equality to defeat the COVID-19, rebuild the France, Germany, South Korea and “Our nuclear programme is peace- Iran President Hassan Rouhani Following the killing last December to comment on the attack. and dignity global economy, jointly combat the Australia. In between, he called TSAI ING-WEN | PRESIDENT OF TAIWAN scourge of global terrorism and Russian President Vladimir Putin, promote a free and open Indo- which was necessitated due to the Pacific, setting up an ambitious extension of the New Start Treaty DEEP FREEZE Separate attacks I think the US agenda to take the strategic bilat- for another five years. companies are eral ties to the next level. Modi is the first foreign leader, kill 9 in Afghan excited. They The two leaders, during their whom Biden has spoken with be- feel that for the first first phone call Monday after Biden yond neighbours and key NATO al- AGENCIES time in many years was sworn in as you have a budget lies, reflecting the which provides less the 46th US significance his ad- Kabul, Feb 9: A string of attacks government fine-tuning. It is a President, ministration at- Tuesday in Afghanistan killed clearly defined budget which agreed to con- taches to ties with five government employees and attracts a lot of international tinuing close co- India. four policemen, officials said. No investment operation to pro- Biden and Modi one immediately claimed re- mote a free and agreed to stay in sponsibility for the attacks. MUKESH AGHI | PRESIDENT OF US-INDIA open Indo- close touch on a In the capital, Kabul, gunmen STRATEGIC AND PARTNERSHIP FORUM (USISPF) Pacific, includ- range of global opened fire in the Bagh-e Daud ing support for challenges and neighborhood and killed four em- SHORT TAKES freedom of nav- look forward to ployees of the ministry for rural igation, territo- what the United development, according to Ferdaws rial integrity and States and India Faramarz, spokesman for the city's Iran starts a stronger re- will achieve to- police chief. Hours after the at- vax drive gional architecture through the gether for their people and for their tack, the presidential palace in a Quad, the White House said. nations, the White House said. statement said the target was Tehran: Iran Tuesday Biden and Modi committed that In a tweet, Modi said that he Reyaz Ahmad Khalil, the acting launched a coronavirus the US and India will work closely conveyed his best wishes to the US provincial director of the de- inoculation campaign among together to win the fight against the President and they discussed re- partment for rural development of healthcare professionals COVID-19 pandemic, renew their gional issues as well as shared pri- Maidan Wardak province. He was with recently delivered partnership on climate change, re- orities. among the fatalities in the attack. Russian Sputnik V vaccines build the global economy in a way "We also agreed to further our co- Afghan President Ashraf Ghani as the country struggles to that benefits the people of both operation against climate change," strongly condemned the attack and stem the worst outbreak of countries, and stand together he said. accused the Taliban of stalling the pandemic in the Middle against the scourge of global ter- "President Biden & I are com- peace talks by once again escalat- East with its death toll rorism, the White House said in a mitted to a rules-based order. We ing the violence. “They have shown nearing 59,000. At a readout of the call. look forward to consolidating our that they don't believe in peace,” ceremony marking the start of the campaign, Parsa After being sworn in as president strategic partnership to further Ghani said. Elsewhere in Kabul, a Namaki, son of Health January 20, Biden has so far had peace & security in Indo-Pacific sticky bomb attached to a car ex- Minister Saeed Namaki, phone calls with nine foreign lead- region and beyond," Modi said in A woman takes pictures of icicles on the fountain in Trafalgar Square with the background of Big Ben as temperatures ploded, killing another government received his first dose. The ers. Traditionally, the new American another tweet. dropped below freezing point in London, Tuesday PTI PHOTO employee, Faramarz later said. minister said the vaccination would be simultaneously carried out in more than Police in Myanmar 600 medical centers across HISTORIC FLIGHT the country. COVID VIRUS LEAK FROM crack down on Arab spacecraft nears Mars orbit Sahara dust protesting crowds AGENCIES pollutes Euro air LAB ‘VERY UNLIKELY’: WHO AGENCIES While it is possible that the virus Dubai, Feb 9: A spacecraft from Brussels: A plume of Sahara dust that has blanketed parts may have jumped from animals to the United Arab Emirates was of southern and central Wuhan, Feb 9: While saying that humans, the team investigating set to swing into orbit around Europe in recent days caused "accidents do happen”, a team of in- the origin of the virus said they do Mars in the Arab world’s first in- a sharp rise in air pollution ternational experts, including those not have any proof. Bats and pan- terplanetary mission Tuesday, across the region, from the World Health Organisation golins are thought to be possible the first of three robotic explor- researchers said on Tuesday. (WHO), investigating the origins sources of the virus, but conclu- ers arriving at the red planet over The European Commission's of Covid-19 said Tuesday that lab- sive evidence is still lacking. the next week and a half. Copernicus satellite oratory leak of the virus is ‘ex- The WHO team also emphasised The orbiter, called Amal, Arabic monitoring program said tremely unlikely’. on studying the possibility of the for Hope, traveled 300 million measured levels of PM10s Addressing a press conference at transmission of the virus through miles in nearly seven months to dence the planet once harbored spiked in cities such as ASSOCIATED PRESS the end of the joint WHO-China imported frozen food, along with get to Mars with the goal of map- microscopic life. Barcelona, Lyon and study, more than a year after the ini- The experts didn’t even other possibilities. After the first ping its atmosphere throughout For the UAE, it was the coun- Marseille, Sunday. Yangon (Myanmar), Feb 9: Police tial cases of Covid-19 were reported cases of novel coronavirus emerged each season. try’s first venture beyond Earth’s cracked down on demonstrators from Wuhan in China's western deny the possibility that from Wuhan in December 2019, a the- A combination orbiter and lan- orbit, making the flight a matter opposing Myanmar's military Hubei province, Peter Ben Embarek, Covid cases could have ory circulated on social media that der from China is close behind, of intense national pride. 28 workers killed coup, firing warning shots and the head of the WHO mission, said the virus may have leaked from a scheduled to reach the planet For days, landmarks across shooting water cannons to dis- more work was required to identify been prevalent in other laboratory there. Former US Wednesday. It will circle the UAE, including Burj Khalifa, in Morocco perse crowds that took to the streets the source of the virus. regions even before the President Donald Trump also made Mars until the rover separates the tallest tower on Earth, glowed Rabat: Heavy rains flooded an again Tuesday in defiance of rules Liang Wannian, a member of the similar suggestions. and attempts to land on the sur- red to mark Amal’s anticipated ar- illegal garment factory in the making protests illegal. WHO-China joint study team, said early cases were In an open letter issued in face in May to look for signs of an- rival. This year is the 50th an- northern Moroccan city of Water cannons were used in that there is no evidence of trans- detected in Wuhan February 2020, the Wuhan Institute cient life. niversary of the country’s found- Tangier, killing at least 28 Mandalay, Myanmar's second- mission of the novel coronavirus be- of Virology said that assumptions A rover from the U.S. named ing, casting even more attention workers Monday, state biggest city, where witnesses said fore December 2019 in Wuhan. were false rumours and the con- Perseverance is set to join the on Amal. television quoted a medical at least two warning shots were The experts did not even deny the Wuhan could just be one of the science of the staff in the institute crowd next week, aiming for a “This mission was never about official as saying. That raised fired to try to break up the crowd. possibility that novel coronavirus first places where the virus spread. was "absolutely clear". landing Feb. 18. It will be the first just reaching Mars,” said Omran the death toll from 24, Reports on social media said cases could have been prevalent in The "wet market" in Huanan The pandemic has so far killed leg in a decade-long U.S.-European Sharaf, Amal’s project manager. reported earlier by the police arrested more than two other regions even before the early which was linked to some of initial over 2.3 million people worldwide project to bring Mars rocks back “Mars is just a means for a much Moroccan news agency MAP. dozen people there. Police also cases were detected in Wuhan. human cases was also one of the and caused widespread economic to Earth to be examined for evi- bigger objective.” Local authorities said used water cannons in the capital, Their research suggests that focus areas of the study. and social disruptions. firefighters and emergency Natpyitaw, for a second day and workers rescued 10 people fired shots into the air. from the factory, in the Police were reported to have basement of a residential also shot rubber bullets at the villa. Rescuers searched crowd in Naypyitaw, wounding What happens when governments start fearing Twitter for others who might have been trapped in the several people. Photos on social sudden flooding. media showed an alleged shooter AGENCIES activists who have been protesting Whether Twitter will be able to — an officer with a short-barreled #FarmersProtests and #EndSars against the three new agricultural maintain its stand or cow down gun — and several injured people. New York, Feb 9: Rihanna has no laws braving the cold, the vitriol and under pressure of the Modi gov- Unconfirmed social media re- connection whatsoever with India violence. Even journalists cover- ernment only time will tell. What, Bad Weather halts ports circulated of shootings with or Nigeria, but she has been suc- ing the protests have not been spared. however, is significant is that the search for climbers live rounds and deaths among the cessful in binding the people of It has been reported that a 23-year- #FarmersProtests in India has a protesters, with the potential of both nations, despite their diverse old Dalit activists Nodeep Kaur, an striking resemblance to the Islamabad: Families of the sparking violent retaliation against socio-economic background. activist and protester, was arrested #EndSars movement in Nigeria three mountaineers who the authorities, an outcome pro- Her recent tweet supporting the and allegedly sexually assaulted last year. Rihanna lent her support went missing in Pakistan last ponents of the country's civil dis- farmers’ protest in India has cre- by the police. to the people of Nigeria who were week while attempting to obedience movement have warned ated a global awareness about the Currently, the government is protesting against the police bru- scale K2, the world's second- against. The AP was unable to plight of the farmers in India and the pressurising Twitter to shut down tality on the pretext of maintaining highest mountain, were immediately confirm the reports. government’s authoritative actions accounts of people supporting the law and order. growing more desperate The protesters are demanding against them. Tweeting an article in farmers’ protests, labelling them In fact, numerous people in Tuesday, a day after bad weather halted the search that power be restored to the de- the CNN using the #FarmersProtest, as “anti-nationals” and Nigeria took to the streets to protest for the climbers. Hopes for posed civilian government and she wrote “Why aren’t we talking “Khalistanis”. While Twitter is yet against the Special Anti-Robbery

are seeking freedom for the na- about this?!” Soon, this became the that the External Affairs Ministry ment alleged that several foreign to oblige the Modi government in Squad (Sars), which was infamous

k y m the survival of the three — c Pakistani climber Ali tion's elected leader Aung San Suu rallying point for the Indian farm- of the country, instead of ignoring agencies were “trying to spread this regard, the social media giant, for torture, extortion and sexual Sadpara, Jon Snorri of Kyi and other ruling party mem- ers as support from celebrities, both the message on social media, re- false propaganda against India”. which has been a platform for many assault of the citizens. Unable to con- Iceland and Juan Pablo Mohr bers detained since the military in India and abroad surged. torted saying, the views of such While Rihanna’s tweet strength- such justified protests, has ap- tain the uprising against such of Chile — were waning as took over and blocked the new More than anything else, “celebrities and others” were “nei- ened the global discussion on the proached the Union IT Minister human rights abuse, the govern- heavy clouds continued to session of Parliament from con- Rihanna’s simple tweet rattled the ther accurate nor responsible” #FarmersProtests, the real credit Ravi Shankar Prasad for a direct di- ment ordered the police to open obscure K2. vening February 1. Indian government to such extent Going a step ahead, the govern- goes to thousands of farmers and alogue. fire on the citizens. We discussed various reform CHINESE APPS SLIP IN P11 measures like privatisation WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 10 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR of IDBI Bank and two PSBs, setting up INDIAN MARKETSHARE of bad bank, disinvestment in LIC, Chinese apps have slipped in terms of privatisation of one general insurance marketshare in 2020 in India, where ‘desi’ company, allowing FDI in insurance ones climbed up the ladder dominating sector up to 74 per cent the install volume. Semi-urban areas CH VENKATACHALAM | GENERAL SECY, ALL INDIA BANK fuelled growth of India’s app economy, business EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION

and domestic apps dominated

k y m c of the day uote Oil hits 13-month In the financial Jan vehicle registrations fall 9 pc YoY year 2020-21, the Indian rupee has THE FALL COMES AFTER DEC 2020’S REGISTRATION ROSE ON A YoY BASIS highs on supply appreciated by 3.53 per cent till February 2, 2021, as AGENCIES ket has created a vacuum for semi- per the information provided by conductors," FADA President Reserve Bank of India New Delhi, Feb 9: Vehicle regis- Vinkesh Gulati was quoted as say- cuts, weak dollar trations in January 2021 declined ing in a statement. ANURAG SINGH THAKUR | 9.66 per cent on a year-on-year (YoY) "This has resulted in a shortage AGENCIES MINISTER FOR STATE FOR FINANCE basis. in supply for all categories of ve- Tuesday, data released by the hicles especially Passenger Vehicles London, Feb 9: Oil hit 13-month Federation of Automobile Dealers’ highs Tuesday with the Brent bench- Triumph even though enquiry levels and Motorcycles Associations (FADA) showed that bookings remained high. New mark staying above $60 a barrel, sup- have been over 15.92 lakh vehicles were reg- launches and SUV's continued to see ported by supply cuts, a weak dol- dominating the istered in January 2021, compared high traction and helped in re- lar and optimism over a recovery premium adventure with over 17.63 lakh units in stricting the overall PV registra- in fuel demand. segment in the January 2020. tions fall by a bigger margin." Brent crude futures for April country since the The fall comes after December Besides, he cited recent price were up 16 cents, or 0.3 pc, to $60.72 first Tiger made its way to the 2020's registration rose on a YoY hike undertaken by OEMs as adding a barrel by 1301 GMT. casts of a supply deficit this year. Indian shores basis. IN NUMBERS to the woes as two-wheelers which US West Texas Intermediate Also, Libya’s output has fallen to n Dec 2020’s rise was the first SHOEB FAROOQ | BUSINEES HEAD, TRIUMPH Notably, December 2020’s rise in January to 60,754 units. became more expensive for lower crude (WTI) for March was at $58.00 1.04 million barrels per day (bpd) positive growth in a month MOTORCYCLES INDIA was the first positive growth in As per the data, dealer inven- and middle income class. a barrel, up 3 cents. Both contracts from 1.3 million bpd late last year a month during the current fi- during the current financial tory continues to fall with personal "Commercial Vehicle registra- had hit their highest since January due to an ongoing strike by nancial year. year vehicles' inventory ranging from tions were also hit due to vehicle fi- 2020 earlier Tuesday after having Petroleum Facilities Guards, a Our business At that time, 18.44 lakh vehi- n In Jan 2021, registration of 10-15 days and two-wheelers’ in- nancing still not back to normal risen for six straight sessions. Libyan oil source said Monday. apparatus, cles were registered compared personal vehicles fell 4.46 pc ventory from 30-35 days. and high BS-6 cost." The dollar was down 0.4 pc Signalling no swift return of which was with over 16.61 lakh units in on a YoY basis to 2.81 lakh "After witnessing a one off growth In addition, FADA said the against a basket of currencies, Iranian barrels into the market, rapidly digitised as a December 2019. units in December and January, the auto Centre's announcement of scrap- making dollar-priced commodities Tehran and Washington appeared result of a global In January 2021, registration of registration fell once again by 10 per page policy though voluntary is in more attractive to holders of other to be deadlocked over a resolution pandemic, has personal vehicles fell 4.46 per cent n Similarly, two-wheeler cent YoY. Auto industry clearly mis- the right direction. currencies. of sanctions on the OPEC mem- played a significant on a YoY basis to 2.81 lakh units. registration slid by 8.78 pc to judged the demand which returned “The spending on infrastructure Top exporter Saudi Arabia is ber. Investors are also pinning 11.63 lakh units role in helping Max Life continue its Similarly, two-wheeler registra- post-lockdown. Industry's under projects like roads and public trans- curbing supply in February and hopes on demand recovery when progression despite COVID tion fell. It slid by 8.78 per cent to 11.63 n However, tractors’ registration estimation of post-Covid rebound port will help build traction for March, on top of cuts by producers COVID-19 vaccines take effect and headwinds lakh units. rose 11.14 pc on a YoY basis in along with chipmakers prioritis- commercial vehicles over a longer in the Organization of the as governments and central banks MOHIT TALWAR | However, tractors’ registration January to 60,754 units ing higher-volume and more lu- period of time,” FADA said in the Petroleum Exporting Countries deploy huge stimulus packages to MD, MAX FINANCIAL SERVICES rose 11.14 per cent on a YoY basis crative consumer electronics mar- statement. and their allies, prompting fore- shore up economic activity.

SHORT TAKES No proposal to hike excise 46 FIRMS BUSTED AMAZON-FUTURE CASE FOR FRAUDULENTLY Profit booking duty on cigarettes: Centre eats into gains CLAIMING `82CR ITC ‘Group of Companies Doctrine’ Mumbai: A massive bout of profit booking erased the AGENCIES entire intra-day gains that led can’t be invoked, says Delhi HC both key indices to touch New Delhi, Feb 9: GST officers record highs during have busted a network of 46 fake Tuesday’s trade session. The firms which used to generate fake AGENCIES market opened at record high invoices and fraudulently avail on back of favourable cues input tax credit (ITC) worth `82.23 New Delhi, Feb 9: A division bench from global bourses. The crore, the Finance ministry said of the Delhi High Court has said in positive cues led S&P BSE Tuesday. its order that a reading of the agree- Sensex touched a record high Through the use of extensive ment clauses shows that Amazon of 51,835.86 and the Nifty50 data analytics, officers of Delhi East has no intent to exercise control on the National Stock GST were able to identify and un- over Future Retail Limited (FRL) Exchange to a record high of ravel a network of 46 fake firms and prima facie there was no rea- 15,257.10 points. The market continued to remain in favour which were operating since 2017 son to seek a status quo order be- of advancing counter till and had passed on fake ITC to fore the learned single judge. around 2.15 p.m. However, a AGENCIES that the overall GST collection from multiple of beneficiaries, it said A division bench of the Delhi last hour profit booking these products, including cess, dur- in a statement. High Court comprising of Chief pulled the market lower. New Delhi, Feb 9: The Centre in- ing FY 2019-20 was `53,540 crore “The investigation conducted re- Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti formed the Rajya Sabha Tuesday and excise collection `1,610 crore. vealed that the fictitious firms Singh has stayed the operation and between Amazon and FCPL fore the learned Single Judge,” the that there was no proposal to raise From July 2017, the central excise were being controlled by Arvind effect of order passed by the single reads as under: order said. the excise duty on cigarettes, ‘bidis’ duty collected on tobacco has been Kumar and his associates. He was judge ordering a status quo in the “For the avoidance of doubt, “Statutory authorities, like SEBI, DIIs continue and smokeless tobacco. subsumed in the GST. arrested January 17 and is in ju- deal between Future group and Parties hereby expressly record NCLT etc should not be restrained selling spree In a written reply to a question, Thakur said in his reply that dicial custody till date,” the min- Reliance. their understanding that the from proceeding in accordance Minister of State for Finance the taxes collected from tobacco, sim- istry added. The order says it relied on the fol- Promoters and the Investor have no with law,” the order added. New Delhi: Equity and Anurag Thakur said that there ilar to taxes collected from other The ministry further said Kamal lowing reasons - that 1) Future agreement or understanding what- “It is made clear that the obser- equity-linked mutual fund was no recommendation by the sources, together form a part of Singh (alias Kamal Solanki), a Retail (the Appellant herein) is not soever in relation to the acquisi- vations made in this order are only schemes saw a net outflow GST Council to raise the Goods the overall Gross Tax Revenues key associate of Kumar, also has a party to the agreement between tion of shares or voting rights in, a prima facie view for the purpose of `9,253.22 crore in January, and Services Tax (GST) on these to- (GTR) of the government of India confessed to have been involved in Amazon and Future Coupons, 2) or exercising control over, FRL and of grant of interim relief and shall showed data from the Association of Mutual Funds bacco products. and are used to fund various gov- the racket of fake billing through that in an agreement between that the Company, the Promoters not come in the way of the learned ` in India (AMFI) Tuesday. The “The GST rates on goods are ernment schemes and programmes. which fake invoices of 541.13 Reliance Retail and FRL, Amazon and the Investor otherwise do not single judge in passing the final ` net outflow stood at fixed on the basis of GST Council “In Budget 2020-21, 67,111.8 cr has crore were raised involving fake is not a party and prima facie all the intend to act in concert with each order and needless to state that the `10,147.12 crore in recommendations. At present, there been allocated to fund the re- ITC of `82.23 crore, which is ex- three agreements, as stated here- other in any way whatsoever.” order shall be passed uninfluenced December, `12,917.36 crore is no such recommendation. Also, quirements of the Ministry of pected to increase as the investi- inabove, are different and there- “A reading of the aforesaid clause by any observations made herein- in November, `2,724.95 crore there is no proposal to increase Health and Family Welfare. This will gation progresses. fore, 'Group of Companies Doctrine' evidences that Amazon have no in- above,” the order by the division in October and `734.40 crore the excise duty on such products,” be met from both capital and rev- Kamal Singh has also been ar- cannot be invoked. tent to exercise control over FRL and bench said. in September. However, the Thakur said. enue receipts of the government of rested and remanded to judicial Clause No 15.17 of the agree- thus, Prima facie there was no rea- The matter is listed for further contributions through Finance Ministry data showed India,” he said. custody till February 23. ment dated 22nd August, 2019 son to seek a status quo order be- hearing February 26. systematic investment grew to `8,023.39 crore last month. Govt may clarify FDI rules in e-commerce Godrej launches ultra-low temp freezers AGENCIES there are certain complaints from Tata Steel is consumers and small retailers POST NEWS NETWORK deploying vaccine refrigerators Inadequate cold chain Low Temperature Freezers is 12,000 New Delhi, Feb 9: Amid domestic about certain practices of the e- back in black which maintain a precise tempera- equipment is one of the key units per annum, which Godrej traders complaining alleged vio- commerce companies, which are New Delhi: Tata Steel swung Bhubaneswar, Feb 9: Godrej ture of 2 to 8°C to store the highly challenges which can lead to Appliances is working towards lations of FDI norms by foreign under investigation, he added. back into black in the Appliances Tuesday added state of temperature sensitive Covaxin and inefficacy of the vaccines and quickly ramping up to 30,000 units online players, Commerce and “We have sought several infor- October-December quarter the art ultra-low temperature freez- Covishield vaccines being admin- cost human health per annum, to meet the growing Industry Minister Piyush Goyal mation, they are being looked into. ers to its portfolio, strengthening istered in India, as part of the national global demand. Tuesday said the government is We are also considering certain posting a consolidated profit JAMSHYD GODREJ | CMD, GODREJ & BOYCE of `4,010.94 crore for the the vaccine cold chain further. These tender it received in October 2020. MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD CMD of Godrej & Boyce considering coming out with cer- clarifications to ensure that the e- quarter on the back of advanced medical freezers can pre- Medical Freezers which main- Manufacturing Company Ltd. tain clarifications to ensure that the commerce sector works in the true increased income. The serve life-saving medical supplies in- tain -20°C are also being deployed they are subjected to fluctuations Jamshyd Godrej, said, “Inadequate e-commerce sector works in the spirit of the law,” Goyal told re- company had clocked a loss cluding critical vaccines below - for diluents and ice packs needed beyond the specified temperature cold chain equipment is one of the “true spirit’ of the law and rules. porters. “E-commerce companies of `1,228.53 crore in the year 80°C and are aimed at boosting both for the last mile delivery in the band, leading to both health and key challenges, which can lead to He said the current FDI policy are supposed to provide an agnos- ago quarter, Tata Steel said Indian and global medical cold chain. Covid vaccination drive. The vac- economic implications. inefficacy of the vaccines and cost for the e-commerce sector is ro- tic platform so that buyers and in a BSE filing. During the Godrej Appliances is currently cines run the risk of damage if The current capacity for Ultra human health.” bust and well-designed. However, sellers can trade with each other.” October-December period of the current fiscal, its total income rose to `39,809.05 crore from `35,613.34 crore a year ago. Bitcoin powers towards $50K as Tesla takes it mainstream from March 2020 lows as insti- for Tesla cars and analysts reckon the S&P 500 stocks index and 6% NMDC clocks 53pc THE MOST POPULAR tutional investors search for al- this is a larger shift as companies for the euro currency. jump in Q3 profit CRYPTOCURRENCY ternative wealth stores and re- and big investment houses follow What’s more, with Bitcoin’s value tail traders ride the wave. It small traders into the asset. tripling in the past three months, an- New Delhi: The country’s HAS GAINED 1,150 PC traded at a few hundred dollars “Bitcoin is definitely capturing alysts raised questions over how largest iron ore producer FROM MARCH 2020 only five years back. investors’ attention -- I get more its volatility would affect someone NMDC has reported a 53 per Monday, it leapt 20 pc after Tesla and more questions about it,” said buying a Tesla car in Bitcoin. cent jump in its net profit in LOWS AS announced it had a $1.5 billion Marija Vertimane, senior strate- “Unless the price of Bitcoin sta- the October-December INSTITUTIONAL investment and that it would even- gist at State Street Global Markets. bilises, either Bitcoin’s price falls quarter on the back of smart tually take the cryptocurrency as “From a practical point of view, drastically and you end up having recovery in both production INVESTORS SEARCH payment for its cars. That was its using bitcoin to buy anything – won a Tesla in a lottery, or its price and sales that beat market largest daily rise in more than Tesla cars – would be still ex- triples and you end up paying your expectations on account of FOR ALTERNATIVE three years. tremely difficult given its exces- Tesla far too expensive,” said Ipek disruptions caused by the The price of one bitcoin climbed sive volatility.” Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Covid pandemic. Accordingly, WEALTH STORES AND to a peak of $48,216 -- almost enough the company reported a net Bitcoin’s volatility has been a Swissquote Bank.

RETAIL TRADERS RIDE to buy one of the best-selling Tesla hindrance for some serious in- For example, if someone bought

k y m profit of `2,109 crore in the c third quarter of FY21 against THE WAVE vehicles, Tesla Model Y SUV. Rival vestors and a sticking point in a Tesla Model 3 for one bitcoin `1,376 crore during Q3 of cryptocurrency ethereum struck using it for transactions. Realised Sunday - when it traded for $38,000 2019-20. NMDC’s turnover AGENCIES as the afterglow of Elon Musk-led class for both corporations and a record high of $1,784.85 Tuesday. volatility, or daily price swings - the same car could be bought for during the 3rd quarter of Tesla’s investment in the cryp- money managers. Musk, a well-known supporter measured in terms of closing prices just 0.8 bitcoin Tuesday, when the 2020-21 stood at London, Feb 9: Bitcoin was fast ap- tocurrency had investors reckoning The most popular cryp- of cryptocurrencies, foresees ac- for Bitcoin over the past 90 days was cryptocurrency traded at $46,413 `4,355 crore. proaching the $50,000 mark Tuesday it may become a mainstream asset tocurrency has gained 1,150 pc cepting the currency as a payment at 72% compared with 16 pc for as of 1145 GMT. P12

WEDNESDAY | FEBRUARY 10 | 2021 | BHUBANESWAR sports

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k k y y m m c ENGLAND DRAW FIRST BLOOD c Anderson, Leach help England win by 227 runs as India put up disappointing performance to go down in the four-Test series 0-1

(4/76), who after his first innings hu- milation at the hands of Rishabh SCORECARD Pant, finished with the best figures England 1st innings 578 but the effort paled in comparison India 1st innings 337 to the effect that Anderson had on the psyche of the Indian team. England 2nd innings 178 Anderson sowed doubts among India 2nd innings rank and file of the home line-up, (overnight 39/1) whether they had the technique to Shubman Gill b Anderson 50, play the moving ball which swings Cheteshwar Pujara c Stokes b Leach the other way round. Kohli can but 15, Virat Kohli b Stokes 72, Ajinkya can his colleagues do it will be the Rahane b Anderson 0, Rishabh Pant c big question going forward. Root b Anderson 11, Washington The man from Burnley, in his Sundar c Buttler b Bess 0, 19th Test match season, showed his Ravichandran Ashwin c Buttler b artistry with a semi-new ball, on a Leach 9, Shahbaz Nadeem c Burns b fifth day track and sapping Chennai Leach 0, Ishant Sharma not out 5, heat, far removed conditions from Jasprit Bumrah c Buttler b Archer 5; the grey skies and cool breeze that Extras: 14 (b-8, lb-5, nb-1); Old Trafford gives him. Total: 192 all out (58.1 overs). But then Anderson is a devotee Fall: 1/25 (Rohit), 2/58 (Pujara), 3/92 and best practitioner of Test match (Gill), 4/92 (Rahane), 5/110 (Pant), ethos and doesn’t need to take refuge 6/117 (Sundar), 7/171 (Ashwin), 8/179 in conditions because of his supreme (Kohli), 9/179 (Nadeem), 10/192 control over his craft. (Bumrah). Wasim Akram made reverse Bowling: Jofra Archer 9.1-4-23-1, Jack Leach 26-4-76-4, James Anderson 11- swing fashionable as a pro in 4-17-3, Dominic Bess 8-0-50-1, Ben Lancashire and Anderson spent Stokes 4-1-13-1. his teenage years watching the ‘Sultan of Swing’ practice his craft. It was the 27th over when Anderson But what he did Tuesday would first came into the attack and the sec- have certainly made Akram proud ond ball was a perfect reverse in- as the Indian batting line-up, save swinger which had Gill in a daze as Kohl, didn’t have an idea as to how the off-stump went for a walk. EFFORTS IN VAIN: Virat Kohli drives one through the off side during his gritty knock they could stop Anderson. The way the shiny part on the in- When he made his Test debut, side tailed in was a sight to behold. with supreme game awareness and Shubman Gill was in play-school and Rahane (0), for all the appreciation immaculate understanding of con- POST MATCH Rishabh Pant in nursery. At 38 years coming his way, was in very poor ditions. Against a left-hander, he 194 days and in his 158th Test match, form for the better part of the predictably came round the wicket REACTIONS Anderson became an example of Australia series, save a hundred at and angled a few in with a busy why one should never discount ex- MCG where he was dropped thrice. Pant hitting a boundary. By then, VIRAT KOHLI perience. The first ball he faced Tuesday Anderson had gauged that Pant No excuses: Our body language and Ishant Sharma, on first two days, was another one that came back a could be hurried on the drive. intensity was not up to the mark, sec- GAME CHANGER: James Anderson celebrates after getting rid of Ajinkya Rahane on the final day of the Test at bowled a few spells of lively reverse shade and it was hitting the middle So the master changed his tactic ond innings we were much better. We Chepauk, Tuesday swing. What Ishant did well, of the middle stump with the and bowled a slower one enticing were better in the second half of the Anderson just did that way better. Umpires’ Call saving the vice-cap- Pant to go for a drive. Pant tried first innings with the bat. We have to PRESS TRUST OF INDIA That spell ensured that there match became a mismatch within Gill (50) once again looked dazzling tain of what looked like a plumb leg his best to check it but the bowler understand the things that we have wasn’t a Sydney like heist or the an hour and India now need to win till the time he was at the crease. The before. The wily Anderson realised had asked his skipper Joe Root to done decently in this game and the Chennai, Feb 9: Veteran James magic of Brisbane final day which two out of the next three Tests to sinewy wrists were in play as he hit that an out-of-form Rahane’s feet specifically stand at short cover for things that we haven’t and as a side Anderson’s artistic spell of reverse many had hoped for despite the qualify for the World Test seven fours and a six, dealing with are not moving. The next time he just that particular shot. we are always looking to improve. swing trumped Virat Kohli’s show world record target. Kohli (72) Championship final in June. The spinners comfortably. went a shade wide off the crease and From 92/2, it was 110/5 and Kohli England were far more professional of grit as England decimated India seemed like a lonely general stand- player of the match honours went Even Cheteshwar Pujara’s (15) delivered another reverse inswinger. cut a lonely figure at the other end. and consistent throughout the Test in the opening Test by a compre- ing on a burning deck as he showed to England skipper Joe Root for his dismissal off Leach’s ‘peach’ didn’t Rahane knew that there was no Washington Sundar (0) was then match than we were. hensive 227-run margin here his colleagues how to bat on a dif- match-defining double hundred in unfaze the young man from Punjab comeback. picked by Dom Bess with the one that Sundar, Nadeem disappoint: That’s a Tuesday. ficult track. the first innings. as he along with Kohli calmly went Pant (11) has had three great turned away leaving India in com- fair assessment (duo not up to the A target of 420, with 381 left on He covered the swing and shuf- It was left-arm spinner Jack Leach about their business. knocks but he was facing a bowler plete tatters. mark with ball). You need your bowl- a fifth day worn out Chepauk track, fled towards the off-stump to counter ing unit to step up and create pres- was always a tough ask going by Anderson, ran purposefully and sure on the opposition. We didn’t cricketing logic and Anderson’s scored his runs against spinners. But achieve that in this game which is mid-morning burst blew away the there was that one ball that was al- fine, lack of execution is acceptable Indian middle-order. In the end, the ways going to keep low and he got but to understand our mindset was hosts could manage only 192 in 58.1 that from Ben Stokes. right is very important for us. overs. Courtesy Anderson (3/17), the WTC ranking: Nothing changes for us. If suddenly the rules (WTC league standings would be determined by the percentage of points) can change when you are in lockdown, nothing is India slip to 4th position in WTC in your control at all. The only thing DUBAI: India Tuesday slipped to Australia last month. India, who that you are in control is what you do fourth position in the World Test have slipped to fourth position on the field. We are not bothered Championship (WTC) rankings with 68.3 percentage points, will about the table or things that are going on in the outside. For some after their 227-run defeat to England now be looking to win at least two things, there’s no logic. in the opening Test in Chennai of the remaining three matches to as the visitors kept alive their secure a 2-1 or 3-1 result and a JOE ROOT hopes of making the final of the place in the final. Set a benchmark: I’m very proud of inaugural event. Australia will get to feature in the way we’ve played this week. We New Zealand have already qual- a Trans-Tasman summit clash if have set a benchmark now, we’ve got ified for the WTC final, to be held the India-England series is drawn something to work for to compare at Lord’s later in the year, win- or if England win 1-0, 2-1 or 2-0, the ourselves. Still there are areas we can ning 70.0 per cent of their matches ICC said in the release issued improve on. We can still get better. (with no other series scheduled). shortly after England’s victory. We know that India are an extremely The victory at Chepauk lifted Pakistan’s 2-0 home win over good team, especially in these condi- England to first place and 70.2 per- South Africa saw them finish the tions. And they’re a very proud nation centage points on the table and series in fifth position with 43.3 per- as well. They’ve got some exceptional they have improved their chances centage points, while South Africa players so they’ll come back hard. of securing one of the three se- slipped to sixth position with 30.0 Praising bowlers: To take 20 wickets ries results in their favour that percentage points. in alien conditions is a brilliant job could see them through to the West Indies are seventh with from the bowlers. We knew from the final – 3-1, 3-0 or 4-0, the ICC said 23.8 percentage points after their outset it was going to be a good wick- in a release. epic victory in the first Test against et. The first partnership got us going. India grabbed the top spot after Bangladesh, who are last on the Different stages guys came in and their incredible series win table and yet to win a point. contributed. SPINNING WEB: Jack Leach rejoice with teammates after dismissing an Indian batsman in Chennai PTI PHOTOS Australian Open: Nadal through in straight sets Krishna, Pereira goals

ASSOCIATED PRESS title in Melbourne, two-time major sunny day with the temperature in help ATKMB beat BFC Rafa Nadal goes for a backhand champion Garbine Muguruza, also the low 70s Fahrenheit (low 20s Melbourne, Feb 9: Facing a break during his match against Laslo advanced to the second round, de- Celsius), Australian wild-card entry box and drew a foul. point late in the third set, Rafa Djere (not in pic), Tuesday feating Margarita Gasparyan of Alexei Popyrin beat No.13 David Krishna was clattered to the Nadal sprinted to his left and hit a Russia 6-4, 6-0. Goffin 3-6, 6-4, 6-7(4-7), 7-6(8-6), 6-3 floor and the result was a penalty running, around-the-post forehand But Victoria Azarenka, a two- and 17-year-old Spaniard Carlos to ATKMB and a yellow card for that landed just inside the line. time Australian Open champion Alcaraz had a 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 win over Pratik. Krishna made no mistake Laslo Djere, ranked 56th, and the runner-up at last year’s US Botic Van de Zandschulp to be- as he hit it to the left of the keeper shrugged, his head dropped and he Open, appeared to have trouble come the youngest man to win a sending him the wrong way. no doubt wondered what more he breathing and received medical at- Grand Slam match since Thanasi Bengaluru were on their recov- needed to do to win a point against tention in the second set of a 7-5, 6- Kokkinakis in 2014. ery process when ATKMB doubled the 20-time major champion. He’d 4 loss to Jessica Pegula of the US. And an even younger player, 16- AGENCIES their advantage in the 44th. Pereira had three break points when Nadal Azarenka didn’t want to discuss year-old Coco Gauff, won 6-3, 6-2 beat Sandhu’s despairing dive to was serving for the second set, and her health afterward, but she did against Jil Teichmann to set up a Goa, Feb 9: Roy Krishna and double the Mariners’ lead. didn’t get close to cashing in one. note how difficult it was to prepare second-round showdown against Marcelo Pereira struck apiece to Harmanjot Khabra committed a When Djere, going for every- for a major tournament after being No.5 seed Elina Svitolina. help ATK Mohun Bagan (ATKMB) silly foul just outside his penalty thing, double-faulted to open what one of 72 players who were in a A seeded woman exited the tour- register a 2-0 win over Bengaluru area as he rammed into David became the last game of the match, hard quarantine for two weeks — nament when Ann Li, a 20-year-old FC in their Indian Super League Williams. Pereira shot the resulted a woman in the crowd at Rod Laver not allowed to leave their hotel American playing in her third (ISL) encounter here, Tuesday. free-kick with his left foot aiming Arena yelled out ‘It’s all right, Laslo’. rooms for any reason — after po- Grand Slam tournament, beat No.31 After a couple of close failed op- the ball into the frame of the goal Easy for her to say. tentially being exposed to COVID- Zhang Shuai 6-2, 6-0 to improve to portunities, ATKMB finally broke at the near post and he found the Nadal finished off a 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 win 19 on her flight to Australia. 5-0 this season. the deadlock in the 36th after Pratik back of the net. in just under two hours when Djere, ing practice. While Nadal has been Hanfmann 6-3, 6-3, 6-4. Paula Badosa also lost in the first Li is coming off an unusual ac- Chaudhari brought down Roy The second half was not that y facing triple match point, served slowly building into the tourna- Defending champion Sofia Kenin round after going through a three- complishment at a tune-up tour- Krishna in the penalty box and the productive for either side as both

another double-fault. The 34-year-old ment, Russia’s ATP Cup-winning struggled in her first match as a week isolation because she tested nament at Melbourne Park last referee pointed to the spot. the teams tried desperately for

k k y y m m c c Spaniard showed no signs of a back teammates have been on a roll. defending champion at a Grand positive for COVID-19. Badosa served week: Li shared the title of the It was after Marcelo Pereira goals but couldn’t find one as problem that hampered his prepa- Fourth-seeded Daniil Medvedev Slam tournament before setting for the match but dropped the last Grampians Trophy with Anett crossed towards Roy Krishna from ATKMB cut table toppers Mumbai ration for the year’s first major. extended his winning streak to 15 aside an early deficit and beating four games and was beaten 6-7(4-7), Kontaveit because organizers de- left. Pratik got to the ball before City FC (34 points) to one point, Nadal didn’t play for Spain at the matches with a 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 win over 133rd-ranked Australian wild-card 7-6(7-4), 7-5 by Russian qualifier cided not to hold a final so as not to the Fijian but a poor touch allowed having 33 points in their kitty after ATP Cup last week and was troubled Vasek Pospisil and seventh-seeded entry Maddison Inglis 7-5, 6-4. Liudmila Samsonova. wear out the players right before the Krishna to get on the ball. He tus- 16 matches. BFC, meanwhile, are by stiffness in his lower back dur- Andrey Rublev beat Yannick The woman Kenin defeated for the In other results on Day 2 on a Australian Open. sleed with Pratik while entering the sixth with 19 points from 17 matches.

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