Active Covid Cases at Lowest in 150 Days

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36,571 NEW INFECTIONS, 540 FRESH FATALITIES IN 24 HOURS Rise above compulsions, winning 2024 election Active Covid cases at lowest in 150 days ultimate goal: Sonia Breakthrough infections in India show a high proportion of Delta variant of SARS-CoV2 Mamata urges Oppn leaders to form a core committee to fight BJP OUR CORRESPONDENT a growth advantage over the Delta parent lineage, it noted. NEW DELHI: Daily corona- According to INSACOG OUR CORRESPONDENT virus cases have seen a signifi- (the Indian SARS-CoV2 cant plunge since the second Genomics Consortium), 61 NEW DELHI: In a major wave which peaked in May. samples of Delta Plus variants political move aimed at build- India logged 36,571 new coro- have been detected in the coun- ing a consensus to make a navirus infections, taking the Highlights try so far. ‘united force’ to take on BJP total tally of COVID-19 cases »»Active cases have de- “Delta variant is the major in 2024 general elections, to 3,23,58,829 on Friday, while clined to 3,63,605 and VOC in India at this time. Con- the Congress on Friday held the national recovery rate comprise 1.12 per cent of tinuing outbreaks across India a meeting of all like-minded improved to 97.54 per cent. The the total infections are attributable to Delta, a sus- Opposition parties. death toll climbed to 4,33,589 ceptible population, reduced The meeting, which was with 540 fresh fatalities. »»The number of people vaccine effectiveness in block- chaired by Congress president Also, the active cases have who have recuperated ing transmission, and oppor- Sonia Gandhi, is an attempt declined to 3,63,605, the low- from the disease surged tunities for transmission,” the to give a ‘legitimate shape’ to est in 150 days, and comprise to 3,15,61,635 INSACOG said. a united Opposition force to 1.12 per cent of the total infec- There has been a concern take on the BJP as in total 19 tions, the lowest since March »»Of the 30,230 samples whether increasing vaccina- Opposition parties, including 2020. Over 57 crore jabs have of Variants of Concern tion breakthroughs in India are TMC, NCP, DMK, Shiv Sena, been administered in the coun- and Variants of Inter- because of a new variant, the JMM and Left, were pres- Opposition to try so far, the Health Ministry est sequenced by the INSACOG said. ent in the meeting. Surpris- hold joint protests said on Friday. INSACOG, 20,324 were It also cited an example of ingly, Aam Aadmi Party didn’t Breakthrough infections the UK. With a population of attend the meeting. across country from of coronavirus cases com- A health worker checks body temperature of a traveler at a railway station in Mumbai, on Friday PTI of Delta about 6.7 crore, the UK has At the meeting, Sonia prise a very high proportion reported about 18 lakh cases Gandhi urged Opposition September 20-30 of the Delta variant, said the the INSACOG, 20,324 were of and 1.2 lakh vaccination break- parties to “plan systemati- INSACOG, a genome sequenc- Delta, it said. throughs with Delta since April cally” for the 2024 national a government that believes ing government consortium of DCGI approves Zydus Cadila’s 3-dose The Delta variant is cur- 2021. “Thus, vaccination break- election and “rise above com- in the values of the Freedom laboratories. rently driving the pandemic throughs are common dur- pulsions” to work unitedly as Movement and in the prin- The continuing COVID- vaccine for all above 12 years of age across several countries with ing Delta outbreaks and are there was no other option. ciples and provisions of our 19 outbreaks across India are China and Korea seeing new expected in India as well,” it “We all have our compul- Constitution. attributable to the Delta vari- MPOST BUREAU an immune response, which plays a vital role highs. Korea has reported that said. sions, but clearly, a time has Hailing the Opposition ant, a susceptible population in protection from the disease as well as viral the new surge is due to Delta Meanwhile, the daily posi- come when the interests of unity in Monsoon Session, and reduced vaccine effective- NEW DELHI: Indigenously developed Zydus clearance, it said. plus K417N mutation. tivity rate was recorded at 1.94 our nation demand that we Gandhi said, “The session was ness in blocking transmission, Cadila Covid vaccine ZyCoV-D has received The government’s Department of Bio- The Delta variant resulted per cent. It has been less than rise above them,” the Congress marked by the determined the INSACOG added. approval for Emergency Use Authorisation technology (DBT) also said that the “plug- in a deadly second wave in three per cent for the last 25 president said at the meet. unity that all Opposition par- However, vaccination con- from the Drug Controller General of India and-play” technology on which the plasmid the country between March days. “The 2024 polls is ‘the ties demonstrated for over 20 tinues to be very effective in and it will be administered to people 12 years DNA platform is based can be easily adapted to May that wreaked havoc on The weekly positivity rate ultimate goal’. This is a chal- days in both the houses. We reducing severe disease and and above, the Department of Biotechnology to deal with mutations in the virus, such as the health infrastructure, over- was recorded at 1.93 per cent. lenge, but together we can functioned in a coordinated death, and public health mea- said on Friday. those already occurring. whelming hospitals. It infected It has been below three per cent and must rise to it because manner with daily discussions sures to reduce transmission This is the world’s first DNA-based vaccine The vaccine has been developed in part- lakhs and killed thousands. for the last 56 days, according there is simply no alterna- among our floor leaders.” and inoculation remain critical, against the Coronavirus, and this three-dose nership with the DBT under Mission COVID In India, new cases of AY.1, to the ministry. tive to working cohesively “It was entirely due to the the INSACOG stressed in its vaccine when injected produces the spike Suraksha, the department said. AY.2, AY.3 (Delta Plus) are The number of people who together,” Gandhi said. Opposition parties that the latest bulletin dated August 16. protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and elicits Continued on P4 being seen in July samples from have recuperated from the The Congress president Constitutional Amendment “As of now, sequencing of Maharashtra at a frequency of disease surged to 3,15,61,635, further urged Opposition Bill was passed to restore the vaccination breakthroughs in about 1 per cent. However, at while the case fatality rate parties to begin to plan with long-standing rights of states India is also showing a very ant. Investigations for any INSACOG said. Variants of Concern and Vari- this time none of these sub- stands at 1.34 per cent, the the single-minded objec- to identify and notify OBCs. high proportion of Delta vari- new variants are ongoing,” the Of the 30,230 samples of ants of Interest sequenced by lineages has been found to have data stated. tive of giving to our country Continued on P4 Destructive, terror forces DEATHS DUE TO OXYGEN SHORTAGE

Rajiv Gandhi’s farsighted policies are not permanent: Modi L-G again rejects proposal for panel to probe helped build modern India Rahul Gandhi ‘Need to develop spiritual tourism sector’ Deputy CM Manish Sisodia asks what does Centre want to hide OUR CORRESPONDENT OUR CORRESPONDENT been no deaths due to lack of to oxygen shortage in Delhi’s SOMNATH: Prime Minister Nar- oxygen, he added. hospitals.” In today’s endra Modi on Friday said that NEW DELHI: The Lieutenant However, sources in the The Delhi government had destructive forces and people who Governor once again rejected L-G office said the statements sought an investigation into paper follow the ideology of creating the Delhi government’s pro- made by Sisodia are “mislead- the gross mismanagement of empires through terror can domi- posal to form a committee to ing, to say the least” and that oxygen by the Central Gov- ... nate for some time, but their exis- investigate the deaths due to “neither the L-G nor the government, whether deliberate City tence is not permanent as they lack of oxygen. The develop- ernment of India has said the or unintentional, so that in the cannot suppress humanity forever. ment irked the cabinet min- deaths due to oxygen shortage future such mistakes can be 57 NEW CASES & 0 DEATHS 3 He also said it was Indian peo- isters in the state government should not be probed”. rectified. ple’s spiritual bent of mind that kept with Deputy Chief Minister They said a high-level “The Central Government Nation the country united for centuries, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates Manish Sisodia alleging that committee constituted on the is fully responsible for the and called for the need to develop the move is to cover up the directions of the Supreme mismanagement of oxygen. 5 DIE AS SOIL COLLAPSES 6 and lays the foundation stone of multiple Manish Sisodia the “spiritual tourism” sector for the projects in Gujarat, via video conferencing, central government’s failure Court, with senior and reputed Today, the Central Govern- progress of different regions and cre- in New Delhi, on Friday PTI in oxygen management. doctors and the Additional ment is trying to hide the facts Edit ation of new job opportunities for “Delhi Government has Chief Secretary (Health) of the source said, adding the Delhi by avoiding investigation, but the local residents. constituted a high-level inquiry Delhi government as mem- government has also been the Central Government will WAIT AND WATCH 7 Modi was speaking while virtu- be defeated by falsehood, and faith committee of medical experts bers, is already looking into advised to follow the directions have to bear the responsibility International ally inaugurating a few projects of cannot be crushed under the feet of to investigate the number of the matter. of the courts in the matter. of the deaths of lakhs of people the famous Somnath temple situated terror”, he added. deaths due to lack of oxygen. It has submitted an interim In response, Sisodia said, who lost lives because of Cen- US STRUGGLES TO SPEED KABUL AIRLIFT 8 in Gir-Somnath district of Gujarat. “Somnath temple is a symbol of So that the reason behind these report and is working on the “It is clear that L-G’s office, tral Government’s mismanage- “This temple was demolished trust and assurance for the entire deaths could be duly investi- final report. The L-G and the under Centre’s pressure, is try- ment,” Sisodia said. Business numerous times over several centu- world. Forces that strive for destruc- gated and a compensation of Union Health Minister Man- ing to scuttle any probe into He further said that the ries in the past. Idols of deities were tion and those who follow the ideol- Rs. 5 lakh could be given to sukh Mandaviya have reit- deaths due to oxygen short- Central Government, by avoid- MARKETS SINK FOR 2ND STRAIGHT DAY 10 also desecrated. Attempts were made ogy of creating empires out of terror families of victims, but the L-G erated that the high-level age in Delhi. The scope of the ing investigation, wants states to to erase its existence. But it came up can dominate for some time, but has yet again rejected this com- committee is allowed to do its High-Level Committee con- hand over the report to them Sport again in its full glory every time it their existence is never permanent mittee,” the Deputy CM said. work, they said. stituted by SC is only to look without any investigation so was demolished,” he said. as they cannot suppress humanity Centre wants states to hand “Setting up another com- after oxygen supply issues in they can claim that there have NADAL OUT OF US OPEN 11 This temple gave a message to forever,” the PM said. over data without investiga- mittee for the same purpose Delhi, not to probe the number been no deaths due to lack of the entire world that “truth cannot Continued on P4 tion so it can claim there have will only create confusion,” a or the veracity of deaths due oxygen. Continued on P4 13 labourers killed, two injured as FUELLING AFGHANS’ FEARS, A REPORT SAYS TALIBAN KILLED NINE MINORITIES tipper truck overturns in Maha Taliban appeal for international recognition

MUMBAI: Thirteen labourers were killed KABUL/NEW DELHI/ and two others injured after a tipper truck car- BEIJING: The Taliban have rying them along with steel overturned due to appealed to the international Civil society members, women a pothole in Buldhana district of Maharashtra community to recognise it amid on Friday, police said. growing resentment against it at activists to be on priority visa list The incident occurred near Dusarbid vil- home and abroad, even as the lage at Tadegaon Phata on Sindkhedraja-Meh- Afghan militant group sought NEW DELHI: In line with ment said on Friday. kar Road around 12 pm when the labourers to placate China, saying Beijing its historical ties with Afghan Afghan people feeling were being taken to work of the Nagpur- can play a big role under its rule people, India will prioritise threatened or facing the fear Mumbai Samruddhi Expressway project, an in the strife-torn country. granting visas to civil society of persecution and those who official said. Taliban spokesman Suhail members, opinion makers, supported India in rolling out A total of 16 labourers, including a girl, Shaheen said the international women activists, students and various welfare and develop- were travelling in the vehicle that was also rushed to the spot and launched a rescue community should “respect NGO workers from Afghan- ment projects will also be transporting steel for the highway project, operation and the minor girl was rescued, he the will of the Afghan people” istan in view of the current given priority for grant of he said. said. While some of the injured were taken and officially recognise his situation in the country, peo- visas, they said. “The tipper was speeding and it over- to a state-run hospital in neighbouring Jalna group which has taken over A porter pushes a wheelbarrow carrying an elderly Afghan man as he enters ple familiar with the develop- Continued on P4 turned due to a large pothole on the road. district, others were admitted to Sindkhedraja power in Kabul. into Pakistan through a border crossing point, in Chaman, on Friday AP/PTI Thirteen labourers were killed and two oth- hospital, the official said. Dismissing growing con- ers were injured,” Buldhana Superintendent According to him, most of the labourers cerns over the Taliban curbing China’s state-run CGTN TV He also urged interna- close ties with Pakistan, have ship with China and Russia of Police Arvind Chavria said. were from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. the freedoms of women under that the new Taliban govern- tional monetary organisations been warming up to Beijing during the past years. We have After getting information about it, the Process to register an offence against the its plans to impose Sharia law ment in Kabul would protect to release funds to the new ahead of its recent offensive told them they should not have personnel of the Kingaon Raja police station driver of the vehicle was on, he said. MPOST like it did during its previous women’s rights to education government. resulting in seizing power in any concern from Afghanistan, rule 20 years ago, Shaheen told and work. The Taliban, which shared Kabul. We have had a relation- he said. Continued on P4 mp millenniumpost 2 City SATURDAY, 21 AUGUST, 2021 | NEW DELHI SATENDER WAS AN ASSOCIATE OF ANKIT GUJJAR Accused asks court to Gangster planning to kill jailer to expedite proceedings in avenge Ankit Gujjar’s death held Chhatrasal murder case OUR CORRESPONDENT

NARESH BISWANI Singh Kushwah, DCP, Special a member of the rival gang of NEW DELHI: One of the Cell said. Prince Teotia. accused in the Chhatrasal NEW DELHI: The Special Cell The Special Cell arrested him Significantly, Ajay Gujjar Stadium brawl case involv- of the Delhi Police on Friday from the Outer Ring Road area (25), had been a wrestler and ing Olympic medallist Sushil said they had arrested Satender of Chirag Delhi on Tuesday. also a most wanted gangster Kumar in which a wrestler alias Satte, a sharpshooter of the “One semi-automatic pistol of of Palwal, Haryana, and was died has moved a Delhi court Rohit Chaudhary gang, who was .32 bore with six live cartridges charged with dozens of criminal seeking the proceedings in the allegedly planning to eliminate a has been recovered from the cases from extorsion to attempt matter to be expedited in the deputy superintendent of Tihar accused at the spot,” the police to murder. “interest of justice”. Jail to avenge the death of gang- official also confirmed. According to police sources, Accused Anirudh Dahiya is listed for hearing on August in the murder case, in which ster Ankit Gujjar inside his cell. A case under the Arms Act Satte and Ajay Gujjar met moved the plea for prepone- 24. it named the Olympic wres- Satte was an associate of the has been registered against him through the deceased gangster ment of hearing as the matter, Besides Dahiya, Olym- tler as the main accused. The notorious gangster, the police and during the interrogation, Ankit Gujjar a couple of times, which was slated to be heard pic medallist wrestler Sushil judge took its cognizance on confirmed. Initially, the Delhi Police had had received a call recording Satte purportedly confessed to and they had also been cellmates today by Chief Metropolitan Kumar and 11 others are August 6. “With his arrest, a deep- refused to file an FIR in this cus- of Satte in which he was pur- the offense, the police said. They in jail. Further, Satte approached Magistrate Satvir Singh Lamba accused in the case. The police said that the rooted conspiracy to cause todial death matter but after a portedly asking his associate added that Satte also wanted to him to conduct the elimina- got adjourned to October due Kumar and others had brawl at the stadium was the harm to a Deputy Superinten- court order, the police registered to procure an AK-47 rifle to establish supremacy in areas of tion of the deputy superinten- to the Muharram holiday. allegedly assaulted former result of a conspiracy hatched dent of Tihar Jail in Delhi has a murder case against the con- eliminate jail staff. South Delhi. The police said dent of Tihar Jail, the police “No fruitful purpose junior national wrestling cham- by Kumar, who wanted to re- been unearthed,” the city police cerned DySP and other jail staff, A combined team of Special they are raiding the city to nab said. would be served if the mat- pion Sagar Dhankar and his establish his supremacy among claimed. transferring them. Cell and Southern Range was his associates. However, after the plot was ter is adjourned for October friends at the stadium on the younger wrestlers. Gujjar had died under mys- The FIR under charges of working to identify both the Satte is a notorious crimi- unearthed, when asked whether 9 as accused seek to expedite intervening night of May 4 In the charge sheet, the terious circumstances after alleg- murder against the staff of jail callers. “Efforts of more than nal previously involved in more the Special Cell is arranging for the proceeding,” the plea said and 5 over an alleged property police relied on the oral dying edly being thrashed by jail staff no 3 at Tihar was registered in 10 days succeeded when both than 20 criminal cases includ- police protection to the accused seeking it to be preponed in the dispute. declaration of the deceased, earlier this month. The family Hari Nagar Police Station in the callers were identified as ing murder, robbery, snatching, DySP, whose murder Satte and interest of justice. Sagar succumbed to the scientific evidence including of the deceased gangster had this regard. Satender and Ajay Gujjar. Sur- threat, criminal intimidation, Ajay were allegedly planning, The application, filed by injuries later. locations of the accused, CCTV alleged that he had died in jail Explaining how they got to veillance was mounted on the etc. He was on interim bail in officials refused to comment advocate Pradeep Rana on On August 3, the Delhi footage, weapons, and vehicles due to severe beating by jail staff. Satte, the Special Cell said they movement of Satte,” Pramod a sensational murder of Prince, on it. Dahiya’’s behalf on August 17, Police had filed a charge sheet recovered from the spot. Show us that party paid for ads SPIRIT OF SACRIFICE Cop held for picking on MCD hoardings: AAP to BJP a fight with fireman

OUR CORRESPONDENT penny to the MCD,” the AAP ABHAY SINGH vehicle and saw that the con- leader said. stable was driving his vehicle NEW DELHI: AAP leader Sau- “The reason behind this NEW DELHI: 13 days after on the wrong side. “He only rabh Bhardwaj alleged that BJP scandal is whichever hoard- Delhi Police Commissioner told him to drive his vehicle on has committed a scam of Rs ing site was allotted to the ven- Rakesh Asthana urged police the right side so that traffic jam 2,640 crore by not paying for dors, they forcefully got them to personnel to perform their can be cleared,” the official said. using the MCD hoardings. surrender the site and did not duties with their heads held The constable was soon The AAP has demanded the tender the site ever again. They high, a constable posted in infuriated and started misbe- BJP to present proof if they have then had an illicit arrangement Samaypur Badli police sta- having with the fireman. “The paid for the hoardings. Bharad- with the vendor where half the tion was arrested for misbe- fire was still blazing. They were waj said that the party will ask time they’d put up BJP banners having and manhandling a coming back to refill their fire for bills through #BillDikhao- which have been used for free and half the time they’d put up fireman in the Outer North dis- vehicle with water and return BJP campaign if they do not actually cost 1 or 2 lakh. Earn- banners of private companies,” trict, following which he was to the spot for dousing the produce the bills or admit to ings from the fee collected for Bharadwaj explained. arrested. blaze when the incident took the scam. using the hoardings would have Meanwhile, Delhi BJP A video of the incident went place,” the official said. “If these hoardings were put been used to pay the salaries of spokesperson Praveen Shan- viral in which the police con- According to police, he was up following the due process MCD’s officers, doctors, nurses kar Kapoor said AAP leaders stable, in civilian clothes, was arrested on Thursday under and were paid for, then there and frontline workers, Bhard- master the art of diverting pub- seen grabbing the uniform of a sections 186, 353 and 332 of must be bills and receipts for waj said. lic attention from core issues. 52-year-old fireman identified IPC, MV Act, Delhi Fire Ser- them. If they have paid for these The party had sent out teams “AAP leader Saurabh Bhard- as Narendra. The constable was vices Act. hoardings, all these leaders who to do some preliminary findings waj by raising the political carrying a stick and was seen “Alleged Ct has been put glorify themselves on these ban- on the matter. “We have photo hoardings issue has tried to shift pushing the firefighter. under suspension after the inci- ners must present the bills and evidence with GPS coordinates focus from today’s burning topic “There was a fire incident dent was reported. FiR has been prove that they paid for the of all these hoardings. Not a sin- of CBI inquiry being initiated in in Samaypur Badli, the victim regd on the complaint of the hoardings,” he said. gle penny has been earned by the Delhi government’s DTC along with other firemen were fireman. Further action being “We will run the campaign the MCD because of it,” he said. bus purchase scam. It will be returning to their fire station taken as per law,” tweeted DCP day and night, tag BJP leaders “BJP using MCD’s paid better if the AAP leader instead on a fire tender when they were (Outer North) Rajeev Ranjan and ask them to show bills for hoarding sites for free with of raising frivolous issues, tell struck in traffic snarls,” a fire Singh. The accused was not these hoardings,” he added. Adesh Gupta, Ramesh Bidhuri, the people of Delhi how DTC official said. drunk at the time of the inci- The party in a statement Meenakshi Lekhi’s faces shining caravan has been looted in the Muslims beat their chests as they take part in a Muharram procession on Friday PTI According to the official, dent. Police said that the fire- said that each of the hoardings on hoardings without paying a last seven years,” he said. Narendra came out from the man was injured in the arms. City Briefs Bail denied to woman who Prashant Vihar: Two colleagues Pre-arrest killed husband with lover behind sweeper’s murder, held bail denied MAN ROBS PERSON TO BUY EXPENSIVE OUR CORRESPONDENT tion’s case, the victim in the case to honeytrap GIFT FOR GIRLFRIEND, ARRESTED returned to his Southwest Delhi OUR CORRESPONDENT pects in the case were present NEW DELHI: A 22-year-old man has been arrested NEW DELHI: A Delhi court home one September day in in Crowne Heights building accused has now denied bail to a 2015 to find his wife and her NEW DELHI: Delhi Police on and were doing job in one Rad- for allegedly robbing a person at knife point here woman, accused of killing her lover in a compromising posi- Friday said they have arrested hika Exports company,” the offi- ARNABJIT SUR in order to give an expensive gift to his girlfriend on husband along with her lover, tion. Following this, the prosecu- two people, including an accoun- cial said adding that both were her birthday, officials said on Friday. The accused has in front of her minor son, not- tion has argued that the woman tant, for killing a sweeper in the questioned and they confessed NEW DELHI: Noting that it was been identified as Virat Singh, a resident of Dabri in ing that the crime was “ghastly” held her husband’s hands as Prashant Vihar area. the crime. a case of “honey trap” where the southwest Delhi, they said. On the intervening night even as the prosecution argued her lover allegedly bludgeoned Police identified the accused “Kumar was having enmity allegation against the petitioner of Friday and Saturday, an incident of robbery was that she might contact her him to death with brick as their as Pawan Kumar (26) and Ravi with Salman as he had a verbal were that she had threatened reported at Dabri police station, where a man al- minor son, who is now a pros- minor son watched. Singh Chauhan (26). They were they received a PCR call regard- spat with him at the workplace,” the complainant of filing a fake ecution witness in the murder The boy had also report- arrested from a building in the ing a male body lying near Jap- the official said. Accused first rape case and demanded money leged that when he was going home and was near case. edly told the court that he had Prashant Vihar area. “Both anese Park. strangulated Salman and then worth Rs 2 lakh from him, the Sitapuri bus stand, Dabri, four men robbed his mobile, Additional Sessions Judge then seen his mother and her accused and the deceased were “We found stab injuries on stabbed him. Delhi HC has denied the antici- Rs 5,500 and his identity card at knife point, a senior Sunil Beniwala said that the lover take the body in a motor- working in the same company. the body. During further inves- “Kumar works as an accoun- patory bail of a woman. police officer said. evidence against the accused cycle. The body was eventually The reason behind the mur- tigation his identity was revealed tant in the same company where A single-judge bench of woman appeared to be “very dumped in a canal and found der was a verbal spat related to as Salman Ali, who lived in Kan- the deceased used to work as a Justice Subramonium Prasad TWO ARRESTED FOR DEFRAUDING strong at this stage”, adding that only a month later. clothes between them. It took jhawala,” he said. cleaner. Ravi Singh works in rejected the application for antici- the fact that the woman was Applying for bail, the woman place few days before the inci- Special staff of Rohini dis- the account branch of the same patory bail moved by one Ishu, BANKS THROUGH ATMs married to the murder victim, had said that she needed to be dent,” the official said. trict under Brahmjit Singh ACP company with accused Kumar,” who has been booked by the NEW DELHI: Delhi Police arrested two people near made the crime all the more out to take care of her two minor Deputy Commissioner of (Operation) was tasked to crack the official said adding that they Delhi Police under IPC sections the Manglapuri area on Wednesday in connection “ghastly and flabbergasting”. children, both of whom are in Police (Rohini) Pranav Tayal the case. “We got information are conducting a raid to nab the 328 (Causing hurt by means of According to the prosecu- an asylum now. said on August 18 at 8:48 am, that two accused who were sus- other accused. poison, etc with intent to commit with defrauding the banks through ATMs. Accord- an offence), 389 (Putting person ing to Ingit Pratap Singh, DCP South-West Delhi, the in fear of accusation of offence, police got intelligence about the duo and laid a trap Ggm: Unable to ply amid govt’s push for e-autos, nine in order to commit extortion) to catch them. They have been identified as Nitin and 34 (Common intention). As Kumar(23) and Amit Kumar Gaurav(32), both are per the case records, the com- residents of Kaushabi, UP and the two defrauded the CNG, diesel auto unions say they will move high court plainant in the case, one Rishab Jain, stated that he runs a mar- banks through ATM machines with their ‘unique’ modus ble and tiles shop in the city operandi. Further, these fraudsters cheated more than and that on April 1, one Nikhil Rs 10 lakh till now, the police official also confirmed. Recently, 600 e-autos were introduced in zone-4 area of MCG Bhattal, whom he knew, came to his shop and asked for some PIYUSH OHRIE 400 to 500 but now we are not large number of electric auto- randum to the Gurugram DM. Recently, 600 e-autos were good quality marble stones for able to manage that. Haryana rickshaws on city roads, one plan “All of a sudden the govern- introduced in zone-4 area of renovation of his residence and GURUGRAM: Nine CNG/die- Government’s flip flop policy for which envisions to induct ment cannot force us not to Municipal Corporation of later on invited him to his house. sel auto unions, operating in and favouritism towards certain 5,000 e-autos onto the city roads. operate. They had first con- Gurugram. It is important to After he went to his house, Zone-4 of the Gurugram munic- private players are resulting in Most of the auto unions however vinced us to move from die- note that some of the poshest he was introduced to Nikhil’s ipal corporation’s jurisdiction, our livelihoods being adversely have expressed their displea- sel autos to CNG auto which areas and commercial areas of girlfriend, Ishu. The complainant representing as many as 7,000 affected,” said Sanjay, one of the sure as most of the drivers have we did. Now they cannot even Gurugram lie in this zone. alleged that she gave him a drink auto drivers, have now decided auto union representatives that recently purchased CNG autos allow CNG autos to not oper- The unions that have which made him unconscious. to move a plea in the Punjab and operate autos from Gurugram and are not allowed to operate ate. A diesel auto can function decided to move court operate On regaining consciousness, he Haryana High Court against the bus stand to Sikanderpur. in certain areas of Gurugram. upto 10 years and a CNG upto on routes such as Sikanderpur - allegedly found her “rubbing his decision to ban their vehicles in He and representatives of the Several auto drivers have 15 years as per law then why Sector 56, Sikanderpur - Cyber private part”. a bid to push for electric autos in other eight unions have said they shared grievances about how are they changing the law all Greens, Cyber greens - Udyog After this, Jain alleges that a particular area of Gurugram, will now move the High Court they had purchased CNG autos of a sudden and only allow- Vihar, Golf Course extesion - both Nikhil and Ishu have been if this order is not withdrawn. against the decision if the gov- through a loan and how stop- ing e-autos to operate in areas Sohna Road, HUDA city cen- repeatedly harassing him by ask- Delhi’s Commissioner of Police (CP) Rakesh Asthana visited western “Our autos are being stopped ernment does not take it back. ping them to operate would where we get most of our busi- ter - Sohna Road, Sector 56 to ing for a mobile phone, TV and from going beyond IFFCO The Gurugram district now add to their losses. The ness,” said Ramveer, one of the Sector 67, Udyog Vihar to Iffco Rs 2 lakh in cash failing which zone and interacted with senior officers regarding law and order chowk to Sikanderpur. On a administration is now actively auto unions recently also held a auto drivers who was part of Chowk, and IFFCO Chowk to they threatened him of filing a situation on Friday daily basis, we make over Rs pursuing the introduction of a protest and submitted a memo- the protest. Sector 44. fake rape case. MPOST

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57 NEW CASES & 0 DEATHS | OVER 1.44L VACCINES ADMINISTERED ON THURSDAY CM to inaugurate ‘cloverleaves’ of Self-reliant: Delhi govt’s medical O2 Mayur Vihar-I flyover on Aug 28 NEW DELHI: Chief Minister neath the NH-24 flyover. Arvind Kejriwal is likely to inau- Similarly, vehicles destined gurate cloverleaves of the Mayur to Akshardham from Mayur production promotion policy notified Vihar-I flyover on the Delhi- Vihar-I have to travel around Noida link road on August 28, a kilometre towards Noida to PWD officials said on Friday. take a U-turn from under- OUR CORRESPONDENT 500 LPM capacity at hospitals The move will benefit com- neath another flyover on the and nursing homes to cater to Gzb, Noida muters travelling from Mayur Link Road. NEW DELHI: Following the their peak demand for medical Vihar-I to Akshardham and The officials said that these gross mismanagement of oxy- oxygen up to a total capacity of traders welcome from Noida to Mayur Vihar-I problems will be solved after gen supply during the second 200 MT. as they will have an easy ride to cloverleaves of the flyover are wave of Covid-19, the Delhi Power Subsidy will also removal of these destinations after opening opened. government has notified the be available to Liquid Oxygen weekend curbs of the two loops. One loop will allow the traf- Medical Oxygen Promotion Generation Plants and non- “We have got the date from Highlights fic coming from Noida to come Policy of Delhi 2021 to make captive Oxygen Generation the Chief Minister’s Office down from the flyover and drive Delhi self-reliant in Medical Plants (PSA/ASU) at Rs 4 per OUR CORRESPONDENT for opening of flyover loops. »»The move will benefit towards Mayur Vihar-I. The Oxygen Production to pre- unit consumed in the manu- These cloverleaves (loops) of commuters travelling other will start from Mayur vent such events from occur- facturing process for the first NOIDA: With the Uttar the Mayur Vihar-I flyover will from Mayur Vihar-I to Vihar-I side and join the fly- ring again. five years from the date of Pradesh government lifting be inaugurated by the Chief Akshardham and from over towards Akshardham. The The Policy provides several commencement of commer- weekend restrictions, traders Minister (Arvind Kejriwal) length of each cloverleaf will be incentives to the private sector cial production. and market associations across on August 28,” a senior Pub- Noida to Mayur Vihar-I as 300 metre. to set up oxygen production Meanwhile, no death due Noida and Ghaziabad have lic Works Department (PWD) they will have an easy ride “The delay occurred because and storage infrastructure in to COVID-19 was recorded welcomed the decision saying official told PTI on condition of to these destinations after of the construction work that the Capital. Through the policy cal oxygen. ing that it is better equipped in Delhi on Friday, while 57 that it will provide a much- anonymity. He said that the time opening of the two loops slowed down due to restrictions the increase in oxygen produc- Health Minister Satyen- for any such crisis,” the Health fresh cases were reported with needed relief to the traders of the inauguration ceremony is on construction activities first tion will take place by setting dar Jain stated that the Kejri- Minister said. a positivity rate of 0.08 per cent, keeping in mind the ongoing yet to be decided. »»‘The time of the due to rising pollution levels up either new manufacturing wal Government is preparing The Policy aims to set up according to data shared by the festive season. The 800-metre-long fly- inauguration ceremony is in winters and then shortage enterprises or expanding the to combat any future waves of Liquid Oxygen (LOX) manu- city health department. However, the night curfew over was constructed by the yet to be decided’ of material due to COVID-19 production capacity of existing COVID-19 with full commit- facturing facilities of minimum This is the eleventh time will still remain in force from PWD and was opened for traf- restrictions,” the official said. units for uninterrupted oxygen ment and has a vision to make 50 MT capacity up to a total of since the starting of the 10 pm to 6 am daily. fic in January 2019 but its loops, of the road beneath the flyover. Another Public Works supply to hospitals or nursing Delhi self-reliant in times of 100 MT and set up non-captive second wave of the pandemic However, under these which were to provide seamless At present, the road beneath Department (PWD) official also homes during the health crisis crisis. oxygen generation plants (PSA/ in the national capital that guidelines, the markets will fol- connectivity to Mayur Vihar the flyover is closed because of said that some portion of the or otherwise. “This will help us tackle the Air Separation Unit technol- zero fatality has been logged in low their weekly off as decided -I and to Delhi, were under construction activities hence Link Road has also been wid- The Policy aims to ensure problem of oxygen shortage ogy) of minimum 10 MT and a day. previously. construction. motorists have to take detours ened near the flyover to accom- time bound fulfilment of the in the future and avert a cri- maximum 50 MT capacity up Meanwhile, over 1.44 lakh The traders have wel- The official said the con- to reach destinations in central modate extra traffic. requirement of medical oxy- sis like we saw in the past. The to a total of 100 MT. people were vaccinated against comed the move as they feel struction of cloverleaves was and New Delhi. The official said that esti- gen by incentivising early Delhi Government is prepar- Under the policy setting up COVID-19 in the national cap- that the new orders will over long back but its opening Commuters going to Mayur mated cost of the construction investment in the production ing to combat any future waves of Captive oxygen generation ital on Thursday, according to give them full opportunities was delayed due to the Covid Vihar-I from Noida have to of the two loops and widening and storage infrastructure of COVID-19 on war-footing plants (PSA/Air Separation the Delhi government’s vacci- during the festival time to do pandemic and also because of travel nearly a kilometre extra of the road is approximately Rs and transportation of medi- and is devoted towards ensur- Unit technology) of minimum nation bulletin. business. streetscaping of a small portion to take a U-turn from under- 40 crore. PTI Ration distribution Rain respite ‘Driving licence & registration cert At a glance OUR CORRESPONDENT kept in Digi-locker are valid docus’ delayed again NEW DELHI: Delhi got COVID IMPACT ON BIZ VENTURES respite from the sultry OUR CORRESPONDENT weather conditions as rains Highlights DISCUSSED AT DSEU WEBINAR lashed the national Capi- NEW DELHI: Motorists in »»The electronic record of driving license and registration NEW DELHI: The Delhi Skill and Entrepreneurship Uni- tal on Friday. The national Delhi need not carry their certificate available on Digi-locker, or m-Parivahan, is also versity on Friday in a webinar discussed the challeng- Capital recorded 11 mm driving licence and registra- recognised at par with the original documents as per the es posed by the Covid pandemic, with entrepreneurs rainfall till 5.30 pm Friday. tion certificate and can show provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000 The maximum temperature these documents stored in Digi- noting that companies had to struggle to retain their was recorded at 32.8 degrees locker platform, or m-Parivahan »»DigiLocker is a cloud-based platform for storage, sharing employees. The programme held on World Entrepre- Celsius, a notch below the mobile app, when asked for by and verification of documents and certificates neurs Day was attended by academicians, business season’s average while the the traffic police and the trans- owners and students. Making observations about en- minimum temperature was port department. ment, it added. nal record, it clarified. trepreneurial ventures, founder Bharat Funds Platform recorded at 27.3 degrees Cel- Driving license and regis- “The Traffic Police and The electronic record of Shyam Menon said companies had to struggle to man- sius, a notch above normal. tration certificate, available in Enforcement Wing of Trans- driving license and registra- Meanwhile, three dis- digital form on the Digi-locker port Department duly accept tion certificate available on age to retain their employees. “During the pandemic, tricts in Delhi have recorded platform, or the m-Parivahan the electronic form of driving Digi-locker, or m-Parivahan, each entrepreneur or venture has had to fight their “deficit” or “large deficit” mobile app, are valid docu- license and registration cer- is also recognised at par with own battles to survive. Companies had to struggle to rainfall, while four districts ments under the Motor Vehi- tificate if shown in the Digil- the original documents as per manage to retain their employees, both big and small have gauged “excess” precip- cles Act, 1988, a notice issued ocker and m-Parivahan app,” the provisions of the Informa- ventures struggled to keep it together”, Menon said. itation so far this monsoon by the transport department the notice said. tion Technology Act, 2000, the season, according to India of the Delhi government said. However, soft copy of driv- notice stated. DigiLocker is a REPRESENTATIONAL IMAGE Meteorological Department These are legally recog- ing license and registration cer- cloud-based platform for stor- data. nised at par with the certificates tificate maintained in any other age, sharing and verification Delhi Police chief hears OUR CORRESPONDENT from Delhi provided they have issued by the transport depart- form is not acceptable as origi- of documents and certificates. their Aadhaar card, which will NEW DELHI: Ration distri- be used for their verification, grievances of personnel bution in the Capital for the through e-PoS machines. city’s over 72 lakh people with When this system was being On Shanti Path, Afghans look for a country a Ration card has now been implemented, several shops in delayed again for August even multiple Food Department as the fair price shops part of Circles were complaining of to call home, go from Embassy to Embassy the Public Distribution System server errors. Some explained extended their July distribu- that a server error would pre- OUR CORRESPONDENT (for many), they are uncertain expensive for him to live in And amid this, BJP coun- tion to well into August due vent them from completing about family members who are Delhi and that he fears his rent cillor and South Delhi Munic- to delays. the process of distributing the NEW DELHI: Even as tens still stuck under Taliban rule. would be increased if his land- ipal Corporation central zone While officials had said in ration leaving them with no of thousands of Afghans try And as they wait for word lord found out he was Afghan. Chairperson, Rajpal Singh has July that the delay then was due alternative other than to wait. to flee their country in fearing on their loved ones, many are Another Afghan nation, who written to the SDMC Commis- to the shops trying to figure out This had resulted in long the Taliban’s rule in Afghani- now desperately trying to apply has been living in India for sioner Gyanesh Bharti, asking the new e-PoS machines as part lines at shops at the time and stan, on Shanti Path in New for asylum in countries like 10 years now, was also at the him to use the civic body’s of the One Nation One Ration many not getting their fair Delhi, those who have made it the United States of America, American Embassy, saying that community halls, kitchens Card system being imple- share. out of the tumultuous country European countries or Can- it was very difficult to find work and schools to house and feed NEW DELHI: Delhi Police senior police officer. mented, they have now said In August, so far, officials in the last few years and those ada or Australia while many here. refugees fleeing the Taliban in Commissioner Rakesh Ast- After taking charge as the that these errors in servers had have reportedly said that a total who made it out just as the Tal- others are trying their luck at Meanwhile, Rabi Jalalzai, Afghanistan. hana on Friday held his first Delhi Police Commissioner, been fixed. of a little over 2,500 transac- iban usurped Kabul, line up, an Embassy that agrees to take another Afghan national liv- Singh said a sizable num- Open House’ to redress the Asthana in his first interaction Officials in the Food tions had taken place under knocking on one Embassy door them in. ing in Delhi for two years now, ber of Afghans live in areas grievances of police person- with his force, had announced Department of the Delhi gov- the ONORC programme. or the other, hoping to find a According to all accounts was spotted outside the Austra- like Lajpat Nagar, Amar Col- nel. Over 40 personnel from the to hold an open house every ernment have also told Millen- However, officials associated country to call home as hopes of the Afghan nationals living lian Embassy on Thursday. He ony and Bhogal and they have ranks of constable to Assistant Friday to personally hear them nium Post that as of the middle with running the fair price of ever going back to Afghani- in Delhi through this turmoil, told wire agencies that many businesses here. Commissioner of Police (ACP) and sort out the problems of of August, no e-PoS machines shops have said that some cen- stan diminished. most say that while they are Afghans have been coming to “The commissioner has appeared before the police chief the staff. were faulty and the system had tres are yet to receive stocks For three days now, since extremely thankful to India for India but they too face prob- assured me of full cooperation,” for the open house at his cham- “Any police person with started running smoothly. from the FCI for the month the last commercial flight out providing them refuge in such lems here. He added that he Singh told reporters on Friday ber in police headquarters on unresolved grievance can According to reports, the of August. of Kabul to India landed here times, their temporary visas had applied for a visa for him but the SDMC commissioner Jai Singh Road here, officials appear and share his or her Food Department has said The Food Corporation of in Delhi, neighbourhoods here will expire soon and their and his family and had been did not respond to queries. said. Asthana issued necessary problem with the CP, Delhi. that a total of 12,238 transac- India has maintained that it is known for having Afghan lives in Delhi seem unsustain- waiting for an appointment for The BJP councillor from instructions after hearing the The Open House will also act as tions were conducted under allotting the decided amount families have seen an influx of able to them. two years with the UNHRC not Sriniwas Puri added basic grievances which mostly related a feedback mechanism on the the ONORC programme in of grains to Delhi and it had people somehow fleeing their For instance, Sahil, an helping out much. arrangements for Afghanistan to issues of transfers, promo- issues faced by members of the July, which allows people with also said that in June, the Delhi homeland. And as they settle Afghan national waiting for a nationals’ stay, medical check- tions, medical issues, incre- service,” said a statement issued ration cards registered in other government had picked up 100 into their small rooms with form to fill up at the American BJP COUNCILLOR ASKS ups and food should be made ments and quarter allotment by Delhi Police Public Relations states to pick up their ration per cent of grains allotted to it. just the clothes on their backs Embassy said that it was very FOR SCHOOLS by the civic body. among various others, said a Officer Chinmoy Biswal. MPOST MANY CONCERNED ABOUT CONSTANT CHANGE IN MODES OF LEARNING HC to Centre: Decide on exclusion Going back to school proving difficult for many of certain areas from Lutyens zone

SATVIKA MAHAJAN feeling of wanting to come back reopening schools but also had OUR CORRESPONDENT but also resisting leaving the concerns such as the ones men- NEW DELHI: While the comforts of learning online. tioned above about the change NEW DELHI: The Delhi High phased manner of reopening All of them requested to remain in modes constantly making Court has now directed the schools is necessary and many anonymous fearing repercus- things difficult and uncertain Central government to decide students across the Capital have sions at their schools. for them. within three weeks a set of rec- been eagerly waiting to go back, Many students complained On August 12, Delhi schools ommendations from the Delhi many others have pointed to of anxiety over going back and started the first phase of reopen- Urban Arts Commission with issues they are facing with the being able to fit in with their ing. Deputy Chief Minister regards to the Lutyens Bound- new adjustment period that REPRESENTATIONAL IMAGE peers after not seeing them for Manish Sisodia met with heads ary and Development Guide- be excluded from the Lutyens consideration the fact that the offline mode of learning will such a long period of time. of South East Delhi schools in lines, issued in 2019, including Bungalow Zone (LBZ). LBZ has its own peculiar bun- bring again. getting sick or getting their fam- within the student body.” A lot of anxiety amongst order to discuss the details of a move to exclude certain areas The court has now directed galow style features,” the court Over the last year and a half, ily members sick during the Another student from 12th students also stems from not the reopening.The first phase from the zone so that altera- the Centre to decide on this order said, posting the mat- online classes became the new pandemic has caused appre- standard in a different Delhi being able to seek mental health of reopening only allows stu- tions and changes can be made recommendation within three ter next for September 1 and mode of learning, even though hensions within students and government school added, “We resources within the school dents from 10th to 12th classes to homes in those areas. weeks. directing the Centre to file an students and teachers adjusted parents alike. do want to go back, we have level. While school counsel- to visit their schools for practi- A bench of Justice Rekha “While considering the rec- affidavit about its decision in to the mode, it came with many Students have also raised been waiting for this for a long lors and other school profes- cal counselling and admission Palli was hearing a batch of ommendations, the Ministry this regard. unique learning curves. Over- concerns over mental health time but our anxiety regarding sionals are trying their level best related work. petitions filed by residents of will keep in mind that the rec- The court also noted that time, the online mode became issues. A student from 11th stan- the issue of Covid-19 and prob- to ensure that students are pro- The SOP issued to the stu- areas such as — Jor Bagh, Golf ommendations made in Para the Commission had not more familiar and many stu- dard in a Delhi government lems of mental health issues vided with relief in some form, dents and parents included a Links, Sunder Nagar, Bengal 4.2 do not in any manner, seek placed these recommendations dents who spoke to Millennium school, said, “Online classes needs to be heard out too.” it is very difficult to cater to the consent form with the detailed Market, Ashoka Road, Mandir to interfere with the LBZ guide- before the Union Ministry of Post said they had lost touch were intensive but we some- Several school students numbers present, experts in the guidelines of the first phase. The Marg, Panchsheel Marg, Sar- lines, but only recommend Housing and Urban Affairs, with certain aspects of offline how managed to push through returning to campuses now told field have said. guidelines included mandatory dar Patel Marg and Chanakya- exclusion of some areas hav- and directed that it place the learning. it but the sudden shift to offline Millennium Post that they are Most students, when sanitisation of schools, thermal puri - who were among other ing modern constructions from same before the Ministry as This paired with anxiety of classes is causing a lot of anxiety having trouble reconciling the asked, reaffirmed the need for scanning and more. things, seeking that these areas the LBZ, and also take into soon as possible. mp millenniumpost 4 Nation SATURDAY, 21 AUGUST, 2021 | NEW DELHI 6,384 PATIENTS RECOVER Kerala reports ‘Centre prepared 20,224 cases, Maharashtra reports 4,365 99 deaths to tackle possible

THIRUVANANTHA- third wave’ PURAM: Kerala reported Covid-19 cases, 105 deaths 20,224 COVID-19 cases and 99 deaths on Friday, taking SHIMLA: The Centre is fully the total caseload to 37,86,797 ready to tackle a possible third OUR CORRESPONDENT 699 new cases, Mumbai 696, and the toll to 19,345. Thrissur wave of COVID-19 and a Latur 161, Aurangabad 29, reported the highest number provision of Rs 23,123 crore MUMBAI: Maharashtra Akola 18 and the Nagpur of cases (2,795), followed by has been made for this pur- reported 4,365 new corona- region recorded 14 new cases. Ernakulam 2,707, Kozhikode pose, Union Information and virus cases and 105 deaths on Of 105 deaths reported dur- 2,705, Malappuram 2,611 and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Friday, while 6,384 patients ing the day, the highest 33 fatal- Palakkad 1,528. Thakur said on Friday. recovered from the viral infec- ities were reported from the "Among those who were He said special emphasis tion, a health department offi- Pune region, followed by 32 in found infected today, 137 is being given to strengthen- cial said. Kolhapur and 12 in the Mum- reached the state from out- ing paediatric care amid appre- The state's infection tally bai region. Nashik and Latur side while 19,205 contracted hension that the third wave thus rose to 64,15,935, while regions reported 10 and five the disease through their con- may affect children more than Union I&B Minister Anurag the death toll reached 1,35,672. deaths, respectively. Akola and tacts. The sources of infection others. Nandurbar district in north Nagpur regions reported eight of 785 are yet to be traced. 97 Thakur, who is on a five- Thakur during a press conference Maharashtra did not record a and five deaths, respectively, health workers are also among day 'Jan Ashirwaad Yatra' in his at Peterhoff in Shimla, on Friday single active COVID-19 case while no death was reported in the infected," health minister home state Himachal Pradesh, more than others. The Cen- for the fifth day in a row. the entire Aurangabad division. Veena George said in a release. was speaking to reporters here. tre has also set aside Rs 35,000 As many as 6,384 patients Mumbai city reported 319 She said 1,19,385 sam- This is his maiden visit to the crore for free Covid vaccina- were discharged from hospi- new cases and six deaths, while ples were tested in the last 24 state since being sworn in as tion, he said. tals during the day, taking the Pune city reported 201 infec- hours, taking the total number a Union Cabinet minister last Some experts have warned recovery count to 62,21,305. tions and one fresh fatality. to 3,00,73,530. The Test Posi- month. that the third wave of COVID- There are 55,454 active Among 55,454 patients cur- tivity Rate stood at 16.94. The The Prime Minister Nar- 19 may affect children more cases in Maharashtra. rently under treatment in the minister said 17,142 persons endra Modi-led government is while others have said there is The state's COVID-19 state, Pune district accounts for recuperated from the disease, fully ready to tackle a possible little reason to believe this the- recovery rate stands at 96.97 the highest 12,558. taking the total cured in the third wave of COVID-19. A ory. However, experts concur per cent, while the fatality rate Coronavirus figures of state to 35,84,634. provision of Rs 23,123 crore has that there is a need to improve is 2.11 per cent. A health worker checks body temperature of a traveler as a precaution against the coronavirus before Maharashtra are as follows: Currently there are 1,82,285 been made to deal with it, said paediatric Covid services in the As many as 2,06,848 coro- allowing them to proceed, at a railway station in Mumbai, on Friday Total cases 64,15,935, New persons under treatment in the Thakur, who is also the minis- country. navirus tests were conducted cases 4,365, Death toll 1,35,672, state. There are 4,91,871 per- ter for youth affairs and sports. So far, India has reported since Thursday evening, push- reported the highest 577 new during the day. highest 1,858 new COVID-19 New deaths 105, Recoveries sons under observation in Ker- Special emphasis is being 3,23,58,829 COVID-19 cases ing the total of tests conducted infections, followed by Satara Among the eight admin- cases, followed by 890 cases in 62,21,305, Active cases 55,454, ala, out of which 26,952 are in given to strengthening paediat- and 4,33,589 deaths due to the so far to 5,19,21,798. at 554. Satara district also istrative regions of Maharash- the Kolhapur region. Total tests conducted so far isolation wards of various hos- ric care as experts fear that the disease, according to the Union Ahmednagar district recorded the highest 17 deaths tra, Pune region reported the The Nashik region reported 5,19,21,798. pitals. MPOST third wave may affect children health ministry. AGENCIES India seals ‘Those who believe in democracy, Opposition meet: Tejashwi seeks deal with secularism must come together’ Russia to buy ‘driving seat’ for regional parties OUR CORRESPONDENT AK-103 rifles OUR CORRESPONDENT in dhaar (edge) and nayaapan leader asserted. MUMBAI: Those who believe (novelty) in its electoral issues. Notably, in Bihar, a fine in democracy and secularism PATNA: The opposition in The opposition must fight performance by Yadav's party NEW DELHI: India has final- must come together and draw the country must get cracking polls on its own agenda.....the notwithstanding, old ally Con- ised a deal with Russia to buy up a "time-bound action pro- for the next Lok Sabha polls experience of West Bengal and gress emerged as the prover- a sizeable number of AK-103 gram", NCP supremo Sharad and regional parties must be Bihar has shown how we should bial weak link as it could bag series of assault rifles for the Pawar said after taking part in allowed to be in the driving seat be taking on the BJP , said the less than 20 seats despite con- Indian Army under the provi- a virtual meeting of opposi- wherever these were strong, RJD leader whose party has testing 70. The performance of sions of emergency procure- tion leaders convened by Con- RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav ended up in the opposition in the Left was said to be the best ment, people familiar with the gress president Sonia Gandhi asserted on Friday. the state though it has the larg- in recent decades though its development said on Friday. on Friday. Addressing a meeting of est number of MLAs. strike rate too was not much The Army is implement- He appreciated the initia- opposition parties via video We must start working to speak about. ing a mega infantry mod- tive to organize a meeting of conference from here, con- on our strategy for 2024 now. A few months later in RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav ernisation programme under like-minded parties in view of vened by Congress president The opposition has opted for adjoining West Bengal, which a large number of light the present circumstances in Sonia Gandhi in Delhi, the RJD the beaten track for the past to cash in on these despite pal- Yadav extended his support machine guns, battle carbines the country, the former Union leader said that recent assem- seven years..... We must bring pable public anger . to Mamata Banerjee's TMC, and assault rifles are being pur- minister said on Twitter. Sharad Pawar attends an online meeting of like-minded parties bly polls in West Bengal, where in dhaar' and nayaapan' in the He also stressed on the despite his alliance in Bihar chased to replace its ageing and "The current scenario in BJP was trounced, and Bihar issues we raise , said the former need for better communication with Congress and the Left obsolete weapons. India appears very gloomy. The present government gram needs to be taken up col- where the NDA could just Bihar deputy chief minister. among opposition parties at which were decimated in the "A deal has been finalised Farmers are protesting for has failed to address these lectively, and I strongly suggest scrape through, could serve as He asserted that the oppo- national as well as state levels". assembly polls that turned out with Russia for direct purchase many months, it's an anguish- issues, he said. that instead of dealing with all an inspiration for the big battle sition must start hitting the The opposition must put up to be a straight contest between of a batch of AK-103 series of ing picture for a democratic "Those who believe in these issues together, we must in 2024. streets besides finalising its a credible alternative by send- the firmly entrenched ruling assault rifles," one of the per- country like India. The nation democracy and secularism, collectively prioritize each issue The 33-year-old, who alliances well in advance since ing across a message of unity party and the rapidly grow- sons cited above said without is facing many issues like infla- those who like to work together and solve them one by one to steered his party to an impres- coalitions stitched shortly and shared vision and pro- ing BJP. specifying the number of rifles tion, economic slowdown, for saving the democratic prin- give our country a good pres- sive show in the Bihar assembly before elections left confusion gramme among the parties. He also appealed to all or the cost of procurement. Covid mitigation, unemploy- ciples and ethos of our country ent and future," he said. polls last year thereby emerging in the minds of the people. Moreover, in states where opposition parties to put pres- However, there is no ment, border disputes, issue of must come together," Pawar A total of 19 parties includ- out of the shadow of his father Yadav lamented that the regional parties are strong, sure on the Narendra Modi official announcement on the the minority communities etc," said. ing the NCP and Shiv Sena par- Lalu Prasad, underscored that opposition had innumerable these should be allowed to be government for conducting deal yet. AGENCIES he tweeted. "A time-bound action pro- ticipated in the meeting. the opposition needed to bring issues at hand but was unable in the driving seat , the RJD the census caste-wise.

She urged to keep personal interests aside and other dignitaries attended the programme at a Haqqani has told his ex-government interlocut- parked vehicles from both embassies,” a senior work together for a larger cause. temple auditorium. ers that the insurgent movement has a deal with officer said. From Page 1 “Forget who is the leader, let’s keep our per- On the occasion, Modi also said that India, the US to do nothing until after the final with- The United States said on Friday that it evac- sonal interests aside. People of India will lead,” which was at 65th position in 2013 in the Travel drawal date passes. uated approximately 3,000 people from Kabul via she was stated to have maintained during the and Tourism Competitiveness Index, jumped to He did not elaborate on whether the refer- military transport aircraft on August 19. Rise above meeting. 34th position in 2019. ence to doing nothing was only in the political We have evacuated approximately 9,000 peo- According to political experts, such a meet- field. Haqqani’s statement raises concerns about ple since August 14. Since the end of July, we ing is a way forward to create a consensus among what the religious movement might be planning have evacuated approximately 14,000 people,” it compulsions... all Opposition parties about the leadership issue L-G again rejects after August 31, and whether they will keep their said. as in 2019 Lok Sabha election, Opposition par- promise to include non-Taliban officials in the ties were not ‘united’ that helped BJP win by a proposal... next government. Until now the Taliban have The government had erred three years back thumping majority. said nothing of their plans to replace the Afghan Civil society and as you well know this Bill was required to In 2004, almost all the like-minded Oppo- National Defense and Security Forces, or what a rectify that mistake and a subsequent ruling of sition parties, including the Left, had formed a The Central Government has repeatedly replacement would look like. members, women the Supreme Court,” she said. post-poll alliance. Similarly, on the same lines, rejected proposals to form an inquiry committee Meanwhile, reports of targeted killings in Meanwhile, leaders of 19 political parties said the parties are getting together to stitch a pre- for the investigation of the matter and to hide the areas overrun by the Taliban mounted Friday, they will organise joint protests and demonstra- poll alliance with Congress at the ‘helm of affairs’. actual number of deaths due to lack of oxygen, fuelling fears that they will return Afghanistan to activists to be on tions across the country from September 20 to 30 The meetings of Opposition parties anchored the Minister said. the repressive rule they imposed when they were even as they urged the people of the country to by Congress is part of poll strategist Prashant “On one hand, the Central Government pre- last in power, even as they urged imams to push priority visa list save India for a better tomorrow. Kishore’s ‘mission’ to form a non-BJP govern- tends to ask for data on deaths due to lack of oxy- a message of unity at Friday’s prayers. After a virtual meeting of the Opposition par- ment at the Centre. gen. On the other hand, the inquiry committee is Reports of abuses are growing, and an ties, the leaders also put out an 11-point charter The other parties that attended the meeting dismissed. What does the Central Government Amnesty International report provided more evi- However, they said the government’s imme- of demands before the government. include NC, RJD, AIUDF, Viduthalai Chiruthai- want to hide?,” he questioned. dence Friday that undercut the Taliban’s claims diate priority is to evacuate the stranded Indians “We will jointly organise protest actions all gal Katchi (VCK), Loktantrik Janata Dal, JDS, they have changed. from Kabul and arrangements are being made over the country from 20th to 30th September, RLD, RSP, Kerala Congress Mani, PDP and The rights group said that its researchers in coordination with the US and other partner 2021,” they said in a statement. Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). Taliban appeal spoke to eyewitnesses in Ghazni province who countries to bring them home. The leaders said the forms of these public recounted how the Taliban killed nine ethnic It is learnt that all back-up plans have been protest actions will be decided by the respec- for international Hazara men in the village of Mundarakht on July put into place to facilitate their return at the tive state units of their parties, depending on the Destructive, terror 4-6. It said six of the men were shot, and three earliest. India has been a key stakeholder in concrete conditions of the Covid regulations and were tortured to death. Hazaras are Shiite Mus- Afghanistan and it has invested nearly USD 3 bil- protocols in the states. forces are not recognition lims who were previously persecuted by the Tali- lion in carrying out nearly 500 projects across The leaders also strongly condemned the ban and who made major gains in education and Afghanistan. manner in which the Centre and the ruling BJP social status in recent years. The people said another priority for the gov- disrupted the Monsoon Session of Parliament, permanent: Modi We see it in our interest not to allow anyone The brutality of the killings was a reminder of ernment has been to facilitate the evacuation of refusing to discuss the alleged illegal usage of the to use our soil against our neighbouring and the Taliban’s past record, and a horrifying indica- the members of the Hindu and Sikh minorities Pegasus military spyware to conduct unauthor- regional countries. It is important for us, he said, tor of what Taliban rule may bring, said Agnes from Afghanistan. ised surveillance, a repeal of three “anti-farmer” This was true when some tyrants were demol- amid increasing scepticism, especially among Callamard, the head of Amnesty International. The majority of the people from the Sikh laws, the gross mismanagement of the COVID- ishing the Somnath temple, and it is true even women who faced subjugation under Taliban’s The rights group warned that many more community in Afghanistan possess long-term 19 pandemic, inflation and price rise as also the today when the world has apprehensions because previous rule 20 years ago with its efforts to killings may have gone unreported because the Indian visas. MPOST spiralling unemployment. of some people following such ideology, he said. impose strict Sharia law. Taliban cut cellphone services in many areas All these and many other issues affecting the The prime minister’s remarks come in the Also for the reconstruction of Afghani- they’ve captured to prevent images from being country and its people were deliberately ignored wake of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. stan, we need the help of all countries, including published. Separately, Reporters without Borders DCGI approves by the government, they alleged. As the chairman of the Shree Somnath Trust, neighbouring as well as regional, the US and the expressed alarm at the news that Taliban fighters Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the PM inaugurated and laid the foundation rest of the world, Shaheen said. killed the family member of an Afghan journalist Zydus Cadila’s the Opposition leaders said his Independence stone for four projects, worth Rs 83 crore, of the The Taliban are currently in talks with former working for German broadcaster Deutsche Welle Day address did not focus on a single issue con- Somnath temple. It included the ground-break- President Hameed Karzai and Abdullah Abdul- on Wednesday. cerning people’s miseries. ing ceremony for the Parvati Temple that is com- lah, who headed the High Council for National Sadly, this confirms our worst fears, said Katja 3-dose vaccine Earlier during the meeting, Trinamool Con- ing up near the main temple for Rs 30 crore. Reconciliation, to form what it calls an inclusive Gloger of the press freedom group’s German gress chairperson Mamata Banerjee urged Oppo- The three projects that he inaugurated were government. section. The brutal action of the Taliban show sition party leaders to set up a ‘core committee’ a 1.4-km long ‘Samudra Darshan’ walkway or However, an Afghan official familiar with that the lives of independent media workers in “It has been implemented by the BIRAC (Bio- for better coordination in regard to addressing promenade built at a cost of Rs 49 crore on talks with the Taliban says the group does not Afghanistan are in acute danger. technology Industry Research Assistance Coun- issues faced by the country currently. Banerjee the seashore behind the temple, a newly-built plan to make any decisions or announcements Meanwhile, Indian government sources said cil) and ZyCoV-D has been supported under also raised some key issues during the meeting, museum housing ancient artefacts constructed about the upcoming government until after the that the Taliban entered consulates in Kandahar the COVID-19 Research Consortia through including vaccine for all, repealing of farm laws near the temple at Rs 75 lakh, and the renovated August 31 US withdrawal date passes. and Herat on Wednesday, searched for docu- National Biopharma Mission for preclinical stud- and withdrawal of unprecedented hike in the ‘Ahilyabai Holkar Temple’ or the old Somnath The official, who is not authorised to give ments and took away parked cars. ies, Phase I and Phase II clinical trials and under prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas among temple, renovated at a cost of Rs 3.5 crore. information to the media and thus spoke anon- “We expected this. They ransacked the place the Mission COVID Suraksha for Phase III Clin- other things. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and ymously, says Taliban lead negotiator Anas searched documents and also took away our ical Trial, the DBT said. millenniumpost mp NEW DELHI | SATURDAY, 21 AUGUST, 2021 Nation 5

FOR BETTER PARTY-GOVT COORDINATION EAM holds talks with Qatari FM Punjab CM Singh, Sidhu in Doha on Afghan developments agree on strategic policy group OUR CORRESPONDENT Minister Manpreet Singh Badal colleagues the task of being The mission to evacuate close to 200 people including Indian envoy and and Social Security Minister available in Punjab Con- CHANDIGARH: Punjab Aruna Chaudhary as members gress Bhawan, the party's Chief Minister Amarinder along with Sidhu. state headquarter here, every other staffers in 2 military aircraft was accomplished with support from US Singh and State Congress chief The four state Congress day, by rotation, for meet- Navjot Singh Sidhu on Friday working presidents, Kuljit ings with MLAs and other OUR CORRESPONDENT ter, who also holds the post of from the US. agreed to set up a 10-member Singh Nagra, Sukhwinder party functionaries to discuss deputy prime minister, said the Meanwhile, unconfirmed strategic policy group to ensure Singh Danny, Sangat Singh Gil- issues relating to their constit- NEW DELHI: External Affairs discussions included the recent reports said the Taliban has better coordination between zian and Pawan Goel, and Par- uencies or areas and address Minister S Jaishankar on Friday developments in Afghanistan. been carrying out door-to- the party and the state govern- gat Singh will also be members. any grievances. held talks with his Qatari coun- "Delighted to welcome door searches of several embas- ment and expedite implemen- The decision was taken on One minister each will be terpart Sheikh Mohammed again my colleague @DrSJais- sies in Kabul and had gone to tation of various government Friday when Sidhu, along with available at the Congress Bha- bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani hankar, #India's Minister of the Indian mission complex programmes. Nagra and Pargat, called on the wan from Monday for three on the latest developments in External Affairs. Our discus- as well. The development is seen as chief minister to discuss Pun- hours between 11 am and 2 Afghanistan as he stopped over sion included ways of devel- Jaishankar had made two a sign of thaw between Singh jab related issues and steps to pm, the roster for which has in Qatar's capital Doha on his oping the historical relations stopovers at Doha in June and Sidhu, amid the ongo- strengthen party-government been put up by Sidhu on his way back home from a four-day between our two friendly during his visit to Kenya and ing tussle between the two coordination, a statement here Twitter handle, and in any case visit to the US. nations, along with the recent Kuwait. of them. said. the minister deputed for a par- Doha has been the venue developments in #Afghani- Qatar had also hosted talks In another development, The Group will hold weekly ticular day is unable to make for the intra-Afghan peace stan," he said on Twitter. between the Taliban and the the chief minister has deputed meetings in consultation with it for some reason, he or she talks and Qatar has emerged On Tuesday, India com- United States. his ministers to sit at Congress other ministers and experts shall arrange for a substitute as a crucial player in facilitat- pleted the evacuation of all Earlier this month, Qatari Bhawan here for interacting as may be required. It will in consultation with any other ing the Afghan peace process. its diplomats and other staff special envoy for conflict res- with the party cadre and public. discuss and review the prog- minister. The Taliban's political lead- members from Kabul under a olution Mutlaq bin Majed Al- Congress president Sonia ress of various state govern- The arrangement will be ers have been residing in the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar meets Qatar's Dy PM Sheikh difficult and complicated exer- Qahtani visited India during Gandhi had earlier advised that ment initiatives already under in place five days in a week, Gulf country for years. Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Doha on Friday PIC/PTI cise, two days after the Taliban's which he met Jaishankar, For- the Punjab government and implementation, and will also from Monday to Friday, said "Met Sheikh Mohammed takeover of the Afghan capital. eign Secretary Harsh Vardhan the state unit of the party must suggest measures to expedite the the chief minister, adding that bin Abdulrahman Al Thani @ kar tweeted. control of almost all key towns The mission to evacuate Shringla and J P Singh, the work together. same, it said. this will help in better coordi- MBA_AlThani_DPM & FM The talks came five days and cities in an over month- close to 200 people including Joint Secretary in the Pakistan- To be headed by the chief In another decision, which nation between his government Qatar during my stop over in after Afghan capital Kabul fell long offensive following the the Indian envoy and other Afghanistan-Iran division in minister, the Group will have came after Sidhu wrote a let- and party functionaries in the Doha. Had useful exchange of to the Taliban after it swept withdrawal of the US forces. staffers in two military aircraft the Ministry of External Affairs Local Government Minister ter to the chief minister, Singh run-up to the 2022 Assembly views on Afghanistan," Jaishan- across Afghanistan, seizing The Qatari foreign minis- was accomplished with support (MEA). Brahm Mohindra, Finance has also assigned his cabinet elections. FB removes Rahul's Rajiv Gandhi's farsighted policies helped build modern India: Rahul

post for policy violation OUR CORRESPONDENT Pawan Kumar Bansal, K C of democracy were strong. Venugopal and Indian Youth Congress kept These people forget this,” OUR CORRESPONDENT Facebook spokesperson said NEW DELHI: The Congress Congress (IYC) chief Srinivas Gehlot said without naming in an emailed statement on on Friday paid rich tributes B V were among those who democracy intact anyone. In a democracy, crit- NEW DELHI: After Twitter, Friday. to Rajiv Gandhi on his 77th visited Vir Bhumi along with during its 70-year icism is welcomed but these Facebook has removed a con- Facebook takes action birth anniversary, with Rahul Rahul Gandhi. rule, says Gehlot people cannot tolerate it and tent posted by Congress leader against a content if it violates its Gandhi saying that the former "A secular India alone is an consider it sedition, he said, Rahul Gandhi that identified Community Standards or upon prime minister was a man with India that can survive," Rahul targeting the Centre. Gehlot the family of a nine-year-old receiving a valid legal request as a tremendous vision, whose Gandhi posted his father's independence because Con- said former prime ministers victim of alleged rape and mur- per Indian laws. farsighted policies helped build quote on Facebook. "Remem- gress leaders made sacrifices Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gan- der in Northwest Delhi, say- Last week, NCPCR had modern India. bering Shri Rajiv Gandhi ji on and went to jails. Gehlot was dhi sacrificed their lives for the ing it violated the social media asked Facebook to take appro- Rahul Gandhi paid floral his birth anniversary," he said speaking at a programme held nation. “Our leaders made sac- platform's policies. priate action against Gandhi's tributes to his father at the for- in a post. Congress president to commemorate the 77th birth rifices and went to jails and it According to sources, Face- Instagram profile over violation mer prime minister's memo- Sonia Gandhi paid tributes to anniversary of former prime was because of their sacrifices book has informed Gandhi and of provisions of the Juvenile rial, Vir Bhumi, and spent the former prime minister at minister Rajiv Gandhi. and struggle that the country the National Commission for Justice Act, 2015, the Protec- some time there. "Rajiv Gan- the Parliament House. Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi pays tribute to his father and He said it was very easy got independence,” he said. Protection of Child Rights tion of Children from Sexual dhi ji was a man with tremen- Rahul Gandhi inaugu- former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 77th birth anniversary at to ask what the Congress did “The new generation will (NCPCR) about the removal Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, dous vision, whose farsighted rated a photo-exhibition ded- Veer Bhoomi in New Delhi on Friday NAVEEN SHARMA/MILLENNIUM POST during its 70 years in power. have to understand this and of the posts from Facebook and and the Indian Penal Code, and policies helped build modern icated to Rajiv Gandhi, and it In these 70 years, the Con- they will understand when Instagram. demanded the removal of the India," the former Congress was organised by the IYC. He fall silent before injustice, they the Congress what it did during gress kept the country and they study history, be it of pre- Earlier this week, Facebook video from the platform. chief said in a Facebook post. also unveiled a bust of the for- speak up for what is right and its 70 years in power, Rajasthan democracy intact and further independence or post-inde- had written to Gandhi asking Following the communica- "He was a wonderful father, mer prime minister at the IYC good, they do not cower when Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot strengthened them. Unlike pendence era. Those who learn him to remove the said post tion from Facebook to Gandhi a compassionate and loving headquarters here. it is dark, they stand strong, on Friday said the grand old Pakistan, India did not fall from history are able to make from Instagram -- Facebook's earlier week, NCPCR withdrew human being. He will always Congress leader Priyanka they spread the light of truth party kept the country undi- under military rule, he added. history,” he said. Gehlot said photosharing platform. its direction to the company to stay alive in my heart. Paid my Gandhi posted a picture of hers across skies blackened by vided and democracy intact “Governments in the coun- Rajiv Gandhi took hundreds of "We have taken action to appear before the commission respects to him at Vir Bhumi," with Rajiv Gandhi when she deceit. The brave never die." and it was due to this that new try keep coming and going. The decisions during his tenure as remove the content as it was with an explanation over non- Rahul Gandhi said. was a child along with a note Meanwhile, hitting out at governments were formed. present government, too, was PM that transformed the coun- in violation of our policies," a action regarding Gandhi's post. Senior Congress leaders which read, "The brave do not the BJP for repeatedly asking He said the country got formed only because the roots try in the following years. Bengal post-poll violence case: ED officer Singh C’garh govt disburses ` 1,522 cr to 2 HC judges pan NHRC panel applies for retirement; 21L farmers under RGKNY scheme RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarh prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. The first instalment of Rs may contest UP polls government on Friday trans- Speaking on the occasion, 1,525.97 crore was released in CBI seeks from WB DGP details of murder, ferred a sum of Rs 1,522 crore Baghel said his government has May, while the second instal- OUR CORRESPONDENT to the bank accounts of at least adopted Rajiv Gandhi's vision ment of Rs 1,522 crore was rape cases reported during violence 21 lakh farmers under its Rajiv to eradicate poverty and build a transferred to the bank accounts NEW DELHI: ED officer Gandhi Kisaan Nyay Yojna self-reliant Chhattisgarh. of paddy and sugarcane grow- OUR CORRESPONDENT objections about the actions extent the committee has Rajeshwar Singh has applied (RGKNY). The scheme, which Following the path shown ers on Friday, he said. of the NHRC’s fact finding transgressed its limits,” he said. for retirement from govern- aims to provide good returns by Gandhi, the state govern- According to officials, an KOLKATA: Two judges on committee. Opposing the findings ment service and is expected to farmers for their produce, ment has started many welfare input assistance of Rs 9,000 per the five-member bench of Penning his observations, and recommendations of the to join the BJP and contest the encourage production of Kharif schemes for all sections of the acre is provided to paddy culti- the Calcutta High Court, Justice Mukerji noted the NHRC committee report, forthcoming Uttar Pradesh crops and crop diversification, people including the poor, farm- vators under the RGKNY. The which ordered a CBI probe allegation of bias against the senior advocate Abhishek Assembly polls, official sources was launched in May last year. ers, tribals, he said. government has expanded the into alleged cases of rape NHRC committee was not Manu Singhvi, representing said on Friday. Chief Minister Bhupesh More than Rs 5,600 crore scope of the scheme effective and murder during the post- material but said the panel the state’s DGP, had claimed Singh is currently posted ED officer Rajeshwar Singh Bhupesh transferred the amount will be disbursed to 21 lakh from Kharif season 2021, after assembly poll violence in West only had powers to report during submissions that it was as the joint director of the to beneficiaries during a func- farmers in four instalments as which farmers growing crops Bengal, termed as “uncalled on facts as gathered by them erroneous and biased. Enforcement Directorate (ED) Jagan Mohan Reddy and for- tion held at his official resi- input assistance for paddy and other than paddy and sugar- for” an NHRC panel making during the investigation. Claiming that a few at its zonal office in Lucknow. mer Jharkhand chief minister dence here to mark the 77th sugarcane production for 2020- cane will also be covered under recommendations and Justice Mukerji said the members of the seven- A BTech and PhD in police, Madhu Koda. birth anniversary for former 21, the chief minister said. it, Baghel said. MPOST expressing opinion over the submission of the Election member committee had links human rights and social jus- He also headed the head- incidents. Commission is absolutely right with the BJP, he had prayed tice, Singh joined the federal quarters investigation unit Farmers block One of the judges also that the conduct of elections that the report should be anti-money laundering inves- (HIU) of the ED located in the observed that the Election was its responsibility but the rejected by the court. tigations agency in 2009 on national capital that probes Nation Briefs Commission should have administration was with the Meanwhile, officials said deputation from Uttar Pradesh sensitive money laundering rail tracks, NH played a more positive role in government. on Friday that the CBI has where he was serving as a state and foreign exchange viola- directing the administration to The Mamata Banerjee written to the West Bengal police service officer. tion cases including those with over sugarcane MAN ATTEMPTS SUICIDE OUTSIDE register the complaints made government had repeatedly director general of police Sources told thethat Singh political links. by the alleged victims, while said that the EC was in to provide details of all has applied for retirement Meanwhile, the officer has prices MANTRALAYA IN MUMBAI another said inclusion of two charge of administration cases of murder, attempt to from government service. had his share of controversies. MUMBAI: A 48-year-old man allegedly tried to com- members in the panel could since the start of the election murder and rape reported They said there are chances In June, 2018 the Union mit suicide outside the state secretariat Mantralaya in have been avoided as “it might process and its conclusion during post-poll violence in he may join the Bhartiya Janta finance ministry had submitted CHANDIGARH: Several south Mumbai on Friday, police said. As per prelimi- raise reasonable likelihood of on May 5. the state. Party (BJP) in Uttar Pradesh a secret report to the Supreme trains were cancelled while nary information, the man identified as Subhash Jad- bias”. The two members of Justice Soumen Sen, The agency sought the and also contest the assembly Court apparently carrying vehicular traffic was dis- the NHRC committee–Rajul making his observations, details of such cases from polls in the central Indian state details of a phone call received rupted after farmers blocked hav allegedly tried to consume pesticide while stand- Desai and Atif Rasheed–had said, “It would be unfair the director general of police expected to be held early next by Singh from Dubai. rail tracks and a national ing in front of the entrance of the secretariat building links to the BJP. to impute biasness against in line with a Calcutta High year. The report is said to have highway near Jalandhar on at 12 pm, an official said. The man was immediately Observing that there the members of the fact Court order that directed the The application is yet to be been prepared by coun- Friday. rushed to the state-run GT Hospital for treatment, and are “definite and proved” finding committee whoCBI to take over cases related accepted, they added. try’s external intelligence On the call of the BKU his condition is stable, the official said. A resident of allegations that complaints of otherwise have done a to murder, rape and atrocities His sister Abha Singh, agency Research and Anal- (Doaba), farmers on Friday Ambegaon in Pune district, Jadhav had come to meet the victims of violence in the commendable job in collecting against women during the a lawyer based in Mumbai, ysis Wing (R&AW) and went on protest for an indefi- aftermath of the West Bengal and compiling complaints.” violence. also posted a message on her handed over to the Depart- nite period to press the state some officials at the Mantralaya in connection with a assembly polls were not even He said that in his view the The Central Bureau of Twitter handle with a photo- ment of Revenue in the finance government to accept their land dispute, he said, adding that the man also has registered, the court had inclusion of Rajulben Desai, Investigation (CBI) has set graph of her and Singh stating: mnistry, under which the ED demands related to pending some criminal cases to his name. Jadhav was not al- on Thursday ordered a CBI Atif Rasheed and Rajeev Jain up four teams, each headed “Congratulations to my brother functions. dues of sugarcane and hike in lowed to go inside, as the entry was restricted due to investigation in all alleged cases in the committee does not by joint directors Ramnish, #RajeshwarSingh of the #ED The then ED Director Kar- cane prices. COVID-19 safety norms, following which he alleg- of heinous crimes like rape vitiate its report. Anurag, Vineet Vinayak and for opting for early retirement nal Singh had issued a press Protesters blocked the edly tried to consume pesticide, the official said. and murder, while accepting “Although I felt that having Sampat Meena, to probe to serve the country. Nation statement, saying the said Jalandhar-Amritsar national the recommendations of the regard to the antecedents of the political violence which needs you.” overseas call received by Singh highway near Dhanowali MAN GETS 10 YRS JAIL FOR SEXUALLY NHRC panel. Rajulben Desai and Atif ensued after the victory of the Singh, who hails from Sul- pertained to an “ongoing inves- railway crossing besides the The five-judge bench while Rashid the inclusion of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) tanpur in Uttar Pradesh, was tigation” and he was a respon- Ludhiana-Amritsar and Lud- ASSAULTING MENTALLY-ILL YOUTH passing the order on a batch of said two members could have on May 2 in a bitterly fought permanently absorbed into the sible officer with outstanding hiana-Jammu rail tracks in MUMBAI: A special court here on Friday sentenced a PILs seeking an independent been avoided as it might raise eight-phase assembly poll in ED cadre in 2015. career records. Jalandhar. 33-year-old man to ten years’ imprisonment for sexu- probe into incidents of reasonable likelihood of bias,” West Bengal. He has headed some impor- The government had sub- At least nine trains were ally assaulting a mentally handicapped teenage boy alleged violence after Justice Sen observed. Each team will have about tant and high-profile investi- sequently launched an inves- cancelled while 13 were either here. Nikhil Bhole, the accused, was found guilty under the polls which the ruling “Although the fact seven members, including a gations like the 2G spectrum tigation against Singh for short terminated or diverted, TMC won by an overwhelming finding committee hasdeputy inspector general and allocation case, 2010 Com- writing a letter in which he according to railway officials. the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act majority, also ordered made scathing remarks and about four superintendents monwealth Games alleged had made a scathing attack Farmers blocked the as well as Indian Penal Code section 377 (unnatural constitution of an SIT to probe made recommendations of police, called from across irregularities, and money on the then revenue secretary national highway around 9 offenses) by special judge for POCSO cases Surkeha all other cases. against politicians and the country, the officials laundering probe against for- Hasmukh Adhia questioning am by parking tractors and Patil. The youth, whose `mental age’ was assessed to Justices I P Mukerji and police officers I am of the said. mer Union finance minister him if he has developed ani- other vehicles in the mid- be under seven years, was subjected to a sexual as- Soumen Sen concurred with view that such remarks and The overall probe will be P Chidambaram and his son mosity against him by “sid- dle of the road. They have sault by the accused inside a public toilet in Chembur the order pronounced by recommendations were supervised by Additional Karti Chidambaram, Andhra ing with scamsters and their also put up tents on the area here in 2016. the bench but raised some uncalled for and to that Director Ajay Bhatnagar. Pradesh Chief Minister Y S affiliates”? busy highway. AGENCIES mp millenniumpost 6 Nation SATURDAY, 21 AUGUST, 2021 | NEW DELHI ‘Militant outfits continuously trying Dubey encounter case: Probe panel gives clean chit to police

OUR CORRESPONDENT to foment trouble to disturb peace’ BSP general LUCKNOW: A three-mem- secretary Mishra ‘DGP stressed for intensified cordon and search operations to eliminate the remaining terrorists’ ber commission probing the encounter of gangster Vikas questions clean chit OUR CORRESPONDENT Dubey has given a clean chit to police ‘Suspicious elements to police, stating their version of events about his death were SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kash- 2 Hizb hit squad militants providing any kind supported by evidence. from custody, the police had mir Police chief Dilbag Singh on of support to terrorist The commission said said. Friday said militant outfits were that Kanpur ambush in The commission com- continuously trying to foment activities should be which eight cops were killed prised Justice (Retd) BS trouble to disturb peace in the killed in encounter in J&K kept under the radar occurred because of "poor Chauhan, Justice (Retd) SK union territory and asked the planning" by the police as Agarwal and former UP OUR CORRESPONDENT to foil their attempts’ security forces to remain alert Ganderbal Two militants killed the joint search party which it did not assess the situa- Vikas Dubey director general of police KL and keep elements providing in an encounter with was retaliated leading to an tion correctly and there was Gupta. It had submitted a 824- support to militants under the SRINAGAR: Two Hizbul security forces in Khrew encounter, he said. security challenges. The DGP "total failure" of Kanpur local Vikas, filed an affidavit calling page report to the state govern- radar. Mujahideen militants -- part area of Pulwama district In the ensuing encoun- directed the officers to revisit intelligence. the incident a fake encounter ment on April 21. Srinagar Singh was in Kulgam district of a hit squad of the outfit and Pulwama ter, two militants of Hizbul the security plans of their Parliamentary Affairs Min- but she did not appear before The commission said of South Kashmir Range where responsible for civilian killings District Pahalgam Mujahideen were killed and respective jurisdictions. ister Suresh Khanna tabled the the commission," it said, add- there is "sufficient mate- he chaired a security review -- were gunned down in an Pampore their bodies retrieved from He directed officers to report in the Uttar Pradesh ing that in such eventuality, rial on record" to show that meeting with senior officials encounter with security forces Tral INDIA the site of the gunbattle, the remain extra alert as terror out- Assembly on Thursday. no suspicion or doubt arises Vikas Dubey and his gang of the J-K Police, the Army, in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pul- Pulwama spokesman said. He identi- fits are continuously trying to "The evidence adduced in about the police's version of were patronised by the local the CRPF and jurisdictional wama district on Friday, police Awantipora fied them as Musaib Ahmad foment trouble and disturb the the (Dubey encounter) case the incident. police, revenue and adminis- officers, a police spokesman said. Security forces launched Jammu and Bhat, a resident of Khrew peace. The DGP ordered a series supports police's version of the A magisterial inquiry con- trative officials. said. Addressing the officers, a cordon and search operation Kashmir Pampore, and Muzamil of measures to further tighten incident. The injuries suffered ducted by Chief Metropolitan Meanwhile, BSP gen- the DGP stressed for intensified at Khrew in the Pampore area Shopian Ahmad Rather, a resident of the noose on anti-national ele- by policemen could not be self- Magistrate Kanpur Nagar has eral secretary Satish Chandra cordon and search operations to of the district following infor- Anantnag Chakoora Pulwama. ments, the spokesman said. inflicted or fabricated. Dr RS a similar finding. Mishra on Friday questioned eliminate the remaining terror- mation about the presence of As per police records, Singh also directed the Mishra, who was on the panel Eight police personnel, the clean chit to police in the ists, he said. militants there, a police spokes- Area Bhat had a history of ter- officers to brief their respec- of doctors, conducted the post- including deputy superin- encounter of gangster Vikas Singh directed the officers man said. enlarged Qazigund ror crime records and was tive officers and personnel on mortem and clarified that the tendent of police, were killed Dubey, saying the matter will to further strengthen and aug- During the search opera- KBK involved in planning and exe- a regular basis, especially the injuries found on his person during a raid on Dubey's be looked into again if his party ment the intelligence as well as tion as the presence of terror- cuting several terror attacks forces guarding the vital instal- (Dubey) could be caused as house at Bikru village forms the government in the security grids in their respective ists got ascertained they were to surrender. However, they including civilian atrocities, lations and important persons. per the version of police," the in Kanpur district on the night state next year. areas for the safety and secu- given repeated opportunities fired indiscriminately upon the spokesman said. The officers briefed the DGP report said. of July 2-3, 2020. Dubey was killed in an rity of the people, the spokes- about the measures taken on "Nobody came forward Later, Dubey was killed in encounter last year when a man said. activities should be kept under elements found involved in DGP reiterated the importance different fronts with regard to from the public and media an encounter when a police police vehicle carrying him The police chief said suspi- the radar to foil their attempts, anti-peace activities, the spokes- of maintaining close synergy the safety and security of the to controvert the police ver- vehicle carrying him from from Ujjain to Kanpur met cious elements providing any he said. He also said stringent man added. between the J-K Police and people of J-K, the spokesman sion and no evidence is filed in Ujjain to Kanpur met with an with an accident and he alleg- kind of support to terrorist action should be taken against During the meeting, the other agencies to meet the said. rebuttal. Richa Dubey, wife of accident and he tried to escape edly tried to escape. Chh’garh: Asst Taj Mahal to reopen for Ex-Pb DGP released from custody, HC says arrest illegal commandant night viewing from today CHANDIGARH: Former Pun- September 2020 for cheating, tion of earlier court orders. Court," the order said. ing Saini's entire service career. jab DGP Sumedh Singh Saini forgery, corruption and other In view of the above referred "Therefore, the detenue is The court also ordered that killed in Naxal AGRA: After remaining closed Swarnkar told PTI that night was released from vigilance cus- offences. After the high court judicial precedents and above ordered to be released forth- a seven-day prior notice is to for over a year for night view- viewing will be allowed on tody early Friday on the direc- order, Saini, who was at Mohali discussed facts and circum- with, according to the court be given if he is to be arrested attack ing, the Taj Mahal will open August 21, 23 and 24 as the tions of the Punjab and Haryana court premises, was released. stances of the case evidencing order which was uploaded on in this case. from August 21 for visitors monument is closed every High Court, which termed his Saini left the Mohali court com- illegality of the arrest of the the high court website past mid- The order came after hear- who want to explore the mar- week on Friday and the lock- arrest in a cheating and forgery plex at around 2 AM. detenue, the habeas corpus peti- night. The high court on Octo- ing two petitions. One petition NARAYANPUR: An assis- ble monument under moon- down is in effect on Sunday. case as illegal. The former DGP was pro- tion is allowed and the detenue ber 11, 2018 had held that Saini was habeas corpus and another tant commandant of the Indo light, officials said on Friday. He said there are three time A single bench of Justice duced before a Mohali court is held to have been illegally would be served a seven-day to seek protection as per the Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Night viewing of the mon- slots for visitors. From 8:30-9 Arun Kumar Tyagi pronounced at around 12:30 pm on Thurs- arrested in circumvented viola- notice if any action was to be last year's high court order in and his colleague were killed in ument had closed on March pm, 9-9:30 pm and from 9:30- the verdict on Thursday night. day for seeking remand. He tion of protection orders dated contemplated against him. which it was directed to give a a Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh's 17, 2020 during the first lock- 10 pm. "In every slot, 50 tour- Saini was arrested by the remained there for more than 11.10.2018 and 23.09.2020 and In the September 23, 2020 seven-day notice before arrest- Narayanpur district on Friday, down due to COVID-19. ASI ists would be allowed as per state's Vigilance Bureau on 12 hours. interim anticipatory bail order order, the court had extended ing in any case pertaining to any a senior police official said. Superintending Archaeologist guidelines of the Supreme Wednesday night in connec- The court held that Saini's dated 12.08.2021 passed by the protection of the October incident during Saini's entire The incident took place (Agra Circle) Vasant Kumar Court," he added. AGENCIES tion with a case registered in arrest was illegal and in viola- the Co-ordinate Bench of this 2018 order to any incident dur- service career. MPOST around 12.10 pm near Kademeta camp of 45th bat- FOR CAUSING POLLUTION talion of the ITBP under Chho- CVC reconstitutes advisory board to examine tedongar police station limits, Inspector General of Police UP: NGT directs committee to assess (Bastar range) Sundarraj P told role of top bank staff in frauds worth over `50 cr the news agency. As per the preliminary compensation payable by sugar mill information, a squad of the OUR CORRESPONDENT inputs for any policy formula- ITBP's 45th battalion, which ‘The CBI may also refer any case or tion related to the frauds to the was out on an area domination OUR CORRESPONDENT Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh. NEW DELHI: The Central matter to the board where it has any issue Reserve Bank of India (RBI) operation, was fired upon by a The CPCB and State PCB Vigilance Commission (CVC) and to the CVC, according to small action team of the ultras, NEW DELHI: The National will be the nodal agency for has reconstituted an advisory or difficulty or in technical matters with the the order. when it was approximately 600 Green Tribunal (NGT) has coordination and compliance, board to examine the role of public sector banks and public financial The board, headed by for- metres away from the camp, directed a committee to assess it said. top bank officials in case of mer vigilance commissioner he said. compensation to be paid by a The green panel also frauds amounting to over Rs institutions concerned’ and the then Chairman and "Assistant Commandant sugar mill in Uttar Pradesh for directed the committee to 50 crore. Managing Director (CMD) SudhakarShinde and Assistant discharging untreated effluents meet within 15 days and said All public sector banks and Banking and Financial Frauds into account while taking con- of Indian Bank T M Bhasin, Sub Inspector (ASI) Gurmukh in a surrounding drain and also violations, the unit has to pay it would be at liberty to associ- public financial institutions shall examine the role of offi- sequential action to initiate has been reconstituted for two Singh, both from the ITBP's in a water body resulting in compensation on polluter pays ate any other expert/institution shall refer all the matters of cials or whole time directors in preliminary enquiry or inves- years, with effect from August 45th battalion, were martyred pollution. principle to be used for restora- and consider the viewpoint of frauds involving Rs 50 crore public sector banks and public tigation, said the order issued 21 this year. in the firing," the IG said. A bench headed by NGT tion purposes," the bench said. the industrial unit also. for advice before initiating a financial institutions in case of on Thursday. Former urban development After the attack, the Naxals Chairperson Justice A K Goel The NGT said that reme- The action taken report criminal investigation, accord- frauds amounting to more than The board will ordinar- secretary Madhusudan Prasad, also looted and escaped with said the mill has failed to main- dial measures may be taken may be filed by the joint ing to a CVC order. Rs 50 crore, the order said. ily, within a month of receipt former director general of Bor- one AK-47 rifle, two bullet- tain record of waste generated within one month which may Committee to this tribu- “The CBI may also refer All public sector banks and of the initial reference, tender der Security Force D K Pathak proof jackets and one wireless and its disposal. be assessed by a joint commit- nal within two months by any case or matter to the board financial institutions have been its advice as may be requisi- and former MD of EXIM Bank set of the security personnel, "The unit is liable to com- tee comprising of CPCB (rep- e-mail and it should mention where it has any issue or dif- asked to ensure that the advice tioned by the ministry/depart- are the members of the board. he said. Reinforcement has pensate for the past viola- resented by the level not below the status of compliance and ficulty or in technical matters of the board “has been sought, ment/CVC or the investigating The chairman will be enti- been rushed to the spot and tions and also to take remedial Scientist E), State PCB (repre- mode of disposal of effluents, with the public sector banks received and made available, agency, it said. tled to an honorarium of Rs 2 the bodies of martyred per- action. In view of violations sented by the level not below considering the circumstances and public financial institu- in case of frauds amounting to It may also periodically lakh and the members will get sonnel were being evacuated, found, the unit has to take Chief Engineer/Regional Offi- and impact on river Kali, the tions concerned,” it said. Rs 50 crore to the investigating carry out frauds analysis in Rs 1.75 lakh per month, the he added. AGENCIES remedial action and for the past cer) and District Magistrate, NGT said. The Advisory Board for agencies who may take advice the financial system and give order said. Nation Briefs SC: Person getting quota in undivided state can 5 die as soil collapses MUMBAI: CYBER POLICE NAB SIX claim benefit in either State upon reorganisation FOR CHEATING PEOPLE OF LAKHS during MUMBAI: The cyber police in Mumbai have arrested The top court said it holds that the majority judgement of the HC of six persons for allegedly duping people of lakhs on the pretext of helping them renew, update or top February 24, 2020 is unsustainable in law and is hereby set aside digging of up their insurance policies, an official said on Friday. The fraud came to light earlier this month, when a OUR CORRESPONDENT denying him appointment in Kumar shall be appointed pur- domicile of either of the dis- water tank 70-year-old man approached the Central Region state civil service examination suant to his selection in refer- trict which became part of Cyber police station with a complaint of cheating, NEW DELHI: The Supreme of 2007 on the ground that his ence to advertisement number Jharkhand, such employ- JAIPUR: Five persons, includ- the official said. The complainant alleged that he Court has ruled that a person address proof showed that he 11 of 2007 within six weeks ees who have exercised their ing a toddler, were killed when was duped of Rs 74.55 lakh by a person, who had belonging to a reserved cate- was a permanent resident of and said that he is entitled for option to serve in Jharkhand a portion of soil collapsed dur- called him to renew, update or top up his insurance gory is entitled to claim ben- Patna, Bihar. his seniority as per his place- their existing service condi- ing digging of a water tank in efit of reservation in either of It is made clear that per- ment in the order of merit with tions shall stands protected by Rajasthan’s Jalore district Fri- policy, he said. In the process of renewing or updating the successor States of Bihar or son is entitled to claim ben- notional fixation of pay and virtue of Section 73 of the Act, day, police said. The inci- the policy, the caller asked him to deposit money for Jharkhand, but cannot claim efit of reservation in either of allowances. 2000. dent occurred when a bunch policy tax, GST, NOC, affidavit and other charges benefit of the quota simulta- the successor State of Bihar The bench said that the It will be highly unfair and of labourers were digging the and duped the complainant of Rs 74.55 lakh, he said. neously in both the successor or State of Jharkhand, but will collective readings of the pro- pernicious to their interest if water tank in an under con- Investigations revealed that a few more people are States upon their reorganisa- not be entitled to claim benefit visions of the Bihar Reor- the benefits of reservation with struction factory in the China involved in cheating people using the same modus tion in November, 2000. of reservation simultaneously Supreme Court ganisation Act, 2000, makes privileges and benefits flow- market that falls under the Kot- The top court also held that in both the successor States it apparent that such persons ing thereof are not being pro- wali police station area, they operandi, he said. members of the reserved cat- and those who are members We are also not in agree- whose place of origin/domi- tected in the State of Jharkhand said. TOP MAOIST LEADER HELD egory, who are residents of the of the reserved category and ment with the minority judg- cile on or before the appointed after he is absorbed by vir- Suddenly, a portion of successor State of Bihar, while are resident of the successor ment on principle and clarify day (November 15, 2000) was tue to Section 73 of the Act the soil collapsed and four IN J’KHAND’S HAZARIBAG participating in open selection State of Bihar, while participat- that the person is entitled to of Bihar now falling within 2000 that clearly postulates labourers and a three-year- HAZARIBAGH: A dreaded Maoist leader, carrying a in Jharkhand shall be treated to ing in open selection in State of claim the benefit of reservation the districts/regions which not only to protect the exist- old girl were buried in the reward of Rs 25 lakh on his head, was arrested here be migrants and they can par- Jharkhand shall be treated to be in either of the successor State form a successor State, that ing service conditions but 12-feet deep pit, Circle Offi- ticipate in the general category migrants and it will be open to of Bihar or State of Jharkhand is Jharkhand under Section 3 the benefit of reservation and cer Himmat Singh said. Two early on Friday in a joint operation by the police and without claiming the benefit participate in general category but would not be entitled to of the Act, 2000 became ordi- privileges which they were excavator machines were the CRPF, a day after another senior member of the of reservation and vice-versa. without claiming the benefit of claim the privileges and ben- nary resident of the State of enjoying on or before the pressed into service and the outlawed organisation was taken into custody. Pradyu- A bench of Justices U ULalit reservation and vice-versa, the efits of reservation simultane- Jharkhand. appointed day, i.e. debris was removed. Vikram man Sharma (49), who went by names Kundan, and Ajay Rastogi decided the bench said. ously in both the States and if The top court said that at November 15, 2000 in the (17), Dinesh (17), Sooram Shaket and Lulah, is wanted in more than 90 peculiar question after a res- The top court said it holds that is permitted, it will defeat the same time, so far as the State of Bihar not to be varied Singh (27), Janki Lal (26) and criminal cases in both Bihar and Jharkhand, a ident of Jharkhand, Pankaj that the majority judgement the mandate of Articles 341(1) employees who were in pub- to their disadvantage after they three-year-old Anushka were Kumar, a member of Scheduled of the High Court of February and 342(1) of the Constitution, lic employment in Bihar on became a member of service in rushed to the district hospi- senior police officer said. Caste filed an appeal against the 24, 2020 is unsustainable in law the top court said. or before November 15, 2000, the State of Jharkhand, the top tal where doctors declared 2:1 majority High Court order and is hereby set aside. It directed that Pankaj apart from those who have court said. them brought dead. MPOST millenniumpost mp NEW DELHI | SATURDAY, 21 AUGUST, 2021 Editorial 7 EDITORIAL Retaining the ‘nature’ linkage Wait and watch Restoration of ecosystems which provide humans a wide variety of products and

early a week into the crisis in Afghanistan, the services, should reflect on economic aspects and entail indigenous groups situation remains tenuous. With the Taliban still showing a remarkable level of restraint (com- ur world is expe- important to increasing the pared to the last time it took over Kabul), the riencing a lot of effectiveness of restoration internationalN community is considerably divided over how chaos and trag- activities in degraded ecosys- to engage with the situation. Some countries, like China, edy on account of tems. Such contributions can have been quick to acknowledge the legitimacy of the new Oour broken relationship with be amplified, ensuring their Taliban regime. Indeed, China has been carefully estab- DEBAPRIYA nature. A virus that spilled over full involvement in the co- lishing closer ties with the group for quite some time now. MUKHERJEE from wildlife to humans, has design of restoration activities This culminated with a senior delegation from the Taliban caused a global pandemic. It affecting their territories, and travelling to the Chinese city of Tianjin last month where is expected that the COVID- recognizing their visions of they were received by none other than the Chinese Foreign 19 crisis will enhance extreme healthy and productive ecosys- Minister Wang Yi. Other countries, including India, are still poverty globally. Climate tems. Many examples demon- taking a careful ‘wait and watch’ approach with the Tali- change is fuelling weather strate that indigenous peoples’ ban. When asked about India’s efforts in establishing diplo- events of unprecedented scale active involvement in resto- macy with the Taliban, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar and devastation, leading to ration activities substantially stated: “At this point of time, we are looking at the evolving drastic alterations to our nat- increases the success and legiti- situation in Kabul... as Taliban and its representatives have ural, built and social environ- macy. Most glorious example is come to Kabul and I think we need to take it from there.” ments. The erosion digging the sacred forest in Meghalaya Though India successfully evacuated the last of its embassy away at our coastal beaches that I have visited many times. staff on Tuesday, reports have emerged that the Taliban was and river bends is a serious In view of the above, it may not too keen on the idea of Indian embassy staffers leaving. threat to the people living in be mentioned that ecosystems As reported by NDTV, the Taliban was keen to make an coastal areas. Earth’s ecosys- are unique capital assets for outreach effort to India by assuring the nation that its dip- tem that supports our life, is humankind. If properly man- lomats and embassy staff would be entirely safe in Afghani- in a severe state of degrada- aged, they yield a flow of vital stan. The group also made a show of assuring the safety of tion. The significant achieve- services. These include the pro- around 200 Hindus and Sikhs who have currently taken ment of economic growth over duction of goods, such as food refuge at a gurudwara in Kabul. All this, of course, is part the past few decades has been and raw materials, and sup- of the Taliban’s wider effort to appeal to the world commu- accompanied by large amounts port for economic activity and nity that it is a changed organisation that deserves a seat of pollution, with significant Ecosystem services are not only fixed in supply, but also prone to abrupt collapse if degraded welfare through pollination, at the table of civilised nations. The Taliban has a few rea- impacts on human health and recycling pollutants, natural sons for doing so. First, it wants legitimacy for its rule. But ecosystems and the ways in fallen by at least 20 per cent, overnight. But preventing the social and ecological insights protection, and other impor- more importantly, the Taliban wants access to the interna- Indigenous which some of the major Earth mostly since 1900. More than ongoing loss of natural ecosys- to inform local land-manage- tant processes. Most impor- tional development aid funds that were made available to peoples’ system processes, such as the 40 per cent of amphibian spe- tems must be the first priority ment decisions —assessing the tantly, the ecosystems are not the Afghan government. For now, all of these funds have climate, are functioning. cies, almost 33 per cent of reef- for limiting future emissions trade-offs and synergies among only fixed in supply and sub- been frozen after the fall of Kabul. This puts the group in a knowledge and With advancement in tech- forming corals and more than and the loss of vital biodiver- different land-use approaches ject to irreversible loss; they somewhat desperate situation. While the Taliban is known practices are nologies and management a third of all marine mammals sity. In parallel, the restoration — will be a major scientific are prone to abrupt collapse to be well-funded with a cash flow equalling USD 1 billion strategies, we have been able are now under threat. All over and sustainable management challenge in supporting res- if sufficiently disturbed or every year, the group is no longer just an insurgency. Now, important for to control some forms of pollu- the world, the first priority is to of degraded regions (natural toration efforts over the com- degraded. On a global scale, the Taliban is seeking legitimacy as the head of a nation of increasing the tion, but approximately 19 mil- provide more food, energy and or assisted) can then contrib- ing decade. Restoration targets the uncertainty about unfore- around 39,917,108 people. It is left with a nation that has effectiveness lion premature deaths are still materials to people to improve ute to the drawdown of addi- need to be formulated as con- seen future impacts, coupled been fractured by near-constant war and has seen uneven estimated to occur annually as their lifestyle by exploiting tional carbon and the recovery tributions to biodiversity (e.g., with irreversible and substan- levels of development and wealth distribution. These prob- of restoration a result of the way societies use nature’s ability without consid- of local species. At the same reduced risk of species extinc- tial environmental losses, is lems are now the Taliban’s problems and it needs fund- activities in natural resources and impact ering adverse impacts on nature time, we must avoid perverse tion) and climate (e.g., carbon exacerbating global environ- ing, material aid and foreign expertise to navigate them. the environment to support and human health. Researchers negative consequences such as sequestration) and not a per- mental risks —from climate It, therefore, makes sense that the Taliban is trying out a degraded production and consumption. have ranked the five direct driv- the loss of natural ecosystems centage of area. In addition change to biodiversity loss to more media-friendly persona for the time being as it tries ecosystems The existing pattern of con- ers of change in nature with the or re-vegetation of degraded to these, restoration targets natural disasters. We need to to assure the world that Afghanistan and its people will sumption and production — largest relative global impacts lands with non-native species, need inclusive scope beyond ensure that the rising scarcity be safe under the rule of the Taliban, whatever shape or the linear economic model of so far. In descending order of which could risk them becom- restoring the vegetation struc- of ecosystems and their ser- form it may take. But cracks are slowly forming. In the “take-make-dispose” — will importance, they are: changes ing invasive. Such cases are not ture of forest ecosystems. They vices is reflected in our market, streets of Kabul and elsewhere in the country, protests are seriously burden an already in land and sea use; direct restoration and should not be should therefore also encom- business, and public decisions. slowly gaining pace. Tens of thousands of Afghan citizens polluted planet, affecting cur- exploitation of organisms; cli- tracked as progress toward res- pass other ecosystems (e.g., These decisions must recog- are looking to escape the country in any way they can. At rent and future generations. mate change; and pollution and toration goals. Restoration is wetlands and coral reefs), bio- nize that the benefits — or the the same time, critical workers and government employ- Presently, the degradation invasive alien species. As key an inherently local challenge, diversity elements (e.g., species valuable goods and services ees are still hiding from the group despite assurances of of land and marine ecosystems ecosystems that deliver services requiring intricate knowl- reintroduction and conserva- — that are generated by eco- amnesty. This means that basic services like electricity and destabilizes the well-being of essential to food and agricul- edge of the specific social and tion translocation), and driv- systems are wide ranging but sanitation are likely to be affected soon under this state of 3.2 billion people, and costs ture (e.g., freshwater supply, ecological context. It encom- ers (e.g., pollution remediation generally unmarketed. This is affairs. In addition, the Taliban’s war to stake its claim over about 10 per cent of the annual protection against hazards, and passes a range of land-man- and eradication of invasive why they are frequently mis- Afghanistan may not actually be over. Amrullah Saleh, the global gross product in species provision of habitat for spe- agement strategies, including alien species). Above all, there used or overused, and such former Vice President of Afghanistan, has declared him- loss and ecosystem services. cies such as fish and pollina- the conservation of existing is an emergent need to ‘‘bend irreversible conversion can self the ‘caretaker President’ of the country and has vowed Of the estimated eight million tors) rapidly decline, we are ecosystems, the protection of the curve’’ of both biodiver- increase the risk of ecological to continue leading opposition against the Taliban. Saleh is species on Earth, around a mil- clearly living out of harmony land to support natural recov- sity loss and climate change, collapse. Only by taking on currently known to be based in the northern Panjshir prov- lion face extinction. Many of with nature. ery, assisted restoration in and restoration must be tar- the economics of ecosystems ince, a long-held base of anti-Taliban groups and activi- these are now threatened to Millions of young people degraded regions, sustainable geted hand in hand with threat will we be on the path to global ties. There, he has likely found common cause with Ahmad face extinction within decades, in many countries demand ecosystem management, and abatement. Averting loss now restoration. Massoud, the son of the legendary Ahmad Shah Massoud, which may lead to a biodi- climate action but there is holistic agricultural practices is easier, cheaper, faster, and The writer is a former Senior the ‘Lion of Panjshir’ and arguably the most prolific leader versity collapse. The average no easy cure for what ails the (e.g., agroforestry) to promote less uncertain than resto- Scientist, Central Pollu- of the Northern Alliance. The flag of resistance has once abundance of native species in environment. No silver bullet local biodiversity and human ration. Indigenous peoples’ tion Control Board. Views again been raised and the Northern Alliance looks set to major land-based habitats has can restore the natural world well-being. Providing unifying knowledge and practices are expressed are personal rally all remaining anti-Taliban dissidents under its ban- ner. At the moment, the Taliban’s effort to appeal to the international community also seems at risk of falling apart before it can fully take hold. Its slowly increasing brutality in dealing with dissidents is one factor. Another factor is how the Taliban seems to already be engaged in a campaign to not only prevent the evacuations at Kabul from taking place but also to enact revenge on those it sees as ‘western Return of terror collaborators’. On Friday, reports emerged that the Taliban had murdered one of the family members of a Deutsche Welle reporter while injuring another family member as With Taliban taking control of Afghanistan, fear of the return they searched for the reporter in question. There are also accounts of the Taliban organising mass searches for other western collaborators throughout Afghanistan, with the of their cruel regime, especially for women, gains ground group reportedly threatening violence against family members in cases where it cannot find the collaborators. In such rowing up in Cal- behind in a better state! Inter- circumstances, it becomes harder to accept that the Taliban cutta, Kabul occu- national communities are silent has changed. This in turn will likely make it much harder pied an intriguing or helpless, or both. While for the group to gain the wider acceptance and attention picture in my mind. some nations such as the UK that it looks to so desperately need at this moment. SHUTAPA PAUL GOur city was home to quite a and Canada will resettle 20,000 few ‘Kabuliwalas’; they’d work Afghanis, others like Turkey essentially as moneylenders and Austria have refused to extending loans to any, and all, accept refugees. India will give people in need. Some sold dry refuge to Hindus and Sikhs on DearEditor fruits and eventually in present priority and others who need day Kolkata, run small busi- it. The US has been accepting JUSTICE DONE nesses. Rabindranath Tagore’s Afghani refugees during their short story from 1892, ‘Kabuli- time in the country. But the This is in reference to “Delhi court discharges Shashi wala’ and the 1961 Balraj Sahni general tone of most nations is Tharoor in his wife Sunanda Pushkar’s death case”. More film based on it also helped of non-acceptance of refugees, than seven years after businesswoman Sunanda Pushkar familiarise us to these busi- nobody wants them. was found dead in a hotel, a Delhi court on Wednesday nessmen from Kabul. It’s a quiet discomfort, a cleared her husband, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor of My father knew some of shroud of worry that refuses charges of cruelty and abetting her alleged suicide. The them and I’d heard the name to lift. I fear for the young prosecution could not conclusively convince the court The show of ‘Khan’ (as they were called), Afghans who have learnt to live that Tharoor “provoked, incited or induced the deceased mentioned a few times during in freedom, the older folk who courage by my childhood. I suspect my may have thought they have to commit suicide”. In the seven years since Pushkar’s dad’s fascination for Pathan already seen the back of evil, I death, Tharoor was compelled to face a vicious media protestors won’t suits (he had a cherished few in Despite the Taliban showing a moderate face, it is uncertain if it will change its approach towards women worry for those skateboarding trial. Television channels and their anchors cried murder go ignored, his wardrobe that he’d take out girls who were fighting gender and broadcast dubious tapes with reporters pursuing on special occasions) stemmed For all these reasons and the women. The last time or faces blackened. Looks like inequality, I am concerned for him at press conferences. So much so that the Delhi there will be from his familiarity and friend- more, Kabul became a place around, they kept women the same Taliban to me. the journalist I mentored and High Court had to reprimand a channel and restrain it retribution, if ship with them. As a young, that I definitely dreamed to away from education and work, As women, we are am yet to hear from. We can’t from running a “parallel” investigation. The hounding self-made businessman, my visit and even came close to mutilated women like Bibi aggrieved and scared for our just sit around without doing of Tharoor only followed a template that has been used not now when father also availed of a few once though the trip got can- Aisha, destroyed the Buddhas counterparts. What will be the anything. We can donate to by news channels many times in the past. This is the global attention loans from these Kabuliwalas celled. My only tryst with of Bamiyan, and unleashed fate of all those who protested relief funds to the likes of the playbook that was put in action in the Aarushi Talwar is on the Taliban as and when needed. While Kabul was when I mentored a countless, unimaginable hor- against the Taliban regime? International Committee of death case; and that led TV warriors and social media some would fear the often young Afghani woman jour- rors. How can we repose any Both men and women who the Red Cross, International into a terrain of conspiracy as they were baying for but maybe well-built, strapping foreign- nalist in 2017 as part of an ini- faith in a brutal, regressive, irra- continue to bravely protest Rescue Committee, and UN actor Rhea Chakraborty’s arrest for the alleged suicide once they have ers, my father was most com- tiative by Sahar Speaks. In my tional regime like the Taliban? even now. That show of cour- Human Rights Committee, or of Sushant Singh Rajput. In the Pushkar death case, the fortable dealing with them. As mind, Kabul and Afghanistan Have they changed? Will they age won’t go ignored, there will any other organisations that private life of a prominent politician became the easy completely a car rally enthusiast, my father remained that hallowed place allow Afghani women to visit be retribution, if not now when are working on the ground. target. While Tharoor had the resources to fight the case settled in had participated in the Sec- that I would visit, surely, there university and take up jobs? global attention is on the Tali- We can amplify our voice and stare down the vilification, ordinary citizens have ond Asian Highway Rally that would be time. Little did any Will there really be freedom of ban but maybe once they have against what’s happening or little defence against such campaigns of cynicism. flagged off in Tehran, Iran. The of us know that the situation press? Will the men be allowed completely settled in. could happen in Afghanistan 6,800-km journey took him would change so drastically to live life the way they want These are strange times; the by signing petitions and urg- — KHOKAN DAS, KOLKATA and 61 other car crews from within such a short period of to or will they lead shackled US after waging a 20-year war ing countries to support ref- via email nine countries through Kabul, time. lives? These are still early days has unceremoniously upped ugees. And while we do this, Kathmandu in Nepal, several Taliban terror has taken and while the Taliban promises and left. Even if their reasons my question and plea to world millenniumpost.in Indian cities, before finishing over Afghanistan and even that women will be allowed to are legitimate, there’s no deny- leaders – Will you allow the in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Once though the Taliban are pro- work, we have already heard ing that they have left behind rule of terror and slavery to Log on to write letters to the editor or send them to you have been to a place, there’s jecting a more moderate face, them sending female staffers a nation in turmoil. Looking return to Afghanistan? [email protected]. You can also send your comments to The Editor, a comfort in knowing the peo- I remain cynical about how home from the state-run news back at history, there is no The writer is an author and Millennium Post, Pratap Bhawan, 5 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi 110 002 ple, even thousands of kilome- much freedom they would channel and banks. Posters of nation that the US has gotten media entrepreneur. Views tres away in one’s own land. allow the Afghanis especially, women are being whitewashed politically involved in and left expressed are personal mp millenniumpost 8 World SATURDAY, 21 AUGUST, 2021 | NEW DELHI

TO HAVE MORE CHILDREN US struggles to speed Kabul airlift China approves 3-child policy The actual number, including dual US-Afghan citizens along with family with sops to encourage couples members, is likely much higher, with estimates ranging from 11,000 to 15,000 BEIJING: China's national the demographic crisis in the legislature on Friday formally country. WASHINGTON DC: The limiting factor has been avail- endorsed the three-child pol- Chinese officials claim the United States struggled Thurs- able evacuees, not aircraft. He icy mooted by the ruling Com- one-child policy implemented day to pick up the pace of said efforts were underway munist Party, in a major policy for over three decades has pre- American and Afghan evacu- to speed processing, includ- shift aimed to prevent a steep vented over 400 million births. ations at Kabul airport, con- ing adding State Department decline in birth rates in the The decision to permit strained by obstacles ranging consular officers to verify world's most populous country. the third child came after this from armed Taliban check- paperwork of Americans and The revised Population and month's once-in-a-decade cen- points to paperwork problems. Afghans who managed to get Family Planning Law, which sus showed that China's popu- With an Aug 31 deadline to the airport. Additional entry allows Chinese couples to have lation grew at the slowest pace looming, tens of thousands gates had been opened, he said. three children, was passed by to 1.412 billion amid official remained to be airlifted from And yet, at the current rate the Standing Committee of projections that the decline the chaotic country. it would be difficult for the US the National People's Congress may begin as early as next year. Taliban fighters and their to evacuate all of the Amer- (NPC). The new census figures checkpoints ringed the airport icans and Afghans who are In an apparent attempt revealed that the demographic major barriers for Afghans who qualified for and seeking evac- to address the reluctance of law to implement the central crisis China faced was expected fear that their past work with uation by Aug 31. the Chinese couples to have leadership's decision to cope to deepen as the population of Westerners makes them prime President Joe Biden said more children due to mount- with new circumstances in people above 60 years grew to targets for retribution. Wednesday he would ensure no ing costs, the amended law has social and economic develop- 264 million, up by 18.7 per cent Hundreds of Afghans who American was left behind, even also passed more social and ment and promote balanced last year. lacked any papers or clearance if that meant staying beyond economic support measures long-term population growth, As the calls for the govern- for evacuation also congregated August, an arbitrary deadline to address the concerns. the report said. ment to do away with the fam- outside the airport, adding to that he set weeks before the Tal- The new law stipulates In May this year, the rul- ily planning restrictions grew the chaos that has prevented iban climaxed a stunning mili- that the country will take sup- ing Communist Party of China louder due to the concerns even some Afghans who do tary victory by taking Kabul portive measures, including (CPC) approved a relaxation that the declining population have papers and promises of Afghans take selfie with Taliban fighters during patrol in the city of Kabul PTI last weekend. It was not clear those in finances, taxes, insur- of its strict two-child policy to in the country could result in flights from getting through. if Biden might consider extend- ance, education, housing and allow all couples to have up to serious labour shortages and It didn't help that many of 6,000 people were cleared for passengers were flown out on 5,000 to 9,000 people per day, ing the deadline for evacuees employment, to reduce fami- three children. negatively impact the world's the Taliban fighters could not evacuation Thursday and were each of the past two days, Pen- but until Thursday far fewer who aren't American citizens. lies' burdens as well as the cost China permitted all cou- second-largest economy, the read the documents. expected to board military tagon spokesman John Kirby designated evacuees had been At the airport, military of raising and educating chil- ples to have two children in CPC decided to permit a In a hopeful sign, State flights in coming hours. That said. able to reach, and then enter, evacuation flights continued, dren, state-run China Daily 2016, scrapping the draconian third child while declining to Department spokesman Ned would mark a major increase Kirby said the military has the airport. but access remained difficult reported. decades-old one-child policy completely scrap the family Price said in Washington that from recent days. About 2,000 aircraft available to evacuate Kirby told reporters the for many. AGENCIES The NPC has revised the which policymakers blame for planning policy. AGENCIES Malaysian king picks ex-deputy PM as nation's new leader

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's longest-governing political party reclaimed the premiership it lost in a shock 2018 election defeat, after the king on Friday named its candidate, Ismail Sabri Yaakob, as the country's new leader. Ismail was the deputy prime minister under the government of Muhyiddin Yassin, who resigned Monday after less than 18 months in office as infighting in his coalition cost him majority support. Ismail's appointment essentially restores Muhyiddin's alliance. It also brings back the rule of the United Malays National Organization, which had led Malaysia since independence from Britain in 1957 but was ousted in 2018 elections over a multibillion-dollar financial scandal. King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah said Ismail had secured the backing of 114 lawmakers for a slender majority. He said Ismail, 61, will be sworn in as Malaysia's ninth prime minister on Saturday. The announcement came after the monarch met state Malay rulers who advised him on the appointment. The king's role is largely ceremonial in Malaysia, but he appoints the person he believes has majority support in Parliament as prime minister. Sultan Abdullah said in a statement that he hopes Ismail's appointment will bring an end to the country's political turmoil. He urged lawmakers to set aside their political differences and unite to tackle the country's wors- ening pandemic. Ismail's appointment was not unexpected. With this, UMNO is now back in the driver's seat," said James Chin, an Asian expert at Australia's University of Tasmania. Ismail's 114 votes exceed the 111 needed for a simple majority but is close to the backing Muhyiddin had and was unable to keep. Ismail is from UMNO, the larger party in the alliance, leaving him on firmer ground, but he still needs Muhyiddin's party for enough support to lead. AGENCIES Merkel asks Putin to pressure Taliban on evacuations

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin talk during their meeting in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Friday PTI MOSCOW: German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Fri- day asked Russian President Vladimir Putin for support in rescuing local Afghan forces after the Taliban takeover. The remarks came during Merkel's trip to Moscow — likely the last in her capacity as chancellor as she is due to step down from politics following Germany's general election in September. But it also came at a time of immense global strife, just days after the Taliban’ seized control of Afghanistan, rising tensions in Ukraine, and with Russian dissidents sitting in jail, DW reported. The two leaders have had different ideas about the Taliban’s capture of Kabul. Merkel has described the situation as “bitter, dramatic and terrifying.” Moscow, meanwhile, is seeking to open channels of communication with the Islamist group and appears to be looking to foster some sort of relationship with the Taliban. Merkel called on Russia to communicate with the Taliban that there was willingness to work with the militant group on humanitarian grounds if they allow the safe evacuation of Western-allied Afghans. “I have given information that we in Germany consider it most important to evacuate people who have worked for over 20 years for us. Those citizens of Afghanistan should receive a place to stay in Germany,” Merkel said. Putin called on the international community to prevent the “collapse” of Afghanistan. “The Taliban movement control almost the entire territory of the country,” he said. “These are the realities and it is from these realities that we must proceed, preventing the collapse of the Afghan state.” AGENCIES millenniumpost mp NEW DELHI | SATURDAY, 21 AUGUST, 2021 Business 9 DELAY IN FILING OF APPEALS IPO frenzy sets record as Judges as citizen concerned August sees 23 filings so far MUMBAI: The raging IPO gies which filed a Rs 800-crore frenzy has set a record of sorts issue on Friday. And the biggest this month with the first 20 days day for the street was August 4, about revenue loss: Apex Court of August witnessing as many when four companies--Krsnaa as 23 filings seeking regulatory Diagnostics (Rs 1,213 crore), permission to launch primary Windlas Biotech (Rs 401 crore share sales worth around Rs in fresh issue and the rest in Solicitor General Tushar Mehta Mehta says the problem is that 40,000 crore while eight com- OFS), Devyani International, panies already raising over Rs which is the largest franchisee many a times there is deliberate attempt to delay filing of the cases 18,200 crore in the month. So far this year, of Pizza Hut, KFC and Costa Several of these companies over 40 new listings Coffee in the country (Rs 1,838- are from the startup space such crore), and Exxaro Tiles that OUR CORRESPONDENT apply your mind, and first set after deliberation with senior as fintech, e-commerce, online have raked in manufactures vitrified tiles (Rs up a committee, the bench said. union government officials travel and SaaS (software-as-a- around Rs 70,000 161-crore) -- filed for IPOs. NEW DELHI: The Supreme The top court added that including the finance secretary service) segments. The companies are buoyed Court has said that judges as the government should have and law secretary and the chair- So far this year, over 40 new crore by bumper listings of Clean Sci- citizens have genuine concerns a similar system in place for persons of the Central Board of listings have raked in around Rs ence & Technology, GR Infra- about the revenue loss and asked Goods and Service Tax also, Direct Taxes and Central Board 70,000 crore. The depth of inves- moters of online travel booking projects, Zomato (which was the Centre to expedite stream- which will help in fast track- of Indirect Taxes and Customs. tor interest, especially from the firm Ixigo, which is looking to the biggest issue so far this year lining the appeal filing process ing and speedy adjudication of In the note it was submitted retail, is very visible with many collect Rs 1,800 crore from an with Rs 9,300 crore issue) and related to direct and indirect the cases and creating a busi- that both Boards have issued IPOs being oversubscribed over issue; and Rategain Travel Tech- Tatva Chintan Pharma Chem. taxation matters. The top court ness friendly environment in the instructions outlining the time 100 times and many brokerages nologies, the first SaaS (soft- The AGS issue is purely an asked the government to issue country. Justice Shah said that lines for different levels for pro- say total number of issues may ware-as-a-service) company to offer-for-sale of equity shares a notification about the set- the creation of a time-line which cessing of a case for filing an well top the 100-mark this year. go public in the country with by promoter Ravi B Goyal and ting up of a committee, which the government has thought Special Leave Petition to ensure The IPO market is so hot a Rs 1,500 crore issue; and the other selling shareholders. will monitor the process with of will be effective only if it is that appeal is filed within the that it has caught the attention Noida-based Rategain is the Goyal will sell shares worth up technological intervention and 600 days delay and they are dis- several suggestions have been adhered by all the departments stipulated time frame of 90 days. of the monetary authority which country’s largest SaaS firm in to Rs 792 crore through the OFS development of software for missed by the courts. You should made, which will be incorpo- down the line as the delay starts The proposal said that there in its latest bulletin says “year the hospitality and travel space. and other selling shareholders tracking of the cases. have a committee composed rated. The bench said in a hear- from their end. should be a Committee in each 2021 could well turn out to be Another main issue is from the will offload shares worth Rs 8 The Centre said that the of not very senior level officers ing held on Thursday, At least The top court posted the Board (CBDT and CBIC) con- the year of IPOs for the country”. Kolkata-based Tarsons Prod- crore. Meanwhile, the first 15 National Informatics Centre but of people, who are in know- you issue a small notification matter for further hearing on sisting of-Member (Judicial)- Some of the major filings ucts that manufactures a range days of August saw eight com- (NIC) is collaborating to inte- how of things. They are the best about the setting up of the com- August 27 and asked the gov- chairman, Director General of among the total 23 in the month of quality lab-ware products. panies successfully complet- grate the Legal Information suited to monitor the develop- mittee, so that the court knows ernment to apprise it about the the Directorate in-charge for lit- include the Delhi-based PB Fin- Tarsons has a diversified prod- ing IPOs and collecting over Rs Management and Briefing Sys- ment of cases, the bench said. that the work has started and we developments on that day. igation management-convener, tech, the promoters of insurance uct portfolio with over 1,700 18,200 crore in proceeds. tem (LIMBS) with the e-office Mehta said that the prob- will leave the issue here . Earlier, this month the top Commissioner (Judicial), Legal distributor Policybazaar, that is stock-keeping units across 300 Some of the marquee names mechanism so that real time lem is that many a times there The top court said that court had taken serious excep- advisor for department of legal seeking Sebi nod for a Rs 6,000- products and operate five man- that completed the share sale tracking of cases can be done. is deliberate attempt to delay developing a system with tech- tion to the failure of finance affairs, and Central Government crore issue; and the Pune-based ufacturing facilities in Bengal. process are the Chennai-based A bench of Justices DY filing of the cases and with the nological intervention will help department officials in final- Standing Counsel. Emcure Pharma that is seeking Other mid-sized IPOs specialty chemicals manufac- Chandrachud and M R Shah new system in place, account- the government in creating a ising a proposal to streamline It said that the Committees to raise Rs 5,000 crore. include the Kochi-based auto- turer Chemplast Sanmar which was assured by Solicitor General ability will be fixed. business friendly environment. the process of filing appeals and of the both Boards should meet Besides, Adani Wilmar, the mobile retailer Popular Vehicles raised Rs 3,850 crore; contract Tushar Mehta that a committee He added that with the new We are only trying to protect warned it will not hesitate to ini- every week at a fixed time (say, FMCG arm of the Adani Group, & Services which last week filed development and manufac- will be set up by next Monday, system in place once a judge- the revenue department. This tiate contempt against them and every Tuesday at 5 pm) one after is seeking to mop up Rs 4,500 for a Rs 700-crore issue; beauty turing organization Windlas which will monitor the stages ment is pronounced in any will protect the interest of the take coercive action. It had taken another and take the final deci- crore, and the Mumbai-based care & wellness firm VLCC; Sap- Biotech (Rs 401 crore); home of the cases. court, process of filing appeal, government. You should have note of repeated adjournments sion on whether to file an SLP online fashion and apparel phire Foods which operates all financier Aptus Value Hous- Look, we as citizens of this if required will start immedi- case information software from sought in an appeal against the or not and only in exceptional brand Nykaa, whose holding the Yum Brands outlets in the ing (Rs 2,780 crore), the online country have genuine concern ately with a requisite time line. where you can retrieve data, order of the Customs Excise and cases of disagreement, mat- firm FSN E-Commerce, has country like KFC, Pizza Hut and auto retailing platform Cartrade about revenue losses to the gov- He said that recently a high case status and other relevant Service Tax Appellate Tribunal ter could be processed on file filed for an Rs 4,000 crore issue. Taco Bell; Go Fashion India (Go Tech (Rs 3,000 crore), and drug ernment on account of delay level meeting was held on the details. This will help in reduc- filed with a delay of 536 days. between Department of Rev- The list also includes the Colors); Fusion Microfinance; firm Krsnaa Diagnostics (Rs in filing appeals. We see that issue and even he had partici- ing pendency and create a busi- On February 15, Mehta had enue and Department of Legal Gurugram-headquartered Le and the payment solutions pro- 1,213 crore), also completed appeals are being filed with 500- pated in the deliberation and ness friendly environment. You placed a note before the bench Affairs and even SG/ASG. Travenues Technology, the pro- vider AGS Transact Technolo- share sale. PTI Wheat, Despite record tax mop-up, FDI proposal for bank-promoted insurance rice prices govt continues to borrow heavily firm to be vetted by RBI, Irdai: Govt notification showing MUMBAI: Despite the massive borrowing limit of Rs 12.05 NEW DELHI: The government the Finance Ministry on August limit to 49 per cent, resulting in serial number F. 8.1 and F. 8.2 declining windfall gains from fuel taxes lakh crore in FY22 and 41 per has said applications for foreign 19, 2021. “These rules may be in a foreign capital inflow of Rs is not breached, the notifica- and GST collections, the Cen- cent if the GST compensation direct investment in an insur- called the Foreign Exchange 26,000 crore in the last five years. tion said. An Indian insurance tre continues to borrow heavily amounting to Rs 1.58 lakh crore ance company promoted by a Management (Non-debt Instru- “Applications for foreign firm having foreign invest- trend: Govt from the market, with the total is added to the borrowing limit, private bank will be cleared by ments) (Second Amendment) direct investment in private ment would comply with the drawdown crossing 90 per cent Madan Sabnavis, chief econo- the RBI and Irdai to ensure that Rules, 2021,” it said. banks having joint venture or provisions under the Indian NEW DELHI: Wheat and rice of the notified amount so far or mist at Care Ratings said. the 74 per cent limit of overseas Earlier in March, Parliament subsidiary in insurance sector Insurance Companies (For- prices in wholesale and retail 46 per cent of the total borrow- The cost of borrowings at investment is not breached. passed a bill to raise the foreign may be addressed to the RBI eign Investment) Rules, 2015, markets in the country showed ings for FY22, even though the Friday’s auction moderated These changes were made by direct investment (FDI) limit in for consideration in consulta- as amended from time to time a declining trend till August second quarter is only halfway, to a three-week low, with the amending the Foreign Exchange the insurance sector from 49 per tion with the IRDAI, in order and applicable rules and regu- 16 this year compared to the as per a report. The total drawdown weighted average yield across Management (Non-debt Instru- cent to 74 per cent. The Insur- to ensure that the limit of for- lations notified by the Depart- month-ago period on market Overall, the government has tenures falling to 6.32 per cent, ments) Rules, 2019, according to ance Act, 1938 was last amended eign investment applicable for ment of Financial Services or intervention, the government collected 25.1 per cent of the crossed 90 per down 4 bps from last week’s the gazette notification issued by in 2015, which raised the FDI the insurance sector as specified the Irdai, it added. PTI said on Friday. budgeted taxes in Q1, which cent of the notified auction and 14 bps lower than The food ministry in a state- traditionally is low on taxation. amount so far or that in the first week of August. ment said the retail price of rice Despite the second COVID- The decline in yields can declined by 1.78 per cent to Rs 19 wave, overall Q1 tax col- 46 per cent of the be attributed to the soften- 35.28 per kg on August 16 from lections rose 39 per cent to Rs total borrowings ing of global crude and com- Rs 35.92 per kg a month ago. 5.6 lakh crore, according to an modity prices and the fall in The wholesale price of rice analysis by Icra Ratings, which for FY22 US treasury yields which typi- also fell 2.17 per cent to Rs also expects the gross tax reve- cally prompts higher foreign 3,030.6 per quintal from Rs nue to surpass the FY22 budget 10-year and 40-year tenor inflows into domestic bonds, 3,097.88 per quintal in the said estimate of Rs 22.2 lakh crore. securities. It did not allow any Sabnavis said. period, it added. In the case of In the first quarter, the Cen- devolution in any of the three Another reason is the RBI wheat, retail prices dipped by tre collected a whopping Rs securities. announcement of purchasing 2.18 per cent to Rs 26.52 per 94,181 crore from excise duty This is the fourth weekly Rs 25,000 crore of gilts next kg on August 16 from Rs 27.11 on petrol and diesel, which was auction from the 20 so far con- week under the GSAP pro- ICA- T10310(2)/2021 per kg in the month-ago period. 88 per cent more than Q1 of ducted in FY22 where there gramme, which could have The wholesale rate of FY21. have been no devolutions to boosted investor sentiment, GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL wheat fell by 2.82 per cent to It collected Rs 3.35 lakh primary dealers or over-sub- he added. WEST BENGAL HOUSING INFRASTRUCTURE Rs 2,258.05 per quintal from crore in duties in the whole of scription or cancellation of auc- However, the yields con- e-Tender notice No. 40 of 2021-2022 Rs 2,323.52 per quintal in the last fiscal, which was only Rs tion, according to a note by Care tinue to be at elevated levels. It e- tender is invited for “Supply & Installation of additional said period. The ministry said 1.78 lakh crore in FY20 and Rs Ratings. has been ruling over 6.20 per Loose furniture in Coffee House, New Town, Kolkata.” in the it is “proactively pursuing poli- 2.13 lakh crore in FY19, Minis- Total borrowings by the cent on a sustained basis since manner as described in the detailed e-tender notice available cies which help in keeping infla- ter of State for Finance Pankaj government between April 9, the third week of June. on WBHIDCO website-www.wbhidcoltd.com in e-tender portion low, as reflected in the open Choudhary told the Lok Sabha when the first auction was held, On a year-to-date basis, tal. Last date of Bid submission closing (on line)- 01.09.2021 GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL upto 2.00 P.M. Detailed may be seen in our website at www. North 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad Tender market sale scheme (OMSS) last month. and August 20 is Rs 5.52 lakh yields have risen by 18 bps, Additional Executive Officer, policy of the year 2021-22”. On the other hand, it col- crore, almost 10 per cent less which can be largely attrib- wbhidcoltd.com. North 24 Parganas Zilla Under OMSS, the govt sells lected record-high GST, with than that in the same period uted to the demand-supply Additional General Manager (Engg)-IV Parishad invites off-line tender rice and wheat to bulk consum- April and May being the high- in FY21 when it had borrowed dynamics. as follows – NIT NO N - 90 / 20 - 21 (Eng) (2nd Call) (Offline) ers at the reserve price. About est ever and June falling to Rs Rs 6.16 lakh crore, and just Rs Meanwhile, auctions worth dt: 18/08/2021. Details may 9.84 lakh tonne of wheat and 92,849 crore. 17,511 crore less than the noti- Rs 67,000 crore have been can- be obtained from the office of 4.13 lakh tonne of rice has been At the auction held on Fri- fied amount. celled so far in FY22 and 84 per District Engineer, N-24-Pgs Zilla sold under OMSS till July this day, the government borrowed The amount raised so far is cent or Rs 56,000 crore were in Parishad. Sd/- Additional Executive Officer, year, the statement added. PTI Rs 26,000 crore from 2-year, 46 per cent of the total budgeted the 10-year securities. PTI North 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad. 1525(3)/DICO/N24Pgs, dt. Many Indian cos slip in global valuation 19.08.2021 ICA- T10277(4)/2021 ranking, highest ranked RIL dips 3 places ICA- T10320(3)/2021 Ranking of many others Indian cos, including TCS, HDFC Bank, HDFC & Bharti Airtel, declined compared with last year on Hurun Global 500 list ICA- T10286(3)/2021

MUMBAI: Reliance Industries billion but ranking slipped by rival ICICI Bank saw its valua- tor and chief researcher Anas has emerged as the most valued three places to 57 in the rank- tion rise 36 per cent to $62 bil- Rahman Junaid said. Indian company in a global list ings which use the valuation on lion which resulted in its global Apple is the most valu- ICA- T10295(3)/2021 ICA- T10312(3)/2021 of top-500 non-state run com- July 15 as the cut-off. ranking improving 48 places to able company in the world panies, but saw its ranking slip- Tata Consultancy Services 268th, as per the list. and saw its valuation rising ping by three points. slipped one position to be the There were three new by 15 per cent to $2.4 trillion, Ranking of many others 74th most valued company in entrants from the country it said. ICA- T10299(3)/2021 Indian companies, includ- the world with a valuation of in the list, including Wipro Apple, Microsoft, Ama- ICA- T10315(3)/2021 ing Tata Consultancy Services $164 billion, HDFC Bank was (ranked 457th), Asian Paints zon and Alphabet, the ‘big 4’, (TCS), HDFC Bank, HDFC 19 positions down at 124th (477th) and HCL Technolo- doubled in value since Covid- GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL and Bharti Airtel, declined with a $113 billion valuation gies (498th). 19 to take their combined WEST BENGAL HOUSING INFRASTRUCTURE compared with last year on the while its parent HDFC was “Two-thirds of Indian com- value to $8 trillion, and mak- e-Tender notice No. 23(2nd Call) of 2021-2022 Hurun Global 500 list. down 52 places at 301st despite panies featured in the list are ing up 14 per cent of Hurun e- tender is invited for “Filling of Refrigerant Gas for 1 (One) no chiller at Biswa Bangla Convention Centre, New Town, Kolkata.” In all, 12 Indian companies a 1 per cent increase in valua- from financial services and Global 500. in the manner as described in the detailed e-tender notice avail- made it to the list of the top-500 tion to $56.7 billion. software services. In the com- India is ninth by the num- able on WBHIDCO website-www.wbhidcoltd.com in e-tender valued companies as against 11 Kotak Mahindra Bank’s ing years, the startup revolu- ber of companies featured on portal. Last date of Bid submission closing (on line)- 25.08.2021 in the year-ago period. valuation declined 8 per cent tion in the country would help the list, which is led by the upto 2.00 P.M. Detailed may be seen in our website at www. Mukesh Ambani-led Reli- to $46.6 billion, which led to India contribute more com- US (243) and followed by wbhidcoltd.com. ance Industries’ valuation a fall of 96 places on the list panies to Hurun Global 500,” China (47), Japan (30) and the Additional General Manager (Engg)-IV increased 11 per cent to $188 to 380th rank, while its larger Hurun India’s managing direc- UK (24). PTI ICA- T10272(3)/2021 ICA- T10267(2)/2021 mp millenniumpost 10 Business SATURDAY, 21 AUGUST, 2021 | NEW DELHI RBI Guv pitches for continued Markets sink for 2nd straight day, Sensex falls over 300 pts policy support to revive growth OUR CORRESPONDENT MUMBAI: Equity indices spi- ralled lower for the second Shaktikanta Das also underlined the need for closely monitoring straight session on Friday, mir- roring a global selloff as rising Delta cases and fears of earlier- the price situation with a view to anchoring inflation expectations than-expected Fed tapering sparked a broad retreat from OUR CORRESPONDENT Saggar, who is RBI’s Exec- -- pointing again towards sup- riskier assets. utive Director, opined policy ply-side causation and volatil- The 30-share BSE Sensex MUMBAI: Given the uncer- focus to revive growth on a ity, she said. slumped 300.17 points or 0.54 tainties on account of the durable basis needs to continue Goyal said research shows per cent to close at 55,329.32. COVID-19 pandemic, Reserve and should entail consideration that while temporary commod- Similarly, the broader Bank Governor Shaktikanta to avoid inflation risks that may ity spikes are looked through, NSE Nifty tumbled 118.35 Das opined that continued emanate when credit demand a persistent rise tends to affect points or 0.71 per cent to policy support with a focus improves, likely ahead of out- inflation expectations. 16,450.50. Tata Steel was the on revival and sustenance of put gap closing. According to her, the vol- top loser in the Sensex pack, growth was the most desirable This arduous task needs to atility of Indian fuel prices plunging 8.27 per cent, fol- and judicious policy option at be carried without endangering is much lower than interna- lowed by SBI, Dr Reddy’s, Sun the moment. sustainable recovery in growth, tional and average rise is more, Pharma, Kotak Bank, L&T and Das, according to the min- he said. since taxes are not decreased as Bajaj Auto. utes of the MPC meeting External member on the much when international oil On the other hand, HUL, released on Friday, also under- MPC Varma was of the view prices rise, as they are increased Asian Paints, Nestle India, Bajaj ` falls 15 paise to close lined the need for closely moni- that economic growth was when oil prices fall. Finance, HDFC, HDFC Bank, toring the price situation with Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das unsatisfactory long before the “A persistent rise in Indian Maruti and ITC finished in the at 74.39 against US dollar a view to anchoring inflation pandemic, and even if the eco- fuel prices is at odds with infla- green, climbing up to 5.37 per expectations. panel earlier this month. a commitment to a stance of nomic ill effects of COVID-19 tion targeting,” she said. cent. “The need of the hour is Further, except Varma, accommodation extending into abate to some extent, substan- The government has man- During the week, the MUMBAI: The rupee on Fri- twofold: first, continue the other members voted to con- the future. tial monetary accommodation dated the RBI to ensure infla- Sensex declined 107.97 points day declined by 15 paise to monetary policy support to the tinue with the accommoda- With the upsurge of infla- is warranted. tion remains at 4 per cent, with or 0.19 per cent, while the Nifty close at 74.39 (provisional) economy; and second, remain tive stance as long as necessary tion worldwide, this effort to Persistent high infla- 2 per cent margin on either slipped 78.6 points or 0.47 per against the US currency, watchful of any durable infla- to revive and sustain growth anchor expectations is under tion means that the mone- side. cent. tracking a lacklustre trend tionary pressures and sustained on a durable basis and con- scrutiny. Patra said in some tary accommodation has to MPC member Bhide was Midcap and smallcap stocks in the domestic equities and price momentum in key com- tinue to mitigate the impact of countries, markets have acqui- be somewhat restrained. He of the view that with faster remained under selling pres- strengthening of the Ameri- ponents so as to bring back the COVID-19 on the economy, esced with the authorities’ view argued for raising money expansion of vaccination pro- sure, while volatility index can currency in the overseas CPI inflation to 4 per cent over while ensuring that inflation that inflation pressures are market rates towards the gram, better health care infra- soared around 8 per cent. market. a period of time in a non-dis- remains within the target going transitory and do not warrant repo rate of 4 per cent from structure and measures by the Sectorally, BSE metal index At the interbank foreign ruptive manner,” he said. forward. a change in the policy stance. the current ultra-low level of public to prevent the spread of plunged 6.90 per cent, followed exchange market, the domes- All members of the Mone- Varma expressed reserva- In others, central banks 3.35 per cent. COVID infections, the rise in by basic materials, realty, indus- tic currency opened lower at tary Policy Committee (MPC) tions on this part of the MPC have pre-emptively tightened Another external member consumer sentiments can be trials and capital goods indices, 74.38 against the American — Shashanka Bhide, Ashima resolution, according to the the policy stance despite assess- on the panel Ashima Goyal said expected to be sustained and while FMCG ended with gains. currency and finally settled Goyal, Jayanth R Varma, minutes. ing inflation as transitory. the MPC has a difficult job as it supportive of the expansion of Broader BSE midcap and at 74.39. During the session, US dollar. Meanwhile, the dol- Mridul K Saggar, Michael RBI Deputy Governor Patra “This is a razor’s edge battles both the slowdown and supplies. smallcap indices nosedived up the local unit touched an intra- lar index, which gauges the Debabrata Patra and Shakti- said amid the extreme uncer- dilemma and responding to it, the inflation which the pan- All policy measures are to 1.91 per cent. day high of 74.38 and a low of greenback’s strength against kanta Das — had unanimously tainty encircling the path of in my view, involves a judgment demic has triggered. needed to achieve normali- Meanwhile, Brent crude 74.47 against the US currency. a basket of six currencies, was voted to keep the policy repo the pandemic, monetary pol- call that puts both foresight- Even so, marginal modera- sation of economic activities futures, the global oil bench- On Wednesday, the rupee trading 0.09 per cent higher at rate unchanged at 4 per cent icy authorities have sought edness and inflation fighting tion in inflation has twice this and moderation of inflationary mark, fell 0.59 per cent to had settled at 74.24 against the 93.65. MPOST after the three-day meet of the to impart some certainty by credibility on the line,” he said. year provided just in time relief pressures, Bhide said. $66.06 per barrel. India’s forex India, United States discuss EPFO adds 12.83 lakh members in June

reserves fall NEW DELHI: Retirement fund per cent of total net additions measures to increase trade body EPFO recorded net new during June. $2.10 bn to enrolments of 12.83 lakh in This is followed by age group NEW DELHI: A day after an India-US trade pact are off June, giving an employment of 29-35 with around 2.55 lakh Commerce and Industry Min- the table for now, with the Joe perspective in the country. net payroll addition, it stated. $619.365 bn ister Piyush Goyal said hopes of Biden administration convey- The provisional payroll data Age-wise payroll data indian India-US trade pact are off ing to India that it is not inter- of EPFO (Employees’ Provident cates that many first time job the table for now, US Ambassa- ested in a free trade agreement. Fund Organization) released seekers are joining organ- dor to India Atul Keshap spoke “The US as of now has kind on Friday highlights a growing ised sector workforce in large to the Indian minister for over of indicated that they are not trend with 12.83 lakh net payroll numbers, it said. Gender-wise two hours, discussing trade looking for new trade agree- additions during June 2021, a analysis shows that net female between the two countries. ments, but we look at work- labour ministry statement said. addition during the month While Keshap tweeted ing with them for more market The impact of second wave stood at 2.56 lakh, which is about the meeting, there were Commerce and Industry Minister access issues on both sides and of COVID-19 waned during around 0.79 lakh more than MUMBAI: India’s foreign no immediate comments from Piyush Goyal I think that would also be a big June, leading to tremendous under the social security cov- their membership with EPFO, those added during May, it said. exchange reserves decreased the commerce ministry over relief and a big opportunity growth in net payroll additions erage of Employees’ Provident using transferring of funds from Maharashtra, Haryana, by $2.099 billion to stand at the discussions that happened Across our 2+ hour discus- opener for our export sector,” as compared to April and May, Fund scheme for the first time. previous job to the current PF Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Kar- $619.365 billion for the week on Friday. sion we agreed that our great he had said. it said. As compared to May, During the month, around account rather than applying nataka are still at the forefront ended August 13 due to a fall “I had a very spirited democracies should work more According to the data of the there was an increase of 5.09 4.73 lakh net subscribers exited for final withdrawal of their PF of payroll addition with approx- in core currency assets and exchange of views with Com- closely to advance our mutual commerce ministry, in 2020- lakh additions in net subscrib- but rejoined EPFO by changing accumulations, it explained. imately 7.78 lakh subscribers gold, Reserve Bank of India merce Minister @PiyushGoyal prosperity,” Keshap said. 21, the bilateral trade between ers in June, it added. jobs within the establishments The age group of 18-25 reg- adding during the month. This data showed on Friday. about how #USIndia trade can Goyal while speaking at an the US and India stood at $80.5 Of the total 12.83 lakh net covered by EPFO. istered highest number of net is around 60.61 per cent of total The forex kitty had and should attain the $500 industry event in Mumbai on billion as compared to $88.9 subscribers added in June, This shows that majority of enrolments with around 6.15 net payroll addition across all increased by $889 mil- billion vision set by @Potus. Thursday had said hopes of billion in 2019-20. PTI around 8.11 lakh have come subscribers opted to continue lakh additions, which is 47.89 age groups. PTI lion to a lifetime high of $621.464 billion in the previous reporting week. Investment via P-notes continues Foreign currency assets SpiceJet launches 14 new domestic flights (FCAs), a major compo- nent of the overall reserves, GURUGRAM: Known for Women and Child Welfare Edu- to jump; hits 40-mnth high in July decreased by $1.358 billion many firsts in India’s rapidly cation and Pilgrimage, Vibha- to $576.374 billion in the growing aviation industry, variben Vijaybhai Dave and NEW DELHI: Investments April-end and Rs 89,100 crore reporting week, as per the SpiceJet, the country’s favourite MLA (West) Bhavnagar, Jiten- in the Indian capital markets Of the total Rs as of March 31, 2021. weekly data by the RBI. airline, on Friday launched 14 drabhai Savjibhai Vaghani. The through participatory notes 1,01,798 crore Of the total Rs 1,01,798 Expressed in dollar new flights including 12 indus- inaugural flight took-off from (P-notes) rose to Rs 1.02 lakh crore invested through the terms, the foreign currency try-first non-stop flights. While Bhavnagar at 3:45 PM. crore till July-end, making invested through route till July, Rs 93,150 crore assets include the effect of SpiceJet will be the first and only Ajay Singh, CMD, SpiceJet, it the highest level in last 40 the route till July, Rs was invested in equities, Rs appreciation or deprecia- airline to connect Bhavnagar- said, “In line with our commit- months. 8,290 crore in debt and Rs 358 tion of non-US units like Delhi, Bhavnagar-Surat, ment to enhance regional con- This also marks the fourth 93,150 crore was crore in hybrid securities. the euro, pound and yen Gwalior-Jaipur, Kishangarh nectivity and put the smaller consecutive monthly growth. invested in equities, The month of July 2021 held in the foreign exchange (Ajmer)-Mumbai, Pune-Tiru- cities on the country’s aviation P-notes are issued by reg- saw the highest level of invest- reserves. pati and Varanasi-Dehradun, map, SpiceJet is launching 14 istered foreign portfolio inves- Rs 8,290 crore in ment since March 2018, when Value of the gold reserves the airline will also launch a new flights, out of which as tors (FPIs) to overseas investors debt and Rs 358 fund inflow through such route declined for the second con- non-stop flight connecting Singh (Retd), Secretary of Min- Minister of Education, Law & many as 12 – Bhavnagar-Delhi, who wish to be part of the stood at Rs 1,06,403 crore, and secutive week, dropping Bhavnagar with Mumbai. istry of Civil Aviation, Pradeep Justice, Legislative & Parliamen- Bhavnagar-Surat, Gwalior- Indian stock market with- crore in hybrid experts said the trend indicated $720 million to $36.336 bil- Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Singh Kharola, Joint Secretary of tary Affairs, Salt Industry, Cow Jaipur, Kishangarh (Ajmer)- out registering themselves securities growing confidence of over- lion, the data showed. Union Minister of Civil Avia- Ministry of Civil Aviation, Usha Breeding and Civil Aviation, Mumbai, Pune-Tirupati and directly. They, however, need seas investors into domestic The special drawing tion, flagged-off the inaugural Padhee and CMD of SpiceJet, Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, Varanasi-Dehradun are industry to go through a due diligence to Rs 1,01,798 crore at July-end markets. rights (SDRs) with the Inter- SpiceJet flight from Bhavnagar Ajay Singh. Chief Minister of Member of Parliament, Navsari, first flights. We will also be con- process. from Rs 92,261 crore as of June The assets under the cus- national Monetary Fund to Delhi virtually in the pres- Gujarat, Vijay Rupani attended C.R. Patil, Member of Parlia- necting Bhavnagar with Mum- According to Sebi data, the 30, 2021. tody of FPIs have increased to (IMF) dipped by $7 mil- ence of Minister of State for the event virtually. Other digni- ment, Bhavnagar, Dr. Bharat- bai. Bhavnagar is the sixth big value of P-note investments in Prior to that, the investment Rs 48.36 lakh crore at July-end lion to $1.544 billion. PTI Road Transport & Highways taries who attended the inaugu- iben Dhirubhai Shiyal, MLA city in Gujarat where SpiceJet Indian markets — equity, debt level was at Rs 89,743 crore at from Rs 48 lakh crore at the end and Civil Aviation, General VK ration from Gujarat included (East) Bhavnagar & Minister will fly to.” MPOST and hybrid securities — rose May-end, Rs 88,447 crore at of June. PTI Indian startups raise $16.9 bn VC $560 bn wiped from China markets in a week funding in 2021, next only to China as clampdowns shatter investors’ confidence NEW DELHI: Indian startups that a total of 828 VC fund- India managed to showcase got $16.9 billion of venture cap- ing deals were announced in growth despite a decline in VC ital funding in 2021, next only India during January-July 2021 funding deal volume.” to Chinese counterparts in the while the total disclosed fund- Rising smartphone pene- Stocks in Shanghai also fell, while investors sold risky corporate debt and the Chinese currency Asia-Pacific (APAC) countries, ing value of these deals stood at tration and affordable mobile GlobalData said Friday. $16.9 billion. Internet have transformed BEIJING: China’s tech stocks and its weekly drop of 5.8% was Nuvest Capital in Singapore. e-commerce and education, the they can’t quantify the regu- “Despite the third wave of Some of the notable VC India into a digital-first econ- slumped to new lows on Friday the largest since the height of “Almost on a daily basis you moves are sapping faith in a latory risk and are selling in COVID-19 pandemic loom- funding deals announced in omy. As a result, tech startups and Hong Kong’s benchmark the pandemic panic in financial have negative news coming market that seems yet to find droves. ing large and slow economic India during January-July 2021 are the biggest beneficiaries of index hit an almost 10-month markets in March 2020. out, so it forms the impression a floor after months of selling. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng recovery, venture capital (VC) include $3.6 billion raised by this trend. trough, as an unrelenting series Stocks in Shanghai also fell, there’s no end in sight.” This The Shanghai Compos- Tech index, comprised of many investors seem to be reposing Flipkart, $502 million raised “According to GlobalData’s of Chinese regulatory crack- while investors sold risky cor- week alone China announced ite dropped 1.1% to its lowest one-time darlings, dropped faith in the Indian startup eco- by Mohalla Tech (ShareChat), research, India has the third- downs crushed investors’ porate debt and the Chinese tougher rules on competition close in more than two weeks 2.5% on Friday to a new record system. In fact, Indian start- Zomato’s capital raising of largest tech unicorn ecosys- confidence. currency. The yuan was poised in the tech sector, summoned on Friday and blue chips fell low and has shed about 48% ups stood next only to Chinese around $500 million, and $460 tem in the world, behind the More than $560 billion in for its biggest weekly loss in two executives at property devel- 1.9%, with liquor makers lead- since February. counterparts in terms of VC million raised by Think and US and China. During the market value has been wiped months as investors rushed to oper Evergrande to warn them ing losses. E-commerce titan Aliba- funding value among the Learn (Byju’s). COVID-19 pandemic, VC off Hong Kong and mainland safety amid global coronavirus to reduce the firm’s massive China Telecom was a rare ba’s Hong Kong shares fell 2.6% APAC countries during Janu- Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Ana- investors are evincing interest China exchanges in a week as concerns. debt and state media reported bright spot and surged on its to a record closing low and ary to July 2021,” the leading lyst at GlobalData, said: “While in startups across themes such funds capitulate out of once- “There isn’t really one trig- looming regulations for liquor debut in Shanghai. have halved from an October data and analytics company some of the top key markets as e-commerce, social media favoured stocks, unsure which ger, but many bits and pieces makers, a favourite tipple for The epicentre of the selloff peak. Internet giant Tencent said. globally witnessed a decline in and social networking, food sectors regulators will target that add to the narrative to stay foreign fund managers. has been the tech sector, which touched a 14-month low and An analysis of GlobalData’s VC funding value in July com- delivery, edtech, and digital next, Reuters reported. away from China,” said Dave On the heels of crackdowns had been popular with foreign food deliverer Meituan hit a financial deals database reveals pared to the previous month, payments,” Bose said. PTI The Hang Seng fell 1.8% Wang, a portfolio manager at spanning from steelmaking to investors who are now afraid one-year low. AGENCIES millenniumpost mp NEW DELHI | SATURDAY, 21 AUGUST, 2021 Sport 11

India to face Kohli, BCCI brass 'informally' chat Nadal out of US Open, B’desh in ends season to heal SAFF C'ships over roadmap for T20 World Cup injured foot opener MADRID: Rafael Nadal pulled out of the U.S. Open on Friday NEW DELHI: Seven-time The Test win at Lord's has released a lot of pressure off Kohli but he is well and said he will not play ten- champions India will begin nis again this year because of a their SAFF Championship aware that his captaincy future hinges on team's performance in UAE nagging foot injury. campaign against Bangla- The Spaniard sat out both desh on October 3 in Male, Wimbledon and the Olympics Maldives. NEW DELHI: The Indian Cup in England where they because of fatigue after los- Igor Stimac's side will team is fully focussed on win- didn't even have a settled ing to Novak Djokovic in the then face Sri Lanka (Octo- ning the ongoing Test series middle order with as many as French Open semifinals. ber 6), Nepal (October in England but both skipper three specialist wicketkeep- I am very sorry to announce 8) and hosts Maldives Virat Kohli and the BCCI ers (MS Dhoni, Rishabh Pant that I won't be able to keep (October 11) in their mandarins are also discussing and Dinesh Karthik) playing playing tennis during the 2021 remaining round-robin the roadmap for the upcom- the semi-finals against New season, Nadal said in a video he league matches at the ing T20 World Cup, which will Zealand. posted on social media. national football stadium be an acid test for the captain With the team selection But as you know, I have in Male. himself. slated for some time next been suffering too much with The final, to be com- The Test win at Lord's month, there are multiple my foot for the last year now The Spaniard peted between the top has certainly released a lot of issues that needs to be sorted and I missed a lot of important sat out both two sides after the round- pressure off Kohli but he is out including bowling work- events for me. robin league, will be held well aware that his captaincy loads, all-rounder's position, The 35-year-old Nadal said Wimbledon and the on October 13. future hinges on the team's wrist spinners and the like for the pain from a chronic foot Olympics because Hosts Maldives play performance in UAE where like replacements. problem he has been battling against Nepal while Sri they start against arch-rivals There are a few ques- most of his career is too much. of fatigue after Lanka take on Bangladesh Pakistan. tions that chairman of selec- During the last year I was losing to Novak in the two matches sched- It is learnt that BCCI tors Chetan Sharma, skipper not able to practice and prepare Djokovic in the uled on the opening day on president Sourav Ganguly, Kohli, coaches Ravi Shastri the way I need to be competi- October 1. secretary Jay Shah and vice- and Bharat Arun along with tive at the standards I want to French Open India had finished run- president Rajiv Shukla had BCCI top brass need to be on be, he said. semi-finals ners-up to Maldives, losing an informal meeting with same page to prepare a team The injury is nothing new. the final 1-2, when the last the captain during the sec- Virat Kohli walks off the pitch PTI that can challenge England It is the same injury I am hav- edition was held in Bangla- ond Test match at Lord's and and West Indies in the short- ing since 2005. In that moment still has "a couple of beautiful desh in 2018. various aspects related to India not having any games with their respective IPL fran- year's WTC final. Not being est format. the doctors were very negative years left in his career. Nadal The Indian team is T20 World Cup came up for prior to the (IPL), discussion chises, time is of essence and able to clear ICC semi-final or The BCCI would expect about my future career, but has won 20 Grand Slam singles currently undergoing a discussion. was more about the roadmap no wonder that officials had a final hurdle has been a cause that both Kohli and Chetan honestly I was able to have titles, tied with Djokovic and camp in Kolkata ahead "Yes, BCCI top bosses did going into the event," a senior chat about the big event with of concern. Sharma would soon be on a career I was unable to ever Roger Federer. of two international meet Kohli but let's say that it BCCI official said on condi- Kohli. During the past few ICC same page as India aim to win dream about, so I am confident Nadal, a former No. 1 friendly matches against will not be fair to divulge the tions of anonymity. Under Kohli, India have white ball tournaments, com- their first senior ICC title since I will recover again. player, is currently ranked Nepal in the first week of finer details of the discussion. With India playing the Test lost in the 2017 Champions bination has been an issue for 2013 when they annexed the Nadal insisted that he is fourth. He has won two tour- September. AGENCIES But with very little time left series till September 14 and Trophy final, 2019 ODI World the Indian team, especially Champions trophy under MS going to fight every single day naments this year, on clay in for the T20 World Cup and then the players being busy Cup semi-final apart from this during the 50 over World Dhoni's leadership. AGENCIES because he is convinced that he Barcelona and Rome. AGENCIES Medvedev advances to W&S Australian pacer Nathan AFC Cup: ATK Mohun Bagan quarters; Osaka knocked out Ellis bags IPL contract seek back-to-back success MELBOURNE: Australian Top-ranked Ash Barty rolled through the first 10 games pacer Nathan Ellis has landed MALE (Maldives): On a high an IPL contract ahead of the after a clinical performance of her match to reach the women's quarter-finals second leg of the league in in their opener, ATK Mohun the UAE after being named Bagan would look for back-to- MASON: No Novak, no Roger, as a travelling reserve in the back success and move closer no Rafa doesn't mean winning national team for the T20 to qualifying for the knockout his second Western & South- World Cup. stage when they face Maziya ern Open championship will "Ellis was being chased Sports & Recreation of Mal- be easy for top-seeded Daniil by three IPL franchises for dives in an AFC Cup group Medvedev. the upcoming tournament game here on Saturday. He's just making it look that before agreeing to terms with Antonio Lopez Habas' Kol- way. an unnamed team on Thurs- kata side beat fellow Indian Medvedev, the 2019 cham- day night," stated a report in club Bengaluru FC 2-0, reg- pion and last year's runner-up cricket.com.au. istering more shots on target to Novak Djokovic, advanced Earlier on Thursday, the Nathan Ellis despite having only 32 percent to the quarterfinals of the U.S. 26-year-old Ellis was named as possession. Open tune-up event Thursday one of three Australian reserve His wickets against Bangla- A win on Saturday could with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over players for the upcoming T20 desh included Mahdmullah, put ATK Mohun Bagan on the have one bad day or situa- a different behaviour." Grigor Dimitrov. World Cup, which will follow Mehidy Hasan and Musta- verge of a knockout berth from tion that could change the The home side, on the "It was definitely a great level the IPL. fizur Rahman off the final Group D but Habas is keeping outcome." other hand, are coming into of tennis," Medvedev said. "It The development comes three balls of the innings as his focus only on the match. The Spaniard said his play- the match after a 0-2 defeat at was pretty hot for both of us. I less than a fortnight after he he became the first cricketer "We are going from match ers will need to play with inten- the hands of Bangladesh's Bas- saw Grigor struggling, so I fig- picked up a hat-trick on inter- to take a hat-trick on T20I to match, and we have another sity throughout the 90 minutes. hundhara Kings. ured that's how it is. It's the same national debut against Bangla- debut. opponent waiting," said Habas. "We know how they They fell to two first half for everybody. Our bodies are desh in Dhaka. He joined Brett Lee and "It's the same idea to give (Maziya Sports & Recreation) goals against Bashundhara but getting more used to the heat." The right-arm fast bowler's Ashton Agar to become the absolute respect to the oppo- played with other teams, but we head coach Risto Vidakovic is Second-ranked Naomi IPL deal is subject to approval third Australian to take a hat- nent and we will need to have to see how they will per- hoping to build on their second Osaka wasn't as lucky. In the from Cricket Australia which is trick in a T20 International develop our football on the form against us, because maybe half performance to upset ATK second match of her first tour likely to give him its go-ahead. match. AGENCIES pitch. In football, you could they might play differently with Mohun Bagan. AGENCIES appearance since late May, Osaka sprayed balls all over the court in a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 loss Wrestling: to No. 76 Jil Teichmann. Aditi Ashok starts steady with Osaka repeatedly punched Silver for her left thigh with her left wrist and talked loudly to herself, Sanju, Bhateri trying to get herself going, but 1-under at women’s British Open she was impassive as she shook hands at the net with the giddy UFA (Russia): A gold medal Teichmann. remained elusive for India at the CARNOUSTIE: Indian golfer nament with a birdie turned in Top-ranked Ash Barty rolled Olympic champion and third- have a bruise on my calf. A junior world wrestling champi- Aditi Ashok opened the wom- one-over after bogeys on sixth through the first 10 games of her seeded Alexander Zverev also bruise is a bruise. It's nothing onship as both Bhateri (65kg) en's British Open with a steady and seventh. After the turn match with defending cham- moved on, beating Guido Pella serious. and Sanju Devi (62kg) lost their one-under 71 to lie tied 22nd she found some rhythm and pion Victoria Azarenka in a 6-0, 6-2, 6-3, while Roland Garros- The second-ranked Russian, respective finals rather tamely at the challenging Carnoustie it helped. 6-2 win to reach the women's finalist and second-seeded Ste- the winner last week in Toronto, while Saneh (72kg) was stretch- Links here. "Then I got into a good quarterfinals. fano Tsitsipas was pushed by won when Dimitrov double- ered out of the mat after endur- Aditi, who had finished rhythm and hit a 5 iron to 12 "I think sometimes the Lorenzo Sonego to three sets faulted on match point. Med- ing a knee injury in the bronze fourth at the Tokyo Olympics, feet on 13th hole and holed that scoreline in tennis can fool you, before prevailing, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. vedev has been on the court for play-off here on Friday. scored four birdies against putt. On the 14th I hit a 9 iron Barty said. Though it seemed Medvedev bounced back only 2 hours, 28 minutes while Sanju Devi had managed three bogeys and three of those which almost went in the hole like a quite convincing scoreline up after a nasty fall early in the winning his first two matches in comeback wins in her previous birdies came in a fine stretch I think ended up 4 feet past and in the match, each and every second set and went on to close straight sets after a first-round bouts but Friday was not her day between 10th and 14th. I holed that putt for a birdie," game had crucial poits and I out the win. bye. as Russia's Alina Kasabieva took The Indian is four shots she said. was able to win most of those. "You can't see this on video, Medvedev is the first player the gold with a technical supe- behind the three co-leaders -- "Obviously finishing stretch Former tournament wom- but my racket got between my not named Djokovic, Roger riority win. World No. 1 and Olympic gold so crucial while playing the on this course to be made, at Carnoustie is pretty difficult en's champion Karolina Plis- legs and hit the back of my calf, Federer, Rafael Nadal or Andy Kasabieva first effected a medallist Nelly Korda, Korean Links. it's just about staying patient but I had a 3 wood coming in to kova advanced with a 6-4, 7-6 Medvedev said. I don't know Murray to crack the top two take down move and then got Sei Young Kim and Sweden's "I played good today, I think and keeping composure and the last 3 holes, managed pars (5) win over Jessica Pegula.. how that happens. I actually since July 18, 2005. AGENCIES a two-point throw. AGENCIES Madelene Sagstrom. I drove the ball well and that I think I did that well today, on 16, 17 but bogeyed 18. The trio produced a match- was definitely a key to scoring even though I had two bogeys "But it was still a good ing five-under 67 each in the well. I started off good with a I came back from it. round, I think. The 18th was opening round. birdie on the first as I hit a 7 "I had a nice hole out bun- the second toughest hole on the We are gathering momentum nicely, Three-time Ladies Euro- iron to 10 feet and holed the ker shot on the 10th but the course. Obviously a dropped pean Tour winner, Aditi, who putt," Aditi said. bunker shot was totally about shot is never good but I think qualified for her 19th Major "Had bogeys on 6th and 7 yards so it was like a 20 footer it was okay." says Morgan ahead of T20 World Cup through the Final Qualifying 7th as both drives ended in the from the bunker. But yeah that Major winner Korda made at Panmure Golf Club, showed pot bunkers, and after that I was nice to hole that out." eight birdies on her way to a AGENCIES Moved out of India due to the threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the a lot maturity and patience, realised that mistakes are there Aditi, who started the tour- share of the lead. mega event will be held in UAE and Oman from October 17 to November 14 DELHI JAL BOARD GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER (RPC) LONDON: England captain the last edition of the tourna- think every game is impor- our perspective is that we're VARUNALAYA PHASE- I, JIIANDEWALAN KAROL BAGH NEW DELHI-110005 Eoin Morgan says his team is ment in 2016, has stressed on tant to us," said Morgan dur- continuously trying to get STOP CORONA-WEAR MASK, FOLLOW PHYSICAL DISTANCING, MAINTAIN HAND HYGIENE "gathering momentum nicely" the importance of continuing a chat with the ICC on better and learn as we go on, NIT No.01 EE (RPC)/2021-22 as the last edition's runners- ing to play in the manner they Friday. simply because the tourna- up hope to improve on their have in the last two years. The 34-year-old skipper ment is held away from home. showing in the upcoming T20 "I think our biggest feels adapting to the condi- We're really looking forward World Cup. strength is the consistency tions in the UAE, where Eng- to it." Moved out of India due with which we've performed land have not played a T20 In 2016, England finished to the threat posed by the at over the last two years. International since 2015, will runners-up as Carlos Brath- COVID-19 pandemic, the "I think in T20 cricket be one of the key factors for waite smashed four consecu- mega event will be held in the because the game can change them in the tournament. tive sixes off Ben Stokes in a The complete tender document are available at Govt. website https://govtprocurement.delhi.gov.in. In future any corrigendum/ clarification / extension of date will be available on above link. UAE and Oman from October quite quickly and there's "I think we're gathering dramatic last over of the final ISSUED BY P.R.O. (WATER) Sd/- DEEPAK KUMAR SHRIVASTWA 17 to November 14. a huge group of talented momentum nicely, and the to take the West Indies to a Advt. No. J.S.V./2021-22/305 EXECUTIVE ENGINEER (RPC) Morgan, whose team won teams within our group, I important side to that from title triumph. AGENCIES Entertainment

mp millenniumpost 12 Leisure SATURDAY, 21 AUGUST, 2021 | NEW DELHI

Priyanka, in the notice mentioned Randeep Hooda served with that she had contacted Randeep through legal notice of Rs 10 crores social media and the Bollywood He failed to deliver work given by a scriptwriter Priyanka Sharma actor had andeep Hooda was served sent the legal notice to the actor had assured her that he would soon The news report further added assured her that with a legal notice of Rs 10 and many others. A news report start working on her script. In addi- that Priyanka claimed that the work he would soon crores for allegedly failing to claimed that the scriptwriter had tion to that, the scriptwriter alleged did not begin even as years passed Rdeliver work given by a scriptwriter raised a complaint via email to sending around 1,200 songs and 40 and when she approached the art- start working on and lyricist Priyanka Range Commissioner of Hary- stories on email and ‘WhatsApp’ to ists to get her scripts and lyrics back, her script Sharma, who resides ana’s Director General of Police, various artists including Randeep she faced death threats. Advocate in Haryana’s Hisar Faridabad. Hooda, Asha Hooda, Mandeep Rajat Kalsan allegedly said that district. The report further stated that Hooda, Ajli Hooda, Manish, Ran- Priyanka Sharma has demanded Priyanka’s the scriptwriter, Priyanka, in the deep’s manager Pan- compensation of Rs 10 crores lawyer Rajat notice mentioned that she had chali Choudhary for all the harassment she Kalsan pur- contacted Randeep through social and makeup artist has faced for the last eight portedly media and the Bollywood actor Renuka Pillai. years. AGENCIES ‘I try and pick the parts that I find interesting’ Harington rose to global stardom with his role as Jon Snow in GOT

fter spending over a decade The 34-year-old actor currently playing just one character, features in Amazon Prime Video’s ‘Game of Thrones’ star Kit anthology series ‘Modern Love’ and AHarington said he now wants to take features in the episode ‘Strangers on up parts that are a ‘bit lighter’ and not a (Dublin) Train’, opposite ‘Bohemian time-consuming. Rhapsody’ star Lucy Boynton. Harington rose to global stardom “I did ‘Modern Love’ because with his role as Jon Snow, a brood- it was a bit lighter. For 10 years, I ing warrior and one of the pivotal did possibly the least comic char- characters, in the HBO epic fantasy acter on TV. Like literally could not show that ended in May 2019 after crack a joke. And when they did eight seasons. give me a joke, it just did not Asked about his plans post the work. So, doing something like series, the actor replied, “I’m terrible ‘Modern Love’, where there is a bit at answering this question because I of humour and lightness, just felt never really got much of a plan. I just like a very refreshing thing to do,” go where the writing looks good and he shared. the thing works with my life. I try and pick the parts that I find interesting.” Talking about his plans post the series, the actor JASON MOMOA ON ‘SWEET GIRL’ said, ‘I never really got Hollywood’s biggest stars’ salaries much of a plan. I just go ‘The script resonated where the writing looks revealed in the OTT era good and the thing works with my life’ with me as a father’ aniel Craig will be paid a whopping After ‘WarnerMedia’ announced that sum of 100 million (approximately Rs its every 2021 film will be simultaneously The actor, who previously fea- The film features ‘Aquaman’ star as a devoted family man 744 crores) for the upcoming ‘Knives released in theatres and on ‘HBO Max’, its tured in another anthology series DOut sequels’, as per a report in ‘Variety’ that streaming service, it had to compen- ‘Criminal: UK’ on ‘Netflix’, said he details the salaries for major actors in their sate filmmakers and actors for what has become a fan of the format as it TT giant ‘Netf- sible for her death. upcoming projects. will be lower box office collections is ‘very manageable’. lix’ released Jason Describing this film as an ‘Netflix’ had spent 469 million to pur- (compared to exclusively theatri- “I love the anthology stuff. This is Momoa-starrer ‘Sweet emotional roller coaster ride, chase the right to two sequels to Rian John- cal releases). an anthology piece. I did ‘Criminal’, Girl’O on August 20. The film he said, “Obviously, we took son’s acclaimed murder-mystery movie. This ‘Variety’ mentioned that a which I loved. I’m doing another features ‘Aquaman’ star as a things far in the film and we is over and above what Craig is being paid 20 million dollar salary has piece of this, which is quite similar. devoted family man who has have some amazing twists that for James Bond film and if reports are to be long been an industry stan- It kind of allows me to jump in, tell to fight against all odds to save I have never seen before, but believed, he received a salary bump for that. dard since Jim Carrey pocketed this little story and get out. Then his daughter, played by Isabela there are some parts of this The report revealed that streaming ser- that amount for the 1996 black that little tiny chamber piece exists Merced. movie that just rips your heart vices have exponentially added to big stars’ comedy ‘The Cable Guy’. Chris and hopefully speaks to people. Jason Momoa shared that out t o o.” remuneration. ‘Netflix’ and ‘Amazon’ can pay Hemsworth will be paid upfront But it is very manageable,” Har- the script meant more to him Jason is known for playing more than big traditional studios like ‘Disney’ the same sum for the fourth ington said. since he is a father in real life larger-than-life characters, so and ‘Warner Bros.’. Other than Craig, Dwayne ‘Thor’ movie, ‘Thor: Love Another reason for taking and ‘Sweet Girl’ is essentially a this character presented a chal- Johnson will be paid 50 million (approxi- and Thunder’, as will Sandra up a project like ‘Modern Love’ is father-daughter story. lenge to him as an actor. mately Rs 372 crores) by ‘Amazon’ after the Bullock for ‘The Lost City that the actor wants to have a varied “When I first read the “It is the hardest thing I company acquired his production ‘Red One’. o f D’. filmography. script, it resonated with me as a have had to do to date. I’m The report also stated that Leonardo Robert Pattinson will be “I’m doing those single pieces father. It made me think about said Jason. playing an everyday man with- DiCaprio will get 30 million and Jennifer paid only 3 million upfront because I spent ten years doing one what I would do if this were The premise of ‘Sweet Girl’ out any superpowers - just a Lawrence will be paid 25 million for ‘Netflix’ for Matt Reeves’ upcom- character. So I want to vary up what to happen to me and if I was has Momoa’s character deal- guy trying to keep his family disaster comedy ‘Don’t Look Up’. Julia Roberts ing ‘DC’ movie ‘The Bat- I’m doing and do as many things as in this situation. What would ing with the loss of his wife together - and it is emotional. gets 25 million for ‘Leave the World Behind’ man’. This will be increased I can. I do not want to get tied into I do? How would I feel about and his subsequent revenge It is a horrible feeling when a at ‘Netflix’ while Ryan Gosling earned about exponentially if the film is necessarily this same character for a it? What measures would on the pharmaceutical com- father cannot protect his fam- 20 million for the ‘Netflix’ spy thriller ‘The successful and sequels are long period. I have done that for a I take into my own hands?” pany which he holds respon- ily,” he admitted. AGENCIES Gray Man’. green-lit. AGENCIES while,” mentioned the actor. PTI Casting Robert as Iron Man Namaste Thailand A melange of drama, comedy Film Festival was the biggest risk: Kevin The fourth edition of the annual festival is being held online due to pandemic

‘Marvel’ had in fact flat out refused to hire Robert ‘Homestay’: A soul is sent to live in the dead body of arvel Studios’ Chief because of his history with “I fought, I tried and I did Min and find out the answers Kevin Feige revealed drugs and alcohol. what I could and it is a pity behind its mission. the biggest risk he Director of the first two and a shame, but unfortu- ‘Nha Harn’: A young Mtook while building what later ‘Iron Man’ movies Jon Favreau nately, it was going to stop girl faces her past lover and became known as the ‘Mar- revealed in a ‘Rolling Stone’ here,” Favreau told the actor. whether she wants to recon- vel Cinematic Universe’. It was interview that ‘Marvel’ flat out Downey, however, had per- cile with him or not). casting Robert Downey Jr as refused to hire Robert Downey sisted, “With your permission, ‘Present Still Perfect’: Toey Tony Stark or Iron Man. Jr. Marvel’s response was that I’m going to hold out hope.” has to decide whether to follow For contrary to the belief ‘under no circumstances are In an interview his heart by letting his forgotten that ‘MCU’ movies run on an we prepared to hire him for with ‘100.3 Jack love inside or accept the truth established formula, the writ- any price’. He had even FM’, Favreau OUR CORRESPONDENT and let him go. ers and directors have taken called Robert Downey Jr had called ‘The Exchange’: A planned several creative risks over its and said this is unlikely to Downey he much-awaited three- robbery of a young couple goes 13-year history. happen. Jr the best day ‘Namaste Thailand unexpectedly wrong. While speaking to ‘Cin- actor for the Online Film Festival ‘Where We Belong’: An emablend’, Feige said, “I was role. AGENCIES T2021’ has begun with 10 popu- aspiring girl plans to go abroad lucky enough to be involved lar Thai films specially curated for further studies but later in early ‘Spider-Man’ films and for the festival. The fourth edi- reflects on her relationship with ‘X-Men’ films. But we wanted tion of the annual ‘Thai Film friends, love and family. to do an ‘Iron Man’ movie. Festival’, hosted by the ‘Royal exciting prizes during the fes- ‘Nakorn - Sawan’: A daugh- I still think about the Thai Embassy’ in New Delhi, is tival by participating in the This year, the films bring home folklores ter comes back to her home- biggest risk - which held online this year due to the ‘Facebook’ (www.facebook. and modern-day tales of friendship, town to attend the funeral of seems outrageous to say COVID-19 pandemic. com/namastethailand) and her mother. now - was casting Rob- The maiden digital edition ‘Instagram’ (@namastethai- love, companionship and yearning, ‘Krabi, 2562’: A nameless ert Downey Jr. It was is screening a selected num- land) activities. intending to foster closer socio-cultural character takes people around both the biggest risk ber of Thai films with English ‘Namaste Thailand Film town to explore various sites and the most important subtitles, available round-the- Festival’ made a debut in 2017 ties between the two countries that capture Krabi in its cur- thing in the founding of the clock till August 22, 2021, on on the 70th anniversary of rent state. ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’. the online platform ‘Festival Thailand-India diplomatic rela- – ‘Friend Zone’ and ‘Homestay’ media,” says Pattarat Hong- ‘BNK48 One Take’: It is a Without Robert, we would not Scope’ (URL: https://www. tions. This year, the films bring - are back on popular demand. tong, Ambassador of Thailand documentary on a girl-group be sitting here today. I believe festivalscope.com/page/ home folklores and modern- “We are hopeful that the to India. ‘BNK48’, the biggest girl-group t h at .” namaste-thailand-film-fes- day tales of friendship, love, festival will be as successful as 10 Thai films which will be in the world during 2018-2019 It is easy to forget now tival/). The mélange brings companionship and yearning, the previous ones but would screened during the three-day and its competitive selection when Downey Jr is one of drama, romance, comedy, intending to foster closer socio- reach a greater audience as it festival are as follows. system. the biggest actors in the thriller and documentaries and cultural and people-to-people will be held in our first-ever ‘Friend Zone’: Two friends ‘Manta Ray’: A stranger world that he was not pop- each film will have a limited ties between the two countries digital edition. We also wel- question themselves if they can slowly begins to take over his ular at the time. Not because number of 1,000 entries. rooted in age-old social and come them to share their turn their 10-year friendship friend’s life - his house, his job of his lack of talent, but rather Viewers can also win cultural interactions. Two films thoughts and reviews on social into something more. and his ex-wife.