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Vol. 12 No. 352 RNI NO. DELENG/2008/25465 New Delhi, Sunday, 2 May, 2021 [email protected] 9971359517 12 pages. 2/-

Simmi Kaur Babbar

∑§Ù⁄UÙŸÊ ◊„Ê◊Ê⁄UË ◊ıà „⁄U ÉÊ⁄U ¬⁄U ŒSÃ∑§ Keep transport corridors and cargo flights open, EAM Jaishankar urges China amid Covid surge New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday emphasised to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi the need for China to keep open transport corridors and cargo flights as var- ious Indian entities are commercially procuring various products from suppliers in that country amid the coronavirus pandemic. Jaishankar brought up the issue during a telephonic conver- sation with Wang who conveyed to him China's sympathy and solidarity with India in its fight against a severe wave of coronavirus pandemic.The telephonic talks between the two Œ ⁄U„Ë „Ò– foreign ministers came on a day Chinese President Xi Jinping wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressed readiness to strengthen cooperation with India in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic. "Highlighted the importance of supply chains and air flights ’ø ∑‘§ ⁄U„Ù! being kept open in these circumstances. Welcomed his assurances in that regard, as also more openness to Indian chartered flights," Jaishankar tweeted.The Ministry of External •ı⁄U dksbZ •Ê¬∑§Ë ◊ŒŒ Ÿ„Ë¥ ∑§⁄UªÊ! Affairs (MEA) said the call was initiated at the request of the Chinese side."External Affairs Minister highlighted in this regard that Indian entities were already in the process of commer- ÁŸflŒ∑§ cially procuring required products and raw mate- rials from suppliers in China," the MEA said."The Minister said that this process would be facilitat- ed if various transport corridors and cargo flights Sardar Gurcharan Singh Babbar remained open and the necessary logistics sup- port ensured expeditiously," it said in a state- PRESIDENT ment.There were reports of difficulties being faced by some US firms in sending medical ship- ALL INDIA SIKH CONFERENCE BABBAR ments to India from China. Foreign Secretary ADDRESS- 5, BAHADUR SHAH ZAFAR MARG, PRESS AREA, ITO NEW DELHI 110002 Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Thursday said there was an impact on some of the supplies following PHONE, 9971359517, 9312262300, 9868068019, E-mail ID: [email protected] suspension of flights by Sichuan Airlines. 2 New Delhi, Sunday, 2 May, 2021 NATIONAL THE SIKH TIMES NEWS BOX Large outbreak regions increased to Acute shortage triggers oxygen panic, 170, curbs to be in place till May 13 patients’ kin told to procure cylinders Gurgaon: With the number of cases going up Gurgaon: Friday was nothing short of a admitted in Mayom Hospital...The available. It’s time for the in the district, the administration on Friday nightmare for over a dozen hospitals in the hospital is daily asking us to arrange administration to answe increased the number of large outbreak city that made distress calls for oxygen cylinders. Plants are saying some tough questions,” said regions (LORs) to 170. Till Wednesday, the throughout the morning. Several, including individuals are not allowed to refill. PN Kakkar, CEO of Park district had 91 LORs. some leading hospitals, had no option but to My brother will die sir, please do Hospital. Fortis too shared a The areas will be marked as LORs from April ask patients’ kin to procure cylinders something.” Dr Manish Prakash of similar story. “We have been 30 till May 13. “According to guidelines because they were in danger of running out Mayom Hospital said, “We have getting oxygen, but ou issued by the ministry of health and family of oxygen stocks, and turn away new suspended fresh admissions. We are situation still remains welfare, a large outbreak region is defined as patients. raising SOS calls every six hours as precarious as the demand a geographical area that has an increased Gurgaon has a wide gap between demand and we aren’t getting oxygen supply. We has been increasing daily number of cases. The cases may or may not have pointed these issues to both the We are operating a on very be linked. For operational purposes, a large supply of medical oxygen — around 30 outbreak area is considered to be present metric tonnes (MT), which cylinders are Haryana government and the district thin margin of supply and al when there are 15 or more cases,” the district being used to fill — but the supply worries administration.” He added, “We are efforts are being made to magistrate said in an order. Most number of aggravated on Friday because only 19MT of requesting patients’ relatives to ensure we have appropriate LORs has been identified in UPHC Tigra the assured supply of 35MT had reached the organise a backup for oxygen for their backup for our patients that has 24 housing societies and colonies city.. One tanker headed for the city was safety. If they can procure an oxygen station in the city, hoping to get some safety,” said Dr Ritu Garg like Bestech Park View Spa, Freedom Park diverted to Rewari, which was facing a concentrator or oxygen cylinder, it can be cylinders refilled,” said Yogesh Sharma zonal director, Fortis Memorial Research Life, Jalvayu Towers, DLF The Crest, The crisis. At present, Gurgaon’s allotment of used for the patient in case of anfrom the hospital. Signature Hospital Institute. Meanwhile, the distric Close North, Wembley Estate, Vatika City, oxygen is at 35MT, whereas the demand emergency.” He also said the oxygentweeted an SOS for oxygen at 9.26am. “In administration said the situation is likely to La Lagune among others. Areas in stands at 65MT. Relatives of Covid patients management team is unable to providethe Signature Hospital, we require LMO improve as Gurgaon is expected to get more Chanderlok UPHC have 17 LORs, including said they are having a tough time arranging details on oxygen distribution to each(liquid medical oxygen) latest by 11 AM. oxygen soon. “I am aware of the grim Heritage City, Regency Park II, Ridgewood cylinders. “I have been searching for an hospital. “We are not getting anyWe have 74 COVID patients today. Present situation and we have been working to mee Estate, The lcon, Palm Grove Heights, and empty cylinder since Friday morning. The information on how much supply we will be stock of LMO will suffice for maximum 2-3 the oxygen demand. One of our tankers was The Laburnum. As many as 13 societies in hospital is running out of oxygen supply. I getting each day and by when. These are the Hours (sic),” it tweeted. W-Pratiksha, diverted to another district and thus smaller the new sectors along Dwarka Expressway, don’t know what the MCG’s oxygen questions that the team should answer,” he Metro, Aarvy and others also raised alarms hospitals are in a bad shape. We have including Sare Homes, Vipul Lavanya, DLF management team is doing,” said a worried added. The hospital also confirmed thatfor oxygen. “Oxygen crisis continues in received a consignment of fresh oxygen New Town Heights, Vatika Seven Lamps, Sunil Kumar, whose Covid-positive wife is their oxygen stock is almost empty and they Park Hospital. At present, we are getting Hospitals are being given oxygen supply,” Mapsko Casabella and Mapsko Royal Ville admitted in Aarvy Hospital. Abhishek have been filling cylinders over five times a only 50% of the allotted liquid oxygen, and said Yash Garg, deputy commissioner have been notified as LORs. The health Mishra, a resident, tweeted: “My brother is day. “Our teams are standing at each filling oxygen aren’t concentrators easily Gurgaon. department has said that intensive contact tracing and rapid antigen testing camps will be conducted in these places. “Apart from restrictions on movement, surveillance and testing activities would be carried out in No bed in 4 Noida hospitals, 33-year-old dies in car 1.4k Covid patients these areas by rapid response teams comprising ASHA, ANM and other staff GREATER NOIDA: A 33-year-old by herself in Sector Beta 2. Her two spoke to the nodal officer at GIMS but members,” said Dr Jai Prakash, district woman died outside the Government daughters live with their father in was told there are no beds,” he said. surveillance officer. Wedding permits Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) Madhya Pradesh. Noida woman was Avneesh said Jagriti passed away wait for hospital access on Thursday while her friend and not taken inside govt hosp, says director around 2pm. “We requested the revoked, says SDM Gurgaon sub-divisional Gurgaon:A total of 2,839 persons have registered on the magistrate Jitender Kumar has revoked landlord kept looking for a bed to admit Around 7.30am, Jagriti’s friend, who hospital staff several times to check. permits to organise weddings and other her. She had Covid-like symptoms but also stays in the same accommodation, But no one came. She died around 2 pm new government portal, which was launched a week events in containment zones with immediate had not got herself tested. Jagriti Gupta and I started looking for beds. We went after which we asked the doctors to at ago, for hospitalisation. Of them, 1,649 have a Gurgaon effect. The SDM has issued an order in this was taken to three private hospitals and to Kailash Hospital where I was told least keep her body. Some doctors address on Aadhaar cards, which the government has regard saying that the decision was taken then to GIMS where her attendants there are no vacant beds. We went to came, put her on a ventilator, gave her made a condition for admission. After scrutiny, 1,417 after the recommendation of the deputy were told the same thing — beds are not SRS Multispeciality in Delta 1 and the oxygen for a few minutes but she was were put on the waiting list for hospitalisation — 209 commissioner of police, headquarters. “In available. They had been on the road for staff said no oxygen beds were free. We already dead,” he said. “We requested are critical, 118 need oxygen beds, 60 need ICU and 30 Gurgaon subdivision, all permits for nearly seven hours. then rushed to Sharda. them to keep the body in the mortuary ventilator beds. But with hardly any beds available, it’s marriage and other events that were but they claimed there was no space. I a long and anxious wait for patients, many of whose In a video that surfaced, Jagriti could be It had a display board, which said no beds condition is deteriorating in the waiting period. supposed to be held in LORs have been seen gasping for breath. Moments later, were free,” Avneesh said. Around 10 told them her family members will revoked with immediate effect,” an order she passed away inside a car parked am, they reached GIMS. “There also, reach by the evening. Then they agreed At present, the city does not have any vacant ICU and said. outside the GIMS compound. we were told the same thing.” Greater to keep the body.” Sachin said when he ventilator beds to accommodate patients. Till Friday According to her landlord Avneesh Noida resident Sachin Kumar who was left GIMS at 6.30 pm, the body was still night, only two oxygen beds were available across the Chaudhary, Jagriti’s oxygen levels had also at GIMS to get his friend’s mother in the car and it had not been covered. district. Currently, the city has more than 33,000 people Transporters hit by started dipping on Thursday. She admitted, said when he saw Jagriti’s Jagriti’s sister Pramita said her in home isolation, of whom 10% might need worked at a private company and stayed condition, he thought of helping her. “I daughters — one 11and. hospitalisation. losses, seek relief According to the data on the portal, less than 10 admissions have been carried out so far. “The oxygen Gurgaon: Citing extreme financial disruption level of my 74-year-old mother is below 60. I have amid the Covid surge, transporters have already submitted a form with the district demanded ‘prudent and proactive relief Weekend lockdown in Gurgaon, administration but have not received any calls yet,” measures’ from the Centre as well as the Ashok Gulia, a resident of Sector 50. Suresh Berry, state government. Also, they have sought another resident, said: “I think I was one of the first vaccinations for those involved in the supply residents who filled out the form. I submitted my wife’s chain on priority. These demands came on eight other districts in Haryana details in the form. It has been more than a week now, Friday following the weekend lockdown but there have been no calls for hospital beds. Since my family is living under one roof, all of us have the across the state. Gurgaon: Struggling with a second wave goods are also exempted from the hospitals, veterinary facilities and all Already reeling under financial stress due to infection.” Besides the official data, many leading of Covid-19 and an overwhelmed p u r v i e w o f l o c k d o w n . T h e related medical establishments, hospitals claimed that more than 80 patients are waiting the closure or scaling down of several large- healthcare system, the Haryana administration has already put in place including their manufacturing and scale industries and MSMEs, the for hospitalisation. “We are getting several calls and government announced a weekend strict measures in areas falling under distribution units, both in the public and visits from the families of Covid patients. We have been transporters are concerned about the losses lockdown in Gurgaon from 10pm on large outbreak regions (LOR) to check private sectors, such as dispensaries, as the government continues intensifying denying admission as we do not have any beds Friday till 5am on Monday. This comes the spread of the infection,” the DC pharmacies and laboratories, will available,” said a doctor from a leading hospital in curbs to contain the spread of the virus. a day after the district saw a single-day added. As per the order issued by continue to remain functional. The Gurgaon. Several big and small operators have argued spike of 5,000 cases and now has over Haryana chief secretary Vijai Vardhan, transportation for all medical Deputy commissioner Yash Garg said, “We have been that the capacity utilisation has further 36,000 active cases.Apart from no person is allowed to leave their home personnel, nurses, para-medical staff plummeted to about 50% amid increasing working to streamline the process. We are giving the Gurgaon, the weekend lockdown has or roam around in any public place and other hospital support services are first preference to patients with low oxygen and localised lockdowns in the state. “The been imposed in eight others districts — during the lockdown period. These also permitted, as per the order. comorbidities.” Meanwhile, the district task force transport sector was recovering from the Faridabad, Panchkula, Sonipat, Rohtak, restrictions will, however, not apply on C o m m e r c i a l a n d p r i v a t e conducted a meeting to review the situation in aftermath of 2020 lockdowns (it recovered Karnal, Hisar, Sirsa and Fatehabad. In police and fire personnel, and e s t a b l i s h m e n t s , i n c l u d i n g Gurgaon. In the meeting, private labs were directed to about 75% before the recent surge). It has its order, the government has urged employees of the municipal, health and telecommunications, internet services, provide test reports within 36 hours. Any delay in declined again into uncertain times. The people to stay at home during the electricity departments. There will also broadcasting and cable services, IT and reports will result in further spread, a health department capacity utilisation has further plummeted to lockdown period. be no curbs on the movement (inter- IT-enabled services, delivery of all official pointed out. As most of the active patients are in about 50% amid increasing localised Gurgaon’s deputy commissioner Yash state and intra-state) of essential and essential goods including food, home isolation, the private hospitals were also asked to lockdowns in state after state, lack of Garg said that there will be restrictions non-essential goods. Passengers going medicines and medical equipment provide special packages to them. demand and consumption, shutting down of on the “unnecessary” movement of to or returning from the airport, railway through e-commerce, petrol pumps, gas “We have 40 teams to monitor patients’ health. The teams manufacturing due to reverse migration. The people in public places. “However, stations and bus depots shall also be retail outlets and private security will be visiting them every alternate day. They will utilisation is going to dive further,” said the those with medical emergencies will be exempted. “All vehicles, persons in services, are also exempted. ATMs and check their temperature, oxygen saturation and also president of All India Motor Transport allowed to travel without any bonafide transit (inter-state/intra-state) eating places, including those in malls, will give them medicines. Our focus is to ensure that the Congress Kultaran Singh Atwal. movement pass, a simple prescription will be allowed to pass, but only after can too remain open for home delivery. condition of people in home isolation doesn’t turn Transporters said the cargo and passenger would suffice,” he said. “All essential verification of the point of origin and All industrial units, entrepreneurs and critical,” said Dr Virender Yadav, chief medical officer, segments have been hit. Moreover, several services and shops selling essential destination,” the order stated. oreover, concerns will have to mandatorily. Gurgaon. truckers are reluctant to report to take assignments due to fear of getting infected at a time when the medical infrastructure has been thrown out of gear. Vaccination for 18- Car crashes into tree, catches fire; plus unlikely to begin today in Gurgaon 16-yr-old boy charred to death

Gurgaon: The city is yet to receive Covid-19 Gurgaon: A 16-year-old boy was injured boys were taken to a nearby allegedly charred to death inside a car private hospital and discharged after vaccine doses for the 18-plus population. in Jatauli area on Thursday. medical treatment. “All of this Under the present circumstances, Gurgaon According to police, three minors happened so quickly that we could won’t be able to start vaccination camps from were returning home in a Swift when not react and seek help,” said one of Saturday. they lost control of the vehicle and hit the boys, adding that soon after the The city has around 3,000 vaccine doses left, a tree. “The car turned on its side and accident they came out of the car which are being saved for second dose caught fire. Two of the boys managed while the back door somehow got recipients. Overall, 10 lakh people in to escape while the third was trapped locked and Dev could not come out. Gurgaon will be eligible for getting the jabs inside the car and was burnt alive,” a The fire engulfed the entire car within a from Saturday. “We are expecting vaccine police officer said. few seconds. The fire department was doses to arrive by Saturday evening, and thus The deceased has been identified as informed but by the time fire tenders session sites will not go live on that day,” said Dev while his two friends have been reached at the spot it was too late. Dr Virender Yadav, chief medical officer, identified as Mohit (15) and “Fire usually spreads very fast in the Gurgaon. He also said private hospitals will Priyanshu (17). They were returning car and due to the electronic lock conduct session sites on their own. home from Rajpura and were on their system, the car gets locked “We have told all private hospitals to raise way to visit a friend. Mohit and automatically and there are very little vaccine requests on their own. We are not Priyanshu were sitting at the front chances of help reaching on time in going to provide them doses,” he added. In while Dev was on the back seat. Near such cases,” said a fire officer. A case a bridge on Rajpura road the car lost has been registered under sections the upcoming phase, walk-ins won’t be control and hit a tree on the road side. 304A (death by negligence) and 279 allowed. Only those registered on the Co- The impact of the crash was such that (rash driving) of the IPC at WIN portal will be able to get vaccinated. At the vehicle flipped over two-three Farrukhnagar police station. “It is not present, however, people can register on the times and caught fire. Mohit and clear who was at the driver seat at the portal but can’t book an appointment as Priyanhsu managed to come out time of the accident,” said police session sites haven’t been uploaded yet. while Dev was stuck inside. The spokesperson Subhash Boken. 3 New Delhi, Sunday, 2 May, 2021 STATE THE SIKH TIMES

Doctor Friend Not Picking My Calls": Bihar BJP Chief On Covid Crisis Patna: The situation in Bihar remains grim with even basic facilities like beds and medical oxygen "running out", a senior BJP leader in the state said as he requested people to follow Covid protocols. The crisis has reached a state that even "my close friend who is a doctor is not picking up my calls as he is unable to help", Sanjay Jaiswal, Lok Sabha MP and BJP state president, said detailing the situation on the ground."The best treatment of Coronavirus is social distancing and wearing masks. Unfortunately, people are still not understanding the threat of the deadly virus," Mr Jaiswal, who is a doctor, said in his Facebook post. The BJP leader said that he has lost many known per- sons in the second wave of coronavirus that has taken the death count in the country past two lakh mark.”The situa- tion reached at the stage that even my doctor friend not picking the phone. They may be helpless in the present sit- uation. I have lost many known persons in the second wave," the BJP leader's Facebook post in Hindi read. In the long Facebook post, Mr Jaiswal also narrates that hospitals in his parliamentary constituency of Champaran are stretched despite new arrangements being made for beds and oxygen. "We have recently arranged beds and oxygen in the Champaran THE SIKH TIMES region to save the lives of Edited, Printed, Published Covid patients. Now, the facil- Owned by Simmi Babbar ity has reached the stage of N - 31, Dr. Mukherjee Nagar closure. We are trying hard to Delhi-110009 increase the number of beds Printed at Qaumi Patrika Printing up to 90 in Bettiah city and we Press, A-4/A-144, Tronica City may succeed in our attempt (Loni), Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh) but that will not seem to be Corporate Office: adequate. The positivity rate 5, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, reached up to 30 per cent," Press Area, ITO, New Delhi Mr Jaiswal said.Bihar is Editor-in-Chief among the 11 states that Gurcharan Singh Babbar Mob : 9654077232, 9971359517 account for 78.18 per cent of Website : www.thesikhtimes.in India's total active cases, Email : [email protected] according to the Health min- istry data. RNI No. DELENG/2008/25465 New Delhi, Sunday, 2 May, 2021 DELHI/NCR THE SIKH TIMES 4

NEWS BOX Mumbai gravedigger works 24-hour shifts as India’s As states cry of Remdesivir shortage, Centre ups Covid-19 death toll soars Mumbai Two or three months into the production, Maharashtra, Gujarat and UP to get most supply COVID-19 crisis, Mumbai gravedigger Sayyed Munir Kamruddin stopped wearing personal protective equipment and gloves. "I'm not scared of COVID, I've worked with As per the revised supply plans that are valid up to May 2, 2021, Maharashtra has been courage. It's all about courage, not about fear," said the 52-year-old, who has been allocated the highest share of Remdesivir injections, a total of 4,73,500 vials. digging graves in the city for 25 years. India is in the midst of a second wave of New Delhi At a time when thousands are with 1,79,300 vials, where approximately 10,000 vials initially coronavirus infections that has seen at least crying for Remdesivir vials and the supplies will come from all followed by 50,000 vials every 15 days or till 300,000 people test positive each day for medicine is being sold in the black c o m p a n i e s e x c e p t D r July.Meanwhile, the government has the past week, and its total cases rise past 18 market, Union minister Sadananda Reddy’s.Data also shows ramped up the production capacity of million.Health systems and crematoriums Gowda said the allocation plan of the allocation to the central Remdesivir in the country as well. As of have been overwhelmed. In Delhi, antiviral drug has been revised owing to government institutions, which is April 27, the production capacity of the ambulances have been taking the bodies of the production escalation. 20,000 vials only. The total seven licensed domestic manufacturers COVID-19 victims to makeshift "After in-depth review of enhanced allocation for India is 18,00,000. increased from 38 lakh vials/month to 1.03 crematoriums in parks and parking lots, availability of Remdesivir due to ramped The Government of India has also crore vials/month. where bodies are burned on rows and rows up production, its allocation plan to all started importing the vital Total 13.73 lakh vials have been supplied of funeral pyres.Kamruddin says he and his states has been revised,” tweeted Remdesivir drug from other across the country by the drug companies in colleagues are working around the clock to Sadanand Gowda, Union minister for nations to ease out the shortage of the last seven days (21-28 April, 2021). The bury COVID-19 victims. chemical and fertilisers. the drug in the country. The first daily supply has gone up from 67,900 vials "This is our only job. Getting the body, Gowda added, “It's increased supply will consignment of 75,000 vials was on April 11 to 2.09 lakh vials on April 28. An removing it from the ambulance, and then help in fighting the pandemic with slated to reach on Saturday.HLL advisory was issued by MHA to states and burying it," he said, adding that he hasn't deeper resolve.”Meanwhile, the Centre 4,73,500 vials.According to government Lifecare Ltd, a Government of UTs to facilitate smooth movement of had a holiday in a year.Though it is the told the Supreme Court on Friday, data, all seven companies - Zydus Cadilla, India owned company has ordered 4,50,000 Remdesivir supplies.The government has middle of the Muslim fasting month of Remdesivir is to be administered only after a Herero, Mylan, Cipla, Syngene/Sun, vials of Remdesivir from Gilead Sciences also prohibited the export of Remdesivir to Ramadan, Kamruddin told Reuters his medical prescription and limited to severe Jubilant and Dr Reddy’s will be supplying to Inc and Egyptian pharma company Eva enhance its availability in India. To ensure trying job and the ht weather has kept him condition of Covid-19 patients strictly as per the state of Maharashtra.After Maharashtra, Pharma. It is expected that Gilead Sciences affordability of the injection among the from fasting. medical protocol.As per the revised supply the second biggest allocation 1,82,500 vials will dispatch 75,000-1,00,000 vials in the masses, NPPA on April 17, 2021 released the "My work is really hard," he said. "I feel plans that are valid up to May 2, 2021, will go to Gujarat. Six companies will be next one or two days. revised maximum retail price thus bringing thirsty for water. I need to dig graves, cover Maharashtra has been allocated the highest supplying to Gujarat except Dr Reddy’s. The Further, 1,00,000 pieces will be supplied by down the cost of all the major brands to them with mud, need to carry dead bodies. share of Remdesivir injections, a total of third highest allocation is for Uttar Pradesh May 15. EVA Pharma will supply below Rs 3,500 per vial. With all this work, how can I fast?"Yet Kamruddin's faith keeps him going, and he doesn't expect aid from the government Patna opens second anytime soon.“Our trust in our mosque is Coronavirus: Experts warn Indians of dangers very strong,” he said. “The government is not going to give us anything. We don’t dedicated Covid-19 even want anything from the government.” of trying to make oxygen at home facility at IGIMS Telangana govt granted "Such an approach could even be deleterious drone use permission to Doctors and scientists in if it leads to delays in seeking appropriate Patna In wake of the surge in the virus cases, a India are warning of the dire healthcare," he told Reuters. second Covid-19 facility will now become conduct experimental With India scrambling to find supplies of operational in Bihar’s capital city from delivery of Covid vaccine hazards of trying to make oxygen, many hospitals are turning away Saturday. Patna’s Indira Gandhi Institute of medical oxygen at home as patients for lack of the gas. That has led to Medical Sciences (IGIMS) will now Hyderabad The Ministry of Civil Aviation purported coronavirus cures circulating on function as a dedicated Covid-19 facility, (MoCA) and Directorate General of Civil the country faces a social media, such as videos showing men with a capacity of 50 Intensive Care Unit Aviation (DGCA) have granted conditional shortage of the gas in its inhaling steam from pressure cookers or (ICU) and 100 oxygen beds. exemption for drone deployment to the kettles "to kill COVID infection". The World Health Organization says on the Dr. Manish Mandal, medical superintendent of government of Telangana. The drone usage COVID-19 battle and various IGIMS, said that the hospital has added 30 permission has been granted to Telangana to processes have amassed hundreds of subject of coronavirus cures that scientists conduct experimental delivery of Covid-19 videos and tips on DIY thousands of views. Videos showing how around the world are working to find and additional oxygen beds to its existing vaccines within visual line of sight range methods do the rounds on to make oxygen through methods like develop COVID-19 treatments and the resource. The facility now has 50 ICU beds using drones.The permission is valid for a electrolysis are increasing in number. agency does not recommend self- period of one year or until further orders. It social media. "There is a scientifically proven method to medication with any medicines as a will remain valid only if all the stated produce medical oxygen through prevention or cure.The health ministry was Chennai Doctors and scientists in India are concentrators. Any other means to try not immediately available for comment. warning of the dire hazards of trying to making the gas at home involves many risks The Indian government issued a public make medical oxygen at home as the like chances of toxic gases being inhaled statement on Thursday dismissing as country faces a shortage of the gas in its and explosions," A Ravikumar, secretary of "misleading" a post circulating on social COVID-19 battle and various videos and the Indian Medical Association for the media that touted a homeopathic medicine tips on DIY methods do the rounds on social southern state of Tamil Nadu, told Reuters. which it claimed could immediately media. Tarun Bhatnagar, a scientist at the ICMR- balance COVID-19 patients' oxygen levels. Google Trends data showed searches for the National Institute of Epidemiology in India reported a record 386,452 new cases in phrase "how to make oxygen at home" Chennai, called the attempts to make the past 24 hours, while deaths from peaked on April 25 as the crisis worsened, homemade oxygen "untested and COVID-19 jumped by 3,498, according to while YouTube videos detailing such unreliable methods". the Health Ministry. conditions and limitations are strictly and 100 oxygen beds.Dr Mandal further adhered to.The trials being conducted will added that "We are planning to further assist in assessing conditions such as Kumbh Mela ends, 70 lakh participated in increase our bed capacity as we have the population, degree of isolation, geography ability of other resources needed for better and so on in order to identify regions that patient care.”OPD and surgery admissions specifically require drone deliveries. have been stopped at IGIMS for the time Earlier this month, similar permission was ‘scaled down' event held amid Covid surge being after it became a dedicated Covid-19 granted to the Indian Council of Medical hospital. Research (ICMR) for conducting a Dehradun About 2,600 devotees tested which attend the mela, was the first to Until now, only Nalanda Medical College and feasibility study of Covid-19 vaccine positive out of the nearly two lakh tests respond to Modi's appeal, followed by delivery using drones in collaboration with Hospital (NMCH) in Patna had been running conducted by medical personnel during several other akhadas which withdrew as a dedicated Covid-19 facility. After Chief IIT Kanpur.The granting of these the mela.Three shahi snans took place from the event.Ordinary devotees then permissions is intended to achieve the dual during the event on April 12, 14 and 27, followed their example.Mela organisers Minister Nitish Kumar's intervention, objectives of faster vaccine delivery and the last one being reduced to a largely claim that the event, among the largest IGIMS will also now start operating as a improved healthcare access by,A symbolic event. religious gatherings on earth, passed off dedicated Covid hospital. With this, the Hyderabad-based startup called Haridwar's Chief Medical Officer S K Jha without any serious untoward incident number of dedicated Covid hospitals in ‘Hepicopter’ has come up with the idea of said the Kumbh was a big challenge anywhere in the Kumbh Mela Kshetra Patna increased to two.As directed by CM using drones to close the gap in India’s considering its potential to fuel the surge spread over an area of 641 hectares from Nitish Kumar, the treatment of Covid-19 medical service delivery by connecting of coronavirus.Medical officer for Haridwar to Devprayag.Mela Inspector people, institutions and technology.Together Kumbh Arjun Singh Sengar said, "The General Sanjay Gunjyal claimed this to patients at IGIMS will be provided for free. with the Indian Institute of Public Health situation was challenging for us as the total of 1,900,83 tests, out of which 2642 be a “first” since 1912.”A stampede, a COVID SURGE IN BIHAR (Hyderabad) Public Health Foundation of crowd, though relatively smaller this time reported positive,"The “scaling down” is clash or a dispute among seers of different Covid-19 cases have continued to spike in India, the startup with the active support of was big enough to violate the norms of said to be the first in the history of the mela, Akhadas marked most of the editions of the Bihar with 5,853 fresh cases registered in the the Telangana government is focusing on social distancing.”“The seers were initially which is held once every twelve years in event in the past. But this time, despite the last 24 hours, taking the total active caseload Haridwar.The crowds began petering out extraordinary circumstances arising out of a doorstep delivery of healthcare solutions. reluctant to go for tests but they relented tally in the state to 1,05,400. Patna accounted after the second shahi snan on April 14,” he after an appeal by Prime Minister Narendra strong second wave of coronavirus, the This includes medicines, diagnostics and for almost 50 per cent of the fresh cases, with vaccines. said.With the help of healthcare personnel Modi to the seers to keep their Kumbh Mela passed off without any brought from Uttar Pradesh, we conducted a representation in Kumbh symbolic.The interruption," he said. the capital city registering 2,844 fresh cases Joona Akhada, the largest among the sects in the last 24 hours. Lucknow youngsters use WhatsApp group to help Covid patients get oxygen, ambulance, plasma

Lucknow As the second wave of Covid-19 March 2020 when the pandemic had just creates shortages of hospital beds, medical A group of youngsters in begun in order to help deliver medicines oxygen and medicines across India, a group Lucknow are using a and food to people, one of the of youngsters in Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh administrators Tejaswini Tandon said. The are using a WhatsApp group called ‘The WhatsApp group to ensure 24-year-old teacher stated that they made Viral WhatsApp Group’ to help Covid the group to help their friends and families patients access the medical resources they Covid patients get medical and did not realise it would have such a require.The group collects leads on medical oxygen, hospital beds, large impact. resources such as plasma, ambulance ADVERTISEMENT services, oxygen, hospital beds and so on ambulance services, plasma “In the current scenario, we have more than and verifies them. They also maintain a 2,000 people on WhatsApp and more than record of availability of these essentials and and so on as per their ten groups working day and night. We are provide the same to those who require it. In adding new people every second! We have this way, they have helped provide requirements. seen the worst this time but we have countless people with life-saving drugs, decided not to give up and work hard. Our oxygen, food, etc. years of age, needed an oxygen cylinder motto is ‘Everyone is someone’s Saving lives urgently to save his family member’s life. universe’.” Even non-resident Indians (NRIs) whose He shared his requirement on social media. Sunil Verma, a 25-year-old digital marketing parents got infected and had no one to help The group of youngsters saw his post and expert and another administrator of the have been aided by this group of youngsters. reached out to help. They managed to get the group, said the team is looking for even Using information technology, the required oxygen. more volunteers to join their cause so that members of the group have saved people in Formed in 2020 India can become a Covid-free nation. need.For example, Sagar Vishwakarma, 33 The WhatsApp group was initially formed in New Delhi, Sunday, 2 May, 2021 DELHI-NCR THE SIKH TIMES 5

NEWS BOX Gujarat: 18 coronavirus patients die in Bharuch Farewell Soli Sorabjee, my friend, counsel, philosopher hospital fire The void by his who received the Hon’ble Judge, grabbed Bharuch At least 18 coronavirus patients his passport and disappeared for the next died after a fire broke out at a hospital in departure can never be hour. Sorabjee was in splits, telling the Gujarat’s Bharuch early on Saturday.There judge that he was stateless. were around 50 other patients at the four- Once when we were at the Hague to attend storeyed Welfare Hospital when the fire filled. Our grief will only the International Law Association broke out in the Covid-19 ward at 1 am. conference in 2010, he fell unwell. But They were rescued by locals and increase with time. He regardless of his health, he ensured his firefighters, an official said.“As per vibrant participation. I still remember how information at 6.30 am, the death toll in the was a fatherly figure, a when we returned to Delhi, he patiently tragedy stood at 18. Immediately after the awaited my luggage at the carousel even fire, we had confirmation of 12 deaths,” a friend, philosopher, and though his had arrived earlier with police official told PTI.The 12 patients in business class passengers, and then the Covid-19 ward died due to the fire and sage counsel to all instructed Yadav, his trusted driver and resultant smoke, Bharuch SP Rajendrasinh handyman, to drop me at IIC. Chudasama said. It is not clear if the associated with him. I Until very recently, he visited IIC almost remaining six also died in the Welfare every day. The staff there were hospital or while being shifted to other will deeply miss him. immeasurably fond of him. A visit to IIC hospitals.The Covid-19 hospital is situated without visiting his room 42 was on the Bharuch-Jambusar highway, around unthinkable. He enjoyed the updates and It is hard to describe such an iconic 190 km from the state capital Ahmedabad the light banter. Whenever we met at personality. It is hard to believe he is gone. I and is being run by a trust.The cause of the different places at different periods in his still remember his warm smile, the twinkle fire is yet to be ascertained, the official year in February, I gifted him a copy of the armed to the UK with his Harris tweed cap life, we could always pick up threads of in his eyes the last I met him on his birthday said. The fire was controlled within an hour just released Festschrift in Honour of Nani and jacket, as also the muffler. And every uninterrupted memories from the past. The celebrations at India International Centre and around 50 patients were rescued by A. Palkhivala. He was thrilled to see it. I also year, he would organise dinner at the Royal last time I met him before his birthday at (IIC) in March this year. His sense of locals as well as firefighters, a fire official read out Mr Palkhivala’s letter written to Overseas League, the IIC of central London. Room No 42 in IIC, he reminded me that he humour was sparkling till the end. Every said. They were shifted to nearby hospitals, him on assuming the office of Attorney Though he enjoyed Scottish shortbread, the hadn’t been to Chandigarh for a long time. meeting had a learning curve and you could he added. General. The 31-year-old missive brought Shrewsbury biscuits from the legendary He loved visiting Chandigarh and staying at always turn to him for wise counsel. He was tears to his eyes. I have seen him so Kayani bakery were his all-time favourite the Taj, which pampered him. When late Mr. a very affectionate person, but he never I will go to Singhu border overcome with emotions. with his cup of coffee. I remember when I H.L. Sibal was alive, my elder brother Anil hesitated to speak his mind. It was either It was fun to travel with him, especially went to Ho Chi Minh city for a conference in would drive Sorabjee down for a sundowner black or white. soon, says Deep Sidhu overseas. There was no place on the map he 2016, he told me to get prawn crackers. with him. And the two would talk only about Over the years, every time my elder brother hadn’t visited. He knew central London like Our travels were dotted with memories. In Lahore.The void by his departure can never Amritsar Out on bail in the Red Fort violence Anil and I went to Delhi, which was quite the back of his hand. One of his favourite September 2007, Sorabjee, a Senior Judge cases, Punjabi actor-turned-farmer activist be filled. Our grief will only increase with often, we would meet him at IIC. It was his haunts was “Daunt Books,” on Marylebone of the Supreme Court and I travelled to time. He was a fatherly figure, a friend, Deep Sidhu visited Golden Temple on second home, where he held a room (No 42) High Street. He loved the chimes at the Nairobi to attend the Commonwealth Friday. philosopher, and sage counsel to all as its life trustee, strictly on payment, even entrance of Selfridges. Flooded with invites Lawyers Conference. An overzealous associated with him. I will deeply miss him. “I will soon go to Singhu border. That is after remitting the office as its president.Last from eminent jurists, he would go well protocol officer from the Indian embassy, struggle of our existence,” he said on his plans in the coming days. Talking about the case, he said: “Many people IAF transports oxygen were against me when I was arrested. Now What keeps doctors, Amritsar admin on toes: many people are speaking for me and containers from extending support. Sunny Deol didn’t stand Chandigarh to with me.“I campaigned in Gurdaspur Fear of O2 trucks meeting an accident or flat tyre elections for him. But now I have no relation Bhubaneshwar, Ranchi with him,” he said.Asked about his plans to remove oxygen mask to go to washroom join politics, Deep Sidhu said, “There and we ensure that oxygen is paused for Chandigarh The Indian Air Force should be political space to talk about the that time. We don’t want oxygen to get (IAF) C-17 transport aircraft have real issues of Punjab. We need regional waste for any reason. Right now oxygen is lifted two cryogenic oxygen leadership. We need a regional party that can too precious for us. There is high demand of containers from Chandigarh to represent our issues. oxygen. But everything is dependent on the Bhubaneshwar and two containers supply.”We are always afraid of road to Ranchi. Uncertainty over vaccine accidents that trucks carrying oxygen This is part of the IAF’s drive for supply could meet on their way to Amritsar. transportation of oxygen containers supply as all 18-44 become There could be many reasons that delay or from other countries to India as well abort the oxygen supply through trucks. as from various cities within the eligible; big chains say we When oxygen doesn’t reach on time then country to the places where liquid we try to arrange cylinders from here and oxygen is being produced. These are ready there till trucks arrive. So we remain under oxygen containers would be huge pressure to maintain the smooth brought back to the region by rail supply from Panipat or Himachal to On the eve of the scheduled opening of phase 3 after they have been filled with Amritsar. We even remain concerned about liquid oxygen.A senior IAF officer of Covid-19 vaccinations covering the entire possibility of puncture in truck tyres,” said adult population of the country, the Centre said that the air force has airlifted a district administration official. three cryogenic oxygen containers said that only “some states” which have “co- Police is also providing security to these ordinated” with vaccine makers on from Singapore to Panagarh and six oxygen trucks.“We are providing security from Dubai to Panagarh. In procuring from the open market, will begin Amritsar Medical emergencies are not the only doctors revealed, the sometimes the difference to the oxygen tankers. This arrangement is the drive. It provided no details. thing that worry doctors and those incharge of between O2 supply left and the arrival of a addition a C-17 is presently looked after at the state-level. Every district airlifting three containers from Some of India’s largest private hospitals were, managing oxygen supply at Amritsar’s Guru tanker is barely minutes. police provides escort to the oxygen tankers however, gearing up for the vaccination, Nanak Dev Hospital (GNDH) these days. They GMC Principal Rajiv Kumar Devgan said, Bangkok to Panagarh Air base.IAF and we receive these tankers on the border of C-17s have also airlifted two even if with limited doses.Apollo Hospitals also pray that oxygen tankers on way to the “Earlier we used have oxygen in abundance. So Amritsar. It is to ensure that tanker reaches on Group, Fortis Healthcare, and Max hospital don’t meet any accident and arrive on we never cared about the factors that could now time. We are also providing security to five cryogenic oxygen containers from Healthcare said they would begin time as they travel from Panipat in Haryana and decide between life and death. Now we are oxygen plants in Amritsar and to movement of Chandigarh to Bhubaneswar, four vaccinations for those between 18-44 years Paunta Sahib in Himachal Pradesh. worried for the waste of oxygen in many ways oxygen within district,” said a police from Hindan to Ranchi, four from in select locations, as these facilities have Amid a daily scramble for medical oxygen, like leakage of pipes. Also sometimes patients spokesman. Mumbai to Bhubaneswar, two from managed to procure some doses of Chandigarh to Ranchi and one from Covishield and Covaxin, the two vaccines Indore to Jamnagar on Friday. The that are currently available.The hospital airlift of two containers from chains will provide Covaxin at Rs 1,200- Situation grave, Punjab and Haryana HC revives Covid-19 plea Bhopal to Ranchi, two from 1,250 per jab, and Covishield at around Rs Lucknow to Ranchi and two 800-850 a shot, including the cost of Saying that the situation is “indeed grave”, spirals out of control.After perusing the status containers from Jodhpur to administering the doses and Punjab and Haryana High Court bench of reports, the bench said the situation was Jamnagar has also happened. GST.Beneficiaries will have to register and Justices Rajan Gupta and Karamjit Singh, on indeed grave, and allowed Union of India In addition, IAF C130 airlifted Navy book their appointments on the medical team personnel from government’s Co-WIN platform. Not every Friday, allowed for reviving the petition on the through its Secretary, Ministry of Health and facility will be providing both vaccines. Covid-19 surge in the States of Punjab, Family Welfare, to be impleaded as Mumbai to Ahmedabad and have Haryana and Chandigarh on an application by respondent in the matter.On a submission by been deployed for airlifting of 75 Eleven days ago, without consulting with oxygen cylinder from Baroda to states and with no clarity on stock volumes, the amicus curiae. It also proposed that patients Satya Pal Jain,Additional Solicitor General of the Centre had made a unilateral be segregated into three categories such as India, the HC bench also impleaded Secretary, Hindan.Meanwhile, to meet the announcement on opening vaccinations for critical, mild to moderate, and mild, and a Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of urgent requirement of oxygen in the 18-44 years age group on May treatment plan be drawn up accordingly. India, New Delhi, as a respondent. various parts of the country, DRDO 1.Significant changes in the vaccine policy The Amicus Curiae, Senior Advocate Rupinder During the proceedings on Friday, the Chief is arranging big size oxygen come into effect from Saturday: in order to Khosla, contended that “a grave situation has Secretary, Haryana joined the court through cylinders for fulfilling vaccinate anyone, including those in the arisen in all the three States in view of non- Union government as respondent in the matter video conferencing and apprised them that requirements of different hospitals. priority group of age 45 years or older, availability of essential drugs such as by arguing that PGI and Government Hospital, “there has been a sudden dearth of oxygen as In this regard, DRDO has handed private hospitals will have to procure Remdesivir and Tocilizumab. Oxygen, ICU Sector-16, Chandigarh, have exhausted their some plants in Roorkee, Rewari and Baddi over 75 such cylinders to the supplies directly from the open market. beds, ventilators and oxygen concentrators are capacity of treating critical patients. The (Barotiwala) have collapsed. As a result, Department of Health and Family Apollo Hospitals, India’s largest hospital in short supply due to which a number of deaths Amicus Curiae also placed on record short oxygen has been sought from plants in Welfare, Government of NCT of chain, will make both Covishield and are being reported.”Saying that there was a affidavits by Director, Health Services, UT, and Rourkela and Angul in Odisha by road, rail and Delhi on April 29.These cylinders Covaxin available at some of its hospitals at general impression among the people that no Director, Health and Family Welfare, Punjab. other means. Even Indian Air Force has flown a are of 80 litres water capacity each and can be pressurised up to 130 places such as Chennai, Hyderabad, help is forthcoming from any quarter, Khosla Khosla said the existing infrastructure was few sorties to fetch oxygen from these far-flung Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata. grossly inadequate to fight the pandemic, and bar. Hence, each of these cylinders vehemently contended that the petition be places,’’ he said.The State of Punjab submitted can store 10,000 litres of oxygen. revived. He also sought for impleading the the court must intervene before the situation that “capacity of beds has been enhanced. Govt schools in Punjab back on track as admissions go up Jalandhar Amidst all the depressing news of the same Rurka Kalan School have also teachers who got their wards admitted and Education Secretary Krishan Kumar, who is flying around us due to the Covid pandemic, got their daughters admitted in government Faridkot is the only district where only 5 the brain behind the entire enrollment drive there is some good news that is sure to cheer school.Jasleen Mehmi, a Class I student, and teachers have their children admitted in and who is credited for converting us up. Government schools in Punjab, which Angel Jassi, a Class 5 student, both daughters government schools.“When we go door-to- government schools into smart schools laced were once known to be places where only the of teacher Kulbir Ram are also studying in door during enrollment drive and ask people with smart classes, computers, educational It is also looking at providing the shots children of the poor — mostly from the Dalit government schools.Harvinder Singh, to send their children to government schools, parks and good infrastructure along with through its clinics in states like Rajasthan, and backwards classes – used to study are not another teacher of a primary school at which are turning into smart schools one by providing English medium in several according to Apollo Hospitals Group the same anymore.The scene now is such Karamgarh in Malout (district Mukatsar) one, its is our duty to become role models by schools, himself goes door-to-door to Executive Vice President Shobana that not only people from the middle class and District Coordinator of Smart School getting our children admitted first,” said showcase the facilities available. He wants to Kamineni. The hospital will prioritise those but also government teachers, who were project, has his daughter Agamjot kaur teacher Harwinder Singh, adding, “We have make government schools such a place for above 45 years of age who are yet to receive known for and also rebuked for motivating admitted in Class 5 at government primary the best and highly qualified staff in education that parents should not think even their second dose.“While we had to return others to send their wards in government school Govind Nagar Sarawan (Malout) government schools. Then why can’t our once before admitting their children in such the stocks of what the government had given schools while sending their own children to English Medium.Similarly, Kulwinder schools be the best in studies against private schools.The education department has now us at…a subsidized price (Rs 150 per dose), t h e p r i v a t e o n e s , h a v e s t a r t e d Kaur’s son, head teacher at government schools where staff is not better qualified prepared some posters of such teachers with there are people who have had their first shot admitting/shifting their wards in their own primary school Mukatsar, is also studying in than us.”Buta Ram of Rurka Kalan School their wards to appreciate their act and boost and are waiting for the second. We cannot schools in large numbers. Earlier 85 to 90% the government school Mukatsar.The list of said his daughter, Angel, is a national faith in their own schools.Meanwhile, till put them at risk, which is why we have taken children were from Dalit and backward such teachers is long and exhaustive and it is awardee in scouts and she studies in a April 23 this year, around 98,379 students a decision that, if they are willing to pay for classes.According to the details collected getting longer with each passing year.The government school. “What proof one needs from private schools had shifted to these, they will be given priority for their from the Education Department, 1,591 details provided by the education department about changing outlook of the government government schools which included 61,092 second jab from our current stock,” school teachers and other staff of revealed that Fazilka district topped the list schools. I feel proud that I send my daughter students in primary classes and 37,287 from Kamineni toldApollo initiated discussions government schools have got their their where 215 government school teachers/staff to a government school,” he said.“When we Classes 6 to 12. The admission drive in with SII and Bharat Biotech, who make wards admitted in government schools in the have got admitted their children or their can do better in our lives after studying in government schools is still going Covishield and Covaxin, in November, she past couple of years and majority of them got relatives’ children in government schools government schools why can’t our children? on.Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur and Patiala said.Fortis Healthcare will be providing admitted their wards this year itself.Kulwant followed by Ludhiana, Patiala and Bathinda We should have faith in our teachers and districts are the top three districts where only Covaxin for those above 18 years at its Rai and his wife Paramjit Kaur, both teachers with 208, 152, 151 respectively.In districts schools and should invest some time on our 11433, 8433 and 8142 students got shifted centres across North India from May 1. in government primary schools Rurka Kalan Fatehgarh Sahib, Barnala, Ferozepur, children at home to help them in their from private to government schools. Max Healthcare, which has procured and Mathhdda Khurad, respectively in Sangrur, and Jalandhar 93, 83, 74, 64 and 63 studies,” said Kulwinder Kaur, head teacher, Remaining all 19 districts too are also Covishield, will be providing the vaccine Jalandhar district have got their daughter teachers respectively got their children adding, “Our entire family is in education fairing well and the number of students “from select hospitals in the network” in Navdeep Kaur admitted in a government admitted in government schools.The line and everyone’s children are studying in shifting to government schools is also in the Delhi NCR. school this year in UKG.Two other teachers remaining 12 districts witnessed 25 to 55 government schools only.”Even the Punjab 1000s. New Delhi, Sunday, 2 May, 2021 EDITORIAL THE SIKH TIMES 6 Think again: Shared suffering Mizoram Pakistan feels India’s pain in this difficult hour Every Indian that I follow on Twitter has been pandemic and things are not looking forest fire tweeting about the Covid-19 crisis in recent good even now. Our economy has weeks. All we can see on our timelines are already suffered a lot, many people tweets asking for oxygen supply, for have lost their jobs, the healthcare Readers' Speak: Selfless information regarding hospital beds, retweeted system will collapse if cases keep messages for friends and strangers alike and increasing at this rate. This acts of kindness during much more — all related to the pandemic. We pandemic has taken the lives of our saw the chilling report by BBC’s Yogita Limaye loved ones or of people we know. If Covid second wave from Delhi in which we could feel the we don’t speed up our vaccination helplessness of coronavirus patients as well as process, the country will suffer even of their families. Those visuals of people more. What is happening in India breathing their last breath or family members makes it even more pertinent for us pleading to get hospital beds were extremely to realize that this virus can lead to distressing. Another report showed how a unimaginable consequences. One Muslim cemetery in Delhi is running out of of the key reasons why the former space; it is receiving 35-40 bodies every day as US president, Donald Trump, lost opposed to 8-10 bodies before the second wave the elections last year was because hit India. Reports also show how crematoriums of his government’s mishandling of are facing the same situation as they, too, have the coronavirus. In India, too, the been overwhelmed. News from across the Narendra Modi government has border is horrendous. One cannot help but feel as if this is amazing. At a time when India is facing a deadly second gravely mishandled the pandemic. At a time when one of the greatest global catastrophes to have hit the wave of the coronavirus, Pakistan is facing its third coronavirus cases were increasing with each passing hour Sir — Yet another forest fire has broken out — this Covid-19 wave. This wave is turning out to be quite lethal. time in Mizoram. The wildfire has affected at least world. in India, the visuals of Amit Shah and others campaigning As the situation in India kept getting bleaker and bleaker, Things in Pakistan are not as bad as they are in India but if in West Bengal made one wonder whether politics is so eight forest areas, and threatens to spread to nearby we don’t control the situation now, matters will get to a settlements. As usual, hashtags have begun to Pakistanis expressed solidarity with their Indian brethren. ruthless a business that it does not care about saving From trending hashtags like #IndiaNeedsOxygen and point where we will also run out of hospital beds and human lives. People must hold their public circulate on social media, urging people to ‘pray oxygen. The government has warned of this on several for Mizoram’. While hashtags help to bring such #PakistanStandsWithIndia, Pakistanis have sent their representatives accountable for such shameless disregard prayers across the border. Last Saturday, Prime Minister occasions. It is unfortunate that many people still refuse to for human life. After all, they were elected to protect the news to the forefront, people must understand that follow SOPs like wearing a mask. We may need stricter merely praying for a crisis to subside is of little Imran Khan tweeted his support for India in its fight lives of their peoples. On another note, reports indicate a against the coronavirus. Pakistan’s foreign minister, Shah lockdowns or complete lockdowns in cities with high thaw is expected soon between India and Pakistan. Fahd practical help. Offering aid by volunteering or positivity rates. donating money to help alleviate the plight of the Mahmood Qureshi, tweeted that Pakistan has officially Husain in Dawn recently wrote an interesting report on offered relief and support to India. It shows that even if the On Wednesday, Pakistan reported 201 deaths, the highest India-Pakistan relations. As per Husain’s information affected is the only way one can make a difference. since the pandemic broke in the country last year. The Sir — An elderly, physically challenged man in ties between the two countries may not be ideal, when it from Pakistan’s official quarters, “India approached comes to humanity, everything else is set aside as it should positivity rate was above 10 per cent. Army troops have Pakistan in December 2020 with an offer to reduce tension Kerala, who lives on pension for the differently been deployed in 16 cities where the positivity rate has abled and small earnings from rolling beedis, be. We saw some heartwarming stories as well during the and offered backchannel talks on all outstanding issues, current crisis. Ashish K. Singh, an Indian journalist, reached dangerous levels to ensure the enforcement of including Jammu and Kashmir, and Pakistan reciprocated recently donated two lakh rupees from his savings coronavirus SOPs. The situation in Pakistan is getting bank account that had a total of Rs 2,00,850 to the recently tweeted whether any of his friends in Pakistan favourably”. So it seems that a backchannel dialogue could “pay an obeisance at Data Darbaar” for him, his worse. Examinations, too, have been cancelled given the between the two nuclear neighbours has indeed started, chief minister’s disaster relief fund to help the state rise in the cases. The vaccination drive in the country is government provide free Covid-19 vaccines to the wife and his friends suffering from coronavirus. Data which is what led to the ceasefire agreement on the Line of Darbaar, located in Lahore, is the largest Sufi shrine in slow. Only about one per cent of the country’s population Control back in February. Rumours of cricket diplomacy needy (“Life savings: Rs 200, 850. Donated: Rs 2 has been vaccinated so far. According to a report by lakh”, April 25). He further expressed the desire to South Asia. The same day, some journalists in Pakistan are also doing the rounds — only time and circumstances got it done. One of the Pakistani journalists, Ghulam Afshan Subohi in the newspaper, Dawn, if Pakistan will tell whether anything would materialize or not but remain anonymous, in contrast to many financially continues its vaccination drive at this rate, “it will take stable people who do not miss a chance to beat the Abbas Shah, arranged prayers for Ashish and his family this is a good beginning. War should never be an option for not just at Lahore’s Data Darbaar but also at the Abdullah more than three years to cover 20 [per cent] of the either side. If there is one thing that the coronavirus drums about their donations or the political class country’s population”. While the government’s which makes a big deal about every government Shah Ghazi shrine in Karachi and Baba Farid pandemic has taught us, that is the world needs to invest Ganjshakar’s shrine in Pakpattan. Such gestures show that vaccination drive is slow due to procurement issues, even more heavily in the healthcare sector. We need to dole. the private sector has not been able to purchase enough The bank official who attended the donor was despite the tensions and animosity between the two understand that hostilities between India and Pakistan will neighbours, the people of these countries will always rise vaccines. I am one of the lucky ones who were able to get only lead to more bloodshed. Peace should not remain naturally surprised when the man requested him to the vaccine earlier this month. I got my second jab just this transfer the money immediately so that he could to the occasion, helping each other out when the time elusive. In fact, it should be sought. We hope and pray that comes. It gives one hope that we can rise above politics week. While some of us have been fully vaccinated, it will India comes out of this health emergency soon. And we sleep peacefully and asked him not to reveal his take a couple of years before 60-70 per cent of the name. The chief minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, has when it matters. The solidarity between the people of hope and pray that Pakistan does not have to witness India and Pakistan at this moment of grave crisis is quite country’s adult population is vaccinated. Two years is a anything similar. lauded this unnamed donor. He also praised long time. We have already spent a year battling the Subaida, a poor woman running a tea shop, who donated Rs 5,000 and Rs 5,510 on two separate occasions for the same cause. Swami Vivekananda regretted the fact that the concept of selfless Covid: Second blow to Indian economy charity was disappearing from India and great men were becoming fewer by the day. In election It is now patently evident that the next two quarters will be very difficult for the country speeches, we hear political leaders of all hues quoting Swami Vivekananda unabashedly for In a recent report on the state of the economy, the fear that will affect consumers and producers political gain. They would do well to take a lesson Reserve Bank of India pointed out a number of early for some time to come. This fear will engender from him: “Never vaunt of your gifts to the poor or signs of economic recovery from the damages a shortage-psychosis, starting from hospital inflicted by the pandemic last year. These green beds, oxygen cylinders, vaccines and even expect their gratitude, but rather be grateful to shoots indicated the possibility of a healthy recovery. food. This, in turn, will generate strong them for giving you the occasion of practising Indeed, this was the expectation of most inflationary pressures as hoarding and panic- charity to them.” Sir — India is indeed a country of international organizations like the World Bank and buying begin. A slowdown in output will occur great contrasts. On the one hand, we see top the International Monetary Fund. Most predictions too, although not perhaps as acute as the one in political leaders abandoning their responsibility, about India’s growth rate for the current year were 2020. However, the return of confidence will gesticulating in front of huge gatherings, pegged at around 12 per cent. The usual caveats were take much longer this time. Little wonder then beseeching their votes on promises of showering added in the RBI’s report: not having a significant that beginning with the World Bank and the bonanza. All the while, the citizens are suffering second wave, pushing the vaccination drive, and IMF most organizations are now scaling down from a deadly pandemic. It brings to mind the story ramping up preparedness in health infrastructure. India’s growth rate projections for 2021-22. of the Roman emperor who played the fiddle while These would ensure that the economic recovery Standard and Poor’s now has a long-term his kingdom was burning. The contrast lies in the would be firm and stable. However, by the time the credit rating of ‘BBB’ for India — just one story of the self-effacing philanthrope who gave report was in the public domain, India had been notch above junk. According to S&P, India’s away his life’s savings to ensure the safety of his caught in the midst of an unanticipated second wave economy has already lost 10 per cent of countrymen. Unlike the political leaders, the man of infections and a nightmarish strain on health will be very difficult for the economy. national income in terms of a long-term with meagre resources knew his duty. Such stories facilities. The Centre was caught napping, revealing that It appears that this time round there will not be complete production deficit compared to its pre-pandemic level. make us justly proud of the legacy of the likes of nothing had been done since the lockdown of 2020 to lockdowns of all non-essential economic activities. The RBI’s caveats have come too little too late as the the Buddha — the prince who renounced all improve India’s readiness to fight the inevitable second However, a large part of the services economy will be economy stares at supply disruptions, labour shortages worldly aspirations and devoted his life seeking wave. It is now patently evident that the next two quarters disrupted. The second wave has also created a terrifying and demand shrinkages. salvation for humanity. Mela mentality sums up our Covid response I am very happy at the stringent strictures passed by the Madras High Court against the namby-pamby EC. “You have been singularly lacking any kind of exercise of authority. You have not taken measures against political parties holding rallies despite every order of this court saying ‘maintain Covid protection’.” I think this was a historic statement-cum-snub. HAVE the Indian people and the government treated the Meerut, Muzaffarnagar and against political parties holding Covid crisis as a mela, a village fair? Let us start with the Bulandshahr. I would be on rallies despite every order of this IPL, our darling baby. Within five months, the wretched horseback for 12 hours a day. It court saying ‘maintain Covid thing was back from Dubai to Bengaluru. For five was such a lovely village fair. protection’.” The High Court ended months the Indian youth couldn’t stay away from the Watch towers were erected, by saying, “You should be put up for slam-bang, hit-and-miss tamasha. And we are playing in manned by sentries, looking out murder charges probably.” It also morgue-like amphitheatres. Former cricketers like Sunil — not for robbers, but people asked the EC if it was on another Gavaskar should have walked out! Why couldn’t the drowning. During the thick of the planet when the rallies were going government put a stop to this levity, for this is reflective main bathing night, we had on. of the way the Covid crisis is viewed by the people as a batches of brawny policemen, I think this was a historic statement- whole? Bash the ball, scoop it up, and you win. Why who would go into the river and cum-snub. Never has a constitutional couldn’t more cricketers like Ravichandran Ashwin chuck bathers out after just one authority been blown apart this way. stand up? And you bash the ball around as if it was the dip, otherwise we could face Public health, of course, takes grail of a bygone era. And a David Warner here or a goner tragedy. But back to our mela priority over counting procedures or there bashes the ball as if there were no tomorrow, and syndrome,withthewhole onrushing politicos. However, public wins. country being run like a village health has never been accorded The mela syndrome follows us to the Kumbh. What is all fair. Merry-go-rounds, the well priority in our national Budgets. this about the holy river and the holy water dripping of death with motorcycles racing Defence expenditure won. “Politics down from prayag to prayag, confluence to confluence inside a well. There would be or no politics,” the High Court down the Bhagirathi and the Alakananda till it gets to you sweets, halwa-parantha in UP, observed, “whether the counting at Har ki Pauri in Hardwar? Meanwhile, it has anointed soaked in aromatic oil. The takes place in a staggered manner or Rishikesh. Forget the sacred for a while. Hindus have famed duo from Gujarat seemed is deferred, at no cost (should) the had some of the greatest reformists, eminent men and to be following the same old counting of votes on May 2 result in singing saints, who have chastised blind faith. But lakhs beaten track into history. But the being a catalyst to further surge. had snan and maha snan, and walked back dripping to establishment should spare a Public health is of paramount their villages, infecting others on the way. The Kumbh is thought for the dying and the importance. And it is distressing that an atavistic sight: ash-smeared sadhus, most of them dead. A crematorium chimney in constitutional authorities have to be naked, gambolling away. The snan cavalcade started on Surat got warped with the weight reminded.” And the EC had given an the auspicious April 12, the somvati amavasya snan. Just of having smoked out 60 poor entire month for the Bengal elections 2.8 million people took a dip. Another 2.8 million took a Covid-ridden souls. I have never heard such a horror watched the Election Commission (EC) twiddling its so that a particular party could benefit. What happened to ‘holy dip’ on April 14. Not sure what transpired on the story, outside Hathras that is, where they gang-raped a thumbs, looking at the scene through opera glasses. Are planning? Vaccine first. We gave some of it away — 66 full moon snan on April 27. Jai Ho. Imagine the spread! girl, and smoked her on the pyre, allowing no relatives to they looking for some other plum positions? million doses. Is that short-sightedness, or bad planning, Yeh zindagi ke mele... In 1961 and 1962, I used to be the attend the funeral. A scribe from Kerala wanting to cover Gubernatorial assignments? Ambassadorial postings, or just the mela mentality, things will sort themselves out Mela Officer at the Kartik Purnima fair at Garh the story is still in police custody! Meanwhile, on heads of commissions which file reports that no one ever through panchayats, what are panchayats for, otherwise? Mukhteshwar. What a lovely fair it used to be: thousands politico-electoral fronts, there were huge processions reads. So I am very happy at the stringent strictures And what of oxygen dearth? Too many questions to be of bullock carts, strung with pennons and dupattas of Jat and election rallies galore with no sense of social passed by the Madras High Court against the namby- answered, once we leave the mela. “Yeh zindagi ke mele, women would move to Garh, women singing away. The distance being kept. Social distancing! Don’t we know pamby EC. “You have been singularly lacking any kind duniya mein kum na honge, afsos hum na honge. Yeh whole night the bullock carts would trundle down from our own people? How we love to crowd around! We of exercise of authority. You have not taken measures zindagi ke mele... New Delhi, Sunday, 2 May, 2021 FILM THE SIKH TIMES 7 Aamir Khan speaks of time when he had his back against the wall, owns his privilege: ‘It BipashaBipasha Basu, Basu, has been easy for me’ KaranKaran Singh Singh

Grover celebrate fifth n a video that has appeared on Aamir Khan Fan Club, actor Aamir Khan is seen talking about life Iand how he has to thank his privilege for where he stands today. In the video, he spoke about how both anniversary with wedding photo, love and fear drive him but in different ways. “For me, it is a journey, I am not sure if I’ll be successful, I am not sure I’ll reach my destination, sometimes I call each other ‘my everything am not even sure what my destination is. I am always figuring out where to go, but the important thing is that I do it out of love. There are some primary emotions that all of us have, love and fear are two such primary emotions that we have when we enter this world. You’re born out of love. I’d like to tap into love as my primary emotion and use fear to propel me.” He accepted that there have been moments when he had his back against the wall but was able to move on that to his place in life. “There have been times when I have been down in the dumps, I’ve had my back against the wall and haven’t been sure how to get out of it, at such times, what is important for me is to not lose hope, because when you lose hope, you lose all. I hesitate to say this as it is very easy for me because I happen to be in a privileged position. It is not that easy for someone who is not in a privileged position and has got their back against the wall,” he said. “It was a stroke of luck that I was born in Mumbai in a privileged environment, where my parents could afford an education for me and I had a sheltered childhood. If I was born in a village where I didn’t have resources, I’d be sitting there. I remark often that there is no difference between me and that gentleman sitting outside a temple in a village. It was just a matter of ollywood couple Bipasha Basu and Karan Singh Grover chance that he was born there and I was born here. are celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary today. The Our rights are the same, our responsibilities too are Bactors indulged in social media PDA as they called each the same, we ideally should look at each other as other their everything, while wishing ‘monkeyversary’.Sharing one,” he says. a happy picture from their wedding where they have eyes only for each other, Bipasha wrote, “Happy 5th #monkeyversary my love ??. You are my everything ?? ??.” For the unversed, Bipasha Rishi Kapoor death and Karan call their relationship ‘monkey love’. Sharing his wife’s post, Karan Singh Grover wrote on his Instagram story, ” And you are my everything.” anniversary: The Kapoor who Bipasha Basu and Karan Singh Grover met during the shoot of Alone, and soon fell in love. After dating each other for a while, kept on getting better with age they tied the knot on April 30, 2016. The couple recently shared screen space in Vikram Bhatt’s Dangerous. Speaking about how Bipasha acts as a reality check for his work, Karan, in an earlier chat with indianexpress.com said, “We do talk about work. Everyone should have somebody like her in their lives. We all have filters, so that we don’t really say something that would hurt the other person. She doesn’t have that. She will just say it the way it is. It’s very important because it gives you a reality check. There’s no criticising her work because she’s excellent at it. I take a lot of advice from her. I’m lucky like that.” Bipasha on her part shared how the two have a very different approach towards work. “He is a complete dreamer and I’m a realist. So we complement each other. Sometimes on the set I had to tell him, ‘Don’t run around so much, let me focus,” shared the actor on her experience of working with her husband. On the work front, Karan Singh Grover was last seen in Qubool Hai 2.0, while Bipasha Basu left fans nostalgic with her commercial with BachnaAe Haseeno co-star Ranbir Kapoor. hat Rishi Kapoor delivered in films like Mulk,Agneepath, D-Day and Kapoor And WSons, can undoubtedly be placed above dozens of movies he did back in 1970s and 1980s. Agreed that Bollywood is yet to find a replacement for Rishi’s charm, his chocolate-boy looks and his romantic image that he enjoyed in the the prime of his career, but his transition towards author-backed roles during his second innings gave him and the audience to enjoy the kind of heft that was missing for all these years. Rishi, who made his acting debut at the age of 15 in Mera Naam Joker (1970), became an overnight Kareena Kapoor sensation with Bobby (1973). What followed was a Kareena Kapoor filmography comprising of hits across genres like Khel Khel Mein, Kabhi Kabhie, Amar Akbar Anthony, Hum Kisise Kum Naheen, Kabhi Kabhi, Doosra Aadmi, Prem Rog, Heena, Damini, Bol reveals how she explained importance Radha Bol, Deewana and several others. Reflecting on his films, Rishi had said at Vadodara Literature Festival in 2017, “For the first 25 years of my of Covid-19 vaccine to son Taimur career, I did nothing but sing and dance. In my second innings, I have got the chance to act.” Early 2000s, he began maturing towards father roles in areena Kapoor Khan has urged everyone to law Saba Ali Khan wrote in comments, films like Yeh Hai Jalwa, Hum Tum, Fanaa and get vaccinated against the coronavirus in “Beautifully expressed. ????Stay safe,” Namastey London. But then, they remained either the most innovative, yet simplest way cousin sister Riddhima Kapoor Sahni also extended cameos, or supporting roles, with rarely K any meat. What turned the tables for Rishi Kapoor? possible. Sharing how she’s explained it to her appreciated Kareena’s efforts. son Taimur through the iconic Tom and Jerry Kareena had on Wednesday, also shared Was it Love Aaj Kal or Do Dooni Chaar? Probably cartoons, Kareena posted a video on her both, and some more films he signed risking the a post asking people to spare a image he had created all this while. In Habib Instagram to spread awareness. thought for the doctors and medical Faisal’s National Award winning Do Dooni Chaar, “We don’t realise that our kids are also absorbing staff, and showed displeasure at Rishi donned a character he had never picked what’s going on and they are scared too. We were those who are still not abiding before – a middle-class school teacher struggling to talking to Tim to try and explain why all the adults by the safety protocols. keep his family happy and dreaming of buying a need to be vaccinated and I think this sums it up Apart from Kareena, car. Rishi made us laugh and cry at the same time in pretty well. It’s really that simple. But like we Bollywood celebs like this delightful slice-of-life comedy. It got him his explain to our kids, we too need to be patient and Kangana Ranaut, first Critics Award for Best Actor. “In my former help everyone who is trying to help us — medics, Dia Mirza, Kartik avatar as the romantic hero, I never had to do any pharma, authorities and the millions of volunteers Aaryan, Janhvi homework… But what I didn’t do as a lead actor, I — please register and wait for your turn. Kapoor and have had to do as a character artiste and I have to #BreakTheChain,” Kareena wrote along with a others appealed confess I thoroughly enjoyed it,” an excerpt from clip from Tom and Jerry, which most of us have to Indians to get Rishi Kapoor’s autobiography – Khullam Khulla: been a fan of.ugust 6. While Kareena’s sister-in- vaccinated. Rishi Kapoor Uncensored read. New Delhi, Sunday, 2 May, 2021 WORLD THE SIKH TIMES 8

Thousands party at Liverpool nightclub in trial reopening from Covid lockdown Warrant for Giuliani’s computers, phones WORLD. Thousands of young people partied at a nightclub in Liverpool on Friday, part of a government-backed trial to restart mass audience events as seeks communications with over a dozen the COVID-19 pandemic recedes further in England. Around 3,000 revellers aged 18 to 20 danced to WORLD. investigators are seeking to review of using a shell company to make an Solomon, a U.S. columnist, that he had pounding music in a warehouse on the Rudy Giuliani's phones and computers for illegal $325,000 donation to a committee evidence related to the Bidens and docks, in close contact with each other communications with more than a dozen supporting Trump's re-election. The men Burisma. Later that year Lutsenko told and without wearing masks, according people, including a high-ranking prosecutor in have pleaded not guilty to violating Reuters he found no evidence of to a Reuters witness. Ukraine, according to a warrant executed at his campaign finance laws and other wrongdoing on the part of Biden’s son Attendees at the evening event had to test apartment this week. They also are searching charges.Atrial is scheduled for October. in his relationship with the energy firm. negative for COVID-19 within 24 for communications with any U.S. A lawyer for Fruman declined to comment. Giuliani told Reuters in 2019 that he hours of the event. "We're excited. government official or employee relating to A lawyer for Parnas did not respond to a met with Lutsenko twice early that We're all on the verge of tears ready to Marie Yovanovitch, the U.S. ambassador to request for comment. year. "I didn't correspond with Giuliani. go in," a student called Josh told the Ukraine who was ousted by the Trump PETRO POROSHENKO I didn't even have his phone (number)," BBC while queuing outside the venue. administration in 2019, the warrant says. A confectionary magnate and one of Lutsenko told Reuters on Friday. "We The two-day event is part of a pilot Agents seized more than 10 cell phones and Ukraine's richest men, Poroshenko took didn't communicate in any regular way. scheme to see how more venues can be computers from Giuliani's Manhattan power in 2014 and served as the country's " KOSTIANTYN KULYK reopened safely. It also included a apartment and office in raids on Wednesday, president until 2019. At Giuliani's Kulyk, a former Ukrainian prosecutor, soccer cup final attended by 8,000 according to his lawyer, Bob Costello, who direction, Parnas and Fruman met played a role in setting up a meeting between also worked on the country's people on Sunday at London's read the search warrant to a Reuters reporter. Poroshenko in February 2019, while he was Giuliani and Ukrainian officials, NBC investigations into Burisma. Giuliani told Wembley stadium. Researchers will According to the warrant, investigators are still in office, and pressed him to announce reported.A spokesperson for Mamedov had no Reuters he met with Kulyk in Paris in 2019. accumulate data from these events to looking for evidence that Giuliani acted as an investigations into Hunter Biden and immediate comment on investigators looking Kulyk did not immediately respond to requests see how approaches to social unregistered foreign agent, a violation of purported Ukrainian interference in the 2016 at communications with Giuliani. for comment on Friday. distancing and ventilation affect the lobbying laws. Giuliani said in a statement presidential election in exchange for a state VIKTOR SHOKIN GLIB ZAGORIY spread of the virus. Non-essential following the raids that his "conduct as a visit, the Wall Street Journal and Washington Shokin became Ukraine's general prosecutor in A Ukrainian businessman and former lawmaker, retailers in England reopened on April lawyer and a citizen was absolutely legal and Post reported. Poroshenko's office told Zagoriy attended a meeting between Giuliani 12 along with pubs and restaurants ethical." A spokesman for the Manhattan U.S. February 2015 and led an investigation into the Reuters on Friday that he held two meetings energy company Burisma, the Ukrainian gas and Lutsenko in January 2019, according to operating outdoors, and from May 17 Attorney's office declined to comment. with Giuliani in his capacity as President documents released by the U.S. State restrictions will be lifted further to company where Biden's son Hunter was a The list of the people identified in the warrant Donald Trump's "special envoy" during which board member from 2014 to 2019. Shokin was Department. Zagoriy could not immediately include indoor hospitality, includes: they discussed Russian aggression, fighting be reached for comment on Friday. performances and sporting events. removed from his job in 2016 following LEV PARNASAND IGOR FRUMAN disinformation and how to strengthen the accusations of corruption by Western DAVID CORREIA Prime Minister Boris Johnson hopes to Ukrainian-born Parnas and Belarus-born alliance between Kyiv and Washington. lift the lockdown entirely in June. diplomats. Giuliani told Reuters he met with Correia, another Florida businessman, pleaded Fruman are two Florida-based businessmen GYUNDUZ MAMEDOV Shokin over Skype in late 2018. Shokin could guilty last year to making false statements to who helped Giuliani dig up dirt on Joe Biden Mamedov, who currently serves as a high- not be reached for comment on Friday, the Federal Election Commission, and duping 45 people die in Israel stampede and his son Hunter before the 2020 ranking prosecutor in Ukraine, was a key according to his lawyer. investors in Fraud Guarantee, a company he Jerusalem . A stampede early on Friday presidential election and push to remove intermediary in Giuliani's efforts to press YURIY LUTSENKO founded with Parnas that paid Giuliani at a mountainside religious Yovanovitch. Federal prosecutors in Ukraine to open investigations that would Lutsenko succeeded Shokin as general $500,000. A lawyer for Correia did not celebration in Israel that drew tens of Manhattan have accused Parnas and Fruman tarnish Biden, according to NBC News. He prosecutor. In 2019, Lutsenko told John respond to a request for comment on Friday. thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews left at least 45 people dead and scores more injured. By some estimates, about 100,000 people were crammed Egyptian mummy believed to be of male Tonnes of dead together late on Thursday to celebrate a holiday on Mount Meron in northern Israel, despite warnings from the authorities about the risk of Covid-19 priest, turns out to be pregnant woman fish wash up transmission. The deadly crush began around 1am on An ancient Egyptian mummy once believed to be the remains of a male priest is actually the Friday, as celebrants began to pour out on shore of of a section of a compound where embalmed body of a woman in the third trimester of pregnancy, Polish scientists said on Friday. festivities were being held. The death toll of 44, released later by the health Warsaw. An ancient Egyptian picture and as a father of between 20 and 30 weeks mummy once believed to be the three, he said: 'Well, that's a pregnant and something polluted lake ministry, made it one of the worst civilian disasters in Israeli history. remains of a male priest is foot'. At that moment ... the happens to the pregnancy, Magen David Adom, the national actually the embalmed body of a whole picture started to they have a chance to be ambulance service, said early Friday woman in the third trimester of come together," Ozarek- rescued. It used to be in Lebanon that it had treated 150 injured people. pregnancy, Polish scientists said Szilke told Reuters. impossible," she said. The It posted a video on Twitter that on Friday. Marzena Ozarek- The mummy came to Poland discovery sheds some WORLD. Tonnes of dead fish have washed up showed a fleet of ambulances, red Szilke, an anthropologist at the in the 19th century when the light on the little-known Warsaw Mummy Project, was role of children in ancient on the banks of a lake on Lebanon's Litani river, sirens flashing, waiting to evacuate nascent University of engulfing a nearby village in a pungent smell, the wounded. “A terrible disaster,” examining a CT scan of a Warsaw was creating an Egypt and the religious Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mummy at the National Museum antiquities collection. For beliefs of the time, but also in a disaster blamed on polluted waters. said. Jake Sullivan, President Biden’s in the Polish capital when she decades, it was thought the raises many questions, Volunteers collected rotting fish carcasses near national security adviser, and spotted something peculiar. mummy belonged to an 26 and 28 weeks pregnant. The according to Wojciech the Qaraoun lake on Lebanon's longest river, Emanuele Giaufret, the EU’s "When I looked at the lesser pelvis ancient Egyptian priest named cause of death is not clear, but Ejsmond, co-director of the the Litani, where activists have warned for ambassador, offered condolences on of our mummy I was interested Hor-Dehuti. However, in a Ozarek-Szilke said the Warsaw Mummy Project. "What years of water pollution caused by sewage and Twitter to families of the victims. in what was inside... I thought I discovery revealed in the Journal pregnancy may have had was the status of this child in the waste. Piles of garbage drifted in the lake near Ultra-Orthodox Jews traditionally saw a tiny foot," Ozarek-Szilke of Archaeological Science on something to do with it. "It is Egyptian religion? Did it have a the dead fish. Swarms of flies spread near the gather at Mount Meron for the said. She asked her husband, an Thursday, scientists at the possible that the pregnancy itself soul, could it go to the afterlife reservoir and thousands of fish were holiday, Lag b’Omer, to dance and archaeologist who also worked Warsaw Mummy Project said contributed to the death of this on its own, could it be reborn in decomposing in already dirty waters. make bonfires around the tomb of a on the project, to take a look. the mummy was in fact a woman woman. Now we have modern the afterlife... if it was not yet "This phenomenon appeared on the shore of the prominent rabbi from antiquity. "My husband looked at the in her twenties who was between medicine, women who are born?" lake several days ago," said Ahmad Askar, a Critics have warned for years that the local activist. "The fish started floating up, and site’s patchy infrastructure cannot in abnormal quantities...It's unacceptable." At safely handle large crowds. A video US Formally Begins Withdrawing Its Troops From Afghanistan said to have been taken right before least 40 tonnes have turned up dead in a few the stampede on Friday showed a days, numbers which Askar and fishermen in mass of people in ecstatic celebration, Kabul: The United States formally begins wounding 100 more.US President Joe Biden President Ashraf Ghani insists that Qaraoun described as unprecedented. They moving in unison to the music. Initial withdrawing its last troops fromAfghanistan is determined to end what he called "the government forces -- who for months have called on the Litani river authority to find the reports indicated that a grandstand Saturday, bringing its longest war nearer to forever war", announcing last month that the carried out most of the ground fighting cause and go after anyone dumping wastewater had collapsed. But as details emerged, an end but also heralding an uncertain future withdrawal of the remaining 2,500American against the Taliban -- are "fully capable" of into the lake. The river authority said this week it appeared that the crush had occurred for a country in the tightening grip of an forces would be complete by the 20th keeping the insurgents at bay. that the fish were toxic and carried a virus, after celebrants slipped on stone steps emboldened Taliban.US officials on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks."A He said the pullout also means the Taliban have urging people to avoid fishing all along the leading into a narrow passageway ground say the withdrawal is already a work horrific attack 20 years ago... cannot explain no reason to fight."Who are you killing? Litani due to "an aggravated disaster that with a metal-floored slope, setting off in progress -- and May 1 is just a continuation why we should remain there in 2021," he What are you destroying? Your pretext of threatens public health". what the news site Ynet described as a -- but Washington has made an issue of the said.Since the US withdraal deal was struck fighting the foreigners is now over," Ghani The pollution prompted a ban since 2018 on “human avalanche”. date because it is a deadline agreed with the the Taliban have not directly engaged foreign said in a speech this week.Still, General fishing in the reservoir, which was created in Taliban in 2020 to complete the pullout.The troops, but insurgents have mercilessly Mark Milley, chairman of the US Joint skies above Kabul and nearby Bagram attacked government forces in the 1959 with a large dam to collect water for Eurozone economy contracts by 0.6 Chiefs of Staff, has not ruled out total chaos. hydropower and irrigation. Last month, airbase have been buzzing with more US countryside and waged a terror campaign in "On the worst-case analysis, you have a per cent over first 3 months of 2021 helicopter activity than usual as the pullout urban areas.The exit of US forces has only potential collapse of the government, a volunteers removed clumps of sticky tar from gears up, following the start Thursday of a exacerbated the fear felt by ordinary potential collapse of the military," he said some beaches along the Lebanese coast after an concurrent NATO withdrawal.The prospect Afghans."Everyone is scared that we might earlier this week."You have a civil war and oil spill which environmentalists warned of an end of 20 years of US presence comes go back to the dark days of the Taliban era," all the humanitarian catastrophe that goes would harm marine life. despite fighting raging across the said Mena Nowrozi, who works at a private with it."Police officer Abdul Malik from the Ecological disasters are the last thing Lebanon countryside in the absence of a peace deal.A radio station in Kabul."The Taliban are still former insurgent bastion of Kandahar said needs as it suffers through an alarming stark reminder of what remains came late the same; they have not changed. The US they were prepared."We have to take care of financial collapse and the aftermath of a huge Friday with a car bomb in Pul-e-Alam, south should have extended their presence by at our homeland... We will do our best to defend explosion that devastated Beirut port last of the capital, killing at least 21 people and least a year or two," she told AFP.Afghan our soil," he told AFP. August.

New York . The eurozone economy contracted by 0.6 per cent over the first 3 months of the year, sliding back into recession, as the still-raging Qualified students, academics exempt pandemic prompted governments to extend lockdowns. Coming a day after the US disclosed that its economy expanded 1.6 per cent over the same period, the European downturn presented a contrast of from US travel restrictions on India fortunes on opposite sides of the Atlantic. Propelled by dramatic public WASHINGTON: Indian students seeking to some vaccines," Biden added. The exceptions, including for expenditures to stimulate growth, as commence studies in US schools, colleges, State Department, which already has permanent residents (green well as swift increases in vaccination and universities in fall 2021 may qualify for a similar travel exceptions for Brazil, card holders), noncitizen who is rates, the US — the world’s largest National Interest Exception (NIE) to get China, Iran, and South Africa, said the spouse of a US citizen or economy — expanded rapidly during around the travel restrictions being imposed India too would be subjected to the l a w f u l p e r m a n e n t the first months of 2021. At the same by the Biden administration following the same in keeping with the US resident/green card holder, any time, the 19 nations that share the euro Covid-19 upsurge in India, the US State commitment to facilitate legitimate noncitizen who is the parent or currency were caught in the second Department said on Friday. travel. It, however, warned that the legal guardian of a US citizen or part of a so-called double-dip Certain academics, journalists, and individuals pandemic continues to limit the lawful permanent resident recession, reflecting far less who provide critical infrastructure support in number of visas US embassies and provided that the US citizen or aggressive stimulus spending and a the US may also be eligible for the exception, consulates abroad are able to process. lawful permanent resident is botched effort to secure vaccines. the State Department said hours after the The notification said that students who unmarried and under the age of But figures for gross domestic product White House rolled out a travel ban citing already have valid F-1 and M-1 visas 21, any noncitizen who is the represent a snapshot of the past, and "extraordinarily high" case loads and multiple intending to begin or continue an sibling of a US citizen or lawful recent weeks have produced Covid-19 variants circulating in India. On academic program commencing permanent resident provided encouraging signs that Europe is on Friday, the subcontinent tallied over 400,000 August 1, 2021 or later may enter the that both are unmarried and the mend. The alarming spread of cases, the highest single-day infections US no earlier than 30 days before the under the age of 21, any Covid-19 in major economies like recorded in any country to date. "After start of their academic studies. Such noncitizen who is the child, Germany and France has begun to reviewing the public health situation within students do not need to contact an foster child, or ward of a US trend downward, factories have the Republic of India, CDC has concluded that embassy or consulate to seek an citizen or lawful permanent revived production, while growing proactive measures are required to protect the individual NIE to travel. resident, or who is a prospective numbers of people are on the move in Nation’s public health from travelers entering However, it advised students seeking to adoptee seeking to enter the cities. Even as the German economy the United States from that jurisdiction," US apply for new F-1 or M-1 visas to grant NIEs for qualified travelers seeking to US.The ban also does not apply diminished by 1.7 per cent from president Joe Biden said in a proclamation on check the status of visa services at the nearest enter US for purposes related to humanitarian to government officials and air and sea crew January to March, Italy and Spain the India ban. The CDC advise that variants embassy or consulate. Those applicants who travel, public health response, and national traveling on work. The restrictions, expected slipped by much smaller magnitudes found in India, UK, and South Africa have are found to be otherwise qualified for an F-1 security. In the presidential proclamation to be temporary till the pandemic is under — 0.4 per cent and 0.5 per cent "characteristics of concern which may make or M-1 visa will automatically be considered announcing the travel restrictions issued control, will mostly affect India's large white respectively. them more easily transmitted and have the for an NIE to travel, it added. The State earlier, the White House, too, made several collar work force on H1B guest visas and potential for reduced protection afforded by Department further said it would continue to business travelers. New Delhi, Sunday, 2 May, 2021 CAREER THE SIKH TIMES 9

How to choose the RightRight

largely theoretical and by rote. Further, encouraged to think about their short and students lack exposure that they need to long-term goals, and choose a career that CareerCareer effectively navigate their careers. This is intersects with their interests and because most students, even at tier I strengths. Approximately, 77 per cent colleges have worked their way there. graduates quit their job within one year of Most of them do not get the guidance graduation. Students should research they need back home because their about the organisation they would like to parents did not get similar join based on interest and ensure they have To avoid quarter life crisis, identified six common world and not just text-book problems, manage opportunities.While it is heartening to the skills that match the offered roles. youngsters should choose a areas that need to be time efficiently, awareness of business ethics) see the first generation of college Secondly, students must be ex posed to career that intersects with their worked upon before The ability to make a good first impression graduates, it work internships through-out their college interests and strengths ? students graduate and (be presentable) experience so that they can College is considered one of the pursue their first job. Ability to secure a job experiment, gain mentorship, and best times in a student's life. This is irrespective of (e.g., resume, learn practical skills on the job. Our However, a student from Delhi their career path, and interviewing research conducted at HBS shows that University joked with me about outside core technical almost 50 per cent of students at top something that stuck. He said that knowledge: undergraduate universities in India while in his father's generation, people Life vision (identifying do not secure work internships face a mid-life crisis, in his generation, longterm goals for career in their college years, which he is experiencing a quarter life crisis. and life) makes their first job the first It began with not being able to get his Good communication time they have ever dream job after scoring close to 100 per skills (both written worked. cent in his class XII board exam. and spoken) Thirdly, this will require In a country where parents celebrate The ability to work a mindset change for their child's achievements, why do smart (solve real organisations too. over 60 per cent of Organisations need to our graduates feel be willing to mentor anxious about young talent if they their want to stop future? As complaining about our part of my nation's work-readiness research crisis. Not only MBAs, conducted as an but undergraduate interns independent project at Harvard can be an organisational Business School (HBS), I found that investment that makes even graduates from recognised business sense. Interns get educational institutions in India and discrete projects done in a short face major gaps, resulting in networkin time-frame at a low cost. The them being unprepared for g skills internship serves as a two-month their careers.Key gaps in The challenges: interview, providing a talent pipeline campus to career This issue begins with for full-time hiring. transition: the pressure students have to If the work-readiness crisis in India is Organisations face when they pursue educational comes with not addressed it could lead to large-scale and students in paths that do not interest them. It is worsened its fair set of challenges. The under-employment and disillusionment the research set with the learning methodology, which is solution: First, students need to be amongst the youth.

3. Don't get personal: There will be times when a colleague Tips to win messes up with your happiness and you just want to give them a piece of your How often should mind. Do not do that. This will not only make you look bad in front of your boss's eyes but will also make space for more rivalry. People tend to remember about the insults and arguments meted against you taake breaks? them even though for you it was just a matter that you chose not to give enough importance. There is always that one person at work who problem. Productivity can suffer when one 4. No angry mails: is always seen lounging around the pantry or water cooler, sipping on endless cups of doesn't utilise the peak productivity hours. coffee and chatting with whoever comes by. The key then, is to be clear about where you Everyone wonders how this person gets any stand and change the way you spend your OfficeBeOffice it the need for power, position, money breaks. "Break time provides a unique work done and yet, they fly through or simply greed, office politics can crop in appraisals successfully year after year. Then opportunity to network with your any form and can create havoc in your life there are organisations that have strict colleagues, building and nurturing if not dealt well. guidelines for breaks, but this isn't received relationships, creating awareness about Let's face it office politics is everywhere well by employees either. After all, other businesses and understanding inter and no one can escape for its vicious everyone has a different style of working dependent functions, etc. So, instead of clutches. But that doesn't mean that you and productivity peaks at different times for being closed to the idea, one can choose to can't fight it or stand up against it. One has different people. Balancing time at the desk utilise it effectively too. Ultimately, it is to deal these things calmly and PoliticsPolitics and time away from it might seem like a about working smart," shares Jagjit Singh, diplomatically. So here are few tips that face it and fight against it or simply leave it. Before sending any correspondences via simple matter but the will help you stand against these office email think through it a hundred times. ideal ratio is actually politics and still be loved by all. 2. Don't take sides: We fall in major problems when we start Though in anger you might feel you are quite difficult to come 1. Acceptance: taking sides. It's good to have opinions but doing the right thing but to never known by. A war is half won when you accept and never under any circumstances take sides as it when the same mail might be used against "It is really difficult to acknowledge it. If you are being involved will ruin everything. When you find yourself you to demean you or make you the bad find an ideal ratio as or dragged in office politics, firstly accept caught in a situation like this then focus on person in front of all. Same goes for social such, but I think about 4- and acknowledge it. Then start analyzing your business objectives and don't take side media posts too. Be extremely careful. 5 hours of work calls for who are the root cause for them and how with either of them. Place them on a common 5. Know the real culprit: a 30 minute break," can they be dealt with. Be aware that after communication platform and ensure open Know who the trouble maker is and always suggests Abhimanyu this point too, you have a chance to either communications among all parties so that no maintain a safe distance from that person Bhosale, founder-CEO, one can claim that they didn't utter those and if you can make peace with that person Live Health. "Overall, words. nothing better than that. Indians are relatively very hard-working and the ratio of work to leisure is less than the global average. But I think it is the culture that matters; Indians have a lot of overall festive breaks and the overall happiness index in most urban cities is quite good," he adds. As Bhosale says, balancing is very subjective to a person and it depends on how the person likes to chief people officer, PwC India. relax. According to Kiran Iyer, sr. manager, Singh sums it up, "For the millennials, it is HR, Healthenablr India Pvt Ltd, the ideal no longer about being told when to take a ratio of work time and leisure is 90 120 break or what the length of the break is going minutes work with 15 20 minutes leisure to be. break. It is about what you need to accomplish If you happen to work with people who everything else will fall into place." Thus, enjoy taking frequent breaks while you there's no need to overthink a break unless it prefer a single long break, it can pose a starts to reflect on your output at work. New Delhi, Sunday, 2 May, 2021 BUSINESS THE SIKH TIMES 10

NEWS BOX HDFC Bank announces rejig, with 3 focus areas Low base effect propels March core New Delhi: Seven months after Sashi Jagdishan took over as its CEO and MD, HDFC Bank on Friday announced wide- ranging organisational changes. The bank has been reorganised into three pillars of ‘business verticals’, ‘delivery channels’ and, sector output to 32-month high ‘technology and digital’, as per a statement. Among the changes announced by the bank are current group head for corporate banking The growth rate of the eight infrastructure sectors — coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, Rahul Shukla being entrusted with the commercial banking (MSME) and rural fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity — was recorded at (-) 8.6 per cent in March last year. vertical. The initiative has been christened as ‘Project Future-Ready’ internally. New Delhi. The output of eight core sectors by 7 per cent as against a positive growth expanded by 6.8 per cent in March — the of 0.4 per cent in 2019-20. Commenting on highest in 32 months — driven by a base the numbers, Icra Ltd chief economist RIL Q4 net more than effect-led uptick in production of natural Aditi Nayar said the 6.8-per cent growth in gas, steel, cement and electricity, official March, a “32-month high”, is due to the doubles on O2C, retail, data showed on Friday. base effect. The low base of the lockdown- The growth rate of the eight infrastructure affected April 2020 would push up the digital sectors — coal, crude oil, natural gas, year-on-year expansion of the index of refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement eight core industries to a sharp 50-70 per Mumbai. Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) on and electricity — was recorded at (-) 8.6 cent in April 2021, with exceptionally high Friday reported a consolidated net profit of per cent in March last year. According to growth expected in cement and steel, she Rs 13,227 crore for the quarter ended March the data released by the Commerce and further said. “However, we have observed 2021, up 108 per cent from Rs 6,348 crore Industry Ministry on Friday, production of a slackening in the sequential momentum logged in the corresponding quarter of last natural gas, steel, cement and electricity in April 2021 in electricity demand, year. The company’s board declared a jumped 12.3 per cent, 23 per cent, 32.5 per vehicle registrations, and generation of dividend of Rs 7 per share for the financial cent and 21.6 per cent this March, as GST (goods and services tax) e-way bills, year 2020-21. RIL’s revenue from operations against (-) 15.1 per cent, (-) 21.9 per cent, revealing the impact of the recent surge in rose 11 per cent to Rs 1.54 lakh crore as (-) 25.1 per cent and (-) 8.2 per cent in Covid infections and localised restrictions. compared to Rs 1.39 lakh crore in the year- March 2020, respectively. Coal, crude oil, “Based on the available data, we project ago period. refinery products and fertiliser segments, the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) to meanwhile, recorded negative growth record a sharp growth of 17.5-25 per cent RIL said revenue from operations of Jio during the month under review. During the in March 2021,” Nayar added. In February Platforms was Rs 18,278 crore as against Rs full fiscal 2020-21 (April-March), the 2021, the output of these sectors had 15,373 crore in the year-ago quarter, a rise of production of the eight sectors contracted dipped by 3.8 per cent. 18.9 per cent. Jio Platforms clocked a net profit of Rs 3,508 crore for the quarter under review, up by 47 per cent as against Rs 2,379 crore in the year-ago period. The Markets slip after consolidated revenues of the company’s retail business (Reliance Retail) were at Rs Credit growth declines to 4.9%; 47,064 crore for the quarter under review, a four days on vaccine rise of 24.4 per cent. Retail net profit rose 22.8 per cent to Rs 2,247 crore. During the quarter, Jio posted a strong customer gross loans to medium industries jump worries, Covid surge addition at 31.2 million (a net addition of 15.4 million) with improved traction across According to analysts, the sell- mobility and homes. Gross subscriber As per the latest Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data, credit growth to agriculture and addition was 99.3 million during FY21 off was led by foreign despite Covid-related challenges. allied activities accelerated to 12.3 per cent in March 2021 from 4.2 per cent a year ago. RIL chairman and MD Mukesh Ambani said: investors who pulled out Rs Mumbai. Non-food bank credit growth accelerated growth this March as “These are extraordinarily challenging times declined to 4.9 per cent in March 2021 compared to the corresponding month of 3,465 crore from the equity for India. Our immediate priority is to help against 6.7 per cent in March last year, the previous year. However, credit market on Friday. The broader our country and community tide over the following deceleration in growth to the growth to mining & quarrying, rubber, Covid crisis. We have deployed our best large and micro industries and the services plastic & their products, vehicle, vehicle market performed marginally resources in strengthening the nation’s fight sector. However, the silver lining was the parts & transport equipment, basic metal against the pandemic. Our facilities in rise in growth to the agriculture sector and & metal products, cement & cement better with mid- and small- Jamnagar are producing lifesaving medical medium industries. Housing loan growth products, all engineering, chemical & grade oxygen, which is the crucial need of declined to 9.1 per cent to Rs 14.59 lakh chemical products and construction cap indices falling by a the hour in many states.” “We have crore in March 2021 as against a growth of contracted. “Credit growth to the services relatively smaller extent. registered robust recovery in the O2C and 15 per cent a year ago. sector decelerated to 1.4 per cent in retail segment, and resilient growth in the As per the latest Reserve Bank of India March 2021 from 7.4 per cent in March New Delhi: After four days of digital services business. Sustained high (RBI) data, credit growth to agriculture 2020, mainly due to deceleration in credit successive rise, domestic stock utilisation rates across sites and and allied activities accelerated to 12.3 per small industries decelerated to 0.5 per cent this growth to NBFCs and contraction in markets lost nearly two per cent amid improvement in downstream product deltas cent in March 2021 from 4.2 per cent a year March from 1.7 per cent a year ago, while credit to professional services,” RBI said. rising Covid cases and uncertainties as well as transportation fuel margins aided ago. Credit growth to industry decelerated credit to large industries contracted by 0.8 per However, credit to trade segment continued to surrounding vaccination. The O2C earnings growth. Our consumer marginally to 0.4 per cent in March 2021 from cent to Rs 23.98 lakh crore as against 0.6 per perform well, registering accelerated growth benchmark Sensex slumped by 984 0.7 per cent in March 2020. However, credit to cent growth. According to the RBI, within of 11.8 per cent in March 2021 as compared to points to 48,782.36 and the NSE Nifty businesses have proved to be a digital and 4.6 per cent a year ago. It said slowdown in physical lifeline for the nation in these medium industries registered a robust growth industry, credit to food processing, textiles, Index fell 264 points to 14,631.10 in of 28.8 per cent Rs 136,054 crore in March gems & jewellery, paper & paper products, growth of personal loans continued, as it the sell-off. According to analysts, the challenging times,” Ambani said He said 2021 as compared to a contraction of 0.7 per glass & glassware, wood & wood products and decelerated to 10.2 per cent in March 2021 sell-off was led by foreign investors Jio’s high-speed connectivity services cent a year ago. Credit growth to micro and leather & leather products registered from 15.0 per cent a year ago. who pulled out Rs 3,465 crore from enabled millions of Indians work from home, the equity market on Friday. study from home and even receive healthcare The broader market performed from home. Reliance Retail ensured safe marginally better with mid- and supplies of essential goods and services to small-cap indices falling by a customer homes. Bank holidays in May 2021: relatively smaller extent. On the sectoral front, pharma was the best performing sector and the only one to Jet fuel price up 6.7%; close in the green. Banking was the worst performing sector. Joseph petrol, diesel price hike Banks to be closed for 12 days Thomas, head of research, Emkay coming soon Wealth Management, said, “The Z New Delhi . All banks, be it private or continuous spread of the pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic public sector, will be closed for 12 days was the key concern governing has already forced in May throughout the country, market sentiment. The impact of the according to the Reserve Bank of India localised lockdowns to control the banks to cut short it's pandemic and its impact on the (RBI) holiday calendar list. economic variables would be the working hours and staff The COVID-19 pandemic has already significant market drivers over near attendance to 50%. forced banks to cut short it's working term.” The market turned into a hours and staff attendance to 50%. correction phase following weakness Z These holidays have been notified by in the Asian market despite hopeful The banks will also the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) under signs from Wall Street. “Rising Covid remain closed on the three brackets — the Negotiable cases and uncertainties surrounding Instruments Act, Holiday, Real Time vaccination added more pressure on second and the fourth Gross Settlement Holiday, and Banks’ the market. Along with small-cap stocks, pharma, metal, and oil & gas New Delhi . Jet fuel price on Saturday was Saturdays in May and Closing of Accounts. The banks will also remain closed on the second and were the sectoral gainers,” said Vinod hiked by steep 6.7 per cent, reversing price four Sundays. Nair, head of research, Geojit cuts of last month, while an increase in petrol the fourth Saturdays in May and four Financial Services. “Markets will first and diesel prices may be on the anvil as Z Sundays. The banks will also operate react to Reliance Industries’ earnings international prices firmed up. Aviation The banks will also from 10 AM to 2 PM, as per the new and monthly auto sales numbers in turbine fuel (ATF) price was increased by Rs operate from 10 AM to 2 guidelines. However, all banking early trade on Monday,” said Ajit 3,885 per kilolitre (kl), or 6.7 per cent, to Rs services that are online seem to be Mishra, VP—research, Religare 61,690.28 per kl in the national capital, PM, as per the new available including ATMs, mobile Broking Ltd. Meanwhile, the rupee according to a price notification of state- guidelines. banking, and online banking services snapped its four-day winning streak owned fuel retailers. even during holidays. and settled 2 paise lower at. Rates vary from state to state depending on incidence of local taxes. The increase in price comes after two rounds of reduction last month. Prices were cut by 3 per cent on April 1 and then again by Rs 568.88 per kl (1 per cent) on April 16. Meanwhile, petrol and Gold Price : Gold rates down in major diesel prices remained unchanged for the 16th day on Saturday but oil company officials indicated an increase in rates in near term. Despite the concerns about rising Covid-19 cases in India denting demand, cities, check prices in metro cities crude oil prices in the international market continue to rise on account of strong US demand recovery and a weak dollar. “Prices New Delhi . Gold prices fell have been on a continuous uptrend for last 4 HIGHLIGHTS down in major cities on May days (since April 27),” an official said adding 1. The 22-carat gold rate in Dubai crude oil price has risen USD 2.91 per / in Chennai, the price of gold Delhi stands at Rs. 45,370 barrel. It is expected that the crude oil prices down Rs. 310 and the price of in the international market will remain firm stands at Rs 44,100 per ten gram of 24-carat gold stands at Rs. in the near future, exerting upward pressure, 22 carat with Rs. 270 less and 24- 49,570 with a fall of Rs. 290. officials said. State-owned fuel retailers, In Chennai, the price of gold IOC, BPCL and HPCL, who are supposed to carat gold stands at Rs 48,110 stands at Rs 44,100 per ten revise rates daily based on input cost, froze gram of 22 carat with Rs. 270 rates after a marginal reduction in prices on down at Rs. 280. less and 24-carat gold stands April 15. This came as electioneering in West / In Kolkata, the rate of 22-carat at Rs 48,110 down at Rs. 280. Bengal peaked. Petrol now costs Rs 90.40 In Kolkata, the rate of 22- per litre in Delhi, while a litre of diesel comes gold stands at Rs 46,110 per 10 carat gold stands at Rs 46,110 for Rs 80.73. The April 15 cut of 16 paise a gram with a fall of Rs. 320 and that per 10 gram with a fall of Rs. litre on petrol and 14 paise on diesel was 320 and that of 24-carat gold fourth reduction since March 24. In four of 24-carat gold is at Rs. 48,810 is at Rs. 48,810 with a fall of reductions since March 24, petrol price was Rs 320. In Mumbai, the gold cut by 67 paise and diesel by 74 paise. This with a fall of Rs 320. price stands at Rs. 44,170 and reduction compared with a Rs 21.58 per litre / In the international market, gold Rs. 45,170 per ten grams of 22 increase in price of petrol since the carat and 24 carat with Rs. government raised excise duty in March last was trading down at USD 1,769 per 310 fall. Gold tumbled Rs 191 year. Diesel prices had increased by Rs 19.18 to Rs 46,283 per 10 gram in a litre. While petrol and iesel prices are ounce and silver was flat at USD the national capital on Friday revised on a daily basis, ATF rates are revised 25.92 per ounce. in line with the decline in global precious metal prices, according to HDFC Securities. gold was trading down silver was flat at USD 25.92 on the 1st and 16th of every month. In the international market, at USD 1,769 per ounce and per ounce. New Delhi, Sunday, 2 May, 2021 SPORTS THE SIKH TIMES 11 Brett Lee hails Harpreet Brar's match-winning spell vs RCB: Imagine his friends and family at this moment

Ahmedabad. Former Australia fast bowler Brett Lee hailed young left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar, HIGHLIGHTS who starred with a Player of the Match performance for Punjab Kings against Royal / Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier RCB skipper Virat Kohli League (IPL) 2021 on Friday. Brar, 25, picked up the wickets of Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell in became Harpreet Brar's successive deliveries before sending back AB de Villiers to finish with figures of 3 for 19 in just his maiden IPL wicket in Match 3rd match for PBKS. His match-winning spell at the Narendra Modi Stadium helped PBKS restrict RCB to 145 for 8 26 after they posted 179 for 5 in 20 overs. Brar also scored 25 not out off 17 balls in Punjab's total / Harpreet Brar finished with after they being asked to bat first by Virat Kohli. "Imagine his friends and family at this moment. Virat Kohli goes out to him to give his figures of 3 wickets for 19 congratulations. 'Thanks for getting me out, don't get me out again or you won't play for India' runs in just his 3rd match for (laughs). No, just kidding," Brett Lee joked on Star Sports. After a good outing with the bat, a confident Brar came up with a glorious 11th over PBKS for his team. The left-arm spinner castled Kohli on the first ball and inflicted further damage by / The 25-year-old Moga-born knocking off Glenn Maxwell's off-stump on the very next delivery. The Moga-born tweaker then got the golden wicket of AB de Villiers in his next left-arm spinner was over when the former South African captain chipped one straight into the hands of KL Rahul at adjudged Player of the Match extra cover. "But imagine his parents and his Kings pacer, who played for the franchise for 3 seasons, rest of the tournament."It was an amazing spell, it was so family going - you got out Virat Kohli, fantastic. You got signed off. Former New Zealand all-rounder Scott good to see this youngster in just his third IPL game. out Maxwell, brilliant. You got ABD! I mean what a Styris also praised the rookie Punjab cricketer, who This will give a life to Punjab Kings moving forward," for his bowling exploits game for him. Three massive scalps," the former Punjab could be a regular face in the PBKS playing XI for the Styris said. COVID-19: Messi, Neymar Premier League: to get Chinese vaccines Naomi Osaka and Simona Halep Jonny Evans header New Delhi. Footballers Lionel Messi and power into 2nd round of Madrid Open Neymar are among hundreds of South helps Leicester City American players that will receive COVID- 19 vaccines donated by China's Sinovac ZMadrid Open: Naomi Osaka overcame Misaki Doi’s strong start by hitting six aces and breaking her serve Biotech in the coming weeks, according to salvage 1-1 draw vs regional football confederation five times while Simona Halep, who won the tournament in 2016 and ’17, beat Sorribes 6-0, 7-5. CONMEBOL. 10-man The entity began distributing vaccines to its 10- Madrid. Second-seeded Naomi after the Czech beat Qiang Wang member associations after a shipment of Osaka made a successful return 6-1, 6-3. Third-seeded Simona 50,000 doses arrived in the Uruguayan capital to clay at the Madrid Open by Halep, who won the tournament in Southampton of Montevideo on Thursday. "Vaccines for beating Misaki Doi 7-5, 6-2 in 2016 and ’17, beat Sorribes 6-0, 7- South American football are already arriving. the first round on Friday. Osaka 5. Maria Sakkari roared back after Southampton. Leicester City needed a 68th-minute Thank you Sinovac Biotech Ltd. for this overcame Doi’s strong start by losing the first seven games of her Jonny Evans header to salvage a point after a gritty gesture of solidarity and for understanding the hitting six aces and breaking her match againstAmandaAnisimova Southampton side had taken a surprise lead via a enormous social and cultural value that serve five times. to win 0-6, 6-1, 6-4. Sixth-seeded James Ward-Prowse penalty. Third-placed football has in the countries of our continent," A leg injury meant Osaka missed Karolina Pliskova fought back to Leicester City suffered a frustrating night on the said CONMEBOL President Alejandro last season’s clay-court swing, oust Cori Gauff 5-7, 6-3, 6-2, south coast as they were held to a 1-1 draw in the Dominguez on Twitter. In a statement and her last individual while Daria Kasatkina needed Premier League by a Southampton side who published on its official website, tournament on the surface was at three match points to see off Irina- played almost the entire match with 10 men on CONMEBOL said the vaccination Roland Garros in 2019. She Camelia Begu 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (1). Friday. Jennifer Brady beat Venus programme would prioritise each of the played and lost for Japan against In the end Leicester needed a 68th-minute Jonny national squads, coaches, officials and other Spain’s Sara Sorribes in the Fed Williams 6-2, 6-4 after breaking her serve six times. Fifth-seeded Evans header to salvage a point after a gritty workers taking part in the Copa America to be Cup in February 2020. Southampton side had taken a surprise lead via a played in Argentina and Colombia from June Osaka said she felt better on the didn’t feel uncomfortable sliding or I Aryna Sabalenka, Victoria Azarenka, Jennifer Brady, Elise Mertens, James Ward-Prowse penalty. Southampton had 13 to July 10. The doses would also be used to surface. didn’t feel that tired. So I’m actually really begun the game in lively fashion but they suffered inoculate participants of the region's top club “When I was playing on clay that year, I excited to get that mindset back and to start Saisai Zheng and Jessica Pegula also moved on. Top-seeded Ashleigh Barty a blow after 10 minutes when Jannik Vestergaard competitions. "The vaccines constitute didn’t feel uncomfortable at all,” Osaka feeling more comfortable on clay.” Osaka, was harshly shown a red card for a last-ditch tackle another barrier to the spread of Covid-19," said. “The two matches that I lost, it was the U.S. Open and Australian Open and three-time former winner Petra Kvitova advanced on Thursday. on Jamie Vardy. The draw left Leicester with 63 said CONMEBOL. "The vaccination protocol more mental than it was physical. Like, I champion, next plays Karolina Muchova points from 34 games, eight points above fifth- practically guarantees that each dose has a placed West Ham United who play on Monday. first and last name and that they cannot be diverted or used for people who are not part of Southampton moved up a place to 14th and with a the objective of this campaign. "(It) will begin 10-point gap between themselves and third-from- wth the teams that will compete in the Copa I have no plans to retire now because I bottom Fulham they look to be safe from the America and those that are participating in the prospect of relegation. "A little frustrating, I don't international CONMEBOL tournaments think we did enough to win the game," Leicester before reaching the female and male teams of manager Brendan Rodgers said. "A great the highest category of each country." am fit, can bat and bowl: Shoaib Malik opportunity against 10 men and we're normally Originally scheduled for 2020, the 47th very good at that. Give credit to Southampton, edition of the Copa America was postponed ? Karachi. Former Pakistan batting well. My fitness is they defended deep and compact but we're by a year because of the coronavirus Shoaib Malik has captain Shoaib Malik made it top grade,” Malik said. disappointed. "But it's another point towards pandemic. played 116 T20Is for clear on Friday that he has no Malik, despite now where we want to go. We've now got four games to Pakistan, scored 2335 plans to retire just yet after focussing only on the go. We're in a brilliant position." The rumours of the all-rounder's shortest format, has been corresponding fixture last season ended in a runs and taken 28 future started doing the rounds kept out of the Pakistan's Premier League record-equalling 9-0 humiliation Mirabai Chanu leaves wickets yet again in the cricketing T20 squad since last year for Southampton and when Vestergaard was sent ? fraternity. Malik, who only as head coach Misbah-ul- off it looked as though another miserable night was Malik is the third- plays the shortest format for Haq keep on trying several in store for Ralph Hasenhuttl and his team. for US for Tokyo highest scorer in T20 Pakistan after retiring from new players in the batting Vestergaard's first contribution in the game was a cricket with 10488 Tests and ODIs, said that he is clearly today I have not even order. Malik apparently superbly-weighted pass which set Kyle Walker- still fit enough to give younger thought about retirement. I have has made it clear to the head Peters clear to find the net but he was clearly runs at an average of players a run for their money no plans to retire now because I coach that even if they consider offside. His last came in the 10th minute when, Olympics build-up 37.06 and represent the national team. am fit, I can bat, and I can bowl,” selecting him again he will bat at having taken a heavy touch, he stretched out a leg ? Malik has played 116 T20Is for the 39-year-old batsman told the number four on a set position to try and nick the ball away from Vardy. Malik, who only Pakistan, scored 2335 runs at media on Friday. and not be moved around like in Vestergaard won the ball but his follow through plays T20 31.13 and taken 28 wickets “I have recently signed two-year the past. Malik also made the caught Vardy painfully on the ankle and referee international cricket, since making his debut in the contracts in some leagues so point that whenever he played in Robert Jones brandished the red card. Despite format in 2006. He is the third- where does the question of me the Pakistan Super League or their numerical advantage, Leicester lacked has been kept out of highest run-scorer in T20 taking retirement after the other foreign leagues he kept on fluency and they had to wait 34 minutes to get a the Pakistan's T20 cricket behind Chris Gayle World Cup arise. “I can field in performing in the shortest shot on target as Kelechi Iheanacho's long-range squad since (13,885) and Kieron Pollard hotspots, I can take two runs and format and even now worked effort was easily saved. Iheanacho has not been (10,710) with 10,488 runs from I can save two runs. When I have very hard on his fitness to able to put a foot wrong of late but he conceded the September last year 417 matches. “I am saying very to bowl I can also bowl and I am compete with younger players. penalty which threatened to. IPL 2021: Chris Gayle and Yuzvendra Chahal flex their New Delhi. Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu will shift her base to St. Louis, USA, until the Olympics after Sports Authority of India’s Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) fast-tracked and muscles in shirtless picture after PBKS beat RCB approved her proposal on Friday. Chanu, who recently won a bronze medal at the Asian responses from fans on social 19 runs from his 4 overs while Championship, setting the world record in HIGHLIGHTS media due to the extreme mystery spinner Ravi Bishnoi clean and jerk section in the process, had said difference in the physique of grabbed a couple. Brar, the 25- during a SAI-facilitated interaction on / Chris Gayle and both the cricketers. The year-old who hails from Moga in Thursday that she ‘hoped’ to travel to the USA diminutive Chahal looked Punjab, took the wickets of RCB but was concerned about the possibility of the Yuzvendra Chahal posed like a baby in front of the big skipper Virat Kohli, all-rounder tour getting cancelled because of the Covid-19 and burly Jamaican. Gayle, Glenn Maxwell and vice-captain situation in India. for a shirtless picture after who played 7 seasons in the AB de Villiers to break the However, the MOC acted swiftly and decided to Match 26 IPL for RCB from 2011 to opposition's backbone and derail send Chanu to the USA on Saturday, before any 2017, played one of the their chase in the second innings. restrictions are imposed on visitors from India. / Gayle starred in the match starring roles in PBKS' third n"I am sure the people back Chanu will be accompanied by her coaches win of IPL 2021 at the home would be proud and happy. Vijay Sharma and Sandeep Kumar. The scoring 46 off 24 balls in Narendra Modi Stadium. I wasn't overwhelmed when weightlifter, who competes in the 49kg class, Gayle smashed 46 off 24 balls Kohli hit me because a bowler will spend the next 83 days in the build-up to Punjab's 34-run victory and added 80 runs for the always gets a second chance to the Olympics at St. Louis and will directly / PBKS registered their second wicket with his come back. "My first IPL wicket travel to Tokyo from there. While there, Chanu Ahmedabad. Former Royal League (IPL). captain KL Rahul (97 not out) was Kohli Paaji's wicket and that will also get treated for her back and shoulder third win of IPL 2021 from 7 Challengers Bangalore Their camaraderie was there for all to help PBKS post 179 for 5 in 20 was very special. It came out in a problems by physiotherapist Aaron Horschig, teammates Chris Gayle and to see as the duo struck a pose overs which they successfully flow after that, your body opens who worked on her during her first visit last games to grab the 5th spot Yuzvendra Chahal continue to with their shirts off after Punjab defended by restricting RCB to up, you get confident and things year. Chanu and Sharma credited Horschig for remain great friends even after Kings' 34-run victory over RCB 145 for 8.Young left-arm spinner fall in place," Brar, who also improving her fitness, which they said enabled on the IPL 2021 table the West Indian moved to Punjab in Match 26 on Friday. The Harpreet Brar stunned the Royal scored 25 not out off 17 balls, her to set the clean and jerk world record. Kings in the Indian Premier snapshot drew some hilarious Challengers with 3 wickets for said after picking up. 12 New Delhi, Sunday, 2 May, 2021 CAREER THE SIKH TIMES

4 ways to bring order

to your To achieve professional success, you Work need to be organized. Now, don't Life lose heart. Being organized. So, make sure that your work desk doesn't look like an earthquake ravaged zone. Clear papers/ files off your desk. Throw organized is not that difficult Keep your digital life organized: away things which are not needed. Keep a to-do list on your desk to In the highly technological world we are living in, it's essential to give you a sense of purpose on a daily basis. bring order to your digital life. If you have a pile of e-mails, then if you bring mindfulness to dedicating some of your time to sort these bad boys out on a daily Prioritize: basis, just like your emails, won't hurt. Keeping your digital life Get it clear in your mind. What's more important? Prioritizing will organized means you don't unnecessarily browse the web for endless help you focus on the most important thing and postpone things which your working life. Here are hours. Don't spend too much of time on social networking sites. In don't garner immediate attention. the end, all these virtual activities are unproductive and don't add anything to your working life. Focus: four simple ways to bring You can't have an organized work life if you don't focus. Don't leave Clutter free work desk: any task half way. When you start a task, take it to the logical end. A clutter free work desk goes a long way in making your work life Leaving unfinished business is the hallmark of a disorganized person. order to your work life Women make better Are you a procrastinator at work? A new report says delaying - You let your mood dictate tasks and being distracted when crucial tasks need to get takes away 55 days a year done. Okay, how many of us are 55 days lost guilty of this? A survey of 2,000 adults 1. Shopping online when you revealed that we spend on an have a presentation to make? average, 218 minutes 2. Desktop browsing travel procrastinating every day, sites instead of getting a report which equals 55 days of lost done? time year. Bosses 3. Lolling in front of the TV In your genes? A new study suggests that women than their male a positive team environment and provide instead of doing that daily Researchers at the University counterparts as bosses since they set basic employees with opportunities to develop within workout? of Colorado at Boulder found expectations for their employees, build their careers.The workers, based on over forty Chances are, you've done all that a tendency to relationships with their subordinates, encourage years of research, reported that with a woman as three. procrastinate may have its a positive team environment and provide their manager, they are more likely to feel Procrastinating or putting roots in genetic factors and employees with opportunities to develop within engaged at work and thus perform better. The things off can be detrimental to our daily unhappier you. People who that impulsivity is also genetically their careers. study analysed responses from 27 million lives and is described as the number one continually put things off are linked. In the battle of sexes as to who could be the better employees and reached the conclusion that enemy of progress. The good news? If unhappier, as well as less wealthy and 5 strategies to become more more time- boss, here is another reason for women to rejoice! female bosses outperform men when it comes to you're guilty of it, you're mot alone. healthy in comparison to those who get efficient A study finds that women managers encourage a encouraging employee engagement, reports the Delaying tasks at hand is a universal things done promptly. We might kid Reward yourself: This is the best positive team environment and provide Independent. syndrome and one that most people do ourselves that leaving things to the last motivator. Buy yourself a doughnut or a employees with better career opportunities. The findings indicated that workers whose most of the time. minute means we'll do a better job slice of cake if you have completed your According to the findings, female managers are managers were women were much more likely Here's more... because of the added pressure, but tasks for the day. better than male counterparts since they set basic to answer 'yes' to the following statements: Why do people look for distractions? studies have shown that Try peer pressure: Getting a colleague to expectations for their employees, build "There is someone at work who encourages my For different people, the justification to procrastinators are more likely to make check up on you is another good idea. relationships with their subordinates, encourage development"; "In the last six months, someone escape work varies. Says advertising mistakes. Psychiatrist Dr Anjali When you have someone to answer to, it has talked to me about my progress"; "In the last manager Rishabh Mehta, "Most often Chhabria says this is not so much a helps. seven days, I have received recognition or praise when I know that I have something time management issue as it is about Make a to-do list: That won't allow you for doing good work". important to do like calling a client, it having a maladaptive lifestyle. "We are to escape looking at what you must do. The results suggested that 87% of employees starts to bore me and I automatically sometimes ill-prepared owing to a bad Plus, proritisation eases pressure. worldwide reported the feeling of disengaged at begin to think of excuses to tell him why I sleep schedule, which in turn causes a Break it down: Put the major goal into work. What's more, companies with highly haven't called instead of just doing so. It's lack of focus. Procrastinators are also smaller tasks, which will make it more engaged workers outperform their competitors just a feeling of dread to face the task constantly living in thought rather than manageable. It will also feel good to tick by 147% in earnings per share and having more which makes me feel like doing anything action. This over-thinking leaves them off each item as you go along. women in management positions can help a else, even taking a walk, instead." Adds anxious and fatigued. We have to stop Write out the consequences: Pen down company do that. student Samina Parkar, "I recently took a hitting the snooze button to give us why it will be unpleasant not to complete gym membership, but each day, I was time and delay things," she adds. what you have at hand. For instance, finding more reasons that came in the Top signs that you're a habitual write 'weekend will get the overload' or way of heading there — from friends to offender 'I'll have to stay back and miss my TV my work. I realised it was just the - You spend too much time chatting show'; it's effective. trepidation of working hard there that with pals or near the office vending Use technology right: In an interview to was putting me off." Knowing our action machine. the American Psychological will require certain effort and cause some - You simply go through work mails Association, Joseph Ferrari, who has pain are also the reasons why we put without really doing anything about authored books on the subject, says, things off and thus go back into our them. "Today's technology can help us not comfort zones, state psychologists. - You have a high-priority task at hand, procrastinate if we use it wisely. We Expert's warning: Don't use the 'snooze but immediately go for a coffee break. don't have to surf the web for hours on button' all the time - You delegate all tasks into the 'future' irrelevant tasks. Use technology as a Constantly being in the 'I don't feel like instead of the 'present'. tool, not as a means of delay." doing this now' mode can lead to a