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$ %'( $) R O ! ! +7 895 are relooking at (adverse events " # $ # that were reported) to see if ! n the wake of Denmark, there was any issue of blood # & INorway, Iceland, and clotting.” Thailand temporarily halting “As of yesterday there were P vaccination with the Oxford- 59 or 60 deaths, and they ! " AstraZeneca vaccine following were all coincidental,” the doc- ' isolated reports of recipients tor said, adding hospitalisation ( !O '!! developing blood clots, India cases were being re-exam- $ ) *! on Saturday said it will carry ined. + ' , out a deeper review of post- “In fact there is a real & vaccination side effects from effort from our side that once ! Covishield, the Oxford- complete investigation is done, +7 895 !! AstraZeneca Covid vaccine to put its results in public being manufactured by Serum domain, on the Ministry of assengers refusing to wear ' Institute of India, next week. Health website,” Arora added. Pface masks properly during “No cases of blood clots On Sunday, the WHO said its a flight could be placed on a have been reported so far in the vaccines advisory committee no-fly list for a period of three country, but we are looking at !"# was currently going through months to two years or more. all the adverse events, particu- $ % & safety data and emphasised Amid reports of Covid-19 vio- # ! larly serious adverse events that no causal link had been lation by air passengers and $ %& like deaths and hospitalisa- established between the vaccine surge in coronavirus cases $'' -. tion. We will come back if we and blood clot. again in several States, the & $! !! find anything of concern,” NK So far, a cumulative total of Directorate General of Civil % &$ / 01 '23 Arora, a member of national more than 2.82 crore Aviation (DGCA) on Saturday task force on Covid-19, told a (2,82,18,457) vaccine doses said a passenger violating pro- The Airlines have to an Air India Kolkata-Delhi ! news agency. have been administered in two tocol despite repeated warn- ensure that passengers are fol- flight earlier this month. ,# 4 This new development phases — first, to frontline and ings will be treated as “unruly lowing the Covid-19 guide- “In case, any passenger $ 00 took place even as the World healthcare workers, and sec- passenger”. If a passenger refus- lines. Besides, the violators on board an aircraft refuses to Health Organization (WHO) ond, to citizens above the age es to comply with the instruc- will be de-boarded and classi- wear mask or violates the on Friday said there was no rea- of 60 and co-morbid above 45 tions before a flight takes off, fied as “unruly passengers”. Covid-19 protocol for passen- " ( son to stop using AstraZeneca’s years. then he or she should be de- The move follows a Delhi gers even after repeated warn- ! ) Covid-19 jab. Meanwhile, with India boarded, DGCA said. High Court order that pas- ings during the course of the 5 India has been using the Serum Institute had joined and allowed exports of millions recording the highest number In a circular, the DGCA sengers without a mask be put flight, such passenger may be Indian version of the Oxford- hands with AstraZeneca to of these jabs to around 70 of daily coronavirus cases in 83 has directed airport officials on a no-fly list after the judge treated as “unruly passenger” !!! AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine manufacture 1 billion doses of countries over the last few days on Saturday, the country and security personnel to observed the callous attitude of and the procedure in respect of ! 620 called Covishield, as devel- the vaccine shot. weeks as a part of its vaccine could be heading towards a ensure that no one is allowed passengers. handling such unruly passen- ' oped by SII, the world’s largest India has given at least 28 diplomacy. new wave that scientists say can to enter the airport without Justice Hari Shankar took ger as provided in Civil O vaccine manufacturer by vol- million shots in its vast vacci- Arora said there was “no be quelled by vaccinating the wearing a mask and everyone suo motu cognizance of the Aviation Requirements (CAR) * # ume, and indigenous vaccine nation programme, most of immediate issue of concern as maximum number of people must maintain social distanc- matter after he witnessed fel- shall be followed by the con- ! giant Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin them Covishield. The the number of adverse events and following Covid-appro- ing norms at all times during low passengers wearing their cerned airline,” the DGCA cir- ! in its vaccination drive. Government has also gifted (in India) is very, very low. We priate behaviour. air travel. masks pulled down while on cular said. '(# ' They will hand over the Clarifying that the Krishak O P country to big industrialist !# Mahapanchayat in Bengal is groups putting your livelihood # not meant to pledge support to ! at stake and in danger,” he said. $# % any particular non-BJP party in Calling the BJP “a party of $ &%$' the State, the Bharatiya Kisan cheats” which hides its sympa- ' ## # Union chief said, “I am not here thy for the rich, Tikait said, to seek votes for a particular “We will be on the side of those (% party. We are here to issue an who oppose BJP, those who will M emphatic appeal to start the stand by the farmers and the N battle against BJP on behalf of " poor.” the farmers in Bengal.”

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mid a steady outflow of Asenior leaders from the Trinamool Congress, former (12 ) $ 3( & Union Finance Minister and %1 1 ex-BJP leader Yashwant Sinha % &$ joined Mamata Banerjee’s party on Saturday saying the tipping ' ( &) * % + ,-. point for him to join the (/& 0%,). + 8 $$:+$+ 5(,$* part of the Mahapanchayat. TMC was the “attack” on the $ & ' ( 1 Tikait, who was received at Bengal Chief Minister at % &$ armers held the airport by TMC MP Dola Nandigram. FMahapanchayats on Sen, later addressed gatherings Sinha said Mamata is one country is facing an unprece- hijacked an Indian Airlines Saturday in Kolkata and at of farmers in Kolkata and of the few visible faces in the dented situation…” adding the aircraft. Nandigram, where Chief Nandigram in East Midnapore country trying to stop the BJP democratic institutions like The former Union Minister Mamata Banerjee is in district along with social from “crushing and conquer- “the judiciary have become Minister who once handled the the fray, at the call of the activist Medha Patkar. ing” the Opposition and the weak now.” External Affairs joined his new Samyukt Kisan Morcha and Alleging that the BJP-led time has come when the demo- Praising the Chief Minister party at the Trinamool Bhawan urged people not to vote for the Government at the Centre is cratic-minded parties of the whom he met at her residence in the presence of senior lead- BJP in the coming Assembly intent on breaking the back- country will have to take a deci- before joining her party, Sinha ers Derek O Brien, Sudip poll in West Bengal. bone of the farmers and their sion to sink differences and said he always knew her as a Bandopadhyay, and Subrata Farmer leader and movement, Tikait said it is unite for a bigger cause. fighter who as a Cabinet Mukherjee. Bharatiya Kisan Union chief “anti-people”. The 83-year-old veteran Minister in the Atal Behari Sinha said there is qualita- Rakesh Tikait, one of those “Don’t vote for BJP. If voted IAS officer-turned politician, Vajpayee Government and tively difference between the spearheading the about four- to power they will give away who left the BJP in 2018, said offered herself as a hostage dur- NDA Government led by month-old farmers’ stir against your land to big corporates and he is joining the Trinamool at ing the Kandahar crisis when Vajpayee and the one being run the Centre’s farm laws, reached industries and make you land- a crucial juncture when “the Pakistani terrorists had today. the State during the day to be less. # "# $ !%& $#%%%

$9*$+ " and Minister for Labour Gauri '8*4 the Islamic State (ISIS) group Shankar Chaudhary, the have been blamed for the epal’s CPN (Maoist Kathmandu Post reported. ri Lanka on Saturday attacks at six locations — two NCentre)-led by Pushpa The decision was taken by Sannounced plans to ban the Roman Catholic churches, one Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ on the standing committee meet- wearing of burqas and said it Protestant church and three top Saturday recalled its Ministers ing of the CPN-MC held this would close more than 1,000 hotels. from the Cabinet led by Prime morning at Paris Danda, the Islamic schools known as Weerasekara also said the Minister KP Sharma Oli and Centre’s party office here. madrasas, citing national secu- Government will ban more directed all its leaders nomi- “Our Standing Committee rity. than 1,000 Madrasas, saying nated at the CPN-UML Central meeting has decided to call Minister of Public Security they are not registered with the Committee to make their posi- back all our Ministers in the Sarath Weerasekara said he authorities and do not follow tions clear within 24 hours, Federal Government and told signed a paper on Friday seek- the national education policy. intensifying the rift between the leaders nominated by UML ing the approval of the Cabinet The decision to ban burqas the two factions. to make their position of Ministers to ban burqas. and madrassas is the latest Among the Ministers clear within 24 hours,” “The burqa has a direct “It is a sign of religious move affecting the Indian called back are Minister for Devendra Poudel, a Standing impact on national security,” extremism that came about Ocean island nation’s minori- Home Affairs Ram Bahadur Committee member, was quot- Weerasekara told a ceremony at recently. We will definitely ban ty Muslims. Thapa, Minister for Energy, ed as saying. a Buddhist temple on Saturday, it.” The wearing of burqas was Muslims make up about 9 Water Resources and Irrigation As per the legal provision, without elaborating. temporarily banned in 2019 per cent of the 22 million peo- Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, lawmakers will lose their seats “In our early days, we had after the Easter Sunday bomb ple in Sri Lanka, where Minister for Water Supply in the upper house and the a lot of Muslim friends, but attacks on churches and hotels Buddhists account for more Mani Chandra Thapa, Urban lower house of Parliament if Muslim women and girls never in Sri Lanka that killed more than 70 per cent of the popu- Development Minister Prabhu they choose to leave the party wore the burqa,” Weerasekara than 260 people. lation. Ethnic minority Tamils, Shah, Minister for Youth and or their party decides to expel said, according to video footage Two local Muslim groups mainly Hindus, comprise about Sports Dawa Lama Tamang them from the party. sent by his Ministry. that had pledged allegiance to 15 per cent of the population. + ,-. /0/, ' +,- !!/ 1 + ,- 66 ++7 -. ! 22 ,2 34 $!5 of the fittest — you snooze you lose. Directed by Alankrita Shrivastava +2 2/! (Lipstick Under My Burkha fame), 3/ 6/ Bombay Begums takes one on a journey + 6 2 & & where a woman is allowed to pursue !&'()* her dreams and make it big in life without feeling guilty that they iven the controversies preferred to pursue a career rather stay surrounding this latest web at home and be a mom. Gseries, it may be prudent for The only problem here is that those who feel that one must shut one’s even though there is plenty of intrigue eyes to all the bad that is happening and twists and turns in the plot it moves around them to avoid this one. at an extremely slow pace. So much so However, if you are the kind of person that one can even go for a bathroom who knows what teenagers are up to break and come back and pick up the these days, you need to watch it to take story of these five women without a lesson and ensure that your wards having missed much in terms of how don’t walk the thin line of what is right things unfold. * 9 =! + and wrong. Of course, one’s perspective Pooja Bhatt, who was last seen in " * 2D 0E02 of the situation and circumstances Sadak 2 plays the part of a powerful ' 1 ! also make a difference and one takes banker (Rani) rather well. Her choice # ! M A 4# A 8# 7 ! 6 decisions based on them. of sarees is brilliant and will leave one # ! So despite the hue and cry by child impressed. Aadhya Anand deserves a # right activists about the inappropriate round of applause. Shahana Goswami, 7 #I 4# ! H !# # portrayal of teenagers, the series is also Amruta Subhash, Plabita Borthakur do H ! ! about four other adult women who are their part as well. # ! # trying to make a place for themselves The men here don’t have much to ! $ 5 N , ! in a man’s world — a world that is filled do except plot the downfall of these comedy genre. Sadly, there is bhi mujhe love you too karti with cut-throat competition where women so that they rule. ( neither any horror nor any naa toh palat kar jaroor dog eats dog and it is all about survival L% % comedy. Just because the dekhegi. !#$ ! chudail, in this case a mudhiya Also, this is the 21st " pairi (witch with inverted legs) century where science and !&'()* doesn’t make the film scary technology rule the roast and * 4# * even if they show ultey bloody yet Bollywood still continues " * 2D 0E02 his is the first movie with footprints, a face that has to make movies on chudails big stars to have had a more blue veins and slightly and shows how people here, in 8! ! Ttheatrical release after reddish eyes, a smirk and hair order to ward off evil, marry 5 ! ! Hollywood’s Wonder Woman all over the face. a tree or even a dog — ! ! ! 1984 that released in Director Hardik Mehta Rajkummar Rao marries one ! December 2020. Given the shoves down the message that — to mislead the mudiya ! increase in the number of the paranormal entity here is pairi. + ' = ! $ F+'=$G 4#* COVID-19 cases once again, not a ghost but a chudail. One What doesn’t make even ! ! the BO was sure to be affected wonders what the difference is more sense is why all our ! ! H and the film could only make given that there are no frightful chudails end up at the edge of +'=$ 9 4 ( ! /! a modest 2.50 crore on Day moments or even eerie music either the tallest building or a # 7 /! I L !! 1. playing in the background. mountain where there is a ! ! # It has less to do with the However much we were mandir. Obviously, our chudail $ K 9 fear that is keeping patrons look for laughter, what we here is not scared of God. ! 5 ! away from the cinema halls didn’t find funny is how Varun Overall, this movie has !I ! 7 7 and more to do with the fact Sharma’ character falls in love laughs few and far between. ! 4#* 5 ! +'=$ that Roohi doesn’t make much with the witch in Jahnvi Watch only if you are a ! !M $ sense after the first few Kapoor even if there is a DDLJ Rajkummar Rao fan and you L 7 minutes of its running time. moment — Muje toh don’t want to miss any of his ! 7 # 5 5 The film is a horror- mohabbat ho ri bhai; agar je films. L% % & 5 !M

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P 9 ! 9 ) ,-*./.*0 / $ ! * O >O 5 = * 8 O O * 1 ,.2,3,4 5 ! =O ! ! ! ! 5 ! ! # ! ! How did you come on board for Crime positive way. Even when I was at the low O Alert? point of my career, I had expectations that !# ! It was Bhagwan (Kale) sir who called me I would rise again and be given an ! and wanted me on the project. I agreed opportunity to showcase my talent again. / because first, it was a rather interesting God has been kind to me thus far. I am concept and second, I had been doing extremely thankful to my audience who negative roles one after the other and was 5 +M 7$+ 4 accepted me every kind of role that I have looking to do something different that had done. realism to it. Crime is a subject that needs 5+ $ O+ 79, 5 Why and how did you get into acting? to be looked at in-depth since the percentage $* '*A,$48 My life story has been told in Naache is on the rise. We have become insensitive Mayuri or Mayuri (Telugu). I would say that to what we read. What we visualise, we find 4'$" 9+ ?" it was the first biopic film. It saddens me that $ # ! a connection. Here, we are using when we talk about autobiography films # 9 * entertainment as an eye-opener to make $ ?",8A A, today, nobody mentions it. It was not only *! ! people aware of what is happening around (,$+ 5+ , , the first biopic to be made, it also starred ! them. Anchoring this show has been an eye- the person acting her own life. Today’s ! (& !! ! ! opener for me as well. @=8, +7 biopics don’t have the actual person enacting ,# # 4 ! " How did you end up a producer and an their life’s story; an actor is chosen to play ! ! # # anchor? 95+( + the real-life person. This is depressing. First, I want to say that I never thought *" *> $7$? How did you get this film? ! $ # I L5 ! that I would become a producer but the It was because of Ramoji Rao (producer 5 ! channel gave me the opportunity to be one. A,* 9 = of Mayuri), he owns Ramoji Film City. He (& ,# ! # ! 5 This is something new that I have explored. saw me dance with an artificial limb. He $ ! !# = # To being, with, they asked me to anchor my 79, + 5 always wanted to make different kinds of O ! own production. But then I had become a * '*A,$48 films. He read about me and thought it ! ! = ! & ! 5 & ! bit busy. However, now I am on board with would make for an interesting human- /# ! 5 5 ! them. In fact, they gave me two interest film. He felt that if I played the role 9 opportunities; I also never thought I would of myself, it would be more genuine. That’s # (& ,# O ! !! O be an anchor. But here I am, being an anchor how I came on board the movie and ended $ ! 4 O ! $ + !# thanks to Bhagwan (Kale) and Manish up acting. +# ( ! (Singhal) sir, the owners of the channel. I What kind of roles attract you? $ ! ! ! only saw myself as an actor/dancer. To No actor can vouch that a certain , +# 7 !! ! $ I ! M be a host is a wonderful experience. character will be good or not. I personally L5 What was your reaction when you feel that one can’t predict which role will be ! $ $ ! 5 * were offered to host and be a a turning point in one’s career. I have always +# !! $ $4O $% &' producer? played good role and then I did negative ! ! ! 4 5 ! # These were two genres where I had roles and people loved me as the vamp. I $ ! ! ! ! no prior knowledge about. For me, would not have survived in the industry for ! /# 5 # when it was suggested that I turn a 25 years if I had turned down the negative ! ! ! producer, my reaction was where would roles that came my way. ! ! M > F$ # +!G O F? I get the money from. I could not put all You have been part of Tamil, Malayalam, ,G my hard-earned money in the series. Hindi, Telugu and, Gujarati, Kannada ! ! # )* ! 9 7 ,# F G $! When I met the owners, I told them that even Bhojpuri films. How did this 4 O I ? # # N F (G ! I would like to produce one. They guided happen? L ! 7 ! !N 7 9 # me and gave me the confidence to go ahead. This happened at a time when ! 5 N 9 # What was the most shocking lesson you you don’t get work and I started ! ! > ,# learnt as a producer and host? exploring regional cinema. I # N 7 ! ! # # We all read newspapers and watch news. loved doing these movies for a !! !N 5 O 7 > 2. But sadly, we only see the headlines. We are couple of reasons. First, they have ! ! # O K ,# not personally connected to the crime that a wonderful storyline. Second, ! ! ! takes place. While hosting the show, they are extremely professional in O ! # 9 7 ! !# 9 one can’t be emotional to the subject; their approach. $ +# & ! ! ,# ! one ha to have a straight face and tell You are a dancer, an actor, a $ # 5 ! # # people what has happened in a dispassionate host, a producer, and a judge. & ! 5O ! ! > manner. Through this show, we want to tell The role where you are most 5 ! # ! ,# people that as citizens, they too must take comfortable. ! ! M # F* 7 G responsibility to understand the crime and I don’t want to be in a zone 7 $ +# O ! ! ! talk about it. We can’t be dependent on the where I am comfortable because # K O 9 7 ,# # # police all the time. We can’t turn a blind eye then you take yourself for ! (& ,# !O A ! 9 ! to the crime taking place in the country granted. In order to explore new 4 (& M / $ ! ! ! because we are personally not affected. things, one must move away from the 4 ! 9! 4 & $ # O You started with films and now TV. How spot where one is most comfortable. ! ! ! 9 has the journey been? What next? ! 4M $# ! ! A5,O 9 > # N It has been wonderful. It was never a I am doing a show for Zee Telugu, this # , & * H +# ( + 7 O ! 9 M N straight line but I enjoyed every phase of it. has been on for over a year. With Crime Alert This is because I always took things in a added to the kitty, my 30 days are full.

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6& !// /$ & 3 7(/& 8 1111!/5 ! $ //! !//5! ' ! " # )$ ) ) 9,$ "+ he change of face affected Tby the ruling BJP in the Government and the party organisation has forced the Opposition Congress party to revisit its election strategy in 9,$ "+ train caught fire at about 12:20 the Himalayan State. It is learnt PM in the Kansro area after that the Central leadership of coach of the New Delhi- which the locomotive pilot 9,$ "+ the party has started consulting ADehradun Shatabdi stopped the train. senior leaders of the State for & achievement of the BJP gov- Express caught fire while pass- The passengers in the hief Minister Tirath Singh formulating a new plan of ' ernment during the last four ing through the Rajaji tiger affected coach were shifted to CRawat said that it is the % action under the changed cir- years is that the unemployment reserve area on Saturday. There other coaches while the one on responsibility of the State cumstances. One section of '0# # $ rate has increased to 22.3 per- were no injuries as the loco- fire was detached from the Government to ensure that all the party in Uttarakhand is said & cent and the state is on the first motive pilot stopped the train train which then left for those coming to attend the to be in favour of making a position in the country on this after which the passengers of Dehradun railway station. The Kumbh Mela in Haridwar "9 major change in organisation- ' #1 parameter. He said that the the affected coach were shift- fire brigade was called to the have a trouble-free experi- al setup in the State unit to take 2 state is reeling under a finan- ed to other coaches. site while officials of the rail- ence and go back with a pos- issued by chief secretary Om on the challenge posed by the cial crisis, the fiscal deficit has According to the railways ways and forest department itive message. He said this 9,$ "+ Prakash, it has been stated that BJP head-on while others are reached 14 percent and the officials, the C-5 coach of the also reached the site. while chairing a meeting with the events slated to be held in advocating a wait and watch 9,$ "+ debt has reached up to Rs officials to review arrange- he State Government has all the Assembly constituencies policy for the time being. The 50000 Crore. Dhasmana said ments for the Kumbh Mela Tcancelled the events to be have been cancelled due to appointment of former cabinet he first in a series of seven that the health services of the here on Saturday. held in all 70 Assembly con- unavoidable reasons. The deci- minister and astute politician T‘Jan Akrosh rallies’ would state are in a bad shape and the $ He said that all the officials stituencies on March 18 to sion comes a few days after Madan Kaushik on the post be organised in Srinagar on people are dying without treat- should work in coordination mark completion of the State Tirath Singh Rawat assumed president of Uttarakhand unit Sunday. Incidentally it would ment. He claimed that the and meet deadlines to ensure Government’s four years in charge as the new Chief of BJP has also made the also be the first protest of new CM is toeing the line of proper arrangements for the office. In an office memo Minister of Uttarakhand. Congress anxious and alert. opposition Congress after the his predecessor and the 56 Kumbh. The aim of the State Bowing to the pressure of new chief minister Tirath Congress party is determined Government should be to ter than during the occasion the dissidents, the high com- Singh Rawat assumed office. that it would rest only after this enable the maximum number of Shivratri. mand of the BJP had removed Addressing media persons at anti-people government is % of people to attend the Kumbh # Secretary Shailesh Bagauli Trivendra Singh Rawat and Srinagar the vice president of shown the door. He said that Mela while observing the informed that as part of the appointed Garhwal MP Tirath Uttarakhand Congress, Surya the Pradesh Congress Covid-19 guidelines. Rawat &# # Kumbh Mela arrangements, Singh Rawat on the post of Kant Dhasmana said on Committee (PCC) president said that in the Kumbh area, # #& 203 construction works cost- CM in Uttarakhand. Similarly Saturday that the State has suf- Pritam Singh, state in charge the road repair works should be # ing 661 crore are being Banshidhar Bhagat was fered a lot during the four years Yogendra Yadav, former Chief completed and construction undertaken. In these, most of replaced by Madan Kaushik of rule of BJP. He said that the Minister Harish Rawat, leader material lying on the roads #30$ the permanent works have on the position of president of BJP cannot wash its sins of four of opposition (LoP) Indira should be cleared immediate- #% % been completed while the the state unit of BJP. years by changing the Chief Hridayesh and other senior ly. temporary works are being The political analysts are Minister. On a sarcastic note, leaders would participate in the Directing special focus on ' done at a swift pace. of the opinion that by chang- Dhasmana said that the biggest Srinagar Rally. maintaining sanitation in the & The Kumbh Mela officer ing the CM, the BJP has tried Mela area, he instructed that Deepak Rawat made a pre- to get rid of the anti incum- advice of former Chief (PCC) president Pritam Singh the posting of adequate num- sentation related to the Mela bency factor that has set in Minister Harish Rawat on and Indira Hridayesh. ber of sanitation inspectors works and arrangements while the state while by appointing declaring chief ministerial When contacted, the and workers be ensured for arrangements should also be the Mela inspector general Kaushik as head of the party candidate of Congress for the deputy leader of the Congress this purpose. Cleanliness and done soon. If more arrange- Sanjay Gunjyal made a pre- organisation the party has upcoming Assembly election legislature party Karan Mahra adequate number of toilets ments are to be made for the sentation on the security made an attempt to please the of 2022. told The Pioneer that the 9,$ "+ and one from Bageshwar on should be ensured in the Mela Kumbh, the proposals for the arrangements. voters of plain areas and Rawat has been strongly party leadership would defi- Saturday. No new patients were area, he stressed. Rawat direct- same should be submitted to Chief secretary Om farmers. advocating for a CM face of nitely ponder over the polit- he cumulative tally of novel reported from Chamoli, ed that in addition to provid- the state administration with- Prakash, director general of Similarly Kaushik is con- Congress so that the Modi ical situation of the State. TCoronavirus (Covid-19) Champawat, Rudraprayag, ing land to Shankaracharyas in two days, he said. The police Ashok Kumar, princi- sidered to be more active and factor in Assembly elections The secretary of All India patients in Uttarakhand Tehri, Udham Singh Nagar and Bairagi Akhadas attend- departmental secretaries were pal secretaries Anand dynamic than Bhagat to lead is minimised. Congress Committee (AICC) mounted to 97,754 on Saturday and Uttarkashi districts on the ing the Kumbh, focus should directed to personally review Bardhan, RK Sudhanshu, sec- the party at a time when the This advice of his was and Manglaur MLA, Qazi with the state health depart- day. also be laid on developing Kumbh works and make field retaries Amit Negi, Nitesh elections are less than a year being ignored by the central Nizamuddin said that the ment reporting 54 new cases of The State now has 583 necessary infrastructural facil- visits to inspect the same. Jha, Dilip Jawalkar and away. In the changed circum- leadership which favoured Congress is an ideology based the disease. The authorities active patients of Covid-19 ities in such areas. Calling for efficient security Garhwal commissioner stances it is learnt that the collective leadership strategy party and the removal of discharged 106 patients of the with Haridwar at top with 206 Further, he instructed that arrangements, he said that in Ravinath Raman were also Congress party could make and was opposed by a faction Trivendra Singh Rawat by disease from different hospitals cases. Nainital has 122, the posting of necessary addi- the coming Shahi Snans the among those present in the changes in its organisation of state unit headed by the the BJP from post of CM is a on Saturday following their Dehradun 102, Udham Singh tional officials for the Mela arrangements should be bet- meeting. and could pay heed to the Pradesh Congress Committee moral victory for the party. recovery from the disease. A Nagar 39, Pauri 35, Almora and total of 94,058 patients have so Champawat 16 each, Tehri 13, far recovered from the disease Uttarkashi eight, Rudraprayag in the State. The recovery per- and Bageshwar seven each and 1 (/&% centage from the disease now Chamoli and Pithoragarh six stands at 96.22 and the sample each active patients of the dis- positivity rate is 3.83 percent. ease. Meanwhile 17932 people & Two patients of the disease were vaccinated in 272 vaccine 9,$ "+ paying his respects at the state- ensure that development reach- State office here. Chief Minister were reported dead by the sessions on Saturday. A total of hood martyrs memorial at the es the last person in the state. Tirath Singh Rawat, previous health department on the day 89543 people have so far fully he newly appointed collectorate on Saturday a day Kaushik then went to the #% BJP state president and current after which the death toll vaccinated in the State while TBharatiya Janata Party state after being appointed to the Deendayal Upadhyay park 0# cabinet minister Banshidhar mounted to 1,702 in the State. 88,985 senior citizens (age 60 president Madan Kaushik reit- position of the party’s state where he garlanded the statue Bhagat will also be present in The health department and above) have received the erated that the party honours president. Kaushik will assume of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay. # & the function to be held at 1 PM. reported 17 new patients of the first shot of the vaccine. In the women and statehood activists, the charge formally on March Later, he garlanded the statue Kaushik and the party workers disease in Haridwar, 15 from state 5,893 persons of age 45 to adding that the State will be 15. of BR Ambedkar near Clock # will reach the party’s state Dehradun, 11 from Nainital, 69 with co-morbidity have got developed as per the visions of He said that the BJP is Tower. Chauhan informed that office in a rally which will begin five from Pauri, three from the first dose of the vaccine in the statehood movement mar- committed to development in Meanwhile, the BJP state Kaushik will formally assume at the BJP Mahanagar office Pauri, two from Pithoragarh the State. tyrs. Kaushik said this while the state and will work to media incharge Manveer Singh charge as the party’s state president on Monday at the party’s near Parade Ground.

Science and Technology (UCOST) director general Rajendra Dobhal stressed on !## 00# the need for work to test traditional knowledge on the parameters of modern science. He said that India’s #4 -,-5 ancient medicine science had further established its relevance in the present context. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Vinay Kumar Katiyar from 9,$ "+ Patanjali University spoke on new scientific techniques to ttarakhand Governor learn more about medicinal UBaby Rani Maurya inau- herbs. gurated the two-day Patanjali research insti- Vasantotsav Spring Festival at tute vice chairman Anurag Raj Bhawan on Saturday. She Varshney said that it is iron- inaugurated the festival by ic that though Ayurved is the unveiling a special postal cover best medical system, it has not of Asian Honey Bee (Apis received medicinal status fully. cerana) and subsequently cut- Lack of major research work ting a cake prepared with edi- in Ayurveda and the activities ble flowers. The main attrac- of the drugs mafia are to tions of the festival are differ- blame for this, he said. ent varieties of flowers, cactus, Vedpriya Arya of succulents, hanging pots and Patanjali Herbal Research Bonsai. More than 150 vari- department spoke on the tra- eties of flowers are displayed 9$,5 7$, of traditional medicinal sys- at Patanjali Yogpeeth on ditional medicine system of in the flower exhibition under tem with modern science- Saturday. Speaking as the chief India. Various other experts the categories of cut flowers, three-day international relevance, challenges and guest on the occasion, also expressed their views on flowers in potted plants and Aconference on integration future perspectives concluded Uttarakhand State Council of the occasion. edible flowers. Besides this, Uttarakhand horticulture board, ! ( # Uttarakhand sericulture direc- val by various private organi- vation besides promoting flori- torate, Herbal Research and sations and non-governmental '5(.56 culture in the State. Development Institute organisations (NGOs). & # Edible flowers were spe- 9,$ "+ Hospital (R&R), New Examination. He is one of the (HRDA) and Uttarakhand Moreover, a total of 1,316 con- cially included this year in the Delhi. Singh was so top Cardiologists of India who horticulture and food pro- testants are participating in #& flower exhibition to convey to ishan Singh, 86 , came all impressed by the treat- holds a rich experience of car- cessing department also par- various contests organised #0 & locals that flowers can also be Vthe way from Gwalior to ment and counselling rying out more than 10,000 ticipated in the festival. Locally under 11 categories that used to prepare edible prod- Dehradun to take consultation done by Dr Garg that he Angiographies, 5,000 produced products in the stalls prominently include school ucts, said Maurya. from senior Cardiologist Dr came all the way from Angioplasties, 1000 Pacemaker including mushrooms and children painting contest, (ODOP) programme are also She further added that the Salil Garg. The cardiologist is Gwalior to seek consul- Implantations and 200 Intra- products prepared from it hanging pots contest, on the a part of the event in which whole festival is being kept the Head of Department tation. cardiac Defibrillator besides the delicacies prepared spot photography contest and many used edible flowers for plastic-free and appealed to the (HoD) of Cardiology in Dr Garg is a Implantations. He has also from local organic produce are cactus and succulent contest. flavours.Talking about people to maintain physical Mahant Indiresh hospital in Professor of Cardiology done more than 200 Balloon also among the attractions of Selected bakery products Vasantotsav, the Governor said distancing in the premises of Dehradun. In 2018, Dr Garg Vishna Singh’s angioplasty and also an assessor and exam- Mitral Valvotomy (BMV) pro- the festival. A total of 171 stalls from each district under the that this festival aims to pro- the Raj Bhawan while enjoying had performed 86 years old while being posted at Army iner for the National Board of cedures. have been set up in the festi- One District One Product mote environmental conser- the festival. + ,-. /0/, ,7

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5& 1! /&! '9$+ 5($,9 about various beneficiaries of /$*9 =", them on a loop, adding the the bogus network and other words as they come.” '9$+ 5($,9 bonded labour.” As known to women MLAs of Haryana “by fficers of the investigation accomplices involved. fter singing his way into He went on to inform that the whole world, the day is cel- attempting to strip them of Owing of Punjab State GST Five of the seven accused Athe hearts of millions with within a few minutes of its aryana State Women ebrated as International their joy and pride as presiding on Saturday arrested 5 persons were arrested on Saturday for his last two singles, city-based release the song started getting HCommission has sought Women’’s Day and the occasion officers” in the Haryana for creating and operating a violation of Section 132 of the merchant navy officer Yashraj several hits on YouTube. The an explanation from Congress shocked the entire nation, Assembly. bogus billing network across was detained by Mobile Wing GST act by a team led by Asst. Singh has come up with a new song has hit on several other leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda Bhardwaj wrote in the letter. You chose to challenge the various States, including Jalandhar last year and inves- Commissioner, Mobile Wing song titled ‘Humrahi’. The spir- social media platforms. for riding a tractor that was Seeking a “strict written head of the government–chief Punjab, Delhi and Haryana, tigation had revealed that the Patiala under supervision of it of the nation with a golden “Music has provided a pulled by his party’s women explanation” from Hooda with- minister of Haryana--who was and availing & passing on goods had been procured local- Joint Director (Investigation), touch of sports has come alive wonderful soundtrack to my legislators to protest the rise in in three days (by Sunday), overwhelmed while making a fraudulent ITC to the tune of ly while e-way and invoice Patiala. in his latest song. The song fea- life in general. Different genres fuel prices earlier this week. Bhardwaj wrote why strict point regarding the context of more than 122 Crore to var- were generated from some The operation was coordi- tures National badminton play- of music appeal to me, Indian Commission chairperson penal action under relevant this incident next day before ious firms without due pay- other firm. nated by Showkat Ahmad er Arhaan Parikh. The lyrics and Western, classical, folk, (officiating) Preeti Bhardwaj provisions of law may not be the whole strength of the ment of tax to the Government. Detailed investigation Parray, Addl. Commissioner and music have been com- musical theatre and popular. I shot off a letter to Hooda, who taken against him. In the Legislative Assembly, she said. An authorization for arrest revealed a network of 44 firms (Enforcement) Punjab State. posed by the singer himself. have never limited myself to is the Leader of the Opposition communication, she wrote, She further added, “You of 7 persons was issued by spread across states that was A press statement said that The young singer Yashraj one style or singer or lan- in the Haryana Assembly, cit- “What is important to under- chose to challenge and you Commissioner State Tax being used to create the bogus efforts are on to nab the other said that he has dedicated the guage. Music speaks a univer- ing news reports. stand here is the fact that this managed to play with the emo- Nilkanth S. Avhad, under sec- ITC for setting off the tax lia- accused. song to the sports promotion. sal language to all of us,” said Hooda on Monday rode a act was committed with the tional connection that each tion 69 of the GST act. Search bility arising out of purchases The accused were pro- “ I have been passionate about the singer. tractor pulled by party legisla- ulterior motive and intention to person has with women in and seizure operations were made from local unregistered duced before the duty magis- sports since my childhood. I During my professional tors on the way to the state harm, disrespect and strip the their lives – as grandmother, as conducted at multiple locations dealers. trate and were remanded to think we need to promote life as a merchant navy officer, Assembly here to protest the dignity of women on Women’’s mother, as daughter, as wife, as in Khanna town by the teams On being confronted with judicial custody for 14 days. sports and even youths should and my life at present, music rise in fuel prices. Day itself.” niece, as colleague, as party of the department including the evidence, the main kingpin The persons arrested are Vinod also be promoted to take it as has always told me that life con- Monday happened to be “You have committed an worker, as neighbour and a residence of the accused in accepted that he was operating Kumar, Maninder Sharma, a career. Hope my song inspires stantly redeems itself, even International Women’’s Day act of gendered political vio- Goddess, too.” order to gather evidence for the network with the help of Sandeep Singh, Amarinder them to take up sports. Arhaan during the most difficult and and on the occasion, women lence with the motive to water- One of the MLAs who had establishing the modus operan- some other accomplices some Singh and Sunny Mehta. All the has been a great player and I strenuous of times. MLAs from across parties had shed the relevance of all events pulled the tractor , Shakuntala di that involved creating firms of whom have also been arrest- accused-arrested persons got inspired from him,” he Yashraj has not stopped yet, presided over the day’’s pro- planned for March 8 Women’’s Khatak, had on Thursday in states outside and within ed. belong to Khanna town of said. he said that he has already ceedings in the Haryana Day. asserted that she never con- Punjab dealing in copper scrap During search operations Ludhiana District. Yashraj, who plays the gui- started working on an English. Assembly. Hooda along with Sadly, you chose women to sidered herself less than men and hosiery items and there- incriminating documents relat- Action against various tar further said, “Like most “ I want to come with an some party legislators sat on the commit this undignified and and accused the BJP of “play- after passing the same to vari- ed to various firms and mobile beneficiaries and other accom- songwriters, the lyrics stem English melody. tractor while some other disrespectful act that has ing dirty politics” over the ous beneficiary firms in the phones used for sharing fake plices is also being initiated, the from a certain experience, but The work has started, I Congress MLAs pulled the hanged the heads of one and matter. “This is our internal state of Punjab. invoices and e-way bills gener- statement added. I don’t actually have a process want to reach out to a greater tractor with ropes. all, irrespective of gender or matter. When I am not com- The ITC created through ated were seized. Details of the firms regis- when I write songs. I just pick audience. Hope this song too Haryana Chief Minister party or any affiliations, in plaining, why do they have a bogus firms was used to sup- The total bogus billing by tered in the names of the out some chords and when will reach the hearts of music Manohar Lal Khattar had shame…You chose to chal- problem? He (Hooda) is my port the local movement of the network is likely to be accused and other persons out- they sound nice, I just play lovers,” he signed off. expressed his anguish over the lenge our existence—as leader, he is like my father. If I goods of various traders. more than 700 Crore while ITC side Punjab is being compiled incident and said in the women,” she wrote. have to push a truck, I will do Department had got alert- created/availed and tax evaded and will be shared with other Assembly, “This treatment to Bhardwaj alleged that that too,” Khatak had told ed about the network after a is more than 122 Crore. states for necessary action, it (/& women MLAs was worse than Hooda chose to challenge reporters here. vehicle carrying copper scrap Evidence was also gathered said. O P & 1 + 9 8 , 1 9. * /$ ,$+'95 women poorly, but also high- lights how the Congress party anchi MLA CP Singh on was trying to suppress the &+ <" '9$+ 5($,9 RSaturday accused the voice of citizens in a democ- ** Congress party leaders of dis- ratic structure. aryana Deputy Chief respecting women and treating “Trying to cover a woman’s '9$+ 5($,9 HMinister Dushyant them like “bonded labourers” mouth with your hand to Chautala on Saturday said the over alleged misbehavior of a silence her voice is not healthy o enhance the capabilities State Government has made all Congress party spokesperson politics. It is not something we Tand capacities of Micro, the arrangements at the mandi- with BJP’s woman leader Arti have learnt in years of politics Small and Medium Enterprises level for the procurement of Kujur recently. in India. The Congress party (MSMEs) sector, Haryana rabi crops at the minimum sup- Addressing media persons must change their approach Government has identified five port price (MSP).The pro- at the BJP state headquarters in towards women and treat them major sectors and curement of rabi crops will Ranchi, Singh, a former min- with respect,” Singh said. decided to come out begin in two phases, he said. ister, said that the Congress Later in the day, Dubey with specific policies for these Chautala, who also holds party should apoligise to Kujur, retaliated by taking jibes at sectors. the Food, Civil Supplies and a president of BJP women’s some BJP leaders who are fac- The list of these five major Consumer Affairs Department, wing, for the misbehavior ing charges of crimes against focus areas include Aerospace said that the State Government meted out to her by Congress women. Dubey, in a press and Defence, Toy Industry, will start the procurement of leader Alok Dubey during a communiqué, stated that the Services Sector, Construction wheat and mustard from April ensure that no farmer or 20 demonstration of the saffron BJP has stooped down to a '9$+ 5($,9 farmers’ agitation against the Industry and Industrial 1 and procurement of barley, “Arhitiya” (commission agent) party’s women’s wing outside level where it is practicing new agri laws. Infrastructure which will be gram and pulses from April 10. faces any problem. He assert- the Congress bhawan in “issue-less” politics. unjab AAP President Mann, the Aam Aadmi given a boost. He also said, “If a transporter ed that farmers should not #''&# Ranchi. “They do not have con- PBhagwant Mann on Party’s Lok Sabha MP from Aerospace and Defence, as does not lift the crop from the face any problem in selling & The members of BJP’s crete issues to target other Saturday held three public Sangrur, said Delhi Chief well as Toys Manufacturing, are market in 48 hours, then a fine their crops at any stage. women’s wing staged a protest parties, so they have started meetings in Mansa district to Minister and the party’s focus sectors currently for the will be imposed on him.” Chautala said that the state #&0# outside the Congress Bhawan practicing issue-less politics,” garner support for the party’s national convener Arvind nation. The deputy chief minister government will procure every #& '# $ in Ranchi on Thursday against said Dubey, adding that the ‘’Kisan Mahasammelan’’ on Kejriwal will come to Punjab An official spokesperson held a meeting with senior offi- grain of wheat, mustard, barley, Haryana Chief Minister Congress party does not need March 21 aimed at strength- for the event. said that the State cers associated with the pro- pulses and gram at the MSP &# Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s to learn how to respect women ening the ongoing During his meetings at Government’s decision to for- curement process of rabi crops from farmers who have regis- alleged ill-treatment of women from the BJP. Ulakh, Makha and Kharak mulate specific policies for here. V Umashankar, who is tered their crops on the ‘’Meri on International Women’s Day. Dubey said that the BJP has Singh Wala villages, Mann these sectors have been taken Principal Secretary to Haryana Fasal Mera Byora’’ portal. otherwise they should be ready The BJP woman leaders alleged started the trend of staging appealed to the people to to give a major boost to these Chief Minister, and Additional He directed the officers to pay the fine,” he added. The that Hooda made women pull protests outside offices of polit- attend the event at five sectors as Micro, Small Chief Secretary P K Das and that the crop payment should deputy chief minister said that tractors on March 8, which was ical parties, and it may have to Baghapurana in Moga district and Medium Enterprises other senior officers were pre- be made to farmers within 48 so far 7.5 lakh farmers have demeaning and uncalled-for. get a taste of its own medicine in large numbers to show the (MSME) sector holds promi- sent at the meeting. hours, adding that suitable registered on the portal to sell “Congress leader Alok soon. He said that Congress nation that the farmers’ agita- nence in the overall develop- During the meeting here, arrangements have been made their crops. Farmers will be Dubey tried to silence our leaders wanted to welcome the tion is still strong. mental agenda of the Chautala gave directions for lifting the crops from the informed in advance on which leader Arti Kujur by placing his BJP woman leaders with tea “When Arvind Kejriwal Government to advance the regarding timely lifting of the mandis on time. day they can bring their crops hand on her mouth. Our party and biscuits on the day of speaks about farmers’’ issues, socio-economic development crop, smooth conduct of the “Transporters have been to the mandis for procure- will not tolerate such disrespect protest, but the women leaders the nation listens. in the State. procurement process and to ordered to lift within 48 hours ment. of women,” Singh said on did not wish to have a dialogue. Saturday, seeking a public “At a time when farmers are apology from the Congress protesting for over 100 days and party for their alleged misbe- inflation is burning a hole in the --# (5(858 & 6 havior. pocket of commoners, the BJP The Congress leader’s is busy finding issues that can actions, Singh said, not only divert people’s attention from & 0 $ :3 showed that the party treats the real problems,” he said. & & ; '9$+ 5($,9 8# ! !

he Covid-19 pandemic Tcontinues to spread its tentacles in what many say is ,$+'95 said. the second wave, claiming 22 When inquired, the staff more lives in Punjab on he absence of mobile at the vaccination centre said Saturday, raising the death Tphones in some rural that a mobile number was a toll due to the disease to 6,052 households is proving to be a must for vaccination as all in the State. hurdle in the vaccination drive details related to the vaccina- The infection count too against Covid-19 virus in tion and the next date of vac- climbed to 1,96,263 with 1,515 Jharkhand as sharing a mobile cination are shared via SMS. fresh coronavirus cases report- number along with Aadhaar “If they do not share a valid ed in the State, a medical bul- details is mandatory for getting mobile number, then they letin said. The total number of who had presented the budget cured persons to 21,586. A the Covishield jabs, beneficia- will not get updates via SMS active cases in the State is on March 8, confirmed that he total of 2,76,905 samples have ries who had to return from and won’t get to know when to 10,916. had got tested before the been taken for testing till now vaccination centres without get the second dose of vac- Punjab’s total eight dis- assembly session and then in the union territory, of which getting the jab due to the lack cine,” said one of the staff, tricts have come under ‘night again immediately after it. 2,52,953 tested negative while 95*8$ issued here on Saturday by state of mobile number have said. adding that the certificate of curfew’ rule with the Districts “Before the session, I tested reports of 109 samples are Election Commissioner Karma Kumar, a senior vaccination is also can be Administration of Mohali and negative. After the session, I awaited, as per the bulletin. lections for four municipal Parthasarathi Mitra, the nom- citizen from a village in downloaded only if the regis- Fatehgarh Sahib also ordering have tested positive,” he said. Ecorporations and six Nagar ination papers for the election Idalhatu could not get vacci- tered mobile number is re-imposition of clampdown 424 NEW CASES, 4 DEATHS Panchayats in Himachal will be filed from March 22 to nated on Friday as he did not entered and the person logs in from the night of March 12. 144 NEW CASES, ONE IN HARYANA Pradesh will be held on April 24 between 11 am to 3 pm. have a mobile phone. The with the One Time Password Already, night curfew is in DEATH IN CHANDIGARH 7, the State Election The scrutiny of the nomination staff at the CCL Hospital in (OTP) sent via SMS to the place from 11 pm to 5 am in As many as 144 more Haryana on Saturday Commission announced on papers will be held on March Gandhinagar asked him to registered number. Ludhiana, Patiala, Jalandhar, coronavirus cases surfaced in recorded 424 Covid-19 cases, Saturday. 25 and the withdrawal of share the mobile number of As per 2011 Census, only Nawanshahr, Kapurthala, and Chandigarh on Saturday, tak- taking the infection count in The commission notified papers may be done on March either a family member or a 34.9 per cent households in Hoshiarpur districts. ing the infection count to the state to 2,74,697, a health the schedule for the elections of 27 from 10 am to 3 pm, it said. neighbour in order to get the rural Jharkhand and 73.7 per The state, on Friday, had 22,976 in the joint capital of department bulletin said. Four Dharamshala, Palampur, The polling will be held from first dose of the vaccine, but cent households in urban reported 34 deaths — highest Punjab and Haryana, accord- more Covid-19 deaths were Mandi and Solan municipal 8 am to 4 pm on April 7, the he could not manage to find areas have mobile phones. in the past five months. Before ing to a medical bulletin. reported on Saturday, taking corporations and Chirgaon, notification added. any person willing to provide While the number of mobile this, the state had reported 35 Meanwhile, one more per- the total death toll in the State Nerwa, Ani, Nirmand, The counting of votes will their mobile number on phone owners may have fatalities on October 9, the son died due to Covid-19, to 3073. Kandaghat and Amb Nagar be held at the municipal head- behalf of Karma. increased in the past 10 years, previous year. taking the total number of Of the new cases, 96, 72 Panchayats. quarters immediately after vot- “I don’t have a mobile there is no latest data on Punjab has been witness- deaths to 358 in the union ter- and 62 infections were report- The four municipal cor- ing on April 7. number, but they (staff at the mobile phone penetration in ing a surge in the number of ritory. ed from Karnal, Gurugram porations except Dharamshala The election commission vaccination centre) are saying rural and urban areas of COVID-19 cases for nearly The number of active cases and Panchkula districts respec- and the six Nagar Panchayats also notified that from Saturday that sharing a mobile number Jharkhand, sources said. four weeks. has risen to 1032 on Saturday, tively. are newly created and will go to onwards till the election is mandatory for getting the As per rules set by the Meanwhile, Punjab the bulletin said, adding that 47 The number of active cases the polls for the first time. The process is over, the model code vaccine shot. I will see if I can Centre for vaccination, only Finance Minister Manpreet patients were discharged after in the state stands at 2,952 Dharamshala municipal cor- of conduct will remain in force find someone who can share four beneficiaries can be reg- Singh Badal has been tested they recovered from the infec- while the recovery rate is 97.81 poration was created in 2015. in all these ten urban local bod- his mobile number for my istered for vaccination positive for COVID-19. Badal, tion, taking the number of per cent, the bulletin said. According to a notification ies. vaccination registration,” he through one mobile number. + ,-. /0/, #%,8

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ajya Sabha Chairman M +7 895 Q1R - & RVenkaiah Naidu on 2 Saturday offered 12 tips to the +7 895 he CPI(M) polit bureau on newly elected members of the ## & TSaturday termed the House to make a difference in he Enforcement # Supreme Court’s re-examina- House proceedings and nation TDirectorate (ED) has tion of Places of Worship Act, building by becoming effec- attached properties worth .;5,&## 1991 as “unfortunate” and urged tive Parliamentarians. 55.57 crore in a case of cheat- ' the Government not to support He counselled the mem- ing the investors dishonestly the petition. The Left party bers on their conduct both across Jharkhand and other #&# was responding to the petition within and outside the House States by real estate firm & filed by BJP leader Ashwani while inaugurating a two-day Sanjeevani Buildcon Pvt. Ltd. Upadhyay and the apex court orientation programme for (SBPL). 0$ <0 seeking Centre’s response. the newly-elected members of 9 0# 267 for suspension of the The accused company used &'# $ “It is unfortunate that the Rajya Sabha. $# ' business of the day. to receive payments from the Supreme Court has opened the Naidu stressed that criti- The Rajya Sabha gullible investors in the name way for a re-examination of the cism of the Government # Chairman urged the members of giving them plots of land. 0 & Places of Worship (Special allowed by the poll body. should be informed and cred- 0 ' to develop in depth knowl- “The attached assets 0 # Provision) Act, 1991. The Act +7 895 Meanwhile, in a report to ible, instead of being just for # edge of issues being taken up include 98 immovable proper- mandates that the character of the EC, West Bengal Chief the record. in the House so as not to be ties situated at Ranchi, all religious places of worship he Election Commission Secretary Alapan “The Opposition has the # general and vague in their Jharkhand and three commer- should be maintained as it was T(EC) has sought more Bandyopadhyay reported to right to criticise the ': interventions when complex cial shops at Raipur as well as name of company as well as in on August 15, 1947, and no suit details on West Bengal Chief have stated that injury to Chief Government. In fact, it is issues with wider implica- bank balances in the form of their name for the purpose of or proceedings shall lie in a Minister and Trinamool Minister Mamata Banerjee’s their duty. But the criticism tions are discussed. fixed deposits in the name of laundering of such funds. A court of law with respect to the Congress leader Mamata leg in Nandigram was caused should be informed so that it Expressing concern over Sanjeevani Buildcon Pvt. Ltd. large part of proceeds of crime character of places of worship. Banerjee’s alleged attack inci- due to the car door but the looks credible. Opposing order in the form of distur- the rising ‘negative perception and its directors and their rel- was also withdrawn in cash by This effectively barred courts dent, saying that the report report does not clearly men- every move of the bances along the boundaries, quotient’ among the public atives Jayant Dayal Nandy, his the accused persons for from entertaining cases which submitted by State chief section what led to the door Government for the sake of misplaced criticism of the about the functioning of the wife Anita Dayal Nand, anoth- depositing the same in their raise disputes over places of retary on her injuries was slamming on Mamata record dents its credibility. country based on some spo- legislatures in the country, er director Shyam Kishore personal accounts which was worship that existed as of sketchy and not comprehensive Banerjee’s leg. The quality of criticism should radic incidents, discrediting Naidu urged the members to Gupta and Ranjana Shrivastav, further projected as untainted, August 15, 1947. The law fur- enough. In addition, the Chief really sting the Government of India’s democracy, economic abide by the elaborate rules of wife of one of the directors it said. ther provided that such cases The EC has asked State Secretary’s report also mentions the day and catch the eye of restrictions, cross- border ter- procedure and conventions Prakash Prasad Lala,” the ED The ED had earlier already pending in courts would chief secretary Alapan that a massive crowd had gath- the media and the people,” ror etc. and urged them to of the House evolved over the said in a statement. . attached assets worth 3.10 stand abated,” said CPI(M) in a Bandyopadhyay to furnish ered on the road in Nandigram Naidu said. effectively checkmate such years to enable its smooth The ED initiated investi- crore in the name of SBPL and statement. more details to elaborate on the when the incident took place on Urging the members to attempts in every forum. functioning. gation on the basis of FIR reg- its directors which was subse- “The Act, however, granted incident further. On the hand, March 10.On the other hand, acquire deep knowledge of the Naidu reminded the “These rules provide for istered by CBI, Ranchi and quently confirmed by PMLA an exception for the Babri the special observers in their the report does say that an iron state of the nation to make members of their solemn duty every contingency. During chargesheet against Sanjeevani Adjudicating Authority. Masjid/Ramjanmabhoomi site report has ruled the possibili- pole was not far from CM effective contributions to its to defend the integrity and my 20 years in the Rajya Buildcon Pvt. Ltd. and others. During the course of inves- at Ayodhya, which was then ty that the injury was the result Mamata Banerjee’s car but does transformation, Naidu said: “It sovereignty of India by being Sabha and three-and-a-half The ED investigation has tigation, one of its directors under dispute. While invoking of an attack. Stating that there not clearly say if the door of the is also your duty to ensure and alert all the time about the years as its Chairman, I have revealed that SBPL and its Shyam Kishore Gupta was this exemption, the Supreme is no evidence of an attack on vehicles closed on her leg after further strengthen the unity threats facing the country. never witnessed a situation directors cheated a large num- arrested on March 12, 2020. Court in the 2019 Ayodhya ver- CM’s convoy, the their report brushing against the pole. The and inclusivity of our multi- Elaborating on the chal- when inadequacy of Rules ber of people of Jharkhand by Prosecution Complaint dict reaffirmed that similar said she was in the midst of report also mentioned that cultural society by checkmat- lenges of time management in was felt in addressing proce- inducing them by way of pub- (chargesheet) was filed before such cases cannot be enter- heavy police cover at the time there was no clear footage availing the attempts to create the House, Naidu asserted dural matters in the House,” lication of misleading adver- the PMLA Special Court tained with respect to other sites of the incident. able of the spot where the inci- divisions based on caste, that what is important is not he said. tisements through various against eight accused per- in view of this Act. “The report submitted by dent took place from anywhere colour, region and religion. the length of the interven- Stating that the members media channels and public sons/entities. The Polit Bureau of the the West Bengal Government in the vicinity, Each one of you must emerge tions, but the content and the have the right to seek their due canvassing which resulted into Look Out Circular has also CPI(M) reaffirms that the appeared to be quite sketchy Following the incident, the as the spokesperson of the perspectives presented. in the House as per the rules receipt of payments from the been issued by ED against the grounds on which this law was and without any details of the Election Commission had aspiring, emergent, capable, He urged the members to and conventions, and that the investors through cheque/cash absconding accused Jayant enacted need not be re-exam- incident like how it happened asked Chief Secretary Alapan resilient and united India.” be specific and avoid repeti- presiding officers are their towards purported sale of plots Dayal Nand who was the ined. The Central Government or who could be behind it,” an Bandyopadhyay, special He also cautioned the tions which even kill media custodians, Naidu said that it of land/constructed house, it alleged master mind of this must respond to the Supreme officials of the EC. Meanwhile, observer Ajay Nayak and spe- members about the attempts interest. He suggested the is in the interest of the mem- said. scam. Court seeking its views in a firm the EC special observers have cial police observer Vivek to block the progress of the members to avoid giving bers and of the House to The directors of the com- Further investigation in affirmation of the Places of sought another day to submit Dube to submit a report by country, the voice of which is notices as a matter of routine abide by the decision of the pany had opened a large num- this case is under progress, it Worship Act, 1991,” said their report, which has been Friday evening. finding an echo in the global like the notices under Rule Chair in the end. ber of bank accounts in the added. CPI(M).

to 96.81%. After witnessing a reduced ' 2 ! & I / <699< number of cases in the last few months, the infections have once again spiked in several Speaking at the occasion, parts of the country. Justice Malhotra said that for <6 In a bid to combat the a lawyer it was important to infection spread, the State conduct yourself with high Governments like degree of professionalism. +7 895 Maharashtra have imple- “You must be properly mented restrictions and attired, professionally at all ndia on Saturday recorded pushed the Covid-19 vacci- times and be punctual in your I24,882 fresh Covid-19 infec- nation drive in the country +7 895 engagements. One issue I tions, the highest so far this with full force. flagged when I was called by year, taking the tally to The Centre said he Supreme Court having women lawyers to Bar room 1,13,33,728, according to the 2,82,18,457 vaccine doses have Tleft with only one woman after becoming a judge, I said Union Health Ministry data. been administered so far, with judge is “deeply worrying” and please don’’t wear fashion- This is also the highest daily 20,53,537 doses given in the must promptly receive serious able clothes, which you must rise in the last 83 days. As last 24 hours. introspection, apex court judge, keep for the evening and not many as 26,624 new infections The Government has been Justice D Y Chandrachud, said while you are at work. were recorded on December asking the people to not take on Saturday. rying fact and must prompt- more diverse judiciary, “You must be profession- 20. the virus for granted. “It can Justice Chandrachud was ly receive serious introspec- ensured diversity of perspec- ally dressed as that’’s how you Maharashtra, Kerala, come up unexpectedly. If we speaking at a farewell ceremo- tion,” Justice Chandrachud tives is fairly considered, will be perceived by your Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat, have to remain free of this ny organised by the Supreme said. instills high degree of public clients, your colleagues, and Tamil Nadu and Madhya virus, Covid-appropriate Court Young Lawyers Forum He said that “as an insti- confidence,” he said. the Bench. Second, you must Pradesh reported 87.72% of January 20, as 4,785 new cases reported in the last 24 hours. behaviour, containment strat- to honour Justice Indu tution whose decision shape He said that it was learn to draft in clear and con- the new cases in the last 24 were added in the last 24 The surge in Covid-19 egy as well as Malhotra, who was the first and impact lives of everyday required that stories such as cise manner,” she said. hours. Maharashtra accounts hours, comprising 1.74% of cases reported on Saturday is vaccination has to be brought woman lawyer to be appoint- Indian, we must do better”. Justice Malhotra become more In her farewell speech on for 63.57 per cent of India’s the total cases seen so far. The almost 7 per cent higher than in,” said an official from the ed directly as a judge of the “We must ensure the common place. Wednesday, she said that the total active cases. first two instances of a spike the previous day’s number. Ministry. Supreme Court, retires from diversity of our country find “As members of legal fra- verdict delivered by the apex This is the fourth time in active cases were seen in the Data also showed that 19,957 He advised that in dis- the apex court on Saturday. reflection in making up of our ternity we do our bit to ensure court decriminalising con- that the country’s single-day first week of January when the people were cured of the coro- tricts where Covid-19 cases “Justice Malhotra’’s retire- court. Intrinsically having a that it doesn’’t remain as hard sensual gay sex was the “most cases have crossed the 20,000- first wave of Covid cases was navirus disease in the last 24 are seemingly on the rise, ment means that the SC now more diverse judiciary is an as it was for Justice Malhotra moving moment” as the emo- mark this year. The active receding, followed by a third hours, taking the vaccination of eligible indi- has only one female judge on end, a goal in itself and worth for women to climb upper tions that swept the court- cases also soared to 202,022, rise on March 11. recoveries to 10,973,260 so far viduals should be intensified the Bench. As an institution, pursuing in its own sake. echelons of our profession,” he room at that time was quite after a downward trend since At least 140 deaths were and the national recovery rate and prioritised. I find that this is a deeply wor- “Instrumentally, having a said. overwhelming. =* * 8# 7 = / % $O #' #% ! B -ER 2 0-5 ! ! # , ( +7 895 +7 895

he Ministry of Jal Shakti on n the run up to the TSaturday launched a frame- IInternational Yoga Day to be work and guidelines for testing, held on June 21, 2021, a string monitoring and surveillance of of programmes are planned drinking water quality as well across the country including a +7 895 as a Water Quality Information +7 895 three-day Yoga Mahotsav in six Management System cities— Ahmedabad, Itanagar, rime Minister Narendra (WQMIS), an online portal 9 #-, ongress leader Rahul New Delhi, Bhopal, Panjim PModi and Sri Lankan that provides detailed infor- : #% fluoride, nitrate, iron, salinity CGandhi on Saturday asked and Leh from April 9. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa mation on laboratories for this or heavy metals. how did businessman Gautam The event will have the had a telephonic conversation purpose. # 0#& Apart from these, there are Adani manage to increase his participation of various yoga on Saturday during which they The guidelines specify & 61 priority districts across five wealth by 50 per cent while stakeholders and yoga masters. reviewed topical developments work to be done in terms of # &('0# ( states identified by the everyone else was struggling The preparation is going on as well as ongoing cooperation surveillance and monitoring at # (#( # Ministry of Health and Family because of the Covid-19 pan- with coordination with respec- between both the countries in the state, district, block/tehsil # Welfare which are affected by demic. tive States, said Kiren Rijiju, the Minister while PK Pathak, tial growth in Yoga promotion bilateral and multilateral and village levels. Japanese Encephalitis - Acute His remarks come after a Minister of State (IC), Youth Additional Secretary (Ayush) since 2014,” he said. forums. The basic water quality tions by 2024 to all rural house- Encephalitis Syndrome (JE- new report said that Adani Affairs and Sports and addi- said that Yoga has played an Later, the Minister The two leaders agreed to parameters prescribed under holds and water quality is an AES). added USD 16.2 billion to his tional Charge MoS(IC) important role in enhancing launched the edition of Yoga maintain regular contact the guidelines are pH value, important aspect of it. Bharat Lal, Additional wealth taking his net worth to AYUSH l after launching the the immunity of the human Vijnana a Bi-annual research between relevant officials, total dissolved solids, turbidi- He said the total cost of the Secretary and Mission Director USD 50 billion in 2021, more 100 days’ countdown to 7th body and hence useful in man- journal of MDNIY, containing including in the context of the ty, chloride, total alkalinity, Jal Jeevan Mission is 3,60,000 of National Jeevan Mission, than anyone else in the world. IDY at an event here. agement of Covid-19. useful scientific research arti- continuing COVID-19 chal- total hardness, sulphate, iron, crore and 2 per cent of it has said the purpose of the exercise Tagging the news report Calling Yoga, a soft power Dr IV Basavaraddi, cles and traditional knowl- lenges, a Prime Minister’s total arsenic, fluoride, nitrate, been dedicated to the quality of is to instil a sense of in a tweet, Gandhi asked, which has given India a unique Director Morarji Desai edge about Yoga Shastra, Office statement (PMO) said. total coliform bacteria, e.Coil or water. confidence about water qual- “How much did your wealth recognition before the inter- National Institute of Yoga being published for the ben- The leaders reviewed top- thermo-tolerant coliform bac- According to a 2018 ity and people can also test increase in 2020? Zero. You national fraternity, the Minister (MDNIY) talked in detail efit of Yoga professionals. ical developments and the teria. assessment by the Central water quality. struggle to survive while he said that it has vast potential for about how at the initiative of The Minister also ongoing cooperation between The guidelines have been Ground Water Board, 52 per He added that a database makes Rs 12 lakh crore and employment opportunities, India, the United Nation launched Yoga Re-orienta- both the countries in bilateral prepared in consultation with cent of all the blocks in the of 2,200 laboratories across the increases his wealth by 50 per especially after the declaration General Assembly declared tion training programme for and multilateral forums, it the Indian Council of Medical country have inter alia any one country has been prepared so cent. Can you tell me why?” of Yogasana as a competitive 21st June as International Yoga Instructors of Leh- said. Research (ICMR). of the geogenic contaminants that water quality can be test- With the biggest wealth sport. Day of Yoga. “UNESCO rec- Ladakh undertaken by During the call, Prime Jal Shakti Minister like arsenic, chloride, fluo- ed. All the laboratories have surge, Adani has beaten All the young students pre- ognized Yoga as an intangible MDNIY. Minister Modi reiterated the Gajendra Singh Shekhawat told ride, iron, nitrate and salinity. been accredited by National Amazon founder and CEO sent during the function and cultural heritage of humani- A Yoga Fusion perfor- importance of Sri Lanka to reporters that the aim of the Jal Nearly 20 States in India Accreditation Board for Jeff Bezos and Tesla CEO those who are watching online ty and Yogasana declared as a mance, by a group of students, India’s Neighbourhood First Jeevan Mission is to provide have drinking water source Testing and Calibration Elon Musk, according to the to practice Yoga should take competitive sport. These ini- was also made during the policy, the PMO said. functional tap water connec- contaminated with arsenic, Laboratories. report. part in Yogasans sports, said tiatives resulted in exponen- programme. + ,-. /0/, ,6

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+7 895 this ambition, India’s FinTech ? ndia’s financial technology sector will need ! Icompanies are poised to investments of OF! P become three times as valuable USD 20-25 bil- # 5O in the next five years, reaching lion over the a valuation of USD 150-160 next five years,” C0 growth at this juncture, even ILimited (IndianOil) has Ranjan Kumar Mohapatra, union territory, a startup firm with economic tradeoffs, as it leveraged its expertise and Director (HR), IndianOil, were has unveiled a mobile applica- +66: - aspires to increase its domi- reach to bolster India’s Covid- among the first few to get the tion with poll statistics and data forms related to the field are nance and self- reliance in the 19 vaccination programme by indigenous vaccine shot to on the country’s economy to social networking applications. global economy. supplementing the available allay the apprehensions among help voters take fact-based These do not help voters take Subramanian’s comment cold chain equipment (CCE) the stakeholders. decisions before exercising fact-based decisions, another comes ahead of the revision of infrastructure in four states -- Speaking about IndianOil’s their franchise, company offi- director of the firm Sheshagiri policy framework and inflation Jammu & Kashmir, Tamil focus on employee welfare, cials said. Anegondi said. targets by the Monetary Policy Nadu, Bihar and Manipur -- for Vaidya said, “An inspired, The startup - There is an election knowl- Committee headed by the RBI the storage and transportation agile and resilient team of Demokratika- launched the edge game that users can play, governor by March 31. of vaccines. employees enabled Indian Oil application, BolSubol, which and most of the features of the It will be the first review for RBI IndianOil is procuring to fuel the economy and has economic and political app are free, the official said. since it was tasked with a man- CCE equipment like ice-line keep the kitchen fires burning, information about all the con- “Users have to pay for dated inflation target of 4 per refrigerator (ILR), deep freez- even during the most difficult stituencies in India for over 60 some of the features of the cent with a 2 per cent deviation er (DF), walk-in-cooler (WIC), phases of the pandemic. years on average, they claimed. mobile application,” he added. either way in June 2016, when walk-in-freezer (WIF) and We are committed to “Except the election com- Tamil Nadu, Kerala and it adopted a flexible inflation refrigerated truck (RT) for ensuring the employees’ welfare mission’s efforts, not much Puducherry will go to polls on targeting model. handing them over to the at all times”. seems to be done by political April 6, while assembly elec- At this juncture we must focus respective state governments. During the countrywide parties to empower voters. tions in Assam will be held in on growth and when it comes The IndianOil manage- lockdown, IndianOil ensured Hence, the app is rolled out. It three phases starting on March to pressures for trade-offs, we ment has also asked the com- the supply of petroleum prod- will offer a powerful 27.The eight-phased polls in must be leaning on growth, pany’s stakeholders to get vac- ucts, including delivering on an microblogging tool,” Ritesh West Bengal will be held Subramanian said at a virtual cinated at the earliest to con- average of 25 lakh cylinders Verma, one of the directors of between March 27 and April annual regional meeting of the tribute to the success of the every day to its customers’ the company, said on Friday. 29. Votes will be counted on CII, Eastern Region. world’s largest vaccination doorsteps. Most of the digital plat- May 2. PTI + Q # Q #I = +7 895 Lamba, DLF and Parvesh +7 895 sumption of fuel ( largely petrol Kheterpal, Feedback Infra. and diesel ) fell 4.9 per cent in Mumbai:To create employa- ome of India Inc’s senior GCAI aims to be the pre- he rising fuel prices is yoy February to 17.2 million bility and employment oppor- SGeneral Counsels have mier association to serve the Timpacting demand condi- tonnes. The demand also tunities, there is a need to together to launch the General diversified needs of the in- tions in India that is looking for slipped 4.6 per cent on month- focus on new age skills and step Counsels’ Association of India house counsels, who are qual- an accelerated recovery of the ly basis indicating that various up the momentum of skilling, (GCAI). ified law graduates holding a economy post Covid-induced hiccups still remain on the Union Minister for Skill The objective of the asso- degree in law duly recognized lockdowns and disruptions. path of full recovery for the Development and ciation is to create a robust plat- by the Bar Council of India. In- According to official data, Indian economy. Entrepreneurship Mahendra form run, managed, and oper- house counsels are in employ- country’s fuel consumption fell A clearer indication that Nath Pandey said on Saturday. ated by General Counsels ment with organizations, sharply in February, the second recovery is still some way off The minister said that to across India in order to create responsible for the enforcement consecutive month when can be gauged by seeing the achieve these objectives, train- a distinct professional identity of law and governance in their demand is slowing signs of a diesel consumption data as the ers need to be updated on new and voice for General Counsels. respective organizations, slackening amidst rising fuel fuel is prime source of trans- technologies. Pandey was Amongst the senior including handling all its legal prices. port for all kinds of goods in speaking at the inauguration of General Counsels who have matters. The consumption slow- the country and accounts for L&T’s Skill Trainers Academy associated themselves with the It will also help to enhance down in February is lowest about 40 per cent of overall (STA) in Mumbai. He said initiative are Sanjeev Gemawat, the growth and quality of in- since September when it had refined fuel sales in India. L&T’s STA supports short- Dalmia Bharat; Akhil Prasad, house legal professionals who begun becoming clear that The consumption of term skill training through a Boeing India, Manjaree can leverage the collective worst is over and demand is Diesel fell 3.8 per cent to 6.55 wide network of training Chowdhary, Maruti Suzuki; knowledge and wisdom of picking up. million tonnes in February on providers and district nodal Tejal Patil, OYO; Sameet experienced members through According to oil ministry’s a month on month basis and skill centres called Pradhan Gambhir, DCM; Sameer collaboration and exchange of Petroleum Planning and declined 8.5 per cent year-on- Mantri Kaushal Kendra. PTI Chugh, Bharti Group; Manish ideas. Analysis Cell (PPAC), con- year. + ,-. /0/, # ,> ( . 67

*$+ $8$? F*?$+*$,G bridge said to have been dam- In Washington on Friday, aged by an explosive charge. the Biden administration -, ecurity forces in Myanmar The bridge was described announced it is offering tem- Son Saturday again met in multiple accounts as being porary legal residency to peo- protests against last month’s on the rail line from Mandalay ple from Myanmar, citing the military takeover with lethal to Myitkyina, the capital of the military’s takeover and ongoing force, killing at least four peo- northern state of Kachin. The deadly force against civilians. ple by shooting live ammuni- photos show damage to part of Homeland Security tion at demonstrators. a concrete support. Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas $ Three deaths were report- No one took responsibili- said the designation of tempo- ed in Mandalay, the country’s ty for the action, but it could rary protected status for people 7$95+(+ second-biggest city, and one in serve a two-fold purpose. from Myanmar would last for Pyay, a town in south-central It could be seen as support 18 months. The offer of tem- he Biden administration Myanmar. There were multiple for the nationwide strike of porary legal residency applies Toffered temporary legal reports on social media of the state railway workers, who are to people already in the United residency on Friday to people deaths, along with photos of part of the civil disobedience States. Mayorkas said in a state- from Myanmar, where military dead and wounded people in movement against the coup. ment that worsening condi- leaders have overthrown the both locations. At the same time, it could be tions in Myanmar would make country’s elected government The independent UN aimed as disrupting the ability of it difficult for those people to and are using deadly force human rights expert for the junta to reinforce its troops safely return home. against protesters. Myanmar, Tom Andrews, said in Kachin, a state whose residents The Feb. 1 coup reversed Homeland Security Thursday that “credible have long been at odds with the years of slow progress toward Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas reports” indicated security central government. The Kachin democracy in Myanmar, which said the temporary protected forces in the Southeast Asian ethnic minority fields its own for five decades had languished status would last for 18 nation had so far killed at least well-trained and equipped guer- under strict military rule that months. The designation & 70 people, and cited growing rilla force, and there has been led to international isolation applies to people from that evidence of crimes against & 0 % & outrage in Myitkyina at securi- and sanctions. country already living in the % & humanity since the military ty forces’ killing of anti-coup pro- Suu Kyi’s National League United States. ousted the elected government Thaketa township, where a was of a 19-year-old man shot intimidation. They have also testers there. for Democracy party led a Myanmar’s military seized protesters since the coup. of Aung San Suu Kyi. protest being held outside a in Hlaing township. been carrying out targeted The prospect of sabotage return to civilian rule with a power February 1, hours Mayorkas said in a state- Reports on social media police station was dispersed. A The nighttime protests may raids, taking people from their has been openly discussed by landslide election victory in before the seating of a new par- ment that the takeover has also said three people were shot crowd had gathered there to reflect a more aggressive homes with minimal resistance. some protesters, who warn 2015, and an even greater mar- liament following election worsened humanitarian con- dead Friday night in Yangon, demand the release of three approach to self-defense that In at least two known cases, the that they could blow up a gin of votes last year. It would results that were seen as a ditions, disrupted aid and Myanmar’s largest city, where young men who were seized has been advocated by some detainees died in custody with- pipeline supplying natural gas have been installed for a second rebuff to the country’s gener- medical flights into the coun- residents for the past week from their home earlier Friday protesters. Police had been in hours of being taken away. to China. They see China as five-year term last month, but als. The coup upended inter- try and brought on an eco- have been defying an 8 pm. night. Photos said to be of the aggressively patrolling residen- Another possible indica- being the junta’s main sup- instead Suu Kyi and President nationally backed efforts to nomic crisis, making it difficult Curfew to come out on the bodies of two dead protesters tial neighborhoods at night, fir- tion of heightened resistance porter, even though Beijing Win Myint and other members restore democracy and end for Myanmar nationals and streets. Two deaths by gunfire were posted online. The other ing into the air and setting off emerged Saturday with photos has been mildly critical of the of the Government were placed decades of junta rule. Security longtime residents to return to were reported in Yangon’s reported fatality Friday night stun grenades in an effort at posted online of a railway coup in its public comments. in military detention. forces have killed dozens of the country safely. != 2 < Q R 4 ?=:9! 5 6 $4 9 / -,,,& 9@9 #+-:+ $ ! 7$95+(+ regional issues, including free- Chinese counterparts Yang # dom of navigation and freedom Jiechi, a member of the # eaders of the US, India, from coercion in the South and Politburo of the ruling 7$95+(+ London: Britain’s foreign sec- the Joint Declaration — a & LAustralia and Japan did dis- East China seas, the North Communist Party of China retary on Saturday criticised demonstration of the growing O cuss the “challenge” posed by Korea nuclear issue and the and State Councillor and he Biden administration China for continuing to violate gulf between Beijing’s promis- ! * China during the first meeting coup and violent repression in Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Ton Friday said it is willing the Sino-British Joint es and its actions,” the foreign of the Quad, and they made Myanmar, Sullivan said. Anchorage, Alaska on March to reconsider the objections or Declaration as Beijing further secretary said. ! clear that none of them have “Over the course of the 18-19. adverse decisions to foreign tightens control over Hong British and Chinese author- $0. any “illusions” about Beijing, meeting, a sense of optimism “This is our effort to com- workers on visas like H-1B due reopen and/or reconsider Kong. Dominic Raab said ities signed the agreement in US National Security Adviser for the future, despite the hard municate clearly to the Chinese to the three policy memos by adverse decisions” on Form I- Beijing’s decision to “impose 1984, paving the way for Hong Jake Sullivan has said. times were in, was on full dis- government how the United the previous Trump adminis- 129, Petition for a radical changes to restrict par- Kong’s handover from British to O $! Addressing a White House play. States intends to proceed at a tration which now have been Nonimmigrant Worker, made ticipation in Hong Kong’s elec- Chinese rule in 1997. The briefing on Friday soon after “The four leaders did dis- strategic level, what we believe rescinded. based on three rescinded pol- toral system ... Is part of a pat- agreement stipulated that the 2 ) the historic virtual Quad sum- cuss the challenge posed by our fundamental interests and The move is expected to icy memos. tern designed to harass and sti- former British colony would # mit between US President Joe China, and they made clear values are, and what our con- come to the rescue of a large USCIS said it will general- fle all voices critical of China’s retain a high degree of auton- 9.' A + Biden, Prime Minister that none of them have any illu- cerns with their activities are — number of Indian IT profes- ly use its discretion to accept a policies.” omy and its civil rights and free- Narendra Modi, Australian sions about China, but today whether it’s on Hong Kong, or sionals who were having a motion to reopen filed more The moves amount to the doms for at least 50 years. 0- # Prime Minister Scott Morrison was not fundamentally about Xinjiang, or in the Taiwan tough time during the previous than 30 days after the decision, third breach of the Joint The UK and US criticised ! and Japanese Prime Minister China,” Sullivan said ahead of Strait — or, frankly, the issues Trump administration due to if filed before the end of the Declaration in less than nine China Thursday when its cer- Yoshihide Suga, the top a crucial meeting with top that we heard today from our various policies and memo- validity period requested on months, Raab said in a statement. emonial legislature endorsed ! American official said the four Chinese officials. Quad partners: their coercion randums on non-immigrant the petition or labour condition “The Chinese authorities’ the Communist Party’s move to $ 4 leaders have agreed to hold an Sullivan, who along with of Australia, their harassment work visas, in particular H-1B. application, whichever is earli- continued action means I must reduce the role of Hong Kong in-person summit later this along with the Secretary of around the Senkaku Islands, US Citizenship and er, and the decision was based on now report that the UK con- voters in picking the territory’s year. State Antony Blinken are their aggression on the border Immigration Services (USCIS) one or more policies in the three siders Beijing to be in a state of lawmakers and ensure “patri- 0- # " ! 061 The leaders addressed key scheduled to meet their with India,” Sullivan said. on Friday announced “it may rescinded H-1B memoranda. ongoing non-compliance with ots” rule the city. AP 9 4 # ! 3 7 8 $,0 5 $-' $ 5 # = ! # =7 ! ) ! $% & 'R 7 4# La Paz: The conservative inter- '8*4 country forward,” he was quot- Dhaka: Several world leaders, to join the celebrations under im President who led Bolivia ) # ed as saying by an official including Prime Minister separate schedules, Bangladesh for a year was arrested on ) ri Lankan President statement released on Saturday. Colombo: A 60-year-old for- Easter Sunday bombings had Narendra Modi and heads of government’s principal infor- Saturday as officials of the . .+- "+ SGotabaya Rajapaksa has Gotabaya Rajapaksa,71, mer leader of Islamic organi- called for banning Wahaabism state and government from mation officer Surath Kumar restored leftist Government ' !O praised his brothers, saying that praised Basil as the man who sation Jamaat-e-Islami has been in the island nation as it Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Sarkar told PTI. Maldivian pursue those involved in the ( ! A all three of them are firmly unit- created the Rajapaksa political arrested in Sri Lanka for inspires Muslim religious the Maldives, are set to visit President Ibrahim Mohamed 2019 ouster of socialist leader L ed and anyone trying to drive a party, the Sri Lanka People’s allegedly promoting extremism extremism. On April 21, 2019, Bangladesh later this month to Solih will be the first top for- Evo Morales, which they regard M wedge between them will not Party (SLPP) and the force in the country, police nine suicide bombers belong- participate in the grand cele- eign dignitary to arrive on a as a coup, and the administra- succeed. In a comment made by behind the political environ- announced on Saturday. ing to the local Islamist extrem- brations to mark the golden three-day tour on March 17, tion that followed. O ! the president at a political gath- ment for them to return to Rasheed Hajjul Akbar, who ist group National Thawheed jubilee of the country’s inde- followed by Sri Lanka’s Prime Jeanine Áñez was detained ! ering on Friday, Gotabaya power after the defeat of headed the Jamaat-e-Islami organ- Jamaat (NTJ) carried out a pendence from Pakistan. Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in the early morning in her Rajapaksa praised the maturity Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2015. isation for 24 years until last series of blasts that tore through The golden jubilee cele- on March 19 on a two-day tour. hometown of Trinidad and $ " of his elder brother Mahinda, In the recent months some September 2019, was arrested by three churches and as many brations to be held from March Nepal President Bidya Devi was flown to the capital, ! 0EEEE the prime minister, and the of the ruling coalition seniors the Terrorism Investigation luxury hotels in Sri Lanka, 17-27 to mark the country’s Bhandari will be in Dhaka on Las Paz. AP ! younger brother Basil, the key were mooting the idea that Division (TID) from Dematagoda killing 270 people, including 11 independence from Pakistan a two-day tour from March 22 presidential adviser. Gotabaya Rajapaksa be allowed area on Friday, Police Spokesman Indians, and injuring over 500 after the 1971 Liberation War while Bhutanese premier Lotay “Mahinda Rajapaksa is to take over the reins of the rul- DIG Ajith Rohana said. on the Easter Sunday. also coincides with the birth Tshering will visit the country currently one of the greatest ing SLPP from Mahinda He was publishing articles The blasts targeted St centenary of Father of the from March 24 to March 25. leaders not only here but also Rajapaksa. This move has met in a magazine published by the Anthony’s Church in Colombo, Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Prime Minister Modi will in Asia. His political experi- with stiff resistance from the Jamaat-e-Islami organisation St Sebastian’s Church in the Mujibur Rahman. Prime arrive on March 26 on a two- ence, maturity and knowledge senior Rajapaksa loyalists who to promote Wahhabism and western coastal town of Minister Modi and four heads day visit and will join the main cannot be matched by anyone,” have demanded disciplinary Jihadist ideology in Sri Lanka, Negombo, and a church in the of state and government from Independence Day celebra- he said during the programme. action against those who the police spokesman said. eastern town of Batticaloa Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and tions that also marks 50 years “His mature leadership is a sought Mahinda’s replacement The arrest came as an when the Easter Sunday mass the Maldives will be among the of Bangladesh-India diplomat- great relief to me in taking the as the party leader. investigation panel on the 2019 was in progress. PTI distinguished foreign guests ic relations. PTI # & ; QR

8$9, couple drew mixed reactions on the internet. A social media top Pakistani university has user posted the picture of Aexpelled two students for Indian film legend Amitabh hugging and proposing on cam- Bachchan from the movie pus, after a video of the incident “Mohabbatein” where he went viral on social media. A played a college principal who special disciplinary committee was against romance in college. of the University of Lahore “Presenting to you, the held a meeting on Friday and Principal of the University of summoned the two students but Lahore,” read the caption with they failed to appear. a photograph of Bachchan. The committee then decid- % Slain prime minister of ed to expel the boy and the girl Pakistan Benazir Bhutto’s and banned them from enter- Campus, the committee has was one of the top trends on daughter Bakhtawar Bhutto- ing any of the university’s cam- decided to expel the two stu- social media last Thursday Zardari termed the university puses. According to the dents for violating the varsity’s when the incident took place. action “ridiculous”. University of Lahore, the two rules and regulations and seri- The viral footage shows the Former Test Cricketer students were involved in gross ous infraction of the code of girl with her right knee bent on Wasim Akram’s wife Shaniera misconduct and violation of conduct. Furthermore, as per the ground, holding a bouquet Akram said in a tweet: “Apply university rules. Section 16, they are debarred of roses, proposing to the boy, all the rules you want but you “The students in question from entering the premises of who then takes the flowers and can’t expel love! It’s in our were summoned before the University of Lahore and all its pulls the girl for a hug. Nearby hearts, it’s the best part about committee but failed to appear. sub-campuses,” read a state- students are seen cheering being young and it what makes Thus, in pursuance of Section ment from the University of them along. As the footage life worth living! You learn 9 of the General Discipline and Lahore. The video of the pro- went viral, the university took more about love than you can Code of Conduct on the posal took Twitter by storm, it notice of it. Expulsion of the ever learn at an institution.” + ,-. /0/, #@ & 1 !! >!/5 /!/ ( OG P&&<$

$9* $4$ %&'(')* + ,-)) ( eft shaken by a bunch of + )? )$- world-class operators, the LIndian team’s white-ball stars will be aiming to put up an order and even though no one improved batting effort in the is really talking about it, it’s been second T20I against England long since the Indian skipper here on Sunday. has had an impactful T20 per- It was India’s first white-ball formance. He is too good a play- game in three months and the er to miss out. rustiness of some of the premier The bowling department shorter format players like KL didn’t have enough runs on Rahul, Hardik Pandya, and board to put up a fight but Yuzvendra Chahal’s showed in whether one of the three spin- the first game in which the hosts ners can make way for a tear- were clinically outplayed. away quick like Navdeep Saini ! " # One defeat is never the end remains to be seen. of the story and no critic can Perhaps Yuzvendra Chahal rule this Indian team out of the could make way for Rahul series on the basis of a singular Tewatia, who may not be as performance especially because crafty a leg break bowler but cer- of its zeal to fight. tainly a decent one with good However, as skipper Virat batting prowess. 8"' +7 &./0* Kohli talks about players with Eoin Morgan, one among + 1-)) ( X-factors doing the job, he the more likeable International he absence of power-hitters + <? )$- would expect Rishabh Pant and captains, has been provided a Thas been Indian women’s Pandya to do a bit more with team that has its bases covered bane for the longest time and of years. their explosive hitting, which with 12 players plying their they would expect all-rounder With Neetu David’s selec- should not be confined to one trade in the IPL. Deepti Sharma and wicketkeep- tion committee literally creating audacious reverse scoop (Pant Unless something really er-batter Sushma Verma to up a harakiri by keeping young off Jofra Archer) or a falling goes wrong, this England team the ante at the back-end during Shafali Verma out of WODI set- ramp shot (Pandya off Ben is a contender to win the T20 the fourth ODI against South up, the only power-hitter in the Stokes). World Cup trophy in October Africa here on Sunday. team is Harmanpreet with likes They are more than capable this year with way too many Blown away in the series- of Jemimah Rodrigues, Punam and will be expected to give a far F 1 ? I/ ( "$

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resident Biden’s first diplomatic out- the US. Third, it allowed the unelected Military elite who have disproportionately benefited from perks as a ‘strategically relevant’ country. Asad reach — America is Back — is laden Inc. of Pakistan to get away with its real power one extraneous lens or another — most recently, Majeed Khan, the Pakistani ambassador to the with harsh domestic realities such as and authority, unlike military juntas of the Third Afghanistan — why wants to give that lens sud- US, talking to a DC-based think-tank, said that irreconcilable partisanship, stark ethnic World who face American censure. denly for a standalone relationship? Hence the “we also represent the Iranian interest here… differences, pandemic riven economy, Having understood the benefits, Pakistan reset pitch is indicative of both consternation and we have been doing that for the last 40 Pand an unprecedented assault on the democratic became a member of SEATO in 1954. While the and parallel churning that wants to recapture years.” As Iran supplants Afghanistan as the process, all needing urgent attention that limits membership did not obtain security guarantees any potential loss of that status. prime focal point in the days to come, Pakistan US’ international focus. The White House’s lim- against Indian incursion similar to NATO Art. 5, would want to encash that issue to its advan- ited foreign policy bandwidth, at least in the first it ensured US goodwill and considerable finan- tage. couple of years, means retracting the US from cial assistance. Pakistan continued to seize With its decision to test Shaheen-III missile Pakistan’s pursuit of strategically relevant unwarranted and intractable commitments and opportunities coming its way. For example, the that can carry nuclear weapons to Israel on access point would be oriented towards west and focusing on significant challenges — addressing late 1960s gave it a chance for yeoman service Biden’s inauguration day, Rawalpindi has central Asia instead of eastwards. To its east lies China’s rise, preventing drift of European allies, during the Sino-American détente. Pakistan was betrayed its desperation for relevance and atten- two behemoths — India and China, both would limiting nuclear proliferation in the Middle East, summoned to facilitate negotiations with Mao tion. But what makes Pakistan so insecure about ensure American attention towards Pakistan and fostering healthy globalisation and free trade Zedong, which it happily delivered in the hope losing relevance? Apart from internecine parity without the endearing ‘strategic relevance.’ India- that benefits the US. of American favours. and millions of dollars in aid, it is Pakistan’s elite US partnership has acquired a new strategic hue A productive American foreign policy Nothing turned out to be more fortunate for that stands to lose the most. It is unimaginable shedding the subcontinental shibboleth of a geared up to wind down its presence in Pakistan than the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. for Pakistan’s civil-military rulers, some of whom nuclear flashpoint. Pakistan has too often Afghanistan and poised to increase its focus on That fortuitous event entrenched Pakistan in the are dual citizens having properties, businesses, rehearsed nuclear brinkmanship with the US to China disrupts its longstanding balance between US’ strategic calculus like never before. Pakistan and families in the US, to lose the heft. It is a blunt its utility. After the abrogation of Art. 370, India and Pakistan, where both rivals have had constant attention of the US as the escala- personal loss too. Imran Khan’s entreaties of ‘nuclear shadow hov- enjoyed equal strategic relevance to the US if not tion with the Taliban kept piling on the body Further, being in the US’ good books grants ering over South Asia’ in the pages of New York equal benefits. For the last two decades, the US’ count of American troops. However, it seems complete impunity to the military leadership in Times fell on deaf ears. India-Pakistan balancing was majorly driven by that the denouement of that dream is approach- domestic and international affairs. Just look at Similarly, its inordinate proximity with ‘iron an equilibrium between two lenses through ing, making Pakistan’s rulers in both Islamabad the countries that invited US incursions or wrath brother’ China that proved an asset during the which Washington observed South Asia — ‘the and Rawalpindi jittery. and their corresponding sins-Iraq for allegedly Cold War is now a sure liability. It is folly even to Afghanistan lens’ that necessitated relying on supporting Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda, Iran imagine another Sino-American rapprochement, Pakistan for its support in getting out of the for aspiring to possess nukes that can threaten and hence, Pakistan’s China bet is a sunk cost for Afghan quagmire and ‘the China/Indo-Pacific Most recently, Pakistan’s National Security Israel, Syria and Libya for dictatorships and abet- its American calculus. In fact, anything it needs lens’ that compelled investing in India as a Advisor Moeed Yusuf has expressed a desire for ting jihadists, Myanmar for military despotism, to do is to salvage its image from sin by associa- strategic partner who can stand against Beijing. a US-Pakistan ‘reset’ based on geoeconomics and North Korea for proliferation. But a country tion. The equilibrium meant internecine parity to and not geopolitics. With an ostentatious candor, =$ 5$+ 5 A$'5+( $ where all sins converge — the presence of Pakistan while ensuring a steady flow of finan- he says a ‘new Pakistan’ does not want the rela- ',55 **+ A Osama bin Laden, nuclear weapons that can cial and military aid. With a gradual withering tionship to be viewed through lens A, B, or C. If reach Tel Aviv, sworn animus towards Israel, This situation leaves Pakistan with three away of the Afghanistan lens, the US’ South Asia Pakistan is really sincere about an economic 4"8 @=5,5 5+ 9 sheltering jihadists, military dictatorship, indi- possible options. First, delay the Afghan peace approach would enter a phase of realignment, security paradigm, it is a most-welcomed sce- '*5+( $? K rect control of the civilian government, human process and buy as much time with the current leaving Pakistan in a quest for ‘strategic rele- nario for India. The market size disparity will $A(9$+5$+ '95+$ rights abuses, and proven proliferation to North situation as possible. Although US presence lim- vance’ to the US. settle the unabating chase for parity with India, $+ +"'8$, '$, Korea, Iran, and Libya — is immune from any its Pakistan’s ability to assert itself in Such a realignment would prove a mixed which is at the root of many regional problems. American punitive actions because the US needs Afghanistan, it can endure the short-term pain. bag for New Delhi. On the one hand, it would This can be a mere charm offensive by K 7958 5 5, it to navigate and exit the largest quagmire it Such instability hurts Indian interests as it hurts limit impunity enjoyed by Pakistan with the US Moeed, an old DC warhorse who has spent over *58 5 ,$(5' entered after Vietnam. Even the idea of losing others. Second, it has already increased its over- for its state-sponsored terrorism against India by a decade shaping pro-Pakistan opinion and lob- ,8>$+' '+5+" this privilege can fret Pakistan’s generals more tures toward Tehran, even if it means upsetting encashing its Afghanistan card. On the other, bying for his country through lucrative think- +7 895 + than anything else. Saudi Arabia and the UAE to an extent. Pakistan Pakistan’s desperate attempt to remain strategi- tank positions he perched. Or, it indicates buy- But will Afghanistan be pushed to oblivion? is emboldened by China’s leverage brought by cally relevant can include nefarious designs that ing time until Rawalpindi formulates a new '88? *+5, 9 Is a post-Afghan world dawning in? Given the Beijing’s promise to pour billions in an economy can harm Indian interest and threaten regional strategy. The recent India-Pakistan ceasefire 5+,+$8 ,$(5' American involvement in Afghanistan today and stifled by sanctions. Beyond beguiling its security. As the American appetite to get out of agreement feeds into this arithmetic of taking a '9",+5+( 5+ 5 the Taliban’s truculence, it seems that the US American counterparts through the Tehran card, Afghanistan grows, it is not only imperative for step back. For two reasons, the geoeconomics troops would never leave Kabul’s soil. Once, it cutting India to size in Persia would be its anoth- New Delhi to remain vigilant about its interest in desire smacks of insincerity. +5(94,9 $+ did not appear to be true in the case of Vietnam er goal. India’s camaraderie with Gulf monarchs Afghanistan but also keep a tab on the strategic First, it does not square with Pakistan’s 7$,($* 5 7+ too. Many had assumed that a small American comes at the partial cost of old warmth with desires of its next-door neighbour. domestic realities. With soaring inflation, bil- ,=+ $? presence in Vietnam was a fait accompli, and Iran, but New Delhi should ensure its vital ener- lions in circular debt, decreasing per capita pur- $9$ 5+ 9 ($* total disengagement was next to impossible. In a gy and security interests are not hurt. Finally, chasing power, incessant political wrangles, fed- couple of years, they were proven wrong. Pakistan has a notorious past of fomenting trou- Strategic relevance is used in the context of eral government’s policy command contested by Moreover, mere troop presence does not bles through non-state actors when it is desper- small states. Small states try to play a minor yet the provincial, military, and baronial powers, mean high salience in American foreign policy. ate. India would need to stay ahead with better critical role in the strategy of big powers in lack of urban infrastructure and connectivity, Some American 5,000 troops are still stationed intelligence and border surveillance to meet exchange for their own security assurances and and domestic security challenges, much leaves to in Iraq compared to around 2,500 in potential challenges. financial largesse. be desired for Pakistan to enamor private US Afghanistan, but Afghanistan is a high-priority Pakistan is facing a crisis moment of bulk Pakistan, by no means a small state, made capital. issue today. Even if a battalion remains hunkered expiries in the coming days — Afghanistan, strategic relevance to the US a cornerstone of its Second, a geoeconomics-oriented Pakistan down in Kabul, Afghanistan will not attract the China, and nuclear cards — while its desire to foreign policy since independence for nearly has to give up on using terrorism as a state poli- same foreign policy focus forever. And Pakistan milk its strategic relevance continues. New Delhi similar reasons. First, having the US by its side, cy; there is no way tradesmen and terrorists can is aware that the expiry date is approaching. needs to closely monitor the internal strategic Pakistan hoped to offset military disparity with a thrive together. However, any such changes churning in its neighbourhood and war-game its mighty neighbour and arch-rival India during would mean the military losing control over the own responses to stay ahead in the game. the Cold War years. Second, it would ensure a Pakistani state, which it would never let happen. Pakistan is now preparing to plug itself The writer is Visiting Fellow at the Stimson continuous flow of civilian and military aid from It also raises a paradox: Pakistan’s civil-military into any issue that can continue its present Center in Washington DC 5M + /" $4" '9' 5+( 9 4@ + ',=,$ '5$8 ,=+54585? 5M $4" 955+( ", 4* 85+ 8tdiauxrd K =((? /9++ ! 8.9')'8 5/>%/?@2+0 :%/?@+%@2?% : 9 @ 9 # ;/ < :9: # 9 5((%:

pon entering the small, take corporations make is to inappro- moters of the company Ajay Piramal dimly lit but cheerful priately locate this team within the and his wife Dr. Swati Piramal are orphanage in organisation by either banishing it to actively engaged in philanthropic Nizamabad, a small a lower down reporting line or to sit activities also in the fields of educa- town located in the within the company’s corporate tion and healthcare. This alignment southU of India, eight years ago, I communications team, or stripping of business, CSR, and philanthropy noticed the pale faces of the children it of power in other ways. This gives on just 2 clear social goals is an effec- inside. Four pairs of eyes were fixed out a signal to employees that any tive approach to ensure deep social on me while the lower half of their social good done by the company is benefits. Further, this has ensured bodies — which at first glance not important or is simply for image that the social initiatives continue seemed to me to be incredibly building. even during the current economic scrawny — hid behind a corroded Instead, the leadership needs to downturn as the company’s CSR metal door separating the reception ensure that the team responsible for spend for FY 20 remained unde- area from a large empty hall that the transformation is em-powered, terred, amounting to 4.51% of its would probably be repurposed for reports directly to the CEO, and is average net profits of the 3 preced- their dining or play through the day. involved in all business and financial ing financial years which more than The children in this orphanage were decisions. This would require doubles up on the legally mandated born out of illicit relationships in the changes such as having a key employ- annual CSR spend. community, thus abandoned by their ee lead this team, inclusion of the In other cases, the transforma- biological mothers, and all suffered team within corporate governance tive process results in social respon- from AIDS. structures or even close physical sibility being a generator of revenue. “They have not received their proximity of offices of this team to Micro-finance, employment ser- medicines since the past 3 months,” the CEO. vices, affordable housing and various informed Rajoo the founder of the businesses that cater to customers at orphanage, noticing my sadness at the bottom of the pyramid are some the state of the children. Embedding social good within examples. However, businesses that “Why not?” I asked, shocked. operations, services and products of might cater to higher income groups “The CSR manager of the com- a company requires teams to close- but source directly from producers, pany that provided the medicines has ly collaborate towards identifying key or those who extend their services been replaced. The new manager has stakeholders, conducting a material- and add value to the smaller compa- a different plan and so he directed the ity analysis, and implementing ini- nies in their supply chain, or work to funds to a set of other CSR initia- tiatives that are driven by the results eradicate the environmental pollu- tives.” of the materiality analysis. tion caused by their operations and Standing in the vacuous, win- of these companies to financially active in nutrition, health and sus- sultative process across teams for Conducting a materiality analysis products, or work on cross subsidised dowless hall that was being hurried- contribute to any CSR at all this year. tainable living. Similarly, in India, proposing the idea and then request- ensures that social initiatives are models to provide their products and ly now readied by Rajoo’s industri- However, only if these corpora- USD 4.2 billion Tata Power has ing employees for their opinion important both to the business and services at differentiated pricing to ous staff for serving lunch to the forty tions’ social initiatives are inter- pledged to transition from produc- about it as well as suggestions for the stakeholders. customers with different paying two ailing but happy and clamorous twined with their business models, ing thermal power to entirely renew- roll out plan. Teams across the company need power, are also positively contribut- orphans who were all gathered will the initiatives survive employee able sources of power by 2050. Not only is the process informa- to then collaborate with internal as ing to society. There are many busi- around me, I was convinced of the turnover and financial losses of the This way, the company’s social 9, $, *$+? tive, but also instils a sense of own- well as external entities to ensure the ness models that can usher in ben- colossal dangers to the little end-ben- company. The company’s procure- initiatives can not be stopped lest it 4"5+ * 8 ership amongst employees of the continued implementation and mon- efits to society as well as revenues. eficiaries of whimsical ‘CSR initia- ment policies, supply chain manage- impacts revenue generation. How changes in the company that will fol- itoring of the initiatives that result in Recently, on a trip to Hyderabad tives’. ment, production units, and distri- can CEOs transform their companies 9$ '$+ "9, low. This will result in stronger social good as well as revenues. I made my way by road to visit Philanthropy done through spo- bution networks can be tweaked to to do this? implementation by these employees This often results in an align- Nizamabad again. Upon enquiring, radic corporate social responsibility be more socially responsible. 5+ 4+A5 of the changes that will later be pro- ment of initiatives for business and the locals told me that Rajoo’s initiatives is common in developing Similarly, services and products that posed by the leadership. social welfare. An example of a orphanage had long closed down due countries such as India, but is not are harmful to society can be phased To embed social responsibility in '5? $ 788 company that successfully aligns to lack of regularity in funds. I won- sustainable. In FY 2019-20, an aston- out, ushering in those that help peo- a company’s operations, services $ ,>+" business interests, CSR, and philan- dered what happened to the children. ishing 20.33 per cent of listed Indian ple while also being profitable. and products, first employees at Next, the transformative process thropy is Piramal Enterprises companies reported losses. In fact, For example, companies like large need to be convinced that this needs to be placed within a specific Limited, an Indian business con- The writer is the CEO of 19.65 per cent of Indian companies the Euro 24 billion Veolia earn rev- is the right thing to do. Only then will team such as the strategy team, sus- glomerate earning revenues of 5,419 Sustain Labs, a company that trans- who were profitable in Q4 2019-20 enues from water and waste manage- they willingly implement the changes tainability department, R&D or a crore in the last financial year. The forms companies towards being sus- reported losses in Q1 2020-21 as a ment as well as energy services. The needed across the company. Make research centre located within the company’s CSR has a sharp focus on tainable and profitable. She is the likely direct consequence of the Euro 9.26 billion Dutch State Mines employees feel that it was their idea company. All the changes needed education and healthcare which also author of Indian Instincts: Essays pandemic on the country’s economy has moved out of the polluting busi- to change. within the company will emanate mirrors the company’s main business on Freedom & Equality in India, which will only worsen in FY 2022. ness of coal mining and reinvented For this, it is crucial that the from this team. focus on technology and healthcare. and a Global Leadership Fellow at This pushes down the legal liability itself into a science-based company company’s leadership deploys a con- However, often a common mis- Beyond business and CSR, the pro- the World Economic Forum 22 % (5 9 )% ( 26' (6 0 # $ "5 0-/.43!.0>,.84%$!

esidential buildings ernment launched several initia- will be necessary to reduce the accounted for 24% of the tives to meet the affordable hous- financial burden on developers as Rtotal electricity consump- ing shortage through its vision on well as buyers. The government tion in India in 2016. This total ‘Housing for All by 2022.’ It must invest in research and test- electricity consumption will launched the Pradhan Mantri ing for new materials and tech- increase as more housing units Awas Yojana (PMAY) — Urban nologies. Housing built through are built to meet the estimated (PMAY-U) and Rural (PMAY-R) the ARHC schemes provide a demand of 38 million housing in 2015. Most recently, it great opportunity to construct units in 2030. The electricity con- launched the Affordable Rental pilot projects as occupants do not sumption per household is also Housing Complexes (ARHCs) invest in the property directly. increasing as people have access scheme under PMAY-U to pro- It will also be necessary for to better electricity and invest in vide affordable housing to the government to simultaneous- more appliances due to increasing migrant workers and the urban ly roll out financial support pro- spending power. As a result, poor. The PMAY sub-schemes grams. Direct/indirect mecha- national electricity consumed by provide financial support to nisms need to be introduced to the residential sector is expected State/Union Territories (UTs) absorb the extra costs of building to increase by more than eight through different interventions. sustainably. Increasing home loan times by 2050. Integrating thermal comfort subsidies with relaxations in GST The construction industry and energy efficiency strategies and taxes will incentivise con- already accounts for 25-40% of into the PMAY schemes provides struction of low carbon buildings. the world’s total carbon emis- a unique opportunity for wide- Housing schemes under PMAY sions. Increase in energy con- spread and quick adoption by the with green building certifications sumption by the residential sector affordable housing sector. These can be awarded extra subsidies will result in an exponential strategies can be made mandato- coupled with stamp duty waiver. increase in Greenhouse Gas ry through the PMAY schemes Strategic relaxation in Floor (GHG) emissions without appro- thus linking them to fiscal bene- Space Index (FSI) norms can help priate mitigation interventions. fits. reduce common infrastructure Affordable housing, including As a first step, the scope of development costs. Developers the Low Income Group (LIG) and the building design regulations can use the excess budget to pro- Economically Weaker Section under PMAY needs to be vide energy efficiency measures (EWS), accounted for almost 96% increased. This can be done by in their buildings. of the residential housing integrating Energy Conservation Robust enforcement and high demand in 2012. Even though the Building Code-Residential compliance rate will be essential energy consumption of the (ECBC-R) developed by the be unable to purchase appropriate climate change is forcing more compared to carbon dioxide. It is voluntary. Sustainable mechanical to ensure the intended energy affordable housing sector is rela- Bureau of Energy Efficiency’s appliances, especially to improve and more people to use air condi- necessary to phase out these technologies can have high cost savings and GHG reductions tively small right now, it will (BEE) into PMAY schemes. thermal comfort, due to financial tioners to achieve thermal com- refrigerants and support climate and maintenance requirements through this strategy. Regular increase as the number of build- The first part of ECBC-R constraints. fort in their homes. Almost 30% responsive sustainable cooling and should be provided based on evaluation and improvements to ings and appliance usage increas- includes design and material The second part of the of electricity consumption in systems. While use of air-condi- project-to-project suitability. the policy will help build trust es. Hence, any strategy to reduce selection to improve thermal ECBC-R will include strategies homes is from air-conditioning tioners in LIG and EWS housing PMAY can provide greater finan- amongst all stakeholders and energy consumption in the resi- comfort in residential buildings, for sustainable mechanical sys- making it one of the biggest con- units is low currently, the number cial benefits to projects adopting inspire confidence in adopting dential sector must include the improve natural ventilation and tems such as heating, cooling and tributors towards spikes in energy is expected to increase in both ECBC-R (Part- II). energy efficiency strategies. This affordable housing sector. increase daylighting. This will renewable energy systems. consumption. Most refrigerators rural and urban areas by 2030. While design interventions will help us stay on track to The affordable housing sector help reduce energy demand for Including sustainable cooling and air-conditioners contain ECBC-R (Part I) can be can be integrated into projects at achieve our carbon goals. is largely managed by the govern- lighting, cooling or heating. This technologies is key to reducing chemical refrigerants that have made mandatory for all afford- zero cost, material and technolo- ment owing to its role as regula- is especially beneficial to the LIG the GHG footprint of buildings. 1,000 to 9,000 times greater able housing projects, while gy interventions may result in The writers are Anant Fellows tor and major builder. The gov- and EWS population which may Rising global temperature due to capacity to warm the atmosphere ECBC-R (Part II) can be made increased construction costs. It for Climate Action uvitiut ! 8.9')'8 == 1 !/6!6!/ !6 !A

he Hague-based TInternational Criminal Court (ICC) has ordered an investigation into the alleged war crimes in the Palestinian territories which were cap- tured by Israel in the historic Six Day War of 1967, wherein the country has already started settlement construction. The ICC investigation will look into “crimes that are alleged to have been committed” since June 13, 2014 — the Palestinians chose June 2014 as the start of the investigation to coincide with the run-up to Israel’s devastating Gaza war that summer. Way back in 2015, the ICC began a preliminary investiga- ' tion into the 2014 Gaza conflict. In the month of June that -.7+- . year, the Palestinian Authority -. -..++ (PA) submitted evidence of massive war crimes by the -.'., -<. Israeli military. However, a :- +6 -.;;( report released by the UN highlighted that there was evi- . -. dence of war crimes by both '+'. 6+ -6> the Israeli military and the Hamas, the Palestinian militant .'.+ - outfit. According to UN esti- ; +, mates, over 2,200 Palestinians, .+>.. -+.+ including nearly 1,500 civilians, were killed by Israeli fire while - . '+-. at least 67 soldiers and six civil- .+ . :-- ians were killed on the Israeli side. P 2 !C C "<

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alf a year after the United thousands of Israeli tourists and ties with Israel on ending the country and didn’t know if everyone HArab Emirates and Bahrain business people to the region and led decades-long Israeli-Palestinian was ready for us.” established diplomatic relations to a fledgling industry of Jewish conflict, including the Israeli occu- “Now it feels quite the opposite,” with Israel, discreet Jewish com- weddings and other celebrations pation of lands the Palestinians she said. “I truly feel like I can be munities in the Gulf Arab states that aimed at Israeli visitors. Emirati and seek for an independent state. myself here, more openly attending once lived in the shadow of the Bahraini authorities have launched But recently, those attitudes ceremonies and Jewish celebra- Arab-Israeli conflict are adopting a a public relations blitz to cultivate have eroded among some Arab tions. Jewish life here is becoming more public profile. their image as Muslim havens of leaders, even as hostility toward more like Jewish life anywhere else.” Kosher food is now available. inclusion and tolerance for Jews, in Israel — in part because of its poli- Still, this new reality remains Jewish holidays are celebrated open- stark contrast to regional rivals cies toward Palestinians — has per- fragile. Some countries have been ly. There is even a fledgling religious Saudi Arabia and Iran. sisted among their populations. slower to change. Saudi Arabia and court to sort out issues such as mar- “A door has been opened,” said The Gulf Arab monarchies have Qatar have long been criticized for riages and divorces. Elie Abadie, the new senior rabbi of a few scattered remnants of bygone promoting anti-Semitic attitudes “Slowly, slowly, it’s improving,” the Jewish Council of the Emirates. Jewish communities, said Jason in textbooks. said Ebrahim Nonoo, leader of “I think there is more openness and Guberman, executive director of the Security remains a concern, as Bahrain’s Jewish community, which more welcome and enthusiasm for American Sephardi Federation. illustrated by the recent attack on an recently hosted an online celebration the presence of a Jewish communi- Saudi Arabia is home to sites Israel-owned ship in the Persian of the Purim holiday for Jews in the ty or Jewish individuals or Jewish that predate the advent of Islam in Gulf. Israel has blamed archenemy Gulf Arab region. tradition and culture.” the 7th century, and Bahrain, Kuwait Iran, and officials fear other Jewish Nonoo is among the founders of The Lebanon-born Abadie, a and Oman have old Jewish ceme- and Israeli targets could be vulner- the Association of Gulf Jewish member of the Association of Gulf teries. The UAE emirate of Ras al- able. Many Jews in the region keep Communities, a new umbrella Jewish Communities, said he is Khaimah is home to a solitary their religious identities a secret. group for the tiny Jewish popula- certain the shift is taking place Jewish headstone, possibly from a A Jewish businessman who has tions in the six Arab monarchies of across the Gulf, not only in the UAE. traveling merchant — like most of lived and worked in Oman for the the Gulf Cooperation Council. The association aims to provide the Jews arriving in Dubai today. past several decades said he is one Their goal is to win greater accep- support and services for the small “Jews have been in the Gulf for of perhaps 20 Jews living in the sul- tance of Jewish life in the region. Jewish populations in Kuwait, a very long time, and now it’s kind tanate. “It’s just going to take a bit of Oman, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar of a return to this historical pattern He said the country has a more time to seep through before we see and the UAE. These might include ":

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t is not easy to remain unaffected by he came back empty handed. Buddha knocking you from within. mind/silently, one syllable/word while the thoughts flowing through mind. pointed that the mud would have settled Mind-Detoxification: Having thus inhaling and the other while exhaling, as ITo get over this, train to keep your and sent him back. When the disciple created a favourable inner-climate, stage directed by the Guru. attention away from the thoughts chasing approached the stream, he found that is set to move on to the Mind- Mantra as such has no religious you by giving auto suggestions if neces- though a significant amount of mud had Detoxification process. It is purposely so implication; it actually has its energy con- sary. Over a period of time, all inconse- settled, but water was still not potable. designed as to consciously invoke the notation. When you inhale deep, simulta- quential thoughts and feelings bothering Later, when he visited the water stream thought-seeds parked in the deeper layers neously reciting opening syllable of the you may leave. This is not to suggest that for the third time, water had become of the mind and resolve them. The mantra, one draws extra life-forces from all thoughts and feelings would go out of clean, and so he fetched it for his Guru. method needs to be directly learnt from nature. That triggers the inlaid memory reckoning during this process. Still, there The mind’s flow is almost similar to an expert. The broader principles, howev- imprints registered in energy-format — may be many more left, parked at deeper that of a running water stream. As you er, are being laid down for the sake of meaningful ones as positive energy and layers of mind, yet to surface up. They cross the water stream, the muck on the awareness. Here arises the role of Guru, unseemly ones as negative energy. The will be attended to during the later issues. bed is stirred, following which, water who will give you a two syllable/words churning that follows tries to expel nega- Yet, you may be relatively calmer as becomes muddy. If you leave the water simple mantra. The mantra as such has to tive imprints, bringing into focus host of thoughts and feelings bothering you in flow undisturbed for a while, all the muck be individual specific, identified by the distracting thoughts. The vibration of the immediate terms may no longer chase will settle down and water will become Guru, based on the callings of your second syllable helps drive away the neg- you from within. clear once again. In mind, instead of inherent frame of mind. ative energy. Continue this practice for at To explain the concept underlying water, thoughts keep continuously flow- A similar posture as adopted during least 20 minutes. the above process, it becomes imperative ing. When unwanted and negative the mind calming down process, is pre- One will be flooded with thoughts to share a story related to Gautam thoughts and feelings somehow intrude ferred during Mind-Detoxification also. during this process. They, however are Buddha. Once Buddha asked one of his your thought plane, mind gets unnerved. One can do it in sitting position also, but the ones parked at deeper layer of mind. disciples to fetch water from a nearby If, however, you let the thoughts naturally the spinal-cord needs to be kept erect. These thoughts will reflect definite pat- water stream. When the disciple flow in and out without paying attention Now close your eyes and turn your atten- terns, which may throw light on your approached the stream, he found that an to them, over a period of time they go out tion inwards. The focus has to be on the inherent habit tendencies. Becoming animal was crossing. So, water had of reckoning. breath cycle — inhaling and exhaling. aware thus, you could make amends become muddy. Thinking that he cannot The best part of the process is that Slowly inhale deep (stomach should through fresh educative inputs. carry dirty water to his Guru, the disciple mind gets trained to have its attention expand/come out with large air intake) $ came back. After a while when Buddha effortlessly turned inwards for a consider- and then slowly exhale (the stomach A asked him for water, the disciple able period of time, and to a large extent should go in as excessive air move out). $ E##"!"""!##9"9DK;<;KL#9;"DK;<;< informed that water was muddy and so also remain disengaged from thoughts Now begin reciting the mantra in your ? E M A

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