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JOURNALISM OF COURAGE SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2020, PUNE, LATE CITY, 16 PAGES SINCE 1932 `5.00, WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

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NORTHEASTERN KARNATAKAROAD TRANSPORT CORPORAT ION,KALBURAGI. CentralOffices,Stores&Purchase Department, Sarige Sadana,Main Road,Kalaburagi-2. No.NEKRTC/CO/COSP/581/2020-21 Date :18-12-2020 TAMILNADU NEWSPRINT AND PAPERS LIMITED KAGITHAPURAM -639 136, KARUR DIST. TAMIL NADU “E”- AUCTIONNOTICE Phone: 04324-277 001 (10 LINES) ScrapVehiclesand Materialsavailable at variousunitsofNEKRTC will be sold through NOTICEINVITINGTENDER e- AuctiontobeconductedbyM/s.M.S.T.C.(AGovt. of India undertaking). Tender MaterialDescripion Due Date Thee-Auction schedule is as under: No. ScrappedMaterials:05.01.2021ScrappedVehicles: 07.01.2021 202113 SodiumSoap (Imported) required for 004213 Deinking Plant(QTY. (MT) -360) 31.12.2020 TheinterestedBidders maylog on to www.mstcecommerce.comfor furtherdetails andregistration. They mayalsocontact M/s. M.S.T.C. Ltd, at bellow mentionedaddressfor 202113 Procurementof90GSM Plain KraftSheets of 04.01.2021 004248 various sizes-450 MT needfulclarification. [email protected] Address: M/s. M.S.T.C. Ltd.,No. 19/5,19/6, 3rdFloor, Kareem Tower, Cunningham Road, Email 202113004248-purchase.packing @tnpl.co.in Bengaluru-560052. ContactNos:080-22260054/22266417/22287356.Fax No:080-22256365. Terms &Conditions, Tender Fee, EMD areavailable in Tender document at NEKRTC ContactNos ;7760686172 /7760992029/08472260502. our websites: www.tnpl.com/ www.tenders.tn.gov.in DIP/Kalaburagi/659/MC&A/2020-21 Sd/- ControllerofStoresand Purchases DIPR/4747/Tender/2020 TNPL -Maker of bagasse based eco-friendly Paper TAMILNADU CIVIL SUPPLIES CORPORATION HO: No.12, THAMBUSAMY ROAD, KILPAUK, CHENNAI-600 010. SHORTTERM E-TENDER NOTICE No. :QC2/035813/2020Dated :17.12.2020 Short Term E-Tender No.: TNCSC/20-21/ET/17 Tamil Nadu CivilSupplies Corporaion invites Online electronic tender for “The Supply of 5,000 Nos. of LowDensity Black Polyethylene Covers having the sizeof9.8 x6.4 x5.2 meters with 250 micron thickness.” Complete Short Term E-Tender document canbeviewed, downloadedand uploaded through htps://www.mstcecommerce.com/eprochome/tncsc from 19.12.2020to29.12.2020. The biddershavetoparicipate in online bidding onlywith Digital Signature Ceriicate(DSC) of Class-III. ForRegistraion and furtherdetailscontact MSTC LIMITED, Phone: (044) 25222842/25251910 /25261005 e-Mail : [email protected] LastDatefor Online Submission : 29.12.2020 upto 02.00 PM Short Term E-Tender Opening Date and Time : 29.12.2020 at 3.30 PM DIPR/ 4750 /Tender/2020 MANAGING DIRECTOR ^maVr¶ {dkmZ {ejm Ed§ AZwg§YmZ g§ñWmZ nwUo INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH PUNE (An Autonomous Institution of Ministry of Education, Govt. of India) Dr.Homi Bhabha Road, Pune -411 008 lwww.iiserpune.ac.in

I, 13895188K NAIK Regd. Off.: PSEB H.O., The Mall, Patiala-147001 Pandharinath LOST & FOUND CIN: U40109PB2010SGC033813, Website: www.pspcl.in Dadabhau Choure, HDFC BANK LTDREPOKIT GURU HARGOBIND THERMAL PLANT,LEHRA MOHABBAT declared that my wife’s NO 508107 A/C- DISTT.BATHINDA(PUNJAB) PIN-151111 name is Ratna Mala 51353869SUSHANT e-tendering website: https://pspcl.abcprocure.com Pandharinath Choure, KOLEKAR ,REPOKIT NO NOTICE INVITING TENDER (Through E-tendering) her date of birth 10 JAN 508103 A/C-5775934 E-tenders are invited from reputed and registered Firms/Contractors forthe fol- 1968isincorrect in my SAJANARGHESE has lowing work: servicerecords, and her beenlost at talegaon Sr.ShortDescription of Work Tender EnquiryNo. real dateofbirth is 15 dabhade area contact if No. MAR 1972. Affidavit No. found abhijeet chature- NECC suggested farm- 8380087526 90279396-1 1. Annual Mtc. Contract forRepair of 100/GHTP/MM-lI/CS-49(VlI) Old nameRahimsahmad 518275/2020. Dated BUSINESS gate pricefor 100eggs on ConveyorBelts &PulleyLagging of Dated: 17.12.2020 Abdulgani 04/12/2020. 90279388-1 19.12.2020 inPune Conveyorbelts of CHP Stage-I &lIat EMD: Minimum Rs. 60,000/- POULTRY khudashiNewName ¹fcªfeÀfe-OXeEBÊ IYfg³ÀffgdMÊX¹f¸fRYfgSX ÀffBadMXdRYIY dSXÀf¨fÊ withouttrayisRs.525 - Iname Jagadale Kiran GHTP,LehraMohabbat as per detail (Rupees Sixty Thousand only) Raees Abdulgani Qudsi in tender specifications (FiveHundred and UGC-DAECONSORTIUM FOR Aadhar no: 2188 4456 Kondiram Twenty FiveRupees 0974 90279376-2 no.14841811X. Rank SEP, Last Date &Time forBid Submission: 18.01.2021 upto 11.30 hrs. SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH only) Phone:NECC Resi Vill- bidal,Post- Old nameRubeena Date &Time of Opening of Fee Stage Bid: 19.01.2021 at 12.00 hrs. 24270724, 26336377, bidal, Teh- man, Dist- Detailed NIT and tender specification can onlybedownloaded from (¹fcd³f½fdÀfÊMe¦fif³MÐÐÀf I¸feVf³f, ³fBÊ dQ»»fe IeÀ½ff¹fØf ÀfaÀ±ff) Dealer: 24332689, Praveen FerozKhan PSPCL website https://eproc.punjab.gov.in from dated 18.12.2020 onwards. 24455130, 24265787. New name Rubeena satara, State- MH FerozKhan Aadharno: (415508). Ihave NOTE: IYû»fIYf°ffIZY³ýi 0090272256-1 1. The prospectivebidders can obtain clarification regarding tender specifi- 3493 6993 0412 changed my daughters cations from this office.For registration of digital signatures and uploading KolkataCentre 90279376-3 namefromSanchita of tender,information maybesought from http://eproc.punjab.gov.in. CHANGE OF NAME Jagadale to Sanchita LB-8, Sector-III, Bidhannagar, Kolkata-700106 My old name was 2. It is informed that in case the tender process is not completed due to any Old name Jose Cheriyan Ranjeet Kumar Sharma Kiran Jagadale Affidavit reason no Corrigendum wiIl be published in newspapers.Detail regard- NOTICE INVITING TENDER No. 01-03/2020-21 new name Jose Cherian changed to new name no. 111/ 25.02.2020 ing corrigendum maybeseen on PSPCL officialwebsite i.e. address flat no.c-7, 90279392-2 http://eproc.punjab.gov.in. UGC-DAE CSR, Kolkata Centre of the Consortium invites separately sealed Ranjeet Sharma as per Smruti Garden, aadhaar cardno Sd/- bids in Two Bid System i.e. Part-A (Eligibility) &Part-B (Financial Bid) Ichanged my Last name Vijaynagar, Kalewadi, 357846611761. Superintending Engineer, from Inarakartonew Mechanical Mtc. Circle-II, from eligible bidder(s) for the following services. (1) Providing Manpower Pune-17 regno.21/2020 0090279398-1 last name Innarkar vide O&M, GHTP,PSPCL, (Skilled &Unskilled) for housekeeping &infrastructural support servicesat 0090279382-1 GHTP-60/2020 Lehra Mohabbat, My old name Balasaheb affidavit no-421/2020 the Office of UGC-DAE CSR, KC (2) ProvidingSecurity Services at the Vencobb today’s ex- 119920/Pb Distt. Bathinda (Pb)-151111 I Archna is legally Laxman Sasar is dated14/12/2020 Office &Guest house of UGC-DAE CSR, KC. (3) Providing Canteen shop delivery rate at wedded spouse of changed to New name 90279397-1 Services at the Guest house &Office of UGC-DAE CSR, KC. Pune Rs.88 per kg. no.14841811X Rank SEP Balu LaxmanSasar Complete details, eligibility criteria &general guidelines for the tenderers Contact (9522) name Jagadale Kiran Adhar no-846067471858 IRahul Diwan state that 22872417, Pune (9520) my father is also are available on our website www.iuc.res.in and also are available on the e- Kondiram, Resi. Vill- 0090279387-1 24269414. 90272255-1 bidal, Post-bidal,Teh- addressed as Rajendra Publishing system of CPPP, Government of India. Interested bidders are Sheetal Agro Traders man, Dist-satara,State- My old Name Isaali Kumar Diwan, Rajendra Bashir Sayyed To New requested to visit the above site in order to view/download the tender Today’sEx-Shop MH (415508). Ihave Diwan and RKDiwan Name As Isali Bashir documents. The last date for submission of complete bid(s) at the above delivery for livesmall changed my name from vide affidavit no. Sayyed Vide Aadhar birds sizebetween1.3 to Archna to Archna Kiran address, with Tender Fee as detailed in the tender documents is 15/01/2021 CardNo. 5971 2216 5987 383/2020. 90279386-3 1.5 rate at PuneRs. 128/- Jagadale Affidavit at 15.00 hrs. All future corrigendum, addendums, amendments and revisions, Dated 18/12/2020 Old per Kg.7776024132, no.111/25.02.2020 name Rajindersingh if any with regard to this NIT, shall be detailed /uploaded on our institute hardit singh sassan 7588532184 90274713-1 0090279392-1 0090279398-2 new name Rajinder website Pune Broilers Traders’ I Dagdu Sahebrao My old Name Gulnarbi singh hardit singh UGC-DAE CSR, KC Isaali Sayyed To New Association Rate On Gavhane To change my sasan Aadhar no: 2016 Name As GulnarIsali 19.12.2020 ForLiveBig Name Abdulla Mannan 2815 3452 90279376-1 Sayyed Vide Aadhar Planning Department Birds Rs.112 Live BagwanbyGovt. CardNo. 3592 3128 3518 Tandoori Birds Rs.121 Gazzattee no.073767 HOTEL&RESORTS Government of Meghalaya Momin Poultry (Asif Dated 18/12/2020 0090279384-2 WATERPROOFING Momin) 26336349. 0090279398-3 Secretariat Main Building I Kabita, Spouse of No. Without Breaking Toilet, 0090273461-3 I, Savalekari Subhash Bathroom, 5Years M.G.Road, Shillong -793001 14594097L, Ex-Naik, Rajaram, declarethat Pimpri-Chinchwad Guarantee, Terrace Dalavi Namadeo name of my Son’s has e-mail: [email protected] Broilers Traders’ 10Years Guarantee,All Ananda, Vill -Boposhi, been changed from Association “RateOn Leakage Work, Free Visit RFP No.PLR.100/2020/78 Dated Shillong the 16th December,2020 Have Changed My AjaytoGhatage Ajay 19.12.2020 ForLiveBig Name From Kabita to Authorized Applicator Dr. Subhashasper Fixit9225534110/7666729 Request for Proposal Birds Rs.113 LiveSmall Kavita Namdev Dalvi. affidavit No. 5317/2020 Birds Rs.122 Al-Taqdeer Affidavit No. 23074. 911. 90278819-2 Planning Department, Government of Meghalaya invites bids for Broiler(Siraj 0090279393-1 engagement of an agency for Development,Implementation and 0090279394-1 Shaikh)9822931357, I, JadhavPramila RECRUITMENT Maintenance of Scheme Management System underMeghalaya 9767869302 Rucha Vivek Kulkarni Pramod w/oArmyno. Well experienceofover Enterprise Architecture (MeghEA) as per detailed specifications (newname). Sangeeta 0090273225-1 7780140Lrank HAV/MP 25 years in Sadashiv Padhye (old Jadhav Pramod provided in the RFP document to act as reliable System Integrator. administration Madina Poultry Traders, name).Aadhar no. 8515 Tulshiram my name is Scheme Management System has been envisioned to enable several department requires Pune.Paper rate on 6715 5381. 90279390-1 wrongly mentioned as services such as processing of proposals for sanction submitted by all immediate Job.please 19.12.2020 for LiveBig Pramila P. Jadhav Departmentsofthe Government of Meghalaya, monitor sanction status Old name of our grand contact :9657294403. Birds Rs. 114/- Kg .Shop correct name is Jadhav daughter AdelynAnoop and review sanctionproposals. DeliveryContact Pramila Pramod 0090279326-1 new name Adelyn Sara REPdocument canbedownloaded from the website 9763333335 affidavit no. N2349/20 Anoop. Address Smruti ''IMPORTANT'' http://megplanning.gov.in/. 0090273396-1 dated 15/12/2020 Garden,f.n.c-7, Whilst care is taken prior to ADVERTISEMENT Kalewadi, Pune-17 Reg 0090279375-1 acceptance of advertising Important Dates: A Pune BroilerTraders copy,itisnot possible to verify no. 22/2020 90279382-2 its contents. The Indian DEPOTS Floating of RFP document: 16.12.2020 Association Rate on IRajendraKumar Diwan Express (P) Limited cannot be Last date of submission of queries on RFP: 27.12.2020 19.12.2020 ForLivebig state that Iamalso held responsible for such INo: 6925339A, L/NK, contents, nor for any loss or AUNDH- Pre-bid conference :28.12.2020 birds Rs-116Livesmall addressed as Rajendra damage incurred as aresult of Nalawade Maruti transactions with companies, Suyog Enterprises, Birds Rs-126/-Contact:- Last date of submission of Bids :08.01.2021 Rajaram, Name of My Diwan and RKDiwan associations or individuals C/oSandeep Book Stall, 8695842684 advertising in its newspapers Daughter Changedfrom vide affidavit no. or Publications. We therefore Swajas Complex, Parihar The bid document should reach the above address before the last date recommend that readers 0090271130-19 384/2020 0090279386-1 (and time) of submission. Shitul Maruti Nalawade make necessary inquiries Chowk, Aundhgaon, before sending any monies or Pune-7.Mob. 9422011181. Sd/- Simra Trading rates for to ShitalMaruti I “Ekta Kumari” changed entering into any agreements with advertisers or otherwise Chordia 100 eggs.Selling price Nalawade. Affidavit No. my name to Ekta Jha acting on an advertisementin [R. Lyngdoh] Communications, Rs. 521. Contact 1014590279394-2 videaffidavit no. any manner whatsoever. Officer on Special Duty &exofficio Arshad Ajit Chordia. 9922117736. 90273863-1 385/2020 90279386-2 MIPR No.1554 Joint Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, 17/18, Aundh Gaon, opp. dt.17/12/2020 Planning Department

Pune DAILY FROM: AHMEDABAD, CHANDIGARH, DELHI, JAIPUR, KOLKATA, LUCKNOW, MUMBAI, NAGPUR, PUNE, VADODARA

JOURNALISM OF COURAGE SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2020, PUNE, LATE CITY, 16 PAGES SINCE 1932 `5.00, WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM CBI says Hathras teen wasgangraped; REPEATS OFFER TO ADDRESS CONCERNS question marks over UP police claim MSPtocontinue,lies Chargesheetfiled Officials’role clear, truth beingspreadaboutnew against4accused undergangrape, can’tbehidden: family murder sections laws:PMtofarmers father sawthe news on TV and AMILBHATNAGAR startedcrying," said the 28-year- EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE &JIGNASASINHA old. Slams Opposition: Theylostpolitical Birender Singh, LUCKNOW,NEWDELHI, NEWDELHI,DECEMBER18 Contradicting the police's DECEMBER18 claim that the 19-year-old had ground,soscaring farmers on land loss ex-minister AS THE CBI submittedits notbeen sexuallyassaulted,the CONTRADICTINGTHE Uttar chargesheetinthe Hathras case chargesheetsays thefour upper and BJP leader, Pradesh Police's claim that the Friday, only the eldestbrother of casteaccused had gangraped the 19-year-old Dalit woman killed the 19-year-old Dalit woman was woman on September 14 before in Hathras allegedly by upper present from the familyatthe leavingher fordead. breaks ranks to caste menhad notbeen raped, The sitewherethe woman wascremated on Sept30. Express file Hathras District Court, located Another brother,20, said: the CBI on Fridayfileda notfar from their home. Her par- "Since the incident, our neigh- back farmers chargesheetagainstthe four on entsweren'ttoldachargesheet bours, the villagers and even the chargesofgangrape and murder. vant Sections of the SC/STAct, allegedly by the four on wasgoingtobefiled. District Magistrate(DM) have The chargesheetwas filedin againstSandeep (20), his uncle September 14,and diedafort- "Weweren't expecting much been againstus. Theyaccused SUKHBIRSIWACH acourtinHathras under IPC Ravi (35) and their friends Ramu night later at Safdarjung Hospital from the chargesheet, so we me of killing my ownsister, CHANDIGARH,DECEMBER18 Sections 376(rape), 376(D) (gan- (26) and Luv Kush (23). in Delhi. Apost-mortem report didn't tell them. We wanted to calledthis acase of honour grape), 302 (murder) and rele- The teenager wasassaulted CONTINUEDONPAGE4 know firstwhat it would say. My CONTINUEDONPAGE4 DECLARINGTHATthe farmer PM NarendraModi addresses the Kisan Sammelan in protests against thenew farm Madhya Pradesh, viavideo conference, on Friday. ANI laws is now “everybody’s agita- tion”, BJP leader and former BUSINESSASUSUAL Union Minister BY UNNY leaders have been mobilising Chaudhary IRAMSIDDIQUE support. The Opposition has hit Birender Singh BHOPAL,DECEMBER18 back, saying the Government is joineda trying to steamroll the laws and dharna in their STEPPINGUPhis attackonthe is usingthe "anti-national" tagto supportFriday Opposition by accusing them of tarnish criticism. at Sampla in “repeatedly lying” to farmers In his address, the Prime Jhajjar district aboutthe newfarm laws and Ministerlistedwhat he called of Haryana. “using them fortheir politics”, were thethree “big lies”being ‘Everybody’s The sit-in Prime MinisterNarendraModi spread about the farm laws — agitation’ had been or- Fridaysaid the MSP system that MSP would be stopped, ganisedby would continue, and his govern- mandis would be shutdown, members of ment wasready to discussany and the newreforms wouldonly the Sir Chhotu RamManch— concern that farmers mayhave. safeguard contract farming. BirenderSingh is thegrandson His remarks,ataKisan “There is no reasonfor mis- of Sir Chhotu Ram, pre-inde- Sammelan in Raisen district of trustinthe recent agricultural re- pendent India’s tallestJat leader Madhya Pradeshwhich he ad- forms done by thegovernment, and the driving forcebehind sev- Centre’s Covid FAQs: dressedvia virtual mode, came and thereisnoplace forlies,” he eral laws and measures to end aday afterheendorsedUnion said. exploitation of farmers by mon- AgricultureMinisterNarendra Referring to theOpposition, eylenders. Singh’s son Brijendra Vaccine advised even Singh Tomar’s open letter to he said the biggestproof of their Singh is the BJP MP from Hisar. farmers whichtargetedthe hypocrisy wasthe Swaminathan Birender Singh said he is very Opposition parties withsimilar committeereport whichhad keen to go to the borders of Delhi forthose recovered allegations. been brushedaside foreight wherefarmers have been J&K POLLS:FINAL PHASE TODAY This hasbeen the officialre- years, before itsimplementation protesting againstthe newlaws frain ever since farmers rejected by his government. foroverthree weeksnow. KAUNAINSHERIFFM ED Election officials leavefor their polling stations, in PoonchonFriday. Thelastphase of government concessions on the “Whywould we implement “Istand by them. This is NEWDELHI,DECEMBER18 Firststepin polling forthe Jammu and Kashmir DistrictDevelopment Council electionswill be held on farm laws as Ministers and BJP CONTINUEDONPAGE4 CONTINUEDONPAGE4 PLAIN E Saturday. Thecounting of voteswill take place on December 22. ANI ●preparation THOSE WHO have recovered EX from Covid areadvisedtoget a vaccine shottodevelop strong WITH JUSTweeks to go immunity;those who have tested forthe vaccination to EXPRESS NETWORK positive should defer vaccination start, and giventhe num- Buried in alien city due to Covid, Manmad man exhumes for14days aftersymptoms arere- bers involved, therollout solved; allbeneficiaries have to will be the biggestchal- registerofficiallyfor vaccination; lengeyet forthe country's mother’s body to fulfil her last wish of hometown burial and, the vaccine will notbead- health apparatus. The re- ministeredtothose who don't lease of FAQs is the first be possibleand forced Suhasto produce aphoto ID at the site. keysteptoensurethat SAGARRAJPUT buryher in Malegaon. SC ISSUES NOTICES With one of the world's basic information regard- MUMBAI,DECEMBER18 Upsetatnot beingableto TO COMEDIAN AND largest immunisation drives ing the protocol and pro- meethis mother’slastwish, againstCovid settoroll outin cedureare in the public MANJULATA KSHIRSAGAR had Suhas navigatedgovernment of- CARTOONIST India early next year,these are domain well in time. told her lovedones that she fices in Malegaon and Manmad PAGE 12 CONTINUEDONPAGE4 wanted to be buriednear her Manjulata, Suhas to ensurethe repatriation of the husband’s graveinNashikdis- body. THE EDITORIAL PAGE trict’s Manmad, atown254 km Afterathree-monthstruggle, north of Mumbai, whereshe her hometown, Suhas struggled duringwhichhecame to know DON’TTINKERWITH India’s Covid numbers: spent herwhole life. It wasa to keep his promise. Suspecting thathis mother wasnot infected wish that her son Suhas had that the septuagenarian could by Covid-19,Suhas managed to MSP,BOOSTCROP 1crore and counting vowedtokeep. have been aCovid-19patient, lo- getclearances from stateofficials DIVERSIFICATION However, when 76-year-old cal officials and health workers to exhume the body. BY MANJIT SKANG Manjulatawas buried at Manmad on Thursday. Express Manjulata diedinSeptember at told the familythat repatriating On Thursday, he again buried PAGE 8 but daily cases falling Malegaon – 37 km away from the body to Manmad would not CONTINUEDONPAGE4 Sonia writes to Uddhav, demands quota AMITABHSINHA RISEANDFALL:DAILY Disturbing: SC stays Andhra HC order PUNE,DECEMBER18 CASENUMBERS to examine constitutional breakdown for SC &STingovt contracts, projects EVEN AS the overallCovid-19 sit- Sept16 uation has improved in the last 100,000 97,894 October1order of the High pared to assistthe Courtasto Maharashtraisaveryimportant twomonths, the pandemicin es 90,000 ANANTHAKRISHNANG Court, stating that “as an apex whether in the circumstances SANDEEPASHAR& commitmentmade in the 80,000 India crossedagrimmilestone NEWDELHI,DECEMBER18 court, we find it disturbing”. whichare prevailing in the State MANOJCG Common Minimum Programme

Cas 70,000 on Fridaynight, with the num- 60,000 The bench, also comprising of AndhraPradesh, the Courtcan MUMBAI,NEWDELHI, of the MahaVikas Aghadi”. berofinfected crossing the 10 of 50,000 CALLING IT “disturbing”,the Justices ASBopanna and V recordafinding that thereisa DECEMBER18 Gandhi wrote, “Tostimulate million (1 crore) mark. 40,000 Supreme Court Fridaystayedan Ramasubramanian, issuedno- Constitutional breakdown in the entrepreneurship in SC/STcom- er India is onlythe second 30,000 order of the AndhraPradesh High ticeonthe plea and directed that Stateornot”. THE CONGRESS wantsthe Sonia Gandhi,Uddhav munities; reservation in govern- countryinthe world, afterthe mb 20,000 Courttoexamineifthere has the matter be listedafter the The stategovernment, in its UddhavThackeray-led Thackeray ment contractsand projectsfor 10,000 22,890 United States, to have morethan been constitutional breakdown Christmas/New Year vacation. appeal, said the High Court “in MahaVikas Aghadi government, enterprisespromotedbySC/ST Nu 0 10 million confirmednovel coro- March1Dec17 in the state under theYSJagan On October 1, the High Court, an unprecedented mannerand of whichitisapart, to introduce professionals should be intro- navirus infections. Mohan Reddy government. while hearing aclutchofhabeas without anybasis or pleadings aquota forScheduledCastes(SC) on December 14,Congresspresi- duced.” This, she said, had been However, the epidemic in Hearing an appeal by the corpus petitions, said “on the by anyofthe parties to that ef- and ScheduledTribes (ST) entre- dent and UPAChairpersonSonia done earlier by theUPA govern- India nowseems to be in steady arepassing through their worst AndhraPradesh government, a next hearing date, the learned fect, has framedthe... question”. preneurs in government con- Gandhi has remindedthat“poli- mentattheCentreandby thepre- decline, whereas severalcoun- phase. benchheadedbyChief Justice of senior counsel appearing on be- The statesaid “under the tractsand projects. ciesandprogrammesforthewel- vious Congress-ledgovernment tries in Europe and the Americas CONTINUEDONPAGE4 India SABobde stayed the half of the Statemay come pre- CONTINUEDONPAGE4 Inaletterwrittento Thackeray fare of the Dalits and Adivasis in CONTINUEDONPAGE4

PAGE 1 ANCHOR Biopic coming, Anand opens up: ‘Chessplayers not from alien planet’

firstchess lesson. than that. It would be reallynice protective of his privacy but in- out alot,” he says. but says he would want the NIHALKOSHIE He is also bracing foralot of to see howother peoplerelateto siststhat the movie will open a To strikeachord, therewill movie to portray the lifeofatop NEWDELHI,DECEMBER18 back-and-forth with the it as well. In the end, Iwould like windowtohis personal lifeand also be insightsintothe emo- Grandmaster. moviemaker when he goes to have my story. But Iwould like debunk the notion that “chess tions achess playergoes "What youwant is to see WHATTHOSE intimidating through the scriptwith wife it to be entertainingaswell," says players arefromanalien planet”. through. "Concentration, focus, what appeals to them Russian Grandmasters of yester- Aruna. He says he haskeptan Anand while speaking to The “Thereisapersonal side and the feeling of being down aftera (moviemaker) and what they dayorthe Gen Next wizards of open mind and isn't surewho Indian Express from Chennai. Iknowthat will be harder be- bad game, the feeling of eupho- think appealstoabroader audi- todaycouldn't do to will playhim. The biopic, he says,should cause Iamgenerallyquitepri- ria, the consequences, what you ence. What Iwould likeis'this is Viswanathan Anand, the an- The movie, whose castand simplify chess and notdumb it vate in thesense. Still, it is nice if feel today, whatyou experience howIexperienced it' and 'if you nouncement of his biopic has shooting schedule hasn't been fi- down. “Onlysomeone who fol- youcan open up and do that. I tomorrowand then youfeel were seeingthrough my eyes, done. The five-time worldcham- nalised, will be directedby lows the game at averyhigh think with mostpublic figures guilty about it. These arethings this is what it would look like'. I pion is nervous. Bollywood's director Anand LRai levelwill lookatthe boardand and famous people, youonly that areuniversal, everybody ex- would likeittobeauthentic and To begin with, he isn't sureof of Tanu Weds Manu fame. understand what Iamtalking think youknowthem, in fact you periences that, so what Iget out obviouslyhelp them in captur- the openingmove—if the pan- “Iwill be very respectful and about. So howtobring it out... maynot knowanything about of achess game is probablywhat ing the chess accurately. You demic travel restrictions will open because theyare the ex- whythis positionhad me shak- them. Forme, chess is averyim- adoctor gets out of aconsulta- knowconcentration is astrug- come in the wayofthe film unit perts.Ican nevercome close to ing in my boots but this position portant thing in my life,but I tion. It is that same thingat gle. It is notathing that youmas- flying to Spain, his second home their skill in using acamera. Iex- did not," says the 51-year-old don't think about it allthe time. heart," he says. ter. If someonewatches the during his playing career,and the pect to have 25 per cent of the Grandmaster. ‘Would liketohavemystory... be entertaining as well’ So somebodywho is seeing me Anand can talk about com- movie Iwant them to have afair Philippines, wherehelearnt his sayinthe movie but notmore Anand is known to be fiercely onlyinchess terms is missing plexchess positions forhours CONTINUEDONPAGE4

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Hathras teen information wascirculated in wish,” Suhas told The Indian Manjulata's body wasexhumed the media," he said, adding that Express afterthe burial. from St.PaulChurch's cemetery attributed her death to cervical the initial complaint had only Manjulata, who livedwith in Malegaon in the presence of spineinjury, causedbyindirect talked of "maar-peet",withno MSP to continue, lies being spread her unmarriedson in Manmad, an executive magistrate,munic- blunt trauma. mention of rape. wasbeing treated foraheartail- ipal authorities and the police. The CBI released astatement Taking suomotu cognizance, ment forthe lastfiveyears. On On Thursday, her remains were saying achargesheethad been the LucknowBenchofthe September 21,whenher condi- again buriedatthe St Barnaba filedagainstthe four accused. Allahabad High Courttook ex- about new laws: PM to farmers tion deteriorated,she was Church cemetery in Manmad "The case wasregisteredbyCBI ception to the police statement. rushed to the Malegaon Civil around 12.15pm. on 11th October 2020 on are- “We asked Sri Kumar (ADG the Swaminathan committee makethe pointthat the cur- something new. by allgovernmentsatthe Hospital. “Iamcontent. She is finally questfromUttar Pradesh Govt Kumar) as to whether it was reportifwedid nothavetoim- rent MSP is muchhigher than “Jinki khud ki rajnitik za- Centre, states and had been de- Doctors at the hospital sus- resting in peace,” Suhas said. and further notification from proper foranyonenot directly plement Minimum Support those under previous govern- meen khis gayi hai, wohkisano mandedbyfarmers organisa- pected that shehad pneumonia Govt of India." connected withinvestigation to Price,” he said. ments. ki zameenchalijayegi, kisano ki tions, agricultureeconomists, and were fearful that she may The CBI, whichgot polygraph commentonany evidencerelat- He said MSP is announced No mandi in the country, he zameenchali jayegi ka dar dikha scientists andprogressive have contacted Covid-19aswell. Sonia to Uddhav and brain mapping testsdone of ing to the offence alleged,spe- before sowing to put the said, has been shut down even kar,apni rajnitik zameen khoj farmers, he said. With her Covid-19 test results the accused, had submitted an ciallyifthe allegation is of rape, farmer at ease. He highlighted aftersix monthsofthe enact- rahe hain (Those who have lost At theevent, in thepres- still pending, Manjulatapassed in Karnataka. inquiryreporttothe Allahabad or to draw conclusions based that even during the fight ment of thenew laws.APMCs political ground aretrying to ence of an estimated 20,000 away aday later. Apartfromreservations for High Court, whichhad taken suo thereon as to whether offence againstthe Corona pandemic, arebeing made stronger and scareeveryone by saying farm- farmers, Chief MinisterShivraj As the reportwas still the SC/STentrepreneurs, Gandhi motu cognizanceofthe case, on wascommittedornot,when the the procurement on MSP was morerobustwith an invest- ers will lose their land, and Singh Chouhan and his Cabinet awaited,doctors informedthe has alsodemandedthat “the November 26. CBI sources said investigation wasstill pending done as usual. He assured ment of Rs 5000crore, andthe theyare doing this to regain colleagues transferredRs1,600 localauthorities, whostopped budget allocation forthe SC/ST theysubmitted the chargesheet and suchperson wasnot partof farmers that MSP would con- newlawsoncontract farming ground),” Modi said, referring croreintothe accountsof35.50 Suhas from takingthe body to communities should be propor- aftercollecting "ample forensic the investigation... He fairly tinue likebefore. have ensured that the one who to theOpposition. lakh farmers fordamages dur- Manmad. “Itriedconvincing the tionatetotheir shareinthe pop- evidence". "The onlycharge that agreedthat it should nothap- Statingthat the govern- enters intoanagreement with “Iwant to expose these ingthe kharif season. health officer there, but she did ulation”. has been droppedisofmolesta- pen.” ment has notonlyincreased farmers cannotescape his re- people before thefarmers of Agriculture infrastructure notlisten. She told us that only On the lines of an enactment tion, but that is because the The court also notedthat fol- the MSP,but has also procured sponsibility,hesaid, adding the country.”Hesaid the new worksworth Rs 70 crorewere if her Covid-19reportcomes by the previous Congress gov- charge of rape and gangrape has lowing the 2013 amendments in alot more, he providedMSP that contract farming has been farm laws have notcome inaugurated and 2,000 fisher- negative,she will allowusto ernmentsinKarnataka and un- been found during forensic in- lawrelating to the definition of figures forwheat, paddy,jowar, operational in the countryfor overnight. These were under men and cattle farmers were take thebody,” he said. dividedAndhra Pradesh, she has vestigation. The investigation rape, "mereabsence of semen lentil, gram, toor and moong to severaldecades and is not consideration for20-25 years providedKisan Credit Cards. Suhas kept the body at a also demandedthat showedenough evidence to duringforensic examination, Covid carecenterand returned Maharashtrashould enact alaw prosecuteonthe chargesof though afactorfor considera- home on September 22. mandating “utilisation of the murder,rapeand gangrape," tion, would notbyitself be con- However, the next morning, funds allotted forthe welfareof sources said. clusive as to whether rape had Everybody’s agitation... Istand by them: Birender Singh he woke up to the call from the these communitiesduring the "It is nowuptothe courtto been committed or not, if there Covid facility,askinghim to dis- same financial year”. deliberateonthe charges. Acopy areother admissible evidence". everybody’s agitation now. It’s He or she maybea conceptofMSP and APMC was formedbyhis supporters in pose the body. “Theyeven Batting forexpansion of of the chargesheetwill be pro- notlimited to asection of soci- student, woman, labourer. the handiworkofChaudhary 2003. threatenedthatifIfailedtotake scholarship schemesand resi- videdatthe next hearing. We ety. Iamalready in thefieldand Everybody is concerned, and Chhotu Ram. Firsttime, he Manchmembers have her remains, theyshall dispose dential schools forstudentsfrom will go through the chargesheet Officials’ role have made up my mind. If Iam wantsasolution. The last5-6 brought in agriculturalreforms been sitting on ahunger strike the body themselves,” saidthe the community,she has said and decide the next course of ac- notinthe frontline, then peo- days have been very cold but (during British rule),” Singh in supportofthe farmers be- 40 year old. that the “focus maybeonthe tion," said Munna Singh, the ac- killing... We hope theauthorities ple will feel that Iamjustdo- theyare sitting (in the open),” said. fore a64-ftstatue of Chhotu Fearing the worst, Suhas ac- schemes that can bring these cused's lawyer.The four accused punish the accusedsoon." ing politics, nothing else,”he he said. The 74-year-old, amember Ram, whichwas unveiledby cededtotheir demandsand al- communities on par with the have been in judicial custody The elder brother said they told TheIndian Express. “Iamalso morallybound of the BJP’s national executive, Prime MinisterNarendraModi lowedthe municipal authorities rest of the society at the earliest”. since their arrest in September, felt relieved. "Wehad to fight a “Youmay talk to anybody. (tosupportthe farmers). The is also amember of the Manch in 2018. to buryManjulataasper She has further asked with no bail application filedon lot. The administration did not Christian customs at the ceme- Thackeray to undertake “rapid their behalf. trustusand portrayed that we tery of St.PaulChurch in recruitment drivestofill up a In astatement on Friday were lying, but the truth doesn't Malegaon. backlog of postsinvarious de- evening, the stategovernment remain hiddenfor long.Today SC stays order Anand biopic portion, perhaps muchhigher vaccine will be providedtothe “Sinceshe startedundergo- partmentsreserved forthe said it wasUttar Pradesh Chief thereissome hope...This is our scheme of the Constitution, it is than what serosurveyshave priority group: health careand ing treatment forher heartail- SC/STcommunities”. ' MinisterYogi Adityanath's deci- firststeponthe ladder of justice. Article356 thatdeals with fail- idea of what it mustbeliketosit been suggesting. frontline workers -- “50-plus age ment, she would oftentell us Concluding her address to sion to orderaCBI investigation, It is nowuptothe courts to de- ureofConstitutional machinery thereatthat game," he says. This would mean that asub- group mayalso begin early that she wishes to be buriedat Thackeray,Gandhi's letter and that it had told the Supreme liverfinaljustice. We will wait in aState.Under this Article,if This year,Anand, afan of stantial proportion of the popu- basedonvaccine availability”.It Barnaba church's cemetery stated, “Iamconfident thatun- Courtinanaffidavit that it forthe judgment whichwill the President, on receiptofare- cookeryshows and David lation – possibly40to50per said that thoseabove 50 will be wheremyfather waslaid to rest der your leadership, the MVA wanted thetruth to come out. proveonce and forall the truth portfromthe GovernorofaState Attenborough documentaries - cent or more – hasalready been dividedintotwo subgroups: 60 in 1994... Everymember of our government will continue to im- The statement added, "The ac- in this.” or otherwise,issatisfiedthat a -he“justaboutsurvives” on his infected,and gainedimmunity, and above who will be vacci- familyisburiedinthatcemetery plement the CMP in letter and cusedwerearrested(under) rel- The teenager's sister-in-law, situationhas arisen in whichthe owncooking -- has watched thus bringing some community- nated first, and 50-60 next. in Manmad... my grandfather, spirit.” evant Sectionsafter thegirl's who wasclose to her,said her government of the Statecannot basketball great Michael levelprotection to others. “Theeligible beneficiaries grandmother,uncles and aunts,” The Congress’smovetore- statement." children missedtheiraunt."We be carriedoninaccordance with Jordan's documentary'The Last However, thereisnoempirical will be informedthrough their he added. lease contentsofGandhi’s letter The 19-year-old wasal- want justice forher,and want the provisions of the Dance' and the season's big hit, evidence to supportthis as- registeredmobile number re- Three days later,on comesatatime when asection legedly rapedbythe four men the DM to resign. It wasbecause Constitution, the Hon’ble the chess webseries The Queen's sumption right now. garding the Health Facility September 24,Suhas receiveda of the SC leaders of Maharashtra on September 14 morningwhile of him that we couldn'tcremate President can impose Gambit. wherethe vaccination will be call from the local authorities Congress areupsetwith the she wasout gathering fodder her." The woman wascremated President's Rule”. As forthe director,Anand ad- providedand the scheduled stating that his mother's Covid- stateleadership. Ameeting of with her mother forthe family's hours afterher death, in the “This is apower exclusively mitshehas onlywatchedparts Covid FAQs time forthe same. This will be 19 reportwas negative.Hesub- Congressleadersbelongingto cows.The familysaid the four early hours of September 30, vested in the Executive.The of Rai's films. “But probably, I done to avoid anyinconvenience sequentlyreceivedher death theSCcommunities convened dragged her away unnoticedby with no one from her family powerinthis regard,likesend- should sitdownand trytowatch the Union Health Ministry's an- in registration andvaccination certificatethat said that by AICC in charge of thestate H her mother,who is hardofhear- present and officials making the ing areport either to theHon’ble his movies, read the reviews and swers to some keyquestions on of beneficiaries,” it said. Manjulatahad dieddue to car- KPatil earlier this month had ing. Acase wasregisteredofat- arrangements. In the govern- President or to the Hon’ble see what people liked,” he says. the administration of the vac- Forhealthcareand frontline diac arrest. witnessedashowdown be- tempttomurder and under the ment actionthat followed, sev- Governorortorecordafinding cine among 21 FAQs compiled workers, the Ministrysaid that While manyofhis relatives tween Energy MinisterNitin SC/STAct on acomplaint by the eral officers were suspended. in that regard,cannotbeexer- 1crinfections forthe public,and an additional their familieswill be vaccinated told him to letthe body remain Raut and statepresident and his victim's brother against The UP government kept its cisedbythe Judiciary,”itsaid. The US has been reporting six forhealthcareproviders and in the subsequent phases. “Due in the Malegaon cemetery,the Cabinetcolleague Balasaheb Sandeep. On September 22, in a promise of Rs 25 lakh as com- The appeal contendedthat between 2lakh and 2.5 lakh frontline workers. to thelimited vaccine supplyin inability of notbeing able to ful- Thorat. statement recordedatthe pensation, but the familysays the HighCourtorder is “uncalled cases everyday,while Brazil TheGovernment expectsto the initial phase, it will firstbe filhis mother's last wish gnawed Asection of the SC leaders Aligarhhospital, whereshe was lifefor them is farfromnormal, for; violative of the basicstruc- is detecting over 50,000 cases vaccinateapproximately30 providedtopeoplewho areat at Suhas. He decidedtomake were upsetoverthe party nom- takenasher condition deterio- with neighbours blamingthem ture of the Constitution; and, it daily. Germany, the United crorebeneficiaries on priority in higher risk of contracting rounds of government offices inating singer and activist rated, the woman said shewas forthe "bad name"brought to is mostrespectfullysubmitted, Kingdom, Italy, and Russiaare in the early phase. Andfor the first COVID-19. In subsequent and also visit politicians to get Annirudha VankarasanMLC sexuallyassaulted andnamed the villageand everyone keep- grosslymisconceived”. the midst of amajor newsurge – time, multiple vaccine candi- phases, the COVID-19vaccine permission to exhume the body candidate.Vankarhad contested three others besides Sandeep. ingtheirdistance from them. The statepointed out that with morethan 20,000 people dates will be administered will be made available to alloth- and again buryitinManmad. the Assemblypollslastyear on Acontroversy arose around CRPF personnel continue to be “under the Constitutional getting infected daily in several againstone infection. “...all the ers in needofthe same,” it said. “Foralmostamonth, every aVanchit Bahujan Aghadi ticket. the lateregistrationofthe rape deployedoutside their house, al- framework,itisnot forthe of these countries. COVID-19 vaccines that receive The Ministrysaid that it will evening, when we returned Patil on Fridaysaid the letter charges, followedbythe victim's beit in lesser numbers. Courts to decideastowhether During itsworstperiod in the licensewill have comparable be mandatoryfor beneficiaries home disheartenedafter meet- by Gandhi is basedonthe sug- hurriedcremation in the middle One of the brothers said they thereisaConstitutionalbreak- middle of September,India was safetyand efficacy.However, it to notify the Government, irre- ing government officials, Suhas gestions givenbythe state of thenight, notattendedbyany had got usedtothe security -- down in aState”and “the said finding over 90,000infections a mustbeensured that theentire spective of whether theyhave would starttocry... On October Congress afterabrainstorming member of her familyand or- and even to theostracisation powerhas been specificallycon- day. But following an unex- schedule of vaccination is com- been vaccinated in agovern- 20, Itook himtoalawyerin conclave of prominent Dalit ganisedbythe administration. now. “Theneighbourswon’t ferred upon adifferent pected turnaround, the number pleted by onlyone type of vac- ment programme or at aprivate Manmad. He offeredtohelp. He leaders andstakeholdersithad Herfamilyaccusedauthorities speak to us because theyare up- Constitutional Authority -- and of cases declinedconsistently. cine as different COVID-19 vac- facility.Itsaid that “registration helpeduswriteanapplication, organisedrecently. of puttingpressure on them to per caste and supportthe ac- rightlyso”. From apeak of over 10 lakh cases cinesare notinterchangeable,” of the beneficiaryismandatory whichwesubmitted to the com- Oftenregardedasathird conduct her lastrites. cused. Whyshould we even ex- “Constitutional courts,” the in the thirdweek of September, the Ministrysaid. forvaccination...onlyafter regis- missioner's office ofMalegaon wheel in the ShivSena-NCP- Later,aspolitical leaders,in- pect them to support us? We statesaid in itsappeal, “do not active cases have come down to With Indiacrossing 95 lakh tration will the information on Municipal Corporation," said Congress formation, Congress is cluding Priyanka and Rahul justwant justicefor our sister,” have anyjudiciallydiscoverable justabout 3lakh now. recoveredcases by Friday, the the session sitetovisit and time FirozShaikh, Suhas'friend who nowlooking to assert itself more Gandhi, triedtomaketheirway he said. and manageable standards to Therehas been acorrespon- Ministrysaid that it will still be be shared...” frequentlyaccompaniedhim to aggressively in the stategovern- to the villagetomeether family, Accordingtothe family, offi- determine if therehas been a ding drop in the number of coro- advisablefor arecoveredpatient Elaborating on the procedure Malegaon. ment's functioning and policy UP authorities cordonedoff the cials kept asking theminitially Constitutional breakdown in the navirus-related deaths as well. to take the vaccine. “...it is advis- involved, theCentresaid the Afterdoggedly pursuing of- making. area. whether theywanted to return State. The said fact is essentially During all of September,more able to receive acomplete document neededfor registra- ficials for62days,the twofinally While the SC/ST communi- With the stategovernment the compensation, stopping an executive function and is nec- than 1,000 deaths were being schedule of COVID vaccine irre- tion can be anyofthe tenlisted: managed to getano objection ties in Maharashtrahavetradi- coming under attack, Prime onlyafter they gave in writing essarilyrequired to be based on reportedevery dayfromacross spectiveofthe pasthistory of in- driving licence, MGNERGA job certificatefromthe Malegaon tionallybeen aloyal support MinisterNarendraModi inter- thattheyneededthe moneyfor adetailedfactual analysis. The thecountry. That number is now fection with COVID-19. This will card, PANcard, bank passbook, civic administration forexhum- baseofthe Congress, some party vened, callingupChief Minister the legal battle. courts simply do nothaveany below400.Sofar,about1.45 help in developing astrongim- passport, pension document, ing and reburying the body. leaders from the community Yogi Adityanath,leading to the Denying the family's claims, means to decidesuchaques- lakh people areknown to have mune response againstthe dis- voter ID, official IDs of MPs/ “We then got permissions have complainedthat theNCP, setting up of an SIT to probethe the villagepradhan said it was tion.” diedfromthe disease in India. ease,” it said. MLAs/MLCs, government-is- from the local police station, whichheads the social welfare matter and suspension of five theywho had stoppedmingling According to the state, the The fact that thedownward Significantly, theMinistry suedservice ID cardand health both the civic bodies and the department, wasrunning away police officers.The Adityanath withothers. High Court order “is aserious en- trend in the detection of new said, those who have tested pos- insurance smartcardissuedby Fathers of both St.Pauland St. with the credit forvarioussocial government later transferred “Neither arewetaking any croachment on the powers of cases has survivedthe long fes- itive “shoulddefer vaccination MinistryofLabour. “Photo ID is a Barnaba churches from where welfareinitiatives. the probetothe CBI, whichreg- sidesnor arewetrying to stop the executive as enumerated tivalseason, state Assemblyand for14days aftersymptoms res- mustfor both registrationand the body wastobeexhumed When contacted,Sanjay isteredacaseonOctober 11. the investigation... Letthe CBIin- underthe Constitution and is local body elections, and the olution” as they “mayincrease verification of beneficiaryatthe and then buried,” said Suhas. Raut, Shiv SenaMPand party's At apress conference in vestigatethe matter com- thus violative of the doctrine of steady removalofrestrictions on the risk of spreading the same to sessionsitetoensurethat the in- Following this, he sent his chief spokesperson, said that Lucknow acoupleofdays after pletely... We don’t think it was separationofpowers”. movement and gatherings of others at (the) vaccinationsite”. tendedperson is vaccinated,” it application to thetehsildar's of- the party is committed to the the victim's death, Additional caste-basedviolence. The truth The stategovernment has people, has brought hope that According to the Ministry, said. fice. “Ireceived the application CMP and willworkonit. “The Director General (Lawand willcome out soon,”hesaid. been on acollisioncourse with the worstmay be over. “twodoses of vaccine, 28 days on December 1. Iwas touched thingsmentionedinthe letter Order) Prashant Kumar said the The elder brother said they the High Courtand Chief Sinceother possible reasons apart, needtobetaken by an in- because people oftenforgetthe is partofCMP and we have a forensicreport didnot showany expect the "harassment" to con- MinisterYSJagan Mohan Reddy forthe fall in numbers – suchas dividualtocomplete thevacci- Manmad man promises theymake, but he did commitment to theCMP.Some evidence of rape. "... no sperm or tinue in "some small ways". But sent alettertothe CJI on October lowtesting or universal adop- nation schedule...Protective lev- notbackoff even afterthree of the things couldnot have spermatozoa wasfoundinthe the CBIchargesheetmight prove 6, allegingjudicial impropriety tion of masks – arealsoruled els of antibodies aregenerally his mother at Manmad's St. months. Iimmediatelyasked happenedastherewas alock- viscerasample. The postmortem aturning point. "The role of the on the partofsome judges of the out, some experts and scientists developedtwo weeksafter re- Barnaba Church cemetery,next my office to processthe neces- down in place. But these things reportstatesthat the cause of local administration has been High Courtand senior Supreme arenow inclinedtobelieve that ceivingthe 2nd doseofCOVID- to hisfather's grave. sarypermissions,” said Tehsildar will happen from next year,” he deathwas duetotrauma caused highlighted nowand it is amat- CourtjudgeNVRamana. the actual disease prevalence in 19 vaccine.” “It feels as if aweight has Chandrajit Rajput. added. by the assault. Despitethe state- teroftime before justice takes the population could already The Government also reiter- been takenoff my chest. Iman- Around 8amonThursday, FULLREPORTSON mentsbyofficials, some wrong itscourse." have reachedaveryhigh pro- ated that in the initial phase, the aged to fulfil my mother's last on the tehsildar's instructions, www.indianexpress.com

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THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY,DECEMBER19,2020 5 THE CITY ‘Maneater’leopardthat killedsevenpersons gunneddowninSolapur

Bhosale (33) diedand another EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE woman Shalabai Shahaji Bhosale PUNE,DECEMBER18 (60) wasinjured in aleopardat- tack at Pargaon villageinAshti. AFTER Arigorous search opera- On December 3, the leopard tion, the stateforestdepartment attackedand killedaman identi- on Fridaygunneddowna fied as Kalyan Devidas Funde at “maneater” leopard, whichisbe- Limbewadi in Karmala in Solapur. lievedtohavekilledasmanyas The leopardalso killedseveral sevenpersons and injured four cattle in different villages, caus- CHRISTMAS others in Beed, Aurangabad and spotted at abanana farm at ing apanic situation. Solapur forest divisions since Rakhunde VastiofWangi In viewofthe rising number November 15. villageinKarmala of attackson humans by theleop- CHEER Speaking to The Indian ard, acommittee wasformedby Express,NitinKakodkar,Principal the forest departmentfor study- Shoppingfor decorative Chief Conservator of Forest OnNovember 16,the leopard ing the issue. The committee vis- materials and gifts ahead of (Wildlife), said, “The maneater attacked and killedtwo persons, itedtheplaces wherethe leopard ChristmasunderwayatMG leopardhas been gunneddown identifiedasAshok Avate(50) and attackedpeople. Road on Friday. AshishKale at abanana farm in Karmala in Krushna Avate, at Apegaon in Even afterintensifiedpa- Solapur district around 6.15 pm Paithan. On November 21, trolling and installation of cages today(Friday).” Chabubai EknathRathod (44) at important locations and use of According to forest officials, waskilledinaleopardattackat trap cameras, drone cameras for THREEOTHERS RESCUEDBYLOCAL RESIDENTS the leopardwas spottedatthe ba- BhagwanGad in Pathardi forest locating and trapping the leopard, nana farm of Pandurang range. Next day, on November 21, forest officialswere unableto stop 3touristsfrom Pune drown at Anjarle beach Rakhunde, at RakhundeVasti of forty-year-old Alka RajendraBade the leopard’s movement. Wangi villageinKarmala. wasinjuredin aleopardattackat Also, forest officialsfoundthat Aforestdepartment team Jatwad villageinShirur taluka of the leopardwas particularly at- deceased persons as Akshay Pune,workingwithacompany other three diedinthe incident. Pune in the early hours of Friday comprising shooterDhawalsinh Beeddistrict. On November 24,a tacking human beings and no EXPRESS NEWSSERVICE Rakhelkar (35) of Shivaji Nagar, in Aundharea, had gone to Inspector RajendraPatil,in- forapicnic at Anjarle beach. MohitePatil then followedthe man identifiedasNagnath other animals. So, believing that PUNE, DECEMBER18 Vikash Shrivastava(25) of Anjarle beach, located around charge of theDapoli police sta- He added that “Sagari leopard. MohitePatil firedthree Gahininath Garje (36) waskilled the leopardhas become a ShanukarColony, Kothrud,and 30 km from Dapoli town of the tion said, “The threewho were Suraksha and Gram Suraksha” bulletsatthe leopardfroma12 in aleopardattackatSurudi vil- maneater,forestofficials sought THREE TOURISTs from Pune Manoj Gawande (24) of coastaldistrict. rescuedwererushedtoahos- guards aredeployed at the borerifle from about 15 feet.The lageinAshti in Beeddistrict. permission to captureorkill the drownedatAnjarle beachin Dhanori. Besides, three persons Policesaidtheyentered the pital. Theyweredischarged beachfor the safetyoftourists. leoparddiedinthe incident. On November 27,the leopard leopardfromhigher authorities. Ratnagiri districtofidentifiedasNihal Chavan, sea forfun, but around 11.30 am, later on the day.” “We have lodged acase of According to the forest de- killedten-year-old Swaraj Sunil Permission wasgranted and MaharashtraonFridaymorn- Ubed Khan and Rohit Palande, six among them starteddrown- An officer said that the accidental death as per the pro- partment, the leopardhad Bhapkar at Kinhi villageinAshti. an order in this regard waspassed ing. allintheir20s,wererescued. ing. Otherswho sawthem probesofar has revealedthat cedureand further investiga- wreakedhavocinvariousvillages Sheelawati Baba Dinde(33)and by Kakodkar on December 6. The Three others, who were part As per the information given drowningraisedanalarm. the group of tourists,all em- tion is being done,” said Patil. in Beedand Solapurforestdivi- Abhishek Dinde (15) were injured order,which waseffective till of the same group of tourists, by Ratnagiridistrict police, the Local residentsrushedfor ployees of acompany named Police officials said that fam- sions, including places in Beed, in aleopardattackatMangrul in January31, 2021, stated that no were rescued by locals. incident took place on Friday their help and managedtores- ‘Concentrix’locatednear ilymembers of the deceased Ahmednagar,Solapur and Ashti on November 28. On awards should be announcedfor Police have identifiedthe when agroup of 14 people from cue three persons, while the WestendMallinAundh, left were beingcontacted. Aurangabad districts. November 29, Surekha Nilkanth killing the leopard. ‘Timely policy 3burkha-clad women rob jewellery store in Sadashiv Peth intervention, wanted to buy gold bangles. Jadhavsaid, “CCTVfootage shows three Aurangabad, Malegaon and Pune, were tech required EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE The complainant’s son showed women wearing burkhas. Investigation operating separatelybut had asimilar PUNE,DECEMBER18 them some designs of gold bangles kept is on. No arrestshavebeenmade in this modus operandi of wearing aburkha to in trays,police said. The women case yet.” steal valuables from different shops, po- to tackle Delhi THREE UNIDENTIFIED women wearing swappedtwo gold bangles worth Rs 1.7 Over the pastmonth, ateam from lice said. aburkha robbedajewellerystoreatthe lakh in the tray withfakebangles,po- Lashkar police station had arrestednine Sub-inspector Jadhavsaid, “It is not air pollution’ KunteChowk in SadashivPethrecently. lice said. people, including sevenwomen, from yetconfirmedwhether anyofthose ar- The shop ownerlodged theFIR in this Upon discovering the theft,the three different groups forallegedly rested by the Lashkar policestation are case at the Vishrambag police station showowner approachedpolice and committing thefts at various shops involvedinthe theftatthe jewellery EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE on Thursday. filedacomplaint of theft. The three while wearing burkhas. shop in Sadashiv Peth. Thereisapossi- PUNE,DECEMBER18 The three women came to the jew- unidentifiedwomen have been booked Stolen valuables had also been re- bility of involvementofanothergroup ellerystore as customers at 2.30 pm on under Section 380 of the Indian Penal coveredfromthese nine people,police of women committing thefts in asimi- THE ISSUE of Delhi’s air pollution December 12,police said,claiming they Code (IPC). Police Sub-inspector Vijay said.The accused,who were from lar manner by wearing burkha.” problem cannotberesolvedby scienceand technology alone, but PDPM Indian Institute of Information Technology, also by timely policyand political Design &Manufacturing, Jabalpur interventions,said MRajeevan, (AnInstituteofNational Importanceestablished by an actofParliament,under Ministry of Education, Govt. of India) Secretary, MinistryofEarth Dumna Airport Road, PO :Khamaria, Jabalpur-482005 (MP)INDIA Science (MoES) at thevirtual cur- Advertisement for Faculty Positions tain-raiserevent on Friday, ahead Advertisement No. 03/2020 Dated 18/12/2020 PDPM Indian InstituteofInformation Technology, Design and Manufacturing Jabalpur,anInstitute of of the 6th India International nationalimportance,established by an actofParliament under MinistryofEducation, Government of India Science Festival (IISF). MoES, invitesapplications from well qualified and stronglymotivated candidates forfaculty positions at the level of Assistant Professor Grade-I,Pay level-12, Assistant Professor Grade-II, Paylevel-11(on contract) Department of Science and and Assistant Professor Grade-II, Paylevel-10 (oncontract) in the disciplines of Computer Science and Technology,Council of Industrial Engineering (CSE), Electronics &Communication Engineering (ECE) and Design. Forfurther details and and Scientific Research, application form please visit Institutewebsite www.iiitdmj.ac.in Department of Biotechnology Lastdate forreceiving hardcopyofcompleted application form is 18-01-2021 (By 05:00 PM) Director and Vijnana Bharathi arejointly organising the event scheduled to be held online between December 22 and 25. Delhi’s poor air quality is a perennial problem and the weather during the winter along with polluting sources aggravate this problem, said Rajeevan. “ Air pollution is aserious issue. MoES along with other S&T ministries areworking to address the mat- ter. Notonlydoes it affect people’s lives, but it also hampers agricul- tureproductivity and other sec- tors,” said Rajeevan, whilead- dressing the virtual event organisedbyPune-basedIndian InstituteofTropicalMeteorology (IITM).Giving examples of other ¶……Æ˙i…∫…Æ˙EÚ…Æ/Government of India countries,he saidittooknearly 15 +Δi… Æ˙I… ¥…¶……M…/Department of Space years to improvethe air quality in ¶……Æ˙i…“™… +Δi… Æ˙I… +x…÷∫…Δv……x… ∫…ΔM…`ˆx…/INDIAN SPACE RESEARCH ORGANISATION ¥…GÚ®… ∫……Æ˙…¶……<« +Δi… Æ˙I… EÂÚp/VIKRAM SARABHAI SPACE CENTRE Beijing, China. Rajeevansaid India i…Ø˚¥…x…Δi…{…÷Æ˙®…/Thiruvananthapuram -695 022 also is undertaking all effortsto improvethe air quality,including ∫…Δn˘¶…« ∫…Δ. ¥…“B∫…B∫…∫…“/¶…i…‘/9.0/313/2019 issuing advance warnings ahead Ref. No.VSSC/RMT/9.0/313/2019 19.12.2020 of deteriorating air quality in ma- ∂…÷n¬˘ r˘{…j… / CORRIGENDUM jor Indian cities through its System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting Research ({…“BS….b˜“ ™……‰M™…i…… ∫…‰ ™…÷HÚ¥…ËY…… x…EÚ/<ΔV…“ x…™…Æ˙-B∫…b˜“i…l…… B®….<«/B®….]‰ıEÚ ™……‰M™…i…… ∫…‰ ™…÷HÚ (SAFAR) programme. ¥…ËY…… x…EÚ/<ΔV…“ x…™…Æ˙-B∫…∫…“ E‰Ú {…n˘ {…Æ˙ ¶…i…‘ Ω‰˛i…÷ ¥…Y……{…x… ∫…Δ. 313 n˘x……ΔEÚ 14.12.2019 E‰Ú ±…B) Thethemeforthisyear’sfesti- (ToAdvertisement No.313 dated 14.12.2019 for recruitment to the post of valis‘ScienceforSelf-ReliantIndia Scientist/Engineer-SD with Ph.D qualification and and Global Welfare’. Stressing on India’s role in the near future, Scientist/Engineer-SC with M.E/M.Tech qualification) Rajeevansaid, “India can take up the role as aleaderinscience and ¥…Y……{…x… ∫…Δ. 313 E‰Ú +x…÷∫……Æ˙ E‰Ú¥…±… {…“BS…-b˜“ ∫…‰ ™…÷HÚ ¥…ËY…… x…EÚ/<ΔV…“ x…™…Æ˙-B∫…b˜“({…n˘ ∫…Δ. 1436 technology.Thoughwe have been ∫…‰ 1447 i…EÚ) i…l…… B®….<«/B®….]‰ıEÚ™……‰M™…i…… ∫…‰ ™…÷HÚ ¥…ËY…… x…EÚ/<ΔV…“ x…™…Æ˙- B∫…∫…“ ({…n˘ ∫…Δ. 1448 helping our neighbouring coun- tries, we can strive formore.” ∫…‰ 1464 i…EÚ) E‰Ú {…n˘Ω‰˛i…÷ +Ï…x…˘ -±……

Pune WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM 6 MAHARASHTRA THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY,DECEMBER19,2020

NABH NOTICE TO ACCREDITEDALLOPATHIC HOSPITALS RefrainfromengagingAyush doctorsinclinicalduties

boardofQualityCouncil of India In another notice issuedon Hospitals in Pune, whichhas ANURADHA setupin2005for creating an December 15,the Maharashtra mainlylarge hospitals as mem- MASCARENHAS ecosystem of quality in health- MedicalCouncil also reiterated bers, authorities said that most PUNE,DECEMBER18 careinIndia. NABH standards that aperson obtaining qualifi- tertiarycarehospitals have focus on patient safetyand cationinany other system of NABH accreditation likeRuby THE NATIONAL Accreditation quality of delivery of services by medicine will notbeallowedto Hall, Jehangir, Noble and KEM Boardfor Hospitalsand the hospitals. practice modern medicineinany hospitals, amongothers. HealthcareProviders (NABH) NABH has takenserious note form.Onlyregisteredmedical “Thereare fewAYUSH practi- has issuedacautionary notice for of thismatter and reiterated that practitioners with the MMC can tioners employed, forinstance, accredited allopathic hospitals deploying AYUSH doctors for prescribemodern (allopathic) at Noble hospital and theyare on the issue of employing writing independent orders and medicines, the notice issuedby notgiven clinical duties but as- AYUSH doctors. clinical work without supervi- SanjayDeshmukh, registrar, sistthe consultants with docu- Dr Atul Kochhar ,CEO, NABH, sion of allopathic doctors is not MMC said. The notice has also mentation and related work,” in the notice issuedon permitted. “In case the allopathic cautioneddoctors visitinghos- said Dr HKSale, executivedirec- December 17,said some of the hospitals areemploying AYUSH pitals run by practitioners not torofNoble Hospital and a allopathichospitals were em- doctors to work as clinical assis- registeredunderthe MMC Act member of the Association of ploying AYUSH doctors forclin- tants, as per the applicablestate and said it would be considered Hospitals in Pune. ical duties in the ICUinstead of laws,theyshould notbein- abreachofethics. Dr SanjayPathare, medical MBBS, RMOs and emergency volvedindirect patient careand When contacted,DrSanjay director at Ruby Hall Clinic, doctors. strictlyfollowjob responsibili- Patil, chairman of the Hospital whichhas the largest number of “This is ablatant violation ties,” Kochhar said. BoardofIndia, Pune, whichin- 170ICU beds, said theydid not of healthcareaccreditation and AYUSHdoctors working in cludes210 small and medium have AYUSH practitioners as very muchagainstpatient care theNABH applicant allopathy hospitals, said therewill be a clinical assistantsincritical care. norms and will compromise hospitals will notbeconsidered needfor major reforms as both “We had fewAyush practition- quality of modern medicine Resident MedicalOfficers during NABH and MMC have issued erswho assistedthe doctors in TESTING TIME clinical careoutcome,” the process of assessment and these notices revisitingmedical writing clinical notesand were Kochhar said. forthe grant of accreditation, the ethics and guidelines. engaged in documentation Covid testing underwayatSanas Ground CentreinPuneonFriday. PavanKhengre The NABH is aconstituent notice has warned. At theAssociation of work,” Patharesaid. WHO, EU support Covid response in Southeast Asia ‘New guidelines to Philippines,Thailand and tries, with aparticular focuson EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE Vietnam. reachingtheunreached.Thefunds PUNE,DECEMBER18 “TheEuropeanUnionisoneof willbeusedto:mobiliseallsectors WHO’smajor partners, particu- and communities to ensurepar- ensure safety while THEWORLDHealthOrganisation larly in emergency response.This ticipationinprevention,prepared- (WHO) and the European Union partnership will go alongway in ness and response activities;con- (EU) have recentlyagreedtojoin ensuringthattheSoutheastAsian trol sporadic cases, clusters and forces to supporteight Southeast region builds backbetterduring community transmission,sup- providing healthcare’ Asian countries in their response and afterthe Covid-19pandemic press community transmission; to Covid-19and strengthen pre- and is stronger and moreresilient andreducedeathsfromCovid-19. paredness forfuturepandemics. in the years ahead,” said Dr In addition, the WHO will use were on thefrontlines and we The EU will provide€20 mil- Poonam Khetrapal Singh, WHO’s the opportunityprovided by the EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE wanted to help the commu- lionforaSoutheastAsiapandemic regionaldirectorforSoutheastAsia EU funding to engagewith the PUNE,DECEMBER18 nity.But thereweremany response and preparedness pro- in astatement issuedonFriday. The EU will provide €20 millionwhichWHO will use to AssociationofSoutheast Asian PANDEMIC questions:likehow to deal gramme. WHO will use the funds InlinewiththeGlobalStrategic continue supporting the governmentsinthe region. Express Nations(ASEAN)to enhancecoor- ADOCUMENT entitled with emergency cases, were to continue supportingthe gov- Preparedness and ResponsePlan dinationamong member states “Comprehensive Guidelines INNUMBERS thereample protocols in place ernmentsof Cambodia,Indonesia, and guidedbythe Asia Pacific and promote aregional approach ForOPD/ IPD Services in to ensurepatient safetyand LaoPeople’sDemocraticRepublic, strategyforemergingdiseasesand III), the programme aims to support the Covid-19response in forrespondingto Covid-19,where Ophthalmology Hospitals/ wherethereample resources Malaysia, Myanmar,the publichealthemergencies(APSED strengthen health systems and to the eight Southeast Asian coun- similar challenges arefaced. Clinics Under New Normal: to ensure doctor and hospital Living With Covid-19” wasre- staff’ssafety,”Dole said. centlyreleased,and is acom- 16 “Hospitalsstarted adopting KaranJohar submits pen drive to NCB pilation of the best practices to The number of and devising their ownproto- contain the spread of Covid-19 Covid-19deaths cols.The guidelines also serve The NCBonWednesday is- givenwith respect to the video in ahealthcarefacility in gen- the purposeofbeing aready reportedinPune on EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE suedanotice to Johar overa whichwas under circulation. eral and an eyecare facilityin document forreference to en- Friday. MUMBAI,DECEMBER18 video of his party whichhehad The NCBhad receivedacom- particular. suresafetymeasures forhos- organisedin2019went viral on plaint from Sirsa in this regard. Orbis India recentlypart- pital staffand patientsingen- TWODAYSafter theNarcotics social media. To checkthe veracity of the nered with Quality and 8,683 eral. It can help us even beyond Control Bureau(NCB) issued ShiromaniAkali Dal (SAD) video the notice wassent. Accreditation Institute(QIA) to the pandemic.” The death toll so farin him anotice, Bollywooddirec- leader Manjinder Sirsa, who The video features several release the guidelines. Dr The guidelines recommend torKaran Johar on Fridayre- has lodged acomplaint, Bollywood actors, including PromilaGupta,Principal the district. the use of appropriatematerial spondedbysubmittingapen said that celebrities used DeepikaPadukone, Ranbir Consultant, Director General of suchasPPE and sanitisation drive and some documents drugs in the said party,analle- Kapoor,Vicky Kaushal, Varun Health Services (MoHFW) re- 550 agents at variousservicedeliv- through his representatives. gation whichJohar had refuted Dhawan, Arjun Kapoor,Shahid leasedthe guidelines reiterat- erypointsand deals exten- lastyear. Kapoor,director Ayan ing the importance of the The number of fresh sively in ways to ensure physi- Covid-19cases DELHIJAL BOARD An official said, “We will Mukherjee, Zoya Akhtar,and healthcaresystem, whichisre- caldistancing, training of seek experts’help and analyse Malaika Arora. organising to mitigatethe im- reportedinthe district human resources,creating OFFICE OF THE EX. ENGINEER (NE) II the pen driveand documents Afterthe death of actor pact of thepandemic. on Friday. awarenessinpatientsand R-POCKET DILSHAD GARDEN DELHI-95 submitted by Johar. Sushant Singh Rajput, several Dr Kuldeep Dole, Medical need of infrastructure modifi- “STOP CORONA; Wear Mask, Follow Physical Distancing, Maintain Hand Hygiene Accordingly we will decide our Bollywood personalities have Director of PoonaBlind Men's 3,55,174 cation, especiallyair condition- PRESS NIT NO. 30 (2020-21) futurecourse of action.” been questionedinconnection Association and expertcon- ing practicesinOperation The agency on Thursdayis- with substance use, including tributing member of the guide- The total positive Theatres (OTs). S. Name of Work Amount put EMD Tender Date of release Last date/ time of No. to tender to Amount Fees of tender in receipt of tender suedastatement in whichit SaraAli Khan, Padukone and lines said these give precise in- Covid-19cases so farin “As these guidelines have Tender eprocurement through eprocurement said that the notice has been Arjun Rampal. formation on howtoensure the district. been reviewedbythe WHO- solution solution 1. P/L 150 mm dia DI pipe with tapping 1200 mm dia 38,89,355.00 78,000.00 500.00 17.12.2020 31.12.2020 staffand patient safetyduring SEAROalong withthe Shasri Park Rising Main Sonia Vihar WTP to Ranney upto 02:30 P.M. the delivery of healthcare. Government of India, Centres Well No. 2for new Water Emergency NE-II Tender ID No. 2020_DJB_197592_1 “During the initial lock- of Excellence in eyecareand all 2. Making filling pointsand other development works at 49,42,516.00 1,00,000.00 500.00 17.12.2020 31.12.2020 down, manyhospitals strug- some parts of thecountry. the major institutions of India, Ranney Well No. 2for new Water Emergency in NE-II upto 02:30 P.M. gledtoprocurePPE kits. There Some resortedtomaking them it is arelevant resource which Tender ID No. 2020_DJB_197592_2 weren’t immediateinexpen- in-housewith available re- encompasses all the best prac- All the terms and conditions including technical specification and special conditions is available on Delhi Govt. Website https://delhi.govtprocurement.com. Sd/- sive options forsome hospitals. sources,while some others tices that eyehospitals as well ISSUED BY P.R.O. (WATER) (Sukhpal Singh) Doctors had to be on-duty and trainedtheir human resources as healthcaresetups can adopt Advt. No. J.S.V.266/2020-21 EX. ENGINEER (NE)-II take care of patients, but did to produce them,” Dole said. to ensuresafeservice delivery nothaveprotectivegearin “Doctors and hospital staff across the country,”Dole said. Citibank N.A., Onxy Towers, 2nd Floor,North Main Road, Koregoan Park, Pune 411001 AUCTION SALE NOTICE (Under SARFAESI Act, 2002) AFTER PROTEST BY Auction Sale of Immovable Property mortgaged to the bank under Securitization and Reconstruction of FinancialAssets and Enforcement of SecurityInterestAct2002(SARFAESIAct)readwithrules5,6,7,8&9oftheSecurityInterest(EnforcementRules,2002). SHIV SENA Whereas theAuthorized Officer of the Bank has issued ademand notice under Section 13(2) of SARFAESIAct and thereafter in exercise of powers under section 13(12) of SARFAESI Act has taken possession of Properties mortgaged to Citibank N.A. under Section 13(4) and 14(1) of the SARFAESI Act and the undersigned in the capacity of Authorized Officer has decided for sale of the property by public Youth held auction on 03-Feb-2021 at the place and time mentioned below. DETAILS OF SALE Name of Borrower,Loan A/c. no., for posting S Secured Debt, Place and Time of Auction No Description Of The Property &Upset price EMD amount 1 Mrs. Prerana Aakash Palkar ,Flat No. 201, 2nd Rs. 22653746/- Date of Inspection on –13th Jan 2021 objectionable Floor,Building E, Santa Clara California, SNo. 9, as on from 12:30 noon to 2:00 pm. HNo. 1, Undri, Pune –411028. 18th Dec-2020 Auction Venue: Citibank N.A., Onxy Towers, GovernmentofMaharashtra A/C #912547 EMD Rs.12,150,00/- 2nd Floor,North Main Road, Koregoan Park, video on FB UPSET PRICE –Rs. 12,150,000/- Pune 411001. WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT Auction Date: 3rd Feb 2021 at 12.30 Noon Floor Area :3380 sq. ft. Executive Engineer, TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF AUCTION Vishnupuri Pumphouse Division, Nanded Address :ExecutiveEngineer,VishnupuriPumphouse 1. The property is sold on 'AS IS WHERE IS &ASISWHATISCONDITION'. EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE Division Nanded-431605. e-Mail: [email protected] NAGPUR,DECEMBER18 2. The Bidder is obliged to exercise full due diligence in all respects, including to inspect each of the details of the property(ies) e-Tender Notice No. 37, Year 2020-21 mentioned above on the scheduled dates ×. Online Electronic Bids in B-1 form forbelowmentioned 3. Submission of bids to Citibank N.A. would be construed adeemed acceptance by the bidder that (i) he/she/it has exercised AYOUTH wasarrestedon work is invited by ExecutiveEngineer,Vishnupuri Fridayfor allegedlyposting due diligence in all respects; (ii) is satisfied with all details/measurements of property(ies); (iii) acknowledges full Pumphouse Division,Water Resources Department, an objectionable video against knowledge of terms and conditions that govern the auction and (iv) waives all his/her/its rights to make any contrary claims Government of Maharashtrafrom experienced contractors against bank at any future date. (Registered in Mechanical Organization is not necessaryfor women, afterShivSena 4. ThesaleissubjecttoconfirmationbytheBank,iftheborrower/guarantorpaysthebankinfullbeforesale,nosalewillbeconducted. contractor to Submit Tender). The Main Tender Documents workers and other Hindu or- 5. The Bidder shall remit Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) by Banker's Cheque /DDdrawn in favour of are available forOnline Bid preparation &Submission on ganisations staged aprotest Citibank NALoan A/c 912547, along with the bid form in aSealed Cover addressed to TheAuthorised Officer,Citibank N websitehttps://www.mahatenders.gov.in.All rights are at the Sadar police station A. upto 12.30 Noon on or before 3rd-Feb-2021 Citibank N.A., Onxy Towers, 2nd Floor,North Main Road, Koregoan reservedtoreject anyorall Tender without assigning any in Nagpur. Park, Pune 411001. Please note that, in reference to successful bidder(s), EMD is adjustable against the sale reason by the ExecutiveEngineer and Tender documents “The youth from city's consideration receivable by Citibank N.A. Also, EMD is refundable to the unsuccessful bidder(s). with terms and condition will not be accepted. Gittikhadan locality wasar- 6. The successful bidder shall deposit 25% of the bid amount immediately on the sale being knocked down Name of the Work : Fabricating &Erecting Chair rollers rested forposting the objec- in his/her/its favour and the balance within 15 days by Banker's Cheque /DDdrawn in favour of Citibank NALoan A/c assembly,Base plate &Covers.for saddle supportofRising tionablevideo on his Facebook Number 912547. Main and Repairs to Rubber Expansion Joints on Rising page,” said Commissioner of Main No.1,2&3of dia 1.6 mtr.byReplacement of Rubber 7. In case the successful bidder fails to deposit 25% of the bid amount immediately on sale being knocked Police Amitesh Kumar. seals &bolts with nut&washer etc. work at Vishnupuri down in his/her/its favour and/or the balance amount within 15 days, Please note that, in reference to successful bidder(s), Apress note by city Sena L.I.S.Asarjan, Dist. Nanded. EMD is adjustable against the sale consideration receivable by Citibank N.A. Also, EMD is refundable to the chief Nitin Tiwari said, “The Approx.Tender Amount : Rs.1,60,31,975/- video containedhighlyobjec- unsuccessful bidder(s), the deposit made by the bidder shall beforfeited without any notice and the sale will be cancelled. e-Tender Online Submission From Date : 8. The charges /fees payable for conveyance such as stamp duty,registration fee, maintenance charges electricity charges tionableand derogatoryre- 24/12/2020 to 07/01/2021 marks againstHindu mothers etc shall be borne by the successful bidder.TheAuthorized Officer will not be held responsible for any charge, lien, property e-TenderOpening Date : 08/01/2021. tax or any other dues to the Government or local body or any other authority in respect of the property under sale. andsisters. So,westagedagi- All information of e-Tender is available on tation againstthe culprit and 9. The Authorised Officer has the absolute right to accept or reject the bid or adjourn /postpone/cancel the sale/modify any 1. e-Tendering website of Government of Maharashtra demandedstrict action.” terms and conditions of the sale without any prior notice or assigning any reason therefore. https://www.mahatenders.gov.in (if anysubsequent Tiwari and senior Sena 10. The Sale will only be in favour of successful bidder and not his/her nominee. For inspection of properties and other details, change is there,will be informed on above website) leader Pramod Manmode had intending buyers may contact Mr.Zuber Ahmed, Mr.Anand Agaskar (O) 020 66064237/238/022 61913209 (M) +91 - 2. NoticeBoard at Executive Engineer, Vishnupuri reachedthe Sadar police 7821008359 /+91-9167248999. Pumphouse,Division Nanded-431605. station in the afternoon along 11.This Notice is also to the Borrower(s) Guarantor(s) in particular and the public in general. Out W. No.VPHDN/TS-3/1779/2020 Sd/- Date 14/12/2020 -Executive Engineer, with severalSenaworkers Place: Pune Zuber Ahmed /Anand Agaskar (Authorised Officer) and demandedimmediatear- Date: 19 December 2020 Citibank N.A. (dgipr/2020-2021/1551) Vishnupuri Pumphouse Division, Nanded rest of theculprit.

Pune WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY,DECEMBER19,2020 EXPRESS NETWORK 7

NIA files second DELHI POLICE RECORDING STATEMENTSOFOTHER STUDENTS chargesheet LAC standoff: India, China against SFJ agree to worktowards GuruatKathakKendra operatives complete disengagement EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE arrestedafterstudentfiles NEWDELHI,DECEMBER18 round of the WMCCtalks held plete disengagement of troops THE NATIONAL Investigation EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE on September 30. The military along the LACinaccordance with Agency(NIA) on Fridayfiledits NEWDELHI,DECEMBER18 standoffstarted in early May. the existing bilateral agreements second chargesheetagainstpro- “The twosides agreedthat and protocols, and fullyrestore molestationcomplaint Khalistanoutfit Sikhs forJustice RESUMING DIPLOMATIC talks basedonthe guidance provided peace and tranquillity,” it said. (SFJ) and 10 of itsoperatives, in- on the militarystandoff, India by senior leaders and the agree- The talkscame aday after cludingtheproscribedchief of the andChina on Fridayagreedto mentsreachedbetween the two Indiahopedthat furtherdiscus- other student from her batch evening.Sincehewasn’t available outfit, Gurpatwant Singh Pannu. continue working towardsen- Foreign Ministers and Special sions between the twocountries SUANSHUKHURANA when the latter wasasked to to meet,she wasaskedto put in a The chargesare in connection suring complete disengagement Representatives, theywould willhelpto achieveanagreement NEWDELHI,DECEMBER18 leave by Upadhyayonaccount of written complaint. She sent an with actsofarson and violence of troops at all frictionpoints continue to work towardsensur- on amutuallyacceptable solution toomuchpractice after “barely email to Kumar and then lodged and apropaganda campaign al- along the Line of Actual Control ing complete disengagement in forensuringcomplete disengage- PT RAVI Shankar Upadhyay, a playing for10minutes.” an FIR the same day. On the legedly being run by SFJopera- (LAC)ineastern Ladakh at the all friction pointsalong the LAC ment at all friction points along notedpakhawajplayerandaguru “He then clickedaphotograph morning of December 15, tivestopromote “enmity”. earliest. in the Western sector at the ear- the LACineastern Ladakh. atthecapital’sKathakKendra,was of me, whichIasked him to Upadhyaywas arrested from the In itslastchargesheet,NIA At the virtualtalks,the two liest,” the MEA said in astate- India and China have held arrested foralleged molestation delete,” she alleged,adding that institute. “Iwasyettotakeany ac- had alleged that the outfit was sides agreedthat the next round ment. “The twosidesnoted that severalrounds of diplomatic and aftera23-year-oldstudent of the he then grabbed her and started tion when the police came in notonlypromoting secessionist of militarydialogue should be the seventh and eighth rounds militarytalksinthe lastfew instituteregistered an FIR at behavinginappropriately. Sheal- plain clothes and arrested him. I activity but also influencing Sikh held at an early datesothat they of senior commandersmeetings months to resolve the standoff. Chanakyapuripolice station. leged that “as areflex, Ipushed have already suspendedhim. We soldiers in the Indian Armytore- can work towardsanearly and held on October 12 and MEA Spokesperson Anurag KathakKendraisanaffiliateofthe Pt Ravi Shankar Upadhyay him and ranawaytothe wash- will fullycooperatewith the po- volt.The latestchargesheet has complete disengagement of November 6respectivelyhad in- SrivastavaThursdaysaid the two SangeetNatak Akademi. room, whereIjustcriedthere”. lice,” said Suman Kumar. been filedinconnection with a troopsinaccordancewith the depth discussions in this regard sidescontinue to maintain com- PurportedCCTVfootage of thein- Afterher statement, acaseun- Senior Kathak exponent Pt “series of actsofviolence includ- existing bilateral agreements and that these discussions had munication through diplomatic cidenthasbeen handedtothepo- feet,asisthecustom”.Shesaidthat der IPC sections 354and 509 (as- RajendraGangnani, who also ing actsofarson in Punjab dur- and protocols, the Ministryof also contributed to ensuring sta- and militarychannels and these liceby thedirectorof theinstitute. she“stoppedtouchinghisfeetand saultor criminalforce/ word,ges- teaches at the institute, saidCovid ingthe 2017-18, carrying out of External Affairs (MEA) said. bility on the ground.” discussions have helpeden- The woman,who hasbeen wouldtouchthegroundanddomy tureoract with the intent to has resulted in minimalclasses, propaganda activities both on- The talkswereheld under It said both sides agreedto hance understanding of each learning Kathakatthe institute pranaams”.Sheaddedthatthiswas outrageawoman’s modesty) was and mostofthe teaching is hap- line and on ground campaigns in the framework of Working maintain close consultations at other’s positions. “It is our expec- for11years, is under the tutelage followedbysomeobscene mes- registered. “He allegedly mo- pening online. The student went supportofSFJ and Referendum- Mechanism forConsultation and the diplomatic and militarylevel. tation that further talkswill help of Pt JaiKishenMaharaj,PtBirju sages, whichshe didn’t replyto. lestedher by putting his hands on to the institutebecause she did- 2020”, the NIAsaid in astate- Coordination (WMCC) on India- “Theyagreedthat the next both sides to achieveanagree- Maharaj’s elder son. Dance stu- She allegeditwas the incident her waistand kissedher on her n’thaveapakhawajathome. ment.Referendum 2020 is aref- China border affairs. round of senior commanders ment on amutuallyacceptable dentsatthe institute have to earn on December 14 thatprompted forehead. He also triedtokiss on Upadhyayisthe son of erence to an online campaign The MEA said thetwo sides meeting should be held at an solution forensuring complete one of the exam creditsbylearn- her to lodge an FIR. The student her face. The statementsofother pakhawajmaestroRamji launchedbySFJ in supportofthe reviewedthe developments early datesothat both sides can disengagement in all friction ing apercussion instrument. The had gone to the institutetoprac- studentsare also beingrecorded. Upadhyayofthe Gaya gharana formation of Khalistan. along the LACsince the last work towardsearly andcom- points...” he said. student beganlearning from tice forher exam, whichwas on Investigation of the case is being and carries a400-year-old family Upadhyayabout twoyears ago. December 16. “Iknewheleftat2 carriedout,”said Eish Singhal, legacy. His wifeand three chil- Speaking to The Indian Express, pm. So Ithought Iwould practice DCP,New Delhi. Thestudent dren arealso musicians. He has DEFAMATION CASE:DEFENCE CONCLUDES ARGUMENTS sheallegedinappropriatetouchby in peace,” said the student. She al- calledupSuman Kumar,the di- accompaniedmanyreputed Akbar played fraud on court: Ramani lawyer Upadhyay “wheneverI’dtouchhis leged shewas playing with an- rector of the institute, the same artistesonstage. At Singhu, atattoo stallfindsmany takers rassment againsthim. outPriyaRamani,Akbar is tionsagainsthim, Akbarre- EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE “In theentire complaint, guiltyofconcealing material signedasMinisterofState for NEW DELHI,DECEMBER18 Akbar refers to the tweets and particulars. Alitigant mustap- External Affairs. Sood and his friends have de- around Rs 3,000-4,000 at their articles by Priya Ramani.When proachthe courtwith clean John told thecourtthat JIGNASASINHA cidedtogivefreetattoos to pro- studio in Ludhiana, theyare free CONCLUDINGHER arguments aperson tries to establish hands,”the advocatesubmit- therewas no mechanism in the NEWDELHI,DECEMBER18 testers at the site “forthree-four forthe protesters. Aman (23), a in the criminal defamation case defamation on the basis of sex- ted. “Youare trying to gain an Asian Agenewspaper,where days”. protesterfromPatiala,got atat- filedbyMJAkbar,journalist ual harassment allegations, was unfair advantageoverthe other Ramani wasworking at the AT Amakeshiftstall near the Thetattoos depict Punjabicul- tooofatrolleyand crops on his PriyaRamani’slawyerFriday it notincumbent to make afair side.The failureofMrAkbar in time of the alleged instance of stage, whereprotesters raisedslo- tureand farmingthrough slogans arm: “This is my firsttattoo. Ithink told aDelhicourt that the for- disclosureaboutthe fact that as mentioning allegations by other sexual misconduct, to deal with gans in between speeches, and drawings, said the artists. it’s agood idea because this will mer Union Minister, who is fac- manyas15women made alle- women and pretending that complaintsofthat nature. ChetanSood (29) and his friends Theyhavebrought tattoo stay with me forever. Iliveina ing sexual misconduct accusa- gations againsthim?” she Ramani’s statement defamed She said: “Truthispainful but made free tattoos foryoungsters guns, inks, steriliser and control trolley(here) with my brothers tions, had playedafraud on the asked. him, Mr Akbar has notcome to youseek to serve alargerpur- who linedupoutside. equipment, and aredrawing and it’s noteasy.This tattoo will court and had notapproached John arguedthat “while alot thecourt with cleanhands and pose. It has notbeen easy to say Sood, who runs atattoostu- powerfromgenerators usedby remind me of this time.” it with clean hands. of onus has been putonmefor played afraud on the court.” all this. It has takenatoll on her. dio in Ludhiana, joinedthe farm- shopkeepers in the area. The stall also attractedcurious SeniorAdvocateRebecca being fair,shouldn’t the com- Akbar'slawyers will now But sometimes it is cowardly if ers’ protestonFridaywith three Crops, tractors were popular Karan (20), another tattoo eyes of elderly farmers. “Iguess it John submitted before plainantbear the same respon- maketheir rebuttal to John’s fi- one does notspeak the other tattoo artists.Inless than designs. Prem Nath Pandey artist, said mostprotesters chose would hurtalot and Idon’t want Additional ChiefMetropolitan sibility? He should have said nal arguments on December22. truth...Some women had worse three hours, theymade more to getcrops, tractors or bulls as to go through that pain. It looks MagistrateRavindraPandey that the other women have Akbar has suedRamanifor experiencesthanPriyaRamani. than 18 tattoos. tattoos, while phrases – like‘nis- good but Iguess it’s foryoung thatAkbarhad singledout made allegations whichare also defamationoverallegations of Whywas Ramani singledout in “Our parentsaren’t farmers give freetattoos sothatmorepeo- chay karapnijeetko’, 'Wahe Guru' people.Ilikethe tattoos with trac- Ramani and failedtomention false”. sexualmisconduct and harass- this manner.This creates doubt but aren’t we all connected to ple join the protestand express and 'karhar maidan Fateh' – are tors andtrolleys... it’s agood ini- thatother women, too, had “Nothaving mentionedsuch ment. With severalother on the credibilityofthe com- them?The food we getonour their supportfor the movement,” also common. tiative,” said SarbjitSingh (50), a made allegations of sexual ha- serious allegations and singling women makingsimilarallega- plainant.” plateisbecauseofthem. Iwant to said Sood. Whilethe tattoos usuallycost farmer from Tarn Taran.

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thattakes place overthe Internet. In this set- coronavirus and flexibility. At the time of ing, Instant messaging or other tools.How- ting,anonlineeducator compensates for the physical isolation, online learning is certainly ever, videoconferencing is effectively used Learning and teaching lack of physical classroom by virtually creating likeaboon for millionsofstudentsacross in online learning to enhancegroupcollabo- asupportive environment where all students the globe as it offers instantly accessible ration, create asense of communityamong feel comfortable to participate in their quest coursecontent with flexible schedulingof students,and replace face-to-face classroom in the new normal for learning. classes.Inthis system of education, learners learning to some extent.Today,the govern- In New Normal, online learning plays a use technologytocommunicate virtually ment is making all-round efforts to ensure significant role in shaping up the lives of with their teachers and fellow learners that students from rural areas don’t miss out ITH COVID-19 making social dis- ment measures mean more and more fami- support of their efforts to utilize educational childrendigitally by providing safety from through Email, WhatsApp,Videoconferenc- on learning. Wtancing mandatory,itbecame nec- lies are relyingontechnology and digital so- technologiestoprovideremotelearning op- essary foreducational institutions lutions to keep children learning,entertained portunities to students while the educational across the globetointroduceonline learning and connected to the outside world,but not all institutions are closeddue to COVID-19 pan- or e-learning.Believe it or not,in just aspan of children have the necessary knowledge,skills demic.” few months, online learning became aNew and resources to keep themselves safe In today’sunprecedented scenario,every Normal for the Education sector and students, online.” sector has to look for new and unique ways to teachers etc.Had it not been for the presence Currently,UNESCO is “supporting coun- keep their sectorfunctional. TheEducation of online learning infrastructure, students tries in their efforts to slower the immediate sector has found its wayinonline learning. would have suffered badly in this current aca- impact of school closures particularly for Thanks to remote education, learning can demic year. Thepandemic has compelledthe more vulnerable and disadvantaged commu- now be realised online and knowledge can learnersand teachers to stayathome andhas nities and trying to facilitate the continuityof be transferred virtually using multiple media. gravely obstructed the teaching-learning education for all through remote learning.” Clearly,online learningisthe best solution process. Today, teachers are effectively using TheWorld Bank is also actively“working with during this crisis. Often referred to as e-learn- virtualclassrooms to teach from home with ministries of education in several countries in ing,online learningisalearning environment the helpofall the necessary tools that makeonline sessions as effec- tive as traditional ones. As the pan- demic struck,most governments across the world had temporarily closed educational institutions to curb the spreadof COVID-19 pan- demic.At the time, as per UNESCO, “over 91% of stu- dents across the globe wereunable to attend schools/colleges due to strict restric- tive measures in place”. Moreover, UNICEF said, “School closures and strictcontain-

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THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY,DECEMBER19,2020 WORDLY WISE I’ve long believed thatgood food,good 8 THE EDITORIAL PAGE eating, is all aboutrisk. —ANTHONY BOURDAIN MSP ain’t broke, don’t fix it

§ FOUNDED BY § RAMNATH GOENKA Government mustpromote crop diversification BECAUSETHE TRUTH INVOLVES US ALL by settingMSP forother crops as well

A NARROW WINDOW Manjit SKang

The Supreme Court’s suggestion of acommittee of farm law IN THEEARLY1960s, near-famine conditions passedduring the monsoonsession of Pa- in the lawtothe effect that no matter who prevailedinIndia andsome 10 million tonnes rliament.Thefarmerswere already reelingun- buysthe produce (government or aprivate stakeholders offers away forward—both sides should take it of wheat had to be importedfromthe US un- der the ravagesofthe COVID-19 lockdown. I entity), the farmermustbegiven aMSP.The derthePL480programme.Thecountry’ssitu- know first-hand that farmers could notsell National Farmers’ Commission’s recom- HE SUPREME COURThas openedawindow,narrowthough it maybe, forthe ation waspejoratively dubbed “ship-to- theirvegetablesandfruitsbecauseof thelock- mendation of providing an MSP of 50 per farmers’ unions and the government to negotiateaconsensus on the con- mouth” existence, as foodgrains arriving via down.Withthelossof incomeduringthelock- cent over andabove afarmer’sinput ex- tentious farm laws.The court, while hearing petitions seeking the removal ships were immediatelyconsumed. downandtheimpositionof thenewlaws,pur- penses mustbeimplemented. of farmers sitting on protestinDelhi borders on Thursday, upheld the right In 1963, Norman Borlaug, who headeda portedtohelp them, the farmers were hit by a APMCs should becontinued. The fees that Tof the farmers to protest and came with an innovation to end the impasse: wheat-improvementprogramme at CIMMYT doublewhammy. Thepropositionof doubling “MandiBoards”collect(forexampletheRural (then the Rockefeller Foundation), in Mexico, farmers’ incomeby2022 nowsounds hollow. Development Fund) have helpedbuildlink It has proposedsetting up an “independent and impartial committee” to hearbothsides. wasapproachedbyvisionaries suchasMS Farmers of the “food-bowl”stateshave roads.No private organisationwilldothis.MSP While Solicitor General Tushar Mehtarefusedtoassurethe courtthat the government Swaminathan to provide seedsofsomeof his been selling foodgrains (mainlywheat and should be determinedonthe basis of grain would keep the laws in abeyance until it ruledonthem, AttorneyGeneralKKVenugopal high-yielding dwarf wheat varieties/popula- rice)atMinimumSupportPrice (MSP) since quality.Forexample,wheatvarietiesgrownin said he would discuss the subject with the government.This is an opportunityfor both par- tionsto India.Those seeds were distributedto themid-1960s.Thishashelpedthecentralgov- the“foodbowl”statescontain11 percentpro- ties to step back from their maximalistpositions and discoveramiddle ground that ad- the Indian Agricultural Research Institute ernment createacentral pool of foodgrains tein compared to 7per cent protein grown dresses the concerns of farmers and meets the government’s case foragriculturereforms. (IARI, also calledthe “Pusa Institute”) in New and the Public Distribution System (PDS) to elsewhere. Thus, the food bowl states deserve On Friday, Prime MinisterNarendraModi, addressing akisan meetinMadhya Pradesh, Delhi and some of the newlycreated agricul- help the poor.However, MSP has notbeen aspecialMSP.Thegovernmentmustpromote tural universities suchasthe Punjab guaranteedinthe newlyenactedfarm laws, crop diversification by purchasing crops pro- said he wasready “with foldedhands” to discuss everyissue with farmers. He spokeofthe Agricultural University,Ludhiana, and the UP whichisthe major bone of contention. Some ducedother than wheat and rice at MSP.This measures the government has done to ease theburden of farmers —cash transfers to their Agricultural University at Pant Nagar. From people affiliatedwiththecentralgovernment couldhelp conservethe dwindling supplyof bank,access to Kisan Credit Cards and so on —besides reiterating that minimum support these, the institutes then selected thewheat claimsuch“support”cannotbeguaranteedin undergroundwater, whichisaseriousissuein price forfarm produce will continue. But along with this outreachcomes adisturbing re- populations. The consequent miraculous the laws. these states. frain: Questioning the nationalistcredentialsofthe protestors. Union AgricultureMinister gains in wheat yield and production ushered The APMCs (AgricultureProduce To encouragefarmerstogrowhigh-value NarendraSingh Tomar Thursdaysuggestedasinisterdesign to the rail trackprotestors: in the “Green Revolution.” MarketingCommittees)areunderthreatfrom crops,such asvegetablesandfruits,thegover- Although the GreenRevolutionoccurred thenewfarmlaws.Manyexperts feelthatMSP nmentshouldset upadequatecold-chaininfr- Hindering the deliveryof supplies to soldiers in Ladakh and said that “the ideology of these dueto aconfluenceof favourablegovernment and APMC go hand-in-hand. Thishas created astructuresothat perishableproduce can be people, who aremisleading the farmers by hiding behind curtains, wasnot with the coun- policies, effortsofagricultural scientists and uncertainty in the mindsoffarmers about the kept longerand soldatanappropriate time. tryevenduring the warof’62. Today, these people areagain speaking the languageof’62.” theadoptionof newwheatvarieties/selections continuation of MSP.Eventhough the central Thefarmers’stayingpowermustbeimproved Government and BJP functionaries needtostopinfantilising the protestors. Youcan’t cele- by farmers, the contributions of farmers of MSPhas been working just governmenthas indicatedthatthe newfarm sothattheydon’thave to sellallof theirprodu- bratethe wisdom of the farmer and, in the same breath, saytheyare being “misled” by Punjab (Haryana included) stood out. fine since the mid-1960s. laws aremeanttoeliminatethe“middlemen” ceimmediatelyaftertheharvest.Someprogre- darkerforces out to break the nation. The apexcourt’s suggestion maycreateaspace rela- Swaminathandescribedthesefarmers’efforts There is asaying:‘If it ain't (arhtiyas),farmersfeelthatanew classof mid- ssive farmersshouldbeincludedintheNitiAa- as: “Brimming withenthusiasm, hard-work- dlemen,thatis,lawyersbelongingto bigcom- yogsothat theycan sharetheir inputs before tively insulated from suchself-serving —and self-defeating —rhetoric. broke, don’t fix it’. So, there ing,skilledanddetermined,thePunjabfarmer panies,withwhomtheywouldhavetodealin newpolicies/laws affectingthemareenacted. Likepolitics, policy-making also involvesnegotiation. In the case of farm laws,the gov- has been the backbone of the revolution. Far- is no need to tinker with selling their produce, would emerge.Thus, India has producedanumberofWorld ernment ignoredtheearly signs of dissent and discomfortamong the intendedbeneficiar- mers, young and old, educated and unedu- MSP. Aclause should be smallfarmerswouldbeatadistinctdisadvan- Food Laureates, includingMSSwaminathan, iesofthe reforms —the BJP even allowedalong-standing ally, the Shiromani Akali Dal, to cated,haveeasilytakento thenew agronomy.” added in the lawtothe effect tage —morethan80per cent of farmers own GurdevSKhush, Surinder KVasal, andRattan quit the Union Cabinetand NDAonthe issue. The Supreme Courthas nowgiven the gov- By 1974,the industrious farmers of the that no matter who buys the less than five acresofland. Lal. Suchintellectuals should be in the “food-bowl”statesofPunjab, Haryana, and According to the centralgovernment,the “AgriculturalThinkTank.”Theyshouldbecon- ernment an opportunity to discuss and clarify itsintentionswith other stakeholders; it must produce (government or a notlet egoornarrowpolitical interests shut this window. The farmers, too, needtofactor westernUPhadbroughtaboutself-sufficiency newlawswill ensurecontract farming. The sulted by Niti Aayog. Farmers’ genuine con- infoodgrainproduction(mainlyinwheatand private entity), the farmer farmers fear that big companies might usurp cerns mustbeaddressedassoon as possible in that repeal-or-nothing-else isn’t the mosteffective waytoaddress their apprehensions. rice —the staple foodsofIndia), riddingthe must be givenMSP. theirlandand might notpay them an agreed so that theycan continue producing food and countryofthe “begging bowl”. TheNational Farmers’ price on the pretextof“poor quality” of pro- fibreneededfor theever-increasing popula- No matter whichorganisation,polici- duce. Theyfeel that the big companies might tion. India’spopulationincreases at the rate of es/rules enacted withouttaking theaffected Commission’s become monopolies, and exploit both farm- 15 millionper year.People can survive with- people on boardwill surelyface resistance. A recommendation of ers and consumers. Farmers fear being made outmanythings(includingeducation)butnot A FRIEND INDEED proactive approach is always better than are- providing an MSPof intolabourers. without food. The slogan—“If youate today, active one. From the farmers’ standpoint, the 50 per cent over and above a MSP has been working justfine since the thankafarmer” —shouldbepromoted. Deepening ties with Dhaka areimportant forbothnations. Delhi ordinanceswere unfairly promulgatedinJune mid-1960s. Thereisasaying: “If it ain't farmer’s input expenses mustnot letdomestic political rhetoric derail diplomaticgains 2020,duringtheCOVID-19lockdown,without broke, don'tfix it”. So, there is no needtotin- Thewriter is former vice-chancellor,Punjab consultingthem.ThentheBillswere hurriedly must be implemented. kerwith the MSP.Aclause should be added Agricultural University,Ludhiana HEINAUGURATIONOFan11-kmraillinkbetweenWest BengalandBangladesh —thefifthinthelastfew years—markstheslowbutsteadyeffortby Delhiand Dhaka to overcomethe negative consequencesofthe Partition of the subcon- Ttinent in theeast. The political Partition in 1947,whichcreated Pakistan, did notimmediately leadtoeconomicdissociation.Thatbeganonlyafterthe1965 war, whenthe borders betweenIndia andPakistancloseddown, makingitincreasingly hard PAKISTA N ’ S S HAME forthe movement of goodsand people. The subcontinentturnedinwardinits economic ori- entation afterthat and countries in the region de-emphasised transborder connectivities. Political difficulties in both capitals also prevented Delhiand Dhakafromrestoring the lost The blasphemylaw is used to target theChristian community withimpunity connectivity,evenafter they recognisedits economic importance. Over the lastdecade, thankstothe improved political ties between Delhi and Dhaka, Khaled Ahmed therehas been asystematic effort at restoring the natural connectivities between West Bengal,BangladeshandIndia’sNortheast. ThejointstatementissuedafterPrimeMinisters PAKISTAN’S MOSTHUMILIATINGmoment Junaid’s father triedtofind alawyerwho Blasphemyand desecration of the Quran NarendraModi and Sheikh Hasina metvirtuallyonThursdayoutlines alistofinitiativesto is reachedevery time someone is accusedof would tell the scared judgewhy his son areusedagainstthem, but the latter is used deepencooperation.Inadditionto expeditingastudylookingintoabilateral Comprehensive blasphemyand sentencedtodeath. Proof is should be letoff.Hehad to confess: “Ifound againstthem collectively,followedbyorgan- Economic Partnership Agreement, the statement outlinedahostofareas forcooperation, notneeded; the courtisjusttoo scared to let alawyerwilling to take the case but, on his iseddestruction of property.In1997, the twin from strengthening riverwater transporttomanaging atransboundaryelephant corridor the accusedgo, as happenedinthe case of firstday,hewas harassedbysome 200 villages of Shantinagar-Tibba Colony, 12 km and from trade liberalisationto the settingup of aCEO forum. Delhiand Dhaka arealso rais- Junaid Hafeez, a “visiting” faculty member lawyers.” He still thought the judgewould eastofKhanewal, Multan Division, were at the English department of Bahauddin be fearless. “The prosecution, the witnesses lootedand burnt by 20,000Muslim citizens ing their ambitions forregional connectivity with Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar and Thailand. ZakariyaUniversity in Multan, who wassen- and trial could notprove anyofthe allega- and500 policemenacting together afteran If Delhi has been deeply sensitive to theneedfor restoringeconomicconnectivityinthe tencedtodeath by acourtinMultan in 2019 tions,” said the lawyer. incident of desecration of the Quran wasre- divided east, it has notdemonstrated the same sensitivity to thetragedy of thepost- afterbeing arrested in 2013.Hewas a BeforeIndia’s “love jihad”, Pakistanfound ported. The police firstevacuated the Partition movement of peopleacross borders. While the political impact of such movement Fulbright scholar with aMaster’s from itsway to getting rid of itsChristians. Christian population of 15,000,then helped on ethnic and religious balances in the easthas been real, Delhiwill needtobecareful in Jackson StateUniversity.Itiseasy to convict Blasphemywas pinnedonthem with the the raiders use explosivestoblowuptheir addressingthe challenges posedbymigration, especially as India prepares to implement people forblasphemybecause the lawsays confidence that no judgewould letthem off houses and property.Sipah-e-Sahaba was an insulttothe ProphetPBUH can take place the hook,with pious crowds demanding blamedbythe Christians forthe violence. the Citizenship Amendment Act. Unfortunatecommentsbythe Union home ministeron even by innuendo. Then, there are the clerics deathoutside his court. In 2005, the Christian community of illegal migration and migrantscameclose to derailing ties between Indiaand itsmostim- Then, thereare the clerics who can scare who canscare anyjudge if In August2009, afteraweek of simmer- Sangla Hill in Nankana district in Punjab ex- portant regional partner,Bangladesh. With elections around the corner in West Bengal, the anyjudgeiftheythink he is getting softbe- they think he is getting soft ing Muslim-Christian disputeoverthe dese- periencedamosthair-raising dayofviolence. temptation to postureonthe question of transborder migrationcouldagain threaten bi- cause of lackofevidence. One such “blas- because of lack of evidence. crationofthe HolyQuran in tehsilGojra in Afterallegations of desecration of the Quran, lateralrelations. As Dhakapreparestocelebratethe 50th anniversaryofits liberation from phemy” priest, Allama Khadim Hussain Rizvi, Toba TekSingh district in Punjab, violence amob of 3,000 ledbyalocal politician and Pakistanand the specialroleofIndia in that event next March,aswell setambitious goals diedanatural death recentlyafter getting One such‘blasphemy’ priest, brokeout.Asusual, a “bannedorganisation”, the police burnt down three churches, amis- manyinnocentpeopleintroubleover “ru- Sipah-e-Sahaba, came from outside town, sionary-run school, twohostels and several forits impressiveeconomic development, Delhican’t letcrude electoral calculations un- Allama Khadim Hussain mours” of blasphemy.His fierysermons Rizvi, died anatural death took over and usedacid and petrol bombs to housesbelonging to Christians. Lahore’s dermine the historic transformation underwayinthe eastern subcontinent. causedpolice-guardMumtaz Qadri to pump destroy property and kill women and chil- archbishop stated that the attackers had 27 bullets intoGovernorofPunjab Salmaan recently after getting many dren, while the local government and police been brought therebybuses from outside. Taseer in 2011 forsupporting aChristian innocents in trouble over stood aside. The federal governmenttook The great champion of the blasphemy woman accusedofblasphemy. ‘rumours’ of blasphemy. His only “seriousnote”. law, Allama Khadim Husain Rizvi, would lead Amnesty International in September ap- fierysermons caused police- Christiansare the largest religiousminor- “life-sacrificing” followers to Islamabad and STAIRWAYTOHEAVEN pealedtoPakistani authorities to immedi- ity in Pakistan. The totalnumber of Christians blockall roads going to the capital city and atelyand unconditionallyrelease Hafeez. guard Mumtaz Qadri to in Pakistanwas at least2million in2008or 1.1 condemn the government, harshly using the Unesco has recognisedSingapore’s hawkers. With right “Junaid’s lengthytrial has gravelyaffected pump 27 bullets into per cent of the population. An examination of word dalla (pimp) forpoliticians. When coro- incentives, their counterparts in India have similarpotential his mental and physicalhealth, endangered Governor of Punjab Salmaan birthrecordsyieldsatotalnumberof Christians naries finallytook him in Lahore, therewere him and his family, andexemplifies the mis- Taseer in 2011 forsupporting at 2.8 million. Morethan 90 per cent of the morethan amillion “devotees” at his funeral. use of Pakistan’s blasphemylaws,” Amnesty country’sChristians reside in Punjab. And 60 HE SATAYS SIZZLINGongrill, the heady aroma of spices, fragrance of curries, International’sregionalresearcher,Rabia aChristian woman accused per centliveinvillages,and in mostcases are The writer is consulting editor, stewsand broths. Welcometoanearly 200-year old potpourri —Singapore’s Mehmood,stated. of blasphemy. moreindigenous to their areas thanMuslims. Newsweek Pakistan hawker culture.Inthe early 1800s, as people of Chinese, Indian and Malayan Tdescent made their home in the city,cooksfromthese communities found theirlivelihoodinthisconfluenceof cultures.Butintheearly 20thcentury, the colonial government felt that these hawkers had become anuisance.Inthe 1920s, the city’s Health Officer even wanted them removed. Butthe proposal failedtoget traction, and in 10 DECEMBER 19,1980, FORTY YEARS AGO years,thegovernmenthadto recognisethattheywereanessentialpartof thecity.Theyserved adiverseclientele —office-goers, blue-collar workers and the coolies who worked at the 1ASSAM ON THE BOIL the area wasput under curfew. MARUTI TAKEOVER wharves and ports.Cut to Marchthis year,the Singaporegovernmentsubmittedanomina- THREE PERSONS WEREkilled,and scores LOKSABHA HAS approved theMaruti tionforSingaporehawkerculturetobeinscribedonUnesco’slistof“IntangibleCulturalHeritage of people were injured in police firing and CONG &CONG (I) takeover bill on the nationalisationofMaruti of Humanity”. On Thursday, the UN body recognisedthis claim. lathi chargesinmanytowns of Assam on PRIME MINISTER INDIRA Gandhi is quite Udyog. All opposition members, barring the firstday of the 10-daystatewide mass keen to have the Congress under Devraj Urs those of the DMK, walked out during voting. Mostcities have suchdins of happyeaters. But thereare manywho still regard such satyagraha launchedbyagitators on the back in thefold of Congress (I) but wantsit food havens as anuisance. In mostIndian cities, forexample, hawkers become targetsof foreigners’ issue. The agitators have to take theinitiative.When Urswas in the RAINING DIAMONDS “beautification” drives, whichcamouflagethe fact that municipal bodies areblinkered to steppedupprotestsbyconducting satya- national capital recently, Mrs Gandhi ex- PEOPLE LIVINGINBombay’sposh Malabar the social role of theroadside kitchens. Foranation with an acute shortageofpublic grahaatdistrict and sub-divisional offices pressedher desiretomeethim but messen- Hill got the shockoftheir liveswhen a spaces, the kababchi, the choleybhature,dosa or paratha seller,the gol-gappa or chaat ven- in protestagainstwhat theysay is the gers on her behalf said that he should ask for briefcase brimming withdiamondswas dor,the men and women who hawk fruits, even peanuts, aremediators of conversations Centre’s indifference to theforeigners’ is- an appointment. This condition wassubse- thrownout of an apartment. However, sue.Atthe call of the All Assam Students quentlydropped, by whichtime Urshad left sleuths of the income taxdepartment were between friends, familyand lovers. Union and the All Assam Gana Sangram thecapital. Mrs Gandhi has also hinted that waiting and seizedthe diamonds without At Singapore’s hawker centres,seniors gathertoread theirpaperswhile having their Parishad, thousands of satyagrahis courted she does nothaveexperiencedleaders to muchado. The briefcase wasthrownby dailycuppa while youngsters strum their guitars in the evenings. Chaiwallahs and several arrest all over the statebytakingout pro- help her.She has oftenpraisedspeeches of the wifeofadiamond merchant who other street-food sellersinIndia have similar patrons. They deservethe supporttheircoun- cessions and defying prohibitoryorders. Congress leaders whilecriticisingthe per- looked afterhis affairswhen he wasaway terparts in Singaporehavereceived. Soon aftertwo deathsoccurred in Barpeta, formance of her party members. from town.

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THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY,DECEMBER19,2020 WHATTHE OTHERSSAY “Ifthe global scheme to deliver Covid-19 vaccines to poorer countries fails,ashas been reported,itmay leave nations with billions of people without anyaccessto vaccines until as late as 2024, killing anychances of the world defeatingCovid-19.” 9 THE IDEAS PAGE — THE DAILY STAR Walkthe green talk Read, without the

If India has to meetclimate changemitigation targets, or even exceedthem sacred thread by 2047,asthe PM has assured,itneeds to take decisive action now Forlong, the IndianEnglish literaryestablishment hasenforcedanurbane,metropolitan culturethat can onlybecalledBrahminical

jective Rabindrik (“Tagorean”), has been usedbythe establishment to keep out singers who aredisobedient to the Visvabharati mode of singing. Christophe Jaffrelot The career of the “literary” has notbeen and VijeyGanesh RS very different from the Brahmin’s protec- tionism of the mantra,aninheritancekept out of the reachofthe non-Brahmin. One of the ways in whichthis has been donein THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARYofthe Parisac- SumanaRoy the lasthundredyears is through antholo- cordlastweek wasthe occasion of avir- gies that create—and reiterate—the idea tualglobal meeting —the Climate and the habitat of the literary. Indian English Ambition Summit 2020 —duringwhich AFEW MONTHS ago, when the Bengal poetry, as afield forinstance,was created Prime MinisterNarendraModimade “a Chief Ministerannouncedthe creation of a in the same manner.Different as theymight solemn pledge” thatin2047 “centennial Dalit SahityaAcademy, many rushedto bein styleand temperament, thereissome- India will notonlymeetits owntargets, characterise it as another of Mamata thing that is common to them—their met- but will also exceedexpectations” in terms Banerjee’s“minorityappeasing” policies. It ropolitan location. With the exception of of carbon emissions. This is agoodocca- waseventurnedintothe likenessofajoke JayantaMahapatra,the poets in thesean- sion to assess thecountry’s policies regard- —that thereshould also be aBrahmin thologies arefromthe metropole, so much ing climatechange. SahityaAcademy,and so on. Raisedbypar- so that it might seemthatIndian English India had setfair targets(Intended ents who rarely discussedcaste,and an ed- poetrywas onlyaBombayphenomenon. NationallyDeterminedContributions) in ucation system that refuses to engagewith The indifference of the anthologists to cir- the Paris accordin2015and has matchedit it exceptinanominal way, Icrossedover cles outside their own, unless the poets had withaction in renewables and other sec- into adulthood without the awarenessof areputation buttressedbythe West,asin tors. Initially, Indiahad setatargetof175 caste marking my thoughts, choices and de- the caseofMahapatra, who wonaprize GW of installedrenewables capacity by cisions. All of this would notneedtobesaid givenbyPoetry magazine, created an idea 2020 and aguarantee thatby2030, 40 per if it hadn’t informedthe reading choicesof of theIndianEnglish poem that wasinflu- cent of itsenergyneeds willcome from re- peoplesuchasmyself. It couldn’t beacoin- encedbythe prevalent literaryclimatein newables. In 2018,atthe Global Climate cidence, could it,that my favourite writers America and England. Action Summit, PM Modi announcedan in Bangla were upper-castewriters, usually The lackofinclusion of the provinces, of ambitious plantomakeIndia less depend- Brahmin,orthatBanglaliterature was poets whose writinghad been formedby ent on coal and natural gasbyaiming for Calcutta-centric? This, it seemed, wasno their other languages,was responsible fora 450-500GWofinstalledcapacity by 2030 CRSasikumar different from WASP literatureproviding monolithic understanding of the Indian through renewable energy.Atthe time of PurchaseAgreements between the distri- parallel, India planstoinstall an additional the onlyunderstanding of the literaryinthe English poem. To askaquestion like “Why thatannouncement,the target wasfive bution companies (or discoms, whichare 60 MW of thermal power, which is surpris- Anglo-American world. By Brahminical, wasthere onlyawomanortwo in thesean- times the amount of existing installed re- oftenstate monopolies) and prosumers ing, consideringthat todayrenewable en- therefore, Imean an attitude, and, conse- thologies?”isnottoaskaquestionaboutrep- newables capacity of 81 GW.Overthe last (producer-consumers) who would install ergy is cheaper than coal. quently, an invisiblestructure that makes resentation. It is to continue to argue, after six years, therehas been a72per centin- the solar panels. Prosumers have little The other keystone in climatechange the normative seem normal, andevery- Woolf,forincreasingtheperimeterofthe“lit- crease in installedrenewables capacity, choice in the PPAs because theymostlyonly mitigation is carbon sequestration, which thing else justaberrations —the way, say, erary” to includethose whose writing have claims the ministerfor power. offernet or gross metering. Both these is mainlydone through forest coverand “General” seems to be normal,and notbeenincludedintheideaof “literaryhis- Another important move that at first methodsare ineffective according to ex- other plant resources.The target of 33 per “SC/ST/OBC” exceptions, or heterosexual- tory”. TheIndian English poem in thesean- seemedslowbut nowisirreversible is elec- perts,who recommend, instead, the instal- centofforestcover remains to be achieved, ity takentobethe norm, and other sexual thologies, male in form and tone and urban trification of transportation. Thisseemsto lation of smartsolar meters with more ex- as Indianforests currentlystand at 21 per orientations wayward. initssenseof power, suppliedtheideaof the be themostpromising sectorastransporta- pensive metering during peak hours, which cent of total geographical area (TGA). Of this, Thatwhatwe assumeasliteraryispartly “Indian English poem” fordecades. tion systems around the countrylookset to could then incentivise the consumer and forestsare classifiedinthree categories: aresultofour location in the varioussocial Likeinter-castemarriagethatsuppos- go electric, including localtransportation the discoms to actively pushmoreaffluent “Very denseforests”represent 3per cent of structureswe inhabitisneverquite acknowl- edly kept Brahmins pure,editors keep the in big cities.The Indian railways, too, is ex- Indianstoadoptrooftop solar.These re- the TGA, whereas “moderatelydense edged. Justashaving teawith salt and but- circle of contributors limited to familyand pectedtogofullyelectricby2024with forms,alongwith public outreachifunder- forests” and “open forests” represent 9per terinaTibetanhouseholddoesnotquitefeel friends. One onlyneeds to pick up an an- completion of electric lines by 2023, accord- takenurgently, could greatlyimprove the cent each. Over the lastdecade, the propor- liketea to my sugar-and-milk-knowing thology of Indian English anything—essays, ing to the ministryofrailways. As thiselec- installed rooftopcapabilities. tion of “moderatelydense” forestshavede- tongue,anything outside the rangeoffamil- poems, stories —toconfirm howthe liter- trificationspreads to consumertransporta- But the biggestchallengethat renew- Thebiggest challenge that clineddespiteoverall gains. Also, the fact iarity —ofits tone, register, aesthetics and aryisabaptisedname forafamily-and- tion, the demand forgreen energy will be ables have to compete with is the coal in- renewables have to compete thatcommercial plantationsand farms are politics—ofthe“literary”seemsforeign,even friend enterprise, ataste and manner that higher than ever. dustry. Despite significant gainsintotal in- with is the coal industry. sometimes classifiedasopen forestscon- contraband,andis,thereby, rejected.Thishi- is feudal,and whichits practitionersbelieve However, the solar industryhas run stalledcapacity forrenewable powerin ceals the true extent of the damagethat erarchy, inevitablyderiving from arbiters is superior to thosethat have been excluded. intoregulatoryheadwinds. By early 2020, terms of actual powergeneration, coal still Despite significant gains in forestsare suffering. who hold political and economic power, What that has enforcedisthe idea of aliter- therewerecancellationsofseveral auctions powers close to 72 percentofIndia’s elec- total installed capacityfor The questionofdeclining forest coveris seems to decide what constitutes physical arythatisaspirational, notcompletelyun- by the government. ThenCOVID-19 struck. tricity requirement. Even if Indiaisto renewable power, coal still also relevant in sensitivebiodiversity beauty,the singingvoice, correct pronunci- like a “posh accent”. The literaryhas forced Investors who were already facing tough achieve the2022targetmentioned above, hotspots,especiallyinthe Western Ghats ation,education,manners,handwriting,pro- ahomogenisationofliteraryproduction — markets and shutdowns from the solar coal would still accountfor 65 per cent of powers close to 72 per cent of and in the forestsinthe Northeast.Overthe priety,orevenwhat constitutes food. everyone mustwritewithinits aesthetic supplychains in Chinapulledout. On itsenergymix. The main issue is that most India’selectricity decades,the Western Ghatshas seen asig- The literarycan behave likeagharana, rangetobeconsidered literarywriters. August21, the Central Energy Authority of the grid is still geared towardsthe ther- requirement. Even if India is nificantloss in biodiversity with an ex- and it is the nature of gharanastokeep Reviewers, because theycome from the (CEA) publishedareporton“Under mal powerindustry. Another problemisthe to achieve its 2022 target, pected thirdalready lostdue to human ex- things unlikeitoutside itsfold. The “liter- same class, become naturalised citizensof Construction Renewable Energy Projects” financial distress of thediscoms, whichpre- pansion in the region. It is the Northeast, ary” has been inevitablyphallic. It wasthis theworld of literarygatekeeping. whichlisted90renewable projects ventsthem from modernising plants,asthe coal would still account for however, that has witnessedthe mostdam- narrowsense of what constitutes the lit- “Decolonising thesyllabus” is ademand amounting to 39.4GWthatwerefacing de- thermal industryisplaguedbyinefficient 65 per cent of its energy mix. ageinthe pastdecade. Of the eight states in erarythat Virginia Woolf waschallenging to expandthe idea of the literary, notinan lays duetoseveral reasons.Out of these, 20 tariffsetting, expensive PPAs and unsustain- Themain issue is that most the region, onlyAssam and Tripurahavenot in ARoom of One’sOwn —ofthe genius, instrumental andbureaucratic manner,but GW worthofprojectsare facing delays and able cross-subsidies. Shutting down old and of the grid is still geared seenadecline in forest cover. whichweimagine as inevitablymale, and of itsmonolithic real estate —itisarejec- have been granted extensions of five inefficient plantsseems to be the best so- This is the time forIndia to take bold ac- of “anon”, the anonymous (female) creator tion of itsproprietorial and gatekeeping be- monthsdue to the impact of the COVID-19 lution, but if the Central Electric Authority towards the thermal power tion if it wantstomeetits objectivesby2047 of primarilyoralliterature; of the novel, haviour.What the “literary” needs, how- lockdowns on global supplychains; afur- were to shut down the plantsover25years industry. Notonly is coal not or before.India mustplan agreen recovery that she asked women to maketheir own, ever,isnot the erasureofwhat once ther 8GWworth of projectslackeven old —asitshould —close to 35 GW could on its way out,but it is also from thecurrent COVID-19 crisis to ensure because it wasstill anew form, unlikeoth- constituted it —assome cancel culturead- powerpurchase or sales agreements. be decommissioned. seen as part of India’s future, ajustand sustainablegrowthfor itspopu- erswhichhad become solidifiedintomale vocatesdemand—but afar moreinclusive In addition to this, the market for Not only is coal notonits wayout, but it lation. Doingthis will take an incredible genres. It wasalso to expand the idea of accommodation of writing; notaUN-like rooftopsolar,which wasexpectedtogrow is also seen as partofIndia’s future, as evi- as evident from adecision amount of resources andpolitical will. the literarythat Rabindranath Tagore ar- representative model of writers of various to 40 GW by 2022, has fallen flat with an in- dentfromadecision thegovernment took the government took last gued forinhis introduction to the stories constituenciesalone, but of variouskinds, stalledcapacity of only6GW.The primary lastJune: Forthe firsttime ever,ithas de- June: Forthe first time ever, Jaffrelotissenior research fellowatCERI- forchildren in Thakurmar Jhuli.Thereare manners, and forms of writing. reason is once again apoor regulatoryenvi- cidedtoopen41coal blocks forcommer- it has decided to open 41 coal Sciences Po/CNRS, Paris, professor of Indian twopiecesofirony here: Tagore,now a It is time forthe literarytoloseits ronment, despitebothsignificant central cialmining to the privatesector.This is Politics and Sociology at King’s India totemofthe literary, wasonce rejected for sacredthread. and statesubsidies forsolar installations. aimedataddressing India’s excessive re- blocks forcommercial Institute, London; Ganeshisastudent of notbeing literary enoughbyCalcutta The main problemhas been Power liance on importedcoal (30 per cent). In mining to the private sector. politics and governance at Sciences Po Paris University;his name, turnedintothe ad- Royisapoetand author The kids are not alright LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR CALLOUSAPPROACH THIS REFERS TO the article, ‘Letschools IDEAS Worseningof childnutritioncallsforimmediateanddecisive coursecorrection open’(IE, December 18). The callous- ness withwhichwehaveapproached ONLINE education,especiallyprimaryschool- Sunny Jose ing,during the pandemic is indeed ONLYINTHE EXPRESS shocking. The effect of the loss of almost DID CHILD UNDERNUTRITION in India tion with adecline being observed. child undernutrition has gone up in 14 outof nessandfood insecurity.The survey won’t be one academic year forchildren be- ● UNREALISEDPOTENTIAL worsenduringthe COVID-19pandemic?The Adisquieting revelation from the survey is 17 states. Additionally,bothstunting and un- ableto clearly inform howand to what extent tween 5and 10 will be incalculable. It OFJUDICIALDATA: consensusis: yes, mostlikely. But didwedo that southern states have joinedthe leagueof derweight increasedineight states, whereas thesefactors have contributedto the worsen- will also have an impact on the physical TUSHARANANDANDKARAN well in reducing child undernutrition before poor performing states. Stunting has risen in stunting and wasting increasedinsix states. ing of child undernutrition. Two, the existing development of children, who arebe- GULATI the lockdown? Surprisingly,the answer is KeralaandTelangana,followedbyjustaminor In five states (Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram, policyapproachonfood security in general ing deprivedofthe nutrition from the “no”. That child undernutrition in India had declineinAndhraPradeshandKarnataka.Also Nagaland, Telangana and Tripura), all the three and agriculturepolicy,inparticular, which mid-day meal. ● MEGHALAYAANDTHE begun worsening well before the pandemic worthmentioning is the persistence of ahuge aspectsofchild undernutrition increased. promotesafewcropsat theexpenseof nutri- KSahasranaman, Mumbai SIXTHSCHEDULE: is oneofthepoignanttakeawaysfromthejust rural-urbandisparityinstuntinginmanystates, To be sure, the above patterns in 17 states cereals, calls foracareful scrutiny, especially GOVINDBHATTACHARJEE releasedkey indicators from the firstphase of notablyinMeghalaya,AndhraPradesh,Gujarat cannotbegeneralised forthe entirecountry. giventhe needtocounterthe highprevalence KERALAPOLLS the National FamilyHealth Survey-5(NFHS- and Sikkim (over10percentage points). However, it is equallyimportant nottolose of anaemia. This assumes centrality and im- www.indianexpress.com 5). This is, indeed, acause forserious concern Is this likelytobeatemporarytrend? A sight of the largerphenomenon of apossible mediacy at this point of time. THIS REFERS TO the editorial, ‘LeftTurn foravariety of reasons. comparison with the resultsofthe reversal of the progress on child undernutri- The worsening of child undernutrition in Kerala’ (IE, December 18). The local The firstphase of NFHS-5, held during Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey tion, especiallyinstunting. well before —and possiblyafter —COVID-19 body polls areabig win again forthe Left 2019-2020, covered17statesand five Union (CNNS), held in 2016-18, reveals that10 outof Whatisprimarilyresponsibleforsuchasus- is agrimreminder of the stateofacritically in Kerala. The BJP needs to work hardto the different aspectsofthe Farm Bills territories. These include four states from the these 11 states hadeitheranegativeorsub- tainedregressive trajectory? Adefinitive diag- important aspect of humandevelopment. makethe state elections atwo-cornered 2020, aleading politician haspresented south(AndhraPradesh,Karnataka,Kerala and par performance in stunting. The worsening nosisdemands adetailed, carefulscrutiny of This calls forimmediateand decisive course fight,asitdid in the Hyderabad munic- an article lackinginfactsand filledwith Telangana),three from thewest(Goa, Gujarat of childstuntinginthesestates, thus, appears data,asacursorylookatsomeof theassociated correction, including acritical assessment of ipal polls. Itstallyhas improved,but alot banality.Mostofthe articles on this sub- and Maharashtra), twofromthe east(Bihar to be arathersustainedphenomenon. factorsrevealsaconflictingpicture.Forinstance, the reachand efficacy of the existing nutrition needs to be done.The Congress, sadly, ject matter that maketheir wayintothe and West Bengal), one from the north Almostasimilar pattern appears in the un- accessto sanitationandsafedrinkingwaterhas centric programmes. The dismal performance continues to deteriorate and itscadre is columns of IE arewell-researched,tothe (HimachalPradesh) and the rest from the derweight category: Eleven states registered improved significantlyinstateswherestunt- of southern statesdespite theirrobust wel- notcommitted.By2024, it lookslikethe point, and mostimportantly, theystrive Northeast (Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, an increasein thismetric.What’s more, stunt- inghasincreased.Conversely, anaemiaamong fare architecturemakes this urgent. Acom- party willbedecimated. to bring forwardanewperspective, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura). ing has gone up in 10 out of 11 states where children has gone up sharplyinmostofthese placentapproachthatassumes that all nec- Yash Sinha, Vadodara hitherto hidden or unheard. The bills Of these17states, stuntingin children un- the number of underweight children surged. states. Also,maternalanaemia has either in- essarymeasures, including the Poshan and the problems surrounding them are derfiveyears has gone up in 11 states to avary- While it has declinedmarginallyinfourstates, creasedorremainedthe same. Equallyimpor- Abhiyan, areinplace and the reversal in BELOW THE MARK dissectedwith economic,social and po- ing degree, but significantlymoreinTripura thereishardlyany improvementinothertwo tant, the proportion of children (6-23 months) progressisonlymomentarywillbeasureway litical expertise. In this context, the arti- (8 percentagepoints), Goaand Telangana (5 states.Inwasting,nine states witnessedanin- who receivedanadequatedietremainslow to inflict adebilitating, irreversible impact on THIS REFERS TO thearticle, ‘Inreform clewritten by thehonourable CM falls percentagepoints) between 2015-16and crease, whereas five states registeredpaltry withoutasignificant improvement. children’s nutrition and their well-being. lies the farmer’s interest’ (IE, December belowthe standardthat the readers of 2019-20.Itremains almostthe sameinthe or no progressin thelastfouryears.Onlythree Twoobservations merit amention. First, 18). It is disappointing to seethat among IE have come to expect. three large states of Andhra Pradesh, states, Karnataka, Meghalaya and Goa, regis- NFHS-5 wascarriedout in these statesata The writer is RBI chair professor at Council the multitude of nuancedviews about Chinmay Mukhopadhyay, Kolkata Karnatakaand Assam. Onlythree states teredanoteworthy decline in wasting. time when India’s economywas decelerating forSocial Development, Southern Regional (Sikkim, Manipur and Bihar) were an excep- To put it differently, at leastone aspect of steadily, followedbyreports of rising jobless- Centre, Hyderabad. Viewsare personal

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SIMPLY PUT QUESTION &ANSWER Amassivehack in US, using anovel set of tools One of the biggestcyberattacks to have targeted US government agencies and private companies, the ‘SolarWinds hack’ is being seen as alikelyglobal effort.How wasitcarriedout, and what kind of datahas been compromised? WhyhaveUSgovernment officials and politicians namedRussia?

eralbigprivate companiesandfederalgovern- ers, were all impacted. tools suchasanti-virus that could detect it. “changingpasswords foraccountsthat have SHRUTIDHAPOLA ment agencies. Microsoftconfirmedithasfoundevidence accessto SolarWindsservers/infrastructure”. CHANDIGARH,DECEMBER18 FireEyeCEOKevinMandiawroteinablog- of the malware on their systems, although it Wheredoes Russia comein? The US Cybersecurityand Infrastructure postsayingthatthe companywas “attacked addedtherewasnoevidenceof “accessto pro- In his NYT opinionarticle, Bossertnamed Security Agency (CISA) has issuedan THE ‘SOLARWINDS hack’, acyberattackre- by ahighlysophisticated threat actor”,calling duction services or customer data”, or that its Russiaand itsagencySVR, whichhas the ca- EmergencyDirective 21-01, askingall“federal centlydiscoveredinthe United States, has it astate-sponsoredattack,although it did not “systems were usedtoattackothers”. pabilities to executethe attackofsuchinge- civilian agenciesto review theirnetworks”for emergedasone of the biggestevertargeted name Russia. It said the attackwas carriedout Microsoftpresident Brad Smith said that the nuity and scale. indicators of compromise. It has asked them againstthe US government, itsagencies and by anation “with top-tier offensive capabili- companyhas begun to “notify more than 40 Microsoftnotesinits blogthat“thisaspect to “disconnect or powerdownSolarWinds severalotherprivate companies. In fact,itis ties”,and“theattackerprimarily soughtinfor- customers that the attackers targetedmore of the attackcreated asupply chainvulnera- Orion productsimmediately”. likelyaglobal cyberattack. mation related to certain government cus- preciselyand compromised”. bility of nearly global importance, reaching The FBI, CISAand office of the Director of It wasfirstdiscoveredbyUScybersecurity tomers.” It also saidthe methodsusedbythe AReutersreportsaidthatevenemailssent manymajor national capitals outside Russia”. NationalIntelligenceissuedajointstatement, companyFireEye,and since then moredevel- attackers were novel. by Departmentof HomelandSecurityofficials It goes on to add that sophisticatedattacks and announcedwhatiscalled the ‘Cyber opmentscontinuetocome to light eachday. Then on December 13 FireEyesaid cyber- were “monitoredbythe hackers”. from Russia have become common. UnifiedCoordination Group (UCG)” in order Thesheerscaleof thecyber-attack remainsun- attack, which it namedCampaign UNC2452, FireEye,however, hasnotyet namedRussia to coordinategovernmentresponseto thecri- known,althoughtheUSTreasury, Department wasnot lmited to the companybut hadtar- The target of thecyberattackwas Howdid theygain access? as being responsible and saiditisanongoing sis. The statement calls this a “significant and of Homeland Security,Departmentof getedvarious“publicandprivate organisations Orion, asoftwaresuppliedbythe According to FireEye, the hackers gained investigationwiththeFBI,Microsoft,andother ongoing cybersecurity campaign.” Commerce, partsofthe Pentagon areall be- aroundtheworld”.Thecampaignlikelybegan companySolarWinds. Reuters “accesstovictims via trojanizedupdates to key partnerswho arenot named. The WhiteHouse and President Donald lievedtohavebeen impacted. in “March 2020and hasbeen ongoing for SolarWinds’ Orion IT monitoring and man- Trumphavebeensilent.SenatorMittRomney In an opinion piecewrittenfor The New months”,the postsaid. Worse, the extent of agement software”. Basically, asoftwareup- What has SolarWinds and the US has summeditbestinhis commentstojour- York Times,Thomas PBossert, who was datastolen or compromisedisstill unknown, basedcompanySolarWinds. datewas exploited to install the ‘Sunburst’ governmentsaid aboutthe hack? nalistOlivierKnoxofSiriusXMradio,wherehe Homeland Security Adviser forPresident giventhe scale of the attackisstillbeing dis- Orion hasbeen adominant softwarefrom malwareintoOrion, whichwas then installed Right now, SolarWindsisrecommending compared this attacktothe equivalentof DonaldTrump, has namedRussia forthe at- covered. Aftersystems were compromised, SolarWinds with clients, whichinclude over by morethan 17,000 customers. thatallcustomersimmediatelyupdatetheex- Russianbombersflyingundetectedalloverthe tack.Hewrote “evidenceintheSolarWindsat- “lateral movement and datatheft” took place. 33,000companies.SolarWindssays 18,000of FireEyesays theattackersreliedon“multi- istingOrion platform,whichhas apatchfor countryexposingthecyberwarfareweakness tack pointstothe Russian intelligence agency itsclientshavebeenimpacted.Incidentally, the ple techniques” to avoid being detected and thismalware. “If attackeractivityisdiscovered of the US. He said that the silence and inaction known as the SVR, whose tradecraftis among Howdid so manyUSgovernmentagencies companyhasdeletedthelistofclientsfromits “obscuretheiractivity”. The malwarewas ca- in an environment,werecommendconduct- from White House wasinexcusable. themostadvancedintheworld.”TheKremlin and companies getattacked? official websites. pable of accessing the system files.What ingacomprehensive investigationanddesign- Senator RichardBlumenthal, aDemocrat, has deniedits involvement. This is beingcalleda‘Supply Chain’at- Accordingtothepage,whichhasalsobeen workedinthemalware’sfavourwasitwasable ing and executing aremediation strategy tweeted: “Russia’scyber-attackleftme tack:Instead of directlyattacking the federal scrubbedfromGoogle’sWebArchives,thelist to “blendinwithlegitimate SolarWindsactiv- drivenbytheinvestigative findingsanddetails deeplyalarmed, in fact downrightscared.” So, what is this ‘SolarWinds hack’? government or aprivate organisation’s net- includes 425 companies in Fortune 500, the ity”,according to FireEye. of the impacted environment,” it has said. President-elect Joe Biden said in astate- Newsofthe cyberattacktechnicallyfirst work,the hackers target athird-party ven- top10telecomoperatorsintheUS. ANewYork Once installed, the malwaregaveaback- Those unable to update aretoldtoisolate ment: “Agood defense isn’t enough; We brokeonDecember 8, whenFireEyeput out a dor,whichsupplies softwaretothem. In this Timesreportsaidpartsof thePentagon,Centers door entrytothe hackers to thesystems and “SolarWinds servers” and it should “include need to disrupt and deterour adversaries blog detecting an attackonits systems. The case, the target wasanITmanagement soft- forDisease Control and Prevention, the State networksof SolarWinds’customers.Moreim- blocking all Internetegress from SolarWinds from undertaking significant cyberattacks firm helps with security management of sev- ware calledOrion, suppliedbythe Texas- Department,theJusticeDepartment,andoth- portantly, the malwarewas alsoableto thwart servers”.Thebare minimumsuggestionisthe in the firstplace.”

CORONAVIRUS DASHBOARD How women are protectedby proteinthat letsincoronavirus

THE HUMANenzyme ACE2, which gene and men have only one copy. enables the novelcoronavirus to in- This does notseem to makewomen fect the cell, is also keyinprotecting moresusceptible to Covid-19infec- againstcardiovascular,lung and kid- tion, the research found, it rather pro- neydiseases. And, new tectsthem from the research has found, it complications associ- maybeoffering protec- ated with the virus. tion to women against ACE2 is agene linked Covid-19disease. to the Xchromosome. The research has And women have twice found looked at whyfe- PAPER as manyactive geneticin- TheKanjurmargsite, whereUddhav male COVID-19patients structions to makeACE2. had relocated Metrocar-shedthe day face less severe disease Research is underway aftertakingcharge .Deepak Joshi complications anda CLIP to understand howma- lowerrisk of dying than nipulating ACE2 levels male patients,and found NEWRESEARCH might help Covid-19pa- that it is thankstohor- tients, to prevent infec- monesand chromosomes thatcon- tion by blocking the enzyme, or to pro- StayonUddhav’s Metromove: what now tributetoastronger immunere- tect the body by enhancing it. sponse. And the highlight of the study The study wasled by researchers is howthe sexdifferences in Covid-19 at University of Alberta.Itispublished MetroprojectsbyRs4,656crore. Department’s claim on the land, whichwas ping of 2,500trees at the Aareysite. arelinked to ACE2. in the American JournalofPhysiology- SANDEEPASHAR cited in theCollector’s order.The Salt Since the relocation, Fadnavis has repeat- Because of their chromosomes, Heart and Circulatory Physiology. MUMBAI,DECEMBER18 StatevsCentre Commissioner filedanapplication in court edly labelledThackeray's move as one taken women have twocopies of the ACE2 Source: University of Alberta The Collector’s orderreignitedafour- againsttheminister’sorderjustbeforetheland to merelysatisfy“someone’sego”.Hehascon- ON WEDNESDAY,the BombayHigh Court decade-olddisputebetween the stategovern- wasallotted to the MMRDA. tendedthat hisgovernment, too, hadconsid- stayedfurther implementation of anOctober ment and the Centreoverthe ownership of ered Kanjurmargbut settledfor Aareyasthe INDIA ACTIVE CASES 313,831 1order by the Mumbai (Suburbs)Collector erstwhile salt pan lands, whereoperations for Private claimants viablealternative dueto legalhurdlesandcost that had transferred102 acres in Kanjurmarg saltmanufacturehaveceasedlong ago. In Twoprivate parties have also approached implications. Afterthe latestcourtorder, forthe 33.5-km underground Colaba-Bandra- 1981,the statehad mutated all suchlands in the courtinthe matter.One Sumermal Bafna Fadnavis said, “At leastnow theyshould set 400,000 Seepz Metrocar-shed. The High Courtadmit- Mumbai in itsname, whichthe Centrehas has contended that theplotisapartofa200- their egoaside and resume work at Aarey.” tedthe Centre’s petition that the land wasan since disputed.According to records, the car acreparcel he bought in January1969 from erstwhile salt pan land belonging to it, and shedland is also partoflargerparcel, meas- successors of the erstwhile khot of Kanjur vil- Options before govt took on recordclaims on the plotstakedby uring1668.24acres, wheresaltcultivation was lage,MohammadYusuf,andthatasuitregard- The stay will be applicable until the next twoprivate parties.The relocationto being carriedout once. ing his claim waspending in another court. hearing,scheduledinFebruary, 2021. It will 378,909 313,831 Kanjurmarghad been announcedbyChief Objecting to the Collector’s order,the Mahesh Garodia, another claimant,has lead to further uncertainty over the comple- 350,000 MinisterUddhavThackeray. Centre,throughtheDeputySaltCommissioner arguedthat he is the lease holder of the Salt tion of the Metroline, the firstphase of (Mumbai),hascontendedthattheallottedland Department, and had interests in the entire whichwas originallyscheduledfor comple- Uddhav’smove waspartoflandownedbyit,whichwasleased land parcel. tion by September 2022, and the full phase In October, Thackeray overturnedhisfor- for99yearsto ArthurSaltWorks.Theleaseex- by March 2023.The Mumbai MetroRail mer allyand predecessor Devendra pired in 2016. Thackeray vs Fadnavis Corporation (MMRCL) has so farcompleted LAST 10 DAYS Fadnavis’s contentious decision of building The state’s counter is thatitownsthe plot, The order is also amajor setbackfor the 85% of tunnelling work and 61%ofthe civil 300,000 theproject’s car shedatAarey Milk Colony. mutatedinitsnameonJanuary31, 1965itself. Thackeray-ledShivSena aheadofthe 2022 work forthe line. The governmenthas ar- Dec 8Dec 17 Thackeray relocatedit to Kanjurmarg,where Of the1668.24acres,ithascontended,theSalt elections to the Mumbai municipality,which guedthat it has already invested Rs 15,994 an integrated two-deckcar-shedfor theun- Departmenthadoriginallybeeninpossession it has controlledfor over twodecades. The re- croreonthe Metroproject. Note: The Dec 17 figure in this graph is based on thegovernment update on Dec 18 dergroundMetro and three otherMetro line of barely11acres and 6 gunthas,the Indian location to KanjurmargfromAarey,one of On Thursday, UddhavThackeray also routes wasproposed. The Collector allotted Railwaysand the erstwhile AndhraPower Mumbai’slastvestigesof greenery, hasbeena asked officials to explorewhether alterna- the land to theMumbai MetropolitanRegion Transmissionhad possessedapart, and 23.5 major bone of contention between the Shiv tive locations areavailable forthe relocation INDIA TOTAL CASES WORLDTOTAL CASES Development Authority (MMRDA) at zero acres wasusedfor buildingthe Eastern SenaandtheBJP,itsformerally.Thackeray had of the car shed. 9,979,447 75,230,033 costfor thecar shed. Expressway.Itsaid the stategovernment overturnedFadnavis’s decision the very day Sourcessaidthatthegovernmentwillinall Beforethe courtorder on Wednesday, ownedthe remaining 1619 acres and that the aftertaking oath. Beforethat, when the two likelihood appeal in the Supreme Court for Source:MinistryofHealth&Family Source:JohnsHopkinsUniversity, MMRDAhad already initiated thesoiltesting plotallottedfor the car-shedwas part of it. parties were together in government, withdrawalofthe High Courtstay. But with Welfare,updatedat11pmonDec18 updatedat11pmonDec18 work at thesite. The MMRDA has argued in On November 1, 2018,thenRevenue Thackeray’s son Aditya,now Environment theMMRCLalreadyrunningbehindschedule, courtthatanintegratedcarshedforfourMetro MinisterChandrakantPatil,actinginquasi-ju- Minister, had spearheadedprotestsagainst officials agreedthat the legal battle is threat- linesatthe sitewould bring down the costof dicialcapacity,had dismissedthe Salt Fadnavis’s decision to allowovernight chop- eningto delaytheprojectandescalateitscost. InPornhubpullingdown10millionvideos,implicationsforallothersuchsites

It monetizes child rapes, revengepornogra- firmedviolations of our standards prohibit- tion to leading by example”. dentsonPornhub.“Thatisstill118 toomany, This also means that verifiedusers on NANDAGOPALRAJAN phy, spycam videos of women showering, ing unlawful content on their site” while Pornhub had over the years modelled whichiswhy we arecommitted to taking PornHub, oftenperformerswho maketheir NEWDELHI,DECEMBER18 racistand misogynist content, and footage Visa said it wasinstructing financial insti- itself on YouTubeand allowedanyone to everynecessaryaction,” the blogpostsaid. livelihood by posting explicit videos on the of women being asphyxiated in plastic tutions “to suspend processing of payments upload content, and monetise it. As its The blog also claimedthat Pornhub was site, will find theirincomestreamscut to PORNHUB, THE world’s mostpopular porn bags.”The piece underlinedhow the videos through the Visa network”. Now, Pornhub ‘Pornhub Community’ section boomed “being targeted”bythe National Center on justadvertising revenue. site, this week pulleddownover10million that depict child abuse and non-consensual is able to accept onlyBitcoin payments. with videos from all over the world, the site Sexual Exploitation and Exodus The impact on the porn industrywill videos uploadedbyunverifiedusers after violence, wouldstayonevenifPornhubre- Thereare signs that the financial impact will tooprofitedfromads.Pornhub clockedover Cry/TraffickingHub “dedicated to abolish- also be significant giventhat if Pornhub has backlash following a NewYork Times article movedfromthe siteasitallowedusers to notend thereasthe credit cardsites arenow 3.3 billion visitsinNovember 2020, as per ing pornography, banning material they content that is exploiting children and thatsaidthesitehadtoomanyvideosof chil- download the videos directly. Therewere investigatingties with other adult sites too. SimilarWeb.com. claimisobscene, and shutting down com- showing revengeporn, then it is morethan dren beingexploited andabused. alsocases likethatofa15-year-old missing In ablogpostthis week,Pornhub also mercial sexwork”. likely that all other sites toowill have such girlfromFlorida, whose mother founder The response claimedthat “leading non-profit organisa- content. As credit cardcompanies look at The redflag over 50 videos of her on the site. Pornhub bannedunverifieduploaders tionsand advocacy groups acknowledge”its The implications their linkswith all suchsites, it could choke The trouble forCanada-basedPornhub, Within aweek,credit cardcompanies from posting newcontent and eliminated effortsatcombating illegal content have been With PornHub switching offmuchofits the revenue streams of these websites and also thetenth mostpopular siteonline (it is MasterCardand Visa both decidedtostop downloads in what it calls the “mostcom- “effective”. It claimedthatwhile Facebook content, it is likelythatitwillsee adrastic fall makesome of them unviable. What needs bannedinIndia)asper SimilarWeb.com, transactions on the siteand initiated probes prehensive safeguards in user-generated self-reported84million instances of child in visitors. Thereisalso going to be afall in to be seeniswhether this ends up beingthe startedwhen ColumnistNicholas Kristof, in intotheir relationswith Mindgeek,the par- platform history”. It alsoremovedall con- sexual abuse material over thepastthree revenue as newusers will notbeableto startofsomething big. the piece titled‘The Children of Pornhub’, ent companyofPornhub. In astatement, tent uploadedbythese unverifiedusers, years, independent, third-party Internet purchase subscriptions with the payment LONGERVERSION: wrote: “Itssiteisinfestedwith rape videos. MasterCardsaid itsinvestigations had “con- hoping it had “demonstrated ourdedica- WatchFoundationreported just118 inci- options removedbycredit card companies. www.indianexpress.com

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THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY,DECEMBER19,2020 11 GOVT &POLITICS

Cong rudderless, AlleyesonShahtoday,TMCworkers Rahul lacks capacity ongroundtrackexodus:‘There’stime’ to inspire: RJD leader SANTOSHSINGH true that there aremanygriev- meanwhile, heldanemergency throughMamataBanerjeeandthe PATNA,DECEMBER18 RAVIKBHATTACHARYA ances and the BJP is taking ad- meeting at the Kalighat residence party.ThoseMLAsandothersyou Shivanand &ATRIMITRA vantageofit,” said Sukhen of MamataBanerjee. will see leaving tomorrowwere RJD NATIONAL vice-president Tewari MIDNAPORE,DECEMBER18 Samaddar, aTMC worker. With apictureofBanerjee exposedbyPKand histeam.They and former MP Shivanand LikeSamaddar,TMC workers hangingonthe wall behind him, knowtheywill notget ticketsin Tewari on FridaycalledCongress ON THE ground floor of the West and leaders have been putting SubrataSarkar,67, adistrict gen- theAssemblypolls,”saidNirmalya, a “rudderless boat” and said “It is possible that the leader- Bengal StateGovernment up abrave front.But theyalso ac- eral secretaryinPaschim who wasalso gluedtothe TV. Rahul Gandhi lackedthe “capac- ship of my party does notlike Employees Federation office in knowledgethatShah's visit may Midnapore,said: “We areasking The workers gathered ity to inspirepeople”. what Iamsaying… But Iwantto Midnaporetown,neartheground be akey milestone in the turf everyonenottopanic.Suvenduis around agreed. “Senior leader Referring to the upcoming appeal to Soniaji that youhad whereUnion Home Minister tusslethat has unfoldedwith apopular leader and alot of his Mukul Royleftthe party,noth- meeting between Congress savedthe Congress by sacrific- AmitShahisscheduledtoaddress justafewmonths to go forthe ‘Anugamis’ (followers) will leave ing happened.Suvendu is leav- president Sonia Gandhi and a ing the Prime Minister’s apublicmeetingSaturday, agroup Assemblypolls. the party.Itisalso true that lead- ing the party,nothing will hap- group of senior leaders demand- post...Todayitismoreimportant of TMC workers sat on plastic At aTMC party office in MidnaporetownonFriday. Partha Paul Shah is scheduledtoreach ersand workershavegrievances pen,” said Sheikh Rocky, a ing reforms in the party,Tewari that youshedputramoh (love chairs,their eyes gluedtothe TV. Kolkatalatenight with Adhikari, againstPK(Prashant Kishor). But 24-year-old party worker. said in astatement, “Congress is forson) and step forwardtosave What theysaw wasastreamof who has been givenZ-category likeyou,we arewaitingfortomor- At Mirabazar,a20-minute going to hold itsmeeting. But we democracy in the country,”he leaders quitting their party. Fridaywith twomoreMLAs, clear:Itistime forintrospection. security by the Centre, before row... to see who joins and what drive away,the CPM party office arenot sureofits outcome. It has said. The lowbuzz inside that SilbhadraDuttaand Banashree “Can’t yousee what is hap- reaching Midnaporefor the impact it will have on the party.” remainedopen, with justthree become arudderless boat and Bihar Congress leader and small office captured themood Maity,and minority cell general pening?ItistruethatSuvendu meeting. On Sunday, he is sched- At another TMC office about1 persons inside, all watchingTV. Rahul Gandhi, too, lacksthe abil- MLCPremChandraMishra said, within the ruling party in the secretaryKabirulIslam walking is abig leader.The party should uledtovisit VisvaBharati in km away,Nirmalya Chakraborty, “We arewatching and laughing. ity to inspire people. Notjustthe “Shivanand Tewari should think state: despair,anger,speculation, away from the TMC. have resolvedhis grievances. So Shantiniketan followedbya councillorand district vicepresi- See howthe leaders areleaving public, even the people of his about his party.His advice is un- criticism and confusion. And although therewas a manypeople areleaving. But I roadshowinBolpur. dentof TrinamoolYouthCongress, TMC. Both TMC and BJP aredup- party have lostfaith in him. That solicited.” Afterheavyweight leader twistlateFridaynight, with am still with the party.Ihave In atweet postedinBengali, whichisheaded by Banerjee's ing the people of Bengal. But is whypeople at various places While Tewari appears to Suvendu Adhikari and MLA Tiwari claiming that he is still seen MamataBanerjee and I Shahsaidthatheis“eagerto inter- nephew Abhishek,echoedthe now, TMC has metits match,” aredeserting the party.” have expressedthe views in his JitendraTiwari resignedfromthe with the TMC, the verdict in the think she will be able to tide over actwithmy brothersandsistersof party line: “Good riddance.” said MohammedJallauddin, 60, “It is important forthe personal capacity,his remarks party,the exodus continued Midnaporeparty office was this crisis.Thereistime. But it is WestBengal”.TheTMCleadership, “Theybecame what theyare aparty worker. Congress to regroup and recover. echo the dominant opinion It is still ahead of principal oppo- within the RJD about ally nent BJP in some states and is on Congress. The party had earlier AHEAD OF SHAH MEETING equal footing with the saffron blamedthe Congress forbeing party in some other states.Itis aweak linkinthe important forCongress to Mahagathbandhan in the recent emerge as an alternative to BJP Bihar polls, winning only19out Two more MLAs quit, TMC forsakeofdemocracy,” he said. of the70seatsitcontested. DELHI CONFIDENTIAL ON THEEVE OF KEY MEETING claims ‘deserters’ are no loss Cong asserts:99.99% SC protection DIPANKARGHOSE& SANTANUCHOWDHURY for BJP leaders leaders believeRahul NEWDELHI,KOLKATA, DECEMBER18 facing criminal right person to lead TWOMLASofthe Trinamool cases in Bengal Congress,the leader of itsminor- ity cell, and general secretaryof EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE adistrict unit quit the party on EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE NEWDELHI,DECEMBER18 Fridayasthe widelyanticipated NEWDELHI,DECEMBER18 Randeep STEPPING UP EFFORTS exodus in the wake of former ON THE eveofthe crucialmeet- Surjewala ministerSuvenduAdhikari's re- THE SUPREMECourtFriday ing betweenCongress president WITH NO solution in sight to the stalemateoverthe newfarm bellion gathered momentum. granted protection from arrest Sonia Gandhi and agroup of laws,the government and BJP have steppeduptheir efforts Suvendu and severalother to BJP leaders including MPs leaderswho had been demand- as per the electoral college...but to reachout to the farmers. Agriculture Minister Narendra TMC leaders at various levels of Police officers take stockofsecurity preparationsfor Amit Kailash Vijayvargiyaand Arjun ing reforms in the party,the we certainlyfeel and manypeo- Singh Tomar on Fridayheld avideo conference with the party’s the party areexpected to join the Shah’s rallyatMidnaporeCollegeGround,Friday. Partha Paul Singh who alleged that false CongressonFridayassertedthat ple likemefeel that Rahul stateunit chiefs, statein-charges andorganisation secretaries BJP at apublic meeting presided cases were being foistedupon 99.99 per cent of leaders and Gandhi should lead the Congress and informedthem about the various provisions of the laws overbyHome MinisterAmit them by the Mamata Banerjee- workers believe that Rahul party from thefront. The final and concessions proposedtothe protesting unions. It is learnt Shah on Saturday. TMC leaders predicted a thatnoTMC leaderwho tor- ledTMC government. The top Gandhi is the right person to lead call will be his,” he said. that the leadersalso discussed amass awarenesscampaign on The TMC put up abrave face – Muslim backlash if Suvendu mented my grassroots levelBJP court soughtthe state’s response the party. As forSaturday’s meeting, he the issue,tobelaunchedacross the countryonDecember 25. alleging it wasthe corruptwho joinedthe BJP,and claimedthat colleagues in Asansol” gets entry. to theirpetitions. Stating that the next party said thereisnodissension in the were leaving theparty.Senior it wastoassess the impactofthis ShilbhadraDuttahad turned Abench of Justices SKKaul, president will be chosen by the party. TMC leaderssaidChief Minister factor that the rebelhad delayed rebelamonth ago, and refusedto Dinesh Maheswari and electoral collegecomprising “This is notameetofany spe- MamataBanerjee's charisma and the decision to cross over.Said meetMamataBanerjee'spolitical Hrishikesh Royissuedanotice AICC members, Congress com- cific group of leaders. This is not SPECIAL CONTRIBUTION popularity were unmatchedin Roy: “If he (Suvendu) had strategistPrashant Kishorand on the petitions and directed municationdepartment head ameetofany dissenters or rebels West Bengal, and that would ulti- formedhis ownparty,hemay Food Minister JyotipriyaMullick. that no coercive action be taken Randeep Surjewala said at an because we consider eachleader, ON Aday the costofredevelopment of CentralVista wasre- matelydecide the Assemblyelec- have had morecredibility.” “Ithink that Idonot fitintothe againstthe petitioners—Mukul AICC press meet, “It is my belief eachworkerofthe Congress vised,Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla receivedacontribution tions afew months from now. The TMC's MLAs from party in the present situation. Roy, PawanKumar Singh and and the belief of the overwhelm- party as part of the family. And from an unexpected source. BSai AbhayPranav, a11-year boy “Idonot want to talk of indi- Barrackpore(North24- HoweverIwill notresign as an Sourav Singh, besides Arjun ing majority,99.99 per cent of addressing theissues raisedby from Madurai, has sent ademand draftfor Rs 1,145inBirla’s vidualsbut as thingsstand today Parganas) and Kanthi Uttar MLA,asIhavewontheelectionon Singh and Vijayvargiya—till the the Congress leaders and work- some of the senior leaders, name as his contribution forconstruction of the new it appears that some people who (Purba Medinipur), Shilbhadra people'svotes,” he said on Friday. next dateofhearing. ersthatRahul Gandhiisthe right friends and colleagues, the Parliament building. In aletteraddressedtothe Speaker, have earnedillegal moneyare Duttaand BanasriMaity respec- Banasri Maity announced Theyhad sought aprobe by person to lead the Congress Congress partyhad already de- Pranavsaid he celebrated his birthdayonDecember 11 and re- being pressured to jointhe BJP. tively,gaveuptheir membership she would join the BJP on an independent agency in the party and to take on the Modi cidedtohold the election forthe ceivedthe moneyasagift from hisgrandfather. “My father Forsuchpeople, options arelim- of the party on Friday. Theyfol- Saturday. “In lastfew months, I criminal cases registeredagainst government.” postofpresident of the Congress. told me aftermanyyears, anew Parliament is going to be con- ited,” TMC Chief Whip in Rajya lowSuvendu (Nandigram, Purba have facedinsults.Ithas become them by theWestBengalpolice. “Yesthe election of the That processiscurrentlyunder- structed.Ifeel very happy.Iamgivingmybirthdaygiftamount Sabha SukhenduSekhar Raytold Medinipur) who leftthe TMC on impossible to stay in theparty. Appearing forVijayvargia, Congress president will be held way.” and afew saving amount to the construction of anew The IndianExpress. Wednesday, andMihir Goswami TomorrowIwill join BJP in Amit AdvocatePrashant Kumar sub- Parliament,” the boywrote,adding, “My father told me Raysaid moredesertions (CoochBehar Dakshin) who Shah'spresence,” she said. mitted that the cases againsthim Parliament is one of the four pillars in India. So kindlybless were possible,but insistedthey joinedthe BJP lastmonth. Also on Friday, the TMC lost were forminor offences that and Truthhas prevailed: Priyanka me…”. Touchedbythe gesture, Birla decidedtoreturn the would be by people who “may Jitendra Tiwari, theMLA from the general secretaryofits mi- were foistedonlytoprevent him draftwith his blessings,sources said. notget renomination (tocontest PandabeswarinPaschim nority cell KabirulIslam, andthe from visiting the state whereas- the Assemblyelection) because Bardhamandistrictand former general secretaryofits Paschim semblypolls aredue next year. on CBI’s Hathras chargesheet of theirabysmal failuretoper- chairman of the Asansol Medinipur district unit Senior AdvocateMukul Hathras case has stated that the ASIGNIFICANT MEETING form as apeople's representa- Municipal Corporation, however, Snehasish Bhowmick. Rohatgi who appeared forArjun EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE 19-year-old victim wasbrutally tive”. Therewas no one to did adramatic U-turn on Friday “Ihavesent my resignation Singh, said the caseswere filedaf- NEWDELHI,DECEMBER18 gangrapedand murdered.This FORMER KERALABJP president and current Mizoram “match” MamataBanerjee, and and indicatedhe would stay back letter todaytominority cell pres- terheleftthe TMC and joinedBJP. development raises serious GovernorPSSreedharan Pillai seems to have emergedakey the TMC was “leastbothered” in the TMC. Tiwari had resigned ident Haji Sheikh Nurul Islam. I The benchalso took up aplea HOURS AFTER the CBI filedits questionsonthe Adityanath person forChurch leaders in the state. Lastmonth, Pillai met about the desertions, he said. fromallpartypostsonThursday— want to followSuvendu Adhikari by West Bengal BJP leader Kabir Hathras casechargesheetwith government in Uttar Pradesh, UP Church leaders who requestedhim to take their grievances Lok Sabha MP SaugataRoy however, he metMamata wherever he goes,” KabirulIslam Shankar Bose, who alleged that sections of gangrape and mur- police, ADG Law&Order,District to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On Friday, Pillai hadameet- said Suvendu Adhikari had left Banerjee'sconfidantArupBiswas said. Bhowmicktoo said, “Iwill he wasassaulted andattacked dered,Congress leader Priyanka MagistrateofHathras and Senior ing with the Prime Ministerduring whichheislearnt to have “absolutelyforhispersonalambi- onFriday, andexpressedregret at followSuvendu Adhikari now.” while travelling in Bengal. Gandhi Vadralashedout at the functionaries of the stateadmin- raisedissues facedbythe Christian minorities in Kerala. tion”. Roysaid Suvendu “wanted having “hurt” the CM. Meanwhile, Assembly Senior AdvocateMahesh BJP government in Uttar Pradesh istration,” Priyanka, general sec- According to sources, thePrime Ministerwas keen to know de- control over alarge number of The BJP's AsansolMPBabul Speaker Biman Bandyopadhyay Jethmalani, who represented saying themight of the stateand retary in charge of Uttar Pradesh tails about the issues. Thechurch leaders had complained MLAseats”,and“atonepoint,the Supriyohad comeout openly Fridaysaid he would notaccept Bose, said the assault happened police could notsuppress the ,said in astatement. about “love jihad” and other issues. With BJP eyeing Christian party and MamataBanerjee de- againstthe move to induct Tiwari Suvendu's resignation as MLA despiteBose being aCISF (SSG) truth. She said the Yogi Adityanath minoritiesfor expanding itselectoral base in Kerala, Pillai’s cidedthat he shouldnot be given intothe party.Hehad written on becauseitdoes notconformto protectee. The courtasked the “The truth has prevailedonce government had “leftnostone meeting with Modi is considered to be significant. afreehand in these seats”. That, Facebook that he would “trywith the provisions of the Constitution CISF (SSG) to place the specialre- again. The CBI charge sheetfiled unturnedtodenythe victim dig- Roysaid, wasthe “basic issue”. all might and honesty to ensure and the rules of the House. portbeforeit. todayagainstfour accusedinthe nity—in lifeand death.” Media should not discredit change, UP wants 2014 case against Rajnath handsthree new systems weaken spirit of nationalism: Venkaiah minister, MLAwithdrawn built by DRDO to Armed Forces spective positions”. However, he EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE said, “media should notbeseen MANISHSAHU Ladakh border area forday and NEWDELHI,DECEMBER18 by thepublic as discrediting the LUCKNOW,DECEMBER18 Bhupendra EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE night surveillance. It facilitates Venkaiah changethat is happening since Singh NEWDELHI,DECEMBER18 monitoringand surveillance by MEDIA SHOULD nottry to dis- Naidu suchachangeiscontrarytotheir THE YOGI Adityanathgovern- Chaudhary automaticallydetecting the in- credit the changethe country is longheld positions”. ment has ordered the with- DEFENCE MINISTER Rajnath trusionsinharsh high-altitude witnessing justbecause it is con- “Whatever changeishappen- drawal of acase in whichstate Singh handedthree indige- sub-zerotemperature areas with trarytothe media’s long-stand- petofthe governments. It is ing in our countryoverthe last Panchayati RajMinister ernment counsel Kaushal Gupta, nously-developedDefence remote operation capability, ac- ing position, and should nottry about examiningand reporting fewyears, it is within the frame- BhupendraSinghChaudhary, adding that trial had begun. Research and Development cordingtothe DRDO. to weaken the spirit of national- on the triggers of change, part- work of the Constitution.The task BJP MLARiteshKumar Gupta Gupta said: “Thepolice Organisation(DRDO) systems— Indian Maritime Situational ism, Vice President MVenkaiah nerships built and participation of nation building... needs to be and others areaccusedofal- wrongly addedmyand one of which is already being Awareness System (IMSAS), Naidu said Friday. of people and other stakeholders, pursuedwithenhancedvigour legedly attackingpolice person- BhupendraSingh's names in the used in eastern Ladakh where Defence MinisterRajnath whichwas handedovertoNavy Delivering the Sixth MV challenges facedand the way and missionaryzeal collectively. nel who triedtodisperse pro- case.Wewerenot presentatthe India and Chinaare involved in a Singh presentsamodel of chief Admiral Karambir Singh is Kamath MemorialEndowment theywereovercomeetc,” he said. Suchanunited effort calls fora testers holding an agitation spot. The case is politicallymo- standoff—to the armedforcesat the ASTRA Mk-I Missile to a “state-of-the-art, fullyindige- LectureonJournalism, Naidu The commentscome at a strong sense of ‘nationalism’ and againstthe Moradabad police for tivated.” Defence counsel Sudhir the annual DRDO awards on Air Chief RKSBhadauria. PTI nous, high performance intelli- said journalism is supposedto time when alarge number of ‘nationalistspirit’ that binds all removing aloudspeaker from a Gupta said all accusedwereout Friday. gent softwaresystem” that pro- be critical of the order of the farmers, mostlyfromPunjab and Indians together,” he said. temple in 2014. on bail. Singh also presented awards, vide Global Maritime situational times basedonfacts and sup- Haryana, areprotesting on “It is notcorrect to weaken The alleged role of Tension prevailedatincluding the Lifetime handedovertoArmychief picture, marineplanning tools portedbyevidence, but added Delhi’sborders againstthe this spirit by attributing the non- Chaudharyand Moradabad MLA Akbarpur Chendi villagein Achievement Award2018toNV General MM Naravane is an “all- and Analytical capabilities. that “this should notslip into Centre’s three newfarm laws. existing divisive perspectives... Gupta cametolightduringin- Moradabad afterpolice removed Kadam “forhis contributions for weather” electronic surveillance To theAir Force, theDefence complete negativity”. The Vice-President said the Presenting everyincident or is- vestigation. aloudspeaker from atemple in developing control and guidance system successfullydesigned Ministerhandedoverthe AS- “Governmentsare the princi- media to be “should “use astan- sue in adivisive perspective does “The withdrawal application June, 2014.Since then, locals had schemesformissiles”,theDefence and developedbyInstruments TRA Mk-I Beyond Visual Range pal catalysts of this changefor the dardset of reporting and analyt- immense harm to thegoalof has been movedtoalocal court been staging protests to restore Ministrysaid inastatement. Research &Development (BVR) Missile to Chief of Air better.Development journalism ical tools that captures the building astrong, resurgent and of Moradabad.The courthasfixed the loudspeaker, andthe BJPalso The Border Surveillance Establishment (IRDE), Dehradun ForceAir Chief Marshal RKS does notmeanbeatingthe trum- changewithout imposing re- developedIndia,” he added. January8for hearing," said gov- calledfor amahapanchayat. System (BOSS), whichSingh and has been deployedat Bhadauria.

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BRIEFLY German court convicts Indian SConCovid-19:Cappvthospital TRACKING INDIA’S COVID CURVE ‘spy’, fourth case 291 CASES: ACTIVECASES:3,13,831 DAYSSINCE 99,79,447 DEATHS:1,44,789 connected to PANDEMIC Frankfurt mission costsoropenmorestatefacilities BEGAN TESTS: 15,89,18,646 | RECOVERIES: 95,20,827 CASES DEATHS RECOVERIES TESTS DEC17 22,890 33831,08711,13,406 Additional SP VERENAHÖLZL tion should be takenagainst Th Brinda FRANKFURT,DECEMBER18 EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE those who areviolating the NEWDELHI,DECEMBER18 Guidelinesand SOPs, whoever ACOURT in Frankfurthas sen- he maybeand whatever posi- MANIPUR tenceda54-year-old Indian na- EVEN IF aperson recovers from tion the violator is occupying”. Copreturns tionalto ayearinprisonandfined Covid-19, the costoftreatment The benchsaid “moreand him €2,400(about Rs 2.16 lakh) would ensure that he is finished, morepolice personnel shall be gallantryaward afterfindinghim guilty of spying the Supreme Courtsaid on deployedatthe places where on fellowIndians in Germany. Friday, adding that thereshould thereislikelihood of gathering STATESWITHRISINGACTIVECASES givenbystate The convict had been tasked either be acap on the costof by thepeople...”. ACTIVECASES RISEINLASTWEEK Imphal: An additional with gathering intelligence by treatment in privatehospitals or “As faraspossible, unless Uttarakhand 7,082 407 Superintendent of Police Indian intelligence officers based morestate-run facilities which must, no permission shall be Meghalaya 756 176 on Fridayreturnedthe in the Indian consulatein will provide affordable care granted...for celebration/gather- Odisha 3,039 139 ‘Chief MinisterGallantry Frankfurt, the Higher Regional should be setup. ing even during the dayhours,” Medal’ conferredupon Courtsaid. This is the fourth time In aseries of directions to au- the order said, adding that in STATESWHEREACTIVECASESAREDECLINING her as part of the state in six years that Germanauthori- thoritiesonsteps to dealwith case suchpermission is granted, ACTIVECASES DECLINEINLASTWEEK government's 'war ties have reportedspying at the the pandemic,abenchofJustices Healthcarestaff collect swabs in Thane on Friday. Deepak Joshi authorities mustensurestrict Maharashtra60,905 11,005 againstdrugs' saying she behestofIndian intelligence. Ashok Bhushan, RSubhash complianceofguidelines and Delhi 12,198 6,555 felt she did not“deserve The court on Fridayconvicted Reddy and MRShah said the thereshould be amechanism to Rajasthan 13,647 5,383 the honour”. Additional BalvirS.–Germanprivacylaws do “right to health is afundamental made by the StateGovernment where and calledfor information checkthe number of people at- SP Th Brinda's resignation notallowaccusedorvictimsto be right guaranteedunder Article and the local administration or on fire preparedness of similar tending suchevents. STATESREPORTINGMAXIMUMCASES came aday afteraspecial identifiedbytheirfull names – of 21 of the Constitution of India”. thereshall be cap on the fees hospitals across the country. The courtalso asked states ONDEC17 TOTAL courtacquitted seven gathering informationonSikh “Right to healthincludes afford- chargedbythe private hospitals, Afterperusing the informa- wherethereisnocurfew during Kerala 4,969 6,88,409 peoplearrestedinanop- and Kashmiri communities in able treatment. Therefore, it is which can be in exerciseofthe tion,the courtinFriday’s order the night or weekendstocon- Maharashtra3,880 18,84,773 eration she ledin2018. Germany, and handing it over at the duty upon the Statetomake powers under the Disaster calledupon states and Union sider imposing it and calledfor West Bengal 2,245 5,30,456 Former Autonomous the Frankfurtconsulate. provisions foraffordable treat- Management Act,”itsaid. Territories to appoint one nodal “moreand moretesting” for DevelopmentCouncil Apress statement said: ment and moreand moreprovi- The benchwas hearing asuo officer foreachCovid hospital Covid-19. “Onemustbetrans- STATESREPORTINGMAXIMUMDEATHS (ADC)chairman of “Today, the4th Senate(State sions in the hospitals to be run motu case regarding “the proper “who shall be made responsible parent in number of testing and ONDEC17 TOTAL Chandel, LukhoseiZou Security Senate by theState and/or local admin- treatment of Covid-19 patients forensuring the compliance of declaring the factsand figures of Maharashtra7149,613 wasamong those ar- [Staatsschutzsenat])of theHigher istration aremade,” it said. and dignifiedhandling of dead all fire safetymeasures”. the persons who areCorona West Bengal 44 9,235 rested.Zou and six others Regional Court(OLG) “Even if one survivesfrom bodies in the hospitals etc”. In The topcourtnotedthat due Positive.Otherwise, the people Delhi 35 10,182 were arrested allegedly Frankfurt/Mainhassentencedthe COVID-19, manytimes finan- the course of the matter,the to lackofimplementation de- will be misled and theywill be with alarge consignment Indian citizen Balvir S. forwork- ciallyand economicallyheisfin- courttook cognizance of fire in- spiteguidelines and SOPs, the under impression that every- DataasonDecember17,releasedbyUnionMinistryofHealthandFamilyWelfare,IndianCouncilofMedical Researchandstategovernments.Often,thenumbersreleasedeverydaycontaindatafrompreviousdays of narcotics and cash. ingasanagent foranintelligence ished. Therefore, either more cidentsindesignated Covid-19 pandemic has spread likewild- thing is all right and theywill be- aswell.Assuch,trendsbasedondailynumbersareonlyindicativeandnotdefinitive Value of the narcotics was serviceto atermof imprisonment andmoreprovisionsare to be hospitals in Gujarat and else- fire andsaid “strict and stern ac- comenegligent,” the benchsaid. estimated at over of one year with aprobation pe- 27 crore. ENS riod of twoyears. As term of pro- bation,theaccusedhasto payEUR Uttarakhand CM ICMR chieftests 2,400to the treasury.” 59-yr-oldman leaves hospital after 113 However, the “decisionisnot tests positive for Covid-positive, TRIPURA yetfinal”,thestatementsaid.“The admittedtoAIIMS Urbanlocal accused, their defence lawyers days of Covid treatment in Ahmedabad coronavirus and the AttorneyGeneral bodypolls (Generalbundesanwalt) have re- spectively the right of appeal...” requiredinCovid-19...Hewaskept EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE deferredtillFeb InDecember2019,theHigher EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE on ventilatorfor averylongtime DEHRADUN,DECEMBER18 NEWDELHI,DECEMBER18 Regional Court in Frankfurthad AHMEDABAD,DECEMBER18 and his lungs were fragile and Agartala: TheTripuraState sentencedoneManmohanS.who damaged,requiringasmuchas75 THREEDAYSahead of the win- THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL of the ElectionCommission has wasconvicted of workingasan A59-YEAR-OLDman discharged litresof oxygenperminuteatone tersession of the Assembly, Indian Council forMedical deferredpollsforurbanlo- agentforanintelligenceserviceto from hospital after113 days of pointof time...butverylittleof that Uttarakhand Chief Minister Research (ICMR), Balram cal bodies to February 27, ayear andsix months' imprison- Covid-19treatment wasamong wasgettingabsorbed due to lung Trivendra Singh RawatonFriday Bhargava,has tested positive for 2021, dueto Covid-19pan- mentonprobation.In2015,aman 1,155patientsdischargedon damage.” tested positivefor Covid-19and Covid-19. demic. Tripurahas 20 ur- calledRanjit S. wassentencedto Friday, whenthestateadded1,075 The healthministeradded, isolated himself at his official According to thesources, he ban bodies.Theirtenure three years and five months in newcases—lowest in amonth — “Today, on the113th day, he is residence. has mild symp- expires between prison on similar charges. Two to itstotal tallyof2,33,543 cases. leaving the hospital and still re- Taking to toms and has December 17-20. years later,aSri Lankan-born DevendraParmar, the man quires four litres of oxygen per Twitter,Rawat been admitted to Accordingto anotification, workerinaGermanimmigration who spent nearly 90 outof113 minute... He will have to be on said that he is AIIMS Trauma West TripuraDistrict office in the city of Bielefeld was days in hospital on ventilator,at DeputyChief MinisterNitin PatelgreetsDevendraParmar oxygen forsometime.” stable, asympto- centre, adedi- MagistrateSailesh Kumar sentenced to three years and six the Civil hospital in Sola wasad- at Sola Civil HospitalinAhmedabad on Friday. Express AmongParmar’streatingdoc- matic and asked cated Covid-19 Yadavwould be taking monthsforprovidinginformation mitted to Sharnam torswere pulmonologistDrKiran those who came facility. charge of Agartala about Indiannationals. Multispeciality Hospital on Rami,anesthetistDrIra Patel,and Trivendra in contact with “He is avail- Municipal Corporation All four cases involved the August26,withfeverandbreath- siblethatthisisafirst-of-kindcase Parmarwasworkingasanac- generalmedicineheadof depart- Singh him recentlyto Balram ing treatment at (AMC) from December 20 Consulate General of India in lessness. He wasreferredtoSola (in terms of duration of hospitali- countant at aprivate company. ment Dr Parul Bhatt.Meanwhile, Rawat gettested. Bhargava the Trauma cen- while Sub-Divisional Frankfurt. hospitallateraftertestingpositive sation) in the entirecountry.” “He wasreferredtoSola Civil Gujarat reported nine fatalities Earlier,he treand his vitals Magistrates of respective The Indianconsulatedid not forCovid-19, said his daughter According to Patel, as per in- Hospital from aDholka hospital due to Covid-19 on Friday, four of held areview arefine at the areas would assume comment on the allegations. Himangi. formation providedbyParmar’s on August 28 and wasincritical whichwerereported from meeting withofficialsregarding moment. We aremonitoring charge in the other urban Rainer Pohlen, defencelawyerin Deputy Chief MinisterNitin wife, Induben, the familyresides condition...fortunately, hiswifeis Ahmedabadcity.Threedistricts— preparations forCovid vaccina- him closely,”asenior doctor local bodies from the date the Balvir S. case, claimedthe re- Patelwho also holdsthe health at Kalikund in Dholka block, anemployeeofourhealthdepart- Tapi, Valsad and Dangs —did not tion and stressed upon effortsto from the hospital told of their corresponding ex- portedinformationwas “trivial”. portfolio, said, “Ibelieve,itispos- Ahmedabad. mentandiswellawareofthecare reportasingle newcase. improvethe recovery rate. reporters here. piryoftenure. ENS

UTTAR PRADESH PM’sVaranasi SC:Lawmaker’s vote cast prior CBI books TDP former MP officelistedfor in Rs 8,000-crore bank fraud ‘sale’;4held to conviction on same day valid consortium wasformedwith Varanasi: Four people the members of the Assembly, forhim, contendedthat wher- rule that apersonisdeemedin- EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE other banks, ledbyCanara have been arrested foral- EXPRESS NEWS Amit Kumar Mahtoofthe JMM, ever astatuteuses theword nocent until proved guilty is a NEWDELHI,DECEMBER18 Bank.Itwas alleged that the legedly posting an online SERVICE who cast hisvote at 9.15 am, “date” with reference to an long-standing principle of con- accusedhad involved in falsi- advertisement listing NEWDELHI, DECEMBER 18 wasconvicted by atrial court event, courts have alwaysinter- stitutional lawand cannotbe THECBI has booked aformer fication of booksofaccounts, Prime MinisterNarendra forvarious offences and sen- preted thesame to have hap- takentobedisplacedbythe use TDP Lok Sabha MP and his fudging of stockstatements, Modi's Varanasi office for WHATHAPPENS to the voteof tencedthe same day. The con- penedatthe intersection of the of merelygeneral words. In law Hyderabad-basedcompany for tampering of balance sheets, “sale”,policesaidonFriday. an MLAwho is disqualified due viction and sentence were previous dayand the present this is known as the principleof allegedly defrauding aconsor- round-tripping of funds etc. It The accusedhad takena to conviction and sentence im- handedoverat2.30 pm. As the day, namely00.01a.m. “This is legality andclearly appliesto tium ledbyCanaraBank of wasalso allegedthat the ac- pictureofthe public rela- posedonhim on the dayhecast maximum sentence of convic- firstlybecause it is at that time the present case.” around Rs 8,000 croreinwhat cused misappropriated the tions office of the Prime hisballot forthe RajyaSabha tion wastwo years, he stood that the daybegins and sec- “In our viewtoholdthat a is expected to be oneofthe bank’s funds, diverted theloan Minister, who represents polls but afterhehas voted? disqualifiedasamember. ondlybecause lawabhors frac- Member of the Legislative biggestbanking scams seen in Rayapati Sambasiva Rao amount sanctionedbythe Varanasi in the Lok Sabha, The votewill still be valid, a Acomplaint waslodged at tions,” theysubmitted,and said Assemblystood disqualified the country. banks, and causedaloss of Rs andput it “upfor sale” on Supreme Courtbenchheaded 11.20 pm, requesting the the conviction is deemedinlaw even before he wasconvicted TDP leader Rayapati 7,926.01crore to CanaraBank OLXwebsite,theysaid.The by ChiefJustice SABobde ruled Returning Officer to declarehis to have commencedatabout would grosslyviolatehis sub- Sambasiva Rao, an additional an accused. The company's and other member banks," CBI office is located in the on Friday, upholdingthe elec- voteinvalid, but the official re- 00.01amwhen the dateof stantive right to be treated as director in Transstroy (India) CMD Cherukuri Sridhar,too, spokesperson RK Gaur said. Jawahar Nagarlocality of tion of Dhiraj Prasad Sahu of jected it, saying he had notre- March 22 lapsed and March 23 innocent until proved guilty,” it Ltd, is accused along with oth- has been booked. The allegedfraud wasre- the city,Varanasi Senior Congress to the Upper House ceivedthe judgment till the began. said. ers of fabricating accounts, The agency Fridaycon- ported to CBI afterthe firm's Superintendent of Police from Jharkhand in the elections declaration of the results. It wasestablished before The courtsaid the disquali- round-tripping and misappro- ducted searchesatthe prem- account became anon-per- (SSP)AmitPathak said. on March 23, 2018. Sonthalia approachedthe the high courtMahtovoted for fication “is the consequence of priatingfunds,and fraudu- ises of the companyand itsof- forming asset. “Four people involvedin His election waschallenged High Courtand his election pe- Sahu. the conviction and sentence”. lentlyreneging on repayments fice-bearers, including Rao. "Searches were conducted the case have been taken by his BJP rivalPradeep Kumar tition wasdismissedinJanuary Disagreeing with “In otherwords, conviction is of Rs 7,926.01 croretothe con- "It wasallegedthat the pri- at the premises of the private in custody,” the SSP said. Sonthalia -- the value of votes 2020. He then movedthe Sonthalia’s stand, the bench, the cause and disqualification sortium, the CBI said. vate firm basedatHyderabad companyand other accused at The accusedare being secured by Sonthaliawas 2,599, Supreme Court whereSenior also comprising Justices AS is the consequence. Aconse- Along withRao, another ad- and itsdirectors had availed Hyderabad and Guntur,which questioned,hesaid. PTI while Sahu got 2,600. Advocates Mukul Rohatgiand Bopanna and V quence cannever precedethe ditionaldirector,Akkineni credit facilities on multiple ledtorecovery of incriminat- The disputearose as one of KVVishwanathan, appearing Ramasubramanian, said, “The cause.” Satish, hasbeen arraignedas banking arrangements. The ing documents," Gaur said. Karnataka Council chaos: MYSTERY ILLNESS IN ELURU SC notices to comedian, cartoonist Chairman issues show Tests draw ablank, Andhragovt asks on pleas seeking contempt rap cause notice to Secretary AIIMS, IICT to conduct long-term study ing the "illegalconduct" of the study as no conclusive proof of nor pesticide residues were EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE house by the Deputy Chairman SREENIVASJANYALA the causeofthe illness was found in watersamples. NEWDELHI, DECEMBER18 BENGALURU,DECEMBER18 without informing him about HYDERABAD, DECEMBER18 found in probes undertakenso However, traces of Endosulfan the rules and procedures far. and DDT(pesticides) were THE SUPREMECourtonFriday THECHAIRMANof the Karnataka amount to dereliction of duty. THE ANDHRA Pradesh govern- Both AIIMSand IICT have traced in blood samples, along issuednotices to stand-up Legislative Councilhas issueda Citing video footage, he ac- ment has requestedAIIMS- already conductedaseries of with lead. comic Kunal Kamraand car- showcause notice to theCouncil cusedthe Secretaryoffacilitat- NewDelhi and the Indian testsinthe region. Health Commissioner toonist RachitaTanejaonpleas Secretaryoverthe unprece- ing the illegal occupationofthe Institute of Chemical The AIIMS study found lead KatamaneniBhaskar told The forcontempt actionagainst Kunal Kamra; (right) RachitaTaneja dented chaos involving BJP and Chairman's seat by theDeputy Technology (IICT) in and nickelinblood samples of Indian Express that the drink- them fortweetsallegedly scan- Congressmembers on December Chairman as well as the closing Hyderabadtoconductalong- at least45victims. Itsreport ing watersuppliedinthe af- dalising the court. 15,when the saffron party at- of the chamber's door to prevent term study to determine the pegs organochlorine in food as fected areas of Eluru and ABenchofJustices Ashok in-chiefArnab Goswami's chal- tiation of contempt proceed- temptedtotakecontrol of the his entry into the house—and causesofthe mysteryillness in apotential cause and adds that groundwater samples tested Bhushan, RSReddy,and MR lengetothe BombayHigh Court ings, AttorneyGeneral forIndia House by deposing the former. asked himtoexplain whyhe Eluru in West Godavari district. pesticides could be the reason over one week did notreveal Shah directed Kamra and order that rejected his plea for KKVenugopalhad said: “Ifind BJP legislatorshad locked the should notface action. One person dieddue to the forthe presence of organochlo- contamination. Taneja to file theirreplies in six interim bail in a2018abetment- that todaypeople believe that Council's doorstoprevent the Chairman Shetty waselected illness while 550 people were rine. The study addedthat “Everything waswithin weeks. of-suicide case, had “scandal- theycan boldlyand brazenly Chairman,Prathapchandra in 2018 when theCongress-JDS hospitalised, however, the traces of lead were found in permissible limits. Astudyis The court, whichreserved ized” the topcourtand “further condemn the Supreme Courtof Shetty (Congress), from entering government wasinpower.The cases of unexplainedconvul- blood samples of relativesof neededonfood products,” he itsdecision on Thursday,ex- lowered” itsauthority. India and itsjudges by exercis- the House, while Congress legis- ruling BJP is nowtrying to wrest sions and seizures, which patientsand recommendeda said. empted thecomedian and the Another lawstudent, Aditya ing what theybelieveistheir lators forciblyunseated the control of the Chairman's post startedonDecember 5, longterm study. The government mayban cartoonistfromappearing in Kashyap, has submitted that freedom of speech. But... free- deputy chairman, SLwith the JDS offeringitsupport. stoppedasabruptlyasthey Meanwhile,IICT experts sale of some types of pesticides person. some of Taneja’s social media dom of speechissubject to the Dharmegowda of the JD(S), after The BJP has 31 MLCs, the started. said 21 samples of waterwere in the stateand willpermit Lawstudent Shrirang posts arecontemptuous, and lawofcontempt and...itistime he wasushered to the chair- Congress 29, the JDS 14 and there The government's move collected along with blood onlyapproved pesticides to be Katneshwarkar and others have urgedthe court to restrain her that people understand that at- man’s seat by BJP members. is one Independent member in comes on the heels of recom- samples of people and animals soldthrough Rythu Bharosa contendedthat tweets posted from publishing material that tacking the Supreme Court un- Shetty has nowsaid that the the 75-member Legislative mendations by severalscien- in the region. Neither traces of Kendras, Health MinisterA by Kamra afterthe Supreme undermines itsauthority. justifiedly... will attract punish- actions of the Secretaryinallow- Council. tific agencies foralong-term heavymetalslikelead, nickel, Krishna Srinivassaid. Courtheard Republic TV editor- Granting his consent forini- ment...”

Pune WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY,DECEMBER19,2020 EXPRESS NETWORK 13 UPHC‘LOVEstaysJIHAD’ LAWactionagainst man,cites‘righttoprivacy’

profess, practice and propagate Conversion of Religion The complainant and the ASADREHMAN religion, subject to public order, Ordinance, 2020, and IPC woman have twochildren. LUCKNOW,DECEMBER18 morality and health and to other Sections 120-B (criminal con- Nadeem's lawyer appealed provisions of Part III of the spiracy), 506(criminal intimida- for"upholding the right of pri- THE ALLAHABAD High Court Constitution (that covers funda- tion), and 504(intentional insult vacy as abasic fundamental right Fridaystayedcriminal proceed- mental rights).” with intent to provokebreachof coveredbyPartIII of the ings againstaperson from Noting thatthe woman con- peace).The complainant ac- Constitution”, and said the FIR Muzaffarnagar who had been cernedwas an adult “who un- cusedNadeem of wanting to was “basedonmeresuspicion booked under Uttar Pradesh's derstands her well-being”, the marry his wife, and coercing her and thereisnomaterial to sub- newanti-conversionlawadayaf- courtsaid, “She as well as the pe- to convert.Nadeem had not stantiatethe contentions raised”. teritwas passed, noting that the titioner have afundamental been arrested in the case. Additional Government couple involvedwereadultswith right to privacy and being In itsorder,the courtsaid, AdvocateManju Thakur,who ar- "a fundamental right to privacy". grown-up adults...are awareof "There is no material before us guedonbehalf of the state, con- “Till the next dateoflistingno the consequences of their al- that anyforce or coercive process firmedtoThe IndianExpress coercive measureshall be taken leged relationship." is being adoptedbythe peti- that criminalproceedings againstthe petitioner,"Justices Nadeem, alabourer,had tioner to convert (the woman)... againstNadeem had been PankajNaqvi and VivekAgarwal been booked by Mansoorpur all the allegations areprima fa- stayed. said, on aplea by the accused, Police Station, Muzaffarnagar,on cie basedonsuspicion." The courthas listedthe mat- At the cramationofSikh preacher Baba RamSingh in Singhravillage of KarnaldistrictonFriday. Singh diedWednesday afterhe Nadeem, adding, “Article 25 pro- November 29 on acomplaint by The husband said Nadeem terfor next hearing on January7, had purportedlyshothimself at Kundlinearthe Singhuborder of Delhi. In anote, he had expressed pain over the plightoffarmers vides that all persons areequally the husbandofthe woman, un- knew his wife andwouldvisit along with twoother petitions protestingagainstthe farm laws. Sukhbir Siwach entitledtofreedom of con- der Sections 3/5 of the Uttar their house, and had giftedher a filedagainstthe anti-conversion science and the right freelyto Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful mobile phone to stay in touch. ordinance. Rly plan 2030: 30% cut in Tax notices to nearly 14 PM behaving like party Ugrahan Badaun: Woman freight rates, help to big arhtiyas in Punjab, faction says attackedwith leader, says AIKSCC won’t move SC acid, accusedheld Lucknow: A22-year-old woman shoulder subsidy burden they say bid to intimidate quintal,” the AIKSCC said in a in Uttar Pradesh’sBadaundistrict ANJUAGNIHOTRICHABA statement, while adding that the EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE wasattackedwith acid on der to increase freight share, de- farmers’ protest. JALANDHAR,DECEMBER18 Centrewas trying to discredit JALANDHAR,DECEMBER18 Thursdayeveningby ayouthwith AVISHEKGDASTIDAR spitesignificant upgrade to road ANJUAGNIHOTRICHABA Oneofsuch arhtiya,while them by saying thattheir move- whomshewasallegedly inarela- NEWDELHI,DECEMBER18 infrastructure,liketheBharatmala JALANDHAR,DECEMBER18 showing his income taxnotice, THE ALL India Kisan Sangharsh ment is politicallymotivated. BHARTI KISAN Union tionship,thepolicesaidonFriday. project etc, Railways needstode- said that he went to the I-Toffice Coordination Committee Attacking the Agriculture (Ugrahan), the biggestfarmers’ The accusedhas been arrested RAILWAYS NEEDS to decrease crease itsfreight tariffby30per OVER Adozen arhtiyas (commis- to meet concerned officials after (AIKSCC)onFridayattackedPrime Ministers’ open letter to farmers, body of Punjab, decidednot to and sent to judicialcustody. freightratesby 30percentgradu- centovertheyearsandalsodouble sionagents)have receivedincome receiving the summons, but they MinisterNarendraModisaying the AIKSCC said the letter is full become party in aplea chal- The collegestudent,inher ally, seek helpfromoutside to itsfreight train speedto50kmph. tax(I-T) notices/summons, and told him that theyare helpless that he had reducedhimself to a of references to the Congress, lenging the constitutionalva- complaint, alleged shewas at- shoulderthe subsidy burdento Aboutpassenger subsidy, the couple of them have also faced and have gotthe instructions partyleaderundermininghisrole AAP,Akalis and his understand- lidity of thenew farm laws in tacked withacid by Mahesh Pal keeppassengerfares “affordable”, documentsays: “IR mustactively raids from the I-Tdepartment in from the higher authorities in asaresponsibleexecutiveheadof ing of history,but those arenot the Supreme Court. The alias Bantu, 22. She has suffered andmakemorebullettrain corri- rationalizeandreducetheburden theirpremises over the pastfew Delhi to do so. thecountrywhowasexpectedto the issues whichfarmers are BharatiyaKisan Union (Bhanu) 10 percent burns on her back. dors in passenger-heavy routes, of amuchhigheroperatingratio days.CommissionagentsthatThe “Theywarnedusagainstpar- solve farmers’ problems. protesting on. AIKSCC said it hadlastweek filedaninterven- Apolice officialsaid, “Mahesh including to Ayodhya. of itspassenger business on Indian Express spoketoalleged ticipating and supporting farm- “PM should knowthat paddy plans to issueanopen replyto tion application before theSC wasarrestedafter the incident on These aresome of the salient freight tariffs – potentiallyina that the raids were atactic to in- ers’ protest,” said anotherarhtiya is selling at Rs 900per quintal the AgricultureMinister’s letter in the plea filedbyMPTiruchi Thursdayand wassent to judicial featuresofthe draftNational Rail phasedmanner by gradually timidate them forsupporting the who got the notice. though theMSP is Rs 1,870per on Saturday. Siva,challengingthe laws. custody Friday.” ENS Plan2030,avision document re- adoptingalternative mechanisms leasedbyRailways Friday. to financesuchsubsidies.” The national transporter is It says other ministries might hoping to increase itssharein be requestedtosharethe burden Contradiction in reports, says SSP after Dhanbad admn criticises police ‘excesses’ freight transportation from the of subsidies likethe Ministryof Fridayclaimedtherewas a “spreading pollution”. The next day, December 16, tion to registeranFIR againsta againstasoftcokekiln owner present28per cent to 45 per Educationfor students’ conces- ABHISHEKANGAD “contradiction” betweenthe ac- In aDecember 15 report, Dhanbad Deputy Commissioner factoryowner.Prima Facie it is whichisbeing investigated by cent by 2030 through better in- sions and so on. Stategovern- RANCHI,DECEMBER18 tion takenbythe policeand the administration calledthe UmaShankar Singh wrotetoSSP true… It is requestedthat strict the IO (investigating officer), frastructureand business devel- mentsand local bodies mightbe their alleged excesses. police action “misuse of power AseemVikrant Minz, asking him action should be takenagainst then there is areportwhich opment plans, Chairman, asked to foot the bill of operat- DAYS AFTER Dhanbad adminis- As previouslyreported in and violation of duty for per- to startdisciplinaryproceedings Nirsa SHO...” talksabout the police’s excess Railway Board,VKYadavsaid in ing economicallyunviablelines. tration criticisedthe police for TheIndian Express,agroup of sonal gains” and said the police againstthe erring police offi- On Friday, SSPMinz claimed in the same matter.This is a apress conference. And it also pegs fordirect gov- their heavy-handedness in factoryowners hadap- went beyond their jurisdiction cials. therewas a “contradiction” in contradictionwhichneeds a ThefinalNationalRailPlanwill ernment grantstokeep passen- “forcing” softcokekiln factories proachedthe district adminis- to registeranFIR againstthe The letter said, “In the re- the official police version of proper study.Ihavereceived be unveilednextmonth. gerfares “affordable”. to remain shut and asked fora tration afterthe Dhanbad po- factoryowner and kept various port, an SHO has been accused eventsand that of the adminis- the DC’s letter and will go The plan, through iteration of FULLREPORTON clarification from the erringof- lice registeredanFIR against a other factoryowners in trepi- of violation of duty,personal tration’s report.Hesaid, “There through in detail and then take various scenarios, says that in or- www.indianexpress.com ficers, the district’s SSPon softcokekiln owner for dation. gain,going beyond itsjurisdic- is an FIRlodged by the police acall.”

OVER THE HEDGE by Michael Fry &TLewis CROSSWORD 4306 DAYTODAY BYPETERVIDAL

ARIES (Mar 21 -Apr 20) LIBRA (Sep 24 -Oct 23) Your topstars place Althoughyou may theemphasisfairly believe that youare andsquarelyonco- being kind, operation, and considerateand there is nothing youcan do caring, youmight, in fact, be about it! Youmay as well looking afteryour own acceptthathelp is required if interests in the best wayyou youare to achieve your aims know—byavoiding criticism. —and be ready to extend your This strategy maycome supporttoothers, whatever unstuckquitesoon, so stay they’reupto. alerttochangingemotional undercurrents. TAURUS (Apr 21 -May 21) Your best betatthe SCORPIO (Oct 24 -Nov 23) moment is to Partners’ help will distance yourself nowprove from all those invaluable. This CALVIN &HOBBES by Bill Watterson individuals who cannotface up goes forboth to harsh realities, and to stick intenselypersonal issues and with people who areprepared long-term professional to tackle lifehead-on.Also, you arrangements. Missing should recognise that in some information will soon ACROSS DOWN senses your situation is easier resurface, whichshould please 1Jumpinthe well (6) 1Agroup of society women than relations’ —and that they younoend. Hopefully, you’ll be 4Prank ceasedbeing funny (8) might be waiting foryou to happywith what youhear. when father came in (8) 2Turning alistintonew form step in. 9One type of fanclub (6) (8) SAGITTARIUS(Nov24-Dec 22) 10 Notavisitor I’d outwardly 3Heruledinone Roman era(4) GEMINI (May22-June 21) Thereare bound to object to (8) 5Aresult of smoking in bed? The chances arethat be momentswhen 12 Find fault with the price (4) (5,2,5) before very much youhavetobite 13 Summonsesarising out of a 6What’s it likeinthe Kalahari longer youwill be your lip and say broken wrist(5) Desert? (4) calledupon to take nothing. It could be said that 14 Sign of ablowinagarden tool 7Fish cooked inside andcovered control of apersonal situation. youknowtoo muchfor your (4) in oil (6) Justhow this affectsyour owngood, but you’ll soon find 17 Warm watertothem is avital 8Note condition of property (6) relationships with people you away to deal with acurrent necessity (8,4) 11 As in pre-stage make up? (12) live with is at present farfrom dilemma. If all worksout for 20 Profession in whichpeople are 15 Half aminuteorless (5) clear,but it’s possible that they the best,then apartner might suretotakeaninterest(12) 16 Employing uniformedsoldiers might begin to respect you letyou offthe hook without 23 Crackers -orwhat they’re in New Guinea initially MARVIN by Tom Armstrong muchmoreinthe future. your having to do anything. required for? (4) (5) CANCER (June 22 -July23) CAPRICORN (Dec 23 -Jan 20) 24 Begins to enjoywriting on 18 Awoundingglancemaybe (8) It’s time fora You’reformulating battles (5) 19 In areligioussense he believes fundamental plansfor the next 25 Mediocreappeal forhelp and in coasting freely(8) changeofapproach. fewmonths, but if love (2-2) 21 Fittotell(6) As long as you youare thinkingof 28 Rode round and round giving 22 Youmay find aworking model realise that youcannothaveit making abreak in an commands (8) in it (6) all your ownway therewill be establishedtie or relationship, 29 Headgear that involveswork 26 Source of poweronthe no problem. Onlyifyou naively think again. It maybethatany (3,3) American football field imagine that others existtodo move nowwould be 30 Lunar settlement? (8) (4) your bidding will yourun into premature, and that youwould 31 Lyrical writer gets the twitch 27 Famous Venetian game the inevitable disappointment. do best to wait foranother two (6) (4) or three weeks. LEO (July24-Aug 23) SolutionsCrossword4305:Across: 1Jeans,4Flouted,8Cos,9Intestacy,10Dosages, Youhavecome up AQUARIUS (Jan 21-Feb 19) 11Get-up,13Wraith,15Staple,18Baton,19Allured,21Smugglers,23Wan,24Elector, againstyour fair Youhavebeen 25Tarts.Down:1Jackdaw,2Assistant,3Sling,4Fetish,5Onsight,6Tea,7Dryup,12 shareofbrickwalls, devotingafair Topdrawer,14Tonight,16Endings,17Career,18Baste,20Liszt,22Use. and mayfeel amount of entitledtoask justwhen other attention to people aregoing to give up developing certain long-term their opposition to your plans. projects, and this is at it The answer is notyet.The should be.The questionnow JUMBLEDWORDS DifficultyLevel2s secret is to realise that their is whether thepeople Instructions criticism is both very youhaveinmindare the Givenbelowarefourjumbledwords.Solvethejumblestomakeproperwordsandmovethemto TosolveaSudokupuzzle, necessaryand very helpful. right ones, especially

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SUDOKU desires and hopes are. You your gains and mustfind the middleway settling all debts. Your greatest ESIRR LUMBER DifficultyLevel between allowing yourself to giftnow is your ability to see be walked all over and getting both sides of the picture, and SUDOKU 1s=Veryeasy;2s=Easy; involved in afutile battle. The sooner or later others will 3s=Medium;4s=Hard; answer might notbeobvious come to respect youfor it.

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THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY,DECEMBER19,2020 JAPAN HEAVY SNOW PARALYSES TRAFFIC Heavysnowbroughttraffic chaos to muchofnorthwest JapanonFriday,with hundreds of vehicles stuck on blockedhighways. Self-Defense Force troops were delivering food,petrol and blankets, and helping clearsnow, while fireservice crewsrescuedsome drivers, includ- 14 THE WORLD ing at least threepeoplewho were takentohospital, according to public broadcaster NHK.

TOPOFTHE Blast kills 15, mostly WORLD FDAsettoclearModernaCovid-19 children, at Afghan vaccineafterpanelendorsement religious gathering

tries have begun asharp troop US Vice President Pence gets avaccine shotonliveTV; virus hospitalisations continue to rise REUTERS&AP drawdown. GHAZNI,DECEMBER18 Mostofthe victims in Friday’s attackwereunder 18 JeremyBulloch AP&REUTERS Macronsayshe’sworking slower ASUSPECTED rickshawbomb yearsold, Wahidullah Jumazada, WASHINGTON,DECEMBER18 killedatleast15civilians, in- spokesman forthe provincial butdoingfineafter getting Covid cluding 11 children, on Friday governor of Ghazni, said. BRITAIN THE HEAD of the Food and Drug at aKoran recitation ceremony No one immediatelyclaimed JeremyBulloch, Administration said late Paris: FrenchPresident ing1trillion eurosintrade be- in central Afghanistan, responsibility forthe attack. Thursdaythat his agency would Emmanuel Macron said on tweenBritainandtheEuropean officials said. Jumazada saidaninvestigation BobaFettin move to quicklyauthorise the Fridayhewas doing Unionrundownto the Initial information sug- had begunintowhy children second Covid-19vaccine to fight fine aday aftertesting wire. “Iamworkingat gested that explosiveswere were targeted. first‘StarWars’ the pandemic, hours afterthe positive forCovid-19, aslightlyslowerpace placedinarickshawinadistrict Theattackcomes afterGen. trilogy,dies shotwon the keyendorsement but wasworking at a because of the virus, of Ghazni province, interior MarkMilley, the chairman of of agovernment advisorypanel. slowerpace while he but Ishall continueto ministryspokesman Tariq the US Joint ChiefsofStaff,held JEREMY BULLOCH, the FDACommissioner Stephen convalesced outside Macronon focus on high-priority Arian said. At least20people an unannouncedmeeting English actor who first Hahn said in astatement that Paris.Macron said he Thursday issues,suchasour were wounded. TuesdaywithTaliban leaders in donnedahelmet,capeand regulatorshavecommunicated would stay focusedon handling of the epi- Afghanistancontinues to be Doha,Qatar,todiscuss military jetpacktoplayBobaFettin their plans to drugmaker France’sresponseto the demic,or, forexample, hit by violence even as the aspectsoflastFebruary’s US- the original “StarWars” Moderna, whichco-developed US Surgeon GeneralJeromeAdams receives avaccine shotat coronavirus pandemic and the Brexit dossier,” Macron said Afghan government and the in- Taliban agreement. trilogy,diedThursday. the vaccine withthe National the White House on Friday. Reuters Brexit,asnegotiationsgovern- in avideo on Twitter. REUTERS surgent Taliban have been The agreement wasin- BullochdiedataLondon Institutes of Health. The an- holding meetings since tendedtoset thestage fordirect hospitalfromhealthcom- nouncementcame afterapanel September to discuss an end to peacetalksbetween the Taliban plicationsafteryearsofliv- of FDAadvisers, in a20-0 vote, cine OK’d in the US, developed whichthe vaccine wasdevel- also receivedshots duringthe moreperished, the mostyet in a the 19-year war. Western coun- and the Afghangovernment. ing with Parkinson’s dis- ruledthat the benefitsofthe vac- by Pfizer and BioNTech. oped “amedical miracle”. televisedWhiteHouse event. single day. ease, his agentsatBrown, cine outweighedthe risksfor Moderna’s shotshowedsimi- “TheAmerican people can be Thevaccine rollout comes at The virus has claimed over Simcocks&Andrews said those18years old and up. larly strong effectiveness, pro- confident:wehaveone and, per- atime when an unrelenting 311,000 livesinthe United States in astatement.Hewas 75. Once FDA’s emergency use viding 94%protection against haps within hours, twosafevac- surge in newCovid-19cases to date,and health experts have Afghan-Taliban As the Mandalorian authorisationisgranted,Moderna Covid-19inthe company’s on- cines,” Pence said, referring to pushed besieged hospitals in the warnedofadeepening crisis this bounty hunter Boba Fett, will begin shipping millions of going study of 30,000 people. expected FDAapproval for US further to thebrink. winter as intensive careunitsfill Bulloch madeoff witha doses, earmarkedfor health To instillconfidenceinthevac- Moderna’s vaccine. Covid-19hospitalisations upandhospitalbedsspilloverinto delegationmeets froze-in-carboniteHan workers and nursinghome resi- cination campaign, US Vice “Building confidence in the rose to recordheightsfor a19th hallways.Thenumberof UScases Solo in 1980’s TheEmpire dents, to boostthe largest vacci- President MikePence got ashot vaccine is what brings us here straight day, with nearly 113,000 rose by at least239,018 on Strikes Back,then zoomed nation effort in US history. onFridayinalive-televisionevent. this morning,” he added. coronavirus patientscounted in Thursday, according to aReuters Imran KhaninPak around the desertof The campaign kickedoff ear- In remarks afterhis shot, Pence’s wifeKaren and US medicalfacilities nationwide tally, thehighestone-dayincrease Tatooine in ajet packin lier this week with the firstvac- Pence calledthe speedwith Surgeon General Jerome Adams on Wednesday, while 3,580 since the pandemic began. 1983's Return of theJedi. SAJJADHUSSAIN Boba Fett quicklybecame ISLAMABAD,DECEMBER18 acult favouriteand HACK OF U.S. GOVT emergedasone of the PAKISTANPRIME MinisterImran mostbelovedfiguresinthe Microsoft says it KhanonFridaymet ahigh-level “StarWars” galaxy. AP delegation of the Afghan Taliban, found malicious ledbyMullah Abdul Ghani Baradar,and expressedhis coun- software in try’s support forapolitical set- The PM “underscored FRANCE tlementinAfghanistan. Pakistan’s consistent support Gunmangetslife its systems The discussions between the to an inclusive,broad-based Khan and the Taliban Political and comprehensive political inprisonfor2015 Commission (TPC) delegation fo- settlement,” hisoffice said trainattack JOSEPHMENN cusedonprogress in the Afghan SANFRANCISCO,DECEMBER18 peace process and the wayfor- FOUR MEN involved in a ward,the PM Office said in a bility through an Afghan-ledand terroristattackonaParis- MICROSOFT SAID on Thursdayit statement. Afghan-ownedpeace process. bound train in 2015 that found malicious softwareinits Khan underlined “the needto He also expressedconcern wasfoiledonlybythe systemsrelatedtoamassive hack- be vigilantabout the role of spoil- over increase in violence in courageousactionof other ing campaign disclosedbyUSof- ers, who continue to make at- Afghanistanand calledonall passengerswerecon- ficials this week,adding atop tempts to disruptand derail the sides forreduction in violence victed of attemptedmur- technologytarget to agrowinglist peaceprocess”,thestatementsaid. leading to ceasefire. der,complicity and crimi- of attackedgovernmentagencies. Reiteratingthat therewas no The TPC arrivedinPakistan nal terrorist association, The Redmond, Washington militarysolution to theconflict on December 16 on athree-day andsentencedtoprison companyisauser of Orion, the in Afghanistan, Khan said that visit. Earlier,itmet Foreign terms rangingfromseven widelydeployednetworking the intra-Afghan negotiations, MinisterShah Mahmood years to life. Ayoub El management softwarefrom whichcommencedinDoha in Qureshi. Khazzani, who is accused SolarWinds Corp whichwas used The schoolboys backinKatsina,Nigeria, aftertheywererescuedbysecurityforces. Reuters September,provide ahistoric op- It isthesecondvisit of theTPC of beingthe main attacker in the suspected Russian attacks portunitytoAfghanleaders for delegation this year afteritvisited on the train, wassen- on vital US agencies and others. achieving durable peace and sta- PakistaninAugust. PTI tencedtolifeinprison.The Microsoftalso had itsown attackonthe train was productsleveraged to attackvic- Freed Nigerian schoolboys arrive back home thwartedbyseveral pas- tims, said people familiar with sengers—includingthree the matter.The US National Katsina and walking to agovern- town of Kankaraand marched been found or freed. Others were Americans—who tackled Security Agency issued arare AFOLABISOTUNDE ment building. hundredsofthem intothe vast marriedoff to fighters,whilesome the assailant and over- “cybersecurity advisory” KATSINA,DECEMBER18 One of them, with flecks of Ruguforest.Authoritiessaidsecu- areassumedtobedead. poweredhim. NYT Thursdaydetailing howcertain driedmud on his face, told rityservices rescuedthem on Hours before the rescue of MicrosoftAzurecloud services DOZENS OF schoolboys who Channels TVthe captors had fed Thursday, althoughitwasnot clear the boys wasannounced, avideo MALAYSIA mayhavebeen compromisedby were rescuedfromkidnappersin them bread and cassava. if all of them had been recovered. startedcirculating online pur- Deafpastor hackers and directing users to northwestNigeria arrivedback “It wascold,” he told the re- Theabductiongrippedacoun- portedlyshowing BokoHaram lockdowntheir systems. home on Friday, manyofthem porter. Asked howhehad felt tryalready incensedbywide- militantswith some of the boys. chargedwith “Likeother SolarWinds cus- barefootand clutching blankets. when the bus arrivedinKatsina, spread insecurity,and evoked On Friday, theboyswalked sexualassault tomers, we have been actively Television pictures showed he said: “Iwas reallyhappy,”and memoriesof militantgroupBoko fromthebusinsinglefile,flanked lookingfor indicators of this ac- the boys dressedindusty clothes brokeintoasmile. Haram’s2014 kidnappingof more by soldiersand armedpoliceoffi- ADEAFSouthKoreanpas- torand can confirm that we de- and light green uniforms,look- Aweekearlier,gunmen on than 270schoolgirls in the north- cers. Agroup of theirparents Deb Haaland will become the firstNative American cabinet torwas chargedina tected malicious SolarWinds ingwearybut otherwise well, motorbikes raidedthe boys’ eastern town of Chibok.Six years waited to be reunited with them secretaryifher nomination is confirmed. AP Malaysian court on Friday binaries in our environment, getting offbuses in the city of boarding school in the nearby on,onlyabout half the girls have inanotherpartoftown.REUTERS with sexually assaulting whichweisolated andre- twomen in separateinci- moved,” aMicrosoftspokesper- dents datingbackto2013, son said, adding that the com- Journalistwho wrote on Chinese Communist history held In historic decision, his lawyer said. Jee Jong panyhad found “no indications Hoon, 54, who uses sign that our systems were usedto wasdetainedonWednesdayby Taiwan in 2017,was ahistorical languagetocommunicate, attackothers.” AMYQIN police officers in Beijing, said account of what is known as the BidenpicksHaaland waschargedinacourtin Oneof thepeoplefamiliarwith DECEMBER18 his sister, Du Jirong. Police offi- “siegeofChangchun”, when Penang statewith using thehackingspreesaidthehackers cers told Du on Thursdaythat Communisttroops blockaded criminal forcetooutrage madeuseof Microsoftcloudoffer- AS CHINAintensifiedits clamp- her brother had been placed the Chinesecity in 1948to starve to lead Interior Dept the modestyofthe men, ings while avoiding Microsoft’s down on independent reporting, under administrativedetention outtheirrival Nationalistsol- his lawyer Shanmugam corporateinfrastructure. the authorities detainedajour- for “picking quarrels and pro- diers, leading to the deaths of Ganesan said. The alleged Still, another person familiar nalistwho recentlyworkedon voking trouble”. 160,000 civilians. Anotherbook victims were described with the matter said the booksthatwerecritical of Friends of Du saytheybelieve by Du,about the morenefarious ELLENKNICKMEYER ED by thepoliceashaving Department of Homeland Communism and the Chinese Journalist Du Bin (right) his detention mayhavebeen aspectsofLenin’s experiments DECEMBER18 Watershed speechand hearing im- Security does notbelieve Communist Party, the journalist’s with activistYeHaiyan in connected to severalofhis re- withCommunism, wassched- PLAIN E ● moment pairments. REUTERS Microsoftwas akey avenue of friends and familysaid on Friday. Hong Kong in 2013. AP cent book projects. uledtobepublishedinTaiwan US PRESIDENT-ELECT Joe Biden EX fresh infection. REUTERS The journalist, Du Bin, 48, One book,publishedin on Jan 1, 2021. NYT selected NewMexico Representative Deb Haaland as TRIBAL LEADERS and histori- his nominee forinterior secre- ans described Biden’s deci- tary on Thursday,ahistoric pick sion to pickDeb Haaland to thatwouldmakeher the first lead the Interior Department THE UNORTHODOX FIGURINES HAVE BEEN SEEN BY SOME AS AFURTHER EROSION OF TRADITIONS Native American to leadthe as awatershedmoment, not powerful federal agency that has justbecause she would be wielded influenceoverthe na- the firstNative American to Vatican’s Nativity scenethis year raises eyebrows tion’s tribes forgenerations. head acabinet-levelagency, Tribal leaders and activists but also because the depart- around the country, alongwith ment that she is settohelm overturnedcaldron, carved like menagerie of animals —chicks professor,thought his wifeand manyDemocratic figures, hasplayedakey role in JASONHOROWITZ an angryHalloween Jack-O- thatlookedlikefallenmeteorites, all the conservative criticswere cheeredHaaland’s selection af- shaping the livesofthe in- VATICANCITY,DECEMBER18 Lantern. The other wore an as- acamel made of ceramiccubes — missingthe point. He sought to terurging Biden forweeksto digenous community in the tronaut’s helmet and held the with horror. “Whydotheyhave provide morehistorical context. choose her to leadthe US. The Interior Department ACOUPLEstood in front of the cratered mooninits hands. thatone withthe horns?” she “Whathistory?”hiswifeinter- Department of Interior. They oversees 500million acres of Vatican’s newChristmas Nativity “That one there?” Giorgio asked. “What is that? Aturkey?” rupted.“Wouldyouletmefinish?” stood behind her candidacyeven public lands, causing conflict scene in St.Peter’s Square, trying Banti, 71,asked his wife,Anita, That critique has been ampli- he said. “Ididn’t interruptyou.” when concerns that Democrats with Native American tribes to understand exactlywhat they as theygazedatthe figures fied by conservativeswho see in His wifewalkedoff in ahuff might risk their majority in the on severaloccasions.The were lookingat. Wednesdaymorning. She the ceramic figures afurther ero- while he explainedthat he re- House if Haaland yieldedher agency also controls bureaus The three wise men, life-size shrugged and read the informa- sionof church traditions and cus- membered this styleofceramics seat in Congress appeared to forthe education of the and cylindrical, looked as if con- tional poster. “Firstlandingon tomaryimages theyhold dear. from his youth; that it wasofa threaten her nomination. tribes, and formanaging structed from ceramic oil drums. the Moon.” “The Vatican’s Embarrassing time and aplace whenthe moon With Haaland’s nomination, tribes’ financial assets that Joseph and Mary, likewise tor- Everyyear,the Vatican un- SciFiCrèche,”readaheadlineinthe landings dominated thesecular Indigenouspeoplewillforthefirst have been held in trusts. pedo-shaped, seemedlikeenor- veils adifferent Nativity scene, Some of the figurinesinthe Vatican’s Nativity scene. Reuters conservative Catholic Herald, and religious imagination; and timeintheirlifetimesseeaNative mous, Bible-themedWeebles. usuallydonatedbyanItalian whichlikemanyotheroutletsand thattheseharmlessfiguresdidnot American at the table wherethe Twoenigmatic,totemic figures town, to be displayednexttothe commentators,condemnedthe deserveall the insultstheywere highestdecisions aremade. news brokethat “growing up in stood in the middle of the plat- ancientobelisk in thecentreof gion of central-eastern Italy crèche’s official description put crèche. “One figurewas oftende- getting in the philistine Italian Haaland,60,isamemberof the my mother’s Pueblo household form. One held ashield and a St.Peter’s Square. knownforcenturiesforceramics. it, have notbeen very positive. scribed as looking likeDarth press, with some writers even Pueblo of Laguna and a35th-gen- made me fierce”. “I’ll be fierce for decorative spear andhad fora This year,the Vatican picked The reviews forthe “church- “It’s hideous,”saidAnitaBanti, Vader,” wrotethe article’s author. suggesting something demonic eration resident of NewMexico. all of us, our planet, and all of our head what appeared to be an Castelli,atowninthe Abruzzore- yard of Christianity,” as the who looked at theceramic Giorgio Banti, auniversity could be afoot. NYT Haalandtweeted afterthe protected land,” she pledged. AP

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Internationalmarket data till 1900IST AVIATION WATCH SITHARAMANSAYS UPCOMINGBUDGET ONE ‘LIKE NEVER BEFORE’ Poonawalla: Need DELHI-NCR FM listsouthealthcare,infra, govt to indemnify Noida International livelihoodaskeyfocusareas vaccine makers Airport awaits land against all lawsuits She said an exampleof transfer from state, ENSECONOMICBUREAU AatmanirbharBharatisbeingseen “Anyonemayhavea NEWDELHI,DECEMBER18 in the country’s capacity to pro- PRABHARAGHAVAN thoughtandskepticism duce vaccines forthe Covid-19 NEWDELHI,DECEMBER18 thensortofsetsin(that) aims ops by Q3 2024 WITHLESSthantwomonthsto go pandemic.Telemedicineswillalso forthe Budget forthe next fiscal needagreaterlevelofunderstand- VACCINEMAKERSneedtobepro- definitelysomethingcan year,Finance MinisterNirmala ingandgreaterskillsto handle,she tected againstliability forserious happenduetothevaccine PRANAVMUKUL MASTERPLAN SitharamanonFridaysaidtheup- said.“...manyeconomiesarewon- adverse reactions to their shots ...todispelthat,the NEWDELHI,DECEMBER18 SUBMITTED coming Budget,given it would be dering wheretoprocurethe vac- during apandemic scenario, said governmentneedstostep the firstsince the pandemic, will cine from aftertheyare formu- AdarPoonawalla,SerumInstitute in(with)messagingwith TAKINGINTOaccountthatthe be “aBudget likenever before”. lated or aftertheyare certified, of India (SII) CEO,onFriday. influencerstospread,also, landacquiredby theUttarPra- Enlistinghealthcare,infrastructure thosewhichare gettingmanufac- The Pune-headquartered therightinformation.” deshgovernmentwouldonly and livelihood as focus areas, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addresses the CII tured somewhere, will have to be companyplans to proposethis to betransferredtotheconcessi- Sitharamansaidsupportneedsto Partnership Summit via videoconferencing. via@nsitharamanoffc obtained.Whereaswe inIndiaare the government,hesaidduringa ADAR POONAWALLA onairebyApril-May2021, the be giventosectors thathavebeen actuallyveryfortunate to have virtual panel discussion on the CEO, SERUM INSTITUTE OF INDIA JewarAirport—now rechrist- disruptedand sectors thatcould suchcapacitiesto producethefor- challenges to vaccine develop- enedNoidaInternationalAirp- be newerengines of growth. vestmentinhealthandinfrastruc- “Livelihood is also going to be a mulation, then to getitcertified ment.This is because such issues ort—could become operatio- SpeakingattheConfederation tureisgoing to beabsolutelycriti- newercanvasinthe postpan- and we in Indiahavethe capacity could potentiallyincrease fear late-stage clinicaltrialstotestthe nalby September2024,Daniel ■ Yamuna of IndianIndustry(CII)Partnership cal, while livelihoodchallenges demic era. Whether it is small to be able to produce as muchas againstgettingvaccinated and safetyandimmunogenicityof the Bircher,CMD of Yamuna International Airport Summit via video conferencing, would have to be seen in anewer businesses or large industries, the we (need)... and morefor ex- also worksto“bankrupt”or“dis- Covid-19 vaccineinIndia.Thevol- International AirportPvt Ltd Pvt Ltd CMD Daniel sheaskedindustryleadersto send canvas. “Capacity to build hospi- wayinwhichjobs aregoing to be ports...,” she said. tract” the companies making unteer had sent SII anotice seek- (YIAPL)toldTheIndianExpress. Bircher said the theirideasandsuggestionsforthe tals, building capacities, skills to created will go through amassive Sitharamanaddedtheneedof them, according to him. ingRs5crore incompensation,al- YIAPL,afully-ownedunit companyhas Budget. “Send me your inputsso handletelemedicineand softca- change... so vocational training the time is moreinvestmentsto- “We needtohavethe govern- legingthatthevaccinehadcaused of ZurichAirportInternational, submitted the master that we can see aBudget whichis pacities willberequired.Wein andskills have to be broughtin wardsmedical R&D, biotechnol- ment indemnify manufacturers, asevereneurologicalissue. has been awardedthe project plan with the aBudgetlikeneverbefore,inaway. Indiaarefortunatetohavevaccine withanewerperspective,someof ogy R&D and pharmaR&D. India especiallyvaccinemanufacturers, SII, however, rejected these to developthe Greenfield air- authorities and is 100years of India wouldn’thave capacities to produceasmuchas thetrainingsandskillsgivenearlier has to look at public andprivate againstalllawsuits.Infact,COVAX claims, adding that itsreputation portinGreaterNoida,thecon- waiting forfeedback seen aBudget being made post we needand forexportsfor hu- mayprobably be notevenre- partnershipandalsoengagement and othercountries have already wasbeing“unfairly maligned”.As cession agreement forwhich pandemiclikethis.Andthatisnot manity’ssake,”thefinanceminis- quirednowbutsomethingtotally and investment in the areas of re- startedtalkingaboutthat,”hesaid aresult,ithadreportedly sent the wassignedonOctober 7. going to be possible unless Iget tersaid,addingthathealthexpen- newmay be required,” she said. search formedicine, she added. during Carnegie India’s Global volunteeralegalnoticeof itsown. “We have been busysince “We arestillinthe process of yourinputsandwishlist,clearob- ditureneeds to be predictable. Whenaskedaboutthesignifi- “Consideringoursize,popula- Technology Summit. Thepharmafirmclaimedthat October7, whenwe signedthe completingtheconditionslaid servationofwhat has put you Shefurthersaidthatworkforce cance of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, tionandpotentialthatIndiaholds “The government can act:the it had alertedthe apexdrug regu- concessionagreement.Yester- in the concession agreement through the challenge...without participationofwomen needs to Sitharamanstatedthatitdoesnot forgood growth and building of US,for example, has in fact invo- lator Central Drugs Standard day, together with the Chief and this will happen by April- that,itisimpossibleformetodraft be looked at,adding that since in mean that India is shutting itself, economy, Iwouldn’thesitatehere kedalaw, to saythatduringapan- Control Organisation (CDSCP), MinisterofUttar Pradesh, we Maynextyear.” he added. something whichisgoing to be the comingyears, nearly 60 per but instead forsome areas where to saythat we shall be the engine demic—andthisisespeciallyim- about the issue when it had oc- decidedthe name of theairp- While the overall land re- that Budget like neverbefore, a cent of the country’s population the countryhas capacities, there of global growth along with afew portant onlyduring apandemic curred. CDSCO, in return, had ort,whichwillbeNoidaInter- quirementfortheairportises- Budget whichisbeing made after willbebelow30years,itisimpor- can be linking with the global other countries. We will be asig- —toindemnifyvaccinemanufac- clearedthevaccineto continueits national Airport. Apartfrom timated at 5,000 hectare,the apandemic,” she said. tantto providetherightkindofvo- valuechain,whileimportsarego- nificantcontributortoglobaleco- turers againstlawsuits forsevere ongoing trials, as per PTI. that...we have selectedourar- UPgovernmenthassofaracq- The Finance Ministersaid in- cational skills and skills to them. ing to continue unbridled. nomic revival,” she said. adverseeffectsorany otherfrivol- SII is one of the firms seeking chitect —aconsortium of uired1,335 hectarefortheini- ous claims whichmay come ab- accelerated approvals forits vac- Nordic,Grimshaw, Hapticand tial phaseoftheproject,inad- out. Because,thataddstothe fear cine in India.Itisalso one of the STUP(todesignthepassenger dition to 50 hectareto and also will bankruptvaccine firms that has atie up to supply terminal) —and we areinthe rehabilitatedisplacedpeople. ‘Overseas investmentsbyIndia leavingaround$56billion Compositionofoutward manufacturers or distract them if Covishield to theCOVAX facility middleof theplanningphase. Inthefirstphase,theNoida FDIduringApril-November, theyhavetojustall dayjustfight ledbyGavi, TheVaccineAlliance, Parallelly, we have submitted InternationalAirport—which $1.85billion asperRBIdata: lawsuitsandexplainto themedia in collaboration with CEPI and the masterplan with the au- will becomethe second air- Incat$12.25 bn in Apr-Nov’ InvestmentbyONGCVidesh, what is happening,” he said. WHO.ThecollaborationonFriday thorities and arewaiting for portserving the Delhi- highestamongallcompanies ACTUAL OUTFLOW: According to Poonawalla, announcedadditionaldealstoac- themto give usthefeedback,” NationalCapitalRegion—will CorporateIndia invested $12.25 billion overseas in thefirst $6.35 billion,with: when “frivolous” claims crop up cess Covid-19vaccines for190 Bircher said. have thecapacityto handle12 eight months of FY21, mostofwhichwent intothe firms’ $35.73billion andareblownoutof proportion,it countries. This includes an ad- Whenaskedif thelandac- million passengers with one wholly-owned subsidiaries, datafromCareRatings showed TotalFDIinflowsduringApril- $2.97billion $3.38billion affectsthe confidence of notjust vance purchase agreement with quisition forthe airportwas runwayand25aircraftstands. Novemberthisfiscal,highest- through in loan anti-vaxxers,butthegeneralpub- AstraZenecafor170 milliondoses completed, he said: “The land “...the work willtakeex- $13billion everfortheperiod;13%higher equities commitments lic too. “Anyonemayhaveathou- of the vaccine it developedwith acquisition is the responsibil- actlythreeyearsfromthetime Totalforeigndirectinvestment thansameperiodinFY20when ght and skepticism then sortof the University of Oxford. SII’s ity of the state. What we have we startbuilding.Asdiscus- (FDI)bydomesticcompaniesin itstoodat$31.60billion setsin(that)definitelysomething Covishieldisbasedonthisvaccine. beeninformed(is)thatthede- sions go on now, this could be FY20 canhappen due to thevaccine ... “Thesedealsareinadditionto velopment activities forthe second semesterof2024— Previouspeaks: to dispel that, the government existing agreementsCOVAX has people that will move away and mostprobablyQ3of $76billion Intermsofoverseas IN FORM OF needsto stepin(with)messaging with the Serum Institute of India hasstarted.Theyhaveselected 2024,”Birchersaid.Thecapac- FDIinflowsinIndiainFY20,an investment,thelastpeakwas GUARANTEES: with influencers to spread, also, (SII) for200milliondoses—with the contractors to buildthe ity of the upcoming airportis all-timerecord;around$18 $19billionin2008-09, $5.90 billion the right information.” He added optionsforupto900milliondoses utilitiesandroadsintheJewar expected to rise to 70 million billionadjustedforrepatriation, followedby$18billioninFY08 that this wasameasureSII was more—of either the environment...thiswillbethe passengers per annum by “goingtopropose” to theCentre. AstraZeneca/Oxford or Novavax preconditionfromthegovern- 2050,and in the initialphase The statementscome in the candidates,aswellasastatement ment to hand us over the land the airport will onlyoperate Why is it important: In the last financial year, around $13 billion was invested by domestic companies outside, Source: Care backdropof anissueraisedbyone of intent for200 milliondosesof —ithas nothappenedyet.” domestic flights. which was the second successive year of double-digitoverseas investment since FY13 Ratings/PTI of the volunteers who had taken the Sanofi/GSK vaccine candi- SII’s ‘Covishield’ as partofmid- to date,” statedCOVAX in arelease. BRIEFLY Recovery not steady and RIL, BP start ASSETPROFILEOFPSBs,CREDIT GROWTH Sensexhits ‘PMCBankgets output from Lookingatvarious 47,000 4proposals’ continuous yet: RBI Guv Asia’s deepest options, bad bankstill Mumbai: Punjab and intra-day MaharashtraCooperative offshore field Bank has receivedfour in-

ED Oligopolies in works: DEA Secy vestmentproposals,theRBI ENSECONOMICBUREAU on strong saidonFridaywhileextend- MUMBAI,DECEMBER18 Signals gained: Verma ENSECONOMICBUREAU ourselvesalsofeelthatwe needto ingtherestrictionsimposed PLAIN E caution MUMBAI,DECEMBER18 ENSECONOMICBUREAU recapitalise.We have recapitalised ● on the lender to March31. RESERVE BANK of India (RBI) EX Mumbai: Have oligopolies in the NEWDELHI,DECEMBER18 to alarge extentandthisyearalso FPIflows GovernorShaktikantaDashassaid Indian industrybenefited from RELIANCE INDUSTRIES Ltd (RIL) we have kept somemoneyforre- theimprovementintheeconomy MEMBERS OF the RBI’s thepolicychangesinducedbythe and BP on Fridayannouncedthe THEGOVERNMENTisexamining capitalisation. So that commit- Sebirelaxations is“notsteadyandcontinuousyet” MonetaryPolicy pandemic at the costofrivalsand startofproduction from the various options including that of mentisthere,”Bajajsaid,address- forNRIs though the recovery is multi- Committee raisedcon- smallerplayers,RBIMPCMember RCluster, the ultra-deep-water setting up abad bank to help in ing via videoaconference speedasmoresectors areshow- cerns on the statusof JayanthVermahassaid.Inseveral gasfieldinblockKGD6off theeast improvingtheassetprofileof pub- organisedbytheConfederationof NewDelhi: Sebi on Friday ing an upturn. some of the sub-sectors sectors, whichare characterised coastofIndia. Located at awater lic sectorbanksand enable credit Indian Industry (CII). gave certain relaxations to Members of the RBI’s and aspectsofthe econ- by anoligopolisticcoreandacom- depth of over 2,000 m, it is the growth in the economy. Other He said the economic recov- non-resident Indians in re- Monetary Policy Committee omywhile statingthat it petitive periphery, the corehas deepestoffshoregas field in Asia. measures including recapitalisa- eryisbetterthanexpected,which spect of holding of deposi- raisedconcerns on the status of might take at leastayear weathered Covid well. ENS RIL and BP aredeveloping tion of the state-ownedbanksis hasalsoledtoapickupingovern- toryreceipts(DRs)issuedby some of the sub-sectors and as- to reachthe earlier peak three deepwater gasprojectsin likelyinthemediumterm,Depar- ment taxcollections. This would India-listedcompanies. pectsofthe economywhile stat- GDPlevel and moretore- blockKGD6—RCluster, Satellites tment of Economic Affairs (DEA) help the government in improv- ingthatitmighttakeatleastayear coverlostgrowth. Board reviews Clusterand MJ—whichtogether SecretaryTarun Bajajsaid Friday. ing itsspending, especiallycapi- The Sensex, which toucheda to reachtheearlierpeakGDPlevel areexpected to meet15per cent He said the government talexpenditure to boosteconomic peak of 47,026, later retreated PNBQIPissue and moretorecoverlostgrowth. economicstatus of the country’s gasdemand by wouldcontinuewithmomentum activity. “All in allweare hoping and closed at 46,960. File missestarget According to the minutes of demand in the economyisstill to 2023,RILsaid.“Theseprojectswill on reforms whichbegan rightaf- that the economyshouldbeback the MPC meeting on December 7, gaintractionevenasthetransmis- NewDelhi:TheRBIsaiditsCentral utilisetheexistinghubinfrastruc- terthepandemicandtheupcom- on track. We arehoping foraro- NewDelhi: Punjab National Das said, “Over the last two sionof policyrateactionshasbeen BoardFridayreviewedthecurrent tureinKGD6block. RIL is the op- ing Budget will reflect that em- bustgrowth next year,also on a Bank has raisedalittle over monthsithasbecomeincreasingly sharper and quicker. economic situation in the back- erator of KG D6 witha66.67 per phasis on economic reforms. lowbase effect,” Bajajsaid. ENSECONOMICBUREAU 54 per cent of the targeted clear that the recovery underway As per MPC Member Shasha- dropof globalanddomesticchal- cent participating interestand BP “We arelookingatvariousop- The economyshrank forthe MUMBAI,DECEMBER18 fund mop-up through QIP. isfasterthanwhatwasanticipated nka Bhide, despitethe overall im- lenges.TheCentralBoardmet un- holds a33.33per cent participat- tions,includingtheoption(of bad second straight quarterinSepte- at the time of the October policy, provementinthelevelofeconomic derthechairmanshipof Governor inginterest,”itsaidinastatement. bank).It’sstillintheworks,solet’s mber,recordinga7.5percentcon- AIDED BY sustainedforeignport- althoughitmustalsobenotedthat activities,thereareconcernsonthe ShaktikantaDas throughvideo According to RIL, RCluster is waitforaslightlylongerperiodfor tractioninGDP,compared to the folio investment,the benchmark ‘Zomatocloses overallactivityisstillbelowitslevel statusofsome of the sub-sectors conferencing. It wasthe 586th the firstofthe three projectsto us to unveil ... the ReserveBank of unprecedented23.9percentyear- SensexonFridayhit the47,000 $660mnround’ ayear ago.” Das said investment and aspectsofthe economy. meeting of the Central Board. PTI come onstream. India has been asking us and we on-yearcontractioninApril-June. markinintra-daytrading amid improvingCovidsituationinIndia NewDelhi:Onlinerestaurant and the vaccination programme. guideandfoodorderingplat- The BSE Sensex, whichtoucheda form Zomato has closed ‘InitialprobeofWistron unit Australian law on paying for peakof 47,026,laterretreatedand $660 million (overRs4,850 closedwith again of 70 pointsat crore) fundinground, valu- 46,960.69andtheNiftyIndexrose ing the companyatapost- violence finds labourviolations’ news unworkable: Google 20 pointsto13,760.55. moneyvaluationof$3.6 bil- FPIsinvestedanotherRs2,721 lion, itsfounder and CEO Bengaluru,costing thecompany lines, alsodid notrespond to are- croreonFriday, takingthetotaleq- Deepinder Goyalsaid. PTI REUTERS millions of dollarsindamageand questfor comment. posedlegislation since it wasin- If aplatform and anews busi- uity inflows to Rs 48,858 crorein BENGALURU/NEWDELHI,DEC18 forcing it to shut the site. Thelabouroffice said Wistron RODMcGUIRK troducedtoParliamentlast ness couldn’t agree on aprice for December. An audit of the factory, hours did notmaintain proper employ- CANBERRA,DECEMBER18 week.The so-calledNewsMedia news afterthree months of talks, Hemant Kanawala,head–eq- USblacklists ALABOURoffice’spreliminaryin- afterthe rampage, found “several ment and appointment details of and Digital Platforms Mandatory athree-member arbitration uity,Kotak MahindraLife Chinesefirms vestigation intoviolence last labourlaw violations”, the labour their workers andstaffwho AGOOGLE executive saidon Bargaining Code would panel would be appointedto Insurance,said the current Covid weekendatafactoryrunby Apple department in Karnataka’s Kolar worked in 12-hour shiftsatthe Fridaythat aproposedAustralian forceGoogleand Facebook to makeabinding decision forpay- situation givesthe government Washington: The US added supplierWistronfoundseveralvi- district, wherethe factoryislo- Kolarplantwere notpaidforover- lawtomakedigital platforms compensate Australian news ment. Silva said “binding arbitra- room to open the economyfur- dozens of Chinese compa- olationsby theTaiwanesefirmand cated, said in itsreport. time. Thecompanydid notkeep payfor news wasunworkable media forthe journalismthat tion within the code could be a ther.Mostofthe economic indi- nies, includingthe country’s itsvendors,accordingto itsreport Wistron, one of Apple’s top up salaryand attendance records and itsproposedarbitration theylink to. reasonable backstop—solong as catorsshowimprovement with topchipmaker SMIC and reviewedbyReuters. globalcontractmanufacturers,did as required by law, andcontract model wasbiasedtowardmedia “It forces Google to payto the arbitration model is fair.” IIP growth of 3.6 per cent in drone manufacturer SZ DJI, Angry workers complaining notrespond to arequest forcom- staff were unhappyabout non- businesses. showlinksinanunprecedented However, the proposedarbi- October2020,manufacturingsec- to atrade blacklistonFriday about the non-payment of wages ment, whichhasn’t been made payment of wagesfor extrawork Google Australia and New intervention that would tration model was “skewed to torPMI in the expansionaryzone as the US rampsuppressure formonths smashedequipment public.Apple,whichisconducting hours, the office said, adding Zealand Managing Director Mel fundamentallybreak how the interests of one type of at 56.3 in November and sus- on China. REUTERS and iPhones on Saturday at the itsown audit to find whether Wistronfailedtosubmitthese Silva made herfirstpublic com- search engines work,” Silva said business only,”Silva said, refer- tainedtraction in the consump- Wistronplant, about 50 km from Wistronviolated supplier guide- records on demand. mentsonthe details of the pro- in astatement. ring to media. AP tion demand.

Pune WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THEINDIANEXPRESS,SATURDAY,DECEMBER19,2020 RASHFORD LEADS UNITED COMEBACK Hoursafter being honored forhis impactoff the field,Marcus Rashford also delivered in front of goal.The strikerscored twice to lead ManchesterUnited'srecoverytobeat SheffieldUnited 3-2inthe Premier League on Thursday. Theeveningbegan with Rashford,inapre-recorded segment at the FIFABest awards, receiving the fair play acco- 16 SPORT lade from world football's governing body forhis campaign to combat child povertyand pressure the British government into providing free meals. AP

BRIEFLY Lewandowskipips India’s day, and night MessiforFIFAmen’s bestplayeraward Avirtuoso all-round bowling effort givesIndiafirst-innings lead, but Paine ensures his team remains in the contest Geneva:RobertLewandowski wonhis biggestpersonal prize, showing that a SANDIPG forwardnot namedMessi or Ronaldo DECEMBER18 How Ashwin foxed can be voted theworld's best soccer player. The Poland captain wasnamed AN ENGROSSINGTestmatchisunfolding at theFIFABestMen'sPlayerfor2020after the AdelaideOvalwith India and Australia Smith & other batters his55-goalseasonliftedBayernMunich wrestling forcontrol, tradingpunches and to asweepof internationalanddomes- counterpunches. Formostofthe day, India tic trophies.Lewandowski toppeda had their noses in front, fuelledbyahostile three-playershortlistthat included and collective bowling effort, before Tim SRIRAMVEERA Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Paine’s valiant counterattackrekindled MUMBAI,DECEMBER18 Voting wasbyaglobal juryofnational Australia’shopes. team captains and coaches, plus se- When India were bowled out for244, IF ONE knows anything aboutRAshwin, it’s lectedjournalistsandfans.ThoughFIFA theywould have merrilywelcomedafirst- that he likes to makespin bowling cerebral. hostedthe virtual ceremonyinZurich, innings lead of 53 runs. But having stalled He makes aprepared move,reads the bats- itspresidentGianniInfantino went to Australia to 111/7, theywould ruenot men’s response and the negotiation begins Munichto presentthetrophyinperson. achieving alead of match-definingpropo- in earnestfromthen on. Lewandowski joinedLuka Modric, the sitions on aprogressively slowsurface. That Ashwin’s instinct is honedthorough CroatiaandRealMadridmidfielderwho theylostone of their openers,Prithvi Shaw preparationthat allows enough room for wonin2018, as the onlyplayers in the at the fagend of theday would compound spontaneity to kickintotackle thebatsmen’s past13years to denybothMessi and theirfrustration. responses. If the inherent fluidity of Lyon’s Ronaldo the victory. But theycould reflect and rejoice afteran artfeels likeasong, then Ashwin’s, to para- exemplarybowlingperformance, wherein phrase writer Leo Carey,often feels like Rapinoequestionsher everycog of the machineryperformed speechorlikethought itself. smoothlyand efficiently, when it hardly inclusioninteamofyear jarredorsqueaked.Better, on asurface that Done in by bounce &over-spin wasnot particularly abatsman’s graveyard. Umesh Yadavwas sharpand disciplined, rarely erring on theshortside as had His battlewith SteveSmith startedbe- Geneva:Women’s WorldCup winner Apartfromabit of indifferent bounce, noth- been his natureinthe past, and wasrewardedwith three wickets. AP fore the game,inhis mind. Prasanna Agoram, Megan Rapinoe has said her inclusion ing abettedthem. It wasplain hardwork, South Africa’s performance analystand in FIFA’s planning, smarts andpersistence. someone who has workedwith Ashwin dur- “Women’s The hallmarkofthis Indian bowling In fairness, Adelaide is the perfect venue ing the Indian Premier League(IPL) and Tamil World11” team quartetisits adaptability and quickthink- forafinger-spinner to startthe series.The SCORECARD Nadu Premier League (TNPL), had predicted of the year de- ing, besidesthe supreme awareness of surface does tend to break up, the cross- India’s topspinner’s game plan with pre- Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin spite playing so strengths. Theyharbour no preconceived wind aidsdriftand the bounceisjustade- AUSTRALIA VS INDIA science in achat acouple of days before the bagged four wicketsonDay 2. AP littleisasignthat notions or rigid tactics. Theyare barelydelu- quatetotrouble batsmen. Irrespective of ADELAIDE OVAL Test. “AgainstSmith, he would bowl it the women’s sional,but practicaland hands-on. Theyare the favourable conditions, Ashwin’scraft Toss: India, chose to bat quickerthrough the air and the trajectory game needs drivenand individualistic,but work within has evolvedtoastatewhereinhecould har- would neither be tootosseduportoo flat. It Green’s back-foot playfails morevisibility the framework of collectivism. So afterre- ness the elementstosuithim.InAustralia, will makehim (Smith)feel he can come for- It washis battle with the wonder-boy and exposure. alising that it wasnot asurface wherein he knewhis biggestallywould be overspin. INDIA 244(O/N 233/6) ward buthewon’tbeable to.Itwill make Cameron Green that wasmoresalivating. Rapinoe, who edgeswould flyoff the surfaceortheycould He had watchedenoughofNathan Lyon to WSaha c†PainebStarc 9(26b,1x6) him feel he has to go backbut that’s when he The ball that dismissedhim might be seen wasnamedbestplayeratthe 2019 bounce batsmen out, theychanged their polish thatfacetofthe game. RAshwin cPainebCummins 15(20b,1x4) will feel rushed. And that bounce from over- as ashortone that wasmis-pulled, but the WorldCup and finishedtop scorer,said line of attackfromsixth stumptooff-stump So he second-guessedthatSmith would UmeshYadav cWadebStarc 6(13b,1x4) spin will hopefullyleadtomistakes. Tucking lead-up to it wasfascinating. Green, more she appreciatedbeing included in the or thereabouts. look to play with the bounce and hang back JBumrah notout 4(7b,1x4) him up forawhile likethis and then mixing than anyother Australian, waslooking to teamof theyearbutpointedoutshehad Rewardswinked in instantly. Both unless it is toofull. So to adelivery thathe MShami cHeadbCummins 0(1b,1x4) up pace and flight variations is what he will move gears againstAshwin. He used his notplayedsinceMarch,whenthecoro- openers, MatthewWadeand JoeBurns, would have lunged forthinthe subconti- ■ Total: 244(93.1Ov,RR:2.62) do againstSmith,” Agoram crease well, going fullyforward or navirus pandemicdisruptedglobal were nailed in front of the stumps by the nent, Smith droppedtothe backfoot. He an- ■ Extras: (b2,lb8,nb7,w1) 18 had said. back. One thing he didn’t want to sport.The winger said on Twitter she immaculateJasprit Bumrah. Wade wasun- ticipated that theball would bounce and ■ FoW: 1-0 (Shaw, 0.2 ov), 2-32 (Agarwal, That’s exactlywhat hap- do wasget caught at the crease. He appreciatedbeingchosenby herfellow done by theinwardangle, rather than seam turn intohim. 18.1 ov), 3-100(Pujara, 49.4 ov), 4-188 (Kohli, pened. The delivery that got ED even playedaveryeffective late professionalsbutotherplayersdeserved movement, of afastdelivery that caught But the particular delivery onlybounced 76.6 ov), 5-196 (Rahane, 80.4 ov), 6-206 Smith on Day2at Adelaide cut.

morerecognitionthisyear.“We have so him on the move.Burns, in wretched form, and did notturn. It rather skiddedontokiss (Vihari, 83.2 ov), 7-233 (Ashwin, 89.3 ov), 8- wasneither tossedupnor AIN Ashwin wasalert, of course, manyphenomenal female players reacted sluggishlytoafiendish yorker that the edge.Ashwin’s animated celebrations 235 (Saha,90.3 ov), 9-240 (Yadav, 92.2 ov), pushedthrough. But it had and startedtoadd morerevstohis PL around the worldand all of us needto tailedinlate. In the T20s, Bumrah had showedthat the dismissal waspre-planned. 10-244 (Shami, 93.1 ov) enough speedtokeepSmith deliveries. This resulted in the ball

EX E● dowhatwe canto recognisethem,”she looked rusty,but herehewas steamingin Head’swicket stemmedfromhis clever ■ Bowling: MStarc 21-5-53-4; JHazlewood pushing at it from the crease. starting to loop and dip that much said.Sheaddedthatherinclusion“sheds fluidly, with the ball coming out of his palms modulation of pace. He playedanothing 20-6-47-1; PCummins 21.1-7-48-3; CGreen During his county stint,this more. The firstball of the over in light on the fact thattopush our game likeinadream. shottoaslower, tossed-up ball and gifted 9-2-15-0; NLyon 21-2-68-1; MLabuschagne ball had got Ashwin richrewards. Smith’s whichGreen fell wasacouple of deliveries forwardweneedcontinuedinvestment the easiestofreturn catches. Green,hith- 1-0-3-0 mistake wasthat he stabbed insidethe line, afterthat latecut. It reared with overspin and ... to give more female players the op- Pace onslaught erto fluent,was undonebythe extrabounce playing forthe turn.But the ball bouncedand Green jabbed it to theonside. Sensing that a portunityto beseenonTVintheirhome The pressurewas relentless, everyde- he generated.The three distinct methods AUSTRALIA FIRSTINNINGS 191 tilted in through the angle. Notsharp turn, trap wasbeing laid, he rushedout next ball countries and globally whileperform- livery so hotthat it seemedtoburnthe bat of dismissals onlyburnish the geniusof M Wade lbwbBumrah 8(51b,1x4) but the angle did him. The ball spun less not but the ball wasn’t wherehethought it ingfor club and country”. at the faintestcontact. Bumrah wasadeptly Ashwin.Healso has supreme confidence in JBurns lbwbBumrah 8(41b) because of the pitchbut by design;Ashwin would be.Somehow,heusedhis height and supportedbyMohammedShamiand his ability,isunflappableunder fire,can pick MLabuschagne lbwbYadav 47(119b,7x4) made it go straighter.Whatthe untrained lungetostub it out. Next ball hadhis name on E-sports,breakdancing Umesh Yadav, scarcelybestowing an outlet holes in abatsman'stechnique, and vary SSmith cRahanebAshwin 1(29b) eyewould have missedwas thefizzing air- it. He had sethimself well backinside the to release thepressure. Shami foundseam pace and trajectoryaccording to conditions THead c&bAshwin 7(20b) speed and over-spunbounce of the ball that crease, and pressedevenfurther back, but bag2022Asiadspots movement, sufficientthan extravagant;he and circumstances. In short, it’s time to ap- CGreen cKohlibAshwin 11(24b,1x4) dragged Smith intoanuncomfortable spot. Ashwin had again got this onetogothrough coercedbounceofahardlength.Heended preciateAshwin as asupreme forceinover- TPaine notout 73(99b,10x4) “Go through Ashwin’s English county quickerand bouncier.The resultant pull was Kuwait:E-sports andbreakdancing will up wicketless, but bowled as well as any seas conditions. PCummins cRahanebYadav 0(3b) performances,” Agoram had said, “youwill unsurprisinglymistimedtoshort midwicket debut in the 2022 Asian Games in Indianbowler on the day. Yadavwas sharp It rings true forYadav too. Ofteninthe MStarc runout(Shaw/†Saha) 15(16b,1x4) seealot of those types of deliveries.” whereKohlipouchedasharp catch. “Iamex- Hangzhou, China, as full medal sports and disciplined, rarely erring on the short past, his lengths have alternated between NLyon cKohlibAshwin 10(20b,1x4) pecting my prediction of 20 wicketstocome afterbeing approved by the Olympic side as had been his nature in thepast, and toofull and tooshort, the lineerratic too. JHazlewood cPujarabYadav 8(10b,2x4) Whyisitdifficult to read true,” pinged Agoram afterthis wicket. Council of Asia (OCA), the governing wasrewardedwith three wickets. Here, he did what he does well in India, that ■ Total: 191(72.1Ov,RR:2.64) Ashwin? body said on Friday. E-sports firstap- But withequal measures of fortuneand is to attackthe stumps on agood length. His ■ Extras: ((lb3) 3 Head beaten by slowerone pearedas an official medal sportatthe stubbornness, SteveSmith &Marnus pace and fractional movement were ■ FoW: 1-16 (Wade,14.1 ov), 2-29 (Burns, In the past, during home games, Ashwin Travis Head and Nathan Lyon were too AsianIndoorGamesin Macau in 2007. Labuschagne seemedtobequelling the enough to trouble batsmen. So it did the 16.6 ov), 3-45 (Smith, 26.6 ov), 4-65(Head, has shown that with asubtle sleight of hand, simple dismissalsbut Head’s in particular was Theywerealso apartofthe 2018 Asian storm and frustratingIndia’s bowlers. chancy Labuschagne, three shyofadogged 34.4 ov), 5-79(Green,40.3 ov), 6-111 he can restrict the break in his off-spinners. By revealingof Ashwin’s adjustments. To theleft- Games in Indonesiabut medals did not Labuschagne wasdropped threetimes (he half-century. In the same over,henabbed (Labuschagne,53.3ov),7-111 (Cummins,53.6 merelychanging his thumb position on the handedHead,he went slower, from round the count in the overall standings. “Ihope wasspilledonce morelater), while Smith’s PatCummins with alifter. Australia were ov), 8-139 (Starc, 60.1 ov),9-167 (Lyon,66.5 seam, and while keeping the grip and release stumps, and the ball loopedout of his hands, that electronic sports will add value to outside edge wasbeaten multiple times. A tottering at 111/7,beforePaine engineered ov), 10-191 (Hazlewood, 72.1 ov) the same, he can reduce the amount of spin. foxing Head intogiving areturn catch. theAsianGames– andIamsureitwill familiar fightbackseemed on the cards be- aremarkable rescue act. ■Bowling:UYadav16.1-5-40-3;JBumrah21-7- When he wantstospinitless, he will have his in the future, during the Asian Games fore Ravichandran Ashwin strolledintopile Justwhen India seemedincontrol, Paine 52-2;MShami17-4-41-0;RAshwin18-3-55-4 thumb cut across the seam. Off-spinner tries leggies 2022 and even beyond that,” said OCA on moremisery, slicing through the middle gave Australia atoe-hold intothe match When he wantsittoturnmore, the In the finalsession, under lights, Ashwin Asian Games Director Haider Farman. order with the wicketsofSmith, Travis Head with abusy 73,the mostfluent anybats- INDIA SECOND INNINGS 9/1 thumb will go beside the seam, nottouching also tried abit of leg-spin -again aproduct Breakdancing, considered one of the and Cameron Green in what could be his man has looked on this surface. He added it, curledintowards the indexfinger.So of calculated thought and notout of whim. pillarsofhip-hop culture, will also mostdefinitiveperformance overseas. 80 runs with the last three, and Shaw’s early PShaw bCummins 4(4b) withoutadiscernible change in action, he “It’s nothis T20 game coming in but it makeits Asian Games bowin2022, Thereisenough proof that his fourth trip departuregaveAustralia abit of cheer in the MAgarwal notout 5(21b) can control the spin. would be acalculatedmoveasthe pink twoyears before it features in the to Australiacould be hismostproductive end. Keeping up with the theme of the con- JBumrah notout 0(11b) “Do youguyssee all this from your press Kookaburra has ablackseam whichcan get Olympics forthe firsttime in Paris. yet. On the 2018 tour,hedid bowl sumptu- test,itwas inevitable that Australia fought ■ FoW: 1-7 (Prithvi Shaw, 3.1 ov) box, do younoticeall this?!” he had once difficult to pickinlights in thelastsession, AGENCIES ouslyinAdelaide, only foraninjurytotrun- back,evenifIndia would be the happier side ■Bowling:Starc3-1-3-0;Cummins3-2-6-1 asked in half-jest. Even mostbatsmen, from and canbeexploited by wristspinners,” catehis ambitions. afterthe second day. farcloser,havefailedtosee through this trick. Agoram had said.

HARD TALK ‘Ambedkar warned us about dangersofbhakti in politics; bhakti in sport is the same’

boxing etc. Tohmain thoda chaabi bhi de raha Youhavespoken and written quite asgreatasanyofourcricketers.Itshows amir- aRahul Dravid kind of aperson. An educated, MIHIRVASAVDA&GAURAVBHATT hun(laughs).Butit’smybelief.Thethingabout extensively about the ‘superstar culture’ in rortoournationalcharacter.Whenfacedwith intelligent, thoughtful, andcleancricketer. NEWDELHI,DECEMBER18 sportisthatitisabout both passion and pres- Indian cricket. powerand authority,webecome submissive That would have been the opportunity for ence. Yousupportateam obsessively,you ad- It’snot present in anyother sport, any- and crumble. Mr Raitoreactand say, ‘Okay, this guy’s gone. IN HIS latestbook, The Commonwealth of mireacertain playerenormously. And like- whereinthe world. It’s amanifestation of I’m going to getsomeone better who knows Cricket: The mostsubtleand sophisticated wise, youhavefavouritesports.For me, it’s India’sobsessionwithcricket.Therewasatime The cliche goes: ‘Tochange the system,you moreabout the game’. But clearly,that was game known to mankind, writer-historian cricket, butIdobelieveit’smoresubtle, more when Iwas growing up when film stars were needtobeapartofthe system.’ Yougot nothis intention. RamachandraGuha traces his journeyfrom sophisticated,morevaried,moreaesthetically muchmoreimportantfiguresthancricketers. that opportunity.You were in theCoA,you being introducedtothe sportasachild by his pleasurable than other sports. Then,theywerebroughtonpar...SoTendulkar were in aposition of power, and youcould In terms of the situation afterthe uncle in Dehradun to being apartofthe andShahrukhKhanwere aboutthesamelevel. have influencedthings acertain way? Do Supreme Court intervention, would you game’s establishmentasamemberofthe Youmentiontwo Gangulys in your book. TodayDhoni, Kohli, even Jadeja, Pandyaare youthink that wasalostopportunity? saywe’renot justbacktosquareone, but Supreme Court-appointed Committeeof The umpireGanguli, yousay,playedan muchbigger than afilmstar. It is asignofhow That’safaircriticism.(Inthebook,)I’vealso likeacouple of squares backfromwhere Administrators (CoA). Guha, in an interview important role in decentringIndian It’s grossand vulgar. Apart from crazy we areabout cricket.It’s asign of how quotedacouple of letters from cricket fans af- we began? with The IndianExpress, talksabout his initia- cricket in March1974. Now, with the other crazyweare thatI’mtheonlyguyquestioning terIleft, saying ‘you should have stayedinside Absolutely. TheSupreme Courthas totally tion to cricket,witnessing India’s rise, all the Ganguly, the formercaptain, as BCCI being morally wrong, it’s cheap. It Gangulyabout his blatant illegality and im- and fought’.But Iknewitwas going nowhere. failed.We’vegonebacktoSrinivasan’sdaugh- pitfalls that came along -including the ‘super- president, howmuchhas Indiancricket is not like he is desperately in need morality... Ithink that’sdreadful. Ithink it tells Ispentfive months.Andeventhemostinnocu- ter, Thakur’sbrother,AmitShah’sson,Niranjan star culture’ – and the ‘spectacular failure’ of changed? of afew extra rupees either. It’s a youthere’s(something) deeplywrong about ous of my suggestions,suchashavingasenior Shah’sproxy. Alltheoldintriguersandracket- the Supreme Courtand CoA to steer cricket To go backtothe decentring of Indian very,very bad signal. The ournationalcharacter,thatwe makecricketers male cricketerco-optedonthe CoA as afull- eersare running the place. Captive chamcha governance in adifferent direction. cricket, the firstGanguli – the umpirefrom president of the Board should be intosuchextraordinarydemigods.Ambedkar time invitee, to give us an in-depth perspec- commentators who can’t criticise anything. Bengal – did notgiveGViswanath out (in a aboveall this.” warnedusabout the dangers of bhaktiinpol- tive basedonfirst-handexperienceof howthe ThereisaGodimediaincricket aswell,notjust Excerpts: RanjiTrophyfinal) when he wasplumbLBW. itics, and the danger of bhakti in sportisthe gameismanagedormismanaged,thosewere in politics. The onlythingthatcould changeit Viswanathwent on to scoreahundred and RAMACHANDRA GUHA same.Kohliisamagnificent batsman. notbeing met. Mr (CoA head Vinod) Raiwas is if we lose severalseries abroad. Even if that The subtitletoyour newbook is ‘The most KarnatakabeatBombay forthefirsttime.Now ON BCCI BOSS GANGULY DOING COMMERCIALS But can youlet him getawaywith every- going behind the backsof theother members happens, Iamactuallyquite pessimistic be- subtle and sophisticated game known to that decentringwas very,veryimportant not thing?Howthegameisrun,who’schosenand and dealing directly withthe (BCCI) CEO and causethedrugcalledIPLhassatiatedallcricket humankind’. Areyou taking the mickey onlybecause thatendedBombay’s unbeaten tise... It’s gross and vulgar.Apartfrombeing who’s notchosen? What the scheduling is... I the cricketers. So ultimately, youknowit’s a lovers. As longastheyget an IPL season,they out of someoneorisitsomething you run, whichhad then extendedto16years, but morallywrong,it’scheap.Itisnotlikeheisdes- don’t want to go to Zimbabwe,Iwant to play lostcause as farasyou’reconcerned. That’s don’tcare. trulybelieve in? it openedthe wayfor other states. Now, the peratelyinneedofafewextrarupees either. somewhereelse.That’snothow aprofessional whyIgave up. To listentothe full conversation, log on to Itrulybelieve it.It’s also meant to getarise other Gangulywho is nowincharge of BCCI, It’savery, verybadsignal.Thepresidentof the sportisrun.Michael Jordancould notdothat And Iwas stillhoping that when Ileft, my indianexpress.com/audio or search for outof thosewhofollowsoccer,basketball,golf, it’s deeplyunfortunatethat he would adver- Boardshouldbeabove allthis. withthe NBA. And Michael Jordanwas easily place would be filledbyaJavagalSrinathor ‘Express Sports’ on your podcast app

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