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THE LARGEST CIRCULATED ENGLISH DAILY IN SOUTH INDIA CHENNAI I SUNDAY 31 I JANUARY 2021 WEATHER Max: 30OC CITY | 2 WORLD | 5 SPORT | 8 Min: 21OC Magistrate issues NBW Biden warns inaction over Kohli steady at 4th, Rainfall: Nil against director Shankar $1.9 tn aid will cost dearly Pujara rises to sixth ASTROGUIDE Sarvari: Thai 18 deccanchronicle.com, facebook.com/deccannews, twitter.com/deccanchronicle, google.com/+deccanchronicle Vol. 16 No. 306 Established 1938 | 8 PAGES| `4.00 Tithi: Thrithiyai Star: Puram ■ Rahukalam: Centre has open mind; agri minister is a phone call away: PM 4.30 pm to 6 pm BJP will fight TN assembly Yamagandam: 12 noon to 1.30 pm PRAYERS Proposal to suspend farm laws polls with AIADMK: Nadda Fajar: 5.22 am Madurai, Jan. 30: Bha- Zohar: 12.27 pm ratiya Janata Party (BJP) Asar: 3.41 pm J.P. Nadda on Saturday said Maghrib: 6.09 pm stands, Modi tells floor leaders his party’s alliance with the 7.23 pm AIADMK would continue Isha: for the assembly elections, SUNSET TODAY 6.10 PM DC CORRESPONDENT due in Tamil Nadu in a few SUNRISE TOMORROW 6.36 AM NEW DELHI, JAN. 30 months. Both parties would Minister Narendra Modi MOONRISE TODAY 8.41 PM Home ministry face the polls together, he assumed the top office, a MOONSET TOMORROW 9.20 AM Prime Minister Narendra said, addressing a public “safe destiny” was assured Modi on Saturday told meeting, his first in the run for the nation and Tamil leaders of various political suspends Internet up to the Assembly elec- Nadu as well, he said. Be it CORONA parties that the govern- tions expected in April or projects like the defence ment has been continuous- at protest sites early May. corridor or allocation of ly trying to resolve the Mr Nadda said Prime funds for Tamil Nadu, the C UNT issues raised by protesting DC CORRESPONDENT Minister Narendra Modi situation changed only after farmers through talks. NEW DELHI, JAN. 30 facilitated projects like the the BJP came to power at CASES DEATHS Addressing floor leaders defence corridor for Tamil the Centre, he said. at the customary all-party The Union home ministry Nadu while the state was Mr Nadda recalled that meeting convened by the on Saturday suspended “ignored” during the Mr Modi had quoted a cou- (+10,183) (+78) government for the Internet services at Congress-led United plet from Tirukkural to sol- 1,07,44,210 smooth conduct of the Singhu, Ghazipur and Progressive Alliance diers at Ladakh and also 1,54,262 Budget session, Mr Modi Tikri borders for the next regime. Praising Tamil as cited the Prime Minister’s said the that Centre’s pro- two days. In its orders the world’s oldest language, ‘Yaadum Oorey’ reference covid19india.org posal to suspend the three issued on Saturday after- Mr Nadda, who is here on a of Tamil poet Kaniyan new agriculture laws still noon, the ministry stated one day’s visit, said when Poongundranar in his STATE GOVERNMENT BULLETINS stands. that Internet services will the right person assumed speech at the United Virtually addressing the remain suspended at the the right place, it led to right Nations General Assembly (+505) party leaders, Mr places from 11 p.m. on decisions. After Prime in 2019. — ANI ■ P3 12,350 Narendra Modi told them Prime Minister Narendra Modi performs parikrama at the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi, January 29 to 11 p.m. on TN: 8,37,832 that agriculture minister on the occasion of Martyrs’ Day, at Rajghat, in New Delhi on Saturday. — PTI January 31. Narendra Singh Tomar Sources claimed the was just a phone call away home ministry took the WORLD CONFIRMED CASES for protesting farmers and decision following specif- EPS asks party cadre the agriculture minister Support swells; union leaders ic intelligence inputs that 10,28,62,765 himself had conveyed the large-scale mobilisation same to farmer leaders ear- of farmers was taking to fulfil Jaya dream DEATHS lier this month. place in states like Sharing the details of the go on fast on Martyrs’ Day Punjab, Haryana, UP, DC CORRESPONDENT meeting chaired by Mr Rajasthan, Uttarakhand MADURAI, JAN. 30 22,21,933 Modi and attended by BHASKAR HARI Meanwhile, the Special forces, were deployed in and MP. COUNTRIES, defence minister Rajnath SHARMA | DC Investigation Team (SIT) of massive strength. Multiple Inputs also revealed the Chief Minister and AIA- AREAS WITH Singh, parliamentary aff- NEW DELHI, JAN. 30 the crime branch of Delhi layers of barricades, includ- farmers could once again DMK joint coordinator CASES 219 airs minister Prahlad Joshi Police has issued a second ing concrete blocks, were reach the borders. Edappadi K. Palaniswami worldometers.info said, “The Prime Minister Farmers protesting at the notice to nine farmer lead- being put at the protest Haryana has also sus- called upon his party cadre assured that the Centre is three sites at Delhi's bor- ers, including Rakesh sites. pended internet services to work together to fulfil the approaching the farmers ders held a day-long fast, Tikait. The farmer leaders on in 17 of its 22 districts. dream of former chief min- India pre-eminent partner of issue with an open mind.” between 9 am and 5 pm, as The Delhi police carried Saturday morning, wear- A home ministry direc- ister and AIADMK general “The Prime Minister they observed "Sadbhavna out raids in Punjab's ing garlands, observed tive on Saturday stated secretary J. Jayalalithaa of US in Indo-Pacific region: said the Centre's stand is Divas" to mark the death Jalandhar on Friday to "Sadbhavana Diwas" (har- that it was "invoking the the party ruling the state same as it was on January anniversary of Mahatma arrest Jugraj Singh and mony day) and observed Temporary Suspension of even 100 years after her in Madurai district on Blinken tells Jaishankar 22, the last meeting Gandhi. Meanwhile hun- Navpreet Singh who hoist- fast after the immense out- Telecom Services (Public time. Saturday. Kolkata/New Delhi: Former West between the protesting dreds of farmers stayed ed the Nishan Sahib flag at rage over violence by pro- Emergency or Public Mr Palaniswami was Recalling the welfare pro- Washington, Jan 30 (PTI) farmers and the Centre put at the Ghazipur border Red Fort on January 26. As testers during their Safety Rules 2017) of the speaking after the inaugu- grammes launched by Secretary of State Tony Blinken and proposal given by on Saturday morning, as many as 38 cases have Republic Day tractor rally. Indian Telegraph Act, ration of a temple dedicated Jayalalithaa and MGR has underscored India's role as a agriculture minister on more supporters poured in been registered till now in The farmer leaders sat on 1885 to suspend Internet to Jayalalithaa and party which included the noon pre-eminent US partner in the the farm laws still stands. at the protest site on the connection with the the dais during the fast, as in the three places.” Prior founder and former chief meal scheme for the poor Indo-Pacific during his maiden Modiji reiterated what Delhi-Meerut Expressway farmer's rally and 84 per- crowds of supporters to this these provisions minister M.G. children in school, the telephonic conversation with Tomarji had said - that he in Ghaziabad following sons have been arrested, swelled, especially in have been issued only Ramachandran along with Chief Minister said the two external affairs minister S (Narendra Singh Tomar) which Delhi Police shut according to the police. Ghazipur where the twice while before and Deputy Chief Minister O. great leaders are revered by .Jaishankar and discussed ways to is phone call away for down NH-24 highway and Security personnel, Bharatiya Kisan Union during the anti-CAA Panneerselvam at T. people as gods and the tem- better seize the new opportunities talks,” Mr Joshi said, all roads leading to including from anti-riot (BKU) is leading the protests on December 19 Kunnathur in Thir- ple sybolised those senti- and combat shared challenges in quoting Mr Modi. ■ P4 Ghazipur border. police and paramilitary protest. ■ P4 and 20, 2019 umangalam constituency ments. ■ P3 the region and beyond. It was Blinken's first telephonic conversation with Jaishankar after NIA, NSG TO INVESTIGATE he assumed the charge as Centre to ban pvt America's top diplomat early this week. Lens on two in cryptocurrencies, Rajib Banerjee, other former TMC leaders join BJP in Delhi launch new one Kolkata/New Delhi: Former West Embassy blast DC CORRESPONDENT Bengal minister Rajib Banerjee, NEW DELHI, JAN. 30 ● who recently quit the Trinamool HASKAR HARI The sources said Congress, joined the BJP in the SHARMA | DC that the conspiracy The Union government is national capital on Saturday NEW DELHI, JAN. 30 of this blast was planning to introduce in along with a few other leaders of hatched abroad and the budget session of par- the state’s ruling party after The CCTV footage of the liament a bill banning meeting senior BJP leader and Israel embassy blast site the conspirators private crypto currencies Union home minister Amit Shah. obtained by the special wanted to take help and authorise the Banerjee and MLAs Prabir Ghosal cell team of the Delhi of the locals to Reserve Bank of India and Baishali Dalmiya, who was police has revealed that a execute this plan (RBI) to issue an official recently expelled from the TMC, cab had dropped two per- digital currency and former Howrah Mayor Rathin sons who walked towards blast was hatched abroad A Lok Sabha bulletin Chakraborty, flew to the national the spot near the embassy and the conspirators has said the Crypto- capital on a special plane, and where the minor IED wanted to take help of the currency and Regulation met central BJP leaders. explosion took place on locals to execute this plan. of Official Digital Friday evening. The cops The National Investigati- Currency Bill will, how- have contacted the driver on Agency (NIA) and the ever, allow “for certain COUNTER POINT of the vehicle and sketch- National Security Guard exceptions to promote the es of the two people are (NSG) have also been roped underlying technology of being prepared. in to investigate the blast. cryptocurrency and its The police, however, has Forensic experts have col- uses”. The RBI had in not come across anything lected some samples from 2018 banned all cryp- concrete yet as most of the the crime scene that will tocurrencies and asked CCTV cameras near the ascertain the chemical regulated entities to stop site of the explosion were composition used in the dealings in them. non-functional at the time low-intensity improvised However, the Supreme of incident. explosive device (IED). Court had in 2020 allowed It was claimed that the Meanwhile, probe agen- banks to handle transac- cab driver himself had cies are investigating the tions from exchanges and called the police. He has Telegram account from traders. been identified and is which the viral screen- A panel had in 2019 rec- being questioned and the shot was sent that ommended banning all police is verifying his claimed an entity named private cryptocurrencies statements. Jaish-ul-Hind has taken and considering launch- The sources said that responsibility of the ing an official digital cur- the conspiracy of this explosion. ■ P4 rency. ■ Collegium withdraws recommendation to make her permanent Pocso orders land HC judge in soup New Delhi, Jan. 30: The cases. year-old girl’'s breast Bombay High Court order Supreme Court Collegium is The decision was taken because he did not make acquitting the man after understood to have with- after the judge faced flak for skin-to-skin contact and Attorney General KK Ven- drawn its approval to a pro- her interpretation of sexual days earlier, ruled that hold- ugopal said the order would posal for the appointment of assault under the Protection ing the hands of a five-year- set a dangerous precedent. an additional judge of the of Children from Sexual old girl and unzipping the The collegium headed by Bombay High Court, Justice Offences (Pocso) Act, a trousers do not amount to Chief Justice SA Bobde, at a PV Ganediwala, as a perma- source said. “sexual assault” under the meeting held on January 20, nent judge of the court fol- Justice Pushpa Ganedi- Pocso Act. had okayed the proposal for lowing her two controversial wala recently acquitted a On January 27, the making Justice Ganediwala verdicts in sexual assault man accused of groping a 12- Supreme Court stayed the a permanent judge. — PTI CITY pg DECCAN CHRONICLE | SUNDAY | 31 JANUARY 2021 | CHENNAI 2 OTHER STORIES Magistrate issues NBW against director Shankar A. ARUL PALANI I DC and hence they committed against Shankar and stat- CHENNAI, JAN. 30 an offence punishable ed that there were 16 simi- under the Copyright Act, larities between the story The metropolitan magis- 1957. and the film. Asset feud: Man trate court-II, Egmore, has issued a non-bailable war- Later, he filed a criminal The court held that the rant (NBW) against ace complaint against alleged copyright viola- kills sibling film director Shankar for Kalanithi Maran and tion was proved and there- DC CORRESPONDENT not appearing before the Shankar before the XIII fore directed the Egmore CHENNAI, JAN. 30 court repeatedly in con- metropolitan magistrate magistrate court–II to nection with a case regis- court, Egmore. A crimi- resume the proceedings A man from Pallikaranai, on tered against him for nal case was filed and the under the copyright Act Friday night bludgeoned his allegedly copying the trial court summoned against Shankar. elder brother with a stone and short story of an author both the accused to appear killed him following an alterca- and making the movie before the court in 2011. When the magistrate tion between them over a prop- ‘Endhiran’, starred by published in Tamil maga- Following this, Kalanithi court was about to initiate erty dispute. Rajinikanth, Aishwarya zine ‘Iniya Udhayam’ in Maran and Shankar filed the proceedings and Police identified the deceased Rai and others. 1996 and re-published as a a petition before the resume investigation, the Health secretary J Radhakrishnan inspects the preparations for pulse polio vaccina- as Senthil (43), a taxi driver It may be noted that in novel - ‘Dhik Dhik Madras high court seek- regular activities of the tion drive to be launched on Sunday at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital on and resident of Medavakkam October last year, the Dheepika’ in 2007. In 2010 ing an order to quash the court were restricted by Saturday. He also visited a patient who underwent a complex cardiac surgery after near Pallikaranai, and the Supreme Court had dis- after the release of proceedings of the the Covid-19 pandemic. A recovering recently from Covid-19. He also inaugurated a new 25 bedded ward for accused Murugan (40), a lorry missed a petition of ‘Endhiran’, directed by Egmore magistrate stat- year later, Shankar non-Covid emergency cases at Tower 1 of the hospital. — DC driver. Shankar challenging the Shankar, it was found that ing that the story was not approached the Supreme Police said there was a prop- order of the Madras high the story of the movie copied from Aarur’s story Court with an appeal erty dispute between the broth- court in connection with a was copied from ‘Jiguba’. and his complaint was against the judgment of ers for a long time. On Friday copyright violation case Aarur immediately sent declared invalid. the Madras high court. As night, they picked up a quarrel. against him on the movie a notice to Kalanidhi Meanwhile, the Madras the apex court dismissed In a fit of rage, Murugan ‘Endhiran’. Dismissing Maran, the film producer, high court granted a stay the plea, the proceedings GH doctor saves life picked up a rock and bludg- his plea, the apex court and Shankar. Aarur filed a order for the case before had commenced in the eoned Senthil’s head with it. held that the finding that complaint of copyright the Egmore magistrate. metropolitan magistrate Neighbours who witnessed has been made only prima violation to the commis- After ten years, on June 6, court – II Egmore recently. the incident rushed Senthil to facie by the high court sioner of police, Chennai 2019, Justice However, neither Shankar the Chromepet government will not in any manner against both of them. In Pugazhendhi, in a judg- nor his counsel appeared of 42-year-old woman hospital and later to the Rajiv influence the trial. the complaint, Aarur stat- ment, held that the com- before the court. Hence Gandhi government general According to advocate K ed they had earned huge plaint of Aarur against the court issued NBW DC CORRESPONDENT The valve spar- sutured to form the aortic hospital, where Senthil died Elangovan, writer Aarur monetary benefits from Kalanithi Maran was against Shankar and CHENNAI, JAN. 30 root and the damaged aor- early on Saturday morning. Tamilnadan penned a the film which was origi- invalid. However, the adjourned the matter to ing technique tic valve was repaired. Pallikaranai police registered story ‘Jiguba’, which was nally his idea and creation court admitted the case February 19. Doctors at the Rajiv of surgery for The management of Left a case and arrested Murugan. Gandhi Government Renal Artery stenosis in Investigations are underway. General Hospital thoracic aortic the form of stenting is (RGGGH) saved the life of aneurysm was planned in the future’, Plus 1 boy kills a 42-year-old woman by done for the said hospital authorities. Man tortures performing a complex The valve sparing tech- Anticipation marks self over online valve surgery. first time at nique of surgery for tho- The hospital authorities racic aortic aneurysm foster kid, held said that Sarswathi from RGGGH was done for the first time DC CORRESPONDENT game curbs Erode district, who recov- at RGGGH. The surgery, CHENNAI, JAN. 30 ered from Covid19 pneu- three weeks ago. conducted by a team led Sasikala’s return DC CORRESPONDENT monia in October, was suf- During the surgery on by Dr A . Sivaraman, last- A 30-year-old resident of CHENNAI, JAN. 30 fering from chest pain, Jan. 22, the diseased ed 12 hours. The patient Chengalpet was arrested by the G BABU JAYAKUMAR & Panneerselvam, wishing a breathlessness and palpi- aneurysmal segment of recovered well in the post Palur police, charging him of D. SEKAR | DC peaceful life for Sasikala. A class XI student hung tations. Following this, the aorta was replaced surgery period at the hos- wantonly injuring his adopted CHENNAI, JAN. 30 Jayapradeep said that it himself in Chennai‘s the patient was admitted with appropriate sized pital. Heath Secretary J. five-year-old son. was not a political mes- Peerkankaranai, after to the department of tube graft which was Radhakrishnan called on Police said Purushothaman, a In impending return of sage and that he prayed to he was admonished for Cardiovascular and meticulously designed the patient at the hospital resident of Palur, Chengalpet V.K. Sasikala, a close con- God to enable her to lead a spending hours on Thoracic surgery hospital into trifoliate shape and on Saturday. district, did not have any chil- fidante of former Chief righteous (Aram-based) online games. dren a few years back, and Minister J Jayalalithaa, life. The boy was identified reportedly adopted his sister’s from Bengaluru continues Flaying that message in as Madhavan (15), son of son, Manoj (5), when the boy to create a flutter in the a cartoon, the newspaper Pichaimuthu-Lakshmi was one-year-old. AIADMK circles as some veiled reference to the asked Jayapradeep to give couple from Purushothaman’s sister Jothi, of her supporters are present day leaders. that advice to Kanchipuram. Sources a mentally-challenged person, openly expressing support The article alleged that Palaniswami and said that the boy’s par- Rahul eats ‘mushroom was estranged from her hus- for her despite the party blockades were being laid Panneerselvam. The ents had given him a band Manimaran, and lived head honchos making it before Sasikala who had newspaper also repro- mobile phone for online alone in Chengalpet. clear that she cannot inherited all the qualities duced lines from an old study during the lock- Meantime, Purushothaman’s come into the party fold at of Jayalalithaa and said MGR song, written by N M down, but he spent most biriyani’, video goes viral wife delivered twins last year, any cost. that all hurdles would be Muthookuthan, whose of his time playing an and since then, the accused The former AIADMK broken and all efforts lines roughly go like this: online game called ‘Free Chennai, Jan. 30: A and asks them what they began abusing and torturing mouthpiece, Dr Namadhu would be made to install A thousand hands can’t Fire’. Enraged over this, video of Congress leader want to do when one of Manoj. He inflicted severe MGR, which is now run by her back in a position to block the sun’s rays; no Pichaimuthu left Rahul Gandhi relishing a them is seen saying he burns on the five-year-old’s a family member of bring back Jayalalithaa’s orders can stops the waves Madhavan at their rela- spicy 'kalaan biriyani' wants to go to the US, to body. When villagers inter- Sasikala, carried an edito- rule. of the ocean; come danc- tive’s house in (mushroom biriyani) and which Gandhi replies he vened, Purushothaman used to rial on Saturday in which Since the article sug- ing you who were born to Peerkankaranai a few an onion side dish he can try to organise it verbally abuse them. it was said that the sup- gests unification, dance; come singing you days ago. It is said that made, with some Tamil through "good friend" Following this, locals porters of Sasikala would Fisheries Minister D who were born to earn they restricted him from Nadu villagers in true Sam Pitroda. approached the village admin- welcome her. She is now Jayakumar was asked by fame; can the turkey ban playing online games on south Indian style, has Later, the Congress istration officer (VAO) seeking expected to return to media persons on the pos- the peacock’s dance; can the mobile. gone viral. leader and the others are action against Purushothaman Chennai once she is dis- sibility of the AIADMK toads find fault with the Reacting to it, the boy The video, uploaded by seen enjoying the spicy and rescue of the boy. Based on charged from the hospital, and AMMK coming cuckoo’s song. allegedly hanged him- 'Village Cooking Channel' mushroom biriyani, in a complaint from the VAO, where she was admitted together again. But the The lines are meant to self to death on on YouTube, showing the true Tamil style where the Palur village, Palur police after with symptoms of Covid- Minister was firm on his suggest that the AIADMK Thursday night when no Congress MP sharing the food is served on a plan- preliminary investigations, 19 infection. ‘no,’ saying that there was leaders cannot prevent one was in the house. meal, besides preparing party's Tamil Nadu in- tain leaf and all of them arrested Purushothaman. Launching a scathing no chance for that. Sasikala from returning When they returned, the onion raitha, the ubiqui- charge Dinesh Gundu are seated on the ground. He reportedly used to fre- attack on the AIADMK He categorically said to the AIADMK fold and family members rushed tous Tamil Nadu side dish Rao. During the meal the quently assault the boy during leadership for not taking that they had no plans of thus deciding on the the boy to a nearby hos- that matches any type of Describing the ingredi- Congress leader lauded the past year, police added. into account the aspira- inducting Sasikala and State’s political future. pital, where he was biriyani, last garnered ents that go into the mak- the makers, saying the Only when the villagers tions of the cadre in anyone from her family To add credence to the declared ‘dead’. The over 31.24 lakh views on ing of a raitha, like onion food was "romba nalla noticed a few burn injuries on accepting her into the into the party and that the stand taken by Dr body was sent to the the social media platform. and curd by their Tamil irukku" (it is very nice) Manoj’s body, an official com- party, the editorial AIADMK was a formida- Namadhu MGR, posters Chromepet government The video was shot dur- names, "Vengayam" and even as he is seen enquir- plaint was raised. accused them of being ble fortress that cannot be welcoming Sasikala con- hospital for post- ing his Tamil Nadu visit "thayir", Gandhi is seen ing what other delicacies Purushothaman was arrested ungrateful to someone breached. tinued to appear at vari- mortem. when Gandhi toured the mixing them and tasting they can cook. and remanded to judicial cus- who put useless people on Dr Namadhu MGR also ous places in the State, A case of unnatural western parts and held it and is apparently satis- "I enjoyed the food very tody. Police rescued Manoj and the throne. They cannot reacted sarcastically to a despite the AIADMK death has been regis- election meetings last fied with his culinary much.. excellent Tamil admitted him to a government even get back their message put out by O P cracking down on those tered at the week. He was accompa- skills. food, super," he said and home in Chengalpet. deposit if they contested Jayapradeep, son of who put up such posters Peerkankaranai police nied by Karur Congress Later, in his pre-meal wished the group before on their own, it said in a Deputy Chief Minister O with expulsion orders. station. MP S Jothimani and the chat, he lauds the group leaving. — PTI For road safety What’s cooking in Tamil Nadu politics? during which the apparent now almost made it clear lowed down as far as bar- misunderstanding through its articles in the gaining for a fair share of between the Congress and party mouthpiece, seats in the coalition is DMK was sort of ironed Murasoli that the possibil- concerned. Even for the G. Babu Jayakumar out. Rahul Gandhi, though ity of roping in the PMK DMK’s suggestion that not speaking about the was remote. The PMK, small parties in the alliance during his which is still technically alliance could contest in stopovers at various in the AIADMK-BJP the DMK’s symbol of ‘ris- Just spamming places, put an end to spec- alliance had been talking ing sun,’ the VCK is not ulation about the breaking tough for some time, showing much opposition. hen the latest colleagues, to be part of of ties between the two demanding an assurance Perhaps they might even video of Village the plain air cooking ses- parties that together to accede to its latest agree for that. Here, too, WCooking Channel, sion organised by the rus- swept the polls in 2019. He demand for 20 per cent converting DMK votes to which is even otherwise tic chefs. Though he did made it clear to the media reservation of Vanniyars other new symbols can be popular with over 30 lakh not utter a single thing that the alliance was as pre-condition to be in tricky and the ‘rising sun’ subscribers and glowing that can be construed as intact. the coalition. will help garner the DMK newspaper articles under political in the video, reac- When Rahul Gandhi It was rumoured that the votes easily, they feel. its belt, went viral, draw- tions to it revealed that the landed in Coimbatore on PMK was hopeful of latch- In the other camp, too, a ing in a substantially addi- Congress leader was win- Jan. 23, the political situa- ing on to the DMK-led lot seems to be cooking, tional number of viewers ning people’s hearts. Even tion in the State was in a alliance, by replacing the though it has almost since Friday, everyone actor Kasturi Shankar, flux. A wounded Congress Congress. But now it become clear that the knew it was not because of who is otherwise a BJP Chief Minister of appears as if the DMK is PMK may not be able to the mushroom biriyani supporter, described it as Puducherry had rushed to not keen on roping in the patch up with the that was featured. Rahul ‘the best thing Rahul New Delhi to brief Rahul PMK. Perhaps the DMK AIADMK and stick to the Gandhi, who appeared as a Gandhi has done this Gandhi of the humilia- realised that conversion of alliance. For one, the rul- special guest and also pre- entire campaign. His very tions heaped on him and the PMK votes to its favour ing party has already put pared the raitha to go with likeable side comes his party by their ally, the would not be possible. its foot down on acceding the delectable biriyani, across.’ Kasturi Shankar, DMK. Even the DMK lead- Given the sustained cam- to the demand for exclu- was the one who enabled in the same tweet, also ership was keeping mum paign carried out by PMK sive reservation. AIADMK the video to notch up an paid compliments to on the controversy created leader Dr S Ramadoss over has also told other allies estimated 4.66 lakh views Congress MP, Jothimani, by the DMK’s proclama- the years denigrating the like the BJP and DMDK in just an hour of its for being a proper transla- tion that it would contest DMK, most of the young that their claims for a high release. Even as one may tor for Rahul Gandhi. in all the 30 constituencies PMK supporters might number of seats cannot be sit and debate if the video But more than the mak- in the Union Territory and have developed a strong met at all. So, it needs to be helped the Tamil YouTube ing of the biriyani, it was would also win all of them antipathy towards the seen as to how many of the channel gain more view- the bonhomie that Rahul hands down. But even DMK and might not just small parties would like to ers or gave Rahul Gandhi Gandhi exhibited while now, after Rahul Gandhi’s turn around because plough a lonely furrow more popularity, the politi- interacting with the rural visit, Puducherry remains Ramadoss has changed his rather than staying in big cal dimension to the cooks that caught the the same where the mind and alliance. coalitions led by episode cannot be missed. attention of many. ‘This Congress and DMK do not As some say, there is a Dravidian majors, watch- Rahul Gandhi was on a guy @RahulGandhi enjoy- seem to have buried the definite conspiracy to ing either MK Stalin or campaign tour of Tamil ing Tamil Nadu like a hatchet. break the DMK-Congress Edappadi K Palaniswami Nadu from January 23 to tourist,’ said a tweet cap- However, in Tamil Nadu alliance because if the being crowned as Chief Greater Chennai traffic police organised 32nd road safety awareness bike rally at Marina beach. 25 when he stepped into turing the essence of the there seems to be some PMK joins the coalition, Minister at the end of it Commissioner Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal inaugurated the event. — DC the pastoral settings, latest campaign in the hope of the alliance con- the VCK might move out, all. What’s exactly cooking along with a slew of party western parts of the State, tinuing as the DMK has too. But now VCK has mel- is not clear. STATE DECCAN CHRONICLE | SUNDAY | 31 JANUARY 2021 | CHENNAI pg 3

OTHER STORY To curb flooding, government Nadda’s tips to cadre Co-op dept staff assn backs Feb. 2 jail bharo stir okays Ennore creek project to tackle social media T. SUDHEESH | DC ● The study team comprising Prof K. Murali, Prof S.A. Sannasiraj, and Prof V. DC CORRESPONDENT Saturday met social media media, he said that con- DC CORRESPONDENT CHENNAI, JAN. 30 Sundar, faculty in the department of ocean engineering, found that the creek's MADURAI, JAN 30 volunteers of the party at a tents of the counter post- TIRUCHY, JAN. 30 narrow mouth and heavy siltation was one among the key reasons for the city's private hotel, where he ings should be qualitative With the government flood threat. Prof V. Sundar told DC that though the order on Ennore Creek was “Don’t over react or get gave a slew of advice to and factual, addressing the The Tamil Nadu government granting administrative encouraging, the government should address similar issues related to the other perturbed by social participants about work- essence of the issue. It cooperative department sanction (AS) for the ‘eco- two creeks -Adyar and Cooum - as they are also equally responsible for the media trollings against ing effectively on the social should be in English and employees association has restoration of the Ennore floods. the BJP, but counter media platform, to take the in Tamil with appropriate announced its support to the Creek’ project at an should address similar 358 acre Adyar Creek and entrusted to execute the them effectively with party to the masses. dialects, so as to reach out proposed statewide jail bharo estimated cost of issues related to the other estuary have been success- `154.10 crore projects facts,” said BJP national Nadda said the volun- to more people. agitation by the Tamil Nadu `203.05 crore, Chennaites two creeks –Adyar and fully completed under the namely ‘Sustainable river president J. P. Nadda, in a teers were privileged to Nadda reached Madurai government employees associa- have reasons to heave a Cooum - as they are also CRRT, it has now under- mouth opening’ and ‘Solid word of advice to volun- work for a party working on Friday night. On tion on February 2 raising a sigh of relief from the equally responsible for the taken steps to restore waste management’, the teers of the party’s social in the right direction for Saturday morning, he wor- charter of demands. annual floods threatening floods. Ennore and Kovalam other two works media wing here, on the development of the shipped at the Meenakshi- Association's state president the city. “Maybe, the Chennai creeks towards the com- costing `48 crore will be Saturday. country. amman temple and held a Soundararajan told mediaper- The order comes after a Rivers Restoration Trust prehensive restoration of implemented by the CRRT. Visiting the temple city Marking DMK as their meeting with state party sons after their state executive team of experts from the (CRRT) had reclaimed the city’s ecology. “ The The projects would be for the second time since arch rival who has to be heads to review poll pre- meeting in Tiruchy on Saturday Indian Institute of encroached lands of the holistic approach completed by 2023,” it January 14, Nadda on challenged on social paredness of the party. that a resolution to this effect Technology Madras (IIT- Adyar and Cooum rivers, for restoring Chennai’s says. was adopted at the meeting. M) who proposed last but no proper study has waterways was envisioned The restoration of this He said the meeting wanted September, the construc- been done to find out the by the government and a natural drainage system the government to restore old tion of ‘straight training reasons for the choking at DPR prepared for came to the government’s Online distribution of money to pension scheme, leave surren- walls’ at the mouth of these creeks and to rectify restoration of the notice after the city expe- der salary and dearness allo- Ennore Creek to mitigate them. Hence, it’s impor- Ennore Creek to mitigate rienced an unprecedented wance increase immediately. flood risk in the city. tant to implement these pollution and revival of flood situation in 2015. voters will be curbed: EC He said the meeting wanted The study team compris- projects as well,” Dr. the creek’s ecosystem. Located to the north of R. VALAYAPATHY I DC Tamil Nadu Assembly the government to change the ing Prof K. Murali, Prof Sundar opined. The major components Chennai, the Ennore TIRUCHY, JAN. 30 shortly. existing promotion ratio of 25 S.A. Sannasiraj, and Prof It was on January 22 that of the eco-restoration of creek was formed at the He said the available percent for promotion and 75 V. Sundar, faculty in the Harmander Singh, the Ennore Creek are confluence point of the Necessary steps would EVMs are put under the percent direct recruitment sys- department of ocean engi- Additional chief secre- ‘sustainable river mouth Araniyar and be taken for preventing first level checking in 26 tem for the post of junior neering, found that the tary, issued the adminis- opening’ at a cost of Kosasthalaiyar to drain online distribution of centres across the state inspectors to senior inspectors creek’s narrow mouth and trative sanction order (`153.75 cr), solid waste into the Bay of Bengal at money to the voters for and this job will be com- and pointed out that the govern- heavy siltation was one based on the detailed proj- management (`35 lakhs), Mugathwarakuppam. influencing them in the pleted throughout the state ment should promote all the among the key reasons for ect report (DPR) submit- habitat restoration (Rs The choking of the creek forthcoming assembly on or before February 5. qualifying junior inspectors the city’s flood threat. Prof ted by the Chennai Rivers 48.39 cr), and environment began after the alleged dis- elections, said chief elec- He said the Election and then only go for direct V. Sundar told DC that Restoration Trust (CRRT). management plan (Rs 57 charge of flyash from the toral officer Nadu Commission has planned recruitment. The existing typ- though the order on The order copy available lakhs).” North Chennai Thermal Satyabrata Sahoo. to arrange online voting ists and stenographers grade III Ennore Creek was encour- with DC says, “As the eco- “While the public works Power Station (NCTPS), Addressing a press confer- for the non-resident should be promoted as junior aging, the government logical restoration of the department (PWD) is which was set up in 1994. ence at Tiruchy on Indians residing abroad. inspectors and record clerks Saturday after winding up If possible, senior citizens and office assistants should be the four-day certification can cast their votes in their promoted as junior assistants, (training) programme for respective polling booths, he added. To draw the state gov- Saratkumar: Money 118 returning officers of 20 otherwise they can vote ernment's attention to these southern districts, he said through the D Form demands, it was decided to send politics will spoil Temple has life-size bronze they conducted a meeting system, he added. memorandums to the depart- of officials of different He said all political par- ment higher ups through e-mail departments to end the ties have requested the and registered post on February future generations money power menace, now Election Commission to 15, he said. R. VALAYAPATHY I DC statues of MGR, Jayalalithaa online. hold a single phase of elec- TIRUCHY, JAN. 30 He said his department is tion and hoped that there Kumaraguru institutions going to prepare a list of will be a single phase Actor-turned-politician officials of both the central polling in the state. and founder of the and state governments for The regulatory norms launch AGRIGO Akhila India Samathuva election duty shortly. during the Covid-19 period Erode, Jan 30: Kumaraguru Makkal Kazhagam He said since the state like wearing facial masks, Institutions launched AGRIGO, Saratkumar has warned government's tenure will hand washing etc will be farm advisory and consulting the voters as well expire on May 24, the strictly implemented in services division of Sakthi Gr- as the general public Election Commission of the polling as well as oup at Kumaraguru Institute of that "If you vote India will announce the counting stations, he Agriculture, Nachimuthupura- after receiving money election schedule for the added. m, Erode on January 30. Agrigo from the politicians" it encompasses experts in agr- will spoil the future gener- iculture and allied subjects to ations. CM Edappadi and Deputy CM O Panneerselvam life size bronze statues of MGR and Deputy CM OPS: DMK strategies offer end-to-end assistance to Addressing the party's Jayalalithaa through video conferencing. (Right) The statues can be seen. farmers in agriculture and ani- office-bearers of the mal husbandry. Tiruchy zone at Madurai, Jan 30: The tem- tiative of Revenue Minister Chennai and declaring her won’t win them State polls Mr.Saravanan, Administrative Samayapuram near ple dedicated to AIADMK R B Udhayakumar who is residence in the state capi- From P1 sons from the North or to Officer of Kumaraguru Institut- Tiruchy on Saturday, Mr. icons M G Ramachandran also the AIADMK wing tal a memorial. the ‘vel’ but will not win e of Agriculture welcomed the Saratkumar also warned and J Jayalalithaa was 'Amma Peravai's' secretary, Panneerselvam, recalling Mr Panneerselvam who the elections. gathering followed by a brief if the trend of purchasing unveiled in a grand func- is located on a 12-acre site at that DMK chief M K Stalin, also talked at the function The temple was constru- orientation on Agrigo by Dr.B.- votes through money tion. The temple, a large T Kunnathur in Madurai. had recently held a spear took a dig at DMK cted on behalf of Jayalali- J.Pandian, Principal of Kumar- power continues, there is multi-pillared hall with life The statues of both like weapon of Lord president M.K. Stalin. “He thaa Peravai by its state aguru Institute of Agriculture. every chance of sparking size bronze statues of MGR Jayalalithaa and MGR Muruga in his hand said was a Hindu-baiter but is secretary and revenue mi- The cell was launched by Sha- a revolution. and Jayalalithaa was feature statues of a such tactics would not now posing with the ‘vel’ of nister R.B. Udayakumar at nkar Vanavarayar, President of He recalled the opened by CM Palaniswami lion and the shrine was help him capture power in Lord Muruga as elections his constituency. It has a 7- Kumaraguru Institutions. AG- American system of elec- and Dy CM Panneerselvam, thrown open to the Tamil Nadu. During the are round the corner. Lord ft tall bronze statues Jayal- RIGO extends its support in the tions where the political with the top AIADMK lead- public. A large number of run up to elections, 'some' Muruga, however, will not alitha and MGR, each aro- areas of soil fertility & water leaders, especially ers performing an 'aarti'. party workers gathered would practice deceit to bestow his blessings upon und 400 kgs. The consecra- analysis, information of seed those who seek election Amid chant of hymns, for the event. The mislead people that they Mr Stalin and his party.” tion was performed by 21 and variety selection, pest and for high posts, go priests poured holy water CM recalled the opening of revered divinity, the Deputy Referring to the DMK’s Sivacharyas by pouring disease diagnosis and recom- for debate with people and on the finial - which had a phoneix themed memori- Chief Minister said, adding election strategist Prasha- holy water on the temple mendation, recent technologies said we should follow the similarities to a pot - on the al (in the site of the AIADMK alone had the nt Kishore, Mr Panneerse- kalasas, preceded by yaga- in agriculture, management ad- same model and elect a dome like structure over Jayalalithaa's mausoleum) blessings of both the people lvam said the opposition sala poojas on the previous visory and veterinary services. good leadership. the roof. The shrine, an ini- at the Marina beach in and the Almighty. —PTI leader can hold on to per- three days. Gold worth `40L Aids Control Society official seized at Tiruchy killed in road mishap DC CORRESPONDENT airport TIRUCHY, JAN. 30 DC CORRESPONDENT TIRUCHY, JAN. 30 Dr. Stanley Michael, Joint Director of Tamil Nadu The intelligence wing of the AIDS control society, was Air Customs seized 799 gm killed on the spot in a road of smuggled gold worth accident at Nedungur section Rs 40 lakh from a road under Siruganur passenger who landed at police limits on the the Tiruchy airport Tiruchy-Chennai national from Dubai by an highway near Tiruchy on Air India Express flight on Saturday. Friday. He was on his way to Chennai On examination, gold hid- after calling on his sister at den in the body of one Tiruchy when the mishap Balasubramanian of occurred. He was driving the Venmai village in car which rammed into the rear Floating festival at Perambalur district was of a stranded lorry. Kapaleeswarar Temple tank detected. The officials The Siruganur police have on the occasion of seized the gold and detained registered a case and are inves- Thaipusam. —DC the passenger. tigating. ‘Personal income-tax should be reduced’ DC Remake stays true to original CORRESPONDENT CHENNAI, JAN. 30 cop, who wants to prove his Movie review KABADADAARI investigative skills. As usual, The Covid-19 Nasser and Jayaprakash have pandemic brought CAST: Sibiraj, Nandita, given admirable performanc- about a big setback in Nasser, Jayaprakash es. Nandita Swetha has no most of our lives in ANUPAMA SUBRAMANIAN scope in an insignificant role. 2020. As we are slowly Direction: Pradeep Sampath as the villain is not moving out of it, Kabadadaari is the Tamil Krishnamoorthy as menacing as he was in the the Government remake of neo-noir Kannada original. While the first half should look at bring- thriller Kaavaludaari, which RATING: ★★★★ is gripping, the same cannot ing down the personal was hailed for slick presenta- be said income tax, thus giv- tion. Pradeep Krishnamo- On researching, Shakthi post-intermission. The pace ing more to the orthy who teams up with comes to know that 35 years suffers despite trimming citizens. The Sibiraj for the second time earlier an officer from the from the original. The existing personal tax sticks to the original plot archaeological department major plus is the solid story slab may be slashed to making only minor tweaks. (JSK Satish), his wife, and written by Hemanth Rao for increase liquidity for Shakthi (Sibiraj) is a traffic their little daughter had gone the Kannada version. Indians. cop who wants to shift to the missing. However, he feels Pradeep’s adhering to the Also the GST crime beat as he seeks more there’s something mysterious original and opting to leave slabs may be challenges in life. His superi- in their deaths. He meets out the trappings of commer- restructured to 5%, or officer (Abhishek) dis- Kumar (Jayaprakash), a cial cinema also goes in the 10 % and 15%. GST suades him despite his small time reporter, who is film’s favour. for the business repeated request. One day, equally interested in the case. Simon King’s music is top services can be Shakthi stumbles upon three Through his leads, Shakthi on seeing the latter’s grit and How Shakthi manages to tie notch and elevates the mood. reduced to 10% from skulls at a road widening con- encounters Ranjan (Nasser), determination to crack the all the loose ends and solve Rasamathy’s cinematography the existing 18%, said struction site. He takes an a retired cop and the first case. An actress Ramya the case forms the reminder is adequate. For those who , Nagaraj Krishnan, interest in the case and investigative officer in the (Suman Ranganathan) who is of the film. have not watched the origi- MD, Aparajitha begins to probe into it despite murder case decades ago. thrown into the scheme of Sibiraj, with his beefed up nal, Kabadadaari will appeal Corporate Services orders from his higher-ups to Ranjan was in no mood to action is murdered which physique, convincingly pulls for its fresh and engrossing Private Limited. drop the investigation. help Shakthi but agreed later complicates the case further. off the role of a determined narrative. NATION DECCAN CHRONICLE | CHENNAI | SUNDAY | 31 JANUARY 2021 pg 4

IN BRIEF Covid: Over 37L RAJIB, OTHER Tikait’s appeal energised, FORMER TMC vaccinated so far NETAS JOIN BJP revived farmers’ agitation DC CORRESPONDENT healthcare workers have NEW DELHI, JAN 30 been vaccinated across the Kolkata/New Delhi, Jan 30: country. Former West Bengal minister BKU leader has emerged as most powerful farm leader of the day With a fortnight over since The Union Health Secretary Rajib Banerjee, who recently the central government start- also highlighted certain quit the Trinamool Congress, New Delhi, Jan 30: His ed the nation-wide immuni- issues that need attention of joined the BJP in the national tears exercised an emo- sation drive against the coro- the states/UTs to improve capital on Saturday along with tive pull even he may not navirus, Union Health and accelerate the coverage. a few other leaders of the have envisaged, helping Secretary Mr Rajesh He pointed out that Covid-19 state’s ruling party after meet- turn the tide for a move- Bhushan on Saturday held a vaccine is available in suffi- ing senior BJP leader and ment that seemed to have review meeting with the state cient quantity and technical Union Home Minister Amit lost both sheen and and union territory health glitches on CoWIN have now Shah. momentum after the vio- secretaries to take stock of been resolved. Banerjee and MLAs Prabir lence on Republic Day. It the progress. “States/UTs were advised Ghosal and Baishali Dalmiya, was but a moment in Mr Bhushan urged to ensure that regular review who was recently expelled time and Rakesh Tikait States/UTs to increase per- meetings of the state, district from the TMC, former Howrah was the man in it. centage coverage of benefici- and Block Task Force were Mayor Rathin Chakraborty He was once a Delhi aries, increase and optimise held to assess the emerging and actor Rudranil Ghosh flew Police constable, tried sessions per day and start challenges, understand the to the national capital on a spe- his hand at electoral poli- vaccinating frontline work- ground issues and promptly cial plane, and met central BJP tics and been a farmer ers from the first week of address them at the appropri- leaders. leader for years. But February. ate levels,” union health min- They have joined the BJP, Bharatiya Kisan Union In the last 15 days, 37 lakh istry officials said. party general secretary (BKU) leader Tikait has Kailash Vijayvargiya said fol- broken out of the con- lowing the meeting. fines of western Uttar Later, Shah tweeted, “Former Pradesh to find a space TMC leaders Mr. Rajib in the national spotlight Banerjee, Ms. Baishali as arguably the most Video shows men Dalmiya, Mr. Prabir Ghoshal, powerful farm leader of Mr. Rathin Chakraborti and the day. Mr. Rudranil Ghosh joined The two-month farmer BJP on Saturday in New Delhi. movement against the with Sena logo I am sure their induction will Centre’s three farm laws further strengthen BJP's fight was till now dominated for Sonar Bangla.” by protesters from the Former Trinamool Congress fields of Punjab and MLA Parthasarathi Haryana who set up brandishing guns Chattopadhyay had also camp at the Singhu and Farmers during their protest over Centre’s farm laws, at Ghazipur border in New Delhi on Saturday. - PTI accompanied the leaders to Tikri border points into DC CORRESPONDENT Shiv Sena's logo. Delhi. the city. Now, the focus rity presence at the site next 12 hours, running Born on June 4, 1969 in Narendra, engaged in MUMBAI, JAN. 30 Mr Jaleel also tagged BJP national vice-president has shifted to Ghazipur escalated and fears grew into well over 5,000 in Sisauli village of agriculture. Maharashtra Chief Minister Mukul Roy and Vijayvargiya on the Delhi-Uttar that the protesters would next 24 hours. The Muzaffarnagar district The father of three - Maharashtra Police on Uddhav Thackeray's office, arrived in Delhi with them. Pradesh border where be forcibly evicted, an farmer movement was in western Uttar two daughters and a son - Saturday registered a case Home Minister Anil The TMC, which has been farmers are gathering in emotional Tikait broke not just revived but fur- Pradesh, Rakesh Tikait has been at loggerheads against some unidentified Deshmukh and the state facing dissent from a number thousands to boost the down while talking to ther energised. joined BKU after quit- with various govern- persons for brandishing guns Director General of Police of leaders ahead of the assem- fight that seemed to have reporters. Tikait, who has been ting the Delhi Police and ments on a range of on the Pune-Mumbai (DGP) in his tweet. bly election due in April-May, been weakening only two The protest won’t be part of a delegation talk- gained prominence as a farmers’ issues, includ- Expressway while attempt- BJP leader, Ram Kadam said that those who are leaving days ago. called off. Farmers are ing with the Centre over farm leader after the ing loan waivers, mini- ing to clear the way for their also took to his Twitter han- do not have long political his- A day after the being met with injustice, the ongoing protest, is death of his father to mum support price vehicle. The case was regis- dle and said, "Shiv Sena peo- tory. Republic Day violence in he said and even threat- also one of the accused cancer in May 2011. (MSP), power tariff and tered in the Khopoli police ple are threatening people Earlier in the day, Banerjee Delhi, when a section of ened to end his life for in the January 26 vio- Mahendra Tikait, who land acquisition in states station of Raigad and police with revolvers on Mumbai- said he had a word with Union farmers taking part in the cause. lence in Delhi that saw was hailed as messiah of such as UP, Haryana said that further investiga- Pune Expressway and mak- Home Minister Amit Shah the tractor parade broke It soon emerged that one farmer dying when farmers, had inherited Rajasthan, Madhya tion regarding the case is ing a mockery of law and who called him to the national through barriers, the 51-year-old who was his tractor overturned the Chaudhary title of Pradesh. He also tried underway. order." capital. clashed with police and leading BKU supporters and hundreds of people, the regional Baliyan his hand at elections but The video of the incident “Neither 'sadhus', nor com- “After I resigned from the stormed the Red Fort for at the Ghazipur border including police person- khap (a social and lost both times. has gone viral. AIMIM MP mon citizens are safe in the TMC, I received a call from the a few hours, the farmer since November 28, was nel, being injured. administrative system in In 2007, he contested from Aurangabad Imtiaz state” he added. BJP leadership.... Amit Shah ji game it seemed to be no ordinary man at all. He has denied the alle- parts of north India) at the UP Assembly polls Jaleel also posted the video Shiv Sena is currently in told me to come over to Delhi. over. Morale plummeted His call for continuing gations of conspiracy the age of eight from his from Khatauli con- in his Twitter handle. He said power in Maharashtra with He also requested me to pass and many farmers the protest against the and demanded a judicial father. Going by the tra- stituency in the incident took place on NCP and Congress as its rul- on the information to five returned home. government struck a probe into the violence, dition of the khap, the Muzaffarnagar as an Friday night and claimed ing partners. other important public On Wednesday night, deep emotional chord. blaming infiltrators in title passed on to his independent candidate. that the two men belonged to When asked about the inci- figures who wanted to serve the atmosphere was It led to his brother the tractors’ parade of elder son and Rakesh In 2014, he fought the Lok the Shiv Sena. dent, Shiv Sena's Lok Sabha people in a better way to tense at Ghazipur. The Naresh Tikait calling a the unrest. Tikait’s elder brother Sabha election from In the text posted along MP from Mumbai South and accompany me. Ghaziabad administra- mahapanchayat at their To be named as an Naresh. Amroha district on a with the video, the MP said, party spokesperson Arvind “If I get an assurance on the tion issued an ultimatum home town in accused by the Delhi But Rakesh Tikait, a Rashtriya Lok Dal ticket. "This is on Pune Mumbai Sawant said, “All are equal state's development, if I get an to the protesters occupy- Muzaffarnagar on Police is perhaps strange BA graduate from the Ahead of the 2014 polls, expressway in Maharashtra! before the law. Police will assurance that I can work for ing a stretch of the Delhi- Friday where tens of for Tikait, who served as Meerut University, was Tikait had declared The logo on the vehicle says investigate and take neces- the betterment of people, I will Meerut expressway to thousands of farmers a head constable in the designated national assets worth `4.25 crore, it all! Shiv Sainiks brandish- sary steps.” join the BJP,” he told reporters vacate as the January 26 gathered to back the force but quit in 1992-93 spokesperson of the including `10 lakh cash, ing revolvers while trying to A police official said that at the Kolkata airport. clashes painted a not-so- movement. when he had to deal with BKU. and liabilities of `10.95 make way for their vehicle on the offence has been regis- peaceful picture of the The crowd at Ghazipur a farmers’ agitation led He has two younger lakh with land worth Friday night. Can HM/ DG tered against unidentified peasant community. border that had reduced by his father, the leg- brothers - Surendra, who over Rs 3 crore forming take note of this lawless- persons under section 3/25 of And then came the to 500 on Thursday night endary Mahendra Singh works as a manager in a the biggest chunk of his ness!" the Arms Act at Khopoli LENS ON TWO IN Tikait moment. As secu- grew manifold over the Tikait. sugar mill, and assets. - PTI The video shows two men police station. A hunt is on to waving one gun each from trace the vehicle and its occu- BLAST AT ISRAEL the car window at a truck pants, who showed the driver to clear way for their weapons to the truck driver, EMBASSY own vehicle. After a while, he added. Based on the regis- PM says offer on their car speeds away from tration number of the car, From Page 1 Support swells; leaders go the spot. The rear windshield the police are trying to get of their vehicle could be seen information from the trans- The Jaish-ul-Hind, an carrying a sticker of a port department about the unknown organization, has farm laws stands snarling tiger face, which is owner of the vehicle. claimed responsibility after a on fast on Martyr’s Day screenshot claiming to be from From Page 1 ● ALMOST ALL oppo- messaging service Telegram From Page 1 coming days. ity to keep the agitation SHIV SENA SLAMS PUNJAB NATIONAL has gone viral on social media Farmer leader Balbir peaceful," he stressed. Emphasising on the sition parties con- in which the yet unknown “The farmers have Singh Rajewal, presi- To a question on join- need for smooth func- demned the violence HAZARE FOR organisation is claiming to be fought this battle for dent of the Bharatiya ing the investigation fol- tioning of parliament, and vandalism at the BANK SCAM behind the blast. over two months now Kisan Union (Rajewal), lowing notices issued by Mr Modi said smaller Red Fort by a group of In its message, the Jaish-ul- and they won't relent or said in Chandigarh that the Delhi Police to parties suffer the most protesting farmers. CALLING OFF ACCUSED DENIED Hind claims, “By the grace retreat,” said Rakesh he expected a record farmer leaders in con- due to disruptions as and help of Almighty Allah, Tikait, the BKU gathering by February 2 nection with the they do not get chance to Trinamul Congress, HIS PROTEST BAIL BY SPL COURT soldiers of Jaish-ul-Hind were spokesperson. at the border points of Republic Day violence, raise their issues. Balwinder Singh able to infiltrate a high securi- Till now, the agitation Delhi. Mr Rajewal said, "We "It is for the bigger par- Bhunder of Shiromani ty area in Delhi and carry out was seen as mainly "People in large num- will send them a reply." ties to ensure parlia- Akali Dal and Vinayak SONU SHRIVASTAVA DC CORRESPONDENT an IED attack. This Allah will- being led by Punjab- bers from Punjab, The Delhi Police has ment functions smooth- Raut of Shiv Sena raised MUMBAI, JAN. 30 MUMBAI, JAN. 30 ing is beginning of a series of based farmer unions. Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, issued notices to around ly, there are no disrup- the issue of protesting attacks that would target A multitude of green- Rajasthan and 20 farmer leaders, tions and thus, the farmers, sources said. A day after social activist A special court here on major Indian cities and pay and-white caps, symbol- Uttarakhand are reach- including Mr Rajewal, smaller parties are able While almost all oppo- and anti-graft crusader Saturday denied bail to back in kind to the atrocities ic of the unions spear- ing the protest sites. over the violence during to voice their views in sition parties con- Anna Hazare called off his retired bank official committed by the Indian state. heading the battle, Possibly by February 2, the farmers' tractor parliament," Mr Joshi demned the violence protest after meeting with Gokulnath Shetty, a key con- Wait and we are waiting too.” union flags and the tri- there will again be a parade, asking why legal said citing Mr Modi's and vandalism at the the Maharashtra and central spirator and prime accused The Delhi police has already colour, planted on trac- record gathering of peo- action should not be remarks. Red Fort by a group of BJP leaders, the Shiv Sena in the Punjab National Bank registered a case while the tors dotted the highway. ple at the protest sites," taken against them. The all-party meeting protesting farmers on on Saturday asked Mr. (PNB) scam case. National Investigation Agency On various tractors and he said, adding that the A team of forensic is convened for the gov- Republic Day, they Hazare to clarify his stand on Special judge for cases is also likely to register a sepa- camps, photos of leg- agitation would remain experts on Saturday vis- ernment to put forth its asserted that other three contentious farm laws under the Prevention of rate case. endary farmer leaders peaceful. ited the Red Fort, where legislative agenda farmers protesting and farmers’ protest. Money Laundering Act A 10-member team from the such as Chaudhary Mr Rajewal also criti- the protesters had before political parties. peacefully should not be The Sena also said that (PMLA) V C Barde rejected Forensic Science Laboratory Charan Singh and cised the Haryana gov- indulged in vandalism, Leaders from various held responsible for it. Anna Hazare did not organ- Shetty’s bail plea. (FSL) had on Friday visited the Mahendra Singh Tikait ernment for suspending hoisted a religious flag parties flag issues they Meanwhile, the BJD ise a single protest against Mr Shetty, who is alleged to blast site and collected residues were put up. Internet services. He and attacked the police wish to raise during the demanded the passage of the Prime Minister have played a key role in the that include metallic swab and Several Opposition accused the Centre of personnel, to collect evi- meeting. women's reservation bill Narendra Modi led govern- `13,700-crore loan fraud ball bearings. Delhi Police parties, including the instilling a sense of fear dence. The Prime Minister during the budget ses- ment in the last seven years while working as deputy Commissioner S.N. Shrivastava Congress, TMC AAP, among people by show- The Delhi Police exam- also condemned the van- sion, which was sup- as if there is a Ram Rajya in manager at PNB’s too had visited the site. RLD and the Left, have ing pictures of the ining dump data of dalism of Mahatma ported by the YSR the country. Brady House branch in The blast took place when openly supported the "unfortunate incidents", mobile calls, registra- Gandhi's statue in Congress and the TRS. Mr Hazare hit back at Shiv Mumbai, was arrested in President Ram Nath Kovind, stir. Abhimanyu Kohar, apparently referring to tion numbers of tractors California in the US, the TMC's Bandyopadhyay Sena reminding the party March 2018. vice-president M. Venkaiah a senior member of the January 26 violence in probe into January 26 parliamentary affairs said boycott of that its ministers had to The scam came to light Naidu and Prime Minister Samkyukt Kisan in the national capital. violence said that it had minister said. President's address by 20 resign after his agitation when jewellery firms of Narendra Modi were present a Morcha (SKM), said the Mr Rajewal appealed to received 1,700 video At the meeting, vari- opposition parties was a against corruption. When I prime accused Nirav Modi couple of kilometres away at ongoing agitation would those joining the agita- clips, CCTV footage ous leaders including strong message for the raised questions about cor- and Mehul Choksi the Beating Retreat ceremony gain strength, as farm- tion at Delhi's borders to from public related to Ghulam Nabi Azad of government to with- ruption by your ministers, approached the Brady Road at the culmination of the ers in large numbers keep the protest peace- tractor rally violence in Congress, Sudip draw the farm laws, the you were trying to shield branch of the PNB in Republic Day celebrations. will join them in the ful. "It is our responsibil- the capital. Bandyopadhyay of sources said. them, he said. January 2018, seeking Earlier the social activist Letters of Understanding had decided to go on a (LoU) for payment to suppli- hunger strike from January ers. FACING | FLAK Local residents comk to their rescue; force municipal staff to take them back in truck 30. “As Anna Hazare organ- The bank realised that ised a protest, it appeared LoUs were being issued to that he is taking a firm stand these firms fraudulently for over farm laws. But later he seven years by bypassing its called off his protest,” said core banking system, and Mr Indore officials leave elderly destitute on roadside the Sena in an editorial in its Shetty was allegedly instru- mouthpiece Saamana. mental in this. RABINDRA NATH the outskirts of Indore city, ● THE HAPLESS PEOPLE, ● Actor Sonu Sood, in a appeared not even in a He said the municipality The problems of farmers is LoU is a guarantee which is CHOUDHURY | DC to drop them on the road- who appeared feeble and video message, offered to position to move, was seen workers tried to justify a national issue. Therefore, given by an issuing bank to BHOPAL, JAN 30 side. sick, were bundled out in a help to rehabilitate the being lifted out by 3 munic- their action saying that the he should make his stand Indian banks having branch- Several videos capturing truck of the corporation homeless elderly destitute. ipal workers and bundled destitute were making clear on it as it is ambiguous, es abroad to grant short- The Indore Municipal the inhuman act of the and driven to Kishpra, on IMC commissioner Pratibha out in the truck, in the Indore dirty and had to be the editorial said. The Sena term credit to an applicant. Corporation (IMC) has civic body officials went video. driven out of the city. also sought the opinion of In case of default, the bank invited severe flak from all viral forcing chief minis- the outskirts of Indore city, Pal described the incident “We were shocked to see IMC commissioner the social activist on the way issuing the LoU has to pay quarters for dumping ter Shivraj Singh Chouhan to drop them on the road- as insensitive and said the the civic body officials Pratibha Pal described the the farmers’ protests were the liability to the credit-giv- homeless elderly destitute to suspend deputy commis- side. guilty would not be spared. dropping the elderly people incident as insensitive and treated by the Centre. ing bank along with accru- on the outskirts of the city sioner of the Corporation on the roadside. We con- said the guilty would not Slamming the central gov- ing interest. late on Friday. Pratap Singh Solanki and showed the civic body offi- another. The locals had fronted them and forced be spared. ernment, the editorial said The companies of Mr Modi The hapless people, who sack 2 contractual workers, cials pulling the homeless come to the rescue of the them to take the hapless Actor Sonu Sood, in a that they were trying to and Mr Choksi took loans appeared feeble and sick, Vishwas Vajpayee and elderly people including a destitute by forcing the people back”, Rajesh Joshi, video message, offered to destroy the movement and from banks abroad on the were bundled out in a Brajesh Lashkari, late on woman out of the truck municipality officials to a local grocery shop owner, help to rehabilitate the treating farmers “as if they basis of LoUs but did not truck of the corporation Friday night. and dropping them on a put them back in the truck. told this newspaper on homeless elderly destitute (farmers) are some interna- repay them transferring the and driven to Kishpra, on Videos shot by the locals deserted place one after The elderly woman who Saturday. properly. tional criminals”. liability on PNB. DECCAN CHRONICLE | SUNDAY | 31 JANUARY 2021 | CHENNAI pg 5 EDIT DECCAN CHRONICLE | SUNDAY | 31 JANUARY 2021 | CHENNAI pg 6

LETTERS Subhani ECONOMIC SURVEY The annual flagship docu- ment of the Union ministry 31 JANUARY 2021 of finance, the economic survey, 2020-21, expects Indian economy to grow by 11 per cent which is very Sharon Lowen much closer to the latest assessment of IMF, which pegged our economic Off the beaten track growth at 11.5 per cent. While acknowledging our rapid economic rebound, A view from the which is expected to gath- er momentum in the com- ing days as the vaccination drive gains traction, we Covid cocoon should not be oblivious to ver the past many months, we all have travelled farther inside ourselves the fact that economic than outside, contemplating our inner worlds as we stare with wide-eyed recovery still remains trepidation at the world we see through our screens. For those of us with uneven and the economy is Ono need to leave home to care for society or put dal/roti on the tables for yet to come out of the our families, we can ricochet between the anxiety of personal privations and the guilt of knowing how much worse it is for too many or we can value and explore woods. Underscoring the the new opportunities from home. significance of higher gov- Zoom fatigue may have dimmed some enthusiasm for this kind of communica- ernment spending to raise tion, but I remember when it took hours to get an exorbitantly expensive “Lightning call” through in our pre-fibre optic days (God bless Sam Pitroda!). demand which holds the Today, I can read stories and show the illustrations to my grandson in Singapore key in scripting sustainable and celebrate in real time the joys of daily events with family near and far. When A ‘new deal’ for India economic recovery, the letters took two weeks to arrive, it’s really quite fabulous that we have WhatsApp, survey has rightly favoured Google, Zoom, Instagram, FB, etc., to connect. And you don’t need to let them over- the loosening of purse whelm you either. My incoming social media is all muted except for my daugh- ter’s and I check the rest very intermittently. Occasionally, I do miss something strings by the Union gov- time-bound, but not enough to be addicted to checking. ernment. Being at home meant I had to face teaching online. I’ve avoided this for years, is the call of the hour M. Jeyaram, despite requests, as it seemed too challenging logistically and of doubtful success. Sholavandan The other day, I asked one of my online classes what they discovered as the best critical phase of the health projects across the US tar- thing about being a homebody. Unanimously, they chimed in: “Being able to take and economic pandemic. geted at creating fresh Odissi classes!” These students include teachers, an astro-physicist, European lan- With the government employment avenues for BUDGET EXPECTATIONS guage interpreters, professional Odissi dancers and my teenage GOI scholarship Manish Tewari abstaining from delivering people and earnings for IT IS sincerely hoped that the holder, among others. They are spared the expense and hardships of travelling to significant income support small and large business Union Budget to be presented India from London, San Paolo, Atlanta, San Francisco, Vilnius, Berlin, Pune, to business establishments, establishments. shortly would surely help the com- Bhubaneswar and even Delhi as they simply flip open their laptops to immerse livelihoods were hit with Our new deal must push mon man, already reeling under themselves in a world of metaphysical beauty. Whether my own choreographies State of the Union MSME earnings taking the demand by both putting adverse impact of rapidly spi- or those of my guru, Padmavibhusan Kelucharan Mohapatra, teaching online also hardest knock. The third money both into the econo- ralling fuel prices, by bringing means each session is easily recorded and uploaded to an unlisted YouTube quarter of fiscal 2020-21 is my and directly into the down the excise duty on petrol and playlist for indefinite review, reference; it even allows dancers with scheduling anticipated to finish with hands of the people. diesel considerably so as to give conflicts never to miss a class. ndia is facing its worst government. job numbers at 395 million However, there are cer- some relief for all vehicle users. Home time does mean more consuming of news, which can lead to “Doom economic crisis since However, if the Econo- a 2.5 per cent drop from the tain essential pre-requi- The finance minister would also be scrolling”, not to mention being led down rabbit holes by social media. Anything 1991. It is in now in the mic Survey tabled by the 405 million employed in the sites for any new initiative doing a great service to crores of I watch on YouTube leads to their algorithm only showing me more of the same; 37th month of relent- finance minister on corresponding quarter of to succeed. There can be no income-tax payers by raising the sometimes, I find myself watching repeats of US less regression in GDP January 29 in Parliament the previous year as per substantive economic maximum tax rebate allowed u/s Senate hearings! Easy to see how QAnon and When letters took two growth.I The fourth consec- is anything to go by, the CMIE data. MSME units recovery without restoring 80C from the present maximum other bizarre conspiracy groups hypnotise the weeks to arrive, it’s utive year of decline so far. government strategy account for 45 per cent of social cohesion. For money level of `1.50 lakhs to at least `2 unwary. One advantage we have in India is the really quite fabulous The country is officially in seems to be “blame all the the total manufacturing in is a coward and goes to the lakhs crucial savings instruments print media. Newspapers are still holding their a recession with the econo- economic ills on the damn the country. safest harbour and not like for instance, post office sav- own here, and they give us the opportunity to that we have my having contracted by Covid” and then pat your- There is widespread rural where there is planned and ings, bank deposits, life insurance learn something not pre-selected for us by AI. I WhatsApp, Google, 7.5 per cent in the second self on the back claiming distress in the country as orchestrated social strife etc. This step would also help in like to start my daily newspaper reading with Zoom, Instagram, FB, quarter. It was down by 23.9 that we are the white revealed by the 38.79 per with the anti-conversion increasing the savings potential, the Asian Age, since it’s the only paper that has etc., to connect. And per cent in the first quarter knights in shining armour cent jump in demand for laws being its latest mani- especially for the middle income a front page showing news I’m interested in you don’t need to let of the current fiscal. who have prevented mil- employment figures under festation. This is a non- groups of tax payers, and which rather than ads I’m definitely not. (Sponsor dis- them overwhelm you. Much before Covid-19, a lions of deaths from tak- MNREGA (Mahatma sequitor if India needs to could also provide them much claimer: I’d say this even if Asian Age wasn’t Chinese export, ravaged ing place. This simply is Gandhi Rural Employment attract any degree of for- needed financial security for the the sponsor of this column!) the world, the Indian econ- not true. If India has sur- Guarantee Act between eign investment, especially future. Also considering the fact Perhaps, I’m being a bit churlish about YouTube not helping find diverse con- omy was already in a down- vived through the horrific April and September 2020 in long-term infrastructure that pensioners, particularly tent; in the months before I finally turned on the TV and succumbed to Netflix, I ward spiral. The ill-con- once-in-a-century pan- over the corresponding fig- projects. The government senior citizens also have to bear watched a super selection of historical documentaries and listened to free audio ceived demonetisation on demic, it is primarily ure last year. The employ- must repeal the farm laws the heavy burden plus added liabil- books. Sapiens had been sitting on the shelf for ages unopened, but it was an easy November 8, 2016, rocked because the immunity of ment demand by persons to restore tranquility in the ities like rising medical expenses, listen. So was the Trilogy of Immortals of Meluha, Dune and finally winding down the economy off its haunch- Indians generally seems to between April 1 to countryside for it is bad family expenses like marriage of to binging on pure brain candy Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes. Besides the es. It was followed by a be more robust than their September 12, 2020, was optics to have lakhs of children etc., the need of the hour world-from-home of YouTube, podcasts are great windows into offbeat and amaz- shoddily implemented western counterparts. 22,49,07,004 as compared to farmers camping out in the is to allow them huge tax relief on ing subjects, especially for extending the time spent on long walks socially dis- Goods and Service Tax Why so? The jury remains 16,20,38,372 for the same cold braving Covid-19 and pension income, an urgent step tancing in parks or gardens. (GST) regime The four fun- out on that. period in 2019. These fig- protesting for months to an which needs to be seriously con- You may not have the “library bug” or the “curse of the collector” but if you are damentals, namely, sav- The 11 per cent GDP ures were given in a writ- end against the govern- sidered by the finance minister. older than a millennial you probably have actual photographs stuffed in drawers ings, consumption, invest- growth prediction for the ten response to the Lok ment. Incidentally, agricul- A. Mohan, Chennai or shoeboxes. It took months into being at home to confront this and suddenly the ment and employment next fiscal in the Economic Sabha by the Union agri- ture was the only sector fog cleared and the organisational sun came out! The inspiration came from an were already under stress. Survey is also misleading. culture minister on that held up in the past idea to scan my daughter’s childhood photos for a digital birthday gift album as I Nothing evidences it more From a low base of -7.7 per September 15 last year. year. A tribute to the SHOCKING VERDICT couldn’t easily give a physical present. Unsurprisingly, opening the trunk of filled than the fact that, in the cent this year it would real- Close to 12 crore people resilience of our farmers. APROPOS REPORT Holding with long unseen Rama Color small plastic photo albums was a rediscovery and I first six months of the 2019- ly translate into a GDP have sought work under Resuscitating the econo- kid, fly open, not sexual assault: decided to keep going beyond the albums and sort through loose photos after the 20 fiscal (H-1), financial growth rate of only 3.3 per MNREGA in 2020-21 till my sustainably in the short HC (Jan. 29). If such verdicts are this start. Instead of making more albums, which would mean taking up unavail- flows to the commercial cent next year. now, the optimum level term would require justified, the libidinous, able space and lessen the ability to scan if needed, I streamlined the process with sector were down by a The government’s much since the Act was promul- enhanced government out- unzipped fellows will have a free labelling manila folders. Magically, miscellaneous buried sources revealed photos whopping 88 per cent. touted stimulus package gated. In the preceding two lays especially for develop- run molesting innocent girls. I’d forgotten (and really would have loved to use in my two last books!) Chhau and According to RBI data flow has simply not worked. The months alone 3.5 crore peo- ing additional public goods This same judge delivered a simi- Manipuri were separated from Odissi; Family and Friends subdivided, Students, of funds from banks and monetary part of the 20 ple have sought work coupled with a sustainable lar judgment last week which Other Odissi dancers, Other dance artists’ lec-dems, Fest of India-USA with non-banks to the commer- lakh-crore package was under this programme. plan for robust employ- was rubbished or nullified by the Guruji, Contact sheets, Dance related, all these specific-to-me files created. Family cial sector was `90,995 about 3.5 lakh crores that What V shaped recovery is ment generation. For India Supreme Court and now once photos can sectioned into Birthdays (by name), Diwali (over the years), Vacations crore between April and works out to 1.75 per cent of the government talking can ill afford a nine per cent again she has the temerity to pro- (by name) and voila, you can easily find and revisit all the memories you valued September 2019-20 as the GDP only. Going by about? plus unemployment rate nounce such a verdict which enough to photograph with a glance at the folder headings. against `7,36,087 for the cor- publicly available figures, Where does India go from that it is currently experi- would sully the image of the judi- What about DVDs? Do you have some you love and some you are done with? Do responding period in the revenues of the Union gov- here. It needs a “New Deal” encing. For that the FRBM ciary. According to the judge, you have DVDs copied from VHS tapes or other formats? I may not be ready to preceding year. ernment decreased by just like the one President limits must be stretched. only penetration or touching the ditch all of them yet, but I know I’m less inclined to put them in a DVD player and Then came the ill-con- about 18 per cent or Roosevelt crafted to get the This not the time for fiscal private parts comes under the soon Windows will join Mac in not bothering to include this hardware. No time ceived lockdown of March `1,81,372 crore between the United States out of the conservativeness. Finally, ambit of the Pocso Act treating it like the present home time to confront this. It was liberating to throw out the old 23, 2020. All that it succeed- April and November of 2020 great depression in 1929- the government must as rape but not if one is holding Pilates for You and AM PM Yoga and Jane Fonda DVDs. I periodically give batch- ed in doing was further flat- over the corresponding 1939. The American New transfer cash directly to the the hands of the prosecutrix or es of age-appropriate DVDs to the teenage children of staff to enjoy on their laptops tening the economy rather period the previous year. Deal was a series of mas- deprived and vulnerable at opened the trouser zip does not and get English practice between online classes. I plan to also give away audio CDs than the disease curve. The This was because of the vir- sive federally-funded infra- the base of the economic fit in the definition of sexual act of Indian and Western classical and folk music. If you are an interested NGO, let total number of Covid-19 tual cessation of economic structure and upgradation pyramid. This would not is preposterous and reprehensi- me know. Calling the Blind School is on my to-do list. infections in India today activity on account of the only help in keeping their ble damning natural justice. A major long pending home project has been going through stacks of DVDs of stands at 10.7 million out of lockdown and its after- body and soul together but Considering the nation cries for archival dance performances and family events copied from VHS and Video-8. I 101 million worldwide. math. What is, however, Where does India also boost demand. If there protection of the girl child such upload, edit and put on my non-monetised YouTube channel to share precious That translates into 10.59 bewildering is that the go from here. It was ever a time to think out bizarre verdicts create an videos of my guru, other dancers, and even rehearsals and lec-dems that might be per cent of the total infec- total spend of the Union of the box, it is now. impression that all is not well of interest to rasikas. Family and many of my performances I upload as unlisted, tions globally. While it is government went up by a needs a ‘New Deal’ with the judicial fraternity. If so I have free cloud storage and personal histories needn’t disappear in the trash correct that the infection paltry `86,301 crore. A just like the one The author is a lawyer, challenged, the Supreme Court with DVDs in the not-too-distant future. rate is on the decline in marginal 4.6 per cent President Roosevelt Member of Parliament and should contemplate suitable Staying at home has been easy, considering what a dear friend said years ago “A India so is it in a large num- increase barely keeping up crafted to get the former Union information action against the judge for such better class of problems”. We need awareness and commitment to help those in ber of other Asian geogra- with inflation. What this United States of and broadcasting minis- judgments as officialdom in other need and make our personal lemons into lemonade. phies that did not subject translates into is that the ter. The views expressed departments are punished for their populations to the NDA/BJP dispensation America out of the are personal. Twitter han- their misdemeanours. Sharon Lowen is an eminent exponent of Odissi, Manipuri and Mayurbhanj and draconian lockdown reduced its expenditure in great depression in dle A. Seshagiri Rao, Seraikella Chau. She can be contacted at [email protected]. imposed by the NDA/BJP real terms during the most 1929-1939. @manishtewari Chennai

his will be the Narendra Modi The point is that this is Prime became PM to six per cent, and then that was the most privatisation-orient- establish a grand narrative. This is government’s eighth Budget. Minister Modi’s eighth Budget. Can nine per cent. And this figure is not ed of any that came before it. His 2004 where India was, and this is where we We are told that the gross we discern, whether we are Modi really accurate because we are at the campaign was headlined “India are headed, and this is how we will do Tdomestic product of goods and haters or Modi bhakts, any idea of a lowest historical labour force participa- Shining” because he believed his eco- it. Nobody today, including those inside services in the coming financial year, grand narrative or a master plan? The tion rate. This means that the number nomic policies were strong enough and the government, can fill in the blanks of meaning from April 2021 to March 2022, fact is that we cannot. We have, in the of people who have no job and are not distinct enough for him to run on them. this sentence. This is not because the Aakar Patel will be 11 per cent more than it was in words of a friend who was responding looking for work, having given up He lost the election, but it was not policy and narrative are too complicat- the period between April 2020 and to Mr Modi’s national security policy, hope, is at the historical highest. because he was wrong about his poli- ed to describe. It is because there is no March 2021. “some catchphrases, acronyms and This is the despondency that is result- cies. They were of course quite remark- grand policy. It is being made up and The Economic Survey last year had advertise-able phases strung togeth- ing in mass movements all over the able. Can we say the same about what shifted and changed and even reversed said that growth would be six per cent er”. Who remembers Make in India? country, as we are seeing in the current has happened to India since 2014? as we go along. in the current year. It turned out to be This came with a superb logo of a lion time. To return to the original point, Mr Modi’s first Niti Aayog head was There is the conviction that THIS par- minus 7.7 per cent instead. striding boldly forward and a series of eight Budgets is a lot. It is more than a man who has spent his entire life ticular Budget will be the “game chang- In the coming year the government events. The logic of Make in India was P.V. Narasimha Rao, the great saying open and unrestricted free er” that India has always waited for. Modi’s eighth will again get the chance to claim that that India was overly reliant on ser- reformer, got. It is as many, more or trade was the only way for a nation to That is what you will hear again after India is the “fastest growing economy” vices, which while it contributed well less, as Atal Behari Vajpayee, who was quickly grow its economy. That man, Nirmala Sitharaman presents a speech because from the minus numbers we over half of GDP only contributed 25 seen as the great liberaliser, got. People Arvind Panagariya, was left to lament that will prove to be meaningless and Budget looms, will have modest growth of about 2.2 per cent to employment. By increas- may not remember that the Jan Sangh, over today’s policy, which is the oppo- numbers that will show themselves to per cent over two years, between 2019 ing the share of manufacturing, we under Vajpayee, once promised to cap site of free trade. Atmanirbharta be wildly off the mark. and 2022. This shift from negative to would have more employment in the the salaries of all Indians at `2,000 and means import substitution, which in But we will continue bumbling in this positive will come with the illusion that formal sector. said the government would take all turn means cheaper foreign imports fashion, not mindful of what has hap- there’s still no there is record shattering growth, Well, manufacturing’s share of GDP income that came over that (the details are taxed at high rates so that Indian pened over the last eight Budgets. We which is simply bogus. The govern- since the launch of Make in India has of this are in my last book Our Hindu companies can sell to Indians at high- will allow this nation’s economy to be ment also said this week that in 2019-20 actually gone down from 15 per cent to Rashtra). Vajpayee had also said his er prices. Is this good economics? Mr governed not by competence and ‘grand vision’ growth, which it had earlier said was 14 per cent, and possibly now 13 per party would force Indians to build Panagariya says no, but this is what demonstrable numbers but by charis- 4.2 per cent, was actually four per cent. cent after the Covid-19 pandemic. homes only on 1,000 square yards of we are now doing, a 180 degree turn ma and charlatanry. This is the actual trajectory on which Unemployment has naturally followed land or less. from where Mr Modi had started. we are today. Indeed, it is lower than the opposite trajectory, going from From such a socialist position, the Eight Budgets is sufficient time, more The writer is a senior journalist that, but let us leave that for now. about four per cent before Mr Modi same Vajpayee headed a government than sufficient, to at least be able to and columnist

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SHORT TAKES Biden admin sees CHINA’S 1st NUKE EU squeezes vaccine exports REACTOR BEGINS UK slams bloc for invoking emergency clause in its Brexit deal Quad as base for OPERATIONS Brussels, Jan. 30: The Beijing, Jan. 30: China European Union introdu- REMOVE BREXIT National Nuclear Corp. said ced tighter rules Friday on Indo-Pacific plan its first nuclear power unit exports of Covid-19 vacci- Biden warns inaction over that uses Hualong One, a third- nes that could hit shipme- PROTOCOL, URGES Washington, Jan. 30: generation nuclear reactor, nts to nations like the The new Biden adminis- INDIA SLAMS started commercial operations United Kingdom, deepen- N.IRELAND MIN tration sees the Quad on Saturday. ing a dispute with London $1.9 tn aid will cost dearly grouping comprising the The reactor, located in the over scarce supplies of London, Jan. 30: North- US, India, Japan and VANDALISATION city of Fuqing city in China's potentially lifesaving Washington, Jan. 30: ern Ireland’s First Mini- Australia as a fundamen- southeastern Fujian province, shots. President Joe Biden is ster Arlene Forster on tal foundation upon OF GANDHI was designed to have a 60-year But amid an outcry in warning of a steep and Saturday urged Britain to which to build a substan- lifespan, with its core equip- Northern Ireland and the growing “cost of inaction” remove a post-Brexit pro- tial American policy in ment domestically produced. UK, the European Com- on his $1.9 trillion Covid tocol with the European the strategically-vital STATUE IN U.S. Each unit of the Hualong No. 1 mission made clear the relief plan as the White Union after it became the Indo-Pacific region, a top Washington/New has a capacity of 1.161 million new measure will not trig- House searched for “cre- focus of a diplomatic row US official has said. Delhi, Jan. 30: Unkn- kilowatts and can meet the ger controls on vaccines ative” ways to win public over Covid vaccines. National Security own miscreants have van- annual domestic electricity shipments produced in the support for a package that Brussels was forced to Advisor Jake Sullivan dalised, broken and demand of 1 million people in 27-nation bloc to the small is getting a cold shoulder row back on threats it ma- said at an event organised ripped from the base a moderately developed coun- territory that is part of from Senate Republicans. de late Friday to invoke by the US Institute of statue of Mahatma tries, according to China United Kingdom border- In the age of Covid, it’s Article 16 of the post-Br- Peace, a Congress-funded Gandhi in a park in the National Nuclear Corp, or ing EU member Ireland. not as simple as jumping exit Northern Ireland Pro- think-tank, on Friday US state of California, CNNC. Under the post-Brexit on a plane to travel the tocol and stop the free-flow that the US will build on evoking a strong “With Hualong One online, deal, EU products should country and try to gin up a of vaccines over the Irish and carry forward the response from India China is now at the forefront of still be able to travel groundswell. border. four-nation Quad group- which sought a thorough third-generation nuclear tech- unhindered from the bloc And at a time of deep “The protocol is unwork- ing. investigation and appro- nology in the world, alongside to Northern Ireland. polarisation, Biden may able, let's be very clear “One very positive thing priate action against countries like the United St- “In the process of final- struggle to convince President Joe Biden speaks with the Director of Walter about that, and we need to we will be building on, those responsible for the ates, France and Russia,” said ization of this measure, Republican voters of the Reed National Military Medical Center, Col. Andrew Barr, see it replaced because (former NSA) Robert “despicable act.” CNNC President Yu Jianfeng. the Commission will urgency when Congress and Command Master Chief Randy Swanson as he arri- otherwise there is going to (O'Brien) mentioned the The 6-ft tall, 650-pound ensure that the already has approved $4 ves at the medical center in Bethesda, Maryland. — AFP be real difficulties here in Quad, which for those (294 kg) bronze statue of Ireland/Northern Ireland trillion in aid, including Northern Ireland,” Foster watching who don’t know Gandhi, in the Central MYANMAR Protocol is unaffected,” $900 billion last month. pass. No ifs, ands or buts.” ous aid to individuals told BBC radio. is the United States, Park of the City of Davis the EU’s executive arm Biden signaled on Friday His message so far has would help put parents The leader of the loyal- Japan, Australia, and in Northern California, ARMY EASES said in a statement late for the first time that he's been that a fresh $1.9 tril- back to work and let chil- ist Democratic Unionist India,” Sullivan said. appeared to have been Friday. willing to move ahead lion in aid would be a bar- dren return to school and Party has long been criti- “There too I think we sawed off at the ankles COUP FEARS Amid a dispute with without Republicans. gain compared to the improve their lifetime cal of the protocol which really want to carry for- and half its face was sev- Anglo-Swedish drugmak- “I support passing Covid potential damage to the earnings, Biden said at a allows Northern Ireland ward and build on that ered and missing, local Yangon, Jan. 30: Myanmar’s er AstraZeneca, EU relief with support from world’s largest economy if Friday meeting with to follow EU customs ru- format, that mechanism Davis Enterprise daily military on Saturday vowed to Commission president Republicans if we can get it doesn’t pass. Treasury Secretary Janet les and avoid a hard bor- which we see as funda- reported. abide by the country’s consti- Ursula von der Leyen and it,” he told reporters. "But An aggressive push for Yellen in the Oval Office. der on the island of mental a foundation upon The vandalised statue of tution, in an apparent back- British leader Boris the Covid relief has to vaccinations and gener- — AP Ireland. — AFP which to build substan- Mahatma Gandhi was tracking after its commander- Johnson had an unexpect- tial American policy in found by a park employee in-chief spurred fears of a ed phone call, during the Indo-Pacific region,” in the early hours of coup when he suggested the which the UK prime min- exporting company based he said. morning of January 27, charter could be repealed. ister “expressed his grave in the EU will first have to Quad and the Indo- the police said. The stat- The army has for weeks concerns about the poten- submit their plans to Pacific policy of the pre- ue is being removed and alleged widespread irregulari- tial impact which the national authorities. Macron says AZ vaccine vious Trump administra- will be stored in a safe ties in November's election, steps the EU has taken The UK and Northern tion are one of the few place until it can be eval- won in a landslide by Aung today on vaccine exports Ireland governments imm- policies that the Biden uated, said Davis City San Suu Kyi's ruling National could have,” a statement ediately lashed out at the administration has said it councilman Lucas League for Democracy (NLD). from the British govern- move, saying the bloc inv- ‘ineffective’ for over-65s will continue to build on, Frerichs. — PTI Tensions were ramped up ment read. oked an emergency clause besides the Abraham Tuesday when a military The EU unveiled its pl- in its divorce deal with Br- Paris, Jan. 30: French adults of all ages, Macron cially today is that the Accords, Sullivan said. spokesman refused to rule out ans to tighten rules on ex- itain to introducing contr- President Emmanuel Mac- said there was “very little early results we have are “Those are in two differ- real normalisation that the possibility of a coup. ports of Coronavirus vac- ols on exports to Northern ron said on Friday that information” available for not encouraging for 60 to ent theaters in the world has taken root and A day later, army chief cines produced inside the Ireland. AstraZeneca’s Coronav- the vaccine developed by 65-year-old people con- and two initiatives that add more countries, he General Min Aung Hlaing -- bloc amid fears some of Goods are supposed to irus vaccine appeared not the British-Swedish com- cerning AstraZeneca,” he you will see continuity said. arguably the most powerful the doses it secured from flow freely between the EU to be effective for people pany and Oxford said. Macron said he was and an effort to reinforce “He (Biden) sees that as person in Myanmar — said AstraZeneca could be and Northern Ireland over 65 years of age. University. “Today we awaiting the EMA's ver- and carry forward steps being positive for securi- revoking the 2008 junta-script- diverted elsewhere. under special arrange- Speaking to reporters think that it is quasi-inef- dict — which came later that have been taken by ty in the region, positive ed constitution could be “nec- The measure could be ments for the UK region only hours before the fective for people over 65,” Friday — and also that of the previous administra- for economic developme- essary” under certain circum- used to block shipments to designed to protect the European Medecines he told the reporters, his France’s own health au- tion,” he said. nt, in the region, and pos- stances. His comments — many non-EU countries peace process on the Agency (EMA) recom- office confirmed . thority “because they have “When the first Accords itive for America’s nati- translated into English and and ensure that any island of Ireland. — AP mended the vaccine for “What I can tell you offi- the numbers”. — AFP with the UAE, Bahrain onal interest for many of published in the army-run were announced, it was in the reasons that Robert Myawady newspaper — sent the heat of a political laid out,” shockwaves through the nas- campaign, a presidential Sullivan said. “So, one cent democracy, which is only campaign, and then can- of the things that we will a decade out of the grips of a didate Biden made be doing in the coming 49-year military dictatorship. WHO experts get Wuhan propaganda tour no bones about coming weeks and months is out saying: ‘I think this is thinking about how we Wuhan, Jan. 30: A team a good thing. I think this make sure that the seeds WOMAN HIDES of WHO experts investi- is a positive thing’,” he that have now been plant- gating the origins of the said. Biden said consis- ed actually grow into the CORPSE FOR 10 Coronavirus toured a tently over the course of full kind of cooperation propaganda exhibition the last several months across multiple dimen- YEARS IN JAPAN celebrating China’s recov- that he would like to sions and these relation- ery from the pandemic in carry forward this initia- ships can move forward Tokyo, Jan. 30: A Japanese Wuhan on Saturday, after tive, deepen the coopera- and how that can really woman who said she hid her a meeting at the hospital tion between the help the United States mother’s corpse in a freezer in that treated the first con- countries that have advance our interests,” her apartment for a decade firmed Covid-19 cases over signed the accords, make he said. — PTI told police she feared eviction a year ago. if the death was discovered, Details of the trip have media reported Saturday. been scant so far, with the Police said that Yumi Yos- media kept at arm's length hino, 48, was held “on suspi- and information on the Navalny’s brother cion of abandoning and hiding itinerary dribbling out via a female body” found Wed- tweets from the World nesday in a freezer in a Tokyo Health Organisation apartment. Yoshino said after experts instead of China’s under home arrest finding her mother dead 10 tight-lipped Communist years ago, she hid the body authorities. Moscow, Jan. 30: The br- Navalny, diplomats said. because she “didn’t want to The group was driven to other and aides of jailed Navalny’s team has move out” of the home they sh- the Jinyintan Hospital, Kremlin critic Alexei Na- urged new protests, sug- ared, local media reported, cit- the first to receive official- valny were placed under gesting residents of ing unnamed police sources. ly diagnosed Covid-19 house arrest on Friday Moscow gather on The mother, thought to have patients in late 2019, as the ahead of new rallies, as Sunday in Lubyanka been aged around 60 at the horrors of the virus Russian authorities war- Square outside the head- time of her death, was named emerged in the central ned that protesters could quarters of the FSB secu- on the lease of the apartment Chinese city. face charges of taking rity agency and Staraya in a municipal housing com- In a tweet, team member part in “mass unrest”. Square, where the presi- plex, Kyodo News said. Peter Daszak welcomed Moscow police also dential administration Yoshino had been forced to the hospital visit as an announced that on Su- has its offices. leave the apartment in mid- “Important opportunity to Members of the World Health Organisation (WHO) team investigating the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic arrive nday, when the fresh prot- On Friday, Navalny’s January after missing rent talk directly w/ medics to visit a museum exhibition about China’s fight against Covid-19 in Wuhan, China’s central Hubei province on ests are planned, move- brother Oleg, prominent payments, according to the who were on the ground at Saturday. — AFP ment in the centre of the aide Lyubov Sobol and reports, and a cleaner then dis- that critical time fighting Russian capital would be Pussy Riot activist Maria covered the body in a freezer Covid!”. On Saturday January and there are business, but what we probe will stick tightly to defang criticism of its limited and seven central Alyokhina were placed hidden in a closet. afternoon, the team visit- question marks over what need to do is gather all of the science behind how handling of the chaotic metro stations closed. under house arrest until ed a cavernous exhibition the experts can hope to the data... and come to an the virus jumped from ani- early stages of the out- Kremlin critics say aut- March 23 for allegedly that applauds the emer- find a year after the virus assessment as to how mals — believed to be bats break. horities are dramatically violating restrictions ‘ROYAL PURPLE’ gency response of Wuhan first emerged. much more we know about — to humans. It has refocused atten- ramping up pressure on related to the Corona- health authorities in the On Friday, the WHO’s the origins of the disease The team is also expect- tion at home — and abroad the opposition in an effort virus pandemic by calling DYE FOUND FROM chaotic, terrifying early emergencies director and what further studies ed to visit the market — on its handling of and to intimidate protesters for people to join protests. stages of the outbreak — Michael Ryan sought to may be needed to elucidate believed to have seen the recovery from the out- and smother dissent. The coordinator of KING DAVID’s ERA as well as the agility of the manage expectations. that.” Last week, China first major cluster of break. Navalny’s plight and the Navalny’s Moscow office, Communist leadership in Success “is not measured warned the United States infections, as well as the Since seeping beyond increasing crackdown on Oleg Stepanov, and Jerusalem, Jan. 30: Israeli controlling a crisis with- necessarily in absolutely against “political interfer- Wuhan Institute of China’s borders, the pan- dissent in Russia has Anastasia Vasilyeva, researchers said they had out precedent. finding a source on the ence” during the trip, after Virology and other labs, in demic has ripped across sparked an outcry in the head of the medical work- found scraps of fabric The WHO mission comes first mission”, he told a the White House demand- what the WHO’s Ryan the world, killing more West, and the UN ers' union critical of the coloured with a purple dye dat- with heavy political bag- press conference in ed a “robust and clear” described as a “very busy, than two million people Security Council is set to government, were also ing from the eras of King gage — China refused the Geneva. investigation. busy schedule”. and wrecking economies. meet informally on placed under house arrest David and King Solomon in team access until mid- “This is a complicated The WHO insists the Beijing is desperate to — AFP Wednesday to discuss for two months. — AFP the south of the country. “The researchers were sur- prised to find remnants of woven fabric, a tassel and RARE | MOVE Investors and professionals, including scientists, doctors and writers will be eligible fibres of wool dyed with royal purple,” the Israel Antiquities Authority, Tel Aviv University and Bar Ilan University said. The discovery happened UAE says it will offer citizenship to expats while they were examining coloured textiles from Timna Dubai, Jan. 30: The UAE lies” would be eligible for ● UAE ALSO has a grow- some of whom are second Valley, an ancient copper pro- announced on Saturday it naturalisation under the ing community of wealthy or third generation resi- duction district, they said in a is opening a path to citi- new amendment. expats attracted by the dents. The UAE also has a Dubai blamed for virus spread joint statement this week. zenship for select foreign- “The UAE cabinet, local growing community of “Direct radiocarbon dating ers, in a rare move for the emiri courts and executive low tax regime and the wealthy expats attracted Dubai, Jan. 30: After op- ic, though it has repeated- Shaikh, Dubai’s former fi- confirms that the finds date Gulf where the status and councils will nominate luxury megaprojects and by the low tax regime and ening itself to New Year’s ly declined to answer ques- nance chief, offered a dif- from approximately 1000 BCE, its welfare benefits are those eligible for the citi- tourist attractions of the the luxury megaprojects revelers, Dubai is now tions from The Associated ferent assessment on Thu- corresponding to the biblical jealously guarded. zenship under clear crite- larger emirates. and tourist attractions of being blamed by several Press about its hospital rsday on Twitter and ask- monarchies of David and Dubai ruler and United ria set for each category,” the larger emirates. countries for spreading capacity. ed authorities to take cont- Solomon in Jerusalem,” they Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohammed said. present in the UAE and The wealthy oil states of the Coronavirus abroad, “After a year of manag- rol of a spiraling caseload. said. It was the first time pur- Prime Minister Sheikh “The law allows attracting more bright the Gulf have long guaran- even as questions swirl ing the pandemic, we can “The leadership bases its ple-dyed Iron Age textiles had Mohammed bin Rashed receivers of the UAE pass- minds to the Emirati com- teed their citizens a high about the city-state’s abili- confidently say the cur- decisions on recommenda- been found in Israel or the Al-Maktoum said port to keep their existing munity”. standard of living through ty to handle reported rec- rent situation is under co- tions from the team, the Levant, they added. The colour “investors, specialised tal- citizenship.”The UAE gov- Citizens make up a small reserved jobs and a cradle ord spikes in virus cases. ntrol and we have our pl- wrong recommendations was associated with royalty, ents and professionals ernment said the amend- minority of the population to grave welfare system. The government’s Dubai ans to surge any capacity which put human souls in nobility and priests and the including scientists, doc- ment to the citizenship law of the UAE, which has a To protect it, they have Media Office says the in the health care system danger and negatively dye “often cost more than tors, engineers, artists, “aims at appreciating the huge migrant labour force, seldom allowed naturalisa- sheikhdom is doing all it should a need rise,” it said. affect our society,” he gold”, said Naama Sukenik. authors and their fami- talents and competencies largely from south Asia, tions. — AFP can to handle the pandem- However, Nasser al- wrote. — AP GAMES pg 8 DECCAN CHRONICLE | CHENNAI | SUNDAY | 31 JANUARY 2021

DOMESTIC | CRICKET SHORT TAKES Marin eyes World Tour Finals title No Ranji for first Bangkok: Reigning Olympic champion Carolina Marin was FULL OF JOSH unstoppable on Saturday, time in 87 years clinching a spot in badminton’s Buttler says Stokes, Archer are X-factor players against India World Tour Finals after quickly New Delhi, Jan. 30: The GG The BCCI during dispatching Thai player C. SANTHOSH KUMAR BCCI will not be conduct- its AGM had decided Pornpawee Chochuwong in a CHENNAI, JAN. 30 ing its premier first-class 21-13, 21-13 game. domestic tournament that players will be The delayed 2020 season England must still be Ranji Trophy for the first compensated in finale, which began Wednesday, wondering how they lost time in 87 years as the par- case there is a is the third tournament behind the last Test they played ent body opted for the Vijay truncated season closed doors in three weeks in here in December 2016. Hazare Trophy as per the Bangkok, as badminton The visitors had a head wishes of majority of the and with players resumes after months of coron- start and made 477 in the state units. missing out on Ranji avirus cancellations. first innings but still The BCCI will also host Trophy match fees. The Spaniard — winner of back- ended up losing by an the U-19 National One Day to-back titles for the past fort- innings! India’s massive tournament for the Vinoo month. night — is gunning for a hat- first essay of 759/7d — Mankad Trophy and the The BCCI during its AGM trick of victories in Sunday’s their highest in Test his- Women’s national 50-over had decided that players finals. tory — outwitted tournament as per a letter will be compensated in Her opponent, 13th-ranked England on a batting sent by BCCI secretary Jay case there is a truncated Pornpawee, has performed bet- paradise. Shah to the state units. season and with players ter than expected in the World Four years on, Jos While BCCI president missing out on Ranji Tour. Buttler remembers the Sourav Ganguly and secre- Trophy match fees, treas- She beat her personal idol, Thai record-breaking Test for tary Shah were keen to urer Arun Dhumal clari- star Ratchanok Intanon, and the invaluable lessons it have the blue riband tour- fied that the premier top-ranked Tai Tzu-ying during taught them. “It was a nament that pays the maxi- domestic cricketers of the the round-robin stage earlier great education of what mum match fee (`1.5 lakh country will be taken care this week. But the 23-year-old is a big total in India and per game approx) for the of financially. was no match against the more having the right mindset players, it is understood Agreeing with his secre- experienced Marin, who praised and application to build that a two-month long bio- tary’s view, Dhumal said Pornpawee’s play but admitted such innings,” said bubble even for a truncated that the decision to cancel that three straight weeks of Buttler who is on the two-phased Ranji Trophy Ranji Trophy this season badminton was wearing on her. cusp of playing his 50th in times of the Covid-19 was taken after taking — AFP Test. pandemic wasn’t feasible. every stakeholder into con- Buttler who is set to “I am extremely happy to fidence. take over wicket-keeping inform you that we are “We took feedback from Bops ties up with duty in the absence of going to conduct the Senior the players, selection com- Jonny Bairstow said hav- Women’s One Day tourna- mittee, state associations. Ben for Oz Open ing the hunger to score a ment simultaneously with It was felt that 2020 is big total is important in the Vijay Hazare Trophy already gone and rather Melbourne: Indian tennis star subcontinental condi- and follow it up with Vinoo than having two Ranji Rohan Bopanna’s search to look tions. Mankad Trophy Under-19. events in the same calen- for a partner for the men’s dou- “In England, when the This has been decided after dar year, it is better to go bles competition at the ball swings around and having received your feed- for white-ball cricket,” Australian Open ended on seams, a 300-run first back on the domestic sea- Dhumal said. Saturday as he tied up with innings total can be son 2020-21,” Shah wrote a “That way we could have Japan’s Ben McLachlan for the quite handy. But in India, letter to state units. something for junior crick- season’s first Grand Slam. a good first innings score It is understood that et and women considering Bopanna had originally paired would be 600-650. The England batting coach Graham Thorpe (from left), BCCI will probably follow the importance of of with Joao Sousa but the realisation of that as a players Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer at a training ENGLAND CLEAR SECOND COVID TEST the same groupings and Women’s World Cup and U- Portuguese contracted coron- batting side is impor- session in Chennai on Saturday. — ECB bio-bubble for the Hazare 19 World Cup next year.” avirus, forcing them to pull out. tant. Joe Root was a Chennai, Jan. 30: Premier all-rounder Ben Stokes, Trophy that will start next — PTI Bopanna, who served a 14-day great example of that in pacer Archer is definite- The swashbuckling pacer Jofra Archer and reserve opener Rory Burns on hard quarantine after arriving in Sri Lanka. With a double ly an X-factor player in wicket-keeper batsman Saturday had their first training session at the Chepauk Melbourne on January 16, hundred and a superb the big series against believes their IPL experi- after successfully completing six days of hard quaran- informed that Ben and he were knock of 180, he showed India. “It’s fantastic to ence will hold them in a tine, while other members of the squad cleared their sec- in the same boat. us the way recently,” said have him back into the good stead. “If you ond Covid-19 test. FORMIDABLE TN FAVOURITE “I got lucky there. the 30-year-old. side. I am sure he would haven’t faced someone The trio had reached India earlier than their colleagues Unfortunately Ben’s partner The trio of Ben Stokes, be excited to play his like Jasprit Bumrah, and having already cleared their three RT-PCR tests AGAINST BUOYANT BARODA Raven Klassen had to pull out Jofra Archer and Rory part in the big series. We who has a bit of unique could hit the nets on Saturday. and Ben was looking for a part- Burns, who had missed have a few others who action, it can be a bit of a “The first group of players — Archer, Burns and Stokes Ahmedabad, Jan. 30: A formidable Tamil Nadu team ner, so we finally decided to the Lanka tour and can do quite amazing problem. It takes some — will practice each morning for the next three days. with oodles of experience in its rank and file will have commit and sign up together. I reached Chennai earlier things with the ball. time getting used to his They are limited to a two-hour session,” England’s media a head-start over an unheralded Baroda which am looking forward to see how than the rest of the James Anderson and angles. So, certainly, manager Danny Reuben informed. shrugged off the off-field controversies to set up a it goes. Definitely was not easy squad, had a two-hour Stuart Broad are two of those who have played in “The entire England touring party received their sec- promising grand finale of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 to find partners, happy to have training session at the the best to play this the IPL, know what to ond PCR Covid-19 test yesterday. All results returned neg- tournament on Sunday. found one,” Bopanna said. M.A. Chidambaram game. Stokes is another expect. Also, the IPL ative results,” he added. The Tamil Nadu side with right blend of youth and Apart from Bopanna, India will Stadium on Saturday. X-factor player for us,” gives you familiarity The full England squad is scheduled to start their train- experience under Dinesh Karthik, has hardly looked have Divij Sharan in the men’s Buttler said tearaway said Buttler. with the wickets.” ing from February 2. in any sort of trouble since their group stage encoun- doubles event while Sumit ters with dominating victories while chasing. Nagal will compete in the men’s Baroda, under their battle-hardened stand-in captain singles on a wild card. Ankita Kedar Devdhar, had won some one-sided matches but Raina is waiting to find out if KOHLI STEADY BCCI SECRETARY also a cliff-hanger against Haryana in the quarter- she gets ‘lucky loser’ spot in final where Vishnu Solanki hit a last-ball helicopter the women’s singles. — PTI AT 4TH, PUJARA Oz players critical about SHAH ELECTED AS shot to win the match. Baroda’s performance is more praiseworthy after ACC PRESIDENT their premier batsman Deepak Hooda stormed out Gill rules Day 1 of RISES TO SIXTH after his differences with skipper Krunal Pandya, who Langer’s coaching style New Delhi, Jan. 30: also had to leave after his father’s death. — PTI Dubai, Jan. 30: Virat BCCI secretary Jay Shah Coimbatore Rally Kohli remained the high- Melbourne, Jan. 30: was unanimously elected Coimbatore: Indian rally driver est-placed Indian bats- Australia head coach as the president of the Gaurav Gill stole the show on man at fourth position Justin Langer’s intense Asian Cricket Council opening day of the Rally of even as Cheteshwar “micro-management” (ACC) at its Annual Coimbatore, Round 3 of the Pujara rose a rung to coaching style has General Meeting (AGM) Mir hat-trick gifts FMSCI Indian National Rally sixth in the latest ICC apparently not gone on Saturday, a develop- Championship, here on Test rankings issued on down well with a lot of ment hailed by his col- Saturday. Gill along with his JK Saturday. players even as the for- leagues in India. Tyre co-driver Musa Sherif, who Apart from Kohli (862) mer opener termed the The 32-year-old replaces Huesca second win is on the hunt for a record sev- and Pujara (760), Test insinuations as some- Bangladesh Cricket enth national title, started from vice-captain Ajinkya thing that “couldn’t be Board chief Najmul Barcelona, Jan. 30: Mir leads his team with where he left in Arunachal and Rahane (748) is the other further from truth”. Hasan Papon. Forward Rafa Mir scored a six goals in the league. and opened up a comfortable Indian batsman in the The fissures in the While addressing the hat trick to lead last-placed Huesca remained bottom lead in the first two stages of top-10, hanging on to the Australian camp have AGM, Shah said: “Formed Huesca to a much-needed 3- of the table after just their the day itself. eighth spot. Pujara moved come out in the open with a view to organise, 1 victory at Valladolid in second win in 21 rounds. Gill drove cautiously henceforth up one place to sixth, after an under-strength Justin develop and promote the the Spanish league. Toni Villa scored and made sure to bring his car while Rishabh Pant and India came back from Langer sport in the region, the Mir, who is at Huesca on Valladolid’s consolation home in the remaining stages star opener Rohit Sharma behind to beat Australia ACC has steadily grown loan from Wolverhampton, goal in stoppage time. to go atop the chart after four remained static on the 2-1 in their own den. in stature. ended a four-game score- Valladolid were left in stages with a total time of 13th and 18th spots According to a report style wore thin with tions about where to “The ACC continues to less slump for the modest 16th place, two points 58.41.8 minutes. respectively. in the Sydney Morning some players, who on top bowl at lunch breaks foster healthy rivalry team from northeast Spain above the relegation zone. New Zealand captain Herald quoting multiple of having to live in a including during the among some of the when he headed in a cross TORINO DRAW WITH Kane Williamson (919) sources close to the bubble for months on final Test against India biggest cricket playing from Pablo Maffeo in the 9-MAN FIORENTINA Live on TV continued to lead the bat- Australian set-up, some end say they have at the Gabba,” the report nations while it also takes 37th minute on Friday. ting charts, with the players are apparently become drained by his further read. the sport deeper into the Mir doubled his tally in In Turin, relegation-threat- BADMINTON Australian duo of Steve not happy with Langer’s intensity and mood Langer, however, refut- smaller pockets. We must the 50th when he used nice ened Torino conjured a BWF World Tour Finals: Smith (891) and Marnus management style swings. ed the claims that his remain committed to this control to pull in a lobbed last-gasp goal from Andrea Tournament Final from 11.30 am on Labuschagne (878) round- because of his intensity “...Some senior players relationship with play- cause and ensure there is ball from Maffeo. He held Belotti to draw with nine- Star Sports 2 HD, Star Sports 3 ing up the top three while and mood swings. are frustrated at the ers had soared. an all-round development off two defenders before man Fiorentina 1-1 at home England skipper Joe Root The report suggested atmosphere in the team “It’s actually the oppo- in the region,” he added. poking the ball past goal- in Serie A. CRICKET (823) retained the fifth that Langer is no longer being brought down by site of what happens. I Shah said the challenge keeper Jordi Masip. Belotti slid in at the far Big Bash League: Knockout from spot. able to cope up with the coach’s shifting emo- never talk about statis- facing the cricket boards Mir helped to create his post to redirect a cross 1.45 pm on Sony Six, HD Among the bowlers, vet- demands of being a tions and what they see tics to the bowlers, ever. I at the moment is resump- third goal in the 57th when from Simone Verdi in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20: eran spinner R. Ashwin three-format coach. as too much micro-man- don’t go to any of the tion of women’s and age- he headed on a long ball to 88th minute, after Franck Final — Tamil Nadu vs Baroda from (760) and pace ace Jasprit “Dressing-room agement. They say that bowlers’ meetings. group cricket. Dani Escriche, charged for- Ribery (68 minute) scored 6.55 pm on Star Sports 1, HD Bumrah (757) retained sources say that over a has extended to bowlers That’s what the bowlers’ The AGM was held vir- ward, and fired the return from a tight angle for their eighth and ninth gruelling summer, being bombarded with coach is meant to be tually due to the Covid-19 pass from Escirche just Fiorentina on Friday. FOOTBALL spots respectively. — PTI Langer’s management statistics and instruc- doing,” he said. — PTI pandemic. — PTI inside the post. — AP Indian Super League: Hyderabad vs Chennaiyn from 4.50 pm; Mohun Bagan vs Kerala Blasters from 7.20 pm on Star Sports 2, 3 English Premier League: Chelsea vs Burnley from 5.30 pm; Leicester vs India should not be overconfident facing England Leeds United from 7.30 pm; West Ham vs Liverpool from 10 pm; What’s different now, and tracks. Indian conditions. Cook instance, and R. Ashwin 28 wickets in the series. Brighton vs Tottenham Hotspur where’s the threat coming Beating Sri Lanka was and Pietersen batted bril- versus Root and Stokes. This is one battle he will from 12.45 am (Monday) on Star from? While India’s the primary objective, of liantly, Panesar, Swann Of the two, the latter surely have planned for in Sports Select 1, HD extraordinary perform- course, but from England’s and Anderson showed seems the more mouthwa- detail, as he did against Italian League: Spezia vs Udinese Ayaz Memon ance against Australia has point of view, these two scintillating bowling form. tering, and could also be Smith, Labuschagne and from 5 pm; Atalanta vs Lazio from been widely and justifiably Tests were also prepara- Not anticipating overseas the more significant. In other Aussies batsmen. 7.30 pm; Napoli vs Parma from Over The Top extolled, England’s 2-0 tion in getting used to spinners or batsmen to do Australia, Ashwin had Against Stokes, the off- 10.30 pm; Roma vs Verona from sweep against Sri Lanka, pitches and climate in the better than their own on Smith tied in knots in the spinner’s stats are better. 1.15 am (Monday) on Sony Ten 2 while lacking similar sub-continent for the slow turners, India were first two Tests, bowling In two series (2016 and fter the splendid — under so much pressure melodramatic impact, stiffer challenge against left bewildered and beaten. with great guile and con- 2018), Ashwin has dis- successes of both in the past few decades — should not be obscured. India. In this, Root’s team Kohli and Shastri need to trol, outguessing the bats- missed the England all- teams in recent would get a mighty boost. Sri Lanka are not the ticked all boxes. ensure that their players men most times, keeping rounder 7 times, conceding Regd. No. Aweeks, the Test How do the two teams force they were 8-10 years I’ve mentioned about are not lulled into believ- him and by extension the 150 runs. In India, this gets series between India and square up? back, but even so remain a India beating England 4-0 ing that the upcoming rest of the batting on ten- more impressive: 5 dis- TNENG/2010/35692 England promises to be a Playing home at home difficult side to beat on in 2016 but go back four series is already in their terhooks. missals and 101 runs con- blockbuster. In these hard should ordinarily give home pitches. England years further and history pocket. Overconfidence is Root is England’s best ceded. Since his return in Printed & Published by times for sport — life in India a distinct advantage. managed this with aplomb, offers another perspective always accompanied with batsman. A veteran of 99 2018, however, Stokes has K. Sudhakar on behalf of peril. Tests, he is widely rated as scored 1999 runs in 53 Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited fact — cricket couldn’t The last time England and in a fantastic show of when the shoe was on the and Printed at have had it better. came here, they were all-round strength. other boot when M.S. How the series unravels among the best batsmen of innings at an average of Deccan Chronicle Presses situated India’s memorable tri- licked 0-4 by Virat Kohli’s Pace and spin bowlers Dhoni’s strong team lost remains to be seen, but his generation. More perti- 40.79 with four centuries. at SP 3, Developed Plot, Industrial Estate, umph in the riveting con- team. But it would be folly alike picked up wickets the Test series 1-2 in spite some contests within the nently, he comes into this He’s the world’s best all- Guindy, Chennai - 600 032. test against Australia has to believe that such per- aplenty. The batting was of winning the first match mother contest are crucial series having scored a rounder, and the X factor RNI Registration No: TN ENG/2005/14987 inspired a revisionist per- formance can be easily not a whit behind, with Joe of the series. and could have a large whopping 426 runs in two in any match he plays. Ph Nos: 22254747, 22254748, 22254750, spective about the five-day replicated. In fact, on Root in outstanding form, England then had come bearing on the outcome. Tests against Sri Lanka. How Ashwin fares 22254751 format. If players live up recent form, England and getting good support well prepared, getting the Anderson, Broad, Archer, For the record, Ashwin against Root and Stokes Editor: KAUSHIK MITTER to reputation in the forth- could be a very difficult from Bairstow, Butler, right mix of talent and Stokes versus Rohit, Kohli, dismissed Root only twice could well be decisive in coming series, Test cricket side to beat. Lawrence on spiteful experience to excel in Pujara and Rahane for in 2016, though he claimed the series.