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THE LARGEST CIRCULATED ENGLISH DAILY IN SOUTH CHENNAI I THURSDAY 17 I DECEMBER 2020 WEATHER STATE | 4 NATION | 5 SPORT | 8 Max: 29OC Min: 23OC Covid death rate very Wasnik wary of change in Prithvi to open as Rainfall: 0.7 mm low in TN: CM MP leadership Saha keeps ASTROGUIDE Sarvari: Margazhi 2 deccanchronicle.com, facebook.com/deccannews, twitter.com/deccanchronicle, google.com/+deccanchronicle Vol. 16 No. 262 Established 1938 | 12 PAGES| `3.00 Tithi: Thrithiyai Star: Uthiradam ‘GOVT NEGOTIATIONS WON’T WORK’ Rahukalam: 1.30 pm to 3 pm Open air meetings Yamagandam: 6 am to 7.30 am Top court for Centre-farmers PRAYERS allowed from Dec. 19 Fajar: 5.07 am Zohar: 12.09 pm DC CORRESPONDENT ● “Following stan- Asar: 3.19 pm committee to resolve issues CHENNAI, DEC. 16 dard procedures, social, political, ‘Representation Maghrib: 5.45 pm Open air meetings will be Isha: 7.01 pm SANJAY KAW AND ● The protesting farmers described the top allel negotiations with other allowed to be held from sports, educational, PARMOD KUMAR | DC court’s suggestion on farmer organisations,” he Saturday with an occupan- cultural, entertain- of new India’, , DEC. 16 forming such a commit- said. cy of 50 per cent of the max- ment and religious CORONA The written response from imum capacity of the gatherings of a max- says Virat Kohli Noting that the Centre’s ne- tee as their “moral victo- the protesting farm unions premises for social, politi- gotiations with the farmers ry” but remained firm on came a day after agriculture cal, sports, educational, cul- imum 50% capacity Adelaide, Dec. 16: India C UNT protesting against the agri- their stand that they will minister Narendra Singh tural, entertainment and will be permitted in captain Virat Kohli on CASES DEATHS cultural reform laws have continue with their agita- Tomar said the government religious gatherings. open spaces from Wednesday declared not yielded any results, the was awaiting a written res- Making the announce- December 19,” the himself a “representation Supreme Court on tion till the three laws are repealed ponse on its proposal sent to ment, Chief Minister Eda- of new India”, forever (+22,793) (+244) Wednesday said it could by the Centre the farmers. Five meetings ppadi K. Palaniswami said CM’s statement said ready to take up chal- form a committee to work have taken place between prior permission of the dis- step out of their homes lenges with optimism, as 99,55,701 1,44,375 out a solution between the ering at the borders of the tary Vivek Agrawal, the protesting farmers and trict collector or the City without valid reasons. he responded to Greg two sides. The court said the national capital. Sanyukt Kisan Morcha the agriculture minister. Police Commissioner, in Meanwhile, Health Chappell’s view that he is covid19india.org proposed committee will “Even if a committee is fo- leader Darshan Pal said: Union home minister Amit the case of Chennai Corpor- Secretary J. Radhakri- “the most Australian comprise representatives rmed, our agitation will co- “With reference to the pro- Shah also met the farmers ation, should be obtained shnan inspected the IIT non-Australian cricketer STATE GOVERNMENT BULLETINS from the government and ntinue until the three laws posal and letter received once, but the deadlock has for the meetings, in which Madras camps, which sud- of all time”. farmers’ unions across the are withdrawn,” the All Ind- from you, we want to persisted, with both sides norms relating to social dis- denly turned out to be On the eve of the first country in an attempt to ia Kisan Sangarsh Coordi- inform the government that sticking to their stance. tancing should be strictly Covid-19 cluster. He said Test against Australia, (+1,132 ) break the deadlock. nation Committee, a pan-In- the farmers’ unions had Hardening their stand fur- adhered to. 1104 tests had been held in Kohli was asked about 11,919 The protesting farmers dia organisation of 250 farm- held a joint meeting on the ther, the farmers’ groups In a statement on Wedn- the campus and 191 persons his aggressive brand of TN: 8,01,161 described the court’s sug- ers’ groups, said. The AKS- same day and discussed have now completely esday, the Chief Minister had been found to be infect- cricket coupled with a gestion on forming such a SC said the formation of the your proposal and rejected blocked the Delhi-Noida said that the Coronavirus ed by Coronavirus. fighting attitude that the WORLD CONFIRMED CASES committee as their “moral committee would be fruitful it because it was the written border at Chilla. Barricades pandemic had been brought In the Anna University former Australia captain, victory” but remained firm only if it has the representa- format of the proposal ver- were set up on the road, under control due to the campus, 550 tests were con- who also served as India 7,41,48,298 on their stand that they will tives of all national and bally offered by the govern- blocking vehicular move- efforts of the government ducted and six persons coach, found similar to continue with their agita- regional farmers’ outfits. ment representatives on ment from Noida to Delhi. that clamped down a lock- were found to be positive, the mindset of his coun- DEATHS tion till the three laws are The farmers’ unions also December 5, 2020.” Traffic was also diverted down on March 25 and he said, adding that severe trymen. repealed by the Centre. The sent a written reply to the Mr Pal also asked the gov- from the Dalit Prerna Sthal, brought in relaxations step action would be taken “I would like to say that ongoing protests, that are Centre rejecting its Dece- ernment to stop maligning another site of farmers’ by step subsequently. against educational institu- I have always been 16,48,456 now in their third week, mber 9 proposal in which it the farmers’ movement. protests, to the Delhi-Noida- The government had tions that do not follow gov- myself,” the skipper said have seen thousands of offered significant conces- “We want the government Direct (DND) flyway in the already given permission ernment norms relating to during a virtual media COUNTRIES, AREAS WITH farmers, primarily from sions. In an email to agricul- to stop maligning the farm- wake of the situation at the for meetings in closed the pandemic. conference ahead of the CASES 218 Punjab and Haryana, gath- ture ministry joint secre- ers’ movement and stop par- Chilla border. spaces, he said, urging peo- Stating that the vaccine opening Test against ple to wear facemasks in would come soon, Australia here starting worldometers.info public, regularly wash Radhakrishnan stressed on Thursday. “The way my hands with soap at home the need for wearing face- personality and charac- Delhi court awards Cabinet approves PM Modi lights Swarnim Vijay Mashaal on Vijay Diwas and at work, maintain mask and maintaining ter is, I am the represen- social distancing and not social distancing till then. tation of new India. For 7-yr-jail term to auction of spectrum me, that’s how I look at ISIS operative it,” he asserted. — PTI New Delhi: A Delhi court Wedne- worth `3.92 lakh cr sday awarded seven-years jail Banerjee to be term to an ISIS operative for con- New Delhi, Dec. 16: The spiring to commit terror acts in the Union Cabinet on country. TN-based Mohamed Wednesday approved a pro- Naser Packeer was deported from posal for the auction of CJ of Madras HC Republic of Sudan and arrested in 2,251.25 megahertz of spec- the case on December 11, 2015. trum worth `3.92 lakh crore at the base price. The tele- New Delhi, Dec.16: The 33 govt staff held, `7 cr com ministry plans to issue Supreme Court Collegium a notice to invite bids in has recommended the ele- seized by DVAC in 3 months December and hold the spec- vation of Calcutta High Shubhendu quits Chennai: In a series of raids con- trum auction by March, tele- Court judge Justice Sanjib ducted on different entities by the com minister Ravi Shankar Banerjee as the Chief Directorate of Vigilance and Anti- Prasad said. Justice of Madras High as MLA, abandons Corruption since October this year, The government, however, Court. around `7 crore unaccounted has decided not to auction Currently, Justice AP Sahi Mamata’s TMC income has been recovered. It may frequencies in 3,300-3,600 is serving as the Chief be learnt that DVAC seized unac- Mhz bands that were identi- Justice of Madras High RAJIB CHOWDHURI | counted money of `6,96,29,605, fied for 5G services. “The Court. The Collegium’s rec- DC 7.232 kg of gold, 9.843 kg of silver, auction will be for spectrum Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday lights the ‘Swarnim Vijay Mashaal’ from ommendations were pub- Justice Sanjib Banerjee KOLKATA, DEC. 16 10.52 Carats diamond and fixed in 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 the National War Memorial’s eternal flame marking the launch of the 50th anniversary lished on the apex court’s deposits of `37,00,000, apart from MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, celebrations of India’s decisive victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war, which led to the official website on Justice of the Madras High Dealing yet another blow some incriminating Documents, 2300 MHz and 2500 MHz fre- creation of Bangladesh. This year is also being celebrated as “Swarnim Vijay Varsh”. Wednesday. Apart from Court comes ahead of the to West Bengal chief from over 127 places in the state quency bands. Spectrum “On Vijay Diwas we recall the unwavering courage of our armed forces that resulted in Chief Justice of India SA retirement of sitting Chief minister and Trinamul since October this year. During the will be offered for assign- a decisive victory for our nation in the 1971 war. On this special Vijay Diwas, had the Bobde, Justices NV Justice of Madras High supremo period from 01.10.2020 to 14.12. ment for a validity period of honour of lighting the ‘Swarnim Vijay Mashaal’ at the National War Memorial,” Mr Modi Ramana, RF Nariman, UU Court AP Sahi. The serving Mamata Banerjee, her 2020, on specific bribe compliant, 20 years. A total of 2,251.25 said in a tweet. Four Victory Mashaals (flames) will be carried to different parts of the Lalit and AM Khanwilkar CJ of Madras High Court party's rebel leader: the DVAC & Anti-Corruption Offici- MHz is being offered with a country, including to villages of Param Vir Chakra and Maha Vir Chakra awardees of are part of the five-judge AP Sahi took charge in last Shubhendu Adhikari als arrested 33 government servants total valuation of Rs the 1971 war. The soil from the awardees’ villages and from the areas where major bat- Collegium. The appoint- November, and was sched- quit as a TMC MLA of statewide for demanding and 3,92,332.70 crore (at reserve tles were fought in 1971 are being brought to the National War Memorial. — DC ment of Justice Sanjib uled to retire by the end of Nandigram a day before receiving a bribe. price),” an official statement Banerjee as the Chief December 2020. — PTI his possible visit to New said. “The notice inviting Delhi and his induction application shall be issued to the BJP. COUNTER POINT in this month and by auction Apprehending “political will be conducted by vendetta” against him by March,” Prasad told repor- JEE-Mains to be held 4 times a year starting 2021 his party, the TMC ters after the Cabinet meet- heavyweight also sought ing. New Delhi, Dec. 16: The “We have examined the ● The first session will be held from 2021 will be considered for governor Jagdeep The Digital Commu- JEE-Mains for admission suggestions received from February 23 to 26 and the results will be preparation of merit list Dhankhar’s “interventi- nications Commission, the to engineering colleges students and various or ranking. The question on” in a letter to him for apex decision making body will be held four times a quarters, and it has been declared within five days from the last date paper will contain 90 his and his aides' protec- of the Department of Tele- year starting 2021 to offer decided that JEE-Mains of exams, Union education minister questions, in which the tion from implication by com, in May had approved flexibility to students and will be held in four ses- Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said candidate will have to the police in false cases. the spectrum auction plan a chance to improve their sions in February, March, attempt a total of 75 ques- At around 4 pm on worth `5.22 lakh crore scores, Union education April and May,” Nishank exams or due to the questions, 30 questions tions. In the new paper Wednesday Mr which included radiowaves minister Ramesh Pokh- said. COVID-19 situation at each will be from physics, pattern, there will be no Adhikari, accompanied for 5G services as well. riyal Nishank announced The first session will be present," the minister chemistry and mathemat- negative marking in the by Congress MLA Sudip However, a part of the 300 on Wednesday. held from February 23 to said. Nishank also said ics, he said. 15 alternative questions,” Mukherjee from Purulia, Mhz of spectrum identified The first edition of the 26 and the results will be that students will be The minister informed Nishank said. went to the West Bengal by the DoT for 5G services is Joint Entrance Examina- declared within five days given a choice to answer that a candidate need not “The candidates have to Assembly and handed being used by the Navy, and tion-Mains (JEE-Mains) from the last date of 75 questions — 25 each in appear in all the four ses- attempt 75 questions out over his resignation let- the Department of Space has will be held from exams, he said. "The move physics, chemistry and sions. “However, if a can- of 90, or 25 questions out ter to Assembly secre- also made claims on a signif- February 23 to 26, fol- will ensure that students mathematics — out of 90 didate appears in more of 30 in each section of tary Abhijit Som in icant portion of these lowed by rounds in do not miss out on oppor- in the JEE-Mains paper. than one session then his chemistry, physics and absence of Speaker radiowaves. — PTI March, April and May. tunities due to clash of In the exam paper of 90 or her best of scores in maths,” he said. — PTI Biman Banerjee. Ruling front scores big wins Chennai airport proves a haven for pet transit T. SUDHEESH I DC across the world, the return there was no restriction for CHENNAI, DEC. 16 of Chandran’s family to foreign cats to land. in local body polls Kerala was possible only in For the family, the goal Those who love animals December. When he went to was not easy as they , Dec. 16: Armed Kottayam district panchayat Buoyed by the stunning per- send out an unequivocal book the flight tickets, he required to catch a flight with support of the Jose K president’s post in the previ- formance of his faction in the message to the modern soci- came to know that his fami- that has a special facility of .Mani faction of Kerala ous council. As the results of local body polls in many parts ety that all species in this ly was ineligible to fly to accommodating pets, pay Congress (M), the ruling the civic polls came in, the of the central Kerala districts universe are no different Kerala as none of the air- the additional duty at the CPI(M)-led LDF has made UDF leadership was stunned including Kottayam and Idu- from mankind. If you accept ports there had the facility airport, and a whole host of inroads in UDF strongholds to see the collapse of the kki, Jose K Mani said the re- that philosophy, the family to receive his “Candy”, a conditions of the airline. in central Kerala wresting Congress-led front in its sult clearly states the faction of Mr. Sarat Chandran five-year-old tortoiseshell Besides, the family had to power in Kottayam and citadels in the district includ- led by him was the real Kerala Palat, a Palakkad native, Arabian mau (cat). He and find a foreign pet-friendly Idukki district panchayats ing Kottayam district pan- Congress (M). Recalling the who reached Chennai last his family members were apartment in the pandemic- and winning several munici- chayat, Pala municipality and contribution of his late father week, will give you a feel of allowed to fly to Kerala on hit city. Finally, they man- palities and panchayats in the Puthuppally gram panchayat. and (M) the deep bond between condition of leaving ‘Candy’ aged to find one at civic polls. Puthuppally is the strong- founder-leader K M Mani in humans and animals. behind. It was a tough Ramapuram here where This was the first election hold of the Congress from building base for the UDF in Mr. Chandran, who bade Sarat Chandran along with family and Candy at a apart- choice, as spending the rest they live in a two-bedroom since the Jose K Mani faction where former Chief Minister the state, Jose K Mani said the goodbye to his three-decade- ment on Wednesday. — DC of their life without ‘Candy’ apartment with Candy of the KC(M) severed its and senior Congress leader victory of LDF, in which his long health and safety was unthinkable. peacefully for the next one decades old ties with the UDF has been faction is a partner, is a “fitti- expert job in Oman in peacefully at his native daughter Shivani. The family dropped their month. Then they will over its differences with the elected to the state Assembly ng reply to those who had ba- August, wanted to spend place along with wife Since the Covid-19 pan- Kerala plan, and chose to fly transport 'Candy' by road to Congress over sharing the for the last five decades. ckstabbed KM Mani.” — PTI rest of his retirement life Manjula Vijayan and lone demic derailed air travel to Chennai instead, where Palakkad .■ P5 CITY pg DECCAN CHRONICLE | THURSDAY | 17 DECEMBER 2020 | CHENNAI 2

SHORT TAKES Testing intensified TN reports 1,181 new Multi-crore GST fraud Covid-19 cases Chennai, Dec. 16: on Wednesday reported 1,181 new Covid cases taking the tally to 8,02,342 and the unearthed, three held death toll touched 11,931 with 12 more fatalities. DC CORRESPONDENT The fraud relates to The enforcement and received bogus invoices The active cases stood at CHENNAI, DEC. 16 compliance management issued by fictitious firms 9,880 with 1,240 patients get- illegally taking and unit of the department established for the sole ting discharged from various The personnel of GST and passing of input arrested all the three per- purpose of issuing such hospitals and cumulatively Central Excise depart- credit of GST on the sons, who are in their 40s, bogus invoices without 7,80,531 people have got cured ment, Chennai north, on basis of bogus for committing a GST supplying any goods or till date. Wednesday detected a invoices without credit fraud of about Rs 10 services. As many as 73,015 samples multi-crore GST fraud crore on invoice value of The company made pay- were tested and in total case and arrested three supplying or receiv- more than Rs 150 crore. ments for these fake sup- 1,31,59,822 specimens have persons including the ing taxable goods or The arrests were made plies through proper been examined under the managing director of a services and with- after carrying out a banking channels, but got Reverse Transcription famous company. out paying GST detailed investigation, the money back in cash Polymerase Chain Reaction In a release, G. Ravin- taking statements and from the fictitious compa- method in 232 labs in the state. dranath, Principal Com- ing GST. conducting searches to nies after they deducted Of the fresh cases, Chennai missioner, stated that the A case has been booked gather evidence. The their commission for issu- logged 341, nearby Chengelpet arrested persons colluded against a business entity arrested persons were pro- ing bogus invoices. In and Kancheepuram 74 and 40 with each other to evade from Chennai city that duced before the order to plough the cash respectively. The tally of 8.02 GST and as a result the sells readymade garments Additional Chief back into the company's lakh plus cases include the government incurred a through its various retail Metropolitan Magistrate, account, the arrested per- state capital's 2,20,903, a loss of `10 crore. outlets. The managing Egmore, who remanded sons created four ficti- Greater Chennai corporation health department organises nasal swab test at Ethiraj health department bulletin The fraud relates to ille- director of the firm and them to judicial custody tious companies and College for Women in the city on Wednesday. said. gally taking and passing of two other key individuals until December 22. issued bogus invoices to — DC Those dead include 10 with input credit of GST on the involved in the fraud were The arrested managing these companies without co-morbidities and two with basis of bogus invoices on the run for more than a director of the company is making any supplies. no chronic illness. The death without supplying or month. The personnel the main beneficiary and Further investigation is toll of 11,931 covers Chennai's receiving taxable goods or nabbed them after sus- the kingpin of the racket. underway, the release 3,931, the highest. — PTI services and without pay- tained efforts. Colluding with the duo he added. Miscreants rob varsity assistant Heavy rains expected in parts Fire at car registrar’s family at knifepoint of TN till Dec. 19 seat storage DC CORRESPONDENT Sukanya. In addition to this, they CHENNAI, DEC. 16 The incident happened confiscated the couple’s DC CORRESPONDENT godown at around 2 am on mobile phone and CHENNAI, DEC. 16 A 56-year-old man and Wednesday when five warned them to not lodge his wife were threatened men broke through the a complaint with the Parts of delta and coastal DC CORRESPONDENT at knifepoint by men who house from the back door police. districts of Tamil Nadu are CHENNAI, DEC. 16 barged into their house in and threatened the duo The couple stayed expected to receive rainfall the wee hours of Wed- with lethal weapons ask- inside the restroom the till December 19, according A major fire was report- nesday. The gang alleged- ing for money and jewels. whole night panicking to the latest weather fore- ed in the godown of a car ly robbed 40 sovereign The couple were locked and alerted the cast. seat manufacturing unit jewels from the house in inside the restroom by Sunguvarchatram police According to the latest at Pondhur near Sriperu- Pattamudaiyar Kuppam the robbers, the police station in the morning. bulletin from the Regional mbudur in Kanchi on near Sunguvarchatram said. Miscreants moved Sunguvarchatram police Meteorological Centre, Wednesday morning. Th- in Kanchipuram district. all around the house col- registered a case. heavy rain warning has ere were no casualties, According to the police, lecting all jewels from the Forensic experts have issued heavy rain at isolat- the fire personnel said. the assistant registrar of bureau. They left with examined the house and ed places over , According to police, the University of Madras, gold jewels worth 40 sov- investigations are on. The Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, the fire was first noticed Shanmugam (56), resides ereigns, including the victims were advised by Mayiladuthurai, in the early hours of in Pattamudaiyar Kup- jewels his wife was wear- the police to install CCTV Pudukottai districts of Wednesday from one of pam with her wife, ing that time. cameras. Tamil Nadu and Karaikal the godowns used to area on December 16, 17 and store vehicle seats. The 18. Thunderstorms with A bhajan group rendering devotional songs on Mada street in Mylapore on thick smoke from the lightning are likely to occur Wednesday — DC godown engulfed the at isolated places over entire area. One killed, two injured as lorry runs amok Tamil Nadu, Puducherry On being alerted, fire and Karaikal area between and rescue services per- DC CORRESPONDENT control and hit a state Soon after the incident, December 16 and 19. Pandemic impact sonnel from Irunga- CHENNAI, DEC. 16 government bus, an auto- the lorry driver tried to As for Chennai, the sky tukottai, Kancheepu- rickshaw and a motorcy- flee the spot but locals condition is likely to be gen- ram, Sriperumbudur A lorry on Wednesday cle, before crossing the caught him and handed erally cloudy over the next and Magaral rushed to went out of control after signal and hitting on over to the police. He was 48 hours, with light to mod- Bhajan groups may miss the spot and extin- the driver on the wheels three pedestrians. later identified by the erate rains. guished the blaze in a reportedly slept and ran Three men identified as police as Venkatachalam ( N Puviarasan, Director, few hours. The loss was amok, killing one and Padmanaban, 27) of Ayyampettai in Area Cyclone Warning estimated to be several injuring two pedestrians Manikandan and Dilli Salem district. Centre, Regional lakhs. .A short circuit is besides damaging a few Babu of Peerkankaranai The driver allegedly told Meteorological Centre, their date with Margazhi said to be the cause of vehicles moving on the were knocked down by police that he has been Chennai told reporters that the fire. However, police road here, police said. the lorry. Passersby transporting goods with- the weather conditions are B. VIJAYALAKSHMI | DC group for several years, van group has not organ- are investigating to The incident happened immediately rushed the in the state, without prop- likely to prevail for the next CHENNAI, DEC. 16 told DC, “My grandfather ised the Margazhi bhajan. ascertain the exact near Perungalathur on trio to Chromepet govern- er sleep for the last few few days at a few places over eminent musician-com- “With heavy heart, we cause of the fire. Wednesday afternoon. ment hospital, however, days. The Chromepet traf- coastal Tamil Nadu, A distinct feature of Mar- poser Sivan decided against conduct- Sriperumbudur Police According to police, the one of the injured, 60- fic investigation police Puducherry and Karaikal gazhi is groups rendering would lead the early ing the bhajan due to pan- registered a case and lorry loaded with maida year-old Padmanaban registered a case and area. In interior districts, bhajans on the Mada stre- morning bhajans in demic threat,” said Ashok further investigations flour, on its way from died on the way, the police began a probe into the light to moderate rain or ets of Mylapore every mo- Margazhi and several vet- Ramani. are on. Salem to Chennai city lost said. matter. thunder is likely. rning. However, the pan- eran and illustrious musi- However, as Margazhi Chennai and its neigh- demic has taken its toll on cians have joined him dawned on Wednesday bouring districts - this age-old tradition. Gr- those days. Musicians like morning, a small group, Chengalpattu, Thiruvallur oups singing carnatic and Sanjay Subramanian, who follows Swami Hari- and Kancheepuram have devotional songs, playing Gayathri Venkatara- doss Giri, walked through Customs seizes huge haul of gold at airport received excess rainfall in harmonium, mridangam ghavan, S. Sowmya and Mada streets in Mylapore the last two months.Other and even chaplakattai and Vijay Siva were also part singing devotional songs. DC CORRESPONDENT ets were recovered from after extraction. One 49 grams and valued at `26.5 districts that have received traversing the streets of of our bhajan group. We Since wearing masks CHENNAI, DEC. 16 their jeans. Iphones 12,cig- gram gold chain was also lakhs was recovered and significant excess rainfall Mylapore and Triplicane used to sing Carnatic and maintaining social arettes, health supple- recovered. Iphones, seized under Customs Act. during this period include for a couple of hours brav- songs whenever we distance may not be possi- The customs officers at ments valued at `9.8 lakhs Cigarettes valued at `9.35 Customs officials arrested Cuddalore, Ranipet, ing early morning biting stopped at vantage points. ble during this early the Chennai airport seized were also recovered from lakhs were also recovered Sayed. Sivagangai, Tirupattur, cold are missing this time. While walking, we opted morning sojourn, bhajan a huge haul of gold worth their hand bags and from their handbags and Rasuldeen (29) of Tiruvannamalai, Papanasam Ashok for namavali (chanting groups will have to miss `2.41 crore , weighing 4.77 seized. 8 bundles of gold seized. All three were Sivaganga bound for Thoothukudi, Villupuram Ramani, who has been names of gods and god- their date with Margazhi kilograms. Seven persons paste weighing 1.928 kg arrested. Dubai via Flight FZ8518 and Virudhunagar. part of Sivan’s bhajan desses).” But this year Si- this year. were arrested by the offi- were recovered from rec- In another case , was intercepted after cers for smuggling the tum of Mujeebur and Mohamed Vaaris (25) of clearing immigration. On gold. Bilal, which on extraction Chennai and Ihsanullah search, 5000 Pound According to an official yielded 1.72 kg gold. They (32) of Ramanathapuram Sterling and 500 Singapore press release from the were arrested . Mohamed who arrived by Air Arabia Dollars valued at `5.13 SFI: Improve social representation in faculty appointments department of Customs , Rabeek has also been Flight G 9471 arriving lakhs which were unde- based on intelligence arrested. from Sharjah were inter- clared were recovered and A. ARUL PALANI | DC the appointment of profes- government to reject the pro- tribution, during each selec- Mohammed Rabeek ( 25) of The officials on the cepted and 3 bundles of seized under Customs Act CHENNAI, DEC. 16 sors and associate professors posal as it was violation of tion session, make informa- Ramanathapuram, same day intercepted, gold paste were recovered r/w FEMA. since majority of such posts the Constitution. tion available to the candi- Mohamed Yazeer Khan Fasil Rahuman (27) from them. In total, gold worth Slamming the recommenda- in the country’s premier They have sought the gover- dates about the parameters of (23) of Chennai, Mujeebur Ashok Kumar (22) both Similarly, Sayed Moha- `2.41 crore, foreign cur- tion of a committee consti- institutions are exempt from nment to revaluate PhD se- the PhD selection process for Rahman (34) and Bilal (33) from Ramanathapuram, med of Madurai who have rency worth `5.13 lakh tuted by the Union Ministry reservation. lection process at IITs to find each of the departments both from of Tiruchira- and Mathan Kumar (26) of arrived by Emirates flight and iPhones, cigarettes, of Education to exempt IITs In a joint statement, V.P. Sa- out the bottlenecks /biases /streams and the expectations palli who arrived from Puddukottai who arrived EK 544 was intercepted at health supplements worth from following reservation nu, national president, and faced by the candidates from from PhD candidates in the Dubai by Air India by Fly Dubai flight. exit .On personal search 6 `19.15 lakhs goods totally policies in faculty recruit- Mayukh Biswas, national ge- reserved categories, release a IIT system, and make central Express flight IX 1644 On personal search 7 gold chains concealed in valued at `2.65 crores ment, the SFI has urged the neral secretary of SFI, have proper notification of the government-mandated SC/ST were intercepted at exit. bundles of gold paste handbag, 2 gold washers were seized in eleven central government to pro- condemned the committee PhD positions available in the and OBC observers in the On their personal search weighing 1.52 kg were and 1 gold coin ingenious- cases by the Chennai cus- pose measures to improve for proposing the recommen- departments of all IITs along selection panel compulsory 4 gold cut bits, 4 gold recovered from rectum ly concealed two wrist toms. Further investiga- the social representation in dation and sought the central with their categorywise dis- for PhD and other interviews. chains, 6 gold paste pack- which yielded 1.38 kg gold watches weighing 526 tion is under progress. Plea in HC to honour scholars with Karunanidhi award DC CORRESPONDENT Thanthai Periyar Dravidar ed to the candidate every year Segur corridor: Conservation gets jumbo boost CHENNAI, DEC. 16 Kazhagam, came up for hear- on the occasion of the birth- ing, ordered notice, return- day of the donor (June 3). He B. RAVICHANDRAN I DC A Public Interest Litigation able by March 3, 2021 to the said after he demitted the OOTY, DEC. 16 has been filed in the Madras Central Institute of Classical office of Chief Minister and high court to direct the Tamil represented by its Ex- after former Chief Minister The year 2020 saw a new 2 20 authorities to continue to Officio Chairperson J.Jayalalithaa, came to power, leaf in the annals of ele- present the Award every year Edappadi K.Palaniswami, being the chairperson of the phant conservation in NILGIRIS on the occasion of the birth- Chief Minister of Tamil Society she gave a full stop for Nilgiris as the Supreme day of former Chief Minister Nadu and two others. the activities of the society Court finally gave its nod On October 14, 2020, the M.Karunanidhi i.e., on June 3 According to Doraisamy, since the society was the for restoration of the Supreme Court upheld the for the best contribution to the then Chief Minister brainchild of Segur Valley elephant cor- Madras high court judg- classical Tamil studies by a M.Karunanidhi, who was the M.Karunanidhi. The society ridor now located in the ment of 2009, on restoring researcher or a research author of number of literary became more or less defunct. Mudumalai Tiger Reserve the Segur Valley elephant institution in the areas of works in Tamil, has created No Director was appointed to (MTR) buffer zone. corridor that stretches archaeology, epigraphy, out of his personal funds an the society till her death. The The final verdict came upto 22 km between numismatics, ancient gram- endowment in his name for awards in the name of after a 12-year-long legal Singara and Segur reserve mar and linguistic study, lit- classical Tamil research in M.Karunanidhi was not dis- battle. forests in MTR buffer zone erary criticism, creative writ- the Central Institute of bursed till date. Due to the Mr. Elephant Rajendran, limits. The corridor is ing, translation and music, Classical Tamil (CICT) in the intervention of the Union the Chennai-based advo- interspersed with dance, drama, painting and year 2009. From the endow- government, the present cate-cum-environmental- private lands and rev- sculpture, leading to the cre- ment an award will be given director was appointed in ist, the petitioner in the enue lands. Due to mush- ation of new knowledge in to the scholar and June 2020. However, he did public interest litigation rooming of concrete struc- ancient Tamil culture and researchers of eminence not take any initiative to dis- on Segur Valley elephant tures, including tourist civilization and gaining every year. The award was tribute the awards and the corridor, whose tireless resorts, in the private A view of the Segur valley elephant corridor from Vibhuthimalai area in MTR buffer International recognition. one of the highest honours award amount of Rs 2 crore efforts yielded fruitful lands and encroachments zone. — DC A division bench compris- confirmed in India. The was lying unutilized. results this year, appreci- in the revenue lands in the ing Justices M.Sathyanara- award carries a cheque for Rs Therefore, he sent a represen- ated the role of Deccan corridor, it led to frequent corridor for migratory reserve in Kerala. removed soon after a yanan and P.Rajamanickam 10 lakh citation plaque and a tation to the authorities. But Chronicle in the genesis of man-elephant conflict in and free-ranging wild ele- Now, around 800 struc- three-member committee before whom the petition filed bronze replica of the donar there was no response. Hence, this case and its support the past. phants in the Nilgiris ele- tures in the private and appointed by the Supreme by advocate S.Doraisamy, also M.Karunanidhi. The award he has filed the present peti- for restoring the corri- Segur Valley elephant phant reserve and the revenue lands in Segur Court submits its report to the Vice President of was scheduled to be present- tion, he added. dor. corridor is an important Nilambur elephant corridor are expected to be the court. DECCAN CHRONICLE | THURSDAY | 17 DECEMBER 2020 | CHENNAI pg 3 STATE pg DECCAN CHRONICLE | THURSDAY | 17 DECEMBER 2020 | CHENNAI 4

Irregularities in rice IN BRIEF Kamal takes a swipe at Stalin flays arrest Covid death rate distribution: Former of TN fishermen ‘one nation, one language’ DMK MLA moves HC DC CORRESPONDENT DC CORRESPONDENT CHENNAI, DEC. 16 very low in TN: CM G. BABU CHENNAI, DEC. 16 JAYAKUMAR I DC DMK President M K Stalin R. VALAYAPATHY I DC on Wednesday. Karur district in which CHENNAI, DEC 16: Former DMK MLA M.Appavu has urged the External Affairs KARUR, DEC. 16 He said 4,999 persons 800 people will get jobs. approached the Madras high Minister S Jaishankar to take were affected by Covid-19 He said a new check dam Did traversing southern Tamil Nadu court to direct the Directorate of immediate action to bring Due to the continuous in Karur district, of which across river Cauvery will bring about a change of mind in Vigilance and Anti-Corruption to back the 36 fishermen from TN efforts of the Tamil Nadu 4,863 were cured. As many come up at Nanjai Pugalur founder forward his complaint against who have been detained by the government, the death as 48 people died and at village at a cost of `406.50 Kamal Haasan? Going by his tweet Food and Civil Supplies Minister Sri Lankan Navy. rate and number of people present 88 persons are crore and under the Lower on Wednesday it seems so, at least on R.Kamaraj and his subordinates, Urging Jaisankar to ensure infected by Covid-19 in TN undergoing treatment. Bhavani improvement the issue of Neet. alleging irregularities in the dis- that the fishermen reached are very low compared Till yesterday 1,10,401 scheme renovation of While the actor had said a few days tribution of additional 5 kgs of home along with their fishing with other states, said tests were conducted and water bodies and extend- back that he would plump for Neet, rice announced by the Union gov- gear safely, Stalin tweeted: Chief Minister Edappadi yesterday 1,269 RT-PCR ing the infrastructure of which is the common national level ernment to each family card hold- ‘The act of Sri Lankan navy to K. Palaniswami. tests were conducted in irrigation will be taken up entrance for medical college admis- ers during the Covid-19 pandemic arrest Tamil fishermen even Palaniswami made these Karur district. So far, at a cost of `933.10 crore in sions, he flayed the ‘one examina- name of the literary genius if his period, to the Governor of Tamil when the Covid-19 restrictions remarks during a review 10,647 fever tests Erode, Tirupur and Karur tion’ concept on Wednesday. party came to power. Nadu to get prior approval for reg- are in place is highly disap- meeting with Karur were conducted in the dis- districts. In the line of the ‘one nation, one Prior to that he had exulted over istering FIR under the Prevention pointing & unexpected.’ Collector S. Malarvizhi trict. Under the Kudimaram- law, one examination, one religion, the crowds at K Kamaraj’s town of Corruption Act. In another statement, Stalin and other officials on the He said during the World athu scheme, 90 works one Hindi, one chappathi, one jibba’ (Virudhunagar) and his visit to the A division bench comprising Jus- urged the government to roll ongoing developmental Investors’ Conference in have been completed at a hides the idea of ‘one Prime house of nationalist poet tices M.Sathyanarayanan and P. back the hike in domestic LPG activities and the preven- 2019, MoUs worth `2,100 cost of `14.20 crore from Minister,’ Kamal said, adding that Bharathiyar in Ettayapuram, which Rajamanickam before whom the cylinder price, which has been tive measures taken crore were signed for 2016-2017 to 2020-2021, he wherever the ‘one’ came up autocra- he said had not seen any develop- PIL filed by Appavu came up for he- increased by `100 in 15 days. against Covid-19 in Karur starting new industries in added. cy and oppression would rear their ment. aring, adjourned it to Jan. 6, 2021. heads as history had informed us. But his mocking at ‘one religion, According to petitioner, since mi- “In an uneven society without one Hindi and one chappathi’ was a llions of families and their wards equality and social justice, mention- surprise in that he seemingly were badly affected due to the pan- Memorial OF King Serfoji 2 to get facelift ing that ‘one’ is a great injustice,” expounds a view that is similar to demic of Covid-19 as well time and he said, taking a standpoint diamet- that of the popular political parties again extension of lock downs, the G. SRINIVASAN | DC trust, headed by prince Shivaji ious languages like English, structed Sadur Mahal in the rically opposite to that of in Tamil Nadu. Union government considered the- THANJAVUR DEC.16 Rajah, has taken up the reno- French, and Dutch. His contri- palace complex and Vinayaka the ‘nationalist’ BJP. By referring to Hindi, chapati and ir plight and announced to distrib- vation work. "People, particu- butions include the first sannidhi at Big temple. The reference to ‘one Prime jibba, he has directed his attack at ute additional free rice of 5 kgs to The memorial of Maratha larly tourists, evince interest English dictionary of Samuel Viswajit Ghatte Rao, vice- Minister,’ in fact, is a swipe at the varied attempts from several each family card holders for three king Rajah Serfoji 2, the archi- in seeing the memorial after Johnson, the first Tamil Bible president of the monument nationalism itself. quarters to impose north Indian cul- months from April 2020. Tamil tect of Saraswathi Mahal they visit Saraswathi Mahal printed at Tharangampadi, protection committee, Viveka- So, has the tour of the southern ture and language on Tamil Nadu. Nadu was also one among them to library, at Rajagori cemetery library. Hence the effort" said medical books and paintings. nanda Gopal, secretary, districts that started from Madurai In a speech, Kamal that Tamils get the additional free rice to dis- will be renovated soon. Shivaji Rajah. He established Nava Vidhya Janaki Raveendran, commiss- opened his eyes to the ground reali- would learn any language if they tribute the TPDS card holders. On Foundation stone for the reno- Serfoji's contribution to the Kalanidhi Salai and provided ioner of Thanjavur city corpo- ties and helped him understand are let free but would ‘spit out’ any- April 27, 2020 R.Kamaraj, Minister vation of the memorial was Saraswathi Mahal library was education to children and ration, Lakshmi Narasimhan, local aspirations better? thing that was imposed on them. for Food and Civil Supplies and his laid by M. Govinda Rao, the his precious personal collec- girls. Women teachers also regional manager of Indian For, in an earlier tweet, he He also speaks indirectly against subordinates/executives informed collector. tion of manuscripts and books worked here. He also estab- Overseas Bank, Sachin Joshi bemoaned the inordinate delay in , calling it a dead language, the Union government that they The monument protection collected by him during his lished choultry at various and Tanaji Sonahe, general putting up a statue for Tamil writer thus taking the line of the regional were unable to lift the additional committee of the Sri Kasi yatra. He presented 5,000 places for the benefit of managers of Bharath petrole- Puthumaipithan in Tirunelveli and parties on the contentious language free rice from the godown of Food Jayamala Rani educational books collected by him in var- tourists and pilgrims. He con- um, were present. assured to set up a university in the issue. Corporation of India and they were yet to purchase additional free rice for a sum of `438 crore. But, on May 22, 2020 he issued a press Countdown begins for launch release stating that his department distributed additional free rice of 5 of communication satellite Efforts to trap killer jumbo go in vain kg to each of the family card hold- ers. On June 19, 2020 CM Edappadi Chennai, Dec 16: The 25-hour Countdown for the launch of B. RAVICHANDRAN I DC The teams could spot the jumbo at Forests in Coimbatore sent the tranquiliser dart K.Palaniswami issued a press countdown for the launch of PSLV-C50/CMS01 mission OOTY, DEC.16 circle, said that this in the afternoon, it joined release supporting R.Kamaraj that communication satellite CMS- commenced on Wednesday at Dampalla in Cherangode limits after the jumbo, named its herd which included all categories of card holders were 01 on board launch vehicle 1441hrs from Satish Dhawan The efforts of the forest use of drones and three kumki ele- Sullikomban or four other tuskers. distributed free rice of 5 kgs. But PSLV-C50 commenced on Space Centre, SHAR teams to capture a 50- phants from Mudumalai Tiger Reserve Othaikomban by local The other jumbos in on verification, the petitioner came Wednesday, Isro said. Sriharikota," Isro said. CMS-01 year-old male wild ele- populace when it the herd surrounded to know that the additional free The polar satellite launch is the 42nd communication phant at the Nilgiris bor- The teams could spot persons in three days in unleashed a rampage in Shankar, moved little fur- rice were smuggled by the subordi- vehicle's 52nd mission is sched- satellite of the space agency der went in vain on the jumbo at Dampalla in Kolapalli hamlet limits 2016 in Pandalur limits, ther in the woods and nates of the accused and the Civil uled for lift-off at 15.41 hours and it is envisaged for provid- Wednesday as the jumbo, Cherangode limits after in Pandalur taluk in has been renamed as prevented the forest Supplies Crime Investigation dep- on Thursday from the second ing services in Extended-C escorted by other mem- the use of drones and Nilgiris border along Shankar after the profil- teams from approaching artment police seized free rice of launch pad at the spaceport of Band of the frequency spec- bers in its herd, moved three kumki elephants Kerala recently. ing of the wild jumbos in the herd. We will contin- 2,100 kgs which was directly delive- Sriharikota 'subject to weather trum covering India, Andaman further inside the woods from Mudumalai Tiger I. Anwardeen, the the Gudalur forest divi- ue our operation on red to private rice mill for polish- conditions'. and Nicobar and Lakshadweep after receiving a tran- Reserve. Additional Principal sion recently. “After the Thursday to capture it,” ing from the TNCSCS stock yard of "PSLV-CMS-01 Mission: islands. —PTI quiliser dart. The jumbo killed three Chief Conservator of forest veterinary team he added. Tirunelveli district. COFFEE-BREAK CALVIN AND HOBBES| Bill Watterson Your day today By Dr C.V.B. Subrahmanyam QUICK CROSSWORD Aries: Success comes in with abundant fame and recognition in your chosen field, make the most of it! A surprise gift is in store. Keep up the hard work and faith. Taurus: Health is good; enjoy dinner plans with loved ones. You may be feeling helpless and cornered today. Unsupportive associates at THE WIZARD OF ID| Parker and Hartsd work make things difficult for you to achieve. Gemini: Things both at work and home hit a peaceful note today. You are more relaxed. It’s wise to handle certain important and fragile issues on your own. Cancer: You can’t achieve it all in one day. Those going through a rough patch in their personal life are comforted by a new friendship. Finances improve for freelancers. Leo: Be patient and less restless. Health is satisfactory. Work wise, those in artistic/ creative fields do well, but results that you ARCHIE| Bill Henry Scarpelli & craig boldman expect may be a wee delayed, don’t worry. Virgo: You will be a great team player instead of a leader now for your job satisfaction. Some of you might feel nostalgic and miss your beloved. Your efforts at work help the company to gain more profits and succeed. Spend time with family. Across Down YESTERDAY’S ANSWER You share your b’day with 1.Infatuated (8) 1. Conductor’s stick (5) Across: 1. Involved, 7. In search of (5) 2. Sieve (6) 6. Punt, 7. Cipher, 9. John Abraham, Bollywood actor. He is best known for his roles 8. Butter ingredient (5) Rumba, 11. Vodka, 3. Diplomacy (4) 12. Aloft, 13. Petri, 9. Hazard (6) in Jism, Dhoom, Zinda, Water, Dostana, New York, Housefull 2, 4. Foe (5) 16. Tomato, 18. Race 2, Shootout at Wadala, Madras Cafe, Parmanu, 10. Wheel cover (4) Omen, 19. 5. Itinerant (9) Satyameva Jayate and Batla House amongst others. 12. Sloping path (4) Outmoded. 6. Adorn (9) 14. Carpenter’s tool (6) Down: 1. Important, BLONDIE| Dean Young and John Marshall Libra: If you are thinking of taking up a home 17. Alcove (5) 11. Refrain (6) 2. Venom, 3. Vice, 4. 18. Marsh plants (5) 13. Showily manly (5) Deplore, 5. Cue, 8. improvement project, set a budget so that you Realigned, 10. don't go overboard. You will have to be more 19. Come together and form 15. Setting (5) Buffalo, 14. Tamed, energetic towards your profession. one whole (8) 16. Sense (4) 15. Moat, 17. Odd. Scorpio: It is advisable to think things through and work towards strengthening your bond with partner. Children’s health may become the Word Mine jumble source of worry. Sagittarius: Do not be put off by obstacles W in life, as this is only a passing phase. Businessmen will sail through tough conditions comfortably. Speculation may yield gains. S N M Capricorn: It is not a favourable time to start any ANDY CAPP | Reg Smythe new projects. There may be a financial crisis D O I T R looming over the horizon. Don’t splurge unneces- TODAY’S RATINGS: 19 AVERAGE; 20 sarily, instead plan and stick to a monthly budget. GOOD; 21 OUTSTANDING How many words of four or Aquarius: Self-employed professionals will have more letters can you make from to work hard to satisfy their clients. Consult with the letters shown in today’s puzzle? In making a word, each others before taking a major decision. Don’t let any letter may be used once only. fear of failing hold you back from working hard. Each word must contain the letter at the top of the pyramid. Pisces: It is advisable to take things slow. For now, There should be at least one inaction is better than wrong action. Hard work nine letter word. Plurals, foreign words and proper names are

doesn’t scare you away today. You might be willing not allowed.

worn, worst, wrist, writ wrist, worst, worn,

to start a new project, but proceed with extreme worm, word, wont, wisdom, wino, WINDSTORM,

sown, stow, swim, sword, sworn, town, twin, wind, twin, town, sworn, sword, swim, stow, sown, caution. You might have misjudged it. snow, mown, drown, down, disown, ANSWERS: TARZAN| Edgar Rice Burroughs bridge eorge Szell, a conduc- best at declarer-play, sec- leads the club three? heart six. After East ruffs tor, was in the United ond-best at bidding and In the auction, if you think and leads the diamond jack, GStates on his way back 10th-best at defense! To West ought to have bid four West overtakes with his PHILLIP to Europe from Australia defend well, not only do you diamonds over three king and delivers a second ALDER when World War II broke need to watch the cards spades, tune in tomorrow. heart ruff to defeat the con- out. He never left. He said, closely and signal accurate- East wins the first trick tract by two tricks; plus 200 "Conductors must give ly to partner, but he must be with his club king and cash- to East-West. SUIT unmistakable and sugges- doing the same, and both of es the heart ace. West Looking for a seasonal tive signals to the orchestra, you must be interpreting should realize that this is a present for a bridge player? PREFERENCE not choreography to the these cards correctly. singleton, so he must signal Give her or him a subscrip- audience." The best defenders use a with his heart 10 under part- tion to Phillip Alder's WINS A bridge defender must lot of suit-preference sig- ner's ace, a suit-preference bridgeforeveryone.com give unmistakable signals to nals. Today's deal shows signal for diamonds. East website. REGULARLY his partner, not worry about what is possible. How now shifts to the diamond Copyright United kibitzers. should the defenders defeat three. West takes that trick Feature Syndicate Most bridge players are three spades after West with his 10 and leads the (Asia Features) NATION pg DECCAN CHRONICLE | CHENNAI | THURSDAY | 17 DECEMBER 2020 5

SHORT TAKES CPM-led LDF registers WASNIK WARY OF CHANGE IN big win in local body polls MP LEADERSHIP DC CORRESPONDENT RESULTS TOTAL LDF UDF BJP OTH RABINDRA NATH THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, 2020 SEATS CHOUDHURY | DC DEC. 16 G. Panchayats 941 514, 377, 22, 28 BHOPAL, DEC. 16 The CPM-led ruling Left B. Panchayats 152 108 44 0 All India Congress Committee Democratic Front in D. Panchayats 14 10, 4, 0 (AICC) general secretary in- Kerala on Wednesday charge of Madhya Pradesh registered a significant Municipalities 86 35 45 2 4 affairs Mukul Wasnik on victory in local body Corporations 6 5 1 0 Wednesday remained non- polls considered as the (G) Grama; (B) Block; (D) District committal on change of guard semifinals ahead of cru- in state Congress amid grow- cial Assembly elections ing demand in the party here next year. the people of the state,” an adverse political to replace Kamal Nath as PCC Chief Minister he said. situation, the LDF man- chief. Pinarayi Vijayan termed For the LDF, the victory aged to keep its rural Wasnik who arrived here in the success of ruling is vital as it comes in base almost intact win- the morning on a 3-day-visit to front as “peoples victo- the backdrop of serious ning 514 grama panchay- the state to review preparati- ry.” allegations related to ats. ons of the party for the upcom- “It’s a befitting reply gold smuggling, corrup- The UDF which was ing civic body polls, told repor- from the people of tion in mega projects expected to do better this ters that the party needed seni- Kerala to the forces who faced by the government time, ended up with 377 or leaders for their experience tried to destroy our and Chief Minister’s grama panchayats. and the young ones for revital- achievements, central office. However, the UDF isation of the organisation. agencies which worked Almost all central agen- maintained its upper He was replying to a question with ulterior motive, cies including CBI, ED, hand in municipalities as to if change in leadership in communal forces which Customs, NIA are camp- winning 45 of the 86. The MP Congress was imminent. wanted to weaken the ing in the state in con- LDF won 35 while BJP When insisted by reporters Ex-servicemen join farmers’ protest against the new farm laws at Singhu Border in New Delhi on Wednesday. — PTI unity of the people and nection with the investi- added one more to its to clear the air on the matter, the forces which gations into various 2015 tally. he quipped “Do you expect me unleashed lies against cases forcing even Chief Meanwhile, Opposition to answer all your questions the government,” he Minister Pinarayi leader Ramesh today itself”. said. Vijayan to accuse the Chennithala claimed Nath’s recent statement that The Chief Minister BJP-led government at that the UDF had he needed ‘some rest’ and said the people irrespec- the Centre of misusing improved its perform- wanted to stay at home has Govt clears `3,500 cr aid tive of caste, creed, reli- these agencies to derail ance compared to 2015. given birth to speculation that gion, region extended the pro-people projects “LDF cannot claim a big he may pave the way for a new wholehearted support to and topple democratical- victory as its tally in PCC chief. LDF. ly elected state govern- grama panchayats and “The mandate reflects ment. municipalities has gone J&K SOUTHERN for sugarcane farmers the secular mindset of Despite facing such down,” he said. DISTS SEE LOW Move to benefit 5 crore farmers, 5 lakh workers in sugar mills SC SEEKS CENTRE’S Bharat Biotech’s vaccine well tolerated VOTER TURNOUT DC CORRESPONDENT ● THIS SUBSIDY aims at covering expenses on marketing credited to mill’s account. NEW DELHI, DEC. 16 costs including handling, upgrading and other processing The decision will benefit REPLY ON PILs FOR with no serious adverse events DC CORRESPONDENT costs and costs of international and internal transport. five crore farmers and SRINAGAR, DEC. 16 The government on 5,00,000 workers employed New Delhi, Dec 16 : underway. According Wednesday cleared finan- in sugar mills and related REMOVING FARMERS The interim findings to the “A Phase 1: The seventh phase of Jammu cial assistance of `3,500 farmers. the sugarcane farmers. ancillary activities. Sugar of phase 1 clinical Safety and and Kashmir’s first ever crore to sugar mills for the The dues will be directly The CCEA has approved mills will be able to earn New Delhi, Dec. 16: The trial of COVID-19 vac- Immunogenicity Trial District Development Council export of 60 lakh tonnes of credited to their accounts the subsidy at the rate of `6 `18,000 crore revenue from Supreme Court on Wednesday cine Covaxin, indige- of an Inactivated (DDC) elections recorded an sweetener during the ongo- on behalf of sugar mills per kg for the current year, the export, said Javadekar, issued a notice to the Centre nously developed by SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine overall 57.22 per cent voting on ing marketing year 2020-21 against the cane price dues, much lower than about who is also Union environ- and others on a batch of peti- Bharat Biotech in col- BBV152”, after the Wednesday. as part of its efforts to help and the subsequent bal- `10.50 per kg in the 2019-20 ment minister. tions seeking removal of farm- laboration with the first vaccination, local State election commissioner them clear outstanding ance, if any, will be credited marketing year keeping in This subsidy aims at cov- ers camping at several roads ICMR, showed that it and systemic adverse (SEC) K.K. Sharma said dues to sugarcane farmers. to mills’ accounts. view favourable interna- ering expenses on market- near Delhi borders in protest was was well tolerated events were predomi- that the polling was by and Briefing media after the Farmers sell their sugar- tional prices ing costs including han- against the three new agri in all dose groups nantly mild or moder- large peaceful in the 31 con- meeting, information and cane to the sugar mills, According to official dling, upgrading and other laws. with no serious or ate in severity and stituencies where voting took broadcasting minister however, they don’t get sources, the government processing costs and costs A bench comprising Chief adverse events. resolved rapidly, with- place. Prakash Javadekar said the their dues from the sugar will incur about `3,500 of international and inter- Justice S.A. Bobde, and The vaccine induced out any prescribed He said Jammu division Cabinet Committee on mill owners as they have crore for this purpose, and nal transport and freight Justices A.S. Bopanna and V. robust binding and medication. A similar recorded an average voter Economic Affairs (CCEA) surplus sugar stock. To this assistance would be charges on the export of up Ramasubramanian also indi- neutralising antibody trend was observed turnout of 71.93 per cent with has approved a subsidy of address this concern, the directly credited into farm- to 60 LMT of sugar limited cated that the court may form responses which were after the second shot frontier district of Poonch `3,500 crore on exports of government has facilitated ers’ accounts on behalf of to Maximum Admissible a committee having represen- comparable to those was administered. highest 80.12 per cent followed 60 lakh tonnes of sweetener the evacuation of surplus sugar mills against cane Export Quota (MAEQ) allo- tatives of the government and observed in the conva- Pain at the injection by Reasi district with 76.75 per and the subsidy amount sugar stock. This will price dues and subsequent cated to sugar mills for the the farmer unions across the lescent serum collect- site was the most com- cent and Udhampur 75.63 per will directly be given to enable payment of dues of balance, if any, would be sugar season 2020-21. country to resolve the dead- ed from patients who mon local adverse cent voting. lock over the legislations. had recovered from event. The lowest 58.82 per cent In a hearing conducted via COVID-19, according “One serious turnout in Jammu division video conferencing, the bench to the findings which adverse event was was reported from hilly Doda directed the petitioners to ma- have appeared on reported. The partici- district. ke protesting farmer unions medRxiv, a preprint pant was vaccinated The Kashmir Valley reported Adhikari resigns as TMC legislator parties to the pleas and posted server. on July 30. Five days 39.52 per cent average voter the matter for hearing on Thu- A preprint is a ver- later, the participant turnout with Bandipora dis- RAJIB CHOWDHURI | DC the state police in false nation was not immediate- vention as constitutional rsday. sion of a scientific reported symptoms of trict recording the highest KOLKATA, DEC. 16 cases. ly accepted till reports last head so that the police and “Your negotiations with manuscript posted on COVID-19 and was polling at 70.47 per cent fol- At around 4 pm on Wedne- came in, according to sour- the administration appara- protesting farmers have not a public server prior found to be positive lowed by Baramulla with 59.53 Dealing yet another blow to sday Adhikari, accompan- ces, since an MLA is requi- tus in the state is dissuaded worked apparently till now,” to formal peer review. for SARS-CoV-2,” per cent and Kupwara district West Bengal Chief ied by Congress MLA Sudip red to submit his resignati- from implicating me and the bench told the Centre. One serious adverse according to the find- recorded 59.23 per cent polling, Minister Mamata Mukherjee from Purulia, on letter physically in front my associate followers in Meanwhile, Solicitor General event was reported, ings. “The symptoms he added. Banerjee’s Trinamul went to the West Bengal of the Speaker to ensure criminal cases out of politi- Tushar Mehta told the bench which was found to be were mild in nature, Once again, the southern dis- Congress, rebel leader Assembly and handed over that there is no pressure on cal motivation and vendet- that the government will not unrelated to vaccina- but the patient was tricts of the Valley — Anan- Shubhendu Adhikari quit his resignation letter to him for his decision. ta. I am in public life now do anything against the inter- tion, the findings admitted to the hospi- tnag, Kulgam, Pulwama and as Nandigram MLA a day Assembly secretary Abhijit Adhikari remained silent. for 25 years, during which est of farmers. showed. It was a dou- tal on August 15. The Shopian- considered to be the before his visit to New Som, in the absence of But his loyalists under the my prime focus has been Multiple pleas have been ble-blind randomised participant was dis- hotbed of militancy saw maj- Delhi and likely induction Speaker Biman Banerjee. banner of Dadar Onugami and is to be in service of filed in the SC seeking a direc- controlled phase 1 charged on August 22 ority of voters staying away in the BJP. Adhikari, fear- He also sent a copy of his (elder brother’s followers) the people. I have passion- tion to authorities to immedi- clinical trial to evalu- following a negative from the polling. As per the ing a “political vendetta” resignation letter to Baner- hoisted the BJP flag at his ately involved myself with ately remove the farmers, ate the safety and nucleic acid result. official statists, Anantnag rec- against him by the TMC, jee via email. His move ca- office in Heria in East commitment and dedica- saying commuters are facing immunogenicity of The event was not orded 22.46 per cent, Kulgam also sought Governor me nearly three weeks after Midnapore in jubilation. tion to serve the people in hardships due to the road Covaxin (BBV152). causally associated 17.98 per cent, Pulwama 11.06 Jagdeep Dhankhar’s “inter- he had resigned from the In the evening Dhankhar all positions, including as a blockades and the gatherings The document men- with the vaccine,” the per cent and Shopian just 6.55 vention” in a letter for his Mamata Banerjee Cabinet. tweeted Adhikari’s letter, minister in the government might lead to an increase in tions that BBV152 is findings showed. To per cent polling. and his aides’ protection A drama, however, unfold- which states: “I am con- till my resignation on the number of Covid-19 cases. stored between 2 ensure generalisabili- from being implicated by ed later as Adhikari’s resig- strained to seek your inter- 27.11.2020.” — PTI degrees Celsius and 8 ty, the trial was con- degrees Celsius, ducted on volunteers RAM TEMPLE TO which is compatible from diverse geo- with all national graphic locations and BE BUILT USING EC starts preparations for 5 state polls immunisation pro- socioeconomic condi- Chennai airport proves gramme cold chain tions, enrolling 375 ONLY DOMESTIC New Delhi, Dec. 16: The week, Deputy Election requirements and fur- participants across 11 Election Commission has Commissioner Sudip Jain ther efficacy trials are hospitals. FUNDS: TRUST started its preparations for would be in West Bengal in a haven for pet transit five assembly polls due some the coming days, sources Ayodhya:The Ram temple in time in April-May next year said on Wednesday. The ter- Ayodhya will be built using FROM PAGE 1 this city and its people apartment from the with two if its senior offi- ms of the legislative assem- domestic funds collected from who are pet-friendly,” office, he says, the help- cials set to visit West Bengal blies of West Bengal, Tamil the general public through a “We don’t think no he said. less baby cat ran to me and Tamil Nadu in the next Nadu, Assam, Kerala and mass contact programme as wealth with us will It was Manjula who and upped its hands as few days.While EC Secretary Puducherry is coming to an its trust doesn't have required match with the life of saved the cute mau five if it wanted my help to General Umesh Sinha would end between April and June approvals for accepting dona- our Candy. We will years ago when she was survive. I took it to my be visiting Tamil Nadu next next year. — PTI tions from abroad, general sec- spend all we earned our going to attend apartment and put it on retary of the trust Champat entire lifetime to live Bhagavad Gita class my lap. Rai said on Wednesday. with her”, vows Mr. near their apartment. The next moment it Underlining that the Ram tem- Chandran. She saw a baby cat aged slipped into sleep. At ple would actually take the “Yes, it is a fact that 2-4 weeks lying tied to a that moment I made up form of a 'rashtra temple', he we could have saved public dustbin. She my mind that this cat said,”Shri Ram Janmbhoomi over Rs 1 lakh if any of immediately called her was ours and the rest of Teerth Shetra is going to start the Kerala airports had daughter to feed it. At our life was for her. I the mass contact and contribu- facilities for receiving first sight, her daughter convinced my wife. tion campaign across the foreign pets or aban- wanted to keep the cat Today we experience country for construction of doned her in Muscat. at home. But, mom was the grace of almighty the temple.” Addressing a Now we are thinking sceptical. Amidst the whenever we look at her press conference, Rai said pho- about settling down in dilemma, they rang up sharp eyes. Since she tographs of the proposed new Chennai in a year if Chandran to solve the came to us, our life model of the temple will also things would turn issue. changed drastically; reach crores of households around according to “’When I reached the both mentally and through this campaign.— PTI plan. Because we love ground floor of our financially,” he said. India ranks 131 in UN’s human development index New Delhi, Dec 16: India Bangladesh (133), Nepal Representative Shoko Noda different countries that dropped one spot to 131 (142), and Pakistan (154) said the drop in India's uses the prices of specific among 189 countries in the were ranked among coun- ranking doesn't mean goods to compare the abso- 2020 human development tries with medium human “India didn't do well but lute purchasing power of index, according to a report development, the report other countries did better”. the countries' currencies. released by the United said. India's HDI value for Noda said India can help The report said evidence Nations Development 2019 is 0.645 which put it in other countries too and from Colombia to India Programme (UNDP). the medium human devel- lauded its commitment to indicates that financial Human Development opment category. India has reduce carbon emissions. security and ownership of Index is the measure of a been positioned at 131 out of According to the report land improve women's secu- nation's health, education, 189 countries and territo- published by the United rity and reduce the risk of and standards of living. ries, according to the Nations Development Prog- gender-based violence, Life expectancy of Indians report. ramme on Tuesday, India's clearly indicating that own- at birth in 2019 was 69.7 India had ranked 130 in gross national income per ing land can empower years while Bangladesh has 2018 in the index. Norway capita fell to USD 6,681 in women. It further said indi- a life expectancy of 72.6 topped the index, followed 2019 from USD 6,829 in 2018 genous children in Cambo- years and Pakistan 67.3 by Ireland, Switzerland, on purchasing power parity dia, India and Thailand years, the 2020 Human Hong Kong and Iceland, the (PPP) basis. Purchasing show more malnutrition- Development Report said. report showed. Talking to power parity or PPP is a related issues such as stunt- India, Bhutan (129), reporters, UNDP Resident measurement of prices in ing and wasting. — PTI EDIT pg DECCAN CHRONICLE | THURSDAY | 17 DECEMBER 2020 | CHENNAI 6

17DECEMBER 2020 Facts don’t back PM’s theory on farmers’ stir Subhani rime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech in Kutch on Tuesday, in which he spoke of “a great conspiracy to mislead farmers, in and around Delhi”, can be said to mark a new stage in the agitation of farmers of PNorth India, in the vanguard of which are Punjab farmers. This stage bespeaks the hardening of the government’s stand against the farmers knock- ing on the doors of the nation’s capital for the past 20 days. After six rounds of dialogue between the government and the farmers’ rep- resentatives, including a session with Union home minister Amit Shah, the food growers maintain their opposition to the three controversial agri-laws, passed in controversial circumstances last September. The government is just as adamant and will not agree to their repeal, the farmers’ key demand. The farmers have rejected the government’s implied offer of amending specific sec- tions of the three laws if farmers can pinpoint them. In Parliament, and in various statements made by the government’s repre- sentatives outside the legislature, not excluding the remarks of the PM at var- ious forums, the government is yet to cogently explain to the need for the laws that have created a storm, other than to say that these represent much-needed “reform” that will benefit farmers and the farm sector, and will not leave them worse off. The agriculturists are not persuaded, however. The government’s LETTERS bland assurances have done nothing to reassure farmers that the real reason for these “reforms” was to not to benefit big industry, rather than the owners Child nutrition crisis may WHAT AN IRONY of farmland. Makkal Needhi Maiam presi- Ironically, even as Mr Modi attacked the Opposition parties — and when he dent Kamal Haasan has does that he specifically means the Congress since he says “they” were unable rightly said that ‘Puratchi to bring reforms when in power — the real attack on the government has come from president Sukhbir Badal on the same day that the PM was Thalaivar’ M. G. Ramach- accusing the Opposition of misleading farmers and playing politics in the derail India’s aspirations andran, known as MGR and guise of backing farmers. The Akalis depend principally on the votes of as ‘Makkal Thilagam’, is not agriculturists. fered economic shocks. isation of elementary the sole property or asset of Such was the force of the Dal’s opposition to the three farm laws that its We had demonetisation education. announcement of leaving the Narendra Modi government came on the floor of in 2016, which gutted According to the AIADMK alone. He has right- the Lok Sabha, in the course of the discussion on the controversial farm laws. Patralekha much of the informal sec- Accountability Initiative ly asserted that MGR is Subsequently, the Punjab party left the ruling alliance. Therefore, the notion tor which dominates the of the Centre of Policy known as ‘Makkal Thilagam’ of innocent farmers being “misled” by the Opposition — assiduously propa- Chatterjee Indian economy. We Research, only 14 states and not ‘AIADMK Thilagam’ gated by the government and the BJP — does not square with the facts. In the don’t know to what in India could utilise 100 and that some of the minis- first instance, this opposition to the agri-laws came from the Akali Dal when it extent those who took a per cent of the funds allo- was a member of the ruling NDA until three months ago. This was clearly a Dev 360 severe hit during demon- cated to them for mid-day ters would not even have case of opposition from within. etisation have recovered. meals for the year 2018- met him. It is a matter of co- In a newspaper interview, Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh t can be tempting to 34.4 to 35.2. The GST rollout also 2019, and states like ncern and irony that the Tomar said the BJP under Mr Modi came back with an increased majority in blame every crisis What leapt out at me affected small businesses Telangana, Assam and AIADMK leaders who were 2019 because of the “transformative” policies of demonetisation and GST. The on the Covid-19 pan- was the data from and rural wages have Goa used only two-third extremely negative economic effects of these policies did not concern him and demic. But quite . Children in the stagnated,” says Dipa of the money allocated to addressing their rule as he equated more seats in Parliament with approval of these policies by the peo- often, facts get in the 6-50 months group who Sinha, assistant profes- them under this head. ‘Amma Aatchi’ all along has I Gujarat and Haryana ple. In the same way, he noted, the farm laws, that have triggered a tsunami of way. Many things were are anaemic has risen sor of economics at New now switched to the words protest, will also be backed by the electorate. bad enough even prior to from 65.7 per cent in 2015- Delhi’s Ambedkar used only 40 per cent of MGR Aatchi (MGR rule) and The farmers seem to be up against the strength of ideology rather than eco- the onset of the pandem- 2016 to 72.8 per cent in University and a key fig- the funds allocated to nomic logic. ic, that gutted so many 2019-2020. ure in India’s Right to them for mid-day meals. started giving prominence lives and livelihoods. Or take Gujarat, a rela- Food Campaign. All this goes to show that to MGR in posters, banners The latest data from the tively affluent state. The “The other unknown there is a lot that is dys- and advertisements keeping National Family Health percentage of children for which we don’t have functional on the ground. in mind the forthcoming Survey (NFHS-5) is a case under five who are stunt- much data is the impact India’s child nutrition assembly elections. Naked power grab in point. It shows that ed has risen from 38.5 of the weakening of the crisis should give policy- several states across the (2015-2016) to 39.0 (2019- social protection frame- makers sleepless nights. M.C. Vijay Shankar, he fracas in the Karnataka Legislative Council may be par for the course country are doing worse 2020). In the same period, work with inadequate Stunting is a marker of Chennai in many a legislature, but it did nothing for the reputation of a House of since the last NFHS was children under five who budgetary support and chronic or recurrent TElders. The physical pushing and shoving of the deputy chairman, who conducted in 2015-16. are severely wasted has no expansion in response undernutrition, usually was the presiding officer at the time and the kind of street language members They have reversed gone up from 9.5 per cent to the economic slow- associated with poor RYOTS SHOULD END STIR used against each other made this a new low so far as meetings at the majestic course and are showing to 10.6 per cent and those down which could have socioeconomic condi- APROPOS REPORT Conspiracy Vidhana Soudha building in Bengaluru goes. The issue does run deeper and worsening levels of child between 6-59 months who affected affordability of tions, poor maternal afoot to confuse farmers: PM (Dec. the incident only further illustrates the naked power grabbing politics grip- malnutrition despite are anaemic has shot up diets. PDS (public distrib- health and nutrition, fre- 16). The economists cry that due to ping places reserved for people’s representatives. improvements in sanita- from 62.6 per cent in 2015- ution system) provides quent illness, and/or farmers’ agitation the nation is los- It appears the ruling party BJP was in a tearing hurry to pass the contentious tion and better access to 2016 to 79.7 per cent in only rice and wheat in inappropriate infant and ing `3,500 crores per day. And the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill 2020 and the fuel and drinking water. 2019-2020. most states. Some states young child feeding and Prime Minister and the Home Congress, afraid of losing the chairmanship and control of the council, was hell Arguably, the first set Nutrition experts point also give pulses and oil, care in early life. Minister had assured that the gov- bent on stopping the proceedings and the Bill. But the Congress chairman had of findings from the out that out of 22 states but many poorer states Children who suffer ernment will amend the laws suit- no right to duck legislative business in adjourning the House on December 10 NFHS-5, conducted in and Union territories for don’t,” she adds. from stunting may not ably. Yet the agitating farmers are even as the BJP and JD(S) had no right to forcibly occupy the chair through 2019-20, four years after which we have data, Some experts point out only not grow to their full not willing to withdraw their agita- deputy chairman Dharmegowda to try and pass the Bill. the last one (2015-16), there is a surge in severe that the work of the height, there is also a tion. Regrettably the Centre too is The Congress’ fear of losing the last vestige of power in Karnataka it had relates to only 22 states acute malnutrition cases Narendra Modi govern- risk that they would not intransigent against repealing the 3 enjoyed in its alliance of convenience with the JD(S) till 2019 may have led it to and Union territories in 16 states/UTs, com- ment’s flagship National develop their full cogni- farm laws. The moot question is such subterfuge in blocking legislation the BJP is keen to enact. The cattle pro- and does not include pared to NFHS-4 conduct- Nutrition Mission and tive potential. why Yechury, Prashanth Bhushan, tection laws are in keeping with BJP’s pursuit of Hindutva, to enable which it major states like Madhya ed in 2015-2016. Anaemia Mukt Bharat Experts say mothers Yogendra Yadav, Kejriwal and their has been seen enticing the JD(S) into its sphere of influence by dangling the Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Even Kerala, that usu- (AMB) campaign, with who suffer from under- ilk who are lending support to the carrot of an alliance that may stretch into the next Assembly elections. Uttar Pradesh. Data for ally leads in social poli- an ambitious target of nutrition are more likely farmers did not sympathise nor visit The JD(S) is a past master in the art of gravitating towards political power as these states will be cies, has problems: reducing anaemia by to have children who suf- the 29,000 agriculturists who had evidenced in its supremo H.D. Devegowda once becoming Prime Minister of released sometime in the anaemia is growing three percentage points fer from stunting or wast- given 34,000 acres of their land for India in a large coalition with a minuscule number of MPs. Its effort to remain middle of next year. among children. per annum till 2022, are ing, perpetuating the establishing Amaravati as AP’s cap- relevant in Karnataka politics today is understandable. However, the least It is also true that not The underfed hugely not really captured in the cycle of poverty and ital city, agitating for one year? In expectation is presiding officers of legislatures will meticulously follow the everything in NFHS-5 outnumber the overfed NFHS-5 data because undernutrition. Anae- this regard, the Prime Minister’s rule book so as not to deny a majority from having its say, such majority reeks of gloom. but alongside the crisis of they really got going only mia is also hugely debili- statement that “there is a conspira- always being on the floor of the House. Immunisation coverage child under-nutrition, we recently. tating. It can affect chil- cy, confused and instigated the has expanded in many are also seeing a rise in Even if that is so, it is dren’s cognitive perfor- farmers” gains credence. It is time states, the number of child obesity, perhaps vital to review what is mance and physical the farmers gave up their agitation households using clean due to more junk food actually happening on growth. In women, and settled issues through negotia- fuel has improved. Ditto consumption. the ground. There are anaemia can adversely tions. DECCAN CHRONICLE with sanitation facilities. All this is exacerbated enough indications that impact the capacity to A. Seshagiri Rao, Chennai KAUSHIK MITTER K. SUDHAKAR The total fertility rate by widespread under-nu- all is not well with many work and can lead to Editor Printer & Publisher (TFR) across most Indian trition and anaemia am- programmes. Take the poor pregnancy out- R. MOHAN ong women, including mid-day meals, for exam- comes. Resident Editor states is also declining. CORRUPTION IN RTO DECCAN CHRONICLE offices are located at: All this is good news. those who are pregnant. ple — the Central govern- Children are India’s IN A surprise raid in Virudhunagar Chennai: SP 3 Developed Plot, Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai 600032. Phones: (044) 22254747, But we can’t afford to What is going wrong ment’s flagship school- future, on whom the RTO, sleuths of the anti-corruption 22254748 take the eye off the ball and what has changed based feeding pro- country’s dreams rest, wing are reported to have seized una- Coimbatore: 77 Vivekananda Road, Ramnagar, Coimbatore 641009. Phone: (0422) 2231255, 2231256 between 2015-2016 and gramme aimed at but they are paying the Hyderabad: 36, Sarojini Devi Road, Secunderabad 500 003. Phone: (040) 27803930-4. Fax: (040) and gloss over the heart- ccounted cash of `25.66 lakh. Two 27805256. breaking reality of grow- 2019-2020? improving the nutrition- price of adult bungling motor vehicle inspectors have been Bengaluru: 5th Floor, BMTC Commercial Complex, 80 Ft. Road, Koramangala, Bangalore-560095. Ph: ing numbers of stunted “We don’t have granu- al status of students and and apathy. We can’t suspended in this connection. About 08043460500; Fax: 080-22960551/52/55 and undernourished chil- lar data for all states and promoting the universal- afford that. Nor can we three months ago, the DVAC officials Visakhapatnam: Survey No. 1/3A Beach Road, Near Kailasagiri Ropeway, Sector-9 MVP Colony, dren in India. Union territories as yet afford diversions like the had seized nearly `4 lakh unaccount- Visakhapatnam - 530 017. Phones: (0891) 2552333/2552334, Fax (0891) 2755285 Vijayawada: No. C 3 & 4, Patamata, Industrial Estate, Auto Nagar, Vijayawada (A.P.). Phones: (0866) In , the but the first lot of data needless hullabaloo over ed cash in Sriperumbudur RTO. The 2555284/ 2555287, Fax (0866) 2555234 percentage of children in from NFHS-5 points to What leapt out at me serving boiled eggs, a cash was reportedly found concealed Rajahmundry: Vemagiri, Dhawleswaram Rd, Rajahmundry 533125. Phones: (0883) 2417208, 2417618 the 6-59 months group worsening malnutrition was the data from source of protein, to poor in the flush tank of the restroom, gen- Anantapur: Thapovan Colony, Bangalore Bye-Pass Road, Anantapur 515004. Phones: (08554) 276903, who are anaemic has and anaemia in several children in government erator room and also inside the vehi- Fax: 08554-276904 Mumbai. Children in Nellore: Survey No. 527/2, Burranpur Village, Venkatachalam (M), Chemudugunta Panchayat, Nellore. shot up from 53.8 per cent states. From the data programmes. cles used by officials. When comput- Phone: (0861) 2348581/ 82, Telefax (0861) 2348580 (2015-2016) to 68.9 per cent that’s available, it’s hard the 6-50 months erisation was introduced, the author- Karimnagar: Survey No. 1341, Vavilalapally Colony, Jagityala Road, Karimnagar 505 001. in 2019-2020. Rural chil- to pinpoint why malnu- group who are The writer focuses on ities had made a tall claim that trans- Phone: (0878 ) 2228908; Telefax (0878) 2220433 dren are more severely trition worsened even anaemic has risen development issues in parency would be the hallmark of ad- Kochi: No. 3-B, 3rd Floor, DD TRADE TOWER, Kaloor-Kadavanthara Road, , India and emerging Ph: 0484-4039408 affected. In the same peri- before the pandemic set from 65.7 per cent in ministration, and corruption and Kozhikode: No 6/1002 E, First Floor City Mall, Opp. YMCA Kannur Road, Kozhikode - 673 001 od, the percentage of chil- in, but it’s important to economies. She can malpractices would be a thing of the Fax : 0495 4019018 dren under five who are note that the period when 2015-2016 to be reached at past. Unfortunately, things have not Thiruvananthapuram: St Joseph Press Thycaud post, Cotton Hills, Thiruvananthapuram-14, Ph: 0471- stunted (low height for it worsened coincides 72.8 per cent in patralekha.chatterjee changed a wee bit. 2735105/6/7, Fax: 0471-4016112 Gram: CHRONICLE Postal registration no: No. H/SD-348/2006-08ss age) has gone up from with the time India suf- 2019-2020. @gmail.com P.G. Menon, Chennai

ue to various complex tions levelled against him by vice- But like always, there are excep- office or the minister. One issue that has riled up rules around admission, admiral B.S. Randhawa. The letter tions to the rule. An instance from The irate mantri forced chief members is the proposed the Delhi Gymkhana Club alleged that the club authorities Uttarakhand has recently come to minister Trivendra Rawat to Dhas maintained its exclu- did not observe the rules and due light. There is even a touch of the order an inquiry into the award of suspension of a member, sive “aura” for 107 years. Its gov- process before taking the decision bizarre about it! the contract, but additional chief Dr Parvez Hayat, retired IPS Dilip Cherian erning body is comprised of vari- to suspend the retired IPS officer. The state’s minister of women secretary Manisha Panwar has officer, for a day and further ous retired government and Such controversies are not new. and child welfare, Rekha Arya, reported that the probe did not debarment of him from the Dilli Ka Babu defence officials as well as other Earlier this year, the National reportedly wrote to the DIG of find any misconduct by Mr private citizens. Its elections are a Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) Dehradun, Arun Mohan Joshi, Shanmugam. Further, Mr Panwar club elections. The member’s hotly contested affair, often lead- had ruled that the club was acting inquiring about her additional sec- has stated that the officer had fol- suspension was the result of ing to accusations of use of “ille- in a manner “prejudicial to public retary V. Shanmugam, who, she lowed due process while awarding allegations levelled against him gal” and “unlawful” means interest” and, therefore, must be said, was “missing”. And since the the contract and while going on by vice-admiral B.S. Randhawa. between the contestants. probed. It said that a five-member officer was “incommunicado”, she leave. This is where matters rest, These days the club is roiled by a central government appointed feared he might have been kid- for now. It remains to be seen Gymkhana letter written by 50 members col- panel should investigate the napped! whether the minister will pursue was reported in the media (of lectively to the club president affairs of the club, including land As it turns out, according to the issue further or let it fly. It course, the story was promptly expressing their outrage at the usage and its admission policy for sources, trouble had been brewing would also be interesting to see if withdrawn, though the video divided on “arbitrary decision” of the govern- members. between the minister and the IAS the babu manages to hold on to exists!) on questioning the creden- ing body. One of the issues that has officer for some time. Matters his post or gets transferred else- tials of democracy itself led to riled members is the proposed sus- UPRIGHT BABU RILES came to a head sometime in where. much speculation whether this pension of a member, Dr Parvez UTTARAKHAND MINISTER September when Mr Shanmugam Contrast this with a powerful was just a gaffe or something suspension Hayat, a retired IPS officer, for a These days your average babu can awarded a contract in a tender pos- babu in Delhi who did not vanish more! day and further debarring him rarely say “no” to a minister. sibly against the wishes of the after his “gaffe”. Immense sweep- from contesting the club elections. Blind obedience is what is expect- minister. Subsequently, he went ing powers and other capabilities Share a babu experience! Follow of ex-cop Sources say that the member’s sus- ed from them, leaving little room into a two-day “self-isolation” and were exercised in Delhi and his [email protected]. Let’s pension was the result of allega- for independent decision-making. did not take any calls from his statement vanished instead. What multiply the effect. WORLD pg DECCAN CHRONICLE | CHENNAI | THURSDAY | 17 DECEMBER 2020 7

SHORT TAKES ANIME STUDIO Many European nations impose Senate run-offs: ARSON: JAPAN DETAINS MAN pre-Christmas virus restrictions Berlin, Dec. 16: Several Biden campaigns Tokyo, Dec. 16: Japanese European countries on prosecutors on Wednesday Wednesday imposed tight- Record death toll in Germany charged a man with murder er Coronavirus restric- Nominates Buttigieg as transportation secy over the 2019 arson attack on tions ahead of Christmas, Frankfurt Am Main, to the daily record of near- tensive Care and Emerge- Kyoto Animation that killed 36 as the United States rep- Dec. 16: Germany regis- ly 30,000 infections report- ncy Medicine (DIVI) said. Atlanta, Dec. 16: Presid- people, the country's deadliest orted another record num- tered a record number of ed on Friday. The latest figures come ent-elect Joe Biden threw violent crime in decades. ber of new infections. deaths from Covid-19 on The previous daily as a new partial lockdown his weight into the Dem- Shinji Aoba, 42, was detained Hopes for an end to the Wednesday, the first day of record for fatalities was was imposed, with non- ocratic battle for control Rouhani: ‘Happy’ in the aftermath of the July pandemic were boosted by a new partial lockdown to also reached Friday, when essential shops and scho- of the US Senate on attack, but has been under positive assessments of try and cope with a surge almost 600 people were ols closed in a bid to halt Tuesday, as his White constant medical supervision the Moderna Covid-19 vac- in infections. reported to have died as an “exponential growth” House win was finally since then after sustaining cine, but a study warned A total of 952 people died the number of those in in infections. acknowledged by top Trump leaving severe burns in the incident. that at least a fifth of the in the previous 24 hours, intensive care in the coun- The restrictions will Republicans and holdout The charges include murder, world's population in poor- according to the Robert try reached alarming lev- apply until January 10, foreign leaders. Tehran, Dec. 16: Presid- “Thank God, these are attempted murder, arson, tres- er nations may not have Koch Institute disease els. Some 83 percent of with companies also Biden flew into Georgia ent Hassan Rouhani said his final days,” Rouhani pass and breach of the arms- access to vaccines until control centre. intensive care beds in hos- urged to allow employees — a southern state he won Wednesday that Iran was added, calling Trump a control law, the Kyoto prosecu- 2022. It said 27,728 new pitals were occupied on to work from home or to in an upset against Pres- “very happy” over the “tyrant”, “the most unr- tor's office said, without giving With the virus resurgent Coronavirus cases were Wednesday, the Interdisci- offer extended company ident Donald Trump — to looming departure from uly, lawless president” further details. in Europe, Germany clos- registered, a figure close plinary Association for In- holiday. — AFP host a rally for two Dem- office of US counterpart and a “terrorist and mur- More than 30 people were ed non-essential shops and ocratic candidates in run- Donald Trump, who led a derer.” The electoral col- also injured in the attack, in schools, swathes of off races that will deter- campaign of “maximum lege confirmed Biden as which Aoba is accused of came under tigh- VIRUS HUNT: WHO mine the Senate's balance pressure” against the Isl- the next US president on breaking into the studio's ter curbs, and Denmark of power. amic republic. Monday even as the building, spreading gasoline extended its restrictions. WTO mulls how incumbent continues to “Honk for your next President-elect Joe Bid- around the ground floor and “It's very good that we're TO SIFT CHINESE United States senators en, who defeated Trump refuse to accept defeat. setting it alight. closing the shops, it's for Jon Ossoff and Rev. at the ballot box in Nove- The formal handover of our health. We can't wait to ease food aid SAMPLES, DATA Raphael Warnock,” Biden mber, has signalled a will- power will take place on for things to fall apart,” told the crowd at the ingness to return to diplo- January 20 when Biden is TRYING TO FLEE: said shopper Jurgen in Geneva, Dec. 16: World Falkensee, Dec. 16: A drive-in event in Atlanta macy with Iran after four sworn in. Berlin, where people were Trade Organisation nego- US AUTHORISES German scientist who is — urging voters to turn tense years under the out- Tensions between Teh- INDICTS 10 rushing to finish their tiators were debating We- part of a small team of out in force on January 5. going president. ran and Washington soar- Christmas purchases bef- dnesday a proposal to lift experts assembled by the “Send me these two men, “Some say you are over- ed during Trump's presi- HK RESIDENTS ore the shutdown. all trade barriers inhibit- FIRST AT-HOME World Health Organisation and we will control the excited by the advent of dency as his administra- Germany had coped rela- ing the delivery of inter- to investigate the origins of Senate!” One day after the Mr. Biden. No, we are not, tion sought to bring Israel Hong Kong, Dec. 16: Chinese tively well with the first national food aid as the COVID-19 TEST the Coronavirus says they Electoral College affirmed but we are very happy to and the Gulf Arab states prosecutors on Wednesday wave in the spring, but it Coronavirus pandemic plan to sift through sam- Biden's victory, attention see Trump leave,” he said closer together with a announced the indictment of has struggled to contain a pushes humanitarian Washington, Dec 1 6 : ples and medical data from shifted to the looming in televised comments at hard line against Iran. 10 people from Hong Kong over resurgence in recent mon- needs to new heights. The United States on China to help determine Senate battle — and to the a cabinet meeting. — AFP an attempt to flee the city amid ths and its health minister Dozens of WTO membe- Tuesday authorised its where the bug first jumped shape of the incoming a crackdown on opposition said it wanted the Euro- rs, including the United first rapid at-home test for from animals to humans administration, as Biden political activity. pean Union to approve the States, the European Uni- Covid-19, which is avail- and which species it came also announced he had And while Trump still McConnell said on the Se- The Yantian district prosecu- Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on and China, support the able over-the-counter and from. The search for the nominated Pete Buttigieg, refuses to concede — con- nate floor, adding that Am- tor's office in the city of “before Christmas”. proposal put forward by produces a result in source of the new Coronav- a former Indiana mayor tinuing to tweet baseless ericans can also “take pri- Shenzhen just across the bor- Calls have been growing Singapore and the World around 20 minutes. irus has sparked claims of and presidential rival, as allegations of mass fraud de” that they will have th- der from Hong Kong said on its for the EU health regulator Food Programme, which The test, made by Califo- cover-ups and fuelled polit- secretary of transporta- that have been rejected in eir first female VP in Ka- microblog that 10 of the sus- to speed up its vaccines won the 2020 Nobel Peace rnia-based Ellume, will ical tensions, particularly tion. He would be the first dozens of lawsuits — top mala Harris. Biden said pects were charged with ille- decision process, with the Prize for its humanitarian sell for around $30 and the between the US adminis- openly gay person con- Senate Republican Mitch that he had a “good” pho- gally crossing the border whi- bloc lagging behind a work. company plans to roll out tration of President firmed by the Senate to a McConnell finally broke ne conversation with Mc- le two were also charged with growing number of “This is a very imp- three million units in Ja- Donald Trump and Beijing. presidential cabinet post his silence with a message Connell, a longtime Sen- organising the attempted jour- nations that have autho- ortant proposal,” EU amb- nuary 2021, and millions Most researchers think — in sync with Biden's to the president: It's over. ate colleague. “I told him ney. Two others are minors rised the drug. assador to the WTO Joao more in subsequent mo- that the virus, also known pledge to usher in the “The Electoral College that while we disagree on and a decision on how to han- Britain has already star- Aguiar Machado told nths. Stephen Hahn, com- as SARS-CoV-2, originated most diverse cabinet ever has spoken. So today I a lot of things, there are dle their cases will be made at ted using it, but high in- reporters. missioner of the Food and in animals in China, proba- when he takes office on want to congratulate Pres- things we can work toget- a later time, the office said. fection numbers forced If adopted, the proposal Drug Administration, bly bats, and the WHO has January 20. ident-elect Joe Biden,” her on,” he said. — AFP Relatives of the 12 say they ha- London on Wednesday to would “ban export restric- said the emergency use put together a 10-person ve been prevented from hiring join large parts of central tions on these foodstuffs authorization represent- team to examine the sci- Islamabad, Dec. 16: A Political Commission (TPC), their own lawyers and that the and northern England un- which hinder the World ed a “major milestone.” ence. Mission member Fab- high-level Afghan-Taliban headed by Mullah Abdul accusations against them are der tough, economically Food Programme's ability — AFP ian Leendertz, a biologist AFGHAN, delegation arrived here on Ghani Baradar, is on a politically motivated. The 12 painful restrictions. Pubs, to procure (food products at Germany's Robert Koch Wednesday to hold talks December 16-18 visit to were arrested at sea in August bars, restaurants and oth- for) the populations most unanimous backing whi- Institute who specialises in TALIBAN IN with the top Pakistani lead- Pakistan, according to the while they were apparently er hospitality sites will in need across the world.” ch is required for all deci- emerging diseases, said th- ership as part of efforts to Foreign Office (FO). “Duri- attempting to flee to Taiwan close, apart from takeaw- But while the draft text sions at the global trade at the goal is to gather data PAK TO TALK push forward the reconcilia- ng the visit, the delegation after a tough national security ays, as will theatres and ot- enjoys strong support, it body. to be better prepared for tion process, amid growing will meet with the Foreign law took effect in Hong Kong. her entertainment venues. could struggle to secure — AFP possible future outbreaks. incidents of violence in Minister and call on the Pri- PEACE Afghanistan The Taliban me Minister,” the FO said.

THURSDAY | 17 DECEMBER 2020 | CHENNAI

■ Guv’s advice for raising credit-GDP ratio 400 foundries Sebi relaxes norms for quick stop work Lend by cash flow, over high raw CIRP firms, MF sponsors BITES RAVI RANJAN PRASAD the Sebi said sponsors that material price MUMBAI, DEC. 16 are not fulfilling the prof- itability criteria when not collateral: Das Coimbatore, Dec. 16: applying will also be con- % The Sebi board on Wed- INDICATORS About 400 small and tiny nesday made changes to sidered eligible to sponsor Sensex 46,666.46 0.87 FALAKNAAZ SYED Shaktikanta foundries in the district the shareholding norms a fund. “This is subject to Nifty 50 13,682.70 0.85 MUMBAI, DEC. 16 Das remained silent on for corporate insolvency having a net-worth of not Wednesday as part of resolution process (CIRP) less than Rs 100 crore for S&P 500* 3,703.40 0.24 Banks should rely less on their indefinite strike to companies, relaxed mutu- the purpose of contribu- Dollar (`) 73.58 0.09 collateral security for lend- draw the attention of the al fund sponsor eligibility tion towards the net-worth Pound Sterling (`) 99.31 -1.25 ing and instead focus more Centre to the spiralling criteria and also decided of the Asset Management on cashflow-based lending price of raw materials in to relax minimum promot- Company (AMC).” Euro (`) 89.49 0.03 to help improve the credit- the last two months. er contribution in follow- 36 months to achieve pub- The net-worth of the Gold (10gm)* (`) 49,059▲215 0.43 to-GDP ratio in the coun- The foundries, affiliat- on public offer. lic shareholding of 25 per AMC has to be maintained try, the Reserve Bank of ed to the Coimbatore The regulator said firms cent. For this, the current till it makes profit for five Brent crude ($/bbl)* 50.70 -0.06 India (RBI) governor Tiny and Small Foundry that remain listed due to timelines are 18 and 36 consecutive years. IN 10-Yr bond yield 5.944 0.003 Shaktikanta Das said on Owners Association implementation of resolu- months, respectively. The new rules will open US 10-Yr T-bill yield* 0.928 0.007 Wednesday. The credit (Cosmafan), stopped pro- tion plan under the The Sebi also decided to the gates for new players bureaus and the proposed duction indefinitely, Insolvency and Bankrupt- relax the profitability cri- to come in as mutual fund- * As of 8:30 PM IST public credit registry 25 at the webinar on micro entrepreneurs resulting in a loss of Rs cy Code will be required to teria for becoming a mutu- sponsors with high net- (PCR) are expected to ‘Investing in investor edu- through other transac- 30 crore daily, its presi- have at least 5 per cent al fund sponsor, aiming to worth but no profitability. improve the flow of credit cation in India: Priorities tions that they are doing, dent Shiva Shanmugha- public shareholding at the facilitate innovation and At present, a sponsor has as well as credit culture, for action’ organised by they can start doing cash kumar said. time of their admission to expansion in the sector. to show profits in three LPG price raised the apex bank chief added. the National Council of flow lending and can start The increasing prices deal on a stock exchange. The regulator has also out of the immediately India is ranked amongst Applied Economic Re- serving the unique needs would not only affect the There is no such mini- decided to segregate and preceding five years. the most financially search (NCAER). of the customers based on foundries but also relat- mum requirement now. ring-fence assets and lia- The board approved the again by `50; ATF underpenetrated econo- The views had earlier the specific maturity pro- ed industries such as wet Further, such companies bilities of mutual fund proposal to do away with mies, which suffered from been put forth by former file and their cash flows.” grinder, pump & motors, will be provided 12 schemes. This is in addi- the applicability of mini- costlier by 6.3% a bad loan problem with deputy governor Viral India, with a large sec- textiles and automobiles, months to achieve public tion to the existing mum promoters’ contribu- industrial credit while also Acharya, who, in July this tion of population in the who are the large-scale shareholding of 10 per requirement of segregat- tion and the subsequent Cooking gas LPG price was having an underpenetra- year, said that an estimat- working age group, is customers of foundry cent from the date shares ing bank accounts and lock-in requirements for increased by Rs 50 per cylinder, tion in last mile credit. As ed 50 per cent of Indians already the third largest products, he said. are admitted for dealings securities accounts. the issuers making a the second hike in rate this per RBI data, the sched- were employed informally economy in the world in The price increase on the stock exchange and On sponsor eligibility, Further Public Offer of month following firming of uled commercial banks’ and remained invisible to terms of purchasing ranged from 30 to 55 per international prices. Also, avia- credit as a per cent of GDP the banking system power parity and is aiming cent compared to the pre- tion turbine fuel (ATF) price was came down to 50.99 per despite earning as much as to become a $5 trillion lockdown period, he said. raised by a steep 6.3 per cent. cent in FY20 from 51.51 per their peers in the formal economy. Hoarding by the trad- Non-subsidised LPG price was cent in FY19. system. “When they want “We need to harness the ers, thus creating artifi- increased to Rs 694 per 14.2-kg On the other hand, the a loan, the bank denies demographic dividend by cial scarcity of the mate- Covid steals 81 mn jobs in Asia-Pac cylinder from Rs 644 earlier, credit-to-GDP ratio in them credit unless they meeting the aspirations of rials, also contributed to according to a price notification advanced economies and provide a hard asset collat- a large young population. the price hike, he said, SANGEETHA G driven by South Asia, was higher than the medi- of state fuel marketing compa- China is in the range of eral, which is not easy to This necessitates creating adding the entire indus- CHENNAI, DEC. 16 where the employment an among the Asia-Pacific nies. On Dec. 1, price was hiked 150 to 200 per cent. come by if you are the last an enabling environment trial sector is seeking the estimate is nearly 50 mil- countries, government by a similar Rs 50 per cylinder. “To improve the credit to mile and below the poverty and infrastructure in the intervention of the Covid-19 wiped out some lion jobs below the pre-cri- support to income or rev- GDP ratio, access to credit line,” Acharya had said. form of education, train- Centre to bring down the 81 million jobs in the Asia- sis baseline, correspon- enue, as part of the Covid- and cost of credit need to He said the average ing and opportunity. prices for its survival. Pacific while 364-429 mil- ding to a 7.4 per cent drop 19 policy expenditure, was be addressed by lesser Indian could not provide Among all the prerequi- The Coimbatore and lion casual workers were in employment. on the lower side and less- Printed & Published by reliance on collateral secu- collateral and hence sites for achieving demo- Tirupur Medium Indus- affected by the Indian "India implemented one er than countries like K Sudhakar on behalf of Deccan rity and greater cash-flow resorted to informal graphic dividend and tries Association, with lock-down measures, says of the strictest lockdowns Paki-stan, China and Chronicle Holdings Limited. Printed & based lending. Credit finance which remained accelerated growth, quali- nearly 50,000 units, has the International Labour among the large middle- Australia. Published at Deccan Chronicle Presses bureaus and the proposed infamous for ‘extraordi- ty of human resources, also given a call to down Org-anisation (ILO) in a income countries…An Overall, in Asia-Pac, situated at SP-3 Developed Plot, greater formalisation of shutters for a day on Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai. Public Credit Registry nary high rates, onerous study. estimated 364-429 million labour income is estimated Editor: T.Venkatram Reddy, RNI Reg. (PCR) framework are terms and inhuman collec- economy, a higher credit to Wednesday to express The report estimates that workers have been to have declined by 9.9 per No. TNENG/2008/25473 Air surcharge Re expected to improve the tion policies’. Acharya had GDP ratio and greater solidarity with striking in Asia and the Pacific, the adversely affected by the cent in the first three quar- 1. © All rights reserved. Reproduction in flow of credit as well as cited the example of micro financial inclusion are the foundries. Nineteen SME Covid-19 crisis has led to a lockdown measures," the ters of 2020. An additional whole or in part without written per- credit culture,” Das said in entrepreneurs and said differentiating factors that associations had already gap of 81 million jobs com- report said. 22-25.4 million persons mission of The Editor, Financial his keynote address titled that “if the formal financ- would elevate our econo- staged a demonstration pared with the pre-crisis While India's total Covid- could be added to working Chronicle ® is prohibited. the National Strategy on ing system can observe the my to the desired level,” here on Tuesday. — PTI numbers. The regional 19 fiscal response package poor or those living on less Financial Education 2020- cash flow patterns of Das added. jobs gap in 2020 is largely as a percentage of GDP than $1.90 a day. GAMES pg 8 DECCAN CHRONICLE | CHENNAI | THURSDAY | 17 DECEMBER 2020

SHORT TAKES City held; Wolves Moody is SRH director of cricket peg back Chelsea New Delhi: Australian Tom IT’S SHOWTIME Moody has been appointed Manchester, Dec. 16: director of cricket at Indian Manchester City’s falter- THE RESULTS Premier League side Sunrisers ing Premier League title Hyderabad, who are captained Tough India face Australian might in Pink Ball affair challenge suffered another Manchester City 1 by his compatriot David setback on Tuesday as (Gundogan 30) Warner. Adelaide, Dec. 16: A lowly West Brom held out West Bromwich Albion 1 Moody, 55, was the Hyderabad peerless Virat Kohli and for a 1-1 draw at the Etihad. (Dias 43-og) coach for seven years and led his “fearless” India would City could have moved to them to their only IPL title in look to unleash their within three points of lead- Wolverhampton 2 2016. He was replaced by might on an Australian ers Tottenham and (Podence 66, another Australian, Trevor team which is ready for , who face each Pedro Neto 90+5) Bayliss, last year and late on revenge but not exactly in other on Wednesday, but Chelsea 1 Tuesday the franchise ‘pink of health’ ahead of threw away two points (Giroud 49) announced that Moody would the first Day/Night Test against the side sitting sec- be returning. The former bats- starting here on ond bottom of the table. man switched to coaching and Thursday. Ilkay Gundogan opened after the break as City set TV commentary after retiring in Media mogul Kerry the scoring for Pep up camp in the West Brom 2001 and helped Hyderabad Packer, while promoting Guardiola’s men but half but lacked the imagi- reach the play-offs five times his path-breaking ‘World Ruben Dias’s own goal just nation or pace to open the during his stay as coach. Series Day/Night Test before half-time proved visitors up. Hyderabad, who also have New matches’ on Channel 9 costly as City’s problems in Meanwhile, Frank Zealand skipper Kane back in late 1970s, had an front of goal continued in a Lampard believes Chelsea Williamson and Afghanistan unforgettable caption goalless second-half have become complacent spin ace Rashid Khan in their “Big Boys Play At Night”. despite a siege on the West after the Blues blew a lead ranks, failed to reach this year’s Even in 2020, there Brom goal. to lose 2-1 at Wolves and final when they lost to DC in couldn’t have been a more A point edges City up to suffer back-to-back the playoffs in November. — AFP appropriate catch-line for fifth on goal difference, Premier League defeats for a series where Kohli’s while West Brom move to the first time during his magnificence meets its within two points of safety reign in charge. Shuttler Foo Kune match in Steve Smith’s at the other end of the Daniel Podence produced manic consistency, table. a moment of magic as he Cheteshwar Pujara’s West Brom had the first twisted and turned inside banned for doping doggedness challenged by big chance of the game the Chelsea box to find Geneva: Mauritian a much younger Marnus when the ball ricocheted space for a shot and his player Kate Foo Kune, her Labuschagne, ready to off Joao Cancelo into the effort deflected off Reece country’s flag-carrier at the show the world that he path of Karlan Grant and James and inside Edouard 2016 Rio Olympics, was banned isn’t a one-season wonder. he forced Ederson into a Mendy’s near post. for two years for doping on All this would be under fine save low to his left. Neto thought he had won Wednesday after failing to lights at the Adelaide City’s probing was finally a penalty when driving prove her drink was spiked. Oval. rewarded on the half hour past James, but after a VAR Foo Kune tested positive for a And then there are those as Raheem Sterling got to review referee Stuart banned steroid last year but mean fast men on both the by-line and his cut back Attwell overturned his she escaped a ban when the sides aiming to instill the was fired home from the original decision as there Badminton World Federation’s fear of pink ball in twi- edge of the area by was no contact on the anti-doping panel accepted her light zone, creating all Gundogan. Portuguese winger. explanation that she was the sorts of doubts in the bats- Guardiola’s men shot However, Neto was not to victim of sabotage. But after a men’s minds. Shubman Gill of India dives to catch a ball during a practice session in Adelaide on Wednesday ahead of the first themselves in the foot by be denied on the counter- BWF appeal against its own A Josh Hazlewood ver- Test against Australia. — AFP conceding for the first time attack deep into stoppage panel’s decision, the Swiss- sus Mohammed Shami in seven games two min- time as he accelerated past based Court of Arbitration for will be as enticing a sub- utes before half-time as Zouma and drove low into Sport said there was no evi- plot as Jasprit Bumrah NUMBERS GAME they failed to clear a free- the far corner to move dence of foul play. “The CAS bowling those yorkers in kick into the box and Semi Wolves into the top half of INDIA TO PLAY 1ST DAY/NIGHT TEST AWAY FROM HOME Prithvi to open the table and within three panel found the athlete’s asser- reply to Pat Cummins’ Ajayi’s shot was deflected tion of intentional spiking dur- barrage of bouncers. The first day/ night Test match of the four-match into his own net by Dias. points of the top four. ing the 2019 African Badminton With a workhorse like Border-Gavaskar series between India and Australia will It was one-way traffic — AFP Ishant Sharma missing be played at Adelaide Oval from Thursday (December 17). World Championships devoid of It will be the 99th Test match between the two teams and supporting evidence,” said a from Indian ranks and the as Saha keeps on 49th Test match on Australian soil. statement from the court, enforcer David Warner Australia have a good record against India in previous announcing a two-year ban absent in the Australian Test matches played between the two teams. They have Adelaide, Dec. 16: India for his fifth cap on from December 15. — AFP line-up. won 42 and lost 28 in 98 previous encounters between have kept faith with open- Thursday while Gill con- However, there will cer- the two sides. The remaining 27 matches ended with out a er Prithvi Shaw while opt- tinues his wait to earn a tainly be some distinct result which include one tied match. They have won 29, ing for Wriddhiman Saha first. Floyd, Laila voted home advantage for lost seven and drew 12 in 48 Test matches played against ahead of Rishabh Pant as “Prithvi has performed Australia along with the India at home. wicketkeeper for the at the Test level, but he experience of playing India have a better record against Australia since 2000. opening day-night Test would be playing in to Hall of Fame more day/ night Tests. They have won 17, lost 15 and draw 10 in 42 Test matches against Australia in Australia for the first Canastota, New York: Floyd A day/ night Test match from January 2000 to January 2019. Adelaide starting time. I think it is very Mayweather, who captured 11 has its own little grammar Australia have won seven, lost two and draw three in 12 Thursday. exciting to see his world titles in five weight divi- where batsmen are Test matches played against India at Adelaide Oval. India’s Selectors also confirmed progress as well,” the expected to attack in the victories here came in 2003-04 and 2018-19. sions and retired unbeaten, for- Umesh Yadav as the third Indian captain Kohli said. mer heavyweight champion first session while Adelaide Oval is hunting ground for Indian skipper Virat seamer alongside The dogged and experi- bowlers are at their peak Kohli, who has scored 431 runs at 71.83 in six innings of enced Cheteshwar Pujara Wladimir Klitschko, and Laila three Test matches with three hundreds at this ground. Mohammed Shami and Ali have been elected to the once the sun sets, allow- India are in third place in the Test Team rankings with Jasprit Bumrah in the will come in at number International Boxing Hall of ing the pink kookaburra 114 rating points, whilst Australia top the rankings with absence of the injured three, followed by Kohli in Fame and Museum. The Class of to pick its pace up. 116.46 rating points. New Zealand follow closely in second Ishant Sharma, while his only Test of the tour 2021 announced Tuesday also Never has an Indian with 116.37 rating points. India will feel the pressure as the Ravi Ashwin won the race before heading home for includes former Olympic cham- team been so spoilt for race to the World Test Championship final heats up. to be their frontline spin- the birth of his first child. pion Andre Ward, Ann Wolfe, choices with multiple ner ahead of Kuldeep Pant, an explosive bats- — S. PERVEZ QAISER Marian Trimiar, and Dr. Margaret options in place for vari- Yadav. man who became a viral Goodman. Elected posthu- ous positions. The flamboyant Shaw sensation on India’s last mously were: Davey Moore, But Indian skipper Virat Also, Umesh Yadav pre- deliveries with pink kook- was under pressure from tour of Australia with his Jackie Tonawanda, cut man Kohli made it clear that dictably, after his good aburra at the Adelaide another young talent — banter behind the stumps, Freddie Brown, manager-trainer Shubman Gill and KL show in the practice nets. Shubman Gill, also 21 — also stroked a quickfire Jackie McCoy, journalist George Rahul will have to wait for game, got his place in the If Natarajan, at 130-plus, to open the innings along- ton against Australia ‘A’, Kimball, and television execu- their chances with the side as the third pacer. can trouble them so much, side Mayank Agarwal but he was surprisingly tive Jay Larkin. Honorees were management deciding to On Tuesday, India’s top then Mitchell Starc, the after just one decent overlooked in favour of selected by members of the stick to an out-of-form batters were being trou- world’s top wicket-taker knock in four warm-up Saha .India won their Boxing Writers Association and Prithvi Shaw in the open- bled by Thangarasu in pink ball Tests, can be innings. maiden series 2-1 in a panel of international boxing ing slot. Natarajan’s incoming menacing. — PTI But he will take the field Australia in 2018-19.—PTI historians. Induction day is scheduled for June 13 and also will include last year’s class. — AP SACHIN ALL PRAISE FOR Always been myself: Kohli ‘SMART-BRAIN’ RAHANE Prez candidate Adelaide, Dec. 16: India fighting attitude that the how I look at it,” he captain Virat Kohli on former Australia captain, asserted. Mumbai, Dec. 16: Ajinkya Rahane is blessed with a Wednesday declared him- who also served as India “In my mind, it’s not “smart brain” and should be able lead India well wants Leo to stay self a “representation of coach, found similar to (about) being compared against Australia in the three Tests with his controlled Barcelona: Barcelona presiden- new India”, forever ready the mindset of his coun- to the Australian mindset aggression, says iconic Sachin Tendulkar. tial candidate Jordi Farre said to take up challenges trymen. “I would like to as such. It’s how we have Rahane will take over captaincy from Virat Kohli on Tuesday he would work to with optimism, as he say that I have always started to stand up as the after the first Day/Night Test in Adelaide. Tendulkar, make sure Lionel Messi stays at responded to Greg been myself,” the skipper Indian cricket team and having watched Rahane captain India against the Catalan giants should be Chappell’s view that he is said during a virtual my personality has been Australia at Dharamsala, is hopeful of a good show elected next month, and hinted “the most Australian media conference ahead like this from day one” he from him. at a improbable bid for Neymar non-Australian cricketer of the opening Test added. “This is going to be slightly different. Having inter- Olivier Giroud (top left) of Chelsea vies with Romain Saiss by the cash-strapped club. of all time”. against Australia here The new India, accord- acted with Ajinkya Rahane, I know he has a very (top right) of Wolverhampton Wanderers during their Farre was promoter of the On the eve of the first starting Thursday. ing to one of the coun- smart brain and he is balanced,” Tendulkar told English Premier League match at the Molineux Stadium in motion that led to previous Test against Australia, “The way my personali- try’s most followed sport- YouTube channel Sports Today on the eve of the first Wolverhampton, central England, on Tuesday. The club chief Josep Maria Kohli was asked about his ty and character is, I am ing icons, is the one that’s Test. What Tendulkar likes is Rahane’s intensity and Wolves carved out a 2-1 victory. — AFP Bartomeu’s resignation. aggressive brand of the representation of not afraid to take up chal- preparedness before any big series. — PTI cricket coupled with a new India. For me, that’s lenges. — PTI Live on TV Arun, Sandeep in CRICKET Australia vs India: First Test — Day One from 9.30 am on Sony Ten 1, 3, Sony Six, HD THE HIGH-FLYING KAITH TN probables list Big Bash League: Hobart returns after recovering Hurricanes vs Melbourne DC CORRESPONDENT Renegades from 5.40 am (Friday) CHENNAI, DEC. 16 from injury. on Sony Ten 2, HD Chennaiyin goalkeeper is in fine form The selected players will Dinesh Karthik, Murali play three practice match- FOOTBALL NEHA SURANA | DC a high-pressure position. How ting bogged down by setbacks. It is Vijay and Vijay Shankar es on December 19, 20 and : Odisha vs CHENNAI, DEC. 16 do you deal with it? important to bounce back and I were on Wednesday named 21 at the MA Chidambaram Bengaluru from 7.20 pm on Star It is definitely not easy. As a goal- have to have a positive mindset in a 26-strong probables list Stadium in the city. The Sports 2, 3 Goalkeeper Vishal Kaith is one of keeper there is little margin for along with the team. Despite the by Tamil Nadu for next final squad will be picked error. That composure to deal with off-color start we have had, as a month’s Syed Musthaq Ali on December 21. English Premier League: Aston Villa the standout performers for Chennaiyin FC in the ongoing ISL the pressure comes with hard group, we are determined to do Trophy T20 tournament. The tournament is set to vs Burnley from 11.30 pm on Star work and preparation. And know- well this season. We have per- be played across six states Sports Select 1, HD season. A couple of gravity-defy- Swashbuckling batsman ing saves he pulled off against ing that we must keep learning formed exceedingly better than K.B Arun Karthick, who under-bio secure environ- Italian League: Roma vs Torino from NorthEast United and Bengaluru and improving every day. our points tally suggests. Now, it’s returns to Tamil Nadu ment from January 10 to 1.15 am (Friday) on Sony Ten 2, HD time to fulfil our potential and get after a gap of seven years, 31. FC were outstanding. After spend- Vishal The height of a goalkeeper the results we deserve. and medium-pacer Tamil Nadu probables: ing three seasons at FC City, Kaith the 24-year-old keeper from makes a big difference. As some- Sandeep Warrier, who Dinesh Karthik, M Vijay, B Himachal Pradesh joined one who is a six-footer, what are Did the shorter pre-season and moved from Kerala, have Aparajith, B Indrajith, Regd. No. Chennaiyin in 2019 and he has your thoughts on it? the coach’s late arrival affect also been included in the Vijay Shankar, M Shahrukh been a vital cog since then. Vishal It is a physical attribute that helps Chennaiyin’s performance? list. Khan, C Hari Nishaanth, TNENG/2010/35692 spoke to this newspaper on the goalkeepers. You can say it is a Yes and no! Right now, we are in Senior India off-spinner Pradosh Ranjan Paul, K B thankless job of goalkeepers who my concentration with many requirement of sorts. That being the groove, so we aren’t thinking R. Ashwin, all-rounder Arun Karthik, Akshay V Printed & Published by drills that are genuinely out of the said, there are goalkeepers who about the pre-season or lack of Washington Sundar and Srinivasan, N Jagadeesan, K. Sudhakar on behalf of make the headlines more for their mistakes than saves. box. For example, we even train are relatively short too. Their preparation. At the same time, it left-arm pacer T Natarajan M Abhinav, Aswin Crist, M Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited occasionally with tennis balls, just agility and reflexes have to be real- would have helped to have more miss out as they are in Mohammed, G and Printed at so our focus improves with the tar- ly good. time. But that’s the case with all Periyasamy, Sandeep Deccan Chronicle Presses situated Excerpts Australia on national duty. How is the experience of work- get being smaller. It’s been a bril- teams, we can’t be giving any The players picked by the Warrier, S Harish Kumar, K at SP 3, Developed Plot, Industrial Estate, liant experience so far. I only hope You made a strong comeback excuses. I feel we have been a bit Vignesh, R Silambarasan, Guindy, Chennai - 600 032. ing with the new goalkeeping men’s senior state selec- RNI Registration No: TN ENG/2005/14987 coach, Martin Raska? to learn and improve more under after the Mumbai match. What unlucky, also allowing our concen- tion committee of the J Kousik, R Sonu Yadav, M Ph Nos: 22254747, 22254748, 22254750, It’s been an absolute revelation him and help our team keep clean were the areas that you worked tration to drop. We will surely TNCA also includes medi- Ashwin, R Sai Kishore, M 22254751 this season. I have to attribute my sheets and achieve success. on? work harder and improve in com- um-pacer Aswin Crist, who Siddharth, L Editor: KAUSHIK MITTER improvement and reflexes to My focus was on maintaining my ing games, hopefully with a win last represented the state Sathiyannaarayanan and Martin. He has helped me improve A thankless job, goalkeeping is concentration level and not get- against FC Goa next up. in February 2018 and M E Yazh Arun Mozhi.