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THE LARGEST CIRCULATED ENGLISH DAILY IN SOUTH INDIA CHENNAI I FRIDAY 28 I FEBRUARY 2020 WEATHER Max: 35OC Min: 21OC Rainfall: Nil POLITICS | 4 SPORT | 14 TABLOID Forecast: Jaffer tells Indian Surrogacy on Hazy sun; air quality will DMK legislator KPP Samy be unhealthy for batsmen to score big the rise sensitive groups passes away

ASTROGUIDE www.facebook.com/deccannews, www.twitter.com/deccanchronicle, www.deccanchronicle.com Vol. 15 No. 332 Established 1938 | 32 PAGES | ` 3.00 Vikari: Masi 16 Tithi: Panchami Star: Asupathi Saudi cancels Jeddah flight Rahukalam: 10.30 am to 12 noon Yamagandam: Umrah pilgrims Midnight transfer of judge who 3.00 pm to 4.30 pm PRAYERS Fajar: 5.18 am Zohar: 12.27 pm told to go home rapped Delhi police raises storm Asar: 3.43 pm P.A. JEBARAJ Kancheepuram, Vello- Maghrib: 6.17 pm CHENNAI, FEB. 27 re, Nagapattinam, Tha- DC CORRESPONDENT  7.29 pm On hate speeches, Delhi HC gives cen- Isha: njavur and Tiruvarur, NEW DELHI, FEB. 27 `10L to victim’s kin tre a month to update on action taken SUNSET TODAY 6.17 PM It is a classic case of reli- initially suspected some SUNRISE TOMORROW 6.26 AM gious fervour watered foul play and after a Less than 24 hours after the Efforts on to restore normalcy; we urge Delhi High Court grants Centre and MOONRISE TODAY 9.25 AM down by deadly novel while some of them tri- Delhi high court bench organisations not to indulge in making irre- police 4 weeks to file their replies to Coronavirus outbreak. ed to engage the officials headed by Justice S. sponsible statements: MEA on comments MOONSET TOMORROW 9.51 PM the PIL. The much anticipated in an argument. The pa- Muralidhar made signifi- by OIC. Umrah pilgrimage for a ssengers, mostly senior cant observations and COUNTER POINT fairly large group of 170 citizens, sought to know raised sharp questions “The midnight transfer In a veiled attack on Union Home Minister passengers from Tamil if the government had regarding Delhi Police's of Justice Muralidhar Amit Shah for his alleged involvement in Nadu, with nearly 50 passed an order sus- handling of the riots in isn't shocking given the the death of special CBI judge BH Loya in a per cent of them being pending the flight. Delhi, Union law and jus- tweet, Rahul Gandhi tweeted on Thursday, women, turned into They even wanted to tice ministry handed him current dispensation, but it is certainly sad & “Remembering the brave Judge Loya, who utter disappointment, know the basis of recall- his transfer orders on wasn't transferred.” as Saudi Airlines tem- ing the boarding passes, Wednesday night. shameful. Millions of porarily suspended its especially after the Sa- “In exercise of the power Indians have faith in a resilient & Delhi govt to flight to Jeddah. udi government had conferred by Clause (1) of I admit I am the one in Umrah is an Islamic granted them visas for Article 222 of the upright judiciary, the give `10 lakh government's attempts to this viral video. This pilgrimage to Mecca the travel. The officials Constitution of India, the video is dated February 24. to families of those that can be undertaken reasoned out that their President, after consulta- muzzle justice & break The rioters entered my house killed in riots, at any time of the year, visas might have been tion with the Chief Justice their faith are after breaking the door. I am `5 lakh to those in contrast to the Hajj, issued earlier but cur- of India, is pleased to trans- deplorable,” Priyanka which has specific dates rently no new visas fer Shri Justice S. trying to shoo them out using seriously injured according to the Islamic were granted. Muralidhar, judge of the Gandhi, Congress general a lathi in the video.” — Arvind Kejriwal lunar calendar. Saudi Arabia has tem- Delhi high court, as a judge secretary tweeted. — Tahir Hussain, an AAP councilor The passengers were porarily suspended of the Punjab and Haryana all set to board the flight entry for individuals high court and to direct to Jeddah (SV 769) at seeking to perform him to assume charge of his asked it to register FIRs about 12.15 pm on Umrah pilgrimage in office in the Punjab and against certain BJP leaders Sonia leads Market report Thursday, after under- Mecca or visiting the Haryana high court,” the for their hate speeches and 24 ct (1 gm): `4,267.00 Delhi riot: Death going the immigration Prophet's Mosque in ministry said in a late- to ensure the safe passage GOLD 22 ct (1 gm): `4,064.00 march for and customs checks, Madina, as well as night notification. Justice of the injured from the SILVER Bar (1 Kg): `50,900.00 when the bombshell tourists travelling from Muralidhar was handed his small Al Hind hospital to ‘Raj dharma’ Sensex 39,745.66 pts landed. Immigration countries where the transfer order at 11 pm on GTB. toll mounts to 38 INDICES Nifty 11,633.30 pts and CISF officials Coronavirus poses a Wednesday. “We should never allow DC CORRESPONDENT approached them and risk as determined by Judges are usually given another 1984... especially New Delhi, Feb. 27: The NEW DELHI, FEB. 27 EXCHANGE US$: `71.53 Euro: 78.62 requested them to sur- the Kingdom's health two week's time, or 14 days, under the watch of the death toll in the northeast AAP councilor render their boarding authorities. This infor- to take change at the new court and under your Delhi communal riots Congress President Sonia Naidu taken into passes, as they would all mation was passed to place, however Justice (Delhi Police) watch… We reached 38 on Thursday, Gandhi on Thursday be 'off loaded.' the government of India Muralidhar is expected to have to be very, very alert,” according to senior offi- Tahir supended marched to the Rashtrapati preventive custody Shocked over the sud- through the External take charge on March 6 or the bench of Justice cials. The death count at Bhawan along with other at Vizag airport den announcement, the Affairs Ministry, the 7, at least eight days after Murlidhar and Anup GTB Hospital has risen to from party senior leaders of the party, pilgrims from Chennai, officials added. ■ P4 he has received the order. Bhambhani observed dur- 34. Till Wednesday night, New Delhi: Aam Aadmi including former Prime Visakhapatnam: Telugu De- Though Justice S. Mura- ing a midnight hearing on the total count of casualties Party on Thursday sus- Minister Manmohan sam Party president N Cha- lidhar's transfer was rec- night at his residence. had stood at 27, 25 of those pended councilor Tahir Singh, and asked President ndrababu Naidu was on Th- ommended by the Supreme The case is now listed at GTB Hospital in Dilshad Hussian from the party's Ramnath Kovind to ursday taken into preven- Court collegium about two before the Chief Justice of Garden. “Over 215 riot vic- primary membership. remove Home Minister tive custody at the airport weeks back, the timing of Delhi high court, Justice tims have been brought to This came after an FIR Amit Shah for “gross inep- here for his 'safety' as the was registered against ruling YSR Congress work- the orders came under Dhirubhai Naranbhai Pa- our hospital and treated titude, abdication of duty strong criticism from tel, and on Thursday he ga- since February 24. Hussain for allegedly mur- and his inability to contain ers staged a protest oppos- dering Intelligence Bureau Opposition parties, civil ve Delhi Police four weeks' However, at present only the situation” in violence- ing his visit, police said. (IB) officer Ankit Sharma, Tension prevailed near the society, common people time to file a counter-affi- 51 patients are admitted. whose body was recovered hit North East Delhi. airport with the TDP work- and the Bar Association. davit in response to a plea The condition of almost all from North-East Delhi's Accusing the Centre, Mrs ers repulsing the YSRC During the hearing on seeking registration of patients are stable except Chand Bagh area here on Gandhi said: “Due to the activists who tried to block urgent petitions with FIRs against four politi- one,” Medical Wednesday. complete inaction on the Naidu’s convoy. ■ P6 regard to Delhi riots on cians-BJP leaders Anurag Superintendent of GTB part of the Home Minister Tuesday night, Justice Thakur, Kapil Mishra, Par- Hospital Sunil Kumar said. dead at GTB Hospital and and the Central Governme- Pilgrims at Chennai airport disappointed as Saudi Muralidhar had rapped vesh Verma and Abhay Since February 24, 25 vic- nine have died during nt, the violence has clai- China ‘duck army’ Airlines temporarily suspended its flight to Jeddah. — DC to fight Pakistan Delhi Police for its role and Verma. tims have been brought treatment, he said. med the lives of at least 34. locusts English translation Beijing: China is planning to INDIA After opening their campaign dispatch a 100,000-strong India evacuates 112 people by upsetting four-time army of ducks to help Pakis- champions Australia, India tan combat a massive locust WOMEN beat Bangladesh, infestation, a local newspa- and their New per reported Thursday. The from China, 119 from Tokyo MARCH ON Zealand victory made legion of lotus-eating water- fowl will be sent from the it three from three to DC CORRESPONDENT A C-17 Globemaster III from Tokyo included two ensure a semi-final eastern province of Zhejiang NEW DELHI, FEB. 27 transport aircraft of Sri Lankans, one Nepa- following the earlier dispatch berth for the sec- Indian Air Force evacu- lese, one South African of a team of Chinese experts ond successive India on Thursday evacu- ated 76 Indians and 36 and one Peruvian. to Pakistan to advise on a tournament. response to the infestation ated 76 of its nationals foreign nationals from The MEA said that thr- Susan wins that is being called the worst along with 36 foreigners Wuhan while an Air ee other Indian crew me- in 20 years, the Ningbo from the Coronavirus-hit India flight brought back mbers on the Diamond Sahitya Evening News said. Chinese city of Wuhan the group of 119 people Princess cruise ship “did- and another 119 Indian from Tokyo n't board the special flight award 16-year-old nationals along with five and conveyed their wish Ooty: While it is just a Shafali They still need to play ‘Existing antiviral foreigners — who were crew members and six to continue their stay on- week away for the Verma Sri Lanka in drugs may be key earlier quarantined on passengers. board the cruise ship to International women’s helped India the ship Diamond The foreign nationals complete the period of day, for the hills here Group B, with the top earn a nail- two from each of the two to treat coronavirus’ Princess — from the brought to India from extended quarantine put the celebration had biting win over Japanese capital, Tokyo. Wuhan in the third evac- in place by the govern- come a little earlier as five-team groups qualifying London: Already approved New Zealand on broad-spectrum antiviral The 76 Indian nationals uation flight included 23 ment of Japan”. Out of one of its accom- for the knockout phase. drugs may offer a first-line evacuated from Wuhan nationals from Bangla- the total 138 Indian natio- plished woman writers Thursday and reach the women’s Twenty20 treatment for the novel included three Indian desh, six from China, two nals originally on-board has bagged the presti- Restricting India to 133 for World Cup coronavirus which has so far embassy officials who each from Myanmar and the Diamond Princess, 16 gious ‘Sahitya eight after Verma gave a killed over 2,700 people and were in the city for coor- Maldives and one each Indian crew members Akademi’ award in the semi-finals. infected around 80,000, dination. The 119 Indian from South Africa, USA had tested positive for Co- categeory of transla- strong start with three according to a study nationals evacuated from and Madagascar. The for- ronavirus and are rece- tion to English. sixes and four fours in a unveiled on Thursday. Tokyo comprised 113 eign nationals evacuated iving treatment in Japan. quickfire 46. India’s Qatar envoy to be BJP fast becoming an outcaste in TN politics at Afghan peace accord G. BABU JAYAKUMAR | DC tancing himself from the immediately tweet, 'Sabash' Nadu have to openly shun CHENNAI, FEB. 27 ruling party at the Centre, and welcome his friend to the BJP, the question arises DC CORRESPONDENT he was only making a sort the 'right path'? if the party is an anathema NEW DELHI, FEB. 27 Actor Rajinikanth's open of a volte face. Since both the film stars to the people of Tamil lament on Wednesday For, in his earlier ren- are gearing up for their Nadu. Indian Ambassador in night that he was being dezvous with the media, maiden electoral outing to Affirming that view, Qatar P. Kumaran will branded as being close to outside the gates of his Poes capture Fort St George - Chief Minister Edappadi K represent New Delhi at BJP after taking on the Garden residence before Kamal Haasan has already Palanisamy, who defended the historic signing of a Union government for its leaving Chennai for shoot- tried his chances at the hus- the CAA in the Assembly peace deal to take place 'failure' in tackling the riots ing, the actor had categori- tings for the 2019 Lok Sabha and refused to pass a reso- between the United States in Delhi and his colleague cally supported the CAA, a elections - they should have lution against it in the and the Afghan Taliban and friend, Kamal Haasan, remark that suggested done their homework to House, too, seems to have on Saturday in Doha welcoming the statement that he was in the BJP understand what will click had a change of (Qatar), sources said on immediately are just clear camp. and what will boomerang heart. Thursday. As reported time that India will be indicators of the BJP's dis- So, why did he have to as they tread the electoral During his visit to earlier by this newspaper, present at an “official mal popularity rating in Rajinikanth for his clear the doubts of his affin- minefield. Tiruchy on Wednesday, he Qatar had invited India level” along with the Tamil Nadu. remarks against his party remembered that when the ity to the BJP on his return So, if both the actors with said that an Assembly reso- for the event. This will Taliban at an event rega- Though BJP leader S R and the central government actor made those state- to Chennai? Also why aspirations to become the lution against the NPR was mark perhaps the first rding Afghanistan. Sekar hit out at on Thursday, it needs to be ments, unambiguously dis- should Kamal Haasan Chief Minister of Tamil under consideration. ■ P4 SPECIAL DECCAN CHRONICLE | FRIDAY | 28 FEBRUARY 2020 | CHENNAI pg 2

■ Recognition comes after a wait of four long years IN BRIEF SECURITY STEP UP Providence college bags Susan wins Sahitya award Auropath award Coonoor: Providence College for Women (PCW) here, the for ‘Kusumabale’ translation first ever women’s college to have come up in the Nilgiris, B. RAVICHANDRAN | DC ● I decided to and globe,” she said, and has been conferred with OOTY, FEB. 27 translate this 110 page added that it was her first ‘Global Award’ by the Kannada classic translation. Puducherry-based Auropath, While it is just a week into English with the About the novel, she said a unit of the Auro Service away for the International sole aim that this won- that it was written in Trust of Sri Aurobindo women’s day, for the hills derful novel will be read dialect spoken in Society, in recognition of here the celebration had in other states, Chamrajnagar and PCW’s best social and com- come a little earlier as one as English is a good Nanjangud parts of munity service. of its accomplished linking language taking Karnataka and the story Rev. Sr. Sheela, principal of woman writer has bagged the literature to other was woven around a love PCW, Coonoor, said the the prestigious ‘Sahitya parts of the nation story in a Dalit family life, Providence family in addition Akademi’ award in the and globe,” says with rich blend of prose, to its primordial goal of edu- categeory of translation poetry and mythology cation has also been keen in to English. Susan Daniel adding flavor to the novel. the improvement of its For Susan Daniel, who Susan Daniel, winner of She added that she is neighborhood and environ- had been residing here for the Sahitya Akademi Devanur Mahadeva, the now working on the trans- ment by means of adopting the past two decades, the award. —DC author of the Kannada lation of short stories of cluster villages and extend- award has come as a pleas- version of Kusumabale, Devanur Mahadeva. To a ing services in the ant surprise as she com- ing English at Mysore that it was yet to be trans- question, she said that fields of education, health pleted and published the University in the past, and lated into English. schools must give utmost and hygiene. The college has English translation of now settled in Ooty after “I decided to translate importance to language also actively participated in Kannada classic retirement Susan Daniel, this 110 page Kannada skills to strengthen litera- various awareness programs ‘Kusumabale’ four years while speaking to Deccan classic into English with ture culture, as language like Swatch Bharat, anti-plas- ago, but, the recognition Chronicle, said she read the sole aim that this won- and literature are impor- Launching ceremony of tic, anti-drug abuse and illicit has come after four long the Kannada version of derful novel will be read in tant tools for personality 6th Offshore Patrol trafficking, child and women years. ‘Kusumabale’ three other states, as English is development and creativi- Vessel (OPV) being held safety and anti-ragging. Born in Kerala, raised in decades ago. But, only a good linking language ty. She also insisted on at M/s L&T Shipbuilding Despite the fact that majori- Karnataka, where she about five years ago she taking the literature to library culture to develop Ltd. Kattupalli on ty of the student population worked as professor teach- came to know from other parts of the nation good literature skills. Thursday.The OPV was of the college come from launched by Smt Geeta remote tribal villages with a Mandaviya, wife of Shri poor financial background, Mansukh Mandaviya, the college has provided Award winners Hon’ble Minister of State financial aid to the flood affected people in Chennai Chennaiites set to fly for shipping, Chemical & and Kerala. Saying that the to feature in Fertilizer. PCW has realized that —DC ‘Service to mankind is serv- expo by start-ups ice to God, and that’s why it direct again to Paris imparts importance to com- DC CORRESPONDENT munity service, she added CHENNAI, FEB. 27 T.SUDHEESH | DC this award has come as an CHENNAI, FEB 27 honour and reward for stu- A ‘Start-up Exhibition’ Vivekananda dents to motivate them to featuring the winners of Easing out difficulties of State-of-the-art school work with renewed interest National Entrepreneu- passengers who fly to and extra enthusiasm. rship Award 2019 will be France from Chennai, the rural dev society held at IIT-M Research international air carrier Park on Friday. Air France is set to gets `5 lakh unveiled at Perumbakkam According to the resume its service from Hong Kong vessel organisers, Prof Ashok Chennai to Paris. This Chennai: As part of its DC CORRESPONDENT ● Built on 1.2 acres of Jhunjhunwala, profes- move comes to fill up the CSR activity, SBI Chen- CHENNAI, FEB. 27 land, it has 17 class- sor in the Department of vacuum left in the market nai Circle gave `2,23,000 rooms and six laborato- at VOC Port triggers Electrical Engineering, by the withdrawal of Jet to the Association for A higher secondary ries constructed over IITM will deliver a Airways last April. Non Traditional Employ- school built from scratch 30k Sq. ft and can speech on ‘Start-up eco- Air France, which was ment for Women at a cost of `7 crore was accommodate 660 Covid-19 panic system in India’ at 9.30 conducting thrice a week (ANEW) for purchase of handed over to the ARULOLI M | DC am as part of the event. service out of Chennai, computers and laptops Education department at students. The Tata THOOTHUKUDI, FEB. 27 Following this, the had shut operations in customers. Air France- from Chennai especially for training purpose. The Perumbakkam. The group and their half-day ‘Start-up 2009 following the global KLM will operate 38 week- as it has been almost ten association is a regis- school had been badly employees, through the The port calling of a Hong Exhibition’ will show- economic slowdown. The ly flights from India to its months since Jet Airway’s tered NGO committed to affected by floods in 2015. Tata Tamil Nadu Floods Kong flag ship ‘Hannah’, an oil case the work of the decision to resume the two hubs at Paris and Paris service shut’, said the cause of upliftment Built on 1.2 acres of Response Programme, tanker with 21 crew onboard at winners of the 4th service will be a boon to Amsterdam. In the winter Sudhakar Reddy, Presid- of under privileged wom- land, it has 17 classrooms were the major donors Thoothukudi VOC Port on Edition of National the passengers, especially season the frequencies ent, Air Passengers Asso- en providing free of cost and 6 laboratories con- for the project. Thursday morning, has trig- Entrepreneurship people with French citi- will increase to over 40 ciation of India (APAI). non-traditional skills and structed over 30k Sq. ft gered fears of Corona virus Award 2019, conferred zenship who are residents weekly flights’, he said. The flights will be oper- placement. and can accommodate 660 among the public here, since by the Ministry of Skill of Puducherry, the former According to Air ated by a B787-9 The Chennai circle also students. The Tata group tributed the balance. the oil tanker had visited the Development and French colony. The air- Passengers Association, Dreamliner with 228 seats gave `5,00,000/- to Swami and their employees, Inaugurating the ports of Singapore and Entrepreneurship, line, which is mostly pre- the resumption of Air in economy, 21 seats in Vivekananda Rural Deve- through the Tata Tamil School, K.A. Sengottai- Indonesia, which are said to be Government of India, ferred by French citizens, France service will be a premium economy and 30 lopment Society for con- Nadu Floods Response yan, Minister for School popular tourist destinations of and some IIT Madras will provide direct service boon to tourism. seats in business. Accor- struction of 10 toilets. Programme, were the Education, said Tamil the Chinese, before it reached incubated start-ups. to Paris every week. Currently, the passengers ding to figures available Swami Vivekananda major donors for the proj- Nadu has always enjoyed Indian shores. The objective of ‘Nati- Noel Rault, General have to get connecting with French Embassy, the Rural Development Soci- ect handled by Rotary the support of the corpo- The oil tanker anchored at onal Entrepreneurship Manager, Air France - flights from Dubai, number of Indian tourists ety is an NGO running Club of Madras. rate world in creating the VOC Port around 9 am on Award’ is to recognise KLM, Indian Sub- Frankfurt, London, Abu who visited France in 2018 over 1,000 single teacher The response pro- excellent infrastructure Thursday had berthed at Kabil and celebrate work by Continent said that Dhabi or Colombo to go to had crossed the 8 lakh schools. Another objec- gramme, started by Tata in the form of schools, Port in Indonesia for three ‘Young Entrepreneurs’ Chennai was going to be Paris. Many of the pas- mark. In 2018, the number tive of the society is to group’s nodal disaster hospital. He thanked the days on February 18, 19 and 20 and ‘Ecosystem their fourth gateway in sengers are cancelling the of visa applications grew ensure clean environ- response arm, Tata Rotarians and the Tata and at Singapore on Feb. 21. Builders’ from across India and second in South trips as it was difficult to by 15 per cent as com- ment and eradicate open Community Initiatives group for this gesture and “As these nations are few of India and instil entre- India. ‘The thrice weekly get a seat on any fights to pared to 2017, under- defecation. Trust, carried out multi- assured the school will be the popular tourism destina- preneurial attitude service begins from June Paris. The thrice a week pinned by a 43 per cent Mr B. Sankar, GM (NW- ple relief and rehabilita- run in the most efficient tions for the Chinese, we want among the future-gener- 14 will open more travel service of Air France will increase in applications II) and Ms Shirley tion measures post the way possible to mould that the vessel reaching Thoo- ations and the youth. opportunities for Indian revive the travel to Paris from South India. Thomas, GM (NW-1) gave devastating floods of 2015. children who will con- thukudi port through these away the cheques to the Anuja Foundation USA tribute positively to the regions should not be allowed beneficiary associations. and Rotarians con- society in the future. inside the port before proper screening of its crew outside the port itself,” said a cargo handling employee of the port. Screening of crew after the ship berthed inside the port CMRL’s four-day free created fear among the port employees, added employee. When contacted, the port officials said that all the 21 medical camp ends today crew members onboard the oil tanker were properly screened DC CORRESPONDENT 12 metro stations includ- Metro staffers benefitted for Covid-19 and found asymp- CHENNAI, FEB 27 ing Central Metro, AG from the camp held on tomatic by the port’s medical DMS, Saidapet, Alandur, Thursday at stations team. Moreover, it has also The four-day free medical LIC, Thirumangalam, including Central Metro, been said that as a precaution- camp organised by Vadapalani, Washermen- AG DMS, Saidapet, Alan- ary measure no sailor from the Chennai Metro Rail pet, Ekkattuthangal, dur, LIC, Thirumangalam, oil tanker has been allowed to Limited (CMRL) in associ- Thousand Lights, Vadapalani, Washermen- disembark.” STRESS RELIEF ation with Apollo Annanagar Tower and pet, Ekkattuthangal, It is to be noted that two Hospitals for metro pas- Shenoy Nagar Metro Thousand Lights, Anna- weeks back, the arrival of a sengers and public at Stations from 8 am to 1 nagar Tower and Shenoy windmill tower loaded Metro Stations will end on noon and 4 pm to 7 pm. Nagar Metro Stations. Panama flag ship with 19 crew Friday. According CMRL, as The beneficiaries will including 15 Chinese nationals The camp, which got many as 1,098 of people get check-up on lifestyle created a similar panic among School students from Presidency Girl’s Higher secondary school, Egmore, participating in a meditation pro- underway on February 24, including Metro diseases including blood the people here. gramme before the upcoming public exam. —DC will be held on Friday at Passengers, Public and pressure and diabetes. Eliminate barriers in career path, say Indian women scientists s the country marks cent of all research authors, Hyderabad believes that sci- Professor in the the National Science and 33.1 per cent of the first, ence in India is progressing Department of Gastro- ADay on Friday, many 31.8 per cent of the co., and at a rapid pace since the last intestinal Sciences at the leading Indian women sci- 18.1 per cent of the last decade, thanks to the focus Christian Medical College entists have stressed on the authors were women.” and initiatives on education in Tamil Nadu believes that need for the right kind of Another study by the UK’s and research. there is a lot of work to be support, equality, and gen- Intellectual Property Office “Setting up new educa- done to build an under- der-fair policies in the field (IPO) noted that women tional and research institu- standing of the process and of research. inventors account for just tions across India has con- outputs of science -- a spirit National Science Day is under 13 per cent of patent tributed to this cause,” she of inquiry, and a deep trust celebrated on February 28 applications globally. For said. However, Reddy, who in science and scientists. each year commemorating society to evolve with equal- won the Infosys Prize 2019, “As scientists, some are Indian physicist C V ity, Geetha feels the state thinks India is lagging doing reasonably well in Raman’s discovery in 1928 and union governments behind in basic sciences as many fields, but there are of the Raman effect -- the should provide women compared to developed many areas where both scattering of photons or grants for startups, core countries, and needs to quality people and skills are light particles by matter. research, travel, and proto- make serious efforts to fill limited or lacking,” said Raman received a Nobel type development. the gap. Kang, who was awarded the Prize in Physics in 1930. Of Rupamanjari Ghosh Gagandeep Kang “Universities should pref- “This can be achieved prestigious Infosys Prize in the 607 Nobel medals award- erentially encourage with structured funding, Life Sciences in 2016. ed so far in scientific disci- Indian physicist C.V. Raman. —DC sised on closing the gender science awards in India. women entrepreneurs and more focus on education Kang feels India does not plines globally, just 20 have gap, and moving towards According to Geetha, women startups. A survey and research activities. have sufficient researchers gone to women. unconscious ones -- which We need to pay active atten- women-led projects in sci- women represent only has to be conducted on par- “Basic research is a devel- working across various dis- Noting that a career in sci- are put up along the career tion to these preventable ence. She noted that out of about a fifth of senior ticipation of women as opmental activity; it may ciplines. ence is a demanding and path of women in science. problems,” Ghosh, a the 560 awardees of Shanti authors in all published chairpersons or committee not have immediate tangi- “That means we are tough option, Rupamanjari “When such a career Professor of Physics, said. Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for research. member in policy making,” ble benefit, but has long- unable to grow up to global Ghosh, Vice-Chancellor, demands long hours, there G Geetha, Professor and Science and Technology, A study, published in the Geetha added. term sustainability and is standards, and there are few Shiv Nadar University, are issues of lack of securi- Head, Division of Research only 18 recipients have been journal PLOS One in 2018, Professor Manjula Reddy, the bedrock for future tech- areas that I am aware of Greater Noida said there ty and basic amenities that and Development at Lovely women. assessed 293,557 research Chief Scientist, Center for nological advances,” she where an Indian group is are additional barriers -- affect women more adverse- Professional University The prize is one of the articles from 54 journals, Cellular and Molecular explained. among the world leaders,” often unintentional and ly than men in this society. (LPU) in Punjab, empha- highest multidisciplinary and found that “29.8 per Biology (CCMB), Gagandeep Kang, she added. —PTI CITY DECCAN CHRONICLE | FRIDAY | 28 FEBRUARY 2020 | CHENNAI pg 3

■ IN BRIEF Cops question safety measures taken at shooting site SAY NO TO PLASTICS BJP CAA rally will lead to chaos, Director Shankar grilled says DK leader DC CORRESPONDENT movie. Thanjavur: The intention of CHENNAI, FEB. 27 Lyca Productions direc- the BJP is to organise an tor, Neelkant Narayanpur, agitation in support of CAA The repercussions of the said, "We were in constant in Tamil Nadu on Friday is tragedy at the sets of the touch with your office all suspect as it may lead to Tamil film Indian 2 on through and arrived at the clashes in a place where February 19 continued to mortuary just 15 minutes already anti-CAA agitations reverberate at various after you. At that very are going on, said K. Veera- venues with the producers point, Mr Subaskaran mani, DK president here, on slamming actor Kamal Kamal Haasan S. Shankar announced financial assis- Thursday. Speaking to press- Haasan for his question- tance to the tune of Rs 2 persons, he said that in ing the safety standards Shankar was questioned Lyca tweets response crores to the family mem- Delhi, where Union Home and the insurance cover by the City Crime Branch. to Kamal bers of the deceased, and Minister Amit Shah is sitting, for employees and the The film's director report- Another tweet from Lyca those who suffered there were clashes and the Chennai police interrogat- edly faced questions on Productions created a injuries and also under- court has indicted Delhi ing director S. Shankar on the safety measures taken storm as it was in took to take care of their police and the Central gov- Thursday. at the shooting site. response to Kamal's letter treatment. All these meas- ernment. Tamil Nadu remains As part of the investiga- The previous day, to the company question- ures were taken before the a peaceful state. In this tions into the accident at Shankar had tweeted that ing the safety standards receipt of your letter, and Around thousand students holding cloth bags participate in an anti-plastic aware- state, where agitations agai- EVP Studios, in which he was in utmost grief implemented by the pro- it is unfortunate that this ness campaign organised by Greater Chennai Corporation officals, held at a Govt, nst CAA are going on, the three persons were killed and shock and was unable duction team and also the did not come to your atten- Higher Secondary School in Velechery, Chennai, on Thursday. — DC BJP is trying to organise agi- and nine injured when a to sleep since the tragedy insurance cover provided tion before the 22nd of tations in support of CAA. crane crashed at the sets, occurred. for the employees of the February." This has the potential to dis- turb peace in the state and if government permits CAA Manager of popular hotel support agitation. Veeramani said the Central government Seven get lifer has brought CAA only to Thanjavur college faculty divert attention from the for murder chain commits suicide current economic slowdown. PERAMBALUR: The DC CORRESPONDENT fear of ouster from service Perambalur district fast CHENNAI, FEB. 27: Bank heist: Probe track Mahila court DC CORRESPONDENT awarded life sentence to A 58-year-old man, who progressing well THANJAVUR, FEB. 27 seven persons including was managing three an aged women on branches of a popular Coimbatore: In a statement Nearly 113 guest lecturers Thursday in connection restaurant chain in issued on behalf of the State and 17 non-teaching staff of with a murder over a Kanchipuram, reportedly Bank of India, Kallipalayam the Government Arts and irrigation dispute. committed suicide at his branch, V Kanagaraj, chief Science College for girls at The prosecution said residence in Chinna manager (CM&CS), State B- Orathanadu near here that there was an irriga- Kanchi on Thursday ank of India, Regional Bus- expressed apprehension tion dispute between morning. He has been iness Office, Tirupur, stated that they may be ousted Ramaiya, Manickam, identified as R. that the branch is in the pro- from service, and hence, Ramachandran and Palaniappan, a resident of cess of contacting customers staged a demonstration on Thanjavur MP and former union minister S S Palani Ramasamy of Palaiyur Brindhavan Street in whose safety lockers were Thursday at the entrance Manickam, hearing the grievances of guest lecturers of village near Perambalur Chinna Kanchipuram. broken and valuables stolen of the college demanding the Government Arts and Science College for Women at and they developed Palaniappan was the in the recent heist. “The cus- job protection. Orathanadu near Thanjavur on Thursday. —DC enmity on this. manager of three branch- tomers are cooperating with The guest lecturers said There was a clash es of Saravana Bhavan the investigating officials and that the state government nearly 4,000 students. issue will also be raised between them on hotel in Kanchipuram dis- we are yet to ascertain the was trying to appoint sur- There are 13 under-gradu- with the directorate of col- February 17, 2009 in trict. On Thursday morn- Employees protesting outside Saravana Bhavan amount of valuables lost. plus teaching and non- ate courses and six post- legiate education. "We will which Kandasamy son ing, he was found dead on demanding for their salaries. —DC Three locker cabinets were teaching staff of Anna- graduate courses. PhDs protect your jobs and now of Ramasamy was bru- his house in Brindavan partially broken open by the mamalai University in can be done in five depart- you can withdraw your agi- tally murdered. Nagar. Police said his fam- found during the search. lection money. Sources intruders. An amount of their place, thus ousting ments. All guest lecturers tation and go to the col- Arumbavur police reg- ily waited for a long time A case of unnatural death aver that the employees Rs.18.97 lakh cash held in the them from service. have the qualifications lege," Palani Manickam istered a case and arrest- for him to come out of the has been registered under have not received receive bank has been stolen,” They cited the example of specified by the University said. Upon this, the protest- ed the sons of Ramaiyah room on Thursday morn- section 174 of the IPC. their salary for the past Kanagaraj said. An FIR has MBA department where Grants Commission (UGC) ers withdrew their agita- R.Selvaraj (40) R. ing. They then knocked on Police sources said that few months and the man- been registered at Kama- three teaching staff from like PhD, SET, SLET and tion. Sundararaj (37) and his bedroom and, since the cause of death is most ager had stepped in to naickenpalayam police sta- Annamamalai University NET. In such a situation, it Later, Palani Manickam their mother Nallak- there was no response, likely suicide and that fur- help them. tion. Investigation is on. were appointed and three is unfortunate that surplus told mediapersons that the aanu (65) and the sons of they broke the door open ther investigations are Meanwhile, the employ- guest lecturers working in staff from Annamalai college was started as a Manickam M. Nallu- and found him hanging. being undertaken. ees from three branches the college, were asked to University are posted constituent college of samy (52),M. Chellapillai The Siva Kanchi police However, the employees of staged a demonstration Two-day quit. here," they said. Bharathidasan University (50) and the sons of were alerted. On informa- the restaurant alleged outside Saravana Bhavan, "We have been working in S. S. Palani Manickam, during the DMK regime. Ramachandran R.Than- tion, police personnel that there was a fight Gandhi Road branch handloom expo this college ever since its Thanjavur MP and former Later in 2011 it was made a garasu (38), and R. reached the spot and sent between the manager and demanding that salaries inception 14 years ago. The union minister, and M. government college. Nea- Manikandan (36) and the body to Kanchipuram the hotel management. It be paid on time. Coimbatore: The Indian hand- college was started as a Ramachandran, Orath- rly 70 lecturers were posted filed case against them Government Hospital for is said that Palaniappan They also demanded loom products expo will begin constituent college of anadu MLA, both from the during the AIADMK re- before the Mahila Court. post-mortem. The police's helped the employees of that the hotel manage- in Coimbatore on March 2. Bharathidasan University, DMK, met the agitating gime. The government sho- Judge Malarvizhi awa- preliminary finding was it the branches he managed ment render compensa- According to a statement, the Tiruchy, with the efforts guest lecturers on Thurs- uld protect them. What is rded life sentence to all was a death by suicide, by giving them advance tion to Palaniappan's two-day expo ‘Summer taken by S.S. Palani Mani- day and assured them that the logic in posting surplus the seven accused. —DC but no suicide note was from the restaurant col- family. Soiree’, which is organised by ckam, Thanjavur MP, and they will take all steps to staff from Annamalai Uni- Aparna Sunku and Weave- former union minister. protect their jobs. versity, which was once a inindia displays Indian hand- Later in 2011, it was made a Palani Manickam said private university to a gov- looms, dupattas, fabrics from government college. The that the issue will be raised ernment college, and ask- Weaveinindia, along with kur- college which was started in the coming session of ing those working in that tas and suit sets in purest cot- with 116 students, now has the state assembly. The college to quit, he asked. ‘Don’t transfer complaints to BCI’ ton and silk with embroideries from Mulmul. The expo will Chennai: The Madras the BCTP may transfer the A petition was filed by the tioner and if at all, it is also display costume jew- High Court on Thursday case to BCI in New Delhi. advocate to dismiss the only the fault of the BCTP ellery from Isharya. The expo restrained the Bar Council The Division Bench com- complaint on October 19, for keeping the matter for will open for visitors from 8:30 of Tamil Nadu and prising Justice N Kirub- 2019 and a counter filed by more than three years with- am to 9 pm on March 2 and 3 Two among four arts dts Puducherry (BCTP) from akaran and Justice P the petitioner in November out conducting enquiry at Whispering Stones, in transferring any of the Velmurugan, in its order, 2019 and without disposing and disposing of the mat- Uppilipalayam. complaints before it to the said, From the facts men- of the case it was repre- ter. In the instant case, the Bar Council of India (BCI) tioned, it is very clear the sented by the BCTP that a petitioner has not commit- to come up in Tamil Nadu until further orders of the petitioner made a com- note is being prepared to ted any wrong. He cannot Call to adopt court. plaint against the advocate transfer the matter to the be unnecessarily dragged LAKSHMI L LUND | DC artists are working in The matter relates to a on November 16, 2016 to file of BCI. to New Delhi. Hence, the natural farming COIMBATORE, FEB. 27 Kannagi Nagar in the petition from PL Sunder of BCTP and a reply was The petitioner has not transfer of the proceedings state capital. Madurai who made a com- given by the advocate on committed any wrong and to New Delhi would prima Ariyalur: The means to pro- After successfully setting "In Coimbatore, we will plaint against an advocate March 10, 2017." The bench if the matter is transferred facie do injustice to the tect and preserve nature was up art districts in four complete the work by D Balakrishnan of Madu- said this showed there was to the file of BCI, the peti- petitioner. The bench stat- discussed at a international places across the country, March 20. We are inspired rai alleging that the pro- no fault or wrong on the tioner may not have the ed that there were very conference, ‘Frontiers in 'St+art India Foundation', by the various lake rejuve- ceedings on the complaint part of the petitioner, how- money power to travel to many cases which were Environmental Health and a non-profit organisation nation activities which were kept pending from ever the matter has been New Delhi to contest the pending with BCTP which Mitigation’, held here on in collaboration with the are carried out here, and November 2019 and further dragged for such a long proceedings. Moreover, it was not exercising its statu- Thursday. Natural farming civic body will establish hence, we plan to depict with an apprehension that time. is not the fault of the peti- tory duty. —PTI scientist from Netherlands, its fifth and sixth art dis- them on the walls of the Gerrit Impens, while speak- tricts in Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu Slum ing on the subject underlined While Chennai's Clearance Board housing the need for protecting Kannagi Nagar will be Artist painting large scale unit at Ukkadam here," nature, and said it is the duty christened as the fifth, the murals in Coimbatore. Vikas Nagrare added. 3-day bank strike from March 11 Gangsters hack rowdy of everyone to love nature. textile city's Slum Another set of volun- TIRUCHY: G. Kripa- meet after submitting a Impens also pointed out that Development Board inspired themes, and thus teers of the Delhi-based karan, general secretary memorandum to it was a big challenge to pro- Colony at Ukkadam will transformed. organisation will host art of State Bank's staff Congress LS member S. to death in Kasimedu tect natural resources, become the 'sixth art dis- Labelled as 'St+art workshops and activities union and the represen- Thirunavukkarasar DC CORRESPONDENT few months he was supply- besides taking care of trict' in India, Vikas Season II', the Delhi-based to involve the public in the tative of the United here on Thursday, CHENNAI, FEB. 27 ing water cans to houses in humans and animals, since Nagrare, director, special organisation with support area besides educating Forum of Bank Unions Kripakaran said despite the locality. chemical fertilizers and other projects, St+art India of Asian Paints has its them on the importance of consisting of AIBEA, the Union Finance Driven by previous enmity, On Wednesday night, modern day technological Foundation, said here on artist volunteers at work maintaining the respec- AIBOC, NCBE, AIBOA, Ministry's advice to all a 28-year-old rowdy was Diwakar went to Kasimedu advancements introduced in Thursday. Under the proj- on both locations. In tive spruced up public BEFI, INBEF, INBOC, bank managements and hacked to death by an eight- fishing harbour area to the field of agriculture, have ect, selected walls in the Coimbatore, the project is space. NOBW and NOBO, said the IBA to expedite and member gang at Kasimedu deliver water cans, when he polluting ground water locations will sport paint- implemented in partner- St+art India Foundation they are going to launch conclude the 11th bipar- on Wednesday night. was surrounded by an eight- everywhere. He also empha- ings reflecting local cul- ship with 'Residents made its debut in a three-day national tite wage settlement on The victim identified as member gang, one of whom sised the importance of natu- ture and heritage. Awareness Association of Coimbatore in 2018 by cre- strike from March 11 or before Nov. 2017, they Diwakar, is a resident of constantly stabbed him with ral farming using bio-fertiliz- As part of the on-going Coimbatore' (RAAC). ating a walkable art trail and also an indefinite did not take any step Singaravelan Nagar, Kasi- a weapon and fled the spot as ers and avoiding plastics. initiative, dull looking While four local, nation- on Government Arts strike from April 1, until May 2018 and medu and a history-sheeter. a crowd gathered," said walls in both the places al and international College Road and on Town pressing their charter of announced a meagre two Police said Diwakar had police. Diwakar was admit- will be painted with peo- artists are at work in the Hall here, as part of its demands. percent increase in bank three murder and three ted to Stanley GH, where Hit by 2-wheeler, ple and environment- cotton city, as many as 20 'Urban Art festival'. Addressing a press employees' wages. —DC attempt to murder cases doctors pronounced him elder, dies against him. For the past dead on arrival. Chennai: A 60-year-old man died after being knocked down by a speeding two- Gold coins found during temple work wheeler on Aranganathan sub- way road, Saidapet on Wedn- R. VALAYAPATHY | DC immediately, and sought ter to the revenue author- esday night. Vijay Kumar 60) , TIRUCHY, FEB. 27 the help of the state ities. an employee of a private firm, archaeological depart- In turn, Srirangam was walking to his house in Workers engaged in earth ment to assess the coins Tashildar R. Sridhar also V.G.P Salai in Saidapet on work for establishing a and the period the coins arrived at the spot. Wednesday night. When he garden near belonged to. In the presence of was on Aranganathan subway Akilandeswari Sannidhi Till the arrival of the police and revenue offi- road, the speeding bike com- at the ancient Sri. officials of the archaeo- cials the coins were ing in the opposite direction Jembukeshwarar - logical department, the counted and weighing knocked him down. He sus- Akilandeswari temple, gold coins were kept in and out of 505 coins, one tained grievous injuries and which represents water the district treasury, with coin weighed about 10 died on the spot, while the out of the five natural police bandobust. gms and rest of them biker fled. The jurisdictional elements, discovered a Assistant Commis- weighed 3.3 gms each, he Guindy traffic police arrived at golden treasure in a cop- sioner of HR&CE depart- added. the spot and sent his body to per pot on Wednesday. ment and the temple He said the particular Royapettah government hos- Official sources said the executive officer area where the treasure pital for post-mortem. Police pot containing 505 gold Mariappan said soon discovered declared as KEEPING VIGIL later tracked down the motor- coins 1.716 kgs and coins after he had information protected area and day cyclist identified as D.Santhan had letters resembling about the treasure, he and night security (22) with CCTV footage and Arabic etched on them, rushed to the spot imme- arrangements in and Security personnel guarding the room in which the upcom- arrested him. Police are con- could date back to 1000- The sources further period or antique value diately and simultane- around the place is being ing public exam papers are kept at Lady Wellington School ducting inquiries with him. 1200 CE. said though the coins could not be determined ously informed the mat- made. in the city on Thursday. —DC POLITICS DECCAN CHRONICLE | FRIDAY | 28 FEBRUARY 2020 | CHENNAI pg 4

■Poor demand from Chinese market led to price drop ROAD TO DIPLOMACY IN BRIEF Umasankar Slowdown, Coronavirus fears affect pepper prices DC CORRESPONDENT price drop is reflected in The average price change in climate would Dismayed passengers in CHENNAI, FEB. 27 the pepper market as well. realised was `316 for affect the standing crop. Chennai airport. Although the quantity ungarbled, while MG1 gar- Primary market sale of The slowdown in the econ- offered has improved, bled was quoted at `336. pepper by dealers in Tamil omy and the novel there has been a subdued Fresh pepper garnered Nadu at terminal market 88 allowed to board Coronavirus outbreak demand, especially from `306. Besides, the Indian rates has also resulted in appear to have impacted Tamil Nadu based dealers domestic trade is not the upward trend in flight to report to pepper prices, which to procure the commodity ready to accept the reports prices. reported a drop of `2 per from the primary market. coming from Vietnam on Farmers expect Indian work in Saudi kg. Wayanad based dealers, pepper market becoming domestic prices would From p1 According to traders, the who were active in inter- firmer there, say sources. maintain a price level diminishing demand in state business last week, A few days ago, a majori- above `300, especially Declining to accept the reason- the Chinese market for are also in a mood to sell, ty of farmers did not with the farmer-friendly Mr Martin Van Den Berg, Indian ambassdor for Netherlands, met Chief Minister ing, the passengers began to spices such as nutmeg and especially those who are release their newly approach of the govern- Edappadi K Palaniswami as a formal gesture in the secretariat on Thursday. Chennai protest and demanded they be ginger due to Coronavirus based in Kalpetta, plucked crop into the mar- ment in fetching better incharge for Netherlands embassy Gopal Srinivasan is also seen interacting with the allowed to board the flight. issue and the resultant Bathery, Pulpally etc. ket as they thought the returns for them. Chief Minister. —DC However, they were told that the chance for their deporta- tion upon their arrival at Jeddah was more due to the VOICES AGAINST DELHI VIOLENCE high alert for the Coronavirus outbreak. Congress MP lauds Rajinikanth The commotion made the airport police rush to the spot. DC CORRESPONDENT It took some time for the dis- TIRUCHY, FEB. 27 mayed passengers to reconcile to ground realities and they Senior Congress leader and AIADMK wants to shed finally accepted to return Tiruchirapalli MP home. To get back home, all Thirunavukkarasar on the 170 passengers had to call Thursday applauded popu- their relatives who had just lar film star Rajinikanth seen them off at the airport. for condemning the BJP BJP-friendly image? Later, about 88 passengers (out government at the Centre of 258) were allowed to board for the violent incidents in From p1 manner in which the com- despite the voice against the flight, as they had to report New Delhi, and said the munal riots in Delhi were CAA turning shriller day for work in Saudi Arabia. actor was not a strange sup- Also, the Chief Minister, handled by the BJP gov- by day, the BJP in Tamil On Thursday, Saudi Arabia porter of the BJP. along with Deputy Chief ernment at the Centre, Nadu has not done much suspended visas for visits to Addressing a press con- Minister O Paneerselvam, which is actually in to counter it. Islam's holiest sites for the ference here, wrote to the Centre urging charge of law and order in Even as the protest, pre- Umrah pilgrimage, triggered Thirunavukkarasar point- the exclusion of pesky the national capital. dominantly by women, at by Coronavirus fears that ed out that Rajinikanth's questions during the enu- Even another ally of the Old Washermanpet con- raise questions over the Hajj, reported remark that politi- meration of the next cen- BJP in Tamil Nadu, the tinues to rage without a which starts in July. The king- cal parties are instigating sus, which only went to PMK, has been trying to break, the first protest dom, which hosts millions of Muslims protest near Chennai collectorate to condemn the violence in Delhi. —DC the agitations was totally suggest that the AIADMK, raise its voice against the march in support of CAA pilgrims every year in the wrong. which too would be in the BJP's move without actu- has been organised at cities of Mecca and Medina, He also appealed to the electoral race in 2021 with ally severing ties just like Tiruvannamalai on also suspended visas for Union Government to Rajinikanth and Kamal the AIADMK. However, Friday. Compared to that, tourists from countries with increase the allocation for Haasan, want to shed the the two allies that fought a plethora of marches, reported infections as fears of SDPI stages anti-CAA protests the local area MP develop- BJP-friendly image that the Lok Sabha elections dharnas and protests have a pandemic deepen. ment fund as the present has been bestowed on it in with the BJP are now been held at various ven- The new precautions are R.VALAYAPATHY I DC annual allocation of Rs 5 the past three years. making feeble noises of ues, across the State, since "based on the recommenda- TIRUCHY, FEB. 28 crore was inadequate. The antipathy against protest against the power- the beginning of January. tions of the competent health To a question, the MP said the BJP has been growing ful BJP that is ruling the All the protests recorded authorities to apply the high- Members of the Tiruchy his wish was that the pres- of late, what with the country is indicative of large number of partici- est precautionary standards district unit of the Social ent Congress-DMK alliance protests against the public mood in the pation by common people, and take proactive preventive Democratic Party of India should continue as both CAA/NRC/NPR prolifer- state. pointing to the general measures to prevent the emer- led by president Imam R. parties once contested on ating day after day and the On the other hand, mood in Tamil Nadu. gence of the Coronavirus in Hassan staged a demon- its own facing defeats. the Kingdom and its spread," stration here on Moreover, the workers of He condemned the trans- the Ministry of Foreign Wednesday condemning both parties also want the ● Thirunavukkarasar fer of the Delhi high court Affairs said in a statement on the attack on anti-CAA present alliance to contin- also condemned the judge Justice Muralidhar Twitter. protesters in New Delhi, ue. transfer of the Delhi who had passed remarks The measure has come in and also condemned the He said, when he was the high court judge against the BJP govern- the backdrop of sharp police for its failure to TNCC president he had Justice Muralidhar who ment, and also directed the increase in the number of control the riots. constituted a committee had passed remarks police to file cases against cases reported in the Middle In a release here on Meanwhile, the ongoing clothes and raised anti- under the leadership of for- against the BJP the BJP ministers and lead- East, where most of the indi- Thursday, SDPI district sit-in against the CAA, Central and state govern- mer legislator government, and also ers to the Punjab and viduals infected had travelled secretary Mujipur NRC and NPR issues by ment slogans. Selvaperunthagai to directed the police to Haryana high court. from Iran, which has a report- Rahman, said various Muslim youth and women Members of the Tiruchy retrieve and protect the file cases against the He appealed to the state ed death toll standing at 19, the like-minded organisation in various places across district unit of Makkal assets of the TNCC across BJP ministers and government to include Karur, Tiruchy and highest outside China. This, leaders including Periyar the central districts of Athikaaram staged a the state, which Congress leaders to the Punjab media reports said, had Saravanan state propa- Tiruchy, Tiruvarur, demonstration near leader Rahul Gandhi appre- Ariyalur districts under pushed several countries to ganda secretary, Tamil Nagapattinam and Central bus stand here on ciated and asked other and Haryana high the protected agriculture suspend flights and most of its Nadu Valvuurimai Katchi Pudukkottai have intensi- Thursday, while a section PCCs across the country to court. zone, to hold elections to neighbours to close their bor- , TMMK district secretary fied further. of students of the Jamal emulate. But, the present mittee they can add and ed Rahul Gandhi, who is the urban local bodies, and ders. Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Imam Jaffar Ali, Welfare The protesters at Mohammed college TNCC leadership has dis- ensure the continuation of capable of defeating Prime direct elections to the post Lebanon, Iraq, and the UAE Party of India, Tiruchy Tiruvarur held a novel abstained from classes mantled the committee the committee, he felt. Minister Narendra Modi, of town panchayat presi- have all reported Coronavirus district president, agitation on Wednesday and staged a demonstra- which is unfortunate. If Later, addressing a press to become the president of dents, municipal chairman cases in persons who had trav- Jamal Mohamed, and oth- night by blindfolding tion in front of their col- they wanted to include conference at Karur, the All India Congress and corporation mayors at elled to Iran recently. ers spoke. themselves with black lege here. more persons in that com- Thirunavukkarasar want- Committee again. the earliest. AGAINST DELHI VIOLENCE DMK legislator KPP Samy passes away DC CORRESPONDENT Parasuraman had been in ● The 58-year-old Samy is the second MLA CHENNAI, FEB. 27 the DMK. leader is survived by the DMK has lost in less DMK president and his son Prabhakaran than a year. In July last Former State Fisheries Leader of the Opposition and daughter Udaya. year, DMK MLA from Minister and DMK legisla- in the Tamil Nadu Samy has been a Vikravandi K. Radhamani tor KPP Samy passed away Assembly M. K. Stalin, staunch DMK loyalist died following an illness. at his residence here on Treasurer Duraimurugan and even his father With Samy's demise, the Thursday. Samy, who won and party's youth wing Parasuraman had been strength of the DMK in from the Thiruvottiyur secretary Udayanidhi in the DMK. the Assembly has come Assembly constituency, Stalin were among the down to 99 members. had been suffering from leaders who visited the family and the DMK. On Normally, election kidney issues. He home of the bereaved fam- behalf of the DMK, I KPP Samy should be held within six breathed his last at about ily and consoled them. express my deepest condo- party. months following the 6.10 am at his residence in "We are all shocked over lences," Mr. Stalin said. Hailing from the fishing death of the MLA but in a K. V. Kuppam, according the news of his death. We Samy had been the DMK community, he won from pre-election year, it is to the party. expected that he would government's Fisheries the Thiruvottiyur con- doubtful if the election to The 58-year-old leader is recover from his illness Minister between 2006 and stituency on DMK ticket Thiruvottiyur constituen- survived by his son and return. He continu- 2011 when late DMK presi- in 2006. During the 2011 cy would be held soon. In Prabhakaran and daugh- ously gave voice to the dent M. Karunanidhi was elections he lost the seat to all likelihood, the election ter Udaya. Samy has been fishing community. His the Chief Minister. He was K. Kuppan of the could be held along with a staunch DMK loyalist loss is big for the fishing also in charge of the AIADMK. Samy was re- the Assembly election in and even his father community, not just his Fisheries Wing of the elected in the 2016 polls. 2021, say sources. NGO condemns midnight transfer of Justice S Muralidhar n NGO on Thursday week of March. condemned the mid- The Campaign for Began law practice in Chennai in 1984 Anight transfer of Judicial Accountability Justice Muralidhar began his law practice in Justice S Muralidhar from and Reforms (CJAR) said Chennai in September 1984 and in 1987 shifted to the Delhi High Court to the the transfer has nothing to the Supreme Court of India and the Delhi High Punjab and Haryana High do with "public interest" Court. He was active as a lawyer for the Supreme Advocates form a human chain in front of Madras High Court on Thursday to condemn the Court, claiming that the and everything to do with violence in New Delhi Court Legal Services Committee and was its mem- move was to punish an "punishing" an honest and ber for two terms. Justice Muralidhar was counsel "honest and courageous" courageous judicial officer for the National Human Rights Commission and the judicial officer. for simply carrying out his Election Commission of India, and a part-time Justice Muralidhar was constitutional duties. member of the Law Commission from December ASHC to organise MSME loan hearing the Delhi violence Earlier in the day, Union 2002 till May 2006 when he was appointed a judge case and a notification Law Minister Ravi Shankar came late in the evening on Prasad said Justice of the Delhi High Court. His pro bono work Wednesday when a bench Muralidhar was trans- includes cases of victims of the Bhopal Gas mela to help Ayush industry headed by him expressed ferred following the recom- the central government tragedy and those displaced by the dams on the "anguish" over the Delhi mendation of the Supreme accountable for the Delhi Narmada River. DC CORRESPONDENT already registered for the by TIIC. The mela will be held Police's failure to register Court collegium, asserting riots tells the true nature of CHENNAI, FEB. 27 loan mela, and they expect at the Maditssia Hall near the FIRs against alleged hate that a "well-settled process" his transfer, the NGO nature" of this move, it tiveness" of the govern- 150 people more on Feb. 29 Madurai Corporation office speeches by three BJP lead- was followed. CJAR said it claimed. said. "If this was indeed a ment, the NGO alleged. The Madurai-based when the loan mela would be from 9 am to 5 pm on Feb. 29. ers. knows that Justice "That Justice Muralidhar transfer with the consent of The Supreme Court col- Association of Siddha held. Siddha doctors who run ASHC association will The notification, which Muralidhar's transfer was had raised tough questions the judge, no element of legium, in a meeting on Hospitals and Clinics (ASHC) hospitals can avail assist new entrepreneurs was issued by the Ministry recommended by the about the conduct of sitting consideration seems to February 12, had recom- has planned to support the `40 lakhs to renovate and and existing industries and of Law and Justice, stated Supreme Court collegium ministers of the Union gov- have been given by the mended transfer of Justice Siddha and Ayurveda drug develop their institutions. hospitals to avail interest that the president took the on February 12 but the ernment, MLAs and other Centre in ordering him to Muralidhar to Punjab and manufacturers and health- This assistance scheme subsidy loans from the Tamil decision after consulting rushed manner in which high officials seems to have make the move," the NGO Haryana High Court. The care institutions by organis- would promote the Ayush sec- Nadu Industrial Investment the Chief Justice of India. the notification has been influenced this move," it said. collegium, headed by Chief ing an 'MSME loan mela' pro- tor in Tamil Nadu in a big Corporation Limited (TIIC) to It, however, does not men- issued by the Union govern- said in a statement. It claimed that Justice Justice of India S A Bobde, gramme in Madurai to help way, it is said. start new drug manufactur- tion when Justice ment cannot be ignored. CJAR claimed that judges Muralidhar's transfer in a meeting on February start new enterprises and The 'loan mela' is organised ing units and establish Muralidhar has to take The fact that the notifica- have been given reasonable resembles the "punitive 12, had also recommended establish clinics. in association with Madurai healthcare centres. Also, charge of his office. DC tion for Justice time in transfer orders, but transfers" of high court transfer of Bombay About one hundred regis- District Tiny & Small Scale loans would be granted to learns that the judge will Muralidhar's transfer was Justice Muralidhar's was judges during the HC Judge Justice tered Siddha and Ayurveda Industries Association upgrade infrastructure in not be sworn in at issued in the evening after with immediate effect. This Emergency. The move Ranjit V More to medical professionals have (MADITSSIA) and supported hospitals. Chendiagrh before the first he held the Delhi Police and highlights the "punitive resembles the "petty vindic- Meghalaya HC. —PTI NATION DECCAN CHRONICLE | FRIDAY | 28 FEBRUARY 2020 | CHENNAI pg 5

SHORT TAKES Army, Police I-T’s swoop on More trouble NIA: Breakthrough in want AFSPA to in store for stay in Assam bizmen, officers MANOJ ANAND | DC Azam Khan Pulwama case soon GUWAHATI, FEB. 27 DC CORRESPONDENT The Indian Army, NEW DELHI, FEB. 27 Agency denies reports of bail to accused in attack case engaged in counter insur- unsettle C’garh gency operations under More trouble seems to be in New Delhi, Feb. 27: The never arrested in Pulwama attack, forming the unified command of RABINDRA NATH ● THE RAIDS, conducted store for Samajwadi Party National Investigation Pulwama attack case. ● The NIA official government, now the security forces, wants the CHOUDHURY I DC leader and Lok Sabha member Agency (NIA) on However, he along with said the agency Modi government does Armed Forces (Special BHOPAL, FEB. 27 by 500 I-T officers and Azam Khan as the Thursday denied reports six others was arrested had not filed not care about the sacri- Powers) Act (AFSPA) to 200 Central paramilitary Enforcement Directorate (ED) that a special court had in the NIA case fice of the country and continue in Assam but the Raids by income-tax (I-T) is contemplating registering granted bail to an 08/2019/NIA/DLI (JeM charge sheet the martyrs,” he claimed. issue has not come up for- sleuths in houses and busi- forces from Delhi, began more money-laundering cases accused in the Pulwama Conspiracy case) in against Chopan in “Is this not ‘treason’,” mally for considerations ness establishments of at about 6am and were against him on the basis of terror attack case in which two charge sheets the JeM conspira- he asked. in the unified command high-profile people, includ- continuing early on fresh evidence provided by the which 40 CRPF personnel were filed against eight cy case as Senior Congress leader or the state government. ing a Congress leader, state police. were killed. accused (including two Ahmed Patel also Informing that the min- liquor merchants and real Friday. “Investigations by the probe In a statement, the killed),” the agency state- enough evidence attacked the government, istry of home affairs has estate barons and bureau- agencies have revealed that agency said the bail was ment said. could not be saying he was “shocked given go-ahead for de- crats at several places in ● the SP MP and his associates granted to Yousuf The agency said it had gathered against to know that the induction of army from Chhattisgarh rattled the SOURCES SAID I-T allegedly tried to destroy some Chopan, who had been filed the charge sheets in him, resulting in Pulwama accused got Western Assam in a corridors of power on wings of Madhya crucial evi- arrested by the NIA in a the case against Sajad bail because NIA so busy phased manner, security Thursday. Pradesh and dence pertain- terror conspiracy case, Ahmad Khan, Tanveer his bail. that it failed to file a sources said that the The raids, conducted by ing to certain and not the February Ahmed Ganie, Bilal charge sheet.” army has already been de- 500 I-T officers and 200 Chhattisgarh were kept dubious trans- 2019 attack case. Ahmad Mir, Muzaffar “It’s an insult to our inducted from law and Central paramilitary forces out of the operations. actions, which The NIA spokesperson Ahmad Bhat, Ishfaq February 18, 2020 and he martyrs. Clearly govern- order duty from Karbi from Delhi, began at about are not part of said Chopan was arrest- Ahmad Bhat and Mehraj- has been sent back to Kot ment used this tragic Anglong. 6am and were continuing the ED’s ongo- ed in the case pertaining ud-din Chopan, besides Bhalwal Jail, Jammu attack for political pur- Indicating that the army early on Friday. allocated for the welfare of ing probe”, to a criminal conspiracy Mudassir Ahmad Khan under Public Safety Act poses and was never seri- would continue to operate Sources said I-T wings of physically-handicapped sources said. hatched by senior com- and Kari Mufti Yaseer by the order of District ous about delivering jus- under the unified com- Madhya Pradesh and people. These trans- manders of the Jaish-e- who were killed in an Magistrate, Pulwama. tice,” Patel said in a mand in Upper Assam Chhattisgarh were kept out Tuteja was an accused in actions Mohammed terror group encounter with security “Needless to say, NIA tweet. areas, mostly having the of the operations. an alleged mega-scam in allegedly to carry out terror forces. follows the policy of At a press conference, presence of Ulfa-I, securi- The ‘targets’ included Chhattisgarh food and civil involving Khan, will now be attacks in different parts Mudassir Ahmad Khan, fairest possible investiga- Congress spokesperson ty sources said that the Raipur mayor Ejaz Dhebar, supply corporation, which investigated by the ED under of India, including Delhi- the mastermind behind tion. In the Pulwama Pawan Khera claimed ball was in the court of former chief secretary and surfaced during the previ- the Prevention of Money NCR. the JeM conspiracy case Attack Case that the nationalism of the state government chairman of Real Estate ous Raman Singh govern- Laundering Act (PMLA), Raising the issue of the who was also the main 02/2019/NIA/JMU, in the BJP stands exposed which has to take the final Regulation Authority ment’s tenure. Some CA sources said. If required, the bail to the accused, the conspirator in the which 40 CRPF personnel because the NIA has call on AFSPA. (RERA) Vivek Dhand, kin of firms were raided on suspi- ED may register fresh cases Congress said it was an Pulwama attack case, were killed in the suicide failed to charge sheet Among other controver- senior IAS officer Anil cion of helping high-profile against Khan and his associ- “insult” to the security was killed in an attack, significant leads against terrorist Yousuf sial provisions, AFSPA Tuteja, Meenakshi, liquor people in the state to evade ates. ED sleuths are in touch personnel killed in the encounter. have emerged and a Chopan. permits the Army to baron Amlok Singh, pro- tax, IT sources said. Raids with state police in this Pulwama terror attack “During the investiga- breakthrough in the case “Who will take respon- detain a person without a moter of a nursing home A. were simultaneously con- regard, they added. and demanded Home tion in the JeM conspira- is expected shortly,” it sibility for this. This was warrant and enter or Farista, chartered account- ducted in establishments of Khan was arrested in connec- Minister Amit Shah’s cy case, seven over said. an attack on the coun- search premises without a ants Sanjay Sancheti and some Chhattisgarh-based tion with the alleged fake birth resignation over it. ground workers (OGWs) Meanwhile, Congress try’s honour. warrant Kamlesh Jain, promoter of businessmen at Betul, certificate case involving his The NIA official said were arrested. However, chief spokesperson Accountability is a Asserting that paramili- a local TV channel Guru Bhopal, and Hosangabad in son on Wednesday. Khan’s wife the agency had not filed out of which six accused Randeep Surjewala must,” Khera said. tary forces are now equal- Charan Singh Hora and Madhya Pradesh. Tanzeen Fatima and son charge sheet against were charge-sheeted in alleged that the Pulwama “The BJP wasted no ly competent to handle the Chhattisgarh State Chhattisgarh Pradesh Abdullah Azam were arrested Chopan in the JeM con- two charge sheets and terror attack accused got time to garner votes and present state of insur- Beverage Corporation man- Congress Committee presi- in the same case on the orders spiracy case as enough Yousuf Chopan was not bail as the National shamelessly used the gency in the state, aging director Arun dent and MLA Mohan of a district court in Rampur. evidence could not be charge sheeted due to Investigation Agency martyrdom of our sol- security sources however Tripathy. Dhand was among Markam, however, tried to The ED is preparing to initi- gathered against him, inadequate evidence,” (NIA) neither collected diers,” he claimed. admitted that the army half-a-dozen IAS officers of downplay the issue saying ate proceedings to attach resulting in his bail by a the NIA said. evidence nor filed a “We demand the resig- would like the continua- Chhattisgarh, currently fac- that the people whose hous- assets belonging to Khan and special court in Delhi. As such Chopan has charge sheet. nation of the Home tion of AFSPA as long as ing charges of misappropri- es were raided were close to his family as part of its ongo- “It is to clarify that been granted default bail “After taking political Minister,” Khera said. they are stationed in the ation of government funds the power during the previ- ing money-laundering probe. Yousuf Chopan was by special NIA court on advantage of the — PTI state. to the tune of `1,000 crore ous government.

Dalit woman Indians evacuated STRONG | SUPPORT Patkar, Tushar Gandhi, Gopinathan attend rally gang-raped at gunpoint Kanhaiya’s ‘Jan Yatra’ ends Rajkot, Feb. 27: Three men allegedly kidnapped a 19-year- Patna, Feb. 27: Social and old Dalit woman and raped her cultural activists from far at gunpoint in a car in and wide converged here on Gujarat’s Rajkot district, Thursday to lend their sup- police said on Thursday. port to a massive rally that No arrest has been made yet. marked the conclusion of In her complaint to the dis- Kanhaiya Kumar’s ‘Jan trict police, the woman, a Gan Man Yatra’ across native of Kotdasangani talu- Bihar to galvanise public ka, claimed she was raped at opinion against CAA-NPR- gunpoint by one Amit NRC. Padaliya and his friends Vipul Medha Patkar of the Shekhda and Shanti Padaliya Narmada Bachao Andolan on Wednesday, they said. fame, Mahatma Gandhi’s It is alleged Amit Padaliya is grandson Tushar Gandhi a local BJP leader who had and former IAS officer earlier served as general sec- Kannan Gopinathan, who retary of the party’s gave up his career at a Kotdasangani taluka unit. young age in protest Reportedly, Shanti Padaliya against abrogation of is an elected Congress mem- Article 370, shared the ber of Kotdasangani taluka stage with the former JNU panchayat. students’ leader. CPI leader Kanhaiya Kumar meets social activist Medha Patkar in Patna on Thursday. Police investigation has Shabnam Hashmi — — PTI revealed that Amit Padaliya’s founder of socio-cultural mother is the sarpanch of the organisation ANHAD and during his tour that com- speech with a one-minute ing secession, Kanhaiya village where the victim lives. sister of slain Marxist play- menced at Champaran on silence held in the memory said, “We must talk about According to the police, in her An IAF C-17 Globemaster III aircraft carrying Indian nationals and foreigners wright and director Safdar January 30, Mahatma of those who lost their lives the virtues of azadi here as complaint, the victim claimed from China’s coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan, arrives at airport in New Delhi on Hashmi — also joined Gandhi’s death anniver- in Delhi violence. today happens to be the day the trio kidnapped her from Thursday. India on Thursday brought back 112 people from Wuhan and another them. Congress MLA sary, and leaders of state Defending his frequent when legendary revolution- her house in the afternoon and group of 124 from Tokyo who were on board a cruise ship off the Japanese Shakil Ahmed Khan, a for- units of CPI and CPI(M) use of the term azadi (free- ary Chandra-shekhar Azad forced her to sit in their car. coast, taking the total number of evacuees in view of the spread of the deadly mer president of JNU stu- also addressed the rally dom) which supporters of had given up his life fight- outbreak to 842. — PTI dents’ union himself who held at Gandhi Maidan. the Sangh Parivar hold to ing the British.” accompanied Kanhaiya Kanhaiya began his be tantamount to support- — PTI Homework ‘forces’ HC tells Inter Board to shut 68 ChaiNa colleges class 6 student to VUJJINI ireddy Abhishek Reddy ● A compliance cials and expressed doubt Bench ordered BIE to take NOC were chosen as VAMSHIDHARA | DC ordered BIE to close the over connivance between steps against these col- examination centers for HYDERABAD, FEB. 27 colleges after March 28, report is to be sub- the officials and the insti- leges and to submit a the intermediate exams immediately after the mitted to the court tutions, when it learnt report by February 25. from March 4 to 28. He end life The Telangana High completion of public by April 3. that no action was taken However, BIE came to the said their closure would Court on Thursday dire- examinations. against the colleges for court on Thursday and disrupt the examination eries such as how she was cted the state Board of A compliance report is ● The HC bench admitting more than submitted that it had schedule. Convinced, the DC CORRESPONDENT finding it difficult to under- Intermediate Education to be submitted to the was dealing a PIL 29,800 students without issued show-cause notices Bench directed BIE to BHOPAL, FEB. 27 stand Mathe-matics. (BIE) to close 68 colleges of court by April 3. The on BIE’s inaction getting affiliation. to the colleges for closure, close the colleges after “I cannot understand Sri Chaitanya and bench was dealing a The court was furious and asked the court for completion of examina- A Class 6 girl of a local English. Hence, how can I Narayana group that were Public Interest Litigation over the violation with BIE for allowing time to initiate steps. tions. The court also English medium school in a solve the questions written admitting students with- (PIL) on BIE’s inaction of rules by these those colleges to conduct An infuriated Bench pre- directed BIE to inform it Chhattisgarh village com- in English? The teacher out getting an affiliation over the violation of rules two groups relat- classes on just an under- pared to issue closure of the number of colleges mitted suicide by jumping solves only one question and from BIE. by these two groups relat- ing to fire safety taking that no classes will orders. A. Sanjeev Kumar, inspected by the fire into a lake after finding no leaves other questions as A division bench com- ing to fire safety and sani- be conducted in the build- special counsel for the department and condition one to help her with her stud- homework for us. Other stu- prising Chief Justice tation, etc. and sanitation, etc ings that were not compli- state representing BIE, of those colleges. The case ies and homework. dents are helped by their Raghavendra Singh Cha- On February 17, the ant with fire safety norms. submitted that these 68 was adjourned to April 7 The body of Deepika family members. I have no uhan and Justice Ann- court had berated BIE offi- With this background, the colleges that have no fire for further hearing. Maravi, who went missing one to help me. What can I from her Narotikappa vil- do? Do not look out for me”, lage, Kota block, in Bilaspur the purported suicide note HOUSE | HUNTERS Language proves to be barrier for newcomers district on February 23, was written in Chhattisgarhi MP MANTRI DEMANDS RS TICKET recovered from a local lake dialect said. late Wednesday night, inves- Police said the girl had left FOR PRIYANKA GANDHI tigating office said on her home around 5 pm on Thursday. February 23. RABINDRA NATH Thursday by exhorting The purported suicide note Her parents lodged a miss- Non-Telugu students find it hard CHOUDHURY | DC the chief minister to left behind by the tribal girl ing report in the local police BHOPAL, FEB. 27 persuade Ms Gandhi to vividly narrated her mis- station two days later. GEETA VALABOJU | DC owners as I could neither and around Ameerpet face. know. This situation go to the Rajya Sabha HYDERABAD, FEB. 27 speak in Telugu nor Hindi. Even minor conversations went on for some time and A senior Madhya from MP in the upcom- Attempts in English were with home-owners about resulted in confusion Pradesh minister, con- ing biennial elections It’s a Babel-like situation, also not of use as they electricity bills, water bills between us. One day, I was sidered close to Chief in the state. according to some out-of- could not understand,” he or even where to hang asked to vacate with the Minister Kamal Nath, He was talking to PRASHANT KISHOR ACCUSED OF state house-hunters who says. clothes for drying, become owners saying they do not on Thursday reiterated reporters in Indore in cannot speak Telugu. Nesaraj relies on a friend hurdles for them to cross want to rent to someone his demand for Rajya M P. PLAGIARISM IN BAAT BIHAR KI “In some areas, if you do who speaks both Telugu repeatedly. who cannot speak in Sabha nomination for Mr Verma reminded not know Telugu it is hard and Hindi. Vel Murugan, who is Telugu,” he says. AICC general secretary the chief minister of Patna, Feb. 27: A case has police station in the city on to find a place to rent,” “I take him along when- from Tamil Nadu and came Anjaneyulu Maroju, who Priyanka Gandhi Vadra the latter’s initiation been filed against election Wednesday night, Kishor says Shiva Nesaraj a ever I have to talk to the six months ago, randomly owns a house in the same from Madhya Pradesh into politics by former strategist-turned-politician has used content developed student from Tamil Nadu. owners. I also take his help picked the Dilsukhnagar- area where Murugan lived, in the biennial polls in Prime Minister Indira Prashant Kishor for alleged by Shashwat Gautam, a data He lives in Ameerpet, if I go somewhere that Nagole stretch for house- says: “Generally, no one the state, scheduled to Gandhi. plagiarism in his ‘Baat analytics coordinator with which over the years would require the local hunting. has an issue with tenants be held on March 26. The former PM had Bihar Ki’ campaign the Congress, for his cam- emerged as a hub for language,” he says. “I found a first floor that I so long as the rent is paid State Public Works helped Mr Nath make launched here last week, paign, Station House Officer preparing for competitive This is a challenge that took on rent, but every now on time. There was a time Development (PWD) his debut in electoral police said on Thursday. (SHO) Kamleshwar Prasad exams. non-Telugu speaking stu- and then the landlord when we asked a tenant to minister Sajjan Singh politics in Chhindwara According to the complaint Singh said. “When I came, it was dif- dents who come to the city would tell me something in move out because of the Verma broached the in the 1980 Lok Sabha lodged at the Pataliputra — PTI ficult to deal with house and search for a place in Telugu, a language I do not language barrier.” issue again on election. NATION DECCAN CHRONICLE | FRIDAY | 28 FEBRUARY 2020 | CHENNAI pg 6

IN BRIEF Kerala govt to 3 of family drown Naidu detained challenge HC after car plunges ban on campus into canal at Vizag airport politics DC CORRESPONDENT Hyderabad: Three members THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, of a family FEB. 27 drowned when the car in Safety step as YSR Cong protests which they were travelling The Kerala Government fell into acanal in Nalgonda Visakhapatnam, Feb tody for his safety," Mr on Thursday decided to district of Telangana on 27: Telugu Desam Party ● A notice under Meena said. file an appeal against Thursday, even as a boy was president N Section 151 of The TDP chief arrived the high court ban on rescued from the vehicle, Chandrababu Naidu was CrPC was served here on Thursday after- strikes, gherao, protests police said. on Thursday taken into noon from Vijayawada on campuses including The four occupants of the preventive custody at the on Mr Naidu and he en route to colleges and schools. car were returning to airport here for his 'safe- was taken into pre- Vizianagaram as part of Higher education min- Hyderabad after visiting ty' as the ruling YSR ventive custody his state-wide Praja ister K. T. Jaleel said their native village, a senior Congress workers staged “because of his Chaitanya yatra. that the perception that police official said. a protest opposing his He was supposed to agitations were not The deceased were a B Tech visit, police said. safety and securi- visit Gopalapatnam and required on campuses first-year girl student and Tension prevailed near ty”, Visakhapatnam other areas near will only weaken democ- Mother of Miss Diva Supranational 2020 Aavriti Choudhary welcomes her at Dumna airport, in her parents, aged 40 and 38, the airport with the TDP city Commissioner Visakhapatnam but the racy. Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, on Thursday _PTI while her brother, an eighth workers repulsing the of Police Rajiv YSRC organised a The state government standard student, was res- YSRC activists who tried Kumar Meena said protest opposing his is currently engaged in cued by two passersby who to block Mr Naidu's con- visit. Calling him the process of formulat- noticed the vehicle floating v o y. into the VIP lounge "Uttarandhra Drohi" ing a law to govern stu- in the canal and jumped into A notice under Section inside the airport here. (deceiver of north- dents' union activities US’ ‘Romeo’ helicopters the water and rescued him 151 of CrPC was served "He has cooperated coastal Andhra), the rul- on campuses. after opening the car doors, on Mr Naidu and he was with us and agreed to go ing party members tried The minister said the the official said. taken into preventive to the VIP lounge at the to block the former chief government will seek The car accidentally fell into custody "because of his airport. Though we ini- minister's convoy at the the opinion of legal to arrive in early 2021 the canal as there were no safety and security", tially tried to allow him airport and squatted on experts to make the railings on the road, the offi- Visakhapatnam city to go ahead with his the road. required changes in the PAWAN BALI I DC attributes of flexibility of Martin would also be dis- cial said adding the three Commissioner of Police planned programme, The TDP workers draft bill taking into NEW DELHI, FEB. 27 operation, enhanced sur- charging offsets through bodies were retrieved and Rajiv Kumar Meena said. there were too many sought to counter their account the court order veillance and attacking transfer of technology to the car was removed from The Leader of the numberof protestors and YSRC counterparts, lead- banning campus poli- Indian Navy said on capability," said Indian Indian Offset Partners for the canal. Opposition in the state so we decided to take ing to tension in the tics. Thursday that the delivery Navy. manufacture of products On February 21, three per- assembly was sent back him into preventive cus- area. The Kerala high court of 24 American multi- role It said that MH-60 'Romeo' and services. sons, including a boy, on Wednesday had MH-60 'Romeo' helicopters Seahawk helicopters can "This would enable drowned after the car in banned strikes, gherao, will start from early 2021 be effectively employed for absorption of niche tech- which they were travelling marches, demonstra- and it will play an impor- offensive and defensive nology, skill development fell into a water tank in Freedom fighter tions and protests that tant role in maritime secu- roles including Anti- and manufacture of eligible adjoining Yadadri Bhongir India’s envoy to be at adversely affect “aca- rity at a time when the Submarine Warfare, Anti- products/ services leading district. PTI demic atmosphere” on Indian Ocean Region is wit- Ship Strike, Low Intensity to generation of employ- Sudhakar Rao educational campuses. nessing increasing security Maritime Operations, ment, skilling of MSMEs The court directive threat due to proliferation Search and Rescue, over the and indigenous production passes away Afghan accord event came after hearing of submarines. horizon Network Centric of products for buy-back by Minor girl raped about 20 petitions that India had signed the $2.4 Operations and Electronic the OEM," it said. Bengaluru, Feb 27: FROM PAGE 1 said thesituation in were filed by a cross sec- billion deal to buy these 24 Warfare. The MH - 60R Multi Role in Andhra Centenarian freedom Afghanistan was dis- tion of college manage- helicopters during the visit "The helicopter's capabili- Helicopters (MRH) are fighter and Vedic schol- Sources indicated that cussed between ments in Kerala over a of US President Donald ty of prolonged maritime being procured under the Pradesh ar Sudhakar Krishna the expected presence President Trump and period of three years. Trump on Tuesday. operations and seamless 'Buy (Global)' Category Rao died on Thursday of Afghan Government PM Modi and that both The court said in its "These helicopters are a integration with the P8i through Foreign Military Machilipatnanm (AP): A 10- here due to old age relat- representatives too at sides "took note" of the verdict; “learning is the replacement for the Sea and ships at sea makes it a Sales programme. year old girl was ed ailments, one of his the event would be in developments includ- fundamental right of King 42/42A helicopters 'force multiplier'," said the " The acquisition of MH- allegedly sexually assaulted disciples said. accordance with New ing the issue of an (US- students. Campuses are already decommissioned in Indian Navy. 60R provides Indian Navy by an unidentified man and Rao, an eye-witness to Delhi's stand on the Taliban) agreement places for creating dia- the 1990s and envisaged to It said that as part of with a key capability and dumped in a serious condi- the Jalianwala Bagh Afghan peace process. there. logues and discussions. operate from front-line Indian Navy's commit- effectively contributes to tion in Nuzvid town in massacre on April 13, It may be recalled that He had said India They should not become ships and aircraft carriers ment to the 'Make in India' the Make in India initia- Krishna District in Andhra 1919, breathed his last at India had earlier par- believed there should venues of protests.” providing them the critical initiative, Lockheed tive," said the Indian Navy. Pradesh, police said on his resident in ticipated at a "non-offi- be "cessation of vio- “Education and poli- Thursday. Jayanagar here, disciple cial level" through two lence" and also referred tics should not go The girl was found by a Sudhakar Sharma said. distinguished retired to the US stand that together. Strikes and police patrol team in a semi- He was said to be 122 diplomats, Amar Sinha there should be "no satyagrahas should not TENDERS / NOTICES conscious state near the IIIT year old. and T.C.A. Raghavan, support for Islamic rad- be allowed. Those who campus in Nuzvid early He passed away today. at a peace conference in ical terrorism". organise strikes should Thursday and shifted to a His last rites were per- Moscow in November, He had also said be expelled,” the bench hospital in Vijayawada after formed by his grand- 2018, where the Taliban India backed a peace- headed by Chief Justice being treated locally, they daughter Dr Suma, had been present. process that is Afghan- Navaniti Prasad said said. Sharma told PTI. Just earlier this week, owned and Afghan-led. after considering a peti- According to police, the girl Rao was given the title US President Donald It may be recalled that tion filed by MES was anxiously waiting at a Pundit Sudhakar Trump had said that New Delhi has been College in Ponnani. bus stop for her father to Chaturvedi for his "India (too) would like strongly backing the The high court direc- return late on Wednesday authority on all the four to see it (the peace deal) Afghan Government tive came in for wide night when the man offered Vedas. happen". led by President Ashraf criticism from political to take her and look for him. Karnataka Chief The USPresident had Ghani. India has also parties and prominent He took her to an isolated Minister B S said he had discussed earned considerable students organisations place, sexually assaulted and Yediyurappa condoled the situation in goodwill in cutting across ideologi- later left her near the educa- the death of Rao and Afghanistan with Afghanistan due to sev- cal lines. tional institution campus. said he was an authority Prime Minister eral development proj- It is this backdrop A case under the Protection on Vedas. He also Narendra Modi in the ects completed there. that the government of Children from Sexual recalled his role in the Capital during talks on The Afghan Taliban decided to challenge the Offences (POCSO) Act had freedom struggle. Tuesday. on the other hand is ban imposed by high been registered and a search A celibate, Rao was At a recent briefing, considered to be an court. was on for the culprit, police born in a Madhva family India's Foreign organisation that sur- added. PTI in April 1897, and Secretary Harsh vives on Pakistani became a disciple of Vardhan Shringla had cross-border support. Swami Shraddhananda, the disciple of the After PM’s praise, founder of Arya Samaj Swami Dayananda, at Bhageerathi Amma the age of 13, Sharma said. set to get Aadhaar During the freedom struggle, he was associ- Thiruvananthapuram:Kerala's ated with Mahatma great granny, Bhageerathi Gandhi and been impris- Amma, who recently won the oned in different jails accolades of Prime Minister across the country. Narendra Modi in his 'Man Ki Baat' radio address for clear- ing fourth-level examination at the age of 105, is now set to get her Aadhaar card. Kerala woman serial Hailing from southern district of Kollam, the centenarian woman had scripted history by becoming the oldest killer attempts suicide 'equivalency learner' by win- ning the fourth standard equivalency examination DC CORRESPONDENT ● Though Jolly told conducted by the state-run THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, FEB the authorities that Kerala State Literacy Mission 27 she bit her wrist and (KSLM). While expressing happiness over the prime Jolly Joseph, the prime rubbed it hard against minister mentioning her accused in Koodathayi serial floor tiles to inflict name in his monthly radio murder case, on Thursday injury, the accused's address last week, attempted suicide inside her version has not been Bhageerathi Amma had said cell at Kozhikode district her only sorrow was that she prison. accepted by jail offi- was yet to get her Aadhaar According to jail officials, cials. She was rushed card. The chances of getting the woman used some sharp to medical college government welfare pension object to cut her wrist. The hospital and subject- were gone as she had no object has not been found yet Aadhaar card, the granny by the authorities. ed to plastic surgery. said. The officials of a Though Jolly told the nationalised bank, who came authorities that she bit her years. to know about the plight of wrist and rubbed it hard Her mother-in -law the woman through media, against floor tiles to inflict Annamma Thomas was the recently visited her at her injury, the accused's version first victim in 2002 followed home and completed all nec- has not been accepted by jail by father in law Tom Thomas essary procedures to get her officials. She was rushed to in 2008, their son and Jolly's enrolled in Aadhaar. She has medical college hospital and husband Roy Thomas died in now got the acknowledge- subjected to plastic surgery. 2011. Roy's maternal uncle ment receipt for the Aadhaar Her condition is stable. Mathew was killed in the enrolment and the card is Meanwhile, the authorities same fashion in 2014 and Silly, expected to be issued in the have ordered a detailed probe one of the members of the next two days, a KSLM offi- into the incident. Jail DGP family was the last victim cial said. "Bhageerathi asked DIG jails North Zone to who died under suspicious Amma tried to get Aadhaar probe the lapses and how the circumstances in 2016. card before also but unfortu- sharp object reached the cell. The police subsequently nately she could not make it Even hours after the incident, decided to reopen Roy's case due to technical reasons. Her the hail authorities and hos- to facilitate re-investigation fingerprint and retinal scan pital authorities had not sub- into the six deaths that had could not be taken due to mitted report to the local taken place under mysterious old age," the official said. police following which case circumstances. The probe Modi had said in his radio was not registered till late was initiated based on a com- address that, "If we wish to evening. plaint filed by Roy's US based progress in life, we should Jolly was accused of killing brother Rojo. develop ourselves, if we wish six members of her husband's After a detailed investiga- to achieve something in life, family. She murdered all of tion, the police arrested Jolly the first pre-condition for them systematically by giving and two of her accomplices that is the student within us food and drinks laced with on October 5. At present all must never die.’’PTI cyanide over a period of 14 accused are in jail. WORLD DECCAN CHRONICLE | FRIDAY | 28 FEBRUARY 2020 | CHENNAI pg 7

IN BRIEF Putin’s reveals SA minister’s Imran heads for Talib deal phone ‘cloned’ This is the second visit of PM Khan to Qatar after taking office in 2018 body double plan Johannesburg: Cellphones of South Africa’s state security Islamabad, Feb. 27: Moscow, Feb. 27: Rus- minister and her deputy have Pakistan Prime Minister sian President Vladimir been cloned by unknown Imran Khan met Emir of Putin on Thursday reve- hackers, an official said, in a Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin aled there was a secret breach described as “con- Hamad Al-Thani in Doha plan to use a double to cerning”. It was discovered on Thursday, just two days make public appearances this week that the phones prior to the signing of a for him, while insisting he belonging to State Security landmark peace deal vetoed it — and that he is Minister Ayanda Dlodlo and between the US and the the real Putin. Putin’s her deputy, Zizi Kodwa were Taliban in the Gulf comments showed that a cloned after “several strange nation’s capital to end the conspiracy theory wide- messages” they had not co- brutal war in Afghanistan. spread on the internet Vladimir Putin mposed were sent out from Qatar’s Energy Minister that the Russian strong- their lines. “I can confirm the Saad Sheirda Al-Kaabi re- man has been impersonat- Vandenko, who is doing a incident of cloning regarding ceived Khan at the airport. ed over the years or even series of interviews with the phones of the deputy “Arrival at Daiwan-e-Am- replaced by a lookalike is Putin to mark 20 years minister and the minister and iri and Meeting with Emir not entirely without basis. since he became presi- some several officials in the of Qatar Sheikh Tamim TASS state news agency dent. “Yes,” said Putin. office of the minister,” min- Bin Hamad Al-Thani,” Kh- showed Putin a list of “The double would go istry spokesman Mava Scott an’s Pakistan Tehreek-e- popular Russian-language where things were said Thursday. “It is the first Insaf party said in a tweet Internet searches incl- dodgy?” asked Vandenko. time,” it has happened since accompanied by a short uding “Putin double pr- “Well yes, go, put in minister Dlodlo took over video of the meeting. oof”. “Are you real?” the appearances,” Putin con- the ministry in May last year Earlier, the Pakistan interviewer asked. “Yes,” firmed. Conspiracy theo- and “it’s concerning”, Scott Foreign Office said in a said Putin. He said he has ries have long circulated said. He said police have statement the focus of never had a double but suggesting that Putin had launched an investigation Khan’s visit will be on when asked if the idea died and been replaced by into the breach. “strengthening the bilater- had ever been discussed, a lookalike. al cooperation and he confirmed it had. “ These centred on the 67- exchanging views on refused to have doubles,” year-old’s apparent lack of Charity: Bullied boy regional developments”. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan arrives at Qatar prior to the landmark peace deal sign between the US and the Putin said. “It was during signs of ageing, the disap- This is the second visit of Taliban in the Gulf nation’s capital to end the brutal war in Afghanistan. the hardest times of the pearance of bags under to donate $475,000 Prime Minister Khan to fight against terrorism.” his eyes and his seeming- Qatar after taking office in ● PAKISTAN FOREIGN Foreign Minister Shah ahead of the possible The agreement struck Putin as prime minister ly worsening knowledge Sydney: An Australian boy 2018. The Emir of Qatar Office said in a statement Mahmood Qureshi to peace deal to end more during talks between the and then president over- of German, which he with dwarfism whose dis- visited Pakistan in June the focus of Khan’s visit attend the peace deal sign- than 18-year-long war. US and the Taliban, if saw the second war learned when working as tress from bullying became a 2019 and the trip resulted ing ceremony in Doha. The longstanding war maintained, may secure a against separatists in a Soviet agent in East viral video will donate hun- in strengthening the bilat- will be on “strengthening US President Donald has killed tens of thou- peace deal that would lead Chechnya from 1999 to Germany. In 2015, Putin dreds-of-thousands of dol- eral economic collabora- the bilateral cooperation Trump said on Monday in sands of civilians and to a withdrawal of Amer- 2000. After Russian armed disappeared from lars in donations to charity tion in diverse areas, the and exchanging views on India that the landmark Afghanistan remains one ican troops from forces claimed victory, public view for 10 days, rather than a trip to Disne- statement said. regional developments”. Afghan peace deal had of the poorest countries in Afghanistan, fulfilling a Islamist insurgent attacks unleashing a frenzy of yland. The clip of nine-year- Khan’s visit comes as the received “tremendous sup- the world. Some 2.5 campaign promise of became frequent in the speculation that he had old Quaden Bayles showed US is set to sign a historic across Afghanistan holds. port”. million Afghans are regis- President Donald Trump. North Caucasus while once again become a him crying and repeatedly peace deal with the The Taliban has also con- Trump’s remarks came tered as refugees TheUS currently has suicide bombers targeted father, been deposed in a saying he wanted to die after Taliban on Saturday pro- firmed the plan to sign the after the US and the abroad and another two reportedly less than 14,000 Russia’s main cities. “as palace coup, fallen ill, being bullied at school, vided that a week-long peace deal that day. Qatar Afghan Taliban started a million are displaced with- troops in Afghanistan. that in the early 2000s?” had cosmetic surgery or sparking an outpouring of reduction in violence has invited Pakistan seven-day partial truce in their country. —PTI asked interviewer Andrei even died. —AFP support from around the world. The video was watc- hed millions of times and prompted US comedian Brad Williams to start a EX-MAID SUES GoFundMe page that even- Greeks protest tually raised almost ISRAELI PM’S $475,000. Although the funds were meant to send WIFE FOR ABUSE Bayles and his mum to migrant plan Disneyland, his aunt told Australia’s NITV News that Athens, Feb. 27: Demo- ● SHOPS AND services Jerusalem, Feb. 27: A the money would be used nstrators gathered Thurs- were shut on Lesbos as former housekeeper at for charities instead. “What day for a fourth consecu- workers extended an Israeli Prime Minister kid wouldn't want to go to tive day on the eastern Benjamin Netanyahu’s Disneyland, especially if you Greek islands of Lesbos initial 24-hour strike into official residence is have lived Quaden’s life. and Chios to protest gov- a second day as part of suing the leader’ s wife ernment plans to build the protests. Sara for pain and suffer- new migrant detention ing allegedly caused Dubai court jails centers. beefing up border con- during her employment The protests come amid trols, will go ahead. “It is there, the housekeeper’s Indian for theft heightened tensions and the only plan that can be attorney said Thursday. occasional violence on implemented,” Mitsotakis Opheer Shimson says Dubai: An Indian man has islands that are the main said in opening remarks his client is demanding been sentenced to one year entry point for tens of during a Cabinet meeting $190,000 in damages for in prison after he was found thousands of people seek- Thursday. the abuse from Sara guilty of stealing 86 expen- ing better lives in the The prime minister con- Netanyahu. He said the sive watches worth over $2 European Union. demned attacks against woman, an immigrant million from a shop in Shops and services were police officers, saying from France in her mid- Dubai’s famous Gold Souq. shut on Lesbos as workers those who participated in 50s and a mother of five The 26-year-old man, who extended an initial 24- the violence, “will be who wished to keep her worked as a cleaner, was hour strike into a second located and will answer identity secret, worked sentenced by the Dubai day as part of the pro- for their actions.” “At the at the residence for five Court of First Instance on tests. The mayors of Les- same time however, inci- months until last Nove- Wednesday. He was accused bos, Chios and the nearby dents of excessive vio- mber, when she was inj- of stealing as many as 86 island of Samos were lence by the police will be ured from a fall caused expensive watches worth scheduled to meet with investigated,” Mitsotakis by what he described as over 8.3 million dirhams Prime Minister Kyriakos said. Police work outside the Molson Coors Brewing Co. campus in Milwaukee, after reports of a shooting. —AP Sara Netanyahu’s tyran- ($2.2 million) and the valu- Mitsotakis in Athens to “Serious accusations nical demands. ables from a watch and jew- discuss the situation. have been made, we have He said the woman, a ellery shop where he On Wednesday, protests a duty to investigate staunch supporter of worked, the Khaleej Times degenerated into vio- them.” Mitsotakis said he the prime minister, kept reported. Two Pakistani men lence, with hundreds of had ordered a “significant Hitman kills 5 at Milwaukee brewery a diary detailing the ver- (cousins), aged 44 and 25, demonstrators attacking increase” in the number bal abuse she endured both fugitives, who were police guarding the build- of patrol boats and patrols Milwaukee (US), Feb. attack and did not release Trump addressed the “Unfortunately, I am dev- from his wife. “She accused in absentia for pos- ing sites of future given what he called an 27: An employee opened details about the shooter shooting before speaking astated to share that we adores the prime minis- session of the stolen watch- migrant detention camps increased public health fire at one of the nation’s or how the shooting at the White House about lost five other members of ter and saw her work at es, received one year impris- on Chios and Lesbos. A risk from the new coron- largest breweries in unfolded. None of the vic- his administration’s our family in this tragic his home as a form of onment each, it said. The crowd also laid siege for avirus, as new arrivals Milwaukee, killing five fel- tims was identified. efforts to combat the coro- incident,” he said in an national service,” court ordered deportation of hours to a Lesbos army include people from Iran, low workers before taking Police, who were still con- navirus. email sent to employees. Shimson Said. —AP all the three men after they camp where riot squads where cases of the virus his own life, police said. tacting relatives, said “Our hearts break for “There are no words to have served their jail terms. were staying. have increased signifi- The assailant who identities would not be them and their loved express the deep sadness Officials have said 43 cantly in recent days, and attacked the Molson Coors released for at least 24 ones,” the president said. many of us are feeling police officers were people who had crossed complex on Wednesday hours. “We send our condolences. right now.” He said the injured in violence in through Afghanistan. was identified as a 51-year- No one was wounded We’ll be with them, and office would be closed the Lesbos, and another nine Greece’s eastern Aegean old Milwaukee man who beyond those who were it's a terrible thing, a terri- rest of the week and the CALL ME in Chios, where a mob Sea islands have been the died of a self-inflicted gun- killed, authorities said. ble thing.” The attack brewery shuttered “for the burst into a hotel being main entry point into the shot wound, police said. Officers worked for hours occurred at a sprawling time being” to give people HARRY, SAYS used by riot police and European Union for tens “There were five individu- to clear the more than 20 complex that includes a time to cope. A group of beat officers resting in of thousands of people als who went to work buildings in the complex mix of corporate offices brewery employees gath- their rooms. The govern- fleeing conflict and pover- today, just like everybody where more than 1,000 and brewing facilities. ered at a nearby bar to talk UK PRINCE ment has said it will pull ty in the Middle East, goes to work, and they people work. The complex is widely about what had happened. Edinburgh, Feb. 27: Prince out many of the riot Africa and Asia. Under a thought they were going to They announced at a late known in the Milwaukee “We are all a family. We Harry announced the begin- police deployed to the 2016 deal between the EU go to work, finish their evening news conference area as “Miller Valley,” a work a lot of hours togeth- ning of Travalyst, a project he islands earlier this week. and Turkey, new arrivals day and return to their that the work was done reference to the Miller er, so we’re all very sad,” Mahathir Mohamad was spearheading alongside But it has insisted its must stay on the families. They didn’t and and all employees had Brewing Co. that is now said Selena Curka, a brew- tourism industry giants that plan to tackle migration, islands pending deporta- tragically they never been allowed to go home. part of Molson Coors. ery employee who was would allow travelers to meas- including building new tion back to Turkey until will,” Milwaukee Mayor Police Chief Alfonso Molson Coors CEO Gavin about to start her shift MAHATHIR SAYS ure their carbon impact. On detention centers, speed- their asylum applications Tom Barrett said. Morales said authorities Hattersley called the when the complex went on Wednesday, he spoke at a ing up asylum procedures are processed. Authorities offered no believe the shooter operat- shooter “an active brew- lockdown and she was launch summit for the part- and deportations and — AP immediate motive for the ed alone. President Donald ery employee.” turned away. —AP PARLIAMENT TO nership in Edinburgh. Though he focused his PICK NEW PM remarks on climate change, there were a few references to WOMEN | POWER Trainees who keep their head covered are not allowed to take on tasks Kuala Lumpur, Feb. the big events of the last five 27: Malaysia’s interim months. The event’s host, leader Mahathir Moha- Ayesha Hazarika, mentioned mad on Thursday said that he doesn’t necessarily Parliament will pick a want to be called “Prince new prime minister next Harry” anymore. “He’s made German court upholds headscarf ban week following the col- it clear that we are all just to lapse of the ruling call him Harry. So ladies and Berlin, Feb. 27: Ger- trainees are not allowed to alliance and that snap gentlemen, please give a big, many’s highest court on sit on the judges’ bench as elections will be called if warm, Scottish welcome to Thursday upheld a ban on they observe proceedings Is women’s rally a the vote ends in an Harry,” she said as she intro- headscarves for Muslim like other trainees, but impasse. duced him. trainee lawyers in courts, would need to follow the Mahathir, who met the Later, Hazarika told the Daily finding that the require- process from the floor. king earlier on Thur- Mail that she asked him if the ment of maintaining reli- Likewise, they are not threat, asks court sday, said the monarch new moniker had anything to gious neutrality was justi- allowed to take evidence or couldn’t find a candidate do with the decision he and fied. lead hearings. Thursday’s Lahore, Feb. 27: Asse- are various anti-state par- with a clear majority to Meghan Markle made to step The Federal Constitu- ruling was expected to rting that freedom of expr- ties present who are fund- lead the nation after con- back from the royal family. tional Court’s ruling came impact a wider debate on ession cannot be banned, a ing the rally with the sole sulting all 222 lawmak- “When I was introduced to after a Frankfurt-born the issue in Germany, Pakistani court on Thu- purpose of spreading anar- ers over the last two him I was a bit worried about German-Moroccan legal where around 4.5 million rsday asked the law enfor- chy. The petitioner termed days. what I should say, what were trainee filed a challenge to Muslims live and where cement agencies to inform the march “against the As such, he said the the right things, and he was Hesse state’s rules. In the rules on use of the hijab it whether there is any very norms of Islam” and king decided to have the very relaxed, and just [said] western state, trainees headwear differ between “specific threat” to a wo- that its hidden agenda is to lower house of ‘Harry, just call me Harry.’ And who keep their head- the 16 federal states. men rally scheduled to be spread “anarchy, vulgarity Parliament vote on a that’s very much the spirit of scarves on are not allowed German national law Picture for representation. held on March 8. and hatred” in the society. new leader on March 2. how he wanted the event to take on tasks in which bans all civil servants The Lahore HC was hear- The rally, which first “If the lower house fails today,” she said. they may be seen to be act- from covering their faces, fighters wearing breathing trade-off between freedom ing a petition filed by Jud- started in 2018, has now to find a person with the “He doesn’t need a title. ing as representatives of including with Muslim masks. But there is no of religion and civil ser- icial Activism Council Cha- become an annual event majority, then we He is such a global figure now, the judiciary or the state. niqabs and burkas — nationwide ban on civil vants’ neutrality rules on irman Azhar Siddique se- held on March 8, coincid- will have to go for a he is recognisable all around This means for instance except for health and safe- servants wearing the hijab a case-by-case basis. eking a ban on the ‘Aurat ing with the International snap election,” he told a the world”. that headscarf-wearing ty reasons, such as fire- and many states weigh the —AFP March’, claiming that there Women’s Day. —PTI news conference. —AP EDIT DECCAN CHRONICLE | FRIDAY | 28 FEBRUARY 2020 | CHENNAI pg 8

28 FEBRUARY 2020

Shah must quit as a Subhani matter of principle he question of ethics for a representative government is to the fore with Opposition parties demanding the resignation of Union home minister Amit Shah for being hopelessly ineffectual in dealing with Tthe recent communal riots in Delhi, and doing nothing to put spine into Delhi Police, which falls under his bailiwick. The violence, which began last Sunday, looked like tapering off on Thursday, but the death toll has climbed to 38, with well over 200 people injured. The issue is: Should a cabinet minister put in his papers when things go horribly wrong, as in the present case where the police have been accused of complicity with elements associated with the ruling party — such as a former MLA known for his viciously communal speeches — who are thought to have ignited the trouble? The riot appears to be a tangle of many elements, among the most impor- tant of which is the widespread sense that Hindutva elements have done their worst and have sought to create communal polarisation in the wake of the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act last December, which has LETTERS been opposed vociferously throughout the country, with Shaheen Bagh in the national capital — which BJP-RSS viciously oppose — becoming the VALUE TRADE DEAL iconic epicentre of the protests. Modi, Trump take ties The speech by Mr Trump Only an impartial commission of inquiry can help establish the causes of soon after his arrival at the communal conflagration in northeast Delhi, and its terrible conse- Ahmedabad was emotional quences, as we have sought in this space earlier. However, pending such a searching examination, should the home minister remain in office? and in which he had The ethics of ministers in a democratic dispensation offering their resig- covered a lot of topics of nation is rooted in the notion that everything must appear to be above to a more robust level mutual interest and had board, and a minister under whose charge things have gone badly wrong ment, it is not prudent to between ExxonMobil given specific importance ought not to remain in a privileged position which he can conceivably mis- depend on one source for and Indian Oil Corpora- use to extricate himself from trouble, and falsely blame others. It is the prin- to the fight against terror its critical defence tion for the former to ciple of accountability that is sought to be upheld. This is why when minis- by modules indulging in Vishnu Prakash needs. Mr Trump’s supply gas to India. The ters are slow to put in their papers, Prime Ministers are known to step up White House, pursuing US has since become one terrorist activities. There is to the plate and dismiss a thick-skinned colleague. the policy of “America of the biggest producers clear indication that the The case of Lal Bahadur Shastri, railway minister in the Nehru govern- First”, prefers to ignore of hydrocarbon products ment, is part of folklore. He resigned following a railway accident, although U.S. values trade relations such considerations. in the world. he was told that could possibly be no fault of his. In a later era, civil aviation with India highly. The Coming back to the The two leaders came minister Madhavrao Scindia resigned from the P.V. Narasimha Rao cabi- visit – the tremendous down heavily on the Centre should take note of net after a plane crash. Shivraj Patil resigned as Union home minister in mutual bonhomie, cul- “use of terrorist proxies the extremely positive November 2008, owning up constructive responsibility for 26/11 and the kind of boost that even tural diplomacy and and strongly condemned attitude of the U.S. on the deteriorating internal security situation when the Congress Working he grandeur of good money could not good optics apart, what cross-border terrorism Committee took a dim view of the situation. Later, Prime Mnister Indian culture important subject of trade have bought. was the substantive out- in all its forms”. They Manmohan Singh elicited the resignation of Pawan Bansal as railway min- was on full dis- with India since the US Such a boost is indeed come of the Trump called on Pakistan “to ister and Ashwini Kumar as law minister in the wake of public criticism, play as Amer- required. Despite being visit? In his media ensure that no territory president's observation is chiefly in order to satisfy the ends of democratic morality. ica’s President TDonald Trump landed in global and strategic address, Prime Minister under its control is used indicative of a highly posi- In light of such precedents, the actions of Mr Shah and Prime Minister partners, India and the Modi stated upfront: We to launch terrorist Narendra Modi are apt to be watched. The Congress, the NCP and the Ahmedabad around tive stand. It is hoped the US remain a bit tenta- have decided “to raise attacks, and to expedi- CPI(M) called for the home minister’s resignation on Wednesday. midday on Monday, Feb- government would take tive about the best way our partnership to the tiously bring to justice Parliament, when it re-convenes on March 9, is also likely to be agitated ruary 24. For the first of engaging with each level of a comprehen- the perpetrators of such note of the significance over the issue. Mr Shah will take the high road if he accedes to the demand time, three of his closest other. The latter finds sive global — strategic attacks, including 26/11 contained in the observa- of the government’s opponents in Parliament. family members – wife Melania, daughter and India sanctimonious partnership”. Mumbai and Pathan- tions and act in a positive senior adviser Ivanka, and prickly. India con- Bilateral defence and kot”. Mr Trump con- manner taking advantage as well as son-in-law siders the US prescrip- security partnership has veyed that the US was Jared Kushner, also a tive, transactional and been noticeably rein- “also working produc- of the president's attitude. A disturbing message senior adviser — accom- unpredictable. America forced in the recent peri- tively with Pakistan to T.R.Anandan, Coimbatore panied him on a visit is used to having its od. Indian forces are confront terrorists who he midnight gazette notification on Wednesday transferring Justice abroad. India pulled out way, one way or the now undertaking the operate on its soil”. DESERVES AWARD! S. Muralidhar of Delhi high court to the Punjab and High Haryana all the stops to accord a other. The blunt speak of maximum training exer- President Trump was It is exhilarating to note that a Thigh court calls for an assessment by the discerning citizen on what rousing welcome, the President Trump and cises with the American at his restrained best in Tamil teacher K.V. Jeyasri from prompted the government into the act. The Supreme Court collegium had likes of which the Amer- his fixation on trade military. India is alrea- India, conscious that he Tiruvannamalai has won the presti- recommended the judge’s transfer on February 12, and hence the follow- ican guests had not seen does not make matters dy America’s “Major was held in high esteem gious Sahitya Akademi award 2019 up action should have been routine administrative procedure. But the and may not ever see easy. Defence Partner”. Tiger by the Indian public (56 for her translation of Malayalam no- order came at an unearthly hour on a day that the judge grilled the Delhi again. It left an indelible On the eve of his India TRIUMP, the first-ever per cent of Indians view vel Nilam Poothu Malarnna Naal in policemen who are accused of being mute spectators when criminals went imprint on them. visit too, he had reiterat- Tri-Services Amphibi- him positively, which Tamil. Though Ms Jeyasri is modest about killing people and torching houses, shops and institutions in the Ever a showman, Pre- ed: “We’re going to ous Exercise, between exceeds his favourable about winning the award, her achie- national capital. It was sheer accident that the case landed before Justice sident Trump relished India, and we may make India and the US took rating back home). At vement adds pride and loftiness to Muralidhar’s bench on Wednesday. Chief Justice D.N. Patel was on leave every moment of inter- a tremendous deal place in November 2019. his presser, he remarked Tamil literature, and it is a matter that day. And it posted the case for hearing the next day after passing acting with the 125,000- there... But we’re only Mr Trump observed that with refreshing can- of delight to every Tamil reader. instructions to the police to take a “conscious decision” on filing FIR on strong crowd at the making deals if they’re “a strong and capable dour: “It was a fantastic One of the key challenges of literary the riots and provocative speeches. The cause list for Thursday made it newly-rebuilt Sardar good deals, because Indian military supports two days. I’m going to be translation is to stay faithful to the clear that the case would come up for hearing before the bench headed by Patel (Motera) Cricket we’re putting America peace, stability, and a not at all controversial original work with the need to cre- Justice Patel. That means the Union government and the Delhi police Stadium, said to be the first… We’re not treated rules-based order in the because I don’t want to ate something unique and distincti- under it would not have to face Justice Muralidhar’s bench again. In fact, world’s biggest, which very well by India, but I Indo-Pacific”. blow the two days, plus ve that will evoke same feelings and the government and the police got a major reprieve from the new bench was as much in thrall of happen to like Prime During the visit, New two days of travel, on responses as the original. This can when it allowed the law enforcers sweet time to decide on filing FIRs on the moment. It mattered Minister Modi a lot”. Delhi agreed to source one answer — one little be particularly challenging when it Thursday. little if they did or did While in India, he kept MH-60 multi-role and answer.” happens to be the translation of a Why should the government hurry with the transfer of Justice not understand English! harping on trade and AH-64E Apache heli- All the same, there novel. Besides, literary translation Muralidhar when he posed no immediate threat to it by way of judicial What mattered was their business, pointing to his copters worth an addi- were a few “Trumpes- is of huge importance, as it helps to pronouncements? One can only land at one conclusion: The government awareness of history success with China, Ja- tional $3 billion. Negot- que” moments. He uni- shape our understanding of the wants to send a message that any attempt to leash it in its tracks will not being written. For them pan and other countries. iations on procuring laterally “decided” that world. Translation requires a parti- be tolerated. It does not want the judges to teach it governance as it has the it was a celebration, as He acknowledged that more defence platforms India's population at 1.4 cular skill-set, and Ms. Jeyasri see- people’s mandate. The police are under the control of the executive, and they full-throatedly the bilateral trade gap are ongoing. India has billion was the world's ms to have mastered that art so well. not the judiciary. It has no plans to brook routine administration of jus- cheered for Mr Trump, was shrinking, but that now ordered over $20 largest. At the Rash- R. Sivakumar, Chennai tice, leave alone judicial activism. Disturbing signals, indeed. their very special guest, India imposed world's billion worth of sophisti- trapati Bhavan banquet, as well as Narendra highest tariffs (not cor- cated US military equip- he cast convention aside BE HONEST Modi, the son of their rect!). He spoke about ment since 2008. by choosing to speak One farmer was tilling his land. The US, which helped extempore. And his clos- DECCAN CHRONICLE soil. “America loves striking a big trade deal Indra, the lord of celestials came in India, America respects later in the year. India get NSG waiver in ing remarks were: “We disguise asked him why he did this ADITYA SINHA T. VENKATESWARULU India, and America will Let’s take another September 2008, is now will be back!” without rain. The farmer told him he Editor Printer & Publisher always be faithful and example. CAATSA exploring the feasibility “You can always count was sure it would rain. Indra said R. MOHAN Resident Editor loyal friends to the (Countering American of setting up six nuclear on Americans to do the there won't be rain. Yet the farmer DECCAN CHRONICLE offices are located at: Indian people… From Adversaries Through power plants of 1100 MW right thing — after continued. Indra got wild and told Chennai: SP 3 Developed Plot, Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai 600032. Phones: (044) 22254747, this day on, India will Sanctions Act) was each. Within the frame- they’ve tried everything Varuna not to send clouds and Vayu 22254748 always hold a very spe- enacted near unani- work of India-US Stra- else,” Britain’s wartime Coimbatore: 77 Vivekananda Road, Ramnagar, Coimbatore 641009. Phone: (0422) 2231255, 2231256 not to send a cool breeze. Vayu Hyderabad: 36, Sarojini Devi Road, Secunderabad 500 003. Phone: (040) 27803930-4. Fax: (040) cial place in our hearts,” mously by the US tegic Energy Partner- Prime Minister Winston replied he can't help it if frogs croak. 27805256. declared the overwhel- Congress to primarily ship, a term agreement Churchill had once Indra called the frog king and told Bengaluru: 5th Floor, BMTC Commercial Complex, 80 Ft. Road, Koramangala, Bangalore-560095. Ph: med visiting dignitary. punish Russia, Iran and has been reached noted. While it is impos- him to see that his tribe didn't croak. 08043460500; Fax: 080-22960551/52/55 The visuals were North Korea. Washing- sible to say anything But the king said he could not help it Visakhapatnam: Survey No. 1/3A Beach Road, Near Kailasagiri Ropeway, Sector-9 MVP Colony, beamed live across ton has been waving it with certainty, having Visakhapatnam - 530 017. Phones: (0891) 2552333/2552334, Fax (0891) 2755285 Given India’s com- if fire-flies appear. Indra ordered the Vijayawada: No. C 3 & 4, Patamata, Industrial Estate, Auto Nagar, Vijayawada (A.P.). Phones: (0866) India, the United States also at India, to try and taken a measure of each fire-flies not to come out. Still it rain- 2555284/ 2555287, Fax (0866) 2555234 and at least half the scuttle its $5.43 billion plex security envi- other, both sides may ed, because the farmer lit umpteen Rajahmundry: Vemagiri, Dhawleswaram Rd, Rajahmundry 533125. Phones: (0883) 2417208, 2417618 world. They will be deal for S-400 Triumf ronment, it is not now be settling into a lamps which looked like fire-flies Anantapur: Thapovan Colony, Bangalore Bye-Pass Road, Anantapur 515004. Phones: (08554) 276903, more robust phase of Fax: 08554-276904 replayed again and missile defence systems prudent to depend and so the frogs mistook the lamps as Nellore: Survey No. 527/2, Burranpur Village, Venkatachalam (M), Chemudugunta Panchayat, Nellore. again during President with Russia. on one source for partnership, with fire-flies and croaked. The cool bre- Phone: (0861) 2348581/ 82, Telefax (0861) 2348580 Trump's upcoming year- Naturally, this is not greater mutual trust and eze set in and so the clouds rained. Karimnagar: Survey No. 1341, Vavilalapally Colony, Jagityala Road, Karimnagar 505 001. long electoral campaign, acceptable to India. its critical defence confidence. Indra felt humiliated but Sage Nara- Phone: (0878 ) 2228908; Telefax (0878) 2220433 Kochi: No. 3-B, 3rd Floor, DD TRADE TOWER, Kaloor-Kadavanthara Road, Ernakulam, permeating the board- Russia has been a time- needs. Mr Trump’s da consoled him saying, 'If the huma- Ph: 0484-4039408 rooms and living rooms, tested defence partner White House, The writer is a foreign ns are honest, determined with faith Kozhikode: No 6/1002 E, First Floor City Mall, Opp. YMCA Kannur Road, Kozhikode - 673 001 far and wide, that hith- and some 65 per cent of pursuing the policy affairs analyst and a for- and devotion the gods will bless and Fax : 0495 4019018 erto were beyond our India's imported hard- mer Indian ambassador grant boons. If cruel and dishonest, Thiruvananthapuram: St Joseph Press Thycaud post, Cotton Hills, Thiruvananthapuram-14, Ph: 0471- of ‘America First’, to South Korea and high 2735105/6/7, Fax: 0471-4016112 Gram: CHRONICLE Postal registration no: No. H/SD-348/2006-08ss reach. In the process ware is Russian. More- they will curse them to join the ani- Brand India and Indian over, given India's com- prefers to ignore commissioner to Canada mal kingdom. tourism will receive the plex security environ- such concerns. A. Seshagiri Rao, Chennai

n just a few days, one of two to engage them. Russian, Iranian and Pakistani con- is tricky; should Afghan forces come This is unhelpful given the political things may happen. On Feb 29, Yet between Sirajuddin Haqqani’s vergence on regional endgoals. under fire, the US stands to lose cred- crisis unfolding in Kabul in the wake the US may sign a historic peace public sanitisation by the New York Monitoring compliance without neu- ibility if it does nothing, and its good- of a contested election. Ideal with the Afghan Taliban, or Times, America’s attention deficit tral observers in an environment as will with the Taliban should it inter- Today, there seems to be little maintain there has been no signifi- and Kabul’s capacity deficit, it is complex as Afghanistan will be diffi- vene. And if counterterrorism in- appetite in the US to smooth over Fahad cant reduction in violence in which incontestable that negotiations cult; the ground is littered with spoil- deed remains America’s top missive Kabul’s political cracks. Should case all bets are off. If the Taliban would not have reached this evolved ers, including those outside the coun- in the region, whether it can achieve intra-Afghan talks go ahead, there is Humayun hold up their end of the bargain, the stage without Pakistan’s cooperation try who would rather not see the its objectives without troops or no guarantee that President Ghani deal will pave the way for intra- and diplomatic efforts to curate some Taliban mainstreamed. India, which resorting to gunboat diplomacy is will concede a political exit; that non- Afghan negotiations and provide a semblance of regional stability. has seen its influence in the Afghan unclear. Equally unclear is the ques- Pakhtun factions will accept any justificatory umbrella for the US to If a peace deal is signed this week, endgame diminish, stands to benefit tion of demobilisation and reintegra- dilution of their influence; that the withdraw a quarter of its roughly what comes next? No amount of spin from continued low-intensity con- tion of Taliban fighters into the political and social rights of women 12,000 troops this summer. can gloss over the fact that the flict, and wants to delay the political Afghan security forces. Mid-level will indeed be upheld; and that But like most exit-agreements, the Americans will, for all practical pur- mainstreaming of the Taliban. commanders will expect patronage Afghans themselves will agree to any Leap year charm: devil is in the detail, or in this case, poses, be signing instruments of sur- Controlled chaos in Afghanistan in the division of power, and likely constitutional changes, a Taliban the lack of it. For Pakistanis who render on Feb 29. For the Taliban in undermines stability in Pakistan the entire security apparatus will demand that the US, in its rush to have lived and died in the perenni- the room, many of whom who have and creates the case for stronger need to be reconstituted. Forging an exit, has legitimised. On Feb. 29, US al shadow of a mismanaged war staked their legacies on getting the Indo-Afghan strategic ties. ethnically inclusive institution will Negotiations among all Afghan fac- effort next door, there are still a US to exit, a US-Taliban truce will be In its rush to reach a deal in light of be necessary if it is to be deployed tions are supposed to begin within 10 host of unknowns to contend with. a resounding victory. Buoyed by a tough election calendar ahead, across the country. days of the plan being signed. But the may exit Afghan, Most Pakistanis are either too prag- having defeated not one but two Republicans in the US could fudge Finally, the US still thinks Isla- real challenge going forward lies in matic, or too disillusioned by years superpowers, the Taliban will long-term strategic intent, giving mabad has incentives to “retain mapping a viable peace that won’t be of operational shortcomings on the approach the second phase of negoti- rise to several complications. For Taliban infrastructure” on its side of buffeted by exogenous shocks. Afghan battlefield, to expect a sin- ations from a position of conviction. instance, it cannot both be a party to the border. Frankly, this is a cogni- Keeping that process on track will devil in the detail cere apology for being scapegoated, Maintaining the peace is going to the conflict and a guarantor should tive schema that for now means the require the US to continue to invest first for not doing enough to exter- be doubly difficult without an agreed things unravel. America’s insistence US won’t fully afford Pakistan the for the next phase of negotiations. minate the Taliban/Haqqani lead- upon definition of “violence” and a that it reserves the right to help trust it deserves as a regional part- ership, and then, not doing enough broader Chinese, American, defend Afghan forces in the interim ner and well-intentioned stabiliser. By arrangement with Dawn OPED DECCAN CHRONICLE | FRIDAY | 28 FEBRUARY 2020 | CHENNAI pg 9 Trump: Has Modi embraced a two-term President? not have the heart to uncork So far, the Democratic Trump right now. Yet instead gence — and not just once. By racist nightmare during his champagne bottles because we race has similarities of embracing his message, the the time the Democratic race terms as New York mayor. were not sure which one of the establishment wing of the for the nominee hots up in Stories of his sexist misbehav- Clinton supporters in the party with the primaries, party continues to resist him at January, Mr Friedman pro- iour are legion. He shall be for- Saeed Naqvi might be offended. So cham- which led to a Hillary almost every turn.” duces another Michael given all his misdemeanours. pagne bottles stood on the table Clinton-Donald Trump That was written in 2017. The Bloomberg boosting column. If His big bucks matter. He cata- like a row of brooding bishops.” contest in 2016. Back situation remains unchanged. senator Joe McCarthy were to pulted onto the stage for the “Our adorable Jewish world In fact, there seems to be a reappear by some magical eighth Democratic debate in Wide Angle banker friend couldn’t bear to then, what was in greater urgency in Democratic incantation, he would hold Mr Las Vegas without having gone look at the screen. ‘I feel faint; I bad odour with ranks to stop Mr Sanders than Friedman in a tight embrace through the normal process of must leave.’ Another from the the electorate was to stop Mr Trump winning a for the columnist’s disdain for primaries. He made a donation efore leaving was the Washington establish- state department was on frantic the Washington second term. This priority has an “avowed socialist”. The of $350 million to the NDC, has for India, ment. The two who reached out long distance calls advising her been explicitly spelt out by that Trump machine “will cast Mr already splurged $400 million Donald Trump for the establishment’s jugular family to prepare for the worst. establishment. superior pundit of American Sanders as Che Guevara — and on ads. Who knows, a billion had congratu- from two diametrically oppo- A neighbour banged frantically journalism, Thomas Friedman it won’t even be that hard”. may still be in the pipeline. lated Bernie site ideological positions were at the door, and barged in, Now, in 2020, once again Mr of the New York Times. As Just consider the scale of the American exceptionalism pos- Sanders, fron- Mr Trump and Mr Sanders. beads of perspiration on her Sanders is ahead in the field. early as November, 2019, he exaggeration: America’s best- sibly bestows on aspiring can- trunner for But the Democratic National brow. She could not bear to This should not surprise began to promote Michael known columnist conjures up didates a choice: they can theCommittee (DNC) had set its watch the results alone.” observers because the Bernie Bloomberg, billionaire and for- images of Che to scare drudge their way to the nomi- Democratic nomination, for heart on Ms Clinton as the Our very own Surjit Bhalla Sanders phenomena did not mer New York mayor, as the Americans away from Mr nation by mobilising the peo- Bwinning the Nevada caucuses. party’s nominee for President. had dutifully alerted New recede even after 2016. In fact a Democratic nominee. Mr Sanders. The senator from ple or, they can simply buy the But he mischievously added in In doing so, it overlooked a cru- Delhi: Mr Trump’s victory Fox News poll in 2017 estab- Friedman demonstrates impec- Vermont has to be painted in nomination, off the shelf. In parenthesis: “Democrats cial detail: the national mood would be the “end of Western lished his exceptional popular- cable manners by making a lurid colours because he the end the likes of Mr would work to deny him the was against the establishment, civilisation”. ity. The poll showed Mr disclosure: Bloomberg philan- describes himself as Friedman will probably nomination.” Pulling back a and Ms Clinton, more than The reason I have indulged in Sanders +28 rating above all thropies has contributed to the Democratic Socialist, dedicat- enlighten us which way to the frontrunner will create chaos most, was the core of the estab- this bit of nostalgia, even on the US politicians on both sides of museum Mrs Friedman is ed to a platform which seeks to top is more Democratic? in Democratic ranks. In that lishment. pain of being repetitious, is the political spectrum. Trevor building in Washington to pro- reverse inequality. Mr Trump may well thump case, Narendra Modi may well We all know what happened. quite straightforward: the nom- Timm of the Guardian, mote reading and literacy. He To make Mr Trump a one- his pal on the back during the have held a two-term US Since I was witness to the ination race scripted by the London, wrote: “One would agrees: “capitalism is not term President, Mr Friedman Motera stadium festivities: President in a tight embrace at drama on that fateful night of DNC and the improvisations think with numbers like that, working for enough people in and his ilk have located the “You were clever endorsing me Ahmedabad’s Motera stadium. the election results, let me introduced en route could Democratic politicians would America”. Having thus pro- surefire Democratic winner — at Howdy Modi; the disarray in So far, the Democratic race reproduce bits of what I wrote: make November 2020 resemble be falling all over themselves tected himself, Mr Friedman Mike Bloomberg. This most Democratic ranks will prove has similarities with the pri- “A dozen or so friends, who had its 2016 version when the to be associated with Sanders, eulogises the billionaire aspi- favoured candidate crossed you right.” maries, which led to a Hillary assembled in Lucknow boy party’s biased high command especially considering the rant in a column titled “Why I over from the Republican Clinton-Donald Trump contest turned New Yorker Nusrat waylaid Mr Sanders when he party as a whole is more like Mike”. Party just the other day. Frisk The writer is a senior in 2016. Back then, what was in Durrani’s trendy DUMBO loft was ahead in the popularity unpopular than the What can anyone say if the and search operations against journalist and commentator bad odour with the electorate under the Brooklyn Bridge, did stakes, by citing a 1962 law. Republicans and even Donald NYT grants him his self-indul- blacks and hispanics was a based in New Delhi World Bank study points Bernie’s Democrat rivals are weak to where most foreign Mike Bloomberg still “The truth is the truth,” he Yet it’s equally possible that has enough money to said. He’ll get away with that. a booming economy has British observers might be locked them in for Trump. brainwash and cajole reminded of Corbyn and the The economy could turn aid for the poorest goes Freddy Gray large chunks of the IRA stuff: a minority feels bad — but even then a Trump electorate. He had a outraged that a man who sup- vs Sanders contest might account. If the paper is taken at slightly better debate ported the bad guys can be so prove that right-wing pop- its word, it means that aid dis- brazen; the majority can’t ulism out-muscles left-wing bursements do little to nothing this week in remember and doesn’t care. populism. Team Trump will Rafia for the poor, and often go direct- South Carolina, but Some commentators are portray Sanders as “the job ly into the already heavy pockets everybody knows also eager to claim that killer” because he wants to Zakaria of corrupt economic elites. ernie beats Trump! to have a “ceiling” of about 30 he has a serious Sanders’ movement is, like ban fracking and abandon The convulsions this one paper Bernie beats per cent of Democratic vot- Corbyn’s, racist against the current healthcare sys- has produced in one of the Trump!” That’s ers, yet he won about 47 per personality problem. Jews, because he has the sup- tem, both of which would put world’s largest aid and develop- what Bernie cent of the vote, including port of public figures such as an enormous number of peo- ment organisations is speculated Sanders’ fans keep about 22 per cent of voters Linda Sasour and Ilhan ple out of work. That point to have led to Penny Goldberg’s Bchanting, and they have the who identified as “moder- Bernie: the usual rules don’t Omar, who have flirted with could be far more devastat- t has been a tumultuous resignation, after holding the polls to prove it. Survey after ate”. By Wednesday next apply. Similar to Trump, his anti-Semitism. But that point ing than any grainy footage month at the World Bank. position of chief economist at the survey suggests that, of all week, after Super Tuesday — supposed weak spots are his is neatly undercut by the fact of young Bernie saying the The bank’s armies of ana- bank for only a brief 15 months. the leading candidates for the when 14 states vote — his lead strengths. His fuddy–duddy that Bernie is a proud Jew gulags weren’t so bad. lysts and economists rou- The Economist accused the Sanders could choose a I Democratic Party’s nomina- could be insurmountable. appearance makes him cool. who once lived on a kibbutz. tinely produce research on top- World Bank’s bosses of suppress- tion, Sanders is most likely to The best news for Bernie is His socialist radicalism is so It would be an irony of black running mate to boost ics ranging from best practices ing the paper’s publication. It is defeat Donald Trump in the that his rivals are so weak. old-fashioned that it speaks almost biblical proportions if Democratic turnout among to a variety of development indeed true that the paper’s election in November. Voters Joe Biden’s candidacy is a to conservatives. He can win the first Jewish President African-Americans, some- issues to how to promote gender release seemed to have been like Bernie. Some 46 per cent sad spectacle, his mind is over ultra-progressives in turned out to be a rabid anti- thing Hillary Clinton failed equality in emerging economies. delayed; then it was published of voters say they admire gone, yet his zombie cam- multiracial metropolises Semite. to do. But he needs to Indeed, the vast majority of by one of its authors on his own him. Only 26 per cent say the paign drags itself on. Pete while appearing to stand up Unless the various attack mobilise huge numbers of papers and research it produces website, before finally being same of President Trump. Buttigieg is a clear second in for poor whites in rural machines can find a way to black voters to win in apply to certain niches of analy- uploaded on the World Bank’s Still, most political experts the delegate count, yet his areas. He has that populist stop him in the coming days, November — and Trump has sis; they are launched and read website for the public to access. think Sanders will be a disas- pale imitation of Barack juju. If the media ignores or Bloomberg somehow rigs had some success countering without much ado, let alone con- The controversy does not ter for the Democratic Party. Obama’s rhetorical style him, that’s an elite conspira- a brokered party convention that Democratic advantage troversy. detract from the damning find- He may be popular with the leaves people cold. Amy cy; if they attack him, ditto. in July, Sanders will be the with his appeals to African- This was not the case with a ings made by the paper. Though base, they say, but he is far Klobuchar is doing enough So he once wrote a strange nominee. Yet beating Donald Americans. recent working paper. Entitled not included in the report, too left-wing for the general not to be discounted, yet not essay about rape. So what? Trump is another matter. Bernie may indeed be the Elite Capture of Foreign Aid: Pakistanis, long dependent on electorate: 2020 would be a well enough to count. Sanders shrugs off criti- Can Sanders win over those best-placed Democratic can- Evidence from Offshore Bank aid, know quite well “where the repeat of 1972, when the radi- Elizabeth Warren has faded cism. On Monday, at a CNN six million or so swing voters didate to beat Trump. That Accounts, it was authored by money goes”. Indeed, the politi- cal leftie George McGovern dramatically, but she kept Town Hall, he was chal- who supported Barack doesn’t mean he will. economists Jorgen Juel cal cataclysms of the country’s lost to Richard Nixon in a her candidacy on life support lenged for having said that Obama in 2012 and Trump in Andersen, Niels Johannesen and recent history have all been landslide. Sanders as nomi- with a good performance in Fidel Castro’s literacy pro- 2016? He might speak to their By arrangement with Bob Rijkers, with the support of dependent on findings via nee would all but guarantee last week’s TV debate. The grammes were a success. lingering disgruntlement. the Spectator the World Bank’s own econo- Panama Papers, WikiLeaks and four more years of Trump person who lost that debate mists, including its (now former) other sources, which have and put both Houses of in Nevada was indisputably chief economist Penny Goldberg. revealed the extent of corruption Congress back under Mike Bloomberg. He still has According to reports, the paper and graft among the country’s Republican control. enough money to brainwash had also gone through numerous political elites. Senior Democrats are and cajole large chunks of reviews that helped improve and At the same time, it is quite freaking out. At the candi- the electorate. He had a organise its findings. another thing altogether when dates’ debate in South slightly better debate this The findings were damning. the World Bank itself publishes Carolina on Tuesday night, week in South Carolina, but Using data from offshore banks research suggesting that its own Michael Bloomberg even everybody knows he has a in places like Switzerland, aid disbursals can lead to as rehashed the idea that serious personality problem. Luxembourg, the Cayman much as a 75 per cent increase in Vladimir Putin is driving Team Bloomberg and Team Islands, Hong Kong and offshore account holdings. Sanders’ success — a sure Sanders now loathe each Singapore, the researchers Indeed, if the bank wants to take sign of elite despair. other — possibly more than traced what happened when aid its own work and findings seri- What Sanders’ campaign they despise Trump. After disbursements were made to ously, it must change the course has really shown is that all Bloomberg’s campaign some of the world’s most aid- of its actions. When it publishes the expert theories as to why offices were vandalised this dependent countries. Around such research, in sum, it Bernie can’t win are not so week, his staff were quick to the same time that the money amounts to an admission that clever. It’s said that he can’t blame Sanders’ inflammato- was released, the researchers their most important work is a appeal to racial minorities, ry language. Bloomberg then noted there was an increase in complete failure. yet in Nevada last weekend upped hostilities by attack- the number of deposits in those What the World Bank is going he won 27 per cent of African- ing Sanders for having once offshore accounts. The same cor- to do may determine the course American voters and 53 per had the support of the gun relation was found over almost a of aid in this century. There are cent of Hispanics. It’s said lobby. It is heresy to be pro- decade of economic data, by already compelling critiques of that only young voters are gun in some Democratic cir- tracking aid disbursements from how the structure and means of drawn to his socialism, yet he cles; then again, plenty of more than 20 different countries. aid disbursements do not lead to won every age group apart Democrats love guns. The writing, then, was on the development successes or lift from the over-65s. He’s meant That’s the point about ‘And let’s all try to be a little bit kinder.’ wall. The aid that the World people out of poverty. This new Bank was giving to some of the paper adds even more fuel to the world’s poorest countries fire, suggesting that the entire appeared to be going directly architecture of aid needs to be into offshore accounts. The find- reconsidered. ing also meant that the early Economists do not talk often transmission of these funds about morality. In this case, Bhagat Ravidas: Devotion regardless of caste ensured that local elites did not however, the data also reveals have to make tax payments on that economic elites in develop- der and ethnicity, as was stretches her hand from make it soft and pick up the bangle. money that appeared to be stolen ing countries believe stealing to shown by Ravidas. the deep waters. The When the brahmin looked inside from the people. Particularly be an entirely acceptable propo- Bhagat Ravidas, an brahmin, who was on his the vessel, he saw the Ganges flow- bad were countries whose GDP sition, fodder to fuel the expen- Kulbir ardent devotee of the way to pilgrimage to ing there and there were a number was made up with development sive tastes of autocrats’ wives God, was a Bhakti saint Haridwar, merely of bangles lying there. It was a rare aid. and other highly positioned peo- Kaur whose hymns are includ- laughed at this sugges- moment when realisation and truth There are, according to the ple. If the money is being stolen ed in the Guru Granth tion and left. As legend struck him like lightening. The paper itself, some alternative with such regularity by so many Sahib. has it, Goddess Ganga notion of spirituality is not deter- explanations to the sudden and over such a long period, it Ravidas, a cobbler by stretched out her hand mined by one’s caste or creed. increase in activity of these off- follows that those who govern profession, was born to when the brahmin was Bhagat Ravidas, born into a lower shore accounts. It is possible the world’s poorest make no Raghu and Ghurbinia at a place having a sacred bath and asked for caste, was more enlightened than a that countries with less devel- bones about taking what is Lord, if you are sandalwood, I am near Varanasi. Belonging to a low- the two coins given by Ravidas. high-caste brahmin. The Supreme oped credit markets moved the meant for others. This last bit is water; caste family, Bhagat Ravidas was Awestruck, the brahmin handed Being understands the language of money to offshore accounts not the World Bank’s problem, with the fragrance in all parts of my completely devoted to his work and over the coins and the Goddess gave selfless love, devotion and good con- where it could be kept until it but it is something to think body. love for God. Instead of renouncing him a beautiful diamond-studded duct only was allotted to various develop- about. Lord, if you are a cloud, I am a peacock; the world in pursuit of truth, he gold bangle for Ravidas. Bhagat Ravidas, a poet-saint, ment projects. It is also possible, Morality aside, the paper and looking for you like a chakora for the combined work ethics with spiritual The brahmin, instead of giving the attracted a large number of follow- the economists noted, that large the resignation of the chief econ- moon. quest. He rejected the sectarian bangle to Ravidas, sold it to the king. ers. The Sikh Guru also writes: national organisations main- omist, along with allegations Lord, if you are a lamp, I am the wick); approach and denounced idol-wor- The king’s wife, highly pleased with “Ravidas, the leather worker, tained these offshore accounts made in the media, all mean that with the light burning day and night. ship as well. He conveyed his mes- the bangle, demanded one more ban- praised the Lord, and sang the kir- and utilised them as a way to be some significant changes are Lord, if you are a pearl, I am the thread; sage of simplicity, love and devotion gle to complete the set. Having failed tan of His praises each and every more, rather than less, present. around the corner. Evil middle- together like gold and suhaga. through his songs. His hymns are to procure another bangle of the instant. Although he was of low All these caveats notwithstand- men — we know so many who Lord, you are the master and I servant; recited regularly in the gurdwaras. same beauty, the brahmin social status, he was exalted and ele- ing, the conclusion of the paper have stolen with impunity — thus is the devotion of Raidas. Bhagat Ravidas had no attachment approached the saint and admitted vated, and people of all four castes has turned out to be controver- may soon have far fewer oppor- to worldly things. Once, Ravidas met his deceit. He pleaded and requested came and bowed at his feet.” sial and damning. One obvious tunities to steal. Of course, the he path of realisation of the a brahmin and gave him two coins Ravidas to save his life. Being a problem is that the raison d’etre very poor will continue to lose ultimate goal is based on from his hard earned money to offer leather worker, Ravidas was Kulbir Kaur teaches sociology of the World Bank’s existence is out; they never got what was love and devotion only. The it to the sacred river Ganges. Bhagat immersed in his work and he asked at Shyama Prasad Mukherji to help the world’s poorest popu- meant for them, and perhaps TAlmighty does not discrimi- Ravidas said he should give the the brahmin to look inside the vessel College, Delhi University lations, the very people from they never will. nate on grounds of caste, class, gen- coins only when Goddess Ganga full of water used to dip leather to whom aid was being stolen and dumped into this or that offshore By arrangement with Dawn WORLD DECCAN CHRONICLE | FRIDAY | 28 FEBRUARY 2020 | CHENNAI pg 10

IN BRIEF Scales in moths Iran Covid-19 death figure spirals to 26 help evade bats 106 fresh cases as two more officials infected prompting Islamic nation to impose travel restrictions London: Some species of moths can absorb as much Tehran, Feb. 27: The as 85 per cent of the sound Covid-19 epidemic in Iran TWO NEW UK that hunting bats pitch and has cost 26 lives, the Iran- reflect off the insects to loc- ina health ministry anno- ate them, according to a stu- unced Thursday, with sev- CASES LINKED TO dy which may lead to advan- en new deaths reported ced, bio-inspired acoustic over 24 hours as the spre- ITALY, TENERIFE camouflage technology. The ad appeared to accelerate. study, published in the journ- Ministry spokesman Ki- London, Feb. 27: Two al Royal Society Interface, anoush Jahanpour also more patients have tested revealed that moths, which told a press briefing that positive for Covid-19 in are unable to hear the ultra- 106 more cases of the dis- Britain, health authoriti- high frequency calls of bats, ease had been confirmed, es said Thursday, bringi- evolved this defensive strat- raising the tally of infect- ng the total number of di- egy to help them survive. ions to 245, the highest agnosed cases in the UK According to the researche- outside China where Cov- to 15. The two have been rs, bats produce high freque- id-19 originated. The addi- transferred to specialist ncy sound to search for and tional cases made up the centres after contracting find prey, putting huge pre- highest number for a sin- the virus in Italy and on dation pressure on nocturnal gle day since Iran annou- the Spanish island of Te- insects. Countering this, they nced its first cases on Feb- nerife, said Professor Ch- said, many nocturnal insects ruary 19. ris Whitty, England’s chi- evolved the ability to hear Among the latest suffer- ef medical officer. — AFP the ultrasonic calls of bats, ers of the new Covid-19 is which allows them to active- Mojtaba Zolnour, head of ly evade approaching bats. parliament’s national sec- urity and foreign affairs ESTONIA’S FIRST committee, who appeared Pak teen’s remains in a video posted by Fars news agency saying he CASE AFTER MAN in lion enclosure was in self-quarantine. The cleric is a deputy for BACK FROM IRAN Lahore: In a horrific incident, the Shiite holy city of a 17-year-old Pakistani boy Qom in central Iran whe- Tallinn, Feb. 27: Estonia has been mauled to death by re the country’s first cas- reported its first Covid-19 a pride of four lions at an es were detected. case on Thursday, a day animal park in Lahore. The The announcement by after the man returned to remains of Bilal, who had Zolnour comes two days the Baltic nation of just been missing for two days, after another top official, 1.3 million people from were found on Wednesday in deputy health minister his homeland Iran. “The People wear masks to help guard against the Covid-19 in downtown Tehran. — AP the lions’ enclosure of the Iraj Harirchi, head of the person, a permanent resi- Lahore Safari, according to a government’s Covid-19 dent of Estonia who is park official. “We recovered task force, said he too had not a citizen, arrived in PAKISTAN the remains in the park on contracted the virus. Estonia on Wednesday Wednesday after Bilal’s fat- On Wednesday, Iranian evening,” Social Affairs Origin unknown behind US case her told us that his son had authorities announced Minister Tanel Kiik told CONFIRMS FIRST been missing since Monday. domestic travel restric- public broadcaster ERR. Los Angeles, Feb. 27: A gun the process of track- ● THE VIRULENCE of ed and suspected viral co- He was in the Safari Park to tions for people with con- — AFP new Covid-19 case in Cal- ing down people who the the novel Covid-19 con- ndition, according to the 2 INFECTIONS cut grass,” said Lahore Safari firmed or suspected infec- ifornia could be the first patient has been in conta- tinues to show a declin- email, which was sent to official Chaudhry Shafqat. tions of the virus. in the US that has no kno- ct with, a process known employees. The hospital Karachi/Islamabad, “We have sent the remains to They also placed curbs WE ARE facing a wn connection to travel as contact tracing. ing trend in China which asked the CDC to test but Feb. 27: After two pers- a laboratory for a forensic on access to major Shiite crisis, an epidemic abroad or another known The patient was brought reported 29 new fatali- it was delayed until Sun- ons returning from Iran examination and ordered pilgrimage sites, includi- that is coming. We case, a possible sign the vi- to UC Davis Medical Cent- ties, the lowest in day since the patient did tested positive for the de- investigation into the inci- ng the Imam Reza shrine know that we're only at rus is spreading in a US er from another Northern weeks, taking the death not fit the existing CDC cr- adly Covid-19 in Pakist- dent,” he said. It appears in second city Mashhad the beginning... we're community, health officia- California hospital on Fe- toll to 2,744 while the iteria for virus, the email an’s largest city Karac- Bilal, whose uncle was an and the Fatima Masumeh ls said. The Centers for Di- bruary 19 but it was four confirmed cases climbed said. The hospital, which hi, all educational instit- employee at the park, was shrine in Qom. going to try with all our sease Control and Preve- days before the CDC heed- has treated other patients, utions in Sindh and Bal- mauled to death by a pride Visitors to the shrines caretakers to make the ntion reported the case ed a request to test the pa- to 78,497, officials said has been taking infection ochistan provinces have of lions, he added. will be allowed to visit on right decisions. We are Wednesday. California off- tient for Covid-19, accord- on Thursday. prevention precautions si- been closed. condition they are provid- going to have to deal icials said the person is a ing to an email sent to em- nce the patient arrived. On Wednesday, a young ed “with hand-washing with it as best we can. resident of Solano County, ployees Wednesday by the The email said officials man tested positive for China ducks to liquids, proper (health) northeast of San Francis- hospital’s interim CEO, The patient arrived on a believe there was only a the novel Covid-19 in Ka- information, masks”, — EMMANUEL MACRON co, and is getting medical Brad Simmons, and David ventilator and special pro- small chance that others rachi the first confirmed fight Pak locusts Health Minister Saeed French President care in Sacramento Coun- Lubarsky, CEO of UC Da- tection orders were issued were exposed to the virus. case in Pakistan. Short- Namaki told reporters at ty. They said they have be- vis Health. because of an undiagnos- — AP ly after, another case Beijing: China is planning to a news conference. was confirmed and both dispatch a 100,000-strong They must “not gather insisted that the situation have returned from Iran, army of ducks to help Pakis- together in groups but has been “improving”. Special Advisor on Heal- tan combat a massive locust just pray and leave”, he th Dr Zafar Mirza said. infestation, a local newspap- said. In affected areas, Another official hit Sindh Education Mini- er reported Thursday. The school closures will be ex- A state-owned newspaper Japan PM: Close public schools ster Saeed Ghani anno- legion of lotus-eating water- tended for three days, and in Iran says Masoumeh unced on Twitter that fowl will be sent from the ea- universities for another Ebtekar, a vice president Tokyo, Feb. 27: Japan’s disease. “The government spread of infections amo- junior high schools from “all Govt and private stern province of Zhejiang week starting from Satur- in the Islamic Republic Prime Minister Shinzo considers the health and ng children are being Saturday for two weeks. educational institutions following the earlier dispatch day, he said. and a spokeswoman for Abe on Thursday urged sc- safety of children above made in various areas,” Abes call comes after the will remain closed on of a team of Chinese experts the 1979 hostage-takers, hools nationwide to close anything else,” Abe said. Abe added. Many public government urged organi- Thursday & Friday (27th to Pakistan to advise on a re- Friday prayers put off has the new coronavirus. for several weeks to preve- “We request all primary, elementary schools and sers of major events to & 28th Feb).” sponse to the infestation that Also in these regions, the The report came from nt the spread of the new junior high and high scho- junior high schools in nor- consider cancelling them, Balochistan governm- is being called the worst in main weekly Friday pray- the English-language Covid-19, as authorities re- ols... across the nation to thern Hokkaido, where and called on businesses ent announced to close 20 years, the Ningbo Evening ers will be suspended, Na- IRAN daily newspaper ported the country’s four- close temporarily from the death of a man in his to allow employees to down all educational in- News said. Their use is both maki said. “All of these via its Twitter account. th fatality linked to the March 2 next week until 80s infected with the virus work from home or comm- stitutions till March 15. much less expensive and en- decisions are temporary Ebtekar was known as epidemic outbreak. their spring break.” The was confirmed on Thursd- ute off-peak. Authorities — PTI vironmentally damaging than and if the situation chan- “Mary” during the crisis The move comes as crew spring break for public sc- ay, were already closed aft- have said the coming two the use of pesticides, the pa- ges, we might intensify or when 52 American diplo- members from the Di- hools usually starts in late er a cluster of infections to three weeks will be crit- per quoted Zhejiang Provinc- ease them,” Namaki add- mats and citizens were amond Princess, a Covid- March in Japan and lasts prompted the governor to ical in determining whet- ial Institute of Agricultural ed. International health held hostage for 444 days. 19-stricken cruise ship several weeks. Local med- request public schools her they can stem the out- SOUTH KOREA, Technology researcher Lu Li- experts have expressed The report comes as other quarantined off Japan, be- ia said the call would not close for about a week. break of the virus, which zhi as saying. Ducks are suit- concern about Iran’s han- top officials in Iran’s Shi- gan leaving the vessel wh- extend to nurseries and The city of Osaka also has infected nearly 200 ed to the task than other dling of the outbreak. ite theocracy have caught ere more than 700 people daycare facilities however. said it will close its kinde- people in the country. U.S. POSTPONE poultry like chicken as they However, Tehran has the virus. — Agencies have tested positive for the “Efforts to prevent the rgartens, elementary and — AFP stay in a group and are easier MILITARY DRILLS to manage, Lu said. Seoul, Feb. 27: The South Korean and US 111-yr-old Briton militaries on Thursday Trump faces credibility test, plays down threat announced that they world’s oldest were postponing their Washington, Feb. 27: from the stated opinion of annual joint drills due to London: A 111-year-old for- President Donald Trump public health officials that concern about a viral mer engineer in the UK is set faces a critical personal it’s inevitable the virus outbreak that has infect- to be confirmed as the wor- challenge in grappling will spread within the Un- Existing antiviral ed soldiers in both coun- ld’s oldest man after the rec- with the new Covid-19 out- ited States. As businesses, tries' armed forces, put ent death of a Japanese man break: Asking Americans schools and people in gen- many troops in quaran- who was 112. Bob Weighton, to believe him after he and eral think about prepari- tine and closed base who was born on March 29, some of his top advisers ng, the X-factor may be an drugs key to cure facilities. Twenty-two 1908, is expected to be na- have contradicted federal unpredictable president South Korean soldiers med as the new record-hold- scientists in playing down who has clashed repeated- London, Feb. 27: Already This means that doctors and one American serv- er following the death of Chi- the threat. ly with scientists in his approved broad-spectrum can do little more than ice member in South tetsu Watanabe on Sunday, Keenly aware of the sta- own administration and antiviral drugs may offer a offer supportive treatment Korea have tested posi- the BBC reported. kes not just for public he- tends to see any crisis thr- first-line treatment for the to the very sick, and hope tive for the new Covid- The 112-year-old Watanabe alth but also his credibili- ough the lens of his own novel Covid-19 which has their bodies can survive 19, which has infected died just days after being ty, Trump conducted a reelection chances. so far killed over 2,700 peo- the infection, they said. about 1,770 people in the awarded a Guinness World lengthy press conference ple and infected around “Drug repurposing is a Asian country, the Records certificate. Weighton Wednesday evening aimed President Donald Trump with Department of Health and Pence to head response 80,000, according to a stu- strategy for generating largest outbreak outside said: “I don't really feel satis- at reassuring everyone Human Services Secretary Alex Azar (C) and Director of “I don’t think it’s inevit- dy published in the Intern- additional value from an mainland China. fied because it means some- that he has the crisis well the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases able,” Trump said at the ational Journal of Infectio- existing drug by targeting The allies have previ- one else has died.” A spok- in hand. Trump surround- at the National Institutes of Health Anthony Fauci at a news conference, where he us Diseases. Researchers diseases other than that ously suspended or esman for Guinness World ed himself with his ad- news conference at the White House. — AP announced Vice President from the Norwegian Univ- for which it was originally scaled back their regu- Records said it was currently ministration’s top health Mike Pence would lead the ersity of Science and Tec- intended,” said Denis lar military exercises, investigating the title for the experts. And he encourag- spread. But he continued little bigger; it may not get administration’s response hnology (NTNU) noted Kainov, an associate pro- but that was part of oldest living man following ed Americans to be prepa- to minimise the risk, say- bigger at all. And he con- to the outbreak. that there is no vaccine or fessor at NTNU. diplomatic efforts to dis- the death of Watanabe. red for the virus’ potential ing the outbreak may get a tinued to distance himself — AP cure for the virus in sight. — PTI arm North Korea. — AP

IAEA | NOD Liquid stored after reactors went into meltdown following ’11 tsunami Environmentalists’ run(a)way victory Fukushima polluted water to go to sea Tokyo, Feb. 27: The world’s Japanese public. Internatio- OF COURSE the mful and you need somebo- leasing the water, and locals nuclear watchdog gave its nal Atomic Energy Agency decision on what to dy to monitor before, during concerned about the reputa- backing on Thursday to Jap- (IAEA) director Rafael Gro- do and when is a matter and after release, to check tional risks of any release. anese plans to release conta- ssi told journalists in Tokyo that everything is okay.” Grossi said a “very compr- minated water from the da- the panel’s recommendatio- for the Japanese The radioactive water com- ehensive communication st- maged Fukushima nuclear ns appeared suitable. “Of co- government. Our final es from several different so- rategy” would be key to the plant into the ocean. Japan urse the decision on what to analysis is not completed urces — including water process. “You may have the has around a million tonnes do and when is a matter for but I can tell you already used for cooling at the plant, best technical strategy but a of contaminated water stor- the Japanese government,” that we find the (panel) and groundwater and rain political failure if you don’t ed in tanks at the site of the he said. “Our final analysis report based on a sound that seeps into the plant dai- communicate well,” he said. Fukushima Daiichi plant, is not completed but I can methodology and a ly — and is put through an “It’s an issue of legitimate whose reactors went into tell you already that we find systematic approach. extensive filtration process. concern.” The 9.0 magnitude meltdown after a huge tsun- the (panel) report based on a Most of the radioactive isot- quake of March 2011 spark- ami in 2011. sound methodology and a opes have been removed by ed a tsunami along Japan’s A government panel last systematic approach,” he ad- — RAFAEL GROSSI the filtration system, but northeast coast that killed month recommended the ded, describing the two opti- IAEA director one — tritium, which has a over 18,000. The nuclear dis- water be released into the ons proposed as “in line long half-life — remains. aster it spawned is not dire- ocean or vaporised, but no fi- with well-established pract- something new, there is no The issue is controversial, ctly blamed for any death, nal decision has been taken, ices all around the world.” scandal here,” Grossi added. however, with some of Japa- though contamination rend- Campaigners cheer outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, on Thursday after with all solutions deeply un- “Releasing into the ocean “But what is important is to n’s neighbours raising ques- ered swathes of the coast they won a court ruling to block plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport on popular with sections of the is done elsewhere, it’s not do it in a way that is not har- tions about the safety of re- uninhabitable. — AFP environmental grounds. — AP NEWS+ DECCAN CHRONICLE| FRIDAY | 28 FEBRUARY 2020 | CHENNAI pg 11 50 YEARS AGO IN Remembering Rajendra Prasad, who Panel to study working of sugar industry helped draft India’s Constitution New Delhi: A high-pow- Constitution” giving broad ered committee is being hints about the possible ramifi- set up by the Union cations of the ‘distribution of Government to study the powers and functions between working of the sugar Praveen the Union and the states’, the industry in the context of Davar inevitable complications demand for its nationali- regarding the issue of a sation. Minister of State “national language” vis-à-vis for Food and Agriculture, focus Hindi, and most of all, about A.P. Shinde said in the the role and powers of the Lok Sabha today. elected president of the In a written answer to ■ Dr Rajendra Republic. He was candid in his Mr. A.S. Bhadoria, Mr. admission about the constitu- Shinde said the constitu- Prasad served tion not being a perfect instru- tion of the committee and ment, but sounding a clear note the finalisation of the as President for of warning, he said: If the peo- terms of reference were ple who are elected are capable being processed. 12 years and the and men of character and Later during the ques- integrity, they would be able to tion-hour, Mr. Shinde day he laid make the best even of a defec- said, the Government tive Constitution. If they are proposed to export 1.5 down his office lacking in these, the lakh tonnes of raw sugar. Constitution cannot help the Replying to Mr. N.P.C. on May 13, 1962, country. After all, a Naidu, the Minister said Constitution, like a machine, is that further possibility of was the day a lifeless thing. It acquires life exporting raw sugar was because of the men who con- being explored. trol it and operate it, and India Mr. Naidu asked when he was needs today nothing more than whether the Government a set of honest men who will was prepared to negotiate awarded the have the interest of the country with Singapore and before them… Let us launch on Malaysia to export raw Bharat Ratna this new enterprise of running sugar and jaggery to fetch our Independent Republic with better price to the produc- by his confidence, with truth and non- ers. He also alleged there Schoolgirls tie a rakhi on India’s first President, Dr Rajendra Prasad violence and above all, with was “hostile discrimina- successor Dr S. heart within the God overhead. tion” on the part of the n addition, Prasad was an was passed. Some of its fea- Friday, February 28, is the with all other responsibilities Dr Rajendra Prasad served as Centre which had Radhakrishnan. outstanding legal mind tures were incorporated in the in governance. His sole respon- President for 12 years and the announced price revision that presided over the Constitution of India that was death anniversary of sibility henceforth remained to day he laid down his office on of sugar recently. He said, A couple of Constituent Assembly adopted when India became a Dr Rajendra Prasad preside over the Constituent May 13, 1962, was the day when while the sugar price had from which emerged one republic in 1950. Assembly sessions. For his he was awarded the Bharat been reduced by Rs. 15 in tance was the president of the days earlier a constitution,I and a scholar who The demand for a Cons- assembly, Rajendra Prasad. He exemplary role as president of Ratna by his successor Dr S. Andhra Pradesh, in the wrote three major books: India titution of free India continued the Constituent Assembly, he Radhakrishnan. A couple of neighbouring Tamil was nominated to the assembly public function Divided (a trenchant 1946 cri- to be raised in various sessions on the day after the assembly was widely applauded. On the days earlier a public function Nadu it had been tique of the two nation theory), of the Congress till 1946 when penultimate day of the closing was organised at Ramlila increased. was inaugurated and held it was organised Autobiography — composed in the Viceroy Lord Wavell finally with dignity until the end of its session of the Constituent Maidan to bid formal farewell Mr. Shinde refuted the Hindi first as Atmakatha — gave in and declared the forma- Assembly, presenting the draft to Dr Prasad who had held the allegation and said, the term. His was an unenviable at Ramlila and At the Feet of the tion of a Constituent Assembly. task, for Indians are better Constitution for adoption office of President of India Government’s price poli- Mahatma.” The members of the Assembly before the house, Ambedkar with great dignity and grace. In ty was based on the rec- speakers than listeners, and Maidan to bid The above is in an excerpt were chosen on the basis of Indian politicians especially paid reverential tributes to his address Dr Radhakrishnan ommendations of the from the foreword by historian elections held in 1946. Prasad in his speech. said, “Power had not touched Tariff Commission so. Prasad had to keep the farewell to Rajmohan Gandhi for Dr The first meeting of the peace between quarrelsome Finally, I must thank you Mr Dr Prasad at all. Just as in which asked to go into the Rajendra Prasad: First Constituent Assembly took President for the way in which ancient times Bharat had ruled cost structure of sugar members and (just as difficult) Dr Prasad. President of India written by place on December 9, 1946. Dr keep to the clock men who you have conducted the proceed- the people with the image of production in various B.S.M. Murty. In this brief Rajendra Prasad, who was food ings of this assembly. The cour- Rama in his heart — Dr Prasad States. sometimes had little sense of In his essay we will examine the role minister in the interim govern- what was trifling and what was tesy and the consideration which served and ruled the people played by Dr Rajendra Prasad ment was elected as its significant.” you have shown to the members with the image of Gandhiji in address, Dr as president of the Constituent President two days later. The On December 13, 1946, Pt of the assembly can never be for- his heart.” ODDLY ENOUGH Assembly and in the making of primary task of the Jawaharlal Nehru moved the gotten by those who have taken Dr Rajendra Prasad died in Radhakrishnan India’s Constitution of which Constituent Assembly was to historic “Objectives Resol- part in the proceedings of this Patna at his Sadaqat Ashram Dr B.R. Ambedkar, was frame the Constitution of India ution” which broadly outlined assembly. There were occasions residence on Feb 28, 1963. At a Swiss prez to mark said, ‘Just as in undoubtedly, the chief for which Dr B.R. Ambedkar the seminal spirit behind the when the amendments of the public meeting held in Patna architect. was chosen as the chairman of Constitution. Moving the reso- Drafting Committee were sought on March 6 to condole his 60th birthday with ancient times The Madras (now Chennai) the Drafting Committee. A lution Nehru said: “The first to be barred on grounds purely demise, Prime Minister session of Congress in 1927, noted historian Granville task of this assembly is to free technical in their nature. Those Jawaharlal Nehru paying rich all who have it presided by Dr M.A. Ansari Austin identifies seven mem- India through a new constitu- were very anxious moments for tributes to the first President Bharat had had constituted a Committee bers who were the most influ- me. I am, therefore, especially stated that he had 45 years long Geneva: Swiss President tion, to feed the starving peo- for drafting a Constitution for ential in drafting the ple, and to clothe the naked grateful to you for not permit- association with Dr Prasad Simonetta Sommaruga is turn- ruled the peo- India. With Pandit Motilal Constitution. These were: ting legalism to defeat the work who was like his elder brother. ing 60 on May 14 and is plan- masses, and to give every Nehru as the chairperson of Ambedkar, Nehru, Patel, Indian the fullest opportunity of Constitution-making. Earlier, Pt Nehru had said: ning a party with a difference ple with the the committee, the report of Rajendra Prasad, K.M. Munshi Prasad himself, in his closing “They had been fortunate to by inviting along all Swiss citi- to develop himself according to the committee came to be Alladi Krishnaswami Aiyar his capacity.” The salient fea- presidential address, was quite work under Dr Prasad’s guid- zens who share her birthday. image of Rama known as the Nehru Report. It and B.N. Rau (non member of generous in his praise for all ance during the formative peri- There were 94,372 births in tures of the resolution were to envisaged a parliamentary sys- the assembly), designated as draw a Constitution wherein: the members of the Drafting od in India’s history.” No won- Switzerland in 1960 — the year in his heart — tem of government, joint elec- the constitutional adviser to Committee “and especially its der, Babu Jagjivan Ram, for- Sommaruga was born — a) shall be guaranteed and torates and a formula for pro- the government of India. secured to all the people of chairman, Dr Ambedkar… mer deputy prime minister and meaning that the average Dr Prasad tection of minorities. But, Besides these seven members, [who] has not only justified his India’s longest serving Union maximum number of invitees India justice – social, economic unfortunately for Hindu- there was S.N. Mukherjee, who and political; equality of sta- selection but has added luster minister (1946-79), remarked in would be around 258. served and Muslim unity, as later events as the chief draftsman was to the work which he has a biographical sketch of Sommaruga is not taking any tus, of opportunity and before were to prove, the report was almost indispensable to the law: freedom of thought, done”. In that long valedictory Rajendra Prasad that “he was chances with potential gate- ruled the rejected by M.A. Jinnah on the Ambedkar in preparing the address, Prasad reflected on an asset to Prime Minister crashers and is asking expression, belief, faith, wor- question of the quantum of most complex proposals in ship; b) adequate safeguards the “tremendous magnitude” Jawaharlal Nehru”. prospective celebrants to sub- people with the reservation for Muslims. legal language. and value of the monumental mit a copy of their passport shall be provided for minori- In the Karachi session of the In his magnum opus India: ties, backward and tribal areas work of writing the constitu- The writer, an ex-Army through the presidency web- Congress held under the presi- After Gandhi, Ramachandra tion for a country — geograph- officer and a former member of site. "I would be delighted to image of and depressed and other back- dentship of Sardar Vallabhai Guha underlines the impor- ward classes. ically, culturally and demo- the National Commission for receive your registration for Patel, a resolution on economic tance of Rajendra Prasad: “The graphically — as vast and Minorities, is a political my birthday party," Gandhiji in his By the end of 1948, Prasad policy and fundamental rights third Congress member (after had been relieved from diverse as India. He also dwelt analyst based in New Delhi Sommaruga wrote on Twitter moved by Jawaharlal Nehru Nehru and Patel) of impor- on the “salient features of the on Thursday. — AFP heart.’ Congress presidentship along Trump-Netanyahu duo to blame for West Asia mess to retain his decade-old regime. one-nation theory too did not dor in Israel that would be link- As he could not prove his major- work for him. ing the West Bank and the Gaza ity in the two recent elections, So with new strategies the US Strip with a highway. They have K.C. the US President has now taken will definitely take a step ulti- a big economic stake there. both the future Prime Ministers mately focused on harvesting The Palestine-Israel crisis is a Tyagi Netanyahu and Benny Gantz political gains. It might be a critical and sensitive one, and into confidence on the peace very crucial elections year as former US Presidents like Bill plan deal. the Trump-Netanyahu duo may Clinton, George W. Bush and meanwhile Mr Trump had shared the go to any limits to help each Barack Obama have maintained details of the proposed peace other retain power. Mr a neutral stand on it. S President Donald plan with both of them but did Netanyahu can prove helpful for Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque, Trump’s Middle East Plan not find it necessary to involve Mr Trump in terms of wooing which is most sacred among Urecognising Israeli sover- the Palestinian leadership to the Jewish population of the Arab masses, should not have eignty over settlements in the the Washington talks on the US. Though Mr Trump is been disturbed. Palestinians occupied West Bank and propos- same. The Palestinian leader- unpopular among the American view East Jerusalem as occu- ing Jerusalem as an undivided ship had already rejected the Jews, favours to Israel on all pied territory and have been capital of Israel has once again plan before its release, as they socio-political and religious claiming it for their state capi- heated the West Asia. The so- no longer trusted the aggressive issues might turn some of them. tal. But barring Palestinians called peace plan has envisaged and prejudiced policies of the The Jewish population in the entry into their mosque, firing a limited Palestinian state and US on the Palestine-Israel crisis. US is 6.7 millions. tear gas and stun grenades at has also deprived Palestinians Reacting to this plan, the US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — AFP Getting military, financial and worshippers and raids on the of their rights they had been Palestinian Authority had even political support from it, Israel mosque by Israeli forces have fighting for decades. This plan threatened to withdraw from Nations’ Palestinian refugee the country. It passed the Nation tions and now the country will has remained the favourite of now become routine activities. completely sides with Israel and the Oslo accord with Israel if Agency and damaged the econo- State Bill in July 2018 which go to polls for the third time in the US. The US used its UNSC A very tense environment per- giving Palestinians control over the US announces its peace plan my of more than hundreds of states that “the right to exercise less than one year. None of the veto 42 times out of 83 with sists in the region for years. The 15 to 20 per cent of what it called for Middle East. Palestinians millions of dollars in aid to the national self determination” in major political parties could respect to resolutions related to Security Council’s Resolution “Historic Palestine”. are very clear on what the US Palestinians. This aside, cutting Israel is “unique” to the Jewish fetch a majority. Mr Israel. Statistics say that 2334 which concerns Israeli set- Reacting to the plan, thou- can do for them. Undoubtedly, of the West Bank aid, shutting people. It also establishes Netanyahu’s party lost to Benny between 1991 and 2011, the US tlements in “Palestinian territo- sands of Palestinians in Gaza all the decisions of the Trump down the PLO mission in Hebrew as Israel’s official lan- Gantz’s Blue and White in both used its veto 24 times of which ries occupied since 1967” says Strip and occupied West Bank administration since he took Washington and many such guage and downgrades Arabic, the elections — held in April 15 were to protect Israel alone. that the Israeli settlement are in are protesting against this. The over the White House have been steps have generated dissatis- which is widely spoken by the and September — last year. An Mr Trump fetched 24 per cent of violation of international law. Palestinian President Mahmood favoring Israel and ignoring faction among Palestinians. The Arab Israeli population, to a sec- attempt to form a unity govern- the Jewish vote in the last elec- Mr Trump should have main- Abbas has termed it “nonsense” Palestinian causes. The US Trump administration made a ond language. This had attract- ment was also made by Mr tions. He has fulfilled his cam- tained the dignity of the White while Jordan has rejected this administration has recognised potential election gift to ed controversies and criticism Netanyahu but it did not work paign pledge by upending the House while proposing the new proposal. The recent announce- Jerusalem as Israel’s new capi- Netanyahu on April 8, hours from around the world. The set- well. The recent results of both status quo in the Middle East. plan. He should have addressed ment has once again attracted tal and relocated it embassy before the polls opened in Israel, tlement bill that became a law the elections have exposed anti- David Friedman who supports the two-nation theory rationally criticism from around the there from Tel Aviv. when the President officially now legalises Israeli settlement incumbency against Mr the construction of West Bank and in keeping with traditional world. By doing so, Mr Trump On March 25, 2019, just before declared Iran’s Revolutionary homes on private Palestine land Netanyahu and a rejection of settlements has been working American policies. Now it’s all has once again intervened in Israel went to the first of its Guards Corps a terror outfit. All in West Bank. Around 120 for- his staunch Judaism and ultra- aggressively as the US up to the discretion of world Israel’s election campaigns put- recent polls, the US had recog- these steps taken just before the mal settlements have been nationalism. The right-wingers Ambassador to Israel. Many of organisations with regard to ting an effort to ensure Mr nised the Golan Heights as part elections are enough to convey established on disputed territo- were severely accused of the President’s key advisors delivering justice to Netanyahu’s win. of Israel through a presidential the desired message to Israeli ries up till now. bribery, distrust and corruption including his son-in-law Jared Palestinians. Mr Trump’s administration proclamation signed by the voters that their current Prime Both Israel and United States during the campaigns. To divert Kushner are Jewish. They have had been drafting this plan for President. It became the only Minister and his best relation- are to face elections this year. the voter’s mind from all such been framing policies favouring The writer is the Janata Dal more than two-and-a-half years nation which recognizes Israeli ship with the US President were Mr Trump is going to face his allegations, Mr Netanyahu Israeli interests. In the peace (United) chief general but it has been released on a rather than Syrian sovereignty beneficial for their country. anti-incumbency test this shifted the people’s focus to plan, Trumps son-in-law has secretary and national very urgent basis to again help over the Golan Heights region. Israel at the same time kept November but the people of national security and also creat- also included infrastructure, spokesperson. The the Israeli prime ministerial Favouring Israel, the US has dis- passing laws that directly tar- Israel have already rejected Mr ed an environment of threat for business, tourism projects and views expressed here candidate Benjamin Netanyahu continued the funds for United geted the religious minority in Netanyahu in the last two elec- Israelis. Speaking hard on the construction of a travel corri- are personal. BOOKS+ DECCAN CHRONICLE | FRIDAY | 28 FEBRUARY 2020 | CHENNAI pg 12

INDIAN TOP 10 BESTSELLERS Heights of intellect: NON-FICTION Tatas vs Cyrus Mistry: BACKSTAGE: THE 1 STORY BEHIND INDIA’S HIGH GROWTH YEARS LLF offered all Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Rupa, `595 A lawyer’s reminiscence V.P. MENON- THE things to all readers 2 UNSUNG ARCHITECT OF a long-drawn one. It had started being heard. MODERN INDIA with a rush of anger on both Now I think interim protec- lation from one language to anoth- sides. In most cases like this tions are sometimes really ego er, spiced by the observations of Narayani Basu, where the litigants are proud, trips, and have very little practi- F.S. an Urdu-proficient Spanish Simon & Schuster, `799 Abhishek Singhvi the anger remains inflamed for cal use. If a property is in dan- author. Poets discussed their poet- some time, then cooler heads ger of being destroyed, an inter- Aijazuddin ry. Conservationists spoke about GANDHI’S HINDUISM: win and a settlement is reached. im protection might save it, and urban restoration. Painters 3THE STRUGGLE AGAINST excerpt But I didn’t expect this to hap- that is a valid case. But where a analysed their craft. A flotilla of JINNAH’S ISLAM pen here as the issues were person has been removed from a essay books was launched, a choked M.J. Akbar, more deep-rooted and both sides management position, then in press given voice. Bloomsbury, `699 had enormous resources. the course of hearing whether The ongoing trauma of e celebrate the of employees who were out- This being a very prestigious, he should or should not have t was said once that Life maga- Kashmir relived in the con- THE EMPEROR WHO great constitu- siders were sacked with imme- major battle, I had a team of been, a court is very unlikely to zine was for those who cannot science of Pakistanis. Kabul, NEVER WAS - DARA tional cases — the diate effect as well. In the mean- about 12 people with me, includ- reverse the removal. But Iread and Time magazine for Baghdad, Istanbul, Mumbai, 4 ing four or five senior advocates because he was on a losing New Delhi, and Karachi found a SHUKOH IN MUGHAL important ques- time, Ratan Tata was appointed those who cannot think. Litfests tions of rights of interim chairman, and the com- whom I led. With me were Ravi wicket, Cyrus Mistry wanted to have been invented for those to second home in Lahore. The INDIA Wcitizens and how far the law can pany began to look for a perma- Kadam from Bombay, Mohan score a symbolic victory by hav- whom a mobile phone has post-Mughal anarchy Supriya Gandhi go, but most of our work deals nent replacement. By the end of Parasaran of Delhi (former ing some kind of an order in his become their third eye. Attendees prevailing within the country Bellknap Harvard, `699 with commercial matters. After the day, the dramatic events Solicitor General of India), S.N. favour. can record events even while remained barred outside the all, most disagreements were all over the press. Even the Mukherjee of Calcutta, Zal Unfortunately, in high-profile they are watching them; better steel gates of the Al Hamra. It LET ME SAY IT NOW between people are about very share markets were stunned. Andhyarujina and many others. cases, the press impressions still, they can take selfies with had no place within this brick 5 Rakesh Maria, predictable things — who owns Cyrus Mistry went immediate- The other side was led by C. and perceptions of the public authors without having to read paean to culture. Westland, `899 what part of a building or a ly to court. The court he chose Aryama Sundaram but they had are more important than the their latest books. To those familiar with previous piece of land, or who was owed to approach was the National a smaller team overall. Janak actual thing. So if you sneezed, The star of the Lahore Literary litfests, the absence of govern- THE ANARCHY money or goods in a business Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) Dwarkadas was personally it would be reported. There was Festival 2020 over the last week- ment could not have been more 6 William Dalrymple, deal, or what somebody’s shares in a kind of case called an appearing for Cyrus Mistry. a lot of misreporting and it was end, was undoubtedly Orhan welcome. One remembers earlier Bloomsbury, `699 in a company entitle them to. “oppression and mismanage- At the first stage, the fight was alleged by our side that the Pamuk, the Turkish Nobel laure- occasions when a vindictive Because a huge amount of ment” case. This is unusual about two things: interim meas- other side tended to place sto- ate in literature 2006. A trail of chief minister Punjab would REMNANTS OF A money usually rides upon them, because it is not an action you ures and maintainability. From ries in the media which were devotees snaked to have a copy of cause permission for the LLF to SEPARATION the biggest of these corporate pursue in order to enforce, for December 2016 to January 2017 not exactly what transpired in his book — any book by him — be withheld until the very last 7 every attempt was made by the Court. minute when the festival was Aanchal Malhotra, battles often involve the best example, an employment agree- signed with a personal inscrip- legal talent. ment or to seek damages. It is a petitioners to get some kind of I am proud to say I prevented tion. Every one of his books on supposed to open the next morn- HarperCollins, `599 case you file supposedly to pro- interim order. It wasn’t even a any interim orders from being display at the Al Hamra complex ing. Once, permission was sud- t 2 pm on 24 October 2016 tect your rights as a sharehold- very important thing they were passed. On each of those had been sold out by the time he denly withdrawn, forcing the A CHEQUERED a board meeting was to er who meets a certain mini- seeking, but they wanted a vic- attempts an appeal was also put spoke at the closing session. organisers to relocate to 8 BRILLIANCE Atake place at Tata Sons, mum criterion of shareholding. tory, any victory. They had to forth to the National Company Booksellers had thoughtfully another venue. Jairam Ramesh, chaired by Cyrus Mistry. The NCLTs are specialised com- save face somehow after the Law Appellate Tribunal stocked enough books by him and That is not to say that the LLF Penguin Viking, `999 Nothing especially unusual was pany law courts which handle ouster. (NCLAT) in Delhi but there too also by every author participat- is not beyond the tentacles of slated to happen at the meeting, cases of corporate insolvency They were coming from a posi- requests by Mistry were turned ing in the litfest. government grasp. INDIA’S FOUNDING and the agenda did not contain and shareholder disputes. tion where their man had been down. Mistry’s side thus did not Orhan Pamuk had Its founder spon- 9 MOMENT any surprises — primarily These cases do not go before the sacked, and so they felt they had get the satisfaction of an inter- serious competi- sor is still in the Madhav Khosla, investments in AirAsia. regular courts; by law they lost something and needed to im order, even a symbolic one. tion. Second in pop- clutches of NAB, must go to the NCLT. have a win. So they pleaded that held for Harvard, `599 Cyrus Mistry took the chair ularity came and was confronted by the direc- A company is a democracy in a there were various things S: As this book was being William Dal-rym- months uncon- tors representing the Tata sense — it will do the will of the which required interim protec- readied for press, the ple, a co-founder of scionably without 2019 HOW MODI Trusts and told that since the majority of shareholders. But tion. An interim or interlocuto- NCLAT pronounced its the Jaipur charge, without WON INDIA P 10 relationship between the board where a minority of sharehold- ry order is not a final decision judgement (on 18 December Literature Festival explanation. Rajdeep Sardesai and himself had not been work- ers is obviously squeezed out, or on anything, but merely an 2019). It reversed the order of which has become Mercury may be Harper Collins, `699 ing, he was being asked to step deprived of the value of their arrangement directed by the the NCLT completely, and rein- the template for in retrograde this down as chairman and manag- shareholding, against the law, court to prevent anything from stated Cyrus Mistry to his for- such litfests across month, but merci- ing director. and against the interest of the going awry while the case is mer position. As the judgement the subcontinent. fully Lahore’s des- Cyrus Mistry immediately company, they can seek relief in had been pronounced during Dalrymple’s pres- tiny is not affected asked why this was not on the a petition for oppression and Supreme Court vacations, at my ence at the Lahore by the mal-conjunc- agenda. He was informed that it mismanagement. request, the appellate tribunal litfest is more than tion of planets. The was not legally necessary and But Cyrus Mistry himself did suspended the direction to rein- a benediction by a ThinkFest and the that the company had sought not hold significant shares. state Mistry as chairman of portly patriarch. Biennale and now legal opinions to back that up. Those shares were held by the Tata Sons to allow Tata Sons to For those privileged Orhan Pamuk was the star the Lahore LitFest Then, as he did not of his own Shapoorji Pallonji companies. approach the Supreme Court in to hear him speak on of Lahore Literary Fest 2020 2020 explain why accord step down, a resolution They filed a petition against appeal. In the fi rst week of a spectrum of sub- Unesco has desig- was moved to remove him as Tata Sons, and Cyrus Mistry January 2020, despite Mistry’s jects — history, Mughal art, nated Lahore as a City of chairman. Two directors was a respondent party support- lawyers’ vociferous arguments, Pahari paintings, work done by Literature. Lahore may not have abstained, and the rest voted for ing them. Shapoorji Pallonji the Supreme Court gave a full local artists for imperialist produced Nobel laureates in liter- his exit. No one voted for his were claiming that their voice stay on the NCLAT order, British patrons — is to complete a ature yet. No city in Pakistan continuance. on the board of Tata Sons was observing that they prima facie PhD course in under 50 minutes. though could offer a more recep- It was all over in an hour. being drowned out. found the NCLAT judgement Dalrymple knows the danger of tive, hospitable womb than Cyrus Mistry had been removed At this point, Ratan Tata highly questionable since it imparting history through Lahore to an unborn laureate. from one of the most coveted called me to take on this fight, gave the relief of the reinstate- PowerPoint presentations. Done Fortunately, the fickle spring managerial spots in the world. and warned me that it would be ment to Mistry which had been incompetently, they can be weather held out. Those attendees He would continue as a director, a big one. I had not met him ear- FROM THE TRENCHES expressly given up by him. flawed examples of reductio ad who sought a break from the seri- FICTION which he had been since the lier and was pleased to find him absurdum, as inherently danger- ous conversations inside Al year 2006, but he was no longer a dignified, balanced, solid and By ABHISHEK SINGHVI ous as national governance Hamra’s five venues could sit in A LONG PETAL OF the head of Tata Sons. He was to sober person, not flashy or with SATYAJIT SARNA Excerpted from From the though tweets. Done skilfully the benign sunshine and listen to 1 THE SEA clear out his office and leave ostentatious in the least. Juggernaut Trenches with permission from with the dramatic panache lunchtime performances by a Isabel Allende, Bombay House. His own council I knew that this case would be pp.225; `599 the publisher, Juggernaut Dalrymple employs, it is as team of energetic qawwals. At the Bloomsbury, `550 instantly assimilable and stimu- Al Hamra, literature, art and lating as a distilled tonic. music were fused by the LLF into THE TESTAMENTS Litfest sessions in Pakistan are one. To paraphrase the emperor 2 (BOOKER PRIZE 2019 bilingual. They offer conversa- Jahangir’s remark about WINNER) tions between authors whose forte Kashmir, paradise was there, it KIDS SHINE AS BROADWAY’S TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD GOES BIG is Urdu and those who choose to was there. Margaret Atwood, New York: The cast of To Kill a ly that, giving it a standing ova- Rudin-led production and forest ignited with fireflies. write in English. Inevitably, there All this activity circled around a Chatto & Windus, `799 Mockingbird ditched its sombre tion and a hearty thank you. James L. Dolan, executive chair- As the play progressed, the is a slippage of the tongue from statue of Allama Iqbal in the Al Broadway home Wednesday for “I loved the book in middle man and CEO of The Madison students clapped, booed, one language to another, from Hamra garden. Within earshot of GIRL, WOMAN, OTHER the cavernous Madison Square school when I read it and seeing Square Garden Company. The cheered and gasped, even erupt- either into hybrid Urdish. it, a member of the audience col- 3 (BOOKER PRIZE 2019 Garden, performing the play for it live and seeing the characters tickets were distributed by the ing in the same pitched excite- Whoever is privileged to hear lared one distinguished speaker WINNER) 18,000 school kids in an electric come to life, it’s so much more city’s education department. ment as a buzzer-beating 3-point Zehra Nigah recite Faiz Ahmed and told him that he regarded Bernardine Evaristo, one-time-only performance that real,” said Alissa DiCristo, 17. Free popcorn and bottles of basket when the stately Atticus Faiz’s poetry will understand why Allama Iqbal and that speaker as Hamish Hamilton, `799 one actor called “primal”. “It makes you feel so much water were also offered on the Finch wrestled with the evil Bob nightingales fall silent when she equal in his eyes. Pressed to eluci- It marks the first time a more.” way out. Ewell. At other times, the trills. Blessed with a faultless date, he explained that he could THE FAR FIELD Broadway play has been per- The play’s usual Broadway The audience this time sur- Garden was completely silent as memory, softly, very softly, she not understand much of Iqbal’s home is the 1,435-seat Shubert rounded the stage and, in the it felt like 18,000 young people echoes recitations by fellow panel- Urdu and he could not understand Madhuri Vijay, formed at the venue nicknamed 4 “The World’s Most Famous Theatre, where it’s routinely moments before the play, started held their breaths, particularly lists, and occasionally discreetly, the speaker’s English. But he 4th Estate, `599 Arena”, which is home to the sold out. But thousands of mid- using the flashlight feature on during courtroom scenes. ever so politely, she completes the never missed litfests, because New York Knicks and Rangers. dle and high school students their phones to make patterns Director Bartlett Sher paced verse when their memories fail. they raised his intellect to the AMNESTY The last line of the play is “All from all five boroughs got to see and signals, turning the Garden along one side of the stage dur- The LLF offers all things to all height it ought to be. 5 Aravind Adiga, rise” and the students did exact- it for free, courtesy of the Scott into a tapestry of lights, like a ing the performance. — AP men and women. One session Picador India, `699 addressed the challenges of trans- By arrangement with Dawn

HASSAN’S STATE OF 6 AFFAIRS Mirza Athar Baig, Translated by Haider Shahbaz, Harper Perennial, `699 Magnetising dead bones velocity summoning up its fer of magnetism between us electric-ash — powdered imagination. But I lack the meant to, will emerge at the THE CARPET WEAVER strength as the forces build would be dangerous at this bone ash. Ash is meant to be former. I assumed that they vanishing point. 7 Nemat Sadat, up. I like the sound of air stage — both of us know that very good, sacred, and virile would be naturally present. Penguin Viking, `599 Sudeep Sen rushing around, it has a with its latent live power. So in its content. But one does not account for he night ward’s blue sense of assurance about it, it is best to leave our hands Now this is the stuff of decay, least of all when your curtains that surround AMERICAN DIRT never predictable, and untarnished, even though all dreams — a semi-darkened mind is buzzing. They say Tme drip colour and 8 Jeanine Cummins, Polyphony always there even when the heaving circulations map space barely lit with the imagination can conquer deceit — each and every Tinder Press, `699 everyone else disappoints. I an intensely charged field colour of molten green, soft anything, even the body. It pleated-flute of cloth hiding like the fact that I have the that leave even the iron-fil- grey dust in abundance for isn’t true. some half-truths like the half- RAAVANPUTR power to create air, sculpt its ings in complete disarray. me to blow around, to control My body now has a hollow lives of atoms. Only here, the wake up cold, I who / scent — all trying their best shape, direct it, channel it, I distractedly try to speak, the air-space marking out my feeling running through it as arithmetic surety of fission MEGHNAD-PRINCE OF 9 Prospered through to induce a lullaby. However, and even consume it. forgetting for a while that my new patterns with trained if all the bones have been does not wish to match the LANKA dreams of heat / Wake to this languorous soporific voice box has lost all its ash travelling through still stripped out leaving only the nuclear chemistry of my Kevin Missal, their residue, / Sweat, lyric is making me feel cold- he person in the room essentials. Only strained air. Contours would have to intangible flesh to find its blood’s transfusion. Simon & Schuster, `250 I and a clinging sheet,” writes er, rather than the warmth it can sense the electrici- echoey sounds, like the ones be re-measured, terrain to be shape. As long as I am har- The night nurse peeps in to Thom Gunn in The Man with is supposed to inject in me. Tty, invisible photons in my imagined air-tunnel, remapped. nessed to the electrodes, con- assure me that blue is not all THE VAULT OF Night Sweats. Injectibles can be dodgy lighting up this intimately emanate. The hoarse timber All I need is my breath and nected to its current, the black, that red is not grey, 10VISHNU I am surrounded by tropi- these days; you never know controlled space. The trans- matching the searing edge of breathing strength, and my shape will be retained artifi- that the colour of my skin Ashwin Sanghi, cal green neon — multi-sized their ultimate intention or steel that is to graft my skin cially to deceive the onlook- does not reflect the colour of Westland, `399 screens populated with cur- point. A prick here and there shortly. er’s opinion. As long as there my life. I wish I could agree sors and graphs whose night- is hardly going to change my It is quite odd and strangely is no power failure, I can with her consolations. jive are determined by every blood chemistry at this age — warming to imagine the present myself amicably. But Yards of white and blue move I make — every cough but to dull out my senses, it sound waves that a crys- that may not be for long. That linen that wrap my slow gen- that escapes my parched works. talline rock would create is why I feel a great sense of erous chill, know the real throat alters their crest and A figure enters my room. I when one carved out lines on urgency to create when there secret of my floating corpus- trough. can make out only the per- the face of volcanic granite, is some voltage left. In any cles — the flotsam larvae — It is cold here, very cold. I son’s shapely starched sil- to form a newly emerging case, what else can I do? — their ancient silk, that gently lie reluctantly on this crisp houette — her curves com- poem. Metal, rock, text — all nothing really, certainly threads my nearly-finished snow-white sheet, laundered plemented with sharp lines ingratiatingly severe — nothing that is worth mummy. impeccably to create a last- and points, almost bearing a would satisfy my urge, an any effort. I am reminded of Paul ing impression as if it were geometric sense that urge to get out of this sani- At least here, I have been Celan’s lines: “You were my my last day. Starch has its envelops a hastily planned tised capsule — a capsule granted a mound of ash, a death: / you I could hold / own curious effect, not just post-war burial site. where the range of colours palette of blood, syringes when all fell away from me.” on your so-called gait, but I am cold and getting only are as broad as blue, black, that ooze metal, uncut crys- also on the sleep-cells. colder. The bones inside my blue, and black — their heat tals, electrolysed bones, and The colour of this room is body are freezing to such a THE MAN WITH extremely chilling, icy. clean white sheets. I feel Sudeep Sen’s newest books blue, endless blue that seems brittle-point that even mere Suddenly, one of the screens SELECTED POEMS grateful to possess all these. are: Kaifi Azmi: Poems | almost black. Against this, breathing can make them NIGHT SWEATS sparks creating a flurry of At least I can begin where Nazms: New & Selected P the radiated glow of green snap immediately. THOM GUNN beautiful short-lived streaks. By AUL CELAN memory began, start the Translations (Bloomsbury) By Penguin and its tiny electronic letters Waveringly, I can hear my Faber Post-mortem reveals a short- early sketches and the bare- and Modern English Poetry pp.112; $12 and numbers, the nurse- corrugated breath too, clear pp.88; $19.95 circuit that results in heaps bone drafts of my metered by Younger Indians (Sahitya Bahrisons, New Delhi white linen, the stale rice- as coarse air in a tunnel, its and heaps of ash — tangled text. The lyrics, if they are Akademi) DECCAN CHRONICLE | FRIDAY | 28 FEBRUARY 2020 | CHENNAI pg 13 ■ Yields tamed, RBI may opt for targeted refinancing Voda Idea seeks steep quick RBI may take another hike in data, call tariffs BITES New Delhi, Feb. 27: Vodafone Idea has demand- ed fixing minimum tariffs INDICATORS % leaf out of ECB’s book for mobile data at Rs 35 per GB, around 7-8 times of Sensex 39,745.66 -0.36 KARTIK GOYAL at these levels,” said current prices of Rs 4- 5 per Spread between 10-year bond and 364-day Nifty 50 11,633.30 -0.39 MUMBAI, FEB. 27 Teresa John, an economist GB, and for calls at 6 paise T-bill has eased after RBI’s operations S&P 500* 3,066.85 -1.59 POLICY IMPACT at Nirmal Bang Equities. per minute along with India’s central bank may ■ Govt bond generic bid yield 10 year—364 day T-bill auction cut-off yield on Feb. 18, 2020 With yields below now 6.5 monthly charges from Dollar (`) 71.75 -0.20 1.60 per cent “we don’t expect follow up on its generous Highest since 2010 April 1 to enable it pay Pound Sterling (`) 93.27 0.09 funding offer to banks 1.40 any concerted effort to statutory dues and make with another unconven- 1.20 bring them down further,” its business sustainable. Euro (`) 78.01 0.15 1.1872

tional measure as it seeks poins Basis she said. The Digital Communi- Gold (10gm)* (`) 43,513▲78 0.17 to boost lending to the real 1.00 The yield on 10-year cations Commission, the Brent crude ($/bbl)* 51.51 -1.92 economy. 0.80 bonds rose 4 basis points to highest decision making The authority may unveil 0.60 6.38 per cent at 4:20 p.m. in body at the Department of be fixed at Rs 35 per giga- A Vodafone Idea IN 10-Yr bond yield 6. 378 0.032 another European Central Mumbai. Telecommunications, is byte and minimum month- spokesperson declined to 0.40 US 10-Yr T-bill yield* 1.277 -0.033 Bank-styled facility called The ECB began the so- likely to meet on Friday to ly connection charge at Rs comment on the matter. Targeted Longer-Term 0.20 called TLTRO in 2014, with discuss relief measures for 50 from April 1, 2020. These The company has written * As of 9:30 pm IST Refinancing Operations Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb the aim to push banks to telecom companies. are tough demands, which to the telecom department (TLTRO) to expand credit 2019 2020 lend more to businesses Among the options likely is a problem for the gov- expressing its inability to to businesses and house- Source:Bloomberg and households. Initially, to be deliberated is allow- ernment to fulfil," an offi- pay full AGR dues unless holds, after concluding an they were loans with ing staggered payments for cial said on condition of the government takes ONGC, HPCL buy ongoing programme to “The RBI may now steps to ensure that policy longer-than-normal matu- statutory dues for telecom anonymity. urgent measures, includ- lend $14 billion at the poli- choose to tweak these pro- transmission is effective. rities tied to lending tar- industry, sources said. The demand to raise call ing allowing staggered cy rate, according to grammes to make them Yields on benchmark 10- gets, but the terms became Vodafone Idea is under and internet rates from payment, reduction in out bankers in Standard Chartered Plc more targeted as market year and four-year debt increasingly generous in pressure to clear adjusted Vodafone Idea comes with- levies and implementation and Nomura Holdings Inc. rates have fallen to a rea- have declined by more subsequent iterations. gross in three months of compa- of floor prices in the crisis- Petronet MHB The Reserve Bank of sonable level, wherein than 40 basis points since A key feature since 2016 revenue dues of more ny raising prices by up to ridden sector. ONGC and its subsidiary HPCL India has tapped the toolk- incremental fall will not the mid-December has been that banks can than Rs 50,000 crore to 50 per cent. Warning that it is "not in have bought out lenders in it of its peers to pull down meaningfully incentivise announcement of get cash back if they com- comply with a Supreme "According to the compa- a sound financial state", Petronet MHB Ltd, the firm that corporate borrowing costs incremental credit off- Operation Twist -- buying ply with lending goals, as Court order. The company ny, increase in mobile call Vodafone Idea said the owns a petroleum product after five rate cuts in 2019 take,” said Suyash long-dated bonds and sell- the loans are remunerated has sought 18 years time to and data rates will help it company would be in a pipeline in Mangalore, for about failed to spur credit Choudhary, head of fixed ing the shorter tenor ones - at a rate as low as the clear the dues, including a generate revenue to the position to meet its liabili- Rs 371 crore. A consortium of demand. A mix of a income at IDFC Asset - and LTROs in early ECB’s negative deposit three-year moratorium on same level as Vodafone and ties only if the government eight public sector banks held a Federal Reserve-style Management Co. February. Borrowing costs rate. TLTROs were revived payment of interest and Idea individually generat- initiates steps including 34.56 per cent stake in ‘Operation Twist’ and the RBI governor for companies have also in a third round last penalty, according to offi- ed in 2015-16. The company allowing set offs for GST Petronet MHB, where ONGC ECB-like cash boost to Shaktikanta Das told fallen, with the yields on September, and have cial sources. has said that it will take credit accumulated so far, and HPCL held 32.72 per cent banks has led to term reporters earlier this 10-year AAA-rated bonds inspired a number of cen- "There are number of three years to get to that and permitting staggered each. ONGC and HPCL bought spreads--the gap between month that the central down about 40 basis points. tral banks around the demands that Vodafone level after tariff hike, mechanism for payment of 17.28 per cent stake each from 10-year debt and 364-day bank has more tools than “RBI’s OT/LTRO opera- world, including the Idea has put across the gov- hence it has sought three- balance amount of inter- lenders, the firms said in sepa- treasury bill yields-- the regular repurchase tions have succeeded in People’s Bank of China. ernment for its survival. year moratorium for pay- est, penalty, and interest on rate regulatory filings. shrinking from a decade- rate at its disposal. That bringing down yields and The company wants mini- ment of AGR dues," the penalty. high in December. meant he would take more they should be comfortable — Bloomberg mum price of data should source said. — Agencies Defence exports MF industry Tata Motors, 2 group finance Flipkart spared FASTag use to touch `35K cr volumes spurts in by 2024: Singh need to go firms face antitrust probe insolvency entry December ADITI SHAH & it had made submissions ADITYA KALRA to the CCI and would pro- SANGEETHA G said. Cloudwalker up: Sebi NEW DELHI, FEB. 27 vide full support to the CHENNAI, FEB. 27 Streaming Technologies and January watchdog. also failed to submit the FC BUREAU The competition regulator Tata Capital Financial The National Company copy of invoices and copies SANGEETHA G MUMBAI, FEB.27 is examining allegations Services denied the allega- Law Appellate Tribunal of all the documents CHENNAI, FEB. 27 that Tata Motors and two tions and said it would (NCLAT) has set aside the referred in the application. The mutual fund indus- finance firms of its $100 also support inquiries, order of the Bangalore Cloudwalker which used FASTag transactions on try, facing several chal- billion parent group adding it had separately bench of NCLT on initiat- to supply the e-commerce national highways wit- lenges, can sustain by abused their market posi- taken legal action against ing insolvency proceedings major imported LED TVs, nessed a spurt in increasing the volumes, tion while selling commer- of Tata Steel and other the dealer, which it said against Flipkart. had filed a petition before December even before it Defence minister Rajnath Singh a top official from the cial vehicles, according to firms colluded on prices of had defaulted. The appellate tribunal NCLT contending that became mandatory from projected that the annual Indian Securities and Exchange three sources and legal bearings. A final ruling on Tata Motors ended rela- released Flipkart from cor- Flipkart defaulted for an January 15. Transaction defence exports will touch Rs Board of India said. documents seen by that case is pending. tions with the dealership porate insolvency resolu- amount of Rs 26.95 crore. values rose 62 per cent 35,000 crore by 2024 from the Speaking at the CII Reuters. The latest complaint, in 2017 due to poor per- tion process and directed Cloudwalker had con- in December and fur- current level of Rs 17,000 crore. Mutual Fund Summit, The Competition filed last year by a family formance, the documents the Interim Resolution tended that Flipkart had ther by 29 per cent in Singh also said he has no doubt G. Mahalingam, whole Commi-ssion of India member of the dealer, showed. Professional (IRP) appoint- entered into a supply January. about India emerging as among time director, Sebi, said, (CCI) is reviewing a com- alleged Tata Motors broke The CCI did not respond ed by NCLT to handover agreement on December Till November, month- the three major economies of “Journey to reach the Rs plaint which alleges the rules by working in con- to Reuters queries, but a the records and assets of 29, 2016. As per the agree- ly FASTag transactions the world by 2030 and the 100 trillion size needs to country’s biggest seller of cert with Tata Motors fourth source aware of the the company back to its ment, Cloudwalker would stood around Rs 773 defence industries will have an be accelerated. There trucks dictated terms Finance and Tata Capital case said the watchdog promoter immediately. receive the purchase order crore and it spurted by important role to play. "India's have been several chal- around the quantity and Financial Services while would reach a decision The case pertains to the upon which it will import 62 per cent in December defence export is growing,” the lenges faced by the type of vehicles its former advancing dealer credit. within six weeks, which insolvency plea admitted and procure the required to Rs 1,256 crore. minister said at the Karnataka industry right from dealer in northern India— The automaker would could see a wider probe by NCLT’s Bangalore quantities of LED TVs and Transaction volumes 'Rajyotsava' event. squeeze in the margins Varanasi Auto Sales— stop supplying vehicles to into the allegations or a bench in October 2019. deliver the same to also rose 84 per cent and liquidity to change should stock. the dealer if repayment of dismissal of the com- Flipkart’s operational Flipkart at its desired loca- from 34.92 million in in investor preference More than a dozen loans advanced by the two plaint. creditor Cloudwalker tion. November to 64.33 mil- and advance in technolo- lawyers representing the finance firms was delayed, The details of the com- Streaming Technologies Flipkart allegedly failed lion in December. gies. Even regulatory three Tata companies indicating they were col- plaint and the ongoing had filed the plea. to collect all the TVs for The government had IOC invests `3K cr development adds to the attended a private hearing luding, said one of the proceedings are not pub- The appellate tribunal, which orders were placed, first fixed December 1 as cost. The main concern at the CCI in January and sources privy to the com- lic. however, found that the failed to pay excess the deadline for manda- is sustainability; this argued there was no mal- plaint. The CCI has powers to demand notice delivered charges and costs as prom- tory FASTag transac- to upgrade Haldia can be addressed only by practice by the group’s “(The) model of business impose a penalty of up to under Section 8(1) of the ised and failed to honour tions on national high- increasing the vol- firms, said the three adopted by Tata Group 10 per cent of the relevant Insolvency & Bankruptcy the commitment. The e- ways. This saw a surge refinery to BS-VI umes.” sources, who have direct helped in sustaining and turnover of a company in Code (IBC) was "not proper commerce company also in the purchase of “Even if we manage to knowledge of the matter. retaining the market the last three financial and was also incomplete". allegedly coerced the com- FASTags and a subse- Indian Oil Corporation has reach the size of 50 per The Tata Group has share,” the complaint doc- years if it is found to have "The operational creditor pany to offer discounts on quent surge in transac- made an investment of around cent of the banking faced antitrust reviews in ument said. abused a dominant posi- failed to submit any docu- the TVs. By March 2018, tions. Tag issuance had Rs 3,000 crore to upgrade its deposits in the country, the past. A CCI investiga- In response to Reuters tion. ments to prove in existence Flipkart had failed to col- gone up from 7.9 million refinery in Haldia to meet BS-VI the size would be huge. tion last year found units queries, Tata Motors said —Reuters of the operational debt and lect 70 per cent of the goods in November to 11.66 emission norms, an official said. At the moment we are the amount in default," it ordered by Cloudwalker. million by December. The PSU will invest Rs 388 just around Rs 28 lakh Later the deadline was crore more for setting up a crore, which is one- postponed to January grassroot bottling plant at fourth the size of the 15. In January the trans- Kharagpur, diesel exhaust fluid banking industry,” actions further went up (DEF) plant at Budge Budge Mahalingam said. Is Petronet backing out of Tellurian deal post-Trump visit? by 29 per cent to Rs 1,622 and lube blending unit at “There is a need to look crore and the volumes Paharpur in West Bengal, beyond the top cities for by 44.5 per cent to 93.02 Pritish Bharat, ED (West tapping new investors. NAUREEN S. MALIK, natural gas buyer, Petronet doubts that if Tellurian lights how a flood of new expected next month, as million. Bengal, Sikkim and A&N), said. The industry needs to STEPHEN STAPCZYNSKI LNG Ltd, has started solic- will be able to secure a siz- supply and record low spot well as to justify to share- As per the data from ferret out the potential & DEBJIT CHAKRABORTY iting offers for supply able anchor investment prices are strengthening holders its final decision, Worldline India, of the from tier-II and tier-III FEB. 27 under terms similar to a from Petronet for its buyers’ hands and ramping one of the people said. 11.66 million FASTags cities where technology tentative agreement it Driftwood LNG project, up competitive pressure Under the preliminary issued till the end of would be able to help An emerging US natural signed with Tellurian Inc according to Michael among sellers. Tellurian non-binding deal in December, over 7 mil- out,” Mahalingam said. gas developer, along with last year, according to peo- Webber, managing partner didn’t respond to requests September, Petronet would lion tags were issued in HDFC Bank, The mutual fund its $28 billion export proj- ple with knowledge of the of Webber Research & for comment. A Petronet buy 5 million tonnes of 2019 alone. National industry is on average ect, has been rattled by the matter . Advisory. “It’s supportive spokesman didn’t answer LNG annually from the Electronic Toll Indigo to issue receiving Rs 8,000 crore attempts of a potential The Petronet tender, com- of our overall skepticism calls seeking comment. Driftwood project in Collection transaction per month through SIP, major customer in India to bined with the lack of a of the deal,” he said. Petronet issued the ten- Louisiana, which is slated volume for the entire but only 2-3 per cent of probe the market for com- deal announcement by the The combined news der to glean price and mar- to startup in 2024. The com- year of 2019 stood at 370 co-branded card the total investing popu- peting supplies, highlight- companies that was expect- spooked investors, sending ket information that it will panies have been targeting million, a jump of 162 lation is investing in it, ing pressure on sellers ed during President Tellurian shares down 23 use to back its position a final deal by the end of per cent over previous HDFC Bank joined hands with he said. amid a global gas glut. Donald Trump’s visit to per cent on Wednesday. during talks with March. year. IndiGo to launch a co-branded India’s largest liquefied India this week, adds to The development high- Tellurian, which are — Bloomberg credit card, which will effective- ly work like a loyalty program- me for the carrier. Labelled Ka- ching, the card will offer bene- fits like complimentary air tick- ets, lounge access, 5 per cent Virus rumours hurt poultry industry Toyota Vellfire sold out for 3 months cashback or reward points on Indigo bookings, and 3 per cent FC BUREAU avirus disease, the sales, rise in prices,” he said. MICHAEL GONSALVES cashback on dining, grocery NEW DELHI, FEB. 27 both in demand and prices, Yadav also said the com- HYDERABAD, FEB. 27 and entertainment, the compa- have been dented sharply. pany’s poultry arm, Godrej nies said. Around 20 per cent Rumours that the coron- Chicken is safe in India Tyson Foods, was hit Even as mass automobile market is strug- of HDFC cards are co-branded. avirus is spread through though rumours have hit badly, as sales have gling to sell cars, Toyota’s first luxury car chickens have taken a the chicken demand dropped by 40 per cent in called Vellfire MPV priced at Rs 79.50 lakh heavy toll on the poultry sharply, down by over 50 the last one month from at pan-India has been sold out for the first industry in India. Chicken per cent in just one month, 6,00,000 birds a week. three months and 20 per cent of it from the Printed & Published by sales have more than and ex-farm gate prices Mentioning the govern- rich and famous of the Hyderabad city . T Venkateswarlu on behalf of Deccan halved and prices have have also fallen by 70 per ment advisories that coro- A total of 60 units a month is Toyota's Chronicle Holdings Limited. Printed & crashed by 70 per cent in cent,” BS Yadav, managing navirus does not spread allocation for India beginning February. ticality is growing,” he said. Published at Deccan Chronicle Presses the last one month. director, Godrej Agrovet, in the last one month, through chicken, Yadav “We have been sold out for the first three India added more than three dollar bil- situated at SP-3 Developed Plot, But the retail prices have told reporters here. although the cost of pro- appealed the state govern- months and Hyderabad has booked 20 per lionaires every month in 2019, taking the Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai. fallen only marginally, Yadav said all-India duction is Rs 75 per kg. ments to take action cent of the total 180 units allocated for tally to 138 that has helped the country to Editor: T.Venkatram Reddy, RNI Reg. No. TNENG/2008/25473 Air surcharge Re with traders pocket most of chicken sales has come “Once the rumours die against rumour mongers. India at present,” Naveen Soni, senior vice feature at the third position globally in the 1. © All rights reserved. Reproduction in the money from the poul- down to 35 million birds a down and consumption Yadav also said per capi- president at Toyota Kirloskar Motor told Hurun Global Rich List 2020 report. whole or in part without written per- try industry’s misery. week from 75 million while rises in the next two-three tal consumption of chick- Financial Chronicle. Customers paid Rs 10 Soni said plans are afoot to bring to India mission of The Editor, Financial “As the speculation ex-farm gate prices have months, there would be a en in India is at 4.5 kg, lakh as down payment to get early deliver- Toyota luxury sedans and SUVs, including Chronicle ® is prohibited. swirled on social media dropped by over 70 per cent shortage of chicken in the much lower than the global ies of Vellfire without knowing the price. Toyota Supra, sports car and a Porsche that chicken causes coron- to Rs 35 per kg from Rs 100 country, causing a sharp average of 11 kg. “The appetite for luxury cars with prac- fighter. CRICKET DECCAN CHRONICLE | CHENNAI | FRIDAY | 28 FEBRUARY 2020 pg 14 IPL 2020 The counterplan Rahane’s mantra for second Test: Show more intent David Warner and negate angles created by Kiwi pacers Warner back as Christchurch, Feb. 27: awkward angles that Neil small things we have been Ajinkya Rahane wants to Wagner and company can working on in practice take on the New Zealand create. “That’s what I said: and how to use the Hyderabad captain pace battery with more try and learn what mis- crease and the angles. New Delhi: Explosive intent in the second Test takes we did as a group, Doesn’t matter how Australian batsman David and his foolproof strategy what can we learn. I think much you practice you Warner was on Thursday rein- includes countering the we have to practice those must trust or have the stated as IPL franchise Sunrisers awkward angles which angles. We had a practice belief to be able to do it in Prithvi Shaw Hyderabad’s captain, a position became a nightmare for session and we have one the middle,” he added. that he had to give up after the Indian batsmen during more tomorrow. And you Pujara has drawn a lot of SWEATING IT OUT ball-tampering scandal in 2018. the first Test at the Basin have to practice that and flak for his dour approach Shaw skips The 33-year-old Warner, who Reserve. trust your ability in the in the first Test where his led the Sunrisers to the trophy Rahane, who top-scored middle,” Rahane said in a painstaking 11 off 81 balls in 2016, will take over from New with 46 in the first innings reassuring tone. put enormous pressure on training after Zealand skipper Kane of the opening Test, is While net sessions are the other batsmen. Williamson for the season start- hopeful that a turnaround important, it’s the “Pujara was trying his bit, ing March 29. “I am thrilled to will happen on a green top instincts in match situa- he was actually looking to foot injury be given the captaincy for this at the Hagley Oval, which tions that counts, score runs. But I think Christchurch, Feb. 27: coming IPL 2020. I’m extremely he reckons will be better he said. Boult, Southee and all Young opener Prithvi grateful for the opportunity to for batting compared to their bowlers did not give Shaw missed Thursday’s lead the side once again,” the one they got in away much.” training session due to a India’s Ravindra Jadeja during a training session Warner said in a video posted Wellington. “I am not say- — PTI swelling on his left foot, atthe Hagley Oval on Thursday. — BCCI by the Sunrisers Hyderabad. “I’d ing (we have to be) more increasing Indian team like to thank Kane (Williamson) aggressive but having that management’s worries for the way you guys led the intent and clear mindset ahead of the second Test team throughout the last couple will help us,” Rahane told against New Zealand of years and I’d be leaning on reporters on Thursday. “But to beginning on Saturday. Score big: Jaffer you guys for support and New Zealand pacers change or adjust According to sources, insight to the game as well,” he Trent Boult, Tim Southee those angles there Shaw will undergo a said. — PTI and Kyle Jamieson used are times you need to be blood test on Thursday the short ball liberally instinctive while you are to ascertain the reason after coming wide of the batting. It can mean of the swelling. In case to India batsmen Guwahati to host crease with an angle that standing on off-stump, the medical report is was disconcerting for the or standing outside favourable, a call will be Navi Mumbai, Feb. 27: opener said. two games of RR batsmen. “I think they the crease or staying taken during Friday’s Wasim Jaffer, a domestic Jaffer also felt that the New Delhi: The Barsapara used that angle really well deep inside the practice session on his cricket giant, says unless team getting bundled out Stadium in Guwahati will host in Wellington. Bowling crease – like if it is a availability for the sec- the Indian batsmen build for below 200 in the first former champions Rajasthan wide of the crease or from pitch for cut shot ond Test. on their starts and put a Test was not beffiting of Royals’ first two home matches the centre, they changed then you can stand If Shaw is not comfort- big total on the board, its number one rank in during the upcoming edition of angles while bowling the deeper in the crease. able while batting, he bouncing back in the Test the longest format of the the Indian Premier League, the short balls. I think their This is the mental will not make it to the series against New game. BCCI said on Thursday. “They plan was completely clear. side of the game,” playing XI. Shubman Zealand will be extremely “They kept our run-rate will now play Delhi Capitals & “As a batsman, if you Rahane said. I am not Gill had a good net ses- difficult. in check and kept our Kolkata Knight Riders on April going to think about a par- “For me, as a bats- sion on Thursday and it India were humbled by batsmen under pressure 5th & April 9th respectively in ticular shot, then you man it is important saying (we is expected that he 10 wickets by the hosts in for long periods. I felt that Guwahati. Both games will have need to back yourself and you show your intent have to be) more would the opening Test as the in the first innings the an 8 PM IST start,” BCCI secre- play that shot. You cannot to the bowler, if you aggressive but pace trio of Tim Southee, conditions were tary Jay Shah said in a release. doubt yourself. We need to stand in one spot Trent Boult and Kyle favourable for bowlers, Rajasthan Royals will play their forget what happened in then the bowler having that intent Jamison ran riot. “Virat but they worked out an remaining five home matches at Wellington,” the Indian doesn’t need to and clear mindset has a lean patch for a strategy of bouncers and their designated home ground vice-captain said. change any- while, so I am expecting we should have batted of Sawai Mansingh Stadium in According to Rahane, thing. will help us him to come back better in the second Jaipur. The Steve Smith-led the two net sessions at the These are — AJINKYA stronger. Pujara needs innings. To get out both Rajasthan Royals will open their Hagley Oval is being used some runs under his times under 200 is unlike campaign with an away match to practice negating the RAHANE belt. Most importantly the number one Test against Chennai Super Kings on they need to convert their team,” he said. April 2. — PTI be asked to open the starts into three figures, Jaffer was confident innings alongside if that dosen’t happen that India would bounce Dhoni has to play Mayank Agarwal if and if we don’t put score back as they have done it Shaw is unable to make of 350-400 runs then it is in the past. “There is no more games: Kapil it. difficult,” Jaffer said. doubt that they India will We will be ready for Virat: Latham During Thursday’s “In 200-250 (runs) you come back hard in the Noida: The legendary Kapil nets, head coach Ravi can’t win a Test match next Test (at Dev is not excited about Christchurch, Feb. 27: Mohammed Shami might Latham expects Wagner to Shastri was seen paying unless there is much help Christchurch), which Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s return Virat Kohli will be itching have had a below par be more than a handful. extra attention to Gill’s from the pitch. When we they should and they have to action during the IPL, saying to make a comeback in the game in Wellington but “It’s something that Neil session. At one point, bat first or bat second, we always done that in the the league is for future stars second Test and the best Latham said they remain has obviously been so Shastri walked up to Gill need to score 400-450 past. Whenever they have and suggested that he should chance for New Zealand world class bowlers and good at for so long and he and was seen giving runs,” the former India been put under pressure, play a few matches to be con- will be to exploit the side- the team would be certain- is second to none in terms some technical inputs they have bounced back sidered for selection in India’s ways movement which ly wary of them. of accuracy. about footwork to Gill very strongly. I’m expect- T20 World Cup squad. Dhoni can spell trouble for the “We have played those “He is a short guy and and what’s required to ing the same thing,” he will start training for his much- Indian captain, feels guys really well in the that makes him harder to check his uppish drives. said. anticipated return to action in opener Tom Latham. first Test. But they are play. If the surface is up The Indian team man- — PTI the Indian Premier League (IPL) Kohli had an indif- World class performers for that plan he will be agement is hopeful that from March 2 amid never-end- ferent tour of and we will be wary of looking to go round with the swelling will not be a In 200-250 ing speculation on his career, New Zealand so them. Certainly they that.” serious concern for which has been on hold since far. He was out would be on top of their The first day will be Shaw. The Mumbai (runs) you last year’s ODI World Cup. “It’s for 2 and 19 in game and if we play well important reckoned opener didn’t even take can't win a not just Dhoni who is playing the first Test it will give us a good Latham. “Generally, it’s a part in the customary Test match the IPL. I am a person who look in Wellington. chance. We need to be con- good surface and surfaces warm-up session where for a young player who we can “When Virat sistent for long periods,” in NZ have been on the players had a good time unless there is be proud of in the next 10 comes out to bat we he said. greener side at the start playing touch rugby. much help years. I think Dhoni has already will be ready. He is a Latham is sure that Neil and then flatten out. So we Shaw had a poor outing done so much for the country,” quality player and Wagner’s comeback will need to do well on day in the first Test in from the Kapil said. “As his fan, yes there is a reason why he add firepower to the side. one.” Wellington, getting dis- pitch. When (would like to see him playing is up around that No 1 “I haven’t yet seen him Hagley Oval has been a missed cheaply in both the T20 World Cup) but as a rank for such a period of but when he rocks up for happy hunting ground for the innings. Tim we bat first cricketer I think it all depends time,” Latham said. training he will be the New Zealanders. “We Southee got him for 16 or bat on the management. He hasn’t “He has done it for long absolutely fizzing up to have lost only one Test with an unplayable second, we played for one year. He should time and done it in all get going and obviously he here. Hagley has been a delivery in the first play more matches to be in the conditions. If the surface will be raring to go. He is happy hunting ground for innings and he also need to team. There shouldn’t be differ- is conducive to sideways been a quality performer us and hopefully won’t be found Trent Boult’s score ent parameters for different movement we will try and for a number of years for different for us as we try short ball difficult to players,” the 1983 World Cup exploit that,” said us,” Latham said. to play to our skills for negotiate when he was 400-450 runs. winning skipper said. Latham. The Hagley Oval surface long periods of time.” on 14 in the second essay. — WASIM — PTI Jasprit Bumrah and will have bounce and — PTI — PTI Tom Latham JAFFER India women seal semifinal spot Warner, Finch power Oz Melbourne, Feb. 27: India entered the semifinals of the BRIEF SCORES women’s T20 World Cup after INDIA 133/8 in 20 overs to series victory over SA Shafali Verma’s 34-ball 46 fol- (Shafali Verma 46, Taniya lowed by a superlative per- Bhatia 23; Amelia Kerr 2/21, Cape Town, Feb. 27: formance from the bowlers Rosemary Mair 2/27) bt David Warner and Aaron helped the team notch up a NEW ZEALAND 129/6 in 20 Taniya Bhatia Finch launched a brutal narrow four-run win over overs (Amelia Kerr 34 not assault on the South New Zealand here on out; Shikha Pandey 1/21). African bowlers to set up Thursday. We can handle a comprehensive 97-run Invited to bat, India posted returned to remove Green, Australian victory in the a below-par 133 for eight in who danced down the pitch situations better series-deciding third T20I the group A match with only to end up with an out- at Newlands. Shafali top-scoring with a 34- side edge as Bhatia did the In a near-repeat of ball 46 and Taniya Bhatia rest. Radha then dismissed now, says Bhatia Australia’s record 107-run chipping in with a 25-ball 23. Martin to leave New Zealand Melbourne, Feb 27: win in the first match of They, however, produced a at 90 for 5 in 16.3 overs. Wicket-keeper the series in disciplined performance Needing 44 off 21 balls, batswoman Taniya Johannesburg, South with the ball to restrict New Kerr blasted four boundaries Bhatia says the Indian Africa captain Quinton de Zealand to 129 for six and to accumulate 18 runs in the team has got better at Kock’s decision to bowl register their third succes- penultimate over bowled by reading and handling first backfired spectacu- sive win in the tournament Poonam to bring the equa- different situations, larly. and seal a last-four spot. tion down to 16 off six balls. which was evident dur- Led by opening batsmen With this win, India topped India’s Shafali Verma poses with her Player of the Match In the final over, Heyley ing the recent tri-series Warner and captain Group A, having beaten Jensen and Kerr cracked a in Australia. Finch, Australia piled up Team Australia celebrate their T20I series win over award after the Women’s T20 World Cup clash against South Africa. — AP Australia and Bangladesh in NewZealand on Thursday. — ICC four each but Shikha held “In the last 12 to 14 193 for five — three fewer their last two outing. “It is a her nerves in the end to months, we have than they made in and was named man-of- ago. great feeling when your team Sharma bled 12 runs with with a beauty of a delivery ensure India’s win. improved a lot as a unit. Johannesburg. They then the-match after taking "It's something we pride is performing like that,” opener Rachel Priest (12) hit- as New Zealand slipped to 30 Earlier, 16-year-old Shafali We’re in a really positive bowled out South Africa three for 23. Finch was ourselves on," said Finch. India skipper Harmanpreet ting her for two boundaries. for two. provided the fireworks as position. We’ve been for 96, just seven more named man of the series “It’s quite disappointing Kaur said after the match. But experienced pacer Poonam Yadav and Radha India scored 49 for one in the playing well ever since than the host country’s for his aggressive batting the way we lost,” said De “We did the same mistakes, Shikha Pandey removed Yadav then mounted the powerplay overs. But they the tri-series. I think record low in and astute captaincy. Kock. “We have to keep we got a good start in the Priest in the next over when pressure on the Kiwis and lost six wickets for 43 runs to we’ve got a lot better as a Johannesburg. “The guys have bought our heads up and keep first 10 overs and we didn’t she had her caught at mid soon the Black Caps were 34 squander the good start. team in working out how As in Johannesburg, into the roles they have looking forward.” — AFP carry the momentum. We did wicket. for 3 when the former dis- Smriti Mandhana, who to handle and read situa- left-arm fast bowler been asked to play,” he Brief Scores: Australia bowl well in patches and With Shikha and left-arm missed skipper Sophie returned to the playing XI tions well,” Bhatia said. Mitchell Starc bowled De said. It was the first time 193/5 in 20 overs some times, we were not up spinner Rajeshwari Devine (14). Maddy Green after missing the last match “The results are in our Kock, South Africa’s star Warner and Steve Smith (Warner 57, Finch 55; to the mark and have to focus Gayakwad bowling in tan- (24) and Katey Martin (25) due to illness, departed early favour, but we need to batsman, in the first over had played at Newlands Shamsi 1/25) bt South on those areas,” she added. dem, New Zealand played then tried to resurrect the but Shafali and Taniya kept keep up the momentum. of the home team’s reply. since both were banned Africa 96 in 15.3 overs Defending a below-par with caution to reach 28 for innings with a 36-ball 43-run the scoreboard ticking, If we do that, we will do He followed up by dismiss- for a year after a ball-tam- (van der Dussen 24, total, India introduced spin one. Back into the attack, stand. adding 51 runs for the second well and we can win the ing former captain Faf du pering scandal at the Klaasen 22; Agar 3/16, straight away but Deepti Deepti then cleaned up Bates However, Gayakwad wicket. — PTI final.” — PTI Plessis in the third over same ground two years Starc 3/23). GAMES pg 15 DECCAN CHRONICLE | CHENNAI | FRIDAY | 28 FEBRUARY 2020

SHORT TAKES CITY | CLIPS Injured James out of Warriors game Cavaliers clip 76ers Los Angeles: LeBron James will skip Thursday’s game against the last place Golden State Warriors because of a groin Sexton towers high to pack off Philadelphia injury, the Los Angeles Lakers announced on Wednesday. Los Angeles, Feb. 27: A spokesman for the team The Cleveland Cavaliers Srinjoy Sanyal and Sayantan Guha of Asian College of made the announcement in a posted their fourth win in Journalism, winners of the Murugappa Group inter-col- news release on their Twitter five games with a 108-94 lege sports quiz at Patrician College of Arts & Science social media page. victory on Wednesday on Wednesday. They were awarded by the former vol- There were no details on the over the Philadelphia leyball international J. Nadarajan (second from left) and extent of the injury. 76ers, who lost all-star Dr. Geetha Rufus, vice principal of Patrician. “LeBron James (sore groin) is Joel Embiid to an injury. out for tomorrow’s game at Collin Sexton scored 28 Srinjoy and Sayantan champs Golden State. Anthony Davis points, Larry Nance col- Srinjoy Sanyal and Sayantan Guha of Asian College of (sore left elbow) is probable,” lected 13 points and a sea- Journalism emerged victorious in the Murugappa the team said. son-high 15 rebounds, and Group inter-college sports quiz at Patrician College of James did not mention the Tristan Thompson had 14 Arts & Science on Wednesday. injury on Tuesday night after in the win. The winners scored 90 points in six rounds. John scoring a season-high 40 Embiid suffered a left Alias and Vishnu PK of MCC finished second with 75 points to lead the Lakers to a shoulder sprain after col- points and Jeevesh Guha Natarajan and Aadithya S 118-109 win over New Orleans. liding with Cleveland cen- were third with 70. James played 34 minutes tre Ante Zizic with 49 sec- The champions took home `20,000. S. Priyaranjana against the Pelicans which is onds left in the opening and P. Priyadharshini of MOP won the best girls’ team right at his 34.9 season quarter. award in the preliminary round in which nearly 140 average. Still smarting from the teams took part. Goal Quiz organised the event. Cosco Los Angeles is hoping it can collision, the seven-foot and thebridge.in were co-sponsors. win without James and Davis Embiid grimaced as he over the hapless Warriors, missed both free throw Lawrance guide Book Sellers to big win who have won just 12 games attempts. He did not stick Lawrance Dsouza’s century guided Book Sellers XI to all season and have the poorest around and went straight a 189-run win over Fox Trotters Cricket Club in the record in the NBA. — AFP to the locker room. TNCA’s fourth division ‘D’ league match. M. Embiid briefly returned Purushothaman’s five-wicket haul went in vain. to the bench in the second In another match, V.S. Karthick Manikandan scalped Beckham’s Miami quarter before being six wickets as Chennai Port Sports Council beat taken out of the game for Twentieth Century Club in the fourth division ‘B’ good at halftime. He is league match. to make debut expected to be examined Century from V. Sakthivel and a five-wicket haul New York: David Beckham’s by team doctors on from M. Kaviarasan powered Lusuraj Cricket Club to quest to launch a Major League Thursday to determine an easy win over Singam Puli Cricket Club in the fifth football franchise will finally the extent of the problem. division ‘D’ league match. come to fruition on Sunday Sixers coach Brett Brief scores: III-Division ‘A’: Southern Railway Sports when Inter Miami make their Brown said he was Association 109 in 36.3 overs (Keith Ward 3/41) lost to Reserve competitive debut in a season- “unsure” whether Embiid Bank Recreation Club 111/4 in 27.2 overs (T. Balaji 36 not out, M. Lakshminarayanan 30; S. Suraj 3/27); Bhimannapet Recreation opening clash with Los Angeles would play in Thursday’s Club 205/8 in 50 overs (D. Surendar Doss 100, T.A. Sanjay 38; F.C. home game against the S. Sanjay Shrinivas 4/33) bt Sir Theagaraya Recreation Club A tortuous six-year journey New York Knicks. 190 in 48.5 overs (R. Raja Guru 43, S. Sanjay Shrinivas 36, K. marked by setbacks and frus- “I’m really sort of a pris- Vaidyanathan 31; A.H. Abul Hakkim 3/54); Falcon Cricket Club trations will be put firmly in the oner to the medical peo- 120 in 37.3 overs (S. Vivek Athinam 4/40) lost to Krishnaraj rear view mirror as Beckham’s ple’s information. I Memorial Club 123/8 in 39 overs (Adittya Varadharajan 41; G. expansion side take to the field haven’t checked in. I’m Aravindh 3/27, M. Nandha Kumar 3/19). IV-Division ‘B’: Jubilee at LAFC’s Banc of California unsure, I really am Cricket Club 163/9 in 50 overs (Anirudh Kasthuri 53, S.R. Athish 38; R. Kaleeswaran 4/39, Prakash Sukumar 3/41) lost to Sridhar Stadium. unsure,” said the Sixers Cricket Club 167/6 in 38.4 overs (S.P. Sundara Raghu Raman 55, Speaking at a MLS media event coach. E. Karthick 34, S. Sachin 33 not out); Chennai Port Sports in New York on Wednesday, Embiid’s injury is the Council 199 in 48.2 overs (B. Aaditya 60, P. Kanish Prabhu 36, Beckham admitted there were latest for Philadelphia, S. Bharath Ram 32 not out; M. Shanmugham 3/24, R. Ramesh times when he feared his plans who are without Ben 3/45) bt Twentieth Century Club 172 in 43.3 overs (P. Pandiyan to launch a team were doomed. Simmons after the all-star 70, S. Yathin 37; V.S. Karthick Manikandan 6/33); BSNL Chennai But the former England and guard was injured during Telephones Recreation Club 113 in 37.3 overs (S. Harish 40; S. Rajesh 5/28, P. Sivakumar 4/40) lost to Komaleeswarar Cricket Manchester United star said his Saturday’s 119-98 loss in Club 115/7 in 27.4 overs (Y. Saie Sharan 4/33); Mambalam determination to create a last- Milwaukee. Simmons has Mosquitos 187 in 50 overs (P. Babu 47; R. Sarath Kanna 5/62) ing legacy in the United States a nerve problem in his bt GE T& and India Sports and Recreation Club 110 in 29.2 overs had helped him keep the faith. lower back. (S. Arunachalam 5/39, J. Kathiravan 3/21). IV-Division ‘D’: Beckham first announced his Earlier on Wednesday, Venkateswara Cricket Club 237 for 8 in 50 overs (Sajjad plan to become a team owner the NBA fined Joel Hussain 58, M.G. Kamesh Pandithan 39, T. Bharath 38; A.S. in 2014, exercising an agree- Embiid $25,000 for making Rangarajan 5/74) bt Youngsters Cricket Club 234 in 48.1 overs ment written into his contract an obscene gesture on the (T. Manoj Kumar 64, S. Prakalathan 42, U. Udesh Milan 38; Syed Abdul Asif 4/40); Book Sellers XI 272 in 49.5 overs (Lawrance after joining the Los Angeles court and using profanity Dsouza 129, M. Varun Kumar 42, B. Vignesh Balaji 33; M. Galaxy from Real Madrid in during a TV interview. James Harden (centre) of the Houston Rockets looks to pass the ball as DeAnthony Melton (right) and Jonas Purushothaman 5/21) bt Fox Trotters Cricket Club 83 in 24.1 2007. — AFP Those incidents took Valanciunas (left) of the Memphis Grizzlies defend during their NBA game in Houston on Wednesday. Houston overs (M.A. Stephen Raj 3/19, G. Mahendran 3/5); Magnet place during Rockets carved out a 140-112 victory. — AP Cricket Club 227/5 in 50 overs (S. Aravind 56, K. Kanibalan 48, Philadelphia’s 129-112 win K. Vijay Priyadarsan 44) bt Galaxy Sports Club 208 in 48.3 Lindberg scripts over Atlanta on Monday, a pointer to extend utes left in the game. In and Dorian Finney-Smith Washington Wizards overs (L. Ashok Kumar 54, V.P. Akki Sharavanth 35; C.V. game in which Embiid Cleveland’s lead to 70-50 San Antonio, Luka Doncic tallied 14 for the pulled out a 110-106 win Achyuth 5/69); Tiger Cricket Club 202 in 49.4 overs (T. scored a career-high 49 midway into the third scored 26 points, dished Mavericks. over the Brooklyn Nets. Manojkumar 102, P. Naveen Kumar 4/51) lost to Sumangali history at NZ Open Homes 205/7 in 44.5 overs (Himalaya 51, R. Sachit Rai 37, P. points. quarter. But the Sixers out 14 assists and grabbed DeMar DeRozan led San Also, Russell Westbrook Girish Prabhu 34, P. Subash 30, T. Manojkumar 3/56). V- Wellington: Sweden’s Pernilla Shake Milton scored 20 quickly answered with 11 10 rebounds as the Dallas Antonio with 27 points. and James Harden con- Division ‘D’: Lusuraj Cricket Club 257 in 50 overs (V. Sakthivel Lindberg struggled in difficult points and Furkan straight points. Mavericks hold off the Elsewhere, Bradley Beal nected for 63 points, allow- 100, S. Thiyagarajan 48, N. Raja 40, M. Anbu 3 for 22) bt conditions Thursday when she Korkmaz added 14 for the Milton and Al Horford San Antonio Spurs for a scored 30 points and com- ing the Houston Rockets Singam Puli Cricket Club 230 in 47.4 overs (Y. Jebaselvin 45, became the first woman golfer 76ers, who have dropped made baskets from 109-103 win. bined with Jerome to stretch their winning Sibi Rajendran 43, M. Kaviarasan 5/66); Chennai Corporation to compete at the New Zealand seven consecutive on the beyond the arc to cut the Kristaps Porzingis led Robinson for the go-ahead streak to five games with Officials Association 171 in 39.2 overs (D. Aravind 34, Sanjay Open as Korean teenager road. Cavaliers’ lead to 85-80 Dallas with 28 points. Tim three-pointer with nine a 140-112 victory over the Siva Kumar 5/21) lost to Air India Sports Club 175/2 in 24.4 overs (S. Kalicharan 49 not out, M. Kaushik 48, S.R. Balaji 48). Kim Joo-hyung stormed to the Kevin Love sank a three- with just over nine min- Hardaway added 17 points seconds remaining as the Memphis Grizzlies.—AFP early lead. Lindberg, who won her first major at the 2018 ANA Inspiration, shot a nine-over par 80 in strong winds in the Asian Tour events at the Millbrook Nadal chases Mexico title Resort course in Queenstown and finished the first round in a Los Angeles, Feb. 27: two-way tie for 152nd in the World number two Rafael 156-player field. Nadal stepped up his bid JABEUR PIPS But the 33-year-old was on for a third ATP Mexico track to meet her tournament Open title with an goal to “beat just one man”, impressive display of KAROLINA, IN ending the day ahead of three, serving and shotmaking including Australian veteran to beat Serbian youngster Brett Rumford. Miomir Kecmanovic on QUARTERS Kim, who became the second- Wednesday. Doha, Feb. 27: Tunisian youngest winner on the Asian The Spaniard hit 20 win- Ons Jabeur dumped Tour at the Panasonic Open in ners as he kept his hopes World No.3 Karolina India last year, shot a classy alive of regaining the top Pliskova out of the WTA seven-under par 64 at Millbrook ranking with a 6-2, 7-5 vic- event in Doha to reach to top the leaderboard. — AFP tory over the 20-year-old the quarterfinals, while Kecmanovic to reach the top-ranked Ashleigh quarterfinals at the Barty received a Acapulco hardcourt tour- walkover. nament. Australian Open quar- DUTCH, DANES Next up for Nadal is terfinalist Jabeur came Ianis Hagi (left) of Rangers runs with the ball during the Europa League Round of 32 sec- Kwon Soon-woo, who through a tight match ond leg football match against SC Braga at the Municipal stadium in Braga, Portugal, on reached his fourth quar- against Pliskova, win- Wednesday. Rangers won 1-0. — AP WIN BIG AT terfinal of the month ning 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to set up a with a 7-6 (7/2), 6-0 upset last-eight tie against CYCLING MEET against eighth-seeded Petra Kvitova on Dusan Lajovic. Thursday. Berlin: World records fell on South Korea’s Kwon Jabeur, who became the Rangers march past Braga, Wednesday as Denmark and also reached the last eight first Arab woman to the Netherlands set new best in Pune, New York and reach a Grand Slam quar- times on the first day Delray Beach. terfinal in Melbourne, of the track cycling world Nadal improved to 17-2 was broken when leading in Europa League Last 16 championships in Berlin. overall at this event. He 4-2 in the deciding set, The Danes had already started needs to take the but hit back immediately Braga (Portugal), Feb. ● Riding on Ryan just before half-time. the team pursuit in blistering Acapulco title and have before claiming her first 27: Steven Gerrard hailed a Kent’s 61st minute Raul Silva was penalised fashion by setting a new record Novak Djokovic lose his win over a top-10 player “faultless” Rangers per- for handling a corner of 3min 46.579sec in a lightning semi-final match at this since 2018. formance as an impressive goal, Rangers eased inside his own box, but qualifying display. week’s Dubai Tennis The 25-year-old man- 1-0 victory at Braga on past Braga 1-0 and Matheus made a brilliant And they set a new best again Championships to regain aged to see out the win Wednesday booked their booked their place in save to turn Hagi’s penalty in the next round as Lasse top spot. Rafael Nadal hits a forehand during his second-round despite appearing to place in the last 16 of the the pre-quarters of behind. Norman Hansen, Julius Nadal, who made 17 match against Miomir Kecmanovic at the Mexican struggle with a ham- Europa League, winning 4- the Europa League. Kent has been criticised Johansen, Frederik Rodenberg unforced errors, clinched Open tennis tournament in Acapulco, Mexico, on string injury in the clos- 2 on aggregate. for his lack of impact when Madsen and Rasmus Pedersen the match on the first ing games. Gerrard has been critical Rangers have most needed Wednesday. Nadal won 6-2, 7-5. — AP recorded a time of 3min, match point when Earlier on Wednesday, of his side in recent weeks Rangers were without top their £7 million signing 46.203sec to set up a final Kecmanovic blasted a two-time Wimbledon win- as they have fallen 12 points scorer Alfredo Morelos most of late. against New Zealand. forehand return well ner Kvitova had battled behind Celtic at the top of through suspension and However, the former The Dutch men, meanwhile, wide. NOVAK PRAISES MARIA past former Roland the Scottish Premiership. the absence of the Liverpool winger produced smashed the team sprint world Elsewhere in the Last Garros champion Jelena But the former Liverpool Colombian could have a big goal when he had too record set by Germany in 16, World No.7 Alexander Paris, Feb. 27: Novak Djokovic hailed Maria Ostapenko 6-2, 5-7, 6-1. captain was bursting with proved costly as they much pace for the Braga Aguascalientes, Mexico in 2013 Zverev was knocked out Sharapova as a “legend” with “the mind of a cham- Barty had been expect- pride as Ryan Kent scored missed a host of big defence to latch onto a long after they crossed the line in by 22-year-old US qualifi- pion” after the Russian superstar announced her ing a tough last-16 the only goal just after the chances before the break. ball before firing low into 41.275 seconds in the first er Tommy Paul 6-3, 6-4. retirement from tennis at the age of 32. encounter against in- hour mark in northern Morelos’s replacement the far corner. Gerrard was round, a full half a second The German failed to Five-time Grand Slam champion and former form Kazakh Elena Portugal and the visitors Florian Kamberi fired too scathing of his side’s faster than the previous best. convert four break points world number one Sharapova called time on her Rybakina. But the World should have scored many close to Matheus in the defending in a 2-2 draw at Jeffrey Hoogland, Harrie and made 10 double-faults career after losing a long-term battle with shoulder No.17 withdrew from the more. Braga goal before Ianis St Johnstone on Sunday, Lavreysen and Roy van den as Paul claimed the first trouble having amassed a total of 36 WTA titles, tournament through “Super proud of the play- Hagi dragged another huge but the visitors stood up to Berg then crushed Great Britain top 10 victory of his spending 21 weeks on top of the rankings and with injury. ers. To a man tonight they opportunity wide. deny a Braga team that are in the gold medal final by chip- career. The other quarter- a personal fortune estimated at $300 million. Australia’s Barty will were outstanding. I thought Hagi, son of Romanian unbeaten in their last 11 ping another 0.05sec off their finals feature Stan “Her impact on the sport, not just women’s tennis, play Garbine Muguruza they were faultless, certain- legend Gheorghe Hagi, domestic games. Rangers’ own record to claim the title in Wawrinka against Grigor but tennis in general, was great. It still is great. for a semis spot after the ly out of possession,” said scored twice to turn the tie first win in a European style. In the women’s racing, Dimitrov, Taylor Fritz She’s a very smart girl, someone that I know very Australian Open runner- Gerrard. around at Ibrox in the first knockout tie for nine years Pauline Grabosch and Emma versus Kyle Edmund, and well for a long time. She has the mind of a champi- up saw off Ukrainian “This is no fluke. This has leg but missed the chance means they will be in the Hinze impressed by clinching John Isner against on that never gives up,” said Djokovic. — AFP youngster Dayana Yastre- come from sheer hard to give Rangers breathing hat for the last-16 draw on the team sprint title. — AFP Tommy Paul. — AFP mska 6-2, 6-4. — AFP graft,” he added. space from the penalty spot Friday. — AFP