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

JOURNALISM OF COURAGE TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2020, AHMEDABAD, LATE CITY, 14 PAGES SINCE 1932 `4.00 WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM N501Y MUTATION IN SARS-COV-2 Farmerunions Concernovernewstrain:IndiastopsUKflights to meet on talks untilDec31;labsscrambletocrackitscode invite, say govt is Directive after Cautionis wasting its time advice from 2 key, details various unions will meet expert groups; ANJUAGNIHOTRICHABA Tuesdaytodecide their next of threatnot &HARIKISHANSHARMA step. Asked about the letter, 60 flightsmay JALANDHAR,NEWDELHI, Sandhusaid: “Theyhavejust be cancelled clear as yet DECEMBER21 givena5-pageletterdescribing what happenedinearlier meet- ADAY afterthe Government in- ings. This is time-pass tactics.” PRANAVMUKUL& KAUNAINSHERIFFM vited farmers' representatives Sandhuisone of the39farm KAUNAINSHERIFFM NEWDELHI,DECEMBER21 foranew round of talkstobreak leaders who were copiedonthe NEWDELHI,DECEMBER21 the deadlockwith protesters Centre's letter that wasad- THE MOVE to temporarilysus- over itsagriculturelaws, and dressedtoPal. AS CONCERN mounted over a pend passenger flight linkswith urgedthem to choose adate, “Theletterindicates that the new, possibly more transmissi- the United Kingdom is, as the farm union leaders accuseditof Government does notwantto ble strain of thenovelcoron- Union Health Secretarysaid, in wasting time and said they call ameeting. It is justgoing avirus in the United Kingdom, the direction of “enhancedepi- would meetTuesdaytodecide through aformality. The IndiaonMondayannouncedit demiological surveillance and on aresponse. Government is notserious about wassuspending flightsfromand containment”. Dr Darshan Pal, the president holdingthe next round of talks to that country until the end of The latestthreat assessment of KrantikariKisan Union, who otherwise it could have specified the year. brief from the receivedthe invitation in the the time and venue as it had The suspension will come European form of aletterfromthe Union done on earlier occasions,” said into effect on Wednesday–after ED Centrefor AgricultureMinistry, told The ShivKumarKakka, national 11.59 pm on Tuesday (December Disease Indian Express that the president, RashtriyaKisan LAIN 22)–and will be in place until Prevention and Governmentis“notsincere” in Mazdoor Mahasangh.

EXP E● 11.59 pm on December 31. Control under- itsefforts.“We have already told Kakka said the Samyukta At least60flights between lines that the Government that no amend- Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body Indiaand the UK during this pe- Entrance to Port of DoverclosedasEUcountries impose atravelban from the UK,following spread of anew Covid strain. Reuters “viruses constantlychange ment is acceptable,” he said, of 40 protesting unions, will de- riod arecancelled. Indian carri- through mutation and the emer- while reiterating the demand for cide on aresponse. ers on Monday advanced depar- gence of anew variant is an ex- the laws to be repealed. Jagmohan Singh Patiala, gen- tures to and from London by Maharashtra to have night pected occurrence, and notinit- Jamhoori KisanSabha gen- eral secretary, Bharti KisanUnion severalhourstoensurethey Sensex plunges 3%, joins self acause forconcern”. eral secretaryKulwantSingh Ekta(Dakaunda), said therewas complete flightsbythe 11.59 pm Informationon the severityof Sandhu said representativesof CONTINUEDONPAGE2 deadline on Tuesday. curfew, new rules in 3states global sell-off in stocks the newvariantis asyetverylim- About twodozen other juris- ited,and no conclusion has been dictions toohavesuspendedpas- cision is intendedtoclampdown negative with PSU banks, media, reachedonthe reasons behind senger air trafficfromand to the EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE on large gatherings for ENSECONOMICBUREAU metals realty,auto, banksand the increasedtransmissibility. UK. The Civil AviationMinistry MUMBAI,NEWDELHI, Christmas and New Year,which MUMBAI,DECEMBER21 pharma indices leading the As such, the restrictionsput took the decision on the basis of BENGALURU,DECEMBER21 could lead to afasterspread of downtrend. on non-essential travel to and arecommendation by the the infection, sources said. WITH EUROPE witnessing a The newvariant of the from the affected countryisout CONTINUEDONPAGE2 AT LEASTthree states including The stategovernmenthas fresh waveoflockdown aftera Coronavirus in the UK spooked- of an abundance of caution at an Delhi on Mondayannounced also decidedthat all interna- newvariant of coronavirus markets and stocks witnessed early stage. INSIDE precautions againstthe new tional travellers comingfrom (Covid-19) surfacedinthe UK, intenseselling throughout after- Releasing information on the strain of the novelcoronavirus Europe and Middle Eastern domestic stockmarketsMonday noon trade. “While the street newvariant of SARS-CoV-2 on VACCINE CAN TAKE detected in the United Kingdom countries will be putinmanda- witnessedahugesell-off with wasbracing foracorrection this CONTINUEDONPAGE2 ON ANY MUTATIONS: and some other countries,and to tory institutional quarantine, the 30-stock benchmarkBSE week afterasharp up move,the prevent the uncheckedtrans- while those flying in from other Sensexplummeting 1,407 sheer velocity of the fall across EXPLAINED CSIRCHIEF mission of the infection during countries will be quarantinedat points. broader marketstookthe bulls Christmasand NewYear cele- home. Joining the global rout, the by surprise as practicallynone of At Singhu on the Delhi-Haryana border Monday. Abhinav Saha SIMPLYPUT MORE COUNTRIES brations. The Delhi government will Sensexfell three per cent to the key indicesconstituents BAR UK TRAVEL; NEW Maharashtradeclared anight test all passengers on the three 45,533.96, itsbiggestinseven were in the green today,”said S DECODINGTHE STRAININSAFRICA curfew from 11 pm to 6amin flightsfromthe UK that are months, and the NSE Nifty Ranganathan, Head of Research VIRUSVARIANT PAGES 5, 12 cities across the statefrom scheduledtolandinthe capital plunged 432 points to 13,328.40. at LKP Securities. PAGE 11 Suicide bid by 70-yr-old Tuesdayuntil January5.The de- CONTINUEDONPAGE2 All sectoral indices endedinthe CONTINUEDONPAGE2 at protest site, says he DDC results ACADEMIC SESSION BEGINS AT AIIMS RAJKOT Maths teacher hopestoopen govt eyes Aiming for 80k MBBS seats by ’21: Vardhan ‘falls to death’ the Singhu border.Inapur- today, 3PDP KAMALDEEPSINGHBRAR portedsuicide note,the InstituteofMedical Sciences (AI- from terrace of &SUKHBIRSIWACH preacher,Baba RamSingh, said leaders ‘held’ EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE IMS),Rajkot,torunfromatempo- CHANDIGARH,TARNTARN, he waspainedbythe plight of RAJKOT,DECEMBER21 rary campus fornow,through 14-storey building DECEMBER21 farmers. video-conferencing from Delhi. At Niranjan Singh's village, BASHAARATMASOOD UNION HEALTH and Family This will be thefirstAIIMS in in Ahmedabad WITH THE protests againstthe his family members said they SRINAGAR,DECEMBER21 WelfareMinisterHarsh Vardhan Gujarat, groundbreaking for Centre's newfarm laws nearing were shocked by thesuicide at- said Mondaythe number of whichwould be performedby EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE itsfourth week without anysign temptashehad no financial ADAY before the counting of MBBSseatsingovernment-run Prime MinisterNarendraModi, AHMEDABAD,DECEMBER21 of aresolution, a70-year-old problemsand was“averyreli- votes forthe District institutes across the countryhas ChiefMinisterVijay Rupani said farmer from Tarn Tarn in Punjab gious man”. Singh is the father of DevelopmentCouncil(DDC) gone up to 42,495 with the re- at the event. A40-YEAR-OLD private tuition allegedly attemptedsuicide five sons, one of whom died in elections, the PDP claimeddeten- cent additions and the plan was “Fromthe academic session teacherallegedlyfell to death Mondaymorning by consuming the early 1990s, and the family tion of three of itssenior leaders to further increase it to 80,000to The firstbatchof50MBBS studentsofAIIMS, Rajkot. Express 2013-14onwards, the total num- from theterrace tablets meantfor pest control owns around 25 acres of land. Monday.While the police were meetthe ratioofone doctor per berofMBBS seatsinthe six new of a14-storey soon afterhehad reachedthe Singh's granddaughter silent on the matter,PDP chief 1,000 people as recommended AIIMS has gone up to 600, pro- commercial Singhu border to Delhitojoin the Mandeep Kaur said he had called Mehbooba Mufti calledthe ac- by the WorldHealth (physician) forevery 1,000 by gent aim to bridgethe gapinre- viding an opportunity to an addi- complexatagitation. her lastnight and “enquired tion “out and out goonda raj”, and Organisation (WHO). 2021.Our governmenthas been quirement of doctors,” Vardhan tional 300aspirants. With the Vishala Circle in Police have identifiedthe about my children”. “He didn’t said it showedthe BJP wastrying “The healthministryisstriv- making an honestendeavour to said. He wasaddressing acere- addition of newAIIMS, includ- Ahmedabadon farmerasNiranjan Singh from sound depressed.Iwastaken to "manipulate" the results. ingtoachieve the WHOtargetof increase the overall availability of monytomarkthe beginning of ing AIIMS Rajkot,the overall Mondaymorn- Bhatal Bhai Ke village, and said abackwhen Ilearnt about his The PDP leaders reportedly the doctor-patient ratio of one MBBSseatsto80,000withtheur- thefirstacademicsessionAllIndia CONTINUEDONPAGE2 ing, policesaid. he wasfirstadmitted to the Civil suicide attempt...Weare notun- detainedwereformerminister ParthTank According to Hospital in Sonipat and later re- der debt. Thereisnothing thatis and senior leader Naeem Akhtar, police, the body ferred to the Post Graduate bothering the familyfinancially Mufti's uncle SartajMadni and of ParthTank,a InstituteofMedical Sciences in or otherwise,” she said. her former political advisor The grand old man of Cong, loyal to core resident of VrindavanSociety Rohtak. Police sources said Singh Peerzada Mansoor Hussain.A near Dharnidhar Derasar in SP (Sonipat) Jashandeep consumedcelphos tablets after senior PDP leader said theyhad Nehru-Gandhi familyand party 1980s, the Governor of politically Ahmedabad, wasfound at the Singh Randhawa told The Indian drafting anote in Gurmukhi, in no contact withits Ganderbal MANOJCG ideology,but also maintained turbulent Uttar Pradesh in the parking entryofRajyash Rise Express that Singh's “vitals are whichhewrote that he couldn't district president Bashir Ahmad NEWDELHI,DECEMBER21 friendships transcending party 1990s when he sworeintwo commercial building at Vishala stable, as of now”. Asenior po- “tolerate” the plight of farmers CONTINUEDONPAGE2 lines during his over five- governmentsintwo-and-a half Circle in Ahmedabad. lice officer said: “The investiga- and hoped that his act would “I GOT so muchinlife. Therewas decade-long political career, years, and an MP since 1998 till Apopularprivate tuition tion officer has recordedthe “open the eyes and ears” of the immense interest to work and I with his down-to-earth attitude, his retirement from the Upper teacher of mathematics in statement of Niranjan Singh in government. have theinteresttoworkeven friendlynatureand wit. House earlier this year.His un- Ahmedabad, Tank usedtorun whichhestatedthat he wasdis- The sources said the letter BUSINESSASUSUAL today”. This waswhat Motilal On Monday, Vora passed cannyinstinct forpoliticalsur- his instituteinSatelliteand Paldi turbed by the condition of farm- starts with aquote from the Vora told the RajyaSabha in his away of post-Covid complica- vivalensured Vora always found areas of the city.Asper his ers at the protests andthe apa- Gurbani: “Jayjeevaipat lathee BY UNNY farewell address in March.The tions, aday aftercelebrating his himself in aposition of power, friends and family, Tank wassuf- thyofthe government.” jaa-ay, sab haraam jaytaa kichh grand old man of the Congress 93rdbirthday. including as AICC treasurer for fering from chronic depression The bid comes five days after khaa-ay(Thosewho merely live party,Vorawas that quintessen- MOTILAL VORA In his long career,Vorahad 18 years till Ahmed Pateltook since 2012 and wasundergoing aSikh preacher diedafter report- shall departindishonour;every- tial old school politician who re- 1928-2020 been twiceChief Ministerofun- over from him in 2018.With treatment. edly shooting himself with his li- thing theyeat is impure).” mainedfiercelyloyal to the dividedMadhya Pradeshinthe CONTINUEDONPAGE2 CONTINUEDONPAGE4 censedrevolveratKundli near CONTINUEDONPAGE2

PAGE1 ANCHOR B-BoyKid Karam —Indian link to newest Olympic sport

the UK at 2020’s biggest The recognition comes two It washis father,though, who Drill’,” he says.Hecontinues his SHIVANINAIK Breaking event, RedBull BC One, generations afterhis grandfa- injected the dancing bug. “In the 5-a-side football once aweek, MUMBAI,DECEMBER21 whichwas held recentlyin ther,awrestler from Phagwara, 80s, my father participatedheav- and has played"plenty" of Salzburgwherethe world’s best had to quit his belovedsport ilyinthe dance of shuffling. He cricketwhen younger,and BHARUCH POLICE IT TOOK three generations of eight competed. while refusing to compromise would perform in clubs andgo hockey,whichheclaims he was competitive cussedness in a Karam, whose father is on principles. all around the UK competing and good at. sport-mad familyfor Karam Indian and mother British,grew “My grandfather backin challenging other dancers with “My favouriteplayerinhis- Singh to become aBritish na- up in Derby’s rough and multi- India wasafamous wrestler in his friends. Similar to how tory is Sachin Tendulkar,but cur- tional champion. And, as cultural neighbourhood of our town. When moving to Breakers usedtodoitbackinthe rentlyit’s ViratKohli, of course,” Breaking -- asportwhere break- Normanton. “Therebeing very England, he gave it up because day,”hesays.His uncle trained says the ManchesterUnitedde- dancers,orB-Boy dance-ath- minimal successstories from my he didn’t want to conform to the children in martial arts aftera vout. letes, duel againsteachother and partofthe neighbourhood, my rules of losing and winning 4th Dan. Smitten by breaking dance arejudgedonskills -- heads to achievementsled to the award when told to do so over here. I Karam runs, worksout in a crew Trinity Warriors, whom he the 2024Paris Olympics, rising on Derby’s Walk of Fame. Iam guess this is wheremycompet- gym, and swims to improve firstsaw perform head spins at a global star B-BoyKid Karam, the youngesttoreceive it,”says itiveness comes from,” says stamina, agility,speedand fun fair in aparkatage 7, Karam with rootsinPunjab, has put Karam in an interviewcon- Karam of his paternal familythat power. “Mybig dope move, told his sisterthat “one day, I’ll himself in contention. ducted over emailwithThe movedtoDerby in the 1960s Will represent UK in ‘Breaking’ at the 2024Paris Olympics whichiswhat I’m known forat do those spins”. Whilethe crew Moreso, afterherepresented Indian Express. looking forworkand anew life. times, is acrazy ‘Head Spin CONTINUEDONPAGE2 Ahmedabad WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM 2 THE SECOND PAGE THEINDIANEXPRESS,TUESDAY,DECEMBER22,2020

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WEB business of speed Indian Express EXCLUSIVE ★★★★★■4.6 NEWEPISODEEVERYDAY VIDEOOFTHEDAY EXPRESSEXPLAINED FANS BUILD TEMPLE SHIGELLA EXPLAINED: In the latestepisode of Our Own Devices, FOR SONU SOOD NOT DEADLY, MOSTLY we speak to Joseph Giegel, co-founder of Virgin Hyperloop, about the company’s Atemplewas built for People with the future, the challenges ahead of it, and what SCANTHISQRCODETO Sonu Sood in Telangana infection maysee it is liketravelling in the Hyperloop pod DOWNLOADTHEAPP on December 20 symptoms in 1-2 days FROMPAGEONE Caution key morevigilant forthe next 15 therewereonly900MBBS seats but the insult of farmers and days,” the Chief Ministersaid. in Gujarat before Modi took their protestinthe severe cold”. Sunday, Public Health England He saidsincethe extent of the over as the chief minister in “If the Government really (PHE) said that while the new danger from the newstrain 2001.“Iamhappytonote that India stops UK flightsuntil Dec 31 wantstoresolve the issue,it strain transmitsmoreeasily would be known in the next few from 900medical seatsbefore should acceptour demands. than the previous variant, “there days,“high alertshould be Modi became Gujarat CM, we Health Ministry, which noted Health SecretaryRajesh the UK include Canada, fore deadline. We will send alettertothe is no evidence that it is more maintainedacross the state have managed to increase it to that the newUKstrain of the Bhushan wrotetohis counter- Germany, theNetherlands, Similarly,Vistara brought Government andthen see likelytocause severe disease or from today”. 6,000seatswithintwo decades. novelcoronavirus is “spread- partinthe MinistryofCivil Italy, Belgium, Austria, forwardthe departureofits whether it will inviteusfor mortality”. Sources said the night cur- Therewereonly10universities ing and growing rapidly”. Aviation. Switzerland, Sweden, Kuwait, flight to London from Delhi to 4 talksonour demands,” he said. Nothing, therefore, changes fewwillnot impact the supply backthen, but nowthereare 70. The Health Ministry'sad- India, Bhushan said, has Iran, Israel, and Hong Kong. am on Tuesday, 10 hours be- SukhdevSingh Kokrikalan, on measures that arerequired of essentialcommodities such Thankstothese initiatives, the vice wasbasedoninputsfrom been witnessing “a sustained With regular international fore thescheduledtime of 2 the general secretaryofBKU to be takentocontrol the spread as milk and vegetables, and was issues like shortageofdoctors twohigh-levelexpertgroups – decline in the number of fresh flightsstill suspended,India pm. On the returnleg, the flight (Ugrahan), whichthe largest of the virus.“Theway to control aimedatstopping large gather- and Gujarat studentshaving to the Joint Monitoring Group Covid-19cases forovertwo and the UK had entered intoan will leave London Heathrow at farmers' union in Punjab, said this virus is thesame,whatever ings in hotels, restaurants, and go outfor medical education (JMG) headedbythe Director- and half months” –“In this sce- air-bubble arrangement to al- 9.55 am localtime on Tuesday, theymet representativesofthe the variant.Itwill notspread if pubs for NewYear celebrations. have been addressed... In com- GeneralofHealth Services, and nario, anyinterjection of a lowairlines to operateflights and reachDelhi at 11 pm. Punjab Kisan Mazdoor we avoid close contact with oth- Hotels and restaurants, who ing days,Iamconfident, Gujarat the Vaccine Task Forceled by SARS-CoV-2 variant virus between the twocountries. Public Health England Sangharsh Committee (PKMSC) ers. Wash your hands, wear a have been dealt abody blowby will emerge as aprominent thePrincipal Scientific Advisor through passengers with air Flightsare operated by Air (PHE) said on Sundaythat data Mondayand decidednot to at- mask,keep your distance from the pandemic andwho were stateinmedical tourism,” and Member (Health), NITI travel history could pose criti- India and British Airways,and from whole-genomesequenc- tend anymeeting with the others, and reduce your social hoping forsome year-end busi- Rupani said. Aayog–that mettodiscuss the cal risksfor pandemic man- private carriers Virgin Atlantic ing, epidemiology,and model- Government until it accepts contacts,” PHE said. ness, expresseddisappoint- Gujarat Deputy Chief newUKstrainonMonday. agement in India.” and Vistara. Severalairlines op- ling “suggest” the newvariant, their demands. “But we willho- Onlyadetailedscientific ment with thegovernment's MinisterNitin Patel, whoisalso “Wehavedecidedtotake Also, “as ameasureof eratecharteredflightsaswell ‘VUI –202012/01’ (variant un- nour anydecision takenbythe analysis willrevealthe extent of decision. statehealth minister, saidear- all necessary precautions as a abundant caution”, Bhushan between India and the UK. der investigation) “transmits 32 unions in their meeting to- the problem –which could take Maharashtrahas so farregis- lier studentshad to go to other result of the situation arising wrote, “passengers arriving The largest number of con- moreeasilythan other strains”. morrow,”hesaid. afew weekstogenerateresults. tered18.99 lakh Covid-19cases states, even abroad, formedical out of the spread of anew from UK in all intentional nections between the two The British health author- The All India Kisan COVID-19 GenomicsUK(COG- and 48,801deaths from the dis- education and would spend up strain of coronavirus in some flights(flightsintransit) should countries areonthe London- ity said they“currentlyhaveno Sangharsh Coordination UK), the consortium that ease. New detections have, to Rs 30 lakh in the process. “But countries. All flightsoriginat- be subjected to mandatoryRT Delhi sector,onwhichthe four evidence” that the variant is Committee (AIKSCC), another flagged theemergence of the however, declinedsignificantly the number of seatsinthe state ing from UK intoIndia will be PCR testsonarrival at the air- airlines together operate21 morelikelytocause severe dis- umbrella body, sentaletter to newvariant to the UK health au- over the lastfew days;the state has nowgone up to 6,000... This suspendedtemporarilyfrom ports concerned”. flightsevery week.Thereare ease or mortality,“but we con- theAgricultureMinistrysaying thorities, said: “It is difficult to registeredonly2,834 newcases has become possible due to 22 Dec to 31 Dec 2020,” Civil Positive patientsshould be 12 flightsevery week between tinue to study cases to under- thatthey“neverdeclinedtopar- predict whether anygiven mu- on Tuesday. It has 59,469 active Modi… Over the pastfew years, Aviation MinisterHardeep senttoinstitutional quaran- Mumbai and London. stand this better”. ticipateinthe talks”. tation is important when it first cases at present. we aresetting up acouple of Singh Puri postedonTwitter. tine, whereas “those who are Hyderabad, Bengaluru, “Weknowthat mortality is On Sunday, VivekAggarwal, emerges, againstabackdrop of newmedical colleges every Consequently, flightsfrom foundnegative...shouldbead- Chennai,Ahmedabad, Kochi, alagging indicator and we will joint secretaryinthe Ministry, the continuous emergence of MBBS seats year.Lastweek, Vardhan ap- India to theUKare also sus- visedtoisolate themselvesat Goa, and Amritsar arealsocon- need to continuallymonitor sought adatefor the next round newmutations. It would take availability of MBBS seatsinthe proved aproposal to setupa pendedduring this period. home forseven days,tobe nected to London. this over the coming weeks,” of talksinthe letter,“according considerable time and effort to countryhas gone up to 42,495 medical collegeinMorbidistrict “Ithas been reportedthat medicallymonitored by As airlines scrambledto PHE said. to your convenience, so that the test the effect of manythou- in government institutions. under the central government’s adistinct phylogenetic cluster states/UT concerned,” he said. meetthe flight suspension The PHE also said that it matter canberesolvedbyhold- sands of combinations of muta- These MBBS seatswill see afur- initiative to setupmedical col- of SARS-CoV-2 (named line- Health has asked Civil deadline, Air India brought for- doesnot yetknowthe “mech- ing ameeting again” in Delhi. tions.” ther increase in futureasAIIMS leges in 75 districtsofthe coun- ageB.1.1.7)has been detected. Aviation to “prominently” dis- ward the departureofits anismfor this increase in trans- Rajkot shifts from itstemporary trywhich have no suchcolleges This SARS-CoV-2 is spreading play thisinformation in arrival Mumbai-London flight by mission”. Suicide bid Night curfew campus to the permanent cam- so far,”hesaid. and growing rapidlyinthe and waiting areas of airports. morethan five hours from the “The evidence shows that Thereisalso aline from the on Tuesday. pus and as infrastructureand MPs Mohan Kundariya, United Kingdom. It hasalso “State/UT governmentsare be- scheduledtimeof7.40amto infection ratesingeographical poetMuhammad Iqbal: Beforethe Centre an- human resource augmentation Amee Yajnikand Poonam been reportedthat this vari- ing separatelyasked to setup 2.30 am on Tuesday. areas wherethis particular “Mudateguzri hai itni, ranj-jo nouncedthe suspension of takesplace,” the ministersaid. Maadam also attendedthe ant has an unusuallylarge help desksatthe airports to fa- The flightisexpected to strain has been circulating gamsehtehuye, sharam si aati flightstoand from theUK, Chief With 50 MBBS students, the event in Rajkot.Ofthe 50 stu- number of genetic changes, cilitatethis. Adequatearrange- landatLondon Heathrow at have increasedfasterthanex- hai iss watankowatan kehte MinisterArvind Kejriwal posted inaugural batchofAIIMS Rajkot dentsinthe firstbatchofAIIMS particularly in the spikepro- mentsfor passengers waiting 6.20 am localtime on Tuesday, pected,and the modelling ev- hue (Yearshavepassed endur- on Twitter Monday: “New mu- will function out of atemporary Rajkot,22are from the state. tein. This development calls fortheir RT PCR test results and depart forthe return legto idence has demonstrated that ing this suffering, it’s abit em- tation of coronavirus has campus setupinasectionofthe forenhancedepidemiological mayalso be made at the air- Kochiat8.20 am. this variant has ahigher trans- barrassing to call this our coun- emergedinthe UK, whichisa Pandit DeendayalUpadhyay DDC results surveillance, enhancedcon- ports,” Bhushan wrote. It is expected to land in mission rate than other vari- try).” super-spreader.Iurgethe cen- Government Medical College Mir either,and his familyhad tainment and other measures Other jurisdictions that Kochiat11.35 pm on Tuesday antsincurrent circulation,”it “I have been watching our tral govttoban all flightsfrom and PDU Hospital in Rajkot.The been informedthat he toohad to effectively tackle this,” have restricted travel ties with night, less than ahalf hourbe- said. brothers, sisters, elders andchil- the UK immediately.” stategovernment has allotted been detained. dren sitting on railway tracks Deputy Chief Minister 200acres forthe institutein Mufti tweeted, “Everysen- and roads, without aroof, under Manish Sisodia told The Indian Para-Pipaliya villageon ior police officer hereisclueless rain, storm and fog. It makes me Express:“Over the pasttwo Jamnagar Road on the outskirts as it is ‘upar sayorder’. No rule Sensex plunges 3%, joins global stocks sell-off wonder whether we arepeople weeks, 4,200people have come of the city whichwill be devel- of lawinJ&K anymore. It is out & of this country. Whyare we get- to Delhi from the UK. Alistof opedbythe central government out Gunda Raj.” The rupee declined23 croreonMonday. KotakSecurities, said, “The to newpeaks. Thevulnerabil- ting thetreatmentofslavesby these people, along with their with atotal outlayofRs1,195 AfterreportsofAkhtar's de- paise to settle at 73.79 against Travel restrictions imposed newstrain of coronavirus in ity of the market washigh due the government of today?” he contact numbers has been pre- crore, includingRs185 crorefor tention in the evening, she the US dollar on Mondayfol- by severalcountries to and the UK has ledtocorrection to quickgains made in the on- wrote. pared.District-levelteamswill state-of-the-artmedical equip- posted, "J&K admin is on an ar- lowing amassive sell-offindo- from the UK have addedcon- across European markets. Parts going rallyleading to low Niranjan Singh had leftfor be contacting eachperson and ment, Vardhan said. The insti- rest spreetoday. PDPs Nayeem mestic equities and strong cerns of yetanother lockdown. of Asia likeHong Kong arealso margin of safety. If the new the Singhu border on Sunday tests will be done. Effortswillbe tute, he added, will have 125 Akhtar toohas been abducted American currency overseas. European market witnessed considering measures suchas Covid variant spreads across with villagesarpanchBalbir made to contain the possible MBBS seats, 60 nursing seats, a by J&Kpolice&is being takento However, softening crude further selling pressureasthe curfews andshutdowns to the world, thereisapossibility Singh and some membersofthe spread of the mutated virus. But 750-bed hospital and anumber MLAhostel. Looks likeBJP is prices and persistent foreign UK and EU failedtoreacha tame the virus. As we headto- that themarket will witness Jamhoori Kisan Sabha, and tomorrow, 400morepeople of multi-speciality and super- planning to manipulate DDC re- fund inflows restricted theru- trade deal before the decided wardsChristmas vacation and further declines. However, if plannedtostayatthe protest will land via the lastflightsinto speciality departments. sultstomorrow&don’t want pee's fall, forexdealers said. deadline. Markets areworried calendar year end, FPI flows are countries areable to tackle the sitefor afew days. the countryfromthe UK.” “AIIMS Rajkot is part of the anyresistance. Democracy is While foreign portfolio in- about the economytaking aU- expected to moderatewhich spread of the pandemic, the Mukhtar Singh (60), who Sources in the Delhi Health newprestigious institutions being murdered in Jammu and vestors have been netin- turn againiflockdown is im- could also be one of thecauses marketswill bouncebackina waspart of the group, said: “We Department said samples that that were conceivedunder the Kashmir." vestors–Rs1.13lakh crorebe- posedand businesses areshut of steep correction. Lackofpos- fewdays. startedfromour villageinacar test positivewould be pre- visionaryleadership of our ho- At around 10.30 pm, tweenNovember and now, to tackle the newvariant. itive news flowshas seen “Wedonot expect abig on Sundayand reachedDelhiat served for14days to allowfor nourable Prime Minister Akhtar's daughter Shehryar theywerenet sellers to the Among global indices, all Indian markettaking a correction… but rather acon- 6amtoday. Whenwereached genome sequencing. NarendraModi. While the Khanum tweeted, "My father... tune of Rs 323 croreon majorEuropean indicesfell be- breather.After all, it has been a solidation in the short-term, of Singhu, some of us went near The Karnataka government short-term objective of estab- has been detainedatthis un- Monday, according to provi- tween 2.5 per cent and 3.5 per non-stoprallyfor the past50 notmorethan 7-10per cent in the stage. Iheardthatheat- said on Mondaythat people lishing newAIIMS in various earthlyhour.There wasnoor- sional dataavailable with cent. At 7:45 IST, while FTSE days whichstarted afterUS the main indices. Buying temptedsuicide when an an- coming from the UK, Denmark, parts of India is to reduce the der or govt instruction shownto stockexchanges. 100inthe UK wasdown2.7 elections.” at dips can be considered as a nouncement wasmade on and the Netherlands by direct or gapinaffordable tertiary us. We don’t know the ground Domesticinstitutional in- per cent, Dax in Germanyand The market wasalready in strategy in the falling market,” stage... He said he couldn'tbear transit flightsmustbequaran- healthcare, thelong-term vision of detention or the duration." vestors sawawindowofop- CAC40inFrancefell sharplyby an overbought position with said Vinod Nair,Head of the pain thatthe farmers were tinedfor 14 days. is to generate wellness among Madni's son ArootMadni portunity and emergednet 3.1per cent. hugeforeigninvestment Research at GeojitFinancial undergoing. We areshocked.” Karnataka has also sought the general population,” the said he waspickedupfromhis buyers of equity worthRs486 Jaideep Hansraj,MD&CEO, flows pushing up the Sensex services. (WITHSOMYA passenger manifests forall UK health ministersaid. official residence at Khanbal in LAKHANI/DELHI) arrivals since December 7to Union MinisterofState for Anantnagdistrict. Hussainhails carry outscreening forthe coro- Health and FamilyWelfare from Anantnagtoo. Akhtar was Poonchpoliceclaimedtohave careerasamunicipal councillor backasMadhyaPradesh CM President RamNath Kovind, navirus. MinisterAshwini Kumar reportedly detained from his foiledamajor plan to "disrupt from Raipur in the late1960s. again afterSingh resignedfol- Vice PresidentMVenkaiah B-Boy Kid “Those who have comefrom Choubey saidAIIMS Rajkot will Srinagar residence. peace" ahead of the DDC results, He became an MLAfor the first lowing some strictures by the Naidu and Prime Minister allowedthe underage“Kid” to the UK in the last14days must provetobeafoundation stone Inspector General of Police, with the seizureofaround 1,800 time in 1972,and by 1985 was Jabalpur High Court. NarendraModi joinedSonia roll aroundonstage,his first getRT-PCR tests done and be of the next phase of healthcare Kashmir,Vijay Kumar,DIG, iron rods, woodensticksand Madhya PradeshCM. When he In 1993, the PVNarasimha and Rahul Gandhi in paying teacher and mentor B-Boy vigilant. Those who arepositive development in Gujarat. South Kashmir,AtulGoeland batsonMonday.PoonchSSP wasnamedthe governorofa Raogovernment appointed their tributes to Vora. Foggy told him he wasunder- mustget genetic analysis done Addressing the event from SSP,Anantnag, Sandeep Ramesh Angralsaid mostofthe troubledPunjab in asurprise Vora the Governor of Uttar Modi talked about Vora's aged forany of the b-boying at the NIMHANS labtounder- Gandhinagar through video- Chaudharydidn’t respond to seizureshad been made in decision by Prime MinisterRajiv Pradesh, and he found himself "vastadministrative and organ- wizardryyet.“B-BoyFoggy ex- stand the strain of the virus,” conferencing, Chief Minister calls and text messages. There Mendhar,followedbyGandhi, Arjun Singh hand- at the heartofmajor political tu- isational experience". plainedthat the classes were for Karnataka HealthMinisterDrK VijayRupani thanked the Prime wasnostatement by anycentral Surankotetehsil, in the border pickedVoraashis successor, to mult, churnedbythe Congress president Sonia 8-year-olds and up.Iwaitedun- Sudhakar said Monday. Ministerfor givingGujaratthe agency on the alleged deten- area, and three people had been ensurerivals likeMadhavrao Samajwadi Partyand BSP.His Gandhi said, “Shri Motilal Vora’s til my 8th birthday and wasat “In the pastfew days we premier institute. “Wewant the tions either. arrested. Scindia didn't getthe prize chair. decision to dissolve theHouse demise has leftahugevoid that the next class,”says Karam. have learnt that in some PM to laythe foundation stone Arelative of Madni, who Adozenpeoplehad been in- While Singh wasbelieved to in 1995 wascriticisedbyboth would be difficult to fill.” Rahul In 2008, Trinity Warriors Europeancountries–UK,Nethe- (of the AIIMS campus). Ihad di- didn’t wish to be named, said jured in clashes at different be pulling the strings of his gov- MulayamSingh Yadav, who calledhim "a true Congressman battled Korean crew T.I.P in the rlands and Denmark–thereisa alledAshwini Kumar Choubey theyhad no idea whyhewas placesinMendharduringthe ernment, Vora impressedwith hopedtocometopower after and awonderful humanbeing". Worldfinals. “In this battle, I newmutationof the viruswhich four to five days agoand sug- detainedand by whom, and eighthphaseofDDC polls on his quality of winningfriends the Mayawati government was Vora is survivedbysix chil- came out of abag on stageand has been detected.What we gested that if files aremoved that the police were notgiving Saturday. and notrubbing anyone the reducedtoaminority,aswellas dren, with one of his sons an at the time Iwas theyoungest knowisthatitismorecontagious quicklyand the agency is fixed, anyclear answers. “Thereare The resultsTuesday will de- wrong way. Asenior leader re- the BSP leader. MLAfromDurg, Chhattisgarh. person to ever competeinit,” than the strain seen earlier in the we shall be able to seek time of conflicting reports.Sometimes termine the fate of 2,181candi- members howArjun Singh tried Vora movedbacktoactive Karam recalls. country,”Sudhakar said. the PM and can have the foun- we arebeing told he has been dates across 280 constituencies. to keep Vora in line. “Digvijaya politics and wonthe 1998 Lok Farmer unions As he grew up, Karamset his Maharashtra's decisionto dation stone layingceremony pickedupbyacentral agency The DDC polls arethe firstelec- Singh, who wasthen the PCC Sabha elections from “no needfor suchalong letter”. sightsonthe UK's ultimate solo impose night curfew comes just early.” and sometimes we arebeing toralprocess in J&K since the president, would send adelega- Rajnandgaon. In 2000,hewas “Wehad already clarifiedthat title. “Tobecrownedthe British aday afterChief Minister With AIIMS Rajkot,Rupani told that he is under preventive scrapping of itsspecialstatus. tion to Vora everyother day appointedAICC treasurer,and we willonlysettle forarepeal Champmeant everything to UddhavThackeray said that he said super-speciality services detention of the police.” WITH ENS,JAMMU with impossible demands. But held the posttill 2018. of the three laws and the legal- me,” he says of the2019tri- wasnot in favour of night cur- will nowbeavailabletoall peo- AseniorPDP leader claimed Vora wasnot hassledand used While his healthhad deteri- isation of MSP forall crops. The umph. His Indian roots, though, fews or lockdowns as the situa- ple, especiallyfromSaurashtra the detentions areaimedat Motilal Vora to agree to all...Hewas smart orated with age, Vora remained Government should focus on peek through everynow and tion wasnow under control. But andKutch. “The AIIMS will be a pressuring Mufti. “First, theyde- Patelhaving passedawayjust and gave no opportunity fora active -- much morethanmany these demands instead of beat- then. “Some of my toprock he had arethink afterameeting huge boosttothe medical and tainedWaheed(ur Rehman recentlyafter being stricken confrontation." of his party colleagues. He ing around the bush. We will movesare influencedby with topofficials to take stockof healthcaresector in Gujarat. It Para)and nowthese two. They withCovid-19, it is the second In February1998, Vora was would be found at his 24,Akbar decide on the Government's Bhangrasteps from familywed- the pandemic situation in the will usher in anew wind in the arepickinguppeople who are veteranhandthe Congress has removedwhen Arjun Singh Road, office almostevery day. proposal in tomorrow’s meet- dings. Ireally likeBhangra state. healthcaresector of the state,” close to Mehboobaji, and the lostinashorttime. made his wayback, butgot apo- Congress general secretary ing,” he said. artistesSidhu Moose Wala and “Due to the newvariantof he said. messageisclear.Theywanther Vora beganhis political ca- sition in Delhi as Cabinetminis- Priyanka Gandhi Vadrarecalled BaldevSingh Nihalgarh, the Panjabi MC and carry their en- Covid-19[in the UK andother Accusing the previous gov- to withdraw from active poli- reer as an activistofRam ter--hewould describeitas"a that he usedtoattend every general secretaryofKul Hind ergy with me in all of my sets countries], we aretakingextra ernmentsofneglecting the tics.” Manohar Lohia's Samyukta shiftfromlaketoocean". In un- meeting, even at the ageof92, Kisan Sabha (Punjab), termed and makevideos to their music precautions and will have to be healthcaresector,Rupani said In Jammu division, the SocialistParty,and his electoral der ayear,Vorawas brought and expressedhis opinion freely. the Centre's letteras“nothing also!” says Karam.

Ahmedabad WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THEINDIANEXPRESS,TUESDAY,DECEMBER22,2020 Violation of Covid Protocols RS 8.82 CR COLLECTED IN FINE OVER AWEEK:POLICE TheGujarat Police have collected Rs 8.82croreinfinefrom 88,593people between December 14 and 20 for 3 the mask rule amid the coronavirus outbreak and thosespittinginpublic,the office of state DGPAshish GUJARAT Bhatiasaid. Atotal of 3,832 offences have been lodged fordisobedience to order given by apublicservant.

Education ARREST OF PATHALGADI WORKER IN JULY hub to come up in Dholera DirectorofST panelwrites

EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE AHMEDABAD,DECEMBER21 tostatehomedeptandDGP THE STATEgovernmentMonday announcedaGujarat Special groups, 120B forcriminal con- Kachhap wherein it appears that Education Region (G-SER) will be VAIBHAVJHA Kachhap, Samu Oreya spiracy, and121Afor conspiracy therehas been disregardfor jus- developedatDholeraSpecial AHMEDABAD,DECEMBER21 to commit offence.Asper ATSof- tice and harassmentofthe per- Investment Region (DSIR), a and Birsa Oreyawere ficials, the three accusedwere son.” greenfield industrial city. THE DIRECTOR of National arrested from trying to collect funds and insti- “The Commission has asked Amemorandum of under- Commission forScheduled Mahisagar on July24 gate the localSatipati adivasi foraninquiryintothe matter un- standing (MoU) wassignedbe- Tribes (NCST) has written alet- community in Tapi and derarticle 338Aofthe tweenHyderabad-basedCerestra tertothe Gujarat government for“trying to instigate Mahisagar districtstowards the Constitution of India (which Group and the stategovernment home department and Gujarat the local adivasi Pathalgadimovement. givesthe right forsetting up a to setupaG-SER in Dholera, Twenty-three people were in the polymer plantwhen the fire brokeout on Monday. Express Director General of Police (DGP) community towards Pathalgadi movement refers commission forscheduled whichwould be spread across seeking details of the police ac- to the 2016 movement that tribes). Youhavebeen asked to 1,000acres. tion regarding the arrest of a violent uprising against startedprimarilyinthe Maoist replywithin 15 days in personor Chief MinisterVijay Rupani Pathalgadi worker,Babita the stategovernment” belt of Khunti and surrounding by postregarding the police ac- said, “This Special Education 700 villagers shiftedafter Kachhap, from Mahisagar by the districtsinJharkhand, wherethe tion takenand accusations in the Regionwillbeimportantinestab- Gujarat Anti TerroristSquad tribal population had erected case (sic),”the letter adds. lishing Gujarat in aknowledge- (ATS) in Julythis year. GujaratATS has illegallykept hugestone plaques outside their It further statesthat if no reply driveneconomy. Also the Delhi- The letter wasinresponseto Kachhap in custody by filing a respective villages, announcing is givenwithin the stipulated Mumbai Industrial Corridor is fire in chemical factory an application made by a fake firstinformation report(FIR) entryrestrictionto“outsiders” time, then eitherthe secretaryof being constructed as partofthe Gujarat-basedtribal rightsac- and subsequentfakechargesheet and mentioningexcerpts from home department or Gujarat ‘GreenfieldIndustrialCity’.DSIRis were reported, authorities said. emission. But carbon dioxide is a tivist who alleged that Kachhap in the case. the Panchayat(Extensionof DGP maybesummonedinper- currentlyequippedwith various EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE Panchmahals District being majorly emitted.Tobeon has been illegallykeptincustody Kachhap (33),anative of ScheduledArea) Act. sonbeforethe commission. servicesand alsohas strategically VADODARA,DECEMBER21 Collector AmitArora told The thesafersideandavertany possi- on fraudulent charges. Dorbanda in Ranchi of Jharkhand The word Pathalgadi literally Speaking to The Indian useful connectivity options IndianExpressthat23peoplewere blecomplicationsto anyoneinthe As per the letter accessedby wasarrestedfromMahisagar on translates to “carving astone” in Express, Sharmaconfirmedthat through Ahmedabad-Dholera Nearly 700residentsof in the polymer plant when fire peripheryofthefactory, we asked The Indian Express,Satish Kumar July24alongwith twoother the tribal cultureofJharkhand. the letter has been sentfromhis Expressway,Dholera Nandarkha villageinKalol taluka brokeout. As nine fire tenders residentstoshift...” Sharma, directorofNational workers —Samu Oreyaand Birsa ThePathalgadimovement,which office. “The onus is on Gujarat International Airportand of Panchmahals districtwere rushed to the spottobring the Around700 residentsmoved Commission forScheduled Oreya, both natives of Jharkhand advocatesself rule,resultedin vi- Police to ensurethat thereisafair Bhimnath-Dholera Rail Line.” shiftedto aprimaryschool aftera blaze under control, close to 700 into theprimaryschoolinthevil- Tribes in Jaipur, Rajasthan,wrote and residing in Vyaratalukaof olence in Jharkhand between the probeinthis case,” he said. The G-SER will be developed fire brokeoutatachemicalfactory villagers from the Nandarkha vil- lage. Nine fire tenders were the letter addressedtosecretary, Tapi —for allegedly “trying to in- stategovernment and tribal peo- All three accusedinthe case as an education hub with the po- locatedintheperipheryofthevil- lage,locatedabout800 metres rushedtothespot,includingfoam Home Department, and Gujarat stigatethe local adivasi commu- plein2016and 2017. areinjailsince July24. Asenior tentialto bedevelopedintoauni- lageonMondayafternoon. away from thesitewereshifted extinguishers from private firms. PoliceDGP on December 19. nity towardsviolent uprising The letter writtenbySharma ATSofficial said, “Chargesheet versitydistrict,schooldistrictand The fire brokeout in the poly- to asafer location. “Theexactcausewillbeknownaf- The letter states that the com- againstthe stategovernment”. states, “TheNational has been filedinthe caseand innovationdistrictinanareaupto mers manufacturing section of Arorasaid, “All 23 workers terthe fire is doused. Our team mission receivedacomplaint All three accused were Commission forScheduled courthas acceptedit... the case 5,000 acres. It will develop resi- the plant, leading to thickblack came out safeand therewas no from the industrial disasterde- from onePrasoon Masar,atribal bookedunder Indian Penal Code Tribes had receivedanapplica- is goingon. All actionshave dential, sportscomplexesand smokedue to carbon dioxide casualty.Since the fire startedin partment is at the spottoascer- rightsactivistfromMahisagar of sections 124A forsedition, 153A tion from Prasoon Masar on been takeninaccordance with other facilities forstudents. emission. However, no casualties thepolymerunit,thereisnotoxic tain the cause.” Gujarat, who alleged that the forpromoting enmity between December 19 regarding Babita the law.” Chudasama holds review meeting over IIMA-UNICEF report on mid-day meals

RITUSHARMA AHMEDABAD,DECEMBER21

THE STATEgovernment on Mondayheldareviewmeetingto discuss asurvey reportbythe Indian InstituteofManagement Ahmedabad (IIM-A) and UNICEF Gujarat on distress causedin The Indian Expressreportpublised on December 18,2020. householdsthat did notget any benefit of mid-daymeal scheme, whichwas an important factor of 2015,wasauthoredby IIMA’sfac- holds had less than Rs 4,400 childrengoingto school,sincethe ulty member Prof Ankur Sarin monthlyper capitaincome. Covid-19lockdown in March. along with research associates. “Apartfromstalling of learn- StateEducation Minister Thesurvey heldwithanobjective ing, parentsthat rely on schools BhupendrasinhChudasamasaid, to understand accessibility to re- fortheir children’s nutritional “The reportwas discussedatthe mote learning and material chal- needs (through mid-daymeals reviewmeeting with senioroffi- lenges facedbyparentsand chil- in schools or food supplements cials...We have studiedthereport dren, revealedabout 15 percent in anganwadis) aremorese- and willsubmit our detailedre- of parentsreceivedrice, wheat verely affected as the children sponse before thehonourable and/orpulsesinlieu of MDMs. face an increasedrisk of under- HighCourtsoon.” The reportrevealedevenin nourishment. Severalleaders The Gujarat High Courthad cases whereration items were from civil society organisations takensuo motu cognizance of a provided, the provisions were of- engaging in education relatedis- reportinTheIndianExpress on tengiven/takenonlyoncewithno suesinIndia have also expressed December 18 on thesurvey and follow-ups. The averageincome their fear that decades of issuednoticesto theprincipalsec- of thesamplewasaroundRs1,990 progress made in improving ed- retaryeducationdepartmentand per capitaper month and more ucational outcomesmight beun- commissionermid-daymeal,ask- than 95 per cent of the house- done,”the report stated. ing them to file their replies by January5,2021. Thesurvey of 375low-income parents—700childrenresidingin urban Ahmedabad between July to September 2020 —revealed thataround85percentof parents from households with children enrolledingovernment schools (nearly 31 per cent of the total sample) were notable to access anything in lieu of MDMs since Marchwhen schools closeddue to the Covid-19pandemic. The study conducted by Knowledge Managementandin- novationsforChange,anIIMAand UNICEF initiativelaunchedin

Ahmedabad WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM 4 GUJARAT THEINDIANEXPRESS,TUESDAY,DECEMBER22,2020

GLOBAL STUDIES PEG AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD SAR OVER 16% CASETRACKER Health dept issues Places Confirmed Deaths New cases advisoryonfungal StudiesfindhouseholdSARofCovid-19 Ahmedabad 54,441 2,214 211 infection with Amreli 3,676 33 10 Anand 2,1561713 ‘nearly 50 pc Aravalli 1,108256 mortality rate’ infectioninPatanlowerthanGandhinagar Banaskantha 4,480 37 26 Bharuch 3,740 18 11 EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE tion favourable forthe primary medicinedepartment at Surat Bhavnagar 5,756 70 19 AHMEDABAD,DECEMBER21 SOHINIGHOSH OTHERFINDINGS cases and reducingthe chances Municipal Institute of Medical Botad 1,0079 4 AHMEDABAD,DECEMBER21 of transmission. Athirdpossibil- Education &Research (SMIMER), Chhota Udepur 8664 1 THEGUJARAThealthdepartment ■ Gandhinagar ■ Patan ity why94per cent of the second- said asimilar studyiscurrently Dahod 2,786 717 on Mondayissuedanadvisory ASTUDY publishedinthe arycontactsdid notdevelop an underwaywith approximately about the fungal infection, mu- Dang 144 National Journal of Community Primarycases Households Totalhouseholdcontacts infection “in spiteofcontinued 400primarycases. Patel, who is cormycosis, whichhas a“mortal- Medicine (NJMC) in October has 74 74 386 contact with the positive case” NJMC’s executive editor,said pri- Devbhoomi Dwarka 9,765 52 ity rate of nearly 50 per cent”, re- 444 389 found thatthe secondaryattack 1,059 maybeexplainedbythe “possi- oritising surveillance among Gandhinagar 7,807102 40 ported in “Covid-19patientsin rate (SAR)ofCovid-19infection bleroleof natural immunityorre- home isolation is akey anddoes Gir Somnath 2,247 22 10 Ahmedabad and Rajkot”. at households in Patandistrict Secondarycases CalculatedSAR Householdtype sistance to the disease”. notbelieve that all patients Jamnagar 10,003 35 15 “Mucormycosis is atype of stood at nearly five per cent. The The study ledbyIIPH-Gwas above 60 years requirefacility fungaldiseasewhichinfectsthose 34 60 8.8% 5.6% Rural Urban(59%), Junagadh 4,747 32 24 findings areinline with a Rural(41%) publishedinSeptember as apre- isolation. “What we can do is es- with compromisedimmunesys- September study by theIndian Datacollected through telephonic interviews print and had reliedonmeta- tablish aproper surveillance Kheda 2,735 16 16 temand with other existing dis- InstituteofPublic Health, Study by IIPH-G, Gujarat health department community medicine, analysis to highlight household wherein sayverypoor house- Kutch 3,695 33 31 eases,isaserious infectionwitha Gandhinagar (IIPH-G), that and GMERS Patan SAR“varieswidelyamong differ- holds, whichdonot have an Mahisagar 1,896 13 8 mortality rate of nearly 50 per recordedSAR in households ent populations and ranges from oximeterathome, areprioritised Mehsana 6,410 37 21 cent,” the advisorystated. withaprimaryinfected person 4.6 per cent to 49 per cent”.The with respect to follow-ups,” he Although notcommunicable, Morbi 2,970 20 9 at 8.8 per cent in rural 77,758 participantshas esti- found amajority of the second- study had looked at rural areas said. contact with fungal spores is the Gandhinagar,also in north mated overall household SARto aryinfection patientsweremen and laboratory-confirmedcases Meanwhile, the international Narmada 1,888 14 mode of transmission. Gujarat. be 16.6 per cent. An Indian in the 18-60 agegroup followed in Gandhinagarand notedthat study,‘Household Transmission Navsari 1,5438 Theadvisorybythe depart- SARisamarkerofthe sus- Council of Medical Research by those aged above 60 years. of 386 household contactsof74 of SARS-CoV-2: ASystematic Panchmahal 3,913 23 24 ment additional director was ceptibility of spread from apri- study on SARalso had pegged Around 85 per centofcontacts primarycases,34contactsde- Reviewand Meta-analysis’, pub- Patan 4,078 50 7 markedtothe divisional deputy marysource of infectiontoother Gujarat’s SARat7.8 per cent. The developedsymptoms within velopedasecondaryinfection, lishedinthe Journal of the health directors of statehealth Porbandar 1,0514 3 specific groups, saywithin a study also found SARacross sevendays of contactwith the and hence SARwas 8.8% in the American Medical Association department, chief district health household, within close con- Indiawas in the rangeofzeroto primarycase. studiedpopulation. (JAMA) NetworkOpen on Rajkot 19,931196 122 officers of district health depart- tacts, within professionalcon- 11.5 per cent, with anational av- Authored by Gujarat Medical Akey difference between the December 14,also took the Sabarkantha 2,6911310 mentsand municipal corpora- tacts, etc, and helps to under- erageof6per cent. Education Research Society IIPH-Gstudy and thePatan study Gandhinagar study as partofits Surat 47,902 951150 tion medical healthofficers, stand howspecific factorsand In Patan, 444primaryCovid- (GMERS), Patan, community is that while the former had only analysis. Some significant obser- Surendranagar 3,341 13 10 along withadditional director of interactions maybekey to the 19 positive cases across 389 medicine department associate considered RT-PCR confirmed vations of the study from itsover the labour office. Tapi 1,020 6 transmission of the infection. households were randomlyse- professors Dr Nitinkumar cases in its74primarycases, the 77,700 samples across 54 stud- Symptoms depend on where The study undertakenby lected forthe study conducted Solankiand Dr Parul Sharma, Patansample population had 66 ies arethat while householdand Vadodara 23,295 243135 in the body the fungus is grow- public healthexperts at IIPH-G between Apriland August.The and assistant professor Dr per cent cases confirmed familycontactsare at higher risk Valsad 1,3408 1 ing. If the growth is on the sinus and statehealth department epi- study states 1,200testedCovid- Rakesh Ninama, the study hy- through RT-PCR, 23 per cent thanothers, risksare notequal Other states 1483 and brain region, symptoms can demiologists,whichfoundthe 19 positiveinthe districtuntil pothesises therecan be “many through rapid antigen tests, within the households. “Spouses include one-sidedfacial SARinGandhinagarrural at August29, when the statehealth probable reasons forlower SAR”. while another 11 per cent did not were at higher risk than other swelling, headache, nasal or si- nearly nineper cent, advocated department had declared 973 First, it can be a“milder nature knowthe mode of testing. This, family contacts,whichmay ex- Cumulative Total New Cumulative nus congestion, blacklesions on formoredistricts and states to cases forthe period. Dataon of Covid-19infection in the the Patanstudy states, mayhave plain whythe SARwas higher in discharge: cases: cases: deaths: nasal bridgeorupper inside of come up withsimilar surveysas these primarycases obtained home-isolated primarycon- an impact because of the differ- households with one versus 2,20,393 2,35,513 960 4,266 mouth that quicklybecome “Covid-19statistics arerelatively telephonicallyfoundatleast82 tacts” as around 25 per cent were ence in the validity of the two three or morecontacts,” states moresevereand fever. different” and thus “the SAR of these patientshad suc- asymptomatic and others were testsusedtodetect the primary the meta-analysis study.The If in the lung, symptoms may prevalence and itsfactors were cumbed.Asper the statehealth mildlysymptomatic, which may, patients. meta-analysis also found house- include fever,cough, chestpain also expected to be (different)”. department, Patanreported 37 in turn, reduce the probabilityof The Patanstudy also states hold SARwerehigher forsymp- and shortness of breath. EstimatingSAR in various dis- fatalities due to the virusuntil transmission. Among the sec- “home isolation is agood meas- tomatic primarycases (14.2 per KANDLAMARINEINKUTCH trictsand cities, or even wardsof August29. ondarypositive cases, 32 per urefor Covid-19positive con- cent -22.1per cent) as compared cities, is important, it stated. Of the 1,059secondaryhigh- cent were asymptomatic. tacts” exceptfor patientsabove to asymptomatic ones (up to 4.9 SVP Hospital to While the Gujarat-centric risk contacts--anear averageof Second,onlyone-fourth of the 60 years “who should undergo per cent), and higher in adult Marine commando studieshaveindicatedasignifi- three contactsper household -- 389 households did nothavea facility isolation”. contacts(20.2per cent -37.1per resume OPD cantlylower SAR, aworldwide 60 tested positive forCovid-19, separatetoiletfacility while oth- Dr PrakashPatel, assistant cent) than among children (12.3 found dead withbullet meta-analysis of 54 studies with whichis5.6 per cent SAR. It also ers did, thus making home isola- professor at the community percent -21.7per cent). operationstoday injury from service gun Ensure maximum EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE stay in Surendranagar. AHMEDABAD,DECEMBER21 people listen to EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE Speaking to The Indian AHMEDABAD,DECEMBER21 Express,MMJadeja, inspector at NEARLYAweek afterthe govern- PM’s speech on Anjar police station, said, ment-run Ahmedabad Civil Dec 25: Paatil A36-YEAR-OLD Marine “Mahesh wasliving with his Hospitalresumeditseveningout- Commandowith StateReserve nephewatthe rented resi- patient department (OPD) serv- to BJP workers Police(SRP) postedatKandla dence. However, forthe past ices, the civic-run SVPHospital Marine in Kutchwas found dead twoweeksthe nephewhad Monday said operations across at his rented residence in Anjar gone to Surendranagar forhis severaldepartments,includingin- EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE of Kutchwith bulletwoundfrom wedding. On Saturdayevening, patient and out-patient ones, GANDHINAGAR,DECEMBER21 his service automatic subma- his nephewtriedcallinghim on wouldresumefromDecember22. chine gun, policesaid. his phone but therewas no re- In the firstphase, the depart- STATEBJP president CRPaatil on Accordingtopolice, thede- sponse. He then calledupa mentsofgeneral medicine, gen- Monday appealedall the party ceased, Mahesh Chauhan,was neighbour in the society to eral surgery,gynaecology,or- workers in the statetoensure living at arentedresidence in checkonMahesh and the body thopaedic, paediatric, thatmaximumpeoplelistento ShivdharaSocietyatAnjar.His wasfound...” dermatology,psychiatry, tubercu- Prime MinisterNarendraModi’s body with abulletinjuryonhead “Wehavenot found anynote losis would resume operations. address on farmers’ interestand wasfound at his residencebya from the spot and primafacie, Super-speciality departmentsof importance of the newfarm neighbouraround 5.30 pm on we aretreating this as acase of cardiology cardiothoracic, neu- laws on December 25. Saturday. suicide... an accidental death re- romedicine and neurosurgery, An official party release said As per the police, an MP5 au- porthas been filed,” the inspec- gastromedicine and gastro- the party is celebrating tomatic submachinegun issued toradded. surgery, rheumatology,plastic December 25, thebirth anniver- to Chauhan forofficialpurpose Apostmortemwas also surgery,endocrinology and pae- saryofformerprime minister wasfoundnear the body. conducted.The familyhas not diatricsurgerywouldalsoreopen Atal Bihari Vajpayee, as Chauhan, anative of been questioned yetand the from Tuesday. The decision was ‘Sushasan Divas’. This year,Modi Surendranagar,was in police exact reason behind the ex- takenfollowing to asignificant will address the countryonthe service since 2009. He is sur- treme step is notknown, Jadeja decrease in Covid-19cases,hos- importance of the newfarm vivedbywifeand three kids who added. pital officialssaid. laws on December 25.Onthe same day, it added, the PM will digitallydeposit atotal of Rs 18,000 croreinthe bank ac- FROMPAGEONE countsofnine crorefarmers un- der the Pradhan MantriKisan Maths teacher SammanNidhi scheme. ARTISTIC TOUCH The release addedPaatilhas ‘falls to death’ appealed to the entirestate party Vadodaraartists work on installations, basedonMakeinIndia concept, whichwill be putupinthe upcoming Science organisation to ensureasystem City in Rajkot.The Science City will come up on a10-acreland on the outskirts of Rajkot city and will be builtinline with so that maximum peoplecan lis- the one in Ahmedabad. Bhupendra Rana TheysaidTank started private tentothe PM’s address. tuitionsin1999 and has so far taught over 15,000 studentsin Ahmedabad andothercitiesof Man found dead Gujarat. Since the lockdown, House proceedings not disclosed: Tank wasteachingaround after ‘dispute 400-500studentsonline through the mobile applica- withwife over tion, ‘Level-Up’. HC notice to secretariat over PIL ACCTVfootage showed eating panipuri’ Tank falling from the terrace of Petition seekscourtdirectiontosecretariattoprovide info in English, Gujarati the 14-storeybuilding around 9.30 am, afterwhichsecurity the Assembly,and information pected to be ratifiedinthe up- EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE staffand others rushedtothe EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE Karnataka, Himachal on the committees of the comingHouse session. “ AHMEDABAD,DECEMBER21 spot. AHMEDABAD, DECEMBER21 Pradesh, Goa, Kerala, Assemblyamong other mate- Further,important issues re- Police said Tank hadgone to rial thatisexpected to be putin garding the shortfall in receipt A25-YEAR-OLD man diedal- the gym on the firstfloorof THE GUJARATHigh Court Bihar,Delhi, and the public domain. of taxationare also before the legedly by suicideathisresidence Rajyash Rise complexinthe issued anoticetothe state Rajasthan regularly The PIL sought thatthe Assemblytodiscuss. It is, there- in Ahmedabad on Sunday morning afterwhichhewent to Assembly secretariat Monday Gujarat HC to directthe fore,submitted that although evening afterhehad adispute the terrace of the building and ParthTank,aprivate tuition teacher,allegedlyfell to his death afterapublicinterestlitigation updatetheir Assembly secretariat to regu- the petitioners have alwayshad withhiswifewhenshewantedto allegedly took the extreme step. from the terrace of a14-storeycommercialcomplex, Rajyash (PIL) highlighted thenon-avail- proceedings online, larly provide and displaythis in- aconstitutional and statutory “goouttogetherandeatpanipuri”. “He has been going to the Rise, nearVishala Circle in Ahmedabad on Monday. Express ability and non-disclosureof the PIL stated formation on itsofficial website right to knowthe proceedings According to the police, the gym everymorning forthe past legislativeproceedings in the in English and Gujarati. It also of the LegislativeAssembly, it is body of Pun Khant, aresident of three four months and on House on itswebsiteorinthe sought that the Assemblypro- all the moreimportant at this Umang FlatsinNarol of Monday, he informedthe same “The familyofthe victim has in- member Parthfor all the posi- public domain. The petitioners, represented ceedings should be made avail- pointfor the petitioners to Ahmedabad, wasfoundinhis to his family. Afterattending formedusthat he wassuffering tive work he has done forthe The Right to Information by advocateBandish Soparkar, able forview(live andold tele- knowand understand in adi- housearound5.30pm.Khantwas gym, he went to theterrace and from depression since 2012 and city’s kids in the pasttwo (RTI) Actthat lists obligations of stated theGujarat Assembly cast) of the public on the rect and completemanner in working in aprivate company. took the extreme step. We have wasundergoing medical treat- decades. He wasthe biggest public authorities, mandates Secretariat“doesnot proac- websiteofthe Assemblyfor whichthe Legislative Assembly Khant’s wifeManisha asked him collected theCCTVfootage and ment. We have notyet searched name among maths teachers in proactive disclosureofpublic tively provide comprehensive publicperusal, as is already discusses avariety of issues to aroundnoonif theycould“go out statementsofthe persons near his house forany note andthe Ahmedabad. He wassuffering affairs and thus notcomplying information to citizensonthe practicedbyseveral stateas- recoverfromthe crises. and eat panipuri”, over whichthe the spot... We did notfind any phonerecords areyet to be from chronic depression and withit“is aseriousviolationof functioningofthe Legislative semblies as well as the Lok Therefore, the proceedings of duohadanargument,policesaid. note... and have filedanacci- probed.Nothing suspicious has wasalsotakinghelp.Itisavery the principles of democracy and Assemblyassuch”. Sabha, whichhas aided greater the Assemblyought to be web- “His wife told us that since it dental death reportinthe case. been foundyet... Further ques- unfortunate andshocking inci- the constitutional rightsofthe This information, as listed by transparency. castand available online forde- wasaSunday, she asked him to An investigation has started,” tioning is going on.” dent forthe teachingcommu- petitioners”,the PIL submits. the petitioners, includes infor- Among other states that up- tailedstudy and understand- accompanyher andtheir four- said MG Damor,inspector of Tank had tiedupwith his nity in Ahmedabad.” The division bench, headed mation on the proceeding of the datetheir proceedings online ing,” the petition stated. year-oldsonto thenearbymarket Vasnapolice station. friend and colleagueHarshid Tank is survived by hispar- by Justice JBPardiwala, issued Assembly(including live and include Karnataka, Himachal Pendingadmission, hearing, to eat panipuri.Anargument en- “I wasdeployed at the other Shah, achemistryprofessor,to ents, wifeand twosons. His fa- the notice while hearing the pe- oldtelecastand transcripts,the Pradesh, Goa, Kerala, Bihar, and final disposal, the petition- suedafter whichManisha left entrygateofthe complex... I offeronline classestohigher ther is intothe construction tition filedbyNeeta Hardikar,a papers to be laid,private mem- Delhi, and Rajasthan. ers also sought that the courtdi- withthe child formarket around heardaloud thud afterwhich secondaryschool studentsfor business.Asper his friends, Dahod resident who mentors ber’s business, zerohour,listof Owing to the coronavirus rected theauthorities to upload 5pm... After5.30pm, whenthey people startedrunning towards mathematicsand chemistry Parthhad also produceda tribal area programme team question and their answers,the pandemic,the petitioners fur- as much information as is avail- returned, theyfound the house the parking entryarea. He was through the mobile application movietwo yearsago. with afocus on health,legal text of debates); text of legisla- ther submitted, severalexecu- able with them and makethe lockedfrominside...Afew neigh- dead on the spot,” said asecu- ‘Level-Up’ since the lockdown. rights, and local self-gover- tion (including subordinateleg- tive and legislative measures telecastofthe proceedings of boursbrokeintotheflatandfound rity guard. The duoalso ranFacebook To seek help and counsellingon nance, and Dr Siddharth Pathak, islation) as introduced, passed, were adoptedinthe statethat the Assemblyavailable on their his body... We have lodged acase VG Patel, assistant commis- pagesfor advertisements. mental health, one can reachout aretired professorofSaurashtra pending, assented, lapsed, includes ordinancesissuedby websitefor the immediateses- of accidentaldeath,”saidanofficer sioner of police,MDivision, SpeakingtoThe Indian to AASRA (9820466726) and University at Rajkot. withdrawnand negativedby the Governorwhichare ex- sion of the House. at Narolpolicestation. Ahmedabad city police, said, Express, Shah said,“We re- Saath India(07926305544).

Ahmedabad WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM THEINDIANEXPRESS,TUESDAY,DECEMBER22,2020 EXPRESS NETWORK 5

Covid vaccine As China influence grows, India, TRACKING INDIA’S COVID CURVE likely to fight off Maharashtra 294 CASES: ACTIVECASES:3,03,639 mutations to Vietnam to boost Indo-Pacific ties DAYSSINCE 1,00,55,560 DEATHS:1,45,810 PANDEMIC virus:CSIR D-G BEGAN TESTS: 16,20,98,329 | RECOVERIES: 96,06,111 EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE sugarmills: CASES DEATHS RECOVERIES TESTS NEWDELHI,DECEMBER21 DEC20 24,337 333 25,709 9,00,134 EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE NEWDELHI,DECEMBER21 INDIA AND Vietnam on Monday agreedtoboostpractical cooper- COUNCIL OF Scientific and ation in the Indo-Pacific in the Distresssale, Industrial Research(CSIR)direc- backdrop of increasing concerns tor-generalDrShekhar CMande overrisingChinesebelligerencein onMonday saidtheCovid-19vac- the region. Theyalso inkedseven cinesbeingdevelopedacross the agreementstoexpand bilateral Prime MinisterNarendraModi during avirtual bilateral STATESWITHRISINGACTIVECASES worldare likelytobeable to fight tiesindefence,nuclearenergyand summit with his VietnamesecounterpartNguyen Xuan lowdemand ACTIVECASES RISEINLASTWEEK offany mutationsthatthe virus severalothersectors. Phuc on Monday. PTI Kerala 61,661 2,121 mayhavedeveloped. His com- At avirtual summit with his Odisha 3,057290 mentcomesevenasBritishPrime Vietnamese counterpartNguyen PARTHASARATHI MinisterBoris Johnson placed Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister tweenthetwoleadersinpromot- hancedbilateral defence and se- BISWAS Jharkhand 1,708137 Londonanditssurroundingareas NarendraModi described ingcoordinationto combatterror- curity partnership would be an PUNE,DECEMBER21 STATESWHEREACTIVECASESAREDECLINING under lockdownafteramutation Vietnam as an important partner isminallitsformsandmanifesta- importantfactorof stabilityinthe ACTIVECASES DECLINEINLASTWEEK to thevirus, believedtoincrease in India's Indo-Pacific vision as tions, includingcross-border Indo-Pacific region. AMID THE continuing lowde- Maharashtra 62,743 11,361 itstransmissibility,was noted. well as forits ActEastpolicy, and terrorism, terror-financingnet- Prime MinisterModi mand forsugar,mills in Delhi 10,148 6,637 The coronavirushas mutated saidthatpeace,stabilityandpros- worksand safehavens. stressedthat the Code of Maharashtrahavestartedreport- severaltimes since the firstcase perityintheregionisthecommon In his initial remarks at the Conduct negotiations on the ing distress sales twomonths West Bengal 17,771 4,802 wasdiscoveredinWuhan, China. goal of both sides. summit,Modi said India looksat South China Sea should notprej- intothe sugarcane crushingsea- STATESREPORTINGMAXIMUMCASES Butscientistshadpointedoutthat In the wake of growing bel- ties with Vietnam with along- udice the interestofothercoun- son of 2020-21, with some sell- ONDEC20 TOTAL the mutations in the coronavirus ligerence by China in the South term and strategicperspective, tries in the region, Das said. She ing belowthe government noti- Kerala 5,711 7,05,870 have been slow. Mutations of the ChinaSea region, the twoleaders andthatcooperationbetweenthe said Modi also invited fied Minimum SellingPrice Maharashtra3,811 18,96,518 virus have occurredinIndia as specificallyreaffirmedtheimpor- twocountriescan contributeto Vietnamese companies to invest (MSP) of Rs 3,100per quintal. Farmers saygovernment’s well, but these have been minor, tance of maintaining freedomof maintainingpeaceandstabilityin in Indiaand highlighted the ur- Bhairavnath BThombare, exportscheme came too West Bengal 1,9785,36,828 said Mande.“Thereare plenty of navigationand overflight in the the region. gent needfor long-overdue re- president of the West Indian late. File STATESREPORTINGMAXIMUMDEATHS viral isolates going around.The South China Sea, while pursuing Adocument, titled'India- viewofASEAN-India Trade in SugarMills Association, the apex ONNOV30 TOTAL coronavirus has different isolates peaceful resolution of disputes in Vietnam Joint Vision forPeace, Goods Agreement as aconcrete body representing private sugar Maharashtra 99 49,870 indifferentpartsof India.Thevirus accordancewithinternationallaw Prosperity and People', released step towardsrevitalising eco- millers in the state, said mills are theyfail to clear the dues on in the Southisnot the same as withoutresortingto "threatoruse afterthe summit, said the two nomic engagement between resorting to distress sales due to time. West Bengal 40 9,360 whatisfoundinDelhi–allarenot of force". sideswillstepupmilitary-to-mil- the twocountries as well as the the large duestheyowe to farm- Earlier this month, the Centre Kerala 30 2,924 identical to eachother.Wehave Secretary(East), Ministryof itaryexchanges, training and ca- largerASEAN (Associationof ers. Thombare, whose group announcedaRs3,500crore sub- DataasonDecember20,releasedbyUnionMinistryofHealthandFamilyWelfare,IndianCouncilofMedical hadmutationlikeA2A,B4etc.But ExternalAffairs,Riva GangulyDas pacity building programmes Southeast Asian Nations)region. Natural Sugar and Allied sidy programme to help mills Researchandstategovernments.Oftenthenumbersreleasedeverydaycontaindatafrompreviousdays aswell.Assuch,trendsbasedondailynumbersareonlyindicativeandnotdefinitive India has nothing to be alarmed told the media that therewas a acrossthethreeservicesandcoast FULLREPORTON Industries Limited,runs two export60lakh tonnes of sugar, about,” Mande said. strong convergence of views be- guards, as it wasagreedthat en- www.indianexpress.com sugarmills, said traders were re- with domesticdemand still to fusingtobid forsugar at Rs 3,100 recoverfromthe lockdown per quintal. shock. “In December,ofthe 5,000 Millers in Maharashtrapoint Vajpayee aide’s new book recallskey events in his time as PM tonnes combinedsales quota out the governmentexportan- giventoour twounits, we man- nouncement came twomonths aformer bureaucrat and close as- NDAgovernment. about aminuteortwo before the beelectedspeaker.Thepeoplere- aged to barelysell around 1,000 intothe sugar season, when they LIZMATHEW sociate of Vajpayee. Sinha’s book, Aday before the election, deadline,” Sinha writes. sponsible forpushing Sangma’s tonnes. Tenders with base price had already startedproduction NEWDELHI,DECEMBER21 The Years That Changed India: Vajpayeetold Naidu over the Amid the uncertainty, candidature which had the unin- of Rs 3,100per quintal evoked no and would have had to start Vajpayee, givesadetailednarra- phonethattheTDPcouldhaveits Sangma had been informed by tendedconsequence of forcing response,” he said. anewtomakeexportableraw LATE PASangma, who became tion of difficulties facedby candidateasDeputySpeaker.But Madan Lal Khurana, then parlia- Naidu to choose sides, had cer- While mills that sell sugar sugar.“Mills onlyundertake pro- Lok Sabha Speaker forthe first Vajpayeeand theBJP in forming Shakti Sinha “Naidu playedhardtoget”and mentaryaffairs minister, thatthe tainlymiscalculated.” belowMSP areliable foraction, duction of rawsugar if theyhave time in 1996 when the Congress the government thoughthe NDA succeededinmaking Vajpayee BJPwould have no objectionto However, later in 2012,when industry insiders said almostall confirmedorders,” acooperative wasinopposition, could have wasclosetomajorityandnoother agreeonhiscandidate forthepost his candidature. “Assured of his Sangma contestedfor the the mills in Solapur district and sugar miller from Kolhapur said. been re-elected unanimouslyin party made aclaim to form the writes.AnotherveteranBJPleader and conveyedthe name – unanimouselection,Sangmatoo President’s office againstthe manyinAhmednagar and Millers saythe government 1998 had GMCBalayogi notar- governmentin1998. LKAdvani also seemed to have Balayogi –onthe morning of the had filedhis nomination,” the Congress-ledUPA candidate Marathwada regions aredoing should heedtheir old demand rivedinParliament House at the Sinha, his private secretary, takenastand thatitwas notnec- election day. book says.But Balayogi wonthe PranabMukherjee, who became so. “The excess sugarisnot of increasing the MSP to Rs eleventh hour. saidSangmawas keen on getting essaryfor the next Speakertobe “Unfortunately, Balayogi was election by voice vote--the the President, BJP,AIADMK and shown in production booksand 3,500per quintal. “That would Sangma,whochairedthepro- re-electedasSpeakerbutwanted from the BJP.“Sangma made it somewhereinAndhraand nom- Congress and the other opposi- BJDhadextendedtheirsupportto is again resold in the markets at allowmills to getmoremoney ceedings during the 13-daygov- aunanimous election. Sangma clear that he would liketobe inations couldonlybefiled till tion parties did notask foravote him. belowRs3,100,” an insider said. to cleartheir dues as banks ernment of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, had calledonVajpayeeformally elected unanimouslyand would twelve noon.Hisflightgot delayed -- and Sangma was“quite The book also givesadetailed As of December 15,mills in would increase their lending wasinformedbythe BJP that it afterthe swearing-in during nottakepartinacontest.Vajpayee and he made it to Parliament peeved”when Parliamentwas accountof thepressuretacticsap- Maharashtrahad arrears amount accordingly,” had no objection to his candida- whichhepointedout thathehad did notseem comfortable, far House literallyatthe eleventh convenedand lambasted pliedbysmalleralliesandregional amounting to Rs 1,979.56 crore, Madhavrao Ghadge, Chairman tureasBalayogi'sflight from been afair presiding officer in his from confident,” he writes. hour.Iremember waiting with Vajpayeeduring the debate on parties, whose number propped for186.71lakhtonnes of cane and Managing Director of AndhraPradesh to Delhigot de- firstterm. BJPwasindiscussionwiththe fewothersatthe closest gate of the voteofconfidence. up the Vajpayee government -- purchasedatthe government- Kolhapur-basedShree Gurudatt layed. “Vajpayeewas non-commit- NChandrababu Naidu-ledTDP, Parliament House, and running Sinha writes: “Tobefairto the government fell after13 declared FRPofRs2,850 per Sugars Limited,said. This interesting nugget is in tal, but Sangma did notlook dis- whichwas being pressured by with him so that the nomination Sangma,hehad obviouslybeen months afterAIADMKwithdrew tonne. Sugarcommissioners FULLREPORTON the book pennedbyShakti Sinha, appointedwhen he left,” Sinha Leftparties to notsupportthe could be filed. He made it just ledtobelieve thathewasgoingto support. have warnedmills of action if www.indianexpress.com

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THEINDIANEXPRESS,TUESDAY,DECEMBER22,2020

WORDLY WISE Losing feelsworse than winning feelsgood. 6 THE EDITORIAL PAGE —VIN SCULLY India’s new Europolitik

§ FOUNDED BY § RAMNATH GOENKA Delhi nowsees European powers as natural partners in BECAUSE THE TRUTH INVOLVES US ALL constructing adurable balance of powerinIndo-Pacific

CRISIS IN KATHMANDU CRajaMohan

Internal tussle in Nepal’s ruling party forces Prime MinisterOli AS THE PROBLEMofreversing Chinese ag- eral relations and hinting at itssupport for the challenges arising from China’smaritime gressioninthe Ladakh region carries over the newUSpresident’s ambitious goals on expansion and the emergence of the Indo- to seek early elections, avotemay notsettle the issue from 2020, strengthening Delhi’s interna- mitigatingclimatechange. Meanwhile, the Pacific as anew political geography. tional coalitions becomes an important pri- political questioning of the costs and bene- The rest of Europe and Britain have now RIMEMINISTER KPSharma Oli’s move to optfor fresh electionsrather than bow ority forIndian foreign and security policies fits of America’s alliances in Europe and Asia wokenuptothe China challengeandareready to the demands from within the Nepal CommunistParty (NCP) to accommodate in 2021. If theintensification of security co- initiated by Donald Trumpislikelytocon- to paygreater attention to Asian geopolitics his rivals in the powerstructurehas pushedNepal into political uncertainty.Oli’s operation with the United States has become tinue underBiden. and the Indo-Pacific. India, too, is breaking out P recommendation on Sundaytodismiss theHouse of Representativesand have an important milestone in India’s foreign pol- To cope with the uncertain political tra- of itspastapproaches to theIndo-Pacific de- fresh elections, nearly twoyearsahead of schedule, wasimmediatelyacceptedbyPresident icy in 2020, integrating Europe intoIndia’s jectoryofthe US,Delhi is already supple- finedbysuchbinariesas“NorthversusSouth” newstrategic calculus ought to be amajor mentingits Americanpartnership witha and “regional vs extra-regional”. BidyaDeviBhandari. Legal experts and politicians described the decisionasa“constitutional objective in 2021. networkofminilateral groups with other What wasonce apolitical taboo in Delhi— coup” and have challenged it in the Supreme Court. All these moveswilltestthe fragile con- Three recent developments underline middle powers, suchasthe India-Australia- regional security cooperation with the for- sensus on the country’s constitution and, possibly, forceaverticalsplitinthe NCP. Delhi’s changing strategicperceptions of Japan forum and the trilateral dialogue with mer imperial powers of Europe —has now The origins of the current crisis can be traced backtothe formation of the NCPin2018, Europe.One is India’s supportfor France’s France and Australia. Delhi nowsees become astrategic necessity.The rise of China afterthe mergerofthe CPN-United MarxistLeninistand CPN-MaoistCentre. Oli, the face membership of the Indian Ocean Rim European powers, individuallyaswell as col- and the consequent geopolitical instabilities of CPN-UML, had ledthe combinetonearlyatwo-thirds majority in the elections the Association (IORA). Second, India’s backing lectively through the European Union, as nat- areinevitablyproducing newcoalitions that foralargerEuropean role in the Indo-Pacific. ural partners in constructing adurable bal- break out of an old political paradigm. previous year.Though it wasdecidedthatpower will be shared between leaders of the To be sure,France and Delhi has welcomed the interestofGermany Britain have lingering ance of powerinthe Indo-Pacific. To be sure, France and Britain have linger- twoparties that merged, Oli wasreluctant. Confident that it washis popularity on ac- and Netherlands in buildinganewgeopolit- Rebuilding ties with Europe needs asig- ing disputesleftoverfromthe eraofdecoloni- count of takingastrident anti-India positioninthe wake of the2015border blockade ical architectureinthe Indo-Pacific. Third, se- disputes left over from the nificant corrective to Delhi’s traditional sationinparts of theWestern Indian Ocean. that enabledthe communistalliance to sweep the polls, Oli chose to imposehis will on curity cooperation in the Indo-Pacific is also eraofdecolonisation in parts strategic neglect of the continent. Both the Delhiwill have to contributetothe amicable the NCP. This wasbound to deepen the divisions within the party.The CPN-UMLand the emerging as an important theme in the plans of the Western Indian bipolar Cold Wardynamic (the East-West di- resolutionof thoseproblems.Itisalsotruethat CPN-Maoisthad been bitter rivals afterthe communistmovementsplit in the 1990s over to work out adecade-long road map to trans- Ocean. Delhi will have to mension) and the North-South framework the Europeanabilityto projectmilitarypower form the partnership between Delhi and (developing worldversus the developed) intothe Indo-Pacific is limited.But in combi- ideological issues and the Maoists launchedaguerrilla waragainstKathmandu. Foryears, London, whichisinthe throes of separating contribute to the amicable prevented Delhi from taking amorenuanced nation with Asian democracies, Europe can Oli had demanded that theMaoists under Pushpa Kamal Dahal be held accountable for from Europe and defining anew interna- resolution of those viewofEurope’s political agency afterWWII. certainlymakeadifference. It can mobilise warcrimes,including the killings of CPN-UML cadres. These differences were papered over tional role foritself. problems. It is also true that Attempts to impartstrategic momentum massive economic resources forsustainable when the twoparties decidedtocontestelections under anew constitutionin2017and On the face of it, the three movesappear the European abilityto afterthe Cold Wardid notreallysucceed. development of regional infrastructure, wield merge intoone outfit postthe poll. Clearly,therehas been no reconciliation within the out- partofSouth Block’s quotidian diplomacy. When Europe looked at Asia, China loomed political influence and leverage itssignificant projectmilitarypowerinto fit. Besides,party rivals have accusedOli of engaging in one upmanship and being un- But acloser look suggests twoimportant large as an attractive commercial partner. softpowertoshape theIndo-Pacific discourse. willing to sharepower. On his part, Oli sought to foboff allcriticismabout his conduct by conceptual departures. One, India is looking the Indo-Pacific is limited. And as the economic gapbetween China and Aboveall,itcansignificantly boostIndia's own beyond thebipolar geopolitical competition India widened, so did the scale of European comprehensive national power. suggesting that his rivals were conspiring with India to remove him from office. But in combination with between the US and China. Delhi has also be- Asian democracies, Europe interestinbothcountries. CommunistChina, Until now, Asians have undervaluedthe Oli had the mandate to iron out the roughedges of theconstitution, address the con- gun to shed the postcolonial mental block with itsspecial sensitivity to “inter-imperial- potential European role in the eastern wa- cerns of Madhesi groups,and strengthen Nepal’s institutions. But he preferredtoconsol- againstregional security cooperation with cancertainly makea ist” contradictions, invested massivepolitical ters. MostEuropeans had convincedthem- idatepowerand sought to rallysupport by adopting anti-India postures and cosying up to post-imperial Europe. difference. It canmobilise and diplomaticefforttocultivateEuropean selvesthatmanaging Asian geopolitics was China. With the NCPunravellingand Oli preferring freshelections over atrucewith rivals, As Delhi’s difficulties with Beijing con- massive economic resources political classes and economic elites. That be- America’s burden. But as China transforms Delhi has little role to play but watchthe internal dynamics of Nepal’s domesticpoliticsplay tinue to mount, the US becomes an even gantopay offhandsomely.India, in contrast, theEurasianlandmass as well as the Indo- moreimportant security partner forIndia. forsustainable development appeared rather indifferent to Europe. Pacific, it is abundantlyclear that the US out. Giventhe internecine wars anderosion of his ownstanding within, an election may But Delhi also wantstoinsureagainstthe in- of regional infrastructure, France has been an exception.Through alone cannotredress the imbalance. Astrong notdeliverthe cleanslatethat Oli is hoping for. evitable volatility in the complexdynamic wield substantial political the 1990s, in thename of promotingamulti- coalition of Asianand European middle pow- between Washington and Beijing. influence and leverage its polar world, Paris had reachedout to Delhi. ers mustnow be an indispensable element of Although the US-China relationship has President Emmanuel Macron’svisit to India in the geopolitics of the East. Suchacoalition rapidlysoured in theTrumpyears and the significant soft powerto early 2018 unveiledanexpansive framework can’t be built overnight. But Delhi could push return to an eraofmutual trustseems un- shape the Indo-Pacific forrevitalising the strategicpartnership. forasolid startin2021. INTHE DOCK likely, Delhi should be prepared foraSino- discourse. Above all, it can India’s partnership with France nowhas US relationship markedbyintense compe- significantly boost India's astrongregional anchor —the Indo-Pacific. The writer is director,Institute of SouthAsian CBI chargesheetindictsUPpolice in the Hathras rape-murder tition and significant cooperation.China is France, with itsterritories in theWestern Studies, National University of Singaporeand owncomprehensive national case; fair probeisthe onlyway to justice alreadyteasingthe incoming Biden admin- Indian Ocean and the SouthPacific as well as acontributingeditor on internationalaffairs istration with the promise of aresetinbilat- power. ahistoric navalpresence, wasquick to see for The Indian Express ORETHANTHREEmonthsaftera19-year-oldDalitwomanwasbrutalised, allegedly by four upper-caste men in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, the CBI has Mfiledachargesheet,astinging indictment of the stategovernment’s —es- peciallyits police department’s —handling of thecase. Basedonthe decla- ration by thevictim before she succumbed to her injuries,the reportincriminates the four accusedandpuncturesthenarrative of thestate’spoliceofficialswhosaidthatno“gangrape LIMITS OF FAITH had takenplace”.The investigationagency’s observationslaybarethe local administration’s malfeasancetowards the victim and her familyfromday one. No woman officer or the sta- tion house officer examinedher till September 19 –fivedays afterthe incident. “Thoughthe Anti-conversion lawmay push women in interfaith unions to discardHindu identity victim alleged molestation, hermedical examination regarding sexual assault wasnot con- ducted,”thechargesheetnotes.Themedicalexaminationwasconductedmorethanaweek Jyoti Punwani afterthe assault. “This delay”, as areportbythe AIIMS’ forensicdepartment, cited by the CBI pointsout,“could have ledtothe loss of crucial evidence”. EVEN AS HINDUTVA groups rejoice at the the woman, held back by cops,pleads with our (Hindu)daughters”. Didheanticipatethat The CrPC and the Union MinistryofHome Affairs’ “Guidelines forForensic Medical mostefficient implementation ever seen of them nottoseparate her from her partner. these very “daughters” would so deter- ExaminationinSexualAssaultCases”areclearabouttheproceduresto befollowedbythepo- anylaw in Uttar Pradesh, their joymight just Oblivious of the crowds around, she de- minedlyrefuse “protection”? liceandadministrationoncethereisanallegationof sexualassault:AnFIRmustberegistered, besulliedbyanunexpectedfallout. The Hindu clares that she loveshim very much, that The manner of the law’s implementation amedical examination of the survivormustbeconducted in the presence of awoman med- women “rescued”bythe UP police from their he’s her life. This could have been aHindi could also lead to an outcome that goes ical officer and the policemustensurethat astatement of thesurvivorisrecordedbyamag- Muslim husbands areboldlyspeaking up for film scene—it played out in Aligarh. againstHindutva’s aims. Those forwhom re- Muslims. Even morestriking is the waythey In the shameful Moradabad case, which ligious identity nevermeant muchwill now istrate. The CBI chargesheetisasobering testament to the UP police’sfailure to adhere to the arepubliclyrejecting their parents. resulted in the death of the unborn child, be forced to adoptaMuslimidentity.The rulebook.Itwasonly afterthewoman“explicitlysaidbalatkar(rape)”andnamedthefourac- Theseare notsophisticatedurbanitesused videos showedthe Hindu wifeangrilytelling number of Hindu-Muslim unions the UP po- cusedthatshewassentforamedicalexamination,thechargesheetnotes,whilecallingout“the to livingindependent lives. Hailing from small theBajrangDalbullieswho encircledherthat lice have targetedin the lastmonthshows that negligence during the handling of the case by police as well as concernedauthorities''. towns, where theirmovements must have she had marriedofher ownwill. It requires a despite allthe hatepropagated over the last TheUPgovernmenthasrespondedtothechargesheetbyclaimingthatithadorderedthe been monitored closely, theyfell in love —a specialkindof gutstodothat,especiallywhen six years, young Hindus and Muslims do not CBI investigation in the firstplace. But the fact remains thatinthe morethan three years that disgrace formostfamilies —and were coura- cops aremerespectators. Later, sheinsisted seeeachother as enemies. Even moreimpor- the Yogi Adityanath governmenthas held office, the UP police’s actions have mirroredapo- geous enoughto take the next step of eloping. on going to herin-laws’home, and turnedher tantly, theirwillingness to buildalifetogether Be it in Mumbai or Meerut, suchdeci- backonher mother,who had been brought indicates that faith is nottheir primaryiden- litical partisan agenda: whether in creating an enabling atmospherefor cowvigilantes, going sionsare noteasy.Marrying outside one’s to the police station by the vigilantes. tity.Awoman who candeclare to ahostile afteranti-CAAprotestors,rampantuseof draconianNSA,"encounter"deaths,ornowusingthe faith can become amatter of lifeand death, In Meerut, aHindu woman living with a mob that as aHindu, she has chosen to marry anti-conversionlawtostrikeatthepersonalfreedomsof youngwomenandmen.That'swhy, so mostyoungsters simplydropthe idea. Muslim told the police to back off: She knew aMuslim, is one confident of her religious perhaps,inHathras,thesordidaffaircontinuedaftertheyoungDalitwoman’sdeath,withthe Yet, suchmarriages areincreasing. Forthe her partner wasMuslim; therewas neither identity,not bound by it. bravecouples,livingawayfromwrathful conversion nor coercion involved in their re- But the newlaw does notallowfor such policecrematingherinthedeadofnight,denyingthegrievingfamily therightto performthe Thenumber of Hindu- lastrites. Nowthat the CBI has steppedin, insulating the investigation and prosecution from parentsand keeping alow profile is the lationship. One Hindu mother wassofuri- fluid identities. Pushedbyaruthless police- safestmethodofsurvival. Muslim unions the UP ous at the waythe police interruptedher vigilantenexus, Hindu women in inter-faith politicalinfluenceistheonlyway to ensurejusticeintherapeandmurderof ayoungwoman. That’s been made impossible by the way police have targeted in the daughter’s wedding to aMuslim that she marriagesmay have to discard their Hindu the UP police areswooping down on couples last month shows that lashedout againstsuchunwarranted inter- identity.Acouple that“looksobviously huntedout by vigilantes. Since the enactment ference to the media. Muslim”isunlikelytobeharassed;bythesame of theUPlaw criminalising marriages be- despite all the hate In other cases, parentsknewthat their logic, aMuslim ghettowould be the safest THE SUMMER OF 36 tween Hindu womenand Muslimmen — propagated over the last six daughters had eloped, but preferredtostay spaceforthem.Butsuchanenvironmentcould both in intent and action, the lawisjustthat — years, young Hindus and quietfor fear of embarrassment. The zeal of forcetheHinduwifetobecomemore Muslim the police have bargedintohomes where the police-backedvigilantes dragged these than she maywant to,and the Muslim hus- Team India plunges anew lowinAustralia. But sports weddings were taking place; theyhavesepa- Muslims do not see each Hindu families intothelimelight.Forcedto file bandtoconform to community diktats. other as enemies. Even more tend to forget and forgive ratedcouples in registrars’ offices and courts. complaints, their daughters’ actions will now Children of mixed marriages aremouldedby Thankstothe ubiquitous mobilecam- importantly,their be arguedincourts in full media glare. exposure to different customs. But UP’s new HE SUMMER OF 36 will notbeforgotten, but will certainlybeforgiven. Though era, videos of these invasions of privacy willingnesstobuild alife One wonders whether the UP CM had an- lawcouldresultintheirbeingmouldedbyjust have gone viral. But what’s shone through ticipatedsuchafallouton small-town, lower- one faith, and it won’t be Hinduism. thenature of theimplosionwasshockingforateamof provenpedigreeandcre- these painful, violent scenes has been the together indicates that faith middle-class Hindu families.His statedinten- T dentials, and would remain an all-time low, none of the 11 players would be courageofthe Hindu women.Inone video, is not their primaryidentity. tion to bring in this newlaw wasto“protect The writer is asenior journalist condemnedbywhatwould be theequivalent of the devil’s number in Indian cricket. It would be amemorythatwould be tough to erasefromthe mind of these crick- etersaswellastheaudience,therewouldbefrequentremindersintheformof banter,sledge orgenuinemalice,butitwouldceasetobeacrushingburdenastimerollson.Itwouldhaunt them, but would notdefine their career or life. DECEMBER 22, 1980, FORTY YEARS AGO The batchof36could take lessons from the classof42. It wasnoordinarybattingline-up thatEnglandskittledoutinLondon,featuringasitdidSunilGavaskar,GundappaViswanath, PAWAR ARRESTED from wheretheyweretotravelbybus and ASSAM TENSE Farokh Engineer and Ajit Wadekar.But decadeslater,when their careers areassessed, that THE MAHARASHTRAGOVERNMENT’S plan other vehicles to Deoli and then to Nagpur TENSION MOUNTED IN Gauhati following a hour of ignominyisseldom recalled. Gavaskar went onto become an all-time great mostre- to foil the farmers’ “long march”acrossthe before the winter session of the state call giventhe foreigners’ issue agitatorstothe putedfor his all-condition technique.Viswanathisoften rememberedasthe mostaesthetic statereceived asetbackwith the Chandur legislature. entirecity population, includinggovernment magistrateordering the release of the agita- employees, to take partinamass satyagraha. of Indianbatsmen,amatch-winnerondifficulttracks.EngineermadeEnglandhishomeand tors’ leaderSharad Pawarand 440others. CONGRESSMERGER Assam home ministerexpressedconcern at went on to become acounty legend.Wadekar’sleadership skills arestillpraisedand he later Meanwhile, the Maharashtrabandh organ- PRIME MINISTERINDIRA Gandhi todayin- the renewedincidence of violence in several enjoyed successful stintsasIndia coach. isedbysix leftand democratic parties against dicated thepossibility of some “individu- partsof thestateandaskedthepeopleto coop- Sport,thus,forgetsandforgives.Itoffersachanceforredemption.Thereare numerousex- the policeswoop on the marchers yesterday als” from the Congress party headedby eratewith the government to ensurepeace. amples. StuartBroadwas struckfor six sixesin an over by Yuvraj Singh, yetheisset to end up receivedapartial response. Official sources Devraj Ursjoining the Congress (I). She, as one of the all-time great bowlers, scalingmoreheightsthan Yuvraj couldevenimagine. said over 1,100people were roundedupfor however, ruledout the possibility of the THATCHER VISIT Usain Bolt waseliminated in the firstround of the Athens Games, before he clockedthe defying prohibitoryorders. The farmers and mergeroftwo parties at the organisational BRITISH PRIME MINISTER MargaretThatcher political workers were settoresumethe level. But when asked by journalists if she is expected to makeanofficialvisit to India Olympic recordinBeijing four years later.Shane Warne wasplunderedfor 150runs in his march when the orders came. Pawarand would consider suchamergerinthe inter- aroundthemiddleof Aprilnextyear.Theexact debutTest againstIndia,butwentonto pick708wickets.SoIndiacouldtake lessonsfromhis- other marchers were arrested as theyneared ests of her party,Mrs Gandhi said, “Well, it dates forher visit will be finalisedbythe two tory andfight back. ajungle near Pohraontheir waytoChandur worksbothways”. governmentsthrough diplomatic channels.

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THEINDIANEXPRESS,TUESDAY,DECEMBER22,2020 WHATTHE OTHERSSAY “Most countries do not want aconfrontational relationship with China. Few believe ideology is more important than economic interestsand it is only some political and opinion elites who hold aradical view toward their China 7 THE IDEAS PAGE relations.” —GLOBAL TIMES, CHINA New welfarism of India’s Right The composite

Traditional redistribution, which aimstodeliver on intangibles like healthand education, has cededtoa campus distinctive ‘New Welfarism’, whereCentre is demonstrablyproviding tangible essentials to citizens WhenPrime MinisterspeaksatAMU centenary FIGURE1.ACCESSTOESSENTIALSERVICES(%ofhouseholds) today, he could underline his resolve to preserve, Womenusingbankaccounts Electricity protect and defend the character of the university 100 100 80 urban 1.8% 5.3% 80 marilyfor the Muslims and so farasconsis- 60 60 tent with above objectivesfor others”. But 40 40 urban 0.7% 0.5% this is exactlywhat the Supreme Courtof India held in Kerala Education Bill (1957), 20 rural 1.6% 7.1% 20 rural 2.0% 3.4% 0 0 when it observed that minority institutions 15 15 19 Abhishek Anand, 19 areprimarilyfortheminoritythathasestab- 1992 20 20 20 20 1998 2005 Vikas Dimble and 2005 lishedthem.The TMA Paijudgment (2003) Sanitation Cleancookingfuel reiterated this viewwhile dealing with the Arvind Subramanian relationship of Article30(1) with Article urban 1.5% 2.6% urban 1.9% 3.2% 100 100 rural 0.8% 5.6% Faizan Mustafa 29(2). AMU does nothavereligion-based 80 80 reservationbutmostpeopledonotdifferen- THE RECENTLYRELEASED fifthround of the 60 60 tiatebetweenreservationinstate institutions National FamilyHealthSurvey (NFHS-5) pro- 40 40 “FROM THE SEED we sowtodaytheremay and minorityinstitutions.While the former vides reliable and independent evidence to 20 rural 1.5% 3.4% 20 springupamightytree,whosebranches,like cannothavereligionbasedreservationdueto assess micro-development performance un- 0 0 those of the banyanofthe soil, shall in their Article15(1),thelatterareentitledto itunder 5 9 9

derthis government. The survey covers many 15 turn strikefirm rootsintothe earth and Article 30(1) if it is areligious minorityinsti- 1992 1992 201 20 201 201 1998 dimensions of health,nutrition, andthe over- 1998 themselvessend forthnew and vigorous tution. As minorities areanintegral partof 2005 2005 all quality of lives. Herewefocus on one that ■ Rural ■ Urban ■ Allhouseholds saplings;thatthiscollegemay expandintoa India, AMU as the greatestcitadel of minor- government policy has consciouslytargeted university,whosesons shall go forth ity education is simultaneouslyaninstitu- —New Welfarism —andanotherthatwasnot Notes: All thenumbers areper cent of households that have access to the good/service in question. Data throughout the length and breadth of the tion of national importance in respect of but has been of long-standing interest—the arefor the5years endinginthe year labelled on thex-axis,withdatafor other years linearly landtopreachthe gospel of free inquiry, of whichonlyParliament can legislate. Many stunting of children. The contrastoffers po- interpolated. Dataare for15statesfor whichnumbers areavailable forall therounds of the NFHS. Data large-heartedtoleration andofpuremoral- erroneouslybelievethat agovernment- tentiallyimportant lessons forthe political forwomen’sbank/savings accounts—available onlyafter 2005 —capture financialinclusion and ity,” said Sir Syed Ahmad Khan at thetime aidedinstitution cannotbeaminorityinsti- economyofpolicy-making and forthe state women’s empowermentbecausetheyare accounts that women themselvesuse. Numbers in thecharts when Viceroy LordLyttonlaid the founda- tution. Article 30(2) explicitlynegates this arethe percentagepoint changes per year of access to households beforeand after(dotedline) 2015. of the economyitself. tion of the MAO(Mohammadan Agro- view.The Courthas consistentlyheld that The NewWelfarism of the NarendraModi Oriental) college on January8,1877. The government “aid” cannotcome with such government representsaverydistinctive ap- prophetic wordsofthe founder have come conditions that will “annihilateordestroy proachtoredistributionandinclusion.Itdoes trueasAligarhMuslimUniversityistodayan minoritycharacter”of aminorityinstitution. notprioritise the supplyofpublic goods such internationally-acclaimeduniversity and a No one has ever doubtedthe minority as basic healthand primaryeducation as gov- unique symbol of India’s composite culture. character of MAOCollege. The Supreme ernmentshavedone around the worldhistor- At afunction to unveil the university’s cen- Courtin1967and Allahabad High Court in ically; it is also somewhatambivalent about tenarycelebrationstoday, Prime Minister 2005 admitted theso-called “deep green” Illustration: CRSasikuamr; Graphic: Ritesh Kumar strengtheningthe safetynet whichpastIndian NarendraModi will be in attendance. character of the MAOCollege. This college governmentshavepursuedwith mixed suc- gaining access to better sanitation, compared FIGURE2.STUNTINGRATES present as opposedtointangibles that might Historian Hamilton Gibb had calledthe wasconverted intoauniversity in 1920. cess. Instead, it has entailedthe subsidised to 1.5per cent before.For cleaner cooking fu- accrue at some moredistant point in time. institution the “firstmodernistorganisation Section 5ofthe AMU Acteventodaysays public provision of essential goods and serv- els, the pace increasedseven-foldto5.6 per (%ofunder-5children) Critical to exploitingthat opportunity is en- of Islam”. The university has rightlybeen AMU shall inherit notonlyall debts, liabili- ices, normallyprovidedbythe private sector, cent of households everyyear after2015. For urban -0.4% 0.6% suring that deliverables can be attributed to recognisedasan“institution of nationalim- ties,etc.of theMAOCollegebutalsoitsrights. suchasbank accounts, cooking gas, toilets, rural electricity,2per cent of additionalhouse- 50 rural -0.5% -0.1% the Union government. To this end, the cen- portance”bythe Constitution.Ithas pro- Even Justice Chagla, while introducing the electricity,housing, and morerecentlywater holds were gettingpowereveryyear pre-2015, 45 tral implementation machinery(the bureau- ducedheadsof stateofseveral countries,in- 1965 amendment,had told Parliament that and also plain cash. and the pace increasedto3.4 percent of 40 cracy and banks) is deployedasmuchaspos- cluding India. Twoits alumni, Khan Abdul thegovernmenthasnointentionof changing Beforediscussing the findings, several households everyyear. 35 sible. And to erase anydoubt about the source GhaffarKhan and Zakir Hussain, were con- the character of the university. Yet, depart- caveatsneedemphasis. First, since the latest Third, performance on some metrics falls 30 of the benefits, the policy is backedupby ferred the Bharat Ratna. ingfromits otherwise liberal approach, the 25 round onlyhas datafor 17 states andfive shortofearlier claims. The clearestexample 11 22 strong and persistent messaging, highlight- Thecornerstoneof SirSyed’sphilosophy Supreme Courtin1967opinedthat it is not Union territories, our findings coveronly54 is sanitation: TheIndia-wideaverageofaccess ■ Rural ■ Urban ■ Allhouseholds ing the achievementsand the benefactor. wasthe developmentofascientific spirit, clear from the text of the 1920 Actthat the per cent of India’s population. Madhya to clean sanitation is still alittle under 70 per In contrast, improving child nutrition is which heconsideredto beasinequanonfor universitywasestablishedbyMuslims.HM Pradesh,Uttar Pradesh,Punjab,Rajasthanand cent,farfromthe declarationthatIndiais 100 Notes: Declines represent improvement. preciselythe sortofintangible benefit that intellectual advancement and social Seervaitermedthejudgmentas“productive Tamil Nadu arenotable exclusions. Second, per cent open-defecationfree. The Bihar num- is difficult to achieve, measureormonitor. progress.Hefacedstiffoppositionfromfun- of great public mischief”. Parliamentre- our findings coveronlysome government berisonly49per cent. Households cannoteasilysee whether and damentalist Muslims and morethan50fat- spondedtocourt’s anxieties through an programmes whichtargetedthe provision of Turn next to childstunting, whichhas long to whatextent better nutrition has been waswereissuedagainsthimforhisprogres- amendment in 1981 to clarify and explicitly women’s bank accounts, electricity,sanitation been amajorIndian failureofstate action and provided; itsbenefits, embodiedinhap- sive views onIslamandemphasisonwestern statethe historicalfact that AligarhMuslim and cooking fuel, respectively. Theydonot societalinaction. Figure2plots stunting rates, pier, healthierand cognitively stronger education.Sir Syed wasagreat nationalist. University is “aninstitutionoftheir choice coverhousing forlackofdata. Third, even definedaswhenachild’sheight-for-age istwo children, areevenless clearly discernible. On Hindu-Muslim relations, he had said in establishedbyMuslims of India” and that it wheredataare available, theymay notcap- standarddeviations belowthe global norm. Moreover, better nutrition takestime and 1883 that by living together forcenturies in “in fact originatedasMAO College” andwas turethe granularity of the outcome. Forex- Aftershowing aslowbut steady decline,es- patience to deliver. And manyfactors be- India, Muslims have acquired hundredsof merely“incorporated”andnotreally“estab- ample, “access to power” does notmean fam- peciallybetween 2005 and 2015,therehas yond state-directed effortsare necessary customs from the Hindus justasHindus lished” in 1920. In 2005, Allahabad High ilieshave 24x7powerfromthegrid;“accessto been adisappointing reversal thereafterwith forproper nutrition. In particular,families learnedhundreds of thingsfromthe Courtstruckdownthis amendment as a cooking gas” is no guarantee of itsdailyuse. overall stunting ratesflattening and urban needabroader macro-economic environ- Muslims.InGurdaspurin1884,heremarked: “brazenoverruling”. The SC quicklystayed Fourth, even though the NewWelfarism was ratesrising. And because stunting reflectsnu- ment of robustgrowth of income, purchas- “O Hindusand Muslims! Do youbelong to a this judgment and in 2019 agreedtorecon- acentralgovernment initiative,significant trition, which, in turn, derivesfromincome ing powerand consumption. countryotherthanIndia?Doyounot live on sider itsown 1967 judgment. state-levelvariations suggestthat the centre and consumption, this story—ofretrogres- So, twoconclusions mightbedrawnfrom this soil and arenot buriedunder it or cre- AMU alwaysreceived full supportfrom can neithertakefull credit nor bear all the sion, notjuststalledprogress —isincompati- this tale of twooutcomes. First, governments matedonitsghats?If youliveanddieonthis successive governments.SincePMModihas blame foroutcomes. blewithadynamiceconomy, distributingthe needvisions —bothsubstantive and political. land,then,bearinmind,that...alltheHindus, giventhe slogan of sabka saath, sabka saath Figure1illustrates the keyfindings. First, benefitsofdevelopment widely. Second, some outcomes requiredirect, rela- Muslims and Christians who live in this and sabka vishwas, he maynot onlygivea major progress has been made by thisgovern- Whatexplainsthedifferencebetweenthe tively easy action(likedelivering tangible countryare one nation.” big financialpackagetothe university but ment in achievingitsNew Welfarism.By2019, success of New Welfarism and the failureon goods and services) but others will be more TheScientificSocietyfoundedby SirSyed alsoassuretheover-anxiousAMUfraternity 72 per cent of all women had bank or savings stunting? difficult, requiring above all adynamic econ- in1863wasnationalincharacter.Apartfrom abouthisresolve to preserve,protectandde- accountsthat theyreportasbeing able to use NewWelfarism embodies avision, both omy, and aconception of the policies and in- theBritishmembers,itcomprised82Hindu fendthehistoricandconstitutionalcharacter themselves. Ninety-eight per cent of all house- imbuedwith conviction and laden with cal- stitutions that will supportit. and 107Muslim members. Even the 22- of this great institution so that AMU realises holdshad access to electricity,nearly 70 per culation.The conviction is that providing In some ways,this Indian experienceis member managingcommittee of MAO the vision of itsfounder by producing en- cent to improved sanitation, and 60 per cent these goods and services will makeacriti- TheNew Welfarism of the consistent with abroader global trend (Poland, College includedsix Hindus. The firstgrad- lightenedand liberal citizens.Investment in to clean cooking fuel. cal difference to the livesofthe poor.Indeed, NarendraModi government Hungaryand Turkey). Even withoutdelivering uateoftheuniversitywasIshwariPrasadand thesecularandmoderneducationofminori- Second, the pace of improvement, New Welfarism recalls the BasicNeeds ap- represents averydistinctive broad-basedprosperity,populistleaders and the firstMAwas Amba Prasad.Strangely, fa- ties helpsthe nation in manyways. measured as the percentage of households proachtodevelopment that wasinintellec- parties arefinding electoral success through mouscollegesof Englanddidnotadmitnon- thathavegainedaccess to these goods and tual vogue severaldecades ago. The convic- approachtoredistribution apotent,new cocktail: Leveraging the iden- Christian studentsevenaslateasthe begin- The writer is president of Consortium of services eachyear,has accelerated since tion also stems from abelief that the power and inclusion. It does not titypoliticsofthe right, embracing tepidly, ningofthe 20th century. National LawUniversities and vice- 2015 (thelines tilt moresharplyupwards). of technology can be harnessed to achieve prioritise the supply of even rejecting, the market-focusedneo-lib- True,Section 2ofthe MAOCollegeLaws, chancellor of NALSAR, Hyderabad. Improvement has been especially marked successful implementation. eralism of the centre, and appropriating the 1877 clearly providedthat“thecollegeispri- Viewsare personal in rural India. New Welfarism’s calculation is that there public goods suchasbasic redistributiveeconomicsofthe left. Except Perhaps, the moststriking changerelates is richelectoral opportunity in providing tan- health and primary that in India today, traditional redistribution to women’s financialinclusionand empower- gible goods and services, whichare relatively education as governments (strong safety nets or improved publicgood ment. Everyyear,pre-2015,anadditional 1.5 straightforward to deliver, measureandmon- have done around the world provision) has cededtoadistinctive New per centof women in rural areas were acquir- itor.Traditional government services suchas Welfarism, wherethe central government is LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR ing bank or savings accountsthat theycould primaryeducation areintangible, whichare historically; it is also demonstrablyand effectively providing tan- themselvesuse. Post-2015,this rose to 7.1per difficult even to define, muchless measure. somewhat ambivalent about gible essentials to itscitizens. cent, anear five-fold increase. In rural Bihar, But when the government promises toilets, strengthening the safetynet KOHLI MUST GO the number of women with accountsjumped forexample, everyone can monitor progress. whichpast Indian Anand is graduatestudent at Harvard from 6.6 per cent in 2005 to 25 percent in Either atoilethas been installed, or it has not. Kennedy School, Dimble is deputy director, THIS REFERSTOthe interviewwith IDEAS 2015 to almost50per cent in 2019. Opportunity is also spotted in providing governments have pursued Ashoka Centrefor Economic Policy and RamchandraGuha, 'Ambedkar warned Post-2015,3.4percentofhouseholds were benefitsthat can be deliveredinthe political with mixed success. Subramanian is professor,Ashoka University us about dangers of bhaktiinpolitics; ONLINE bhaktiinsportisthesame'(IE,December 19). Itshigh time sweep out the star cul- ONLYINTHE EXPRESS turefromIndian cricket. As astart,Virat ● FORAFAIRADMISSION Kohlishouldberemovedfromcaptaincy. No cricket captain in historyhas aban- PROCESS: donedshipinthe middle of an Ashes se- PRIYAGARGAND Notes from anew world HARSHITASINGHAL ries/Australiantour.Canyouimaginethe Chief electioncommissionertakingleave during ageneral election or General VP ● ACAUTIONARY Pandemic has forced classicalmusicians to adapt to the virtualmode Malik taking casual leave during the EXAMPLE: Kargilconflict?Yet,Kohliisallowedtojust SUNITARORA walk away in the middle of an overseas Ranjani and Gayatri tour! Captaincy requires muchmorein www.indianexpress.com thanjustbeingagoodplayer—itrequires AS THE DAYS starttoget shorter and cooler, gatherings were banned, reality dawnedon callyreceived by fans —indeed,thisoffered a been surreal forustosee music lovers from character,fortitude and above all, an the warmth of music fills the air in our home- us. We sawliveconcerts,whichare the staple welcome diversion from the painful parade Chicago to Berlin to Chennai in thesame au- unswervingcommitmentto thecountry town of Chennai, the cultural nervecentreof of theclassicalmusicexperience, reduce to a of pandemicnews.Asthe gravity of the pan- dience, makingitatruly globalexperience. yourepresent. Kohli has to go,and as OPPOSITION, UNITE South India. Everyyear,aroundthistime, the meredream. The worldchangedand the en- demicdeepened andits long-termimplica- As Lenin famouslysaid,“Thereare Guha rightlysuggests,sodoes Sourav city gears up forthe December music season, ergy thatfeeds thecreativeendeavour of tions unfolded, it wastime forustolook for decades when nothing happens and then Ganguly. Thesoonerthe better. THIS REFERSTOthe article, 'Beyond adizzyingly packed schedule of concerts, artisteslikeuswas nearly extinguished. sustainable alternatives. thereare weekswhen decades happen.” NPSingh, Delhi the newfacade'(IE, December 21). dance recitals and muchmore. Everyyear, As we watchedthis changed world, we As we embarkedonthis journey, we had Decades did happen in the lastfew weeks, The article, written by awell-re- thousands of concertsand musicfans throng asked ourselves: Howdowekeep this ex- morequestions than answers. Should content but through this seemingly endlessjourney, ON THE BACKFOOT spected bureaucrat, makes it clear the city from all over the world. But nowthe periencealive,bothfor ourselvesand our be free?Whatshouldbethe format? We re- anew reality of musical expansiveness and that forthe BJP-ledmajority govern- halls areempty,and the annual extravaganza fans? The word “virtual”, hithertoabsent alisedthatmusicalcontent simplycannotbe global reachhas arrived. As we writethis, THISREFERSTOtheeditorial,'TheBengal ment, the functioning of Parliament seemsadistant memory. Asombrereminder from our vocabulary, became the call of the presented in good form without aspectsthat news of avaccine brings hope forgreen fight' (IE, December 21). The cacophony is notapriority —the legislative body of the worldwefacecomes in theform of an hour,aswerealisedthat we hadtoadapt. enrichthe experience —good recording, suit- shoots foranewworld —wherethe musi- around the Bengalelections is getting has been ignored andkeptinacorner. email from The Music Academy, which an- We were notsurehow the newformat able stageand careful editing.With appre- cal experience is unconstrainedand virtual moreshrill by the day. While the BJP is This government pays no heedtothe nounces that forthe firsttime in almostacen- would be received. As physicalliveconcerts hension, we introducedafeemodel and have formatsbroaden the reachofmusic globally. geared up forthe no-holds-barredfight, Opposition and ignores suggestions tury, the festival willbevirtual! transformedintovirtual concerts, anew been pleasantlysurprisedbythe response. At theongoing December concerts, both free desertionsfromtheTMCarecompound- from experts.Itappears that the peo- We areCarnatic singers and musicians catchwordwas born —voncerts! Music lovers have been willing to payfor con- and ticketedvirtual content have filledthe ing Mamata Banerjee'sproblems. ple in charge want to move the coun- and have been performingfor nearly 35 years The journeytothe virtual worldwas less certs producedwell.Importantly, it has en- vacuum of emptyauditoriums. We lookfor- Moreover, forBanerjee, thereisthe anti- trytowards being an autocracy.There as avocalist duo on stages alloverthe world. than smooth forartistes. The firstfew months abledartistestorecreate much of the impact ward to atime of untrammelledtravel, live incumbencyfactor.TheBJPrightlysenses is still time —the Oppositionshould India wasearly to imposecurbs on March24 sawagrand pageantryofmusical content be- of aliveconcert in avirtual reality. concertsand asafer and healthier worldina that it has areal chancetounseat her. wake up, uniteand stop this design. and as artistes we hadhopedthat the ing shared on socialmedia in theformofun- As artistes, it heartens us to learn that this pandemic-free future. Vijai Pant, Hempur RMDeshpande, Navi Mumbai December season wouldremainuntouched seen videos and soloperformances from the newreality canindeedbeenriching.Since re- by the pandemic. Butasthe virus ragedand family room. This content wasenthusiasti- strictions do notexistfor avirtual event, it has Thewriters areIndian classicalmusicians

Ahmedabad WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM 8 CALENDAR THEINDIANEXPRESS,TUESDAY,DECEMBER22,2020

OVER THE HEDGE by Michael Fry &TLewis CROSSWORD 4308 DAYTODAY BYPETERVIDAL

ARIES(Mar 21 -Apr 20) LIBRA (Sept24-Oct 23) This could be quite It will paytotake an emotional day, work seriously, but it with an emphasis on could be love,or domestic security as social engagements, the question of the moment. whichare mostonyour mind. Over the next forty-eight hours Althoughtheremay have to be youwill onceagain be asserting some changes,this definitely your independence, but there seemstobeagood period fora could be many mixed reunion. Rather than sitting messages, and ahigh chance of around waiting forthe phone to misunderstandings. ring, youcan take the lead and getintouch. TAURUS (Apr21-May 21) Good communication SCORPIO (Oct24-Nov22) is absolutelyessential Youmay consider if youare to makea reviving successofboth professionalplans CALVIN &HOBBES by Bill Watterson personal and professional plans whichhavebeen today. It'safantastic dayfor ignoredorleftonthe back anyone attending interviews or burner.Infact, this is about the making important proposals, just best thing youcan do at the as long as youare prepared for moment. If you'renot the unexpected. currentlyatwork, youshould ACROSS DOWN find anyway youcan to gain 1The objective of the shy 1Funny, there’s nothing in GEMINI(May22-June 21) respect in the community. (7) numerals Youmay paymore 4Fruit that givesindividual (5) attention to financial SAGITTARIUS(Nov23-Dec 22) vitality (5) 2Providing youget car in for affairs, but shouldbe Financial plans 7Checkit’s one of apair repair (8) awarethat money shouldproceed (4) 3Coaches coaches has certain psychological and satisfactorily, 8Onthe edge of alarming (6) symbolicconnections. It may although domestic change(8) 4Hesitsonabench well be thatifyou should be costs could increase before 10 He drawsactors intotrouble (10) temptedtogoonaspending long. If there is to be an (10) 5Conventional women? spree, it's because something is extravagant outburst, then 12 They’refor firing ovens (4) notgoing so well in the rest of you'll needtotakecareand perhaps (6) 6Did favours when compelled? your life. keep an eyeonchangingprices. 13 Earth reducedtodust? (7) Actually, though, emotional CANCER (June 22 -July23) (6) 9Verydifferent from some risksare as likelyas The Moon is in an extremely 15 Agree on adefinition of 24 Europeans on their own monetary ones. MARVIN by Tom Armstrong strong position today, hours and finish work (5,5) and that's good for CAPRICORN (Dec 23 -Jan.20) (4,2,1,3) 11 An animal looking forhis you. However, it has You'llhavetolisten 18 Awordoftwenty-six letters master to be said that there's to partnersvery (8) (5,3) achanceofconfusion, muddle intentlyindeed, even 19 It is made in achurn 12 Up in arms (7) and mistakes, even though it though theymay (4) 14 Possiblyalerts to changes maybetempered by bursts of sometimes saycompletely the 20 Tutorcooked fish (6) supremeromanticinspiration. oppositefromwhat theymean! (5) 16 Potential enemycountry Juststeer clear of awkward Don'tfeel bound to 21 Well directed it mayfinish off (5) commitments,orany initiatives commitmentswhichhave the game 17 Capable of scheming which could back-fire. outlivedtheirpurpose. Thereis (7) (2,2) little to be gainedbyhanging on LEO (July24-Aug23) to thepastatthe expense of It could do youa the present. SolutionsCrossword4307:Across:1Sweethearts,9Leisure,10Clamp,11Gigi,12 powerofgood to Levitate,14Timbre,16Cellar,18Agitated,19Omen,22Hitch,23Philtre,24 Appropriate.Down:2Wring,3Etui,4Heeled,5Ascribes,6Travail,7Flightpaths,13 keep yourself to AQUARIUS (Jan21-Feb19) Breather,15Maintop,17Keepupappearances,20Motet,21Mini. yourselffor acouple It should be business of days.Ifother people aretrying as normal today-or to forceyou intoapremature so youmight decision, feel free to delayand imagine. Thereisa prevaricatefor as long as youcan. muchgreater than average If youdomakesnapdecisions, chance that youwillbeforced JUMBLEDWORDS DifficultyLevel5s youcould be letting other to considercompletely new Instructions people in fortrouble alittle way factors, especially at work.But, Givenbelowarefourjumbledwords.Solvethejumblestomakeproperwordsandmovethemto TosolveaSudokupuzzle, down theline,sotake as soon as youthinkyou've

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Tender Notice No. 29 (2020-202l) Panchayat (R&B) Divn. Surat FORM-VII In the Name of Government of Gujarat State the Executive Revenue Department, [See rule 12] Sachivalaya, Gandhinagar Engineer,Panchayat(R&B) Division, Surat Ph. No.(0261) PreliminaryNotification under sub-section (1) of section 11 of the Act Notification 2476894 Invite Tender through E-Tendering Process forWork NOTIFICATION (The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, of MMGSY-20-21 Kamrej Taluka 01 Work Taluka Rs.214.00 Revenue Department, Lacs and Bardoli Taluka 01 Work Rs.60.00 Lacs forEligible Rehabilitation &Resettlement Act, 2013 (No. 30 of 2013) Sachivalaya, Gandhinagar District :Kheda Dated :23/11/2020 approvedregisteredcontractorinR&Bdepartment, Date :23/11/2020 Government of Gujarat, the Details of E-Tender notice is avail- No. AM-2020-701-M-LK-1217-1833-GH (The Right to Fair Compensation and TransparencyinLand Whereas It appears to th Govrenment of Gujarat that the land spec- able on www.nprocure.com forfurther Details Please Contact Narmada,Water Resources, Water Supply & Acquisition,Rehabilitation &Resettlement Act, 2013) (30 of 2013) ified in the SCHEDULE annexedhereto,islikely to be required to AboveAddress During officetime it can be visible on Kalpsar Dept. Dist. :Kheda "National High Speed Rail Corporation Ltd. Vadodara(NHSRCL) www.statetenders.com. Tender Notice No. 18 of 2020-21 (Corrigendum) No-2 No :AM-2020-699-M-LK-1217-1829-GH (hereinafter referred to as “The Requiring Body”) forthe public pur- Consider GST rules before Tendering the rate. In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section-11 of pose forthe purpose of construction of infrastructure project of Executive Engineer,Panam Project Division, Godhra, Panam Colony, Tender online submission last Date :- 11/01/2021 the Right to Fair Compensation and TransparencyinLand powers “Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Project.” (hereinafter Godhra Extended last date/time for uploading tenders documents, Price No.: INF-Surat/1037/2020 Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, of 2013 (30 of 2013) referred to as “The public purpose Project”). bid (online) Tender I.D. No.434527 &434529 up to Dt.28/12/2020 18:00 (hereinafter referred to as "the Act''), the Government of Gujarat here- hrs. On line opening of tender on Dt.29/12/2020 at 12:00 Hrs. Tender fee by declares that the land/Iands mentioned in The Schedule annesed (1) Nowwhereas,the Government of Gujarat, Revenue Gujarat Water Supply &Sewerage Board &other documents (in physical form DD of tender fee &EMD (FDR &B.G.) hereto is/are required forthe purpose of acquisition forthe public pur- Department has,inexercise of the powers conferred, by sec- tion-10A [inserted by section 3ofThe RighttoFair Tender Notice No.32/2020-21 up to Dt.06/01/2021 18:00 hrs. pose of "Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Project" Online Tender ID No.- 439916 2. It is notified that :- Compensation andTransparency in Land Acquisition, Furtherdetailed notice of this office &contactthis officewebsite Tender are Invited through TwoBid E-Tenderlng by the Executive (1) the area of lands required forthe above project is H.0-02-68 Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Gujarat Amedment)Act, http://nwr.nprocure.com Or www.statetenders.com (INF/Godhra/619/2020) Engineer P. H. Mech. Dn. "Jal Bhavan" Opp.Sarita Vlhar Society, Sq.mt. and is MahemdavadTaluka SCHEDULE of Kheda 2016 (Gjarat Act No.12of2016)] of The Right to Fair compen- University Rd Rajkot-360005 Phone 0281-2562059/79 work of the District; sation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilation and S.I.T.C.ofHSCF /VT Pump Sets with Electro Mechanical Accessories Narmada, Water Resources, Water Supply & (2) The public purposes involved in the above project are Resettlement 2013 (30 of 2013) (hereinafter referred to as ''The andEquipments etc.Complete with 60 Months Comprehensive Kalpsar Dept. forthe purposesofconstructionofinfrastructure project of Act'') exempted, in public interest, by Notification No. AM-2017- Operation &Maintenance &security Work At Ghodadhroi intakeand Tender Notice No. 14 of 2020-21 (Corrigendum) No-4 Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Project 155-M-LK-12-2017-1833-GH, Dated: 17/11/2017 published in Khareda HW based on Ghodadhroi Dam in MMJ RWSS pf Morbi Dist. (3) the reasons necessitatingthe displacement of the affected the ExtraordinaryGazette of Gujarat Government Dated: Executive Engineer,Panam Project Division, Godhra, Panam Colony, Est. Amt. (131.33 Lack) persons are – 17/11/2017,the belowmentioned Scheduled area of land to be Tender Documents can be seen, Down loded &submitted on website. Godhra Extended last date/time for uploading tenders documents, Price Due to acquisition of the Land, specified in the SCHEDULE for acquired forthe infrastructure Project of The Mumbai- https://www.nprocure.com Last date foronline bid submission Dt. bid (online) Tender I.D. No.433661 up to Dt.28/12/2020 18:00 hrs. On line public purpose of construction of the infrastructure project of Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Project, from the application of 11/01/2021 up to 18-00 Hrs,Physical from latest by Dt. 12/01/2021 up opening of tender on Dt.29/12/2020 at 12:00 Hrs. Tender fee &other ''Mumbai-Ahemedabad High Speed Rail Project'' the provisions of the powers,IIand III of The Act, and to 15-00 Anyadditional information of the tender will be available at documents (in physical form DD of tender fee &EMD (FDR &B.G.) up to (4) The summaryofthe Social lmpact Assessment Reportisasunder - (2) Nowwhereas,inexercise of the powers,conferred by sub-sec- above mentioned office.All Right is reservedtoreject anyorall tenders Dt.06/01/2021 18:00 hrs. Under Section 10A, from Notification No.AM-2020-477-M-LK- tion (1) of section 43 of The Act. The Government of Gujarat without assigning anyreasons thereof.Ifany Amendments it will be 1217-1829-GH, Date:18th Aug 2020 Revenuedepartment of Further detailed notice of this office &contact this office website Published on website. Gujarat Government of the Gujarat Act of 12 of 2016, exemption has appointed, by Notification No. AM-2019-493-M-LK-1219- http://nwr.nprocure.com Or www.statetenders.com (INF/Godhra/620/2020) ForThe Problem of Drinking water in ruralwater supply scheme is givin under Section 10 Aofthe Act it is not required forthe sum- 885-1829-GH, Dated: 01/08/2019 The Special Land contact Tall Free No.1916 INF/Raj/1073/20 maryofthe Social lmpact Assessment Report. Acquisition Officer,Kheda as theAdministrator of Tender Notice No. -13 of 2020-21 (5) the particulars of the Administrator appointment under section-43 Rehabilitation and Resettlement in respect of the scheduled of the Act are as under - land to be acquired forconstruction of the captioned infrastruc- GUJARATWATER SUPPLY&SEWERAGE ExecutiveEngineer,Road and Building Division, Gir- Special LAnd Acquisition Officer,Kheda ture project, and BOARD Somnath, Veraval(Phone: 02876-220237) invites 3. All the persons interested in these lands are herebynotified not to (3) Nowwhereas,inexercise of the powers conferred by sub-sec- obstruct and disturb anySurveyororother staff to enter upon and TENDER NOTICE NO.10/2020-21 online Tender forthe work of S.RtoProviding Box tion (1) of section 11 of ''Right to Fair Compensation and surveythe land. Anytransactions in respect of whole or partofthese Transparency in LandAcquisition, Rehabilitation and Executive Engineer,Public Health Dharoi Project Division, Jal Bhavan, Culvert(1No.)onKodinar-Velan-Kotda Road K.m 21/4 Mehsana, Opp. R.T.O.. Palavasana, Mehsana (Phone No. (02762) 225186) lands in whatsoevermanner including by sale,lease,mortgage, Resettlement Act, 2013 (30 of 2013) (hereinafter referred to as change of name,exchange entered into after the date of this invites tender for below mentioned work by E-Tendering system. to 21/6 Ta.Kodinar Dist. Gir Somnath whose estimated the Act), the Government of Gujarat, has notified, vide their Notification made without permission of the Collector shall not be Name of Work:- Construction of Administrative BuildingCum Quarter at cost is Rs.49.12 Lac. This tender will be available for Notification No. AM-2020-480-M-LK-1217-1833-GH,Dated: taken into consideration by the officer assessing the compensation 18/08/2020 that the said Scheduled land is required forthe Vadnagar H/W,Taluka -Vadnagar,Dist- Mehsana Tendering on website www.nprocure.com from Dt. under section 27 of the Act foraparticular portion of the land as may public purpose specified here above, Estimated cost: Rs. 46,67,794=45 28/12/2020 to 12/01/2021. Formore information visit to be finally acquired. Tender ID No.439740 (4) And whereas,the Government of Gujarat is satisfied after con- this office.Detail tender notice will be available on 4. The Government of Gujarat, if satisfiedabout acquisition of the land Eligibility of Contractor :- Any Bidder should have aregistration in "E1"and foraforesaid public purpose,may publish final declaration under sec- sidering the reportmade by The District Collector,Anand under above class. Last Date of Online Submission of Tender :- 02/01/2021 up www.statetenders.com. tion 19 of the Act in this regard in the manner and timeframe so pre- sub-section (2) of section 15 of the Act, that the said land is to 18.00 Hrs.GWSSB reserves the right to reject any OR all tenders with- INF/Juna/Advt./735/20 scribed under the Act. In case the acquisition is dropped partially or needed to be acquired for''The Public Purpose Project'' speci- out assigning any reason. All amendments will be uploaded online only. entirely,such facts shall be notified in aproper manner as provided fied in the schedule hereto,and Detailed information of Tender can be viewed on website @www.gwssb.org Gujarat Water Supply &Sewerage Board under the Act. (5) Nowtherefore,inexercise of the powerconferred by sub-sec- http/gwssb.nprocure.com OR www.Statetender.com 5. In exercise of the powerunder clause (g) of section 3ofthe Act read Tender Notice No.:- 27 &41Year-2020-21 tion (1) of section 19 of The Act the Government of Gujarat For Village Level Drinking Water Problem Please Contact on GWSSB Help with RevenueDepartment's Government Order No. NMK-102017- herebydeclares that the said scheduled lands is required for Online E-Tender ID No.- 439413 &439604 line No.1916.) No.DDI/MEH/330/20-21 1238-D.1 Date-26/02/2018 the State Government is pleased to des- the public purpose specified in the schedule hereto. Online tender through E-Tendering are invited from the office of ignate CompetentAuthority &Special Land Acquisition Officer, (6) In exercise of the powers conferred by clause(g) of section-3 of the ExecutiveEngineer,Public Health Works, Division Anjar Jal Kheda to function and discharge the duties as Collector under the The Act, the Goverment of Gujarat herebyappoints, seva ColonyOpp.Dax Prajapati Soceity Phone 02836 242416. provisions of the Act in respect of these lands. Competent Authority &Special Land Acquisition Officer, The bidders who full fill the qualification criteria mentioned in the 6. Objection to the acquisition if anymay be filed by the person inter- NARMADA WATER RESOURCES, WATER Kheda to performthe functions of aCollector,for all proceed- SUPPLY&KALPASAR DEPARTMENT. tender document can bid the tenders.(1) M&RtoPumping ested within 60 (sixty days) from the date of the publication of this notification as provided under section-15 of the ACT before the ing hereinafter to be carried out under The Act, in respect of the (GOVERNMENT OF GUJARAT) Machinerysets and control panel bords of various T.W.,well & said scheduled lands. sump under MundraRwss of Mundrataluka on contract basis for Collector or Competent Authority. E-TENDER SHORTNOTICE No.9 OF 2020-21 No.4 (7) The Plans of scheduledlands can be inspected at the Office of 18 (Eighteen) months.Estimate cost Rs.14.36 Lacs.Tender I.D. SCHEDULE (1) Village :Gothaj,Taluka -Mahemdavad, Dist :Kheda The CompetentAuthority&Special LandAcquisition (Corrigendum) No.439413 Last Date of Online bid submission -30.12.2020 upto Sr Old SurveyNo./ NewSurveyNo./ Area Officer,Kheda. In the Name and on hehalf of Governor Gujarat State,The 18:00 hrs.(2) Providing, Supplying, Lowering, Laying and Jointing No BlockNo. BlockNo. After (Ha.Are.Sq.Mtr.) SHEDULE Executive Engineer Dahod Irrigation Division, Dahod, 315 mm dia PVC 6kg/cm2 from Narmada feeding Canal to RecordPromulgatiom (1) Village :Uttarsanda, Taluka -Nadiad, Dist :Kheda Taluka: Dahod. Dist.: Dahod, Pin-code No.-389151, Phone Tappar Filter plant sump.(2nd attempt) Estimate cost Rs.75.06 1378 -0-02-68 Sr Old SurveyNo. NewSurveyNo./ Area No.02673-224525 last dale/time lor uploading tenders doc- Lacs.Tender I.D.No.439604 Last Date of Online bid submission - Total :- 0-02-68 No /BlockNo. BlockNo. After(Ha.Are.Sq.Mtr.) uments,Price bid (online) up to Dt.28/12/2020 18:00 hrs.On 31.12.2020 upto 18:00 hrs.The tender can be found on the By order and in the name of the Governor of Gujarat, Sd/- RecordPromulgatiom line opening of tender on Dt.29/12/2020 at 12:00 Hrs. http://www.nprocure.com website.Further information related to tender maybeobtained from the above mentioned office. (H. J. Rathod) 11331 -0-09-40 Tender fee&other documents (in physical form DD of ten- GWSSB reservesthe all right to accept or rejects anyorall Under Secretaryto Total :- 0-09-40 der fee&EMD (FDR &B.G.) up to Dt.06/01/2021 18:00 hrs. INFO/NAD/462/2020 Government tenders without assigning anyreason. Anyaddition and alteration By order and in the name of the Government of Gujarat. Further detailed notice of this office &contact this office in the tender will be published in the above website only. Sd/- website http://nwr.nprocure.com or www.statetenders.com. Forany grievances related to drinking water in ruralarea please (I. D. Chaudhary) INF/Dahod/247/2020 Contact on GWSSB toll free no.1916 (DDI-KUTCH-942-2020) INFO/NADI/461/2020 Deputy SecretarytoGovernment

Ahmedabad WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM THEINDIANEXPRESS,TUESDAY,DECEMBER22,2020 EXPRESS NETWORK 9 Bumper bajra crop: BJP vs Cong in Rajasthan on MSP

Department, said that at present December 18 and19was Rs government saying Rajasthan DEEPMUKHERJEE thereisnoplanofprocuring ba- 1,300atthe Khairthal agricul- produces43.9% of the bajrainthe JAIPUR,DECEMBER21 jra. He addedthat barring 2011, tural mandi in Alwar. country, andifgovernment pro- when onlyaround 100tonnes of Farmer leaders saythat as a curementdoesn’tstart,farmersin AMID PROTESTS againstthe bajrawas procured by the state result, farmers from areas such the statewill sustain aloss of three farm laws introducedby government, Rajasthan has never as Khairthal have been trying to "around Rs 43.6 billion". the Centre, acrisis is brewing in procuredbajra at MSP. sell their bajrainneigbouring Rajasthan Education Rajasthanoverbajra,with farm- Rajasthan procures agricul- Haryana, wheregovernment Ministerand stateCongress ers gettingrates farbelowthe tural commodities suchasmus- procurement is taking place at president Govind Singh minimum supportprice (MSP) tard,moong, groundnut etcat MSP.Haryana CM Manohar Lal Dotasara, who earlier said in the state. MSP,apart from wheat, whichis Khattarrecently said he would Khattar’s statement exposes the BJP MLAand Rajasthan procured by the Food notallowRajasthan farmersto BJP's "lies", told The Indian DeputyLeader of Opposition ABJP Mahila Morcha protest Corporation of India (FCI) sell bajrainthe state. Express on Monday, “When the RajendraRathoretweeted on in Jaipur Monday. Rohit Jain Paras through the stategovernment. RampalJat,nationalpresident newfarm laws talk about one Mondaythat he has writtento Forthe Kharif2020-21sea- of theKisanMahapanchayatwho nation one market,then howcan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlotde- son, the Central government has is leading aprotest on the yousay that youwon’t buyapar- manding governmentprocure- of sensitivity of the government fixedthe MSP of bajraatRs2,150 Rajasthan-Haryana border ticular commodity?Iftheyare ment of bajraatMSP.“Rajasthan towardsfarmers,” he said. per quintal. However, according againstthenewCentralfarmlaws, saying that the newfarm Bills are has seen abumper production of However, Naveen Jain, to dataonthe government web- says farmersfromRajasthanhave forthe benefitoffarmers, then bajrain2020-21but non-pro- Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies siteagmarknet.gov.in, the max- little choice but to go to Haryana. whyaren’t theylettingthe farm- curement at MSP shows thelack and Consumer Affairs imum price forbajra between Lastmonth,Jat had writtentothe ers avail the benefit?”

GOVERNMENT OF ODISHA OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, KALAHANDI RWS&S DIVISION, BHAWANIPATNA O-766 INVITATION OF BID THROUGH e-TENDERING Bid Identification No- 28/EE/RWSS/2020-21 /Bpt Dated. 17.12.2020 01. Name of the work:- As per ANNEXURE -A Procurement Officer Bid Identification No Availability of tender online for Date of opening bidding on office hour only. (Technical Bid) From To 1 2 3 4 5 Executive Engineer,Kalahandi RWS&S 28/EE/RWSS/2020-21 / 24.12.2020 07.01.2021 05.30 08.01.2021 10.00 AM Division, Bhawanipatna Bpt Dated -17.12.2020 10.00 AM PM onwards

Cost of tender paper &payment of EMD to be made online payment system. Executive Engineer, Further details can be seen from the e-procurement portal http://tenderodisha.gov.in Kalahandi RWS&S Division Bhawanipatna OIPR-25005/11/0010/2021

ODISHA RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY Under the Department of Energy Government of Odisha (ISO 9001:2008 /ISO 14001:2004) S/59, MANCHESWAR INDUSTRIAL ESTATE Website: www.oredaorissa.com, E-mail: [email protected] NOTICE INVITING TENDER E-Tender call notice No. 5836 /Dated 18.12.2020 / ODISHA RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY invites sealed e-tender is two part bidding system from manufacture for supply, installation, commissioning including FORM-VII warranty and comprehensive maintenance contract for aperiod of five years of Solar powered [See rule 12] water heating systems in Odisha Details are given below. PreliminaryNotification under sub-section (1) of section 11 of the Act NOTIFICATION 1. Date of publication of RFP on E-procurement website and 21-12-2020 Revenue Department, OREOA website Sachivalaya, Gandhinagar 2. Due date and time for receipt of pre-bid quarries on the RFP 28-12-2020 up to 5.00 P.M Date :23/11/2020 3. Date and time for the pre bid meeting through online mode 31-12-2020 at 11.30 (The Right to Fair Compensation and TransparencyinLand Acquisition, Rehabilitation &Resettlement Act, 2013) (30 of 2013) only. Meeting invite link on Google hangout platform (link for A.M. Dist. :Kheda pre-bid meeting =meet.google.com/nfd.bnto-ift) No :AM-2020-698-M-LK-1220-1193-GH 4. Due date of hosting of final bid documents 04-01-2021 In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section-11 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land powers 5. Due date and time for submission of online copies of Techni- 15-01-2021 up to 5.00 Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, of 2013 (30 of 2013) cal Bid and price bid P.M. (hereinafter referred to as "the Act''), the Government of Gujarat here- 6. Due date and time for submission of hard copies of Technical 19-01-2021 up to 1.00 by declares that the land/Iands mentioned in The Schedule annesed Bid for Select Bid Forms only P.M. hereto is/are required forthe purpose of acquisition forthe public pur- pose of "Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Project" 7. Due date and time for the opening of Technical Bid for both 19-01-2021 at 3.00 P.M. Regd. office: 27, BKC, C27, GBlock, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra (E), Mumbai -400051. 2. It is notified that :- online copies and hard copies, except price bid. Branch Office: Agri Business Group, 8th Floor,‘A’ Wing, Venus Amadeus, Jodhpur Cross Roads, (1) the area of lands required forthe above project is H.0-05-93 Satellite, Ahmedabad- 380015 Phone No –079-67168834,09909969262.9099091262 Sq.mt. and is Nadiad Taluka SCHEDULE of Kheda District; 8. Due date and time for the opening of online price bid applicable To be intimated later on SALE CUM TENDER NOTICE IN RESPECT OF SECURED ASSETS (MOVABLE AND (2) The public purposes involved in the above project are only for the bidders whose Technical bids shall be responsive IMMOVABLE PROPERTIES), UNDER THE SECURITISATION AND RECONSTRUCTION OF forthe purposesofconstructionofinfrastructure project of Interested prospective bidder may visit OREDA web site www.oredaorissa.com and FINANCIAL ASSETS AND ENFORCEMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST ACT, 2002. Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Project www.tenderwizard.com/OREDA for details relating bidding process and all other terms and (Refer provision to Rule 6(2) and 8(6)) (3) the reasons necessitating the displacement of the affected Whereas M/s. Parvin Agro Pvt Ltd. availed credit facilities from Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd., (KMBL) inter-alia against the securities persons are – conditions. The bidder can view the tender documents from www.oredaorissa.com website more fully described in the schedule here under and the Bank has issued ademand notice under Section 13(2) of the SARFAESI Act, on free of cost. Due to acquisition of the Land, specified in the SCHEDULE for Sd/- 18-12-2020 2002 on 09-Dec-2016 calling upon the borrower namely M/s. Parvin Agro Pvt. Ltd., and the Guarantors namely Mr.Nasiruddin public purpose of construction of the infrastructure project of Akbarbhai Vahora, Mr.Akbarbhai Noorbhai Vahora, Mr.Tausif Ahamad Abdul Vhora/Vahora, to pay the amount due to the Bank, ''Mumbai-Ahemedabad High Speed Rail Project'' Chief Executive being Rs. 14,72,38,161.09 (Rupees Fourteen Crores Seventy TwoLakhs Thirty Eight Thousand One Hundred Sixty One and Nine Paisa Only) as on 05-Dec-2016 together with further interest, costs and expenses etc. within sixty days from the date of the said notice. (4) The summaryofthe Social lmpact Assessment Reportisas Whereas the borrower and guarantors having failed to pay the amount due to the Bank as called for in the said demand notice, the Bank under - Aarvee Denims and Exports Limited has taken physical possession of the secured assets more fully described in the schedule hereunder under Section 13(4) of theAct. Under Section 10A, from Notification No.AM-2020-459-M-LK- th Whereas the borrower,guarantors and mortgagors having failed to pay the dues in full, the secured creditor namely Kotak Mahindra 1220-1193-GH, Date:10 Aug 2020 Revenuedepartment of CIN:L17110GJ1988PLC010504 Bank Ltd. has decided to sell the under mentioned secured assets on “As is where is” and “As is what is” and “Whatever There is” Gujarat Government of the Gujarat Act of 12 of 2016, exemption Regd. Office:191, Shahwadi, Narol- Sarkhej Highway, under Section 13(4) of theAct read with Rules-6, 8&9ofthe Security Interest (Enforcement) Rules, 2002. is givin under Section 10 Aofthe Act it is not required forthe sum- Nr.Old Octroi Naka, Narol, Ahmedabad -382 405. SCHEDULE OF PROPERTY maryofthe Social lmpact Assessment Report. TelNo:+91-79-30417000, 30017000, Fax:91-79-30417070, Description of Secured Asset Reserve Price EMD Amount (5) the particulars of the Administrator appointment under section-43 of the Act are as under - E-mail:[email protected] Website:www.aarvee-denims.com Rs. Rs. Land and Building: Non-agriculture immovable industrial property known as “M/S Parvin Agro Special LAnd Acquisition Officer,Kheda NOTICE Pvt. Ltd.” situated and constructed on three Blocks/R.S. Nos. i.e. 1. Block/Revenue Survey No. 5,81,00,000.00 58,10,000.00 3. All the persons interested in these lands are herebynotified not to 712 Paiki, Khata No.949, admeasuring land area of 9403.00 Sq. Mts. (out of total land area of (Rupees Five (Rupees Fifty The notice is published pursuant to the provisions of Investor Education and Protection Fund obstruct and disturb anySurveyororother staff to enter upon and 12849.00 Sq. Mts.) ,2.Block/Revenue Survey No. 713 Paiki ,Khata No.948, admeasuring land Crore Eighty Eight Lakhs Ten Authority (Accounting, Audit, Transfer and Refund) Rules,2016 ("the rules'') notified by the area of 1770.00 Sq. Mts. (out of total land area of 4553.00 Sq. Mts.), and 3. Block/Ravenue surveythe land. Anytransactions in respect of whole or partofthese One Lakhs Thousand Only) MinistryofCorporate Affairs from time to time. Survey No. 600 Paiki ,Khata No. 1035, admeasuring land area of 4870.00 Sq. Mts., (Out of total Only). lands in whatsoevermanner including by sale,lease,mortgage, land of 10,200 Sq. Mts.) i.e.Total combine land area of 16,043 Sq. Mts., of Block/Revenue Survey change of name,exchange entered into after the date of this The shareholders maynote that the interim dividend declared by the Companyfor the No. 712 Paiki ,713 Paiki and 600 Paiki, with construction around 6804.81 Sq. Mts., on the Notification made without permission of the Collector shall not be financial year 2012-13 which remain unclaimed forthe period of sevenyears,has already been Block/Revenue Survey No. 712 Paiki, 713 Paiki and 600 Paiki, with all future current taken into consideration by the officer assessing the compensation assets/moveable fixed assets of plants and machineries as attach on this land, Opp. Rupal Rice transferred to IEPF on respectivedates.The corresponding shares of these mentioned Mill, Nr.Santoshi Rice Mill, Prarvin Group, Rupal -Bavla Road, Mouje: Rupal, Taluka: Bavla, under section 27 of the Act foraparticular portion of the land as may dividend accounts will be transferred to the IEPF as per the procedure set out in the Rules. District: Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, owned by M/s Parvin Agro Pvt. Ltd., and having boundaries be finally acquired. as under;Boundaries of Block/Ravenue Survey No.712 as per sale deed North: Land of Malabhai 4. The Government of Gujarat, if satisfied about acquisition of the land Complying with the requirements of the Rules,the Companyhas communicated to the Chandabhai South: Factory of Abdulbhai Nurbhai East: land of Nurbhai Mazabhai, West: foraforesaid public purpose,may publish final declaration under sec- concerned shareholders individually whose shares are liable to be transferred to IEPF and the ParveenAgro Private Limited, Boundaries of Block/Ravenue Survey No.712 (9403.00 Sq. Mts.) tion 19 of the Act in this regard in the manner and timeframe so pre- full details of such shareholders including their folio number and DP ID-Client ID are also made as per actual North: Land of Malabhai Chandabhai, South: Block No 712 PParvin Ginning Pvt. scribed under the Act. In case the acquisition is dropped partially or available on its website www.aarveedenims.com.Shareholders are requested to refer to Ltd., East: Block No 713 PParvin Agro Pvt. Ltd., West: Block No 600 PParvin Agro Pvt. Ltd., entirely,such facts shall be notified in aproper manner as provided Boundaries of Block/Ravenue Survey No.713 as per sale deed: East: Land of Muhammad www.aarveedenims.com forthe details of the shares liable to be transferred to IEPF. under the Act. Sultan, West: Land of Nurbhai Mazabhai, North: Drainage, South: Land of Nurbhai Mazabhai, Shareholders maynote that both the unclaimed dividend and corresponding shares Boundaries of Block/Ravenue Survey No.713 (1770.00 Sq. Mts.) as per actual : North: Land 5. In exercise of the powerunder clause (g) of section 3ofthe Act read of Muhammad Sultan, South: Block No 713 PParvin Ginning Pvt. Ltd, East: Approach Road, with RevenueDepartment's Government Order No. NMK-102017- transferred to IEPF including all benefits accruing on such shares,ifany,can be claimed back West: Block No 712 PParvin Agro Pvt. Ltd., Boundaries of Block/Ravenue Survey No.600 1238-D.1 Date-26/02/2018 the State Government is pleased to des- from IEPF after following the procedure prescribed in the rules. Paiki as per sale deed: East: Land of Nurbhai and Nabibhai, West: Rupal and Bavla Road, ignate Competent Authority &Special Land Acquisition Officer, Concerned shareholders holding shares in physical form and whose shares are liable to be North: land of the side land of Block/Ravenue Survey No.600 Paiki, South: Sulemanbhai Kheda to function and dischargethe duties as Collector under the Nathubhai, Boundaries of Block/Ravenue Survey No.600/Paiki (4870.00 Sq. Mts.) as per provisions of the Act in respect of these lands. transferred to IEPF,may note that the Companywould be issuing duplicate share certificate(s) actual : North: Block No 600 Pland ofAminaben, South: Block No 600 PParvin Ginning Pvt. Ltd., in lieu of the original held by them forthe purpose of transfer of shares to IEPF as per the rules East: Block No 712 PParvinAgro Pvt. Ltd., West: Bavla-Rupal Road. 6. Objection to the acquisition if anymay be filed by the person inter- ested within 60 (sixty days) from the date of the publication of this and upon such issue,the Companyshall informthe depositorybyway of corporate action to Plant &Machinery: n Cotton Ginning Machineries in Scrap Condition notification as provided under section-15 of the ACT before the convert the duplicate share certificate into DEMATformand transfer in favour of IEPF.The n Cotton Bale Press and it's accessories. Collector or Competent Authority. original share certificate(s) which are registered in the name of original shareholders will stand DETAILS OF SALE SCHEDULE automatically cancelled and be deemed non-negotiable.Concerned shareholders holding Date and time of opening of Tender 12-01-2021 at 3:00 PM (1) Village :Piplag, Taluka -Nadiad, Dist :Kheda shares in dematerialized form maynote that the companyshall informthe depositorybyway Place of opening Tender Agri Business Group, 8th Floor,‘A’ Wing, Venus Amadeus, Jodhpur Cross Roads, Satellite, Ahmedabad- 380015 (Gujarat) Sr Old SurveyNo./ NewSurveyNo./ Area of corporate action fortransfer of shares in favour of the DEMATaccount of IEPF. TERMSAND CONDITIONS :1.For participating in the bid, the intending bidders should submit theirTender in the prescribed format in a No BlockNo. BlockNo. After (Ha.Are.Sq.Mtr.) The shareholders mayfurther note that the details are made available by the companyonits sealed cover along with the respective Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) for Property (i.e. 10 %ofthe reserve price) by way of Pay RecordPromulgatiom website should be regarded and shall be deemed adequate notice in respect of issue of Order/Demand Draft favoring Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd., payable atAhmedabad addressed to theAuthorized Officer,Kotak Mahindra duplicate share certificate(s) by the companyfor the purpose of transfer of shares to IEPF Bank Limited Agri Business Group, 8th Floor,‘A’ Wing, Venus Amadeus, Jodhpur Cross Roads, Satellite, Ahmedabad- 380015. Ph. 1343 Paiki 1- 0-00-09 pursuant to the Rules. No.079-67168834,09909969262. 09099091262. 2.The EMD shall be refunded without interest, if the bid is not successful. 3. The Total :- 0-00-09 Tenders sent without EMD or below reserve price as mentioned above will be rejected summarily. 4. The Tender along with EMD shall be In case the Companydoes not receiveany communication from the concerned shareholders, submitted to Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd., Agri Business Group, 8th Floor,‘A’ Wing, Venus Amadeus, Jodhpur Cross Roads, Satellite, (1) Village :Dumral, Taluka -Nadiad, Dist :Kheda Ahmedabad- 380015.079-67168834,09909969262.09099091262 on or before 11-01-2021 up to 5:00 PM., 5. The Tenders shall be the Companyshall with the viewtoadhering with the requirements of the Rules,transfer the opened on 12-01-2021 at 3:00 PM at the address mentioned above, 6. Tenders once submitted to the Authorized Officer cannot be Sr Old SurveyNo./ NewSurveyNo./ Area shares to the IEPF in accordance with the said rules.Please note that no claim shall lie against withdrawn. 7. The property shall be sold to the highest bidder.Incase the same amount being quoted in the bids by the highest bidders, No BlockNo. BlockNo. After (Ha.Are.Sq.Mtr.) companyinrespect of Unclaimed dividend amount and shares transferred to IEPF pursuant the inter-se bidding will be conducted only among those highest bidders.The successful bidder shall deposit 25% of the bid amount (less RecordPromulgatiom to the said Rules. the EMD) immediately on the sale being confirmed in his/her favor and the balance money within 15 days from the date of Sale. 8. In default of payment of the amounts referred to above within the time stipulated, unless otherwise extended, the sale will stand 1416 -0-04-02 The Companyhas appointed Ms.Yashaswini Pandey, CompanySecretaryasthe Nodal Officer automatically revoked and the earnest money deposit shall be forfeited in terms of the Rule 9(5) of the Rules. 9. The sale certificate will Total :- 0-04-02 forthe aforesaid Transfer/ Transmission of shares by the Companyand the other matter be issued in the name of the successful bidder only,after payment of the entire bid amount. 10. All outgoings i.e. Municipal Taxes, Maintenance/Society charges, Electricity and Water charges and any other dues or taxes in respect of the said property shall be paid by (3) Village :Uttarsanda, Taluka -Nadiad, Dist :Kheda connected with the IEPF Authority. the successful Bidder/Purchaser.Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited or its employees will not be liable for any claims from any Sr Old SurveyNo./ NewSurveyNo./ Area Forany queries on the above matter,Shareholders are requested to contact the Company's person/Authorities in respect of the properties put for sale. 11. Sale will strictly be on “AS IS WHERE IS BASIS” and “AS IS WHATIS registrar and share transfer agents,Link Intime India Pvt Ltd, RTADivision, 506 TO 508, BASIS” and “WHATEVER THERE IS BASIS” on the terms as mentioned herein, 12. The purchasers should make their own enquiries No BlockNo. BlockNo. After (Ha.Are.Sq.Mtr.) regarding any statutory liabilities, arrears of property tax, electricity dues etc. including verification of revenue records, pertaining to the RecordPromulgatiom Amarnath Business Centre -1,Beside Gala Business Centre,Nr. St. Xavier's College Corner, properties in question of the borrower /mortgagor by themselves before participating in the Sale. 13. The prospective bidders can 11564 -0-01-82 Off,Chimanlal Girdharlal Rd, Sardar Patel Nagar,Ellisbridge,Ahmedabad, Gujarat-380 006 or inspect the property between 11.00A.M to 3.00P.M. on 08-01-2021. 14. TheAuthorized Officer has the absolute right to accept or reject at the Share Division Office of the Companyat191 Moje Shahwadi, Narol-Sarkhej Highway, the bid /cancel the tender without assigning any reason thereof. 15. Youmay also visit our website https://www.kotak.com/en/bank- Total :- 0-01-82 auctions.html. Regarding inspection of property,etc., the intending bidders may contact the Authorized Officer,Kotak Mahindra Nr.Old Octroi Naka, Narol, Ahmedabad-382 405. Gujarat, India. By order and in the name of the Governor of Gujarat, For,Aarvee Denims and Exports Limited Bank Ltd. Recovery Officer on Ph. No.079-67168834, 09909969262 09099091262 .Agri Business Group 8th Floor,‘A’ Wing, Sd/- VenusAmadeus, Jodhpur Cross Roads, Satellite,Ahmedabad- 380015. (H. J. Rathod) Ashish V. Shah Date: 21-12-2020 Sd/-, Authorized Officer Under Secretaryto Date : 21.12.2020 Managing Director Place: Ahmedabad Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. INFO/NAD/463/2020 Government Place: Ahmedabad DIN: 00007201

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THEINDIANEXPRESS,TUESDAY,DECEMBER22,2020 10 GOVT &POLITICS

Priyanka call Garbageoflies:MamataonShah’s to Azad broke ice, brought DELHI CONFIDENTIAL ‘Bengaliszeroinindustry’charge Sonia and letter-writers implementationofthe PM Kisan Kishor: BJP EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE Samman Nidhischeme. Shehas to talks table KOLKATA,DECEMBER21 agreedtoimplement the PM- Kisan and Ayushman Bharat will struggle EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE ADAY afterAmit Shah accused schemes onlyifthe Centralfunds NEWDELHI,DECEMBER21 the TrinamoolCongress govern- arerouted through the stategov- to cross ment in West Bengal of blocking ernment. IT WASacall from Priyanka Centralgovernmentschemesand “Youmaykindly recallmy let- double digits GandhiVadra to Ghulam Nabi stymyingthestate’sdevelopment, terdated September 9, 2020, re- Azad whichbroke theice in the Chief MinisterMamataBanerjee gardingthe PM Kisan Samman Congress and brought the core on Mondayaccusedthe Union Nidhi scheme launchedbythe PRESSTRUSTOFINDIA team of the group of 23 leaders, HomeMinisteroflyingwhilecrit- Centralgovernment.Thedecision SaumitraKhan; SujataMondal Khan KOLKATA,DECEMBER21 who had been demanding OTHERS IN ASPOT icisingthestate’slevelofdevelop- of theCentralgovernmentonim- sweeping reforms withinthe ment. The Trinamool Congress plementation of the scheme in THETRINAMOOlCongress’(TMC) party,and Congress president WHILE CONGRESS chiefministers suchasBhupesh Baghel, (TMC) leader described themin- West Bengal and transferring the electionstrategistPrashantKishor Sonia Gandhi along with other Amarinder Singh and Ashok Gehlothavecomeout in support ister’s figures on Bengal’s various requisitefundto thestategovern- Wife joins TMC, BJP on Mondayclaimedthe BJP seniorleadersto adiscussiontable of their West BengalcounterpartMamataBanerjee in her fight development parameters as ment foronwarddistribution to would notcross double digitsin to defusethe tension. againstthe Centreoverthe transfer of police officers, her re- “garbage of lies” and labelledthe thefarmersthroughthestategov- the West BengalAssemblypolls. Sources said an emissaryof portedplanstoholdarallyinviting thelikes of NCPchief BJP a“cheatingbaazparty”, alleg- ernment machinery is still MP to ‘seek divorce’ “For allthe hype amplified by Priyanka had been in touchwith Sharad Pawarand DMK leader MKStalin will put the party in ing that “for politics, theycan do awaited,” read the letter. asection of supportive media,in oneofthe letter-writers forsome aquandary.The Congress is settotakeonthe Trinamool anything”. She added,“The stategovern- who had worked hardfor the reality BJP will struggle to cross time. She wassaid to be exploring Congress in West Bengal Assemblyelections next year along On Sunday, the Home ment is already implementinga EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE party.The BJP wasinstead pro- double digitsinWestBengal,” he thepossibilitiesof areconciliation, with the Leftparties. While the Congress attacks theCentre Ministerhadsaid Banerjee’stime scheme of direct fundtransfer to KOLKATA,DECEMBER21 moting“corrupt”leadersfromthe tweeted,adding,“Pleasesave this underliningthat afracturedparty regularly over federalism, Banerjee is signaling that she will wasupinBengal,“whichhaswit- the farmers, includingthe share- TMC, she added. tweetand if BJP doesany better I cannottakeonthe ruling BJP. The use it as an issue in the Assemblypolls. It is to be seen whether nessedinfiltrationandcorruption croppers with death benefit BJP MP SaumitraKhan’swife The MP’s wifesaid she was mustquit this space!” 23 leaders, too, were keen to have Banerjee would reachout to theCongress, and howthe underthe TMC rule”. At apress scheme,ashadbeenenumerated SujataMondalKhanjoinedthe “feeling liberated by joining the SeveralTMC leaders, includ- adialogue but the blowbackthey Congress responds, if she does. The CPI(M), avotaryoffeder- conferenceinBirbhum,Shahsaid inmy letterunderreference.More Trinamool Congress (TMC) on TMC”.“Ilove challengesanddonot ingformerstateministerSuvendu hadsufferedaftertheAugustletter alism, is also maintaining astudied silence. The Congress and Bengal wasonce among the bet- than 73 lakh farmers aretobe Monday, following whichthe BJP want to work foraparty that has Adhikari and five other MLAs, hadleftthemwithlittleoptionbut the Leftwould also notlikeananti-BJP grouping of opposi- ter-performing states, butnow it benefited under this scheme. I leader saidhewould send her a no face forAssemblyelections. I joinedthe BJP in Union Home to harden their position. tion parties taking shape without them. wasdoingpoorly onalmostevery once again requestyou to kindly divorcenotice.TheBishnupurMP want to work for‘Didi [Mamata MinisterAmit Shah’s presenceat What had infuriatedthem indicator,beitGDP or per capita arrangetotransfer the requisite brokedownintears during the Banerjee]’ who formeistoday’s an event in Medinipur on morewas the“namecalling” and income. fund to the stategovernment, for press meeting that wascalled JhansikiRani.” Saturday. Shah had asserted that lackofeffortfromthe leadership NO FLIGHT,NORISK “He [AmitShah] claimedour onward disbursement with full minutes afterhis wifejoinedthe Terming the decisiona“big his party wouldwin over 200 to understandtheirpointof view. state is‘zero’inindustry, butweare responsibility to the farmer-ben- ruling party. mistake”,theBJPMPsaid,“TheBJP seatsinthe upcoming polls. But avirtual meeting of the AS THE newmutant strain of the novelcoronavirus in the number one in the MSME sector. eficiariesof thestatethroughstate Sujatawas amember of the hasgivenmeenoughrecognition. Kishor,who managed CongressWorking Committee, United Kingdom has triggered concern and prompted India to Heclaimedwecouldn’tbuildrural government machinery.” saffron party but did notholdany Iamobligedthat youhavecam- NarendraModi's successful cam- held on November 27 to paytrib- stop flightsfromthe UK forthe moment, questions arebeing roads but we arenumber one in TakingumbrageatAmit post.Shehadcampaignedforher paignedformeinthepast,butitis paign forprime ministership in utesto latestalwartsAhmedPatel raisedabout the prospect of British PM Boris Johnson’s visit to that.ThisisGovernmentof India’s Shah’s remarkthat the govern- husband before the2019Lok alsotruethatIwouldnothavewon 2014,has been ropedinbyTMC and Tarun Gogoi, turnedout to be India next month forthe Republic Daycelebrations as chief information,” Banerjee said. ment would think about imple- Sabha polls when he wasbarred the seat without the BJP’s name.” chairpersonMamata Banerjee to the windowboththe sides were guest. But the UK's ministerofstate in the Foreign Office, Tariq Responding to the allegation menting the Citizenship by acourtfromenteringBankura. The BharatiyaJanataYuva boost her party's prospects. lookingfor.Althoughvirtually, the Ahmad, tweetedonMondayabout British Foreign Secretary that she wasblocking Central AmendmentActafteravaccineis AfterjoiningtheTMCinpresence Morcha(BJYM) leader added, “A BJPnational generalsecretary meeting wasthe firsttime Azad (equivalent to Foreign minister) Dominic Raab’s visit lastweek. schemes,the chief ministersaid foundand people areinoculated, of MPSaugataRoy andspokesper- 10-yearrelationshiphasendedbe- KailashVijayvargiyatook aswipe and leaders likeAnand Sharma He also stated,“An important trip laying the groundworkfor she had written another letter to BanerjeereiteratedtheTMC’sop- son Kunal Ghosh, Sujatasaidshe causeofpolitics. Iwillnow work at Kishor,saying the countrywill came face to face with the other Johnson’s visit next month. Raab is absolutelyright -wewant Union MinisterofAgriculture position to the amendedcitizen- wasunhappywith the BJP fornot harderfortheBJP.Iwillworktillmy end up losing apoll strategistaf- leaders. And that meetingsaw an even stronger relationship withIndia, as partofour work NarendraSingh Tomar about the ship law. giving due recognition to leaders lasttokicktheTMCoutof Bengal.” terthe elections. manyleaders making an impas- in the Indo-Pacific region.” He quote-tweeted Raab’s video,in sionedplea forunity in the party. whichhespokeabout his India visit. Priyanka,atthatmeeting,favoured dialogue in the party arguing that BSY rules out merger, aunited Congress would be the VEDAS IN SCIENCE biggesttributetoPatel. SourcessaidPriyankaspoketo THE INDIA International Science Festival,startingWednesday, Kumaraswamy says Azad aftershe returned from includes, among others, sessionsonIndian history to be able Shimla. Ameeting between her to incorporate lectures on scientific and technologicalad- and Azad and Sharma followed. vances made in ancient India duringthe Vedic times. This is the ‘issue-based support’ Everyone agreedthatdialogue firsttime that the science festival,whichprimarilycentres wastheonlyway forward.Former around science subjects, would include suchsubjects. Madhya PradeshChief Minister EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE Kamal Nath, meanwhile, met BENGALURU,DECEMBER21 Congress president Sonia and broachedthe idea of aconclave. AMID SPECULATION that the op- Hemetthecoreteamof theletter Boeing: Super Hornet position JD(S) could merge with writers tooand finallythe dates the ruling BJP in Karnataka,lead- forthe meeting were decided. clears ski-jump test, ers of both parties –HD “It wasshe who brokethe ice. Kumaraswamyand Chief BSYediyurappa, At theend of the day, we areall MinisterBSYediyurappa —on HDKumaraswamy Congressmen.Andnoneofuswant suitable for Navy carrier Mondaysaid thereisnoquestion theissuestoprolong.Allofusknow of suchamove.Former CM that theonlyway forwardfor the Kumaraswamy, however, did in- Congress is to remain united and ED EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE dicatethathis partyiswilling to WhyBJP is fighttheBJPtogetherbuttherehad NEWDELHI,DECEMBER21 PAYING TRIBUTE extend “issue-based support” to keenonclose tobeabeginningsomewhere,”one the BJP. PLAIN E tieswithJD(S) of the letter writers said. ● AMERICAN AIRCRAFTgiant Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadraand Rahul Gandhi paytheir condolences to the Speculationofamerger arose EX Boeing Mondaysaid that itsF/A- familyofparty veteranMotilal Vora,who diedatahospitalinDelhi on Monday. AnilSharma following meetings between the 18 Super Hornet fighter jethas twoleaders amid reportsofun- THE BJP is keen to win the Corruption successfullyperformedthe ski- happiness among JD(S) ranks. supportofthe JD(S) to gain jump, making it suitable forthe Kumaraswamyhad also stated control of the Karnataka killing cows in IndianNavy’saircraftcarrier.“F/A- Russiaenvoy: S-400 deal advancing... recentlythat he would have been Legislative Council where 18 BlockIII Super Hornetwillof- The demonstrations show in abetterpolitical situation if he the Congress-JD(S)com- UP, Priyanka ferthe Indian Navy advanced the Super Hornetwill do had alliedwith the BJP rather bine has been effective in warfightertechnologies,superior well withthe Navy’s STOBAR don’t recognise unilateral sanctions than the Congressafter the 2018 blocking some newlegis- economicsandenhancenavalavi- system, Boeing said in a Assemblypolls . lation in the laborand agri- writes to ation cooperation with the US statement. Twitter/Boeing_in Russian ambassador Nikolay On Russia-Pakistanties, Speaking to reporters on culturesectors. The saffron Navy,” it said. EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE Kudashevappearedtocriticisethe Russian Deputy Chief of the Monday, Yediyurappasaid:“JD(S) party also needs support Adityanath “Boeing and the US Navy NEWDELHI,DECEMBER21 US sanctions on Turkey for mission Roman Babushkin is aparty built by former Prime in the Council to pass a proved recentlythat the F/A-18 ners throughout the lifecycle of procuring the S-400missile sys- said Moscow's ties with MinisterDeveGowdaandformer newlaw to banall forms of Super Hornetcan operatefroma the aircraft,” Boeing said. THE IMPLEMENTATION of the temsunderaUSD2.5billiondeal, Islamabad are“independent” CM Kumaraswamyisits leader. cattleslaughter in the EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE ‘skijump’ramp,demonstratingthe “The firstsuccessful andsafe ongoing Russia-India defence saying Moscowdoes notrecog- in natureand that his govern- Talking about itsmergerwithan- state. Moreover,the sup- LUCKNOW,DECEMBER21 aircraft’ssuitabilityfor India’s air- launch of theF/A-18SuperHornet deals, including the supplyofa nise suchunilateral actions. ment is mindful of respecting other party is insulting to them.” port bases of the JD(S) and craftcarriers,”itsaidinastatement. from aski-jumpbegins the vali- batchofS-400missile systems, “Wedonot recognise or wel- sensitivities of othercoun- Yediyurappa said he had the BJP lie in twodistinct AFTERAvideoshowingdeadcattle “Thedemonstrations,heldatNaval dation process to operateeffec- is advancing well despitethe come unilateral sanctions as a tries. “Wedonot think India asked BJPleaders nottofuel ru- regions of Karnataka —the allegedly in acow shelter in Air Station Patuxent River, MD, tively from Indian Navy aircraft threat of US sanctions, the languageortoolorinstrument should be worried,” he said at mours of suchamerger. JD(S) has abase among the Lalitpur’sSaujanatownwaswidely showthattheSuperHornetwould carriers,”AnkurKanaglekar, Head Russian embassy in Delhi said on of interstate or international re- the briefing when asked about Earlier,Kumaraswamyalso dominant Vokkaligacom- circulated on social media, dowellwiththeIndianNavy’sShort India Fighters Sales, Boeing Monday. lations, otherthan those applied Russia's militarydrillswith deniedthe rumours: “The Janata munity in southern Congress general secretary Take-offbut Arrested Recovery Defense, Space and Security said. The Russian embassy also by the UN Security Council. This Pakistanaswell as tradecoop- Dal (S), whichisaparty of Karnataka and the BJP in PriyankaGandhiVadraonMonday (STOBAR)systemandvalidateear- Boeing is offering the F/A-18 said that India should notbe is also the case of Turkey,” he eration. Kannadigas with self esteem, the Lingayat community, hit out at the BJP government in lier simulation studies by Boeing.” Super Hornetinsingle seater (E- worriedabout itsrelationship said. “India'sposition is also crys- Kudashev, replying to aques- will neverthink of political dominant in north UttarPradeshfor“negligence”and “As partofBoeing’s proposed Variant)andtwo-seatervariant(F- with Pakistanbut notedthat talclear.” tion at amedia briefing on merger. The party,whichisa Karnataka. Talk of a “corruption” in running cowshel- ‘By India, forIndia’sustainment Variant) to the Navy.Kanaglekar Moscowiscommitted to de- “If relevant decisions to start China'sgrowing belligerence in strong voice of the people, will mergercomes at atime ters and asked it to learnfrom program, the BlockIII Super said that it will act as aforce mul- velop ties with Islamabad as it is worksrelatedtoKa-226 helicop- the Indo-Pacific, saidMoscow neverdisplaysuchstupidity. At when the BJPhas been Congress-ruledChhattisgarh’s Hornets canbeservicedinpart- tiplierfortheNavyas“itcaninter- amember of the Shanghai ters and AK-203 rifles produc- would welcome enhanceddia- the most, we mayextend issue- makinginroads intoJD(S) Godhan NyayaYojana. nership with the IndianNavyas facewith(Navy’s)P-8Iaircraftand Cooperation Organisation (SCO). tion areexpedited,soon we will logue betweenNew Delhi and basedsupporttothe BJP,ifneed territory. The Lalitpurdistrict adminis- well as India and US basedpart- other US origin assets”. Addressingapressconference, see good progress,”hesaid. Beijing. be,” he said. tration rejected theallegations, sayingonlyonecowattheshelter had died. UP: Tablets for college In alettertoChief Minister MP YouthCong unit elects leader now in BJP YogiAdityanath,Priyankasaidshe wasdisturbed seeing the images ing to these tactics forcheap pub- NSUI, the Congress's students' withdrawing my nomination,” tion wascancelled–which, he students in 7dists soon fromLalitpurandallegedthatthe IRAMSIDDIQUE licity,and deniedreceiving any wing,beforehis political Singhai said. However, he said, said, did nothappen in Singhai's UP government’s effortstobuild BHOPAL,DECEMBER21 information from theformer switchover in March. the party administrators failedto case. Chandauli, Shravasti, Siddharth- cowsheds had faileddue to cor- Congress worker on withdrawal Singhai had submittedhis take notice of hisresignation,as Mirza also deniedreceiving EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE nagar,BalrampurandChitrakoot. ruption. She shared theletteron IN AN embarrassing goof-up,the of his nomination. He also said, nomination in 2018 but the elec- well as his email informing them anyemail of cancellationofhis LUCKNOW,DECEMBER21 Additional Chief Secretaryof her Twitter account and claimed Madhya Pradesh Youth Congress “Soon afterthe goof-up was tions were then stalled, as the of his withdrawal of nomination. nomination. "Theelections did Higher Education ManekaSGarg that the video wasofacowshel- (YC) hadelected aleadernow in brought to my notice, his Vidhan Sabha elections were Mirza said, "Wehad issued nottakeplace physically; people WITH GROWINGdependenceon said in these districts, manystu- terinLalitpur. theBJP as its generalsecretaryof (Singhai's) appointment was round the corner.Soon afterthe notices asking workers to come were chosen online accordingto digitalmediumsfor studies in dentsdonot have smartphonesor DistrictAdministrationAnnavi Jabalpur (uttar)unit in the elec- cancelledwith immediateef- Congress came to power, the forwardand inform us if theyhad the number of votes, due to viewofthe Covid-19pandemic, other e-learningdevicesand lack Dinesh Kumar later inspectedthe tions that concludedonFriday. fect." party wasoccupiedwith the Lok switched parties, or would want whichSinghai wasdeclared a the Uttar Pradesh government internet connectivity.Pre-loaded gaushala asked caretakers to take His appointment wassubse- According to Singhai, the con- Sabhaelectionsin2019, andthen to withdraw theirnominations generalsecretary,”hesaid. has decidedtoprovide 160tablets study material will do away with care of weaker cattle. Kumar sus- quentlycancelled. gratulatorymessageslefthim the party lostits government in themselvesorany worker who Singhai allegedthat many with pre-loadedstudy material theneedforinternetconnectivity. pendedthe villagepanchayat of- The incident came to light confused.Hesaidthat in the nine March 2020, when 22 Scindia had some information could in- who votedin the Youth Congress to 18 government colleges in Under the scheme, the gov- ficer,the lekhpal and the veteri- whenHarshitSinghai, a months afterleavingthe loyalists switchedsides, along form the electioncommittee. But elections were workers nowaf- sevenaspirational districts. ernment plans to provideeight to naryofficer,and issueddirections JyotiradityaScindia loyalistwho Congress, he has notcampaigned with hundredsofotherworkers, neither happenedinSinghai's filiated with the saffron party. The deviceswill be available nine tablets to the libraryofeach to take actionagainstthe village had deflected from the Congress forthe YC polls, but wasdeclared including Singhai. case." Vikrant Bhuriya, Jhabua con- at collegelibraries as digital ref- of these colleges. As per the spec- pradhanoverallegedirregularities to join the BJP earlier this year,be- elected as general secretary. "I "I had submitted by resigna- Mirza maintained that even stituency candidateand son of erence books,and studentscan ifications, eachtablet will have 10- in running the shelter. ganreceiving congratulatory spoketothe districtin-charge of tion afterthe switchoverand if the election committee re- former Union ministerand getthem issuedtoo. inchscreen and high resolution. Congress leader and former messages on Saturday. both theBJP and the Congress then when the nomination (for ceivedverbal information of a Congress MLAKantilal Bhuriya, DeputyChief MinisterDinesh The UP Higher Education UnionministerPradeep Jain When contacted,MPYouth and informedthem about the YC polls) wascalledinNovember, worker switching over,ithad to waselected president of the Sharma said the districtschosen Department has already started Aditya, meanwhile, startedasit- Congressspokesperson Masood mistake," saidSinghai,who was Ialso sent an email to the party be backedbyphoto evidence of Youth Congress aftersecuring forthe initialstage of the project a“digital library” foruniversities inagainst alleged“ill-treatmentof MirzaaccusedSinghai of resort- president of the Jabalpur unit of and informedthem that Iam some sortbeforehis nomina- 40,850 votes. areFatehpur,Sonbhadra, and colleges. cows”. Ahmedabad WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THEINDIANEXPRESS,TUESDAY,DECEMBER22,2020 @ieExplained #ExpressExplained 11 If thereare questions of current or contemporaryrelevancethat youwould like E EXPLAINED explained, please [email protected]

SIMPLY PUT QUESTION &ANSWER CORONAVIRUS DASHBOARD How the coronavirusspike Decoding thevirus variant protein attaches itself to India and severalother countries have suspendedflights to and from the UK.What mutationshaveled to surfaces, freshly viewed the coronavirus variantthat has causedconcern?How rapidlyhas it spread? Will it impact vaccination?

is neededtocomparethis fatality rate with KAUNAINSHERIFFM comparable datasets”. NEWDELHI,DECEMBER21 “The location of the mutations in the re- ceptor-binding domainofthe spikeglycopro- ON MONDAY, India suspendedall flights tein raises the possibility that this variant is from and to the UK until December 31,amid antigenicallydistinct from prior variants. Four concernsabout anew variant of SARS-CoV- probable reinfections have been identified 2that is “spreading &growingrapidly” there. amongst915 subjectswith thisvariantbut fur- Severalother countries, too, have suspended ther work is neededtocomparethis reinfec- UK flightsand imposedtravelrestrictions. tion rate with comparable datasets,” it said. On Sunday, athreat assessment brief What aretheseconcerns leading to publishedbyEuropeanCentrefor Disease travel restrictions? Prevention and Control said phylogenetic Lastweek,the newSARS-CoV-2 variant analysis reveals that the“clusterdiffers by wasrevealedtobethe reason behind the 29 nucleotide substitutions from the origi- Impression of the adhesion behaviour of the coronavirus on surfaces. rapid surge in Covid-19cases in South and nal Wuhan strain”. “Three sequences from Adrian Keller/Paderborn University EastEngland. It is being referred to as VUI Denmarkand one from Australia, from sam- (Variant Under Investigation) 202012/01, or ples collectedinNovember 2020,cluster the B.1.1.7lineage. with the UK variant, mostlikelyindicating THE PRIMARYrouteoftransmission Covid-19,” theywriteintheir paper. “Over the lastfew days,thankstoour that international spread has occurred, al- of SARS-CoV-2, the novelcoronavirus To examine the adsorption of virus world-class genomic capability,wehave though the extent remains unknown,” it said. that causes Covid-19, is understood particles on non-living surfaces, the identifiedanew variant of the coronavirus, to be via airborne droplets.But respi- research usedhigh-speedatomic force whichmay be associated withthe faster Buthas the virusnot mutated before? ratory viruseslikeSARS-CoV-2 can be microscopy. Thesurfacesinthe exper- spread in the South of England,” UK Health Whenevera virus replicates andcircu- transmitted notonlyvia the air but imentswerebrought intocontact with SecretaryMatt Hancock told the House of An emptyEurostarterminalatStPancras International station in Londonon latesinahuman population, mutations oc- also through contact with contami- electrolytes carrying proteinsthat the commons on December 14.UKauthorities Monday, as various countriesimposed travel restrictions to and from the UK. Reuters curnaturally, at arateofaround one to two nated objects. Scientists researchers had isolated have already notifiedthe WorldHealth mutationsper month in the global phylogeny. at Paderborn University, from the virus. To under- Organizationabout the variant. In fact, forSARS-CoV-2, COG-UK says that Germanyhaveexamined stand howcoughed-out, Public HealthEngland (PHE) announced cally,result in the virusbecoming moreinfec- ratesingeographicalareas wherethis par- thereare currentlyaround 4,000mutations what helps viruses at- virus-laden droplets that 1,108cases with this variant have been tious. “Effortsare underwaytoconfirm ticular strain has been circulating have in- in the spikeprotein.The variant D614Gwas tach themselvestosur- would interact with identifiedasofDecember 13,“predomi- whether or notany of these mutations are creasedfasterthan expected,and the mod- earlier the dominant strain becauseitspread faces, and published these surfaces when nantlyinthe Southand EastofEngland”. contributing to increasedtransmission,”the elling evidence has demonstrated that this very easily. Another strain that originated in theirfindings in the jour- landing on them,the re- “PHE is workingwith partners to investigate consortium said. variant has ahigher transmission rate than Spanish farmworkers, 20A.EU1,spread rap- nal Advanced Nano- PAPER searchers adjustedthe and plans to shareits findings over the next other variantsincurrent circulation. idlyacross Europe in summer. BiomedResearch. salt concentrations and 2weeks,” it said. What do we knowsofar about “It is difficult to predict whether any “It is generallyknown CLIP pH values of the elec- transmissibility, and severity of disease? Howmuchofaconcern is the higher givenmutation is important when it first that coronaviruses are trolytes so that theyre- What is the variant like? On Sunday, PHE said datafromwhole- transmissibility? emerges, againstabackdrop of the continu- primarilytransmitted via sembledthoseofsaliva The variant wasidentifiedingenomic genome sequencing, epidemiology and On December 18,New and Emerging ous emergence of newmutations. NEWRESEARCH the air.However, several or mucus. “The adsorp- surveillance by COVID-19Genomics UK modelling suggests that the newvariant RespiratoryVirus ThreatsAdvisory Group Understanding their significance maybe studies have nowalso tion of the proteins on the (COG-UK), aconsortium that analyses “transmitsmoreeasilythanother strains”. (NERVTAG), whichadvisesthe UK govern- possible basedonexperimental work that identifiedtransmission through con- surfaces occurs in these media and is genome sequencing datafromthe UK. COG- However, it also emphasisedthat thereis ment on thethreat posedbynew and emerg- shows alink between the mutation and a taminated surfacesasanimportant intendedtosimulate theprocess of UK is the largest contributor to the global “no evidence” that the variant is morelikely ing respiratoryviruses, said the newvariant subtle changeinvirus biology.However, it factor.There is increasingevidence coughed-out, virus-ladendroplets Covid-19database GISAID. to cause severe disease or mortality.“... But couldpotentiallyrampupthe reproduction would take considerabletime and effort to that theycan playakey role in the landing on surfaces,” Keller said. The variant is the result of multiple mu- we arecontinuing investigations to under- number of the disease by up to 0.93. It said it test theeffect of manythousandsofcombi- spread of viral infections,” physicist It wasfound that on oxide sur- tations in the spikeproteinofthe novelcoro- stand this better,” it said. It said mortality is has “moderateconfidence” that the newvari- nations of mutations,”COG-UKsaid. Dr Adrian Keller of Paderborn faces, the adsorption of the spikepro- navirus SARS-CoV-2, as well as mutations in a“lagging indicator”and it will “continually ant “demonstrates asubstantial increase in University said in astatement. tein is controlledbyelectrostatic in- other genomic regions of the RNAvirus. monitor this over the coming weeks”. transmissibility comparedto other variants”. Will it impact vaccinedevelopment and Keller and colleagues examined teractions. Keller explainedinthe Preliminaryanalysis suggests that it is more PHE has said it does notknowyet the The expertbody,however, concluded response? specificallythe proteins that makeup statement:“Among other things,this transmissible than previouslycirculating mechanismfor this increase in transmission. that thereis“currentlyinsufficient datato On Sunday, UK authorities said further the viralenvelope —the outermost leads to thespikeprotein adsorbing variants. COG-UK identifiedone of these mu- “Weknowthat mutations in the spikepro- draw anyconclusion” on the underlying laboratoryworkisbeing undertakenasapri- layerofthe virus. And the outermost less strongly on aluminiumoxide tations as “N501Y”, in an area of the spike tein, the part of the virus that makes it infec- mechanism of increasedtransmissibility”, ority to understand this. “Thereiscurrently point at the envelope is the spokepro- than on titanium oxide... However, protein that binds to akey protein in the hu- tious, can changehow the virus interacts the agedistribution of cases and disease no evidence to suggestthat the Pfizer vac- tein, the coronavirus’s key tool in in- electrostatic interactions can be sup- man cell, the ACE2 receptor. This wasanin- with human cells,” it said. severity.Ithas said 4deaths in around 1,000 cine would notprotect people againstthe fecting the human cell. The re- pressedrelatively easily, forexample dicationthatthe alterations may, theoreti- It said the evidence shows that infection cases have been identified, but “further work newstrain,” PHE said. searchers said virusadsorption at in concentrated saltsolutions.Weas- non-living surfaces mostlikelyin- sume thatthese correlations between volvesthe spikeprotein. the surface and the spikeprotein also “UnderstandingS1spikeprotein in- playakey role in the initial attach- Seasonal UV radiation and global Covid trends teraction with fomitesurfaces thus ment of complete SARS-CoV-2 virus representsanimportant milestone on particles to thesurfaces.” the road to fighting the spread of EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE trendsindifferent locations because this ap- in southern temperatelocations and decline KABIRFIRAQUE proachwould introduce confounding fac- by 7.4percentage pointsinthe northern tem- NEWDELHI,DECEMBER21 tors. “For example, comparing Covid-19 perateones. And when the seasons flip, INDIA ACTIVE CASES 303,639 cases in India to cases in Norway andat- growth ratesinDecember compared with THE NOVEL coronavirus has nowseen all the tributing the difference to large differences in Julywerepredicted to decrease by 7.7per- seasons in both hemispheres, but the effect averageUVexposure wouldbeerroneous— centagepointsinsouthern temperatere- 400,000 of seasonal factors suchastemperatureand thereare manydifferences between India gions, and jumpby7.8 percentagepointsin humidityremains to be fullyunderstood. and Norway,including population density, northern areas. 359,819 New research has nowlooked at the influ- health services, testing rates, etc, and UV is Carletonnoted,however, that UV season- ence of another seasonal variable —ultravi- justone of manyfactors that differs across ality looks different in Indiathan in other oletradiation from the Sun —and found ev- these countries,” Carletonsaid. partsofthe northern hemispheredue to the idence is that higher natural UV radiation Instead, the study comparedvarious pop- SouthAsian monsoon. “The onsetofthe mon- 350,000 reduces Covid-19transmission. The study is ulations to themselvesovertime, and tested soon lowers summerUV, whichcan raise the publishedinthe journal PNAS. whether dailyvariations in UV radiation lead Covid-19transmission risk relative to other 303,639 to changes in Covid-19cases up to three weeks times of the year and relative to other regions The caveat Averagedailyglobal Covid cases (red in the future. Theygathereddisparate datasets in the northern hemisphere,wheresummer The researchers stress that seasonal bars)and averagedailyUV(yellow: from different countries’ agencies, andhar- tends to be the highestUVseason,” she said. LAST 10 DAYS changes in UV arejustone of manycauses of high UV;orange: lowerUV)from monisedthem to createaglobal dataset. 300,000 changeinCovid-19case rates. And the influ- November 1toDecember 2, 2020. Causal or correlational? Dec 11 Dec 20 ence of UV is modestcompared to policy TammaCarletonetal/UCSB &Harvard The extent of variations Indeed, infection ratesdid appear to have measures suchastravelrestrictions, school Achange in UV exposureby1standard decreasedinmuchofthe northern hemi- Note:The Dec 20 figureinthisgraph is based on thegovtupdateonDec 21 closures, or event cancellations. “On average deviation, the analysis found, reducedthe sphereduring the summer,the researchers across the northern hemisphere, we find that diation. UV disinfectantscurrentlyinuse to- growth rate of newcases by around 1per- noted, but observed that manyparts of the priorestimates of theeffect of thesesocial dis- dayrelyonwavelengths in arangecalledUV- centagepoint over the following twoweeks. northern hemispherealso relaxed their pan- INDIA TOTAL CASES WORLD TOTAL CASES tancing policies are3-6 times largerthan our C. Such wavelengths do notreachusnaturally Achange of 1percentagepoint, forcontext, demic restrictions during the same period. 10,055,560 77,054,995 estimated effectsofseasonal changes in UV,” from the Sun, as these areabsorbed by the is approximatelyequivalenttothe changein Asked whether the correlation with UV can economistTamma Carletonofthe University ozone layer. In sunlight that reaches the Earth, UV between April and MayinDelhi. indeedbecalledcausal, Carletonsaid: “In the Source:MinistryofHealth&Family Source:JohnsHopkinsUniversity, of California–SantaBarbarasaid, by email. the wavelengths areinthe rangeknown as BasedonchangesinUV, the model pre- paper,weuse astatistical model that is de- Welfare,updatedat11pmonDec21 updatedat11pmonDec21 Because other research has lookedat how UV-A (and to an extent in the rangeUV-B). dicted Covid-19growth ratesfor the temper- signedpreciselytoisolate naturalvariation in artificial UV light can inactivate thecoron- atezones north and south of thetropics. UV exposure that is ‘quasi-random’, so that avirus, it is also important to note that this is The analysis model Between Januaryand June, Covid-19growth we canfeel confident causallyinterpreting notthe same as the effect of the sun’s UV ra- The study avoidedcomparingCovid-19 rateswould increase by 7.3percentagepoints the effect of UV on COVID-19growth rates.” Cong’ssurvivaldilemma:staywithShivSena,orgosoloinBMCpolls

time, it also has to ensureits ownsurvival. reflectsthe Congress’sconcerns that ahigh- ministerChandrakant Handore, a (Maharashtra) in-charge HK Patil. SANDEEPASHAR pitchbattle between theBJP and the Sena ScheduledCaste leader. While therehavebeennoformal nego- MUMBAI,DECEMBER21 Aneedtorebuild Mumbai might further weaken itsown supportbase Partyleaders admit theymustwin tiations yet, sourcessaid thatthe Sena is From hoistingthe Congress flag in the Congress among the Marathis. backmostoftheir NorthIndian support willing to leave to theCongressall the 31 THE VERYday afterhewas appointed, BMC in an alliance with the Republican chief Bhai base and alsowoo more Marathi votes. But seatsthe latter had wonin2017, and has Mumbai’s newCongress president Ashok PartyofIndia (Athavale) in 1992,whenit Jagtap wants The balancing act the party mustfirstensurethat itsown also offeredthat the seatsthe BJP woncould (Bhai) Jagtap insistedthat the party should won112 of the 227seats, the Congress slid party to go it While appointing aMarathi face at the loyalvoteamong Muslims and Scheduled be sharedamong the allies. But most contestthe 2022 civic elections solo. His re- to just 31 seatsin2017. This coincidedwith alone. Express helm,the Congress,whichisfaction-ridden Castesremains intact. The Asaduddin Congress leaders want the party to contest markhas come days afterMaharashtra arise forthe BJP,whichrode Narendra in Mumbai, hasalsoattempted to getthe Owaisi-ledAll India Majlis-E-Ittehadul as many seatsaspossible. Asenior corpo- Chief MinisterUddhav Thackeray’s asser- Modi’s popularitytowin 82 seatsin2017, caste and community balance right by pro- Muslimeen has been eyeingthe minority ratorcited the examples of party’s alliances, tion that the ShivSena-NCP-Congress al- justtwo short of the Sena’s tally. While shar- it has triedtoinvokeMarathi asmita or re- jecting ajoint leadership model. and OBC votebanks. made out of compulsion, in Uttar Pradesh liance, Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), would ing powerinthe Assemblyatthat time, the gional pride. It has namedformer Mumbai Youth andBihar, whichonlyreducedthe party’s fight together in all local body elections, in- BJP and the Sena had contestedagainsteach The Congress has sensedthatidentity Congress president Charan Singh Sapraas Alliance or not footprint in thosestates. cluding the Mumbaicivic poll,and afterthe other in the BMC. politics will be theflavour of the election. working president,and former state On November 27,the eveofthe firstan- At thestate level, MaharashtraCongress MVAdefeated theBJP in the recent The NorthIndian migrant Hindu vote, While it is the Sena has traditionallypushed Minorities Development MinisterNaseem niversaryofthe MVA-led coalition govern- president Balasaheb Thorat is willing to Legislative Council polls. once asupportbase of the Congress in the Marathi manoos cause aggressively,the Khan as the Mumbai unit’s Campaign ment, Thackeray announcedthat the three keep the alliance option open. In an inter- The Congress faces adilemma in Mumbai, has shiftedlargely towardsthe BJP. BJP is hoping to dent the Sena’s Marathi vote Committee chief. Suresh Shetty,aserving parties would fight the BMC elections viewtothe Indian Express lastmonth, Mumbai, the city whereitwas foundedin At 27%, NorthIndians arethe second most bank and Congress’sbase among Scheduled minister, is head of the Manifesto jointly.The NCP, whichhas notpolledmore Thorat said, “The three parties will sit to- 1885. Rolledoverbythe BJPintwo succes- influentialvotebank in Mumbai, afterthe Caste communities. The Sena knows it Committee, while Amarjit Manhas, the than 10%ofvotes in four BMC elections so gether to evolve consensus (alliance or not) sive LokSabha and Assemblypolls and the Marathi-speaking population. canotaffordtoloosen itsswayoverthe party’s vice president in Mumbai, is presi- far, too, is in favour of an alliance. on the issue.” Another senior minister 2017 civicpolls, the Congress realises it The Congress nowwants to “connect Marathi-speaking population while bank- dent of the Coordination Committee. Amajority of the sitting Congress corpo- favours an alliance. But notthe Mumbai needs to stop the BJP from dislodging more” with the Marathi-speaking voters. In ing on transfer of some of the traditional Additionally, it has also created anew post rators, however, opposedthe idea during an Congress itself. “Contesting local polls in- Thackeray’s ShivSenainthe Brihanmumbai the elevation of Jagtap, aleader who has his Congress and NCPvotes. The early projec- —MaharashtraPradesh in charge forthe internal assessment meeting,presidedover dependentlywon’t hurtthe alliance in the Municipal Corporation (BMC). At the same rootsinMumbai's trade union movement, tion of aMarathi face in Jagtap, therefore, Mumbai unit—to accommodateformer by All IndiaCongress Committee’s state,” said Jagtap.

Ahmedabad WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THEINDIANEXPRESS,TUESDAY,DECEMBER22,2020 MEANWHILE VOLCANO ERUPTS ON HAWAII’S BIG ISLAND TheKilaueavolcano on Hawaii’s BigIslanderupted and shot asteam cloud into the atmosphere that lasted about an hour, an official with the NationalWeather Service said 12 THE WORLD on Monday. An advisorywas issuedbythe National We ather ServiceinHonolulu, warningoffallenash. Excessive exposure to ash is an eye and respiratoryirritant,itsaid. TOPOFTHE Nepal PM defends WORLD AustraliadetectsUK’sCovidstrainas move to dissolve severalcountriesshutdooronBritain Parliament, blames Worries over food shortagesinUKas own party leaders travel ban closes offcrucial trade route Stephan Balliet in a courtroom. AP PRESSTRUSTOFINDIA REUTERS KATHMANDU,DECEMBER21 SINGAPORE,DOVER,DEC21 EU clears Pfizer GERMANY Covid vaccine for NEPAL’S PRIMEMinisterKP Lifetermforwhite AUSTRALIA SAID on Mondayit Sharma Oli on Mondaydefended had detected cases of the new firstinoculations his move to abruptlydissolve supremacistin fast-spreading coronavirusstrain Parliament, saying he wasforced identifiedinthe UnitedKingdom, THE EUROPEAN Union geared to seek afresh mandatethrough synagogueattack while slewofcountries closed upto launchmassvaccinations elections as the riftwithin the AWHITE supremacistwho their borders to Britain, causing againstCovid-19justafter ruling Nepal CommunistParty live-streamedhis effortsto travel chaos and raising the Christmas afterthe shotdevel- severely affected his govern- Iwas forced to seek a blasthis wayintoasyna- prospect of UK food shortages opedbyPfizer and itsGerman ment's functioning. fresh mandate through gogue in Germanyonthe days before the Brexit cliffedge. partner BioNTech cleared reg- Oli on Sundaygot the elections as attempts holiestday on the Jewish India, Poland, Spain, ulatoryhurdles on Monday. President to dissolve Parliament, calendar lastyear,failing to Switzerland, Russia, Jordan and European Union countries in- acontroversial move amidsta were made against my cause widespread blood- Hong Kong suspendedtravelfor cluding Germany, France, prolonged tussle forpowerbe- government, not to allow shedonlybecause he could Britons afterPrime Minister AustriaandItalyhavesaidthey tween him and former premier it to function properly.” notbreachaheavy wooden Boris Johnson warnedthat amu- plan to startvaccinations from PushpaKamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ door,was sentencedon tatedvariant of the virus, up to December27 asEuropetriesto Workers construct guestrooms at ashort-stayfacilityinSingapore’s Changi Airport as partofits within the ruling dispensation. KPSHARMA OLI Monday to lifeinprison. 70%moretransmissible, had catchupwiththeUnitedStates upcoming segregated travel lane initiative to curb the spread of Covid-19. The newarrangement In aspecial address to the na- NEPAL PM Twopeoplewerekilledout- been identifiedinthe country. andBritain,whereinoculations due to startinlateJanuary will keep visitorssegregatedwhile allowingfor safemeetings tion,Olisaidhewasforcedtodis- sidethe synagogue in Halle, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman beganearlier this month. between people from abroad and from Singaporeduring stays lastingupto14days. Reuters solve Parliament and announce and goalless direction by creat- in eastern Germany, during closedtheir borders completely. Having secured agreen light mid-term electionsafterhelearnt ing controversy,making the attackonOct. 9, 2019.In Severalother nations have from the European Medicines about aplan to move avoteofno- Parliamentmeaningless as the convicting the assailant of suspendedtravelfromBritain in- Agency,the European confidence againsthim. electedgovernment couldnot murder and attempted cludingFrance,Germany, Italy, the Commission gave final ap- “I wasforcedtoseek afresh receive itssupport but always murder, thepresidingjudge, Netherlands, Austria, Ireland, proval on Mondayevening to Another new strain is driving mandatethrough elections as at- facedopposition and dragged UrsulaMertens,saidthatthe Belgium, Israel and Canada —al- the EU’s firstCovid-19 vaccine. tempts were made againstmy intothe controversy,” Oli said. attempt to killthe51 people though scientists said the strain Commission President Ursula government, nottoallowitto He accusedsome of his own inside as theycelebrated mayalready be circulating in vonderLeyensaiddoseswould virus resurgence in South Africa function properly,” the prime partyleadersof beingresponsible YomKippur had been “des- countries with less advancedde- beavailableforallEUcountries, ministersaid while defending forforcing himtotakethisstep. picable,cowardly andinhu- tection methodsthanthe UK. at the same time and on the morecases” in the newwavethan his decision to dissolve “When the prime ministerofthe man.”Theattacker, Stephan Twotravellersfromthe same conditions. REUTERS MOGOMOTSIMAGOME it experiencedinthe firstsurge of Parliament and announce dates majority government wasnot al- Balliet, a28-year-old United Kingdom to Australia’s &ANDREWMELDRUM the disease, said Abdool Karim. formid-term elections. lowedtowork, Idid notwantto German nationalist, stood NewSouth Wales statewere JOHANNESBURG,DECEMBER21 SouthAfrica currentlyhas Oli said the intra-party riftin indulgeinunfairpracticesbehind motionlessasthejudgeread found carrying the mutatedvari- mostimportant trade arteries morethan 8,500people hospi- the ruling Nepal Communist closeddoorsandreachacompro- the sentence. NYT ant of the virus. Both areinhotel withmainland Europe. SOUTH AFRICAhas announced talisedwithCovid-19, surpassing Partyseverelyaffected thegov- mise with them,” Oli said, adding quarantine, and the recent spike As families and truckdrivers that anew variant of the Covid- the previous highof8,300 ernment’sfunctioning. that giving achance to the people in infections in Sydneyisnot triedtonavigatethetravelbansto 19 virusisdriving the country’s recordedinAugust. “Weare see- “The elected government forafresh mandate is “the best linked to this,authorities said. getbackhome in time for current resurgence of the dis- PeopleataCovid-19 testing ing amuchearlier and much waspushedtoacorner and pick- democratic alternative”. MALAYSIA EUofficialsmetviavideoto co- Christmas, British supermarket ease, whichisseeing higher facility in Johannesburg. AP sharperriseinthesecondwaveor eted againstand wasnot al- “Thismovecould be seen as Workersatglove ordinate theirresponseto thenew chain Sainsbury’s said shortages numbers of confirmedcases, resurgence than we anticipated,” lowedtoworksoIdecidedto an abruptstepfor now, but some strainof thecoronavirus.Thebloc wouldstarttoappearwithindays hospitalisations and deaths. Prof. IanSanne, amember of the dissolve thehouse.” of my party leaders should be makerfound is on course to startCovid-19vac- if transportties were notquickly The newvariant, known as geststhe virus that is nowdomi- advisorycommittee,toldNews24. “Againstthe people’s man- held responsible forcreating this cinations within aweek afterits restored.“If nothing changes, we 501.V2, is dominant among new nating in the second waveis The newstrain,different from dateand their will,national pol- situation who did notcooperate livinginshipping medicinesregulatorapprovedthe willstarttoseegapsoverthecom- confirmedinfections in South spreading faster than the first the one in Britain, appears to be itics wasdragged intoanendless withmygovernment,” Oli said. containers use of ashotfromPfizer and ing days on lettuce,some salad Africa, according to health offi- wave,” Professor Salim Abdool moreinfectious than the original BioNTechonMonday. leaves, cauliflowers, broccoli and cials and scientists leading the Karim, chairman of the govern- virus. South Africanscientists are HUNDREDSOFworkersata Franceshut itsborder to ar- citrus fruit –all of whichare im- country’s virus strategy. ment’s Ministerial Advisory studying if the vaccines against Malaysianglovemakingfac- rivals of people and trucks from portedfromthe continent at this “It is still very earlybut at this Committee, said at abriefing. Covid-19will also offerprotection Ex-Libyan intelligence toryareliving in metalship- Britain, closing offone of the time of year,” Sainsbury’s said. stage,the preliminary datasug- South Africa maysee “many againstthe newstrain. AP ping containers in squalid conditionsthatoneminister official charged in 1988 describedasmodernslavery, US Congress reaches deal according to thehumanre- Modernashot roll out begins, US sources ministryand local Pan Am flight bombing mediareports.Ministryoffi- on coronavirus aid package urged to prioritise frontlineworkers UnitedKingdom,including11 res- cials on Mondayconducted REUTERS&PTI identsof Lockerbie,Scotland,who araidonaglove-makingfac- WASHINGTON,DECEMBER21 perishedonthe ground as fiery

ED Biden, wifeset to be givenvaccine shots in televised event tory in Kajang district, just ANDREWTAYLOR Damage debrisfromthefallingaircraftde- outside Kuala Lumpur, WASHINGTON,DECEMBER21 caused THE US on Mondaychargedafor- stroyed an entirecity block. wheretheyfound workers PLAIN E REUTERS Biden picks Bharat mer Libyanintelligenceoperative The US Justice Department on livingincramped,dirtyship- ● by delay TOPCAPITOL Hill negotiators EX DECEMBER21 forhis role in making the bomb Mondayunsealedchargesonthe ping containers stackedbe- sealedadeal on a$900billion Ramamurti as that blew up PanAmFlight 103 32nd anniversaryofthe attack. hind the premises, reports Covid-19economic relief pack- WHILE THE stimulus package AN ADVISORYpanel on Sunday over Lockerbie in 1988, killing 270 The suspect, Abu Agila by broadcasterAstro Awani age, finallydelivering long-over- will help alarge number of recommendedUSfrontline es- US NEC member people, includingthree Indian na- Mohammad Masud Kheir Al- said. The company’s name due help to businesses and indi- businesses and individuals sentialworkersandpeople75and tionals and morethan half a Marimi,aformerseniorLibyanin- wasnot revealed.REUTERS viduals and providing moneyto struggling due to theCovid oldershould be next in line to get US PRESIDENT-ELECT Joe dozen of Indian origin. telligence official, wascharged delivervaccinestoanation ea- economic slump, the inoculatedasthe distribution of Biden on Monday named Abomb in the forwardcargo with twocriminal counts related IRAQ gerfor them. months-long delayinagree- Moderna’svaccine,thesecondap- Indian American Bharat area of PanAMFlight 103ex- to thebombing. He is in Libyan Rocketslandin The package, expected to ing adeal is likelytohave proved coronavirus vaccine, be- Ramamurti as oneofthe three plodedoverLockerbie, Scotland, custody,USAttorneyGeneral draw votes in Congress on causedmajor damage, ex- ganacross the country. Boxescontaining the newmembersofthe National at7.03pmlocaltimeonDecember WilliamBarrsaidMonday,andUS Baghdad’s Monday, would establish atem- perts fear.The packagecomes The US Centers forDisease Moderna vaccinepreparedto EconomicCouncilthatcoordi- 21,1988, at an altitude of 31,000 officialsarehopefulthatLibya will porary$300per week supple- toolatefor thousands of busi- Control and Prevention’s (CDC) be shippedatadistribution nates domestic and interna- feet after38minutes of flight. The allowMasudtobetriedinthe US. GreenZone mental jobless benefit and a nesses thathavefailedinre- Advisory Committee on centreinOlive Branch, tionaleconomicpolicymaking plane had takenoff from London- The Justice Department said AT LEASTeight Katyusha $600direct stimulus paymentto cent months. And with many Immunization Practices voted 13 Mississippi. Reuters processfortheadministration. Heathrow andwasheadedtoJohn Masud workedinvarious capaci- rocketslandedin mostAmericans, along with a people having losttheir jobs, to 1torecommend 30 million Biden namedthree additional FKennedy Airport in NewYork. tiesforLibyanintelligence,includ- Baghdad’s heavilyforti- newround of subsidies forhard- the moneythis package frontlineessentialworkers,which NEC members: Joelle Gamble, Citizens from 21 countries ingasatechnicalexpertinbuilding fied Green Zone in an at- hit businesses and moneyfor promises maynot be enough include firstresponders, teachers, Corp and United Parcel Service Special Assistant to theUS were killedinthe deadliestter- explosive devices from approxi- tack targeting the US schools, health careproviders to sustain them until the foodandagriculture,manufactur- Inc startedpicking up the doses PresidentforEconomicPolicy; roristattackinBritain’s history. mately1973to2011. Italsoalleged Embassy, causing some and renters facing eviction. labour market rebounds. ing, US Postal Service, public tran- from warehouses fordeliveries DavidKamin, Deputy Director Thirty-fiveSyracuse University Masud wasinvolvedinthe 1986 minor damageonthe It came together Sundayafter sit,andgrocerystore workers,have to hospitals and other sites. NEC along with Ramamurti as students, who were returning bombing of LaBelle Discotheque compound on Sunday, the monthsof battling and posturing, the next priority forthe vaccines. Vials of Moderna’s vaccine Deputy Director of NEC for home to the United States forthe in West Berlin, Germany Iraqi militaryand the em- but the negotiatingdynamic ginning”. In all, the move would make were filledinpharmaceuticalserv- Financial Reform and holidays afterasemesterstudy- In 1991,two other Libyanin- bassy said on Sunday. The changed in Republicans’ favoraf- House leadersinformedlaw- 51 millionpeopleeligible to get icesproviderCatalentInc’sfacility ConsumerProtection. ing abroad, were among 190 telligence operativeswere Iraqi militarysaid an “out- terthe election and as the end of makers thattheywould voteon inoculated in the next round. in Bloomington, Indiana. Ramamurti is the Managing Americans killedinthe attack. chargedinthe bombing: Abdel lawgroup” firedeight the congressional session neared. the legislation on Monday, and About200million people in- DistributorMcKessonCorpisship- Director of the Corporate Threevictimswere fromIndia. BasetAli al-Megrahi and Lamen rockets. Most of the mis- President-elect Joe Biden wasea- the Senatewas likelytovote on cluding non-frontlineworkers pingdosesfromfacilitiesinplaces Powerprogramme at the Forty-threevictimswere fromthe KhalifaFhimah. siles hit aresidential com- gerfor adeal to deliverlong- Monday, too. Lawmakers were suchasthose in media, finance, includingLouisville,Kentucky,and Roosevelt Institute. PTI plexand asecurity check- awaited help to suffering people eager to leave Washington and energy and IT and communica- Memphis,Tennessee—closeto air point inside the zone, and aboosttothe economy, even close out atumultuous year. tion industries, persons in the hubs forUPS and FedEx. damaging buildingsand thoughitwaslessthanhalf thesize Democratsacknowledgedit 65-74age group, and those aged US President-elect Joe Biden thorisation in the US —onlivetel- UAE acknowledges visa cars and wounding one that Democratswantedthis fall. wasn’tasrobustapackageasthey 16-64yearswithhigh-risk con- and the incoming firstlady,Jill evision on MondayinDelaware, Iraqi soldier,amilitary Biden praisedthe bipartisan initiallysought. House Speaker ditions should be in the ensuing Biden,areset to receive thePfizer- sendingamessage to Americans restrictions on Pakistan statement said. REUTERS spirit that producedthe meas- NancyPelosivowedmoretocome round, the panel recommended. BioNTechCovid-19vaccine — acrossthecountrythatthevaccine ure, whichhecalled“justthe be- onceBiden takesoffice. AP Meanwhile, trucks of FedEx whichwas thefirsttoreceive au- is safetotake. ASSOCIATEDPRESS DUBAI,DECEMBER21

THE UNITED Arab Emirates’top RUSSIAN OPPN LEADER SAYS HE CALLED THE AGENT BY PRETENDING TO BE AGOVT OFFICIAL diplomat has publiclyacknowl- edgedaso-far unexplainedban on visitors from Pakistan, which Navalny releases recording of call to his alleged poisoner travel agentssay also targets touristsandlaborersfromadozen Emirati ForeignMinister Muslim-majority countries amid Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Soviet-eraNovichok nerveagent. lets identifiedthe man Navalny Navalnywas wearing when he the pandemicand the UAE’snor- Al Nahyan stressedthat the DARIALITVINOVA Russian authorities have ve- said he spokewith as Konstantin washospitalisedinacoma have malisationofties withIsrael. move wastemporary MOSCOW,DECEMBER21 hementlydeniedany involve- Kudryavtsev,atrainedchemical- notbeen returnedtohim. Following ameeting with his ment in the poisoning. weapons specialist. While posingasaSecurity Pakistani counterpart, Emirati RUSSIAN OPPOSITION leader Lastweek, the investigative Navalnysaidhephonedtheal- Council aide, the politician asked ForeignMinisterSheikhAbdullah Afghanistanand Yemen came AlexeiNavalnyonMondayre- groupBellingcatreleasedareport leged FSB operative hoursbefore “what went wrong” and why binZayedAlNahyanstressed“the justastourists beganarriving in leasedarecording of aphone call alleging that operativesfrom theBellingcatreportwasreleased, Navalnysurvivedthepoisoning.The temporarynatureofrecentrestric- the Persian Gulf countryon he said he made to an alleged Russia’s FSB domestic security Navalnyintroducedhimselfasan man on the other end replied“it tions imposedonthe issuance of Israeli passports followingthe statesecurity operative who re- agency with “specialisedtraining aidetoRussian Security Council would have all gone differently” if visasdueto theoutbreakof Covid- normalisation agreement. vealeddetailsofhow the politi- in chemical weapons, chemistry SecretaryNikolai Patrushevand the plane hadn’t made the emer- 19”, the UAE’sstate-run WAM SaeedMohammed, atravel cian wassupposedlypoisoned. andmedicine”,were “inthevicin- saidheurgentlyneededtodebrief gency landing and “if (it had) not news agencyreported Sunday. agent at Arabian Nights Tours in Navalnyfell sickonAugust20 ity” of Navalnyinthe timeframe the man on what had happened (been)for thepromptworkofthe He did notelaborateonthe Dubai, said Mondaythat the visa during adomestic flight in Russia “during whichhewas poisoned”. Afterbeing poisoned, Navalnyfell sickonAugust20duringa in another Siberian city,Tomsk, ambulancemedicsontherunway”. visa suspension, whichhas blind- approval rate forfamilies from and wasflown to Berlin while still Navalny, who is convalescing domestic flight in Russia and wasflown to Berlin while still wherethepoliticianhadbeenbe- The man also reportedthat sidedexpatsseeking entrytothe Pakistanand afew other Mideast in acoma fortreatment twodays in Germany, said the report in acoma fortreatmenttwo days later. Reuters fore hewassupposedlypoisoned. amongNavalny’sclothing,hisun- federation of sevensheikhdoms, nations has increasedoverthe later.Labs in Germany, France proved beyond doubt that FSB The man on theother endof derwearborethehighestconcen- whereforeigners outnumber lo- pastfew weeks.Butyoung,single and Sweden,and testsbythe operativestriedtokill him on the the call indicated that he wasin- tration of toxic residue. cals nearly ninetoone. men from the countries arede- Organisation forthe Prohibition orders of Russian President channel Mondaytitled “I called speaking on the phonewith one volvedinthe “processing” of Earlierthismonth,Russianof- Thereported visa restrictions niedentry, fuelling speculation of Chemical Weapons, estab- Vladimir Putin. On Monday,he my killer.Heconfessed.” of the alleged operatives. Navalny’sclothesso“therewould- ficials brushedoff the investiga- targeting countries suchas that the ban maybetiedtosecu- lishedthat he wasexposedtoa postedavideo on his YouTube The video showedhim Bellingcat and other media out- n’t be anytraces”. The clothes tion by Bellingcat. AP Lebanon, Kenya, Iran, Syria, rity or visa overstayconcerns.

Ahmedabad WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THEINDIANEXPRESS,TUESDAY,DECEMBER22,2020 13 ECONOMY GOLD RUPEE OIL SILVER `50,297 `73.79 $50.16 `69,477

Note:Gold, silverrates at Delhispotmarket;gold per 10 g, silverper 1kg; Brent crude as of 2330 IST SENSEX: 45,553.96 ▼ 1406.73 NIFTY: 13,328.40 ▼ 432.15 NIKKEI: 26,714.42 ▼ 48.97 HANGSENG: 26,306.68 ▼ 191.92 FTSE: 6,380.43 ▼ 148.75 DAX: 13,213.49 ▼ 417.02

Internationalmarket data till 1900IST POWER WATCH REVIEW TO ENSURE NO SURPRISES DOWN THE LINE New Covid strain RIGHTS OF CONSUMERS RULES in UK headwind for Timely connection, PSBsscanolderloans,may 24x7 supply; fines leadtomorefrauddiscovery markets: What next GEORGEMATHEW& Sensex in place for discoms SANDEEPSINGH Intra-day, December 21 Lenders to reportdiscrepancies and make100%provision againstthose MUMBAI/NEWDELHI,DEC21 47,500 46,932.18 47,000 45,553.96 PRABHARAGHAVAN gagedininterlinking various DOMESTIC STOCKmarkets, NEWDELHI,DECEMBER21 SUNNYVERMA& LAGBETWEENOCCURRENCE&DETECTIONOFFRAUD databases and information sys- whichweregoing strong and hit- 46,500 GEORGEMATHEW tems to improvefraud monitor- tingnewpeaksonadailybasistill 46,000 THE GOVERNMENTon NEWDELHI/MUMBAI,DEC21 ■The totalcases of frauds ■ Some of the loans ing and detection. The Central last week,took aheavy pounding 45,500 Previous Close Mondaynotifiedrulesthat (involving Rs1 lakh and sanctionedduring the FraudRegistry(CFR) portalof on Mondaywiththe Sensex 45,000 would allowconsumers in PUBLIC SECTOR banks(PSBs) are above)bybanksand 2010-2014 period have now SCBs, augmented withnew fea- plummeting1,407points,or3per 46,960.69 44,500 Indiatoaccesscontinuoussup- Penalties to be credited to expected to reportmorefraud financial institutions shot turnedout to be frauds with tures is at an advancedstage of cent,asafreshwaveoflockdowns Open Close plyofquality, reliable electric- consumer’s account. File cases in loan accountsthat have up by 28 percent by volume the lag between the development. Online reporting of were imposedacross Europe and ity.The Electricity (Rightsof earlier been put undertheir early and 159per cent by value occurrence of fraudand its frauds by NBFCsand theCFR por- as the newvariant of coronavirus Consumers)Rules,2020serve warning alertsystem. Sources during2019-20 despitethe detection stretching to over talofcommercial banks, aug- in the United Kingdomdamp- to “empower” citizens by lay- try, includingobligationsof dis- said banksare reviewing loan ac- RBI tightening supervision twoyears mented with newfeatures, are enedsentimentsacrosstheworld. Oil falls 4% on ingdownrightsthatmakedis- tribution licensees, metering counts, whichhavealready been likelytobeoperational by January tribution companiesmoreac- arrangements, release of new flaggedformonitoring,and more 2021, the RBI said. What ledtothe 3per centfall virus worries countableto consumers.There connectionsandmodifications large accountsare likelytobere- tium ledbyCanaraBank of when it wasrecognised. In the According to theRBI, amajor in stocks? areexceptionsto theserulesfor of existing connections and portedasfraud in the next cou- around Rs 8,000crore. lastfour or five years, the gover- chunk of the frauds wasreported The newvariant of the coron- NewYork:Oilpricestumbled certaincategories,accordingto grievance redressal and com- pleofmonths. The total cases of frauds (in- nance and system structures have on the advances front with 4,610 avirusintheUKspookedmarkets about 4per cent on Monday the MinistryofPower. pensation mechanisms. “Banksare goingthroughtheir volving Rs1 lakh and above)re- evolved. We have done aroot cases forRs182,051crore,which andstockswitnessedintensesell- asafast-spreadingnewcoro- “The distribution licensee To ensurecompliance, the the accountswhichwereput on portedby banksand financial in- cause analysis and built systems workstoaround98per cent of ing throughout afternoon trade. navirus strain that has shut shall supply24x7power to all governmentwillapplypenal- alertearlier.Theywillreportfraud stitutions shotupby28per cent so that lapses will notrecur.We thetotal value of frauds. Public “Whilethe street wasbracing for down muchofBritain and consumers. However, the tiesthatwillbecreditedto the wherever suchinstances are by volume and 159per cent by have takenall the precautions,” sector banks toppedthe fraud acorrection this week aftera ledtotighter restrictions in Commissionmayspecifylower consumer’s account. “For ex- found in case of large accounts, value during2019-20despitethe said Rajkiran Rai, MD and CEO of table with 4,413 cases involving sharpupmove,thesheervelocity Europe sparkedworries hours of supplyfor some cate- ample, if in anormal area you and make100 per cent provision ReserveBank of India (RBI) tight- Union Bank of India. Rs 148,400crore.Private banks of the fall across broadermarkets about aslowerrecovery in gories of consumers likeagri- want to give connection, that againstthem. Theseare beingre- ening the supervision and vigi- The RBI said weak implemen- reported3,066 frauds involving took the bulls by surpriseasprac- fuel demand. culture,” statedtheMinistryin connection has to be givenin viewedthoroughlytoensurethat lance. While there were 6,799 tation of Early Warning Signals Rs 34,211crore.The RBI also indi- ticallynoneof thekeyindicescon- Brent crude wasdown arelease. “I would call this al- themaximumof sevendays ... bankshaveadequatelyprovi- frauds involving Rs 71,543 crore (EWS) by banks, non-detection cated that the frauds registered stituentswereinthegreentoday,” $2.10,or4per cent, at $50.16 mosthistoric.Itisimportantfor andif youdon’tgiveaconnec- sionedbalance sheets and there as of March 2019,the number of of EWSduring internal audits, during2019-20actuallyoccurred said SRanganathan, head of re- abarrelby1736GMT,while the powersystembecause, for tion within sevendays,then a arenosurprises down the line,” a frauds jumpedto8,707 involving non-cooperation of borrowers in the previous years. The average search,LKPSecurities.TheSensex US West TexasIntermediate thefirsttime,we areplacingthe penaltywillapply,”saidSingh. senior governmentofficialsaid. awhopping Rs 185,644 crore, duringforensic audits, inconclu- lag between the dateofoccur- fell 1,407pointsto45,533.96, its crude fordeliveryin January consumeratthe centre,” said The rules applyfromthe The RBI did notcomment on says the RBI’s Annual Report. sive auditreportsand lackofde- rence of frauds and their detec- biggestfall in sevenmonths, and fell $1.97, or 4per cent, to PowerMinisterRKSingh. daytheyare notified.Over100 an email sent by The Indian Bankers said the frauds re- cision making in Joint Lenders’ tion by banks and FIs was24 the NSENifty plunged432 points $47.13 ahead of expiry. According to the Ministry, responseswere receivedfrom Express.Some of the loanssanc- portedthis year areold ones. meetings account areamong months during 2019-20. In large to 13,328.40.All sectoralindices The strengthinthe US themove was“necessary”be- “allstakeholders”on the draft. tionedduring the 2010-2014 pe- While these frauds happenedfive reasons fordelayindetection of frauds —Rs100 croreand above endedinthe negative with PSU dollar also weighedonoil causedistributioncompanies, “It is aconcurrent subjectand riod have nowturnedout to be or six years back, theywerere- frauds. The EWSmechanismis —the averagelag was63months. banks,media,metals realty,auto, markets. REUTERS regardlessof whethertheyare ... the central government has frauds with the lag between the portedonlyrecently. “Duringthe getting revamped alongside The sanction of the credit facility banks andpharmaindices lead- public or private,are “monop- theauthorityandthepowerto occurrence of fraudand itsdetec- lasttwo years, we hadgone for strengthening of the concurrent in manyofthese accountswas ingthe downtrend olies”, and the consumerhas makelawsregarding electric- tion stretching to over twoyears. forensic audit and investigation audit function, with timelyand mucholder,the RBI reportsaid. Travelrestrictionsimposedby What should investors do in no alternative.The rules cover ity and rules,” said Singh. “It’s The CBI on Saturdaybookedafor- intotheseaccounts. We found conclusive forensic auditsofbor- Frauds have been predomi- severalcountries to and from the the current scenario? various aspectsofpower sup- notoptional. It’s notascheme. merTDP Lok Sabha MP and his fund diversions and other issues. roweraccounts under scrutiny, nantlyoccurring in the loan port- UK have added con- While the recent plytoconsumers in the coun- It is alaw,” he added. Hyderabad-basedcompanyfor Youhavetodifferentiate between the RBI said. folio (advancescategory),bothin cerns of yetanother concern over new allegedly defrauding aconsor- when the fraudhappenedand The central bank is nowen- terms of number and value. lockdown. European strain of Covid-19in market witnessed UK —whichspreads further selling pres- morequickly than sureasthe UK and previousvariants— Suspension of IBC ...can European Union spookedmarkets,itis ‘Corporateprofits touch failedtoreachatrade notsomething that deal before thede- longterm retail in- all-time high in Septquarter’ cideddeadline.Marketsare wor- vestors should be tooworried be up to March 31: FM ried about the economytaking a about,whoshouldcontinuetheir Corporateprofits rose 15%totouch an all-time high in the U-turn again if lockdown is im- disciplinedmonthlyinvestments. September quarter as margins widened on softerinput costs posed and businesses areshut to Even as severalnations including throughseveralmeasures,includ- and better utilistaion levels, aresearch report by Crisil said tackle the newvariant. Indiahave announcedtemporary ENSECONOMICBUREAU ingtheRs3lakhcroreguaranteed ban on flightsfromUKtotheir NEWDELHI,DECEMBER21 loan programme. Listed entities, Manufacturing >1%: Rise in aggregate Will the marketsfallfurther? countryafter the emergence of “Graduallyeventhe suspen- 800comprising 85%of 370firms from available operating profit margins, The markets were already in thenewstrain,investorsmustre- FINANCEMINISTER Nirmala sion of the IBC (Insolvency and NSE’s market cap in sectors sample that showed a despite arise in raw material anoverboughtpositionwithhuge member howthe marketsrecov- Sitharaman on Mondaysaid the Bankruptcy Code)... further from excluding banking and finance contraction of 4% cost during the quarter foreigninvestmentflows pushing ered afterthe crash in March. government is planning to extend 25th of December,Ithink...it can and oil and gas, that were the Sensextonew peaks. Their Though it is aconcern forthe thesuspensionof freshinsolvency beupto March 31,2021. Sotheen- analysed Sign of widening inequalities: Factors that contributed to vulnerability washigh due to near-term as marketsmay see proceedings foranother three tireyear IBC (has been) sus- The trend of companies’ profit growth of large quickgainsmade in the ongoing some morecorrection as the de- months.Thiswouldprovidemajor pended, rightfullysobecause `1.60 lakh crore: Earnings profits growing even as the companies: rallyleading to lowmargin of velopment threatenstodelay the relief tocorporateborrowershitby Finance Minister everyindustry has gone through beforeinterest, tax, economy contracts as aresult ■ Improving utilisationlevels safety. If the newCovid variant returnto normalcythattheworld the pandemic, but impact the re- Nirmala Sitharaman. PTI major stress because of the pan- depreciation and amortisation of the pandemic has led some ■ Power management spreads across the world, thereis waslookingforward to (after the covery processoflendersdealing demic.And nobody could be (Ebitda) in September quarter, watchers to express concern ■ Controlled expenditureon apossibilitythemarketswill wit- vaccinescamein),itshouldnotbe with non performing assets. drawntowards insolvency against `1.02 lakh crore in claiming this is illustrativeof fuel and raw material ness further decline. However, if abig cause of concern forthe Speaking at avirtual event of the government has supported processwhichmay have occurred preceding June quarter widening inequalities Source: Crisil Ratings/PTI nations areabletotackle the spr- medium- to long-term investors. the BangaloreChamber of MSMEstohelpthemtideoverthe duringthepandemic,”shesaid,as eadof thepandemic,themarkets Full report on IndustryandCommerce,shesaid damagingimpactof theCovid-19 per a PTI report. will bounce backinafew days. www.indianexpress.com BRIEFLY FRL-RelianceRetaildeal: HC rejects Future plea NCAER revises FY21 projection FinMinreleases `6,000crore to restrain Amazon from writing to authorities to -7.3% on ‘sharp recoveryinQ2’ NewDelhi: The Finance of whichAmazonhadacquired49 note of the stay order,Amazon is ranging reforms, especiallyinthe Ministryreleasedtheeighth PRANAVMUKUL The court, however, did per centstake in FutureCoupons learnt to have said that if the deal ENSECONOMICBUREAU The think tank financialsector,powerandforeign weeklyinstalment of Rs NEWDELHI,DECEMBER21 notvoid the FRL board’s —the promoterfirm of FRL—ina went ahead, it wouldshowcom- NEWDELHI,DECEMBER21 upgradedits forecast trade.” Additional reforms in 6,000croretostatestomeet deal worthnearly Rs 2,000 crore. panies across the worldthat or- health,education,labourandland GSTcompensationshortfall. THE DELHI High CourtonMon- approval forthe Amazon said Future’s deal with dersbyreputed tribunalssuchas THENATIONALCouncilof Applied from 12.6% contraction arealso urgent, but these will re- daydeclinedtograntFutureRetail `24,173-croredeal with RIL wasaviolation of anon-com- the Singapore International EconomicResearch(NCAER)said estimated in September quireclosecoordinationbetween Ltd’s (FRL) plea foraninterim in- pete clauseandaright-of-first-re- ArbitrationCentre (SIAC)werenot MondayitexpectstheGDPto con- the Centre andstates, it said. $107mninNIIF junctionrestrainingAmazonfrom Reliance Industries fusal pact it had signedwith the respected in India. tract 7.3per cent in 2020-21from The challenge nowistosus- masterfund writingtoSebi, Competition FutureGroup. The deal also re- 12.6contractionestimatedearlier “Thesharprecoveryof GDPin tainandacceleratethepaceof the Commission of Indiaand other did notvoid the FRL board’s ap- quired FutureGroup to inform FRL movedDelhi High Court in September.Stating that the Q2, the bowstring effect, wasa recovery seeninQ2overthe NewDelhi:TheNationalInve- authorities about the arbitral or- provalfortheRs24,173-croredeal Amazon before enteringintoany FRLhadmovedtheDelhiHigh long-termeffectof sharpcontrac- welcome surprise. We have ac- medium to long term, it said. The stment and Infrastructure deragainstits assetsale. with Reliance Industries. saleagreementwiththirdparties. Courtseeking appropriaterelief tion this year is likelytobelong cordingly revisedour forecastof massive increase in central and Fundannounceda$107mil- The KishoreBiyani-led FRL On itspart, FutureGroup has againstAmazon.com’s NV lasting, the thinktank in itsmid- annualcontractionto(-) 7.3per stategovernment borrowing be- lioninvestmentinits‘master had, in November,accused Future-RIL deal said that it had notsoldany stake Investment Holdings to stop the year review, however, said it ex- cent.Therevisedgrowthforecasts cause of the ballooning fiscal fund’ from PSP Investments, Amazon of adopting amedia In August, Biyani’s Future in thecompany, and wasmerely latter from interferinginits deal pectsthe GDP to recordmarginal forQ3and Q4 are0.1 percentand deficit, however, is amajor chal- US International Develop- strategy of “having everydevel- Groupenteredintoanagreement sellingitsassetsandhadtherefore withRIL.FRL claimedAmazon growth of 0.1per centand 2per 2percentrespectively ...theecon- lengeformonetarypolicyandthe mentFinance Corporation opment reportedand converted withRelianceRetail—asubsidiary notviolatedanytermsofthecon- had been “misusing” the interim cent in October-December and omywill have to grow at more financialsector. and Axis Bank. PTI intoalineof communicationwith of the umbrella Reliance Industr- tract. Along these lines, Amazon order passedbythe SIAC. While January-March,respectively. than the previoustrend rate forit “The RBI has introduced a stockexchanges” regarding the iesLtd (RIL) group —tosell itsre- also sent alettertothe Securities the order says the statutoryau- The gross domestic product to catchupwithitspre-pandemic wholeslewofmeasurestocon- Amazon-FutureCoupons’arbitra- tail,wholesale,logisticsandware- and ExchangeBoardofIndia thorities and regulators cantake (GDP) had contracted by 23.9 per growth path,” the NCAER’s mid- tain the adverse impact of sucha Wistron:Little tion proceedingsinSingapore. housing to thelatter. (Sebi), BSE and National Stock aviewonthe deal in accordance centinthefirstquarterofthecur- year economic reviewsaid. largeincreaseingovernmentbor- hitfromdamage Asking statutoryauthorities/reg- Exchangeasking them nottoap- withthelaw, italsoheldtheaward rent fiscal,inthe aftermath of the It said conventionalmacro- rowing on the cost of moneyand ulatorstotakeadecisiononAma- Amazon’s objection provetheFuture-RILdealasthere givenbySIACasvalid. coronavirus pandemic. The con- economicpolicies alone will not credit flowtothe privatesector. Taipei:ThedamagedNarasa- zon’s objections in accordance Lastyear,FRL had signedan- wasaninterim stay order on it. Full report on traction narrowedto7.5 per cent do,adding,“These will have to be But itssuccess has been limited,” puraplantwas anew unit with the law, thecourt, however, other deal with Amazon, as part Asking the agenciestotake www.indianexpress.com in the second quarter. supportedbydeepand wide the think tank said. withlimitedoutput,sothere willbelimitedfinancialimp- act, said Wistron. M&M arm SsangYong files Tesla shares sink on S&P 500 debut ‘Google,FB mid-November,whenTesla’s de- lawsfair,critical’ REUTERS FALL5%HALFANHOURINTOSESSION but in the S&P500 wasan- for bankruptcy in SKorea BENGALURU,DECEMBER21 nounced, and have soared about Sydney: Australian compe- ■ Tesla’s shares sank 5% to 700per centsofar in 2020. tition commission chief Rod M&M said in aregulatory filing. However, someof itsdecisions SHARES OF electric carmaker $659.99 ahalf hour intothe The shares jumped6per cent Simssaidproposedlawsthat ENSECONOMICBUREAU The troubledautomaker has will be subject to Courtapproval, Tesla slumped in their debut on session. In itsfirstday in the onFridayinadayoffrantictrading will forceGoogle and Face- NEWDELHI,DECEMBER21 also applied foranautonomous it noted. the S&P 500onMonday,pulling S&P 500, the stockwas one ahead of their S&P500entry. book to payfor news were restructuring support(ARS) pro- The SeoulBankruptcy Court backfromrecord-high levels, as of the biggestdrags on the Tesla’sadditionto theS&P500 fair and critical. REUTERS MAHINDRA &Mahindra(M&M) gramme whichisacourtde- willdeliberateandreviewtheap- worriesoverafast-spreadingnew benchmarkindex, which ledindex-tracking funds to buy on Monday said itsloss-making signedprocess, it added. plicationandrelevantdocuments coronavirus strain in Britain wasdown1.2% $90.3 billionofshares by theend South Korean arm SsangYong “If theCourtapprovestheARS, submittedby SYMCto determine weighedonmarkets. ■HeadedbyElon Musk, of Friday’s session so that their Agarwalnew MotorCompany(SYMC)hasfiled SYMC will continue to function whether or notthe courtwill Tesla’s shares sank 5per cent Tesla is the mostvaluable portfolios reflected theindex,ac- Assochamprez forbankruptcy. underthesupervisionof itsboard commence the restructuring to $659.99ahalfhourintotheses- ever admitted to Wall cordingto S&PDowJonesIndices’ The SYMC has filedanappli- andwillnegotiatewithstakehold- process of SYMC, M&M said. sion.Initsfirstday intheS&P500, Street’s main benchmark analystHowardSilverblatt. The NewDelhi:TransportCorpo- cation forcommencement of re- ers to reachanunderstanding Lastweek,M&M had in- the stockwas one of thebiggest changeiseffective prior to the ration of India MD Vineet habilitation procedurewith the about arevivalpackagewhich formedthe bourses that SYMC drags on the benchmarkindex, open of trading on Monday, S&P Agarwalhas takenoveras SeoulBankruptcyCourtunderthe mayinclude equity and debt fi- has missedrepaymentsofloans whichwas down 1.2per cent. mostvaluable ever admitted to weight in the index ahead of saidearlierinDecember,andTesla president of Assocham. PTI Debtor Rehabilitation and nancing and other related ac- aggregating to 60 billion KRW The company, headedbybil- Wall Street’s main benchmark Monday’strading.Theshareshad is replacingApartment Bankruptcy ActofSouth Korea, tions,” M&M said. (around Rs 408 crore). lionaireElonMusk,becomes the and accounted fora1.69 per cent surgedsome 70 per cent since InvestmentandManagementCo. 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THEINDIANEXPRESS,TUESDAY,DECEMBER22,2020 AZAMOUT OF FIRST TEST Pakistan’s all-format captain BabarAzamand opening batsman Imam-ul-Haq have been ruled out of thefirst Test against NewZealand with thumb injuries. Both 14 SPORT batsmen fractured their thumbs during training session last week. Cold, chills, unable to taste masala chips:Kashyap-Saina’s road to recovery

ingwentfor atoss. Afterfellow players Guru “I could taste sweet alittle -honey. he adds. "Also anon-badminton playerfriend waited aweekfor clearance from thedistrict SHIVANINAIK and HS Prannoyfeltfeverish, four of them But salty and bitter were who wasalso at the wedding neededtobe medical officer afterthe negative and still MUMBAI,DECEMBER21 had returnedpositiveswhile Saina's test ini- completely gone, so everyday food, hospitalized," he adds. checkoxygenlevels everytwo hours after tiallycame negative."Itestedbecause the Afalse positive priortoheading offto walking 6minutes." APACKET of Masala chips progressively los- others felt symptoms. There wascold and Ihad no taste of. Everyday we Maldivesamong the group of friends had also As things stand, the duo will head to ing their crunch-and taste, provedtobe cough on Days 3, 4and 5and Ilosttaste on would have one chip from the confusedhim. "The testscan confuse." There Thailand, and arehopingasbestcase sce- morethan amunchingaccompaniment dur- the 4th.Itwasn't theworstcold I've had packet. After 3days Icould feel the wasnoloss of appetiteeither."In fact I nario to play in each of the6tournaments ing Saina Nehwal and Parupalli Kashyap's re- (though Ihadn't had cold for2-3 years) and flavours on the chips so that was might've put on 3kgs becauseIcouldn't stop they'veplannedaiming forqualification. covery from COVID-19.While the twoare thingswerebacktonormal by 6th day, the cue.” eating and wasgetting veryhungry,"hesays. "There's 9day gaps betweeneachsoI'm backtotraining at an unusedbadminton though Iwas positive still on the 8th day," As an asthmatic, therewereconcernsif guessing quarantines arefactored in," he courtinHyderabad afterrallying backfrom Kashyaprecalls. PKASHYAP he'd needmorethan the anti-virals. "I mon- says. their infections, Kashyaprecalls thefortnight Saina wouldisolateimmediately after- itored oxygen levels everytwo hours and All England isn't apartofthe qualification, that sawthem stay largely asymptomatic, wards, though she would losesensorysmell it's different forevery person." asked my asthma doctor.But she said unless but Kashyap reckons everyplayerwillhead save forthe loss of tasteand smell. and tasteafter her initial negative test, While he can look back andlaugh flip- the O2 saturation levels reallyfell, therewas there. "It's prestigious," he says,beforequip- "Noone had fever above 98.5 degrees. Just prompting her to go foranother re-testthat pantlyabout the packetofchips now, no needfor anything likesteroids which ping,"It'sbig.IfIwonit, I'll showiteverydayto some chills and cold at the start. Butitwas came positive."Icould tastesweet alittle - Kashyapsays it'll be wrong to assume that might'vebeen difficult as an athlete," he says. everyoneasif I'vewontheOlympics!Ofcourse when we couldn't sense the very strong taste honey. But salty and bitter were completely being athletesspared them the worst. Return to thecourthas been tough it meansalot and everyplayerwill play." of masala chips thatweweresureevenSaina gone, so everydayfood, Ihad no tasteof. "Someone in my familywas only36and very though. "Two weeksofzeroactivity means "But right nowthere's no point thinking waspositive," Kashyap said. Everydaywewould have one chip from the fitness conscious. One dayshe wasnegative, muscles aresoreand have losttone. At ahead. Situationischanging everyhour," he It startedwith the bunchoffriends at- packet. After3days Icould feel the flavours PKashyapand Saina Nehwal had next dayshe tested positiveand suffereda Thailand, on ascale of 1to10, I'll probablybe adds, claiming he's quitedone with chips for tending the weddingofclose buddy Guru on thechipssothat wasthe cue. When we tested positive forCovid-19. File fatalcardiac arrest soon after. It's scaryand playing at 3. But Idon't want to push in train- life -bitter,sweet,tangy or tasteless,all kinds Saidutt,wheresocial distancing and mask- tested next, we got negatives," he says."But no athlete should assume theyare immune," ing immediatelyand riskany problems. We of them. How Britain’s Covid crisis could hit Sindhu’s Prithvi flaw plans in the new year Young opener’s techniquehas been aworkinprogressbut will nowneedfurtherimprovements SRIRAMVEERA DECODINGSHAW MUMBAI,DECEMBER21 SHIVANINAIK MUMBAI,DECEMBER21 AT SOME pointinthe last twoyears, as Prithvi Shawmoved intothe adult world, THE HANDS initially AS EXITINGBritain becomes increasingly dif- what he lacks has unsurprisingly overshad- move backbut suddenly ficult because of the escalating coronavirus owedwhat he has. The stalwarts to have yankswell to the right situation with 40 countries -and counting - triedtoredress the problemhaveranged before he drags it backin banning airlines from UK, international bad- from Rahul Dravid, his U-19and IndiaA line. The detour delays mintonhas lurched intouncertainty again. coach, to Ricky Ponting, his IPL franchise his reaction time, India’s worldchampion PV Sindhuhas been coach, to Ravi Shastri, India’s head coach. widens the bat-pad gap. traininginthe UK forsome months nowand With the entryofanewcontender in wassupposedtotraveltoBangkok in Shubman Gill, the imminent return of Rohit January. Shewill nowbeatthe mercy of Sharmaand an ambitious KL Rahul in the travel regulations in both countries as she at- mix, Shawfindshimself in avulnerable cor- tempts to resume competition at the ner and would needluckand empathetic Thailand Open scheduledfor the second backing to clawhis wayback. week of January. Thailand has also seena The problem wasapenchant to playtoo tremendoussingle-dayspikeincases put- farawayfromthe body.The firstchapter ting the whole three-tournament seriesin PV Sindhu wastofly from the UK, dated acoupleofyearsago could be titled jeopardy,though Bangkok isn’t in lockdown. whereshe has been based since ‘the curious case of the backleg’; Shawwould October,toBangkok in Januaryfor a move his rightoutside leg stumpjustafter What is the Sindhu situation? tournament. File the ball wasreleasedashis primaryobjec- ThereigningWorldChampionandfinalist tive wastostayadjacent to the line, away at the Rio Olympics has been in UK since from the ball, and give himself room forthe October,firstfor aseries of nutrition testsand Open -March 31 -April 4) and aSuper 100at hands to comecrashingthrough. But it cre- then training with the England squad. Orleans have pointsupfor grabs. The ated issueswhenthe ball swung and However, withrestrictionsonflightsfromUK, BadmintonAsia Championship(April 27 - seamed; somethinghad to be done. HE WOULD move hisleg outside and SindhuneedingtobeinBangkok on May2), with itsvenue yettobedecided, is Theyfixed it. The right foot stoppedslip- legstump justafter the ball was January3,itislookingincreasingly difficultfor also includedinTokyoqualification. ping away to the legside. His guardwas then releasedtostaybesidethe line but India'stopplayer, alongwithotherBritishplay- shiftedtowards middle stump, wherethe it madehim playtoo farawayfrom ers,tomakeittothetwoSuper1000events in What does this mean forSaina Nehwal, right foot nowlies frozen in aslightly Opener Prithvi Shaw’s form is aconcerngoing into the second Test match. File the body. Bangkokwhere shewasscheduledtoresume Kidambi Srikanth, Lakshya Sen and P opened-up stance, butthe betrayal was competition. Returning to India is impossible Kashyap? takenoverbythe hands,asseen during the withflightsfromUKbarrednow,andThailand While both Sainaand Srikanth areready- IPL and nowinAustralia. will have problems buthis bat-speedis straightening outside off, as Shaw’s backleg Boon would startpicking the bat up differ- isexpectedto imposestrictrestrictions-albeit ing to travel to Thailand, their real test starts Especially, in the wayShawpicks his bat something, and makes up forit.” That obser- had shuffledalittle bit ontoleg stump(not ently, cockhis tophand as the bat would do specific ones forEngland, Wales in Basel on March 2. However, justafter the ball is released–the hands ini- vation by that keen teenager has remained outside, though) in an effort to stay beside an aerial sweep, so to say, and come backin and Scotland. the big push forpointscomes tiallymovebackand up likemostbatsmen, spot on thus far. the line and whackit. line at delivery. With the All England sched- from March 31 (Malaysia Super but suddenlytheybetray him, going wider, In August2018, Shaw’s name wasan- By the time this year’s IPL came along in SouthAfrican HashimAmla, too, lethis uledfor lateFebruary,the to- 750), Singapore(Super 500from away from him to theright, before he drags nouncedasthe replacementfor MVijay,who pandemic times,itseemedShah had hands wander and traverseunusual arcs but and-frobecomesatricky deci- April 13-18) and in Delhi (May them backinline. wasdroppedmid-series in England. That tweaked his game further.Hewas nowona his wrists were so powerful that he could sion, especiallywith no 11-16). Crucially, thethree Super But the detour cutshis reaction time, ac- year,hehad already been on an Atour to middle-stumpguardand the back-leg move- drag the bat backquickly in line. Shaw’s is a qualification pointsupfor grabs 1000s(twoinThailand and the centuates the bat-pad gap, delays the bat England where Dravid wasthe coach. That ment had stopped. slightlydifferent case to Boon or Amla. His in Bangkok.Sindhu, however, All England) have nothing to of- coming down in time forthe incoming ball. back-leg movement would crop up nowand It seemeditwas designedtomakehim hands delayhis subsequent movementsas has qualifiedfor Tokyo. feriftheyare chasing qualifica- If the ballshapes away outside off, this also then, and theydidn’t want to tinker toomuch stay that much closertothe ball, and notplay the bat takesadetour afterfirststartingtogo tion forTokyo.The other alterna- ends in him playing away from the body. withthe technique; it’s learnt that it wasad- away from the body.The backleg wasinthe backand up in amoreconventional way. He What is the situation in Thailand? tive is criss-crossing the worldfor minor Bowlers as variedasJofraArcher,Trent Boult, dressedtoanextent on the Atours. middle, and he took aslightlyopen stance, then yanksitawayfromhim before again Alockdown has been imposedaround tournamentswhichinvolvestravelling. Bhuvneshwar Kumar,Mohammed Siraj, When he joinedthe Indian team’s train- playing forateam coachedbyRicky Ponting. bringing it backinline. Samut Sakhon, aprovince near the capital Ideally, postThailand, the Swiss, German, Deepak Chahar and nowMitchell Starcand ing session in Southampton, that awkward The backleg nevermoved;itwas the leftleg It’s justpoppedupatawrong time, and Bangkok,asupto40,000 people arebeing Kuala Lumpur,Singaporeand Delhi tourna- PatCummins have exploited it in the lastfew back-leg movement wasn’t visible initially that roamedaround but the threat had coupledwith the back-leg movement that testedwithThailandscramblingto mitigatean mentsiswherethe duo will look to strikefor months. on the firstday.Nearthe end of the session, opened up elsewhere. he has been working on foracouple of years, outbreak that has infected nearly 700people theirpoints. It’s perhaps an apttime to trackwhat has though, it bufferedupslowly. Asimilar shiftofthe guardtowards mid- and his penchant to stay beside theline, it at aseafood market.The epicentreofthe new unfoldedinthe lastthree years –the techni- Next day, it became morepronounced dle and offhad helpedVirender Sehwag but has all addedup. outbreakthrew up140morecases,asthecoun- What arethe financial implications on the cal errors and the attempted fixes. “He and Shastri took Shawaside foralong en- at times, self-cures tend to mask if notcre- Thefirsttime afamous Indian’s backleg tryrecordeditsbiggestdailyspikeof548cases. 2021season? (Shaw) is atalented playerbut he’s got along couraging chat in the end. Shastri would do ateother problems. The problem nowcrept wasliterallytiedupintraining because it was The BWFrelease stated:“Thereisalso the waytogo, alot to learn,” said Rahul Dravid the shadowbatting, mimic Shaw’s back-leg intothe hands this IPL; that can be exploited backing away from the ball ledtomind-bog- What tournamentsare open forOlympic possibilitytoreduce total minimum prize in 2017.Shawwould move along the ranks, movement, and then chat more. onlybyhigh-quality seam bowling or pace, gling wizardry. qualification? moneyfor 2021inthe effort to reduce costs.” alongside Dravid from cricketfor teenagers The thirdday of training dawned, and oftenavenomous cocktail of both. When Ranjit Singhji’s leg wastiedtoa The Indian Open Super 500inDelhi from A20per cent reduction in prize moneyises- intothe adult worldwith the Ateam in 2018. Shastri parkedhimself near the youngster, pole by his English coachDaniel Hayward, May11-16will be the lastqualificationtour- timatedthroughout 2021 in circuit events, So did this ‘problem’, though it washardly shouting wordsofencouragement at nearly ■■■ he conjured themagical leg-glance. The last nament forthe TokyoOlympics, according affecting playerearnings. seen as such in the teenager’s worldbut everydecentshotplayed. The backleg would time an Indian’s backleg wastiedled to the to thefresh schedule firmedupbythe would changeincharacterinayear’s time. still, nowand then, slip away to the leg. The hand movementsaren’t drastic, by genius of Sehwag. When his backfoot Badminton WorldFederation. Atotal of 17 Has vaccinations been factored in? In December ’17, in Mumbai, in the U-19 Shawdidn’t playany Test and the visuals anystretch of imagination. Former Australian dragged itself outofthe crease,coachAK tournamentsacross theworld arepartofthe “Althoughthe hope is thatthe COVID-19 Challengertournament held as preparation poppedupagain in themindinthe series opener David Boon came to be known forhis Sharma tiedittoapole, whichhelped qualification process, though only5-6 will vaccine mayintime createaworld with less forthe U-19World Cup in NewZealand,the againstWestIndiesinOctober that year.By unique cocked-hand movement at pick-up. Sehwag to “receivethe ball under my eyes see topplayers target qualification. Two restrictions, BWFexpectsthat the pandemic backfootmovement triggeredcuriosity and now, that movement turnedrare, though it But in the years before his debutin1984, he and hit it”. Occasionally, home curescan also Super 300s (Swiss -March 2-7 &German will still influence tournament hosting came up in acasual conversation withone would bleedthrough occasionally. As it didn’t have that movement as the older sparkcreativity. What will thecaged back leg Open -March 9-14),two Super 500s throughout the whole of 2021,”the world of his teammates. would do on an odd dayinIPL 2019.Once, footagefromhis First-Classgamesreveal. and itchy hands of Shawdoifand when he (Singapore&India), one Super 750 (Malaysia body said. “When the ball swings or seamsalot,he Umesh Yadavtook him out with aball Players adjust, learn newtraits. By his prime, gets another chance? NBA bubble reduced player injuries, no travel helped in recovery

Less games Faster recovery had achance to rest and recover. The reworkedbubble SHAHIDJUDGE Inside the NBAbubble, 89 regular season According to the data, injured players Additionally, playing all matches inside Though there is no bubble this time, the MUMBAI,DECEMBER21 matches or seeding games took place, plus missedanaverage of 2.9 regularseason the NBAbubblethat wasset up in Disney NBAhas put in place aset of protocols with an additional 83 playoff matches. RunRepeat matchesinside thebubble before recover- Worldnear Orlando, Florida,meant that the the 30 franchises. ANEW season of the NBAisset to start on in itsanalysis thereforeconsidered thefirst ing. Meanwhile,inthe five seasonsbefore travel fatigue element no longer existed. In In amemo sent by the NBAtoteams, as Wednesdaybarelytwo months since the Los 89 matches of eachofthe pastfiveseasons the pandemic, an injured playerwould miss other words, afteratiring game, players did reportedbyESPN, players and supportstaff Angeles Lakers were crownedchampions, in (starting from the 2014-15season) and also an averageof3.7 matches. This meant that nothavetoembarkonalong flight to their mayleave theirhotels to dine provided: “out- October.This will be the firsttime the mar- their correspondingplayoff games to deci- players injured insidethe bubble would re- next destination, hence enabling afasterre- door dining, fully privatizedroom diningin quee American league will startanew sea- pher howmanymatches were missedbyin- coverfasterby24percent. Similarly,during covery.For the upcomingseason, the pre- restaurants, or NBA/NBPA(players associa- son from scratchsince theoutbreak of the jured players. the playoff stage, playerinjuryratedeclined season period wasjustovertwo months tion) approved restaurantsthat will meet Covid-19pandemic. Overall, from the matches in considera- by 31 percent compared to the playoff stages since the NBAfinalinOctober (as compared league criteria.” And in the newnormal forthe regular tion, 417matches were missedbyinjured in the lastfiveseasons. to theusual approximatefour monthperiod). Furthermore, while at home, players and season, the governing bodyhas put in place players on an averageinthe previousfivesea- staffare notallowedto“enter bars, lounges certain changes and precautions. Home and sons, and 300weremissedduring the bub- No travel fatigue On the road again or clubs, attend live entertainmentorgame away gamesare back,but datapublished ble –adrop by 28 percent. The datasuggests ahigher likeliness for The NBAwill no longer holdmatches at a venues, or visit public gyms, spas, pool areas by RunRepeatfindsthat the bubble the NBA players to remain injury-free duringthe bub- single venue this upcoming season, but the or large indoor social gatherings that exceed had setupinFlorida to finish the remain- What numbers says ble, and if injured,afaster recovery,when travel itineraries foreachteam will be made 15 people.” derofthe 2019-20 seasonactuallysaw a During the bubble, 247regularseason compared to the datacollected from the av- in adifferent manner.Atravelling team will In case aplayerisfoundbreaking proto- lowernumber of games missedbyplayers matches and 53 playoff matches were erageofthe pastfiveseasons. The biggest play twoconsecutivegamesinthe samecity, col, that player“maybesubject to apropor- due to injury. missedbyinjured players. The lastNBA seasonwas conducted in a changeinthe 2019-20 season, however, was againstthe same opponent to ensuretravel tionateadjustment to payfor anygames That is one aspect thatmay notbeinthe From the averageofthe previous five sea- bubble at DisneyWorld near Orlando, the over-four monthbreak that came due to is minimised. Additionally, the league for- missedduring the periodthatthe playeris offing nowthat teams will once again be on sons, 340games were missedinthe regular Florida. File thepandemic. Giventhe lockdown rules that mat will followa72-matchschedule rather in quarantine and undergoing testing due to the road. season and 77 in the playoffs. followed, players with niggles would have than the usual 82-matchregularseason. engaging in suchactivities and/or conduct.”

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