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         %                     Roy said, “The Prime        Minister is saying only half truth by claiming that the he Government is all set to   ours after Prime Minister State Government is blocking Tlaunch the vaccination HNarendra Modi blamed the Prime Minister Kisan drive for Covid-19 across the rime Minister Naredra the Trinamool Congress and Samman funds… the fact is country and has planned a dry PModi, in his mega-out- the Left Front for doing great we only want to get the funds run in Andhra Pradesh, reach to farmers, on Friday disservice to farmers’ cause by channeled through the State Assam, Gujarat, Punjab next said his Government is ready their recent acts — like refus- Government…the Centre week. to talk with them on all issues                   ing Central Kisan Samman must not bypass the federal The detailed checklist has with an “open mind” on “facts      
        Nidhi funds for their aid and norms…if it does so then been prepared by the Union and logic” and not on the inciting farmers’ protest in where is there a need of a Health Ministry and shared basis of the “lies spread by them questions on the con- produce anywhere in the coun- Delhi — the Bengal ruling State Government to be in with the four States to guide Opposition parties”. tract-farming and its “benefits”. try, including through “man- outfit and Left parties hit back place.” them in the dry run planned He claimed that new farm He asked farmers not to be dis”. Modi said like in all sec- in equal measures. Earlier the Prime on December 28 and 29 as a    %  !,-
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'()! !    laws offer “all alternatives” and “misled” by the “lies” of the tors, modernisation in agri- Taking on the Prime Minister while delivering a step to prepare before the &%         “gateways” to the farmers to Opposition parties looking for culture is the need of the time. Minister, senior TMC leader speech singled out Bengal actual vaccination takes off. sell their produce and increase “jari booti” (panacea) to res- He said it is six-month Saugato Roy said it is the saying the TMC Government According to the Ministry, entries in Co-WIN to vaccine The dry run will also income. urrect their “falling political since new farm laws have come arrogance of the Central and the Left Front were ruin- each State will plan the dry run receipt and allocation to include testing for cold storage Speaking to the farmers of graph”. into effect and “not a single Government and the PM ing the future of the farmers. in two districts. Preferably this deployment of team members, and transportation arrange- six-States, Modi strongly Squarely blaming those mandi has been closed”. himself and not the Bengal He alleged that the State will be in different session mock drill of session sites with ments for Covid-19 vaccine, backed agricultural laws and with political agenda for the Modi said the Centre is Government which was hin- Government was blocking type settings, for example, dis- test beneficiaries to reporting management of crowd at the gave enough indication that deadlock in the Government’s willing to resume the dialogue dering the flow of Central the passage of the Kisan trict hospital, urban site, pri- and evening meeting. session sites with proper phys- though he was ready to remove talks with protesting farmers, on all farmers-related issues, Kisan Samman Nidhi funds. Samman funds. vate health facility, rural out- Over 2,360 participants ical distancing. any “fault” in them, his the Prime Minister said the even with those staunchly reach. were trained during national An important focus of the Government has no rollback protest which started with opposed to his Government as “This exercise will enable level training comprising State dry run will be on manage- plan as demanded by the agi- demand for guaranteeing long as the talks are based on is also being used now for    end-to-end mobilisation and immunisation officers, cold ment of any possible adverse tating farmers on the outskirts Minimum Support Price “issues, facts and logic.” opposing many existing poli- testing of Covid-19 vaccination chain officers, IEC officials, events following immunisa- of Delhi. (MSP) has now moved to seek- He asserted that an over- cies. Though the Prime process and check the usage of development partners, etc. tion (AEFI). In addition, “Don’t mislead by lies of ing release of those accused of whelming number of farmers Minister did not name any par-    Co-WIN in field environ- As on date, the State-level adherence and management of others and think on facts,” violence and making highway across the country have wel- ticular group, he made sever- ment,” the Ministry said. trainings had been completed infection control practices at said Modi and alleged that that toll-free at the behest of the comed the new laws and are al references that appeared It would also enable link- in all States and UTs with par- the session site, to prevent the agitation was being fuelled Opposition parties “who are already reaping the benefits, aimed at Left-affiliated outfits   ages between planning, ticipation of more than 7,000 disease transmission. by Opposition parties. firing from the shoulders of and listed out the BJP’s victo- and other Opposition parties. implementation and reporting district level trainees, except “The mock drill will Modi said TMC-ruled innocent farmers”. ry in panchayat elections He said those with politi- Noida: Thousands of farmers mechanisms and identify chal- Lakshadweep which will con- include concurrent monitoring West Bengal, which is “block- “You would have seen that across States, in which farmers cal agenda are not letting farm- from UP gathered in Noida lenges and guide the way for- duct it on December 29. and review at the block and ing” cash benefits to farmers in when the agitation started were the main voters and ers engage in dialogue with the on Thursday on the call of the ward prior to actual imple- Cascading down, 681 dis- district levels, and preparation the State coming from the their demand was about MSP including in areas surrounding Government to address their Kisan Sena, a farmers’ union mentation, including improve- tricts (49,604 trainees) have of feedback to be shared with Central schemes, is supporting guarantee. They had genuine protest sites. concerns. supporting the new farm laws, ments that may be required in completed the training of the State and Union Health farmers protest. issues because they were farm- “Despite that, farmers Thousands of farmers, even as the Bharatiya Kisan the envisaged process. Medical Officers on opera- Ministry. The Left-ruled Kerala ers. But then those with polit- across the country have whole- mainly from Punjab, Haryana Union (Lok Shakti) which is This will also provide a tional guidelines. Vaccination Detailed checklist has been which has already done away ical ideology took over,” he heartedly welcomed agricul- and parts of Uttar Pradesh, are demanding withdrawal of the hands-on experience to pro- team trainings have been com- prepared by the Union health with the APMC “mandi sys- said. ture reforms. I assure you that camping on various Delhi bor- legislations dubbed this farm- gramme managers at various pleted in 1,399 out of 17,831 Ministry and shared with the tem,” is also doing the same. Defending new laws, the I will not let you down,” Modi ders for almost a month to ers’ faction as “Jaichand” — levels and will include activi- blocks and planning units. It is four States to guide them in the Modi interacted virtually Prime Minister said they allow said. The Prime Minister protest against the three farm after the 12th century ruler ties from the necessary data going on in the other blocks. dry run,” added the Ministry. with the farmers and asked farmerd freedom to sell their alleged that the farmers’ protest laws. came to be known for treason.  
 
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%             $     %  !!  31. Mohapatra is currently Kumar Jena, who is serving as #   serving as the Development Additional Chief Secretary in & $ Commissioner and holding the Revenue & Disaster    P     additional charge as Working Management Department and   $  $   Chairperson of the Shree Special Relief Commissioner,        Jagannath Temple was appointed as the Administration (SJTA, Puri. Development Commissioner-      the strain of the virus. Four     Outgoing Chief Secretary cum-Additional Chief persons, who have returned to      Tripathy was appointed as Secretary to the Government. mid the spread of new the State from the UK under- uresh Chandra Mohapatra Chairman of the Western Astrain of Covid-19 virus in went Covid-19 test in Cuttack         Swas appointed as the State’s Odisha Development Council the United Kingdom, a four- to detect the new variant of new Chief Secretary on Friday. (WODC) besides being desig- year-old girl child, who had coronavirus.    Range IGs and DIGs and senior The Government also appoint- nated as the Principal Advisor returned here from that coun- They underwent RT-PCR officers of various police estab- ed the 1986-batch IAS officer to Chief Minister on Regional try on December 20, has test- test. If required, the genome of he 62nd annual Senior lishment would attend the as the Chief Development Development, Tourism, ed positive for the virus, an offi- the coronavirus would be TPolice Officers’ Conference event.Chief Minister Naveen Commissioner. Mohapatra will Agribusiness and Industry. cial of the Bhubaneswar sequenced. They have been of the State would be held from Patnaik would address the vale- replace incumbent Chief With Mohapatra being elevat- Municipal Corporation (BMC) quarantined and have no Covid December 27 to 30 on a virtu- dictory session of the confer- Secretary Asit Kumar Tripathy, ed to the Chief Secretary post, said on Friday. symptoms, sources said. al platform with Chief of ence on December 30. who will retire on December senior IAS officer Pradeep However, the girl’s parents As many as 43 persons Defence Staff of India Bipin During the conference, Corporation would also be have tested negative for the with the travel history of the Rawat delivering the keynote there would be deliberations on widely discussed. A session on virus. The family members of UK of last 14 days have reached address. various professional policing gender-sensitive policing the child have been kept under different parts of the State. Interpol, Singapore subjects like law and order, would be addressed by Kamala institutional quarantine as per As per official data, 21 Director MM Oberoi would crime scenario, Leftwing Bhasin a noted activist, author norms. have moved to Bhubaneswar, talk on strategies to combat extremism, organised crimes, and social scientist. Earlier, a 34-year-old man, one to Khorda, five to Cuttack, cybercrimes. drug trafficking, quality inves- Prof Abhay Karandikar, who returned here from the three each to Koraput and The conference would be tigation, road safety and paper- Director, IIT Kanpur would UK on December 18, had test- Brahmmapur and two each to inaugurated by State DGP less policing. explain the role of technology ed positive at a private lab. His Nayagarh and Nabarangpur Abhay on December 27 at 3 Issues relating to State in aid of policing. State swab samples have been sent to and one each to Jajpur, pm.All district Superintendents Vigilance, prisons, Home Advocate General Ashok Parija the National Institute of Rajgangpur, Sambalpur, of Police, DCPs, Commandants Guards & Fire Services and would discuss different legal Virology in Pune to ascertain Jagatsinghpur and Sakhigopal. of Armed Police Battalions, Police Housing and Welfare issues. 
        
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he State reported 325 new TCovid-19 cases in 19 dis-     tricts on Friday, pushing the total tally to 3,27,867, the tate capital city Information and Public SBhubaneswar on Friday reg- Relations Department said. istered 31 new Covid-19 posi- Of the new cases, 187 were tive cases, increasing the total reported from quarantine cen- count to 31,519, including 351 tres and 138 were local contact active cases. cases.Khordha district record- The new cases included 25 ed the highest 36 cases followed local contacts and six quaran- by Sundargarh 33 and Angul tine cases.One more person 32.The death toll rose to 1,853 succumbed to the virus in the with three more fatalities on the city, taking the total toll to 236. day. The deaths were reported However 29 persons recov- from Baleswar, Dhenkanal and &    !  
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'()$   !     *   + $    ered on the day, increasing the Khordha districts.    total recoveries to 30,911.  ! " # %#& ' &!(!)!#**   
 
   

         

Government has auctioned 21 duction due to deliberate low under rule 12A(1) of the Ministry will lessen their bur- of M/s Serajuddin has dis-    &    iron ore mines with about production by the lessees. Mineral Concession den of payment to the State patched only 0.30 MT (7%) 1,900 million tonne (MT) The prices of iron ore have Amendment Rules 2020. The Government. against dispatch requirement of      reserves, with total EC capac- skyrocketed by 207% from Rs law has deliberately used the Due to much lesser dis- 3.8 MT and Thakurani iron ore      ity of about 89 MTPA for con- 2,047 per tonne in July to Rs word ‘pro-rata’ to ensure that patch of iron ore, the State has mine of M/s Arcelor Mittal has tinued supply of ore and sus- 6,350/tonne in December for the monthly dispatch levels already lost a revenue of Rs 2, dispatched only 0.23 MT (23%) rime Minister Narendra
   tainable revenue generation 62-65% Fe grade fines as these are maintained to pre-existing 500 crore unless it is recovered against minimum dispatch PModi on Friday interacted for the State. big corporate led miners con- levels and artificial scarcity of as penalty from these auc- requirement of 1.8 MT during with Naveen Thakur, a farmer All the blocks were won at tinue to play with law and the iron ore is not created in the tioned mines. the period from July to of Jenjara village under Sadar  0   exorbitant bid premium values Government machinery. market. The major mines like November. block of Odisha’s Nuapada dis-    making them unviable from As per provision , the new The law clearly had the Jajang iron ore mine, Nuagaon Submitting a petition to the trict, through videoconferenc- the very beginning. Presently, lessee is required to maintain intent to maintain monthly iron ore mine, Narayanposhi Principal Secretary, Steel and ing as he released the next he State Government has some lessees are resorting to such level of production so as dispatches for sustainable sup- iron and manganese mine and Mines of Odisha, MASS sec- instalment of financial benefit Credit Card (KCC), Thakur Tlost revenue of over Rs theft, policy changes, corrup- to ensure minimum dispatch of ply of ore with consistent rev- Ganua iron ore mine of M/s retary Subrat Tripathy urged under the PM Kisan Samman informed him that he has 2500 crore due to shortfall in tion, lower production etc until 80% of the average of the enue generation for the State. JSW Steel Limited with total the Government to recover Nidhi. availed a loan of Rs 27,000 monthly dispatch of iron ore by law changs to ensure that there annual production of two The current lessees are EC capacity of 29.3 MTPA the Rs 2,500 crore in the form Thakur apprised the PM as through the card at an interest auctioned mines vis a vis min- outflow on premium, royalty, immediately preceding years deliberately delaying produc- have dispatched only about 4 of penalty from the auctioned to how he was benefited from rate of mere 4 per cent. Thakur imum dispatch requirement DMF and NMET is consider- on pro-rata basis, failing which tion with the hope that the MT(54%) against minimum mines which have produced the scheme and utilised the said that he earlier used to take as per Rule 12-A of the Mineral ably reduced. appropriate actions in accor- impending MMDR and rule dispatch requirement of 7.4 less than the minimum pro- money for buying fertilisers, loans from private money Concession Rules for the peri- These actions have led to dance with respective MDPAs amendments which they are MT during July-November. duction requirement under seeds and insecticides.On being lenders at a hefty rate of inter- od from July to November. The acute shortfall in mineral pro- shall be initiated as prescribed pushing with the Union Mines Similarly, Balda iron ore mine their respective MDPAs. asked by Modi about the Kisan est of 20 per cent. "#         

     Superintendent Engineer level Detailed Project Reports   $! 1 and level, 30 Executive (DPRs). Instead these are out- !  Kishan Kumar has failed to of more than Rs 5 crore. Engineer, 99 Deputy sourcd and private consulting streamline the activities of the To make matters worse Executive Engineer posts to agencies are being roped in ,%' ''('&!'&'' Murmu, Priyabrata Majhi, Chakradhar Dash, department, which is known the Secretary has scrutinsed be filled up. and crores of rupees of pub- Om Prakash Sahu, Madhusmita Nayak, Ipsita $  to be the mother department the activities of only three dis- But though the Chief lic funds are being wasted.     Sahoo, Jyotshnamayee Parida, Sofia Alam, of engineers. tricts Cuttack, Khordha , Puri Secretary had directed for Big contracts are not Tumbanath Panda, Prasanta Kumar Sahoo, Amit And it is no surprise that instead of the whole State. So, DPCs to be conducted every being awarded to special class JD president Naveen Patnaik on Friday Mallick, Chhabi Mahali, Meenakshi Mishra and    5T and Mo Sarkar has fallen many proposed major pro- year by December 31, he contractors instead the con- Breconstituted the party’s media team by Smruti Nanda. flat and the department is jects have failed to take off directions are being flout- tracts are being split to favour appointing eminent leaders as spokespersons now like a rudderless ship. due to the land acquisition ed.But instead former officials ineligible, illiterate contrac- and panelists.  0   Of late, the department has and other issues. are being reappointed, due to tors having political connec- The order came into force with immediate    become a hot bed of corrup- Particularly the construc- which the promotional tions. It is demanded that to effect, informed Manas Mangaraj, BJD general tion and tender fixing is ram- tion of roads has been affect- avenues of the junior officers maintain transparency e-ten- secretary (media affairs).Prasanna Acharya, he State Government, pant. ed and quality has been given are being affected. dering of contractors should Pinaki Misra, Achyuta Samanta, Amar Patnaik, Tdrawing flak for the con- Due to the nexus of some the go-by. Taking advantage Recently though a Chief be done like the Water Sasmit Patra and Sarmistha Sethi were appoint- troversial tenure of former unscrupulous officers, con- of the Secretary’s lack of tech- Engineer was promoted to the Resources Department. ed as the party’s national spokespersons and 16 Works Secretary Nalini Kanta tractors and powerful MLAs nical expertise, false bills are Engineer-in Chief post he is Some officials having leaders and 14 others as spokespersons and pan- Pradhan, in a bid to imple- percentage culture has being prepared and crores of still continuing in his earlier contacts with the local MLAs elists. Spokespersons: Pratap Keshari Deb, ment the principles of 5T gripped the department. rupees are allegedly siphoned post. There is deep resent- of Bhubaneswar have man- Chandra Sekhar Sahu, Ramesh Chandra Majhi, and Mo Sarkar, had appoint- A glaring example is the off by the Engineer-in Chief, ment due to this among the aged to stay in their posts for Snehangini Chhuria, Byomakesh Ray, Raseswari ed an IAS officer as the landing of crorepati Senior Chief Engineer and other engineers for which they have years. Panigrahi, Kasturi Mohapatra, Anubhab Patnaik, Secretary of Works Clerk of the Roads and divisional officials. no motivation to work dedi- In an example, the Lopamudra Buxipatra, Lenin Mohanty, Sanjay Department. Buildings Department in the The Engineers’ Service catedly. Executive Engineer of Baboo, Sulata Deo, Srimayee Sweta Snigdha Though having the repu- Vigilance net. The accused association had demanded There is no in-house Division -IV is beating the Mishra, Chinmaya Sahoo, Elina Dash and tation of an efficient officer, according to the Vigilance two Engineer- in Chief and designing, quality monitor- drum that he is a close con- Harish Choudhury. Panelists: Chandrani incumbent Works Secretary has disproportionate assets one Chief Engineer post, two ing, field survey or producing fidante of the Secretary. %O'&#'(/ %   ( %   %)$ !    2/O' ! %& & ' $    
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- $ %      # & $P  )$         conduct special prayers for the osli poet and Padma Shri ) *+, that the arms and ammunition occasion. Only 20 people are KHaldhar Nag has found a   ( were procured from Munger in    nlike every year, the allowed to get inside a church place on the first page of ‘A Poem Bihar. Meanwhile, police on the UChristmas on Friday at each service time. A Day’, a collection of Indian day commenced investigation midst the scare of new remained a low-key affair in We are monitoring the sit- poems selected and translated by   into the alleged link of the Astrain of coronavirus in the Odisha due to the prevailing uation and requesting people to legendary poet, lyricist and is excited to meet him in per- brothers in the seizure of huge State, Cuttack-based social to slums kids from Classes-I to Covid-19 pandemic. wear masks and maintain social filmmaker Gulzar. son.After receiving the book, an he Commissionerate police cache of arms and ammunition worker and tea seller Padma V. Besides, two district In the State capital, devo- distancing,” informed a BMC The book features 365 con- overwhelmed Nag has expressed Ton Friday seized three guns from their residence by taking Shri D Prakash Rao has tested Collectors have been infected tees thronged a few churches official. The devotees have temporary poems in 34 lan- his deepest gratitude to Gulzar. and 170 rounds of live ammu- the duo on a three-day remand positive for Covid-19 and is with the deadly virus in the and attended mass prayers expressed happiness over the guages of 279 poets from across Earlier in 2019, a short film on nition from the residence of after getting permission for undergoing treatment at the State. Bhabani Shankar wearing masks and maintain- State Government’s decision the country.The book begins the noted poet from Odisha’s gangster Dhalasamanta sib- the same from the JMFC Court SCB Medical College Hospital Chayani, the Collector of ing social distancing. Special to allow them for the mass with two poems of the Haldhar tribal hinterland was released on lings, Susanta and Sushil, in the here yesterday. here. His health condition is Cuttack, and Gajapati Collector prayers were held at the bright- prayers. “We are thankful to Nag: ‘Pancha Amruta’ and YouTube. Gulzar writes, “Main CDA area of Cuttack city, According to reports, stated to be stable. Anupam Saha have tested pos- ly-decorated churches to cele- Odisha Government, BMC ‘Chitthi Deuchhen re Haldhar’. tumhe khat likh raha hun, Commissioner of Police Susanta was initially taken to Rao was conferred with the itive for Covid-19, official brate the birth of Jesus Christ Commissioner and On the first page, Gulzar writes, Haldhar. Sudhanshu Sarangi said. Earlier the house by police for detailed prestigious Padma award for sources said on Friday. in adherence to the SOP laid Commissionerate police. We “Dear Haldhar, you are like sun- Sambalpur ki mitti se ugaa in December, as many as 16 probe into the seizure of providing education to poor While Chayani is in home down by the Bhubaneswar will cooperate with the author- rise of my book”. Along with the hua yeh Adivasi kavi, ‘Kosali’ guns, 24 magazines and 1,095 weapons. Later, police took children free of cost. He runs quarantine, Saha has been Municipal Corporation ities and make sure everyone book, Gulzar has sent a letter to zabaan mein likhta hai (I am bullets were seized from their Sushil to the house for ques- a small school at Buxi Bazaar admitted to the SCB Medical (BMC). “A few churches have follows the Covid-19 proto- the Kosli poet expressing that he writing a letter to you, Haldhar. residence. It was ascertained tioning in this connection here to provide free education College Hospital in Cuttack. been granted permission to cols,” said a devotee. %  %'R! /$  (0        ed.The old students felt nos- inspiring stories of success talgic as they narrated their with them. As an act of chari-     Thursday night. The temper- Koraput 9.6 degree.The min- ld students of the DAV experiences. ty, alumni members visited ature in Phulbani and imum temperatures in twin OPublic School, Pokhariput Principal and president of Missionary of Charity, he cold wave conditions Daringibadi was recorded at cities Bhubaneswar and here walked down the memo- Alumni Club Dr Sujata told Satyanagar, to donate blan- Tcontinued to grip the State 6 degree Celsius making the Cuttack were recorded at 14 ry lane at the 19th Alumni alumni to remember contri- kets, towels, grocery and sani- as minimum temperatures two as the coldest places fol- degree and 12 degree respec- Meet organised by Alumni butions of their alma mater in tary items. Club vice-presi- dipped in several places in the lowed by Sundargarh 8 tively. The cold wave condi- Association on virtual plat- their lives and urged them to dent Sitikantha Pati thanked last 24 hours. As many as degree, Bhawanipatna 9 tions are likely to prevail over form on Friday, in which more lead current generation in right students for being the worthy seven places recorded below degree, Jharsuguda 9.4 degree, several parts of the State for than 150 members participat- direction by sharing their ambassadors of institution. . 10 degree Celsius on Boudh 9.5 degree and next four days.               ! "  #

Talmul in Angul district with On August 23, 2020 Patrika I had observed the name of our State. In the the Naveen Government and nent persons in our respective Commissionerate Red Cross. Congress support. But finally in evening I got many congratu- Biju Janata Dala activities in last fourth term the Odisha the ruling BJD. In houses! This ritual of garland- Our beloved Chief Minister, as the Panchayat the Congress lations messages from many of 20 years. Government amended the Bhubaneswar more than 50 ing the statues of eminent per- the party president, also start- was divided into two groups my friends and known politi- In his fifth time in power, Language Act 1954 to promote statues of Odia eminent per- sonalities and freedom fighters ed many voluntary blood dona- and the BJD candidate won. cal persons, but I could not the five major works done by Odia language in Government sons were installed during his on their birthdays and death tion activities in our State, like After that in 2008, I sup- understand the reason behind the Chief Minister were quite offices and in his fifth term, time. And the Department of anniversaries is an indirect in the name of “Jiban Bindu." ported a corporator candidate those messages. encouraging. Firstly he initiat- Patnaik gave the status of State Culture is planning to instal at way of remembering them and He also opened one depart- in BMC election. My aim was I asked one of them the ed the Odia Lipi Sikhya centers Song to “Bande Utkala Janani,” least 10 big statues of Odia emi- their noble work for our moth- ment i.e. “Mo Paribara” in his to visit each and every indi- reason and got to know that outside Odisha in the State of which was an extreme proud nent persons every year. erland and keeping them alive party to facilitate the VBD vidual’s house and develop our beloved MLA Jharkhand, Chhatishgarh, West moment for all Odias, and Not only this, Naveen amongst us so that not even a programme. intimacy in our area, VSS Bhubaneswar(North) and the Bengal and Andhra Pradesh. also the State anthem is now be Patnaik as the Chief Minister single person in Odisha would Similarly, a lot of works Nagar. Till 2020, I did not join BJD Bhubaneswar District These centers were started in a part of the high school cur- has been always attending the forget their name and their related to Red Cross are often any political party and contin- president Susanta Kumar Rout the year 2003-04 and are still riculum. garlanding functions inside the contribution towards Odisha as carried out through the Indian ued to do my social service has appointed me as the advis- continuing. If we will discuss about the Assembly premises without well their sacrifices for which Red Cross Society, Odisha State unconditionally. er of BJD Bhubaneswar District Now more than 600 cen- installation of statues of Odia any fail. Here I can say one we today are living freely as well branch and with the Police     I actively participated in Committee with the approval tres are running and yearly eminent persons and freedom thing that if we will verify the as globally recognized. Commissionerate Red Cross Indian Red Cross Society, of Chief Minister and party 20,000 students are able to fighters, the credit goes to last 20 years data, Patnaik is the I am also involved in vol- branch. The love and support n the year 1982 after Odisha State Branch and Police president Naveen Patnaik. read and write in Odia lan- Naveen Patnaik and his first Chief Minister to garland untary blood donation (VBD) from the CM has always been IMatriculation when I got Commissionerate, Regional After that I consulted many of guage. In the second term as Government. Before the year the highest number of times since 2002. At that time the there for Red Cross which can admitted into Intermediate Branch, Utkal Sammilani my political friends and also Chief Minister, with a mission 2000, in our State only the cen- the statues and the second percentage of VBD was only be clearly observed after he classes in the Dhenkanal Central Committee and took some time to think and to develop Odia language, he tral leaders’ statues were person to do the same. nearly 12 % in our State. Under released Rs 44.5 crore to the College, I used to join RSS Mancheswar Industrial Estate rethink about it and finally started the Odia Bhasha installed, except Utkalmani I can strongly say this my leadership the Odisha Red Cross District Branches camps for a few days. Branch, VSS Nagar Durga Puja accepted the position. Pratisthana in our State. In his Gopabandhu Das’s statue. because, the person who has Voluntary Blood Donors and during this pandemic to help a I decided to leave the Committee and Devlopment That was my formal induc- third term he successfully But after 2000 to till date garlanded the the statues of our Motivators Association was huge number of people. camps as their motto didn’t res- Committee and Odisha tion in the BJD. As the Utkal changed the name of our State more than 300 statues of Odia freedom fighters and eminent started in our State and differ- onate with me. In the year 2002 Voluntary Blood Donors’ and Sammilani life member, former from Orissa to Odisha and also eminent persons were installed. persons many time is none ent branches in every district. (Advisor, BJD, I gave the candidature of my Motivators’ Association. Till central committee treasurer, in this time the Odia language This was only made possible other than me. During the Now I am also involved in Bhubaneswar District mother for Sarpanch post in date I never visited any politi- branch committee president got the classical status, which because of the love and com- Corona period too, we both the VBD in the name of “Jibana Committee; Phone: the panchayat election in cal party office. and chief editor of Samachara truly gave an Odia accent to the mitment for the motherland by garlanded the photos of emi- Aloka” with Police 8984007600)                                                                                                                                                !        "                                            #            $ % S                      '                "       (          

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plant before commencement of many industries and captive Governments, now the com- President of India for produc- there was a lot of euphoria (' (&" a new one as the station is pro- power plants had been running mon people of Angul district in ing above 112 percentage of among the local people. But ducing electricity to serve the although they had completed particular as well as people of PLF. If the TTPS /NTPC power now, an air of gloom has taken   
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'()()((" 0 :  !   1956, Pradhan has always  R     to expedite ground level imple- -'$+*2,5  %#/('/)?'#%( &)  12 '&'( dreamt to be a doctor. He had mentation of the projects by /%()& '(( %#%'( ( /'%" appeared in the medical     %  !! maximum utilisation of the ((@+!)%D@B)#'( ( %''%"   #% ( entrance test for the first time technical and engineering  /'%; ! / # &) % %/ ! # 34% after his intermediate but could      !. capacity already created at dis- '&%/%(% '?/'% (;'(%" not succeed. Since then, he did trict level through OMBADC.   6  not attempt further. he Nilgiri Tehsildar and      Collectors of Sundargarh,   9            /   He did his graduation in Tstaffers faced the wrath of Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar #'4;($*5 #''
 !/(()%(#( ducation has in fact no age Science. Later, he got a job in some members of a sand mafia he Oversight Authority appraised that the district ) '/# (  (7@+    /'  1%" &(' Elimit. What it only needs is a bank and his dream of when they reached a spot near Tunder the chairmanship of OMBADC cells had started (!'/&')/((%"  /'('((    3 2  strong willpower. This has becoming a doctor withered. In the Sono river in Baleswar dis- Justice AK Patnaik has functioning in their districts. ' (%" )()(#'/'%(('&(%%/'% again been proved by a retired 2016, he retired from the State trict where sand was illegally expressed satisfaction over the Chief Secretary Tripathy direct- (#'" /%-CC#''%)('/#'
%# day after two mediaper- bank employee, Jay Kishore Bank of India (SBI) Main lifted on Thursday. quality and progress of the ed the OMBADC to undertake (" Asons were attacked while Pradhan, of Attabira in Bargarh Branch as a Field Officer. Reports said a dispute projects being implemented an outcome assessment study covering the BJP Padayatra in district. During the period, his arose between a leasee and the with the Odisha Mineral of the OMBADC projects Nayagarh town, police on After clearing the National daughter was preparing for mafia members, when the lat- Bearing Areas Development through an independent third Friday arrested two BJP work- Eligibility cum Entrance Test medical entrance, which ter started lifting sand from a Corporation (OMBADC) party. The new projects worth *  1& 2  ers in connection with the (NEET) at the age of 64, reignited his hope and decid- patch allotted to the former. funds. around Rs 3,210 crore were incident. Pradhan got enrolled at the ed to appear in NEET. Notably, This led to a volatile situation Reviewing the projects in a considered and sanctioned in  & . $    The accused are Deepak Veer Surendra Sai University of the minimum age limit for in the faceoff between the two high level meeting recently, the meeting. Dalabehera and Badal Technology here as a medical NEET is 17. groups. Getting information, Justice Patnaik said that the The approved projects Pradhan, both local residents. student on Wednesday. But there is no upper age Tehsildar Asesh Nayak rushed projects proposed by different included mega pipe water sup-    )- Ministers Arun Sahoo, Jyoti According to an FIR “It is one of the rare records limit for the national-level to the spot and seized a sand- departments are “well planned ply scheme to Lephripada,   .  Prakash Panigrahi, Kenya’s lodged, two mediapersons of in the history of medical edu- entrance and the matter is laden tractor. with appropriate objectives”. Tangrapalli, Sundargarh, Member of Parliament Swarup a news channel had been cov- cation. He has certainly set an subjudice in the Supreme But the gang members During his visit to different Bargaon, Subdega and Mishra, Odisha Government’s ering the Padayatra at Jadupur example by getting admission Court. Pradhan’s daughter is a attacked him and the others OMBADC districts, he had Balisankara block of      “Mo Paribar” Convenor Arup village over the Pari murder as a medical student at such an BDS Second Year student and staffs and even vandalised the seen the project implementa- Sundargarh district at estimat- Patnaik and senior bureaucrat case when the accused along age,” said VIMSAR Director studying in Bilaspur of official’s vehicle in presence of tion moving at a fast rate. The ed cost of Rs 585.16 crore; he stage is set for the first ever Arabinda Padhee. with others abused them in Prof Lalit Meher.Pradhan, who Chhattisgarh. police. It is alleged that the gang feedback about the quality of mega pipe water supply to TWeb Global Odia Festival on Technocrat and policy filthy language and brutally is upbeat for ultimately achiev- members have the support of a the projects received from dif- 1,053 villages of 13 blocks in December 26 and 27. The maker Sam Pitroda and MP assaulted them. ing what he had been longing political party. Later, Nayak ferent quarters was also “quite Myurbhanj district with esti- Odisha Society of Americas Achyuta Samanta are scheduled They also ransacked their for since beginning of his lodged an FIR with police and good”. mated cost of Rs 1,531.39 crore; (OSA) would be hosting this to take part as distinguished cameras and threatened them career, said he aims to engage investigations are on. Justice Patnaik appreciated sustainable livelihood pro- Mahakumbha of Odia Diaspora guests during the seminar on of dire consequences.The himself in the service of peo- The incidences of sand the remarkable efforts of Chief gramme for sericulture farmers in collaboration with Odia asso- health and wellness. accused have been booked ple by becoming a good doctor. lifting and targeting of Secretary Asit Tripathy and in Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, ciations of 32 countries spread- The special attractions in the under Sections 341, 323, 294, A resident of Ward-2 of Government officials have the State team in encountering Sundaragarh, Jajpur and ing all over the world. closing ceremony on Sunday ( 336, 427, 307, 120(B), 379, 506 Attabira, Pradhan had become a routine in Nilgiri the pandemic of Covid-19 and Dhenkanal district with cost of The two-day long virtual December 27) would be the and 34 of Indian Penal Code appeared in the NEET held in area. restarting the economic activ- Rs 82.29 crore; livelihood gen- mega event will be inaugurated appearance of Ollywood stars (IPC). “Medical examination September. Notably, on June 11 night ities at a fast rate. eration programmes through on Saturday, December 26, in the Akash DasNayak and Sabyasachi of both the accused have been After securing good ranks, when the Sub-Collector and He advised to create a handicraft in Keonjhar, presence of dignitaries like Mishra. The grand digital show done. he qualified to get admission in Nilgiri Tehsildar reached a site micro level data base of the Mayurbhanj, Sundaragarh, Gajapati Maharaja of Puri Dibya of Odishan and Odia’s expertise We produced them before Veer Surendra Sai University of where illegal sand lifting was in OMBADC projects for effective Jajpur and Dhenkanal district Singha Deb, Chief Minister and excellence will witness brain court later on the day,” said Technology in the disability progress, they too had faced real time monitoring. with estimated cost of Rs 35.14 Naveen Patnaik, Union Minister storming deliberations on vari- police sources. reservation category. Born in stiff resistance from a mob. Tripathy directed the Collectors crore. Dharmendra Pradhan, Odisha ous topics.  ! "  #/ 0    *   '  !

become the “political identity” These parties were surviving on Sabha seat of Bijubabu as the ership. The alliance under different situation. The BJD discussion on simultaneous regional outfits. It is a party of the people of Odisha inte- anti-Congress narratives. The Janata Dal (JD) candidate and Naveen’s leadership got success took a departure from the BJP elections. Not that there was catering to all social groups, grating the inhabitants of var- anti-Emergency JP movement won, defeating the State’s rul- in the 1998 and 1999 Lok and contested the polls allying no new regional parties formed especially for the poor and the ious regions, castes, religion against the Congress and the ing Congress’ nominee. This Sabha elections and Naveen with the Left and the NCP. The during 2000-2020. Prominent marginal groups and women. and languages. Never losing emergence of the national built confidence in the then became a Union Minister. The BJD was successful again in leaders like Bijay Mohaptra, This ideology of welfare-inclu- power since its inception, the Janata Party in the 1977 elec- Janata Dal camp to float the non-performance of the defeating the Congress and Soumya Patnaik, Braja Kishore sive-development has brought BJD is celebrating its 24th tions ended the regional party BJD under Naveen Patnaik’s Congress Government and the the BJP and Naveen became Tripathy and Kharavela Swain success to the BJD. foundation day today, leaving era in Odisha mobilising the leadership. Most of the JD performance of Naveen as a the CM for the third term. floated regional parties but did While the earlier regional behind visible footprints of a people towards the national leaders joined the BJD and the Union Minister during the Later, the NCP MLAs joined not succeed. parties were using anti- role model regional party for parties again. anti-Congress vacuum was 1999 Supper Cyclone had the BJD. Similarly, there were many Congress political narratives, the next-generation politicians. The flow towards the filled up by Naveen Patnaik increased people’s confidence The 2014 and 2019 movements against the Naveen the BJD took an anti-Centre It is not that the State did national parties continued till successfully. in Naveen Assembly elections were the sit- Government ranging from stance and used a BJP- not witness the phenomenon of 1997, during which the peo- The turn of events pitched The first acid test for the uations where the BJD fought anti-corporate movements to Congress-equidistance narra- regional party before. In fact, ple’s choice were divided the novice Naveen Patnaik BJD and Naveen came in 2000 against the national parties, the anti-corruption, famers, chit tive. Though this positioning Odisha was the fertile ground between the two national par- against the heavyweight when the BJD-BJP alliance BJP and the Congress and won fund victim movements, but brought loss to the BJD due to for regional parties during the ties, the Congress and the Congress leader JB Patnaik fought the Assembly elections both the polls singlehandedly. the popularity of Naveen its non-participation in the post-Independence era. Janata Parivar. The 1977-1997 and the people stood firmly under Naveen’s leadership. The Naveen became the CM for the remained intact. Similarly, dis- Union Ministry but it instilled Three such major parties era witnessed two leaders head- with Naveen Patnaik. Like alliance won and Naveen fourth and fifth terms. sidents in the BJD could not regional sentiment and inte-      had some degrees of political ing the two opposite national Bijubabu, Naveen soon became became Chief Minister. When there was an all- succeed and Naveen’s action grated the people of the State. success during the 1951-77 party camps in Odisha -- Biju the anti-Congress political face. He became the State’s sec- India BJP wave in 2019, Odisha against them got people’s sup- Interestingly, after provid- hen the Biju Janata Dal period such as the Ganatantra Patnaik leading the anti- His personality traits like sim- ond regional party CM, the first people gave the Assembly man- port. The vote share of the BJD ing welfare, Naveen moved to W(BJD) was formed on Parishad led by RN Singh Deo, Congress group and JB Patnaik ple life, decent behaviour and being RN Singh Deo (March date to the BJD in a simulta- continued to grow in each the higher domain of achieving December 26, 1997 and the Jana Congress led by Dr leading the Congress. unmarried status resulted in 1967-January1971). The 2004 neously-conducted LS and election. “happiness” of the people by Naveen Patnaik became its Harekrushna Mahtab and the The death of Biju Patnaik building people’s trust in him. elections were a repeat of the Assembly polls. The success of How it happened? The coining the popular 2019 elec- president, very few politicians Utkal Congress led by Biju in 1997 created a vacuum in the The BJP found it wise to 2000 BJD-BJP alliance and Naveen’s leadership as a region- BJD is not a regional party tion slogan “Apanamane Khusi would have imagined that the Patnaik. anti-Congress camp. Naveen build alliance with the BJD to Naveen became the CM for the al party chief was highlighted based on caste or religion or Ta (Are you all happy)”, some- new regional party could trans- The latter two parties were Patnaik contested a by-election build its base in Odisha though second term. by none other than PM Modi aggressive regionalism or lan- thing completely new to India, form itself in a short time to breakaways of the Congress. from the vacant Aska Lok it had no successful State lead- The 2009 election was a himself during a Parliament guage unlike many other and achieved further success.  ! " # %#& ' &!(!)!#**  3

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 5 6$ $ % +   .8P    $   P  O   * & P      $"  4   %    to a new beginning with the United States that has since ormer Prime Minister Atal been developed by successive FBihari Vajpayee performed governments on both sides. It a key role in shaping India’s for- required us, as a nation, to eign policy and “introduced overcome difficult moments corrections, some bold and and continuing concerns. Only   some others nuanced,” External someone with Atalji’s enormous Affairs Minister S Jaishankar self-assurance could, in the early nion Agriculture Minister said here on Friday. days, have visualised how nat- UNarendra Singh Tomar on Paying rich tributes to ural this partnership would Friday urged Punjab farmers to Vajpayee, the minister also said become.” end their protest and come for- the then prime minister played At the same time, India’s ward to hold discussions with a transformational role in fash- relationship with Russia has the Government to resolve the ioning foreign policy that led to remained steady partly due to deadlock over the three new a new beginning in ties with the Vajpayee’s endeavours, farm laws. United States. Jaishankar said. India’s princi- Soon after Prime Minister next meeting between farmers tating farmers to stop the Making these observations pled approach of engaging Narendra Modi accused Chief and the government, a solution protest and come to the dis- in his opening remarks at the China on the “basis of mutual Minister Mamata Banerjee of will be reached. Farmers in cussion table. maiden Atal Bihari Vajpayee respect and mutual sensitivity” blocking the PM KISAN many states are also supporting Tomar said that the memorial lecture, Jaishankar too reflects Vajpayee’s thinking, scheme for farmers in West the new farm laws and sending Agriculture Ministry has col- said he also “introduced cor- he added. Bengal due to political reasons, ‘thank you’ letters to the Prime lated data that shows 70 lakh rections, some bold and others On ties with countries in the Tomar said he wrote a letter to Minister”. farmers would have benefitted more nuanced,” in a range of neighbourhood, the minister bution in the field of herbal Available in oral liquid as well Banerjee on Thursday asking The ministry also reiterat- PM Kisan Samman Nidhi had national security and foreign said Vajpayee “radiated goodwill   medicines, Pandey has been as lotion form, it has effectively her to not prevent farmers ed it is ready to find a “logical the Mamata government par- policy issues. and friendship, while being clear undertaking research at helped treat over 2 lakh peo- from the benefits of the PM solution” to the issues raised by ticipated and allowed imple- Highlighting some of the that terrorism and trust could enior scientist of Defence DRDO’s lab Defence Institute ple suffering from the disease Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. protesting farmer unions. mentation of the scheme in the major contributions by the for- not coexist.” SResearch Development of Bio-energy Research in the country. Stating that there is some The Government has writ- state, which was also pointed mer prime minister, Jaishankar Vajpayee could “finesse dif- Organization (DRDO), Dr (DIBER) at Pithoragarh in Leucoderma is an auto- misconception in the minds of ten twice inviting them for the out by the Prime Minister ear- said “Atalji’s vision of India-US ficult issues” while warmly Hemant Kumar Pandey, has Uttarakhand for the past 25 immune disorder and about Punjab farmers, the agriculture next round of talks at a date of lier on Friday. cooperation has been advanced, reaching out across regions and been honoured with DRDO’s years. over 5 crore people are under minister said: “I want to urge their convenience. Chief Minister Mamata particularly in recent years, by continents, he said, pointing to “Scientist of the Year Award” Though Pandey has devel- its grip in India. It is neither them to leave the protest and Reacting to the PM Banerjee had written to Union the leadership and commit- the country’s relations with the for his contribution in devel- oped six herbal drugs so far, contagious nor life-threatening come forward for the dialogue. KISAN scheme in West Agriculture Minister Narendra ment of Prime Minister Association of South East Asian oping several herbal medi- Lukoskin, used for treating but often mistaken as leprosy I am hopeful that farmers will Bengal, the agriculture minis- Singh Tomar on two occasions Narendra Modi. Overcoming Nations (Asean) and with coun- cines, including the well- leucoderma or Vitiligo, a con- and hence surrounded with understand the importance of ter also attacked the opposition saying that she is willing to the hesitations of history, we are tries in Europe, Africa and Latin known drug Lukoskin, meant dition in which white patches stigma and myths. Worldwide, new laws and reach a solution.” for ‘shooting their ideological transfer the benefits of PM today focused on addressing America. And most notably, he for treatment of leukoderma get developed on the skin, has the incidence of leucoderma is His deputy Minister of gun’ from the shoulders of Kisan to the farmers provided contemporary challenges and embraced the Indian diaspora in also known as Vitilogo. been most widely appreciated 1-2 per cent of the population. State for Agriculture Kailash farmers and harming them it is routed through the State emerging opportunities.” a way that had no parallel till Union Defence Minister and found huge acceptance in Apart from Lukoskin, Choudhary said, “I hope in the eventually. He asked the agi- Government. He also said “This vision led then, Jaishankar said. Rajnath Singh recently facili- the market. Pandey has developed drugs tated Pandey at an event here A formulation of around for treatment of itching and with the prestigious award six herbs found in Himalayan toothache as well as an anti- that comprises a certificate region, Lukoskin helps in radiation cream, most of which        1. 6    and cash prize of 2 lakh. treating white patches and is are already being sold in the Recipient of several pres- marketed by Delhi-based market following transfer of tigious awards for his contri- Aimil Pharmaceuticals. technology. against the three laws enacted “People are trying to mis- “For once let this act the government is ready    in September. lead farmers about these farm (acts) be implemented, for a for that as well. At least five rounds of laws that they are not in their year or two... Try this experi- “Several rounds of "#$   enior BJP leader and Union talks have taken place between interest. I am the son of a ment and if you feel that this talks have been held whatev- SMinister Rajnath Singh on the protesting unions and the farmer and have worked in act (acts) is not in the interest er suggested by farmers our Friday appealed to farmers to government but a stalemate farms. I want to assure you of farmers, then I can say you government has ready to do all try the three new farm laws as has continued with farmers that there is not a single pro- this with conviction as I know those amendments. The prob-  '()    
 an “experiment” for a year or refusing to accept anything vision in these laws which is the intention of our Prime lems can be resolved through two and in case they are found less than the repeal of the laws, against farmers,” Singh said at Minister Narendra Modi we dialogue only, wherever there not beneficial for the farming which they fear would leave the rally organised as part of will do all necessary amend- is scope for amendment   community, the government them at the mercy of corpo- the ruling BJP’s massive out- ments in it,” Singh said. Government is ready to do will do all necessary amend- rates by weakening mandi and reach programme on the farm Underlining that all prob- that,” the Defence Minister he Central Bureau of ments. MSP systems. The govern- laws. lems can be resolved through said. TInvestigation (CBI) has Describing the protesting ment has allayed these appre- He reiterated that the min- dialogue, Singh said Prime Hailing former Prime arrested two former Managing farmers as his own people, hensions as misplaced and imum support price (MSP) Minister Modi wants the talks Minister Chaudhary Charan Directors of two separate pri- Singh said, “Those who are sit- has projected the new laws as will continue and some people with farmers to continue, and Singh as the great farmers’ vate companies in an on-going ting on dharna are farmers and major agriculture reforms are trying to create a miscon- therefore, the government has leader, former BJP president investigation of 837 crore are born to farmers’ families. aimed at helping the farmers. ception that it will end. extended an invitation to also attacked opposition par- banking fraud. We have a lot of respect for Addressing a rally at Requesting farmers to try them. ties saying that Congress and The first case was regis- them.” Dwarka in the national capi- the new agri laws for a year or Singh appealed to all CPI always cheated and tered against Sun Plant Agro Thousands of farmers, tal, Singh said he himself is a two as an experiment, the protesting farmers to come breached the trust of the Ltd. (ponzi company) and its mainly from Punjab, Haryana farmers’ son and assured that former BJP president said if forward for discussions farmer leader. then Managing Director of and parts of Uttar Pradesh, are the Modi government “will these are not found beneficial, on the farm laws and if He also mentioned and Awdhesh Singh and others. ing high returns on such funds,” the CBI said in a state- camping on Delhi borders for never do anything which is not the government would bring they want to rope in experts talked about Sir Chotu Ram in In this case, it was alleged investments on maturity. In ment. almost a month in protest in the interest of the farmers”. all necessary amendments. for discussions, his address. that Singh and others had ille- this case also the accused fled The company was alleged- gally collected about 697.72 away and cheated the investors ly enjoying credit facilities crore from the investors under by misappropriation of their from the banks. It was further 20201&$   various fraudulent schemes on invested money. alleged that the company :!$  $   $   assurance of paying high Meanwhile, the CBI has maintained accounts in private returns on such investments on registered a case on a com- banks without obtaining a No $     6 
$    .     maturity. The accused fled plaint from Canara Bank (lead Objection Certificate (NOC) away and cheated the investors bank) on behalf of a consor- from consortium member and allegedly misappropriated tium of four member banks banks and also indulged in    %$  P     the invested money. against a Surat-based private fraudulent practices to siphon The second case was reg- company Surya Exim Ltd. and off funds of the banks. The eeking to insulate its elec-    being away from them. That’s istered against New Land Agro others including its Directors, account became non-per- Stion officers especially the what they mean to me, they Industries Ltd. (Ponzi compa- unknown public servants and forming assets (NPA), thereby state chief electoral officers he year 2020 showed India get me to my family. ny) and the company’s then unknown others. causing an alleged loss of Rs from possible harassment for Ta glimpse of how life would “Every year, I would book Managing Director Dipankar “It was alleged that, during 121.05 crore to the consortium. holding objective polls, the be without trains. As the coro- tickets around the same time De and others. the period 2017 to 2019, the Searches were conducted Election Commission plans to navirus lockdown was to go home. This year it did The FIR alleged that De accused entered into a con- at five places including official write to the government say- announced on March 24, the not happen and I feel a sense conspired with other Directors spiracy to cheat a consortium and residential premises of ing no action should be taken Railways for the first time in its of loss that something that was and illegally collected about Rs of banks including Canara the accused at Surat and against them by states “under 167-year-old history shut down part of life could very easily be 139 crore from the investors Bank to the tune of 121.05 Navsari in Gujarat which led to any excuse”, including old all its services. taken away,” said Jitender under various fraudulent crore (approximately) by way the recovery of incriminating cases, for at least one year People stranded across the Kumar, a security guard work- schemes on assurance of pay- of forgery and diversion of documents/articles, it added. after the completion of the country and who usually ing in Noida. Lok Sabha or assembly elec- looked to the Railways to ferry Currently, the Railways is tions. them home, were left without operating 1,089 special train There have been instances their lifeline. Some, like the services, while Kolkata Metro / !     where Chief Electoral Officers thousands of migrant workers, was running 60 per cent of its (CEOs) have been allegedly took to the streets choosing to services, Mumbai suburban targeted by the state govern- walk to their destinations. was running on 88 per cent ments after elections by As the Railways directed its and 50 per cent of Chennai        ( reopening old complaints and 4 -  $$ $    resources towards carrying suburban services were in cases. essentials across the country, operation. Railway Board The chief electoral offi-  ! $ $    $  lakhs of tickets were cancelled Chairman and CEO VK Yadav   cers are usually IAS officers $   1
  7 $! $ during the summer holidays - agreed that it was a tough year who have held other respon-   
  $ - something unheard of in rail for the national transporter, n line with the objectives of sibilities in their respective history. but also highlighted how it Iboosting transparency and states in the past. It was on May 1 that the innovated and used the crisis accountability while ensuring The Election Commission hold free and objective polls through its CEOs in the states. wheels of trains started chug- as an opportunity. ease of living for the citizens, is yet to firm up its proposal at times have been targeted by The Legislative ging again. “This year has been of grit the Directorate of Estates, which it plans to send to the ruling parties in many states. Department in the Law This time, to ferry migrant and victories for Indian Ministry of Housing and Urban government, sources aware The EC holds Lok Sabha, Ministry is the nodal unit workers home. Between May 1 Railways. Faced with daunting Affairs on Friday dedicated to of the development said. assembly, legislative council for the EC with whom the and August 30, the Railways and unprecedented COVID- the nation, a new Web Portal They said officers who and Rajya Sabha polls poll panel usually interacts. ferried 63.15 such workers related challenges, Indian and Mobile App, e-Sampada. home across 23 states in over Railways has not only been The new application pro- 4,000 Shramik Special trains, able to keep the national sup- vides a single window for all not only bringing huge relief to ply chain running and move these services including allot- the stranded migrants, but also millions of people back home ment for over one lakh gov- hope for the others that their in most adverse circum- ernment residential accom- 4  &$  &  $ lifeline was down, but not out. stances, but has also been able modations at 40 locations, It was, however, the to realise the potential of its Vigyan Bhawan, office space !  &  $   5!$ '  Shramik Special trains which workforce, which driven to the allotment to Government 6& 0$ 5   ' %!   saw the Railways being criti- wall has come out with inno- organisations in 45 office com-  $   #!'  )  $7 cised by the Opposition par- vative solutions,” Yadav told plexes in 28 cities, booking of ties over the fares being PTI. 1,176 holiday home rooms and  7 560    $  charged from the migrant While passenger move- venues like 5, Ashoka Road for $ workers. While the Railways ment dipped resulting in an social functions etc. said that it did not charge a estimated loss of 87 per cent as The website and mobile motion of e-governance to officers / Departments as all penny from the workers and compared to last year, the app was launched by Minister boost transparency and services can be availed online spent more than Rs 2,000 Railways’ made drastic changes for Housing and Urban accountability in providing on a single window with a live crore on their transportation, in their freight movement, Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri, various Estate Services like tracking of applications. Real the politics over the issue con- introducing parcel services, in the presence of Durga allotment, retention, regular- time information on utilisa- tinued. carrying essentials like milk, Shanker Mishra, Secretary, isation, no dues certificate etc. tion of assets and delivery of “What do trains mean for medicines and even ventilators. MoHUA and other senior offi- He further said that E- service will facilitate optimum me? They mean hope, joy and The innovation was to cials. Sampada is developed to sim- utilisation of resources. also a sense of routine. For 25 realise that if the Railways Addressing the media in a plify processes and bring uni- The automated processes years, I have taken the same could not move passengers program orgnised on virtual formity in system across India. will minimise human inter-   .  
 "      ;  +  &    $      route home to Bihar to be with freely, it could move freight platform, Puri said that this is This will promote ease of liv- vention and will lead to greater   & 3 5 6$     
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&       my family after months of instead. a significant step towards pro- ing for Government of India transparency.  ! " # %#& ' &!(!)!#**  8 #&'R ()*+ 
  
  
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    5 66 clearer picture. the district level these statistics The situation remained the to franchise to elect their can- 12.76 per cent votes. Conference party, which won 67 Kashmir valley, securing 5.30 According to the data sheet reveal, “an average number of same in the militancy infested didate while in Kathua district On the other hand, 9.16 seats, 25 from Jammu and 42 percent votes and garnered mid war of words between released by the State Election 444 voters across Srinagar dis- districts of Shopian and 7532 voters elected their repre- lakh votes were polled in sup- from Kashmir region polled 151331 total votes. Athe Bharatiya Janta Party Commission in Jammu and trict stepped out of their homes Pulwama in South Kashmir. sentative. port of winning candidates 470099 votes i.e 16.46 percent of Further analysis of the poll and top brass of the People's Kashmir, “A total number of to elect their representative Here an average number of According to the election across Jammu province on 140 the total votes polled. It was fol- data reveals another interesting Alliance for Gupkar Declaration 28,55.509 votes were polled while in Jammu district more 725 and 785 voters participated data released by the office of the seats. This comes around 32.08 lowed by the Congress party aspect of the DDC polls. (PAGD) whether the electorate and out of this a little over 12 than 13,000 voters elected their in the democratic process of state election commission, a percent of the total votes polled. which polled 394575 votes i.e To elect each BJP candidate in Jammu and Kashmir have pervcent voters, which means favorite candidate”. electing their own representa- total number of 2855509 votes If we look at the vote share 13.82 percent. an average number of 9449 supported or rejected 3.64 lakh voters elected 138 can- It means the claims made by tive. On the other hand in were counted at the end of the garnered by the major political Another important con- voters exercised their right to Abrogation of Article 370 and didates across 10 districts of the Kashmir based leaders of Jammu region, Rajouri and eight phase long polling which parties BJP figured on top of the stituent of the PAGD, JKPDP vote, a JKNC candidate was sup- reorganisation of the erstwhile Kashmir valley while 32.08 per- National Conference and the Kathua districts figured in the was spread over a period of chart. The party secured the polled 113175 votes which is ported by an average number of State in the recently concluded cent voters i.e 9.16 lakh voters Peoples Democratic Party clear- list of districts where the high- three weeks. highest number of 708714 votes 3.96 percent of the total votes 7016 voters, 4191 voters elect- District Development Council from Jammu region elected 140 ly mean out of an electorate size est number of voters turned up Out of this the winning can- (24.82 percent) of the total polled. ed each PDP candidate while polls statistics released by the representatives in the eight of 28,55,509 lakh voters only to elect their representatives. In didates across 10 districts of votes polled. The Jammu and Kashmir the highest number of 15175 office of State Election phase long maiden DDC polls. 3.64 lakh voters stood behind Rajouri, an average number of Kashmir valley polled a total On the other hand, Jammu APNI party, won 12 seats, three voters elected each Congress Commission throw a more If we look at the picture at them across Kashmir valley. 9113 voters exercised their right number of 3.64 lakh votes i.e and Kashmir National from Jammu region and 9 from candidate in these polls.  *       12!      $
$ )' (     2019 Lok Sabha election. What we disappointment over the poor per- #)B&&'(% + # ,
   lacked this time was the kind of formance of the Congress in local wo prominent Congress lead- hard work which we saw during the body election. %'(/ )& ('   Banerjee in her letter said in Santiniketan while your Ters in Kerala have sounded cau- parliament election,” he said. “We can still win the assem- that she would stand by Sen like father Asutosh Sen a noted edu- tion about the state of affairs in the There is still time to recoup the bly election provided the Congress Hathras: The Karni Sena announced a mahapan- engal Chief Minister her sister should he be victim- cationist and public adminis- party and want the High spirit of 2019, feels this leader who High Command attend to the chayat in the villages of the Hathras victim in sup- BMamata Banerjee has writ- ized by some “nouveau trator had his famed house Command to give top priority to is the Congressman to watch in issues haunting the party. The port of the accused, due to which the related mes- ten a letter expressing solidar- invaders” who had “started Pratichi built up in Santiniketan revamp the leadership without any Kerala. “The local body election cohesion and unity seen in the past sages also went viral on social media. The police ity with Amartya Sen following raising surprising and com- about eight decades back,” her delay. was held in a small canvas while the were missing this time. If the lead- administration and the local intelligence agency reports that the Nobel Laureate pletely baseless allegations.” letter read adding how some “It is true that we have suffered assembly election is an entirely dif- ership inspire the cadre with hard became alert and started their investigation. Five peo- economist had been identified “We all salute Amartya “nouveau invaders” had started a set back in the recently held elec- ferent ball game. Once the proper work and inculcate in them a spir- ple, including the National General Secretary of the along with dozens of others Sen. Just because he isn't making some surprising and tion to the local-self bodies. But it leaders are in place in the State, it of unity, people will prefer only Karni Sena, Okendra Rana, was arrested on the who were “unauthorized occu- inclined towards BJP's ideolo- baseless allegations. is not a failure which is insur- Kerala would see entirely different the Congress,” said Radhakrishnan. charges of disturbing the peace in the city. pants” of plots around central- gy, they're making such allega- “I write this letter to express mountable. There are some basic results in the assembly poll,” said The decision of the Muslim He came here from Haryana and stayed in a hotel ly controlled Viswa Bharati tions against him.” she said ear- my surprise and anguish over issues haunting the Kerala unit of Satheeshan. League to call back P K in the city. They were produced in the court of sadar University. lier after State Government some recent developments, as I the party which the national lead- He pointed out past incidents Kunhalikutty from the Lok Sabha SDM and from there sent to jail. Saying that the allegations reportedly received a commu- read about them in media, ership should address without any when the local body polls and the to lead the Muslim League in the According to Okendra Rana, the charge sheet of were being brought against the nication from the Viswa Bharati alluding to your ancestral links delay,” V D Satheeshan, KPCC subsequent assembly polls threw upcoming election has unnerved CBI is totally wrong. All four accused are innocent. octagenarian economist who alleging Sen was among dozens in Santiniketan,” she wrote vice -president who is serving his out entirely different results. “For the Congress leaders. In the beginning, the girl said that she had not been spent his childhood at of unauthorized occupants of expressing solidarity with him fourth term as the member of the that to happen, we have to pull up “Chances of the Muslim raped. The same thing was also revealed in the med- Shantiniketan --- receiving the plots in the campus. in his fight against the “bigotry legislative assembly. the sleeves and start working right League demanding the chair of the ical report that there has been no incident like rape. blessings of Poet Laureate “We all are aware about of the majoritarians” in the Satheeshan is of the view that now,” he said. Chief Minister could not be ruled He told the media that the Karni Sena will conduct Rabindranath Tagore who your family’s deep and organ- country, before finally assuring party’s Kerala unit was lethargic Thiruvanchoor out. Last time they just walked away a mahapanchayat in support of the accused in the founded the university --- to ic linkages with Santiniketan… “we shall overcome.” Sen runs and did not put up its full efforts Radhakrishnan, who is serving his with five ministerial posts as the same village. He came here from Bhiwani for the harass him as he was not your maternal grandfather the his research social foundation during the election to the local bod- sixth term as MLA and a former Congress leadership watched help- preparation of this, but someone informed the inclined towards the saffron revered scholar Krishnamohan Pratichi Trust from his ies. “Please remember that we ad minister for home, vigilance and lessly,” said another Congress police and the police arrested him and 5 other ideology. Sen was one of the early settlers house. won 19 out of the 20 seats in the water resources, too expressed his leader. people. PNS 0      & 1<<$$   9' 1
   !  &!  $    Lucknow: The Yogi Adityanath According to the govern- major damage by immediate- erators, is being built at a cost       ;  
 2=  government in Uttar Pradesh is ment spokesman, the Public ly repairing the damaged of more than Rs 40 lakh. It is all set to roll out an ambitious Works Department is going to roads. touted to be the most modern Aligarh: The health department ducted and the search for the scheme of 'Road Ambulances' deploy road ambulances under With the presence of road road ambulance used in any  1    is alerted after the spread of new remaining people is going on. early next year. a pilot project in about half-a- ambulances, the government is state of the country. corona strains in the UK. The Anyone found infected will be Through this, the state dozen districts of the state. also going to take care of reg- The state government will   ?   2  getting threats call from health officers here have received tested in Delhi and Mathura government is going to give a The Yogi government is ular security, cleaning and the launch about a dozen road unknown numbers and their a list of 66 people. They have labs. fresh momentum to the cam- working on three fronts maintenance of roads. ambulances in the first phase. he man who converted life are in danger. He has been returned to Aligarh between 9th District Magistrate Chandra paign to rid the roads of pot- through the Road Ambulance A road ambulance Road ambulances will be Tfrom Islam to Hinduism living in Lodhi Vihar since con- December to 24th December Bhushan Singh said that the holes and will redefine the Scheme. Apart from making equipped with all the technical deployed in about half a dozen and became a Karmaveer from version. from the UK. Now the depart- administration is alert for those upkeep, standards and main- the roads pothole free, the and gang related road con- metros of the state, including Qasim Khan is now receiving Along with this, there is ment is identifying them. 9 peo- returning from Britain. tenance of roads in the state. government plans to prevent struction including mixes, gen- Lucknow and Kanpur. IANS threats. He met the SSP and also the temptation of money ple have been identified and did Everyone is being moni- explained his problems on that if he wants then he can the RTPCR test. Even after a tored. Will be isolated for 28 which Dehli Gate Police has come back to his previous reli- negative report, they will be days. All are being compulsori- registered a case against gion and stay in his house. under observation of the sur- ly tested. A review meeting of !'%')'(   !   unknown people on the On his complaint, the SSP veillance team for 28 days. Corona was held under the instruction of the SSP. immediately called Inspector People returning from the chairmanship of DM, in which   ! ! Qasim Khan, a resident of Dehli Gate Ashish Kumar UK are being monitored. DM said that everyone should !)%#% /#  Jhalkari town located in Singh to his office and sent the According to health officials, so follow the rules and guidelines Junglegadi bypass of Dehli victim to the police station. far 2 lists have been received of home quarantine. Negligence Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh):The said at their level, they are appris- 0!     Gate area has converted to Where his Tahrir has been from the government having a will not be tolerated at any Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad ing the state government and Mela Hinduism from Islam and has registered. name of total 66 people. All stage. (ABAP), the apex body of saints and administration officials about the become Karmaveer Singh According to Inspector these people returned from the If any person is coming seers, has warned against the entry real and fake saints.    5   Mahore. Lodhi Vihar residents Ashish, the case has been reg- UK to Aligarh between 9th from abroad, they should not of fake Shankaracharyas and self- “We have sought names of such Neeraj Bhardwaj and istered. Now, based on the December and 24th December. hide it and inform it in the con- styled godmen in Haridwar for the fake saints from across the country woman, who was allegedly gangraped by five men, Karamveer Singh Mahore investigation and statement of The district surveillance team trol room immediately. Their Kumbh Mela, beginning in January. and as we get them, we will discuss Ahas claimed that she was raped again by a police along with his wife Anita vis- the victim, action will be taken has traced 9 of these people and test report will come within 24 The Akhara Parishad is prepar- and take a decision accordingly in sub-inspector when she went to a police station to file ited the SSP. He said that he is by identifying the accused. RTPCR tests have been con- hours. PNS ing a list of such fake saints and self- our meeting. We have already urged a complaint. styled godmen and will send it to Uttarakhand Chief Minister, The 35-year-old woman, who went to the Jalalabad Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, and Kumbh police station to file her complaint, said the sub-inspec- 5(%
!' Trivendra Singh Rawat so that such Mela officer-in-charge Deepak tor took her to an adjoining room on the pretext of fil- /     % ( elements do not get any recognition Rawat to ensure fake saints do not ing her complaint and sexually assaulted her. and facilities during the Kumbh get entry and privileges during The alleged incident took place at the police station ) through Mela administration. Maha Kumbh,” he said. on November 30.       Gopalganj (Bihar): A man in Akhil Bharatiya Akhara It may be recalled that earlier in Additional Director General of Police (ADG) of Bihar's Gopalganj district Parishad president Mahant 2018, the Akhara Parishad had Bareilly, Avinash Chandra, has ordered an inquiry on    66 retailer was in the midst of court had ordered that the com- stabbed a girl to death for refus- Narendra Giri Maharaj while talk- released in four phases, a list of more the complaint of the woman. catering to bulk orders placed pany staff be given protection. ing his marriage proposal. ing to reporters, cited the recent than two dozen “fake saints” ahead Superintendent of Police (city) Sanjay Kumar said n an indication of the party’s during the Christmas-New Year The court had restrained the The incident took place in demand of self-styled Gayatri of the Prayagraj Kumbh held last the 'allegations are serious' and police are investigating Ireturn to politics of intimida- season. However, the extent of MNS and its activists from the Sidhwalia area and the Triveni Prayagpeeth pontiff Trikal year. “In recent times, a large num- it. The woman claimed that she was gang-raped by five tion, the MNS workers on damage caused by the MNS obstructing the e-retailer or its accused has been identified as Bhavanta Saraswati, to get land ber of incidents of self-appointed, men on November 30. “The five accused forcibly Friday vandalised at least three workers was not immediately employees from working at the Anil Yadav. allocation and other facilities for the fake or controversial godmen, pon- dragged me inside the car, took me to a nearby field and warehouses of the Amazon in known. e-commerce firm's site or dis- Yadav was nearly lynched Kumbh Mela. He said that no fake tiffs, Jagadgurus and raped me. Soon after that, I went to the Jalalabad police Mumbai and Pune over the Apparently, the MNS work- turbing its business activities. by the locals, leaving him griev- saints should be allowed to enter the Shankaracharyas have come into station where the sub-inspector also raped me,” the leading e-commerce retailer’s ers targetted the warehouses of Since October this year, the ously injured. The police have Kumbh zone. light. woman, a widow, said. alleged failure to provide Amazon to express their anger MNS has been carrying a cam- arrested Yadav and Dheeraj, Mahant Narendra Giri said the “Even in the previous 2010 She further said that when the local police refused Marathi as a language option for over the summons issued by paign ‘No Marathi, No Amazon’ who is said to be the accused's state government should keep in Maha Kumbh, the issue of fake to file a case, she approached senior officers. She met its App. Dindoshi court to their party in the state seeking incorporat- friend. mind that only four Shankaracharyas had come to fore. ADG Avinash Chandra who then ordered a probe by A day after a Mumbai court president to remain present ing a Marathi option on the A police official on Friday Shankaracharyas of these holy seats So, it is good that the Akhara the station house officer (SHO) of Mahila Thana. issued a notice to their party before it on January 5, in con- Amazon Apps, and warned that said Yadav, a resident of Jalalpur should be given the status, recog- Parishad is taking up this issue A senior policeman, on condition of anonymity, said, president Raj Thackeray to nection with a case filed by the it would not tolerate step-moth- village was a phone friend of the nition, land allocation and other ahead of the Maha Kumbh 2021,” “The woman is being used to settle scores. She had appear before it on January e-commerce retailer against the erly treatment meted out to the victim. facilities during the four-month said Mahamandaleshwar already registered four cases of sexual assaults in 5,2021 in connection with a case tearing of its posters by the polit- state language. He reached the victim's long Maha Kumbh. Harichetnanand Maharaj of Shri Shahjahanpur and had given over two dozen complaints filed by Amazon against the ical party workers. MNS had last week threat- house late Wednesday and pro- Akhara Parishad general secre- Panchayati Akhada Bada so far. A circle officer is already investigating one of her party, the MNS workers – armed Amazon had filed its civil ened to launch an agitation posed marriage. When the girl tary Mahant Hari Giri Maharaj Udasin. IANS recent complaints.” with sticks – went on a rampage suit before the Dindoshi court in against Amazon and Flipkart for rejected his proposal, the jilted at Amazon’s warehouses at suburban Mumbai against the the non-inclusion of Marathi as lover stabbed her repeatedly. Andheri and Malad in north MNS and its workers' union a preferred language in their The injured girl succumbed Mumbai and one at Kondwa which had allegedly threatened Apps. on the way to the hospital.    !   !
   locality in Pune. As they to block the firm’s operations in While customers in India Superintendent of indulged in rampage, the MNS Mumbai if it did not include can access Amazon services in Gopalganj police, Manoj Kumar Hyderabad: Covid-19 pan- midnight mass at many known, the community cele- tions were held in workers shouted anti-Amazon Marathi as one of the preferred English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Tiwari, said the accused was demic cast its shadow on churches in Secunderabad, brates the festival in their Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, slogans. languages on its mobile appli- Kannada and Malayalam, taken into custody by the police Christmas celebrations in the which has a sizeable population unique style. Ongole, Kadapa, Bheemavaram The MNS’ rampage at three cation or website. Flipkart is available in English, and is undergoing treatment at Telugu states of Andhra of Christians. Cake and wine making at and other towns. Amazon warehouses took place After hearing Amazon’s Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and a Patna hospital. Dheeraj was Pradesh and Telangana on SCI Wesley Church in home is an integral part of the Christmas celebrations at a time when the e-commerce arguments on December 14, the Kannada language. arrested on Thursday. IANS Friday. Secunderabad arranged live celebrations for the communi- were also held at Andhra The usual pomp and gaiety streaming. Some Churches like ty. Pradesh capital Amaravathi. was missing as churches saw Sacred Heart Church in Attired in their best, men, In Prakasam district, pastors limited gatherings for mid- Secunderabad followed stag- women and children attended conducted special prayers at the 
    5   $  3   !
  night mass and Friday morn- gered timings to break up the midnight services in spe- century-old historical church ing special prayers. Several crowds to ensure physical dis- cially decorated churches. Chirala St Louis Marks Bengaluru: Amid the Covid-19 Devasthanams's (TTD) Vishnu 'Mokshada Ekadashi'. Special 'boon' that whoever listens to churches organised live stream- tancing during the mass. The Christian families cut the Lutheran church. scare, devotees offered prayers at temple in Vyalikaval, ISKCON, prayers, yagnas, discourses and their story and sees the image of ing of mass and carols. church organised a separate cakes as part of the celebrations Andhra Pradesh Chief various prominent Lord Vishnu Kote Venkataramana Swamy in speeches are arranged at Vishnu Vishnu coming out of the door Churches in twin cities of mass for senior citizens. and greeted each other on the Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan temples across Bengaluru on the Chamarajpet, Srinivasa Temple temples across the world on this called 'Vaikunth Dwar' would Hyderabad and Secunderabad Congregation was held at occasion. Reddy, accompanied by his occasion of Vaikuntha Ekadashi in Mahalakshmi Layout, and auspicious day,” he explained. reach Vaikuntha as well. were tastefully decorated and 200-year-old St John's Church The three-day celebrations family members participated in festival. Tirumalagiri Temple in J.P. Another devotee, Tamme “Temples all over India illuminated on the occasion. in Secunderabad. Devotees also also began at the historic the Christmas celebrations at All the temples followed Nagar have been decked up with Gowda, offered his special make a door kind of structure on Devotees were seen thronging attended mass at St Mary's Church of South India (CSI) at CSI Church in Pulivendula in the Covid protocols strictly such a variety of flowers. prayers at the Mahalakshmi this day for devotees to walk the churches since Church, All Saint's Church, Medak, about 100 km from Kadapa district. Senior bishops as maintaining social distancing, Septuagenarian Layout temple and told IANS through,” he said and revealed Thursday night, wearing masks Wesley Church, Holy Trinity here. and priests conducted special while several temples voluntar- Padmanabha Rao, a devotee that fasting on Vaikuntha that their family members could and maintaining social dis- Church and Millennium Medak Church, the second masses and read out Christmas ily suspended distribution of who visited the TTD temple in Ekadashi is equivalent to fasting not visit Tirupati this year for the tance. Methodist Church. The priests biggest of its kind in Asia, was message. 'Teertha' (holy water), instead Vyalikaval, told IANS that the on the remaining 23 Ekadashis first time in seven decades. Churches in other towns of prayed for peace and high- constructed between 1914 and Telangana Governor they gave away 'laddus' as Vaishnava worshipers (followers of the Hindu year. “We actually wanted to go to Telangana and neighbouring lighted the message of Jesus' 1924. It has been built with Tamilisai Soundararajan, Chief 'prasadam' to the devotees. of Vishnu) believe that 'Vaikunta Quoting Vishnu Purana, Tirupati but due to the Covid Andhra Pradesh also witnessed birth. granite in the Gothic style with Ministers K. Chandrasekhar Besides this, the temples Dwaram' or 'the gate to the Rao said Vaishnavites believe scare, we cancelled our plans and special prayers. The Anglo-Indian com- story of Bible painted on its Rao, Andhra Pradesh also restricted the entry of the Lord's inner sanctum' is opened that Lord Vishnu opened the instead we came here. This Special prayers in church- munity in Lalaguda in stained glass windows. Governor Biswabhusan devotees as the festival is on this day. gate of 'Vaikuntam' (his abode) being a 10-day long festival, we es since midnight, carols, burst- Secunderabad celebrated The celebrations were also Harichandan and Chief observed for more than 10 days. “The Margashirsha Shukla for two 'asuras' (demons) in spite plan to visit all prominent tem- ing of fire crackers were the Christmas with enthusiasm held Khammam, Adilabad and Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy Several prominent Vishnu Paksha Ekadashi in the lunar of them being against him. ples across Bengaluru,” he added. highlights of celebrations. and in a traditional manner. In other towns in Telangana. In extended greetings to the peo- temples, including Tirupati calendar is known as a They also asked for the IANS The festivities began with Little England, as Lalaguda is Andhra Pradesh, the celebra- ple. IANS  ! " # %#& ' &!(!)!#**   ; -   -   !" #$%&   '()#" #$%&$ ' '%1 234 ' 356 / 0 
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  /'% '('%''/'(((% % ;         %   #         (               /%)( (; '%'#%>/&#(%%>/(#&                          (                 (              (         @    $  >    >     6C999                .$/*0*1=0<-=0            ,   ( s this piece is being writ-         @                 ten, forest fires are burn-        > -  />-0        ( ing at a number of places    <  4  -   4           in Uttarakhand, and per- Ahaps in a few other parts of India                 as well. According to a report by                    Lalmani Verma in The Indian                   Express of December 6, 2020, Uttarakhand had recorded 185              >        wildfires between October 1 and                       ( December 1 this year. This was           A         ( more than the number of fires that occurred between mid-February   4     @             $>( and mid-June, which is the season .                      ( for forest fires in the State. But then,    *            4    the number of conflagrations in this year’s fire season was incred-       :  > > 4        ibly low. The report quotes Man               :   )  Singh, Chief Conservator of     $>          4    Forests, Forest Fire & Disaster                      Management, as saying: “The number of fire incidents in forests   S    #           >-       from February to June this year was brates like insects, worms and tres of forest cover, 21.40 per report, is likely to be reached spreading awareness of the   S                 ( almost 10 per cent of the average spiders. According to a CNN cent, is highly fire-prone, with sometime between 2030 and implications of forest fires,  (                     number of incidents that occurred report by Jessie Yeung titled the forests of Mizoram, 2052. ensuring the participation of in the past 20 years. In October and “Australia’s deadly wildfires are Chhattisgarh, Manipur, Odisha With global warming con- local communities in forest  S    ;        (  !  # S November, only a negligible num- showing no signs of stopping. and Madhya Pradesh being the tinuing to aggravate — and management, enhanced train-    %          S        ber of forest fires had occurred in Here’s what you need to know”, most vulnerable. make more potent — the cir- ing and specifically designated          ;            the past years, but there was a sharp last updated on January 14, The prospects are forbid- cumstances leading to forest policies to increase the capaci- rise in these months this year after 2020, the catastrophic forest ding. For one thing, global fires, the actual spark is some- ty of local communities to pre- @            <  4  -   the unlockdown process. It leads to fires in Australia destroyed warming is conducing to an times provided by lightning vent and control forest fires, ,      $  >     S     @  ( the conclusion that such incidents 1,588 houses and damaged 650 increase in the number of for- strikes or friction between dry increasing the resilience of                  occurred due to carelessness of others in New South Wales, the est fires. Many experts consid- branches of trees or bamboo forests to withstand fires humans who moved out after the country’s most populated State. er it to have been an important fragments. The main factor, through management interven-                  *    unlocking process.” In the United States, the factor aggravating the circum- however, is human activity tion and the rooting out of inva-                      This tends to corroborate the State that has suffered most over stances leading to the which is responsible for 95 per sive weeds like Lantana, which    (        D D S      belief, held by many, that the sharp the years is California. Things Australian and American for- cent of the forest fires in India contribute significantly to the fall in the number of fires in this were, doubtless, better in 2019 est fires referred to above. This and 90 per cent in the case of outbreak of forest fires and  ?        , + #         ( year’s season was a result of the than in 2018. In late October is hardly surprising. Global the United States. In the latter, threaten native biodiversity.     47$                 ( COVID-19 outbreak and the lock- last year, however, forest fires warming makes vegetation some human-caused fires result For their part, the Union   ?          >         ( down, and that the numbers will forced 2,00,000 people to leave highly inflammable through from campfires left unattend- and State Governments need to soar at an unprecedentedly high their homes and led to the dec- enhanced evaporation, which ed, the burning of debris, enhance their preparedness to         (     47$(   @   - $   rate as normal activity picks up. laration of an emergency. The causes fires to spread rapidly downed power lines, negli- act early against fire outbreaks.  >  $   4             S @ %   This prospect must cause serious period from January 1 to and become more intense. It gently discarded cigarettes and This would have to include an  >            !   :?  / !:0  concern because of the severe November 22, 2019, witnessed has also caused the length of intentional acts of arson. effective communications net- damage that forest fires cause. 46,706 wildfires compared to fire seasons — when conflagra- In Brazil, farmers and work, the use of modern tech-               @    %   They destroy entire forest ecosys- 52,080 in the corresponding tions are most frequent — ranchers have been setting large nologies and products like         S           )S   tems, kill wildlife, drive endan- period in 2018. About 4.6 mil- worldwide to increase by 19 per tracts of the Amazon rain drones to identify the exact             (        ( gered species towards extinction lion acres perished in the same cent between 1979 and 2013. forests aflame while the location of forest fires and the through the destruction of their period in 2019, compared to 8.5 It is a cyclical process, with Government is accused of being directions of their spread,      )    %               habitats and burn trees and the million acres in 2018. Towns, global warming conducing to either indifferent to, or encour- deployment of adequate man-      > @  $  />@$0           undergrowth. Spreading out, they property and houses have been forest fires and the latter con- aging of, their doings. power in fire-prone areas     # %               destroy human settlements, hous- destroyed and people killed. tributing to global warming. According to India’s State of through the filling of all vacan-                  ;        ( es, property and kill people. The situation is grim in The way things are, the Paris Forest Report 2017, people in cies in the ranks or frontline Environmentally, they are a major India which, on an average, loses Agreement on Climate Change’s this country set fire to forests forest officials.                          source of greenhouse gas emis- 1,176 crore a year to forest fires. call for holding the increase in for, among other reasons, clear- All this will require money.               #      > sions. A report by Daisy Dunne, The Forest Survey of India global average temperature in ing areas for shifting cultivation, The provision of 50 crore in            @          )  datelined July 14, 2020, and titled (FSI) detected 29,547 fires in this century to well below 2°C non-timber forest produce col- the 2020-21 Union Budget is “How climate change is affecting 2019 using the Moderate above the pre-industrial revolu- lection and for hunting/poach- not going to be enough. The                      ( wildfires across the world” in Resolution Imaging Spectro- tion level and for trying to limit ing purposes. Another reason is argument, however, will be                Carbon Brief, states that they are radiometer (MODIS) system. In it to 1.5°C above it, is not going making room for growing that even the last budget’s allo- responsible for 5-8% of the 3.3 a written response to a query, to be achieved. More, according towns and villages. cation of 46.58 crore was not million annual premature deaths Minister of State for to the Special Report on Global Preventing forest fires will, fully spent. While the Union from poor air quality. Environment Babul Supriyo Warming of 1.5°C, released by therefore, require action on Government must play its part # 
 8 At least a billion animals and told the Lok Sabha on the Intergovernmental Panel on multiple fronts. The National financially and administrative- birds are estimated to have per- September 23, 2020, that an area Climate Change (IPCC) on Action Plan on Forest Fires by ly, State Governments, which ished in Australia’s devastating for- of 2,56,710 hectares was affect- October 7, 2018, the adverse Forest Protection Division of the are responsible for forest man- %        0  4   est fires in the late 2019 and early ed by forest fires in the country effects of climate change would Ministry of Environment, agement on the ground, need 2020. The actual number may in 2019. What is also alarming, not be reduced even if the Forests and Climate Change, to pull up their socks.       5! 0  turn out to have reached trillions a report by the FSI submitted in increase is limited to 1.5°C. released in 2019, makes a num- (The author is Consulting if the estimates had taken into 2019 has it that 1,52,412 out of What is particularly alarming, ber of recommendations. These Editor, The Pioneer. The views              account bats, frogs and inverte- India’s 7,12, 249 square kilome- this level, according to the include a vigorous strategy for expressed are personal.)                        (        )          2 6 , # 4-                ( (((% 
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The next phase of the movement was kicked              off by the PDM holding a rally in Mardan on 4                December 23 despite a ban imposed by the dis-          S     ) trict administration amid the COVID-19 pan-                   ( demic. The protesters, led by Jamiat Ulema-e-                    ( Islam(F) and PDM chief Maulana Fazlur      + A        Rehman, senior Pakistan Peoples Party leader                  Yousuf Raza Gilani and Pakistani Muslim League (Nawaz) vice-president Maryam Nawaz, gathered               4  at the Gaju Baba Khan flyover to address a huge               ( crowd. The rally in Mardan would be followed                    by another public meeting in Larkana on ) S          B99999 H December 27 on the eve of the death anniver-           *      sary of Benazir Bhutto.                  ( The PDM has demanded that Prime Minister              Khan’s Government quit by January 31 or face A       896=     A     ( intensified movements by Opposition parties.          69 )          ( This includes a “long march” towards Islamabad     *       )      ( in late January or early February and possible resignations of Opposition members in the               >   Assemblies. The PDM has decided to focus on  6  2              smaller cities for public meetings and protests will 6  3 The third major movement was new.” According to Nicholas, move- However, the theory is equally )           1  @     ( be held in Bahawalpur on December 30,   made up of a cluster of movements ments may evolve into becoming suc- applicable in regions where there are    8965             ?   Malakand on January 3, Bannu on January 6,   between 1981 and 1986, against the cessful uprisings, or they may be economic issues and repression but too            Khuzdar on January 9, Loralai on January 13,   4 General Zia-ul-Haq dictatorship. Even crushed but, no matter what the out- little or no democracy. The theory states 4  )          @  ( Tharparkar on January 16, Faisalabad on January  though intense and at times extreme- come, they always have what it takes to that agitation against these or other          S    18, Sargodha on January 23, and Sialkot on  ly violent, this movement failed to dis- become contagious. He adds that they issues brews in pockets that continue *      P( Q         January 27. lodge the dictator. He died in a plane also have the seeds to become “succes- to expand even when these pockets are Political pundits and analysts are already out-   crash in 1988. sive.” By this Nicholas means that even repressed. Their consistency eventual-                    1                ( weighing the chances of both the PDM and the The fourth movement rose up movements that are crushed or collapse ly begins to sap the energy of the State Imran Khan Government. Heated debates are   against the General Musharraf dictator- become paradigms for future protests. and this creates opportunities for pock-               )  taking place about whether the Opposition    ship in 2007 and succeeded in ousting As long as there are conditions for ets of resistance to mobilise from with-              alliance would be able to dislodge the Pakistan- 6  him through a forced resignation. a movement to emerge, they will, in and outside their circle until they     8969        >   Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Government that is already 6  2 Ironically, the last major anti- despite being repeatedly vanquished. merge to become a people’s protest.                 besieged by a faltering economy, rising inflation,    " Government movement was led by According to the “political opportuni- The conditions for a movement in                a lethal pandemic and the Government’s own   Imran Khan’s PTI against the third ty theory”, if a political system seems Pakistan are ripe. Economic melt-                 blunders, which are many.  6  Nawaz Sharif regime. It was unsuccess- vulnerable, there will emerge chal- down, State repression, bad gover-   7  7  %          In his characteristic style Khan stepped up  ful but it did manage to create enough lengers who would move to use this vul- nance and political polarisation are now %   ?       6=59     his efforts to silence the voice of the PDM, along space for the PTI to squeeze through nerability as an opportunity to push for pitching one chunk of the polity against with the voices of thousands who criticised his  during the controversial 2018 elections. political or social change. The the other. The PDM’s agenda is thus         (         ( 2       O          Government. Despite such attempts, the PDM The PDM has succeeded in hold- American political scientist and histo- clear — to exhaust its opponents, so has held its ground and organised five major ral-   ing impressive rallies. But it is still not rian, Charles Tilly is often credited as ample opportunities emerge to further        lies in Multan, Peshawar, Gujranwala, Karachi,   1  a full-fledged movement. It is expect- being one of the foremost pioneers of expand and grow the movement. But #       :   3    and Quetta since October 16. Now it is upping 2 3 ing to evolve into becoming one dur- the aforementioned theory. according to Nicholas, politics alone   -@       P    Q    the ante even further.  4  ing its next phase. However, it is still too The theory is not as much about will not be sufficient. Disillusionment      #            ( Most commentators are of the view that, even early to predict whether the PDM will why movements emerge, as such, but against an existing governing ideology       P- Q @     P  Q    if the PDM is unable to outright force Khan’s succeed in removing the Imran Khan rather what course they take once they needs to be replaced by a new promise                    ( departure, it can create a serious constitutional Government or, especially, if it can actu- get going. Reasons behind the why, gen- to invigorate a disillusioned polity.   >            ( and political crisis, which will not only bog down ally achieve its second and more ambi- erally speaking, can be economic or to The anti-Ayub Khan movement            S  S   a troubled regime but can also create issues for tious, aim to neutralise the self-appoint- do with repression. Interestingly, the offered various forms of economic #                ( the military establishment that is overtly back- ed political role of the military-estab- theory states that democratic pluralism equality to inspire the people to come                  ing the present set-up in Islamabad. lishment. too, can become a factor. out and protest. An “Islamic” system of The most worrisome aspect of this is that the Succeed or not, once the PDM does For example, all these factors can Government was promised by the                  military establishment has begun to be seen as evolve into becoming a movement, be seen as playing a role in the large movement to bring people out against    1     a visible party in the conflict between the PDM there is every likelihood that things will pockets of protests emerging in India the ZA Bhutto regime. The idea of “tab-   /% S    0        and the Khan Government. The kind of politi- begin to alter, for good or otherwise. In recently. An economic downturn, cou- deeli (change)” was floated by Imran  I6          %    $  cal crisis the PDM’s agitation is expected to cre- a 1973 essay for the Annual Review of pled with political repression of liber- Khan during his party’s street protests.  @   *  8J            ate can be detrimental to a highly polarised poli- Anthropology, the American sociologist al voices and the country’s long-stand- And now Sharif is promising a demo- IC99  A            )     ty. There have been five major anti-Government and anthropologist Ralph W Nicholas ing democratic systems, are allowing cratic and political system that will not     PQ  )  :     movements since Pakistan’s inception in August writes that political and social move- these protests to take shape, so much be rigged, engineered or tampered by P  Q   H      A     - 1947. The first such movement was able to force ments may have varying degrees of suc- so that some members of the non-civilian elite.                 the military dictator, Ayub Khan to resign in cess (or, for that matter, failure) but they Government are now lamenting that Promising democracy alone would                1969. Though the second one managed to stall leave behind societies that are never “too much democracy” is a problem. not have been able to draw the kind of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s bid to rule as the Prime quite the same. This could be understood as meaning attention that the PDM has managed        Minister of Pakistan for the second time in 1977, Nicholas describes movements as that democracy is hindering their to attract. This promise needed a new /             but it also saw the imposition of the country’s “liminal” or “the interim between the desire to fully implement the angle which Sharif has ingeniously pro-       0 third and perhaps harshest, military regime. end of the old and the beginning of the Government’s contentious projects. vided. (Courtesy: Dawn) %!                                  

gas (GHG) emissions, leading to cli- garbage in a decentralised manner, from 40 per cent in August, after the As an outcome of the pilot, the monitoring, a motivational mecha- mate change on a global scale. a pilot project was implemented announcement of the lucky draws. services provided by the VMC staff nism, monitoring (possibly through All policymakers and adminis- from January to mid-November In Group 1 colonies, due to the were streamlined further. Hence, it Information Technology-based sys- trators dealing in waste manage- this year in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh availability of large garbage collec- can be concluded, that with an tems) and penalties. ment thoroughly understand the (UP). The project was initiated tion bins or existing garbage accu- appropriate infrastructure, service With regards to IECs, the con- wealth potential associated with under the Development and mulation points, residents either support from ULBs and regular cept and benefits of source segrega- this MSW, which can be unlocked Management of Nationally self-dispose the waste or get it dis- monitoring, it is possible to increase tion should be strongly interlinked with appropriate energy and eco- Appropriate Mitigation Actions posed through their domestic help the number of households provid- with health and economic benefits nomic linkages, yet the codes to (NAMA) project in India. in an unsegregated manner. For ing segregated garbage. to the city, demonstrating direct 25/*#. 6*$ unlock such potentials are not uni- Under the pilot intervention, them the domestic help provided a While certain people were moti- impact and benefits to the public. 1060? fied. Once mixed, many potential- initially, a group of three colonies- better level of garbage collection ser- vated to do source segregation of The local, State and Central govern- 0,6"0 ly recyclable items lose their value Saraswati Nagar, Krantipalli and vices, compared to door-to-door MSW based on awareness pro- ments will also have to work cohe- for recycling. Hence, segregation at Rambagh & Kolhua Vinayaka were collection by the VMC as the staff gramme inputs, others responded to sively to look at possible mecha- rban India generated about source is the key to manage MSW piloted from January (Group 1) and was only available to collect waste incentives. Though such measures nisms to bring all stakeholders on 59.56 million metric tonnes in an efficient manner. Solid Waste this was later extended to include from the main gate of the apartment can be effective in motivating house- board to turn waste into a resource Uof municipal solid waste Management Rules require people Vijaynagaram and Vijayanagaram blocks. As a result, many households holds to separate garbage in the ini- and demonstrate a strong political (MSW) in 2019. While the average to hand over segregated garbage to extension (Group 2) in September. tiated to increase the motivation and residing on higher floors were not tial phase, once source segregation will to bring about change. collection rate was reported to be Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). Starting with information edu- engagement of residents. interested in availing of the door-to- becomes a practice, such incentives Interlinking workers from the around 92 per cent, only about 37 However, proper implementation cation and capacity building (IEC) Initially, it was found that none door collection services provided by might not be required. informal sector, building their per cent of the collected waste was and monitoring of this golden rule drives in these colonies, pilot inter- of the households were separating the waste collection staff and used The experience from these capacities and adjusting key perfor- treated. As per the biannual review which may turn many downstream ventions were started where house- garbage. But, due to the source seg- to dispose mixed garbage. pilots also revealed that awareness, mance indicators of existing staff report (BUR) submitted by the processes in waste management holds were encouraged to hand over regation awareness programme and In Group 2 colonies, which along with appropriate infrastruc- members will also help enhance the Government to the United Nations more efficient and effective, is lack- segregated waste to the Varanasi engagement of the VMC staff, had mostly bungalows and row ture (for collection and treating level of services in cities. Framework Convention on Climate ing. To discover what would moti- Municipal Corporation (VMC) col- around 67.42 per cent of the resi- houses, due to the non-availability waste), can indeed motivate people (Manuja is a Fellow at TERI and Change (UNFCCC) in 2014 this vate residents to segregate garbage lection staff on a daily basis. From dents began to segregate garbage by of any garbage disposal point and to segregate waste at source. Gaurav is a Technical Advisor at GIZ untreated MSW, when disposed, and help cities reduce their waste August onwards, lucky draw com- the end of the pilot in November. appropriate service by the VMC However, for mass involvement, a India. This article has inputs from contributed to nearly 15065 x106 Kg burden through appropriate man- petitions for households giving seg- The number of households giving staff, almost all residents were hand- habit of segregation will have to be NAMA, India. Views expressed are CO2Eq of the country’s greenhouse agement of organic and inorganic regated waste to collectors were ini- segregated garbage went up steeply ing over waste to VMC collectors. infused through appropriate IECs, personal.)  ! " # %#& ' &!(!)!#**  @

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)   Karachi: British-born al-Qaeda now be released on Saturday as Ruth and Judea Pearl - the leader Ahmed Omar Saeed Friday is a public holiday in the parents of Pearl - condemned ) .   . Sheikh and his three aides, country. the decision made by the Sindh whose release in the abduction Meanwhile, the United High court and expressed full and murder case of US jour- States on Friday expressed “deep confidence in the Supreme   "/ 
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nalist Daniel Pearl was ordered concern” over Sindh High Court of Pakistan to provide by a court here, would walk out Court’s order to release Sheikh justice for their son and rein- Kathmandu: Nepal’s Supreme slogans raised by the protesters. of the prison on Saturday, police and his aides and said it will force the paramount of the   
     Court on Friday issued a show- Around 300 Central and lawyer said on Friday. continue to monitor any devel- freedom of the press, the cause notice to Prime Minister Committee members of the In a surprise move, a two- opments in the case. Express Tribune reported.     2  “We are deeply concerned KP Sharma Oli-led govern- NCP and nearly 100 members judge bench of the Sindh High “We are deeply concerned “We refuse to believe that by the reports of the December ment, asking it to submit a of the House were present in Court on Thursday directed by the reports of the December the Pakistani government and he US on Friday expressed 24 ruling of Sindh High Court written clarification over its the protest rally. security agencies not to keep 24 ruling of Sindh High Court the Pakistani people will let such T“deep concern” over a to release multiple terrorists decision to abruptly dissolve After staging a sit-in, the Sheikh and other accused under to release multiple terrorists a travesty of justice tarnish the Pakistani court’s order to responsible for the murder of Parliament. crowd marched towards the “any sort of detention” and responsible for the murder of image and legacy of Pakistan,” release British-born al-Qaeda Daniel Pearl. We have been The notice was issued after Election Commission (EC) declared all notifications of the Daniel Pearl. We have been they said in a statement. leader Ahmed Omar Saeed assured that the accused have a preliminary hearing at the office. Sindh government related to assured that the accused have In April, a two-judge Sindh Sheikh and his three aides, not been released at this time,” five-member Constitutional The EC will decide which their detention “null and void”. not been released at this time,” High Court bench commuted who were convicted and sen- the US State Department said bench headed by Chief Justice faction of the NCP is legitimate The court observed that the the US State Department said in the death sentence of 46-year- tenced in the abduction and in a tweet. Cholendra Shumsher Rana on to carry the party name and four men’s detention was “ille- a tweet. old Sheikh to seven years murder case of American jour- It said that the US will the writ petitions filed against the hearing. election symbol. gal”. It said that the US will imprisonment. The court also nalist Daniel Pearl. continue to monitor any the government’s decision to An amicus curiae is a legal “We have the support of According to the Jail continue to monitor any devel- acquitted his three aides who In a surprise move, a two- developments in the case and dissolve the 275-member professional or expert who the majority of the Central Superintendent, the four men opments in the case and will were serving life terms in the judge bench of the Sindh High will continue to support the House of Representatives, assists the court by offering committee members. could not be released from continue to support the Pearl case — almost two decades Court on Thursday directed Pearl family “through this according to court officials. information, expertise, or Therefore, we are going to the Karachi’s Central Jail on family “through this extremely after they were found guilty and security agencies not to keep extremely difficult process” The bench sought the writ- insight that has a bearing on the commission to prove and show Thursday as the prison author- difficult process” while hon- jailed. Sheikh and other accused while honouring the legacy of ten clarification from the Office case. that we are the legitimate fac- ities received orders from the ouring the legacy of Pearl as a However, the Sindh gov- under “any sort of detention” Pearl as a “courageous jour- of the Prime Minister and Meanwhile, the Pushpa tion,” protesting leader Sunil Sindh High Court for their “courageous journalist”. ernment refused to release them and declared all notifications nalist”. Council of Minister and Office Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’-led Manahdhar, who is also a release very late. The US has been mounting and kept them in detention of the Sindh government relat- The US has been mount- of the President as they are faction of the ruling Nepal Central Committee member of The legal counsel for the pressure on Pakistan, demand- under the Maintenance of ed to their detention “null and ing pressure on Pakistan, made defendants in all the Communist Party (NCP) the NCP, told PTI. four men said that they would ing justice for Pearl. Public Order. PTI void”. demanding justice for Pearl. writ petitions, they said. staged a protest rally in He said that the party will The court has also asked Kathmandu against the deci- launch the agitation against the the government to submit an sion. Oli government in collabora- original copy of the recom- ‘Prachanda’ and Madhav tion with other Opposition  78 9 mendations made by the gov- Kumar Nepal, senior leaders parties, including the Nepali ernment to dissolve the House Jhala Nath Khanal, spokesper- Congress and Janata Samajwadi and the decision made by son Narayan Kaji Shrestha Party for the reinstatement of $  5  President Bidya Devi Bhandari along with the party’s Central the House of Representatives. to authenticate the govern- Committee members and Separately, Prime Minister ment’s recommendations with- members of the dissolved Oli has called a Cabinet    !  in 10 days. House gathered near the Prime meeting on Friday evening, Earlier, the apex court Minister’s Office for the protest. amid an intensified struggle      of coronavirus are increasing demanded an amicus curiae “We are here,” “Reinstate between the two warring fac- sharply in parts of the UK, with from Nepal Bar Association the House of Representatives,” tions of the ruling Nepal record number of people around one in 60 people now and Supreme Court Bar and “dissolution of the House Communist Party to wrest Ahave tested positive for testing positive in Wales and Association in connection with is unconstitutional,” were the control of the party. PTI Covid-19 in England as mil- one in 85 in England. lions spend Christmas Day Experts believe the new away from friends and family mutations of the deadly virus due to a continuing spike in are driving cases up across the /%   .   ) 1  coronavirus infections on country as they are more con- Friday. tagious. It has resulted in most . 2 
 Figures from the National parts of the UK to be placed in          Health Service’s (NHS) Test some form of stringent lock- and Trace network show that down measures, with London 2
 

between December 10 and 16, and surrounding areas in Tier   04   173,875 people received a pos- 4 level of highest alert with a Atlanta: The United States itive result — the highest week- near-complete shutdown. Johannesburg: South Africa’s have mutated further” than will require airline passengers ly total of positive cases and a UK Prime Minister Boris health minister has rejected his the similar strain in Britain. from Britain to get a negative 58 per cent increase on the pre- Johnson has warned that British counterpart’s claim that The British minister’s Covid-19 test before their vious week. tougher restrictions could be a new coronavirus variant in words “have created a percep- flight. Separately, according to needed to keep a mutant coro- the country is more contagious tion that the variant in SA has The US is the latest coun- the the Office for National navirus strain “running out of &$ &    #  !  +      " "   !      or dangerous than a similar one been a major factor in the sec- try to announce new travel Statistics (ONS), positive cases control” in the New Year. !  
   , 3 % 3    & in spreading the UK. ond wave in UK,” Mkhize said. restrictions because of a new “At present, there is no He pointed to evidence variant of the coronavirus that evidence that the 501.V2 (vari- that the British strain, which is spreading in Britain. & &12 % ant) is more transmissible than bears a similar mutation to the The Centers for Disease $ .     the United Kingdom variant - South African one, appeared as Control and Prevention says - as suggested by the British early as September in south- airline passengers from the       Health Secretary,” Zwelini eastern county Kent -- “approx- United Kingdom will have to Mkhize said in a statement imately a month before the get negative Covid-19 tests     :   Kabul: At least two Afghan ing to hammer out a peace deal published late Thursday. South African variant appears within three days of their trip army officers including a bat- that could put an end to “There is also no evidence to have developed”. and provide the results to the Calais: Hundreds of lorries open despite the Christmas avirus, which experts feared talion commander were killed decades of war. that (it) causes more severe dis- Citing “the widely shared airline. arrived at the French port of holiday so that ferries as well as could spread even faster, from on Friday when their vehicle No one immediately ease or increased mortality view of the scientific commu- The agency says the order Calais on Friday as authorities the trains bringing trucks reaching its shores. was hit by a roadside bomb in claimed responsibility for than the UK variant or any nity,” Mkhize also argued that will be signed Friday and go scrambled to ease a bottleneck through the Channel Tunnel The move created a massive the northern Balkh province, Friday’s bombing. Rezaie variant that has been “the risks of travel bans may into effect on Monday. in Britain, where thousands of could operate. logjam with up to 10,000 trucks the military said. blamed the Taliban, who are sequenced around the world”. outweigh the benefits”. The CDC says because of drivers have been stuck for Getlink, the Eurotunnel parked along highways as well Hanif Rezaie, a spokesman active in both districts and reg- Announcing restrictions “Banning travel between travel restrictions in place days because of tougher coro- operator, said 478 trucks had as the runways of the Manston for the army in the country’s ularly launch attacks against on travel from South Africa UK and SA is an unfortunate since March, air travel to the navirus rules. arrived in Calais by 11:00 am, airfield, according to EU trans- north, said Capt. Mohammad Afghan security forces. Wednesday, Britain’s Matt decision,” he added. US from the UK has been cut “Yesterday, we had 1,000 after 1,942 were brought over port commissioner Adina Qasim Paikar and another offi- Elsewhere, the Taliban Hancock had said that the South Africa is the country by 90 per cent. lorries cross over from Dover. Thursday. Valean, who criticised the cer were killed and two other announced the release of 30 variant there was “highly con- hit hardest by coronavirus on Last weekend, Britain’s As of 10:00 am (0900 GMT) we Most of the drivers headed French government’s decision. soldiers were wounded in the imprisoned Afghan security cerning, because it is yet more the continent, with close to one prime minister said a new already had 550 lorries from straight for the highway, accord- Drivers fumed at having to explosion, which took place personnel on Thursday in the transmissible, and it appears to million infections so far and variant of the coronavirus Britain,” Benoit Rochet, head of ing to an AFP journalist at the spend Christmas in their cabs between Balkh and Char Bolak southern Kandahar province’s 26,000 people dead. seemed to spread more easily the Calais port operator, told scene. away from their families with districts. Panjwai district. Around 14,000 positive than earlier ones and was AFP. Truckers were stranded in only minimal toilet facilities, The attack was the latest This is the first batch of cases were detected on each of moving rapidly through “At this rate, the situation southeast England after France because they were unable to get amid relentless violence in prisoners released by the the past two days, compared England. Dozens of countries should be completely taken halted all travel from Britain on Covid-19 tests that must be Afghanistan even as Taliban Taliban since the start of direct with between 8,000 and have since barred flights from care of by tomorrow,” he said. Sunday for 48 hours in a bid to negative to be allowed into and Afghan Government nego- peace talks with the Afghan 10,000 earlier this week. AFP the UK. AP The port decided to remain prevent a new strain of coron- France. AFP tiators hold talks in Qatar, try- Government in September. AP &$ !  1!   " $ 

Rome: Curfews, quarantines Church, which was built orig- new clothes for her two chil- Anusonadisai and Patrick and even border closings com- inally by Jesuit missionaries in dren, aged 10 and 15. Tamaure Kaplin are cooped up in quar- plicated Christmas celebra- the 17th century. said that she hasn’t been able antine in a Bangkok hotel tions Friday for countless peo- Border crossing closures to find work as a nurse because room. It wasn’t great fun but ple around the globe, but kept thousands of migrants she still doesn’t have a they did make sure to get a ingenuity, determination and from economically devastated Colombia residence permit. Christmas tree. imagination helped keep the Venezuela who live in Her parents are still in They returned earlier this day special for many. Colombia from going home Venezuela. month from a 4 1/2-month In Beijing, official church- for Christmas. “My mother broke her trip to Canada and the United es abruptly cancelled Mass on Colombia’s government foot and can’t walk properly so States, making a 32-hour jour- Christmas Day in a last- shut down the crossings in a I’m worried about her,” said ney from Montreal via Doha. minute move, after China’s bid to slow down the spread of Tamaure. “I try to send her One condition of entering capital was put on high alert Covid-19 infections. Those money, but its not the same as Thailand is a 14-day quaran- following the confirmation of trying to return home for the being there.” tine upon arrival. Thai citizens two confirmed Covid-19 cases holidays this year had to turn Others successfully can stay at state facilities for last week, and two new asymp- to smugglers. crossed borders elsewhere only free but foreigners like Kaplin, tomatic cases were reported on Yakelin Tamaure, a nurse to find themselves in quaran- from Canada, must pay to stay Friday. who left Venezuela two years tine. For their first Christmas at an approved hotel, the One of several notices was ago, won’t be going home and since getting married in option the couple took so posted at Beijing’s St. Josephs’ said there will be no gifts or March, Nattasuda they could stay together. AP  6  ! 

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9    “Of course for many, this time of year will be tinged with ll many people want for sadness; some mourning the AChristmas this year is a loss of those dear to them, and simple hug, Britain’s Queen others missing friends and Elizabeth said in her annual family members distanced for festive message, saying it would safety when all they really want be hard for those who lost for Christmas is a simple hug loved ones to Covid-19 pan- or a squeeze of the hand,” demic or were separated by Elizabeth said. curbs on social mixing. “If you are among them, In her traditional pre- you are not alone. And let me recorded Christmas Day assure you of my thoughts and address to the nation, the 94- prayers.” year-old monarch repeatedly The queen herself has had spoke of hope for the future to eschew her traditional whilst acknowledging millions Christmas celebrations, and is of Britons would be unable to spending the festive season qui- have their usual family cele- etly at Windsor Castle with her brations this year. husband Prince Philip, 99.  ! " # %#& ' &!(!)!#**   +

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 $ $ ) FTA with both the EU and UK. Wthe UK clinching a post- “We have requested the Brexit trade pact, India should 47  ! 7 government to sign an MoU   66 Expressed in dollar terms,    improvement consulting-auto, with technological collabora- now aggressively pursue free  $   (Memorandum of the foreign currency assets engineering and logistics) at tions focusing on cutting-edge trade agreements (FTAs) sep-
   Understanding) regarding a he country’s foreign include the effect of apprecia- he Indian auto industry is NRI Consulting & Solutions technologies such as LTO (lithi- arately with both the regions, deadline to conclude FTA talks Texchange reserves surged tion or depreciation of non-US Texpected to see stronger India, said. um titanium oxide) batteries,” according to experts. '  '  & with Britain during the visit of by USD 2.563 billion to touch units like the euro, pound and growth in 2021-22, after recov- As far as personal vehicles he said. Although it is premature to  ) $ $  UK Prime Minister Boris a record high of USD 581.131 yen held in the foreign ering from the devastating are concerned, the 2018-19 The LTO batteries can be assess the gains for India from -6*6=   $  Johnson next month in India,” billion in the week to exchange reserves. effects of the COVID-19 pan- levels would be reached only in fast charged at high tempera- the agreement between Saraf said. Rakesh Mohan Joshi, December 18, RBI data The gold reserves demic, with electric vehicle 2022-23 whereas for two- tures as well as last for 10,000- European Union (EU) and the 
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 $* professor at Indian Institute of showed. increased by USD 1.008 billion sales, especially two-wheleers, wheelers, it will be achieved plus cycles and other enhanced UK, Indian goods would not - $ Foreign Trade (IIFT), said that In the previous week, the in the reporting week to USD also likely to see positive move- maybe a year after that, he chemistries like NMC811, he get much benefit from this after the trade deal with the EU reserves had declined by USD 37.020 billion in the week ments, according to Nomura added. said. NMC811 is a cathode pact, they said. However, India FTA negotiations with both the and the UK, India will get a 778 million to USD 578.568 bil- ended December 18, the data Research Institute Consulting “This is also on account of composition with 80 per cent can explore opportunities in EU and the UK. Indian com- better opportunity to cater to lion. showed. & Solutions India. some price hikes expected with nickel, 10 per cent manganese service sectors like IT, archi- petitors like Vietnam have the demands of both the mar- In the reporting week, the The special drawing rights However, in the personal introduction of new regula- and 10 per cent cobalt. tecture, research and develop- greater duty advantage in sec- kets. “But India needs to plan increase in reserves was due to (SDRs) with the International vehicles segment, the levels tions,” Sharma said. In case of other EV com- ment and engineering in both tors like apparel and marine accordingly,” he added. a rise in foreign currency assets Monetary Fund (IMF) rose by reached in 2018-19 would be In 2018-19, total two- ponents such as motors and the markets as the EU-UK goods,” Sahai said. Apparel Export Promotion (FCAs), a major component of USD 12 million to USD 1.515 reached only in 2022-23, it wheeler sales rose 4.86 per controllers, Sharma said, “We pact does not cover services, Sharing similar views, Council (AEPC) Chairman A the overall reserves. billion. added. cent to 2,11,81,390 units as could see a wider participation they added. “There is not much Biswajit Dhar, a professor of Sakthivel said India-UK FTA FCAs rose by USD 1.382 The country’s reserve posi- In 2018-19, passenger compared with 2,02,00,117 by local component players gain for Indian goods, but we economics at Jawaharlal Nehru would help in removing the billion to USD 537.727 billion, tion with the IMF also rose by vehicle sales rose 2.7 per cent units in 2017-18. and also the entry of some new can gain in services sector in University, said India had a lot customs duty disadvantages the Reserve Bank of India’s USD 160 million to USD 4.870 to 33,77,436 units from As far as electric vehicles players especially to cater to the both the UK and EU markets. of contentious issues while faced by domestic players in (RBI) weekly data showed. billion. 32,88,581 units in 2017-18, (EVs) are concerned, Sharma rise in domestic EV two- We will gain more in the UK negotiating FTA with the EU. Britain. Britain clinched a his- according to the Society of said 2021-22 would also see wheeler and three-wheeler market as we are English speak- However, after Brexit, the UK toric deal with the European Indian Automobile positive movements, especial- demand.” ing country,” Federation of could have different stand on Union on Thursday as both Manufacturers (SIAM). ly in the two-wheeler EV seg- In addition, export Indian Export Organisations those issues and now “India sides managed to thrash out a “After the devastating ment, with new players like opportunities for EV compo- (FIEO) Director General Ajay should pursue FTA talks again post-Brexit free trade agree- effects of the COVID-19 pan- Ola Electric getting into the nents as well as batteries could Sahai said. with both the regions”. ment just days before the demic, it is expected that the fray. certainly emerge for domestic He said there are no spe- He added that there is a December 31 deadline. The auto industry will see stronger “In addition, on the EV players as the world struggles cific customs duty benefits for possibility of doing a favourable bilateral trade between India growth in 2021-22,” Ashim components side, we could to find alternative sources for domestic goods from this free trade pact with the UK. and the UK dipped to USD Sharma, partner and group finally see cell level manufac- supply chain resilience, he agreement. FIEO President Sharad 15.5 billion in 2019-20 from head (business performance turing starting off in India added. “Now we should push the Kumar Saraf said that India USD 16.9 billion in 2018-19.    ;  16<    " 
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" 1/5  6   Rs 1,000 crore and also December 18 meeting to "#" % !  && improved its offer for a con- sweeten their bids. he race to acquire the bank- trolling stake in DHFL’s The CoC also asked    ty to 99 per cent. The traders’ body stated Trupt Dewan Housing Pramerica Life Insurance Oaktree and Piramal to speci- However, this restriction that it has “urged Sitharaman   Finance Corporation Ltd Company to Rs 1,000 crore fy the proposed shareholding raders’ body CAIT on will not apply where the man- to defer implementation of (DHFL) has intensified with from Rs 300 crore. structure of DHFL’s insurance TFriday urged Finance aging director or any partner Rule 86 B immediately which rivate equity investment in both the final bidders Oaktree “We understand that the business, where foreign own- Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has paid more than Rs 1 lakh is scheduled to be implement- Pthe Indian real estate sector and Piramal having enhanced bidder that submitted the sec- ership is currently capped at 49 to defer the implementation of as income tax or the registered ed from January 1, 2021 and is likely to recover and hit the their offers. ond highest bid has sought to per cent. Rule 86B in GST, whereby person has received a refund also extend the last date for fil- $6 billion-mark next year, reg- US-based Oaktree Capital increase its bid by means of (a) Earlier, Kapil Wadhawan, businesses with over Rs 50 amount of over Rs 1 lakh in ing GST and Income Tax Audit istering a year-on-year growth has raised its offer for the allocating additional interest the erstwhile promoter of the lakh monthly turnover will the preceding financial year on return from December 31 to of 30 per cent, according to a insolvent NBFC by Rs 1,700 income to the financial credi- Dewan Housing Finance have to pay at least 1 per cent account of unutilised input tax March 31, 2021”. report by Savills India. crore, intensifying the bidding tors and (b) increasing its bid Corporation Ltd (DHFL), of their GST liability in cash, credit. CAIT Secretary General The report noted that the war with Piramal Enterprises. for the insurance stake. As wrote to the administrator of terming it a “counter produc- The Confederation of All Praveen Khandelwal said that growth may come on the back would drive the sentiment In its letter to the required, we are allocating an DHFL, reiterating his new pro- tive” measure that will increase India Traders (CAIT) in a let- in light of the current scenario of an improving economic sen- henceforth, it added. Committee of Creditors on additional amount of Rs 1,700 posal to repay 100 per cent of the traders’ compliance burden. ter to Sitharaman has drawn when domestic trade is dis- timent supported by policy A Savills India statement Thursday, Oaktree said that its crores as additional interest the principal debt to the cred- The Central Board of her attention towards Section turbed due to repercussions of reforms and growth in key said that its estimates for pri- bid is now at Rs 36,410 crore income to the financial credi- itors. Indirect Taxes and Customs has 86B, saying that “it is a counter- COVID-19 and traders are emerging sectors. vate equity investment in the and that of Piramal is Rs 34,909 tors,” Oaktree said in its latest He also assured to run the introduced Rule 86B in Goods productive step which will load fighting for survival of business, It said that PE investment sector are based on factors crore. letter to the CoC. NBFC following the best cor- and Services Tax (GST) which the traders further with burden it is “strongly urged that the in real estate in 2020 is expect- like overall economic and infra- Oaktree’s offer came a day The lenders had asked both porate governance standards as restricts use of input tax cred- of compliance and also much implementation of Rule 86 B ed to contract at $4.6 billion structure growth, growth in after Piramal raised its bid by the final bidders in the decided by the lenders. it for discharging GST liabili- financial obligation”. may be deferred”. due to decline in economic sectors such as manufacturing, activity, adding that investors logistics and e-commerce. are likely to adapt themselves Geopolitical scenario and pol- in the altered world order and icy enabling environment are ; .  !    "$ @A)/ . 20()'20 steadily return to the market also considered to be key with evolved strategies. determinants. As per the “The next wave of invest- report, the warehousing and Jaipur: Rajasthan is among common man easily. administrative con-    2B ments will be driven by growth logistics segment has been those States in the country With the view to increase trol of theMinistry in warehousing, affordable among the most resilient asset where right to information transparency, the list of the of Finance, GoI, so New Delhi:As many as 3.97 & ....Relax!,” the department housing and data centres apart classes in the ongoing pan- was initiated years ago and beneficiariesof different the State crore taxpayers have already tweeted. This includes 2.27 from the commercial office demic. Warehouse leasing is right to information waspro- schemes of state government Government has filed their income tax returns crore taxpayers filing ITR-1, segment which will continue to expected to increase by 60 per vided to its people through the has been made availableon Jan sent to theUnion for assessment year (AY) 2020- 85.20 lakh filing ITR-4, 46.78 see steady improvement,” said cent in 2021 as compared to act, said the Chief Miniser. This Soochna Portal, he said. Government, the 21 (fiscal year 2019-20) till lakh ITR-3 and 28.74 lakh fil- the report titled Beyond The 2020, keeping investors riveted time also, the Jan Soochna Waiving off crop loan from one time settle- December 24, the Income Tax ing ITR-2.The deadline to file ‘20: Private Equity in Indian and on the lookout for invest- Portal has been developed to cooperative banks was under ment proposal for Department said on Friday. I-T returns by individual tax- Real Estate’. ment opportunities.Savills further strengthen the right to thejurisdiction of the state gov- waivingoff the “Over 3.97 crore Income payers for the 2019-20 fiscal A likely repair of the Research also expects private information. Through the por- ernment, so it fulfilled its loans of the farm- Tax Returns have already been (AY 2020-21) ends on bruised economy, improving equity investors to assess an talinformation relating to gov- promise in 48hrs only, but ers. The Hon'ble filed till 24th of December, December 31, 2020, while the trade relations, policy support opportunity of around $330 ernment departments, agen- since the commercial banks, CM has written let- 2020. Have you filed yours as same for taxpayers whose and progress on the vaccination million in the industrial and cies, board, corporations, is nationalized banks andregion- terstwice to the Prime Minister FinanceMinister, whose reply is yet? If not, please do it TODAY! accounts require to be audited front, are the key factors that warehousing segment in 2021. being made available to the al rural banks comes under the and one letter to Union still awaited. File your Return of Income Tax is January 31, 2021. PTI :,  . +  !     ".  . 
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   $   /)@     2  aryana Chief Minister   HManohar Lal Khattar on Friday honoured Information, he Economic Offences Public Relations and TWing of Delhi Police has Languages Department with a filed an FIR against Strategic state-level award for develop- Credit Capital Private Ltd ing first of its kind Enterprise (SCCPL) along with other Resources Planning (ERP) associated entities and indi- Software for issuing release viduals Mohnish Mukkar over orders and payment of bills to an alleged fraud of over Rs 793 various media houses. The crore based on a complaint by department has received the Religare Finvest Ltd (RFL). award at a state-level function RFL had filed a criminal held on the occasion of Good complaint in August 2019 for Governance Day here. to media houses, the Public Relations and offences of cheating, misap- While honouring Information, Public Relations Languages Department, propriation, forgery, criminal Additional Chief Secretary, and Languages Department Haryana aimed at bringing breach of trust, and criminal Information, Public Relations has developed first of its kind transparency and quickness in conspiracy against SCCPL and and Languages Department, Online Release Orders and the entire process of issuance its associate entities and indi- Dheera Khandelwal, Director Billing System (OROBS). of release orders and bill pay- viduals. General, Information, Public Appreciating the efforts of ments. According to the FIR, the Relations and Languages the Department especially the The system has been accused persons including Department, P.C. Meena, project team, Khattar said it is developed in-house by the SCCPL and Mohnish Mukkar Additional Director (Admin), an example worth emulating teams of NIC Haryana and along with cheating and Information, Public Relations for other states as well. DIPRL Haryana, he shared. defrauding RFL, also forged and Languages Department, He said that release orders The online system will and fabricated documents to Varsha Khangwal and Pardeep and advertisement bills are eliminate the manual process induce RFL to execute an Kaushal, Senior Technical being processed through this of submission of advertise- assignment agreement. Director, NIC, Khattar lauded online system, adding that ment requests/indents by As per the FIR, around the officers for bringing the the payment of bills will be client organizations and man- April-May 2015, Mohnish much-needed e-reform in the made within a period of 30 ual bill submission by the Mukkar and Veena Singh, old age system of issuing days of submission to the print media. Director of PHFPL, had release orders and payment of media houses concerned after The departmental offi- approached RFL expressing bills by replacing it with the the submission of bills. cials and print media will also interest in acquiring certain first of its kind e-solution. Sharing more details, be able to track the status of existing RFL loans. Mohnish Director General, release orders and bills online Mukkar at the relevant time, Envisioning the Chief Information, Public Relations through a comprehensive had represented to RFL that he Minister’s idea of bringing and Languages Department, dashboard. Besides this, the was a promoter and director of transparency and efficiency in P.C. Meena said that the system has been integrated Halcyon Asia Support Services the entire process of releasing Online Release Orders and with SMS gateway to send Private Limited, which com- State Government Billing System (OROBS) is an event-based alerts to various pany was engaged in the busi- Advertisements and Payments ERP system for Information stakeholders. ness of debt restructuring.

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ow has George Clooney been handling Tom Cruise on-set audio was the fear in his isolation? Aside from spending time voice for the future of the industry. Are you Hwith his wife, Amal Clooney, and their worried for what Hollywood might look like three-year-old twins, and editing his new film after the pandemic? The Midnight Sky, he’s relied on, like many oth- Well, no. My concern is only specifically ers, a text chain with pals and Zoom. He just in the theatres themselves because they’re got off one with Matt Damon and John going to have to tread water for at least six Krasinski. months before people are in anyway comfort- “In some ways, we keep more in touch able enough to go in big groups. So you’ve got now than we did before,” says Clooney on the to keep them afloat. They are a part of our other end of the phone from London. economy. They’re what people do on a Friday The Midnight Sky, which Clooney direct- night. People have to get out of the house. It’s ed and stars in, is an apocalyptic sci-fi drama like music venues for concerts. We subsidise with some striking solitude. A thickly beard- oil companies, we can subsidise theaters. ed Clooney plays an astronomer with termi- Having said that, once we get through it, this nal cancer living at the Barbeau Observatory sounds so much like everything we heard in the Arctic Circle. It’s 2049. When cataclysm when television and VHS and DVDs came in. covers the globe, he — and a young, I have no fear at all that the theatre world is unspeaking girl (Caoilinn Springall) — going to be around. are potentially all that remains, along with the returning crew of What drew you towards the film? a space expedition to a What I always saw in this was the idea of Jupiter moon. But I’m almost 60 years old. That’s how it house. Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean what regret can do to you. I always thought The film based on works. I focus on actors who I admired great- Martin. And I got to spend time around that what he’s really dying of is not cancer but Lily Brooks-Dalton’s ly and how they handled their career. (Paul) kind of world. Before that I drove Rosemary regret. It’s killing him. I know people who are novel Good Morning, Newman, who was a very good friend of mine, when she was doing a show called 4 Girls 4. It older — older than me, even — who live with Midnight, is Clooney’s by the time he was in his mid-50s, he’s doing was Margaret Whiting and Kaye Ballard and real regret. It’s deep in them. When you get seventh film as direc- The Verdict, which is a character-actor piece. Kay Starr. So I had an understanding of the con- older, it’s a cancer. Everyone has regrets. You tor and his biggest Even though he was a giant film star, one of tinuum in the entertainment industry. We all hope you don’t have the ones that last a life- scaled produc- greats of all time, he was developing as he grew stand on the shoulders of the people who did time. tion yet. In an older the character-actor pieces he found it beautifully before us. I got to be friends with interview, the interesting, that demanded less of him. Gregory Peck and would go over to his house Has working alongside Amal, while she’s 59-year-old for dinners with (Peck’s wife) Veronique. Some in the next room waging humanitarian bat- actor-filmmaker Nobody’s Fool is a great late-period Newman of the most memorable nights I ever had was tles, changed your approach to filmmaking discussed his new film. sitting around listening to them talk about at all? film, the arc of his career Yes. I just watched that the other day. I had- “Roman Holiday.” It’s an amazing thing, when For the last 15-20 years, I’ve spent about and his latest novelty device of n’t seen it in forever. I forgot about him steal- stars were giants. half of my day working on things other than choice. Excerpt: ing the snow plow. That’s a really underrated the film business because I have interests in film. But there’s only a couple ways you can go You said you were “ashamed” as a native other issues around the world. But there are You finished shooting The if you’re a person in my shoes. You can try to Kentuckian when charges weren’t pursued in some funny moments. I have an office and she Midnight Sky in February, right deny your aging. You can dye your hair and get the death of Breonna Taylor. Do you feel a dis- has an office and they’re kind of up against before the pandemic began. How has a face lift and try to still be the guy who gets connect with your home state? each other. The other day, I was doing the your year been since? the girl in the films. Or you can accept that The divide is so different now. I do blame Howard Stern Show. We’re talking about, like, I’m kind of doing what everyone’s you’re getting older and be that guy. The rea- the way we get our information. It really start- a prank pooping in a cat box. And on the other doing. Washing dishes, doing laundry and son I got into directing and writing and pro- ed when Fox News came in and said: We’re side of the wall, my wife is having a conver- mopping floors. Mostly I just wish I was able ducing 35 years ago was because I knew at some going to give you another version of reality. sation trying to keep Maria Ressa from going to see my mom and dad, and that kind of point I don’t want to be worried about what When I grew up in Kentucky as a Democrat, to prison in the Philippines. She can hear me thing. They’re social creatures and it’s not as some casting director thinks of me. that wasn’t a particularly popular thing. But you and I can hear her. We go to dinner afterward much fun when they can’t be out with their weren’t demonised by it. My parents voted for and say: What an insane household we live in. old friends. You’ve always seemed aware of being part McGovern and everyone around them voted for of a Hollywood continuum. Your Los Angeles Nixon, but we were all friends. It’s just what it You’ve brought renewed attention to the It’s been years since you were the lead in house belonged to Clark Gable. was. Because you’re all starting from the same Flowbee by saying you use it to cut your own a film. Why? When I moved to Hollywood, I went and fact base. NBC, ABC and CBS are all giving you hair. Is there any other novelty device you’d Things change for you as an actor. The lived with my Aunt Rosemary (a top singer in basically the same news and then you take that like to plug? roles that are brought to you become very dif- the 50s) for about six months until she kicked into your political persuasion, digest it and come Here’s what I think we should do. Let me ferent. I was doing an interview the other day me out. Then I was living on the floor of an up with your own opinion. Now the internet go buy some stock in the Pocket Fisherman. and they asked if this was the way my career apartment for a couple years. But the reality was has obviously made it a thousand times worse. I’ll go buy some stock in that, and then you is going to be going, playing more character she was part of that continuum. She was mar- and I will split the proceeds. actor roles. I was like, well, I didn’t want to. ried to Jose Ferrer. She’d have people over to the One thing I think people missed in that L&

              ' &  !  &)  &  4%&%<41 /%2R !     !               !       fter screening carefully curated offerings through the year, Zee  
 '   ATheatre ends 2020 with Gidh, a grip- ping teleplay from across the border.  "
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  Gidh which means ‘Vulture’, delves into Saleema’s mundane life which is disrupt-    
 ed after an unexpected visit from Salma   $  who claims to be her sister-in-law. As the plot unfolds, both the women share the tri- fter a long time of being als of their respective lives which they had Acooped up at home, a lot us to undergo because of the same man – are craving that feeling of exhil- Junaid, Salma’s brother and Saleema’s hus- aration that comes from partic- band. Together, they decide to put an end ipating in extreme adventure to their suffering. What in fact transpires sports. The adrenaline rush, the changes one of their lives forever, but not sheer excitement, the butterflies in the way she had expected. in the stomach before taking the Kanwal says, “It has been an exciting plunge are all hallmarks of what experience collaborating with Zee Theatre. great adventures look like! After Jhaanjhar Di Paanwaan Chhankaar Discovery Channel is all set to and Mushk, the journey to this one has bring back the thrill of extreme been more than enriching, engrossing and sports with a new season of its hosts will go around Manali dis- Manali is such a beautiful place, Sharing his experience, Cyrus Megha Tata, Managing liberating as I embarked on developing the adventure reality series Feelin covering the unknown and over- but this time, it was more than said, “I thoroughly enjoyed myself Director – South Asia, Discovery teleplay vocabulary for it. The development similarities. Working in a room full of Alive Season 2, this time, helmed coming their fears. Training just the beauty of this place that while shooting for the show. It was Communications India said, of the play was experimental, energetic and strong women helped me let my guard by hosts Amol Parashar and under experts, the duo will set I got to savour. That rush and the fun and beautiful experiencing “Shows like this enhance our challenging, but overall, I am proud of the down, altering my perception of woman- Cyrus Sahukar. out to perform some the extreme thrill of trying something new Manali. I feel, trying new things offering of real life entertainment. team that stood by me and believed in me hood as I know it. We incorporated all our Shot in one of the most sports including slacklining at for the first time, was priceless. really helps you overcome your We are delighted to bring back to create something authentic and unique experiences, ideas, stories and beautiful locations, Manali, the Jagat Sukh, canyoning at Jogini To be honest, it was a bit nerve fears. I would watch people do all the adventure show and collab- thrilling.” manifested it into a piece that didn’t show will take the viewers on an Falls, snowboarding at Solang wracking for me before I tried these things and being cool, but orate with some of the leading Actor Sana says, “The characters in this adhere to any specific format. adventure to conquer the Valley and ATV off-roading. these extreme sports. But once never had the courage to do this brands.” play are the antithesis of the stereotypical The teleplay also stars Raasti Farooq extreme and experience that Speaking about his experi- I got into it, I was loving every on my own, until now. I glad to (The show premiers on women we see on TV as good or bad. In and Adeel Afzal and will be aired on adrenaline rush that they’ve ence, Amol said, “It was an moment of it. I not only enjoyed have had the opportunity. This is December 28 on Discovery the beginning, I thought I was playing a TataSky theatre on December 27 at 2 pm been craving for some time amazing experience. I have shooting the show but it also going to be one experience I will Channel, Discovery Channel HD, woman very different from myself but and 8pm. This is the first time that the play now. In the four-part series the never felt such thrill in my life. helped me overcome my fears.” remember for the rest of my life.” TLC and TLC HD.) ended up realising that we shared so many will be screened on TV and in India.  ! " # %#& ' &!(!)!#**

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estled in a lush paradisal terrain in Ahmedabad is collector and art Ndirector Anil Relia’s palatial man- sion that houses his enviable art collec- tion. Among the many Indian contem- porary art masters are his historic pich- vais, which find their way into a book — Nathdwara Paintings from the Anil Relia Collection (Kalyan Krishna and Kay Talwar Nyogi Books). This magnum opus celebrates Relia’s collection along with vignettes of art history. Intricate and intense are a series of pichvais that echo the beauty and tensile power of Shri Nathji in all his fervour and ferment.     Here are the images that present the magnificence of creating masterworks with opaque watercolour and gold on cloth. Krishna as Shri Nathji, repeated in several places, dancing with the gopis in the forest, with peacocks in dense foliage and cows with protective hand prints and temples in the foreground — a surfeit of images talk to us about the incantation of the bhajans, shlokas, mantras and the bedrock of the devotional inner spirit. Leafing through the book, one understands that devotees of Shrinathji established an elaborate worship pattern based on raga (music), bhoga (food), vas- tra (clothing) and shringara (adorn- ment). This transformed the deity into lakut and lotuses in his right hand, domain of textiles. The beauty of the for the senses. Most figures are delineat- a world-affirming god. This is the essence backed by a patterned backgrounds, book is in its inane iconic distinction. ed in gold against a dark blue ground or of pushti-marga, which sees the pleasures with the golden pandan box, betel leaves Relia affirms the place of both collector presented in the sunlit sunshine of crim- of the world as a manifestation of god’s and covered pitcher of holy Jamuna water and devotee. In an India that forgot to son and orange tinted gorgeousness. grace and enjoys them along with the at his feet, a row of garlanded cows bear- protect and preserve its temples, this Of deepened resonance and celestial god. ing auspicious handprints at bottom, all book is a testimony to our mythic vital- rhythm is the ras lila on Sharad Purnima. within floral borders the worship of Shri ity and virtuosity of artistic dimensions. Split into chapters of scholarship and     0  Nathji is prime and primordial. When you look at these originals, you intensity in research the in-depth narra- Worshipped in the Gangetic area The blue-skinned god, surrounded realise the impact of the temple hanging tive by Kalyan Krishna and Kay Talwar until the 17th century, the deity was of the town is the icon devoted to the cows of Vrindavan. On this day, by silver silhouettes of gopas and gopis, designs lord Krishna standing under a bring us into the maw of a rare spirit. moved on a bullock cart to Rajasthan to Shrinathji, with worshippers and cows herders bring hundreds of cows and their is mesmeric and magical, offerings in the tree, playing a flute, with a cow nuzzling Whether it is the circle of opalescent light protect it from idol breaking activities of gathered in the main square before him calves to Nathadwara, where the cows are foreground and the priests dressed in yel- at his foot. The presence of the gopis, the beams or the fully waxed autumn moon the Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb. One in celebration of the Govardhana puja. decorated for the occasion. They are low and offering oil lamps add to the fer- pensive power of the trees and showers seen in a dense grove the reader is drawn recalls reading that the cart carrying the painted with designs similar to those in vour. of flowers become the spiritual ferment into a state of rapturous enchantment, deity got trapped in soft mud in the place     9   the present pichvai, their horns are gild- of eternal nature. The images of diminu- and we understand the craving of the now known as Nathdwara, gateway to the Pichvais were commissioned for ed and some wear ankle bracelets and      tive cows and cowherders appearing gopis wanting to be with their lord lord. The city of Nathdwara is the home either a public temple or private shrine peacock-feather crowns. This book has India’s most gorgeous pichvais lie in either in the main focus or in the hori- Krishna. In more ways than one, this of Shrinathji and the most important on the occasion of a holiday or festival. a series of fascinating images. museums abroad specially with the zontal band create a significance for the book presents a divine lila ensuing as we temple town devoted to him. The layout Gopashtami is a festival that is dedicat- One can never tire of the solo Shri Sackler and Freer Galleries, Museum of term Gopala. Of course, sublime is drink of the manifestations of lord of the city is typical for a Rajasthani ed to lord Krishna and cows. It is the Nathji images. In one of the pictures, he Boston and Met museum New York. This Krishna milking the cow and the Krishna.We are left with multiple images palace, with numerous gates painted with coming-of-age celebration when is wearing a brocade chakdar vagha, book tells us the power of the Indian col- kalpavruksha behind in the background of the ras lila or divine dance that cul- confronted elephants, winding alleys Krishna’s father, Nanda Maharaja, gave beaded necklaces, lotus garland, a large lector and his place in the firmament of is a tale for many ages. From foliage pat- minates when Krishna as Shri Nathji pre- and gleaming white walls. At the centre him the responsibility for taking care of peacock-feather headdress, holding the Indian art history, especially in the terns to lotus ponds, the book is a feast sents his darshana. 2
  
 
 
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video chats with hotel staff and a lot more enthusiasts in 2021. for new age guests. Robots room service Sustainability is going to be much Many hotel brands in India have bigger and greener already adopted robotics to transform the The positive side of worldwide lock- room cleaning and room service opera- down is that the nature has got the time tions. The rise of service robots has ush- to reboot and blossom. This has made us ered a new era of guest hospitality. realise the true value of sustainable and Guests are excited to take services from eco-friendly practices to save the life sav- these robots who are here to assure ing planet. Maintaining the beauty of utmost safety, hygiene and comfort. The environment through recycling and next year — 2021 will have a new ctor Pankaj Tripathi says he is unable to proper management of five living ele- brigade of robot butlers delivering your Aunderstand why women prefer to keep quiet s the largest industry in the world, ments i.e. water, waste, energy, food and snacks, toiletries or other amenities to instead of opening up whenever they experience Atourism is everything and every- structure, hotel brands in the new guest rooms. They can navigate floors by some sort of trauma, especially in personal life. thing is tourism. India is expected to informed world are now committed to using the Wi-Fi to call lifts or be placed “It’s unknown to me why women keep quiet become the youngest country by 2022, deliver sustainable hospitality experi- at front door where guests can ask ques- when they go through trauma in personal life. with an average age of 29. Instagram is rul- ences. Hotels are using bare minimum tions and enjoy chats with them. They are They are tight-lipped when asked to share their ing the social media networks worldwide artificial powers whether it is in the form now your front desk managers providing problems. I don’t really know how to decode and with 59 million active monthly users, of air, light and water. Organic, vegetar- basic information such as the spa and this, but somehow this problem still exists in our we are the third-largest market for ian and vegan choices are now leading the gym timings, best places to hangout, pop- society. Even if we stay in liberal urban cities, Instagram. Millennials have set their F&B menus. Hotels are going to bet high ular shopping hubs and personalised there still are few sections of society where own rules and pushed the brands and on solar energy so as to contribute their information for a guest’s needs. women are not vocal about their problems,” the market strategists to serve what they want bit in energy conservation for future gen- actor said. even before the COVID-19 era. erations. Plastic straws, cutlery, water bot- Short distance tours and staycations Tripathi’s observation resonates in his new The Indian Hospitality brands are tles, toiletry bottles etc have been replaced People are now preferring staycations release, the web series Criminal Justice: Behind now gearing up to ensure contactless, now with compostable or reusable alter- over long holidays and short distance Closed Doors. In the show, he plays lawyer seamless and exceptional hospitality ser- natives. tours over long journeys. A recent survey Madhav Mishra, who fights the case of Anu vices to the guests in the new social dis- conducted by Booking.com has revealed Chandra (played by Kirti Kulhari), a woman tancing world. The new informed world Mobile check-in that people have been taking smaller jour- who is arrested for killing her husband Vikram consumer is setting new trends which are This year has set new trends in neys and discovering (or rediscovering) Chandra, a hotshot lawyer played by Jisshu going to rule out 2021, says Roop Pratap motion which are going to rule in 2021 wonderful experiences closer home with Sengupta. As the story unfolds, the emerges the Choudhary, Managing Director of Noor as well. Contactless check-in has ease in travel restrictions. Be it bag seemingly open and shut case has layers, and Mahal. become the new norm of hospitality packers, corporate groups, families or that Anu might have been a victim in her mar- and guests are willing to skip front friends, people are preferring to drive ital life. Smart rooms with smart controls scene, now you can set the temperature, vice using voice recognition technology desk for check-in and other room down to their nearby getaways for short “In the series Madhav Mishra struggles to Be it Artificial Intelligence, Machine mood and ambience of your hotel room or book your favourite spa session with related queries. These contactless and relaxed staycations. In a bid to understand why Anuradha Chandra killed her Learning or Internet of Things, futuristic via voice command. Imagine your room a single click on your smartphone. technologies are not only offering ease encourage more footfall on domestic husband and what was her real motive behind technologies have taken complete control detecting light automatically or adjusting Opulence, comfort and exceptional room and safety to consumers but also tourism destinations, the Tourism min- doing so!” Tripathi said. of hotel rooms to ensure contactless the brightness level, controlling temper- experiences are going digital in 2021. The helping hoteliers’ weather operational istry has also started Dekho Apna Desh Directed by Rohan Sippy and Arjun experiences. From room key to personal ature and contributing to energy saving smart rooms are going to be power disruptions. Chatbots are ready to campaign asking Indians to take pledge Mukerjee, and written by Apurva Asrani, the entertainment during your staycation, while ensuring your luxurious comfort packed with keyless entry, soundproof resolve any guest query. On the oth- to visit at least 15 different tourism loca- series also features Deepti Naval, Shilpa Shukla, everything is now accessible from smart and stay. windows, smooth streaming entertain- erhand, virtual tours and mobile tions in India by the year 2022. Mita Vashisht, Pankaj Saraswat, and Ayaz devices. Once sounded as a scifi movie You can enjoy contactless room ser- ment, wireless device charging, real time check-in are ready to delight travel L &  Khan, and streams on Disney+ Hotstar VIP. $   ! " # %#& ' &!(!)!#** 2       3    #    
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    you do then? Would you go back there to back you, not just by 1   ;   @ A   to Wriddhiman Saha,” Gambhir words but by action.” he Indian team manage- questioned on YouTube channel No one apart from India    :   Tment has made players Sports Today. rotates wicketkeeper based on “insecure” and the decision to For Gambhir, it’s not lip-ser- conditions, said Gambhir. rotate between Wriddhiman vice but actions that makes “Actually, it’s been unfair on   6  - 9 Saha and Rishabh Pant has players secure, something that Rishabh Pant and Wriddhiman 3 :;; $ been “unfair” on both the wick- this current regime has failed, Saha both over a long period of few bruised egos will eye etkeepers, feels former opener according to him. time when they have picked and redemption when India 56: %6 ? @ , 3A Gautam Gambhir. “That’s why this team looks chosen players on conditions. Asquare off against Saha was on Friday dropped so unsettled because no one is You don’t do that with wicket- Australia in the second Test here from the Boxing Day Test due to secured. Professional sport keepers. You do that with from Saturday, ready to bounce his poor batting form in the is all about security. bowlers,” he fumed. back in skipper Ajinkya Rahane’s opening game and Gambhir Everyone has talent “In overseas condi- hour of reckoning after hitting asked whether the team’s think- when they are tions, you play two the ‘nadir of 36’. tank will do the same with Pant representing spinners based on Seldom has an Indian out- if he fails in the next two games. the country,” conditions, its fit been at such difficult cross- “It’s unfortunate and Gambhir, known understandable, but roads in recent years as it is in Wriddhiman Saha has played for his frank opinion, which other teams in the aftermath of the humiliating just one Test match in this said. the world has chopped defeat in Adelaide and Virat series and he hasn’t done well “A l l t h e y w a n t and changed wicket- Kohli’s departure for the birth of and gets dropped. is security and keepers based on his child. “Imagine what happens to that assur- conditions. No But the good thing is that Pant if he doesn’t do well in this ance that one apart from star-in-waiting, Shubman Gill, is Test or the third Test. What do we are India.” ready to honour his team’s leap of faith in him when he makes his Test debut at the imposing Melbourne Cricket Ground.     % !       
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';(( stride forward while facing Pat The first Test against Sri secretary’s position, Ravindra executive body of the State/UT equal number of tactical changes need of the hour. per Tim Paine insisted. (%'/(% Cumins and Josh Hazlewood Lanka starts on Saturday and Dongre. Associations can only be autho- was always on cards for the vis- Pant was an instant hit dur- While Kohli’s absence can ))( not only physically but also fig- coach Mark Boucher said the The court-appointed rized by the President of such itors as they take on Tim Paine’s ing the last tour in 2018-19 but never be really compensated for,  !/
 uratively. South African team would Returning Officer Justice Association to represent in the confident men, spending in the past year, had lost both Rahane would like to show his %
%/ look to express its support for (retired) K Kannan has released meetings of the NSFs including Christmas without their families. form and confidence to surren- character by promoting himself L 0  TEAMS inclusion after its inaction in the list of nominated candidates casting of vote in the election of Gill’s languid approach and der his place in the white-ball up the batting order and taking  Australia XI: Tim Paine (cap- the last series, which attracted for 15 posts, which includes the NSFs,” the Sports Ministry that extra second while facing formats. more responsibility. tain & wk), Joe Burns, Matthew criticism from many quarters. names of PR Venkatrama Raja said in its reply to a RTI query. fast bowlers, coupled with a way Amid the ruins, there lies a Cheteshwar Pujara can play Wade, Marnus Labuschagne, “We’ve had a lot of discus- (Tamil Nadu) and Ravidra The BS Chauhan group tighter technique than Prithvi glimmer of hope as Ravindra his natural doggedly defensive  O(&(((( Steve Smith, Travis Head, sions since we’ve come into the Dongre (Maharashtra). claim that the names of Raja Shaw, might just give the dress- Jadeja, who has recovered fully game but head coach Ravi #(' '(
() Cameron Green, Pat Cummins, bubble about this, especially The Chauhan camp con- and Dongre should not be in ing room the confidence from his concussion and ham- Shastri might just tell him that (O(!) /("! Josh Jazlewood, Mitchell Starc, after what the board statement tended that the nominations of the voters’ list because they are required in testing times. string injury, will add a new there’s no harm if the scoreboard %'&/%  !( /(; Nathan Lyon. was and the guys have come up these two in the electoral roll not elected representative of He will have the company of dimension with his all-round is ticking as it will only lessen the (# India XI: Ajinkya Rahane (cap- with a meaningful gesture,” and later in the list of candidates their respective state associa- Mayank Agarwal, who would be abilities in a five-bowler set-up. pressure on a batting line-up that ((% '( tain), Mayank Agarwal, Boucher said during a virtual is in violation of country’s tions. Only those whose names wanting to do an encore, if not Hanuma Vihari will be will miss Kohli way too much. #( '%( Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar press conference on Friday. Sports Code and should be appear in the voters’ list are eli- better, of his performance at a shunted up the batting order In the absence of Shami, ('%)/' Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh “That’s something the rejected. gible to contest AICF elections. venue where he made his Test after retaining his place and the Jasprit Bumrah and Umesh &' Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, R players will share with every- Quoting an RTI reply by Justice Kannan will be debut. experienced KL Rahul have to Yadav will have to be relentless L   Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit one before match day,” he the Ministry of Sports, hearing these objections on Similarly, Rishabh Pant, wait patiently for his turn. and also guide a young Siraj, Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj. added. Government of India, the December 26. O P     !" #$%&'!#'(%
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Manta also credits her bandmates ative profession because you can’t go and not go anywhere.” And while not for her songwriting, “As a writer you the solo way.” performing has taken its toll, she is have a vision and it is your bandmates, The inspiration for her songs often very pleased that she managed to fin-  who are expert instrumentalists and comes from her personal experiences ish writing the material for the put your vision into action. I have but that is not a deliberate thing, she Ensemble’s third album. Although    been blessed in both my bands to have says. “I think, I speak for most songwrit- when she recently caught up with her     great bandmates. I really wouldn’t ers when I say that when you are writ- bandmates for the first time since the      change anything about my experi- ing about a subject, subconsciously, you lockdown began, ostensibly for the first      ences.” She also adds that a lot of what are taking from your own experi- practice of the new material, no music she knows about music was picked up ences. But it isn’t always that. One major happened. “We were meeting after so     from her fellow musicians, “Some of aspect that people often forget about long that we just ate, chatted and par-   them are very highly educated in anybody indulging in creative writing tied.” She says that she has been for-     music, some have studied abroad. is that it isn’t always experiences but also tunate as she teaches music at the Shiv     There are so many things that I lack observations and even your mood at the Nadar School in Gurugram’s DLF that they make up for. There are point of time that you are writing a Phase 1 which has meant that unlike   numerous things that I was unaware song.” However, a major portion of writ- some other musicians she has man- anta Sidhu, songwriter and vocalist for of that I have learnt thanks to the priv- ing is inspired from observing life aged financially. the Manta Sidhu Ensemble, always ilege of working with them. around them and that is where a bulk Talking about the revolutionary wanted to write and had chalked out Collaborating with others in your field of their creativity comes from, she feels. Intelligent Manual Transmission that a career in journalism ever since she is very important For someone who wanted to be a cre- removes the clutch but keeps the gear was in school. After graduating in any cre- ative writer, Manta says that songwrit- lever, allowing drivers to get the best fromM Delhi University’s Hindu College she joined ing is where she channels her inventive of both worlds, she says, “Well, my left the fabled A J K Mass Communication energy. foot was feeling idle, but this really took Research Centre at Delhi’s Jamia Millia As for this year, Manta is fairly me just a minute to get used to, so it Islamia. Yet, after a few years of writing sto- pragmatic, “There are many aspects isn’t very difficult at all. The music is ries, editing and spending long hours in the to 2020, but some days it is great great in the car so your left foot can newsroom, she realised that her true love was to wake up keep tapping to it.” She hopes that the music and writing songs. While supporting IMT concept catches on with more herself with some freelance journalism gigs cars adopting it. As for the seven- on the side, Manta was drawn more and speaker BOSE audio system, more into music. “I was already quite Manta’s first comments are deeply into it since college and I always that it is ‘beautifully bal- wanted to pursue music seriously, but I did- anced’. “Some audio sys- n’t realise to what extent.” tems are too heavy on the Despite being blessed with a great voice, base, and others, like Manta admits that, music was just one of bad headphones, can several extra-curricular activities she partici- be too high on treble. pated in during school. It was while studying at As musicians the Hindu College that she became a part of the col- experience you want lege’s active music society and met new friends — listeners to have is a all with an interest in music. “That is where I decid- balanced one and ed that I would be pursue music professionally, but that is what we try to I had no idea about how deep I would get into it. achieve in the mix- Music was an unconventional career choice then.” ing studio and the Yet, Sidhu states that while it might have translation on this seemed tougher earlier because there were fewer system is perfect,” locations and gigs, nowadays with a whole bunch she exults. of younger and hungrier musicians taking up While the Sonet instruments, competition has ensured that ‘mak- has turned out to be ing it’ is still a challenge. “By making it I mean, earn- one of 2020’s best things, its ing enough to make ends meet and live comfortably, so music system is actually a that you can spend time writing and composing your own hidden surprise for melody lovers. music and releasing albums. It is still a challenge today. Although there Here is to a very are so many more places to play music but there are also so many musical 2021. ■ more musicians. And that is a good thing.”