( <&%()$(6 %% 9:%=66 ;:6'>#()5(6 %% ( +';:6'>#()5(6 %%> SIDISrtVUU@IB!&!!"&#S@B9IV69P99I !%! %! ' 02.3(*0)&- 2$ 1 213 42 , 5$2 /6 $*=)(%#86' ,O& @@ D & @, &, @ & , & @ . , ,$ @ &8 @ ,8 @ & @8,, @ @&& . $ . 0 B C ?%.( ,(/ 001& !!" ? (@*:+%(9 55)(:=)% !4% # R R R ! " Delhi if demands are not met soon. In the meeting tomorrow he farmers on Friday called our main agenda will be to Tfor “Bharat Bandh” on know if the Government is December 8 to mark their rolling back laws or not. The authorities to highlight our protest against the new farm protests are going on country- # # # concerns.” laws if their talks with the wide against the law, even in Q % & R The External Affairs Centre fail. Thousands of Andhra Pradesh and Ministry said these comments farmers remained at the Telangana and this protest is have encouraged gatherings national Capital’s border points just not limited to northern '() of “extremist activities” in front amid heavy police deploy- States but across the country,” of our High Commission and ment. said Ranjeet Singh Raju from Consulates in Canada that “The Government has to Rajasthan. raise issues of safety and secu- revoke these laws in a meeting Farmers from western tepping up its protest rity. scheduled for December 5, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand Sagainst Canadian Prime “We expect the Canadian otherwise we have decided to stayed put at Ghazipur border Minister Justin Trudeau’s Government to ensure the give ‘Bharat bandh’ call on (UP Gate) to mark their remarks about ongoing farm- fullest security of Indian December 8 and we will also protest. Following which the ers’ stir in the country, India on diplomatic personnel and its occupy toll plaza and all vehi- National Highway-9 remained Friday said these comments political leaders to refrain from cles will be passed through closed from Ghaziabad to could have a “seriously dam- pronouncements that legit- them without any payment. Delhi on the second consecu- aging impact” on ties between imise extremist activism,” the On December 7, awards will be tive day. Commuters taking the two countries. statement added. returned back to Government alternate route faced long India issued this stern On Tuesday too, a day by sportspersons and on queues of traffic on their route. message after summoning after Trudeau’s statement, India December 5, effigies of the The farmers on Friday also Canadian High Commissioner had denounced the Canadian Narendra Modi Government tried to block the Bhupra and to India Nadir Patel here. The Prime Minister’s remarks on and corporate houses will be Apsara border but later the External Affairs Ministry said the farmers’ agitation as “ill- burnt across the country,” said security forces persuaded the the comments by the Canadian informed” and “unwarranted”. Harinder Singh Lakhwal, farmers and the traffic move- /0 Prime Minister, some Cabinet “Such comments are Bharatiya Kisan Union gener- ment resumed. union took place on Friday and Ministers and Members of unwarranted, especially when al secretary. However, traffic in the in a Press conference the farm- Parliament on issues relating to pertaining to the internal Bharatiya Kisan Union national Capital remained in ers said in their meeting held tion towards Minimum are going on, both have agreed Indian farmers “constitute an affairs of a democratic coun- leader Rakesh Tikait on Friday chaos on Friday as Delhi Police on December 3, they clearly Support Price (MSP) is very on some points. Government unacceptable interference in try,” the Ministry spokesperson said the farmers are hoping that and Noida Police issued advi- told the Government to roll head of the fifth round clear. I assure you that there of India is in talks with kisan our internal affairs”. Anurag Srivastava had said. the Government will meet their sory for route diversion. back the farm laws and point- Ameeting on Saturday, the will be no change in MSP. unions and the meetings are on This strong statement On Friday, New Delhi also demands during the fifth round The Singhu, Tikri, ed out to nine flaws in them. Centre is hopeful of resolution Discussions are going on and positive note,” Tomar said. He came after Trudeau recently said, “Comments by Canadian of talks scheduled for Ghazipur, Jharoda Lampur, “If Government does not of the standoff with agitating both sides have agreed on urged political parties not to said, “We’re all very worried leaders on Indian farmers con- December 5, failing which they Auchandi, Safiabad, Piao agree to our demands, the farmers and may be ready to some points. We will meet politicise the whole move- about family and friends. We stitute an unacceptable inter- will continue their protests Maniyari, and Saboli and further course of action will be “bring amendments”, said again on Saturday. I am sure we ment. believe in the importance of ference in our internal affairs. against the new farm laws. Chilla border remained closed decided tomorrow and we will Union Agriculture Minister will get a solution,” Tomar Tomar said the dialogue and that’s why we’ve Such actions, if continued, will “We have also decided to for traffic movement. intensify our protest,” said Narendra Singh Tomar. told a news channel. Government has no ego and it reached out through multiple have a seriously damaging close all roads connecting to A meeting of farmers Gurnam Singh Chaduni. “The Government’s inten- “Continuous discussions has an open mind. means directly to the Indian impact on bilateral ties.” , - ! . . & * ed that the trials are progress- fers disability, or death. But the ing as the SAEs reported have causality on whether the SAE () no causal link to the trials of is related to the clinical trial has these vaccines. He was replying to be established by an expert * avirus would be “available in to queries of reporters at a committee of DCGI for the the next few weeks”. webinar. compensation. # Without giving away the # “It has been found that Somani also said that com- price of the vaccine, Modi things are going on as per pensation of 12 crore has said it will be decided keeping processes,” Somani told the been awarded for injuries, in view the “public interest in media, referring to the two deaths caused during clinical + ' mind”, suggesting it may not be he country’s top drug reg- incidents of SAEs. trials in last 3 years. high-priced. Tulator on Friday gave clean Compensation is given The SII has brushed aside “Experts expect that the chit to Serum Institute of when the causality of serious allegations of SAE by the vaccine will be ready within India(SII) and Bharat Biotech, adverse event is found to be Chennai volunteers claiming he Centre plans to give vac- the next few weeks. Once sci- which are facing allegations of related to the trial, he said. that its Covishield vaccine is Tcine shots to nearly one entists approve it, the nation- serious adverse events (SAE) in An SAE is any untoward safe and immunogenic and crore health workers in the first wide vaccination drive will be the clinical trials. medical occurrence during the did not cause the neurological phase of the vaccination drive started in India. Our scientists Drug Controller General of trial that may result in the vol- serious adverse effect in the 40- whenever a Covid-19 vaccine are very confident of succeed- India (DCGI) VG Somani hint- unteer getting hospitalised, suf- year-old participant. is approved for use in India. ing in their endeavour of mak- After this, nearly two crore ing the Covid-19 vaccine. The ./0 frontline workers, including world is keeping a watch on the policemen, security person- cheapest and safe vaccine,” the 1 1 * !" !!" nel, municipal workers and PM said during the meeting other essential workers will which was attended by about #$#% " !! receive the vaccination, the 12 leaders from prominent &'()#* "" Health Ministry told an all- political parties. %) "" ! " party meeting chaired by Modi, who, last week vis- Prime Minister Narendra ited India’s top vaccine hubs to %)( " !" Modi here on Friday. personally review the devel- $#% "! About 27 crore senior cit- opment of coronavirus vaccine % % +) " ""! izens will receive the vaccine and the manufacturing process ,#( ! ! ! !"" on priority basis in the third also assured that the country phase of the vaccination drive. has the necessary infrastruc- - " ! ! Addressing the floor lead- ture to manufacture the vac- &%) + ! ""! ers of Opposition parties while cine at a large scale. Nearly .(+ ! "" reviewing Covid-19 situation eight vaccines are at different in the country, the Prime stages of trial with their man- ! ! ! Minister quoted scientists say- ufacturing assured in India, he ( ! " ! ing that a vaccine for coron- said. 0*- ' ! " ! + ! " ! )+* ! #$ &' /01, #22 ), .3 45 -$ eserve Bank of India (RBI) Ron Friday left interest rates oters of Hyderabad have thrown a “hung unchanged for the third Vverdict” in the GHMC elections, the results straight time amid persistent- of which were announced on Friday. None of the ly high inflation and said the parties could secure the magic figure of 76 out ithin days of it completing its first year in economy was recuperating fast of 150 seats. Woffice, the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi and would return to positive However, the ruling TRS has emerged as the (MVA) consolidated its position in Maharashtra growth in the current quarter. single largest party bywinning 55 seats out of on Friday, as it handed out a humiliating drub- The six-member Monetary total 150 seats it had contested. TRS tally came bing to the Opposition BJP by winning four out Policy Committee unani- down to 55 from 99 seats it won in 2016. five Maharashtra Legislative Council seats in the mously decided to keep the The BJP which has given a tough fight to biennial elections. repo rate — the rate at which TRS right from the beginningof the polls, The BJP, which lost to power to the Shiv O! P# RBI lends to commercial banks stood second by winning 48 seats out of 149 seats Sena-led MVA Government in November last $% — at 4 per cent. Since January, it had contested. The BJP had just 4 seats in 2016. year, found itself licking its wounds, as it lost &&()*+ ,*-.%)(O( RBI has reduced rate by 115 The AIMIM, which stood third by securing its traditional bastion of Nagpur where the 2*)(%'( %#L%566M basis points before hitting the 43 seats proved yet again that it remains Congress’ Abhijit Wanjari defeated the BJP’s 6 8(# # 6(+ (9(: pause button in August on unbeatable in its strong hold Old City. The Sandeep Joshi in the Nagpur Division Graduates’ : +%(5%#(:%#66 ; concerns on inflation. Congress failed miserably, it won just 2 constituency, by a comfortable margin of 18,910 Detailed report on P9 Detailed report on P5 votes. Detailed report on P5 !"!"
@G % "&P' )* :%(O6* # )*# *=%: %) ( " # $ # uning with times, the All TIndia Institute of Medical stated that they were working separate room with sufficient first week of the month. In + Sciences (AIIMS) Rishikesh there voluntarily. However, the toys and facilities for the small these meetings the organisation launched its You Tube channel he State Commission for committee has expressed its kids of the women where they ith an eye on the activities would be discussed, on Friday. The director of the TProtection of Child Rights concern to commission over can play or sleep during the WAssembly elections slat- plans for protests would be for- institute, Ravikant inaugurated (SCPCR) directed the Senior the matter that there are about 32 working hours of their mothers, ed in early 2022, the malised and the review of past the channel named ‘AIIMS Superintendent of Police (SSP) of girls who were working in the said Negi. She stated that there Uttarakhand Congress has month’s performance would or treatment and care of ! "!# Rishikesh Official’. Speaking on Dehradun to investigate a private factory but they all have the same are 700 female workers in the decided to focus on strength- be done. Regular reports of FAIDS patients, Anti $ the occasion, he said that the company that reportedly hired date of birth in Aadhar Card factory but there are no proper ening its organisation. The these activities would be sent to Retroviral Therapy (ART) cen- channel has been launched with child labourers to work in their which is January 1. Alleging that arrangements for these women Pradesh Congress Committee the state unit of Congress. tre has started operating at the of the hospital, Dr S L Jethani a view of providing proper Selaqui factory. these Aadhar cards might be fake to discuss issues like sexual (PCC) president, Pritam Singh Dhasmana said that the party Himalayan hospital Jollygrant. said that the hospital already information about health facili- Last month, the chairperson and can affect the lives of many harassment in the workplace as remained engrossed with lead- would organise programmes to The centre was inaugurated by has as ICTC centre for HIV ties available at AIIMS- of the commission Usha Negi children, CWC asked the com- per the government rules. ers of party at Rajiv Bhawan in strengthen its organisation in the Vice Chancellor (VC) of the testing. He said that a need for Rishikesh to the common peo- had inspected a factory in mission to take the necessary Furthermore, Negi added that Dehradun for hours on Friday coming days as the election Himalayan University, Vijay the ART centre was being felt ple. He said that the channel will Selaqui where she found 94 sus- action in this matter. the smoke generating in the and discussed ways to give a fil- year is approaching. He added Dhasmana. Speaking on the for a long time so that the have videos containing infor- pected child labourers but the Moreover, Negi has also factory is also drained over the lip to organisational activities. that senior leaders of the party occasion, he said that the cen- patients found positive in ICTC mation about all the health relat- date of birth in their Aadhar stated that there are about 700 roof of the women toilet which The vice president of the party, would guide the activities of the tre would be beneficial for the centre can be treated. ed activities and health facilities Card, which was on the same women out of total 1,300 work- causes asphyxiation and throat Surya Kant Dhasmana said party. Dhasmana said that soon HIV patients of Uttarakhand In charge of the ART cen- conducted in the institution. date and day showed them as ers in the factory but even the problems to women. Directing that circulars have been issued the in-charges of all 26 organ- and nearby States. He said that tre, Dr Garima Mittal said that One should log in into the adults. Negi said that as per the basic facilities like clean women SSP to take cognisance of all such to the district, Mahanagar and isational districts and 70 the hospital is continuously the medicines for treatment of https://www.youtube.com/chan- reports provided by the toilets, dustbin, handwash and a issues in the factory, Negi Block presidents of the party in assembly segments would visit upgrading facilities to provide patients are available and nel/UC99FNd_PvsKXwXispfxm Dehradun Child Welfare functioning light bulb in toilets ordered him to submit the inves- which they have been asked to their areas and work for quality treatment to the efforts would be made for jhg/videos for the You tube Committee (CWC), many chil- are not provided to female work- tigation report within 15 days in hold monthly meetings of their strengthening the organisation patients. arrangement of kit for CD -IV channel. dren during their counselling ers. There should be at least a the commission. working committees in the of the party. The Chief Medical Officer test. 5 # # P " 6 #.3633 &/+ . 0 Government. Singh became the first Indian Punjabi poet and lyricist boxer to fetch an Olympic . 0 eturn of honours, in protest Harmanjeet Singh, who won the medal back in 2008, said that he $* -=(( +%=- Ragainst the central farm Yuva Puraskar for his book would return his Dronacharya ormer Chief Minister laws and in support of the agi- Rani Tatt, has also announced Award if demands of the farm- FBhupinder Singh Hooda on tating farmers, continues in to return his Yuva Sahitya ers protesting against new agri- %9*%6::%5@%06E# Friday said that the Congress Punjab. Akademi Award (Punjabi) in culture laws are not addressed. party would bring a no-confi- A day after Punjab’s five- support of farmers protesting Sandhu, who served as Chandigarh: Expressing sol- award from the Department of of the peaceful & resilient dence motion against the time former Chief Minister against farm bills. India’s national men’s coach for idarity with farmers protesting Language. People's love is the protesters from far & wide Manohar Lal Khattar Parkash Singh Badal returned Showing their solidarity over two decades before guid- against the new central farm biggest award of my career, & (sic),” Mann said in another Government in the state. On being asked whether the Padma Vibhushan, chief with the protesting farmers, ing women boxers for a couple laws, Punjabi singer-actor all attention & efforts right tweet. The BJP-JJP led State the Congress is in touch with boxing coach in five Olympics Punjab’s three Boxing legends — of years and won the country’s Harbhajan Mann on Friday now from us all must be ded- Mann had come out with Government has lost its ground the JJP MLAs for support, Gurbax Sandhu, 1982 Asian Kaur Singh, Gurbaksh Singh top sports coaching honour in announced that he will not icated to the peaceful farmers' a new song ‘Murrde ni laye over its stance in the ongoing Hooda said he would not tell Games Gold Medalist Kaur Sandhu, and Jaipal Singh — 1998, said that it was his way of accept the Punjab protest (sic),” Mann said on bina haq, Dilliye" (Delhi, we farmer agitation. The Congress everything on this platform. Singh, and 1986 Asian Games have decided to return their showing support to the farmers, Government’s ‘Shiromani Twitter.Mann, along with aren't turning back without will seek a special assembly ses- Lashing out at Chief Medalist Jaipal Singh, besides Padam Shri, Dronacharya who are protesting in “bitter Punjabi’ Award, announced a many Punjabi singers and getting our rights) on sion from the Governor, said Minister Manohar Lal Khattar Sikh religious leader and Award, and Arjuna Award cold without any consideration day before. Notably, Punjab artists, has been supporting Wednesday, and the video of Hooda, who is Leader of for his recent statement claim- Environmentalist Baba Sewa respectively. for their own well-being”. Languages Department had the farmers' agitation for the the song shows how farmers Opposition in Haryana ing Haryana farmers did not Singh Khadoor Sahib on Friday Former national boxing “By doing this, I feel a on Thursday selected Mann last several months. The braved water cannons and Assembly. join the agitation, Hooda said announced to return their hon- coach Sandhu, who was the huge morale pressure is off for the award, while announc- singer-actor had also attend- broke police barriers en route He said that three inde- he did not have his facts right ours, awarded by the Indian national coach when Vijender me. I come from a family of ing Sahitya Ratna and ed the farmers protest at the to Delhi border points. About pendents who supported the as his own government had Shromani Awards for 18 dif- Delhi borders. a month back, Mann had government have withdrawn lathicharged Haryana farmers ferent categories of literature “You had to be there to released another song their support. The coalition JJP in Peepli, picking them from and art. experience their energy, fer- “Anndataa, Khet Saadi Maa, MLA’s are openly speaking homes a night before the “Though I'm grateful to be vour & optimism. Amidst Khet Saadi pagg” (fields are against them. Even before the planned march and has now selected, I humbly cannot adversity, they smile & share our mother, fields are our Baroda bypolls, we had booked them. accept the Shiromni Gayak moments of happiness. Proud pride). announced that the BJP gov- Reacting to Agriculture ernment has lost grounds and and Farmers' Welfare Minister farmers, their fears need to be Padma Shri and Arjuna awardee them”. now it is evident that the Chief JP Dalal’s statements about addressed. If the ongoing talks wrestler Kartar Singh, Arjuna In his letter to the President Minister has even lost the con- foreign funding being provid- do not yield a result satisfacto- awardee basketball player Sajjan Ram Nath Kovind, dated fidence of his own supporting ed to farmers, Hooda said he ry to the farmers, I will return Singh Cheema and Arjuna December 3 but released on MLAs, he said. should not just publicly apol- the award,” said Sandhu. awardee hockey player Rajbir Friday, Dhindsa asserted, “What The senior Congress leader ogise but also resign for humil- Sandhu said that the Kaur. our people are facing has been said the party is seeking a spe- iating every single farmer. Dronacharya Award “means a In fact, Olympian, Padma haunting me. Whatever I have cial session to test the confi- “Famers are being insulted. lot to me but the plight of my fel- Shri and Arjuna awardee Pargat achieved in my life is blessing of dence in the chair and address They are shivering in cold, low farmers means even more. Singh had also announced to people my state and when thou- the farmer’s concerns. sleeping on roads, eating in lan- It is painful for me to see return his honours. sands of them are suffering There are many who are gars and are being brutally them sitting on roads in this Besides, Rajya Sabha MP and have to stay on roads to issuing statements supporting treated. Dalal should resign for cold. All that the government Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa had impress upon the Government farmers but are still with the mocking the cause of people needs to do is talk to them, clear also announced to return the of India to meet their very just chair. They will be unmasked, whose welfare he is responsible their doubts and assure them”. Padma Bhushan Award, demands, millions of others he said. for,” Hooda added. Sandhu joined several for- bestowed on him in 2019, “to are passing through mental mer sportspersons in extending express solidarity with my peo- agony, I think the least I can do their support to the agitating ple and to protest against the is to return the Padma Bhushan )( -." farmers. Among them are treatment being meted out to Award…” #'
. 0
evenue collection Rthrough stamp duty and registration fee is picking up in Haryana, with income generated in October, sur- passing the earnings in the same period last year.Besides, more than two lakh deeds were registered in the state between April 1 and November 30, said Sanjeev Kaushal, Additional Chief Secretary and Financial Commissioner, Revenue and Disaster Management Department. The total revenue of Rs 1,949.75 crore was earned through registration of 2,41,302 deeds between April and November this year. This includes Rs 440.13 crore earned through registration of 44,787 deeds in November, he said.
! " # $ % S ' " (
Vvthr Brr hy Hrqvh Q Gq %! Pyq Iru 8y P Vh hxuhq Ehy Thuh 9uh h 9ru hq!#' Qu) "$!%&" Hi (#$$&&'& ! "# $ "%&' ! ( ") * + , - ./ +0 0102. 0 3 44 . / 0 5 6 !/ / 7/ $ / 5 ( $ / , )/ ! 8 5 2 5 6 5 9 ( !6 ,"334 44# / 433":4334:'' )/ ;"<3 8 !)+, 2 5 ! ( "#43<43 / 43#4":=%>=44 $ :=%>>44 -6 )/ : ; ( ; ? 0 -6"##8 438 @ / 4'##"#<:8::<":' !"!" % & ' &;*8 # R R9*5 -')
& ! ** $ '. $
he commandant of the TIndian Military Academy (IMA) Lieutenant General Harinder Singh presided over a gracious ceremony at historic Chetwode hall building here on Friday in which degrees were *- Dehradun. One patient each awarded to 31 cadets of Army ( 12 )#312)45 0 ./' expired at Sai Hospital Cadet College (ACC). Among )((# # Haldwani, HNB Base hospital the Cadets awarded degrees, 20 )# Srinagar and district hospital, were from humanities stream Gopeshwar, Chamoli on the while 11 belonged to science for their all round excellence will join the Indian Military day. stream. In the ceremony which despite prevailing Covid-19 Academy for one year for their /0 12' The provisional state cap- strictly adhered to Covid-19 restrictions. Pre-commissioning Training. ital is suffering from what can regulations, the cadets were In the end, the IMA The cadets and the officers be termed as another wave of conferred degrees of the pres- Commandant complimented were wearing masks and were the disease. The health tigious Jawaharlal Nehru the Commander ACC and his seen observing social distanc- he surge in the number of department reported 239 fresh University (JNU), New Delhi. team of instructors, faculty ing. /+ + % # 0) & ' Tnovel Coronavirus (Covid- cases of the disease from The Commandant, in his members for their diligent 19) in Uttarakhand is continu- Dehradun on Friday. The convocation address, congrat- efforts in shaping the Cadets The Award Winners list ing unabated. The state health department reported 93 ulated the Course for success- into potential officers. department reported 618 fresh patients from Nainital, 48 from fully completing their chal- On the occasion, the I Chief of Army Staff for three days ( Dec 5, 6 and sons. He said people’s limit is cases of the disease on Friday Haridwar, 40 from Chamoli, 39 lenging three years of training Commandant’s Banner to the (COAS) Medals. 7). He said the fourteen meet- being strictly observed in which increased the tally of the from Almora, 34 from Pauri, at the ACC Wing. He said “the Champion Company was 1 Gold Medal : Atin n his four day visit to ings to be attended by JP human chains being formed disease to 76,893. 33 from Pithoragarh, 21 from degree that you all have just awarded to 'Kargil Company’ Thapa OUttarakhand beginning Nadda will be both virtual and to welcome JP Nadda. He The department also Udham Singh Nagar, 20 from received represents a major which has won the banner 2 Silver Medal- Satbir today, BJP national president man to man closed door asserted that social distancing reported deaths of ten patients Tehri, 18 from Uttarkashi, 13 milestone in your career and sixth time in a row. The ban- Singh JP Nadda will hold a total of meetings that would be con- is being strictly observed. of the disease after which the each from Bageshwar and marks the end of an initial, but ner is awarded to the compa- 3 Bronze Medal – Sahil staggering fourteen meetings ducted strict as per covid 19 He said his meetings in toll from the disease also Rudraprayag and seven from immensely important phase ny, which excels in various Thakur in the hill predominant state guidelines. He said the three Dehradun will also include an mounted to 1,273 on Friday. Champawat on the day. of your professional life”. He competitions like sports, acad- ranging from grassroot booth day event will also saw obser- intellectual conference, which The authorities also discharged The State now has 4994 also said that “I would like to emics, camps, debates and inte- II Commandant’s Silver level uptill core committee vation of Bharat Ratna Dr BR will be attended by senior 560 patients of the disease active cases of the disease. remind you that former Army rior economy. Medals. level meetings. Ambedkar’s Mahaparinirvan respected citizens of the after their recovery on the Dehradun is maintaining its Cadet College cadets have The ACC has a rich histo- At a press conference in diwas that falls on Dec 6. region. State BJP spokesper- day. A total of 69,831 patients pole position in the table of excelled and have risen to high ry of training selected person- 1 First in Service Subjects Dehradun today, BJP He apprised that the BJP son Bipin Kainthola was also have so far recovered from the active cases with 1,484 cases ranks.’’ The Commander of nel from other ranks of all three – Anmol Gurung Uttarakhand General is the only party that conducts present at the newsconfer- disease. The recovery per- while with 521 active cases, ACC wing Brigadier Shailesh Services who have the poten- 2 First in Humanities Secretary Rajendra Bhandari Dr Ambedkar’s ence. centage from the disease now Haridwar is at second spot. Sati highlighted the dedication tial to become officers in the Stream: Singh Atul Pratap today pointed out that the BJP Mahaparinirvan diwas func- BJP National President stands at 90.82 and the sample Nainital now is at third position and commitment shown by the Indian Army. After three years 3 First in Science Stream- national president JP Nadda tions at booth level. He said JP Nadda visit to Uttarakhand positivity rate is 5.51 percent. with 442 active cases, Pauri has cadets during the course. He of training at the Army Cadet Sahil Verma. four day visit to Uttarakhand there were a total of 11,235 comes at a time when there is Three patients of the dis- 412, Pithoragarh 353, Chamoli also appreciated the Cadets College, the graduated course holds much significance for booths across the State. little more than an year to go ease were reported dead at 336, Udham Singh Nagar 334, the party rank and file and the State BJP vice President for assembly elections in the Sushila Tiwari government Tehri 296, Almora 247, latter are upbeat over the Dr Devendra Bhasin also pre- State. The party hopes to hospital Haldwani on Friday. Uttarkashi 174, Champawat development. sent disclosed that taking into retain power in the hill state, Similarly two patients each 159 and Bageshwar 146 active * 0 He said starting Haridwar, account the ongoing pan- where it witnessed a complete were reported dead at cases of the disease. With only where the national president demic, the limit of BJP nation- sweep in its favaour in the last Government Doon Medical 90 active cases of Covid-19, is arriving today, JP Nadda al president meetings has been Lok sabha election winning College (GDMC) hospital and Rudraprayag now is at the bot- will be staying in Dehradun kept strictly at hundred per- all the five Lok sabha seats. Mahant Indiresh hospital tom of the table. ( /( ! * $ - % reason they are not used for commercial production of & * # #' n order to promote the dairy dairy products. Therefore, 3 Iproducts of Badri Cows, the the department has decided Dehradun district administra- to open more of such growth 2 tion will soon set up two more centres in the mountainous Dairy Growth Centres in Tiuni and rural areas of the district. * & and at Kalsi in district These centres can be used to Dehradun. collect milk from the local # / ll the departmental heads This was informed by farmers and pay them more 567 Ashould monitor tasks relat- Anurag Mishra, Assistant money for their milk than 5 6 8 ed to the CM monitoring dash- director of dairy development what they get through milk board on a fortnightly basis. department here today. unions. Since people mostly Further, weekly monitoring of Explaining as to why the use the milk of Badri cows the same should be done at the department chose to promote domestically rather than for * - level of the nodal officers. The the dairy products prepared business purposes, the - $ chief secretary Om Prakash from the milk of Badri Cows, administration took this ini- issued these directions while Mishra informed that the milk tiative so that people would * & chairing a meeting with officials of such cows have several med- domesticate more of such regarding the chief minister icinal values but this uttark- cows and also help to preserve started recently but since its monitoring dashboard here on $ - $ Secretary to the Chief hand's local breed of cow has them, stated Mishra. consumption is not much in Friday. Minister, Radhika Jha informed so far been ignored. Informing about northern States, they are The chief secretary said that the CM dashboard had Mishra asserted that these Lakhamandal Growth Centre, being sent to the southern & before reaching the Khilad vil- that the CM dashboard will been launched in 2017 on the indigenous cows now identified Mishra said that the prices of States. He further informed lage. The district magistrate soon be implemented at the dis- $ directions of the chief minister as Badri Cows earlier did not the milk in the centre are that the district administra- ollowing the covid 19 lock- also announced several sops for trict level too. He said that all -* Trivendra Singh Rawat. even have any specific name fixed as per the fat and SNF tion is also planning to open Fdown, all administrative the government school that the departmental heads should This dashboard will be but with the efforts of animal (Solid Not Fat) percent con- two more Growth Centres at activities had come to a halt but was the venue of the multipur- communicate their problems or $ $ implemented upto the district husbandry department, the tent present in it which are Atal village in Tiuni and at Nainital administration has now pose camp. It included con- suggestions as early as possible. level in 2021. She further State Government named this determined by the laboratory Sahiya village in Kalsi. geared up and has resumed the struction of a room in the Stating that the CM dashboard informed that the CM dash- state’s local breed as Badri testing of the milk. He said that the teams are multipurpose camps. school for setting up of library, is to be made as citizen centric ensure that thy get connected to board includes 205 key perfor- cows which is now its official He said that presently, currently doing a survey there At the initiative of District construction of boundary wall as possible, he directed officials the e-office system by mance indicators, 86 state level name. the department is focussing and soon, two more Dairy magistrate Savin Bansal today of the school and providing a concerned to provide a feed- December 25 this year. Training priorities and 48 priority pro- Referring to first Dairy on producing Ghee of Badri Growth Centres will be set up resumed the multipurpose computer to the school. back option for citizen engage- is being facilitated for those who grammes. Growth Centre of the district cows which has several med- which will focus on the prod- camps holding first such camp It is noteworthy that multi- ment on the dashboard. The are facing any problem regard- IT advisor to the CM, in Lakhamandal, Mishra said icinal values and is available ucts prepared from the milk post covid lockdown at purpose camps are being held in chief secretary directed officials ing this. Though departments Ravindra Datt Petwal, addi- that the growth centre was set in various Aanchal Dairy out- of Badri Cows like cheese and Betalghat. The camp was held at the remote villages of the state of all the departments to ensure may face some issues in the tional chief secretaries Radha up after a thorough survey lets in Dehradun. As Ghee. the remote Khilad village in regularly and are aimed to that replies to feedback from beginning, implementation of Raturi, Manisha Panwar, sec- which helped to identify the informed by an Aanchal He said by setting up such Betalghat in Nainital district. address the concerns of the vil- citizens are provided within 15 the e-office system will bring retaries RK Sudhanshu, area where people have the Dairy outlet of Raipur Road, growth centres, the adminis- Bansal himself on foot lagers at the very spot. days. good and long-term results. Sowjanya, Sushil Kumar and maximum number of Badri the Ghee of Badri Cow is tration in other way is also reached the remote village and Uttarakhand Chief minister has The departments should This will also be an important ITDA director Amit Sinha cows. According to him, available for around 800 per increasing the employment took up the grievances of the vil- been directing district magis- ensure monthly data validation step towards enhancing trans- along with other officials con- Badri Cows produce milk kilogramme. opportunities in the district lagers. He had to walk a steep trates for frequently holding of without fail. In addition to this, parency in official works, he cerned were also present in the which varies from one litre to Moreover, the production besides promoting dairy kutcha mountainous road such camps. all the departments should also added. meeting. two litres which is the main of Churpi cheese was also products of Badri Cows. ""(! %$ %
working”, she observed. This not as if this is something that % political scientists- but for a creation of the state 20 years development despite there State is bound to witness rise scenario exhibits insensitivity was not known before. While $ number of new experts. ago, construction has been the being no dearth of talent and in varied human activities, and negligent parenting. it is known that green spaces Psychologists, anthropolo- most prominent activity. resources. Green spaces have income generation and However the most alarming can be restorative and gists, and ethologists are sel- Construction of residential, shrunk, grounds and parks expenditure along with all aspect which is being consis- improve health, there are % dom, if ever, prominently fea- commercial and industrial for children and adults to types of constructions in tently ignored by the govern- findings of various studies - tured as permanent mem- buildings along with infra- indulge in sports and similar addition to the ambitious ment, town planners and also which claim that growing up bers of city planning depart- structure has radically altered activities have become fewer infrastructural projects citizens in general is the impact in a city doubles the chances -% $ ments but they should be. Dehradun and many parts of and open spaces have been already underway or planned. of urbanisation sans planning of someone developing schiz- %- Research budgets must not be the state. covered by closely packed Considering this, it would on the behaviour, health and ophrenia while also increas- whimsically turned on and off However, there is a lot constructions. be suicidal to continue ignor- lives of the people. ing the risk of other mental as has happened in the past. more to come as existing It is no secret that while ing aspects of urban planning A couple of years ago evi- disorders like depression and % % When good, workable cities expand to meet require- some builders exploit loop- which the authorities have not ) * dence was found to establish chronic anxiety –especially in plans are developed, plan- ments of growing population holes and follow existing really even acknowledged yet. how buildings and urban bustling cities. Such condi- * ners must not be forced to and human activities. When trends to make profits, others However, it is not yet too late. landscapes influence our tions could be attributed to witness a breakdown in one considers the authorities face unprofessionalism and Actual sensible planning and neuropsychologist who is mood and health. It was localities afflicted by what is implementation which is so established to ensure planned corruption in trying to get effective execution can not Aalso one of the guest ascertained that specialised termed as social stress which lems, there is the need not often excused on the grounds urban development, the com- their projects executed. In only prevent further damage columnists in this newspaper cells in the hippocampal basically defines the effect of only for the usual coterie of of politics or expediency. mon opinion is that such such a scenario, the type of but also ensure that con- recently observed that in the region of the human brain are scarce social bonding and experts- city planners, archi- Also, planning and renewal authorities have facilitated planned development that is structions actually enhance colony of flats where she lives, adjusted to the geometry and cohesion in communities. tects, engineers of all types, must not be separated; the opposite of planned devel- desirable will never be life of the people and the envi- no one smiles or talks to each arrangement of the spaces In his book The Hidden economists, law enforcement instead, renewal must be an opment. achieved. ronment they live in. It other. The residents also let we occupy. This region of the Dimension, anthropologist specialists, traffic and trans- integral part of planning.” The provisional state cap- Uttarakhand is a young remains to be seen whether their “rowdy kids out to scream brain is where the emotions of Edward T Hall states, “To portation experts, educators, Let us consider the situa- ital Dehradun is a prime state with its own share of the needful is done before it and play even when others are a person are regulated. It is solve formidable urban prob- lawyers, social workers and tion in Uttarakhand. Since the example of such unplanned challenges and strengths. The is too late. !"!" 9 R Q
# 1$
tubble burning has stopped 2# "6$ # Snow but Delhi’s air pollution situation remains serious, Union Environment Minister fiscation of their assets as abroad under the provisions of Prakash Javadekar on Friday envisaged under FEOA. Prevention of Money said adding that the Central he (Enforcement “In the first phase, prayer Laundering Act. Pollution Control Board TDirectorate (ED) on has been made for confisca- On the basis of (CPCB) has issued a notice to Friday moved an application tion of 15 Indian properties Prosecution Complaint the State Government to take bank account of Kingfisher before the PMLA court in including 3rd and 4th Floor of (chargesheet) filed by ED strict and swift action on the Airlines Ltd. (KAL). Mumbai to declare family Ceejay House and having before the Special PMLA plaints forwarded to it about The ED had earlier initi- members of Iqbal Mirchi as market value 96 crore ( Court, Open Ended Non activities causing toxic air in he Enforcement ated investigation under fugitive under the Fugitive approx.) & 6 Bank accounts Bailable Warrants have been Delhi and the National Capital TDirectorate (ED) on Friday PMLA based on FIR registered Economic Offenders Act, having balance Rs 1.9 Crore. issued against Asif Memon, Region. said it has seized fugitive busi- by CBI against Kingfisher 2018 (FEOA). The agency has Prayer has also been made for Junaid Memon and Hajra In a message from his res- nessman Vijay Mallya’s asset in Airlines Ltd. (KAL), Vijay sought declaration of Junaid allowing ED to file supple- Memon. idence here, Javadekar said the In its notice, the CPCB has dumping of garbage, construc- France worth 1.6 million Euros Mallya and others on January Iqbal Memon, Asif Iqbal (both mentary applications under Till now, these three CPCB has received several directed the Delhi government tion/demolition activity, “On the request of 25, 2016. sons of Iqbal Mirchi) and FEOA,” the agency said in a accused have been evading complaints that activities like to ensure immediate action on unpaved roads/pits, and resus- Directorate of Enforcement Provisional Attachment Hazra Memon (wife of statement. their presence before the biomass and garbage burning, complaints and take strict pension of road dust,” said the (ED), a property of Vijay Orders have been issued Mirchi)as fugitive economic In this case, the ED has Special Court and the NBWs improper waste disposal, vio- action against industrial activ- notice. Mallya located at 32 Avenue wherein properties worth offenders. provisionally attached assets remain unexecuted, it said lation of construction and ities including tyre pyrolysis, It said the main areas of FOCH, France has been seized 11,231.70 crore (Market value In its plea before the to the tune of 798 crore adding, further investigation demolition waste rules, burning of tyre and other concern are pollution hotspots by the French Authority. The at time of attachment) have court, the ED has sought con- (approximately) in India and is under progress. unpaved roads and dust, which wastes. — Narela, Anand Vihar, value of the seized asset in been attached which was also cause pollution, are still being As per the forecast on the Mundka, Dwarka and Punjabi France is 1.6 Million Euros confirmed by the Adjudicating court to declare accused Vijay Mallya was sent to UK and the of dispersal and misapplication carried out in the national cap- Indian Meteorological Bagh in Delhi and Faridabad, (approx. 14 crores),”the Authority. A Prosecution Mallya as Fugitive Economic Westminster’s Magistrates of the loan funds and prima ital and NCR. Department, air quality is like- Jhajjar, Noida and Bhiwadi in agency said in a statement. Complaint (chargesheet) has offender. The Special Court court has ruled for extradition facie, found that accused Vijay “The situation of air pollu- ly to remain in very poor cate- the NCR. Investigation conducted been filed against Mallya, (FEO Act), Mumbai had of Mallya on charges of money Mallya was involved in a con- tion in Delhi is still serious. gory owing to unfavourable “As per the analysis and under Prevention of Money UBHL, KAL, bank officials declared Mallya as fugitive laundering on December 10, spiracy to launder money. Stubble burning has stopped meteorological conditions for number of complaints received, Laundering Act (PMLA) and others. economic offender on January 2018. Appeals of Mallya to UK but Delhi’s air quality index still disposal of the pollutants for the south, south-west district, revealed that a large amount An application was also 5, 2019. In its order, the court has High Court and later Supreme remains in ‘very poor’ catego- next few days, the notice said. north, north-west, and north was remitted abroad from the moved before the designated Extradition request of observed that a clear evidence Court have been rejected. ry,” Javadekar said. “Incidences of stubble east districts of Delhi and “CPCB’s 50 teams inspect burning (are) almost coming to Jhajjar, Bhiwadi, Gurugram Delhi and NCR every day and an end, and air quality contin- north, Gautam Buddha Nagar / ' 7('( submits the complaints and uing to remain in very poor cat- and Noida in NCR are the areas (' observations from those visits egory, it is important that local that need to take actions to con- to the agencies concerned. Yet, sources are dealt with effec- trol air pollution due to con- # P # some work is done, some not. tively. Based on feedback struction/demolition activities, Hence, the CPCB has issued a received from 50 teams open dumping of garbage, road notice to the Delhi govern- deployed in the fields since dust and industrial emissions,” ment,” he said. October 15, sources are open the notice said. # # he Supreme Court on TFriday questioned the Centre over delay in sending !" # proposal to the President for commuting the death sentence of Balwant Singh Rajoana, con- victed in the 1995 assassination case of former Punjab Chief he National Investigation Minister Beant Singh. TAgency (NIA) will probe A bench headed by Chief the recent encounter at Nagrota Justice S A Bobde asked the in the Jammu region in which Centre to apprise it as to four terrorists of the banned when the authority would September 7 last year inti- The top court was hear- Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), a send the proposal in this mating that a proposal would ing Rajoana’s plea seeking Pakistan-based outfit, were regard to the President under be sent to the President to direction for expeditious killed by police. Article 72 of the Constitution. commute the death sentence disposal of MHA’s proposal The anti-terror probe who are travelling to and from The article deals with of Rajoana. to commute his death sen- agency took over the case fol- petition was filed in the Delhi to get medical treatment power of President to grant The bench, also com- tence. lowing a notification issued by ASupreme Court on Friday in reputed government/private pardon, suspend, remit or prising Justices A S Bopanna Rajoana, a former the Centre. seeking direction to the author- hospitals situated in Delhi are commute sentences in certain and V Ramasubramanian, Punjab Police constable, was The terrorists were killed terrorists and the people with after the incident. ities to immediately remove also affected,” said the plea, cases. asked Additional Solicitor convicted for his involve- on November 19 in Jammu and whom they were in touch with The NIA is already prob- farmers, who are protesting at filed through advocate Om The apex court noted that General K M Nataraj, ment in an explosion outside Kashmir’s Nagrota area in a in Jammu and Kashmir for exe- ing an encounter that took several Delhi border points Prakash Parihar. a letter was sent from the appearing for the Centre, as the Punjab civil secretariat swift operation by the police. cution of the failed terror plot. place on January 31 this year against the new farm laws, It referred to the October Ministry of Home Affairs to to why the proposal has not that killed Beant Singh and The NIA probe will try to The agency’s team had vis- in which three JeM terrorists saying commuters are facing 7 verdict, delivered on a peti- Punjab chief secretary on been sent till now. 16 others in 1995. ascertain the planning and ited the encounter site at Ban were killed by the security hardship due to the road block- tion against blockade of a road final objective of the four JeM Toll Plaza on November 19 forces. ades and the gatherings might in Shaheen Bagh area here by lead to increase in COVID-19 those protesting against ( ( 6P ' cases. Citizenship Amendment Act, The plea has sought the in which the apex court had apex court directions to the said that public spaces cannot # # (/1 # authorities to open the roads at be occupied indefinitely and Delhi borders, shift these pro- demonstrations expressing dis- Justices A S Bopanna and V drawn if he fails to give any testors to allotted place and sent have to be in designated Ramasubramanian. evidence,” the bench observed. provide guidelines on social places alone. he Supreme Court on Dubai-based businessman The high court, in its ver- distancing and use of mask at Referring to COVID-19 TFriday stayed the verdict of Saxena was extradited to India dict, had said that ED’s plea the protest place to contain guidelines issued by the the Delhi High Court which on January 31 last year in con- before the trial court for revok- spread of COVID-19 cases. Government, the plea has said had dismissed the plea of nection with the Rs 3,600- ing the approver status was not The petition, filed by law that despite the advisories not Enforcement Directorate (ED) crore scam case relating to the maintainable as his statement consortium banks. student Rishabh Sharma, has to hold large gathering amid to revoke approver status of purchase of 12 VVIP heli- under section 306 (4) of the It was alleged in the com- claimed that Delhi Police had the pandemic, lakhs of farmers businessman Rajiv Saxena in copters from AgustaWestland. Criminal Procedure Code he Central Bureau of plaint that the accused had on November 27 allowed these have gathered on Delhi borders the AgustaWestland VVIP During the hearing con- (CrPC) had not been record- TInvestigation (CBI) has reg- cheated the State Bank of India- protesters to hold demonstra- and this might lead to increase chopper scam. ducted through video-confer- ed. istered a case on a complaint led consortium banks to the tion peacefully at Nirankari in the number of coronavirus A bench headed by Chief encing on Friday, Additional Section 306 (4) of CrPC from State Bank of India (SBI) tune of 1,800.72 crore (approx- ground at Burari here but cases. Justice S A Bobde issued notice Solicitor General Aman Lekhi, provides for recording of state- against a Delhi-based private imately) by way of diversion / despite that they have blocked It is pertinent to note that to Saxena seeking his response appearing for the ED, told the ment of an accomplice who has company, Jay Polychem India siphoning off bank funds, ficti- the borders of Delhi. in view of the prevention of the on the appeal filed by ED bench that there was a “clear been granted pardon. Ltd. (borrower company) tious transactions, cheating, “Because of the ongoing community spread of the pan- against the high court’s June 8 error” on the part of high The high court had further including its director, guarantor, forgery and criminal conspira- protest at the Delhi borders, the demic disease Coronavirus judgement. court as it had said that pardon said that once his statement unknown public servants and cy among others. roads have been blocked by the (COVID-19), it is very neces- “Issue notice. In the mean- can be revoked only after he under section 306 (4) of CrPC unknown private persons on the Searches were conducted protesters and closed border sary to remove the gathering time, there shall be stay of oper- deposes as witness. is recorded, the ED can again allegations of causing a loss of on Friday at three locations in company and other accused, the points, which have affected and this protest is further ation of the impugned order,” “There is a provision in the move an application for revok- about 1,800.72 crore to the Delhi at the office and residen- CBI said adding investigation is vehicular traffic and people blocking . said the bench, also comprising CrPC that pardon can be with- ing Saxena’s approver status. public sector bank and other tial premises of the borrower continuing in the case. 1 ' 5' * "## ( -.##7/*# # ( -. # # Taneja-Mukherjee, Member ASSOCHAM CSR Council. Secretary, TPAG The panel also included & - (Thalassemics Patients Dr Pawan Kumar Singh, Head oting that there are at least &* rom shortage of blood in Advocacy Group). of Oncology, Organ N30 Covid-19 vaccine can- dministrator of Fblood banks to unavail- It is estimated that there Transplant, Hematology didates being developed in ALakshadweep and former : ability of transportation and are about 65,000-67,000 tha- Hematopoietic Stem Cell India, Department of Intelligence Bureau Chief transfusion facilities, thalas- lassemia patients in the coun- Transplant Department, Biotechnology (DBT) Secretary Dineshwar Sharma (66) passed * saemia patients, cancer try with around 9,000-10,000 Artemis Hospital, Dr Amita Renu Swarup on Friday said away on Friday due to lung- * patients and dialysis recipients cases being added every year. Mahajan, Senior consultant, that it was important to have a related complications. among others, who need reg- Anubha also alleged dis- Pediatric Hematology & large basket of Covid-19 vac- The decorated police officer ular blood transfusions, have parity in rules for the sector Oncology Indraprastha & cines as it is really difficult to was the interlocutor in Kashmir $ $ been facing multiple chal- pointing out that currently Apollo Hospitals, Delhi, know which one is going to be before becoming Administrator lenges in the wake of the the Drug and Cosmetic Act Chetan Manchegowda, the best among the lot. in Lakshadweep in October $ Covid-19 pandemic. regulates blood while National Founder, Khoon; Rajesh She said the vaccines that ' 2019. The suave 1979 batch IPS * & Added to their agony has Blood Transfusion Council Mittal, President, Rotary, are being developed indige- Cadila has also completed officer from Kerala cadre head- been the Central and State (NBTC) guidelines are volun- Deepak Chopra, President- nously are on different plat- phase -2 clinical trial in the ed many counter insurgency * governments’ failure to give tary. Similarly, National Health Thalassemics India, George forms and each has its own - $ country. Dr Reddy’s operations and served the priority to their needs, lament- Mission (NHM) is responsible Contantinou, Board member benefits and challenges. “The Laboratories and the Russian Intelligence Bureau for more ed an advocacy group as they for thalassemia while NACO is of Thalassaemia International DBT has an expert committee Direct Investment Fund than two decades. shared their views at a responsible for BTS. There is Federation. to track the development relat- % (RDIF) on Tuesday announced Prime Minister Narendra Webinar “Illness to Wellness’ too much confusion, she said. Dr Sunil Gupta, ed to COVID-19 vaccine,” she the start of adaptive phase 2 Modi and Union Home “Deeply anguished to learn organised by ASSOCHAM on In the long run, the Additional Director General, said at a webinar. Five vaccine candidates are and 3 clinical trials for Minister Amit Shah condoled about the passing away of International Day for Persons Government should consider Blood Transfusion Services at “It is important to have a under different phases of clin- COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V the death of Sharma. Administrator of Lakshadweep with Disabilities 2020 marked having a consolidated blood NACO, said that a Committee large basket of vaccines as we ical trials in India with the in India. “Administrator of Lakshadweep Shri Dineshwar Sharma ji. He on Thursday. regulation separate from the is considering whether there move forward because we real- Serum Institute of India con- Also, Biological E. Ltd has Shri Dineshwar Sharma Ji made served the nation with utmost “On our own, with the Drugs and Cosmetics Act that should be a separate body ly don’t know which one is ducting phase-3 trial of the started early phase 1 and 2 long lasting contributions to devotion as a dedicated officer help of organisations like Life does not give adequate power and legislation even as the going to be the best. It is not Oxford-Astrazeneca COVID- human trials of its COVID-19 India’s policing and security of the Indian Police Service. My Savers, Khoon and Giving Is to NBTC, she suggested. experts called for timely avail- necessary that the first one is 19 vaccine, while the indige- vaccine candidate. apparatus. He handled many heartfelt condolences to his Living in addition to support The experts also deliber- ability of medicines, accessi- the best, you may have one nously developed vaccine by Stressing that vaccine sensitive counter terror and family in this hour of grief. Om from Indian Red Cross ated on the Rights of Persons bility of generic drugs at a coming later which is going to Bharat Biotech in collaboration development is a complex insurgency ops during his polic- Shanti”. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Society, have been organizing with Disabilities Act 2016 and cheaper cost and bringing be better but it is difficult to say with the ICMR has already process, DBT Secretary said a ing career. Anguished by his Birla said that Sharma played an blood camps during the pan- how its implementation can down the cost of stem cell and right now,” Swarup said. started the phase-3 clinical lot of effort has gone in the demise. Condolences to his important role in strengthening demic. However, the State ensure availability and safety of bone marrow treatment so There are 30 vaccine can- trial. development of the vaccine like family. Om Shanti,” Modi tweet- the policing system and skill governments did not do much blood transfusion services, that more and more thalas- didates which are being devel- Another indigenously- building capacity for clinical ed. development of the police to spread awareness around the demand which was backed saemia patients can be bene- oped within the country. developed vaccine by Zydus trials and in making it. In his tweet, Shah said: forces. blood donation” rued Anubha by Anil Rajput, Chairman, fitted. !"!" ;
"("( #;) ! .# .3'=) #4 2 " # # ;9 *2> 01, # # # 22 .3 45)-'-' 44 # ? %6 (,0&0*203.02*,7 a day it fared badly in the bien- nial elections was that its AIMIM too has no other .891:2,,78:&00 nomiee Amrish Patel won the option except to tie up with by-election to Dhule oters of Hyderabad have TRS as it cannot join hands Nandurbar Local Bodies seat. Vthrown a ‘hung verdict’ in with BJP. AIMIM with 44 seats Patel had given up the seat, the GHMC elections, the results can easily ensure Mayor post ithin days of it completing after he quit the Congress and of which were announced on for TRS. However, both the Wits first year in office, the joined the BJP, which necessi- Friday. None of the parties parties have to strike a ‘deal’ for ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi tated the by-election. could secure the magic figure of this similar to (MVA) consolidated its position In the State Council, the 76 out of 150 seats. Congress-AIMIM deal in in Maharashtra on Friday, as it BJP has a strength of 22 mem- However, the ruling TRS 2009 GHMC polls when hung handed out a humiliating drub- bers, while the seat tallies of has emerged as the single verdict was given. Congress bing to the Opposition BJP by other parties are: Shiv Sena-14, largest party by winning 55 and AIMIM shared Mayor winning four out five NCP-nine, Congress — eight, seats out of total 150 seats it had post for two-and-a-half year Maharashtra Legislative Council RSP, PWP and Lok Bharati contested. * '# /+ / # each with Congress claiming seats in the biennial elections. %( ' %( # Party — one seat each and The BJP which has given a *1 *1 the post first and AIMIM later. The BJP, which lost power 2 *1 Independents: four. tough fight to TRS right from Both the parties will now have to the Shiv Sena-led MVA With the elections to five the beginning of the polls, The TDP which contested Mayor voting this time. to work out similar formula. Government in November last ly the 2014 Lok Sabha election embarrassment for the BJP, as seats from the teachers’ and stood second by winning 48 106 seats suffered even more If these 45 ex-officio mem- Since the tenure of present year, found itself licking its from Nagpur. the poll results were personal graduates’ quota and one seat seats out of 149 seats it had humiliating defeat by failing to bers are included in Mayor vot- GHMC Council is until wounds, as it lost its tradition- The three other seats that setbacks for former chief min- from the local body constituen- contested. The TRS suffered retain even the deposit in any ing, the magic figure to bag February 10, 2021, both TRS al bastion of Nagpur where the the MVA won were: Pune ister Devendra Fadnavis and cy over, what is remaining is the huge losses in GHMC polls this of the seats it had contested. Mayor seat will increase from and AIMIM have ample time Congress’ Abhijit Wanjari Division Graduates’ seat, State party president nomination of 12 members from time. TRS tally came down to As none of the parties 76 to 98. of two months to strike a deal defeated the BJP’s Sandeep Aurangabad Division Graduates’ Chandrakant Patil respectively. the Governor’s quota. The MVA 55 from 99 seats it won in 2016. could secure magic figure of 76 Out of 45 ex-officio mem- on Mayor, Deputy Mayor Posts. Joshi in the Nagpur Division seat and Pune Division Teachers’ However, the Shiv Sena — has already recommended its Contrary to this, the BJP’s seats out of 150 in GHMC bers, TRS alone has 31 mem- For BJP, it’s not possible to Graduates’ constituency, by a seat. While the NCP’s Arun Lad which leads the MVA in the nominees, including Bollywood tally witnessed steep rise to 48 polls, it became imperative to bers. However, TRS strength bag Mayor post as it has just comfortable margin of 18,910 defeated Sangram Deshmukh of State — suffered a defeat in actress Urmila Matondkar, for seats against just 4 seats it won bag Mayor post by striking a will increase to only 86 seats, two ex-officio members. Its votes. the BJP in Pune Division Amravati Division Teachers’ the 12 vacant seats. in 2016. The AIMIM, which political deal. which is short of magic figure strength will only increase to The BJP’s debacle in the Graduates’ seat, the NCP’s Satish constituency seat, its candidate NCP president Sharad stood third by securing 43 TRS suffered the jolt in two 98. It still requires 12 seats to 50. For AIMIM too, it’s not pos- Nagpur Division Graduates’ Chavan trounced the BJP’s Shrikant Deshpande was Pawar hailed the MVA’s victo- seats, proved yet again that it ways. It cannot bag Mayor bridge this gap. sible to bag Mayor post on its constituency should be seen in Shirish Boralkar to bag the defeated by an Independent ry, saying: “The result is a remains unbeatable in its post on its own either on its Nizamabad MLC and CM own as it has just 10 ex officio the light of the fact that it was Aurangabad Division Graduates Kiran Sarnaik there. reflection of the MVA strong hold Old City. own strength of winning 55 KCR’s daughter K Kavitha is yet members, with which its represented in the past by senior constituency seat. The State Council bienni- Government’s performance in It retained its 44 seats out seats or can bag Mayor seat to enroll as ex-officio member. strength will increase to 54 party Minister and Union In Pune Division Teachers’ al elections had been necessi- the last one year”. Reacting to of 51 it had contested against 44 with the help of its 31 ex-offi- If she enrolls, TRS requires 11 seats. The Congress has just Minister Nitin Gadkari and for- constituency, Jayant Asgaonkar tated by the end of the tenure his party’s poor performance in it won in 2016. The Congress cio members who comprises of more seats. This makes TRS to one ex officio member, due to mer Chief Minister Devendra of the Congress trounced sit- of the five sitting members in the polls, former Chief Minister failed miserably in GHMC party MLAs, MPs, MLCs, who depend essentially on other which its strength will increase Fadnavis’s father Gangadharrao ting MLC and Independent July this year, but the polls were Devendra Fadnavis said, “The polls yet again. It won just 2 have voting right to elect party to bag TRS post. TRS has to 3. These three members Fadnavis in the past. Gadkari, it Dattatraya Sawant. postponed due to the Covid-19 results that have merged are not seats out of 146 it had contest- Mayor. A total of 45 ex-officio no other option except to bank cannot alter the Mayor election may be recalled, had won this The BJP’s debacle in pandemic. as per our expectations. We had ed. Congress won just 2 seats members from TRS, Congress, on AIMIM, its ‘friendly party’ even if TRS lures them into its seat for four terms since 1989 Nagpur and Pune Division Meanwhile, the only con- expected more seats. Our cal- even in 2016. BJP have enrolled for GHMC for this purpose. fold in the next two months. before he contested successful- Graduates’ seat came as an solation that the BJP derived on culations went wrong”. < ' # ; + 7897':'! . & Lucknow: Days after the Uttar Religion Ordinance, 2020. Pradesh Government promul- After receiving information 4 C of polling. Kulgam,Bandipora gated a stringent anti-conversion about the wedding on and Budgam continue to law, police here stopped an inter- Wednesday, a police team he third phase of District record high voter turnout & B & $ faith wedding, saying the couple reached the venue in Para TDevelopment Council showing great enthusiasm did not complete legal formali- area’s Duda Colony, Additional (DDC) polls recorded a voter towards strengthening grass n a relief to Kerala, the ties. The families of the bride and Deputy Commissioner of turnout of over 50.53 per cent roots democracy. IMet department has the groom were called to Para Police (ADCP), south, Suresh on Friday. State Election Commission withdrawn the red alert police station and informed Chandra Rawat said on Friday. The voting process across KK Sharma said, “In the third issued for cyclone Burevi about the new law. They decid- It was found that prepara- 33 constituencies passed off phase an overall 50.53 per cent and rain in the seven ed to defer the wedding and fol- tions were underway to solem- peacefully but a DDC candi- voter turnout was recorded southernmost districts of low the norms laid for an inter- nise the marriage of Raina date was injured after a firing with Kashmir division wit- the State as the deep faith marriage under the Special Gupta (22), a chemistry post- incident was reported in Sagam nessing 31.61 per cent voter depression was likely to Marriage Act, the police said. graduate, and Mohammad Asif area of Kokernag in south turnout and Jammu division weaken further into a For an interfaith marriage, (23), a pharmacist, with the Kashmir’s Anantnag district. recorded 68.88 per cent voter depression. a couple may get married with- consent of their families, he According to official turnout. The India out changing their religion by said. Both the families were sources, unidentified gunmen The border districts of Meteorological registering themselves under called to Para police station and fired at Anees ul Islam, Apni Rajouri, Poonch recorded the Department (IMD) had in a 65 kmph) during next 12 the Special Marriage Act. But if informed about the new law. Party candidate during the day. highest voter turn of over 72 late night bulletin issued on hours,” IMD said. It has issued anyone wishes to convert to “The families were told that His condition was stated to be per cent while Samba and Thursday withdrawn the red yellow alerts for the districts of another religion, they will have the new ordinance has provi- stable as he had received bul- Kathua districts reported 70.15 alert and issued a yellow alert Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, to submit a declaration at least sions to check religious conver- let injury on his arm. per cent and 62.18 per cent for 10 districts of the State. Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, 60 days in advance to the sions carried out through allure- Significantly, the South voter turnout in Jammu region. In a bulletin released on Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, respective district magistrate or ment, coercion, force, fraud, or Kashmir districts of The hilly districts of Kishtwar, Friday morning, the IMD said Thrissur, Palakkad and additional district magistrate as marriage. Both the families have Pulwama,Shopian and Doda and Ramban too record- the deep depression is likely to Malappuram. per the recently promulgated now decided to follow the prop- Anantnag recorded a margin- ed high voter turnout 70 per move slowly west- southwest- Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of er process for interfaith mar- al increase in voter turnout cent, 59.5 per cent and 64.79 8 ' # # wards and cross Thiruvananthapuram Unlawful Conversion of riages,” Rawat said. PTI compared to the second round per cent. ( # " ( '+ + " *1 Ramanathapuram and adjoin- International Airport has ing Thoothukudi districts in rescheduled nine flights sched- Tamil Nadu during the next six uled for Friday. “The opera- & hours with wind speed of 50- tions of the airport have been ' :R. ! 60 gusting to 70 kmph. suspended till 6 PM today and “It is very likely to weaken all the flights were resched- , & phonic conversations at least Protection) Agreement of Price interests the Chief Minister too further into a depression (wind uled,” CV Ravindran,Airport four times with the agitating Assurance and Farm Services is showing her true colours,” speed 45-55 kmph gusting to Director, told PTI. day after asking the Centre to farm leaders. Bill, 2020 and the Essential Ghosh said attacking former BJP , & Arepeal the contentious farm Besides sending O’Brien the Commodities (Amendment) Bill, ally and Siromani Akali Dal laws or face a nationwide stir Chief Minister made at least 2020 passed by the Centre. leader Parkash Singh Badal and statement apparently directed at rebel Trinamool Bengal Chief Minister four calls to different farmers’ Referring to the Singur NCP chief Sharad Pawar for ACongress leader Suvendu Adhikari the Bengal rul- Mamata Banerjee on Friday sent groups from Haryana and movement where then opposi- “baking their respective breads in ing party on Friday said those who wanted to quit the one of her most trusted lieu- Punjab, the MP said, adding tion leader Banerjee led a con- the farm movement.” outfit should do so immediately and those who want- tenants Derek O’Brien to “They reiterated their demands in clusive movement against the Addressing a public meeting ed to remain in it should shun fears of Central agen- Haryana and Punjab borders their talks with the Chief forcible acquisition of 1,000 acres Ghosh said “the farm laws cies and continue its struggle against the BJP. near Delhi with a strong message Minister and thanked her for her of land for the Tata Nano car fac- brought by Prime Minister Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who held an organ- of solidarity. solidarity.” tory the Chief Minister on Friday Narendra Modi has directly hit Rs isational meeting of the party reportedly told veteran She also spoke to the protest- O’Brien on the other hand tweeted, “14 years ago on 4 Dec 5,000 crore interests of the Badals party leader, MP and East Midnapore district TMC pres- ing farm leaders telling them how met the farm leaders of several 2006, I began my 26 day hunger which is why they are supporting ident Sisir Adhikari to crack the whip on the TMC men she launched a 26-day fast near unions at Singhu border (near strike in Kolkata demanding that the movement.” involved in anti-party activities. Sisir Adhikari, a for- Singur in the interest of farmers Delhi) and conveyed Banerjee’s agricultural land cannot be force- He also said that the family mer Union Minister, is the father of Suvendu Adhikari. in 2006, ruling Trinamool message, said another TMC fully acquired. I express my sol- of the NCP chief too was involved “Those who want to quit the party please do it now,” Congress sources said. leader and Minister adding “the idarity with all farmers who are in a profitable business Banerjee reportedly said in the meeting adding “those The TMC chief also directed result of Singhu movement will protesting against draconian farm of Rs 10-12,000 crore in farm who will chose to remain in the party will have to shun two of her party leaders and be no different from the one led bills passed without consultation produce which was why his party the fear of central agencies and work selflessly descend- Ministers Becharam Manna and by Mamata Banerjee at Singur… by Centre.” was supporting the farm ing on the streets here and now to fight against the BJP Purnendu Basu to stage a sit-in while after Singur movement The BJP which has recently movement.” … we are not afraid of the central agencies which are demonstration in Kolkata from the Left Front went from power emerged the main challenger in Attacking the Bengal Chief being used to frighten many of our leaders … similar- December 8 to 10 and promised and there at Singhu BJP will lose Bengal preparing to capture Minister for raising the “outsider” ly you should also not be frightened of them.” to join the dharna on the last day its power.” power in the State in 2021 bogey alleging the BJP was bring- Banerjee apparently was meaning Adhikari whose of sit-in prompting immediate Farmers from Punjab, Assembly elections immediately ing outside leaders to Bengal to name have figured in both Narada pay off case and chit reaction from State BJP president Haryana, UP, Bihar and else- hit back saying in Bengal win elections Ghosh said, “The fund scams allegedly making it easy for the BJP to coerce Dilip Ghosh who attacked where were protesting in Delhi only 10-12 per cent of farmers Chief Minister is calling Amit him into rebel against the ruling outfit. Banerjee for looting the farmers against the enacting of the could access MSP while the rest Shah, JP Nadda and other lead- Meanwhile, Adhikari was likely to make his press of Bengal. Farmers’ Produce Trade and had to go for distress selling of ers outsiders but she is silent on statement in the coming days during which he would Senior party leader and MP Commerce (Promotion and their crops. Shah Rukh Khan and PK make known his future political plans. His close asso- Kakoli Ghoshdastidar said that Facilitation) Bill, 2020; the “By backing the false farm who are being used by her to win ciates said that a number of BJP leaders were in touch the Chief Minister held tele- Farmers (Empowerment and movement incited by vested elections.” with him. 1 #' 6 # 7*
4 ,. Thursday night. This is a new trend in Kerala, was more blunt in his assess- and all of us are bound to obey ical opponents,” said The team of ED officials a place known for communal ment of the situation. “This that. Keep politics, communal- Mohammed Shakif, national hursday night’s untoward who inspected the offices and peace and harmony. Any attempt needs to be nipped in the bud. ism and casteism out of this,” secretary, PFI. Tincidents in Kerala’s residences of OMA Salam, by mobs to threaten and attack Let politicians play their game. said Dr Thomas who had a run- But Sreejit Panicker, cyber Kozhikode and Malappuram chairman, PFI, P M Abdul Government of India officials Officials of ED or Vigilance and ning battle with the present security expert based in districts where officials of the Gafoor , national vice-president, who were discharging their Anti Corruption Bureau who government in Kerala because of Thiruvananthapuram said the Enforcement Directorate came Nasarudheen Elamaram, duties should be handled stern- have Constitutional roles to per- his uncompromising stance ED raids were the culmination under attack by marauding Karamana Ashraf Moulavi and ly lest the State becomes anoth- form should never be targeted or against corruption. of a process which began in crowds point towards grave sit- P Koya in the districts of er haven for extremists,” said attacked,” said Dr Thomas, who The PFI bosses in Kerala 2010. “The then UPA uation in the State, warn lead- Kozhikode, Malappuram and Ramkumar, the octogenarian is full time into anti-corruption said Thursday night’s raids were Government in New Delhi and ing civil rights lawyer K Ernakulam were prevented lawyer who is the State’s leading activism post his retirement part of the Central Government’s the UDF Government in Kerala Ramkumar and former whistle from leaving the premises after civil rights activist. He said insti- from the Indian Police service. efforts to victimise the leaders have filed enough number of blower Dr Jacob Thomas who inspection by crowds shouting tutions like the Enforcement The former DVAC boss because of their support to the cases against PFI for money recently laid down office as the “Allahu Akbar”. The ED officials Directorate, DRI, Customs and said there were enough provi- ongoing farmers’ agitation and laundering. VS Achuthanandan, Chief of Vigilance and Anti were whisked away by addi- NIA were above politics and rep- sions in the Criminal Procedure the Hathras rape incident. the then CPI(M) chief minister Corruption Bureau. “It is a seri- tional units of CRPF deployed resent the unity, integrity and Code against those who threat- “Simultaneous raids at the hous- himself is on record stating that ous crime and has deep impli- by the local office. According to security of the nation. en or attack officials engaged in es of PFI leaders across the PFI is engaged in anti national cations,” Dr Thomas told The sources in ED, they were According to Ramkumar, their responsibilities. “It is for the country by the ED are political- activities. The PFI leadership is Pioneer while reacting to analysing the antecedents of the the resistance by mobs against ED officials to file cases against ly motivated. The Modi govern- trying to divert attention from Popular Front of India activists PFI crowd before initiating legal ED inspection smack of con- the perpetrators of such crimes. ment is using investigating agen- the public by spreading false- waylaying the ED officials on action. spiracy. But Dr Jacob Thomas There is a rule of law in this land cies as a weapon to silence polit- hoods,” said Panicker. !"!" 0 % %# 9:%=66 ;:6'>#()5(6 %% <&%()$(6 %% ( +';:6'>#()5(6 %%> !"# $$"% 0 .3# R ! R # # 0 #?>?@ . &%%:6'%6%)( 6(=%++( +=6)=*65%% %5(9)) 7 ,;$ 69 * 5) %#9')(=%)((6 +% #;(% 6%'=*()#* # ( - ( > # ! + ?#!+@ - ( 66 0A (4 B ( (4 B ?4B4B@ ( B( ,;$ ( 4 < !&"'('"& !53" 7 ) / he fate of India and our # $ ?# $@ - food system rests with a #!+ 1A12 peaceful army of farmers ( " besieging Delhi. They have blocked borders + C 4 7 andT are constantly sending envoys + S 10 seeking justice. Medieval fears have = + gripped citizens as food and vegeta- bles prices are already shooting up and hoarders (no longer illegal ,;$ post farm Acts) are celebrating an # early Christmas. Meanwhile, police in riot gear are anxious to lath- + P Q . icharge their own brethren. They B , , - B B , have set up unnecessary road blocks 1A15 ,;$S all around the city, delaying and immobilising traffic. 4 1A5D ,;$ #!+S 66 Yet, in the freezing cold, our unions are sympathetic to it. Farm life is tough. Imagine (ECA) to bust hoarders and /( 4B4BS 00 E 1A56 = + annadattas brace up for the water Attempts have already been waking up at the crack of dawn, recover 75,000 metric tonnes of 5F $ 1A50 1A56 cannons and tear gas. And in dis- made to classify the agitation as running to the fields each morn- dal. But ECA limits on hoarding tressed times, they have given up a sectarian uprising. ing or any odd hour when the and stocking have been done ,;$ self-preservation and stand united But back to the deadlock, the irrigation and electricity supply away with in the new Acts except - B as ever, demanding fair prices and farmers want MSP for crops and & @ @ are selectively guaranteed. The for some emergency scenarios. C - ! ?C-!@ ,;$ resisting a “neo-Company Raj.” For the Government says it can’t do & &, farmer’s day passes with weeding, Let’s take the example of , 7 this has indeed turned into a war that. And one doesn’t expect the ploughing, seeding and careful- apples from Himachal Pradesh, between the big agricultural corpo- Government to promise some- && ly guarding his crop for the sea- which make for a huge cash crop ) 7 , rations, who are reassuring the thing it is powerless to execute. 0 0 . & son while debts and bills burden for local farmers. In two decades, 4(# + 4 public with their propaganda If it introduces MSP as a legal .,$, & ,@ the family. When the harvest three big Indian agri-business ,;$ through the corporate media, and right, it would automatically arrives, it brings more losses in giants have consolidated the the farmers, who anyway are strug- overturn the three farm Acts as , $ 0 the absence of remunerative markets. They store almost all the # ( gling with input costs higher than farm majors won’t buy into a pro- prices. If it is the middleman now, apples coming out of the State, P < Q , 7 S B the Minimum Support Price (MSP) tectionist market. Additionally, & it would be the corporations later. dictate the prices and have estab- < ,;$S 7 and now see the rates being driven how will the Government imple- $,$ 0 Effectively, he has no negotiato- lished an oligopoly. Small traders down by the inevitable competitive ment the MSP at the rural mar- ry power either way. When he outside their network exist but P Q ! B pricing in an open market. They ket or local level is a big question. &8 @, can’t earn enough, he drinks pes- they are marginal. O 4 O ( have some legitimate and practical If, since its inception (1960s), the ticides or commits suicide. More Up against a techno-mili- " 7 , ( concerns that need transitional MSP has only covered a small than 300,000 debt-burdened taristic juggernaut, one feels that hand-holding that the Government percentage of farmers, what is @& 00 0 & farmers have committed sui- the farmers and their leaders ,;$S , is not quite doing. different in 2020? Hence the $ &.,@&@ cide in over a decade. So farm- know their vulnerabilities — # - 7 While the farmers’ agitation Government can never make ers are not misled or ill-informed, talks are futile and their fate is S B ,;$ trends on Twitter, the Government MSP a legal right. It may try to 0& & they live the hard reality. As sealed. They know that this uses an old strategy of “divide and trick the farmers with the “grad- Pepsico sued them in Gujarat movement will be their final sac- / rule” to break the unions, whose ing” jargon, stating that the MSP @$ ,@ and they are still struggling to rifice, a mass suicide to awaken B ( representatives have so far even would only be given for graded & &@,8& reclaim their dues for sugar, the conscience of our nation. ,;$S ,( 7 refused Government hospitality produce, but by accepting this they know how corporatisation They have come to Delhi not during the talks. The Government deal, Indian farmers would be .,$@ 0 hasn’t changed their fortunes and with a begging bowl but to pre- B , , ,;$ S ( ( has so far called “32 Punjab-based destroyed the same way B, required Government interven- sent the pitfalls of an unplanned (4 B unions,” leaving out others outside American farmers were. tion in the end. And as their farm liberalisation agenda. And # ,;$ the negotiating room. Howard Zinn Corporatisation of agriculture in ., $& & B resilience is breaking, city people one doesn’t doubt that they will sniggers at us, as despite his work the US, where factory farming $ . 0 ,$ flippantly discount them as rus- be misjudged and hunted. But for / < # # + S / exposing the American “robber birthed an uninterrupted chain tic, mock their intelligence and them it’s their moral imperative B ; , 7 barons” and their modus operandi, of “farm to fork,” has wiped out & yet we dare not face their to rebel, for the sake of their chil- / the land of Gandhi is falling prey to rural communities. It all began courage. The policy makers can’t dren, their ancestral lands and # ,;$ them. in the 1970s with the dream of answer their questions. Let’s go our civilisation. If the Indian civil- The Government may now becoming big enough to com- back to the isation has to survive we need our < play favourites, choosing one union mand the world’s food market 2.5 lakh crore dal scam of 2015 farmers to be treated fairly. For ( leader over the other, and present a with industrialised processes, when consumers paid the price without them, we are sowing a . - B #!+ - C-! turbid discourse, buying itself time merging of lands and shifting pri- promise of “making it big,” they by buying arhar dal at 210/kg. new corporate disease that shall to incriminate dissenting leaders, orities to commodity crops. But stretched their resources and It was reported that a cartel of further destroy India. In the ,;$ H # and in the final stage may even bring in no time there was a glut due were subsumed by food giants. agri-business companies was words of Gandhi, “Strength does ,;$ in “strike-breakers” or pro-establish- to over-production; farmers Barring Punjab and responsible by buying dal at low not come from physical capaci- , $ , = + ment farmers’ groups and corporate could never get the commensu- Haryana, MSP is already a dis- prices through the supply chain ty. It comes from an indomitable farmers to sign an accord and end rate prices and were driven to tant dream for farmers. Even if network, storing it overseas and will”. Our farmers are possessed 1A56 S the matter. But in case the matter debts. They had no option but to some States make MSP the legal then creating artificial scarcity. It by this will and we better listen + C-! gets out of hand, one shouldn’t be foreclose and sell out. Now farm- right, corporations have the profitted immensely by selling it to them. 7 B + surprised to hear rumours of the ers do not even make up a quar- choice of bulk buying from back to Indians at high prices. (The author is Director, Policy resurgence of the “Khalistan move- ter of the total US agricultural States that don’t do so. What hap- The Government used the power and Outreach, National Seed + ( ment” in Punjab and how farmer production. Buying into the pens to the farmers in that case? of the Essential Commodities Act Association of India) C-! ,;$ ( # - , S $ ?$@ 5 :! S , %9(# O' &%06% '% ( 6 :((% 69( &%((%;;;% + + ( *+*%# O' 5( +=())696%6 :6* %'*)) 5*(6 6'%( +% %%# +6( +6 % #66*=(6:6 ) 7(B ,;$ :(%#6*#%%)65'% ) '=6# : O%5)( ; 5*=)(:96 #6 :(((%( ())+%#*( + =( +#%=%=6* 9%)+6)6*)# ' ;C* #; 7 + %&$%+('%; ( :)*(( # :6'%;(%+6(* (2*%; + - 696%%; %2*)(6%96%; :8&72*7.A,,23.((02.: :&0*-&72;&(&<2 &7&:.(&<:&2.: <2,: KC6% (#% K6 % K ( * %-( K.)6&%% (& 0 # ( " !( ) # Q nario, the Central Government, $ * + , - led by Prime Minister Narendra Sir — This refers to the editori- Modi, must do all it can to % . , , / al, “Vaccine tourism”, published (%9%6%%#(6()N O5*=)(%# defuse the situation. The Centre ) 01 02 00 in The Pioneer on December 4. &( 6 %:%'=%;% 6*%56)(:% must offer middle ground It is laughable that affluent peo- 699(:%6=*%:((% 6*%6#%5*=)(::6 9(G immediately and bridge the ple from India are actually think- #% :%( )% 96:%'% +% :(%;&' %%-6= trust deficit. -/34 (56 ing that they can go and get their 69+66#56)(:%699(:%* 9%;&%@*5%'%.6*O%:% Bhagwan Thadani # COVID-19 vaccines from the 6#%#(%:( +%( ))(6 69..&B:'%(( Mumbai " ( UK. Do they not realise that the ('6 ( (+((6 :'%( %:56)(:%G Government of the UK will (6 =%(#%%699(:%69.% )56=%+% :(%*: obviously prioritise its own peo- %. % #% ('*:G(%#%96' ple, just as the Indian (:'*=%%):6'%#=)):((% ; Sir — It is to the credit of the 4 $ Government will, once we have % ( 6)#%%%%(6'*:% % representatives of the 32 farm- the vaccine, too? Maybe this is =6**' (+:*6#()6*% ##%55% '6 #%(:('%(+6%%'% ers’ groups that they refused . 7 the first time in their lives that 6=%% 6';&%#6( +9(%:*6#()#% %:*%#( :%69(6)(6 69(>%*' (+;, :% luxurious meals with Central 08 $ # the privileged will find out that %%#( %:6* ('( )#*%6%9:% ('5)%'% %#(6*)#%)#5#(+'(9( 56)(:G Government Ministers and oth- ) others not as well-heeled can get 56)(:%% 6( %#% 6*+( '6#% ( %6+(6 %:G ( +5*( +%56)(:%6#:(% (9(:( %(+(6 ; ers during the meeting to discuss priority over them, too. (2*% #%*%6996% (::(% :%6+%%(#% :% #%)) *: '6% 6*)# % :6'% 96' % the three farm reforms and * *+ The unscrupulous travel 656%%+*()69%::*%##*( +();&%69% 06% '% (:69% :(%96*)=6*-*#(:()6%G their problems with the Acts. P( Q # ( agents are leading these people 9( #(%(%6*%(#G#%+%%6*%6%::6 G %:;6%06% '% '*('5)%'% %*)( + This was their way of showing 7 ; - down the garden path by design- 9%(6 96'%::*%#%% 6*+(' 6(G ( )%% #5(((:6 :% %(+6)(9% #)(=G displeasure with the ing “vaccine packages.” Getting #-*#(:():*( ; %+* %%#* #%%.6 (*(6 ; Government, keeping their self- # < ( a COVID shot is not something 6%65:6*(#%966+%>#96' .-).0*.&-- respect intact and expressing that is in people’s hands, no mat- %..&B:'%6*)#=%5%%%#96)%( solidarity with their peers. They ( $ ter how many “deals” they offer also signalled that they cannot P= ) Q # to airlines and hotels and how against new farm laws on the (AIMTC), an umbrella body of Delhi, with tractors, trucks and be bought or lured with hand- many “pacts” they make with borders of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh goods’ vehicles operators, is trailers packed with food, water, outs. ( hospitals. This pandemic is a and Haryana, from various supporting the growers and has medicines and essential goods. The best part about the - , / great equaliser and for once States and countries, too. The threatened to stop the move- They are being helped and aided ongoing farmers’ agitation is # money can’t buy everything. talks between the Government ment of goods across India. by ordinary citizens who have that they have kept it apolitical Ashmit Aaron and the growers are likely to fail This will be disaster for the come out with cooked food, and taken a united stand. Noida as the farmers bodies are asking country, coming at a time when blankets, water and so on, to Raghu Singh # for a special session of the economy of the nation is lend the nation’s “annadata” a Delhi *+ Parliament for a discussion on already in the doldrums. Each hand. Every Indian worth Sir — There is a strong support the three farm Acts. The All- day, more and more farmers are his/her salt is with the impover- #' 7 4 for the farmers protesting India Motor Transport Congress gathering at five spots around ished farmers. Given the sce- (&22&:02,9*,7&&:?8@.*(/<,@ !"!" / % %# 6!(5 + )*!+5()*!+ 4 % 4 4 # !/ 4 ! C /D !C 5 54 / 44 %!E 55)(:(6 G=%#6)*(6 : 5*(%# L ! L *+%69% ' %# (:9@%' 6% #%)5( '55( +) #*% ( &&
"",&" ( % 4 R+3B4#3S ?+ 3 B # & & # #4 # 3 @ ( 4 * * + ?*+@ + + ( ?B*@ + 4 ( R+3B4#3S # + $ ! B* ( -/!+ ?- / ! +@ ( # ( &**)5 ( n 2018, when the Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) attempted to introduce a # % Inew Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, ( Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, or TOP Bill, in ( ( the Lok Sabha, it triggered a strong debate both with- -/34 in the House and outside. While some wanted it to be passed, others were strongly opposed to it. Those for the TOP Bill lauded it because it aimed to have # $ + a single legislation to address all forms of human * ?$+*@ trafficking and rectify the current scenario where ?%4+@ each aspect of the crime — from kidnapping, rape, # # sexual exploitation, forced labour and bonded labour B - — is separately covered by different sections in the law. This results in fragmented application of laws, flawed investigation and failed prosecution as is evi- ( dent by the NCRB data on prevalence, prosecution ! 562F and convictions of traffickers each year. The com- 4 *+ ( mon law, supporters of the TOP Bill argued, would take away the arbitrary distinctions between sex, labour and other forms of trafficking, which are a product of moral biases against prostitution and # ( non-recognition of the exploitation and torture in @ B B,@ 1A5J " ( labour trafficking. Further, the new Bill, however ,8 P( ( S ? $ #@ flawed, was an improvement on the existing legal & 88 . 0 + $ 7 framework on human trafficking in India, they . & # argued. 0 &@& Those who were opposed to it countered that @, . 4 ; 1A1A B - the Bill only strengthened the existing flaws in the & G& 88 . 0 *+ 1A1A 4 laws and complicated them further. It pushed for & G However, nowhere in India has any of the idation and violence, the district admin- AHTUs to be notified and functional, with a stronger criminalisation approach, rather than States reported a positive outcome of the istration and police resist in recognising officers exclusively in charge of them. ( @& , understanding that trafficking was an outcome of @@& ;& law, either by way of reduction of sex traf- this as trafficking and would rather inter- Non-notification of AHTUs means that " socio-economic problems, disparities in growth ficking of women and children, convic- pret it as “ill-treatment of labour.” they do not have the powers of investiga- between regions that pushed for migration but did . @ , tion of customers who demand children One of the biggest lacunae in the sys- tion, rendering their roles largely notion- not provide a support framework. Activists feared & , for sex or any consistent conviction of traf- tem is the absence of any definition of al. As a result, the bulk of the trafficking " that the already prevailing rescue-rehabilitation @& & fickers’ networks to break source-destina- “rehabilitation of survivors of trafficking” cases are investigated by officers from gen- approach, which gave the police powers of arrests @& .&GB tion flows of victims for sexual exploita- and what specifically a survivor may claim eral police stations, who confine their + $ ( and incarceration of voluntary sex workers in shel- & G& 88 . 0 tion. On the other hand, survivors, who as entitlements for recovery and rehabil- probes to the areas in their jurisdiction. ( (( ter homes, was perpetuated in the new Bill and that ., &&@ have been through the provisions of the itation. The ITPA offers incarceration in For example, the police team that rescues it seemed to have learnt nothing from the failures &, law, have reported grave trauma because shelter homes for up to three years and a survivor of trafficking from Pune ( of the past. A third group, also opposed to the Bill, ,@ of forced institutionalisation in shelter in-house service delivery without any ac- would confine its investigation and pros- pointed out that creating new laws confounds inef- homes. Shelters providing them with non- countability of the service provider ecution to the local brothel but would not *+ ficient law enforcement and overburdens judicial $, . ,& formal education did not result in better towards recovery, employment or reinte- trace back to the traffickers in the source # " systems even further. So they have no positive bear- educational qualifications. The in-house gration. The Bonded Labour Act provides State where the victim was abducted. As *+ # ( ing on curbing human trafficking, on vulnerable 8&&,& vocational training courses on book-bind- for a Central sector scheme for rehabili- a result, such prosecution based on poor communities, survivors or the implementers of that 0,, ,8 ing, sewing, tailoring or jewellery-mak- tation of bonded labour, which focusses probes can be easily challenged by the law and its policies. It cited several social legislations . &@, ing did not lead to sustainable employ- on financial benefits, mentioning noth- defence. AHTUs have yet to be recognised # 4 ( on juvenile justice and domestic, sexual and caste- @; &O@ ment generation and when they returned ing about recovery, repatriation, reintegra- under any legislation and State *+ based violence. Instead of creating new laws, the & & & home, they were left to fend off stigma, tion or rights of legal representation of vic- Governments are under no obligation to Government needs to allocate budgets and spend @ B B,@,8 poverty and their health distress on their tims of labour trafficking. What this cre- implement their advisories. ( + $ $ them, strengthen monitoring and implementation own. A 2014 research on the health sta- ates is a system that can escape responsi- Those who are worst affected by the ( of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections that per- & 88 . 0 tus of survivors of sex trafficking, who had bility towards the future of the survivors inadequacies of the law are survivors of tain to trafficking, the Immoral Traffic Prevention been rescued from Maharashtra, Delhi, by claiming that it has provided rehabil- trafficking themselves. There is truth in @$.& @ Act (1986), the Juvenile Justice Act and the Bonded D @ Telangana and Karnataka, found that 86 itation services but survivors were not able the contention that unless trafficking sur- Labour Act. per cent of those tested for psychological to benefit from them. vivors are empowered to assert their enti- 4 The WCD Ministry has reiterated its intent to & health were found to be suffering from The ITPA and the Bonded Labour tlements and claim accountability from ) S = bring in a law on human trafficking and is engaged & G& 88 . 0 dysthymia, a state of chronic depression Act as well as the IPC fail miserably in offices at the ground level, the best of poli- - ?= -@ in revising the TOP Bill. Once the draft Bill is placed .,@@& and anxiety disorder that, the clinicians prosecution of traffickers. The Global cies and laws will remain on paper and in public domain for comments and suggestions, ,&@$, found, were a result of untreated PTSD Trafficking in Persons Report, 2020, have no impact on the ground. NGOs ! " ( will the stakeholders re-engage with a few funda- 8, (post-traumatic stress disorder). This observes, “The Government decreased have their own subjectivities, their ideo- *+ ) B + mental questions that have always led to deadlocks C @&0,@ indicated the inadequacy of the psycho- investigations, prosecutions and case logical battles and limitations in challeng- * - between people of different political and moral ide- social counselling services provided in convictions of traffickers. The acquittal ing duty bearers. # ) ! ?#)!@ ologies? The central issues in this debate are likely shelters. rate increased to 83 per cent.” Survivors of human trafficking can be to be around the matter of legalisation of sex work India does not have a law on labour A whopping 90 per cent of human the greatest resource in any anti- traffick- ? /#B@ 4 and discernment between sex trafficking and sex trafficking. While Section 370 of the IPC trafficking in India is inter-state, and from ing multi-stakeholder system. Their inclu- ( # ( work, approaches in rehabilitation of survivors of was to have provided us with a compre- villages and small towns to cities. The sion in national, State and district-level trafficking, the prevention approach and its impact hensive definition of trafficking, it falls Ministry of Home Affairs had recognised anti-trafficking committees will need to = - on migration rights. short of mentioning forced labour in its the need to create an integrated and com- be endorsed by law and policy and not left Does India need a new law on trafficking? The definition of exploitation. Survivors of prehensive investigation system in 2008 to the goodwill of individual bureaucrats Immoral Traffic Prevention Act (ITPA), that was labour trafficking across India report that when it passed a directive to form Anti- or leaders. It’s time that survivors of . formed in 1956 and last amended in 1986, has failed there is systemic resistance in recognis- Human Trafficking Units (AHTU) at the human trafficking were respected as 4 to combat sex trafficking. The ITPA’s approach of ing them as victims of labour trafficking district-level, which could pursue inves- equal members in the anti-trafficking combating sex trafficking is on criminalisation of or of bonded labour. While there is sys- tigations seamlessly between States. This ecosystem and not spoken for by activist organised prostitution and providing for institution- temic exploitation of inter-state migrant would take the burden off from the gen- NGOs. alisation of survivors and their rehabilitation in shel- labour being trapped in brick kilns, small eral police stations. However, a recent (The writer is a researcher and advi- ter homes. The law does not directly criminalise sex factories and sweatshops, construction report, AHTU Watch, found less than 10 sor to the Indian Leadership Forum ? @ workers, except for solicitation in public places. sites using debt bondage, threats, intim- per cent of the currently-existing 332 Against Trafficking) ,
cine and the country is gearing up defining moment for medical COVID vaccine. The scientists based urgency as well. The Oxford vaccine ed that half dosage was given as an possible without years of expertise to start mass vaccination of its pop- advances in the modern era, they are their work on an existing technolo- is a chimpanzee adenovirus-vectored inadvertent error, Oxford scientists developed by the scientists and the ulation. Meanwhile, the successful a manifestation of the commitment gy they pioneered and patented shot. It uses a genetically-modified underlined that it was a calibrated adequate funding and resource sup- trials of the Oxford-AstraZeneca and shown by scientists and researchers years ago in the Oxford labs. In fact, version of a virus strain that is usu- move. port given to medical research. Moderna vaccines have raised across the world in producing the they designed this vaccine that very ally found in chimpanzees. This Even as the varying accounts These researchers are our mod- tremendous hopes too. While shots in record time. They remind weekend itself in January, staying up modified virus carried with it an ele- raised concerns, the controversy ern heroes, who have made tremen- Moderna and Pfizer have us how investing in medical research all night. At that point it wasn’t even ment of the COVID-19 viral strain also served to remind us how hasty dous sacrifices and given it their all, announced high efficacy in clinical is critical to beating unforeseen clear how fast the virus would that triggers an immune response in trials can result in handling errors. in order to make a difference to trials for their respective vaccines, health emergencies and vital to the spread or how many people it would the human body. It also underscores the need for humankind and create history. In all !(('!- ()( that is up to 95 per cent, the Oxford- survival of the human race. end up infecting, but these Not without controversies: Oxford-AstraZeneca’s India part- of this, science will be the winner. Let AstraZeneca vaccine can be stored Race against time: The stories researchers saw it as an opportuni- Given the urgency and the compe- ner, Serum Institute of India, to this encourage and inspire our in normal refrigerators. This makes behind the development of these ty to demonstrate rapid vaccine tition between pharma companies, ensure a highly transparent trial for youngsters to be future scientists who ne of the most difficult years it much easier and cheaper to store, vaccines and the speed at which they development against a new viral vaccine development has under- Covishield to dispel any doubt and can make the impossible possible. in recent memory, 2020 has transport and distribute in compar- were done is truly inspiring. Let’s take threat. From here on, within weeks standably been hasty. The Oxford distrust over its efficacy. Countries like India, where the Obeen nothing less than a ison to the other two candidates the case of the Oxford vaccine. Oxford had useable vaccines for lab vaccine trial discovered up to 90 per Funding medical research must shortage of medical research fund- global healthcare nightmare. which would need to be stored at British and Irish scientists Professor tests and clinical grade shots for cent efficacy when the volunteers be top priority: The adenovirus vec- ing has been a perennial problem, However, as the year draws to an minus 20-80 °C. Adrian Hill, Professor Sarah Gilbert human trials. The rest, as they say is were given a half dose before a full tor platform that has been used in the can also learn vital lessons from this. end, there is good news on the hori- Being cost-effective and easy to and Professor Terese Lambe started history. dose booster shot. Interestingly, Oxford vaccine was first developed Notably, the Department of Health zon. Even as an indigenously-devel- store, the Oxford vaccine is being working on this vaccine in early By the beginning of April, the when given two full doses, the vac- in the early 1990s and has since then Research in India was given barely oped vaccine by Bharat Biotech has touted as the most promising can- January as soon as scientists in COVID19 virus had spread to most cine showed only 62 per cent effica- been repeatedly tested and modified three per cent of the total healthcare entered Phase-3 of clinical trials, sev- didate for a country like India, China published the first genetic parts of the world with the UN chief cy. While this serendipitous discov- in continued research and develop- allocation in the Budget 2020-21. eral other international vaccines which has cold chain issues. Russia’s sequence of the virus. Given the Antonio Guterres terming it the ery gave an expected boost to the ment. The current vaccine design India needs to increase funding and have either shown promising results Sputnik V, another such vaccine that novel nature of the Coronavirus, it “worst crisis” since World War II. vaccine, questions remain over the that could successfully use the exist- spend more on biomedical research or are on their way to reach last-stage stays stable between 2 and 8 °C, is was an uphill task but Oxford With deaths mounting and cause of this surprising trial result. ing platform is essentially based on to be able to develop effective drugs trials. In the UK, the Medicines and also being considered viable for University and later the Government economies crashing one after the It also brought to the fore discrep- almost three decades of research and and vaccine solutions for multiple Healthcare products Regulatory India and other developing coun- gave the vaccinologists access to other, the development of this vac- ancy in the narratives of the two testing. With the success of the vac- diseases in the future. Agency (MHRA) has already given tries. unprecedented funding and cine was much more than a health- partnering agencies on the project. cine in sight, it is important to under- (The writer is Executive Director its nod to the Pfizer/BioNTech vac- These vaccines not only mark a resources to find the much-coveted care need, it was an economic While the AstraZeneca team insist- stand that none of it would have been of a pharmaceutical firm) !"!" 1
4 5 # ) * .* 9 1 Q+ ; Rome: Qatar’s foreign minister erates with Israel in providing that his country has a “work- informal truce that has pre- said Friday that his country aid to the Gaza Strip — might ing relationship” with Israel to vented any major outbreaks of * remains committed to the cre- be the next Arab country to provide aid to Gaza, where the fighting in recent years. ation of a Palestinian state normalize relations after the Islamic militant group Hamas Israel and Hamas have with its capital in east United Arab Emirates, Bahrain seized power from rival fought three wars — the most !! ! R Jerusalem, and that progress on and Sudan established diplo- Palestinian forces in 2007. recent in 2014 — as well as that front would need to be “at matic ties with Israel earlier this “But for the full normal- countless smaller skirmishes. the core” of any agreement to year. ization, I believe that the The normalization agree- Washington: US President Electoral College that deter- normalize relations with Israel. But the foreign minister (Palestinian issue) needs to be ments with Israel, brokered by Donald Trump has alleged that mines the outcome of US pres- “Right now, I don’t see said Qatar remains committed at the core of any agreement of the United States, were widely his votes started “miraculous- idential contests. that the normalization of Qatar to the 2002 Arab Peace normalization between Qatar seen as a breakthrough in ly disappearing” on the election The Trump campaign has and Israel is going to to add Initiative, in which Arab coun- and Israel,” he said. Mideast diplomacy. night, reiterating his unsub- filed multiple lawsuits in several Washington: Congressman value to the Palestinian people,” tries would recognize Israel in The wealthy Gulf country’s But the Palestinians con- stantiated claims about wide- states, most of whom have Gregory Meeks, who backs a Sheikh Mohammed bin exchange for its withdrawal aid to Gaza has provided a life- demned the agreements as a spread voter fraud in the pres- been dismissed so far. strong US-India relationship, Abdulrahman Al Thani said at from territories occupied in the line to the territory, which has betrayal because they marked idential polls. “I want to just thank my was on Thursday elected as the Italy’s annual Mediterranean 1967 war and the creation of a been under a crippling Israeli a major erosion in Arab sup- Trump on Thursday told team because my team is doing next chairman of the powerful Dialogue. Palestinian state in the West and Egyptian blockade since port for their cause, a key reporters at the White House an unbelievable job. And more House Foreign Affairs There was speculation that Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem. Hamas seized power. It has also source of leverage in any future that his team has found a large importantly, I want to thank the Committee, becoming the first Qatar — which already coop- The foreign minister noted been a key element in a shaky, peace talks. AP number of such votes. 74 million-plus people that African-American to head the “We went through an elec- presidential election over voted, which is the largest Congressional panel that plays tion. At 10 o’clock, everybody Trump, who is continuing his amount of people that a sitting an influential role in shaping said, ‘That was an easy victory legal efforts to upend his vic- President has ever had — 74 the country’s foreign policy. ( O P ###88117* P # for Trump.’ All of a sudden, the tory. Trump, a Republican, has million-plus...The level of loy- Meeks, 67, would replace votes started disappearing — allowed the official start of alty, I’ve never seen anything fellow Democratic Washington: China is the China was growing its power China’s major public initia- Asia and others pointing to miraculously disappearing. We Biden’s transition to power but like it. All over the country, they Congressman Eliott Engel from “greatest threat” to democracy by stealing US secrets and then tives and prominent companies unprecedented efforts to influ- found much of it, but we found has not yet conceded defeat, know it was a fixed election. It New York as the Chair of the and freedom since World War replacing US firms in the mar- offer only a layer of camouflage ence the incoming Biden far more votes than we need in alleging massive voter fraud and was a rigged election. They House Foreign Affairs II and Beijing was preparing for ket. The Trump administration to the activities of the Chinese administration. almost all of these states. And electoral malpractice. know it, and I appreciate their Committee in the 117th confrontation with the US and has taken a hard line on China, Communist Party,” according The op-ed comes as the I think I can say in all of these However, state election offi- support,” Trump said. Congress next year. intended to dominate the world imposing tariffs on Chinese to Ratcliffe. Trump administration has states, far more votes than we cials and the media have denied When asked if he has con- Meeks, who had paid flo- “economically, militarily and goods and accusing Beijing of The Trump administra- recently taken several punitive need to win every one of them,” such large-scale fraud. Election fidence in Attorney General Bill ral tributes at the statue of technologically”, according to intellectual property theft. tion’s most senior intelligence measures against Beijing, he said in response to a ques- officials in key battleground Barr, Trump said: “Ask me that Mahatma Gandhi at the America’s top intelligence offi- “The intelligence is clear: official’s stark warning was just sharply limiting visas for mem- tion. states have declared Biden the in a number of weeks from now. Gandhi Plaza on October 2, is cial. Beijing intends to dominate the the latest from senior admin- bers of the ruling Communist Democratic leader Joe winner, giving him an unoffi- They should be looking at all of also a powerful member of the Writing in the Wall Street U.S. And the rest of the planet istration officials about China’s Party of China and unveiling Biden won the November 3 cial 306-232 edge in the this fraud.” PTI Black Caucus. PTI Journal, Director of National economically, militarily and intentions, with some warning new sanctions on Chinese Intelligence John Ratcliffe said technologically. Many of of possible military action in companies. PTI 3 ! 5 !! '# # ( 1 5 + -; @ 0&, A # # Copenhagen (Denmark): Denmark has decided to end to Lahore: A Pakistani anti-ter- in-law Prof Hafiz Abdul resident-elect Joe Biden Washington: Friday’s monthly The unemployment rate is all oil and gas offshore activities rorism court has sentenced Rehman Makki was sentenced Psays he is keeping Dr US jobs report will help answer projected to drop one-tenth of in the North Sea by 2050 and three more leaders of Mumbai to six months imprisonment in Anthony Fauci on as a a key question overhanging the a percentage point to 6.8 per has cancelled its latest licensing terror attack mastermind Hafiz each case. chief medical adviser and a economy: Just how much dam- cent. round, saying the country is Saeed’s Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD) to The suspects were present- member of his Covid-19 advi- age is being caused by the The Labor Department will “now putting an end to the fos- 15 years imprisonment each in ed in the court amid high secu- sory team. resurgent coronavirus, the issue the November jobs report sil era.” two more terror financing cases. rity and the media was not Biden made the comments resulting curbs on businesses at 8:30 am Eastern time. The Danish Parliament Anti-Terrorism Court allowed to cover the proceed- Thursday during an interview and the reluctance of con- A loss of momentum in hir- voted late Thursday to end the (ATC) Lahore Judge Ijaz ings. )1 # with CNN’s Jake Tapper. He sumers to shop, travel and dine ing would weaken the economy offshore gas and oil extraction Ahmad Buttar handed down The sentencing comes a 2"% "1 ) said he spoke with Fauci earli- out? at a particularly perilous time. that started in 1972 and has the sentence to Abdul Salam bin day after Saeed’s spokesperson er in the day about the need to Economists surveyed by A multi-trillion-dollar aid made it the largest producer in Muhammad, Zafar Iqbal and Yahya Mujahid was handed instill confidence in any coro- the data provider FactSet have package that Congress approved the European Union. Non EU- Muhammad Ashraf on down another 15 years in jail by 1 navirus vaccine and the fact forecast that employers added in the spring to ease the eco- members Norway and Britain Thursday. the ATC in a terror financing that “you don’t have to close 450,000 jobs in November. nomic damage from the pan- are larger producers. Denmark JuD chief Saeed’s brother- case. PTI down the economy” to combat In normal times, that would demic has largely run its course. is estimated to pump some <"<"=>> the virus. be a healthy increase. Two enhanced unemploy- 83,000 barrels of crude oil and Biden says he’d be “happy” But a gain that size would ment benefit programs are set another 21,000 barrels of oil B # # *26 Medan: Torrential rain in ple, including a toddler, after to get a vaccine in public to amount to the weakest month- to expire at the end of this equivalent this year, according Indonesia’s third largest city the heavy rains in Medan, the prove its safety. ly hiring since April. month. AP to the government. AP caused four rivers to overflow, capital of North Sumatra & flooding thousands of homes province. and killing at least two people, At least two people were Lyon: A French retired surgeon child who was hospitalized at officials said Friday. found dead after being swept accused of sexually abusing age 4 in the establishment where The local disaster mitiga- away by the floods, which over 300 young children over he practiced. Le Scouarnec has tion agency said rescuers were began Thursday evening, the decades - primarily his patients been found guilty of “rapes” and searching for six missing peo- agency said in a statement. AP in their hospital rooms - has “sexual abuses,” Francesca Satta, been sentenced Thursday to 15 the lawyer for the neighbor’s years in prison in the first trial family, told the AP. His name of what may be the largest-ever will also be added to the data- 0'27* '? pedophilia case in the country. base of sex offenders, she said. The trial this week in the During the trial, Le Scouarnec western city of Saintes con- admitted he had raped his O # #? cerned four people allegedly tar- nieces. Other legal complaints geted by Joel Le Scouarnec, 70, against the doctor have piled up .,@ L.$ @M back to port after completing including two of his nieces, a since the original investigation what it said was seismic young female neighbor, and a wrapped up. AP urkey's recent moves to research in east Mediterranean Tde-escalate a clash with waters. Greece and Cyprus over east The warship-escorted ves- Mediterranean energy reserves sel's activities in waters where - # are “unconvincing” and Greece asserts jurisdiction European Union leaders need prompted a military build-up & - to take action that will prompt between the two neighbors Ankara to heed international and nominal NATO allies. Jerusalem: The Israeli gov- at a 2018 news conference law, Greece's foreign minister Greece countered by also ernment on Thursday urged its about Iran’s nuclear program: said on Friday. sending its warships, and both citizens to avoid travel to the “Remember that name.” Israel Nikos Dendias said Turkey countries conducted military United Arab Emirates and accuses Iran of trying to devel- opted not to seize an opportu- exercises to assert their claims. Bahrain, citing threats of op nuclear weapons — a charge nity that European Union lead- NATO stepped in to prevent a Iranian attacks. Iran denies. ers offered it in October to ease potential armed conflict. Iran has been threatening In recent months, Israel has tensions in the region so that But Dendias said the ship's to attack Israeli targets since signed agreements establishing the 27-member bloc could return to port wasn't enough. its chief nuclear scientist, diplomatic relations with Gulf start reshaping its fraught rela- “Turkey's belated moves Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, was Arab states of the UAE and tions with Ankara. in recent days to supposedly assassinated last Friday near Bahrain — its first normaliza- Turkey last week ordered de-escalate tensions are not Tehran. It accuses Israel, tion deals with Arab countries the research vessel Oruc Reis convincing.” which has been suspected in in a quarter century. previous killings of Iranian The agreements, brokered nuclear scientists, of being by the Trump administration, behind the shooting. have generated widespread Israel has not commented excitement in Israel, and on the killing. But Fakhrizadeh thousands of Israeli tourists has long been on Israel’s radar are scheduled to travel to the screen, with Prime Minister UAE for the Jewish holiday of Benjamin Netanyahu saying Hanukkah this month. AP = !R ,
everal thousand combatants have been killed in Ethiopia’s Sembattled Tigray region, an official with the fugitive region- al government has asserted, although claims remain difficult to verify a month after the fighting erupted between Ethiopian and regional forces. Getachew Reda, a senior adviser to the Tigray leader, in an interview with Tigray TV aired Thursday urged young people and others in the region to “rise and deploy to battle in tens of thousands” days after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed over the weekend declared victory. With the leaders of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front on the run in rugged territo- ry, fears of a drawn-out conflict continue. But with communications and transport links still largely severed to the region of 6 million peo- ple, it’s difficult to know the situation on the ground, including the extent of popular support for the TPLF and the number of people killed. !"!" * 2
&" '( ) * (
the rate at which banks lend to at all times,” Das said. the central bank, was kept The RBI revised its growth eserve Bank of India (RBI) unchanged at 3.35 per cent. outlook, seeing a milder 7.5 per /1 " $ Ron Friday left interest rates The MPC “decided to cent contraction in the fiscal unchanged for the third continue with the accom- year to March 2021 as opposed 76 straight time amid persistent- modative stance of monetary to its October forecast of a 9.5 ly high inflation and said the policy as long as necessary — per cent shrinkage of the GDP. inflation stayed stubbornly not upsetting the status quo economy was recuperating fast at least through the current This after a shallower- high, and said the economy probably has been the theme and would return to positive financial year and into the than-expected decline in the he RBI’s decision to keep was recuperating fast and with regards to liquidity man- growth in the current quarter next year,” Governor gross domestic product (GDP) Tthe key policy rate would return to positive agement,” said Rajeev itself. Shaktikanta Das said. in the July-September quarter. unchanged ensures a lower growth in the current quarter Radhakrishnan, Head of Fixed The six-member Monetary The central bank’s stance India entered a technical interest rate regime and avail- itself. Income, SBI Mutual Fund. Policy Committee (MPC) is “to revive growth on a recession last week — it was the ability of liquidity to support “The policy stance has, as The Monetary Policy unanimously decided to keep durable basis, and mitigate the first time in decades that Asia’s growth under the current eco- expected continued to focus Committee (MPC) of RBI the benchmark repo rate — the impact of COVID-19 while upper end of the RBI’s 2-6 per shortages, higher services third-largest economy saw two nomic situation, even as high on reviving growth with the expects inflation to remain ele- rate at which RBI lends to ensuring that inflation remains cent target band and it expect- prices, higher commodity consecutive quarters of con- inflation remains a risk, finan- MPC maintaining its accom- vated, barring some transient commercial banks — at 4 per within the target going for- ed the outlook for inflation to prices and higher taxes have traction. A coronavirus lock- cial market experts said on modative stance. relief in winter months and cent. Since January, RBI has ward,” he added. worsen. RBI sees price gains in contributed to a spike in both down between late-March and Friday. At the same time, the this has constrained monetary reduced that rate by 115 basis Das said inflation contin- the fiscal third quarter at 6.8 headline and core inflation. May led to a collapse in private The Reserve Bank of statement reinforces the policy at the current juncture points before hitting the pause ues to be sticky.Consumer- per cent and easing a bit to 5.8 “Our paramount objective consumption and investment India (RBI) on Friday left requirement of supply side from “using the space available button in August on concerns price growth or the headline per cent in January-March. is to support growth while demand as well as significant interest ratesunchanged for a actions to break the current to act in support of growth”, on inflation. CPI inflation, at 7.6 per cent in Supply-side factors, such ensuring that financial stabili- job losses, which further cur- third straight meeting as inflationary spiral. “However, RBI Governor The reverse repo rate, or October, was well above the as unseasonal rains, labour ty is maintained and preserved tailed spending. N&0@96'%:O % 0656:*%!! ) %%#6'( ( :6 9(#% :% %/2(6@ )('(96:6 :)%:# :(6 6 % (95##69 ( #(+()= ( +)%#6:(6 2 ' Policy Committee. Now the increase the limit for contact- +( 8. P /1 central bank has issued circu- less card transactions to Rs @$96": n a bid to give a push to dig- lars notifying the announce- 5,000 from Rs 2,000 at Point of 2 # Iital payments, the Reserve ments. Sale (PoS) terminals from Chandigarh, Jammu & “In the case of HDFC Bank on Friday announced a On 24x7 availability of January 1, 2021 in view of the Kashmir, Kerala, Gujarat, Bank, there were earlier n line with the market expec- slew of measures including Real Time Gross Settlement COVID-19 pandemic and addy procurement in the Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, he need to maintain peo- episodes also. HDFC Bank has Itations, RBI has kept the enhancing the limit for con- (RTGS) System, the RBI said it feedback from stakeholders. Pongoing kharif marketing Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra Tple’s confidence in digital an overwhelming presence in Repo Rate unchanged. The tactless card transactions to has been decided “to make Earlier in the day, season at MSP has so far and Bihar.The Food banking resulted in the action the digital payment segment, in accommodative stance has 5,000 and making RTGS trans- RTGS available round the clock the RBI Governor had increased by 20 per cent to Corporation of India and state against HDFC Bank for service the internet banking segment. been maintained into the next action facility available round on all days of the year with announced that per transaction nearly 330 lakh tonnes, valued agencies have purchased 329.86 outages, RBI Governor We have some concerns about financial year in order to ensure the clock from December 14. effect from 00:30 hours on limit for Additional Factor of at Rs 62,278.61 crore. lakh tonnes of paddy up to Shaktikanta Das said on Friday certain deficiencies etc... It is durable economic growth. The The RBI has also decided December 14, 2020”. Authentication (AFA) relax- In the ongoing kharif mar- December 3 as against pur- and exhorted lenders to invest necessary that the HDFC Bank growth is expected to be better to grant licence to entities RTGS System is used for ation for contactless card trans- keting season (KMS) 2020-21, chase of 275.98 lakh tonnes in more on the technology front. strengthens its IT systems with the GDP estimate being operating payments systems high value transactions. The actions will be increased. the government continues to the corresponding period last The regulator is also study- before expanding further,” Das revised upwards for FY21. on a perpetual basis, and per- NEFT System of payments is “Accordingly, given the procure kharif 2020-21 crops at year. “About 31.78 lakh farm- ing the incident at SBI, which told reporters. “… we cannot Liquidity measures have mitted companies to reapply already available round the sufficient protection available its MSP (minimum support ers have already been benefit- also faced an outage on have thousands and lakhs of been announced to revive for licence after one year of clock.RTGS will be available for to users, it has been decided to price) from farmers, an official ted from the ongoing KMS Thursday, Das said. customers who are using dig- activity and On Tap TLTRO rejection of their application or customers and inter-bank increase the per transaction statement said on Friday.The procurement operations with In an unprecedented ital banking to be in any kind has been extended to the revocation of their licence. transactions round the clock, limit to Rs 5,000,” said one of marketing season starts from MSP value of Rs 62,278.61 action, RBI has asked HDFC of difficulty for hours togeth- stressed sectors identified by These were part of the except for the interval between the circulars, adding that all October. Paddy procurement crore,” the statement said. Out Bank to stop issuing new cred- er and especially when we are the Kamath committee. The announcements made by RBI ‘end-of-day’ and ‘start-of-day’ other requirements, including for kharif 2020-21 is continu- of the total purchase of 329.86 it cards and launching new dig- ourselves giving so much credit offtake is expected to get Governor Shaktikant Das ear- processes, whose timings the discretion of cardholder to ing smoothly in Punjab, lakh tonnes, Punjab alone has ital business initiatives because emphasis on digital banking. a boost going forward we lier in the day after the meet- would be duly broadcasted use contactless or contact mode Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, contributed 202.77 lakh tonnes, of the repeated instances of ser- Public confidence on digital expect it to top at least 8% in ing of the central bank’s rate through the RTGS system. of transaction, would continue Telangana, Uttarakhand, Tamil which is 61.47 per cent of the vice outages over the last two banking has to be maintained,” the days to come. setting panel -- Monetary The RBI also decided to to remain applicable. Nadu, total procurement, it added. years. the RBI chief said. %") / ( (()%56 %)66 ( # ./0 1 # Q.* # 1/ =B)@# N56((%O96$ . / R / A<><> 82.66. Diesel rate went up %6)*(6 0* from 72.84 to 73.07 per litre. , billion. iesel price on Friday This is the 12th increase in “Adobe has benefited from he despatch of coal by CIL Bengaluru:Flipkart’s indepen- Dcrossed 73 a litre mark in rates since November 20 when dobe CEO Shantanu growth in its digital media Tto the power sector The last date for submis- dent value-driven platform, Delhi and petrol rate neared Rs oil companies resumed daily ANarayen and Mastercard segment, its largest division, in declined 6.6 per cent to 236.97 sion of EoI by potential 2GUD on Friday launched 83 after 12th increase in the last price revision after a nearly CEO Ajay Banga have been particular, with demand rising million tonne (MT) in April- eserve Bank of India (RBI) investors is December 15, he 2GUD Local to connect pop- fortnight. two-month hiatus. In 15 days, named by Fortune among the for its subscription-based suite October period of the ongoing RGovernor Shaktikanta Das said, adding “let us see what is ular offline retailers scattered Petrol price was on Friday the petrol price has gone up by Businessperson of the Year of tools for designing and pub- fiscal. The state-owned com- on Friday said the response the response and after that we across the country with online hiked by 20 paise per litre and 1.8 per litre and diesel rate has 2020, a list topped by Tesla lishing content and software for pany had supplied 253.76 MT from potential investors for can take a view on this”. shoppers.The new format aims diesel by 23 paise in line with risen by 2.61.Prior to the CEO Elon Musk.The Fortune document creation and elec- of coal to the power sector in reconstruction of crisis-ridden In September 2019, the to enable local stores - single the firming international oil November 20 hike, petrol price 2020 Businessperson of the tronic signatures,” Fortune said. the corresponding period of the Punjab and Maharashtra Co- RBI had superseded the board brand or multi-brand stores rates, according to a price noti- had been static since Year is Musk for a second It added that Adobe’s previous fiscal, according to operative Bank looks “positive” of PMC Bank and placed it and other shopping destina- fication from oil marketing September 22 and diesel rate time. The publication said in a diverse mix of customers, both government data. so far. under various regulatory tions - and retailers to expand companies.Petrol price in Delhi hadn’t changed since October year dominated by crisis and large and small, has also helped The fuel supply by Last month, the fraud-hit restrictions after detection of their digital footprint to con- rose to 82.86 per litre from 2. uncertainty, other leaders also Narayen to future-proof his Singareni Collieries Company multi-state urban cooperative certain financial irregularities, nect more effectively with their stood out and “achieved the company’s business.”Now the Ltd (SCCL) to the power sec- bank sought Expression of hiding and misreporting of consumers.2GUD Local will remarkable”.On Narayen, CEO has a strategy for what he tor in the seven-month period Interest (EoI) from potential loans given to real estate devel- showcase the best of these ranked 8th on the list, Fortune hopes will result in even more dropped to 18.47 MT from investors for investment or oper HDIL. stores through long-format said under his leadership, the growth: In early November, 29.82 MT a year ago, it said. equity participation in the bank The central bank appoint- videos coupled with engaging 38-year-old provider of design Adobe announced the USD 1.5 In October, the fuel sup- for its reconstruction. The ed A K Dixit as the new admin- narratives, Flipkart said.The and publishing tools has con- billion acquisition of ply by SCCL declined to 3.32 deadline for issuing istrator of the bank in platform will further assist tinued to evolve into a massive Workfront, a maker of ‘mar- MT from 4.19 MT in the cor- Information Memorandum September this year. While these stores in creating their subscription-based business. keting workflow management’ responding month of previous (IM) was November 20 and for announcing the monetary pol- digital footprint including cat- Despite the challenging software,” it said. fiscal, it said. However, the seeking pre-bid clarifications icy on Friday, Das said, “with aloguing support, consumer macroeconomic environment, Banga, who had been despatch of coal by Coal India was November 30. the preservation of financial fulfilment, advertising and the software company recent- Mastercard’s CEO for 10 years, Ltd (CIL) to the power sector “The response looks pos- stability and depositors’ inter- marketing.It will provide them ly announced results from its will step down from his role increased 13.5 per cent to 38.50 itive at this point of time. The est being uppermost in our with an additional channel for best third-quarter ever—rev- and Michael Miebach will be MT in October from 33.91 MT bank and its management are agenda, we could swiftly sales and access to new geo- enue grew 14 per cent year over the new CEO effective January in the year-ago period, the fully engaged with the investors resolve the situation at two graphies for consumer acqui- year, hitting a record USD 3.3 1, 2021. data said. who had purchased the infor- scheduled commercial banks”. sition, Flipkart said, adding mation memorandum,” Das Two private lenders -- Yes that 2GUD Local is kicking-off told reporters after announcing Bank and Lakshmi Vilas Bank its efforts to digitise offline the monetary policy. were rescued in 2020. brands with KLM Fashion Mall in Bengaluru. IANS $%& ' ( . !"!"
"(!(!
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
4
% % 2 %"2$2 %"2$
"# "!-'2"! # #%' # % + %' '"'"( !++"- # # # 0 #
o what made you say yes to the role?” “astounding project.” He says, “It is an is real and what is not. I have never played I was blown after watching it.” When I try I ask actor Adil Hussain. When he intelligent film and my character is craft- such an intense role,” he adds. to get deeper into the details, he laughs Squestions, “Which role?” from the ed quite well. I have come across very few N, @,,&8, Well, talking about roles, Indian cin- and keeps me from bringing the suspense other end of the phone, I confirm, Indian films, which have treated the ema has certainly seen characters evolv- out. “Nirvana Inn.” I soon realise how the actor genre with so much suspense and aesthet- 8 , ,O& ing. There’s a surge of grey roles now as The film will have its digital world has been riding high on the success and ics of arts. Usually, a violent and brutal side actors don’t like to keep them in a box. premiere on a new, pay-per-view OTT proud win of his web series, Delhi Crime, is lent to such films but I found this quite , &O@0, 0&, Now, roles are more layered, etched and platform, Cinemapreneur, for 99 hours at the Emmys that he almost forgets his intriguing and real. It is not just horror, $$; @. $& @ life-like. For Hussain, a role should speak from December 11. Hussain talks about other projects. He laughs and clarifies, it’s more of a character study in a slow nar- of something he resonates with. “I look at how it is different from the other OTTs “Actually, these days, I keep forgetting rative that blurs the line between realism .,@& &B,B 0; a role fundamentally, what does it offer as and has the potential of giving a cinema- what’s the call for as it could also be for and mystery.” a character — is it black-and-white, lay- like experience post-COVID. “The lock- Delhi Crime.” Hussain believes that when it comes &&,@ 0& ered or more grey? Does it create empa- down shut cinema halls and the subscrip- Well, the series has been a very “spe- to horror, the genre has not been very . &@, B @ @ thy in me even while I’m portraying a tions for OTT platforms like Netflix, cial” project for Hussain and he credits it well-experimented or explored in main- dark-shaded character? Do I feel empa- Amazon, Hotstar, etc, surged. However, all to its writer-director, Richie Mehta. He stream Indian cinema. Is there a specific , && thy for a dark person? How well is it writ- there, one needs to subscribe and pay a adds, “Richie is a dedicated art lover. I reason why it lags behind? He says, “I’d say ten craftwise? Is the director good enough? monthly charge. Here, it’s quite similar to don’t know anybody else who could have that it’s very difficult to write good 88&& Jogi, I’d say, is very unpredictable and going to a cinema hall and buying a tick- done such a great artistic job. He has done scripts. In the Indian filmmaking culture, & @ .& grey,” he says. et for the film you want to watch.” justice to the issue by portraying it the we haven’t been giving much space, time, The actor earlier revealed that he him- Nirvana Inn, which also stars Sandhya right way. It’s amazing how the series does- energy, resources and money into writing. . &;, (played by Hussain), a boatman who self was “terrified” at the end of it. But Mridul and Rajshree Deshpande in lead- n’t show any abuse, violence or brutality Very rarely, I come across a brilliantly- becomes the caretaker of a mysterious why? He points towards the difference ing roles, became the only Indian film and yet manages to shed light so beauti- written script which is at par with the level B& @& Himalayan resort after a suicide attempt. between a script and the cinematography. selected for the Asian Market Project fully on such a sensitive issue. It’s difficult of Hollywood or the films from the 8 , @, While the synopsis might be perplexing, “When you shoot for a film, you really (AMP) in Busan and was awarded the to do what he did. It took him four years Eastern part of the country. I am not even the film’s trailer is as intriguing and don’t know what’s going to happen. A Asian Cinema Fund. It also had its world to complete his research. I haven’t seen any comparing those scripts to the likes of &. &,0 $ Hussain’s description of the mystery script is constantly evolving. Written premiere at the 24th Busan International series in the country so far which has this Satyajit Ray. However, I was surprised how behind it makes one even more curious words might create some visuals in your Film Festival 2019. Getting global recog- level of beauty and reality at the same time, a horror genre script like Nirvana Inn & . 0, & to watch it. He tells us that “guilt” is the mind but they will be different than what nition is huge for any actor. And Hussain and also an artistic rigour to create some- would find me, which is really that good @& B& underlying theme of the film. “That feel- is actually created. When you eventually believes that one should take it “with thing like this.” that it’s acceptable to my kind of aesthet- ing is not easy to play around with but the see the film, you realise how the cine- humility and work harder to keep doing After a moment of pause, he returns ics.” . .&@& intensity of guilt in a person has been dealt matography, the background, the set and better,” he says as he signs off, preparing to answer my previous question about his The film, shot in Manali, Majuli , &&, O with in a wonderful way in this film. The even the characters turn out to be — total- for his next morning flight to the UK to forthcoming psycho-horror drama, (Assam) and Chennai, revolves around the plot mixes nightmares with the reality and ly different than you’d imagined. You feel, shoot for his another brilliant project, Nirvana Inn, which for him is another life and personal encounters of Jogiraj so, the audience really doesn’t know what ‘Oh, this is what was going on!’ And hence, Footprints On Water. ( !53 ! 5 4 4
t starts as an innocuous tale of three Ikids, Jai, Pari, and Faiz, reminding ) ( the reader of Harry, Hermione and ) # Ron from that magical world of Harry Potter. Jai is adventurous, not exactly studious. Pari is the intelligent ominated at the International Emmy Awards and ambitious one. Faiz is a bit flaky, *6$ $$ O Nthis year, actor Arjun Mathur has earned him- neither here, nor there, but his (2*(: %#=** %%#%96)6 +('% self a global stardom. His evolution as an actor has friendships are important to him. The only been inspiring and hints on his talent. His story isn’t set in a middle class soci- B & webshow, Made in Heaven was a breakthrough and ety or in a gated complex. The back- the actor received immense critical acclaim for his drop isn’t an orphanage or a board- role of a gay man. He was last seen in The Gone ing school. It is set in the slums of Game, a suspense thriller series, which impressive- Delhi, where adults hop from their ly was set, conceived, shot and released during the abodes to the high rises next door to lockdown. perform their duties as house-helps Currently, when Mathur is getting showered and nannies, drivers and cleaners and with love from fans all across the globe, we have kids roam around doing whatever some exciting news about the star. The actor is now they want to do. gearing up for his next film titled Silence which And then, the story truly begins. is touted to be a murder mystery. What’s exciting Children disappear one by one from is that Arjun will begin shooting for it this month the slum. The initial hypothesis is itself, December 12 onwards. that they have run off, for who will and picnic baskets to go with it. But, Written and directed by Aban Bharucha live in the slum and put fight for a sharp rap on the proverbial knuck- Deohans, the suspense thriller is produced by light, food and bathing water. le brings one back to the real world, Kiran Deohans under the Candid Creations ban- Perhaps, they wanted to escape their an unfair one that values slum ner. Premiering on ZEE5, the film features drunken and abusive fathers. Oh, are children many notches lower than Mathur alongside talented Manoj Bajpayee. We more of them disappearing? Perhaps, the other children because, aren’t hear that Arjun is extremely thrilled to work with the Djinn took them. they children of the slums, one of Manoj, which is why he was keen to be a part of Our trio gets into the ring to on the periphery of the highway, sounds childish. Perhaps, they many disposables? this project. investigate, mimicking detectives near the high rise, as far as the cen- invoke memories of the 3 Deepa has built a book that can The film also features Prachi Desai, Sahil Vaid, chasing clues. Their journey takes tral railway station even. The read- Investigators and Famous Five, if we be read quick enough but will haunt Vaquar Sheikh and Shishir Sharma in interesting them many places within the slum, er roots for the kids, even though it could only have some hot scones the readers for a long time to come. roles. !"!" $%& ' (..
6%D 4 +')*3&*4-*, % 4 @( +% & 0 % %6 + (56%(:%5%% (6 69%)9G#(:6% #%'=6#(%%'%+%%6 )*( )(9%(=6*66*% #)%( +6*%)9=%; & B B
tity crisis. The idea is to convey that we all have our fair share of beauty and pain in different magnitudes and none of us can escape it. The song is an expression of self-acceptance and embodies the message that the only truth in life is about who you are and letting yourself be that person. It is a manifestation of loving oneself and accepting love in all its forms. You feature in the music video as well. What kind of preparations went behind the mak- ing of it? When I heard the vision MTV Beats had for 67 the video, I fell in love with it instantly. It’s the story of a couple in love where our protago- ctor Sumeet Vyas feels nist, played by Ivanka Das, is dealing with Athat in our patriarchal issues related to his sexuality. It progresses society, we do not talk about around how the protagonist’s wife supports him the emotional and vulnera- through the transition and instills the confi- ble side of a man. He says dence to love “yourself” first irrespective of fatherhood has changed him how you identify “yourself”, all this while deal- emotionally. Vyas, who says ing with a pregnancy and the traditional shift he is emotionally a different of her family life because of her husband’s tran- person after the birth of his sition. It’s a touching story of a couple who son Ved, also quipped how redefine love and acceptance. International Men’s Day is Since Ivanka is a LGBTQ+ activist and a voice quite a forgotten affair as from the community, I was so happy to see her opposed to International involvement and the positive reception of her Women’s Day. feedback. The entire process has been extra- “I think when it comes ordinary and it’s one project i’ll always be to men, living in a patriar- extremely proud to be associated with. chal society, we do not show and extensively talk about How do you think music as a medium helps our emotional side. Being in addressing some of the important social modern men of progressive issues in the country? society who support gender I feel that art has always been a reflection, and equality, we tend to over- in a lot of cases, a mirror to the society and the think and complicate certain lives of people around you. For me, music is things. But I think our next a medium of self-expression rather than just generation will not go “It is funny, we do not even being a genre. Music has the magic to create through this,” the actor said. remember when the a sense of community, it has the power to bring He opened up about his International Men’s Day is people closer and will always be the universal son, who was born on June — which was on November language of love, unity and peace. 3, to establish his context, 19! It is almost ignorable! “He is just six months old However, I just want to It has been two years to the verdict on Section but I feel an emotional shift mention how at times I 377, how do you think our society has pro- happened within me overthink or become over- gressed? Is there still a long way to go? because of parenthood. conscious, being a man in a Even though that was one of the most historic There is no doubt that no patriarchal society. See, days I have had the pleasure to witness, I feel one in the world can com- when my partner comes there is still a long road we have to cover. Our pare the physical and emo- home after a long day and society has progressed and we are more vocal tional effort that a mother asks for a coffee, I happily about equality for everyone but there is a dark offers to a child, she is the prepare it for her because shadow lingering behind the rainbow. I have birth-giver and that is that is natural, but when I so many friends and acquaintances who are still incomparable. We always ask for the same, the thought afraid of the social stigma attached to it and talk about how motherhood crosses my mind, ‘am I are living their lives in fear of being outed. It’s changes a woman, which it doing it out of the habit that the most suffocating thing to happen to any- surely does. But I am saying, woman should serve the one. It will take time but taking that first step fatherhood also changes a coffee, like the way my is important in a journey. Since we have already man!” grandfathers’ generation ell us about your collaboration for this song has the same underlining message hit a milestone, the destination won’t be that “Everything that I do, used to think?” Vyas said. MTV Beats Love Duet, a gender atyp- that the album wants to convey and that’s what N & @ @ far. my child comes first now. I “I do not want to come Tical album. How has the experience I truly love about this collaboration! I am was thinking of investing in under that category but, you been? thrilled to play a supporting character in the 8.& , ,& What are your forthcoming projects? an expensive cycle before my see, the same action can be Honestly, the experience has been phenome- music video, telling a touching story of two My debut song as a composer came out last child was born, now I am so progressive for one person nal. I am so grateful that the new song, Khud people who are in love but have been living a ,8. @@ ,&, week so the last couple of days have been real- obsessed with my son that I and regressive for the other Ko Hi Paake, is in sync with the vision of the closeted life for a long time. I am sure it will &@,. &;8, ly interesting. I composed a song for Netflix’s am checking out toys and one. Maybe I am overthink- album. Love Duet has been a path-breaking ini- be loved by the masses and also help influence Mismatched and even had the pleasure of thinking which toy cycle is ing but it is a real thing. This tiative in normalising conversations around perceptions in some way or other. @ . @ ,8 singing a song in the album. My first interna- more cool!” shared the actor. bell rings in our head at love that goes beyond gender stereotypes. It has tional collaboration with the US-based artist, He notes that we con- times, and that is when you given a platform to some of the greatest artists What was the idea behind the song, Khud Ko @8GN$@@ , Rajiv Dhall, came out just a week before we stantly talk of gender equal- think, coffee machine zind- from the LGBTQ+ community to showcase Hi Paake and how do you think it stands out released Khud Ko Hi Paake. I am also work- ity but days dedicated to abad!” he signed off with a their talent and make their voices heard. I am from other mainstream songs? && C @& ing on a couple of singles and collaborations women and men are not cel- laugh. glad that I got the chance to make a tiny con- It is a song I composed keeping in mind the 0 0O with some amazing artistes and can’t wait to ebrated in the same manner. L1)% tribution in this journey. It’s a coincidence that internal struggles of someone facing an iden- make more music. 4
tantalising exhibition on Tops among contemporary ATantra, a greatly misunder- practitioners is Bharti Kher’s head- stood word that has been tossed less sitting on her haunches figure into the realms of sexual ardour by * +& -&(+ with a tea and saucer in one hand the West, but the British Museum and a skull in the other. While the creates an epic sojourn in art his- benevolent slept, 2008 stirs you out tory by bringing together sculp- of your skin. The power and the tures, prints and paintings as well # # -0 pathos both intermingle to ask you as a stunning recreation of the uncomfortable questions. This is famous Chausathi Jogini Mandir in % # # 6 not a pretty woman, this is a Hirapur just outside Bhubaneswar. woman of strength. Her hands ') ")-1 holding two objects, that suggest a ! slow genes, is a cultural interpre- According to the curator more to showing fearsome god- tation that weaves Hindu mythol- Immos Ramos, from its inception desses trampling over fragile men. ogy, tantric painting and found to the present day, Tantra has Intoxicating perhaps is the 9th- objects together in a sweeping challenged religious, cultural and century sandstone temple relief ode to selfhood. This sculpture political norms around the world. from Madhya Pradesh depicting with those straw-like long projec- A philosophy that emerged in the ferocious goddess Chamunda tions slice through your senses India around the sixth century, dancing on a corpse. Historians with fine-tuned resonance. Kher is Tantra has been linked to succes- have noted that in the 19th centu- telling us that there is a collective sive waves of revolutionary thought ry, Tantra became a tool for Indian need for answers following further from its early transformation of revolutionaries fighting the British questions. Kher also points to Hinduism and Buddhism to the colonial rule with goddesses such angular junctures of mismatched Indian fight for independence and as Kali, becoming the symbol of belief systems as she pairs multi- the rise of 1960s counterculture. independence. ple compositions with more mate- Centering on the power of Among over 100 objects, rially complex, confrontational divine feminine energy, Tantra including the masterpieces of sculptures. This sculpture fits into inspired the dramatic rise of god- sculptures, paintings, prints and the modern mould of women dess worship in medieval India and ritual objects, depicting the histo- artists, who create after deep rumi- continues to influence contempo- ry and evolution of tantric philos- nation. rary feminist thought and artistic ophy since AD 500 — the works of Ramos says Tantra has a con- practice. Presenting masterpieces Indian artists are important. tinuing relevance. “Gender, female of sculpture, painting, prints and power, gender fluidity, religious ritual objects from India, Tibet and ' ("&&() pluralism, mindfulness, well- around the world, this exhibition "* ! "$ $ being... These are all topics that are offers new insights into a philos- Among Indian practitioners of very much part of contemporary ophy that has captured our imag- Tantra moving into contempo- form to bring alive the energy prin- British Museum is a hybrid cre- discourse.” ination for more than a millenni- rary fields of Neo Tantra were ciple, which holds that purusha is ation with an inner rootedness. um. Ghulam Rasool Santosh. He infinite, eternal, omniscient, History states the develop- #! * worked within the Purusha Prakriti unchanging, and unchangeable. ment of Tantra in medieval India She excels and extols with her " # $$ % principle. His painting has an But Prakriti is what holds materi- coincided with the rise of many mesmeric work. Housewives with &$ equivocal tenor because it com- ality and dynamism, constantly new kingdoms across the subcon- Steak-knives 1985. This image has History and the love for col- bines yogic powers of transcenden- changing and evolving. tinent after the breakdown of two a stark but poetic resonance, con- lectibles combine when you run tal meditation with the form. The Biren De’s luminous penumbra major dynasties, the Guptas in the cerned with the relationship your eyes through the objects on philosophy is what ignites our hails the concentration of the North and the Vakatakas in the between art and politics, and ques- display — four of the earliest awareness and awakens us. chakra, it is his exploration into Southest. Along with political pre- tions of subjectivity in relation to Tantra manuscripts, made in Nepal Purusha is the soul, the self, pure higher realms that evokes many a cariousness, there was a great identity, gender and race. She around the 12th century and consciousness, and the only source moment of deeper intensities. flourishing of the arts. Rulers were draws on temporal relationships loaned by Cambridge University of consciousness. The word liter- Mahirwan Mamtani, another mas- O% !** ( * $ $ drawn to Tantra’s promise of power between myth and reality, as spa- Library are stunning. The curator ally means “man.” Prakriti is that ter in the field of Tantra, known for and public temples often incorpo- tial opposites, she questions the highlights the importance of divine which is created. It is nature in all his magnificent human faces, is not * * rated Tantric deities as guardians. concept of time itself, and what this feminine power and challenges her aspects. Prakriti literally means about the lower chakra, it is the $ * constitutes in relation to histories the perception of womanhood as “creatrix,” the female creative ener- union of a higher self. Mamtani’s P ! " + $"Q $ ($ and to the everyday idiom of a passive and docile. But there is gy. Santosh uses this in his human work in the collection of the (# "$ woman in society. . !"!"
!2 Q 8 8 R 3 : 9: :
6.--18,2.F7,