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JOURNALISM OF COURAGE MONDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2020, AHMEDABAD, LATE CITY, 14 PAGES SINCE 1932 `4.00 WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THE EDITORIAL PAGE GROWTH:BENEATH THERECOVERY BY PRANJUL BHANDARI Fewer women move abroad, many PAGE 6 cite family as factor in career: High BUSINESSASUSUAL BY UNNY up ladder, gender still matters Moregirltoppers from metros than small towns whereodds forboysbetter; gapnarrowing but still sharp in Science/Tech

Protesting farmers clang utensils during Prime MinisterNarendraModi’s MannkiBaat in Ghazipur,atthe Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border,onSunday. Prem Nath Pandey GOVT RESPONDS TO PROTESTERS

Kutch farmer Tomarwelcomesreturn leading agitation against ‘pollution totalks;noonecantake caused by steel Though Iwas stressed by expectations from At IIT-Bombay, we all got equal treatment plant’ externed family, society to get married earlier than Idid, regardless of gender. But boys participated in my parents were ambitious for me. Since Ihad their class more… girls sometimes thought their answers landoffarmers:Rajnath EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE RAJKOT,DECEMBER27 support, Icould focus on higher studies” might not be correct and refrained from participating” JERENEMATHEWS, PAEDIATRIC DERMATOLOGIST AT BELIEVERS CHURCH SHALAKA KULKARNI, PURSUING MBA FROM YALE SCHOOL OF Hope farmers will appreciate Punjab lawyer AFARMER leading an agitation MEDICAL COLLEGE HOSPITAL, KERALA, CLASS 12 CBSE TOPPER IN 2006 MANAGEMENT, CLASS 10 ICSE TOPPER IN 2012 againstalleged pollution by a situation, reality of law: Govt steel plant at Bharapar and kills himself, Kidana villages in Gandhidham STUDYINGOR University,but she acknowl- Asked about the farm unions’ taluka has been externedfrom RITIKACHOPRA edgesa“gender lens” is impor- HARIKISHANSHARMA proposal of holding the next criticises PM Kutchdistrict forayear with the NEWDELHI,DECEMBER27 WORKINGABROAD tant to understand suchtrends. NEWDELHI,DECEMBER27 round of talksonDecember 29, police claiming that he wasa “Gender ofteninfluences de- Tomar said, “Vaartahogi (Talks for ‘black laws’ “threat to lawand order”. VARTIKABHANDARI,40,ISC1998 cision-making related to the ed- DESCRIBINGTHE farm unions’ will take place).” On December 1, the courtof Boardtopper from Allahabad, is a ucation of children in afamily. decision to return to the negoti- “Theyhavewritten aletter; it Vimal Joshi, sub-divisional mag- seniorstaffsoftwareengineerwith With the decline of academic ation table as “good step”, Union is agood step. We were already RAAKHIJAGGA istrate(SDM) of Anjar,issuedan Google in San Francisco. Chaitra standards in public universities AgricultureMinisterNarendra ready fortalks; we will resolve &AMILBHATNAGAR order externing Shambhu Jaru Chandrasekhar,38,ICSE1998top- and an increase in disposable in- Singh Tomar on Sundayex- the issue through negotiations,” LUDHIANA,NEWDELHI, from Kutchdistrict for12 per from aBangaloreschool, is 63% 40% come, manymoreprivileged pressedhope that asolution he said. DECEMBER27 months aftergranting an appli- partner at consulting firm Oliver TRACKING MEN WOMEN families aresending their chil- would be found to the stalemate TheSamyukt KisanMorcha, cation of the Kandla Marine po- Wyman in NewYork. Jerene dren abroad forhigher studies. It over the newfarm laws through an umbrella body of 40 farm or- AN ADVOCATE from Jalalabad in lice in the matter.The order was Mathews,31, 2006 Class 12 CBSE INDIA’STOPPERS CITYOFSCHOOLING is usuallythe boyinthe family discussions. ganisations, on Saturdaywrote Punjab's Fazilka district, who deliveredtoJaru, aresident of topperfromKendriyaVidyalaya in WOMEN (OUT OF 35) who has an edge in suchdeci- Defence MinisterRajnath to the Union Ministryof had been protesting with farm- Kidana village, on December 18 Kottayam, is apaediatric derma- TOMORROW TIER163%(22) sions. Suchtrends will, however, Singh reaffirmedthat the Centre Agricultureand Farmers ers affiliated to the Bharatiya and became effective from the tologistinThiruvalla, Kerala. needtoberesearched rigorously, has no intention of scrapping the Welfare, announcing the re- Kisan Union (BKU) Ugrahan at date, police said. These women maynot have RANKS GIVE HEAD START TIER2&3 37%(13) as contexts vary considerably.” minimum supportprice (MSP) sumption of talks. It also pro- Delhi's Tikri border,diedbysui- On Sunday, 36-year-old Jaru shattered the glass ceiling at BUT MAY BE DECEPTIVE MEN (OUT OF 51)* Swati Prusty,27, who topped regime, and that no “ma ka lal posedafour-point agenda for cide on Sundaymorning. told The Indian Express, “A team their workplace yetbut, surely, INDICATORS, SAY TIER2&3 63%(32) the Class 12 CBSE exam in 2010, (no one)” can take away land the talksthat include modalities Amarjit Singh Raiconsumed TOPPERS of policemen came to my office theyare well on their waythere, TIER133%(17) says shewasnevertookeenonset- from the farmers. to be adoptedfor the repeal of the farm pesticide sulphos and pushedmeintheir vehicle perched high up the ladder.And tling abroad. Hence studying at a “Main ummeed kartahoon ki the three central farm Acts; about 200metresfromthe stage saying the courtofSDM had ex- yet, as afour-month investiga- *2ofthem withCISCE-affiliated schools in Dubai foreign university didn't carry kisan paristhiti aur kanoon ki mechanisms to makethe remu- at the protestsitethat farmers ternedmefromKutchdistrict. tion by The Indian Express of 86 fewergirltoppers going abroad currentlystudy or live overseas muchappeal.“Since IknewI sachchai ko samajhenge, vaarta nerative MSP recommendedby have namedGadri Gulab Kaur TheydroppedmeinMorbi dis- national school Boardtoppers — than their male counterparts; butamong them,there is asig- wouldwork inIndia,itdidn’tmake hogi, aur uska samadhaan niklega the National Farmers' Nagar. Beforecollapsing, he gave trictand sincethenIhavebeen 51 men and 35 women —from from promising careers put on nificant gender gap. Just40% (14 senseto takealoanto studyabroad (I hope that the farmers will ap- Commission intoalegallyguar- twoprinted letters —one of staying here.” 1996 to 2015 shows,their gen- hold to those tailored to suit fam- out of 35)ofwomen toppers are andthencomebacktoworkforfi- preciatethe situation and the re- anteedentitlement forall farm- whichwas addressedtoPrime Jaru’s externment came after der does matter. ilyobligations. studying/working abroad but for nancial payoff reasons, among ality of the law; talkswill take ers and all agricultural com- MinisterNarendraModi —to an application, filedbyapolice Maybenot as muchasitdoes Fewerwomen have men, that ratio is 63%. others," she said, adding that she place, and asolution will be modities; amendmentstobe other protesters. inspector (PI) of Kandla Marine among the “average”intheir co- These numbers aresmall and turneddownascholarship with found),” Tomar told TheIndian made and notifiedinthe Earlier this month, a Police Station in Januarythis hort, but itsburden is in- movedoverseas than should notlead to sweeping gen- National University of Singapore Express. CONTINUEDONPAGE2 CONTINUEDONPAGE2 year,cited twocases of rioting escapable: from their lowrepre- their men counterparts eralisations, says Poonam Batra, to pursue engineering in India. CONTINUEDONPAGE2 sentation in science and tech to Morethan half the toppers Professor of Education at Delhi CONTINUEDONPAGE2 Street vendor scheme The go-to actor for new stories, ‘WANTED’ IN 1996 EXPLOSIVES CASE ahit, govt plans next Pankaj Tripathi at eAdda today Gujarat ATS arrests aide of Dawood, Abu phase: digital payments platforms, he had prominent EKTAAMALIK roles in Mirzapur2and the re- NEWDELHI,DECEMBER27 centlyreleased Criminal Justice Salem from Jharkhand AVISHEKGDASTIDAR Applicants Season 2. NEWDELHI,DECEMBER27 cross WHILE forcing people indoors, Pankaj ANational School of Drama Kutti, ATSofficials said, was E the Covid-19pandemic has Tripathi graduate, Tripathi spent many EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE living at Barinagar in Jamshedpur ● 50%mark STARTINGNEW Year,overamil- EXPLAINED whetted India’s already vora- years waiting patientlyfor his AHMEDABAD,DECEMBER27 since May2019after he returned lion street vendors across India cious appetitefor stories. Among time in the limelight, starting out to India from Kuala Lumpur in will acceptand makepayments THE MAIN BhiDigital those at the forefront of this with blink-and-you-miss roles THEGUJARAT Anti-Terrorist Malaysia allegedly on afake digitally, having come on board drive has been prompted phase in entertainment, playing in films like Run (2004)and Squad (ATS) Saturdayarrestedan Indian passportinthe name of forthe 'Main Bhi Digital (me too by the success of the out largely on online streaming Omkara (2005), before attracting ‘Will have special associateofgangsterDawood Mohammad Kamal. digital)' drive designedbythe loan scheme forvendors, services, is PankajTripathi, cred- attention with his performance observers for Ibrahim and AbuSalem, Abdul On December 23, 1996, police Centrefor them. with the number of ap- ited with delivering some of as Sultan Querishi in Gangs of Bengal... forlaw and Majid Kutti alias Mohammad arrested one Mohammad Fazal The drive has been prompted plicants, 30 lakh, already 2020’s mosttalked about per- Wasseypur Part 1&2.Films like Kamal (58), from Jamshedpur in Pathan, anative of Ajmer in by the success of the Prime crossing the half-way formances. On Mondayevening, Fukrey (2013)and Masaan (2013) order,expenses. If Jharkhand forallegedly smug- Rajasthan, at acheckposton MinisterStreetVendor's Atma- markofthe total num- the 44-year-old will be guestat helpedcement his talent, while needed,wecan act gling explosivesand automatic Mehsana highway with avehicle Nirbhar Nidhi (PMSVANidhi) berofstreetvendors. Express eAdda, whichfeatures hit Netflix show SacredGames swiftly,ruthlessly’ weapons from Pakistan, allegedly carrying four kilograms RDX, 10 scheme, launchedinthe wake of Morethan 16.65 lakh ap- interactions with people at the and acclaimedmovies suchas SUNIL ARORA to carryout attacksin Gujarat and detonators, 125automatic pistols the Covid-19lockdown, to pro- plications have been centreofchange. Medium, Extraction and Shakeela Newton (2017), Nil Battey CHIEF ELECTION MaharashtraonRepublic Dayin (115 Pakistan-made star pistols vide vendors microcredit. As sanctionedbypartner Tripathi’s releases this year (severalofthem directlyre- Sannata (2016)and Stree (2018) COMMISSIONER OF INDIA 1997.Hewas brought to and 15 China-made pistols), 113 partofthe newdrive,between banks. include films like Ludo, Gunjan leasedonOTT platforms). On followed. Now, as stories PAGE 11 Ahmedabad on Sundayfor ques- magazines and 750 cartridges. CONTINUEDONPAGE2 Saxena: The Kargil Girl, Angrezi content made forstreaming CONTINUEDONPAGE2 tioning, police said. CONTINUEDONPAGE2

PAGE 1 ANCHOR In epic MCGcentury,Rahane stands up,lifts Adelaide gloom

mindedness, clarity of stroke- hundredsinAdelaide (2014), or man.Inhisinitialdays,hehadthe 200th ball he facedonSunday. At SANDIPG making and the stomachfor a Cheteshwar Pujara’s 106in reputation of being acrisis man, no point in the game did he sur- NEWDELHI,DECEMBER27 fight that stood out. Melbourne (2018), or Sourav before he slippedintoaperiod of render the will to fight. This could turn out to be not Ganguly’s144inBrisbane(2003). confusion. Since the 2018 tour of His composureinadversity ADAY afterhemarshalledhis onlythe defining knockof Or if India could orchestratea SouthAfrica,hehasbeenalargely andtheshepherdingof thelower- troops admirablyonthe field, Rahane’s career,but also one of turnaround in the series, inspire peripheral figureinTestmatches orderwere akinto VVSLaxman’s. AjinkyaRahane struckapriceless the finestanIndian batsman has the same aweasRahul Dravid’s abroad. Barring acenturyagainst Likethe Hyderabadi virtuoso, centuryinadversity to put India composedabroad.Notperhapsin 233(Adelaide, 2003), considered West Indies, he had been mostly therewas an air of equanimity in acommanding position in the volume yet, but definitelyinim- the finestbyanIndian batsman unremarkable. In his lasttour of about him. Whether he was second Test at the Melbourne pact.Itcouldpotentiallyshapethe on Australian soil. Australia, he managed only217 beaten or had scored aboundary, Cricket Ground. match, the series, and extend the It wasinvaluable on several runs at ameagreaverage of 31. his expression remainedthe The unbeaten 104came as a life-span of ageneration that counts. This wasIndia’s firstin- Therewas atime when India same. His ability to lifthis batting timelybalmafterthepaininflicted wouldhave beendismantledhad nings afterthe capitulation in feared losing him, when he when thrustwith the captaincy by thehumiliationinAdelaidelast Indiareproducedanencoreofthe Adelaide. Even though India had teetered on the vergeofbeing wasreminiscent of SteveWaugh. week.With alead of 82 runs and Adelaide capitulation. scoredtwiceasmanyrunsasthey chopped.Thefearsnowseemun- Coming intothe match, he five wicketsinhand at the end of With the matchonthe brink, had in the second innings in warranted.Rahane is reborn. had been farfromfluent, but he Day2,Indiacouldnow dream of theseriesonedge,agenerationon Adelaide when he walked out to Mostunexpectedly,hedid fought his wayout of trouble. He levelling the series. thefence,hisowncareerplateau- batatthefallof ShubmanGill,they notmakeIndia crave, or even wasnot always easy on the eye, And the man behind the ing, pitted againstahigh-class were 61/2, farfromaposition of miss, Kohli. It wasaday India did- and he scrappedthrough the dif- dream is Rahane. bowling crew,Rahane stood up. authority.TheAustralianbowlers n’t needKohli. Fortheyhad ficult phases of the game. In the On Saturday, he made all the Themorevariablesyouweave were breathing fire,and they Rahane. His batsmanship is dif- end, he liftedthe post-Adelaide right calls as captain. His daring in, the morelustrehis hundred could have swallowedthe rest of ferent from Kohli’s, but the spunk gloom and passedafew mile- and calmness stood out. On gains. So muchsothat the effort AjinkyaRahane celebrates afterhis centuryasRavindraJadeja looksonduring the India- the batting firm in their fury. he exudedwas similar to Kohli’s. stones, too. He became onlythe Sunday, he playedthe right shots meritsbeing spoken of in the Australia Test matchinMelbourne on Sunday. Reuters Indianeededsomeoneto fight He wasprepared to fight, and second batsman to scoretwo as acaptain. It washis bloody- same breath as ViratKohli’s twin fire with ice. Rahane wasthat fight he did, from the firsttothe hundredsatthe MCG. Ahmedabad WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM 2 THE SECOND PAGE THEINDIANEXPRESS,MONDAY,DECEMBER28,2020

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Tomar “Wehad no idea that he would intohis hand. “The respondent take this extreme step, even contendsthatthecompany, ie.Sal Commission forthe Air Quality though he had been deeplydis- Steel Limited is operating in vio- Management in National Capital turbed about the newlaws.” Fewer women move overseas, more cite family lationof laws.However, theappli- Region and Adjoining Areas The letter,addressedtoModi, cant wasatliberty to petition the Ordinance,2020to excludefarm- wasaprinted note in English concerneddepartment of the ersfromitspenalprovisions;and whichsaid that people expected as factor: high up the ladder, gender still matters government in this respect and if changes to be made in the draft a“better futureinyou as Prime that department did notact, he ElectricityAmendmentBill,2020 Minister”. could have movedthe higher fo- to protecttheinterestsof farmers. Accusing the PM of “arro- “I wishedtostayclose to my (obligations),” she said. rum or civil court. But instead of Speaking on the occasion of gance” and working forspecial parentssothat Icould travel (to SubjectsinClasses11,12* WHERETHEYWORK No wonder then that most doing that, the applicant has theJairamThakurgovernmentin “capitalist(AmbaniandAdani)in- Bhubaneswar) to meetthem of the women toppers, over proven that he took the lawinhis Himachal Pradesh completing terests”, it said: “The common regularly.Thereisasense of se- ■ Science ■ Commerce Women* Men** 60%, arefromTier 1cities while hand and indulged in an act three years, Rajnath Singh said: people likefarmers and labours curityaboutstayinginyourown formen, the trend is justthe op- whichdisturbedthepeaceof this Finance 27% (6) 16% (6) “Ek badaa dushprachaar yehbhi arefeeling defraudedbyyour country, with your ownpeople 96% Men 4% posite. Over 60% arefromTier 2 area,”SDMJoshiunderlinedinhis kiyagayakikisanonkizameencon- three agricultureblackBills...the that youdon’t find elsewhere,” IT/tech: 18% (4) 39% (15) &3cities. judgment. Twowitnesses exam- tract farming ke madhyamse public is on tracks and roads not she said. Shalini Prasad, 41,attended inedbythe courthad also testi- Medicine: 14% (3) 8% (3) chheenlijayegi.Mainpunahkehna forvotes but forthe livelihood of Prusty,who holds a LoretoConvent School in fied that theywereinjured dur- chahungakikoi bhi ma ka lal their families and Bachelor’sdegree in Electrical Consulting 18% (4) 8% (3) Asansol up to Class 10 and did ing violence on the factory 71% Women 29% kisanon se unki zameen nahin generations...Kindlydon’t snatch and Electronics Engineering Business/entreprenuer 9% (2) 11% (4) her high school at De Nobili premises in May2019. chheensakta(Thereismajorprop- bread and butter (Roti) of farm- from BITS-Pilani and an MBA School, Mugma, Dhanbad. Street vendor aganda that the land of farmers ers, labours and common people from IIM Bangalore, is now *Out of 22 employedOthers in research,corporateand legal She is one of the 13 women would be takenawaythrough forafew capitalists and don’t Strategy Consultant at L&T *Notopper from arts/humanities **Out of 38 employedOthers in academics, industry and civil service toppers from Tier 2and 3cities. January4and 22, over 10 lakh contract farming. Iwould liketo compel them to eat Sulphos. InfotechinMumbai. Prasad,whotoppedtheClass12 street vendorsacrossthecountry sayagain that no one can take Sociallyyou have betrayed the Familycommitments ISC exam in 1997,isnow Vice whohave availedoftheRs10,000 away the land of the farmers).” publicandpoliticallyyouhave be- were men and 49.3 per cent their comparatively smaller President (Finance) at British loan will be trainedinusing digi- In reference to the trayed your associateparties like stronger factor women. Also, their presence at presenceabroad.“InIndia,afor- Petroleum in London. talpayments. Opposition's criticism of The SAD...I offermysacrifice in sup- While there is little differ- the Master’s levelwas the high- eign degree, particularly in She creditstwo men for As per official data, 12 lakh Farmers (Empowerment and portofthis worldwide agitation ence in the academic goals of estever—in2017-18, forevery maths and science, is valued helping her dreams take wings. street vendorshave availedofthe Protection) Agreement on Price forshaking your deaf and dumb these achievers at the postgrad- 100men who enrolledfor MSc, over others as universities "Growing up, Iwas sureI loanwhilethetotalnumberof ap- Assurance and Farm Services Act, conscience...BhartiyaKisan uatelevel —roughlythe same therewere171 women. Five abroadhave acutting-edgecur- wanted to study at SRCC in plicantshas crossed30lakh -- or Singh said: “Whatever agree- Mazdoor Ektazindabaad.” proportion of men (45%) and years earlier,therewere138 riculum in these fields, which Delhi. My father had justone half the estimated number of ment will be with the farmers Amarjit's daughter Suman women(43%)toppershavingei- women in BSc programmes for eventuallytranslateintowell- condition —that Ishould score street vendors. Over 16.65 lakh will be about their produce, not Bala, 24,ateacher in agovern- ther finishedorstill pursuing a every100men. paying jobs overseas. Parentsin high enough in my Boardexam applications have already been their land.” ment school in Jalalabad, said, “I Master’s degree —thereisagap While, as AISHE suggests, India will probablybekeener to to secureahostel. Muchlater, sanctionedbypartner banks. On MSP,hesaid: “A miscon- can’tbelieve Papacouldtake such atthehigherresearch level.Only the gender gapinSTEM take asizeableloanto fundade- when Iwas feeling stagnated at Officials underlinedthat the ception is being deliberatelycre- astep. He spoketoall of us on afifth of women toppers have (Science, Technology, greeinengineeringorscienceas my job in Bangalore, it wasmy unique aspect of the newdrive ated in some parts of the coun- Saturdaynight,and told us he optedfor aPhD as compared to Engineering, Mathematics) has opposedto, say, psychology. father-in-lawwho pointed out wasthat the vendors would be trythat our government wants would come backsoon.” athirdofmen. been narrowing of late, the Women,traditionally, have been that Enrst&Young wasrecruit- able to notjustreceive payments to end the MSP.Ithas neverbeen Amritpal said Amarjit had SohiniChaprala,30,the2008 chasmisstillwaytoolarge andis SPRIHABISWAS less interestedinthese sectors, ing in London and that Ishould digitallybut also payfor material the intention of this government been inquiring about buses or Class12 CBSEtopper,isResearch reflectedattheapex,too,despite ChiefProductOfficeratScribetech, and this possiblyexplains why apply,"she said. theyprocurefromsellers using to abolish the MSP,nor will it trains to go backhome. “It is Manager at Innovations for mostofthenationaltoppersbe- headsdevelopmentofamedical youfound fewerwomen top- Yet, thereare manyothers unique QR codes. The mobile ever be.” shocking that he wasroaming PovertyAction, anon-profit ing from the Science stream. speechrecognitionsoftware pers studying and working who struggledwith social ex- phones of the vendors will be Singh appealedtofarmers to with atypedsuicide note in his foundedbyAmerican econo- Sevenof10male toppers abroad,” she said. pectations. equippedwith the software TOPPED: Class 10,ICSE, 2011 observethe impact of the new pocket,and even had sulphos mistDean Karlan, in Dhaka. have studiedengineering as Social and cultural “All through my post-grad- neededfor the transactions, and laws for“one-twoyears”. tablets with him. We areeven AfteranMSc (Integrated) their undergraduatedegree. uation, my familypressuredme trainingprovidedtothemonsafe The lastround of talksbe- moreshockedthathisletterhasa Economics from IIT-Kanpur, Among women toppers, that challenges to getmarried. This had an im- and securepayments. tween the government and farm signaturedated December 18, ChapralawasconsideringaPhD number wasonlyathird, with Despitetheir impressive pact on me as people would of- “Availabledatashowthatonly unions washeld on December 8, and he committed suicide on or another Master’s degree in anotherquartergoingforBCom achievements, manyofthe tendiscuss this and even taunt 20percentof thebeneficiariesare when Home MinisterAmit Shah December27,”hetoldTheIndian public policy/administration or management. women toppers admitted to me. Iwas quiteupset, but I digitallyenabled. Even among had metwith 13 representatives Express. but,shesays,lifehadotherplans. Shalaka Kulkarni, 24,was facing obstacles in the form of haven’t givenintothe pressure those who acceptpaymentsdig- of farm unions. Aday afterthis ShingaraSingh Maan, vice- “I got marriedand all priori- among adozen-odd girls in her socio-cultural barriers and and will not,” said another itally, notallusedigitalpayments meeting, the Centrehad sent a president of BKU Ugrahan, said: ties were re-configured —now, class of about 130during her familyobligations —evenifthis achiever, who toppednation- to purchasematerial,”aseniorof- written proposal of concessions “It is ashocking incident, we al- thereare constraintsonmobil- days at IIT-Bombay, whereshe wasn’t always in the form of allywith 99%. Her parents, for ficial said. to the protesting unions, which ways tellourworkers'Khudkushi ity and alonger commitment studiedElectricalEngineeringin anyovert familypressure. now, have givenintoher deci- LaunchedbyPrime Minister theyhadrejectedinanemailsent nahin,sangram'(Choosestruggle (suchasPhD or an academic ca- 2012.“In the classroom, we all Some of them saytheyrecon- sion to study further. NarendraModiforstreetvendors on December 16. over suicide). No one should reer)andthatnaturallyregresses receivedequal treatment re- figured their careers to fulfill Being aminority in amale- as theywereamong the hardest adoptthis path. The government career.I’m notbitter about the gardless of gender.However, I traditional roles. dominatedworkspace can end hit by the lockdown, the PM- Punjab lawyer should wake up even nowand socialnormsormy changedcir- did observethat boys partici- Of the 45 male toppers who up impeding achievement, says SVANidhischemeof theMinistry 65-year-old Karnal-basedreli- seethewritingonthewall.If they cumstances, but things would pated in class muchmorethan ANIKAAGRAWAL respondedtothis newspaper’s Spriha Biswas, 26, the ICSE na- of Housingand Urban Affairs en- gious leader diedofagunshot areagovernment of themasses, definitelyhavebeen different, girls,theygaveanswersmoreof- PursuingMSinMarineBiology questionnaire,nonespokeofbe- tional topper of 2011 who went titles them to Rs 10,000 interest- wound near Singhu, leaving be- theymusttakebackthe laws.” career-wise, if Iwerenot a ten. Likeme, alot of girls some- fromTexasA&MUniversity ingaffectedby anticipatedorac- on to study Metallurgical free loan as working capital to hindapurportedsuicidenote that woman,”says Chaprala,whohas times thought their answers TOPPED: Class 10,ICSE, 2013 tual needtobalance Engineering from IIT-Bombay. restarttheir businesses. Govern- saidhewaspainedbythefarmers' Gujarat ATS beenmanagingherbaby, career might notbecorrect and re- academics/career and family. Though she says she hasn’t ment datashowthat around 46 plight.Subsequently, a70-year-old Theconsignment,policesaid, and long-distance marriage— frainedfromparticipating,”said In contrast, among the 35 facedany gender discrimina- percentof thestreet vendorswho farmer from Tarn Taranallegedly wasshippedfromPakistanvia her husband runs his business Kulkarni, who toppedthe ICSE STEM jobs. women toppers —manyof tion yet, there’s afootnote to her have appliedfortheloansofarare attempted to kill himself by con- Rajasthan’s Barmer,aborder dis- out of Hyderabad. Boardin2012with 98.8% and is The difference in choice of themspokeoffacinghurdleson statement. “…But obviously, fruit and vegetable sellers, while sumingpesticide trict, and wasbeing takento Women under- nowpursuinganMBAfromYale subjectscomes intoplayatthe conditionof anonymity—isone being awoman youare always some 21 per cent sell fast food. tablets. Gujarat and Mumbai in School of Management. school level. Agreater propor- inhertwenties,whotailoredher in aminority,whether it is col- Over 41 per cent arewomen. “At8.48am,I Maharashtraforanallegedterror- represented in STEM Thisunder-representationin tion of the male toppers (96%) work lifearound her family. legeoratthe workplace. Which Encouraged by the response got acall from istattackonJanuary 26, 1997,at The gender gapinunder- STEM undergraduatepro- chose Science in Classes 11 and “Once Igot married, Ididn’t means that youdon't always to PMSVANidhi, the government him (Amarjit). the behestofDawood Ibrahim graduatescience education has grammes mirrors the broader 12 asopposedto71%forwomen. want to take up ajob whereI have apeer group to discuss hasalsolauncheditsfirst-everof- He said he had and AbuSalem. been progressively closing over trend of women being starkly While 10 women toppers couldn’t control my working and shareyour ideas as freelyas ficial socio-economic survey of consumedsulp- Besides Pathan, twomoreac- the lastfew years. missinginSTEMjobs,whichare had studiedCommerce, only hours. (I) restricted travel and your male counterparts do... All vendors, to bring them under hos. Ireached cused--Anwar Qureshi alias According to the 2018 edi- amongthehigherpayingjobsin twomale toppers out of 51 had regulatedmy workinghours...so of these factors become very schemes suchasthe Pradhan Amarjit him by 8.55 am. PappuAkhtarandShakilIbrahim tion of the All India Survey on today’s economy. chosen that stream. thejobsIcouldapplyforgot lim- important when youwant to Mantri JeevanJyoti Bima Yojana, Singh Rai He handedus Qureshi —werealso arrested in Higher Education(AISHE), for Less than one-fifth of the Ameeta Wattal, Principal, ited,”thetoppersaid.Askedwhy advance in aprofession,” said Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima twotypedletters the case later.AMehsana court the firsttime, therewereas womentopperscurrentlywork- Springdales School, Pusa Road, she felt the needtodoso, she Biswas, who worksasChief Yojana,Jan-DhanYojana,Building before fallingun- had awardedlifeimprisonment manywomen as men in BSc ing areemployedinthe STEM says the fact that fewerwomen said, “My familylifeneededit... Product Officer at ScribeTech, a and Other Construction Workers conscious,” said RamKumar and Rs 1lakh fine to the three ac- programmes—of48.19 lakhstu- sector;among employedmen toppers chose STEM subjects my husband worksfrom11am medical transcription company Act, Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Munshi, who had been camping cused. The then chief judicial dentsenrolled, 50.7 per cent toppers,closeto two-fifthsarein probablyexplainsthefindingon to 6pmand had limited travel in Mumbai. Maandhan Yojana, Pradhan with Amarjit at Tikri border since magistrateofMehsana had also Mantri Matri Vandana Yojana, December16.MunshisaidAmarjit issuedwarrantsagainstDawood and others. wastakentotheBahadurgarhcivil Ibrahim, AbuSalem, and Kutti. FazalPathanfromAjmer,tobring (Sunday) and his Covid-19testis work forthree months. Ihavealternatesources of earn- ing with employees of the com- hospital and then to PGIMS According to police, Kutti and the consignment (of explosives) going on,” Pateladded. “The companyhas been pol- ing my livelihood. But formostof panyand the police. The respon- Pankaj Tripathi Rohtak,wherehewas declared AbuSalem had allegedly sent from Barmer to Mumbai. How- Accordingto awarrantissued luting our land, water, and air thenearly 40farmerswhoseland, dent has incited people against getmoreintimate, and reachau- dead.Membersof Amarjit'sfam- Pathan,thelatter’sassociate,to re- ever,after the consignment was in 1996, Kutti is wanted under sinceitstartedoperatingitsplant water, andairhave beenpolluted, SSLandtherebyhasattemptedto diences in the solitude of their ilysaidhewas 63 years old. ceive theexplosives’consignment caught,KuttiinformedSalemthat Indian Penal Code sections 120B in2005.Dueto dustingcausedby farming is their onlysource of disturbthepeaceatthecompany rooms, Tripathi has emergedas “Wehavereceivedinforma- fromBarmerandshipitto Gujarat hismanhadbeenarrestedandhe forcriminal conspiracy,121 for improperhandlingof coalandfly livelihood,” he claimed. andhasindulgedinviolence.The the toppickfor filmmakers see- tionregardingthedeathof anad- and Maharashtra. himself fledtoBangkokwherehe waging warorattempt to wage ash, agriculturehas been de- Afterthe May24agitation, respondentisheadstrongandha- ingactorsto playsalt-of-the-earth vocateatNayaGaon Chowk near Born in Mumbai’s Mahim stayedtill1999.ItwasinBangkok waragainstthe government of stroyed in around 200acres sur- Jaruhadmovedthewesternzone rasses people. He creates fear in characters. Tikri.Ateamhasbeensentto look areain1962,Kuttihadstudiedtill that Kutti metone Mohammad India,122forcollectingarmswith roundingtheplant.We have been benchofthe NGTinNovember minds of people associated with At theExpresseAdda,Tripathi intothe matter,” Ashok Kumar, class 10.His father,Mohammad Inam from Jamshedpur (then in theintentto wage waragainstthe petitioning the GPCB, the Central lastyearallegingtheSSLhasbeen industries in an industrial zone, will be in conversation with DSP (Badli), said. Ahmad,ranachemistshopinthe Bihar) who told him to getafake government of India, and 123for Pollution Control Board(CPCB), operatinginviolationof environ- likeKandla port, and thereforeis NationalFeaturesEditorDevyani One of the twoletters that city and diedin1978. Afterthe passportinthe name of concealingwithintentto facilitate and the National Green Tribunal ment clearance (EC) norms like achallengetolaw and order in OnialandTheIndianExpressfilm Amarjit gave to other protesters death of his father,Kutti went to Mohammad Kamal. Kutti ac- design to wage waragainstIndia, (NGT)againstthe pollution constructing anine-metre-high Gujarat,” the SDM’s order critic ShubhraGupta. wasfromthe Bar Association, Dubai in 1984 wherehedid the quiredthepassportanduseditto besides sections of the Arms Act causedbythe SSL. Due to the ag- perimeterwall, setting up an RO recordedthe Kandla Marine PI as The Express Adda, that has Jalalabad to the SDM, Jalalabad, work of glassfittinginacompany, travel from Dubai to Malaysia for and ExplosivesAct. itation,Ihavebeen externed. plant to meetthe waterrequire- having stated in his complaint. movedonline during the pan- over extending supporttothe KKPatel,DeputySuperintendent gold smuggling,” Patelsaid. However, Ishall challengethe ment of the steel and power Jaru had submitted the ex- demic,hasearlierfeaturedactors peaceful protestbyfarmers. of Police, Gujarat ATS, said. Later,hesettledinKuala Kutch farmer SDM order before the Gujarat plants, installing domes forstor- ternment proceedings were mo- Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Theotherwastitledasaletter Later,hereturnedtoMumbai Lumpur and startedaclothes registeredagainstthefarmerand High Court,” Jaru said. ageofcoal, etc. His petition is tivatedbythe SSL. “The respon- Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, to the Prime Minister, and was and metDawood Ibrahim, Anees business. It wasinMay 2019 that 25 others following alleged vio- According to the farmer,the scheduledtobeheardbythe tri- dent has submitted awritten Anuskha Sharma and Kangana signed“Amarjit Singh Advocate Ibrahim,AbuSalem,Mohammad KuttireturnedtoIndiaandsettled lence in front of Sal Steel Limited SSL had got the GPCB closureno- bunal on February18nextyear. replyand has stated that allega- Ranaut, apartfromUnion minis- Bar Association Jalalabad Dosa, Mustafa Dosa, Chhota inJamshedpur(inJharkhand),the (SSL), asteel plant located at tice revokedonMay 15,but the The Kandla Marine PI’s appli- tionslevelledagainsthimarefalse ters Nitin Gadkari, SJaishankar, (Fazilka)”anddated“18/12/2020”, Shakeel, TigerMemon among officer added. Bharatpar village. Besides manu- agitators were notaware of the cation, however, stated Jaru was and have been fabricated by Sal Nirmala Sitharaman, Ramesh in green ink.“He got this letter others, and startedgold smug- The ATSsaid theyrecentlyre- facturingsteel,SSLalsorunsa40- development. “Nor did the com- misleadingvillagersandhewasa company. The respondent has Pokhriyal, and experts in their from Jalalabad, he neverwent gling and customthefts from ceivedatip-offabout the pres- megawattcoal-firedpowerplant. panyexecutive informusaboutit threat to the maintenance of law submittedthatinorderto ensure fields likeAIIMS Director Dr anywhereelse to type anyletter Dubaito Mumbai,theofficersaid. ence of Kutti in Jamshedpur. LedbyJaru,agroupof villagers when we went to the plant to andorderinthearea.“Withanin- thatits illegalactivitiesdonotbe- RandeepGuleria,Chief Economic afterDecember 16.Hewas ano- “In 1996, when Kutti wasin “Afterwereceivedatip-off,ateam had assembledoutside the gate protest,” he claimed. tention to forcethe closureofthe comepublic, the companyistry- Advisor Krishnamurthy tary public and apopular lawyer Dubai, he metAbu Salem and wassentto JamshedpurandKutti of the plant on May24lastyear. Jaru’s seven-acrefarmland is companyandtherebyachieve his ing to muzzle the respondent by Subramanian, NobelLaureates of Jalalabad,”saidAmritpalSingh, theytogether hatchedaconspir- wasdetained. In our preliminary Theagitatorshadclaimedthatthe among the around 200acres ulterior motive,the respondent levelling false allegations against AbhijitBanerjeeandEstherDuflo, aJalalabadresidentwhoisalsoat acy to commit aterrorattackon interrogation, the accusedhas plantcontinuedoperationdespite whichheclaimshasbeenaffected (Jaru)hadassembledresidentsof him,” the SDM order records Jaru cancer specialistand prize-win- the Tikri border. Republic Dayin1997inMumbai confessedthat his real name is aGujaratPollutionControlBoard by theallegedpollutioncausedby the village, misledthem against as having submitted. ning author Dr Siddhartha “He metussmilingly on and Gujarat. Forthat purpose, Abdul Majid Kutti. He was (GPCB) closurenotice dated on SSL. “Besides farming, Ialso run a SalSteelLimited,andenteredthe However, the magistrate Mukherjee, and sportspersons Sundaymorning,” Amritpal said. Salem fixedaman, Mohammad brought to Ahmedabad today April 29 that year to suspend transportbusinessand,therefore, companypremises before clash- statedthatJaruhadtakenthelaw likeCheteshwar Pujara.

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THEINDIANEXPRESS,MONDAY,DECEMBER28,2020 VACCINE TRIAL OVER 750 GET COVAXIN IN PHASE 3 Over 750volunteershavebeen administered the firstdose of Bharat Biotech's 3 Covid-19 vaccine ‘Covaxin’aspart of its phase-3trials at acityhospital, and none of GUJARAT them have experiencedany side effects so far,aseniordoctor said on Sunday. Sanitation workers’ strike: FIR against copfor not reporting to duty for 4months without notice seeking anyleave or providing tion on Saturday. reportedtodutyatAdivision his native place in EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE notice to his superiors. According to police, Trafficpolice station since his Surendranagar asking him to re- AHMEDABAD,DECEMBER27 According to police, unarmed Ranjitsinh, whohas been with transfer,police said. porttoduty.However,hedid not Garbage piles up on roads constable Ranjitsinh Gujarat Police since 1992, “The constable has gone on replytothe notices, nordid he AFIRSTinformation report (FIR) Chamansinh has been booked wastransferredtoAdivision indefiniteleave without giving submit anymedicalcertificate... has been lodged againstapolice undersection 1452(a)ofthe TrafficPolice Station from anynotice to his superiors or ap- So acomplaint has been filed AMC workers,demanding righttocompassionate jobs to constable with Adivision Traffic Gujarat Police Actfor “with- Ghatlodiapolice station on July plying forany medical leave. againsthim fordisrespecting his Police Station in Ahmedabad af- drawing himself from the 11 and wasasked to reportto Four notices have been sent to joband dereliction of duty,” said their kin, to continue sit-in outside corporationoffice terhedid notreporttoduty for duties mentionedtohim”in duty on August11. his house address in JB Khambala, inspector,Adivi- the pastfour months without an FIR lodged at Sola police sta- However, Ranjitsinhnever Chandkheda of Ahmedabad and sion police station, Ahmedabad. EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE AHMEDABAD,DECEMBER27

UNPICKED GARBAGEcontinued to pile up along the roadside in severalparts of the city as astrike by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s (AMC) sanitation workers entered itsfourth day Sunday. The workers, who arede- manding the right of compas- sionate jobstotheir kin, have de- clared that they willcontinue the sit-in outside the corporation’s north-westzone office on Sanitation workers protestoutside AMC office in Bodakdev. File Mondayfrom9amto6pm.On Tuesday, theagitators willgather at itsheadquarters in Danapith this demandfor our children.” sociation claimednearly 15,000 to submit arepresentation. On April 4, 2018,the AMC regular sanitation workers of Ahmedabad Municipal regularised6,200safai kamdars, AMC areonstrike. Servants’Associationsecretary Makwana said, but their family Theyhavebeen sitting on a KalpeshMakwana said, “Until membersare still being denied dharna outside AMC’s Bodakdev we areassured that ourkin will jobs on compassionategrounds. zonal office while garbagewas getjobs, we aregoing to con- “The AMC is following twopoli- seen dumpedonthe road in tinue with the dharna and not cies forsafai kamdar.Exceptfor city’s Vastrapur area Saturday. resume work.Since we are these 6,200regular sanitation AMC solid wastemanage- tagged as safaikamdar,our chil- workers, family members of all ment director,Harshadray dren do notget anyother job. others areprovidedcompas- Solanki, could notbecontacted This is the reason we areraising sionate jobs,” he added. The as- despiterepeated attempts.

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24366745-46-47-49;Fax 24368723/726; Email :[email protected]; pcibppeditorial@gmail.com Website: www.presscouncil.nic.in File No.: 25/14/2019-PCI-Edi. Notice Inviting Entries for National Awards for Excellence in Journalism Last date: 1st February,2021 The Press Council of India, mandated by an Act of Parliament to improve standards of journalism and maintain Press freedom has instituted “National Awards” to honor the journalists for excelling in the fields of print journalism in the categories mentioned below.Award contains acitation and cash prize. Entries are invited by 1st February,2021, from all journalists/ freelancers/ photojournalistsofIndian Nationality for National Awards in the following categories in print journalism. The Awards carry: SN Category Cash Prize 1. Raja Ram Mohan Roy National Award for Excellence in Journalism.* Rs. 1,00,000/- 2. Rural Journalism Rs. 50,000/- 3. Developmental Reporting Rs. 50,000/- 4. Photo Journalism: (i) Single News Picture Rs. 50,000/- (ii) Photo Feature Rs. 50,000/- 5. Best Newspapers Art :Covering cartoons, caricatures and Illustrations Rs. 50,000/- 6. SportsReporting/SportsPhoto Feature Rs. 50,000/- 7. Financial Reporting Rs. 50,000/- 8. Gender Issue Reporting Rs. 50,000/- 9. Reporting from Conflict Area Rs. 50,000/- Note: *In this category,the nomination/entries are not invited. The Jury Committee itself will decide the nomination for this category. Other details of Procedure, Eligibility, Criteria, Entry form. Declaration Form and Rules can be seen and downloaded from the Press Council of India’swebsite www.presscouncil.nic.in. All entries addressed to the Secretary,Press Council of India, Soochna Bhawan, 8- C.G.O. complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003 in sealed envelope highlighting the category of Awards nomination is being filed and marked “CONFIDENTIAL” should reach on or before 5p.m. on 1st February,2021. Advance softcopies can be e-mailed at [email protected] Sd/- (Anupama Bhatnagar) davp 22106/11/0001/2021 Secretary i16 12 l(15) Ahmedabad WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THEINDIANEXPRESS,MONDAY,DECEMBER28,2020 4 EXPRESS NETWORK

GUJARAT In UP, college students booked BETWEEN NOV 25 AND DEC 23 10 DAYS AFTER ‘ASSAULT’ IN BHARUCH Murder case filed, one for sedition over ‘azadi’ slogans 12fliersfromUK,Europe 124-A(sedition),147(rioting)and raising anti-national slogans.” ASADREHMAN 506(criminalintimidation),apart Yadavquestionedthe admin- held after Dalit lawyer LUCKNOW,DECEMBER27 from chargesofobstructing pub- istration's logic forthe cancella- lic servants. Inspector,Ayodhya tion of the student union polls. testedCovidpositive:Govt succumbs to injuries SIX PERSONS, including students Police Station, Ashutosh Mishra “Lastyear,the elections could not of government-run KSSaket said theywereinvestigating the behelddueto theRamMandiris- DegreeCollegeinAyodhya district, matter.“Everything will become sue and no one raisedtheir voice have been bookedforsedition af- clearduringtheprobe.We willbe as it wasasensitive matter.This Samples sent to checkfor newstrain of coronavirus EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE Jashubhai Jadhavwas terthe collegeprincipal lodged a scanning CCTVfootage,videos. If year,the studentsare protesting AHMEDABAD,DECEMBER27 assaulted outside complaint accusing them of rais- anoffenceismadeout,actionwill because the elections have been ing “anti-national slogans calling be takenaccordingly.” cancelledwhilepollingishappen- EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE CASETRACKER TEN DAYS aftera65-year-old KutchSuper Storein (for) azadi”. The complaint by the princi- ing across the country. When GANDHINAGAR,DECEMBER27 Dalit lawyer wasassaulted out- As per Principal NDPandey, pal says,“The admission process classescanbeheld,thenwhycan't Places ConfirmedDeaths Newcases Vraj Vihar Society at side agroceryshop in Bharuchby 5pmonDecember 17 “indecent and anti-national slo- and classes have been ongoing at elections be held forthe student AFTER THE discovery of anew Ahmedabad 55,611 2,237178 agroup of persons, he suc- ganslikeLekerahengeazadi”were the collegesince December 7. union?” strain of coronavirus in the Amreli 3,833 33 9 cumbed to injuries at ahospital by four persons raisedonthe collegepremises on During this, some outsiders, anti- Principal Pandeysaid, United Kingdom and other Anand 2,233176 on Sunday, following whichpo- December 16. social elementsand so-called “Studentshadraisedanti-national European countries, 12 persons Aravalli 1,132252 lice registeredacase of murder With the Ramjanmabhoomi leadersstartedaprotest demand- slogans that areraisedat who came from those countries and arrested one accused. twoother persons (sic),” the sitenearby, he told The Indian ing student elections. On Jawaharlal Nehru University, Banaskantha 4,553 37 6 tested positive forCovid-19in According to police, Jashubhai complaint added. Express,heneededtolook out for December 16,these studentsen- Delhi... that theywill fight for Gujarat, out of the 1,720people Bharuch 3,823 18 8 Jadhav, aresident of Alaknanda According to police, an X-ray “suchanti-nationalactivities”and teredthe collegeand lockedthe azadi. What kind of azadi do they who landedbetween November Bhavnagar 5,877 70 23 Galaxy Society in Bharuchtown conducted on December 17 re- couldn't allowslogans “that are main gate and misbehavedwith want?Theywantedelections,we 25 and December 23, arelease Botad 1,021103 and alawyeratBharuchcourt, vealedthat Jadhavhad suffered raisedatJawaharlal Nehru teachers, collegeadministration arestill in the process of admis- from the stategovernment said Chhota Udepur 8784 1 wasassaulted outside Kutch multiple fractures in his legs and University”. and students. Theyinterrupted sions.Howcanelectionsbeheld?” on Sunday. Super StoreinVrajVihar Society his right knee wasbroken. Later, The studentssay theywere classes... Theywereraisinginde- Linkingthematterto theRam Dahod RT-PCR testswereconducted 2,9357 30 at 5pmonDecember 17 by four he wasshiftedtoZadeshwar onlyprotesting againstthe non- centandanti-nationalsloganslike temple, Pandeyadded. “This is on all of them and samples of 12 Dang 1451 persons. As per the victim’s state- Global Hospital wherehedied conduct of union elections at the lekarrahengeazadi.Dueto thein- suchasensitive placeinAyodhya, who tested positive forCovid-19 Devbhoomi Dwarka 9,782 52 ment, the assault happenedafter Sundaymorning. college,andtheirsloganswere di- cident, thereisanger and fear barely500 metres from the have been sent to the National Gandhinagar 7,992 10326 an accusednamedDinubha Rana Initiallypolice lodged afirst rected at the principal and the among the studentsofthe col- Janmabhoomi. We needtolook InstituteofVirology (NIV) in Gir Somnath 2,284225 had an argument with him at the information report(FIR) at Cdivi- chief proctor.Started in 1991,KS lege.” out foranti-national activities.” Pune and Gujarat Biological groceryshop. sion police station on December Saket Collegehas around 10,000 Abhaas Krishna Yadav, who is He refusedtoclarify who Research Centre(GBRC) in Jamnagar 10,112 35 20 “I reachedthe KutchSuper 18 againstDinubha Rana, aresi- students. doing M.Com and waselected among the six he filedanFIR Gandhinagar to ascertain if they Junagadh 4,850 32 15 StoreatVrajVihar Society to pur- dent of Narayan Darshan Society An FIR waslodged againstthe student union president in 2018, againstwerestudentsofthe col- have the symptoms of the new Kheda 2,8811613 chase household goods when a in Bharuch, Pravinbhai, aresident six, Sumit Tewari, Shesh Narayan said: “The protesting students lege. “I can't tell youwho arecur- strain, the release added. Kutch 3,834 33 26 man waskeeping his hand on the of Rishikesh Society in Bharuch, Pandey, Imran Hashmi, Satwik were onlysaying that theywant rent students, but some of the six The official release statedthat Mahisagar 1,948135 counter.When Iaskedthe man to and twounknown persons under Pandey, Mohit Yadavand Manoj azadifromtheprincipalandchief arestudents, while some arefor- the 1,720people included remove his hand so that Ican take Indian Penal Code sections 323 Mishra, on December 18.They proctor.Now,the principal has mer studentsand some areout- Radhika —daughter of Chief Mehsana 6,578 38 22 my purchasedcommodities, he forassault, 325 forcausing griev- were booked under IPC Sections usedthat and is saying theywere siders,” Pandeysaid. Minsiter VijayRupani, her hus- Morbi 3,0312011 startedabusing me verbally. Two ous hurt, 504for intentional in- band Nimitt and son Shaurya — Narmada 1,925 13 women intervenedand askedthe sult, 506(2) forcriminal intimi- who tested negative.Itadded Navsari 1,562 82 man to notabuse at the shop, af- dation and 114for offence Saibaba’s lawyer that by following the guidelines terwhichthe latter startedabus- committed when abettorpres- After Khadse, Raut’s wife Panchmahal 4016 23 16 issuedbythe central govern- ing them as well,” Jadhavsaid in ent, as well as sections accuses jail ment, the CM’s familyhas pro- Patan 4,139506 his complaint on December 17. of the ScheduledCaste and gets ED notice; Sena, NCP videdafine example to all. Porbandar 1,0644 2 “As Isteppedout of the shop, ScheduledTribe(Prevention of authorities of As per the release, 572people Rajkot 20,550 19892 the man came with three other Atrocities) Act. came from the UK and Europe Sabarkantha 2,759 13 10 persons and theystartedassault- Speaking to The Indian Express, denying him say Centre targeting Opp between November 25 and ing me. Theykickedmewith Vikas Sodha, Assistant Surat 48,865 961158 December 8, and one of them their boots and punchedme... Superintendent of Police, winter provisions tested positive.Between Surendranagar 3,416 13 11 Theyalso hurledcasteistabuses Bharuch, said, “Wehavelodgeda VISHWASWAGHMODE December 9and 23, 1,148people Tapi 1,030 61 at me. Iwas rescuedbytwo per- case of murder againstthe four MUMBAI,DECEMBER27 came from the UK and Europe, Vadodara 24,097245 135 sons who calledthe police con- accusedtoday. All four accused VIVEKDESHPANDE and 11 of them tested positive — Valsad 1,3568 2 trol room and took me to Dr had gone absconding afterthe in- NAGPUR,DECEMBER27 ADAY afteranotice to senior NCP four in Ahmedabad, twoeachin Abhishek Orthopedic Surgeon cident and we arrested Dinubha leader Eknath Khadse, the Other states 1483 Vadodara, Anand and Bharuch Hospital in their four-wheeler. from Bharuchtoday(Sunday). LAWYER of Delhi University (DU) Enforcement Directorate(ED) on and one in Valsad. All 12 were ad- Cumulative Total New Cumulative Meanwhile, my son Ketanwho Pravin is still absconding and we professor GNSaibaba, lodged in Sundayissuedsummons to the mitted to various hospitals and discharge: cases: cases: deaths: reachedtherewas informedby areidentifying the other twoun- Nagpur Central Prison forthe past wifeofShivSena MP SanjayRaut, Eknath Khadse; SanjayRaut their samples have been sent for 2,27,128 850 police that the person who as- known accused. CCTVfootage three years afterconviction by a Varsha, asking her to appear be- further testsfor the newstrain. 2,41,099 4,307 saulted me wasDinubha Rana has been obtainedand we are Gadchiroli court, has accusedthe fore it on December 29. “Generally, suchtests take and his relative Pravin along with probing the case.” jail authorities of denying him ba- Varsha wassummonedas on, including in the probeinto time of 8-10days.The stategov- sic winter provisions and wrist partofthe investigation intothe Sushant Singh Rajput's death. ernment will decide on future European countries between undergoing RT-PCR test. weight cufffor physiotherapy. Punjab and Maharashtra “ShivSena leaders have also been protocol on treatment afterre- November 25 and December 8 As aprecautionarymeasure, In aletterwritten to Jail Cooperative (PMC) Bank scam givenEDnotices. All those whom ceiving the final reports next have to maintain self monitoring. the Central government has can- PSI critically injured Superintendent Anup Kumre, case. The ED is investigating al- the Central government can't week,” the release said. People, who have come from celledall the flightscoming to lawyer Akash Sorde has accused leged financial transactions be- fight politicallyare being pres- The Central government has those countries between India from the UK and other the jail authorities of “rudeness, tween Varsha and Pravin Raut, sured through central agencies issuedguidelines that people December 9and 23, have to stay European countries from as truck collides disregardand complete insensi- who is under arrest in the case. likethe ED,” he said on Saturday. coming from the UK and in isolation while compulsorily December 23. tivity” by denying basic courtesies Dismissing the allegations, The Sena's chief spokesper- to him when he approaches them Raut told TheIndianExpress:“I son, Raut is believedtobeone of with car in Bharuch to hand over the listeditems to be have been hearing that the ED the architectsofthe Maharashtra deliveredtoSaibaba. has sent anotice to us, but Iam Vikas Aghadi coalition, including Hospital in Bharuchand is stated Alleging that severalessentials yettosee acopyofit... They the ShivSena, NCPand Congress, EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE to be in acritical condition. he had takenfor his client were re- should showusonpaper what whichwrested powerfromthe AHMEDABAD,DECEMBER27 “According to an eyewitness, turnedbythe jail authorities, theyhavefound in their investi- BJP in the stateafter the last the truck, in abid to overtake, Sorde said, “You have even re- gation.” He said he would clarify Assemblyelections. APOLICE sub-inspector wascrit- struckthe i20 car coming from fusedtoacceptwoollen cap/mon- his stand on the issue in detail on Khadse is being probed on icallyinjured afterhis car col- the other side on the two-way keycap, napkin, handkerchief, Monday. chargesthat as revenue minister lidedwith atruckatAmod area road. The truckdriverabsconded towel, and whitet-shirt, while you Speaking to reporters in in the DevendraFadnavis gov- in BharuchonSaturday, police and the victim wastaken to pri- acceptedunderwear and loin Sangli, MaharashtraNCP chief ernment, he had purchasedland said. vate hospital in a108 ambulance. cloth only. Giventhe bone-chill- Jayant Patil said the ED wasbe- belonging to the MIDC PSI JitendraChauhan with We have registeredanoffence ing cold that Nagpur is facing, Ifail ing usedtotargetanyone who (MaharashtraIndustrial Velcha police station wasdriving againstthe unknown driverun- to understand howelse do youex- goes againstthe BJP.Khadse was Development Cooperation) in his i20 car when it collidedhead der Indian Penal Code section pect my client to save himself in the BJP for40years before Pimpri-Chinchwad at gross un- on with atrucknear Shudi village 279for rash driving and 337for from the cold.” moving to the NCPinOctober. dervaluation. Abuilder had al- in Amod around 10 pm Saturday, causing hurtwith negligent act,” “Despitehaving provided Lastmonth, the ED had sent legedthat the land, purchasedin police added. Chauhan has been apolice officer at Amod police everything along with the cata- anotice to Sena legislator and the name of Khadse's wifeand admitted to Healing Touch station said. logue, on your command, your spokesperson Pratap Sarnaik and son-in-law, forRs3.75 crorewas staffrefusedtoacceptmaterials his familymembers, after actuallyworth around Rs 30 whichare neither security threat searches at their residences and crore. The ED notice wasreport- nor pose anydanger of contacting offices in connection with a edly issuedunder the Prevention Homage paid to late Dalit or transmitting Covid-19,” Sorde moneylaundering case. of MoneyLaundering Act. said,adding, “yourofficials chose “Ifany political leader speaks Khadse has said he will ap- historian, scholar Jyotikar nottogiveany written reasons againstthe BJP,the party ensures pear before the ED and cooper- but offeredtotickmarkthe item that the ED starts an investigation ateinthe probe. He has all along 86, diedearlier this month while on copyofmylist, therebyindi- againsthim. Instead of letting it maintainedthat the land in ques- EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE battling Covid-19. cating whichofthe items will work in the interestofthe nation, tion belonged to aprivate party AHMEDABAD,DECEMBER27 The function wasattended be...giventomyclient.” the ED is being misusedbythe andhis familyhad purchasedit AAMIR KHAN IN GIR by leaders of Dalit and Buddhist Jail Superintendent Anup BJP to target other leaders,” Patil following the due process of law. APROGRAMME to payhomage communities. Among the first Kumresaid, “The accusations said, adding that the summons On Saturday, he said that the alle- ActorAmir Khan at Sinh Sadan, the headquarters of Gir National Park and Wildlife to notedDalit historian and generation of DalitsinGujarat to raisedbySaibaba’s lawyer arenot didn't scarethem. gation had earlier been investi- Sanctuary, in Junagadh’s Sasan villageonSunday. Khan reachedSasan with his familyand scholaronAmbedkaritemove- convert to Buddhism, Jyotikar true. We provide him everything On Saturday, while asking gatedbythe Pune Anti- friends on Saturdayand took asafari inside the forest on Sunday. The actor said he wasvery ments, PGJyotikar,was held at wasalso atrusteeofBuddhist as per jail manual. As regards parties to join hands to “takeon Corruption Bureauand the happytosee lions and termedthe big cats“royal animals”. Express Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Hall in Society of India foundedbyDrB woollen cap, he already has win- the BJP and itsdictatorial tenden- Nashik Anti-Corruption Bureau, Ahmedabad Saturday. Jyotikar, RAmbedkar. terwear.The question of physio- cies”, Raut had also accusedthe and neither had found anysub- therapymaterial doesn’t arise Centreoftargeting the stance in it. “This will be the fifth since we areproviding him all that Opposition via central agencies - probeinthe matter.” Truck-trailer runs Man found dead at multiplex doctors have prescribed.” -acharge he has been very vocal —WITHENS,PUNE over herd of sheep, basement ‘died of head injury’ Merchant navy sailor falls overboard in

afoul odour,and found the body US waters, body missing 4weeks on killing 17 animals EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE The body wasfound on in the gapbetween the ground AHMEDABAD,DECEMBER27 December 26 noon in floor and lift. The body was proaching Port Arthur in Texas, we can’t acceptthat he is dead. grazing. Seventeen animals were bloatedand therewerenoappar- JIGNASASINHA said the letter sent by hiring firm He soundednervous on his last EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE killedonthespotwhilethreeoth- ADAY afterthe body of a25- the gapbetween the ent injuries on it, police said. MIRZAPUR,DECEMBER27 Elegant Marine Services Pvt. Ltd. call. He wanted to come home... RAJKOT,DECEMBER27 ers sufferedserious injuries. year-old man wasfound at the ground floor and lift According to PB Desai, in- His body has still notbeen found. Iguess. We spoketohis seniors Police said the accident took basement of City Gold Multiplex spector at Navrangpurapolice “I THINK Igot on the wrong ship. Now, his familyisraising sus- and found that therewerethree ATRUCK-TRAILERranoveraherd placewhenMashruBharwadand in Ashram area of Ahmedabad, station, apostmortemwas con- Iwill have to stay heretill May... picions on the manner of his other seamen when he wasrig- of sheep,killing17ofthemandin- DevabhaiRukhadbhai,twoherds- police said he might have died of the Covid-19pandemic and ducted on Sunday. “The report Idon’t knowwhat to do...” death and questioning the lack ging the ladder.How can they juringthreeothersatKedariyavil- men from Kedariyavillage, were of head injury, as per post- subsequent lockdown. statedhead injuryaspreliminary On December 2, a27-year- of headway in tracing the body. notfind the body? Ihavesent lageonMaliya-Viramgam state taking their herdfor grazing. mortemreport. On December 22, Thakor cause of death... Prima facie, we old merchant navy sailor,Arvind Theyhavehad no word on his messages to his seniors to look highway near Halvadtownof Police reachedthe spotand re- On Saturday, the staffatCity went to the multiplextocollect aretreating this as acase of acci- Tiwari, spoketohis sister fate forweeksnow.Tiwari had formybrother on islands near Morbi district Sunday. The truck storedvehiculartrafficontheroad Gold Multiplexalertedthe police his salarydue forMarch but dental death as the victim might Sulekha, 25, from his ship offthe been working forHong Kong- Texas,” said Sulekha, who livesin driverand the herdsmen sorted evenasthedriverofthetruckwas aftertheyfound the body of Sh- went missing afterthat. ACCTV have fallen in the liftgap and an coastofTexas, US. That wasthe basedFleetManagement Ltd as Uttar Pradesh with her husband. out the issue among themselves brieflydetained. “However, the aileshThakor,aresidentof Balasi- footageshowedhim entering accidental death case has been lasttime his familyheardfrom an 'able-bodiedseaman' after Tiwari is the breadwinner of and police did notintervene, offi- truckdriverand the herdsmen nor,atthe space between ground the multiplexbut therewas no filed. Thakor wasyet to bepaid Rs him. Aday later,according to a being hired by Elegant Marine the family, whichisalso basedin cers said. sortedouttheissueamongthem- floor and the liftinthe basement footageofhim exiting. 9,000 as salaryfor March and he letter receivedbyhis family, Services in August. Mirzapur.His father,Rajendra, Police said the incident took selves. Therefore, no offence has parking of the multiplex. No missing persons report wastheretoreceive that. How- Tiwari was“reportedoverboard Aresponse to queries by The worked as adriver. He retired af- place around 10 am on when the beenregisteredasyet,”Halvadpo- According to police, Thakor wasfiledbythe familyand the ever,his former manager wason whilstrigging the Pilotladder”. Indian Express is awaited from terTiwari joinedthe merchant truck-trailer ranoveraherdof liceinspectorPrakashDekavadiya had been working at the multi- body wasdiscoveredonlyon leave on December 22 he could- He waslastspotted on the ship, both FleetManagement and navy in 2012.Tiwari has three sheep that wastrying to cross the said. Kedariyaisaround seven plexfor the pasttwo years but he December 26 noon afterthe staff n't collect his dues. His familyre- MT Sagami, at 7:06 hour local Elegant Marine Services. “We sisters who aremarriedand live highway whilebeingtakenoutfor kilometres west of Halvad. wasfired in March in the wake checkedthe liftsection, following ceivedthe body today,”hesaid. time, when the vessel wasap- don’t knowwhat happenedbut near Mirzapur. Ahmedabad WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM THEINDIANEXPRESS,MONDAY,DECEMBER28,2020 EXPRESS NETWORK 5

LAST ‘MANN KI BAAT’ PROGRAMMEOFTHE YEAR On eve of Cong foundation day, Rahul flies abroad

tack on thegovernment over the Delhifor32days.ThePrimeMin- Makelistofforeignproducts, EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE farm laws issue. It asked Prime isterinhis Mann ki Baat radio ad- NEWDELHI,DECEMBER28 Rahul MinisterNarendraModi and his dress spokeabout everything, but Gandhi Cabinetcolleaguesto sleeponthe did notmention the farmers, ONTHEeveofthefoundationday floorto empathisewiththefarm- labourers,” Bittu said. swapthemforIndianones:PM of the Congress, former party ersprotestinginthe cold. He said the government has presidentRahulGandhionSund- ress communication department Addressingthe media at the made it clear that it will nottalk ay left for abroad on ashort per- head Randeep Surjewala told PTI AICCheadquarters,CongressMPs aboutrepeal of the laws duringits use throughout the day... analyse mured alive.The tyrantswanted Vishakhapatnam whichstressed sonal visit. The party said he will he has leftfor abroad on ashort from Punjab RavneetSingh Bittu meeting with leaders of the far- EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE them... think of things manufac- thesahibzade to renounce their on improving quality of Indian beaway forafew days,indicating personalvisitand willbeawayfor and Jasbir Singh Gill who have mer organisations on December NEWDELHI,DECEMBER27 turedabroadthathave permeated faith; abandon the teachings of products,Modi said: “This is the that he will most probablyring in afew days. been staging asit-in at Jantar 29. “Whythis stubbornness?... intoour livesunknowingly, in a the great Guru tradition. But they opportunemomentto work with theNewYearin aforeignlocation. Rahul had travelledabroad in Mantar in solidarity with the on- The government should with- INHISlastMannKiBaataddressof way, shackling us down. Letus showedamazingcourage andde- the ethos of ‘zeroeffect,zerode- The Congress during the day September too, accompanying going agitation slammedthe draw the ordinance imposing Rs 2020 on Sunday, PrimeMinister find out their substitutes made in terminationevenatthat tender fect’.Iurgemanufacturersandin- sent out amessage, saying there his motherand Congress presi- Prime Ministerfor nottaking the 1-2 crorefine on stubble burning NarendraModi calledfor aqual- India and decide thathenceforth age... It wasonthisday itself that dustryleaders of the country... willbeaflaghoistingceremony dent Sonia Gandhi forher annual initiative to resolve the matter. and the ElectricityAmendment ityboostinIndianmanufacturing we shalluse productsmade with Guru Gobind Singh ji’s mother, people of the countryhavetaken at the 24,Akbar Road party head- medical check-up when the “It has neverhappenedsince Bill before the next round of talks and aboycott of foreign goods the hardworkand sweat of the MataGujari,attainedmartyrdom. afirm step... moving abold step quarters at 9.30 am to markthe Monsoon session of Parliament 1952 thatParliament’s Winter so that the dialogue to end the "shackling" the country, even as people of India,” he said. Aboutaweekago,itwasthemar- forward... vocal forlocal is rever- 136th foundation day. wason. Session has nothappened. And stalemateoverthree agri-mar- he brought up sacrifices made by And amid the stalematebe- tyrdom dayofShriGuru Tegh beratingineachandeveryhouse- The party did notdivulgede- While he leftfor abroad on a this is acrucial time. The farmers keting laws can progress Sikhgurus in the backdrop of the tween farmers from Punjab and Bahadur ji too... Once again Ibow hold... in suchascenario, it is time tails of his travel itinerary. Cong- shortvisit,hispartysteppedupat- had been sitting at the borders of smoothly,”hesaid. farm lawprotests. Haryana and the Centreoverthe to themartyrdom of Shri Guru to ensurethatour products meet Modi urgedthe people to farm laws,Modi mentionedthe TeghBahadurji,MataGujari,Guru global standards. Whatever is makealistofforeignproductsthat supremesacrificesmadeby Guru Gobind Singhjiand the four global best;weshould makeitin could be substituted with Indian Gobind Singh and Guru Tegh sahibzade. Severalsuchsacrifices Indiaandproveit.Forthat,ouren- ones and drive out theformer Bahadurto protectIndia’s“millen- have preservedthe present trepreneur friends have to come from their life. Continuing his niaoldculture,civilisationandtra- fabric of India, keeping it intact,” forward. Startupstoo have to AtmanirbharBharatpitch,hesaid dition” from “the cruel misde- Modi said. come forth.” it wastime Indian companies be- meanors of tyrantsand The PM had last week visited The PM also spokeabout saf- ganmakingworld-classproducts. tormentors”. GurudwaraRakab Ganj Sahib to fronfarmersof theValleyandsaid “I have saidthisearlier too... I “On this daythe sons of Guru payhomagetoGuru Tegh exportofhigh quality Kashmiri onceagainurge countrymen...do GobindSingh,sahibzadeZorawar Bahadur.Referring to aletterby saffronwillfurtherstrengthenthe preparealist.Whateveritemswe Singh and FatehSingh were im- one Venkat Murli Prasad from idea of Atmanirbhar Bharat. ‘BJP workers have accepted Marandi 100%’

THE BJP’S Jharkhand unit presi- What would yousay of the ment had to reverse itsorder be- Centre’s Pre-Matric dent DEEPAK PRAKASH,who Hemant Soren-led cause of our protest. Corruption Scholarship Scam which waselected RajyaSabha MP this government’s one year? is rampant and illegal mining of happenedduringthe year,speakstoABHISHEKANGAD It has been quiteunsuccess- sand is goingon…There is finan- Raghubar Das regime? about one year in the Opposition ful. The Public Distribution cial mismanagement...There is Yes, and thereshould be a and the performance of the He- System collapsed. Migrant lawlessness,andmorethan1,300 thorough investigation and any mantSorengovernment.Excerpts: labourers came and lefttaking women have beenvictims of sex- political leader and officer found away afew morewith them, but ual violenceinJharkhand in the guilty shouldbepunished. Sinceyou assumedcharge as the stategovern- pastone year… BJP statepresident afterthe ment did notpro- Senior leader Babulal Marandi party’sloss in Jharkhand, what vide them anyjobs Youspokeabout joinedthe BJP afteranelection changes have happenedonthe as theyhad an- financial loss. Thereisaperception that political front and the nounced. The gov- mismanagement. his acceptabilitydependedon organisational level? ernment took vari- THEEXPRESS Please elaborate. resultsofthe bypollsontwo From an organisation point of ous decisions such Thepresentgov- seatswhichBJP recentlylost view, we have 27 districts,513 as Jharkhand Land INTERVIEW ernment keeps say- Babulal Marandi is aveteran blocks in Jharkhand and we have Mutation Bill 2020, WITH ing theydon’t have leader and during his leadership, selected all presidents, working whichgaveimmu- DEEPAK PRAKASH money. Everycoun- the organisationwas strength- committees.Wehavealsoformed nity to land and rev- JHARKHAND BJP CHIEF trytakesloansto run ened,developmentworksstarted various departments—as it hap- enue department itsgovernment, in manyvillages. Women were pensinthegovernment—suchas officials. TheyannouncedRs1 IndiahastakentoofromtheWorld empoweredandroadswere built. on construction,localself-gover- lakh fine if people did notwear Bank,IMF,amongothers.Thegov- Yes,heleftthepartydueto certain nance, amongothers,toreview masks... and then theyan- ernmentsays they willwork with- reasons, but BJP workers have ac- the functioningofthe govern- nouncedtherewon’t beanypuja outtakingany loans.Howisitpos- ceptedhim 100%...Welostinby- ment.AfterIjoined,thepandemic becauseofCovid-19 during Durga sible?...Then thereisalackof polls by anarrowmargindue to cameupon us.Weensured that Puja and Chhat...I am notsaying intent in revenue generation... multiple reasons, one being that we helpedaffected poor people... that one does notneedtofollow the current governmentabused We were in touchwith the BJP guidelines, but these orders were Youalso spokeabout itsmachinery... statepresidentsof otherstatesand againstone particular religion. In corruption, but recentlyThe FULLINTERVIEWON helpedmigrant labourers... all these decisions, the govern- Indian Express exposed www.indianexpress.com

Ahmedabad WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THEINDIANEXPRESS,MONDAY,DECEMBER28,2020 WORDLY WISE Thelesson of historyisthatyou do not geta sustained economic recoveryaslong as the 6 THE EDITORIAL PAGE financial system is in crisis. —BEN BERNANKE Beneath the recovery

§ FOUNDED BY § RAMNATH GOENKA As growth recovers, inflationaryconcerns BECAUSETHE TRUTH INVOLVES US ALL couldbegin to dominate

GROWTHPOSITIVE Pranjul Bhandari Higher government spending, vaccine could provide afillip to

the economy. Recovery to pre-COVID levels will take time AS THE WORLD grapples with the COVID- leftout, and the overalloutlaywas small. equality couldhaveother side effects. It 19 pandemic, India has stood out in three Forinstance, demand forthe rural employ- could stokeinflation. India has had trouble HE INDIAN ECONOMY appears to have weathered theCOVID storm better distinct ways.One, over the pastfew ment guarantee programme continues to in the pastwith rising pricesofservices. than what mosthad expected.The contraction in economic activities in the weeks, India seems to have broken the link outstrip supply. Once this trend takeshold, as it did in 2011, secondquarterhas been shallowerthanexpectations, and as leading eco- between rising levels of mobility and And then thereisthe rise in inequality it remains elevatedfor aprolonged period. nomic indicators suggest, the momentumthereafter doesappear to have COVID-19 cases.Fears that the celebrations between large and small firms, whichis And trying to boostsupplytakes time. duringthe Diwali festival would lead to a likelytobefelt by individual employees. The Think health and education services, forex- Tremainedhealthy, even past the festiveseason. Whilethe pace of recovery surge in virus cases haven't playedout. In corporateresults in the quarterending ample. in different parts of thecountryhas notbeenthe same,astudy by economists at the Reserve fact, the number of newcases has fallen September were telling —large listedfirms Forthree reasons,itispossible that BankofIndia(RBI)notes thateventhe western region, whichhad laggedbehindothers in while the fatality rate continues to drop. sawabigger rise in profits(50 per cent, servicesinflation rises quicklyin2021. One, the recoverycurve,has exhibitedpositivemomentum September onwards. In fact, mobil- Two, India has rolledout one of the small- year-on-year). Acombinationofcost-cut- as avaccine comes intoplay, therecould be ity levels have returnedtoalmost pre-COVID levels in all cities by early December,sig- estfiscal supportpackages globally, with ting, lowinterestrates, access to buoyant arelease of pent-up demand forhigh- nalling areturntonormalcy.Asthe RBI study notes, “Indian economyispulling out of central government spending flat so farthis capital marketsand increasedspending in touchservices. Two, as large firmsand their COVID-19’s deep abyss”, and is moving “towards aplaceinthe sunlight”. While growth is year.Three, inflation is nowabig problem, the formal economyprobably helped. employees do relatively well, theyare likely with consumer prices above the 6per cent The smaller listedfirms did notdoas to demand moreservices, stoking prices. expectedtobemarginallypositiveinthe thirdquarter, the study notesthatifthe current tolerance levelfor the pasteight months. well (7 per cent, year-on-year). And the un- Consumption patterns showthat the rich momentum in activities persists,the bounce backinthe fourth quartermay actuallybe The fact that Indianscan move around listedinformal firms, typicallywith small in India tend to consume moreservices stronger than what baseline scenarios indicate. morefreelywithout ajumpinCOVID-19 cash buffers,are likelytohavefaced acute than the poor.And rising inequality could, On the demandside, while thereappears to have been some moderationafter the satia- cases is amajor positive that is already pay- economicstress. therefore, stokeinflation. Three, manyserv- tionof pentupandfestivedemand,householddemandcontinuesto expand.Electricitycon- ing off. The lastquartersaw an improvement In fact, it can be arguedthat large firms ice providers didnot do aregular annual sumption is up, as is petrol consumption.GST collections remain above the Rs 1lakh crore in growth as consumerswereeager to spend, benefited,inpart, at the cost of smaller,in- price resetin2020, so theymay raise prices especiallyonfestival-related items, bolstered formal firms. This could have happenedin to coverthe twoyearsonce demand picks mark, andbothinter-state andintra-state movement of goodscontinues to showanuptick by higher-than-usual financial savings. twoways. One, spending movedfrom up. If inflationdoes become persistent and asreflectedinthee-way billdata.Non-oilimportshave returnedtopre-COVIDlevels,andRBI’s With the vaccine coming, the economy small firmstolarge ones as theyweremore leadstotighter monetarypolicy,thatcould survey of consumersindicates that sentiment hasimproved, as employmentconditions couldget afurther shotinthe arm. The efficient through the lockdown period. weigh on growth over time. have beguntolookup. On the supply side, manufacturing activity has pickedup, as has the combination of mass vaccinations, herd Indeed,inflation control Two, small firms areespeciallyvulnerable Puttingall of this together,itseems India servicessector,thoughhighcontact-intensiveservicescontinueto remainbelowpre-COVID immunity (for instanceinparts of Mumbai) could be the main task facing to delays or defaultsonpaymentstheyare will come full circle in 2021. Forawhile it was levels.Financingconditionsforfirmsremainconducive ascorporatebondspreadshave fallen and rising recovery ratesaugurs well for policymakersin2021. The owed,manytimes from the largerfirms. worriedmoreabout weak growth than high growth. We expect the resulting exuber- Mostworryingly,small firms aremore inflation.But as growth recovers, inflation- to pre-COVID levels. And as per the RBI’s industrial outlook survey,firms were hopeful that RBI mayhavetotakesteps ance to be ledbythe release of pent-up de- labour intensive than large firms. The in- aryconcerns could reappear. thereboundinactivitieswouldgainmomentum.Though,asaCRISILreportnotes,thesmaller mand forhigh-touchservices, in the same to gradually drain the excess formal sector employs around 85 per cent Indeed, inflation control could be the companies, with lowbargainingpowerand cashreserves, remain in the red. waythat pent-up demand forphysical liquidityinthe banking of the labour force. If smallfirmsdopoorly, main task facing policymakers in 2021.The TheRBIexpectsthe“above-the-line”fiscalstimulusto boostgrowthby closeto 2percent goods precededthe recovery in 2020. sector,provide afloor for it impactsalarge number of people. Data RBI mayhavetotakesteps to gradually thisyear.ThoughcentralgovernmentspendinghastillOctoberbeenalmostatthesamelevel At firstglance, it mayseem that India got short-term rates, whichhave shows that small firms have cut staffcosts drain the excess liquidity in the banking offlightlyand is backonthe path to recov- by muchmorethan large firms (-20 per sector,provide afloor forshort-term rates, as last year,presumablyexpenditure will pickupasrevenuevisibilityimproves. This would fallen belowthe reverse repo impartanexpansionaryimpulse to the economyinthe monthsahead.Alongside, the roll- ery. But adeeper look suggests that the low cent year-on-year versus 0per cent year- whichhavefallen belowthe reverse repo leveloffiscal spending could leave behind rate,and finally narrowthe on-year). And limited fiscalsupporthere rate,and finallynarrowthe policy rate cor- out of the vaccine is also likelytostrengthenhousehold demand, especiallyfor high-contact other problems, suchasrising inequality. policy rate corridor by could stokeinequality. ridor by raising the reverse repo rate.A services.However, sincethestructuralchallengesthatpre-date theCOVIDpandemiccontinue Afterall, muchofthe fiscal support All this could impact demandovertime. quickerexitfromloose monetary policy to persist, afull recovery to pre-COVID levels remains distant. packages around the worldhavebeen di- raising the reverse repo rate. We arealready seeingsome early changes could become another area whereIndia rected towardssafeguarding the vulnera- Aquickerexit from loose likesales of moreexpensive passenger vehi- differs from the world. ble—poorer households and small busi- monetarypolicy could cles doing better than motorbikesales. nesses.Although it is true that in India become another area where Indeed, rising inequality is ascarthat the The writer is chief India economist, therewas afocus on theseareas, therewere pandemic is likelytoleave behind. HSBC Securities and Capital NEW BRITAIN some misses, suchasthe urban poorbeing India differsfrom the world. But this is notwhereitends. Rising in- Markets (India) Pvt Ltd

Brexit dealwillleadtorearrangement of UK’s foreign economic policyand international relations,offers India an opportunity

HE CHRISTMAS DAYagreement on newterms of trade between Britain and itslargest economicpartner,theEuropean Union,is unlikelytopleaseevery- oneinPrimeMinisterBorisJohnson’sConservative Party, butamajorityisex- THE LAST STRAW pectedto backhim.WiththeLabourPartyalreadysupportingthenewframe- T work asawelcomealternative to a“no-deal”hardBrexitfromtheEU,thedeal is expectedto beratifiedbythe British parliament this week.The European governmentstoo Systemic neglect ensures that prisonsact as warehouses forthe marginalised areset to approvethe deal that comes intoforce on January1.Tobesure, therewill be multi- ple glitches in implementing the complexagreement, whichguarantees tariff-free trade on mostgoods betweentwo of the world’s largest economicentities. It also lays the basis forfu- Maja Daruwala and VijayRaghavan turecooperation on lawenforcement,security,dataflows among other important areas. While Europe regretsthe separationand looksforward to anew beginning with Britain, TWORECENT incidentsofStanSwamy and whose death in Tihar Prison due to lackof Despiteefforts at clearing cases, an Gautam Navlakha showupthe stateofour medical careled to thehigh courtawarding acuteshortage of judges andcourtinfra- JohnsonclaimsamajorpoliticalvictoryinregainingBritishsovereigntyto makeitsownlaws prisonstoday. Both areundertrial prisoners compensation; or if apublic-spiritedindi- structureensures an accelerating accumu- andfreedomto engagetheworldonitsownterms.Johnson’ssuccessshouldbringto anend in the Bhima-Koregaon case. Both had to vidual likeSheela Barse files aPIL; or because lation of cases in courts.Between 2019 and the prolongedpolitical divisions in Britain on the nature of itsrelationship with Europe after move thecourtsfor thesimplestofnecessi- of ajudgewho, as in the recent case of “Re 2020, the numbers creptupfrom3.5 crore the SecondWorld War. Theschism in the Conservative party wasevendeeper.All the seven ties. One, to getasipper cupand astraw be- Inhuman Conditions in 1382 Prisons”, sees toward 4crore,anover10per centrise. Conservative prime ministers who precededJohnson —Theresa May, David Cameron, John cause he is an 80-year-old man with the needfor systemicchange.Notorious According to theIndia Justice report2019, Major,MargaretThatcher,EdwardHeathandHaroldMacmillan—saw theirpoliticalcareers Parkinson’s and the other to wrestapair of criminals, too, likeCharles Sobhrajand Sunil it takesanaverage of three years forthe destroyed by the European question.Britain had voted withathin margin to leave theEUin glassestoreplace abrokenpair.Itled to the Batra, who had the gumption to take mat- case to traverse the high court andsix years BombayHigh Courtintomaking an obser- ters to the Supreme Court, have played their in the subordinatecourts. areferendum duringthe summer of 2016;but fewhad betonLondon’s ability to negotiate vation that workshops should be conducted Thelaw emphasises that as partinprison reforms over the years. It doesn’t have to be this way. Thereare anamicableseparation.Ashecelebratedthedeal,Johnsoninsistedthattheagreementbrings forthe prison stafftosensitise them. far as undertrial prisoners But standardsetting doesn’t mean com- pathwaystoaccountability and to reform. “a newstability and anew certainty” to arelationshipthathas long been fractious and diffi- Whydid these matters have to go to the pliance. Our prisonsare full of people in com- But since both supervisor and policy maker cult. “Althoughwehaveleftthe EU,” Johnson said, Britain “willremain culturally, emotion- courts?Itis, perhaps,anindication of the fact are concerned,they enjoyall promisedstates. Around 70 per cent areun- knowthe on-ground constraintsand the ally, historically, strategicallyand geologically attachedtoEurope”. that thereislittle space forground-levelstaff other rights, save those dertrials and morethan75per centcome biases within the culture, muchisexcused The break from Europewill lead to asignificant rearrangement of Britain’s foreign eco- to makeoperational decisions. Officials do restricted by virtue of their from marginalisedsections. Theyknowlit- or pushedunder thecarpet. Reform at- notwant to getintotrouble, especially in tle aboutthe law. Even if theyare aware, they tempts likethe constitution of Undertrial nomic policy and international relations. London is actively negotiating multiple bilateral being incarcerated. Ye t, cases of political prisoners arrested under have little recourse to anycomplaintsmech- ReviewCommittees mandated by the freetradeagreementswithmajoreconomicpartners,tryingto reinforcethetraditionalstrate- national security laws. violations are an everyday anism and mustfall backonanunevenlegal Supreme Courtworkpatchily. In mostpris- gic partnerships with the US and Japan and leverage historic connections with Canada, The lawonprovision of basic facilities routine. They get highlighted aid system. If at all aprisoner can reachthe ons, the BoardofVisitors meant to func- Australia, NewZealandand other Commonwealth nations. Johnson’s visit to India,asthe to prisoners is clear —itlies squarelywith when there is amishap with judge, they areeither toobusyintheir rou- tion as an oversight mechanismare not guestatthe Republic Daynextmonth, offers an opportunityfor Delhitotakeacloselookat custodial authorities. The NelsonMandela ahigh-profile person, likea tine work or tooenmeshed in the local cul- even constituted. London’spostBrexitplansandmakeabigpushforthetransformationof abilateralrelation- Rules 2015 issuedbythe UN and the Model turetoact. Financial, infrastructural, and hu- The policy rhetoricwants prisons to be Prison Manual 2016 by the BureauofPolice Rajan Pillai whose death in man resource shortfalls that rangefrom20 places of reform andrehabilitation. Their shipthat has long performedway belowits natural potential. Research and Development, Ministryof Tihar Prison due to lack of to 40 per cent also playtheir partinadding to neglect by the executive andoversight bod- Home Affairs, have elaborateprovisions re- medical care led to the High staffstress and inmatemisery. ies ensurestheyact as warehouses forthe garding the care, treatment and rehabilita- Court awarding The Supreme Courtissued orders to state poor and the marginalised. But the constitu- tion of prisoners. AplethoraofSupreme governmentstotakesteps to prevent the tional ordering of this countryrequires that Freeze Frame EPUnny Courtand high courtjudgmentsreiterate compensation; or if apublic- spread of the coronavirus in prisons through pandemic or no pandemic, justice must not that prisoners arehuman beings with ba- spirited individual like asuo moto PIL filedinMarch 2020, leading wait. Prolongation of these so-calledcriminal sic rights. In essence, the lawemphasises SheelaBarse files aPIL; or to more than 68,000 prisoners being re- cases is unconscionable, as is forcing vulner- that as farasunder trial prisoners arecon- leasedonbailorparole so far. But apre-pan- able peopleintoremaininginhotspots of in- cerned, theyenjoyall other rights, save because of ajudge who, as in demic comparison between 2017 and 2019 creasedinfection and fatalrisk. those restricted by virtue of their being in- the recent case of ‘Re shows thatovercrowding increasedfrom carcerated. Inhuman Conditions in 1382 116to119 per cent. Overcrowding in indi- Daruwala is senior adviser,Commonwealth Yet, violations areaneverydayroutine. Prisons’, sees the need for vidual prisons stands muchhigher;some Human Rights Initiative, and Raghavanis Theyget highlighted when thereisamishap prisons aremorethan three times crowded professor,Centrefor Criminology and Justice, with ahigh-profile person,likeaRajan Pillai systemic change. than their official capacity. School of Social Work,TISS

DECEMBER 28, 1980, FORTY YEARS AGO

ASSAM AGITATION TALKSHOPES DIM and AAGSP have initially rejected the THE POLICE FIRED in Nowgong to disperse a CHANCESFOR EARLYresumptionoftalkson Centre’s offer, Home Ministrysources hope crowdofagitatorswhohadgatheredto picket the complexissue of foreign nationals are thatbettersense would prevail. government offices as partofthe mass satya- considered dim in viewofthe rigid stand graha on the foreigners’ issue. Abus conduc- takenbythe Assam agitation leaders. The BJP ON POVERTY torofthe Assam StateTransportCorporation, Home Ministrydoes notseem to be in a THE BASIC THRUSTofthe economic policy whowas injured in thefiring, wasadmitted mood to take anynew initiative to break the draftoftheBJPisto liftthosebelowthepoverty to hospital. Nowgong, with Sadiyaand deadlock or to sendaformal invitationtothe line, the number of whichismountingwith Golaghat were earlier scenes of police lathi AASU and AAGSP to come here fordiscus- completion of everyfive-year plan.According chargesand teargassing in whichmanypeo- sions. Official sourcespointed out thatthe to the framers of the draft, the main objective plewere injured,accordingto reportsreceived Home MinisterZailSingh hadclearly con- wastolaunchawar against poverty. Briefing here. Todaywas the tenth dayofa13-day veyedhis invitation to the leaders to discuss newsmen, Kanwarlal Gupta,convener of the state-wide satyagraha the AASUand AAGSP the problem with him without anyprecon- committeesetuptopreparethedraft,saidthe have organisedtoprotest againstthe central dition being put by either side. This should economicdraftenvisagesablendof Gandhian government’s alleged indifference to solving be takenasaformal invitation andthere was socialism, Loknayak's antyodayaand Deen the 15-month-old foreigners’ problem. no needtosend another. Though the AASU DayalUpadhaya’s “integralhumanism.”

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THEINDIANEXPRESS,MONDAY,DECEMBER28,2020 WHATTHE OTHERSSAY “From resolving disputes over property or other civilmatters, to punishing hardcore militants and criminals, the countryneeds aproactive justice system that deliversdecisions withinareasonable time frame,and as per international 7 THE IDEAS PAGE standards.” —DAWN An American debt An election,

The narrative of slaveryasUS’s original sinelidesits history as asettler colony. The appointment of a a vindication Native AmericanasInterior Secretaryisanimportant step in accepting itspast Wide participation in J&K DDC polls indicates that people of the UT areturning to democratic decentralisation in the hope forbettergovernance

months.Theamendment had facilitatedthe UTadministrationtoconducttheseelections through universal adult franchise. Haseeb Drabu, formerJ&K Minister, Sanjib Baruah raisedobjections to thispractice calling it as againstthe federal spirit of the Indian Constitution ('Junior MLA, senior panch', IE, December 24). Although it is heartening to TO SAYTHATNative American politician see the Kashmiri leader’s insistence on ad- DebraAnne Haaland’s appointment as herence to theIndian Constitution in letter, Secretaryofthe Interior of the US would be Ram Madhav his allusion to the DDCs as “District historic is an understatement. If confirmed Assemblies” is an exaggeration. India’s fed- by the Senate, Haaland will take office in eralpolityisbasedonatwo-tierelectionsys- early 2021asthe firstNativeAmerican head THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION of the tem—stateassembliesandParliament—not of the sprawling government department District Development Council (DDC) elec- athree-tier one. Elections to the localbodies that manages the US government’s relations tions in Jammu and Kashmir is indicative of areconductedby thestateelectioncommis- withindigenouscommunities andoversees the NarendraModi government’s resolve to sions independentlyunder statelaws. the country’s national parks and millionsof return powertothe people on the one hand In J&K,the needforgreaterdecentralisa- acres of public lands, mostofwhichwere and the resolve of the people of the UT to turn tion wasemphasisedbySheikh Abdullah’s once controlledbyNative Americans. to democratic decentralisation to achieve NationalConference during the agitation In urging Biden to choose Haaland for better governance and development on the years againstthe Maharaja. It had accepted the position, prominent environmental other.The elections sawenthusiastic partic- apolitical manifesto in 1944 called‘Naya and climateactivistBill McKibben said, “It ipationofboththe people andpolitical par- Kashmir’. Article 45 of the manifesto called would be aremarkable plottwistinthe ties.Exceptinthe terror hotbedsofPulwama for“people’spanchayats”atthe district, block American storyfor an indigenous person and Shopian, the voter turnout ranged from andvillagelevel to represent thestatepower. to run interior —agesturecan’t repair 25 per cent to 51 per cent in the other eight Afterthe Indira-Sheikh Accordin1975, the muchofthe damagethat’s been done, but districtsinthe Valley. Thepanchayatraj laws manifesto wasredraftedin 1976.Itpromised it can serveasaconstant reminder of the aremade by states basedonthe 64th to provideregionalautonomyand further debt still to be repaid.” Amendment to the Constitution that intro- decentralisepolitical powerthrough “appro- The Department of Interior includes the ducedthe PanchayatRaj Act. priate institutional arrangementsatthe dis- BureauofIndian Affairs.Establishedin1824, Various interpretations can be givento trict, blockand villagelevels”. the Bureauwas housedoriginallyinthe the electionoutcome.Some will be debat- Balraj Puri, the eminent political com- Department of Warbeforeitwas movedto able claims, whilesome factswill remain mentatorfrom J&K,who wasinvolvedinthe the newlycreated Departmentofthe conspicuous. Therecould besome welcome drafting of the manifesto,reasoned elo- Interiorin1849. It waslocated in the signs and some warningsignals.Itisneces- quentlyabout the needfor greater devolu- DepartmentofWar since thesubjugationof CRSasikumar sarytolook at all these dispassionately. The tion of powers through decentralisation indigenous communities and their forced very fact thatsuchabig election wascom- highlighting the diversity in thestate.“A relocationwas official policy. wasaviolation of our sovereignty.Our citi- American rightsand environmental causes. pletedpeacefullywithenthusiastic partici- Muslim majority statewithinaHindu ma- “As federal policy has changed from no- zenshipwas in our ownnations ...We “The sad fact is that we have aPresident,” pation from both sides should silence many jority country, aHindu majority region tions of subjugating and assimilating wished to remain treaty Indiansand reserve she said earlier this year,“who is intent on criticsabout the lackofpolitical freedomin within aMuslim majority state, Muslimma- AmericanIndians,” says the bureau’s official our ancient rights. Therewas no great rush selling offour public landstohis friends for J&K. The BJP’s rise as apan J&K party and the jority districts within Hindu majority region, website, so has itsmission. “Itsrole nowis among my people to go out and voteinthe fracking and drilling.” Oil and gasdevelop- single-largest party, securingmorevotes Hindu majority blocks within Muslim ma- as apartner withtribes to help them achieve whiteman’s elections.” ment in federal public landsprovides liveli- than thecombinedvotesofthe Gupkar jority districtsand Muslim majority villages their goals forself-determination”. Notall Native Americans took this view. hood to manyAmericans and amajor group, is avindication of itsgrowing accept- within Hindu majority blocks”—this was It mayseem remarkable to readers in But manystill remain ambivalent about cit- source of revenue foranumber of states. ability across the UT. howPuri described the profile of J& K. India that the term “Indian”,alegacy of izenship. “Democracy is Indigenous” is the Haaland’s position on oil and gasdrilling The People’s Alliance forGupkar Subsequently, the process of devolution Christopher Columbus’s 528-year-old mis- slogan usedbyanadvocacy organization on public lands is likelytocomeunder Declaration (PAGD), popularly known as of powers happened in the stateunder the take,isstill alegal categoryinthe US. working to registerindigenous voters in the scrutinyduring her confirmation hearings the Gupkar group, has been able to win ma- 1989 Act. District Development Boards were Fortunately, terms suchasNative or Native lastelectionseeking to appeal to thepride and if she is confirmed, during her tenure jority seatsinthe Valleyand some in the Pir constituted to oversee the development American, indigenous communities, Native that manyfeel about historical institutions as Interior Secretary. Panjal and ChenabValleyregions of Jammu. plans of the respective districts. However, Nation or FirstNations People nowenjoy such as the Iroquois Confederacyand itscon- During the racial reckoning that has been However, despitethe coming together of these bodies were filledwith unelectedlead- wide acceptance as synonyms. sensus-based mechanisms of governance. taking place in the US over the pastyear, the mainstream Valleyparties likethe NC, ers,or ex officio members likethe MLAs and In thecolonial period in NorthAmerica, Born to aNative Americanmother and BlackLives Matter activists have drawnat- PDP and PC, the voters didn’t give them MPs.Bureaucratshavedominatedthe exec- the British entered intotreaties with Native aNorwegian-Americanfather,Haalandis tention to the mistreatment of all “commu- overwhelmingsupportinthe Valley’s 140 utiveauthority in these bodies. American nations as theydid with foreign an enrolledcitizen of the Pueblo of Laguna. nities of colour”. But the protests have also seats. In 31 places, votersoptedfor inde- J&K’s tragedyhas been that it became a countries. The practice continuedtill after Pueblo —the Spanishwordfor village—is During the racial reckoning dramatisedthe uniqueness of the challenges pendentswhile in another 30 places,they prisoner of afew political families and afew the founding of the United States in 1776. the commonlyusedterm forindigenous that has been taking place in facing Native Americans.Unlikeall other ex- voted forthe non-PAGDcandidates. Hence, dozenlegislators. Grass rootsleadership was However, their legaland political status communities in NewMexico reflecting the clusions in American society,atthe coreof it is over-exuberance on the part of the neverallowedtorise. As aresult, people re- sufferedademotion; theybecame “domes- state’s Spanish colonial heritage. Haaland the US over the past year, America’sproblems with indigenous com- Gupkarleaders to declarethat it wasavic- mainedlargely powerlessandatthemercyof tic dependent nations”, to useChief Justice oftendescribes herself as a35thgeneration BlackLives Matter activists munities lies the question of land —alot of tory fortheir agenda. Gupkar’s biggestfail- afew leaders. Empowering the villagepan- John Marshall’s early 19th centuryre-for- NewMexican. have drawnattention to the whichfalls withinthe mandateofthe urewas in Srinagar,whereitmanaged to chayatswas startedbythe UT administration mulation. In the treaties theysigned, Haaland firstcame to national attention DepartmentofInterior. It has become com- winjustthree seats. Srinagar has tradition- acouple of years agoencouraging the rise of Native Americans cededmillions of acres in 2018 when she waselected to the House mistreatment of all monplace to talk of slavery as America’s allybeen the bastion of the Abdullahs,but anew-generation leadership at thegrass of land to the US, but the treaties did not of Representatives. She wasone of the two ‘communities of colour’. But original sin.But this narrative elidesthe the voters this time rejected them. roots. The welcome changeaffected nowto absorb them intothe American body Native American women elected to the the protests have also storyofthe US as asettler colony—native TheBJPwillfinallycontrolsix DDCswhile empowerthe DDCs with elected represen- politic. Native Americans were restricted Congress forthe firsttime in US history. dramatised the uniqueness Americanswereforcibly removedbefore the Gupkargroup willhaveachanceinafew tativesisgoing to further that processand to their reservations. Yet, theycould gov- Nowshe will be the first-everindigenous whitesettlers could use slave labour to cul- more. The rest will depend on independents help address developmental needs in abig ern themselves. Even groups that did not person to hold aCabinet-levelposition. of the challenges facing tivate those lands. and smaller parties. The Gupkar leaders were way. Realising this opportunity,people too sign treaties could claim to possess inher- At theDemocratic NationalConvention Native Americans. Unlikeall Biden has promisedaCabinetthat hopingfor alandslide victoryinthe Valley. participatedin theelectionsenthusiastically ent sovereignty. lastAugust,Haaland spokepowerfully other exclusions in American “lookslikeAmerica”. Perhaps aNative Butthepeoplepreferredcredible candidates defying terroristthreatsand intimidations. Native Americans didn’t all cheer when againstPresident Trump’s anti-immigrant society, at the core of American Secretary of theInteriorwill to work forlocal development than high- The BJPhas clearly emergedasthe key the US Congress in 1924 declared that those policiesand rhetoric. “If anyone can say‘go bring America astepcloser to recognising profile party apparatchiksworking onlyon playerinthe UT along with the Gupkar born in the countrywill be American citi- back’”, she said, “it’s Native Americans. My America’sproblems with itssettler colonial pastand present. If that emotional agendas likethe restoration of group. However, the party and the govern- zens. Clinton Rickard, the chief of the Pueblo ancestors, despitebeing targeted at indigenous communities lies happens, Haaland’s appointment will Article 370. All political parties mustaccept ment needtotakeacautious note of the Tuscarorapeople (who nowliveinthe US everyjuncture—despitefacingfamine and the question of land —alot provehistoric above andbeyond itsin- this messagewith humility. deepening divisionswithin the UT along the stateofNew York and Canada’s Ontario drought —still inhabit this countrytoday. of which falls within the tendedshort-term political goal. These elections were madepossible Pir Panjal and Chenab Valley. province), said: “By itsprovisions all Indians But indigenous people aren’t askinganyone through anamendmentto the PanchayatRaj were automaticallymade United States cit- to go backtowheretheycame from.” mandate of the Department Baruah is professor of political studies at Act1989ofthe erstwhile J&K Constitution, The writer is member,boardofgovernors, izens whether theywanted to be or not. This She has been achampion of Native of Interior BardCollege, NewYork whichprecededthe national act by six India Foundation Journal of aplague year LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR TAGORE’S INDIA THIS REFERS TO the article, ‘PM Modi at IDEAS In 2020, we learnt joyofthrift, beauty of austerity,and the needfor human touch Visva-Bharati: Tagore’s vision is essence of Atmanirbhar Bharat mission’ (IE, ONLINE December 25). In his speech, the Prime Shashi Deshpande Ministertried hardtofind supportfrom ONLYINTHE EXPRESS Tagore forthepoliciesof hisgovernment. THE STORYOFthe Bombayplague of 1896 is had been named, would by somemiracle ig- nowatthe peak of human achievement, company, that we needhuman touch. The reality,however, is thatthe twoare ● RESTORINGTHE afascinating one, combining in itself all the noreus. It didn’t. The virus and COVID-19 would find one? Watching people frantically trying to get diametricallyopposed. In the second COMPETITIONCOMMISSION’S horrorofanepidemic, personal courage, sci- came to India. In itsabsence, three measures were our home from wherever theywere, we re- stanza of 'Jana-Gana-Mana,' Tagore finds MANDATE:SANJAYPANDEY entific achievement, resistance to theauto- It wasthe lockdown that reallybrought onlyhope:Wearamask,keepadistance learnt the importance of home. We sawfor India as amagnanimous and open- ANDVEDMISHRA cratic measures of aruling foreign power, na- home the horrorofthe situation. Suddenly from others, wash your hands. Easy and sim- thefirsttime the invisible strata of ourcities, heartedhosttoHindus, Buddhists,Sikhs, tionalism and an assassination. Afterthat all the things that our livesconsistedofwere ple enoughitwould seem. Nevertheless, when migrant workers made arush for Jains, Parsis, Muslims and Christians. In ● BUILDING CONSENSUS: terrible outbreak,epidemics, exceptfor the sweptaway, as if atidalwavehad swallowed post-lockdown, people went about without home, some walking hundredsofmiles, 'BharatTeertha’, his India is aconfluence RAM KAUNDINYA Spanish Flu, became adistant memoryin them. Isolated in our homes, notseeing ahu- masks. Iwondered:Don’ttheycareabout some dying before theyreachedhome. We of avarietyof cultures.Tagore believedin India.Asmedical science steadilyadvanced, man face fordays, life, about survival? The discoveredhow muchthe women who the goodnessofuniversal humanity,not www.indianexpress.com it moweddownanumber of diseases, both struggling with chores ANEXPRESS IDEASERIES Buddha told his disci- helped us at home lightenedour tasks, al- divided by anarrowdefinition of nation- big andsmall, whichhad troubledthe hu- —this wasanightmare ple Ananda: That lowedustodoother things. alism.In‘GhareBaire’—hiscritiqueof the man race. The next great mysterywas AIDS, we had neverenvis- whichyou love the Above all, we could have,hopefully, “Swadeshi movement”inthe guise of a whichSiddhartha Mukherjee speaksofin aged.Fear lappedatthe mostwill be taken learnt the lesson: All things areconnected. novel—hemakesastrongcaseforafford- HOUSE NEEDED his The Emperor of AllMaladies as an “epi- edgesofour lives. Of the away from you. What is Forthe firsttime, maybe, the whole world abilityovernationalisticpride.Inthepres- THIS REFERS TO thearticle, 'The law- demiological catastrophe”.Another catas- lossofeverything we it that we love most? has united in suffering, in fear of the virus ent context, this could be interpreted as makers mustwork’ (IE, December 25). trophe waswaiting forusinthe 21st century. had takenfor granted. Children? Parents? and grief at the deaths. But the demand for supportfor globalisation. The periodic assembling of members News came early this year of astrangeill- And worstofall, COVID Lovers? Yes, we love vaccines tells us howlittle has changed.Rich Ranjan Das, Mumbai in alegislative chamberisnot mere ness in China whichthreatenedtobeworse thoughtsofdeath with- SHADOW, them, but above allwe nations arebuyingmorethan theyneed. constitutional convection; these bod- than AIDS.AIDS neededsome kind of con- out anydignity. love life,wewantto Scientists areabove pettiness, but politicians VACCINE BECKONS ies aremeant to channel public senti- tact. This newdisease movedfromone hu- When the lock- NEWYEAR survive.Survivalisaba- arenot.The cloak of liberalism and human- ments, their aspirations, and appre- man to another without anycontact;a down waslifted, people sic animal instinct. ism has fallen, there’s onlyselfishness left. THIS REFERS TO the editorial, ‘Dear hensions. In avibrant liberal cough, asneeze, even justtalking could crawledout with ex- LIGHT Why, then, do people The virusremains agreat leveller;itdoes- Santa’ (IE, December 25). The year 2020 democracy,every shade of opinion is transmitthe virus.Inthose early days,we haustedbodies and ravaged behave as if it didn’tmatter? n’t careabout race, colour,nation,gender. All wasfull of gloom due to COVID. Butwe expected to be givenarespectfulplace sawpictures of ghostcities in China,with minds. Even themostsanguine knewthat Goingtoweddings,totemples, to the beach, humans arefair game. Will we remember mustappreciate the Serum Instituteof in public discourse, and legislative emptyroads and an eerie silence. We be- the ordeal wasnot over,that tragedywas still attending parties and political rallies —did these things in the future? Notverylikely, India formanufacturing vaccine for bodiesare the perfect platform for came witnesses to theswiftnessofits mad lurking in our midst. Fortherewerenodrugs thesemattermorethanlife? because we have been giventhe giftofam- COVID-19inarecordperiod. The daythe this. Discussions stirredbylegislators rush round the globe, the ruthlessness which that could tame the virus. Doctors were re- We have learnt afew things from this ter- nesia. Burdenedasweare with the knowl- firstvaccine is administerediscertainly on issues of public importance give a made it inescapable;this wastrulyaformi- ducedtoworking like the vaidsofold, trying ribletime. We have learnt howmuchwecan edge of our ownmortality,would we have going to be partofhistory books. sense of hope to the masses. dable enemy.Yet so strangelydoes the hu- anything, everything. The onlyhope wasa do without, howlittle we reallyneed. We survivedifnot forforgetfulness? Vandana, Chandigarh Sudip Kumar Dey Kolkata man mind reject the idea of our ownvulner- vaccine. So manyvaccines hadbeen devel- have learnt the joyofthrift, the beauty of aus- ability, we still hopedthe coronavirus,asit opedthrough the years, surelyscientists, terity.Wehavelearnt that we needhuman The writer is anovelist

Ahmedabad WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM 8 CALENDAR THEINDIANEXPRESS,MONDAY,DECEMBER28,2020

OVER THE HEDGE by Michael Fry &TLewis CROSSWORD 4313 DAYTODAY BYPETERVIDAL

ARIES (Mar 21 -Apr 20) LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) One of your major Keep yourself to skills is your ability yourself if that is to understand the what youwant. You broader picture, mayhavetoput on a but todayyou should swing to performance in public, but what the oppositeextreme and is truly important is what's examine everysingle detail, happeninginyoursub- otherwiseyou'reliableto conscious. The decisions you overlook something vital. take nowwill shape your affairs Perhaps apartner can show over the next four weeks. youthe wayforward. SCORPIO (Oct. 24 -Nov.22) TAURUS (Apr.21-May 21) Powerful social Makesureyou have planets suggestthat an enjoyable day. nowisthe time for The Moon's team-workand co- position suggests operation. Don't trytogoit CALVIN &HOBBES by Bill Watterson that what oriental sages have alone for, if youdo, you'll run been saying forcenturiesis the risk of shooting yourself in true: even routine and the foot.Makethe mostof humdrumactivitiescan be children's enthusiasm, and do satisfying if accomplished what youcan to shape their with the right attitude.Goon, energies positively. ACROSS DOWN tryit. 1 Grass bed (5) 2Subtle implication, but a SAGITTARIUS(Nov.23 -Dec 22) 8Setting offtobecome aboxing patentlyobvious one (8) GEMINI (May22-June 21) It's time to be champion (8) 3It’s coming up in pursuit to Domestic and ambitious, and not 9Floral platedesign (5) beat one (8) family to be ashamed 10 Unsleeping watchonaworker 4Good time of the year to responsibilities are about it! It's no (8) procurethe release of a likelytobemost over-statement to saythat 11 Makeadeclaration in bad taste prisoner (6) pressingtoday. Even if you're even apparentlytrivial (5) 5Running away of resourcesput at work,the best wayto developmentsoverthe coming 12 As an example taking nothing debtor in amuddle (5) completeall your days and weekscould change foroneself (3) 6The firsttointroduce the responsibilities will be to your career direction for 16 Southern union about to reach golden handshake (5) generateafamily good, so there's no room at all agreement (6) 7Stone foragarden entrance, atmosphere. If everyone forcomplacency. 17 Unties knots,yet drawsthem perhaps (5) knows their place, they'lldo together (6) 12 Complete partofagame of the best job. CAPRICORN (Dec. 23 -Jan. 20) 18 MarkorDorothy (3) bowls(3) If youstill feel 23 People mayact on it 13 Not conscious one is in error? MARVIN by Tom Armstrong CANCER (June 22 -July23) confused, hurtor (5) (3) Good angryit's because 24 British capitalist 14 Statecarriage? (8) communication recent traumas are (8) 15 Agrees on twopoints, then seems to be awfully still being stirredupbyother 25 New -toocean travel? another colour (3-5) important, and people. However, over the next (5) 19 Asingularly unwell American you'll have to realise that if you fewweeksyou will gradually 26 Hurry to prepareeggs playwright (6) don't attend to all practical understand that what has (8) 20 Joyisacomposer (5) complexities yourself, others happenedhas been forthe 27 Union notice that maybe 21 Crossany twoletters inside (5) arelikelytostepin-and getit best.It's justthat it might not objected to 22 Brief stop formanyinatrance all wrong. Take the have been what you (5) (5) responsibility forputting your were expecting. ownplans intoaction. SolutionsCrossword4312:Across:1Fieldfares,6Blur,10 Erato, 11 Meditated,12 AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 -Feb.19) Nihilism, 13Epoch,15Ratline,17 Chimera,19 Despoil,21Corslet,22Ruing,24 LEO (July24-Aug. 23) Youmay tryto Sterling,27Unanimous,28Noise,29Ewer,30Stationery. Down:1Fled,2 Current discussions distance yourself Emaciates, 3Dhobi,4Armoire,5Endemic,7Lotto,8Rudehealth,9StHelier,14 over finances are from anycolleagues Traderoute,16 Irongrip,18Eglantine,20Lastout,21Cresset,23Irate,25 Lingo, likelytobelinked to who makeyou feel 26Defy. past emotional upset or angry, and dramas, in whichcase it may concentrate on important be difficult to see the way thingslikeboosting your forward. Don't act free and income, and setting yourself easywithother people's cash, up forfutureprosperity.It's JUMBLEDWORDS DifficultyLevel5s by the way, because they're time to lookafter number one Instructions bound to notice sooner -and,whenyou'vetaken care Givenbelowarefourjumbledwords.Solvethejumblestomakeproperwordsandmovethemto TosolveaSudokupuzzle, or later. of yourself, youcan think

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Ahmedabad THEINDIANEXPRESS,MONDAY,DECEMBER28,2020 9 EXPRESS NETWORK

BRIEFLY AfterBJYMrallysparksclashinUjjain MP House session postponed after 60 locality,4residentsfaceNSAcharge officials test positive

District admin carries out demolition drive in Muslim-majority neighbourhood aday afterclash turedatefor the session will be Rajinikanth EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE decidedafter ameeting.” been registered. houses, as well as aclinic." "Not asingle person who was have been registeredfromboth BHOPAL,DECEMBER27 However, Leader of IRAMSIDDIQUE Tomar said this sparked Aday afterthe rally, the dis- partofthe rallyhas been ar- sides and people arebeing iden- Opposition Kamal Nath, who Rajinikanth BHOPAL,DECEMBER27 stone-pelting that ledtoastam- trict administration carriedout rested by the police despiteus tifiedbasedonvideo evidence. THE THREE-DAY Assemblyses- waspresent in the meeting said, pede-likesituation. "Around 11 ademolition drive to clear "ille- submitting severalpieces of "Begum Bagh area is commu- sion scheduledtostart Monday “The government should not discharged TWODAYSafter abikerallyby people were injured with one galencroachments" in the area. video evidence highlighting nallysensitive and those booked waspostponedafter 60 officials hold the session if it's notpossi- fromhospital the BJP youth wing triggered a person sustaining grievous in- One house wasdemolishedand them pelting stones and damag- under the NSAhad criminal and staffers, including five MLAs, ble but aspecial committee clash in aMuslim-majority local- juries,” he said, adding that mul- another wasdamaged.Another ing vehicles." records. The police investigation tested positive forCovid-19, of- should be formedtohold discus- Hyderabad, Chennai: ity in Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain, tiple vehicles were damaged. resident, social worker Those againstwhom the NSA is objective and FIR has been ficials said Sunday. The recently- sions. This should be anew prac- ActorRajinikanth, who the police invokedthe National Begum Bagh residentsallege Mohammad Ayub, claimed: has been invokedare Ayaz recordedfrombothsides. In the approved Freedom of Religion tice put in place to ensureour sufferedfromhigh blood Security Actagainstfour of its that the rallywas takenthrough “Basedonthe video of stone Mohammad, Wasim Aslam, firstFIR, sevenpeople have been Bill, 2020, wastobeput up for voices arenot suppressed.” pressure, wasonSunday residentsand chargedthree the area on multiple occasions pelting, the officials had come to Shadab Akram and Altu Aslam. booked,the second FIR is against discussion on the firstday of the The Congress had organised dischargedfromahospital morewith rioting and attempt during the day, and that rather demolish the house wherea Three others were booked on unidentifiedpersons, while in session. aprotest on Mondaytooppose in Hyderabad afterthree to murder. than simplysloganeering, the woman wasseen pelting stones. chargesofattempt to murder the thirdFIR, aperson from the The decision to put offthe the three farm laws,with Nath days of treatment,author- The clashes took place Friday BJYM workers were abusing Theyrealisedthat it belonged to (IPC Section 307), rioting (Section rallyhas been identified." session wastaken afterameet- and other party MLAs expected ities said. Later,hetook a when around 60 bikers and 300 them. Ujjain Seher-e-Kaazi aHindu family, so theyinstead 147), voluntarilycausing hurt Abhilash Pandey, statepresi- ing of political leaders across to reachthe Vidhan Sabha on flightto Chennai.Theactor workers of the BharatiyaJanata Khaliqur Rehman said: "They demolishedthe one standing ad- (Section 323) and giving false dent of BJYM, said: "This is the party lines on Sundayevening. tractors. However, the govern- washospitalisedonDece- Yuva Morcha(BJYM) were pass- were notslogans but abuses jacent to it.” statement (Section 423). These seventh incident wherethe Home MinisterNarottam ment has barredthe movement mber 25 with severe hyp- ing through the city's Begum shouted while the rallywas The district collector did not three include twowomen—one workers carrying out rallyhave Mishra, who also holds charge of of heavy vehicles in afive-kilo- ertension and exhaustion. Bagh neighbourhood, raising crossing Begum Bagh. This agi- respond to multiple calls and of them has been arrested and been attacked. The workers were the parliamentaryaffairs depart- meterradius of the House. In addition to medication slogans, said Town Inspector tatedpeople as aresult of which messages seeking comment. another is absconding. attackedwith stones, pipes, ment, told reporters afterthe Soonaftertheannouncement, and diet, Rajinikanth has Arvind Singh Tomar of Mahakal stones were pelted from both Rehman said both the district According to Ujjain cookers and hotwater and any meeting: “It wasaunanimous Congress leader Arun Yadavsaid been advisedcomplete police station, wherethree cross- sides. It also ledtodamageofve- administration and the police Superintendent of Police action from their side waspurely decission takeninthe presence thestate had postponedthe ses- bed rest forone week to FIRs related to the case have hicles of manyresidents, their had onlyacted againstresidents. SatyendraKumar Shukla, FIRs in self-defence". of the Leader of Opposition. Afu- sion out of afear of farmers. help avoid stress in view of his post-kidney trans- plant status, labile hyper- tension and age. Can live life on own TRACKING INDIA’S COVID CURVE The actor early this mon- th announcedhewould CASES: ACTIVECASES:278,690 launchhis political party terms: HC reunites 300 in Januaryahead of the DAYSSINCE 10,187,850 DEATHS:147,622 PANDEMIC 2021Tamil Nadu BEGAN TESTS: 168,102,657 | RECOVERIES: 9,761,538 Assemblyelections. PTI inter-faith couple CASES DEATHS RECOVERIES TESTS DEC26 18,732 27921,430 943,368 parentsthe next day. According MAHARASHTRA EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE to the court, this wasdone Fireintemple LUCKNOW,DECEMBER27 “without anyapplication of mind and againsther wish”. leavesthree THE ALLAHABAD High Courthas “The act of CJM, Etah, and observed that a21-year-old that of the CWC, Etah, reflects peopledead Hindu woman, who is married lackofappreciation of legal pro- Mumbai:Three persons to aMuslim man, “has achoice visions,” saidthe court. diedafter amajor fire to live her lifeonher ownterms”. It observed that the woman STATESWITHRISINGACTIVECASES brokeout at atemple in She has nowreunited with her wasanadult as her dateofbirth ACTIVECASES RISEINLASTWEEK Charkop, Kandivali West, husband. wasOctober 4, 1999 and the CJM Kerala 63,820 3,369 on Sunday. The three In an order passedon courtdid notappreciatethe fact Bihar 5,086 119 men were asleep inside December 18,abenchofJustices that when aschool certificate Sikkim 611116 Saibaba temple in Bunder PankajNaqvi and VivekAgarwal had been produced, then any Home MinisterAmit Shah in Imphal on Sunday. Express Pakhadi when the fire observed that since the woman, other evidence becomes “sec- STATESWHEREACTIVECASESAREDECLINING startedat4.14am. They Shikha, has attainedthe ageof ondaryinnatureand should not ACTIVECASES DECLINEINLASTWEEK have been identifiedas majority and has expressedthat be reliedon”. West Bengal 14,108 4,352 Subhash Khode (25), she wantstolivewith her hus- The woman’s husband had Manipur’s insurgency days over, Delhi 6,911 3,447 Yuvraj Pawar(25) and band, Salman alias Karan, “she is been booked forkidnapping on Chhattisgarh14,028 3,012 Manu Gupta (26). All free to move as per her own September 27.The courthas also were residentsofBunder choice without anyrestriction or quashedthe FIR againsthim. STATESREPORTINGMAXIMUMCASES Pakhadi slum. According hinderance being created by It passedthe order afterinter- now on development path: Shah ONDEC26 TOTAL to Fire Brigade officials, thirdparty”. acting with the woman, who Kerala 3,527735,612 while Khode and Pawar The courtwas hearing a submitted that “she is amajor, BJP government,” he said. road worthRs475.68crore. Maharashtra2,8541,916,236 diedonthe spot, Gupta habeas corpus petition filedby her dateofbirth is 04.10.1999, she JIMMYLEIVON The BJP government has the Local media reports indi- West Bengal 1,253 546,008 suffered95per cent Shikha, who washandedoverby has attainedthe ageofmajority IMPHAL,DECEMBER27 changed the face of Manipur in cated that apartfromthe inau- burns and diedatahos- the Etah CJM to Child Welfare and has enteredintoawedlock”. justthree years, Shah asserted. guration and foundation laying, STATESREPORTINGMAXIMUMDEATHS pital. Preliminaryinvesti- Committee (CWC) on December The courthas directed police UNION HOME MinisterAmit Bringing up the implementation another the purposes of Shah’s ONDEC26 TOTAL gation indicates that the 7. The committee had then to provide security to the couple Shah on Sundaysaid that of the Inner Line Permit, Shah visit to Manipur wastofinalise Maharashtra6050,321 fire wastriggered by a handedoverher custody to her till theyreachtheir residence. Manipur,astate once riddled said it wasthe biggestgifttothe Indo-Nagapeace talks. West Bengal 33 9,569 shortcircuit. ENS with abad lawand order situa- people of Manipur.Hesaid the Afterthe meeting, he inter- Delhi 23 10,437 tion due to insurgency,bandhs ILP promise wasfulfilledbecause acted with representativesofdif- RAJASTHAN and blockades, is moving ahead Prime MinisterNarendraModi ferent civil bodies including the DataasonDecember26,releasedbyUnionMinistryofHealthandFamilyWelfare,IndianCouncilofMedical In UP, writing caste on vehicles, Researchandstategovernments.Oftenthenumbersreleasedeverydaycontaindatafrompreviousdays Bodyofmissing on thepathofdevelopment af- wanted to address concerns of Nagas, Kukis, and Meitei in a aswell.Assuch,trendsbasedondailynumbersareonlyindicativeandnotdefinitive number plates to invite penalty terthe BJP came intopower. those who thought non-imple- marathon meeting held at Hotel 11-year-old He wasaddressing arallyat mentation of ILP would beunfair. Classic Grande in Imphal. Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh gov- According to officials, routine Imphal’s Hapta Kangjeibung During his visit, he also laid AUnited Naga Council repre- foundinAlwar ernment will take action against challans could be issuedtovio- grounds on the lastleg of his the foundation stone forseven sentative said that adelegation BMC norm for UK, other those who mention their caste lators as per the existing rules as three-dayvisit to the northeast. major projectsand launched metShah and submitted a Jaipur:The body of an 11- on vehicles and number plates. thereisnorule that allowseizure “Manipur usedtobeknown statewide e-office at Hapta memorandum with demands returnees: RT-PCR tests year-old boywas found Afteracomplaint, the UP of suchvehicles. forinsurgency,law and order sit- Kangjeibung. He also inaugu- including recognition of the on Sunday, aday afterhe TransportCommissioner has is- Boasting one’s social status uation, bandhs, and blockades. ratedtwo major projects— Naga “National Flag” and went missing in Rajast- suedadirective to all regional of- by putting up the names of their But today, mostofthe militant Thoubal Multipurpose Project, “Constitution” and early “inclu- on 7th day of quarantine han’s Alwar district, po- fices to “takenecessaryaction caste and sub-caste on vehicles organisations have joinedthe constructed at estimated costof sive”and honourable solution lice said. The body of againstsuchvehicles as per the has become common practice in mainstream. Those left, would Rs 1998.99 crore, and Bishnupur- basedonunique history of the will be dischargedfrominstitu- Nirmal Bairwa wasfound already existing rules”. Uttar Pradesh. ENS also do so following effortsofthe Tupul-Thoubal-Kasom Khullen Nagas. EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE tionalquarantineandaskedto ob- with itsnose and ears MUMBAI,DECEMBER27 servehome quarantine forseven amputated,theyadded. days,the guidelines issuedby Acomplaint of abduction Chhattisgarh villagers oppose 2BSF camps set up on ‘sacred land’ THE BRIHANMUMBAI Municipal Commissioner Iqbal wasfiledatMalakheda Municipal Corporation Sunday Singh Chahal said. Ahome quar- police station on Saturday lages, 127kmfromhere, on the member submitted their resig- the bank of Medhki river, where General of Police SundarrajP, revisedCovid-19quarantine antine stampwill be put on the and the body of the miss- PRESSTRUSTOFINDIA strategicallyimportant Partapur- nations on Saturdayvia twolet- people from 35 villages perform however, said the twocamps are guidelines forall passengers hands of the passengers and un- ing boywas found in a RAIPUR,DECEMBER27 Koyalibedaroutetoprovide se- ters to the Pakhanjoresub divi- rituals forour deities everyyear, among the 16 recentlyset up in coming from the UK, South dertaking will be takenthat they field on Sunday, Alwar SP curity to road work underway sional magistrate,” he said. he said. Bastar, and these have rattledthe Africa, Middle Eastand will remain in home quarantine. Tejaswini Gautam said. MORE THAN 50 representatives there, an official said. “Weare notagainstthe BSF “This area is under the Fifth Maoists who areforcing people European countries. If the test result is positive,the She said the post-mor- of panchayatbodies in Hundredsofpeople from camps. We areopposedtothe Schedule of the Constitution and to oppose the presence of secu- Now, all passengers will have passenger will beshiftedtoades- temwill be conducted on Chhattisgarh's Maoist-hit over 100villages have been stag- acquisition of land wherewe permission from the local gram rity forces. He said all local senti- to undergo RT-PCR testsonthe ignated Covid-19hospital like Monday, adding that evi- Kanker district have tendered ing aprotest in Pakhanjorein have been performing rituals for sabha is mandatoryfor under- mentsare givenproper respect seventh dayoftheir institutional SevenHills hospital forUKresi- dence is being collected. their resignation protesting the Kanker since December 23, de- severalyears now. Theyeven taking works. The administra- when suchcampsites arechosen. quarantine at their owncost. dentsand GT hospital fortravel- Prima facie, it seems to be setting up of twoBorder Security manding that the BSF camps be choppedoff atreethat we wor- tion should have consulted us Kanker Collector Chandan Earlier,BMC guidelines suggested ers from other countries. “A total acase of murder owing to Forcecamps at sites whichare shifted, sarpanchLachhuram ship, and this is disrespect to our before selecting the location of Kumar said the issue would bere- that the passengers would have of 14 days of quarantine is to be aproperty dispute, the reportedlyrevered by local resi- Gavde of Siksod told PTI. “Atleast gods and goddesses,” he alleged. the camps,” said Sohan Hichami, solvedsoon and claimedthat to undergo RT-PCR testsbetween ensured,” the guidelines stated. police said. PTI dents. 46 sarpanches, sevenJanpad The camps have been setup aJanpad panchayatmember “prima facie, it seems the villagers the fifthand seventh dayoftheir On December 26, 11 flights The camps have been setup panchayatmembers, one deputy at Karkaghat (near Katgaon) and from the area. have been staging protestunder quarantine at their owncost. from Europe and the Middle East TELANGANA near Katgaon and Kamtedavil- sarpanchand one zila panchayat Tumirghat (near Kamteda) on BastarRangeInspector pressurefromviolent forces”. If the reportisnegative,they had arrivedinMumbai. Ex-minister namedwomen panelchief ‘Truly passionate about dance, things weren’t surface level with him’ dance conventions and concerts still farawayfromthe soul and forabit and come back. We An interviewKothari did, about dance. Things weren’t sur- Hyderabad:TheTelangana SUANSHUKHURANA as well as aarangetrams of young nuances of the artforms. So he couldn’t stop laughing about it whichisstill remembered,is face levelwith him. He would al- government on Sunday NEWDELHI,DECEMBER27 dancers and small intimate decidedtolearn them. He later,” says Narayan, who adds that of Russian balletstarand the ways take notes,” says appointed former minis- home concerts with as muchen- trainedinBharatanatyam under that his writing had enough then artistic director of the pres- Subrahmanyam. terVSunitaLakshma ANYONE WHO'S had anything thusiasm in an attempt to un- legendarygurus TKuppaiah gravitas and knowledge which tigious Paris OperaBalletinParis While he wrotereports and Reddy as chairperson to to do with anyform of Indian derstand and document Indian Pillai and his son wasnot justtheoretical. “He -- Rudolf Nureyev. It waspub- columns in various newspapers the statewomen’s com- dance knows Sunil Kothari. From dance, passedawayonSunday Kalyanasundaram Pillai, fol- made the effort to learn even the lishedinIndia Todayin1985. In and magazines, Kothari later mission. Six others have ayoung student learning the due to acardiac arrest.Hewas 87. lowedbytraining in Kathak un- rudimentaries of Kathak, fact Kothari even dancedfor held the UdayShankar Chair in been appointed as mem- ropes of Bharatanatyam in He had tested positive for der Jaipur gharana legend Pt Bharatanatyam, Manipuri, Nureyev, showing him the RabindraBharati University,and bers of the Commission, Tanjoretoadancing diva from Covid lastmonth and had recov- Badri Prasad. Odissi… so that whatever he movesfromIndian classical taught in the Dance Department according to aGovern- Delhi or Chennai or the musi- ered from it lastweek.Kothari It wasinthe early 60s that wroteorspokeabout, he could dance (in picture). of NewYorkUniversity as a ment Order. cians, writers, make-up artistes wasadmitted to Fortis Hospital Kathak exponent Shovana do that with conviction.” Chennai-based Fulbright Professor.Hewas a The commission has been and lighting technicians, who in the Capital lastevening. Narayan, who wasthen learning “He wasthereateachand Bharatanatyam exponent Padma member of the International headless since Tripurana have come and gone over the Born in Mumbai, Kothari from Lucknowgharana Kathak everyperformance. He also had Subrahmanyamrecountsher first Dance Council of Unesco and a VenkataRatnamdemitted years, everyone has been well- qualifiedasaChartered exponent Pt Birju Maharaj,met his favourites and in the latter meeting with Kothari in Mumbai. recipient of the Emeritus officeabouttwoyearsago. acquainted with Kothari and his Accountant before turning his SUNIL Kothari, who wasvisiting partofhis lifehewas frank Kothari wasthen staying with Fellowship of the Department of Reddy,whoservedasmin- pocket camerathat would pop focus to study Indian dance. He KOTHARI Maharaj.Kothari wanted to pho- enough to admit that he had his Zhaveri sisters -- the famed Culture, Government of India. He isterduring the Congress out everynow and then, his gre- did his Phd from MS University, 1933-2020 tograph Maharaj and Narayan. failings by picking some over the Manipuri dancers and wasintro- wasawarded the SangeetNatak regime in undividedAnd- garious personality and im- Vadodarawith research in “He wanted to photograph a other,” adds Narayan, who says ducedtoher by the eldestofthe Akademi Awardin1995 and the hraPradesh,joinedtherul- mense passion forthe cause of Kuravanji and Kuchipudi and young Birju Maharaj and then the documentation that he did four -- Naina Zhaveri. “It was1963 Padma Shri in 2001.Hewas also ing TRS lastyear. PTI dance. wasawarded aDLit by Rabindra of NorthGujarat. By all the re- me. Both of us had the problem through his writing and over 20 and thereweren’t writers like an elected fellowofSangeet Dance historian, author,and Bharati forhis research in dance search,hemanaged to under- of colic pain. So Iwould pose and booksondance will be ex- him who knewthe artform well. NatakAkademi forhis contribu- critic, who would be spotted at sculptures of medievaltemples stand dance but felt that he was then both of us would go away tremelyuseful forgenerations. Ifound him to betrulypassionate tion to Indian dance. Ahmedabad WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THEINDIANEXPRESS,MONDAY,DECEMBER28,2020 @ieExplained #ExpressExplained 10 If thereare questions of current or contemporaryrelevancethat youwould like E EXPLAINED explained, please [email protected]

CORONAVIRUS DASHBOARD EXPLAINED THE CORONAVIRUS INDIA ACTIVE CASES 278,690 Beware the UK mutant 350,000 313,831 Fast-spreadingUK-type variantsofSARS-CoV-2 could also develop independentlyinIndia. Ignorance cannotbebliss. One basic element of disease surveillance is adequatecoverageand density to 278,690 300,000 catcheventsbeforetheyspread widely.Muchmoregenome sequencingiscritical.

Indiacarries this mutation. These viruses aremainlyfrom LAST 10 DAYS EXPERT Maharashtra, with some from West Bengal Dec 16 Dec 26 as well. It would take just onemoremuta- 250,000 EXPLAINS tion forustoget wherethe UK is today. And thatshould alsoworry us in India. Note:The Dec 26 figureinthisgraph is based on thegovernment updateonDec 27 Dr Shahid Jameel Quickreaction is key To catchthe emergence of newviral vari- INDIA TOTAL CASES WORLD TOTAL CASES FromTheIndian Express panel antsbeforetheyspread widelyinthe popu- 10,187,850 80,467,041 of specialists, exclusive insight lation, the WorldHealthOrganization (WHO) recommends determining the virus Source:MinistryofHealth&Family Source:JohnsHopkinsUniversity, genomic sequencefromatleastone out of Welfare,updatedat11pmonDec27 updatedat11pmonDec27 every300 confirmedcases (or 0.33%). The THE YEAR 2020 will be remembered forthe UK has sequenced 135,572 or 6.2%viral vari- emergence of anew virus —the SARS coro- antsfromits 2.19 million cases, while South navirus 2(SARS-CoV-2) and the Covid-19 Africa and the US have reported genome se- pandemic it caused.With afew moredays quences from 0.3% of confirmedcases. How to measure aerosols to go,2020isprojected to closeout with However, India has so farsequencedonly about 84 millionconfirmedCovid-19cases 4,976or0.05%virusesfromits over 10 mil- and over 1.8million deaths. lion cases. At this rate,wewill remain oblivi- with aparticle counter, Despitethis gloom, this has also been a ous to the emergence of newvariants tillitis year of hope, with the development, testing already toolate. One basic elementofdisease and approval of vaccines at remarkable surveillance is adequatecoverageand den- after accounting for dust speed. Forthe firsttime ever,apandemic of sity to catch eventsbeforetheyspread widely. human disease would be controlledbyvac- THE NOVEL coronavirus spreads pri- cron is amillionth partofametre) —a cines in real time. Conducive Indian conditions marilyvia aerosols, or tinydroplets lotofthe dustissofine that aerosols in NobelLaureateJoshua Lederberg, one of Another reason to worryisthat the condi- generated by acough or asneeze that that rangecannotreally be measured. modern biology’s mostinfluential thinkers, tions hypothesisedtogiverise to theUKvari- maybecarrying the virus. The con- Morethan 98%ofthe dust,infact, is once said,“The single biggestthreat to ant arepresent in India as well. centration of aerosols in public spaces, containedinthe firsttwo channels man’s continueddominanceonthe planet Immunodeficientorimmunosuppressedpa- therefore, can give ameasureofinfec- (smallestparticles) of size 0.3 and 0.5 is the virus.”Two recentdevelopmentsre- tients, whobecome chronically infectedwith tion risk,but making that measure- microns. The study did notconsider mind us whyvirusescan be suchformida- SARS-CoV-2, remain positive forviral RNAfor ment usuallyrequires specialists and particlesinthese channelsfor the ble adversaries. Passengers from the UK fill in formsatChhtrapati ShivajiInternational Airportin 2-4 months instead of the usual 2-3 weeks. specialisedequipment. aerosol assessment. “But there’s area- With the discovery of 58 peopletesting Mumbai lastweek.India has stoppedall flightsfromthe UK, but theconditions These patientsare oftentreated withconva- Now, scientists have demonstrated sonable sizedrangewhereyou cande- positive forthe newcoronavirus in believedtohavegiven rise to the virusvariantthereare present in Indiatoo. AP lescentplasma (sometimes more than once) asimpler alternative:use acommer- tect the aerosols,” Bonn said. Antarctica, the pandemic has reachedevery and usuallyalso with the drug remdesivir. ciallyavailable particle counter.The Forvalidation,the researchers continent. And amutant virus has emerged Virus genome sequencing from such pa- study is publishedinPhysicsofFluids, compared their measurementswith in the United Kingdom, whichthreatens to strains, viruses of this lineagehaveaccumu- While these variantsappear nottobe tientshas revealedunusuallylarge numbers ajournal from the American Institute those from specialised laboratory shut down the worldyet again —aworld just lated 23 mutations across 5genes.Ofthese, morelethal, withmoreinfected people there of nucleotide changes. Intra-patient virus ge- of Physics. techniques. Aerosol con- beginning to recoverfromlockdowns and thereare 17 non-synonymous and six syn- would be higher numbers (notpercentages) netic diversity is also known to increase fol- Many particle coun- centration is oftenmeas- movement restrictions. onymous mutations;the former also change of severe infections and deaths. This should lowing plasma therapy. Poor nutritional sta- ters areavailable in the ured usingatechnique an amino acidatthatsiteinthe protein. be cause forworry. tus is aknown cause forweak immune market. Whilethis study calledlaser diffraction, in The mutation of viruses Importantly, of the 17 non-synonymous mu- systems and physicians in India have reported usedadevice marketed whichalaser beam pass- The genetic material or genome of SARS- tations, eight areinthe spikeprotein —the …And reason notto chronic infectioninasubsetofpatients. as Fluke985,the re- ing through asample CoV-2 is aribonucleic acid (RNA) made up of protein that allows thevirus to attachtoand Even though thereare multiple muta- searchers said similar re- lightsupdifferent-sized over30,000units(callednucleotides).Among enter cells. tions in the spikeprotein,mostexperts be- Severalunknowns remain sultswereobtainedwith PAPER particlesdifferently. the families of RNAviruses, the coronaviruses The N501Y mutation in one of the key lieve that vaccines currentlyindevelopment Plasma therapyand remdesivir have also other particle counters. Resultsfromthis highly have thelargest genome. MostotherRNA contact residues in the receptorbinding do- would also work on the variant viruses. been usedwidelytotreat Covid-19patients The reading youget CLIP specialised technique viruses have on averageabout 10,000 nu- main (RBD) of the spike VineetMenachery, an as- in India. Further,plasma has been adminis- from suchhandheld par- and the method usedin cleotides.When genomes replicate—any ge- protein increasesits affin- sistant professor of mi- tered in India without firsttestingfor the lev- ticle counters, however, NEWRESEARCH the study,the re- nomes, whetherDNAorRNA,fromthesmall- ity forthe ACE2 receptor. crobiology and immunol- elsofneutralising antibodies. All these create will includebackground searchers found, estviruses to humans —there arerandom The P681Hmutation in THEEXPERT ogy at the University of opportunities forUK-type variantstoemerge dustbesidesthe aerosols. matchedupperfectly. errors(ormutations).Whilehigherorganisms the cleavage site between TexasMedical Branchin in India as well. But we have notsequenced Dr SHAHID JAMEEL is one Howcan youdistinguish these dust Bonn notedthat the resultsare not have themachinerytocorrect these errors, the S1 and S2 domains of Galveston, US, has pro- enough to knowifthat has happened. of India’s best-known particles from aerosols that arise from unique to the device theyused, and virusesand especially theRNA ones, don’t. the spikeprotein pro- videdthe firstevidence Even at lowcoverage, the sequences from virologists.Currentlythe peoplebreathing, speaking, sneezing, can be extendedtoother particle Mostmutations aredeleterious, and motesentryintosuscep- forthis. Indiaare skewed forurban locations, espe- Director of theTrivedi and coughing? The researchers over- counters as well. “I bought acheap one those viruses arenever seen.Onlythe mu- tible cells, andincreases His laboratorycom- ciallythe metros wheresequencinglabora- School of Biosciences at came this with asimple subtraction. (50$) that Ikeep on my desk; the air tations that offersome selective advantage transmission in animal pared theefficacy of toriesare located.This needs broadercover- Ashoka University,he “Wecan measurethe amount of quality indexturns redifthereare too result in the evolutionofnew viral variants. models of infection. serum samples from re- agetoincludeall parts of the country. The previouslyworkedfor dustparticleswhen thereare no manyaerosols or small dustparticles. Evolution also requires selection pressure. The N501Y changeis coveredCovid-19 patients Indian Council of Medical Research can fa- Delhi-basedInternational aerosols and then take the difference In both casesyou want to open awin- Foravirus, this could be itsability to infect also associated with in- to neutralise viruses with cilitatethis process by providing access to Centrefor Genetic with when people do generate dow,”Bonn told TheIndianExpress. better and multiplytohighernumbers or creasedinfectivityand orwithouttheN501Ymu- samples from Covid-19patientstoresearch Engineering and aerosols by speaking or coughing. It’s “Anyone can do it.” evade hostimmunity.The lowprobabilityof virulence in animal mod- tation. Theyfound no dif- laboratories that have the capacityfor ge- Biotechnology,and then justasimple subtracting of the back- The findings suggestthat well- these eventsiscompensatedby the high rates els. Both thesemutations ference. Though only nomic sequencing and dataanalysis. Real- served as ChiefExecutive ground,” Daniel Bonn, one of the au- ventilated areascan have aerosol con- of virus multiplication. Forexample, each were earlier observed in- shared on Twitter on time surveillance will provide datathatis of the Wellcome thors of the study,said by email. Dr centrations morethan 100times coronavirus-infected cellproduces about dependently, but have December 23 and still not both dense and granularfor setting policy Trust/DBT Alliance which Bonn is aphysicistatthe University of lowerthan poorly ventilated areas, 1,000 newvirus particles in under 12 hours. come together in theUK partofapublication,these basedonevidence. funds health research. Amsterdam. suchaspublicelevators or restrooms. variant viruses. The result resultsare encouraging While the device used comes with Ventilation, therefore, plays alarge The mutant in the UK is avirus that spreads and reassuring. Going forwardwith ‘SMS’ six different size channels —0.3,0.5, role in indoor spaces. Adistinct phylogenetic clusterorlineage faster than before. Flightsoff,not mutation When vaccines aredeployedmore 1.0, 2.0, 5.0, and 10.0 microns (1mi- KABIRFIRAQUE (namedB.1.1.7) of SARS-CoV-2 wasrecently widely, therewould be further selection discoveredinthe UK. The twoearliestviruses The cause forworry… India has stoppedall flightsfromthe UK pressuresonthe virus to change. Vaccine-es- of thislineagewerecollectedonSeptember20 Thereiswidespread concern that these and increasedsurveillance at airports to stop cape mutantsare well known forother and 21 from Kentand Greater Londonrespec- mutations mayprevent currentlyusedtests the importofthe highlytransmissible vari- viruses and will emerge forSARS-CoV2 as tively.ByDecember 15,this lineage contained from detecting the virus, makeitmorelethal, ants. While seemingly areasonable strategy, well. Only proper genetic surveillancewill 1,623 viruses —555 from Kent, 519from or allowittoevade vaccines under develop- suchvariantscould easilydevelop within the catchany vaccine failurewell in time. GreaterLondon,545inotherregionsof theUK ment. Thereisnoevidence so farfor anyof countrytoo. Afterall, India has over 10 mil- As we step into2021, themessagetopol- including Scotland and Wales, and four from these.After all,these variantswerefound in lion confirmedinfections and it is estimated icymakersand thepublic is clear.Those Australia, Denmark, Italy, and Netherlands. people who were identifiedtobepositive that 150to200 million people arealready who oversee public healthmustcontinu- In another tendays —onDecember 25 — withcurrentlyavailable RT-PCR tests. infected. ouslyseekfresh evidence to make policies the numbers of thesevariant viruses has However, even though thereisnoevi- Afastspreader variant called501.V2 at the populationlevel.Atthe individual morethan doubled to 3,575; mostlyfromthe dence formoreseveredisease, thereisclear emergedindependentlyinSouth Africa and level, eachone of us mustworktowards re- UK, but nowalso from France, Ireland, Israel, evidence that this variant is moreconta- shares the N501Y mutation with the UK vari- ducing virus transmission —lesstransmis- Hong Kong and Singapore. gious. Thoseinfected produce morevirus in ants. Though the spikeN501Y varianthas not sionmeans less opportunity forthe virus to their nose and throat, and that leads to more yetbeen found in India, viruses withthe change. And SMS is the onlytool available to What the mutation does virus shedding and moreperson-to-person P681Hmutationstarted emerginginJulyand us at this time —social distancing, masks Comparedtothe original SARS-CoV-2 transmission. presently14% of SARS-CoV-2 circulating in and sanitisation. Governor’sroleincallinganAssemblysession:whatthelaw,courtssay

once everysix months. or in his owndiscretion,” the verdict said. Governor.Itisonlywheresuchadvice, if APURVAVISHWANATH Althoughitisthe Governor’s prerogative Kerala The courtread the powertosummon acted upon,would lead to an infringement NEWDELHI,DECEMBER27 to summon the House,according to Article Governor Arif the House as a“function” of the Governor of aconstitutional provision, or wherethe 163, the Governor is required to act on the Mohammed and nota“power” he enjoys. Council of Ministers has ceasedtoenjoy the IN YET another tug-of-war between Kerala “aid and advice” of the Cabinet. So when the Khan (left) has “If the functions of the Governorwere confidence of the Assembly, that the ques- Governor Arif Mohammad Khan and Chief Governor summons the House under Article tuneddowna to be read as his power, and an untram- tion arises whether the Governor mayact Minister PinrayiVijayan,the Governor has 174, this is notofhis or her ownwillbut on requestfrom melledone at that (in viewofArticle 163of in the exercise of his discretion”. turneddownarequesttosummon aspecial the aid and advice of the Cabinet. Pinarayi the Constitution, as contended), then the sitting of the Assemblytodebate the new Vijayan’s Governor has the powertoliterally sum- What happens if the Kerala government three centralfarmlaws. Thestate govern- Can the Governor refuse the aid and government to mon the Assemblytomeet‘at suchtime insists on holding the special session? ment’s Cabinethad written to theGovernor advice of the Cabinet? call aspecial and place as he thinksfit’ thatisinany city Since the Governor’s powers arelimited lastweek and, afterthe denial, is mulling ap- Thereare afew instances wherethe Assembly andatany place other than the Legislative with regard to summoningthe House, there proaching him again with the same request. Governor cansummon the House despite session. Assemblybuilding and at anyodd time.This can be no legal groundtodenyarequest for The episoderaisesquestionsonthe role of a the refusal of the Chief Ministerwho heads Express Archive is nothing but arbitraryand surely, an arbi- summoning the session. Governor Arif Governor and the contours of the powers he the Cabinet. When the Chief Ministerap- traryexercise of powerisnot what our Mohammad has in the pastcriticisedthe or she has under the Constitution. pearstohavelostthe majorityand the leg- Constitution makers either contemplated Kerala Assembly’s resolution againstthe islative members of the House propose a Courthas settledthe position that the period when the Chief Ministerand his in the hands of the Governor or imagined Centre’s CitizenshipAmendment Actof Who cansummon asession of the no-confidence motion againstthe Chief Governor cannotrefuse the requestofa council of ministers enjoythe confidence itswielding by anyconstitutional author- 2019.Inthe political slugfest, the Governor’s Assembly? Minister, then theGovernorcan decide on Cabinetthatenjoys majorityintheHouseun- of the majority of the House, the power ity,” the courtsaid. refusal can also be challengedincourt. “The Governor shall from time to time his or her ownonsummoning the House. less it is patentlyunconstitutional. The latest vested with the Governor under Article 174 Even the Sarkaria Commission of 1983, The politicalnatureofthe office of the summon the House or eachHouse of the But the actions of the Governor,when in the line of rulings is the landmark2016 to summon, prorogue and dissolve the whichreviewedthe arrangementsbetween Governor,especially in Opposition-ruled Legislatureofthe Statetomeetatsuchtime using his discretionary powers can be chal- Constitution Benchruling in whichthe house(s) mustbeexercisedinconsonance the Centreand the states, had said that“so states, has been underlinedinseveral in- and place as he thinksfit…” says Article 174 lenged in court. SupremeCourtlookedintotheconstitutional with the aid and advice of the chief minis- long as the Council of Ministers enjoys the stances by courts.The constitutional checks of the Constitution. The provision also puts crisisinArunachalPradeshaftertheGovernor terand his council of ministers. In the above confidence of the Assembly, itsadvice in and balances and landmarkcourtrulings on the Governor the responsibility of en- Howhavethe courtsruled? had imposedPresident’s Rule in the state. situation, he is precluded[from taking] an these matters, unless patentlyunconstitu- account forthis and limitthe discretionary suring thatthe House is summonedatleast Anumber of rulings by the Supreme “In ordinarycircumstances during the individual call on the issue at his ownwill, tionalmustbedeemedasbindingonthe powers of the Governor.

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11 THEINDIANEXPRESS,MONDAY,DECEMBER28,2020 IDEA EXCHANGE Newsmakersinthe Newsroom SUNIL ARORA, CHIEF ELECTION COMMISSIONER OF INDIA ‘ Will have special observers for Bengal... for law and order,‘ expenses. If needed, we can act swiftly, ruthlessly The CEC talksabout Bihar elections serving as templatefor coming polls, wishes lawwould be brought againstdefections, calls for“sound legislative framework”for handling social media influence on elections, and reiterates supportfor simultaneous polls. The sessionwas moderated by Senior Assistant Editor Ritika Chopra

RITIKA CHOPRA: What gave the betweenquasi-judicial proceedingsand formsbroke some clause… The organisa- ElectionCommission the confidence other proceedings. tions all got togetherand voluntarilysub- to holdthe Bihar pollsinthe middle mitted acode of ethics whichtheywould of apandemic? SHUBHAJIT ROY: We have reported observeduring the elections, and they

Successive commissions have been that the EC held ameeting with the have been observing it. We areconcerned, holding elections under very difficult cir- MinistryofExternal Affairs to permit but we areveryclear that we would prob- cumstances, at different pointsintime. NRIs to casttheirvotes from overseas ablywantasystem, likeinGermany or the Thepandemic wasunprecedented.AsI through postal UK…Theyhavea said in the press conference while an- ballots.What are very sound legisla- nouncing the elections, forusitwas aleap some of the We do not have anylegal ‘ tive frameworkto of faith and notaleap in the dark. We had WHY challenges of doing deal with the sub- done alot of homework. Our team held a it? Also, fornow, authority(to assist in ject. We would also series of virtual meetings with various SUNIL ARORA Gulf countries are notbeaverse to hav- stakeholders and delegationsofpolitical notpartofthe vaccine drive). But given ing asound legisla- parties... Yes, manypeople were sceptical, ince taking charge,Sunil proposedpilot... our experience,ifsomeone tive frameworkin but that happens everytime. When the Arorahas supervised ... Wheneverwe India because the firstgeneral election in India took place, S go abroad, the only reaches out foranational complications in (the firstChief Election Commissioner of the2019 general question that the ECI ‘ India arefar too cause,wewill take acall India) Sukumar Sen wroteinhis book,the elections and the Bihar polls, faces is that when I many. peoplewerenot justsceptical, theywere live in Seattle, why alsocynical. Manysaid publiclythatthis is the country’sfirst election in a should Itravelto KRISHN KAUSHIK: the lastgeneral election in India... The idea Jalandhar or In 2018,exceptfor wasnot to delaythe (Bihar) elections. We pandemic. TheRajasthan- Hoshiarpur or Andhratocastmyvote. the BJP,all major parties had asked for did our homework andtook the plunge... cadre officer also served as Even when Iwent to Washington,when alimit on party expenditureduring The firststepwetookwas to reduce the present foreign secretarywas the am- elections.How big of aconcernisthe the number of voters per polling booth — secretarytoGoI in two bassador there, this wasthe onlyquestion influence of big moneyonelections? from 1,500to1,000perbooth. Thatalone ministries before joining EC discussed. So, afteragreat deal of delib- Also, what areyour views on electoral meant an enhancement of 33,000booths, eration within the Commission and with bonds? whichinturn meant that so manymore my colleagues, we thought we will move We have already givenour views on people had to be deployedfor securityand aproposal to the Ministrythat this can be electoral bondsinthe SupremeCourt and other jobs. Imustcongratulatepublicly we stand by that. The Commission as a our officers in Bihar,the Chief Electoral body has told the Supreme Courtthat it Officer there... In some cases, the officers (electoral bonds)... should be less opaque and district magistrates themselvesgot and moretransparent. Covid-19, and afterrecovery they were On the issue of expenditure, we had backonelection duty... Imustalso con- some specific requirementsfor the pan- gratulatethe voters of Bihar,especiallythe demic. So, we enhancedthe limitsbe- women, who turneduptovoteinadisci- cause of the pandemic. We have ap- plinedmanner... pointed acommittee under Harish Kumar Forthe election, we had to procure11 (former IRS officer and DG-Investigation) lakh, 500mlbottlesofsanitisers...This to look intovarious aspects of electoral wasdone by the government of Bihar and funding. That committee has already met the CEO. About sevencrore gloves were twice. The Commission also had one in- procured and arrangementsfor their safe teraction with the committee and we had disposal had to be done. Apartfromthese, giventhem aterm of reference... I'm sure face shields, masksetc were procured. when their reportcomes, we will ensure that the recommendationsare imple- RITIKA CHOPRA: Arethereany lessons mented. from Bihar that youwould liketo implementinpolls in other states? HARIKISHANSHARMA: Do youthink We will be holdingelectionsinWest it is possible to hold simultaneous Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry,Assam, elections in post-Covid times? Kerala...Everymajor exercisehas someles- The Article 83 (2) of the Constitution sons. Giventhe scale of preparations that provides that the House of the people un- the Commissionhas beendoing inthe past, less sooner dissolvedshall continue for we will beable to holdthese elections suc- five years from the dateappointedfor the cessfully. We arealsogetting some Bihar firstmeeting. And, no longer an expres- officers to holdvirtual meetings with their sion of aset period of five years shall op- counterparts (in election-bound states), so erateasadissolution of the House. Similar that therecan bean exchangeofideas. We provisions aretherefor stateAssemblies. have alreadyinformallyreachedout to the This kind of disjointedness between the health department of Bihar and the state’s lifeofthe people’s House and state CEOto have informaldiscussionswiththeir Assemblies startedhappening sometime counterparts in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu in early 1970sdue to various reasons. And to see howthe learning of day-to-dayop- nowithas become anorm. Forexample, erations in Bihar can be utilisedinthese we have justfinished Biharelections. And states. LokSabha electionsinnormal course will In West Bengal, we will have to have happen in 2024. So, the system has to 28,000morepolling booths. The major les- Illustration: Suvajit Dey align the lifeofLok Sabha with the lifeof son would be to ensurethat these polling stateAssemblies. Forthat, across the booths arelocatedas nearas possible to the tion has notbeen challenged?Inthe run-up notfair.Eventually, the courtdid notaccept about 8-10people. When this controversy donethrough amendmentofrules;we boardamendmentswouldberequired in main polling station, so thatuse of re- to the Lok Sabha elections, we metrepre- the petition, and the person waschanged. wasgoing on, an ex-UPSC chairman met neednot bring aBill forit. the provisions of Articles 83,85, 172and sources is optimised, and the deployment sentativesof political parties 123times. We We have also startedappointing spe- me in some other context, and said that it Nowcoming to the report(on Gulf 56 of the Constitution. Nowthat is the job of security and staffcan be better. metthe delegations from theBJP20 times, cial observers, over and above thenormal is very strangebecause hundreds of cases countries notbeing partofproposedpi- of the legislature. What the Prime Congress delegations 28 times... Requests observers, especiallyonthe lawand order come to the UPSC fordisciplinarypro- lotfor now), Idon’t knowfromwhereyou Ministersaid (about simultaneous polls) RITIKA CHOPRA: During the Bihar from political parties aremostimportant. and expenditureside. In Bihar,weput two ceedings againstgovernment officials, got theinformation... My limited pointis is averydesirable goal… The Law elections, some political parties also Therehavebeenchallenges, there hasbeen special observers forexpenditure... This seekingtheir view. Now, one or twomem- that nowthat we have sent the proposal, Commission has alsosupportedit. Big raisedquestions over the delay in the criticism, and therewill be criticism in the time also we will bewell-prepared,sothat bers sayno, the punishment imposedby we will have to wait and watchand find amendmentscan take place onlyonthe counting process. Did youanticipate coming elections also, and we respond to it whenrequiredwe comedown on these el- Xministry shouldbeenhanced,some say out, and, if needbe, participateinany dis- floor of Parliament. thatatall? The EC also held several as best as possible.Ican assurethatthe ementsswiftlyand ruthlessly. it should be dropped, and the rest sayit cussion whichtakes place... But yes, now briefings… Commission shall keep trying to ensure should be kept as it is.The normal proce- that our IT systems have improved so RITIKA CHOPRA: Giventhe EC’s When we go forelections, we arepre- free, fair,robust, ethical, and now, safeelec- LEENAMISRA: Beforethe RajyaSabha durethen, to thebestofmyknowledge, much, thankstoour dedicatedteams of experience in conductinglarge-scale paredforthe worsttoo... Briefing the press tions. Still, if someone goes to court,wewill elections in 2017 and 2019,wesaw a is thatthereisameeting convenedbythe officers, forusinthe Commission it would exercises, has the government morethan once (oncounting dayfor Bihar respond to it. Our recordofconvincing the lotofMLAsquitting their parties, and chairman and aconsensus is built,and be an aspirational role whichwewould reachedout to the Commission for

elections) wasnot areaction to anysitua- Supreme Courtand high courts is good. within six months theygot re-elected when the letter goes out, it onlymentions liketosee fulfilledassoon as possible. anykind of assistance in vaccinating tion.Ithad been thought out before.Our on another party’sticket.Can the EC the decision. It doesn’t mention who said the population againstCovid-19? officers thought that SANTANU putastoptothis? what. (Former elec- LIZ MATHEW:Are It is adevastating pandemicfor theen- the press would be CHOWDHURY: The Supreme Court has laid down very tion commissioner youconsidering tireworld. And India is no exception. So better informedwith West Bengal has a clear norms on defection. But when it Ashok Lavasa had ob- the Bengal the pandemic requires exceptional and ‘ regular briefings. The(Ashok Lavasa)row history of political comes to quitting aparty and re-joining jected to the clean Poll officersare often ‘ Opposition’s extraordinaryresponses… Currently, we Theysynchronised wasanon-starter... I violence during another party,thereisnolegal or consti- chit giventoPrime harassed fortheir honest demand of more do nothaveany legal authority (toassistin their effortswith polls.What is the EC tutional mechanism to stop it. It is more MinisterNarendra deployment of theadministration of the vaccine). To con- CEO,Bihar. Ithinkthe remained silent,itdoesn’t doing to preventit forparties to take acall on suchmatters. Modi and former BJP conductduring elections... Central Police duct elections, we areempoweredunder lastpress conference in the coming Once theyhavetaken acall, the EC will be president Amit Shah Forces (CPF) in the Article 324. But having said that,given the wasaround mid- mean adesire to conceal... elections? happytoassistthem,ifsuchassistance is on chargesofviolat- while biased officerscome statefor the experience and expertise we have,if night. The reaction Idon’t think(objections) So far, one major sought. ing the Model Code back... Govt must ensure elections? The someone reaches out to us foranational from the press was ‘ delegation has come (Barring MLAs from contesting imme- of Conduct during ‘ stategovernment cause, we will take acall. also positive about needed to be shared to us. Theyhad two- diatelyonanother party’s ticket) is only the 2019 Lok Sabha officersare not penalised seems opposed to being kept in the loop three demands. They possible if thereare widespread electoral election campaign). the move... RITIKA CHOPRA: Youhavespent a through the day. The wanted(early deploy- reforms, and if we areable to forgeacon- ...Throughout the It’s achallenging considerable time in the Commission same will nowbe ment of) security sensus with political parties. Again, it is controversy,Ire- election. It’s ahypo- now. Arethereany reforms that you doneinWestBengaltoo. The Biharbrief- forces and the (early enforcement of) notfor us to move suchathing. But yes, as mainedsilent...Itdoesn’t mean weakness thetical assumption that the government thinkare required in theEC? ingson countingdayhavevirtuallybecome Model Code of Conduct, (because theybe- acitizenIthink this (defection)should be or adesire to conceal something... In such will oppose it (deployment of forces). ... Manytimes, we have seen that our atemplatefor other states. lieved)the local forces arecompromised, avoidedand parties musttakethe lead. less time, in aday or two, aviewhas to be Therehavebeenaseries of meetingswith officers, especiallythe Chief Electoral and that the local staffisalso compromised. taken, it is an administrative thing, it is not the MHAabout howmuchforce is re- Officers, become vulnerable because of RITIKA CHOPRA: The RJD had Now, these areour instruments, we can’t PVAIDYANATHAN IYER:Anissue aquasi-judicial matter.Idon’t think it quired.This is always the casefor every their honestand independent conduct questioned the results. Theysaid alot doubt all the instruments. Therecan be an whichcame up duringyour tenure should have been put on the websiteand election. We will cross the bridgewhen during an election. Immediatelyafter of postalballotswererejected andthat odd blacksheep hereorthere in many wasthe objections within the Idon’t think it needs to be shared. we cometoit. We have notheardfromthe elections,suchofficers arevictimisedor theywill challengethe resultsinafew states, in some morethan others. We Commission to certain decisions stategovernment yet. harassed. Therehavebeeninstances in seatsincourt. Do yousee this as a would notliketochange anyofficer forthe takenbythe EC. The Commission PVAIDYANATHAN IYER: But recording whichthe Commission has authorisedme challengegoingforward? sake of it. However, during the Lok Sabha decided to notmakethese public. But, of dissent, likeinthis case of Mr KRISHN KAUSHIK: Howmuchofa to take up the matter with the chief min- Whetheritis theRJDoranyotherparty, elections, we changed one chief secretary, when thereisnoconsensus, in the Lavasa, doesitnot strengthen the EC concern forthe EC is the influenceof isterconcerned. At thesametime, many theyhaveall theright to criticise the one additionalDG, five police commission- largerinterestoftransparency, eventually? socialmedia on elections? officers who we had to change(during an Commission, themodalities,thelocal offi- ers, and DG (Intelligence) of one state. In doesn’t it makesense forthe EC to put My colleague has already joinedthe In the run-up to the Lok Sabhaelec- election) because of their biasedorpar- cials. Butour CEO triedhis levelbestand the case of DG (Intelligence), the matter out in public domain what each ADB (Asian Development Bank). Iwould tion, the Commissionasked officers to tial conduct getrewardedwhenthe same succeeded in explaining... Thereisavery waschallengedin the high court. It wassaid member says on issues? notliketocommentonindividual issues. deal with social media issues. So, they party returns to power... We would liketo well laid out procedureinthe Constitution that since the DG (Intelligence) is notDGP, This controversy wasanon-starter... I He wanted to saywhat he wanted to say, spoketoall the platforms and their apex go to the government and saythat at least whichstatesthatyou can challengeany and doesn’t supervise the elections on a would liketogiveyou one example, be- he said it. Igaveonlyone statement on the organisationassociations. Therewerea forone year afterastate or Central elec- election inhighcourt... and if and whenany day-to-daybasis, the Commission has no cause Idon’twant to getintoindividual record. Isaid that yes, commissioners are series of talks. Then, the Commission also tion is over,no(election) officer should be election is challenged,wetry and respond right to makethe change. We were able to issues. The UPSC (Union Public Service notexpected to be clonesortemplates of held one or twomeetings. We told them penalisedunder different alibis, onlybe- and present our ownside to the courts. convince the courtthat we have inputsto Commission)isamulti-member com- eachother and theyare not. But having very clearlythat we would take averyad- cause he or she wasveryobjective and im- All Ican sayisthat, lately,whichelec- show thatthe conductofthe person was mission. We have three people,theyhave said that, we have to makeadistinction verseview, especiallyifany of theplat- plemented thelaw of the land faithfully.

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THEINDIANEXPRESS,MONDAY,DECEMBER28,2020 12 THE WORLD

TOPOFTHE WORLD SHOT IN THE ARM FOR EUROPE Chinesedelegation Rarerespite,with manystruggling with their worstoutbreakssincethe start of the pandemic arrivesinNepal amidpoliticalcrisis Lawenforcement agencies at the scene

ED Beijing’s of the shooting. AP YUBARAJGHIMIRE rolein KATHMANDU,DECEMBER27 Kathmandu’s UNITED STATES PLAIN E ● AHIGH-LEVEL Chinese delega- EX affairs Shootingat tion ledbyavice ministerofthe ChineseCommunistPartyarrived CHINA'S POLITICAL pro- bowlingalley in Kathmandu on Sundayto“take file in Nepal has been on leaves3dead stock” of Nepal's political situa- the rise in the recent tion afterthe dissolution of years with billions of dol- Rockford: Agunman Parliament and subsequent split Vice MinisterofInternational lars of investmentsunder openedfireinsidean in the ruling Nepal Communist DepartmentGuo Yezhou is Beijing's multi-billion- Illinois bowling alley, AUSTRIA: Ahealth careworkerreactsafter Party, accordingto amediareport. leading thedelegation dollarBelt and Road killing three people and FRANCE: Mauricette, 78, is applaudedafter receiving the firstdose of the receiving the vaccine at the Hospital Favoriten Days afterthe dissolution of Initiative(BRI), including injuring three others in vaccineatthe Rene-Murethospital on the outskirts of Paris. Reuters in Vienna. Reuters Nepal's Parliament and subse- the buildingofthe Trans- whatauthorities believe quent split in the ruling Nepal hand on Nepal -- is believedto HimalayanMulti- wasarandom attack. A CommunistParty (NCP), ahigh- have arrivedwith the mission to Dimensional 37-year-old male suspect levelChinese delegation, ledby unitethe twowarringfactions of Connectivity Network. wasincustody afterthe Guo Yezhou, Vice Ministerofthe the NCP. Speculations arerife Guo Yezhou's visit at- shooting at Don Carter International Department of the thattheywould persuade both taches all the moresig- Lanes Saturdaynight, CommunistParty of China, ar- factions to unite, or makesome nificance as he is be- Rockford police said in a rivedinKathmandu on Sunday. coalition arrangement. lievedtohaveplayeda social media post. Twoof The delegation -- all covered The delegation is settostay key role to bring the NCP- those who were shotwere in PPE -- arrivedbyanAir China in Kathmandu forthree days -- UnifiedMarxistLeninist, teenagers, police Chief flight and headedstraight to the despitecurrent Chinesepolicy of ledbyOli, and the NCP Dan O'Sheasaid duringa Chinese Embassy in avoiding long stays in Nepal due (Maoists)led by news conference. Mayor Bhatbhateni. to the Covid-19situation in the Prachanda together to TomMcNamarareleased Guo wasset to meet Himalayancountry. form the unifiedNCP. astatement saying he was President Bidhya Devi Bhandari Asenior NCPleader partof “angered andsaddened” and Prime MinisterKPOli sepa- the Prachanda-Nepal campsaid about the shooting. AP rately.The Prime Minister's China is nottoo happywith Oli The high-levelvisitcomes in Office said ameeting has been as he refusedtoheedtotheir ear- wake of Chinese Ambassador scheduledfor Monday. Thedel- lier suggestion to quit one post- HouYanqi'sfailure to unify the egation will also meetthe lead- -either that of Prime Ministeror warring factions of the NCP, CHINA ers of the anti-Oli camp, includ- of party chairman -- if that whichhad virtuallyvowed to Atleast7killed FINLAND: Nurse Andrea Nummi receivesthe vaccine at the ITALY: Nurse ElenaBetti afterreceivingthe vaccine at the ing former Prime Ministers would preventasplit. tread the Xi Jinping path in Helsinki UniversityHospital in Helsinki. Reuters Careggi hospital in Florence. Reuters MadhavKumarNepal and Ahigh-placedsourceinthe Nepal. inknifeattackin Pushpa Kamal Dahal Oli campsaid Chinese delegation Meanwhile, police arrested 'Prachanda'. appears to be in contact with aboutadozenprotestors who Kaiyuancity Though both China and some "unofficial interlocutors", waved placards, objecting to Beijing: At leastseven Nepal aretight-lippedabout the asking them to stop the bicker- "encroachment of Nepali terri- people were killedand 450 million people, 27 nations: visit, Guo -- considered an old ing of the twofactions. tory"byChina. another sevenwerein- jured in aknifeattackin northeastern China, state Post-Brexit UK media reportedon Sunday. Theattackinthe EU’s vaccine campaign takes off can do finance city of Kaiyuan in Liaoning province was Despite national lockdowns, In Germany, anursing home talaspartofthe waveofimmu- services in a carriedout outside a THENEWYORKTIMES restrictions on movement, shut- jumpedthe gun on Sunday’s nizations. The rollout comes as sauna and bathhouse. BERLIN,DECEMBER27 tering of restaurantsand cancel- plannedrollout of thevaccina- Europe’s largestnationiscon- different way, The suspect, identifiedby lations of Christmas gatherings, tion campaign across the frontingits deadliestperiod the media by hissurname FROM NURSINGhomes in the virushas stalked Europe into EuropeanUnion,inoculating a since the startofthe pandemic. says Sunak Yang, wasarrestedwhile France to hospitals in Poland, the darkwinter months. The 101-year old woman and dozens Morethan 350,000people in the motive forthe attack older Europeans and the work- spread of amorecontagious of other residentsand staffmem- the 27 nationsthat makeupthe REUTERS remains unknown. ers who carefor them rolledup variant of the virus in Britain has bers on Saturday, hours afterthe European Union have diedfrom LONDON,DECEMBER27 Chinese lawrestricts the their sleevesonSundaytore- raisedsuchalarm the muchthat dosesarrived.People were also Covid-19since the bloc’s firstfa- sale and possession of ceive coronavirus vaccine shots continental Europe rushed to vaccinated on Saturdayin tality wasrecorded in France on BREXIT OFFERS Britain achance firearms, and mass at- in acampaign to inoculatemore close itsborders to travelers Hungaryand Slovakia. February15. Member states to do things differentlyinfinan- tacksare generallycar- than 450 millionpeople across coming from the country. Early Sunday, dozens of mini- made ashowofsolidarity by cialservices, finance minister Rohingyarefugees boardaship as theyare ferriedto riedout with knivesor the European Union. “Today, we startturning the vans carrying coolers filledwith waiting forthe bloc’sregulatory RishiSunak said on Sunday, but Bhashan Char from Chittagong on December 4. Reuters homemade explosives. The inoculations offereda page on adifficult year,” Ursula dryice to keep the doses of the boardtoapprovethe vaccine be- it will co-operatewith the Perpetrators of similar at- rare respiteasthe continent vonder Leyen, the European Pfizer-BioNTechvaccine from fore beginningcoordinatedna- European Union on an approach tacksinthe pasthave struggles with one of itsmost Commissionpresident tweeted. rising above minus 70 degrees tional campaigns. But howthose to the sector despitelittle detail been described as men- precarious momentssince the “The #COVID19vaccine has been Celsius fannedout to nursing will playout in individual coun- on the topic in itstrade deal. Bangla set to move tallyill or bearing grudges pandemic began. deliveredtoall EU countries.” homes across the German capi- tries is likelytobedisparate. From January 1, British-based againstsociety. AP financial services groupslose au- tomatic access to theEU’s single second batch of CAMEROON China lowers market,and both sides have said Buscrashleaves Sindh govt to not release accused newmarketaccessmustbenego- age of criminal tiated outside the trade agree- Rohingya to island 37dead;18more mentinspecificequivalencedeals. in Daniel Pearl murder case liabilityto12 “Now that we’veleftthe Chittagong firstand then to seriouslyinjured European Union, we can do REUTERS Bhasan Char,depending on the Yaounde: Morethan 37 benchwhichishearing the ap- Beijing: Chinahas loweredthe thingsabit differently(in finan- DHAKA,DECEMBER27 hightide,” an official said. The of- people aredead and 18 PRESSTRUSTOFINDIA pealbythe Sindh government ageofcriminal responsibility for cial services),” Sunak said. ficials declinedtobenamedas othersseriouslyinjuredaf- ISLAMABAD,DECEMBER27 and the familyofthe slain jour- some serious crimes from 14 to Britainand the EU clincheda BANGLADESH IS settomovea the issue had notbeen made terabus crash in nalistagainstthe acquittal of 12,asitlookstocombat juvenile trade deal on Thursday, but second batchofRohingya public. Cameroon's western vil- PAKISTAN'S SINDH province Daniel Pearl Sheikh by theSindh High Court crime committed by children. Prime MinisterBoris Johnson refugees from neighbouring MohammedShamsud lageofNemale, officials government has decidednot to in April,onSeptember 28 noted Under an amendedlaw,chil- has admitted it is an accord Myanmartothe remote island of Douza, the deputyBangladesh said. A70-seater bus was release British-born al-Qaeda that till the next dateofhearing, dren aged 12 to 14 will be held whichdoes nothaveasmuchas Bhasan Char in the BayofBengal government official in charge of on itsway to thecapital, leader Ahmed Omar Saeed their detention "null andvoid". the accusedshall notbereleased. criminallyliable for“intentional he would have liked about the fi- this month, officials said on refugees, said the relocation was Yaounde,fromthewestern Sheikh and his three aides, ac- The courtobserved that the four Asenior government official homicideorintentional injury nancial services sector and regu- Sunday, despitecalls by rights voluntary. “Theywill notbesent town of Foumban when it cused of kidnapping and mur- men's detention was“illegal”. said the apexcourtorder has not that leads to death or causes oth- latoryequivalence. groupsnot to carry out further againsttheir will.” crashedintoatruckwhile dering US journalist Daniel Pearl, The court, however, hadclar- been specificallyrecalled. “The ers severe disabilities by ex- The twosides will aim to relocations. Bangladesh says it is transfer- trying to avoidacrowdof in viewofaSupreme Courtor- ifiedthat the accusedshould not SHCinitsDecember24 orderalso tremelycruel means”. The agree amemorandum of under- Around 1,000 Rohingya ring onlypeople who arewilling peopleontheroadaround der,according to amedia report. be releasedifthereisaSupreme clarifiedthat accusedshould not amendment, passedonSaturday standing on regulatorycooper- refugees, members of aMuslim to go and the move will ease 2amSunday,saidAbsalom In asurprise move,atwo- Courtrestraining orderregard- be releasedifthereisaSupreme by theStandingCommitteeof the ation in financial services by minority who have fled chronic overcrowding in camps Monono Woloa, asenior judge benchofthe Sindh High ing their detention. Courtrestraining order regarding NationalPeople's Congress,will March 2021, and Sunak said that Myanmar,will be movedtothe that arehome to more than 1 government official in the CourtonThursdaydirected se- Citing itssources,the Express their detention,” he added. take effect on March 1. suchlanguage shouldprovide island in the next fewdays after million Rohingya. area. Thedeath toll will curity agencies nottokeep Tribune newspaper said the On Friday, theUSexpressed Currently, the ageofcriminal reassurance. “This deal also pro- Bangladeshrelocated more than But refugees and humanitar- likelyrise as rescue work- Sheikhand other accusedunder provincialgovernment will not "deep concern" over the order to liabilityinChina is 16,with those vides reassurance because 1,600early this month, twooffi- ian workers saysome Rohingya ersdigthroughthewreck- “anysortofdetention” and de- release these men in viewofthe release Sheikhand his aides and between14 and16 heldcriminally there’s astable regulatoryco-op- cials with the direct knowledge have been coercedintogoing to age, he said. AP clared all notifications of the Supreme Court's September 28 said it will continuetomonitor responsible forserious crimes erative framework mentioned in of the matter said. the island, whichemergedfrom Sindh government related to order.Athree-judgeapexcourt anydevelopmentsinthe case. suchasrape and robbery. AP the deal,” he said. “Theywill be movedto the sea 20 years ago. In Afghanistan’s village of widows, the opium trade has taken adeadly toll

twochoices, said Mohammad opium cultivation, processing and later hanged in Iran afterhe brush that families buy or collect Forthe widows’villageand DAVIDZUCCHINO& Ali Faqiryar, thedistrictgover- and trafficking that oftenleaves wasconvictedofsmuggling to burn. Some widows,likeMs. othersettlementsinHerat NAJIMRAHIM nor: “Theycan smuggle drugsor Afghanistan’s mostvulnerable to opium,she said.Three years ago, Bibi,light asingle bulb at night Province, the warisnever far MIRALI,AFGHANISTAN, join the Taliban.” bear the direconsequences of she said, twomoresons —Abdul withpower generated during away.The Taliban regularly at- DECEMBER27 Thosewho agree to smuggle the illicittrade. Ghafoor,15, and Abdel Zarif, 14 — the daybytinysolar panels. tack government outposts opium, heroin and metham- Mr.Faqiryarsaid he has tried were shotdead by Iranian border Conditions were so severe this nearby. Everyday,police patrols ON THE barrenhigh plains of phetamines intoIrancan earn and failedtoget government guards as theytried to transport fall that manywomen fledthe vil- clear the highway to Herat city of western Afghanistan, along a $300ormoreper trip, afortune moneyfor programs to help peo- opium from Afghanistan. lagefor the homesofrelativesor roadside bombs planted by mil- roadway south of Herat city,isa forsuchapoor village. But they ple raise livestockand grow Ms. Bibi said Iran neverre- fordisplaced-person campsrun itants at night, Mr.Faqiryarsaid. collection of sturdy earthen huts riskarrest, prosecution and exe- wheat, rice and beans in the arid, turnedher sons’ bodies, acom- by aid organizations. Until re- Recently, he said, asmall bor- known as Qala-e-Biwaha, or “vil- cution in Iran’s Islamic courts — unforgiving landscape. plaint shared by other women in cently, the villagewas home to 80 der outpostwas shut down by lageofwidows.” or being shotand killedby “Weget no help from the the village. “I don’t knowifthey widows and their families, said thegovernment afteritwas at- Mostofthe village’s men Iranian border guards. centralgovernment —theydon’t were buriedinIranortheir bod- MohammadZaman Shakib, the tacked and damaged —not by have disappeared —killedwhile As of 2018,Afghanistanwas careabout thepeople, even if ies were justthrowninthe district council’sdevelopment di- the Taliban, but by drug traffick- trying to smuggle opium across the world’s largest producer of they’restarving,” he said. desert,” she said. rector.Today, thereare just30. ers alignedwith the militantsto the desolatefrontier intoneigh- opium,and poppyisthe coun- The widows surviveonfood As of 2018,Afghanistan wasthe world’s largest producer of These days,the villageis The paucity of men in the vil- clear the wayfor trafficking. boring Iran. The widowshave try’s mostlucrative cash crop. bought with their earnings from opium and poppyisits mostlucrative cash crop. Reuters file whipped by frigidwinds that lagehas notliberated the So the widows endure, most been lefttofend forthemselves The profitsfuel the Taliban’s fi- the wool-processingtrade, and drownout the bleatingofsheep women from the harshconfines of them earningapittance in the and their children, some of nancial networks. on donations from relativesand in rough pens next to thewid- of Afghanistan’s patriarchal cul- wool-processing trade, which whom have also died while Afghanofficialsseem power- international aid groups.Some cial capital, 45 miles north. spokeoutside her dwelling,fash- ows’ huts, whichseemtoriseup ture. The area around Qala-e- leavestheirhands calloused and transporting drugs over the bor- less to stop the lucrativetrade; children attendamadrasa, or “For alongtime, lifewas very ioned from driedpackedearth, from the dun-colored soil to Biwaha is home to severalwhite- discolored.Astheystruggle to der from Herat Province’s manyhavegrown wealthy Islamic school, run by amullah good and my three sons earned as agrandchild clung to her mimic the shapeand textureof beardedmen, who interrupted raise their children, manyfear rugged Adraskan district. through their complicity in facil- at atinymosque in anearbyset- alot of moneycarrying opium,” robes. “Then theywereall killed.” the surrounding hills. Thereisno some of thewidows andtalked their sons will followtheir dead The area is so destitutethat itatingthe trafficking. What re- tlement. The nearestpopulation said NekBibi, awidowwho said Her oldestson, Ghulam Rasul, electricity or running water, and over others as theyspoke about fathers intothe drug trafficking men seeking work herehave sultsisanenduring cycle of center is Herat city, theprovin- shewas about50years old. She 20, wasarrestedseveral yearsago no heat exceptfromthe dry theirhardships. business. NYT

Ahmedabad WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THEINDIANEXPRESS,MONDAY,DECEMBER28,2020 MarketWatch FPISPUMP IN OVER `60K CR IN DEC NewDelhi: Foreign portfolio investors(FPIs)havepumped in anet Rs 60,094crore into domestic markets in December so far,with a 13 ECONOMY net Rs 56,643 crore invested into equities and Rs 3,451 crore into debt instruments between December 1-24. PTI

RECAPITALISATIONOFPUNJAB &SIND BANK INTERVIEW WITH MD &CEO,AXISMUTUAL FUND Zerocouponbonds:Innovativegovt ‘We believeequities remain the best asset class for tooltofundPSBs,keepdeficitincheck long-term wealthcreation’

will be paid on thematurity as ment’s move to injectequity in AXISMUTUALFundmanagingdi- cal consolidation or downward SUNNYVERMA& ‘USING`100TOCREATEIMPACTOF`200’ per the government notification banks, twotop finance industry rector and CEO CHANDRESH growth or inflation shock, rate SANDEEPSINGH ... Thereisnocoupon, it is zero executives, who wishednot to KUMARNIGAM spoke to cutslook unlikely. NEWDELHI,DECEMBER27 ■ Though these zero ■ Onlyspecifiedbankscan coupon, it is issuedatpar and be named, said that this move GEORGE MATHEWonthe stock For2021, we believe investors coupon bonds issuedbythe invest in these bonds, which will be paid at the end of the buystimes but doesn’t solve the markets, foreign inflows and in- willbebest suitedtogoupthedu- THE GOVERNMENT has usedfi- government will earn no arenot tradable, not specifiedperiod,” Krishan said. problem permanently. vestor strategy.Editedexcerpts: ration curvewhichwould serve nancial innovation to recapi- interestfor thesubscriber, transferable and limited Asenior Finance Ministryof- “It is agreat innovation by investor needs of ahigher riskre- talise Punjab &Sind Bank by is- market participantsterm it onlytoaspecificbank,said ficialexplainedthat while ac- the government whereitisus- Whyare stockmarketshitting ward.Weanticipatethe RBI will suing the lender Rs 5,500-crore both a‘financial illusion’ Punjab &Sind Bank MD & counting of these bonds is at par, ing Rs 100tocreateanimpact of newpeaksatatime when the maintain ratesatcurrent levels worthofnon-interestbearing and ‘great innovation’ by CEO SKrishnan, adding that effectively it’s the netpresent Rs 200inthe economy. It is issu- GDP is in contraction mode? Is overthecourseof thenextyearat bonds valuedatpar.The funds the government whereitis the bonds —worth `5,500 value of the instrument which ing azerocoupon bondaggre- the rallyfor real? minimum,postwhichwebelieve raisedthrough issuanceofthese using `100to createan crore—havebeen issued matters. “These areinstruments gating to Rs 5,500crore at par to Stockmarkets areforward agradualrisingrate environment instruments, whichare avaria- impact of `200inthe afterproper due diligence whichare avariation of the re- Punjab &Sind Bank that will ma- looking. Theyworkonanticipa- willensueonthe backofarecov- tion of the recapitalisation bonds economy and areissuedatpar cap bonds but effectively meet tureintranches between 2030 tionof thecurrentandfutureeco- Chandresh Kumar Nigam eryinthe economy. issuedearlier to public sector the same purpose,and these are to 2035. The market valueofthis nomic outlook.The Covidimpact banks, arebeingdeployedto issuedinconformity with the bonds would be around Rs 2,750 ontheeconomywas predictedin What’s your assessment on capitalisethe state-run bank. neededequity capi- able. It is limited only RBI guidelines,” the official said. crore. Punjab &Sind Bank,byin- March andhencethemarketscor- aroundwhyinvestingregularly is the Covid-hit economy? Though these will earn no in- taltothe banks. But to aspecific bank, The Finance Ministrynotified vesting in these bonds from rected.Aswestand today, the re- important. Timing the market Howwillbethe next three or terest for the subscriber,market theyalsocaution this and it is foraspeci- these bonds in the government held-to-maturity category, coverythemehasplayedoutwell rarely worksand hence investing four quarters? participantsterm it both a‘finan- maynot be aperma- fied period ... it is gazetteonDecember 11. won’t have to book mark-to- as marketssaw renewedinterest is acontinuous process which The economywas already cial illusion’and ‘great innova- nent solution forthe held at the held-to- marketloss and will value the fordomestic equities from all when followeddiligently hasre- seeing signs of stagnation and tion’ by the governmentwhere banking sector’s maturity (HTM) cat- Howdotheydifferfromzero bonds at cost, i.e. Rs 5,500crore. marketparticipants, including warded investors over the long companies were reelingfrom it is using Rs 100tocreateanim- problems. egoryofthe bank as coupon bonds issuedby The government will infuse Rs FPIs and portfolioinvestors. term regardless of when theyen- flaggingdemand.TheCovidlock- pact of Rs 200inthe economy. per the RBI guide- private firms? 5,500crore intoequity capital of Earningshave backedinvestorex- teredthe market.SIP flows have downmadethingsworseasfacto- Punjab &SindBank MD and Whatkind of bonds arethese? lines. Since it is held to maturity, Zerocoupon bonds by pri- Punjab &SindBank,” one of the pectations and we believe mar- been atestament to this under- riesand businesses were shut. CEO SKrishnan said these are Unlikethe previous tranches it is accounted at thefacevalue vate companies arenormallyis- financialsector executivessaid. kets arepoisedtoremainpositive standing. Forthe better halfof However, businesseshave opened special types of zerocoupon of recapitalisation bonds which (and) no mark-to-market will be suedatdiscount, but since these By doing so, the capital ade- sansCovid.Whilewe believe vac- threeyearsnow, we have seenun- up in astaggered manner and a bonds issuedbythe government carriedinterestand were sold to there. So these arespecial kind specialbonds arenot tradable quacy of Punjab &Sind Bank cines areonanvil andgovern- wavering SIP flows. strongfestivedemandhasbeena afterproper due diligence and different banks,these“non-in- of bonds issuedbythe govern- these can be issuedatpar. goes up by Rs 5,500crore (in- mentsare chalkingoutlarge scale One mustremember that much-neededrelief especiallyfor these areissuedatpar. terest bearing, non-transferable ment afterproper (due dili- “Thereisadifference be- stead of Rs 2,750 crore). inoculation drives, the risk of a markets have been volatile dur- small and medium businesses. Since these bonds arenot special GOI securities” have a gence),” Krishan said. tweenzerocoupon bonds issued “While this is afinancial illu- second wave in Indiapersists. ingthisphase.Investorswhostick We areveryoptimistic of the re- tradable, the lender has kept maturity of 10-15yearsand is- Though zerocoupon, these by other corporates and these. sion, finallythe government has with their investment commit- covery currentlyplaying out and them in the HTM bucket, notre- suedspecificallytoPunjab & bonds aredifferent from tradi- Youare absolutelyright, nor- realisedthat it is better to do Whyare foreign investors mentshavereapedtherewardsof the next 3or4quarters. With quiring it to book anymark-to- Sind Bank. tional zerocoupon bonds on one mallyzerocoupon bonds areis- what Western countries aredo- pumping money(over staying patient. We believeequi- high-frequency dataimproving, marketgains or losses from “These recapitalisation account —astheyare being iss- suedatadiscount, whichare ingrather than what their acad- Rs 1,60,000crorein2020) into tiesremainthebest assetclassfor we maintain our viewthat the these bonds. bonds arespecial typesofbonds uedatpar,thereisnointerest; in tradable also.Here, thereisno emicians arerecommending us. Indian markets? long-term wealth creation and economywill reachthe pre-pan- Financial marketparticipants issuedbythe Central govern- previous cases, since theywere question of trading and these are One mustremember that finan- Indiahas been astandout should form some partofevery demic levelofoutput by end- said the government seems to ment specificallytoaparticular issuedatdiscount, theytechni- special typesofbonds, whichthe cial illusion buysyou time to put economyinthe global context. investor’s portfolio. 2020.We remainconstructive on have found an innovative wayto institution. Onlythose banks, callywereinterestbearing. government issues specifically your house in order.Itdoesn’t Especiallyinthe emerging mar- thegrowth trend and expect the capitalise banks, whichdoes not whosoeverisspecified, can in- “Now these aremade zero to aspecifiedperson and it’s is- solve the problem permanently ketworld, strong political stabil- MF equity schemes saw recoveryto gainstrengthfromQ2 affect the fiscal deficit while at vest in them, nobody else. It is coupon and besidesthat thereis suedatpar,” Krishan said. but givesyou more time to solve ityandarobust recoverycyclehas outflows of over Rs 12,000 of FY21 onwards.Accommodative the same time provides much nottradable, it is nottransfer- no difference, the said amount While praising the govern- it,” the executive added. beenabeaconforinternationalin- croreinNovember.Why? monetarypolicystanceislikelyto vestors. In the post-Covid world, We mustappreciatethatdo- supportthe recovery andstruc- wherethe worldisawash with mestic retail investors as well as turalreformsto liftmedium-term BRIEFLY central bank liquidity,India has large investors have been dili- growth prospects. 442infraprojectsshowcost `21,21,383.82CR `25,55,957.52CR been getting adisproportionate gentlyinvesting large sums into FY20:Over TOTALORIGINALCOSTOF ANTICIPATEDCOSTOF share. As an opportunity,India equity marketsoverthe lastfew With Covid cases yetto overruns of `4.34 lakh crore IMPLEMENTATIONOFTHE IMPLEMENTATIONOFALL continues to remain an attractive years. The netnegativenumbers subside,when do yousee 4.15croreITRs 1,671PROJECTS PROJECTS destination forglobal growth in- arenot unwarranted giventhe investment and capex vestorssincetheyare increasingly currentmarketconditions.Itisnot going up? filedtillDec26 As manyas442 infrastructureprojects have been hit by comfortablewiththestructureof uncommonfor equity investors Covid has been agreat oppor- costoverruns of over`4.34 lakh crore, according to the Total projects Reasons for time overruns, the economy, policy and regula- to bookprofitsespeciallyafterthe tunity formanycompanies to re- NewDelhi: Over 4.15 crore MoSPI report forNovember 1,671worth `150 crore as reported by implementing toryframework.Thegovernment roaring rallywehaveseeninthe toolandrefocusontheirbusiness. taxpayershave filedincome and above monitored by the agencies: overthelastfiveyearshasactively lastninemonths.Iwouldnotread Lowerfunding costs andarecov- taxreturns (ITR) forassess- Ministry of Statistics and ■ Delaysinland acquisition, workedto makeIndiamorebusi- toomuchintothis fact. SIP flows eringeconomiccycleaugurswell ment year 2020-21(FY20) Number of projects that reported time Programme Implementation forest clearance and supply of nessfriendlyand this is nowpay- continuetoremain robust. forgrowthprospectsofwellman- till December 26, the Inc- 536escalation, of which (MoSPI) equipment ing dividends. Short-term profit booking aged businesses with innovative ome TaxDepartment said. ■ Fund constraints mustnot be construedasanega- and well-articulated business Thisincludesover2.34crore 120 134 162 120 Projects whose ■ Geological surprises Is the market,whichisata tive asthisispartandparcelof in- models. Currently, lowinterest taxpayers filing ITR-1,over delayed by delayed by delayed by delayed by 942neither year of ■ Geo-mining conditions recordhigh, safefor retail vestor psychology. rateshavealso dramaticallyim- 89.89 lakh filing ITR-4,over one to 12 13 to 24 25 to 60 61 months commissioning nor tentative ■ Slow progress in civil works investors? proved profitability and project 49.72lakh ITR-3 and over months months months and above gestation period has been ■ Shortage of labour From agrim March to aeu- What’syour assessment on IRRs(internalrate of return),thus 30.36 lakhfiling ITR-2. reported ■ Inadequate mobilisation by phoricNovember,equitymarkets the debt market?Have benefiting long-term investors contractor have been on arollercoasterride interest ratesbottomedout? and promoters. `4,34,573.70 crore: ■ ROU/ROW (right of —areminder that equities area Domestic bondyields have Extensionto Overall cost overruns, i.e. use/right of way) problems volatile yetrewardingassetclass. followedtheoperative rate down- Whichare the sectors yetto validityofvehicle 20.49% of original cost Retail investors have increasingly wardsasthe RBIand the govern- come out of problems? When 44.15 months: Average time participated in equity markets ment have emphasisedofbring- do youexpectrecovery? documents `11,93,997.81 crore: overrun of all infrastructure through the mutual fund route ing rateslower through policy Highfrequency indicators al- Expenditureincurred on projectsexamined by the and through direct stockinvest- actionandaccommodative mon- ready point to arecovery across NewDelhi:TheUnionTrans- all projects till November Ministry, on account of ingasvariousinvestorawareness etarypolicyinanattempt to spur mostsectors. As India worksto- portMinistryonSunday ex- 2020, 46.71% of delays in execution and programmes by market partici- growth.Whilethemoneymarket wardsbecoming the next manu- tendedthevalidityof motor anticipated cost other constraints pantshavebornefruit over the curveandthe3/5-yearspacehave facturing and services hubofthe vehicledocumentslikedriv- years.Thevalueof theSensexand broadlyfollowedsuit,longer world,globalopportunitiesforde- inglicence(DL),registration the Nifty is justanumber.We datedpapersespeciallycorporate mand buoyedbygovernmentin- certificate(RC)and permits Why is it important: As per the MoSPI report, in addition to Under-reporting: Agencies are not reporting have seen this time and time bondshaveremainedsomewhat centivesare likelytoushera tillMarch 31,2021, inviewof the factors that regularly delay work on infra projects, revised cost estimates and commissioning Source: again. As India grows, financial anchored.The recent RBI com- multi-year growth phase. the ongoing pandemic. ‘state-wiselockdown due to Covid-19’was cited as a schedules for many projects,which suggests that MoSPI/PTI marketswillrisecommensurately mentaryisaclear indication that Therecoveryisalreadyunder- reason for delay in their implementation time and cost overrun figuresare under-reported to reflectthis growth. theRBIintendsto keepratesrange wayand we expectarecovery in Budget:CII We have manycampaigns bound. Unless we see ahugefis- the next fewquarters. suggestionson importtariffs Paying 1% GST in cash: ‘No impact on small businesses’ PNB puts threestressed NewDelhi:IndustrybodyCII their GSTliability in cash. generatefakeITC or areusedto The rule is notapplicable in accountsupfor sale hassuggestedagradedroad ENSECONOMICBUREAU ‘ONLYAPPLICABLE This newrule applies onlyto be alayer in multi-layerfake cases wherethe registeredper- map towardscompetitive NEWDELHI,DECEMBER27 TO45KTAXPAYERS’ about 45,000 taxpayers of the credit flowpay no taxincash. son deposited morethan Rs 1 importtariffsoverthree GSTtaxpayerbase of 1.2crore “This provision is avery lakh as income taxineachofthe ENSECONOMICBUREAU The accounts are years,withlowestornilslab THE NEW rule requiring busi- and genuine dealers and busi- smart rule againstfraudsters and last twoyearsand also wherein NEWDELHI,DECEMBER27 ■ The newrule Mangalam Oil betweenzeroto2.5percent nesses to payatleast1per cent nesses would notbeimpacted, would notaffect anygenuine registeredpersonhas receiveda requiring businesses forraw materials, highestof of their GSTliability in cash will sources said, adding that it has business entities or ‘Ease of refund of morethanRs1lakhin PUNJAB NATIONAL Bank (PNB) Industries, withmonthly turnover 5to7.5 per cent forfinished notimpact small businessesand been brought to checkuse of Doing Business’ in anymanner,” the preceding financial year on has put up forsale three stressed of over `50 lakhtopay Alliance Fibres Ltd and goodsand 2.5 to 5per cent dealers as onlyentities with an- fake invoices to claimcredit for an official said, adding that all accountofexportorinvertedtax accounts, with totaloutstanding at least1%oftheir forintermediates, as partof nual turnoverofRs6crore and taxpaid on non-existent or small businesses, including structure. dues of nearly Rs 34.50 crore. Birsa Instituteof goods and services tax itspre-Budget recommen- above arerequired to followthis highlyinflated input cost. MSMEs (micro, small and The rule is also notapplica- The accountsare Mangalam Technology (Trust) liability in cash applies dations to the government. rule, sources in the Finance The newrule restrictsthe use medium enterprises) and com- ble to government departments, Oil Industries with outstanding onlytoabout45,000 Ministrysaid. of input taxcredit (ITC) fordis- position dealers, have been ex- public sector undertakings and duesofRs10.77crore,Alliance taxpayers of theGST Afterunearthing rampant charging GSTliability to 99 per cludedfromthe rule. local authorities. Fibres Ltd (Rs 18.31crore)and “Weintend to place three taxpayerbaseof1.2 CCItorelease use of fake invoices to evade cent, effective January1,2021. It The rule is applicable to reg- The CBIC has booked about Birsa InstituteofTechnology accountsfor sale to ARCs/ NBFCs/ crore, sources said telecomsector goods and servicestax (GST), the would applyonlytorisky or sus- isteredpersons whose value of 12,000cases of ITCfraud and ar- (Trust) (Rs 5.41crore). other banks/ FIs etc, on the terms CentralBoardofIndirect Taxes picious dealers who use alot of taxablesupply, other than ex- rested 365 persons in suchcases The process is being under- and conditions stipulated in the studyshortly and Customs (CBIC) had last fake credit and makenocash tax empt supplyand export, in a so far. More than 165fraudsters takenbythe state-ownedbank’s bank’s policy,inline withthe week amendedrules to makeit monthlyturnoverofoverRs50 payment, theysaid. month exceeds Rs 50 lakh, or Rs have been arrested in last StressedAssets Targeted regulatoryguidelines,” aPNB NewDelhi:TheCompetition mandatory forbusinesseswith lakh to payatleast1per cent of Dummycompanies which 6crore annually,sources said. six weeks. Resolution Action Division. auction notice said. CommissionofIndia (CCI) will shortlyrelease itsstudy on the telecom sector and one of thekey trends that Chinese regulators urgeAnt Grouptoset ‘rectification’ planswiftly has emergedisthe vertical integration betweentelcos and regulateits credit rating month abruptlysuspendedAnt’s The newdemands from the omy’s course in 2021, vowedthis and digital solution REUTERS business to protect personal in- planned$37 billion initialpublic PBOC, China Banking and monthtostrengthen antimo- providers,includingOTTs BEIJING,DECEMBER27 formation, People’s Bank of offering, whichhad been on Insurance Regulatory nopolyefforts and rein in “disor- ande-commerceplatforms. China (PBOC) ViceGovernor Pan tracktobethe world’s largest, Commission, China Securities derly capital expansion.” CHINA’S FINANCIAL regulators Gongsheng said aday after justtwo days before itsshares RegulatoryCommission and Pansaid Ant muststepupits urgedfintechcompanyAnt meeting with representativesof were due to begin trading in StateAdministration of Foreign risk management and maintain ‘Crudesteel GrouponSundaytooutlinea thefintechgroup. Shanghai and Hong Kong. Exchangealso include that Ant the continuityofits services and outputrises concreteplan as soon as possi- Ant said in astatement it On Thursday, authorities be moretransparent about its normal operations of itsbusi- ble to meet regulatorydemands would establish a“rectification” said theyhad launchedanan- third-party paymenttransac- ness. 3.5%inNov’ and fullyunderstand the seri- working party and fully imple- titrustinvestigation intoparent tions and notconduct unfair During the meeting, regula- ousnessofthe “rectification” ment regulatoryrequirements. Alibaba Group and would sum- competition, and thatits setup tors pointed out Ant’s issues in- NewDelhi:Indiaregistereda work it needs to perform. The state-backed Economic mon Ant, the latestblowfor bil- of financialholding companies cluding itspoor corporate gov- growth of 3.5 percentin The central bank,banking, Daily said in acommentary that lionaireJackMa’s e-commerce complywith the lawtoensure ernance,defiance of regulatory crude steel productionat securities and foreign exchange Ant should servethe people’s and fintechempire. the capital adequacy,Pan said. demands, illegal regulatoryar- 9.245 milliontonne(MT)in regulators urgedAnt to rectify il- needs and economic develop- Ma, the founder of both China’s annual Central bitrary, the use of itsmarketad- November,according to legal financial activities,includ- ment, taking effective corporate Ant said it would establish a‘rectification’ working party Alibaba and Ant Group, is one of Economic Work Conference,a vantagetosqueeze out competi- WorldSteelAssociation. PTI ing in itscredit,insurance and social responsibility. and fullyimplement regulatoryrequirements. Reuters file China’s richestand mostpromi- gathering of topleaders and pol- tors, and harming consumers’ wealth management businesses, Chinese regulators last nententrepreneurs. icymakers to chartthe econ- legal interests,hesaid.

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THEINDIANEXPRESS,MONDAY,DECEMBER28,2020 MESSI GIVEN EXTENDED BREAK Lionel Messimissed Barcelona’sreturn to training on Mondayafter being granted permis- sion by theclub to stay in Argentina,and he will also be absent fromTuesday’sLaLigamatch at home to Eibar.Barcasaid on Twitter that Messi, who is in the last year of hiscontractand is 14 SPORT free to negotiate amove to rival clubs forfree in 2021,would return to training after the Eibar game,meaning he will be back fortheir visittoHuescaonJanuary. 3. REUTERS

BRIEFLY Williamson’ston Stand-in stands tall boostsNZonDay2 Mount Maunganui: Kane India captain Rahane’s memorable hundred, leading from the front, puts visitors in charge as Aussie hopes flounder Williamson's tireless questfor runs continuedSundayashebatted New SCORECARD Zealand intoacommanding position SANDIPG on the second dayofthe second DECEMBER27 AUSTRALIA VS INDIA cricket Test againstPakistan. MELBOURNE CRICKET GROUND Williamson made 129, his 23rdtest ABRAVE and brilliant hundred from Ajinkya Toss: Australia, chose to bat hundred,and shared centurypartner- Rahane has fuelledIndia’s comebackambi- ships with Ross Taylor and Henry tionsinthisseries.His12thTest century,which AUSFIRSTINNINGS 195 (91.3ov) Nicholls as NewZealandmade 431 underlinedonce again his character and ap- INDIA 277/5 (O/N36/1) batting firstafter losing the toss. At petitefor ascrap, wasthe soul and spine of MAgarwallbwStarc 0(6b) stumps Pakistanwas 30-1 after20 India’ssecond-day total of 277/5. The lead al- SGill c†PainebCummins 45(65b,8x4) overs with Abid Ali 19 notout and ready ahandful at 82 runs, with Ravindra CPujarac†PainebCummins 17(70b,1x4) nightwatchman Mohammad Abbas Jadejaofferingmanfulsupport,Indiaare firmly ARahane notout 104(200b,12x4) 0. Shan Masood wasout for10justbe- in control of proceedings. HVihari cSmithbLyon 21(66b,2x4) fore stumps, caughtdownthe leg side TheIndiancaptain’sinningswasbrave not RPant c†PainebStarc 29(40b,3x4) by wicketkeeperB.J. Watling from the becausehewas ever in anyphysical danger or RJadeja notout 40(104b,1x4) bowling of Kyle Jamieson. AP he coppedblows,but becauseofthe concep- ■ Extras (b12,lb6,nb2,w1) 21 BRIEF SCORES: Pakistan 30 for1 tion of his knock. It wasbrilliant notbecause ■ FoW:1-0(Agarwal,0.6ov),2-61(Gill,21.6ov), (Abid 19*, Abbas 0*, Jamieson1-5) he executed aflurry of gorgeous strokes, but 3-64(Pujara,23.4ov),4-116(Vihari,44.4ov), trail NewZealand431 (Williamson becauseheexecutedhisplansperfectly, soaked 5-173(Pant,59.1ov) 129, Watling73, Taylor 70, Nicholls 56, inexorable pressureand navigated through ■ Bowling:MStarc18.3-3-61-2,PCummins Afridi 4-109, Yasir 3-113)by401 runs treacherous cliffstosteer India to aposition of 22-7-71-2,JHazlewood21-6-44-0,NLyon strength.WeaveinthecontextoftheAdelaide 18-2-52-1,CGreen12-1-31-0 humiliation, ViratKohli’s departure, DAY3, LIVE ON SONY SAfricafightback MohammedShami’sinjuryandthecrisisIndia SPORTS NETWORK, 5AM againstSriLanka were riding in the firstsession, and the glitter of his 104unbeaten runs onlyattains more Pretoria: Opener Dean Elgar fell five gloss.Rahane found India at 64/3, with Pat Barringacouple of indiscriminatestrokes runsshort of acenturyasSouthAfrica Cummins and Co. in inspired mood.The —ahasty swipe plonked out of SteveSmith’s climbed to 317for four at the closeof seamer had producedapearler to induce a handsatslip when he wason73—Rahane’s playonday twoofthe firstTestagainst faintnickofCheteshwarPujara’sfeebledefen- powersof concentrationwere astonishing.He injury-hit Sri Lanka at Centurion Park sive prod,after he had temptedShubmanGill wastotallyabsorbed in hisbatting,aself-con- on Sunday.Elgar lookedset forhis 13th intoanimpetuousdrive.Thebackgroundwas tainedunitwho appeared unaware of the test tonuntil he offeredSri Lanka intimidating. Therewas an overpowering worldaround him.Bowlers triedtobreak his Australia batsman SteveSmith congratulates AjinkyaRahaneatend of day’s playatthe MCG on Sunday. AP seamerDasun Shanakaasharp gloom.Theskieswere darkandimminentdis- rhythm, shuffled theirlengths, trajectoryand caught-and-bowled chance that was asterlurked.Rahanewalkedoutwithhischar- angles,but he remained steadfastand unhin- superblytaken.Faf du Plessis (55 not acteristicallynervous bodylanguage, likethat dered.Rahane, the worldknows,iscapableof out) and Temba Bavuma (41not out) of ahigh-school rookie. shuffling hisroles. But seldom hasthe process will resume on the thirdmorning after The body languageisoften afacade. seemedsosmooth. Not putting the best foot forward adding 97 runs, hoping to push South Beneath his shaky exterior is acascade of self- Besides the sparkling clarity of his mind, Africa pastthe visitors’firstinnings assurance and courage. He is asoldier in the stood out the dexterity of his hands andflu- scoreof396 aftertwo free-scoring guiseofapriest. ency of his feet.It’s the hands that mirrorhis Hazlewood. In Adelaide, he rarely metthe days that have produced713 runs at a Forthe next 10 oversorso, Rahane was mindset.Whenheisuncertain,hishandstend SRIRAM VEERA ball ahead of the front pad. Here, the front rollicking rate of 4.24 runs per over. monkish in hisabstinence from temptation. to be hardand he goes stabbing at the ball. MUMBAI,DECEMBER27 foot did move out alittle bit morethan it That would suggestabatting paradise, The full balls away from the stumps were left When he’s confident, his hands arepliant and did in the firstTest. The movement wasfirst but the wicket has givenassistance to alone,those on the body were metwith the hewaitsfortheballto reachhim.Itaffordshim BARRINGVIRATKohli, none of the Indians spotted in the19thball he faced, off the bowlers, with both sides perhaps full, straightblade. The shortballs at the body time to play hisstrokes. who made their Test debutsafter 2010 have Hazlewood, when the front leg came out guilty of erringinline and length and were dousedwithsofthands.Thosethatcould AdaboffStarc best illustratedhisgifts.The adecent forwardstride as partoftheir marginally. Twice in arow,and an alert nottaking advantageofthe pace and be avoidedwereleftalone. He strippedthe ball wasslanted across him at ahardlength defensive oeuvre. At some point, the Indians Hazlewood banged thenexttwo balls short unevenbounce. REUTERS contest intoabattle of bat and ball, notaduel withafairbitof bounce.ButRahanegotontop have mysteriouslyshedthat movement. to trypushing him back. BRIEF SCORES: SouthAfrica 317for 4 betweentwoindividuals.Thefoundationlaid, of the bounce, and opened theface of the bat It’sasiftheydidn’tgrowupwatchingRahul Rahane didn’t abandon that short for- (Elgar 95, Markram 68, du Plessis 55*) the fundamentals set, he blossomed, exhibit- withoutanyexaggeratedwrist movementand Dravid, who would stretchforward inex- ward press, though,asitallowedhim to get trailSri Lanka396(Chandimal85,de ingthe fullrangeofhis batsmanship and the steereditbetweenslipandgully. Evenwhenhe orably, or Sachin Tendulkar,who would hisupper bodytolean forward, and lethis Silva 79,Sipamla 4-76)by79runs. variegated roles he couldperform. drove, he seldom threw his hands at the ball makeaprecise forwardmovement. hands come through ahead of the front pad, Captivating washow various situations or lunged forwardbut justextendedhis for- Some likeRohit Sharma or Rishabh the crucial reason forhis success this time. drew variedresponsesfromhim.First, hewas ward push abit further. Thefollow-through Pant, and to an extent AjinkyaRahane, have Cityeaseto2-0win thestabiliser,intentonjustbluntingCummins wasnon-existent.Heisanyway notoneforthe it in them to move forwardtoattack, but Ghosts of the past overNewcastle and Mitchell Starc. Safetywas thebesttactic. cameras —evenhis centurycelebration was theydon’t do it often. On his day, whichis Pujarawas outtoafamiliar dismissal, Rahane defanged them with resolutedefen- muted.Forgetbeing over-jubilant, he didn’t yettocome this series, Cheteshwar Pujara seen notjustinAdelaide but in the pastas Manchester: ManchesterCitysecureda sive strokes, playing them late and notcom- even smile. His feet nevermoveexcessively, does defend or attackoff the front foot but well. When the ball lands shortoflength routine2-0winoverNewcastlethanks mitting prematurelyintostrokes, as he is but everystride wasfirm anddecisive. he isn’t partofthis post-2010 generation, around theoff-stumpand straightens, he to goals from IlkayGundogan and sometimesprone to. Under his guidance blossomedRishabh anyway.Collectively this lot, have all tends to openup. He takesashortstepfor- Ferran Torres to climb to fifthplace in Pant and Jadeja, with whom he shared stands startedtopitchtheir tent at their original ward andtries to hold his balancethere. It’s the Premier League. Gundogan tucked Smooth transition of 57 and104(unconquered)respectively.Pant stance, and rarely ever budgetoo much. adifficult task as in this process, his hips home acutbackfromRaheem Sterling Intohis 30s,heembracedthe counter- wasgiven the liberty to attack, and so he did, Formostofthis decade, ‘holding shape’ open up. The good thing is that invariably to scoreinconsecutive homegamesin punching role. He waslikeabantamweight quicklywhittling down the lead. Though he has been the buzzwordonthe white-ball he manages to hold his bat inside the line the league and put City ahead in the boxerpitted againstaheavyweight skull- eventually perished attempting awildslash, circuit.Players aretold to have wide stances or spongeitwith softhands so that edges 14thminute.Torres,awinger,wasplay- thrasher.Heweavedand spunawayfromthe hiscameowassignificantinthecontextofthe since it will help them maintain balance as Stuckatcrease, Mayank Agarwal's bat don’t carry.But then someone likePat ing as the lone striker in the absence of blows,andwhentheadversaryblinked,landed game. Jadeja wasmorewaryand controlled. theytry to hit mostballs out of the park. has barelymanagedtopeep aheadof Cummins comes along who has specialised Gabriel Jesus, who has contracted the meatyblows on his jaw. HisassurancemeantthatRahaneneedn’tpur- When youare lining up forthe balland the front pad. AP in notcutting the ball away,but holding its coronavirus, and scoredforthe second Past his half-century, which he completed sue undue risk as he is sometimesneededin swinging through the line, ‘holding shape’ line to induce anickthat carries. time in the league this seasontomake by flickingStarcoff hislegs,theskipperturned the companyoflower-order batsmen. And becomes vital. Pujara’s shortstepisn’t the problem, it's it 2-0. He showedastriker's instinct to intoagrisly accumulator, smuggling singles whenthenewballwinkedin,run-scoringop- It’s aprinciple borrowedfromgolf. hands and adjust. what he does afterthat. UnlikeKane hold backasFederico Fernandez andrunningthehardruns.But10 overseither portunitiesringedin. Batters teeing offisasign of cricket’s golfi- Theycan lettheir hands wander beyond Williamson,who lookstoget forwardwith blockedacross from the right and the sideofthe second newball,hechose to be the As the dayworeon, it wasnot easy to dis- sation. In this single-mindedpursuit of their tinyfootsteps to tackle the little devi- asmall press –muchlikePujara–but then ball arrivedatthe feet of Torres,who aggressor.Astheseamerssoughtafullerlength cernwhetheritwasthepitch ortheAustralian ‘holding shape’ while having a‘wider ations of the ball. that step is justthe startofWilliamson's strokedinafinish from eight meters in forreverse swing with the old ball and then bodylanguagewhichhadbecomeflatter.Arms stance’, the finer nuances of classical bats- Even Rahane, in this character-defining negotiations. Notthe end. the55th.BernardoSilva struckthepost the conventional variety with the new, the were folded, hands thrustinpockets and manship –‘weight transfer’ and ‘forward knock,didn’t exactlystart takingbig steps, “Fromthat forwardpress, depending on as City threatenedmoregoals in the trickle of runsturned intoastream. shoulderssagged.Droppedcatchesandedges stride’ -havebeen largely forgotten. until very lateinhis knock. But whathedid the length, Kane either pushes backorgets pouringrainatEtihadStadium,despite Rahane allowedhimself the luxury of that eludedtoretheir morale apart. Butinthe Over relianceon‘hands’ toohas re- differentlyfromAdelaide waswith his forwardfurther,” Williamson’s long-time againstrugglingto show thefree-flow- leaning intopleasant drivesand flickedaway dressingroom,theycouldconsolethemselves sulted in Indian batsmen getting leaden- hands; he letthem move ahead of his pads coachDavid Johnstonsays.“He doesn’t al- ingfootballof previousyearsunderPep to leg on the rare occasions the diligent thattheywerenot undoneby theirownlackof footed. RaisedinIndian conditions, on and startedtomeetthe ball in frontofhis lowthe bowler to dictate lengths by being Guardiola. AP Australia bowlers strayedfromtheir line effort,but outshone by the bravadoand bril- mostlyslowtracks, they feel theycan get body.Hewould also occasionally stand crease-bound.” Pujarausedtodothat, of down the corridor. lianceofRahane. out of trouble as theyhavetime to use their outside his crease, especiallytoJosh course, but isn’t doing so now. THELOST 2020 YEAR Away from the bio-bubbles put in placebythose with deep pockets, sport had its lockdowntales of angst, uncertainty andapprehension. THE INDIAN EXPRESStalkstothosewho missed out on their break-out year or had to delaytheir retirement. Age doesn’t get you down, responsibilities do: Ajay Thakur Police duty,family commitments and falling fitness add to 34-year-old's woes in kabaddi's wiped out season

Since the outbreak of the Covid-19pan- Sports have startedtoresume across the to stay fit. It’s notjustbecause of theage SHAHIDJUDGE demic, the 34-year-old Nalagarhnative has world. Therehavebeen afew Grand Slams in though. MUMBAI,DECEMBER27 beenbasedinBilaspur,HimachalPradesh,pa- tennis, the NBAison, the IndianPremier “Jabmain18 katha,familykikoizimmedari trolling the streetsand strivingtofight the League(IPL) washeldsuccessfully, andthe merepenahi thi. Abhi sab zimmedari mujh pe AT THISstageinhiscareer,AjayThakuriswell coronavirus. And kabaddi has oftenbeen the Indian cricket team is currentlyontourin hai (When Iwas 18,Ididn’t have anyfamily usedtofans rushingtohim with requests for lastthing on his mind. Australia.But as kabaddi is acontact sport, it responsibilitiesonme.Noweverythingisone autographsand selfies. The hero of the 2016 “This (the seasongettingwipedout due hasn’t been able to restart. me).It’sdifficult to getawayfromthat. Age kabaddiWorldCupfinalhasmentionedmany to thepandemic) wasamassivelossfor us “The risk of (PKL) becoming asuper- doesn’t getyou down, responsibilities do.” timeshow he revels in the adulation. players, especiallyfor the older players like spreaderwasmuchhigherthan,saycricket,” Thakur hasn’t playedortrainedinthe Those fans recognise him even today. me who maybehavelessthan five years left says Sandip Tarkas, CEO of 2019 champions sportsinceFebruary. Hisdailyschedule,how- Despitethe mask (a clear indication of the to play,”hesays.“The biggest thingwas that Bengal Warriors. “Even if one playerhas this ever,doesinclude asession of physical train- roughtimeswe live in)andhispoliceuniform, we couldn’tplaykabaddiatall.Butnowthere virus, chancesare all his teammates will pick ing to keep the body fit, but notenough to get theyrush to him. That’s when the Deputy is always afear that ‘yaar,mujhe bhi coron- it up and so will the opposition. Of course, him to the levelheneeds to be the dominant Superintendentof PoliceinHimachalPradesh avirus tohnahi hua (Am Ialso infected with DOUBLE ROLE: Kabaddi star AjayThakur is aDSP with theHimachal Pradesh this year we couldn’t have the Olympics or playerhehas been over the years. Right now, findshimself takingacautionarystepbackto thecoronavirus)?” Police. The pandemic snatchedhis focus away from the sportthis year. the T20 WorldCup in cricket. Those events, his responsibilitiesinthe policetakegreater keep safedistance. Asocialdistance. On the kabaddi mat, Thakur’s task as a however, have been postponed.PKL has precedenceoverthe sportthat has seen him The lasttime he trainedfor akabaddi raideristosneak throughdefences andget cleanlylostayear.” Because of it, there is a achieve everythingthereisonoffer –except match, or forthe sportingeneral, wasbackin homesafely. Since March though,his role in were peoplepassingby atanytimeoftheday. eighth seasonofthe PKL, Thakur has spent chance that some of the moresenior players winning aPKL title. And 2020 has made it all February, when he competedinthe state the policehas been to stop people from leav- People would be trying to sneak out in the mostofhis time in his police job. And the ex- intheleaguehave lostasignificantamountof the moredifficult forhim. championship wherehepocketed the Best ing their homes unnecessarily. middle of the night, so it actually became a haustion he sufferedduring the hotsummer time before theycall it quits. Thakurfinds “Body fitrakhnewaala fitness kar raha All-Rounder Award. Since then, his uniform “Themostdifficult bit wastoget migrant 24-hour job forus.” monthsonthestreetsofBilaspurissomething himself in that position. hoon main. Lekin playerbanne waali fitness haschangedfromtheusualsportskithedons workers who were heading backtotheir Inayearthatwouldhave seenthe34-year- he’s yettoget over. “WhenIwon theArjuna Awardlastyear, nahi kar paya (I’m keepingthe body fit, but whenraidingontheProKabaddiLeague(PKL) homes to enter quarantine. I’d be up early in old former India captain, Arjuna Awardee, “Itwasaverydifficultperiodformeinthe Iwas confident I’d playatleastanother three notenough to play),” he says.“This year has mat to theHimachal Pradesh Police Service themorningandreturnhomeonlyafter11 at Asian Games gold (2014)and bronze (2018) force, and I’m still physically recovering from years,”hesays.“Istillwantto playatleastthree been acomplete waste. Bahut zyada kathin attire. night, sometimes twointhe morning. There medallistand PadmaShri compete in the it,” he says. years, but it’s going to bemuch moredifficult raha hai (It’sbeen very tough).”

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