Chouhan Wins Trust Vote in M.P

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

DELHI THE HINDU 12 NEWS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE FROM PAGE ONE Chouhan wins trust vote in M.P. Floor test sends a PM announces 21-day BSP, SP and two Independent MLAs vote in favour of BJP government wrong signal: Tankha lockdown as toll rises Staff Reporter BHOPAL Congress should rebuild itself, he says “Several families will be des 100,000 cases to appear,” The Shivraj Singh Chouhan Sandeep Phukan troyed. India is at a stage of he said. government in Madhya Pra NEW DELHI the pandemic where our ac “The rate of infection of desh secured the support of Senior Congress leader and tions will decide our fu the Corona virus is very fast 112 MLAs, including those of Rajya Sabha member Vivek ture,” he said. and the only way to break the Samajwadi Party and the Tankha on Tuesday criti “While at home you must the chain of infection is so Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) cised the newly sworn in think of those endangering cial distancing, staying in and two Independents, dur Madhya Pradesh Chief Mi their lives to combat this doors. This applies to every ing the trust vote in the As nister Shivraj Singh Chou pandemic — medical care citizen of the country in sembly on Tuesday. han for taking a floor test workers, doctors, nurses, cluding the Prime Minister,” Mr. Chouhan, who took amid the lockdown due to sanitation workers, ambu he said. oath as the Chief Minister on the Coronavirus outbreak. lance drivers who are facing Monday, moved the confi In an exclusive interview the challenge of treating the Resist rumours dence motion in the House, with The Hindu, Mr. Tankha Vivek Tankha disease,” the Prime Minister Mr. Modi also cautioned which was unanimously said, “A wrong gets legiti said. against believing rumours. passed. The 92 Congress mised, in a wrong manner wrong. The first principle of “Pray for the sanitation He acknowledged that MLAs were not present at and at a wrong time, which politics is sharing and we workers cleaning up our the challenge would be par the session, which was ad sends a very wrong signal to had seven alliance partners. neighbourhoods to keep ticularly hard for the poor journed to March 27 after the society.” From day one, I had been you safe, please think of the and said that alongside the vote. Taking charge: Shivraj Singh Chouhan, wearing a protective mask amid the COVID19 Mr. Tankha was also for saying about accommodat media personnel who are government, civil society or “Our entire focus is on pandemic, interacting with officials of the Assembly in Bhopal on Tuesday.* PTI thright about the shortcom ing them more than our braving infection to keep ganisations should also step tackling [novel] Coronavi ings of his party in M.P. and own people. But there were you informed, of policemen up to mitigate some of the rus,” Mr. Chouhan said later. a whip to its MLA for the 12.07 a.m. When there is a few have been taken in view the Kamal Nath government no takers for this argu enforcing the law while fac hardships. “However, it is a constitu March 16 Assembly session, lockdown and curfew, then of the Coronavirus, and on that lasted 15 months. “The ment,” he said. ing, in some cases, your an “We have to prioritise tional necessity to secure the this time it did not issue one. how can MLAs reach the As the other, the decision by Congress should rejig and He said that not all 22 ger,” he added. what is required for saving trust vote, which we did to Three days ago, SP president sembly at such a short the Shivraj Singh Chouhan rebuild itself, remembering MLAs were loyalists of Con Mr, Modi quoted figures lives. 21 days of lockdown is day, so that with full force we Akhilesh Yadav attacked the notice?” government around night to that it was the BJP that had gressrebelturned BJP lead on the spread of the pan a long time but for the safety can combat the disease BJP saying, “The BJP has On Monday night, Speak flout its own measures to call lost in 2018 [Assembly Elec er Jyotiraditya Scindia. demic to stress his point. “It of your family this is the on now.” murdered democracy in er N.P. Prajapati tendered his for a Vidhan Sabha session tions] and we had not won “While all of them may took 67 days for the first ly way that we have. I am BSP MLAs Rambai Parihar Madhya Pradesh.” resignation to the Deputy during a curfew is beyond the battle convincingly,” he have been lured, the MLAs 100,000 cases to come up, confident that every Indian and Sanjeev Kushwah, Inde BSP chief Mayawati has Speaker. In his resignation my understanding,” he said. fell into three categories. the next 100,000 came up will not only combat this dif pendents Surendra Singh suspended the party mem letter, he wrote that he was wrote on Twitter. He also One group was diehard in just 11 days, and it took ficult situation but will Shera and Rana Vikram bership of Ms. Parihar last resigning on moral grounds. wrote that as there was time Wrong start Scindia loyalists, while the only four days for the next emerge victorious,” he said. Singh and SP MLA Rajesh December for violating the to secure trust vote, why this Though civil society groups, second group was the lot Shukla, who had previously party’s stand by supporting Nath questions urgency urgency. “Why these double activists and farmers en made up by senior Congress backed the Kamal Nath go the Citizenship (Amend Former Chief Minister Kamal standards in tackling the Co sured the “ascendancy of leaders who were disen Ensure tight surveillance, vernment, voted in favour of ment) Act. Nath questioned the urgency ronavirus?” the Congress”, the State lea chanted. The third group Mr. Chouhan. The remaining Congress MLA and former with which the session was The Congress postponed dership did not quite re was the one that is supposed Centre tells States two Independent MLAs were Minister Jitu Patwari had called. “On the one hand, its legislature party meeting ward them by making them to have gone entirely be not present. said, “The notification for several decisions such as im scheduled for Wednesday stakeholders in the govern cause of alleged allure Though the SP had issued the session was issued at posing a lockdown and cur until further notice. ment. “The start itself was ments,” he said. With the lockdown hitting ber of confirmed cases.” the Indian industry hard Meanwhile complaints of and causing job losses, Fi discrimination against nance Minister Nirmala Sith healthcare workers, airline 2 CRPF jawans araman told reporters an staff and people who have economic package to help been quarantined have also Opposition welcomes Omar’s release found dead tide over the crisis will be emerged. announced very soon. As journalists and work in Srinagar In a letter to Chief Secre ers associated with the me Free Mehbooba Mufti and others too, says Tharoor; Yechury calls for full access to Internet in J&K taries on Tuesday, Cabinet dia faced police action amid Special Correspondent ing for ever since his unjusti misunderstanding of the Special Correspondent Secretary Rajiv Gauba asked the lockdown in some parts New Delhi fied arrest. Maybe the law,” he wrote on Twitter. Srinagar them to ensure that no sus of the country, the Centre The Opposition parties have #COVID19 lockdown makes Ghulam Nabi Azad, a Two Central Reserve Police pected or highrisk person advised States to facilitate welcomed the release of Na all detentions unnecessary former Congress Chief Mi Force (CRPF) men were was left out of surveillance functioning of all print and tional Conference leader now? Please release @Meh nister of Jammu and Kash founded dead in an alleged efforts to prevent the spread electronic media outlets. Omar Abdullah from eight boobaMufti & all other polit mir, said Mr. Abdullah’s de case of fratricide in Srina of the pandemic. The Ministry of Informa months of detention. They ical detainees without de tention was “undemocratic gar in Jammu and Kashmir He also called upon chief tion and Broadcasting (I&B) have also called for the re lay!” and uncalled for”. on Tuesday. secretaries to make sure said in an advisory, “false lease of other political lead Manish Tewari, another CPI(M) general secretary They reportedly opened that hospitals are ear and fake news need to be ers, including Mehbooba Congress MP, called for the Sitaram Yechury said politi fire at each other in a camp marked for treating CO avoided and good practices Mufti of the Peoples Demo release of the other leaders, cal detainees outside Jammu located on the Dal Lake. VID19 cases and in a state of need to be promoted and cratic Party. including former Union Mi and Kashmir should also be Police and senior CRPF “full readiness” to deal with these networks play a pivo Though the Congress has nister Saifuddin Soz. released. He also called for officials were at the spot, a the situation in the event of tal role in ensuring the not issued any official state “Glad @OmarAbdullah is Back together: Omar Abdullah with father Farooq Abdullah an unfettered access to the CRPF official said. a “further spike in the num same.” ment, many of its leaders being released after his ille and mother in Srinagar on Tuesday. * NISSAR AHMAD Internet in Jammu and Kash “We are collecting more have welcomed Mr. Abdul gal & unjust detention. All mir at a time of panic over details,” an official spokes Government extends lah’s release. others should be released Congress leader and form the justice delivery system. COVID19. man said. Party MP Shashi Tharoor too. Not that they can go er Home Minister P. Chidam “The Supreme Court should CPI general secretary D. They have been identi wrote on Twitter, “Welcome anywhere. #COVID19,” Sal baram said Mr. Abdullah’s restate the cardinal of a Writ Raja said the government fied as constables Siju and tax deadlines to June 30 the release of @OmarAbdul man, son of Mr. Soz, wrote case would remain a shock of Habeas Corpus so that citi should stop releasing the Jala Vijay. lah, which we have been call on Twitter. ing example of the failure of zens and judges will have no leaders piecemeal. (With PTI inputs) For bigger companies, only beyond April 30 we may interest would be charged at consider suspending Sec the reduced rate of 9%. tions 7, 9, 10 of the IBC for a The date for filing annual period of 6 months to stop Interlocutors’ plea to GST returns for 201819 has companies at large from be Shaheen Bagh site cleared, 9 held also been extended to the ing forced into insolvency last week of June. proceedings in such force authorities, protesters Deadlines for the Vivaad majeure cases of default,” Protests at Nizamuddin, Turkman Gate and Seelampur also cleared se Vishwas and Sabka Vish said Ms. Sitharaman. ‘It is not a question of win or loss’ was schemes for defaulting Statutory corporate re staff reporter any health emergency, vehi NEW DELHI taxpayers are also being quirements are also being cles should be able to move,” extended. relaxed at this time, includ Amid the lockdown in the said Mr. Meena. ing filings in the MCA21 re capital to check the spread The protesters alleged Threshold raised gistry, mandatory board of COVID19, the police in the that they were manhandled The Centre has also decided meetings, residency re early hours of Tuesday by police and their belong to raise the threshold of de quirements for independent cleared Shaheen Bagh of ings were thrown away. fault under Section 4 of the directors and deposit re those who had protested A tent put up outside Ja Insolvency and Bankruptcy serve requirements. against the Citizenship mia Millia Islamia University Code, 2016, from ₹1 lakh to The Finance Minister ad (Amendment) Act for over was also removed. Abdur ₹1 crore in order to prevent ded that customs clearance 100 days. Rehman, a secondyear stu triggering of insolvency pro operations would run The protests at Nizamud dent, said the graffiti on the ceedings against Micro, around the clock, all seven din, Turkman Gate and See walls were painted over. “By Small and Medium days of the week, till the end lampur were also cleared. Test of strength: Security personnel clearing the protest site 8 a.m., the police removed Enterprises. of June. Deputy Commissioner of at Shaheen Bagh in Delhi on Tuesday. * PTI the tent and people not in “We will continue to For fisheries imports, the Police (South East) R.P. Mee uniform had started painting Interlocutors appointed by the Supreme Court, advocates watch the situation. If it im validity of sanitary permits na said a First Information discharge of his duty) of the cate the area. “The step has over the walls. Last night, we Sanjay Hegde and Sadhana Ramachandran. * BIBEK CHETTRI Report, under Sections 188 Indian Penal Code, was be been taken because of the had decided to leave the proves, there is no reason to were being extended, while LEGAL CORRESPONDENT (disobedience to order duly ing registered. Nine persons, current health situation. The protest site because of the Prior to the Coronavirus worry. However, if the cur other requirements were NEW DELHI rent situation continues being relaxed. promulgated by public ser including six women, were protesters were informed situation, therefore, no stu scare, both the senior la vant), 186 (obstructing pu detained. that Section 144 has been im dent was inside the tent. Supreme Court interlocu wyers were appointed by blic servant in discharge of Around 7 a.m., policemen posed in Delhi and most im Two locals who were there tors Sanjay Hegde and Sad the Supreme Court to talk to Omar Abdullah public functions) and 353 and paramilitary forces portant, the route needs to protecting the relief material hana Ramachandran on the protesters to convince (assault or criminal force to reached the site and asked be cleared because it links be for riot victims were de Tuesday issued a statement them to clear the protest site deter public servant from the 50odd protesters to va Noida and Delhi. In case of tained,” he said. urging both the authorities and move to an alternative released after 232 days and the Shaheen Bagh prot area that would not hamper esters to not do anything public movement and traffic “There is a lot to talk about. and don’t remember what I that may exarcebate the sit flow. It’s a very different world to ate,” he said. uation at a time when the The interlocutors had day to the one that existed Several political parties Parliamentary panels defer meetings nation is focussing its re filed two reports in the on 5th August 2019. J&K is welcomed the decision. “I sources to fight the Corona court, detailing their efforts now two Union Territories . am glad he is released. For Travel restrictions in view of COVID-19 pandemic preventing movement of MPs virus scare. and the then prevailing sit But that is later. For now, I all their talk of women The statement was issued uation. believe all those arrested or emancipation, it seems this Sobhana K Nair mittee meetings, scheduled er all meetings till April 3. “I after the authorities cleared “Our process of interlocu New Delhi detained should be re regime fears women the for March 19 and 26, had to have asked for the next the Shaheen Bagh protest tion has reinforced many va leased, even those who most,” said Iltija Mufti, All meetings of parliamen be deferred. “We will res meeting for April 15. But it site. luable lessons, including the don’t even belong to any daughter of incarcerated ex tary standing committees ume our meetings once tra would be subject to how need for continued dialogue party. Highspeed 4G Inter CM and Peoples Democratic have been deferred indefi vel restrictions are lifted.” things are then,” Mr. Tharoor Different priorities at all times. We believe that net services must be res Party president Mehbooba nitely because of the lock A meeting of the commit said. “We request everyone to see the Supreme Court mandat tored forthwith so that peo Mufti. down to curb the spread of tee on information and tech The committee on the issue not as a question of ed interlocution kept Sha ple can access sites and CPI(M) leader M.Y. Tariga COVID19. nology, scheduled for Wed science, technology, envi win or lose. The country has heen Bagh protests peaceful learn how to fight the CO mi said Mr. Abdullah’s re The meetings will not be nesday, was also cancelled. ronment, forests and climate a grave pandemic threaten even while violence erupted VID19,” he said. lease was a step to correct held till the lockdown an It was meant to discuss the change has sought to defer ing it and currently that in other parts of Delhi,” the Later, Mr. Abdullah post one wrong among many nounced by Prime Minister 48hour ban on Malayalam the deadline to present its re must receive priority in statement said. ed pictures of reunion with wrongs. “The government Narendra Modi is in place. Speaker Om Birla had asked television channels Asianet port on the DNA Technology terms of everyone's atten “Some rigours of the his family, including mother should release all, including The Rajya Sabha Secreta committees to defer all and Media One. (Use and Application) Regu tion. We request the admi blockade were relaxed by and father, on the social me PDP's Mufti and J&K Peo riat has ordered a total shut meetings till April 3. Committee chairperson lation Bill, 2019. In a letter to nistration and the protes the protesters clearing some dia. “I had lunch with my ple's Movement chief Dr. down till Friday and the Lok Shashi Tharoor said MPs Rajya Sabha Chairman Ven ters to now not do anything peripheral roads. Today the mum and dad for the first Shah Faesal,” he said. Sabha Secretariat till March scheduled for Tuesday, were could not travel, with dom kaiah Naidu, committee that will exacerbate the the few remaining Shaheen time in almost eight J&K Apni Party chief Altaf 31. cancelled. estic flights cancelled from chairman Jairam Ramesh underlying tensions that Bagh protestors have been months. I can’t remember a Bukhari said, “it will help in The meetings of the com Finance committee chair midnight Tuesday. Lok Sab has sought an extension till culminated in the street finally dispersed peacefully better meal even though creating conducive political mittees on commerce and person Jayant Sinha told The ha Speaker Om Birla had the first week of the mon protests,” the statement with minimal force,” it ad I’ve been in a bit of a daze atmosphere.” government assurances, Hindu that at least two com asked the committees to def soon session. said. ded.

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THE HINDU DELHI WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 NEWS 13 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Amid lockdown, foreign embassies worry about stranded tourists

Diplomatic missions are dealing with twin challenges of keeping staﬀ safe while ensuring their nationals are able to return, given the ban on commercial ﬂights

Suhasini Haidar will keep on working to facil they are dealing with the Among the first major cases Rishikesh, and need to stay NEW DELHI itate for all who want to fly twin worries of keeping of the novel coronavirus in in Delhi,” said a Spanish Em Germany is hoping to fly out back,” Germany’s Ambassa their own staff safe while en India were 16 Italian tourists bassy official. the first batch of an estimat dor to India Walter Lindner suring their nationals are in Rajasthan, who came into ed 3,000 to 5,000 tourists told The Hindu. able to return. contact with an estimated Face stigma who have been stuck in In The government an over 200 Indians during “Many of them say that Eu dia since the government Close to airports nounced on March 17 that it their stay here. Most of them ropeans are being identified banned commercial flights a In a video broadcast in Ger would not allow any nation have now been discharged and targeted particularly, week ago to contain the man on social media on als from 37 countries to from hospitals in Gurugram. taunted by bystanders who spread of the novel corona Tuesday, Mr. Lindner also come to India, and has The Spanish Embassy in call them “corona”. It is very virus. told citizens that they banned all commercial flight Delhi says it estimates more unusual for them, when this The special flights, start should try and move to ho operations from March 22. than 400 of their tourists is normally such a friendly ing on Wednesday and ex tels near the Delhi airport in However, the External Af are still in India, and have country,” he added. pected to operate all week, preparation for the flights. fairs Ministry says it will “fa been negotiating with local The U.S. Embassy in Del are being coordinated by an Apart from the challenge cilitate requests for special hotels to help accommodate hi, which has among the lar “embassy crisis centre” be of dealing with the large flights by resident missions them until they are able to gest citizen populations in ing run 24/7 at the Embassy numbers of Germans in In on a case by case basis.” get a special flight, or when India, is also working on in Delhi, which is registering dia, is the fact that many are The government has also Nowhere to go: Planes stationed on the runway at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International commercial operations ways for Americans to be

all German tourists and tra individual travellers, includ been coordinating with mis Airport in Mumbai after all domestic and international flights were cancelled. * VIJAY BATE resume. transported back. “We are vellers in India so as to evac ing some who are travelling sions so that flights coming “While no hotel is throw working with airline compa uate them. in remote mountains, em in to evacuate foreigners can flight from Kuala Lumpur. Another worry a number pean diplomat said their ci ing guests out, we are having nies and Indian authorities “As an act of solidarity in bassy officials explained. bring in Indians stranded in The Home Ministry an of embassies say they are tizens had been denied a hard time securing new to identify transportation these difficult times, we are As the lockdown in Delhi their home countries as in nounced last week that it facing is the harassment of, rooms at hotels when they hotel reservations, as tou options for U.S. citizens to also taking some European over the pandemic conti the case of a KLM flight from would extend all visas for fo and discrimination against, arrived in Delhi, over fears rists are returning from return,” an embassy spokes Union citizens with us. We nues, several embassies say Amsterdam and an Air Asia reign nationals until April 15. foreign nationals. One Euro they might carry the virus. places such as Pushkar and person said. No curbs on essential goods: Centre In letter to PM, Sonia seeks States will act against those violating measures, will send a daily report to Union government help for construction workers Special Correspondent home delivery to minimise its autonomous subordinate New Delhi the movement of individuals offices and public corpora She also urges Congress CMs to come to their aid The Ministry of Home Affairs outside their homes,” the tions shall remain closed. issued a slew of guidelines to guidelines said. But the offices of defence, Special Correspondent ulation of Employment and New Delhi be followed by the States to Central armed police forces, Condition of Service) Act, contain COVID19 and asked treasury, public utilities (in Congress president Sonia 1996 provides for various all “enforcement authorities cluding petroleum, CNG, Gandhi has asked Prime Mi welfare measures for work to note that these strict res LPG, PNG), disaster manage nister Narendra Modi to roll ers. The Act also provides trictions fundamentally re The Ministry said “deliv ment, power generation and out emergency welfare mea for State Welfare Board and late to the movement of peo ery of all essential goods, in transmission units, post, the sures for construction indus the constitution of welfare ple, but not to that of cluding food, pharmaceuti National Informatics Centre try workers following the funds. It is reported that the essential goods.” cals and medical equipment and early warning agencies lockdown caused by the CO Welfare Boards collected c Health Minister Harsh through ecommerce” would be exempted. VID19 outbreak, the party amounting to ₹ 49,688.07 Vardhan said in a tweet that would be allowed. Stocking up: People waiting at a pharmacy to buy medicines in “Hospitals and all related said on Tuesday. crores till March 31, 2019. the “list of essential services The National Disaster Mumbai on Tuesday. * AFP medical establishments, in In a March 23 letter, she Sonia Gandhi However, only an amount remains unchanged since Management Authority cluding manufacturing and told Mr. Modi that the con ₹1,93,79.922 crores had been March 22nd Janata Curfew.” (NDMA) issued an order ask taries, Union Home Secre ing taken by the States. Ac distribution units such as struction industry employed prolonged economic down spent.” The Ministry of Home Af ing the States to act against tary Ajay Bhalla asked the cording to the guidelines, dispensaries, chemist and over 44 million people, and turn. As the second largest Ms. Gandhi noted that fairs said all commercial and any person violating the con States to send daily reports the district magistrates will medical equipment shops, the workers should be given [section of] employees in In several countrie had an private establishments shall tainment measures as per on the implementation of deploy executive magistrates laboratories, clinics, nursing wage support. She wrote to dia, over 44 million con nounced wage subsidy as be closed, except “ration provisions of Section 5160 the strict measures as “lack as “Incident Commanders” homes and ambulances, will the Chief Ministers of party struction workers are now part of COVID19 response. shops (under the PDS), deal of the Disaster Management of uniformity in the mea in the respective local juris continue to remain function ruled States on the issue. faced with a precarious fu In letters to Congress ing with food, groceries, Act, 2005, besides legal ac sures adopted as well as dictions for the enforcement al. The transportation for all In the letter to Mr. Modi, ture. Many are stranded in Chief Ministers, she said the fruits and vegetables, dairy tion under Section 188 of the their implementation may of the 21day lockdown as an medical personnel, nurses, she said: “Over the last cities and are deprived of construction industry that and milk booths, meat and IPC, punishable by up to two not serve the purpose of nounced by Prime Minister paramedical staff, other week, lakhs of migrant work their livelihoods due to strin was reeling under the im fish, animal fodder.” “Ho years in jail and and a fine. containing the spread of the Narendra Modi. hospital support services be ers in major cities across In gent lockdown measures.” pact of demonetisation and wever, district authorities In another letter ad virus.” The guidelines were The guidelines said offices permitted,” the Ministry dia have left for their home “The Building and Other GST had been hit afresh by may encourage and facilitate dressed to the Chief Secre similar to the measures be of the government of India, said. towns and villages, fearing a Construction Workers (Reg the pandemic. .

SC adjourns Students stranded at border crossing Labour Minister urges CMs sitting of two They were on their journey home from medical colleges in Bangladesh to pay workers directly Benches Kallol Bhattacherjee transport halt that India was Legal Correspondent NEW DELHI set to begin from the mid ‘Release funds into their accounts to mitigate a crisis’ NEW DELHI A group of 75 Indian medical night of Tuesday. Apart from The Supreme Court has ad students from Kashmir were the Indian decision to sus Special Correspondent State boards and about journed the sitting of two stranded at the Benapole pend rail and air services, New Delhi Rs.52,000 crore was availa Benches scheduled to hear border crossing of Bangla Bangladesh too will suspend Union Labour and Employ ble to the boards in the form a few cases through video desh on Tuesday as India train services from Tuesday ment Minister Santosh Ku of cess collected over the conferencing on Wednes shut all land crossings with evening. mar Gangwar on Tuesday years. day after the announce neighbouring countries. That apart, Bangladesh wrote to all Chief Ministers In his letter, Mr. Gangwar ment of a 21day lockdown The students were return will also suspend domestic and LieutenantGovernors said each State or Union Ter on account of the COVID19 ing home from medical col air services from midnight of asking them to directly re ritory could decide the scare. leges in Mymensingh and Tuesday. In view of the un lease funds into the ac amount f payment to be A circular issued late on Dhaka and were scheduled precedented suspension of counts of construction work made to the workers. “The Tuesday informed that the to reach Kolkata to board af air, road transport and rail ers using the cess collected financial assistance at this cases for hearing before ternoon KolkataSrinagar ways in both India and Ban by their respective Building point of time would help to the two Benches of Justices flights, which they missed as Virus scare: Checkpoints along the IndiaBangladesh border gladesh, the students urged and Other Construction mitigate the financial crisis D.Y. Chandrachud, Surya they remained stranded at have been closed as a safety measure. * AFP for prompt action from the Workers’ Welfare Boards. of our construction workers Kant, L. Nageswara Rao Benapole in Bangladesh’s Indian authorities to help The Minister wrote that Hard life: Construction to some extent and boost and Aniruddha Bose have Jessore district. desh had asked students to Bangladesh has so far de them reach Srinagar. the government was taking workers rely on daily wages. their morale to deal with this been adjourned.

“We journeyed for 10 vacate hostels in view of the tected 33 cases of COVID19 Of the stranded students, various measures to provide * RAJEEV BHATT epidemic,” the Minister The circular has not gi hours in buses to reach the COVID19 crisis. “We were infection. Out of that, three a few are from institutions in relief to workers in view of wrote. Starting Sunday, large ven any future date for BenapolePetrapole crossing assured by authorities that patients had died and five Dhaka while most are from the economic impact of the States and Union Territories parts of the country have hearing. The court, on and we learnt of the closure they would let us enter India had recovered fully while the the Community Based Medi COVID19 pandemic. to use the cess fund, a state been under lockdown to March 23, had decided to of the border checkposts on but now we are being de rest remain under observa cal College of Mymensingh, For construction workers, ment from the Ministry said. slow down the spread of the further restrict its func the way,” said a fourth year nied,” the student, who tion. The medical student which is a private medical who tend to rely on daily The Ministry said about 3.5 coronavirus till March 31, tioning and resort to the student, explaining that the spoke on the condition of said that they required ur college popular with stu wages, the government is crore construction workers leading to construction ac digital mode to prevent medical colleges in Bangla anonymity, added. gent help in view of the total dents from India. sued the advisory to all were registered with the tivity being hit as well. spread of infection. Polls to 18 Rajya Sabha Who will help the poor, asks Congress ED officials to attend seats deferred office on rotation basis Party welcomes lockdown, but says that the announcement has come late Probes into important cases continue Situation to be reviewed after March 31 Special Correspondent for national solidarity and Special Correspondent day, as per the ECI’s New Delhi unity. I strongly appeal to all Special Correspondent summons to witnesses and NEW DELHI New Delhi schedule. The Congress on Tuesday of you again to heed all the suspects, sources said the Elections to 18 Rajya Sabha Taking into account the welcomed Prime Minister public safety advisories be The Enforcement Directo agency may not mandate seats that were scheduled to World Health Organiza Narendra Modi’s announce ing issued and remain vigi rate has directed its officials anyone’s presence during take place on March 26 have tion’s declaration of CO ment of a complete lock lant,” Mr. Gandhi said. to attend office on a rotation the lockdown period. State been deferred due to the VID19 as a global pandemic down for the next three His open letter came just basis to avoid crowding in ments of those turning up COVID19 pandemic, the on March 11 and various ad weeks but qualified its res hours after he had tweeted the wake of the COVID19 may be recorded as per Election Commission of In visories from the Centre on ponse by asking about what that the Narendra Modi go outbreak. procedure. dia (ECI) said on Tuesday. containing the spread of the steps the government had ta vernment didn’t realise the “Necessary instructions Last week, the Depart On February 25, the ECI disease, the ECI on Tuesday ken to protect the poor. vide cash to the poor that measures. Containing the vi magnitude of the crisis and have been given to ensure ment of Personnel and announced elections to 55 decided to defer the elec Former Finance Minister they need for the next 21 rus requires us to minimise wasted time. skeleton staff in offices Training had issued a direc Rajya Sabha seats spread ov tions. P. Chidambaram, in a series days,” Mr. Chidambaram our contact with people as “I am feeling sad, because across the country. Howev tive to the heads of Minis er 17 States that were to be In a statement, the ECI of tweets, said he had a “mix asked. much as possible,” Mr. Gand this was completely avoida er, officials required for ur tries and Departments to vacated in April due to the noted that the States had al of emotions — relief, vindica hi said in his open letter to ble. We had time to prepare. gent court proceedings have ensure that 50% of Group B retirement of MPs. Candi so issued lockdown orders. tion, frustration, disappoint Open letter citizens. We should have taken this to be present,” said a senior and C employees attended dates for 37 seats in 10 A senior ECI official said ment, worry and fear”. Hours before the lockdown “The public health per threat much more serious official, adding that the office every day, and the re States had been elected polling for the seats, which “The lockdown is late, but announcement, former Con sonnel have displayed exem lyand have been much better agency had taken all precau maining worked from uncontested. will be vacated in April, had better late than never. Those gress president Rahul Gand plary courage, even at great prepared,” Mr. Gandhi tionary measures, as direct home. They were also told Polling for the remaining been postponed and the sit who mocked the idea of a hi on Tuesday had appealed personal risk to themsel tweeted in response to a ed by the government. to draft a weekly roster of 18 seats in Andhra Pradesh, uation would be reviewed lockdown will do the coun to citizens to adopt strict so ves...The COVID19 pandem tweet from a Haryanabased The ED’s probe into all duty for Group B and C staff, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Mad after March 31. try a great favour by remain cial isolation. ic is a test of our ability to doctor Kamna Kakkar who important cases is continu and ask them to attend of hya Pradesh, Manipur, The decision comes after ing silent for 21 days. PM’s “I strongly appeal to each work together and collec said hospitals faced an acute ing as before. Although fice on alternate weeks. Meghalaya and Rajasthan several State Assemblies announcement left a gaping of you to follow strict social tively fight against unpredic shortage of essential perso there is no written order Working hours of officials were to take place on Thurs curtailed their sessions. hole. Who is going to pro isolation and distancing table crises. This is the time nal protective equipment. pertaining to the issuance of have also been staggered.

DELHI THE HINDU 14 COVID-19 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

THE HINDU DELHI WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 WORLD 15 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE U.S. could become virus epicentre: WHO China to lift travel curbs on Trump says he wants to reopen the country for business in weeks, not months; U.K. enforces lockdown 50 million people in Hubei Reuters GENEVA/LONDON Spain toll The World Health Organisa Healthy residents would be allowed to leave the province tion said on Tuesday that the rises by 514 U.S. could become the global Agence France-Presse epicentre of the COVID19 Reuters Beijing pandemic. MADRID China announced on Tues Britain joined the ranks of Another 514 people have day that a lockdown would countries in lockdown to try died in Spain, raising the be lifted on more than 50 to hold back the virus, and death toll to 2,696, as the million people in central Hu data showed business activi number of infections bei province, where the co ty collapsing from Australia surged towards 40,000. As ronavirus first emerged late and Japan and Western Eu health authorities step up last year. rope at a record pace in the number of tests, the But fears rose over a se March, with the U.S. showing number of people with cond wave of infections in expected to be just as dire. COVID19 rose by nearly the country fuelled by peo But amid the gathering 20% to 39,673. At the same ple arriving from overseas. gloom, the Chinese province time, the death toll After two months living Travel eased: Staff members line up as they prepare to spray of Hubei, where the virus increased by 23.5%, the with draconian curbs on dai disinfectant at the Wuhan railway station on Tuesday. * AFP was first identified in Decem Health Ministry said. ly life, residents will be al ber, said it would lift travel DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD lowed to leave Hubei from been gradually easing rules from Wednesday, state restrictions on people leav Looming crisis: U.S. President Donald Trump addressing the media in Washington. * AP midnight on Tuesday if and permitting people to broadcaster CCTV reported. ing the region as the epidem healthy, said provincial move about within the pro “I’m super happy,” Hubei ic eases there. Death rate authorities. vince and return to work. native Zoe Wang told AFP. Confirmed COVID19 cas Pak. officials in In Europe, retirement People who wish to travel “I’m going to be able to go es around the world exceed drops in Italy Restrictions till April 7 in or out of Hubei or Wuhan back and see my parents.” ed 3,77,000 across 194 coun soup for selfie Wuhan city — the initial epi will be able to as long as they “I really want freedom as tries and territories as of homes are a ‘timebomb’ Agence France-Presse centre of the outbreak — will have a “green” health code soon as possible,” one Wu early Tuesday, according to a with patient Rome end restrictions from April issued by authorities, but han resident named Willa Reuters tally, more than Agence France-Presse ticking time bombs, with Italy on Monday reported 8. schools will remain closed. said. 16,500 of them fatal. Agence France-Presse Madrid 500,000 elderly people in a second successive drop Hubei ordered the shut Three airports in the pro New cases have slowed Karachi In Italy, Spain and France, very fragile conditions at in daily deaths and down in January but has vince will resume flights over the last month. ‘Very large acceleration’ Pakistan has suspended six old people's homes have risk of being infected.” infections that has WHO spokeswoman Marga civil servants after they been ravaged by COVID19 And there is a similar sit nevertheless claimed more ret Harris said there had posed for a selfie with a CO with the elderly and the in uation in Spain . “In some than 6,000 lives in a been a “very large accelera VID19 patient in a quaran firm taking the brunt of the places, the Army found month. The daily fatalities tion” in infections in the U.S. tine centre, an official said epidemic as it spreads like some elderly people com come down from a world ‘Loss of smell in some cases’ Over the previous 24 Tuesday. wildfire across Europe. pletely abandoned, some record 793 on Saturday to hours, 85% of new cases The selfie — widely “When the virus enters times even dead in their 651 on Sunday and 601 on Experts say this might be a new way to detect the virus were in Europe and the U.S., shared on social media — these places, it inevitably beds,” said Spanish Defence Monday. Agence France-Presse and of those, 40% were in pictured a group of men turns into a massacre, as un Minister Margarita Robles. DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD to selfisolate even if they the U.S. As of Monday, the vi around the apparent pa fortunately is already hap In France, the epidemic Paris have no other symptoms. rus had infected more than tient, several of them smil pening in different parts of “could end up causing more From a mother unable to “Anything we can do to de 42,000 people there, killing ing broadly and none wear Italy,” Italian pensioners' than 1,00,000 deaths,” the Iran toll inches smell her baby’s nappy to a lay transmission is absolute at least 559. ing face masks. The picture union SPICgil said this main associations repre lawmaker who suddenly ly vital,” Claire Hopkins, the Asked whether the U.S. was taken at a quarantine weekend. senting elderly care homes closer to 2,000 could not taste food, some president of the British Rhin could become the new epi facility in Sindh province.. “Retirement homes are have warned. COVID19 patients have de ological Society, told AFP. Reuters centre, Ms. Harris said: “We DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD scribed a loss of olfactory Ms. Hopkins, who pu are now seeing a very large DUBAI senses — and experts say this blished an open letter on the acceleration in cases in the said on Monday he was con “We can’t have the cure be least partly reflects its older Iran's death toll from the might be a new way to detect issue on Friday with ENT U.S. So it does have that sidering how to restart busi worse than the problem,” population. The fatality rate coronavirus outbreak the virus. wise appear well. U.K. chief Nirmal Kumar, potential.” ness life when a 15day shut Mr. Trump said. “We have to globally is around 4.3%, increased by 122 in the Ear, nose and throat The World Health Organi said she was not surprised Some U.S. state and local down ends next week. open our country because though national figures can past 24 hours to 1,934, (ENT) specialists in Britain, sation lists the most com when she heard initial re officials have decried a lack “America will again and that causes problems that, in vary widely according to Health Ministry the U.S. and France have mon signs of COVID19 as ports from Iran and France of coordinated federal ac soon be open for business,” my opinion, could be far big how much testing is done. spokesman Kianoush noted a growing number of fever, tiredness and dry of COVID19 patients report tion, saying that having local Mr. Trump told a White ger problems.” Britain on Tuesday began Jahanpour said on patients in recent weeks cough. ing a loss of smell. ities act on their own has put House news conference on Of the top 10 countries by curbs on movement without Tuesday. The total number with anosmia — the abrupt In Britain, ENT doctors Around 40% of cases of them in competition for Monday. “We are not going case numbers, Italy has re precedent in peacetime after of people diagnosed with loss of smell — and have said have urged health authori sudden loss of smell in supplies. to let it turn into a longlast ported the highest fatality PM Boris Johnson ordered the disease increased by this could be a sign of CO ties to advise people with a adults are caused by postvi President Donald Trump ing financial problem.” rate, at around 10%, which at everyone to stay at home. 1,762 to 24,811, he added. VID19 in people who other sudden loss of smell or taste ral anosmia, she said. ELSEWHERE Mahinda convenes allparty Bangladesh to release Khaleda Zia meet on COVID19 preparedness Former PM’s family had sought her release following the virus outbreak

Press Trust of India “I thank Prime Minister MPs suggest reconvening of House for better coordination Dhaka Sheikh Hasina,” Zia’s youn Bangladesh on Tuesday in ger sister Selima Islam said. Pompeo slashes $1 bn Meera Srinivasan liance spokesman M.A. Su ed by the Army commander, itiated a process to “condi Zia served thrice as the aid to Afghanistan COLOMBO DOHA manthiran said in a tweet: has implemented various tionally” release jailed form premier since 1991. Her par U.S. Secretary of State Mike As Sri Lanka’s Parliament “Reconvening #Parliamant measures, including an en er Prime Minister Khaleda ty suffered a miserable de Pompeo on Monday slashed stands dissolved since early was raised at the Party Lead forced curfew in the coun Zia for six months following feat in the 2018 elections $1 billion in aid to Afghan March, Prime Minister Ma ers’ Mtg by @Rauff_Hakeem try. Over 2,000 people have the COVID19 outbreak in the bagging only six seats in government after a mission hinda Rajapaksa convened [Sri Lanka Muslim Congress been arrested since Friday country. 300seat parliament. to Kabul failed to bridge a an allparty leaders’ meeting Leader] and myself. It is not for violating it. The Bangladesh National Her conviction on “moral divide between feuding on Tuesday to discuss the necessary to meet physically When the curfew was ist Party chief is serving a 17 turpitude” charges debarred leaders. Mr. Pompeo made government’s ongoing stra in one place but it is impor temporarily lifted on Tues year prison term in two graft her from contesting the the surprise trip in hopes of tegies in combating CO tant to have an active Parlia day morning, long queues cases since February 8, 2018. polls. reviving a landmark U.S. VID19 that has affected over ment so that feedback from were seen outside supermar “The decision has been ta She was sent to jail in Fe accord with the Taliban. AFP 100 persons so far. the people are received and kets but adequate arrange ken on humanitarian A file photo of Khaleda Zia in Dhaka. * AP bruary 2018 by a local court “I emphasised the need of for better accountability .” ments were made to manage ground,” Law Minister Ani on charges of embezzling fo Jihadist ambush kills at working together to success While there has been no offi the crowd. sul Huq said. immediately but officials fa Staterun specialised hospi reign donations meant for an least 70 Nigerian soldiers fully battle #COVID19. All cial response yet, Mr. Su The government said it is He said the decision was miliar with the process said tal, “as soon as” they receive orphanage, named after her KANO present were in agreement manthiran tweeted that organising doortodoor de taken in line with Prime Mi the Home Ministry would the file from the Law slain husband and President At least 70 Nigerian soldiers and pledged full support. there was a “favourable res livery of essentials in capital nister Shekh Hasina’s direc take subsequent steps for Ministry. Ziaur Rehman, during her were killed in an ambush on #TogetherWeCan #CO ponse” to his suggestion. Colombo, Gampaha and Ka tives and considering the age the former premier’s tem The development came a premiership between 2001 their convoy by jihadist VID19SL,” Mr. Rajapaksa President Gotabaya Raja luthara districts. of the former Prime porary release under a cri day after Zia’s family sought and 2006. fighters in the restive said in a tweet. paksa dissolved Parliament Meanwhile, President Go Minister. minal procedure code her release over the CO Rehman, a military ruler northeast, military and Meanwhile, some partici and announced general elec tabaya Rajapaksa has asked (CrPC). VID19 outbreak. turnedpolitician, was the security sources said on pants suggested that the tions for April 25 that now legal experts and the Depart Freedom for 6 months Home Minister Asaduzza “This is a decision we wel founder of the BNP. Tuesday. Insurgents fired rocketpropelled grenades at Prime Minister and the go stand indefinitely post ment of Prisons to explore “... Zia will be released for a man Khan Kamal said his of come,” BNP leader Ruhul Ka She was convicted in a lorry carrying troops as it vernment consider recon poned. the possibility of granting period of six months and she fice would take steps for the bir Rizvi told reporters in another corruption case la travelled near Gorgi village in vening Parliament to help Sri Lankan public health some relief to the prisoners must stay in her own house,” release of Zia, who is being brief comments at the Ban ter the same year, though Borno state on Monday, said MPs coordinate better in dis authorities, along with a na who were charged with mi the Minister said. treated for oldage complica gabandhu Sheikh Mujib her party claims both cases two military officers. AFP tricts. Tamil National Al tional task force being head nor offences. He declined to elaborate tions at the prison cell of a Medical University here. are politically motivated. China told to reverse decision to expel scribes 64 found dead in container in Albert Uderzo, cocreator of NYT, WSJ and Post emphasise the need for free flow of information from Country Mozambique Asterix and Obelix Marc Tracy , is dead Trump administration. The The publishers of The New ouster of the American jour Agence France-Presse York Times, The Wall Street nalists followed the Trump Maputo He and Rene Goscinny together created 24 comic books Journal and The Washington administration’s decision to More than 60 suspected Post on Tuesday released a limit to 100 the number of undocumented migrants Associated Press Bernard de Choisy, as say statement critical of the Chi Chinese citizens who can from Ethiopia were found PARIS ing. “He had been very tired nese government’s decision work in the U.S. for five state dead on Tuesday in a cargo Albert Uderzo, one of the for several weeks.” to bar American journalists run Chinese media container in Mozambique's two creators of the beloved Mr. Uderzo initially illus for the three publications organisations. northwest Tete province, a comic book series Asterix trated the characters creat from working in China. The letter from the three senior hospital official said. and Obelix, who captured ed along with writer Rene The unusual statement, publishers emphasized the “A truck transporting il the spirit of the Gauls of yore Goscinny. Together, they signed by A.G. Sulzberger of Media freedom: NYT’s journalist Steven Lee Myers, centre, need for a free flow of infor legal immigrants from Ma and grew a reputation created 24 comic books. Af The Times, William Lewis of with other journalists in Beijing, in this file photo. * AFP mation during the coronavi lawi, suspected to be Ethio worldwide, died on Tues ter Goscinny’s death in 1977, The Journal and Fred Ryan rus crisis. “This move — pians, was stopped at the day. He was 92. The French Mr. Uderzo also took over of The Post, was released on news organisations that pre journalists at the three new made in retaliation for re Mussacana weight bridge press quoted family mem the comic books’ writing du line early Tuesday and was ceded this action,” the pu spapers based in the country cent expulsions by the U.S. in Tete, and 64 people bers as saying that Mr. Uder ties, deciding to continue scheduled to appear in the blishers said in the state whose credentials were set government — is one that we were found dead. Only 14 zo died of a heart attack in without his creative partner. rival newspapers’ Tuesday ment. “The media is to expire in 2020 had to would protest under any cir survived,” an official said the Paris suburb of Neuilly. Albert Uderzo Goscinny’s daughter, print editions. collateral damage in a diplo hand in their press cards cumstances,” the publishers on condition of anonymity. Asterix, portrayed as a Anne, called the two men “We strongly urge the Chi matic dispute between the within 10 days. The action wrote. “The cause of death is short man with a droopy conquerors, along with his “brothers”. “They were as nese government to reverse Chinese and U.S. govern would affect at least 13 “But it is uniquely damag presumed to be mustache always wearing a inseparable bigbellied different as fire and water, its decision to force the ments, threatening to de journalists. ing and reckless as the world asphyxiation.” helmet with wings, was friend, Obelix. but they lived something Americans working for our prive the world of critical in China’s move was the lat continues the struggle to The victims were disco created in the early 1960s by “Albert Uderzo died in his that few among us could news organisations to leave formation at a perilous est in an escalating diplomat control this disease, a strug vered in a blue cargo con Mr. Uderzo and Rene Gos sleep at his Neuilly home of a live,” she told the French the country and, more moment.” ic feud between the Chinese gle that will require the free tainer loaded on to a haul cinny. The character lived in heart attack with no links to daily Le Parisien. “They broadly, to ease the growing On Wednesday, China an government, led by Presi flow of reliable news and in age truck, according to a village in Gaul, presentday the coronavirus,” the French were the kind of friends you crackdown on independent nounced that all American dent Xi Jinping, and the formation.” NY TIMES pictures seen by AFP. France, resisting Roman press quoted his soninlaw, don’t often have in life.”

DELHI THE HINDU 16 BUSINESS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

market watch

24-03-2020 % CHANGE Markets look up Sensex dddddddddddddddddddddddd26674 ddddddddddddddd2.67 Economic package soon, says FM US Dollardddddddddddddddddddd 75.94 ddddddddddddddd0.34 Brent oil ddddddddddddddddddddd 27.79 ddddddddddddddd6.88 Task force still not constituted, but FM speaks of multilayered subgroups holding consultation a day after worst fall NIFTY 50 PRICE CHANGE special correspondent these suggestions which are of unusual situation requires India VIX index jumps another 14% Adani Ports...... 231.75...... 23.95 NEW DELHI coming in from the various a lot of consultation to get it Asian Paints...... 1524.85...... 26.40 SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Axis Bank ...... 303.15...... -5.50 An economic package to deal sub groups within the multi right,” she told journalists. Asia, Nikkei gained over 7% MUMBAI Bajaj Auto ...... 1937.15...... 1.60 with COVID19 situation will layered task force that ex while Hang Seng was up Bajaj Finserv...... 4497.75. .. -123.30

Bajaj Finance ...... 2474.20. .... 208.05 be announced soon, Finance ists,” she said. “So the work ‘No intention to delay’ Equity benchmarks opened nearly 4.5%. The overnight Bharti Airtel ...... 404.05...... -3.30 Minister Nirmala Sitharaman of the task force which is “We had no intention to de on a strong note on Tues U.S. markets also registered BPCL...... 262.85...... -6.50 promised on Tuesday after multilayered is already al lay, we don’t want to delay, day, a day after registering strong gains of over 7%. Britannia Ind ...... 2364.70. .... 226.85

Cipla ...... 377.45...... 2.20 noon, adding that the go most nearing a conclusion. but then but let us be realis their worst singleday fall, “Post hitting lower circuit Coal India ...... 127.85...... 0.00 vernment and regulators are So the task force and the task tic. Till yesterday, the Parlia but failed to maintain the le for second time in a month, Dr Reddys Lab ...... 2857.95...... 89.55 constantly monitoring the force based report and the ment was in session and the vels as the underlying weak Indian equity markets Eicher Motors...... 14208.50. .... 502.60

GAIL (India)...... 76.45...... -1.55 state of the economy, mar action following the task Finance Bill had to be ness in investor sentiment bounced back today amidst Grasim Ind ...... 400.10...... -33.15 kets and rupee depreciation. force’s report are almost at cleared,” she said adding led to some amount of sell recovery in global equity HCL Tech...... 442.05...... 24.90 However, she still oﬀered its peak and that is why I that she would have been ing pressure. The bench markets,” said Siddhartha HDFC ...... 1505.10...... -15.60

HDFC Bank...... 767.70...... -3.85 little clarity on the composi have said we will announce happy to announce the pack marks fell into the red brief Khemka, Head Retail Re Hero MotoCorp ...... 1627.05...... 11.05 tion of an economic task the economic package soon age in the House if it was rea ly before ending the day on search, Motilal Oswal Finan Hindalco ...... 88.75...... 0.85 force announced by the PM er rather than later.” dy and the Finance Bill had a strong note, which was in cial Services. Hind Unilever ...... 2027.85. .... 158.15 Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addresses the media ICICI Bank ...... 296.50...... 12.50 last week, and explained the via video conferencing, in New Delhi onTuesday. * PTI She did not respond to been passed. “And once the line with the positive global Incidentally, stocks pared IndusInd Bank ...... 312.35...... -24.10 delay in announcing an eco speciﬁc queries on how the Finance Bill got cleared, it cues on the back of mea some of the gains after Fi Bharti Infratel ...... 141.95...... -1.45 nomic package by saying ex given to the economy. The evening, after the FM’s press economic package would was important for the MPs to sures announced by the U.S. nance Minister Nirmala Sith Infosys ...... 589.80...... 63.35

Indian OilCorp...... 79.70...... -1.05 tensive consultations were Prime Minister himself is conference, a Finance Minis provide relief for millions of recognise there is a lock Federal Reserve to boost araman announced a slew ITC ...... 149.70...... -4.60 needed, and till yesterday, closely monitoring the situa try spokesperson once again informal sector and daily down in this country, so eve U.S. economy. of relaxations in compliance JSW Steel...... 147.10...... 2.70 Parliament was in session tion. A multilayered compo conﬁrmed to The Hindu that wage workers who have ryone had to go where they and reporting requirements Kotak Bank ...... 1152.90...... 54.65

L&T...... 707.90...... -16.15 and the Finance Bill had to sition of the task force is al no order has yet been issued been hit the hardest by the had to go and serve and be of Sensex up 2.67% even as no economic stimu M&M ...... 269.00...... -24.40 be cleared. ready working.” to set up the task force. shutdown. use for their own consti The 30share Sensex gained lus was included in the an Maruti Suzuki ...... 4486.45. .... 266.10 “Work is going on and we As The Hindu had report Ms. Sitharaman was more Ms. Sitharaman attributed tuents. So the Parliament ad 692.79 points, or 2.67%, to nouncements. Nestle India Ltd...... 13478.35. .... 533.70

NTPC ...... 77.55...... 1.15 are very close to coming out ed on Tuesday morning, the ambiguous about the status the delay in announcing an journed sine die.” close at 26,674.03. Earlier in On BSE, nearly 1,400 ONGC ...... 62.50...... 2.10 with an economic package, economic task force an of the task force, saying that economic package to the In the ﬁnal hours of the the day, it had gained nearly stocks were in the red as PowerGrid Corp ...... 147.30...... -5.70 which will be announced nounced in the PM’s address subgroups of MPs, academ need for extensive consulta Lok Sabha session on Mon 1,500 points to touch an in against 890 gainers. Reliance Ind ...... 943.40...... 59.35 State Bank ...... 183.20...... 1.60 sooner rather than later,” she to the nation on March 19 has ics and industry leaders tions and to ﬁrst pass the Fi day, a number of opposition traday high of 27,463. The Foreign portfolio inves Shree Cement ...... 16980.00...... 20.60 said, adding that the Centre, still not been constituted, were already generating nance Bill. “I appreciate that MPs had been pressing the broader Nifty settled the day tors (FPIs) continued selling Sun Pharma ...... 335.15...... 10.65

Tata Motors ...... 68.55...... 2.35 the Reserve Bank and the with the Finance Ministry ideas for the task force, but you would have liked the Finance Minister to make a at 7,801.05, up 190.80 points with Tuesday’s net sales Tata Steel ...... 271.90...... 0.75 regulators have been jointly saying the PM’s Oﬃce or the refused to elaborate on its package to be announced statement on the COVID19 or 2.51%. pegged at nearly ₹2,153 TCS ...... 1703.15...... 33.45 monitoring the volatility in Cabinet Secretariat would be composition or speciﬁc man last week. But most things situation and the govern The India VIX index, ho crore while their domestic Tech Mahindra ...... 503.50...... 16.30

Titan ...... 816.10...... 15.15 the stock markets thrice dai responsible for issuing an or date. “The Finance Ministry which are as big as an eco ment’s package before the wever, jumped another 14% counterparts bought shares UltraTech Cement...... 3018.10...... -36.75 ly. “Every attention is being der to create it. On Tuesday is working intensively on all nomic package for this kind Finance Bill was passed. on Tuesday. Elsewhere in worth ₹1,553 crore. UPL...... 262.05...... 7.45

Vedanta ...... 62.80...... 0.15

Wipro ...... 176.35...... 6.20

Zee Entertainment ...... 119.15...... -2.85 EXCHANGE RATES FMCG companies see a spurt in ‘COVID19 sales’ Indicative direct rates in rupees a unit except yen at 4 p.m. on March 24 CURRENCY TT BUY TT SELL Consumers on panic buying spree stock up essentials; ﬁrms step up production of soaps, liquid handwashes, cut prices

US Dollar...... 75.68...... 76.00 Euro ...... 82.20...... 82.55 ASHISH RUKHAIYAR plete lockdown amid a grow We have seen an increase in demand on the the impact of COVID 19,” said showing any signs of abating country’s largest pure play British Pound...... 89.04...... 89.44 MUMBAI <> Japanese Yen (100) . .. . 68.29...... 68.58 ing number of confirmed increase of 15-20% back of panic buying. Vivek Gambhir, MD and CEO, as of now. “We have recently fast moving consumer goods Chinese Yuan ...... 10.71...... 10.76 The COVID19 pandemic has cases of the virus, which in our average “There is a bit of panic Godrej Consumer Products. ramped up production of (FMCG) company, has also Swiss Franc ...... 77.57...... 77.94 led to a spike in the demand would only push up the de buying and we have seen “We have also heard of soaps by 30% and have in reduced the prices of Lifebu Singapore Dollar ...... 52.27...... 52.50 daily sales across of consumer staples like mand for such staples. around 1015% increase in some instances of consum creased production of liquid oy sanitisers, Lifebuoy Li Canadian Dollar...... 52.37...... 52.60 most product Malaysian Ringitt ...... 17.06...... 17.16 milk, milk products and bis “We have seen an increase our average weekly sales of ers trying to hoard essen hand washes by 3.5X at our quid handwash and Domex categories Source:Indian Bank cuits along with hand sanitis of 1520% in our average daily Parle G,” said Parle Products tials. Retailers have begun to units as well as through our floor cleaners by 15% and R.S. Sodhi, ers as people are stocking up sales across most product ca MD, Gujarat Cooperative Milk category head Mayank Shah. put restrictions on quantities vendor partner units,” Mr. said that the products with IN BRIEF essentials amid a complete tegories as consumers are Marketing Federation Apart from food essen being purchased. We believe Gambhir said. the reduced prices would be lockdown like scenario. stocking products like milk, tials, products like hand that there should be no rea In a similar context, Mr. available in the market in the Dr. Reddy’s to raise funds Companies like Amul, Par butter, ghee, cheese and pa stern restrictions on people washes have also seen an in son to panic as there should Shah said that the company next few weeks. The compa via commercial paper le and Godrej Consumer Pro neer,” said R.S. Sodhi, ma movement, along with a crease in sales as authorities be sufficient supplies availa had increased production by ny has also ramped up the HYDERABAD ducts have seen a 1015% naging director, Gujarat lockdown, which has made have been highlighting the ble,” Mr. Gambhir added. 15% while closely working production of Lifebuoy sani Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories said jump in demand across pro Cooperative Milk Marketing consumers wary of essential importance of sanitising with governments to ensure tisers, Lifebuoy Handwash li it was considering raising duct categories and ramped Federation, which owns products going out of stock, hands at regular intervals. Production ramped up there is minimal logistical is quid and Domex Floor funds. The board of directors up production to meet the Amul. thereby leading to panic “In some categories, such To meet the increased de sue and all its trade partners Cleaners and will be scaling is likely to meet on March 27 growing demand. Some States like Maha buying. as hand washes and sanitis mand, companies have also have sufficient stock. it up even further in the com to consider raising funds by This assumes significance rashtra, Karnataka, Punjab The popular Parle G bis ers, we have seen temporary ramped up their production Incidentally, Hindustan ing weeks, it had said in a issuance of commercial paper. as more States initiate a com and Delhi have imposed cuit has also seen a notable spike in demand, driven by as the virus threat is not Unilever (HUL), which is the statement issued last week. RBI advances variable Auto sector loss per day Moody’s FM’s announcements welcomed downgrades rate term repo auction estimated at ₹2,300 cr. Indiabulls Relaxations in norms will offer respite, say industry bodies Central bank bid to meet liquidity needs Many auto/component makers closed Special Correspondent come the announcement Special Correspondent MUMBAI that customs will now func Mumbai Special Correspondent auction scheduled for Special Correspondent Firms that The host of announcements tion as an essential service NEW DELHI <> Mumbai March 31, 2020. announced closure Moody’s Investors Service made by Union Finance Mi and will be working 24X7 till The Reserve Bank of India “As a special case, stan With manufacturing plants include Maruti has downgraded the cor nister Nirmala Sitharaman June 30, 2020.” (RBI) has decided to to ad dalone primary dealers temporarily shut to prevent Suzuki, Kia Motors, porate family rating (CFR) for the benefit of individual “The FM’s announcement vance the first of the two va (SPDs) were also allowed to the spread of COVID19, the and Hyundai Motor and foreigncurrency se and business taxpayers in that companies with an an riable rate term repo auctions participate in these auc automobile sector has esti nior secured rating of In the backdrop of COVID19 nual turnover of less than ₹5 to March 26 from March 30. tions along with other eligi mated a loss of over ₹2,300 combat COVID19, automo diabulls Housing Finance outbreak has been wel crore will not be levied any The central bank had an ble participants,” the cen crore per day. bile and auto component Limited (Indiabulls) to B3 comed by MSMEs, experts interest, penalty or late fee nounced two such auctions of tral bank said in the “As per quick estimates makers have, in the past two from B2. and trade associations. Ra with respect to GST till June ₹25,000 crore each on March statement. by the Society of Indian Au days, announced temporary In addition, Moody’s has jan Wadhera, president, 30, 2020 will help MSMEs in 30 and March 31 to address It has been decided to tomobile Manufacturers shutdown of their manufac downgraded Indiabulls’ fo SIAM said, “The series of an Rajan Wadhera the gem and jewellery sec the additional demand for li temporarily enhance li (SIAM), it is expected that turing plants. reign and local currency nouncements made by the tor,” Mr. Shah said. Kamal quidity. quidity available to SPDs plant closures of auto OEMs The manufacturers in senior secured MTN pro Finance Minister will lower 20, should have also been Khetan, CMD, Sunteck Real “On a review of the rapidly under the Reserve Bank’s and components makers clude market leaders Maruti gramme ratings to (P)B3 the challenges for compa extended as many MSMEs ty Ltd., said “In the light of evolving financial conditions Standing Liquidity Facility will lead to loss of more than Suzuki and Hero MotoCorp, from (P)B2. The outlook on nies in the immediate term.” have not filed the returns for the economic slowdown due and taking into account the (SLF) from ₹2,800 crore to ₹2,300 crore in turnover for Chennaibased TVS Motor, all ratings remains nega February as yet.” to COVID19 pandemic, the impact of disruptions caused ₹10,000 crore with imme each day of closure,” Rajan Kia Motors, General Motors, tive, it said, adding, “The Extending deadline Colin Shah, vicechair government is moving posi by COVID19, it has been de diate effect, in order to fa Wadhera, president of the India Yamaha Motor, Re downgrade and negative However, K.E. Raghunathan, man, Gem & Jewellery Ex tively to support India Inc. cided to advance the first auc cilitate yearend liquidity industry body said on nault India, Rockman Indus outlook reflect Moody’s ex past president, All India Ma port Promotion Council of “The announcement by the tion scheduled for March 30, management by SPDs. This Tuesday. tries, Hyundai Motor, Hon pectation that Indiabulls’ nufacturers Association, India, said, “These mea FM on relaxation of rules for 2020 to March 26, 2020” the enhanced facility will be With almost all districts da Cars, Fiat Chrysler access to funding will re said, “The deadline for Fe sures will give some relief to TDS, GST and corporate RBI said in a statement. available till April 17, 2020, in the country under a lock Automobiles and Honda main challenging for lon bruary GST returns , which a lot of very worried entre compliances come as a There is no change in the the RBI said. down as part of efforts to Motorcycle & Scooter India. ger than expected.” was due to be filed on March preneurs. Exporters wel muchneeded respite.” Aramco capex cut may hurt BPCL divestment Monitoring medicine Ola to waive lease rentals Company’s move amid declining oil demand is likely to affect Reliance Industries’ stake sale as well orders, inventories: IPA for drivers Piyush Pandey (mbpd) compared with its av the next stage of the appro Assures of adequate stock of APIs MUMBAI erage production of 9.7 val process. Special Correspondent The world’s largest oil firm mbpd amid an oil price war. RIL management, in its Q3 Special Correspondent Bengaluru Saudi Aramco’s decision to Even as Aramco’s manage earnings briefing, reiterated HYDERABAD Ridehailing platform Ola cut its capital expenditure ment is confident of meeting that its March 2021 deleve The Indian Pharmaceutical has decided to waive lease (capex) by $10 billion is likely investors’ 2020FY earnings / raging target remained un Alliance (IPA) has said its rentals for its driver to hurt the divestment of dividend expectations even changed and was not condi member companies were partners. Bharat Petroleum Corpora if oil price remains at about tional on any transaction closely monitoring orders “We can confirm that we tion Limited (BPCL) and also $30, the company will con (such as Aramco). and inventories of are fully waiving away the oil giant’s plans to buy a sider modifying 2021FY ca “We note that the RIL medicines. lease rentals, akin to an 20% stake in Reliance Indus pex plan. stock price is down 34% from “With an adequate stock EMI, for driver partners tries Ltd.’s oiltochemicals its peak (in December 2019) of active pharmaceutical in who operate vehicles business, according to Stock price correction and below the price at which gredients (APIs), finished owned by Ola’s subsidiary, analysts. Nomura, while raising its they had announced stake product formulations and Ola Fleet Technologies, un Saudi Aramco is planning weight on Reliance Indus sale to Aramco — implying channel availability, we IPA said the member der its leasing pro to cut its 2020 capex to $25 Slippery future: Saudi Aramco is planning to cut its capital tries (RIL) due to lower oil the market is not factoring in would be able to sustain the companies were working gramme,” the company 30 billion from the original expenditure to $25-30 bn from the original $35-40 bn. * AP prices, said the recent cor this transaction,” said BofA supply of medicines for the with the Central and State said in a statement. $3540 billion amid concerns rection in stock price (down Securities in research note to coming months. We are not governments, pharmaceuti Driver partners who are over oil demand owing to the pany will focus on down current price, governments 33% vs. Nifty down 28%) fac its clients. aware of any medicines cal industry associations in currently in distress due to outbreak of COVID19. stream in highgrowth 52.98% stake will be valued tors in potential failure to “Aramco has the capabili shortage, to date,” a state the country and key stake the temporary lockdowns The oil major’s capex markets, including India. close the Saudi Aramco deal ty to close both the deals si ment from IPA said. holders in the supply chain in the wake of COVID19, stood at $32.8 billion in 2019. BPCL’s market capitalisa NEWS ANALYSIS and lower refining and petro multaneously as they believe to ensure patients in India will stand to benefit, it said. Saudi Aramco’s decision tion has dropped by more chem margins. their oil will last till eternity. Keeping tab on supply and the world continued to “Our benefits on insu may have a direct bearing on than half to ₹56,910 crore as at ₹30,151 crore. Saudi Aramco, in a confe They want long term buyers The Alliance that represents have access to medicines. rance for drivers and their the government’s plan to div on Tuesday compared to al “It will be very difficult for rence call, stated that it was for Saudi oil. 24 national pharmaceutical The Alliance members con spouses against loss of in est its 52.98% stake in BPCL most ₹1,20,000 crore in No the government to sell BPCL still conducting due dili “However, given the mar firms said it was working tribute to over 80% of the come due to contraction of as Saudi Aramco was seen as vember 2019. at this valuation,” said a gence on a potential invest ket conditions, the valua with various entities global country’s exports of drugs COVID19 will continue to one of the front runners to BPCL shares on Tuesday Mumbai based oil analyst. ment in RIL’s oiltochemi tions of the both the deals ly to assess international de and pharmaceuticals and be offered to all our driver buy the stake. closed down 2.62% to Aramco’s focus now is to cals operations. could change to a great ex velopments and any poten service over 57% of the dom partners across the coun According to Saudi Aram ₹262.35, valuing the compa increase oil production up to Once the evaluation was tent,” an official of an oil PSU tial impact on supply of estic market, the statement try,” the ridehailing plat co’s annual report, the com ny at ₹56,910.35 crore. At 12.3 million barrels per day complete, it would move to told The Hindu. medicines globally. said. form further said. CM A ND-NDE YK EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

THE HINDU DELHI WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 SPORT 17 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Tokyo 2020 will now be held next year Athletes relieved, says IOA

Japan and IOC take decision with aim to safeguard health of athletes and all involved in the Games Press Trust of India “IOA welcomes the holding meetings with NEW DELHI decision of IOC. athletes, federations, Tokyo was spending some The Indian Olympic Discussions were held by sponsors, etc. to revise SUMMER OLYMPICS $12.6 billion to host the Association (IOA) on IOC with organisers and all plans. Games, according to its latest Agence France-Presse Tuesday welcomed the stakeholders prior to this,” “This decision today, budget, and experts believe LAUSANNE decision to postpone the IOA secretarygeneral Rajiv relieves our athletes of a postponement could cost it The 2020 Tokyo Olympics Tokyo Olympic Games, Mehta told PTI. worries of having to train some $6 billion in the short has been postponed to no la saying the country’s now during epidemic and term before recouping it ter than the summer of 2021 athletes have been relieved Meeting perform their best in four when it eventually goes because of the coronavirus of having to train during a “Soon after the lockdown months from now,” he ahead. pandemic sweeping the global health crisis. is over, IOA would be added. globe, the International It will also be a bitter blow Olympic Committee an to sponsors and major nounced on Tuesday. broadcasters who rely on the The Games were sche fouryearly extravaganza for duled for July 24August 9, critical advertising revenue. but after telephone discus It is not the first time To Appropriate decision: Sindhu sions between IOC president kyo has seen unscheduled Thomas Bach and Japanese changes to the Games — it Gopi Chand welcomes move, awaits new guidelines Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a was due to be the first Asian historic joint decision was ta country to host the Olympics V.V. Subrahmanyam ken for the first postpone in 1940 before pulling out HYDERABAD ment of an Olympics in due to international pressure World badminton cham peacetime. over its war with China. pion P.V. Sindhu has wel Abe said Bach was in But Tokyo 2020 organis comed the decision to post “100% agreement” when Ja Momentous: A man walks past a billboard promoting the Tokyo Games. The unprecedented, ers point to the unparalleled pone the Tokyo Olympics. complexity — not to mention pan asked the IOC to push but anticipated, decision to postpone the mega event was taken on Tuesday. * FILE PHOTO: REUTERS “I think it was the most back the Games and said the cost — of shifting the Games. appropriate decision given delayed Olympics “held in a of the tunnel in which the poned and the flame will re with 1.7 billion people across It is not even clear venues the prevailing critical situa complete form will be a tes world finds itself at present. main there for now. the planet in lockdown to will be available and tens of tion. tament to mankind’s defeat The move would be a de prevent the further spread of thousands of hotel rooms “The organisers have of the new virus”. Flame to stay in Japan vastating blow for Tokyo, COVID19. will need to be cancelled and shown concern for the the In a joint statement, the “Therefore, it was agreed which had won widespread rebooked. health of every one involved pair said that based on cur that the Olympic flame will praise for its organisation, Preparations affected by not going ahead with the rent World Health Organiza stay in Japan. It was also with venues finished well Training has become impos Logistical issues original schedule,” Sindhu tion information, the Tokyo agreed that the Games will ahead of time and tickets sible for many athletes and Squeezing in the 16day told The Hindu on Tuesday. Wait to continue: Gopi and Sindhu arrive in Hyderabad after

Games “must be resche keep the name Olympic and massively oversubscribed. exposes them to the risk of Games into what will already “Athletes should be pre the latter’s silver-winning show at 2016 Olympics. * FILE PHOTO duled to a date beyond 2020 Paralympic Games Tokyo The Olympics, which has contracting or spreading the be a hugely crowded 2021 ca pared for unforeseen deve but not later than summer 2020,” the statement experienced boycotts, terro disease. Competitions and lendar is another major hea lopments. Now, with the duct the Games given the and the new qualification 2021, to safeguard the health concluded. rist attacks and protests, but qualifiers have been dache, with arguably the two Games officially postponed, uncertainty shrouding the norms. Whether they will of the athletes, everybody in Bach later said he did not has been held every four scrapped, while internation biggest sports, swimming naturally we will have to re situation. Athletes would go ahead with the existing volved in the Olympic Games discuss new dates with Abe years since 1948, would be al travel is severely limited. and athletics, due to hold plan our preparations. But, have found it extremely norms or not,” Gopi said. and the international and the exact dates is a ques the highestprofile event af On Sunday, the IOC had their World Championships first, let us all hope that the challenging to make it to the community”. tion for the Tokyo organising fected by the virus that has initially given itself a dea that summer. situation improves global Games if they were to be More time, new challenges “The leaders agreed that committee and an Interna killed thousands and closed dline of four weeks to come However, World Athletics ly,” added Sindhu. held as per the original “Yes, the move also gives the Olympic Games in Tokyo tional Olympic Committee sports competitions up with a proposal to post has already said it was pre Chief badminton coach P. schedule in July. the coaches and athletes could stand as a beacon of panel overseeing the worldwide. pone the Games, a Hercu pared to shift its World Gopi Chand also welcomed “I don’t know what kind time and at the same time hope to the world during preparations. The IOC has come under lean task that touches on ev championships, scheduled the decision. of impact it (the postpone new challenges too,” said these troubled times and The torch relay, due to increasing pressure in recent ery aspect of Tokyo 2020 for August 615 next year in “I welcome this very ment) will have on badmin Gopi, who is in selfisolation that the Olympic flame could start on Thursday from the days to postpone the Games, planning from venues to se Oregon, to accommodate the good decision for it would ton players, for first we have on return from the All En become the light at the end Fukushima, will be post scheduled to start on July 24, curity to ticketing. move. have been difficult to con to know the BWF guidelines gland championship. Life always comes first: Mary Kom Tough, but smart move: Paes COVID-19 IMPACT Shayan Acharya Paes said every aspect Bajrang donates salary in Indian stars concur that wellbeing of athletes is paramount MUMBAI had to be considered before fight against pandemic India’s tennis ace Leander taking such a tough call. NEW DELHI Star wrestler Bajrang Punia has Press Trust of India Paes has termed the deci “It’s a very tough decision donated his six months salary NEW DELHI sion to postpone the Tokyo to take, because millions towards fight against the Life comes first, sport can Olympics a ‘smart move’. and millions of sporting coronavirus pandemic. “I have wait. This was the collective Paes, who won a bronze commerce goes into the donated my six months’ salary view of India’s top Olympic at the Atlanta Olympics in Olympics. Given the effort towards relief fund for bound athletes, including 1996, told The Hindu that it the Olympic movement COVID-19 patients set up by M.C. Mary Kom and Saina was the right call. takes to run the Games, it Haryana Chief Minister M.L. tweet. He also called upon Nehwal, as they lauded the “The Olympic movement was a hard decision,” Paes Khattar,” Punia, who works people to make contributions Games’ postponement on stands for good health and is said. with the Railways as an officer towards the “Haryana corona Tuesday. about the global community In December last year, on special duty (OSD) said in a relief fund.” IANS “The situation right now coming together. At a time Paes had announced that is not good. Life always like this, when the corona 2020 would be his farewell Senior National (BAI) said on Tuesday. “We have badminton put on hold put on hold the 84th senior comes first, everything else pandemic has touched al year from tennis and he NEW DELHI Nationals and 75th inter-State can wait. Players’ safety is Mary. * FILE PHOTO: VIVEK BENDRE Bindra. * FILE PHOTO most every corner of the wanted to sign off after fea The 84th senior National inter-zonal in light of the paramount. Everyone who world, including Tokyo, full turing in the Tokyo Games. badminton championship, coronavirus outbreak. We have took this decision factored We are eager to know what “We were prepared for credit to the Olympic com On his plans following the scheduled to be held in advised the state secretaries the qualification (process) Olympics. We were ready this in. I think it’s good,” said mittee for postponing the postponement, he said: “My Lucknow from April 27 to May not to book any ticket for the would be like going ahead.” but what do you do when so * boxer Mary Kom. Games,” Paes said. team and I are evaluating.” Leande Paes. FILE PHOTO 3, has been put on hold, Lucknow event,” BAI secretary India’s only individual mething like this happens. Saina, who was racing Badminton Association of India Ajay Singhania said. PTI against time to qualify for Olympic champion Abhinav It’s beyond control,” grap Tokyo, said, “happy that it’s Bindra welcomed the deci pler Ravi Dahiya said. Bayern Munich and other the economic impact of the postponed even though sion and stressed on the Shooting fraternity hails decision Bundesliga clubs coronavirus, media reports some of us haven’t qualified. need to immediately sus Hockey coaches’ view take pay cuts said Tuesday. Bild reports that pend training camps and Indian men’s hockey coach Santadeep Dey Abhishek Verma, who has BERLIN players and club officials at guard the athletes in the Graham Reid said the team CHENNAI selfquarantined at his Chan Footballers at Germany’s top champions Bayern, currently wake of the pandemic. is gutted by the postpone The Indian shooting team digarh home, said: “This is teams, including Bayern on top of Bundesliga, have Wrestler Bajrang Punia ment but understands the has welcomed the postpone an important decision keep Munich, have agreed to take accepted a 20% in their pay cuts to help clubs survive salaries. Bayern has a massive said training had been gravity of the health crisis. ment of the Tokyo Games. ing the public interest in wage bill which reached €336 thrown haywire and the Apurvi Chandela, who mind. It was necessary to en “It is very disappointing million last year, almost half of postponement is welcome. that the Olympics will not go has been training at her own sure public safety. All the club turnover. Players at “It’s a good decision be ahead, but given the unpre shooting range at home, said countries will be able to par Borussia Moenchengladbach cause everyone is disturbed. cedented circumstances fac she was taken aback by the ticipate in full swing next were the first in the Athletes’ health is para ing the world at present it is decision. She, however, said year.” Bundesliga to propose a pay mount. No one is training totally understandable and this doesn’t affect her prepa Manu Bhaker, though dis cut. Borussia Dortmund and properly. We first have to expected,” Reid said. The rations. “We have to look at appointed by the decision, Bayer Leverkusen players are save people from this epi view was shared by women’s our preparations and stay echoed the shooters’ in talks over pay cut proposals

Ravi Dahiya. * FILE PHOTO: PTI demic,” said Punia. team coach, Sjoerd Marijne. Apurvi. * FILE PHOTO focused.” “health above all” opinion. with management. AFP DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

THE HINDU CROSSWORD 12892 (set by Arden) SUDOKU FAITH Log on to crossword.thehindu.com for more puzzles 12 Hope everyone can suppress 4 It will slither and stop on discontent (5) tarmac (7) Importance of Acharyas

13 Bag of tricks — grabbed it, 5 Subject of King's ascendancy — Alavandar’s Stotra Ratnam is about Lord Narayana. But it getting ultimate thrill (4,3) they say ‘Ayes’ have it (7) begins with worship of Acharya Nathamuni. In a work about 15 Image exposed — nice and long the Supreme One, how can one begin with praise of an (4) 6 Communicate as per home Acharya, we may ask. The answer lies in the fact, that with design (9) out an Acharya, there is no way we can attain moksha. 18 Hard to check vehicle daily (4) It is his guiding hand that shows us the right path, said Va 7 Perhaps later allowed new 20 He gets a bird on flight (7) layapet Ramachariar, in a discourse. Milk has a natural growth overhead (6) sweetness. But add some jaggery, cardamom and saffron to 23 Only role of abstractionism in it, and it tastes even better. Similarly, worshippin g God be painting (2,3) 8 Complaint with business software he has acquired (6) comes even more delightful, when it goes hand in hand with 24 Landlord will glance around worship of an Acharya. If we are present in a temple, when before entering empty room 14 Unkempt, hairy — task for him an Acharya does a mangalasasana of the deity, then is not initially (9) is to fight (9) our joy doubled? Paying obeisance to one’s Acharya pleases 26 Used for divining friend’s the Lord. But is there any precedent for such worship? Sage secret, reportedly (9) 16 After drink understood he’s a Maitreya fell at the feet of sage Parasara, and aske d for ad man of God (8) vice. Parasara then told him the Vishnu Purana. So Alavan 27 Well earned, no odds on this dar is only following what had already been the practice, animal (5) 17 Butted in, but perhaps didn’t namely paying one’s respects to an Acharya, when one stop offensive (8) seeks knowledge about Bhagavan. 28 One breaking a contract is a Solution to puzzle 12891 Solution to yesterday’s Sudoku fool (3) An Acharya is put on a pedestal — Acharya devo bhava — 19 Automatic turnaround for ■ ACROSS an Acharya is equal to God. Chandogya Upansihad says 29 Free, in case trade is contributor (7) Acharyavaan Purusho Vedah, that is, only a man who has an 1 Regular pain to intercept call established (11) Acharya has proper spiritual understanding. So, we can see sign for bloodlines (11) 20 Endless plea by painter (7) that the Sastras lay stress on Acharya bhakti. Only with Ach 7 Money with Charlie remains (3) ■ DOWN 21 Move on with a ticket (6) arya’s help, we can understand Vedantic texts. And the 9 In general has adequate capital 1 Disaster — one on the run beauty is that a person who has studied under an Acharya, (5) through London, say (8) 22 Everyone's sunk low, Tom also comprehends that which has not been taught to him. It 10 Maybe Sellers accept a buck — may not be possible for a sishya to study all literature. His 2 Support not the growth of goes for vote (6) that’s a factor (9) Acharya may teach him only a few. But when he later on marine creatures (8) 11 Show displeasure with a cafe 25 Purge the opponent, finally reads whatever has not been taught, he still is able to under (4,1,4) 3 Climber gets a fix up (5) there’s change (5) stand the meaning, because of Acharya’s grace.

DELHI THE HINDU 18 SPORT WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Mbanda tackling a different opponent now Nepomniachtchi ahead CANDIDATES ahead of the secondplaced The Italian rugby international is now an ambulance driver for Yellow Cross Maxime VachierLagrave of Sports Bureau China. Yekaterinburg with other volunteers from ring positive patients from tact with patients put in Top seed Fabiano Carua COVID-19 the Yellow Cross in Parma, in one local hospital to another. wards “where death is the Ian Nepomniachtchi scored na of the United States is third with 3.5 points. Agence France-Presse EmiliaRomagna, one of the I help with the stretcher or if order of the day”. his second win in as many The results (sixth round): Parma areas most affected by the there are patients to be car “When you see the look in days to consolidate his lead Alexander Grischuk (Rus) 3 Italian international Maxime coronavirus. ried from a wheelchair. I also their eyes... even if they can’t at the Candidates chess “When everything was hold the oxygen,” he tournament. drew with Fabiano Caruana Mbanda has leapt from the speak, they communicate (USA) 3; Kirill Alekseenko (Rus) cancelled in rugby, I won explained. The Russian defeated se back row on the rugby pitch with the eyes and they tell 2 lost to Anish Giri (Ned) 3; Ian to the front line in the fight dered how I could help, even “If people see what I see in you things you can’t ima cond seed Ding Liren of Chi Nepomniachtchi (Rus) 4.5 bt against the coronavirus, be without medical expertise,” the hospitals, there wouldn’t gine,” he said. na in the sixth round and Ding Liren (Chn) 2; Wang Hao Mbanda, who plays for Zebre took his tally to 4.5 points. coming a volunteer ambu be a queue in front of the su “I started eight days ago, (Chn) 3 drew with Maxime Va- Rugby, the Parma club, said. He is now one point chier-Lagrave (Fra) 3.5. lance driver in Parma, and permarkets anymore,” he without a day’s break and “I found the Yellow Cross, bears witness to a frighten said. “They would think two, with shifts of 12 or 13 hours. which had a transport ser ing reality on the pandemic. three or four times before But faced with what I see in vice for medicine and food Last Saturday, Mbanda leaving home, even to go the infectious disease rooms, for the elderly.” was scheduled to face En running,” he said. I tell myself that I can’t be Postponement an gland in front of 60,000 peo tired,” he said. Physical strength used ple in Rome for his 21st Ita No medical experience After delivering masks, food Accustomed, as an Italian athlete’s nightmare lian cap, but that match, like and prescriptions one day, Mbanda has no medical ex international, to tackling so many others, has been the physical strength of the perience, but he is working stronger opponents, Mbanda V.V. SUBRAHMANYAM postponed. HYDERABAD 26yearold forward was put with the support of his girlf said he won’t give up. to good use where it was riend and his father, a surge “As long as I'm strong, I'll Rescheduling of a major Volunteers to help most needed, “on the front on in Milan, “also on the keep going. I'm here and I'm event is an athlete’s night Instead, wearing a mask and line, at the heart of the front line.” staying here. As long as mare, says 1996 Atlanta Kind gesture: The strong Maxime Mbanda helps patients to be protective suit, he went out problem”. Mbanda has had to be there's an emergency, I'm Olympics hockey goalkeep carried from a wheelchair. * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT again as an ambulance driver “I found myself transfer come a psychologist in con here and I'm staying here.” er Aloysius Edwards. Months of planning and preparation go for a toss, Former India Edwards, who represented Holding weighs in on Sandpapergate Nothing decided yet: India in 147 internationals between 1989 and 2000, in footballer cluding the 1994 World Cup, March 24, 2018, a dark day for Australian cricket Ganguly on IPL13 told The Hindu on Tuesday Aloysius Edwards. Abdul Latif on receiving news of the To * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Ayan Acharya disgust and awe. Michael Shayan Acharya kyo Olympics being CHENNAI with the specific objective of Holding, West Indies fast passes away MUMBAI postponed. bowling great who was part peaking at the right time for “Faf is being held together Special Correspondent “The worsthit will be of the commentary team BCCI president Sourav Gan a major event, especially the by... I was going to say by Hyderabad those who are on the verge during the Test, dismisses guly said there was no clari Olympics. And, the Games sticky tape, but that’s proba of making it to the Olym the notion that the fallout Former India footballer ty on the fate of IPL13 as the not being held as scheduled bly not the right thing.” So pics, the dream of any ath was over the top. Abdul Latif passed away in country has gone into a 21 lete,” he says. will be a huge dampener,” began the announcement, Guwahati on Monday. He day lockdown owing to he said. nearly four days after the Comparison was 73 and had a son and COVID19. Edwards should know Newlands incident in 2018, Different challenge two daughters. “Nothing has been decid what it means to miss an of the then South Africa “I don’t think so,” said Hold “The challenge is of a diffe Latif, who played as a ed yet. There is no clarity ,” Olympics! For, after attend coach Ottis Gibson, who had ing, “considering the level of rent nature, too, given that midfielder, represented In Ganguly told Sportstar from ing the onemonth prepara a dig at Australia’s balltam punishments meted out to the athlete is at home dur dia in the 1970 Asian Kolkata on Tuesday. “Things tory camp in Brisbane be pering weapon of choice. individuals and teams whose ing a lockdown. If you are crime was to not bowl Games where the team remain as it was (on March forced indoors by injury, fore the 2000 Sydney Australia had its moments enough overs in a day. And I won a bronze. 14) when we decided to post you know you can make it Olympics and even being when it was exceptionally think the bigger crime was to Earlier, he played for pone the IPL (to April 15). Ganguly. back by working on it, but presented the official No. 12 good, but this was one of its There is no update.” try and cover up what took State Bank of Hyderabad in * FILE PHOTO: VIVEK BENDRE here you are staring at grim jersey (which he exchanged lowest points. Eventually, place instead of just taking it the ADivision Rahim Will the tournament be possibilities,” he says. with Jude Felix’s No. 1 on the the players would come on the chin and Bancroft... caught in the League here. Later, he called off? “We have not de change have you seen in the “There will be some who latter’s request), the Hyde good and they would be apologising.” act! * FILE PHOTO moved to Bengaluru where cided on that yet. Let’s see last one week? Nothing! We may miss the bus for the rabadi was sent home and strong again. It was just one Holding did not see the in he played for HAL before how things go in the next have not spoken to any of simple reason that there will Devesh Chauhan preferred. of those things, but March 24 cident live. He had just come Holding recalled. “I went settling down in Guwahati. few days,” Ganguly said. the franchises yet.” be fresh guidelines and “However, postpone marked two years since Aus off commentary when a back and watched all the re Latif was also the coach The franchise officials Does the BCCI plan to do qualifying standards, espe ment was the only sensible tralian cricket was thrown broadcasting colleague plays from various angles. of the Assam team which had a conference call last nate any fund to the union cially in individual disci option left for the Olympics into turmoil by the Cape brought it to his attention. “I My immediate reaction was won the junior and the week, raising eyebrows. government for COVID19 plines. Young contenders organisers, given the grim Town Sandpapergate went outside the Super dismay. I couldn’t believe subjunior national titles Ganguly, however, made relief? who cannot be ignored will scenario across the world. scandal. sports commentary box only anyone could be so naïve to under his guidance. it clear that he has not spo “We haven’t decided on emerge. After all, athletes’ health Steven Smith and David to be asked by a commenta do what he [Bancroft] did in He also played for the ken to anyone so far. “What that yet,” Ganguly said. “Most athletes prepare and safety are paramount.” Warner, formerly captain tor from another network if I today’s world.” two famous Kolkata clubs and vicecaptain of Austra had seen what happened,” Holding has “no idea” Mohd. Sporting and Mo lia, were banned from play whether Smith and Warner hun Bagan. ing international and domes are better for their expe Former India captain tic cricket for 12 months by rience. “I remember seeing Victor Amalraj said that La Cricket Australia for their an advertisement that Smith tif was his coach with roles in the scandal while Ca did while under suspension, Mohd. Sporting in 1978 and meron Bancroft, the player referring to his involvement his strategies were bril caught tampering the ball, in the scandal which, in my liant. was banned from playing for opinion, was in poor taste. It Former internationals nine months. didn’t suggest to me that Shabbir Ali, Mohd. Habib, The reception Australia there was any remorse. I Amalraj, Aleem Khan, G. has got since that fateful Test don’t know either gentle Palguna were among those against South Africa has man, so can only go by what who expressed their con usually oscillated between Michael Holding. * FILE PHOTO I see.” dolences. A little panic is useful if it saves lives

Sport engenders complacency, but a measured panic is better in a crisis

time speculating or swallowing the lation which is often told what to feel. highly optimistic statements from some There is a third too — the reluctance of quarters. its billionaires to create a large fund to According to most estimates, we will fight the pandemic. India has 138 of be dealing in millions of people affected them, at the last count. and killed before the thing tapers off. BETWEEN WICKETS The best case scenario is a few weeks, Urgency suresh menon the worst 18 months or more. Govern The virus is no respecter of persons, ments and individuals should prepare and all three countries must deal with it for the worst while hoping for the best. uthorities the world over tell us not with greater transparency and urgency. Ato panic. But sometimes a little pan This means we will need more emer There are lessons they can learn from ic can be useful if it saves lives. It may be gency hospital beds, more equipment, one another, and from Italy, Spain, Ko necessary to frighten adults with the more trained personnel and huge rea and the rest of the world. bogeyman, the way children are scared amounts of money to handle the medi It is not the end of the world if the into eating their vegetables, if all of us cal crisis alone (the economic crisis IPL is postponed (the start of the cricket are to survive. running on a parallel track calls for fi season in England has been pushed to The insouciance with which many nancial stimulus too). Not every city at least May 28) or if the Olympic Games continue to go about their business as if can construct a 1000bed hospital in 10 are not held on schedule. Such things nothing is happening — partying, gath days, as Wuhan, in China, did. And this tell us simultaneously about both the ering in public places — seems to be a is where sports facilities come in. significance and the triviality of sport. sign that asking people not to panic is a Right now it is the triviality that dom Emergency centres way of telling them to act irresponsibly. inates. But we know this is only a phase, The fiveminute platebanging and The Sports Authority of India has alrea and soon the significance will take over. clapping on the Sunday was followed dy put its 10 centres and five stadiums In the meantime, as the British Prime on Monday by crowds on the streets at the government’s disposal to be used Minister said, many of us would have and in marketplaces. It was, as one wri as temporary emergency centres and lost loved ones. quarantine areas. ter pointed out, as if India had won the Many of them might have been saved World Cup. Citizens concluded that the The cricket stadiums where the IPL with a bit of panic that saw them stay at coronavirus had been driven away. is scheduled to be played can be put to home, wash hands and avoid travel and What has all this got to do with a better use over the next few weeks and crowds. sports column you might ask, and the months by turning them into similar In the spring of 1915, a year after the answer is, “everything.” Sport does not centres. start of the World War (which ended exist outside of normal human prac Brazil has already done the same only in 1919), the Surrey Committee is tice; it is not something that happens in with their football stadiums, and Wales sued the following statement: “The dependently of life. Any man’s death with rugby clubs. The three most popu County championship will not take ought to diminish us for we are involved lous countries got off to a late start for place; but in the event of the War com in mankind, as the poet pointed out. varying reasons. China, where the virus ing to an early conclusion, it is hoped originated, was more keen on covering that some matches may be played…” Illprepared up than on warning the rest of the The worst is yet to come, and we are ill world. The United States has the misfor Surrey’s and England’s and the prepared. The responsibility falls on tune of having a President who looks at world’s best batsman, Jack Hobbs later each of us to follow the rules. Stay each issue from the point of view of his wrote in his autobiography: “How cu home. Wash hands. Avoid people. personal business growth. The country rious it seems today to think that the The Olympic Games have been post in between, India, has done well so far, War might not be prolonged through poned. And there is very little chance of but it has two handicaps: an adminis out 1915…” the IPL being held any time soon. We tration that is fundamentally anti Sport engenders complacency, but might as well accept this and not waste science, and a tooeasily satisfied popu measured panic is better in a crisis.

CM A ND-NDE YK