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Gurugram: The district health Events Following vaccination process, deputy will be first given to health tions of the government, the tancing during this process. the person's information who department said on Friday that Immunisation (AEFI) com- civil surgeon M.P. Singh said workers, officials and employ- vaccine has been planned to be The person who is vaccinated came for the vaccination will be the Covid-19 vaccine will be mittee was conducted on that the Covid-19 vaccination ees associated with health ser- given in different stages so will be informed through SMS matched with the online Covid available to around 35,000 Friday under the chairmanship drive may start in the district vices," Singh said. that it can be administered in on his mobile in advance so portal. health workers of Government of Virender Yadav, civil sur- by January. Singh also informed that a systematic manner. Also, the that this work can be done in "Vaccination will be given and private hospitals in the dis- geon, Gurugram. The meeting "For this, a training pro- the vaccination process would vaccine storage transmission a planned manner. on getting the correct infor- trict. was also attended by the rep- gramme was organised at the be monitored through the work will be done under the After vaccination, the person mation and the person will be Also, apart from the resentative of the World Health mini secretariat recently about Covid portal. observation of the govern- will have to stay in the centre kept in the observation room Government facilities, Covid Organization, Bindu Yadav, the procedure of giving vac- "The process of preparing ment. for 30 minutes so that any reac- for some time. We will soon vaccine centres will also be set officials of all private hospitals cines and preparations related data of Covid warriors has "A team of five vaccinators tion can be cured immediate- start a campaign to give infor- up at private hospitals across and the Indian Medical to it. Initially, this vaccine will started on this portal," Singh will provide vaccines to a group ly," he said. mation about the process," he the district. Association. be given to corona warriors in said. of 100 people. Particular atten- The official further stated added. A meeting of the Adverse Elaborating the Covid-19 a phased manner. The vaccine According to the instruc- tion will be given to social dis- that at the time of vaccination, IANS    ! " ! $ *+ ,       -  !

+( =% the authorities have contained help of Mobile Vans, and 94.5 per cent to 94.4 per cent. &' ! ( ! )& '*+  the spread of virus. This slum 4,76,775 were surveyed by With 11 new deaths, the or the first time since the had attracted national as well as BMC health workers. total number of deaths went up Jammu: Two porters working in Poonch district on Pakistan has with impuni- Foutbreak of Covid-19 in international attention as a Fever clinics were set up for from 11045 to 11,056, while the for the Army were injured on Friday."Two porters working ty been violating the bilateral Dharavi on April 1 this year, large number of infections screening high risk categories infected cases rose by 596 to Friday when Pakistan carried for the army identified as Altaf ceasefire agreement signed by Asia’s largest slum went with- were reported in April, May such as elderly/senior citizens. trigger a jump in the total out a ceasefire violation on the Hussain and Mohammad the two countries in 1999.Since out even a single case on Friday, and June, sending the health This helped to screen 3.6 lakh infections from 2,89,204 to Line of Control (LoC) in J&K's Sulaiman were injured in January 2020, in more than even as Maharashtra logged authorities in Mumbai and people. Also, around 8246 289800. Poonch district. Pakistani firing. 3200 ceasefire violations by 3,431 fresh infections and 71 Maharashtra into a tizzy. senior Citizens were surveyed Meanwhile, the number of Police sources said "The injured porters have Pakistan, 30 civilians have been deaths. Being densely populated and as part of its policy of “active cases” total cases in the Pakistan targeted Indian been shifted to hospital for killed and 102 injured. Once considered one of the (2,27,136 persons/ sq. km), ‘Timely Separation’, they were state rose from 54,891 to 56,823 Army's Bandi Post on the LoC treatment", sources said. IANS Covid-19 hotspots in Mumbai, Dharavi had 491 cases in April separated from the other com- . The fatality rate in the state Dharavi has just 12 “active 2020 with a 12% growth rate munity to effectively limit the stood at 2.57 per cent. cases” and the infected persons and a case doubling period of transmission of the disease. Pune district, which con- ,* $  *  +&&*+  " (C  are being treated at local hos- 18 days. The proactive mea- To tackle the issue of man- tinued to be the worst-affected pitals. sures adopted by BMC reduced power to carry out proactive health infrastructure in the city-district in Maharashtra, 8 0   Expressing his happiness the COVID-19 growth rate to screening in high risk zones, city, all private hospitals were saw the total number of cases P *! !  !.  * over Dharavi’s complete turn- 4.3 per cent in May 2020 and BMC forged strategic public brought onboard and acquired increase from 3,69,065 to     around, Mumbai Municipal further to 1.02% in June. These private partnerships in con- for treatment. 3,69,631, while the total num- / +  ' ("*&( ('' + Commissioner I S Chahal said: measures also ensured an tainment measures and all Meanwhile, with 3431 ber of deaths in Pune increased     “We salute the people of improved case doubling time to available ‘private’ practitioners fresh infections reported in from 7713 to 7721. Bengaluru: Karnataka is ready ty which had been existing for Dharavi for their full cooper- 43 days in May 2020 and 78 were mobilized. BMC provid- Maharashtra on Friday, the Thane district remained to give 'autonomous status' the last several years.According Jaipur: Rajasthan BJP State ation. Our SOPs and other days in June 2020. ed the private doctors with PPE total infections in the state in the third spot --after Pune any degree or polytechnic col- to him, education is the only president Satish Poonia on health guidelines have helped Several challenges pre- Kits, thermal scanners, pulse climbed from 19,09,951 to and Mumbai – after the total lege that comes forward in way to get solutions for the Friday interacted with the matters”. sented themselves to BMC in Oxymeters, masks and gloves 19,13,382. Similarly, with 71 number of infections rose from order to enhance skills and problems that one comes farmers in an open field dur- Dharavi has come a long Dharavi where 80% population and started Door-to-Door new deaths, the total toll in the 2,51,880 to 2,52,273, while the leverage technology, Deputy across."It is education that can ing a 'Kisaan Chaupal' and way since the first Covid-19 depends on community toilets. screening in high risk zones state rose from 49,058 to total deaths climbed from 5527 Chief Minister, C. N. Ashwath give out permanent solutions to said that for the first time infection and death were BMC adopted a model of and all suspects were identified. 498,129. to 5540. Narayana said here on Friday. the problems. In view of this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reported from Dharavi on April actively following four T’s – BMC encouraged all prac- As 1427 patients were dis- Of the 1,24,01,637 samples Addressing a gathering the government strongly has accomplished the task of 1. There have been a total Tracing, Tracking, Testing and titioners to open their clinics to charged from the hospitals sent to laboratories, 19,13,382 after inaugurating the - Good believes in empowering the giving 1.5 times MSP to the 3,788 infections in this most- Treating. This approach includ- attend to the patients and com- across the state after full recov- have tested positive (15.43 per Governance Day - observed in education system and is ready farmers and made best congested slum. ed activities like proactive municate to BMC in case any ery, the total number of people cent) for COVID-19 until Vidhana Soudha to commem- to fill any shortfalls towards arrangements for them for It may be recalled that the screening. While 47,500 people COVID1-9 suspects were discharged from the hospitals Friday. orate the birth anniversary of achieving this," he claimed.The advanced farming, away from BMC and the state government were covered by doctors and found. BMC sanitised the clin- since the second week of March Currently, 4,77,528 peo- former Prime Minister A. B. Dy. CM argued that it is not traditional farming techniques. successfully adopted “chase the private clinics in house-to- ics of the private practitioners this year went up to 18,06,298. ple are in home quarantine Vajpayee here, Narayan who is always true that changes could "The budget of agriculture virus” at Dharavi slum in house screening, about 14,970 and provided them all neces- The recovery rate in the state while 3,695 people are in insti- incharge of Higher Education be made only by spending a in this country during the north-central Mumbai where people were screened with the sary support. To augment dropped marginally from from tutional quarantine. portfolio said that the incum- large amount of money but it Congress regime in 2013-14 bent government does not is possible to make big changes was Rs 21,000 crore. Today it believe in a rigid controlling by incurring minimum spend- has gobe up to Rs 1.34 lakh political history of free India. mindset. ing."The Learning crore. The increased budget 0  !* !  (* .! !"#  $111 The Left too hit back at the "We feel that more and Management System (LMS) aims to make the farmers of From Page 1 Prime Minister saying he was more polytechnic, engineer- which is being implemented in India prosperous through “While all other States are not saying the truth. ing colleges should try to get the state would make a revo- innovation," he said. receiving the funds the Bengal CPI(M) politburo member autonomous status. All the lutionary change in the years to On this occasion, Poonia )&! P '  /  *  . Government is stopping that Md Salim said, “We have never developed countries all over the come. Higher education insti- had the opportunity to watch from happening depriving the seen a liar of a Prime Minister world have achieved excel- tutions should consolidate local Prime Minister Narendra Varanasi: The country's first Vajpayee. More than one dozen proposal for the centre will go to farmers of early Rs 6,000 … all like him who can say anything lence because of decentralisa- co-operation, enhance skill, Modi's live virtual televised Centre for Studies, the 'Atal courses will be taught in this cen- the policy making committee. for narrow political reasons,” to further his political interests tion. This should happen in our leverage technology, ensure dialogue with the farmers in Study Centre', named after tre." After this, it will be discussed in Modi said accusing the Left … today he is talking all kinds state also, at a rapid pace," the the judicious execution of the fields. Poonia also paid flo- Bharat Ratna and late Prime He said, "The centre would the Academic Council and then Front too with double standards of nonsense but it was the same Dy. CM said.He added that the responsibility in their way to ral tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, is teach about the lives of eminent passed through the Executive as “they are hobnobbing with the person and his party that had new National Education Policy become autonomous," he Minister late Atal Bihari going to be established in Uttar personalities from Atal ji till the Committee Council which will same people in Punjab with appointed Mamata as its agent has paved way for this by elim- explained. Vajpayee on the occasion of the Pradesh's prestigious Banaras Yogi Adityanath era, besides send it to the Central govern- whom they are fighting in to demolish the Left movement inating limitations and rigidi- IANS latter's 96th birth anniversary. Hindu University (BHU). ancient Indian political thought, ment. The Social Sciences Centre Bengal… the condition of the in Bengal… we remember how Poonia said that the farm- This study centre run by the modern political thought, would start by the end of farmers of Bengal is not good.” he said after TMC came to ers in Maheshwas village in his Faculty of Social Sciences would nationalism, Hindutva, mythol- February next year." Reacting to the Prime power that ‘it will take some time R%!  %&''... Amer Assembly constituency have detailed study and research ogy, democracy, constitution, Mishra said the purpose of Minister’s remarks Roy said that for her to fill the holes (gaddas) strongly supported the newly programmes related to lives of employment generation meth- this centre is to reveal the knowl- the farmers in Bengal were bet- left by the Left Front… it was he From Page 1 enacted farm laws. eminent political personalities of ods, Indian political thought edge tradition of ancient, ter placed than their counter- who told the Bengal audience Modi released the installment of 2,000 to every farmer on "If they (Congress) have so the country. etc. Studies and research will be medieval and modern India as parts in the other parts of the that BJP in the Centre and the birth anniversary of the former Prime Minister and BJP stal- much sympathy for the farm- Dean of the Faculty of Social conducted on subjects such as well as inspire the youth. Apart country adding “the Bengal Mamata in the State would wart Atal Bihari Vajpayee, which is every year celebrated as “Good ers, why did they not imple- Sciences, Banaras Hindu the development journey of from Gandhi, Nehru and farmers are not crying for your mean two laddoos in the hands Governance Day” by the ruling party. ment all the schemes that Atal University, Kaushal Kishore independent India, cultural Vajpayee, there will be a detailed help.” of the people of the State Under the PM-KISAN SAMMAN scheme, a financial ben- ji implemented or which are Mishra, told IANS, "The Atal nationalism, democracy, consti- study on the lives of many big He also reminded how …today the BJP is reaping the efit of Rs 6,000 per year is provided to small and marginal farm- now being implemented by Study Centre is being established tution etc. It is the first such pro- political personalities. It will not Mamata Banerjee-led the Singur harvest of the misdeeds and ers, payable in three equal installments of Rs 2,000 each. The fund Prime Minister Modi," he in the BHU named after former posed centre of the country." be inspired by any political and Nandigram movements communal seeds sowed by is transferred directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. asked. IANS Prime Minister late Atal Bihari He further informed, "The thought or ideology, he said. which became a landmark in the Mamata in Bengal.” Several top BJP and Central Ministers also participated across the country in the “awareness campaign” (on farm laws) launched by the party.   555         ...       From Page 1 From Page 1 Covaxin by Bharat Biotech form by Bharat Biotech. The JD(U), led by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, won India has eight Covid-19 Limited, ZyCoV-D by Zydus The National Expert Group seven of the 15 seats it contested in the 2019 Assembly elections vaccine candidates, including Cadila and Russian vaccine on Vaccine Administration of From Page 1 the border,” Asthana said. added. and emerged as the second-largest party after the BJP, which had three indigenous vaccines, candidate Sputnik-V. COVID-19 (NEGVAC) has Many families in border On rising incidents of cat- The BSF DG said bagged 41 seats. under different stages of clini- The list also contains NVX- recommended three prioritised areas have their relatives on the tle smuggling, Islam said it is his force has apprehended Following the switchover, the BJP now has 48 MLAs in the cal trials which could be ready CoV2373 by SII, HGCO19 by population groups including other side and they keep visit- affecting the local cattle farms 3,204 persons for illegally 60-member House, while the JD(U) is left with only one. for authorization in near future. Geneva, and two unlabeled Healthcare Workers (HCWs) ing them during festivals or in Bangladesh as the country is entering into India through Congress and the National People’s Party (NPP) have four It includes AstraZeneca vaccines-Recombinant Protein (about 1 crore), Frontline other occasions, but with only self-sufficient in cattle pro- various border states such as members each. and Oxford University devel- Antigen based vaccine by Workers (about 2 crore), and valid travel documents, he duction. “In fact, we are pro- Assam, West Bengal and Nitish Kumar refused to comment on the development when oped and Serum Institute of Biological E Limited-and Prioritised Age Group (about added. ducing more cattle than we Tripura, and 60 of them were he was approached by media persons in Patna. India manufactured Covishield, Inactivated rabies vector plat- 27 crore). The BGB DG also denied need. Moreover, 400-600 cattle handed over to the BGB after the reports that some people legally come every day from establishing their nationalities. have crossed over to his nation Myanmar. Because of smug- “Those people cause of farmers,” BKU (Lok evening. from Assam as they did not gling, many criminals are get- whose nationalities can not be # $ $  555 Shakti) spokesperson Shailesh “There was no major law find their names in the ting killed in operations by identified by the BSF, are hand- Kumar Giri said. and order situation except for National Register of Citizens security forces,” he added. ed over to the local police as From Page 1 ers. The simultaneous protests the traffic obstruction, which (NRC). The BGB chief told they have a better mechanism The Kisan Sena supporters, “Considering the situation by those against and in support got sorted in some time,” the The “continuous illegal the press that three persons to deal with,” he said. which included members from after meeting with the minister of the farm laws prompted officer said. immigration” is a political hot- were killed in 2018 on the Asthana said the two Agra, Mathura, Hathras, (Tomar) and talking to our partial closure of the Noida- Thousands of farmers are cake for political parties in Indian side for their criminal forces have agreed to increase Mainpuri, Firozabad, Meerut Agra MP (Rajkumar Chahar) Delhi Link Road and diversion currently staying put at Delhi’s Assam, Northeast and also in activities, while the figure stood the “coordinated night and Muzaffarnagar, among we decided to go back to our on some routes, according to borders with Haryana and Uttar West Bengal, and promises to at 35 and 48 persons in 2019 patrolling” in vulnerable places other districts, remained on the homes,” Singh said. the Noida Traffic Police. Pradesh in protest against the deport such immigrants are and 2020, respectively. to prevent smuggling and ille- road at the Mahamaya Flyover This demonstration in The diversion from near Farmers’ Produce Trade and made in every election. “The border killing gal movement of people in in Noida during the afternoon Noida came even as two major Amity University close to Commerce (Promotion and The top officers of the two is a concerning issue, not only order to reduce the killing of before they all returned to their farmers’ unions -- the Bharatiya Mahamaya Flyover to the Facilitation) Act, 2020, the forces, however, expressed con- for the BGB but also for the civilians by the security forces. hometowns. Kisan Union (Bhanu) and the Kalindi Kunj route remained in Farmers (Empowerment and cerns over the illegal movement Bangladeshi people,” he added. “We have agreed to “While a majority of us Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lok place for over an hour. Later Protection) Agreement on Price of Rohingyas and said BSF and Asthana said even initiate confidence-building were prohibited entry into Shakti) -- are camping at the both Kalindi Kunj as well as the Assurance and Farm Services BGB are taking measures to Indian people are getting killed measures in border areas. We Delhi by the police, a 21-mem- city’s border for over three DND routes were opened for Act, 2020 and the Essential control it by regularly appre- due to their involvement in will also promote civic activi- ber delegation of the union weeks now to demand the normal traffic, an official said. Commodities (Amendment) hending such people on both criminal activities such as ties like organising medical went to the national capital and repeal of the three new central “One carriageway of the Act, 2020. sides of the border. Both of smuggling, and mentioned that camps, having border hubs met with Union Agriculture farm laws. Noida-Delhi Link Road They have expressed appre- them also accepted that crim- at least three Indians were and helping visit of people so Minister Narendra Singh “The demonstration by although remained closed. hension that these laws would inal activities, mostly smug- killed this year. that the population living along Tomar,” Kisan Sena’s convenor farmers union in support of the Commuters are allowed to pave the way for the disman- gling of various items, are on “This is an issue that the border is benefitted,” he Thakur Gauri Shankar Singh new farm laws was a flop show come from Delhi to Noida but tling of the minimum support the rise. concerns both parties. We can said. told PTI. and that is why they have the other way round is closed,” price system, leaving them at “We are concerned about assure one thing that BSF uses Asthana further said He said their demonstra- returned. Such people are prov- the official added. the “mercy” of big corporations. cross-border illegal trade. lethal weapons as a last resort that the BGB has agreed to tion was to apprise Tomar that ing to be ‘Jaichands’ (the 12th Additional Deputy However, the government These syndicates are mainly only. These killings are taking extend full cooperation to the the farmers union, especially century ruler of Kannauj Commissioner of Police, Noida, has maintained that the new dealing with narcotics and cat- place at the dead of the night BSF in its year-long celebration from Punjab and Haryana, known for his treason and Ranvijay Singh said the Kisan laws will bring farmers better tle smuggling. We are con- between 10 pm and 5 am. We to commemorate the 50 years protesting at Delhi’s borders “do treachery with Prithviraj Sena supporters had gathered in opportunities and usher in new stantly monitoring them and are trying to solve this in the of independence of not represent” all Indian farm- Chauhan) who are hurting the the afternoon and left Noida by technologies in agriculture. PTI have increased our vigil along most appropriate manner,” he Bangladesh. PTI

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 )  9: 19;<% push their agenda, farmer However, the protests have alternative route for coming to Singhu school toll tax. leader Abhimanyu Kohar, led to closure of roads in Delhi, Delhi via Anand Vihar, DND, Vehicular traffic coming armers who have been sit- member of Sankyut Kisan and diversions have also caused Apsara, Bhopra & Loni bor- from Haryana via Safiabad, Fting across the national Morcha said the unions do not traffic congestions. Taking to ders,” it further stated. Saboli, Pau Maniyari borders is Capital’s border to press for allow any political party to use Twitter on Friday, Delhi Traffic In an advisory, the Delhi being diverted from the their demands for scrapping their stage and accused the gov- Police said Singhu, Auchandi, Traffic Police said NH-44 Safiabad More, Saboli More, Centre’s new farms laws, ernment of diverting the issue. Piau Maniyari, Saboli and beyond Singhu Border has Ramdev Chowk and sector- alleged that Prime Minister “The prime minister's Mangesh borders were closed been closed for general traffic A/5 Narela via Raja Harish Narendra Modi's address claim that we are being mis- for traffic. with effect from Saturday, and Chander hospital towards NH- appeared as an attempt to guided by other political par- “Pl take alternate routes via diversions have been made 44 to go to Delhi. Vehicles com- divide and mislead the farmers ties is false. It has been a Lampur,Safiabad,Palla & accordingly to avoid inconve- ing from Lampur border are and said they want a legal month since we have been Singhu school toll tax bor- nience to the public. being diverted towards Grain guarantee on minimum sup- protesting at Delhi borders, and ders.Traffic has been diverted According to another advi- Mandi and then Munim ka port price (MSP). we have not offered our plat- from Mukarba & GTK road. Pl sory, vehicular traffic going to Bagh via Harish Chander red Meanwhile, farmers camp- form to any politician. In fact, avoid Outer Ring Rd,GTK road Haryana from NH-44 via Palla light to NH-44. ing at Singhu, Tikri, Chilla and we have banned them from & NH 44,” stated Delhi Traffic red light is being diverted from Vehicular traffic coming Ghazipur border points have using our stage. Our protest is Police in a tweet. NIIT to Holambi 100-foot- from Azadpur Mandi to GTK led to closure of several routes not political,” said Kohar. In another tweet, the traf- road and DSIDC 80-foot-road depot will be diverted from in Delhi and due to ongoing All India Kisan Sangharsh fic police said Chilla and to pass through Lampur border GTK depot towards Rohini. protest at National Capital’s Coordination Committee sec- Ghazipur borders were closed and Safiabad border. Vehicles coming from borders, there was disruption of retary Avik Saha sought to for traffic coming from Noida Another diversion is from Mukandpur to Singhu border traffic movement on key routes know why the central govern- and Ghaziabad to Delhi. the U-turn near DSIDC and will be diverted towards prompting Delhi Traffic Police ment is not giving a legal guar- “People are advised to take Singhu village cut towards the Mukandpur, the advisory stated. to tweet about closed and its antee on MSP. address issues of protesting farm laws will benefit farmers, saying that it is good law, you alternate routes. Saha said the prime min- peasants. but he did not tell how the new will have to prove how it is Reacting to the PM's alle- ister on Friday only addressed Kohar, who is also the, laws will be beneficial for the good for farmers. There should gations that political rivals farmers from six states and said during his speech, PM peasants. be arguments based on facts,” /" ! " "  were misusing the protest to wondered why he did not Modi claimed that the three “You cannot go away by he said.       ))         ! ! (0 "   )  mum support price (MSP) 9: 19;<% and do away with mandis '  #1  %  %   that ensure income, leaving elhi Chief Minister them at the mercy of big cor- DArvind Kejriwal on porates.  )  9: 19;<% farmers of his choice but he several days demanding imme- Friday claimed the Centre''s They have repeatedly does not go to meet thousands diate rollback of these anti- new agricultural reform laws rejected a government offer to  )' '  AP MPs raised slogans in of farmers sitting 20 km away farmer laws." will not benefit farmers in any amend the farm laws and give Afront of Prime Minister from his house. "I was trying to tell the way and will cause a lot of a "written assurance" on con- Narendra Modi demanding The AAP leader said that at Prime Minister that this is the harm. tinuing the MSP system and  )  9: 19;<% immediate rollback of these one side the BJP government is same BJP government who These laws will enable stuck to their demand for the anti-farmer laws, during the saying that they are ready to held a joint session at the mid- farmers to sell their produce repeal of the legislations -- the he Economic Offences ceremony to launch a book on amend these bills and talk to the night to pass the GST Bill and outside mandis but they only Farmers (Empowerment and TWing (EOW) of Delhi former Prime Minister AB farmers on the other hand, they celebrated the event. I wanted get half the price for their crop Protection) Agreement of Police has arrested a 35-year- Vajpayee. are praising these bills. "There to tell the Prime Minister that outside mandis so how is that protests by opposition parties. Price Assurance and Farm old man for misappropriating Senior Aam Aadmi Party is a nexus between Congress and today it is high time and the a benefit, the chief minister Kejriwal and his Aam Services Act, Farmers Produce black money of 9 crore by (AAP) leader and Lok Sabha BJP, Congress is protesting only BJP government must imme- said. Aadmi Party have come out Trade and Commerce opening bank accounts on MP Bhagwant Mann and Rajya to show off, that is why Congress diately call a special session of "BJP says that these laws strongly in support of protest- (Promotion and Facilitation) forged documents in seven Sabha MP Sanjay Singh carried leaders present in the Central the Parliament and rollback will not harm farmers. But ing farmers. Earlier this Act, and the Essential banks. Police said that the placards while trying to seek Hall did not raise their voice for these antifarmer laws," he said. what is their benefit? They say month, Kejriwal had visited Commodities (Amendment) accused was absconding for a attention of the Prime Minister farmers today," he said. At one side the BJP gov- that now the farmers will be Singhu border, one of the Act. long time and to evade arrest on Friday. Mann further said, "We ernment is not ready to call a able to sell their crop anywhere protest sites, and reviewed Earlier in the day, Prime he was continuously changing The AAP leader said wanted to apprise the BJP led special session of the outside the market. But out- arrangements made for farm- Minister Narendra Modi his residence in different local- “A case under relevant sec- "Today after the celebration of central government about the Parliament citing the reason of side the market, the crop is ers by the city government. squarely blamed those with ities of the city. tion of Indian Penal Code former PM Atal Bihari demands of the farmers. We COVID-19 pandemic and on sold at half the price. How is The three farm laws have political agenda for the dead- The accused has been iden- (IPC) was registered by EOW Vajpayee's birth anniversary wanted to tell the BJP ruled the other side, the same party this a benefit? The truth is that been projected by the central lock in the government''s talks tified as Gaurav Singhal alias in 2018 and investigation was we raised slogans reiterating the central government that they is doing rallies with thousands these laws will do a lot of harm government as major reforms with protesting farmers and Yogesh, a resident of Jyoti taken up. During investigation, demands of the farmers." must listen to the demands of and thousands of people in and don''t have a single bene- in the agriculture sector that said genuine apprehensions Colony in Shahdara area. the original account opening Mann said that PM Modi these farmers who are sitting at West Bengal before the elec- fit," Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi. will remove the middlemen about MSP guarantee have According to Dr O P forms of all the 7 bank accounts goes to Gujarat to meet the the borders of Delhi for the past tion, he added. Farmers from various and allow farmers to sell their got overshadowed by unrelat- Mishra, the Joint were taken on record. It was parts of the country have been produce anywhere in the ed issues such as the release of Commissioner of Police, EOW, found that all the accounts were camping at different border country. those accused of violence and a complaint was received in opened using two different points of Delhi for four weeks However, protesting farm- making highways toll-free which the complainant Rajesh names, Yogesh Kumar and now to demand repeal of the ers have expressed apprehen- He said the parties reject- Kumar Gupta, Income Tax Rahul Jain,” said the Joint CP. three agri laws, which were sion that these laws would ed by the electorate are push- officer had alleged that during “The account opening voted through in Parliament in pave the way for eliminating ing their own political agenda the period from November 9, forms obtained from the banks September amid strong the safety cushion of mini- by misleading farmers. 2016 to December 30, 2016, also revealed that Gaurav had large amount of cash of Rs nine used his own photographs in all crores was deposited in differ- the four accounts of Canara :4 40 5  ent bank accounts. Bank and used photographs of “The complainant stated some unknown persons in the     %   that on enquiry from con- remaining three accounts. The cerned banks it emerged that documents attached with the $(  N B O the account holders were car- forms were also found to be   $  rying out their business activ- fake,” said the Joint CP.  )  9: 19;<% ities from the same premises. It “Police team also found was further found that there that mobile number mentioned he Police Families Welfare were too many businesses on six of the account opening TSociety (PFWS) Skill     claiming to be the occupants of forms was in the name of Centre displayed its woolen the same premises,” said the Gaurav. Majority of withdraw- products “Knit Yarn” and a  )  9: 19;<% Joint CP. al and transfer had taken place porta-cabin for sale on Friday. 8819/.:-1;184 “On the basis of the pho- through mobile banking and The event was inaugurated by 22-year-old man was tographs available in the KYC Internet Banking, which was Pratima Shrivastava, President Aarrested for allegedly kid- 81$$--/2#8 documents, Gaurav Singhal activated on the mobile num- of PFWA. napping and killing a minor .1#289$. was identified, who gave his ber of Gaurav,” said the Joint This Skill Centre will boost boy in order to get close to his statement under section 133 A CP. the knitting speed as well as mother in south Delhi's 19/9-1:-812-1 of I.T. Act and admitted that he “Gaurav was nabbed by the income of family members. Maidan Garhi area. prepared fake Voter Cards and EOW team on December 24 The residents of police colony The accused has been iden- 2$1-9.21#- Pan Cards for opening various from a paying guest house in Vikaspuri performed various tified as Bittu, a resident of <2 &/&. bank accounts in which large Shahdara area. He was evading cultural programmes. Sanjay Colony Bhati Mines. amounts of cash were deposit- police arrest for a long time and According to a PFWS offi- Police said that he had planned +&9&9& ed during the period of demon- he preferred to hide in con- cial, during the Covid pan- kidnapping and murder after etization,” stated the com- gested localities,” said the Joint $ !    /  !  !     demic, a new trend of online watching the crime serial CID. plainant. CP. 4 5   programmes including According to Atul Kumar they started living separately. Summer Camps, Khana Thakur, the Deputy The woman started living at Khazana, ‘We Care’ were start- Commissioner of Police her parental house in a separate ed by the PFWS. (DCP), South district, on room, the DCP said. 2$ "3 $   ,P   3    “On Friday, the PFWS November 28, a woman, resi- “Bittu again got an oppor- president distributed the prizes dent of Sanjay Colony Bhati tunity to come close to her. He to the winners of Summer Mines, lodged a missing report used to send food and other  )  icy the operating time of these shops were issued challaned forest wine at DLF Phase-3 and Chandigarh for penalties.The Camps and Khana Khazana of her minor son. items to women through her 8= =8  establishments from 9 am to 12 being run after the prescribed Royal Green at DLF Phase-2. department is conducting fre- competitions held earlier. An e- “Initially, it was found that son. He became very friendly am. Inderjeet Yadav, DSP CM time it was a violation of the Similarly, the 4 pubs & bars quent checks to ensure liquor recipe book will also be there was some family dispute with her son also. Bittu pro- joint team of Chief flying wing said, the raids were Excise Act," he said. were Boom Box and Friction is not served after the pre- released very soon, which is the over the custody of the child posed the woman to marry AMinister's flying wing and conducted at 10 pubs and 9 However, the officials located at Sector-29 while ZSL scribed time in open and that collection of recipes prepared between parents who were liv- him, but she refused due to her and the excise officials con- liquor vends situated in Sector- expect a penalty of Rs 10 to 14 Realtors PVT Ltd (Stricker Club) no one sells liquor without per- by the female members of ing separately. The parents of son. He used to watch CID and ducted raids and issued chal- 29, Sector-53, MG Road, Golf lakh could be framed against located at South Point Mall, mission,” Aruna Singh, deputy police families,” said the official. the missing boy were interro- after getting ideas from there, lans to four pubs and an equal Course Road, Cyber Hub and these violators. Sector-53 and GH Slath excise and taxation commis- President-PFWS stated that gated, but no clue was found. he planned the kidnapping number of liquor vends for vio- DLF in Gurugram. These four liquor shops Wellness (King Club) at JMD sioner (East), said. the prime objective of this The CCTV footage of the area and murder of the boy,” said the lations of excise rules and for Acting on a tip-off, both were identified as discovery Regent Arcade on the MG Road. Also, We have formed Welfare Centre is to provide was analyzed, but no move- DCP. serving liquor beyond the pre- teams had conducted a raid wine at DLF phase-1 metro sta- "These establishments were teams to conduct surprise Skill development training, ment of the victim was seen,” “On November 28, he saw scribed time in the intervening and issued challans to the pubs. tion on the golf course road, fined for violating excise rules. checks at all outlets to ensure coaching for competitive said the DCP. the boy was going towards the night of Thursday-Friday in "Out of 10 pubs the fines Chaudhary wine shop located We have imposed challans to pub owners or operators are exams, recreational activities, “On Thursday, a highly market. He called him and took Gurugram. were issued to 4 pubs and out in front of Maruti company these outlet owners and sent it not violating the rules and medical & summer camps, decomposed body of a boy was him to the jungle to eat berry. As per the state excise pol- of 9 liquor shops, 4 liquor gate on old Delhi Road, Lake to the headquarters at regulations,” Singh said. cookery classes etc. recovered in the pond in a ridge Bittu took him to the bus stand area near Maidan Garhi Fatehpur Beri towards jungle Village. The parents of the vic- way and told him that he will tim were called to identify the purchase new clothes for him. body. The name of a known He strangled him with a cloth          person of the mother of the vic- and threw the dead body in the tim came into light after which pond,” said the DCP.  )  9: 19;<% network length. In fact, with a across the 285 stations on the India’ initiative and ‘Atma a police team was formed to “He immediately came network of 390 kilometres network maintaining a consis- Nirbhar Bharat’ by indigenous nab Bittu. back to the house of the woman he Delhi Metro Rail spanning 11 lines, today the tent punctuality of over 99.9 development of many systems/ “Police apprehended him and helped her in searching for TCorporation (DMRC) on Delhi Metro is among the percent, the DMRC said in a sub-systems of Metro. and interrogated where he the boy. Next day, he again Friday completed 18 years of largest Metro networks any- statement. In March, the services of revealed that he was attached went to the jungle and noticed commencing passenger opera- where in the world. The impeccable punctual- the Delhi Metro were halted for with the mother of the that the body was visible in the tions since 2002. The expansion of the net- ity rate of the Delhi Metro has the first time ever to curb the deceased since his childhood pond. He again took the dead On the December 24, 2002, work has also been among the remained consistent ever since spread of the Coronavirus virus and wanted to marry her, but body in the jungle and tried to operations on the 8.4 kilome- fastest in the world, as more the commencement of opera- pandemic. This crisis was the parents of the woman fixed burn it with petrol, but the tre long Shahdara — Tis Hazari than 380 kilometres of new tions and has not been dented turned into an opportunity by her marriage with another per- body was wet and he could not section was flagged off and pas- lines have been added since by the massive expansion in the DMRC’s Operations and son,” said the DCP. be succeeded. He hid the body senger services were started 2002. During the pre-covid scale of operations, it said. Maintenance team as a number “Bittu got depressed and under stones in the jungle. from the next day. times, about 65 lakh journeys Having set high bench- of important maintenance and even after her marriage, he was Later, he again went to the jun- Since then the Delhi Metro were being performed on week- marks in construction as well overhaul activities were taken in love and wanted to be with gle and removed the clothes has emerged as one of the days on the Delhi Metro mak- as operations, DMRC is now up and completed, which oth- her. Two years ago, there was and shoes of the deceased. He fastest growing Metro net- ing it the mass transportation working on developing indige- erwise would have been diffi- some matrimonial dispute kept the body in a plastic bag works in the world both in backbone of the National About 350 train sets oper- for 18 hours a day today and nous technologies in line with cult to execute when the ser- between the complainant and and threw in the pond,” said the terms of ridership as well as Capital Region (NCR). ate on the Delhi Metro system perform more than 5,000 trips the Government’s ‘Make in vices were operational. her husband, following which DCP.    !"#$"%"% 

   7 5$ $ % /   49P    $   P  O   . ) P      $"  8   %  )  9: 19;<% to a new beginning with the United States that has since ormer Prime Minister Atal been developed by successive FBihari Vajpayee performed governments on both sides. It a key role in shaping India’s for- required us, as a nation, to eign policy and “introduced overcome difficult moments corrections, some bold and and continuing concerns. Only )  9: 19;<% some others nuanced,” External someone with Atalji’s enormous Affairs Minister S Jaishankar self-assurance could, in the early nion Agriculture Minister said here on Friday. days, have visualised how nat- UNarendra Singh Tomar on Paying rich tributes to ural this partnership would Friday urged Punjab farmers to Vajpayee, the minister also said become.” end their protest and come for- the then prime minister played At the same time, India’s ward to hold discussions with a transformational role in fash- relationship with Russia has the Government to resolve the ioning foreign policy that led to remained steady partly due to deadlock over the three new a new beginning in ties with the Vajpayee’s endeavours, farm laws. United States. Jaishankar said. India’s princi- Soon after Prime Minister next meeting between farmers tating farmers to stop the Making these observations pled approach of engaging Narendra Modi accused Chief and the government, a solution protest and come to the dis- in his opening remarks at the China on the “basis of mutual Minister Mamata Banerjee of will be reached. Farmers in cussion table. maiden Atal Bihari Vajpayee respect and mutual sensitivity” blocking the PM KISAN many states are also supporting Tomar said that the memorial lecture, Jaishankar too reflects Vajpayee’s thinking, scheme for farmers in West the new farm laws and sending Agriculture Ministry has col- said he also “introduced cor- he added. Bengal due to political reasons, ‘thank you’ letters to the Prime lated data that shows 70 lakh rections, some bold and others On ties with countries in the Tomar said he wrote a letter to Minister”. farmers would have benefitted more nuanced,” in a range of neighbourhood, the minister bution in the field of herbal Available in oral liquid as well Banerjee on Thursday asking The ministry also reiterat- PM Kisan Samman Nidhi had national security and foreign said Vajpayee “radiated goodwill )  9: 19;<% medicines, Pandey has been as lotion form, it has effectively her to not prevent farmers ed it is ready to find a “logical the Mamata government par- policy issues. and friendship, while being clear undertaking research at helped treat over 2 lakh peo- from the benefits of the PM solution” to the issues raised by ticipated and allowed imple- Highlighting some of the that terrorism and trust could enior scientist of Defence DRDO’s lab Defence Institute ple suffering from the disease Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. protesting farmer unions. mentation of the scheme in the major contributions by the for- not coexist.” SResearch Development of Bio-energy Research in the country. Stating that there is some The Government has writ- state, which was also pointed mer prime minister, Jaishankar Vajpayee could “finesse dif- Organization (DRDO), Dr (DIBER) at Pithoragarh in Leucoderma is an auto- misconception in the minds of ten twice inviting them for the out by the Prime Minister ear- said “Atalji’s vision of India-US ficult issues” while warmly Hemant Kumar Pandey, has Uttarakhand for the past 25 immune disorder and about Punjab farmers, the agriculture next round of talks at a date of lier on Friday. cooperation has been advanced, reaching out across regions and been honoured with DRDO’s years. over 5 crore people are under minister said: “I want to urge their convenience. Chief Minister Mamata particularly in recent years, by continents, he said, pointing to “Scientist of the Year Award” Though Pandey has devel- its grip in India. It is neither them to leave the protest and Reacting to the PM Banerjee had written to Union the leadership and commit- the country’s relations with the for his contribution in devel- oped six herbal drugs so far, contagious nor life-threatening come forward for the dialogue. KISAN scheme in West Agriculture Minister Narendra ment of Prime Minister Association of South East Asian oping several herbal medi- Lukoskin, used for treating but often mistaken as leprosy I am hopeful that farmers will Bengal, the agriculture minis- Singh Tomar on two occasions Narendra Modi. Overcoming Nations (Asean) and with coun- cines, including the well- leucoderma or Vitiligo, a con- and hence surrounded with understand the importance of ter also attacked the opposition saying that she is willing to the hesitations of history, we are tries in Europe, Africa and Latin known drug Lukoskin, meant dition in which white patches stigma and myths. Worldwide, new laws and reach a solution.” for ‘shooting their ideological transfer the benefits of PM today focused on addressing America. And most notably, he for treatment of leukoderma get developed on the skin, has the incidence of leucoderma is His deputy Minister of gun’ from the shoulders of Kisan to the farmers provided contemporary challenges and embraced the Indian diaspora in also known as Vitilogo. been most widely appreciated 1-2 per cent of the population. State for Agriculture Kailash farmers and harming them it is routed through the State emerging opportunities.” a way that had no parallel till Union Defence Minister and found huge acceptance in Apart from Lukoskin, Choudhary said, “I hope in the eventually. He asked the agi- Government. He also said “This vision led then, Jaishankar said. Rajnath Singh recently facili- the market. Pandey has developed drugs tated Pandey at an event here A formulation of around for treatment of itching and with the prestigious award six herbs found in Himalayan toothache as well as an anti- that comprises a certificate region, Lukoskin helps in radiation cream, most of which        ;4 5    and cash prize of 2 lakh. treating white patches and is are already being sold in the Recipient of several pres- marketed by Delhi-based market following transfer of tigious awards for his contri- Aimil Pharmaceuticals. technology. against the three laws enacted “People are trying to mis- “For once let this act the government is ready ) 9: 19;<% in September. lead farmers about these farm (acts) be implemented, for a for that as well. At least five rounds of laws that they are not in their year or two... Try this experi- “Several rounds of       enior BJP leader and Union talks have taken place between interest. I am the son of a ment and if you feel that this talks have been held whatev- SMinister Rajnath Singh on the protesting unions and the farmer and have worked in act (acts) is not in the interest er suggested by farmers our Friday appealed to farmers to government but a stalemate farms. I want to assure you of farmers, then I can say you government has ready to do all try the three new farm laws as has continued with farmers that there is not a single pro- this with conviction as I know those amendments. The prob-   an “experiment” for a year or refusing to accept anything vision in these laws which is the intention of our Prime lems can be resolved through two and in case they are found less than the repeal of the laws, against farmers,” Singh said at Minister Narendra Modi we dialogue only, wherever there not beneficial for the farming which they fear would leave the rally organised as part of will do all necessary amend- is scope for amendment )  9: 19;<% community, the government them at the mercy of corpo- the ruling BJP’s massive out- ments in it,” Singh said. Government is ready to do will do all necessary amend- rates by weakening mandi and reach programme on the farm Underlining that all prob- that,” the Defence Minister he Central Bureau of ments. MSP systems. The govern- laws. lems can be resolved through said. TInvestigation (CBI) has Describing the protesting ment has allayed these appre- He reiterated that the min- dialogue, Singh said Prime Hailing former Prime arrested two former Managing farmers as his own people, hensions as misplaced and imum support price (MSP) Minister Modi wants the talks Minister Chaudhary Charan Directors of two separate pri- Singh said, “Those who are sit- has projected the new laws as will continue and some people with farmers to continue, and Singh as the great farmers’ vate companies in an on-going ting on dharna are farmers and major agriculture reforms are trying to create a miscon- therefore, the government has leader, former BJP president investigation of 837 crore are born to farmers’ families. aimed at helping the farmers. ception that it will end. extended an invitation to also attacked opposition par- banking fraud. We have a lot of respect for Addressing a rally at Requesting farmers to try them. ties saying that Congress and The first case was regis- them.” Dwarka in the national capi- the new agri laws for a year or Singh appealed to all CPI always cheated and tered against Sun Plant Agro Thousands of farmers, tal, Singh said he himself is a two as an experiment, the protesting farmers to come breached the trust of the Ltd. (ponzi company) and its mainly from Punjab, Haryana farmers’ son and assured that former BJP president said if forward for discussions farmer leader. then Managing Director of and parts of Uttar Pradesh, are the Modi government “will these are not found beneficial, on the farm laws and if He also mentioned and Awdhesh Singh and others. ing high returns on such funds,” the CBI said in a state- camping on Delhi borders for never do anything which is not the government would bring they want to rope in experts talked about Sir Chotu Ram in In this case, it was alleged investments on maturity. In ment. almost a month in protest in the interest of the farmers”. all necessary amendments. for discussions, his address. that Singh and others had ille- this case also the accused fled The company was alleged- gally collected about 697.72 away and cheated the investors ly enjoying credit facilities crore from the investors under by misappropriation of their from the banks. It was further &=&=;)$   various fraudulent schemes on invested money. alleged that the company  /  )    $      route home to Bihar to be with freely, it could move freight platform, Puri said that this is This will promote ease of liv- vention and will lead to greater   ) + 7 5$      "     )       my family after months of instead. a significant step towards pro- ing for Government of India transparency.    !"#$"%"% , R !" #    % &'R(()%

, "= clearer picture. the district level these statistics The situation remained the to franchise to elect their can- 12.76 per cent votes. Conference party, which won 67 Kashmir valley, securing 5.30 According to the data sheet reveal, “an average number of same in the militancy infested didate while in Kathua district On the other hand, 9.16 seats, 25 from Jammu and 42 percent votes and garnered mid war of words between released by the State Election 444 voters across Srinagar dis- districts of Shopian and 7532 voters elected their repre- lakh votes were polled in sup- from Kashmir region polled 151331 total votes. Athe Bharatiya Janta Party Commission in Jammu and trict stepped out of their homes Pulwama in South Kashmir. sentative. port of winning candidates 470099 votes i.e 16.46 percent of Further analysis of the poll and top brass of the People's Kashmir, “A total number of to elect their representative Here an average number of According to the election across Jammu province on 140 the total votes polled. It was fol- data reveals another interesting Alliance for Gupkar Declaration 28,55.509 votes were polled while in Jammu district more 725 and 785 voters participated data released by the office of the seats. This comes around 32.08 lowed by the Congress party aspect of the DDC polls. (PAGD) whether the electorate and out of this a little over 12 than 13,000 voters elected their in the democratic process of state election commission, a percent of the total votes polled. which polled 394575 votes i.e To elect each BJP candidate in Jammu and Kashmir have pervcent voters, which means favorite candidate”. electing their own representa- total number of 2855509 votes If we look at the vote share 13.82 percent. an average number of 9449 supported or rejected 3.64 lakh voters elected 138 can- It means the claims made by tive. On the other hand in were counted at the end of the garnered by the major political Another important con- voters exercised their right to Abrogation of Article 370 and didates across 10 districts of the Kashmir based leaders of Jammu region, Rajouri and eight phase long polling which parties BJP figured on top of the stituent of the PAGD, JKPDP vote, a JKNC candidate was sup- reorganisation of the erstwhile Kashmir valley while 32.08 per- National Conference and the Kathua districts figured in the was spread over a period of chart. The party secured the polled 113175 votes which is ported by an average number of State in the recently concluded cent voters i.e 9.16 lakh voters Peoples Democratic Party clear- list of districts where the high- three weeks. highest number of 708714 votes 3.96 percent of the total votes 7016 voters, 4191 voters elect- District Development Council from Jammu region elected 140 ly mean out of an electorate size est number of voters turned up Out of this the winning can- (24.82 percent) of the total polled. ed each PDP candidate while polls statistics released by the representatives in the eight of 28,55,509 lakh voters only to elect their representatives. In didates across 10 districts of votes polled. The Jammu and Kashmir the highest number of 15175 office of State Election phase long maiden DDC polls. 3.64 lakh voters stood behind Rajouri, an average number of Kashmir valley polled a total On the other hand, Jammu APNI party, won 12 seats, three voters elected each Congress Commission throw a more If we look at the picture at them across Kashmir valley. 9113 voters exercised their right number of 3.64 lakh votes i.e and Kashmir National from Jammu region and 9 from candidate in these polls.    !   ;&!      $ $   4   (  ,(  )) 75<% 2019 Lok Sabha election. What we disappointment over the poor per-  ,     " $  % $! lacked this time was the kind of formance of the Congress in local wo prominent Congress lead- hard work which we saw during the body election.  $   (  <   )  7;' Banerjee in her letter said in Santiniketan while your Ters in Kerala have sounded cau- parliament election,” he said. “We can still win the assem- that she would stand by Sen like father Asutosh Sen a noted edu- tion about the state of affairs in the There is still time to recoup the bly election provided the Congress Hathras: The Karni Sena announced a mahapan- engal Chief Minister her sister should he be victim- cationist and public adminis- party and want the High spirit of 2019, feels this leader who High Command attend to the chayat in the villages of the Hathras victim in sup- BMamata Banerjee has writ- ized by some “nouveau trator had his famed house Command to give top priority to is the Congressman to watch in issues haunting the party. The port of the accused, due to which the related mes- ten a letter expressing solidar- invaders” who had “started Pratichi built up in Santiniketan revamp the leadership without any Kerala. “The local body election cohesion and unity seen in the past sages also went viral on social media. The police ity with Amartya Sen following raising surprising and com- about eight decades back,” her delay. was held in a small canvas while the were missing this time. If the lead- administration and the local intelligence agency reports that the Nobel Laureate pletely baseless allegations.” letter read adding how some “It is true that we have suffered assembly election is an entirely dif- ership inspire the cadre with hard became alert and started their investigation. Five peo- economist had been identified “We all salute Amartya “nouveau invaders” had started a set back in the recently held elec- ferent ball game. Once the proper work and inculcate in them a spir- ple, including the National General Secretary of the along with dozens of others Sen. Just because he isn't making some surprising and tion to the local-self bodies. But it leaders are in place in the State, it of unity, people will prefer only Karni Sena, Okendra Rana, was arrested on the who were “unauthorized occu- inclined towards BJP's ideolo- baseless allegations. is not a failure which is insur- Kerala would see entirely different the Congress,” said Radhakrishnan. charges of disturbing the peace in the city. pants” of plots around central- gy, they're making such allega- “I write this letter to express mountable. There are some basic results in the assembly poll,” said The decision of the Muslim He came here from Haryana and stayed in a hotel ly controlled Viswa Bharati tions against him.” she said ear- my surprise and anguish over issues haunting the Kerala unit of Satheeshan. League to call back P K in the city. They were produced in the court of sadar University. lier after State Government some recent developments, as I the party which the national lead- He pointed out past incidents Kunhalikutty from the Lok Sabha SDM and from there sent to jail. Saying that the allegations reportedly received a commu- read about them in media, ership should address without any when the local body polls and the to lead the Muslim League in the According to Okendra Rana, the charge sheet of were being brought against the nication from the Viswa Bharati alluding to your ancestral links delay,” V D Satheeshan, KPCC subsequent assembly polls threw upcoming election has unnerved CBI is totally wrong. All four accused are innocent. octagenarian economist who alleging Sen was among dozens in Santiniketan,” she wrote vice -president who is serving his out entirely different results. “For the Congress leaders. In the beginning, the girl said that she had not been spent his childhood at of unauthorized occupants of expressing solidarity with him fourth term as the member of the that to happen, we have to pull up “Chances of the Muslim raped. The same thing was also revealed in the med- Shantiniketan --- receiving the plots in the campus. in his fight against the “bigotry legislative assembly. the sleeves and start working right League demanding the chair of the ical report that there has been no incident like rape. blessings of Poet Laureate “We all are aware about of the majoritarians” in the Satheeshan is of the view that now,” he said. Chief Minister could not be ruled He told the media that the Karni Sena will conduct Rabindranath Tagore who your family’s deep and organ- country, before finally assuring party’s Kerala unit was lethargic Thiruvanchoor out. Last time they just walked away a mahapanchayat in support of the accused in the founded the university --- to ic linkages with Santiniketan… “we shall overcome.” Sen runs and did not put up its full efforts Radhakrishnan, who is serving his with five ministerial posts as the same village. He came here from Bhiwani for the harass him as he was not your maternal grandfather the his research social foundation during the election to the local bod- sixth term as MLA and a former Congress leadership watched help- preparation of this, but someone informed the inclined towards the saffron revered scholar Krishnamohan Pratichi Trust from his ies. “Please remember that we ad minister for home, vigilance and lessly,” said another Congress police and the police arrested him and 5 other ideology. Sen was one of the early settlers house. won 19 out of the 20 seats in the water resources, too expressed his leader. people. PNS  !      ) ;??$$   - ( +     %  $ #%     Lucknow: The Yogi Adityanath According to the govern- major damage by immediate- erators, is being built at a cost       >    &2  government in Uttar Pradesh is ment spokesman, the Public ly repairing the damaged of more than Rs 40 lakh. It is all set to roll out an ambitious Works Department is going to roads. touted to be the most modern Aligarh: The health department ducted and the search for the scheme of 'Road Ambulances' deploy road ambulances under With the presence of road road ambulance used in any  #5   ! is alerted after the spread of new remaining people is going on. early next year. a pilot project in about half-a- ambulances, the government is state of the country. corona strains in the UK. The Anyone found infected will be Through this, the state dozen districts of the state. also going to take care of reg- The state government will ) )   ;%8 < getting threats call from health officers here have received tested in Delhi and Mathura government is going to give a The Yogi government is ular security, cleaning and the launch about a dozen road unknown numbers and their a list of 66 people. They have labs. fresh momentum to the cam- working on three fronts maintenance of roads. ambulances in the first phase. he man who converted life are in danger. He has been returned to Aligarh between 9th District Magistrate Chandra paign to rid the roads of pot- through the Road Ambulance A road ambulance Road ambulances will be Tfrom Islam to living in Lodhi Vihar since con- December to 24th December Bhushan Singh said that the holes and will redefine the Scheme. Apart from making equipped with all the technical deployed in about half a dozen and became a Karmaveer from version. from the UK. Now the depart- administration is alert for those upkeep, standards and main- the roads pothole free, the and gang related road con- metros of the state, including Qasim Khan is now receiving Along with this, there is ment is identifying them. 9 peo- returning from Britain. tenance of roads in the state. government plans to prevent struction including mixes, gen- Lucknow and Kanpur. IANS threats. He met the SSP and also the temptation of money ple have been identified and did Everyone is being moni- explained his problems on that if he wants then he can the RTPCR test. Even after a tored. Will be isolated for 28 which Dehli Gate Police has come back to his previous reli- negative report, they will be days. All are being compulsori- registered a case against gion and stay in his house. under observation of the sur- ly tested. A review meeting of unknown people on the On his complaint, the SSP veillance team for 28 days. Corona was held under the instruction of the SSP. immediately called Inspector People returning from the chairmanship of DM, in which Qasim Khan, a resident of Dehli Gate Ashish Kumar UK are being monitored. DM said that everyone should Jhalkari town located in Singh to his office and sent the According to health officials, so follow the rules and guidelines Junglegadi bypass of Dehli victim to the police station. far 2 lists have been received of home quarantine. Negligence Gate area has converted to Where his Tahrir has been from the government having a will not be tolerated at any Hinduism from Islam and has registered. name of total 66 people. All stage. become Karmaveer Singh According to Inspector these people returned from the If any person is coming Mahore. Lodhi Vihar residents Ashish, the case has been reg- UK to Aligarh between 9th from abroad, they should not Neeraj Bhardwaj and istered. Now, based on the December and 24th December. hide it and inform it in the con- Karamveer Singh Mahore investigation and statement of The district surveillance team trol room immediately. Their along with his wife Anita vis- the victim, action will be taken has traced 9 of these people and test report will come within 24 ited the SSP. He said that he is by identifying the accused. RTPCR tests have been con- hours. PNS /3 ")    ! 4 "   0     "    !%   Gopalganj (Bihar): A man in Bihar's Gopalganj district +( =% retailer was in the midst of court had ordered that the com- stabbed a girl to death for refus- catering to bulk orders placed pany staff be given protection. ing his marriage proposal. n an indication of the party’s during the Christmas-New Year The court had restrained the The incident took place in Ireturn to politics of intimida- season. However, the extent of MNS and its activists from the Sidhwalia area and the tion, the MNS workers on damage caused by the MNS obstructing the e-retailer or its accused has been identified as Friday vandalised at least three workers was not immediately employees from working at the Anil Yadav. warehouses of the Amazon in known. e-commerce firm's site or dis- Yadav was nearly lynched Mumbai and Pune over the Apparently, the MNS work- turbing its business activities. by the locals, leaving him griev- leading e-commerce retailer’s ers targetted the warehouses of Since October this year, the ously injured. The police have alleged failure to provide Amazon to express their anger MNS has been carrying a cam- arrested Yadav and Dheeraj, Marathi as a language option for over the summons issued by paign ‘No Marathi, No Amazon’ who is said to be the accused's its App. Dindoshi court to their party in the state seeking incorporat- friend. A day after a Mumbai court president to remain present ing a Marathi option on the A police official on Friday issued a notice to their party before it on January 5, in con- Amazon Apps, and warned that said Yadav, a resident of Jalalpur president Raj Thackeray to nection with a case filed by the it would not tolerate step-moth- village was a phone friend of the appear before it on January e-commerce retailer against the erly treatment meted out to the victim. 5,2021 in connection with a case tearing of its posters by the polit- state language. He reached the victim's filed by Amazon against the ical party workers. MNS had last week threat- house late Wednesday and pro- party, the MNS workers – armed Amazon had filed its civil ened to launch an agitation posed marriage. When the girl with sticks – went on a rampage suit before the Dindoshi court in against Amazon and Flipkart for rejected his proposal, the jilted at Amazon’s warehouses at suburban Mumbai against the the non-inclusion of Marathi as lover stabbed her repeatedly. Andheri and Malad in north MNS and its workers' union a preferred language in their The injured girl succumbed Mumbai and one at Kondwa which had allegedly threatened Apps. on the way to the hospital. locality in Pune. As they to block the firm’s operations in While customers in India Superintendent of indulged in rampage, the MNS Mumbai if it did not include can access Amazon services in Gopalganj police, Manoj Kumar workers shouted anti-Amazon Marathi as one of the preferred English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Tiwari, said the accused was slogans. languages on its mobile appli- Kannada and Malayalam, taken into custody by the police The MNS’ rampage at three cation or website. Flipkart is available in English, and is undergoing treatment at Amazon warehouses took place After hearing Amazon’s Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and a Patna hospital. Dheeraj was at a time when the e-commerce arguments on December 14, the Kannada language. arrested on Thursday. IANS     7   $  +   !  Bengaluru: Amid the Covid-19 Devasthanams's (TTD) 'Mokshada '. Special 'boon' that whoever listens to scare, devotees offered prayers at temple in Vyalikaval, ISKCON, prayers, yagnas, discourses and their story and sees the image of various prominent Lord Vishnu Kote Venkataramana Swamy in speeches are arranged at Vishnu Vishnu coming out of the door temples across Bengaluru on the Chamarajpet, Srinivasa Temple temples across the world on this called 'Vaikunth Dwar' would occasion of Vaikuntha Ekadashi in Mahalakshmi Layout, and auspicious day,” he explained. reach Vaikuntha as well. festival. Tirumalagiri Temple in J.P. Another devotee, Tamme “Temples all over India All the temples followed Nagar have been decked up with Gowda, offered his special make a door kind of structure on the Covid protocols strictly such a variety of flowers. prayers at the Mahalakshmi this day for devotees to walk as maintaining social distancing, Septuagenarian Layout temple and told IANS through,” he said and revealed while several temples voluntar- Padmanabha Rao, a devotee that on Vaikuntha that their family members could ily suspended distribution of who visited the TTD temple in Ekadashi is equivalent to fasting not visit this year for the 'Teertha' (holy water), instead Vyalikaval, told IANS that the on the remaining 23 first time in seven decades. they gave away 'laddus' as Vaishnava worshipers (followers of the Hindu year. “We actually wanted to go to 'prasadam' to the devotees. of Vishnu) believe that 'Vaikunta Quoting Vishnu Purana, Tirupati but due to the Covid Besides this, the temples Dwaram' or 'the gate to the Rao said Vaishnavites believe scare, we cancelled our plans and also restricted the entry of the Lord's inner sanctum' is opened that Lord Vishnu opened the instead we came here. This devotees as the festival is on this day. gate of 'Vaikuntam' (his abode) being a 10-day long festival, we observed for more than 10 days. “The Margashirsha Shukla for two 'asuras' (demons) in spite plan to visit all prominent tem- Several prominent Vishnu Paksha Ekadashi in the lunar of them being against him. ples across Bengaluru,” he added. temples, including Tirupati calendar is known as a They also asked for the IANS    !"#$"%"%  / &'&  ( 0&( >   ?'1     &( > > +,-./+00.12  * 6  !   # #%  9     !  ) # %!    ! 7!                  '  ( ( $     $     ( ;         %   #         (               $  ( 2   I$   I$                            (                 (              (         @    $  >    >     6C999                () * +5050            ,   ( s this piece is being writ-         @                 ten, forest fires are burn-        > -  />-0        ( ing at a number of places    <  4  -   4           in Uttarakhand, and per- Ahaps in a few other parts of India                 as well. According to a report by                    Lalmani Verma in The Indian                   Express of December 6, 2020, Uttarakhand had recorded 185              >        wildfires between October 1 and                       ( December 1 this year. This was           A         ( more than the number of fires that occurred between mid-February   4     @             $>( and mid-June, which is the season .                      ( for forest fires in the State. But then,    *            4    the number of conflagrations in this year’s fire season was incred-       :  > > 4        ibly low. The report quotes Man               :   )  Singh, Chief Conservator of     $>          4    Forests, Forest Fire & Disaster                      Management, as saying: “The number of fire incidents in forests   S    #           >-       from February to June this year was brates like insects, worms and tres of forest cover, 21.40 per report, is likely to be reached spreading awareness of the   S                 ( almost 10 per cent of the average spiders. According to a CNN cent, is highly fire-prone, with sometime between 2030 and implications of forest fires,  (                     number of incidents that occurred report by Jessie Yeung titled the forests of Mizoram, 2052. ensuring the participation of in the past 20 years. In October and “Australia’s deadly wildfires are Chhattisgarh, Manipur, Odisha With global warming con- local communities in forest  S    ;        (  !  # S November, only a negligible num- showing no signs of stopping. and Madhya Pradesh being the tinuing to aggravate — and management, enhanced train-    %          S        ber of forest fires had occurred in Here’s what you need to know”, most vulnerable. make more potent — the cir- ing and specifically designated          ;            the past years, but there was a sharp last updated on January 14, The prospects are forbid- cumstances leading to forest policies to increase the capaci- rise in these months this year after 2020, the catastrophic forest ding. For one thing, global fires, the actual spark is some- ty of local communities to pre- @            <  4  -   the unlockdown process. It leads to fires in Australia destroyed warming is conducing to an times provided by lightning vent and control forest fires, ,      $  >     S     @  ( the conclusion that such incidents 1,588 houses and damaged 650 increase in the number of for- strikes or friction between dry increasing the resilience of                  occurred due to carelessness of others in New South Wales, the est fires. Many experts consid- branches of trees or bamboo forests to withstand fires humans who moved out after the country’s most populated State. er it to have been an important fragments. The main factor, through management interven-                  *    unlocking process.” In the United States, the factor aggravating the circum- however, is human activity tion and the rooting out of inva-                      This tends to corroborate the State that has suffered most over stances leading to the which is responsible for 95 per sive weeds like Lantana, which    (        D D S      belief, held by many, that the sharp the years is California. Things Australian and American for- cent of the forest fires in India contribute significantly to the fall in the number of fires in this were, doubtless, better in 2019 est fires referred to above. This and 90 per cent in the case of outbreak of forest fires and  ?        , + #         ( year’s season was a result of the than in 2018. In late October is hardly surprising. Global the United States. In the latter, threaten native biodiversity.     47$                 ( COVID-19 outbreak and the lock- last year, however, forest fires warming makes vegetation some human-caused fires result For their part, the Union   ?          >         ( down, and that the numbers will forced 2,00,000 people to leave highly inflammable through from campfires left unattend- and State Governments need to soar at an unprecedentedly high their homes and led to the dec- enhanced evaporation, which ed, the burning of debris, enhance their preparedness to         (     47$(   @   - $   rate as normal activity picks up. laration of an emergency. The causes fires to spread rapidly downed power lines, negli- act early against fire outbreaks.  >  $   4             S @ %   This prospect must cause serious period from January 1 to and become more intense. It gently discarded cigarettes and This would have to include an  >            !   :?  / !:0  concern because of the severe November 22, 2019, witnessed has also caused the length of intentional acts of arson. effective communications net- damage that forest fires cause. 46,706 wildfires compared to fire seasons — when conflagra- In Brazil, farmers and work, the use of modern tech-               @    %   They destroy entire forest ecosys- 52,080 in the corresponding tions are most frequent — ranchers have been setting large nologies and products like         S           )S   tems, kill wildlife, drive endan- period in 2018. About 4.6 mil- worldwide to increase by 19 per tracts of the Amazon rain drones to identify the exact             (        ( gered species towards extinction lion acres perished in the same cent between 1979 and 2013. forests aflame while the location of forest fires and the through the destruction of their period in 2019, compared to 8.5 It is a cyclical process, with Government is accused of being directions of their spread,      )    %               habitats and burn trees and the million acres in 2018. Towns, global warming conducing to either indifferent to, or encour- deployment of adequate man-      > @  $  />@$0           undergrowth. Spreading out, they property and houses have been forest fires and the latter con- aging of, their doings. power in fire-prone areas     # %               destroy human settlements, hous- destroyed and people killed. tributing to global warming. According to India’s State of through the filling of all vacan-                  ;        ( es, property and kill people. The situation is grim in The way things are, the Paris Forest Report 2017, people in cies in the ranks or frontline Environmentally, they are a major India which, on an average, loses Agreement on Climate Change’s this country set fire to forests forest officials.                          source of greenhouse gas emis- 1,176 crore a year to forest fires. call for holding the increase in for, among other reasons, clear- All this will require money.               #      > sions. A report by Daisy Dunne, The Forest Survey of India global average temperature in ing areas for shifting cultivation, The provision of 50 crore in            @          )  datelined July 14, 2020, and titled (FSI) detected 29,547 fires in this century to well below 2°C non-timber forest produce col- the 2020-21 Union Budget is “How climate change is affecting 2019 using the Moderate above the pre-industrial revolu- lection and for hunting/poach- not going to be enough. The                      ( wildfires across the world” in Resolution Imaging Spectro- tion level and for trying to limit ing purposes. Another reason is argument, however, will be                Carbon Brief, states that they are radiometer (MODIS) system. In it to 1.5°C above it, is not going making room for growing that even the last budget’s allo- responsible for 5-8% of the 3.3 a written response to a query, to be achieved. More, according towns and villages. cation of 46.58 crore was not million annual premature deaths Minister of State for to the Special Report on Global Preventing forest fires will, fully spent. While the Union from poor air quality. Environment Babul Supriyo Warming of 1.5°C, released by therefore, require action on Government must play its part  4 5 At least a billion animals and told the Lok Sabha on the Intergovernmental Panel on multiple fronts. The National financially and administrative- birds are estimated to have per- September 23, 2020, that an area Climate Change (IPCC) on Action Plan on Forest Fires by ly, State Governments, which ished in Australia’s devastating for- of 2,56,710 hectares was affect- October 7, 2018, the adverse Forest Protection Division of the are responsible for forest man-      #     0 # ! est fires in the late 2019 and early ed by forest fires in the country effects of climate change would Ministry of Environment, agement on the ground, need 2020. The actual number may in 2019. What is also alarming, not be reduced even if the Forests and Climate Change, to pull up their socks.    !  #!" 8'   turn out to have reached trillions a report by the FSI submitted in increase is limited to 1.5°C. released in 2019, makes a num- (The author is Consulting if the estimates had taken into 2019 has it that 1,52,412 out of What is particularly alarming, ber of recommendations. These Editor, The Pioneer. The views              account bats, frogs and inverte- India’s 7,12, 249 square kilome- this level, according to the include a vigorous strategy for expressed are personal.)                        (        )           1  3  42!                ( :        :   0 (0 (   ? $ %  $   ' $                (     (        $ $6   (0&&&  $     & 7O    "           (       0     ($( & : $               =2    (     $ &        $     &&& O    $ $&              7    0 (0 (   $   (      5  :                   * $     &  $  &    &&&&&&       &        + *    + ,  )8@ 9-2)9$ .2-9 $1<21#&<2@ -&./>../&8&;-&.            ( K    K " K; K0               (            #   ! !  0  ! 1 !! '   2!10           -  . /-.0   1   - /1-0                  -.                   #   R) S "       1       Sir — West Bengal and Assam Sir — Records are meant to be )       -.        1- )   will go to the Assembly polls in  (  (  5% ($    (( 6 broken but in a field game like                  3 2021 and, in both the States, the '   '      4  4  football, breaking records is                "  *     BJP has high stakes. In Assam, the  (      $      not an easy task to achieve. BJP is seeking return to power for    & %  (   $ (   2 $ 6 However, Lionel Messi has      4               56  1- the second consecutive time. In $   & become the all-time top scorer   -.                  Bengal, the party is hoping to %   4     O  2     for a single club after scoring his              7 6 8986  1   defeat Chief Minister Mamata           (   644th goal for FC Barcelona Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress.  $  $ (   ($& '    during their La Liga match. $     1-           (    In both the States, the   +/6 6 4    0  (  O Messi touched peak form in                        Citizenship Amendment Act   0 $ & ' ($ $ $   (6 2011-12 but continued to garner        (CAA) is an emotive issue but (      (       goals in a steady way. Union Home Minister Amit    ( + 2 /+2  $ 4     Incidentally, Pele scored 643 #                (  Shah’s statement that the CAA      ((     & $  goals in 665 competitive games R    4 S                rules are yet to be framed as the             ( &     (  (  $ $  06 for his Santos club while Messi  -.           (     :;<)( exercise could not be carried out ' ((       ((  (6  ( (    $  & %  6 needed 749 matches to break the    ($  ( $          $     (     6=   #     4  7    $  >   -. because of COVID-19 means record, though he did it in 17 sea- that it won’t be the main election  $& ' 5$( $ 0         0       5$(&  sons as compared to the 19 sea-                 ,  issue. Both the States are strong (       $                    sons the Brazilian great needed.                     -.  opponents of the CAA ever since $   ( & 5 (    $ 0  $   ($   (      In addition, Messi, who  ( (    $(    $ &       2 $   &          1-       -.    it was enacted in 2019. made his first appearance for While the BJP is aggressive- $  ( (         $  G David Milton Barcelona aged 17 in 2004, has  1   - * 7              ly pushing its campaign in    $   (         Kanyakumari won 10 La Liga titles with the  )      + )            ) favour of the CAA in Bengal club plus four Champions        ?    -.          ( ahead of the Assembly elections,   the virus will not stop spreading Christians by not allowing us to League Trophies. Thus, a mag- it is defensive in the neighbour- and we are forced to be content celebrate Christmas and the New ical Lionel Messi broke the         ,  7          ( ing Assam. Both the States have Sir — The discovery of a mutat- without jobs and eat only stones Year Mass even during daytime. goal-scoring record for a single     %     -  @          significant Muslim populations ed and more virulent COVID-19 and mud for another five years First, he and his policemen club and entered the record      3     $   A     1  1  + — 27-28 per cent and 34-35 per virus strain in England has because the Chief Minister is not demolished Kangana Ranaut’s books by bettering the veteran cent, respectively. caused turmoil around the world. willing to resume local trains so bungalow. Now they are target- Brazilian’s feat. A      1   -   :     An election narrative As a precaution, a night curfew that we can reach office and get ing Christians. Is the virus active CK Subramaniam                 ( around the CAA is expected to has been imposed in the faraway our salaries to feed our families. only during Christian festivals Chennai  + *     S      A    ( 4  polarise the voters. Maharashtra. Uddhav Thackeray does not like Easter and Christmas? Bhagwan Thadani This is ridiculous on the part need Christian votes; that is why Jubel D’Cruz   % ;          69 6B  89  S  + Mumbai of the State Government because he has now started harassing Mumbai --92-1;1.9=:$&!81$    !"#$"%"%   6 &'& 720!13  /$ ,-*.13!0,-*.   )  A  4'  4  ' ,4  5 4 (   )()   )  P ' , ()       ''( ) B   C! ' )  ())!   $ (  $ $  ((  L( )   L(  ) ,      2 ( (     ( ) )      $  0 (   " # !!

*) 040' / " 43   '! #  !    '     ! " %         4        (     )             )  ## #   !' %2     )     )        S     (       )                  @            O             (            O            )         @  (          @                              ;                S        1                     %          ) S     * 110'    P>  @ Q 7                          n December 13, the 11-party Opposition                 alliance, the Pakistan Democratic         #        OMovement (PDM), held a large rally in               )    Lahore. It marked the completion of the first phase of the alliance’s agitation against the Imran                     Khan Government which saw the PDM hold              #    anti-Government rallies in six cities in Pakistan.               The next phase of the movement was kicked              off by the PDM holding a rally in Mardan on 4                December 23 despite a ban imposed by the dis-          S     ) trict administration amid the COVID-19 pan-                   ( demic. The protesters, led by Jamiat Ulema-e-                    ( Islam(F) and PDM chief Maulana Fazlur      + A        Rehman, senior Pakistan Peoples Party leader                  Yousuf Raza Gilani and Pakistani Muslim League (Nawaz) vice-president Maryam Nawaz, gathered               4  at the Gaju Baba Khan flyover to address a huge               ( crowd. The rally in Mardan would be followed                    by another public meeting in Larkana on ) S          B99999 H December 27 on the eve of the death anniver-           *      sary of Benazir Bhutto.                  ( The PDM has demanded that Prime Minister              Khan’s Government quit by January 31 or face A       896=     A     ( intensified movements by Opposition parties.          69 )          ( This includes a “long march” towards Islamabad     *       )      ( in late January or early February and possible resignations of Opposition members in the               >   Assemblies. The PDM has decided to focus on  7%4%8              smaller cities for public meetings and protests will 1975 5B The third major movement was new.” According to Nicholas, move- However, the theory is equally )           1  @     ( be held in Bahawalpur on December 30, ;79 made up of a cluster of movements ments may evolve into becoming suc- applicable in regions where there are    8965             ?   Malakand on January 3, Bannu on January 6, :7=;1 between 1981 and 1986, against the cessful uprisings, or they may be economic issues and repression but too            Khuzdar on January 9, Loralai on January 13, 7' <9 General Zia-ul-Haq dictatorship. Even crushed but, no matter what the out- little or no democracy. The theory states 4  )          @  ( Tharparkar on January 16, Faisalabad on January 99 though intense and at times extreme- come, they always have what it takes to that agitation against these or other          S    18, Sargodha on January 23, and Sialkot on ;9 ly violent, this movement failed to dis- become contagious. He adds that they issues brews in pockets that continue *      P( Q         January 27. lodge the dictator. He died in a plane also have the seeds to become “succes- to expand even when these pockets are Political pundits and analysts are already out- '7 1 : crash in 1988. sive.” By this Nicholas means that even repressed. Their consistency eventual-                  '<9 %1 7                ( weighing the chances of both the PDM and the The fourth movement rose up movements that are crushed or collapse ly begins to sap the energy of the State Imran Khan Government. Heated debates are ''9'%7 against the General Musharraf dictator- become paradigms for future protests. and this creates opportunities for pock-               )  taking place about whether the Opposition '<' '<9 ship in 2007 and succeeded in ousting As long as there are conditions for ets of resistance to mobilise from with-              alliance would be able to dislodge the Pakistan- 1 <4 him through a forced resignation. a movement to emerge, they will, in and outside their circle until they     8969        >   Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Government that is already 891 Ironically, the last major anti- despite being repeatedly vanquished. merge to become a people’s protest.                 besieged by a faltering economy, rising inflation, '7 '' 5'& Government movement was led by According to the “political opportuni- The conditions for a movement in                a lethal pandemic and the Government’s own '<%4 Imran Khan’s PTI against the third ty theory”, if a political system seems Pakistan are ripe. Economic melt-                 blunders, which are many.  7%49 Nawaz Sharif regime. It was unsuccess- vulnerable, there will emerge chal- down, State repression, bad gover-   7  7  %          In his characteristic style Khan stepped up 99191 ful but it did manage to create enough lengers who would move to use this vul- nance and political polarisation are now %   ?       6=59     his efforts to silence the voice of the PDM, along space for the PTI to squeeze through nerability as an opportunity to push for pitching one chunk of the polity against with the voices of thousands who criticised his  9: during the controversial 2018 elections. political or social change. The the other. The PDM’s agenda is thus         (         ( 8;9       O          Government. Despite such attempts, the PDM The PDM has succeeded in hold- American political scientist and histo- clear — to exhaust its opponents, so has held its ground and organised five major ral- :<%5< ing impressive rallies. But it is still not rian, Charles Tilly is often credited as ample opportunities emerge to further        lies in Multan, Peshawar, Gujranwala, Karachi, 4< % <4 a full-fledged movement. It is expect- being one of the foremost pioneers of expand and grow the movement. But #       :   3    and Quetta since October 16. Now it is upping %89%7=4;B ing to evolve into becoming one dur- the aforementioned theory. according to Nicholas, politics alone   -@       P    Q    the ante even further.  7%191 ing its next phase. However, it is still too The theory is not as much about will not be sufficient. Disillusionment      #            ( Most commentators are of the view that, even early to predict whether the PDM will why movements emerge, as such, but against an existing governing ideology       P- Q @     P  Q    if the PDM is unable to outright force Khan’s succeed in removing the Imran Khan rather what course they take once they needs to be replaced by a new promise                    ( departure, it can create a serious constitutional Government or, especially, if it can actu- get going. Reasons behind the why, gen- to invigorate a disillusioned polity.   >            ( and political crisis, which will not only bog down ally achieve its second and more ambi- erally speaking, can be economic or to The anti-Ayub Khan movement            S  S   a troubled regime but can also create issues for tious, aim to neutralise the self-appoint- do with repression. Interestingly, the offered various forms of economic #                ( the military establishment that is overtly back- ed political role of the military-estab- theory states that democratic pluralism equality to inspire the people to come                  ing the present set-up in Islamabad. lishment. too, can become a factor. out and protest. An “Islamic” system of The most worrisome aspect of this is that the Succeed or not, once the PDM does For example, all these factors can Government was promised by the                  military establishment has begun to be seen as evolve into becoming a movement, be seen as playing a role in the large movement to bring people out against    1     a visible party in the conflict between the PDM there is every likelihood that things will pockets of protests emerging in India the ZA Bhutto regime. The idea of “tab-   /% S    0        and the Khan Government. The kind of politi- begin to alter, for good or otherwise. In recently. An economic downturn, cou- deeli (change)” was floated by Imran  I6          %    $  cal crisis the PDM’s agitation is expected to cre- a 1973 essay for the Annual Review of pled with political repression of liber- Khan during his party’s street protests.  @   *  8J            ate can be detrimental to a highly polarised poli- Anthropology, the American sociologist al voices and the country’s long-stand- And now Sharif is promising a demo- IC99  A            )     ty. There have been five major anti-Government and anthropologist Ralph W Nicholas ing democratic systems, are allowing cratic and political system that will not     PQ  )  :     movements since Pakistan’s inception in August writes that political and social move- these protests to take shape, so much be rigged, engineered or tampered by P  Q   H      A     - 1947. The first such movement was able to force ments may have varying degrees of suc- so that some members of the non-civilian elite.                 the military dictator, Ayub Khan to resign in cess (or, for that matter, failure) but they Government are now lamenting that Promising democracy alone would                1969. Though the second one managed to stall leave behind societies that are never “too much democracy” is a problem. not have been able to draw the kind of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s bid to rule as the Prime quite the same. This could be understood as meaning attention that the PDM has managed        Minister of Pakistan for the second time in 1977, Nicholas describes movements as that democracy is hindering their to attract. This promise needed a new /             but it also saw the imposition of the country’s “liminal” or “the interim between the desire to fully implement the angle which Sharif has ingeniously pro-       0 third and perhaps harshest, military regime. end of the old and the beginning of the Government’s contentious projects. vided. (Courtesy: Dawn) '  % "                               

gas (GHG) emissions, leading to cli- garbage in a decentralised manner, from 40 per cent in August, after the As an outcome of the pilot, the monitoring, a motivational mecha- mate change on a global scale. a pilot project was implemented announcement of the lucky draws. services provided by the VMC staff nism, monitoring (possibly through All policymakers and adminis- from January to mid-November In Group 1 colonies, due to the were streamlined further. Hence, it Information Technology-based sys- trators dealing in waste manage- this year in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh availability of large garbage collec- can be concluded, that with an tems) and penalties. ment thoroughly understand the (UP). The project was initiated tion bins or existing garbage accu- appropriate infrastructure, service With regards to IECs, the con- wealth potential associated with under the Development and mulation points, residents either support from ULBs and regular cept and benefits of source segrega- this MSW, which can be unlocked Management of Nationally self-dispose the waste or get it dis- monitoring, it is possible to increase tion should be strongly interlinked with appropriate energy and eco- Appropriate Mitigation Actions posed through their domestic help the number of households provid- with health and economic benefits nomic linkages, yet the codes to (NAMA) project in India. in an unsegregated manner. For ing segregated garbage. to the city, demonstrating direct /-2) ( 3  unlock such potentials are not uni- Under the pilot intervention, them the domestic help provided a While certain people were moti- impact and benefits to the public. +09 fied. Once mixed, many potential- initially, a group of three colonies- better level of garbage collection ser- vated to do source segregation of The local, State and Central govern- 38 ly recyclable items lose their value Saraswati Nagar, Krantipalli and vices, compared to door-to-door MSW based on awareness pro- ments will also have to work cohe- for recycling. Hence, segregation at Rambagh & Kolhua Vinayaka were collection by the VMC as the staff gramme inputs, others responded to sively to look at possible mecha- rban India generated about source is the key to manage MSW piloted from January (Group 1) and was only available to collect waste incentives. Though such measures nisms to bring all stakeholders on 59.56 million metric tonnes in an efficient manner. Solid Waste this was later extended to include from the main gate of the apartment can be effective in motivating house- board to turn waste into a resource Uof municipal solid waste Management Rules require people Vijaynagaram and Vijayanagaram blocks. As a result, many households holds to separate garbage in the ini- and demonstrate a strong political (MSW) in 2019. While the average to hand over segregated garbage to extension (Group 2) in September. tiated to increase the motivation and residing on higher floors were not tial phase, once source segregation will to bring about change. collection rate was reported to be Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). Starting with information edu- engagement of residents. interested in availing of the door-to- becomes a practice, such incentives Interlinking workers from the around 92 per cent, only about 37 However, proper implementation cation and capacity building (IEC) Initially, it was found that none door collection services provided by might not be required. informal sector, building their per cent of the collected waste was and monitoring of this golden rule drives in these colonies, pilot inter- of the households were separating the waste collection staff and used The experience from these capacities and adjusting key perfor- treated. As per the biannual review which may turn many downstream ventions were started where house- garbage. But, due to the source seg- to dispose mixed garbage. pilots also revealed that awareness, mance indicators of existing staff report (BUR) submitted by the processes in waste management holds were encouraged to hand over regation awareness programme and In Group 2 colonies, which along with appropriate infrastruc- members will also help enhance the Government to the United Nations more efficient and effective, is lack- segregated waste to the Varanasi engagement of the VMC staff, had mostly bungalows and row ture (for collection and treating level of services in cities. Framework Convention on Climate ing. To discover what would moti- Municipal Corporation (VMC) col- around 67.42 per cent of the resi- houses, due to the non-availability waste), can indeed motivate people (Manuja is a Fellow at TERI and Change (UNFCCC) in 2014 this vate residents to segregate garbage lection staff on a daily basis. From dents began to segregate garbage by of any garbage disposal point and to segregate waste at source. Gaurav is a Technical Advisor at GIZ untreated MSW, when disposed, and help cities reduce their waste August onwards, lucky draw com- the end of the pilot in November. appropriate service by the VMC However, for mass involvement, a India. This article has inputs from contributed to nearly 15065 x106 Kg burden through appropriate man- petitions for households giving seg- The number of households giving staff, almost all residents were hand- habit of segregation will have to be NAMA, India. Views expressed are CO2Eq of the country’s greenhouse agement of organic and inorganic regated waste to collectors were ini- segregated garbage went up steeply ing over waste to VMC collectors. infused through appropriate IECs, personal.)    !"#$"%"%  $

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-   Karachi: British-born al-Qaeda now be released on Saturday as Ruth and Judea Pearl - the leader Ahmed Omar Saeed Friday is a public holiday in the parents of Pearl - condemned 6-     Sheikh and his three aides, country. the decision made by the Sindh whose release in the abduction Meanwhile, the United High court and expressed full and murder case of US jour- States on Friday expressed “deep confidence in the Supreme   #3  R  (4 nalist Daniel Pearl was ordered concern” over Sindh High Court of Pakistan to provide by a court here, would walk out Court’s order to release Sheikh justice for their son and rein- Kathmandu: Nepal’s Supreme slogans raised by the protesters. of the prison on Saturday, police and his aides and said it will force the paramount of the         Court on Friday issued a show- Around 300 Central and lawyer said on Friday. continue to monitor any devel- freedom of the press, the cause notice to Prime Minister Committee members of the In a surprise move, a two- opments in the case. Express Tribune reported. ) :4<%8'7 “We are deeply concerned KP Sharma Oli-led govern- NCP and nearly 100 members judge bench of the Sindh High “We are deeply concerned “We refuse to believe that by the reports of the December ment, asking it to submit a of the House were present in Court on Thursday directed by the reports of the December the Pakistani government and he US on Friday expressed 24 ruling of Sindh High Court written clarification over its the protest rally. security agencies not to keep 24 ruling of Sindh High Court the Pakistani people will let such T“deep concern” over a to release multiple terrorists decision to abruptly dissolve After staging a sit-in, the Sheikh and other accused under to release multiple terrorists a travesty of justice tarnish the Pakistani court’s order to responsible for the murder of Parliament. crowd marched towards the “any sort of detention” and responsible for the murder of image and legacy of Pakistan,” release British-born al-Qaeda Daniel Pearl. We have been The notice was issued after Election Commission (EC) declared all notifications of the Daniel Pearl. We have been they said in a statement. leader Ahmed Omar Saeed assured that the accused have a preliminary hearing at the office. Sindh government related to assured that the accused have In April, a two-judge Sindh Sheikh and his three aides, not been released at this time,” five-member Constitutional The EC will decide which their detention “null and void”. not been released at this time,” High Court bench commuted who were convicted and sen- the US State Department said bench headed by Chief Justice faction of the NCP is legitimate The court observed that the the US State Department said in the death sentence of 46-year- tenced in the abduction and in a tweet. Cholendra Shumsher Rana on to carry the party name and four men’s detention was “ille- a tweet. old Sheikh to seven years murder case of American jour- It said that the US will the writ petitions filed against the hearing. election symbol. gal”. It said that the US will imprisonment. The court also nalist Daniel Pearl. continue to monitor any the government’s decision to An amicus curiae is a legal “We have the support of According to the Jail continue to monitor any devel- acquitted his three aides who In a surprise move, a two- developments in the case and dissolve the 275-member professional or expert who the majority of the Central Superintendent, the four men opments in the case and will were serving life terms in the judge bench of the Sindh High will continue to support the House of Representatives, assists the court by offering committee members. could not be released from continue to support the Pearl case — almost two decades Court on Thursday directed Pearl family “through this according to court officials. information, expertise, or Therefore, we are going to the Karachi’s Central Jail on family “through this extremely after they were found guilty and security agencies not to keep extremely difficult process” The bench sought the writ- insight that has a bearing on the commission to prove and show Thursday as the prison author- difficult process” while hon- jailed. Sheikh and other accused while honouring the legacy of ten clarification from the Office case. that we are the legitimate fac- ities received orders from the ouring the legacy of Pearl as a However, the Sindh gov- under “any sort of detention” Pearl as a “courageous jour- of the Prime Minister and Meanwhile, the Pushpa tion,” protesting leader Sunil Sindh High Court for their “courageous journalist”. ernment refused to release them and declared all notifications nalist”. Council of Minister and Office Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’-led Manahdhar, who is also a release very late. The US has been mounting and kept them in detention of the Sindh government relat- The US has been mount- of the President as they are faction of the ruling Nepal Central Committee member of The legal counsel for the pressure on Pakistan, demand- under the Maintenance of ed to their detention “null and ing pressure on Pakistan, made defendants in all the Communist Party (NCP) the NCP, told PTI. four men said that they would ing justice for Pearl. Public Order. PTI void”. demanding justice for Pearl. writ petitions, they said. staged a protest rally in He said that the party will The court has also asked Kathmandu against the deci- launch the agitation against the the government to submit an sion. Oli government in collabora- original copy of the recom- ‘Prachanda’ and Madhav tion with other Opposition & :; , mendations made by the gov- Kumar Nepal, senior leaders parties, including the Nepali ernment to dissolve the House Jhala Khanal, spokesper- Congress and Janata Samajwadi and the decision made by son Narayan Kaji Shrestha Party for the reinstatement of +  8#  President Bidya Bhandari along with the party’s Central the House of Representatives. to authenticate the govern- Committee members and Separately, Prime Minister ment’s recommendations with- members of the dissolved Oli has called a Cabinet    ' ) in 10 days. House gathered near the Prime meeting on Friday evening, Earlier, the apex court Minister’s Office for the protest. amid an intensified struggle ) ;717 of coronavirus are increasing demanded an amicus curiae “We are here,” “Reinstate between the two warring fac- sharply in parts of the UK, with from Nepal Bar Association the House of Representatives,” tions of the ruling Nepal record number of people around one in 60 people now and Supreme Court Bar and “dissolution of the House Communist Party to wrest Ahave tested positive for testing positive in Wales and Association in connection with is unconstitutional,” were the control of the party. PTI Covid-19 in England as mil- one in 85 in England. lions spend Christmas Day Experts believe the new away from friends and family mutations of the deadly virus due to a continuing spike in are driving cases up across the 3     ! 6- 8 69 coronavirus infections on country as they are more con- Friday. tagious. It has resulted in most    Figures from the National parts of the UK to be placed in          Health Service’s (NHS) Test some form of stringent lock- and Trace network show that down measures, with London     between December 10 and 16, and surrounding areas in Tier #  0   173,875 people received a pos- 4 level of highest alert with a Atlanta: The United States itive result — the highest week- near-complete shutdown. Johannesburg: South Africa’s have mutated further” than will require airline passengers ly total of positive cases and a UK Prime Minister Boris health minister has rejected his the similar strain in Britain. from Britain to get a negative 58 per cent increase on the pre- Johnson has warned that British counterpart’s claim that The British minister’s Covid-19 test before their vious week. tougher restrictions could be a new coronavirus variant in words “have created a percep- flight. Separately, according to needed to keep a mutant coro- the country is more contagious tion that the variant in SA has The US is the latest coun- the the Office for National navirus strain “running out of )$ )    #  !  /      " "   !      or dangerous than a similar one been a major factor in the sec- try to announce new travel Statistics (ONS), positive cases control” in the New Year. !     0 + % +    ) in spreading the UK. ond wave in UK,” Mkhize said. restrictions because of a new “At present, there is no He pointed to evidence variant of the coronavirus that evidence that the 501.V2 (vari- that the British strain, which is spreading in Britain. ) );& % ant) is more transmissible than bears a similar mutation to the The Centers for Disease + # !    the United Kingdom variant - South African one, appeared as Control and Prevention says - as suggested by the British early as September in south- airline passengers from the       Health Secretary,” Zwelini eastern county Kent -- “approx- United Kingdom will have to Mkhize said in a statement imately a month before the get negative Covid-19 tests ) %)     Kabul: At least two Afghan ing to hammer out a peace deal published late Thursday. South African variant appears within three days of their trip army officers including a bat- that could put an end to “There is also no evidence to have developed”. and provide the results to the Calais: Hundreds of lorries open despite the Christmas avirus, which experts feared talion commander were killed decades of war. that (it) causes more severe dis- Citing “the widely shared airline. arrived at the French port of holiday so that ferries as well as could spread even faster, from on Friday when their vehicle No one immediately ease or increased mortality view of the scientific commu- The agency says the order Calais on Friday as authorities the trains bringing trucks reaching its shores. was hit by a roadside bomb in claimed responsibility for than the UK variant or any nity,” Mkhize also argued that will be signed Friday and go scrambled to ease a bottleneck through the Channel Tunnel The move created a massive the northern Balkh province, Friday’s bombing. Rezaie variant that has been “the risks of travel bans may into effect on Monday. in Britain, where thousands of could operate. logjam with up to 10,000 trucks the military said. blamed the Taliban, who are sequenced around the world”. outweigh the benefits”. The CDC says because of drivers have been stuck for Getlink, the Eurotunnel parked along highways as well Hanif Rezaie, a spokesman active in both districts and reg- Announcing restrictions “Banning travel between travel restrictions in place days because of tougher coro- operator, said 478 trucks had as the runways of the Manston for the army in the country’s ularly launch attacks against on travel from South Africa UK and SA is an unfortunate since March, air travel to the navirus rules. arrived in Calais by 11:00 am, airfield, according to EU trans- north, said Capt. Mohammad Afghan security forces. Wednesday, Britain’s Matt decision,” he added. US from the UK has been cut “Yesterday, we had 1,000 after 1,942 were brought over port commissioner Adina Qasim Paikar and another offi- Elsewhere, the Taliban Hancock had said that the South Africa is the country by 90 per cent. lorries cross over from Dover. Thursday. Valean, who criticised the cer were killed and two other announced the release of 30 variant there was “highly con- hit hardest by coronavirus on Last weekend, Britain’s As of 10:00 am (0900 GMT) we Most of the drivers headed French government’s decision. soldiers were wounded in the imprisoned Afghan security cerning, because it is yet more the continent, with close to one prime minister said a new already had 550 lorries from straight for the highway, accord- Drivers fumed at having to explosion, which took place personnel on Thursday in the transmissible, and it appears to million infections so far and variant of the coronavirus Britain,” Benoit Rochet, head of ing to an AFP journalist at the spend Christmas in their cabs between Balkh and Char Bolak southern Kandahar province’s 26,000 people dead. seemed to spread more easily the Calais port operator, told scene. away from their families with districts. Panjwai district. Around 14,000 positive than earlier ones and was AFP. Truckers were stranded in only minimal toilet facilities, The attack was the latest This is the first batch of cases were detected on each of moving rapidly through “At this rate, the situation southeast England after France because they were unable to get amid relentless violence in prisoners released by the the past two days, compared England. Dozens of countries should be completely taken halted all travel from Britain on Covid-19 tests that must be Afghanistan even as Taliban Taliban since the start of direct with between 8,000 and have since barred flights from care of by tomorrow,” he said. Sunday for 48 hours in a bid to negative to be allowed into and Afghan Government nego- peace talks with the Afghan 10,000 earlier this week. AFP the UK. AP The port decided to remain prevent a new strain of coron- France. AFP tiators hold talks in Qatar, try- Government in September. AP )$ !  ;!   " $ 

Rome: Curfews, quarantines Church, which was built orig- new clothes for her two chil- Anusonadisai and Patrick and even border closings com- inally by Jesuit missionaries in dren, aged 10 and 15. Tamaure Kaplin are cooped up in quar- plicated Christmas celebra- the 17th century. said that she hasn’t been able antine in a Bangkok hotel tions Friday for countless peo- Border crossing closures to find work as a nurse because room. It wasn’t great fun but ple around the globe, but kept thousands of migrants she still doesn’t have a they did make sure to get a ingenuity, determination and from economically devastated Colombia residence permit. Christmas tree. imagination helped keep the Venezuela who live in Her parents are still in They returned earlier this day special for many. Colombia from going home Venezuela. month from a 4 1/2-month In Beijing, official church- for Christmas. “My mother broke her trip to Canada and the United es abruptly cancelled Mass on Colombia’s government foot and can’t walk properly so States, making a 32-hour jour- Christmas Day in a last- shut down the crossings in a I’m worried about her,” said ney from Montreal via Doha. minute move, after China’s bid to slow down the spread of Tamaure. “I try to send her One condition of entering capital was put on high alert Covid-19 infections. Those money, but its not the same as Thailand is a 14-day quaran- following the confirmation of trying to return home for the being there.” tine upon arrival. Thai citizens two confirmed Covid-19 cases holidays this year had to turn Others successfully can stay at state facilities for last week, and two new asymp- to smugglers. crossed borders elsewhere only free but foreigners like Kaplin, tomatic cases were reported on Yakelin Tamaure, a nurse to find themselves in quaran- from Canada, must pay to stay Friday. who left Venezuela two years tine. For their first Christmas at an approved hotel, the One of several notices was ago, won’t be going home and since getting married in option the couple took so posted at Beijing’s St. Josephs’ said there will be no gifts or March, Nattasuda they could stay together. AP  5  ! 

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

 (  ( % $   $$ 2   !  !  )     '   9=2 =C '    4 51678 4*  ) 9: 19;<% 2 $    should now move “aggressive-   %  ly” on starting negotiations for  (/ 5796: 4*       ith European Union and    ) FTA with both the EU and UK. Wthe UK clinching a post- “We have requested the Brexit trade pact, India should 2!*   %* government to sign an MoU ) =% Expressed in dollar terms, ) 9: 19;<% improvement consulting-auto, with technological collabora- now aggressively pursue free   $ (Memorandum of the foreign currency assets engineering and logistics) at tions focusing on cutting-edge trade agreements (FTAs) sep- $   $ Understanding) regarding a he country’s foreign include the effect of apprecia- he Indian auto industry is NRI Consulting & Solutions technologies such as LTO (lithi- arately with both the regions, deadline to conclude FTA talks Texchange reserves surged tion or depreciation of non-US Texpected to see stronger India, said. um titanium oxide) batteries,” according to experts.  (  ( #  with Britain during the visit of by USD 2.563 billion to touch units like the euro, pound and growth in 2021-22, after recov- As far as personal vehicles he said. Although it is premature to  )    UK Prime Minister Boris a record high of USD 581.131 yen held in the foreign ering from the devastating are concerned, the 2018-19 The LTO batteries can be assess the gains for India from ;5  $  Johnson next month in India,” billion in the week to exchange reserves. effects of the COVID-19 pan- levels would be reached only in fast charged at high tempera- the agreement between Saraf said. Rakesh Mohan Joshi, December 18, RBI data The gold reserves demic, with electric vehicle 2022-23 whereas for two- tures as well as last for 10,000- European Union (EU) and the   ; professor at Indian Institute of showed. increased by USD 1.008 billion sales, especially two-wheleers, wheelers, it will be achieved plus cycles and other enhanced UK, Indian goods would not   Foreign Trade (IIFT), said that In the previous week, the in the reporting week to USD also likely to see positive move- maybe a year after that, he chemistries like NMC811, he get much benefit from this after the trade deal with the EU reserves had declined by USD 37.020 billion in the week ments, according to Nomura added. said. NMC811 is a cathode pact, they said. However, India FTA negotiations with both the and the UK, India will get a 778 million to USD 578.568 bil- ended December 18, the data Research Institute Consulting “This is also on account of composition with 80 per cent can explore opportunities in EU and the UK. Indian com- better opportunity to cater to lion. showed. & Solutions India. some price hikes expected with nickel, 10 per cent manganese service sectors like IT, archi- petitors like Vietnam have the demands of both the mar- In the reporting week, the The special drawing rights However, in the personal introduction of new regula- and 10 per cent cobalt. tecture, research and develop- greater duty advantage in sec- kets. “But India needs to plan increase in reserves was due to (SDRs) with the International vehicles segment, the levels tions,” Sharma said. In case of other EV com- ment and engineering in both tors like apparel and marine accordingly,” he added. a rise in foreign currency assets Monetary Fund (IMF) rose by reached in 2018-19 would be In 2018-19, total two- ponents such as motors and the markets as the EU-UK goods,” Sahai said. Apparel Export Promotion (FCAs), a major component of USD 12 million to USD 1.515 reached only in 2022-23, it wheeler sales rose 4.86 per controllers, Sharma said, “We pact does not cover services, Sharing similar views, Council (AEPC) Chairman A the overall reserves. billion. added. cent to 2,11,81,390 units as could see a wider participation they added. “There is not much Biswajit Dhar, a professor of Sakthivel said India-UK FTA FCAs rose by USD 1.382 The country’s reserve posi- In 2018-19, passenger compared with 2,02,00,117 by local component players gain for Indian goods, but we economics at Jawaharlal Nehru would help in removing the billion to USD 537.727 billion, tion with the IMF also rose by vehicle sales rose 2.7 per cent units in 2017-18. and also the entry of some new can gain in services sector in University, said India had a lot customs duty disadvantages the Reserve Bank of India’s USD 160 million to USD 4.870 to 33,77,436 units from As far as electric vehicles players especially to cater to the both the UK and EU markets. of contentious issues while faced by domestic players in (RBI) weekly data showed. billion. 32,88,581 units in 2017-18, (EVs) are concerned, Sharma rise in domestic EV two- We will gain more in the UK negotiating FTA with the EU. Britain. Britain clinched a his- according to the Society of said 2021-22 would also see wheeler and three-wheeler market as we are English speak- However, after Brexit, the UK toric deal with the European Indian Automobile positive movements, especial- demand.” ing country,” Federation of could have different stand on Union on Thursday as both Manufacturers (SIAM). ly in the two-wheeler EV seg- In addition, export Indian Export Organisations those issues and now “India sides managed to thrash out a “After the devastating ment, with new players like opportunities for EV compo- (FIEO) Director General Ajay should pursue FTA talks again post-Brexit free trade agree- effects of the COVID-19 pan- Ola Electric getting into the nents as well as batteries could Sahai said. with both the regions”. ment just days before the demic, it is expected that the fray. certainly emerge for domestic He said there are no spe- He added that there is a December 31 deadline. The auto industry will see stronger “In addition, on the EV players as the world struggles cific customs duty benefits for possibility of doing a favourable bilateral trade between India growth in 2021-22,” Ashim components side, we could to find alternative sources for domestic goods from this free trade pact with the UK. and the UK dipped to USD Sharma, partner and group finally see cell level manufac- supply chain resilience, he agreement. FIEO President Sharad 15.5 billion in 2019-20 from head (business performance turing starting off in India added. “Now we should push the Kumar Saraf said that India USD 16.9 billion in 2018-19.  &* !  * &* <  59 )   (  + ! 2  / )  */&*  ' !  3   " #  '' ) ' 980 &* ;   9: 19;<% Rs 1,000 crore and also December 18 meeting to '&$ '   & &* 11 improved its offer for a con- sweeten their bids. he race to acquire the bank- trolling stake in DHFL’s The CoC also asked ) 9: 19;<% ty to 99 per cent. The traders’ body stated Trupt Dewan Housing Pramerica Life Insurance Oaktree and Piramal to speci- However, this restriction that it has “urged Sitharaman   9: 19;<% Finance Corporation Ltd Company to Rs 1,000 crore fy the proposed shareholding raders’ body CAIT on will not apply where the man- to defer implementation of (DHFL) has intensified with from Rs 300 crore. structure of DHFL’s insurance TFriday urged Finance aging director or any partner Rule 86 B immediately which rivate equity investment in both the final bidders Oaktree “We understand that the business, where foreign own- Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has paid more than Rs 1 lakh is scheduled to be implement- Pthe Indian real estate sector and Piramal having enhanced bidder that submitted the sec- ership is currently capped at 49 to defer the implementation of as income tax or the registered ed from January 1, 2021 and is likely to recover and hit the their offers. ond highest bid has sought to per cent. Rule 86B in GST, whereby person has received a refund also extend the last date for fil- $6 billion-mark next year, reg- US-based Oaktree Capital increase its bid by means of (a) Earlier, Kapil Wadhawan, businesses with over Rs 50 amount of over Rs 1 lakh in ing GST and Income Tax Audit istering a year-on-year growth has raised its offer for the allocating additional interest the erstwhile promoter of the lakh monthly turnover will the preceding financial year on return from December 31 to of 30 per cent, according to a insolvent NBFC by Rs 1,700 income to the financial credi- Dewan Housing Finance have to pay at least 1 per cent account of unutilised input tax March 31, 2021”. report by Savills India. crore, intensifying the bidding tors and (b) increasing its bid Corporation Ltd (DHFL), of their GST liability in cash, credit. CAIT Secretary General The report noted that the war with Piramal Enterprises. for the insurance stake. As wrote to the administrator of terming it a “counter produc- The Confederation of All Praveen Khandelwal said that growth may come on the back would drive the sentiment In its letter to the required, we are allocating an DHFL, reiterating his new pro- tive” measure that will increase India Traders (CAIT) in a let- in light of the current scenario of an improving economic sen- henceforth, it added. Committee of Creditors on additional amount of Rs 1,700 posal to repay 100 per cent of the traders’ compliance burden. ter to Sitharaman has drawn when domestic trade is dis- timent supported by policy A Savills India statement Thursday, Oaktree said that its crores as additional interest the principal debt to the cred- The Central Board of her attention towards Section turbed due to repercussions of reforms and growth in key said that its estimates for pri- bid is now at Rs 36,410 crore income to the financial credi- itors. Indirect Taxes and Customs has 86B, saying that “it is a counter- COVID-19 and traders are emerging sectors. vate equity investment in the and that of Piramal is Rs 34,909 tors,” Oaktree said in its latest He also assured to run the introduced Rule 86B in Goods productive step which will load fighting for survival of business, It said that PE investment sector are based on factors crore. letter to the CoC. NBFC following the best cor- and Services Tax (GST) which the traders further with burden it is “strongly urged that the in real estate in 2020 is expect- like overall economic and infra- Oaktree’s offer came a day The lenders had asked both porate governance standards as restricts use of input tax cred- of compliance and also much implementation of Rule 86 B ed to contract at $4.6 billion structure growth, growth in after Piramal raised its bid by the final bidders in the decided by the lenders. it for discharging GST liabili- financial obligation”. may be deferred”. due to decline in economic sectors such as manufacturing, activity, adding that investors logistics and e-commerce. are likely to adapt themselves Geopolitical scenario and pol- in the altered world order and icy enabling environment are <   '  # # (+ C1-B 4 &='-(&= steadily return to the market also considered to be key with evolved strategies. determinants. As per the “The next wave of invest- report, the warehousing and Jaipur: Rajasthan is among common man easily. administrative con-    &D ments will be driven by growth logistics segment has been those States in the country With the view to increase trol of theMinistry in warehousing, affordable among the most resilient asset where right to information transparency, the list of the of Finance, GoI, so New Delhi:As many as 3.97 & ....Relax!,” the department housing and data centres apart classes in the ongoing pan- was initiated years ago and beneficiariesof different the State crore taxpayers have already tweeted. This includes 2.27 from the commercial office demic. Warehouse leasing is right to information waspro- schemes of state government Government has filed their income tax returns crore taxpayers filing ITR-1, segment which will continue to expected to increase by 60 per vided to its people through the has been made availableon Jan sent to theUnion for assessment year (AY) 2020- 85.20 lakh filing ITR-4, 46.78 see steady improvement,” said cent in 2021 as compared to act, said the Chief Miniser. This Soochna Portal, he said. Government, the 21 (fiscal year 2019-20) till lakh ITR-3 and 28.74 lakh fil- the report titled Beyond The 2020, keeping investors riveted time also, the Jan Soochna Waiving off crop loan from one time settle- December 24, the Income Tax ing ITR-2.The deadline to file ‘20: Private Equity in Indian and on the lookout for invest- Portal has been developed to cooperative banks was under ment proposal for Department said on Friday. I-T returns by individual tax- Real Estate’. ment opportunities.Savills further strengthen the right to thejurisdiction of the state gov- waivingoff the “Over 3.97 crore Income payers for the 2019-20 fiscal A likely repair of the Research also expects private information. Through the por- ernment, so it fulfilled its loans of the farm- Tax Returns have already been (AY 2020-21) ends on bruised economy, improving equity investors to assess an talinformation relating to gov- promise in 48hrs only, but ers. The Hon'ble filed till 24th of December, December 31, 2020, while the trade relations, policy support opportunity of around $330 ernment departments, agen- since the commercial banks, CM has written let- 2020. Have you filed yours as same for taxpayers whose and progress on the vaccination million in the industrial and cies, board, corporations, is nationalized banks andregion- terstwice to the Prime Minister FinanceMinister, whose reply is yet? If not, please do it TODAY! accounts require to be audited front, are the key factors that warehousing segment in 2021. being made available to the al rural banks comes under the and one letter to Union still awaited. File your Return of Income Tax is January 31, 2021. PTI <0  4 /  !     "4  4   P #   $   (   $   B-C  )  5<1%8 < aryana Chief Minister   9: 19;<% HManohar Lal Khattar on Friday honoured Information, he Economic Offences Public Relations and TWing of Delhi Police has Languages Department with a filed an FIR against Strategic state-level award for develop- Credit Capital Private Ltd ing first of its kind Enterprise (SCCPL) along with other Resources Planning (ERP) associated entities and indi- Software for issuing release viduals Mohnish Mukkar over orders and payment of bills to an alleged fraud of over Rs 793 various media houses. The crore based on a complaint by department has received the Religare Finvest Ltd (RFL). award at a state-level function RFL had filed a criminal held on the occasion of Good complaint in August 2019 for Governance Day here. to media houses, the Public Relations and offences of cheating, misap- While honouring Information, Public Relations Languages Department, propriation, forgery, criminal Additional Chief Secretary, and Languages Department Haryana aimed at bringing breach of trust, and criminal Information, Public Relations has developed first of its kind transparency and quickness in conspiracy against SCCPL and and Languages Department, Online Release Orders and the entire process of issuance its associate entities and indi- Dheera Khandelwal, Director Billing System (OROBS). of release orders and bill pay- viduals. General, Information, Public Appreciating the efforts of ments. According to the FIR, the Relations and Languages the Department especially the The system has been accused persons including Department, P.C. Meena, project team, Khattar said it is developed in-house by the SCCPL and Mohnish Mukkar Additional Director (Admin), an example worth emulating teams of NIC Haryana and along with cheating and Information, Public Relations for other states as well. DIPRL Haryana, he shared. defrauding RFL, also forged and Languages Department, He said that release orders The online system will and fabricated documents to Varsha Khangwal and Pardeep and advertisement bills are eliminate the manual process induce RFL to execute an Kaushal, Senior Technical being processed through this of submission of advertise- assignment agreement. Director, NIC, Khattar lauded online system, adding that ment requests/indents by As per the FIR, around the officers for bringing the the payment of bills will be client organizations and man- April-May 2015, Mohnish much-needed e-reform in the made within a period of 30 ual bill submission by the Mukkar and Veena Singh, old age system of issuing days of submission to the print media. Director of PHFPL, had release orders and payment of media houses concerned after The departmental offi- approached RFL expressing bills by replacing it with the the submission of bills. cials and print media will also interest in acquiring certain first of its kind e-solution. Sharing more details, be able to track the status of existing RFL loans. Mohnish Director General, release orders and bills online Mukkar at the relevant time, Envisioning the Chief Information, Public Relations through a comprehensive had represented to RFL that he Minister’s idea of bringing and Languages Department, dashboard. Besides this, the was a promoter and director of transparency and efficiency in P.C. Meena said that the system has been integrated Halcyon Asia Support Services the entire process of releasing Online Release Orders and with SMS gateway to send Private Limited, which com- State Government Billing System (OROBS) is an event-based alerts to various pany was engaged in the busi- Advertisements and Payments ERP system for Information stakeholders. ness of debt restructuring.    '() * +     !"#$"%"%

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

("6 (     ( 4 ( > ) !'  # )  > 2 0/>05&&36R '      ""!' #  % # %    !     '        fter screening carefully curated offerings through the year, Zee   (   ATheatre ends 2020 with Gidh, a grip- ping teleplay from across the border.  " Written and directed by Kanwal Khoosat,  )9# the play revolves around two women pro- tagonists bound together by their shared )4)/)4 !.4> miseries of life in a patriarchal society. )/>)4"  Gidh which means ‘Vulture’, delves into Saleema’s mundane life which is disrupt-      ed after an unexpected visit from Salma   $  who claims to be her sister-in-law. As the plot unfolds, both the women share the tri- fter a long time of being als of their respective lives which they had Acooped up at home, a lot us to undergo because of the same man – are craving that feeling of exhil- Junaid, Salma’s brother and Saleema’s hus- aration that comes from partic- band. Together, they decide to put an end ipating in extreme adventure to their suffering. What in fact transpires sports. The adrenaline rush, the changes one of their lives forever, but not sheer excitement, the butterflies in the way she had expected. in the stomach before taking the Kanwal says, “It has been an exciting plunge are all hallmarks of what experience collaborating with Zee Theatre. great adventures look like! After Jhaanjhar Di Paanwaan Chhankaar Discovery Channel is all set to and Mushk, the journey to this one has bring back the thrill of extreme been more than enriching, engrossing and sports with a new season of its hosts will go around Manali dis- Manali is such a beautiful place, Sharing his experience, Cyrus Megha Tata, Managing liberating as I embarked on developing the adventure reality series Feelin covering the unknown and over- but this time, it was more than said, “I thoroughly enjoyed myself Director – South Asia, Discovery teleplay vocabulary for it. The development similarities. Working in a room full of Alive Season 2, this time, helmed coming their fears. Training just the beauty of this place that while shooting for the show. It was Communications India said, of the play was experimental, energetic and strong women helped me let my guard by hosts Amol Parashar and under experts, the duo will set I got to savour. That rush and the fun and beautiful experiencing “Shows like this enhance our challenging, but overall, I am proud of the down, altering my perception of woman- Cyrus Sahukar. out to perform some the extreme thrill of trying something new Manali. I feel, trying new things offering of real life entertainment. team that stood by me and believed in me hood as I know it. We incorporated all our Shot in one of the most sports including slacklining at for the first time, was priceless. really helps you overcome your We are delighted to bring back to create something authentic and unique experiences, ideas, stories and beautiful locations, Manali, the Jagat Sukh, canyoning at Jogini To be honest, it was a bit nerve fears. I would watch people do all the adventure show and collab- thrilling.” manifested it into a piece that didn’t show will take the viewers on an Falls, snowboarding at Solang wracking for me before I tried these things and being cool, but orate with some of the leading Actor Sana says, “The characters in this adhere to any specific format. adventure to conquer the Valley and ATV off-roading. these extreme sports. But once never had the courage to do this brands.” play are the antithesis of the stereotypical The teleplay also stars Raasti Farooq extreme and experience that Speaking about his experi- I got into it, I was loving every on my own, until now. I glad to (The show premiers on women we see on TV as good or bad. In and Adeel Afzal and will be aired on adrenaline rush that they’ve ence, Amol said, “It was an moment of it. I not only enjoyed have had the opportunity. This is December 28 on Discovery the beginning, I thought I was playing a TataSky theatre on December 27 at 2 pm been craving for some time amazing experience. I have shooting the show but it also going to be one experience I will Channel, Discovery Channel HD, woman very different from myself but and 8pm. This is the first time that the play now. In the four-part series the never felt such thrill in my life. helped me overcome my fears.” remember for the rest of my life.” TLC and TLC HD.) ended up realising that we shared so many will be screened on TV and in India.                    !"#$"%"% 6 !!  #! %  .  * 4 (   %3  7 ( !% 

) 9: 19;<% you do then? Would you go back there to back you, not just by 5 ) # <   "2)? @   to Wriddhiman Saha,” Gambhir words but by action.” he Indian team manage- questioned on YouTube channel No one apart from India #  2  ##  Tment has made players Sports Today. rotates wicketkeeper based on “insecure” and the decision to For Gambhir, it’s not lip-ser- conditions, said Gambhir. rotate between Wriddhiman vice but actions that makes “Actually, it’s been unfair on ) 9;7= 9 . &5 Saha and Rishabh Pant has players secure, something that Rishabh Pant and Wriddhiman 06788/. been “unfair” on both the wick- this current regime has failed, Saha both over a long period of few bruised egos will eye etkeepers, feels former opener according to him. time when they have picked and redemption when India 01272<=& 0.> Gautam Gambhir. “That’s why this team looks chosen players on conditions. Asquare off against Saha was on Friday dropped so unsettled because no one is You don’t do that with wicket- Australia in the second Test here from the Boxing Day Test due to secured. Professional sport keepers. You do that with from Saturday, ready to bounce his poor batting form in the is all about security. bowlers,” he fumed. back in skipper Ajinkya Rahane’s opening game and Gambhir Everyone has talent “In overseas condi- hour of reckoning after hitting asked whether the team’s think- when they are tions, you play two the ‘nadir of 36’. tank will do the same with Pant representing spinners based on Seldom has an Indian out- if he fails in the next two games. the country,” conditions, its fit been at such difficult cross- “It’s unfortunate and Gambhir, known understandable, but roads in recent years as it is in Wriddhiman Saha has played for his frank opinion, which other teams in the aftermath of the humiliating just one Test match in this said. the world has chopped defeat in Adelaide and Virat series and he hasn’t done well “A l l t h e y w a n t and changed wicket- Kohli’s departure for the birth of and gets dropped. is security and keepers based on his child. “Imagine what happens to that assur- conditions. No But the good thing is that Pant if he doesn’t do well in this ance that one apart from star-in-waiting, Shubman Gill, is Test or the third Test. What do we are India.” ready to honour his team’s leap of faith in him when he makes his Test debut at the imposing Melbourne Cricket Ground.     % !         $ Likewise, young workhorse Mohammed Siraj will step in O  P ( !      $ temporarily to fill the void cre- ated by crafty Mohammed )  9: 19;<% state associations should be eli- Shami’s injury and it will be     gible to represent their respec- about how Rahane, touted as a he All India Chess tive state association in the bowler’s captain, handles him. )  59'= %7 TFederation (AICF) elections, National Sports Federation It’s not about the defeat but scheduled to be held online on (NSF) meetings. And, those the manner of capitulation outh Africa will make a January 4, again seem to be representing elected representa- which can come back to haunt !   5  $$        (  $  )5 % 4     $       P        &      +!! S“meaningful” anti-racism headed towards rough weather tives of the state associations can a side that’s not short on quali- gesture when they take the when Bharat Singh Chauhan only be eligible to contest elec- ty. The next few days will be a whose intent always provides The Australians aren’t who is expected to feel a bit jit- field against Sri Lanka on faction have filed an objection tions. test of real character and it’s only way more assurance than a pas- known to take any prisoners and $       tery. Boxing Day here, after failing over the eligibility of former “…Only such persons who fair that a strategic shift was on sive Wriddhiman Saha, is an unchanged XI that is expect-       %   Finally, the Indians would to do so during the T20I series AICF President PR Venkatrama are the elected members of the the cards. expected to play his fearless ed to play at the MCG will not    & :  ($  like to take that big front-foot against England last month. Raja and candidate for general executive body of the State/UT A couple of forced and an brand of cricket which is the take its foot off the pedal, skip- $2     stride forward while facing Pat The first Test against Sri secretary’s position, Ravindra Associations can only be autho- equal number of tactical changes need of the hour. per Tim Paine insisted.    $  Cumins and Josh Hazlewood Lanka starts on Saturday and Dongre. rized by the President of such was always on cards for the vis- Pant was an instant hit dur- While Kohli’s absence can     not only physically but also fig- coach Mark Boucher said the The court-appointed Association to represent in the itors as they take on Tim Paine’s ing the last tour in 2018-19 but never be really compensated for, (0 $  uratively. South African team would Returning Officer Justice meetings of the NSFs including confident men, spending in the past year, had lost both Rahane would like to show his $  look to express its support for (retired) K Kannan has released casting of vote in the election of Christmas without their families. form and confidence to surren- character by promoting himself L A, TEAMS inclusion after its inaction in the list of nominated candidates the NSFs,” the Sports Ministry Gill’s languid approach and der his place in the white-ball up the batting order and taking  Australia XI: Tim Paine (cap- the last series, which attracted for 15 posts, which includes said in its reply to a RTI query. that extra second while facing formats. more responsibility. tain & wk), Joe Burns, Matthew criticism from many quarters. names of PR Venkatrama Raja The BS Chauhan group fast bowlers, coupled with a way Amid the ruins, there lies a Cheteshwar Pujara can play Wade, Marnus Labuschagne, “We’ve had a lot of discus- (Tamil Nadu) and Ravidra claim that the names of Raja tighter technique than Prithvi glimmer of hope as Ravindra his natural doggedly defensive : ( O       Steve Smith, Travis Head, sions since we’ve come into the Dongre (Maharashtra). and Dongre should not be in Shaw, might just give the dress- Jadeja, who has recovered fully game but head coach Ravi   (      Cameron Green, Pat Cummins, bubble about this, especially The Chauhan camp con- the voters’ list because they are ing room the confidence from his concussion and ham- Shastri might just tell him that O 0 $ & : 0 Josh Jazlewood, Mitchell Starc, after what the board statement tended that the nominations of not elected representative of required in testing times. string injury, will add a new there’s no harm if the scoreboard %  $ ((0 ($ 2 Nathan Lyon. was and the guys have come up these two in the electoral roll their respective state associa- He will have the company of dimension with his all-round is ticking as it will only lessen the     India XI: Ajinkya Rahane (cap- with a meaningful gesture,” and later in the list of candidates tions. Only those whose Mayank Agarwal, who would be abilities in a five-bowler set-up. pressure on a batting line-up that   ' tain), Mayank Agarwal, Boucher said during a virtual is in violation of country’s Sports names appear in the voters’ list wanting to do an encore, if not Hanuma Vihari will be will miss Kohli way too much. (    Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar press conference on Friday. Code and should be rejected. are eligible to contest AICF better, of his performance at a shunted up the batting order In the absence of Shami,     $ Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh “That’s something the Quoting an RTI reply by the elections. venue where he made his Test after retaining his place and the Jasprit Bumrah and Umesh   Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, R players will share with every- Ministry of Sports, Government Justice Kannan will be debut. experienced KL Rahul have to Yadav will have to be relentless L  ) Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit one before match day,” he of India, the appeal said that hearing these objections on Similarly, Rishabh Pant, wait patiently for his turn. and also guide a young Siraj, Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj. added. elected representatives of the December 26. O P     !" #$%&'!#'(%  *#'&+ *#+(

Manta also credits her bandmates ative profession because you can’t go and not go anywhere.” And while not for her songwriting, “As a writer you the solo way.” performing has taken its toll, she is have a vision and it is your bandmates, The inspiration for her songs often very pleased that she managed to fin-  who are expert instrumentalists and comes from her personal experiences ish writing the material for the put your vision into action. I have but that is not a deliberate thing, she Ensemble’s third album. Although    been blessed in both my bands to have says. “I think, I speak for most songwrit- when she recently caught up with her     great bandmates. I really wouldn’t ers when I say that when you are writ- bandmates for the first time since the      change anything about my experi- ing about a subject, subconsciously, you lockdown began, ostensibly for the first      ences.” She also adds that a lot of what are taking from your own experi- practice of the new material, no music she knows about music was picked up ences. But it isn’t always that. One major happened. “We were meeting after so     from her fellow musicians, “Some of aspect that people often forget about long that we just ate, chatted and par-   them are very highly educated in anybody indulging in creative writing tied.” She says that she has been for-     music, some have studied abroad. is that it isn’t always experiences but also tunate as she teaches music at the Shiv     There are so many things that I lack observations and even your mood at the Nadar School in Gurugram’s DLF that they make up for. There are point of time that you are writing a Phase 1 which has meant that unlike   numerous things that I was unaware song.” However, a major portion of writ- some other musicians she has man- anta Sidhu, songwriter and vocalist for of that I have learnt thanks to the priv- ing is inspired from observing life aged financially. the Manta Sidhu Ensemble, always ilege of working with them. around them and that is where a bulk Talking about the revolutionary wanted to write and had chalked out Collaborating with others in your field of their creativity comes from, she feels. Intelligent Manual Transmission that a career in journalism ever since she is very important For someone who wanted to be a cre- removes the clutch but keeps the gear was in school. After graduating in any cre- ative writer, Manta says that songwrit- lever, allowing drivers to get the best fromM Delhi University’s Hindu College she joined ing is where she channels her inventive of both worlds, she says, “Well, my left the fabled A J K Mass Communication energy. foot was feeling idle, but this really took Research Centre at Delhi’s Jamia Millia As for this year, Manta is fairly me just a minute to get used to, so it Islamia. Yet, after a few years of writing sto- pragmatic, “There are many aspects isn’t very difficult at all. The music is ries, editing and spending long hours in the to 2020, but some days it is great great in the car so your left foot can newsroom, she realised that her true love was to wake up keep tapping to it.” She hopes that the music and writing songs. While supporting IMT concept catches on with more herself with some freelance journalism gigs cars adopting it. As for the seven- on the side, Manta was drawn more and speaker BOSE audio system, more into music. “I was already quite Manta’s first comments are deeply into it since college and I always that it is ‘beautifully bal- wanted to pursue music seriously, but I did- anced’. “Some audio sys- n’t realise to what extent.” tems are too heavy on the Despite being blessed with a great voice, base, and others, like Manta admits that, music was just one of bad headphones, can several extra-curricular activities she partici- be too high on treble. pated in during school. It was while studying at As musicians the Hindu College that she became a part of the col- experience you want lege’s active music society and met new friends — listeners to have is a all with an interest in music. “That is where I decid- balanced one and ed that I would be pursue music professionally, but that is what we try to I had no idea about how deep I would get into it. achieve in the mix- Music was an unconventional career choice then.” ing studio and the Yet, Sidhu states that while it might have translation on this seemed tougher earlier because there were fewer system is perfect,” locations and gigs, nowadays with a whole bunch she exults. of younger and hungrier musicians taking up While the Sonet instruments, competition has ensured that ‘mak- has turned out to be ing it’ is still a challenge. “By making it I mean, earn- one of 2020’s best things, its ing enough to make ends meet and live comfortably, so music system is actually a that you can spend time writing and composing your own hidden surprise for melody lovers. music and releasing albums. It is still a challenge today. Although there Here is to a very are so many more places to play music but there are also so many musical 2021. ■ more musicians. And that is a good thing.”