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      &$                        12134+     )+ #   gainst the backdrop of a      Asudden rise in coronavirus n a first major reshuffle of top   $  cases in many States, Prime IIPS officers undertaken after Minister on the arrest and suspension of Wednesday stressed the need P    explosive laden SUV recovery-    & for checking the “emerging linked police officer Sachin second peak” of the pandemic Vaze, the Maharashtra     in the country and sought    Government shunted out States to create micro-contain- Mumbai Police Commissioner Industrial Security Force ment centres and speed up the Param Bir Singh and replaced (CISF). vaccination drive.   12134+ him with current Director Singh’s transfer as the In the meeting of Chief General of Police (DGP) Mumbai Police Commissioner Ministers called by him to iving up to its reputation as Hemant Nagrale. was very much on the cards decide new Covid-19 strategy, "    $        %     % '()     *    $ Lthe “pharmacy of the Announcing the appoint- after the embarrassment that Modi said, “Test, track and + ! "# world,” has played a lead- ment of Nagrale as Mumbai’s the Maharashtra Government treat mantra” should be fol- ing role in supplying vaccine to new Police Commissioner, faced in the wake of the arrest lowed to combat the “second the State . Chief Ministers. the virus and pressed the need more than 70 nations in the Maharashtra Home Minister of Mumbai’s Assistant Police peak” of the pandemic. The Prime Minister said Modi said States should be to increase RT-PCR resting ongoing fight against the coro- Anil Deshmukh said while Inspector Sachin Vaze by the “Seventy districts of the vaccination should be speeded creating micro-containment across the country. na pandemic, External Affairs senior IPS officer Rajnish Sheth National Investigation Agency country have seen an increase up and regretted 10 per cent centres to limit the spread of Continued on Page 2 Minister S Jaishankar said in has been given additional (NIA) and his suspension in of more than 150 per cent in “wastage” of doses in Andhra the on Wednesday.          responsibility of DGP, outgoing connection with the recovery of the last few weeks. If we don’t Pradesh, Telangana and UP.       Lauding India’s initiative in    ! "# Mumbai CP has been posted as gelatin sticks’ laden SUV near stop it here, a situation of a “Over 10 per cent vaccine practising people-centric diplo- DGP, Home Guards. industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s nationwide outbreak can come wastage in Telangana and       !" macy, the Elders urged the tion as “pharmacy of the world” A 1987 batch IPS officer residence in south Mumbai up,” he cautioned. Andhra Pradesh. Vaccine Government to supply the vac- stands reinforced the way it Nagrale — the then DGP on February 25 and the subse- Punjab Chief Minister wastage in Uttar Pradesh is London: People aged over 70 years with hearing difficulties expe- cine to poor countries. reached out to nations in the (Technical and Legal) — was quent murder of Thane busi- Amarinder Singh sought per- almost the same. The State rienced heightened depression, loneliness and memory problems Addressing this concern, the midst of a global crisis and sup- holding the additional charge nessman Manshukh Hiren. mission for vaccination of one must review why vaccine during the Covid-19 lockdown, according to an online survey Minister said the Indian vac- plied vaccines to 72 nations. It of Maharashtra DGP since Earlier, NCP chief Sharad and all. Karnataka too sup- wastage is happening? conducted by UK health experts. “The impact of social isolation cine was the cheapest in the was appreciated by global lead- January this year, when he was Pawar had met Chief Minister ported that people in all age- Monitoring must be done every has been massive on the elderly population, but our survey shows world. ers and world citizens and given additional responsibility Uddhav Thackeray and dis- group be vaccinated. West evening and pro-active people that people with hearing impairment have been more substan- Making a statement on they extended warmth to India after incumbent Subodh cussed the situation arising Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee should be contacted so that tially affected,” said Professor Annalena Venneri from the “Vaccine Maitri” initiative, and its citizens. Jaiswal was appointed the out of Vaze’s arrest. was absent and represented by there’s no wastage,” he told the University of Sheffield’s Neuroscience Institute. Jaishankar said India’s reputa- Continued on Page 2 Director General of the Central Continued on Page 2             P                  !"                 12134+             ' (   MIG-21 Bison aircraft        !!   12134+ Acrashed in Gwalior on   ! ! " )    Wednesday killing its pilot am Swaroop Sharma, the Group Captain A Gupta. The       '  & RBharatiya mishap took place around     (BJP) MP from Mandi in 10.50 am when the aircraft was   #     Himachal Pradesh, was found taking off for a combat train-     !  $  hanging from the ceiling in his ing mission. !   %& !   '   12134+ official residence in New Delhi The mandatory court of   !        on Wednesday. Prima facie, it inquiry was ordered to ascer- ! *   ,  -' (      wo Chinese nationals with appears to be a case of suicide, tain the cause of the accident. .(/  *  0     " forged Aadhaar cards were said police, adding that how- “A MiG-21 Bison aircraft of  -  ! "# T /" "       ! O !!   nabbed at Bagdogra Airport. ever no suicide note was found   "#  IAF was involved in a fatal acci- The duo was held at 9.20 from the spot. dent this morning while taking capable of carrying beyond- !   !  P am on Tuesday by the CISF According to a senior off for a combat training mis- visual-range missiles and other   )   while checking tickets and police official, a PCR call was and the exact cause of his sion at an airbase in central potent weapons. !      identity documents at the received around 7.45 am by his death will be ascertained after India,” the IAF said in a tweet. On February 27, 2019,    L !    departure gate of the airport aide after the parliamentarian a post-mortem examination,” “The IAF lost Group Wing Commander   +  M  ! and subjected to intense multi- did not respond to knocks at he said. Captain A Gupta in the tragic Abhinandan Varthaman flew a L  (   !  M" agency interrogation. his door. The proceed- accident. IAF expresses deep MIG-21 Bison and shot down “During checking of trav- “A police team reached the ings were adjourned till 1 pm condolences and stands firm- an F-16 aircraft of the Pakistan  !  el documents of both the pas- flight and further bound from passports, they had visited spot and forced open the door after an obituary reference to ly with the family members. A Air Force, before his aircraft     sengers Aadhaar cards Hyderabad to Tirupati by Pakistan in 2018 and 2019. and found Sharma hanging Sharma. Meanwhile, the BJP Court of Inquiry has been went down in a dogfight. He $%$   %     appeared to be forged. On Indigo Airlines flight,” the CISF They have visited Nepal and from a ceiling fan. He was cancelled its parliamentary ordered to determine the cause was captured by the Pakistan      questioning, both the suspect- said in a statement here. exited the Himalayan country taken to a hospital where doc- party meeting following of the accident,” it added. Army and released two days   (-.  ed passengers revealed their Later, both the suspected on January 13 this year. They tors pronounced him dead on Sharma’s death and also called The Soviet-origin MIG-21 later.  !/     identity as Zhang Jun and passengers, who visited India in were staying in India even arrival,” said Chinmoy Biswal, off the joining ceremony of an Bison is an upgraded version of The IAF has lost many  0   ! !!/ Kaileng who were supposed to 2020, were handed over to the after expiry of their visas and the Public Relation Officer “eminent” person, who was the MIG-21 aircraft that the MIG-21s and other aircraft in      travel from Bagdogra to local police by the CISF for fur- were using fake Aadhaar cards (PRO) of the Delhi Police. not named. IAF began inducting in the accidents in the last few years. !   % (  Hyderabad by Indigo Airlines ther investigation. As per their to travel within India, it said. “An enquiry is underway Continued on Page 2 1960s. The MIG-21 Bison is Continued on Page 2   !   " & )    # $      %     * &         & on hold as part of this deal,” Muslim community coming said Chennithala. out in the open demonstrating  (+,- .Q R Meanwhile, PC Thomas, against the move to field a )  leader of the , (Mani) faction    54+ and the RSS, which were at log- who was a part of the NDA-led leader. The CPI (M) leadership   )#3)#) gerheads over a range of issues, by the BJP till Wednesday was forced to replace him with he sensational charge by R buried the hatchet for the time morning, jumped the fence local politician Kunjahammed series of shootings over TBalasankar, former chief being and vehemently denied and appeared in a UDF meet- Kutty. Similarly, the CPI, which Anearly an hour at three editor of The Organiser, that the charges. ing by noon. He had declared too swears by secularism, had Atlanta-area massage parlours there was a secret deal between “This statement by him at Kasaragod that he would to withdraw Ajit Koladi, its offi- left eight people dead and the CPI(M) and the Sangh arose out of discontentment remain only with the BJP. cial candidate at Tiroorangadi, raised fears that the attack was Parivar, has caused a political over the denial of ticket to him,” The BJP national leader- a Muslim dominated area, and another hate crime against     1  earthquake in Kerala. The BJP said K Surendran, Kerala BJP / ship on Wednesday announced substitute him with Niyaz Asian Americans.   -  * denied ticket to Balasankar to chief while speaking to the name of Shobha Surendran Pulikkalakathu. Police arrested a white 21-       * # " contest the April 6 Assembly reporters. “If he had the bless- tion,” Surendran had said while the charges. But former Chief as the candidate from Siji Karuthedathu, author year-old Georgia man and said election. ings of the national leadership, announcing the names of can- Minister Oommen Chandi and Kazhakkoottam in and political commentator the motive for Tuesday night’s think it is not targeted specif- Balasankar created a flutter his name should have been in didates. Leader of the Opposition Thiruvananthapuram con- based in Malabar, expressed attacks wasn’t known, though ically toward our community.” in the political circle when he the list,” Surendran added. The fight for supremacy in said there stituency. The uncertainty in apprehension over the CPI(M) many of the victims were The attacks began Tuesday told mediapersons on The allegation has upset the State has shifted back to the was nothing surprising in the the name of the candidate and CPI genuflecting before women of Asian descent. evening, when five people were Wednesday that there was a the BJP which had exuded CPI(M) and the Congress-led charge as it was a fact. from Kazhakkoottam has come religious fundamentalism. “We’re in a place where shot at Youngs Asian Massage deal between the Kerala BJP confidence and claimed that it fronts. Chances are that the BJP “We in the Congress were to an end with this announce- “This is further proof of the we've seen an increase in hate Parlour near Woodstock, about and the CPI(M) for the would emerge as the game- may finish the race as “also the first to bring to light the ment. Jamaat-e-Islami (Hind) and crimes against Asian 30 miles north of Atlanta, Assembly election so that the changer in Kerala politics. ran”, according to Roy Mathew, secret deal between the BJP and The CPI(M) too was not Popular Front of India swal- Americans since the pandem- Cherokee County Sheriff’s latter could retain power in the “This time Kerala will see a a political commentator. the CPI(M). The Enforcement free from problems in selecting lowing the Congress and ic started,” said Georgia state spokesman Jay Baker said. State. third alternative calling the Chief Minister Pinarayi Directorate probe against the the candidates. The con- Communist parties slowly but Rep. Bee Nguyen. “It's hard to Continued on Page 2 The BJP’s State leadership shots in Government forma- Vijayan has also repudiated CPI(M) leaders have been put stituency of Kuttiyadi saw the steadily,” said Siji.    !"#$%$!  

 R   3 4 >2BC !   + & $    *(.   ;3.- : Caste-based politics has always been a fea- *$( / 2* %  ture of 's politics and the merger of 's Rashtriya Lok (RLSP)          53)#) Patna: Former Union Minister Upendra with the ruling -United is seen as an Kushwaha and two members of the effort of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to strength-    53)#) The TMC’s pledge book assures pucca houses would be constructed fter Suvendu Adhikari it could be turn of Cabinet were among 12 persons who on en its support base. of 500 monthly income to the for the poorer section of the society. Ahis father Sisir Adhikari the veteran MP Wednesday got nominated to the Bihar legisla- With the merger, Nitish Kumar is looking to booklet that could well give the women head of every household To top it all, the manifesto also and former Union Minister from East tive council. Of the dozen seats, 10 had been lying target the Kurmi and Kushwaha voters, and thus, Acommunist manifesto a run for across caste and religion. The amount promises highly subsidized food for Midnapore to join the BJP. vacant since the expiry of term in June last year the development is also likely to pose a big chal- its money Bengal Chief Minister of dole for the Scheduled Castes and all sections of the society at 2,500 The senior Adhikari who is currently the while two others were vacated a year earlier by lenge for the (RJD). Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday Tribes would be 1,000 per month. government-run Maa Canteens. The Trinamool Congress’s East Midnapore chair- members who got elected to the Lok Sabha in Soon after the merger, Nitish Kumar reward- released the Trinamool Congress’ This, in addition to the old age and canteens --- charging Rs 5 per thali man on Wednesday said that he could remain general elections. ed Kushwaha with key post of JD-U's manifesto that critics called a “pro- widow pensions. “All the widows non-veg food with egg curry --- had present in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally Nominations to the 12 seats had been hang- Parliamentary Board President. ject work on social engineering with would get pension,” Banerjee already been started on an experi- at Contai near Nandigram “if Suvendu asks me ing fire on account of a tug of war between the With the merger, the caste credentials of the economic blend.” said. mental basis in Kolkata but were shut to do so.” BJP, which now is numerically superior in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which Should the ruling outfit return to The manifesto apparently bears down after the of elections were The junior Adhikari later told in a rally that NDA in the assembly, and Chief Minister comprised the BJP, the JD-U, 's power it would create five lakh new the declarations of Banerjee’s 10 announced. his father would remain present in the Prime Nitish Kumars JD(U). Both parties have, ulti- (HAM) and Mukesh jobs yearly, provide door-to-door commitments (Ongikar) that she ear- The doles apart the manifesto Minister’s meeting adding “he is well within his- mately, settled for six seats each. Sahani's (VIP), seems to ration, ensure basic minimum lier referred to in a tweet. “I humbly also announces reservation for capacity as a local MP to remain present in the The MLCs nominated from the JD(U) be strengthened in the state. income for every household (read present my 10 ‘Ongikars’ to build a Mahisya (agrarian community) hith- Prime Minister’s programme.” Considered a include Kushwaha who merged his Rashtriya Lok Leader of Opposition , who woman of the house), provide guar- stronger & more prosperous Bengal erto regarded forward castes, Tili and father figure with massive grassroots base inEast Samata Party into the chief ministers party on reacts to any small development in the state, is yet antee-free education credit to stu- so that the wheels of development Sahas (both businessmen classes) - Midnapore senior Adhikari’s formal joining the Sunday last and was immediately rewarded with to comment on the merger. It should be noted that dents, highly subsidised food in keep moving forward in the third -- jointly about 50 lakh-strong BJP could be ashot in the saffron outfit’s arm, a top organisational post. prior to Kushwaha merging his outfit with the JD- Government run canteens, pucca term of our government. The aim is group. experts feel. Also on the list are the minister for build- U, a lot of RLSP leaders including its state houses for millions, OBC reserva- just one, to sustain Bengal as one of The manifesto also promises Meanwhile, the TMC on Wednesday wrote ing construction Ashok Choudhary, the partys President Virendra Kushwaha and General tions to an overwhelming part of the the leading states in the country,” she free ration to every household that to the Election Commissionseeking cancella- voluble spokesman Sanjay Singh, the chief min- Secretary Nirmal Kushwaha had joined the RJD. population the Chief Minister while wrote. would be delivered at every doorstep, tion of Adhikari's voter status from isters close aide Sanjay Kumar Singh alias Kushwaha might have not won a single seat releasing the Trinamool Istahar In an apparent bid to attract the the Chief Minister said adding the Nandigram,alleging that the BJP candidate was Gandhiji, Lalan Saraf and Ram Bachan Rai. during the 2020 Assembly elections and 2019 Lok (manifestro) 2021 said. students and the youth the Chief highly popular “duarey sarkar” not a permanent resident of theplace and that Sanjay Singh returns to the Upper House after Sabha elections, but he had won all the three seats “We will decrease unemploy- Minister quoting the manifesto said (Government at the door steps) he had given false residence details without stay- a gap of nearly three years. it contested in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. ment as 5 lakh job opportunities will a low-interest credit of Rs 10 lakh scheme which was launched post ingthere. The terms of Choudhary, Gandhiji, Saraf and The Congress is not perturbed by the merg- be generated every year,” Banerjee would be provided to students for December last year would be con- Adhikari “has no resided in Nandanayakbar Rai had expired a year ago. From the BJP, the er with state Youth Congress President Lallan said reading out a juicy promise from pursuing higher or specialized edu- tinued in the coming years and village of Nandigram over the past six months MLCs nominated include Janak Ram, a former Kumar saying: "Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the booklet for the women voters. cation at minimal 4 percent interest. “every year Duarye Sarkar would be let alone being a permanent resident,” Gopalganj MP who was recently made the states Upendra Kushwaha are two broken 'filaments', you “For the first time ever, a new “No guarantee would be required for organized four times.” Trinamool letter signed by senior leader Derek minister for mines and geology. Others from the can't light a bulb from this. The JD-U has lost its scheme is being launched, wherein the loan and credit cards would be “When TMC came to power our O'Brien read. party include journalist-turned-politician and support and the Assembly polls are example of female heads of 1.6 crore households issued for that.” revenue was about Rs 25,000 crores, The party also said that only a person who state general secretary Devesh Kumar and vice this." will benefit from universal monthly Besides the manifesto also it is now over Rs 75,000 crores,” is an “ordinary resident” can be registered as a president Pramod Kumar Chandravanshi, "After losing prominence in the politics at the income support,” the Chief Minister promises a yearly assistance of Rs Banerjee said in an apparent bid to voter of any constituency. Adhikari had filed besides Nivedita Singh, Ghanshyam Thakur and Centre, Kushwaha is trying to regain it by joining said quoting the manifesto and won- 10,000 to the farmers --- per acre of pre-empt any question by the oppo- false residence details before appealing for a Rajendra Kumar Gupta. The development the JD-U. The caste-based politics can't sustain for dering why the rival BJP had hit the their land. This would come under sition to questioning the source of migration of his name from the electoral lists comes a day after the chief minister was autho- long. Both the leaders have come together for their kitchens hard by rising prices of the Krishak bandhu scheme. Under funding for the huge amount of doles of Haldia to Nandigram the letter read. rised by the state cabinet to take the final call on political benefits. They hardly pose any challenge cooking gas and kerosene oil. the Bangla Awas Yojna 25 lakh her party was promising. Adhikari would not comment on the issue. the names of candidates. PTI for other parties," he added. IANS % ' (  ( 2 '-+"" !"#$%   ' (  -    * %      34  - ! !   !  # (#&  :  R  /    0 0 0 %  * 0 !        54+ prove that his presence has not helped his   >)   !       alliance partners much.     >)   !   !  "+ aya Ram Gaya Ram politics which had Another maverick politician who made t-Gen Devendra Pratap Pandey Wednesday  ! %  !   Abeen part and parcel of North Indian a vault face on Wednesday was C K Janu, Lassumed command of the Srinagar-based uzaffar Hussain Baig, a founding mem-  /    politics, especially in States like Haryana, the tribal leader from Wayandu. Janu who strategic Chinar Corps on Wednesday. Mber of the Peoples Democratic Party ! ") %    has taken roots in Kerala. was with the NDA till the 2019 Lok Sabha Lt Gen BS Raju, who is set to take over the and a close aide of former Chief Minister     Electorate in the State were in for some election had dumped the Hindutwa party charge of Director General Military Operations Mufti Mohd Sayeed, Wednesday joined the    !  "5  amusing moments as P C Thomas, leader for its upper caste and Brahminical image (DGMO) in New Delhi handed over the baton People’s Conference in the presence of its   /    of one of the Kerala Congress factions per- and switched over to the UDF. to him at a simple ceremony in the 15 Corps Chairman Sajad Gani Lone and other senior !    0 0   formed a flying trapeze act which made the But come election time, Janu who was headquarters. party leaders in Srinagar. ! "= !      State politics watch it in bewilderment. spitting venom on the BJP labelling it as Lt-Gen Pandey is joining the crucial A political stalwart, Baig who also nostalgia". /  /" Thomas, a former union minister of Manuvaadi party returned to the Hindutwa posting at a time when almost all the securi- served as deputy Chief Minister under the The official twitter handle of the Jammu state in the 1999-2004 NDA Government fold and has become a leader of the NDA. ty parameters remain under control and the command of , was also and Kashmir Peoples Conference posted pic-     !. switched over to the LDF when the BJP “Many candidates who have been security forces are enjoying an upper hand after credited for scripting PDP's roadmap on tures of the meeting along with a brief note,  !   failed to win majority in the 2004 Lok fielded by the BJP for the 2021 assembly eliminating top leadership of the different ter- 'Self-rule'. "It is with great pleasure we announce that  +  %     Sabha election. Since then Thomas was polls are turncoats and defectors from par- ror outfits in the recent months. However, his relations went sour with the one of the towering leaders of the state Mr. )  %    !     shuttling between the LDF and the UDF ties like the CPI(M). There are persons who Soon after taking over the charge Lt-Gen PDP top brass after the BJP-PDP alliance col- Muzaffar Hussein Baig is now a part of the / !   /(   depending on who the winner was. switched over to the BJP camp after their Pandey paid homage at the Chinar Corps lapsed in June 2018. party from where he started his political jour- !/     0 During the 2020 Local Body election failure to get tickets to contest the assem- Memorial at Badami Bagh in Srinagar. He also Speculations were rife in the political cir- ney. It is a nostalgic and a proud moment for     !    in Kerala, Thomas was with the LDF. He bly election,” said a senior BJP leader in conveyed his best wishes to the people of cles for a long time over the possibility of him all of us".  !  ! "     % graced the inaugural function of BJP Kerala. He expressed his doubt about the Kashmir. In a press statement, Defence joining the Peoples Conference soon. Baig’s return to JKPC is seen by party        ;$ Kerala chief K Surendran’s Vijaya Yathra at credibility and utility of leaders like Janu spokesman said, "Lt-Gen Pandey addressed Announcing the decision on his twitter insiders as a major political development in .    !  0 Kasaragod which was inaugurated by Yogi and Thushar Vellappilli. and interacted with troops of Chinar Corps timeline Sajad Lone wrote Wednesday Kashmir valley in recent times. Baig is  !  !!/  % Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar The likes of Thomas and Janu may and exhorted them to continue to work with evening, "Visited the residence of Muzaffar expected to propel partys' prospects by    !     Pradesh. defect further in days to come, said unflinching dedication and perseverance ‘in Beigh Sahib. It is sheer pleasure to converse expanding its base and bringing in new faces     ! 0 But Thomas made a perfect landing in Sudheer Damodaran, Thrissur based polit- pursuit of Peace and Stability in Kashmir’. He with him. I was six years old when I first met to take on the challenges ahead.   ;  $ -  /  the UDF camp by Wednesday noon as ical commentator who had worked with asked for all combatants to take extra steps Beigh Sahib. I very humbly requested him Earlier, JKPC’s senior leader Imran Reza ;  3 " political commentators in the State stood Prasanth Kishore in studying the psyche of required to connect with citizens in order to to again be a part ofPeoples Conference. A Ansari had also stepped down on Monday watching with awe. His track records Indian voters. jointly work towards the common cause. party where he started his career from. Pure from his general secretary’s post.  OP.  

 !+/2   )         %+   ;  +   '         P  555        ! (  From Page 1 Maldives, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Giving some details, he Minister in his virtual address    !      Even as the Covid pan- Nepal, Sri Lanka and Myanmar, said, “In fact, we supplied 150 to the UN General Assembly in  &,,,     D- !-   demic was in full fury, there as also Mauritius and Seychelles nations with medicines, 82 of September 2020 had declared -   DB---C$! " were already global demands and thereafter to the Gulf. them as grants by India. As our that India’s vaccine production of India’s pharmaceutical and “Supplying smaller and own production of masks, PPEs and delivery capacity will be From Page 1 and take big and decisive steps.  /2.+56 medical capabilities. This more vulnerable nations was and diagnostic kits grew, we used to help all humanity in Interestingly, new The self-confidence that we .&2  could be met largely due to then the logic of reaching out made them available to other fighting this crisis. Uttarakhand Chief Minister gained in our corona fight  4( 4+ E $ the extraordinary ramp up of to regions from Africa to the nations. This generous “We also offered to enhance Teerath Singh Rawat has waved should not turn into overcon-         India’s Covid-related capa- CARICOM-Caribbean approach... Was also extended cold chain and storage capaci- off RT-PCR testing for the fidence,” the Prime Minister  0F !  %    bilities, Jaishankar said. Community. There was also to the Vande Bharat Mission. ties for the delivery of vaccines. Kumbh mela, starting next said warning against any care- !  '%&F Talking about low fatali- contracts that our producers Starting from Wuhan, we This approach is not only in month at Hardwar, where sev- lessness. !     %  ty rates and the high recovery have entered into with other brought back nationals of other keeping with our age-old tradi- eral lakhs pilgrims are expect- According to the Union GH  !!  rates, he said: “Our reputation nations, either bilaterally or countries while looking after tion of Vasudhaiva ed to gather amidst the running Health Ministry data, a total of   !     as the ‘pharmacy of the world’ through the Covax initiative. To our own.” Kutumbakam.... As a prominent pandemic. 28,903 cases, the highest so far .  " has been reinforced. So date, we have supplied ‘Made in The Minister said as nation in an increasingly multi- In his virtual interaction this year and an increase for the indeed has the faith in ‘Make India’ vaccines to 72 nations Indians, “we are all naturally polar world, the international with Chief Ministers, Modi seventh day in a row, have been in India’. But more than the across geographies,” the internationalist by virtue of community has greater expec- said that the spike in Covid recorded in the last 24 hours, (+R ;;; vaccines, our policies and Minister said. our culture, traditions, her- tations of us, and we, in turn, are cases in some States such as taking the Covid-19 tally to conduct have emerged as a Jaishankar said there was an itage and history and Prime prepared to demonstrate our Maharashtra, Punjab, and 1,14,38,734. The death toll From Page 1 source of strength for the external beneficial impact of Minister Narendra Modi’s willingness to shoulder greater Madhya Pradesh was a cause of increased to 1,59,044 with 188 Born at Jalpehar village in stressed and vulnerable India’s capabilities and it could vision has provided an over- responsibilities,” he said. concern and highlighted that new fatalities, the highest in Mandi district on June 10, 1958, nations of the world. They can meet the spiking requirements arching framework to make Moreover, as early as March the mantra for the people around two months. Sharma was a two-time MP. see that there is at least one of hydroxychloroquine, parac- India’s goodwill meaningful in 15, 2020, the Prime Minister should be ‘dawai bhi, kadai bhi’. Maharashtra, Punjab, Presently, Sharma had been major nation that truly etamol and other relevant drugs terms of practical initiatives and took the initiative to hold a He asked the States to Karnataka, Gujarat and Tamil suffering from various ailments. believes in making vaccines across the world and added that activities that reflected in its meeting of SAARC heads of focus on effective contact trac- Nadu continue to report a He was elected to the 16th and accessible and affordable to India’s domestic vaccination humanitarian assistance and Government to fashion a ing and micro-containment high number of daily Covid-19 from Mandi others in dire need.” programme started in January disaster responses, whether in regional response resulting in zones to control the surge in cases, accounting for 71.10 per Parliamentary constituency in He said, “Vaccine Maitri” and within a few days, it also Yemen, Nepal, Mozambique SAARC Covid-19 Fund that cases. cent of the 28,903 new infec- 2014 and 2019 respectively. began in the immediate neigh- started assisting our immediate or Fiji.” supported the early exchanges “We have to immediately tions, according to the Union Following Sharma’s death, bourhood, starting with the neighbours. Jaishankar said the Prime on this issue. stop the emerging second peak Health Ministry. Modi expressed grief and tweet- ed, “Ram Swaroop Sharma was a dedicated leader, who was )   ;;; propriate" to comment on the also look forward to the coopera- always committed to solving &$  ,,, investigations into the "ongoing tion from the citizens in our effort people’s problems. From Page 1 cases" but said that his priority to restore the Mumbai Police force's Two people died at the scene, and three would be to improve the image of image of being an effective force," were taken to a hospital where two died, From Page 1 into the murder of Hiren, whose the Mumbai Police. Nagrale said. #)1 < ;;; Baker said. Pawar had reportedly advised body was recovered from the Reti "The police department is pass- Beginning his career as an ASP About an hour later, police responding the CM to take swift action to Bunder creek area at Mumbra- ing through a rough phase… It is of Rajura in -infected !4$73+ to a call about a robbery found three improve the eroded image of the Kalwa in the neighbouring Thane not proper if policemen are Chandrapur district in 1989, he has + > IF% 2 !  women dead from apparent gunshot wounds Mumbai Police in the police offi- on March 5. involved in criminal acts… In worked in several capacities across -    &+) at Gold Spa near Atlanta's Buckhead area, cer's alleged involvement in the Now that it has been established future, we shall ensure such things the State.  ! !  !I9" where tattoo parlours and strip clubs are just planting of explosive-laden SUV that there is link between both the don't recur. The NIA and ATS are As SP, CID, Crime (1996-1998) + I90&% +)  $ % blocks away from mansions and skyscrap- near Ambani's residence and sus- cases, the NIA may push for taking investigating so I cannot comment he investigated the MPSC paper  !  %    ! ers in one of the last ungentrified holdouts picion about his role in the cir- over the Hiren murder case as well. on the cases," Nagrale said. leakage case which was spread over    ! "+ I&0G% in that part of the city. cumstances leading to the death of Talking to mediapersons after "The image of the Mumbai to several parts of Maharashtra, and +)     $   Officers then learned of a call reporting Hiren. taking over the charge as the new Police has eroded. I am confident the Anjanabai Gavit-multiple chil-   !  !  "# shots fired across the street, at Aromatherapy While the NIA is currently Mumbai Police Commissioner from that my fellow officers and per- dren kidnapping and murder cases.   IG0F%   Spa, and found another woman apparently investigating the SUV recovery Singh, Nagrale said on Wednesday sonnel will help in improve the This case ended in capital punish- +)      $ %  shot dead. case, Maharashtra's ATS is looking afternoon said that it was "inap- image of the Mumbai Police. I will ment by the apex court. !      "

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The Bill says to establish the rule of the peo-  R  /# along with citizens of Delhi, that the Delhi Government ple and not let any develop- staged a protest on Wednesday will mean LG, but then, what ment work stop, even if I have  !!   12134+ and diligent efforts of the against the GNCTD will be the meaning of us? What to touch their feet or beg them,” Kejriwal Government.” (Amendment) Bill 2021 recent- will be the meaning of the peo- he added. he Delhi Government under Rai said that under the ly tabled in Parliament that ple of Delhi? What will be the AAP leader and Deputy Tthe leadership of Chief leadership of Kejriwal seeks to curtail the powers of meaning of the CM and the will chief minister of Delhi Manish Minister Arvind Kejriwal has Government, the city has seen the AAP-led Delhi of the people? If this was to be Sisodia said, “We have gathered consistently worked to tackle air reduced pollution and an Government by making the done, then what was the point here today to protest against the pollution and in making Delhi increased green belt. “The Delhi Lieutenant- of Delhi behind holding elections? If GNCTD Amendment Act. This a more environment-friendly Government has been working the supreme authority. their votes mean nothing, why Act is not only an act to curtail city through its administrative to bring about a fuel change pol- Addressing the gathering, did the people stand in line and the powers of the Arvind will resulting in bringing down icy, tree transplantation policy AAP national convener and vote for us? he asked? Kejriwal government in Delhi, the pollution level by 15 per cent, and a progressive Electric Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Accusing the BJP, he said it is an act to stop the Kejriwal said Delhi Environment Vehicle policy besides installing Kejriwal said the GNCTD that the AAP to work for the model from making progress in Minister Gopal Rai. smog guns in worse-affected (Amendment) Bill has been development of Delhi because Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Punjab, The statement came after a areas,” he said. brought to deceive the people they are being bothered by the and Uttar Pradesh.” report prepared by the Swiss The Delhi Government had of Delhi and to stop their development in Surat, “The BJP feels threatened organisation, IQAir, in the form in collaboration with the PUSA progress as well as to stop the Karnataka, and several other because we are now getting of the ‘World Air Quality Report’ Institute made bio decomposers development of the city. +%     40 + %     *  *  % P/  * states because AAP is slowly votes in other states like released which stated that Delhi to eliminate stubble burning, The AAP convener ques-   *    2  -         $+ ! 0+ "  gaining momentum in all the Himachal Pradesh. We are ranked as the 10th most pollut- worked on war-footing to fight tioned the meaning of the man- municipal corporation elec- working with a dream, that a ed city and the top polluted cap- dust pollution, worked on a date of the people of Delhi and buy AAP MLAs despite trying, per cent of Delhi believes the brating its 75th year of inde- tions held across various states. three-year old kid today should ital city in the world. However, Green Delhi app to help identi- the relevance of holding elec- they want to dismantle the Central Government’s move is pendence from British rule “People from Gujarat, have an income equal to his it shows that Delhi’s air quality fy the problem areas in the city, tions if the LG was to be made Government by bringing in law totally unwarranted and unac- and here BJP led Centre gov- Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Singapore counterpart after 25 improved by approximately 15 he said. the authority. He said the rule in such an unruly manner,” he ceptable and that the AAP gov- ernment is snatching the rights Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh years when he is a youth but the percent from 2019 to 2020. “We have launched a war of the people is primary in a added. ernment should run the admin- of citizens of Delhi. etc want free electricity like BJP has brought in law because Talking about the report, room to tackle pollution. Delhi democracy, but this Bill shows Kejriwal said that the BJP istration of Delhi,” he said. Kejriwal was joined by his Delhi. Rather than stalling it does not want the income of Rai said, “Nine cities in the top is the first in the country to shut that the BJP does not believe in does not want AAP to work for The Chief Minister assured cabinet ministers and several the progress made by AAP, the youth to increase. The BJP 10 include cities from Uttar down its power thermal plants. the rule of the people, democ- the development of Delhi the people of Delhi that he will AAP MLAs, along with thou- the BJP should also work for does not want our schools and Pradesh. Delhi used to be pol- The Government has shown a racy, and constitution. because due to this develop- not let any development work sands of AAP volunteers and the progress of the people,” he hospitals to function effective- luted, but the condition is slow- clear intention to eliminate pol- “The BJP frequently holds ment model. stop, even if he has to “touch the people of Delhi who gath- said. ly. This is why they have ly improving, with reports stat- lution and brought about several elections but then dismantles “The AAP is securing seats their feet or beg them. ered at Jantar Mantar to show Kejriwal said, “On behalf of brought in this amendment bill ing that pollution has seen a fall steps to do so thereby attempt- the Government in several in several other states, and the The Chief Minister further their anger. the people of Delhi and the to curtail the development of of 15 per cent and the reason for ing to make Delhi more envi- states; now that they cannot BJP feels threatened. Almost 90 said that the country is cele- “There is anger amongst people of the country, I want to Delhi,” he added. this reduction is the consistent ronment-friendly,” he said. *  % P *%   *7% *

 !!   12134+ recently introduced the Government of National large number of Congress Capital Territory of Delhi Aworkers under the leader- (Amendment) Bill, 2021. ship of Delhi Congress president According to proposed Anil Kumar held a dharna at amendments, Section 21 of Jantar Mantar to protest against the Act — dealing with restric- the National Capital Territory of tions on laws passed by leg- Delhi (GNCTD) (Amendment) islative assembly with respect to Bill introduced by the Bharatiya certain matters — is sought to Janata Party (BJP) Government be revised to clarify that the in the Lok Sabha. expression ‘government’ The Congress workers referred to in any law to be shouted slogans against the Modi party was in power, or out of had aptly made by the legislative assem- Government, and carried ban- power. “The Congress stands described as “India is no longer bly shall mean the ‘Lieutenant ners and placards with slogans for the freedom and rights of a democratic country.” Governor’. A sub-section shall such as “Loktantar Ki Hatya, the people and it will not keep The Congress president be inserted to this effect in Band Karo, Band Karo”, “Centre quiet if the Modi Government also accused Chief Minister Section 21. Ka Kath Putli Mukhyamantri tries to undermine the Arvind Kejriwal of being scared In section 24 of the princi- Gaddi Chodo”, etc (Stop killing Constitution and usurp all the of the authoritarian rule of the pal Act — which requires a Bill democracy. Centre’s stooge CM powers in its hands to run the Modi- duo and that passed by the Delhi legislative must resign). country and the State was the reason he was forced to assembly to be presented to the Addressing the packed Governments, in an autocrat- support the Union LG who may assent, withhold venue filled with Congress ic and authoritarian manner,” Government’s decision to or reserve it for consideration workers and commoners, he said. Kumar said that the snatch the powers of Jammu of the President — an addi- Kumar said that the Congress Congress party has mounted and Kashmir, and relegate the tional clause will be inserted to has a history of fighting for the country-wide protests against State to the status of Union cover any of the matters that fall rights of the people and the the Modi Government usurp- Territories. outside the purview of the country, right from the free- ing the powers of the people, Union Minister of State for powers conferred on the leg- dom struggle, whether the which party senior leader Home G Kishan Reddy had islative Assembly      +      0   &( 

& &&   !!   12134+ “The woman received bul- let injury in her chest and col- 45-year-old Nepalese lapsed. She was taken to a near-   Awoman was allegedly shot by hospital where doctors (;(;) dead by two bike-borne declared her brought dead,” he assailants on Wednesday in said. n a shoking incident, a 13- New Aruna Nagar area of The woman had been stay- Imonth-old girl was brutally north Delhi. Police said teams ing at a rented accommodation beaten by her 15-year-old care- are scanning CCTV cameras in with her husband and her 12- taker at her house on March 15. the area to identify the culprits year-old daughter for the last The parents reported the and nab them. eight years. matter on March 17 after which The deceased has been iden- A case of murder was reg- the police have apprehended tified as Meena, who ran a shop istered and efforts were on to the caretaker, the police said on of snacks and beverages with her nab the suspects, police said, Wednesday. husband in the locality. adding that the motive behind According to the police According to a senior the killing was yet to be ascer- the complainant Nikhil Bhatia police official, at around 7 am tained. — a native of Patiala in Punjab Meena was at her shop when “Police team are scanning — was currently residing with taken against the caretaker two unidentified men riding a CCTV footage to identify the his wife Jasmeet Bhatia and girl, he stated to the police. motorcycle opened fire at her suspects and to know the crime children at Alaknanda Meanwhile the 13-month- and fled from the spot. sequence,” said police official. Apartment in Sector-56 in old girl, is still undergoing Gurugram. treatment in a critical condition The complainant parents in a private hospital. told the police that the couple Station House Officer of %   +  had hired a 15-year-old care- Sector-56 police station, Pawan taker, a resident of West Bengal, Malik said, “During prelimi- three months ago through their nary investigation we came to  *41  domestic help Sabina for their know that the girl had slipped 13-month-old daughter Ziana from the caretaker’s hand and  !!   Procedure (SOP) issued by Bhatia. when she didn’t stop crying the 12134+ the Ministry of Health and The couple had paid 9,000 irritated caretaker slapped her Family Welfare for managing per month as the girl had to several times which left serious elhi residents visiting the the Covid-19 pandemic during feed at regular intervals every- injuries on her body” DKumbh Mela in Haridwar the Kumbh Mela as well as all day. In connection with the have been advised to undergo relevant instructions issued “On March 15 both I and incident the police have regis- RT-PCR test for Covid-19 on by the Uttarakhand my wife went to buy personal tered two separate FIRs. their return and self-monitor Government. belongings of our house after “In the first FIR a case was their health. In an advisory, the The Health Ministry SOP leaving our daughter with the filed on the complaint of the Delhi Disaster Management prescribes that all the visitors caretaker at home. When we parents against the caretaker Authority (DDMA) has asked to Kumbh must produce a after about an hour, my daugh- under relevant section of the people attending the congre- health certificate issued by a ter was crying loudly, seeing (IPC) gation to take extra precau- competent authority, which is this, I took my girl to the W- including 307 (attempt to mur- tions and follow Covid-19- a mandatory requirement for Pratiksha Hospital for treat- der) after a medical report of related instructions issued by entering the Kumbh Mela area. ment, where the checked her the victim. In the second FIR authorities. It said that the pilgrims are and referred her to Artemis a case was filed against the par- A sizable number of pil- required to mandatorily pro- Hospital Gurugram after ents under section of the grims from Delhi are expect- duce a Negative RT-PCR Test informing us that her condition Juvenile Justice Act. The par- ed to visit the mela beginning report for Covid-19, not older was serious,” Nikhil told the ents allegedly had hired a on April 1, it said. “As advised than 72 hours prior to the date police. minor as caretaker. Further by Uttarakhand Government of visit, at the time of entry to “The doctor had informed probe is on,” Malik said. in view of Covid-19 pandem- the mela. me that my daughter’s had Malik also informed that ic, all the residents of Delhi are “All the persons are also four rib bones broken. pan- the incident took place inside required to take extra precau- advised to get Covid-19 RT- creas, kidney, liver and spleen the badroom while the couple tions during their visit to PCR test done after returning and also suffered head injuries, had installed CCTV cameras at Kumbh Mela in Haridwar,” from Kumbh Mela and active- which cause her critical con- the entry and exit points of the the advisory stated. ly self-monitor their health as dition. Her caretaker beat her house. So that the incident Pilgrims from Delhi have per prevailing health protocol up brutally in our absence. So could not captured in the been advised to strictly follow prescribed by the an appropriate action should be CCTV cameras. the Standard Operating Governments,” it added.    !"#$%$!  (

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and Jammu and Kashmir. the same rate as the positivi-  !   Concerned at this wastage, the ty rate is increasing.   -   # -  2  Ministry on Wednesday called To handle the increasing       for optimal utilisation of the cases especially in 12 states,      jabs. states have been advised to N  O. / $  Addressing a press con- ensure strict adherence to ;          *%P%   ference, Health Secretary mask wearing, physical dis-         Rajesh Bhushan said that 3.51 tancing and hand hygiene  +   "L+     12134+ was making his point on China crore vaccine doses have been along with greater vigilance          and the WHO. administered till now in the and monitoring at the highest      ! ongress MP Manish “India should not be part country, which include 1.38 levels for all potential events J $  !   %M CTewari on Wednesday of the culpability to allow crore beneficiaries aged 45-60 where crowds gather.  "-    attacked the Government in China to go scot-free. As the years with specific co-mor- “We are advising the        Lok Sabha for “allowing” chair of the WHO executive bidities and those above 60 states to ensure all close con- !9 &%      China a “clean-chit” in the board, India must take the ini- years who have been given the tacts of any positive person are   !  !  worldwide spread of tiative to order an inquiry so first dose. traced, isolated and tested in  / !   Coronavirus pandemic that that China, where the virus had Bhushan also expressed 72 hours. They have asked to   !" caused deaths of lakhs of peo- report into the origin of originated, could be held concern at vaccine wastage in identify clusters, focus on sur- ple across the globe. Coronavirus from China has, responsible for spreading the some States and said that veillance and stringent imple-   Speaking in the Lower however, said on February 9, disease throughout the world,” they have been told to opti- mentation of containment  !   House while initiating the 2021, that the “lab leak is he said. mally utilized the shots. zone approach and under-   #.   12134+ 8.34 million COVID-19 vac- debate on Demand for Grants extremely unlikely”. The Congress leader said On the increase in daily take priority vaccination of      ! cine doses were administered for the Ministry of Health, Lashing out at the that so far just 3.5 crore peo- Covid-19 cases from March 1- identified groups in districts . .   - ! day after achieving the worldwide, of which India Tewari said China with the Government, the Congress ple in the country have been 15, he said about 70 districts reporting higher cases,” he  $  4; Ahighest inoculation fig- alone administered 36 per cent tacit support of the World MP said: “What surprises me vaccinated while 5.74 crore in 16 states have registered said.  .+#  / ures, the country’s vaccination of doses, he said. Health Organization (WHO) that Indian Health Minister doses were given to 72 coun- more than 150 per cent There are a few cases of  !     "$ number fell by over 11 lakh This, even as the average of has completely absolved itself chairs WHO and culpability of tries. “It reflects that the increase in active cases, while three more variants of the     2+(  with just over 19 lakh benefi- Covid-19 vaccine wastage in of the proliferation of China’s absolution is happen- Government is giving more 55 districts in 17 states have Coronavirus, UK variant,  )( !" ciaries turning up for their India is 6.5 per cent, with Coronavirus pandemic all over ing at the hand of India”. importance to its vaccine registered 100-150 per cent Brazil variant and South immunisation against Covid- Telangana topping the list at the world. Union Health Minister diplomacy rather than inocu- rise in cases. Noting that the Africa variant and the 28  19 on Tuesday, according to the 17.6 per cent wastage followed He said the WHO, which Harsh Vardhan was in the lation of its own citizens,” he high positivity rate is a mat- Government is keeping a     data available from the Union by Andhra Pradesh (11.6 per has yet not formally put out its house when the Congress MP alleged. ter of concern, he said the tests watch on them, said Dr VK   #. Health Ministry. On March 15, cent), Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka numbers are not increasing at Paul, member, Niti Aayog.       ! !     !   !      **%     0 /  )! %      ,  1     * L    M%           7           (    .          9 7%+   "   12134+ tance to the coronavirus pan- demic. Union Finance 1   1  8(   12134+ the entire ‘techno clothing’      nion Health Minister Minister Nirmala Sitharaman that we are using in the armed !   +/ UHarsh Vardhan on has provided 35,000 crore   12134+ Andhra Pradesh and n an effort to give a boost to forces on the positive indi-   1 !    ;$ Wednesday underlined that towards COVID-19 vaccina- Telangana it was revised in Ithe local industry, the armed genisation list, which we were .     India is not giving COVID-19 tion in 2021-22 fiscal. “I suggest he Ministry of Law and 2018. In last 6 years the limit forces will completely ban the earlier calling the negative list !       vaccine to the world at the to the Government to divert TJustice on Wednesday was not increased despite import of winter clothing if the for imports,” Rawat said. “This ) % 1 !    expense of the need of local 35,000 crore to primary health- informed the Parliament that a increase in electorate from Indian textile industry is able means we will completely ban     ")  population. Speaking in the care which is very essential for four-member committee set 834 million to 910 million in to come up with top class the import of these items and  + 3%;   Lok Sabha on Demands for India,” Singari said. Noting that up by the Election Commission 2019 to 921 million now. products, Chief of Defence terrain.” make sure that the defence ser- -+0  = ;   Grants for the health ministry, 60 per cent seropositivity is con- of India (ECI) to examine the Further, Cost Inflation Index Staff(CDS)General Bipin Rawat Making this point at an vices have to depend only on      ) % he noted that the Government sidered immunity and many expenditure limit of candi- during this period has said here on Wednesday. event organised by the the Indian industry as part of     " has not reduced the expendi- cities like Hyderabad have dates contesting elections is increased from 220 to 280 in Soldiers deployed in places Federation of Indian Chamber our Atmanirbhar Bharat sup- ture on health as has been already recorded 54 per cent of likely to submit its report by 2019 to 301 now.” like Siachen glacier, Ladakh of Commerce and port that we wish to give to the   alleged by certain members. seropositivity rate, he said, “I March 31, 2021 while the EC’s In a written reply to ques- and many such places in Industry(FICCI), he said as of industry,” he added. O   P   On the criticism that India is request the government to not proposal to link electoral roll tion related to link voter iden- Arunachal Pradesh are pro- now, a large amount of cloth- Techno clothing is special   #. providing coronavirus vaccine spend money on COVID-19 with the Aadhaar ecosystem to tity cards with the Aadhar, ,the vided with specialised winter ing for the armed forces is clothing that is developed by    -+3 to other countries when it is vaccination.” root out multiple enrolments is ministry said the poll panel has clothing to withstand extreme imported. However, in the past incorporating new technology /  !     needed more at home, the Talking further about under the consideration of the proposed to link electoral roll cold and vagaries of weather. one or two years, there has to make it usable in special cir-   ! !   minister asserted, COVID-19 vaccination, the Government. with the “Aadhaar ecosystem” Urging the Indian industry been a lot of innovation by the cumstances and places such as !  !    “We are not giving (the vac- Health Minister said as many as In a reply to the Lok Sabha, with a “view to curb the men- to innovate and manufacture Indian industry as far as high extremely cold areas, biomed- ! !       cine) at the expense of our own 3.5 crore people have been Union Law and Justice ace of multiple enrolment of such clothing, Rawat said “we altitude clothing is concerned, ical equipment and aircraft. 4      0 people”. He said the government given the jab, adding that India Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad the same person at different are looking at the kind of the CDS said. The Government in      !  has discussed the matter with has so far accounted for 36 per said, “Expenditure limit for a places”. He said this would clothing that can sustain our Highlighting some steps, August last year announced a $! " experts and has tried to strike a cent of the total vaccinations candidate was last revised in require amendments to the soldiers in the kind of extreme he said the armed forces have ‘negative list for imports’ that balance. “The whole world is a conducted across the globe. 2014 while in respect of electoral laws. cold climate (near northern now started placing orders for restricted purchase of 101    family... The whole mankind Earlier participating in the dis- borders of Ladakh) and in the such clothing to the local defence items such as light     !  should benefit from the vac- cussion, Congress MP Manish hot, dry and humid climate in industry. “And if we find that combat helicopters, transport   +  !  % cine,” he added. Vardhan added Tewari said that the COVID-19  the deserts and the north-east- this thing can take off and sup- aircraft, conventional sub-       that the Government is treating vaccination drive is not going on ern regions where we have the port us, we will not hesitate in marines and cruise missiles +  (      the health sector in a holistic properly, and alleged that the jungle and semi-mountainous putting the entire clothing or from foreign entities. >      manner. Government is giving more    !    ! !  Presenting a contrarian per- stress on the export of vaccines ! "L)     0 spective on COVID-19 vacci- rather than inoculation of the     91H9F nation, YSRCP Lok Sabha MP country’s citizens. Tewari point- " #$ # &  (:;       > "# Sanjeev Kumar Singari asked ed out that so far just 3.5 crore       the Government not to waste people in the country have +  (!%!    35,000 crore on the inoculation been vaccinated, while 5.74   12134+ Crime’ for these channels is to 2".  %   drive and instead use the money crore doses were given to 72 the tune of Rs 46 crore.  1* 7+          %M  in improving the health infra- countries. he The ED had initiated inves-   O      " structure in the country. He Later Lok Sabha passed the T(ED) has provisionally tigation on the basis of an FIR   12134+ crorepatis in the fray. Elections inal cases against themselves in argued that vaccination is a Appropriation Bill 2021-22, attached immovable and mov- registered by the Mumbai Police. to the 126-member Assam their affidavits.   !  waste of money as universal vac- authorising the Government to able properties in the form of Money laundering investi- fter analysing the affi- assembly will be held in three “Among the major par-    cination is neither possible nor draw funds from the land, commercial and residen- gation revealed that People Adavits uploaded on the phases on March 27, April 1 ties, nine (21 per cent) out of  )    warranted. “Now the govern- Consolidated Fund of India for tial units in Mumbai, Indore, Meters / devices also called Bar- Election Commission of India’s and April 6. 43 candidates analysed from        ment is proposing to spend its working as well as imple- Delhi and Gurgaon and balances O-Meters are installed at certain website, the Association for The report, among the the Congress, six (15 per cent)   !/   35,000 on COVID-19 vacci- mentation of its programmes in bank account totaling 32 places/households (approxi- Democratic Reforms (ADR) major parties, 10 (23 per cent) out of 41 candidates analysed ! !   !    nation, this is a waste of money and schemes. The Lok Sabha crore of television channels Fakt mately 1,800 in Mumbai and came out with a report on out of 43 candidates analysed from the Assam Jatiya    %       in my view. COVID-19 vaccine earlier discussed demands for Marathi, Box Cinema and Maha 44,000 in India in total) on the Wednesday saying that of the from the Congress, eight (20 Parishad, three (8 per cent) out  !    "L#  saves us only for 6-9 months grants of different Ministries, Movie under money laundering proportionate basis to mimic the 259 candidates in Assam, 41 per cent) out of 41 candidates of 39 candidates analysed from   %   O    after that 35,000 crore will be including Railways, Education. charges for manipulating TRP of viewership pattern of 197 mil- (16 per cent) candidates have analysed from the Assam Jatiya the BJP and one candidate each         evaporated,” Singari said. Speaker Om Birla later applied television channels. lion households in India for cap- declared criminal cases against Parishad, three (8 per cent) out from the NCP, AGP and the ! !   !     He also noted that crises the guillotine, after which all the Investigation under turing viewership of various themselves and 34 (13 per of 39 candidates analysed from SUCI(C) have declared serious          like COVID-19 occur once in outstanding demands for grants, Prevention of Money channels of different genres and cent) have declared serious the BJP and one candidate each criminal cases against them- ! %M -   100 years, so the government whether discussed or not, were Laundering Act (PMLA) has languages in selected homes to criminal cases against them- from the NCP, AGP and the selves in their affidavits,” the .     #  % should not give much impor- put to vote at once and passed. revealed that the ‘Proceeds of calculate the TRP. selves. Besides, there are 101 SUCI(C) have declared crim- ADR said. #     " %   88(   =  

  12134+ seizures have been made in Besides, freebees value 14. 06 liquor (9.72 crore and precious the State Excise Department, States. Distributing cash, liquor Tamil Nadu, while 112.59 crore and liquor 1.32 crore also metals including gold and silver Income Tax Department, and gifts during the electoral n record seizures from the five crore worth seizures have been confiscated from Tamil Nadu by worth  6.96 crore. Directorate of Revenue process is not permitted under Ipoll-bound States after the made from West Bengal;  flying squads. The flying squad also seized Intelligence, Narcotics Control the law. This expenditure comes model code of conduct came 63.75 crore from Assam; 21.77 The EC data also says West drugs worth 27.09 crore, liquor Bureau, Flying Squads, Static under the definition of “bribery” into effect, the Election crore from Kerala and 5.72 Bengal leads in seizures of nar- ( value Rs 17.25 crore), cash Surveillance Teams and other which is an offence both under Commission has confiscated crore in Puducherry so far. cotic drugs like ganja, heroine, (11.73 crore), freebees (4.87 regulatory agencies to detect section 171B of the Indian cash, liquor, narcotic drugs like Cash seizures (50.86 cr) brown sugar, charas (value Rs 47 crore) and precious metals suspicious movement of cash, Penal Code and under the heroin, ganja, brown sugar and and precious metals (value  61 crore), freebies (value  29.42 (2.82 crore) from Assam. liquor, valuables, narcotics and Representation of the People valuables worth 331 crore. cr) are highest in Tamil Nadu. crore), cash (19.11 crore), The EC is taking help from other items in the poll bound Act, 1951. This has already surpassed the seizure figures of 2016, when the surveillance teams of the poll body had confiscated 225.77 crore from these five states and Union Territory. Interestingly, the EC has identified 259 Assembly Constituencies in West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry where the use of black money is expected to be higher. As per the EC data, a max- imum of 127.64 crore worth

Janasanyog No. CF/5461/20    !"#$%$! )

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Dear readers, cy of the period when Crimea was constructed. By 2030, a pro- nificantly benefited the socio-eco- a part of Ukraine that led to a sig- gramme with a budget of 36 bil- nomic development of the region. oday, on March 18, we nificant decrease in key areas, lion roubles to improve water A positive atmosphere of inter- celebrate the 7th and notwithstanding the Western quality is expected to be carried ethnic and inter-confessional rela- anniversary of Crimea's sanctions, the peninsula's social out as well. tions continues to prevail on the reunification with and economic situation is steadi- Against all of the odds, the peninsula. Federal and regional Russia. Seven years ago, ly improving. Though this region Crimean economy is growing authorities are dedicated to pro- Ton this day, the people of Crimea is currently aligning its indicators steadily. In 2020, the number of moting cultural, religious and exercised their right to self-deter- with all-Russia average ones, its attracted investments reached other interests of all national mination guaranteed by the UN growth rates are among the high- more than 20 billion roubles. minorities, including Crimean Charter and the Declaration on est in the country. Positive devel- Investors show firm interest in the Tatars. Moreover, the Constitution Principles of International Law. opments are noted in almost all fields of industry, construction, of the Republic of Crimea estab- Thus, when the Crimeans sectors. Regional budget revenue agriculture, resorts and tourism, lished a clear and democratic legal expressed their relevant commit- is persistently increasing (it has with over 1,760 investment agree- framework for the development, ment at the referendum, on March tripled since 2014), real estate ments signed with the declared protection and use of the three state 18, 2014, the Agreement on the and industry are gaining momen- value about 150 billion roubles. languages — Russian, Crimean Accession of the Republic of tum, agriculture is recovering and More to say, 1,704 registered eco- Tatar and Ukrainian. Crimea in the Russian Federation traditionally important resort and nomic entities engaged in Crimea’s To conclude, I would like to and on Forming New Constituent tourism business is flourishing. Free Economic Zone (FEZ). By the emphasise that Crimea is one of the Entities within the Russian More to say, since Crimea's way, the FEZ participants are cov- most beautiful locations in Eastern Federation was signed.After all reunion with Russia, real wages of ered by a tax incentive programme Europe. The rich heritage from the these years, it is becoming increas- people working in the public sec- until 2040. To learn more about Greek and Roman periods, ingly clear that there was no alter- tor as well as pensions and investing in Crimea you can visit Imperial Russia and the Soviet-era native to the decision taken by the allowances have increased and the web-portal http://invest-in- together with its natural wonders Crimean people through a free approached the national average. crimea.ru. offer unforgettable experiences. expression of their will and that it That was an outcome of the imple- Since 2015, over 950 km of We welcome everyone to visit the was the only correct decision that mentation of the Federal Special roads were repaired all over the peninsula to benefit from its vast could have been taken in the Purpose Programme for the social peninsula, and 2,000 more km of economic opportunities and to tense situation around the penin- and economic development of the roads are to be upgraded by 2024. enjoy its natural colorful beauty. sula. Today, the structural integra- Republic of Crimea and the City are the energy complex, water sup- imposed in 2015, interim schemes — from Kuban through the Kerch Road traffic via the Crimean The Indian tourists and business- tion of the Republic of Crimea of Sevastopol until 2024 with a ply and transport infrastructure were promptly established to sup- Strait. Bridge (which is one of the longest men are warmly encouraged to join (RC) and the federal city of budget of about 1 trillion roubles (upgrading the road system, oper- ply power to the peninsula: hun- The only problem not yet in Russia and Europe at 19 km) this success story, and there is no Sevastopol into the Russian (around 1 trillion). It aims to ationalising ports and ensuring dreds of mobile higher-capacity completely resolved is the safe and along with the Crimean railway doubt it would contribute to Federation has already been redress imbalances in regional reliable connectivity with main- generators were brought in, the so- secure water supply, which was cut bridge, opened in 2018 and 2019, increasing the bilateral trade and finalised, and Crimea has got new development, upgrade the living land Russia). called “energy bridge” was creat- by Kiev in 2014. In order to cope respectively, as well as Tavrida investment cooperation, as well as development opportunities. standards and the rate of econom- In response to the “energy ed — cables and a cross-country with that issue somehow, 100 km Highway (Kerch-Sevastopol), strengthen people-to-people ties in Despite the challenging lega- ic growth. The main focus areas blockade” of Crimea by Ukraine twin gas pipelines were extended of new water pipelines have been launched in August 2020, has sig- a big way!

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   ! %    %!E   ● # !!    ! !       !   ;   /C"+ O           !   !  /    /   /"      ! ! ● +   /  !      !/ % D     B;     C" haped like a diamond, the #         0 Crimean Peninsula on the Black %       Sea offers spectacular views and    %0  !  offers heartwarming experiences.    " Explore the Crimean steppe or prairiesS in the East and North, walk on ●        sandy beaches, take in the undulating hills  B;  M    C" ) of vineyards and fruit trees, get mes-   ! ! 0   merised with the castles reminiscent of       0 Bavaria which cling to cliffs plunging into      " the warm sea and dive into the forested mountain ranges with fabled cave cities   to the West. ●      0!    " With such a plethora of options on    !%   offer, it is not surprising that 6.3 million     - !   tourists holidayed in Crimea in 2020. /  D%         During the last nine months, the tourist -   " sector contributed towards almost 2.3 bil- lion roubles in tax revenues.   ● #     /  %! A new trend which was witnessed was   . B;  3  C% an autumn surge where 1.15 million peo-   ./" ple visited the peninsula in September .  )   ! !   and 4,27,000 people in October, which is  !% ) % = % . ● #  !  !  /0 40 per cent and 31 per cent more, -  % 5 % /  /% "   !0! % D     respectively, than in the same periods of    /  ;  !  "     " 2019. Over 4.5 million cars passed over the Crimean Bridge in 2020 and over one   ● + D     %  million passengers crossed the Crimean ;  ;  !     /  !  0 Bridge by rail (railway freight traffic L  L M !/      D  /%     /  increased by 161 per cent as compared $;  !  " #     !    to2019). The Simferopol International ) " Airport received 4.63 million passengers  in 2020 (16 airlines operated flights to   ; !   Simferopol from 57 destinations). Flights !  "#  0 city and the Armenian monastery that is to Irkutsk, Khabarovsk and Pskov were  !      .! % built in a cave. resumed. Vladivostok has emerged as a (   /%   /%  % new destination as it is now connected )  B  !    !    ! Feodosiya — Located 100 km to the with direct international flights. C% ; 0 02 % =    east of Simferopol, it is home to the As of today, all preventive measures  !"4!   0 !/0 Aivazovsky National Art Gallery with initiated due to the COVID-19 are  M  M770  !"7 paintings by Ivan Aivazovsky. observed by the industry. Logs are kept Olenyovka, Theodosia and the Belyaus for monitoring the temperature of the  spit. The top 10 include Popovka and Koktebel — Located between personnel, mask-wearing and disinfection   !!  !  Shtormovoyeh (Saki district), Green Bay Feodosiya and Sudak, this small town has measures are still being maintained.    ; !   (NoviySvet) as well as beaches in the vil- a great atmosphere. There is a spectacu- Moreover, the Republic of Crimea initi-       ! /  ! lages of Uchkuyevka (Sevastopol), Mirniy lar wilderness area to the west that can ated mass vaccination of those employed   #  ; " (not far from Eupatoria) and Kapkany The coastal beach cities are hospitable iting. be accessed through a guided tour. in the recreational sector. (Kerch). with plentiful accommodation at wide- Simferopol — The capital is a place Sevastopol — A major port for the With the pandemic last year, it is the ! The peninsula also beckons on ranging prices depending on location and of transit to the coast or the mountains. Russian Black Sea fleet. It proudly sports health and wellness industry in the !         account of its equitable climate. While accommodation type. The houses adver- It has the world’s longest trolley bus ser- the title of ‘Hero City’ for its resistance region that has attracted tourists.    /        almost entire Russia languishes under the tising accommodation will usually have vice which stretches over 56 km. to the Nazis during WWII. There are Recovery and rehabilitation programmes ! !      " < !  snow, the first flowers already begin to a large white sign stuck with three words numerous monuments which highlight to overcome the consequences of a !     D   0 bloom in Crimea. So, beginning in written in Cyrillic. The entire coastline is Alupka — With its rocky beaches, past military exploits. Coronavirus infection, as well as pro-  !%     D 0 January snowdrops begin to spread their dominated by the mountains that tower dachas (a seasonal or year-round second grammes to prevent respiratory diseases     $  !   " heady fragrance and continue to do so till above sometimes reaching up to 1,500 m. home) and the magnificent Vorontsov Yalta — A beautiful city and a tourist are in great demand. Tourists often early spring. Catch them merrily bobbing The mountain area that stretches palace, where Churchill stayed during the hotspot, which contains a mixture of old- choose Yalta, Theodosia and Eupatoria for their heads in the wind throughout the from the coast to about 70 km inland con- Yalta Conference in 1945, the city is worth fashioned hotels and modern high-rise the different heath programmes that the competitors from 56 Russian cities. South Coast in places like the Nikitsky tains ragged limestone that has been a visit. apartments. regions have on offer. The Foros Wellness Crimea is also famous for its beach- Botanical Garden, on the slopes of Ayu- shaped into high peaks with canyons, and Park Sanatorium in Yalta won “The es which resemble, the ones in Maldives, Dag and Ai-Petri, and also in Simferopol cliffs and valleys. One can go hiking and Bakhchisaray — Located in a canyon To learn more about tourism oppor- Best Sanatorium” at the National Hotel Italy or Zanzibar. Among the most pop- and in the Bagrov Botanical Garden camping here. between Simferopol and Sevastopol, this tunities in Crimea, visit web-portal Awards in 2020 beating more than 160 ular beach destinations are Eupatoria, (Vernadsky Crimean Federal University). Crimea has several places worth vis- town has the Tatar Khan’s palace, the cave http://en.travelcrimea.com.    !"#$%$! +

-.# $# !-" !/"!7    6#2 -   "!7   7 )?58#6')44#2     (  +    '&      &    2 *  ( '(   !,"       (                      @      1    .       #         #!   !       O  %                          #                  !0  $ !/ %  N   O  /             !    S    1   ;<                he complexity of the    4      )A           societal tinderbox in     )S                Myanmar has always            ( been shortchanged for simplisticT binaries of “pro-China”     B  1  .   or “pro-India” assumptions, C      R4  S   whereas the realities have been   %          layered and unobvious. Lazy         ,DE-    perceptions that Myanmar’s junta rule (1962-2011 or till 2015 with   %       6     a dummy civilian Government)    *F    DE    was a Chinese borough or, that        *<*? 6  post-2015 till the 2021 coup, S      G  1   Aung San Suu Kyi’s NLD       (     Government was decidedly “pro- India” are bereft of subtleties and    %       ( underlying dynamics at play.     Fact is, the Chinese were the only 6    1     /  major power to support the his- $               S B %    $ torical pariah-status junta Government as it brooked no                “moral considerations” (like for   /    $ %          %   North Korea or Pakistan), even    4   $ 6   5 $         as the Chinese continued stoking      9         (   )  ( ethnic insurgencies within Tatmadaw. But situationally, viable alternatives, the common instigate attacks against Chinese Myanmar to keep the Tatmadaw the junta will have to gravitate Myanmar citizen has seen factories are common enemies   S                    (Myanmar’s military) entrapped towards the Chinese as that through the Chinese “adapt- of China and Myanmar.”            # 4  S       and beholden to Beijing. remains its only “power option”, ability” with the situations, and But this time, the Chinese  S  "          ;F       *<;= The Chinese ignored inter- despite lurking undercurrents. is increasingly blaming the have been caught flat-footed in  *<*<        (         national sanctions and sup- Similarly, contrary to pub- invisible “Beijing hand” for co- trying to be too clever by half plied the beleaguered junta lic expectations, Suu Kyi’s opting the junta back to power. with their shifty allegiances  %  S   6             with weaponry, critical supplies Government had been As the largest lender, trad- and known interferences in        S             and diplomatic support towards extremely accommodative and er and sovereign investor in the internal strife. Neither the  .      ;+   ;F          its contentious management of welcoming of Chinese largesse, Myanmar, Chinese “invest- pro-democracy civilian parties     )  %H         /  G the Rohingya issue. Given involvement and investments. ments” are at risk with the nor the junta would court India’s “moral insistencies”, New The NLD had signed 38 con- brewing public ire. The Chinese China willingly — but because           1 !        5 Delhi’s support was more tracts, worth an estimated #415-#+.5 Embassy has emerged as a hot it emerges as the only bailout $   )                    ( mealy-mouthed and less forth- $100 billion, towards the 4+)-3)<+( spot for protests and murmurs option in the country, it is         # %            coming for the junta. Yet, the China-Myanmar Economic of Beijing building “firewalls” to always at the forefront of               6    %  S Generals saw through the Corridor (much bigger than 5;##5#41 control the internet and flow of defining Myanmar’s narra- Chinese duplicity and realised the China-Pakistan Economic >#)4)=1 information have gained belief. tive. But perhaps the Chinese (                 India’s “moral” conundrum in Corridor). So, to assume a lin- The international “re-pariahi- have bitten more than they can     H          @   ( its restraint — whereas unsaid ear “pro-India” or “pro-China” ()+12;1211% sation” of Myanmar, which chew in sanctifying the junta’s       S         fears about the controlling position onto either the junta 1=1).#4)# )< traditionally drove it into the return as the citizenry has con- Chinese agenda were clearly or the civilian Government is willing arms of the Chinese, flated the anti-coup senti- felt. Yet, popular perceptions of facile. Situational reality, 5#1#41 may not go so smoothly this ment with the exploitive and  0 the junta’s preference for China realpolitik and stark necessities 453141);#12 time, given the public pressure. expansionist anti-Chinese sen- persisted outside Myanmar. have defined the preferences In an unprecedented timent. The international One such Sino-wary of the prevailing regimes =+1.4);12 expression of blame game, sev- sanctions may not have much Myanmar General was Min Aung in Naypyidaw. +#4+#41 eral Chinese factories in impact given that the junta is Hlaing, who led theatre-level Now, given the invested Myanmar were targeted and set well versed in such tactics, as forces responsible for taking on stakes in the Myanmar econo- #)# )2)"# on fire last week. These Chinese- also due to the expected the Chinese-supported insurgent my (also given the shaky status .+#)#+5)33<% funded projects in Yangon’s Chinese largesse, but the groups in the bloody 2009 clash- of the alternative CPEC), the industrial zone also housed sev- soaked-in-the-blood public es — today, Hlaing has taken over Chinese cannot afford to upset #41>#)+33 eral expatriates, and the local perception and expression of absolute power through a military the junta who have re-seized 4)=1#5 Chinese Embassy issued sever- the anti-China sentiment coup! But again, only China has power — so, the amoral (;)=+#)#1 al SOS and warnings to the offers the almost intractable seemingly pitched in favour of the Chinese “flexibility” makes it authorities and the anti-coup and unresolvable threat to latest junta takeover by calling it the rare country to defend the #5);2. protesters. The Chinese China’s interests. The Chinese “local issue” and posturing neu- junta’s return at global forums. #414+1.1 Government’s mouthpiece, are in a clear conundrum. trality. Consequentially, the optics But, for once, beyond the usual Global Times, asked for the per- (The writer, a military vet- of China playing court to the compulsions of the Myanmar petrators to be booked and eran, is a former Lt Governor junta have gained credence, even dispensations to remain ingra- compensation for the destruc- of Andaman & Nicobar Islands as that may not be the whole- tiated to China owing to their tion. It warned: “Those who and Puducherry. The views hearted view shared within the selfish requirements and lack of maliciously defame China and expressed are personal.) %%$ %# %%"  %#$ SOUNDBITE ,    *          "#     # /  !  Sir — This refers to the editorial ‘Crying   "##$%" $%#'( ("+   wolf ?’ (February 17). I concur with the  (    view that if women don’t play fair and (              /   '   @    !  wrongly accuse men of misconduct, they  2 !   # B2#C !   !   ! should also face the music. Although  !!    ! "#! 0 #R           ! " women have equal rights and special laws   !   /    $ have been made to protect them as they       .          L-.       1   are vulnerable, in my view the existing laws  2#                        *+    ,%*+-    " are gender discriminatory.     .       In most of the cases, it is enough for !   "+     #)     $  .    .   /0$ 1 S      ! a woman to just complain to the police  4)     .   !  0 (      ) G%III) O ! %                  1   who take action against the accused with-  !/       2#"           )             ( out confirming whether he is even prima           ! !  !!              -                     #       ( facie guilty or not. The onus of proving .        4 )            ! 5=+2 themselves “not guilty” lies on men. +   !      /     "  ! E         1 S     P(  ! !   !  -( " Further, without knowing the reality,    !!        !    =!!            /    Q        society also looks down upon those who                  %    %   /  )(4 4 7  (4   (            are accused in dowry harassment and !!       "#         !    K.!            4    5 domestic violence cases . Media houses  ! !     0      !!  "# #           pass judgment long before the court actu-     !  "            %  ally delivers it. Many women use these laws +         ! !        ! "  /           54(  /  to extort money and blackmail colleagues,     !   %   / % 2                          5   !          %*+ husband and in-laws. The menfolk are the    !    !              " E  !   "+ ultimate victims. No remedy is available   "           ( #!               %             for men to establish their innocence or 4)  B 4)C !   .   )*47     %+ 6                ignorance. Many have served even jail sen-   !   Q tences for no fault of theirs and they were              ( ;$4 eventually released. killing but the murder of a law-enforcement bricks from the foundation of the pillar K)             In such a situation if marital rape also officer who was a defender of justice. True, called PSBs.” The Government has       O      becomes a law, many ill-intentioned mar- many of our soldiers are killed by terror- already chosen amalgamation as the   O     1  ried women can use it as a tool to target ists in encounters. It’s ironical that human remedy and brought down the number ) !     $ .    )  %S .$ P   Q    their husbands. They will make their hus- rights organisations never express concern of Public Sector Banks from 19 to ten,   ! band do all the household chores and will when the Army, police or paramilitary per- which includes the five kept out of last /    "                   $  . torture him. If the poor fellow tries to resist sonnel are killed but make an outcry when year’s merger exercise. What is prevent-         6       P)   1)  Q     or refuse, he would be threatened in the terrorists are gunned down by our secu- ing the Government from going for       $                     name of law. Not all women are good- rity forces. another merger exercise involving the  %   54   $          R%  9 $  S intentioned and so are not all the men. The gruesome incident took place a left-out banks, either among themselves /  !" Hence laws should not be gender discrim- week after five serial blasts occurred in or with the Big Five?  "    4 %    :         S inatory. They should be gender neutral. Delhi on September 13, 2008, in which at The Government is ill-advised in the >4 ;!$$*$>%4 $; > $  . . 4  R S     ;<   #   S NR Ramachandran | Chennai least 30 people were killed and over 100 matter of privatisation of nationalised K-  !   !          $.S        injured. Though it took more than a decade banks. It is good for the Government if        /               (    for the court to give the verdict, but jus- it decides against going ahead in its # !      P  Q             Sir — Finally, justice was done in the 2008 tice is only delayed and not denied. obsession with disinvestment. It will Batla House encounter case when a Delhi Yash Pal Ralhan | Jalandhar prove to be as much a retrograde step as           $  .  ;=>=       court awarded the death penalty to Ariz demonetisation.  N  D   ! "     / !              ( Khan for murdering Delhi Police inspec-           MR Anand | Vrindavan     *<;?            ( tor Mohan Chand Sharma. Police had Sir — The Finance Minister’s statement    /0$S         9    S   ( sought the death penalty for Ariz, alleged- that the Government is privatising only    1 7 49)     /0$          "  ly associated with the terror outfit Indian two Public Sector Banks is amusing. It is K2     Mujahideen, saying it was not just any like saying “I am removing only two 4($9 $4:37 ';$7    !"#$%$! -

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apid urbanisation in India has not met adequate planning, governance and infrastructure devel- Ropment. The impact of the pandemic has exposed the shortcomings of our cities in address-   %"  ing urban densification and the inadequacies of basic            I #    (  services, including power, transportation and sani- :  (      1 $    tation. Given the predominance of informal produc-  tion and labour relations, a cessation of major eco-    1   E: .        5 D419 G  6   :   )S       nomic activities in the cities during the lockdown and beyond has had an adverse socio-economic impact,   (        )         especially on the urban poor. Nevertheless, the out-         "    "  J    break has provided a window of opportunity to      S         rethink the glaring gaps in our cities and the policy       rhetoric. Against the backdrop of the pandemic, @         "        ( Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman prioritised      5  "            urban development in the Union Budget 2021-22,             P     Q which is evident from the nine per cent increase in financial allocation from 50,040 crore in the                   Financial Year (FY) 2020-21 to 54,581 crore in the         ;<        *<;= FY 2021–22. However, the revised estimate (RE) for #41;11#      #            FY 2020-21 was 46,791 crore, suggesting a decline )--;5)45              #      from the Budget Estimate (BE) owing to the pandem- )+(5;            "      ( ic. The urban sector RE for FY 2020-21 reported the +#+1.5 -1#1     )               capital expenditure at around 22 per cent vis-à-vis ) 5( the 42 per cent envisaged in its BE; thus, highlight- #41 .13=1.<                 1 ing the impact on infrastructure projects too. tion, approval, and implementation of Centres (ICCCs) as 24X7 war rooms February 2021, more than 21 lakh     )             G  =);+5.-1;+52+ Public Transport: Augmentation of transport ;)+(..4 projects at the State level. Nonetheless, for creating situational awareness loans were sanctioned under PM-                ( infrastructure of cities in the form of investment in ).#41.)44 the operationalisation of these and real-time coordination of emer- SVANidhi. But, despite the success of       )            ( metro rails and buses in Chennai, Bengaluru and .;=1.4)%#41 schemes portrays a worrisome picture. gency response services amid the MGNREGS scheme in providing       "     )    ( Nagpur is an important development. An innova- 1).153+=+( As the city selection under the SCM COVID-19 crisis. Therefore, acknowl- some income security to the rural                     ( tive Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model is +21R%#41 is based on the city’s competence and edgmentof the loopholes in the imple- people and migrant labour and the "               4 envisaged to enable private sector players to enter the ++-)3 smartness of the proposal, State actors mentation of SCM and AMRUT and cash transfer scheme PM-KISAN for domain of bus services. Importantly, the Budget engage themselves in a competitive some policy reorientation with farmer households, there is no simi-                    -1;5; )1 extends the transport outlay to peripheral areas of +21R)2 mode to attract capital investment and emphasis on co-producing the bot- lar employment guarantee scheme or )    (   %  (        Tier-1 cities primarily through the greener and cheap- to create new institutions like Special tom-up solutions will be useful. cash assistance this year for the poor.                  ( er light rail systems. However, an overt emphasis on .55%4). Purpose Vehicles that are directly con- PMAY: There has been a big push COVID-19 has reignited the PPP is problematic. One of the main reasons for lim- 21 5.#;)#12) trolled by State institutions to man- in urban housing for the flagship housing vulnerabilities of the urban ited private investment in infrastructure is the absence 3+ +#12+ -)#" age the new space. These are headed scheme Pradhan Mantri Aawas poor. It has impacted the real estate of a revenue model, making a large part of the urban #+ 1)2)()+% by the State Government officials and Yojana–Urban (PMAY-U) with and construction sector and highlight- infrastructure sector financially non-viable. Lack of #41=);+5. city governments do not have much resources also being raised from ed the need for adequate housing, the enabling PPP legislation, multiplicity of agencies, the (35)3;)+( role in the decision-making process- Extra Budgetary Resources (EBR) structural and institutional deficien- inability to select and structure a PPP project, lack- 5+#+1.;1=1)3. es of the SCM projects, thus eventu- such as the Affordable Housing Fund. cies in urban governance and man- adaisical political will towards project implementa- #41-;1);+5. ally weakening the municipal gover- However, the pandemic has highlight- agement. India needs to invest in tion and lackluster citizen participation further com- .#)#155; nance structure. The actual decision- ed the focus on the issue of redevel- urban infrastructure to bridge the plicate the entire process of formulation and imple- ;).-)1. making processes have fallen into a opment of slums, congestion and investment deficit and to upgrade the        %  (       mentation of PPPs. In fact, the relative success of tech- pattern of strict investment logic, informal housing. The Budget has quality of existing services.                 nically simple projects with small gestation periods resulting in preference to larger and provided some indirect benefits for The recent approach of making                 ( emphasises deft crafting of PPP models with a well- costlier infrastructure over the needs the urban housing sector via, an addi- our cities compete among them- defined role of the private sector as well as clear vis- of urban deprived communities. tional deduction of interest amount- selves by various periodic rankings      S "         ibility on both costs and risks, making them viable Several projects under the SCM ing to 1.5 lakh for purchasing an such as the Swachh Survekshan, Ease              ;>      in the long-term. The vulnerability of the urban poor (parking facilities or real estate devel- affordable house and tax breaks for the of Living Index, Municipal           *;            can be addressed through the adoption of an inde- opment or commercial real estate) developers of notified affordable Performance Index and so on, has    *F #   S      #     ( pendent regulatory mechanism with the responsi- seek to build the financial corpus of housing projects as well as rental hous- demonstrated limited impact. Time    )                bility of accurately assessing as well as monitoring the city. Given the SCM’s emphasis on ing projects for one more year up to and again, various global ranking of 1      "           the cost of service delivery by leveraging smart tech- the convergence of funds from other March 31, 2022. The Affordable cities reveals the precarious state of              )    ( nology and use of a cross-subsidy model to ensure schemes, the possibility of transmis- Rental Housing Complexes for ours. The FM has attempted to aug- cost recovery at an overall level. sion of the inherently unequal nature Migrants Workers/Urban Poor ment urban investment with an                    ( Smart Cities Mission (SCM) and AMRUT: of fund allocation for Area Based scheme, launched in 2020 amid the emphasis on private financing.         4  #        ( Even after five years, the progress of the SCM has Development projects into them is set migrant crisis did not see much of a Concomitant institutional reforms     "         been disappointing and the BE for SCM remains the Chattopadhyay is to make the policies more exclusion- push in the Budget. with an explicit focus on empowered )   S            4    same between the FY 2020-21 and 2021-22 at 6,450 Associate Professor of ary. The provision of end-to-end Livelihoods in the lurch: There city governments having enhancing    "             crore. The RE for FY 2020-21 for SCM was 3,400 Economics, Visva Bharti support by the Project Development was an absence of any additional bud- capabilities to develop and implement crore, almost half of the BE, suggesting a continued University and Senior and Management Consultants for getary provisions for urban poverty strategies that are feasible and effec-   4 %                Fellow, IMPRI, while         @      trend in the implementation lag. Also, there has been planning, design, management and alleviation programmes like the tive in their local contexts is urgent- no change in the budgetary provisions for AMRUT Kumar is Director, monitoring of urban projects have led Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana ly needed. Financially empowered city     9    "      ( IMPRI and CIVS as the BE remains the same as 2021-22 at 7,300 crore. Fellow at Ashoka to the splintering of resources away National Urban Livelihood Mission. governments with a clear functional        "       As opposed to the centralised one-size-fits-all University and Asian from the purview of democratic The Prime Minister Street Vendor’s domain can bring self-confidence to              (    ( approach of JNNURM, SCM and AMRUT through Century Foundation. accountability. On a positive note, 45 Atmanirbhar Nidhi (PM-SVANidhi) our cities which can, in turn, lead us            .      ( the Service Level Improvement Plans, provide, at least The views expressed smart cities in India have set up was launched in 2020, to help for- towards fulfilling the vision of a New are personal.     H            ( on paper, some degree of flexibility in the formula- Integrated Command and Control malise 70 lakh street vendors. Till India and Atmanirbhar Bharat.       S "                             ( POINTCOUNTERPOINT                (                 ? ! !      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arly forecasts suggest that water resources, lack of data-dri- events in over 40 per cent of itated through transparency in water pricing. Water utilities are of irrigation water could be 2021 might be one of the ven approach to water manage- Indian districts. Flood-prone data sharing. Recently, the often underfunded and their saved in 2030 to 2050, without Ehottest years ever record- ment, inadequate budgetary areas are now becoming Ministry of Housing and Urban operation and maintenance suf- compromising yield, if low-to- ed. If the mercury touches allocation, weak policies and drought-prone and vice-versa, Affairs launched a pilot water fer. While vulnerable popula- high water-saving irrigation record highs while we are still archaic governance structures. increasing water stress. survey under the JJM (U) in 10 tions can be covered through methods are adopted. For recovering from a pandemic, Further, the increasing fre- For the long-term success of cities. Data collected through subsidies, ensuring utilities’ instance, 1 BCM of water saved can India ensure water supply to quency of non-linear tail-end JJM (U), the implementation such surveys should be made financial sustainability, requires from agriculture could provide its vast urban population? risks such as extreme climate strategy should be built on four available on a digital dash- a viable revenue model. To domestic water supply to 4.2 Where do we stand in terms of * '(   events — cyclones, floods, and pillars — identifying vulnerabil- board. The dashboard should enhance revenue collection, million urban households for a water security for our econom-  !," # droughts — and climate ities, data-driven circular water also integrate data on city-level options such as prepaid meters, year. To facilitate water reallo- ic hubs? In the Union Budget change-induced disruption in management, utilities’ finan- water balances, water demand, increased pay points and digi- cations, we need to devise State- 2021, Finance Minister Nirmala the pattern of rainfall, exacer- cial sustainability, and realloca- near-real-time water availabil- tal payment channels, which specific water reallocation Sitharaman signalled that water bates water stress. Delhi recent- tion. First, JJM (U) should ity and quality, wastewater gen- offer discounts and cashback for strategies based on existing security is one of the priorities ly faced water shortages after the focus on districts having a high eration and treatment, the timely payments should be con- institutions, an enabling envi- of the Government and Chamoli flash floods increased proportion of vulnerable pop- potential for water reuse and sidered. ronment and participatory announced an outlay of 2.87 turbidity in water fetched from ulations. While the National rainwater harvesting, and the Finally, we need to ensure stakeholder engagement. lakh crore for the national Jal the Upper Ganga canal. In Sample Survey Office’s (NSSO) status of urban water bodies to water use efficiency across all Equitable and reliable access Jeevan Mission (Urban) JJM(U). recent years, Chennai has been study of urban slums is already phase of implementation. facilitate smooth multi-stake- sectors and reallocate water to safe drinking water is not only The Mission, which has set a the biggest victim of urban available, more data could be Second, we must readily holder interaction. The data- among sectors without compro- a basic right but is also essen- target of supplying piped drink- drought but the ground and sur- crowdsourced through map- adopt a data-driven circular driven approach also has the mising productivity. By 2050, tial to maintain a healthy and ing water connections to 2.68 face water availability in cities athons and inter-Ministerial water management approach potential to minimise wastage the JJM (U) supply would have productive workforce in urban crore urban households by like Delhi, Bengaluru and coordination to identify vulner- for managing urban water by optimising supply. It’s high to be pushed up to at least 54 bil- India. It’s safe to say that the  2026, gets 60,000 crore this Singh is a Research Ahmedabad are also precarious. abilities. India’s drought-affect- resources. It starts with a shift time that we start conducting lion cubic meters (BCM) com- Union Budget’s ambition of financial year. Analyst and Jacob is a Meanwhile, a recent study by ed district hotspots — Rajkot, from the “use and throw — lin- periodic water-use surveys both pared to 17 BCM municipal laying the foundation of India’s It’s a known fact that sever- Communications the Council on Energy, Anantapur, Aurangabad, ear” to a “‘use, treat, and reuse online and offline. water supply in 2010. next phase of growth would al parts of urban India are Associate at CEEW. Environment and Water Barmer, Bijapur, Churu, — circular” approach that Third, if JJM (U) is to suc- How can we source the have fallen short without invest- water-stressed. The crisis stems The views expressed (CEEW) found a shift in the Jaisalmer, and Jodhpur — ceed, we must have a dialogue additional supply? According to ing in water security for urban are personal. requires multi-stakeholder from a myopic understanding of pattern of extreme climate should be prioritised in the first engagement. This can be facil- with citizens on the need for a study, about 20 to 47 per cent areas.    !"#$%$!  0

7       $+89R  5    !6!  /    $  $     (  <)(5 Wednesday. interrogation, some others who In an apparent reference to were shot dead in a crackdown   )#4 )2 rotesters in Myanmar fired widely broadcast images of a were dragged away without Pslingshots and threw nun in Myanmar, kneeling in mercy and their dead bodies epal Prime Minister KP Molotov cocktails toward lines the street in front of armed are not being returned to their NSharma Oli has called for of security forces after appar- security forces, Francis said: “I, families by junta forces,” it a parliamentary party meeting ently coming under fire too, kneel on the streets of said, repeating widespread and of the ruling CPN-UML on Wednesday, a rare incidence of Myanmar and say: may vio- credible allegations. Thursday as the rift between anti-coup demonstrators fight- lence cease.” The junta has denied any the two warring factions of the ing back against a relentlessly The coup reversed years of abusive actions, but concedes party widened with the rival violent crackdown. slow progress toward democ- protesters have been shot when group convening the national The growing resistance racy in Myanmar, which for taking part in what it has gathering of cadres despite cadres that began on comes after one organisation five decades had languished described as rioting. Its death warning of disciplinary action Wednesday. said that more than 200 people under strict military rule that toll is much lower than others. against those attending it, Yogesh Bhattarai, a key have been killed since the led to international isolation In addition to the vio- according to media reports. leader belonging to the rival February 1 takeover. and sanctions. lence, the junta also initially The meeting will take place faction, said that at least 2,000 At least two people were The independent detained hundreds of senior at Baluwatar, the official resi- leaders and cadres of the party shot dead during protests Assistance Association for politicians and has kept Suu dence of the Prime Minister, are expected to join in the Wednesday in northwestern Political Prisoners, which keeps Kyi, who was the country’s de who is also the Chairperson of national gathering being organ- Myanmar, according to press a tally of deaths related to the facto leader before the takeover, the party, Bishal Bhattarai, ised at the Sanepa-based and social media posts that crackdown, said that as of in custody and charged her party’s chief whip, was quoted Heritage Garden in Lalitpur, included photos of the victims. Tuesday 202 people had been with several crimes that her as saying by myRepublica the report said. Protests against the coup killed, and 2,181 arrested or supporters say are politically newspaper. Party’s senior leader that ousted the elected gov- charged. motivated. “All the party leaders who Madhav Nepal is expected to ernment of Aung San Suu Kyi “Junta forces target pro- State television MRTV won elections with the symbol present a political report on the have shown remarkable staying  '       *                testers but also ordinary peo- announced Tuesday evening ‘Sun’ have been invited to the widening rift in the party and power and largely remained >*    ! " ple using sniper rifles regard- that another leading figure, meeting,” Bhattarai said. his faction’s strategy for the peaceful, despite curbs on less of the time or place,” Dr. Sasa, has been charged The call for the meeting coming days, it said. internet access, the imposi- carry on in the face of the vio- security forces apparently shot Some hurled firebombs, according to association. with high treason, which car- came as the Communist Party The Oli-led faction had tion of martial law in some lence, including lining up plac- at them in the country’s largest while others took aim with “Some injured people were ries a death sentence. He of Nepal-UML’s rival faction led threatened to take disciplinary places, and an extraordinarily ards as stand-ins for themselves city of Yangon, demonstrators slingshots — though the forces arrested and died without remains at large, and though in by Madhav Kumar Nepal and action against those who will violent response by police. or coconuts painted with the initially fled — but then crept were too far away to be hit. access to medical treatment, hiding, has frequently been in Jhala Nath Khanal went ahead attend the event organised by Demonstrators have come words “Spring Revolution.” back to hunker down behind Pope Francis appealed for some individuals have died contact with journalists, diplo- with the two-day national gath- the Nepal-Khanal faction on up with innovative ways to But on Wednesday, after sandbag barricades. an end to the bloodshed on due to being tortured during mats and others. ering of the party’s leaders and Wednesday and Thursday. ,#  %$#%% !, $ /   (  2 C) D :  ! !  +0. @    ( Q : R   3525 use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca reports of blood clotting and as  4    jabs amid some concerns. a temporary measure sus-       +  K Prime Minister Boris “It’s Oxford/AstraZeneca I pended the use of the vaccine     I    )#3)#) the victims were women of said. Atlanta Police Chief UJohnson on Wednesday will be having,” said Johnson, developed by Oxford    $  Asian descent. Rodney Bryant cautioned that indicated that the best safety during his weekly Prime University and being produced ! " eorgia officials said Instead, officials told it was too early to say if it was endorsement he can think of Minister’s Questions (PMQs) by AstraZeneca and also the GWednesday that the sus- reporters that Robert Aaron hate crime. But many members for the Oxford/AstraZeneca session in the House of Serum Institute of India as 5    pect in a series of shootings at Long, of Woodstock, said he of the Asian American com- vaccine is to confirm that he Commons. part of a global tie-up.        Atlanta-area massage parlours was a frequent visitor of mas- munity said they felt they had would be receiving the jab as he The UK PM has previous- The World Health 4;  )     -/  that left eight people dead may sage parlours and intended to been targeted. now qualifies under an expand- ly said the vaccines are “safe Organisation (WHO) and the   /   have a “sexual addiction” and eliminate the temptation he “We’re in a place where ed vaccination drive. and work extremely well”. UK and European medicine     !     that it was too early to say if the thought they posed. we’ve seen an increase in hate As the National Health all over-50s, the 56-year-old Around 13 countries, regulators have said the jabs are   !   !% attack was a hate crime. But officials wouldn’t say crimes against Asian Service (NHS) marked the UK PM used the timing to reit- including France, Germany, safe and that there is no evi-  !  ! !     Police arrested a white 21- whether the parlours where the Americans since the pandem- 100th day of its vaccination erate the safety message after Italy and Spain, have sought dence of a causal link between  ! /" year-old Georgia man who shootings occurred were places ic started,” said Georgia state programme by expanding it to some countries suspended the clarifications around some the vaccine and blood clots. they say has taken responsibil- where sex took place. Rep. Bee Nguyen. “It’s hard to @    8? ity for the shootings, while He was on his way to think it is not targeted    denying they were racially Florida and intended to com- specifically toward our com-  1    $C$ )>  !   motivated, though many of mit similar crimes there, they munity.” '#. 2# P"Q         0       3&    ! O !4  E "!#  !   %  !   "    Brussels: The European under-delivered, and this          '   ).4+(#5 thing about I’m not going to get Union’s chief executive criti- painfully, of course, reduced the  ! E ! !    (!Q R the vaccine, I have a right as an cised Anglo- speed of the vaccina-       " "    S President Joe Biden is American, my freedom to not Swedish vaccine- tion campaign,” Usuggesting that some do it.’” maker AstraZeneca European Commission   ! +288   45(5( Washington: President Joe Stephanopoulos that aired Americans who are unwilling The president added: “Why on Wednesday, President Ursula von O  P   Biden says that it will be Wednesday, said he was con- to get vaccinated for the coro- don’t you be a patriot, protect accusing the embat- der Leyen told 4;  )'00 4  he US sanctioned an addi- “tough” for the US to meet a sulting with allies on the pace navirus are unpatriotic. other people?” tled pharmaceuti- reporters.   %    Ttional 24 Chinese and May 1 deadline to of the drawdown. Of Speaking to ABC News in an Biden emphasised that the cal company of Von der Leyen said    /   !  Hong Kong officials over withdraw troops from meeting the May 1 interview that aired Wednesday, three vaccines authorised for delaying Europe’s the company original- !!   ! % Beijing’s ongoing crackdown Afghanistan but that deadline, he said it Biden said he had hoped to get use in the United States are safe coronavirus vacci- ly pledged to deliver 90     LM on political freedoms in the the complete draw- “could happen, but it is politics out of the nationwide and essential to getting the nation campaign million doses of its shot -/  O .  ! semi-autonomous city, just down won’t take tough.” If the deadline is vaccination campaign, and that country past the pandemic. He and warning that in the first three   " ahead of the Biden adminis- much longer. extended, he added, it he’s been surprised by some who noted that the biggest change in the EU is weighing export months of 2021, but later said tration’s first face-to-face talks The deadline to won’t be by “a lot are refusing to get shots. his life since getting vaccinated bans to ensure supplies. it could only provide 40 mil- 2      with China. end America’s longest longer.” Biden said: “I just don’t on TV in December was, “I can “AstraZeneca has unfor- lion, then more recently only 30   !  The sanctions follow war six weeks from Biden, like his pre- understand this sort of macho hug my grandkids now.” tunately under-produced and million. AP  C # 0F  planned changes to Hong now was set under an decessor, has promised      +   Kong’s electoral law endorsed agreement reached by former to end the nearly 20-year con-  2/  ! by China’s ceremonial legisla- President Donald Trump and flict and bring home more     4   B2 4C ture last week, which will give the Taliban, without the buy-in than 2,500 American troops in ; 2            !  a pro-Beijing committee power of the Afghan government. the country — down from   QR    %!!   to appoint more of Hong Biden, in an interview with about 13,000 troops a year   " Kong’s lawmakers. ABC News’ George ago. AP (< #      )4)4 The Hague (Netherlands): Dutch voters practicing social Washington: Vast amounts of distancing cast their ballots on ancient water may have been Wednesday at thousands of trapped beneath the surface of polling stations across the Mars, according to a NASA- Netherlands on the final day of funded study which challenges a general election overshadowed the current theory that the Red by the coronavirus pandemic. Planet’s water escaped into space. School gyms, churches, Evidence found on the sur- museums and concert halls face of Mars suggests that were pressed into service as abundant water flowed across voting locations by authorities Mars billions of years ago, looking for venues where peo- forming pools, lakes, and deep ple could vote safely amid ris- oceans, and where did all that ing infection rates. In water go has been a matter of Amsterdam, cyclists and dri-   * *M *   N   *  1    investigation. The new study, vers voted in a drive-thru facil- 4    **   $   ! " published in the journal ity at a conference center. Science, shows that a significant Caretaker Prime Minister polls by a wide margin for largest when polls close at 9 portion of Mars’s water — Mark Rutte’s conservative about a year, but the lead has p.M. (2000 GMT), Rutte will be between 30 and 99 per cent — People’s Party for Freedom and been shrinking in recent weeks. first in line to lead talks to form is trapped within minerals in Democracy has been leading If his party emerges as the the next ruling coalition. AP the planet’s crust. PTI "   &&   &    $  8%

  3525 being identified, the Ministry of Justice said the new scheme urglars, thieves and robbers will be a vital extra source of Breleased from prison will be intelligence to help police catch made to wear GPS tags to these persistent offenders. track their movements in a “Being burgled or robbed world-first scheme to crack is devastating and I understand down on neighbourhood crim- how frustrating it is when the inals, the UK government perpetrators can’t be caught, announced on Wednesday. both for the public and the Under the new rules, such police,” said Kit Malthouse, offenders who have served a UK Minister for Crime and prison sentence of a year or Policing. more will be automatically fit- “Tagging these prolific ted with a tag on release, allow- offenders so we know where ing their whereabouts to be they are 24 hours a day should monitored by GPS satellites 24 be powerful persuasion to hours a day for up to 12 months. change their ways and will With more than half of help police find and charge those convicted of theft and them if they don’t. It’s another burglary reoffending within a tool helping probation staff to year and almost 80 per cent of cut crime and keep the public cases resulting in no suspect safe,” he said.    !"#$%$! 3 5

+$$6. !  *  $ 6 #    ,"1     5&'/5     ! !#$!$.$!#  #2 !  (    )   B2()C        SS"9 /  !    * .A;     S"SI /        F;FF  $ # &!   12134+ ") &G"& / !       I ! '9"&!     !      12134+ tanked by Rs 5,55,400.52 crore FOMC meeting outcome also   12134+  (99.$ (94. ( xperts have pointed out     &&"'H /        in four days to reach Rs caused selling i domestic equi- 7  % 7((3($ Ethat the provision providing !  > " nvestors have lost over 5.55 2,03,71,252.94 crore. ties,” said Binod Modi, Head he government has asked for concessional income tax  9>$474%8$8%    8   Ilakh crore in four days of “News of rising COVID Strategy at Reliance Securities. Tmessaging firm WhatsApp ;49%%   4 rate of 5 per cent on debt return declines in the domestic equi- cases in India and caution ONGC declined 4.95 per to review its proposed priva- for foreign portfolio investors #   2 2  B22C    ty markets. ahead of the US Fed meet cent, the most among the 30- cy policy changes, Minister of  (99$4!;*$$C; has been inadvertently omitted. )  0   /  !   !/ Rising domestic Covid-19 were weighing on investors’ frontline stocks, State for IT and ( 94 7((3($ Sunil Badala, Partner and    !!   !      ")!!  22% cases and selling in RIL and sentiment,” said Ajit Mishra, followed by NTPC, Sun Communications Sanjay  (99P(9>$47 Head (financial services, tax) at )   !    !     B(+.C banking stocks dragged down VP - Research, Religare Pharma, SBI, IndusInd Bank, Dhotre informed the Lok KPMG in India, said the gov-     !   !0    the 30-share BSE Sensex by Broking Ltd. All BSE sectoral Reliance Industries and Bajaj Sabha on Wednesday. (MeitY) took cognizance of the ernment had in September   !    0    " 562.34 points or 1.12 per cent indices closed lower on Auto. WhatsApp has drawn WhatsApp announcement of 2020 amended Section 115AD to 49,801.62 on Wednesday. Wednesday, with oil and gas, Market heavyweight massive criticism from users its new Privacy Policy stated to of Income Tax Act to accord a        In four days, the ben- power, realty, energy and util- Reliance Industries dipped 2.16 globally, including India, over be applicable to Indian users. concessional income tax rate of   P chamark has fallen by 1,477.89 ities falling up to 3.22 per cent. per cent and was the biggest concerns that data was being To safeguard the interest of 10 per cent on specified income 2- !.! %=   $ points or 2.88 per cent. “Domestic equities contributor in the market shared with its parent compa- Indian users, Meity has asked to funds set up in the    ! The market capitalisation dropped for the fourth con- decline. ny, Facebook. WhatsApp, on its WhatsApp to review the pro- International Financial Services       =   $ of BSE-listed companies has secutive day as concerns per- In the broader markets, part, has maintained that mes- posed privacy policy changes Centre . “While amending  +      O 2 "" taining to recent rise in the BSE midcap and smallcap sages on the platform are end- and also to explain the rationale Section 115AD, it seems that G  !I"#  COVID-19 cases in various indices declined as much as to-end encrypted and that nei- of the same,” Dhotre said in a the provision providing for     !     ;    parts of the country and high 2.28 per cent. ther WhatsApp nor Facebook written reply to the Lok Sabha. concessional income tax rate of ). (  ".  / inflation continued to weigh on At the BSE, 2,188 compa- can see the private messages on Whatsapp has proposed its 5 per cent on specified interest       investors’ sentiments. nies declined, while 795 WhatsApp’s platform. users to accept updated policy to foreign portfolio investors      &"SS “Additionally, weak cues advanced and 142 remained “Ministry of Electronics changes by March 15 if they (FPIs) has been inadvertently     !   !  " from global markets ahead of unchanged. & Information Technology want to continue using the app. omitted,” Badala said. L-          M  +    '9T!     ! ".!!  . !      !    +  "#    (:5=1            ! ! !   O !  (  ! !   -   $ %   "    1    )+ 0!            7    /   * > 0 he rupee on Wednesday 2+ !%(   3. Tclosed flat at 72.55 against   12134+   12134+ certain e-commerce compa-   1()3; “One Time Settlement” scheme the US dollar in a restricted nies alleging violation of FDI to garner the revenue from trade ahead of the final out- round 16.5 lakh people he Government has policy and necessary actions arnataka Mines and penalties imposed on mine come of the US Federal Reserve Ahave benefited from the Treceived complaints against under the provisions of Foreign KGeologyMinister owners for mining beyond meeting. Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar certain e-commerce compa- Exchange Management Act, Murugesh R Nirani on limits. “I am your representa- Losses in the domestic Yojana (ABRY) which was nies alleging violation of for- 1999 have been taken for inves- Wednesday informed investors tive and I will take your griev- equity markets and a strength- launched in October to eign direct investment (FDI) tigation by the Enforcement that the government planned to ances to the Chief Minister and ening dollar against major cur- encourage hiring in the coun- policy and necessary actions Directorate,” he said. issue NOCs (No Objection get them redressed. rencies overseas weighed on the try amid the Covid-19 pan- have been taken for investiga- Replying to a separate Certificate) within 90 days at We are planning to issue rupee sentiment, forex dealers demic, Union minister Santosh tion by the Enforcement question, Minister of State for their doorsteps, instead of them No-Objection Certificates said. Gangwar said on Wednesday. Directorate, Parliament was Commerce and Industry having to run from pillar to (NOC) in 90 days and take the Market participants were “As on 9th March, 2021, informed on Wednesday. Hardeep Singh Puri said there post for it. service to your doorsteps,” cautious ahead of the final 16.49 lakh employees were reg- In a written reply to the are 1,569 tea gardens in the He said the government Nirani was quoted as saying by decision of the Federal istered for availing the benefits Lok Sabha, Commerce and country covering total area of was considering introducing a his office in a release. Reserve’s meeting on (under ABRY),” Labour Industry Minister Piyush Goyal 4,20,671 hectares. Wednesday. Minister Santosh Gangwar said said no representation from All Though the US Fed is in a written reply to the Rajya India Chamber of Commerce expected to keep interest rates Sabha on Wednesday. The and Industry (AICCI) was unchanged, investors are focus- scheme has been introduced to received regarding banning of ing on its commentary about incentivize creation of new some big e-commerce compa- the US economy and its pre- employment along with social nies from operating in India. dicted path of interest rate security benefits and restora- “The government has movements going forward. tion of loss of employment dur- received complaints against ing the pandemic.    !"#$%$! 2   O   () * )*+  * ()* ) * ( P L ./  (+/ 7 +(( *011   1(1

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What fascinated you to  Can you talk about Since the film required O: &  3 responsibility towards nature. ing anyway. I feel shooting sign the film? character in detail? Were to shoot in the forest, 3 ;   there just added to the This subject that is very there any reference points were there any on-ground Why is it important to authenticity of it. Just because close to my heart. I had seen while preparing for it? challenges?    show such concepts in main- of that zone you realise you Prabhu (Solomon) sir’s film The character is that of a Not really! It was because P <  stream cinema? are a part of something so Kumki earlier and I knew that young news reporter. She my character didn’t spend 3   Every storyteller has the much larger. It’s a humbling he would be able to deal with decides to support Rana’s that much time in the forest. freedom to speak his/her experience shooting in the this subject very well. Just the character in his fight for the It didn’t seem like a tedious ;     mind out and to express him- forest. combination of working on the elephants. She doesn’t really process. I personally loved the  3  self/herself. This was what subject that has elephants and succumb to any pressure fact that we were shooting in &  = the director was passionate What did you learn from knowing Rana (Daggubati) is because she didn’t want to an actual forest where there about. It’s wonderful when the wild? going to be a part of the film, report untruthfully. That was was no network, where we felt    you have the medium that can I don’t have scenes with I wanted to do it. I felt like even very interesting... With a lot connected with nature. I must & &   give you joy, that can make the elephants but, in general, my character in the film had an of courage, she decides to take say that it was not an easy    P you learn something and that if you ask... All of us as interesting arc. To be honest, a stand. There was no prepa- shoot. There were times where can just touch your heart. As human beings are constantly there was no reason to say no. ration for the part except for it was not comfortable but all had to be patient with its I said, it’s not about being carrying our egos It’s an entertaining film that the fact that I had to speak of that really helped. I feel like process. I really enjoyed shoot- preachy. Especially today, everywhere... Sometimes as has a message as well, some- Tamil and Telugu in the film. they also instinctively picked ing the forest bits. It was very when we are seeing what the people, we spend so much thing that was quite needed for It was a challenge in itself. All people, who they knew would adventurous to be shooting world is going through with time obsessing over things the times. Also, I was seeking the prep was more towards be willing to surrender to the with elephants around. respect to global warming, that don’t require our time to work in a variety of film the language. It was exciting process. And a lot of the part natural calamities everywhere and energy but when you use industries. It has always excit- to be working in two lan- of this film was just about that  An insight into the and, of course, the pandemic... that time and spend with ed me to explore different guages. Of course, I’ll be bet- because it had to look authen- storyline... Is there a I think timely reminders are nature, it changes your per- industries. I have watched ter prepared now because tic. So, yes, it was hot, chaot- subliminal message that necessary but with this film, spective on a lot of things. I Telugu and Tamil cinema quite this was my first time. It took ic and hectic but it was very the film tries to convey? I still like to reiterate that it’s was very inspired by Rana. a bit. a while to grasp but Prabhu fulfilling because we knew Even though it’s a concept really not about trying to The way he has performed is and Rana sir were extremely the larger purpose for which that has been heard before, consciously give out a social beyond words. He really cooperative. the film was being made. We visually it’s absolutely stun- message. It is the by-product pushed himself, be it physical- ning. There are so many dif- of the film. ly with respect to the charac- ferent elements. Every charac- ter. He has very convincingly ter in the film is adding a dif-  Does filming in portrayed himself as Bandev ferent layer to the story. proximity in the jungles in the film. I think I learned Moreover, it’s shown in an disturb animals? a lot in terms of the process of entertaining way and I think Not at all! Full precautions filmmaking. Also, for me, to that’s important. The film is were taken. And because we be a more responsible person not preachy. It’s just trying to are talking about this and in life in general. make sure that the audience making a film, so we have to (The film releases on has a good time and, at the practice what we are showcas- March 26.) same time, comes out of the theatre a little more sensitised, aware and mindful. It shows that while development is important, it’s more important to do it in a sustainable way. We owe it to nature to not take more from it or be wise about it. The key word here is bal- ance. The film highlights the beautiful bond that animals share with human beings. The film will make people realise that they have a sense of    !"#$%$!  & 77 +(( *011   1(1 NORTH DELHI MAYOR LAUNCHES %2!*  8+  '   *

PLASTIC-FREE MARKET CAMPAIGN 2021 n order to boost loco produc- Ition by adopting the latest tech- nology, Satish Kumar Kashyup, General Manager of CLW, inau- gurated a state-of-the-art, high sensitivity touch triggered new CNC travelling bridge-type 3D co-ordinate measuring machine. This new machine will enable precise measurements of geome- try of loco sub-components such as traction motor, suspension tube, axle box , etc, which will also improve quality and reliabil- ity of sub-components of locomo- tives. It is a fully automatic three- dimensional measuring machine, having touch trigger probe of quick change stylus configuration, live reading and movements with high accuracy, less setup time, flexibility, reduce operator influ- ence and improved repeatability he Mayor of North Delhi Commissioner of the zone, markets in the Sadar Paharganj efforts for working to keep the through various means to make of measurements. This machine of Municipal Corporation, Shashanka Ala, and other offi- zone where citizens can get a city clean and discouraging citizens aware of the bad impact thermal compensator system is TJai Prakash, launched a cers of the corporation were jute or a cloth bag by giving one single use plastic is commend- of single-use plastic on the integrated for taking care of ther- Plastic Free Market Campaign also present. The students of kg of plastic. It’s like a barter sys- able. Prime Minister, Narendra environment,” added he. mal deviations and high rigidity 2021 at Mahila Haat of NDMC Municipal Primary Schools tem. He said that this campaign Modiji has a dream to minimise Prakash further shared that body with granite surface plate at Delhi Gate. On the occasion, showcased the products made will help to reduce plastic waste the single use plastic, North we ourselves would discourage and y-axis guide rail. RS City-Sadar Paharganj Ward by them from waste materials. at the streets and landfill sites. DMC is continuously working plastic and make others stop Sinha/PCMM, J Majhi/PCME, Committee, Chairman The Mayor said that as a Prakash said, “North Delhi towards achieving it.” using single-use plastic. “This RP Mishra/PCEE, SD Mohammad Sadiq, Councilor part of the Plastic Free Market Municipal Corporation is pro- “The North DMC is run- programme would be extended Patidar/PCPO, R Yadav/SDGM & Aley Mohammed, Ravi Kaptan, Campaign, kiosks have been set viding services to the citizens ning an awareness campaign to each and every zone,” he CVO were present along with oth- Rakesh Kumar, Deputy up at various places in the with limited resources. So the against single-use plastics added. ers officers and staff. "   & ? # 2( "B! - +23$%C % #,+ '#$+ $-"B #2 he Bureau of Indian General (Policy Research & sumer empowerment. She said, empowered. ower Grid Corporation of the company is now the only TStandards (BIS) celebrated Training), BIS. In his inaugur- “Although there are laws and The consumer organisa- PIndia Limited (POWER- organisation in the country to the World Consumer Rights al address, he emphasised on the rights for protection of con- tions actively participated, GRID) has established an e-ten- have an eProcurement solution Day by organising webinars at importance of responsible use of sumers but the challenge is to expressed their opinions and dering Portal, PRANIT, which on SAP Supplier Relationship various locations in the country plastics, a material which has make a common man aware of challenges in the webinar. It was will lead to less paperwork and Management (SRM), complying through its offices at percolated in every sphere of it and use them extensively in an enriching session where ease of operation, making the ten- with all applicable requirements Headquarters and various human activities. He informed favour of them. BIS is making important issues related to con- dering process more transparent. relating to security and trans- Regional and Branch Offices. that BIS has formulated impor- appreciable efforts through its sumer rights were not only dis- It has been certified by parency as stipulated by STQC. The theme this year was tant standards on plastic and its various outreach programmes cussed but mitigation of various Standardisation, Testing and The company in pursuit of ‘Tackling Plastic Pollution’. recycling. He urged the con- in this direction.” impediments and hindrances in Quality Certification Directorate digitalisation has been undertak- The webinar at BIS head- sumers to come forward and Pushpa Girimaji, Author Consumer Safety Advocate, She laid special emphasis on achieving consumer empower- (STQC), Ministry of Electronics ing a number of innovative quarters was inaugurated by NK insist for their implementation and Journalist, Consumer explained how BIS activities consumer surveys and con- ment in the country were delib- and Information Technology, enhancements within SAP SRM Kansara, Deputy Director in letter and spirit. Rights Columnist and are contributing towards con- sumer education to make them erated. . With this, framework.

ligning with the Prime installation of property sig- "B! - +%D3   $#2 AMinister’s vision to nages, wayfinding signages, develop the ancient holy + #& * ambient lighting, tap-off town of Badrinath as a water supply service and n being declared as Part A. During the FY 2020- spiritual Smart Hill town, struction of road and drainage that will high- Osuccessful bidder The project compris- 21, bidding for five Inter Maharatna CPSE, Power enhancement of public light the aesthetics of this under Tariff Based es establishment of State Transmission Grid Corporation of India buildings façade on both Char Dham pilgrimage Competitive Bidding 400/220 kV new sub-sta- Projects have been under- Limited (POWERGRID) sides of the road. town and maintain its (TBCB), Power Grid tion, 400 kV D/C trans- taken till date and the signed an MoU with The developmental uniqueness. Corporation of India mission lines and associ- company has been Kedarnath Utthan projects worth about 19.3 The pilgrimage town of Limited (POWERGRID) ated sub-station exten- declared as the successful Charitable Trust on March crores will include con- Badrinath is located in a has acquired Ramgarh sion works under build, bidder in all the five pro- 17. The MoU was signed struction of 2.5 km long tough terrain, inaccessible New Transmission own, operate and main- jects. between K Sreekant, CMD, 10.5 m wide road. It will by roads during October- Limited (RNTL), which is tain (BOOM) basis for 35 The acquisition of POWERGRID and Dilip prevent traffic jams and March every year. Despite the project company to years. The transmission Ramgarh New Jawalkar, Secretary, help in efficient traffic the problem, projects will establish Transmission system is an Inter State Transmission Limited is Tourism & CEO, management. High points be completed in three System Strengthening Transmission System pro- the first in the series of Uttarakhand Tourism of this project will be years. It is estimated that Scheme for evacuation of ject situated in state of five projects and acquisi- Development Board, façade enhancement on the projects will benefit power from solar energy Rajasthan and is sched- tion of the remaining four Government of public and Devasthanam around 15.6 lakh pilgrims zones, in Rajasthan (8.1 uled to be completed in project companies is Uttarakhand, for develop- Board Buildings, battery every year, visiting GW) under phase II - 18 months. underway. mental projects like con- operated public transport, Badrinath 2025 onwards. !.  )!    =7

7!. n order to actualise the IMaster Plan 2031, a marathon rdnance Factory Day is The main achievements of meeting was held for several Oobserved every year on the the company this year are the hours between government March 18 to commemorate the issue of the strategic high departments in the GDA audi- foundation of the first Ordnance explosive HMX for the first torium. The meeting churned Factory at Cossipore near time, bulk manufacture and and suggestions were sought to Kolkata in 1801. issue of 130/155 mm ‘Sharang’ prepare a master plan accord- The Ordnance Factories Gun System to the Indian ing to the likely population and organisation today comprises Army, handing over of the its requirements by 2031. 41 factories organised into five Bullet Resistant Jacket to the In the meeting, DDF con- operational divisions of the Tamil Nadu Police, the issue of sultants apprised the present sit- Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) the first consignment of the 40 uation of Ghaziabad, Loni and and constitute a defence produc- mm Under Barrel Grenade Modinagar Maha Yojana. tion conglomerate with the Launcher UBGL to the BSF; the GDA Vice President, widest range of products in the successful completion of the Krishna Karunesh, sought sug- world. user trials by the 5.56 x 30 mm "B! - +1   gestions from UPSRTC, A major strength of the Joint Venture Protective Transport Department, Ordnance Factories is their Carbine (JVPC), the grant of Housing Development Council ability to effect successful indi- bulk production clearance for and other related departments PAC and officials from other Association, Builder Department, the Deputy genisation. The current indige- the P-7 heavy drop parachute ! P+ for the next 10 years about the departments. Association, Architect Commandant of the Ghaziabad nous content of the products is and the successful completion ower Grid Corporation of India Limited celebrated possible population and the The meeting also discussed Association, will be presented. Municipal Corporation PAC, over 90 per cent and in ammu- of the DGQA trials of the PInternational Women’s Day in all its offices across India needs of bus stand, sewage many measures about the plan. Many suggestions will be the officials of the NDRF and nition items it is 97 per cent. A brake parachute for the Hawk and at PAL Manesar, Haryana on March 8. K Sreekant, CMD treatment plan, etc. The meet- There will be various rounds of sought for the grand plan. the officials of the Forest robust R&D set up has led to trainer aircraft. and all the directors addressed the women employees and ing was attended by GDA the meeting. It will also run on In the meeting held on Department also presented the products of in-house R&D, Issue of the first indigenous- appreciated their valuable contribution. Various bonding Secretary, Santosh Kumar Rai, March 17 and March 20, dur- Tuesday, the UP Manager of the their important suggestions for currently contributing to 25 per ly overhauled T-90 tank is also activities like quizzes, games and felicitations were also UPCIDA Regional Manager, ing which representatives of the UP Housing Development making the master plan 2031 a cent of the overall revenue. a significant achievement. organised. Smita Singh, UPSRTC’s A RM Trade Board Transport Department, the UP Jal Nigam success. $8   

he Centre for Disaster creating awareness and conducting ence for all of us. As far as fire inci- TManagement Studies (CDMS), training programmes from time to dents are concerned, we should Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha time. The university is committed to avoid casual approach as it is a mat- University, conducted a two-day generate trained manpower for the ter of life and death.” He also training programme on fire and life purpose,” he said. expressed his interest for the future safety in hospitals. The first pro- He further said that in the case collaboration with the university in gramme of the series was conduct- of any fire incident, we as an indi- this field. ed at Safdarjang Hospital. vidual should be trained to act as RC Sharma, former director, Around 30 medical staff of var- first responder irrespective of our Delhi Fire Services, emphasised for ious prominent hospitals of Delhi rank and position. Special care is conducting more such training pro- like Safdarjung, ILBS, etc actively needed in the case of hospitals as grammes, especially for doctors. participated in the training pro- here the vulnerable people are DK Shami, Fire Advisor, MHA, gramme. patients. GOI, said, “Preventive measures are The Vice Chancellor of the uni- The Medical Superintendent of need of the hour seeing the rising fire versity, Padma Shri professor Safdarjung Hospital, Dr SV Arya incidents in the hospitals.” He Mahesh Verma, was instrumental in appreciated the initiative of CDMS, stressed on maintaining fire safety initiating such useful training pro- IP university and congratulated the norms and training of hospital staff gramme for fire safety of hospitals. Vice Chancellor for taking the lead as per notification issued by MHA. He said that the fire safety is a mat- and interest in this matter. He fur- A mock fire drill was also conduct- ter of great concern, seeing the ther said that we are fortunate to be ed in the premises of Safdarjung recent fire incidents in various hos- a part of this very useful practical Hospital to explain the first-hand pitals in last couple of years. “We training programme. “It is really response in the scenario of fire inci- have to take pro-active approach by wonderful and enlightening experi- dents.    !"#$%$! & 7   # %R          35 (

.#  &9:8 ; did have some runs to defend #!"<$"  but the bowlers hardly troubled 0#!78 46)5425647?6825" the opposition batsman with Jos Buttler running away with the contest.   )4 12))2 The team’s number one 7"  ! spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has        P      B+ * ndia would aim to take the leaked runs both times India    F'( ! GB %  toss out of equation and put have set a target.   )4 12))2 we have in this format,” Iup a much improved all- Hardik Pandya’s return as Rathour said after India lost round show against a formida- a bowling all-rounder has been hree cheap dismissals can’t the third T20I.   ble England in their to bid to promising but he is yet to take Tchange the fact that KL “This is the time when level the series in the fourth a wicket. Bhuvneshwar Kumar Rahul is India’s “best T20 we need to support him and T20, here on Thursday. has kept things tidy in his batsman” and it won’t be long I am absolutely sure he will The template of win the comeback series but the team that one shot or one innings come back out of the lean toss and bowl has been set in expects him to provide regular will get him back to his best, phase,” the batting coach   (   the series with the chasing breakthroughs with the new batting coach Vikram Rathour said. team getting home rather com- ball. said, promising support for However, Rathour did fortably. Offie Washington Sundar the struggling opener. agree that rustiness could be   35 post-match presentation. However, India skipper has been the stand out bowler Rahul got out without a reason and all it would take “Other than the result, it’s Virat Kohli has repeatedly for India with four wickets at scoring in two of his last is one good shot to get back outh Africa added salt to been a good series for us. stressed on the need to do well an impressive economy rate of three innings while he man- into the groove. SIndia’s wounds by registering Exposure for the young players, whether they are posting totals 6.95. aged just one run in the series- “I agree they do tend to a five-wicket win over the hosts and opportunity to those play- or chasing as part of their Despite India being 1-2 opener. A part of it could be get rusty when they are sitting in the low-scoring fifth and ers looking for rhythm. preparation for the T20 World down, no major changes are attributed to no game time out but only thing we can do final women’s ODI to seal the Congratulations to South Africa Cup at home later this year. expected in the playing eleven. since the end of T20 series in is to provide them practice. series 4-1 here on Wednesday. for doing so well in our condi- In the two games they lost England, like India, also Australia early December. They are having a lot of net Mithali Raj played a cap- tions,” she added. after batting first, India strug- want to win in all conditions “Anybody can have a lean sessions and even on middle tain’s knock by hitting a well- South Africa’s chase got off gled in the powerplay, which and will be buoyed by their phase and KL has been our (centre strips),” he said. crafted 79 not out but it was only to a disastrous start as the visi- impacted their final total emphatic win in the previous best batsman in T20 format. “That’s all they can do and enough to take India to 188 all tors lost their top three batters despite one batsman (Shreyas game. He is averaging 40 plus with we can just hope that one out. including skipper Sune Luus Iyer and Virat Kohli respective- Buttler being amongst the a strike rate of 145 and 3 fail- innings or one shot and they South Africa then rode on (10) for just 27 runs. ly) going on to make a signif- The express pace of Mark post the third game, a third all- runs is also a cause of worry for ures doesn’t change the fact will be back in form. People Anneke Bosch (58) and Mignon Du Preez (57) and Bosch icant contribution. Wood and Jofra Archer has rounder alongside Hardik India as on his day he can that he is the best batsman like KL Rahul.” du Preez’s (57) half-centuries to (58) the stabilised South Africa’s A lot of it was down to KL also made life tough for the Pandya and Washington demolish any attack in the chase down the target in 48.2 run chase with a 96-run partner- Rahul not being amongst the Indians in the first six overs. Sundar can be drafted into the world. overs. ship for the fourth wicket before runs but Kohli made it amply They have been able to extract side with the choice between Jonny Bairstow, who had a Now England are waiting one ranked team from winning The series marked India’s Indian bowlers pulled things clear that the Karnataka bats- disconcerting bounce from the uncapped Rahul Tewatia and horror run in the two Tests he for the world’s number one the series on Thursday night. return to International cricket back, dismissing both the set man and Rohit Sharma remain surface, putting the batsmen in Axar Patel. played against India, came up batsman Dawid Malan to fire. The hosts winning the toss after 12 months. They were batters in quick succession. their preferred opening combi- two minds. Unlike the first game, with a morale boosting 40 on It will take a special effort should make their task less naturally rusty to start with and At that stage South Africa nation. Going by Kohli’s words Kohli’s sublime 77 ensure India Tuesday. from India to stop the number tough. by the end of the series, it were 131 for five, still needing 58 seemed that they have a lot of runs in 13 overs for a win. work to do if they want to be title Marizanne Kapp (36 not   2)+ contenders for the World Cup out) and Nadine de Klerk (19 ? 35        = early next year. not out), however, ensured there ollowing his stellar perfor- The batting needs more was no further hiccups as the Fmance in the ongoing series firepower and bowling con- duo shared unbeaten 58 runs for against England, India skipper up two places to 11th while cerns too need to be addressed the sixth wicket to guide South ? (  Virat Kohli on Wednesday seamers Shardul Thakur (up 14 as spinners, traditionally India’s Africa home. broke back into the top of the places to 27th) and strength, struggled against South For India, left-arm spinner ICC T20 batsmen rankings. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (up seven Africa. Rajeshwari Gayakwad picked up   )4 12))2 any given surface or the type of pitches we Kohli, a formerly top- places to 45th) have also gained. Coming back after a long three wickets conceding just 13 might come across here,” he explained. ranked batsman in the format Jos Buttler has re-entered break, the India players had only runs off her 10 overs. ark Wood already possesses the ability to “I played well in a couple of games but, you and currently number one in the top 20. His match-winning a handful of training sessions Earlier, Mithali steered Mintimidate batsmen with his express pace know, last summer, I played well against ODIs, gained one slot and a 83 not out has helped him ahead of the series as they also India’s innings after India lost but the England speedster on Wednesday Australia and then I missed out in South Africa. massive 47 rating points after advance five places to 19th had to undergo a mandatory one three early wickets with the revealed that he is working behind the scenes We have got many good bowlers that I don’t unbeaten knocks of 73 and 77 position, just two shy of his week quarantine. scoreboard reading 53 in the to develop a slow yorker that would be handy feel like my place is a given.” in the second and third match- career-best 17th position “Clearly, we do need some 13th over. when the T20 World Cup action unfolds on Wood said the series gives him a chance to es against England, to be placed Shreyas Iyer is up 32 places attained in October 2018. camps before series. We were Together with Harmanpreet Indian pitches later this year. cement his place for the upcoming T20 World fifth. to the 31st spot while Rishabh Jonny Bairstow, who underprepared, coming from a Kaur (30), who retired hurt due Wood said he realised the impor- Cup. KL Rahul remains the top- Pant gained 30 spots to be chipped in with 40 runs has gap. The batting unit tried to to an injury, Mithali shared 71 tance to have a slow ball while compet- “It gives me a chance to prove myself in this ranked Indian batsmen at the ranked 80th. moved up two slots to 14th improve consistently match by runs for the fourth wicket before ing on Indian pitches when he played series and ultimately we all want to be part of fourth spot despite three failures Among bowlers, all- position in the list led by his match. Our spinners need to the former left the ground in the with India pacer Shardul Thakur in the that group that plays in the World Cup and in the series so far. rounder Washington Sundar is compatriot Dawid Malan. improve,” said Mithali at the 31st over. IPL, where they play for Chennai hopefully wins the World Cup for Super Kings. England. With just seven months to go “We’ve got plenty of backups,   +; +(4) for the T20 World Cup in India, people go in and out of form, Woods is making a conscious injuries will come and go. So it's orld champion P V .   ) 1      effort to add ammunition to his important that, as a group, no one WSindhu made an impres- arsenal. takes a sport for granted.” sive start at the All England “Watching their bowlers... I Wood however said it gives Badminton Championships outwit world number 32 took 19 minutes to see off duo on way to their title win three-point advantage. The played with Shradul Thakur at him immense confidence that but compatriots Kidambi Soniia Cheah of Malaysia 21- England’s Nikhar Garg and at the Swiss Open. Indian kept the proceedings Chennai (Super Kings). And England skipper Eoin Morgan has Srikanth and Parupalli 11, 21-17 in 38 minutes. India’s Aniruddha Mayekar In the men’s singles, seed- under control to eventually he’s got a new slower ball. So identified him as a member of their core Kashyap suffered early exits The fifth seeded Indian 21-7 21-10 in a lop-sided ed eight, Srikanth lost to wrap up the opening game in just looking at that and how group. “Eoin is a great leader, someone after losing their respective will face Denmark’s Line contest. Ireland’s unseeded player 16 minutes. well that’s worked here, it’s when I don’t play he tells in a straight- opening round men’s singles Christophersen next. Ashwini and Nguyen Nhat 11-21, 21-15 In the second game, something that I’m trying to way why I'm not playing and what he matches here on Wednesday. Earlier, Ashwini and Sikki will face sixth ,12-21. His match lasted exact- Soniia managed to eke out a adapt into my game,” Wood wants me to improve on. And when I am The Indian women’s duo Sikki got the better of seeded Bulgarian ly an hour as the player from 10-8 lead but the Indian told the British media here on playing he’s very clear about my role, it's of Ashwini Ponnappa and N Thailand’s Benyapa sisters Gabriela Ireland came back strongly upped the ante to head into Wednesday. very clear what he’s after for me in the Sikki Reddy and men’s dou- Aimsaard and Stoeva and after losing the second game the interval with a slender 11- “My role has been pretty clear, the game terms of plans and things. bles pair of Satwiksairaj Nuntakarn Stefani Stoeva against the Indian. 10 advantage. plans that I have been trying to do. “So it gives me a lot of confidence Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty Aimsaard 21- next, while Commonwealth Games The Malaysian strength- Behind the scenes, I’m still trying to that he sees me that way. We both get on also progressed to the second 14, 21-12 in Satwik and Gold medallist Kashyap put ened her defence and man- learn new things, slow balls try to get well and know each other well enough round with straight game 30 minutes, Chirag will meet up a brave fight before going aged to catch up at 17-17 with that on my yorker ball and so there to have that relationship. I’m delighted wins. while the the formidable down to top seeded Japanese a run of three points. Two are always things to improve on.” that he feels that way but that doesn’t, by Olympic Silver medallist sixth Danish pair of Kento Momota 13-21, 2-22 in unforced errors by Soniia “These are the conditions we’re any means, mean that I'm a given in the Sindhu gave a good account of seeded Kim Astrup and 42 minutes. handed Sindhu three match gonna come up against in the World team. So gotta keep working hard off-the- herself as she covered the Satwik Anders Skaarup After an initial neck and points and she sealed it when Cup, so it’s trying to get the right field as well as on-the-field, keep deliv- court well and dished out a and Rasmussen, who had neck battle till 7-7, Sindhu the Malaysian went long skills in place to be able to adapt on ering.” disciplined performance to Chirag defeated the Indian went into the break with a again. ! )2;+2  # .7#. eal Madrid avoided (    another early Champions RLeague exit on Tuesday  2)-1.# squad at his disposal. by beating Atalanta 3-1 to win Gladbach bade farewell to the the tie 4-1 on aggregate and " @ #   #  evin De Bruyne’s blister- Champions League and the team is unlike- reach the quarter-finals for the King strike set Manchester ly to return to the competition for at least first time in three years. 9  1  A!    City on its way to a 2-0 win a year and a half, having dropped to 10th Sergio Ramos marked his over Borussia place in the Bundesliga on the back of a los- return from injury by convert- The 35-year-old Modric Monchengladbach and a place ing run since it was announced that coach ing a penalty after Karim and Toni Kroos were dominant in the quarterfinals of the Marco Rose would be leaving at the end of Benzema continued his scoring in the absence of the suspend- Champions League for the the season to join Dortmund. It’s now seven streak by capitalising on a glar- ed Casemiro. fourth straight season under defeats in a row in all competitions. ing error from Atlanta goal- “I feel 27!” joked Modric. Pep Guardiola on Tuesday. keeper Marco Sportiello. “The years on your passport The Belgium midfielder Sportiello’s scuffed clear- don’t matter, it’s about what you unleashed a first-time shot ance in the first half resulted in do on the pitch.” from the edge of the area that Benzema being given an easy How Madrid’s veterans flew in off the underside of the finish at the Alfredo di Stefano would fare against more pol- crossbar in the 12th minute, stadium and after an electric ished opposition remains to be virtually ending Gladbach’s start, Atalanta never really seen, after they came up short hopes of comeback after the recovered. against Manchester City last German team lost the first leg Luis Muriel pulled one year and Ajax the year before 2-0 three weeks ago. back for the visitors late on but that, both in the last 16. Ilkay Gundogan added a any hopes of a comeback were Also they will be unlikely second goal by finishing off a quickly dashed as substitute to benefit from the same gen- flowing team move in the Marco Asensio fired in a third erosity Atalanta afforded them 18th minute and the Premier for Madrid. across the two legs. League leaders had no prob- Zinedine Zidane’s side will Remo Freuler’s red card lem securing a seventh be in Friday’s draw for the last and a late goal spoiled the straight clean sheet in the eight and with their old guard Italians’ night in Bergamo and competition to seal a 4-0 win fit and firing again, they will be it was individual errors from on aggregate. hopeful of exceeding what are Sportiello and then Rafael City has only ever gone now dampened expectations of Toloi for the penalty that let beyond the quarterfinals once La Liga’s reigning champions. them down again here. in nine Champions League “We showed tonight how      *   1     29  “We started strong and campaigns, and never under much hunger there still is in   P * *    " we were succeeding with our Guardiola since he arrived as this team,” said Luka Modric. pressing,” said Muriel. “It’s a manager in 2016. This might “We can go far. How far let’s see hour in his second appearance games and 70th in the shame because from our two be the team’s best chance but today was an important since recovering from a knee Champions League, making mistakes came the two goals given its form — make that 24 step.” injury while Benzema’s goal him only the fifth player to that cut our legs from under wins in the last 25 games in all Ramos played just over an was his eighth in as many reach that number. us.” competitions — and the fact Guardiola has an injury-free