JOURNALISM OF COURAGE SINCE 1932 DAILY FROM: AHMEDABAD,CHANDIGARH, , JAIPUR, KOLKATA,LUCKNOW, , NAGPUR, PUNE, VADODARA ● REG.NO. MCS/067/2018-20RNI REGN. NO. 1543/57

JOURNALISMOFCOURAGE THURSDAY,APRIL 30, 2020, MUMBAI, LATE CITY,14PAGES SINCE 1932 `5.00, WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM FOUR DAYS TO END OF LOCKDOWN Running out of ConsiderablerelaxationsMay4onward,says time to enter Centre,clearsreturnhomeofstrandedmigrants House, Uddhav Curbs to be eased dials PM for help in manydistricts; no movement VISHWASWAGHMODE& Must from containment LIZMATHEW become MUMBAI,NEWDELHI,APRIL29 member of zones, hotspots legislature WITHTHE by May27 Governorsittingonthe state DEEPTIMANTIWARY Cabinet’s recommendation that NEWDELHI,APRIL29 UddhavThackeray be nomi- nomination. He asked forhelp nated to the Legislative Council, saying if it does nothappen he IN AN indication of itsplansaf- the Chief MinisterdialledPrime would have to resign,” asource terMay 3whenthe current MinisterNarendraModi on in Delhi said. According to this phase of the lockdown ends,the Tuesdayevening. source, the PM told Thackeray CentreonWednesdaysaid there Thackeray sought the Prime thathewould look intothe mat- will be “considerablerelax- Minister’s cooperation in resolv- terand getmoredetails. ations” in manydistricts. ing the crisis,sources in New In Mumbai,aseniorShivSena The Union Home Ministry Delhi said.InMumbai, sources leader told : also issuedguidelines formove- in the Maharashtragovernment “Uddhavji discussedthe current ment of strandedmigrant said the Chief Minister hadex- political uncertainty in the state labourers, students, and tourists pressed unhappiness over the with the PM.Heexpressedun- who want to return home. “politics beingplayed” over his happiness over the politics being Sources, however, said this will nomination to the Upper House playedoverhis nomination as notapplytothoseinhotspotsor of the statelegislature. MLCatatime when the stateis containmentzones. Thackeray,who took oath on fighting the coronavirusout- In astatement, the Ministry November 28 lastyear,has, un- break,and is standing with the said, “New guidelines to fight At acremation ground in LucknowonWednesday, ashes await immersion in holyrivers. VishalSrivastav der Article 164(4) of the Centreinthe crisis.” COVID-19 will come intoeffect Constitution,six months to be- Asked howthe PM had re- from 4th May, whichshallgive come amemberofthe stateleg- sponded, the Sena leader said: considerable relaxationsto islature. However, withthe pan- CONTINUEDONPAGE2 manydistricts. Details regarding demic raging,aby-election thisshallbecommunicated in Punjab extendscurfewby2wks, Warning signsemerge in cannotbeheld, and the onlyway BJPNOT INTERESTED comingdays.” to fulfill the requirement isfor IN MAKING Curbs areexpected to be joins Bengal in lifting somecurbs Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar him to be nominated to the BACKDOOR ENTRY: easedindistrictswhere cases are Upper House by the Governor. FADNAVIS tapering. The Health Ministry “He (Thackeray)calledthe has identified129 of the coun- dress, PunjabChief Minister AMITABHSINHA& EXPLAINED Prime Ministertotalk about his PAGE 4 try’s 736districtsashotspots.On KANCHANVASDEV& CORONACOUNT said: “The de- KAUNAINSHERIFFM April 15,atthe end of the first ATRIMITRA cision on further course of action PUNE,NEWDELHI,APRIL29 lockdown, 177districtshad been CHANDIGARH,KOLKATA,APR29 31,787 1,008 will be takenafter twoweeks, notifiedashotspots. CASES DEATHS depending on the situation. The WHILE MAHARASHTRA and The order allowing inter- SETTINGApossiblepost-May3 onlysolution is social distancing. Gujarat have been attracting at- statemovement of those template, Punjab on Wednesday 7,797 RECOVERED If it is under control aftertwo tention forthe rapid rise in cases strandedcomes almostaweek became the firststate to an- weeks, we will take acall.” of novelcoronavirus infection, afterstatessuchasUttar Pradesh nounce atwo-week extension of 7,70,764 samples have been Singh asked peopletomain- states in theeasthave, forthe and Madhya Pradesh began lockdown (until May17), but said tested as on April 29 tain discipline and underlined firsttimenow,started to show transporting theirmigrant restrictions will beeasedfor four thatiftheystepout, they must signs that theycould emerge as labour and studentsstuckin hours daily, from 7amto11am, in non-containment zones from wear masks, ensuresocial dis- potentialdanger zones as well. other states. Wednesday’s order in non-containmentzones with May4—including movement of tancing and return to their The latestanalysis of com- said, “Due to lockdown, migrant effect from Thursday. It also de- private taxis and buses in green homes by 11 am.“If we have puter modellingresults by scien- workers, pilgrims, tourists,stu- cidedtoallowopening of shops zones, within adistrict, witha givenrelaxation,that doesnot tists of the Chennai-basedInsti- dentsand other persons are and industriesinthese areas. limited number of passengers. mean youcan call your friends tuteofMathematicalSciences strandedatdifferent places. They Similarly,WestBengal Chief Both stategovernments un- home. Social distancing has to be (IMSc) showthat thoughWest would be allowedtomove.” MinisterMamata Banerjee said derlinedthat the local adminis- ensured,” he said. Bengal,Bihar,and Jharkhandstill Mumbai’sWockhardt Hospital has been sealed. Express Incidentally, at avideo-con- experts and doctors areofthe tration wouldtakethe final call Punjab has reported377 had acombinedcase loadofless REVISITINGCURVE ference meeting with Prime opinion thatthe restrictions on easing curbs. COVID-19cases and 19 deaths so than1,200onApril29,thesethree TOREADLOCKDOWN Minister NarendraModion should continue till May-end, Announcinghis govern- far. While four districts—Patiala, states had the highestrate PAGE 9 CONTINUEDONPAGE2 but announcedsome relaxations ment’s decisioninatelevisedad- CONTINUEDONPAGE2 CONTINUEDONPAGE2 Covid fight: Govt CMC-NEET SC:Minority Labour shortage is Railways readies movement plan, system in front, institution makingPunjab and some states push for special trains private hospitals rights not above be scaledupto1,000,with ade- tancing. TheRailways’detailed Haryana farmers AVISHEKGDASTIDAR, tailedprotocol. protocol also had aparagraph do thedistancing laworabsolute ABHISHEKANGAD& While therehas been no in- stating that states falling in the DEEPMUKHERJEE dication that passenger train routes shouldallowthe move- switch from paddy NEWDELHI,RANCHI,JAIPUR, services will resume before May ment,screening, controlledem- ment hospitals, doctors, nurses ANANTHAKRISHNANG APRIL29 3, the Railwayscarried out an in- barking etc,” asenior govern- PRABHARAGHAVAN, and paramedics—battle the NEWDELHI,APRIL29 ternal exerciseand communi- ment official said. TABASSUM Covid pandemic. WHILETHE Centrehas allowed cated the plan to toplevels in the According to sources, by de- BARNAGARWALA& Behind this areaset of cir- STATINGTHATrightsofreligious ANJUAGNIHOTRICHABA movement of migrantworkers government. ciding on buses instead of trains, ABANTIKAGHOSH cumstances that rangefromthe or linguistic minorities to admin- &HARISHDAMODARAN in buses, severalstateshavede- According to the plan,each the government has strategically NEWDELHI,MUMBAI,APRIL29 natureofgovernmentpolicy on isteraninstitution underArticle JALANDHAR,NEWDELHI, mandedspecial trains, underlin- non-ACtrain will carry 1,000 restricted thenumber of people managing the pandemic to de- 30 of the Constitution“arenot APRIL29 ing the sheer numbers of those people per trip —about half the who can be transported. OF THE thousandsofCOVID-19 cisionstaken by the hospitals above the lawand other stranded. According to sources, usual number —toensureade- “It is justtoallowanoption patients admitted in hospitals themselves. Constitutional provisions”,the COVID-19has openedawindow the MinistryofRailways has also quatesocial distancing. of relief forthe strandedwant- around the country, justaround From beingsealed in the Supreme Courtruled of opportunity to wean away draftedaplan to operate 400 “Eachbus typicallycarries 25 ing to travel to their home states, 800are critical, requiring either early stages aftertheirstaff Wednesdaythat the National farmers in Punjab andHaryana special trains per day, which can people afterfollowing social dis- CONTINUEDONPAGE2 oxygen support, ventilatorsor tested positive,likeWockhardt Eligibilitycum Entrance Test from growing rice to less water- treatment in ICUs in Mumbai or the (NEET)for admission to gradu- guzzling crops suchascotton Sowing cotton in afieldin (Intensive Care PRIVATE private hospital in ateand post-graduatemedical and maize. Sirsa, Haryana. Express Russia under lockdown, ’smanned Units).Private hospi- Bhilwara, to re- and dental coursesis“regula- The driver: Uncertainty over tals,which account AND fusing to admit tory”innatureand in “national the availabilityofanestimated fortwo-thirdsof hos- patients, from interest”toimprove the quality million labourers from Uttar over adecade,been farming space mission trainees confined indoors pital bedsinIndia, ISOLATED suspending serv- of medical education which, it Pradesh and Biharwho under- paddyonhis 13 acres at Uddat and almost80per ices to playing said,has become a“saleable take the bulk of the paddy trans- Bhagat RamvillageinPunjab’s series of eventstriggered by the tive cases,with 972 deaths until centof availableven- AN EXPRESS SERIES safe,private hos- commodity”. planting that begins from mid- Mansadistrict. But thistime he SUSHANTSINGH spread of the novelcoronavirus. Wednesdayevening. tilators, arehandling PART I pitals aren’t Disposing abunchofpeti- June. That, plus the lackof has decidedtosow cotton on 11 NEWDELHI,APRIL29 Acouple of months after “The four astronauts-elect lessthan 10 per cent pulling their sub- tions by theChristian Medical mechanical transplanting op- acres, limit paddy to 2acres, that theirtraining beganatthe areingood health. The highly of this critical load. stantive weight. College,Vellore, and others, the tions, in contrasttothe ubiqui- too, subjecttogetting enough WHILETHE four IndianAir Force Gagarin Cosmonaut Training professional medical experts of This is justone symptomofa That’s notall. benchofJusticesArunMishra, tous combines used forboth local labour.“Ifinishedharvest- (IAF) fighter pilots selected to be Center (GCTC)inStarCity near GCTCare constantly observing largertrend over the lastthree CONTINUEDONPAGE2 Vineet Saran and MRShahor- paddy andwheat harvesting, ingwheat on April 20, and Iam trainedasastronautsforthecoun- Moscow, it has been put on hold them,” Director General of months: the Rs 2.4-lakh-crore dered that NEET will be the only means fewerfarmers arelikely waiting forwater from the Kotla try’sfirstmannedspaceflightmay —and the pilots remain confined GlavkosmosJSC Dmitry private healthcaresector has exam foradmissiontothe to take up rice cultivation in the Branch of theSirhindCanal (on have been motivatedbythe ad- to their rooms while Russia grap- Loskutov told TheIndian Express. largely been relegated to the NEXT: WHAT’S HOLDING courses and institutions cannot coming kharif season. the Sutlej River). They ventureofspace travel, they ples with the pandemic.Russia Glavkosmosisthe sidelines, watching thepublic BACK PRIVATE HOSPITALS IN be allowedtoconduct their own Manjit SinghSidhu has, for CONTINUEDONPAGE2 would nothaveanticipated the had reportednearly 1lakh posi- CONTINUEDONPAGE2 health caresystem—govern- THE WAR AGAINSTCOVID? separateexams over and above NEET. “Weare of the opinion that rightsunder Articles 19 (1) (g) PAGE 1 and 30 read with Articles 25, 26 ANCHOR and 29 (1) of the Constitutionof He dissolvedintohis part, leftnoresidue...andcamehomewith us CONTINUEDONPAGE5 body of work so enrichedour in- we had of him, in Shyam gush, yes, it is. An unapologetic, SHUBHRAGUPTA ner lives? BUSINESSASUSUAL Benegal’s teleserial BharatEk teary-eyed one,because he NEWDELHI,APRIL29 Irrfan, who passed away on Khoj,weknewwewereinthe madethings better,eveninhis Wednesdaymorning at the age BY UNNY presence of someone trulyspe- no-account parts. THEREARE some obituaries you of 53, wasnot justabrilliant ac- cial.Hewent on to becomeanin- Of his impressive bodyof never, ever want to write. This is torwho dissolvedintohis part, IRRFAN KHAN tegral partofsome of Indian TV’s work,four films jostle forthe top oneofthem.Weknewthat leavingnoresidue behind. He 1967-2020 mostpopularserials (Zee’s spotfor me: Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Irrfan Khan, one of the best ac- also managed to walk offthe BanegiApni Baat,Doordarshan’s Haasil,inwhich he plays alocal ` 93 per kilo tors the worldhas been privi- screen, and come homewith us. Chandrakanta,and Star TV’s Allahabadi student leader; leged to watch, wasstruggling He made spacefor himself in our Bestsellers), but his heartwas al- Vishal Bhardwaj’s Maqbool,in with adebilitating disease. We hearts,nestledinunexpected ways setoncinema. And,overa whichhewas amobster-with- ` 121 per kilo knewhewas gravelyill. But we corners, and poppeduponce in period of 30 years and more, as many-moods-in-Mumbai; Mira also believedthathewouldrise awhile,for achat. Whichhe he essayedone unforgettable CONTINUEDONPAGE2 ` 149 per kilo and shineagain, because, how would begin,with thatcharac- partafter another,fromAsif could he not? Howcould he teristic hooded-eyedsmile: Kapadia’s striking TheWarrior to ` 50per Dozen leave us, this enormouslytal- chaliyebaat kartehain. Shoojit Sircar’s Piku,henever let FULL COVERAGE ented human, whowith his fine From the very firstglimpse us down. If this sounds likea PAGE8

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WEB withdrawal of Indian Express EXCLUSIVE ★★★★★■4.6 rapid tests VIDEOOFTHEDAY CORONAVIRUS NEWEPISODEEVERYDAY CELEBRATINGTHE LIFE 11 LESSONS FROM THE In today'sepisode of the 3Things podcast, OF IRRFAN KHAN PANDEMIC we look at whythe governmentintroduced Khan ownedevery Everycountry has and then withdrew rapid testing forthe SCANTHISQRCODETO character he portrayed discoveredthat a novelcoronavirus DOWNLOADTHEAPP on celluloid shutdown is inevitable FROMPAGEONE

Railways plan tononfourof hisnineacres,again capacity of public facilities. cases in the country showeither previouslyfullyplantedto paddy. “ForgetCOVID-19, even reg- mild symptoms or areasympto- andnotareallyviabletransporta- “The peoplewho transplant Relaxations May 4onward, says Centre, ular services have become un- matic —the latter comprising 69 tionsolutionoverlongdistances,” paddyare from Bihar and UP. available,”complained Bihar per cent of all cases. These cases an officialsaid. Nobody knows if theywillcome. Principal Secretary(Health) generallydonot requirehospi- RajasthanChief MinisterAshok Even if the lockdown is liftedon SanjayKumar on April 19.The talisation, and can return home Gehlottweeted on Wednesday: May3,train servicesare unlikely clears return home of stranded migrants state, with India’s thirdlargest afterquarantining themselves “Long awaited demand of move- toresume soon and Icannot take population, had to issue an or- fortwo weeksinCovid Care mentofmigrant workers has fi- arisk.Whilelocal labourers can Monday, Bihar,Jharkhand and eitherhome or institutional arefinding it increasinglydif- forexample, is heavilydepend- der asking all hospitals to re- Centres. nallybeen accepted by the GoI. It be used, theywill demandRs Odisha, whichcomprisealarge quarantine. ficult to sustain migrant labour, ent on migrant labour. sume services. Giventhe complaintsfrom is awelcome step but until GoIal- 4,500-5,000 per acre, whereas chunk of the migrant labour Existing lockdown guide- with work and revenue In itsorder Wednesday, the This wasparticularly signifi- patientsinthecity,the municipal lows Indian railwaytooperate — the migrantworkers charge only numbers, had expressedtheir lines makenoallowance for sources drying up. Therehave MHA said:“All States/UTs cant also because all three hospi- corporation had on April 25 is- practicallyitwillnotbepossibleto Rs 2,500,” he points out. inabilitytofacilitatetheir re- inter-state movement, but been severalinstances of mi- should designate nodal author- tals handling Covid cases in suedacircular asking all nursing facilitatesmooth and hassle-free SouthwestPunjab —mainly turn home withoutguidelines the Centrehad kept quietas grantsdesperatetoget home ities and develop standardpro- Patnaare government hospitals. homes and private clinics to open transporttotheir home.” Mansa, Bathinda, Muktsar and from theCentreinthis regard. states recentlymoved ahead resorting to violence in Gujarat tocols forreceiving and send- VikashRKeshri, Senior Research up.On Monday,thestategovern- Jharkhand ChiefMinister Fazilka—was traditionallyacot- Releasing the newguide- witharrangementstoget and Maharashtra. The Uddhav ing such strandedpersons.The Fellow, The George Institutefor ment held extensive discussions Hemant Soren said he had told tonbelt. Manyfarmers in recent lines, Union Home Secretary backtheir studentsand mi- Thackeray governmentin nodalauthoritiesshall also reg- Global Health, said it wasalso with private hospitals, nursing Railways Minister Piyush Goyal timesswitched to paddy,thanks AjayBhalla said the movement grant labour.Biharhad shot Maharashtrahad sought isterthe strandedpersons “surprising” since the number of homes and even clinics in Pune. thatthe statewould needspecial to assured minimum support of those strandedshould be offaletter to the Centreatthe arrangementsfor inter-state withintheir States/UTs. In case peoplerelyingonprivate health- SubhashSalunkhe, Technical trains to bring backits students price-basedprocurementandfree arranged through mutually time, saying the transporta- transportoflabour. agroup of strandedpersons careoverpublic forbothoutpa- Advisor to the ChiefSecretaryof and migrantworkers.“We are powerfor groundwaterirrigation agreedterms between states, tion wasin“utterviolationof However, the move might wish to move between one tient and in-patient services in Maharashtra, told The Indian thankful forthe MHA order and during the cropping season. on sanitisedbuses, with re- national guidelines”. end up further impacting plans State/UT and another State/UT, Bihar is “far higher”. Private hos- Express, “Theyare afraid forob- we aredeliberating on our re- Thiswasfurthersupportedby quired social distancing. Only Thelatestguidelines,how- to open up theeconomy, which thesending and receiving pitals have 47,000 bedsinthe vious reasons. Theyare involved sources. However, Ihad said ear- the availability of migrant labour asymptomatic peoplewillbe ever,makenomention of is struggling to do so with the States mayconsulteachother statecompared with 22,000 of but theycan participatefurther. lier thatthe stateisnot capable of fortransplantingpaddyseedlings, allowedtotraveland asecond trains, whichwereamong the fewrelaxations announced. and mutually agree to the public hospitals. The HealthMinisterand the bringing them back on ourown. I whichare firstraisedinnursery assessment of their health modes of transportstateshad Manystateshavesaid they movement by road.” “The public sector remains Chief Ministerhavealready as- hadawordwithPiyushGoyaljion beds for25-30 days before being would be done on their arrival suggestedfor large-scale would liketoopen the econ- It also asked states falling in the mainstayofthe Covid re- suredassistance forPersonal thismatterearlier,” he said. uprootedand replanted in the in their home states. Basedon movement of migrant workers. omycompletely in green zones between to allowthe passage sponse.The private sectorre- Protective Equipment to hospi- Thestateestimatesover9lakh main field. this, theywould be movedto The move comes as states afterMay 3. TheMSME sector, of suchpersons. sponsehas been variable. They tals and nursing homes.” peoplefromJharkhand,including have expressedinterestbut to In Delhi, whichhas over 6.43 lakh migrant workers, are States to watch what extent theyare actually 3,300cases, government hospi- strandedinvarious parts of the of growth —measured by their providing supportrequired tals arehandling almostdouble country. reproduction numbers —inthe Punjab extends lockdown by 2weeks needs to be gauged,” said K the number of ICU patients. In earlierinteractions with country in the lastfew days.The Srinath Reddy,President, Public Senior officials in the Delhi Prime MinisterNarendraModi, reproduction number refers to Jalandhar,Ludhiana and government said standalone MamataBanerjee announced nouncedour decision today. It Health Foundation of India. government’s health depart- MaharashtraChief Minister the number of persons who are Mohali —havebeen declared shops, neighbourhood shops thatstandaloneshops, includ- willbeimplemented from Beforethe outbreak,the pri- ment said theyhad receivedsev- UddhavThackeray and Kerala infected on averagebyanal- hotspots,the containment and shops in residential areas ing forelectronics, books, paint, Monday,”she said. vate sector accounted fornearly eral complaintsofprivate hos- Chief MinisterPinarayiVijayan ready infected person. zones are: Jawaharpur in willbeallowedtoopenonrota- laundry, hardware, cellphone She said taxis, with not 70 per cent of critical procedures pitals refusing treatment to hadalsoraisedthe demand for As of Wednesday, West Mohali,Pathlawa village in tion, from 7amto11am. Shops recharge and paan shops,will morethanthree passengers, likechemotherapyand dialysis, patientsduringthe lockdown, specialtrains. Bengal had 696 confirmedcases Nawanshahar, Sujanpur in inmarket complexesandshop- beallowedtoopen in non-con- and private buses, with not according to Indu Bhushan, and later of compellingpatients Officials from Odishaand of infection, while Bihar and Pathankot,New Jain Market in ping mallsaswell as barber tainment zones from May4. morethan 20 passengers, will Chief Executive Officer, to getaCovid-negative test re- UttarPradeshhadalsoinformally Jharkhand had383 and 107 Rajpuraand Kacha Patiala, shops will remainclosed. “Wewill only allowstand- beallowedtoply in greenzones. Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan portbeforedialysis. spokento Railway officialsonthe cases respectively.Together,they Safabadi GateinPatiala. All shops in rural areas reg- aloneshops.Nohawkers’ cor- “Nobody can saywhen this Mantri Jan ArogyaYojana and This promptedthe statetois- matter.The Punjab government, accountedfor lessthan 4per Earlier this week,the istered underthe Shops & ner,market or shopping com- crisis willend. Mostcountries National Health Authority. Yet, sue an order on April 15 warn- too, had raisedthe demand. cent of the national case load, Punjab government had setup EstablishmentAct,exceptthose plexwill be allowedtoopen,” have already announced lock- “a lot” of these private establish- ing hospitals and nursing homes Bihar Chief MinisterNitish whichwas close to 33,000 on an expertcommittee to formu- inmulti-brandandsingle-brand she said. “Wethought we down till the end of Mayand mentstreating even non-Covid in thecityofstrict action, includ- Kumar tweetedinsupport of the Wednesdayevening. late alockdown exit strategy. malls, will also be allowedto would take adecision afterget- firstweek of June. Our experts cases had shut down in certain ing cancellation of registration. move on Wednesday. “This deci- In contrast, Maharashtrahad Issuing guidelinesfor re- open with 50 per cent staff ting clarity from the central and doctors believe that the re- states citing increasedcosts and While private facilities may sionisappropriateand worth 9,915 confirmedcases; Gujarat, suming economic activityin strength,for four hours daily. government. But we did notget strictions shouldcontinue till reducedfootfalls, he said. seem to have remainedconspic- welcoming.This wasour request 4,082. Together,theymade up non-containment zones, the In Kolkata, Chief Minister anyclarification. So, we an- the end of May,”she said. “StateslikeMadhya Pradesh, uouslyabsent, especiallyincer- and the central government has over 40 per cent of the cases in currentlystruggling with lackof tain high burden states, it is not takenapositive decision,”hesaid. the country. healthcarepersonnel,and Bihar without anyreason, saysenior Welcomingthedecision,sen- “The absolutenumbersin could do with moreprivate sec- executives. ior Congress leader P these states (WestBengal, Bihar 30,000by that time,” Sinhasaid. confluence.Itbroughtanew the recommendation it had first Prime Ministerwho would be torintervention here,” said In some cases, facilitiesare Chidambaramsought“sanitised, and Jharkhand) arestill quite Active casesdonot count the language, newrobustness to made on April 9after ameeting taking the final callonthe party’s Bhushan. “This is the time that ready and waiting, but some point-to-pointtrains”forthepur- low, so theydonot seem to be an number of people who have re- Hindicinema, something that presidedoverbyDeputy Chief decision”. According to this the private sector should be states likeUttar Pradesh have poseas, he said, buses wouldnot immediateproblem. But Ithink coveredfromthe disease. There old-school Bollywood filmmak- Minister . On Tuesday leader,Thackeray wantsthe looking at awelfaremaximisa- kept them on standby. In afew be enough. theyneedtobetaken note of. were alittle over 25,000 active ers like MaheshBhattrecog- evening, adelegation of the “BJP’s leaders in Maharashtra tion model and notaprofit- instances, states likeTelangana West Bengal, in particular, cases in the countryon nised. Bhatt’s production house Cabinetmet Governor Bhagat who arenot willing to cooperate maximisation model. Hopefully, didnot “fullysupport” the role Space mission stands out even amongthe Wednesday. gave Irrfan achancetogooverto Singh Koshyari, and urgedhim with the ShivSena to be directed this will happen,” he noted. of the sector initially, either in Russiangovernment-owned three. At the end of March,the Sinha’s calculationsshow the other side, away from the to nominateThackeray to one of by Modiji (todoso)”. In Mumbai, the city with the testing or treatment. space business company,which growth rate in West Bengal was that the current reproduction raw, visceral gangland/heart- the twovacant seatsinthe The leadersaid: “Not onlydid largest numberofCovid cases, “Therewas even atime signedacontract with theIndian showing signs of flattening, but number in Maharashtrais1.5, land tales, and exploreunfamil- Council through the Governor’s the ShivSena and itsleadership and also the mostdeaths, The when they(Telangana govern- Space Research Organisation nowitseems to be on acom- and in Gujarat, 1.38 —both iar territories. He liftedbrainless quota. betray the BJP (byrefusing to let Indian Express has reported ment) said ‘send all your posi- (ISRO) in June 2019 forthe train- pletelydifferent trajectory. In higherthan the national num- comedies (Rohit Shetty’s Sources said the Governor it form thegovernment),ithas howpatientswereturnedaway tive patients(to government fa- ing of the Indian astronauts. fact, if we justlook at the growth ber. The reproduction number Sunday) with the same verveas was“non-committal” during his been hostile to the party’s lead- from one hospitaltoanother, cilities)’. Now, Ithink theyhave “The lockdown hasstrongly curves in anon-rigorous fashion, forDelhi, another fast-growing he did gritty, hard-hitting tales meeting with the leaders of the ers since it came intopower. and even Covid-positive patients realisedthat in treatment, they beenrecommendedfortheastro- it would appearthat West state, could notbecalculated be- (Dhulia’s Paan Singh Tomar): it Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi. This, Even during the COVID crisis, the have had to wait forhours before needprivate hospital support. nauts-elect, as well as forthe Bengal is following the cause of the large variationsin wasall gristtohis mill,acutely the sources said, mayhave governmenthas notcooperated theycould be admitted. But Ithink this is justone or two GCTCpersonnel. The decision to Maharashtranumbers with alag dailyincrease in the case load. attunedtothe worldaround “forced” Thackeray to speak to either with the local unit (of the Maharashtradid notbar pri- governments. With mostofthe resumethefull-scaletrainingwill of three weeks,” said Sitabhra him. the Prime Minister. Asenior BJP) or with the Centre. vate hospitals from treating other governments, there’s a be takenafter athorough obser- Sinha, who,along with his col- Chaliye, baat Irrfan methis wife,Sutapa leader of the ruling coalition said “Whyshould the BJP help Covid patient but manywould great partnership role being vation of the epidemic situation leagues at IMSc, has been track- Sikdar,too at theNSD. Married that on Mondaynight, Uddhav Thackeray?” the BJP justnot admit patientswith played,” said SangitaReddy,Joint in the country,”Loskutov said. ing the disease numbers. karte hain for25years, theyhavetwo sons. Thackeray had discussedwith leader from Maharashtrasaid. Covid symptoms, fearing they Managing Director of Apollo Russia’sPresidentVladimirPutin Incidentally, West Bengal Nair’s The Namesake,inwhich Of course, therewas no con- NCPleader SharadPawar three “His party would earlier ask us, would be sealedbythe Hospitals Enterprises, India’s had initiallyannouncedalock- also has the fastestdoubling his Bengali bhadralok immigrant fining him to Bollywood. Irrfan’s options going forward. ‘when will our MLAbecome Municipal Corporation of largest hospital chain. downuntilApril30,butextended timeamonglarge statesinIndia, finds his place in farawayNew work took him to the world, and “The firstistowritetothe Chief Minister?’ Nowtheywant Greater Mumbai (BMC). “I think the private sector has it until May11onTuesday, with as pointed out in agraphical York;and Anoop Singh’s Qissa, he wasthe onlyIndian actor Election Commission requesting us to tell them whentheirCM “In Mumbai, BMC is manag- been trying to step up. There was thewarningthatthecountryhad analysis by The Indian Express in whichheplays aman de- who well and trulycrossedover. that the LegislativeCouncil polls will become MLC!” ing 80 per cent load of patients; the initial fear —some hospitals notyet reachedthe peak of infec- on Wednesday. Doubling time sirous of something he could not He had already made an early whichweredeferredbyitear- theprivate hospitalsare han- gotshut down... and with tions,and “a hardand difficult refers to the time takenfor the have. appearance in WesAnderson’s lier this month due to the lock- Covid fight: dling 20 per cent,” said Suresh smaller nursing homes also, pathlies ahead”. number of cases to double. These roles combine notjust TheDarjeeling Limited (2007). down, should be held. Since the Kakani, Additional Municipal thereweresome who were Havingstartedtheiryear-long Sinha said thatwhile the na- the ‘skills’ of aschooledactor,but But the big-and-small parts in election will be unopposed, we Govtsystem in Commissioner.Ofthe 4,574 ac- worried. But Ithink everybody training in Russiainearly tional reproduction number had deep empathy, agenerosityof internationalproductions quick- also want the EC to reduce the tive cases on Tuesday, 400pa- is nowramping up,” said Reddy, February, the four fighter pilots falledfromnearly 1.83 before spirit, and an unfetteredintelli- enedafter DannyBoyle’s 2008 required 21 days’period for front,private tients were admitted in private also the Presidentofthe have completedapproximatelya the lockdown begantoabout gence, whichshone through Oscar-winner Slumdog holding the poll.The secondop- hospitals do the hospitals, whereas1,600werein Federation of Indian Chambers fourth of theircourse so far, 1.29 now(forthe April 20-27pe- everything he did, good, indif- Millionaire, and he showed up tion is to approachthe Supreme public hospitals. The remaining of Commerce and Industry Loskutovsaid. Their schedule of riod), West Bengal had arepro- ferent, or flat-out fantastic. in Ang Lee’smagical-realistic Courttoask it to direct the EC to distancing 2,500-odd were asymptomatic, (FICCI). traininghasbeenmetsofar,even duction number of 1.52 (for the He did everything. Or at least tale of survival, LifeOfPi, and in hold polls,” the leader said. notrequiring admission. The sector’s biggestpain though the Russian authorities period April 18-27). That means everything that Bollywood suchmega-budget franchises as The thirdand lastoption Nationwide, private hospi- In fact, as on date, point, though, is their struggle to iimplemented the lockdown on that every100 infected persons broughttohis table, afterhaving The Amazing Spidermanand would be forThackeray to resign tals employfour out of everyfive Maharashtrahas 187critical pa- operatefacilities at atime when March 28. “All astronauts-elect in the statehas been passing on learnt that this tall, rangy,mag- Jurassic World. as Chief Minister, thencall aleg- doctors, but the refrain from sev- tients, of whichMumbai alone their costs have increased, but continueworking according to the virus to another 152people. netic-eyedperson could trans- But home wasreally where islative party meeting of all three eral cities and towns amid the accountsfor about 120-125, their revenues have seen adip. theirtrainingplan,”Loskutov said, Bihar had areproduction num- form, intoanyone, with apartic- his heartwas. None of these coalition partners to elect him as pandemic is that theyare lock- mostofwhom requirejustoxy- “I feel very strongly about adding that the four Indians had berof2.03, and Jharkhand, 1.87. ular kind of magic. He could go much-publicisedinternational leader,and form the govern- ing themselvesdowneven gensupport. Asplit of patients people trying to pull private sec- “successfullypassedtheexamon Sinha said that thankstothe high, dive low, getintense, do outingscouldtruly mine what ment onceagain, theleader said. whenitcomestoproviding non- requiring criticalcarebetween torhospitals down at this point the knowledge of the onboard lockdown, therewereonlyfour goofy and grumpy,growl and Irrfan wascapableof. He did “But”,the leader said, “we Covid health care. private and publichospitals was in time,especiallywhen some of systems of the mannedspace- states —Maharashtra, Gujarat, guffaw. He could be dangerous those movies because he could, don’t thinkitwill come to that. From Patna to Mumbai, pri- notimmediatelyavailable. us have been trying to continue craft”. Theyare to take the exam West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh and maniacal. He wasalso the but savedthe razzle dazzle for We arehopeful that the vate hospitals citemanyreasons In India,thereare three levels operations despiteincurring op- in mannedspacecraftflight the- —that were continuing to show loveliest, kookiest, mostpas- his desi dil-hai-Hindustani out- Governorwill soonnominate to explain their nearabsence: of COVIDfacilities. The firstlevel erating losses,” said AbhaySoi, ory, hesaid,andare“preparingfor a“consistent” rise in growth sionate loveryou ever saw. It ings. Fullyswitchedon, he came Thackeray to the Council.” lockdown restrictions, lackofin- comprises quarantine facilities CMD, Radiant LifeCareand the exam independently”. over time periods longer than a took the film industrymany up as close to us as possible, to Aministerbelonging to the ternal protocols to handle the in stadia, hostels, schools and Chairman, Max Healthcare. week.Andhra Pradesh and years to find Irrfan, and it isn’t as startthat conversation, as only Sena said that thechief secretary pandemic, fear of infection to lodges, calledCovid Care Said CKMishra, chairman, of Labourcrisis Madhya Pradesh also continue if he wasfloodedwith roles from he could: chaliye, baat karte could writetothe EC with are- their owndoctors and nursing Centres. This is wheremost EmpoweredGroup 2, that is in (government)normallyreleaseit to grow,but at slowerrates. the big studios immediatelyaf- hain. questthat the polls be held at the staff,unwillingnesstorisk the Covid-positivepatientsare kept. charge of hospital facilities and around April 30, which will en- “The lockdown hashelped in terhis breakout roles, post2002, Ihope that those chatswill earliesttoavoid aconstitutional business from non-Covidpa- The secondand thirdlevels are testing:“Theprivate sector has ablemetoplantcotton,” says the considerablyslowing down the in Haasil and Maqbool. never, ever end. crisis. “The issue is notabout one tients, or even the government’s hospitals with oxygen support, been assistingthe government 43-year-old. growth of theepidemic. Had But the filmmakerswho did, politicalparty,but of the govern- ownambiguity in co-opting the ventilators and ICU facilities. anditisaverywelcome step. Shamsher Singh, from the there been no lockdown, we likehis National School of Uddhav ment. The chief secretaryisex- private sector. Some patients who showsymp- Perhaps, we should look forward same village, also plans to only could have been on apath to Drama (NSD) mateDhulia, and “The PM agreedwith the pected to writealettertothe EC But, fallen offthe radar,they toms, whichare notverysevere, to moreand moreprivate-sector grow cottononhis8-acreholding, reaching acase load of about 1 Bhardwaj,made the mostofhis, CM’s view. We nowhope that soon,” the ministersaid. have. but yetrequiremedical atten- facilitiesjoiningthegovernment.” which wasentirelyunderpaddy lakh by the endofthis month. and their own, innateknowl- his nominationwill be cleared In NewDelhi, aBJP leader Bihar,infact, witnessedan tion, mayalso be admitted in (WITHINPUTSFROMASTHA untilthe2019 kharif season.Jagsir Thanks to the lockdown, it edge of the Hindi belt, long neg- soon by the Governor.” said that Thackeray had ap- “almost complete withdrawal” hospitals. SAXENA,ASHISHARYAN Singh from Jhumba villageof seems the number of active lected by Bollywood. Their com- On Monday, the proachedModi directlybecause of the private health sector, According to Indian Council ANDSHIVAMPATEL Bathinda district is going forcot- cases would remain well within ing together wasagreat MaharashtraCabinetreiterated he knows that “it would be the whichhas nearly twice the bed of Medical Research, 80 per cent INNEWDELHI)

Mumbai WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM 3 THEINDIANEXPRESS,THURSDAY,APRIL30,2020 THE OUTBREAK Maharashtra Caseslodged for sharing 65-yr-oldstrugglestogetambulance, videos, namesofpositive patientsonsocial media reacheshospitalafter12hours

providing the names of those Forexample, on April 27,the Nair hospital in Mumbai Central helpline 1916 foranambulance. patients,” he said. turn to thegodownbut afterthe MOHAMEDTHAVER testing positivetoencouragecon- Khadakpadapolice registered LAXMANSINGH by the local police on Wednesday “The person who took my call Singhtrieddialling108 and owner learnt about his symp- MUMBAI,APRIL29 tactstocomeforwardinthe initial an FIR afteramuttonshop MUMBAI,APRIL29 morning, only to beditchedmid- saidtheyprovideambulanceonly 112, but both numbers were con- toms, he tootold him he wasno stages of the outbreak, owner in Kalyan(west)received waybythe cabbie who panicked when aperson is Covid-19posi- stantlybusy. longerwelcomethere. Finally, af- MLAMihir Kotecha Maharashtragovernment de- twocalls from customers asking A65-YEAR-OLD man, who had a at his condition. tive.Ifambulancesare only for Finally,Singh calledthe na- terscouting around on his own, recently releasedavideo, in cidedtorespect confidentiality if his son and brother had tested cough and wasfeeling breathless With great difficulty the man Covid-19patients, then howwill tional helpline 1075,whichasked he found ataxiat1pmtotake whichheisseensaying that local rules on keeping their identities positive.Shocked, he said it was and wanted to visitahospital to managedto find another cab, and aperson with similar symptoms the local police to provide help. him to Nair hospital. police hadregisteredacase private, as incidents of stigmati- notcorrect and enquired about gettestedfor Covid-19, wastold gottothe hospital around 1pm. with noothertransportavailable Around 11 am,apolice team “It took him over 12 hoursto againstunidentifiedpersons sation rose. Maharashtrapolice thereasonfor thequery. To his by the BMC 1916 helplineset up The man livesinagodown in due to the lockdown reachhos- reachedhim and arranged ataxi getadmitted in hospital. The au- who shotavideoofaman being has been registering FIRs against horror, he wastold theyhavegot forCovid-19-related assistance Bycullaand sellsmangoes fora pital?” he asked. to take him to hospital. thorities shouldensuresuchpeo- takenawayinanambulance and those found doing so. aWhatsApp forwardthatthey that it could notsend him an am- living. He wasadministeredatest The man hasno relative in the However, afterthe cabbie ple getambulance on time,” shared it widely. An officer from cyber police had tested positive.The mes- bulance as the emergency vehi- forcoronavirus atthehospital on city andlives in agodownwith came to knowofhis symptoms, Singh said. When contacted, The man is adoctor who was said apartfromcommunal mes- sagefurther said butchers and clecouldbeprovidedonlyfor pa- Wednesday, and the result is yet twoother persons, Singh said. about akilometrefromwherehe Deputy Executive Health Officer treating COVID-19patients and sages and thosespreading misin- mutton shop owners should not tientswho were confirmedto to come. “If he has to find his own had pickedhim up,the taxi driver Dr Daksha Shah said that the had subsequentlytestedpositive. formationabout COVID-19, cases be allowedinthe area. The mut- have the infection. Vinod Singh, who livesin transport, and his reportcomes left him on the road to fend for helpline number 1916 is onlyfor Someonerecordedthe videoof were coming about people shar- tonshop owner approachedthe Afterfutile attemptstoaccess Worli, and knows him as theyare positive, thenhow wouldBMC himself, Singhclaimed. “He called Covid-19patientsand theypro- him being shiftedinanambu- ing videos or spreading messages police and an FIR wasregistered. an ambulance on other emer- from the same Uttar Pradesh vil- trace all the people who came in me again. He wasbreathingheav- videambulanceonlyfor patients lance and posteditonsocial me- in their societyorlocalWhatsApp Asenior officer said, “In ma- gency numbers suchas108 and lage,saidhelearnt about his con- contact with him whilehewas ilyand itwas notpossible forhim who have tested positive. “For dia, whereitwent viral. At the groupsinforming others about jority of thesecases, while the 112onTuesdaynight, the man dition at8pmonTuesday. getting to hospital by himself. to walk to hospital,” Singh said. other patients108 can be time, twopatients hadtestedpos- who has tested positive. intention maynot be to cause waseventuallyput in ataxi to It wasSinghwho calledBMC’s Therehas to be asystemfor such The man then decidedtore- reached,” she said. itive forCOVID-19inMulund,one On the daythat Kotechaput problem to the person,the ac- being the doctor. out the videoclip, another person cuseddoes endupputtingthe “I want to ask people if they in Uttan recordedavideoofa victimand his/her family at risk arethinkingaboutthe crime they woman who had tested positive of socialisolation. Henceweare Covid casesincity doubling in 10 days: BMC arecommitting before sharing and wasbeing takentohospital takingstrict action against suchvideos. An FIR has been reg- in an ambulance.When arelative those indulging in suchactivi- isteredatMulund police station of the woman found the video in tiesand registeringFIRs to cre- theworst-affected slumand eas of Mankhurd,Govandi and againstthe person who shotit his school WhatsApp group, he atefear around‘overenthusias- EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE semi-slum areas of Worli Deonar,has adoubling rate of andthosewho sharedit,” Kotecha informedthe woman’s husband, tic’ people who arequickto MUMBAI,APRIL29 BMC health Koliwada,BDD chawls and 8.8 days,upfrom14daysand H said in the video. who approachedthe local Uttan shootvideos or shareunverified volunteersat JijamataNagar,has recordeda East(Behrampada, East) Even though the Ministryof Sagari police station,whereanFIR information.” THE DOUBLINGrateofCOVID- an inspection doubling rate of 17.6 days be- has doublingrateof6.9 days,an Health and FamilyWelfarehas is- wasregisteredagainst theperson Mulund police station senior 19 cases in Mumbai hasim- at Geeta Nagar tween April 17 andApril 27.As increase from 9.3 days. suedanadvisory asking people in the neighbourhood who shot inspector Ravi Sardesai said they proved from 8.3 days to 10 days sluminColaba of April27, the numberofcases According to BMC,till April notto“spread names or identity the videoand the personwho for- have seizedthe mobile phone of from April17toApril 27,datare- on Wednesday. in the ward was642,highestin 26, it has traced1,29,477 con- of those affected or under quar- warded it. the person who shotthe video of leased by BMC showedon Nirmal Harindran the city.But in other wards, the tactsofpatients.Amongthem, antine or their locality on social The officer from cyberpolice the doctor and will arrest him Wednesday. While thedoubling doublingratehas gone up. T 21,053 arehigh-risk contacts. media”, severalcases have come addedthat therewerecases soon.Onthe Khadakpada inci- rate –daystaken forthe num- ward,whichcoversMulund, has Till date, BMC has conducted to lightwherepeople are“reveal- wherethe information“was dent, apolice officersaid, “The berofcasestodouble –in The civic body also said that April 26. The deathratein adoubling rate of 8.4days,hav- 66,000 tests. Approximately, ing” names of those testing posi- misleadingand spread with the messagehas been shared several Maharashtrawas 8.9days, the the fatality rate in thecity has Maharashtra, meanwhile, stood ing gone up from 13.2 days on 5,071 testsare beingconducted tive forCOVID-19 on social me- motive to malign the personor times and we aretrying to track national averagewas 9.5 during gone down from 6.3 per cent to at 4.3per cent in thisperiod. April 17.MEastward, which per million population in dia. While some states were community”. down the originalsender.” thisperiod. 3.9 per cent between April 11 to GSouth ward,whichcovers covers congestedand slum ar- Mumbai.

Cleaning and desilting of Mithi riverinprogress ahead of the monsoon. Prashant Nadkar PALGHAR LYNCHING BMC directsdialysis Three more policemen centres not to suspended shut operations for

EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE MUMBAI,APRIL29 morethan 24 hours

THREE MORE policemen posted at Kasa police station in Palghar EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE The circular comes after were suspendedonWednesday MUMBAI,APRIL29 severalhurdleswerenoted over the lynching of twosadhus and theirdriverbyamobon April DIALYSIS CENTRES in the city have in theoperation of dialysis 16.Palghar SP Gaurav Singh is- been directed nottoshut down oper- centres and seekstomodify suedanorder to suspend ations formorethan 24 hoursifa an earlier circularthat Assistant Police Sub InspectorRB COVID-19patient is detected at their Salunkhe and constables Santosh centre. Anew circular issued by the warnedofpunitive action if Mukane and Naresh Dhodi, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation centreswerefound pending an inquiry. alsostatesthatdialysis centres staffers operating without screening The suspensions followthe wearing personalprotective equip- transferonTuesdayof35consta- ment (PPE) do notrequiretobequar- bles postedatKasa police station. antined if theyare exposedtoacoro- everypatient before puttingthem on With Wednesday’s suspension, navirus patient. dialysis machine.“Anycentre found to the entire staffofKasapolice sta- The circular, issuedonApril 27 by violatetheseconditions is liable for tion hasbeen shunted out. Singh Dr SanjayOak,chairman of Task Force punitive action from MCGM,” the cir- had claimedthe transfers were Committee,comes afterseveral hur- cular stated.According to Dr RB Dastur, notlinkedtothe lynching. dles were notedinthe operation of medical director in Bhatia hospital, Aspokespersonfor Palghar dialysiscentres andseekstomodify an theyhad startedrequesting all patients police station said the three po- earlierBMC circular that warnedof to firstundergo acoronavirus test and licemen were among the small punitive action if the centreswere then come if their test reportcame police partythathad rushedto found operating withoutscreening pa- negative.“This wastocontain the GadchinchlevillageonApril 16 tientsfor coronavirus and in case of spread of the infection,” he said. night aftervillagers had sur- virus transmission. Dr Ganesh Sanap, from ApexSwap roundedacarferryingthesadhus, The fresh circular states thatifa Transplant Registry, said the process MahantKalpavruksha Giri(70) case is found, standard disinfection became tedious forpatients, who had and Sushilgiri Maharaj (35), and protocol will be carriedout and only to undergoatestevery time theyre- their driverNilesh Yelgade (30). patientswho have comeincontact quired adialysis, as well as forcentres, The villagers arealleged to have withthe COVID-19infected person who feared that the civic body will seal mistakenthe men, who were would be tested. Staffers, wearing PPE their centreifapositive case came up. headedtoSurat forafuneral, for andexposedtosuchpatients,would Patientscomplainedtheyhad to un- child lifters and organharvesters. nothavetobequarantined, however, dergo aCOVID-19testevery 10 days or Despitethe presence of the those sans PPE would be quarantined so before afresh cycle of dialysis. police, the group of 500vil- if exposed, it states. Grant Road-basedDharmendra lagers attackedthe men bru- “Those (staffers) who do notde- Kansarasaid it took twodays forhis tallyand killedthem on the velop symptoms by theseventh day wife’s COVID-19resultstocome. “She spot. Lastweek, Assistant Police can rejoin work immediately,”the cir- kept vomiting because her dialysis was Inspector Anandrao Kale and cularstatedwhile amending the 14- nothappening on time. COVID-19test Police SubInspectorSudhir daymandatoryquarantine forhealth takesalong time. We can’t afford pri- Kataretoo hadbeen suspended workers at dialysis centres. vate test every10days,” he said, adding forfailing to protect the victims The earlier circular,issuedonApril thatgovernmenthospitals had refused from the mob. 10,had asked dialysis centres to screen to test her.

Mumbai WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM 4 THEINDIANEXPRESS,THURSDAY,APRIL30,2020 THE OUTBREAK Maharashtra Highest single Govtmullsschemetoprotect 4,500 industrial units day jump: 32 resume work, 15,846 deaths in state salariesofMSMEworkers apply for permission Maypay up to 2months’ basic salaries, wagesfor MSME staff EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE Applications have been SANDEEPASHAR MUMBAI,APRIL29 received from Mumbai, EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE MUMBAI,APRIL29 fected parts on April 20, atotal of Supreme Court to allowthemto givenanadditional six-month MUMBAI,PUNE,NAGPUR, 9,915 4,500unitsresumedproduction payworkers 70 per cent less dur- time formeeting various dead- NINEDAYS afterlockdownrestric- Pune, Nagpur, Nashik APRIL29 THE UDDHAVThackeray-led activity till April 28,while 15,846 ing lockdown and sought adi- lines and compliances. tionswereeased forindustrial and Aurangabad coalition government has taken appliedfor permission to oper- rection forthe governmentto Theseconcessions, collec- unitsinareas that had notseen WITH32deathsinthestate,26of TOTALPOSITIVECASES up aproposal forprotecting the ate, stated an official release of paythe rest of the fund from the tively,are expected to costRs COVID-19cases in Maharashtra, theminMumbai, Wednesday salaries and wagesofemployees the state-runMaharashtra PM cares fund. On Wednesday, 3,500-4,000 crore. With the signsofresumption of activity andfromtheworkplaces.Noneof sawthe highestsingle dayjump INMAHARASHTRA of small,micro, and medium en- Industrial Development former UnionFinanceMinister state’sown revenues adversely have begun emerging. the team members of these in- forCOVID-19deaths in Number of deaths 432 terprises (MSMEs) in thestate. Corporation. PChidambaram also urgedthe hit,asenior finance department According to an official state- dustries have anysymptoms of Maharashtraand itscapital. Estimating the lossessuffered While acommittee of serv- Union government to come up official said, the availability of mentissuedbythe state-run COVID-19,”itadded.Theapplica- In Mumbai, 475new cases Totalnumber of people duetothe lockdownbythe in- ing and retired bureaucrats, ap- with ascheme to protect the funds to provide suchsops Maharashtra Industrial tions forresumption have been were recordedonWednesday. In discharged1,593 dustrysector in Maharashtrato pointed by Chief Minister salaries and wagesof12crore would be an issue. The statehas DevelopmentCorporation,15,846 receivedfromMumbai,Pune, all,therewere597 newCovid-19 Number of people tested be over Rs 1lakh crore, senior of- UddhavThackeray, is still meas- people employedbythe private estimated itsown revenue loss industrial unitshaveappliedfor Nagpur,Nashikand Aurangabad. casesacrossthestate,bringingthe 1.35 lakh ficials said,aproposalfor paying uring the economic impact of sector. forthe lockdown period to be theresumingmanufacturingand Accordingto MIDC,inthefirst total count to 9,915, whilethe up to twomonths of basic COVID-19and waytoreviveit, In another measuretocush- over Rs 42,000 crore. processing activity since April 20 phase of the easingoflockdown Totalnumber quarantined death toll rose to 432. salaries and wagesfor the MSME seniorofficials said small busi- ion the impact forthe small and “Weare hoping that the whentherestrictionswere eased. conditions before April20, ap- 10,813 Maharashtracontributesto 29per staffwas under consideration. nesses in the statehavetaken the medium businesses, the depart- Centre itselfannouncessimilar “Alltheseapplicantshavesub- provals were giventomanufac- centof country’sCovid-19burden Number of newcases597 Maharashtra, India’s most in- maximum hit due to supply- ment has also proposedthat the schemes nationwide. This will mittedself-certified declarations turing and processing unitsin and39percentof country’sover- dustrialisedstate,has 17 lakh chain disruptions, with steel, real state government bear up to five reduce our burden,”anofficial or undertakings that theywill Konkan, Pune,Nashik, alldeath toll. registeredMSMEs that provide estate,and textile industries be- per cent interestonexisting and said. abideby thetermsandconditions Aurangabad, Amravati and Pune (1,062 cases), Mumbai HIGHESTCASES direct and indirect employment ing the worstaffected. fresh capital loans availedby In order to infuse fresh capi- laiddownbythestateandcentral Nagpur divisions.Theseincluded (6,644cases) and Thane (373)to- to nearly 1.5crore people. Of this, Senior officials said the state’s MSMEsfor ayear.Ithas also pro- tal, aproposal to approachthe governmentstocontain the 1,966industriesproducingessen- gether nowaccount for81per Mumbai6,644 the manufacturing sector, Industries department has pro- posed the electricity dutybe ReserveBank of India fordirect- spread of coronavirus,” said the tialgoods and156 continuous centofMaharashtra’scases.Buta among the worsthit by thelock- posed that the government waived offfor all industries, in- ing banks to grant20per cent statement.Ofthosewhohave ap- processingunits–ones thatrun Pune 1,062 riseincases is alsobeing notedin down, aloneaccount forsix lakh spendRs800-Rs1,000 croreas cluding major ones, forthe additional loan to all eligible in- plied, production activity has re- 24x7.Maharashtrahas atotal of , Solapur,and Navi Thane 373 units. an incentive to MSMEs that do March-June period, but the dustries without seeking fresh sumedin 4,500units.“According 36,623registered factories. Mumbai.“Weexpectthenumber Malegaon 171 According to government es- notlay offtheir staff. “Thepro- state’s energy department has collateral is being considered by to themanagementof theseunits, Unitsthathaveresumed pro- of cases to furtherrise, at leastin timates, nearly 94 per cent of the posal is to reimburse suchbusi- reportedlyopposedthe sugges- the stategovernment, said offi- 3,83,613 workerswere employed duction include Hindustan Lever, hotspots basedonlatesttrends,” Navi Mumbai 162 operationalfactory units (34,501 ness foruptotwo months of ba- tion. cials.Meanwhile, Maharashtra earlier.Ofthese,90,000 have re- JSWSteel, POSCOSteel, Uttam said Dr PradeepAwate,state epi- Kalyan- Dombivali 158 of 36,623 registered factories) in sic salaries andwages paid,” said On Monday, the stateCabinet is planning to prioritise capital sumedduties,”statedtherelease. Galwa, AmbujaCement, demiologist. Three deathswere the statehad stalledproduction asenior official. had introduced aprovision to investmentsinthe roads, irriga- “A total of 2,500vehicles, Ultratech, Golden Fiberand KEC Vasai-Virar 128 recordedinPune, one in Solapur, following government-enforced The state’sproposal comes at enable traders moretime to pay tion,and other infrastructure whichare fullycompliant with InternationalLimited.Manyoth- one in Aurangabad, and onein restrictions. Afterthe lockdown atime when agroup of 11 GSTdues. The department has sectors in public sector to spur laiddown norms, have been de- ers areexpected to startsoon,the Panvel city. Seniorcitizens con- matic and yet-to-be-testedslum measures were eased fornon-in- MSMEs have petitionedthe nowproposedthattraders be growth. ployedtoferry these workers to MIDC added. tinueto accountformaximumfa- dwellers have been quarantined, talities—17ofthe32deathswere and 1,474people areinCOVID aged above 60.The instances of carecentres (level II), wherecon- MIGRANTS TO BE SENTHOME those with no comorbidity dying firmedCovid-19cases withno purelydue to coronavirus is also symptoms or mild symptoms increasing.OnWednesday,while have been put up. Govt likely to finalise 18 deceasedpatientsalsosuffered In Pune, a65-year-old man fromasthma,diabetes,hyperten- diedlateTuesdaydue to COVID- sion or heart problems, 14 had no 19 related complications.At modalities today co-morbidity at all. Sassoon General Hospital, a71- Mumbai officialssaid of 26 year-old man diedofCOVID-19- deaths in Mumbai, 10 were related infection on April 29. In EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE recordedlastweek but assessed Nagpur,aCOVID-19patientdied MUMBAI,APRIL29 Wecantransportonly20 andconfirmedasCovid-19deaths Wednesdaybutauthoritiesareyet to22peopleinonestate on Wednesday. to attributethe deathtocoron- AFTER THEUnion Ministryof transportbus,aswehave Acentralgovernment-ap- avirusasthe patient wasasymp- Home Affairs (MHA) issueda pointed team visited Solapur to tomatic.Municipalcommissioner notification permittinginter- tofollowsocialdistancing reviewthe control measures TukaramMundhesaid,“Since he statemovement of people,in- norms.So,wehavekept againstCOVID-19.The team wasasymptomatic despitebeing cluding migrant workers, 10,000busesready” headedbyDrAKGadpayle, from coronavirus positivewithsome tourists and others,toenable New Delhi,reviewedwhy cases co-morbidity factors likeblood them to reachtheir homes,state had suddenly gone up in Solapur. pressureabnormality,our death officialssaid on Wednesdaythat STATE TRANSPORT MINISTER AcrossMaharashtra,1.62lakh committeewould ascertain the ahigh-level meeting is likelyto peopleremainunderhomequar- cause of death.Onlyafter that we be convenedonThursdaytodis- antine whileover10,000 sus- wouldbeabletocommentonit.” cussmodalities. “sanitised” buses. pected cases remain under insti- Awoman, who delivereda Discussions on finalising The statewill have to do the tutional quarantine.OnbabyatIGGMC Wednesday, has modalities would take place on heavy lifting forthis, including Wednesday, 205peoplewere dis- tested positive. “Sheisasympto- Thursday, asenior bureaucrat arranging thousands of buses chargedacrossstate,ofthem 193 matic, but since she came from said. and the screening eachperson were from Mumbai. the containmentzone of The MHA decision has come who would be transported Mumbai,currently, has 6,770 Mominpura,we tookhersamples EMPTYLANES: The APMC vegetable market in Vashi wears adesertedlook Wednesday. Amit Chakravarty as partial relief to the across the stateborders. peopleadmitted in COVID care Tuesday,”said Deputy Medical Maharashtragovernment, Butthe government hasal- centres (level I), where asympto- SuperintendentSagar Pande. whichhad been pressing the ready done some homework on Centretomakearrangementsto sending the migrantshome by sendlakhsofmigrant workers road, as stateTransportMinister 'Real estate firms to homebuyers withfasterap- of stateandcentralgovernments and minimum wagesfor con- from the northernstates, Anil Parabhad told The Indian Not interested in making shouldform NBFCs’ proval. “The real estate industry to theplightof strandedmigrant struction workersand MGN- strandedsince the lockdown be- Express in an interviewearlier Mumbai:Real estate companies shouldadoptnew technologies labourersstuckforoveramonth REGAworkers despitelostem- ganonMarch 25 in urban cen- this week. backdoor entry: Fadnavis have been asked to reduce cost and reduce theirconstruction now, various organisations ployment,throughDirect tres of the state, including Parabhad said the govern- of constructionto boostdemand cost, whichwill help the sector working with the underprivi- BeneficiaryTransfer. ENS Mumbai, without anymeans of ment had worked out the exact Thackeray to the Council,” andstarttheirownfinancecom- to generatemoredemand and legedwillobserveaday’sfast on income or shelter.The statewas details of number of buses it has EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE Fadnavissaid.“Iwouldliketoem- panies to provide loans to sell inventoryatalow May1,observedasInternational 70 buses leave to bring keen that this should happen be- in eachdivision. MUMBAI,APRIL29 phasize that BJP would be very homebuyers.Atawebi- cost,” he said. He said Labour Dayand Maharashtra students stuckinKota fore May3,when the ongoing “Wecan transportonly20to happytosee UddhavThackeray naronWednesday, at- the central and state Dayand press to send workers lockdownmay be extended 22 people in one statetransport DAYAFTERagovernmentdelega- being nominated to the Council tendedby1,500partici- governmentswere backtotheirhomestates.Calling Mumbai: At least70state trans- again. bus, as we have to followsocial tionled by Deputy ChiefMinister andcontinuingastheCM.TheBJP pants, MinisterofRoad planning to purchase it afastof“gratitude, empathy portbuses leftfromthe state Thelasttimeitwas extended distancing norms. So, we have AjitPawar metGovernor Bhagat does notwant instability in the Transportand Highways housing quarters for and constitutional responsibil- Wednesday tobring backstu- on April 14,nearly 2,000 mi- kept 10,000buses ready.Around SinghKoshyarito urge himto take state.” Refuting chargesthat the NitinGadkarisaidNational employees andifassoci- ity”, the organisations said the dentsstrandedatKotain grantsatBandrainMumbai had 1.5lakh peoplecan be trans- adecision on nominating Chief Oppositionwas behind stalling Real Estate CORONA ationscame forward fast from 6amto6pm will be Rajasthan due to the coron- takentothe streetsinthe belief ported by these buses,”hehad MinisterUddhavThackeray to the Uddhav’s nomination, Fadnavis Development Council withplansto thegov- undertakenbyrepresentatives avirus-enforcedlockdown,anof- that the government wasgoing added. LegislativeCouncil, formerCM said,“Weare neitherinterestedin (NAREDCO)shouldpro- WATCH ernment, it will help of atleast15districtsinthestate. ficial said. The vehicles leftfrom to send them home. Keen to The ministerhad further said DevendraFadnavis on engineering instability nor mak- poseto thegovernment developersgenerate Someoftheir demands include Dhule district around 10.30am avoid arepeat, Chief Minister thatthe migrantswill have to be Wednesdaysaid BJP is notinter- ing abackdoorentry.” forinvesting some amount in liquidity and regeneratethe groceries forlabourersregard- and willreachRajasthan by UddhavThackeray had repeat- registeredwith the government estedinmaking a“backdoor en- ShivSena leader SanjayRaut non-bankingfinancial compa- economy. ENS lessofwhether theyhaveration Wednesdaynight, he said. “The edly conveyedtothe Centrethat authorities –police or district try” intoMaharashtrapolitics. had accusedBJP of misusing Raj nies (NBFC) andthenask NBFCs cards; urgent repatriationof buses willleave from Kota it should startspecial trains and collectors. “Weare confident thatthe Bhawantoserveits politicalinter- to borrowforeign funds, which Labour bodies to observe workers to homestates; system Thursdaymorning,” theMSRTC issue guidelines before theend “Theyshould have at least Governorwilltake anappropriate ests.AsourceatRajBhavan,how- will help in reducing interest 12-hr fast on May1 at taluka anddistrict-level for official said,adding that only 20 of April. one identity card. People whodo decision, conforming to legaland ever,said,“The Governor is con- rates. He said thiswill helpde- workers to getduesand wages; students willbeallowedineach As per the guidelines issued nothaveaccesstoany shelter constitutionalframework,andac- sulting constitutional and legal velopersprovide cheaper loans Mumbai: To draw the attention insurance coverage forworkers bus. PTI on Wednesday, the migrants will be the firsttobemoved out,” cordingly nominate Uddhav experts. The process is on.” would nowbesent home in he had added. Long way home for migrants in Konkan and the wait, even longer

the attention of policemen at the should’vestayedhome withmy from across the country,have officials said it hadbroughtanxi- Going without waterthe entire MAYURAJANWALKAR Bhokestation. family,” said Chaudhry, who hails beenprovidedaccommodationat etytomanymigrant workersin night,thefourmen,threewomen RAIGAD,RATNAGIRI,APRIL29 “On the way, we didn’t find from Kailali in Nepal. He stays on air-conditionedcontainercabins. other districts as well. and athree-and-a-half-year-old anytransitcamps.But afterwe amangoorchardwithothersfrom The contracted daily-wage Choudhari,however, saidthat child,were lyingdownto rest their WHEN HE setout to walk from reachedBhoke, some policemen hisvillage. labourers (earning an averageof theydecidednot to uprootwork- bodiesthathadbravedabout220 MapusainGoa,SarojBhanRawat accostedus. We pleaded with Thefeelingof being“caughtin Rs400toRs500)liveinmakeshift ers whostayedonconstruction km on foot from Virar, Mumbai’s wasprepared to walk for25to30 themtoallow to walk further but themiddle”hauntsmanyevenas asbestosshantiesattheconstruc- sites.Theadministrationprovides far-flungsuburb,totheirvillagein days to makeithomeinSatnadis- theytold us that arrangements thedistrictadministrationtriesto tion sites. them with dryration, soaps and GondgharinRaigad. In another trict of MadhyaPradesh. have beenmadeforpeoplelikeus allaytheir anxiety. Among them is RitaDanve, sanitisers.She said that workers time, theywould travel the same “It was11ofus. We setout af- in Ratnagiri,” Rawatsaid. At MangaoninRaigad,thedis- whocame to Mangaon from livedingroups of people hailing distance in abus in eight hours. terpackingattaand rice.We SinceApril 14,the men have placementof constructionlabour- Bhusaval (about540 km away) fromthesamestateorvillage and The child wasasleep on his would cut through railway plat- made aclassroom in Damle ersaftermanyleftfortheirhome- leaving her three children with scatteringthem in camps would mother’s stretchedlegs,his black forms at night so that no one Vidyalaya inRatnagiritheirhome. towns before the lockdown on herparents.“Assoonasthetrains have onlycausedmorestress to facemaskslippingoffhisear. “We would see us. We worked at a Theschoolisnow hometo19mi- March 24,has takenatoll on the startagain, Iwill go home,” said them. have been walkingfor three days buildingconstruction siteinGoa grantworkers–the11 fromSatna work on the Mangaon bypass, lo- Danve, who has been at the site “Even the organisations and non stop.Hekeptcrying andre- andthere wasnoarrangementfor andothersfromtheneighbouring cated on the Indapur-Wadpale forovernine months with her NGOs that supplycooked food to fusing to walk,” said Akanksha us to stayput at the shanties we district of Sindhudurg. section of the underconstruction husbandLaxman. someofthe camps,wetold them Kap, theboy’s mother. Thefamily livedinwhenwe hadnowork.So, RamswarupKol, whostarted Mumbai-Goahighway. Areas likePanveland Uran to take small stepstoensure that hadonlyfourkilometresmoreto we decidedtogohomeandwalk- fromMapusawithRawat,saidthe Alok Kumar of Chetak that areinclose proximity with migrant workers feel moreat walk to makeithome. ingwasouronlyoption.Wewere schoolwascomfortableandthere Strandedmigrant workers in Ratnagiri. Amit Chakravarty Enterprises, the Rajasthan-based theMumbaiMetropolitanRegion home.Likeservechokhato Bihari “Eightof uslive inoneroomin notsurewhatwewouldget to eat wasnoshortage of food.“It’sokay companycontractedtobuild 26 arealsohometothousandsof mi- workers, serve brinjal with Virar. Whatkindof socialdistanc- so we thoughtitwas better to re- for nowbut this is nothome. Had km section of the highway,said grant workers. In Raigad, 36,879 khichdi. In Panvel, we installeda ingcanwe maintain?We decided turn to home,” he said from be- we been home, we could have restaurantsand hotels.Alarge ers from Nepal, who have been they needatleast 500workersbut migrant workersare stayingat TV in acampsothat theycan to walk home... our family mem- hindafacemask. helpedwith the work in our number of workers from Nepal comingto Konkaninthesummer with manyhaving leftbeforethe 327locations, District Collector watchmovies in theirlanguage,” bers in the villagesay we would In five days,the 11 men had farms,”headded. also migrate toRatnagiri and to work inmangoorchards,Rajesh lockdown, only120 areliving at NidhiChoudharisaid. said Choudhari. be quarantinedinthe village walked 216kmfromMapusa to Inthedistrictsalongthestate’s Sindhudurginthesummerahead Chaudhrycame to Ratnagiri for the site. Manyothers, who had Afternews andvideosof thou- Acarlightshone oneightper- schoolfor15days.Thatisfine...this Bhoke,one stationahead of coastline, migrant labourers are of mango plucking routine and the firsttime this year.“We are gone home forHoli, have notre- sands of migrant workers gath- sons resting their heads on their is home afterall,” said Ankush Ratnagiri on the Konkan railway. employedinlarge numbers stay putuntilthe end of May. okay herebut with the COVID-19 turned. ered at Mumbai’s Bandrastation bags alongthe highway near the Kap, the boy’s father who is an OnApril14,however, theycaught mostlyatconstruction sites, Unlikemanyofhis co-work- pandemicandlockdown,IthinkI The company’s staff, hailing on April 14 were widelyshared, KharsaivillageinRaigad at dawn. electrician.

Mumbai WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM THEINDIANEXPRESS,THURSDAY,APRIL30,2020 THE OUTBREAK 5 At71,highest Attacks on frontline workers: UP to FROMPAGEONE CMC-NEET tions. In case theyhavetoimpart education, they arebound to bring in ordinance for strict penalty India do notcome in the way complywith theconditions 24-hourtoll; of securing transparency and whichare equallyapplicableto recognition of meritsinthe mat- all. The regulations arenecessary, and violating restrictions. Four held for terofadmissions.Itisopen to and theyare notdivisive or dis- MAULSHREESETH The CM said medical teams, regulating the course of study, integrative.Suchregulatory LUCKNOW,APRIL29 security personnel or even those attack on police qualifications forensuring edu- measures enable institutions to casesdoubling Yogi engagedindoorstepdelivery,are cational standards. It is open to administer themefficiently... The THE UTTAR Pradesh government Adityanath helpingpeopleofthestate by put- team in Kanpur imposing reasonablerestrictions qualityofmedical education is is settopromulgate an ordinance ting their livesatrisk and justa in the national and publicinter- imperative to sub-servethe na- to amendthe EpidemicDiseases handful of people cannot be al- Lucknow: Minutes afterhealth est,” the benchsaid. tionalinterest, andmerit cannot in11.3days Act, 1897,toensure thatthosein- Speakingto TheIndianExpress, lowedtocreateunrest. He said workers took away nine family Article 19 (1)(g) grants citi- be compromised.The volvedinattacksonfrontlinewor- stateLaw MinisterBrijeshPathak thathehas asked police officers members of aperson, who had zens the right to practice anypro- Government has the right for kers amid the COVID-19pan- said that afterthe Centreamen- nottohesitateintaking action. tested positivefor coronavirus, fession, or to carry on anyoccu- providing regulatorymeasures tionwide lockdown, asource demic face stiffpenalties, dedthe Act, eachstate wassup- “Such attacksareadirectchal- to putthem in quarantine, local pation, tradeorbusiness while thatare in the national interest,” ABANTIKAGHOSH close to the Health Ministerin- includingajailtermof upto seven posedtoamendrulesconcerning lengetothelawandordersystem, residentsWednesdayallegedly Article30relatestothe right of the order stated. NEWDELHI,APRIL29 dicated that he is in favour of years and Rs 5lakh as fine. it. “UttarPradeshhas decided to andinnosituation,theycanbeac- attackedapolice team deployed minorities to establish andad- The petitioners had said that continuation of the lockdown. Citing the attackonhealth implement all provisions, like cepted.Ihadsaiditearliertooand at the spot and threw stones in ministereducational institutions. unaidedminority professional EVEN AS discussions on where The source said, “The deci- workersandpoliceinKanpurand punishment from six months to will sayitagain thatinUttar Jugiyana locality of Kanpur. “The rightstoadminister an colleges have thefundamental each districtstands in terms of sion hasnot been takenyet on Moradabad,Chief MinisterYogi sevenyears and fine imposedin Pradesh,allthehealthworkers,se- Policesaid those who tar- institution underArticle 30 of the right to choose themethod and coronavirus cases and the open- howthe relaxations will be im- Adityanath on Wednesdaysaid, the CentralAct. We have decided curitypersonnel,allthesanitation getedthe policepersonnel de- Constitutionare notabove the manner of admittingstudents, ing up formula continuedinthe plemented.The Prime Minister “Attacks on our corona warriors to bring afresh ordinance, mak- workers, and even social organi- mandedthathealth workers lawand other Constitutional pro- subject to satisfaction of the government,the country himself is consulting all stake- areaseriouscrimewhich cannot ing the punishment morestrict.” sations areworking to break the should test thepatient’s family visions. Reasonableregulatory triple test of afair,transparent, recordedits highest24-hour toll holders and taking as manyin- go unpunishedasthese warriors Whilethenewordinancewill chain of coronavirus... Attacking members at the residence and measurescan be provided with- and non--exploitative process, —71, it wasannouncedon putsaspossible.... We cannotrisk areworkingforthesocietyby put- be calledUttar Pradesh Epidemic them is an unpardonable crime,” take away onlythose who test out violating suchrightsavailable and that NEET couldnot be the Wednesday. adisaster.” ting their livesatrisk.” DiseaseControlOrdinance,2020, he said,adding thatGangster Act positivefor coronavirus. underArticle 30 ofthe onlyparametertodetermine the In all, 1,008people have died “If youask the ministerper- “That is whywehavemoved sourcessaiditwouldincludepun- and NationalSecurity Actwould Fiftyarearesidentshavebeen Constitutiontoadministeranin- merit of astudent. of COVID-19across the country sonally,”the sourceadded, “he forwardtoamendEpidemicDise- ishment foroffences likespitting, also be invokedagainstthosein- booked in acase filedatthe lo- stitution,” the benchruled. They claimedthat changein so far. would tell youthatitmay be ases Act...,” he said. runningfromquarantinefacilities volvedinsuchattacks. cal policestation. ENS Writing forthe bench, Justice the admission procedureofstu- In the last24hours,1,813 better to maintain status quo.” Mishrasaid “the rightsunder dentswould result in asharp de- newcases were reported,taking Signalling achangeinthe Article 19(1) (g) arenot absolute cline in the current standards of the total number of cases to protocol so far, theHealth and aresubjecttoreasonable re- excellence maintainedatthe in- 31,787, and 7,796 patientshave Ministryhas already announced 17 moredeaths, Gujarat Chhattisgarhdist throws striction in the interestofthe stu- stitutions and that this would recovered, making therecovery that officeswhere aCOVID case dent’s community to promote notbeinpublicinterest. rate nearly 25 per cent. hasbeendetected neednot be cases cross 4,000 up first case,question on merit, recognition of excellence, Declining permission to con- So far, 7,70,764 testshave closeddown, as wasthe proto- and to curbthe malpractices. duct other exams, the benchsaid been conducted in the country col earlier. bad, including a20-year-old transferduringquarantine Uniform Entrance Test qualifies “the system is notyet out of in private and ICMR laboratories. “If thereisaCOVID patient in EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE woman anda65-year-old man the test of proportionality andis clutches of unscrupulous de- In an interaction with the anon-COVID hospital, that facil- AHMEDABAD,GANDHINAGAR, with athyroid condition.Three Both were green zone dis- reasonable.The sameisintended vices and dubious means are Lions Club Internationalmem- ity can be usedafter disinfection. VADODARA,RAJKOT,SURAT, others who diedare twomen, GARGIVERMA tricts,and all 12 people had ar- to checkseveralmaladieswhich adoptedtodefeat merit. The in- bers from across the country, The same process is to be fol- APRIL29 aged54and64,anda45-year-old RAIPUR,APRIL29 rived, alongmanyothers in a creptintomedicaleducation, to terestofeducation wouldfur- Union Health MinisterDrHarsh lowedfor anyother location woman who had no co-morbidi- group of around 400, from quar- prevent capitation feebyadmit- ther sufferand very purpose of Vardhan said that thereare “a lit- where aCOVID patient is de- SEVEN JOURNALISTS and five ties.Two other men, aged 80 and ON TUESDAY,a58-year-oldman antinecentres in Rajnandgaon ting studentswhichare lowerin centralisedexaminationwould tle over 300districtsinthe coun- tected.The buildingcan be used state informationdepartmentof- 61,who diedatSVP Hospital, had tested positive for COVID-19in district on April 17. merit and to prevent exploita- be defeated”. trywith no casesand another afterproper disinfection,” Joint ficialswereamong the 317new hypertension. A70-year-old Chhattisgarh’s Surajpur —the “Wehavesent all patients tion, profiteeringand commer- “Buildingthe nation is the 300with minimal -between 1 Secretary LavAgarwal had said COVID-19cases reportedin womanwhodiedatCivilHospital firstconfirmedcase in thedis- (man who tested positive and cialisation of education. The in- main aspect of education, which and 5-cases”. on Tuesday. Gujarat —the highestsingle-day had asthma andhypertension. trict.Inthe rapid test,nine oth- thosesuspected to have been in- stitution has to be acapable couldnot be ignoredand over- He alsosaid that the dou- In his interactionwith the jump —onWednesday. Thenum- Another 60-year-old womanto ers quarantinedatthe same fected)toAIIMS-Raipur.Iwas vehicle of education”. looked.Theyhavetocater to na- blingtime over the lastthree Lions Club members, Vardhan berofcases in the statehas now succumbhadlungcomplications shelter campweresuspected to contacted by the Rajnandgaon “The minorityinstitutionsare tional interestfirst, then their in- days is 11.3 days. said: “This timethe hallmarkof crossed4,000.The number of along withmental illness. have been infected. collector andwemade arrange- equallyboundtocomplywith terest,moreso, when such According to the minister, al- our approachhas been five-fold: deaths in the statestands at 200 In Ahmedabad,234 people A10th person suspected to mentsfor 106people theysent the conditions imposedunder conditions can be prescribed for though the global mortality rate (i) maintaining acontinuoussit- with 17 morepeople dying on testedpositive,includingfive em- have contracted theinfection to our district,” Surajpur district the relevant Acts and Regulations recognition, particularlyinthe is around 7per cent, Indiahas so uation awareness,(ii) preemp- Wednesday. Rajkot reported its ployees of stateinformation de- washousedataquarantine collector Deepak Soni said on to enjoy affiliation and recogni- matter of professional educa- farshown amortalityrateof tive andproactive approach, (iii) firstdeath—a60-year-old partment. Of them, twoare in campinJashpur district. Wednesday. tion, which applytoall institu- tion,” the benchsaid. around 3per cent,withnearly gradedresponseasper contin- woman with hypertension, who home 86 per cent fatality of patients uouslyevolving scenario, (iv) in- washospitalisedonApril20,died. quaran- with co-morbidities. ter-sectoralcoordination at all Her husband and twosons have tine and While the discussion cur- levels, and, mostimportantly(v) tested positive, takingthe district threeat rentlyiscentred around a creating apeople’s movement to case count to 58. acare graded opening up of the na- combat this disease.” Nine peoplediedinAhmeda- centre.

DATA PRIVACY, OWNERSHIP AND STORAGE Concerns over Gujarat app, with links to health secy, used to track cases

SOHINIGHOSH GANDHINAGAR,APRIL29

THE GUJARATstate health commis- sioner has raisedconcerns of data privacy,ownership and storagere- garding TeCHO+ app, whichisbeing usedtoupload dataonCOVID-19 patients. The softwarefor the app wasde- veloped by ArguSoftIndia Ltd, whose president is Ravi Gopalan, the husband of Principal Secretary, Health and FamilyWelfare, Jayanti Ravi. Sources in the Gujarat govern- ment confirmed thatHealth Commissioner Jai Prakash Shivahare Medical officials in Vadodara’s Nagarwada afteraperson tested raisedthe concern in acommunica- positive in the area. BhupendraRana tion dated April16regarding “TeCHO software”, saying that in or- der to use an upgraded versionofit, Infection) or ILI (Influenza Like you.” “certain legal aspectsneededtobe Illness) cases. In her statement to The Indian takenintoaccount likeconsentof Ascreenshotregarding mapping Express,Ravisaid that when she was the patient, ownership of the data, data across TeCHOplatformswas appointedasthe Health data storageand use. Under the cir- shared by theGujaratInformation Commissioner in 2017,she had in- cumstances, in order to increase the DepartmentonApril 12 on a formedthe General Administration coverage of the TechoSoftwareap- WhatsApp groupwithjournalists, Department that her husband’s firm plication, thereshould be an MoU showing asenior official of ArguSoft, Argusofthad in 2013 developedthe with the developer of the applica- Sethuraman Venkataraman, logged ImTeCHO appfor theGujarat gov- tion”. intohis account, while showing a ernment,usedasatrackerfor ma- Sources saidthe concern wasre- spatial distribution of cases. ternal and infant health. gardingsharingofdatawith Earlier,inanorderonMarch 27, It wasofficially“dedicated to the ArgusoftIndia Ltd. signedbythe Joint Secretary, Health people” on October 7, 2017,byPrime While Shivaharerefusedtocom- Department, and issuedinthe name MinisterNarendraModi from his ment on the issue, Deputy Chief of the Governor,the Gujarat Health hometown Vadnagar,Ravi’s state- MinisterNitin Patel, who holds the Departmenthadsaid,“concernedau- ment said, adding that the informa- health portfolio,told The Indian thorities will have toensurethat pri- tionisalso usedonthe CM Express,“Ihavecomeacrosssome vate doctors and hospitals upload all Dashboard. news reportsregardingthis but I informationonlineregardingsus- Ravi added that theImTeCHO don’t have anyinformation.” pected cases” on DrTeCHO+ app and app wasusedfor “door-to-door sur- In responsetoquestionssent by “violation of this circularwill result in veillance… afterCOVID-19pan- The Indian Express,Ravisaid anyal- proceedings under the Gujarat demic struck and wasalso usedto legations were “baseless” and that Epidemic Regulation, 2020”. monitortreatment”. “… in the first “asamatter of principle, Iand my Subsequentlytoo thegovern- week of April when the Central gov- husband Ravi Gopalanhad decided ment had issuedadvertisementsre- ernment launchedamobileapp for years backthat all work he does for garding the app,talking of “manda- the treatment and observation of the Gujarat government wouldbe tory reporting of all NovelCorona COVID-19 patientsand whengov- free of cost”. virus symptoms or Severe Acute ernmentsweredirected to use it, in- Argusoft India Ltdbuilt TeCHO+ RespiratoryInfection (SARI) through stead of TeCHO, thedecisionwas as afreeapp and itsprivacy policy DrTeCHO app”byall private doctors takenatour leveltouse the Indian states that the “Service is provided... andprivate health government’s app”. at no costand is intendedfor useas institutions”. As of April21, according to a is”. The privacy policy forDrTeCHO Gujarat governmentpress release, Incidentally, the TeCHO+ says,“If youchoose to use our serv- 3,304doctors were registered on “ecosystem”includes twoother ice, then youagree to the collection DrTeCHO+ application. apps, MyTeCHO and DrTeCHO, with and use of information in relation to Dr Kamlesh Saini, statesecretary tie-ups with the Gujarat govern- this policy... Forabetterexperi- of the Gujarat chapterofthe Indian ment. ThroughMyTeCHO,citizens ence… we mayrequireyou to pro- Medical Association,saiddoctors can registercomplaintsorfeedback vide us with certain personally iden- were expected to enter details such regarding government health serv- tifiable information. The as name, age, phone number,resi- ices. The servicewas temporarilyon information that we requestwill be dential address, travel history, co- halt, an official said. DrTeCHO, de- retainedbyusand used as described morbidities or existing health condi- veloped post-COVID-19, is to be in this privacy policy.The appdoes tions of SARI or ILI cases, as well as usedbyprivate doctors to notify use thirdparty servicesthat may the symptoms being exhibited and SARI (Severe AcuteRespiratory collectinformation usedtoidentify since when.

Mumbai WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM 6 TENDER THEINDIANEXPRESS,THURSDAY,APRIL 30,2020

TAMILNADU CIVIL SUPPLIES CORPORATION CHHATTISGARH HOUSING BOARD DIVISION JAGDALPUR, Head Office: 12, THAMbuSAMY ROAD, KILPAuK, CHEnnAI-600 010. BODHGATH COLONY,JAGDALPUR Ph.no.(044) 26426773 Email id :[email protected] Website: www.cghb.gov.in, Ph: 07782-231170, Mob: 094242-09020. Advt.No. 70 Dt. 29.04.2020 CGHB invites Technical &Financial offer as per Request for Proposal from qualified and CIn:u15137Tn1972SGC006157 experienced firms (criteria as per in RFP document) for providing "Project Management Short e-tender notice Consultancy Services" for Proposed Township for NMDC Ltd at Niyanar Jagdalpur (C.G.) Name of Project Area of Land Approx .Estimated no. :BS6/014085/2020 dated:24.04.2020 cost put to bid Value Short e-tender no.: BS6/014085/2020/tncSc/20-21/et-04 RFP forselection of Consultantfor Project 118.00 Acres Rs. 1768.56 Crs. Management consultancy (PMC) for Proposed (47.86 hect.) Online electronic tender for“Appointmentofmillersbased on the out-turn Township for NMDC Ltd at Niyanar Jagdalpur.C.G. ratio forthe conversion of rawtur into TurDal (Split-Husked &Fatka)asper The bidder has to submit process fee of Rs. 10,000.00 &Bid SecurityofRs. 18.00 lakhs both Agmark Specification forissue underPradan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Yojana in the form of DD/BG of any Nationalized Indian Bank with offer.The offer shall be sub- (PMGKAY)” mitted either by hand/ Courier/ Speed post in the office of EE CGHB Div.Jagdalpur C.G.up Complete e-tender documentcan be viewedand downloaded through to 4:00 AM dt. 22/05/2020, other conditions may be seen on website . https://www.mstcecommerce.com/eprochome/tncsc and also available in Executive Engineer www.tenders.tn.gov.in The biddershavetoparticipate online bidding only with Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) of Class-IIorClass-III ForRegistration and furtherdetails contact MSTC LIMITED, Phone:25222842/25251910/25261005e-Mail: [email protected] LastDatefor Online Submission :08.05.2020. DIPR/1693/Tender/2020 MAnAGinG director.

No.Ch. E./20/02/Bridges/GMLR dated 28.04.2020 TENDER CANCELLATION NOTICE DEPARTMENT Ch.E. (Bridges) GMLR TENDER NO. 7100159001 SUBJECT :Request for Qualification (RFQ)" for the workof "DESIGNAND SAMAGRA SHIKSHA CONSTRUCTION OF TWIN STATEPROJECT OFFICE, TUNNEL INCLUDING KBC BOYS HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS, OPP RAITHU BAZAR, APPROACHES&BOX PATAMATA,VIJAYAWADA, ANDHRA PRADESH TUNNEL FOR GMLR PROJECT." Request for Proposal e-procurement notice. No. SSA-16021/4/2019-MIS SEC-SSA, dt. 29.04.2020 The said tender is being Samagra Shiksha, AndhraPradesh is inviting Request For Proposal for cancelled due to technical procurement and supply of setofnotebooks underthe schemeof reasons. “Jagananna Vidya Kanuka” to all thestudents(approximately 21lakhs in WEBSITE http://portal.mcgm.gov.in number) studying classes VI to XinGovernment/MMP/ZPP/ Municipal/KGBVs/ModelSchools/Ashram schools/ Residential/Aided A. TELEPHONENO. (OFFICE) 022-25962601 (Extn. 2006) Schools of Educationand welfare departmentsinthe State of Andhra B. E-MAIL ADDRESS [email protected] Pradesh during the year 2020-21. For detailsplease visit https:// tender.apeprocurement.gov.in from 01.05.2020.Tender/RFPformcan be Sd/- downloaded from website. Eligible firmsshalluploadthe prescribed format as PRO/54/ADV/20-21 Ch.E. (Bridges) per theschedulesgiven in theabove saidsite. ContactNo. 0866-2428599. Sd/- MCGM HELPLINE NUMBER 1800221292 from 9a.m.to9p.m. V. Chinaveerabhadrudu, I.A.S., FOR Homeless/Stranded Migrants/ Workers for food &shelters State Project Director, R.O. No.: 23PP/CL/ADVT/1/1/2020-21 Samagra Shiksha, Andhra Pradesh

INDIAN PORT RAIL &ROPEWAY CORPORATION LIMITED (A JV Companyunder Ministry of Shipping,Government of India) Chief Engineer (Bridges Department) (Formerly IndianPort Rail CorporationLtd.) No. Ch.E./20/07/Bridges/GMLR dated :- 28.04.2020 RFQ No. IPRCL/ADI/PROJECTS/NMHC/ REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION (RFQ) EPC/2020 Dated: 30.04.2020 (INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIVE BIDDING) Construction of National Maritime HONOURABLE Municipal Commissioner,Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai invites "Request Heritage Complex at Lothal, Gujarat for Qualification (RFQ)" from eligible and experienced bidders through e-tendering as detailed below. through Engineering, DEPARTMENT Ch. Eng. (Bridges) Procurement &Construction (EPC) Mode. e-RFQ/Bid No. 7100177476 For more details visit website SUBJECT "Request forQualification (RFQ)" forthe workof"Designand www.etenders.gov.in/eprocure/app construction of Twin Tunnel below SGNP from Amar Nagar,Mulund to Filmcity Goregaon along with Cut &cover Box Tunnel in Filmcity area, Goregaon under the Goregaon Mulund Link Road Project" Sale of e-RFQ Start Date :29.04.2020 from 1100 hrs Chief Engineer (Mumbai Sewage Disposal Project) ''IMPORTANT'' Last Date :11.06.2020 up to 1300 hrs. Pre-bid meeting 2000 hrs. on 12.05.2020 No. Ch. E./M.S.D.P/191/ Date :28.04.2020 Whilstcare is taken priorto acceptance of advertising copy, Address- Conference room of AMC (P), 2nd floor,Annex Building, MCGM ShortE-Tender Notice Head Office, Mahapalika Marg, Fort, Mumbai-400001,Maharashtra, India. it is not possible to verify its THE Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai invites e-tenders for the works as contents. The Indian Express (P.) Website http://portal.mcgm.gov.in Limited cannot be held shown below. responsible for such contents, Contact Person Assistant Engineer (GMLR) Sr. Name of the Work EMD (in Rs.) Tender fee Work Start Date & Due date nor forany lossordamage a. Name 1. Shri. Ashok Mali (Mob. no. +91 9820847944) No. (in Rs.) Completion time of &timefor incurred as aresult of 2. Shri. Sudhakar Hande (Mob. no. +91 9869113088 period downloading on line bid transactions withcompanies, of bid submission associations or individuals b. Telephone No. (Office) 022-25962601,Ext. 2006 advertising in its newspapers or c. Email [email protected] 1 Design, Build,Operate 40,45,00,000/- Rs. 7700/- + 60 months 30.04.2020 29.05.2020 Publications. We therefore and Maintenance of GST (Inclusive of 1100 hrs Up to 1600 recommend that readers make RFQ documents are available on MCGM portal http://portal.mcgm.gov.in under e-tender tab. Any Worli WwTF under monsoon) hrs. necessaryinquiries before queries about the work can be sent on Email address [email protected] on or before 09.05.2020 MSDP Stage-II (Priority sending any monies or entering Sd/- Works) into any agreements with PRO/53/ADV/20-21 Chief Engineer (Bridges) (ADWF 500 MLD) advertisers or otherwise acting MCGM HELPLINE NUMBER 1800221292 from 9a.m.to9p.m. 2 Design, Build,Operate 32,40,00,000/- Rs. 7700/- + 60 months 30.04.2020 29.05.2020 on an advertisement in any and Maintenance of GST (Inclusive of 1100 hrs Up to 1600 manner whatsoever. FOR Homeless/Stranded Migrants/ Workers for food &shelters Bandra WwTF under monsoon) hrs. MSDP Stage-II (Priority Works) (ADWF 360 MLD) 3 Design, Build,Operate 16,50,00,000/- Rs. 7700/- + 48 months 30.04.2020 29.05.2020 and Maintenance of GST (Inclusive of 1100 hrs Up to 1600 Versova WwTF under monsoon) hrs. MSDP Stage-II (Priority Works) (ADWF 180 MLD) 4 Design, Build,Operate 39,33,00,000/- Rs. 7700/- + 72 months 30.04.2020 29.05.2020 and Maintenance of GST (Inclusive of 1100 hrs Up to 1600 Malad WwTF under monsoon) hrs. MSDP Stage-II (Priority Works) (ADWF 454 MLD) 5 Design, Build,Operate 17,60,00,000/- Rs. 7700/- + 48 months 30.04.2020 29.05.2020 and Maintenance of GST (Inclusive of 1100 hrs Up to 1600 Bhandup WwTF under monsoon) hrs. GURU GHASIDAS VISHWAVIDYALAYA MSDP Stage-II (Priority (A Central University established under the Central UniversitiesAct, 2009, No.25 of 2009) Works) KONI,BILASPUR-495 009 (C.G.) INDIA (ADWF 215 MLD) Tel. -+91-7752- 260342 260021 Fax -+91-7752- 260154 260148 website -www.ggu.ac.in 6 Design, Build,Operate 24,63,00,000/- Rs. 7700/- + 48 months 30.04.2020 29.05.2020 and Maintenance of GST (Inclusive of 1100 hrs Up to 1600 ADMISSION NOTICE (2020-21) Ghatkopar WwTF under monsoon) hrs. Ref.No.03/Admission/Academic/20 Bilaspur,Date 29.04.2020 MSDP Stage-II (Priority Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya, Bilaspur invites online applications for admission to the various courses forthe academic session 2020-21 through Vishwavidyalaya Works) Entrance Test (VET). (ADWF 337 MLD) (a) Courses available for admission: Please refer NIC's portal (https://mahatenders.gov.in) under "e-Tenders" section for further details. Honours Programmes : B. Com (Honours), BSW,BA(Honours)-Anthropology,English, Hindi, Journalism &Mass Communication, Economics, History,Political Sd/- Science, (Atul Rao) B. Sc. (Honours)- Anthropology ,Biotechnology,Botany,Forensic Science, Chemistry,Computer Science, Zoology,Mathematics, Physics, Electronics, Rural PRO/51/ADV/20-21 Ch.E. (MSDP) Technology . 5years Integrated BA -LLB,B.Com-LLB MCGM HELPLINE NUMBER 1800221292from9a.m.to9p. m. B. Pharm, B.Sc. in Forestry,Bachelor of Education (B..Ed.),B.Ed. Special Education (Learning disability), B.Ed. Special Education (Hearing Impaired), Bachelor of FOR Homeless/Stranded Migrants/ Workers for food &shelters Physical Education (B.P.Ed.), Bachelor of Library &Information Science (B. Lib. &I.Sc.), Postgraduate programme : M.Sc. -Botany,Chemistry,Bio-technology,Forensic Science, Computer Science, Rural Technology,Forestry,Physics, Electronics, Mathematics, Zoology,M.A.- Economics,Political Science, Hindi, English, History,Journalism &Mass Communication. Master of Education (M.Ed.), Master of Physical Education (M.P.Ed.), Master of Social Work (MSW), Master of Computer Applications (M.C.A.), M.A./M.Sc .inAnthropology,M.Lib. &Inf. Sc., M.

Com. Diploma programme: Diploma in Pharmacy,PGDC, CCCL (b) Exam Centres for VET* -1.Bilaspur (CG) 2. Raipur (CG) 3.Jagdalpur (CG) 4. Ambikapur (CG) 5. Korba (CG), 6. Janjgir/Champa (CG),7. Raigarh (CG), 8. Rajnandgaon (CG), 9. Patna (Bihar), 10. Ranchi (JH), 11.Vishakhapatnam(AP) 12. Prayagraj (Allahabad) (UP) 13. Bhubaneshwar (Odissa), 14. Kolkata (WB) ,15. Gandia (MH), 16 Jabalpur (MP), Details/names of the Centres of Examinations will be available on our website (www.ggu.ac.in) from 30'h May 2020. (c) For admission procedure, eligibility,numberofseats, reservation policy,fees, scholarship, entrance test date &time, exam centreand how to apply,please refer to "Online Application for Admission 2020-21" available on university website www.ggu.ac.in (d) Application/Entrance Test Fee- Online Application form - Rs. 500/- +Bank Charges for GEN,OBC and EWS, Rs. 250/- +Bank Charges for SC/ ST /PWD candidates. Important dates: l. Start of Online Application Process :4th May 2020 2. Closing date of Online submission of Application forms :30th May 2020 3.. Downloading of Admit card (online) starts from :Will be declared later on 4. Entrance test dates for All Courses :Will be declared later on 5. Declaration of Results :Will be declared later on 6. Counselling (For VET) :Will be declaredlater on 7. Last date of Admission (For VET ):Will be declared later on *The University reserves the right to change/cancel any Centre of Examination or date without assigning any reason. Note:- 1. Separate notification will be issued by the University for MBA, M. Tech. &M.Pharm., candidates interested in these courses need not apply against this advertisement . 2. In case,the University will not be able to conduct Entrance Tests for courses advertised in this Admission Notice, due to lock down (COVID-19), admissions will be given to the applicants on the basis of their merit/marks scored in the qualifying examination prescribed in eligibility criteria. 3. The closing date is tentative and it can be extended if the governments extend the lock down period. Helpline: 07752-260342 260299( For Online) Email: [email protected] Registrar (Acting)

Mumbai WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM THEINDIANEXPRESS,THURSDAY,APRIL30,2020 EXPRESS NETWORK 7

UGCTOVARSITIES ‘Presentsituation How early mover MP lost the Startacademic in Kashmir stable plot amid power tussle in March sessionfor but fragile... peace Apart from 15 days in March, MANOJCG& said another seniorofficial, “an- MILINDGHATWAI other 15 days were lostafter the first-year NEWDELHI,BHOPAL,APRIL29 Chouhangovernment took over goal for forces’ because therewas no cleardirec- ON JANUARY25, exactlytwo tion”.Chouhanremainedtheonly studentsinSept monthsbefore thefirstCOVID-19 ministerinthe statefor amonth LIEUTENANT GENERAL BSRAJU death wasreportedinMadhya aftertaking oath on March 23. took over as GOC of Chinar Pradesh, the state’s Directorateof Nowhehas aCabinetoffive. However, theexaminationshould Corps, whichlooksafter the HealthServices issuedits firstad- Thenfollowedthefiascoof the RITIKACHOPRA beheld“observingtheguidelines Army’s operations in the visorytohospitalstobeonalert. entiretop-levelbureaucracyinthe NEWDELHI,APRIL29 of‘socialdistancing’ andkeeping Kashmir region, including the Aseconddirectionfollowedthree state’s healthdepartmenttesting in viewthe supportsystemavail- highlyactive Line of Control, on days later,asking collectors to positive, starting April 3. “There THE 2020-21academic session able withthemand ensuringfair March 2. He speakstoSUSHANT form task forces andset up isola- should have been three-four will start one-and-a-half months opportunity to all students”, the SINGH about the situation in tion wardsfor those returning Children sewface masks in Jabalpur on Wednesday. PTI teams.but everybody wasput in latefor studentsentering higher UGC guidelinesstates. Kashmir and the LoC, particu- fromWuhan,China,thentheepi- oneteam,and all of them got in- education this year. In casehighereducationinsti- larly in the contextofthe COVID- centreofcoronavirus. fected.Sotherewas no health The University Grants tutions areunabletoconduct 19 pandemic. Excerpts: OnJanuary31, aday afterIndia Notingthattheinitialmomen- ernment said,“We issueddirec- minister, no principalsecretary, Commission(UGC) on term-end exams because of the reported itsfirstcaseofinfection tum waslost, asenior bureaucrat tions thatthereshould beno Holi health, and no director,health Wednesday releasedanindicative COVID-19outbreak,theyhave Howdoyou assess the in Kerala and the WHO declared said, “Wehad started surveying celebrations on March 10.We services,” saidthe official. academiccalendar forhigher ed- been advised to promote stu- current situation on the LoC? COVID-19apublic health emer- thosewhohadcomefromabroad shutallschools,colleges,mallsetc Chouhanhas sought to shift ucation institutions,suggesting dentsbygiving50%weightageto Whyhas it become active gency,the stategovernmentde- by the end of Januaryitself. The onMarch 13.But,asyouknow, all the blameofthistoo to the previ- thatclassesforfirst-yearstudents internal evaluationandthe rest to now? cided to makeall thosewho had DirectorateofHealth Services is- attention wasonthe political cri- ous government, saying, “It ap- canstart by September1and for “performance in the previous se- Pakistanhas consistently returnedfromChinaafterJanuary suedatleastadozenadvisoriesin sis then.” pearsthehealthofficialswere not intermediateyear studentson mester”. “In the situations where been aiding and abetting infiltra- 15 undergo acoronavirus test. Februaryalone. It wasmuchbe- Atop stateofficial, sources trainedand manyofthemgot in- August1.Italsoindicatedthatthe previous semesterorprevious tionfor more than 30 years now. As MadhyaPradesh becomes fore thefearfactor had setin.” said,hadtopullpoliticalstringsto fected themselves.” admissionprocess forfresh year marks arenot available,par- All the terroristcamps and thethird stateafter Maharashtra On March 3, thenChief ensurethattheGaircongregation Chouhan’s bureaucratic batchesof studentsbeconducted ticularly inthefirstyearof annual launchpads in PoKare full. These and Gujarat to record over 100 Secretary Sudhi RanjanMohanty to be held in IndoreonMarch 14 shake-up includedreplacement in August. pattern of examinations, 100% terroristcadres aredesperateto THEEXPRESS deathsdueto COVID-19,andcities heldavideo-conferencewithdis- forRang Panchami wasput off. of Mohanty as chief secretary, Forthe graduating batch, as evaluation maybedone on the infiltrate with the help of likeIndoreand Ujjain emergeas trict collectorsand district police This wasataskasthe organisers transfer of Health Commissioner firstreportedbyThe Indian basisofinternalassessments. If PakistanArmy... Numerous infil- INTERVIEW hotspots,whatisbecoming in- chiefsanddirectedthemtoensure were closeto bothCongressleader PrateekHajela(who had earlier ExpressonApril26, universities thestudentwishesto improvethe trationattemptshavebeen creasingly clear is that while the medicalcheck-upof allthosewho DigvijayaSinghand the BJP’s headedthe NRCexercisein andcollegeshave beenadvisedto grades,he/shemayappearinspe- foiledand PakistanArmyiscon- statehad startedgearing up to had returned from abroad. Kailash Vijayavargiya. “Wegot Assam)and anew collector for hold their final-year or terminal cialexams forsuchsubjects dur- WITH stantlyresorting to ceasefirevi- BSRAJU take on the virus early,ittook its But, soon after, Bhopalwas across messagestoboth, urging Indore. One official saidthe new semesterexamination from July ing next semester,”the UGC olation to supportthe terrorist GOC OF CHINAR CORPS eyeoff the ballduring thecrucial overtakenbythe political tussle them to impressuponthe organ- collector wasrelativelyinexperi- 1toJuly15and declaretheir re- guidelinesstate. infiltration. Our befitting re- period in March when it was between the Congress and BJP. iserstocancel.That is theway enced,andtooktimeto getontop sultsend of the month. Forresearch students, viva- sponsetoceasefireviolationshas rocked by political turmoil. “TheKamal Nath government things were in complete fluxbe- of things. Forintermediate(read 2nd or voce examinations areexpected been swift, hardand punishing. The Congress and BJP have wascaughtupinsaving itself. His tweenMarch 10 and 24,” asenior Afew days ago, the CM setup 3rdyear) students, higher educa- to take place through video-con- An impervious Counter changeanytime soon? tradedchargesoverthis period, Health Minister had rebelled. official said. atask forceoncoronavirus tioninstitutionscanholdtheirse- ferencing.All MPhil andPhD stu- Infiltration Grid and our effective Pakistan’s persistence in in- with the Congress accusing the Therewerealso no cases in Meanwhile, BJP leaders,in- headedbystate BJP chief VD mester or year-endexamination dentswill getanextension of six responsetoceasefireviolations filtratingterrorists,proliferating latterofbeingmoreinterestedin MadhyaPradesh.sothe political cluding , Sharmaandincludingonlypoliti- from July16toJuly30and an- months. The 2020-21academic have leftPakistanhelpless in fur- false propaganda areintendedto toppling itsgovernmentin classperhapstookitlightly,”asen- belittledthethreatfromthevirus. cians.Thereis,besides,a13-mem- nounceresultsbyAugust 14.June, year maynot have awinterbreak thering itsagenda. disturb peace and itsactions are MadhyaPradesh,andtheBJPsay- ior official said. “It’s notcorona butdarona,” was beradvisorypanelheadedbyac- as advisedbyUGC, can betreated andfollowsix-dayteachingweek unlikelytochangeanytime ingthatwhenitcameintopower, The Health Ministeratthe alinerepeatedbymany, accusing tivistKailashSatyarthi and, as summer vacation. to makeupfor the learning time Isn’t it fair to expect that soon... thestatewasill-equippedtohan- timewasTulsiramSilawat,aclose the Congress of playing up the includingafew doctors,whichhas Asidefrommakingchangesto lostdue to the classroom shut- when both Indiaand dle the virus. confidant of JyotiradityaScindia, COVID-19 scaretosaveits govern- had onlyone video-conference thesuggestedacademiccalendar, down. Examination forthe first Pakistanare grappling with Whatisthe internal security Multiplebureaucrats,both who crossedovertothe BJP. ment. with Chouhan so far. Satyarthi’s universitiesandcolleges,theUGC semesterof2020-21islikelyto COVID-19, the situation on situation in the Valley? What serving and retired,whom The Sourcessaidthelastofficialmeet- ThefirstcaseinMPwas re- main suggestionhas been to ban clarified, arealso free to conduct take placeinJanuary2021andfor the LoC would be more arethe indicators youare IndianExpressspoketo, spoke ing Silawatattendedwas a ported on March 20,inJabalpur, child pornography. Athirdteam theirexaminationineitheroffline thesecondsemesterinMay-June. peaceful and local villagers monitoring closely? abouttheconfusioninBhopalhit- Cabinet meeting on March 6. theday the KamalNath govern- has been formedcomprising or online mode and reduce the The2021-22academicyearisex- would be spared?What is The present situation in tingcoronavirusefforts in March. Anofficialcurrentlyinthegov- ment fell. medical professionals. time from three to twohours. pected to startonAugust2. Pakistan’s gameplanonthe Kashmir is stable but fragile. LoC? Maintaining peace has been the Thereisonlyone reason for prime goal of all theSecurity CBIgets further the near constant ceasefireviola- Forces, working in close synergy tions,Pakistan’s attempt to assist with eachother, ie. Army, J&K custody of more terroriststoinfiltrateinto Police, CAPF,intelligence agen- India in order to disruptnor- cies and the civil administration. Wadhawans malcyinthe Kashmirvalley. Also, the Awam-Armyconnect PakistanArmyfacilitates these has always been strong due to tillMay 1 infiltration attempts. our ethical conduct and trans- Even in times when the parency in operations. worldistogether in combatting The situation has been EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE the spread of the pandemic, largelynormaland no civil casu- MUMBAI,APRIL29 thereisnorespitefrom alty due to the Security Forces’ Pakistan... Our soldiers along the action since August5,2019, is ASPECIAL court on Wednesday borders arewell equipped... We one example of it. Even now, in senttheWadhawanbrother, Kapil areensuring that ourborders are our fight againstcoronavirus, the andDheeraj,tofurthercustodyof safe while thecountryisfighting supportand cooperation we theCBItillMay1intheallegedYes COVID-19. have receivedfromthe Awaam Bank scam. The CBI arrested the The Armyalong the LoC pro- has been overwhelming. DHFL promoters from vides all types of succourand as- MahabaleshwaronApril26after sistance to the population. Our Howhavethe guidelines on the Satarapolice informedthe outreachprogrammes range COVID-19altered your agencythat their 14-dayquaran- from medical help,evacuation, working routine or that of tinewas over. provisioning of rations and other your headquarters, and of On Wednesday, the CBI sub- material aid, help in reconstruc- units in the field? mittedbeforethecourtitrequired tionofdamaged houses and All precautions as per guide- seven-daycustody of the twoas even providing job opportunities lines arebeing followedinletter theywerenot cooperating with to locals. and spirit by our headquarters theprobe.The CBI alleges the Apartfromthis,education, and units. brothers and YesBank founder skill developmentand women Necessaryadjustmentshave Rana Kapoor entered intoacon- empowerment initiatives are been madeinour routine and spiracy from April to June2018, undertakenregularly. We live functioning in order to maintain throughwhich Kapil paid akick- with the locals and sharethe re- our working and therehas been backofRs600croretoKapoorand lationship of a‘Humsaya’(co-in- no difference in our efficacy to hisfamily-linkedventurethrough habitants), whichmeansthat we conduct operations. Along the aloan. stand shoulder to shoulder with LoC, all the locations areisolated The Wadhawans' lawyers them through good and not-so- and to maintain socialdistanc- submitted before the courtthat good times. ing and isolations norms, there since the investigation waspri- is no problem at all. marilybasedondocuments, Should we expect the FULLINTERVIEWON their custodial interrogationwas situation on the LoC to www.indianexpress.com notrequired.

TABLIGHI JAMAAT CONGREGATION HC grants temporary 9foreign nationals relief to man who in Gadchiroli, 11 in Chandrapurheld accused Tablighi Jamaat for‘visa violations’ membersofassault

EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE the society. NAGPUR,APRIL29 OMKARGOKHALE AdvocateVishalSaxena, rep- MUMBAI,APRIL29 resenting the petitioner, submit- POLICE HAVE arrested nine for- tedthathis client wasassaulted eign nationals in Gadchiroli and THE BOMBAY High Court and that he had lodged anon- 11 in Chandrapur foralleged visa granted temporaryrelief to a cognizable case at the same po- violations. Muslim man booked by the lice station on April 21.Saxena ar- According to police, the for- Mumbai Police forposting a guedthat thepetitioner was eigners were visiting from video on social media accusing falselyimplicated by thepolice Kazakhstanand Kyrgyzstanin members of theTablighiJamaat and he shouldbegrantedpre-ar- connection with the Tablighi community forassaultingand rest bail. Jamaat congregation in March. spittingonhim. AdvocateSVGavand, appear- “They were earlier booked Asingle-judgebenchofjus- ing forthe police, sought to file a under the Foreigners’ Actfor vi- tice Sarang VKotwalMonday detailedresponse to the pre-ar- olatingvisa rulesand were put heardthe plea filedbythe man rest bail plea. While granting po- underquarantine. We arrested seekingpre-arrest bail in connec- licetimetofile areply, Justice nineinGadchiroli on tion with an FIR lodged against Kotwal granted theman tempo- Wednesdayand alocal court has him by Tablighi Jamaat members rary protection from arrest.The remandedthem in magisterial at Shahu NagarPoliceStation in courtnoted,“Considering the na- custody,” said Gadchiroli Mahim.The FIRwas lodged un- tureofallegations in the back- Superintendent of Police der IPC section 295 fordestroy- groundofthe non-cognizable Shailesh Balkawde. He added: ing, damagingordefiling aplace case filedbythe applicant him- “Theyhad come hereonatourist of worship or sacred objectwith self, at this stage, Iaminclined to visa and were taking partinre- intent to insult the religion of any grantad-interim relief to theap- ligious programmes. That’s vio- class of persons. He wasalso plicant tillthe next date.” lation of visa rules.” bookedfor criminaldefamation The courtfurther directed In Chandrapur,however, the and otherpenalprovisionsbased that in the event of arrest of the foreign nationals were arrested on the complaint madebymem- petitioner,till the next date, he is on Tuesdaybut releasedbythe bers of the religiousgroup. directedto bereleasedon bail on local courtonbail. Police have According to the FIR, the man furnishingpersonalbondofRs alsobooked eight Tablighi had preparedavideo clip deliber- 25,000.The court also directed Jamaat members from atelymakingfalse allegations the man to cooperatewith the in- Myanmar in Nagpurbut have againstthe Jamaat to hurtreli- vestigation and posted the mat- notarrestedthem. gious feelings and causedariftin terfor further hearing on May20.

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THEINDIANEXPRESS,THURSDAY,APRIL30,2020 LASTING MEMORIES Among Irrfan’s last social media posts is aphoto he had tweeted of thecast and crew of his last film catching up over aZoom call, whichincluded actorsRadhikaMadan, Pankaj 8 Tripathi and Deepak Dobriyal, among others. TALK Art, Music, Style, Food

IRRFAN 1967-2020 THE BEST OF THE BEST As an actor,Irrfan’srangewas unparalleled—he could playany character ‘Gonetoo Soon’ with conviction —allowing himtocross over forms,languagesand later, even continents. Here are10ofhis most noteworthyperformances: Film industryand fans cometogether to mourn THE WARRIOR LIFEOFPI(2012): As Irrfan, Indian cinema’s finestactor (2001): In Asif the adult Pi Patel, Irrfan Kapadia’s debut film, does nothaveameaty treatment,heplayedtheroleof alovingfather Irrfan plays Lafcadia, a role in Ang Lee’s ALAKASAHANI in Angrezi Medium (2020),his lastrelease. Rajasthani feudal lord adaptation of Yann Afterthenews of hisdeathbecamepublic, who livesbyhis sword Martel’s novel. But he IS NUANCED acting,his eyes that social media wasflooded with posts by many and struggles to give it up. makes everyscene he is in count —and spokeand adialogue deliverythat of his colleagues in the film industryand his Hollywood sat up and took notice. wassouniquely his, wonhim admirers.Filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj,who HAASIL (2003): Irrfan gave a H much love and admirers during has workedwith him in Maqbool (2003), power-packedperformance as Ranvijay THELUNCHBOX his versatile career,but on Wednesday, 7Khoon Maaf (2011)and Haider (2014), told Singh, aviolent student leader at a (2013): As Saajan actor Irrfan leftthe worldquietly. As every- TheIndianExpress:“Ifearedthathe(Irrfan)will university in Allahabad. Fernandes, alonely one came together online to mourn, few be gone muchbeforehis time but didn’t ex- widowerwhose could attend his burial at the Versovaceme- pectthatitwillbesodevastatingandravaging MAQBOOL (2003): BasedonMacbeth humdrum lifechanges tery due to restrictions imposedinthe wake to mepersonally. Itfeelsasif Iamtornintotwo by , the film when he receivesthe of the coronavirus outbreak.While media parts.Apartofmehas diedwith him.” brought Irrfan widespread acclaim for wrong lunchbox, Irrfan embodies a personsstood beyond the barricades outside, VidyaBalan tweetedshe couldn’tstopcry- his luminescent performance as quietgrace that lightsupthe screen. present forhis lastrites were his wife Sutapa ing because Irrfan’sperformancesaffectedher Maqbool, amafia don’sright-hand man Sikdar,sons Babil and Ayan,and 15-20 rela- in “a personalway”. Callinghim “anincredible who falls forhis boss’s mistress . QISSA (2013): As UmberSingh, whose tivesand friends, including filmmakers talent and graciouscolleague”, his Piku(2015) desiretohaveasonleads him to raise Tigmanshu Dhulia, Vishal Bhardwaj, Abhinay co-actor Amitabh Bachchan said his passing THE NAMESAKE his youngestdaughter as aboy,Irrfanis Deo and singer Mika Singh. away wasthe “most disturbing and sad news”. (2007): Basedonthe notonlysingularly terrifying but The54-year-oldwasadmittedto Mumbai’s ActorShah Rukh Khan, who wasthe producer novelbyJhumpaLahiri, absolutelyterrific. Kokilaben DhirubhaiAmbaniHospitalon of Irrfan’s Billu (2009), calledhim “myfriend, the film belongs to Tuesdayfor acolon infection.Anofficialstate- inspiration and the greatestactor of Irrfan who plays PIKU (2015): As Rana, an unlikelyfoil to ment on his passing away said: “Irrfanwas a our times”. AshokeGanguli, afirst- Deepika Padukone’s outspoken Piku, strong soul, someone who fought tillthe very Making an immense contribution to the generation Indian immigrant to Irrfan is content to letbigger stars do all end and always inspired everyone who came worldofcinema, Irrfan remains oneofthe America, who chooses an unusual the talking while he stays in the closeto him.Afterhavingbeenstruckbylight- mostsuccessfulcrossoverartistes,withmovies name and legacy forhis first-born child. background, doing all the acting. ningin2018withthe news of ararecancer, he suchasThe Lunchbox (2013), Slumdog tooklifesoonafterasitcameandhefoughtthe Millionaire(2008),LifeofPi(2012),TheAmazing PAAN SINGH TOMAR (2012): “You HINDIMEDIUM (2017): His biggest manybattles that camewith it.” Spiderman (2012) and Jurassic World (2015). can’t take your eyes offhim,” said commercial success, the film is Irrfan,whoreceivedtheNationalAwardfor Many internationalpersonalities,includingdi- The NewYorkTimes in itsreview. As a testimonytothe fact that Irrfan could Paan Singh Tomar (2012)and Padma Shriin rector AvaDuVernay, paid tributetohim. former armyman turned-starathlete- be Everyman in mainstream Bollywood 2011,wasdiagnosedwithneuroendocrinetu- “Gone toosoon.When he is on screen,you turnedrebel,Irrfandelivers in every fare as well. mour in 2018,for whichheunderwent pro- can’t take your eyes offhim. He livesoninhis frame of his action-packedbiopic. ANUSHREEMAJUMDAR longedtreatmentinthe UK. In between his films,” tweetedDuVernay.

thelineshadn’tbeenaltered,thecharacter,the wasone of the quietest students in the class Cinema’sChameleon locations,thecostumes,theywereallthesame, TheQuietestBoy in Class of 1987.His classmates, suchasBharti and yet, atinymovement, afleetinglook,the Sharma, founder of KshitijTheaterSociety in quietest gesture,onehadn’tseenbefore would Irrfan’s friends from NSD remember theactor Delhi, usedtowonder, ‘Pata nahin yehitna TANUJACHANDRA reveal itself. chup kyunrahtahai?’ “Henever missedany This wasthe reason one nevertires of see- classbuthealsodidnotparticipateindiscus- IRRFAN THOUGHT long and hardbefore ing this actor on screen, this wasthe reason DIPANITANATH sions.Itwasonlywhenheperformedthatwe acceptingmyoffer (for Qarib Qarib Singlle, that even though his work oftenhas tell-tale understoodthatIrrfanwasapersonwhobe- 2017).Hewasuncertainif hewouldbereceived signsof ‘classicIrrfan’,eachperformancevaries. INTHEcorridorthatstudents of theNational lievedinlisteningrather than speaking. He well in aromanticrole at this stageofhis life The loss of this magnificent actor is an in- Schoolof Drama(NSD)taketoreach themain hadabsorbedeverythingwe were taughtand because romance wasmoreofaplaying field comparable one forIndian cinema.Hehad auditorium,Abhimanch, arow of photo- wasimplementing it in his performance,” fortheyoung,hesaid.Ifpeopledidn’tapprove, crossedonlysomepartofhis journeyofsub- graphs usedtohang, until ayear or so ago, of she adds. he wouldn’thaveanyone to sharethe flak lime acting. Therewas so much morefor him past graduates. Whether these were meant DineshKhanna, whowasayearseniorto withotherthanhis ownmisplaced choice Irrfan in astill from Qarib Qarib Singlle to explorewithin himself, to discover. He to celebrateachievementsofpass-outs or Irrfanandhisclosefriend,says theactor,who of subject. would have had no dearth of remarkable goad the current crop towardsfutureexcel- wasshy inperson,wasalways tryingto push Then one morning, whilereadingthe lines scripts coming to him forthe next couple lence wasneverclearbutthe displays didof- the envelope on stage. Hisbestfriend wasa of ascene,Irrfanfoundwhathehadbeenlook- matter what theydid foraliving. This became decades. We canonlyimaginethe kind of feraglimpse of anumber of stalwart per- studious girlfromhis batch, Sutapa Sikdar, ingfor. ThescenehadYogicallhisdrivertofetch the reason Irrfan agreedtodothe movie. beauty he would’vebrought to our screens. It formersintheirearly days.Inthisgallerywas who would become his wife. himafteradinnerdate.Hecarriedpackedfood Intheeditingroom,Idiscoveredsomething willbealongingleftunfulfilled.Butit’snosmall arareblack-and-whiteshotofIrrfanonstage. “There wasaseriousnessabouthimthat’s forhim and it hit Irrfan, who oftenshared magical.IdiscoveredthatIrrfan’sperformance thingthatallheleavesbehindwillbecherished The actor had cut his teethinacting in the well known but he also had asense of mis- mealswith his staff, that here wasaman who had adynamic quality.Itchanged upon each for along, longtime. hallsofthis famousDelhiinstitute. Irrfan from his NSD days NSDArchives chief whichwesee in his roles,” says actor cared forpeople. Yogi loved people,itdidn’t viewing. The cinematic frames hadn’t shifted, ChandraisthedirectorofQaribQaribSinglle Alankyboywithaheadof curly hair,Irrfan MitaVashisht. OVER THE HEDGE by Michael Fry &TLewis CROSSWORD4105 DAYTODAY BYPETERVIDAL

ARIES(Mar 21 -Apr 20) LIBRA (Sep 24 -Oct 23) Forthe secondday Youmay be under running your some extrapressure emotional at themoment, but alignments are it’s all friendly. You strong,somethingwhich you arebeingurged to be more neverfind easy mainly because outgoing,confident in your feelings can be suchmessy ideas and public withyour things. It’s all aquestionof feelings. At all times, come relaxing intoit, accepting backtothe central requirement whatever happens.‘Go withthe —the development of flow’, as theysay. your unique talents. TAURUS (Apr 21 -May 21) SCORPIO (Oct 24 -Nov 23) Your naturalinstinct People youlivewith forself-preservation can be very difficult is boostedbytwo to pindown. CALVIN &HOBBES by Bill Watterson very helpful aspects Sometimes you to Venus,the planetwhich wonder what they actually representsyour emotionalneeds want! As it happens, somebody and desires. Your intellectand closeshould soon alter direction, instinctsshould be functioning lifting aburdenfromyour mind. as one, so your judgment could Emotionally, professionally and be impeccablehopefully. personally, allthe pieces of the ACROSS DOWN jigsawshould nowbebeginning 1Hemay act well, but he 1Staple food (4) GEMINI (May22-June 21) to fall into place. paintsbadly (8) Youmustget your 2Passage takenfroma priorities right.First SAGITTARIUS(Nov24-Dec 22) 5Agirlisafter one, right (4) pamphlet(7) amongthese is the Theremay be few 9Trace misdirected supply (5) 3Contenders forthe high need to co-operate individuals whoare 10 Rattlecausedbyaloose jump (12) with other people,whether at genuinelyhappy ratchet(7) 4Pole position (6) work or at home. It therefore withrecent follows thatyou shouldbeas discussions andagreements. 11 It won’t keep youfully 6Atheartanoration shows a charming as possible. You Thisispartlybecause your occupied(4-4,4) sense of proportion (5) mustbeagood listener for latent perfectionismiscoming 13 Battle suit (6) 7Imposing corporal that’s one of the best ways to out,soyoucan trytosee such 14 Adynamic proposition punishment (8) see to it that others do take discontentasveryuseful, (6) 8Don’t take legal action for youseriously. encouragingthe desire to do better next time round. 17 Sporting event thathas its nothing(4,2,6) MARVIN by Tom Armstrong CANCER (June 22 -July23) ups and downs 12 Everyyear one may await its Noteverything CAPRICORN (Dec 23 -Jan 20) (12) return with addedinterest(8) worksout as Youcan’t stayasyou 20 Spedtoo much,and went 15 Afterthis month there’s expected, but then arefor ever,neither over the limit (7) everything to put in (7) whatwould lifebe do youwant to.If likeifeverythingwent newroutinesor 21 Concerning amorning’s 16 Occasionwhen spirits are according to plan? Pretty methods aretobeaccepted, it papers (5) calledfor (6) boring, probably. Bearthis mustbewith an option for 22 Lockers AtoGperhaps 18 Three pointsgotomy reassuring and simpletruthin change in the nearfuture.The (4) opponent (5) mind over the coming days as point is thatitisonlywhen you 23 Call forarising 19 OffshorespotIstole away to partners, lovedones and put your plans intopracticethat (8) (4) colleagues start to playup. you’ll identifythe pitfalls. LEO(July 24 -Aug 23) AQUARIUS (Jan21- Feb19) SolutionsCrossword4104:Across:1Desertion,8Arena,9Mailbag,10Rigout,11 Thisisatimefor Secret,hidden or Athens,12Flagging,15Sanskrit,18Emigre,20Averse,21Tarnish,22Elite,23 realism. Youshould suppressedfeelings Tailoress.Down:2Exact,3Eileen,4Transfer,5Naming,6Deposit,7Castigate,11 Apostates,13Afterall,14Inherit,16Kismet,17Dinner,19Rests. acceptthaterrors areonce again have occurredand bubbling over.You that you’ll soonbeinaposition should be awarethat, even if to work out who was your behaviourhas been responsibleand why. Thereis impeccable, others couldstill be JUMBLED WORDS DifficultyLevel3s no need to apportion blame, annoyedorenvious.That may Instructions onlytoprevent thesame errors be their responsibilityrather being repeated. In fact, if you thanyours,although youmight Givenbelowarefourjumbledwords.Solvethejumblestomakeproperwordsandmovethemto TosolveaSudokupuzzle, learn from your mistakesyou have tosort them out and therespectivesquaresbelow.Selectthelettersintheshadedsquaresandjumblethemtoget 4194 everydigitfrom1to9 will deservepraise. restorecommonsense. theanswerforthegivenquip. mustappearineachofthe ___isideal,itistheworkoftheimagination.-MarquisdeSade(9)) nineverticalcolumns,in VIRGO(Aug24-Sep 23) PISCES(Feb20-Mar 20) eachoftheninehorizontal Yououghttobeable Youstill have all 4195 LVAEI ADIUNP rowsandineachofthe to ensurethat your witsaboutyou, nineboxes. partners arenever thank goodness. In

SUDOKU again in aposition to fact youmay be able forceyour hand.However, to see sense whereotherpeople whethersuchanaim is arecompletely confused.The CORSS EPARCH DifficultyLevel realistic is another matter. onlything bothering youmay

SUDOKU 1s=Veryeasy;2s=Easy; Probablythe best youcan do is be along-distanceaffair,or 3s=Medium;4s=Hard; stateyourcaseand attempt to even afamilyconnection 5s=VeryHard;6s= win themovertoyour way which is stretching thelimits

of thinking. of your affections. Sade de is qu ar -M on. ti na agi im the of rk wo the is it ideal, is ess pin Hap : er

Answ Genius SOLUTION

H AC RE P AID, UNP OSS, CR VE, LI :A UTION SOL

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THEINDIANEXPRESS,THURSDAY,APRIL30,2020 @ieExplained #ExpressExplained 9 TheOutbreak If thereare questions of current or contemporaryrelevancethat you E EXPLAINED would likeexplained, please [email protected]

MAHARASHTRA GUJARAT DELHI MADHYAPRADESH RAJASTHAN

10000 Tests 1,29,931 10000 Tests 51,601 *Reproduction 10000 Tests 43,370 *Reproduction 10000 Tests 31,060 *Reproduction 10000 Tests 92,506 *Reproduction Recovered 1,388 9,318 Recovered 434 number for Recovered 1,078 number for Recovered 377 number for Recovered 770 number for 9000 9000 April21-27 9000 April 15-18 9000 April20-23 9000 April 16-21 R1,50* CASES R1.38* R1.15* R 1,16* R 1.44* (APRIL 27) (Smallrangeof (Low qualityfit) 8000 8000 8000 dates fit) 8000 8000

7000 7000 7000 7000 7000

6000 6000 3,774 6000 6000 6000 52 CASES 54 3,314 120 CASES DEATHS 183 (APRIL 27) DEATHS DEATHS 5000 5000 DEATHS 5000 (APRIL 27) 5000 2,387 5000 2,301 400 CASES CASES 4000 DEATHS 4000 4000 4000 (APRIL 27) 4000 (APRIL 27) 1,018 576 3000 CASES 3000 3000 CASES 3000 290 3000 343 179 CASES *Reproduction (APRIL 7) (APRIL 7) CASES CASES (APRIL 7) 2000 number for 2000 (APRIL 7) 2000 2000 (APRIL 7) 2000 April 17-26 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000

0 0 0 0 0 March1April7April27 March1 April7April27 March1April7April27 March1 April7April27 March1April7April27

PUNJAB FACT CHECK, GROUND REALITY TAMILNADU

10000 Tests 17,021 *Recent period 10000 Tests 1,01,874 *Cases growing Recovered 104 datadoesnot fit Recovered 1,128 at lowerthan 9000 exponential in a 9000 exponential R N/A* robustmanner R<1* rate 8000 Revisiting virus curve, 8000

7000 7000

6000 19 6000 25 DEATHS DEATHS 5000 to read lockdown effect 5000 2,058 CASES 4000 4000 (APRIL 27) On April 9, The Indian Express analysed thenational andstate-wise COVID-19growthcurves. 3000 342 3000 690 99 CASES Howhavethese shapedsince? In updatedcurves, trends during last 3weeksoflockdown CASES CASES (APRIL 27) 2000 2000 (APRIL 7) (APRIL 7) 1000 ALL INDIA COVID 19 CASES &DEATHS 1000 AMITABHSINHA PUNE,APRIL28 0 0 March1April7April27 35000 1000 March1April7April27 ON APRIL9,wehad publishedthe growth curves of CONFIRMED CONFIRMED the novelcoronavirus epidemic in various states. 30000 CASES DEATHS BIHAR Covering datauntil April 7, we hadshowedhow,just 800 UTTARPRADESH over amonth afterthe outbreak beganinthe first 25000 31,286 918 10000 Tests 21,468 *Reproduction week of March,the trajectory at the national level 10000 Tests 70,307 *Reproduction and in manystateshad begun to resemble what is so 600 number for 20000 ■SinceApril7,whenIndiahadrecorded5,321cases numberfor Recovered 57 typicalofthe spread of an infectious disease —an Recovered 463 9000 April20-23 and167deaths,thecountsforbothhavegrownover 9000 April18-22 R 2.01* exponential curve. 15000 R 1.50* Withlessthan aweek to go before Indiasteps out fivefold.Whilewehaveplotted918asreportedbythe 400 8000 stategovernmentsuntilApril27,thetotal 8000 of anationallockdown, and intothe next phase of 10000 thecontainment strategy,werevisitthose growth nationwidehascrossed1,000since. 7000 200 7000 curves here,inanattempt to illustrate the impactof 5000 2 the lockdown, or at leastlook at what happeneddur- 6000 ing this period. The national lockdown imposedat 6000 34 DEATHS 0 0 midnight of March 24 —often described as the March 1April 27 DEATHS 5000 biggesthuman quarantineever—was aimedat 5000 slowing down therateofgrowthofthe epidemic, so 2,053 TOP7STATES INFECTED BY COVID 19 4000 that the number of patientsneedingurgentmed- 4000 CASES ical attention could remain at manageablelevels while government and local authorities would ramp (APRIL 27) 10000 ■Maharashtraremainsontop.Whathas 332 3000 366 up health infrastructure and preparethemselvesto Maharashtra 3000 38 CASES changedsinceApril7isthatthen,itaccounted CASES dealwithlargernumber of peopleatalater stage. 9,318 Gujarat CASES (APRIL 27) forone-fifthofIndia’scases(1,018of5,321); (APRIL 7) 2000 As we move towardsthe end of thatperiod, the lock- 8000 2000 (APRIL 7) down does seem to have resulted in asignificant now,itsshareismorethanone-fourth. 3,774 TamilNadu,Delhi,UPandRajasthanremainin 1000 slowdown of the epidemic. Madhya Pradesh Uttar 1000 top7.NewentrantssinceApril7areGujaratand “I don’tthink thereisany doubt that the lockdown 6000 2,387 Pradesh did manage to achieve aconsiderable slowdownin MP.KeralaandTelanganadropoutoftop7. 0 2,053 Delhi 0 March1April7April27 the growth of thedisease,” said SitabhraSinha,asci- March1 April7April27 entistatthe Chennai-basedInstituteofMathematical 4000 Tamil Nadu 3,314 Sciences, who has been studying thespread of the 2,058 KERALA epidemic in India through computermodelling. Rajasthan ANDHRAPRADESH Sinha hadtold The Indian Express on April 12 that, 2000 2,301 10000 Tests 23,980 *Cases growing according to astudy he had been carryingout with 10000 Tests 80,334 *Reproduction his colleague Soumya Easwaran,the number of con- Recovered 362 at lowerthan 0 Recovered 258 number for 9000 exponential firmedinfected cases waslikelytoremain below March 1April 27 9000 April6-27 R <1* rate 20,000 by April 20.This,hehad said, wasadirect R 1.27* 8000 impactofthe lockdown, in the absence of which, 8000 computer models showed, the number would have TOP7STATE-WISE COVID-19DEATHS reached35,000.The number on April20was 18,465, 7000 well within the prediction. 7000 3 The reproduction number (R) we mention here — 400 ■Maharashtraaccountsforover40%of900+ 6000 areference to the averagenumber of personsin- 400 deathsnationwide.Thenextfourstatesaddup 6000 31 DEATHS 350 fected by an alreadyinfected person —are those cal- toanother40%+.Outsideofthetop7,two DEATHS 5000 culated by Sinha’steam. 300 otherstateshavewitnessedover20deaths 5000 There has been asignificantchangeinthe growth untilApril27—TamilNaduandTelangana,with 4000 curvesofthe states from thelasttime. Some states, 250 183 25deathseach. 4000 1,259 suchasKerala, have done well to contain the epi- CASES demic,winning global acclaim fortheir efforts, while 200 3000 485 3000 (APRIL 27) 335 CASES others, like Maharashtraand Delhi, have seen a 120 304 150 CASES (APRIL 27) steady rise in numbers. CASES 2000 Some other states, like Gujarat, whichhad amod- 2000 (APRIL 7) (APRIL 7) 100 54 estcaseload at that time,haveemerged as fast- 52 34 31 1000 growing hotspots.And states suchasWestBengal, 50 1000 Bihar and Jharkhand have just beguntoshowsigns 0 thattheycouldpotentially turn intotrouble zones 0 0 March1April7April27 over the next fewdays,although their current case Maharashtra Gujarat Madhya Pradesh Delhi Rajasthan Uttar Pradesh Andhra Pradesh March1April7April27 loadisnot very high. KARNATAKA JAMMU&KASHMIR OTHER STATES WESTBENGAL TELANGANA

StateCases Deaths Recoveries 10000 Tests 50,512 *Recent period 10000 Tests 16,619 *Reproduction 10000 Tests 13,223 *Reproduction 10000 Tests 19,063 *Casesgrowing Recovered 207 datadoesnot fit Recovered 176 number for Andaman 10 010 Recovered 119 number for Recovered 332 at less than 9000 exponential in a 9000 April 14-17 Arunachal 10 1 9000 April18-27 9000 exponential rate R N/A* robustmanner R 1.24* (Lowquality fit) R 1.52* R <1* (Confidence of Assam 37 127 8000 8000 8000 8000 calculation low) Chandigarh560 17 7000 7000 Chhattisgarh 37 032 7000 7000 Daman100 6000 19 6000 8 Goa 70 7 6000 22 6000 25 DEATHS DEATHS Haryana 308 4224 DEATHS DEATHS 5000 5000 Himachal 41 225 5000 5000 Jharkhand 1052 19 1,007 4000 4000 Ladakh 20 018 4000 4000 565 CASES 523 Manipur 20 2 663 3000 3000 CASES 3000 99 3000 393 (APRIL 27) 175 CASES 125 Meghalaya 12 10 CASES CASES (APRIL 27) CASES CASES (APRIL 27) CASES Mizoram 10 1 (APRIL 27) 2000 (APRIL 7) 2000 (APRIL 7) 2000 (APRIL 7) 2000 (APRIL 7) Odisha 1181 37 1000 1000 Tripura202 1000 1000 54 034 0 0 0 0 March1 April7April27 March1April7April27 Editing: Kabir Firaque March1 April7April27 March1April7April27 Graphics:Mithun Chakraborty&Ritesh Kumar

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THEINDIANEXPRESS,THURSDAY,APRIL30,2020 WORDLY WISE Iwant to entertain people,but 10 THE EDITORIAL PAGE with some substance. —IRRFAN KHAN The exit dilemma

§ FOUNDED BY § RAMNATH GOENKA Decision-makingunder high uncertaintyrequires BECAUSE THE TRUTH INVOLVES US ALL conviction. It is nowessential to beginend of lockdown

AFTER THEDELUGE Deepak Nayyar It is time to design clear rulesfor departurefrom PRIME MINISTER held his balance betweenthe twin objectives of sav- exit from the lockdown will have to bein cal- acceptednorms of fiscal prudence fourth round of consultations with stategov- ing livesand saving livelihoods. Foranother, ibratedsteps based on aplannedtransition ernmentsonApril 27 to reviewthe COVID- it would help restartthe economy, whichhas path in termsofsequenceand speed. In this RVINDSUBRAMANIAN HASlikened thecurrent economic situation to a 19 situation.The draconianlockdown, which been almostcompletelyshutdown, and the phasing, the geographical size and diversity of “pralay(deluge)”, in whichthe government should spend morethan even completes 40 days on May3,was discussed. collateral damageisbound to be fargreater India provide degrees of freedom that are what it oughttoinarainyday.India,the former chief economic adviser said As in the earlier meetings,several chiefmin- if the lockdown is extended. missing in mostcountries. A isters urgedthat the lockdown be extended. Acalibrated,planned and phasedexit On April 27,ofthe total736 districtsin at an e-Adda event hostedbythis newspaper,mustplan fora“substantially negative”growththis year that might requireanadditional fiscal expenditureofRs10 While no decision wasannounced, the lock- could also help managethe spread of the India,283 districtshad notreportedany down might well continue. virus.Sofar, morbidity andmortality associ- COVID-19cases so far, while another 18 dis- lakh crore. He has apoint. Corporateindebtedness wasalready high before the lockdown. Forgovernmentseverywhere, moresoaf- ated with COVID-19inIndia has been much trictshad no newcase in the last28days Notonlywill insolvency cases mount further,but even companies facing no significant terthe experience of Italy, Britain and the lowerthan elsewhereinthe world. This is (green zones). Thus,economic activity canre- cash flowissues wouldn’t invest in an uncertain public health as well as demand-con- UnitedStates,where governmentsdid toolit- possiblyattributable to ourimmune systems, sume without restrictionsin41per cent of strainedenvironment. Banks, too, aren’t going to lend, no matter howmuchliquiditythe tle toolate,imposing and continuing lock- whichhaveantibodies that could beeffective our districts. In addition, 48 districts had no ReserveBank of India(RBI) mayinfuse. The burden of non-performing assets,whichis downs is arisk-averse strategy.Ifthe spread in resisting the virus. Afterall,millions of mi- newcase in the last14days while 33 districts settoget heavierinthe coming months, makes it impossible forthem to financeaneco- can becurbed,itwould bring political kudos. grantsstrandedin megacities or relief camps had no newcase in the last21days. Thus, in If it is not, the microbeistoblame.Itisthe in crampedspaces have notcaughtthe virus 11 per cent of our districts that areorange nomic recovery.Last, but notthe least, arehouseholds. Facedwith layoffsand paycuts, equivalent of aone-way option in financial through contagion in largenumbers. It sug- zones, economic activity can beresumedina theywouldrather save and will be afraid to spend. markets, whereyou cannotlose.This is even geststhatthereare already some elements phasedmanner. Under the circumstances, the onus forensuring that the wheels of the economy start moreattractive nowasitconforms to herd- of herd-immunity in India that would grow Similarly,onApril 27,therewerenine moving —there’s no guarantee of it happening even with alllockdown restrictions be- behaviour by governmentsworldwide.Of stronger as the lockdown is liftedslowly. states, in descending orderofnumbers, that ing lifted—liesonthe government. Without somebody to spend, the economy is in real course, exit from alockdown posesareal The economic and social consequencesof had morethan 1,000infections: Maharashtra, danger of contraction, whichwill, in turn, worsen the problem of businesses going bust, dilemma forgovernments. It is aboutdeci- the lockdown have been severe.Alarge pro- Gujarat,Delhi, Rajasthan,MP, Tamil Nadu, UP, sion-making under high uncertainty,which portion of the self-employed, casual workers AndhraPradesh and Telangana. Takentoge- joblessness and loan defaultsthat can spread to the entire financialservices industry. The requires conviction and confidence. on dailywages,and informalworkers,who ther,theyaccountedfor80per cent of the in- one consolation todayisthat India is notsaddledwith itstraditional “3F” constraints— This dilemma will alwaysbelargerthan constitute90per cent of the totalworkforce, fections and 57 per cent of the populationin food, fuel and foreign exchange—whichweretriggers forinflation and balance of pay- lifewhen thereisasingle objective of saving Acalibrated,planned and have losttheir livelihoods. Demand has India. Therewere13states, in descendingor- mentscrises.Onthe contrary,publicfoodgrain stocks areatanall-time-high,global oil livesinapandemic. But it mustalso berecog- phased exit could also help droppedsharplyasemployment hascon- der,that had less than 1,000infections: West prices have crashedand thereisnorun on the rupee, unlikeduring the “taper tantrum” nisedthatthe health of people and the health tracted.Supplyhas been strangledbythe Bengal,Jammu &Kashmir,Karnataka,Kerala, period of May-August2013. The risks,ifatall, aretilted moretowards demand-side “de- of an economyare interdependent, where manage the spread of the massivereduction in output. Government Bihar, Punjab,Haryana, Jharkhand, Uttara- flationaryshocks”, as Subramanian puts it, than supply-side inflation concerns. both shapethe wellbeing of people. Thus,sav- virus. So far,morbidityand revenues, forbothCentreand states, have col- khand, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattis- ing livelihoods is an equallyimportant objec- lapsed. And, even if the lockdown is lifted garh,and Assam (in the lastfive, thenumber Thereisalegitimate question, though: If the governmenthastotakeupthe slack,where mortalityassociated with tive.Obviously, getting sickand going hun- now, economic growth during2020-21 of infections wasindouble-digits). Takento- will the moneyfor it come from? The finances of both the Centreand states areinamess, grycannotbeaneither-or choice. Everyone COVID-19inIndia has been would be zeroornegative. gether,theyaccounted for12per cent of the with receipts from taxand non-tax sources hardlycoveringevenexisting expenditures. But would prefer to stay healthyand be well fed. muchlowerthan elsewhere Forthe poor-75 per cent of rural house- infections and42per cent of the population. governments enjoy sovereign borrowing powers that allowfund-raising at ratesbelowthat It is the role of governmentstostrikeabal- in the world. This is possibly holdsand 50 per cent of urbanhouseholds - The distribution of green,orangeand redzone of triple A-ratedinstrumentsissuedbyprivate corporates, moresointhe present risk-averse ance and reconcile these twoobjectives, attributable to our immune food securityisatrisk.Itisamatterofsur- districts among states is uneven. The distri- scenario.Also, thereistheoption of deficit financing(“printingmoney”) throughtheRBI sub- rather thanjuxtapose them as conflicting,re- vival. Similarly,for micro-small-medium en- bution of economic activity across states is quiringachoice to be made. systems, whichhave terprises,their survivalisatstake.Large firms, also unequal.Evenso, thereare possibilities. scribing to primaryauctions of government securities. Thereare,ofcourse, costs in such Lockdowns, combinedwith mass-testing, antibodies that could be exceptthose with deep pockets,will also Economic activity can be resumedindis- powersbeing exercised. Past precedents—whether the issuance of ad hoc TreasuryBills to contact-tracing,containment-zones,manda- effective in resisting the struggle. Whateverthe government might tricts without infections and in greenzones. the RBI prior to April 1997 or the stimulus packagepostthe 2008 global financial crisis —do tory-quarantines, canonlyslowdownthe virus. After all, millions of stipulate, mostfirms will find it difficult to The orangezone districtscan be broughtin notinspireconfidence. This is the time to design clear rules fordeparturefromaccepted speedatwhich the infection spreads.This paythe wagesoftheir employees, forthese as theyturn green. The lockdown should con- norms of fiscal prudence. Anystimulus has to be transparent and time-bound. might helpincountries wherepublichealth migrants stranded in will onlyadd to their cashlosses duringthe tinue in states suchasMaharashtra, Gujarat facilities arerobust, yetnot adequatefor large megacities or relief camps in lockdown. Healthcare forpatients, except and Delhi(with limitedrelaxationswhere numbers. But our publichealthsystemispoor cramped spaces have not those with COVID-19, has diminishedin possible) and in redzone districts,contain- and could neversuffice forour large popula- caught the virus through termsofbothaccess and quality.Ineduca- ment-zones or hotspots within cities, as long tion if the pandemic spreads. Thereisnovac- tion, learningoutcomes, already poor,will get as necessary. THE PRICKLYSTATE cine yet. From development through trials to contagion in large numbers. worse as schools and colleges remain closed. In thisdecision to beginexit from the lock- production will be at leastone year,and far It suggests that there are In everysphere, the short-term effectsofthe down, PM Modi will needtoact with the At atimeofcrisis,governmentshould welcome, notpunish, longerbeforeitbecomes available in suffi- alreadysome elements of lockdown will have long-term consequences same confidenceashedid whenimposing cient quantities forour massive population. -hysteresis-asfuture outcomeswill be the lockdown. ideas, criticism.Theseprovide ammunition forthe battleahead It is nowabsolutely essential to beginthe herd-immunityinIndiathat shapedbythis past. process of exit from the lockdown. Forone, it would growstronger as the Forthe economy, the sooner the lock- The writer is an economist and former Vice NFACINGTHE coronavirus challenge, information and ideas arethe onlyammuni- would enablethe government to find some lockdownislifted slowly. down is liftedthe better.But the process of Chancellor,University of Delhi tion currentlyavailable, and should bewelcomedand evaluatedirrespective of their provenance, whether theyoriginatefromwithin the government or from the pub- Ilic. But agovernment whichhas, in better times, sought suggestions directlyfromthe public over the weband through the Prime Minister’s app, has become undulysensitive at atime of gravecrisis. When 50 young officers of the Indian Revenue Service forwarded, through their association, policy suggestions, in areport titledFORCE (Fiscal Options and Response to COVID-19Epidemic) to the Central BoardofDirect Taxesand shared them on COMPASSION,ABOVE ALL socialmedia, the Centretermeditasaposition“contrarytocurrent policies of government”, read it as abreachofservice rules and institutedaninquiryagainstthree senior Income Tax Nation’s fight against coronavirus cannot ignorethe chronicallysickand vulnerable officers. Some of the suggestions maybecontroversial, forinstance, ahikeinincome tax rate to 40 per cent forthose earning over Rs 1crore ayear foralimited period of time, but the response is repressive and excessively out of proportion.The officers neverclaimedthat Shah Alam Khan their document wasofficial. Publiclydismissing the controversial suggestions would have sufficedifthe government wanted to distance itself from the report. ILIVE IN asuburban,gated (let’s call it co- side the AIIMS, in Delhi. Within 24 hours of the hospital whereIworkisworth mention- Meanwhile, public questioning of thegovernment’s handling of thepandemicinMani- rona-secure) colony in Noida at the edge of the announcement of the lockdown, the ing. It wasencouraging that the prime minis- purhas landedseveral citizens in trouble with the law—police have invokedsections of Delhi.Idon’t have to worryabout my liveli- streetsand footpaths near the hospital were teraskedcitizenstoclapand clang thalis (uten- the DisasterManagement Actand the Indian Penal Code, including sedition. In one case, it hood, clean water, food, or moneytobuy empty. I’mnot surewherethis cohortmelted sils) as amarkofappreciation forhealthcare had merelybeen suggestedthat aproposedquarantine centreinImphal should be moved hand sanitiser.For work,Itakethe express- away.What is moreworrying is that they workers.People responded to the PM’s call waytoDelhi. Afew days afterthe lockdown might discontinue their treatment. It’s unfair with gusto.Unfortunately, suchappreciation fromagricultural land to adisusedairstrip. The deputy chief ministerwas strippedofall his wasdeclared,Iwitnessedastream of mi- to comparetragedies,butIfeel thatthe chron- wasshort-lived—junior doctors of the hos- portfolios,amid acontroversyoverrice allocationunderthe NationalFoodSecurity Actdur- grant workers and their familiesonthe ex- icallysickare the worstaffected in situations pital whereIworkwereasked by their land- ing the coronavirus lockdown, apparentlyfor being critical of the chief minister’s assur- pressway—men carrying children, women, suchasthe current lockdown. lords to vacatetheirpremises.There were also ances of adequatefoodsupply. AndinPortBlair,ajournalistwas bookedforaskingwhythe children carrying younger children and the According to aWHO report(2015), nearly reports of afemale doctor in Telangana being phonecontactsofCOVID-19patientswerebeinghomequarantined. Instead of arresting him, elderly.Poor people, deprivedoftheir liveli- 5.8 million people in India dieevery year of assaulted by the police who had stoppedher the authorities could have simply explainedthat tracing call records is one wayofdiscov- hoods, were supposedlywalking to theirvil- non-communicable diseases (NCDs). forviolating the curfew —she wasreportedly lages, some as faras200 to 400km. Constant evaluation and surveillance hold the on her waytowork.Iwish there wasless noise ering apatient’s close contacts. Sitaram(name changed)sitsinfront of my keytotreating suchdiseases —this anyway is and moreassurances about providing equip- It is generallyagreedthat long afterlockdowns arelifted, nations will have to remain corona-securecolony. He sellsballoons and According to aWHO report adifficult proposition in acountrylikeIndia. ment to medical professionals. in close cooperation, so that ideas that work in one place can be borrowedand deployed had once told me that he earns about Rs 200 of 2015,nearly 5.8million Afterthe lockdown, alarge numberofthese Physical distancing is imperative to check elsewhere.The principleapplies domestically, too. Over-sensitive and pricklyresponses aday.Sitaramlivesinashantyacross the road people die everyyear in India patientscould have been severely affected. the spread of the virus. But the lockdown betray insecurity,preciselywhen governmentsmustprojectconfidence. and has three mouths to feed.After thelock- of non-communicable In 2018,2.15millionnew tuberculosis (TB) could have been implemented with more down, hisonlysourceofincome has driedup. cases were diagnosedinIndia. Imagine the compassion. People’s healthisthe responsi- But Sitaram is still lucky —heand his family diseases(NCDs). One in plightofthesepatients, alarge number of bility of the state. But at no stageshould it re- members areapparentlyhealthy. The lock- four Indians runs the risk of whom would be on treatment at DOTS (di- sorttomethods that hurtthe marginalised. HIS OWNPATH down could mean death foralarge number dying of an NCD before they rectlyobservedtreatment short-course) cen- The healthcaresystemofanation should not of the chronically-ill or those under treatment reachthe age of 70. Constant tresand/or at hospitalOPDs, whichare now be judged by itsresponsetoanepidemic but or awaiting hospitalisation. eithershut down or inaccessible due to the by itscommitment to itspeoples’health in the Irrfan pushedbackagainstBollywood mainstream, made his Ihavewritteninthisnewspaper about evaluation and surveillance stringent curfew.The resurgence of TB —mul- long term. Awell-oiledhealthcaredelivery hold the keytotreating audience see and believe.His best wasyet to be cancer patientswho come to metropolitan tiple drug-resistant TB —asaresult of notfol- system would have been useful in times like cities fortreatment. Once their funds evapo- suchdiseases —this lowing treatment protocols is well known. It these. But it’s nevertoo latetolearn from bad rate,theyliveonthestreetsnearthe hospitals anyway is adifficult is important that we trackthe healthofTBpa- experiences. ITH IRRFAN KHAN’Spassing, we mourn the loss of agreat actor.He wheretheyare undergoing treatment (‘The tientsduring the lockdown period. wasone of those performers who dig deep intothemselvestodis- cancer refugees’, IE, July23, 2018). Hundreds preposition in adeveloping The devotionofmycolleagues, students, The writer is professor of orthopaedics, AIIMS, W coverthe truth, even when he played theflakiestofcharacters.He of suchcancer refugees live on thestreetout- countrylikeIndia. nurses, ancillarystaff,and other members of NewDelhi. Viewsare personal had that very unique, most paradoxical quality,something that all great actorspossess: To makehis audiences accept the falsity of film as an ineluctable truth, to makethem believe. He began, in 1988, in ShyamBenegal’s tele-serial Discovery of India.His latestfilm, Angrezi Medium releasedinmid-March,but couldn’t reachthe theatres because of the lockdown. APRIL 30, 1980, FORTY YEARS AGO He wasacinephile’s delight. Critics lovedhim. But the constraintsoffindinggood work in afilm industrywhichcoastedonformula-heavy flicks,and star-drivenvehicles were also A SSAM CLIMBDOWN Bangladeshimigrantsbecauseitwouldbe The finance ministrywill refund the precious his constant companion. He beganworkwith directors who brokeintoHindi cinema, lat- THE ASSAMESE HAVE modifiedtheir original “inhuman” to do so. metalthrough 1,000 centres. erally, justlikehehad. The mid-’90s Bollywood wasonthe vergeofamassive churn: The stand on the foreignersissue, saying that they do notwant their repatriation”but onlytheir GOLD BONDS KOIRALA INTERVIEW mainstream, under the steam of the three young Khans, Aamir-Salman-Shah Rukh, was detention”. This climbdowntoanolive GOVERNMENTMINTS AREworking over- “OUR RELATIONS WITH China will be ‘very creating demand and supplyfor family-friendly, mono-cultural, mono-theistic romances branchnow offeredtothe Centreto“diffuse time to refine 13,993kgs of gold and make ‘friendly’ and our relations withIndia will be and sanitisedsocial dramas. Pushbackwas arriving, in the shape of filmmakers who came tensions in Assam”,student leaders and bars forrefund to the gold bond holders after the friendliest,” said BPKoirala, Nepal’s only from the Hindi-speaking heartlands of the North, from Vishal Bhardwaj,Anurag Kashyap, GanaSangram Parishad sources said. Octoberthis year.The gold hadbeen given democraticallyelected formerprime minis- Tigmanshu Dhulia, whowantedto tell their stories, and neededactorswho could do the job. Denouncing the “occupation army-likebe- by the citizens under theNational Defence ter. Theman can do it again,become PM, if This Khan, whowas happytojunk his surname, wasfinallyright whereheneededtobe. haviour” of the militaryand police forces in Gold Bond Scheme in 1965 in wake of the the Nepalesepeople votefor multi-party par- the strongestpossible terms, they seriously warwith Pakistan. About 1.4lakh bond hold- liamentarydemocracy in the referendum on He wascapable of being as rawand visceral as the stories he wasoffered.And soon, he was regrettedthat while theyhad revisedtheir ers will getbacktheir gold holdings.They May2.InanexclusiveinterviewtoTheIndian outstanding.Big Bollywood took notice,and made agrabfor him. Big Hollywood wasn’t far stand, the Centrewas “not showing anywill- were notonlygetting regularinterestontheir Express on theeve of the elections,Koirala behind, and casthim in afew mega-budget entertainers. By then, Bollywood had turned ingnesstobudge from theirposition”.The possession, but the valueofgold has skyrock- said that “Nepal belongs to the Asiancomity new-agey enoughfor Irrfan to be able to makesome of his mostexciting work.But his best, Assameseleaders said that theyhad changed eted during the last15years. Prices have gone of nations. We will have to keep the combiningmaturityand“thehraav (gravitas)”,wasyet to be.Farewell,Irrfan.Youmadeussee. their position on the repatriation of up from Rs 130toRs1,400 per tengrams. Americans and Russians at adistance”.

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THEINDIANEXPRESS,THURSDAY,APRIL30,2020 WHATTHE OTHERSSAY “On Monday, globalcoronavirus cases passed 3million, meaning one in three patients is in the US.The US government has failed its people and also failed 11 THE IDEAS PAGE the world.” — GLOBALTIMES,CHINA Learninginapost-Covidworld The ways out Stimuluspackagemustfocusonruralareasand Economyand societywill notbethe same afterpandemic retreats.Our experiences during middle-incomegroupstohelpgenerate lockdown arepointing us in the direction of necessaryand possible changes demandandkickstartvirtuouscycle

government having transparent discus- sions. All meetings thatthe prime minister has with the chief ministers should be open —likeinParliament. The people areeager to hear notonlywhat the prime minister has to say, but what their chief ministers areplanning. Agriculturemustbegiven the MadhavChavan toppriority -buying of farmers’ goods,their SunilKAlagh transportation and storage. Exportoriented SCHOOLS STARTEDSHUTTING down in industries needtobeopenedup. White- China in lateJanuaryand by thelastweek of BY NOW, we have all read about howun- collarworkers can work from home, but March,all the world’s schoolswereclosed. precedented acrisis COVID-19is—soIwish notthe blue-collar workers.Theyare the Almost likesunsetand sunrise,asthe last to getstraight to themain issues, and pos- backboneofthe economy.Migrant workers schools in central African countries stopped sible solutions. We needtosimplify our are grappling with no income and crowded working, theChinese schools begantore- communication, present asustainable plan living conditions —with rentstopayand open. Othercountriestoo areopening the and, above all, implement. Yes, we must notenoughfood. They mustbeprovided doors of their schools cautiously. But thereis continue testing, but Ifeelthat we aresorely these basic survivalresources. It willbedif- agreat dealofuncertainty in the air every- lacking in implementation. ficult to getthese workers backfromtheir where. In India,thereare murmurs that Thereisnoquestioning the wisdom of homeswhenthe economyopens up. The schools could remain closed until September Prime MinisterNarendraModi’sstrategy current Rs 500per month is notenough, or October.And thereisthe question: What in ensuringacomplete lockdown. While and this should be increasedtoatleastRs will happen “afterall this is over”? the Centre, RBI and states have announced 3,000.The total costfor thisentireexercise As schools begantoshut down in differ- aslewofgood plans, whydowestill hear of would notbeveryhigh —about Rs 50,000 ent countries, the immediatereactionwas to the stoning of doctors, the lackoffollow- crore. This is asmall price to paywhen one shift the classroom to homes using whatever ing of the rules, non-availability of essen- considers alternatescenarios which may technology waspossible since peoplewere tial food and money forthe poor. Forme, be disastrous. lockedin. Thereisalotofthinking, planning, the answer lies in inadequatecommunica- In the short-term, afiscal stimulus andexecution happening in ahurry in every tion and implementation. While we all needs to be givendirectlytothe ruralar- country, includingIndia.Countries or regions mustworkinunifiedfashion,the main eas, and taxesmustbereduced forthe mid- or even schools that have moreeasy access onus lies with our elected representatives, dle-income group to incentivisethem to to Internet-devices and learning resources in right down to theMLA.Itistime they spendand generatethe much-neededde- the appropriatemedium of instruction seem earnedtheir votes and the trustthat their mand. Stimulus mustalso be giventothe to have made the transition to onlinelearn- constituentshaveplacedinthem. They MSMEs in order forthem to paytheir ing ratherquicklyalthough notwithout some mustappear at leastonce aweek before the wagesand reopen their operations. Lastly, pain. Howeffective these transitions were CRSasikumar public, afterdonning masksand gloves and supportmustalso be giventolarge indus- and howgood the relatively shortexperience adhering to social distancing norms, to ex- triestoopenupwithspecific guidelines, waswill have to be analysed notonlyeduca- turnedtoradio-television technology of the primaryage group wherestrong founda- plain in simple terms the government’s but without anydraconian laws or many tionally, but also sociallyand psychologically. 1980s and ‘90s. Theyare trying to getteach- tional skills arelearned. policies.Asthe situation is dynamic, they impedimentsfor either neworexisting in- Early reports from China do notpaint arosy ers and studentsengagedwith educational Increasing public access to Internetfor mustcontinuouslyupdatethe generalpub- dustries: Nobody will open up or enter if picture. Although thereare moremobile con- resources on portals through WhatsApp school-agelearning by creating device li- lic of the changes. Making appearances on fear is drilledintothem. nectionsthan people in China,only59per messages and so on. Mostefforts arecentred braries is apossibility.Investment in thecre- TV andgiving instructions is notenough. Wherewill the money forall of the cent of the mobile connections arewith in- around school subject learning although this ation of good contextualisedcontent in This is the needofthe hour.Because the above come from? We mustempower the ternetand only47per cent households in is reallyvacation time. In the best of times, Indian languages is aneed. Integrating tech- void of informationisquicklyfilledbyspec- states to act withinthe broad guidelines China seem to have PCs or laptops. So, it must the classroom is noteffective as various as- nology in education oftenmeans creating ulations and rumours, mainlythrough so- framedbythe Centrewhichcannot,and have been relatively easy forthe Chinese to sessmentshaveshown. Howeffective these moreattractive audio-visual textbooksthat cial media. Leon Festinger’s theoryofcog- mustnot actasapolice force. If alcohol is move to ahome-basedonlinelearning sys- hurriedlyput together home-learning efforts arereallyone-way carriers of knowledge. nitive dissonancebasicallyexplains that an inco me source, then letthe states de- tem, but onlyfor abouthalf the population. I will be,especiallyfor thelower 50 per cent, Thereisaneedtorecognise thatthe new people tend to look forconsonance in their cide on it.The Centrespends fartoo little have notseen reports about what happened is abig question mark. Will the underprivi- technology candomuchmoreand create action —right or wrong. Forinstance, we as apercentage of GDP when compared to the rest,whichIsuspectliveinrural China leged lag further behind? If we aretalking non-linear paths of learning. arewell-aware of thefact that smoking to othercountries.Any stimulusmustfo- or areonperipheries of the glittering Chinese about “completing the portion”, almost It is said our economy andour society will leadstocancer, but smokersbring about cus on therural areas andthe middle-in- economy. everyone will. But thereare bigger problems notbethe same from hereon. The needfor ill-advised consonance by following any come groups to notonlytide over thecri- In comparison to China, India has about to consider. learningskills thatwill helptosurvive and 80-year-old doctorwho smokes and has no sis, but also generatedemand to kickstart abillion mobile phone connections. Available These aredifficult and stressful times for thrive in the neweconomywas already be- cancer.And so it is, that when some MLAs, the virtuouscycle. Industrywillnot pro- dataindicatethat of these, 87 percent are all. Apart from the discomfort of forcedlock- ing discussedbefore COVID. It appears now MPs and self-proclaimedleaders have duce anything without demand, even if it pre-paid, whichgives us ahint about the eco- in, thereisthe anxiety about the future that the economy is going to changeeven weddings, and break the rules as VIPs, the is opened. nomic background of the people owning among parents. Children can sense these ten- moredrastically. Therewill be morepeople averagepersonwonders,“whycan’t i?” — As the PM said, “Jaan Hai tohJahan Hai”. these connections. Of the billion mobile sions. Iwould notworry toomuchabout dependentonagriculture and rural liveli- thus bringing about consonancetotheir The time hascome to followhis mottoin phones, 67 per cent are3Gor4Ginternet- school examination results during this pe- It appearsnow that the hoods. We needmoreproductive land re- wrong actions. letter and spirit. Alot of the building blocks connected.Some of these owners also have riod. Instead, our focus should be on creative economyisgoing to change sources and morerural livelihoods. Alarge Theeminent virologistIan Lipkin has have been put in place by the PM. If anew laptops or desktopsathome but theyare lim- learning activities that engagebothchildren even more drastically.There number of peoplehavereturnedtovillages. said that complete normalcy willreturnto stimulus packagemanages to keep/bring ited to about 13 per cent households. Our and parentsand lead to other long-lasting will be more people Some will go back to oldjobs while others the worldafter avaccine isdeveloped, backworkers, it will be an opportunity for ground-levelexperiencematches with these lessons. Reliefisneeded, notmorestress. will neednew skills to find work.The edu- whichisaboutayear away.The economy, us to getbackonthepath of growth. States, numbers. In rural areas of Maharashtra, Wheneverthe schools reopen,the sheer dependent on agriculture and cation system hastobesensitive to the im- though,isfloundering.Sowhat dowedo industryand citizens —all of us mustsup- Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh although90per relief of going backtoschools mayalso mean rural livelihoods. We need mediateneeds of the youth as we contem- in the meantime other than communicate portand act as Indians. The futureisinour cent families have mobile phones,depend- therewill be the desiretogobacktobusiness more productive land platelong-term reforms. as outlined? We shouldhaveavery short- hands and our effortscan makeall the dif- ing uponthe state, about 40 per cent to 60 as usual. But experiences from the shutdown resources and more rural As the economychanges, theneedfor term plan (three months) and ashort-term ference betweenjannat(heaven) and ja- per cent of these areregular phoneswithout period could be usedtomodify the educa- lifelonglearningisbecoming more urgent plan (nine months),that will needtobefre- hannum (hell). internetaccess. tion system as we enter anew normal situa- livelihoods. Alarge number than ever.During the lockdown period, peo- quentlyreviewed. So, the Indian population can be divided tion. of people have returned to ple have learnedthings that theywould Theveryshortterm plan involves the The writerisabusinessconsultant intoseveral different categories. First, the Forexample, it is observedthat wherever villages. Some will go back to neverhavebefore. Theyloved the experi- highlyprivileged oneswith home accessto less-educated parentshavebeen invited to old jobs while otherswill ence,evenifgrudgingly.Thereisgoing to be broadband through multiple devices.Second, facilitatetheir child’s learning, theyhave individual needtolearn newworkskills. Our those with internetaccess via smartmobile shown enthusiasm. Parentsofyoung chil- need new skills to find work. experiences during lockdownare pointing phones. Third, with mobile phones but with- dren todayare mostlyschooled if notedu- Theeducation system has to us in the directionofnecessaryand possible LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR out internet and finally, thosewithoutcell cated and areeager to learntohelp their chil- be sensitive to the immediate changes. We should reflect on those and act. phones. Broadly, this is aproblemof dren. Parents’ role in children’s education has needs of the youth as we 10:40:40:10division of the populationwith to be enhancedbytrainingthem in a“con- The writer is co-founderand president of GLARING GAPS theratiosvarying regionally. In response to tinuingeducation” mode.This is especially contemplate long-term Pratham. Viewsexpressed in the article are THIS REFERS TO the editorial, ‘Reset LETTER OF THE this division, various stategovernments have true forthe children in anganwadisand early reforms. personal and reform’ (IE,April 29). Inadequacies WEEK AWA RD and deficienciesintrinsic in our health system and theabsence of asupport To encouragequality reader system,especially fordaily wage intervention, The Indian workers,are attenuating ourefforts to contain the Coronavirus. Though our Express offers the Letter of government is seemingly making all- the Week award. The letter Anew line of action adjudged the best forthe out effortstocope with this contagion, the initial delayinour response to it week is publishedevery cannotbejustwished away.Our tak- Saturday. Letters maybe India can collaboratewith the US and Germanyinmoulding anew worldorder ing shelterunderthe extenuating e-mailedto claims like the smalldeath toll in our [email protected] Ram Madhav countryascompared to those in other or sent to The Indian countries will onlyshowour reluc- Express, B-1/B, Sector 10, tance to learn from ourmistakes. Noida-UP 201301. ONE HUNDRED years ago, therewereno stood at 82,000infectionsand 4,500deaths. Sudetenland, aGerman-speaking area of ample of democraticactivism in combating Tarsem Singh, Mahilpur visasand passportsfor people to travel in DerekScissors of theAmerican Enterprise the former Czechoslovakia, Europe decided the corona challenge. Prime Minister Europe, America and their colonies. Then Institute, aWashington-basedthink-tank, to appeasehim,rather thanconfront. Narendra Modi, together with his colleagues, THIS REFERS TO the editorial, ‘Reset came WorldWar Iand things changed —na- argues that the number of infections could Roosevelt waswatching from afar when the is leading from the front, and has success- and reform’ (IE, April 29).Through phones withhigh-speedinternetcon- tional boundaries became rigid. Economic be as high as 2.9 millioninstead. European nations —likeBritain, France and fullyimplemented alockdown and social Ayushman Bharat component of PM- nections.Given their curiousity, chil- stagnation, and recessionfollowed. Some countries don’t followany conven- Italy—were celebrating the Munich distancing measures, with full popular sup- JAY, the governmenthas triedtoim- dren then accessimages and videos Nationalism turnedintoultra-nationalism, tional course.Chinaisone of them.Itfollows Agreement.HeevenpraisedHitler saying, port.Acountrywith apopulation of about provetertiaryhealthcare access forthe glorifyingviolence and bigotry.A leading to anotherworld war. AfterWorld what is described as “historical experience”. “I am convincedthat hundredsofmillions 1.3billion has reportedlyseen about 17,610 vulnerable who areinsured under the youngmind is aspongeand absorbs WarII, we created an interconnected and in- Whatever it is today, is aproduct of the long throughout the worldwould recognise your activecases.Modidid notresorttoany arbi- scheme by takingadvantageofthe all this. Parentsand the government stitutionalisedglobal order.For the last65 revolution that had culminated in Maocap- actionasanoutstanding historic service to traryorauthoritarian measuresthoughthere hitherto under-utilisedprivate health- an extraresponsibility to imbibeout- years, despiteseveralhiccups, the worldor- turing powerin1949. TheChinese world- all humanity”. were deliberateactsofprovocationand mis- careinfrastructure. Public healthin- of-syllabus social concepts forthe bet- der has remainedlargely intact. viewisguidedbythree important principles: Unsurprisingly,Hitler violatedhis prom- information likeIslamophobia. In the face of frastructureisindispensable forany terment oftomorrow’s societyand the This pandemic threatenstoundothat GDP-ism, China-centrism and Chinese ex- ise of “no further aggression” in less than one suchprovocations, Modi displayedenor- government to improve thehealthof prosperity of the nation. worldorder.Justasbefore, countries are ceptionalism —derivedfromthat revolution. year,and WorldWar II began. WhereBritain mous equanimity,calm and optimism. He itspeopleand over-reliance on private Prashant Singh, RaeBareli turning inwards, becoming authoritarian. Deng Xiaoping had reportedly declared wasin1939-40 is whereAmerica stands to- proved that democracies with visionary infrastructurewon’t suffice. This is ev- Somepoliticalscientistsare predicting the in the 1980s that the mostimportant logic is day. The US presidentDonald Trumpallowed leadership can tackle suchchallengeswith- ident from theexamples of South VIRTUAL DISTANCE rise of amoreclosed, narrow-nationalist economic development. Chinese economists coronavirus to devastateits states before fi- out compromisingonliberal values. Koreaand Singapore, whichhaveef- world. Economists arewriting offglobalisa- describeitas“GDPism”. The second is China- nally waking up. As lateasFebruary 28, In the unfolding newworld order, India, fectively containedthe spread of THISREFERS TO the editorial ‘School’s tion and free trade. centrism. Maoinsistedonindependence, au- Trumpwas asking hissupporters in South along with countrieslikeAmerica and COVID-19. Higher spending on public out’ (IE, April29).Thereisnoway on- Where does this pessimism stem from? tonomyand self-sufficiency.“Ode to the Carolina to notheedwarnings about the Germany, canplayapivotal role in building health in general and investment in line educationcan replace physical From acoronavirus virion?Not really. Two motherland”, thefamouspatriotic song com- virus outbreak in America. He wasblaming aworld basedon“human-centric develop- publichealthcareinfrastructure, in classrooms, but such is the crisis and countries, considered the most powerful, posedbyWangShen thatdeclares the“grand the media for“hysteria” and calling the co- ment cooperation”assuggestedbyModi. It particular,can’tbedelayed. Health, needofthe hour that online education have shakenthe confidence of theentire and beautiful” land of China “overthe moun- rona threat“theirnew hoax”.Now,the is time foranew AtlanticCharter: alongwith education, is apillar on hasbecome inevitable at all levels. And world. NiallFerguson, the American histo- tains, across the plains, across the Yangtze European nations, having cuddled up to Environment, healthcare, technology and which thehealth of asocietyand barring urbanlocations, onlineeduca- rian from the HooverInstitution,had called and Huang rivers”asthe “dear home of ours”, China for“Beltand Road” benefits, arestrug- democratic liberalism can be itsfoundations. countrydepends. tion still remains adistant reality due them “Chimerica”. Forthe lastdecade or is entrenchedinthe psycheofevery Chinese. gling to contain the pandemic fallout. China has an opportunitytoday, even as Dimpy Bhatia, Delhi to variousissues likepoor internet more, Chinaand Americahavecreated an Third, is Chinese exceptionalism. China does- Interestingly, the countries that stood up it faces opprobriumglobally andunrest bandwidth, lackofawareness among economic relationship model that Ferguson n’t believe in learning from others. China to thiscontagionaremostlytheAsiandemoc- within the country. The Chinese Communist BETTER TOMORROW studentsand parentsand poor skills of compared with Nichibei, the US-Japan eco- should followits ownwisdom foranswers racies. South Korealed the way, conducting Partyhas aphrase, “Luxian Douzheng” or line teachers. In both healthcareand edu- nomic bonding prominentlyinexistence un- to itsproblems, itsleaders insist. moretests than America on asingle day. struggle. It means powerstrugglefor some, THIS REFERSTOarticle, ‘The other pol- cation,the COVID-19 crisishas ex- til the endofthe lastcentury. Coronavirus The Chinese nationalistworldviewhas a Singapore undertook extensivetesting, mak- but it also denotesthe struggle for anew lution’ (IEApril 29). The transition into posedhugegaps. Going forward, both has shown that Chimerica is justachimera. parallelinhistory in pre-WorldWar II ingahugeefforttotrack downanyviralsymp- party line. Therewereseveral in the past. Can schooling from home has giventhe the centraland stategovernments The Chinese leadership facesaccusations Germany. Ethnicsuperiority,historical toms. Hong Kong and Taiwan, withtheir past the worldhope forabetter one now? younger generation arightful claim to mustfocus on infrastructure. of hiding factsfromthe world, allowing the claims andthe Aryanexceptionalism were experienceof SARSfatalities,havetakentimely electronic devicessuchasmobile BalGovind, Noida virustocross borders and turn intoapan- allveryfamiliartothe people of theworld measures to contain the virus effectively. The writer is national general secretary,BJP demic. Till last week,their officialfigures in the 1930s. When Hitler occupied India,onthe otherhand, has setanex- anddirector,India Foundation

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THEINDIANEXPRESS,THURSDAY,APRIL30,2020 NEW POLIO OUTBREAK IN NIGER TheWorld Health Organisation says Niger has been struckbya new outbreak of polio, after the suspension of immunisation activitiesduring the COVID-19pandemic. TheUNhealth agency reported that twochildren were infected by the highly 12 infectious, water-borne disease and that one wasparalysed THE OUTBREAK TheWorld

PANDEMIC WATCH 1mnUScases,tollsurpassesVietnamWar

AGENCIES Final journeysare NEWYORK/WASHINGTON, USCONSIDERING APRIL29 SCANNINGFORINTL AIRTRAVELLERS getting lonelier, last IT HAS been 100days since a35- year-old man presentedto an ur- In Bangkok. AP gent careclinic in Snohomish ■The US is considering County,Washington, with afour- scanning of air travellers goodbyesshorter dayhistory of cough and fever from countries hit hard THAILAND and tested positive forthe virus. by the coronavirus to His wasthe firstcase to be stop itsspread in the SRIRAMVEERA Bangkokto detected. country, President MUMBAI,APRIL29 easesome Since then, morethan one Donald Trumphas said. million people had tested posi- BEITagraveyard incentralIndore, restrictions tive in the United States. ■ Trumpsaid this could afuneralhomeinthemidwestern In that time, residents in be doneincoordination US stateofWisconsin or aceme- Bangkok: Officials in most statesinthe country— with either the airlines or teryin Italy's northeastern region Bangkok saytheyare along with morethan halfofall government. “We're of Friuli-Venezia-Giulia; the final preparing to easerestric- humanity —havebeen ordered working with the airlines. journeys aregetting lonelier and tionsthatwere imposedto to shelter in their homes in the Maybeit's acombination thelastgoodbyesshorter.Atthese fight the spread of COVID- hopesofslowingthe spread of of both,” he said. three COVID-19hot spots,conti- Bodies being buriedinNew 19,including the reopen- the highlycontagious virusand Vice President MikePence during avisit to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. AP nentsapart, fear is getting the York's HartIsland. Reuters/File ing of restaurantsunder to trytokeep hospital systems better of grief and even death strict conditions.The from being overwhelmed. doesn’t provide an escapefrom Bangkok Metropolitan The death toll climbed above eral thousand, according to face covering on avisit there. socialdistancing. had broken down. Rules and pre- Administration an- 58,000 on Tuesday, surpassing analysis of mortality databyThe In the last100 days,the Indore's Hafiz Javed, aceme- cautions, yousee." nouncedWednesdaythat the loss of American lifefromthe NewYork Times. globaleconomyhas suffered Misinformation tery caretaker,says the mostdis- Elaboratefunerals featuring it hopestoliftrestrictions Vietnam War, as Florida’s gover- While the timeline forthe suchaswiftand sudden decline AINED comforting moment forhim tributes andsharing of memo- oneightkindsof establish- nor metwith President Donald spread of the virus has shiftedas that economists have had to emergesaschallenge these days is to watchthe coffin ries areathing of the past. E●

mentsithad ordered Trumptodiscuss an easing of public health authorities find ev- reachbacktothe Great EXPL pushed, rather than lowered, into AUSgovernmentadvisory closedthrough April30. economic restraints. idence that the pathogen was Depression foranalogies. the grave."Everyone stands some directsfor COVID-19deceasedto The city's plans call forthe Epidemiologists have esti- spreadingincommunities ear- Florida GovernorRon As the US looksatlong-term plans and economicrecovery distance apartfromeachother.At becoveredintwo body bags,and reopening of restaurants, matedthat the true numberof lier than believed, thespeed at DeSantis, among the latest to initiatives, misinformation about vaccines is shapingtobea times, therearen't enough peo- forthe face to be coveredwith a markets, exercise venues, infections maybeabout 10 times whichthe worldhas been trans- lock down hisstateagainstthe major concern before one is even ready. ple to liftthe body,soitisdifficult mask."Noone reallyknows if the parks,hairdressers and the known number,and prelim- formedisshocking. pandemic,has been weighing The claims rangefromconcerns that vaccine trials will be to lowerthem softly. We have to virus is active andharmfulafter barbers, clinics and nurs- inarytesting of howmanypeo- Masks arebecoming an ac- whether to join other states in a rushed, to conspiracy theories that Bill Gates wantstouse slidethem intothe pit," Hafizsays. death; so, these areprecautions." ing homes, animal hospi- ple have antibodies to thevirus ceptedpartofpublic life, whichis relaxation of workplace restric- the vaccine to inject microchips in people. Giventhat avac- With fewrelativesattending Thereisalso acap on the tals and petsalons, seems to supportthat view. whythere wassuchabacklashon tions and stay-at-home orders cineiswidelyacceptedasthe best waytodefinitively end burials, the lastrites finish number of mourners. Amaxi- and golf courses and driv- Similarly,the official death toll is Tuesdayafter VicePresident Mike that have been credited with the pandemic threat, fake news-fuelledresistance to the use quickly. "Weinstructfamily mum of 10 relativesare allowed ing ranges. likelytovastly underestimate Pence flouted the Mayo Clinic’s slowingthe contagion but which of vaccines could have devastating consequences. members to pile mudoverthe in the cemetery.Technologyhas the true number by at leastsev- protocols on wearing aprotective have battered the economy. body,and once that is done,we helped. "Westartedlive-stream- rush to finish the job. No one ing the final rites.Iremember the hangs around, thereisnot much firsttime we had38people,sec- NEPAL UK now has crying," Hafiz says. ond time it jumpedto167 friends 3returneesof At theMalwamillregion'scre- and relativeswatching it." 2nd-highest matorium, too, thepandemic's In Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, in Tablighimeet shadowloomslarge.Cloth north eastItaly,Cladio pouches and steel boxeswith Prescherm is thankful that the testpositive COVID-19 asheshang from hooksorsit on worstseemstobeoverinhis re- thefloor.Thelockdownmeanslife gion. "All cemeteriesare closed Kathmandu: Nepal on death toll —and death —are at astandstill. here. Theyare open onlywhen a Wednesdaysaid that Familymembers of the de- body is buried. No one is coming three persons, who re- across Europe ceasedaren't turning up to col- to cemeterytolay arose in these turnedfromIndia afterat- lect the mortalremains. "Some times," Prescherm says. tending aTablighi Jamaat arewaitingfor things to open so "NewspapersinBergamo are gathering, have been ANDYBRUCE they can travel forashes immer- filled withdeathnotices, pageaf- tested positive, bringing LONDON,APRIL29 sion;others are paranoid about terpage.Thattellsyoutherealstory the total number of the infection,"saysGauri Kailashpati, of howmanypeoplehavedied." COVID-19 patientsinthe THE UNITED Kingdom nowhas asocialactivistfromIndore. Prescherm'sfamilyhavebeen countryto57. The three Europe’s second-highestofficial In the US, meanwhile, funer- funeral directors for150 years men, who were staying in deathtoll from the novelcoron- als followastrict protocol. now. "Scenesofdeath andgriev- quarantineafter returning avirus pandemic, accordingto Wisconsin funeraldirector John ing arefamiliar to me but thishas from the Tablighi Jamaat newfiguresonWednesdaythat Wenig shareshow his sonwas been astrangeexperience. From gathering in Delhi's coverfatalities in all settings, in- leftspeechless by alady who had fear to sorrow, everything has Nizamuddin area last cluding in nursing homes. losther husband after60years been different...Ithinkwe, as a month, have been Some 26,097peopledied of marriagetoCOVID-19. "She country,remain shockedbythis brought to an isolation across the United Kingdomaf- told my son, 'Areyou telling me and need to heal as agroup... but ward of Narayani Hospital tertesting positive forCOVID- Ican'tevenhaveaproper funeral first, this virus has to bestopped." in Birgunjfor treatment, 19 as of April 28 at 1600 GMT, formyhusband?' My son said he FULLSTORYON according to agovern- Public Health England(PHE) couldn't even hug the lady who www.indianexpress.com ment spokesperson. said. That means the United STADIUM TESTING Kingdomhas had more COVID- SINGAPORE 19 deaths than FranceorSpain Johannesburgresidents gatherinastadium to be tested forthe virus on Wednesday. South Africa will begin aphasedeasing Failure to stopvirus at have reported. of itsstrictlockdown measures whichhavebeen in place since March 27,onMay 1. It has over 4,360 cases and 86 deaths. AP Govtwarns “These more complete data offakenews will give us afuller and moreup source led to 184 countries to datepictureofdeaths in Singapore: Singaporeon England and will inform the gov- Wednesdaywarned ernment’sapproachaswecon- ‘Life hastogoon’:How Sweden faced virus going through hell: Trump againstspreading fake tinue to protect the public,” news and videos about Yvonne Doyle, medical director their hands to slowthe spread of portoroutingsinlocal parks. the $140 billion being sought migrants workers, saying at PHE,said. THOMASERDBRINK& the virus —without anymanda- Gatherings of morethan50 LALITKJHA by GermanyfromBeijing for this could disturb lawand Suchahigh UK death toll in- CHRISTINAANDERSON tory orders. people arebanned. Museums WASHINGTON,APRIL29 thepandemic. order in dormitories creases the pressureonPrime STOCKHOLM,APRIL29 Sweden’s death rate of 22 per have closedand sportingevents Leaders of the US,the UK and wherealarge number of MinisterBorisJohnson’sgovern- 100,000 peopleisthe same as have been cancelled. At the end US PRESIDENT Donald Trump Germanybelieve that the deaths foreignworkers, includ- ment whichisfacing criticism SHESTOOD leaning on her cane, that of Ireland, whichhas earned of March,the authorities banned doubleddownonChina forfail- and the destruction of the global ing Indian nationals, have from opposition parties forbe- brieflyresting amongdozens of accolades forits handling of the visitstonursing homes. ing to tame the coronavirus at its economycould have been been tested positive.Law ing tooslowtoimposealock- bubblyyoung Swedes out enjoy- pandemic,and farbetterthan in That’s roughlyit. Thereare al- very origin, saying it has ledto avoided,had Chinashared the and Home Affairs down and tooslowtointroduce ing one of the firstsunnyspring Britain or France.Yet,onthis mostnofines,and police officers 184countries "going through information about the virus in its Minister KShanmugam masstesting. days of theyear. warm spring day, at least, there can onlyask people to oblige. hell",asseveral Americanlaw- early phases. warnedsuchvideoscan In mid-March,the govern- “I’m trying nottoget too Picnickers in Stockholm waslittle evidence that people Pedestrians wearing masksare makers demandedsteps to re- "It's in 184countries, as you lead to seriouslaw and ment’schief scientific adviser close to people,” said Birgit Lilja, lastweek. NYT were observing the protocols — generallystared at as if theyhave ducedependence on Beijing for hear me sayoften. It's hard to orderincidents. He said said keeping the UK death 82, explaining thatshe had left adding further mysteryto justlanded from Mars. manufacturing and minerals. believe. It'sinconceivable," the authorities arewatch- toll below20,000 would be a her house to pickupanewiden- Sweden’s apparent success. Throughout the crisis Trumphas been publicly Trumptold reporters at White ing those who spread the “goodoutcome”. titycardinperson. “But Itrust wholesale lockdownto“flatten While other countries were Sweden has had enough inten- blaming China forthe global HouseTuesday."It should have videos "verycarefully". Althoughinternational them to be careful with me.” the curve” of the epidemic, pub- slamming on the brakes, sive careunitstodealwith spread of the "invisible enemy" been stoppedatthe source, Warning those spreading comparisons aredifficult, the Trustishigh in Sweden —in lic health officials pointedto Sweden kept itsborders open, Covid-19patients, the minister and launchedaninvestigation whichwas China. It should have fake news maliciously, he newfigures confirm Britain’s government, institutions and fel- trustasacentral justification. allowedrestaurantsand bars to of health and social affairs, Lena againstit. He has also indicated been stopped very muchatthe said, theywill be charged place amongthe European lowSwedes.When the govern- Swedes, they said, could be keep serving, leftpreschools and Hallengren, said in an interview. that the United States maybe source, but it wasn't.And now if acrime wascommitted. countries worsthit hardestby ment defied conventionalwis- trustedto stay home,followsocial grade schoolsinsession and “Wehave250 emptybedsright lookingat"alot moremoney" we have 184countriesgoing the pandemic. REUTERS dom andrefusedtoorder a distancing protocols and wash placednolimitsonpublic trans- now.” NYT in damages from China than through hell.” PTI

OTHER TOP GLOBAL STORIES Clinton endorses Biden:‘Wish Boris, fiancee announce Pak media mogul remandedin he were president rightnow’ birth of boy, two days judicial custody in 34-yr-old case

The Biden campaign had ad- after he returned to work April28. The70-year-oldsupremo of LISALERER,MAGGIE vertisedthat the event would fea- PRESSTRUSTOFINDIA An accountability courton the PakistanMuslim League- ASTOR&SYDNEYEMBER turea“special guest,” and on her ASSOCIATEDPRESS LAHORE,APRIL29 TuesdaysentRehmanto jailonju- Nawaz, is currentlyinLondon for NEWYORK,APRIL29 Twitter account Tuesday, Clinton LONDON,APRIL29 dicialremandtillMay12afterthe medical treatment. all butconfirmed the endorse- Boris PAKISTANI MEDIA mogul Mir prosecutorsaid the NABdid not NABofficials said Sharif ille- HILLARYCLINTON,the 2016 mentasshe disclosedthat she BRITISH PRIME MinisterBoris Johnson Shakilur Rehman, arrested on need him anymorefor investiga- gallyleasedthe land to Rehman. Democratic presidentialnomi- PRIMARIES: would be appearing with Biden. Johnson and his fiancee Carrie chargesofillegallyobtaining tion,the Dawn Newsreported. At the outsetofRehman’s re- nee and apolitical veteranwho THE AfterClinton endorsed Symonds announcedthe birth of governmentland hereoverthree The chargesagainstRehman mand hearingonTuesday, NAB knows firsthand what it is liketo Biden, the event turnedintoa ason on Wednesday, justtwo theysaid the babywas due in decades agowhen NawazSharif relatingtothe purchase of sev- Special Prosecutor Asim Mumtaz compete against President DEMOCRATS conversation aboutthe coron- days afterJohnson returnedto early summer.Nowedding date wasthe chief ministerofPunjab eral plots of land in Lahorego told the courtthathecouldnot Trump, threw her support be- avirus crisis.Withaneasyban- work followinghospitalisation has been announced. province, has been sent to jail on backto1986whenSharif wasthe be brought forthe hearing as he hind JosephRBidenJron port the kind of person that we terthat recalledthe breakfast forthe coronavirus. Symonds, an environmental judicialremand afterthe coun- chiefministerofPunjab province. wasadmitted to aprivate hospi- Tuesday, the latestparty leader want backinthe WhiteHouse,” meetings they both repeatedly Johnson’s office said campaigner and former try's anti-graftbodydid notseek The NABalleged that Sharif talowingtobad health. to makethe case forreturning Clinton saidonTuesdayafter- harkedbackto, the twoshared Symonds gave birthtoa Conservative Partystaffer,also his further custody. allowedRahman illegallyac- However, Presiding Judge the WhiteHouse to Democratic noon during avirtualtown ideas to supportwomenwho “healthybabyboy at aLondon said she wassickfor aweek with Mir Shakilur Rahman, the ed- quiremoregovernment- JawadulHassan expresseddis- hands in November. hall-style event with Biden were struggling because of the hospital” on Wednesday,and COVID-19symptoms, though itor-in-chief of the Jang group owned-landthan he wasal- pleasureoverthe bureau fornot “I’vebeennot onlyacol- aboutthe impact of thecoron- outbreak. both mother and infant were she wasn’t tested forthe virus. whichownssome of Pakistan's lowedbylaw. presenting the suspectand also league of Joe Biden’s, I’vebeen avirus on women. “You’vebeen wayahead on doing well. The babyisthe thirdborn to widelycirculatednewspapers On April27, theanti-graft refusedtoentertain the medical afriend, and Ican tell youthat Accepting her support, Biden these issues foralong time,” Johnson,55, and Symonds, asitting British prime minister and the Geo television network, body hadissuedanarrest war- certificateofaprivatehospital. Iwish he were president right said: “I reallyappreciateyour Biden said to Clinton —ashow 32, announcedinFebruarythat this century. It wasn’t immedi- wasarrestedonMarch 12 by the rant against theembattled for- Later,the NABbrought Rehman nowbut Ican’t wait until he is friendship.What a, justawon- of respect that wasoften re- theywereengaged andexpect- atelyclear whether Johnson National Accountability Bureau mer prime minister Sharif in the to the court in an ambulance —ifall of us do our parttosup- derful personal endorsement.” turned. NYT ing achild together.Atthe time plannedtotakepaternity leave. (NAB) andwas in itscustody till land corruption case. from the hospital.

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THEINDIANEXPRESS,THURSDAY,APRIL30,2020 13 ECONOMY GOLD RUPEE OIL SILVER `41,705 `75.66 $26.15 `38,100

Note: Spotgoldmarkets shut due to lockdown in majorstates. *Indianbasket as on March19, 2020 SENSEX: 32,720.16 ▲ 605.64 NIFTY: 9,553.35 ▲ 172.45 NIKKEI: 19,771.19 ▼ 12.03 HANGSENG: 24,643.59 ▲ 67.63 FTSE: 6,016.53 ▲ 58.03 DAX: 10,835.21 ▲ 39.58

Internationalmarketdata till1900IST FINAL REPORT OF TASK FORCE ON NATIONALINFRASTRUCTURE PIPELINE ‘GSK plans to sell HUL stake’

iar with the matter. position in India. 2020-25infrafundingpeggedat`111Lcr: REUTERS GSK plans to offloadpartorall The deal consideration was BENGALURU,APRIL29 of its5.7 per cent holding in paid in cash and shares of HUL, HindustanUnileverLtd through and wascompletedearlierthis BRITISH DRUGMAKER aseries of blocktrades, according month. Energy,roads,railwaystogetlion’sshare GlaxoSmithKline Plc is planning to Bloomberg News. AGSK spokesman declinedto asale of its$3.7-billion stakein In December 2018,Unilever comment on the matter. Unilever Ltd’slistedIndia unit, struck adealtobuyGSK’sHorlicks HindustanUnileverdid not im- Affairs forraising financial re- ment and assetmonetisation Bloomberg News reportedon nutritionbusinessfor $3.8billion, mediatelyrespond to arequest ENSECONOMICBUREAU sourcesfor the NIP. among other reforms forachiev- Wednesday, citingpeople famil- boosting theAnglo-Dutchgroup’s forcomment. NEWDELHI,APRIL29 Aimistoboost Out of thetotal expectedcapi- inginfra investmenttargets.Acrit- infrastructure talexpenditureofRs111 lakhcrore, icalstepinaddressing dwindling ENERGY,ROADS,railways and ur- projectsofRs44lakhcrore (40per privatesectorparticipation in in- US GDPcontracts 4.8% in Q1, banprojectswouldaccountforthe investments cent of NIP) areunderimplemen- frastructurecanbeinstitutionalis- bulkofallocations, involving total tation, projectsworth Rs 33 lakh ingdisputeresolutionmechanism estimated infrastructureinvest- crore(30 per cent) areatconcep- to efficientlyresolve disputes re- sharpestfallsince Great Recession ment of Rs 111 lakh croreduring AGGRESSIVEPUSHtowards assetsales, monetisation of tualstageandprojectsworthRs22 latedto PPP projects. Investments thefive fiscalyearperiod2020-25. infrastructure assets,setting up of development finance lakh crore(20 per cent) areunder mustbemade in the institutions the firstquarter, with less than a Thisisaccordingto thefinalreport institutionsand strengthening the municipal bondmarket development.The task forcewas created underThe Commercial REUTERS monthof pandemic lockdown for of the task forceonNational aresome measuressuggestedby agovernment panelto setupafter PrimeMinister CourtsAct2015,TheSpecificRelief WASHINGTON,APRIL29 moststates, don’t askhow farit InfrastructurePipeline (NIP) sub- boostinfrastructureinvestments.The panel has drawnupa NarendraModi, in his (Amendment)Act 2018 andthe will crater in the second quarter.” mitted to Finance Minister National InfrastructurePipeline to bring greater focus in this Independence Dayspeech last New Delhi Arbitration CentreAct THE US economycontracted in Gross domestic product de- Nirmala Sitharaman on area, whichiscrucialtoboostingeconomic growth. year,highlightedRs100lakhcrore 2019 forspeedyresolution,itsaid. the firstquarteratits sharpest clinedata4.8 per cent annualised Wednesday. Of the total project worthofinfrainvestmentoverthe The RBI’s latestcredit growth pace since the Great Recession as rate lastquarter, weigheddown capital expenditure, sectors such next five years to make India a$5- datashows that year-on-year stringentmeasures to slowthe by sharp decreases in consumer as energy (24per cent),urban(17 mentationorunder conceptuali- to aidtheprocessof galvanisingin- trillion economy. growthincreditoutstandingto the spread of the novelcoronavirus spending and adrawdown of in- per cent), railways (12per cent) sation —costing greater thanRs vestmentsininfrastructuresector Thesummaryreportfor2019- infrastructure sector fell to a19- almostshut down the country, Americanscall forthe end of ventoryatbusinesses. That was androads(18percent)arepegged 100crore per project. in next five years. 2025wasreleasedby Sitharaman monthlow of 3.3per cent. FY20 ending the longestexpansionin the lockdown in California the steepestpace of contraction to contributed nearly 70 per cent Besidesstrengtheningthemu- The task force, headed by onDecember31, 2019.Thefinalre- sawadeclineinbanks’appetite to the nation’s history. on April 26. Reuters in GDPsince Q4 of 2008 —the of the infra investmentsinIndia. nicipalbondmarket,anaggressive Economic Affairs SecretaryAtanu port has revised up NIPfromear- lendtoinfrastructurecompanies. The decline in gross domestic height of the Great Recession. A WhileCentre andstatesare ex- push towardsassetsales, moneti- Chakraborty,has also recom- lierRs100lakhcrore“inlightof ad- Datashows in the 11-month pe- product (GDP) reflectedaplunge deepening downturn in invest- pectedtohavealmostequalshare sation of infrastructureassets, mendedsetting up of three com- ditional/amendeddataprovided riodendedFebruary 2020, credit in economic activity in thelast predictions that theeconomy ment by businesseswas another in implementing NIP, private sec- deepeningof corporatebondmar- mittees: apaneltomonitor NIP by centralministries/stategovern- outstanding forthe infrastructure twoweeksofMarch,whichsaw wasalready in adeep recession. major factor in the slumplast torcontribution is expected kets,andsettingupDevelopment progress and eliminatedelays;a mentssince the release of sum- sectorasawhole shrank from Rs millionsofAmericansseeking “Theeconomywillcontinue quarter, helping to overshadow around 21 per cent, as per astate- FinancialInstitutionsfor infra- steering committeeineachinfra- maryNIP report,”the Centresaid. 10.55 lakh croreinMarch 2019 to unemployment benefits. The to fall until the countryopens positive news from ashrinking mentbytheFinanceMinistry.The structuresector,are among the structureministryforfollowingup In itssummaryreport, the Rs 10.18 lakhcrore in February CommerceDepartment’s snap- backup,”said ChrisRupkey,chief import bill, thehousing market NIP captures all projects—green- measures thathavebeen recom- implementation;and acommit- panelhadsuggestedeffective dis- 2020,thereby contracting by 3.5 shotoffirst-quarterGDP on economistatMUFG in New York. and morespending by the gov- field or brownfield, under imple- mendedbythegovernmentpanel teeinDepartment of Economic puteresolution,contract enforce- per cent. Wednesdayreinforcedanalysts’ “If the economyfell thishardin ernment. Snapdeal, 4shopping Listofdefaulters:Chidambaramaccuses ‘Govt hastostepinto complexes figure in US FM of takingshield behind technical rules protect 11 crore Indians, Notorious Markets List forNPAsasper the four-year pro- tive?...Why doesthisruleapplyto give hope to MSMEs’ EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE visioning cycle laid down by the the Nirav Modis andthe Vijay NEWDELHI,APRIL29 RBI,Chidambaramaccusedherof Mallyasand the Mehul Choksis,” “The time to make bold LALITKJHA The other four areTank takingshieldbehindthetechnical he said. Takingadig at the FM,he EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE decisions to save MSMEs WASHINGTON,APRIL29 Road in Delhi, Heera THE WARofwords between the rule and asked whyisshe apply- said “a FM who wassilent forthe NEWDELHI,APRIL29 is now. If businesses do Congress andtheBJP government ingthetechnicalruletothosewho last37dayshas suddenlysprung not see hope, they will SNAPDEAL,ONE of India’s largest Panna in Mumbai, over the listofwilful defaulters have beendeclaredafugitive oran to lifeandsprungto thedefenceof THE CONGRESS Wednesday e-commerce companies, along Kidderpore in Kolkata escalatedonWednesday, with absconder.“We understand the thesefugitives.Isn’tthatalittlesur- asked Prime MinisterNarendra decide to close” with four Indian shopping com- and MillenniumCentre former Finance Minister technicalrules of the RBI. We are prisingand ironical?” Modi to take urgent steps and an- PCHIDAMBARAM plexeshavefiguredintheUS’2020 PChidambaram accusing FormerFinance Minister notonthe technicality ...Thereare On Sitharaman’s remarkthat nounceafinancialassistancepack- FORMER FINANCE MINISTER edition of the Notorious Markets in Aizawl Finance MinisterNirmala PChidambaram. Expressfile defaulters,thereare wilfuldefault- scheduledcommercialbankshad agetoprotect the wagesand Listfor counterfeiting and piracy. Sitharaman of taking shield be- ers,thereare wilfuldefaulterswho writtenoffRs1.45lakhcrore inthe salariesofabout11crore people be seen as a“no-goarea”. Otherthan Snapdeal,the four hind technical rules andasking which loans have become NPA.” arestaying backinIndia facing in- UPAperiod,hesaid:“Iamsurebe- working in the Micro, Small and “The time to makebold deci- marketsare Tank Road in Delhi, Accordingto aNovember2018 the governmentwhyithastaken “You keep on throwing these quiriesandtryingtheirbestto pay tween2004and2014,bankswere MediumEnterprises(MSME)sec- sions to save MSMEs is now. If HeeraPanna in Mumbai, survey, 37 percentof itscustomers thetechnicalloanwrite-offroute accusations that all these loans backand thereare wilful default- applying the ruleand technically tor, andapaycheque protection businesses do notsee hope, they KidderporeinKolkataand reportedthat theyhad received a forfugitiveslikeNirav Modi, were givenduringtheUPA regime. ers,whohave fledIndiaandarebe- writingoff1.6lakhcrore,butby the programme on the lines of what will decide to close.The govern- Millennium CentreinAizawl. counterfeit product from Mehul Choksi and VijayMallya. Is the government seriouslysug- ing declaredfugitives.” sametoken, between2014and theUShadannouncedforanother ment has to step in todaytopro- In all, the US Trade Snapdeal. Hitting backatFinance gesting that no loans were given “Your RBI rule can apply 2019,Modigovernmenthaswrit- 1crore employeeswithincomeof tect11 croreIndiansandgivehope Representatives’(USTR)annuallist Delhi’s Tank Road marketwas MinisterNirmalaSitharamanwho after2014? Or that all the loans maybetothe first, second and tenoff 6.66lakh crore.So, when less thanRs3.5 lakh ayear. to MSMEs. It is bewildering that has 38 online markets and 34 in the Notorious MarketsList hadsaidwilfuldefaulters were givenafter 2014 areperforming thirdcategories.Afterfouryearsof youmention1.6lakhcroreshould Addressingapressconference, therehas been absolutelynofi- physicalmarketsthatare reported (NML)in2019.“Rightholderscon- beneficiariesof phonebankingun- loans?Imean, what do theytake fullprovisioning is made,you can notthe FM also mention the 6.66 former FinanceMinister nancial packageorassistance an- to engageinorfacilitatesubstantial firm that this market continuesto der the UPAregimeand the the people of India for? We may technically writeofftheloan.That lakhcrore rupeesthathergovern- PChidambaram lashedout at the nounced forbusinessessincethe trademarkcounterfeiting and sell counterfeit products, includ- NarendraModi government is be stupid, we’renot so stupid. youcandofordefaulters,wilfulde- ment has written offbetween NDAgovernment forremaining onsetofCOVID-19,” he said, ask- copyright piracy. ing apparel and footwear. chasing them to recoverthe dues, Loans have been givenafter 2014, faultersandwilfuldefaulterswho 2014 and2019…..Butthepointwe “non-committal on everything”, ing the government to announce “Snapdeal, one of India’s Wholesale counterfeit goods are he also askedthe Government loans were givenpriorto2004 have stayedbackandtryingto face areasking is,these arefugitives. beitanexitstrategyafterthelock- Rs1lakhcroreaswageprotection largest e-commerce platforms, is alsoreportedlysuppliedfromthis “breakuptheNPAsintopre-2004, also. Give the breakup?,” he said. an inquiry. Butwhy do youapply TheyfledIndia under your nose. down,financialassistancetostates assistance to help MSMEs pay known as aplace to purchase marketto otherIndianmarkets,in- 2004 to 2014 andpost-2014” ar- Responding to Sitharaman’s thatrule to awilful defaulter who Youhavedeclared themfugitives orafinancialpackage orassistance wagesand salaries forApril and counterfeit watchesand shoes,” cluding GaffarMarket and Ajmal guingthatit“will give us an idea statement thatnoloan is waived has fled India and your govern- and absconders.Why areyou ap- forbusinesses. He said monetisa- another Rs 1lakh crorefor credit the USTR said. Khan Road (in Delhi),” it said. PTI when the loansweregiven and offand thatprovisionsare made ment has declared him afugi- plyingthis ruletothem?” he said. tion of the fiscaldeficit should not guarantee fund forMSMEs. US adds 5ofAmazon’s Sensexrises 606 points on BRIEFLY ‘27oftop 100companies can’t foreign operationstolist easing of curbs,Fed meet Ex-FinSecyis sustain current salarybill’ PESBchief Kingdom to itsannual blacklist. As many as 27 of thetop 100companies listedonthe Natio- muchas52paise againstthe dol- ASSOCIATEDPRESS USTR cited complaintsfrom nal Stock Exchangewillnot be abletosustain current wage ENSECONOMICBUREAU lar to move above the 76 markto NewDelhi:Ex-financesecre- WASHINGTON,APRIL29 US businesses that consumers MUMBAI,APRIL29 75.66inthewake of theimprove- tary RajivKumarhas been can’t easilytell who is selling bill if revenuedips 30 per cent or more, aDeloittestudy said ment in globalrisk environment. namedPESBchairperson.PTI THE UNITED States forthe first itemsonthe Amazon platforms METHODOLOGY Impact will be larger since the DOMESTIC INDICES rose on Analysts said marketscontin- time addedfiveofAmazon’s and thatthe e-commerce com- Deloitte conducted astudy of cash stuck in inventory and Wednesdayasglobal markets uedtheirmomentumforthethird overseas operationstoits listof pany’s procedures forremoving the top 100 companies listed receivables is likely to increase edgedupahead of US economic consecutivesession andended ILO:305million “notorious markets” wherepi- counterfeit goods “can belengthy on the NSE in terms of market in such ascenario 27 companies won’t be able growth figures and aFederal withstronggainstrackingencour- jobsmaybelost ratedgoods aresold. The e-com- and burdensome.’’ capitalisation to sustain current wage bill Reserveratedecision whilein- aging globalcues. merce giant dismissedthe move Amazon firedbackwith a 11 of the 27 vulnerable from cash profits, if their vestors seemedbuoyedasmore Oil prices surgedafter US Geneva: TheILO estimated as partofthe Trumpadministra- statement Wednesday: “We Temporarysolution:Dipintocash companies have adebt to revenue dips by 30 per cent governments, including India, crude stockpiles grew lessthan 305 million full-time jobs tion’s “personalvendetta” strongly disagree with thechar- balanceorborrowinshortterm equity ratio of more than 1 or more plannedto easeanti-viruscontrols expected andgasoline posteda could be lostinQ2. AP againstit. acterizationofAmazon in this and allowsome businesses to re- surprisedraw.Brentcrudefutures The Office of the US Trade USTR report. This purelypolitical open.The Sensexrose606points, were up $2.23,or11per cent,at Representative on Wednesday act is another example of the ad- All the companies covered have an ability to pay their fixed Source: or 1.89 per cent,to32,720.16 and $22.69 abarrelby12:05 p.m. EDT ADBapproves addedthe Amazon.com Inc. do- ministrationusing theUSgovern- opex, interest and compensation cost from cash and cash ` Deloitte/PTI the NSENifty Indexgained172 (1605 GMT). US WTIfutures $346mnloan mains in Canada, France, ment to advance apersonal equivalents for about 5.5 months at the median, it said pointsat9,553.35 soared $3.58, or 29 per cent,to Germany, Indiaand theUnited vendettaagainstAmazon.’’ The rupee strengthenedas $15.92 abarrel. NewDelhi: TheAsian Development Bank on Wednesday saidithas ap- US places India on ‘Priority Sidbi launches proved a$346-millionloan Fed sticks to zero rate SC turns down Vodafone to thegovernmenttopro- Watch List’ forIPprotection liquiditywindow videreliablepowerconnec- pledge, vows to utilise for MSMEs, SFBs, Idea plea for immediate tion in rural areas of ‘LACKOFMEASURABLE Maharashtra. The loan will PRESSTRUSTOFINDIA NBFCs and MFIs support thestate govern- WASHINGTON,APRIL29 IMPROVEMENTS’ tools to help economy tax refund of `4,759 crore ment'shighvoltagedistribu- tion system programme for THE US on Wednesday placed ■ TheUSTRsaidIndia ENSECONOMICBUREAU contendingthe returns theyhad newgrid-connected rural Indiaonthe‘PriorityWatchList’for hadbeen placedonthe REUTERS MUMBAI,APRIL29 AASHISHARYAN filed, the refund neednot be agriculturalcustomers lack of sufficient measurable im- ‘Priority WatchList’ for WASHINGTON,APRIL29 NEWDELHI,APRIL29 processedimmediately. Thesaid across the state, said provementstoits Intellectual lack of sufficient mea- SMALLINDUSTRIESDevelopment taxrefunds between AY2012 and themulti-lateralfunding Propertyframework onthe“long- surable improvements US FEDERALReservepolicymak- BankofIndia(Sidbi)haslaunched IN AsetbacktoVodafone Idea,the 2017 have been withheld by au- agency. PTI standing” and “newchallenges” to itsIPframework. ers on Wednesdayleftinterest aspecialliquidity schemefor mi- Supreme Court (SC) Wednesday thorities forvariousreasons, such that have negatively affected ratesnearzeroandrepeatedavow cro,smallandmediumenterprises rejectedthetelco’splea,askingthe as transfer pricing adjustment, American right holders over the to do what it takestoshoreupthe (MSMEs), smallfinance banks Income Tax(I-T) Department to capitalisation of license fees, 3G NMCfounder pastyear. propertyrightsviolatorsaccount- economy, saying theongoing (SFBs),non-banking financial process and deposit taxrefunds spectrum fees, andassetrestora- onprivateprobe TheUSplaced10countries,in- ableandto ensuringthatUS inno- coronaviruspandemicwill“weigh companies andmicrofinance in- worth Rs 4,759.7crore.The apex tion obligation. cludingIndiaandChina,onthelist, vators and creators have afull and heavily”onthenear-termoutlook stitutions (MFIs)through banks. courtsaidtheauthoritieswerejus- Vodafone Ideahad sought tax Dubai: NMC Health founder alleging thatenforcement of the fair opportunity to use and profit and poses “considerable risks” for USFedChairJeromePowell. File The schemewouldprovidefi- tifiedinholding backrefunds un- refunds of Rs 4,759.7 crorefrom BR Shetty said aprobe con- intellectualpropertieshave deteri- from their work,” said US Trade the mediumterm. nancial supporttobanks,NBFCs tiltaxreturnsof thecompanywas theI-T department,claiming that ducted by his ownadvisors oratedor remainedat inadequate Representative Robert Lighthizer “The FederalReserveiscom- and MFIsbyway of term loans to perused by the authorities. itstax returns between AY2012 has found alleged fraudat levelsandtheAmericanswhorely afterthe release of annual Special mitted to usingits full rangeof Fedsaiditexpectstomaintainthe ensureoperationalcontinuityand The SC, however, asked the I-T and 2017 hadnot been processed the firm and Finablr. on theirprotection have difficulty 301Reportonthe adequacy and tools to supportthe US economy target rangefor itsbenchmark promote onward lending to department to take adecision on by theauthoritiesdespiterepeated withfairandequitablemarket ac- effectiveness of trading partners’ in this challenging time, thereby overnight lending rate “until it is MSMEs. The tenor of theseloans thependingtaxrefundsassoonas reminders on the same. cess.The countriesplaced on the protectionofIPrights. promotingitsmaximumemploy- confident that the economyhas will be 90 days. possible. Though the SC directed I-Tto ‘Groupsurge listbythe Trumpadministration Initsreport,theUSTRsaidthat mentandpricestabilitygoals,”the weatheredrecenteventsandison Mohammad Mustafa, I-Tdepartment authorities process Vodafone Idea’s taxre- delayindigitaltax’ onIntellectualProperty(IP)related India had been placedonthe UScentralbanksaidinastatement tracktoachieve itsmaximumem- ChairmanandManagingDirector have kept taxrefunds of thecom- funds worthRs733 crorefor issuesareAlgeria,Argentina,Chile, ‘PriorityWatchList’forlackofsuf- at the end of atwo-daypolicy ployment and pricestability of Sidbisaid,“Wewereprovideda panybetween assessment year AY2014-15withinfour weeks, NewDelhi: Lobbying groups China, India, Indonesia, Russia, ficientmeasurableimprovements meetingheldviavideoconference goals.” special liquidity window of Rs (AY) 2012 and2017, in abeyance, the relief couldbeshortlived.The have urgedIndia to delaya Saudi Arabia, Ukraine and to itsIPframework on the “long- because of the coronavirus pan- During twoemergency meet- 15,000crorebytheRBI...Thefunds claiming that the returns of the department had raisedaddi- newdigital taxthat will hit Venezuela. standing”and “newchallenges” demic. ingsinMarch,thecentralbankcut will be channalisedtoMSMEs companyfortheseyearswere“un- tionaltax demand of Rs 582 crore firms likeFacebookand “The Trumpadministration is that have negatively affected US With so muchuncertainty itsbenchmarkratetoarangebe- througheligiblebanks,NBFCsand der scrutiny” and since anotice forAY2015-16, whichisstuck in Google. REUTERS committedto holdingintellectual rightholders over the pastyear. aroundtheeconomicoutlook,the tweenzeroand 0.25per cent . MFIs.” had been issuedtothe company litigation.

Mumbai WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THEINDIANEXPRESS,THURSDAY,APRIL30,2020 BOOKIEINSHAKIB CASE BANNED ICChanded a2-yearban to Deepak Agarwal,afranchiseowner in the2018 T10 League held in the UAE, afterheadmittedto obstructing an ongoing investigation.The Indianbusinessman 14 SPORT wasnamedasthe man involved in Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasangettingbanned last year.

‘Difficult’ to host Olympicsif Countingthe zeroes in ‘zeroyear’ pandemic not Experts feel cancelling IPL 2020 will benefit all stakeholders but BCCI nottoo keen to add extrayear to Star contract contained: Abe MIHIR VASAVDA NEW DELHI, APRIL 29 AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE TOKYO, APRIL 29 LEGALEXPERTSandmarket-watchers,assess- ingthe impact of the COVID-19pandemic on JAPANESEPRIMEMinisterShinzoAbesaidon sports, feel that the cancellation of this year’s WednesdaythattheTokyoOlympicscouldnot IndianPremierLeaguemightbethebest-case take placenextyear unlessthe coronavirus scenariofor all stakeholders. pandemic is contained,asthe city'sgovernor Advising againstdelaying or shortening calledforanextensionof thenationwidestate of the season, theysay that by considering of emergency.The International Olympic 2020 as a‘zeroyear’, the broadcaster, Star, CommitteeandtheJapanesegovernmentlast andBCCIwill be abletodealwith thepresent month postponed the Games until July2021 economic uncertainty better and also bene- becauseof thecoronaviruscrisis.Withtheepi- fitinthe long run. demic'sworldwideinfectionrate climbingand “Sincethepandemicwillresultinachange experts suggesting avaccine is along wayoff, of timelines or lossofaseason, broadcasters doubtshavebeen raisedaboutthe chances of will need to reviewtheir contractswithevent holdingthe hugeevent next year. organisers.Theymay consider extendingthe "We'vebeen saying the Olympicand term of theircontract to include an extrasea- ParalympicGamesmustbeheldinacomplete sonwhereaseasonhas been cancelled,”apa- form,inthatathletesandspectatorscanallpar- perproducedbylawyerNandanKamath’sfirm ticipatesafely. It wouldbeimpossible to hold LawNK says. theGamesinsuch acomplete formunlessthe However, BCCI hasn'tyet givenuponthe coronaviruspandemiciscontained," Abesaid IPLidea. Earlier this month,BCCI secretary Jay in response to an opposition lawmaker. Shahhadsaid:“TheBCCIwillcontinueto mon- Abe's summary of thesituationwas later itor and reviewthe situation regardingapo- underlinedbyIOC President Thomas Bach. tentialstartdateinclosepartnershipwithallof "The IOC fullyagrees withthe positionof itsstakeholdersandwillcontinuetotakeguid- Prime MinisterAbe," Bachsaid in responseto ancefromtheGovernmentof India,stategov- aquestionfromReuters."Fromtheverybegin- ernmentsand other stateregulatory bodies.” ningof thiscrisis,we establishedtheprinciple Ontheimpactof thepandemicontheStar- that the Olympicand Paralympic Games can BCCIdeal,atopBCCIofficialsaid:“We willkeep onlybeorganisedinasafeenvironment for consultingthegovernmentand,basedontheir everyone involved. This principle has driven inputs,itwillbedecidedif theIPLcantake place all our decisions so far, and we remain com- or not. As forthe Star deal,it’s tooearly to talk mitted to it in the future." Abehas staked part aboutit.” The decision won’t be so straightforward as ahostofother commercial aspectswill be decidedonwhether the season is cancelledortruncatedaswell as possible visa of hislegacyasJapan'slongest-servingpremier However, withmostmegasportingevents restrictions, whichcould have an impact on viewership and sponsor interest. BCCI file on holdingthe Games and washoping fora aroundtheworld-Olympics,GrandSlamten- boom in tourism and consumer spending. nis,Europeanfootballchampionship-getting Japanhas gathered some$3billionindomes- cancelledorpostponedbyayear, thechances As partoftheir 2020 obligation, ticsponsorship, an Olympic record, and spent of IPLSeason13taking placeseem bleak. How suspension of obligations through close to $13billion on preparations. This,accordingto lawyerAnishDayal,who Star has alreadypaid theBCCI The prime minister said on Wednesday specialisesinsports lawandIPLcontracts,is“a approximately`1,500crore as that the Olympics "mustbeheldinawaythat clear situationofforce majeure”. Explaining an advancefor thisseason’s IPL. force majeure can mitigate losses shows theworldhaswonits battleagainstthe thelegal term,hesays,“Forcemajeure allows coronavirus pandemic," andcautionedthat thesuspensionof obligationsandthiswillhelp Those in the knowsay thatin Japanshould"bracefor aprotracted battle". both,theBCCIandfranchises,tomutuallydis- thecase of cancellation, and the Whatisforce majeure? aspartof thedeal,thebroadcastingbehemoth theIPLbytheBCCIislikelytobetreatedasforce Tokyoconfirmed 47 newinfections on cuss mitigation of the lossthatarises.” enforcement of ‘force majeure’, It’s an event beyond the controlofaparty; already paid BCCI close to `1,500crore –half majeureinthe contextofplayercontracts. Wednesday. Thenationaltallystandsat13,895 However, the tricky problem forthe BCCI something that could notbeforeseen at the of thisseason’sinstallment. Unless the BCCI decides otherwise, payment infections, including 413deaths, national will be the implementation of the ‘force ma- BCCI is expectedtoreturnapart time of enteringintoanagreement -inthe Onthefaceof it,incasethe“forcemajeure” obligations to players will stand suspended,” broadcasterNHK said. jeure’clauseinthebroadcastingdealwithStar of or the full advance payment. present circumstances, the COVID-19pan- clause comesintoplayand IPL gets cancelled, says notedlawyerNandan Kamath. Abe'scommentsechoedstatementsmade that has promisedtopay the Indian board demic. the BCCIwill have to refund the advance pay- by other senior Japanese officials this week. `16,347.50 croreoverfiveyears till2022. menttoStar.However, itisopento interpreta- What happensifthe season is postponed Tokyo2020presidentYoshiroMoritoldNikkan As partoftheir 2020 obligation, Star has Starto re-negotiatedealswithadvertiserswho Is the pandemic aforce majeureevent? tion.Chances arethe BCCI mightjustreturn a and truncated? Sports on Tuesdaythat the Games would be already paid the BCCI approximately`1,500 have alreadybookedIPLslots keepinginmind To trigger the clause,the BCCIwill have to partoftheadvancebringingintheimagerights According to Vidushpat Singhania, man- "scrapped"if theycouldnottakeplacein2021. croreasanadvance forthis season’s IPL. BCCI the originalApril-May slot.AnIPL later in the provethat it wasn’t justinconvenient, but im- clause. Thoseinthe know aging partner of KridaLegal, TheheadoftheJapanMedicalAssociation officials insistthat in the case of cancellation, year could see them changing theirminds. A possible, forthem to holdthe tournament be- also saythat thereisalso a if the IPL is postponed “the (JMA), YoshitakeYokokura, told anewsbrief- and the enforcement of ‘force majeure’, the productlaunchorpromotionofseasonalgoods causeof eventsbeyondtheircontrol.According possibility that the amount SIMPLY playercan still perform his ing on Tuesdaythat "unless an effective vac- boardwill return the advance payment. “Of can’tbeexpectedto beshowcasedon-airif the to lawyerAnishDayal,whospecialisesinsports could be carriedovertonext PUT duty,whichmeansthe fran- cine is developed, Iexpect hosting the course, we will return the amount,” said an IPL’s schedulechanges. lawandhasadvisedonIPLcontracts,thepres- yearandconsideredasanad- chises will have to paythe Olympicswill be difficult.” official. “In suchscenarios, theymay be forced to ent situation –the COVID-19pandemic and vance fornextseason. player hisfullfees”. SportslawyerVidushpatSinghania, man- renegotiateonexisting bookings, ratesand the government imposedlockdown –“is Incaseof atruncatedseason,itwilldepend aging partner of KridaLegal, says none of the packages,” Kamath,who has previously ad- clearly an event of forcemajeure”. Will Star getanextrayear in case this on whether thereisaclause relating to vari- partiesmay have to payany penalties if the visedthe BCCI andother stakeholdersonvar- season is cancelled? ablepay.However,itislikelythat therewill be forcemajeureclauseisinvoked.Additionally, iousissues, says. What happens if forcemajeureisinvoked? That'sthebest-casescenarioforStarinthe apay cutacrosstheboard–fromplayersalaries theycan consider Season13asa‘zeroyear’, AnotherpredicamentthatStarcouldfaceis It willgiveIPL stakeholders –BCCI, broad- presentcircumstances.Expertssaythatincase to broadcastpayments–incasetheIPLseason andnegotiate to addanextrayearattheendof thedropinadvertisingspendinginthecoming casters, franchises, players, and advertisers – the tournament does nottakeplace thisyear, is shortenedand/orheldbehindcloseddoors. thecontract to recoverlosses. months because of theCOVID-19-forced eco- temporaryreprieve as theywould no longer Season13can be considered a‘zeroyear’. An As per apaper producedbyKamath’s firm “Itdependsonhowthecontractisworded. nomicslump.Thereare those whofeelthat be tieddownbytheircontractualobligations. extrayear would mean Star getting another LawNK,broadcasters might also face re-nego- If it is ayearly restriction,theywill have to ne- even BCCI might face the same problem. “In Thiscanpossiblyhelpthepartiesarrive atane- seasontorecoverits losses. tiation andrefund requests from theiradver- gotiateanother year.However, if it is season- case theysomehowdohold Season 13 in gotiated settlement by coming to the table tisers, who have already booked spots.This wise, then the contract will continue till the September-October this year,asithas been with aclean slate, notburdenedbystrict Will the franchiseshavetopay the players means that the advertisement sales foraspe- particular number of seasons areplayed,” proposed, within months theywill have to clauses.“Forcemajeure allows thesuspension if the season is cancelled? cific period (for example, amobile phone Singhaniasays. hold Season 14 in April, 2021.These back-to- of obligationsand this will help both, the BCCI Thefranchise-playercontracthastwomain launch or summer-specific products) mayno We'vebeensayingtheOlympicand Theideaofcontractextensionhasn'tfound backIPLswilldryuptheadvertisers.Amarket andfranchises,to mutuallydiscussmitigation payment conditions: the playerneeds to pass longerberelevant if the tournament is held in, ParalympicGamesmustbeheldina takersintheBCCI.“Thatmightnotbepossible. dealingwithaslowdownwillnot beconducive ofthe loss arising,” Dayalsays. afitness test and has to getabonafide no-ob- say, October.“In suchscenarios, theymay be completeform,inthatathletesand We willgo forafreshtenderoncetheStardeal foranother IPL,” says aBCCImember. jection certificatefromnational boards. forcedto renegotiateonexistingbookings,rates spectatorscanallparticipate ends in 2022,” an officialsaid. He goes on to add that the Board, in case Whathappens to the BCCI-Star deal? According to those in the know, the contract andpackages,”Kamathsays.Anotherpredica- However, if the tournamentisheld in it holds an IPL this year,will have to startthe Thefateofthis dealhas worriedall IPL doesnotcontemplatecancellationof aseason. ment Star could face is the drop in advertising safely.Itwouldbeimpossibleto October –anoptionthe BCCI is exploring–it process of inviting bids foranew broadcaster stakeholders the most. As is the case with all Inanormalseason,afranchisehastopay 60 spending in the coming months. According to holdtheGamesinsuchacomplete could result in Star losing out on advertising in 2021. “The financial slumpwill mean they sportingleagues,itisthemediarightsrevenue percentof aplayer’sfeeby April30.Sofar, none reports,beforethe crisis hit,the broadcaster formunlessthecoronavirus revenue due to acombination of factors, in- won’t getgood moneyfor the TV deal. that keepscricket’s biggestbrand running.In of the players have been paid forthe season. wasselling a10-second advertisement slotfor pandemiciscontained.” cludingthe gloomy economic outlook,while Delaying the tender process and pushing 2017,StarIndiaboughtthebroadcastingrights However, if the seasoniscancelled becauseof `13-14lakhs. The slowdown couldimpact still having to paythe entirerightsfees. backthe broadcast rightsauction will be a of thetournament and promisedtopay BCCI thepandemic,thefranchiseswillprobablynot theseestimatesin case the tournament isheld SHINZO ABE, JAPAN PRIME MINISTER Atruncated and postponedIPL will force wise decision.” `16,347.50croreoverfiveyears.Earlierthisyear, have to paythe players. “The cancellation of this year. MIHIRVASAVDA

DR ANTHONY FAUCI ‘Don’t have to act on impulse... we are not ready to have all sports back’

to normal,we canonlygetourselvesrightback ers aregoing to have to come intocontact, like Sports areanunusual business because JAMESWAGNER&KENBELSON inthe same hole we were in afew weeksago. basketball, thereare certain things youcan do. athletesare in close quarters formany APRIL29 We’vegot to makesurethat when we try It maynot work.I’m notsaying this is the way months. What kind of runwaydoleagues to getbacktonormal, including being able to to go,but youwant to at leastconsider having needtostart up again? DR. ANTHONY S. Fauci, the leading public play baseballinthesummerandfootballinthe players, if they’regoing to play, playinfront of That’s the reason Istress the idea of testing healthexpertonPresidentTrump’scoronavirus fall and basketball in the winter,that when we aTVcamerawithout people in the audience. everybody and having available forthem tests task force, said this week that it might be very do come backtosome form of normality,we And thentestall the players and makesure from whichyou can getaresult immediately... difficultformajorsportsintheUnitedStates to do it graduallyand carefully. And when cases they’renegativeand keep them in aplace Idon’twant to makethis conversation sound return to action this year.“Safety, forthe play- dostarttorebound—whichtheywill,nodoubt wheretheydon’t have contact with anybody likeit’sgoingto beaneasything.We maynot be ersandforthefans,trumpseverything,”hesaid. —thatwe have thecapabilityof identifying,iso- on theoutside who youdon’t knowwhether able to pull this off. We’regoing to have to see: “If youcan’t guarantee safety, then unfortu- lating and contact tracing. they’repositive or negative. Isitdoable?Dowehavethecapabilityof doing natelyyou’regoingto have to bitethebulletand That’s going to be logisticallydifficult, but itsafely?Becausesafety, fortheplayersandfor say, ‘Wemay have to go without this sportfor Sports areabusiness, and theyhavea there’s at leastthe possibility of doing that. In the fans, trumps everything. If youcan’t guar- this season.’” financial imperative.Some governors and other words, we said that forbaseball, getthe antee safety, then unfortunatelyyou’regoing Dr.Fauci, the director of the National mayors have discussedthe possibility of playersinMajorLeagueBaseball,getacoupleof to have to bitethebulletandsay, “Wemay have InstituteofAllergyandInfectiousDiseasessince sports returning without fans. But there cities and acouple of hotels, getthem tested to go without this sportfor this season.” 1984,isanavid runner who grew up playing arestill hundredsofstaff members who and keep them segregated.Iknowit’s going to basketball and baseball, is afan of the have to run the stadium, the clubhouse. AnthonyFauci, the leading public health expertonUSPresident Donald Trump’s bedifficultforthemnottobeoutinsociety,but Some people areclamouring forsports to Washington Nationals and the NewYork What needs to bedone to makesure coronavirus task force, said that return of sports musthappen gradually. Reuters thatmay be the priceyou payifyou want to resume, including Mr.Trump. Do you Yankees. He says he willfeelcomfortable re- they’realso safe? playball. think that is the correct impulse? turning to astadium when the levelofinfec- The things we needtodotothe best of our There’s adifference between an impulse tion is farlowerthan it is now. Excerpts: abilityaretryandkeepthesix-footdistanceand that physical distance because the virus does- All sports aren’t createdequal. Golf might Is it even fair to think about sports leagues and what you’regoing to do. Youdon’t have wear face coverings. And do the kind of pure n’ttravelthatmuchfartherthanthat.If youcan bemoresuitedto maintaining distance, and teams gettingbroad access to testingif to act on everyimpulse.Iwould love to be Wagner and Belson:When and howcan hygiene things youdotoprevent the spread of do that, it isn’t completely free of risk,but you but it would beharder in basketballor the general public or other industries able to have all sports back. But as ahealth sports return? respiratoryinfections: washing hands fre- diminish the risk substantially. The density of hockey. What can bedone? aren’t gettingthe same? official and aphysician and ascientist, Ihave What we needtodoisget it, as acountry quently; wearinggloves,particularly foodserv- theinfectioninthecommunitywilldictatethe You’vegot to bereallycreative.That’sgoing Ihope when we gettothat point, when to say, right now, when youlook at the coun- andasindividuallocations,undercontrol.That ice, and theydothat anyway;changing gloves degree to which youcan loosen up. I’vesaid to bemoredifficultandmoreproblematic.But we’regoing to tryand getthe sports figures try, we’renot ready forthat yet. We might be sometimes takeslonger than youwould like, frequently. And if youare in astadium, make that manytimes thatthe virus decides how youknow, therehavebeen some suggestions tested,then we will have enough testssothat ready, depending upon what the sportis. But andif we letourdesire to prematurelygetback sure thatifthereare peoplethere,theymaintain quicklyyou’regoing to getbacktonormal. thatif youwantto have asituationwhereplay- anybody who needs atestcan getatest. right now, we’renot. NYT

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