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P O 95!55: (Varthaman) go back now L M because India is attacking n a sensational admission, a Pakistan at 9 PM in the night’”, ! Isenior Pakistani Minister on Sadiq said, recalling the high- # % Thursday admitted that level meeting which was also Pakistan was responsible for attended by Army chief Gen L M& the Pulwama terrorist attack in Qamar Javed Bajwa, and added Jammu & Kashmir in 2019 that that “India was not planning to ' killed 40 CRPF personnel and attack...They just wanted to brought the two countries to kneel before India and send the brink of a war. back Abhinandan.” ;7<:79 answering questions on no territory under its control # “Humne Hindustan ko Chaudhry, who was the Islamabad’s reaction to the is used for terrorist attacks, and ()*+# , ghus ke maara (We hit India in Information & Broadcasting rushing aside Pakistan Indo-US joint statement. to expeditiously bring to jus- - -. & their home). Our success in Minister at the time of the Bobjection on reference to it “Even their leaders have tice the perpetrators of all Pulwama is a success of this Pulwama attack, criticised backing terrorism in the 2+2 time and again spoken about such attacks, including 26/11 nation under the leadership of Sadiq’s remarks and termed India-US dialogue, India on their role with regard to ter- Mumbai, Uri, and Pathankot. Imran Khan. You and we are all them as “inappropriate”. Thursday said the whole world rorism,” Srivastava said. The two sides “empha- !"! / 0' part of that success,” Science & He said Sadiq lied with a knows about its role in sup- In the joint statement, sised the need for concerted ! 1 . Technology Minister Fawad Qureshi in an important meet- of the Pulwama attack to jus- lot of confidence regarding his porting terrorism and no India and the US on Tuesday action against all terrorist net- Chaudhry said in the National ing pleaded to release Indian tice. statements and asserted that amount of denial can hide this strongly condemned cross- works, including al-Qaeda, % Assembly during a debate. Air Force Wing Commander “Legs were shaking and everyone has the right to dis- truth. border terrorism in all its ISIS/Daesh, Lashkar-e- &. 23(4 When some of his fellow Abhinandan Varthaman, who forehead perspiring, and the agree with the Government but This terse statement by the forms and asked Pakistan to Tayyeba (LeT), Jaish-e- ,*3 lawmakers objected to his men- was captured by the Pakistani foreign minister (Qureshi) told the state should not be sub- Ministry of External Affairs take “immediate, sustained Mohammad (JeM) and Hizb- tion of “success in Pulwama”, Army on February 27, 2019 us, ‘For God’s sake, let him jected to criticism. came in response to and irreversible” action to ul-Mujahideen,” the statement 5 the Minister said that “after the after his MiG-21 Bison jet was Islamabad’s objection to ref- ensure that no territory under said. % Pulwama incident, the way shot down in a dogfight with erences to it and cross-border its control is used for launch- Reacting to the joint state- & Pakistan went inside the Indian Pakistani jets. terrorism in the India-US joint ing terror attacks. ment, the Pakistan Foreign territory to target it, the entire In the early hours of statement after their 2+2 dia- In its reaction, Pakistan on Office said, “We reject the # $ media in India was ashamed of February 26, 2019, the IAF jets logue on Tuesday here. Wednesday called it “unwar- Pakistan-specific reference in it.” bombed the Jaish-e- External Affairs Ministry ranted” the reference made the ‘joint statement’, issued by 0 However, he didn’t retract Mohammad (JeM) terror Spokesperson Anurag towards it. “We reject the India and the US after their his statement about “success in camps in Balakot in Khyber Srivastava said the country Pakistan-specific reference in ‘2+2 Ministerial Dialogue’, as Pulwama” under Prime Pakhtunkhwa of Pakistan and that provides shelter to “max- the joint statement’,’ issued by unwarranted and misleading.” Minister Khan’s leadership. avenged the Pulwama terrorist imum number of UN-pro- India and the US after their The Pakistan Foreign & Chaudhry, a close aide of attack that claimed the lives of Islamabad: “Legs were shak- pleaded to release Indian Air scribed terrorists” should not 2+2 ministerial dialogue,” the Office also said the world 7 % Prime Minister Khan, made the 40 CRPF personnel. ing and forehead perspiring” Force Wing Commander even attempt to play the victim Pakistan Foreign Office had should recognise the sacri- remarks a day after Opposition The international commu- at a meeting of Pakistan’s top Abhinandan Varthaman, say- card. said in its reaction. fices and successes in fighting % Pakistan Muslim League- nity led by the US has pressed leaders, including Army chief ing if he was not released, “The whole world knows The India-US statement terrorism by it. Islamabad also 8 Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ayaz Pakistan to deny safe haven to General Qamar Javed Bajwa, India would attack Pakistan, a truth about Pakistan’s role in also asked Pakistan to take said the country has suffered Sadiq said that Foreign terror groups operating from its wherein Foreign Minister top Pakistani opposition supporting terrorism,” he said immediate, sustained and irre- the most from cross border & Minister Shah Mahmood soil and bring the perpetrators Shah Mahmood Qureshi leader has said. at a media briefing while versible action to ensure that terrorism. ;7<:79 elhi’s air quality inched ; 7 Dcloser to the severe cate- gory on Thursday morning as n attacker armed with a pollution levels rose sharply Aknife killed three people after a marginal reduction, pri- inside a church on Thursday in marily due to calm winds and the southern French city of spike in farm fires. Adjoining Areas Ordinance charge of the environment Nice, prompting the The Central Government’s ;7<:79 2020. It shall apply to NCR and departments of Delhi, Punjab, Government to raise its secu- Air Quality Early Warning also adjoining areas in so far Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar rity alert status to the maxi- System for Delhi said a signif- ollution-related offences as it relates to matters con- Pradesh, it added. mum level hours before a icant increase in the number of Pwill now invite a jail term cerning air pollution in the “There shall be a full-time nationwide Covid lockdown. “fire points” was observed over of up to 5 years and a penalty NCR. It shall come into force secretary who shall be the “He cried ‘Allah Akbar!’ Punjab (around 3,000), up to 1 crore. The Centre at once,” said the notification chief coordinating officer of over and over, even after he was Haryana and Uttar Pradesh A senior scientist at the issued an Ordinance — issued by the Union Law the commission and shall injured,” said Christian Estrosi, which is likely to impact the air India Meteorological Commission for Air Quality Ministry. assist in managing the affairs the mayor of the quality of Delhi-NCR and Department (IMD) said the Management — on As per the Ordinance, the of the commission,” it said. Mediterranean city who con- other parts of northwest India. wind speed dipped on Wednesday night after the adjoining areas where it shall The commission which firmed a woman and a man Delhi recorded an air qual- Wednesday which allowed approval of President of India be in force include Punjab, will have three sub-commit- died inside the church, while a ity index (AQI) of 397 at 11 am accumulation of pollutants. to curb air pollution in Delhi Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar tees, one each for monitoring second woman fled to a near- on Thursday. “Following slight relief, the air and NCR. Pradesh, adjoining areas of the and identification, safe- by bar but was mortally The 24-hour average AQI quality again entered the ‘very In recent years, the region NCR and Delhi where any guarding and enforcement, wounded. “The meaning of was 297 on Wednesday, 312 on poor’ category by the evening,” has been facing huge air pol- source of pollution is located and research and develop- his gesture left no doubt.” Tuesday, 353 on Monday, 349 he said. lution issues with respective which is causing an adverse ment will have power to take It was the third attack in on Sunday, 345 on Saturday PM10 levels in Delhi-NCR Governments in Delhi, impact on air quality in the mitigation measures, issue two months in France that and 366 on Friday. stood at 420 microgram per Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCR. directions/orders suo moto authorities have attributed to ed by French free speech laws. deployed to protect schools Sixteen monitoring sta- cubic meter (μg/m3) at 10 am Rajasthan passing the buck on The commission which and entertain complaints Muslim extremists, including Other confrontations and and religious sites from tions, including at Shadipur — the highest this season so each other. will be heavily dominated by under any other existing laws the beheading of a teacher. It attacks were reported on around 3,000 currently to (406), Patparganj (411), far, according to CPCB data. The ordinance will also bureaucrats will consist of such as the Air (Prevention comes during a growing furor Thursday in the southern 7,000, and France’s anti-ter- Jahangirpuri (429) and Vivek PM10 levels below 100 have the power to prohibit over 20 members, including a and Control of Pollution) over caricatures of the Prophet French city of Avignon and in rorism prosecutor opened an Vihar (432), recorded air qual- μg/m3 are considered safe in activities that are likely to chairperson, who is or has Act, 1981 and the that were republished in recent the Saudi city of Jeddah, but it investigation. ity in the “severe” category. India. cause or increase air pollution been a secretary of the Environment (Protection) months by the satirical news- was not clear if they were French churches have An AQI between 0 and 50 PM10 is particulate matter in the NCR and adjoining Government of India or chief Act, 1986. paper Charlie Hebdo, renewing linked to the attack in Nice. been ferociously attacked by is considered “good”, 51 and with a diameter of 10 microm- areas. secretary of a State, a repre- The EPCA in the last 22 vociferous debate in France and French President extremists in recent years, and 100 “satisfactory”, 101 and 200 eters and is inhalable into the “The Ordinance may be sentative of Environment years when it was set up by the Muslim world over the Emmanuel Macron said he Thursday’s killings come “moderate”, 201 and 300 lungs. These particles include called the Commission for Secretary and five ex-officio the apex court has introduced depictions that Muslims con- would immediately increase ahead of the Roman Catholic “poor”, 301 and 400 “very dust, pollen and mold Air Quality Management In members who are either chief several important interven- sider offensive but are protect- the number of soldiers All Saints’ holiday. poor”, and 401 and 500 “severe”. spores. National Capital Region and secretaries or secretaries in tions to control pollution. " %& ! # " ! *+%++%++= >?%@*)*>%3>%=)3 5 . =%*@%+@3 +%+A3@%=>%@A( 7 7/ 1 =%*(%@=>**%)>+@%?>%+=( P ; @%*>%(?A *)%3=?+%@A%A*= !;7#5: . >%@>%)A> +%3>)>%>)%=>@ ;7<:79 *+&,-&-'+ -5!! Abdullah asked. !B#7!955#7 -&(+&.-+ 1 >%*=%>=A *%>?) ?%(A%*++ He was reacting to the ;7#77: ovid-19 survivors should : ?%@A%@A? %&'()?%?=%?@= wo former Jammu & crackdown against the PDP Cnot drop their guard and # < ?%+A%+3( +%@(A?%(*%=@? TKashmir Chief Ministers workers in Srinagar. B599C;7# should avoid close contact with Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Echoing similar sentiments others as they could still be car- ,)&'*&,)/ B (%=@%)33 *%?A)(%@(%)?= Mufti jointly mounted a fierce PDP chief Chief Mehbooba B<;;7#7 rying the virulent coronavirus, #%&++&+./ (%?(%+@* *%?*A(%*?%>++ attack on the Central Mufti alleged that the entire #5.# researchers have said. (%*?%?=? *%)+A (%)?%(>> Government after police in Jammu & Kashmir has been rejoining the Congress. According to a study, pub- Srinagar stopped the Peoples converted into a jail. he Congress is not inter- The Chief Minister said lished in the American Journal 5 (%)A%+?A 3(?*%3?%A@* Democratic Party (PDP) chief “PDP workers were peace- Tested in engineering defec- more MLAs are interested but of Preventive Medicine, close to #' *%=3%=>> *%=+@*%@(%)(= from joining protests by her fully protesting against land law tions from the Opposition "totally in their own interest". 17 per cent of patients consid- *%@3%+A> *%==**%A+%)=) party workers against the new passed by the BJP Government ranks but those keen to join us On a two-day visit to ered fully recovered, as per the land laws on Thursday. to loot J&K land. Our workers can decide on their own, Marwahi by former Chief WHO criteria, from Covid-19 0' *%@*%)>) ?%@)=*%A>%*@= Several PDP workers were were arrested and I was not Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Minister Dr Raman Singh, tested positive for the virus in !. *%+=%>=? (%=3=*%AA%(?( prevented by the police from allowed to meet them. Neither Bhupesh Baghel said on Baghel said he never visited follow-up screening. taking out a protest march civil society nor politicians can Thursday, adding it is up to the Marwahi during BJP's 15-year Patients who continued to and the PDP office was sealed talk here, the entire J&K has party High Command to take rule. He always returned to have respiratory symptoms, looked at a group of recovering their symptoms and test nega- A new RT-PCR test was after detaining party workers. been converted into a jail,” the final decision. Raipur from Bilaspur. especially sore throat and rhini- Covid patients to see how their tive for Covid twice at least 24 administered at the time of Reacting strongly, National said Mehbooba. He was interacting with On BJP agitations, he said tis, were more likely to have a bodies react after treatment and hours apart. post-acute care admission. Conference vice president Taking a dig at the Centre, the media at Raipur Airport political parties can hold their new positive test result. quarantine. The study includ- “Researchers have focused Demographic, medical, Omar Abdullah lashed out at Mehbooba commented, “We before leaving for election ral- programmes but people are the This suggests the persis- ed 131 patients who all met the on the acute phase of Covid- and clinical information was the Central Government asking can’t sit silent on everything. If lies for the Marwahi and real judges. They know which tence of these two symptoms WHO’s guidelines for ending 19, but continued monitoring collected, with an emphasis on if it wants political parties in the the Government is so power- Anuppur by-elections in party has fulfilled the promis- should not be underestimated quarantine following their after discharge for long-lasting the persistence of symptoms State to leave mainstream pol- ful, they should take the land Chhattisgarh and Madhya es it made to them. and should be adequately infections. Those guidelines effects is needed,” said the and signs related to Covid-19 itics in Kashmir. back from China, which has Pradesh respectively. Answering a query, he said assessed in all patients consid- require a patient to be fever- study lead author Francesco such as cough, fatigue, diar- “What do you want from been grabbed in Ladakh. They Baghel made the remarks in Madhya Pradesh the ered recovered from Covid-19. free without using medica- Landi from Catholic rhea, headache, smelling dis- us? Do you want us to leave aren’t able to take it back from amid reports that Janta Congress is making all efforts Researchers from Agostino tions for three days. They must University of the Sacred Heart orders, loss of appetite, sore mainstream politics here?” them but will take our land. It Chhattisgarh Congress (Jogi) to return back to form a Gemelli University Policlinic also have an improvement in in Italy. throat, and rhinitis. former Chief Minister Omar is total lawlessness here”. MLAs were showing interest in Government. !" "
5;:05# the Area Heads of the member per cent motorcycles of the India’s first University for skill Government has established a countries by the Shanghai country are manufactured here. development for vocational Department of Foreign he Haryana Government Cooperation Organisation Furthermore, Haryana is the education Shri Vishwakarma Cooperation. Thas formulated an investor- (SCO). This forum will pave ideal destination for auto com- Kaushal University was estab- He said that there is friendly industrial and business the way for better cooperation panies and auto-component lished in Haryana. He said immense potential for cooper- promotion policy and attract- and coordination between manufacturers. The state has that Haryana has more than 60 ation between Haryana and ed a foreign direct investment member countries and regions, also made its mark in the field universities, including univer- Shanghai Cooperation (FDI) of $ 73 billion during the he added. of IT and biotechnology and is sities dedicated to science and Organisation (SCO) member year 2019-2020, becoming the Encapsulating the salient the third largest exporter in technology, health science, countries in the fields of trade fifth largest economy in the features about the state he said terms of software and is the agriculture, veterinary science and business, auto manufac- country, chief secretary Vijai that Haryana state covers only preferred destination for IT / and performance and visual turing, skill development, IT Vardhan said on Thursday. 2 per cent of India geographi- ' " ( ) * ) + + + ( + " ! + ITES facilities. arts. The chief secretary said and ITES, agriculture and agro- Representing India in the cally and has a population of ,("!- ( P' &+ & + +" + Elaborating more on IT, Haryana is one of the most pre- based industries like food pro- first meeting of Shanghai about 25 million, still it is the the Chief Secretary said that ferred destinations for Research cessing, health and animal sci- Cooperation Organisation leading state in agriculture and International Airport. He fur- new Haryana Orbital Rail national Highways, 11 Gurugram district has emerged and Development (R & D) ence. He invited all Shanghai (SCO) Forum of Heads of industrial sector. The state is ther added that a new airport Corridor (HORC) project by Expressways and State as a preferred destination for and the top companies in the Cooperation Organisation Regions, which was hosted by surrounded by New Delhi from is being developed at a fast pace the Government of India in Highways. the IT industry with over 400 world like Intel, Apple, (SCO) member countries to Russia, Vijai Vardhan said that three sides and three industri- in Hisar district of Haryana as September 2020, the transport Vijai Vardhan said that companies in the field of infor- Samsung, Amazon and Google Haryana. Other member coun- it was a matter of pride that he ally developed cities of well. network in the state will be Haryana is one of the largest mation technology (IT) in have invested in the state. He tries of Shanghai Cooperation was representing India. He Gurugram, Faridabad, Rohtak Besides, the state has a rail enhanced further. The state has automobile hubs in the coun- North India. Meanwhile, the said to streamline various Organisation (SCO) also welcomed the initiative to are falling within the radius of network of more than 1,700 km a very well laid out road net- try and two-thirds of passenger state is also an educational issues pertaining to foreign shared their views in the meet- organise this dialogue between 70 km from New Delhi and after the approval of the work, including more than 30 cars, 50 per cent tractors and 60 hub. Speaking on it, he said that cooperation the State ing. Q !" " $%&& !' !$ #5;7#G 7 stopping the movement of the Union Railways Minister DAP, and other things and With the ‘off-track’ rail goods trains in Punjab, had Piyush Goyal seeking his per- appealed them to vacate the services, the state’s industry is !5C;B#7!7 asked the State Government to sonal intervention to resume tracks. They told us that they suffering huge losses as their 5;:05# was not the first time the adding that failure to release get all the railway tracks vacat- the services. In turn, the Union were not blocking any main goods cannot be sent to their Government of India had gone the funds would obstruct the ;.;-5 ed from the protesting farmers Minister asked Punjab line, but the private tracks of customers outside the state, nor erming the decision to put for a scrutiny of the utilization development of villages and to resume the service. Government to vacate all the two thermal plants. And can they get the raw material TPunjab’s Rural funds, this was, however, a could further aggravate the The suspension of goods tracks, besides seeking its assur- when we checked that was for manufacturing goods, as Development Fund (RDF) on first as far as non-release of angst of the farmers, who are in 5;:05# trains, during the ongoing ance for the safety of trains and right. They assured us that most shipments are sent hold as “unfortunate”, Chief RDF was concerned, he said, a prolonged agitation against farmers’ agitation against the crew members to restore they had neither nor they will through trains. Minister Capt Amarinder expressing serious concern over the central farm sector legisla- alks between the Punjab Centre’s three farm laws, has freight services. stop any railway main track.” It has been learnt that Singh on Thursday urged the the development. tions. TGovernment and a farmer affected the coal supply for Currently, only BKU BKU Ugrahan president around 10,000 containers for Centre to review the decision, The Chief Minister said organisation on Thursday thermal plants in Punjab, Ugrahan has been holding Joginder Singh Ugrahan, after imports and exports have been maintaining that the move that doubts were being raised AAP DUBS BLOCKING OF remained derailed. Bhartiya besides hitting the state’s indus- protests on tracks, while all the meeting, categorically stuck at various dry ports due would badly impact the rural in various quarters about the RDF AS CENTRE'S BRAZEN Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) trial sector which is facing the other 30 farmer unions have refused to lift the blockade. to suspension of goods trains. development works in the state. timing of the Union Cabinet’s ATTEMPT TO IMPLEMENT has made clear its intent to con- scarcity of raw materials. already stopped this agitation “The Centre is trying to pres- At the same time, the state’s Questioning the timing of decision not to release to FARM LAWS tinue with the rail blockade The goods train services and decided to take their surize Punjab Government. thermal plants — both private the Centre’s move, the Chief Punjab its due RDF funds to Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) after claiming that the same had earlier resumed in the protest to Delhi under “Delhi Their reason to stop goods and the government-owned — Minister said that there was no the tune of more than Rs 1,000 Punjab unit on Thursday was on a track leading to the State on October 21 after the Chalo” slogan. trains is without any logic. We are left with minimal stocks precedent to not releasing the crore at the present juncture, termed the Modi Government’s two private thermal plants, farmers’ unions had The State Government on are not sitting on the main rail- and in dire need of coal to run RDF that was due to the State amid the controversy and cri- move to withhold Punjab Rural and the Centre’s decision to announced exempting them Thursday held a meeting with way lines. We had cleared these the plants. during scrutiny of the utiliza- sis over the Farm Laws. “The Development Fund (RDF) as stop goods trains to Punjab was from their ongoing ‘rail roko’ the protesting farm body to lines earlier and goods trains’ Punjab State Power tion of previous funds. timing is suspect and points to Centre’s another brazen uncalled for. agitation over the Centre's new resolve the matter. The gov- service can resume,” he said. Corporation Limited (PSPCL) The Chief Minister said dubious motivation behind the attempt to interfere in Punjab's The farm body, which is farm laws. ernment’s three-member panel Ugrahan said that the farm chairman-cum-managing that he has asked the state move,” he said, urging the internal affairs by fraudulent- the largest farmer union, has A day after, the railways of the Cabinet Ministers — body representatives are agi- director A Venu Prasad Coal Finance Minister Manpreet Centre to immediately recon- ly implementing the black farm completely refused to lift their started running the goods Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, tating only on the service tracks informed that the coal supply Singh Badal to go to Delhi to sider and give the State’s dues laws.AAP MLA and the Leader blockade on the “service rail- trains. However, it again decid- Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria and that bring coal from the main to the state has been closed meet the Union Minister for against RDF while the scruti- of Opposition in Vidhan Sabha way tracks” leading to the two ed to suspend the service on Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, railway tracks to the private since past one month and only Consumer Affairs to resolve the ny continues, as has been the Harpal Singh Cheema said: of the three private thermal October 23 after some farmers met with the representatives of thermal plants, owned by big two-three rakes have reached at issue, which had hit the State case in the past. “The challenging situation, in plants — at Mansa and Rajpura had allegedly blocked their the BKU Ugrahan persuading corporate houses. “We will not some plants on October 23 hard amid the fiscal crisis it is The funds, as the Centre is which the Modi government — “which are owned by the big movement at some places. On them to lift their blockade lift the blockades here. The only. “Two out of five thermal facing. well aware, are used for devel- has withheld a whopping Rs corporate houses”. Thereby, the October 26, the suspension in from the tracks. State Government should run plants in the state are com- “The State Government oping critical agriculture mar- 1,000 crore RDF, reflects the Centre may not allow move- Punjab was extended up to Randhawa said: “We had a its own plants and give jobs to pletely closed, while remaining will submit all utilization details keting infrastructure like con- Prime Minister Narendra ment of goods trains in the October 29. meeting in a cordial atmos- people in need. The Centre is has the minimal capacity kept as sought by the Centre, as it struction of roads in the rural Modi’s revengeful attitude state as of now. Chief Minister Capt phere. We have told them just trying to target Punjab in reserve in case of the emer- had done in the past too,” said areas of the State, marketing towards Punjab, besides med- Notably, the Centre, after Amarinder Singh had talked to regarding the shortage of urea, because of the protests,” he said. gency situation,” he added. Capt Amarinder. While this yards, said the Chief Minister, dling in its internal affairs.” N?? " . # . %; BG:
O # #5; lic, tourists have been visiting weekends, the number of “The resorts in the properties. With restric- people dropping in on week McCluskieganj and Patratu I.' ! : fter being cooped up in tions allowing visitors from days has also have been witnessing a steady + / Atheir homes for over other states also being lifted, increased. People are now flow of visitors. For added seven months, travellers have we are expecting more trav- keen to get out of their homes safety against the virus, visi- 5;:05# Financial Commissioners, gradually started stepping out ellers in the coming months. for short breaks and are opt- tors are using their own mode Divisional Commissioners, 5;:05# Government. with utmost precautions. Netarhat and Patratu have ing for destinations closer to of transport. unjab Government has Principal Secretaries, He said the three farm Owing to the pandemic, while seen a steady flow of holiday home. With the peak season Mukutmaniour, Panchet Dam Pissued directions to its all Administrative Secretaries and unjab Chief Minister, Capt laws recently enacted by the domestic or international des- goers in the past few weeks approaching from December and Ajodhya Hills- all on the departments to ensure one- Deputy Commissioners with PAmarinder Singh on Centre have sounded death tinations remain a farfetched with people from various to February, we are hoping for Jharkhand- West Bengal bor- third employability to the the copy of ‘The Punjab Civil Thursday appealed to the knell for the farming commu- dream for many, tourists are parts of Jharkhand visiting for some more business. All der have been running to full women. “All the heads of Services (Reservation of Posts MLAs of all the political par- nity of Punjab, which is the seen flocking to places with- a short break,” said Alok rooms after check out and capacity with about 50-60 departments should strictly for Women) Rules, 2020’, ties to accompany him to meet backbone of State’s economic in Jharkhand that are just a Prasad, Manager, Jharkhand prior to check in are being percent booking being made adhere to ‘The Punjab Civil whereby all the departments, the President of India on structure, as well as Mandi few hours drive away. Tourism Development thoroughly sanitised,” said from Jharkhand. Tourists are Services (Reservation of Posts corporations or boards and November 4 to request him to System and MSP. Destinations like Corporation. Mukesh Choudhary, Manager gradually stepping out which for Women) Rules, 2020’ to other government bodies have accord speedy assent to the The Chief Minister in the Netarhat, Patratu, Referred to as the ‘Queen Arunodaya Atithi Grih, is a good sign as only then ensure 33 percent reservation been asked to strictly comply to amended farm laws passed by communiqué, has said that he McCluskieganj are being of Chotanagpur’, Netarhat was Netarhat. will their confidence increase to women under direct recruit- the rules in true spirits in next the State Assembly to counter is duty bound to protect the swamped with enquires from thronged by tourists during City based travel opera- and they will opt for ment in government jobs,” said recruitment process for vacant the central farm laws. interests of Punjab as the recent revelers, who would earlier the long Durga Puja weekend. tors claim that queries for domestic as well as interna- the state Social Security, posts,” said the Minister. A spokesperson of the amendment bills passed by the head to Goa or to the foothills “With low key celebra- McCluskieganj and Patratu tional destinations in times to Women and Child The Minister said that the Chief Minister’s Office said Punjab Vidhan Sabha, clearly of the Himalayas. tions and a long weekend, have been on the rise as com- come,” said Manas Development Minister Aruna significant decision has been that the Chief Minister has exhibited “Since the time the resorts Nehtarhat had a flurry of pared to enquiries about Mukherjee from Jai Tours Chaudhary on Thursday. taken to create more employ- appealed to all the MLAs to Notably, the Chief Minister have been opened to the pub- tourists visiting. Apart from international destinations. and Travels. “The Social Security, ment opportunities for the stand up and be counted and had already sought time from Women and Child women of the State for the rise above party lines in safe- the President pursuant to the Development Department has empowerment of the women guarding the interests of the decision taken in the Vidhan written a letter to all the and create the atmosphere of State which are being trampled Sabha Session. 0 ( Additional Chief Secretaries, gender-neutral equality. upon by the Union #5; Nestled in Deoghar in the Santhal Pargana, Baba large number of devotees Baidyanath dham is one of 12 Aturned up at Baba " Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. The Baidyanath dham temple, $ % " temple complex has one main Deoghar in the beginning of temple of Baba Baidyanath, (>, *(? this week to pay obeisance $% & along with 21 other temples. and do Jalabhishek as the doors & & The Jyotirlinga is in the main of the famous temple were temple. ; * opened for devotees from all % Meanwhile, the devotees over the country. have welcomed the decision of 5;:05# is being received in 4755 vil- Earlier, the temple doors the temple's doors were opened tocols of safety and social dis- Deoghar district administra- lages out of 7000 villages, which 5;:05# new cases, Faridabad 246, Hisar were opened for devotees of for devotees. tancing. For devotees entering tion to reopen the temple door. aryana Bijli Vitran Nigam will be 4878 villages from 190, Rohtak 102, Rewari 93, only Jharkhand, but, the district The district administra- from other states, they have to Mahesh Sharma, a resident of Hwill start supplying 24- November 1. ight people succumbed to Mahendergarh 87, Sirsa 67 administration lifted restric- tion has made elaborate follow all the Covid 19 guide- Bariatu Colony said, "My hour electricity under 'Maha He said that Pachankula, Ethe Covid-19 and 1594 and Kurukshetra 55. The pos- tions for devotees of other arrangements for entry of lines. daughter lives in Munger and Gaon Jagmag Gaon' Scheme, to Ambala, Kurukshetra, fresh cases were reported on itivity rate is 6.29 per cent while states too. Moreover, the dis- devotees. Pilgrims will have to Devotees not following for the past few months she was 123 more villages of the State Yamunanagar, Karnal, Thursday in Haryana, the State fatality rate at 1.08 per cent. The trict administration also lifted collect their e- passes for entry. Covid guidelines will have to waiting for the temple door to from Haryana Day on Gurugram, Faridabad, Sirsa, health bulletin stated. State has a recovery rate of the restrictions on the number The e-passes will be issued to undergo 14 days quarantine. reopen for other states. November 1. Following this, Rewari and Fatehabad are the Three fatalities were 91.97 per cent, the bulletin said. of devotees entering the ancient ensure safety amid the coron- Devotees have been asked Now the government has 24-hour electricity will be sup- districts where 24 hours elec- reported in Yamunanagar, two abode of Lord Shiva. Earlier, avirus pandemic. Also, only to wear masks, keep sanitizers given relaxation she can visit plied to 4878 villages of the tricity is already being supplied. in Fatehabad, one each in ONE DEATH, 80 NEW there were restrictions on entry 125 devotees can offer prayers and follow social distancing the temple and pay her obei- State under this scheme, cov- Now 2800 villages under 605 Kurukshetra, Hisar and CASES IN CHANDIGARH of only 1000 devotees, but per hour adhering to the pro- norms. sance to Lord Shiva." ering about 70 percent vil- feeders of UHBVN which Gurugram.The death toll has The union territory of from Monday onwards around lages of the State. include 615 of Ambala circle, reached 1766 and the tally of Chandigarh on Thursday 1500 devotees in a day can Chairman, Haryana Bijli 412 of Kurukshetra circle, 435 people tested positive stands at reported one COVID-19 relat- make entry through e- pass. Vitran Nigam, Shatrujeet of Karnal circle, 920 of 1,63,817.As many as 1209 peo- ed death and 80 fresh positive Deoghar, DC Kamleshwar Kapur on Thursday said that Yamunanagar circle, 39 of ple recovered on Thursday, cases. Prasad Singh said, "The doors the new 123 villages which will Panipat circle, 88 of Sonipat cir- taking the number of those “225 residents have died of Baba Baidyanath dham tem- get the 24 hour electricity sup- cle, 233 villages of Kaithal cir- cured to 1,50,660 and the num- due to the virus in the city till ple Deoghar were opened for ply from November 1, includes cle, 20 villages of Rohtak circle ber of active Covid-19 cases now. The total case tally stood devotees from other states too. 5 villages of Sonipat Circle, 6 and 38 villages of Jhajjar circle stands at 11,391. As per the bul- at 14292 which included 665 Entry of devotees will be made of Panipat, 6 of Rohtak, 11 of will receive 24-hour electricity letin, the cases doubling rate active cases,” stated Chandigarh maintaining the social distance Jhajjar and 37 villages of supply Similarly, under 591 further rose to 50. Health Department’s evening norms." Kaithal under Uttar Haryana feeders in DHBVN, 2078 vil- Gurugram reported 397 bulletin. However, as per Deoghar Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN), lages which includes 250 of district administration direc- while 30 villages of Palwal, 18 Gurugram circle, 135 of tives entry of children, sick and of Narnaul, 3 of Bhiwani and 7 Faridabad circle, 354 of Sirsa elderly people above the age of of Fatehabad under Dakshin circle, 418 of Rewari circle, 313 65 years will be restricted. Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam. of Fatehabad circle, 234 of Earlier, as per Supreme He said there has been an Narnaul circle, 156 of Bhiwani Court directives, the Deoghar unprecedented improvement circle, 52 of Hisar circle, 78 vil- district administration on last in the line loss of rural areas lages of Palwal Circle, 3 of Jind Monday of Shravan month under HBVN which was more Circle and 85 villages of Mewat (August 3), opened the doors than 70 percent. He said that Circle will be provided 24-hour of Baba Baidyanath dham for now 24 hours electricity supply power supply. devotees. Later, on August 27 chhattisgarh 03 RAIPUR | FRIDAY | OCTOBER 30, 2020 Congress government fulfilled Seven police personnel people's aspirations: Baghel selected for Shaurya Padak STAFF REPORTER n `10,000 is being given to RAIPUR farmers under Rajiv Gandhi Nyay Yojana. It is the only he 22-month-old government in the country to TCongress government procure cow dung and pay for works for the poor, farmers, it, he said. workers, women, tribes and The state government has youth while 15 years of BJP recruited 15,000 teachers rule saw big buildings come while recruitment of police up in the interests of traders personnel, assistant professors and capitalists, Chhattisgarh and others is underway. Forest Chief Minister Bhupesh land rights are being given. Baghel said on Thursday. He urged the people to The Congress govern- plant more fruit-bearing trees STAFF REPORTER n press release. (Sukma), Assistant Sub- ment has also fulfilled the for forest minor produce so RAIPUR The Minister has greeted Inspector Ganesh Karmarka people's aspirations, he told a that food processing industries all the personnel selected for (Bijapur), Head Constable series of public meetings at can be established. It will even personnel of the the prestigious police award. Ramlal Kashyap (Dantewada), Jogisaar and other villages of the state. The demand for the administrative offices and The BJP government generate employment locally. SChhattisgarh Police will be Getting an award for main- Senior Constable Kutumath Marwahi Assembly con- formation of the district of hospitals were opened. promised the farmers `2,100 The Chief Minister said felicitated with Shaurya Padak taining law and order and Rao (Dantewada), Constable stituency where a by-election Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi He said the BJP govern- minimum support price and his government has put on the state's foundation day doing public service is a mat- Deva Anbam Rao (Bijapur) is due on November 3. was not fulfilled even when ment had not met the a bonus of `300 per quintal money in the pocket of the on November 1, it was ter of pride, he said, adding and Constable Gopi Istam Taking a dig at former other districts were formed. demand for roads, stop-dams, but it is a Congress govern- poor due to which recession announced on Thursday. the honour will inspire others. (Dantewada). Chief Minister Dr Raman He said that it is after the schools and colleges during ment which is procuring has not hit Chhattisgarh. These men will be felici- Those selected for the They will be felicitated by Singh, Baghel said for the last Congress took power that a the last 15 years in this area. paddy at `2,500 per quintal, Baghel promised that the tated for extraordinary serv- award are Inspector Mohsin Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel 15 years he never visited new district was formed in Now work on these projects Baghel pointed out. new district will be promoted ice, Home Minister Khan (Jashpur), Sub- at his official residence in Marwahi although he toured February 2020. With it, all had commenced. Besides waiving off loans, as a ‘Tourism District’. Tamradhwaj Sahu said in a Inspector Jitendera Esaiya Raipur, the press release said. Three accused absconding in ‘Patients with breathing problems, hit-and-run killing arrested take extra care in winter’ STAFF REPORTER n Ambedkar Memorial STAFF REPORTER n arrested from a village in the Hospital here said in a district and presented before a RAIPUR GARIABAND press release. court which sent them to jail, n the past few days there hhattisgarh Police have He asked the patients Rathore added. has been a drop in the arrested three young men I to strictly follow the Covid C The hit-and-run took place number of Covid patients. who absconded after a hit-and- protocols, use masks, sani- in Malgaon area in the Kotwali But ahead of winter, an run case which killed a four- tizers and avoid going in Police Station limits after expert has warned people year-old boy and injured 11 per- crowded places. former Mayor Mamta Rathore’s with breathing problems to sons on Monday night in He also asked the son Romit Rathore had a take extra care as they can Gariaband district. youths to stick to the Covid row with some people on a be easy targets of Covid protocols. Gariaband Additional roadside celebrating Dussehra infection. “Their carelessness can Superintendent of Police festival. “In winter tempera- make them infected which Sukhnandan Rathore told The The verbal spat turned into tures will be low and pollu- could jeopardize the high- Pioneer over telephone that the a scuffle. An enraged Romit tion levels will increase. risk members of the family three are Pemendra Sende alias Rathore and his friends drove These two factors have such as old age (people). Appu (31), Vesh Rathore alias their car (G-23, 6520) for some adverse effects on patients Taking precaution in Pappu (27) and Devendra distance and then reversed it at with breathlessness. If advance is better than lying Thakur alias Vicky (27). great speed and ran over the proper care is not taken, in ICU,” Sundarani said. Pemendra hails from crowd. They then escaped in the then the health of such He added that despite Dhamtari while the other two car. patients can deteriorate, recovery from Covid are residents of Gariaband The dead boy was identified increasing the chances of infection, health complica- district. as Munesh Sinha. Romit and Covid infection,” Dr O.P. tions could emerge in the Acting on a tip, they were Saurabh were arrested earlier. Sundarani from Dr BR longer run.
The night view of the Vivekananda Sarovar (Budhatalab) in the capital city Raipur after the beautification work. Pioneer Photo Nigerian held for cheating Chhattisgarh woman of `24L STAFF REPORTER n KOREA hhattisgarh Police on CThursday arrested a 30- year-old Nigerian from Noida in Uttar Pradesh and brought him to Korea district for allegedly duping a young woman of `24 lakh after pos- ing as a NRI through a fake profile on a matrimonial site. Inspector General of was looking for a suitable Indian currency to pay offi- added. Police of Surguja (Range) match, interacted with him via cers of the Reserve Bank of Subsequently, the Ratan Lal Dangi told The Voice over Internet Protocol India (RBI) and the woman’s family filed a com- Pioneer over telephone that (VoIP), Internet and WhatsApp International Monetary Fund plaint with the police who Ajide Peter Chinaka, who has calls, the officer said. (IMF) besides others and he registered an offence under been taken into custody, is a The man gradually gained sought money from her. IPC section 419 and 420 of resident of Festac Town in the confidence of the young The victim, not suspect- Indian Penal Code (IPC). southwest Central Lagos, woman and called up some ing anything amiss, allegedly Police seized two pass- Nigeria. days later saying he had to transferred `24 lakh into the ports, including a fake one In January 2020, the transfer his property in India account number provided by which identified the Nigerian accused posed as an NRI and so that he could settle down the accused, the officer said. as Coko Daniel of South posted a fake profile on the and marry her, Dangi added. But she could no more Africa, four mobile phones, 14 matrimonial site. He told the woman that contact the man and realized SIM cards, a Wifi device and a The young woman, who he needed to pay the money in that he had cheated her, he laptop from him. Woman Maoist gunned down SUKMA: A woman Naxalite was killed in a gun battle with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, police said on Thursday. The fighting occurred on Wednesday in a forest between Duled and Minpa villages in the Chintalnar police station area where a joint team of security forces was out on an anti-Naxalite operation, Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P said. In a search after the gun- fight the team found the body of the woman Maoist, a .303 rifle, a huge cache of explosive materials and items of daily use, he said. The identity of the dead woman was yet to be ascertained, he added. !" " '
( ) (** ++( ,* ./ 12311 456 " Home Ministry following receipt of credible information that certain NGOs and Trusts are col- ( + lecting funds domestically 1,024 crore as loan liability and abroad through dona- and 285 crore as counter-part ;7< tions and business contribu- funding for Central :79 ;7<:79 is similar to other messaging for his skill and ingenuity in ;7<:79 tions etc. in the name of var- Component,” said Union apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, developing the application, ious welfare activities such as Minister Prakash Javadekar he Union n an effort to have secure SAMVAD, GIMS & supports the statement added. n continuation of public health, education and detailing the Cabinet meeting TCivil Aviation Minister Icommunication system in an end to end encryption The indigenously designed IWednesday’s search opera- the like. ;7<:79 decisions in media briefing. Hardeep Singh Puri on the backdrop of Pakistan-based messaging protocol. The SAI system comes at a time when tions, the NIA on Thursday Further, these funds were The CCEA approved fix- Thursday promised to take agencies hacking smart phones app also supports secure voice, there were concerns over the conducted more searches at sent to Jammu and Kashmir abinet Committee on ing higher ethanol price immediate action after a pas- of the Indian security person- text & video calling service for use of commercial mobile seven locations in Srinagar, through various channels CEconomic Affairs (CCEA) derived from different sugar- senger posted images on nel, the Indian Army has devel- Android users. The SAI scores applications by the Army offi- Baramulla, Anantnag and such as hawala and cash on Thursday allotted 10,211 cane based raw materials Twitter of people flouting oped its own messaging app. It over on security features with cials for communicating with Kulgam (Jammu and couriers and are used to carry crore for the safety and mainte- under the Ethanol Blended social distancing protocol at is named ‘SAI’ (Secure local in-house servers and each other thereby compro- Kashmir) and two locations in out and sustain secessionist nance works of 736 dams across Petrol (EBP) Programme for the Srinagar airport. Application for Internet). coding which can be tweaked mising security. Delhi in connection with the and terrorist activities in the country. The CCEA also the forthcoming sugar sea- Sanjay Raina, who posted It will help the Army offi- as per requirements. The Army had ordered its case relating to certain NGOs J&K, the NIA said in a state- approved Ethanol purchasing son. “The price of ethanol three pictures on Twitter on cers to talk to each other in a “The application has been personnel earlier this year to and Trusts raising funds in ment. policy and increased procure- from C heavy molasses route Thursday morning showing safe system of their own and vetted by a CERT-empanelled delete popular apps such as the name of charitable activ- The latest round of ment prices of different levels of be increased from 43.75 per passengers standing extreme- not be apprehensive of spying auditor and Army Cyber Facebook, Truecaller, ities and then using those searches were conducted at Ethanol products benefitting lit to 45.69 per litre. The price ly close to each other during a by the rival agencies. In fact, the Group. The process for filing Instagram and games like funds for carrying out seces- JK Yateem Foundation at sugarcane farmers and extend- of ethanol from B heavy security check at the airport. army had to ban more than 90 Intellectual Property Rights PUBG from their mobile sionist and separatist activities Srinagar and Kulgam, The ed the mandatory use of jute molasses route be increased Raina tagged Puri in his apps in the last one year to (IPR), hosting the infrastruc- phones. in the Valley. Salvation Movement at materials for packaging bene- from 54.27 per lit to 57.61 tweet, saying: “Shocking vio- avoid spying. The Navy banned ture on NIC and working on The order was intended to The NIA had registered Srinagar, run by Zafar Akbar fitting the jute industry. per litre. The price of ethanol lation of #COVID19 protocol the use of smart phones by its iOS platform is currently in plug leakage of sensitive the case on October 8, 2020 Bhat, Human Welfare “The CCEA chaired by from sugarcane juice / sugar / , sheer incompetence of personnel while sailing on war- progress. SAI will be utilised national security information under Indian Penal Code Foundation at Delhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi sugar syrup route be increased authorities & security person- ships after some personnel by the Army to facilitate secure from phones of armed forces Sections relating to criminal Anantnag, Jammu and has approved the Dam from 59.48 per lit to 62.65 nel at #SrinagarAirport. were allegedly trapped by a messaging within the service,” personnel. The in-house appli- conspiracy and sedition Kashmir Voice of Victims at Rehabilitation and per litre,” said Government in Horrible to say the least. Pakistani based agency and the Army said. cation has been developed by besides various provisions of Baramulla, run by Abdul Improvement Project (DRIP) a statement. Someone needs to take respon- made to reveal operational Defence Minister Rajnath Colonel Sai Shankar . Unlawful Activities Qadeer, Falah-e- Aam Trust Phase II & Phase III with the “Consistent surplus of sibility. Hats off to airline staff information. Singh reviewed the function- The army has also devel- (Prevention) Act. at Budgam, run by GM Bhat financial assistance of the sugar production is depressing still managing.” In his response, Seen as big boost to the alities of the app and compli- oped a software for infra- The case was registered and Charity Alliance, at World Bank (WB), and Asian sugar price. Consequently, Puri said that he had dis- ‘Atmanirbhar’ project, the app mented Colonel Sai Shankar structure management. on a directive from the Union Delhi, run by Zafar ul Islam. Infrastructure Investment Bank sugarcane farmer’s dues have cussed the matter with Arvind (AIIB) to improve the safety increased due to lower capa- Singh, Chairman, Airports and operational performance of bility of sugar industry to pay Authority of India (AAI). “We selected dams across the whole the farmers. Government has will check the facts & take country, along with institu- taken many decisions for immediate corrective action,” tional strengthening with sys- reduction of cane farmer’s the minister added. tem wide management dues. With a view to limit approach. sugar production in the “The project cost is Country and to increase 10,211 crore. The Project will domestic production of be implemented over a period ethanol, Government has of 10 years duration in two taken multiple steps ,” said Phases, each of six years dura- Javadekar. tion with two years overlapping The CCEA also approved from April, 2021 to March, that 100% of the foodgrains 2031. The share of external and 20% of the sugar shall be funding is 7,000 crore of the mandatorily packed in diver- total project cost, and balance sified jute bags. 3,211 crore is to be borne by The decision to pack sugar the concerned Implementing in diversified jute bags will Agencies (IAs). The contribu- give an impetus to the diver- tion of Central Government is sification of the jute industry. ' 7 ++ 8+ + 9+ P :
;7<:79 with the promise made by Prime Minister Narendra he Uttar Pradesh Modi and State Chief Minister TGovernment has chalked Yogi who have promised to out a 10 crore plan to cleanse make Ganga incessant and the Ganga Ghats in the State clean. with the help of CCTVs and Not only the ghats, efforts state-of-the art gadgets. are already being undertaken The cleaning and moni- to keep cleanse the con- toring plan will be executed in stituency of Prime Minister phases, with work to be first Narendra Modi so as to make rolling out from religious it a role model. hotspot Kashi. Around 200 For executing this mam- CCTVs and best of state-of- moth task, the UP the-art gadgets will be Government has already start- deployed to cleanse and mon- ed the process of selection of itor sanitation work at the an agency. ghats which are thronged by This time along with thousands of devotees every cleaning workers, modern day. machines will also be The officials posted at the deployed on the Ghats. Ganga Namami Department The waste released from of the Yogi Government will the Ganga Ghats will be col- monitor the activities sitting lected into these machines to in their offices in Lucknow be recycled to ensure that the through the computers con- garbage does not again flow nected with the 200 CCTVs into the water and spoil ghat installed on the Ghats. on the bank of the river. “The 200 CCTV cameras After 79 ghats of Kashi, to monitor the safety and the Namami Gange depart- cleanliness of the Ghats will be ment is also working on a plan directly connected to the com- to rejuvenate the cleaning sys- puters of officials associated tem of 19 ghats of Prayagraj, with the Namami Gange 20 in Bithur, 21 of Kanpur project at Lucknow, the capi- Nagar, 27 ghats of Mathura tal of the State,” said an offi- and Vrindavan. “With the cial from the State completion of the job at Kashi, Government. work will be started at other The task is in keeping ghats as well,” said the official. !" " - > 1B9155 elections would be conducted Alleging that, the State had He however remained eva- counterattack on the Governor Another senior leader said take the briefing on his politi- clashed with the police during the State. been reduced to a “police state” sive about whether Bengal had saying “he is a liability for that there was nothing new in cal activities in a saffron party sponsored here is no rule of law in Emerging from a meeting and a “banana republic” he said become a fit case for President’s Bengal.” what the Governor had said on Darjeeling… Now he can at bandh to protest against the TBengal which had been with Shah the Governor said that all his requests for infor- Rule though he said that there Bengal Minister Partho Thursday. least say that he had gone to inordinate delay by the admin- reduced to a police State, “you don’t have any idea of mation on the state affairs are was a “virtual anarchy” in Chatterjee said “so much has Rather what is new is the brief the Home Minister about istration to conduct second Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar what is happening in West ignored by the Government. Bengal and the political vio- been said by him and so much timing of his visit to Delhi and the State of affairs in Bengal post porterm on a slayn party has told Union Home Minister Bengal. The law and order sit- “It is my duty to save the lence had become a matter of has been said about him in the meeting with the Home and in the disguise he is car- worker who was allegedly mur- Amit Shah with whom he met uation has completely Constitution. … I believe in concern. past one year that nothing Minister which took place rying back instructions on dered by the TMC men about in Delhi on Thursday. crumbled down. Police and reformation and that can hap- “Political leaders are getting more is left…. And all such dis- hours before his shifting of what he has to do in a fortnight ago. Alleging that the Mamata bureaucrats are working as pen only through dialogues. killed. The power of corridors courses have only proved that office to Darjeeling for a Darjeeling,” where he will stay The police resorted to lathi Banerjee Government had political servants of the ruling But they hardly respond to my in the state is infested by non- he isacting as the BJP’s month. for a month from charge after the angry saffron reduced Bengal into a “Banana party. The crime statistics has letters. Under such circum- state actors. This is surely not spokesperson who has con- “Had he gone to meet the November 1. workers threw burning tyres in Republic,” the Governor said gone up and Al-Qaeda is stances, how can a constitu- democracy,” he said even as the verted the Governor’s House Home Minister just before his Meanwhile all hell broke front of the local police station. that he was anguished about spreading its fangs in tional head like me have a ruling Trinamool Congress into a party office. Less said Darjeeling trip people would loose at Bagnan in Howrah Severalpersons were arrested, how the next year’s Assembly Murshidabad.” sound sleep?” leadership launched a scathing about him the better.” have said that he has gone to where the BJP supporters sources said. 8 0 1 + 3 !!5 approved the new terms and condi- polls, the BJP-led saffron alliance tions in north-central Mumbai, Portuguese-held (and later Maratha- tions recommended by the secretaries government had embarked upon the Dharavi has the highest density of held) Salsette Island. aving cancelled the global ten- committee for floating new tenders for DRP. population. The Mithi River slices At that time, the entire area was 5!5#5G5 classes 9, 10 and intermediate Hdering process set into motion by the DRP. The State Cabinet also In advertisements seeking inter- through a portion of Dharavi into the a large swamp and primarily inhab- first and second year will func- the previous BJP-led Government decided to make necessary changes in national bids for the DRP put out in Mahim Creek and then onto the ited by Koli fishermen who made a liv- ndhra Pradesh has allowed tion on alternate days for only two years ago, the Shiv Sena-led the implementation of the project at major news papers, the Slum Arabian Sea. Currently, it is home to ing from the waters. As the legend Aall Government schools half a day. MVA Government on Thursday a later stage, “ an official release issued Redevelopment Authority (SRA) stat- over anywhere from 60,000 to 70,000 goes, the British built a dam on the and colleges to reopen from Likewise, all Higher decided to float new tenders for the by the state government said. ed that the last date for submitting the families. Mithi river because of which there was November 2 with all precau- Secondary colleges will also ambitious Dharavi Redevelopment Spread over 240-hectare area, bids for the project is A mini-India of sorts where peo- no water to feed the swamp and it tionary measures amid the start functioning from Project (DRP), a project that is aimed Dharavi has remained an ugly face and December 28. ple belonging to different faiths live, dried off. Covid pandemic. November 2 on rotation basis at transforming Asia’s largest slum into a dark underbelly of Mumbai – a As per the guidelines notified in Dharavi has s 28 temples, 11 mosques, The fishermen near the sea and Chief Secretary Nilam and from November 23, class- an integrated planned township. largest slum which has been roman- the tender, the selected lead partner six churches, 50 banks, 60 government a community of potters moved in Sawhney confirmed that the es 6, 7, and 8 would start func- At a weekly Cabinet meeting ticised in Indian films over the years. has to form a Special Purpose Vehicle schools, a mobile design museum, sev- here. In fact they could be called the state government is going tioning on a half day basis. presided over by chief minister It has also been a cottage industry hub (SPV) with 80 per cent equity ( Rs 400 eral slum tourism outfits, thriving first settlers of the region. ahead with reopening educa- “Classes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 would Uddhav Thackeray decided to revive for decades on end. crore), while the Maharashtra gov- criminal groups, and a tiny dilapidated As Mumbai turned into a hub for tional institutions. The date for start functioning from the Dharavi Redevelopment Project by The DRP is being seen as the ernment will hold 20 per cent equity fort. textiles in the post Independence reopening schools was already December 14 on alternate days inviting fresh tenders for the project. biggest redevelopment effort under- ( Rs 100 crore) in the project. Dharavi also has a small fort era, thousands of men from north communicated earlier, even as and on a half-a-day basis. The The earlier cost of the project was Rs taken for the region since 1972, after The SPV will construct free hous- known as the Riwa Fort. Better known India moved in as well and the slum the uncertainty over colleges same schedule would apply to 22,000 crore. Given that there has which there have been slum improve- es for the eligible slum dwellers with as Kala Qilla or Black Fort, it is cur- as we know it started to take shape. has also been cleared now. all government schools and been a delay in the execution of the ment project in 1976, Slum amenities and infrastructure. The rently in a dilapidated condition. It Slowly and slow since the sixties, “Schools would be run on colleges,” she added. Though project, it remains to be seen as what Upgradation project in 1985, Slum SPV will be entitled to construct hous- was built by the first Governor of migrants – particularly those from alternate days in three phases the state government thought will be the cost escalation in the pro- Rehabilitation Scheme in 1995, and es in the free sale area and sell them Bombay, Gerald Aungier south India started moving in – mak- for which officials are making of reopening schools almost a ject. then the Dharavi Redevelopment in the open market. The state gov- (1669–1677). It was part of the larg- ing what Dharavi is today. arrangements. Precautionary month ago, it extended the “At a Cabinet meeting held on Project of 2004. ernment has fixed 4 as Floor Space er Bombay Castle, and marked the Dharavi has several business units measures would be taken to reopening by a month, to a October 16, 2018, the secretaries’ In an apparent effort to derive Index (FSI) for the project. northern portion of British-held -- right from textiles to pottery to fab- contain the spread of Covid- time when active Covid cases committee had decided to cancel the political mileage in the run-up to the Located between Western Bombay in the 17th century. The cas- rication to leather industry. Plastic 19,” Sawhney said. have come down to around then prevailing tendering process. At May 2019 Lok Sabha and the subse- Railway’s Bandra-Matunga and tle was also used as a watchtower, recycling and garbage segregation As part of the reopening, 26,000. today’s meeting, the State Cabinet quent October 2019 State Assembly Central Railway’s Sion-Matunga sta- guarding the territory against the too is done here. ) * " + (!)!!)!" * .! O . / % !)+,+-./! + ( 7: Aligarh: Corona vaccine trials Hospital, ESI Hospital besides !!5 started in the country and are doctors and paramedical staff 1B He said the whole gold smuggling KOCHI: The CPI(M) in Kerala Sivsankar by the ED officials expected to be ready by sum- of the private nursing home, scam, LIFE Mission corruption charges mid the continued flattening of the Covid- suffered two major setbacks on tells that the IAS official had mer. First, doctors and para- pathology lab, ultrasound cen- hief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and other allegations were part of the A19 curve, Maharashtra on Thursday wit- Thursday which has put the accepted during the questioning medical staff of private and ter have been sought. However, Cblamed the Centre and its investi- strategies of the Congress and the BJP nessed an upward fluctuation in deaths and a dip party in a dilemma as it gets that he had spoken to a senior Government hospitals will be the department's staff is wor- gating agencies for the arrest of his for- to portray the government in poor light. in the number of infections in various parts of ready for the elections to the Customs Official at vaccinated. Therefore, details of ried therefore, the cooperation mer Principal Secretary M Sivsankar “This will not work. We stand com- the State. local self Government and the Thiruvananthapuram airport Medical College, Ayurveda of the Indian Medical who was arrested by the Enforcement mitted to the upliftment of the poor and A day after the state logged 91 deaths and legislative Assembly. at the instance of Swapna Suresh Hospital, Unani Hospital, Association is also being Directorate late Wednesday night in downtrodden,” said the chief minister. 6,738 infections, the daily death tally went up to M Sivsankar, former to get the baggage seized by the Homeopathy Hospital, Railway sought. PNS connection with gold smuggling and Instead of directly attacking the 156, while the infected cases dropped to 5,902. Principal Secretary to Chief agency released. “This clearly money laundering. Centre, Vijayan opted to read from With 156 fresh deaths, the Covid-19 toll in Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, was shows your active involvement Briefing the media about the Covid- Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s Maharashtra rose from 43,554 to 43,710. Similarly sent to the Enforcement in the offences committed by 19 situation in Kerala on Thursday, article published in a newspaper recent- with 5902 fresh infections, the total infected cases Directorate’s custody for seven Swapna.This also amounts to Vijayan read out a prepared statement ly about how the Centre was misusing jumped from 16,60,766 to 16,66,668. days on Thursday by the District misuse of public office and to express his displeasure over the way its probe agencies to target and victimise As 7,883 more people were discharged from Sessions Judge, Ernakulam in interference in the official work- central agencies are handling the gold opposition parties. “Rahul Gandhi too various hospitals in the state, the number of peo- connection with charges of gold ing of other Government smuggling scam though he remained had told recently that he was a victim ple discharged from various hospitals after full smuggling, money laundering departments,” said the ED silent about the arrest of Bineesh of the political vendetta,” said Vijayan. recovery since the second week of March this year and interference in the func- memo. It further states that Kodiyeri, son of party strongman The Chief Minister claimed he went up to 14,94,809. The recovery rate in the tioning of other department of Sivsankar has helped Swapna Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. had no acquaintance of any kind with state rose from 89.53 to 89.69 per cent. the Government. Later in the Suresh in all the gold smug- “A senior Customs official (Anish Sivsankar. “He was appointed to my Of the 156 deaths reported on Thursday, day, the ED arrested Bineesh glings and other illegal opera- Rajan IRS) had told the media that there office based on his experience in dif- Mumbai accounted for a maximum of 33 deaths, Kodiyeri, the controversial son tions held by her in the past. were no interference from the Chief ferent departments of the government while there were 27 deaths in Pune, 19 in Thane, of CPI(M) strongman Kodiyeri The CPI(M)’s woes got Minister’s Office to get the baggage and that was how I met him,” said 11 in Solapur and 10 in Nagpur. Balakrishnan on charges of nar- aggravated by Thursday after- addressed to the UAE Consulate Vijayan. In the lower range, there eight deaths in cotics smuggling. noon when the ED arrested released. But he was transferred out of But a senior IAS officer said that Nanded, 7 each in Satara and Sangli, 4 each in Sivsankar was arrested by Bineesh Kodiyeri, second son of the State overnight and there was no Sivsankar was an officer promoted to Ahmednagar, Ratnagiri, Jalna and Chandrapur, the ED late Wednesday night Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, the reaction from anybody about this the IAS from the State Government 3 each in Nashik and Akola, 2 each in Palghar, following the Kerala High Court party’s state secretary, in con- transfer,” said Vijayan when asked cadre and he was a senior leader of the Raigad, Aurangabad, Beed, Washim and dismissing the former’s antici- nection with charges of drug about the arrest of Sivshankar. SFI during his student days. Bhandara and one each in Parbhani, Latur, patory bail application. The trafficking. The ED officials Osmanabad, Amravati, Buldhana and Gadchiroli IAS officer, a former leader of had summoned Bineesh to As many as 11 districts reported zero deaths. With the CPI(M)’s student wing SFI, Bangalore for questioning on 34 fresh deaths, the Covid-19 toll in Mumbai toll was the most powerful bureau- Thursday to elicit more details ./ 2 3 shot up from 10196 to 10229, while the infect- crat in Kerala who was about his association with ed cases rose by 1120 to trigger a jump in the addressed as “Super CM” by Anoob Mohammed, a notori- infections from 2,54,240 to 2,55,360. other ministers in the cabinet ous drug smuggler. Mohammed and other bureaucrats, was con- is in the custody of Narcotics ;7<:79 including Myanmar and Nepal, were sidered as Vijayan’s eyes, ears Control Bureau for his role in seized.” 0 $1 2 and words. the infamous drug trafficking he National Investigation Agency The NIA had registered the case on The arrest memo served on gang busted by it recently. PNS T(NIA) on Thursday conducted September 16 this year which relates to searches at four locations in Guwahati seizure of 83.62 Kg of smuggled gold $ ! (Assam) and Sangli (Maharashtra) in bars having market value of Rs 42.89 connection with the Delhi Gold crore at New Delhi Railway Station on $ 5905# Smuggling Case. August 28, 2020 from the possession of “These locations are premises relat- eight accused persons. he Inspector of Kanpur branch EOW ed to accused persons and their han- Interrogation of these accused has T(Prevention of Corruption Organization) dlers from where they used to give effect so far revealed that they had collected has registered a corruption case at Lodha police to the commission of crime,” the agency the said consignment from station against SO and an inspector posted in said in a statement here. Guwahati for its further delivery at New Lodha. One of them is currently SO at Pisaawa The NIA further said, “During the Delhi on the directions of their handlers police station in the district, while another is on searches, incriminating documents and who are suspected to have sourced the suspension from Meerut. After the registration electronic devices containing details of smuggled material from of this case, departmental action against Pisawa suspicious transactions as well as of the Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan, it said, SO is fixed. persons involved in the instant crime, adding further investigation is contin- who are also having linkages abroad uing. !" " % 0 4!"$ 4 % & E D: . & E E @ ? 5 4 . 4 6 . 7 . /$ . 0 . 7 / , % + 73$ 6 1 7 ! O . 73$ + . +73$ ;:= 9>:!. 0 . 1? $ 1$ 7? 1?$ 71$ /@0 1 . 2 ? . 9# ! 2+ ## /@0 3 1 299 73$ ! '& 6 9# 67( ., 2 9:! 2 n mid-October, a 17-year-old .! + ! girl, Neema (name changed) S . + ! was found by the Uttar . 3 5 S ! Pradesh (UP) Police in a dazed state, hungry and deliri- S 5 . Ious. Sold to traffickers by her . poverty-stricken parents on the A$ ! advice of “well-meaning” neigh- bours in her village in Madhya 1 . % @5.7 Pradesh, the teenager had escaped . . 6 !. from her tormentors in Delhi. . Neema walked and hitch-hiked for 3 . three days to cover a distance of 200 km before she was spotted by con- ? . 73$ .. cerned passersby and the police in 71$. Hathras. Unaware of her where- 1 1+ . $ 0 0 9:;#7 abouts and determined to reach home, she was still 794 km short of inition of the term brothel leads the world may witness an jobs. That means every sixth hired to “baby-sit” children? Or 71$ 2 2 / her home in Mandla district when to the inference that commercial increase in child labour for the child is out of school and work- the ubiquitous chotus (appren- 5 . she was rescued. The girl told the sexual exploitation takes place first time in 20 years and there ing somewhere.” tices/assistants) all over India, 3 B police that there were 12 other only in a brothel and not in other is a huge risk of years of progress Every time we hear such sta- selling chai at the local tea shop '& ! minors like her, confined to one places, such as in a house. The in this arena being reversed. tistics, we are shocked and angry. and even delivering it to our room in Delhi. Fortunately, they all Act is clearly not victim-centric First, it was hunger induced by Even more disturbing is the fact offices and at the railway station? 5 +73$ .3 managed to escape. as women and children, who are the lockdown that fuelled the that these children are there in What of the little boy cleaning .2 . 2 ./@0 + . Neema is not the only child forced into prostitution, are also trafficking. And now that the our midst, suffering abuse, hard- the car in the neighbourhood, 2 / 1 ?1 S 3 from her village to have been traf- treated as criminals and arrest- economy has opened up, it is the ship, deprivation and long hours his little hands and muscles ficked. Several others like her have ed when raids are conducted. demand for cheaper labour and of work in dingy, dark and pol- straining to carry a heavy buck- 1 . been sold by needy parents. This Similarly there are several bigger margins by businesses. luted places where they have no et full of water? Or the shoeshine 5 2 . story is repeated over and over again other laws to protect the rights Closer home, ever since the business to be. We are blissfully boy, the child manning a road- .. 0 1 73$ in India, particularly in rural areas. of children, such as the lockdown was imposed and ignorant of this invisible, silent side dhaba, serving food to cus- 2 + 3 S . India is starving and its children are Commissions for Protection of then eased a few months later in and hapless workforce. The tiny tomers? Have we ever bothered bearing the brunt of this hunger. Child Rights Act, 2005, the phases, Delhi-NCR has become factory workers, who are well to question the people who hire . & They are being sacrificed at the altar Right of Children to Free and a hub of trafficking as more and hidden from our sight, toil to them or even inform the law 3 . of the crippling poverty that has Compulsory Education Act, more children are being rescued pander to our penchant for buy- enforcement authorities about '& worsened because of the sucker 2009, the Protection of Children from factories and brothels. ing things at discounted prices, their presence? Clearly we do not punch delivered to the already tot- from Sexual Offences Act, 2000. The Delhi Commission for the cheaper the better. But we are want to get out of our comfort / . tering economy by the Coronavirus. The rights of child labourers can Protection of Child Rights res- content sweeping our collective zone and easily attribute it to a As feared by the experts in the field be adequately secured only if the cued 93 children from gold and guilt under the carpet, simply societal crime, without realising + 73$ of rescue and rehabilitation of traf- monitoring and controlling pro- jewellery factories in Karol Bagh because they do not torment us we form the society that con- 3 S ! ficked children, the number of visions contained in the said in May. Of them, 57 were below visibly. dones it. We could have picked minors, particularly girls, sold to statutes are fully implemented. the age of 14 and some were even We do know that certain up the phone and called the 2 . S ! traffickers for as little as 10,000- However, they are not despite the 10-year-olds. The rest of the chil- industries traditionally employ NGOs and rights activists who / 7 . 50,000, has grown alongside the Supreme Court insisting upon dren were between 14 and 18. children. Like bidi factories, the can help the child in distress. But B)!;" 0 / number of people rendered jobless their applicability. Then in July, nine child labour- carpet industry, the garment we don’t do that either. by the pandemic. As a result, des- In 2013, the top court lament- ers were found working at sev- sweatshops, incense and fire- And what about children & 1 + . ! perate parents, having to choose ed that despite its directions, lit- eral scrap shops in North East work factories, brick kilns, the caught in the sex trade? If peo- 0 '& . 2 between survival of the family for tle or no progress was made by Delhi’s Mustafabad. But these farm sector and so on. But ple stop watching child pornog- 7 . . 2 a little while longer and their love, the States in protecting the rights rescues are like a drop in the when buying these products, do raphy, there will be no market ? '& 5 chose the former. So many girls and of children. Thus, we have hor- ocean as the lockdown slowed we ever take the pain to ensure for it. If men stop violating boys were sold to traffickers across ror stories emerging from across down such initiatives as well. that the brand that we are pur- minor girls for a price, there will 3 1 the country. the country. Desperate children, There was a time when only 27 chasing has nothing to do with be no market for it again. So, on 73$ 5 2 .. .2 This is despite the fact that sold to traffickers by impover- per cent of the Anti-Human child labour? It is our demand all counts, society is as guilty as & . ./@0 / Articles 23, 39, 14 and 21 of the ished parents, making hopeless Trafficking Units were func- for cheaper products that in turn the criminals who traffic chil- Constitution guarantee every child bids to return home to the same tional. Thankfully, in September, creates the demand for child dren. C2 /@0 . ! freedom from exploitation in any parents who pushed them into 36 children under 14 years were labour as businesses then can Apart from a mindset change, . ! form. The Immoral Traffic the hell in the first place. rescued from bangle-making keep the cost of production there has to be community . B 2 2 (Prevention) Act, 1956 was enact- Though Neema and several units in West Delhi’s down and their margins up. We alertness and personal account- 7 ! 2 ed in pursuance of the International others like her have escaped for Jahangirpuri area where they don’t bother to boycott goods ability by each citizen. There Convention signed at New York on now, not everyone is so lucky. were made to work for 15 hours over unethical trade practices. If must be non-Governmental and 73$ S . ! May 9, 1950 and it was amended in Thousands of children are being a day and sleep in the same dingy we did so, the factory owners Government intervention to 1 1986 to widen its scope to cover all trafficked globally for initiation room. All lured or sold on the would have revised their norms. ensure that hapless parents do citizens. However, according to into the sex trade, to be recruit- promise of food and a roof over So, by extension, we are as guilty not take the extreme step of trad- rights advocates, the Act has glar- ed as bonded labour, drug run- their heads. as the perpetrators of the crime ing their children for a dole. ing lacunae as it fails to define the ners, child terrorists or human Nobel laureate Kailash of trafficking and hiring child There is no time to be lost, else D term “traffic” or “trafficking” and shields. The International Satyarthi, Chairperson of NGO labour. a nation will forget the meaning aims to penalise those who aid and Labour Organisation has pre- Bachpan Bachao Andolan, esti- And what about child labour- of bachpan. 5 8 6 abet commercial sexual exploita- dicted that with the pandemic mates that in Delhi, “at least five ers, who are staring us right in (The writer is Senior Editor, 86 4 4 tion. Therefore, its focus on the def- ravaging economies globally, lakh children are in full-time our faces? What of the minor The Pioneer) S ( . + & <(%(A%))) % ! - 1 L % % ' & "#! &C < % $ %& ' L % % ' , ()** ( )! * + % & & L & < ! & P Q P Q 6324706 8 ! 09 968249 2!2;94 97?49 + . . ! K5 K! ! K5 / K 0 / . . ) ( 1 .+() )! . 0/1 .2 3 $ !)$ $3 . ! China in eastern Ladakh. The + 2 increasing defence and securi- Sir — As per the Centre’s guide- ty partnership between the two . $ !) . .S 45 + lines, many cinema halls are re- .' 5 nations will help monitor the sit- + $ $3 % opening. However, the footfall O uation in the Indo-Pacific at a / 4 S remains in single digits. 5 & time when China is attempting Currently, the halls are permit- ! . 2!.4 , to expand its economic and mil- ) 45 ted to operate with 50 per cent & % , itary clout in the region. In June, $ 1 ' 1 % capacity; one seat between two % India and Australia had signed % + .+ $ persons is to be kept empty to 5 . ! a pact allowing their militaries ensure social distancing. Other 25.! 4 % to access each other’s bases. A 3 $ !) 6 7 / 3 ! mandatory norms include wear- &% similar agreement with Japan % )2 6 . ! ing of masks, applying sanitis- & also came to fruition last month . 45 + .8 ers, compulsory thermal scan- after years of negotiations. It is ning, adequate ventilation and & also hoped that the sharing of 9:9:!9:9; . freezing temperature settings 5 %L , technology will contribute sig- 7 ( + of all air conditioning at 23 .' nificantly towards bringing / 2 . < degree Celsius or above. Even 8 5 . ! 5 *3+* India closer to the lofty goal of with strict guidelines in place, !.M &5, & ' atmanirbharta in the defence )! people are extremely hesitant to L , sector. 0 2 ! visit the theatres. Also, no big- , .' & Yash Pal Ralhan + time releases are slated for now !.% !9 !2!8 !:!8 Jalandhar as it is preposterous to imagine & 5 a producer or an actor risking ! ! . his/her fortune during such 4 4+ crucial times. Over the months sure of the theatres for the past access to American geospatial Sir — The air quality has further since the lockdown, the loyal several months. In addition to intelligence that will enhance the worsened as hundreds of Ravana . film audience has adapted to electricity and ancillary costs, Sir — On October 27, India and accuracy of automated systems effigies and firecrackers were + . . / + . online streaming apps. the huge challenge of sanitising the US signed the Basic and weapons like missiles and burnt in the Capital on Dussehra. )! . ! + ! Adjusting to big screens again the halls after every show can be Exchange and Cooperation armed drones. Sharing informa- The Government needs to wake might take some time. Also taxing. Many are hoping that the Agreement (BECA) to further tion on maps and satellite up and put a blanket ban on fire- . many are cutting on expenditure festive season might make some military ties between the two images will help us gain access crackers this Diwali. + / . ! owing to their financial stress. difference but given the current countries. India will now be able to topographical and aeronau- Yugal Kishore Sharma 2 The cinema hall owners, too, scenario, the future of movie to keep an eye on the move- tical data. The signing of the Faridabad 6 )! are in a quandary because of the halls seems rather bleak. ments of Chinese warships in long-negotiated defence pact financial losses they have been Ganapathi Bhat the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). comes against the backdrop of ( % bearing due to the complete clo- Akola BECA will help us get real-time a tense border standoff with 449240;089<= !170 !" " 2 4!"$ 4 % 3+)(* (!2)*) 7( ) 7 @ @ 1 $ ") @ 1 & 1 B 1 5 L L % # 9 0(6 )4 4 4 . ? . 4 ? . .5 2 2 ! . D !2 ! 2 ! / . ! ! ? & 7 0 . . + . ! 7 . 1 68 ) 4 2 D 4 4 ! mong the issues in public discourse that have caught the attention of the country is the prob- @4 Alem of corruption, which elicits strident crit- . 6 . 7 icism. The issue has triggered a slew of reforms aimed at strengthening the fabric of integrity, like the enact- ! ! ment of the Public Procurement Bill, the Lokpal Act incorporating, inter alia, the public disclosure of assets + . by public servants, reforms in higher judicial 7 appointments and so on. While anti-graft activists 1 1 2 differ in terms of strategies and focus areas, there is . a unanimous acceptance of the fact that technolo- 2 ?. 1 ! gy and e-governance promote greater transparency. . ?. . The rationale is very simple. Deny the opportunity + . for manual manipulation and replace it with tech- 1 . nology, crafted around well-defined protocols and . 7 / legal safeguards with minimal human intervention. 7 S It has been five years since India adopted the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). E: + Corruption in general and venality in public life in 5 particular adversely affect the fulfilment of these B<7G7#%5 . ! SDGs. Therefore, a proactive and preventive vigilance 0;/ 5; . 5 . regime forms the backbone of good governance and /5 B#; . 5 ! is critical to their realisation. How then do we make 9B 1 5;O governance more effective without inhibiting its 7<997 & S ? $ 1 . objectives? Today, administrative affairs grapple with 5 B;#CO & . leakages in public delivery of welfare and develop- 59CB > B) +! ment goals on account of manual processes that can :7G79B.E#7/B#! One of the most interesting areas of other option but the one finally chosen and The Centre made a significant change . . 7 $? 1 be manipulated. But by leveraging technology, 95<5;:9: intervention for this technology would be finally, whether the larger interest of the to the Prevention of Corruption Act in these leakages can be plugged. Incremental improve- #B:55 in the space of land records. Ever since the organisation was safeguarded or not. 2018. The element of intention has been 0 ments to technology should continue to be the main- Permanent Settlement of Bengal in 1793, Deployment of technological solutions added under definition of criminal mis- .. stay of advancements in administration. .#B7 B;5;: the issue of land records has occupied the like blockchain can potentially remove the conduct. Similarly, broadening the defin- . F! In the recent discourse on procurement meth- !5;7;5; 7 administration and citizenry with its need or significantly reduce the time taken ition of “unfair advantage” and introduc- ! ! ods, transparency of policy, procedure and practices #70!7&99 complexities, misgivings and fraud. The for making such assessments. In a recent tion of corporate criminal liability will go . is increasingly being seen as an imperative of using !7<7 system is riddled with inefficiencies that paper released by Denmark’s Ministry of a long way in apprehending or deterring S .. ! public monies to remove any allegations of opacity 5::#777 reduce trust in the Government. Currently Foreign Affairs, titled Code to Integrity, the bad actors on both sides from indulging 5 and inconsistencies in decision-making. Achieving 7% the UNDP is involved in certain Proof of authors have highlighted how blockchain in bribery. The amendments also have + transparency ensures that procurement is open to 9B 1 5; Concept (POC) pilots across India. The can be a powerful tool in the fight against ensured that our obligations under the UN ! public scrutiny, which results in best value for pub- ;B9179CB underlying theory intends to create an Government corruption. The report cites Convention against Corruption are ade- 2! ! lic monies. For example, the transparency of proce- 5G75 immutable history of transactional records case studies of countries like Kenya, quately addressed and bring us closer to dure as achieved in online applications is one of the !B;!7;59 that helps in checking authenticity; a tam- Rwanda and Ghana where Government leading anti-bribery legislations in the 2 simpler yet effective features of digitisation, as it shifts per-proof system to avoid forgery; a dis- records pertaining to court systems, edu- world such as the UK Bribery Act. the onus of submitting correct information and data !.5 ; tributed ledger so that all stakeholders see cation and land rights are migrating to dis- While these amendments will go a S < to the applicant. This, once verified by the public ser- #75;05; the same information; and a secure tributed ledgers. long way in guiding the work of internal ! vant, retains the maker-checker wedge in a direct way. ;70#C,/# encrypted environment, where updates are However, a significant factor in control agencies, it would be important to . . In an effort to plug leakages in procurement sys- 0BG7#;5; 7 available in near real time. The NITI Aayog blockchain’s success will be a country’s abil- institutionalise a system, wherein compli- . ! ! tems, the Government launched the Government E- 7 BC7! paper also identifies this value proposition. ity to develop/reform laws and build ance against said legislation and established . . Marketplace (GeM) in 2016 as an end-to-end mar- For example, the paper notes that, in order robust data protection and maintenance processes can be checked and quantified. B) . ketplace for goods and services required by Central to ensure that transactions are not fraud- regimes. Till such time we address these A metrics-based system for oversight D. and State Governments as well as Public Sector ulent, the physical presence of witnesses issues, blockchain is not likely to have a over governmental processes will bring . Undertakings. As per an assessment by the Centre is mandated at the time of sales deed reg- monumental impact in creating an integri- transparency, build trust and spur further for Public Impact, the savings impact of GeM has istry. Deployment of blockchain would ty-first governance ecosystem. digital innovation to make any adminis- 0 ! been substantial, wherein a maximum price reduc- potentially eliminate the need of these The general environment now is in tration more robust without inhibiting (2 tion of approximately 56 per cent of goods and ser- processes while maintaining the sanctity favour of a regime which ensures that com- public interest-oriented decision-mak- ! vices, coupled with demand aggregation, has already of the transaction. panies not only do profitable business but ing. led to savings to the tune of 40,000 crore annual- This helps create a tamper-proof do so in a manner which is ethical. The It would be incorrect to end this dis- 6 ! ly. Given the fact that the public procurement econ- audit trail that allows for tracking decision- United Nations Convention against cussion without addressing the well- omy constitutes about 20 per cent of India’s GDP, it making and ensures that they are in accor- Corruption, ratified by India in 2011, as intentioned public servant who finds the + . . . is imperative to build on this initiative through ampli- dance with anti-corruption principles. It well as the anti-corruption principles processes leading to greater transparency fied efforts and bring as many goods and services addresses concerns around cyber securi- expounded by the Organisation for and ensuring value for taxpayers’ money . . 2. on board as possible. And in order to make the plat- ty. Currently there are interesting pilots Economic Cooperation and Development cumbersome and time-consuming and 2 2 form more robust, addressing the issue of quality con- being conducted across the world, where (OECD) cover a wide gamut of vulnera- who is, therefore, tempted to short-circuit 2 . trol should be the next level of sophistication that deployment of blockchain is being tested ble areas and aspects of business opera- it. Well-intentioned though it may be, but GeM should aspire for. for public procurement, wherein systems tions, including anti-bribery, public pro- any attempt to overwrite the processes, $2 ! In the next 10 years, the business of Government are being built in to identify graft with a curement and conflict of interest. More and despite even demonstrable honesty of pur- . !.! will experience massive disruption. This comes on view to disincentivise corrupt actors from more countries in the coming years will pose, carries the major risk of opening up . ! the back of technological enhancements that reduce accessing the system at the outset. be obliged to establish laws and mecha- the system to misuse by corrupt players 0 . . ! the need for intermediaries and ensure that the sanc- From the perspective of Internal nisms in place to ensure clean business and would lead to eventual loss of public . 2 ! tity of process remains unimpeachable. One such Controls and Governance (Vigilance), it operations as well as seize and confiscate trust and decimation of the structure of .2 ! technology which has been discussed widely in recent is strongly recommended to employ a five- assets derived from corrupt practices. public procurement. Thus, the intent of !2 ! . . times is blockchain. A NITI Aayog discussion paper part test while assessing such deviations India, too, needs to review its existing processes involved is to keep the prover- + . has identified use-cases where the technology can from process: Whether the issue being pur- legal framework to address issues around bial Caesar’s wife above suspicion. Through . potentially improve governance, ranging from trac- sued has corrupt connotations; the gener- data security, corrupt practices and corpo- robust yet streamlined procedures, a . 0 ! .! ing of drugs in the pharmaceutical supply chain to al reputation of the employee involved; rate governance with a view to address our bureaucrat can achieve the intended out- verification of education certificates. The three key whether better options were available and anti-corruption objectives and provide the come and avoid unintended consequences. 2 . principles of the blockchain technology are: ignored without valid reasoning; whether necessary guidance to well-intentioned (The writer is an IPS officer. The views Transparency, decentralisation and accountability. the situation inhibited the selection of any officials in the Government. expressed are personal) . E
operation of both physical and digital As a result of the order, several migrant numerous benefits for MSMEs that a clear and consistent approach to pol- essential goods. nario, a policy framework governing retailers to a standstill. Second, restric- labourers returned to their towns and adopt e-commerce, in the form of bet- icy formulation vis-a-vis retail. As an As pointed out, e-commerce e-retail or e-commerce in general, tions on inter-State movement of villages once restrictions on movement ter price discovery, access to new con- example, both physical and digital enjoys numerous advantages over should look to assist small enterpris- goods and the opening of only specif- of persons were lifted. A survey of sumers, support with logistics and retailers were only allowed to sell essen- physical retail, particularly in a situa- es in capacity-building for a digitally ic industries disrupted supply chains. retailers selling their products online, inventory management. It is in recog- tial goods in the initial phase of the tion where social distancing continues enabled future through the provision For instance, the Centre recognised conducted as part of the Esya Centre’s nition of the above that several nations, lockdown. This continued till about to be important. Hence, there is a need of finance, skill development and both medicines and processed foods report on e-commerce, shows that such as the United Kingdom and New mid-April, when the Government to provide a policy environment that underlying infrastructure. There is, as essential goods and allowed their nearly 60 per cent of such entities will Zealand, have given preference to issued a notification which allowed e- fosters the uptake and adoption of e- therefore, a need to move away from sale. However, similar status was not be unable to recover losses suffered digital forms of retail both during and retailers to deliver non-essential items commerce by both consumers and sell- legacy regulatory institutions, based on granted to units which manufacture because of the lockdown. Given that after the lockdown. However, India is from April 20. In conformity with this ers. To achieve this, we recommend a licensing and control, to an entity that ( 15.1), the packaging for medicines and people are likely to be wary of enter- one of the few countries that has not order, e-commerce firms began to five-step recovery process. The first actively participates in capacity-build- processed foods. Hence, sellers of ing shops and stores even after lock- leveraged the numerous benefits that make predations to resume their full steps are geared towards fostering an ing and development of small and these goods found it difficult to oper- downs are eased, it is important to e-commerce brings, particularly dur- scale of operations. However, on April atmosphere of trust and credibility medium retailers in India. In this con- ost nations imposed some ate. Third, the system of issuing pass- explore different avenues through ing a lockdown. 19, the Government withdrew its between the Government and market text, it is worthwhile to explore the role form of shutdown to limit the es and permits to personnel working which retail outlets can avoid further Policy-making towards e-com- notification, seemingly under pressure entities. being played by digital economy devel- Mspread of the Coronavirus. for physical and digital retail was not losses. merce, both before and during the from industry organisations that rep- This can be achieved by holding opment authorities in countries such India’s lockdown, which involved a well-implemented. It was unclear One such avenue is e-retail. A lockdown, may have hindered the resented small and medium traders. regular consultations, opening avenues as Malaysia and Vietnam, which near cessation of all movement and which authority would issue the pass- report by Global Trade and Regional operation of e-commerce entities. Subsequently, relaxations regarding for feedback and providing sufficient actively promote the adoption of dig- economic activity, has been rated as es and for how long they would Integration Unit of the World Bank Prior to the lockdown, legacy govern- delivery of non-essential items were notice before major changes. Further, ital solutions and e-commerce for one of the most stringent across the remain valid. Further, personnel hav- highlights the utility of e-commerce in ment rule-making on e-commerce pre- first given to physical outlets while e- policy actions should not skew com- SMEs as well as consumers. This world. Not surprisingly, it had a severe ing to travel across districts were the post COVID normal. Not only can sented several barriers to the growth retail continued to be limited to essen- petition between physical and digital approach would be in keeping with the impact on our economy. required to obtain separate passes from e-commerce help reduce the risk of of the sector. These included ever- tial items for 8-10 days thereafter. The business models. Instead, both mod- Government’s focus on a Digital India A sector that was hit particularly the authorities for each district. Fourth, new infections and preserve jobs, it can changing FDI rules, unresolved issues zonation framework introduced by the els should be allowed to leverage their where citizens are able to leverage their hard is retail. This is due to several rea- the Ministry of Home Affairs issued an also increase the acceptance of pro- of data localisation and source code Government additionally preferred respective strengths. Finally, the connectivity into better opportunities sons. First, shops and warehouses order directing all employers to ensure longed social distancing measures disclosure as well as the over-regula- physical outlets in Red zones, as they Government must reassess what it and prospects. were closed during the initial phases full payment of wages to all employ- among the population. Further, previ- tion of platforms. During the lock- could sell a wide range of merchandise seeks to achieve through its proposed (The writer is a research assistant of the lockdown. This brought the ees even if they were unable to work. ous research has shown that there are down, the Government failed to adopt while e-retail tasks were limited to e-commerce policy. In the current sce- at the Esya Centre) !" " 6
3232:( $ " + + Islamabad: Pakistan Prime ?1/ Minister Imran Khan was aquitted by an anti-terrorism court on Thursday in the 2014 % New York: The 2020 Parliament attack case but Presidential election is turning Islamabad: Legs were shaking camps in Balakot in Khyber 1 by Pakistan. other senior ministers, includ- out to be the most expensive and forehead perspiring at a Pakhtunkhwa of Pakistan and In a speech in the National ing Foreign Minister Shah Jakarta: China is the “gravest major Muslim organisation the election in history and twice as meeting of Pakistan’s top lead- avenged the Pulwama terrorist Assembly, Sadiq said that Mahmood Qureshi, were sum- threat” to the future of religious Nahdlatul Ulama. “The atheist expensive as the previous pres- ers, including Army chief attack that claimed the lives of Prime Minister Imran Khan moned on November 12 for the freedom, US Secretary of State Chinese communist party has idential election cycle, with General Qamar Javed Bajwa, 40 CRPF personnel. skipped the high-level meeting, indictment. Mike Pompeo said Thursday, in tried to convince the world that the total cost of the election wherein Foreign Minister Shah Before his jet was hit, which was attended by top Anti-Terrorism Court his latest verbal assault on its brutalisation of Uighur expected to reach an unprece- Mahmood Qureshi pleaded to Varthaman downed an F-16 leadership, including Army Judge Raja Jawad Abbas Beijing during a whirlwind Muslims in Xinjiang is neces- dented $14 billion, a research record-breaking $938 million release Indian Air Force Wing fighter of Pakistan. He was chief Gen Bajwa and Foreign Hassan, however, halted pro- Asian tour. sary as counter-terrorism or group said. through October 14, riding Commander Abhinandan released on the night of March Minister Qureshi. ceedings against President Arif Pompeo has made attacks poverty alleviation,” he added. The Center for Responsive Democrats’ enthusiasm to Varthaman, saying if he was Alvi due to the presidential against China the focus of his Rights groups say that Politics said that an “extraor- defeat Trump. not released, India would attack immunity granted to him, The trip this week which kicked off more than one million Uighurs dinary influx” of political dona- President Donald Trump Pakistan, a top Pakistani oppo- Express Tribune reported. in India and included visits to languish in camps in the north- tions in the final months — dri- raised $596 million, which sition leader has said. ( On August 31, 2014, work- Sri Lanka, the Maldives, west Xinjiang region as Beijing ven by a Supreme Court battle would be a strong fundraising Recalling the tension in ers of the now ruling Pakistan Indonesia and, later Friday, attempts to forcibly integrate and closely watched races for effort if not for Biden’s Islamabad after India bombed Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Vietnam. the community and root out its the White House and Senate — immense haul. a terror training camp in Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) In Indonesia -- which has Islamic heritage. pushed total spending in the “Even amid a pandemic, Pakistan’s Balakot on February tried to enter Parliament and go the world’s biggest Muslim China has denied the num- election past the previously everyone is giving more in 26, 2019, Pakistan Muslim towards the Prime Minister’s population -- Pompeo took bers and describes the camps as estimated 11 billion dollars 2020, from ordinary individu- League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader % + House and clashed with police. aim at China’s treatment of its vocational centres that teach figure. als making small donations to Sardar Ayaz Sadiq criticised the Police had invoked sections Uighur Muslim minority. skills to prevent the allure of The Center said that the billionaires cutting eight-figure Imran Khan government over Islamabad: Pakistan’s supreme reach there to perform religious of the Anti-Terrorism Act “The gravest threat to the Islamic radicalism following a 2020 election will cost $14 bil- checks to super PACs. its response, saying the religious body has said that services as per their beliefs,” the against Khan and other PTI future of religious freedom is series of attacks. lion, shattering spending Women are smashing Opposition has supported the there are no constitutional or CII said. leaders, according to a report the Chinese Communist Party’s “But we know that there is records. donation records, and government on every issue, Sharia restrictions on the con- The decision, signed by 14 in the Dawn newspaper. war against people of all faiths: no counter-terrorism justifica- Democratic presidential Americans are increasingly including Kashmir and struction of a Hindu temple in CII members, added that The incident had happened Muslims, Buddhists, tion in forcing Uighur Muslims nominee Joe Biden will be the donating to candidates who Varthaman, but it will no longer Islamabad or any other part of Hindus, like all other religious during the sit-ins by PTI and Christians, and Falun Gong to eat pork during Ramadan, or first candidate in history to aren’t running for office in be appropriate to provide any the country. groups in the country, have the PAT workers in front of the practitioners alike,” Pompeo destroying a Muslim ceme- raise $1 billion from donors. their state,” it said in a state- further support, Dunya News The Council of Islamic constitutional right to a place for Parliament. PTI said in a speech Thursday to tery,” Pompeo said. AFP His campaign brought in a ment. PTI reported on Wednesday. Ideology (CII) made its decision last rites according to their Sadiq, who was the Speaker in a meeting on Wednesday on faith. of the National Assembly dur- the basis of the Constitution and “Under this Right the ing the PML-N government, the Liaquat-Nehru Agreement Hindu community in Islamabad ( + < '+=+ + made a similar statement ear- of 1950, which led to the estab- can have a suitable place for cre- lier on Wednesday in lishment of the Evacuee Trust mation of their dead and per- Jeddah: A Saudi citizen attack. The guard was taken to gave any indication of the Parliament here that Foreign Property Board (ETPB) in form last rites of the deceased wounded a guard in a knife hospital and his life is not in motivation for the attack. Minister Qureshi in an impor- Pakistan, the Dawn News according to religious instruc- attack at the French consulate danger,” the French embassy But it comes after French tant meeting pleaded that let reported. tions,” the council said. in Jeddah Thursday, officials said in a statement. President Emmanuel Macron B;01B;0 opposite the US consulate, also Varthaman go back because The CII also allowed the An application was referred said, as France faces growing Police in Mecca province, vigorously defended the publi- charged with money launder- India is attacking Pakistan. government to hand over an to the CII by the Ministry of anger over satirical cartoons of where Jeddah is situated, said cation of satirical cartoons of teenage Hong Kong ing and conspiring to publish The 37-year-old IAF pilot ancient Hindu temple and Religious Affairs on July 6, the Prophet Mohammed. the attacker was a Saudi, but it the Prophet Mohammed by the Ademocracy activist was seditious content. was captured by the Pakistani adjoining Dharamshala (com- seeking its opinion on the The assault follows anoth- did not give the nationality of satirical magazine Charlie charged on Thursday with He was remanded into cus- Army on February 27 after his munity centre) in Saidpur vil- allotment of a land to the Hindu er knife attack at a church in the the guard, who they said had Hebdo on free speech grounds. secession, the first public polit- tody until his next court hear- MiG-21 Bison jet was shot lage to Islamabad’s Hindu community for a crematori- French city of Nice that left sustained minor injuries. Regional heavyweight ical figure to be prosecuted ing on January 7 and faces a down in a dogfight with community. um, community centre and three people dead and several The French embassy in Saudi Arabia — home to Islam’s under a sweeping new nation- possible life prison sentence if Pakistani jets during aerial “In view of the current temple. The ministry had also others wounded, in what Riyadh strongly condemned holiest sites — has criticised the al security law Beijing imposed convicted under the new law. combat. population in Islamabad the sought the CII’s advice on the authorities are treating as the the attack and urged its nation- cartoons, saying it rejected on the city. Chung is a former member In the early hours of ancient temple and the adjoin- allocation of Rs 100 million by latest jihadist attack to rock the als in Saudi Arabia to exercise “any attempt to link Islam and Tony Chung, 19, appeared of Student Localism, a small February 26, 2019, the IAF jets ing Dharamshala at Saidpur the prime minister for the con- country. “The assailant was “extreme vigilance”. terrorism” but it stopped short in court two days after he was group that advocates Hong bombed the Jaish-e- village be opened to the Hindus struction of the crematorium apprehended by Saudi securi- Neither the Saudi author- of condemning the French arrested by plainclothes police Kong’s independence from Mohammad (JeM) terror and they should be facilitated to and temple. PTI ty forces immediately after the ities nor the French embassy leadership. AFP in a Hong Kong coffee shop China. : 4 7 4 6 4 "# Warsaw (Poland): Poland’s stitutional court ruling declar- with a far-right group, All- President Andrzej Duda said ing it unconstitutional to ter- Polish Youth, attacked women London: The UK’s Opposition However, in his reaction to Thursday that women them- minate a pregnancy due to taking part in protests overnight Labour Party on Thursday sus- the report, Corbyn said that the Kabul: Rioting at a prison in selves should have the right to fetal congenital defects. The rul- in some cities, including pended former leader Jeremy number of complaints made western Afghanistan has left at abortion in case of congenital- ing effectively bans almost all Wroclaw, Poznan and Bialystok. Corbyn from its ranks after a during his tenure were “dra- least eight inmates dead, ly damaged fetuses, apparently abortions in a country that Their actions came after report by the country’s human matically overstated”. provincial officials said breaking ranks with a conser- already had one of Europe’s Poland’s most powerful politi- rights watchdog held the party “One antisemite is one too Thursday. vative leadership that pushed a most restrictive abortion laws. cian, ruling party leader “responsible for unlawful acts many, but the scale of the prob- The violence erupted on ban that has led to mass street That ruling has triggered Jaroslaw Kaczynski, called for of harassment and discrimina- lem was also dramatically over- Wednesday night at the prison protests. huge nationwide protests, with his supporters to turn out on tion” during his time in charge. stated for political reasons by our in the city of Herat, the capital “It cannot be that the law young people heeding a call by the streets to defend churches The Equality and Human opponents inside and outside of western Herat province, requires this kind of heroism women’s rights activists to come after women disrupted Masses Rights Commission (EHRC), the party, as well as by much of according to Mohammad Rafiq from a woman,” Duda said in to the streets to defend their last Sunday and spray-painted which had launched an investi- the media. That combination Shirzai, a spokesman for the an interview with radio RMF freedoms. Deep divisions that churches. gation into antisemitism with- hurt Jewish people and must provincial health department. FM. had been brewing for a long Many interpreted in the party following a string never be repeated,” said Corbyn, He said 12 others — eight He spoke after seven time in Poland are now erupt- Kaczynski’s call as permission of complaints, found that in reference to the report. inmates and four prison guards straight days of huge protests ing on the streets. for violence against the pro- Labour had broken the law in its A Labour Party spokesper- — were wounded in the out- across Poland following a con- On Thursday night, men testers. AP failure to handle antisemitism, son issued a statement soon break at the facility, which or anti-Jewish, complaints and after to announce that Corbyn holds around 2,000 prisoners. there were “serious failings” by had been suspended from the It wasn’t immediately known if its leadership at the time. party. PTI there are any Taliban at the penitentiary. The rioting erupted after prison guards began clearing some partitions created by prisoners in the so-called Block 5 of the prison, said Jelani Farhad, a spokesman for the provincial governor. The police tried to collect “unnecessary items in the possession of the prisoners, which the prisoners resisted,” he said. AP !" " 7
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@ > %&+++ : my will be achieved by 2024, Modi reiterated that there "The geographical spread not over with the pandemic. force. But India doesn't believe #+%))) 6 saying that the crisis gave the should be no room for com- of India, population density, the Yet, our economy has shown a in gaining from the loss of oth- 8 & Government an opportunity to placency in fighting this virus regular social gatherings must remarkable capability to ers. India will become a glob- B (3%()()% ;<