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JOURNALISM OF COURAGE MONDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2020, NEW DELHI, LATE CITY, 16 PAGES SINCE 1932 `6.00 (`8 PATNA &RAIPUR, `12 SRINAGAR) WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THE EDITORIAL PAGE GROWTH:BENEATH THERECOVERY BY PRANJUL BHANDARI Fewer women move abroad, many PAGE 8 cite family as factor in career:High BUSINESSASUSUAL up ladder, gender still matters BY UNNY Moregirltoppersfrommetrosthansmall towns whereodds forboys better; gapnarrowingbut stillsharp in Science/Tech

Protesting farmersclang utensils during PrimeMinisterNarendraModi’s Mann ki Baat in Ghazipur, at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border,onSunday. Prem Nath Pandey GOVT RESPONDS TO PROTESTERS

In UP, college Tomarwelcomesreturn studentsbooked for sedition, totalks;noonecantake principal cites ThoughIwas stressed by expectations from At IIT-Bombay, we all got equal treatment family, society to get married earlier than Idid, regardless of gender. But boys participated in azadi slogans my parents were ambitious for me. Since Ihad their class more… girls sometimes thought their answers landoffarmers:Rajnath support, Icould focus on higher studies” might not be correct andrefrained from participating” ASADREHMAN JERENEMATHEWS, PAEDIATRIC DERMATOLOGIST AT BELIEVERS CHURCH SHALAKA KULKARNI, PURSUING MBA FROM YALE SCHOOL OF Hopefarmerswill appreciate Punjab lawyer LUCKNOW,DECEMBER27 MEDICAL COLLEGE HOSPITAL, KERALA, CLASS 12 CBSE TOPPER IN 2006 MANAGEMENT, CLASS 10 ICSE TOPPER IN 2012 situation, reality of law: Govt SIX PERSONS, including students kills himself, of government-run KSSaket STUDYINGOR University,but she acknowl- Asked about the farm unions’ Degree CollegeinAyodhya dis- RITIKACHOPRA edgesa“gender lens” is impor- HARIKISHANSHARMA proposal of holdingthe next criticises PM trict, have been booked forsedi- NEWDELHI,DECEMBER27 WORKINGABROAD tant to understand suchtrends. NEWDELHI,DECEMBER27 round of talksonDecember 29, tion afterthe collegeprincipal “Gender ofteninfluencesde- Tomar said, “Vaartahogi (Talks for ‘blacklaws’ lodged acomplaint accusing VARTIKABHANDARI,40,ISC1998 cision-making relatedtothe ed- DESCRIBINGTHE farm unions’ will take place).” them of raising "anti-national Boardtopper from Allahabad,isa ucation of children in afamily. decision to return to thenegoti- “Theyhavewritten aletter; it slogans calling (for) azadi". seniorstaffsoftwareengineerwith With the decline of academic ation table as “good step”, Union is agoodstep. We were already RAAKHIJAGGA As per Principal NDPandey, GoogleinSan Francisco.Chaitra standards in public universities AgricultureMinisterNarendra ready fortalks; we will resolve &AMILBHATNAGAR "indecent and anti-national slo- Chandrasekhar,38,ICSE1998top- and an increase in disposablein- Singh Tomar on Sundayex- the issuethrough negotiations,” LUDHIANA,NEWDELHI, gans like Le ke rahengeazadi" per from aBangaloreschool, is 63% 40% come, manymoreprivileged pressedhope that asolution he said. DECEMBER27 were raisedonthe collegeprem- partner at consulting firm Oliver TRACKING MEN WOMEN families aresending their chil- would be found to thestalemate TheSamyukt Kisan Morcha, ises on December 16. Wyman in NewYork. Jerene dren abroadfor higher studies. It over the newfarm laws through an umbrella body of 40 farm or- AN ADVOCATE from Jalalabadin With the Ramjanmabhoomi Mathews,31, 2006 Class12CBSE INDIA’STOPPERS CITYOFSCHOOLING is usuallythe boyinthe family discussions. ganisations, on Saturdaywrote Punjab's Fazilka district, who sitenearby, he told The Indian topperfromKendriyaVidyalaya in WOMEN (OUT OF 35) who has an edge in such deci- Defence MinisterRajnath to theUnionMinistryof had been protesting with farm- Express,heneededtolook out for Kottayam, is apaediatric derma- TOMORROW TIER1 63%(22) sions. Suchtrends will, however, Singh reaffirmedthat the Centre Agricultureand Farmers ers affiliated to the Bharatiya "suchanti-nationalactivities" tologistinThiruvalla, Kerala. needtoberesearched rigorously, has no intention of scrapping the Welfare, announcingthe re- Kisan Union(BKU) Ugrahanat and couldn't allowslogans "that Thesewomen maynot have RANKS GIVE HEAD START TIER2&337%(13) as contexts vary considerably.” minimum supportprice (MSP) sumption of talks. It also pro- Delhi's Tikri border,diedbysui- areraisedatJawaharlal Nehru shattered the glass ceiling at BUT MAY BE DECEPTIVE MEN(OUT OF 51)* Swati Prusty,27, who topped regime, and that no “ma ka lal posedafour-point agenda for cide on Sundaymorning. University". their workplace yetbut,surely, INDICATORS, SAY TIER2&363%(32) the Class 12 CBSEexamin2010, (no one)” can take away land the talksthat includemodalities Amarjit SinghRai consumed TOPPERS The studentssay theywere theyare well on their waythere, TIER133%(17) says shewasnevertookeenonset- from the farmers. to be adoptedfor therepeal of the farm pesticide sulphos onlyprotesting againstthe non- perchedhigh up the ladder.And tlingabroad. Hence studying at a “Main ummeed kartahoon ki the three central farm Acts; about 200metresfromthe stage conduct of union elections at the yet, as afour-month investiga- *2ofthem with CISCE-affiliated schools in Dubai foreign university didn'tcarry kisan paristhiti aur kanoon ki mechanismstomakethe remu- at the protestsitethat farmers college,and their slogans were tion by TheIndian Express of 86 fewergirltoppers goingabroad currentlystudy or live overseas much appeal. “Since IknewI sachchai ko samajhenge, vaarta nerative MSP recommendedby have namedGadri Gulab Kaur directed at the principal and the national school Boardtoppers — than theirmale counterparts; but among them,thereisasig- wouldwork inIndia,itdidn’tmake hogi, aur uska samadhaan niklega the National Farmers' Nagar. Beforecollapsing, he gave chief proctor. 51 men and 35 women —from from promising careers put on nificant gender gap. Just40% (14 senseto takealoanto studyabroad (I hope that the farmers will ap- Commission intoalegally guar- twoprinted letters—one of Startedin1991, KSSaket 1996 to 2015 shows,their gen- hold to those tailored to suit fam- outof35) of women toppersare andthencomebacktoworkforfi- preciatethe situation and the re- anteedentitlement forall farm- whichwas addressedtoPrime Collegehas around 10,000 der does matter. ilyobligations. studying/working abroad but for nancial payoff reasons,among ality of the law; talkswill take ers and all agricultural com- MinisterNarendra Modi —to students. Maybenot as muchasitdoes Fewerwomen have men, that ratio is 63%. others," she said, addingthat she place, and asolution will be modities; amendmentstobe other protesters. An FIR waslodged against among the “average”intheir co- These numbers aresmall and turneddownascholarship with found),” Tomar told TheIndian made and notifiedinthe Earlier this month,a the six, Sumit Tewari, Shesh hort, but itsburden is in- movedoverseasthan should notleadtosweepinggen- National University of Singapore Express. CONTINUEDONPAGE2 CONTINUEDONPAGE2 Narayan Pandey, Imran Hashmi, escapable: from their lowrepre- theirmen counterparts eralisations,says PoonamBatra, to pursue engineeringinIndia. CONTINUEDONPAGE2 sentation in science and tech to Morethan halfthe toppers Professor of Education at Delhi CONTINUEDONPAGE2 Street vendor scheme The go-toactor for new stories, After Khadse,Raut’swife ahit, govt plans next Pankaj Tripathi at eAdda today gets ED notice; Sena, NCP phase: digital payments platforms, he had prominent say Centre targeting Opp EKTAAMALIK roles in Mirzapur 2 and the re- NEWDELHI,DECEMBER27 centlyreleased CriminalJustice AVISHEKGDASTIDAR ED Applicants Season 2. VISHWASWAGHMODE NEWDELHI,DECEMBER27 cross WHILE forcing people indoors, Pankaj ANational School of Drama MUMBAI,DECEMBER27 PLAIN E the Covid-19pandemichas Tripathi graduate, Tripathi spent many ● 50%mark STARTINGNEW Year,overamil- EX whetted India’salreadyvora- years waiting patientlyfor his ADAY afteranotice to senior lion street vendors across India ciousappetitefor stories. Among time in the limelight,starting out NCPleader Eknath Khadse, the will acceptand make payments THE MAIN Bhi Digital those at the forefront of this with blink-and-you-miss roles Enforcement Directorate(ED) on digitally, having come on board drive hasbeen prompted phase in entertainment, playing in films like Run (2004)and Sunday issuedsummons to the forthe 'Main BhiDigital (metoo by thesuccessofthe outlargely on online streaming Omkara (2005), before attracting ‘Will have special wifeofShivSenaMPSanjay Eknath Khadse; Sanjay Raut digital)' drive designedbythe loan scheme forvendors, services, is PankajTripathi,cred- attentionwith his performance observersfor Raut, Varsha, asking her to ap- Centrefor them. with thenumber of ap- ited withdelivering some of as Sultan QuerishiinGangsof Bengal... forlaw and pearbeforeitonDecember 29. The drive hasbeen prompted plicants, 30 lakh, already 2020’s mosttalked about per- Wasseypur Part 1&2.Films like Varsha wassummoned as Raut told TheIndianExpress:“I by the success of the Prime crossing the half-way formances. On Mondayevening, Fukrey (2013)and Masaan (2013) order,expenses. If partofthe investigationintothe have been hearingthat the ED has MinisterStreetVendor'sAtma- markofthe total num- the 44-year-old will be guestat helpedcement his talent, while needed,wecan act Punjab and Maharashtra sent anotice to us, but Iamyet to Nirbhar Nidhi (PMSVANidhi) berofstreetvendors. Express eAdda,which features hit Netflix show Sacred Games swiftly,ruthlessly’ Cooperative (PMC) Bank scam see acopyofit... Theyshould scheme,launchedinthe wake of More than 16.65 lakh ap- interactions with people at the and acclaimedmovies suchas SUNIL ARORA case. The ED is investigating al- show us on paper what they have the Covid-19 lockdown, to pro- plications have been centreofchange. Medium, Extraction and Shakeela Newton (2017), Nil Battey CHIEF ELECTION leged financial transactions be- found in their investigation.” He vide vendors microcredit. As sanctionedbypartner Tripathi’s releases this year (severalofthem directlyre- Sannata (2016)and Stree (2018) COMMISSIONER OF INDIA tween Varsha and Pravin Raut, saidhe wouldclarify his stand on partofthe newdrive,between banks. include filmslike Ludo, Gunjan leasedonOTT platforms). On followed. Now, as stories PAGE 12 who is under arrest in the case. theissue in detail on Monday. CONTINUEDONPAGE2 Saxena:The Kargil Girl, Angrezi content made forstreaming CONTINUEDONPAGE2 Dismissing the allegations, CONTINUEDONPAGE2

PAGE 1 ANCHOR In epic MCGcentury,Rahanestands up,lifts Adelaide gloom

mindedness, clarity of stroke- hundredsinAdelaide (2014), or man.Inhisinitialdays,hehadthe 200th ball he facedonSunday. At SANDIPG making and the stomach fora Cheteshwar Pujara’s 106in reputationofbeing acrisis man, no point in the game did he sur- NEWDELHI,DECEMBER27 fight that stood out. Melbourne (2018), or Sourav before he slippedintoaperiod of render the willtofight. This could turn out to be not Ganguly’s144inBrisbane(2003). confusion.Since the 2018 tour of His composureinadversity ADAY afterhemarshalled his onlythe defining knockof Or if Indiacould orchestratea SouthAfrica,hehasbeenalargely andtheshepherdingof thelower- troops admirablyonthe field, Rahane’s career,but also one of turnaround in theseries,inspire peripheral figureinTestmatches orderwere akinto VVSLaxman’s. AjinkyaRahane struckapriceless the finestanIndianbatsmanhas the same aweasRahul Dravid’s abroad. Barringacenturyagainst Likethe Hyderabadi virtuoso, centuryinadversity to putIndia composedabroad.Notperhapsin 233(Adelaide, 2003), considered West Indies, he had been mostly therewas an airofequanimity in acommanding position in the volume yet, but definitelyinim- the finestbyanIndianbatsman unremarkable. In his lasttourof about him. Whether he was second Test at the Melbourne pact.Itcouldpotentiallyshapethe on Australian soil. Australia, he managed only217 beaten or had scoredaboundary, Cricket Ground. match, the series,and extend the It wasinvaluable on several runs at ameagreaverage of 31. his expression remained the The unbeaten 104came as a life-span of ageneration that counts. This wasIndia’s firstin- Therewas atime when India same. His ability to lifthis batting timelybalmafterthepaininflicted wouldhave beendismantledhad nings afterthe capitulation in feared losinghim, when he when thrustwiththe captaincy by thehumiliationinAdelaidelast Indiareproducedanencore of the Adelaide. Even though India had teetered on the vergeofbeing wasreminiscent of SteveWaugh. week.With alead of 82 runs and Adelaidecapitulation. scoredtwiceasmanyrunsasthey chopped.Thefearsnowseemun- Coming intothe match, he five wicketsinhand at the end of With the matchonthe brink, had in the second innings in warranted.Rahane is reborn. had been farfromfluent, but he Day2,India could nowdream of theseriesonedge,agenerationon Adelaide when he walked outto Mostunexpectedly,hedid fought his wayout of trouble. He levelling the series. thefence,hisowncareerplateau- batatthefallof ShubmanGill,they notmakeIndia crave, or even wasnot alwayseasy on the eye, And the man behind the ing, pitted againstahigh-class were 61/2, farfromapositionof miss, Kohli. It wasaday India did- and he scrappedthrough the dif- dream is Rahane. bowling crew,Rahane stood up. authority.TheAustralianbowlers n’t needKohli.For they had ficult phases of the game. In the On Saturday, he made all the Themorevariablesyouweave were breathing fire,and they Rahane.His batsmanship is dif- end, he liftedthe post-Adelaide right calls as captain. His daring in, the morelustrehis hundred could have swallowedthe rest of ferent from Kohli’s, but the spunk gloomand passedafewmile- and calmness stood out.On gains. So much so that the effort AjinkyaRahane celebrates afterhis centuryasRavindraJadeja looksonduring the India- thebatting firm in their fury. he exudedwas similar to Kohli’s. stones, too. He became only the Sunday, he played the rightshots merits being spoken of in the Australia Test matchinMelbourneonSunday. Reuters Indianeededsomeoneto fight He wasprepared to fight, and second batsman to scoretwo as acaptain. It washis bloody- samebreath as ViratKohli’s twin fire with ice. Rahane wasthat fight he did, from the firsttothe hundredsatthe MCG.

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Tomar wasfromthe BarAssociation, usedtotargetanyonewho goes Jalalabad to the SDM, Jalalabad, againstthe BJP.Khadse wasinthe welcomes return over extendingsupporttothe BJPfor40yearsbeforemovingto peaceful protestbyfarmers. Fewer women move overseas, more cite family the NCPinOctober. to talks;noone The other wastitledasalet- Lastmonth, the ED hadsenta tertothe Prime Minister, and was notice to Sena legislator and cantake land of signed“Amarjit Singh Advocate as factor:high up the ladder, genderstill matters spokesperson Pratap Sarnaikand Bar Association Jalalabad his familymembers, after farmers: Rajnath (Fazilka)” and dated searches at their residences and Commission forthe Air Quality “18/12/2020”, in green ink. “I wishedtostayclose to my ligations),” she said. offices in connection with a Management in National Capital “He got this letter from parentssothatIcouldtravel(to SubjectsinClasses11,12* WHERETHEYWORK No wonder then that most moneylaundering case. Region and Adjoining Areas Jalalabad, he neverwent any- Bhubaneswar) to meet them of the women toppers,over "If anypolitical leader speaks Ordinance,2020to excludefarm- whereelse to type anyletteraf- regularly.Thereisasense of se- ■ Science ■ Commerce Women* Men** 60%, arefromTier 1cities while againsttheBJP,thepartyensures ers from itspenal provisions;and terDecember16. He wasanotary curity about staying in your formen, the trend is justthe that the ED starts aninvestigation Finance 27% (6) 16% (6) changes to be made in the draft public and apopular lawyer of owncountry, with your own 96% Men 4% opposite. Over 60% arefrom againsthim. Instead of letting it Electricity Amendment Bill, 2020 Jalalabad,”saidAmritpalSingh,a people that youdon’tfind else- IT/tech: 18% (4) 39% (15) Tier 2&3cities. work in theinterestofthe nation, to protect the interests of farm- Jalalabadresidentwho is also at where,” she said. Shalini Prasad,41, attended the ED is being misusedbythe Medicine: 14% (3) 8% (3) ers. the Tikri border. Prusty,who holds a LoretoConvent School in BJP to target other leaders," Patil Speaking on the occasion of “He metussmilinglyon Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Consulting 18% (4) 8% (3) Asansol up to Class 10 and did said, addingthat the summons 71% Women 29% theJairam Thakur governmentin Sundaymorning,” Amritpal said. andElectronics Engineering Business/entreprenuer 9% (2) 11% (4) her high school at De Nobili didn't scarethem. Himachal Pradeshcompleting “Wehad no idea that he would from BITS-Pilani and an MBA School, Mugma, Dhanbad. On Saturday, while asking three years, RajnathSingh said: take this extreme step, even from IIM Bangalore, is now *Out of 22 employedOthers in research,corporateand legal She is one of the 13 women parties to join hands to “takeon “Ek badaa dushprachaar yehbhi though he had been deeplydis- Strategy Consultant at L&T *Notopper from arts/humanities **Out of 38 employedOthers in academics, industry and civilservice toppers from Tier 2and 3cities. the BJP and itsdictatorialtenden- kiyagayakikisanon ki zameen turbed about the newlaws.” InfotechinMumbai. Prasad,who topped the Class cies”, Raut had also accusedthe contract farming ke madhyamse The letter,addressedtoModi, Familycommitments 12 ISC exam in 1997,isnow Centreoftargeting the chheen li jayegi. Main punah kehna wasaprinted note in English studentsenrolled, 50.7 per cent on their comparatively smaller Vice President (Finance) at Opposition via central agencies - chahungakikoi bhi ma ka lal whichsaid that people expected stronger factor were menand 49.3 per cent presence abroad. “In India, a British Petroleum in London. -acharge he has been very vocal kisanon se unki zameen nahin a“better future in youasPrime While thereislittle differ- women. Also,theirpresenceat foreign degree, particularly in She creditstwo men for on, including in the probeinto chheen sakta (Thereismajor Minister”. ence in the academicgoals of the Master’s levelwas thehigh- maths and science,isvalued helping her dreams take wings. Sushant Singh Rajput's death. propaganda that the land of Accusing the PM of “arro- these achievers at the post- estever—in2017-18, forevery over others as universities "Growing up, Iwas sure I "ShivSenaleadershave alsobeen farmers would be takenaway gance”and workingfor special graduate level—roughlythe 100men whoenrolledfor MSc, abroad have acutting-edge wanted to study at SRCC in givenEDnotices.Allthosewhom through contract farming. I “capitalist (Ambani and Adani) same proportion of men (45%) therewere171 women. Five curriculum in these fields, Delhi. My father had justone the Central government can't would liketosay again that no interests”, it said: “The common and women (43%) toppers hav- years earlier,therewere138 whicheventuallytranslateinto condition—that Ishould score fight politicallyare being pres- onecan take away the landofthe people likefarmers andlabours ing either finishedorstillpur- women in BSc programmes for well-paying jobs overseas. high enoughinmyBoardexam sured through central agencies farmers).” arefeelingdefraudedbyyour suing aMaster’s degree —there every100 men. ParentsinIndia willprobably to secureahostel. Muchlater, likethe ED," he said on Saturday. In reference to the three agricultureblackBills...the is agap at the higherresearch While, as AISHE suggests, be keener to take asizeable when Iwas feeling stagnated at The Sena'schief spokesper- Opposition's criticism of The public is on tracks and roads not level. Onlyafifth of women the gender gapinSTEM loan to fund adegreeinengi- my jobinBangalore,itwas my son, Raut is believedtobeone of Farmers (Empowerment and forvotes but forthe livelihood of toppershaveopted foraPhDas (Science, Technology, neering or science as opposed father-in-lawwho pointed out thearchitectsoftheMaharashtra Protection) Agreement on Price their families and compared to athirdofmen. Engineering, Mathematics)has to,say,psychology.Women, that Enrst&Young wasrecruit- VikasAghadicoalition, including AssuranceandFarm ServicesAct, generations...Kindlydon’t snatch Sohini Chaprala, 30, the been narrowing of late, the SPRIHABISWAS traditionally, have been less in- ing in London and that Ishould theShivSena,NCPand Congress, Singh said: “Whatever agree- bread andbutter(Roti)offarm- 2008 Class 12 CBSE topper,is chasm is still waytoo large and ChiefProductOfficeratScribetech, terested in these sectors, and apply,"she said. whichwrested powerfromthe ment will be with the farmers ers, labours andcommonpeople Research Manager at is reflected at the apex, too, de- headsdevelopmentofamedical this possiblyexplains whyyou Yet, thereare many others BJP in the stateafter thelast will be about their produce, not forafew capitalists and don’t Innovations forPoverty Action, spitemostofthe national top- speechrecognitionsoftware found fewerwomen toppers who struggledwith social ex- Assemblyelections. their land.” compel them to eat Sulphos. anon-profit foundedby pers being from the Science studying and working abroad,” pectations. Khadse is being probed on TOPPED: Class 10,ICSE, 2011 On MSP, he said: “A miscon- Sociallyyou have betrayed the American economistDean stream. she said. “Allthrough my post-grad- chargesthat as revenue minister ception is being deliberatelycre- public and politicallyyou have Karlan, in Dhaka. Sevenof10maletoppers Social and cultural uation, my familypressured in theDevendraFadnavis govern- atedin some parts of the country betrayed your associateparties AfteranMSc (Integrated) have studiedengineeringas me to getmarried. This had an ment, he had purchasedland be- that our government wantsto likeSAD...I offermysacrifice in Economics from IIT-Kanpur, their undergraduatedegree. challenges impact on me as people would longing to theMIDC end the MSP.Ithas neverbeen supportofthis worldwide agita- Chaprala wasconsidering a Among women toppers,that Despitetheir impressive oftendiscuss this and even (MaharashtraIndustrial the intentionof thisgovernment tion forshakingyour deafand PhD or another Master’s de- number wasonlyathird,with achievements, manyofthe tauntme. Iwas quiteupset, but Development Cooperation) in to abolish the MSP,norwillitever dumb conscience...Bhartiya Kisan gree in public policy/adminis- another quartergoingfor women toppersadmittedto Ihaven’tgiven in to thepres- Pimpri-Chinchwad at gross un- be.” Mazdoor Ektazindabaad.” tration but, she says,lifehad BCom or management. facing obstacles in the form of sureand will not,” said another dervaluation. Singh appealedtofarmersto Amarjit's daughter Suman other plans. ShalakaKulkarni,24, was socio-cultural barriers and achiever, whotoppednation- Abuilderhad allegedthat the observethe impact of the new Bala, 24,ateacher in agovern- “I got marriedand all prior- among adozen-odd girls in her familyobligations —evenifthis allywith99%. Herparents, for land, purchasedinthe nameof laws for“one-twoyears”. ment school in Jalalabad, said, “I ities were re-configured — class of about 130during her wasn’talwaysinthe form of now, have givenintoher deci- Khadse's wifeand son-in-law, for The lastround of talksbe- can’t believe Papacould take such now, thereare constraintson days at IIT-Bombay, whereshe anyovert familypressure. sion to study further. Rs 3.75 crorewas actually worth tween thegovernmentand farm astep. He spoketoall of us on mobility and alonger commit- studiedElectrical Engineering Some of them saytheyrecon- Being aminority in amale- around Rs 30 crore. The ED notice unions washeld on December 8, Saturday night, and told us he ment (such as PhD or an aca- in 2012.“In the classroom, we figured their careers to fulfill dominated workspace can wasreportedlyissuedunder the when Home MinisterAmit Shah would come backsoon.” demic career) and that natu- all receivedequal treatment re- traditional roles. end up impeding achieve- Prevention of Money hadmet with 13 representatives Amritpal said Amarjit had rallyregresses career. I’m not gardless of gender.However, I ANIKAAGRAWAL Of the 45 male toppers who ment, says Spriha Biswas, 26, Laundering Act. of farm unions. Aday afterthis been inquiring about buses or bitterabout the social norms or did observethat boys partici- PursuingMSinMarineBiology respondedtothisnewspaper’s the ICSEnational topperof Khadse has said he will ap- meeting,the Centre had sent a trains to go backhome. “It is my changed circumstances, pated in class muchmorethan fromTexasA&MUniversity questionnaire, none spokeof 2011 who went on to study pearbeforethe ED and cooperate written proposal of concessions shocking thathewas roaming butthings would definitely girls, theygaveanswers more TOPPED: Class 10,ICSE, 2013 being affected by anticipated or Metallurgical Engineering in the probe. He has all along to the protesting unions, which with atypedsuicide note in his have been different,career- often. Likeme, alot of girls actual needtobalance academ- from IIT-Bombay. maintainedthat the land in ques- theyhad rejectedin an emailsent pocket,and even had sulphos wise, if Iwerenot awoman,” sometimes thought their an- ics/career and family. Though she says shehas- tion belonged to aprivate party on December 16. tablets with him.Weare even says Chaprala, who has been swers might notbecorrect and men toppers, close to two- In contrast, among the 35 n’t facedany gender discrim- andhis familyhad purchasedit moreshockedthathis letter has a managing her baby, career and refrainedfromparticipating,” fifths areinSTEM jobs. women toppers —manyof ination yet, there’s afootnote following the due process of law. signaturedated December 18, long-distance marriage—her said Kulkarni, who toppedthe The difference in choice of them spokeoffacing hurdles on to her statement. “…But obvi- On Saturday, he said that the alle- Punjab lawyer and he committed suicide on husband runs his business out ICSE Boardin2012with 98.8% subjectscomes intoplayatthe condition of anonymity—is one ously, being awoman youare gation had earlier been investi- kills himself, December 27,” he told The Indian of Hyderabad. and is nowpursuing an MBA school level. Agreater propor- in her twenties, who tailoredher alwaysinaminority,whether gatedbythe PuneAnti- Express. Women under- from Yale School of tion of the male toppers (96%) work lifearound her family. it is collegeoratthe work- Corruption Bureauand the ShingaraSingh Maan, vice- Management. chose ScienceinClasses 11 and “Once Igot married, Ididn’t place. Whichmeans thatyou Nashik Anti-Corruption Bureau, criticises PM for president of BKU Ugrahan, said: represented in STEM This under-representation 12 as opposedto71% for want to take up ajob whereI don't always have apeer and neither had found anysub- ‘black laws’ “It is ashocking incident,weal- The gender gapinunder- in STEM undergraduatepro- women. couldn’t control my working grouptodiscuss and share stance in it. "This will be thefifth ways tell our workers'Khudkushi graduatescience education has grammes mirrors the broader While10women toppers hours. (I) restricted travel and your ideas as freelyasyour probeinthe matter." 65-year-old Karnal-basedreli- nahin, sangram' (Choose strug- been progressively closing over trend of women being starkly had studiedCommerce, only regulated my working hours... male counterparts do...All of WITHENS,PUNE gious leader diedofagunshot gleoversuicide). No oneshould the lastfew years. missing in STEM jobs,which twomaletoppers out of 51 had so automatically, the jobs I these factors become very im- woundnearSinghu, leaving be- adoptthispath. The government According to the 2018 edi- areamong thehigherpaying chosen that stream. could applyfor got limited,” the portant when youwant to ad- hind apurportedsuicide note should wake up even nowand tion of the All India Surveyon jobsintoday’s economy. Ameeta Wattal, Principal, topper said. Asked whyshe felt vance in aprofession,” said The go-to actor thatsaid he waspained by the see the writing on the wall. If they Higher Education (AISHE), for Lessthanone-fifth of the Springdales School, Pusa Road, the need to do so, she said,“My Biswas, who worksasChief farmers' plight. Subsequently, a areagovernment of the masses, the firsttime, therewereas women toppers currently says the fact that fewerwomen familylifeneededit... my hus- Product Officer at ScribeTech, for new stories, 70-year-old farmer from Tarn theymusttakebackthe laws.” manywomen as meninBSc working areemployedinthe toppers chose STEM subjects band worksfrom11amto6 amedical transcription com- Taranallegedlyattempted to kill programmes —of48.19 lakh STEM sector;among employed probablyexplainsthe finding pm and had limited travel (ob- panyinMumbai. Pankaj Tripathi himself by consuming pesticide at eAdda today tablets. Street vendor “At8.48am, Igot acall from equippedwith the software ficial socio-economic survey of structing public servants. student union president in 2018, sions. Howcan elections be getmoreintimate, and reachau- him (Amarjit). scheme ahit, neededfor the transactions, and vendors, to bring them under Inspector,Ayodhya Police Station, said: "The protesting students held?" diencesinthe solitude of their He said he had training providedtothemon safe schemes suchasthe Pradhan Ashutosh Mishrasaid theywere were only saying that theywant Linking the mattertothe Ram rooms, Tripathi has emergedas consumed govt plansnext and securepayments. Mantri JeevanJyoti Bima Yojana, investigating the matter. azadi from the principal and chief temple, Pandeyadded. "This is the toppickfor filmmakers see- sulphos. I phase: digital “Available datashowthat Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima "Everything will become clear proctor.Now,the principal has suchasensitive place in Ayodhya, ing actors to playsalt-of-the- reachedhim by only20percentofthe beneficiar- Yojana, Jan-Dhan Yojana, during the probe. We will be usedthat andis saying theywere barely500 metres from the earth characters. 8.55 am. He payments ies aredigitallyenabled. Even Building and Other Construction scanningCCTVfootage,videos.If raising anti-national slogans." Janmabhoomi. We need to look At the Express eAdda,Tripathi handedustwo amongthose who accept pay- Workers Act, Pradhan Mantri an offence is made out, action will Yadavquestionedtheadmin- out foranti-national activities." will be in conversation with typedlettersbe- January4and 22, over 10 lakh mentsdigitally, notall use digital Shram Yogi Maandhan Yojana, be takenaccordingly." istration's logic forthe cancella- He refusedtoclarify who National Features Editor Devyani Amarjit fore falling un- street vendors acrossthe country paymentstopurchase material,” Pradhan Mantri Matri Vandana The complaint by the princi- tion of the student union polls. among the six he filedanFIR Onial andTheIndianExpressfilm Singh Rai conscious,” said who have availedoftheRs 10,000 asenior official said. Yojana, and others. pal says,"The admission process "Lastyear,the electionscould againstwerestudentsofthe col- critic ShubhraGupta. RamKumar loan will be trainedinusing dig- LaunchedbyPrime Minister andclasseshave beenongoing at notbeheld due to the Ram lege. "I can'ttellyouwho arecur- The Express Adda, that has Munshi,who ital payments. NarendraModiforstreet vendors the collegesince December7. Mandir issue and no one raised rent students,but some of the six movedonline during the pan- had been camping with Amarjit As per official data,12lakh as theywereamong the hardest In UP, college During this, some outsiders, anti- their voice as it wasasensitive arestudents,whilesomearefor- demic, has earlier featuredactors at Tikri border sinceDecember street vendors have already hit by the lockdown, the socialelementsand so-called matter.Thisyear,thestudents are mer studentsand some areout- Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh 16. availedofthe loan while the to- PMSVANidhi scheme of the students booked leaders startedaprotest demand- protesting because the elections siders," Pandeysaid. Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Munshi said Amarjit was talnumber of applicantshas MinistryofHousing and Urban ing student elections. On have been cancelledwhile Anuskha Sharma and Kangana takentothe Bahadurgarhcivil crossed30lakh-- orhalf the esti- Affairs entitles them to Rs 10,000 for sedition, December 16,thesestudentsen- polling is happening across the Ranaut, apartfromUnion minis- hospital and then to PGIMS matednumberof street vendors. interest-free loan as working cap- principal cites teredthe collegeand lockedthe country. When classes can be After Khadse, ters Nitin Gadkari, SJaishankar, Rohtak,wherehewas declared Over 16.65 lakhapplicationshave ital to restarttheir businesses. main gate andmisbehavedwith held, then whycan't elections be Raut’s wife gets Nirmala Sitharaman, Ramesh dead. Members of Amarjit's fam- already been sanctionedbypart- Government datashowthat azadislogans, teachers, collegeadministration held forthe student union?" Pokhriyal, and experts in their ilysaid he was63yearsold. ner banks. around 46 per cent of the street and students. Theyinterrupted Speaking to The Indian ED notice; Sena, fields likeAIIMS Director Dr “Wehavereceived informa- Officials underlinedthat the vendorswhohave appliedforthe Ram temple classes... Theywereraising inde- Express, Principal Pandeysaid, Randeep Guleria, Chief Economic tion regardingthe death of an ad- uniqueaspect of thenew drive loansofarare fruitandvegetable cent and anti-national slogans "Studentshad raisedanti-na- NCP say Centre Advisor Krishnamurthy vocate at NayaGaon Chowknear wasthatthe vendors would be sellers, while some 21 per cent Satwik Pandey, Mohit Yadavand likelekar rahengeazadi. Due to tional slogans that areraised at Subramanian, NobelLaureates Tikri. Ateam has been sent to look able to notjustreceive payments sell fast food. Over 41 per cent are Manoj Mishra, on December 18. the incident, thereisanger and Jawaharlal Nehru University, targeting Opp AbhijitBanerjeeand EstherDuflo, intothe matter,” Ashok Kumar, digitallybut also payformaterial women. Theywerebookedunder IPC fear among the studentsofthe Delhi... that theywillfight for cancer specialistand prize-win- DSP (Badli), said. they procurefromsellersusing Encouraged by the response Sections124-A(sedition),147(ri- college." azadi. What kind of azadi do they Speaking to reporters in ning author Dr Siddhartha One of the twoletters that unique QR codes. The mobile to PMSVANidhi, the government oting) and 506(criminal intimi- AbhaasKrishnaYadav, who is want? Theywantedelections, we Sangli, MaharashtraNCP chief Mukherjee, and sportspersons Amarjitgavetoother protesters phones of the vendors will be has also launchedits first-everof- dation),apartfromchargesofob- doing M.Com and waselected arestill in the process of admis- Jayant Patilsaidthe ED wasbeing likeCheteshwar Pujara.

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THEINDIANEXPRESS,MONDAY,DECEMBER28,2020 ANANDVIHAR SIRIFORT SHADIPUR DWARKA-SECTOR8 SKYWATCH Severe Severe Very Poor Severe FORECAST: Dec 28 Mainlyclear sky. 421 415 334 427 Shallowtomoderate AQI AQI AQI AQI foginthe morning PM: 2.5 05PM: 2.5 00 0500 05PM: 10 00 0 PM: 2.5 500 MAX: 20 MIN: 5 3 THE CITY 0-50 Good 51-100 Satisfactory 101-200 Moderate 201-300Poor 301-400 Very Poor 401-500Severe 0.5°Cbelownormal 2°Cbelownormal

GRADUAL REDUCTION FROM 80% TO 60% 55-yr-old dies as tempo rams into concrete mixer truck

DCP (Southeast)RPMeena to AIIMS whereSubedar wasde- been shiftedtoMax hospital in ing death by negligence) was ICUbedsforCovid EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE said, “WereceivedaPCR call clareddead on arrival.” Saket.His conditioniscritical. registeredagainstthe driver and NEWDELHI,DECEMBER27 Sundaymorning about the acci- Locals claimedthe tempo Police said the truckdriver police areonthe lookout forhim. dent. The temporammedintoa washeading to Okhlawhen it had parkedhis vehicle in a“neg- Subedar livedwith his family A55-YEAR-OLD man diedand truckand the three men inside collidedwith the truck,whichal- ligent manner causing danger in in NebSarai. His son,Nirvesh, told twootherssustainedinjuries af- were injured.Subedar was legedly didn’t have anylightson the line of navigation”onthe the media, “Police mustarrestthe patientsreduced tertheir temporammedintoa trappedinside acabin in the and wasparkedonthe flyover. road. Acase under IPC sections (truck) driver. Howcan he parkon concretemixer truckatNehru tempo, while his friends Jaichand The truckdriverallegedly fled. 283(danger in apublicway), 337 the flyover? Therewerenopark- Place flyoverinKalkaji on and Shamsher were thrownout An officer said Shamsher, (causing hurtbyact endanger- ing lightseither.Myfather died Basedonpanel’s report;experts cite3reasonstosupport Sundaymorning. of the vehicle. Theyweretaken who wasdriving the tempo, has ing human life) and 304A(caus- because of his negligence.” decision —new UK strain, NewYear, severity of cases

EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE CORONAVIRUS IN THE CAPITAL NEWDELHI,DECEMBER27 TOTALCASES Total Vacant THE DELHI government has de- HOSPITALBEDS 18,77416,269 cidedtograduallydecrease the 6,22,851 VENTILATORS 1,525953 number of ICUbedsreserved for Covid-19patients from 80% to Dailycases Recoveries Deaths Tests 60% at 33 private hospitals, fol- Dec26655 9882367,115 lowing therecommendations of Dec 27 757939 16 75,210 itsfour-member expertcommit- tee. This frees up 20% bedsfor Total6,713*6,05,68510,453 83,51,048 non-Covid patients—amajor *Total active cases demand of doctors in several hospitals. The decision will be re- viewedagain on January5. The order issuedSunday by AmitSingla,secretary, healthand family, Delhigovernment, is basedonthe opinion shared by AIIMS director Dr Randeep Guleria and NITI Aayogmember Dr VKPaulaswell as the committee. The country’s topexperts have takenintoaccountseveral factors —the newUKstrain, increasing severity of Covid-19 cases and the upcoming New Year celebrations —tosupport the panel’s decisionrecommend- ing gradedreductionof ICUbeds. “Thenew UK strain of Covid- Ahealth worker collects 19 is anew development wit- swab samplesatMayapuri nessed... very recently. Further, industrial area. Renuka Puri till now, about 19 UK returnees have tested positive and their genome sequencing is underway November 25 and December23. at the National Centrefor Disease Whythegovt Dr Paul and Dr Guleria, in Control (NCDC). In view of the iscautious their report, also took note of the unfolding situation of the new declining trend of Covid-19in- strain, we areofaview that we fections in Delhi. “Weare also should take abundant precau- WHILE PRIVATEhospi- cognizant of the fact that the to- tions and abruptde-escalation is tals have pointed out talCovid ICU bed occupancy has notadvisable in thisjuncture,” severaltimes that ear- droppedtoabout 23% as on the experts statedin their report. marking alarge chunk of December 26. We have also “Theupcoming celebrations ICU bedsfor Covid pa- notedthat the occupancy of the shall entail gatherings which tientsisaffecting treat- said 33 private hospitalsisabout maytrigger superspreader ment of non-Covid pa- 34%,whichishigher than the events. We have also noticedthat tients, the government is general Covid ICU bedsoccu- trendshavebeen observed with being cautiouswhen it pancy of other hospitals,” it said. regard to the increasedseverity comes to reducing the On Sunday, the capital re- of Covid-19cases in recent days,” number of these beds ported757 newcases and 16 theyfurtherexplained. suddenlyascases might deaths,takingthetotalnumberof The experts said theycan re- spikeafter Christmas casesto 6,22,851andthedeathtoll viewthe situationagain on and NewYear celebra- to 10,453. The dailypositivity rate January15tounderstand the im- tions. Emergence of the wasrecordedat1.01% basedon pact of the UK strain and overall newCovid strain in UK, 75,210 testscarriedout in the last impact of the NewYear celebra- whichismoreinfec- 24 hours.Thereare 1,525ICUbeds tions. The reportstatedthatato- tious, has also made the forCovid patients, out of which talof20,622 peoplehavearrived government morewary. 953 (62%) arevacant, as perthe in Delhi from the UK between Delhi government’s Corona app.

882 arrested under OBITUARY NDPS Act in 2020 Lieutenant General VedPrakash Airy,MVC 02 Oct 1933-28Dec 2007 NewDelhi: DelhiPolice arrested Remembering our 49th Commanding Officer who 882 persons underthe NDPS Act in the Indo-Pak Warof1971 led the Battalion from the front and endured aresounding victory this year,and registered726 FIRs over enemy.The Battalion was awardedthe and busted10gangs involved in Battle Honour of ‘JARPAL’and he was decorated drug trafficking in the city.While with Nation’ssecond highest gallantry award, the mostofthe drugsweresupplied MAHAVIR CHAKRA. An enthusiastic officer with never say die attitude, adie hard GRINDER and from UP,MP, Haryana, Rajasthan aCOpar excellence.Hewill always be remembered as the most brave andManipur,someof theaccused and dauntless leader to be emulated by all. His soul will remain had smuggleddrugs likecocaine immortalised in our hearts, will inspire and guide us wherever we go. from West Africa and South Commanding Officer and All Ranks Americaviacourierservices.ENS Third Battalion The GRENADIERS

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THEINDIANEXPRESS,MONDAY,DECEMBER28,2020 4 THE CITY ATCMGURUchallengTEG BAHADUR MEMORIALesCentre todebateprotesters

SOMYALAKHANI NEWDELHI,DECEMBER 27

ON SUNDAY evening, metres from the farmers’ protestat Singhu border,Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy CM Manish Sisodia attendedthe kir- tan-darbar commemorating the martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh’s mother Mata Gujrijiand his chaar sahibzaadas (foursons) at the Guru TegBahadur Memorial. Theyaddresseda gathering of over 200and spoke about the farmers’ protestthat has been on foramonth. Kejriwal said: “With folded hands, Iappeal to the Centre... Kejriwal at the event,Sunday. GajendraYadav These areour people... Listento them, withdraw the laws,and end their struggle. Aurkitni sha- the government wantstohand talinBihar wherethereare no The protestsiteatGhazipur border on Sunday. Prem Nath Pandey haadat lena chahtehoaap?” over farming to bigcorporates: mandis, and theMSP is Rs 1,850 Talking about the people “What will farmers do if you per quintal... wheredoour farm- who have diedatoronthe way take farming away from them? ers from Bihar and UP sell their to the protest, the CM said: Farmers areheretodayatthe produce formorethan Rs 1,850? “Right now, we arealso feeling borders fortheir survival. Ab aar- Theycannotevenget 50% of the Sowing season over, farmersfrom UP and cold. Iamwearing ajacket,a paar ki ladai hai.” priceoutside mandis. This is not sweater,aninner,amuffler... He added, “The Central gov- abenefit to farmers but to big Nowthink about the night time ernment fieldedtheir big lead- firms, the rich.” when it gets so cold... our farmer ers,ministers... Iheard alltheir The CM said the whole coun- Uttarakhand make their way to Ghazipur brothers, mothers, children have speeches and notasingle leader tryisnow dividedintwo —“one been forced to sleep on the road has talked abouthow thesefarm half wantstobenefit the richby for32days.Why?” laws benefit farmers... As faras harming the farmers, the other from around 5,000 to 20,000 in district have no intentions of being stopped…" tials and managed traffic. Referring to the2011anti- the benefitscountedbythese is standing with farmers with- ASHNABUTANI the last10days. heading backuntil harvest, Mahender Singh, vice-President corruption movement, he said, leaders go,the first, theysay,is out caring forthe rich”. NEWDELHI,DECEMBER27 Farmers,however,saidthey adding that 6,000morefarmers Helping hand of the NGO, said, "Wehaveseen “During the Anna andolan, we that land will notbetaken away On “farmers being misled”, facedseveral obstacles on their areexpected to reachGhazipur As the protestgrows in size, the numbers grow in the lastfew were also defamed. Today, farm- from farmers.Isthis abenefit? Kejriwal said he challenges the HAVINGsowedwheat and peas way. by December 30-31. Similarly, help pours in from farand wide. days.Itwill onlykeep growing in ers arebeing calledterrorists MSP and mandis will notbere- Centreto“send their experts to forthe season, thousands of SimranjeetSingh (30) from farmers from UP who had gone On Sunday, GursewakSingh (23) size from now…" and anti-nationals... If that’s the voked, is this abenefit?Why debatewith farm leaders”. farmers from Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand's Rudrapur said he backtocut sugarcane and sow from UP's Pilibhit distributed To keep the cold at bay, desi case, who will feed you? Who have youbroughtthe bills Beforethe CM got on stage, Uttarakhand lefttheir home- had to change his routeafter po- wheat arereturning as well. shampoo,soap, winter garments geysers were also being distrib- will give you roti?” then?” Sisodia addressedthe gathering towns to join the protestatthe lice stoppedhim. He said, PyaraSingh (55), from Uttar and warm blankets. The medical uted by anumber of gurdwara He said farmers have been The onlybenefit being spo- and said, “Kejriwal ji is thinking Ghazipur border.With around "Twenty five of us leftRudrapur Pradesh's Bilaspur,said that 60- student turnedsewadar said, "I committees. “betrayed for70years by all par- kenabout, he said, is that farm- 24 hours about farmers at 1,000 tractor-trolleysarriving at 6amonDecember 25. We 70 people were stoppednear wasvolunteering at Singhu and Acontrol room has been set ties, politicians, who promise to ers will be able to sell their pro- Singhu border who have left over the lastfivedaysand tents were going to come via Rampur Moradabad and sent backon Tikri but realisedthat help was up by thefarmerstokeep track waiveloans, promisedemploy- duce anywhereinthe country theirhomes, farms... what are being setuptill the end of the but we knewwebestopped December 22.Hesaid, "Wede- neededheretoo.SoIcame here." of items likewarmclothes and ment but thatnever happened”. outside of mandis: “Ifthe crop the adequatearrangementsthat border,the protestisnow 10 theretoo.Sowewent through cidedtotakeanother routevia He addedthat over 700farmers blanketsthat aredonated and to Through these laws,hesaid, is being sold at Rs 800per quin- needtobemadefor them...” times bigger,said farmers. AUP Bilaspur, Patwai and Shahabad Bulandshahr on December 25 ask forblanketsevery day. ensurethat those in needget police constable said the num- and got herearound midnight." and got herethe same night. Volunteers of Khalsa Aid them. Volunteers said theypri- AQI to improveslightly today, berofprotesters has gone up Singh said he and others from his Those who wear turbans were International distributedessen- oritise women and the elderly. cold wave to ring in the new year Amongsea of protesters at Singhu, women-only quality index(AQI) on Sunday of high moisturecontent, the air tents offer asafe andprivatespace for many EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE wasverypoor with areading of quality deteriorated.” NEWDELHI,DECEMBER27 396, five pointsbelowthe severe Temperatures arealso ex- range, as per the Central pected to dip Mondayonwards, place the tents, afterweraised turnedhome afterweeksof AIR QUALITYofDelhi deterio- Pollution Control Board(CPCB). as per the India Meteorological SOMYALAKHANI Rs 1.5lakh between friendsand protesting. "Wefeel very com- ratedonSundayand is forecast On Saturday, theAQI was337. Department (IMD), whichhas NEWDELHI,DECEMBER27 sought help from an NGOcalled fortable and safehere, thereis to slip intothe severe category, VKSoni, head of the Met forecastacoldwaveinDelhi Jap Ji Foundation.Thereare tents privacy to changeclothes too. as per government agencies. department’s Environment from December 29 to January1. AMONTH ago, 26-year-old in three sizesthat can accommo- There's abathroom forwomen Moistureladen winds from Monitoring and Research Centre On Sunday, the minimum Rupinder Singh, astudent from datetwo,three andfivepeople less than 50 metres away,” said the northeast direction were in- (EMRC), said, “Air quality will temperaturewas 6degrees Punjab’s Moga, joinedthe farm- each, and have alayer of razai, Manjinder. creasing the concentration of brieflyslip intoseverecategory Celsius and the maximum was ers' protestatSinghuwith one and ablanket.These arejustfor By 7pm, the tentsstart filling pollutantsinthe air,experts said, before improving intoverypoor 22.6 degrees Celsiusinthe city. By intention —tolisten, and to solve women, and forfamiliesthat up, and since Friday, Singh has but from Mondaythe wind di- rangeonMonday. Thewind December 31,the minimumand problems. If an ingredient in a have young children." been inundated with calls from rection would changeand bring speedrecordedonSundaywas maximum temperatures are langar wasover, he would fetch He said that another 50 tents women making bookings. some improvement. good fordispersion of pollutants forecasttofallto3degrees and 18 that;ifaprotestercouldn't read will be placedatthe siteby AmritpreetKaur(27)from Delhi’s 24-hour averageair —10to15kmph—but because degrees Celsius, as per the IMD. the newspaper,hewould read Monday. During therecce,Singh Patiala said that she heardabout out the news item aloud; if said he came across "Bibiyaan da tentsfor women from afellow someone neededhot waterto Toilet" setupbyDelhi-based protesteronSaturday but was BRIEFLY bathe, Singh would help them Thereare 70 waterproof tentsfor women. Somya Lakhani BasicShit.org, anddecidedthat unable to find the number or its Shopping centres find ageyser. proximity to abathroom was location. "It had been aweek so So, when he realisedthat important forthe tents. Idecidedthat I'd ratherjustgo Bengaltigress women protesters returnedto had to arrangetentsjustfor tweentractorsfromMoga, 500 On Saturday,Manjinder Kaur backand return in afew days. won’t be sealed over their villages and towns in them. On Friday, Singh and his metres from the main stage. (47), Tezbir Kaur (42) and their But today, Ifound the tentsfor releasedin Punjab quickerthan men due to friends setup70waterproof Singh said, "I did arecce of children came to Singhu border women and have decidedtoex- DelhiZoo conversion fee: SDMC lackofprivacy,Singh knewhe tentsinaspace cleared up be- the area to find the best spotto afterthe men of the family re- tend my stay." NewDelhi: ABengal tigress named Barkha was Plan whichstatesthat localand releasedintoits enclosure ABHINAV RAJPUT commercial shopping centres, Preserve footageofsearch at In DU exam round 2, at the NationalZoological NEWDELHI,DECEMBER 27 as well as shop plots,that arein Park Sunday by Minister the commercialuse category of Statefor Environment AFTER COMPLAINTS that arenot liable to payconversion lawyer’s office: Court to police fewer answer sheets Babul Supriyo. Zoo direc- traders at local shopping cen- and parking charges, he said. torRamesh Pandeysaid tres (LSCs) were being sent Presidentofthe association the tigress wasbrought sealing notices by civic body of- Rajesh Goyalpointed outthat Meanwhile,some office sent throughemail from Kanpur Zoo in ficials, the standingcommittee thenotices alsomention pay- EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE bearers and members of the Bar November and had com- of the South Delhi Municipal ing forfloorarearatio forexcess NEW DELHI,DECEMBER 27 Council of Delhi(BCD) have 3,800emailsonthefirst day. After pletedaquarantine pe- Corporation passedaresolu- coverage to gettheir buildings written to Union Home SUKRITABARUAH that Isent adetailedemail directly riod. “The National tion that LSCs and shops that regularised. “While owners are ADELHI courthas directed MinisterAmit Shah to take ac- NEWDELHI,DECEMBER27 to 1.5lakh students—instead of Zoological Park nowhas areunder itsjurisdiction will ready to pay, they(MCD) are Delhi Police to preservevideo tion on thesearch at Pracha'sof- anotificationon thewebsite—to apair of normal coated notbesealedovernon-pay- notready to acceptitunless we footagerecordedduring the fice. WITH ALMOSTall paperscom- explain the options available to Bengal Tigers and five ment of conversion charges. payconversion chargesas search conducted at advocate The letter,writtenbyBCD pletedinthe second cycle of its them within five hours... When whitetigers in itscaptiv- Leader of the House well,” he said. Mehmood Pracha'soffice last vice-chairperson Himal Akhtar Open Book Examination, Delhi collegeauthorities told me that ity,” Pandeysaid. Supriyo NarendraChawlasaidthere Said Chawla, "Wewilldis- week.Prachaisrepresenting and membersKCMittaland University officials said it was some students cannotunder- also launchedanew were complaintsthatpeople cuss this with officials so that severalaccusedinNortheast RajivKhosla, says thereisanun- smootherthan thefirstround, es- stand English, Isentthe same websitefor the Delhi Zoo who had purchasedshops un- unnecessarytroubleisnot Delhiriotcases. derstanding between represen- peciallywithasignificant drop in email in Hindi as well,"said Dean, on Sunday, whichin- der acommercial arrangement causedtotraders." Duty MagistrateUdhav Mehmood Pracha tativesofthe Bar the number of answer script sub- Examinations, DSRawat. cludes afacilityfor book- were being sent notices over Member of the standing Kumar Jain didnot pass anyor- Association/Bar Counciland the missions via email instead of the He said on the second day, the ing tickets online. The fa- non-payment of conversion committee Shikha Rai, who had der on handing over the copyof Delhi Police that in case of any university exam portal. number of emails reducedto cility will begin when the charges. “The civic body passed movedthe resolution in the the video to Pracha but passed tigatingofficerwhile the search case againstanadvocate,the In the firstcycle of OBE, held 1,200. Thereafter, therewas an av- zoo reopens, Pandeysaid. the resolution so thereisnofear committee meeting, said directions to preservethe wasunderway at his office. bodywillbetaken into confi- between Augustand September, erageof10-15emailsubmissions He addedthat the breed- of sealing in their minds,” he though the issue wastaken up footagewith itssealand place The SpecialCell had dence. the university had received per collegeinaday. ing of Sangai deer was said. in ahouse meeting in 2019, it before thecourtconcerned for searched his office to investi- "This broader understand- around 5.5 lakh answer scripts Ashutosh Kumar,nodal offi- successful this year and Property owners have to therewerereports of sealing necessaryorders. gate an FIR, registeredinAugust, ing is to maintainharmony and through email. This ledtoalabour cer at the College of Vocational the zoo has had 20 sur- payconversion chargesto notices being sent out. “So, we "… the video, whichisthe whichalleged false evidence cordiality between twowings intensive and prolonged evalua- Studies, said manystudentsatthe viving fawns. MCDsifthe status of theareain decidedtoreassuretraders that bone of contention, was and forged notary stamps were of thejustice delivery system. tion process because of which collegesubmittedanswer scripts whichtheyare located changes their properties would notbe recordedtoensure fairness usedtosecure bail of an ac- This seems to have notbeenfol- some studentsare still awaiting through email in the firstfew from residential to commercial. sealed,” said Rai. while the search wasbeing cusedarrestedinariots case. lowedinthe present case. theirresults.The large numberof days."Inthe firstthree days of the 2heldfor Thereare 56 commercial shop- Hundredsofproperties made… At this stage, only di- Police alleged the complaintlet- Whilewedonot want to go into email submissions had been exam, studentsofdifferent voca- stealingbag ping centres in South Delhi across Delhi were sealedfor vi- rections forpreserving the terusedtogetbail in the case various aspectsofthe matter, causedbyglitches facedbystu- tional programmes having com- with hundredsofshops. olations following adrive over video footageare deemednec- wassentfromPracha'soffice apparentlythe action of the dentswhile trying to upload on mon papers found that onlystu- NewDelhi: Tworickshaw Vishal Ohri, general secre- the pastfew years in markets essary. Thecourtconcerned can computer. Delhi Policefallsshortonthese the portal. dentsofone programmewere pullerswerearrestedfor tary of LSCs Federation of Delhi, suchasDefence Colony, GK 1M take acall on supplying the In hisapplication,Pracha aspects, whichisaveryserious This time, the university ac- receiving the question paper on allegedly stealing abag said, “Severallocal shopping Block, Sunder Nagarand videofootage to theapplicant at said that afterthe search at his matter as farasthe legal com- tively dissuaded studentsfrom the portal. Theyshared theques- from adelivery executive centreowners have got notices Rajouri Garden. an appropriatestage," the court office between December 24 munity is concerned. We notice sending their scripts viaemail. tion papers witheachother but in New Friends Colony. that theirproperties wouldbe “Whengovernmentsacross said in the order passedSunday. and 25, the IO shouldhaveinti- anguish and anger amongstthe "I came up with the idea that had no option but to submit Police said the accusedal- sealed if theydonot paycon- the worldare trying to increase It listedthe matter forJanuary mated forthwith the search and legal community,primarily be- studentscan send their scripts to through email. We received legedlystole the bag from version and parking charges.” investments, traders arebeing 5beforethe courtconcerned. the seizedarticles to themagis- cause it goes to the very root the nodal officers if all else fails around 500emails on thosethree the victim’s bikewhen he This despiteanamendment harassedthrough notices. We The courtwas hearing an trateconcernedbut it wasnot and independentdischarge of and theycannotsubmit through days.After that problem was wasn’t around. ENS by the Delhi Development hope this will stop now,”said application by Pracha claiming done. He also said he wasenti- responsibilitybyanadvocate," the portalwithin five hours. fixed, the numbers droppedto Authority in the 2021Master Goyal. he wasthreatened by the inves- tledtoacopyofthe footage. the letter read. Despitethis, we receivedaround around 50 per day,"hesaid.

New Delhi WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THEINDIANEXPRESS,MONDAY,DECEMBER28,2020 5 GOVT &POLITICS MakeLAST ‘MANN KI BAlistAT’PROGRAMofMEforeignOF THE YEAR products, On eve of Cong DELHI CONFIDENTIAL foundationday, swapthemforIndianones:PM Rahul flies abroad Modi invokesSikhgurus,calls forqualityboostinIndian manufacturing EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE durjitoo...OnceagainIbow to the the exportofhighquality Kash- NEWDELHI,DECEMBER28 Rahul EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE Prime martyrdom of Shri Guru Tegh miri saffron will further streng- Gandhi NEWDELHI,DECEMBER27 Minister Bahadur ji, MataGujari, Guru then the idea of Atmanirbhar ONTHEeveofthefoundationday Narendra GobindSinghjiandthefoursahib- Bharat. “Saffron has been associ- of the Congress, former party INHISlastMannKiBaataddressof Modi zade. Severalsuchsacrifices have ated with Kashmirfor centuries. presidentRahulGandhionSund- Addressing the media at the 2020 on Sunday, Prime Minister preserved thepresent fabric of Kashmirisaffronismainlygrown ay leftfor abroad on ashortper- AICCheadquarters,CongressMPs NarendraModicalledfor aqual- India,keepingitintact,”Modisaid. in places likePulwama, Budgam sonal visit. The party said he will from Punjab Ravneet Singh Bittu ityboostinIndianmanufacturing the hardworkand sweat of the The PM lastweek visited gur- andKishtwar.InMay thisyear,the beaway forafew days,indicating and Jasbir Singh Gill who have and aboycott of foreign goods people of India,” he said. dwaraRakab Ganj Sahibtopay Kashmiri Saffron wasgiven the that he will most probablyring in been staging asit-in at Jantar “shackling” the country, even as And amid the stalematebe- homage to Guru Tegh Bahadur. GeographicalIndication TagorGI theNew Yearinaforeignlocation. Mantar in solidarity withthe on- he brought up sacrifices made by tween farmers from Punjab and Referringto aletterwrittenby tag. Through this, we want to The Congress during the day going agitation slammedthe COVID JIBE Sikh gurus in the backdrop of the Haryana and the Centre over the one Venkat Murli Prasad from makeKashmiri Saffron aglobally sent out amessage, saying there Prime Ministerfor nottakingthe farm lawprotests. farm laws,Modi mentionedthe Visakhapatnam whichstressed popular brand. Nowits exports willbeaflaghoistingceremonyat initiative to resolve thematter. EVEN AS election season in Bengal hots up, with the TMC Prime MinisterModi urged supremesacrificesmadeby Guru on improving quality of Indian willget aboost.Farmersgrowing the 24,Akbar Road party head- “It has neverhappenedsince and BJP attacking eachother,evenpolitical speeches it seems the people to makealistoffor- GobindSinghandGuruTeghBah- products, Modi said: “This is the saffron will be especiallybene- quarters at 9.30 am to markthe 1952 that Parliament’s Winter cannotescape Covid. Multiple jibes arebeing thrownagainst eign productsthat could be sub- adur to protect India’s “millennia opportunemomentto work with fitedbythis,”Modisaid. 136th foundation day. Session has nothappened. And eachother usingCovid as an analogy.The latestwas stituted with Indian onesand old culture, civilisation and tradi- the ethos of ‘zeroeffect,zerode- Invoking the Bhagavad Gita, The party did notdivulgede- this is acrucial time. The farmers Abhishek Banerjee(above), who in areference to Suvendu drive out the former from their tion”from“thecruelmisdemean- fect’.Iurgemanufacturersandin- the PM asked countrymen to al- tails of his travel itinerary. Cong- had been sitting at the borders of Adhikari leaving the party to join the BJP,said that the party life. Continuing his Atmanirbhar ors of tyrantsand tormentors”. dustryleaders of the country... ways remaincurious and con- resscommunicationdepartment Delhi for32days.The Prime Min- had “identifiedand tracedthe Covid” virus within the party Bharat pitch, he said it wastime “On this day, the sons of Guru people of the countryhavetaken stantly learn. He said the Gita head RandeepSurjewala told PTI isterinhis Mann ki Baat radio ad- who were acting like“asymptomatic” carriers and sabotag- Indian companies beganmaking GobindSingh,sahibzadeZorawar afirm step... moving abold step startedwith aquestion. He gave he has leftfor abroad on ashort dressspokeabouteverything,but ingthe party from within. world-class products. Singh and FatehSingh were im- forward... vocal forlocal is rever- theexampleof a92-year-oldman personalvisitandwillbeaway for did notmentionthe farmers, “I have said this earlier too...I mured alive.The tyrantswanted beratingineachandeveryhouse- from Tamil Nadu who had learnt afew days. labourers,” Bittu said. onceagainurgecountrymen...do the sahibzade to renounce their hold... in such ascenario,itistime computers in old ageand was Rahul had travelledabroad in He said the governmenthas RELIEVED PARENT preparealist.Whateveritemswe faith;abandontheteachingsof the to ensurethat our productsmeet nowwriting abook. Septembertoo,accompanyinghis made it clear thatitwillnot talk use throughout the day... analyse great Guru tradition. But they global standards. Whatever is Modi listedthe increasing mother and Congress president aboutrepealof thelaws duringits IT WASaspecial weekend forAyushman BharatCEO Dr Indu them... think of things manufac- showedamazingcourageandde- global best;weshouldmakeitin numbers of leopards, lions and SoniaGandhiforherannualmed- meeting with leaders of the far- Bhushan. HisdaughterAmbikaBhushan, who is adoctor in turedabroadthathave permeated termination even at that tender Indiaandproveit.Forthat,ouren- tigers as an achievement of the icalcheck-upwhentheMonsoon mer organisations on December the US, receivedCovid-19vaccine on Saturday.Ambika has intoour livesunknowingly,ina age... It wasonthis daythatGuru trepreneurfriends have to come governmentand the civilsociety sessionofParliamentwas on. 29.“Whythisstubbornness?...The been on Covid duty since the outbreak of the pandemic. way, shackling us down. Letus Gobind Singh ji’s mother, Mata forward. Startups toohaveto and commendedpeople who While he left forabroad on a governmentshouldwithdraw the Sharing thepersonal news,hesaidhefelt “proud andre- find out their substitutes made in Gujari,attainedmartyrdom.Abo- come forth.” take care of animals. shortvisit,hispartysteppedupat- ordinance imposing Rs 1-2 crore lieved”. Bureaucrat-turned-economistBhushan has two India and decide that henceforth ut aweek ago, it wasthe martyr- The PM also spokeabout saf- FULLREPORTON tack on the government over the fine on stubble burningand the daughters, Devika and Ambika, who arebothmedical doc- we shall use productsmadewith dom dayofShri Guru Tegh Baha- fronfarmersof theValleyandsaid www.indianexpress.com farm laws issue. It asked Prime ElectricityAmendmentBillbefore tors andsettledinthe USA. MinisterNarendraModiand his the next round of talkssothat the Cabinetcolleaguesto sleeponthe dialogueto endthestalemateover floorto empathisewiththefarm- three agri-marketing laws can SETTING EXAMPLES Sikh gurus’ history to be in UP school syllabus: Yogi ersprotestinginthe cold. progress smoothly,”hesaid.

SPEAKINGONsustainable development, including the need Gujri. He also announcedthat the TheCMremindedthegather- to incorporatesustainablelivinginour ownlives,atthe re- MAULSHREESETH history of Sikh gurus will be in- inghow the“sahibzadas” setex- Jaishankar begins 2-day Qatar visit cent India International Science Festival, Union Ministerfor LUCKNOW,DECEMBER27 cludedinschoolcurriculuminthe amples of “protecting the Hindu Road and Highways Nitin Gadkari gave his own stateand“SahibzadaDiwas”cele- religion”. He addedthat the last NewDelhi: External Affairs Mohammedbin Abdulrahman example. He said he had equippedhis home with acom- UTTARPRADESH ChiefMinister brated in schools everyyear. “sahibzada” had “put up afight MinisterSJaishankar on Sunday binJassimAl-Thaniandotherdig- posting pit as well as alarge kitchen garden. Nowmeals Yogi Adityanath organised Wearing saffron turbans, the againstthe orderofthenMughal beganatwo-day visit to Qatar nitaries to discuss bilateral, re- cooked forhis familywerecooked from vegetables from this “Gurbanikirtan” and “langar” at chief minister, deputyCMsKeshav Emperor Aurangzeband refused whereheislikelytodiscusstrade, gional and international issues. kitchen garden –anaccomplishment he relayedto hisofficialresidenceonSundayon PrasadMauryaand Dinesh Shar- to convert to Islam”.“Sahibzadas energy cooperation andwelfare The visit is partofIndia’son- actor AmitabhBachchan. It appears Bachchan has followed theoccasionof “SahibzadaDiwas”, ma, Cabinetministers and other of Guru Gobind Singh and Mata of Indians in the country. going outreachtoWestAsia, the minister's lead and nowhetoo has akitchen garden whichmarks the martyrdomof officials participated in the “kir- Gujriare inspirational examples Jaishankar will meetQatar’s whichthe countrysees as partof of his own. four “sahibzadas”ofSikh guru In LucknowSunday. Express tan”.Along with Sikh representa- of sacrifice forrights, truth and Deputy Prime Ministerand itsextendedneighbourhood. Guru Gobind Singh and Mata tives, theyalso had “langar” food. protectionofreligion,” he said. Foreign ministerSheikh ENS Nitish givesJD(U) chargetoRCP Singh, sayshewants to focus on governance

SANTOSHSINGH ED PATNA,DECEMBER27 Whatthis doesto PLAIN E RLSPplans ●

BIHARCHIEFMinisterNitish EX Kumar on Sundayhandedover the reins of JD(U) to his closeaide RCPSINGH’S elevation and RajyaSabhaMPRam as JD(U) president might ChandraPrasad Singh. Singhhad delayorevenavert RLSP been holding the postofthe chief Upendra party’s national general secretary Kushwaha’s return to JD (organisation). (U). Kushwaha,who had Kumar,whohadbeenholding been reportedlyeyeing thepositionof theparty’snational the number twoposition president,saidhewantedto focus in JD(U) in event of his on governance. “It is noteasy to party merging with hold twopositions,” the Chief JD(U), maywellhaveto Ministersaidatthenationalexec- rethink his strategy.An utive meetingof JD(U).Hesaidhe alliance with the JD(U) had “not wanted to become CM” looksamoreprobable and hadacceptedthe postonlyat option forKushwaha as “the BJP’sinsistence”. joining JD (U) would Singh’s elevation comes at a Bihar CM Nitish Kumar with newly elected JD(U)president mean that Kushwaha timewhentheJD(U)hasbeenrel- RCPSingh at the national executive meetinPatna, Sunday. PTI would have to reporttoR egated to the positionofthe jun- CPSingh in organisa- iorpartnerto theBJPfollowingthe tional matters. Assemblypolls in Bihar.The de- selecting Singh as his successor, mostparty leaders afterNitish. velopment also comes soon after Nitish has reachedout to his core With Lalan Singh interested six out of the JD(U)’sseven MLAs supportbase of Koeri-Kurmi, moreinnational politics and not ArunachalPradeshisagainstcoali- in Arunachal Pradesh switched known as Luv-Kush in the polit- muchactive in the organisation, tion dharma.”Headdedthatthe over to theBJP.The JD (U) has ical lexicon of Bihar.Hehas also RCPSingh emergedasthe clear JD(U) would work towards termedthe development “unfor- cleared anyunambiguityonthe choice.Singh hasnot wonany strengthening and expanding it- tunate andunfriendly”. official number twointhe party. election yet. selfunder the newleader. Singh, aformer IAS officer What goes againstSingh is the JD(U)nationalspokespersonK Newly-elected JD (U) presi- from Nalanda —also Nitish lackofelectoral importance. CTyagitoldreporters,“Weare hurt dentSinghsaid,“Iprofuselythank Kumar’s home district —comes Singh, along with Lok Sabha MP at the Arunachal Pradesh episode NitishKumarforreposingfaithin from the same OBC Kurmi com- RajivRanjan Singhalias Lalan but it would have no impact on me. It is ahighlyemotional mo- munityasthe Chief Minister. In Singh, areconsideredthe senior- Bihar.But what happenedin ment forme.” Leadership changeneededinstate unit, UDF: Kerala Cong leaderstoAICC team

of guardwasrequiredintheparty failedtogiveaclear explanation ing a21-year-old as next Mayor SHAJUPHILIP and UDF.“Nobody namedstate onitstie-upwithWelfarePartyof of Thiruvananthapuram, CPM THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Congress president Mullappally India,” asource said. has sent apowerful message DECEMBER27 Ramachandran or UDF convener With the CPM claiming that that it is giving morespace for MMHassan. We have conveyed theCongressisbeingledbyIndian youth, even though it is mereto- SEVERAL CONGRESS leaders in ourconcernthatthepartycannot UnionMuslimLeague,partylead- kenism. In Congress, leaders Kerala have demandedanover- facetheAssembly electionsunder ers said theyshould send out a aged above70and those who haul of leadership in the state the present leadership. At the strong messagethatUDF allies have retired from Delhi aftersev- party unit and the UDF during sametime,we areaware thattime cannothijackthe Congress.“The eral terms of Parliamentarypol- theirinteractionwithanAICCdel- is running out foramajor over- impressionthatCongressisledby itics areraring to contest the egation looking intothe poor haul,’’ saidaCongressleader who aminority-dominatedpartywou- Assemblypolls.Wehavede- showbythe Congress in the re- spokeatthe meeting. ld lead to further erosion of votes mandedchancesfor young lead- cent localbody polls. Partysources said leaders from majority segment and non- ers,’’ said another leader. Thedelegationwasledby AICC blamedUDFconvenerHassanfor Muslim minorities. The party re- Seniorpartyleaderandformer general secretaryin-charge of enteringintoanelectoral under- quires astrongleadership which CM Oommen Chandytoldthe Kerala Tariq Anwar. On Sunday, it standing with Jamaat-e-Islami’s can assertitself before the allies,’’ media thatthe time is notapt for heardthe views of Congress lead- WelfarePartyof India,which,they another Congress leader said. achangeinleadership for ers.Leadersof Congressallieswo- said, ledtothe drifting away of Severalparty leaders de- Congress and UDF. “Itisuptothe uld meetthe AICC team Monday. secular votes and majority com- mandedthatnew faces should highcommandto decidewhether Congresssources said many munity votes. “During the local be fieldedinthe Assemblyelec- sitting MPs should contestthe leaders pointedout thatachange body polls, the UDF machinery tions due to next year.“By pick- statepolls,” he said.

New Delhi THEINDIANEXPRESS,MONDAY,DECEMBER28,2020 6 EXPRESS NETWORK

BRIEFLY AfterBJYMrallysparksclashinUjjain MP House session postponedafter 60 locality,4residentsfaceNSAcharge officials test positive

Districtadmin carries out demolition drive in Muslim-majorityneighbourhood aday afterclash turedatefor the sessionwillbe Rajinikanth EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE decidedafter ameeting.” been registered. houses, as well as aclinic." "Not asingle person who was have been registeredfromboth BHOPAL,DECEMBER27 However, Leader of IRAMSIDDIQUE Tomar said this sparked Aday afterthe rally, the dis- partofthe rallyhas been ar- sidesand people arebeing iden- Opposition Kamal Nath, who Rajinikanth BHOPAL,DECEMBER27 stone-pelting that ledtoastam- trict administration carried out rested by the policedespiteus tifiedbasedonvideo evidence. THE THREE-DAYAssemblyses- waspresent in the meeting said, pede-likesituation. "Around 11 ademolition drive to clear "ille- submitting severalpieces of "Begum Bagh area is commu- sion scheduledtostartMonday “The government should not discharged TWODAYSafter abikerally by people were injured with one galencroachments" in the area. video evidence highlighting nallysensitive and those booked waspostponedafter 60 officials hold the session if it's notpossi- fromhospital the BJP youth wing triggered a person sustaining grievous in- One house wasdemolishedand them pelting stones and damag- under the NSAhad criminal and staffers, including five MLAs, ble but aspecial committee clashinaMuslim-majority local- juries,” he said, adding that mul- another wasdamaged. Another ing vehicles." records. The policeinvestigation tested positive forCovid-19, of- should be formedtohold discus- Hyderabad, Chennai: ity in Madhya Pradesh’sUjjain, tiple vehicles were damaged. resident, social worker Those againstwhom the NSA is objective and FIR has been ficials said Sunday. Therecently- sions. This shouldbeanew prac- ActorRajinikanth, who the policeinvoked the National Begum Bagh residentsallege Mohammad Ayub, claimed: has been invokedare Ayaz recordedfrombothsides. In the approved FreedomofReligion tice put in place to ensureour sufferedfromhigh blood SecurityAct againstfour of its that the rallywas takenthrough “Basedonthe video of stone Mohammad, WasimAslam, firstFIR, sevenpeople have been Bill, 2020,was to be put up for voices arenot suppressed.” pressure, wasonSunday residentsand chargedthree the area on multiple occasions pelting, the officials had come to Shadab Akram and Altu Aslam. booked,the second FIR is against discussion on the firstday of the The Congress had organised dischargedfromahospital morewithriotingand attempt during the day, andthat rather demolish the house wherea Three others were booked on unidentifiedpersons, while in session. aprotest on Monday to oppose in Hyderabadafter three to murder. than simplysloganeering, the woman wasseenpelting stones. chargesofattempt to murder the thirdFIR,aperson from the The decisiontoput offthe the three farm laws,with Nath days of treatment,author- The clashes took place Friday BJYM workers were abusing Theyrealisedthat it belonged to (IPC Section 307), rioting (Section rallyhas been identified." session wastaken afterameet- and other party MLAs expected ities said. Later,hetook a when around 60 bikers and 300 them. Ujjain Seher-e-Kaazi aHindu family, so they instead 147), voluntarilycausing hurt Abhilash Pandey, statepresi- ing of political leaders across to reachthe Vidhan Sabha on flightto Chennai.Theactor workers of the BharatiyaJanata Khaliqur Rehman said: "They demolishedthe one standing ad- (Section 323) andgiving false dent of BJYM, said: "This is the partylines on Sunday evening. tractors. However, the govern- washospitalisedonDece- Yuva Morcha(BJYM) were pass- were notslogans but abuses jacent to it.” statement (Section 423). These seventh incidentwherethe Home MinisterNarottam ment has barredthe movement mber 25 with severe hyp- ing through the city's Begum shouted while the rallywas The district collector did not three include twowomen—one workers carrying out rallyhave Mishra, who also holds charge of of heavy vehicles in afive-kilo- ertension and exhaustion. Bagh neighbourhood, raising crossingBegum Bagh. This agi- respond to multiplecalls and of them has been arrested and been attacked. The workerswere the parliamentaryaffairsdepart- meterradius of the House. In additiontomedication slogans, said Town Inspector tatedpeople as aresult of which messages seeking comment. another is absconding. attackedwith stones, pipes, ment, told reporters afterthe Soonaftertheannouncement, and diet, Rajinikanth has Arvind Singh Tomar of Mahakal stones were pelted from both Rehman said both the district According to Ujjain cookers and hotwater and any meeting: “It wasaunanimous Congress leader Arun Yadavsaid been advisedcomplete police station, wherethree cross- sides. It also ledtodamageofve- administration and the police Superintendent of Police action from their side waspurely decission takeninthe presence the statehad postponedthe ses- bed rest forone week to FIRs related to the case have hicles of manyresidents,their had onlyacted againstresidents. SatyendraKumarShukla, FIRs in self-defence". of the Leader of Opposition. Afu- sion out of afear of farmers. help avoid stress in view of his post-kidneytrans- plant status, labile hyper- tension and age. Canlive life on own TRACKING INDIA’S COVID CURVE The actor early this month announcedhewould CASES: ACTIVECASES:278,690 launchhis political party terms: HC reunites 300 in January ahead of the DAYSSINCE 10,187,850 DEATHS:147,622 PANDEMIC 2021Tamil Nadu BEGAN TESTS: 168,102,657 | RECOVERIES: 9,761,538 Assemblyelections. PTI inter-faith couple CASES DEATHS RECOVERIES TESTS DEC26 18,732 27921,430 943,368 parentsthe next day. According MAHARASHTRA EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE to the court, this wasdone Fireintemple LUCKNOW,DECEMBER27 “without anyapplication of mindand againsther wish”. leavesthree THE ALLAHABAD High Courthas “The act of CJM, Etah, and observed that a21-year-old that of the CWC, Etah, reflects peopledead Hinduwoman, who is married lackofappreciation of legal pro- Mumbai:Three persons to aMuslim man, “has achoice visions,” said the court. diedafter amajor fire to live her lifeonher ownterms”. It observed that the woman STATESWITHRISINGACTIVECASES brokeout at atemplein She has nowreunited with her wasanadult as her dateofbirth ACTIVECASES RISEINLASTWEEK Charkop, Kandivali West, husband. wasOctober 4, 1999 and the CJM Kerala 63,820 3,369 on Sunday. Thethree In an order passedon courtdid notappreciatethe fact Bihar 5,086 119 men were asleepinside December 18,abenchofJustices that when aschool certificate Sikkim 611116 Saibaba temple in Bunder PankajNaqvi and VivekAgarwal had been produced, then any Home MinisterAmitShah in Imphal on Sunday. Express Pakhadi when the fire observed that since the woman, otherevidencebecomes “sec- STATESWHEREACTIVECASESAREDECLINING startedat4.14am. They Shikha, has attainedthe ageof ondaryinnatureand should not ACTIVECASES DECLINEINLASTWEEK have been identifiedas majority and has expressedthat be reliedon”. West Bengal 14,108 4,352 Subhash Khode (25), she wantstolivewith her hus- The woman’s husband had Manipur’s insurgency days over, Delhi 6,911 3,447 Yuvraj Pawar(25) and band, Salman alias Karan, “she is been booked forkidnapping on Chhattisgarh14,028 3,012 Manu Gupta (26). All free to move as per her own September 27.The courthas also were residentsofBunder choicewithout anyrestriction or quashedthe FIR againsthim. STATESREPORTINGMAXIMUMCASES Pakhadi slum. According hinderance being created by It passedthe order afterinter- now on development path: Shah ONDEC26 TOTAL to Fire Brigade officials, thirdparty”. acting with thewoman,who Kerala 3,527735,612 while Khode and Pawar The courtwas hearing a submitted that “she is amajor, BJP government,”hesaid. road worthRs475.68crore. Maharashtra2,854 1,916,236 diedonthe spot, Gupta habeas corpus petition filedby her dateofbirth is 04.10.1999, she JIMMYLEIVON The BJP government has the Local media reports indi- West Bengal 1,253 546,008 suffered95per cent Shikha, who washandedoverby has attainedthe ageofmajority IMPHAL,DECEMBER27 changed the face of Manipur in cated that apartfromthe inau- burns and diedatahos- the Etah CJM to Child Welfare andhas enteredintoawedlock”. justthree years, Shah asserted. gurationand foundation laying, STATESREPORTINGMAXIMUMDEATHS pital. Preliminaryinvesti- Committee (CWC) on December The courthas directed police UNION HOME MinisterAmit Bringingupthe implementation another the purposes of Shah’s ONDEC26 TOTAL gation indicatesthat the 7. Thecommittee had then to providesecurity to the couple Shah on Sundaysaid that of the Inner Line Permit, Shah visit to Manipur wastofinalise Maharashtra6050,321 fire wastriggered by a handedoverher custody to her tilltheyreachtheir residence. Manipur, astate once riddled said it wasthe biggest gift to the Indo-Nagapeace talks. West Bengal 33 9,569 shortcircuit. ENS with abad lawand order situa- peopleofManipur.Hesaid the Afterthe meeting, he inter- Delhi 23 10,437 tiondue to insurgency, bandhs ILP promise wasfulfilledbecause acted withrepresentativesofdif- RAJASTHAN and blockades, is moving ahead Prime MinisterNarendraModi ferent civil bodies including the DataasonDecember26,releasedbyUnionMinistryofHealthandFamilyWelfare,IndianCouncilofMedical In UP, writing caste on vehicles, Researchandstategovernments.Oftenthenumbersreleasedeverydaycontaindatafrompreviousdays Bodyofmissing on thepath of development af- wanted to address concerns of Nagas, Kukis, and Meitei in a aswell.Assuch,trendsbasedondailynumbersareonlyindicativeandnotdefinitive number plates to invite penalty terthe BJP came intopower. thosewho thought non-imple- marathon meeting held at Hotel 11-year-old He wasaddressing arally at mentation of ILP would beunfair. ClassicGrande in Imphal. Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh gov- Accordingtoofficials, routine Imphal’s Hapta Kangjeibung During his visit, he also laid AUnited Naga Council repre- foundinAlwar ernment will take action against challans could be issuedtovio- grounds on the lastleg of his the foundation stone forseven sentative said that adelegation BMC norm for UK, other those who mention their caste lators as per the existing rules as three-dayvisit to thenortheast. major projectsand launched metShah and submitted a Jaipur:The body of an 11- on vehicles and number plates. there is no rule that allowseizure “Manipur usedtobeknown statewide e-office at Hapta memorandum with demands returnees: RT-PCR tests year-old boywas found Afteracomplaint, the UP of suchvehicles. forinsurgency,law and order sit- Kangjeibung. He also inaugu- including recognition of the on Sunday, aday afterhe TransportCommissioner has is- Boasting one’s social status uation,bandhs, and blockades. ratedtwo major projects— Naga “National Flag” and went missing in Rajast- suedadirective to all regional of- by putting up the names of their Buttoday, mostofthe militant Thoubal Multipurpose Project, “Constitution” and early “inclu- on 7th day of quarantine han’s Alwar district, po- fices to “takenecessaryaction caste and sub-caste on vehicles organisations have joined the constructed at estimated costof sive”and honourable solution lice said. The body of againstsuchvehicles as per the has becomecommon practice in mainstream. Those left, would Rs 1998.99 crore, and Bishnupur- basedonuniquehistory of the will be dischargedfrominstitu- Nirmal Bairwa wasfound already existing rules”. Uttar Pradesh. ENS also do so following effortsofthe Tupul-Thoubal-KasomKhullen Nagas. EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE tionalquarantineandaskedto ob- with itsnose and ears MUMBAI,DECEMBER27 servehome quarantine forseven amputated,theyadded. days,the guidelines issuedby Acomplaint of abduction Chhattisgarh villagers oppose 2BSF camps set up on ‘sacredland’ THE BRIHANMUMBAI Municipal Commissioner Iqbal wasfiledatMalakheda Municipal CorporationSunday Singh Chahal said. Ahome quar- police station on Saturday lages, 127kmfromhere, on the member submitted their resig- the bank of Medhki river, where General of Police SundarrajP, revisedCovid-19quarantine antine stampwill be putonthe and the body of themiss- PRESSTRUSTOFINDIA strategicallyimportant Partapur- nationsonSaturdayvia twolet- people from 35 villages perform however, said the twocamps are guidelines forall passengers hands of the passengers and un- ing boywas found in a RAIPUR,DECEMBER27 Koyalibedaroute to provide se- ters to the Pakhanjoresub divi- rituals forour deities everyyear, among the 16 recentlyset up in coming from the UK, South dertaking will be takenthatthey field on Sunday, Alwar SP curity to road work underway sional magistrate,” he said. he said. Bastar, and these have rattledthe Africa, Middle Eastand will remain in home quarantine. Tejaswini Gautam said. MORE THAN 50 representatives there, an official said. “Weare notagainstthe BSF “This area is under theFifth Maoists who areforcing people European countries. If thetestresultispositive,the She said the post-mor- of panchayatbodies in Hundredsofpeoplefrom camps.Weare opposedtothe Schedule of the Constitution and to oppose the presenceofsecu- Now, allpassengers will have passenger will beshiftedtoades- temwill be conducted on Chhattisgarh's Maoist-hit over 100villages have been stag- acquisitionoflandwhere we permission from the local gram rity forces. He said all local senti- to undergo RT-PCR testsonthe ignatedCovid-19hospital like Monday, addingthat evi- Kanker district have tendered ing aprotest in Pakhanjorein have been performing rituals for sabha is mandatoryfor under- mentsare givenproper respect seventh dayoftheir institutional SevenHills hospital forUKresi- dence is beingcollected. their resignation protesting the Kanker since December 23, de- severalyears now. Theyeven takingworks.The administra- when suchcampsites arechosen. quarantine at their owncost. dentsand GT hospital fortravel- Prima facie, it seems to be setting up of twoBorder Security mandingthat the BSFcamps be choppedoff atreethat we wor- tion should have consulted us Kanker Collector Chandan Earlier,BMC guidelinessuggested ersfromother countries. “A total acase of murder owing to Forcecamps at sites whichare shifted, sarpanch Lachhuram ship, and this is disrespect to our before selecting the location of Kumar said theissue would bere- that the passengers would have of 14 days of quarantine is to be aproperty dispute, the reportedlyrevered by local resi- Gavde of Siksod told PTI. “Atleast gods and goddesses,”healleged. the camps,” said Sohan Hichami, solvedsoon and claimedthat to undergo RT-PCRtestsbetween ensured,” the guidelinesstated. police said. PTI dents. 46 sarpanches,seven Janpad The camps have been setup aJanpad panchayatmember “prima facie,it seems the villagers the fifthand seventh dayoftheir On December 26, 11 flights The camps have been setup panchayat members, one deputy at Karkaghat (near Katgaon) and from the area. have been staging protestunder quarantine at their owncost. from Europe and the Middle East TELANGANA near Katgaonand Kamtedavil- sarpanchand one zila panchayat Tumirghat (near Kamteda) on BastarRangeInspector pressurefromviolent forces”. If the report is negative,they had arrivedinMumbai. Ex-minister namedwomen panelchief ‘Truly passionate about dance, things weren’t surface level with him’ dance conventions and concerts still farawayfromthe soul and forabit and come back. We An interviewKothari did, about dance. Things weren’t sur- Hyderabad:TheTelangana SUANSHUKHURANA as well as aarangetrams of young nuances of the artforms. So he couldn’t stop laughing about it whichisstill remembered,is face levelwith him. He would al- government on Sunday NEWDELHI,DECEMBER27 dancers and small intimate decidedtolearn them. He later,” says Narayan, who adds that of Russian balletstarand the ways take notes,” says appointed former minis- home concerts with as muchen- trainedinBharatanatyamunder that his writing had enough then artistic director of the pres- Subrahmanyam. terVSunitaLakshma ANYONE WHO'S had anything thusiasminanattempt to un- legendarygurus TKuppaiah gravitas and knowledge which tigious Paris OperaBalletinParis While he wrote reports and Reddy as chairpersonto to do with anyform of Indian derstand and documentIndian Pillai and his son wasnot justtheoretical. “He -- Rudolf Nureyev. It waspub- columns in various newspapers the statewomen’s com- dance knows SunilKothari. From dance,passedawayonSunday Kalyanasundaram Pillai, fol- made the effort to learn even the lishedinIndia Todayin1985. In and magazines, Kothari later mission. Six others have ayoung student learningthe due to acardiac arrest.Hewas 87. lowedbytraining in Kathak un- rudimentaries of Kathak, fact Kothari even dancedfor held the UdayShankarChair in been appointed as mem- ropes of Bharatanatyam in He had tested positive for der Jaipur gharana legend Pt Bharatanatyam, Manipuri, Nureyev, showing him the RabindraBharati University,and bers of the Commission, Tanjoretoadancing diva from Covid lastmonthand had recov- Badri Prasad. Odissi… so that whatever he movesfromIndian classical taught in the Dance Department accordingtoaGovern- Delhi or Chennai or the musi- ered from it lastweek. Kothari It wasinthe early 60s that wroteorspokeabout, he could dance (inpicture). of NewYorkUniversity as a ment Order. cians, writers, make-up artistes wasadmitted to Fortis Hospital Kathak exponent Shovana do that with conviction.” Chennai-based FulbrightProfessor.Hewas a The commission has been and lighting technicians, who in the Capital lastevening. Narayan, who wasthen learning “He wasthereateachand Bharatanatyam exponent Padma member of the International headless since Tripurana have come andgone over the Born in Mumbai, Kothari from Lucknowgharana Kathak everyperformance.Healso had Subrahmanyamrecountsherfirst Dance Council of Unesco and a VenkataRatnamdemitted years, everyone has been well- qualifiedasaChartered exponent Pt Birju Maharaj, met his favourites and in the latter meeting with Kothari in Mumbai. recipient of the Emeritus officeabouttwoyearsago. acquainted withKothari and his Accountant before turning his SUNIL Kothari, who wasvisiting partofhis lifehewas frank Kothari wasthen staying with Fellowship of the Department of Reddy,whoservedasmin- pocketcamera that would pop focus to studyIndian dance.He KOTHARI Maharaj.Kothari wanted to pho- enough to admit that he had his Zhaveri sisters -- the famed Culture, Government of India. He isterduring the Congress out everynow and then, his gre- did his Phd from MS University, 1933-2020 tograph Maharaj andNarayan. failings by picking some over the Manipuridancersand wasintro- wasawarded the SangeetNatak regime in undivided And- garious personality and im- Vadodarawith research in “He wanted to photograph a other,” adds Narayan, who says ducedtoher by theeldestofthe Akademi Awardin1995and the hraPradesh,joinedtherul- mense passion forthe cause of Kuravanji and Kuchipudi and young Birju Maharajand then the documentation that he did four -- NainaZhaveri. “Itwas1963 Padma Shri in 2001.Hewas also ing TRS lastyear. PTI dance. wasawarded aDLit by Rabindra of NorthGujarat. By all the re- me. Both of us had the problem through his writing and over 20 and thereweren’t writers like an elected fellowofSangeet Dance historian, author,and Bharati forhis research in dance search,hemanaged to under- of colic pain. So Iwould pose and booksondance will be ex- him who knewthe artform well. NatakAkademi forhis contribu- critic, who would be spotted at sculptures of medievaltemples stand dance but felt thathewas then both of us would go away tremelyuseful forgenerations. Ifound him to betrulypassionate tion to Indian dance.

New Delhi WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM THEINDIANEXPRESS,MONDAY,DECEMBER28,2020 EXPRESS NETWORK 7

POWER DISRUPTED TO MOBILE TOWERS Punjab farmer unions sayfocus on boycott of telecom firm, blame ‘miscreants’

RAAKHIJAGGA NOTOLLFEETILL LUDHIANA,DECEMBER27 DEMANDSACCEPTED: SOME FARMER groups in Punjab HARYANAFARMERS continuedtodisrupt powersup- plytoRelianceJio mobiletowers Chandigarh: Protesting Sunday, despiteChiefMinister farmers in Haryana on Amarinder Singh’s appeals Sundaydeclared they will againstthe same. Sources said ensurethat no feeiscol- powertomorethan 150mobile lected by toll plazas from towers had been snappedinthe vehicles across the statetill past24hours. Till date, power the Centreaccepts their de- supplytoover1,338 suchmobile mands. Forthis, dharnas towers has been cut off. will be held at toll plazas on The latesthappenedin national highways. Talwandi Sabo area of Bathinda. Initially, thefarmer Even in Fazilka, the same thing unions had givenacallfor wasdoneinmanyborder vil- toll-free movement of ve- lages. Iinfrastructuretoo was hicles on highways from damaged in some areas. In December 25 to December Moosa villageofMansa,one pole 27.But with alarge number connected to the towerwas of farmers moving dailyto thrownawaywhile acablebox the highways to stage wasalso found burnt. Sources protests at toll plazas,they said some villagers manhandled announcedtoll-free move- employees of acompanywhen ment of vehicles foranin- theywenttorepair the cables. definiteperiod. ENS ShingaaraSingh Maan, vice- president of BKU (Ugrahan) told The Indian Express:“We never Jagmohan Singh, working gave suchacall, rather we were committee member,AIKSCC, the firstorganisation to tell our said,“TheSamyukt Kisan members that theyshould not Morchaand 32 farmerunions resorttosnapping powersupply have issuedappeals to farmers or anyother damagetomobile twice to avoid suchactions. Our towers. Our focus is only on boy- protests have remainedpeace- cotting atelecomcompany. If ful till nowand letthemrun in a anyone is doing it, theymustbe peaceful mannerahead as well...I peoplewho aredoing it on their apprehend some miscreantsas ownastheyare very angry well who maybedoing thisas againstcorporates. BKU Ugrahan our unionshavecategorically has nothing to do with it.” told their members to focus on Dr Dharampal,president of boycotting Jio connections." Krantikari KisanUnion and coor- Amarinder had issuedanap- dinatorof AllIndiaKisanSangrash peal on Fridayasking farmersnot CoordinationCommittee to disrupt state's telecom serv- (AIKSCC), said,“We appealedto ices as internet networkwas im- everyone in Punjab, Haryana vil- portant formanywho arework- lages...our focus is onlyonboy- ing from home, to hospitalsand cottingand nothing else.” foronlineeducation. FEMA case: UP govt to ED summons withdraw2011 Amarinder’s case against son again, to land acquisition appear today protesters: MLA

ANJUAGNIHOTRICHABA EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE JALANDHARDECEMBER27 LUCKNOW,DECEMBER27

THE ENFORCEMENT Directorate THE UTTAR Pradesh govern- (ED)has again summoned ment has decidedtowithdraw a PunjabChief MinisterAmarinder case lodged during an anti-land Singh’s son Raninder Singh to ap- acquisition protest organisedin pear before it on Mondayincon- 2011 by the residentsofBhatta nection withalleged violation of Parsaul villageinGautamBudh the ForeignExchange Nagar(Noida) district, astate leg- Management Act(FEMA). islator said on Sunday. On November 19,the ED had The Mayawati government questionedhim forsix hours. had lodged thecase against Raninder had told the media on unidentifiedpeople at Dankaur his lastappearance that he will police station in Gautam Budh cooperate with the agency. Nagarfor allegedly kidnapping Sources said he had submit- twogovernment officials, and teddocumentspertaining to assaulting and abusing apolice- their queries about his property, man. bank accountsand income tax The Yogi Adityanath govern- details during his lastappear- ment ordered thewithdrawal of ance. Nowhehas been asked to the case lastweekbut the pros- bring some moredocuments. ecuting officer has yettomove The ED had initiated an in- an applicationonthe matter.BJP vestigationagainstRaninderun- MLADhirendraSingh, who rep- der FEMA following acomplaint resents the district’s Jewarseat by theI-T department about the in the Assembly, claimedthat trustsownedbyhim in British the government decided to Virgin Islands. withdraw thecase following his The I-Tdepartment officials efforts. had placedonrecordthat “During the protest, Iwas in Amarinder and Raninder had the Congress and fighting for carriedout some undisclosedfi- farmers. Afterwinning the 2017 nancial transactionsthrough a Assemblyelections on aBJP bank account in HSBC,Geneva, ticket, Irequested the chief min- and HSBC Financial Services istertohelp thefarmers booked Limited. in the case,” Singh said.

OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER AND AUDITOR GENERAL OF INDIA 9, DEEN DAYALUPADHYAYA MARG,NEW DELHI-110 002 Empanelment of Chartered Accountant firms/LLPs for the year 2021-2022 Online Applications are invited from Chartered Accountant firms/LLPs who desire to be empanelled with the office of the Comptroller andAuditor General of India for the year 2021- 2022 for the purpose of appointment of auditors of Companies as per Sections 139 (5) and 139(7) of the Companies Act 2013 and of Statutory Corporations /Autonomous Bodies as per the provisions of their respective Acts. The online application along with detailed instructions in this regard will be available on the website www.cag.gov.in from 1January 2021 to 15 February 2021. The applicant firms/LLPs will have to fill/update the data showing the status of their firm as on 1January 2021. After filling/updating the data, the firms/LLPs will be required to generate online acknowledgement letter for the year.Ifthe firms/LLPs fail to generate online acknowledgment letter,their application would not be considered for empanelment. The firms/LLPs will be required to submit aprint out of the acknowledgement letter generated online and also hard copies of the documentsinsupport of their online application in this office by 26 February 2021. Sd/- davp 51101/11/0001/2021 Sr.Administrative Officer/CA-V

New Delhi WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THEINDIANEXPRESS,MONDAY,DECEMBER28,2020 WORDLY WISE Thelesson of historyisthatyou do not geta sustained economic recoveryaslong as the 8 THE EDITORIAL PAGE financial system is in crisis. —BEN BERNANKE Beneath the recovery

§ FOUNDED BY § RAMNATH GOENKA As growth recovers, inflationaryconcerns BECAUSETHE TRUTHINVOLVES US ALL couldbegin to dominate

GROWTHPOSITIVE Pranjul Bhandari Higher government spending,vaccine could provide afillip to

the economy. Recovery to pre-COVID levels will take time AS THE WORLD grapples with the COVID- leftout, and the overalloutlaywas small. equality couldhaveother side effects. It 19 pandemic, India has stood out in three Forinstance, demand forthe rural employ- could stokeinflation. India has had trouble HE INDIAN ECONOMY appears to have weathered theCOVID storm better distinct ways.One, over the pastfew ment guarantee programme continues to in the pastwithrisingpricesofservices. than what mosthad expected.The contraction in economic activities in the weeks, India seems to have broken the link outstrip supply. Once this trend takeshold, as it did in 2011, secondquarterhas been shallowerthanexpectations,and as leading eco- between rising levels of mobility and And then thereisthe riseininequality it remains elevatedfor aprolonged period. nomic indicators suggest, the momentumthereafter doesappear to have COVID-19 cases.Fears that the celebrations between large and small firms, whichis And trying to boostsupplytakes time. duringthe Diwali festival would lead to a likelytobefelt by individual employees. The Think health and education services, forex- Tremainedhealthy, even past the festiveseason. Whilethe pace of recovery surge in virus cases haven't playedout. In corporateresultsinthe quarterending ample. in different parts of thecountryhas notbeen the same,astudy by economists at the Reserve fact, the number of newcases has fallen September were telling —large listedfirms Forthree reasons,itispossible that BankofIndia(RBI)notesthateventhe western region, whichhad laggedbehindothers in while the fatality rate continues to drop. sawabigger rise in profits(50 per cent, servicesinflation rises quicklyin2021. One, the recoverycurve,has exhibitedpositive momentum September onwards. In fact, mobil- Two, India has rolledout one of the small- year-on-year). Acombinationofcost-cut- as avaccine comes intoplay, therecould be ity levels have returnedtoalmostpre-COVID levels in all cities by early December,sig- estfiscal supportpackages globally, with ting, lowinterestrates, access to buoyant areleaseofpent-up demand forhigh- nalling areturntonormalcy. As the RBI study notes, “Indian economyispulling out of central government spending flat so farthis capital marketsand increasedspending in touchservices. Two, as large firmsand their COVID-19’s deep abyss”, and is moving “towards aplace in the sunlight”. While growth is year.Three, inflation is nowabig problem, the formal economyprobablyhelped. employees do relatively well, theyare likely with consumer prices above the 6per cent The smaller listed firms did notdoas to demand moreservices, stoking prices. expectedtobemarginallypositiveinthe thirdquarter,the study notesthatifthe current tolerance levelfor the pasteight months. well (7 per cent, year-on-year). And the un- Consumption patterns showthat therich momentum in activities persists,the bounce backinthe fourth quartermay actuallybe The fact that Indianscan move around listedinformal firms, typicallywithsmall in India tend to consume moreservices stronger than whatbaselinescenarios indicate. morefreelywithout ajumpinCOVID-19 cash buffers,are likelytohavefaced acute than the poor.And rising inequality could, On the demandside, whilethereappears to have been some moderationafter the satia- cases is amajor positive that is already pay- economicstress. therefore, stokeinflation. Three, manyserv- tionof pentupandfestivedemand,householddemandcontinuesto expand.Electricitycon- ing off. The lastquartersaw an improvement In fact, it can be arguedthat large firms ice providers didnot do aregular annual sumption is up, as is petrol consumption.GST collections remain above the Rs 1lakh crore in growth as consumerswereeager to spend, benefited,inpart, at the cost of smaller,in- price resetin2020, so theymay raise prices especiallyonfestival-related items, bolstered formal firms. This could have happenedin to coverthe twoyearsonce demand picks mark, andbothinter-state andintra-state movement of goodscontinues to showanuptick by higher-than-usual financial savings. twoways. One, spending movedfrom up. If inflationdoesbecome persistent and asreflectedinthee-way billdata.Non-oilimportshave returnedtopre-COVIDlevels,andRBI’s With the vaccine coming, the economy small firmstolarge ones as they were more leadstotighter monetary policy,thatcould survey of consumersindicates that sentimenthas improved,asemploymentconditions couldget afurther shotinthe arm. The efficient through the lockdown period. weigh on growth over time. have beguntolookup. On thesupplyside, manufacturing activity has pickedup, as has the combination of mass vaccinations, herd Indeed,inflation control Two, small firms areespeciallyvulnerable Puttingall of this together,itseems India servicessector,thoughhighcontact-intensiveservicescontinueto remainbelowpre-COVID immunity (for instanceinparts of Mumbai) could be the main task facing to delays or defaultsonpaymentstheyare will come full circle in 2021. Forawhile it was levels.Financingconditionsforfirmsremainconducive ascorporatebondspreadshave fallen and rising recovery ratesaugurs well for policymakersin2021. The owed,manytimes from thelargerfirms. worriedmoreabout weak growth than high growth. We expect the resulting exuber- Mostworryingly,small firms aremore inflation.But as growth recovers, inflation- to pre-COVID levels. And as per the RBI’s industrial outlook survey,firmswerehopeful that RBI mayhavetotakesteps ance to be ledbythe release of pent-up de- labour intensive than large firms. The in- aryconcernscould reappear. thereboundinactivitieswouldgainmomentum.Though,asaCRISILreportnotes,thesmaller mand forhigh-touchservices, in the same to gradually drain the excess formal sector employs around 85 per cent Indeed, inflation control could be the companies, with lowbargainingpowerand cashreserves, remain in the red. waythatpent-updemand forphysical liquidityinthe banking of the labour force. If smallfirms do poorly, main task facing policymakers in 2021.The TheRBIexpectsthe“above-the-line”fiscalstimulusto boostgrowthby closeto 2percent goods precededthe recovery in 2020. sector,provide afloor for it impactsalarge number of people. Data RBI mayhavetotakesteps to gradually thisyear.ThoughcentralgovernmentspendinghastillOctoberbeenalmostatthesamelevel At firstglance, it mayseem that India got short-term rates, whichhave shows that small firms have cut staffcosts drain the excess liquidityinthe banking offlightlyand is back on the path to recov- by muchmorethan large firms (-20 per sector,provideafloor forshort-term rates, as last year,presumably expenditure will pickupasrevenue visibilityimproves. This would fallen belowthe reverse repo impartanexpansionary impulse to the economyinthe monthsahead.Alongside, the roll- ery. But adeeper look suggests that the low cent year-on-year versus 0per cent year- whichhavefallen belowthe reverse repo leveloffiscal spending couldleave behind rate,and finally narrowthe on-year). And limited fiscalsupporthere rate,and finallynarrowthe policy rate cor- out of the vaccine is also likelytostrengthen household demand, especiallyfor high-contact other problems, suchasrising inequality. policy rate corridor by could stokeinequality. ridor by raising the reverse repo rate.A services.However, sincethestructuralchallengesthatpre-date theCOVIDpandemiccontinue Afterall, muchofthe fiscal support All this could impact demandovertime. quickerexitfromloose monetary policy to persist, afull recovery to pre-COVID levels remains distant. packages around the worldhavebeen di- raising the reverse repo rate. We arealready seeingsome early changes could become another area whereIndia rected towardssafeguarding the vulnera- Aquickerexit from loose likesales of moreexpensive passenger vehi- differs from the world. ble—poorer households and small busi- monetarypolicy could cles doing better than motorbikesales. nesses.Although it is true that in India become another area where Indeed, rising inequality is ascarthat the The writer is chief India economist, therewas afocus on theseareas, therewere pandemic is likelytoleave behind. HSBC Securities and Capital NEW BRITAIN some misses, suchasthe urban poorbeing India differsfrom the world. But this is notwhere it ends. Rising in- Markets (India) Pvt Ltd

Brexit dealwilllead to rearrangement of UK’s foreign economic policyand international relations,offersIndia an opportunity

HE CHRISTMAS DAYagreement on newterms of trade betweenBritain and itslargest economicpartner,theEuropeanUnion,is unlikelytopleaseevery- oneinPrimeMinisterBorisJohnson’sConservative Party, butamajorityisex- THE LAST STRAW pectedto backhim.WiththeLabourPartyalreadysupportingthenewframe- T work asawelcomealternative to a“no-deal”hardBrexitfromtheEU,thedeal is expectedto beratifiedbythe Britishparliament this week.The European governmentstoo Systemic neglect ensures that prisonsact as warehouses forthe marginalised areset to approvethe deal that comes intoforce on January1.Tobesure, therewill be multiple glitches in implementing the complexagreement, whichguarantees tariff-free trade on mostgoodsbetween twoofthe world’slargest economicentities.Italso lays the basis forfu- Maja Daruwala and VijayRaghavan turecooperation on lawenforcement,security,dataflows among other important areas. While Europe regretsthe separationand looksforward to anew beginning with Britain, TWORECENT incidentsofStanSwamy and whose death in Tihar Prison due to lackof Despiteefforts at clearing cases, an Gautam Navlakha showupthe stateofour medical careled to thehigh courtawarding acuteshortage of judges andcourt infra- JohnsonclaimsamajorpoliticalvictoryinregainingBritishsovereigntyto makeits ownlaws prisonstoday. Both areundertrial prisoners compensation; or if apublic-spiritedindi- structureensures an accelerating accumu- andfreedomto engagetheworldonitsownterms.Johnson’ssuccessshouldbringto anend in the Bhima-Koregaon case. Both had to vidual likeSheela Barse files aPIL; or because lation of cases in courts.Between 2019 and the prolongedpolitical divisions in Britain on the nature of itsrelationship with Europe after move thecourtsfor the simplestofnecessi- of ajudgewho, as in the recent case of “Re 2020, the numbers creptupfrom3.5 crore the SecondWorld War. Theschisminthe Conservative party wasevendeeper.All the seven ties. One, to getasippercup and astraw be- Inhuman Conditions in 1382 Prisons”, sees toward 4crore,anover10per centrise. Conservative prime ministers who precededJohnson —Theresa May, David Cameron, John cause he is an 80-year-old man with theneedfor systemicchange. Notorious According to theIndia Justice report2019, Major,MargaretThatcher,EdwardHeathandHaroldMacmillan—saw theirpoliticalcareers Parkinson’s and the other to wrestapair of criminals, too, likeCharles Sobhrajand Sunil it takesanaverage of threeyearsfor the destroyed by the European question.Britain had voted withathin margin to leave theEUin glassestoreplace abrokenpair.Itled to the Batra, who had the gumption to take mat- case to traverse the high court andsix years BombayHigh Courtintomaking an obser- ters to the Supreme Court, have played their in the subordinatecourts. areferendum during the summer of 2016;but fewhad betonLondon’sability to negotiate vation that workshops should be conducted Thelaw emphasises that as partinprisonreforms over the years. It doesn’t have to be this way. Thereare anamicableseparation.Ashecelebratedthedeal,Johnsoninsistedthattheagreementbrings forthe prison stafftosensitise them. far as undertrial prisoners But standardsetting doesn’t mean com- pathwaystoaccountability and to reform. “a newstability andanewcertainty” to arelationshipthathas long been fractious and diffi- Whydid these matters have to go to the pliance. Our prisonsare full of people in com- But since both supervisor and policy maker cult. “Althoughwehaveleftthe EU,” Johnson said, Britain “willremain culturally, emotion- courts?Itis, perhaps,anindication of the fact are concerned,they enjoyall promisedstates. Around 70 per cent areun- knowthe on-ground constraintsand the ally, historically, strategicallyand geologically attachedtoEurope”. that thereislittlespace forground-levelstaff other rights, save those dertrials and morethan75per centcome biases within the culture, muchisexcused The break from Europe will lead to asignificant rearrangement of Britain’s foreign eco- to makeoperational decisions.Officialsdo restricted by virtue of their from marginalisedsections. Theyknowlit- or pushedunder thecarpet. Reform at- notwant to getintotrouble, especiallyin tle about the law. Even if theyare aware, they tempts likethe constitution of Undertrial nomic policy and international relations. London is actively negotiating multiple bilateral being incarcerated. Ye t, cases of political prisoners arrested under have little recourse to anycomplaintsmech- ReviewCommittees mandated by the freetradeagreementswithmajoreconomicpartners,tryingto reinforcethetraditionalstrate- national security laws. violations are an everyday anism and mustfall backonanunevenlegal Supreme Courtworkpatchily. In mostpris- gic partnerships with the US and Japan and leverage historic connections with Canada, The lawonprovision of basicfacilities routine. They get highlighted aid system. If at all aprisoner can reachthe ons, the BoardofVisitors meant to func- Australia, NewZealandand other Commonwealth nations. Johnson’s visit to India,asthe to prisoners is clear —itlies squarelywith when there is amishap with judge, they areeither toobusyintheir rou- tion as an oversight mechanism arenot guestatthe Republic Daynextmonth, offers an opportunityfor Delhitotakeaclose lookat custodial authorities. The NelsonMandela ahigh-profile person, likea tine work or tooenmeshed in the local cul- even constituted. London’spostBrexitplansandmakeabigpushforthetransformationofabilateralrelation- Rules 2015 issuedbythe UN and the Model turetoact. Financial, infrastructural, and hu- The policy rhetoricwants prisons to be Prison Manual 2016 by the BureauofPolice Rajan Pillai whose death in man resource shortfalls that rangefrom20 places of reform andrehabilitation.Their shipthathas long performedway belowits natural potential. Research and Development, Ministryof Tihar Prison due to lack of to 40 per cent also playtheirpartinadding to neglect by the executive andoversight bod- Home Affairs, have elaborateprovisions re- medical care led to the High staffstress and inmatemisery. ies ensurestheyact as warehouses forthe garding the care, treatment and rehabilita- Court awarding The Supreme Courtissued orders to state poor and the marginalised. But the constitution of prisoners. AplethoraofSupreme governmentstotakesteps to prevent the tional ordering of this countryrequires that Freeze Frame EPUnny Courtand high courtjudgmentsreiterate compensation; or if apublic- spread of the coronavirus in prisons through pandemic or no pandemic, justice must not that prisoners arehuman beings with ba- spirited individual like asuo moto PIL filedinMarch 2020, leading wait. Prolongation of these so-calledcriminal sic rights. In essence, the lawemphasises SheelaBarse files aPIL; or to morethan 68,000 prisoners being re- cases is unconscionable, as is forcing vulner- that as farasunder trial prisoners arecon- leasedonbailorparole so far. But apre-pan- able peopleintoremaininginhotspots of in- cerned, theyenjoyall other rights, save because of ajudge who, as in demic comparison between 2017 and 2019 creasedinfection and fatalrisk. those restricted by virtue of their being in- the recent case of ‘Re shows thatovercrowding increasedfrom carcerated. Inhuman Conditions in 1382 116to119 percent. Overcrowding in indi- Daruwala is senior adviser,Commonwealth Yet, violations areaneverydayroutine. Prisons’, sees the need for vidual prisons stands muchhigher;some Human Rights Initiative, and Raghavanis Theyget highlighted when thereisamishap prisons aremorethan three times crowded professor,Centrefor Criminology and Justice, with ahigh-profile person,likeaRajan Pillai systemic change. than their official capacity. School of Social Work,TISS

DECEMBER 28, 1980, FORTY YEARS AGO

ASSAM AGITATION TALKSHOPES DIM and AAGSP have initially rejected the THE POLICE FIRED in Nowgong to disperse a CHANCESFOR EARLYresumptionoftalkson Centre’s offer, Home Ministrysources hope crowdofagitatorswho hadgatheredto picket the complexissue of foreign nationals are thatbettersense would prevail. government offices as partofthe mass satya- considered dim in viewofthe rigid stand graha on the foreigners’ issue. Abus conduc- takenbythe Assamagitation leaders. The BJP ON POVERTY toroftheAssam StateTransportCorporation, Home Ministrydoes notseem to be in a THE BASIC THRUSTofthe economic policy whowas injured in thefiring,was admitted mood to take anynew initiative to break the draftoftheBJPisto liftthosebelowthepoverty to hospital. Nowgong, with Sadiyaand deadlock or to sendaformal invitationtothe line, the number of whichismountingwith Golaghat were earlier scenes of police lathi AASU and AAGSP to comeherefor discus- completion of everyfive-year plan.According chargesand teargassing in whichmanypeo- sions. Official sources pointedout thatthe to the framersofthe draft, the main objective plewere injured, accordingto reportsreceived Home MinisterZailSingh hadclearlycon- wastolaunchawar againstpoverty.Briefing here. Todaywas the tenth dayofa13-day veyedhis invitation to the leaders to discuss newsmen, Kanwarlal Gupta,convener of the state-wide satyagraha the AASUand AAGSP the problem with him without anyprecon- committeesetuptopreparethedraft,saidthe have organisedtoprotest againstthe central dition being put by either side. This should economicdraftenvisagesablendof Gandhian government’s alleged indifference to solving be takenasaformal invitation andthere was socialism, Loknayak's antyodayaand Deen the 15-month-old foreigners’ problem. no needtosend another.Though the AASU DayalUpadhaya’s “integralhumanism.”

New Delhi WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM

THEINDIANEXPRESS,MONDAY,DECEMBER28,2020 WHATTHE OTHERSSAY “From resolving disputes over property or other civil matters, to punishing hardcore militants and criminals, the countryneeds aproactive justice system that deliversdecisions withinareasonable time frame,and as per international 9 THE IDEAS PAGE standards.” —DAWN An Americandebt An election,

The narrative of slaveryasUS’s original sinelidesits history as asettler colony. The appointment of a a vindication Native American as Interior Secretaryisanimportant step in acceptingits past Wide participation in J&K DDC polls indicates that people of the UT areturning to democratic decentralisation in the hope forbettergovernance

months.Theamendmenthadfacilitatedthe UTadministrationto conducttheseelections through universal adult franchise. Haseeb Drabu, formerJ&K Minister, Sanjib Baruah raisedobjections to thispractice calling it as againstthe federal spirit of the Indian Constitution ('Junior MLA, senior panch', IE, December 24). Although it is heartening to TO SAYTHATNative American politician see the Kashmiri leader’s insistence on ad- DebraAnne Haaland’s appointment as herencetothe Indian Constitution in letter, Secretaryofthe Interior of the US would be Ram Madhav his allusion to the DDCs as “District historic is an understatement. If confirmed Assemblies” is an exaggeration. India’s fed- by the Senate, Haaland will take office in eralpolityisbasedonatwo-tierelectionsys- early 2021asthe firstNativeAmerican head THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION of the tem—stateassembliesandParliament—not of the sprawling government department District Development Council (DDC) elec- athree-tier one. Elections to the localbodies that manages the US government’s relations tions in Jammu and Kashmir is indicative of areconductedby thestateelectioncommis- withindigenouscommunities andoversees the NarendraModigovernment’s resolve to sions independentlyunder statelaws. the country’s national parks and millionsof return powertothe people on the one hand In J&K,the needforgreaterdecentralisa- acres of public lands, mostofwhichwere and the resolve of the people of the UT to turn tion wasemphasisedbySheikh Abdullah’s once controlledbyNative Americans. to democratic decentralisation to achieve NationalConference during the agitation In urging Biden to choose Haaland for better governance and development on the years againstthe Maharaja. It had accepted the position, prominent environmental other.The elections sawenthusiastic partic- apolitical manifesto in 1944 called‘Naya and climateactivistBillMcKibben said,“It ipationofboththe people andpolitical par- Kashmir’.Article 45 of the manifesto called would be aremarkable plottwist in the ties.Exceptinthe terror hotbedsofPulwama for“people’s panchayats” at the district, block American storyfor an indigenous person and Shopian, the voter turnout ranged from andvillagelevel to represent thestatepower. to run interior —agesture can’t repair 25 per cent to 51 per cent in the other eight Afterthe Indira-Sheikh Accordin1975, the muchofthe damage that’s been done, but districtsinthe Valley. Thepanchayatraj laws manifesto wasredraftedin 1976.Itpromised it can serveasaconstant reminder of the aremade by states basedonthe 64th to provideregionalautonomyand further debt still to be repaid.” Amendment to the Constitution that intro- decentralisepolitical powerthrough “appro- The Department of Interior includes the ducedthe PanchayatRaj Act. priate institutional arrangementsatthe dis- BureauofIndian Affairs.Establishedin1824, Various interpretations can be givento trict, blockand villagelevels”. the Bureauwas housedoriginallyinthe the electionoutcome. Somewill be debat- Balraj Puri, the eminentpolitical com- Department of Warbeforeitwas movedto able claims, whilesome factswill remain mentator fromJ&K,who wasinvolvedinthe the newlycreated Departmentofthe conspicuous. Therecould besome welcome drafting of the manifesto,reasonedelo- Interiorin1849. It waslocated in the signs and some warningsignals. It is neces- quentlyabout the needfor greater devolu- DepartmentofWar since thesubjugation of CRSasikumar sarytolookatall these dispassionately.The tion of powers through decentralisation indigenous communities and their forced very fact thatsuchabig election wascom- highlighting the diversity in thestate.“A relocationwas official policy. wasaviolation of our sovereignty.Our citi- American rightsand environmental causes. pleted peacefullywith enthusiastic partici- Muslim majority statewithinaHinduma- “As federal policy has changed from no- zenshipwas in ourown nations ...We “The sad fact is that we have aPresident,” pation from both sides should silence many jority country, aHindu majority region tions of subjugating and assimilating wished to remain treaty Indiansand reserve she said earlier this year,“who is intent on criticsabout the lackofpoliticalfreedom in within aMuslim majority state, Muslimma- AmericanIndians,” says the bureau’s official our ancient rights. Therewas no great rush selling offour public landstohis friends for J&K. The BJP’s rise as apan J&K party and the jority districts within Hindu majority region, website, so has itsmission. “Its role nowis among my people to go out and voteinthe fracking and drilling.” Oil and gasdevelop- single-largest party, securingmorevotes Hindu majority blocks within Muslim ma- as apartner with tribes to help them achieve whiteman’s elections.” ment in federal public landsprovides liveli- than thecombinedvotesofthe Gupkar jority districtsand Muslim majority villages their goals forself-determination”. Notall Native Americans took this view. hood to manyAmericans and amajor group, is avindication of itsgrowing accept- within Hindu majority blocks”—thiswas It mayseem remarkable to readers in But manystill remain ambivalent about cit- source of revenue foranumber of states. ability across the UT. howPuri described the profile of J& K. India that the term “Indian”,alegacy of izenship. “Democracy is Indigenous” is the Haaland’s position on oil and gasdrilling The People’s Alliance forGupkar Subsequently, the process of devolution Christopher Columbus’s 528-year-old mis- slogan usedbyanadvocacy organization on public lands is likelytocomeunder Declaration (PAGD), popularly known as of powers happened in the stateunder the take,isstill alegal category in the US. working to registerindigenous voters in the scrutinyduring her confirmation hearings the Gupkar group, hasbeen able to win ma- 1989 Act. District Development Boards were Fortunately, terms suchasNativeorNative lastelectionseeking to appeal to thepride andifshe is confirmed, during her tenure jority seatsinthe Valleyand some in the Pir constituted to oversee the development American, indigenous communities, Native that manyfeel abouthistorical institutions as Interior Secretary. Panjal and ChenabValleyregions of Jammu. plans of the respective districts. However, Nation or FirstNations People nowenjoy such as the Iroquois Confederacyand itscon- During the racial reckoning that has been However, despitethe coming together of these bodies were filledwith unelectedlead- wide acceptance as synonyms. sensus-based mechanisms of governance. taking place in the US over the pastyear, the mainstream Valleypartieslikethe NC, ers, or ex officio members likethe MLAs and In thecolonial period in NorthAmerica, Born to aNative Americanmotherand BlackLives Matter activists have drawnat- PDP and PC, the voters didn’t give them MPs.Bureaucratshavedominatedtheexec- the British entered intotreaties with Native aNorwegian-Americanfather,Haalandis tention to the mistreatment of all “commu- overwhelmingsupportinthe Valley’s 140 utiveauthorityinthese bodies. American nations as theydid with foreign an enrolledcitizen of the Pueblo of Laguna. nities of colour”. But the protests have also seats. In 31 places, votersoptedfor inde- J&K’s tragedyhas been that it became a countries. The practice continuedtill after Pueblo —the Spanishwordfor village—is During the racial reckoning dramatisedthe uniqueness of the challenges pendentswhile in another 30 places,they prisoner of afew political families and afew the founding of the United States in 1776. the commonlyusedterm forindigenous that has been taking place in facing Native Americans.Unlikeall other ex- voted forthe non-PAGDcandidates. Hence, dozenlegislators. Grass rootsleadership was However, their legaland politicalstatus communities in NewMexico reflecting the clusions in American society,atthe coreof it is over-exuberance on the part of the neverallowedtorise. As aresult, people re- sufferedademotion; theybecame“domes- state’s Spanish colonial heritage. Haaland the US over the past year, America’s problems with indigenous com- Gupkarleaders to declarethat it wasavic- mainedlargely powerlessandat themercyof tic dependent nations”, to useChief Justice oftendescribes herself as a35thgeneration BlackLives Matter activists munities lies the question of land —alot of tory fortheir agenda. Gupkar’s biggestfail- afew leaders. Empowering the villagepan- John Marshall’s early 19th centuryre-for- NewMexican. have drawnattention to the whichfalls within themandateofthe urewas in Srinagar,whereitmanaged to chayatswas startedbytheUT administration mulation. In the treaties theysigned, Haaland firstcametonational attention DepartmentofInterior. It has become com- winjustthree seats. Srinagar hastradition- acouple of years agoencouraging the rise of Native Americans cededmillions of acres in 2018 when she waselected to the House mistreatment of all monplace to talk of slaveryasAmerica’s allybeen the bastion of the Abdullahs,but anew-generation leadership at the grass of land to the US, but the treaties did not of Representatives. She wasone of the two ‘communities of colour’. But original sin. But this narrative elidesthe thevoters this time rejected them. roots. The welcome changeaffected nowto absorb them intothe American body Native American women elected to the the protests have also storyofthe US as asettler colony—native TheBJPwillfinallycontrolsix DDCswhile empowerthe DDCs with elected represen- politic. Native Americans were restricted Congress forthe firsttimeinUShistory. dramatised the uniqueness Americanswereforcibly removedbefore the Gupkargroupwillhaveachanceinafew tativesisgoing to further that processand to their reservations. Yet, theycould gov- Nowshe will be the first-everindigenous whitesettlers could use slave labour to cul- more. The rest will depend on independents help address developmental needs in abig ern themselves. Even groups that did not person to hold aCabinet-levelposition. of the challenges facing tivate those lands. and smaller parties. The Gupkar leaders were way. Realising this opportunity,peopletoo sign treaties could claim to possess inher- At theDemocratic NationalConvention Native Americans. Unlikeall Biden has promisedaCabinetthat hopingfor alandslide victoryinthe Valley. participatedin theelectionsenthusiastically ent sovereignty. lastAugust,Haaland spokepowerfully other exclusions in American “looks likeAmerica”. Perhaps aNative Butthepeoplepreferredcredible candidates defying terroristthreatsand intimidations. Native Americans didn’t all cheer when againstPresident Trump’s anti-immigrant society, at the core of American Secretary of theInterior will to work forlocal development than high- The BJPhas clearly emergedasthe key the US Congress in 1924 declared that those policiesand rhetoric. “If anyone can say‘go bring America astepcloser to recognising profile party apparatchiksworking onlyon playerinthe UT along with the Gupkar born in the countrywillbeAmerican citi- back’”, she said, “it’s Native Americans. My America’sproblems with itssettler colonial pastand present. If that emotional agendas likethe restoration of group. However, the party and the govern- zens. Clinton Rickard, the chief of the Pueblo ancestors, despitebeing targeted at indigenous communities lies happens, Haaland’s appointment will Article 370. All political parties mustaccept ment needtotakeacautious note of the Tuscarorapeople (who nowliveinthe US everyjuncture—despitefacing famine and the question of land —alot provehistoric above andbeyond itsin- thismessagewith humility. deepening divisionswithin the UT along the stateofNew York and Canada’s Ontario drought —still inhabit this countrytoday. of whichfalls within the tendedshort-term political goal. These elections were made possible Pir Panjal and Chenab Valley. province), said: “By itsprovisions allIndians But indigenous people aren’taskinganyone through anamendmentto thePanchayatRaj were automaticallymade United States cit- to go backtowhere theycame from.” mandate of the Department Baruah is professor of political studies at Act1989ofthe erstwhile J&K Constitution, The writer is member,boardofgovernors, izens whether theywanted to be or not. This She has been achampion of Native of Interior BardCollege, NewYork whichprecededthe national act by six India Foundation Journal of aplague year LETTERSTOTHE EDITOR TAGORE’S INDIA THIS REFERS TO the article, ‘PM Modi at IDEAS In 2020, we learnt joyofthrift, beauty of austerity,and the needfor human touch Visva-Bharati: Tagore’s vision is essence of Atmanirbhar Bharat mission’(IE, ONLINE December 25). In his speech, the Prime Shashi Deshpande Ministertriedhardtofind supportfrom ONLYINTHE EXPRESS Tagore forthepoliciesof hisgovernment. THE STORYOFthe Bombayplagueof1896 is had been named, would by somemiracleig- nowatthe peak of human achievement, company, that we needhuman touch. The reality,however, is thatthe twoare ● RESTORINGTHE afascinating one, combining in itself all the noreus. It didn’t.The virusand COVID-19 would find one? Watching people frantically trying to get diametricallyopposed. In the second COMPETITIONCOMMISSION’S horrorofanepidemic, personal courage, sci- came to India. In itsabsence, three measures were our home from wherever theywere, we re- stanza of 'Jana-Gana-Mana,' Tagore finds MANDATE:SANJAYPANDEY entific achievement, resistance to theauto- It wasthe lockdown that reallybrought onlyhope:Wearamask,keep adistance learnt the importance of home. We sawfor India as amagnanimous and open- ANDVEDMISHRA cratic measures of aruling foreign power, na- home thehorrorofthe situation. Suddenly from others, wash your hands. Easy and sim- thefirsttime theinvisible strata of ourcities, heartedhosttoHindus, Buddhists,Sikhs, tionalism and an assassination. Afterthat all the things that our livesconsistedofwere ple enoughitwouldseem. Nevertheless, when migrant workers made arush for Jains, Parsis, Muslims and Christians. In ● BUILDING CONSENSUS: terrible outbreak,epidemics, exceptfor the sweptaway, as if atidalwavehad swallowed post-lockdown, people went about without home, some walking hundredsofmiles, 'BharatTeertha’, hisIndia is aconfluence RAM KAUNDINYA Spanish Flu, became adistant memoryin them. Isolated in our homes, notseeing ahu- masks. Iwondered:Don’ttheycareabout some dying before theyreachedhome. We of avarietyof cultures.Tagore believedin India.Asmedicalscience steadilyadvanced, man face fordays, life, about survival? The discoveredhow muchthe women who the goodnessofuniversal humanity,not www.indianexpress.com it moweddownanumber of diseases, both strugglingwithchores ANEXPRESS IDEASERIES Buddha told his disci- helped us at home lightenedour tasks, al- divided by anarrowdefinition of nation- big andsmall, whichhad troubledthe hu- —this wasanightmare ple Ananda: That lowedustodootherthings. alism.In‘GhareBaire’—hiscritiqueof the man race. The next great mysterywas AIDS, we had neverenvis- whichyou love the Above all, we could have,hopefully, “Swadeshi movement”inthe guise of a whichSiddhartha Mukherjee speaksofin aged.Fear lappedatthe mostwillbetaken learnt the lesson: All things areconnected. novel—hemakesastrongcaseforafford- HOUSE NEEDED his The Emperor of AllMaladies as an “epi- edgesofour lives. Of the away from you. What is Forthe firsttime, maybe, the whole world abilityovernationalisticpride.Inthepres- THIS REFERS TO thearticle, 'The law- demiological catastrophe”.Another catas- lossofeverything we it thatwelove most? has united in suffering, in fear of the virus ent context, this could be interpreted as makers mustwork’ (IE, December 25). trophe waswaitingfor us in the 21st century. had takenfor granted. Children? Parents? and grief at the deaths. But the demand for supportfor globalisation. The periodic assembling of members News came early this year of astrangeill- And worstofall, COVID Lovers? Yes, we love vaccines tells us howlittle has changed.Rich Ranjan Das, Mumbai in alegislative chamber is notmere ness in China whichthreatenedtobeworse thoughtsofdeath with- SHADOW, them, but above allwe nations arebuyingmorethan theyneed. constitutional convection; these bod- than AIDS.AIDSneededsome kind of con- out anydignity. love life,wewantto Scientists areabove pettiness, but politicians VACCINE BECKONS ies aremeant to channel public senti- tact. This newdisease movedfromone hu- When the lock- NEWYEAR survive.Survival is aba- arenot.The cloakofliberalism and human- ments, their aspirations, and appre- man to another without anycontact;a down waslifted, people sic animal instinct. ism has fallen, there’s onlyselfishness left. THIS REFERS TO the editorial, ‘Dear hensions. In avibrant liberal cough, asneeze, even justtalking could crawledout with ex- LIGHT Why, then, do people The virusremains agreat leveller;itdoes- Santa’ (IE, December 25). The year 2020 democracy,every shade of opinion is transmitthe virus. In those early days,we haustedbodies and ravaged behave as if it didn’t matter? n’t careabout race, colour,nation,gender. All wasfullofgloomdue to COVID. But we expected to be givenarespectfulplace sawpictures of ghostcities in China,with minds. Even themostsanguine knew that Goingtoweddings,totemples,tothe beach, humans arefair game. Will we remember mustappreciatethe Serum Instituteof in public discourse, and legislative emptyroads and an eerie silence. We be- the ordeal wasnot over,thattragedy wasstill attending parties and political rallies —did these things in the future? Notverylikely, India formanufacturing vaccine for bodiesare the perfect platform for came witnesses to theswiftnessofits mad lurking in our midst. Forthere were no drugs thesemattermorethanlife? because we have been giventhe giftofam- COVID-19inarecordperiod. The daythe this. Discussions stirredbylegislators rush round the globe, the ruthlessness which that could tame the virus. Doctors were re- We have learnt afew things from this ter- nesia. Burdenedasweare with the knowl- firstvaccine is administerediscertainly on issues of public importance give a made it inescapable;this wastrulyaformi- ducedtoworking like the vaidsofold,trying ribletime. We have learnt howmuchwecan edge of ourown mortality,would we have going to be partofhistory books. sense of hope to the masses. dable enemy.Yet so strangelydoes the hu- anything, everything. The onlyhope wasa do without, howlittle we reallyneed. We survivedifnot forforgetfulness? Vandana, Chandigarh Sudip Kumar Dey Kolkata man mind reject the idea of our ownvulner- vaccine. So manyvaccines hadbeen devel- have learnt the joyofthrift, the beauty of aus- ability, we still hopedthe coronavirus,asit opedthrough the years, surelyscientists, terity.Wehavelearntthat we needhuman The writer is anovelist

New Delhi WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM 10 EXPRESS NETWORK THEINDIANEXPRESS,MONDAY,DECEMBER28,2020 AIADMKmessage SailormissinginUSwaters ‘BJP workers to ally BJP: Fall in have accepted line or rework your sinceDec3,kinawaitword both FleetManagement and the contract from his newcom- Marandi 100%’ 2021 poll options JIGNASASINHA Elegant Marine Services. pany, FleetManagement. He was MIRZAPUR,DECEMBER27 “Wedon’t knowwhat hap- supposedtocome backin THE BJP’S Jharkhand unit presi- penedbut we can’t acceptthat February. Whydidn’ttheyhave dent DEEPAK PRAKASH,who BJP is yetto “ITHINK Igot on thewrong ship.I he is dead. He soundednervous safetymeasuresfor someone waselected RajyaSabha MP this PRESSTRUSTOFINDIA endorse will have to stay here till May... I on his lastcall.Hewanted to who’s rigging aladder? It’s not year,speakstoABHISHEK CHENNAI,DECEMBER27 Palaniswami don’t knowwhat to do...” come home... Iguess. We spoke safeand anyone can fall over- ANGAD about one year in the as joint CM On December 2, a27-year- to his seniors and found that board,” said his mother Savitri. Opposition and the performance IN ITS firstelection rallyhere, the nominee old merchant navy sailor, therewerethree other seamen In the December 3letter, of the HemantSoren govern- rulingAIADMKonSundaybluntly Arvind Tiwari, spoketohis sis- when he wasrigging the ladder. ElegantMarine Services had also ment. Excerpts told allyBJP that it cannot makea terSulekha, 25, from his ship off Howcan theynot find the body? said: “...the United States Coast dentinTamilNaduand ruledout said, addingitwas onlyoffshoots the coastofTexas,US. That was Ihavesentmessages to his sen- Guardiscarrying out asearch to Since youassumedcharge as accommodatingthesaffronparty of the movement –the AIADMK the lasttime his familyheard iors to look formybrother on is- locate themissingAB[able-bod- BJP statepresident afterthe in the government if it wonthe and DMK –thathavebeenruling from him. lands near Texas,” said Sulekha, ied]”. party’s loss in Jharkhand, Assemblyelections,duenextyear, Tamil Nadu since 1967. Aday later,accordingtoalet- who livesinMirzapur, Uttar The familysaid theyhave what changeshavehappened THEEXPRESS and retainedpower. Munusamymade the re- terreceivedbyhis family, Tiwari Pradesh with her husband. sought help from the Ministryof on the politicalfront and the The BJP has to endorse Chief marks in the presence of was“reportedoverboardwhilst Tiwari is the breadwinner of External Affairs. organisational level? INTERVIEW MinisterKPalaniswami's candi- Palaniswami, Deputy Chief rigging the Pilotladder”. He was the family, which is also basedin On September 13,another From an organisation point WITH dature forthe toppostfor next MinisterOPanneerselvamand lastspotted on the ship, MT 27-year-old Arvind Tiwari Mirzapur.His father,Rajendra, merchant navy sailor—who, too, of view, we have 27 districts, 513 DEEPAK PRAKASH year’sAssemblypollsandagreeto otherseniorleaders.Inhisspeech, Sagami, at 7:06 hrs local time, waslastspotted on the MT worked as adriver. He retired af- worked forFleet Management blocksin Jharkhand and we have JHARKHAND BJP CHIEF itsotherterms—suchasnon-par- Munusamy, asenior leader con- whenthe vessel wasapproach- Sagami when it was terTiwari joinedthe merchant Ltd and washired by Elegant selectedall presidents, working ticipationingovernment—and if sidered close to Panneerselvam, ing Port Arthur in Texas,saidthe approaching Port Arthur navy in 2012.Tiwari hasthree Marine Services—went missing committees. We have also not, should rethink of its2021 who is also the party coordinator, letter sent by hiring firm Elegant in Texas. Express sisters who aremarriedand live from aship offthe Mauritius formedvarious departments— Youspokeabout financial electoraloptions,theAIADMKin- wasclear thatBJPcannotsucceed Marine Services Pvt. Ltd. His near Mirzapur. coast. as it happens in the government mismanagement. Please dicatedattherally. Pointingtothe independentlyinTamilNadu. bodyhas still notbeenfound. The familysaid theysuspect In 20-year-oldDhananjay —suchasonconstruction, local elaborate. death of AIADMK’s topleader Though he did notname BJP,it Now, his familyisraising sus- Hong Kong-basedFleet that something went wrong be- Arora's case, the search was self-governance, among others, The present government JJayalalithaaand DMK’s wasclearthatthemessagewasin- picions on the manner of his Management Ltd as an ‘able- causehis contract wasextended calledoff afterfour days.Anin- to reviewthe functioning of the keeps saying theydon’t have MKarunanidhi who opposed tendedfor the national party. deathand questioning the lack bodiedseaman’ afterbeing hired till May, whichhewasn't aware vestigationisbeingconducted government. AfterIjoined, the money. Everycountrytakes her,senior leader and AIADMK “Be it anational party or state of headway in tracing the body. by Elegant Marine Services in of when he boardedthe ship. He by the Hong Kong government pandemic came upon us. We en- loans to run itsgovernment, deputycoordinator KP party...thegovernmentwillbeled Theyhavehad no word on his August. lefthome in August2020and in coordination with MRCC suredthatwehelpedaffected India has takentoo from the Munusamysaid in the absence by AIADMK.Thereisnonecessity fate forweeksnow. Aresponse to queries by The wastoreturn in February2021. Mauritius and DG Shipping. His poorpeople...Wewereintouch WorldBank,IMF,among others. of such leaders, “many” parties foracoalition.If anypoliticalparty Tiwari had been working for Indian Express is awaited from "Werememberhim getting body has still notbeenfound. with the BJP statepresidentsof The government says they will were nowtrying to makeapolit- comes forwardfor an alliance other states and helpedmigrant work without taking anyloans. icalentryintoTamil Nadu. Some arrangement with an idea of a labourers... Howisitpossible?... Then there national parties, “opportunists, coalition government, letthem DDU withdraws is alackofintentinrevenuegen- betrayers and acrowd”,were please think about it,” he said. Jail admin denying Saibaba winter What would yousay of the eration... blaming the Dravidian outfits, al- The provocation forthe its vacate-hostel Hemant Soren-led leging that theyruinedTamil Dravidian party seemedtobethe government’s oneyear? Youalsospoke about Nadu withtheir 50-plus years of continuinghesitancy, seenbypo- provisions, alleges his lawyer noticeover It has been quiteunsuccess- corruption,but recentlyThe rule in the state, he said. liticalobserversasastrategy, of the ful. The Public Distribution Indian Expressexposed Howcan accusations of inef- stateBJP leadership in endorsing bound withmultiple progressive Covid fears after System collapsed. Migrant Centre’sPre-Matric ficiency be hurledagainstthe PalaniswamiastheCMcandidate VIVEKDESHPANDE diseases,” the letter further said. labourers came and lefttaking ScholarshipScamwhich AIADMK government when the of the overall AIADMK-BJP al- NAGPUR,DECEMBER27 “Despitehavingprovided students protest away afew morewith them, but happenedduring the Centrehadgivensomanyawards liance forthe 2021polls. Besides GNSaibaba everything along with the cata- the stategovernment did not Raghubar Das regime? to thestate forits stellarperform- the BJP,thereare othercon- THE LAYWER of jailedDelhi logue, on your command, your provide them anyjobsasthey Yes, and thereshould be a anceinmanysectors,Munusamy stituents, includingthe PMK. The University (DU) professor GN staffrefusedtoacceptmaterials EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE had announced. The govern- thorough investigation and any said. All suchforces eying politi- saffron party’s stateunit had all Saibaba has accusedprison au- turnedbythe jail staff, Sorde whichare neitherasecuritythreat LUCKNOW,DECEMBER27 ment took various decisions political leader and officer found calgainsshouldrealisethatTamil along maintainedthat the chief thorities of denying his client ba- wrote, “You have even refusedto norposeanydangerof contacting suchasJharkhand Land guilty should be punished. Nadu willnot endorsethemas ministernomineeofthe NDAin sicwinterprovisionsandmedical acceptwoollen cap/monkey cap, or transmitting Covid-19,” Sorde STUDENTS OF Deen Dayal Mutation Bill 2020, whichgave Dravidianideologyisthebedrock TamilNaduwouldbeannounced supplies. napkin, handkerchief, towel, and said,adding,“...Theitems rejected UpadhyayGorkhpur University immunity to land and revenue Seniorleader Babulal of the state’s social and cultural by theBJP’s national leadership. Authorities of Nagpur Central whiteT-shirt,whileyouaccepted form essential medical necessi- sat topless outside the residence department officials. Theyan- Marandi joined the BJP after milieu,hesaid. Tamil Nadu’s so- To makematters worse, sen- Prison—whereSaibabaisserving underwear and loin cloth only. ties,stationaryand material re- of the Vice-Chancellor on nouncedRs1lakh fine if people an election loss. Thereisa cio-political landscape wasnur- ior BJP leader and Union minister alifesentence —deniedthe alle- Giventhe bonechillingcoldthat quired forintellectualpursuits.” Saturday to protestagainst ano- did notwearmasks...and then perception that his tured by the Dravidian move- PrakashJavadekar,who washere gations saying everything was whole of Nagpur is facing, Ifailto KumretoldTheIndianExpress, tice of vacating hostels in the theyannouncedtherewon’t be acceptability dependedon ment,whichwas builtonthe on Friday, declinedtosay if his providedtotheprofessor accord- understand howelse do youex- “The accusationsare nottrue. We wake of Covid-19pandemic. anypuja because of Covid-19 results of thebypollsontwo ethos of Tamil culture, language party continuedits ties with ing to thejail manual. pect my client to save himself providehimeverythingasperjail However, following the agita- duringDurga Puja and Chhat...I seatswhich BJP recently lost and valour and hence the state AIADMK or if it endorsedthecan- Inaletterwrittento jailsuper- from the cold.” manual. As regardswoollen cap, tion, the university administra- am notsaying that one does not Babulal Marandi is aveteran wasentirelydifferent from the didatureofPalaniswami.The intendent Anup Kumre, lawyer “Imyself,oninstructionsof my he already has winterwear.The tion on Sundaysaid “all bona fide needtofollowguidelines, but leader and during his leadership, rest of thecountry, he said. Tamil Nadu BJP is opposedto Akash Sordealsoaccusedthe jail clientand on humanitarian con- question of physiotherapymate- studentswill be allowed” to stay these orders were againstone the organisation wasstrength- Thedistinctive featureandun- Dravidian politics, which, it had authorities of behaving rudely sideration, came with the articles rialdoesn’tarisesincewe arepro- backinthe hostels till afive- particular religion. In all these ened, development works dercurrentof theDravidianmove- oftensaid, showedsome tenden- with him when he visitsSaibaba so as to hand it over to your staff vidinghim allthat doctors have member committee wasformed decisions,the government had started in manyvillages... Yes, he ment has effectivelyblocked the cies of separatism,resultingin the to hand over supplies. afterthorough security checks to prescribed... Saibaba is notanor- to look intothe issue. to reverseits order because of leftthe party due to certain rea- entryofnational parties intothe stategoing offthe national main- Allegingthatseveralessentials Prof Saibaba,whoyouknowisdif- dinaryinmate. So, we have to fol- According to astatement is- our protest. Corruption is ram- sons, but BJP workers have ac- statefor over half acentury, he stream. hehadtakenforhisclientwere re- ferently-abledand wheelchair- lowcertain guidelines.” suedbythe university,afive- pant and illegal mining of sand ceptedhim 100%... We lostinby- member committee held a is going on…There is financial polls by anarrowmargin due to meeting on the issue on Sunday. mismanagement...Thereislaw- multiple reasons, one being that WANTED IN 1996 EXPLOSIVESCASE Theywilltalk to studentsand lessness, and morethan 1,300 the current government abused submittheir recommendations women have been victims of itsmachinery... to theadministration. sexualviolence in Jharkhand in FULLINTERVIEWON Gujarat ATS arrests An 11-member team has also the pastone year… www.indianexpress.com PERSONAL been formedtovisit thehostels I, RajivKumar, S/OShri Jai Pal to listen to the problems of stu- Dawood, Abu Salem dents,and identify those living Singh, R/o5130, SectorB, Ranchi man killed Pocket 7, VasantKunj, South illegallyinthe hostels and rec- West Delhi,New Delhi 110070, ommendactions against them, have changed my name to aide from Jharkhand the statement added. Rajiv Jaipal for all purposes. The studentssaid classes infant as he did not 0040558748-1 were going on and competitive EXPRESSNEWSSERVICE exams were in the offing. “We PUBLIC NOTICE AHMEDABAD,DECEMBER17 should notbevacatedfromour want girl child:Police hostels. Studentsfromseveral PUBLIC NOTICE THE GUJARATAnti-Terrorism states, including Uttarakhand According to the complaint, My clients Kulbhushan Mehendi Squad(ATS)Saturday arrestedan and Kashmir,stayhere. If theygo ABHISHEKANGAD Mahatogot agitated on Saturday Ratta and his wife Suraj Rani R/o BS- associateofgangsters Dawood backtotheir houses, theywill RANCHI,DECEMBER27 morning when the babystarted 110-D, 3rd Floor,Shalimar Bagh, NMDC Limited Delhi-110088residing on Rent Ibrahim and Abu Salem, Abdul have to take severaltransport crying. “He startedstrangulating (A Government of India Enterprise) declares that their Son Gaurav Majid Kutti alias Mohammad options, whichwill expose them A35-YEAR-OLD man allegedly my daughter and shewas chok- Donimalai Complex, Mehendi Ratta is not well behaving Donimalai Township, Sandur Taluq, Ballari Dist., Karnataka -583118. with my Client. Therefore my clients Kamal (58), from Jamshedpur in Kutti wasarrestedin to health hazards,” said a strangulatedhis one-and-a-half- ing. Itriedmybesttofight formy TENDER NOTIFICATION disinherited, disowned and severed Jharkhandforallegedlysmuggling Jamshedpur. Express student. year-olddaughter to death in child, but Icould notsaveher.She Sealed tenders are inviting from the competent and experienced bidder for the following work : all relation with him. He will have no explosivesand automatic The protest, whichstarted on Ranchi on Saturdaybecause he diedonthe spot, Isomehowes- right in moveable &immoveable Sl. Tender No. Name of Work CostofWork Sale /Lastdateof weaponsfromPakistantocarry Saturdayafternoonand contin- did notwantagirl child, police caped and lockedthe doors and No. &&EMD download Submission properties of my client. Whosoever Date (`)period upto 15.00 deals with him, shall do so at his/her out bomb blasts in Gujarat and Salem. Besides Pathan, twomore uedtill 2amonSunday, was said. informedmybrother in law,” From -ToHrs. own risk. MaharashtraonRepublic Dayin accused —Anwar Qureshialias withdrawnafter theadministra- According to police, Gautam stated thecomplaint. 1. DNM/SM/Tata Repairand Maintenance of 08 numbers of 67.97 Lakhs 28-12-2020 27-01-2021 Narendra Kumar Sharma (Advocate) Enrl. No. D/1587/2010 buses/2020- TATA Buses for aperiod of 02 years. EMD-68,000/- to AL-85/B Shalimar Bagh, Delhi-110088 1997.OnSunday, he wasbrought Pappu Akhtarand Shakil Ibrahim tion'sintervention. PrasadMahato, aresident of Babita’s brother-in-lawgath- 21/02, Date: 27-01-2021 to Ahmedabad forquestioning, Qureshi—werealsoarrestedin “The administrationhas de- Mukchundtoli locality in Chutia ered morepeopleand theyin- 28-12-2020 2. CE/W/07(264)/InternalFinishingand Distempering of 78.67 Lakhs 28-12-2020 27-01-2021 police said. thecaselater.Thethenchief judi- cidedthat those who aregen- police station area, wasanalco- formedpolice. 2020, Date: Vacated Quartersfor the year 2021-22.EMD-78,700/- to Kutti,ATSofficialssaid,wasliv- cial magistrateofMehsana had uine occupantswill nothaveto holicandhadearliertooassaulted On Sunday, Babita,who has 26-12-2020 27-01-2021 3. CE/W/05(250)/Maintenance of various Parks in Donimalai 25.53Lakhs 29-12-202028-01-2021 ing at Barinagar in Jamshedpur also issuedwarrantsagainst vacatethe hostels. At present, his familymembers. demanded“strictestaction” 2020, Date: Townshipand other Miscellaneous works EMD-25,550/- to since May2019after he returned DawoodIbrahim,AbuSalem,and onlypostgraduateand research SSP,Ranchi, SurendraKumar againsther husband, refusedto 26-12-2020 in the parks for aperiod of One year 28-01-2021 (Job Contract Basis). to India from Kuala Lumpur in Kutti. According to police, Kutti classes areonasper government Jha said,“The fatherhas been ar- speak as relativesconsoledher. 4. CE/W/05(249)/ Assistance works in attending day to day 25.50 Lakhs 30-12-202029-01-2021 Malaysia allegedly on afake andAbuSalemhadallegedlysent guidelines. We have to sanitise restedandbookedformurdering ChutiaPoliceStationIncharge 2020, Date: complaints like carpentry,plumbing, mason EMD-25,550/- to Indian passport. Pathan,thelatter’sassociate,to re- all the hostels. So, our plan is to hisdaughter.” Ravi Thakur said local residents 26-12-2020 and other various miscellaneous works as per 29-01-2021 the complaints received at Civil Maintenance OnDecember23,1996,police ceive theexplosives’consignment shiftthe studentstoanother TheFIRhasbeenlodgedonthe hadtoldhimthatMahatohadad- Office for one year (Job Contract Basis). had arrested one Mohammad from Barmer. wing and sanitisetheir rooms. basis of acomplaint by Mahato’s mitted himself to ade-addiction 5. DNM/PLM/ Drawing Development using latest Design 49.67 Lakhs 28-12-2020 28-01-2021 Draw.Dev/OTE/ Software along with Materials Compositions EMD-49,680/- to Fazal Pathan, anativeofAjmer in According to the1996 war- Earlier,wehad thought that we wifeBabitaDevi. She has stated centre,butwentbacktodrinking. 2020-21, Date: for OCSL Plant /Items by Reverse 28-01-2021 Rajasthan, at acheckposton rant, Kutti is wanted under IPC would vacatethe hostels during thattheymarriedin2014andhad “Asofnow we believe that he did 28-12-2020Engineering. Mehsana highway with avehicle sections120B (criminal conspir- the winter vacation to sanitise all twochildren. Ever since their notwant girlchild and that was Forfurtherclarification:[email protected]/FaxNo.08395-274644 and For Sl.No. 1 maycontact by e-mail to [email protected] /Fax No.08395-274605and ForSl.No. 05 carrying four kilograms RDXand acy), 121(waging warorattempt the rooms. But the studentshad daughter’s birth, her husband the motive of the murder.Hehas may contact [email protected] or 08395-232568. Detailed NITandtenderdocumentscanbeviewedand/or PUBLIC NOTICE otherweapons.Theconsignment, to wage waragainstthe govern- objected to that,” said auniver- startedbehaving badly and as- beaten his mother and brother in downloaded from NMDC's website https://www.nmdc.co.in/nmdctender/default.aspx or Central Public It is herebyinformed to allpublic in general Procurement Portal https://www.eprocure.gov.in. Further,for anycorrigendum, amendments, clarification thatSmt. Manju Devi W/oShriJai policesaid, had been shipped ment of India),122 (collecting sity administration official. saultingBabita,shehassaidinthe the past. He usedtoworkwith a etcmaypleasefollowtheabovewebsite. For and on behalf of NMDC Limited Bhagwan is sole purchaser/owner of the from Pakistanvia Rajasthan’s arms with the intent to wage war The official said hostels were complaint. “He would sayhe builderand ranhis ownlodge.” General Manager (Production) property bearing No. Plot No. 146, Block- A4, admeasuring 70 Sq. mtrs. situated in Barmer,aborderdistrict,andwas againstthe government of India), allowedtoopenafter the state neverwantedagirlchild. Iwould Afew days ago, aman in Paschim Vihar,New Delhi-110006. The original documentssuch as (i) Original being takentoGujarat and and 123(concealing with intent government had liftedthe lock- toleratethe violence in the hope Lohardagaallegedly slithis six- Allotment Letter,Original PossessionLetter &Original Possession Slip in the name of Mumbaiforanallegedterroristat- to facilitatedesign to wage war down with acondition that thatthingswouldimprove,buthis year-old daughter’s throatatthe original allotteeSmt. Krishna Devi W/oLate tack onJanuary26,1997,atthebe- againstIndia),besides sections of everyroomwouldhavejustone atrocities startedincreasing,” she behestofaself-styledgodman as Sh. J.R. Goel issued by DDA to aforesaid propertyhas been lost andacomplaint in hestofDawoodIbrahim and Abu the ArmsAct andExplosives Act. occupant. hasstated. he wanted ason. this regardhas been lodgeinthe police station P.S. Crime Branchon23.12.2020. Now,myaforesaid client has applied for leasehold to freehold of the aforesaid property to the Delhi Development 278 WINNERSTOSWEARINTODAY Authority,ifanybody have any objection, they may directly contact to the Asstt. Director (LAB)/ Residential, Delhi Development Authority,3rd Floor,C-Block, Vikas Sadan, INA, New Delhi. DDC polls: Meet the new faces who trounced heavyweights Sd/- YUDHISHTER LAL (ADVOCATE) D-6269/2017 SHAZIA KOUSAR IQBAL MALIK (BJP): Afor- ASIM HASMI (NC): An ad- votes in Kathua district’s Keerian PUBLIC NOTICE My Client Sh. Braham Prakash ARUNSHARMA (INDEPENDENT): Apostgrad- mer bureaucrat, he wonthe polls vocatebyprofession, he de- Gandyal constituency.The latter S/o Late Sh. Chander R/o D-112, JAMMU,DECEMBER27 uateinMicrobiology,she re- fromRajouridistrict’s Darhalcon- feated BJP’sformerminister is the wifeofformer minister Wazirpur J.J. Colony,North- West, Delhi-110052 has signedasagovernment teacher stituency,defeating NC’s Parvez Shakti RajPariharinDoda dis- and founder of Dogra disowned disherited and AHOMEMAKER, an advocate, a to contestelections in Budhal Rashid by 3,748 votes. trict’s Gundnaconstituency by Swabhiman SangathanParty, debarredhis sonSunny, Daughters Anita &Shalu from his formerteacher and asarpanch, Old-Aconstituency. Significantly, as aBJP candidate, 1,336votes. ChoudharyLal Singh, athree- all moveable and immoveable who trouncedpolitical heavy- She polled7,982votes, de- he polled11,481votes in an area As NC candidate,hepolled time MLAand two-time Lok properties duetotheir disrespectful, disobedience weightsinthe justconcluded feating her nearestrival Shaheen whichhasonlyoneHindu family. 7,835votes againstParihar’s Sabha MP. behavior and out of control of my client. My client has also severed maiden District Development Akhtar(NC)by2,446 votes and 6,499 in aHindu-dominated all his relations with them. If Council elections in Jammu and relegating her aunt Zubeda TARANJIT SINGH constituency. MOHAMMAD ASHFAQ anybody deals with them, he/she shall do so at his/her own risks, Kashmir,are some of the new Begum and JKAP candidate to (INDEPENDENT): Asocial (INDEPENDENT): Acontractor, cost and consequences. My faces among the 278elected thirdplace. Zubedaisthe wife of worker, he defeated BJP’s former KUMARI SHAVETA(BJP): he defeated NC’s Zeeshan Javed client shall not be liable or responsible for the same in any candidates who will take oath at aformer minister and two-time ministerand former legislator Marriednearly six months ago Rana, son of two-time MLAand manner. Sd/- their respective districthead- PDP MLAZulfikar Choudhary Sham Lal Choudharyin to aschool teacher,she polled one- time MLCJaved Rana, in Ashok Kumar (Advocate) Enrl. No. D-1152/1 quarters on Monday. Alook at who joinedJammu Kashmir Suchetgarhbyamargin of 11 7,717votes,defeatingformer Mendhar-C constituency by Ch No. B-116, BGS Block, TisHazari Court Delhi-54 some of them: Apni Party. votes. MLAKantaAndotraby1,675 2,105votes.

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CORONAVIRUS DASHBOARD EXPLAINED THE CORONAVIRUS INDIA ACTIVE CASES 278,690 Beware the UK mutant 350,000 313,831 Fast-spreadingUK-type variantsofSARS-CoV-2 could also develop independentlyinIndia. Ignorance cannotbebliss. One basic element of disease surveillance is adequatecoverageand density to 278,690 300,000 catcheventsbeforetheyspreadwidely.Muchmoregenomesequencing is critical.

Indiacarriesthis mutation. These viruses aremainlyfrom LAST 10 DAYS EXPERT Maharashtra, with some from West Bengal Dec 16 Dec 26 as well. It would take just onemoremuta- 250,000 EXPLAINS tion forustoget wherethe UK is today. And thatshould alsoworry us in India. Note:The Dec 26 figureinthis graphisbased on thegovernment update on Dec 27 Dr Shahid Jameel Quickreaction is key To catchthe emergence of newviral vari- INDIA TOTAL CASES WORLD TOTAL CASES From The Indian Express panel antsbeforetheyspread widelyinthe popu- 10,187,850 80,467,041 of specialists, exclusive insight lation, the WorldHealthOrganization (WHO) recommends determining the virus Source:MinistryofHealth&Family Source:JohnsHopkinsUniversity, genomic sequencefromatleast one out of Welfare,updatedat11pmonDec27 updatedat11pmonDec27 every300 confirmedcases (or 0.33%). The THE YEAR 2020 will be remembered forthe UK has sequenced 135,572 or 6.2%viral vari- emergence of anew virus —the SARS coro- antsfromits 2.19 millioncases,while South navirus 2(SARS-CoV-2) and the Covid-19 Africa and the US have reportedgenomese- pandemic it caused.With afew moredays quences from 0.3% of confirmedcases. How to measure aerosols to go,2020 is projected to closeout with However, India has so farsequencedonly about 84 millionconfirmedCovid-19cases 4,976or0.05% virusesfromits over 10 mil- and over 1.8million deaths. lion cases. At this rate,wewillremain oblivi- with aparticle counter, Despitethis gloom, this has also been a oustothe emergence of newvariantstillitis year of hope, with the development, testing already toolate. One basic elementofdisease and approval of vaccines at remarkable surveillance is adequatecoverageand den- after accounting for dust speed. Forthe firsttime ever,apandemic of sity to catch eventsbeforetheyspread widely. human disease would be controlledbyvac- THE NOVEL coronavirus spreads pri- cron is amillionth partofametre) —a cines in real time. Conducive Indian conditions marilyvia aerosols, or tinydroplets lotofthe dustissofine that aerosols in NobelLaureateJoshua Lederberg, one of Another reason to worryisthat the condi- generated by acough or asneeze that that rangecannotreallybemeasured. modern biology’smostinfluential thinkers, tions hypothesisedtogiverisetothe UK vari- maybecarrying the virus. The con- Morethan 98%ofthe dust,infact,is once said,“The single biggestthreatto ant arepresent in India as well. centration of aerosols in public spaces, containedinthe firsttwo channels man’s continueddominanceonthe planet Immunodeficientorimmunosuppressedpa- therefore, can give ameasureofinfec- (smallestparticles) of size 0.3 and 0.5 is the virus.”Two recentdevelopments re- tients, whobecome chronically infectedwith tion risk,but making that measure- microns. The study did notconsider mind us whyvirusescan be suchformida- SARS-CoV-2, remain positive forviral RNAfor ment usuallyrequires specialists and particlesinthese channelsfor the ble adversaries. Passengers from the UK fill in formsatChhtrapati ShivajiInternational Airportin 2-4 months instead of the usual 2-3 weeks. specialisedequipment. aerosol assessment. “But there’s area- With the discovery of 58 peopletesting Mumbai lastweek.India has stoppedall flightsfromthe UK, but theconditions These patientsare oftentreated withconva- Now, scientists have demonstrated sonable sizedrangewhereyou cande- positive forthe newcoronavirus in believedtohavegiven rise to the virusvariantthereare present in Indiatoo. AP lescentplasma(sometimes more than once) asimpler alternative:use acommer- tect the aerosols,” Bonn said. Antarctica, the pandemic has reachedevery andusuallyalso withthe drug remdesivir. ciallyavailable particle counter.The Forvalidation,the researchers continent. And amutant virus has emerged Virus genome sequencing from such pa- study is publishedinPhysicsofFluids, compared their measurementswith in the United Kingdom,whichthreatens to strains, viruses of this lineagehaveaccumu- While these variantsappear nottobe tientshas revealedunusuallylarge numbers ajournal from the American Institute those from specialised laboratory shut down the worldyet again —aworld just lated 23 mutations across 5genes.Ofthese, morelethal, withmoreinfected people there of nucleotide changes. Intra-patient virus ge- of Physics. techniques. Aerosol con- beginning to recoverfromlockdowns and thereare 17 non-synonymous and six syn- would be higher numbers (notpercentages) netic diversity is also known to increase fol- Many particle coun- centration is oftenmeas- movement restrictions. onymous mutations;the former also change of severe infections and deaths. This should lowing plasma therapy. Poor nutritional sta- ters areavailable in the ured using atechnique an amino acidatthatsiteinthe protein. be causefor worry. tus is aknown causefor weak immune market. Whilethis study calledlaser diffraction, in The mutation of viruses Importantly, of the 17 non-synonymous mu- systems and physicians in India have reported usedadevice marketed whichalaser beam pass- The genetic material or genome of SARS- tations, eight areinthe spikeprotein —the …And reason notto chronic infectioninasubsetofpatients. as Fluke985, there- ing through asample CoV-2 is aribonucleic acid (RNA) made up of protein that allows thevirus to attachtoand Even though thereare multiple muta- searchers said similar re- lightsupdifferent-sized over30,000units(callednucleotides).Among entercells. tions in the spikeprotein,mostexperts be- Severalunknowns remain sultswereobtainedwith PAPER particlesdifferently. the families of RNAviruses, the coronaviruses The N501Y mutation in one of the key lieve that vaccines currentlyindevelopment Plasma therapyand remdesivir have also other particle counters. Resultsfromthishighly have thelargest genome. MostotherRNA contact residues in the receptorbinding do- would also work on the variant viruses. been usedwidelytotreat Covid-19patients Thereadingyou get CLIP specialised technique viruses have on averageabout 10,000 nu- main (RBD) of the spike VineetMenachery, an as- in India. Further,plasmahas been adminis- from suchhandheld par- and the method usedin cleotides.When genomes replicate—any ge- protein increasesits affin- sistant professor of mi- teredinIndia without firsttestingfor the lev- ticle counters, however, NEWRESEARCH the study,the re- nomes, whetherDNAorRNA,fromthesmall- ity forthe ACE2 receptor. crobiology and immunol- elsofneutralising antibodies. All these create will includebackground searchers found, estviruses to humans —there arerandom The P681Hmutation in THEEXPERT ogy at the University of opportunities forUK-type variantstoemerge dustbesidesthe aerosols. matchedupperfectly. errors(ormutations).Whilehigherorganisms the cleavage site between TexasMedical Branchin in India as well. But we have notsequenced Dr SHAHID JAMEEL is one Howcan youdistinguish these dust Bonn notedthat the resultsare not have themachinerytocorrect these errors, the S1 and S2 domains of Galveston, US, has pro- enough to knowifthat has happened. of India’s best-known particles from aerosols that arise from unique to the device theyused, and virusesand especially theRNA ones, don’t. the spikeprotein pro- videdthe firstevidence Even at lowcoverage, thesequences from virologists.Currentlythe peoplebreathing, speaking, sneezing, can be extendedtoother particle Mostmutations aredeleterious, and motesentryintosuscep- forthis. Indiaare skewed forurban locations, espe- Director of theTrivedi and coughing? The researchers over- counters as well. “I bought acheap one those viruses arenever seen.Onlythe mu- tible cells, andincreases His laboratorycom- ciallythe metros wheresequencinglabora- School of Biosciences at came this with asimple subtraction. (50$) that Ikeep on my desk; the air tations that offersome selectiveadvantage transmission in animal paredthe efficacy of toriesare located.Thisneeds broadercover- Ashoka University,he “Wecan measurethe amount of quality indexturns redifthereare too result in the evolutionofnew viral variants. models of infection. serum samples from re- agetoincludeall partsofthe country. The previouslyworkedfor dustparticleswhen thereare no manyaerosolsorsmall dustparticles. Evolution also requires selection pressure. The N501Y changeis coveredCovid-19 patients Indian Council of Medical Research can fa- Delhi-basedInternational aerosols and then take the difference In both casesyou want to open awin- Foravirus,this could be itsability to infect also associated with in- to neutralise viruses with cilitatethis process by providing access to Centrefor Genetic with when people do generate dow,”Bonntold The IndianExpress. better and multiplytohighernumbers or creasedinfectivityand orwithouttheN501Ymu- samples from Covid-19patientstoresearch Engineering and aerosols by speaking or coughing. It’s “Anyone can do it.” evade hostimmunity.The lowprobabilityof virulence in animal mod- tation. Theyfound no dif- laboratories that have the capacity forge- Biotechnology,and then justasimple subtracting of the back- The findings suggestthatwell- these eventsiscompensatedby the high rates els. Both thesemutations ference. Though only nomic sequencing and dataanalysis. Real- served as ChiefExecutive ground,” Daniel Bonn, one of the au- ventilated areascan have aerosol con- of virus multiplication. Forexample, each were earlier observed in- shared on Twitter on time surveillance will provide datathatis of the Wellcome thors of the study,said by email. Dr centrations morethan 100times coronavirus-infected cellproduces about dependently, but have December 23 and still not both dense and granularfor setting policy Trust/DBT Alliance which Bonn is aphysicistatthe University of lowerthan poorly ventilated areas, 1,000 newvirus particles in under 12 hours. come together in theUK partofapublication,these basedonevidence. funds health research. Amsterdam. suchaspublic elevators or restrooms. variant viruses. The result resultsare encouraging While the device used comes with Ventilation, therefore, plays alarge The mutant in the UK is avirus that spreads and reassuring. Going forwardwith ‘SMS’ six different size channels —0.3,0.5, role in indoor spaces. Adistinct phylogenetic clusterorlineage faster than before. Flightsoff,not mutation When vaccines aredeployedmore 1.0, 2.0, 5.0, and 10.0 microns (1mi- KABIRFIRAQUE (namedB.1.1.7) of SARS-CoV-2 wasrecently widely, therewould be further selection discoveredinthe UK. The twoearliestviruses The cause forworry… India has stoppedall flightsfromthe UK pressuresonthe virus to change. Vaccine-es- of thislineagewerecollectedonSeptember20 Thereiswidespread concern that these and increasedsurveillance at airports to stop cape mutantsare well known forother and 21 from Kentand Greater Londonrespec- mutations mayprevent currentlyusedtests the importofthe highlytransmissiblevari- viruses and will emerge forSARS-CoV2 as tively.ByDecember 15,this lineagecontained from detecting the virus, makeitmorelethal, ants. While seemingly areasonable strategy, well. Only proper genetic surveillancewill 1,623 viruses —555 from Kent, 519from or allowittoevade vaccines under develop- suchvariantscould easilydevelop within the catchany vaccine failurewell in time. GreaterLondon,545inotherregionsof theUK ment. Thereisnoevidencesofar forany of countrytoo.After all, India has over 10 mil- As we step into2021, themessagetopol- including Scotland and Wales, and four from these.After all, thesevariantswerefound in lion confirmedinfections and it is estimated icymakersand thepublic is clear. Those Australia, Denmark, Italy, and Netherlands. people who were identifiedtobepositive that 150to200 million peopleare already who oversee public healthmustcontinu- In another tendays—on December 25 — withcurrentlyavailable RT-PCR tests. infected. ouslyseekfresh evidence to make policies the numbers of thesevariant viruses has However, even though thereisnoevi- Afastspreader variant called501.V2 at the population level. At the individual morethan doubledto3,575; mostlyfromthe dence formoreseveredisease, thereisclear emergedindependentlyinSouth Africa and level, eachone of us mustworktowards re- UK, but nowalsofromFrance, Ireland, Israel, evidence that this variant is moreconta- shares the N501Y mutation with the UK vari- ducing virus transmission —lesstransmis- Hong Kong and Singapore. gious. Thoseinfected produce more virusin ants. Though the spikeN501Y varianthas not sionmeans lessopportunity forthe virus to their nose and throat, and that leads to more yetbeenfound in India, viruses withthe change. And SMS is the onlytoolavailable to What the mutation does virus shedding and moreperson-to-person P681Hmutation startedemerginginJulyand us at this time —social distancing, masks Comparedtothe originalSARS-CoV-2 transmission. presently14% of SARS-CoV-2 circulating in and sanitisation. Governor’sroleincallinganAssemblysession:whatthelaw,courtssay

once everysix months. or in his owndiscretion,” the verdict said. Governor.Itisonlywhere such advice, if APURVAVISHWANATH Althoughitisthe Governor’s prerogative Kerala The courtread the powertosummon acted upon,would lead to an infringement NEWDELHI,DECEMBER27 to summon the House,according to Article Governor Arif the House as a“function” of the Governor of aconstitutional provision, or wherethe 163, the Governor is required to act on the Mohammed and nota“power” he enjoys. Council of Ministers has ceasedtoenjoy the IN YET another tug-of-war betweenKerala “aid and advice” of the Cabinet. So when the Khan (left) has “If the functions of the Governorwere confidence of the Assembly, that the ques- Governor Arif Mohammad Khan and Chief Governor summons the House under Article tuneddowna to be read as his power, and an untram- tion arises whether the Governor mayact Minister PinrayiVijayan,the Governor has 174, this is notofhis or her ownwill but on requestfrom melledone at that (in viewofArticle 163of in the exercise of his discretion”. turneddownarequesttosummon aspecial theaid andadvice of theCabinet. Pinarayi the Constitution, as contended), then the sitting of the Assemblytodebate the new Vijayan’s Governor has the powertoliterallysum- What happens if the Kerala government three centralfarmlaws. Thestate govern- Can the Governor refuse theaid and government to mon the Assemblytomeet‘at suchtime insists on holding the special session? ment’s Cabinethad written to theGovernor advice of the Cabinet? call aspecial and place as he thinksfit’ thatisinany city Since the Governor’s powers arelimited lastweekand,after thedenial, is mulling ap- There areafew instances where the Assembly andatany placeother than the Legislative with regard to summoningthe House, there proaching him again with the same request. Governor cansummon theHouse despite session. Assemblybuildingand at anyodd time.This can be no legal groundtodenyarequest for The episoderaises questions on the role of a therefusal of the Chief Ministerwho heads Express Archive is nothing but arbitraryand surely,anarbi- summoning the session. Governor Arif Governor and the contours of the powers he the Cabinet. When the Chief Ministerap- traryexercise of powerisnot what our Mohammad has in the pastcriticisedthe or she has under the Constitution. pearstohavelostthe majorityand theleg- Constitution makers either contemplated Kerala Assembly’s resolution againstthe islative members of the House propose a Courthas settledthe position that the period when the Chief Ministerand his in the hands of the Governor or imagined Centre’s CitizenshipAmendment Actof Who cansummon asession of the no-confidence motion againstthe Chief Governor cannotrefuse the requestofa council of ministers enjoythe confidence itswielding by anyconstitutional author- 2019.Inthe political slugfest, the Governor’s Assembly? Minister, then the Governor can decide on Cabinetthatenjoys majorityintheHouseun- of the majority of the House, the power ity,” the courtsaid. refusal can also be challengedincourt. “The Governor shall from time to time his or her ownonsummoning the House. less it is patentlyunconstitutional. The latest vested with the Governor under Article 174 Even the Sarkaria Commission of 1983, The politicalnatureofthe office of the summon the House or eachHouse of the But the actions of the Governor,when in the line of rulings is the landmark2016 to summon, prorogue and dissolve the whichreviewedthe arrangementsbetween Governor,especially in Opposition-ruled Legislatureofthe Statetomeetatsuchtime using his discretionary powers can be chal- Constitution Benchruling in whichthe house(s) mustbeexercisedinconsonance the Centreand the states, had said that“so states, has been underlinedinseveral in- and place as he thinksfit…” says Article 174 lenged in court. SupremeCourtlookedintotheconstitutional with the aid and adviceofthe chief minis- long as theCouncilofMinisters enjoys the stances by courts.The constitutional checks of the Constitution. The provision also puts crisisinArunachalPradeshaftertheGovernor terand his council of ministers. In the above confidence of the Assembly, itsadvice in and balances and landmarkcourtrulings on the Governor the responsibility of en- Howhavethe courtsruled? had imposedPresident’s Rule in the state. situation, he is precluded[from taking] an these matters, unless patentlyunconstitu- account forthis and limitthe discretionary suring thatthe House is summonedatleast Anumber of rulings by the Supreme “In ordinarycircumstances during the individual call on the issue at his ownwill, tionalmustbedeemedasbindingonthe powers of the Governor.

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12 THEINDIANEXPRESS,MONDAY,DECEMBER28,2020 IDEA EXCHANGE Newsmakersinthe Newsroom SUNIL ARORA, CHIEF ELECTION COMMISSIONER OF INDIA ‘ Will have special observers for Bengal... for law and order,‘ expenses. If needed, we can act swiftly, ruthlessly The CEC talksabout Bihar elections serving as templatefor coming polls, wishes lawwould be brought againstdefections, calls for“sound legislative framework”for handling social media influence on elections, and reiterates supportfor simultaneouspolls.The sessionwas moderated by Senior Assistant Editor Ritika Chopra

RITIKA CHOPRA: What gave the betweenquasi-judicial proceedings and formsbroke some clause… The organisa- ElectionCommission theconfidence other proceedings. tions all got togetherand voluntarilysub- to holdthe Biharpollsinthe middle mitted acode of ethics whichtheywould of apandemic? SHUBHAJIT ROY: We have reported observeduring the elections, and they

Successive commissions have been that the EC held ameeting with the have been observing it. We areconcerned, holding elections under very difficult cir- MinistryofExternal Affairs to permit but we areveryclearthat we would prob- cumstances, at different pointsintime. NRIs to casttheirvotes from overseas ablywantasystem, likeinGermany or the Thepandemicwas unprecedented.AsI through postal UK…Theyhavea said in the press conference while an- ballots.What are very sound legisla- nouncing the elections, forusitwas aleap some of the We do not have anylegal ‘ tive frameworkto of faith and notaleapinthe dark. We had WHY challenges of doing deal with the sub- done alot of homework. Our team held a it? Also, fornow, authority(to assist in ject. We would also series of virtual meetings with various SUNIL ARORA Gulf countries are notbeaverse to hav- stakeholders and delegations of political notpartofthe vaccine drive). But given ing asound legisla- parties... Yes, manypeopleweresceptical, ince taking charge,Sunil proposedpilot... our experience,ifsomeone tive frameworkin but that happens everytime. When the Arorahas supervised ... Wheneverwe India because the firstgeneral election in India took place, go abroad, the only reaches out foranational complications in Sthe2019general (the firstChief Election Commissioner of question that the ECI ‘ India arefar too cause,wewill take acall India) Sukumar Sen wroteinhis book,the elections and the Bihar polls, faces is that when I many. peoplewerenot justsceptical, theywere live in Seattle, why alsocynical. Manysaid publiclythatthisis the country’sfirst election in a should Itravelto KRISHN KAUSHIK: thelastgeneralelection in India... The idea Jalandhar or In 2018,exceptfor wasnot to delaythe (Bihar)elections. We pandemic. TheRajasthan- Hoshiarpur or Andhratocastmyvote. theBJP,all major parties had asked for did our homework andtook the plunge... cadre officer also served as Even when Iwent to Washington,when alimit on party expenditureduring The firststepwetookwas to reduce the present foreign secretarywas the am- elections.How big of aconcernisthe the number of voters per polling booth — secretarytoGoI in two bassador there, this wasthe onlyquestion influence of big moneyonelections? from 1,500to1,000perbooth. That alone ministries before joining EC discussed. So, afteragreat deal of delib- Also, what areyour viewsonelectoral meant an enhancement of 33,000booths, eration within the Commission and with bonds? whichinturn meant that so manymore my colleagues, we thought we will move We have already givenour views on people had to be deployedfor security and aproposal to the Ministrythatthis can be electoral bonds in theSupreme Court and other jobs. Imustcongratulatepublicly we stand by that. The Commission as a our officers in Bihar,the ChiefElectoral body has told the Supreme Courtthatit Officer there... In some cases, the officers (electoral bonds)... should be less opaque and district magistrates themselvesgot and moretransparent. Covid-19, and afterrecovery they were On the issue of expenditure, we had backonelection duty... Imustalso con- some specific requirementsfor the pan- gratulatethe voters of Bihar,especiallythe demic. So, we enhancedthe limitsbe- women, who turneduptovoteinadisci- cause of the pandemic. We have ap- plinedmanner... pointed acommittee under Harish Kumar Forthe election, we had to procure11 (former IRS officer and DG-Investigation) lakh, 500mlbottlesofsanitisers...This to look intovariousaspects of electoral wasdone by the government of Bihar and funding. That committee has already met the CEO. About sevencrore gloves were twice. The Commission also had one in- procured and arrangementsfor their safe teraction with the committee and we had disposal had to be done. Apartfromthese, giventhem aterm of reference... I'm sure face shields, masksetc were procured. when their reportcomes,wewill ensure that the recommendationsare imple- RITIKA CHOPRA: Arethereany lessons mented. from Bihar that youwould liketo implementinpolls in other states? HARIKISHANSHARMA: Do youthink We will be holdingelectionsinWest it is possible to hold simultaneous Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry,Assam, elections in post-Covid times? Kerala...Everymajor exercisehas someles- The Article 83 (2) of the Constitution sons. Giventhe scale of preparations that provides that the House of the people un- the Commissionhas been doing in the past, less sooner dissolvedshall continue for we will beable to holdtheseelections suc- five years from the dateappointedfor the cessfully. We arealsogetting some Bihar firstmeeting. And, no longer an expres- officers to holdvirtualmeetingswith their sion of aset period of five years shall op- counterparts (in election-bound states), so erateasadissolution of theHouse. Similar that therecan bean exchangeofideas. We provisions aretherefor stateAssemblies. have alreadyinformallyreachedout to the This kind of disjointedness between the health department of Bihar and the state’s lifeofthe people’s House and state CEOto have informaldiscussionswiththeir Assemblies startedhappening sometime counterparts in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu in early 1970sdue to various reasons. And to see howthe learning of day-to-dayop- nowithas become anorm. Forexample, erations in Bihar can be utilisedinthese we have justfinished Biharelections.And states. LokSabha electionsinnormalcoursewill In West Bengal, we will have to have happen in 2024. So, thesystemhas to 28,000morepolling booths. The major les- Illustration: Suvajit Dey align the lifeofLok Sabha with the lifeof son would be to ensurethat these polling stateAssemblies. Forthat, across the boothsarelocatedasnearas possible to the tion has notbeen challenged?Inthe run-up notfair.Eventually, the courtdid notaccept about 8-10people. When this controversy donethrough amendmentofrules;we boardamendmentswouldberequired in main polling station, so thatuse of re- to the Lok Sabha elections, we metrepre- the petition, and the person waschanged. wasgoing on,anex-UPSC chairman met neednot bring aBill forit. the provisions of Articles 83,85, 172and sources is optimised, and the deployment sentativesof political parties 123times. We We have also startedappointing spe- me in some other context, and said that it Nowcoming to the report(on Gulf 56 of theConstitution. Nowthatisthe job of security and staffcan be better. metthe delegations from theBJP 20 times, cial observers, over and above thenormal is very strangebecause hundredsofcases countries notbeing partofproposedpi- of the legislature. What the Prime Congress delegations 28 times... Requests observers, especiallyonthe lawand order come to the UPSC fordisciplinarypro- lotfor now), Idon’t knowfromwhere you Ministersaid (about simultaneous polls) RITIKA CHOPRA: During the Bihar from political parties aremostimportant. andexpenditureside. In Bihar,weput two ceedings againstgovernment officials, got theinformation...Mylimited pointis is averydesirable goal… The Law elections, some political parties also Therehavebeenchallenges, there has been special observers forexpenditure... This seekingtheir view. Now, one or twomem- that nowthatwehavesent theproposal, Commission has alsosupported it.Big raisedquestions over the delay in the criticism, and therewill be criticism in the time also we will bewell-prepared,sothat bers sayno, the punishment imposedby we will have to wait and watchand find amendmentscan take place onlyonthe counting process. Did youanticipate coming elections also, and we respond to it whenrequiredwe comedown on these el- Xministryshouldbeenhanced, some say out, and, if needbe, participateinany dis- floor of Parliament. thatatall? The EC also held several as best as possible.Ican assure thatthe ementsswiftlyand ruthlessly. it should be dropped, and the rest sayit cussion whichtakes place... But yes, now briefings… Commission shall keep trying to ensure should be kept as it is.The normal proce- that our IT systems have improved so RITIKA CHOPRA: Giventhe EC’s When we go forelections, we arepre- free, fair,robust, ethical, and now, safeelec- LEENAMISRA: Before the RajyaSabha durethen, to thebestofmyknowledge, much, thankstoour dedicated teams of experience in conductinglarge-scale paredforthe worsttoo... Briefing the press tions. Still, if someone goes to court,wewill electionsin2017and 2019,wesaw a is thatthere is ameeting convenedbythe officers, forusinthe Commission it would exercises, has the government morethan once (oncountingday forBihar respond to it. Our recordofconvincing the lotofMLAsquitting their parties, and chairman and aconsensus is built,and be an aspirational role whichwewould reachedout to the Commission for

elections) wasnot areaction to anysitua- Supreme Courtand high courtsisgood. within six months theygot re-elected when the letter goes out, it onlymentions liketosee fulfilledassoon as possible. anykind of assistance in vaccinating tion.Ithad been thought out before.Our on another party’sticket.Can the EC the decision. It doesn’t mention who said the population againstCovid-19? officers thought that SANTANU putastoptothis? what. (Former elec- LIZ MATHEW:Are It is adevastating pandemicfor theen- the press would be CHOWDHURY: The Supreme Court has laid down very tion commissioner youconsidering tireworld. And India is no exception. So better informedwith West Bengal has a clearnorms on defection. Butwhenit Ashok Lavasa had ob- theBengal the pandemic requires exceptional and ‘ regular briefings. The(Ashok Lavasa)row history of political comes to quitting aparty and re-joining jected to the clean Poll officersare often ‘ Opposition’s extraordinaryresponses… Currently, we Theysynchronised wasanon-starter... I violence during another party,thereisnolegal or consti- chit giventoPrime harassed fortheir honest demand of more do nothaveany legal authority (toassistin their effortswith polls.What is the EC tutional mechanism to stop it. It is more MinisterNarendra deployment of theadministrationofthe vaccine). To con- CEO,Bihar. Ithinkthe remained silent,itdoesn’t doing to preventit forparties to take acall on suchmatters. Modi and former BJP conductduring elections... Central Police duct elections, we areempoweredunder lastpress conference in the coming Once theyhavetaken acall, theECwill be president Amit Shah Forces (CPF) in the Article 324. But having said that,given the wasaround mid- mean adesire to conceal... elections? happytoassistthem, if such assistance is on chargesofviolat- while biased officerscome statefor the experience and expertise we have,if night. The reaction Idon’t think(objections) So far, one major sought. ing the Model Code back... Govt must ensure elections? The someone reaches out to us foranational from the press was ‘ delegation has come (Barring MLAs from contesting imme- of Conduct during ‘ stategovernment cause, we will take acall. also positive about needed to be shared to us. Theyhad two- diatelyonanother party’s ticket) is only the 2019 LokSabha officersare not penalised seems opposed to being kept in the loop three demands. They possible if thereare widespread electoral election campaign). the move... RITIKA CHOPRA: Youhavespent a through the day. The wanted(early deploy- reforms, and if we areable to forgeacon- ...Throughout the It’s achallenging considerable time in the Commission same will nowbe ment of) security sensus with political parties. Again, it is controversy,Ire- election. It’s ahypo- now. Arethere anyreforms that you doneinWestBengal too. The Biharbrief- forces and the (early enforcement of) notfor us to move suchathing. But yes, as mainedsilent...Itdoesn’t mean weakness thetical assumption that the government thinkare required in theEC? ingson countingdayhavevirtuallybecome Model Code of Conduct, (because theybe- acitizenIthink this (defection)should be or adesire to conceal something... In such willoppose it (deployment of forces). ... Manytimes, we have seen thatour atemplatefor other states. lieved)the local forces arecompromised, avoidedand parties musttakethe lead. less time,inadayortwo,aviewhas to be Therehavebeenaseries of meetings with officers, especiallythe Chief Electoral and that thelocal staffisalso compromised. taken, it is an administrative thing, it is not the MHA abouthow muchforce is re- Officers, become vulnerable because of RITIKA CHOPRA: The RJD had Now, these areour instruments,wecan’t PVAIDYANATHAN IYER:Anissue aquasi-judicialmatter.Idon’t think it quired.This is always the casefor every their honestand independentconduct questioned the results. Theysaid alot doubt all the instruments. Therecan be an whichcame up duringyour tenure should have been put on the websiteand election. We will cross the bridgewhen during an election. Immediatelyafter of postalballots were rejected andthat odd blacksheep hereorthere in many wasthe objections within the Idon’t think it needs to be shared. we cometoit. We have notheardfromthe elections,suchofficers arevictimised or they will challengethe resultsinafew states, in some morethan others. We Commission to certain decisions stategovernment yet. harassed. Therehavebeeninstances in seatsincourt. Do yousee this as a would notliketochange anyofficerfor the takenbythe EC. The Commission PVAIDYANATHAN IYER: But recording whichthe Commission has authorisedme challengegoingforward? sake of it. However, during the Lok Sabha decided to notmakethese public. But, of dissent, likeinthis case of Mr KRISHN KAUSHIK: Howmuchofa to take up the matter with the chief min- Whetheritis theRJD or anyother party, elections, we changed one chief secretary, when thereisnoconsensus, in the Lavasa, doesitnot strengthen the EC concern forthe EC is the influenceof isterconcerned. At thesametime, many theyhaveall theright to criticise the one additionalDG,five policecommission- largerinterestoftransparency, eventually? socialmedia on elections? officers who we had to change(during an Commission, themodalities,thelocaloffi- ers, and DG (Intelligence) of one state. In doesn’t it makesense forthe EC to put My colleague has already joinedthe In the run-up to the Lok Sabhaelec- election) because of their biasedorpar- cials. Butour CEOtriedhis levelbestand the case of DG (Intelligence), the matter out in public domain what each ADB (Asian Development Bank). Iwould tion, the Commissionasked officers to tial conduct getrewardedwhenthe same succeededinexplaining... Thereisavery waschallengedin the high court. It wassaid member says on issues? notliketocommentonindividual issues. deal with social media issues. So, they party returns to power... We would liketo well laid out procedureinthe Constitution that since the DG (Intelligence) is notDGP, This controversy wasanon-starter... I He wanted to saywhathewanted to say, spoketoall the platforms and their apex go to the government and saythatatleast whichstatesthatyou can challengeany and doesn’t supervise the elections on a would liketogiveyou one example, be- he said it. Igaveonlyone statement on the organisationassociations. Therewerea forone year afterastate or Central elec- election in highcourt... andif andwhen any day-to-daybasis,the Commission has no cause Idon’twant to getintoindividual record. Isaid that yes, commissioners are series of talks. Then, the Commission also tion is over,no(election) officer should be election is challenged,wetry and respond righttomakethe change. We were able to issues. The UPSC (Union Public Service notexpected to be clones or templates of held one or twomeetings. We told them penalisedunder different alibis, onlybe- and present our ownside to the courts. convince the courtthat we have inputsto Commission)isamulti-member com- eachother and theyare not. But having very clearlythat we would take averyad- cause he or she wasveryobjective andim- All Ican sayisthat, lately,whichelec- show thatthe conductofthe person was mission. We have three people, they have said that, we have to makeadistinction verseview, especiallyifany of theplat- plemented thelaw of the land faithfully.

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THEINDIANEXPRESS,MONDAY,DECEMBER28,2020 13 THE WORLD

TOPOFTHE WORLD SHOT IN THE ARM FOR EUROPE Chinesedelegation Rarerespite,with manystruggling with their worstoutbreakssince the start of the pandemic arrivesinNepal amidpoliticalcrisis Lawenforcement agencies at the scene

ED Beijing’s of the shooting. AP YUBARAJGHIMIRE rolein KATHMANDU,DECEMBER27 Kathmandu’s UNITED STATES PLAIN E ● AHIGH-LEVEL Chinese delega- EX affairs Shootingat tion ledbyavice ministerofthe ChineseCommunistPartyarrived CHINA'S POLITICAL pro- bowlingalley in Kathmandu on Sundayto“take file in Nepal has been on leaves3dead stock” of Nepal's political situa- the rise in the recent tion afterthe dissolution of years with billions of dol- Rockford: Agunman Parliament and subsequent split Vice MinisterofInternational lars of investmentsunder openedfireinsidean in the ruling Nepal Communist Department Guo Yezhou is Beijing's multi-billion- Illinois bowling alley, AUSTRIA: Ahealth careworkerreactsafter Party, accordingto amediareport. leading thedelegation dollarBelt and Road killing three people and FRANCE: Mauricette, 78, is applaudedafter receiving the firstdose of the receiving the vaccine at the Hospital Favoriten Days afterthe dissolution of Initiative (BRI), including injuring three others in vaccineatthe Rene-Murethospital on the outskirts of Paris. Reuters in Vienna. Reuters Nepal's Parliament and subse- the building of theTrans- whatauthoritiesbelieve quent split in the ruling Nepal hand on Nepal -- is believedto HimalayanMulti- wasarandom attack. A CommunistParty (NCP), ahigh- have arrivedwith the mission to Dimensional 37-year-old male suspect levelChinese delegation, ledby unitethe twowarring factions of Connectivity Network. wasincustody afterthe Guo Yezhou, Vice Ministerofthe the NCP. Speculations arerife Guo Yezhou's visit at- shooting at Don Carter International Department of the thattheywould persuade both taches all the moresig- Lanes Saturdaynight, CommunistParty of China, ar- factions to unite, or makesome nificance as he is be- Rockford police said in a rivedinKathmandu on Sunday. coalition arrangement. lievedtohaveplayeda social media post. Twoof The delegation -- all covered The delegation is settostay key role to bring the NCP- those who were shotwere in PPE -- arrivedbyanAir China in Kathmandu forthree days -- UnifiedMarxistLeninist, teenagers, police Chief flight and headedstraight to the despitecurrent Chinesepolicy of ledbyOli,and the NCP Dan O'Sheasaid duringa Chinese Embassy in avoiding long stays in Nepal due (Maoists)led by news conference. Mayor Bhatbhateni. to the Covid-19situation in the Prachanda together to TomMcNamarareleased Guo wasset to meet Himalayancountry. form the unifiedNCP. astatement saying he was President Bidhya Devi Bhandari Asenior NCPleader partof “angered andsaddened” and Prime MinisterKPOli sepa- the Prachanda-Nepal camp said about the shooting. AP rately.The Prime Minister's China is nottoo happywithOli Thehigh-levelvisit comesin Office said ameeting has been as he refusedtoheedtotheir ear- wake of Chinese Ambassador scheduledfor Monday. Thedel- lier suggestion to quit one post- HouYanqi's failuretounify the egation will also meetthe lead- -either that of Prime Ministeror warring factions of the NCP, CHINA ersofthe anti-Oli camp, includ- of party chairman -- if that which had virtuallyvowed to Atleast7killed FINLAND: Nurse Andrea Nummi receivesthe vaccine at the ITALY: Nurse ElenaBetti afterreceiving the vaccine at the ing former Prime Ministers would preventasplit. tread the Xi Jinping path in Helsinki UniversityHospital in Helsinki. Reuters Careggi hospital in Florence. Reuters MadhavKumarNepal and Ahigh-placedsourceinthe Nepal. inknifeattackin Pushpa Kamal Dahal Oli campsaid Chinese delegation Meanwhile, police arrested 'Prachanda'. appears to be in contact with aboutadozen protestors who Kaiyuancity Though both China and some "unofficial interlocutors", waved placards, objecting to Beijing: At leastseven Nepal aretight-lippedabout the asking them to stop the bicker- "encroachment of Nepali terri- people were killedand 450 million people, 27 nations: visit, Guo -- considered an old ing of the twofactions. tory"byChina. another sevenwerein- jured in aknifeattackin northeastern China, state Post-Brexit UK media reportedon Sunday. Theattackinthe EU’s vaccine campaign takesoff can do finance city of Kaiyuan in Liaoning province was Despite national lockdowns, In Germany, anursing home talaspartofthe waveofimmu- services in a carriedout outside a THENEWYORKTIMES restrictions on movement, shut- jumpedthe gun on Sunday’s nizations. The rollout comes as sauna and bathhouse. BERLIN,DECEMBER27 tering of restaurantsand cancel- plannedrollout of thevaccina- Europe’s largestnationiscon- different way, The suspect, identifiedby lations of Christmas gatherings, tion campaign across the frontingits deadliestperiod the media by hissurname FROM NURSINGhomes in the virushas stalked Europeinto EuropeanUnion,inoculating a since the startofthe pandemic. says Sunak Yang, wasarrestedwhile France to hospitals in Poland, the darkwinter months. The 101-year old woman and dozens Morethan 350,000people in the motive forthe attack older Europeans and the work- spread of amorecontagious of other residentsand staffmem- the 27 nationsthat makeupthe REUTERS remains unknown. ers who carefor them rolledup variant of the virus in Britain has bers on Saturday, hours afterthe European Union have diedfrom LONDON,DECEMBER27 Chinese lawrestrictsthe their sleevesonSundaytore- raisedsuchalarm the muchthat dosesarrived.People were also Covid-19since the bloc’s firstfa- sale and possession of ceive coronavirus vaccine shots continental Europe rushed to vaccinated on Saturdayin tality wasrecorded in France on BREXIT OFFERS Britain achance firearms, and mass at- in acampaign to inoculatemore close itsborders to travelers Hungaryand Slovakia. February15. Member states to do things differentlyinfinan- tacksare generallycar- than 450 millionpeople across coming from the country. Early Sunday, dozens of mini- made ashowofsolidarity by cialservices, finance minister Rohingyarefugees boardaship as theyare ferriedto riedout with knivesor the European Union. “Today, we startturning the vans carrying coolers filledwith waiting forthe bloc’sregulatory Rishi Sunak said on Sunday, but Bhashan Char from Chittagong on December 4. Reuters homemade explosives. The inoculations offereda page on adifficult year,” Ursula dryice to keep the doses of the boardtoapprovethe vaccine be- it will co-operatewith the Perpetrators of similar at- rare respiteasthe continent vonder Leyen, the European Pfizer-BioNTechvaccine from fore beginningcoordinated na- European Union on an approach tacksinthe pasthave struggles with one of itsmost Commissionpresident tweeted. rising above minus 70 degrees tional campaigns. But howthose to the sector despitelittle detail been described as men- precarious momentssince the “The #COVID19vaccine has been Celsius fannedout to nursing will playout in individual coun- on the topic in itstrade deal. Bangla settomove tallyill or bearing grudges pandemic began. deliveredtoall EU countries.” homes across the German capi- tries is likelytobedisparate. From January 1, British-based againstsociety. AP financial services groupsloseau- tomatic access to theEU’s single second batch of CAMEROON China lowers market,and both sides have said Buscrashleaves Sindh govt to notrelease accused newmarketaccessmustbenego- age of criminal tiated outside the trade agree- Rohingya to island 37dead;18more mentinspecificequivalencedeals. in Daniel Pearl murder case liabilityto12 “Now that we’veleftthe Chittagong firstand then to seriouslyinjured European Union, we can do REUTERS Bhasan Char,depending on the Yaounde: Morethan 37 benchwhichishearing the ap- Beijing: Chinahas loweredthe thingsabit differently(in finan- DHAKA,DECEMBER27 hightide,” an official said. The of- people aredead and 18 PRESSTRUSTOFINDIA pealbythe Sindh government ageofcriminal responsibility for cial services),” Sunak said. ficials declinedtobenamedas othersseriouslyinjuredaf- ISLAMABAD,DECEMBER27 and the familyofthe slain jour- some serious crimes from 14 to Britainand the EU clincheda BANGLADESH IS settomovea the issue had notbeenmade terabus crashin nalistagainstthe acquittal of 12,asitlookstocombatjuvenile trade deal on Thursday, but second batchofRohingya public. Cameroon's western vil- PAKISTAN'S SINDH province Daniel Pearl Sheikh by theSindh High Court crime committed by children. Prime MinisterBoris Johnson refugees from neighbouring MohammedShamsud lageofNemale, officials government has decidednot to in April,onSeptember 28 noted Under an amendedlaw,chil- has admitted it is an accord Myanmartothe remote island of Douza, the deputyBangladesh said. A70-seater bus was release British-born al-Qaeda that till the next dateofhearing, dren aged 12 to 14 will be held whichdoes nothaveasmuchas Bhasan Char in the BayofBengal government official in charge of on itsway to thecapital, leader AhmedOmar Saeed their detention "null andvoid". the accusedshall notbereleased. criminallyliablefor “intentional he would have liked about the fi- this month, officials said on refugees, said the relocation was Yaounde,fromthewestern Sheikh and his three aides, ac- The courtobserved that the four Asenior government official homicideorintentional injury nancial services sector and regu- Sunday, despitecalls by rights voluntary. “Theywillnot be sent town of Foumban when it cused of kidnapping and mur- men's detention was“illegal”. said the apexcourtorder has not that leads to death or causes oth- latoryequivalence. groupsnot to carry out further againsttheir will.” crashedintoatruckwhile dering US journalist Daniel Pearl, The court, however, hadclar- been specificallyrecalled. “The ers severe disabilities by ex- The twosideswillaim to relocations. Bangladesh says it is transfer- trying to avoidacrowdof in viewofaSupreme Courtor- ifiedthat the accusedshould not SHCinitsDecember 24 orderalso tremelycruel means”. The agree amemorandum of under- Around 1,000 Rohingya ring onlypeople whoare willing peopleontheroadaround der,accordingtoamedia report. be releasedifthereisaSupreme clarifiedthat accusedshould not amendment, passedonSaturday standing on regulatorycooper- refugees, members of aMuslim to go and the move will ease 2amSunday,saidAbsalom In asurprise move,atwo- Courtrestraining orderregard- be releasedifthereisaSupreme by theStandingCommitteeof the ation in financial services by minority who have fled chronic overcrowding in camps Monono Woloa, asenior judge benchofthe Sindh High ing their detention. Courtrestraining order regarding NationalPeople's Congress,will March 2021, and Sunak said that Myanmar,will be movedtothe that arehome to more than 1 government official in the CourtonThursdaydirected se- Citing itssources,the Express their detention,” he added. take effect on March 1. suchlanguage shouldprovide island in the next fewdays after million Rohingya. area. Thedeath toll will curity agencies nottokeep Tribune newspaper said the On Friday, theUSexpressed Currently, the ageofcriminal reassurance. “This deal also pro- Bangladeshrelocated more than But refugees and humanitar- likelyrise as rescue work- Sheikhand other accusedunder provincialgovernment will not "deep concern" over the order to liabilityinChina is 16,with those vides reassurance because 1,600early this month, twooffi- ian workers saysome Rohingya ersdigthroughthewreck- “anysort of detention” and de- release these men in viewofthe release Sheikhand his aides and between14 and16 heldcriminally there’sastable regulatoryco-op- cials with thedirect knowledge have been coercedintogoing to age, he said. AP clared all notifications of the Supreme Court's September 28 said it will continuetomonitor responsible forserious crimes erativeframework mentioned in of the matter said. the island, whichemergedfrom Sindh government related to order.Athree-judge apexcourt anydevelopments in the case. suchasrape and robbery. AP the deal,” he said. “Theywillbemoved to the sea 20 years ago. In Afghanistan’s village of widows, the opium trade has taken adeadly toll

twochoices, said Mohammad opium cultivation, processing and later hanged in Iran afterhe brush that families buy or collect Forthe widows’villageand DAVIDZUCCHINO& Ali Faqiryar, thedistrict gover- and trafficking that oftenleaves wasconvictedofsmuggling to burn. Some widows,likeMs. othersettlementsinHerat NAJIMRAHIM nor: “Theycan smuggle drugs or Afghanistan’s mostvulnerable to opium,she said.Three years ago, Bibi,light asingle bulb at night Province, the warisnever far MIRALI,AFGHANISTAN, join the Taliban.” bear the direconsequences of she said, twomoresons —Abdul withpower generated during away.The Taliban regularly at- DECEMBER27 Thosewho agree to smuggle the illicittrade. Ghafoor,15, andAbdel Zarif, 14 — the daybytinysolar panels. tack government outposts opium, heroin and metham- Mr.Faqiryarsaid he hastried were shotdead by Iranian border Conditions were so severe this nearby. Everyday,police patrols ON THE barren high plains of phetamines intoIrancan earn and failedtoget government guards as theytried to transport fall that manywomen fledthe vil- clear the highway to Herat city of western Afghanistan, along a $300ormoreper trip, afortune moneyfor programs to help peo- opium from Afghanistan. lagefor thehomes of relativesor roadside bombs planted by mil- roadway south of Herat city,isa forsuchapoor village. But they ple raise livestockand grow Ms. Bibi said Iran neverre- fordisplaced-person campsrun itants at night, Mr.Faqiryarsaid. collection of sturdy earthen huts riskarrest, prosecution and exe- wheat, rice and beans in the arid, turnedher sons’ bodies, acom- by aid organizations. Until re- Recently, he said, asmall bor- known as Qala-e-Biwaha, or “vil- cution in Iran’s Islamiccourts— unforgiving landscape. plaint shared by other women in cently, the villagewas home to 80 der outpostwas shutdownby lageofwidows.” or being shotand killed by “Weget no help from the the village. “I don’t knowifthey widows and their families, said the government afteritwas at- Mostofthe village’s men Iranian border guards. centralgovernment —theydon’t were buriedinIranortheir bod- MohammadZaman Shakib, the tacked and damaged —not by have disappeared —killedwhile As of 2018,Afghanistanwas careabout the people, even if ies were justthrowninthe district council’sdevelopment di- the Taliban, but by drug traffick- trying to smuggle opium across the world’s largest producer of they’restarving,” he said. desert,” she said. rector.Today, thereare just30. ers alignedwith the militantsto the desolatefrontier intoneigh- opium,and poppyisthe coun- The widows surviveonfood As of 2018,Afghanistan wasthe world’s largest producer of These days,the villageis The paucity of men in the vil- clear the wayfor trafficking. boring Iran. The widowshave try’s mostlucrative cash crop. bought with their earnings from opium and poppyisits mostlucrative cash crop. Reuters file whipped by frigidwinds that lagehas notliberated the So the widows endure, most been lefttofend forthemselves The profitsfuel the Taliban’s fi- the wool-processingtrade, and drownout the bleatingofsheep women from the harsh confines of them earningapittance in the and their children, some of nancial networks. on donations from relativesand in rough pens next to thewid- of Afghanistan’s patriarchal cul- wool-processing trade, which whom have also died while Afghanofficialsseem power- international aid groups.Some cial capital, 45 miles north. spokeoutsideher dwelling,fash- ows’ huts, whichseemtoriseup ture. The area aroundQala-e- leavestheirhands calloused and transporting drugs over the bor- less to stop the lucrativetrade; children attendamadrasa, or “For alongtime, life wasvery ioned from driedpackedearth, from the dun-colored soil to Biwaha is home to severalwhite- discolored.Astheystruggle to der from Herat Province’s manyhavegrown wealthy Islamic school, run by amullah good and my three sons earned as agrandchild clung to her mimic the shapeand textureof beardedmen, who interrupted raise their children, manyfear rugged Adraskan district. through their complicityinfacil- at atinymosque in anearbyset- alot of moneycarrying opium,” robes. “Then theywereall killed.” the surrounding hills. Thereisno some of thewidows andtalked their sons will followtheir dead The area is so destitutethat itatingthe trafficking. What re- tlement. The nearestpopulation saidNek Bibi, awidowwho said Her oldestson, Ghulam Rasul, electricity or running water, and over others as theyspokeabout fathers intothe drug trafficking men seeking work herehave sultsisanenduring cycle of center is Herat city, theprovin- shewas about50years old. She 20, wasarrestedseveral yearsago no heat exceptfromthe dry their hardships. business. NYT

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THEINDIANEXPRESS,MONDAY,DECEMBER28,2020 MarketWatch FPISPUMP IN OVER `60K CR IN DEC NewDelhi: Foreign portfolio investors(FPIs)havepumped in anet Rs 60,094 crore into domestic markets in December so far,with a 14 ECONOMY net Rs 56,643crore invested into equities and Rs 3,451 crore into debt instruments between December 1-24. PTI

RECAPITALISATIONOFPUNJAB &SIND BANK INTERVIEW WITH MD &CEO,AXISMUTUAL FUND Zerocouponbonds:Innovativegovt ‘We believeequities remain the best asset class for tooltofundPSBs,keepdeficitincheck long-term wealthcreation’

will be paid on thematurity as ment’s move to injectequity in AXISMUTUALFundmanagingdi- cal consolidation or downward SUNNYVERMA& ‘USING`100TOCREATEIMPACTOF`200’ per the government notification banks, twotop finance industry rector and CEO CHANDRESH growth or inflation shock, rate SANDEEPSINGH ... Thereisnocoupon, it is zero executives, who wishednot to KUMARNIGAM spoke to cutslook unlikely. NEWDELHI,DECEMBER27 ■ Though these zero ■ Onlyspecifiedbanks can coupon, it is issuedatpar and be named, said that this move GEORGE MATHEWonthe stock For2021, we believe investors coupon bonds issuedbythe invest in these bonds, which will be paid at the end of the buystimes but doesn’t solve the markets, foreign inflows and in- willbebest suitedtogoupthedu- THE GOVERNMENT has usedfi- government will earn no arenot tradable, not specifiedperiod,” Krishan said. problem permanently. vestor strategy.Editedexcerpts: ration curvewhichwould serve nancial innovation to recapi- interestfor thesubscriber, transferable and limited Asenior Finance Ministryof- “It is agreat innovation by investor needs of ahigher riskre- talise Punjab &Sind Bank by is- market participantsterm it onlytoaspecific bank, said ficialexplained that while ac- the government whereitisus- Whyare stockmarketshitting ward.Weanticipatethe RBI will suing the lender Rs 5,500-crore both a‘financial illusion’ Punjab &Sind Bank MD & counting of these bonds is at par, ing Rs 100tocreateanimpact of newpeaksatatimewhen the maintain ratesatcurrent levels worthofnon-interestbearing and ‘great innovation’ by CEO SKrishnan, adding that effectively it’s the netpresent Rs 200inthe economy. It is issu- GDP is in contraction mode? Is overthecourseof thenextyearat bonds valuedatpar.The funds the government whereitis the bonds —worth `5,500 value of the instrument which ing azerocoupon bondaggre- the rallyfor real? minimum,postwhichwebelieve raisedthrough issuanceofthese using `100to createan crore—havebeen issued matters. “These areinstruments gating to Rs 5,500crore at par to Stockmarkets areforward agradualrisingrate environment instruments, whichare avaria- impact of `200inthe afterproper due diligence whichare avariation of the re- Punjab &Sind Bank that will ma- looking. Theyworkonanticipa- willensueonthe backofarecov- tion of the recapitalisation bonds economy and areissuedatpar cap bonds but effectively meet tureintranches between 2030 tionof thecurrentandfutureeco- Chandresh Kumar Nigam eryinthe economy. issuedearlier to public sector the same purpose, and these are to 2035. The market valueofthis nomic outlook.The Covidimpact banks, arebeingdeployedto issuedinconformity with the bonds would be around Rs 2,750 onthe economywas predictedin What’s your assessment on capitalisethe state-run bank. neededequity capi- able. It is limited only RBI guidelines,” the official said. crore. Punjab &Sind Bank,byin- March andhencethemarketscor- aroundwhyinvestingregularly is the Covid-hit economy? Though these will earn no in- taltothe banks. But to aspecific bank, The Finance Ministrynotified vesting in these bonds from rected.Aswestand today, the re- important. Timing the market Howwillbethe next three or terest for the subscriber,market theyalsocaution this and it is foraspeci- these bonds in the government held-to-maturity category, coverythemehasplayedoutwell rarely worksand hence investing four quarters? participantsterm it both a‘finan- maynot be aperma- fied period ... it is gazetteonDecember11. won’t have to book mark-to- as marketssaw renewedinterest is acontinuous process which The economywas already cial illusion’and ‘great innova- nent solution forthe held at the held-to- marketlossand will value the fordomestic equities from all when followeddiligently hasre- seeing signs of stagnation and tion’ by the governmentwhere banking sector’s maturity (HTM) cat- Howdotheydifferfromzero bonds at cost, i.e. Rs 5,500crore. marketparticipants, including warded investors over the long companies were reelingfrom it is using Rs 100tocreateanim- problems. egoryofthe bank as coupon bondsissuedby The government will infuse Rs FPIs and portfolioinvestors. term regardless of when theyen- flaggingdemand.TheCovidlock- pact of Rs 200inthe economy. per the RBI guide- private firms? 5,500crore intoequitycapital of Earningshave backedinvestorex- teredthe market.SIP flows have downmadethingsworseasfacto- Punjab &SindBank MD and Whatkind of bonds arethese? lines. Since it is held to maturity, Zerocoupon bonds by pri- Punjab &SindBank,” one of the pectations and we believe mar- been atestament to this under- riesand businesses were shut. CEO SKrishnan said these are Unlikethe previous tranches it is accounted at thefacevalue vate companies arenormallyis- financialsector executivessaid. kets arepoisedtoremainpositive standing. Forthe better halfof However, businesseshave opened special types of zerocoupon of recapitalisation bonds which (and) no mark-to-market will be suedatdiscount, but since these By doing so, the capital ade- sansCovid.Whilewe believe vac- threeyearsnow, we have seenun- up in astaggered manner and a bonds issuedbythe government carriedinterestand were sold to there. So these arespecial kind specialbonds arenot tradable quacy of Punjab &Sind Bank cines areonanvil and govern- wavering SIP flows. strongfestivedemandhasbeena afterproper due diligence and different banks,these“non-in- of bonds issuedbythe govern- these can be issuedatpar. goes up by Rs 5,500crore (in- mentsare chalkingoutlarge scale One mustremember that much-neededrelief especiallyfor these areissuedatpar. terest bearing, non-transferable ment afterproper(due dili- “Thereisadifference be- stead of Rs 2,750 crore). inoculation drives, the risk of a markets have been volatile dur- small and medium businesses. Since these bonds arenot specialGOI securities” have a gence),” Krishan said. tweenzerocoupon bonds issued “While this is afinancial illu- second wave in Indiapersists. ingthisphase.Investorswhostick We areveryoptimistic of the re- tradable, the lender has kept maturity of 10-15yearsand is- Though zerocoupon, these by other corporates and these. sion, finallythe government has with their investment commit- covery currentlyplaying out and them in the HTM bucket, notre- suedspecificallytoPunjab& bonds aredifferent from tradi- Youare absolutelyright, nor- realisedthat it is better to do Whyare foreign investors mentshavereapedtherewardsof the next 3or4quarters. With quiring it to book anymark-to- Sind Bank. tional zerocoupon bonds on one mallyzerocoupon bonds areis- what Western countries aredo- pumping money(over staying patient. We believeequi- high-frequency dataimproving, marketgains or losses from “These recapitalisation account —astheyare being iss- suedatadiscount, whichare ing rather than what their acad- Rs 1,60,000crorein2020) into tiesremainthebest assetclassfor we maintain our viewthat the these bonds. bonds arespecial typesofbonds uedatpar,thereisnointerest; in tradable also. Here, thereisno emicians arerecommending us. Indian markets? long-term wealth creation and economywillreachthe pre-pan- Financial marketparticipants issuedbythe Central govern- previous cases, since theywere question of trading and these are Onemustremember that finan- Indiahas been astandout should form some partofevery demic levelofoutput by end- said the government seems to ment specificallytoaparticular issuedatdiscount, theytechni- special typesofbonds,whichthe cial illusion buysyou time to put economyinthe global context. investor’s portfolio. 2020.We remainconstructive on have found an innovative wayto institution. Onlythosebanks, callywereinterestbearing. government issues specifically your house in order.Itdoesn’t Especiallyinthe emerging mar- thegrowth trendand expect the capitalise banks, whichdoes not whosoeverisspecified, can in- “Now theseare made zero to aspecifiedperson and it’s is- solve the problem permanently ketworld, strong political stabil- MF equity schemes saw recoveryto gainstrengthfromQ2 affect the fiscal deficit while at vest in them, nobody else. It is coupon and besidesthat thereis suedatpar,” Krishan said. but givesyou more time to solve ityandarobust recoverycyclehas outflows of over Rs 12,000 of FY21 onwards.Accommodative the same time provides much nottradable,itisnot transfer- no difference, the said amount While praising the govern- it,” the executive added. beenabeaconforinternationalin- croreinNovember.Why? monetarypolicystanceislikelyto vestors. In the post-Covid world, We mustappreciatethatdo- supportthe recovery andstruc- wherethe worldisawash with mestic retail investors as well as turalreformsto liftmedium-term BRIEFLY central bank liquidity,India has large investors have been dili- growth prospects. 442infraprojectsshowcost `21,21,383.82CR `25,55,957.52CR been getting adisproportionate gentlyinvestinglarge sums into FY20:Over TOTALORIGINALCOSTOF ANTICIPATEDCOSTOF share. As an opportunity,India equity marketsoverthe lastfew With Covid casesyet to overruns of `4.34lakhcrore IMPLEMENTATIONOFTHE IMPLEMENTATIONOFALL continues to remain an attractive years. The netnegativenumbers subside,whendoyou see 4.15croreITRs 1,671PROJECTS PROJECTS destination forglobal growth in- arenot unwarranted giventhe investment and capex vestorssincetheyare increasingly currentmarketconditions.Itisnot going up? filedtillDec26 As manyas442 infrastructure projects have been hit by comfortablewiththestructureof uncommonfor equity investors Covid has been agreat oppor- costoverruns of over`4.34 lakh crore, according to the Total projects Reasons for time overruns, the economy, policy and regula- to bookprofitsespeciallyafterthe tunity formanycompanies to re- NewDelhi: Over 4.15 crore MoSPI report forNovember 1,671worth `150 crore as reported by implementing toryframework.Thegovernment roaring rallywehaveseen in the toolandrefocusontheirbusiness. taxpayershave filedincome and above monitored by the agencies: overthelastfiveyearshasactively lastninemonths.Iwouldnotread Lowerfunding costs andarecov- taxreturns (ITR) forassess- Ministry of Statistics and ■ Delaysinland acquisition, workedto makeIndiamorebusi- toomuchintothis fact. SIP flows eringeconomiccycleaugurswell ment year 2020-21(FY20) Number of projects that reported time Programme Implementation forest clearance and supply of nessfriendlyand this is nowpay- continuetoremain robust. forgrowthprospectsofwellman- till December 26, the Inc- 536escalation, of which (MoSPI) equipment ing dividends. Short-term profit booking aged businesses with innovative ome TaxDepartment said. ■ Fund constraints mustnot be construedasanega- and well-articulated business Thisincludesover2.34crore 120 134 162 120 Projects whose ■ Geological surprises Is the market,whichisata tive asthisispartandparcelof in- models. Currently, lowinterest taxpayers filing ITR-1,over delayed by delayed by delayed by delayed by 942neither year of ■ Geo-mining conditions recordhigh, safe forretail vestor psychology. rateshavealso dramaticallyim- 89.89 lakh filing ITR-4, over one to 12 13 to 24 25 to 60 61 months commissioning nor tentative ■ Slow progress in civil works investors? proved profitability and project 49.72lakh ITR-3 and over months months months and above gestation period has been ■ Shortage of labour From agrim March to aeu- What’syour assessment on IRRs(internalrate of return),thus 30.36 lakhfilingITR-2. reported ■ Inadequate mobilisation by phoricNovember,equitymarkets the debt market?Have benefiting long-term investors contractor have been on arollercoasterride interestrates bottomed out? and promoters. `4,34,573.70 crore: ■ ROU/ROW (right of —areminder that equities area Domestic bondyields have Extensionto Overall cost overruns, i.e. use/right of way) problems volatile yetrewardingassetclass. followedtheoperative rate down- Whichare the sectors yetto validityofvehicle 20.49% of original cost Retail investors have increasingly wardsasthe RBIand the govern- come out of problems? When 44.15 months: Average time participated in equity markets ment have emphasisedofbring- do youexpect recovery? documents `11,93,997.81 crore: overrun of all infrastructure through the mutual fund route ing rateslowerthrough policy Highfrequency indicators al- Expenditureincurred on projectsexamined by the and through direct stockinvest- actionandaccommodative mon- ready point to arecovery across NewDelhi:TheUnionTrans- all projects till November Ministry, on account of ingasvariousinvestorawareness etarypolicy in an attempt to spur mostsectors. As India worksto- portMinistryonSundayex- 2020, 46.71% of delays in execution and programmes by market partici- growth.Whilethemoneymarket wardsbecoming the next manu- tendedthevalidityof motor anticipated cost other constraints pantshaveborne fruitoverthe curveandthe3/5-yearspacehave facturing and services hubofthe vehicledocumentslikedriv- years.Thevalueof theSensexand broadlyfollowedsuit, longer world,globalopportunitiesforde- inglicence(DL),registration the Nifty is justanumber.We datedpapersespeciallycorporate mand buoyedbygovernmentin- certificate(RC)and permits Why is it important: As per the MoSPI report, in addition to Under-reporting: Agencies are not reporting have seen this time and time bondshaveremainedsomewhat centivesare likelytoushera tillMarch 31,2021, inview of the factors that regularly delay work on infra projects, revised cost estimates and commissioning Source: again. As India grows, financial anchored.The recent RBI com- multi-year growth phase. the ongoing pandemic. ‘state-wiselockdown due to Covid-19’was cited as a schedules for many projects,which suggests that MoSPI/PTI marketswillrisecommensurately mentaryisaclearindication that Therecoveryisalreadyunder- reason for delay in their implementation time and cost overrun figuresare under-reported to reflectthisgrowth. theRBIintendsto keepratesrange wayand we expectarecovery in Budget:CII We have manycampaigns bound. Unless we see ahugefis- the next fewquarters. suggestionson importtariffs Paying 1% GST in cash: ‘No impact on small businesses’ PNB puts threestressed NewDelhi:IndustrybodyCII their GSTliability in cash. generatefakeITC or areusedto The rule is notapplicable in accountsupfor sale hassuggestedagradedroad ENSECONOMICBUREAU ‘ONLYAPPLICABLE This newrule applies onlyto be alayer in multi-layerfake cases wherethe registeredper- map towardscompetitive NEWDELHI,DECEMBER27 TO45KTAXPAYERS’ about 45,000 taxpayers of the credit flowpay no taxincash. son deposited morethan Rs 1 importtariffsoverthree GSTtaxpayerbase of 1.2crore “This provision is avery lakh as income taxineachofthe ENSECONOMICBUREAU The accounts are years,withlowest ornilslab THE NEW rule requiring busi- and genuine dealers and busi- smart rule againstfraudsters and last twoyearsand also wherein NEWDELHI,DECEMBER27 ■ The newrule Mangalam Oil betweenzeroto2.5percent nesses to payatleast 1per cent nesses would notbeimpacted, would notaffect anygenuine registeredpersonhas receiveda requiring businesses forraw materials, highestof of their GSTliability in cash will sources said, adding that it has business entities or ‘Ease of refund of morethanRs1lakh in PUNJAB NATIONAL Bank (PNB) Industries, withmonthly turnover 5to7.5 per cent forfinished notimpact small businessesand been brought to checkuse of Doing Business’ in anymanner,” the preceding financial year on has put up forsalethree stressed of over `50 lakhtopay Alliance Fibres Ltd and goodsand 2.5 to 5per cent dealers as onlyentities with an- fake invoices to claimcredit for an official said, adding that all accountofexportorinvertedtax accounts, with totaloutstanding at least1%oftheir forintermediates, as partof nual turnoverofRs6crore and taxpaid on non-existent or small businesses, including structure. dues of nearly Rs 34.50crore. Birsa Instituteof goods and services tax itspre-Budget recommen- above arerequired to followthis highlyinflated input cost. MSMEs (micro, small and The rule is also notapplica- The accountsare Mangalam Technology (Trust) liability in cash applies dations to the government. rule, sources in the Finance The newrule restrictsthe use medium enterprises) and com- ble to government departments, Oil Industries with outstanding onlytoabout 45,000 Ministrysaid. of input taxcredit (ITC) fordis- position dealers, have been ex- public sector undertakings and duesofRs10.77crore,Alliance taxpayers of theGST Afterunearthing rampant charging GSTliabilityto99per cludedfromthe rule. local authorities. Fibres Ltd (Rs 18.31crore)and “Weintend to placethree taxpayerbaseof1.2 CCItorelease use of fake invoices to evade cent, effective January1,2021. It The rule is applicable to reg- The CBIC has booked about Birsa InstituteofTechnology accountsfor sale to ARCs/ NBFCs/ crore, sourcessaid telecomsector goods and servicestax (GST), the would applyonlytorisky or sus- isteredpersons whose value of 12,000cases of ITCfraud and ar- (Trust) (Rs 5.41crore). other banks/ FIs etc, on the terms CentralBoardofIndirect Taxes picious dealers who use alot of taxablesupply, other than ex- rested 365 persons in suchcases The process is being under- and conditions stipulated in the studyshortly and Customs (CBIC) had last fake credit and makenocashtax empt supplyand export,ina so far. More than 165fraudsters takenbythe state-ownedbank’s bank’s policy,inline withthe week amendedrules to makeit monthlyturnoverofoverRs50 payment, theysaid. month exceeds Rs 50 lakh, or Rs have been arrested in last StressedAssets Targeted regulatoryguidelines,” aPNB NewDelhi:TheCompetition mandatory forbusinesses with lakh to payatleast 1per cent of Dummycompanieswhich 6crore annually, sources said. six weeks. Resolution Action Division. auction notice said. CommissionofIndia (CCI) will shortlyrelease itsstudy on the telecom sector and one of the key trends that Chinese regulators urgeAnt Grouptoset ‘rectification’ planswiftly has emergedisthe vertical integration betweentelcos and regulateits credit rating month abruptlysuspendedAnt’s The newdemands from the omy’s course in 2021, vowedthis and digital solution REUTERS business to protect personal in- planned$37 billion initialpublic PBOC, China Banking and monthtostrengthen antimo- providers,includingOTTs BEIJING,DECEMBER27 formation, People’s Bank of offering, whichhad been on Insurance Regulatory nopolyeffortsand rein in “disor- ande-commerceplatforms. China (PBOC) ViceGovernorPan tracktobethe world’s largest, Commission, China Securities derly capital expansion.” CHINA’S FINANCIAL regulators Gongsheng said aday after justtwo days before itsshares RegulatoryCommission and Pansaid Ant muststepupits urgedfintechcompanyAnt meeting with representativesof were due to begin trading in StateAdministration of Foreign risk management and maintain ‘Crudesteel GrouponSundaytooutline a thefintechgroup. Shanghai and Hong Kong. Exchangealso include that Ant the continuityofits services and outputrises concreteplan as soon as possi- Ant said in astatement it On Thursday, authorities be moretransparent about its normal operations of itsbusi- ble to meet regulatorydemands would establish a“rectification” said theyhad launchedanan- third-party paymenttransac- ness. 3.5%inNov’ and fullyunderstand the seri- working party and fully imple- titrustinvestigation intoparent tions and notconduct unfair During the meeting, regula- ousnessofthe “rectification” ment regulatoryrequirements. Alibaba Group and would sum- competition, and thatits setup tors pointed out Ant’s issues in- NewDelhi:Indiaregistereda work it needs to perform. The state-backed Economic mon Ant, the latestblowfor bil- of financialholding companies cluding itspoor corporate gov- growth of 3.5 percentin The central bank,banking, Daily said in acommentary that lionaireJackMa’s e-commerce complywiththe lawtoensure ernance,defiance of regulatory crude steel productionat securities and foreign exchange Ant should servethe people’s and fintechempire. the capital adequacy,Pan said. demands, illegal regulatoryar- 9.245 milliontonne(MT)in regulators urgedAnt to rectify il- needs and economic develop- Ma, the founder of both China’s annual Central bitrary, the use of itsmarket ad- November,according to legal financial activities,includ- ment, taking effective corporate Ant said it would establish a‘rectification’ working party Alibaba and Ant Group, is one of Economic Work Conference,a vantagetosqueeze out competi- WorldSteelAssociation. PTI ing in itscredit,insurance and social responsibility. and fullyimplement regulatoryrequirements. Reuters file China’s richestand most promi- gathering of topleaders andpol- tors, and harming consumers’ wealth management businesses, Chinese regulators last nententrepreneurs. icymakers to chartthe econ- legal interests,hesaid.

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OVER THE HEDGE by Michael Fry &TLewis CROSSWORD 4313 DAYTODAY BYPETERVIDAL

ARIES (Mar 21 -Apr 20) LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) One of your major Keep yourself to skills is your ability yourself if that is to understand the what youwant. You broader picture, mayhavetoput on a but todayyou should swing to performance in public, but what the oppositeextreme and is truly important is what's examine everysingle detail, happeninginyoursub- otherwiseyou're liableto conscious. The decisions you overlook something vital. take nowwillshape your affairs Perhaps apartner can show over the next four weeks. youthe wayforward. SCORPIO (Oct. 24 -Nov.22) TAURUS (Apr.21-May 21) Powerful social Makesureyou have planets suggestthat an enjoyable day. nowisthe time for The Moon's team-workand co- position suggests operation. Don't trytogoit CALVIN &HOBBES by Bill Watterson that what oriental sages have alone for, if youdo, you'll run been saying forcenturiesis the risk of shooting yourself in true: even routine and the foot.Makethe mostof humdrumactivitiescan be children's enthusiasm, and do satisfying if accomplished what youcan to shape their with the right attitude.Goon, energies positively. ACROSS DOWN tryit. 1 Grass bed (5) 2Subtle implication, but a SAGITTARIUS(Nov.23 -Dec 22) 8Setting offtobecome aboxing patentlyobviousone (8) GEMINI (May22-June21) It's time to be champion (8) 3It’s coming up in pursuit to Domestic and ambitious, and not 9Floral platedesign (5) beat one (8) family to be ashamed 10 Unsleeping watchonaworker 4Good time of the year to responsibilities are about it! It's no (8) procurethe release of a likelytobemost over-statement to saythat 11 Makeadeclaration in bad taste prisoner (6) pressingtoday. Even if you're even apparentlytrivial (5) 5Running away of resources put at work,the best wayto developmentsoverthe coming 12 As an example taking nothing debtor in amuddle (5) completeall your days and weekscould change foroneself (3) 6The firsttointroduce the responsibilities will be to your career direction for 16 Southern union about to reach golden handshake(5) generateafamily good, so there's no room at all agreement (6) 7Stone foragarden entrance, atmosphere. If everyone forcomplacency. 17 Unties knots,yet drawsthem perhaps (5) knows their place, they'lldo together (6) 12 Completepartofagame of the best job. CAPRICORN (Dec. 23 -Jan. 20) 18 MarkorDorothy (3) bowls(3) If youstillfeel 23 People mayact on it 13 Notconscious one is in error? MARVIN by Tom Armstrong CANCER (June 22 -July23) confused, hurtor (5) (3) Good angryit's because 24 British capitalist 14 Statecarriage? (8) communication recent traumas are (8) 15 Agrees on twopoints, then seems to be awfully still being stirredupbyother 25 New -toocean travel? another colour (3-5) important, and people. However, over the next (5) 19 Asingularly unwell American you'll have to realise that if you fewweeksyou will gradually 26 Hurry to prepareeggs playwright (6) don't attend to all practical understand that what has (8) 20 Joyisacomposer (5) complexities yourself, others happenedhas been forthe 27 Union notice that maybe 21 Cross anytwo letters inside (5) arelikelytostepin-and getit best.It'sjustthat it mightnot objected to 22 Brief stop formanyinatrance all wrong. Take the have been what you (5) (5) responsibility forputting your were expecting. ownplans into action. SolutionsCrossword4312:Across:1Fieldfares,6Blur,10 Erato, 11 Meditated,12 AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 -Feb.19) Nihilism, 13Epoch,15Ratline,17 Chimera,19 Despoil,21Corslet,22Ruing,24 LEO (July24-Aug. 23) Youmay tryto Sterling,27Unanimous,28Noise,29Ewer,30Stationery. Down:1Fled,2 Current discussions distance yourself Emaciates, 3Dhobi,4Armoire,5Endemic,7Lotto,8Rudehealth,9StHelier,14 over finances are from anycolleagues Traderoute,16 Irongrip,18Eglantine,20Lastout,21Cresset,23Irate,25 Lingo, likely to be linked to who makeyou feel 26Defy. past emotional upset or angry,and dramas, in whichcase it may concentrate on important be difficult to see the way thingslikeboosting your forward. Don't act free and income, and setting yourself easywithother people's cash, up forfuture prosperity.It's JUMBLEDWORDS DifficultyLevel5s by the way, because they're time to lookafter number one Instructions bound to notice sooner -and,whenyou'vetaken care Givenbelowarefourjumbledwords.Solvethejumblestomakeproperwordsandmovethemto TosolveaSudokupuzzle, or later. of yourself, youcan think

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''IMPORTANT'' ANDHRA PRADESH TECHNOLOGY TAMIL NADU GENERATION AND DISTRIBUTION CORPORATION LTD. Whilstcareistakenpriorto SERVICES LTD. acceptanceofadvertising 3rd Floor,R&B Building,Opp.Indira Gandhi Notice Inviting Tenders(E-Tendering Process) copy, it is notpossibletoverify Municipal Stadium, MG Road, Labbipet, Sl. Tender Inviting Due Date &time itscontents. 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THEINDIANEXPRESS,MONDAY,DECEMBER28,2020 MESSI GIVEN EXTENDED BREAK Lionel Messimissed Barcelona’sreturntotraining on Mondayafter being granted permission by the club to stay in Argentina,and he willalso be absent from Tuesday’sLaLigamatch at home to Eibar.Barcasaid on Twitter that Messi, who is in the last year of hiscontractand is 16 SPORT free to negotiateamove to rival clubs forfree in 2021,wouldreturn to training after the Eibar game,meaning he will be back fortheir visit to HuescaonJanuary. 3. REUTERS

BRIEFLY Williamson’ston Stand-in stands tall boostsNZonDay2 Mount Maunganui: Kane India captain Rahane’s memorable hundred, leading from the front, puts visitors in charge as Aussie hopes flounder Williamson's tireless questfor runs continuedSundayashebatted New SCORECARD Zealand intoacommandingposition SANDIPG on the second dayofthe second DECEMBER27 AUSTRALIA VS INDIA cricket Test againstPakistan. MELBOURNE CRICKET GROUND Williamson made 129, his 23rdtest ABRAVE and brilliant hundred from Ajinkya Toss: Australia, chose to bat hundred,and shared centurypartner- Rahane has fuelledIndia’s comebackambi- ships with Ross Taylor and Henry tionsinthisseries.His12thTest century, which AUSFIRSTINNINGS195 (91.3ov) Nicholls as NewZealandmade 431 underlinedonce again his character and ap- INDIA 277/5 (O/N36/1) batting firstafter losing thetoss. At petitefor ascrap, wasthe soul and spine of MAgarwallbwStarc 0(6b) stumps Pakistanwas 30-1 after20 India’ssecond-daytotal of 277/5. The lead al- SGill c†PainebCummins 45(65b,8x4) overs with Abid Ali 19 notout and ready ahandful at 82 runs, with Ravindra CPujarac†PainebCummins 17(70b,1x4) nightwatchman Mohammad Abbas Jadejaofferingmanfulsupport,Indiaare firmly ARahane notout 104(200b,12x4) 0. Shan Masood wasout for10justbe- in control of proceedings. HVihari cSmithbLyon 21(66b,2x4) fore stumps, caughtdownthe leg side TheIndiancaptain’sinningswasbrave not RPant c†PainebStarc 29(40b,3x4) by wicketkeeperB.J. Watling from the becausehewas ever in anyphysical danger or RJadeja notout 40(104b,1x4) bowling of Kyle Jamieson. AP he copped blows,but becauseofthe concep- ■ Extras (b12,lb6,nb2,w1) 21 BRIEF SCORES: Pakistan 30 for1 tion of his knock. It wasbrilliantnot because ■ FoW:1-0(Agarwal,0.6ov),2-61(Gill,21.6ov), (Abid 19*, Abbas 0*, Jamieson 1-5) he executed aflurry of gorgeous strokes, but 3-64(Pujara,23.4ov),4-116(Vihari,44.4ov), trail NewZealand 431(Williamson becauseheexecutedhisplansperfectly, soaked 5-173(Pant,59.1ov) 129, Watling 73, Taylor 70, Nicholls 56, inexorable pressureand navigated through ■ Bowling:MStarc18.3-3-61-2,PCummins Afridi 4-109, Yasir 3-113)by401 runs treacherous cliffstosteer India to aposition of 22-7-71-2,JHazlewood21-6-44-0,NLyon strength.WeaveinthecontextoftheAdelaide 18-2-52-1,CGreen12-1-31-0 humiliation, ViratKohli’s departure, DAY3, LIVE ON SONY SAfricafightback MohammedShami’sinjuryandthecrisisIndia SPORTS NETWORK, 5AM againstSriLanka were riding in the firstsession, and the glitter of his 104unbeaten runs onlyattains more Pretoria: Opener Dean Elgar fell five gloss.Rahanefound India at 64/3, with Pat Barringacouple of indiscriminatestrokes runsshort of acenturyasSouth Africa Cummins and Co. in inspired mood. The —ahasty swipe plonked out of SteveSmith’s climbed to 317for four at the closeof seamer had producedapearler to induce a handsatslip when he wason73—Rahane’s playonday twoofthe firstTestagainst faintnickofCheteshwarPujara’sfeebledefen- powersof concentrationwere astonishing.He injury-hit Sri Lanka at Centurion Park sive prod,after he hadtempted Shubman Gill wastotallyabsorbed in hisbatting,aself-con- on Sunday.Elgar lookedsetfor his13th intoanimpetuousdrive.Thebackgroundwas tainedunitwho appeared unaware of the test tonuntil he offeredSri Lanka intimidating. Therewas an overpowering worldaround him. Bowlers triedtobreak his Australia batsman SteveSmith congratulates AjinkyaRahane at end of day’s playatthe MCGonSunday. AP seamerDasun Shanakaasharp gloom.Theskieswere darkandimminentdis- rhythm, shuffled theirlengths, trajectoryand caught-and-bowled chance that was asterlurked.Rahanewalkedoutwithhischar- angles,but he remained steadfastand unhin- superblytaken.Faf du Plessis(55 not acteristicallynervous bodylanguage, like that dered.Rahane,the worldknows,iscapableof out) and Temba Bavuma (41not out) of ahigh-school rookie. shuffling hisroles.But seldom hasthe process will resume on the thirdmorning after The body languageisoften afacade. seemedsosmooth. Not putting the best foot forward adding 97 runs, hoping to push South Beneath his shaky exterior is acascade of self- Besides the sparkling clarity of his mind, Africa pastthe visitors’firstinnings assurance and courage. He is asoldier in the stood out the dexterity of his hands and flu- scoreof396 aftertwo free-scoring guiseofapriest. ency of his feet.It’s the hands that mirrorhis Hazlewood. In Adelaide, he rarely metthe days that have produced713 runs at a Forthe next 10 oversorso, Rahane was mindset.Whenheisuncertain,hishandstend SRIRAM VEERA ball ahead of the front pad. Here, the front rollicking rate of 4.24 runs per over. monkish in hisabstinence from temptation. to be hardand he goes stabbing at the ball. MUMBAI,DECEMBER27 foot did move out alittlebit morethan it That would suggestabatting paradise, The full balls away from the stumps were left When he’s confident, his hands arepliant and did in the firstTest. Themovement wasfirst but the wicket has givenassistance to alone,those on thebody were metwiththe hewaitsfortheballto reachhim.Itaffordshim BARRINGVIRATKohli,none of the Indians spotted in the19thball he faced, off the bowlers,with both sides perhaps full, straightblade. Theshortballs at thebody time to play hisstrokes. who made their Test debutsafter 2010 have Hazlewood, when the front leg came out guilty of erring in line and length and were dousedwithsofthands.Thosethatcould AdaboffStarc best illustratedhisgifts.The adecent forwardstride as partoftheir marginally. Twice in arow,and an alert nottaking advantageofthe pace and be avoidedwereleftalone. He strippedthe ball wasslanted across him at ahardlength defensive oeuvre. At some point, the Indians Hazlewood banged thenexttwo balls short uneven bounce. REUTERS contest intoabattleofbat andball,not aduel withafairbitof bounce.ButRahanegot ontop have mysteriouslyshedthat movement. to trypushing himback. BRIEF SCORES: SouthAfrica 317for 4 betweentwoindividuals.Thefoundationlaid, of the bounce, and opened theface of thebat It’sasiftheydidn’tgrowupwatching Rahul Rahane didn’t abandon that short for- (Elgar 95, Markram 68, du Plessis 55*) the fundamentals set, he blossomed, exhibit- withoutanyexaggeratedwristmovementand Dravid, who would stretchforward inex- ward press, though, as it allowedhim to get trailSri Lanka 396 (Chandimal85, de ingthe fullrangeofhis batsmanship and the steereditbetweenslipandgully. Evenwhenhe orably, or Sachin Tendulkar,who would hisupper bodytolean forward, and lethis Silva 79,Sipamla 4-76)by79runs. variegated roles he couldperform. drove, he seldom threw his hands at the ball makeaprecise forwardmovement. hands come through ahead of the front pad, Captivating washow various situations or lunged forwardbut justextendedhis for- Some likeRohitSharma or Rishabh the crucial reason forhis success this time. drew variedresponses fromhim.First, hewas ward push abit further. Thefollow-through Pant, and to an extent AjinkyaRahane, have Cityeaseto2-0win thestabiliser,intentonjustbluntingCummins wasnon-existent.Heisanyway notoneforthe it in them to move forwardtoattack, but Ghosts of the past overNewcastle and Mitchell Starc. Safety wasthe best tactic. cameras —evenhis centurycelebration was theydon’t do it often. On his day, whichis Pujarawas out to afamiliar dismissal, Rahane defanged them with resolutedefen- muted.Forgetbeing over-jubilant, he didn’t yettocome this series, Cheteshwar Pujara seen notjustinAdelaide but in the pastas Manchester:ManchesterCitysecureda sive strokes, playing them lateand notcom- even smile. His feet nevermoveexcessively, does defend or attackoff the front foot but well. When the ball lands shortoflength routine2-0winoverNewcastlethanks mitting prematurelyintostrokes, as he is but everystride wasfirm anddecisive. he isn’t partofthis post-2010 generation, around theoff-stumpand straightens, he to goals from IlkayGundoganand sometimesprone to. Under his guidanceblossomedRishabh anyway.Collectively this lot, have all tends to openup. He takesashort step for- Ferran Torres to climb to fifthplace in Pant and Jadeja, with whom he shared stands startedtopitchtheir tent at their original ward andtries to hold his balancethere. It’s the Premier League. Gundogan tucked Smooth transition of 57 and104(unconquered)respectively.Pant stance, and rarely ever budgetoo much. adifficult task as in this process, his hips home acutbackfromRaheem Sterling Intohis 30s, he embraced the counter- wasgiven the liberty to attack, and so he did, Formostofthis decade, ‘holding shape’ open up. The good thing is that invariably to scoreinconsecutive homegames in punching role. He waslikeabantamweight quicklywhittling down the lead. Though he has been the buzzwordonthe white-ball he manages to hold his bat inside the line the league and put City ahead in the boxerpitted againstaheavyweight skull- eventually perished attemptingawildslash, circuit.Players aretold to have wide stances or spongeitwith softhands so that edges 14thminute.Torres,awinger,wasplay- thrasher.Heweavedand spun away from the hiscameowassignificantinthecontextofthe since it will help them maintain balance as Stuckatcrease, Mayank Agarwal's bat don’t carry.But then someone likePat ing as the lone striker in the absence of blows,andwhentheadversaryblinked,landed game. Jadeja wasmorewaryand controlled. theytry to hit mostballsout of the park. has barelymanagedtopeepaheadof Cummins comes along who has specialised Gabriel Jesus, who has contracted the meatyblows on his jaw. HisassurancemeantthatRahaneneedn’tpur- When youare lining up forthe balland the front pad. AP in notcutting the ball away,but holding its coronavirus, and scoredforthe second Past his half-century, which he completed sue undue risk as he is sometimesneededin swinging through the line, ‘holding shape’ line to induce anickthat carries. time in theleaguethis seasontomake by flickingStarcoff hislegs,theskipperturned the companyoflower-order batsmen. And becomes vital. Pujara’s shortstepisn’t the problem, it's it 2-0. He showedastriker's instinct to intoagrislyaccumulator,smuggling singles whenthenewballwinkedin,run-scoringop- It’s aprinciple borrowedfromgolf. hands and adjust. what he does afterthat. UnlikeKane hold backasFederico Fernandez andrunningthehardruns.But10 overseither portunities ringedin. Batters teeing offisasign of cricket’s golfi- Theycan lettheir handswander beyond Williamson,who lookstoget forwardwith blockedacross from the right and the side of the second newball, he chosetobethe As the dayworeon, it wasnot easy to dis- sation. In this single-mindedpursuit of their tinyfootsteps to tackle the little devi- asmall press –muchlikePujara–but then ball arrivedatthe feet of Torres,who aggressor.Astheseamerssoughtafullerlength cernwhetheritwasthepitch ortheAustralian ‘holding shape’ while having a‘wider ations of the ball. that step is justthe startofWilliamson's strokedinafinish from eight meters in forreverse swing withthe old ball and then bodylanguagewhichhadbecomeflatter.Arms stance’, the finer nuances of classical bats- Even Rahane, in this character-defining negotiations. Notthe end. the55th.BernardoSilva struckthepost the conventional variety with the new, the were folded, hands thrustinpockets and manship –‘weight transfer’ and ‘forward knock,didn’t exactlystart takingbig steps, “Fromthat forwardpress,depending on as City threatenedmoregoalsinthe trickle of runsturnedintoastream. shoulderssagged.Droppedcatchesandedges stride’ -havebeen largely forgotten. until very lateinhis knock. But whathedid the length, Kane either pushes backorgets pouringrainatEtihadStadium,despite Rahane allowedhimself the luxury of that eludedtoretheir morale apart. But in the Over relianceon‘hands’too has re- differentlyfromAdelaidewas with his forwardfurther,” Williamson’s long-time againstrugglingto show thefree-flow- leaning intopleasant drivesand flickedaway dressingroom,theycouldconsolethemselves sulted in Indian batsmen getting leaden- hands; he letthemmoveahead of his pads coachDavid Johnstonsays.“He doesn’t al- ingfootballof previousyearsunderPep to leg on the rare occasions the diligent thattheywerenot undoneby theirownlackof footed. RaisedinIndian conditions, on and startedtomeetthe ball in frontofhis lowthe bowler to dictate lengths by being Guardiola. AP Australia bowlers strayedfromtheir line effort,but outshone by the bravadoand bril- mostlyslowtracks, they feel theycan get body.Hewould also occasionally stand crease-bound.” Pujarausedtodothat, of down the corridor. lianceofRahane. out of trouble as theyhavetime to use their outside his crease, especiallytoJosh course, but isn’t doing so now. THELOST 2020 YEAR Away from the bio-bubbles put in placebythosewith deep pockets, sport had its lockdowntales of angst, uncertaintyand apprehension. THE INDIAN EXPRESStalkstothose who missed out on their break-out year or had to delaytheir retirement. Age doesn’t get you down, responsibilities do: Ajay Thakur Police duty,family commitments and falling fitness add to 34-year-old's woes in kabaddi's wiped out season

Since the outbreak of the Covid-19pan- Sports have startedtoresume across the to stay fit. It’s notjustbecause of theage SHAHIDJUDGE demic, the 34-year-old Nalagarhnative has world. Therehavebeen afew Grand Slams in though. MUMBAI,DECEMBER27 beenbasedinBilaspur,HimachalPradesh,pa- tennis, the NBAison, the IndianPremier “Jabmain18 katha,familykikoizimmedari trolling the streetsand strivingtofight the League(IPL) washeld successfully, andthe merepenahi thi. Abhi sab zimmedari mujh pe AT THISstageinhiscareer,AjayThakuriswell coronavirus. And kabaddi has oftenbeen the Indian cricket team is currentlyontourin hai (When Iwas 18,Ididn’t have anyfamily usedtofans rushing to himwithrequests for lastthing on his mind. Australia.But as kabaddi is acontact sport, it responsibilitiesonme.Noweverythingisone autographsand selfies. The heroofthe 2016 “This (the season gettingwipedout due hasn’t been able to restart. me).It’sdifficult to getawayfromthat. Age kabaddiWorldCupfinalhasmentionedmany to thepandemic) wasamassive lossfor us “The risk of (PKL) becoming asuper- doesn’t getyou down,responsibilities do.” timeshow he revels in the adulation. players, especiallyfor the older players like spreader wasmuchhigherthan, saycricket,” Thakur hasn’t playedortrainedinthe Those fans recognise him even today. me who maybehaveless than five years left says Sandip Tarkas, CEO of 2019 champions sportsinceFebruary. Hisdailyschedule,how- Despitethe mask (a clear indication of the to play,”hesays. “The biggestthing wasthat Bengal Warriors. “Even if one playerhas this ever,doesinclude asession of physical train- roughtimeswe live in)andhispoliceuniform, we couldn’tplaykabaddiatall.Butnowthere virus, chancesare all his teammates will pick ing to keep the body fit, but notenough to get theyrush to him. That’s when the Deputy is always afear that ‘yaar, mujhe bhi coron- it up and so will the opposition. Of course, him to the levelheneeds to be the dominant Superintendentof PoliceinHimachalPradesh avirus tohnahihua (AmIalso infected with DOUBLE ROLE: Kabaddi star AjayThakur is aDSP with theHimachal Pradesh this year we couldn’t have the Olympics or playerhehas been over the years. Right now, findshimself takingacautionarystepbackto the coronavirus)?” Police. The pandemic snatchedhis focus away from the sportthis year. the T20 WorldCup in cricket. Those events, his responsibilitiesinthe policetakegreater keep safedistance. Asocialdistance. On the kabaddi mat, Thakur’s task as a however, have been postponed.PKL has precedenceoverthe sportthathas seen him The lasttimehetrainedfor akabaddi raideristosneak throughdefencesand get cleanlylostayear.” Because of it, there is a achieve everything thereisonoffer –except match, or forthe sportingeneral, wasbackin home safely. Since March though, hisrolein were peoplepassingby atanytimeoftheday. eighth seasonofthe PKL, Thakur has spent chance that some of the moresenior players winning aPKL title. And 2020 has made it all February, when he competedinthe state the policehas been to stop peoplefromleav- People would be trying to sneak out in the mostofhis time in his police job. And the ex- in theleaguehave lostasignificant amount of the moredifficult forhim. championship wherehepocketed the Best ing their homes unnecessarily. middle of the night, so it actuallybecame a haustion he sufferedduring the hotsummer time before theycall it quits. Thakurfinds “Body fitrakhne waala fitness kar raha All-Rounder Award. Since then, his uniform “Themostdifficult bit wastoget migrant 24-hour job forus.” monthsonthestreetsofBilaspurissomething himself in that position. hoon main. Lekin playerbanne waali fitness haschangedfromtheusualsportskithedons workers who were heading backtotheir Inayearthatwouldhave seenthe34-year- he’s yettoget over. “WhenIwon the Arjuna Awardlastyear, nahi kar paya (I’m keeping the body fit, but whenraidingontheProKabaddiLeague(PKL) homes to enter quarantine. I’d be up early in old former India captain, Arjuna Awardee, “Itwasaverydifficultperiodformeinthe Iwas confident I’dplayatleast another three notenough to play),” he says.“This year has mat to theHimachal Pradesh Police Service themorningandreturnhomeonlyafter11 at Asian Games gold (2014)and bronze (2018) force, and I’mstillphysically recovering from years,”hesays.“Istillwantto playatleastthree been acomplete waste. Bahut zyada kathin attire. night, sometimes twointhe morning. There medallistand PadmaShri compete in the it,” he says. years, but it’s going to bemuch moredifficult raha hai (It’sbeen very tough).”

VolLXXXIX No.41Regd.No. DL-21046/03-05 R.N.I. No.506/57. Printed and PublishedbyR.C. MalhotraonbehalfofThe Indian Express (P) Limited and Printed at TheIndian Express (P) Limited Press, A-8,Sector-7,Noida -201301and PublishedatThe Indian Express (P) Limited,Mezzanine Floor,Express Building, 9&10, BahadurShah Zafar Marg, NewDelhi-110002. Editorialoffice: The Indian Express (P) Limited,Mezzanine Floor,Express Building, 9&10, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, NewDelhi-110002. Phone: 0120-6651500.Advertising office: The Indian Express (P) Limited,B1/B, Sector -10, Noida-201301.Phone:0120-6651291. Chairmanofthe Board: Viveck Goenka,Chief Editor:Raj KamalJha,Editor:UnniRajen Shanker,Editor (Delhi): Rakesh Sinha ** **Responsible forselection of News under the PRB Act. Copyright:The Indian Express (P) Limited.All rightsreserved.Reproduction in anymanner, electronic or otherwise, in whole or in part, without prior written permission is prohibited. The Indian Express ® New Delhi